Mayank Shekhar (MID-DAY; December 29, 2017)

Honestly, guys like me-call them critic-types if you will, but essentially film buffs who desire more than bread-and-butter for big-screen entertainment - hold a sub-conscious stake in propping up an actor like Rajkummar Rao, or a Nawazuddin Siddiqui, or even an Irrfan Khan, if you may. That they're sharp, well-trained, fantastic performers, is a given. But appreciating their talents to the point of anointing them stars in their own right (which they are) only widens the elbow room for the kind of scripts that can get green-lit, or mainstream films that can be made, with them wholly in the foreground, playing men who're often like you and I, or at any rate people we can relate to - rather than mystical, celestial beings from another sky, altogether trapped in their own galaxy of a fan-base, image, and audience expectations.



Rajkummar Rao in a still from Bareilly Ki Barfi and Trapped (above)

Of course, the more mainstream '100 crore' actors don't particularly fancy this 'fitrat' (tendency). A reasonably drunk Rishi Kapoor had hauled me over the coals once at a party for being this lallu "critic type" who simply can't understand how much harder it is to be a dancing, lip-syncing, commercial hero, rather than a brooding Everyman. Which is odd. I (like millions others) totally adore the on-screen Rishi Kapoor (even more so now). It's not an either-or kinda scenario.



Rajkummar Rao in a still from Raabta

Kapoor's grouse was against the level of praise heaped on Naseeruddin Shah all through his career. Which is odder still, since I was not even an embryo when the under-stated Naseer, film after film, stormed into the scene in the '70s, cornering considerable critical acclaim for the realism (or humanism) in his roles, gradually morphing into a star of a parallel universe (or parallel cinema, as it were).


Rajkummar Rao in a still from Newton

Not sure if it's the short-build, curly hair, or the self-righteousness of his character, or perhaps the fact that he's also an FTII trained actor, but looking at Rajkummar Rao (formerly known as Rajkumar Yadav) in Amit Masurkar's Newton, it was hard for me to not observe him as the 'new generation's Naseer', expressing it so many words in my review of the film as well. Rao, I noticed, naturally shied away from the compliment, when asked to respond to this analogy, in an online interview. Which is fair. Naseer has a body of work spanning five decades - during one of which (the '80s), he happened to be absolutely in the right place, at the right time.


Rajkummar Rao in a still from Bose: Dead Or Alive

Now I haven't seen too many Indian web-shows (my New Year resolution is to change that). But from the limited set that I did binge on, it might be fair to suggest that Bose (having watched six out of nine episodes) appears to be the best, if not the most ambitious, Indian web-series around - pacy, packed with drama, history, and conspiracy theories, and above all, an incredibly calm, sorted, podgy, and full of swag Rao, killing it as the balding, badass (to the Brits), Subhash Chandra Bose. Rao's so good that you ignore the fact that we'd been OD'ing on Bose this year (Vishal Bhardwaj's Rangoon, Tigmanshu Dhulia's Raag Desh, were both centred on the Indian National Army).


Shaadi Mein Zaroor Aana

Over few months, to picture Rao as the one-man army Bose, and also as one vulnerable man Shaurya, stuck in a mid-town Mumbai high-rise, with the camera-lens equally stuck on him, capturing his moves and 'feels' - highs and lows - from every possible angle for 100 minutes' flat, has to be a study in contrasts. "Emotion nichod daala": to put it in Bollywood-speak. Beyond doubt, Rao delivered his finest performance (ever) in Vikramaditya Motwane's Trapped.

Which is to take away nothing from his other gig, Ashwiny Iyer Tiwari's Bareilly Ki Barfi, where audiences loved him even more. In fact Rao's role in Bareilly is built entirely on the idea of contrast, where he switches from a meek bloke into a 'Bhai' type, every few minutes, with crowds cracking up before the screen. 'Status' (flipping between a person with 'high' and 'low' status in the same situation) is a popular game played at acting workshops. You knew Rao would've aced it each time while honing his craft. I'm sure others did too.


Behen Hogi Teri

The point I'm trying to make is simply this. Of course Rao is a phenomenal talent. But this was the year when we could watch him effectively exploit every facet of it. And yet, none of this would matter in a film industry, which works purely on profit-loss, investment-returns. It's a sign of the changing times (or audience tastes) that he delivered hits, which makes one redefine what's a "critic-type" star, or a "real one" anyway. Bareilly (also starring Ayushmann Khurana), Newton, and Trapped performed considerably well at the box-office. I didn't watch Rao's other two releases, Behen Hogi Teri, and Shaadi Mein Zaroor Aana, fearing (perhaps, incorrectly) that it might ruin my Rajkummar Rao experience. But the latter movie, I'm told, had large audiences queue up in theatres, especially after the first week. Raabta, I saw, and it bombed (maybe rightly so). But it's a sure sign of stardom that Rao got picked to make a special appearance in the movie. He was under so much prosthetic make-up that it could have been anybody playing that part from pre-history.


We told you so! Rao in mid-day's 2016 list of people to look out for in '17

This was pretty much the year when most of Bollywood's unwritten box-office rules were shattered. Hyderabadi Prabhas's Baahubali: The Conclusion was the biggest blockbuster; Salman Khan's Tubelight totally tanked. Besides Golmaal Again, Judwaa 2, and Tiger Zinda Hai, I suspect all the major commercial successes were 'sleeper-hits'. Basically, no one saw 'em coming - pictures on erectile dysfunction, toilets, sexually deprived women, with audiences lapping 'em up. What used to be "serious", "boring", "parallel" has seamlessly merged into the mainstream. Heroes/heroines matter less. If anything Akshay Kumar is the 'huge-budget' Nawaz/Irrfan/Rao. I don't know how much of that gets reflected in Bollywood's starry, made-for-TV award shows. It's hard to tell how many gongs will go Rao's way either.

But so far as accolades go, I happened to be standing right in front of Rao (unintentionally eavesdropping), when he received the hugest one: Sachin Tendulkar just wouldn't stop gushing, going ga-ga over Rao, as Rao smiled all through. To use a sporting analogy, 2017 was to Rao what 1998 was to Tendulkar. He's in top form, smashing everything around, with hopefully, a whole lot in store as well.

Childhood romances and ‘mohalle waala pyaar’ rarely have happy endings in Indian society. Behen Hogi Teri throws light on this aspect and also tackles the ‘burning issue’ of guys who are naturally assumed to be ‘bhaiyya’ of all the girls in the neighbourhood. What if the guy falls for the girl? How can he stop the girl from tying him a ‘rakhi’? The premise of the film is interesting but the content is confusing and fails to involve viewers.

The story of the movie: Shiv aka Gattu (Rajkummar Rao) is in love with his neighbor Binny Arora (Shruti Haasan) since childhood. But he is never able to gather guts and confess his feelings to Binny. Binny’s elder brother Jaidev (Ninad Kamat) is tough and even admitting to him about his love will be foolhardy especially when Gattu himself is not well settled and has no secure future. At this juncture, Rahul (Gautam Gulati) enters their lives. Binny’s marriage is arranged with Rahul, who is opposite of Gattu – smart, sophisticated, rich and well spoken. How Gattu tries to win Binny’s heart but in the process creates loads of problems and tensions for the Arora family forms the rest of the film.

With such a relatable synopsis, Behen Hogi Teri should have ideally been a laugh riot. But sadly, that never happens. It has some funny moments though but somehow there’s not a single sequence that takes the film to dizzying heights. The opening sequence is witty but that’s about it – it doesn’t bring the house down. Gattu dreaming of romancing Binny when there has been demise is a well-written sequence but again, there’s something missing that doesn’t allow the film to go on a high. Nevertheless, the first half is decent and manages to build up the story nicely and one hopes for some explosive entertainment in the second half. Sadly, that doesn’t happen. The film drags at places and one wonders what exactly is Gattu doing. His actions seem confusing and hardly anything that would make one root for the hero. The pre-climax scene however is sweet and the climax is slightly better than the overall disappointing second half.

Rajkummar Rao is superb. The film might not impress but he surely will. Known for intense performances, Rajkummar Rao wins hearts in this light-hearted performance. Shruti Haasan looks lovely and performance wise, she is decent. Her entry scene is rocking and in a couple of scenes, she really shines. Ninad Kamat is very good in a supporting role and gets into his character. Herry Tangiri (Bhura) is rocking and raises laughs in few sequences. Gulshan Grover (Bhura’s father) is damn good as the villain while Ranjeet (Bhura’s uncle) and Darshan Jariwala (Gattu’s father) are fair. Gautam Gulati has a very small role but gives a neat performance. Same goes for Kamlesh Gill (Binny’s grandmother).

Music is hardly memorable. Tera Hoke Rahoon is the best while Jai Maa is witty and entertaining. Jaanu is a disappointing remix while other tracks are forgettable. Rishi Rich’s background score is subtle and has the fun element. Viraj Singh Gohil’s cinematography is praiseworthy as it captures Lucknow like never before. Deven Murdeshwar’s editing is reckless at some places which dilutes the impact. Ajay K Pannalal and Vinit Vyas’s story is relatable while the dialogues are impressive. Screenplay however is faulty. Ajay K Pannalal’s direction fails to hit the bullseye. He has a lovely premise in hand and moreover, he has based it in a relatable environment in a small town Indian town. But the confusing content and misunderstandings in second half takes the film down.

On the whole, Behen Hogi Teri could have been this year’s Tanu Weds Manu Returns or Happy Bhaag Jaayegi. It has so many things going in its favour – great performances, a premise that’s straight out of life and a small town setting that oozes ‘mitti ki khushboo’. But there’s too much confusion and misunderstandings in the second half that should have brought the house down. Instead, it leaves the audiences dazed.

My rating - ** out of 5!

First appeared On Kiagia.com: https://goo.gl/XscRJQ

Upala KBR (DNA; June 9, 2017)

Shruti Haasan reminds one of her father Kamal Haasan — opinioniated, candid and forthright. The actress keeps shuttling between Mumbai and Chennai, as she is working in both the industries. Her Behen Hogi Teri releases today. Here, Shruti opens up about the film, her father, quitting Sanghamitra and marriage plans.

What made you sign a film with such a quirky title?
When I heard the story I was like — I hope it isn’t one of those titles that’s there just for the sake of it. But, it pretty much fits the film. I loved the story and my character Binny Arora. One of the deciding factors for me is — would I watch this film and enjoy it? And, I could genuinely see myself watching this film. That’s what allows me the opportunity to not box myself and try as many things as possible.

Are you similar to Binny?
Very rarely is any character is completely similar or different from you. If you are an empath, you can find similarities with most characters... unless it is a serial killer. Binny and her socio-geographic-economic background are nothing like mine, but she is a real life character, based on producer Tony D’Souza’s sister.

Did you meet his sister?
I didn’t want to meet her, as I didn’t want my perception to get influenced. But I did see videos of her and mostly it was lovely to look at, as it was from her brother’s and family’s point of view. The references were so strong. As the character is real, the writing is not one-dimensional. If you were writing about your brother it would be different from a fictional character as you would be able to take the character through the journeys that you have seen, which is why I loved playing this part. She’s tough and like a tomboy, but equally romantic, vulnerable, feminine and naïve at times, but super smart and sensible otherwise. I think all women are like that — it’s not just one particular thing, and I love that.

Ever faced a situation where you thought of a guy who was in love with you as a brother?
I find it very difficult to think of someone just as my brother. I have a friend who I have known since we were three years old, I don’t look at him as my brother but as my best friend. Because I never had a brother, it’s hard for me to imagine what that is like. It’s not as if I feel that men and women can’t be friends. My best friend is like my brother for all intents and purposes without a doubt. I just don’t feel the need to call him that.

Did you feel daunted before working with Rajkummar Rao hearing about his body of work?
(Laughs) I am Kamal Haasan’s daughter so other actors don’t get me nervous! I have gotten over that. I grew up with my father and still decided to be an actor, so I think I am over that being nervous. I could act with Al Pacino now and not be nervous. Coming to Rajkummar it was wonderful to work with someone who gives a lot to their character and is very committed to his work. It just makes the film and your role better, especially if it’s a romantic comedy. Rajkummar is a lot of fun and brings a lot of positivity to his work. Our chemistry was important, our camaraderie had to translate well on screen and I think that worked because we both are so committed to our work. As an actor I had heard a lot about him and seen his work.

One liners

Beyonce or Rihanna
I like Beyonce for her music and Rihanna for her attitude.

My song of the moment
I am addicted to the song Flute by Hot Chip.

Flirty or intense romance?
Intense romance any day.

A quality that draws you to a man?
The ability to introspect and intelligence.

A quality in a man that puts you off
A weak man who has denial issues.

Is there a Mr Perfect?
No, there is no such thing.

Live in relationships are…
A good testing ground to see if you are compatible.

2 FILMS WITH WEAK CASTS TO TRY THEIR LUCK AT THE B.O. TOMORROW

Tomorrow will see the release of 2 films, both of which have weak star casts. These films are Raabta and Behen Hogi Teri. Interestingly, Raabta is a bigger and significant film because of its scale, lead pair and also because it has been in the news more than the latter.

Raabta stars Sushant Singh Rajput and Kriti Sanon and marks the directorial debut of producer Dinesh Vijan. It’s a love story but has a reincarnation angle as well. What’s interesting is that the makers very well hid the reincarnation bit from media and public. The on location pictures from Budapest were out but that only focused on the other track of Sushant and Kriti, based in present era. It’s only when the trailer was out in mid-April that the central idea of the film became known. Songs have got some recognition but not enough to pull audiences to theatres. The film has been in the news from the first schedule itself when reports came in that Sushant and Kriti are dating after the former broke up with his girlfriend, Ankita Lokhande. The actors have vehemently denied these stories and one can’t help but think if this was all a publicity stunt. However, a controversy that’s not a stunt for sure is the makers of S S Rajamouli’s 2009 film Magadheera accusing Raabta makers of plagiarism. Both films have similar idea and it’s only on Friday when Raabta releases that the truth will be known on this matter.

Behen Hogi Teri stars Rajkummar Rao and Shruti Haasan in leading roles. It’s a slice of life comedy and its trailer promises loads of fun and laughter. Even this film got into a controversy thanks to a scene in the film in which Rajkummar, dressed as Lord Shiva, is seen riding a two-wheeler. The hype for the film however is very limited and it’s all set to have a poor opening. Raabta, on the other hand, too won’t be any better and at best, an average opening is expected!

WHICH FILMS WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE AND WHY? DO LET ME KNOW!

First appeared on Kiagia.com: https://goo.gl/arw7Ql

Sanyukta Iyer (MUMBAI MIRROR; June 7, 2017)

While debutant filmmaker Ajay K Pannalal’s romcom Behen Hogi Teri, is inspired from his real sister, his leading lady Shruti Haasan, who plays Lucknow girl Binny, chose to never meet her. “Binny is so relatable because she is a real person and I had stories, pictures and videos to rely on. But I wanted my imagination to stay intact,” Shruti reasons.

The film was shot entirely in Lucknow with the makers transforming a family home into a set. Shruti recalls being mesmerised by the positivity and warmth of the small unit she was working with, and the culture-rich, old-world city she was filming in. She points out that her screen turn is different from her real self but she is sure the film will open up new facets of her career and personality. But she didn’t lend her voice to the film’s album. “We did discuss at length about recording a track together but didn’t want to record just for the sake of it. It wasn’t required here,” she says.

The film ran into a controversy last month when someone took offence to a shot of Shruti’s co-star Rajkummar Rao riding a two-wheeler dressed like Lord Shiva. Her father Kamal Haasan referred to the incident as “a part of the entertainment spectrum.” Shruti says, “No one creates art to offend. It’s just that someone’s storytelling style may seem apt at one moment, might not be acceptable to everyone. But you cannot think of these things because you will not be able to work at all.”

The actress unites with her father on screen in the Tamil-Telugu spythriller, Sabaash Naidu. “For a long time, my father was fearful that he may either be over-critical or overindulgent with my work. But we have always looked at each other’s work dispassionately. It was amazing to have the entire family under one roof,” Shruti says – her sister Akshara was an assistant director on the film.

Shruti was in the news for bowing out of Sundar C’s Sangamithra. While the Twitter handle of the film’s presenters and distributors shared, “Due to unavoidable circumstances, we are unable to proceed working with Shruti Haasan in Sangamithra,” her spokesperson told Mirror that she had to walk out as “she had not received a bound script or a proper schedule.” Was it the two-year commitment for the project that made her walk out? “Not at all. I commit to stuff wholeheartedly. If I am convinced, I will invest in my art. If I require a script and a calendar because it is a basic requirement and people call that a tantrum, then so be it. It’s easy to throw terms like ‘diva-effect’ around but you cannot work without clarity. It’s impractical.”

Subhash K Jha (DNA; June 4, 2017)

With Shruti Haasan’s next, Behen Hogi Teri, being mired in controversy, her father Kamal Haasan isn’t surprised at all. Been there, seen that? Of course, the controversy in Shruti’s case involves her co-star Rajkummar Rao posing on a motorbike dressed as Lord Shiva. Kamal, on the other hand, got into hot water over a remark he made on the Mahabharat.

The veteran actor says such fundamentalist attacks are now part-and-parcel of the profession. He admits, “I was not the least bit surprised with such extreme retaliations. Our country is quickly losing its sense of humour. The sooner we realise it, the better for all of us in this business of entertainment.”

While he sounds worried about his daughter’s safety, he says that she knows where she stands. “It will all settle down, I hope. In any case, Shruti takes her own career decisions. We don’t discuss work when we meet. Unlike me, she is very sure of what she wants,” he says. Kamal will be watching Behen Hogi Teri soon. “Yes, I will see it soon. For a very long time, I stayed away from Shruti’s films, fearful that I will be either over-critical or over-indulgent. But now, I think we can both look at each other’s work dispassionately.”The weird world of yoga!

Subhash K Jha (DNA; May 30, 2017)

Tony D’Souza, producer of Behen Hogi Teri, is still coming to terms with his sudden arrest and being held in police custody for over 48 hours in Jalandhar, Punjab, for “hurting religious sentiments.”

Says Tony, “I was suddenly taken away. It took me a while to understand why I was being arrested. I wasn’t even aware of the objectionable scene.”

Shiva destroys
But his troubles are far from over. Not only does he have to prepare for the film’s release, he also is prepping himself for a legal battle. Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) chairperson Pahlaj Nihalani says, “We found the scene (where Rajkummar Rao is dressed as Lord Shiva, riding a two-wheeler) objectionable. We knew it would cause trouble. We removed it before granting the film a censor certificate. But the promos carried the scene and the damage was done.”

Pehle bhi
Point out that Akshay Kumar as Lord Krishna rode a motorbike in Umesh Shukla’s OMG O My God and that PK features an actor in a Lord Shiva getup in a long chase sequenc.? Pahlaj adds, “We are very careful about not hurting religious sentiments. I am proud to say there have been no protest morchas by religious organisations in front of the CBFC office in recent times.”

The FIR was filed post a picture of lead actor Rajkummar Rao dressed as Lord Shiva, riding a two-wheeler went viral.

Avinash Lohana (MUMBAI MIRROR; May 26, 2017)

In April, Amul Mohan, a co-producer on the Rajkummar Rao and Shruti Haasan-starrer Behen Hogi Teri, tweeted a teaser poster of the film which had Rao as a dejected Lord Shiva sitting atop a motorcycle. While it was hailed as “oddly cool” by some, others wondered if it would unwittingly invite outrage from devotees of the Hindu deity.

Over a month later, Mirror has learnt that Jalandhar resident Ishan Sharma, taking offence at the poster, has filed a private criminal complaint against the makers of the romcom at Jalandhar Magistrate Court. Following this a warrant was issued against the makers and co-producer Tony D'Souza, who appeared at Versova police station on Thursday.

“Since a warrant was issued, Tony had been called to the police station. We have moved the Andheri Magistrate Court and have applied for bail. During festivals many artists dress up as gods, but that doesn’t mean they are demeaning them in any way. Even Akshay Kumar had played Lord Krishna in OMG: Oh My God! and was seen riding a bike, no one had raised an objection then. Why now?” argues the film’s lawyer Bhushan Mahadik, who is currently in London, adding that the complainant is trying to get publicity out of the episode. “There is a Censor Board that advises cuts if necessary. We will examine the complaint in detail and will take strict action against the complainant if he's in fact trying to get publicity”.

Kiran Kale, in-charge of the Versova police station where D’Souza had appeared, says, “The primary complaint was moved by a section of Vishwa Hindu Parishad functionaries (based out of Jalandhar) who objected to Lord Shiva being mounted atop a motorcycle as the film posters evinced. We have, however, come across nothing irregular in the matter and offered and facilitated whatever assistance they needed.”

At the time of going to press, despite their best efforts, D’Souza and Co. had failed to post bail, while Amul Mohan, who has since deleted the ill-fated post from his Twitter account, remained unavailable for comment.

Rajkummar Rao knows how to have fun and let loose, too. Like he does in his upcoming film
Karan Shah (DNA; December 28, 2016)

Most of his roles have been intense affairs, the last one being in Aligarh. Rajkummar Rao’s next, Behen Hogi Teri, is markedly different — it’s a light-hearted masala entertainer. We visited the sets in Lucknow and saw him in action. Excerpts from our chat...

What made you say yes to Behen Hogi Teri?
The script. I found BHT funny and relatable. The characters are real and human. I met director Ajay Pannalal and found him to be a great guy. Before BHT and Bareily Ki Barfi, I finished three films that were quite taxing for me as an actor — Trap, Omerta and Newton. I thought of trying something light. That’s why I chose this film.

A photo of you dressed up as Lord Shiva went viral. What is your character like in the film?
My character’s name is Shiv Nautiyal, but people call him Gattu. He is in love with this girl, Binny, who is played by Shruti (Haasan). They’ve been neighbours since childhood. And as it happens in North India, you can’t really fall in love with your neighbour. I don’t know why the practice exists, but it is kind of strange. So the film shows us, how since childhood he is trying to woo her, but he cannot as it is not allowed. Then he joins her jagran mandali, which is owned by Shruti’s family. He starts working there and starts performing like Lord Shiva. He is also studying. So there is a lot of drama that follows, a lot of confusion.

You posted a few selfies, showing off your six-pack abs. Will you be doing that in the film, too? Do we see you taking off your shirt?
No, I doubt if people will be able to see that in Behen Hogi Teri. That was only for Instagram. I’ve always been a sports enthusiast, but never got the opportunity. So I like working out. I like to shoot, then work out, eat and sleep — that’s my life.

You don’t talk much about your relationship with Patralekhaa...
It’s as boring as it gets, it’s just a relationship like every other relationship. We have spoken a lot about it during Citylights and now we are focusing on our respective careers now. It’s there, that’s about it.

Reports about your break-up with her made headlines earlier this year. Do such rumours bother you?
No, not really. As long as you know the truth, nothing else matters.

Any plans to get married soon?
No, not anytime soon. I am still a kid.

Coming back to movies, tell us a little bit about more about your upcoming projects.
I think Trapped will be the first one to come out. I am really looking forward to that. It’s just a one-character story, so that way it is very special. Then there is Hansal Mehta’s Omerta, which I feel is one of the most explosive films till date. Then I have Newton, a satire, a black comedy and a slice-of-life film, all rolled into one. Then there is Bareilly Ki Barfi. In the movie, I play two drastically different personalities, which was fun. And then there is Behen Hogi Teri.

What has been your favourite movie of 2016?
This Kannada film called Thithi and Udta Punjab.

What’s been the song of the year for you?
It changes every month because there is so much good music coming out. But Ikk Kudi from Udta Punjab.

The actor and actress of the year, according to you?
I think Manoj Bajpayee in Aligarh was really fabulous. From the actresses, a lot of them did great work this year. I haven’t seen Kahaani 2 yet, but Alia in Udta Punjab was amazing.

Three biggest events of the year for you...
Donald Trump winning the presidential elections in America. Demonetization, for sure, has affected everyone. I remember, we were shooting for Bareily Ki Barfi in Lucknow and somebody called me to say that it had happened and I retorted that it didn’t. But people on the sets confirmed that it did. At the time, I had around Rs 4,000-5,000 rupees in my wallet. But it suddenly changes your perception towards life. The currency I had was just paper by then. There’s really no point taking anything seriously as anything can change anytime.

Any New Year plans?
I am planning to go to Amsterdam.

One person’s New Year party you would like to gatecrash?
Leonardo DiCaprio’s. I think his party will be a lot of fun. He is one of the best actors we have, so his parties will be great, too.

Shruti Haasan on her upcoming film, the unlikely pairing in it with Rajkummar Rao, South films, social media and an introspection on how she’s changed over the year so far
Karan Shah (DNA; December 14, 2016)

Shruti Haasan has a fascination for unlikely pairings. So much so, she’s excited about her own pairing with Rajkummar Rao in her new film Behen Hogi Teri. Dressed in a pink Lucknowi salwar kameez, Shruti is busy shooting a mehendi scene when we meet. For someone who has completed nine-odd years in Bollywood, Shruti still has the zeal and excitement to approach all her roles with equal enthusiasm. Excerpts from our chat...

What made you take up Behen Hogi Teri?
I liked the freshness of it. The thing that struck me the most about the script was that the emotions were so simple and wonderful and they leave you feeling warm and reminiscent of a time in your own life when things were simpler and purer.

A bit about your character...
She has this fun, boisterous kind of energy. She also has this sensitive, girly side to her. The mix of the two is something I really liked about this character.

Is your pairing with Rajkummar exciting for you?
I like to see unexpected pairings. Just like people in the business think that A and D would gell together or this and this would go well together, even the audience kind of mentally prepares itself to see them like that. Breaking expectations, even as an audience member, is something that I have enjoyed. So, I really hope that people like that kind of quirkiness of the pairing.

Is it easy balancing between working in the South and Bollywood?
Yes, it is crazy, the packing and the travelling. But it is something that I always wanted to do because I grew up in a multi-cultural home. I am really lucky that I got to do it.

You are quite active on social media...
I like it because it connects me to a certain group in a certain way. It gives me a certain meter and a better sense of things as well. And there is a lot of rubbish as well, any actor saying that there is no rubbish, is lying. There are absolute nut cases out there, which is also entertaining. But on a day-to-day basis, the kind of love and encouragement you get is unparallelled.

What other films are you working on?
In the South, I am working with Surya and Pawan Kalyan again, two of the most wonderful superstars and both of whom I started my career with. It was really wonderful to revisit that. So I am really excited.

The three biggest events that happened to you this year...
I have changed a lot as a person. It has been a year of self-awareness. I think I have been open to a lot of things that I have not been open to before. I think I have become tougher about the things I like and I don’t like, which is great and comes with turning 30. I think I am also doing a lot more music, which is exciting.

The actor was clicked walking around the sets of his new film dressed as Lord Shiva
Avinash Lohana (MUMBAI MIRROR; December 10, 2016)


After wrapping up his portions for Ashwiny Iyer Tiwari’s Bareilly Ki Barfi in Lucknow, Rajkummar Rao returned to the city of Nawabs towards November-end to shoot for Ajay Pannalal’s Behen Hogi Teri with Shruti Haasan. Mirror recently came across a picture of the actor walking around on the sets of the film dressed as Lord Shiva.

“My character is called Gattu. He is a part of a jagran mandali that is owned by Shruti in the film. It is a part-time job for him and a very interesting character,” informs Rajkummar who had to paint his entire body blue for the turn. “It took me two hours to dress like Lord Shiva. The Lucknow cold made it even more challenging as I wasn’t wearing much,” he adds with a laugh.

Raj recalls playing Lord Shiva in the jagran mandalis from his childhood. “My mother was very religious and I like to dance. I was seven or eight when I performed tandava (a divine dance performed by Lord Shiva) in them,” says the Shahid actor, adding that he’d like to do the routine in his film too if his director wants it.

Rajkummar who is known to seamlessly slip into the characters he is playing, be it Shahid Azmi, the intensely passionate human rights activist-lawyer of the eponymous Hansal Mehta film, the desperate migrant Deepak Singh of Citylights, Deepu Sebastian, the journalist in Aligarh, or a transgender in the Bengali film, Aami Saira Bano never shies away from a challenge. “Being an actor is all about exploring different characters. I also get to live so many different lives,” informs Rajkummar who has begun prepping up for his turn as Subhas Chandra Bose in an online series made by Ekta Kapoor. “We’ll begin filming sometime early next year.”

Meanwhile, he will be shooting in Lucknow till the monthend but will return to Lucknow in January to shoot the last schedule.

Tushar Joshi (DNA; November 2, 2016)

In what can only be described as a completely unusual pairing, Shruti Haasan and Rajkummar Rao will come together for the first time in a romantic comedy titled Behen Hogi Teri, produced by Amul Vikas Mohan, Tony D’Souza and Nitin Upadhyaya. At the helm is Ajay K Pannalal, who has directed a few hit Punjabi films.

BHT sees the ‘serious cinema’-type Rao go full-on commercial. A source explains the choice, “The film is based in Lucknow and Rajkummar has the right look and feel that fits the main character. Shruti has an incredible role, too. Moreover, the two have never been cast together before. Obviously, the filmmakers are excited.”

Says Mohan, “BHT is a fun film with a big heart. We have spent a lot of time getting the story right because that’s our number-one priority. We were lucky to get a great cast which we are sure will really surprise and entice the audiences. Shooting begins in December.”

Behen Hogi Teri will have a tight schedule that will wrap up by January 2017.