Roshmila Bhattacharya (MUMBAI MIRROR; March 5, 2020)

BAAGHI 1: From the chase to the finish
The market chase sequence was tricky. We could not have too many rehearsals since we were shooting on the streets of Bangkok. We reached the location, figured out the obstacles and improvised there and then, deciding that I could run along that wall, jump from this point to that, manoeuvre my way through the bustling crowds without inconveniencing anyone, then, suddenly, spring an attack. It was literally action on the run. The climax threw another challenge —to reach the antagonist, martial arts expert Sudheer Babu at the top of the building, I had to take on opponents from different nationalities with their own specialised skills on each floor. With several fighters coming at me all at once, we had to choreograph the fight in such a way that they looked fast, clean and as graceful as possible. There was a lot of give-and-take with fighters as I had to anticipate their reactions to say, a certain kick of mine, and retaliate accordingly. And it was all happening on the spot!


BAAGHI 2: Sweating it out in Krabi
The biggest dare in this film was undoubtedly the climax because it was set in a jungle. We were shooting in the hot and humid Krabi and it got really sweaty and sticky. My fighting style also was a lot fiercer in Part 2, necessitating contact with the fighters while brandishing weapons, like guns and knives. For certain shots, I had to swing from a rope while balancing a heavy gun on my right arm and maintaining posture. For others, I had to go for the kill with a gun in each hand... Phew!


WAR: When Krrish met Baaghi…
My introduction sequence was two-and-a-half minutes of continuous fighting so I had to remember when to crash through a sheet of glass, how to fall and where to jump onto someone, pulling the chandelier after me. And all this was done in one single take. In the climax, I was fighting my hero, Hrithik (Roshan) sir, so the pressure mounted and how! It was literally Krrish vs Baaghi.

BAAGHI 3: Superman in Serbia
Every action sequence upped the ante. It got even scarier because we were doing everything live, with real weapons, tanks, helicopters and cars. I ran through 97-98 blasts; explosions happening behind me, on the sides and also in front of me. The wind made it more unpredictable as the flames could suddenly turn towards me. Plus, we were shooting in minus 5 degrees and I was running bare-bodied. The local Serbian crew, who were used to the sub-zero temperature and were still all bundled up, would look at me with awe, wondering if I was a man or a beast. It was truly a superhuman feat!

While we were filming, the adrenaline rush kept me going, but once I returned to my hotel room, I had absolutely no energy left. My team would put me on the bed and for an hour, I wouldn’t have the strength to move a muscle. Then, somehow, I would roll into the bathroom, take a hot water shower and then, go in for physiotherapy every day, before calling it a night. It was immense hard work and sheer torture because we were racing against time. We shot 150 days of action in just 70.

Mirror reader Vikas Dave shares his experience of meeting his favourite celebrity Sunny Leone
As told to Kunal Guha (MUMBAI MIRROR; January 19, 2020)

I’ve been a major fan of Sunny Leone, ever since she made her foray into Bollywood. Having been a flight attendant until recently, I’ve often flown with her. But I’ve never bothered her during her travel, fearing it would be an encroachment of her privacy. So when I met her for this interaction, I had to tell her that she was among the top five most well-behaved celebrity travellers, according to an internal survey, that I have come across.

To this, Sunny smiled and thanked me, before sharing an alarming anecdote with me. “Once while travelling, a woman wanted to take a picture of me while I was fast asleep. She asked Daniel [her husband] for a photo, and he said, ‘she’s taken off her shoes, and is sleeping, may be later?’ This lady lost her mind. She shouted, ‘I’ve dealt with lots of celebrities and I’ve never met anyone as rude’. Arre yaar, maine kya kiya? We were dead tired and just wanted to sleep.”

When you’re Sunny Leone, even catching 40 winks on a flight is a privilege. Having seen her sneak into flights, wearing a baseball cap, I can imagine the tricks she’s pulled off over the years to evade the legions of fans.

“In Mumbai, there’s always someone famous walking around, so people are not as star struck,” Sunny Leone says, adding that she never misses an opportunity to meet a fan when time permits.

That her first break in India was on the reality show Bigg Boss, before she bagged her Hindi film debut, made me ask her if she managed to skip the grind that those with tinseltown ambitions have to endure? The 38-year-old actor assured me that her move to Mumbai was riddled with doubt.

Reflecting on the time, she remembers grappling with much uncertainty, unsure if she would be “accepted”. “I have an American accent, and to make that go away, and speaking Hindi was difficult. I grew up in a home where my parents spoke Punjabi, Hindi and Gujarati, but I was a rebel and spoke mostly in English.”

So, when she was cast for her first Hindi film, did she struggle with her lines? “It’s just memorising lines, like how you do it, ‘Welcome to the flight’ routine,” she says, adding that following her iconic turn in Ragini MMS 2, “things fell organically into place”.

“Initially, we didn’t know how long we’d stay in India. Then, we got an apartment in Mumbai, a car and even a house help — a service we could never afford in the US,” says Leone, who has since built an empire, comprising a cosmetics brand, fragrance label and new business, which she’s about to announce soon. “When you work in entertainment, you don’t know when things will end. It’s not like you spend a certain number of years, and then move to another branch of that company, like it is in other professions. So you have to wet your feet and try many things at once,” she says. “I just like to make money when I sleep,” she quips.

Now, as a mother of three, Leone shares that her children’s schedule barely gives her any time off, and her source of entertainment is largely confined to watching TV shows. Her latest binge watch, she says, is a documentary feature on a man accused of being a Nazi. “I watch so many shows that when I recently went to a movie hall, I could barely put up with the quality of content I saw,” she says.

Not a big fan of taking breaks, Leone shares that she spent her first ‘personal day’ after a year-and-a-half working, exploring her favourite city with her husband. “I walked for 12 km non-stop in Bangkok,” she says, adding that Thailand’s cuisine and culture is a big draw, and that she loves visiting temples and local markets. “We also got two massages in a day, so it was all good,” she smiles.

Onkar Kulkarni (BOMBAY TIMES; November 29, 2019)

In Commando 3, Angira Dhar has tried her hand at action for the first time. In a conversation with BT, the young actress spoke about being a part of the action franchise, bonding with her co-stars — Vidyut Jammwal and Adah Sharma — and more. Excerpts:

Your role in Commando 3 is in complete contrast to what you have done in your previous projects. Was it difficult to get into the skin of a character that’s extremely action-oriented?
In the film I play Mallika Sood, a cop who works for the British Intelligence. This role is absolutely different from the characters that I have essayed elsewhere. Unlike my previous outings, in this action flick, I have done a lot of stunts. Our director, Aditya Datt, was surprised to know that in real life, too, I am a tomboy. During the auditions, I felt very comfortable in my own skin and enjoyed performing the stunts when shot them.

Are you fond of the action genre? How did you prep up for your role?
I am a big fan of action as a genre as I like the pace of these films. As a kid, I remember watching Charlie’s Angels and practising kicks and punches the whole day. I even punched my brother twice and was scolded for it (laughs!). I haven’t formally learnt any form of martial arts, but I did train a lot for this film. I did physical training coupled with yoga and weight training. I was also learning stunts with the Commando 3 team. We went to the UK around 10 days before the shoot to learn the basics of action. The team was surprised that I was able to do the stunts with ease.

Your co-star Vidyut is a trained martial artist and Adah, too, is a martial arts enthusiast. They have also been associated with the franchise before. Did you feel any pressure to match up to them?
I didn’t work under any pressure. Instead, I put my energies into learning what they knew. Vidyut is mindblowing when it comes to action. He and Adah never made me feel that they knew more than I did. In fact, they helped me a lot. Vidyut would stay away from the set when I did my stunts to avoid making me conscious. Only when he felt that I was struggling with a particular stunt would he come to help me. I have many scenes with Adah. A lot of people might be surprised to know that two actresses bonded well (laughs!). We shared meals, walked around the streets while we shot in London and played off each other’s energies during the shoot.

You don’t have a background in films, so what prompted you to join Bollywood?
Though my family is from Kashmir, I was raised in Mumbai. I come from an academically-oriented family, so I was hesitant to tell my parents that I wanted to be an actress. In school, too, I never participated in any plays. I grew up with cousins who were studying to become engineers, doctors, etc. However, I always dreamt of seeing myself on the big screen. I fought with my parents and learnt filmmaking in Mumbai. I started working in a production house and was the producer of a non-fiction show on a music channel. Later, I assisted many ad film directors. As an assistant director, I have stepped in as an extra for ads shoots, and now, here I am. There are a few ads in which I can be seen standing in the crowd or an out-of-focus frame. The one ad that I remember being a part of was shot with Akshay Kumar in Bangkok. They wanted to show a group of Indians, but we were short of people, so they asked me to step in. I started getting offers to be the lead in ads, and later, film offers followed. I am happy that today my parents are proud of me and my decision.

MUMBAI MIRROR (October 17, 2019)

B-Town’s “cutie” couple, Sara Ali Khan and Kartik Aaryan, has called it quits after months of moonshine and roses that made everyone around them believe that Mills & Boon romances do come true. Reportedly, the reason for the decision, was more professional than personal.

According to a source close to the couple, both actors are on a career high, and despite their best efforts, given their hectic schedules, they are finding it difficult to snatch some “we time” after they wrapped up Imtiaz Ali’s #AajKal and moved on to different projects. Kartik has just wrapped up the Pati Patni Aur Woh remake and kicked off the sequel to Bhool Bhulaiyaa. Next month, he flags off Dostana 2. Sara is currently filming Coolie No 1 with Varun Dhawan.

To be fair to both, the duo tried their hardest. Sara flew down to Lucknow for almost three weeks when her beau was shooting there for his marital comedy, Pati Patni Aur Woh. And they weren’t coy about the fact that they enjoyed being with each other. They were ‘caught’ on camera holding hands and were even mobbed outside a restaurant when they went on a date. From the City of Nawabs, she whisked Kartik off to a hush hush visit to her ancestral home in Pataudi, after which he was spotted with her brother, Ibrahim, at a fashion show in Delhi, rooting for his ladylove as she sashayed down the ramp for the first time. On August 12, he surprised Sara, who was filming in Bangkok with a flying visit, so they could be together on her birthday.

Back in Mumbai, their love story was well-documented by the paparazzi as they dropped and picked up each other from the airport or left the gym and dance classes together. With their respective parents looking on approvingly, everyone was wondering if this summer romance, like Deepika Padukone and Ranveer Singh’s and Anushka Sharma and Virat Kohli’s, was for eternity, when the ‘spottings’ stopped abruptly. And rumours began to fly, thick and fast, that it was all over.

Sara and Kartik, still only in their 20s, have decided to let their heads rule over their hearts and focus on their careers. So, for now, it’s reel time romances and conscious uncoupling in real time.

Shikha Talsania joins cast of David Dhawan’s Coolie No 1 remake, 25 years after father Tiku starred in the original
Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; September 7, 2019)

“I did a lot of research for the role and followed it up with few workshops,” says Shikha Talsania — the latest to join the cast of Coolie No 1 — with a poker face. Before we can do a double-take, she bursts out laughing, “I’m kidding! The only training I did was flex my comedy muscles. Being on set of this film is an extended workshop of how to have fun with what you have and the only research I did was willingly watch all the David Dhawan entertainers again.”

Shikha’s father and one of Bollywood’s favourite comedians, Tiku Talsania has been a constant fixture in David Dhawan’s films. She is glad to take the association forward by joining Varun Dhawan in the remake of the 1995 hit. “As an actor who devours comedy, being in a David Dhawan film was on my bucket list. With Coolie No 1, I am glad to tick that off. Dad was thrilled that I was going to be part of a film that he starred in, originally, and that I was going to be directed by his friend and long-time collaborator.”

While Shikha — last seen in Veere Di Wedding (2018) — clams up when prodded about her role, she is happy to rattle off how she had a “blast” during the film’s first schedule in Bangkok. “It’s been a month since we started shooting but feels like it was yesterday.”

Ask her if her father shared precious words of wisdom before she reported to Dhawan’s set, and she says, “The only advice my father gave me was — go, have fun!”

The actor flew to Bangkok, where his ‘Princess’ is shooting for her film with Varun Dhawan, to raise a toast on her 24th
Avinash Lohana (MUMBAI MIRROR; August 13, 2019)

Sara Ali Khan and Kartik Aaryan’s romance is going places, quite literally. After trips to the airport to receive and see off each other, the couple took it up a notch when Sara flew to Lucknow to be with her beau, where the actor had been filming for the Pati Patni Aur Woh remake with leading ladies Bhumi Pednekar and Ananya Panday.

Last week, a video surfaced online in which Kartik is seen dropping off his ladylove at the Lucknow airport with a long hug. Last month, he joined her for a visit to her ancestral home in Pataudi, after which they were in Delhi — Sara walking the ramp for a fashion show and Kartik, along with her brother Ibrahim, cheering her on.

Now, Mirror has learnt that on Saturday, the Luka Chuppi actor, who has a few days of break from the Pati Patni Aur Woh shoot, took off to Bangkok to usher in Sara’s 24th birthday on August

12. The actress is shooting with Varun Dhawan for the David Dhawan-directed Coolie No 1 remake in the Thai capital.

According to a source close to the development, Kartik had wanted to take a vacation for a while now and planned this trip well in advance. “Sara had a day off from the shoot and celebrated her big day with Kartik, who will be returning to India soon to resume work,” informs the source.

The actress marked the day by revealing her look from her new film, which is a remake of the 1995 Govinda and Karisma Kapoor-starrer by the same name. “Happy Birthday to me. Ji haan aaj hamara birthday aaya. Ji haan maine apna poster laya. Birthday ke din apna vada nibhaya. Inshallah sabke dil ko yeh bhaya (sic),”

she gushed. Later, Kartik shared an image of them together, presumably taken during a candle-lit dinner. “Happy Birthday Princess @saraalikhan95. And Eid Mubarak (this time without the mask) (sic),” he shared, referring to their joint Eid celebrations in June.

The Sara–Kartik dating rumours first emerged when the duo got together for Imtiaz’s Ali’s #AajKal, which was shot in 66 days spanning schedules in Mumbai, Delhi, Himachal Pradesh and Rajasthan. After wrap-up, Sara thanked Kartik for “instantly making me comfortable with you, for selflessly giving and for consistently looking out for me. From coffee’s about you to chai’s with you, I wish we could do it all over again. I’m going to miss you more than you know and more than I can admit (sic).” Incidentally, on Karan Johar’s chat show, Sara who had yet to make her debut, admitted that she wanted to date Kartik and has worn her heart on her sleeve ever since.

Chaya Unnikrishnan (DNA; August 12, 2019)

Sara Ali Khan, who made a successful debut in Kedarnath and entered the Rs 100 crore club with her second release Simmba, will ring in her 24th birthday today. But if you think she will throw a lavish bash to celebrate it, you couldn’t be more wrong. The actress is currently in Bangkok shooting for the remake of Coolie No.1 alongside Varun Dhawan. Though the makers were willing to give her a day off for her birthday, we hear, the Simmba actress refused it.

A source close to her says, “The makers first asked Sara whether she would want to start her shoot schedule after her birthday but she said no. Then they gave her an option of taking the day off, but she insisted that she would rather work on the special day. Last year, too, she was working on her birthday rehearsing dance all day, as part of a prep for her debut role. Now, since she is abroad, she plans to make a call to her family in the morning. There is a possibility of the makers getting her a cake on the sets.”

Sara flew to Bangkok on Friday and started shooting from Saturday. Before that she had wrapped up the shoot of Love Aaj Kal sequel in which she shares screen space with her rumoured beau Kartik Aaryan.

Madhureeta Mukherjee (BOMBAY TIMES; August 9, 2019)

He is a man on a mission, literally. He’s cracked the social drama space with success — whether he’s telling the story about building toilets, or breaking taboos around menstruation — Akshay Kumar has picked subjects that nudge you to think about the various levels at which our society and mindsets need to change. Or entirely evolve. And now, with his next Mission Mangal, which is based on India’s first interplanetary mission, he is moving into another space. In a chat with BT, the actor tells us how women are the heroes of this mission, how life has always taught him to get up and fight back, and that, doing a comedy and moving out of the social drama orbit for a bit, is a breather. Read on…

The social dramas that you have done in the past like Toilet — Ek Prem Katha (2017) and Pad Man (2018) were all driven by several moving and heart-wrenching stories that you had heard around these issues. What urged you to pick a subject like Mission Mangal,a story that revolves around the scientists, who led our country’s first interplanetary mission?
In our country, and this is something most of us must have seen or experienced, a certain section of people believes that there are some professions, which men are cut out for, not women. If a woman says that she wants to be a scientist, a lot of people will tell her that it’s an area better suited for men. The whole idea of this film is to break that stereotype. It shows the story of five strong women, who are part of this ambitious mission and their journey. When MOM (Mars Orbiter Mission), also known as Mangalyaan, was launched (on November 5, 2013), my wife (Twinkle) had posted a message on social media, saying that if the mission was called DAD, it would still have been circling around. Thank God, that it was called MOM, that’s why it went to Mars. I believe that, too, though it is not my quote, it is entirely hers. The prospects for students — women and men — in fields of science, technology, education and maths are growing in our country, and with this film, we also want to bring that into focus.

The film is based on a real mission, which is obviously dramatised for the big screen. But when you are dealing with a subject like that, it is always tricky to get the right balance between reality and fiction. And, of course, you have to also think about the entertainment value, the commercial prospects at the box office, et al...
I am happy that my production house is the first to make a film on such a subject here, along with my co-producer, of course. I told my five actresses (Vidya Balan, Sonakshi Sinha, Nithya Menen, Taapsee Pannu and Kirti Kulhari) and Jagan (Shakti, director), ‘Please don’t worry about how much the film will make. I promise you that you will be proud of this film’. We are telling a true story and we are extremely proud of it. In 2014, New York Times had carried a cartoon, which had an illustration of an elite space club with a few men (scientists) sitting inside and reading a newspaper with a headline that read, ‘India’s Mars Mission’. Outside the space club, there is an Indian scientist knocking on the door with a cow standing next to him. (Following a huge number of complaints from readers, NYT later apologised for the cartoon and clarified that its intention was not to mock India). In 2017, Times of India carried a cartoon after the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) created a record for sending 104 satellites into space on one rocket. A befitting reply to the NYT cartoon, this illustration showed an Indian scientist, along with a cow, sitting inside the elite space club. And the rest of the scientists were knocking on its door, holding rockets in their hands. I thought that was an amazing response. Can you imagine that this whole mission cost India only Rs 450 crore? The budget of my 2018-film 2.0, was more than this. When I heard the story, I said that I will make this film by hook or by crook.

During Pad Man, too,you had said that you were not bothered about how much the film rakes in at the box office, and what was of prime importance was the fact that this subject (menstrual hygiene) was being addressed through cinema…
Yes, I strongly believe that some subjects go beyond box-office collections, budgets and all those things. And that is the reason why these subjects excite me so much.

In an interview, Taapsee Pannu (one of the actors in Mission Mangal) had said that it is hard to get a male star to feature in a film with strong female characters. Would you agree?
At times, I fail to understand how things work in this industry. I have always said that it is good to be part of a great film in which you might not have a big role. You must think whether the film and the story are great or not, rather than wondering mera role kitna hai. If you think of the latter, then, you are being very small-minded. It is a mindset that some actors have. These women in Mission Mangal are leading the show. The stage is theirs. I am just standing behind them and applauding their achievements.

So, you wouldn’t mind playing a small part in a film, if you like the role?
Yes, I would do it and I have done it earlier, too. When Rajkumar Santoshi had offered me Khakee (2004), he told me, ‘Yeh chhota role hai, tu karega?’ I said, ‘Haan, main karunga!’ That role was initially offered to Paresh Rawal, but then, they approached me and tweaked it a bit. The film mostly belonged to Amitabh Bachchan and Ajay Devgn, and my character died at interval point. It was a small role, but I loved what Rajkumar Santoshi had made. Even today, when I interact with policemen, they often tell me, ‘Woh aapki Khakee dekhi thi, maza aaya hai. Woh film mein hai baat!’

Well, in the West, it is not rare to see the biggest of actors do brief roles in huge films, or be a part of an ensemble star cast. This mindset and the way they view their role in cinema are different, right?
They do that in Hollywood, but it is rare in our industry. I know of (Bollywood) actors, who, in recent times, have done a two-hero film (without taking names), and one of the actors told the filmmaker, ‘Main ek shart pe kaam karunga, ki aap mera solo poster pehle chapwao’. Such is the mindset. He wanted his solo poster to appear first, and then a combined poster, so that he is a step ahead.

Right, if that mindset and perspective changes, we will probably see some fine actors do more films and deliver fabulous performances...
Well, it is not just about doing more work, it is also about the content and being part of a great story. It is about bringing something new to the table. In the history of cinema, being remembered as an actor who was part of a great story, is what matters the most. I can do more full-on commercial films and earn three times more than what I will earn with this film. I can do more films like Rowdy Rathore (2012) and Singh Is Kinng (2015) and make more money. Of course, I am doing films like Sooryavanshi and Laxmmi Bomb, but movies like Pad Man and Mission Mangal mein kuch aur hi maza hai.

A debate sparked online when the first poster of Mission Mangal released, as it featured you more prominently than the five leading ladies. Taapsee was quick to point out that you can bring in the numbers with your star power. The women in this film are excellent actors, but what Taapsee stated is a harsh reality to a certain extent. Your take?
The women in Mission Mangal are the heroes of the film. They have taken it to another level. And what Taapsee is saying comes from her broad thinking. Look, things like how a poster is designed is planned by the studio that is backing the film. They want the film to have a wider reach, and I am no one to stop it. The promo, Yeh Sindoor Hai, which released just a few days ago, has me in only one frame. It is entirely picturised on the leading ladies and it has been done beautifully. The next poster shows us all on Mars, like one big team. Like I said before, these women are all superb actors, and they have taken centre stage in this story.

Today, you find yourself in a very secure place — whether you are doing action, comedy, social drama or anything else in the entertainment space. You don’t need to look over your shoulder or watch your back. Has that sense of security come with time, experience and success?
I think security comes from your childhood and family. Success is a part of it, but that only comes later. I believe that what makes your spine strong is your family. I have seen highs and lows through my journey. I still remember that day, when I was standing right outside this building (where we are sitting). Earlier, there was a sort of slum here, by the sea. I was working with photographer Jayesh Sheth, and I was keen to get a picture clicked against the stunning backdrop of the sea. But the chowkidaar pushed me away and asked me to leave. Well, it was not a Trishul kind of moment, where like Mr Bachchan, I said ki ek din mein yaha pe ghar leke rahoonga. The fact that the building that I live in is on the same spot, is sheer coincidence. I still have that picture with me, where I am standing on the wall (pointing towards it) and posing for the camera. During one phase of my career, I saw 16 flops and then made a comeback. I have been an actor who was gaya gaya gone many times over, and each time, I somehow made a comeback. It reminds me of my time in Bangkok when I was learning martial arts and fighting. I would lose so many games in Thai Boxing. Those fighters were so good, and they would beat me hollow. That did not mean that I wasn’t ready for another fight. Every time I was down, I knew that I had to get up and fight again. That’s the way my life has been. I didn’t come from a film family, there were many other actors who were rooted here. Their families have been a part of the industry for years, so they were familiar with the way it functions. Jab main pehli baar camera face karne gaya tha… that was the time main pehli baar aisa camera dekh raha tha. I didn’t know any better. Every phase of my life has been a learning experience and the learning has been endless. I had spoken about deconstructing myself in my previous interviews. I learnt this thing about deconstructing myself from a businessman. He was a successful man, who had various other businesses, but was starting a new business from ground zero. When I asked him why he was taking that risk, he told me that he wanted to start from scratch, as he felt that he had hit the glass ceiling. That was an eye-opener for me. It became my mantra for life.

Your film is clashing with Batla House (headlined by John Abraham) at the box office. You guys are known to be buddies, and when we asked John about the clash, he agreed that the viewership of films does get divided, but he also added that if you have faith in your content, you should go ahead and do it. Your take?
He is right. And these clashes will get worse in the coming days. Now, if there are two films releasing on big holiday weekends, going ahead, there will be more than two clashes on such weekends. What else do we do? In 52 weeks, there are hardly any dates, which has such holidays. Everyone will jump at those opportunities. About 200 Bollywood films are made every year, and on top of that, there are Hollywood and Tollywood releases, too. All the ‘woods’ are hitting the screens together. How can we help it? It will be a wooden furniture showroom soon (laughs!).

One social mission after another… after all those intense dramas, how does it feel shooting a comedy film like Housefull 4?
It feels like being on a vacation.

But comedy is not a mean feat, too, right?
After so many social dramas and action, doing a comedy film feels like I am finally exhaling. Yes, making people laugh is not easy, and comedy is tough, but well, not all the award nights recognize that (laughs!). They always find comedy frivolous, don’t they?

You are working with many new directors like Jagan Shakti and Raj Mehta ( Good News)...
I have worked with many new directors. What I love about them is their hunger to do good work, and they are full of passion. Look at Jagan, that guy has not slept in two months. Agar aur koi director hota jisne bahut kaam kiya hai, he would tell someone, ‘Baaki ka kar lena tu hi yaar.’ (laughs!) It is this greed to make a movie and this intense drive they have that makes them work so hard. A new director knows that this is their chance to make or break it, and so, they give it their all.

Actor steps into Kader Khan’s shoes in the Coolie No 1 remake; the film is set to kick off on August 5
Himesh Mankad (MUMBAI MIRROR; July 1, 2019)

Mirror was the first to report (August 29, 2018) that David Dhawan is reviving his No.1 franchise with the official adaptation of his 1995 Govinda-starrer Coolie No. 1, which will feature his actor-son Varun Dhawan as lead. Soon after, we revealed that the makers have roped in Sara Ali Khan to step into Karisma Kapoor’s shoes from the original and the filmmaker is in Bangkok on a recce. Now, we have learnt that the comic caper goes on the floors in the Thai capital on August 5 and the leading pair will be joined by Paresh Rawal in the first schedule.

According to a source close to the development, it is a 20-day shoot in Bangkok with Varun, Sara, Paresh and a few other actors who are a part of the ensemble comedy. “After wrapping up the overseas shoot, the team flies to Goa to finish another big schedule of the film,” the source informed, adding that Paresh has stepped in to play the character originally essayed by Kader Khan. “He plays the role of Sara’s father, Hoshiyar Chand, and the humour in the film revolves around his part. While the role in the original film was more in the orthodox zone, the new one has been tweaked as per modern sensibilities.”

In the 1995 film, Kader’s Hoshiyar Chand is a father of two daughters who wants to get them married into a rich family. His life changes after a chance meeting with Govinda’s Raju—a coolie who pretends to be a wealthy builder as he has fallen in love with one of Hoshiyar Chand’s daughters. “The story template of a coolie caught between two girls remains the same, but the cast and the screenplay have been tweaked,” the source shared. Apart from Sara, the film will feature another actress. Buzz is, the makers are in talks with Disha Patani to play the sister. However, according to the source, “it’s not a big part, and the second female lead won’t be an A-lister.”

The film is scheduled for a May 1, 2020, release as announced by Varun a couple of months ago.

No.1 franchise takes off in August, followed by Goa schedule; actor will be joined by Sara Ali Khan
Himesh Mankad (MUMBAI MIRROR; June 1, 2019)

Mirror was the first to report (August 29, 2018) that David Dhawan is reviving his No. 1 franchise with the official adaptation of his 1995 film, Coolie No.1, with son Varun and Sara Ali Khan stepping into the shoes of Govinda and Karisma Kapoor from the original. Now, we have learnt that the comic caper goes on the floors in August and will be shot in Bangkok. “David ji is on currently on a recce in the Thai capital city. The overseas stint will be followed by a schedule in Goa,” reveals a source close to the development.

David had earlier remade Judwaa which had Salman Khan in a double role, with Varun playing the pair of identical twins. While the 1996 film was set in India, Judwaa 2 travelled to London for a contemporary feel. “The idea this time too is the same as filming abroad gives the film a fresh vibe. The basic premise of a coolie caught between two girls remains the same but there are many new changes in the screenplay for it to appeal to today’s audience,” says the source.

Produced by Vashu Bhagnani and the Dhawans, the film will release on May 1, 2020. “The date is apt because May 1 is labour day and the story revolves around a coolie and his profession,” adds the source.

David’s No.1 series kicked off with Coolie No. 1, followed by Hero No. 1, Biwi No. 1, Jodi No. 1, and Shaadi No. 1. The films featured either Govinda, Salman Khan or Sanjay Dutt in lead. “The franchise will now be revamped with Varun taking charge. While the first one is a remake, the films that follow will be original scripts,” the source signs off. 

Actor kicks off his first Rohit Shetty film with Katrina Kaif in Mumbai; team heads to Bangkok, Goa, Hyderabad next
Himesh Mankad (MUMBAI MIRROR; May 1, 2019)

When Rohit Shetty’s Singham with Ajay Devgn as the fearless cop Bajirao Singham opened in 2011, not many would have imagined that the director would convert it into a cop-universe with the biggest names from the Hindi film industry. Eight years later, he introduced Ranveer Singh with Simmba as Sangram Bhalerao, the second police officer in his franchise, confirming a crossover with Singham towards the end of the film. He also announced that Akshay Kumar will be the next entrant in his world, as ATS (Anti-Terrorist Squad) chief, Veer Sooryavanshi. It has since been revealed that the upcoming action-thriller titled Sooryavanshi will mark the reunion of Akshay with Katrina Kaif 12 years after their last release, the Farah Khan directorial Tees Maar Khan. Now, Mirror has learnt that the much-anticipated film goes on the floors on May 6 in Mumbai.

“Both Akshay and Katrina will be a part of the first schedule which will continue for 10-12 days in the city. The set of a house has been designed at Mehboob studio wherein the couple will film some romantic scenes,” informed a source close to the development.

The source added that they will also be shooting at real locations in Mumbai before flying to Bangkok for the second schedule. Rohit was on a recce to the Thai capital recently to finalise these locations. “He will be canning a larger-than-life introductory scene with Akshay at some landmark locations in Bangkok. Katrina is unlikely to be a part of this shoot,” revealed the source.

Rohit will then head to his favourite state, Goa, where his cop-universe is primarily set. Like always, the major action will take place in and around Goa. “He will shoot briefly there, before heading to Hyderabad where Sooryavanshi will wrap up at Ramoji Filmcity. The large ensemble cast will be present in both Goa and Hyderabad,” stated the source, adding that a major chunk of the shooting is expected to wrap up by July-end in the course of this 75-80-day journey. A couple of songs and some patchwork will remain which will be shot in November in Goa.

After completing the cop drama, Akshay will jump straight into the promotions of his Independence Day release, Misson Mangal. The Jagan Shakti directorial which revolves around a misson to the red planet also features Vidya Balan, Sonakshi Sinha, Radhika Apte and Taapsee Pannu. At present, the Khiladi Kumar is busy shooting for Laxmibomb, a horror-comedy co-starring Kiara Advani, which sees him possessed by a transgender ghost, at Madh Island. “It’s a brief schedule, and actual work on the film begins only in September,” the source concluded. Sooryavanshi is slated to release during the Eid 2020 weekend. 

MUMBAI MIRROR (October 15, 2018)

Nameeta Prakash, who has served as an assistant Director on several films, including Manorama Six Feet Under, levelled sexual misconduct allegations against veteran stunt director Sham Kaushal. Prakash recounted her #MeToo experience in a Facebook post, saying, “Back in 2006, on an outdoor shoot, Sham Kaushal, the famous and award-winning Bollywood stunt director decided that I should be going to his room after wrap to drink vodka. the sound of that was just so wrong that I lied to him and told him that I don’t drink at all. He tried to insist by saying that I didn’t know what I was missing out on and when I stood my ground, he picked up his phone and suddenly plugged it in front of me with a porn MMS video playing on it. He said he bought this from the streets of Bangkok for 10 Baht. All I did was pretend that someone had paged me on the walkie-talkie and walked away. I told my line producer about it within half an hour... but she didn’t know what she could do at that time. But she made sure I was never along with the stunt team again.”

Sham Kaushal remained unavailable for comment till the time of this paper going to press.

After Vaani Kapoor, Shahid Kapoor pulls out of Bangkok awards gala
Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; June 21, 2018)

With two days to go for the International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) Awards, the line-up of stars performing at the awards ceremony is getting bleaker. After Vaani Kapoor backed out of her gig, Shahid Kapoor — who was scheduled to put up a power-packed performance at the awards night on June 24 — has bowed out of the Bangkok event. Kapoor had no option but to pull out at the last minute owing to a back injury he sustained during the shooting of Batti Gul Meter Chalu.

A source close to the actor reveals, "Despite suffering a major back injury while shooting in Tehri last week, Shahid continued filming as he was required to wrap up the movie by mid-June. After returning to Mumbai earlier this week, he promptly dived into the dance rehearsals for his IIFA gig. It was while attempting a tricky step that he suffered a back spasm and was advised against any strenuous activity by the doctor. Although Shahid was scheduled to fly out to Thailand last night, he called off the plan. The IIFA organisers were fairly understanding about it."

Besides completing the patchwork sequences of the Shree Narayan Singh-directed drama, Kapoor will utilise the unplanned break to spend quality time with wife Mira and daughter Misha. With the three Khans skipping the gala, the event organisers can take solace that Ranbir Kapoor, Alia Bhatt and Varun Dhawan will be the headlining acts. Rekha too is scheduled to perform on stage after two decades. Kapoor's spokesperson confirmed his bowing out.