Showing posts with label Bad Newz. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Bad Newz. Show all posts
This is my first film with Nana Patekar; I’ve been thinking, ‘Why did I not work with him before?’-Vishal Bhardwaj
11:10 AM
Ace Bollywood filmmaker Vishal Bhardwaj says upcoming movie Arjun Ustara, besides reuniting him with Shahid Kapoor, has introduced him to Triptii Dimri’s talent
Priyanka Sharma (MID-DAY; March 11, 2025)
Filmmaker Vishal Bhardwaj's eyes light up at the mention of Arjun Ustara, the period drama he is currently shooting. While he had initially planned the movie with the late Irrfan Khan, Shahid Kapoor has now stepped into the role, marking the actor-director’s fourth collaboration after Kaminey (2009), Haider (2014) and Rangoon (2017).
“Both of us are excited to come back together. The shooting has been terrific,” says Bhardwaj. The director is equally impressed by Triptii Dimri in their maiden collaboration. “Triptii is so lovely, and such a fine actor. This is the first time I’m working with Nana Patekar and I’ve been thinking, ‘Why did I not work with him before?’”
Bhardwaj is also the composer on his films. He notes a renewed interest in the value that music brings to a movie today, saying, “There was a time when a film became a hit with a hit song. Then no matter how hit the songs were, a film didn’t work if it wasn’t good. Now, again, a film will work if the songs are a hit. Tauba Tauba [Bad Newz , 2024] is cited as an example where the song and step worked, so the film worked. I don’t know if that’s true.”
Top 25 films of 2024; only 5 hits in the year and 6 films crossed the 100 cr mark
8:38 AM
Box Office India Trade Network
The box office results in 2024 were pretty much a disaster as the the top 25 films accumulated around 2250 crore nett when the same was done in 2019 by just 12 films. Also, in 2019, there was no mega grosser like STREE 2 which is contributing 25% of the collections of the top twenty five films.
It is a dire strait of affairs and at the moment, there does not seem a way out with satellite and digital markets crashing. On top of it, the films are generally not getting the desired box office results which is resulting in the production sector practically at a stand still. Only the box office can turnaround the satellite and digital markets on which the industry is so dependent. Even when a film does well, it does not help the scenario much as generally films are doing far below what is expected of them.
There were four films to get to the 200 crore nett mark but for the likes of SINGHAM AGAIN and FIGHTER, these are mediocre totals as these two were the biggest original Hindi films of the year. SINGHAM AGAIN got there mainly due to Diwali in Mumbai circuit and FIGHTER got some decent numbers in South but faced mass rejection in Hindi circuits. Today, 200 crore is just around 1.25 crore footfalls which is not much of an ask from the bigger films.
The stand outs were STREE 2 and MUNJYA with support from BHOOL BHULAIYAA 3, SHAITAAN and ARTICLE 370. Hence, there were just five HITS in the whole year from the Hindi film industry and this does not look like getting better anytime soon.
The top twenty five films of 2024 are as follows.
1. Stree 2 - 5,79,61,00,000
2. Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 - 2,50,71,00,000
3. Singham Again - 2,38,46,00,000
4. Fighter - 2,00,01,00,000
5. Shaitaan - 1,48,54,00,000
6. Munjya - 1,00,07,50,000
7. Teri Baaton Mein Aisa Uljha Jiya - 82,59,00,000
8. Crew - 81,57,00,000
9. Article 370 - 77,08,00,000
10. Bad Newz - 63,54,50,000
11. Chandu Champion - 60,78,00,000
12. Bade Miyan Chotte Miyan - 58,74,50,000
13. Maidaan - 51,16,00,000
14. Srikanth - 46,03,50,000
15. Khel Khel Mein - 40,80,00,000
16. Vicky Vidya Ka Woh Wala Video - 39,49,75,000
17. Madgaon Express - 35,72,50,000
18. Baby John - 34,86,50,000
19. Mr & Mrs Mahi - 34,52,00,000
20. Yodha - 32,20,00,000
21. The Sabarmati Report - 32,14,00,000
22. Jigra - 31,12,00,000
23. Swatantrya Veer Savarkar - 24,49,00,000
24. Kill - 23,68,50,000
25. Sarfira - 23,55,50,000
I still do selective concerts, where I get to shake a leg to Tauba Tauba-Asha Bhosle
10:24 AM
On Saraswati Puja today, the legendary Asha Bhosle talks to Soumya Vajpayee and expresses gratitude to the deity for blessing her eight-decade-long career
Soumya Vajpayee (HINDUSTAN TIMES; February 2, 2025)
Her decorated music career of eight decades needs no introduction. On Saraswati Puja today, music icon Asha Bhosle talks about celebrating the day, being revered by the industry, and her motivation to keep going even at 91.
“I began my music career when I was 10. So, I have completed 81 years performing my craft,” she shares. Her primary motivation is to “live in the moment and give it my best shot”.
The Padma Vibhushan recipient elaborates, “I don’t look back, nor do I look into the future. I hold the Guinness World Record for the most number of single studio recordings. But even after recording more than 11,000 songs, I still get cold feet when I step behind the mic because I believe that if I mess up this song, I won’t get any more offers.”
People across the world often refer to her as Maa Saraswati Asha Taai. How does she feel about such reverence? “I am an extremely shy person and my public persona is different from my private self. When I receive praise, I tend to stare at the floor because I don’t know how to react,” she admits, adding, “But all I can say is that whatever I am today is because of the blessings of Maa Saraswati. Without her blessings, I am nothing.”
Paying obeisance to her deity, the legend says, “I pray to Maa Saraswati everyday and therefore I don’t consider just one day to be her day. I feel blessed that Maa Saraswati has smiled and not frowned at my feeble attempts in the arts. I feel my creative 91 years on Earth have only been possible because of her benevolent smile.”
In December last year, Asha Bhosle surprised everyone when videos of her singing and grooving to the hit number Tauba Tauba (Bad Newz; 2024) went viral from a concert in Dubai.
Sharing how that idea came about, the veteran says, “If anything, I shall be remembered as a person who did the unexpected. I can’t conform to a set style of performance. I love to stretch and sometimes even break boundaries. Maybe, this character of mine has made me attempt varied musical styles that purists frowned down upon. Perhaps, that’s why I am referred to as a versatile artiste.”
So, does that mean she follows the music of today, which is also high on genres like hip-hop and Punjabi party bangers? “I listen to anything that is good to my ears. I don’t differentiate between old music and new music. There’s only good music and bad music. Having said that, what may be good for my ears could be bad for yours. It’s very subjective,” she says, adding, “When I was growing up, there was a lot of forgettable music too, and then there was a ton of classic music that has survived time.”
Meanwhile, ask what a day in the life of Asha Bhosle is like these days, and the 91-year-old says, “My life is less strenuous now. I am not rushing from one studio to another. I have more leisure time that I spend with my grandchildren and great-grandchildren. When my kids were growing up, I didn’t have the liberty to spend much time with them, but now that I have the time, I’m trying to undo my mistakes. Of course, I still record songs (she came up with a single, titled Saaiyan Bina, recently) and do selective concerts, where I get to shake a leg to Tauba Tauba (laughs).”
Vicky Kaushal, Karan Aujla react to Asha Bhosle’s Tauba Tauba act in Dubai
8:48 AM
HINDUSTAN TIMES (December 31, 2024)
Legendary singer Asha Bhosle, 91, proved that age is just a number as she lit up the stage in Dubai recently. Performing her rendition of Tauba Tauba from Anand Tiwari’s Bad Newz, originally sung by Karan Aujla, Bhosle not only mesmerised the audience with her iconic voice but also recreated the song’s signature hook step, popularised by actor Vicky Kaushal.
Bhosle’s energy and charisma captivated the crowd, and videos of her performance quickly went viral on Monday morning. Fans and celebrities alike couldn’t stop gushing. One Instagram user exclaimed, “Asha Bhosle not only singing Tauba Tauba, but also doing the dance step at her Dubai show was not on my 2024 bingo card! Legendary!”
Aujla, deeply moved by the video, expressed his gratitude on Instagram, calling Asha a “living Goddess of music” and sharing how surreal it felt to have his song performed by such an icon. Vicky Kaushal also praised the icon on social media, calling her “an absolute legend”.
Bad Newz is Vicky Kaushal’s biggest film, and got him his biggest weekend-Anand Tiwari
9:54 AM
Returning with Bandish Bandits 2, director Anand Tiwari discusses how exploring a love triangle of the mature characters rather than the young leads offered a novel writing opportunity
Priyanka Sharma (MID-DAY; December 13, 2024)
Crafting a world filled with love and music takes time. That probably explains why creator-director Anand Tiwari took four years to return with the second season of Bandish Bandits. Tell him that the gap between the two instalments of the Prime Video series was quite long, and he says it was intentional. “We took exactly the time that we took to make season one. We wanted to do it with as much responsibility as we did in season one. Bandish is a unique [narrative] because the story is of musicians, by musicians and for musicians. It gets consumed by everyone because we relate to the inter-personal dynamics, their dysfunctionality, loss, love and insecurities,” he begins.
Starring Ritwik Bhowmik and Shreya Chaudhry, Bandish Bandits became a hit upon its première in 2020 as it told the story of two rising musicians and their love despite their differing ideologies. While the romance between the two leads formed the crux of the first season, Tiwari says in the second edition, he has focused on the quiet love triangle playing out between Atul Kulkarni, Rajesh Tailang and Sheeba Chaddha’s characters.
“We keenly saw how the audience responded to their love story [in the first edition] because we wanted to take that journey forward. It’s a mature telling of love that is very much alive on three sides. Radhe [Bhowmik] and Tamanna [Chaudhry] are [grappling with] what love means to them, and whether their love is more important than their love for their art. For the mature characters, these conversations are out of the window, and love means very different things to them. So, as writers, it was a great opportunity.”
It has been a significant year for Tiwari, who directed his first big-screen offering, Bad Newz. The Vicky Kaushal and Triptii Dimri-starrer failed to make waves at the box office, but the director is happy with its performance.
“It did very well at the Indian box office. Internationally, it is Vicky’s biggest film, and got him his biggest weekend. So, I am full of gratitude. As producers, we also understood what box office meant because until then we had only worked on OTT. It was a big litmus test. We came in wanting to do cinema. I am a millennial. I didn’t have OTT [growing up]. So, cinema was the language of expression for me,” he smiles.
The romantic comedy has boosted Tiwari’s confidence to tell more stories for the big screen. The director says, “Bad Newz has given us such a nitro boost that we’ll keep making movies. We are developing something for the big screen.”
Tauba Tauba was a game changer-Karan Aujla
4:34 AM
Soumya Vajpayee (HINDUSTAN TIMES; November 6, 2024)
With hit numbers like Tauba Tauba (Bad Newz), Antidote, and Admirin’ You, Karan Aujla is set to perform his maiden multi-city tour in India next month. The singer-rapper admits that the success of Tauba Tauba made him a household name.
“It was a game changer for me. The love it got was beyond anything I expected. Seeing fans from all over vibing to the song, sharing it, and making it their own was surreal. It pushed me to another level, both as an artiste and in terms of reaching new audiences,” he tells us, exclusively.
The 27-year-old also credits actor Vicky Kaushal for making the song so big: “Vicky Kaushal is a brother, and he understands Punjabi music well. His charisma and energy brought the song to life.”
While most of his Punjabi singles are chart-toppers currently, he says his journey to stardom has been a slow, difficult one. In an exclusive chat with us, he shares, “Success hasn’t been easy. The field I’m attached to is all about the flex and the glam, but there’s a lot of work behind the scenes that no one really knows about. When I moved to Canada, I had to build everything from scratch. Music was always my passion, but I had to hustle hard to make it work. I worked odd jobs to support myself while writing songs on the side. I faced a lot of rejection, but I always kept pushing and believing. So, while it might seem like things blew up fast, the reality is that it’s been years of grinding and constantly evolving.”
Fenil's Bollywood Talk # 840
4:08 PM
WILL DEADPOOL & WOLVERINE BE THE BIGGEST HOLLYWOOD HIT OF THE YEAR?
As predicted, last week’s romcom Bad Newz had a healthy opening of Rs. 8.25 crores thanks to an amusing subject and hit trailer and songs. The word of mouth, however, was decent and not highly positive. Its weekend collections were Rs. 29.75 crores and could have crossed the Rs. 30 crore work with better reports. On Monday, the makers implemented the controversial Buy One Get One (BOGO) ticket scheme. It happened late in the day and the earnings that day were Rs. 3.50 crores. The effect of the offer was seen the next day when the film collected as much on Tuesday as on Monday. The first week’s collections will be around Rs. 43 crores and how much it drops after the release of Deadpool & Wolverine remains to be seen.
This is because Deadpool & Wolverine is all set for a smashing opening. The excitement for the film is tremendous as it brings two popular and drastically opposite superheroes for the first time. The trailers have added to the hype. The advance booking in India opened last week to a fantastic response. The ticket rates are high and yet, audiences are booking in hordes.
As per the trends, Deadpool & Wolverine is all set to break the opening day record of Oppenheimer, that is, Rs. 14.50 crores and also that of Thor: Love And Thunder, which is Rs. 18.48 crores. It won’t be able to go past the opening day number of Doctor Strange In The Multiverse Of Madness – Rs. 28.74 crores. Nevertheless, the opening of Deadpool & Wolverine will be Rs. 20 crore plus. It’ll all depend on the bookings today and the current booking tomorrow to understand what the opening would be. There’s a small chance that it can cross the Rs. 25 crore mark but it’s too early to predict.
As predicted, last week’s romcom Bad Newz had a healthy opening of Rs. 8.25 crores thanks to an amusing subject and hit trailer and songs. The word of mouth, however, was decent and not highly positive. Its weekend collections were Rs. 29.75 crores and could have crossed the Rs. 30 crore work with better reports. On Monday, the makers implemented the controversial Buy One Get One (BOGO) ticket scheme. It happened late in the day and the earnings that day were Rs. 3.50 crores. The effect of the offer was seen the next day when the film collected as much on Tuesday as on Monday. The first week’s collections will be around Rs. 43 crores and how much it drops after the release of Deadpool & Wolverine remains to be seen.
This is because Deadpool & Wolverine is all set for a smashing opening. The excitement for the film is tremendous as it brings two popular and drastically opposite superheroes for the first time. The trailers have added to the hype. The advance booking in India opened last week to a fantastic response. The ticket rates are high and yet, audiences are booking in hordes.
As per the trends, Deadpool & Wolverine is all set to break the opening day record of Oppenheimer, that is, Rs. 14.50 crores and also that of Thor: Love And Thunder, which is Rs. 18.48 crores. It won’t be able to go past the opening day number of Doctor Strange In The Multiverse Of Madness – Rs. 28.74 crores. Nevertheless, the opening of Deadpool & Wolverine will be Rs. 20 crore plus. It’ll all depend on the bookings today and the current booking tomorrow to understand what the opening would be. There’s a small chance that it can cross the Rs. 25 crore mark but it’s too early to predict.
I find bhasad very entertaining, says Bad Newz director Anand Tiwari
8:23 AM
Making his theatrical debut with Bad Newz, director Tiwari on how his comedy is influenced by David Dhawan’s brand of cinema; credits KJo for scaling up the film
Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; July 20, 2024)
Anand Tiwari admits that in the days leading to a film’s release, he usually becomes a ball of nerves. “I’ve done everything I could, and now it belongs to the audience,” he says of Bad Newz, starring Vicky Kaushal, Triptii Dimri and Ammy Virk. For his first big-screen offering, the director has created a comedy about heteropaternal superfecundation—it revolves around a woman, who becomes pregnant with twins fathered by two different men.
The story’s novelty drew him, he says. “I loved the draft that Ishita [Moitra, writer] wrote. First, my business partner, Amritpal [Singh Bindra], and Sumeet Vyas tried to [expand on] it, then we got Tarun Dudeja [writer].”
In the past, Tiwari directed OTT offerings, including Love Per Square Foot (2018), Bandish Bandits (2020) and Maja Ma (2022). Bad Newz, with its laugh-out-loud moments, has a different tonality from his past creations.
“I find bhasad very entertaining,” he laughs. “We grew up on David Dhawan films. Messed-up relationships give Bad Newz a tonality that goes beyond the central topic. There are many more layers in it. I come from a big family; I have rejoiced in my family’s bhasad. So, I enjoy the nuances of family dynamics. As a Matunga boy, I grew up on comedies that played at Gaiety-Galaxy. It helps me be the storyteller I am. Somehow, we make fewer comedies now.”
Reuniting with long-time friend Kaushal after Love Per Square Foot must have been reassuring. But where does friendship end and work begin?
“On set, Vicky is my actor, and when we call it a wrap, we are friends. I have worked all my life with close friends. I never take the fact that I am Vicky’s friend for granted. He needs space and time, and as his collaborator, I give him that.”
Before we end the chat, we have to talk about the hit song, Tauba Tauba that has Kaushal displaying some smooth moves. “I’m glad it’s a rage. But everything that’s catchy about the film comes from Karan Johar. He has given me the biggest theatrical debut I could’ve imagined. Getting Karan Aujla [singer] was his call; all the actors came because of him. It’s gracious of Ishita and Karan to let us fly with a script that she wrote. The film should be liked foremost, but I also want it to do well at the box office. When someone trusts you this whole-heartedly, you want to do the best you can.”
(Crisp) Movie Review: BAD NEWZ by FENIL SETA
11:30 AM
Bad Newz rests on a hilarious premise and that's where the makers win half the battle. The tone of the film is light and the various funny moments keep the interest going. The reference to Bollywood films and songs is hilarious in some scenes. The finale is touching. Sadly, a few jokes don't land well. In the second half, one gets irritated by the antics of the two male protagonists. Viewers might get put off by them and that should never happen with the heroes. The performance of Ammy Virk and Triptii Dimri are also not the best and they could have done better. But both shine in the emotional scenes. Vicky Kaushal, on the other hand, is on another level with his comic timing. He looks like a dream in the song 'Tauba Tauba'. Thankfully, it is played on the full screen and the end credits roll only after the song ends. Hence, his hotness can be enjoyed in all its glory without any distraction! Sheeba Chadha, Faisal Rashid (Dr Baweja), Neha Dhupia and others are fine. The detective character is interesting but not utilized properly. All in all, Bad Newz is a nice timepass entertainer.
My rating - *** out of 5!
My rating - *** out of 5!
Fenil's Bollywood Talk # 839
10:54 AM
WILL BAD NEWZ BRING GOOD NEWS AT THE BOX OFFICE?
Last week’s big release, Sarfira, performed poorly at the box office. It was never expected to do big numbers on the first day. Yet, one hoped and prayed that it’ll open at around Rs. 5 crores. Sadly, the film opened at half the expected number – Rs. 2.50 crores. It collected Rs. 4 crores and Rs. 4.50 crores on Saturday and Sunday. On Monday, it dropped to Rs. 1.40 crores and had a slight jump on Tuesday when it earned Rs. 1.60 crores. This is because of the Muharram holiday on Wednesday. It’ll drop down again on Thursday and hence, the first week collections will be in the range of Rs. 17.30 crores. It will have reduced showcasing in the second week due to the release of Bad Newz. As a result, it’ll now struggle to even cross the Rs. 25 crores mark.
As for Bad Newz, the film seems to be safe. It stars Vicky Kaushal, Triptii Dimri and Ammy Virk. As the name suggests, it is on the lines of Good Newz and rests on a bizarre pregnancy-related plot. This time, a woman is pregnant with twins belonging to two different men.
Bad Newz was shot way back in 2022 and was scheduled to be released on August 25 last year. The film got pushed back by nearly 11 months. This postponement has worked in the film’s favour. This is because Animal, which was released in December, made Triptii Dimri a 'national crush'. One of the reasons the film has more hype today is due to her presence. Last year, before Animal’s release, the makers wouldn’t have had this advantage.
Besides the exciting subject, the trailer has also worked with the audience. The songs, too, have become chartbusters, especially ‘Tauba Tauba’. The song ‘Jaanam’, featuring Vicky Kaushal and Triptii Dimri, is too hot and needless to say, it has grabbed attention. At the same time, it might keep a section of the family audience away, at least on the first day.
Bad Newz is expected to open in the range of Rs. 7 crores with a good chance that it’ll hit the Rs. 8 crore mark. If that happens and if it sees a good jump in the next two days, it can have weekend collections of Rs. 30 crores plus. In fact, if word of mouth is positive, it can hang around in cinemas until Independence Day and end up with a healthy lifetime.
The other release of the week is Twisters. The earlier part, Twister, has a good following. The standalone sequel was released today, on a Thursday. It might start slow but it can grow if reports are positive.
Last week’s big release, Sarfira, performed poorly at the box office. It was never expected to do big numbers on the first day. Yet, one hoped and prayed that it’ll open at around Rs. 5 crores. Sadly, the film opened at half the expected number – Rs. 2.50 crores. It collected Rs. 4 crores and Rs. 4.50 crores on Saturday and Sunday. On Monday, it dropped to Rs. 1.40 crores and had a slight jump on Tuesday when it earned Rs. 1.60 crores. This is because of the Muharram holiday on Wednesday. It’ll drop down again on Thursday and hence, the first week collections will be in the range of Rs. 17.30 crores. It will have reduced showcasing in the second week due to the release of Bad Newz. As a result, it’ll now struggle to even cross the Rs. 25 crores mark.
As for Bad Newz, the film seems to be safe. It stars Vicky Kaushal, Triptii Dimri and Ammy Virk. As the name suggests, it is on the lines of Good Newz and rests on a bizarre pregnancy-related plot. This time, a woman is pregnant with twins belonging to two different men.
Bad Newz was shot way back in 2022 and was scheduled to be released on August 25 last year. The film got pushed back by nearly 11 months. This postponement has worked in the film’s favour. This is because Animal, which was released in December, made Triptii Dimri a 'national crush'. One of the reasons the film has more hype today is due to her presence. Last year, before Animal’s release, the makers wouldn’t have had this advantage.
Besides the exciting subject, the trailer has also worked with the audience. The songs, too, have become chartbusters, especially ‘Tauba Tauba’. The song ‘Jaanam’, featuring Vicky Kaushal and Triptii Dimri, is too hot and needless to say, it has grabbed attention. At the same time, it might keep a section of the family audience away, at least on the first day.
Bad Newz is expected to open in the range of Rs. 7 crores with a good chance that it’ll hit the Rs. 8 crore mark. If that happens and if it sees a good jump in the next two days, it can have weekend collections of Rs. 30 crores plus. In fact, if word of mouth is positive, it can hang around in cinemas until Independence Day and end up with a healthy lifetime.
The other release of the week is Twisters. The earlier part, Twister, has a good following. The standalone sequel was released today, on a Thursday. It might start slow but it can grow if reports are positive.
After Tauba Tauba rage, choreographers say "We want due credit for a film’s viral moves"
9:05 AM
Rishabh Suri (HINDUSTAN TIMES; July 15, 2024)
Vicky Kaushal’s slick dance moves in Tauba Tauba from Bad Newz have taken the internet by storm. However, not everyone is feeling too groovy.
The song’s choreographer, Bosco Martis, in a recent interview with India Today, said, “Throughout the internet, most of the attention is diverted towards Vicky... His dancing is possible because of a man who made it happen. Don’t get any wrong ideas here. I am happy about the song’s success, but I shamelessly want to make sure that choreographers, not just me, need to be celebrated, because they bring in that vibe.”
On speaking to the dance fraternity, most of them are inclined to agree. Here’s what they said:
KRUTI MAHESH (Ghoomar from Padmaavat; 2018)
I agree with Bosco; everyone needs to get their due. When these songs are played at events, you start doing the film’s step; that’s the recall value of the song. An actor is as important as the director and the crew. While the actor is celebrated, everyone else needs to be recognized, too.
RAHUL SHETTY (Muqaabla from Street Dancer 3D; 2020)
As a child, I idolized choreographers and looked for their name [in the film’s credit]. Today, in most cases, the choreographer isn’t even tagged on a song’s Insta posts. People don’t know ki yeh gaana kisne kiya hai.
ASHLEY LOBO (Hawaa Hawaa from Rockstar; 2011)
I don’t agree or disagree with Bosco’s statement. It’s about how you feel about the role you played [in making a film]. Art is subjective to an artist and it is all about their perspective.
MUDASSAR KHAN (Humka Peeni Hai from Dabangg; 2010)
If there is no hook step in a song, would anyone like it? Not only the song’s steps, a choreographer looks into camera movement, light, direction and everything in between. We plan one song for days. It’s our baby and we raise it.
More than us, Vicky Kaushal laughed at Katrina Kaif joke-Tarun Dudeja
8:47 AM
Admitting that comedy is tough to write, Bad Newz writer Dudeja on weaving in the meta Katrina joke with Kaushal and how his actors elevated the material
Priyanka Sharma (MID-DAY; July 5, 2024)
There is always a second time. Nine months ago, Tarun Dudeja’s debut directorial venture, Dhak Dhak, had a muted release. Today, in stark contrast stands his next, Bad Newz—starring Vicky Kaushal, Triptii Dimri and Ammy Virk—which has generated much buzz before its theatrical release.
“Dhak Dhak didn’t have a trailer launch event. At Bad Newz’s trailer launch, I sat in the first row. Karan Johar [producer] and Vicky took my name. The experience was the opposite of Dhak Dhak,” says Dudeja, who serves as the screenplay and dialogue writer.
That’s not where the differences end. The two movies are also poles apart in genre and tonality. While Dhak Dhak told the story of four women coming into their own over a road trip, Anand Tiwari’s directorial venture is a comedy centred on the rare medical condition, heteropaternal superfecundation, where a woman gets pregnant with twins from different men.
Dudeja remembers being introduced to the story, penned by Ishita Moitra, three years ago. “There was a newspaper article about this case in China. She, along with Somen Mishra, who is a creative producer at Dharma Productions, built a world around it. Anand and I took that and kept experimenting with it. The idea was to bring a flavour of the ’90s comedies, while keeping it realistic and [rooted in] emotions so that it feels logical. We all love ’90s comedies, but today’s audience is evolved. So, we had to maintain a balance [between comedy and emotions]. Writing a comedy is always tough, especially cracking dialogues. But Anand put in a lot of work with me to get the punches out. We were also aware that emotional scenes and conflicts needed to be written sensitively.”
Translating humour from paper to screen is a tough job. Not if you have Kaushal, Dimri and Virk as the lead actors, says the writer. “All three have terrific comic timing, and elevated our lines.” Which brings us to the most hilarious sequence in the trailer—in a meta joke, Kaushal tells a character he will have to pass over his dead body to rip apart a poster of Katrina Kaif, his actor-wife.
Dudeja laughingly says, “It was there in the script. We wanted some Vicky jokes. More than us, he laughed at this joke. He also performed the scene with utmost conviction. His dialogue delivery makes it funnier than it is.”
Ananya Panday plays a movie star in Bad Newz; actor shot her cameo last month
8:38 AM
Priyanka Sharma (MID-DAY; May 8, 2024)
We’ve got some good news about Bad Newz. Only recently, mid-day reported that the Vicky Kaushal, Triptii Dimri and Ammy Virk-led comedy revolves around the medical condition, heteropaternal superfecundation wherein a woman gets pregnant with twins from different men (Yours, mine and ours, April 27). Now, we’ve heard that Ananya Panday makes a special appearance in Anand Tiwari’s directorial venture.
The actor was spotted with leading lady Dimri at Karan Johar’s office mid-April, sparking rumours of a collaboration. It’s easy to connect the dots now as sources tell us that Panday shot her cameo on April 19. So, what does she play in the comedy? A movie star, as it turns out.
“Ananya, who plays a popular film star, has a fun character. Her track is related to Triptii, who essays the role of a chef. The shoot took place last month at a Juhu five-star, where the sequence saw Ananya’s character arriving at the hotel and being immediately thronged by the paparazzi and fans. Later, she shot another scene with Triptii,” reveals a source. The actor has a portion remaining that will be filmed on May 13.
This is not the first time Panday, who was launched by Johar in Student Of The Year 2 (2019), is making a special appearance in his production. Last year, she was seen in the opening song, Heartthrob, in Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani. Her collaboration with her mentor will continue this year as she makes her web series debut with Call Me Bae, which will see her as a rich fashionista whose life goes down the dumps.
She also has Shankara alongside Akshay Kumar, which is her first project based on real-life events. The source adds, “The legal drama is inspired by C Sankaran Nair’s exposé of General Michael O’Dwyer’s involvement in the 1919 Jallianwala Bagh massacre. While Akshay portrays the lawyer, Ananya plays his mentee.”
Triptii Dimri-Vicky Kaushal starrer Bad Newz explores rare medical condition
8:13 AM
After back-to-back intense roles, Animal star Triptii veers to comedy with Bad Newz; sources say film explores medical condition where she is pregnant with twins from two men
Priyanka Sharma (MID-DAY; April 27, 2024)
No role is too small. Who knows that better than Triptii Dimri, her brief part in Animal (2023) having changed her career overnight? The blockbuster’s success brought her many things, including a wider audience and the ‘national crush’ label. Last month, Karan Johar announced his next production, Bad Newz, starring Vicky Kaushal, Dimri and Ammy Virk. While the posters released in March showed Dimri sporting a baby bump, mid-day has now learnt that director Anand Tiwari’s comedy revolves around the rare medical condition, heteropaternal superfecundation.
A source tells us that like director Raj Mehta’s Good Newwz (2019), its spiritual sequel too has pregnancy as the central conflict. “While Good Newwz was about accidental sperm swap, Bad Newz is based on a medical condition called heteropaternal superfecundation, where a woman gets pregnant with twins from different men. The film is based on a true incident,” the source says.
In the comedy, the actor will be seen romancing both Kaushal and Virk. More importantly, her character marks a stark departure from her submissive role in Animal. It’s also her first light-hearted part after back-to-back intense portrayals of an ill-fated lover in Laila Majnu (2018), a woman seeking revenge in Bulbbul (2020), and a singer battling depression in Qala (2022).
“Triptii will be seen as a mainstream leading lady for the first time. Like Dharma heroines, she plays today’s woman, an ambitious chef, who can go to any lengths to further her career,” adds the source.
It’s evident that Dimri is consciously steering towards mainstream cinema this year. The actor has the horror comedy, Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 with Kartik Aaryan, and Vicky Vidya Ka Woh Wala Video opposite Rajkummar Rao in the pipeline. That, however, doesn’t mean she has bid adieu to intense stories. The actor, along with Siddhant Chaturvedi, will front Johar’s yet-untitled romantic drama, helmed by Shazia Iqbal. From what we hear, it’s a profound love story set against the backdrop of the caste system.
“The film is a remake of the Tamil hit, Pariyerum Perumal [2018]. It is currently in post-production. The makers are contemplating titling it Dhadak 2, as a spiritual sequel to Janhvi Kapoor-Ishaan Khatter’s Dhadak [2018], which explored class difference.”
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