Having set her heart on a career in showbiz mid-way through her graduation course, Sara Ali Khan on putting her education into fast-track to dive headlong into Bollywood
Sonia Lulla (MID-DAY; December 9, 2018)

Almost overnight, Sara Ali Khan found herself being promoted. Putting an end to months of comparisons with debutante Janhvi Kapoor, Khan found herself being pitted against the inarguably talented Alia Bhatt, even though she had weeks to go before her acting prowess could be put up for scrutiny. It may be worthy to point out that following her debut in Student Of The Year, Bhatt had to put in a hint of toil to establish her credibility with acts in Highway and Udta Punjab. Yet, for Khan, an hour-long chat show — in the company of father Saif Ali Khan — did the trick, making her instantly affable for both, cinephiles and media professionals. Evidently a chip of the old block, Khan, in many ways, is a reflection of her father, who has long established his place in the industry as among the most well-read; one who can pick up a conversation on any subject. And while her intelligence shown through in the Karan Johar-hosted show, it is the unmistakable earnesty with which she tackles questions that makes her worthy of attention.

As we meet her for the first time during a round of promotions for the Friday release Kedarnath, Khan's wit isn't lost on us. Neither is her vulnerability, as she juggles questions with emotions, instead of the stoicism that industry veterans familiarise themselves with. She tells us she was 20 years old when she arrived at the decision to make a career in Bollywood. "I was studying in Columbia [University, New York] and realised that that was not what [I wanted]. In my university, I also did theatre, and knew that this was exactly what I wanted to do. I love history, and can continue to do so. I was in a history museum last week, and was reading a history book 25 minutes ago. So, that is something I can continue to pursue. But, acting is age-sensitive. It was now or never for me, and it can never be never. Even though I had a blast in Columbia, I finished a four-year-degree in three years, because I didn't want to waste a year [as an actor]," she says.

Her time spent in New York was cherishable, yet, she points out, it was fighting for the comfort that she seamlessly received at home that went a long way in shaping her. "Going to New York was an equaliser," she says, alluding to the years she spent in the absence of her "loving, doting and giving" parents. "I have grown up with a mother [Amrita Singh], and father, both of whom have never let me think that it's possible to not get something I want. These may not be materialistic things, because I'm not a materialistic girl, unless you're talking about bangles, in which case, I'm obsessive. But, they have given me immense attention and time. Going to New York made me recognise that sometimes, I would have to fight for these things, because I don't have Saif and Amrita, the strongest people I know, behind me. I could not get anything I wanted on a platter."

Her Bollywood background, she says, couldn't even shield her from racism. "I understood what it takes to be an Indian in America. There are moments when you feel like the other, even the lesser. Luckily, I've grown up [learning] that I must not care about what people think, beyond a point." Even though Abhishek Kapoor's romance drama has seen mixed reviews from critics, Khan, it has been suggested, has put up a promising front. An unconventional debut had her juggle the shooting of Kedarnath with Rohit Shetty's upcoming masala flick, Simmba, and Khan attributes her inexperience for her ability to pull off the two diverse films.

"Neither of the two characters resemble me. The experience of having Sushant [Singh Rajput, Kedarnath co-star] before me, while Abhishek was behind the camera, and that of being alongside [Simmba co-star] Ranveer Singh while Rohit [watched over me] was at stark contrast to one another. Because I am an actor with no expertise, all I could rely on was my gut. In both films, I was merely reacting to my surroundings. And if my surroundings were different, so were my acts," she says, matter-of-factly.

At home, the newest addition to Bollywood has a hard time keeping from discussing work with her father. "He looks at me like I'm a traitor for discussing films. He lives with Kareena [Kapoor], is a brother to Soha, and is an actor's son. So, now, if I discuss work, he's like, 'Please don't do this to me.' So, we don't talk about films often. We talk about history, argue about what Hitler's motivations were, or who was wrong in the Cold War. Sometimes, we discuss religion and how different beliefs and social systems came about. We both enjoy culture, travelling, good food, and great conversations."

Rachit Gupta (BOMBAY TIMES; August 5, 2018)

Akshay Kumar is the original khiladi of Bollywood. He has been an advocate of martial arts, fitness and sports right through his 27-year-long career. His latest offering, Gold, directed by Reema Kagti, is a sports drama, based on the Indian hockey team winning its first gold medal after independence. This period film has given the actor new insights into the world of sporting history. In a candid conversation with BT, he shares his opinions on telling stories that are relevant and have the power to strike new conversations.

The story of Gold is about India winning its first gold medal as an independent nation at the 1948 Olympics. It also brings forth interesting anecdotes about India’s history, which not many people are aware of. Is that what intrigued you to take up the project?
When I first heard the script, I had no clue that there is history behind India winning its first gold medal as an independent nation. The story of Gold begins in 1936, a period when our country was referred to as British India. During that phase, we used to play hockey, but we also used to participate in international tournaments like the 1936 Berlin Olympics. I was fascinated to discover the story of Adolf Hitler meeting Dhyan Chand. Hitler was watching India play against Germany and we beat them in the final to win gold. Later, Hitler called Dhyan Chand for a meeting and offered him a chance to join the German Army, impressed with his abilities on the hockey field. These nuggets of Indian history really piqued my interest.

Often, such fascinating stories are lost in the pages of history. Do you think cinema is a great medium to bring these stories to light?
That’s the idea. Before we made Airlift (2016), neither the common public nor popular media outlets knew about this extraordinary operation where the Indian government flew out 1,70,000 people from a foreign country. It was a world record of sorts, but no one spoke about it in daily conversation. After the film released, there were a hundred articles published on the same topic. Also, in my opinion, I always feel visuals create a bigger impact as opposed to reading. When it comes to recalling memories, a person often does better with visual memories than with something that they may have read in a book or an article.

The story of Gold has a strong sentiment of patriotism. Do you think that will work in its favour, given that it’s also releasing on Independence Day?
At the 1948 Olympics, India won all its matches and as fate would have it, we faced England in the finals in London. It basically came down to being a match between ex-slaves and their ex-masters. The British ruled us for 200 years. The administration members, coaches and a few players, who used to represent British India, were now part of the English team. The only thing that they were focusing on was that they could not lose this match to India. And that sentiment is what makes the story of Gold so fascinating. We beat them at their own game. How many Indians today know about this wonderful sporting achievement from 70 years ago? That is exactly what attracted me to this film, and I am hoping it will work for the audience, too.

While promoting the film, you referred to your character, Tapan Das, as your quirkiest role yet. What’s so unique about him?
He’s a controversial figure. He drinks and even cheats people, but at the end of the day, he’s a normal man with his own set of flaws. He’s the manager of the team. He gets the team together, but he’s also the guy who picks up the hockey sticks for the players. Uss zamane mein, manager hi sab kuch karta tha. Tab paisa kahan tha, ki entourage leke aayenge. So, the manager used to haul the entire kit, including 12 hockey sticks, the balls and pads.

Did you ever play hockey as a young man? What are your experiences with the sport?
I am familiar with hockey because I used to play it back in my school days.

For decades of your career, you were known as an action hero and you took your time to break away from that image to do the kind of cinema you are doing today. But would you say that these very aspects of your life — fitness and discipline — have helped you achieve what you have today?
Whatever I have achieved in this profession and the film industry is all thanks to martial arts and sports. Mujhe toh acting ka ‘A’ bhi nahin aata tha. Abhi bhi nahin aata hai, abhi bhi main seekh hi raha hoon (laughs). I made a career as an action star because I was good at martial arts and playing sports gave me an athletic frame. All the credit for this goes to my father, who understood that his boy wasn’t interested in academics. He acknowledged the fact that I had an interest in sports and he encouraged me to follow my passion. He pushed me in the right direction. It’s important that parents understand and acknowledge their children’s passion and interest, however different it might be. It’s imperative that they let their child pursue whatever his or her heart desires.

Your films have been able to create a social impact and bring about a change, even if it’s just the beginning. How does the feeling of making a film that brings social awareness compare with the highs of your movie’s box-office achievements?
What is the box-office figure of Pad Man? Rs 80 crores? No! I consider Pad Man to be my biggest hit yet. You know why? With the GST exemption on sanitary pads, women who are using it and even manufacturers across the country will save crores of rupees every single day, thanks to this rebate. Do the math. Over a month, that must amount to crores of rupees. That’s a monetary collection that matters. That is the business that excites me and gives me fulfilment. That is why I am happy to make movies that bring about a change. I can easily make a Rowdy Rathore 2 and earn three times the money that I earn with a Pad Man, but I’d rather make meaningful cinema.

Like your previous films that opened new conversations in society, do you hope Gold will do something similar for the world of Indian sports and sportspersons? Yes, cricketers are some of the country’s biggest and wealthiest stars, but for all other sports, the fame and money isn’t all that great.
I was at an awards show in Delhi recently, where the organisers had called in a few sportspersons and jawans. As a token of appreciation, the organisers wanted to give them a medal and certificate. I was standing on stage and distributing the tokens of honour. When I saw some of them, it seemed like it was a struggle for them to even reach Delhi. A lot of them didn’t come from economically privileged backgrounds. It’s commendable that we’re rewarding sportsmen with respect, but in all honesty, how will that medal and certificate help those people run their kitchens? At that moment, I announced a monetary reward and requested the organisers to change their format and award such heroes with cheques. That small amount might actually be the livelihood of that person’s family for the next three-four months. It is important that we celebrate our achievers and heroes by helping them out in ways that matter. In the end, everyone needs money to survive. Anyone who says that he doesn’t need money to be happy is lying. You need money to fulfill your basic needs.

Upala KBR (MID-DAY; June 25, 2018)

Though Akshay Kumar’s upcoming Gold is based on India bagging its first gold medal in hockey as an independent nation in the 1948 Summer Olympics, director Reema Kagti has taken the creative liberty to include a historic moment from the 1936 Berlin Olympics in her narrative. Kagti, we hear, has recreated the episode when Dhyan Chand — who led the Indian hockey contingent at the Berlin Olympics — refused to salute Adolf Hitler during the opening ceremony in a show of defiance. The American contingent was the only other country that made a similar gesture.

Says a source from the creative team of Gold, “The film is a fictional story set against the backdrop of true incidents in the run-up to the 1948 Olympics. Dhyan Chand’s defiance at the 1936 Olympics had become a talking point then, and is considered one of the defining moments in Indian sports. Given its significance, the makers felt the incident should be brought to life on the big screen. While the movie is set in the ’40s, this moment has been shown in the film in passing as it is a historical moment in the game of hockey and Indian nationalism. So they have recreated the moment where Akshay will be seen as part of the Indian contingent and British actor Jonathan Rushby will be seen as Hitler. The movie will not only shed light on a glorious chapter of Indian sports, but will also manifest how a bunch of rustic Indians went on to make an astounding political statement.”

The period drama — that also features Mouni Roy, Amit Sadh and Kunal Kapoor — traces the journey of a hockey coach, played by Kumar, who trains the Indian team at the 1948 Olympics that was held in London.

Upala KBR (DNA; October 26, 2016)

Ranveer Singh is gearing up to play the darkest role he has ever played. He is going deep into the psyche of evil men in history to play the dark role of Alauddin Khilji in Padmavati. Director Sanjay Leela Bhansali has given the actor books to read delving into the psyche of dark rulers of history including Hitler. Ranveer has to completely forget who he is before he can play Khilji. It's an intense role and Ranveer has to completely transform himself. Khilji was a tyrant with no shades of grey, without any justification for his evilness. His army raped, destroyed and conquered thousands of people as he strove to establish his Sultanate in India.

Says a source, "Ranveer is prepping his body language, mannerisms, diction and physique. He is holed up in his Goregaon apartment and has himself off from people. For many hours in the day, he transforms into Khilji working on his dialogues and diction. "

The source adds that Ranveer is going the Aamir way as the actor is known to transform into various characters for his different films,"From intense workouts, to reading, research and diction training, Ranveer is going the extra mile to become Alauddin Khilji. After Befikre, he had to build up a different kind of body for Padmavati which is more powerful and big built. He works out for almost three hours every day. His benchmark to play this iconic, villainous historical character is very high; and therefore, this has become the toughest role that he has ever tackled!"

Harshada Rege (DNA; December 22, 2014)


DBB, a period film is based in the year 1943, when the significant trading port of India, Kolkata became the battleground during WW II. Therefore in Detective Byomkesh Bakshy, Hitler is the antagonist. In fact, in one of the stills of the film, Sushant dressed in the traditional Bengali apparel sports a moustache similar to Hitler.

About Byomkesh
A legendary Bengali detective with legions of fans across India. Byomkesh Bakshi was created by Saradindu Bandopadhyay. The first Byomkesh story ever written was Pother Kanta (The Gramophone Pin Mystery) in 1932. He wrote 33 stories about Byomkesh but one was left incomplete due to his death. These 33 stories are an amalgam of both long and short stories and are classic “Whodunit?”