Showing posts with label Abhishek Chaubey. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Abhishek Chaubey. Show all posts
Marketing prowess of big films, expensive tickets are killing small films-Abhishek Chaubey
8:25 AM
Hoping to return to theatres after six years with a period thriller, director Abhishek Chaubey rues that the big screen has no place for small films
Priyanka Sharma (MID-DAY; April 3, 2025)
Abhishek Chaubey hasn’t had a film play out on the big screen after Sonchiriya (2019). The director has been happy dabbling in digital entertainment with a segment in Ray (2021) and the web series, Killer Soup (2023). But now, the big screen is calling out to him.
“I am currently writing a period thriller,” he reveals, hoping to take it to cinemas. “I have also written a show, a thriller [that explores] a social phenomenon. It’s set in Bihar. Now, I am at the mercy of the streamers,” he smiles.
As he flirts with the idea of returning to the movie halls after over six years, the director is aware that a lot has changed in the theatrical space. Chaubey notes that the big screen has become synonymous with spectacles, leaving little room for small films to survive.
“We are only making tentpole films. We must find a way for the middle-of-the-road films to have a well-marketed release and make sure that the audience goes to watch them. We have to find our mojo again,” he insists.
Citing the example of his debut film Ishqiya (2009), Chaubey points out how small films would find an audience 15 years ago.
“Ishqiya was a small film, but Chandan theatre [in Juhu] ran housefull. Even a film that didn’t work at the box office would make enough money so as to not break the production company. Now, the star and marketing prowess of a big film, coupled with expensive tickets, are completely killing small films. Earlier, the audience that watched mainstream movies also watched a Gulzar or a Shyam Benegal offering. That was our culture. Today, that culture is dead.”
I know the climate is not conducive for certain kinds of films, but I’ll try-Abhishek Chaubey
8:18 AM
Even as he is enjoying his first brush with web series, Killer Soup director Chaubey eager to return to big screen with his brand of cinema
Priyanka Sharma (MID-DAY; January 13, 2024)
In an Abhishek Chaubey offering, you can be assured of two things—devious characters, and a moody, almost earthy setting. The director found both elements when writers Unaiza Merchant, Harshad Nalawade and Anant Tripathi pitched Killer Soup to him, only months after Sonchiriya’s (2019) release. It was the perfect start, thought the director who was hungry to explore long-form storytelling.
“These three bright writers had also penned a bit of the first episode. The show’s mood is what I immediately fell in love with. I felt I had the skill to blend the different tones into one narrative,” Chaubey recalls.
Expanding the crime comedy over eight hours initially felt daunting. But the story of the Manoj Bajpayee and Konkona Sen Sharma-starrer lured him on. Chaubey relished the shifting power dynamics between the lead characters as he told the story of a shrewd wife who plans to kill her husband and put her lookalike lover as the stand-in.
“It took us two years to write. Shows like this should be enjoyed as a piece of music. I don’t want to explain to the audience, or preach. [I want to] show how power operates within the confines of a family. We mostly talk about power in terms of political or social settings, but not in terms of a family. In this show, you see how lust for power defeats love, and when the power balance shifts, it’s always ugly. Here, women are coming into power, and it’s going to be bad because [these characters] aren’t exactly the nicest people. After all, nice people don’t get power.”
The Netflix black comedy was further elevated by the dependable Bajpayee and Sen Sharma. The director agrees, stating, “Actors of a lesser talent would not have been able to bring about the show’s meaning. You need actors like Manoj and Konkona, who bring nuance.”
Chaubey's heart, however, lies with the big screen. It has been five years since his last theatrical outing, Sonchiriya, and eight years since the hard-hitting Udta Punjab (2016). Even as the director is aware that his brand of gritty cinema isn’t encouraged in the current climate, he is eager to bring forth stories to the marquee.
“Sudip [Sharma, Kohrra creator] and I have spoken at length about this. He has told me that he is not doing theatricals for now. I enjoy doing a two-hour theatrical film. I feel a certain point of view needs to come across on the big screen. I know the climate is not conducive for certain kinds of films, but I’ll try. If one of us is not going to do it, it’s not going to happen,” he asserts.
In the year gone by, we saw spectacle films ruling the box office. It was also the year when the debate around cinema’s responsibility in influencing society took centre-stage, in the aftermath of Animal’s release.
The director shares, “Cinema is not the only thing that influences society, everything else does too. It’s not merely a reflection of what’s going on in society, but also an expression of it. For us to say uncomfortable truths, we need to also listen to people whose opinions we don’t like and find regressive. That’s the price you pay. You can say you don’t like it, but you can’t ask for it to stop.”
It was so difficult to judge Abhishek Chaubey as Killer Soup's script kept me hooked-Sayaji Shinde
7:47 PM
Stating that he was bowled over by Chaubey’s script of Killer Soup, Sayaji Shinde discusses the joy of reuniting with Manoj Bajpayee
Priyanka Sharma (MID-DAY; January 7, 2024)
When Sayaji Shinde sits down for a narration, he usually likes to gauge the director during the process. He knew he would sign Abhishek Chaubey’s series Killer Soup the moment he realised he couldn’t make any judgment on the director. The actor, known for his works in Hindi and Marathi cinema, shares that the crime comedy’s script blew him away.
“I judge a director quickly on what kind of script he has. But Abhishek is such a talented director. It was so difficult to judge him because the script kept me hooked. Even after I returned home from the narration, I kept thinking about the characters. We all realized that it was denser than our imagination,” recalls Shinde.
In the Netflix series, Manoj Bajpayee and Shinde play the two scheming Shetty brothers, with Konkona Sensharma essaying the former’s wife. Reuniting with Bajpayee after Shool (1999) and Road (2002) was another incentive for Shinde to join the series.
“I told Manoj that he wouldn’t have done a more critical show or character before in his career. The script is that good. I was very happy for him too. We enjoyed filming the show, even though it was such a challenging shoot.”
Even after a career spanning over 30 years across multiple languages and mediums, Shinde’s hunger for stories remains intact. “I am always focused on my director, the story and the scene at hand. If you are focused, then you will only care about doing better, even if you have been working for years. Nothing will distract or bore you.”
A work-life balance is crucial to boosting one’s longevity, adds the actor. “When I’m not working, I like to go to the forest and the hills with my friends, spend time with the workers there, who I believe are more knowledgeable than even officers. Such experiences keep you rooted.”
I’ve never played somebody like Swati Shetty, who is okay with a little murder here and there-Konkona Sen Sharma
8:34 AM
Happy to have realized her wish of collaborating with Chaubey and Manoj, Konkona says she was drawn to Killer Soup for its lack of moral judgment
Priyanka Sharma (MID-DAY; January 4, 2024)
You know a script is powerful when it surprises someone of Konkona Sen Sharma’s calibre. The actor, after all, comes with a two-decade career built on novel characters and stories. But that didn’t quite prepare her for the curveball that is Killer Soup. “I have been working for more than 20 years. So, when I get something new, it becomes so exciting. I’ve never played somebody like Swati Shetty, who is okay with a little murder here and there,” she laughs.
In director Abhishek Chaubey’s series, Sen Sharma plays a homemaker who is desperate to open a restaurant even as her husband, essayed by Manoj Bajpayee, doesn’t take her ambition seriously. What was the biggest draw for her? The absence of moral judgment, she says.
“Swati is in her 40s, has done the child-raising and building the home for her husband. Now, she goes on this journey of wanting to open her restaurant. What happens in the middle doesn’t matter to her. Getting into morality wasn’t needed. We didn’t have to think what was right and wrong because a lot of bad was already going on between the Shetty brothers [played by Bajpayee and Sayaji Shinde]. She can roll with the punches. She is managing the narrative, which keeps the power with her.”
There were two more reasons to front the Netflix crime comedy. It not only realized her long-standing wish of collaborating with Chaubey, who had produced her directorial debut A Death In The Gunj (2017), but also gave her the opportunity to team up with Bajpayee —a win-win for Sen Sharma, and the audience who can finally see the two powerhouse performers together.
“For a long time, I had wanted to be directed by Abhishek. I’ve known him for [years]. I also wanted to work with Manoj Bajpayee, with whom I never got to [share screen space], even though we both have been here for so long,” she smiles.
Sen Sharma will follow up Killer Soup with Anurag Basu’s Metro In Dino. As much as we love seeing her on screen, we wonder whether she has plans of going behind the camera this year. Her short film in Lust Stories 2 (2023) told us of her brilliance as a director. “It’s so nice to see that people are rooting for me. The main thing in life is you want to share and communicate, whether it’s telling a story or making a film. I’m trying to develop a series.”
Priyanka Chopra sells two Mumbai apartments to director Abhishek Chaubey
2:42 PM
Kailash Babar (THE ECONOMIC TIMES; November 18, 2023)
Actor and producer Priyanka Chopra Jonas, currently busy with her assignments in Hollywood, has sold two of her apartments in Mumbai’s Andheri suburb to director, producer, and screenwriter Abhishek Chaubey for a total of Rs 6 crores.
Both the houses on the 9th floor of tower Karan Apartment in Lokhandwala area are cumulatively spread over nearly 2,300 sq ft. Priyanka’s mother Madhu Chopra has executed both the deals on the actor’s behalf.
Chaubey has paid total stamp duty charges of Rs 36 lakhs for the registration of the transaction that took place on October 23 and October 25, showed the documents accessed through Zapkey.com.
ET’s separate email queries to Chopra’s team and Chaubey did not elicit any response.
In April too, she had sold a commercial property in Lokhandwala area for Rs 7 crores to a dentist couple who had earlier rented this space from her in 2021. This office space spread over 1,781 sq ft carpet area with 465-sq-ft terrace was leased to the dentists earlier at Rs 2.11 lakhs per month.
Priyanka moved to Los Angeles in 2018 after her marriage with Nick Jonas and currently lives there with him and their daughter Malti Marie Chopra Jonas.
Mumbai, the country’s largest and most expensive real estate market, has been setting new benchmarks with property transactions. Several large-ticket record-setting transactions involving industrialists, CXOs, actors and sports personalities have been taking place in the country's commercial capital since the last few quarters. Among Bollywood personalities, luxury residential deals including that of Amitabh Bachchan, Ranveer Singh, Hrithik Roshan, Rani Mukherji, Kartik Aryan, Alia Bhat and Disha Patani have created the buzz in the property market.
FICCI Frames: We are upset, deformed madmen who hang around here despite not being paid for many years-Sudhir Mishra
10:13 AM
Niharika Lal (BOMBAY TIMES; May 6, 2023)
Does Bollywood exist? Is filmmaking an industry? Are filmmakers part of a system or are they freelancers doing their own projects? Is showbiz actually a business? When these questions were asked to four filmmakers – Sudhir Mishra, Hansal Mehta, Sriram Raghavan, and Abhishek Chaubey – at a session titled ‘Creating the magic of cinema’ at FICCI Frames, they shared how the magic of movies works on them.
The filmmakers, who have spent over 20-25 years making movies, spoke about how the industry is more than just the term Bollywood, it’s a place where people support each other, and that it’s an industry based on emotions.
‘BOLLYWOOD DOESN’T EXIST; WHAT EXISTS IS A RESPECT FOR EACH OTHER AND A DESIRE TO SHARE OUR WORK’
Talking about the film industry, Hansal said, “Bollywood doesn’t exist. There is no Bollywood. What exists is a lot of respect for each other and each other’s work. There is a desire to share what you have done with each other. Say, the preview of Udta Punjab – every director who was assaulted was there to support and watch the film. That for me is an industry – where you are supporting each other’s’ work.”
Agreeing with Hansal, Abhishek, who has directed films like Udta Punjab and Sonchiriya, recalled, “When Udta Punjab got into all sorts of problems, a press conference was organized. Literally, the entire industry turned up...They are talking in one voice for the film of a guy they don’t even know really well. In that sense, it was brotherhood or fraternity, or whatever you may call it. We are not an industry in the traditional sense, but we pretty much are. I love the medium of movies and I thrive on it. It is the only sensible thing I do in my life.”
Hansal said that for him, an industry is where filmmakers appreciate each other’s work and learn from it. He recalled, “When I saw Vishal’s (Bhardwaj) film Maqbool… I called him, and said, ‘Vishal, I wish I had made my first film after I saw this. I would have learnt from this and made a better film.’ That’s what happens when you see the work of a colleague and you see the work around you. When I saw Jubilee, I messaged Vikram (Motwane), ‘How do I even try to become like you?’ I think that, for me, is the beauty of the industry.”
Recalling when his first film (Jayate, 1999) made it to the Indian Panorama section (of International Film Festival of India), Hansal was told that Sudhir Mishra was on the jury. “I knew that Sudhir Mishra made Dharavi (1992). When I met him, he hugged me and said, ‘Bahut achhi film banayi hai yaar tu ne,’ and that was it! It’s now been 26 years since that day and I think that pat on the back, that hug was the industry. Everything comes out of passion and emotions. It is an industry based on emotions.”
‘WE ARE SLIGHTLY UPSET, DEFORMED MADMEN WHO HANG AROUND HERE DESPITE NOT BEING PAID FOR MANY YEARS’
Sudhir, known for films like Chameli and Hazaaron Khwaishein Aisi, said he “never liked the word Bollywood” and would rather call it “the Indian film industry”. He added, “That’s why I’m very comfortable with Vetrimaaran or somebody in the Kerala industry or Bengal, because we always grew up in the independent cinema movement. (It’s not) that people are understanding internationally our cinema (now)… they understood it with (Satyajit) Ray, no? Now, you have to set up stalls. When Ray was making films, you just had to walk around Cannes and say ‘Hey, Satyajit Ray film’ and everybody went to you. There has never been a person like him.”
Sudhir added that the money aspect of filmmaking is necessary, but that’s not what cinema is about. “I think we are all fanatics and we love this muse called cinema. We are slightly upset, deformed madmen who hang around here, and like he (Hansal) said, we have hung around here despite not being paid for many years. I often put in my director’s salary to complete the post-production. Why? It’s kind of lunacy... People who are in cinema can’t do anything else. I think that’s why they stick around. The medium loves us. It cured me. I’m sane because of it. There is so much that it does for me. Can I screw it for money? No.”
Ayushmann Khurrana, Manoj Bajpayee, Hansal Mehta raise thought-provoking points at FICCI Frames
3:52 PM
The rise of Hindi films and emerging trends in storytelling were in focus on Day 1 of FICCI Frames
Rishabh Suri (HINDUSTAN TIMES; May 5, 2023)
Local stories and the changing face of entertainment through OTT — the opening day of FICCI Frames 2023, being held in Mumbai, was all this and more. It kicked off with a fireside chat with actor Ayushmann Khurrana, who was happy and surprised with India bagging an Oscar for the documentary The Elephant Whisperers.
“Ten years ago, I went to a wildlife sanctuary at the tri-junction of Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu, and witnessed first-hand the relationship between man and animal. I never thought that in 2023, that relationship would be spoken of worldwide and give us an Oscar. The more local we go, the more global we reach. Our film industry is at the cusp of global greatness,” Khurrana said, adding that he never imagined his choice of quirky, socially relevant subjects will come to be called ‘the Ayushmann genre’.
THE FILMMAKERS ASSEMBLE
It was a fascinating conversation between four auteurs of Hindi cinema: Hansal Mehta, Sriram Raghavan, Abhishek Chaubey and Sudhir Mishra. Mehta started off with recalling his beginnings as a filmmaker and how he continues to “find myself through the stories that I try to tell”, before going on to dismiss the notion that Bollywood exists as a single entity. “Bollywood does not exist. What exists is respect for each other and each other’s work. There is a desire to share what you have done with each other. You support and appreciate each other’s work and using that to propel your work forward,” he said.
Chaubey, on the other hand, was not too happy about box-office collections being the sole measure of a film’s success. “Over the years, it has gotten even worse. This obsession with weekend numbers is unnatural... So, I think this revolution that has happened through OTT has happened in good time,” Chaubey shared.
MANOJ BAJPAYEE’S REQUEST
In attendance with Gulmohar director Rahul V Chittella and his co-actor from the film, Utsavi Jha, Bajpayee asked the audience if they had seen the film yet. When not many hands went up, the actor quipped, “Theatres mein aati hain films, aap nahin jaate. Ab OTT pe aa rahi hain, tab bhi nahin dekhte!” On the power of content, he added, “After watching Gulmohar, my daughter went to the bathroom and howled. She washed her face, came out, and then told me that the dadi in the film (played by Sharmila Tagore) reminded her of her nani, who had passed away last year. That is the impact.”
(L-R) Abhishek Chaubey, Sudhir Mishra, Hansal Mehta and Sriram Raghavan PHOTOS: RISHABH SURI/HT
The suspense from Amazon is killing the The Family Man team-Manoj Bajpayee
8:10 AM
Manoj Bajpayee on waiting for the third instalment of The Family Man and his future line-up
MID-DAY (March 25, 2022)
National Award winner Manoj Bajpayee says like fans, the team of his web series The Family Man is also waiting for the streaming giant Amazon Prime Video to announce the premiere date of its highly anticipated third season.
“The suspense from Amazon is killing the The Family Man team because for now we don’t have an answer,” said the actor. The second season of The Family Man, which premièred last June, was lapped up by viewers. The first season, which debuted on the OTT platform in late 2019, also received glowing reviews.
Bajpayee has a packed slate ahead with projects like Gulmohar, Kanu Behl’s Despatch, Joram with his Bhosle director Devashish Makhija, and Pahaadon Mein, and Soup, a Netflix series, his third collaboration with director Abhishek Chaubey after Ray and Sonchiriya.
“I’m currently shooting for Gulmohar and I finished Dispatch recently. I’ll start shooting in May for Joram. Then there is a film Pahaadon Mein by Raam Reddy that I have completed. There’s also the series, Soup for Netflix with Abhishek Chaubey. I think next year is going to be busy. People will either be entertained or get tired of me,” the actor, 52, added.
On Wednesday, Bajpayee turned showstopper for designer Samant Chauhan, a fellow Bihari and “a friend whom I have known for so many years”. “I have done theatre for so many years, but wearing something designed by Samant Chauhan is a big thing. Also, when I face the crowds, I not only feel uncomfortable but also a little embarrassed,” he said.
Describing his style as “casual and comfortable”, Bajpayee said he prefers jeans and T-shirt for his day-to-day use.
Manoj Bajpayee busy till end of 2023; has 10 days of shoot left on Abhishek Chaubey's next
8:15 AM
As he shoots back-to-back projects, including Chaubey’s next, Manoj says busy date diary won’t allow him to sign new films till 2023
Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; January 19, 2022)
Blame it on the backlog of films created by the second wave of the pandemic and newer offers coming his way, but Manoj Bajpayee is staring at a hectic 2022. The actor wrapped up the shoot of Raam Reddy’s yet-untitled project and Kanu Behl’s investigative thriller Despatch in 2021. Before he could take a breather, he dived into his next with Abhishek Chaubey. The yet-untitled project, which reunites him with the filmmaker after their gritty Sonchiriya (2019), will see him sharing screen space with Konkona Sen Sharma.
Bajpayee kicked off the shoot in early December. “The drama also stars Sayaji Shinde, M Nassar and some well-known actors from the south film industry. The shoot was recently put on hold after Mumbai witnessed a surge in Coronavirus cases. But Abhishek has informed the unit that as soon as the cases are brought under control, he will return to the set. Manoj has 10 days’ work remaining on the project,” reveals a source. Post that, it will be time for the actor to join forces with Rahul Chitela — who previously served as Mira Nair’s assistant — for his directorial debut.
Bajpayee admits that the frenetic pace can be overwhelming at times. “With the commitments I have, it will be hectic till the end of 2023. I have to finish all the films I have committed to. Only for this reason, I have stopped reading new scripts and taking narrations. At this point of time, I don’t have dates,” says the actor.
I felt alone during the National Awards; my wife and daughter were supposed to be there-Manoj Bajpayee
8:09 AM
Humbled to have received his third National Award, Manoj says win would have been more memorable if family was in attendance
Upala KBR (MID-DAY; October 27, 2021)
There was a bustle at New Delhi’s Vigyan Bhawan as the top brass of Bollywood collected to receive the National Awards on Monday. For Manoj Bajpayee, who took home the gong for Best Actor for his performance in Bhonsle at the ceremony’s 67th edition, the experience, although sweet, could have been more memorable.
“I felt alone,” says Bajpayee, who lost his father on October 2. “On wonderful occasions such as these, people celebrate with their loved ones. My wife [Shabana] and daughter [Ava Nayla] were supposed to be there. But, I was rushing from Kerala to attend it, so they couldn’t come with me. I missed my parents a lot. My father was such a film buff! He would keep a track of everything that I have done, including every award and honour that I received. He would be very proud of every achievement. So, while attending the function, I felt a mixed bag of emotions.”
After Best Supporting Actor (Satya, 2000) and Special Jury Award (Pinjar, 2005), this win marks Bajpayee’s third National Award. He acknowledges that in an industry that is becoming increasingly competitive, with each act outshining the other, winning this title is nothing short of an honour. “The title is bestowed upon you by jury members who are celebrated in their respective fields. If they honour you and your work that year, you can only accept the compliments with pride and humility, and shrug it off your shoulders and prepare for the next day’s shoot.”
In the pipeline for him are three mammoth projects, including one for Kannada director Raam Reddy, and Kanu Behl’s thriller, Despatch, a direct-to-OTT release. “Raam’s movie is going to be quite an experience for the audience to witness. He’s only 29-years old, but when he starts talking about philosophy, his views leave me spellbound. Kanu is a challenging director to work with. You have to be [mentally prepared] to work with him. He is brutal and may dislike every take. These young guys are making me grow, and I am going to work with them all the time. I don’t want to become [complacent]; I want to grow as an actor.”
Bajpayee is also shooting for Abhishek Choubey’s Netflix movie. “I have done two movies with him — Sonchiriya and Ray. He has many great ideas on approaching an act. Working with him is like attending an acting workshop.”
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The actor on winning his third National Award and catching up with the legend
Titas Chowdhury (HINDUSTAN TIMES; October 27, 2021)
After bagging two National Awards for Satya (1998) and Pinjar (2003), actor Manoj Bajpayee received a third on Monday, as he was honoured with the Best Actor award for his performance in Bhonsle (2018). He reveals that each time he goes up on the stage to accept the award, memories of his first win come rushing back. And while winning the top award is always special, this honour is more special for the actor.
“It feels even better when you win awards for films that are close to your heart. We wanted to make this movie for a while, but we weren’t getting money from anyone who could produce it. It took us four years to make Bhonsle. So, it definitely means the world to us. It’s kind of a poetic justice that has happened to the film,” he says.
The ceremony held at Vigyan Bhawan in New Delhi will remain a fond memory for the 52-year-old actor, as it also gave him the opportunity to interact and exchange notes with other artistes. Quiz him about meeting superstar Rajinikanth, who was bestowed the Dadasaheb Phalke Award, and Bajpayee says, “Rajinikanth sir is a legend and I’ve always looked up to him for the journey he has had. He came from a humble background and created such a big name for himself. He treats everyone with a lot of humility. I spoke to him. It had nothing to do with cinema, but spirituality.”
Talking about his interaction with actor Dhanush, who also won the Best Actor award, he says, “I had a long conversation with him. We shared our thoughts on the films we like and his films that I’ve watched. He’s a remarkable young mind doing some remarkable films.”
Manoj Bajpayee’s father admitted to hospital in Delhi, remains critical
8:18 AM
HINDUSTAN TIMES (September 18, 2021)
Actor Manoj Bajpayee’s father, R K Bajpayee, has been hospitalised in Delhi due to age related health issues. He was in critical condition at the time of going to press. The actor, who was in Kerala shooting for filmmaker Abhishek Chaubey’s next, near Kochi, halted his shoot and rushed to Delhi to see his father, who is 83, on Friday.
“His father’s condition is quite critical. After hearing the news Manoj rushed to Delhi from Kerala, where he was shooting for his next project, to see his father and be with his family,” a source close to the actor confirmed.
There is no information about the reason behind the hospitalization. “Manoj is guarded about his family and he does not want to share anything right now as this is a very tough time for him and his family,” the source added.
We reached out to Bajpayee, but our attempts were not met with a response.
SWA Script Lab 2022: Vikramaditya Motwane, Abhishek Chaubey, Sujoy Ghosh and others to mentor aspiring writers
8:02 AM
Vikramaditya Motwane, Abhishek Chaubey, Alankrita Shrivastava and Sujoy Ghosh will serve as mentors
Screenwriters’ Association hosts its first script lab; six aspiring writers to be mentored by noted filmmakers, including Motwane and Chaubey
Uma Ramasubramanian (MID-DAY; September 9, 2021)
It is only in the past few years that Hindi cinema has come to recognise scripts for what they are — the backbone of every successful project. In a bid to encourage the future storytellers of the country, Screenwriters’ Association (SWA) has rolled out the SWA Script Lab 2022. The programme, in its maiden year, will see noted filmmakers Vikramaditya Motwane, Sujoy Ghosh, Abhishek Chaubey, Alankrita Shrivastava, Sudip Sharma and Raat Akeli Hai writer Smita Singh Khan serve as mentors to upcoming writers.
Those eager to see their stories transform into a feature film can send in their scripts to the association before October 25. After the panel of mentors have selected the six best scripts, they will guide the finalists in polishing them. The aspiring writers will get the chance to interact closely with the screenwriters and directors, thus understanding the finer nuances of taking an idea from paper to screen.
Shrivastava, who helmed Dolly Kitty Aur Woh Chamakte Sitare last year, believes the programme is the perfect platform to exchange ideas. “I have benefitted immensely from participating in script labs, and I look forward to working with new writers and learning from them. The culture of script labs is a must if we want to create more interesting stories,” she says.
Motwane is delighted to play a role in finding new voices that can shape the industry. “I’m honoured to be chosen as a mentor, and I’m looking forward to assisting in grooming the next brilliant generation of Indian screenwriters.”
The finalists will also gain free access to screenwriting software Final Draft 12.
Ashwiny Iyer Tiwari, Abhishek Chaubey and Saket Chaudhary team up for Netflix anthology Ankahi Kahaniya
8:18 AM
Uma Ramasubramanian (MID-DAY; August 18, 2021)
From exploring the complexities of relationships in Ajeeb Daastaans to the breezy Feels Like Ishq, filmmakers have brought us varied shades of romance with the two anthologies. Now, Netflix India is ready to roll out another anthology, Ankahi Kahaniya. Directors Ashwiny Iyer Tiwari, Abhishek Chaubey and Saket Chaudhary will take us through the winding paths of love and longing as actors Abhishek Banerjee, Zoya Hussain, Kunal Kapoor and Rinku Rajguru bring their stories to life in the RSVP Movies production.
Tiwari is no stranger to romance, having helmed the delightful Bareilly Ki Barfi (2017). The director says her latest outing will blur the lines between reality and fantasy. “I want to challenge myself as a storyteller with every story. [With my latest offering], I hope to captivate the imagination of movie lovers with questions of untold emotions that every human goes through,” she states.
For his short film starring Rajguru and Delzad Hiwale, Chaubey of Udta Punjab (2016) fame has gone back to the ’80s. It is as much an ode to the innocence of young love as it is to Mumbai’s single-screen cinemas.
The filmmaker says, “When you’re young and caged in Mumbai, looking for love is a sweet escape. What’s better than finding it at the movies, however fleetingly?”
Chaudhary counts himself lucky to be part of the anthology as he says, “Love stories have always been one of my favourite genres.”
Directing is scary, but it’s equally rewarding-Radhika Apte
2:27 PM
Rachana Dubey (BOMBAY TIMES; April 12, 2021)
As an actress, she has essayed several characters that are off the beaten path. Last year, Radhika Apte turned writer-filmmaker with the short film, The Sleepwalkers, which featured Shahana Goswami and Gulshan Devaiah. Talking about what led her to write and direct, Radhika says, “I had never thought of making films. There was no such plan. I just had the urge to write because sometimes you want to create content that challenges you. Roles that come your way are not necessarily from the space that you want them to come from. I just wanted to write something that interested me. There are things that I passionately want to do. When I bounced off the story to Honey Trehan and Abhishek Chaubey, they decided to make it. I had 10 days for the prep and shoot. When I finished writing, I realised I didn’t want to act in it, but I wanted to direct it. And, I absolutely loved the process.”
Radhika shares, “As a director, the responsibility on your shoulders is huge. Someone has put in their money, which they could lose because you didn’t do your job well. So, directing is scary, but it’s equally rewarding.”
Radhika, while talking about her decision to direct, says, “There is a lot to learn. I feel grateful for the work that came to me in all these years as an actress, but a lot of it was not really challenging. The things that I enjoyed were done within a matter of a few days. I was also tired of getting these tiny roles in films led by other actors. I wanted something that I could sink my teeth into for longer. I love to work, and I want to go on. I felt I was creative in my own way. So, now I am trying to write more, and I will make something again when I am happy with the material I create.”
When asked if she plans to write or direct a film or a web series or stick to the short-film format, Radhika says, “I have never had plans to write a feature. Until I feel I have a script worth making, I won’t. There’s no pressure. I want to make something again, but it will depend on the idea. I will not decide on the format before I zero in on the concept.”
After spending a large part of 2020 in London, Radhika is now back in India for her upcoming film. The actress has recently shot her next film in Kolkata. Given how difficult the health situation is, one can’t help but ask how the experience has been. Radhika shares, “The experience was the same, except that we do frequent tests, we take a lot of precautions and follow health and safety protocols. Other than that, everything else is pretty much the same.”
Diljit Dosanjh: The sardar with swag who has won India’s heart
8:26 AM
Dosanjh’s epic takedown of Kangana made stans swoon and inspired memes. Sunday Times charts his rise from humble kirtan singer to a star who wears his ‘pendu’ identity with pride
Himanshi Dhawan (THE TIMES OF INDIA; December 6, 2020)
With a Billboard chart-topping album titled G.O.A.T, a new Bollywood release and his face on billboards at New York’s Times Square, Punjabi singer and actor Diljit Dosanjh could claim to have arrived in 2020. But this week he truly hit the popularity charts when his name became a verb. To be Diljit Dosanjh-ed is “when you get into a Twitter beef with an exceptionally badass stud but are blindsided by his comebacks.” Shedding his low-key amiable guy image, 36-year-old Dosanjh took to Twitter to support the farmers’ protests raging on Delhi borders after Bollywood actor Kangana Ranaut alleged that protestors were on hire for Rs 100. She also misidentified a senior citizen as Bilkis Bano, popularly called the dadi from Shaheen Bagh.
Dosanjh’s ripostes impressed even those who didn’t get the theth Punjabi. With 4.3 million followers on Twitter and 10.7 million on Instagram — significantly more than Ranaut’s — and support from several Punjabi celebrities like singer Mika Singh, actor Angad Bedi and cricketer Harbhajan Singh, it was an uneven match. On Saturday, he even joined farmers at the protest site.
But the move was in character for the self-confessed urban pendu (an affectionate term given by his fans to describe a village simpleton surviving in the city). Dosanjh livened up grim days during the lockdown with videos that showed his struggled with Angrezi Alexa (eventually teaching her to address him as jaan) and his earthy humour in amateur cooking videos.
Film critic Anupama Chopra describes him as charming and authentic. “He never says anything that he does not mean. At a time when all of us have many versions of ourselves, it is very reassuring that there is only one version of Diljit,” she says. His success is even more impressive considering that turban-wearing actors are not a norm in the film industry. “Forget being a leading man in Bollywood, even Punjabi films do not have turbaned heroes,” she says.
Dosanjh comes from a humble background and spent his childhood in the village of Dosanjh Kalan in Punjab’s Jalandhar district. In an interview, Dosanjh talks of his desire to hit the big time in the early days. He recalls going to gurudwaras with the same prayer always, “Hai paramatma main kissko na jaanu, mujhe sab jaane.” (Let me become famous).
At the age of 11, his mother sent him to the city hoping that learning under his uncle, a ragi (musician who sings the Gurbani) would improve his prospects. The move was deeply upsetting for Dosanjh who felt rejected by his family. “After I left home, I was very angry with my mother. I used to love Diwali but after I left home I was never able to celebrate the festival again,” he said in an interview.
But staying with his uncle helped. Not only did Dosanjh learn tabla and harmonium but also honed his voice to start singing kirtans (devotional songs). Soon this paved the way for singing on public platforms and by 18, he had cut an album Ishq Da Uda Adaa.
To make the new artist stand out, a producer asked him to change his name from Daljit to Diljit. Years later when the people of Dosanjh Kalan village, settled in large numbers in Canada’s British Columbia, feted him, he added the village name as a surname. So Diljit Dosanjh was born.
Punjabi music producer Sukhpal Sukh, who is credited with grooming several young pop stars, says he remembers Dosanjh as a very young, raw talent. Sukh wanted to bring in a Canadian-Bombay finesse to his rustic music, and Dosanjh was a willing pupil. “We helped groom him, from how to wear a more stylish patka (turban) to fine-tuning his performance in front of the camera. We did bhangra rehearsals for a month before we cut the music video,” he recalls. Sukh produced two albums with Dosanjh, Dil (2004) and Smile in 2005 which catapulted the singer to fame and fortune.
Offers for performing at wedding ceremonies, “DJ nights” and live performances in UK, US and Canada started pouring in. In 2011, he starred in his first film Lion Of Punjab but it was his third film Jatt & Juliet, a record-breaking romcom, that led people to discover Dosanjh. The singer-actor later collaborated in a sequel with director Anurag Singh.
Singh describes Dosanjh as a very spiritual person who took his time to open up to people. “He embodies the spirit of chardi kalan (eternal optimism and joy). When things were not going to plan on set, he would reassure me. He could always see the positive side to things,” he says.
Udta Punjab director Abhishek Chaubey, who was the first to cast him in a Hindi film, says he knew Dosanjh was perfect for the role as soon as he met him. “In an industry obsessed with appearances, he seemed very real and has a genuine humility about him,” he says.
He also has a great sense of style, carrying off big labels like Gucci and Balenciaga in traffic-stopping hues. But despite the luxury brands and cars, Dosanjh seems to have kept an enthusiasm for work . He dropped a new Punjabi album written and shot entirely during the lockdown which got 115 million views on YouTube, and is currently shooting for a Netflix film. Director Anurag Singh says, “He constantly finds new mountains to scale.” Or in Dosanjh’s own words, “Paise poose bare billo soche duniya, jat paida hoya bas choun vaste” (People worry about money darling, Jats are born to shine.)”
Radhika Apte calls the shots with her directorial debut The Sleepwalkers
8:40 AM
Radhika Apte's directorial debut The Sleepwalkers to be part of Honey Trehan's anthology
Uma Ramasubramanian (MID-DAY; June 9, 2020)
Radhika Apte has a sharp eye when it comes to scripts. So, one can safely assume that her directorial debut, The Sleepwalkers, will be a riveting watch. The short film — featuring Gulshan Devaiah and Shahana Goswami — has been included in the eight-film anthology, Lost And Found. "The anthology will be released in two volumes, with four stories each. We are planning to drop it later this year on an OTT platform," informs Honey Trehan, who is producing it with Abhishek Chaubey.
Apte had expressed her interest in direction when the two were collaborating on Raat Akeli Hai. "She had shared a story with me, and I had urged her to direct it. However, she took it lightly. [Weeks later], she narrated another story and I told her we should start shooting it at the earliest. She was taken aback as she didn't expect me to produce it," adds Trehan, marvelling at Apte's clarity as a debutant director. "When you are new to direction, you tend to be vulnerable, but, she handled it as if she has been doing this for ages."
Abhishek Chaubey to write and direct Dhyan Chand biopic for Ronnie Screwvala?
8:07 AM
Ronnie Screwvala has also commissioned the filmmaker to write the film’s script; the project is expected to go on the floors next year
Himesh Mankad (MUMBAI MIRROR; January 30, 2020)
According to a source close to the development, Abhishek and his team of writers are currently developing the script. Given the massive amount of literature available on the three-time Olympic gold medalist, the team is focused on identifying parts of his life that can be pieced together as a script. “Dhyan Chand is one of the greatest players in the history of the national sport. The biopic will largely chronicle his journey to fame during the British Raj,” the source informed.Casting will be locked in the second half of the year and plans are afoot to take the film on the floors in 2021 with A-list actors. “Many actors have shown interest in playing the hockey legend in the past, so it shouldn’t be a problem to get a top actor on board,” said the source, adding that the pre-Independence era will be recreated with visual effects.
Dhyan Chand represented the Indian Hockey team from 1926 to 1948 and scored over 400 goals in the 185 matches that he played as a center forward during his international career, which includes three Olympic Gold Medal wins in 1928, 1932 and 1936. In 1956, he was felicitated with the Padma Bhushan, India’s third highest civilian honour. His birth anniversary on August 29 is celebrated as National Sport Day. “Ronnie is excited about the biopic and is confident that Abhishek is the best person to direct it,” the source says.
My first shot in a Hindi film was with Kareena Kapoor-Diljit Dosanjh
8:53 AM
As told to Hiren Kotwani (MUMBAI MIRROR; January 3, 2020)
I had already worked in quite a few Punjabi films when, sometime in 2015, I got a call from (casting director) Honey Trehan. He said the makers of Udta Punjab had a role if I’d like to do it. I met Vikramaditya Motwane sir (one of the film’s producers) and Abhishek Chaubey sir (director) and said if the role was good, I’d do it. Stating that it was my kind of character, Abhishek sir narrated not just my role, but the entire screenplay. He didn’t say which role he had in mind for me, but while listening to the narration, I felt Sartaj was a good part to take up. Before that, I had met directors who would only narrate my role, badha-chadha ke, saying how the character was driving the story. I believe that is a wrong approach because the audience comes to see a film in its entirety, not just a role or a character.My first day’s first shot was a hospital scene, which we shot in Tarn Taran in Amritsar. I had to walk in, slap a guy hard—which even the people outside could hear—and go in to see my brother, who was admitted. Kareena ji (Kapoor) was playing the doctor who comes in for his check-up. I was to say, “Mera bhai toh theek hai. Logon ne bigaad diya usko.” So, my first shot in a Hindi film was with her.
I was quite confident and did my scenes well. Abhishek sir was cool and said even he was getting into the flow and we’d be fine the second day onwards. Prior to beginning the shoot, I had just done a reading with Kareena ji.
A year later, I was called to watch the film. It was in the room where I had heard the first narration. The film was exactly what was narrated to me, not a frame here or there. Usually, when you listen to the script, people narrate it very grandly. But it doesn’t turn out the way it was first presented to you.
Rishi Kapoor is a fighter, and I’m happy that he’s out of all the trouble now-Satish Kaushik
8:30 AM
Titas Chowdhury (HINDUSTAN TIMES; December 21, 2019)
Veteran actors Rishi Kapoor and Satish Kaushik’s friendship dates back many summers. Four years after Wedding Pullav (2015), the duo is all set to share the screen space in Honey Trehan and Abhishek Chaubey’s production venture, where they play best friends. Kaushik reveals that Kapoor has been a loving friend. “I’ve known Chintu ji as a very straightforward person. He isn’t pretentious. He says what he feels. With me, he has always been very loving. Spending evenings with him sometimes, over drinks, is a treat and his sense of humour is amazing. He’s an absolute cinema person, much like his father, who has devoted his life to films for four decades which is incredible,” he says.Kaushik was part of Kapoor’s directorial debut, Aa Ab Laut Chalen (1999). Talking about it, Kaushik says, “We had a ball shooting for the film in New York (USA) because Kapoors are people with king-sized hearts. Chintu ji is a cool, happy-go-lucky person, who spreads positive vibes. He really took care of his actors. To work under him was like a dream come true. But I remember him being very strict on the sets, even with Ranbir Kapoor, who was a clapper boy in the film.”
He takes us back to the time when he watched Bobby (1973) on the big screen. “I was in college when I went to watch Bobby in Delhi’s Amba Cinema. I wanted to see this good-looking and romantic star who had become a rage with his very first film,” he shares.
Kaushik says he’s glad that Kapoor has “managed to bounce back to work” after undergoing treatment for cancer in New York. He elaborates, “I never visited him there. Sometimes, in certain situations, it is better to just pray for the happiness and well-being of your loved ones when they’re in a problem and that’s what I did. He’s a fighter, and I’m happy that he’s out of all the trouble now.”
I don't understand how awards work, but any appreciation for your work is good-Bhumi Pednekar
7:52 AM
Stating that Sonchiriya will 'always top my filmography', Bhumi Pednekar disappointed at dacoit drama being snubbed at awards shows so far
Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; December 19, 2019)
It has been an "overwhelming" year for Bhumi Pednekar. After kicking off 2019 with Sonchiriya, she followed it up with Saand Ki Aankh, Bala and Pati Patni Aur Woh. "The benchmark for what I expect of myself is so high right now that I hope I can keep meeting it," she smiles.While her remaining films hit the bull's eye, Abhishek Chaubey's dacoit drama proved to be a washout at the box office. "It is heartbreaking that the film didn't get its due. For me, it will always be at the top of my filmography as it taught me a lot. Abhishek changed me as an actor. The film required a lot from me — I was playing a rape survivor who had a child marriage. I couldn't have tapped into those emotions without Abhishek's guidance."
The stellar performances and gritty treatment of the story was widely applauded by critics, with many believing it would be a strong contender for awards.
Surprisingly, the drama has been snubbed at the awards shows held so far. "It feels bad. But the silver lining was that Sonchiriya never faced a dearth of love. It earned a lot of respect."
Although she took home a gong for her shooter dadi act in Saand Ki Aankh, Pednekar admits she would rather "chase rewards". "I don't understand how awards work, but any appreciation for your work is good. I don't want to do a film to get an award. I want the audience's respect, and if you get an award in the process, that's great."
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