Showing posts with label Amruta Khanvilkar. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Amruta Khanvilkar. Show all posts
Amruta Khanvilkar warns of legal action over reports of separation
10:06 AM
HINDUSTAN TIMES (August 11, 2026)
Actor Amruta Khanvilkar has issued a legal warning after reports about her marriage to actor Himanshu Malhotra sparked speculation about a separation. On Monday, her legal team shared a statement on Instagram, calling the reports “baseless, defamatory” and privacy-invading content about her personal life. The team warned that those creating or sharing unverified allegations could face legal action, adding that such instances were being monitored and documented.
This comes days after a report claimed that Khanvilkar and Malhotra, who have been married for over 11 years, have been living in separate homes for around 18 months. The report, citing a source close to the couple, said there had been no discussion of divorce or legal separation and that the two remained in regular touch. At the time, the actors had commented they were still married.
The two met as contestants on India’s Best Cinestars Ki Khoj and subsequently began dating, before tying the knot in Delhi in 2015.
Today, I can demand the money I deserve-Sai Tamhankar
9:34 AM
Mihir Bhanage (BOMBAY TIMES; July 31, 2026)
Sai Tamhankar has voiced her opinions against pay disparity in the film industry in the past and continues to bat for fair pay on the basis of what an actor brings to the table, not depending on their gender. It’s taken her time to reach a position in which she can put her foot down on the fee she quotes for a project. And now, Sai wants to pave the way for others to do the same. In a chat with us, the Matka King and Tumbbadchi Manjula actress speaks about pay parity, need for unity in the Marathi industry and using her privilege to back projects with potential. Excerpts:
‘Changing things is in your hands’
The demand for pay parity has consistently highlighted the gender divide in the film industry. Male stars are often paid more than their female counterparts. While equal pay is an ongoing debate, Sai feels that one can definitely demand the fee they deserve.
“If you consistently deliver good work, no one can ignore you or the impact you bring in. I’m in a position today where I can demand the money I deserve. I know my worth and people have that assurance that I will give my 100% to a project – from filming to release and beyond,” she says, adding, “It took time to build this reputation but it’s absolutely doable.”
The same authority doesn’t extend to newer actors. Irrespective of how talented they are, there’s always that fear of losing out on work for many.
On that, Sai adds, “I’ve been through that and I understand how it feels. But I genuinely feel that the emphasis should be on the hope that this can happen. Yes, you have to build credibility. At the same time, you know what you’re worth. When I demand my worth today, it opens doors for others to do the same. This needs to be a habit. Makers shouldn’t raise their eyebrows if a deserving artiste quotes a fee that justifies their worth.”
Unity, consistency and seriousness: Sai’s keywords for sustained success in the Marathi industry
Sai is one of the actors who has successfully balanced work on Marathi and Hindi projects. Her recent Marathi films – Bol Bol Rani and Tumbbadchi Manjula – have been buzzing too. Despite many stating a lack of audience for Marathi films in the recent past, the actress has had a contrasting take, something that multiple Marathi films in the last year have proved to be right.
“If your content is damn good, the audience will show up,” she says. True as it may be, what will it take for this recent spate of good films and good response to turn into a sustained streak of even better films and response?
“I think it is commendable that we managed to bring the audience to cinemas. We should celebrate this because we deserve every bit of it. Plus, movies from new filmmakers are being appreciated, which is a very positive sign,” says Sai,” adding, “To sustain this success in the long run, we need unity in the industry and in the ecosystem. If we have that and take the business very seriously, there is no looking back. We shouldn’t lose sight of the bigger picture.”
‘Don’t think I’m mentally made for producer duties’
Sai was one of the executive producers of the acclaimed Marathi film Sabar Bonda. Ask her how important it is to lend one’s name to small or independent projects and she says, “Very!”
Elaborating further, the Agni actress adds, “If I can use my privilege and name to stand behind a deserving project and strong voice in whatever capacity, I am more than happy to do it. It is also a learning process for me.” But would she also turn producer eventually? “I’m not sure about that yet. I don’t think I am mentally prepared for the ‘chal theek hai, ho jayega’ moments that come very often with producer duties,” she shares.
A chick flick with fellow leading ladies? ‘Absolutely yes!
Sai and her contemporaries, including Priya Bapat, Amruta Khanvilkar and Sonalee Kulkarni, have been part of some notable projects in the recent past. While they may have worked in pairs of two in some projects, there hasn’t been a film that has brought all of them together. With a hope to remedy that, we suggest – a chick flick. Sai's response is enthusiastic.
“Yes, absolutely!” she says, adding, “We are all in a space where there’s no internal competition or trying to one up the other. And a chick flick all of us sounds fascinating. A travel film on the lines of Dil Chahta Hai would be perfect.” Producers and directors, hope you’re reading this.
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“Between a brilliant script with less money, and an average script with more money, I would choose the former. You should understand where to be stubborn about your fee and where to surrender creatively”
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“The fear of being typecast pushes me to do projects that aren’t similar to one another. The effort is to create a portfolio so diverse that no one comes back to you with the same type of role”
I punched a stuntman, his jaw got hurt and my hand swelled up like a balloon-Amruta Khanvilkar
10:46 AM
Priyanka Sharma (MID-DAY; January 11, 2026)
Amruta Khanvilkar was originally signed on for a six-day cameo in Neeraj Pandey’s upcoming Netflix series, Taskaree: The Smuggler's Web. But clearly, she walked in and changed the plan. During auditions, the director asked her to perform a new scene on the spot — and minutes later, she bagged a meatier role.
“When I performed the scene, Neeraj sir said, ‘Amruta, we want to cast you for a bigger role we have.’ That’s how I landed Mitali’s character,” she recalls.
Pandey also asked her if she could pull off action. Khanvilkar admitted she didn’t know stunts — but she is a dancer and understood rhythm. She said, “‘Sir, if you teach me choreography, I can do it in half an hour.’ They gave me an action sequence, which I did with the action master. People were surprised.”
Within days, she grew confident — perhaps a bit too confident. She reveals that she injured both a stuntman and herself while filming.
“In the beginning, you are alert and conscious because you are new to [action]. Slowly, I got a little overconfident, and I punched a stuntman, his jaw got hurt and my hand swelled up like a balloon. I cried for 15 minutes, then I put on boxing gloves and performed a kickboxing scene with the swollen hand.”
Bruises aside, she says she had a blast on set. The actor adds that Emraan Hashmi’s humility, despite his massive fan following, made it easier for everyone to bond.
“It is great to have an actor who is so grounded. He is unbothered about the baggage that comes with his fame, success, and fan following. [That’s why] you can joke and have a conversation with him. That chemistry always shows,” she smiles.
A unit hand came running to warn me to lock the door, or I could risk getting kidnapped-Amruta Khanvilkar
8:20 AM
Amruta Khanvilkar on shooting for Hansal and Jai Mehta’s series, Lootere, during pandemic in crime-infested South Africa
Letty Mariam Abraham (MID-DAY; March 19, 2024)
Amruta Khanvilkar considers it a stroke of luck that she chanced upon Hansal and Jai Mehta’s series Lootere while they were scouting for actors. The pirate thriller not only gave her the opportunity to work with South African actors, but also offered her a strong female character in the male-dominated show. In conversation with mid-day, the actor—who is primarily seen in Marathi projects—talks about the challenges of working in South Africa during the Coronavirus pandemic, and the long wait for the show’s release. Edited excerpts from the interview.
What was the brief given to you?
I was auditioning for a role at the casting director’s office in Andheri, when I learnt that Hansal Mehta is making a series that is being shot internationally with foreign actors. I begged for the audition script. When I read the script, I found it powerful. Later, I met Jai [Mehta, director], who is a young and enthusiastic chap. Lootere is a male-dominated show and he wanted Avika to be someone who wouldn’t spare anyone. She gets married to Vikrant [Vivek Gomber], and hopes that he will help her escape from Somalia. Avika was mentally and physically trapped; that was to reflect in my body language, clothes, even in my eyes.
What was the first day on the set like?
On my first day [of shoot] in South Africa, I was in a vanity van and the door was left open [to combat] the heat. A unit hand came running to warn me to lock the door, or I could risk getting kidnapped. Sometimes, we’d be ready to head to the location, but something would disrupt the shoot. The language was difficult to comprehend, plus this was amid the pandemic. For almost two-and-a-half months, I’d leave my hotel, go for the shoot and come right back to the hotel. I’d go out only when the entire cast and crew did.
Did you manage to do sightseeing?
I remember going out with my DoP [Jall Coswasji] and trying paragliding. By the end of the shoot, we had all become a little homesick. The unit was shooting for over seven months, which is long. It felt longer because we were far, in between COVID waves, and it was trying our patience.
Was it tough to portray a character who feels suffocated?
It gets to you because you are already in a [restricted atmosphere]. We all felt trapped during COVID. Plus, in South Africa, if I had to go somewhere, someone had to be sent with me. So, I took inspiration from that and my surroundings, especially from my first day when I was told I could be kidnapped.
Does the long wait between shoot and release bother you?
The waiting period is the most testing time. I shot about three to four web series two years ago. I shot for a Vishal Furia crime thriller series after I returned from South Africa. [For this interview], I had to call up Jai to give me a recap about it because it has been a while since we shot for this. There is anxiety around a show’s final outcome. As actors, I feel we are paid for the patience we have, not only in terms of money, but also future offers.
Had you heard about the pirate world before doing this series?
We’ve seen this world in international shows; this is the first time it’s being tackled in an Indian series. It was a daring move to shoot such a subject and bring two cultures together. Half the time, they shot on a ship where it’d often get extremely cold, so much so that one couldn’t even touch the metal railings. The people shooting aboard had seen dolphins and whales; they sustained injuries. It wasn’t an easy shoot. I’m glad the boys pulled it off.
How was it interacting with actors from a different culture?
There is a South African officer in the series. He is about six feet in height with a heavy build, but he was gentle and soft-spoken. He is the sweetest person I’ve met. Jai also enjoyed talking to South African actors. Their school of acting is so different; it was a learning opportunity.
Screen Marathi films or pay up Rs. 10 lakhs, government tells Maharashtra theatres
8:25 AM
Rishabh Suri (HINDUSTAN TIMES; May 21, 2023)
Maharashtra’s cultural affairs minister Sudhir Mungantiwar announced that a fine of Rs. 10 lakh will be imposed on movie theatre owners if Marathi movies are not screened for at least four weeks in a year. According to artistes, this is a welcome move.
Shreyas Talpade is of the view that Marathi films should be given priority in the state. The Poshter Boyz (2014) actor says unlike Hindi films, where the opening weekend itself brings in Rs. 20-30 crore, Marathi films “don’t have much funds for promotions” and depend heavily on word of mouth. “This is why they need more time in theatres,” he reasons.
Chandramukhi (2022) actor Amruta Khanvilkar says, “Our audience consists of people who do 9 to 5 jobs. When they want to watch a film in a theatre [after work], they don’t find convenient timings. I think people are not coming to theatres because they don’t find the right shows. This is a welcome move.”
Theatre owners say the earlier rules were that at least 120 shows had to be screened. “It means a minimum four shows daily for a Marathi film. They have now made it more stringent. In our theatres, Marathi films play at prime time slots (between 12 pm to 9 pm). If the government wants to penalize someone who isn’t following it, that is fine,” says Rajender Singh Jyala, chief programming officer, PVR INOX Limited.
However, not everyone is happy about these new rules. Joginder Tuteja, trade analyst, says this decision “doesn’t make any sense”. “It’s like a quota system that exists in jobs, etc. You can reinforce this in the government sector, but when you do it in privately owned businesses, then what you are doing is restricting them from doing their business which I am not in favour of.”
Exhibitors, too, aren’t happy with this decision by the Maharashtra government. Akshaye Rathi feels it should only be about the films which the audience is keen to watch. “If people want to watch a film, why will theatres not showcase it and earn money? Sometimes Marathi films get lopsided heavy showcasing, and vice versa. I truly think if we want businesses to prosper, rather than penalizing theatres, the idea should be to incentivize a local industry. There are subsidies for the Marathi film industry anyway. The cinemas would feel the pinch especially in times where we are emerging from pandemic times,” he shares.
Sachin Pilgaonkar, actor-filmmaker:
Marathi films find it very difficult to find good shows in Maharashtra itself, which is the only place where those films release. The government is making the situation better [by imposing the fine].
Shreyas Talpade, actor:
What happens is, Marathi films pick up pace only in the second week; the first week goes in increasing word of mouth. If these films do a certain amount of business, prime time slots should be retained for Marathi films, too.
This Gudi Padwa, I’m borderline away from home-Amruta Khanvilkar
8:19 AM
It’s a homely and private celebration for Amruta Khanvilkar this year
Vinay MR Mishra (HINDUSTAN TIMES; March 22, 2023)
This Padwa is going to be extremely “private and homely” for actor Amruta Khanvilkar. She capped off the shooting of her film in London and will be landing in the city later in the noon. “This Padwa, I’m borderline away from home,” she says, “This year, mum is going to put on the Gudi. I will join her for lunch. Usually, I’m the one who wakes up early, Gudi ubharaycha, pooja karna…but ab ki baar, my mum will do it.”
For Khanvilkar, her fondest Padwa memories still lay in Pune, her hometown. “All my Padwa memories take me back to Pune. Puneyat we had a huge balcony where my father used to wear purple sohala. My sister and I used to wear parkar polka dresses. We used to have breakfast together and then for dinner, our dad used to take us out. We had a scooter and all four of us would go for a drive. It used to be fun. Also, my dad used to tell us stories about Padwa, the importance of the festival and other traditions. Spending that time with him, hearing those stories used to be fun,” she recalls.
The Chandramukhi actor, who was in Dombivali for a Gudi Padwa yatra last year, is particular about following traditions. “For me, any festival means following our traditions, doing things that my grandmother taught my mum and she has taught me. Padwa is all about the family coming together. Also, now that we have Nirvan and Urvi (her niece and nephew) the kids in our family, Padwa is also about focusing on them, dressing them up, making them say shlokas and teaching them about traditions,” Khanvilkar adds.
However, for her Padwa is incomplete without food. “For us Khanvilkars, food is a big thing when it comes to festivals. My mother cooks authentic puri and pivlya batate chi bhhaji. She also used to cook basundi, until I got lactose intolerant. She’s making sheera this time,” the actor shares.
Khanvilkar, who has been away from social media, is also set to “return” to it on Padwa. “It’s supposed to be an auspicious day to start something new,” she signs off.
I have never even kissed on screen-Amruta Khanvilkar
8:13 AM
The actor shares she would only consider nudity or profanity in a project if the character demands it
Rishabh Suri (HINDUSTAN TIMES; May 10, 2022)
Amruta Khanvilkar isn’t rigid about any roles or demands that makers have from her as an actor. But there are parts she wouldn’t take up unthinkingly, and these include characters spewing abuses or going nude on screen.
“For me, if nudity or any kind of slang is used, the character has to be defined. It has to be explained that woh yeh kyun kar rahi hai, because main randomly toh kuch nahin karungi. I have never even kissed on screen. For me to understand that, you would have to really convince me with the character,” says the 37-year-old, who will soon make her web debut with a show directed by Jay Mehta.
Khanvilkar’s next release is a Marathi film Chandramukhi, and it has been two years that she was seen in a Hindi movie. Ask her if we she will be seen in one soon, and she says, “The last [Hindi] film you saw me in was Malang (2020) with actors Disha (Patani), Kunal Kemmu and Aditya (Roy Kapur). After that, it’s just that the OTT wave took us by storm. Good things come to those who wait. I am playing the protagonist now [in the web project].”
Apart from debuting on another medium, the actor is also glad to be back to work after the Coronavirus pandemic-induced restrictions were gradually lifted. “It’s so great. I started working and went to South Africa for a show. I came back and started the promotions for my Marathi film. Whenever we go out for any event, the auditoriums are fully occupied. When I step onto the stage, I realise how much I have been missing this energy,” she ends.
The way I’ve cried in Pondicherry, I only cry like that in real life in my house-Amruta Khanvilkar
8:02 AM
Vinay MR Mishra (HINDUSTAN TIMES; March 15, 2022)
She has been seen in films such as Raazi (2018) and Malang (2020). But, actor Amruta Khanvilkar’s appearance in the Hindi space has been sporadic. Point this out to her, and she says, “I’d want to question the makers. I try my best. Be it auditioning or meeting people, actors have to go through a lot. And I have been doing that. I want to be seen more often. I want people to see me working. But that will happen when it’s supposed to happen. I’ve stopped beating myself up for it, as I used to do that earlier.”
Having said that, Khanvilkar is not bitter about going through the mill. “Sometimes, you don’t fit a character and mauka miss ho jaata hai. I realised that it’s okay; it has nothing to do with your acting, it is to do with the character. You need to fit the character at the right age and time. I do get offers. Sometimes it’s overwhelming to go to the end process like look tests, but fitfully things don’t work out. You have to take it with a pinch of salt,” she explains.
She was last seen on screen with her Marathi film Pondicherry, which turned out to be a “surprise” for the actor. “We thought it would be an OTT release,” she mentions.
Interestingly, director Sachin Kundalkar saw her work in Raazi and offered her the role. “He stripped us off our looks and vanity. The way I’ve cried in the film, I only cry like that in real life in my house, at my comfort. I’ve never cried like that on screen. I forgot my best profile (laughs),” she shares, and adds that she’s inspired by the work of actors Shefali Shah and Konkona Sen Sharma. “I want my craft to be like that. I want to be so good that people forget what I have done in the past,” she signs off.
Rohit Shetty will test contestants' newfound lockdown skills on Khatron Ke Khiladi Season 10 this weekend
8:53 AM
Rohit Shetty’s stunt-based show will draw to a close this weekend; the final episodes were shot at Film City on Tuesday
Akash Bhatnagar (MUMBAI MIRROR; July 23, 2020)
Six months after its launch, Khatron Ke Khiladi Season 10, is getting ready to bring the curtains down with its finale.The Colors’ action reality show had come to an abrupt stop a month after going on air on February 22, following the Coronavirus-triggered lockdown. It resumed telecast from June 27 and instantly rocketed to the top of the charts. On Tuesday, Rohit Shetty and his daredevils reunited at a Film City studio to shoot the finale. Apart from the finalists—TV actors Karan Patel and Karishma Tanna and actor-choreographer Dharmesh Yelande—all the contestants eliminated earlier were also present.
After testing their grit, guts and never-say-die spirit through these last few months with death-defying stunts in Bulgaria, Rohit decided to assess the contestants’ lockdown skills and special tasks were designed for them to demonstrate their newfound prowess. Karan, who became a dad on December 14 last year, was given a test baby in co-contestant Shivin Narang and instructed to demonstrate his diaper changing skills.
Dharmesh, who claimed he had become a pro as a hairstylist while cooped up at home, was asked to showcase his just-discovered talent on Amruta Khanvilkar’s tresses. The actress was horrified when she learnt what kind of hair treatment she was to receive till it was revealed to be a prank.The fearless brigade for this season also included actresses Rani Chatterjee, Tejasswi Prakash and Adaa Khan, actor-comedian Balraj Syal and RJ Malishka. To up the entertainment quotient, actor-friends Rithvik Dhanjani and Karan Wahi, who had featured in Season 8, returned for the award-presentation. Karan got an award for aborting stunts while Tejasswi was adjudged ‘Teja Ka Bheja Fry’ for attempting all the tasks with strength and determination. Karishma was declared the ‘Student of the Year’ and her season-long love story with a gorilla made for a nostalgic memory.
Khatron Ke Khiladi 10 finale will air this Saturday and Sunday. The winner of last season was actor-choreographer Punit Pathak, with singer-TV host Aditya Narayan and model-actress Ridhima Pandit as the runners-up.
Dharmesh Yelande: Hair, there, everywhere
I realised how childish I was when I unfollowed Himanshu on social media-Amruta Khanvilkar
8:12 AM
The actress says that she unfollowed her actor husband in the heat of the moment
Tanvi Trivedi (BOMBAY TIMES; April 6, 2020)
With the country going through a lockdown, actress Amruta Khanvilkar celebrated her husband, actor Himanshu Malhotra’s birthday in a simple manner, a few days ago. Later, the two took to social media with lovey-dovey posts for each other. While the couple is using this forced break to spend quality time with each other, interestingly, Amruta was in the news a few months ago, when she unfollowed Himanshu on social media. The ‘social media distancing’ had even given rise to speculations about trouble in their paradise.Looking back, the actress, who is currently seen on Khatron Ke Khiladi, calls her act, ‘childish’. She tells BT, “Himanshu was shooting out of town for many months and I was missing him. One night, I wanted to have a long conversation with him, but he kept reminding me that he had to sleep early for a 5 am shoot. As a person, I am not very expressive and so, I could not tell him that I missed him. Eventually, we ended up fighting and he hung up on me. I was so upset, I blocked his number in the heat of the moment and unfollowed him on social media.”
She adds, “I realised how childish I was, when I unblocked his number the next morning. Himanshu said that he kept calling me the entire night, but could not get through. It was a spur-of-the-moment act and I didn’t realise that it would lead to speculations about trouble in our marriage.”
Amruta says that Himanshu is the “saner ” one among them. “I have been married for five years and all the credit for keeping our marriage intact goes to my husband. He is the one who adds balance to our crazy lives. Not just personal life, he takes a keen interest in my career, too,” she signs off.
Khatron Ke Khiladi Season 10: Check out Rohit Shetty teaching in 'Darr Ki University'
8:23 AM
Filmmaker is gearing up for sixth turn as host of an adventure-based reality show, which is scheduled to go on air towards February-end
Akash Bhatnagar (MUMBAI MIRROR; January 22, 2020)
Rohit Shetty is all set to follow up the extended 13th edition of Bigg Boss with the 10th season of Khatron Ke Khiladi (KKK). The action-based reality show, is set in Bulgaria this time and will see the filmmaker return as host for the fifth time. With the new theme, “Darr Ki University”, KKK will premiere a week after the BB13 finale in February-end with a new set of celebrity contestants.The upcoming season’s line-up includes TV actors Karan Patel, Adaa Khan, Shivin Narang and Tejasswi Prakash, actress Amruta Khanvilkar (who will be seen next in Mohit Suri’s Malang) and dancer Dharmesh Yelande (who features in Remo D’souza’s Varun Dhawan, Shraddha Kapoor, Nora Fatehi-starrer Street Dancer 3D) among others. Naagin 3 actress Karishma Tanna, who is also one of the contestants in the upcoming season, says, “The makers had been approaching me since the last four years. This time I felt like I should give it a shot since they have been consistent throughout.”
She goes on to praise the host, saying, “Rohit was our teacher (during the shoot) and so considerate towards everyone. It took him just one episode to get familiar with us and we were like buddies after that. If not his favourite, I was at least one of his good students.”
While Karishma doesn’t have any phobias, she admits breathing underwater was challenging. “I was scared that I wouldn’t find the keys to the container and drown,” she reminisces, adding that while she enjoyed the stint, she won’t do any more shows which involved so much physical work.
John Abraham is a superstar for the right reasons-Amruta Khanvilkar
8:04 AM
Amruta Khanvilkar on working with the actor and her screen husband, Manoj Bajpayee, and how she lent some much-needed sunshine to their film
Avinash Lohana (MUMBAI MIRROR; July 25, 2018)
After playing Alia Bhatt’s sister-in-law in Junglee Pictures’ Raazi, Amruta Khanvilkar will next be seen in Nikkhil Advani and Bhushan Kumar’s upcoming production Satyameva Jayate, which is fronted by John Abraham. The actress, who plays Manoj Bajpayee’s wife in the film, informs that her character, Sarita, is quite similar to her real self.
“She is so bubbly, Milap (Zaveri, director) says that she brings sunshine on the screen. Her chemistry with Manoj sir’s character is positive and friendly as she keeps pulling his leg. Our scenes together bring a light, family element to the film which talks about corruption and patriotism,” the actress says, admitting that she was nervous about working with Manoj.
“Thanks to the kind of roles he has done so far, I figured he’d be a serious person but the first time we met, which was for a photoshoot, we got along like a house on fire. My husband Himmanshoo A Malhotra had co-produced a film called Gali Guleiyan featuring Manoj sir, so the first thing he said when he saw me was, ‘co-producer ki wife aa gayi’ (laughs). It was a sweet surprise for me as he was helpful during scenes but is also mischievous and talks a lot,” she reveals.
Does she have any scenes with John? She’d rather not say. “My interaction with him off screen has been really good. He’s a superstar for the right reasons. The way he transforms for the screen is amazing. He knows his craft, and is a warm, humble person,” she raves.
She is also happy about being seen in a new light after her turn as Munira in Meghna Gulzar’s Raazi. “When you become a part of a Dharma or a Meghna Gulzar film, the secondary cast is appreciated as much as the lead. Even reporters are asking different questions and I am totally enjoying this phase,” she signs off.
I didn’t have work for two years. I started wondering what I was doing wrong-Amruta Khanvilkar
7:57 AM
Dhaval Roy (DNA; July 23, 2018)
After playing a demure and sweet Munira in Meghna Gulzar’s Raazi, Amruta Khanvilkar can now be seen as a serial killer, Lovina, in the web series Damaged. However, she sheepishly admits that being versatile wasn’t a planned move. “I shot for the series over a year ago. The next thing I knew, the OTT platform was launching their originals with it,” the actress laughs, “Many times, things don’t work out. But this year, a lot of them have,” she says, alluding to these two projects and her upcoming film, Satyameva Jayate.
TAPPING INTO HER DARK SIDE
Amruta found her sinister character in Damaged unrealistic. Her husband and actor Himmanshoo A Malhotra (Love Marriage Ya Arranged Marriage), though, loved her portrayal as a seductress and murderer. “It wasn’t too much of a problem because I refused to do graphic or kissing scenes since this was my debut web series and it was the first time I was working with the team. I had to be sure that the bold scenes were relevant and well-defined,” she says. Amruta tapped into her evil side to make the character look convincing and for that, she recalled the period of struggle in her career. “Thinking about the phase brought out all the dark emotions in me,” she states.
THE TURNING POINT
Amruta says that Raazi has changed the way she is perceived as a performer. “We had a success party after the release of the film and when Karan Johar took my name on the stage, my heart just stopped,” she smiles. “I don’t know if it will lead to meatier roles, but the film has opened up my mind as an actor,” the anchor of Dance India Dance Season 6 adds. Her next big-screen outing is Satyameva Jayate. “I play Manoj Bajpayee’s wife, who’s bubbly and always pulling his leg. She also guides him whenever needed,” she informs. Post that, Amruta has a few more projects to look forward to. “I should be able to talk about them in two months,” she says.
WAITING FOR GOOD WORK
The Katyar Kaljat Ghusli actress says that she has no qualms about waiting for projects that will be worth her while. “I would never take up an offer just because I don’t have anything,” Amruta tells us adding that though being without work gets frustrating, she’d rather bide her time. “After Katyar, I didn’t have work for two years even though I got a good response for my role. I started wondering what I was doing wrong,” she recalls, “I even called up film-makers and went for auditions again.” But the thought of giving up didn’t occur to her. “Acting is the only thing I know to do,” Amruta says.
WORK EVERYWHERE
If good work doesn’t come her way in Bollywood, she says that she has the Marathi film industry to fall back on. “I’ve been busy for the last one-and-a-half years, so I couldn’t do films in my mother tongue,” she says. “Also, many filmmakers think since I now work in Bollywood, I wouldn’t do their movies. But I want to work everywhere I can,” Amruta signs off.
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