Director H E Amjad Khan, on the making of the Malala biopic and why it took so long to bring it to Indian cinemas
Nikhil Nihal (MUMBAI MIRROR; January 11, 2020)

On January 25 last year, H E Amjad Khan’s Gul Makai, the biopic on Nobel Laureate Malala Yousafzai, was screened at a United Nations event in London for 450 dignitaries. Now, the film is ready for a theatrical release in India. Ask the filmmaker why it took so long, and he explains, “Whenever I thought of releasing it, India-Pakistan relations got worse. The Pulwama attack, Balakot airstrike and (Lok Sabha) elections happened last year. Eventually, I realised things weren’t going to change anytime soon, so there was no point delaying the film.”

Gul Makai marks the big screen debut of TV actress Reem Shaikh, who plays Malala in the movie. Khan informs that as part of prep, he asked the cast to read up all the information available in the public domain. “That way, they’d get an idea of their characters. For Reem, I conducted a 40-day workshop to get the dressing sense, body language, mannerisms and dialect right,” he informs.

Khan states that his intention for making the film was to educate Indian parents who are not very supportive of daughters. “I wanted to highlight the revolutionary change and remarkable impact a girl can bring about,’ he says, going on to heap praise on Atul Kulkarni, who essays Malala’s father Ziauddin Yousafzai. “I cast him as he effortlessly slipped into the character. The only tough part was getting the Pashto accent right. Divya (Dutta, who plays Malala’s mother Toor Pekai) is a marvelous actor who doesn’t need glycerin. She also sang a song in the Pashto language,” he concludes.

The actor says that playing grey characters has helped him explore a cool side to himself adding some fun to his otherwise dull life
Titas Chowdhury (HINDUSTAN TIMES; December 4, 2019)

Vivek Oberoi marked his foray into the digital space two years ago. Though he shot to fame as a romantic hero in Saathiya (2002), he went on to give some memorable performances as an antagonist in films such as Company (2002), Shootout At Lokhandwala (2007) and Krrish 3 (2013), and he decided to explore it further with his web show. “I’m damn boring in real life. When I play grey and dark characters, I get to be someone interesting for a change. I get to go out and do all the cool and mad stuff. When I was narrated the script of the first season of my web show Inside Edge, Ritesh (Sidhwani; producer) thought that I would have some hesitation because my character’s quite dark. My only concern was, it wasn’t black enough (laughs),” he says.

He says that in the second season of the web show, his character will be taken a notch higher. The actor explains, “He plays up even when he’s speaking to someone. He makes use of a lot of unnatural pauses, makes people feel uncomfortable and imposes his power on them. He’s like a master puppeteer.”

Vivek says that the web has empowered him to push the envelope for himself. “Despite a lot of trepidation and people being apprehensive about working in digital medium, we’re now able to break out of boxes and do roles that would otherwise be impossible to do on a traditional platform. I’ve done television and cinema across seven languages, but I’ve never been in a situation where I could do all the stuff that my web show has empowered me to do,” he elaborates.

Ask him about his journey in the world of showbiz and he quips, “I’m so busy looking forward that I’ve no time to look back. I imagine that I would reflect back on my career and life when I’m sitting on a rocking chair — all grey and done. I’m currently exuberant with all the stuff that’s going on.”

Hinting at his upcoming projects, he shares, “My production house has taken off and I’ll be producing a project on the Balakot air strike. It’ll have a multi-platform release and will be a multilingual project. It’s a massive undertaking and it’s supremely exciting for me. A collaboration with an OTT giant is also on the tender hooks.”

Rachana Dubey (BOMBAY TIMES; August 23, 2019)

Vivek Anand Oberoi is all set to back a movie that salutes the valour of the Indian Air Force (IAF). The movie will be based on the Balakot airstrike, the capture and the subsequent release of Indian Air Force’s Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman — an aftermath of the Pulwama terror attack that took place in February this year. The movie will be shot in Jammu and Kashmir, Delhi and Agra, and will go on floors later this year.

Vivek has received the required permission to make the film. Plans are afoot to make it a trilingual — in Hindi, Tamil and Telugu — with established actors from these industries playing pivotal roles, including that of Abhinandan and Squadron Leader Minty Agarwal, who guided the IAF’s interception mission to stop Pakistan’s fighter jets. While Abhinandan has been awarded the Vir Chakra, Minty has become the first woman to receive the Yudh Seva Medal.

Talking about the project, Vivek told us, “As a proud Indian, a patriot and a member of the film fraternity, it’s my duty to highlight what our armed forces are truly capable of. This film is a powerful tool to underline the achievements of brave officers like Abhinandan, who went behind enemy lines and did what makes every Indian proud of them. The Balakot airstrike was one of the most well-planned attacks by the IAF. I followed everything in the news, right from the attack in Pulwama to the airstrike. There was a lot that was speculated and spoken about back then; this film will put all of that to rest, once and for all. I thank the IAF for trusting us with this story and we hope to do justice to it.”

Mahaveer Jain, who arranged for the meetings, has made a short film on Narendra Modi and is a producer on film about Balakot air strike
Avinash Lohana (MUMBAI MIRROR; April 1, 2019)

Mahaveer Jain has been in the news recently for arranging several meetings between B-town biggies and prime minister Narendra Modi to discuss the various challenges faced by the film industry. The first of these interactions took place last year in October in the Capital at which Aamir Khan, Siddharth Roy Kapur, Aanand L Rai and Ritesh Sidhwani among others were present. In January he once again flew down with Ranbir Kapoor, Alia Bhatt, Varun Dhawan, Sidharth Malhotra, Ayushmann Khurrana, Karan Johar, Ekta Kapoor, Vicky Kaushal, Bhumi Pednekar, Ashwiny Iyer Tiwari, Rajkummar Rao and Rohit Shetty to meet the PM. The filmmaker reveals there are more to come.

“This is the first time that the government and the film industry have come so close and on top of our agenda is building more cinema halls. China has over 50,000 screens and our PM wants the two and three-tier cities to have many more screens, a vision our film industry shares,” informs Mahaveer.

He comes from a business family which primarily deals in textiles. A passion for cinema, along with entertaining and educative Aamir Khan-starrers like Taare Zameen Par and 3 Idiots brought him into show business. “I have been lucky to meet good people along the way,” smiles Mahaveer who turned producer in 2011 with Mangesh Hadawale’s children’s film Dekh Indian Circus. It bagged four National Awards. Last year, he made a short film based on the early life of Modi, Chalo Jeete Hain, also directed by Mangesh. He is now collaborating with Sanjay Leela Bhansali, Bhushan Kumar and Abhishek Kapoor to produce a film on the recent Balakot air strikes which will be directed by Abhishek.

“Our film is a tribute to our brave soldiers who risk their lives for the country, it’s a story very close to our hearts. Abhishek and his team are presently working on the script after which we would begin casting. Presenting it right is a huge responsibility,” he admits.

He is producing another film with SLB which will launch the latter’s niece Sharmin, and Jaaved Jaaferi’s son Meezaan and is once again being directed by Mangesh. “Sanjay ji is a little reserved but I’ve got to know him closely over the years and realised that he has a heart of gold. I’m hoping to collaborate with him again,” says Mahaveer who is also backing a slice-of-life entertainer. “We have finished 70-80 per cent of its shoot. Sonakshi’s (Sinha) character is trying to realise her dreams with Varun Sharma as her brother. He will remind you of Choocha from Fukrey. We are also exploring the idea of getting Sonakshi and Badshah to sing a song,” Mahaveer signs off. 

Sanjay Leela Bhansali on a 20-year reunion with Salman Khan, first impression of Alia Bhatt, and how his next is a departure from his past ‘dark, intense’ films
Roshmila Bhattacharya (MUMBAI MIRROR; March 20, 2019)

Sanjay Leela Bhansali is not in the mood for an interview. “What’s there to talk about?” he argues, a few hours after Salman Khan and Alia Bhatt have confirmed that they are doing his next, a casting coup that will be talked about for months. He relents, eventually, and settles in to field questions:

Twenty years after Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam, Salman and you are reuniting for Inshallah. Share with us the moment when he gave his nod to your film...
It was a beautiful, breezy evening. We were sitting in the lawn of his home, and as soon as the narration ended, Salman turned to me, saying, “When do we start?” It took me back to my two-and-a-half-hour narration of Khamoshi: The Musical. We were in his bedroom then and he kept looking at himself in the mirror. I was wondering if he’d even heard me, but when I finished, he told me exactly what he’d liked in the story, making me realise that he is very sharp, and one shouldn’t presume anything with him. We’ve had a few issues in the past but whenever we met, even sporadically, we took up from where we’d left off without dwelling on the past and the difference of opinions we might have had. My fondness for him is pure, and Salman, once he offers his friendship, even if you don’t meet or talk in five years, he’s there waiting for you. He’s never told me that he’s liked a shot, a song or a film I’ve made, but has expressed his appreciation for my work to others when he didn’t need to.

Has he changed in all the years that you have known him?
Oh yes, today he’s a mega-star, totally inaccessible, with the cult status of Rajinikanth sir, yet deep down he’s still a simple guy with a pure heart and a noble soul. After Khamoshi, Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam and Saawariya, he and I needed to make one film together, if not 10 more. I’m glad Inshallah happened. From my understanding of him, as a man, an actor and a superstar, I know this is the right film for us to come together. I’ve been working on it for the last year-and-a-half, starting three months before Padmaavat released, to take my mind off things that were happening at the time. I wrote and reworked till I felt it was ready, then, went to him. It’s my 10th film, I want it to be my best.

How different is it from the films you have made so far?
It’s a younger film, the kind I’ve wanted to make for a long time after all the dark, intense, overdramatic ones. Life is not only about dark nights, it’s also about beautiful, sunshiny mornings. It’s a new chapter for me as a filmmaker.

Is that why you opted for Alia?
Alia is an extremely young actress with a lot of magic. She fits the role beautifully. When she was nine, she’d come with her mother (Soni Razdan) to audition for Black. I saw the sparkle in her eyes. I told Soni I wouldn’t audition her for a child’s role because I knew she was a Hindi film heroine. Later, I went to Soni and Mahesh (Bhatt) and told them I wanted their girl, but that project didn’t happen. Inshallah, this one will be a beautiful journey.

How did you become a part of the film on the Pulwama terror attack and the Balakot air strike which you’re producing with Bhushan Kumar, Mahaveer Jain and Abhishek Kapoor?
Mahaveer ji came to me with this important film which needs to be made, not to court controversies but to document history. None of us are treating it as a project, and for me, it will be interesting to see what I can bring to the table as a producer and a presenter since I have not made a film on our army or on current politics.

And is the Sahir Ludhianvi biopic happening?
I’ll make it happen. Sahir saab was one of our most talented poet-lyricists, his verses are still inspiring. To bring them back through his love story will be beautiful but also a huge responsibility. It’s a difficult film for the writer-director (Jasmeet Reen) too so I don’t want to be in a hurry but give it the darza it deserves.

And Gangubai with Priyanka Chopra? She did say on Karan Johar’s chat show that she was doing another film with you.
I love the story, it’s been with me for long and I’m keen to make the film. Priyanka and I are in talks.

Are there plans to reunite with Ranveer Singh and Deepika Padukone?
They are special and have collaborated with me on three difficult films—Goliyon Ki Raasleela... Ram-Leela, Bajirao Mastani and Padmaavat—which were epics really, in a way that I’ve never wished to change a single shot. I’d love to work with them again at the right time.

Tell us about the four debutants you’re launching, your niece Sharmin Segal opposite Jaaved Jaaferi’s son Meezaan and Poonam Dhillon’s son Anmol Thakeria with Miss India International Jhataleka Malhotra...
Despite three of them being star kids, they are all so talented and well-behaved, without a hint of arrogance. So much like Ranbir (Kapoor) and Sonam (Kapoor) who were just as hardworking and grounded. There is already so much pressure on them, so I don’t add to it by telling them they have to match up to their parents or go beyond. I’ve given them a lot and have received a lot from them in return. I know they will be big players in the future. For now, it’s a joy to see them evolve.

And how much have you grown and evolved as a person and a filmmaker?
Oh, I am so much better today. My first film didn’t do well and Sawaariya and Padmaavat were riddled by controversy, but I have got a lot of love from both the audience and the critics. My films have worked at the box-office and been celebrated at award shows and that’s taken away the initial anxiety of whether I would be seen, heard and accepted as a filmmaker. Also, working with different actors has made me all steel and iron, I don’t let anyone tell me how to make films, I tell my stories the way I want to tell them. And the hunger I was born with, the quest for excellence, still drives me to put in 10-12 hours at work every day.

Sanjay Leela Bhansali, T-Series’s Bhushan Kumar, filmmaker Abhishek Kapoor, and producer Mahaveer Jain come together to ‘salute’ Air Force
Roshmila Bhattacharya (MUMBAI MIRROR; March 4, 2019)

Producer-director Sanjay Leela Bhansali, T-Series boss Bhushan Kumar, producer Mahaveer Jain, and filmmaker Abhishek Kapoor have come together to recreate the February 26 air strikes on Jaish-e-Mohammad facilities in Pakistan’s Balakot on the big screen. Mumbai Mirror can reveal that the project is already at the research and development stage, and the film is likely to roll by the middle of the year.

A source associated with the movie said that the project was an effort by the makers to “salute and pay tribute” to the Indian Air Force, and that a major share of the profits will be handed over to the armed forces welfare fund. “This project is our small way of saluting our armed forces and their families,” the source said, adding that the casting is being finalised even as “several A-list actors have shown interest in the film”.

Scores of film and TV serial makers have reportedly approached the Indian Motion Pictures Producers’ Association (IMPPA) to register titles such as Balakot, Pulwama: The Deadly Attack, Surgical Strike 2.0, War Room, Hindustan Hamara Hai, and How’s The Josh?

Earlier this year, Uri: The Surgical Strike, featuring Vicky Kaushal, which is based on the Indian Army’s surgical strike inside Pakistan-occupied Kashmir in response to the terror attack on the army camp in Uri in 2016, has emerged as a massive hit.

The Indian Air Force operation on February 26, this time in retaliation to the Pulwama attack by a Jaish-e-Mohammad suicide bomber in which 40 CRPF personnel lost their lives, was carried out deep inside Pakistan, in Khyber Pakhtunwa’s Balakot where the Jaish terror camp was located.

In response to Pakistan’s attack the next day, Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman shot down a Pakistan Air Force F-16 with his MIG21 Bison, before being forced to eject and land in the enemy territory. Following intense international pressure, Pakistan had to release Wing Commander Varthaman after keeping him in custody for nearly 60 hours.

The source associated with the project said that Abhishek Kapoor will direct the movie that will also show how entire India came together to support the armed forces in the face of aggression and adversity. “It will be our tribute to the nation. After the gutless terror attack in Pulwama, the IAF surgical strike at Balakot was a well planned, 100 per cent successful operation which hit the enemy targets with precision. It is an honour to bring this story on the big screen so that we, as Indians, can revel in our national pride,” the source said.