THE SILVER LINING IN SURAJ PE MANGAL BHARI BOX OFFICE PERFORMANCE

This Sunday, November 15, the first big Hindi film of the season, Suraj Pe Mangal Bhari, finally released in cinemas. Starring Manoj Bajpayee, Diljit Dosanjh and Fatima Sana Shaikh, the period comedy flick seemed interesting from the promos. As reviews poured in, it became clear that it’s a clean family entertainer. It is also released during the Diwali festival when families usually throng to watch cinemas. Suraj Pe Mangal Bhari, hence, seemed like an apt flick. It was not a big-budgeted film, after all. Also, it’s produced by Zee Studios who own not just Zee5 OTT platform but also Zee TV channels. Hence, they had the option to cash in on the film through these sources, and not just theatres.

Because of the fear over going to cinemas in this pandemic, no one expected a record opening. Also, the buzz for Suraj Pe Mangal Bhari was limited. The opening was expected to be in the Rs. 75 lakhs-1 crore range. And that’s what happened. The film opened at Rs. 75 lakhs. The next day was the day of New Year and Bhaidooj. Ideally, the film should have held at Rs. 75 lakhs range or the earnings should have increased. Sadly, it fell down at Rs. 55 lakhs. The two-day collections stand at Rs. 1.30 crore. The first week collections, comprising five days, is expected to be in the Rs. 2.25-2.50 crore range and the lifetime around Rs. 5 crore.

These might seem very poor collections. However, one needs to see things in the correct perspective. Suraj Pe Mangal Bhari had so many challenges. Firstly, all theatres are operating at 50% occupancy. Secondly, the Covid fear looms large with a chunk of moviegoers scared to go to cinemas. Thirdly, theatres in some states like Rajasthan, Orissa etc are still shut. Yet, for Suraj Pe Mangal Bhari to collect Rs. 75 lakhs on day 1 is an achievement. So many so-called experts had predicted that the film would open at 0% occupancy. However, that hasn’t happened.

Interestingly, Suraj Pe Mangal Bhari is directed by Abhishek Sharma. His last film, The Zoya Factor, released in the pre-pandemic times. And yet it had a dismal opening of Rs. 64 lakhs! Suraj Pe Mangal Bhari meanwhile opened better than the Sonam Kapoor-starrer despite the challenges. Not just that, one of Diljit Dosanjh’s last films, Arjun Patiala, which also released last year, opened at Rs. 1.19 crore. The real value of Suraj Pe Mangal Bhari’s opening is better as the film would have had an opening of Rs. 2-3 crore if it had released in normal times.

Ideally, the industry should be overjoyed that a small film with limited buzz will reach the Rs. 5 crore mark. Imagine if a film with more buzz and more exciting star cast release, then it can easily reach till the Rs. 35 crore or even Rs. 40 crore mark. Bunty Aur Babli 2 is one such film, starring Saif Ali Khan, Rani Mukerji, Siddhant Chaturvedi and Sharwari Wagh. It’s producer Aditya Chopra is thinking of releasing it on Christmas. As per reports, the producers are unsure. Here’s hoping that they look at the performance of Suraj Pe Mangal Bhari in the correct manner and release their much awaited film as soon as possible.

Rachana Dubey (BOMBAY TIMES; December 26, 2019)

As a performer, Diljit Dosanjh owns every role that he plays. The actor believes in breaking stereotypes. He stands out for his movie choices, his ability to detach himself from everything and everyone, and never wanting to change how he looks for the sake of bettering his career. With his film Good Newwz releasing tomorrow, Diljit had a chat with BT about the change that a film can bring about and what it takes for him to get over an emotionally challenging role. Excerpts:

Your film, Good Newwz, deals with the confusion that arises when two couples undergoing IVF end up with a sperm mix-up. Reports stated that you were not the first choice for the character and also, this is not the first film that Karan Johar offered you. How did you land the project?
Yes, I was not the first choice, there were two-three other actors in contention, but I never took this up with Karan. Kyunki bhale main last choice tha, lekin picture toh maine kar li. Iske pehlewali jiska main first choice tha woh toh mili hi nahin. When I gave the nod to Good Newwz, we fine-tuned the part, so that it suits me. Karan sir had approached me for another film. After that narration, the team didn’t give me that film. This time, when they called me, I thought, ‘Yaar, yeh phir kahaani sunayenge aur kaam nahi denge (laughs!).’ But my manager insisted that I attend the meeting. So, I came to Mumbai half-heartedly. I was prepared ki yeh log toh mujhe film nahi denge. Mujhe bahut bura laga tha ki unhone mujhe woh film nahin di thi, halanki release ke baad, baat buri lagni band ho gayi. Mat poochiye kyun! (laughs!). This time, they just gave the script to me. I heard the concept, which was very cool and then they told me about the cast that was already in place. By the time I reached the hotel in Mumbai, I was done reading up to the interval point. The dialogues, situations and story were so powerful. The project ticked all the boxes for me to say yes. Kiara and I play a lively, small-town, OTT couple.

Often Punjabi characters in Hindi films are shown to be loud and OTT. Do you think that they are stereotyped?
Naa ji! Aisi toh koi baat nahi hai. You find all kinds of characters, including the kind of people Kiara and I are playing in the film. You will find a lot of loud characters in Punjab. There are some who are irritating and some that will make you smile with their humour and generosity. Jaise kirdaar maine dekhe hain na real wale, waise toh picturon mein dikhate bhi nahin hain. They are the kind of people who will drop you to the address if you ask for directions. You won’t easily find such people anywhere else in the world.

Speaking of Good Newwz, people have recently started talking openly about IVF as an option for conception. Do you think films like these can help start socially-relevant conversations?
I hope so! I hope people change their attitude towards a technology like IVF, which has proved to be very helpful for many couples. Akshay paaji’s (Akshay Kumar) Pad Man has slowly and steadily brought in many changes around us. People now discuss things openly and there is more focus on women’s hygiene today. It’s a topic, which is no longer a taboo. Before I took up Good Newwz, I had seen IVF clinics from outside and wondered what do they exactly do. During the making of the film, I figured that it has helped 80-90 percent of couples, who have opted for it. Good Newwz is not a documentary, and we’ve said what we had to in a very entertaining way. Though I have not seen the film entirely, the last 15 minutes focus on family bonding, which will move many people. The climax talks about a family and a couple’s dilemma when it comes to accepting a child who is technically, only half theirs.

Most of your films have had strong emotional content. Do you ever get deeply involved with the characters you play? Actors say that they sometimes need a fairly long break to recover from a character that takes a toll on them emotionally. Do you go through anything like that?
No, I just act the part that I have signed up for, and I never get emotionally involved with my roles. I just need to do a stage show to get over a character that I’ve been playing. I enjoy my time on stage; I dance, sing and entertain people. Once I am on stage, I forget that I am an actor or that I have just worked in a film. I don’t know how this has happened, but I don’t feel attached to anyone or anything. I have always been this way. In our business, people have often told me that this is a good quality to have. So, I have never analysed why I am so detached, but I do realise that my level of detachment is higher than most people. The good part is that when I’m doing something like singing on stage, recording in a studio or acting in a film, I am fully there in that moment, but I completely cut off after my work is done.

Talking of analysis, have you been able to examine what went wrong with Arjun Patiala? Somehow it didn’t connect with the audience…
I felt we had gone off track, but I decided to stand by my commitment. Good content, in any form, works, and what is not good, won’t work. It’s simple. Logon ko samajh nahi aayi, screens nahin mile, marketing sahi nahin thi...there’s no point in saying these things afterwards. I can talk for myself… my mistake was that I agreed to do the film by just hearing the script up to the halfway mark. Uss time pe laga kahani acchi develop ho rahi hai. I don’t ever run away from taking my share of responsibility. Aur koi bhi banda flop picture banane nahi chal padta; cheezein ho jaati hain. Sometimes, even an average performance in a good story works. Sometimes, films may not work monetarily, but they get appreciation.

Today, there is so much focus on an actor’s look and appearance. In Bollywood, you stand out because you are the only turbaned actor…
Before me, there was no hero who wore a turban. There will be more firsts and they will surprise people. If I also had the usual hero kind of looks that everyone else does, I would have become a participant in their race. In my case, main kisi ke peeche nahin bhaag raha, mere pe koi pressure nahin hai aur meri koi limit nahin hain. It’s my own race and I will run it at my own pace.

Moving on…while you’ve been dabbling in films, you haven’t given up your music career. Of course, you devote lesser time to it now. What do you make of the music scene today?
Music is a visual medium now. The entire idea of hits and flops is now dependent on ‘views’. A good song, even with an average video, works. The reason I don’t feel pressurised to make a great video today is that, I do live shows. I’m more occupied with them, they satisfy me more aur gaane live shows pe faayda de ke jaate hain. You earn enough from them. A great composition or lyrics no longer decide whether something is good. What matters is, how much has it been seen.

When I started out, the scene was driven by music sales. Agar aapki CDs biki hain, logon ne paisa kharcha hai aap ke gaane ke liye, toh aapka kaam hit hain. Aaj views ki baat hai, aur woh toh kisi bhi tarah mil sakte hain. As an artiste, what can anyone do about this? I’ve seen it all — albums being cut on cassette to CD, pen-drives and now, on the web. Technology has made it possible for people to bombard their videos. Whether one intends to or not, one ends up viewing certain videos. The question remains: Did the person watching the video like it? Today, it’s so difficult to assess the status of a song. Ab gaana hit ya flop nahin hota, ab gaana sirf web pe hota hain.

Dinesh Vijan on his next, which tells Ayushmann Khurrana’s bald story, and informs that plagiarism case against him is withdrawn
Roshmila Bhattacharya (MUMBAI MIRROR; November 4, 2019)

For someone who has been redefining content with films like Badlapur, Hindi Medium and Stree, it must feel like a bad dream to be accused of plagiarism by the makers of Ujda Chaman. Yet, you have chosen to remain silent on the charges.
When something like this happens, a part of you wants to explain yourself. But since we were just three weeks away from release, I needed to see my film through without losing focus. It will be out this Friday and then you will know that Bala is a completely original concept. We are credible filmmakers. Forget a subject, I’ve never even signed a director working for another production house.

How did the issue blow up?
Before we started, Luv Ranjan and Kumar ji (Mangat, producer of Ujda Chaman) approached me on the similarity in the plots of the two films. Since Kumar ji’s film was a remake of a Kannada film (Ondu Motteya Kathe) I didn’t need to listen to his subject, but I narrated mine to Luv who assured us that there was no resemblance between the two. Twenty days after we wrapped up, they went on the floors. I reiterate our film is nothing like the South film or the 2011 Hindi film Hair Is Falling or any other on the subject. More than hair loss, Bala propogates self-love. There are things we don’t like about ourselves, be it our hair, height, or complexion, yet, it’s important that we love ourselves for others to love us. That’s what our film is about and it’s Ayushmann’s (Khurrana) best performance to date. He’s known for brave choices but this one is all heart.

Why, then, did you push the release forward, from November 22 to November 8?
After Karan (Johar) called to say that his Bhoot was moving, we thought of coming with Bala on November 8. My studio partners felt that with November 11 being Guru Nanak’s birthday and a holiday, it'd give us an extended weekend and a two-week run at the box-office.

What’s the status on the plagiarism cases against you? Even Dr Zeus threatened legal action for recreating his song, “Don’t Be Shy”.
The Ujda Chaman makers have withdrawn their case and as far as the song goes, we have officially taken the rights from Kamran Entertainment, the copyright owner of the original song.

Some don’t like the fact that Bhumi Pednekar’s skin tone has been inordinately darkened on screen since she is playing a dusky girl...
Bhumi is an actor playing a character which demanded this, just like Ayushmann’s Bala needed him to sport a balding pate. The idea here is to sensitise people with respect to terms like ‘takla’ and ‘kala’, which begin as jokes in school and whose scars we carry all our life, unless we can love ourselves for who we are.

What went wrong with Arjun Patiala and Made In China?
The former, as a spoof, fell flat. I stand by Made In China’s script and its intentions. Raj (Rajkummar Rao) was outstanding. I think we faltered with the release date. If Agent Vinod taught me to be brave with Badlapur, and Raabta with Stree and Luka Chuppi, Made In China has made me realise the importance of timing a release right.

Given how big a hit Stree was last year, we had expected Roohi Afza, which is in the same genre, to arrive before the year was out.
We started filming only three months ago and still have two songs to shoot, followed by four months of post-production. A film, like a baby, takes nine months to deliver. Roohi Afza, my first film with Janhvi (Kapoor) and my third with Raj, comes in April 2020. In March 2021, we plan to release another horror-comedy, Munjha, which goes on the floors next year in August. All three— Stree, Roohi Afza and Munjha—will have a part 2 which will arrive over the next five years, three years after the original opened, each answering the question the first part ended with. Then, all three will come together in my horror universe in a series of two films which deal with the bigger picture and a larger conflict. All of them and their sequels are being written by separate writers and will be made by different directors over eight years. Now, isn’t that exciting?

Very much so. Now, tell us about the Love Aaj Kal sequel. Can Sara Ali Khan and Kartik Aaryan’s real-life split affect its box-office prospects?
I didn’t even know Sara and Kartik were dating. They are both strong actors who have the love of the audience, and with Imtiaz Ali, the master of heartbreaks, telling us how love has changed in the last decade, I am confident this film will be a much-awaited 2020 Valentine Day release. I remember little Sara present at the pooja when we started Love Aaj Kal with her father (Saif Ali Khan). Now, she’s the leading lady of the sequel. Taking the journey forward with her, Imtiaz and Kartik, with whom I had a hit in Luka Chuppi earlier this year, has been heart-warming.

The Irrfan Khan-starrer Angrezi Medium followup to Hindi Medium was another reunion project for you. What was that journey like?
There is an almost Sufi quality to Irrfan now. He’s made me realise that the mind is living our lives, making us chase success instead of valuing the here and now. Thanks to my mother, Irrfan and my wife Pramita, I’ve become a better person—calmer, more balanced and mature. I’m still passionate about my work, but when I go home now, I can disconnect and feel grateful for all that I have. Perhaps that’s why the recent controversies didn’t rattle me, nor do box-office results. You can’t get it right every time, but it’s important to work with good people, give my best and enjoy the moment.

That’s why it’s exciting to reunite with not just Irrfan on this film but also Homi Adajania. I started my career with his directorial Being Cyrus, and have collaborated with him on Cocktail, Finding Fanny and now Angrezi Medium. My Badlapur director-actor duo, Sriram Raghavan and Varun Dhawan, and I have also joined hands on the biopic of Second Lieutenant Arun Khetarpal. The film is a big responsibility towards the late martyr's brother Mukesh Khetarpal and to the Indian army. It’s wonderful when actors, writers and directors trust you enough to want to work with you again.

You’ve reunuited with your Luka Chuppi director, Laxman Utekar, and actress Kriti Sanon too on Mimi but isn’t she a little too young to play a mother?
Mimi, the remake of Marathi film, Mala Aai Vhhaychay, is about surrogacy and till it was banned, it was young girls who agreed to be surrogates to support their families. This young girl wants to be an actress but ends up becoming a mother. I believe a child gives birth to a mother and if with Laxman sir’s help, Kriti who has not experienced motherhood yet, can bridge that gap between herself and her character, Mimi will be her best performance.

Kriti Sanon on the after-effects of the movement, playing a surrogate in her next and working with Akshay Kumar
Avinash Lohana (MUMBAI MIRROR; October 16, 2019)

It’s always nice to have a busy year,” says Kriti Sanon, who kick-started 2019 with Luka Chuppi and followed it up with a special appearance in Kalank . Then came Arjun Patiala , with Diljit Dosanjh, and now she is gearing up for a Diwali dhamaka with Housefull 4 , while the year wraps up with Ashutosh Gowariker’s period drama, Panipat . The actress on playing juggler to perfection:

After your debut, Heropanti, you were supposed to work with Akshay Kumar, but you chose Dilwale over Singh Is Bliing. You have finally worked with him after four years with Housefull 4.
It wasn’t like I chose Dilwale over Singh Is Bliing. The latter was delayed by almost five months, and when it finally started, the dates overlapped with Dilwale. I admire the way Akshay has steered his career. Every time people try to typecast him, he breaks away. He’s done action, comedy, content-driven films and in the middle of all of that, it’s comedy again. I like the fact that he doesn’t let anyone categorise him. Plus, his energy is infectious, and he thrives on improvisation.

Producer Sajid Nadiadwala said in a recent interview that for a film like Housefull 4, the actors must forget their inhibitions and be shameless on camera because without that conviction, they will stick out like a sore thumb. Do you agree?
Absolutely! Comedy, in general, is tough and in a film like this, in certain portions if you don’t take the humour a few notches higher, it won’t be as funny and for that you have to be absolutely shameless. Hamming with conviction is probably the most difficult thing I’ve ever done. But it was fun, we’d play games between shots. Akshay would suddenly pick up an orange and start playing catch, or flag off a game of noughts and crosses or throw a ball at a bottle. It was a holiday we didn’t want to end (Laughs).

Your sister Nupur is making her music video debut with Akshay.
Yes, Nupur is a trained singer but she also loves acting and has attended several workshops. She was talking to someone for a singing project and was asked if she’d want to act in a music video. Later, she learnt that Akshay too was in the video and that was a bonus!

Did you give her any tips?
I just asked her to relax and be herself. Akshay is not someone who will make you feel jittery. He’s like a Delhiite, so I told her to be her Delhi self. (Laughs)

Farhad Samji took over as director of Housefull 4 after sexual harrassment allegations came up against Sajid Khan. Has the #MeToo movement, which exploded last year, changed things in the industry?
I have always been for the movement and have been vocal about it. It takes a lot of courage to come out in the open and speak about what you’ve been through. It’s unfortunate that there’s no legal way to resolve this conclusively but at least it has instilled fear in every industry and that’s important. I am fortunate that I haven’t been through any of this, but I’ve noticed that meetings, which would earlier happen at home, are now scheduled outside to avoid coming across as shady.

You have also spoken up for gender equality and pay parity in the industry. Any change there?
There’s still a huge gap as far as pay is concerned and the only way to reduce that is for women to present a united front in their demand for a certain remuneration. I’m glad films revolving around a female protagonist are making the numbers. Slowly, producers will have the confidence to let a woman carry a film on her shoulders.

Speaking of women-centric films, aren’t you doing one with Rahul Dholakia?
That’s not happening, there were some date issues there. But I am doing Dinesh Vijan’s Mimi on the subject of surrogacy. It is inspired by the Marathi film, Mala Aai Vhhaychay! (I Want To Be A Mother!) but has been transformed into a different script. Laxman Utekar sir (Luka Chuppi director) is directing it and I start shooting on November 1 in Mandawa, Rajasthan. He can tell an intense, emotional story with humour and make it an entertaining watch. I play a young girl with big dreams but due to certain reasons, she agrees to be a surrogate and that completely changes her life. I haven’t experienced the emotion of being a mother yet so it will be interesting to figure it out with Mimi.

Buzz is, you’re also doing Farah Khan’s Satte Pe Satta remake with Hrithik Roshan?
No, I’m in talks for some films, but this is not the one.

You have a special appearance in the Pati Patni Aur Woh remake…
I can’t say anything about that character right now, but it was a lot of fun being on set with Kartik (Aaryan) even if only for a day. After Luka Chuppi, we know each other’s energy well. It’s also Juno Chopra’s film, I’ve done Bareilly Ki Barfi with him earlier.

While Luka Chuppi did well, Arjun Patiala didn’t live up to expectations. How do you deal with failure?
Honestly, failure does disappoint you, but as long as you understand what didn’t work, learn from it and move on, it’s not difficult. The spoofy genre of Arjun Patiala was an experiment for all of us who were associated with the film. We tried our best and next time we will try even harder.

Rachana Dubey (BOMBAY TIMES; July 27, 2019)

Filmmaker Dinesh Vijan and director Rohit Jugraj have one thing in common - they’ve both learnt the ropes of their business by taking risks. Dinesh decided to signed Rohit to helm Arjun Patiala, a spoof comedy, after seeing one of his Punjabi films with Diljit Dosanjh. Dinesh and Rohit had a frank and fun conversation with BT about their film, which also features Kriti Sanon and Varun Sharma, and the changing face of the comedy space. Excerpts:

Comedy as a genre is gradually changing with newer sub-genres being introduced to the audience. What do both of you make of this trend?
Dinesh: Comedy is the most successful genre that we have today. David Dhawan is one of the most successful filmmakers we have in the industry, in terms of commercial success, and he understands comedy the best. So far, all of my films have had an element of humour in them. The thing is aap logon ko hansa-hansa ke kuch batayenge toh woh jaldi samjhenge. We spoke of live-in relationships with a family angle in Hrishikesh Mukherjee’s style with Luka Chuppi. That made the film accessible to everyone. Even in Arjun Patiala, the humour is such that it can be consumed by everyone.
Rohit: Punjabi cinema has some sort of hold on comedy; they do it really well. I think the audience has been ready for variety in comedy as a genre. We, as filmmakers, have taken longer to convince ourselves to try something out-of-the-box.

Dinesh, after successful films like Stree and Luka Chuppi,you decided to back a film like Arjun Patiala, which is a spoof comedy – a genre that has not been explored much in Bollywood…
Dinesh: I would say that this is the most experimental film we have made so far. While it’s out there, in a strange way, it’s also risky because we are breaking the fourth wall and talking directly to the audience. My company and I have backed films like Stree and Go Goa Gone in the past, which explored new territories. Even here, while there is a pre-existing base, the film is self-deprecating, which is quite new for the business and us. It will be interesting to see how many people this appeals to. We’ve broken the very format of narrating a film where we are saying this is a mandatory love song or an item song. We’ve turned the cop genre on its head.

Over a period of time, you’ve tapped quite a few unchartered territories, as a filmmaker, business-wise isn’t it safer to try something that’s worked in the past?
Dinesh: It’s a spoof comedy that makes fun of itself with a clear story and characters that take themselves very seriously. We haven’t made fun of any other actor or film while trying to do this because it’s not fair. For us, the real challenge was to tap those people who didn’t laugh when they saw the trailer because they didn’t quite get the humour in it. As a filmmaker, I have always experimented with my content, starting with Being Cyrus and Go Goa Gone. Badlapur was an experiment with Varun Dhawan playing such a dark character at the beginning of his career. Stree was a horror-comedy, and films like Angrezi Medium, Bala, Imtiaz Ali’s next, Roohi-Afza and Made In China are also content-driven, with an underlying layer. I’m proud of the line-up. Arjun Patiala leads the pack because it opens first. I remember, when released the trailer of Go Goa Gone, people didn’t know how to react. As a content creator, I’m only trying to gauge what can break the clutter over the next two years. I’ve never taken the audience for granted. My film is an experimental product, and I’m not shying away from that.

Self-deprecation is neither easy to depict nor easy for an audience to consume and accept…
Dinesh: I was ridiculously confident about Stree and Luka Chuppi because somewhere, I knew they would work. Go Goa Gone was an experiment, a zombie film where no one knew how the audience would react. These genres, over a period of time, develop a cult following, which takes time and effort. When writers Sandeep Leyzell and Ritesh Shah came to me with Arjun Patiala, I felt they had the right intent – they wanted to make a film that laughs at itself.

Rohit,you made your last Hindi film, Superstar,a few years ago.Between that and Arjun Patiala, you’ve made some Punjabi comedy films. Why make a comeback with a spoof comedy?
Rohit: The first Punjabi film that I made was Jatt James Bond, which was a thriller-comedy. After working in the Punjabi film industry, I realised that there could be so much variety in humour. For me, it’s a form of spirituality. I have realised that Punjabis generally tackle everything with a pinch of humour and they get past things or drive home their point well. I had gone off the radar from Hindi movies because here nobody lets you make the films you want to if your previous films have flopped. It had happened with me. When I moved to Punjabi films, I got a chance to work with top stars like Diljit Dosanjh and Gippy Grewal, and I understood a lot about stories and the numerous ways in which they could be told. About a year ago, when Dinesh and his writers told me about this film, it hit me somewhere. I was blown away with just how self-deprecating they intended it to be. Writer Ritesh Shah is known for some serious films, and I wasn’t expecting this from him. When Dinu said that we have to break the forth wall and talk to the audience, it was important to understand the four walls to know which one to break. My team had even warned me against me doing this film, but I decided to give something unique a shot.

How difficult was it to explain a film like Arjun Patiala to its actors?
Rohit: They came around fairly easily because they liked their parts; we have had a deeper discussion in this interview than we had with them (laughs!). They just had to believe in the characters and do their bit.

What do you make of the spoof comedy genre which is already quite popular in the West?
Rohit: I think films like Hot Fuzz, Scary Movie and Deadpool are quite popular. Spoof comedies from the West have been massy, and yet, very sophisticated. Their humour has grown on the audience over time. The ultimate thing in any film is its entertainment quotient. We don’t need to have a hangover of the West. If our superhero film doesn’t entertain, the audience will question it. The reason people are more accepting of what they see in Hollywood films is because they say things convincingly and in an entertaining manner. In our spoof comedy, we’ve not aped anything from any existing film. We have done our own thing, and if it entertains, irrespective of whether one has seen a spoof comedy before or not, people will like it.

Arjun Patiala tries to pass off as a ‘spoof comedy’ by taking a dig at so-called masala films of Bollywood. But it ends up being a king-sized disappointment. The film has such funny characters; any worthy writer would have utilized them so well and written a laugh riot. Sadly, in case of Arjun Patiala, the writers and director Rohit Jugraj let these characters go waste. There’s hardly anything funny in the film after a great introductory scene. The plot is outdated and beaten to death. Performances make the film bearable. Diljit Dosanjh is very sincere and tries to rise above the script. Kriti Sanon is quite entertaining. She’s very good in an emotional sequence but the attempt to make it quirky spoil her performance to an extent. Varun Sharma is as usual. Ronit Roy is apt for the apt. Mohd Zeeshan Ayyub gets to play a great villainous character and it’s unfortunate it goes down the drain. Sunny Leone is her usual sizzling self. Pankaj Tripathi and Abhishek Banerjee are the funniest actors in the film – they dominate the beginning and this is when the film seems really interesting. Seema Pahwa and the rest of the villains are okay. All in all, Arjun Patiala should be avoided!

My rating - ** out of 5!

TWO QUIRKY COMIC CAPERS TO TRY THEIR LUCK THIS FRIDAY!

Conventional comedy is an established genre and there have been countless number of such films that have become commercial successes. But with changing times, filmmakers are feeling the need to give audience something different. This week will see the release of two films and coincidentally both are quite hatke comedies. Yet, both the films are different as chalk and cheese. My analysis:

JUDGEMENTALL HAI KYA: It stars Kangana Ranaut and Rajkummar Rao in leading roles and directed by Telugu filmmaker Prakash Kovelamudi. He is married to Kanika Dhillon, the popular writer of Kedarnath and Manmarziyaan and she has written this film’s script too. The trailer of this film is impressive and the way the characters are written is unique. There’s also a murder mystery element and that adds to the intrigue value. Both the leading actors seem in great form. Songs haven’t work with the promotional song ‘Wakhra Swag’ managing to get some attention.

The film however seems too unconventional. Also, buzz is quite low. The promotions couldn’t happen properly after a huge section of media boycotted Kangana Ranaut over her objectionable comments to a journalist at an event. The opening should be in the range of Rs. 3-4 crore and can go upto Rs. 5 crore if response is positive, which will draw people to cinemas in the evening. This will also help collections to grow over the weekend and then sustain in the weekdays. If response is not positive however, then the film will have a very tough time.

ARJUN PATIALA: This is a spoof comedy, on the lines of Deadpool, and stars Diljit Dosanjh, Kriti Sanon and Varun Sharma. It is directed by Rohit Jugraj, a famous name in Punjabi cinema, and produced by Dinesh Vijan who has now become a force to reckon with, especially after the success of Stree and Luka Chuppi. The trailer leaves one with mixed reactions. It seems funny and unusual but the execution has to be correct and shouldn’t go overboard. Or else it’ll fall like a pack of cards. Songs have got noticed a bit but it won’t be sufficient to draw audiences in hordes. The opening can be around Rs. 2-3 crore, with chances of better occupancy being more in the North due to Diljit’s presence. It’ll be tough for the film to succeed if the response is bad or even mixed.

WHICH FILM WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE AND WHY? DO LET ME KNOW!

Neha Maheshwri (BOMBAY TIMES; July 25, 2019)

Fresh from the success of Luka Chuppi earlier this year, Kriti Sanon is back with her next, Rohit Jugraj’s spoof comedy, Arjun Patiala. But that’s not all, she has two more releases lined up before the year draws to a close. The actress strongly feels that what matters to her the most is that her characters strike a chord with the audience. Ahead of the release of Arjun Patiala, also starring Diljit Dosanjh, she tells us how she wants to grow with every film, not limit herself to any particular genre, and the discrimination faced by actresses in Bollywood. Excerpts…

In an earlier interview with BT, you had shared how you had to wait for Heropanti to release before you bagged your second film. Now, with four films in one year, including Luka Chuppi (already released), Arjun Patiala, Panipat and Housefull 4, 2019 seems to be your year. How does it feel?
It feels great to be a part of different films. Four releases in a year is a first for me and it’s a difficult number to keep up with, but I want to do more work. I wish to do something different with every film. The year started off well, with Luka Chuppi performing well at the box office. When your thinking matches with that of the audience and they like your film, then you feel confident that you are on the right track. It’s important that people feel that I am getting better with every film. I want to do what I believe in and not get carried away with what’s supposed to be a hit formula, because there is none. Besides, I don’t want to pressurise myself with the thought that whatever I do has to be a hit. I am aware that fate changes every Friday in this industry. One can go wrong with his/her judgment, and it’s not necessary that I end up liking what the audience likes and vice-versa. There might be a day when I expect viewers to like my film and they won’t. It’s okay to go wrong and have a difference of opinion with the audience. I will be happy as long as I have gained something from the journey and have done my job with conviction.

Also, I feel that it is best to rely on your gut instinct, because then, you won’t have any regrets. In that sense, I resonate with Geet’s (Kareena Kapoor’s character) dialogue in Jab We Met, ‘Meri zindagi jaisi bhi hai meri wajah se hai’. Talking about reaching the position that I am in today, there is a lot of satisfaction, as I have done it on my own; of course, with the help of people who believed in me and supported me. In the beginning, this world (Bollywood) was very new and almost like a dream to me. People take long to put a name to a face. So, it feels great when the audience connects, with you and appreciate your work. It happened with me in Bareilly Ki Barfi (BKB), when people suddenly started recognising me as Bitti. It’s a great feeling to be recognised by your character.

Interestingly, Bitti is a simple, small-town girl. While you have played glamourous characters in some of your films, it’s the small-town girl avatar (in Luka Chuppi,too) that has gained you more popularity...
In real life, I am a simple, middle-class girl and connect with middle-class values. So, I find such characters extremely relatable. Having said that, small-town girls are often bolder than their urban counterparts. The success of BKB changed things for me, because earlier, people couldn’t envision me in that world. In fact, even I did not see myself belonging there. I was pleasantly surprised that people accepted me as Bitti and then, I was inundated with offers of small-town characters. That’s what happens in this industry, it takes just one character to break an image. Nowadays, more films are being made with small towns at the backdrop. In fact, I recently told someone, ‘Yaar, main shooting ke liye kaafi time se baahar nahi gayi hoon, I am doing the rounds of Lucknow, Gwalior, Mathura, and Chandigarh (laughs!)’. I would love to shoot a film with a great script abroad, in which I get to wear hot pants and look glamourous. That’s not happened in a while for me. Of course, I try to offer something new to the audience. Case in point is Arjun Patiala, which is a spoof comedy. It’s different from what has been attempted in the comic genre in Bollywood. My character is a crime reporter from Firozpur, and you can’t mess with her. She is hardcore, fearless and passionate about her work, but is against violence.

Talking about Luka Chuppi, it must have been upsetting when a section of people attributed the success of the film to its male lead (Kartik Aaryan), though you deserve as much credit for it…
In fact, Kartik and I were talking about it a few days ago. There weren’t actually too many people who contributed to this debate. The conversation started after a headline stating ‘Mr. Bachchan’s Badla and Kartik Aryan’s Luka Chuppi do well at the box office’, surfaced. Taapsee (Pannu) pointed it out and tweeted that female actors have also worked in these films. Though it happens at times, I think most people are scared nowadays about not mentioning the work of female actors; they fear that we might tweet about it (laughs!). Once the conversation started, Arjun (Kapoor) and I also tweeted because a similar incident happened when they started talking about the clash of Panipat (which features Kriti and Arjun) and Pati Patni Aur Woh (Kartik Aaryan, Bhumi Pednekar, Ananya Panday). There are times when actresses are not given as much importance as the actors, even when it comes to mentioning them in the headline. You don’t call a romantic film a girl’s movie. Some people have a tendency to write in detail about the male lead’s performance and just two lines describing the leading lady’s work. That, too, they focus more on how pretty she looked. Now, that’s upsetting. Even if you didn’t like my performance or want to criticise me, please write about it. I would love that feedback. Having said that, not everyone does it. The scenario is changing and it will probably get better with more people addressing the issue. I always treated Luka Chuppi as my film and am glad that it did well. I avoid paying attention to negativity, as it spoils my happy moments.

What about reports suggesting that you stopped talking to Kartik after this incident?
We clarified that in our own fun manner because sometimes, things are blown out of proportion and you wonder where these reports are coming from. We just laughed it off.

Though actresses are doing phenomenally well in the industry (as far as their performances are concerned), issues like the one we just spoke about and other concerns like actresses not getting scripts that justify their talent, are areas where they are still seen fighting their battles. Your thoughts...
The main disparity I notice is that it’s easy to ride a film on the hero’s shoulders. However, in recent times, we have seen women-centric films enjoying a great run at the box office. I have been offered 10 women-centric films in the last two months and I look at it as a good start. When an actor does commercially well, producers and directors become more confident in resting the film on his/her shoulders. Today, actresses are pushing the envelope and want to do performance-oriented roles. They no longer want to settle for two songs and two scenes. At the same time, there is nothing wrong in doing two songs and two scenes in a film, if it is impactful and takes the narrative forward. It’s not always the length of the character, but the relevance of the part that matters more.

Moving on to your personal life, with such a busy schedule, do you have time for love and relationships?
Falling in love doesn’t need time, staying in love does. Maintaining and building a relationship needs time. It’s important to have a two-way communication in any relationship. Work is a part of your life, but not your entire life. So, I make sure that whenever I get time off work, I go on holidays, spend time at home, or call my friends over and chill with them. Love is not just about that special someone, but also about your family and friends. If you are talking about a special someone, I would love to fall in love, but it needs to be organic and that hasn’t happened yet.

Neha Maheshwri (BOMBAY TIMES; July 23, 2019)

Punjabi superstar Diljit Dosanjh stormed into Bollywood with a crackling, livewire of a performance in Udta Punjab. The actor followed his Bollywood debut up with the Anushka Sharma-starrer Phillauri, along with a bunch of other films including Soorma, a biopic on hockey player Sandeep Singh, for which he won immense appreciation. The actor who is reserved, yet someone who can surprise you with his funny one-liners, has showcased a variety of shades on screen with his measured performances. Coming up next, he will be seen in director Rohit Jugraj’s spoof comedy Arjun Patiala, along with Kriti Sanon. Talking about exploring the spoof comedy space in Hindi films, the actor-singer says, “I don’t understand things like what genre the film belongs to within the comedy space. The producers narrated the script and told me it was funny. Bas bande achhe lage toh kar lee, koi tension nahi hai. My choice of script is governed by two factors — either I’ve to like the people associated with the project or the storyline should be interesting. I focus more on the vibe and the type of energy I get from them.”

The actor is also known for his soulful voice, which has moved his fans as much, or more than his acting chops. The song from Ikk Kudi (Udta Punjab) went on to become a rage. He also sang numbers like Dum Dum (Phillauri) and Proper Patola (Namaste England), and now, he has also rendered a song titled Dil Todeya for Arjun Patiala. The song, which releases today, has been composed by Guru Randhawa and Sachin-Jigar.

Going by his track record in Bollywood, the actor has had his share of ups and downs. Understandably, it affects him when his films tank at the box office, but Diljit believes in moving on. In fact, he opines that every failure makes him wiser when it comes to choosing films and every success has him working twice as hard. Talking about failures, Welcome To New York was one of his films that didn’t do well at the box office. He explains, “Woh bohot buri film thi. Woh film hi nahi thi. Having said that, I don’t regret it. There are times when a film turns out differently from how it was narrated. But I don’t look at it as a bad thing. Agar aap ek journey par nikle ho toh aise hi seekhoge. I don’t have a godfather, na hi kisi ne bana ke diya hai hamein kuchh. Kuchh galtiyaan bhi karenge aur kuchh sahi bhi hoga, lekin ek achhi journey rahegi.”

He adds, “There is no doubt that I feel bad when a film flops, but I can’t sit back and not take up new work owing to that. Kaam toh karna hi hai. I think every artiste feels bad about such things because they put in so much hard work into every film. I think a director is hugely responsible for the fate of a film, so if it does well, he should be appreciated. As an actor, I can only perform well or choose to work with a good director in a good film.”

While that’s how Diljit deals with failures, he is equally conscious about not letting success go to his head. In real life, he continues to be the person he was before he became a star. When he gets time off work, he hangs out with his childhood friends and often watches his own films from the past. “I don’t want to change, as I believe ki main jitna raw rahoon utna achha hai. If I feel I’m becoming superficial, I watch my old videos and films and think it will be better if I remain the way I was back then. Kam se kam main toh khush tha, baaki kisi ka mujhe pata nahi. Puraane doston se mil leta hoon jo gaali waali bhi de dete hain. Tab lagta hai sab theek hai. I don’t wish to complicate life. I have seen a lot of people riding high on success, which is temporary. Ye bade kamaal ki cheez hoti hai ki jis bande ko success ka nasha chadhta hai, usko pata bhi nahi chalta ki kya hua hai, aur woh sochta rehta hai ki saamne wala meri baat samajh hi nahi raha hai. Harr dinn realise hote rehna chhaiye ki main kahaan galat hoon,” he says.

A singer at heart, Diljit says he is always more worried about the fate of his live shows rather than the performance of his movies at the box office. He shares, “Till date, I get all worked up about my music tours and keep thinking whether the arena will be full. A day after the release of my Punjabi film, which was a massive hit, I had a show in Toronto. But more than the film’s fate, I was worried about my show, praying that it would go well. Aaj bhi live shows mein perform karne mein mujhe darr lagta hai because anything can happen. I think that no number of rehearsals can guarantee the outcome of a live show.”

While he is a force to reckon with in the Punjabi film industry as a singer and as an actor, Diljit says he is still trying to consolidate his position in Bollywood. So, is there an image he wants to create in the Hindi film industry? “I don’t think too much about it. Main toh jahaan kaam milta hai wahaan pohoch jaata hoon. I am not image conscious. Everyone has an image of himself and they want people to perceive them according to that image. You shouldn’t take yourself so seriously. In my eyes, I have no image and so, I can mould myself in any manner,” he avers.

Though he talks freely about his professional life, Diljit is known to be fiercely guarded about his personal life. But then, every star’s life is subjected to media scrutiny and he is no exception. It was reported a few years ago that his marriage was in trouble. The actor, who is reportedly married to Sandeep Kaur and has a son, has always dodged questions pertaining to his personal life. Ask him about the speculations around his marriage hitting a rocky patch and if he feels the need to clear the air by addressing the matter, he replies, “Kuchh hua hi nahi. Yeh baat hi kyu karte hain log? Kisi ko kya matlab hai? I don’t think that people need to know about it. I am at peace. I don’t peep into people’s homes and I would not want them to look into mine. My personal life is separate from my professional life; something I have been clear about since day one. I love my family a lot. Kyunki azaadi hai bolne ki sabko, gaaliyaan bhi dete hain log internet par. Public domain par hai toh koi bhi kisi ko kuchh bhi bol sakta hai. I am happy and content that my family is safe. Main jisko pyaar karta hoon uske baare mein bura nahi sunn sakta. I am fine with my life being subjected to speculation, since I know that I am a part of the film industry, where I will be both praised and dissed. I have faced a lot of criticism in Punjab and once, there was even a protest outside my house, over one of my songs. There are some people in this business who want to stop others from growing. Kuchh log hote hain jo already uss business mein hain, aur woh sochte hain ki kyu ye banda grow kar raha hai, aur kaise rokk sakte hain iske shows. Pehle woh dekhte hain ki yeh kya kar paayega, phir jab woh banda achha karne laga hai toh usko kheechne ki naubat aati hai. They eventually realise ki ye nahi rukega toh chhod do usko, aur phir koi naya banda dhoondhte hain. Mera woh ‘chhod do ye nahi rukega’ wala phase chal raha hai.”

Rachana Dubey (BOMBAY TIMES; July 22, 2019)

Varun Sharma forms a solid part of the supporting cast of all his films and has managed to carve out a space for himself in Bollywood. He’s popularly addressed as Choocha, the name of the first character he had played on screen. Year 2019, has been busy one for the actor; he’s been shuttling between sets and slipping in and out of various characters. Varun will be seen in three distinctly different films in the next few months, starting with Arjun Patiala that opens this week. Over to the actor:

Year 2019 has been a busy one for you; three of your films — Arjun Patiala, Khandaani Shafakhana and Chhichhore — are ready for release and Roohi Afza is being shot right now...
As a teenager, I used to read celebrity interviews in which people would often say, ‘I have a few good films in my kitty’. I feel very happy that today, I, too, can say that. I do have a few interesting films in my kitty. I will always cherish the year 2019 in my life because I’ve literally lived out of a suitcase, travelled from one set to another and played such a variety of characters, which is a dream for any actor.

Your first release this year is Arjun Patiala, a spoof comedy set in Punjab. It’s a popular genre in the West, but relatively new to Bollywood. Does it make you nervous?
I agree that it is a new genre for Bollywood and is something that has worked well in the West. I am a fan of films like Scary Movie and Deadpool, which are popular in that genre. Comedy can be a lot more fun if you try something unique. With Arjun Patiala, we’re not making fun of any other film or the police department or a community. We’re just making fun of our own film. We’ve used some common industry jargons, which infuse a lot of humour in various situations in the film. If this one works, trust me, there will be many more films in this genre.

You play a buddy cop, Onida Singh, in this film. It’s an addition to your list of quirky character names like Choocha in Fukrey, Sexa in the upcoming Chhichhore. How different is this one from your previous characters?
Onida Singh has a back-story. His parents couldn’t buy a TV and instead had a son, who they named after the brand. It’s different from all my past characters from the word go. I’m really lucky that I get some whacked out names for my characters in films, which is one of the reasons why they are remembered by the audience. Like I’m called Sexa in Chhichhore. I really like such character names. I’ve met a lot of quirky people while growing up in my home city, Jalandhar. I’ve stayed in those Punjabi colonies and hung out with some really funny people. I love it when I get to play quirky characters on screen that have peculiarities.

The week after Arjun Patiala, you have another comedy film, Khandaani Shafakhana releasing, which revolves around a girl and her tryst with running a sex clinic in Punjab. The trailer reminds you of Ayushmann Khurrana’s Vicky Donor...
Khandaani Shafakhana tries to break taboos around sex. We’re not aiming to clear the air on a particular problem related to sex. We’re basically trying to open conversations around it. We want people to speak up if they have a problem. Sometimes, not knowing enough about sex can lead to bigger troubles. We just want people to be okay to talk about sex. It’s dangerous to not know about it. In this film, I play Sonakshi Sinha’s supportive brother, who is such a vella; he’s busy trying to grow his hair. This film is special for me because Mrighdeep Lamba directed me in my first film (Fukrey) and this is his first outing as a producer.

It’s a general perception that men can’t have sex problems, and even if they do, it’s far harder for them to address it and deal with it. This also comes from a misconstrued idea of machoism. While growing up in Punjab, did you ever have a conversation pertaining to sex with your elders?
I’ve seen sex clinics tucked inside lanes near bus stands and stations; I’ve crossed them but never entered any of those clinics. It’s true that we don’t talk about sex. I didn’t get any sex education when I was growing up. Our conditioning was such that we could never discuss it even with our peers. Desires and problems had to be tackled at a very personal level. We had to educate ourselves on matters relating to sex on our own. Urban cities are a lot more progressive, because kids here are often given sex education at the right age. It’s true that men don’t believe that they can have sexual disorders. Sometimes, when people know they have a problem, they hide it from their spouse, which leads to broken marriages and chaos in their marital lives. In an entertaining way, we’ve only tried to tell people that it’s essential to talk about sex.

Sometimes, just talking about sex-related topics helps in understanding the subject better and coping with problems, if there are any. Right?
Look, even though we believe that we are a progressive society at large, we read sexologist’s columns in newspapers but never tell anyone that we’ve read it. We fear that people will judge us. When I have kids, I would like to keep a line of conversation on this open, because I want them to have frank chats with me about their problems when they face hormonal havocs.

You have been playing funny characters in all your films so far. While this is your forte and you seem to enjoy it, are you only being offered comic characters in movies because filmmakers think that you have cracked it in this genre?
I won’t ever stop working in comedy films because all the comedies that I’ve worked in are different from each other. I have done many comedies, but none of my roles are repetitive. Yes, I want to try other genres and I’ve really wanted to do that for a long time. But that does not mean that I will steer away from comedies in the bargain. I’ve done theatre where I did only serious roles and from the very first film, I’ve only done funny characters. It’s tough to make people laugh and I realised that after my first film. I also felt that I have it in me to make people laugh. It gives me a beautiful feeling when I do that. Of the offers that come my way, 80 per cent are for comic characters and the remaining 20 per cent are a mix and often don’t work out. The actor in me wants to try new genres, but I guess I’ll have to wait.

Do you ever fear that people will find it difficult to accept you in a serious role?
If I do it correctly, they will accept me. I am often asked me if I am scared to be typecast in this space. People don’t hesitate to call me a comedian. I am not a comedian; I am an actor who excels in a specific genre. I’m in no hurry to pick up a serious character and prove a point to anyone. The day I am convinced about a part that I like, I will take the plunge. But I will not tear away from a genre that has worked well for me so far. Finding acceptance is an issue and a challenge that every actor faces. Our personality traits show up in all the characters we portray on screen. The only constant in my life is the effort that I put in to register every character I play.

Finding a sweet spot in romantic comedies, Kriti Sanon on her movie choices and working with senior actors
Sonil Dedhia (MID-DAY; July 21, 2019)

"I go with my gut," says Kriti Sanon who is on a high after the success of her last film Luka Chuppi. Sanon, 28, in an exclusive interview with mid-day talks about what gives her the confidence to make risky choices, changing the notion of being an unbankable star, working with Diljit Dosanjh in the cop movie Arjun Patiala and more.

Edited excerpts from the interview:

How do you align your sensibilities with an over-the-top film like Arjun Patiala?
Shah Rukh [Khan] had told me [during Dilwale], 'You need to adjust yourself to the world of a film. Every movie has a different flavour and an actor needs to mould himself to that world'. Arjun Patiala is not entirely over-the-top. Every scene can become a cliché; the idea is to think differently. During a rain sequence, I am wearing a white sari and it's a banal scene. Since we were aware of that, we decided to take it a notch higher by adding some fun elements. At times, it is difficult to perform these scenes compared to something that comes naturally. As an actor, I need to realise the sur [rhythm] of the film and go with it.

Bareilly Ki Barfi, Luka Chuppi and Arjun Patiala are all romantic comedies. As is Housefull 4. You seem to have settled in this genre.
I enjoy it. Comedy is all about reactions. It's about feeding from each other's energies. The actor and director have to be in sync. Even when I am not cracking a joke, the audience will find it funny because of my reaction to the situation. It was all action and reaction between Diljit and me. He is a natural. We improvised several scenes during rehearsals that were included in the final cut purely because our reactions were unexpected.

You have a varied line up of films ahead—Arjun Patiala, Housefull 4, Panipat and an untitled film with Rahul Dholakia—For someone who says choosing the right script is tough, do you think you have made the right choices?
I am going with my gut and hoping that my choices are right. Eventually, how the film shapes up depends on the collaborative effort. Whenever a film does well and connects with the audience, it gives me reinstates my confidence. That helps in taking risks and experimenting.

Did the success of Bareilly Ki Barfi empower you? 
When the film worked it did [empowered me]. However, when I was shooting for it, I didn't receive confident reactions from people. They were hesitant and asked, 'Choti budget ki movie hai, kar logi kya? [It's a small budget film, will you do it]'. I don't think any film is small or big because at the end of the day content works irrespective of the budget. After the success [of Bareilly Ki Barfi], I got noticed as an actor which had never happened before. People did not expect me to fit in the role of a small town girl. This changed the opportunities coming my way. I consider the film a milestone and a turning point in my career. Now, it has become trickier to choose what interests me.

Despite having a higher success ratio among your contemporary actors, there is a notion that you are not a bankable star. Has that changed?
The media always mentions 'bankable star' so it has registered in my mind, but I don't know what goes into being one. I think it changed after the success of Luka Chuppi. It's a common belief that one hit can be a fluke, but when Luka Chuppi received great numbers at the box office it boosted my confidence. I am now in a position to take the risk and responsibility. Yes, that is a lot of pressure, but it will keep me from slacking.

Does your equation change when you are working with senior actors like in Housefull 4?
In my case, both Akshay [Kumar] sir and Shah Rukh sir are chilled out. I don't feel the difference because they made me comfortable from the get-go. Of course, with a senior actor on set you have to behave appropriately, but things alter depending on the equation. Akshay sir is someone who helped me in scenes and has no qualms about taking or giving suggestions. In between shots, he would pick up an orange and start playing catch or a game of tic-tac-toe. That is the beauty of this profession, eventually everyone is on the same level.

What's your idea of entertainment outside of movies?
I still find watching movies entertaining [smiles]. I also like writing poems but that doesn't happen often. Otherwise, I catch up with my parents [in Delhi], or school and college friends. I also enjoy travelling in between films.

On Being Trolled
Recently, Kriti Sanon got flak for posting a picture with a Cheetah. When asked if she feels the need to hit back, Sanon says, "It's not about giving back to the trolls. I am an animal lover. People said that the cheetah was drugged, but if that was the case, he wouldn't be able to walk. These cheetahs are a part of the national park and have grown up there. I try to respond to trolls, but I don't take the pressure, nor do I get bothered by people's comments. I stay away from negativity."

Neha Maheshwri (BOMBAY TIMES; July 21, 2019)

Punjabi superstar Diljit Dosanjh made his Bollywood debut with Udta Punjab, in which he played a cop. Three years later, he is all set for another cop avatar, albeit a funny one, in the upcoming romcom, Arjun Patiala. While Diljit is game for comedy, he has his reservations, too.

He shares, “Ek toh double meaning se bachna chahiye kyunki families dekhti hain ye films. Having said that, I am no one to judge such films, as the genre has its own set of audience. However, being a Sardar and a turbanator, koi uss tarah ka joke mujh par na maare, nahi toh woh sunega mujhse.”

The actor says that Punjabis have the rare quality of being able to laugh at themselves, and believes it to be the best way to make others laugh. “There is no harm in making people laugh by making fun of yourself. What’s wrong is when people derive pleasure from making fun of others. I won’t take up a role (Bollywood), in which someone is repeatedly taking digs at you and you laugh at it. Punjabi mashhoor hai khud par joke maarne ke liye, jo bohot badi baat hoti hai. It’s a huge deal. Agar aap ko hasaana hai, toh apne par joke karo ya koi aisa joke karo jisse saamne wala let down na ho. But since it’s an easy way out, people resort to it,” he signs off.

As he fronts his fourth Hindi film in three years, Diljit Dosanjh on finding his feet in Bollywood and his crush on Good News co-star
Sonil Dedhia (MID-DAY; July 16, 2019)

Three years after playing a tough cop in Udta Punjab (2016), Diljit Dosanjh has donned the uniform again in his next, Arjun Patiala. However, this time around, the actor intends to serve a generous dose of comedy with his cop act. "I don't get too many offers for comedies, most of the films that come my way are serious dramas. So, when Maddock Films approached me, I thought this was a completely different character from what I have played so far in Hindi and Punjabi films," says Dosanjh.

An established name in Punjabi cinema, the actor is still finding his feet in Bollywood since his debut in 2016. "I don't have a godfather, so I have to choose from the roles offered to me. Also, I have been vocal about the fact that I won't do roles that require me to remove my turban. That narrows down my options further. But times are changing. In Good News, my character originally wasn't a Punjabi, but the makers decided to cast me because they liked my work."

A discussion around Good News can't be complete without mentioning his co-star and Dosanjh's favourite actor Kareena Kapoor Khan. Admittedly in awe of her, the singer-actor dedicated his last single to her. "It is fun to work with Kareena. She can do the same scene over and over again without losing her spontaneity. But even today, I get nervous while having a conversation with her."

Deepali Singh (DNA; July 8, 2019)

It’s rare that an actor gets associated with a character right from his first film itself, but even today, Varun Sharma is still fondly known as Chucha, the role that he played in Fukrey (2013) as well as Fukrey Returns (2017). The 29-year-old, who is shooting in Manali for the upcoming horror-comedy Roohi-Afza, says candidly, “It’s a blessing for me to be known by my character’s name and I hope it keeps changing as I essay other parts as well,” he says. However, the Dilwale actor admits that things have changed for him in the past two years. “The impact of Chucha still remains, but yes, people have started knowing me by my name as well,” he smiles.

With an impressive line-up of films such as Arjun Patiala, Khandaani Shafakhana, Chhichhore and Roohi-Afza, there’s a lot that audiences can expect from the Jalandhar boy. And a whole load of quirky roles for him to portray as well. Over to Varun...

The one thing that’s remained constant with you is comedy. The audience knows that with you around, there will not be a dull moment around. But do you want to try out other genres?
Firstly, I will never leave comedy because I love doing it. Secondly, it’s the genre that has given me acceptance and immense love from the audience. However, I do want to attempt different genres as I’m an actor. At the same time, I love making people laugh and I will continue doing it. Among the scripts that are offered to me around 80 per cent are comedy. But you will see me doing other things in the coming year.

Within comedy there is so much to do as well...
Yes, we try and do different things. You have seen a Fukrey or a Dilwale. They are different spaces. Arjun Patiala is a spoof-comedy, which has not been explored here in India before. I’m shooting for Roohi-Afza, which is a horror-comedy.

You formed a friendship with Kriti Sanon while working with her in Dilwale and now in Arjun Patiala. You seem to have become fond of Sonakshi Sinha, who’s your co-star in Khandaani Shafakhana as well. 
Sonakshi and I clicked instantly. She’s not a Punjabi, but I feel she is a hardcore Punju at heart (laughs)! We bonded over songs, language, food, etc. We have become the best of friends. Even after the shoot got over, the whole gang would chill together. I have found a great buddy in her. I can pick up the phone anytime and talk to her. It’s good to have genuine people around you, who are there for you when you need them. That’s the magic of filmmaking. When you are on sets 18-20 hours of the day for two-three months at a stretch, the unit becomes like family.

Do you want to delve into the digital space? 
I would love to be a part of a fiction show on that platform. There was something that had almost worked out, but couldn’t happen as I didn’t have the required dates. But if something interesting comes up in the digital space, I would love to be a part of it.

What kind of shows do you like to watch on OTT platforms?
I just finished this mini-series called When They See Us. I’m currently watching the second season of Dark now. The kind of stuff I watch is absolutely different from what I do on screen — I enjoy thrillers and mind-games. Some of my favourite shows are Black Mirror, a dystopian thriller show called 3%, Ozark, Tyrant, etc. When I get the time, I want to see Chernobyl.

You might just get to try out something like this in the online space... 
I hope so. Maybe next year, you will see me killing people! (Laughs)

BOMBAY TIMES (July 2, 2019)

Things are looking ‘Sunny side up’ for the makers of Arjun Patiala. The film’s new track, Crazy Habibi VS Decent Munda, which will see Sunny Leone grooving alongside Diljit Dosanjh, will be unveiled tomorrow. The peppy number, composed by Sachin-Jigar, has been written and sung by Guru Randhawa, while the Arabic vocals have been rendered by Benny Dayal.

The movie features Diljit as a policeman with many quirks, while Varun Sharma plays an overdramatic hawaldar, and Kriti Sanon essays a gutsy reporter. Talking about the high-energy track that has been choreographed by Vijan Ganguly, director Rohit Jugraj says, “The song is a crazy dance number. It's for all the crazy habibis and decent mundas. The foot-tapping track has an underlying humour to it, and is an out-and-out club number. We had a blast shooting. The most fun thing was dressing Diljit Dosanjh and Varun Sharma in crazy costumes. Sunny Leone is, of course, fabulous, like she always is. Her dance moves in the song are to watch out for.”

Varun Sharma on his frequent co-star and friend, the inner workings of a spoof-comedy and why Nitesh Tiwari’s campus-drama is the closest to his heart
Avinash Lohana (MUMBAI MIRROR; June 27, 2019)

It’s an eventful year for Varun Sharma. The actor will be seen in Hardik Mehta’s Roohi Afza with Rajkummar Rao and Janhvi Kapoor, which is currently being shot in Manali, as well as in Arjun Patiala with Diljit Dosanjh and Kriti Sanon, Nitesh Tiwari’s Chhichhore with Sushant Singh Rajput and Shraddha Kapoor and as Sonakshi Sinha’s brother in Khandaani Shafakhana. Admitting that it’s the busiest he has been in his career, the actor says, “As a kid, I would read news articles in which actors gave statements like, ‘I have a few films in my kitty’ and would often wish to be in that space. Now, it seems like a dream come true.”

In Arjun Patiala, he plays a cop alongside Diljit to Kriti’s journalist. “We have seen physical, situational, and horror comedies, but this is a film where, in bits and pieces, we are making fun of ourselves. We haven’t written off a certain cop film or an actor though. For example, there are certain phrases like, ‘budget issues hai, nahin ho payega’ or ‘ek mandatory song toh hona hi chahiye,’ that only people in this profession will identify with. The spoof genre is hugely popular in the West and we are now attempting it here,” Varun explains.

This is his third film with Kriti after Dilwale and Raabta and the actor admits that he has found a close friend in her. “I am very fond of her and I call her ‘bro’ as I share that kind of an equation with her. As a person, she is phenomenal; I can share anything with her. If I ever have a problem or just need a suggestion, I can always ask her. It’s good to have people in your life around whom you can be yourself,” the actor smiles.

Varun goes on to say that among his upcoming films, Chhichhore is the closest to his heart. “I am called Sexa in it and I love it. Right from Choocha (Fukrey) to Sidhu (Dilwale) to Onida Singh (Arjun Patiala) and now this, it has been a journey with the quirkiest names. I play an IITian in the film and shooting for it brought back so many memories from my own time at a boarding school in Chandigarh, like sneaking out of our classes, sneaking into each other’s room and playing pranks,” he reminisces.

Incidentally, Khandaani Shafakhana and Arjun Patiala are set for a box-office face-off on July 26. “This is the first time something like this has happened to me,” he laughs, promptly moving on to the subject of the Sonakshi-starrer, which revolves around a familyrun sex clinic. “There are certain taboos that exist even today, like people holding back the girls from doing things, and there is a strong message in the film around that too. However, it’s not preachy. We have conveyed the message in an entertaining way,” he explains.

Lastly, any update on the third instalment of Fukrey? “We are all waiting for it to happen and have been requesting the makers to make it happen. I think the writing process is still on,” Varun signs off.

Himesh Mankad (MUMBAI MIRROR; June 26, 2019)

Mirror had earlier reported (June 24) that comedian-turned-actor Sunil Grover features as the narrator in the upcoming spoof-comedy, Arjun Patiala, which has Kriti Sanon, Diljit Dosanjh and Varun Sharma as leads. Now, we have learnt that the Rohit Jugraj directorial, which is a comic take on cop-dramas made in Bollywood, features four ‘stereotypical’ Hindi film songs for added effect. “There’s a mandatory item song, a sad song, a love song and a dance number,” revealed a source close to the development, adding that the first track from the Bhushan Kumar and Dinesh Vijan production is a dance song titled “Main Deewana Tera”.

It’s composed by Sachin-Jigar while Guru Randhawa has given playback. “We wanted to capture the Punjabi flavour with the track but in a stylish way. Guru Paaji had this hook tune, which worked well with our requirement,” Sachin informs, adding that the song was locked for the album within one hour. Ask him about the brief he received for the composition and he says, “The only brief was to make a peppy dance number for a stereotypical situation that arises in a film.”

And how did Kriti and Diljit react to it? “We were trying to jam with Diljit Paaji, but unfortunately his schedule was packed. When it eventually happened, it was a ball and I hope the fun vibe reflects in the outcome,” the composer says. The song is choreographed by Vijay Ganguly and picturised on Kriti and Diljit. “It has come out really well, and Diljit Paaji is killing it in the video,” Guru, who has co-composed and written it, adds.

As told to Himesh Mankad (MUMBAI MIRROR; June 24, 2019)

I had wanted to get into films ever since I watched Shah Rukh Khan in Baazigar. After finishing school, I went to a film institute in Chandigarh and started working in theatre. My first acting experience was performing in front of a live audience and that gave me a lot of confidence. It also helped as while acting in films, you are surrounded by a lot of unknown people who watch you perform.

For my role as Choocha in Fukrey, I followed a pattern by touching base with people who are like him in real life. I would stand outside schools and colleges in Delhi to observe the mannerisms of the kids. I never interacted with them, as I wanted to have an independent take on the character, however I did incorporate the nuances I had picked up.

Working with Govinda in FryDay was the most enriching experience. Here, the process wasn’t to prepare before shooting, but to learn while enacting a scene with him. He has a flair for comedies, and my only attempt was to match his energy. I explored a different zone of comedy with him.

My upcoming film Arjun Patiala is the most interesting character that I have found after Choocha. It’s a buddy cop film with Diljit Dosanjh and Kriti Sanon which will make you laugh and cry at the same time. As I play a Punjabi cop in it, I spoke to a lot of policemen residing in small villages. There is a different shade of comedy in this film, which I was able to imbibe only after interacting with real people. It is important to not lose touch with the ground reality as real-life experiences come in handy when playing rooted characters.

Whenever I get the chance, I hang out with my non-filmy friends and visit different locations in India to interact with people. This gives me a different perspective on life, which I can incorporate when acting in films. I feel fortunate to have got the chance to explore different characters and work with talented directors who have helped me add a different arc to all my characters.

The actor-comedian features as a narrator in Kriti Sanon, Diljit Dosanjh’s upcoming spoof-comedy
Himesh Mankad (MUMBAI MIRROR; June 24, 2019)

The Kriti Sanon, Diljit Dosanjh and Varun Sharma-starrer spoofcomedy, Arjun Patiala, features a 1980s-style voice that narrates unusual tales from the making of a typical Hindi cop film. Mirror has learnt that after several screen tests, the makers of the Bhushan Kumar and Dinesh Vijan production got comedian actor Sunil Grover on board as the narrator.

Director Rohit Jugraj says, “We tried a couple of voices, but something was missing. We wanted someone who could imitate the vibe of the retro radio days. One day, Sunil was at the same studio as us, and upon hearing us out, got the tone we needed spot on effortlessly.”

Sunil reveals that everything fell in place “by accident”. Ask him how he managed to meet the brief without rehearsal, and the actor simply says, “I could do it, so I did it,” noting that the film is “gutsy as it showcases the other side of the world”. Would he like to act in a similar film? “Right now, there is nothing on cards, but I would love to do such a film, depending on the script.”

Rohit hails Sunil’s inclusion as “cherry on top,” and explains, “His presence just added more quirk to the comedy. Like everyone else, even I am his fan. He is making his place in Bollywood with good roles in different genres.” The filmmaker goes on to add that for the longest time, people tried in vain to guess whose voice it was. “In fact, even our cast didn’t know till we told them,” he signs off with a laugh.

Stating that playing over-the-top character in Arjun Patiala is easier said than done, Kriti Sanon wants Bollywood to wake up to the genre's potential
Sonil Dedhia (MID-DAY; June 22, 2019)

That she has a knack for comedy has been evident in her past outings, Bareilly Ki Barfi (2017) and Luka Chuppi. But Kriti Sanon, only five years old in the industry, has shown that she has an appetite for risk by pushing her comic streak further and taking on a spoof film in Arjun Patiala.

Underlining how Bollywood needs to wake up to the genre and its potential, she says, "In the West, spoof has been used well in films like Deadpool (2016), where the characters are making fun of themselves. Personally, I love the genre. Arjun Patiala is a kind of comedy that hasn't been attempted in Bollywood before. It's an experiment in that regard. As an industry, we need to start taking risks to prosper and grow." The over-the-top histrionics of leading man Diljit Dosanjh, Varun Sharma and Sanon in the trailer haven't missed the audience's notice. One to have always kept her acts sublime, the actor says it took her a while to understand the exaggerated universe of Arjun Patiala.

"There are scenes where I had to ham. So, when I would look at the monitor [after delivering the shot], I'd think to myself, 'What am I doing?' But, at the same time, I believe that is way more difficult [than comedy] as we are cracking jokes on ourselves here. You have to convince yourself about what you are doing so that the audience believes it."

The Rohit Jugraj-directed vehicle marks her first collaboration with Dosanjh. She is counting on the laugh riot to showcase Dosanjh's comic timing to the Hindi cinema audience. "His comic side has been explored in Punjabi cinema, but has been untapped in Hindi cinema. He has played intense characters in Udta Punjab (2016) and Phillauri (2017). This film will be a treat for the audience because Diljit has a flair for comedy."