Actors Bhagyashree and son Abhimanyu Dassani talk about dealing with two strikingly different debuts and how to stay grounded
Aastha Atray Banan (MID-DAY; March 24, 2019)

Back in the 90s', when actor Abhimanyu Dassani was growing up, he hated that his mother, Bhagyashree, was an actor. The fact that she was recognised everywhere as Suman, the character she played in her debut Maine Pyar Kiya (1989) opposite Salman Khan, which went on to become one of the most successful movies ever, didn't help the cause.

"The more time she spent on set, she spent away from me. So, I didn't want her to act. I was possessive," he says, when we meet the mother-son duo at their Juhu home on a Friday afternoon.

Bhagyashree doesn't wear her age on her face, and Abhimanyu strikes us as a heartthrob in the making. "Later, I realised how iconic that character was. That people still remember her as Suman is testament to the impact it has left. I wish one day, people remember Surya like that," says the 29-year-old.

Abhimanyu is speaking about his character from his debut film, Mard Ko Dard Nahi Hota, which follows the journey of a young man who suffers from congenital insensitivity to pain and is on a quest to destroy the bad guys. The movie, directed by Vasan Bala, has been gathering accolades across international film festivals and got Abhimanyu the Best Debut Award at the Macau Film Festival. It released in India this week to appreciative reviews from critics, fans and his mum, especially.

"Young people in the film industry work so hard these days. There is so much competition, and you are living the pressure, film to film. Abhimanyu became the character. At times, we would tell him, 'go out, party with your friends'. But he didn't. He became an introvert like Surya. When my movie came out, I didn't even care. I had just had Abhimanyu then, and I was focusing on that. When I watched his movie for the first time, I realised what the fuss behind a successful first film is," Bhagyashree says. Abhimanyu interrupts, "I have told her to watch the film objectively, and then give me feedback."

But, as much as she loves seeing her son on the big screen, Bhagyashree admits she never wanted him to become an actor. Neither did he at first. "I didn't want to get into films either. I wanted to become an entrepreneur. But a teacher in school pushed me into dramatics, and later, I became an assistant director, because I was only interested in the creative process. Where can you create something, and then move on? Bollywood," says Dassani. She didn't know her son wanted to become an actor, until after he finished school. Abhimanyu says, "I went to New York to study acting, and she would call me and say go to Columbia and attend some other class." "It's an insecure profession. So, of course, I wanted to protect him," she adds.

Of late, Bhagyashree has been acting in Telugu and Kannada movies, and doing fitness videos on Instagram. "I am inspired by my kids [son and daughter Avantika]. They introduced me to Instagram, and I share these videos because two years ago, I had a de-alignment of the scapula (known as shoulder bone). I couldn't even pick up a pencil, let alone a glass of water. So, I had to work on myself, and I decided why not share that knowledge with women out there."

As far as Bollywood is concerned, Abhimanyu is happy that his work is being well received, despite not having a grand debut celebration. "I didn't get a trailer launch. Nobody announced me as a big hero to watch out for. I didn't get a 'welcome to Instagram' shout-out from the celebrities. I didn't arrive for my premiere in a big car, and thousands of people outside. I reached my world premiere in Toronto in an Uber, paid for it, crossed the road and was denied entry. The organisers had to come out to get me. This has all happened organically. I am doing this for myself, and my parents. The rest doesn't matter." Bhagyashree smiles with a hint of pride, "I have been getting messages every day saying 'where have you been hiding this gem?', and he always tells me, 'Mom, don't fly yet'."

Ask him how he keeps himself grounded, and he grins, "I don't want anything external to affect me. I have seen highs and lows, and I now know how to remain undisturbed."

Maine Pyar Kiya girl Bhagyashree and son Abhimanyu Dassani talk about the pain and pleasures of showbiz
Roshmila Bhattacharya (MUMBAI MIRROR; March 18, 2019)

Mard Ko Dard Nahi Hota, that’s a corny title for debut and Abhimanyu Dassani admits that for a year he didn’t tell anyone about the film. When he did, well, people laughed although the action-comedy enlightens one about a rare medical condition, Congenital Insensitivity to Pain, whereby the patient is immune to pain. “Like a girl in San Francisco I read about during research, who’d been walking around with a fracture till she tried to slip on a pair of heels and discovered her ankle was swollen,” says Abhimanyu. And since his character, Surya, binges on martial arts films which leads to an epic duel with his mentor’s evil twin, he had his share of pain too, through nine months of three-hour training and a shoot replete with stunts and injuries. “I dislocated my right shoulder, got a scar on my left, broke my middle finger, fell off a bike, jumped off a fourth floor without a harness,” he rattles off.

Recalling the last one, his mother, Maine Pyar Kiya girl Bhagyashree, shares that since they were filming close to their home, she and husband Himalaya dropped by one evening with snacks for everyone. “Moments before, Abhimanyu had taken the dive with only an air-bed to cushion his fall. When I berated Vasan Bala (director), he confided that it was to be done by his double, but at the last moment, my son insisted on emulating his Hollywood idols,” she shudders.

Later, as his parents watched, Abhimanyu had his skin nicked by a switchboard knife, but telling himself to perform and not react, asked for another take as the blood pooled. Bhagyashree remembers jumping up, only for Himalaya to catch her hand and urge her to sit down, saying, “He’s the hero here so we can’t behave like parents, we have to believe in him.” All that’s behind them now and she can wake up with a smile, hug and kiss him, till Abhimanyu tells her exasperatedly to behave. “Even when he won prizes in school, I’d be in the front row, clapping, clicking pictures and embarrassing him,” she laughs, remembering the thrill of seeing long queues outside the two theatres screening his film during MAMI. “Both ran to full houses and they had to eventually screen it in five theatres. I couldn’t stop crying. I didn’t see my own film in the theatres 30 years ago. Today, I’m living that excitement and anticipation through my son.”

One would think acting was the logical choice for Abhimanyu who’d grown up on re-runs of Maine Pyar Kiya but he has a degree in finance and has founded and sold off 10-12 successful start-ups since he was 16, before assisting on Dum Maaro Dum and Nautanki Saala and realising that this was his calling. Some day he’d like to dabble in organic farming, but for now he’s enjoying the attention coming his way since the film’s premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival last year. “I wasn’t being let in because no one recognised me but the screening ended with a standing ovation and after that people were calling me 'Surya' on the streets, the way they still call my mom Suman,” smiles Abhimanyu who bagged the Best New Young Actor Award at an international fest at Macau.

Bhagyashree points out that kids today are more professional and knowledgeable. “Sooraj ji (Barjatya, director), Salman (Khan) and I were so raw, but got our shots done in two takes max,” she reminisces, revealing how during the Antakshri shoot, Salman had slipped on the stairs and she burst into spontaneous laughter and a “hota hai hota hai” caught Sooraj’s eye and found its way into the film.

Has Salman seen Mard Ko Dard Nahi Hota? “Not yet, but the other day, he called out to me, saying he’d heard I’d done an amazing job and if he’d have to come to my house to see the film. The 300 people around him didn’t recognise me and wondered about me,” Abhimanyu hoots while his mom recalls how during the shooting of “Dil Deewana” Salman had learnt about her secret romance with Himalaya and ragged her endlessly. “At our wedding, Sooraj ji and Salman were my family and stayed till the end.”

Her daughter Avantika, a graduate of UK’s Cass Business School who works with a city NGO, is getting interested in the movies too. “We tried to keep our kids away from the insecurities and heartaches of showbiz, but I’ve realised it’s best to let them follow their dreams and if it brings an international award, then, I can beam proudly,” she laughs, running to give Abhimanyu a hug even as he tells her to behave. 

Debutant Abhimanyu Dassani on how Mard Ko Dard Nahi Hota is international acclaim has opened new avenues
Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; March 1, 2019)

Wth Mard Ko Dard Nahi Hota, Abhimanyu Dassani may have chosen a debut vehicle that's far from mainstream, but the risk is paying off. Even as the Vasan Bala-directed venture is gearing up for release in India, the youngster — son to '90s star Bhagyashree — says the film's win at Toronto International Film Festival has opened doors for him. "After the win, I went to Los Angeles to discuss few scripts and audition for Hollywood projects. There have been offers from Chinese directors as well. But I am yet to zero in on my second film," says Dassani.

The comedy has him play a man who suffers from congenital insensitivity to pain and uses it to his advantage to hunt down criminals. He points out that the industry sat up and took notice of him after the film received an encouraging response at the different festivals it travelled to. "People who wouldn't message me back are now offering me work; they believe in me. The challenge is to choose the right film. But I know that screen time or labels — such as niche or massy films — don't matter to me. The only thing that counts is whether it's a good story."

The action thriller Mard Ko Dard Nahi Hota won the top award at the 43rd Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF). Earlier, the makers had released the trailer which opens with a young guy talking about how his dream in life is different from everyone else's.

While everyone else wants to be a pilot, a doctor, the Prime Minister or something along these lines, he wants to fight and stop all the chain snatchers in his city.

The film revolves around a man with congenital insensitivity to pain, hence the title. Its English title is The Man Who Feels No Pain. Produced by Ronnie Screwvala under the banner of RSVP, Mard Ko Dard Nahi Hota is written and directed by Vasan Bala. Starring Abhimanyu Dassani, Radhika Madan, Gulshan Devaiah, Mahesh Manjrekar and Jimit Trivedi.

Former superstar Bhagyashree's son Abhimanyu opens up on his debut film winning big at Toronto Film Festival and following in mom's footsteps
Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; September 19, 2018)

"Our hard work has paid off," says debutant actor Abhimanyu Dassani, whose maiden venture, Mard Ko Dard Nahi Hota, won the Grolsch People's Choice Midnight Madness Award at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) on Sunday.

Directed by Vasan Bala, the action comedy revolves around a man who suffers from congenital insensitivity to pain and uses this to his advantage to hunt down criminals. Dassani is aware that his choice of debut film is at odds with that of other star kids who get launched with big-ticket entertainers.

Not to mention, his mother Bhagyashree who made her debut in the mainstream offering, Maine Pyar Kiya (1989). But the youngster insists he was "completely sold" on Bala's vision.

In his first interview, Dassani says, "This win encourages me to be at the top of my game and work harder. I was offered films from bigger banners, but when I met Vasan sir, I was sold. I put myself in the right hands."

Attending the prestigious festival that sees the brightest creative minds come together has been a learning experience for the actor. "Watching movies all day with the people who came here is educational. My thoughts and ideas found a wider horizon. The first screening of our film felt surreal — there were 1,200 people, but the ambience had the feel of Chandan cinema. People were hooting and clapping. We got a standing ovation," he says, of the Ronnie Screwvala production that also features Radhika Madan.

Geared up to join a business school for a career in investment banking, Dassani had a change of heart after he spent a summer in the US. He soon enrolled in a film school — a move that Bhagyashree didn't approve of. As he follows in her footsteps, the youngster says, "Even after three decades, people love her and the film so much. I hope to achieve a fraction of what she has achieved. It will be fulfilling when she is referred to as Abhimanyu's mom."

Vasan Bala’s upcoming directorial has outdone several Hollywood heavyweights to claim the People’s Choice Midnight Madness Award at the fest’s 43rd edition
Avinash Lohana (MUMBAI MIRROR; September 18, 2018)

Six years after he took his directorial debut Peddlers to the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), Vasan Bala’s follow-up feature, Mard Ko Dard Nahin Hota (The Man Who Feels No Pain at the fest), has bagged the People’s Choice Midnight Madness Award at its 43rd edition. The Ronnie Screwvala production was in contention with Iron Man 3 director Shane Black’s The Predator, David Gordon Green’s Halloween featuring BAFTA-winning actress Jamie Lee Curtis and Sam Levinson’s Assassination Nation, among others.

The award, which was instated in 2009, is presented to the film that is rated as the most popular among the underground and cult titles in contention. At each screening, attendees are invited to vote for the film by leaving their ticket stubs in voting boxes outside the theatre post the show.

Vasan, who was on his way back to Mumbai from Toronto, informs that the standing ovation his film received on September 14 will forever remain etched in his memory. “The section had some great genre filmmakers from around the world who have been making the best films for years. Just being among them was amazing, so this outcome has come out of the blue. From being a fan-boy of these filmmakers to contending with them, it has been an incredible journey,” he smiles.

Speaking of fanboy moments, Vasan informs that seeing his favourite stars in person was another highlight for him at the fest. He saw Paul Greengrass, who has made three films in the Bourne series, in the corridor of his hotel, and came across Bradley Cooper and Robert Pattinson at the Roma premiere. “The director, Alfonso Cuaron, was just 20 feet away from me,” he exclaims.

Vasan’s new film marks the acting debut of Bhagyashree’s son Abhimanyu Dassani as a man who suffers from a rare condition called congenital insensitivity to pain. Using it to his advantage, he wants to rid his city of petty thieves. “It is like a homage to all the martial arts film I grew up on and is partly inspired by the relationship I shared with my grandfather,” Vasan adds.

After the screening, Abhimanyu left for New York, while Radhika returned to resume promotions for Vishal Bhardwaj’s Pataakha. Vasan can’t wait to be reunited with his wife, Prerna, who has edited the film, and their kids.

Meanwhile, an elated Ronnie adds, “I am ecstatic with the win and equally thrilled that it is a first for an Indian film. We are always striving to push the boundaries of story-telling and genres and Vasan has made his mark with his debut entry in direction.”

Radhika Madan is kicked about her film debut even as she gears up to take her follow-up film to the ongoing Toronto Film Festival on Friday
Avinash Lohana (MUMBAI MIRROR; September 12, 2018)

Radhika Madan who played the lead in Ekta Kapoor’s telly soap, Meri Aashiqui Tum Se Hi, was to make her Bollywood debut with Ronnie Screwvala’s action-comedy, Mard Ko Dard Nahin Hota, opposite Bhagyashree’s son Abhimanyu Dassani. But since that film is still in post-production, she will now be introduced by National Award-winning filmmaker Vishal Bhardwaj in his upcoming directorial Pataakha, which also features Dangal girl Sanya Malhotra and Sunil Grover.

“Mard Ko Dard Nahin Hota has a lot of action and editing takes time. I’m happy with both films and ready to start my journey with either. Pataakha is a Vishal Bhardwaj film, a dream!” the actress exults.

Radhika informs that she had auditioned for Pataakha while shooting with Abhimanyu for the Vasan Bala directorial last December. “I was told they would get back to me by May-June. I wrapped up Mard Ko Dard Nahi Hota in February and went to Goa to celebrate when I got a call from Vishal sir’s team saying he wanted to meet me and see me enact some scenes. I booked the next flight back to Mumbai and was rehearsing the scenes at Goa airport, trying to get used to the dialect. I caught people around looking at me strangely but I didn’t care,” she reminisces with a laugh.

Prod her on the extensive prep to convincingly play a girl from a village in the interiors of Rajasthan, which required her to live in the village for a while and learn the chores, and she says she didn’t think twice before moulding the cow dung into cakes and plastering the walls with them. Her diligence paid off.

“I recently went to a party with Sanya after the trailer released and everyone was lauding her, not even acknowledging my presence. This was beginning to offend me when Sanya went off to meet another guest and the person we had been chatting with suddenly started praising the ‘other girl’, saying she was fab and didn’t look like a debutante. When I told him that girl was me, he refused to believe me. That was the biggest compliment I could get as an actor,” Radhika smiles with satisfaction.

In the film, Sanya and she play warring sisters. She shared a similar relationship with her brother who is four years older. “I would try out my WWE moves on him when I was young and he couldn’t hit back since I was the younger sister. I got to relive all that with Sanya on screen. During the fights, we forgot about the technicalities and in one scene I actually kicked her hard, while in another she slapped me. Neither of us protested because we were in character. In fact, we would hug each other for about 20 minutes after these shots, apologising profusely,” she smiles fondly.

Radhika will leave for Canada shortly. Mard Ko Dard Nahin Hota is being screened at the Toronto International Film Festival in the ‘Midnight Madness’ section on September 14. “Since we started working on this film, we wanted to take it to festivals; being selected for TIFF is exhilarating. I’m excited to walk the red carpet though I’m still contemplating what to wear. Maybe a tuxedo…” she muses.

The braveheart who saved several lives during the 26/11 attack, and Anupam Kher, who plays him in a film, got together at TIFF recently
Natasha Coutinho (MUMBAI MIRROR; September 10, 2018) 

On Friday, Anupam Kher, who plays Chef Hemant Oberoi in Hotel Mumbai, met his real-life inspiration at its Toronto International Film Festival premiere. The film, which is fronted by Dev Patel, Armie Hammer and Nazanin Boniadi, depicts the 26/11 terrorist attacks of 2008 in Mumbai.

A source says, “Anupam has been in the US for a while for his TV series New Amsterdam. He flew to Canada for the TIFF premiere and returned to the sets on Sunday. He and Oberoi spent at least an hour together.”

Anupam reveals that he had not met Oberoi before the film kicked off. “My director’s instructions were not to meet the people involved before as actors tend to pick up and incorporate the exact mannerisms. So, we met after the world premiere. The director (Anthony Maras) introduced the Chef who had saved so many lives during the attack. He got an extended standing ovation, while I cried as I had lost some friends to the attack,” the actor said, adding, “He said only I could have played him and that’s the biggest compliment for me.”

MUMBAI MIRROR (July 26, 2018)

Anurag Kashyap’s Manmarziyaan will premiere at TIFF ahead of its India release. The director shared the news, saying it will be screened with the English title, Husband Material. Abhishek Bachchan who plays the male lead with Vicky Kaushal, wondered which of the two is “husband material” or was it their director. Co-star Taapsee Pannu declared that she knew which of the three was not “husband material”.

The Aanand L Rai production revolves around a spirited girl who is caught in a complicated love triangle while burdened with societal and familial pressures. The film had gone on the floors in February this year in Amritsar and was also shot in Kashmir’s resort town of Sonamarg.
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Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; July 26, 2018)

Manmarziyaan co-producer Aanand L Rai’s film is set to mark its world premiere at the festival’s Special Presentation Section on September 21. “It is a proud moment for the entire team. This is our second collaboration with Anurag Kashyap. It’s an honour that the film will premiere at the TIFF. We are looking forward to sharing this special film with the world,” he says.

The actress’ directorial will be screening alongside Julia Roberts’s Ben Is Back and the Dev Patel-starrer, Hotel Mumbai
Avinash Lohana (MUMBAI MIRROR; July 26, 2018)

Nandita Das’s second directorial, the Manto biopic featuring Nawazuddin Siddiqui as the controversial author and playright Saadat Hasan Manto, has been selected under the Special Presentation category at the upcoming Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), alongside Julia Robert’s Ben is Back and Dev Patel’s Hotel Mumbai. Nandita is understandably thrilled, pointing out that she has been to TIFF as an actor many times since her first film, Deepa Mehta’s Fire in 1996. “But it’s been 10 years since my last visit and I’m so looking forward to being back, that too with Manto. Festival director Cameron Bailey had seen the film in Cannes and seemed to have liked it but till the announcement is made, you can never assume. TIFF attracts an engaged and enthusiastic audience — both international and the diaspora,” she says.

She points out that at its core, the film is an intimate story about a writer and his struggle to express himself, honestly and freely. “It is a film about convictions and courage, against a backdrop of violence and displacement. In times when identities are being defined by nationality and religion, Manto goes beyond these divisions and therefore his story, I feel, will resonate universally,” she asserts, adding that she made the film primarily because she finds the story most relevant today and it is her way of responding to all that we are grappling with.

Her only regret is that she will be at the fest for a short duration as there is a lot to be done for the release thereafter. “But I’ve never left a festival without watching at least one film and I’m sure I will squeeze in some time for it this time too,” she laughs, unsure about which film it will be this time.

Ask her if being screened at such prestigious festivals will help the film during its release back home and Nandita retorts, “In India, when people talk about festivals, they are either full of awe or full of disdain. We have turned festivals into two things: a benchmark to gauge a film’s credibility and/or push it into a niche, elite space.”

She however believes that festivals are a good platform for films from all around the world, for professionals who get to meet each other and cinema lovers to have a good stimulating time. “Yes, they also create a good buzz back at home, and today, in the midst of so much news and noise, it is not easy to be heard. For me, the India release is the most important thing and anything that helps in spreading the word, I am happy with,” she states.

Will Nawaz be walking the red carpet with her, you wonder, and she informs that he will be needed here, for the lead up to the film’s release in India. “Also, most festivals only budget for the director!” she says. So, what will she be wearing? “I wonder why even as a director, one is asked this question. I have so much on my plate right now, that what I am wearing is my lowest priority. I will probably end up wearing a sari as it requires the least amount of thought and I love wearing one anyway,” she adds, saying she is more curious about the audience feedback.
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Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; July 26, 2018)

A day after Anurag Kashyap’s Manmarziyaan and Manto — helmed by Nandita Das — were selected for the Canadian fest, the latter tells midday why the honour is a crucial one. “The TIFF attracts an engaged and enthusiastic audience,” says the director, whose film has travelled to Cannes and Sydney. “I am looking forward to seeing how this audience responds to the film after we’ve taken it to other places. Films like Manto [based on the life of controversial Urdu poet Saadat Hasan Manto] transcend boundaries. After all, emotions are universal. While Manto’s context is local, his story should resonate with any audience. There have been Mantos in every era and in different parts of the world."

Having arrived at the festival on multiple occasions — even presenting her first film, Fire, in 1996, there — Das admits turning up as director for the second time is special. “The world premiere of [my directorial venture] Firaaq was held there in 2008. I can’t believe it has been 10 years.”

Sonil Dedhia (MID-DAY; April 11, 2018)

Nandita Das was set to take her ambitious Sadat Hasan Manto biopic to the Cannes Film Festival next month, however, a delay at the editing table seems to have led to a change in plan. Das had piqued curiosity around her project ever since leading man Nawazuddin Siddiqui’s appearance in the get up of the Urdu writer did the rounds of social media. But, with the final edit still in the works, the film may miss festival circuits next month.

A source tells mid-day, “There is less than a month to go for the [Cannes] festival, and the film’s final draft is still not ready. The makers have to finish some patchwork. Nandita doesn’t want to produce a half-baked film. It has to be of a certain calibre if she must take it to the festivals.”

Das, the source tells us, is working hard to make Manto a “lucid watch”. A screening for the writer’s daughters ahead of a theatrical release is also apparently on the cards. “The film will now apply for a screening at the Toronto International Film Festival in September. A commercial release is scheduled for later this year.”

Having attended the Cannes festival last year alongside Siddiqui and cast member Rasika Duggal — who plays Manto’s wife Safiya — Das had unveiled the first poster of the film at the event. The venture will explore the writer’s life from 1946 to 1950, a crucial period, given that India attained Independence, but also suffered under the weight of the Partition during the time.

We reached out to Das, but she remained unavailable for comment.