THE TIMES OF INDIA (September 12, 2020)

Mumbai: The Anti-Narcotics Cell of Mumbai police on Friday started a probe into actor Kangana Ranaut’s alleged drug links, reports S Ahmed Ali. Joint CP (crime) Milind Bharambe, who held a meeting with ANC officers, said: “Today, we have received the order from the home minister for the probe. We are looking into it.”

On Tuesday, home minister Anil Deshmukh had said cops would probe allegations that Ranaut took drugs after it was brought to his notice that Adhyayan Suman, Ranaut’s ex-boyfriend, had in a 2016 interview claimed she consumed drugs and also forced him to do so.

Adhyayan is the son of actor Shekhar Suman. Sources said the ANC will analyse the video interview and record Adhyayan’s statement. “We will analyse it and then summon Kangana for questioning,” an officer said, adding as the interview was four years old, it could be difficult to establish it.

Reacting to the news of the minister saying he would order a probe, Kangana had tweeted: “I am more than happy to oblige @MumbaiPolice @AnilDeshmukhNCP please do my drug tests investigate my call records if you find any links to drug peddlers ever I will accept my mistake and leave Mumbai forever, looking forward to meet you.”

Rishabh Suri (HINDUSTAN TIMES; September 11, 2020)

Actor Adhyayan Suman, who plays a debauch rockstar in his latest web show, feels the current phase in his career has come after a long time. He has also released a tribute to late actor Sushant Singh Rajput, a rehashed version of the song Jab Tak from M S Dhoni - The Untold Story (2016). “It’s been 11 years since I saw success after Raaz: The Mystery Continues. I can say that I am getting my due as an artist now,” he says.

Suman is happy with the response his web show received. As his character is addicted to drugs, and also because he himself has been around in the industry for a decade, we ask him whether the current prevailing debate about the drug culture in Bollywood is true. He says while the notion about everyone doing it is wrong, it does exist. “I have been to such parties, and 99% of people weren’t doing drugs. There is a group of people who are into this. I don’t know why the industry is being targeted. Don’t business or corporate people do it? If we are eventually looking at a clean up drive, it should happen all over the world, not just the film industry,” he shares.

Suman adds that it is wrong “to blame everyone”. “We are tarnishing their reputation, there’s a family behind them. I have said it earlier, too, that I was influenced to do hash four-five times, that’s the only thing I did. No one from the industry can stand up and say ‘Adhyayan used to do drugs with me’, I have never done it.”

Bhavika Jain & Priyanka Kakodkar | TNN (THE TIMES OF INDIA; September 9, 2020)

Mumbai: Trouble mounted for actor Kangana Ranaut as state home minister Anil Deshmukh said on Tuesday that the Mumbai police would probe allegations that she took drugs. Talking to reporters outside Vidhan Bhavan, Deshmukh said actor Adhyayan Suman, who was in a relationship with Ranaut earlier, had in an interview in 2016 claimed she consumed drugs and even forced him to take it.

In response to Deshmukh’s investigation order, Ranaut later tweeted, “I am more than happy to oblige @MumbaiPolice @AnilDeshmukh-NCP please do my drug tests investigate my call records if you find any links to drug peddlers ever I will accept my mistake and leave Mumbai forever, looking forward to meet you.”

Shiv Sena MLAs Pratap Sarnaik and Sunil Prabhu had raised the issue with Deshmukh. “They have submitted that in an interview in 2016, Suman had alleged that Ranaut consumed drugs and forced him to take the substance too. Mumbai police will look into the matter,” he said.

Congress MLC Bhai Jagtap, who moved a breach of privilege motion in the state council against Ranaut for comparing Mumbai with Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, also referred to the same interview. Jagtap said he was willing to provide proof about the interview. “Her comments on Mumbai show she is a traitor to the city and state. It is a betrayal of the martyrs of the Samyukta Maharashtra movement who fought to keep Mumbai in Maharashtra,” he said.

Ranaut had recently said that she feared the Mumbai police more than the ‘movie mafia’, and would prefer security either from Himachal Pradesh or the Centre. She was provided Y-plus security by the Centre on Monday.

Deshmukh said that the irresponsible statements made by Ranaut discredit the city where she got name and fame. “No one can tolerate such insult of the state and the city. She has insulted the same Mumbai police that caught Kasab [26/11 terror attack accused], and had officials like Hemant Karkare, Vijay Salaskar and Vijay Kamte who died on the line of duty. We should all condemn her for such statements,” he said.

Condemning Ranaut’s remarks about the Mumbai police, leader of the opposition Devendra Fadnavis said that he knew the capability of the force since he had served as chief minister for five years. “But, the police can come under political pressure,” he added.

Seeking to dismiss allegations raised by the Shiv Sena-led MVA government that the BJP's demand for a CBI probe had demoralised Mumbai police, Fadnavis said many legislators had passed adverse remarks against the police at different points of time. “Even chief minister Uddhav Thackeray, during a rally in Kalyan, had said the police were capable of only washing utensils,” said Fadnavis.

Meanwhile, Union minister Ramdas Athawale, an ally of the BJP, said workers of his party RPI (A) will provide protection to Ranaut when she returns to Mumbai. “…she is scheduled to reach Mumbai on Wednesday. Our party workers will offer protection to her at the airport as well as at her residence,” he said.

(With PTI inputs)

Rachana Dubey (BOMBAY TIMES; August 30, 2020)

For the last few days, producer Sandip Ssingh is drawing a lot of attention in the Sushant Singh Rajput case, with allegations of foul play being levelled against him by social media users and TV channels reporting that he was planning to leave the country. While Sushant Singh Rajput’s family members have reportedly stated that they don’t know him, he was seen handling all the formalities at the hospital post Sushant’s demise and even made arrangements for the actor’s funeral.

Literally caught off guard, Sandip was seen dodging the cameras on Friday. Actor Shekhar Suman, who had started the Justice For Sushant Forum, speaks to BT about his equation with Sandip Ssingh. Excerpts:

Tell us about your equation with Sandip Ssingh...
He was the producer of Sanjay Dutt’s Bhoomi (2017). We spent a month shooting in Agra together. I have known him for longer than that, though it was off and on. He had contacted my son Adhyayan for a movie, which didn’t work out, but that is how it began. There was a professional relationship. Going by my equation with him, I felt he was a fun-loving guy who was totally engrossed with a lot of projects of his own, and he knew people and people knew him in the film industry. That was it. These recent developments have come as a huge surprise. Let the investigation go on and let’s see what happens. But before this, there was nothing abnormal or unusual about him that I noticed.

Did he ever mention to you that he was a close friend of Sushant?
No, he never mentioned anything, except once in a casual conversation, he had spoken about how Ranveer Singh got Goliyon Ki Raasleela: Ram-Leela, Bajirao Mastani and Padmaavat. He did mention that these films had gone to several actors and one of them was Sushant, who had turned them down. I asked him why Sushant would do that to Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s films. He said, ‘I don’t know, maybe he didn’t like the role or something.’ Why I remember this is because one would give an arm and a leg to work with that filmmaker. This was a casual chat and I really don’t know how close he was with Sushant or anyone else. Lately, he was planning another film with Sanjay Dutt called Blockbuster. We have had a couple of close friends chatting about it. He was excited about this project, which was to be produced by Anand Pandit. He would talk about this movie. In fact, I don’t think I had much of an interaction with him when he was making the film, PM Narendra Modi, though I used to read about the film in the newspapers.

So, how did both of you touch base again after Sushant’s death? You even visited Sushant’s family in Patna at their residence along with Sandip...
I saw him on TV, managing everything around Sushant. I didn’t want to call him right then, because I felt it wasn’t the right time to do that. I started tweeting about Sushant on my own. I interpreted his demise differently from day one. I felt there is more to it than meets the eye. I felt a different sort of a connection — he was a Bihari boy, people could barely make it to his funeral because of the Coronavirus situation and I am someone who has lost a son years ago. I wanted to meet Sushant’s father and share his grief. I have lived with my tragedy for years now and I haven’t been able to get over it. My family asked me why I was getting so involved, and that I should not go to Patna in the thick of the pandemic. I said to them, ‘Let me speak to Sandip, maybe he knows the family.’ I called him. That is the first time I asked him what had happened really and he said, ‘I will tell you later.’ I asked if there was a way to meet Sushant’s father K K Singh. Sandip told me that he was planning to go to Patna after the terahvi, post June 28. I said, ‘Fair enough. Can you please let them know that I will be coming, too?’ And that’s how we went. It would have been awkward to go just like that. In Patna, I stayed with my cousins at my maternal granny’s house and he stayed elsewhere. I think it was on June 29 that we went to Sushant’s house. We didn’t exchange words with the family. We just sat there for 10 minutes. I wanted to meet (Bihar Chief Minister) Nitish Kumar for some political support for my Justice For Sushant Forum. I remember Sandip had asked me, ‘Why do you want to go ahead with this forum?’ I had said, ‘I want to, because I feel there is foul play and I should fight for it, instead of looking the other way.’ No one was talking about it at that time. It was my battle and I was okay with it being that way. I again asked him what had happened. He said, ‘I think it is suicide.’ I didn’t delve further into it. I met Tejashwi Yadav (Rashtriya Janata Dal leader), since Nitish Kumar could not make it, and told him about the forum. Prior to this meeting, Sandip, in fact, had asked me if I wanted to get Sushant’s father on to it and I said, ‘No. Later, if he wants to, he can be a part of it.’ After the press conference with Tejashwi in Patna, I didn’t speak to Sandip. And then he got into the thick of things as they are now. You see, I knew Sushant as a co-competitor from a reality show in 2010. But that was it. He had not even joined films. He was in the transition phase. I remembered him as a sweet boy. I don’t think I ever met him again after that, but I did watch some of his films.

Sushant’s family and friends have been saying that they don’t know Sandip Ssingh. How did he then make arrangements for the Patna visit?
There is a contradiction in this. From the footage that I saw on TV, he was seen with his arm around Sushant’s grieving sister. It seemed that he knew the family. He had even taken Ankita (Lokhande) to meet his family, so obviously he knew them. Also, I think for him, it’s not a big deal. And, when we went to Patna, everything was arranged and his family knew I was coming over.

On Friday, Sandip ran from the scene when he saw TV cameras following him. Reportedly, he has been dodging cameras by changing his locations, and not going to the house where he lives. Why do you think he is doing this?
I have no idea. Maybe because of the pressure and the intense media trial; anyone would be scared, especially if one feels he or she is getting cornered. But if you are honest, you should just come out and speak. That goes for everyone who knows Sushant or has anything to say. There is no need to hide and avoid speaking up. I feel Sandip should just come out and speak his side of the story like he did earlier. Running away will only lead to more speculation as to what it is that he is hiding. The investigating agencies will eventually make people speak and they will have to answer. They should come out and say it anyway. There is nothing to fear if you have been honest and have done no wrong.

Rishabh Suri (HINDUSTAN TIMES; August 9, 2020)

Whether it is talking about his career in Bollywood or the way the industry functions, actor Adhyayan Suman doesn’t mince words. And as the voices against nepotism and favouritism in showbiz have gotten louder since Sushant Singh Rajput’s death, Adhyayan — the son of actor Shekhar Suman — admits that he has experienced it, too

Without naming anyone, he reveals, “I met this big producer-director who’s in this controversy right now. I wanted to work with him; he used to make careers. It has been nine years, he hasn’t picked up my calls. I met him in Los Angeles (US), and was scared to walk up to him, thinking I haven’t done well in life... My friend said, ‘Just say hi’. I said to him, ‘I just want to come and meet you’. My point was at least meet me, hear me out, don’t shut the door on my face.” Though the said person gave the actor his number and asked him to call any time, the 32-year-old claims he hasn’t got a reply till date. “Nine years, he never answered. He reads my messages, but doesn’t reply. That frustration built... I thought maybe I’m not good enough or not good enough for him. Then I thought maybe I’m good, just not successful, that’s why the calls weren’t answered,” he adds.

Despite having the so-called connections in the industry, the actor preferred to go his own way. He further says that it’s a wrong notion that only outsiders have to struggle. “This casting woman I used to go to, she’s a big name... I never got any work, but once they called me, spoke about my teeth, nose, hair. I said, ‘I’m an actor, talk about what you want me to perform first. Six-pack abs kar lenge. Can I get the scene you want me to audition?’ I never got that opportunity,” he tells us.

Actor’s reality show returns; inmates may include Nia Sharma, Vivian DSena and Adhyayan Suman
Akash Bhatnagar (MUMBAI MIRROR; July 15, 2020)

Salman Khan, who has been at his farmhouse in Panvel since before the Coronavirus lockdown was announced, is getting ready to move into a new house. Mirror has learnt that the reality game show, Bigg Boss, is all set to return with its 14th season and the actor, who has been hosting the show since Season 4, will be back come September.

A source close to the development confirmed the news, saying, “Yes, Salman is on board and the show kicks off in two months. We have started talking to prospective participants, among them are popular television actors, Vivian Dsena and Nia Sharma, and Shekhar Suman’s actor-son Adhyayan, and are hopeful they will come on board.”

Vivian is a familiar face in living rooms thanks to soaps like Pyaar Kii Ye Ek Kahani, Madhubala – Ek Ishq Ek Junoon and Shakti — Astitva Ke Ehsaas Ki. He also taken part in many reality shows, including Fear Factor: Khatron Ke Khiladi Season 7 and eight season of the celebrity dance show Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa. He tied the knot with his Pyaar Kii Ye Ek Kahaani co-star Vahbiz Dorabjee in 2013, but the couple filed for divorce three years later.

Nia, who ranked third and second in the list of Asia’s 50 sexiest women in 2016 and 2017 respectively, made her debut on the small screen with Kaali: Ek Punar Avatar. She has gone on to do other shows like Ek Hazaaron Mein Meri Behna Hai, Jamai Raja, Ishq Mein Marjawan and is currently playing a shape-shifting serpent in Ekta Kapoor’s Naagin which is in its fourth season. She participated in eight season of Khatron Ke Khiladi and has become a household name with her bold on-screen avatars and for speaking her mind.

Following in his father’s footsteps, Adhyayan Suman made a beginning with Haal-e-Dil and went on to feature in Raaz—The Mystery Continues, Jashnn and his father’s directorial, Heartless, among other films. He has also been pursuing a singing career, but the actor has really been grabbing headlines for his relationship with ex-girlfriend Kangana Ranaut. His father has revealed that Adhyayan has gone through a phase of depression and even harboured suicidal thoughts. With inmates like these three, the new season promises plenty of drama.

The last season of Bigg Boss started on September 29, 2019, and ended on February 15, 2020, with actor-model Siddharth Shukla as the winner.

Star kids say a film industry background may guarantee a headstart, but not box-office success
Rishabh Suri (HINDUSTAN TIMES; July 9, 2020)

The nepotism debate rages on, but the box office has always shown there’s only one arbiter of an actor’s fate: the audience. While some star kids such as Hrithik Roshan, Sanjay Dutt and Kareena Kapoor Khan made it big, for many others their film backgrounds didn’t translate into showbiz success.

For instance, Harman Baweja, son of producer Harry Baweja, was launched in Love Story 2050 (2008), and went on to do Victory and What’s Your Rashee? (both 2009), but didn’t find commercial success. Sooraj Pancholi, son of actor Aditya Pancholi, and Athiya Shetty, daughter of actor Suniel Shetty, were launched by actor Salman Khan in Hero (2015), but don’t have a big hit.

Adhyayan Suman, son of actor-host Shekhar Suman, debuted with Haal-e-Dil (2008), got some success with Raaz- The Mystery Continues (2009), but then his career hit a low. “I was talking to dad about this, this debate is wrong. It is actually groupism,” he says. “As even Sushant (Singh Rajput) said, the problem is only when star kids are being pushed ahead. My point is if that was the case, we wouldn’t have Ayushmann Khurrana or Rajkummar Rao. And Ranbir Kapoor, Alia Bhatt, Varun Dhawan — they must have got it easy for a couple of years, but if today, someone tells me Ranbir is not a good actor, I will slap them. They have the X-factor,” he adds.

Hard work works?
Sikandar Kher, son of actors Kirron Kher and Anupam Kher, doesn’t deny nepotism, but feels hard work triumphs. “When I go and ask for work, I’ll get a meeting with filmmakers. Millions come to the industry, they might never get one. But everyone I met hasn’t given me work. I don’t think anybody is going to put money on you just because you are somebody’s son or daughter, it’s a business. My first film Woodstock Villa (2008) was offered to me by Sanjay Gupta. That is probably because of where I come from. But as you go on, you just work at it,” he tells us.

Pranutan, daughter of actor Mohnish Bahl and granddaughter of yesteryear star Nutan, was also launched by Salman, in Notebook (2019), but it didn’t do well. Bahl says his daughter bagged the film on her own. “People say ‘Salman ki dosti hai’, they don’t want to believe that,” he says, adding that Pranutan has bagged another film, Helmet, and auditions even today.

Audience rules
Late actor Amrish Puri’s grandson Vardhan didn’t have it easy either. “I was young when my grandfather passed away. When I wanted to start as an assistant director, I had nobody to make calls for me. I gave 25-50 interviews, till I met Aditya Chopra and begged him for a job,” he tells us. He recently made his film debut with Yeh Saali Ashiqui (2019).

Agrees Mustafa, son of filmmaker Abbas of the Abbas-Mastan duo, who debuted with Machine in 2017, but didn’t strike gold. “It doesn’t help being the child of a famous parent. The audience makes you what you are,” he says.

It’s two weeks since actor Sushant Singh Rajput’s death and these issues refuse to die down. We get 16 celebs to answer questions that trigger a fresh debate everyday
Juhi Chakraborty, Shreya Mukherjee and Rishabh Suri (HINDUSTAN TIMES; June 27, 2020)


CAN BOLLYWOOD BE CALLED ONE BIG FAMILY?
MANOJ BAJPAYEE: No, it is not a big family, I don’t get fooled. We are scattered, fragmented, there are different groups, I don’t belong to any of them. On the first day post Satya (1998), I had decided I will only focus on roles offered to me, work on my terms and conditions. But yes, eventually, the industry will have to come together, if not now, tomorrow. It will have to be democratic. Let’s see.


IS THIS A WAKE-UP CALL FOR OUT-OF-WORK ACTORS TO SEEK HELP?
SAYANI GUPTA: Yes. All actors, and in fact all of us, irrespective of our profession, should seek therapy because life today is much more stressful than it used to be for the previous generation. And the internet/ social media adds to it. We all go through ups and downs in this cut-throat world and speaking to a counsellor helps in getting a fresh perspective. Therapy should be a must, from school and through your work life.


DOES NEPOTISM POSE A THREAT TO ‘OUTSIDERS’?
TAAPSEE PANNU: Yes it does, but so does a threat of being cheated, of being sexually harassed, and the threat of social media trials for sometimes no fault. And all these are equally harmful for a new talent. I have lost films and opportunities to someone under the umbrella of nepotism but I refuse to blame it for every hurdle and not give a strong fight. There are advantages and also disadvantages of being a star kid, and being an outsider.


IS IT TOUGH TO GET INTO CAMPS, POWER TABLES?
DAISY SHAH: This is in all industries. But you’re forgetting many ‘favourites’ have not got a flourishing career. I feel indicating at these ‘camps’ isn’t going to help you be successful. Everyone is working hard. The path they embark upon, on the road to success, is subjective. Some are lucky to have a helping hand. It’s an unfortunate fact of life, we should all make peace with it.


DO TV ACTORS STILL FIGHT FOR ACCEPTANCE?
MRUNAL THAKUR: Everybody in Bollywood goes through their share of struggles. When I started, I faced the stereotype that TV actors can’t be a part of the film industry. I realised I can break this if I work on my craft. I also got rid of my Marathi accent… I was also under a lot of pressure to be on social networking sites. If you’re talented, do your job well, people will support you. Struggles I went through made me better.


CAN REJECTIONS MAKE ONE DOUBT THEIR WORTH?
SHREYAS TALPADE: You get your first film and, if it works, you feel you’ve arrived. But when you get rejected soon after, you tend to question your capabilities. Most get wiser with experience. After Iqbal (2005), I auditioned for a film. The director said I don’t fit in comedy as I’ve got a serious image. After Golmaal Returns (2008), he said he misjudged my talent. You can’t make all happy, but can work on your abilities and make yourself happy.


IS THERE A CONSTANT FEAR OF BEING OUT OF THE INDUSTRY IF FILMS FLOP?
AAHANA KUMRA: We’re living in a world where your success is measured by how much money your product makes. That happens in most businesses, not just Bollywood. Having said that, yes outsiders don’t get enough chances. But, a child from the film industry will get chance after chance... We may get one film and if we don’t deliver, we may not be considered for another, so that’s the challenge.


CAN FEAR OF FAILURE PUSH ONE TO GIVE UP ON LIFE?
ADHYAYAN SUMAN: Ending your life isn’t the solution, but the pressure is 10-fold in the Hindi film industry, because there’s not just money involved, but also this delusional thing called ‘fame’. When you don’t achieve that, having people around you is important, but it’s crucial to know this is very temporary. I struggled in the last seven-eight years, and didn’t get the right work. Today, I am building my life back again, slow and steady.


DO PEOPLE SIDELINE NOT-SO-SUCCESSFUL ACTORS?
SIKANDAR KHER: In no way do I think that this a cultural thing. This, the film industry, is a business like any other. If you are doing well, your films are doing well, you are “successful”, then work will come easily to you. But if things aren’t going well with you and your career, then it will be tougher and tougher to get work. You just have to keep your head down and try to get more work. That’s all you can do really.


IS MENTAL HEALTH A KEY YET NEGLECTED SUBJECT?
DIVYA DUTTA: It is not about discussing, it is who to discuss with, how to discuss it. You will be judged instantly. Arre yaar usko toh yeh hai aur firr do jagah aur baat ho jaayegi. It will not help a person with a mental health issue. But are others doing anything? No. We have to look within first. Unless you have strong family and friend support, it’s difficult. We just say hi to one another but beyond that it’s a solo journey.


DO ACTORS HIDE THEIR DEPRESSION AS THEY FEAR BEING JUDGED?
JASMIN BHASIN: As an actor we’ve got a lot of extra pressures. And many do fear about work getting affected if someone comes to know of their mental state. I’ve experienced depression and could deal with it because of my family and friends. Those who matter should know about you. Everything about an actor is not for the public to know.


IS IT TRUE THAT ACTORS ARE QUITE VULNERABLE ?
SHAMA SIKANDER: This is a very difficult place to be in. You are so exposed. It can totally torment you. Yes it absolutely does push you in dark zones because it is the toughest profession ever. There is so much competition. Everybody is ready to do everything and a person who does that is chosen over another who is probably more talented. Whoever survives in the industry is very strong.


CAN REPEATED MOCKING AND RIDICULING BREAK ONE’S CONFIDENCE?
SUNIL GROVER: In my initial days, while doing a show, an actor came up to me and said I should be careful about what I say. I wasn’t known then, so I guess the trust factor was missing. Even now, before any show or award ceremony, I discuss certain jokes with actors in advance. I think one should laugh and not take ourselves so seriously. It’s also important to be sensitive towards another person’s sentiments.


DOES TOXICITY ON SOCIAL MEDIA AFFECT ONE’S EMOTIONAL WELL-BEING?
ADAH SHARMA: Yes, trolling does affect you emotionally. Even excluding someone can have a worse if not the same effect as trolling. For me, the toxicity hasn’t got out of hand on social media to be honest. I’ve also had practice dealing with enough toxicity in real life, so social media trolls are nothing. I’m also okay with criticism, toxic or constructive, as long as I’m allowed to participate in the race.


SHOULD WE REACH OUT TO AN ACTOR SHOWING SIGNS OF DEPRESSION?
DIVYANKA TRIPATHI DAHIYA: I feel taking lessons from this, the entertainment fraternity must change. All artistes go through a low phase. We should aim to develop empathy for our fellow actors/directors/ writers, instead of spotting competition in them and trying to demean, demoralise or ignore them. We must step into another’s shoes before commenting. Depression doesn’t happen overnight.

DO RELATIONSHIP RUMOURS PUT ONE UNDER MENTAL PRESSURE?
ELLI AVRRAM: It has affected my relationship, whatever I have had in my career so far. Sometimes it ends up destroying your relationship with that person. Many celebs want to get clicked by the paparazzi. You are a person who doesn’t do these things, but your partner might believe you are the one who has called them, and might start doubting that you are doing it as a PR activity. It spoils it, that’s sad.