Abbas-Mustan’s foray into digital entertainment seems to be having as many twists as their thrillers do. In March 2021, the director duo’s maiden web film, tentatively titled Penthouse, was announced as a Netflix original. However, in July 2022, it was reported that the OTT giant had dropped the Bobby Deol, Arjun Rampal and Sharman Joshi-starrer from its slate of upcoming content (Bobby Deol, Arjun Rampal and Sharman Joshi’s Penthouse to be scrapped, July 2). A year-and-a-half later, there is a new plot twist. It is heard that the murder mystery’s makers are now in talks with Jio Cinema.

Penthouse—also starring Tisca Chopra, Mouni Roy and Cyrus Broacha—is an adaptation of the 2014 Hollywood movie, The Loft, which in turn was a remake of Belgian film Loft (2008). The crime thrillers revolved around five married men, who jointly own a penthouse in the city where they meet their mistresses. However, things turn ugly when a woman is discovered dead in the loft.

A source reveals, “Thrillers are Abbas-Mustan’s forte, and in the same vein, the Bobby and Arjun-starrer has been designed as a slick murder mystery. The producers have initiated talks with Jio Cinema. There is interest around the project since it is the director duo’s maiden OTT film.”

It was said that Penthouse had gone on floors as early as November 2020 and was wrapped up by 2021. Has the film been lying in the cans since then? Abbas Burmawalla rubbishes the rumours, saying, “People assumed we completed the film by 2021. But the truth is, we only began shooting from 2022 while post-production went on till this year. We had put up a huge set in 2020 [in Goregaon], but we had to dismantle it during the pandemic. We finally got to shooting only when the pandemic was over.”

Quiz him on the chatter that the murder mystery is headed to Jio Cinema, and the director says, “We have delivered the final product to the producers. We’ve heard that they took the rights back from Netflix, and are in talks with Jio Cinema currently. Now, it’s up to them when they want to release the film.”

As told to Ankita Chaurasia (MUMBAI MIRROR; September 17, 2020)

My first shot was for Aakhri Mughal. Both Abhishek Bachchan and I were to make our debuts in the film and I remember how scared I was to have Amitabh Bachchan on the set, watching us give our first take. I kept asking Abhishek to make him leave and he would say exasperatedly, “He is my father, how can I ask him to go!”

I wasn’t sure if I could act when J P Dutta and Jaya Bachchan approached me with the film. I couldn’t say “no” to them. But I’ve to admit, I was really happy when Aakhri Mughal was shelved! Yes, I know I’m a bit of a weirdo, I always have been one.

By the time Ajnabee came along, I was bored with modelling. Vijay Galani wondered if I would meet director duo Abbas and Mustan Burmawalla for a role in their film. I agreed, but was afraid they wouldn’t converse in English. On meeting them, I realised they were scared that a model wouldn’t speak Hindi. But we immediately liked each other. I didn’t watch a lot of films back then, but the suspense-thriller seemed like a very international film to me. And they were shooting in Switzerland, so I signed on thinking that at least I’d get to travel. I went with that intention; not to act.

Luckily, everyone on the set was very fond of me. Abbas bhai, Mustan bhai, Bobby (Deol) and his wife Tanya, Akshay (Kumar) all were very protective of me and got me an entourage of my own. My hairstylist had worked with Manisha Koirala earlier and was quite scandalized by my behaviour. She’d tell me that as an actor I should drink alcohol only in cups so that no one found out and not wear backless dresses. I remember the look on her face when I applied coconut oil on my body and sunbathed as opposed to actresses who slathered themselves with sunscreen and insisted on moving around under an umbrella. In fact, she was aghast when I told everyone that I had a boyfriend.

My first scene in the film was the one when neighbours Priya (Kareena Kapoor) and Sonia (my character) meet for the first time while jogging and strike up a conversation. It went off really well and my directors told me I was a natural actor. And I thought to myself, “Wow, so this is acting…I can do it!” Despite it being a negative role in a film way ahead of its time, it still fetched me a Filmfare Award for Best Female Debut.

Onkar Kulkarni (BOMBAY TIMES; September 13, 2020)

He made his Bollywood debut with Barsaat (1995), and since then, Bobby Deol has played varied roles across genres. The actor hit a rough patch in his career a few years ago, before coming back with a makeover in Race 3 (2018). Raring to go, he is now exploring new avenues and mediums. As he celebrates 25 years in Bollywood this year, Bobby looks back at his journey so far. Excerpts from a chat...

You have been a part of about 45 films in 25 years. Tell us about some of your most unforgettable experiences?
I have been working for many years, and every film has left me with pleasant memories. However, the one memory I cherish the most is of the day I faced the camera for the first time. It was for a film by Shekhar Kapur also starring Twinkle Khanna (he had appeared as a child artiste in the 1977 film, Dharam Veer). It was a simple shot where I was walking down the stairs, leading to an arena where I was supposed to have a fight. The first day on a film set felt like a dream come true. I shot for that film for 27 days, but it never got made. Shekhar got an opportunity to direct Bandit Queen (1994), and he had to choose between that film and ours. Since the former was a gateway to Hollywood, my dad (Dharmendra, who was the producer of that film) didn’t push him to do it.

You faced a lull in your career before coming back with a makeover in Race 3 (2018). Looking back, do you regret not reinventing yourself a little earlier on?
As an actor, you think of becoming secure and fearless at the same time. There have been times when I tried to do something different, but it didn’t work. That’s when you think of taking a safer path. After seeing the ups and downs, and then making a comeback, I felt that I needed to take chances in life. I became fearless and took chances. With Race 3, I was trying to get noticed and get more work. I am really happy with the opportunities that came my way post that. The OTT projects feel like a great start to a new life. Now, I believe in myself more than I ever did. I feel that even if I fail today, I have the capacity to bounce back. I am in a much happier space in life. I am always going to be persistent.

Was there a particular moment that prompted you to get your act together?
One day, I heard my sons asking their mom, ‘Why is dad at home? Doesn’t he go to work like you do?’ That was the trigger point.

You have ventured into the digital space this year.In fact,your web show, Aashram on MX Player, has won a lot of appreciation. How has your experience been exploring a new medium in the 25th year of your career?
Shooting for a web show is just like shooting for a movie, just that in the former, you are shooting for a five-hour-long movie (laughs!). I feel that web shows are a great platform for new actors to showcase their talent.

You are known as one of the most shy and reserved actors in Bollywood. But, is there someone who you have opened up to and connected well with, in the industry over the years?
I have done many films with Abbas-Mustan (Ajnabee, Humraaz, Naqaab), and they treat me like a younger brother. I have fond memories of working with them. That apart, I am very fond of Preity Zinta. I call her Pritam Singh. I knew her from even before she became an actor. She used to be a part of my friends’ group. I remember she was studying Criminal Psychology and asked me to be her case study. I turned her offer down (laughs!). I had suggested her name to Abbas-Mustan bhai for Soldier (1998) and that’s how we got cast.

Over the past few months, there have been debates about favouritism and nepotism in Bollywood. While you were never a part of any film circles or camps, the fact remains that you come from a starry family?
I don’t believe in being a part of any camp, and that’s the way I have been brought up. Chaplusi karna aadat nahi hai hamari. My family has been away from all this. My dad struggled his way into the film industry. He is the biggest example of an outsider making it big in Bollywood. I am blessed that I am his son and part of this profession. If the nepotism bit was true, toh mere paas kaam aate rehna chahiye tha.

You followed your father and elder brother’s (Sunny Deol) footsteps into the industry. Are your sons gearing up for a career in movies as well?
My sons are just 18 (Aryaman) and 15 (Dharam) years old. My older son is academically inclined; he is a class topper and has got selected by one of the top universities in the US. He is studying Business Management. He still has a few years to decide his career choice. The younger one is in 9th grade. I have seen how the industry has become competitive over the years. It is not easy for everyone to make a mark. At this point, I just want them to be well-educated, so that they can explore various career options.

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.

Sources say Abbas-Mustan in the process of procuring permission from Film City to start work on Netflix series, Penthouse, by August
Uma Ramasubramanian (MID-DAY; July 15, 2020)

After the television industry, the OTT players are now taking baby steps towards resuming work. It is learnt that director duo Abbas-Mustan are in the process of procuring permission from the managing director of Maharashtra Film, Theatre and Cultural Development Corporation (Film City) to kickstart the shoot of their Netflix series, Penthouse, featuring Sharman Joshi.

A source reveals, "For the first stint, the makers want to erect a huge set of a penthouse at Filmistan in Goregaon. While the logistics have been worked out, the production house is awaiting the greenlight from Film City. The director duo is eager to begin the shoot by mid-August." The psychological thriller — which was to originally go on floors in April — marks the digital debut of the filmmakers.

When mid-day reached out to Abbas-Mustan, they remained evasive as they said, "There are many exciting things in the pipeline, but it's work in progress. Right now, it's important to focus on staying safe. The safety of our team and fellow industry members is of highest priority."

Champak Jain, (right) a still from Khiladi

Hiren Kotwani (MUMBAI MIRROR; November 1, 2019)

On Thursday, at around 7 pm, Champak Jain, one of the producers of films like Khiladi, Baazigar, Humraaz, Hulchul, De Dana Dan and Kis Kisko Pyaar Karoon, passed away following a cardiac arrest. He was 52.

Along with his six brothers—Ratan, Girish, Ganesh, Umed, Ramesh and Bhanwar—Champak founded Venus Records and Tapes and United Seven production house, under which they made several films with actors like Akshay Kumar, Shah Rukh Khan, Aamir Khan, Saif Ali Khan, Kareena Kapoor Khan and John Abraham.

When Mirror reached out to brother Ratan, he informed that “it all happened very suddenly”. They were at their Juhu office, talking, when Champak collapsed. He was immedaitely rushed to Criti Care Hospital in the vicinity, but it was too late.

Abbas Burmawala (of director duo Abbas-Mustan), who has collaborated with the Jain brothers on several films, said, “We have been friends since the time we first worked together on Khiladi. Champak ji was a nice, simple man. We had a great relation with him and the Jain family. In fact, we had just met Champak ji on Dhanteras. His sudden demise is shocking.”

Producer N R Pachisia remembers him as a soft-spoken person, always calm even in a crisis. “He was also so fit and healthy that his sudden passing away is hard to accept, We will miss him.”

The last rites will be performed today at 11am at the Santacruz crematorium.

BOMBAY TIMES (September 2, 2019)

Producer Gaurang Doshi, who has backed films like Aankhen (2002), is all set to end his long hiatus. He has now joined hands with His Highness Sheikh Theyab Bin Khalifa Bin Hamdan Al Nahyan, a member of the Abu Dhabi royal family, for three of his upcoming projects. These films include Aankhen Returns — directed by Anees Bazmee — and is slated to be an Eid or Diwali release next year; director Neerraj Pathak (left) Happy Anniversary, which is slated to release early next year, and Indians In Danger, directed by Abbas-Mustan.

Apart from films, Gaurang is also entering the digital arena with an OTT platform. He has also announced a Hollywood project, which will be co-produced by Brazilian filmmaker Raphael Bittencourt. The shooting of the Hollywood project, which is likely to release early next year, has been completed. Raphael conveyed his excitement over working with Gaurang. He further added that he is looking forward to the association and achieving many mutually beneficial milestones.

The announcements and the launch, which took place recently at Abu Dhabi, was graced by the royal family, along with several filmmakers and business heads. Sultan Saeed Rashed Saeed Alalawl (right), a member of the royal family, attended the event. While His Highness Sheikh Theyab Bin Khalifa Bin Hamdan Al Nahyan is investing in Gaurang’s ventures, the Bollywood producer is also partnering with business and entertainment entrepreneur Munir Awan. That’s not all; he is also being backed by the Abu Dhabi government’s National Council of Media for the shoot of his upcoming web-series and movies in the country. Gaurang, who has produced movies like Aankhen, Deewaar: Let’s Bring Our Heroes Home (2004) and Bawandar (2000), holds four Limca Records for his movies. He inherited the art of filmmaking from his late father, Vinod Doshi, who has backed movies like Sachaa Jhutha (1970) and Nastik (1983), and presented hits like Dil (1990) and Beta (1992), under the banner of VR Pictures. Now, with his newly launched banner, Gaurang Doshi Productions, Gaurang aims to offer more unconventional content to the audience.

The producer is all praise for Amitabh Bachchan, who has featured in his movies. He says, “I’m one of those few individuals who can proudly share their experience of working with a true legend. I cherish the honour of working with him on multiple projects in the past, and am looking forward to many more. He is my beloved godfather, and my real inspiration, who has blessed me with his wisdom. I’m excited to have him on board for Aankhen Returns, and there are many more to come. My projects are incomplete without him.”

Talking about returning to making films, Gaurang says, “It is good to be back after facing many hurdles that were uncalled for. This proves the fact that true talent never dies. No matter how hard the road is, or how determined your haters are to bring you down, with relentless passion and determination, one can achieve success.”

Rachana Dubey (BOMBAY TIMES; June 17, 2019)

So far, it has been a busy year for Kiara Advani. While she will soon start shooting for Shershaah, Laxmmi Bomb and Indoo Ki Jawani, she has two films lined up for release this year, starting with Kabir Singh with Shahid Kapoor, which will be followed by Good News with Akshay Kumar, Kareena Kapoor Khan and Diljit Dosanjh. The actress, who finds herself in a happy space now, says that she feels like a school student awaiting exam results. Over to Kiara, who talks about handling rejection, getting into the skin of different characters and finding a foothold in show business. Excerpts from the chat:

Though Arjun Reddy was a Telugu film, due to its intense content, it was also watched by film buffs across the country. Given that Kabir Singh is a remake of the film, what drew you to play a part whose graph is already known?
In recent times, we haven’t seen many pure, intense love stories. I am a sucker for romantic cinema. I’m glad that I’ve managed to be a part of one because I wanted this. I loved Arjun Reddy and the graph that Priti’s character has. While working with director Sandeep Reddy Vanga, I realised that he has a unique way of interpreting emotions. He was the biggest asset for this film. Only he could have told the story the way it is because it’s drawn out of his own experiences. There wasn’t a day on the set when he wasn’t meticulous. It’s also a relatable story, and one of the reasons it could be remade is that it has universal appeal.

Do you think that for a love story, which is as intense and passionate as this one, a lot depends on the chemistry and energy that co-stars share?
As an actor, I draw a lot from my costars. When you are performing a scene, you have to listen to what the other person is saying. Often, we’re so caught up with what we’re doing that we don’t pay attention to the other actor in the frame. It’s important to pay attention because it helps you to emote better. Co-stars give you so many cues, which can enhance your performance. Shahid is a terrific co-star, and it’s easy to bond with him. Besides, he’s the only other person I know who gets excited to have lauki ki sabzi in his dabba (laughs!). He’s a warm, lovely family man, who also has that ‘bro’ vibe. He can be parental at times. What amazes me is that he doesn’t smoke or drink, and yet, he plays these vice-laden characters so well. I think the beauty of cinema is that it allows you to bring out your alter ego or an extension of your personality without the fear of being judged. My character, Priti, is so unlike me. I’m expressive, and I talk more when I’m nervous, but she holds back. Her sense of normal is very different from mine. In a way, she’s like my alter ego. This film has brought me closer to my emotions. It has taught me to internalise emotions and get that thehrav and intrigue without using dialogues. While trying to play Priti, somewhere, I started merging Kiara with her. I even contemplated seeking counselling because the part was emotionally draining.

After Kabir Singh,there’s Good News this year, followed by three projects in the pipeline. There was a phase after your debut in 2014 when you didn’t have much on your plate. Have you tried introspecting what is working for you now?
Most people thought that M S Dhoni - The Untold Story was my first film. Not many people have seen Fugly, in fact, they mix it up with another movie. As an outsider in this industry, when you’re starting out, you tend to think that landing the first project will open the gates for you. I realised that for the gates to open, your first film has to do well and your performance has to be noticed. I had no idea that landing project number two, three and four will be tough because my first project didn’t work. That’s the time I sat down to introspect and figure out what was going on. People were not interested in meeting me. It broke my heart. I started thinking about where my career was headed and whether I should consider another line of work.

In that scenario, what kept you going?
The belief that I could act. I decided that I will not let anyone tell me that I can’t act. I decided to plunge into this with determination, even if it meant doing the gym class and ask-for-ameeting routine every day, till I don’t get what I want. Yes, it can be stressful, and those waiting in the wings will know what I am talking about. I kept reading scripts until I found something that I liked. I auditioned for M S Dhoni - The Untold Story, and it took a while before I got the call for it. People noticed me in that 30-minute role. It was a mini-high and it became my identity for a while. A week or two later, all the compliments dried up, life was back to normal and I was back to looking for something exciting. I had a list of directors who I wanted to work with, and Abbas-Mustan were on it. I was happy to work in Machine (directed by Abbas-Mustan). It didn’t do well, and I felt bad, but it made my resolve stronger. Also, I don’t regret doing the film because people in smaller towns still recall the Mast Mast music video that we did for it.

Is that the point when you decided to give South films a shot?
You never know who your audience is and where you might find them. I saw Baahubali, which made me realise that I could give Telugu films a shot. I bagged two big projects with Ram Charan and Mahesh Babu. I didn’t realise that working there will get me such a vast audience base. I got a dream launch and the response to it was fabulous. Now, I want to do one film a year down South, if I can, because the scripts there are quite interesting. Times are changing and it’s the content that decides everything. Language and platform are hardly a barrier anymore. I realised that sitting at home is not going to help me. The competition increases every day. We have five-six new faces in Bollywood every year, and many of them are star kids. When you don’t come from this industry, it takes you time to create a market for yourself. You can either get irritated with the competition, sit at home and wait for something to work out, or you can go out there and find a way through it. I took up Machine and my first Telugu film because of that. Finally, things are shaping up the way I want them to.

Looking back, was it difficult to handle rejection during the initial struggling phase?
It is tough to take that ‘No’ on your chin, but you can survive it if you believe in yourself. If you don’t believe that you can make the cut, who will? When you question your abilities, you also open the door for others to do that. During the toughest times, if I had questioned my ability to act, I wouldn’t have gone beyond one project. I am glad I didn’t give up. Constructive criticism is always welcome, but you should know who to take it from. You have to evolve as an artiste. Today, for me, every day is a work-in-progress. I’m no longer waiting for a destination; I’m just relishing the journey.

With several new faces, including industry kids, entering the business, what do you think works to your advantage?
I was excited to see what Janhvi (Kapoor) does in her first film because I am a huge Sridevi fan. In my heart, I know that we’re all vying for the same roles because there are only that many exciting movies being made. I made my debut a while ago, but I still have that fresh girl look, which works to my advantage. Also, I’ve not been stereotyped or bracketed. It’s inspiring to see peers doing great work because it helps cinema evolve, and in turn, every actor benefits from it.

With a busy date diary, do you think you have the time to be in a relationship, given that you’re a sucker for romance?
I don’t know! Look, I’m single right now. I just want to be with someone who can love me for who I am and vice versa. The relationship has to have a deep emotional connect for both of us. You can’t be in love with calculations attached to it. I’ve seen many people who have settled with their high-school sweethearts. They’re lucky because their relationships lasted, mine didn’t (smiles). I wish I had that high school sweetheart, too. Honestly, I want to see myself settled with someone who I am head over heels in love with. The search is on…

MUMBAI MIRROR (January 29, 2019)

Bobby Deol brought in his 50th birthday with a quiet celebration with family and close friends at his Juhu residence. The day started with a traditional havan, followed by a family lunch with papa Dharmendra, bhaiyya Sunny and other members of the family. Later in the evening, wife Tanya had organised a party and among the first guests were the men in white, Abbas and Mastan Burmawalla who had directed Bobby in Soldier, Ajnabee, Humraaz, Naqaab, and Players. The trio got into an animated discussion with Race producer Ramesh Taurani.

Bobby’s former neighbour and childhood buddy, Ajay Devgn, arrived around 11 pm and got into a huddle with both the Deols. Among the other guests were cricketer Zaheer Khan, filmmaker Nikhil Dwivedi with wife Gowri along with Bobby’s Race 3 co-stars Saqib Saleem and Daisy Shah. Arbaaz Khan turned up with girlfriend Georgia Andriani; Sohail Khan was joined by son Nirvaan.

Salman Khan arrived after most of the guests had left. Incidentally, Dharam was the first to retire, a little before midnight. Salman arrived around 2.30 am, straight from the Bharat shoot. He was accompanied by brother-in-law Atul Agnihotri and sister Alvira and stayed on till the early hours.

With Bhai’s entry, the DJ switched to his chartbusters and everyone hit the dance floor again. One of the high points was Bobby and Tanya grooving to Socha Na Tha’s “Na Sahi”, one of their all-time favourites.

Guests mingled with the groom’s furry friend and sampled Turkish ice-cream
Natasha Coutinho (MUMBAI MIRROR; December 17, 2018)

Kapil Sharma and Ginni Chatrath followed up their traditional Hindu wedding and a Sikh ceremony on December 12 in Jalandhar with a reception in the groom’s hometown, Amritsar, on Friday night. Daler Mehndi was belting out hit numbers like “Bolo Tara Rara” and “Tunak Tunak” which upped the temperature and took the winter chill away.

The function started at 8 pm but Kapil arrived with his better half only past 10 pm and the party went on till late in the night. Kapil’s friends including Sumona (Chakravarti), Kiku (Sharda), Rajiv (Thakur), Chandan (Prabhakar) and singers Jasmine Sandlas and Zeus were all present at the bash. Krushna Abhishek had to leave because of a prior commitment in Mumbai but Abbas and Mustan, who directed Kapil’s debut film, stood out in their signature all-white. “His pet Shih Tzu, Cheeku (left; below), was a special guest, dressed in a specially-tailored suit with mirrorwork and a clip in his hair,” informed a guest.

There was lots of seafood and a live chutney counter, a Turkish ice-cream counter and cakes and pastry counters. “There was also Italian cuisine and of course, all the traditional Punjabi dishes,” added the source, saying all the leftover from the reception was parcelled off to a non-profit organisation with volunteers turning up at 4am.

The groom will be back in Mumbai on Tuesday to resume shooting for The Kapil Sharma show. Buzz is, Shah Rukh Khan will be his next guest. The couple’s Mumbai reception will be on December 24. 

The couple tied the knot in Sikh and Hindu ceremonies on Wednesday; Salman Khan, Bachchans, among others, on guest list for Mumbai reception on Dec 24
Natasha Coutinho (MUMBAI MIRROR; December 13, 2018)

Comedian-actor Kapil Sharma and his long-time girlfriend Ginni Chatrath tied the knot on Wednesday in two weddings in the latter’s hometown of Jalandhar. The Sikh ceremony took place at 11.30 pm and was followed by a Hindu ceremony at 4 am.

A source close to the groom told Mirror, “Kapil reached Amritsar on December 8, just before the pre-wedding ceremonies were to take off, as he had been busy shooting for his TV show comeback, The Kapil Sharma Show, with his first two guests – Salman Khan and family and Ranveer Singh, Sonu Sood and Sara Ali Khan.”

According to the source, director-duo Abbas-Mustan, who had helmed Kapil’s 2015 big screen debut Kis Kis Ko Pyar Karoon, were among the guests at the wedding ceremony along with singer Gurdas Maan, who also performed. On the menu were traditional Punjabi dishes, along with Chinese delicacies.

Next up, Kapil, whose comeback show premieres on December 21, will host a wedding reception in Mumbai for his friends from the film and TV industries on December 24 at a suburban five-star. Guests expected to attend the do include the Bachchan family and Salman Khan, among others. Incidentally, Kapil’s comeback show is scheduled to premiere on December 29.

“Kapil and Ginni will go on a honeymoon later as he is required to resume shooting for his show early next week,” the source added.

Kapil and Ginni’s pre-wedding celebrations had kicked off last week with Akhand Path and chooda ceremony, which took place at the bride’s residence. Mehendi and sangeet were held at a five-star in Amritsar (Kapil’s hometown) on Sunday. The next day, the bride’s family had a Mata Ki Chowki at their residence, which was followed by a cocktail and dinner party hosted by the couple for their friends and colleagues, including Bharti Singh and Harsh Limbachiyaa, Krushna Abhishek, Sumona Chakravarti, Rajiv Thakur, singer Richa Sharma and Kapil’s Firangi director Rajiv Dhingra on Tuesday. “Later in the evening, both families took part in a ceremony where jaagos (pots decorated with lights) and decorated sticks (jaago sticks) are used as part of the celebrations. Guests danced and sang during the ceremony which went on till early hours of Thursday.

A few days ago, Kapil had sent out wedding invitations in cream-and-gold-plated boxes to his guests. The couple’s initials were emblazoned on the boxes with dry fruit panjeeri, almond chana bite, herbal green tea, mysore pak and baked cashew squares inside it.

Rachana Dubey (BOMBAY TIMES; September 22, 2018)

Conceptualising a film is not as easy as one thinks it is. Ask writer Vipul Rawal, a former naval official, who started working on the concept of Batti Gul Meter Chalu back in 2009. The film, which released yesterday, revolves around the issue of electricity theft and the way a common man struggles to find a solution to the problem. If you’re wondering why it took so long in the making, and what drove an ex-defence personnel to craft a film like this, check out the excerpts from our conversation with Vipul...

What drove you to conceptualise a film on electricity theft and a commoner’s battle against it?
The journey began in 2009. A friend of mine, also a social worker, was visiting my house. He showed me an electricity bill, which ran into seven columns before arriving at the final figure, which was faulty. That triggered the writer in me. At that time, my friend was fighting a corporation for faulty electricity charges. I started attending court hearings with him, and during the course of that, I started wondering what a person would really do if he is not happy with the electricity services he’s receiving. I then joined consumer groups with my friend, which aided my research. So, I spent a lot of time between 2009 and 2016, putting the script together.

It was your fifth draft that clicked with the makers, and the film made a decade-long journey before releasing in cinemas. Did you get anxious at any point?
Iqbal was rejected by 17 producers before getting made. It was my first film and I never lost faith. Rustom changed hands several times. It started with Abbas Mustan, went to John Abraham and eventually, Neeraj Pandey made it. I don’t compromise on the subject matter of my films. When I approach producers, I go with a bound 120-page draft, not a concept note. In fact, if my films take less than five years in the making now, I actually start feeling that something is amiss. I sold a script to John Mathew Matthan six years ago and it has still not been made. The basic rule of the game is that you have to be patient. It’s not a 100-metre race that wraps up fast. It’s a marathon that takes long before it draws to a close.

Considering that Batti Gul Meter Chalu was written by you, could you tell us why Sidharth and Garima share the writing credit with you?
I gave the bound script to Prernaa Arora, and Shree Narayan Singh came on board to direct it. While I had set the movie in Mumbai, they felt that moving the narrative to a small town in Uttarakhand would make it more palatable for the audience. Since I got busy with other scripts, Sidharth-Garima were roped in to rewrite the script accordingly. I understand that filmmaking is a director’s medium and the director will bring in his sensibilities and understanding of the subject for sure. So, while they retained my core concept, research and characters, everything else was redone.

As a former navy official, you could lend authenticity to the script of Rustom and the characters you crafted. Where did you find inspiration for Shahid Kapoor’s character in Batti Gul Meter Chalu?
Shahid’s character also emanated from my own experiences. I once battled a company that manufactures alcohol. I bought two bottles of beer and one of them had pieces of glass in it. I demanded compensation and moved court. It was resolved in two months, but in the interim, the company tried every trick in the book to procure the bottle from me. I could decipher their moves and was always one step ahead. I learnt that if you can anticipate what their moves are, you can get what you deserve even from gigantic companies. I also learnt that you shouldn’t trust anything on face value. This experience, coupled with my imagination as a writer, helped me create a grey character for Shahid, which is interesting and has layers.

What do you think the audience will take away from Batti Gul Meter Chalu?
Every time I met someone with the script of this film, they’d dig out a copy of their electricity bill to see whether they were also being fleeced. It triggered a thought. I’ve seen millionaires worrying about faulty electricity bills. The middle class suffers even more. After watching this film, no one will take their electricity bills lightly.

Hiren Kotwani (DNA; July 20, 2018)

Director duo Abbas-Mustan, whose names are synonymous with the thriller genre in Bollywood, are reportedly finalising their next project. We hear, the men-in-white have tied up with the producers of the 2016 Korean film, Tunnel, for its Hindi adaptation. Our source informs that the directors plan to cast established actors for this Indianised, emotionally-charged thriller.

“They want to begin the film this December. Once the principal cast is signed and the shooting dates are locked, they will make an official announcement along with a release date,” adds our source.

What’s the film about?
One day, while going home with a cake for his daughter’s birthday, Lee Jung-soo (Ha Jung-woo) has to drive through a tunnel. The tunnel, which goes through a mountain, suddenly collapses. On regaining consciousness, Woo finds himself trapped inside his car, which is buried under tons of concrete and debris. How he survives forms the crux of the story.