Aankh Micholi has a premise that reminds one of the comic capers of the 90s and early 2000s. This could have made for a laugh-a-minute riot. The film starts on a shaky note but gets better just before the interval. The intermission point is unexpected. The second half, however, has limited humour. The climax is ridiculous. It is supposed to be serious but it led to more (unintentional) laughter than the scenes that were meant to be funny! Abhimanyu Dassani is okay but Mrunal Thakur is superb. Divya Dutta is the best performer in the film. Paresh Rawal is dependable but he was not upto the mark in the initial scenes. Sharman Joshi, Abhishek Banerjee and Darshan Jariwala are okay. Vijay Raaz tries his best to raise laughs. All in all, Aankh Micholi is avoidable.

My rating - * ½ out of 5!

 

12TH FAIL IS A SLEEPER HIT; NEW RELEASES TO FACE A TOUGH TIME

The last week was bittersweet for the industry. Tejas tanked horribly and it’ll be a miracle if it manages to collect around Rs. 8 crores at the box office. Sajini Shinde Ka Viral Video was a bigger disaster as it collected just Rs. 7 lakhs on the first day. The film will struggle to reach even Rs. 60 lakhs in its lifetime.

However, 12th Fail has emerged as one of the biggest surprises of 2023. Not much was expected from it but on the first day, it collected Rs. 1 crore. It saw an insane jump as it collected Rs. 2.40 crores on Saturday and Rs. 2.85 crores on Sunday. Monday was better than Friday when the film collected Rs. 1.10 crores. On Tuesday, collections increased to Rs. 1.25 crore instead of dropping. If all goes well, it’ll end up collecting nearly Rs. 25 crores. Pre-Diwali is a very dry period for films and 12th Fail and Vijay’s Tamil film Leo have proved to be good fillers in cinemas before the big festival.

Tomorrow will see the release of Aankh Micholi. It stars Paresh Rawal, Abhimanyu, Mrunal Thakur, Sharman Joshi, Divya Dutta, Vijay Raaz, Abhishek Banerjee, Grusha Kapoor and Darshan Jariwala and is directed by Umesh Shukla of OMG Oh My God and 102 Not Out fame. The shoot of this comic caper was completed in March 2020, just before the lockdown. The film took a long time to release and is one of the most delayed films after Brahmastra and Maidaan. It was going to be released on October 27 but was pushed by a week as the previous Friday was crowded.

Aankh Micholi seems like a fun, old-school entertainer but the awareness is near-zero. Hence, it’ll struggle to open just like last week's films. With just 9 days left for Diwali, the aam junta will be busy with pre-Diwali chores, shopping etc than watching a film. Hence, the lean period coupled with negligible buzz will prove detrimental. However, the film will find takers on television later on.

The other Hindi release of the week is The Lady Killer. It is directed by Ajay Bahl of BA Pass and Section 375 fame and stars Arjun Kapoor and Bhumi Pednekar. The film will be released in hardly 3-4 theatres in Mumbai and a few more cities. It is a token release since the makers have recovered the amount from the sale of digital and TV rights. But as per the conditions, they need to give it a theatrical release. As a result, it’s a case of releasing it on the big screen for the heck of it. The makers aren’t promoting it at all and have simply uploaded the trailer of the film. Arjun and Bhumi reportedly are upset with such a release and have not posted about the film on their social media handles.

Lastly, Shastry Virudh Shastry will also arrive in cinemas. It has got a better release than The Lady Killer but it won’t matter much.

Kavita Awaasthi (HINDUSTAN TIMES; August 5, 2020)

In his 20-year-old career, Sharman Joshi has been appreciated in a number of roles including Rang De Basanti (2006), Golmaal (2006), Life in a... Metro (2007), 3 Idiots (2009), and Ferrari Ki Sawaari (FKS; 2012), among others. And though people appreciate his talent and versatility, he has not been seen in as many films.

Joshi talks about the challenges in his profession, and says, “Choices mein galti ho gayi ho toh, please give me another chance (smiles). We are all humans and make errors. In this profession, you are only as good as your last project. Some films don’t turn out the way you expect them to. Post FKS, three of my films — War Chhod Na Yaar (2013), Gang Of Ghosts and Super Nani (both 2014), didn’t turn out the way they were on paper. That was a bit of a setback for me and disappointing, too. To emerge out of a setback, one needs a lot of effort, patience and luck. I am glad I got Mission Mangal last year.”

Having been an actor for so long, Joshi knows what it takes to make it work. Ask him about favouritism and nepotism in the industry, and he says, “To get a break in the industry can be quite exasperating and disappointing but that is the challenge all of us have taken on. It is the same with any competitive profession, including sports. In the film business, people want to work with a certain set of actors and that is fair as you want a team that is on the same page as you are and in sync with you. I can’t point fingers at someone if he or she is working constantly with one person. I did two films back-to-back with Mr (Rajkumar) Hirani and Mr (Vidhu Vinod) Chopra as they liked me as an actor and I was more than happy to be part of their films.”

Joshi is happy with the response to the second season of his web show Baarish and has a few films lined up for release including director Umesh Shukla’s Aankh Micholi. He is also looking forward to shooting filmmaker duo Abbas-Mustan’s thriller for an OTT soon. “Thrillers are their forte and I am excited about the project as I wanted to work with them,” he concludes.

Abhimanyu Dassani on the USP of talent, being the driving force behind mom Bhagyashree’s comeback and why both his upcoming films will only release in theatres
Akash Bhatnagar (MUMBAI MIRROR; July 8, 2020)

If not for the Coronavirus-triggered lockdown, Abhimanyu Dassani’s second film, Nikamma, would have released in June. But a firm believer in ‘everything happens for a reason’, the actor used the downtime to acquire new skills.

“I learnt lathi, an Indian form of martial art, by watching videos online. Hopefully, I’ll get a chance to showcase it in an action film. I also worked on voice modulation as I like to change my voice as per the role. I don’t even have the same voice I did during my debut, Mard Ko Dard Nahin Hota,” he says, adding that he also wrote a script and hopes to be a part of it in a few years.

The actor says that he was adjusting to the lockdown, but it’s getting a bit much now. “My mom (actress Bhagyashree) was happy that I was spending time at home. But now, even my family has had enough of me,” he laughs, adding that his cooking skills have been a saviour. “I cook once every two days, and mom really enjoys it. She doesn’t tell me to cook, but just says, ‘I want to eat pasta today,’ and that is my cue,” Abhimanyu gushes. Bhagyashree is making an acting comeback with Kangana Ranaut’s Thalaivi and the actor informs that he was the driving force behind it. “She is good at what she does and this is the time when talent is getting noticed. You can look like me and still get lead roles. Also, if she spends too much time at home, she’d want me to get married,” he laughs.

About his part in Nikamma, Abhimanyu says, “It’s a coming-of-age action-comedy about a carefree boy who realises the responsibilities he has to take on for his family.” Five days of shoot is pending for the film, with two scenes and a promotional song. Many filmmakers are heading to Ramoji Film City in Hyderabad to resume shoots. Will the Nikamma team follow suit? “Who would do a 14-day quarantine for a five-day shoot? It’s better to wait for two weeks and complete it in Mumbai,” he responds, adding that both Nikamma and his next, Aankh Micholi (a family comedy revolving around a wedding), will wait for a theatrical release. “It feels good to have the producers’ confidence in our work. These are the types of movies you’d like to watch in theatres. Good family comedies haven’t come out in a while, and there is nothing releasing before Aankh Micholi this year,” he asserts, confident that theatres in India will open by Diwali.

Abhimanyu is all praise for Nikamma co-star Shilpa Shetty, hailing her as “a guardian, both on and off screen”. “She helped me mould myself into a new genre, worked out with me every day and even monitored what I ate during the Lucknow shoot. I have made a friend for life,” he smiles. Abhimanyu, who misses playing football in the rain, admits that he wants to do a sports film. “The dedication, sacrifice and discipline required to be a sportsperson, is unparalleled. I’d jump at the opportunity of doing one. I am even willing to wait outside filmmakers’ offices,” he insists, adding, “Unfortunately, I don’t look like Bhaichung Bhutia or Sunil Chhetri, but I would love to do a film on football. Even Virat (Kohli) has had an amazing journey, or maybe Dhanraj Pillay, although I don’t have long hair.”

Mrunal Thakur on her dream run at the movies and playing Shahid Kapoor’s better half, mother to a young boy in the Jersey remake
Himesh Mankad (MUMBAI MIRROR; April 2, 2020)

Mrunal Thakur admits that 2019 was a dream year for her. The actress grabbed eyeballs with her performances in Super 30, a biopic on math whiz Anand Kumar, and the cop-drama Batla House. She is still in touch with both her co-stars, Hrithik Roshan and John Abraham respectively, who are very encouraging and appreciative of her work. “I can’t believe, it’s almost a year since I shot for both films,” Mrunal admits, adding that after the encouraging reviews, the responsibility of delivering consistently has increased.

The actress has two sports-dramas coming up this year—the first one being the official remake of Nani’s Telugu hit, Jersey, with Shahid Kapoor. “He’s a sweetheart and always supportive,” says Mrunal, who has watched the original and now, when on the set, is often consulted by the director for inputs.

The Gowtam Tinnanuri directorial sees the protagonist—a retired cricketer trying to make it to the national teamage from his early 20s to mid-30s. Shahid and Mrunal play parents to a young boy and the actress is unfazed by the prospect of on-screen motherhood. “I’ve met girls who had kids in their early 20s. Even I played a mom of two in a commercial when I was 18. It’s just acting,” she says nonchalantly.

There’s also Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra’s Toofaan, which features Farhan Akhtar as a boxer and Mrunal as his ladylove. “We shot most of the film in one go in Mumbai so the flow wouldn’t break,” she informs. “My character has a certain graph, and music is helping me prep.” The song “Her Grace” by Maverick Sabre allows her to live out the character and underlines the film’s vibe. “Music is my biggest weapon on a set,” she says, acknowledging that the challenge while juggling Jersey and Toofan was to make both characters distinctly different. “It’s tough to do one thing in different ways.”

The actress ends the year with a quirky comedy, Umesh Shukla’s Aankh Micholi, which rides on an ensemble cast, including Paresh Rawal, Abhimanyu Dassani, Sharman Joshi and Divya Dutta. “We completed the film in two chunks, in Europe and Patiala. It’s a fun film where characters with great flaws come together under one roof. Watch out for our mad house,” she signs off with a laugh.

Abhimanyu Dassani knows how to keep a secret, is unfazed when he doesn’t have a release for over a year... and other things that make him different
Akash Bhatnagar (MUMBAI MIRROR; February 25, 2020)

On Saturday, Abhimanyu Dassani brought in his 26th birthday on the Patiala sets of his third film, Aankh Micholi. Pointing out that he’s had a working birthday for the last three years, he says, “I guess it’s a tradition now and I love it.” He got his birthday present a week in advance, in the form of a Filmfare Black Lady, as Best Debutant for Mard Ko Dard Nahi Hota. He received the trophy from mom Bhagyashree, who’d bagged it herself in 1990 for Maine Pyar Kiya. “I was nervous, more so when I learnt that she would present it—I knew she’d cry on stage, irrespective of who won,” he laughs.

Abhimanyu has been away from the screen for over a year, but he is patience personified. “I am happy as long as I am working. We first screened Mard Ko Dard Nahi Hota in August 2018 and it released in India in March 2019,” he points out, adding that he was worried when the film didn’t have a producer and there was talk of it being shelved mid-shoot.

The actor has two films up for release this year—Nikamma, with Shilpa Shetty and Shirley Setia and Aankh Micholi with Mrunal Thakur and Paresh Rawal. He is shooting for the latter and “treating it as my acting workshop and not a movie”. Abhimanyu is excited about meeting Shilpa’s daughter, Samisha, who was born on February 15. “As soon as I get half a day off, I am going to Delhi to spend time with her. I’d known about Shilpa’s big news for a while now,” he admits.

In his first film, Abhimanyu was introduced as an action hero. Ask him if he views Tiger Shroff, who has established himself in the genre, as competition, and he shrugs, “Tiger is already a superstar, a great stuntman and a gymnast. He has taken action to the next level and paved the way for people like us. I am an actor, now exploring roles outside of action.”

Speaking of venturing out of one genre, Abhimanyu points out, “My first was a festival film, the second is a commercial entertainer, the third, a comedy and the fourth, a romance.” He’d like to work with Ayan Mukerji, Neeraj Pandey, Abhishek Chaubey, Zoya Akhtar and reunite with Vasan Bala. “Also, Alia Bhatt. I love everything that she does.”

(L-R) Paresh Rawal, Divya Dutta, Darshan Jariwala, Abhimanyu, Mrunal Thakur, Vijay Raaz, Abhishek Banerjee, Sharman Joshi, Grusha Kapoor and child artist Ricky Patel

BOMBAY TIMES (February 20, 2020)

Director-producer Umesh Shukla and Sony Pictures Films India have joined hands for a hilarious family entertainer, Aankh Micholi. The film features Abhimanyu and Mrunal Thakur in the lead. Abhimanyu had recently won the Filmfare Best Debut Actor award, and this will be his second outing with the studio.

Apart from the two, the film, which will be shot across India and Europe, has an impressive line-up of actors, including Paresh Rawal, Sharman Joshi, Divya Dutta, Abhishek Banerjee, Darshan Jariwala, Grusha Kapoor and Vijay Raaz. It has been written by Jitendra Parmar.

Vivek Krishnani, Managing Director, Sony Pictures Entertainment India, says, “As a studio, we are always looking out for engaging and riveting stories that can not only charm the audience, but also evoke strong emotions. With such a stellar ensemble and Umesh in the driver’s seat, this Diwali will truly be a rib-tickling roller-coaster ride for viewers worldwide.” Umesh Shukla shares, “Aankh Micholi is close to my heart and I am proud to have been able to bring such an exciting cast together. Since it’s a family entertainer, we thought of releasing it on Diwali, and I can promise that the audience will be in for a laugh riot.”

Aankh Micholi, produced by Sony Pictures Films India, Umesh Shukla and Ashish Wagh’s Merry Go Round Studios, is scheduled to release this Diwali