Deepali Singh (DNA; June 15, 2019)

After Shriya Pilgaonkar auditioned for the British TV series Beecham House, she didn’t hear from them for quite some time. “One day, I was suddenly called to their office and I thought I was going for a meeting, but they started taking measurements for the outfits!” she recalls with a laugh. Directed by Gurinder Chadha, the period drama set in 1795 was shot across London and Rajasthan and was an engaging and interesting process for the Mirzapur actress. Shriya tells us more about the show and her role...

Was it daunting to be a part of an international production?
I have done a French film earlier, but this is my first British series and one of the primary parts. In that sense, I was a little nervous about it, especially because it’s a period drama and this is the first time I’m speaking English on screen. Everyone had to undergo voice lessons and diction training workshops because the English spoken in a period drama is a little different from how one would speak otherwise. It’s slower and the sentences are fuller. I wasn’t daunted as I was excited about the experience. Also, it was a diverse cast and crew from all over the world and I was really looking forward to that setup.

Tell us a bit about the show and your character.
It’s a drama about family, relationships, love and loss. These are universal themes. Hence, they’re quite relatable. My character is an intriguing one. There is not much known about her. She is a young girl who comes to the house as the caretaker to John Beecham’s baby and ends up falling in love with his brother. She is ambitious, adventurous and loyal. A part of her wants to explore the world and she is always torn and conflicted about what she wants to do. What makes her more intriguing are the choices she makes. She is unafraid and uninhibited.

How was it to work with Gurinder Chadha?
She really represents diversity in the true sense because she is able to keep her team together, which I think is the most important quality of a director. She has a good understanding of the script and working with actors. Both of us enjoy history. There was so much energy on the sets and she deserves credit for that.

What’s next?
I have a film titled Bhangra Paa Le with Sunny Kaushal and Anubhav Sinha’s Abhi Toh Party Shuru Hui Hai. Then I have Haathi Mere Saathi, a trilingual with Rana Daggubati. It’s my first Tamil-Telugu project. There is also a project for an OTT platform.

Making her international debut with Chadha’s Beecham house, Shriya Pilgaonkar on establishing herself amidst a powerhouse of international talent
Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; April 19, 2019)

Pulling off a promising act as Ali Fazal’s wife in the web show Mirzapur, Shriya Pilgaonkar felt like a débutant all over again after the show’s success earned her further recognition. “It has changed the momentum of my career. More interesting work is coming my way now. For the first time, I’m experiencing this kind of recognition. When I least expect it, people randomly call out to me by [my character’s name], Sweety. People tell my parents to convey their love for me,” says the actor, whose ill-fated character was eventually killed off in the thriller. “Even then, I get messages from people on Instagram suggesting ways in which my character could be brought back into the series. They are hilarious, but also flattering.” Is she then set to make a return to the show? “I don’t know yet.”

Up next, Pilgaonkar moves on to another promising offering. Gurinder Chadha’s British historical drama Beecham House has established names like Lesley Nicole and Tom Bateman as the headlining cast. Pilgaonkar, who slips into the part of a nursemaid in the show that is set in Delhi before the British rule, says, “Gurinder is a powerhouse. This is the first time I’m doing a period drama, so I was nervous, at first. I took this opportunity to read up about the time period that the show is set in. I also took voice and diction lessons, which were interesting. Gurinder helped us develop our characters, and find our place in the ensemble cast. I had seen the works of some of my co-actors, including Lesley, Mark Warren and Bateman. So, I was excited to work with them.”

Having auditioned for the role of Chanchal, a “feisty and charming girl with a mysterious past”, who turns up at John Beecham’s palatial Beecham House to take care of his baby, Pilgaonkar describes her character as one who is adventurous. “Chanchal has many shades to her. She is unpredictable, and discovers a lot about love throughout the course of the series.”

Shooting for the show took place in London's Ealing Studios last year. “We shot the India schedule in Jaipur and Udaipur.”

BOMBAY TIMES (March 31, 2019)

Lara Dutta has always lived life on her own terms. “From the day that I entered the industry, I’ve hated being labelled. So, all my efforts have always been about doing something new,” she tells us. The actress, who forayed into production a while ago, has now turned entrepreneur with a beauty range that she soon plans to expand. Excerpts from an interview with BT on her plans...

Of late, you have been very selective about your acting assignments. Are you planning to turn full-time producer?
Life has changed over the last few years; my priorities have changed and things have been different on the professional front as well. I have moved from being just an actor to being a producer, and it’s not your usual ‘actress-producer’ tag. I didn’t want to make films in which I was acting. The move to be a producer was triggered by the fact that there was so much incredible material available. I’ve loved reading all my life — I have vociferously read books, newspapers and magazines and in the process, I came across these incredible stories that I felt strongly about. That’s why, in the past two years, I have curated material in an attempt to find the right medium for every story. I won’t say that I am just a producer; once an actress, always an actress and even at the age of 60, if you put me in front of the camera, I would be happy.

As an actress, is the transition also happening in terms of the platform where you perform? You have worked on Gurinder Chadha’s international TV show Beecham House...
That opportunity came out of the blue, when Gurinder asked me if I would be interested in playing Begum Samru. It’s a character I have followed and loved for many years. I shot for the show in Jaipur last year and we will premiere internationally on April 7. It’s the first time I’ve done something in English. Though most people thought that my orientation was there rather than in Hindi cinema, it took me 14 years to get there (laughs!). Working in a medium and set-up that’s different from films has been very interesting.

Does that mean that you will not act in Hindi movies now?
Of course, I will. In fact, we had planned a sequel to Chalo Dilli, titled Chalo China. Eros and I owned the IP on that project equally, and we had completed a lot of work on that film, but because of some unavoidable reasons, it got buried for a while. But now, the project has been revived. I hadn’t thought of starring in a movie this year, but Chalo China is happening and it's a fun film, especially for the loyal fans of Chalo Dilli. To put it simply, Chalo China is like Chalo Dilli on steroids (laughs!). Both Vinay (Pathak) and I are reprising our roles and it’ll be a bigger and more entertaining experience.

Are you also looking at platforms like TV and the digital space as a producer?
I was lucky enough to step into production even before the digital revolution began, so my company already had content that could be formatted for different platforms. Currently, we have a fantastic series that we are doing internationally, in collaboration with a big production company in the US. Its subject is sensitive and also relevant to the current global scenario. We’ve got the rights to the book, The Meadow, written by two award-winning journalists, Adrian Levy and Cathy Scott-Clark. The series has been a huge learning experience for us as small independent producers from India. It’s been a whole new world, the way they work in the West. In Bollywood, work relationships are very personal, and everyone adjusts, but overseas, everything is done by the book. Timelines are sacrosanct, and you have to have your paperwork in place before you begin shooting. Apart from production, I am also doing a series of interviews with new-generation, pathbreaking and influential young entrepreneurs for a UAE-based network. The shoot for that chat show will kick-start this month.

Apart from the Chalo Dilli sequel, is there any other film that you’re looking to produce? There was news last year that you are producing a film on the women’s basketball team from Chhattisgarh…
Yes, we have the rights to that project and we’re attempting it as an international film, the same way Danny Boyle’s Slumdog Millionaire was made. Basically, it’s stories that originate from India, but are meant to reach a wider audience around the world. We also have another film, Kahin Door, which is being directed by Sushil Rajpal, who is a National Award-winning filmmaker. It was meant to be a smaller film, but it’s become bigger now. We now have a bigger actor attached to the project.

Women are constantly working towards breaking the glass ceiling, especially in cinema. As a producer, what is your career aim?
In Bollywood, everybody waits for an announcement of actors signing films with top production houses. So, my focus is to make a production house that slowly builds itself and becomes that big. At some point of time, it won’t be about who I am working with or signing on for a movie, but about our production house creating acclaimed content and building that kind of prestige in the industry. That’s what I want to build my way towards. Also, maybe be it’s a little premature, but I know from within that I want to be a director. I feel that’s going to happen sooner or later.

Are you on a quest to reinvent yourself?
The quest isn’t about reinvention as much as it is about growth. Every new decade in your life will bring you new goals. I don’t see myself as reinventing the old Lara. I just never looked back. I have never rested on the laurel that 19 years ago, I won the Miss Universe title. For the last five years, I’ve been mentoring beauty pageant contestants with the Times of India, to help them achieve their dreams and goals, but I’ve never rested on past glory. What I like about myself the most is that I’ve changed considerably in the last 19 years as a person. Today, when I look back, it feels like that was somebody else’s life. From the day that I entered the industry, I’ve hated being labelled. So, all my efforts have always been about doing something new. I may be articulate, but if my opinion doesn’t add value to a situation, I see no point in opening my mouth. I would rather focus on things that make a difference to me and my life. That is why I spent the last few years creating my own brand, Arias. It’s part of something I am doing with Mahesh (Bhupathi, husband) and it’s part of a larger plan. Arias Skin Care is something that I’ve worked on for the last few years, making sure that we formulate the best products that we can give the Indian market. The idea essentially stems from the fact that international cosmetic and skin-care brands don’t create anything specific for Indian skin types or climatic conditions. I have used products from around the world and I know that there’s nothing tailormade for us. Arias is going to be launched at the beauty world trade fair in Dubai, in mid-April, corresponding with my birthday. But that’s just the beginning of the brand. In the consequent months, Arias will encompass other products like clothing, furniture and more. It’s a bit scary because there is massive amount of input that goes into creating something like this.

You recently posted about your eighth marriage anniversary on social media. Does personal life take a backseat when you dedicate time to your entrepreneurial dreams?
It doesn’t feel like eight years at all. Actually, it’s been eight years of marriage and two years of knowing Mahesh before that, so it’s been 10 years in total. I think it was a shock for both of us that we’ve been together for a decade. Time has flown by and it’s been good fun being by Mahesh's side. Our little kid, Saira, takes up all our energy that’s left... Life’s busy and it’s all good as both Mahesh and I try to be good parents.

How valuable is the support of your husband and family, especially when you’re out there pursuing your ambitions?
I come from humble beginnings. I didn’t have a dad who had bags of money and the disposition that, ‘Jao beta, jo tumhe karna hai karo. I'll finance whatever you want to do in life’. Not having that creates a hunger within you to succeed at all cost. I also married a man who was self-made and came from a similar background. Mahesh has always pushed me hard to achieve more. He sees my potential and what I am capable of doing. I always tell him and myself that I never want to sit at home doing nothing, because I would drive him and myself mad. I love challenging myself and putting myself in situations which seem to be beyond my capabilities. I never saw myself being an entrepreneur; in fact, I wanted to be a journalist. I wanted to be a war correspondent just like my idol, Christiane Amanpour. That’s the kind of stories that I wanted to tell and now, that’s what I am doing.

Last year, when the #MeToo movement took Bollywood by storm, you and Mahesh were vocal in your support of the campaign...
Last year saw some great conversations in the film industry. The #MeToo movement and the discussions on gender disparity, in terms of remuneration and opportunities, have brought many truths out in the open. Talking about these things also brings a lot of backlash, because at the end of the day, the film industry operates on personal equations. So, taking a stand on such subjects can fetch some amount of backlash, but when Mahesh and I took a stand on the #MeToo movement, we were supported by most quarters. When it comes to pay parity between men and women, there are girls in the industry who can initiate conversations and make a difference, but they don’t do so. My only request to all the women in the film industry is that when you take up a cause, whether it’s #MeToo or pay parity, we should follow it regardless of where the stick falls, on our side or the other. It’s important to support the cause regardless of the outcome.

Playing an Indian princess in Beecham House, Pallavi decodes her look in the period drama
Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; November 12, 2018)

The joy of working on a Gurinder Chadha project aside, Pallavi Sharda says Beecham House also gives her the opportunity to explore a period drama. Set in the 19th century, the film sees her play an Indian princess. She credits her look to the styling team who did a thorough research of the styles prevalent in the era. “Our costume team, headed by Joanna Eatwell, undertook research into what women of that era wore. They have created the costumes in keeping with the hues, textures and silhouettes of the time,” says Sharda, who was last seen in Lion (2016).

The six-part series revolves around British soldier John Beecham, played by Tom Bateman, who begins life anew as a trader in Delhi.

Describing her character Chandrika as one who “clings viscerally to her roots”, Sharda, who is currently shooting in the capital, says, “She is close to John Beecham, but no one in the house understands why. Her mysterious intentions make weaving her character together fun. She typifies a warrior-like Indian woman who knows what she believes in and is prepared to fight for it.”

She prepped for her part by gaining an insight into the political climate of the period. “I researched the political and social dynamics of the time. Books like Shashi Tharoor’s Inglorious Empire: What The British Did to India were informative. Gurinder is a fantastic director who knows what she wants, and I enjoy those magic moments of free fall when I can be putty in her hands.”

Sachin, Supriya Pilgaonkar’s daughter Shriya on featuring in Gurinder Chadha’s TV series with Tom Bateman, Lesley Nicol
Natasha Coutinho (MUMBAI MIRROR; August 27, 2018) 

Shriya Pilgaonkar, the 29-year-old daughter of actors Sachin and Supriya, has joined the cast of Gurinder Chadha’s TV series Beecham House. Her co-star is Tom Bateman who has featured in Hollywood films like Murder On The Orient Express and Snatched. It is currently being filmed in London and also features Brit actor Marc Warren known for shows like The Vice and State Of Play and Lesley Nicol of Downton Abbey.

The actress who was earlier seen in Shah Rukh Khan’s Fan, besides a Marathi and French film, informs that Beecham House is essentially a period drama set in Delhi, on the cusp of the 19th century, before the British rule in India. “It is the story of the residents of this palatial house and what happens when John Beecham arrives with a mysterious child and his caretaker. My character, Chanchal, is an intriguing, ambitious, passionate and secretive girl with a mysterious past. She has an interesting track and I’m looking forward to seeing how the evolves,” informs an excited Shriya who has always enjoyed lessons in history.

She goes on to reveal that they have been shooting at London’s Ealing Studios. “We are shooting in London against a 1902 setting for five weeks. Many classics and TV series have been filmed here, including Downton Abbey which I really like,” says Shriya, admitting that she’d auditioned for the part a while ago and when she didn’t hear from the makers she’d assumed that she had lost out, only to get an message to leave for London immediately. “Some of the best things come out of nowhere!” she exults.

Shriya describes Gurinder as a “powerhouse” who is driven to tell diverse stories and points out that as someone who enjoys direction, she finds the filmmaker inspiring to work with. “Beecham House has been a passion project for her,” she avers, equally gung-ho about her interaction with SRK during the Fan shoot, saying it was almost surreal getting a glimpse of the man behind the star. “He is so witty and well-read, and that made me love him even more.”

Her next Hindi film is Anubhav Sinha’s political satire, Abhi Toh Party Shuru Hui Hai, which will be releasing soon. There are two other films in the pipeline that will roll next year.

Quiz her on her actor parents and the profession, and she says, she’s a lot like my father who wants to do it all, be it in front of the camera or behind it. “My parents have always been supportive and allowed me to explore. I never took acting as a career choice for granted, I’ve worked hard to carve my own niche and that’s what makes them proud. I want to do it all, be in front of the camera and behind it ,” she signs off.