Showing posts with label Arjun Mathur. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Arjun Mathur. Show all posts
I will only direct a film when it calls out to me the way Lord Curzon Ki Haveli’s script did-Anshuman Jha
8:34 AM
Yashika Mathur (HINDUSTAN TIMES; May 20, 2024)
Lord Curzon Ki Haveli, the film actor Anshuman Jha turned director with, is making waves across film festivals over the world. The 39-year-old has already bagged the Best Director award at the UK Asian Film Festival, and he couldn’t be more pumped.
“I had a great time directing this black comedy thriller. And this award was very unexpected,” says Jha, adding that the next time he directs a film will depend on whether a story attracts him organically.
“I will only direct a film when it calls out to me the way Lord Curzon’s script did. It’s ‘cine-ma’ for me. The script is sacrosanct to me and once it’s fully ready and I’m convinced, I’ll take it up. There’s a rom-com in the pipeline, but at this moment, I can’t say when will I direct it,” says the actor-director, promising that his next directorial will not be a niche film and that he hasn’t “stopped loving acting”.
Jha, who made his acting debut with Love Sex Aur Dhokha (2010), has assisted several directors in the past, and so, helming a film came naturally to him. Taking the big leap with Lord Curzon Ki Haveli, a desi homage to Alfred Hitchcock’s The Rope (1948), also helped Jha build a strong bond with actors Arjun Mathur and Rasika Dugal.
On the actor-director relationship, he elaborates: “I think actors are very emotional beings. We face more rejection than in any other line of work. That is what makes it such an insecure profession. So, the actor-director relationship has to be one of love. You need to be in love with your actors, respect them.”
Jha illustrates his point with his own perspective as an actor, and how it goes both ways. “I hand myself over to the director, totally trusting them. And for me as director, Arjun, Rasika and the other cast members to love me and make me feel secure, in addition to knowing their job, is also important,” says Jha, who will be seen next in Hari Om and Lakadbaggha 2.
Calling them technicians makes them seem non creative-Jim Sarbh, Zoya Hussain
8:35 AM
Actors Zoya Hussain and Jim Sarbh’s new talk show turns the tables, putting actors in the interviewer’s seat to speak to composers, editors and make-up artists
Mitali Parekh (MID-DAY; January 14, 2024)
There is a certain perverse delight in hearing actor-producer-director, SoBo boy-gone-movies Jim Sarbh talk about how much research he had to do as preparation and how he had to learn to not interrupt people when they were speaking. And assess what kind of questions made for interesting answers and which did not.
This has been in preparation for Crew Cut, co-actor Zoya Hussain and his new endeavour on YouTube that takes the audience into conversation with technicians in the business. “I like the term crew better than technicians, because it makes their contribution seem, well, technical and not creative,” says Sarbh, whom we saw most recently as Adil Khanna in Made In Heaven and in Rocket Boys as Dr Homi J Bhabha. “Often, they are the ones with a sense of entirety about the project, a sense of visual storytelling matched only by, perhaps, the director. As actors, we only know a section of the project.”
Sarbh confesses to be “endlessly curious” about filmmaking and is constantly speaking to music composers, sound artistes, cinematographers about their craft, or wondering how the set designers on Gangubai [Kathiawadi] gave the walls that patina so evocative of age and decay. “If a costume designer has put two pens in the pocket of the character (as for Rocket Boys), I need to know why,” he says. “Are they different coloured? Which colour would Dr Homi Bhabha use for what? Is it because he has many documents to sign and doesn’t want to run out of ink.”
Hussain, also, has been “fascinated by what film [the actual reels] look like, shadows, lights, the nostalgia. I romanticised light and how long takes made you feel. As I gained a better understanding of things, I gravitated towards how cinematographers make the visual language of a film. The intake while we watch a movie, way more than we realise, is thanks to them.”
Fascinated as much as both were by these aspects, they knew the general populace may not be drawn to these conversations, so they reeled in more recognisable friends to spotlight these heroes with their fame. So, actor Vidya Balan speaks to long-time collaborator, costume designer Niharika Bhasin who won the National award for Costume Design for The Dirty Picture. Rasika Duggal quizzes editor Namrata Rao (Fan, Mrs Chatterjee VS Norway, Made In Heaven), Hussain speaks with make-up artist Ayesha Seth (Queen, Slumdog Millionaire), and Sarbh himself chats with cinematographer Harshvir Oberoi (Rocket Boys, Kathal) and music composers Naren Chandravarkar and Benedict Taylor (Udta Punjab, Nil Battey Sannata).
In waiting are sound designer Resul Pokutty (Slumdog Millionaire, Highway), make-up and prosthetic artist Preetisheel Singh (Padmavat, Bajirao Mastani), costume designer Maxima Basu, music composers Dub Sharma (Gully Boy, Made In Heaven) and Achint Thakkar (Rocket Boys, Scam 1992), editor Sanjukta Kaza (Tumbbad, Bhediya, Paatal Lok) in the wings with actors Kalki Koechlin, Ali Fazal, Arjun Mathur, Vivek Gomber and Tillotama Shome.
“We just reached out to people we know first, and then kind-of-know, and then don’t-know-but-want-to-know,” says Hussain about the process of pairing actors and technical experts. “And almost everyone was thrilled to participate,” says Sarbh. “There was the matter of getting dates, but that’s just technical.” Balan, for instance, was so immersed that she had memorized the three sheets of questions handed to her to conduct the interview seamlessly.
While Hussain says “there wasn’t much prep” as an interviewer, Sarbh admits at first getting into the technicalities of the craft such as the type of lens used, etc and then realising as he saw the episode, that it didn’t make for engaging conversation for everyone. “What was interesting was the minutea of the vision. For example, for Rocket Boys, two timelines converge and I asked Oberoi what was the overriding emotion he was trying to evoke at this point of conversion. He said ‘death of the utopian ideal’. Two decades into independent India, which was built on non-violence and a dream of a great country, the country was besieged. We had lost a war with China, things weren’t great with [East and West] Pakistan, and Bhabha and Sarabhai had to now build a bomb.”
Besides these technicalities, Hussain wanted to know the human elements: Why they picked the profession, what inspires them, what they like outside of work, who they are, some jokes, lots of advice, and how their brains just cook up things. “It’s been lovely to see what technical aspects of film viewers are fascinated by. It’s also just lovely to be a silent participant to watch and listen to energies come together,” she says.
I call Zoya Akhtar my movie maa-Arjun Mathur
8:49 AM
Winning praise for Made In Heaven 2, Arjun says Zoya has a knack for extracting the best out of him since their Luck by Chance days
Priyanka Sharma (MID-DAY; August 23, 2023)
Gratitude—that is Arjun Mathur’s state of mind ever since the second season of Made In Heaven dropped online earlier this month. The actor has been receiving unanimous appreciation for his portrayal of Karan. “[Actors] want to be seen and appreciated. When that happens, what else will you feel except gratitude,” exclaims the actor, who fronts the Amazon Prime Video series with Sobhita Dhulipala.
The second season sees the two wedding planners juggle their professional commitments with their crumbling personal lives. It focuses strongly on Karan’s emotional arc after his mother severs ties with him. Watching himself bring forth his character’s sorrows and struggles has been a powerful experience for Mathur, who says, “There are times when you become critical of yourself. Then, there are moments when you feel affected all over again because what you felt while shooting was so strong that you start feeling the same as a viewer.”
The actor credits creator-director Zoya Akhtar for being a constant guide during the making of Made in Heaven. Mathur, who also starred in her directorial debut Luck by Chance (2009), has been close to her since. “I call her my movie maa. She holds your hand right through the process, and makes you feel that nothing else matters. She also knows how to get the best out of me.”
I will sell tickets in black, for people to come and see Salman Khan's wedding-Arjun Mathur
3:13 PM
Onkar Kulkarni (BOMBAY TIMES; August 10, 2023)
Four years after Made In Heaven dropped on Amazon Prime Video, creators Zoya Akhtar and Reema Kagti are back with its second season. The show that touches upon socially relevant issues against the backdrop of Indian weddings, drops online today. Sobhita Dhulipala and Arjun Mathur who play wedding planners and their on-screen teammates – Shashank Arora and Shivani Raghuvanshi – talk about their reunion and what’s in store for the audience this time around.
‘It’s quite an extravagant show’
Speaking about why it took four long years to return, Sobhita shares, “It’s quite an extravagant show. It’s set against the wedding backdrop, which requires a large setup and grand set designs. There is no joy in compromising and putting something out just because kaam khatam karna hai. It’s made with love and sometimes it takes time.”
Arjun adds, “We faced two lockdowns during our shoots. The shooting was planned for eight months, but took around 18 months. We shot in extraordinary circumstances, completely out of our control, but finally, we are glad that we are here.”
‘The new cast members and characters bring in a lot of freshness’
Apart from the main cast, the season will also feature Mrunal Thakur, Radhika Apte, Dia Mirza Rekhi, Pulkit Samrat and Sanjay Kapoor, among others, as guests.
Says an excited Shivani, “It feels nice and fresh, because otherwise wohi chehre aapko dikhte rehte hai. The new cast members and characters will bring in freshness.”
Arjun adds, “We embrace these new characters and include them into our family. We become the hosts. After seeing season one, most actors were ready to jump in and take on the opportunity.”
Shashank shares, “From the newer lot, I enjoyed working with Radhika, Imaad Shah, Sarah Jane Dias, Mrunal… you learn something from every person that you work with.”
It’s been a breakthrough show for me: Arjun
Arjun’s performance won him a nomination at the International Emmy Awards 2020 in the Best Actor category. He shares, “This has been a breakthrough show for me. After watching the trailer of the second season, I had to pinch myself. It is a matter of great privilege because as actors, we aspire to headline shows and shoulder the responsibility of big projects!”
Shivani adds, “I have grown up watching Zoya’s work. I have been a part of couple of projects, but after this show, people have started calling me Jazz (her character in the show).”
On-screen wedding planners Sobhita and Arjun take a rapid Bollywood quiz
What’s the best Bollywood wedding you have ever seen?
Sobhita: None, because I am never invited to one!
Arjun: I am a big fan of Virushka’s (Virat Kohli and Anushka Sharma) wedding. I have followed it on social media.
What’s your all-time favourite wedding ritual?
Sobhita: In our Telugu culture, there is a ritual where a bride, after the Gauri puja, is put in a basket and all the uncles carry her to the mandap. It really looks cute; the bride in the basket looks like a doll.
Arjun: I just want to eat and go home. Just eating good food at a wedding makes me happy.
What’s your favourite location for a destination wedding?
Sobhita: I just love the traditional part of a wedding. I want to do the puja and spend the money on vacationing. Mujhe destination wedding nahi karna hai… kitna paisa waste hota hai!
Arjun: I love beach weddings.
As wedding planners, if the two of you are assigned to design Salman Khan’s wedding, how would you go about it?
Sobhita: Oh, very exciting! There will be so much hype around this wedding. It will be fun heading the marketing division of this shaadi.
Arjun: I think I will sell tickets in black, for people to come and see this wedding (laughs).
A perfect song for the sangeet night would be?
Sobhita: Any massy Tamil hit number
Arjun: Mehndi Laga Ke Rakhna
A funny line on your wedding invitation card would read?
Sobhita: Showing up is not necessary!
Arjun: Empty stomachs are not compulsory!
-----------------------------------------
Reprising his role in Made in Heaven 2, Emmy-nominated actor Arjun on how the finest directors came together to service the script
Hiren Kotwani (MID-DAY; August 10, 2023)
“Thank God we are here,” smiles Arjun Mathur, as the second season of Made in Heaven drops online today, over four years since its opening season. Something tells us the sentiment is echoed by the audience, who lapped up the first edition that revolved around big, fat Indian weddings and two wedding planners—essayed by Mathur and Sobhita Dhulipala—at the centre of it all. The delay between the two instalments was due to the pandemic.
“Every time someone tested positive, we had to stop. And if you lose one actor’s dates, it throws the schedule astray because the show has an ensemble cast,” explains Mathur.
The actor’s performance as Karan Mehra had earned him an International Emmy nomination in 2020. Was it easy to reprise the character after such a long gap? “In your mind, you can be a bit anxious, wondering whether you will find it again. But once you get on the set, one shot is all it takes. When they call for ‘cut’, you know you’ve got it. The character is so beautifully developed on paper [that] it becomes easy.”
Mathur adds that creator-director duo Zoya Akhtar and Reema Kagti have made his character’s journey darker this time around. “It’s more personal, hence more intense. Zoya, Reema and I know that I relate to Karan Mehra quite a bit.”
The beauty of the Amazon Prime Video series—also starring Kalki Koechlin and Jim Sarbh—is that it beautifully includes different voices as five directors examine the ills of society against the backdrop of dreamy weddings. This time around, Neeraj Ghaywan of Masaan (2015) fame joins Akhtar, Kagti, Alankrita Shrivastava and Nitya Mehra to share the directorial duties. Mathur admits that collaborating with such fine directors is a dream come true for the artiste in him.
“If an actor gets to work with even one of them, it’s a blessing. Here, we’ve got six of them [including Prashant Nair in the last season]! Things can be difficult when multiple people disagree, but here, the script is the master. Zoya, Reema and Alankrita have written the show, so they’re all on the same page. We had days when we would be shooting different parts with [different] directors, but it was easy because they were all in sync.”
Image: Manoj Bajpayee kicks off the shoot of Silence 2 in south Mumbai
8:34 AM
Two years after Silence, Manoj kicks off the shoot of sequel in south Mumbai; to wrap up the murder mystery by September
Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; July 26, 2023)
There is something about whodunits that lends itself well to a franchise. Manoj Bajpayee would agree. In 2021, the actor headlined Silence, a thriller that saw him as a cop investigating the murder of a retired judge’s daughter.
Now, director Aban Bharucha Deohans, who had helmed the first part, has developed its sequel. The second part will see Bajpayee reprising his role of ACP Avinash Verma, who is tasked with a new case. Prachi Desai and Arjun Mathur will join him in the thriller.
Yesterday, Bajpayee kicked off the shoot in south Mumbai. Many of the locations used in the first instalment, including the police station, will be replicated. The director plans to shoot Silence 2 in a start-to-finish schedule in Mumbai, wrapping it up by September.
Bajpayee is ecstatic to return to the world of the ZEE5 film. To him, it not only marks his reunion with the director, but also presents the opportunity to lead a gripping suspense thriller—a genre that he personally enjoys. He says the compelling plot made him instantly give his nod.
“The love and appreciation I had received for Silence was overwhelming, and it motivates me to deliver my best with this new project as well. As an actor, I always seek to challenge myself and explore diverse characters. ACP Avinash has been one such remarkable journey.”
I find a lot of projects half-baked and under-developed. Everyone is scared of whom they might offend-Arjun Mathur
7:59 AM
Arjun, who reprises his role in Made In Heaven 2, on being offered ‘half-baked’ projects in the past few years
Priyanka Sharma (MID-DAY; November 16, 2022)
The runaway success of Made In Heaven (2019) put Arjun Mathur on the map, even scoring him an International Emmy nomination in 2020. While others in his place might have gone on a signing spree, the actor has been selective about his projects, featuring in The Gone Game (2020) and Jugaadistan, among others. He laments the lack of exciting offers, understanding that shows of Made In Heaven’s calibre are hard to come by.
“Projects like that are rare. So much has to come together — from the director, writers and performances, to music and producers,” says the actor, adding that his past glory holds little relevance today. “The Emmy nomination happened more than two years ago. It doesn’t mean anything today. What matters is what I am doing today.”
Mathur was recently seen in Amazon miniTV’s short film Don’t Drink & Drive. Even as he gears up to reprise his role as a wedding planner in the second season of the Zoya Akhtar and Reema Kagti-created series, the actor admits that he has turned down several offers in the interim.
“I say no a lot. I find a lot of projects half-baked and under-developed. [It could be so] because there’s a lot that we aren’t able to say. Everyone is scared of whom they might offend. We want to make art, but we don’t want to defend it with our lives, or pay for it with our career and danger to our families.”
I have a team abroad who is always on the lookout for interesting projects and opportunities-Arjun Mathur
8:12 AM
Sugandha Rawal (HINDUSTAN TIMES; June 20, 2022)
Actor Arjun Mathur is planning to explore a career in the West more actively, and has even hired agents to smoothen the process. He feels one should take advantage of more doors opening for people of colour in Hollywood. However, Mathur is not overlooking his career in India.
“I am working on exploring a career internationally, and doing what anyone would do. I have hired an agent, and a manager. I have a team abroad who is always on the lookout for interesting projects and opportunities,” Mathur tells us, adding, “That’s how it works there. You get through purely on the basis of auditions, and the whole systematic process.”
Here, he shuns the idea of cutting down on projects in India to find a foothold in the West. The 40-year-old asserts, “There is no cutting of work here, or anywhere in the world. It is a very narrow-minded approach to only think about leaving one industry for another... The boundaries all over the world are blurring, with Indian actors getting opportunities across the globe.”
The actor, who found acclaim through his roles in projects such as Made In Heaven, The Gone Game and Jugaadistan, cites examples of actors Ali Fazal and Harish Patel to explain his point. “It is a great time for Indian actors because the world has opened. Look at the work Fazal or Patel are doing… It is really amazing,” says Mathur, who has wrapped up his next, Lord Curzon Ki Haveli.
“Right now, there are all kinds of actors and sensibilities. If I am comfortable in speaking, thinking and talking in English, it only makes sense for me to use it [to get more opportunities in my career]. Everyone should do everything,” wraps up Mathur, who is busy with a personal project of renovating his home.
Most OTT platforms have hired people who are making bad decisions-Arjun Mathur
8:11 AM
Arjun Mathur, who headlines Jugaadistan, says OTT platforms aren’t exploring their potential as they are trying to woo masses
Letty Mariam Abraham (MID-DAY; March 22, 2022)
Arjun Mathur is one of the many examples of a true OTT find. After a string of supporting roles in movies, the actor got his due with Made In Heaven, even earning an Emmy nomination along the way. Proud to be part of the OTT boom, Mathur hopes that Indian digital entertainment can keep pace with international content instead of going down the rathole of appealing to the masses. As he headlines Lionsgate Play’s Jugaadistan, the actor discusses the changing face of content.
Edited excerpts from the interview:
How do you reflect on the word ‘jugaad’?
The show used to be called Youth Special initially. Along the way, the title changed to Jugaadistan. The title also seems like a jugaad [laughs]. Everyone has a jugaad these days. In Mumbai, it is almost [the basis of] life. I loved the old title, so did everybody else. But it was changed, and that taught me that at the end of the day, one has no control over these things.
You have been part of an ensemble cast before with Made In Heaven. How different is it from a solo-hero project?
I thoroughly enjoy being part of an ensemble cast. Jugaadistan not only had some talented actors on board, but it also had Gen-Z actors. For the first time in my career, I felt like a veteran actor. It’s energising to be around new blood. They’ve grown up with more modern sensibilities than us. Concepts like solo-lead projects are a thing of the past. To tell a story with real human emotions, you need many characters.
Do you feel the OTT boom has changed the idea of solo-hero projects?
It is trying to [change that outlook]. A project is accomplished with the help of so many people beyond actors — DoP, sound capturer, writers. Actors are merely the vehicle to put the story forward. A lot more credit should be given to the technical crew and the supporting actors.
With the OTT boom, do you think people are jumping on the bandwagon without exploring the true potential of streaming platforms?
As long as the OTT world is not run by simple economics, there is opportunity [for revolutionary content]. But, unfortunately, they are now being run [on the basis of] social media numbers or following. The truth is most OTT platforms have hired people who are making bad decisions. Instead of using the medium to create content that pushes the envelope, people are figuring out how to connect with the masses. They are floundering in their desire to do so. Our audience is international now, so we have to cater to them. Look at what Squid Games [2021] did for South Korea. What is stopping India from achieving something like that? Nothing except that we are thinking narrow. On the other hand, there is Delhi Crime — while it was a show playing out in India, its creative sensibilities made the international audience [sit up and take notice]. That is the most productive way to go forward.
Is it easy to say no when big projects come your way?
It is easy to make up your mind [laughs], but harder to perform the action. Thankfully, we have management teams for that, and we have excuses like dates and economics. No one wants to hear, ‘Sorry, I am not into what you’ve written’. I don’t say that because even if I do not resonate with the material, it doesn’t mean someone else won’t.
How much of the Made In Heaven 2 shoot is left?
We are shooting through the month of March, and then we’ll be done. It has been difficult. We started in February 2021, after many delays due to the Coronavirus pandemic, and witnessed two waves during our shoot.
Do you feel the pressure after the first season’s success?
Any pressure on the makers always trickles down to the entire team, but it doesn’t affect what I do. My approach is to play the character honestly and hope that people connect with it again.
It almost felt surreal to travel abroad after two years-Rasika Dugal
8:16 AM
Rasika Dugal is enjoying her first international work trip after lockdown; admits she was initially nervous about travelling
Kavita Awaasthi (HINDUSTAN TIMES; March 9, 2022)
Having shot in India for most part of the last two Coronavirus pandemic years, actor Rasika Dugal was excited to fly to the United Kingdom for the shoot of her next project.
The Mirzapur actor has been shooting on the outskirts of London (UK) for Lord Curzon Ki Haveli, co-starring Arjun Mathur. Happy to explore the outdoors in another country, Dugal is excited that this shoot marks her first work trip abroad in a long time.
Sharing her excitement, Dugal says, “It almost felt surreal to travel abroad after two years. Initially, I was very apprehensive because of the virus, but once we were there and everyone in the unit had tested negative, I was so much more relaxed.”
The actor shot in the beautiful Broughton estate set in the Yorkshire Dales, which has sprawling meadows, moorlands and meandering rivers that reminded her “of the world of Enid Blyton’s books” while she gorged on scones and went for morning walks in the scenic countryside.
She elaborates, “Since we were in an estate four hours away from London and 15 minutes from the closest town (Skipton), it felt even safer. A few days into the trip, I truly realised how much I had missed travelling. All five actors in the film lived in a cosy little cottage with five rooms. We had many fun conversations around the kitchen counter before the shoot and after pack up. We joked that this felt like we were in a hostel again!”
She shot in Ooty, Tamil Nadu and Palampur, Himachal Pradesh for two other projects and admits every countryside has a charm.
Arjun Mathur, Rasika Dugal wrap up Lord Curzon Ki Haveli shoot in London in three weeks
8:13 AM
Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; March 7, 2022)
Lord Curzon Ki Haveli, starring Arjun Mathur and Rasika Dugal, was slated to go on floors in Kent, United Kingdom, in March 2020. After waiting out three waves of the Coronavirus pandemic over the past two years, director Anshuman Jha finally called action on the black comedy in London in early February. Today, he is a relieved man, having wrapped up the project in three weeks.
“It feels like a blur because the three weeks have just flown by. I had blinders on,” says Jha, who returned to India last week after the shoot.
Where the dip in Covid cases encouraged him to line up the shoot for February, Jha had other issues to resolve. The pandemic-induced slowdown in international travel meant that procuring visas took longer than usual.
“Amid Covid worries, visa delays, and a continental storm [Storm Eunice], I focussed on doing my job. Initially, the cast had concerns [about pulling off a foreign shoot]. But if we hadn’t done it now, I wouldn’t get combination dates of Arjun and Rasika till October. So, it was a leap of faith for me,” says the debutant director. The satire is currently under post-production.
Check out the first look of Jugaadistan, starring Sumeet Vyas, Parambrata Chatterjee
8:38 AM
Jugaadistan director on how Sumeet-Parambrata starrer explores the gritty side of college life
Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; February 15, 2022)
Pop culture may have us believe that college life is about young love, designer brands and all things hunky-dory. But director Akarsh Khurana is exploring its gritty side with Jugaadistan. The Lionsgate Play series, starring Sumeet Vyas, Parambrata Chatterjee, Arjun Mathur and Rukshar Dhillon, does away with the rose-tinted glasses through which campus capers are often seen, and instead depicts how college politics and jugaad dominate these years.
The show is a change of pace for Khurana, who earlier helmed the feel-good Mismatched. “While I have done youth-centric offerings before, this was a different take on it. [It shows] the darker side of our college years, and Delhi like we don’t see it often [on screen]. We delve into an array of issues — college politics, student dynamics, side-incomes — all of which are significant in how people’s lives are shaped in their formative years. I enjoyed the track of investigative journalism that runs parallel to the student shenanigans,” he says.
Jugaadistan is the OTT platform’s second Indian original after Hiccups and Hookups (2021). Rohit Jain, MD, south Asia and networks, Lionsgate, says, “With Hiccups and Hookups, we explored modern family dynamics; this time, we take a real tour of campus life.”
Mrinalini Khanna, VP, originals, adds, “The team has [depicted] the innocence of growing up and the seriousness of making life-changing decisions.”
I want to be in a Marvel movie; my Hollywood trajectory is already laid out-Arjun Mathur
8:10 AM
Titas Chowdhury (HINDUSTAN TIMES; January 5, 2022)
In 2020, actor Arjun Mathur bagged an International Emmy Awards nomination for his performance in the web series, Made In Heaven. Having worked in a British series Indian Summers in 2016, he tells us that he is ready to work in the West. “My aim has always been to tell stories to a global audience, and whatever takes me there, I’m okay with it. I have an inclination towards Hollywood. I have a manager in Los Angeles and I had an agent in London, too,” he says, quipping, “I want to be in a Marvel movie!”
Talking about being on the right path, Mathur remarks, “I think the trajectory is already laid out. So, if I carry on with the path I’m on, it will take me wherever I’ve to get.”
Over the years, the 40-year-old actor has been seen in many independent films, including I Am (2010), Fireflies (2012) and Coffee Bloom (2014). Though there was a time when makers struggled to increase the reach of their indie projects, he believes that OTT platforms have changed the situation, marginally.
“I’ve watched that struggle. I’ve seen how the makers had to compete with big films and struggle to get show timings, which would be taken off within a week. For a while, the digital influx did make the struggle disappear, but there’s an all-new struggle emerging there too,” Mathur shares.
Anshuman Jha’s directorial debut Lord Curzon Ki Haveli to roll in January 2022 in London
8:18 AM
Pushed from last year, Anshuman Jha’s directorial debut starring Rasika Duggal to now roll in January 2022
Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; September 19, 2021)
After being shelved due to the Coronavirus pandemic, Anshuman Jha’s directorial debut, Lord Curzon Ki Haveli, is finally on track. The black comedy, starring Arjun Mathur, Rasika Duggal and Parambrata Chatterjee, and set in London, will roll in January 2022.
Jha believes the delay has enabled them to enhance the storyline. “I will shoot the film only in London, and therefore, we decided to wait. I am grateful to Arjun, Rasika and Param for their patience and unending support.”
Meanwhile, Jha will feature in the action-packed film, Lakadbaggha, which rolls in November this year. After that, he will commence work on his directorial debut.
Lord Curzon Ki Haveli postponed for the second time
8:04 AM
Slated to roll in the UK last March, Arjun Mathur-Rasika Dugal’s Lord Curzon Ki Haveli postponed the second time around due to the raging pandemic.
Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; May 19, 2021)
Lord Curzon Ki Haveli, starring Arjun Mathur, Rasika Dugal, Tannishtha Chatterjee and Parambrata Chatterjee, was scheduled to go on floors in Kent, United Kingdom, last March. A year and two ravaging waves of pandemic later, director Anshuman Jha says that the black comedy stands indefinitely postponed.
Recounting how he had to pull the plug on the schedule as Coronavirus cases surged in the UK last March, the director says, “We were to leave on March 16 last year. I was in London in the last week of February, and during my return to India, I saw the deserted airports and knew things would go downhill from there. We understood that [conducting] a schedule at such a time wasn’t feasible, and the last thing we wanted was to get stuck [in Kent].”
With cases on the decline in early 2021, Jha had once again dived into preparation for the satire’s shoot. He had drawn up an elaborate shoot for August and September, after securing combination dates of his actors. “But it looks more and more difficult now,” says a dejected Jha, before adding, “I can’t shoot the film anywhere except the UK. The project stands pushed till things get better. The last 12 months have taught me so much. I have lost my parents. When the film is meant to happen, it will.”
In Made In Heaven 2, my journey is more powerful and personal-Arjun Mathur
8:41 AM
Promising fans that his character gets better in season 2, Arjun Mathur on how Made In Heaven is still rooted in India
Uma Ramasubramanian (MID-DAY; April 4, 2021)
Assuming the role of wedding planner yet again in Made In Heaven 2, Arjun Mathur promises that, this time, his character’s journey is noteworthy. “After the first season, I wondered what my character would do since his conflicts were resolved, but when I read the second season, I was thrilled to see how it gets better. His journey is more powerful and personal.”
The show, which debuted on Amazon Prime Video in March 2019, focused on two wedding planners—Mathur’s Karan Mehra and Sobhita Dhulipala’s Tara Khanna—who navigate the complicities of Indian weddings, while battling personal demons. Like season one, this is also set in the heart of Delhi. “It was always set in India, but we do have a schedule abroad. Let’s see how that goes. The show is set in the world of Delhi, and Delhi weddings. I will be shooting for this till July. We are working with some of the strongest voices from the industry.”
Weighing in on the I&B ministry’s decision to classify OTT shows, he says, “Certification is justified for people under a certain age. But beyond that, I am in disagreement of anyone who is trying to control the content that is allowed to air. As artistes, it’s our job to authentically reflect our times, and society, as truthfully as we can.”
I took several acting tips from Manoj Bajpayee during the shoot of Silence-Arjun Mathur
8:15 AM
Arjun Mathur, who plays a politician in Silence Can You Hear It?, says sharing screen space with Bajpayee helped up his game
Uma Ramasubramanian (MID-DAY; March 3, 2021)
Arjun Mathur had a fruitful 2020, earning a Best Actor nomination at the International Emmy Awards for his performance in Made in Heaven, and delivering a promising thriller in The Gone Game. Three months into the year, the actor is set to kick off 2021 with the murder mystery, Silence Can You Hear It? For Mathur, the Abaan Bharucha Deohans-directed venture is special as it marks his first collaboration with Manoj Bajpayee.
“Working with Manoj Bajpayee was a fantastic experience. He brings so much to his roles with his instincts that I took several acting tips from him during the film’s shoot,” says the actor, transforming into a fanboy.
In the thriller, Bajpayee plays a hard-nosed cop investigating the mysterious disappearance of a woman while Mathur essays the role of a politician who influences the case. “My character is quite the gentleman. I play an MLA who is a new-age variant altogether. He has a modern outlook on things and a rather unconstitutional school of thought,” explains the actor. The whodunit was shot last December over a start-to-finish schedule.
Actors have privileges as well as pressure-Tisca Chopra
8:14 AM
Tisca Chopra on underlining the demanding nature of showbiz, highs and lows of artistes' lives with her directorial debut Rubaru
Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; December 6, 2020)
After Tisca Chopra wrote and produced Chutney, she had a nagging feeling that she needed to stretch herself. That's where Rubaru, her directorial debut, emerged from. Initially conceptualised as a full-length feature film, the Arjun Mathur and Chopra-starrer eventually became a short film. "As actors, we are always servicing the vision of the director and writer. But it's not our story. With Rubaru, I wanted to explore if I had it in me to direct. This was a natural progression after having worked with wonderful filmmakers and learnt a great deal," begins the first-time director.
Always inclined towards writing, Chopra teamed up with husband Sanjay, and Namrata Shenoy to develop Rubaru, which draws from her personal experiences. The short film explores the fragilities of stardom, complete with its highs and lows. "We've all seen how magazines and aam junta talk about actors. Artistes constantly have a mask on, with manicured nails, lashes and mascara on point. But when the garb comes off, what does it feel like? At their most vulnerable, they are regular people. Actors have privileges as well as pressure. Here, we've shown how our lives could be crumbling, but the show must go on. I hope it evokes empathy for the performer."
She emphasises that the pressure of stardom affects the mental health of actors. "You are chosen from billions to be the star. Then suddenly, for no reason known to you, you aren't the flavour of the month anymore. The adulation and social media following drops," she says, alluding that living in the public glare is far from easy.
Ever since the tragic demise of Sushant Singh Rajput, the dialogue about Bollywood's cliques and the pressure of the profession has only intensified. "The [discussion about] Sushant, narcotics, nepotism were not on the radar when we made this film in February. But this subject has been relevant for a few years. The idea of being kinder to performers needs to be the focus, because when the world was falling apart, artistes kept everyone in good cheer."
I’m now an International Emmy nominated actor, it feels pretty good to say that-Arjun Mathur
8:23 AM
Shreya Mukherjee (HINDUSTAN TIMES; September 27, 2020)
The International Emmy Awards 2020 nominations have been announced, and actor Arjun Mathur has been nominated in the Best Performance By An Actor category for the web show Made in Heaven. Mathur says he is elated, but “still in shock”.
The actor was “clueless” till a friend informed him about it. “Getting the award isn’t even a thought, just the nomination is enough. The jury got so much work from over the world and picked me and a few others. I really can’t believe it,” he says.
Mathur says the credit is never his alone. The first thing he did was called the directors of the show Zoya Akhtar and Nitya Mehra to thank them for providing him with the opportunity. “What’s more amazing is that we go through years in our career with doubts, insecurities and not feeling good enough, and then something like this happens, and that’s it. Signals like this give you hope. It tells you that happiness and rejections are fleeting, you just need to keep walking,” he adds.
One would expect an international recognition to translate into more career opportunities, but Mathur doesn’t look at it like that. “Having high expectations only leads to disappointment. I’m now an International Emmy nominated actor, it feels pretty good to say that. But as far as the industry is concerned, I can’t speak for them,” he adds.
Mathur also hopes that medium related division diminishes. “Cinema is as credible as TV, as credible a projector, as credible as a streaming platform or for that matter even a stage. It’s just a way of telling a story. I think it’s all about taking the right product to the audience without too much noise,” he concludes.
I didn't receive validation on home turf for years-Arjun Mathur
8:29 AM
Arjun Mathur enjoys his moment in the sun as he bags Best Actor nomination at International Emmys for Made in Heaven
Uma Ramasubramanian (MID-DAY; September 26, 2020)
He remembers answering a call from actor friend Sayani Gupta — who jubilantly screamed, "Have you heard the news?" — on Thursday evening. What followed has been a blissful haze of congratulatory calls and messages for Arjun Mathur, who has bagged the Best Actor nomination at the 48th International Emmy Awards for his understated performance in Made In Heaven. "My first reaction to Sayani was, 'What bad news are you giving me?' She then asked me to check my messages. I was stunned when I saw the article about my nomination. Initially, there was a sense of disbelief, and it slowly started sinking in."
In the drama, Mathur infused vulnerability to his character of Karan Mehra, who initially struggles to come out of the closet in a country that had criminalised homosexuality until 2018. The actor says many around him discouraged him from portraying a homosexual character for the third time after I Am (2010) and Migration (2007). "But I followed my heart. When an honour like this comes your way, it validates your work. Often, we seek validation by way of the number of social media followers we have, or by bagging a big-budget Bollywood movie. But the world is bigger than that. I did not receive validation on home turf for years, but I am happier to receive it worldwide."
The actor is proud to represent India on a global platform. "[The jury at Emmy] looks for human stories and human conflicts," he says.
Voot's The Gone Game is India's first web series about a pandemic
8:24 AM
Touted as India's first web series about COVID-19, The Gone Game explores deviant behaviour during crisis
Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; July 20, 2020)
Voot's upcoming offering The Gone Game explores how the spread of the Coronavirus, besides its health ramifications, has taken an emotional toll on us. Featuring Sanjay Kapoor, Shweta Tripathi Sharma and Arjun Mathur among others, the thriller — touted as India's first web series about a pandemic — focuses on a family that has lost a loved one to the virus.
Producer Sukesh Motwani credits director Nikhil Nagesh Bhat for having deftly woven a psychological thriller against the backdrop of the crisis. "During our brainstorming sessions, we felt that the story of a family, with all its fault lines and emotions, can be explored. What happens when different members of a family are stuck in different locations because of the lockdown, only to know that one of them has succumbed to COVID? The idea is to explore the possibilities of deviant human behaviour, crime and morality during such times," states Motwani.
The series was remotely shot over a month, with every actor doubling up as the director of photography. "We would co-ordinate over video calls, giving instructions to each actor regarding the lighting and the treatment of each scene. It was a new and elaborate way of executing a show."
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)