Showing posts with label Aditya Nimbalkar. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Aditya Nimbalkar. Show all posts
Tanya Maniktala to play a pivotal role in Rajkummar Rao’s second production; shoot begins in November
8:54 AM
Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; October 28, 2025)
In May, mid-day reported that Rajkummar Rao was set to begin work on his second production, a yet-untitled film that revolves around the Indian education system (School opens in June, May 12). Now, we’ve learnt that Tanya Maniktala, who broke out with Mira Nair’s A Suitable Boy (2020), has been roped in for the drama, led by Rao and Keerthy Suresh.
Aditya Nimbalkar, who made his directorial debut with Sector 36 (2024), aims to take a hard look at India’s education system — its pressures, paradoxes, and the profit-driven approach — through his second feature. According to sources, Maniktala plays a woman who questions the rigidity of the academic system, its focus on minting money rather than shaping young minds, and the norms that define success and failure.
An insider reveals, “This character is the trigger to the story. Tanya was Aditya’s first choice for the role. He was impressed by her ability to portray vulnerability and strength, the qualities that are central to this story.”
While leads Rao and Suresh had begun shooting their parts in June, Maniktala is expected to join the unit in November. Another source shares, “Tanya has been reading and researching extensively for this role. She has a 30-day shoot lined up.”
Rajkummar Rao and Patralekhaa’s maiden production, ‘Toaster’, a comedy helmed by Vivek Das Chaudhary, is set to premiere on Netflix.
The film is directed by Aditya Nimbalkar, who previously helmed the gritty ‘Sector 36’ (2024), inspired by the 2006 Nithari killings.
Rajkummar Rao to begin Aditya Nimbalkar’s murder comedy before Sourav Ganguly biopic
9:37 AM
With Sourav Ganguly’s biopic in pre-production, sources say Rajkummar Rao to kick off director Aditya Nimbalkar’s murder comedy
Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; June 9, 2025)
There is much interest in the Sourav Ganguly biopic as it not only focuses on one of Indian cricket’s most successful skippers, but also marks Rajkummar Rao and filmmaker Vikramaditya Motwane’s reunion after Trapped (2017). But there is still time before they take the movie on floors as it’s currently in pre-production. That has left Rao with enough window to begin work on his next, directed by Aditya Nimbalkar.
mid-day has learnt that the Netflix film is a dark comedy centred on a murder. The shoot is expected to begin this month. A source revealed, “It will be shot at 1 Aerocity in Marol, and Film City in Goregaon, Mumbai. Aditya has charted out a two-month shoot. Rajkummar was so impressed by the script that he also came on board as a co-producer.”
The film marks his second production after Toaster, which is slated to drop on Netflix this year.
Another insider shares that the yet-untitled film is far removed from Nimbalkar’s last release, the gritty Sector 36 (2024). “This film offers a new take on the murder mystery genre, with lots of quirky elements. It’s a black comedy.”
The makers are apparently eyeing an early 2026 release.
Rajkummar Rao & Patralekhaa's production starring Keerthy Suresh to roll out on June 1
10:46 AM
Rajkummar Rao’s second production, starring Keerthy Suresh and him, to roll from June 1; satire examines today’s education system
Upala KBR (MID-DAY; May 12, 2025)
Production may be a new avenue for actor-couple Rajkummar Rao and Patralekhaa, but they are making swift progress. While their maiden production Toaster has yet to première on Netflix, the duo has set the stage for their second offering. mid-day has learnt that the yet-untitled film, starring National Award-winning actors Rao and Keerthy Suresh, will roll in Mumbai on June 1. Sources tell us that the story examines today’s education system and its profit-driven approach.
Through their banner, Rao and Patralekhaa are keen to bring largely untapped voices to the fore. This time around, they are said to have roped in director Aditya Nimbalkar, who recently helmed Sector 36 (2024).
A source reveals, “Their second production is a satirical take on today’s money-making education system. The story, in a humorous way, highlights how the field of education is all about business and profits rather than imparting knowledge and building the future of the country. The leads play educators, who blow the lid on the goings-on.”
While the project kicks off in Mumbai in June after Suresh wraps up her Tamil movie, Revolver Rita, it will be followed by a schedule in Delhi.
The source adds, “The makers intend to wrap it up over a straight 45-day shoot. Even as Rajkummar and Patralekhaa are learning the ropes as new producers, they are clear on the kind of projects they wish to back. They are looking for novel stories that go beyond entertainment and reflect on the current social issues.”
We’re an insensitive society, giving trash to our kids as entertainment-Vishal and Rekha Bhardwaj
8:22 AM
Chandrima Pal (BOMBAY TIMES; June 28, 2024)
For the World Music Day concert in Kolkata, multi-hyphenate power couple Rekha and Vishal Bhardwaj took time off from their hectic schedule and many interactions with fellow artistes and filmmakers to speak to us. In a cosy room with a piano, family portraits and antiques, the duo shared their views on cinema, poetry, music and more.
There is considerable excitement around music and musicians being discovered on digital platforms. You have collaborated with some of them as well. Some argue that social media has no scope for a deeper engagement with music. What is your take on it?
Vishal Bhardwaj: I don’t mind using any means to reach out to as many people as possible with my work. That’s how you sell profound and aesthetic ideas like literature and music. It is like meethi dawai.
‘OTT broke the myth that everything has to be in English to be successful’
Rekha Bhardwaj: Besides, there are so many Instagram handles that are sharing good poetry, actors are reading from scripts, reciting couplets. I have discovered some very good music and talent in the process. Our film work gets a wider audience anyway. I see an opportunity in using the apps and various social media platforms to get people to discover the more serious and niche aspects of our craft.
The two of you met at Delhi University. Music and poetry brought you together and defines your relationship even today. Now when you visit college campuses or interact with young students, do you see the same passion and commitment towards music or poetry among them?
RB: It’s a bit of a mixed bag, really. You meet some people who are still very rooted and there are those who are not seriously invested into music. There are purists and there are people who have ‘jawani ka josh.’ There are very few who are taking up music and poetry seriously. Like the Kabir Cafe in Delhi, who seem to have some potential.
So if an aspiring musician comes to you, seeking your advice, would you encourage them to pursue music as a career? Or give them a sense of reality?
RB: I would first hear him or her out to see if there is talent and the inclination to do the hard work that is required to be successful. You see, if your definition of success is being liked by everyone, you are likely to be unhappy with whatever you do or achieve. If you get 100 followers, you will crave for a thousand more. And even then you will sulk. We have never craved numbers. But focussed on our art and people just came along, connected with our work. Like Gulzar Saab has always told us, “Success on your terms.”
VB: When we came up, they were very dark times. Now there are so many platforms to showcase your work. At that time there were only recording companies and they were advocating only popular music. Perhaps rightfully so. For them it was commerce. For us it is art. There’s a huge difference. But if you are really talented you can defy the odds with your perseverance and hard work. There is no room for arrogance or shortcuts here.
My question to you Vishal is why have Indian filmmakers stopped making films and music for children? Your composition Jungle Jungle Baat Chali Hai (lyrics by Gulzar) for Jungle Book still resonates. And after your Ruskin Bond adaptations, you did not return to the genre. Why is that?
(Smiles) I started this movement with Makdee and The Blue Umbrella and somewhere went on to do different kinds of work. We are a very insensitive adult society. We do nothing for our children, and in the name of entertainment we give them the trash of Bollywood, the really bad dubbed versions of foreign shows. But yes, we are planning a sequel of Makdee, and Shweta Prasad (played a double role) will be involved in the making of the film.
Isn’t there better scope for children’s movies and shows on the OTT platforms?
It is worse. OTT is not interested because they say they work on subscriptions and children are not their subscribers. They’ll never make any investments for Indian content for that age group. I tried working with Ruskin Bond’s Mr Oliver’s Diary (a gun-toting, violin playing headmaster, a leopard and other creatures). My long-time associate Aditya Nimbalkar and I had a script. I went to everyone. Trust me, no one was interested.
There is a lot of interesting work happening with languages on OTT though. We see productions with multilingual casts and stories that reflect the plurality that is India. Does this excite you as a filmmaker and composer?
I have been using various dialects and actors from the time I made Kaminey. There was a Bengali gangster, and a Nigerian one. I love all languages and dialects and the authenticity that they bring to any film. The biggest positive of OTT is this, they broke this myth that everything has to be done in English to be commercially successful. And I had a big problem with it. I had an issue with Richard Attenborough’s Gandhi. Because it was made in English by a Hollywood studio to appease the world market. In the film, beggars are begging in English in Indian streets. I felt so disconnected with it even though it was a beautiful cinematic experience. It just did not have that authenticity.
RB: Even in Slumdog Millionnaire…
VB: That’s right. In slums we do not speak in English or read Three Musketeers. I had a problem with that.
Vishal on his version of Patta Patta Buta Buta
I have been trying to work with this song for four decades. The lyrics are universal; you can put it in any context. It could be political or personal. Patta patta buta buta haal hamara jaane je…(hums) every leaf, every plant knows my state of mind except the flower…We are happy that we finally managed to give this classic our own touch, and released it on World Music Day.
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"It was a beautiful concert in Kolkata. Vishal and Shubha Mudgal, Papon and I blended Kabir and Lalan Fakir, Amrita Pritam and Sahir Ludhianvi respectively" - Rekha Bhardwaj.
"Meera and Kabir, it is good in a way. Chalo shuruwat toh ki hai!"- Vishal Bharadwaj
Shahid Kapoor to kick off Operation Cactus as soon as he wraps up Raj-DK's web series?
7:58 AM
Sources say Kapoor to kick off Operation Cactus shoot as soon as he wraps up Raj-DK’s series post lockdown
Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; May 13, 2021)
After completing the Goa schedule of Raj-DK (Raj Nidimoru-Krishna DK)’s yet-untitled web series in April, Shahid Kapoor returned to Mumbai. The next schedule of the thriller, which was to kick off earlier this month, will now be shot in the city once the restrictions are lifted. With the dates being reworked, it has had a domino effect on the actor’s slate of projects. He intends to kick off the OTT film, Operation Cactus, as soon as it’s a wrap on his maiden web series that also features South superstar Vijay Sethupathi.
“The lockdown has played havoc with the dates of actors. Meanwhile, producer Amar Butala’s team is on standby. The pre-production of Operation Cactus is on in full swing, and it will go on floors as soon as the leading man is available,” says a source.
The action thriller offers a retelling of the 1988 military operation of the same name that was launched by the Indian government in the Maldives to prevent a coup by 200 Sri Lankan militants against then-President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom. Kapoor will step into the shoes of Brigadier Farukh Bulsara in the movie, which will be helmed by Aditya Nimbalkar. He has previously assisted Vishal Bhardwaj in Kaminey (2009), Haider (2014) and Rangoon (2017).
mid-day reached out to Kapoor’s team, who didn’t respond till press time.
Nawazuddin Siddiqui in Vishal Bhardwaj’s next comedy drama?
7:49 AM
Film will mark the directorial debut of his assistant Aditya Nimbalkar
Avinash Lohana (MUMBAI MIRROR; September 14, 2017)
Vishal Bhardwaj had previously launched his former assistant director
Abhishek Chaubey with the Vidya Balan, Naseeruddin Shah and Arshad Warsi
black comedy Ishqiya in 2010. This year, Mirror (April 21) revealed
that he will be launching Honey Trehan, who has assisted him on Omkara
and 7 Khoon Maaf.Honey, who along with Abhishek has co-produced Konkona Sen Sharma’s directorial debut, A Death In The Gunj, earlier this year will turn director with an as-yet-untitled film, featuring Deepika Padukone as mafia queen Rahima Khan (popularly known as Sapna Didi) with Irrfan Khan portraying a local gangster, who is in love with her and helps in her mission to eliminate Dawood Ibrahim.
Now, Mirror has learnt that the 52-yearold filmmaker, along with Prernaa Arora and Arjun N Kapoor, will produce Aditya Nimbalkar’s debut directorial.
Aditya has earlier assisted Vishal on films like Kaminey, Haider and more recently Rangoon. The film is also expected to feature Nawazuddin Siddiqui in the lead.
“It’s a comedy drama and Vishal really liked the script, which Aditya has been working on for a while now. He has given him the nod and Vishal recently met Nawazuddin to discuss the character, who fits him to the T. The yet-untitled film is set in the hills of the North and is tentatively scheduled to kick off in December,” informs a source close to the development, adding that the hunt for the leading actress is currently on.
Prernaa and Vishal remained unavailable for comments.
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