Anurag Basu on future project, Jagga Jasoos, Metro sequel and next film, which was hit by the pandemic
Roshmila Bhattacharya (MUMBAI MIRROR; June 12, 2020)

While many have been feeling angry, restless and caged-in during the Coronavirus lockdown, Anurag Basu’s friends have been messaging him, saying, “You must be happy because you’re always in a state of perpetual lockdown.” The director admits with a laugh that periodically, he does go underground for five-six weeks, when he cooks for the kids and goes into his corner. “When the lockdown started, I imagined it wouldn’t last longer than two-three weeks and compiled a long to-do list, comprising writing and other stuff. I haven’t even got started on it,” he sighs.

Well, for many, who were hurtling along at a crazy pace with little time for family, the last few months have been an eye-opener and life-changing. What about him? “Hamare liye yeh naya nahin hai; my life changed back in 2004 (when he was diagnosed with acute promyelocytic leukemia, a type of blood cancer, and the doctors gave him around two months to live). Since my wife Tani was seven months pregnant at the time with our elder daughter, Ishana, I set myself small targets, starting with three months, so I could see my child. Then, a couple of weeks more… a month, two months, six months, a year... Taking baby steps. I went back to the set while my chemotherapy was still on, wearing a mask,” he flashbacks.

He cheated the Big C and, in the process, his priorities and lifestyle changed. “Now, Ishana and Ahana (younger daughter) are imbibing it without me telling them to. Those who knew me earlier will tell you this one is very different, new and improved Anurag,” he chuckles, adding that it started with small changes and the process continues. “Poora insaan toh nahin badal sakta, but my concept of right and wrong changed.”

While on the topic, one wonders if Ranbir Kapoor confided in him when he learnt that his father, Rishi, had cancer. “He did. I was among the first few to know,” admits the filmmaker. “We discussed what line of treatment he should take. I shared the number of my doctor with him and they spoke to him and told me what they had decided.”

There were no conversations during the treatment, but after the senior Kapoor returned from New York, just before Ranbir’s birthday on September 28, they had dinner together. “Neetu ji spoke about the treatment, Chintu ji, like always, was in his element, trying to dig into cake. Since he was not allowed to have sweets, Neetu ji tried to keep him away and this led to a fight between them. It was very cute,” he laughs. They met last on Ranbir’s birthday.

On April 30, we lost Rishi Kapoor. The day before, his good friend, Irrfan Khan, who was also battling cancer, breathed his last. Anurag was distraught. He admitted that, on Irrfan’s urging, he had scripted a sequel to his 2007 musical drama, Life In A… Metro. Irrfan, who was hilarious as the socially inept bachelor boy Monty in Part 1, was the first actor to be signed on. “I know I’ll make Metro again, I just wish I could have made it with Irrfan, too,” Anurag sighs.

For now, there’s Ludo, which is completely ready and was to open on April 24. The on-going Coronavirus pandemic has delayed the release. “I completed it in a year,” he exults. That’s quick, given Jagga Jasoos took so long. “Jagga went completely out of control. But I had made Gangster in six months. Ranbir was very busy at the time, with Ae Dil Hai Mushkil, Bombay Velvet and Tamasha, and I was just sitting at home. It was frustrating at that time, but I am not blaming anyone. Film hi aisi thi. I had entered a zone that took a lot of time,” he reasons, pointing out that it is easier to make films when you repeat yourself, but when you ask yourself what new to do, the answer takes a long time to present itself, particularly later in your career. What’s heartening is that, over time, more so during the lockdown, there have been lots of tweets, messages and positive reviews from those who caught up with it, finally. “It was not a flawless film. On the contrary, it had lots of flaws. But we are all proud of Jagga Jasoos.”

So, what next? Anurag shares that he has four subjects ready, but he’s not sure which one to go with. “That was one of the the things on my to-do list. I haven’t decided yet,” he admits. Is one of them the Kishore Kumar biopic? Anurag confirms the same, saying he has worked on the subject too long and too hard, to let it go and move on. “Too much energy and passion has been invested in it, which is why it keeps popping up,” he acknowledges, pointing out that the problem isn’t only about rights. “The family is keen to make the film, but there are lots of issues. I need support from someone to push it through. But whenever I make it, it will be with Ranbir.”

Meanwhile, is he happy with Ludo? “People who have watched it liked it. I remember Barfi! for all the fun we had while making it. Jab shooting mein mazaa aata hai, toh film theek hi ban jaati hai. We had a blast during Ludo, too, there was the same synergy and energy in the team,” he signs off on an ebullient note.

Rachana Dubey (BOMBAY TIMES; November 19, 2019)

It has been over a year since she appeared on any public platform. Except for being papped outside her gym occasionally, Ileana D’Cruz has maintained a low profile. While rumours of her break-up (with Australian photographer Andrew Kneebone) has been hitting the headlines over the past couple of months, the actress says that she deliberately stayed away from the spotlight, as she needed to work on herself. Now, however, she is back where she is the happiest — in front of the camera. Ahead of her next release, director Anees Bazmi’s Pagalpanti, Ileana speaks to BT about moving on from her relationship of many years, bringing life back on track and making wise career choices. Excerpts...

After Raid (2018), you vanished from the scene, only to reappear as the finale showstopper at BTFW 2019, which took place last month. What was that phase of absence like?
It felt great to walk the ramp. I am always nervous before a walk; I wonder how the models do it. But something about that night was so right. And, when you are feeling great overall, it just shows. Lately, I have been having trouble accepting the way I look. Over the last year or so, I was on medication; there were even days when I had 12 pills in one go. I went off the radar after Raid because I had to undergo tests every few weeks. The tablets made me put on weight, which I worked hard to knock off. The paparazzi photographs can be unflattering; there were times when I wanted to hit the gym, but would get papped outside and the pictures were quite bad. Now, of course, I have lost a lot of weight because I am off medication, am looking after myself a lot more and am feeling nice. But, in my head, I am still that fat girl (laughs!).

You gave your nod to Pagalpanti during that tough and dark phase. Did being around familiar faces and working on a light and breezy film like this help?
Yes, it helped a lot. Pagalpanti is a crazy film. John (Abraham) plays a guy with bad luck and my character gets into trouble because she is in love with him. It was an amazing bunch of actors to hang out with. I made friends with Arshad (Warsi), who has a great vibe. It was also a lot of fun working with John.

Talking about movies, in the last few years, the focus of cinema has shifted from stardom to acting prowess. As an actress who has straddled both kinds of cinema — massy entertainers and content-driven ones — are you happy with the way things function now?
At the end of the day, if the audience doesn’t enjoy your experiments with cinema, it’s not going to help. The good part is that the audience is open to the variety in content, now. Gritty films like Badla can co-exist with massy ones and they’re all doing well. Even off-beat subjects are doing decent business. So, it’s a plus if you can act. I’ve worked in about 30 films in 13-14 years, which I feel is a good number. Initially, I was like Akshay Kumar, doing four films a year. Then, I felt that maybe, I need to slow down. Today, I don’t feel like I have missed out on anything. Sometimes, things have not worked out for some unusual reasons, but I have no regrets. I’m sure something better is around the corner.

At the moment, apart from Pagalpanti, there’s only The Big Bull in your kitty. Do you feel that being so selective is a good idea, especially when there’s a burst of new ideas, new faces and filmmakers with fresh concepts?
I was always conscious about what I chose and I still am. After Barfi! (2012), I received many offers to play a Bengali girl, but why would I do it again? With me, it’s always about instinct, even if something sounds great on paper. I am fine with being more selective about what I do. Yes, there are a lot of newcomers, but I don’t feel the need to rush. At the end of the day, a film is for posterity. You have to be sure about it because it can’t be erased. So, instead of rushing in and choosing 20 films, I’d rather do fewer films and stay relevant. Besides, why bombard the audience with too much of you? A little mystery is always good.

Clearly, in your 15-year-career, you’ve not followed industry norms. Did that make things tough?
I’m a wild child, a rebel who has never stuck to norms. I’ve made my own rules and lived by them, but of course, it comes at a price. Once, during the initial days of my career, I asked a choreographer why people thought I am snooty and difficult — is it because I don’t agree with everyone all the time or because I speak my mind? She told me, ‘Just be yourself and everyone will get used to it’. That has stayed with me. It’s easy to get caught up with things and lose yourself. Losing sanity is a far bigger price than losing a career. Though I am myself, I don’t think I am hated for it. I do everything keeping in mind that at the end of the day, I need to sleep with my conscience clear.

On the personal front, speculations about your break-up with Andrew Kneebone surfaced when you unfollowed each other on social media, followed by a couple of cryptic messages on your Instagram account...
I have always kept my personal life away from the spotlight, as it’s not fair to the other person. Now, I can just say that I loved the experiences I had. Every bit of every year that we spent together has made me grow as a person. Today, I am in a better space, working on myself, which I didn’t give as much importance previously, and that was my own fault. It’s about time I took care of myself. There’s no point kicking up dirt when it’s not needed.

While you have every right to remain silent about your personal life, it can also give rise to more rumours and speculations...
Well, people talk, irrespective of what you do. At the end of the day, I am not answerable to anyone beyond my family. Life goes on. Today, I am talked about, it will be someone or something else tomorrow. All I can say is, some of my posts were lines from some poems, and I shared them because they were actually conveying what I was feeling. You will lose family along the way and the very thought terrifies me, but it’s inevitable. The only person who will be with you in all of this is you. Every time I went in for therapy, I was told that I have to make the effort to heal myself. That’s stuck with me. When you are with someone else, you’re busy looking after them and managing your career, and in the process, your well-being takes a backseat. You know what? It’s not so bad to be a little selfish sometimes.

Are you trying to say that your relationship took up a lot of your space?
Relationships do take a lot of your time, and you make them a priority, but it should not be a burden. Trying too hard to make it work is not a great sign. Also, you should not forget yourself in a relationship. It’s not anyone else’s fault, but yours if that happens. It’s not others’ responsibility to make you happy, but, unfortunately, that happens in many relationships.

What went wrong with your relationship? Did distance and the fact that you have different professions cause the rift?
Not all all. I could probably be with an actor and it would seem monotonous talking about the same things at work and at home. It’s great for a couple to follow different professions. Also, people say that long-distance relationships are hard to maintain, but distance never really matters. You can be miles apart and still be together, while sometimes, under the same roof, you could be miles apart. It’s not the best time to talk about what really went wrong. Right now, I just cherish what I had with Andrew and I look back with great memories and a smile. I’m at peace with myself.

While talking about her relationship with Arjun Kapoor, Malaika Arora had told BT that second chances are difficult to come by, and when that happens, you should grab it with both your hands. Would you give another relationship a chance in your life?
I’m not looking to be in a relationship right now. It doesn’t matter if you look like chalk and cheese to others, what’s important is how you two feel together. There’s a reason Malaika and I get along so well. We think alike. Malla and Arjun were in a public space where they were okay to speak about their relationship, while respecting each other’s privacy. I like that about them.

Are you still friends with Andrew?
(Long pause) I can’t really answer this right now.

Juggling a sports film, a superhero fantasy and a drama can be daunting. But The Sky Is Pink composer Pritam tells us it’s the only way he can work
Sonia Lulla (MID-DAY; October 7, 2019)

Even though it is the story — inspired by actual events — that’s the biggest draw of The Sky Is Pink, composer Pritam Chakraborty has managed to keep cinephiles further invested in the film owing to his score. In an interview with mid-day, he discusses what went behind composing for the Priyanka Chopra and Farhan Aktar-starrer, and juggling multiple films.

When you have the biggest production houses wanting you on board, what are the parameters you consider before taking up a project?
Generally, I have two ways to decide whether I want to take it up. The first is if I want to collaborate again with friends whom I have associated with in the past. The other is the script. If the script is exciting, [I] look forward to working on it.

In the case of The Sky Is Pink, I had heard very little of the story, initially. When Shonali [Bose, director] approached me, I turned her down because [my diary was] choc-a-block. But, when I heard the story of Aisha [Chaudhary], and saw the way Shonali spoke of the film, I felt for the family. Doing this was an emotional [decision].

While Gulabi Sky and Dil Hi Toh Hai have released, can you take us through the other songs in the film and the genres you’ve explored?
[Much like viewers] I also thought that the film would offer many opportunities to create emotional songs. But there aren’t many. There’s one song called Zindagi, which is my favourite. The others are feel-good [songs]. Dil Hi Toh Hai is a celebration of love. Gulabi Sky is [a play on] the film’s title. Nadaniya celebrates Aisha’s emotions. I thought there would be more emotional numbers, but Shonali wanted to cut through the heavy emotions with [a] brighter [palette]. Also, collaborating with Gulzar sa’ab [was fantastic]. Every moment is a fan moment when working with him. I’m always in awe.

You have mammoth projects like Brahmastra, ’83, Aaj Kal and Gulabo Sitabo, in the pipeline. Do you work on them simultaneously?
I don’t like to work on one project at a time because I can’t sit on one thing constantly. I have a [limited span of] attention, which helps me, in a way, because I can take up multiple projects. I can easily move in and out of the sound zones that I allot to different scripts. If I don’t juggle projects, I get bored. I usually devote no longer than two days for one song. After I finish one track, I’ll move on to another, from another film. Also, I am very moody. I won’t do something if I’m not enjoying it in that moment. The job is difficult. The projects I do are varied and I must keep each soundtrack [suited] to the script. Even if two films that I’m simultaneously working on release together, they should sound different, like it was in the case of Jagga [Jasoos] and Jab Harry Met Sejal, or Barfi and Cocktail.

Is there a soundtrack from your recent releases that has stayed with you?
Jagga Jasoos. I don’t think I’ve worked as much on any project as I did on it. Generally, projects that do well don’t remain a favourite. See, you are likely to focus your attention on a person who is talented, but still under-performs [laughs]. I wish it [Jagga Jasoos] had done better. Then, there are songs from [well-performing] films, that [go unnoticed]. There’s Ghar, from Harry Met Sejal. It’s close to my heart, but didn’t do very well. It was also not promoted.

 

Nidhi Singh who, 6 years later, is making her big screen debut with a Taapsee Pannu, Saqib Saleem-starrer
Natasha Coutinho (MUMBAI MIRROR; February 12, 2018)

Nidhi Singh is gearing up for her Bollywood debut in Dil Juunglee, which also features Taapsee Pannu and Saqib Saleem. She plays Delhi girl Ayesha in the modern-day love story which is about how your idea of friendship and love changes as you move from the 20s to the mid-20s.

“I play Saqib’s girlfriend in the film. Ayesha is loud in her dressing and her behavior, quirky and fun, a girl with no filters. The shoot was liberating because though I’m not shy, I’m not quite so loud in real life so it was exciting to explore that side to my personality,” Nidhi laughs.

The actress who became popular as Permanent Roommates’s Tanya, gushes about how good Saqib was in Bombay Talkies. “That was serious and intense but during this shoot I realised he was a lot of fun like his character Sumeet,” she smiles.

Next, Nidhi dreams of sharing the screen with her childhood idol Amitabh Bachchan, “I am from Allahabad too and as a kid after I watched his Ajooba I actually believed that there was a dolphin somewhere waiting for me to call so it could swim out to me. After that I made a pact with my mom that if there was a Bachchan film playing, I should be allowed to watch it even if I had school the next day,” she reminisces.

The actress goes on to say that if things had turned out as planned, she would have started out with a blink-and-miss appearance in the Ranbir Kapoor-Priyanka Chopra starrer Barfi in 2012. “I love Ranbir and I had shot this really small scene for the Anurag Basu film. It was a chase sequence and I was one of Ileana’s (D’Cruz) in-laws. Ranbir had to come running towards me, I had to open a door which hits him. I did it just because of Dada and Ranbir but unfortunately it was snipped out during the edit,” Nidhi sighs.

Sonia Lulla (MID-DAY; February 10, 2018)

Given that news about him venturing into alternate fields — including tech education, health and sports — garnered interest over the past few years, reports of Ronnie Screwvala turning his attention to entertainment by launching an array of debutante directors raised many eyebrows.

Speculation around the reason behind his decision to back new talent was quick to be made. But the entrepreneur dismisses suggestions by reflecting on his own journey in Bollywood. “I’m backing new artistes because, for most part of my journey, I felt like an outsider in Bollywood,” he says alluding to the opportunities he can give those who find themselves in his place.

Screwvala isn’t a harsh critic of the quality of content being churned out by industry bigwigs. His desire to support debutante filmmakers has little to do with such assumed apathy, he says. “Of course, we’re trying to encourage better storylines, but that doesn’t mean I am not working with the big players in the industry. The new league of directors has simply come to me with great stories. So, why would I not support them,” he questions.

The first venture from this assortment, Anand Tiwari’s romance-comedy, Love Per Square Foot, is gearing up for a Netflix release later this month. Attribute it to Tiwari’s vast experience in the industry, or the skills he displayed as director on the set, but Screwvala makes his trust in him evident. Directors, suggests the producer, can decide the fate of a film with their prowess. “When Anurag [Basu] came to me with the script of Barfi!, he gave me a 15 minute narration. That’s it! I asked him about it, and he said, ‘Well, that’s all I have because the actor can’t speak.’ But, he made the film [as successful as it is] due to his vision and visual storytelling ability.”

He doesn’t negate the fact that there is scope for improvement in the scripts being greenlit by filmmakers, but is quick to add that it is a “work in progress”. “We’re getting there,” he shrugs. For now, Screwvala celebrates the fact that the depleting obsession with stars is becoming increasingly evident. The biggest testimony of this trend, he says, is the recognition received by unconventional actors at a recently concluded awards gala. “[This show] usually harboured a love for stars, but it celebrated works by artistes like Rajkummar Rao, Konkona Sen Sharma and Irrfan Khan this year.”

While films featuring A-listers receive attention, they form only a small part of the work being done in Bollywood, he says. “Such films [ featuring stars] comprise only 20 per cent of the releases. There’s another 80 per cent, which is also being consumed in abundance by viewers.”

MUMBAI MIRROR (December 6, 2017)

Govinda and Raveena Tandon’s guest appearance on Shilpa Shetty, Anurag Basu and Geeta Kapoor’s kids dancing reality show, Super Dancer, on Monday, was stuff of small screen legend.

While the actresses got along like a house on fire, making veiled jibes at their shared history, Anurag and Govinda did their fair share to make the episode immensely watchable with their low-key rift that has been raging since the actor was forced out of former’s last release, Jagga Jasoos.

A source from the show’s set says, “When Raveena mentioned that she has made a lot of mistakes in life, Shilpa winked, ‘Some of the mistakes were common,’ sending them into peals of laughter. At another point, everyone was discussing Golmaal when Raveena clapped back, ‘Everyone does golmaal in life, Shilpa and I have done it too. You know what I mean, right?’”

Meanwhile, Govinda and Anurag’s cold vibes played out like a subplot on the show. The actor, whose role was edited out in Anurag’s Ranbir Kapoor, Katrina Kaif-starrer, was friendlier with Raveena, Shilpa and Geeta than with the filmmaker. But he broke character momentarily, to praise Anurag’s film Barfi!, after a contestant performed on the song ‘Itti Si Hasi’, from the film. “I didn’t watch Barfi initially because I don’t watch a film if I don’t like its title. But later on, my wife (Sunita Ahuja) strongly recommended the film to me, arguing, ‘The director’s thinking (soch) isn’t wrong.’”

Oh snap.

MUMBAI MIRROR (September 18, 2017)

Nayandeep Rakshit (DNA; August 28, 2017)

Ileana D’Cruz isn’t a method actor, but she gets completely invested in a film, especially, if it connects with her on an emotional level. “I am very sensitive and emotional,” she says. The actress, who’s gearing up for her next release talks about her sentimental side and the one scene from Baadshaho, where she broke down completely while shooting.

The last day of shoot
“I had this particular scene on the last day of the shoot. I was anyway upset and emotional because I didn’t want to leave. I had this weird attachment to Gitanjali (her character in Baadshaho), I didn’t want to stop playing her. She was like a power trip for me. I just had a moment on the last day and it’s actually based on Gitanjali’s character, who was probably at her vulnerable best. I actually broke down while doing the scene. It was one of those moments where she’s so transparent and she’s actually saying it without holding back and having that queen sort of a facade. She just spoke like a normal woman!”

How Milan reacted
“The weird thing is, Milan (Luthria) and I didn’t discuss it before we shot it. I was already in that state so I gave the shot like that. Milan felt that maybe we shouldn’t be so emotional. So I was like ‘okay’, although I was already crying (smiles). We did a few more takes the way he wanted and then he came back and said, ‘No, it works when you emotionally break down.’ So I was glad he agreed with me. On some level, I felt I had morphed into Gitanjali. The easiest way to describe her is that she’s a powerful sexy woman, who knows what she wants, knows how to get it, handling a whole city on her own and doing all of it without any man by her side.”

Not the first time
She further adds, “I have broken down so many times during Barfi. Actually, in all the emotional scenes, I was crying for real. I was in tears while filming those emotional scenes with Akshay (Kumar) in Rustom as well. I cried like a baby up to the point that it was gross. In Baadshaho, there was only this one scene.”

Ileana Dcruz in an interview with mid-day talks about being selective in Bollywood and committed to Australian beau Andrew Kneebone, her next film 'Baadshaho' and more
Sonil Dedhia (MID-DAY; August 20, 2017)

Ileana Dcruz may be doing only a handful films, but that's the way she likes it. After being part of the South industry, she made her Bollywood debut with Anurag Basu's 'Barfi' (2012) followed by 'Phata Poster Niklla Hero' (2013), 'Main Tera Hero' and 'Happy Ending' (both 2014), 'Rustom' (2016) and recently 'Mubarakan'. We catch up with her at a production house's office, where she's promoting her next, 'Baadshaho'.

You are playing a badass character in 'Baadshaho'.
I love the fact that I am doing something which I wanted to for a long time. I was surprised when Milan [director, Luthria] offered me the role. As it is a central character, I am aware that it comes with a certain responsibility, so I had to contain my excitement. I irritated the hell out of the director by asking him to start the film as soon as possible. It was an emotional journey for me — from being excited to breaking down on the last day. I cried like crazy when Milan announced on the speakers, 'That was Ileana's last shot.' These are the kind of roles that are liberating and I hope our hard work pays off.

You've done six films and have always played the leading lady. Is that a conscious decision?
Yes. There have been lots of films which were offered to me that had great scripts, but I said no to them. I don't want to be part of a film, where I have nothing to do. I am a selfish actor. I want to have a stellar role in a successful film. I would never settle for anything less. I compete with myself and push myself to breaking point to get what I want.

Most of your films have been an ensemble cast. Does it ever get to a point where you question your screen time?
Like I said, I'd do a film only if my character adds value to it. My intuition plays a strong part in selecting the films. I took a long time to say yes to Barfi because there was Ranbir [Kapoor] and Priyanka [Chopra] in the film so why would someone look at me? At the end of the film, I wasn't even getting the guy [laughs]. All the films that I have done are because of the strong intuition.

You are a private person and avoid media glare.
I like to disconnect when I am not shooting and I am selective about the people I want to spend time with. I can't make small talk. If I am at a party, I should know someone or else I drag a person along. Otherwise, I'd be awkward standing in a corner looking like a fool. I can't sugar-coat and praise people for the sake of it. It's not that I don't love to socialize, but not as often as other people would do.

Would you ever open up about your relationship with Australian beau Andrew Kneebone?
I doubt that will ever happen. I've been working in the industry for 11 years. It's taken me a lot to understand the working culture. We actors get a lot of love, but at times, we get double the amount of negativity for no reason whatsoever. There are times when the comments become nasty. It's not fair for him to go through it. He is a normal person and is entitled to his privacy. I have had people coming and telling me that he is not an Indian and I find it stupid. He is someone who has been special to me and I don't want to be in a situation where my family is targetted for no fault of theirs.

Do you discuss these issues?
Initially, we did because there are a lot of Hindi phrases and words that he doesn't understand [laughs]. But we tend to ignore it most of the time. For us, the most important part has been accepting each other. There was a time when I had to explain to him that people will speak rubbish, but you and I know each other and that's what matters. I feel it all boils down to commitment.

Does he give you a feedback or opinion on your films?
Yes sometimes. But we are clear that this is my line of work and he has his own, which is photography. We don't interfere in each other's professional front. In fact, my family gives me a lot of feedback. I do not like to be told what to do, but in the end I take my own decisions.

Do you plan to get hitched anytime soon?
I think marriage and live-in relationship aren't really different. It is just a piece of paper that separates the two. Marriage is great for a lot of people. It changes a lot of things between two people, but I don't look at it in that way. My commitment towards him is not going to change.

Have you ever thought about the fact that married actresses don't get work?
It is an accepted norm that this is the way the industry functions. I can either accept it and move on. Or choose to fight it for the rest of my life. I'd choose the first option. We have had many instances of actresses, who have been super talented, but they didn't get offers as after marriage, which is unfair. I am happy with the work that I have got so far. Personally and professionally, I am in a great space. There are no complaints.

Post debacle of 'Jagga Jasoos', father Rishi Kapoor lashes out at director Anurag Basu for delaying son Ranbir Kapoor's film, calls Anurag irresponsible with money and time
Upala KBR (MID-DAY;July 24, 2017)

We've heard you're upset with Ranbir for doing 'Jagga Jasoos'?
That's not true. Honestly, Neetu [wife] and I saw the film on Thursday, only a day ahead of the release. Till Wednesday, Anurag Basu was still mixing the film. Can you imagine that? Pritam [composer] probably delivered the music only a week before. What can you say? You (here, Basu) don't take an opinion from anybody. Today's filmmakers are doing this with everybody. They don't show their films before release to take opinions, and treat it as though they're making a nuclear bomb. I didn't hate or love the film. I only felt it needed to be abridged by 20 minutes. But who is going to give that opinion to them? I totally agree with Ekta [Kapoor] when she threw him out from her film. He had problems with Rakesh Roshan while working on 'Kites' (2010). He's such an irresponsible director that he doesn't complete the film. It was supposed to release three times in the past two years, but it kept getting delayed.

Why are you saying this today?
Sometimes, Ranbir's films do well, sometimes, they don't. But here, Ranbir is the producer too, and his neck is in the noose. Who the hell are you [Basu] to do all this? It is ridiculous that a producer hadn't seen his product a day ahead of the film's release. You may be the biggest director in the world but nobody would like to work with you because you are irresponsible. There is somebody else's money involved in this. I trusted you, and this is what you give us? Ranbir hasn't held back on spending money on it. You even threw Govinda out of the film. If you don't want Govinda to work in your film, why did you ask him in the first place? Iss sab mein Ranbir ka naam toh kharaab hoga, aur kya? Mera kharaab hoga! (With these developments, it's Ranbir and my name that's gathered negative limelight).

There were also reports that the film didn't release in certain markets due to the delays.
It did not release in Singapore because you have to deliver it five days in advance. It did not release in the Gulf on Thursday because it was only delivered to them on Thursday. This is unreasonable and irresponsible. You may be thinking you are making the Taj Mahal, but you are supposed to make it ready on time. Even Pritam delays his submissions. [It was later promoted as] a kids' film. But, a kids' film also has to release at the right time, like during the school vacations. At that time too, Anurag Basu wasn't ready. There's economics and maths involved. Everything is not just about creativity.

Do you advise Ranbir on his films or career?
I do not interfere in Ranbir Kapoor's work at all. Here too, I'm bringing this up since you asked me about it now. I got to know that Ranbir was pouring in money like crazy in this. I don't interfere in Ranbir's career and I do not get to know anything either. I would like to add here that I am grateful to Anurag for giving Ranbir a lovely film like Barfi! But why hide a film? All big filmmakers, including my father (Raj Kapoor), Rakesh Roshan and Aamir Khan show their films, so why can't you?

Sarita A Tanwar (DNA; July 4, 2017)

Ileana D’Cruz is perhaps the only actress, who is working with the senior brigade — Akshay Kumar and Ajay Devgn, the Gen Next heroes — Varun Dhawan and Arjun Kapoor and the middle order — Ranbir Kapoor and Shahid Kapoor. Besides, she has acted in over a dozen films in the south with all the top actors, including Prabhas! For someone who hasn’t learnt acting, she is surprisingly at ease, no matter who she is paired with on screen. She will be 31 this year, yet she has the newbie vibe, which is perhaps about to change. She has two releases in the next couple of months. Here, she talks about why she won’t play by the rules, why she won’t act forever and the love of her life. Read on...

You are an accidental actress, right?
I started with modelling, and I did a very shi**y job. Because of the few ads I did, I ended up getting movie offers. I got my first (Telugu) movie offer, when I was 15, I think. The director was telling me that the film is going to be shot in America and in 45 days. In my head, I was going, ‘Free trip to America! Let’s do it’. I remember telling him I can’t act, I can’t dance and I can’t even speak your language. He said, ‘Don’t worry, we will manage’. I couldn’t imagine money like that when I was 18. I was earning far more than anyone in my class and it seemed great. My co-star Ram was a sweetheart. I am still in touch with him.

How was your first day on the set?
The AD gave me this line and I asked him to say it once and when he did, I burst out laughing. It was very disrespectful on my part. I thought he was joking. I don’t remember much about my first time. I remember blurting out words and I do not know how sincere I came across.

Did you get good reviews?
I actually did. I remember one that said she is good at histrionics and I Googled it to see what it meant. I was surprised because we were taken to the theatre to see the reviews and response of the audience and I expected people to throw their chappals at me. Everyone had scared me. Though the director he had a lot of conviction in me, even he lost it a few times. I had ADs coming up to me and saying, ‘You shouldn’t be here, you are not going to make it’. So obviously my confidence was pretty much shattered. I was surprised people liked me. Also, my weight had fluctuated so much because when I came to Hyderabad I was skinny and then halfway through the director is like, ‘You are too skinny, you have to put on weight’. Then I began eating like a pig. Then I became a mini piglet in the middle of the film. I was shooting in the Grand Canyon in the middle of summer with coconut oil all over my body because the director thought I would look hot if I was all shiny and glistening and I was literally roasting under the Sun. I was five different shades in the film as well.

Wow, must look up that film now
I hope you never watch it, I’d be really embarrassed. Even before it released, I had another film and before that released, I signed another film and it became a process. I was like Akshay Kumar of the south. I used to do four films a year. I have worked with Mahesh Babu, NTR, Prabhas, Pavan Kalyan and Ravi Teja, who is one of my favourites. I did three films with him.

Then you did your first Hindi film!
Yes. Barfi was my first film. It was very different. I was like Chikni Chameli in the south and then I played this demure girl in Barfi.

Did you speak Hindi at that time?
Barely. I only spoke English. During promotions when they wanted me to speak in Hindi, I had a panic attack and which is why, I fled the country. I said, ‘Please leave me alone for three weeks.’ Again, I didn’t expect people to like me. I was like, ‘How could I pass off as a Bengali in the film,’ and Dada (Anurag Basu) even made me dub for the film. It was a little too overwhelming.

One actor who has worked with you said you are professional and hard working but you don’t seem driven. Is that correct?
Define driven.

What he probably meant was that you don’t have a plan...
Exactly. I don’t.

You are never seen at the right parties, or networking...
I do go to certain parties. I have gone to my success parties. It feels funny to go to a party where you don’t know anyone. I am one of the lost people in the corners you see at parties. I am socially awkward maybe, I don’t know. I have self-esteem issues. I consider myself very blessed, but unfortunately where I am, it is all about looks, in a way. I am okay when I have my make-up on. When I am in front of the camera, I am like, ‘I can do my sh*t and I can act like I am a freaking glamazon’, but when I am alone, I go back to my goofy self.

You don’t have a wishlist of actors or directors you want to work with?
No. Why be like everyone else?

How can you not?
I was talking to a friend recently about being ambitious. You know, everyone says, ‘She is ambitious and she will do whatever it takes.’ I do not consider that ambitious, I consider that little desperate, honestly. For me, ambition is doing a great job at work when I have my producers coming up to me and saying — ‘We love your work’. That is something that matters to me at the end of the day. I mean I could get a PR agency, I could be like everyone else, I can network, I can socialise, but it is just not me. I cannot play like that. I did not even have a PR agency until recently. My father once told me, ‘Whatever you do, don’t lose your individuality.’ I remember dad watching Indian Idol and he called me up and he was emotional. He said, ‘I loved that you were you’. That means a lot to me. Career, work is great. I love my job, but I can’t do all the crap that goes with it.

You think playing by the rules would have helped your career?
I do not know. Maybe. I am assuming it totally would. I have been... it is funny to put this into words. I do not consider myself attractive so when I have people come up to me... When I have actors flirting with me, in my head, I am thinking, ‘If I flirt back, I could definitely land a film with this guy. If I consider going to his house for drinks considering he has invited me, I could definitely get a film with him.’ But I just don’t want to do that. Why do I have to do that? If I am talented enough, why can’t I just get a film? I had a breakdown in London this time because of a film I lost, and I felt, if I have to be someone’s girlfriend to get a film, should I not be in this line of work? Eleven years of acting, and I still sometimes think, I am not cut out for this.

How many films has it been in 11 years?
Mubarakan is my 22nd I think. The difference between then and now is that now I genuinely love my work — which is why the breakdown, but I hate the bullshit that goes with it. I hate the people-pleasing that goes with it, and the stupid politics, but that is with every kind of work and job. But I do not want to fan someone’s ego around like, ‘Oh, you are awesome’ and act like an idiot on TV to get TRPs, I won’t do that, I have a little bit of dignity, I think. I don’t think that’s driven, I am driven in another way. And I am curious to know who said it.

You are in the midst of it, yet you seem disconnected. You don’t seem to eat, drink and breathe acting like most actors do.
Yes, I have a life. I mean no one goes up to a bank manager and says like — ‘Do you eat drink and breathe your job?’ It is a nine-to-five job. Acting is a job too. I like my family time. I like disconnecting from work when I come home, which is hard because there is so much that goes into making a film. I like being disconnected to an extent where I am like ‘Look when I am on a holiday leave me alone. I need to relax.’ And most people do not get that about me. They say it will cost you work. I am sorry. If I am worth it maybe a director will wait. I have had instances where it has cost me work but that’s okay. You don’t know how much time you have and I would rather spend that time, if I can, with my family. If I dream of sitting in my mum’s lap I will take a flight and go and see her. I have the luxury of doing that. I love my family and I am super close to them. I know it will make a difference if I go and see my dad on his birthday so I will do it. For me, it is like he will be surprised and he will be super happy and I will make his day. That matters to me. I do not want them to be like, ‘Okay, she is working and she is earning money, but we don’t get to see her.’ They will never complain, but I know it makes a difference.

Please continue...
But the minute you get like a team representing you, they push you saying you need to do this and that. And when you are lost and new, you think they know what they are talking about. I suppose then you listen to them. It is like cosmetic surgery. I had acne at one point, I went to this person to deal with it and she said, ‘Look you have laugh lines, I saw you in Barfi and it looks very bad. Do you sleep on your side?’ I am like, I do not know how I sleep, I am sleeping. Secondly what is it to you? She said, ‘Your jawline is very sharp, I will inject you here and there, it will become perfect. I said, I do not care. Let it be the way it is.’ I don’t mind losing out on films, but I do not want to touch my face. But so many of them get it done. I see half these girls, they are so pretty, but why do you have to be this stupid person and get their lips plumped up.

You’ve worked with actors like Ajay, Akshay and Saif, and Gen-Next heroes like Ranbir, Varun and now Arjun. Who do you share the best equation with?
I would have unusual and funny conversations with Saif, he is lovely. He is very honest. One of the first things he said to me was, “Why are you so defensive and aggressive?” That was honestly the icebreaker between us. I actually thought I needed to give him space as an actor but he is like, ‘Dude, talk to me’. He was lovely. Ajay was really nice to work with. He is really a great co-star and super professional. So yes, I definitely think Varun, Saif and Ajay stand out for me. I had great equations with them. It was an easy experience to work with them. Hopefully, I am not missing anyone else.

Two releases in a year, is it a first for you in Bollywood?
Yes. It is going to be quite something. The trailer launch was insane for me. It is going to be interesting. I love how they are completely different films. I love them both for different reasons. I am super excited about Mubarakan, I am playing a Punjabi girl, I hope the part is convincing.

You never repeat your co-stars.
I know! (Laughs) They don’t like me enough, I guess.

Do you ask your directors who your co-star is when you sign the film? Does that affect your choices?
To be very honest, yes. It matters who the director is and it matters who the actor is. The production aspect I honestly don’t understand so much, I have Reshma (manager) for that, and honestly, they have saved me from a lot of problems in the past. So yes, who my actor is, definitely matters to me. There are some actors that I know I won’t do a film with no matter how good the film is.

Who are they?
I won’t ever say. I cannot give you a blatant answer because I will get into trouble. Off the record I could tell you. I know I have been told not to believe stories, but I hear and have seen a lot of people get ahead if they do some things. And I am not going to give in irrespective of who you are. I am not judging anyone.... Which is also one of the reasons of my breakdown in London... I cried so much.

While most of the actresses don’t talk about their boyfriends, you refuse to hide Andrew Kneebone. Weren’t you told it will damage your career?
I was told it could damage my career. I was told not to talk about it. I remember the first awards show we went to together. I’ve never talked about this. I was very nervous. Barfi was nominated for so many categories and I had to go. I was lucky to have Andrew with me at that time. We were discussing going for it, and I for a second, thought about whether we should have separate entries. Then I felt like that was so unfair. Look, when Shahid Kapoor got married, everyone was celebrating and then he had a kid, that was celebrated even more. Why is it such a big deal when it is a woman dating? I was just like I don’t need to tell them a story of how I met this person. All I need to do is tell him that he is my strength and I want him to be there and I want to be holding his hand. I did, and it felt awesome.

Andrew is a professional photographer, it must have been odd for him being on the red carpet and being clicked by everyone?
It was. He is a very normal person and has a very normal sort of background and not at all associated with this. More than anything, he is a great person. He is someone very special to me. And I don’t want to hide someone like that. I wouldn’t hide my family. So why hide him? I have been around for so long. I have dated actors in the past. Six years in the south, when I was young, raging hormones call it what you will, we have all been there.

How was it dating an actor?
For me, it was like a relationship, you know, and I had great moments and bad moments, but I couldn’t deal with the constant association with films. I want to talk about something else. I do not want to bring my work home with me. I want to talk about stuff and life and I want to talk about a garden, I mean, Andrew has a garden back home. He is like, ‘Do you want to grow some basil?’ I say, yes. We talk about stuff and we have a life apart from films. It is a job for me. But everyone makes it out to be like this thing is your entire life. For me, it is just a job. I am going to lose films because of this. (Smiles)

Where do you see yourself five years from now?
I have no idea. I will be 31 in November. Last year was my 30th birthday and I was so happy. I went to Bali and I decided I was going to get drunk. I spent the evening in my room, ordering room service, eating pizza, in a unicorn onesie with wine and I passed out on the bed and I loved it. It was the best birthday ever.

Do you see yourself acting forever?
No. I do not see myself acting forever. I just see myself having a great career for a while. I am loving the work I am getting. I am enjoying it. I do not want to think about the future because it worries me when I think about it. Anxiety comes in. I do not want to think about money. I want to sit in a little bubble where I am like, I will do as much work as I can, do the best possible I can as far as the role is given to me. But I want to have a life. I do not want to be constantly this person, who is obsessed with work, you got to understand it is a circle of life. You are not going to be 23 forever. At some point, there will be someone else, who will replace me and fit the space of the kind of acting that I do. That is fine. You have to make way for someone, who is younger and just retire gracefully or walk away gracefully. I do not know if I will come back and do a mommy role, I do see myself working for a while and then moving away when the time feels right.

Soumya Vajpayee Tiwari (MID-DAY; May 23, 2017)

Multi-composer albums may have become the norm in Bollywood today, but not many musicians are comfortable with the idea. For them, maintaining the sanctity of a soundtrack is so important that they’d rather bow out of a project even after having invested a great deal of time and energy in it. In the latest instance, Pritam Chakraborty opted out of Sushant Singh Rajput-starrer Raabta after the makers insisted on adding a promotional song by another composer to the album that was, until recently, solely his.

Pritam, who announced his exit from Raabta on social media, tells us while he has no problem with the multi-composer trend, he doesn’t wish to be part of it. “Some films, especially love stories, have a distinct soundscape and definitely need a single composer to maintain that. Can you imagine a Barfi! (2012) or a Rockstar (2011) with multiple composers?” he asks.

Lack of clarity on the makers’ part was another reason for walking out of Raabta, adds Pritam. “They should be clear about their intention from the beginning. I am fine if they don’t work with me, but I don’t want to be part of movies where there’s a gap between what’s promised and what happens,” he says.

For script’s sake Seconding Pritam, Ehsaan Noorani of Shankar-Ehssan-Loy explains why they, too, prefer solo-composer projects. Besides helping maintain uniformity of soundscape, solo composers manage to fuse the music with the story. “We feel if the music is of any importance to the storyline, it should be done by one composer, who can weave the music into the script. It isn’t an ego issue,” he says.

Having many composers on board is convenient for makers since music is merely a marketing medium for most films nowadays, he reasons. “The focus is on one song that the producers and record companies feel will give the movie a good opening at the box office. Then why not record one or two tracks for a film, instead of getting five composers on board?”



Good enough
Amit Trivedi says he can never work in tandem with other music makers. He says, “Ek gaana le lo, do gaane le lo, main nahin kar sakta. I am capable enough to deliver an entire soundtrack. I have been doing that for years.”

However, young composer Amaal Malik, who has worked on several projects with other music directors, blames tight deadlines for the trend. “Everybody wants the song delivered the next day. If you get four days for a song, you would opt for remixes or remakes because they don’t take much time. That’s also why multiple composers come on board for a single film.”