Subhash K Jha (DNA; September 9, 2017)

Sunil Pal is on a warpath against stand up comics. He disparagingly calls them ‘YouTube comedians’ and considers it the denigration of comedy. His main target is the group of outspoken AIB people, who he feels would be the main beneficiary of the closure of The Kapil Sharma Show.

Says Sunil emotionally, “For what Kapil did to stand-up comedy and comedy as a genre in India, I am a fan. Not a word of vulgarity could escape Kapil’s lips. He made entire families come together for laughter. And now because his show is in trouble, guess who is the happiest? The YouTube comedians who will now bring their filth to Indian television.”

Sunil Pal was horrified when he received a call inviting him for The Great Indian Laughter Challenge. “I was told that members of the All India Bakchod would be the judges on the show, and would I be interested in performing. Then they asked me about my experience. Can you imagine? They don’t know that I’ve been doing stand-up comedy for decades now! Do I want to be a part of shows on television being taken over by YouTube comedians whose names families can’t say, let alone watch together?”

Sunil lashes out at AIB’s infamous roast (AIB Knockout) where Karan Johar, Ranveer Singh, Arjun Kapoor and a host of top Bollywood names had participated. “Their antics on stage that evening would never be forgotten. They ‘roasted’ stand-up comedy that evening. I’ve nothing against homosexuals or any other community of people. But when you go on stage and indulge in cheap lines and action you bring down the name of your community.”

Lashing out at Karan Johar, Sunil says, “Why doesn’t he promote good clean comedy instead of associating with YouTube comedians like AIB who represent maybe 10 per cent of the youth who talk in English and do their comic act in English, so they represent the so-called elite.”

Not that Sunil has any problem with English-speaking elitist comedy. “But why do they have to indulge in so much vulgarity? Do your comedy in English by all means. But why can’t you keep it clean like Charlie Chaplin or Mr Bean?”

Effeminate, pansy, homo... KJo has been called a lot of things in his life. In this exclusive excerpt from his biography titled The Unsuitable Boy, he talks about why he's keeping the closet door firmly shut
THE TIMES OF INDIA (January 8, 2017)

This year some of our Bollywood actors were caught in the most disputable, debatable and politically sensitive controversies ever. Here's a quick recap at the strife and scuffles that stormed the film industry
Hiren Kotwani & Sonil Dedhia (BOMBAY TIMES; December 22, 2015)

Actor Ranveer Singh talks about breaking into nepotistic Bollywood, the infamous AIB roast and sharing screen space with co-star Deepika Padukone
Ektaa Malik (MUMBAI MIRROR; December 13, 2015)

Meeting Ranveer Singh is a bit like getting hit by a bus — it knocks the wind out of you. We realise this as we wait for the actor at Film City, Goregaon. Even as the actor shuttles between two shooting locations, Singh has a word or gesture of greeting reserved for everyone who crosses his path. His ponytail and Maharashtrian phildar moustache set him apart from the crowd, but not that Singh really needs help to stand out from a crowd. His loud, booming voice always precedes his arrival and his high energy levels are contagious. Onlookers cannot help but get charmed by him.

Mumbai University students and best friends Batul Kapasi and Isha Adkar stand aside, happy to observe their favourite screen idol in action. Have they always liked the Lootera actor? "Yeah. He is so animated (in his conversations), so good looking. He is also very fit. What's not to like," laughs Kapasi. "The movie Ladies vs Ricky Bahl and his rap song Aadat Se Majboor in the movie made me like him," adds Adkar.

His shoot finally wraps up and Singh walks up to the duo and greets them warmly. We confide in him that the students have bunked college just so that they can meet him and he laughs out loud. "That's the best reason to bunk college," he chuckles. As he settles down on a plastic chair, he tells us that he has been working non-stop since morning and that he has been on his feet the whole day. "But tell me," he continues, "Which college are you from? And what do you study?" The two reply that they are pursuing a bachelor's course in mass media (BMM) at KC College and Singh grins. "I was right next door at HR College," he says. "BMM was my backup course in case I didn't get through to Indiana University in the States".

Kapasi asks the actor about his stint as a copywriter in advertising agencies. "Well, after returning from the States, I did work as a copywriter for some leading brands. But I felt stifled being chained to a desk, although I did go out to conduct on-the-ground research, which I enjoyed. There were times when a client would trash my agency, but appreciate my ideas. Over there, many people suggested that I should be in front of the camera and not behind it," recalls Singh.

Kapasi asks whether he always knew that he wanted to become an actor. "That's a different and very long story," says Singh. "Ever since I could process the world around me, I wanted to entertain people and be a performer. Even when the neighbourhood aunties would pull my cheeks and ask, 'Beta bada hokar kya banoge?', I would respond, 'Hero banna hai'. They must have found it cute and endearing!"

But then reality, along with adulthood, hit Singh. He realised that his chances of breaking into nepotistic Bollywood as an actor were one in a million. 'So, I sort of relegated it to the back of my mind," recalls Singh. "But in the middle of my degree course in the States, I called up my Dad and told him that I want to pursue my dream of becoming an actor. I finished my degree, came back and threw myself into the game," he says.

Singh finally won the lead role in his debut film, Band Baaja Baarat. "My first film was a do-or-die move for me. I had been giving auditions and had also rejected a few offers. I was very raw in the film and hadn't evolved at all. I didn't know anything — no technique, no craft. But having said that, I also think that the first film is usually the best film that actors do," says Singh, fondly.

We revert to the present and his impending release, Bajirao Mastani. There has been tremendous buzz around the film, especially because the film sees Singh paired opposite actor Deepika Padukone once again after Ram Leela. "How is it working with her?" asks Kapasi, who barely manages to suppress a knowing smile. "I think Deepika is in the golden phase of her career. And I am very glad to be part of it. She is such a generous co-star. Even though her process and approach are very different from mine, we are still in sync with each other. I don't worry about a scene if it's with her," confides Singh.

It's dusk now and Singh's manager hovers around, trying to signal the end of our time with the actor. Adkar, who had been relatively quiet until now, asks the last question of the day. "As a mainstream actor, it was very brave of you to do the AIB Roast. How did you end up participating in it?" Singh replies, "Arre, the AIB boys had come to me with puppy dog faces. They asked me to come on board. I agreed. That was that."

It's time for Singh to rush to an award function but not before posing for the customary selfie with Kapasi and Adkar. But there isn't a hint of exhaustion in Singh as he poses and pulls the perfect pout for the selfie. And we, too, are charmed.

Abhishek Bachchan on roasts, recent films, and the road ahead
Upala KBR (DNA; August 11, 2015)


Let’s talk about All Is Well.
All Is Well is the story between a father (Rishi Kapoor) and son (me) who don’t get along. My character fights with his father because he has certain aspirations for his son, who wants to do what he wants to and leaves home to try and make it on his own. In the film, I haven’t spoken to my father in 10 years, but circumstances are such I have to come back. He discovers his mother has Alzheimer’s and now the father and son have to try and get along when actually they don’t, because they have to pay off this loan and look after his mother. What’s nice is that the film is dealing with issues which are actually very important, the message is something which I believe in and the USP of the film is, Umesh’s style of narrative. If you see his last film, he says something very important but he dresses it in a garb of humour and I think that’s such a wonderful way to make a point.

Please continue...
It doesn’t feel preachy at all, but is entertaining and exciting to listen to. This is dealing with family dynamics. When I heard the film for the first time, I almost questioned myself — Am I a good son? I think I am. I do whatever I can for my family. But then the question was — can I be a better child?

In real life, has it ever happened that your father hasn’t approved of something that you did?
Nothing major. Petty discrepancies are always going to be there and that’s healthy for a relationship. My father has always encouraged my sister and me and everybody else in the family to discuss, air their views and opinions and make our own independent opinions. Both our parents brought me up to say that you must think for yourself, have your own opinion and always have the gumption to stand up for your own opinion. My father never interfered in my career choices in life. He’s always told me that it’s your life and career, you have to do what you want and you have to learn on your own.

Tell me about the time you told him you wanted to be an actor.
I always wanted to be an actor but the first time I officially told him was on the April 17 or 18 of April, 1994. It’s a big moment and that’s why I still remember it. I told my mom first. She gave me the strength to tell my dad. He was very happy. I was immensely nervous. When you are young, there is fear of approval and rejection, but he was very happy and supportive. In fact, both my parents have always been very supportive and never dictated what Shweta and I should do. They have always told us, do what your heart tells you. And if your heart isn’t in your job, there’s no point doing it. They never said go out and be an actor or take over the family business. My parents never put those pressures on my sister or me. They never told us that they wanted us to become a doctor, lawyer etc. If I had to answer that, I would say, if anything dad is happy that I am an actor.

Any do's and dont's given by your dad when you entered the film industry?
No. Dad always had the faith in me that I would do the right thing because that’s how we were brought up. Mom brought us up with the emphasis on being a correct and good human being. So I think my parents had that faith in me that I would do the right thing. Their parenting value was to give us the independence to make our own decisions and to know what is right and what is wrong. They are always there to guide us.

In the film, whom are you close to?
In All Is Well, I am closer to my mother (Supriya Pathak).

And in real life?
It is not easy to describe. She is Maa... You know what I am saying. I am very different where relationships with my parents are concerned. My dad is more of a friend than a father, and my bond with my mother is that which a mother and son share.

AIW is about a dysfunctional family whereas yours is one the most, stable and loving families.
Can I be cocky? I’d like to believe that I am a good actor (laughs)! I’m kidding. You can’t bring your personal life and baggage onto a film set. Rather, you shouldn’t. Also part of the quest is to do things that you might not have done or had experienced before. Like Nandu in Happy New Year, or Bol Bachchan and Yuva. I like to do work which might not have any semblance to my personal life.

Tell us about your off screen relationship with Rishi Kapoor.
It’s the complete opposite of what we share in the film. That’s what makes it so much fun. Dad and Chintu uncle have worked together in films and so he’s like family. There’s always a discussion about a scene and every actor has his own approach to it. There’s always a give and take between co-stars and that’s Chintu uncle’s biggest ability — of being a co-star. He doesn’t play the role of ‘I am the senior’ on the sets. Chintu uncle allows you the freedom to behave as an equal with him and that’s wonderful. It’s very normal on sets to give suggestions and he’s very open to them as well. That’s very refreshing because regardless of what your personal relationship, he’s still Mr Rishi Kapoor, a living legend and then to go on set and discover that he treats his scenes as just another hungry actor is amazing!

So you are good friends?
My personal relationship with him is one of great camaraderie. It’s wonderful — at times even when we were not shooting he would call me over for dinner and I would go. He keeps sending me dirty jokes, so it’s great fun! He came for my first kabaddi match this year. Chintu uncle was very keen to come as he said he had last played kabaddi in the song Pakdo-Pakdo from Naseeb. I asked him if he was serious and he said yes. I said it would be an honour if he was there. He came and had a whale of a time. Chintu uncle is a source of huge entertainment in my life as he’s very funny. It’s so refreshing to be so honest also and have conviction in your views.

And Ranbir?
Ranbir is younger to me and more like a baby brother. We play football together and we meet every week. The cool part is that my equation with Ranbir is pretty much the same as it is with Chintu uncle. I always treat them equally — it’s never like ‘Oh, that’s Ranbir’s dad’. Chintu uncle too treats me like one of his friends. That’s fantastic!

So when the shoot ended, it must have been an emotional parting for you both?
No! Earlier, the last day of shoot would have been a highly emotional parting as we knew we wouldn’t bump into each other again. But in today’s day and age, the next day you are busy promoting the film, so actually you are spending more time with the person. Until the film is not released, that moment doesn’t happen anymore.

Recently Akshay Kumar said that he censors his wife Twinkle on her column. Do you do the same for your sister Shweta?
No. I do get to read it before it’s published, on a Saturday, though as I do know the author, you see (smiles). Whatever subject my sister has, like once she wrote on how emojis are taking over everybody’s life, so I respond to her in the subject of the column. When she wrote Emojinal, my response to the email was about 20 emojis! I think she’s very talented. Her English is so good as she’s also an English Literature student.

Your father wasn’t invited by Deepika Padukone for the Piku party. Did that upset you?
I have nothing to say on that. I am too busy doing my own work to bother about other people’s work.

Would you be awkward if you bumped into her at a party?
If I bump into her at an event, I would like to believe that I am a well-mannered and well-brought up person and I won’t snub her or behave coldly. What has that got to with anything?

Earlier you had a very intense image but now you are doing more and more comedy films like Hera Pheri 3 and Housefull 3. Have you discovered a latent comic talent in you?
I think I just went through a phase where I went through a lot of serious work. I would like to believe that I have done some comedy throughout my career, some of them unintentionally (grins), but they turned out to be comic (roars with laughter)! I did Dostana, which was a romcom and after that I didn’t do anything in the comic zone. I came up with a spate of pretty intense films like Game, Dum Maro Dum, Khelein Hum Jee Jaan Sey, so when Bol Bachchan happened it was something completely different from what I had done before. I enjoy comedy and I want to do more of it. Maybe it’s just a state of mind, I don’t know... It’s very difficult to understand or explain at times, but I think actors choose films based on what frame of mind they are in. Now I am going through this happy, fun and frolic phase right now. After I complete these films I would have my fill of that and be done with comedy maybe. I will introspect and maybe do something which is a bit more intense and edgy. I am gearing towards that.

Ever thought of doing an intense love story?
Yes, I would love to do one! Doing an absolutely intense, tragic love story would be great fun. I do believe in eternal love, but who says just because your life ends, love has to end, too...? (smiles)

Are you acting in any AB Corp production after Paa?
No. Right now I am not producing anything that we are working on. I haven’t found a script that I would like to do. All the projects in the company right now is under the scripting stage, so I don’t think we will be producing something for some time.

Have you ever thought of directing a film?
No. I don’t know anything about direction. It’s a different craft altogether and something you will have to educate yourself in, before doing that. Maybe the performance part, I will get but the technical aspect of direction, I don’t know. Maybe down the line, there will be a day when I will say, hey I want to make a film, but then I must learn the art of direction.

Do you write?
I write down concepts but I have never written down entire stories. I am not a writer, but I do have ideas. Yes I do write them down somewhere — in a notebook for jotting down my thoughts, I just make notes. Every actor does that, make notes of the films or ideas they want to act in. It’s all part of the creation process. Maybe I should now get down to putting those ideas and do something.

Before Ranveer Singh and Arjun Kapoor were asked to come on the AIB Roast, you had been approached and turned it down.
Yes. The AIB guys had approached me first. But I get roasted every Friday on the basis of my film’s release. Why do I need somebody else to do it for me? I think everybody has an opinion, it’s a democratic nation, and everybody has the right to express it. If you want to be a subject to that, power to you man, well done. If you don’t, then I think you should respect that. I work and live in a profession in which I am up for public speculation every second of the day, so I get my fair share of reality check.

You bonded with Shahid Kapoor last week on the sets of Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa.
I am very fond of Shahid. I met him last week on the sets of Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa for the first time after he got married. He was very sweet and had invited Aishwarya and me to his reception, but I was in Australia, so when I met him, I congratulated him. I wish him and his bride (Mira Rajput) all the best. God bless them.

You always have a warm relationship with fellow actors. No sense of competition and insecurity?
I have never felt insecure about anything. I understand why people would behave like that; I personally find it a bit shallow, but it’s not my place to comment on it. I am not like that. I enjoy bonding with other actors. This is my family, right? How terribly time-consuming would it be, if I had to continuously think who I want to talk to and who I don’t. Surely, it’s more beneficial to go out there, spread love and those energies in your work. Also, most of my colleagues today are people I have grown up with, so our relationships never depended on whether we were actors or not. Our relationships were forged much before, so it never comes in the way.

Ajay Devgn’s evolving and it shows. He hasn’t let the clash with a Ranbir Kapoor-starrer affect him
Upala KBR (DNA; July 15, 2015)


Let’s talk about Drishyam...
I am keeping my fingers crossed and hoping it opens well. When you get a script like Drishyam, it throws away all the insecurities of the box-office, because you are aware that it will not get a great opening because it does not have masala, songs and the typical commercial elements that the usual potboilers have. It’s a word-of-mouth film like Piku, which picked up after the third show. I am just keeping my fingers crossed that Drishyam will do well from the first show.

Were there insecurities about whether you should do a film like this?
Yes, insecurities do crop up because people expect a certain kind of opening from you. But only a few sensible people realise that Drishyam is not that kind of a film which will get that. That is why we made it on a budget of Rs 40-45 crore so that in India at least, the producers make their money.

Has the Rs 100-crore club affected your choices while signing a film?
Yes, the Rs 100 crore expectation has definitely influenced my choices while signing films. Because of that reason, today, we get scared of looking at films like Drishyam. But now with the audience evolving, there’s hope that these kind of films may do that kind of business too. I think this whole business of Rs 100-crore is not so important anymore. We are evolving beyond that. People have started experimenting and thinking about doing something different. When the audience starts accepting such films, we actors feel more comfortable signing them. What is the point doing a film nobody is going to watch?

You have won two national awards. Are you expecting to a do a hattrick with Drishyam?
What? No! (laughs) I just want it to do well! I am sure the film will be appreciated and the audiences will love Drishyam but my only hesitation that they go in after the first day to find out how the film is so the opening may not be so great. I want them to go in from the first day. After a long time there was no anxiety of the Friday pressure because we know that Drishyam may not have a great opening, but I am trying my best to make an effort that even that happens. If a film like Drishyam takes a big opening, it can change the face of cinema because then people will attempt better films like this. Now you don’t attempt films like Drishyam with big stars because the values are high, you expect a lot of collections so big stars, including me, don’t attempt such films.

Ever thought of playing a superhero? Especially for your children?
My children have never asked me and in any case in today’s films most characters are like superheroes only. In Singham and in Dabangg, Bajirao Singham and Chulbul Pandey are superheroes only. They do the same thing that you see in Avengers, beating up 10 men at the same time (laughs). In India the gap between the average hero and the super hero is too small. The heroes have superhero powers. They hit one punch and 25 fall down. Most of us have done such roles. But now things are changing, so we have to be smarter.

Karan Johar announced the release of Ranbir Kapoor-Aishwarya Rai starrer, Ae Dil Hai Mushkil (Diwali 2016) the day booked by you for Shivaay. So it will be a Ranbir/Ajay clash?
I don’t consider it to be a clash and I don’t take such clashes seriously. Son Of Sardaar has proved that. I think everybody has the right to release it whenever they want and you just have to work harder on your film. Whichever is the better film will work more at the box office.

But if you have already announced the date as a producer, doesn’t it upset you?
Yes and no. Yes, because it’s a close-knit industry and whatever issues we have with each other we should sort it out amongst ourselves and not harm each other’s work. And no, everybody wants a great release date so everybody has the right to choose any date for their film. It’s a balance of both, I would say. If I take it personally, it will upset me but if I look at it from a business point of view, then I would say it’s fair enough. You feel the person shouldn’t have done it, but you accept it because he must have his reasons.

Would you discuss with Karan to dissuade him from releasing on December 16?
No. I would not discuss with him. I have announced my release date earlier than him so I will just go ahead and release it in the best way possible. I will not even bother about what is coming with me or what is not coming with me.

Don’t you feel big stars like Salman Khan and Shah Rukh Khan clashing on Eid or festivals impacts the BO earnings?
Firstly, we really don’t know whether they will clash. Let’s see (smiles).

You are friends with Salman and Shah Rukh Khan. What do you feel about their patch-up?
Let’s not get into it and have minute discussions on what happened and why. I am happy about their patch-up. It’s a small industry and everybody has problems, but eventually, everybody sorts it out themselves. Nobody needs anybody’s help to sort it out.

You and SRK met in Bulgaria?
Yes, we did. We sat down, shared a nice conversation and practically, had dinner together. The older we grow the more we mature and evolve. You have to forget your past and say we must move on now. That was Shah Rukh’s attitude and that was my attitude. We connected well and spent time happily chatting.

Do you think SRK and you can ever do a film together?
I really don’t know. If we have a great script, why not? I don’t have a problem working with anybody as long as I’m happy with my character in the film.

Arjun Kapoor and Ranveer Singh made fun of your film Action Jackson at the IIFA. Your take?
I’m sensitive to and protective about personal jokes on me and my family members. Everybody has a sense of humour and so do I, but I’m not the kind of person who likes the type of jokes made on the AIB Roast, and so I won’t support that kind of humour. It’s okay if you are doing it to each other and among each other but to include somebody else is in bad taste.

Deepika Padukone on how her eight-film hit streak hasn’t affected the way she thinks. She wants her next film to be better than her last...
Sarita A Tanwar (DNA; June 6, 2015)

Dressed in a gorgeous off-white Abu Sandeep creation, Deepika Padukone is sitting cross-legged on the red sofa in her home. When I compliment her on the pretty ensemble, she tells me, “It was one of those expensive things I wanted to buy when I could afford it. I bought it many years ago.” And she is still wearing it. Duly noted. The actress, who has been shooting for Bajirao Mastani, has just been informed that she won’t be needed back on the sets for 10 days. Excited with this unexpected break, she is making plans to go grocery shopping with some friends after this interview, “I have heard so much about Foodhall in Palladium, I am going to check it out.” I warn her to take security and she laughs, “Come on, I can’t go grocery shopping with guards!” Yes, this gal definitely doesn’t take her stardom seriously. Which is impressive, given that she is on a streak. Eight hits in a row. The numero uno position tucked firmly under her belt, but she is still not playing it safe —whether taking up a film with an ensemble cast like Finding Fanny or taking a risk by going totally deglam in Piku. Her interesting choices are paying off. She is in a secure place. So much so, she hasn’t signed any new films apart from Bajirao Mastani and Tamasha. Here, she talks about Piku, the importance of family, the changes and choices she made career-wise and her journey so far.....

What was the most difficult part about playing Piku?
The fact that there were no crutches for the character. In Chennai Express, as an actor, I had an accent to fall back on. In Ram-Leela, there is a different kind of language, here there was nothing. There are a lot of scenes where we did not stick to dialogue on paper; certain lines, certain words, just happened organically because the film itself was so real. In fact, the most common feedback that we got on the film is that 10 minutes into the film we were transported into that world and you are suddenly feeling like you are in their living room and you are in the car with them. So to give that kind of performance, the only direction I got from Shoojit (Sircar), was: just be. So I just had to be and keep it as real as possible because the film doesn’t allow for anything else. You know if one sur was off, or anything went a bit over, it would have been easy to catch that because it’s such a simple film, so simplistically shot. For me, the toughest challenge was to keep every bit as real and seem less as possible.

You had co-actors like Amitabh Bachchan and Irrfan Khan in the film who could’ve eclipsed you. Didn’t you fear that at any point?
No, no, because I looked at it as a learning opportunity. How often does one get the opportunity to work with Amitji and Irrfan in this capacity? I was very excited about the opportunity and the fact that like I said I get to a) learn from them, b) as an actor bounce off them. I think it’s so true, you are only as good as your co-star.

Sharing screen space with Big B in Piku, what were the few attributes or qualities you imbibed from him?
See, I always say that what Amitji does on screen is there for all to see. The characters that he plays or in the interviews that he does. I think I am very privileged to see what he does in that interim time, what is he doing before a shot, what is his process. I was really happy to know that he is also someone who rehearses a lot and for me that was very comforting because that is exactly like my work mantra, which is slightly rehearsed, but also open to improvisation. Every actor will have a different process. It was really nice and comforting for me that his work process was similar in the sense, he also would keep asking for rehearsals. That really helped me because I also needed rehearsals. Now imagine if I was in a situation where he would just come to the set and start, what would I have done. Amitji is very different and Irrfan is very different. With Irrfan you see no process. I would just see the sheet in his hand and for sometime he is looking at it, then that sheet has vanished and he is just in his space before he does the scene.

You’re on top of your game right now, doing the biggest films in the business. Did a film like Piku seem like a risk, where you’re not glamourised at all?
It’s not something that’s ever crossed my mind. Not for once did I ever think in Piku how am I going to look because the character didn’t require it. In fact, a lot of the looks from the film are my own. There were days when we were shooting montages, not so much in the longer scenes, I’d go to the sets in jeans or a T- shirt with chappals and Shoojit would say ‘Just be like this today’ and I have literally walked on to set and done the shot because I think the character required that. The film required all the characters to be very real.

Speaking of real, how real is Deepika?
It’s very, very easy to get carried away by the fame, the success, the kind of love, appreciation and adulation that we get. Which is why it’s important to be surrounded by — I won’t say real people, but grounded people. Like my friends, my family, my sister, my parents. It’s like I go to work in the morning and I do what I have to do and they go to work and they do what they have to do, but when we come back, we are us and I am me. I am the same girl that I was in school for my friends. Or the same girl who grew up in Bengaluru. When I go home, when we have no house help at dinner time, we lay our own table, make our own food, serve ourselves from the kitchen, sit at the table, eat and then we all have to wash up. We divide the work. If my dad is clearing the table, I’ll wipe the table, and mum is washing the dishes, I might empty the dishes, put it back in the fridge, that’s how it is. In the Bengaluru house, it definitely works like that, even over here I am not dependent on my maids at all. If they are up, fine. If they are not, I can manage this house on my own.

You have been on a spree of delivering hits. How much of a high does that give you?
I am not going to deny that it is a very very satisfying feeling and that’s also because it’s a lot of hard work. I have had to learn on the job and I hate saying this, but the fact is that I don’t come from a film family. While my parents have always been extremely supportive of my career decision, I still had to learn from scratch. I’ve made my mistakes, I have been a part of not-so successful films and had to deal with criticism. I have been through all that, so I can finally appreciate what I am going through in my career now. It’s not fallen in my lap, it’s not been easy. Everyone has different obstacles and different things that they need to deal with, different things that they need to work on and I have had my set of things that I have had to work on to get to where I am today. So, it’s definitely a great feeling but it’s not satisfying to a level where I am now comfortable. Someone recently asked me “This is your eight or ninth consecutive hit back-to-back. Are you getting comfortable with success?” No, I am not getting comfortable with success because with every film that I do, I want to be better than my own self from my previous film and I want my next film to do better than my last film.

Is success sweeter when it has come from a movie like Piku as opposed to a movie like Race 2 or Happy New Year?
I would have to say yes because I feel films like Race 2 or Happy New Year, they are already hit films at some level because of the kind of team that is coming together. Race 2 is a sequel of a huge hit, so it’s a given this one will get a great opening etc. Happy New Year has SRK so… it’s a big film. Some of these things are a given, it’s a different thing whether the films live up to that or not but some of these films even at an announcement level are exciting and somewhere you already know and assume they are a hit even on paper. But a film like Piku… For a very long time, people didn’t know about it. People kept asking me, ‘Why are you doing Piku? What is this film about? Constipation? How come you are working with Irrfan, odd pairing.’ I guess the only thing that made sense to people was that I was playing Amitji’s daughter. So yes, definitely when a film like Piku does so well, you do feel a sense of satisfaction.

At the start of your career, you drew a lot of criticism for your diction and dress sense, but you have taken that constructively and changed for the better. Comment.
It’s not that I wasn’t aware of these things before people pointed them out. I mean... what do I do? I am a South Indian and at the end of the day I can’t change that. There is that culture that it’s infused in me that you can never take out of me. In the South, people don’t speak Hindi that much. I grew up with a completely different cultural background. I look a certain way, I speak a certain way and it’s not that I wasn’t aware. But like you mentioned there are so many things — I wouldn’t want to discuss everything — that I had to work on, had to learn. People said I couldn’t act, my diction was an issue, maybe for some people it still is. But for me my biggest learning was culture. To learn different cultures, but back home when I was growing up (of course, now things are changing because of so many people moving into the city and it’s become way more cosmopolitan now, one is exposed to much more) we were very insulated, so there was not that much exposure to other cultures and other languages. That exposure I have got only now after coming here to Mumbai and travelling the world.

Are you aware that your journey to the top has been faster than that of any other leading actress?
(Touches wood) No, it’s not something I am aware of because I am not comparing my graph to anybody else’s. I don’t want my career to be like somebody else’s. I don’t want my work to look like somebody else’s. Acting is a very individual thing. Every person brings something of their own to every character and every film that you do. So what I bring to my films is very unique to me. Similarly, somebody else will bring something else to the table. Like I said, for me, my only focus has been to work on myself, to improve my own craft — to get better at what I do, to get more comfortable with what I do. And as long as my next film is as successful or more successful than my previous film.

You seem to be making the right choice when you are selecting films? How do you go about it?
It’s instinct, yaar. I don’t think there is any thought or calculation as such. It’s definitely instinct and what you believe in and what you stand for.

Any regrets for not doing Dil Dhadakne Do?
It’s just one of those films I think I have been so involved with indirectly that I feel like I am a part of the cast. That’s also because of the equation that I share with Zoya, Farhan and Ritesh, so it’s definitely no regret at all. In fact, for me it’s the most awaited film of the year.

On the subject on what you stand for, the My Choice video you were part of got a lot of criticism. Your comment?
I was a bit disappointed honestly with the way it all turned out eventually. What was surprising was that for forty eight hours it went viral in a very positive way and then suddenly after two days, something changed. So, it was definitely disappointing because that was never the intention. Maybe I can say that I wasn’t surprised by the reaction or the fact that people felt that certain lines meant certain other things, which it actually didn’t but came across like that and I completely understand that..

You got some flak for agreeing to be at the receiving end at the AIB Knockout. Do you regret it now?
What! No, not at all. It’s the same way that I would buy a ticket and go for a play and buy a ticket to watch a movie. I mean, there were four thousand other people in the audience. I was one of them and it was the first time that something like this was coming to the country. I didn’t know what the content of the show was going to be, the same way when you go and watch a film, you are not really sure what you are getting into until you actually watch the entire film.

Among the new lot of heroines, there’s a big display of camaraderie on social media, most of which is fake. Agree?
No I don’t agree. It’s definitely not fake. At least I’d like to believe that, because from my side, it’s not and I think everyone today is more spontaneous. If you feel something, you say it, I guess that’s what it is. There has always been this perception of girls not getting along. We all may not be best friends, the nature of the business doesn’t allow for that but having said that, it’s definitely possible to be cordial and respect one
another.

Where do you see yourself five years down the line?
I don’t think I have a five-year plan. I would have a one-and-a-half or a two year plan but recent experiences have made me realise that life is extremely fragile and you have to take, as clichéd as it may sound, you have to take, I wouldn’t say each day as it comes… I am someone who plans a little — 50 per cent is planned and there is some sort of direction and I leave room for spontaneity as well. That’s how I have been. I don’t want to plan every day, I’d like to keep it flexible but still have some direction.

If you fell in love and decided to get married, would you be able to quit acting and lead a domesticated, happy family life away from the limelight?
I can easily do that. For me, nothing is more important than the relevance of family in our lives. That feeling of completeness.

You will be able to give all this up?
I don’t know when that’s going to happen, but I hope that when it does, I do it gracefully. That’s the only advice my parents have given me and I’d want to stick to that and say that I don’t know when it will happen. Or I don’t think I have that vision or plan or whatever, but when it happens, it happens gracefully. I know the importance of family. I mean it really completes me as a person. I want lots of children, I want so many children. I look at babies’ pictures and I am like… I love kids. I find in a selfish way, I spend time with other people’s children like SRK’s son AbRam or Homi Adajania and Anaita’s kids. I find it really therapeutic to spend time with them. So, while I also give the excuse of I love to babysit your child, I am also selfishly using them for my therapy.

Do you find reading therapeutic, too?
I have been at it for a while, but I am still reading Open by Andre Agassi. I relate to it at different levels. I mean, from a sportsman to his struggles to his achievements to his family. Coming from a sports family, I completely identify with that and I understand sports. There is such a beautiful line in the book. I mean it’s not relevant in any way, but it’s one of those things which I marked. “Hate brings me to my knees, love helps me stand up on my feet”. It’s one of the first, I mean it’s amazing. I also have an Audrey Hepburn book that I picked up but have yet to read. Also the one on Steve Jobs.

As a child, I was never really fond of reading. Again, it comes down to the kind of lifestyle that we had, we were always more outdoors. So go out and cycle and play cricket and play down in the building and things like that. I just had too much energy. You would never find me on ground level. I was always jumping off tables and sofas and breaking things in people’s homes. So, reading was not [my favourite activity]. I prefer listening to music than reading, but I have discovered of late, in the last two years, that when I read, I am drawn to autobiographies.

Ranveer Singh talks about working in ensemble films, courting controversies and marriage plans
Sonup Sahadevan (MID-DAY; June 1, 2015)

You are one of the few emerging stars who have been part of multi-starrers. What’s the thought?
I want to be part of stories that have great characters and directors. I am not greedy or insecure. I don’t believe one needs to hog the screen space the whole time. If you are integral to the story and secure in your abilities, there is nothing to feel threatened. I was the first to be signed for Dil Dhadakne Do and was excited about doing an ensemble film because where else will I get to work with actors of such calibre? Among young actors, I have the maximum number of cameos and am cool that way.

How is Bajirao Mastani shaping up?
Ram Leela was just a warm- up for Bajirao Mastani. We (Sanjay Leela Bhansali and he) were just feeling each other out for what we were actually supposed to do — that is Bajirao Mastani. It’s an inferno, a raging fire.

Varun Dhawan and Alia Bhatt are doing Shhuddhi, a film that you and Deepika Padukone were once in the running for. Any regrets?
I have known Varun since long. We used to go to the same recreational club and gym. He is like little brother. I am very happy he has a great film in hand.

You faced a lot of heat for the AIB Knockout and have now been dragged into a new controversy over vest ad. Does it bother you?
I can’t talk about AIB as the matter is sub-judice. In case of the ad, I wanted a disclaimer, but no one listened to me. I don’t do things with any ill-will or malice. My sole aim is to entertain.

Many actors are slated to marry soon. Do you and Deepika have any such plans?
You have assumed things and jumped the gun. I am going to be 30 in July and it is not that I don’t think about marriage. But I am not ready for it yet. I am too caught up in my career and don’t think I can do justice to a married life right now.

Will you ever settle for an arranged match?
It will always be love for me. I’d rather not marry than go for an arranged marriage.

DNA (May 25, 2015)

It shook the industry when Salman Khan announced on Twitter last week that he is no longer acting in Shhuddhi. Karan Johar followed that tweet with the announcement that Varun Dhawan and Alia Bhatt were the film’s lead pair. There is silence from both sides as to why Salman Khan, who was super excited about working on the project, opted out.

This decision was taken months ago, but was made public only now. Although Salman had made up his mind a while ago, he maintained silence till KJo had his cast in place. That was the understanding between them. A certain section of the industry is abuzz with news that the actor was offended that Karan was part of the AIB’s live show — AIB Knockout, where jokes were made about his younger sister Arpita and he decided to walk out of the film.

Another rumour doing the rounds is that Shuddhi required bulk dates from the actor, to the tune of 180 days, which the actor was not willing to commit to, so he and Karan parted ways amicably. “When Hrithik and Kareena were doing the film, they had given 200 days each for the project. Salman felt he could finish three films in those many days and so he reconsidered being part of the film,” an insider adds.

Whatever the real reason, Salman had decided very early on that he wouldn’t be a part of the film. But after multiple cast changes and delays, he was kind enough to wait until Karan found his new actors.

Reshma Shetty Bali (DNA; April 16, 2015)

The last time we saw the Gunday actors together on a stage was at the AIB Knockout – The Roast. Now they will soon be seen together on another stage, but this time it will be a lot less controversial. Ranveer Singh and Arjun Kapoor will co-host the International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) Awards 2015 in Malayasia. This is the first time they will jointly host a filmi award. Last year we saw Shahid Kapoor and Farhan Akhtar host a show together. However, IIFA’s best so far has been Boman Irani and Riteish Deshmukh and of course the inimitable Shah Rukh Khan. Ranveer and Arjun coming together might just make it to the list of our other favourites as they share super camaraderie and that is always a plus. Will this energetic duo finally become a replacement for the famous SRK and Saif Ali Khan team at award functions? Let’s wait and watch!

MUMBAI MIRROR (March 31, 2015)

The actress-producer defends the controversial roast that has landed the AIB, Karan Johar and others in an FIR soup
Subhash K Jha (DNA; February 17, 2015)


“FIRs have been filed against film artistes from time immemorial. Everyone from Raj Kapoor to Ismat Chugtai has faced it. I’ve faced it. Now it’s my sister Alia and others’ turn. One needs to take it in one’s stride and not cave in. Finally justice will prevail. I single-handedly fought an obscenity case against my film Rog for 10 years. It was frustrating. But I did not yield. Ultimately, my patience paid off and I got justice. As for Aamir’s stance against the Roast, he needs to remember that old adage... let him who has not sinned be the first one to cast a stone. His holier-than-thou moralistic posturing is getting a bit tiring, to say the least. For someone who produces Delhi Belly with the song Bhaag DK Bose and poses with a transistor covering his modesty or immodesty— that’s debatable—his attitude reeks of hypocrisy.”

Censor chief Pahlaj Nihalani on the directive issued to producers on cusswords to be bleeped out in films
Subhash K Jha (DNA; February 16, 2015)

Following the outcry against Pahlaj Nihalani's list of banned words in films issued on Friday, which includes a long list of expletives, Nihalani spoke up to explain why the list (which includes 13 English and 15 Hindi words) had to be sent out, and to whom. 

DONT KNOW HOW: Nihalani says, "Firstly, I don't know how the list came out in the public domain. We didn't send out the list to the media or even to members of the censor board." 

WASN'T ME! "It is meant to provide a safety platform to film producers. These are words that are banned as per the guidelines provided by the I&B ministry. I didn't prepare the list on my own and send it out. These are words on which there is a blanket-ban from long before I came in. So why this hue and cry over them? And again I repeat, the list is not prepared by me." 

GOVT'S ORDERS: "It's not the Censor Board but the Maharashtra government which has ordered that 'Bombay' no longer be used in any public platform. If filmmakers don't want to read the writing on the wall, it's not my fault." 

MY JOB: Nihalani is very clear on his protocol and professional duties as the CBFC chief. "My job is to implement guidelines, not formulate them. If filmmakers want changes in the censorial policy they should approach the I&B ministry directly. I'd be most happy to follow any alterations in the rules. But until then, the abusive words remain banned." 

THIS GUY! Without naming Ashoke Pandit, Nihalani condemns the filmmaker and Censor Board member for going public against the list of banned abusive words. "This censor board member was till recently crying himself hoarse over the alleged vulgarity in the AIB event. Now he's defending the use of the same words in our films. It's very confusing which side he's protesting from. Also, he has no authority to speak out in public in his capacity of the CBFC board-member. We've an official spokesperson Mr Shravan Kumar (the CBFC's CEO). Unfortunately this gentleman (Ashoke Pandit) has taken on himself to speak for the Censor Board when he isn't authorised to." 

I GET IT! Nihalani says his job is to make the process of censorship as easy as possible for film producers. "I'm a producer myself. I've two films on the floors right now. I understand what the producers go through to release their films. If they have clear guidelines spelt out to them their lives and our job becomes much easier."

NO IN-BETWEENERS: "The CBFC has now facilitated the direct censoring of film posters. Producers can now submit their posters directly to us instead of going through film federations, a process that the producers have often called tedious and unfriendly."

MUMBAI MIRROR (February 11, 2015)

Aamir Khan is the latest voice to join the ongoing debate surrounding the All India Bakchod Roast which saw the collective's comedians take down Ranveer Singh, Arjun Kapoor and Karan Johar, even as the trio laughed along.

Reactions to the event have been polarised and Khan has joined the list of detractors. At an event on Monday, the actor admitted that though he hasn't seen the video, he heard about it and saw a couple of clips. "After the Roast, I happened to be at a place where Karan and Arjun were also present. They told us about how they did this Roast and all the dialogues that were exchanged at the event... I was deeply affected by that and disappointed in what I was hearing," the actor revealed.

He added that though he's all for freedom of speech, he believed that the freedom comes with a lot of responsibility. "There was a lot of violence in that event. Violence is not only physical, it's also verbal and emotional," said the actor. It may be recalled that Khan produced the 2011 comic-caper Delhi Belly and at that time he was quoted as saying "Don't watch Delhi Belly if you can't stand abuses."

He even opted for an A certificate as he didn't think it was a film meant for children. More recently he reprimanded his friends for participating in the Roast replete with expletives and adult jokes.

"I scolded both Karan and Arjun and told them that I didn't find it funny at all. You can't give 25 gaalis and think that people will like it. I am not a14-year-old that I will be impressed by gaalis," he asserted. "When you insult someone, you are perpetuating violence and projecting it to the world. I don't like that. But I am sure that a lot of young people did like it."

He was quick to add that this was only his "personal opinion". "If you can make me laugh without offending anyone, I think I'd really enjoy that," he signed off. 
---------------------------
MID-DAY (February 11, 2015)

With controversy over the AIB Knockout Roast refusing to die down any time soon, Bollywood star Aamir Khan has voiced his opinion about the profanity-riddled videos during a media interaction.

He has labelled the roast of Arjun Kapoor and Ranveer Singh as “extremely violent and disturbing”. He said though he hasn’t watched the show, he came to know of it through Karan Johar, who was the host, and Arjun Kapoor as they described to him about what had transpired — with the aid of a few dialogues. “I have only seen a couple of clips of the roast… On hearing what they (Karan and Arjun) had to share, I must say that I was deeply affected and disappointed with it.” Mr Perfectionist however clarified that he was not against freedom of speech. “I am completely for it. I have no issues with that. But we have to understand that we all have a certain responsibility,” he added.

Aamir further called it a “very violent event”. “Violence is not just physical, but also verbal and emotional. So when you insult someone and show it to the world, it is like showing everyone see how violent I can be, this is something that I don’t like. But I am sure that there are a lot of young people who have liked the show and I believe that all of us have different opinions and we are allowed to have it. Karan and Arjun being my friends, I told them that I didn’t like it. Besides, trying to impress people by using abusive language is pointless. I am no longer a 14-year-old who will hear abusive language and laugh. If you really want me to laugh then do so without hurting anyone. That is what I will enjoy.”

Aamir steered clear of the legal complications and technicalities but said one has to face the consequences of breaking the law. “I don’t know if what they have done is legally correct or not. FIRs can be lodged, but they have to be proved also. If they have broken the law, they should face the consequences. If they haven’t, they should go scot free. That the court will decide.”

About the public shaming of AIB, he said: “I can tell them I got very disturbed by what you did, more so, because you did it in public. And that’s the extent I can interfere in someone’s life. Who am I to decide how anyone is going to conduct themselves?”

The star is of the opinion that there should be an age lock for such shows. Citing the example of his A- rated Delhi Belly, he said he had voluntarily applied for an adult certificate. “I went out of my way during promotions to tell everyone that it is an adult film, and not to watch it if that’s not your scene. As a creative person, do I have the liberty to express? Yes! But I also have a responsibility,” he stated.

Amidst the din over the AIB Knockout, we’ve had the opportunity to reach out to some groups who have had questions about the jokes and the taste they were made in. Our conversations with members of the government (and other political parties) have been civil and frank. Authorities at multiple levels have heard us out patiently and open-mindedly, and we thank them for that. In places where we expected hostility, we have found instead a heartening willingness to engage.

The same holds true for religious communities that the AIB Knockout may have offended. For example we’ve had extensive discussions with members of the Christian community. We also met with members of the Archdiocese of Mumbai. We explained that we didn’t set out to hurt or persecute the Christian community (or indeed any community) when we wrote and performed those jokes. We explained that while writing jokes, no matter the subject, we never intend to hurt anyone, though we now realize that as an unfortunate consequence of the nature of our profession, we sometimes do, and we’re sorry about that. In turn, the kind archdiocese graciously viewed that we have every right to make jokes and speak our mind in a democracy however, that exact same democracy also gives members of the Christian community the right to be offended or hurt by our comments, and more importantly to raise their voices to point that out.

We offered an unconditional apology to the archdiocese and the Christian community for any offence caused to religious sentiments as a result of our jokes. The kind archdiocese acknowledged the fact that we have never been against any community, nor do we bear any ill will towards any community.

AIB believes and supports with complete certainty the notion that every community has the right to live with dignity, honour, and freedom from any form of persecution. We would also like to reiterate that the jokes at the AIB Knockout were not intended as a form of persecution or malice towards any community, for that is not who we are, or what we stand for.

It may be relevant to mention here that during our interaction with the archdiocese, both parties agreed on another important thing; these matters are best solved by frank, patient conversation, not by pointless rabble-rousing or politicization or by taking up adversarial positions for the sake of eyeballs. So we’d like to thank members of the Christian community and the archdiocese for sitting down with us, and hearing us out, and giving us a chance to explain and apologize. It isn’t a courtesy people give each other nearly often enough.

- AIB

Bharati Dubey (MID-DAY; February 6, 2015)

With controversy over the All India Bakchod (AIB) roast video AIB Knockout escalating, the Federation of Western India Cine Employees (FWICE) has asked Karan Johar, Ranveer Singh and Arjun Kapoor, who participated in the insult comedy show, to tender a public apology for the “vulgar” act.

The Federation has stated that the show was a “travesty of basic human decency in the name of art and a blot on the culture and tradition that we need to safeguard”.

The letter says, “It is unfortunate that young impressionable minds are being exposed to vulgarity being displayed by people who claim to be youth icons… They should tender an unconditional apology to entire industry and the people of India and promise never to repeat (such an act) which amounts to cultural terrorism.”

Kamlesh Pandey, president of the FWICE, says he is personally not against any kind of moral policing or censorship because it would imply that the creators were neither mature enough nor had a sense of responsibility to decide what was right and wrong for public consumption. “But if a member of any association is found doing something which is not conducive to the image and the health of the film and entertainment industry, the FWICE is expected to take notice of this. We all have the freedom to express ourselves but with the freedom also comes responsibility,” he says.

Stating that the letter was not an order or a warning to the roast video participants, Pandey says, “It is merely a note of caution to desist from being part of such a show that sends wrong signals to the people. It is not even addressed to the gentlemen, it is just a statement that the FWICE felt was its responsibility to make when it received complaints from its sources of the film and entertainment industry.”