Showing posts with label Bihar. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Bihar. Show all posts
Fenil's Bollywood Talk # 953
5:37 PM
WILL THE VVAAN MANAGE TO SURPRISE AT THE BOX OFFICE?
Tomorrow will see the release of The Vvaan, starring Sidharth Malhotra and Tamannaah Bhatia. The film is significant as it brings these two actors together for the first time and also because it is produced by TVF. Moreover, Ekta Kapoor's Balaji Telefilms is also involved as one of the producers.
The Vvaan's teaser was just okay, but the trailer has made an impact. What has worked more than the trailer is the song ‘Chhathi Maiya’. It's a rare song about Chhath Puja and has been loved by those who celebrate it.
In fact, thanks to the song, the advance booking of The Vvaan is quite good in Bihar. Several shows are fast filling, while in the rest of the country, it is underwhelming. As of now, the film seems to open at around Rs. 5 crores or Rs. 6 crores. Sidharth Malhotra's last film, Param Sundari, had opened at Rs. 6.85 crores. If The Vvaan can go past this number, then it'll be quite praiseworthy for this film. If reports are positive, the film can grow healthily over the weekend and earn around Rs. 20-25 crores. That's very important as The Vvaan has just one week to score. This is because Drishyam The Conclusion will arrive next Friday, October 2, and it is expected to do smashing business at the box office.
Moreover, The Vvaan faces unexpected competition from Avengers Endgame: Encore. It’s a re-release of Avengers: Endgame and the makers have included additional scenes from the upcoming film, Avengers: Doomsday. The hype for Doomsday is insane and it will prove beneficial to Avengers Endgame: Encore. It's set to open at Rs. 10 crores and thus, it’ll break all re-release records.
Tomorrow will see the release of The Vvaan, starring Sidharth Malhotra and Tamannaah Bhatia. The film is significant as it brings these two actors together for the first time and also because it is produced by TVF. Moreover, Ekta Kapoor's Balaji Telefilms is also involved as one of the producers.
The Vvaan's teaser was just okay, but the trailer has made an impact. What has worked more than the trailer is the song ‘Chhathi Maiya’. It's a rare song about Chhath Puja and has been loved by those who celebrate it.
In fact, thanks to the song, the advance booking of The Vvaan is quite good in Bihar. Several shows are fast filling, while in the rest of the country, it is underwhelming. As of now, the film seems to open at around Rs. 5 crores or Rs. 6 crores. Sidharth Malhotra's last film, Param Sundari, had opened at Rs. 6.85 crores. If The Vvaan can go past this number, then it'll be quite praiseworthy for this film. If reports are positive, the film can grow healthily over the weekend and earn around Rs. 20-25 crores. That's very important as The Vvaan has just one week to score. This is because Drishyam The Conclusion will arrive next Friday, October 2, and it is expected to do smashing business at the box office.
Moreover, The Vvaan faces unexpected competition from Avengers Endgame: Encore. It’s a re-release of Avengers: Endgame and the makers have included additional scenes from the upcoming film, Avengers: Doomsday. The hype for Doomsday is insane and it will prove beneficial to Avengers Endgame: Encore. It's set to open at Rs. 10 crores and thus, it’ll break all re-release records.
Pankaj Tripathi breaks his silence on the recent attack on his elder brother, Vijayendranath
9:20 AM
Onkar Kulkarni (BOMBAY TIMES; July 23, 2026)
Pankaj Tripathi has opened up the recent attack on his elder brother, Vijayendranath Tiwari, during a land dispute in Bihar’s Gopalganj. The actor, who rushed to Patna after the incident, says while it was painful, it has not shaken his faith in the justice system.
“I have a lot of affection for my family and we speak at least once every day. The incident did affect me, but I have full faith in the justice system. Hum log darne wale log nahi hai. Humne kisi ke liye sansar mein galat kiya hi nahi toh kiss baat ka darr. Woh apriya ghatna hai, and nothing else. Jeevan mein yeh sab ghatna chalti rehti hai,” he says.
On the work front, Tripathi will next be seen in Ohh My Dog, a film he chose to do without charging a fee. He has also returned to theatre after a 12-13-year hiatus with the musical La Ilaaj.
Talking about actors returning to theatre, he says, “That is because of screen fatigue. Today, everything is on a screen — films, reels, podcasts. Theatre offers a real experience, where humans perform for humans. We’ve already staged five-six shows in Mumbai, and have got a very good response,” he says.
Admitting he was nervous about returning to the stage after over a decade, Tripathi adds, “There are no retakes in theatre. You’re performing live, so there’s always the anxiety of getting every cue and dialogue right.”
Ohh My Dog: Pankaj Tripathi forgoes fee to support Amit Rai's directorial
4:43 PM
Komal RJ Panchal (MID-DAY; July 21, 2026)
Some films are worth far more than the paycheque they bring. For Pankaj Tripathi, Ohh My Dog is one such project. The actor did not charge a fee for the July 31 release, choosing instead to support the film because of his long friendship with director Amit Rai.
Tripathi told mid-day, “Ajay Rai, the producer, and Amit Rai are old friends of mine. Commercial films are made with the support of money, but for independent and small films where the story is important, who will support them if not actors like us?”
Ohh My Dog tells the story of a young girl who forms a special connection with a stray dog. When Amit first narrated the movie to Tripathi, the actor was overjoyed for two reasons — it was not only a heart-warming tale of unconditional love, but would also be shot in his home state.
“The story is set in Bihar. Amit asked me to shoot for four days, and I told him I would come for six. I also called my friends in Bihar and we supported the film in every way. Eventually, I stayed for seven days.”
Tripathi plays a teacher in the movie, which is led by child actor Maahi Rai and stars Pawan Malhotra and Rajesh Sharma. The actors form the supporting cast. That’s how it should be, asserted Tripathi. “The main story is about a dog and a child. We are all in supporting roles, but in reality, we are supporting the film itself.”
And it’s something he would gladly do again for Rai, with whom he collaborated on OMG 2 (2023). “That’s when we became friends. It remains one of the special movies in my filmography.”
-------------------------------------
Onkar Kulkarni (MUMBAI MIRROR; July 24, 2026)
When filmmaker Amit Rai revealed that Pankaj Tripathi agreed to star in his upcoming film Ohh My Dog without charging a fee, it quickly became one of the most talked-about aspects of the project. For Pankaj, however, the decision had little to do with business and everything to do with friendship.
The actor, who shares a long-standing bond with Amit after working together on OMG 2, says there was never any discussion about remuneration before he came on board. “In friendship, you don’t ask all this. You just ask, ‘How many days of mine do you want?’ and I shot for those days. I only asked him to share the dates with me. I even told the director and the team, ‘Don’t include me in the promotions also,” he said.
Asked whether he is now at a stage in his career where he can afford to work without charging a fee, and he said, “I feel if this film works and makes business at the box office, then they will give me something in return. Let’s see.”
Pankaj is also looking ahead to another first in his career. Mirzapur, the series that made his portrayal of Kaleen Bhaiya a cultural phenomenon, is now being adapted into a feature film — the first Indian OTT franchise to make that transition.
Looking back, the actor says the possibility never crossed his mind while shooting the show. “I never thought, when I was doing Season 2, that a film would be made. There was no such concept that a web series would become a film. Mirzapur in India proved to be pathbreaking that way,” he signed off.
Pankaj Tripathi flies to Patna to be with brother after alleged attack
9:22 AM
Neha Maheshwri (BOMBAY TIMES; June 23, 2026)
Pankaj Tripathi landed in Patna on Monday morning (June 22) to be by his brother’s (Vijendranath Tiwari) side after the latter was allegedly attacked in Bihar in connection with a land-related dispute. The incident reportedly took place on Sunday in the actor’s ancestral village of Besland in Barauli, Gopalganj district.
According to reports, Tripathi’s brother, Vijendranath Tiwari, sustained multiple injuries after being assaulted with sticks and clubs. He was initially admitted to Gopalganj Model Hospital and was later shifted to a medical facility in Patna for further treatment.
A source close to the family says, “Pankaj Tripathi landed in Patna this morning to be with his brother and will stay there for a couple of days. Vijendranath has sustained multiple injuries but is stable and under medical supervision. The accused has been arrested, and the police are looking into the matter. Right now, the family’s entire focus is on his recovery.”
-------------------------------
The actor’s elder brother was attacked with sharp objects and is undergoing treatment after sustaining injuries
Vishakha Pandit (HINDUSTAN TIMES; June 23, 2026)
On Monday, reports emerged that actor Pankaj Tripathi’s elder brother, Vijayendranath Tripathi, was attacked with a sharp object and seriously injured in Bihar’s Gopalganj district. HT City has learnt that the actor has since reached Patna to be by his brother’s side.
A source tells us, “Pankaj has reached Patna to see his brother. He is in no condition to speak right now given the situation.” Sharing an update on Vijayendranath’s health, the source adds, “He has sustained multiple injuries. But he is stable, nothing life-threatening at this point.”
As per local police officials, the attack took place on Sunday in their ancestral village, Belsand Tiwari Tola following a dispute over land. Vijayendranath was initially admitted to Gopalganj Model Hospital late that night before being referred to a medical facility in Patna for further treatment.
Gopalganj Superintendent of Police Vinay Tiwari said that the accused has been identified, arrested and is being sent to judicial custody. He added that the family has not yet filed a written complaint.
I waited for 34 years for this phase in my career-Ravi Kishan
9:58 AM
Neha Maheshwri (MUMBAI MIRROR; February 3, 2026)
Ravi Kishan is enjoying a rewarding phase in his career after earning acclaim for Laapataa Ladies and the web series Maamla Legal Hai. He is currently seen in Bhabiji Ghar Par Hain: Fun on the Run, the film adaptation of the popular sitcom, by Binaiferr and Sanjay Kohli.
Talking about coming on board the project, he says, “I have always been a fan of the show. The story, the director, and my role all played a big part in my decision. I enjoy making people laugh with a poker face. The character is someone who loves deeply but one-sidedly, and that really excited me. I meet such people almost every day in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh.”
Though Ravi has been part of Hindi cinema for decades, wider recognition has come his way only recently. Reflecting on this shift, he says, “I waited patiently for 34 years. At one point, people assumed I had been boxed into a Bhojpuri image, that I had become a politician, grown old, and would now quietly fade away. But sometimes, by God’s grace, just when people think you are finished, a filmmaker like Kiran Rao comes along with a script like Laapataa Ladies, followed by Maamla Legal Hai. Last year showed what I can do when filmmakers believe in me and give me strong material. Meri journey strugglers ke liye ek misaal hai.”
Recounting the phase when meaningful opportunities in Bollywood felt elusive, he says, “After Tere Naam with Salman Khan, I felt exhausted because of the lack of opportunities. I thought yahaan bohot bheed hai, main iss race ka hissa nahi bann paunga, aur koi response nahi dega. Of course, there was frustration and anger, but I channelled that anger into building my own space in the Bhojpuri industry. But I never blamed Bollywood. Hindi cinema ne mujhe pehchaan di hai and taught me everything I later applied to Bhojpuri films.”
Reflecting on delayed success, he adds, “Yeh ugte sooraj ka khel hai, and that is the truth across professions. But there is also a lot of affection coming my way now, and I am grateful for that.”
We used to not burst firecrakers on Diwali as it used to scare cows and other animals-Pankaj Tripathi
10:25 AM
Actor Pankaj Tripathi, who was born and raised in a village in Bihar, fondly recalls the simple, heartfelt Diwali celebrations of his childhood, worlds away from the raucous city festivities
Yashika Mathur (HINDUSTAN TIMES; October 13, 2025)
He may be one of the most sought-after actors in the industry today, but Pankaj Tripathi remains deeply rooted in his small-town upbringing. As Diwali approaches, the actor reflects on the simple, heartfelt celebrations of his childhood in Belsand, Gopalganj (Bihar).
“In the village we used to have mitti ke diye with cotton wicks. It used to be an organic and peaceful Diwali,” the 49-year-old tells us.
Unlike the city’s high-decibel Diwali celebrations, firecrackers were never a big part of the festivities in Pankaj’s village. “Humare yahan pataakon ka chalan nahin tha zyada aur kaaran ye tha ki tez awaaz se gaaye, pashu darr jaate the. Iss wajeh se darwaze pe hum pataake nahin jala paate thhe. To sirf fuljhari and mitte ke diye,” shares the actor who will next be seen in Mirzapur: The Film.
He continues, “Hum apne ghar mein diye laga ke, dur se jaa ke dekhte thhe,” finding a special joy in seeing the home lit by diyas. According to him, “Bijli ki jhaalarein wo sukh nahin deti jo diye dete thhe,” and there was also a sense of responsibility, “Aur usko jaalaye rakhne ki bhi duty hai,” that made the tradition meaningful.
For this year, the actor, who now lives in Mumbai, has left the planning to his wife and daughter and says, “Unke plan mein main bass shamil ho jata hun.”
Cinema mein abhi tak Bihar ki maasoomiyat dikhi nahin hai-Pankaj Tripathi
8:35 AM
Akash Bhatnagar (HINDUSTAN TIMES; April 25, 2024)
In his two-decade strong career, actor Pankaj Tripathi never got a chance to shoot in his hometown in Bihar, until now. The 48-year-old is currently shooting a human drama in Patna, marking his reunion with OMG 2 (2023) director Amit Rai.
“Bilkul homecoming ki feeling aa rahi hai. Mujhe apne kayi colleagues mile jinke saath main theatre karta tha. Main auditorium bhi dekhne gaya tha, jahaan hum play karte thhe. Meri janmabhoomi hai woh, toh apni wali feeling aati hi hai.”
The decision to shoot in Patna was a conscious choice: “It is a story of Patna, so we should set it here. Why cheat the audience?”
Pankaj credits the smooth run while shooting to the state government. “A film friendly environment is developing in Bihar. We wanted to show the real Bihar in a story about the state. And our DOP is from Europe, so we are getting to see Bihar from a different lens,” he shares, adding, “Patna waise bhi mainstream cinema mein nahin dikha hai.”
While the unit has been enjoying Bihar ki mehmaannawazi and local delicacies like Bel ka sharbat, the actor opens up on the stereotypical representation of Bihar in Hindi cinema.
“Cinema mein abhi tak Bihar ki maasoomiyat dikhi nahin hai. During the ’90s, there was an image about Bihar created by media and the films also propagated that. But now the portrayals are more research-based,” he ends.
Pankaj Tripathi begins shooting for OMG 2 director Amit Rai's next in Bihar
9:11 AM
Reuniting with director Amit Rai after OMG 2, Pankaj Tripathi says their upcoming human drama being set in his home state Bihar was an incentive to say yes
Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; April 23, 2025)
Pankaj Tripathi has always maintained that his Bihari roots have played a critical role in shaping him as an artiste. It was among the two reasons he gave his nod to his next, a human drama set in Bihar. What’s the second reason? The prospect of reuniting with writer-director Amit Rai, with whom he delivered the 2023 hit, OMG 2. The two kicked off the shoot of their yet-untitled project, which explores the animal-human conflict, in Tripathi’s home state this week. Sources tell us that Pawan Malhotra, Geeta Agarwal of Laapataa Ladies (2024) fame, and Rajesh Kumar are part of the cast, alongside some talents from the Bhojpuri film industry.
The way Rai explored the theme of sex education and highlighted its need in schools through OMG 2 told Tripathi of the director’s talent. The actor then is only too happy to reunite with the writer-director.
“OMG 2 was a special film for me, not only because it marked my first solo film that earned more than Rs. 180 crore at the box office, but also as it connected with people on an emotional level. Working with Amit again feels like a natural progression. His storytelling has depth, honesty, and a sense of purpose that I relate to,” shares Tripathi.
That the movie, which has shades of a thriller, is set in his home state is the cherry on top. He adds, “This story is rooted in the soil of Bihar—my home. My identity as an artiste is tied to where I come from. As an actor, there is nothing more fulfilling than being part of a story that is both entertaining and socially meaningful.”
Rai has charted out a 35-day start-to-finish schedule. The filmmaker doesn’t delve into details regarding the plot, only describing his third directorial venture as “a reflection of lives lived and lessons learned”.
He adds, “Collaborating with Pankaj again is like returning to a creative space where truth and performance meet seamlessly. This film is a heartfelt exploration of human relationships, resilience, and the social fabric that binds us.”
No one has the right to comment on my daughter’s marriage-Shatrughan Sinha
8:46 AM
HINDUSTAN TIMES (June 26, 2024)
Actor-politician Shatrughan Sinha has responded to the trolling his daughter Sonakshi Sinha is facing for her inter-faith marriage with actor Zaheer Iqbal. He firmly stated that no one has the right to comment on her marriage.
On Monday, a protest march was organised in Shatrughan’s native state of Bihar by a fringe group called Hindu Shiv Bhawani, calling the marriage ‘Love Jihad’ and demanding that Sonakshi never return to Bihar.
In an interview with Times Now, Shatrughan referenced the lyrics of late lyricist Anand Bakshi: “Kucch to log kahenge, logon ka kaam hai kehna”. He added, “‘Kehne waale agar bekar, bekaam-kaaj ke ho to kehna hi kaam ban jata hai (for unemployed people, this is all the work they have). My daughter has done nothing illegal or unconstitutional.”
He continued, “A wedding is a very personal decision between two people; no one has the right to interfere or comment. To all the protestors, I say — go, get a life. Do something useful with your life. Aur kucch nahi kehna (I have nothing else to say).”
Sonakshi and Zaheer got married under the Special Marriage Act in Mumbai on June 23. Their registered marriage was an intimate affair, followed by a wedding reception the same night attended by celebrities including Salman Khan, Kajol, Tabu, Anil Kapoor and others.
We are expected to look nice but be replaceable as actresses-Huma Qureshi
8:18 AM
Niharika Lal (BOMBAY TIMES; April 5, 2024)
From glam to girl-next-door, Huma Qureshi has portrayed a wide range of characters over the years. However, for the portrayal of Rani Bharti in Maharani, Huma went completely deglam – from no makeup to wearing polyester saris and rubber chappals. In conversation with us, Huma talks about why actresses are expected to look a certain way and how growing up in Delhi helped her prepare for her roles in Maharani and Gangs Of Wasseypur.
‘Deglamourizing yourself is seen as problematic’
On expectation from actresses to look glamorous, Huma says, “One thing I did for Maharani was not letting my vanity get in the way of playing this character. There is often a notion that when you’re playing a deglam character – you’re aging yourself, you’re deglamourizing yourself. It’s almost seen as problematic. I think collectively, we are all responsible for considering deglamourization problematic. Once during an interview, a male journalist asked me about deglamourizing, and I told him that it comes from patriarchy. As women (actors), we are only supposed to look nice, pretty, and delicate, hence replaceable. So many male actors play deglamourized parts, but they are never asked, arey aap toh deglam ho gaye. Tab toh bolte hain waah aapne kya achha kaam kiya hai. So, as women, we are always seen from a particular lens.”
Huma adds, “I also feel ladkiyon ko ye sikhaya jata hai ki aapko glam role play karna chahiye toh aapki fan following badhegi. But I think actually, aap jitna relatable hote hain utna aapki fan following badhti hai.”
‘Growing up in Delhi helped me get the Bihari accent right’
One of Huma’s most memorable roles was Mohsina in Gangs of Wasseypur for which she adopted a strong Bihari accent. The actress shares with us that she was able to get the Bihari accent right because she grew up in Delhi, a melting pot of the entire country.
“I was Mohsina in Gangs Of Wasseypur, and no one knew who I was and where I was from. In an interview after the film a journalist told me, ‘Arey aap toh badi achhi angrezi mein baat karti hain.’ And I was like I’m happy that you think that I’m possibly a girl from Bihar, but I’m not. Dilli mein itna melting pot hai pure desh ka toh aap bachpan se itni north ki awaazein sunte hue bade hote hain.”
Huma adds, “The character got so much love that people forget Huma, who is a cosmopolitan girl from south Delhi. My whole life has been like in a 5km radius of central Delhi. I went to south Delhi school, south Delhi college – Gargi – and we grew up in a very Hinglish surrounding.”
‘Rani’s character in Maharani has that quiet strength’
Who does Huma think Rani Bharti is? She says, “I think she is the penultimate common woman as they say. She represents India for me, in that sense. I think she is strong, she is brave, and she is someone who is unafraid to ask questions. She has that quiet strength that doesn’t demand attention, but she just is. And she is able to navigate all spaces in the public sphere when she has been thrust into it almost against her will. In that sense, we all have that fantasy, ‘humko ek din raaj karne ka mauka mile toh? Ek din CM ban jaye ya PM ban jaye toh kya hoga?’ In that sense, she fulfills common person’s fantasy in that sense. I think which is why people see a lot of themselves in Rani Bharti.”
Sonu Sood builds home for senior citizens; calls it Saroj Serenity as a tribute to his mother
8:47 AM
Sonu Sood discusses his plans for homes in Mumbai, Bihar, Punjab, and Uttar Pradesh for senior citizens in honour of his mother
Upala KBR (MID-DAY; January 28, 2024)
Sonu Sood is the gift that keeps on giving. After taking the initiative to rehabilitate migrant workers and residents of calamity-stricken areas, sponsoring education for underprivileged children, and empowering women with essential tools to lead productive lives through The Sood Foundation, the actor-philanthropist has taken up another worthy cause. He is building a home for senior citizens and honouring his mother, Saroj, by calling it Saroj Serenity. Aiming to provide a comfortable environment for the elderly, he says that it is a reflection of the values his mother instilled in him. The first home will be built in Nerul, in Maharashtra, and then in other states.
“This project is more than just a building. We will take care of all those parents whose kids are not there to take care of them. My mom used to always tell me that when people grow old, they feel very lonely. And I should do something to support them so they don’t feel lost, alone, or helpless. I have already started Saroj Serenity in Nerul, which will roll out in one and a half years. The homes in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and Punjab are in the planning stages,” says Sood, adding that the home will have the best of facilities.
Sood informs that the old age home will have a clubhouse, beautiful paths to walk, and a recreational centre. “It is for those older people whose children are unable to take care of them or are abandoned. It will have gardens, open spaces, and recreational facilities. It will be affordable and free for needy people. The homes will be self-sustainable models,” explains the actor, who is personally taking care of every little detail about the facility’s infrastructure, including the designs and ambience.
My village house looks empty to me without my parents. It has lost its meaning completely-Manoj Bajpayee
8:15 AM
Anshul Chaturvedi (BOMBAY TIMES; January 11, 2024)
Manoj Bajpayee is 54 years of age, but the emotional cord that ties him to Belwa, the village he left at 18, has still not frayed in the 36 years that have passed. As 2023 crossed over into 2024, the accomplished actor took his family to spend a few days there. The joy of spending time amidst memories as old as childhood there was offset this time by nostalgia and emptiness: both his parents are no longer there.
Our photographer shadowed Manoj in Belwa (in Bihar’s West Champaran) as he spent time switching off and reminiscing to bring you a rarely-seen side.
You often go to your ancestral home at Belwa and post/share things about it. Gaon ki kya yaadein hain bachpan ki?
There are so many memories. I was born and brought up in this village. I studied till the third standard in the same school, which I often visit. It is barely half a kilometre from my place. Taking bath in the canal and river, getting scolded for staying out in the sun in summer… The winters used to be so lovely. We would go to the India-Nepal border just for a picnic with my brothers and sisters or friends. There are so many memories… I will have to write a book for them!
The people here, what you see in the photos, they were actually very conscious because there was camera. Otherwise, they are very, very comfortable. They don’t treat me as someone who is well-known but as someone who is from their village, and we connect on that level – be it a small child or a very old man who has seen me growing up. It’s literally going back home.
Although a home is made when your parents are there (pauses) – and when I go back now, I feel an immense amount of grief when I don’t see them there (Manoj’s father passed away in October 2021 and his mother in December 2022). I can’t even explain the nature of the grief I feel inside. But that’s the rule of the universe; you come and you go, and this is what I tell myself, and I try to get out of it.
You go from Mumbai to this village in Bihar and then back, once a year, if not more often. The “Bambai mein ka ba?” sentiment was about people from similar places keen to go to Mumbai to earn a living despite the struggle it entails. How much are you able to understand, to relate to the sentiments in that track – rozi-roti ki ladai?
The question actually says a lot about the plight and the tragedy of being a refugee in your own homeland. For a job, and to chase your dream, you leave your near and dear ones. You go the big cities looking for the opportunity, and you are still not ‘settled’. You always feel like an outsider – that’s the psychology of every refugee who has left his place or got displaced for whatever reason. He never belongs to the place he is working at, and when he comes back, there also, he is always looked at as somebody who is different or who has become different. No matter how easy or comfortable that person is back in his place, it is a continuous struggle that the person goes through. It’s the same with me.
You remember your village. You remember your time in the village, you remember the time you left and how heavy it was on your heart. You remember how many nights you cried and sobbed thinking about your parents… With me it has been very... I’d say I left them when I was 18 and a half, and then after that, I only visited my place, never really stayed with them. After every year, or after two years, whenever I used to visit, those wrinkles increased, and that used to break my heart. And now they are no more. In the process of chasing my dream, I lost my time with my parents. I really don’t know when they really got old and when they passed away. That grief, that sadness on not being with them has been really, really heavy on my heart and my mind.
But you know, that’s how life is. If I look at it from a distance, on the other side, and I think if I had not left my village to chase my dream, many of my siblings wouldn’t have left either. Many of the district’s young people wouldn’t have left to chase their dreams, and wouldn’t have believed in themselves. Yes, if Manoj Bajpayee can, you can. So many things changed just because one person from that district gathered that strength and left the comfort zone, left his near and dear ones to fend for themselves. There are advantages and disadvantages to every action that you take. And I think I had to do what I did, not for anyone, but for my own self.
You are an established actor today, a known face. How wide is the gap between how you live in Mumbai and when you are back here?
I have reached an age where a room with a bed and cupboard will do for me. I have never chased a luxurious life, and never chased anything else. I just wanted to express myself. I just wanted to (play) various characters. I just wanted to have a great filmography – that I have now, that I can really be proud of. And every day that I get up, it is the passion for work or acting that really makes me go again and again, and that is not going away easily. That will never go away in the coming time soon unless bones start giving up. The heart, and the willingness, and the intentions are still the same as the 18 and a half years old who left his village.
Mujhe toh gaon hi pasand hai. Lekin haan, gaon ja kar ke thoda bura lagta hai. Ab ghar mein woh baat nahi rahi jo maa-baap ke saath thi… woh bura lagta hai. That really saddens me a lot. My village house looks empty, no matter how filled up it is with my brothers, sisters and their children. It looks empty to me without my parents. It has lost its meaning completely.
You get time to be by yourself, introspect?
Yes, I sit alone on my roof sometimes and just hear the sounds. And early morning, I just love to stand on the roof and see the happenings at a distance. It is a foggy time, so, it is far more beautiful and nostalgic for me. It’s the same sound – of a cycle passing by, bells are ringing. You hear some keertan going on in the village, some harmonium, some naal, dholak... there’s one guy on a motorcycle – earlier it used to be on cycle – he is selling surf or bartan (utensils), and he’s announcing on his small loudspeaker. Going in the village – all the lanes, coming to our area, Bajpayee household area, and taking a round, going away and you hear that sound fading out, fading away... so it’s so many things. More than thinking, I love to hear these sounds, because they remind me of my childhood. They remind me of my time that I lived there – all of those things, all of those experiences – I try to put into my performances. And for that reason, I want to go to these places – the villages. This is where real India lives. This is where the soul of our country resides. And if you can live that, and if you can experience that, it really gives you an edge in whatever you do in your life – I personally feel that.
Thoughts for the new year?
I just wish everyone the best and wish that the world which is going through such a huge turmoil, will have peace sometime very soon. I also wish that everyone gets out of their own cocoon and becomes far more generous instead of just looking at things selfishly – materialism does all kind of things, and selfishness is something that has really bothered me. We have become less generous. May the New Year turn us into more generous people, may we help each other in finding peace.
The films I couldn’t find money for, I have put my own money-Manoj Bajpayee
8:01 AM
With Joram depicting Adivasis’ plight in Jharkhand, Manoj says role required little prep as he was familiar with inequality meted out to the community
Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; December 6, 2023)
Joram is so much more than a thriller. Devashish Makhija’s directorial venture tells the heart-wrenching story of a father who goes to great lengths to safeguard his daughter. Through them, the movie looks at the plight of the Adivasi community in Jharkhand. It is these layers that resonated with leading man Manoj Bajpayee.
“The father-daughter equation [drew me]. The father’s voice is crushed completely; both of them are silent and yet, they connect,” says the actor, when we get on a call with him.
The movie premièred at the Busan International Film Festival and won praise at several international film festivals. With Bajpayee at the centre of the narrative, one can be assured of a moving performance. But he tells us something unexpected. Contrary to his practice of diving deep into his character before facing the camera, he admits this film required little prep as he had grown up around the people reflected on screen.
“I come from a village [Belwa, Bihar] where we co-existed with people who can be branded Naxalites. These are people who fall into the SC/ST category. Growing up, I knew them, observed them and lived around them. The inequality is powerfully felt. It always bothered me. Their anger can be understood, and an ultimate solution is yet to be found,” he laments.
It is heard that Joram could be shadow-banned in Jharkhand because of its depiction of Adivasi oppression. Bajpayee harbours no apprehension as he says,
“The film was passed by the CBFC [Central Board of Film Certification] with ‘U/A’ certification, without a single cut. The committee that watched our film had three people from Jharkhand, who found the portrayal authentic. This is not a political film. It discusses the lives and circumstances of people coming from an area we don’t usually discuss.”
The thriller is his third release this year after the delightful Gulmohar and the hard-hitting Sirf Ek Bandaa Kaafi Hai. How does he remain driven to tell such unique stories? “I always go back to the reason I became an actor. There was never a dream to be a big star or do commercial films. I have done those films, so that I could do movies like Joram. The films I couldn’t find money for, I have put my own money. When you choose unconventional stories, it’ll be difficult. This is a movie where we talk not about its earnings, but about its layers.”
Pehle main festival ke time par bhi kaam karta tha. But I don’t do that anymore-Pankaj Tripathi
9:21 AM
Rishabh Suri (HINDUSTAN TIMES; November 17, 2023)
Pankaj Tripathi is undeterred in his resolve to strike a work-life balance, and this is why he has stopped working on festival days. As Chhath Puja begins today, the actor — who hails from Gopalganj (Bihar)— has taken some time off to be with his family.
“Pehle main festival ke time par bhi kaam karta tha. But I don’t do that anymore,” the 47-year-old tells us, adding, “I have also started taking a weekly off now.”
A celebration native to the Bihar-Jharkhand belt, among other regions, Chhath Puja sees scores of people line up at railway stations every year to return home for festivities with their families. However, the National Award-winning actor will be in Mumbai itself. “I went to Bihar two-three years ago [for Chhath], where it is celebrated massively. My badi bhabhi celebrates it in Patna. Last year, I went to Chowpatty beach in Mumbai [for the puja]. This time, wherever there’s a water body, we will do the puja,” he says.
Sharing an insight into what the festival entails, Tripathi — who will be seen next in Atal — says: “Yeh aastha ka tyohaar hai. We worship Chhathi maiyya. Suraj ki puja hoti hai. The prasad is made using farm harvest, nothing store-bought. The offerings include sugarcane, turmeric and radish. We stand in the water and do the puja. Also, it’s probably the only festival in which there is no priest to do the puja. Jo Chhath mana raha hai, vahi puja karta hai.”
Unwanted and disrespectful, says Ankit Tiwari on catfight at Bihar concert
8:58 AM
Rishabh Suri (HINDUSTAN TIMES; October 7, 2023)
During singer Ankit Tiwari’s recent concert in Katihar, Bihar, a fight broke out between two female fans and a video went viral. Reacting to the incident, the 37-year-old tells us, “The video surfacing on social media is bizarre and uncivilized. My fans are my backbone. I understand their passion and am overwhelmed with all their love and support. However, during this concert, due to security reasons, everyone couldn’t reach the front line. But that doesn’t mean they indulge in such a nasty fight and disturb everyone’s peace.”
While the reason for the fight isn’t known, Tiwari had to stop his concert midway due to the commotion.
The two women in the video can be seen pulling each other’s hair and landing some blows, too. The Tu Meri Aashiqui and Shaamat (Ek Villain Returns, 2022) singer goes on to add, “I hope no one was injured. I also request everyone to not fight like this and get themselves or others in trouble. It’s demeaning, unwanted and disrespectful. I felt disheartened watching that video. With folded hands, I request my fans to maintain peace and harmony as that’s the best way they can show their love for me.”
Pankaj Tripathi opens a library in honour of his late father
9:35 AM
Pankaj Tripathi has opened a library in honour of his late father, who placed a lot of ‘importance on education’
Rishabh Suri (HINDUSTAN TIMES; September 11, 2023)
August was bittersweet for Pankaj Tripathi, who lost his father, Pandit Benaras Tiwari on August 21 and just three days later, he won the National Film Award for Best Supporting Actor for Mimi (2021). “Life aisi hi hai; ups and downs chalte rehte hain. Babuji baahar nahin dikhenge par meri yaadon mein hain. Unke values hamesha saath hain. We have to live by them,” he gets emotional.
While the loss is still fresh, work doesn’t stop and the actor has got back to his professional commitments. But, to keep his father’s memory alive, the actor and his family have started a library at a higher secondary school in his home town, Gopalganj, Bihar.
The 46-year-old says, “This was a family decision. We have adopted a school in our village and helped improve its infrastructure. My elder brother and I asked the kids, who said they were eager to read more. My father placed a lot of importance on education and we wanted to build a library in his name.”
The OMG 2 actor recalls how his father sent him and his siblings to Patna for their higher education: “He was progressive and believed that change only happens with education. Inaugurating a library in his memory is the perfect tribute to babuji.”
For Tripathi, this library, is his contribution to the future generation. He says, “I hope to instil a lifelong love for knowledge and literature in the hearts of the students. Education is the greatest gift we can give to our future generations.”
Gadar 2 smashes all records in Bihar; collects 22 cr
3:03 PM
Box Office India Trade Network
GADAR 2 has smashed all records in Bihar circuit by a margin as business stands well above the likes of KGF - CHAPTER 2 and PATHAAN. It is the first film to cross 20 crore nett in the circuit and only eight films including GADAR 2 have crossed the 10 crore nett mark. The circuit remains dominated by single screens.
The circuit has insane potential but development is slow as compared to other circuits. If we go back to pre video era, then the circuit was as big as East Punjab and double the size of Rajasthan but today it is just 33% of East Punjab and 50% of Rajasthan. A film like DHARAM VEER (1977), which is the second biggest blockbuster of that time after SHOLAY, did around 1 crore nett in both Bihar and East Punjab. But today if East Punjab does 10 crore nett, then Bihar is just 2-4 crore nett depending on the zone of the film. There is a huge audience in the state but it needs the cinemas to make this audience really count.
The craze of GADAR 2 is insane in the state as whichever cinema has played it has set a new high and there were people turning up at cinemas which no one thought could ever collect again. The film will lose the bulk of its single screens to JAWAN which will mean limited business in the circuit from here on.
Below are the top ten nett grossers of all time in Bihar.
1. Gadar 2 - 22,00,00,000 apprx (25 days)
3. KGF - Chapter 2 - 18,35,00,000
3. Pathaan - 18,09,50,000
4. Baahubali 2: The Conclusion - 15,00,50,000
5. Tiger Zinda Hai - 12,27,25,000
6. RRR - 12,03,50,000
7. War - 12,01,00,000
8. Kabir Singh - 10,12,50,000
9. 2.0 - 9,97,00,000
10. Sanju - 9,51,00,000
Shahid Kapoor’s action comedy with director Anees Bazmee to roll in July; to be shot in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar
8:32 AM
Upala KBR (MID-DAY; May 2, 2023)
It’s a busy 2023 for Shahid Kapoor, who started the year with a bang with his maiden web series, Farzi. In mid-April, he wrapped up the shoot of his yet-untitled romantic drama opposite Kriti Sanon, moving on to producer Siddharth Roy Kapur’s next, helmed by Rosshan Andrrews. After the thriller, it will be time for the actor to shift gears to comedy with director Anees Bazmee.
mid-day has learnt that the big-budget action comedy, backed by Varisu producer Dil Raju, is set to roll in July. In keeping with the narrative, the film will be shot in the heartland of India, including Uttar Pradesh and Bihar.
Sources tell us that Bazmee, right after the success of Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2 last year, started developing the action comedy.
“When he met Shahid last year, the actor loved the concept and said yes in principle. Anees dedicated the next six months to develop the comedy. Contrary to reports, it is not a remake of a south film, but an original script. Shahid is excited about the project as it not only sees him attempt a light-hearted fare after the intense Jersey [2022], Farzi and the upcoming Bloody Daddy, but will also see him in a double role. True to his style, the director has designed it as a massy entertainer,” reveals a source. The makers will zero in on the leading lady in the next fortnight.
mid-day reached out to Bazmee, who remained unavailable for comment.
Bihar man’s lockup song gets him offer from Ankit Tiwari
8:19 AM
Manoj Chaurasia (THE TIMES OF INDIA; January 11, 2022)
Patna: A 24-year-old man, who was arrested for violating Bihar’s prohibition laws, has become a celebrity of sorts overnight and is getting offers for playback singing after a song sung by him during his confinement in a police lockup in the dry state went viral on social media.
Kanhaiya Kumar was arrested by Buxur Police over the weekend for entering the border district from neighbouring Uttar Pradesh, allegedly in an inebriated condition. Kumar, a native of Bihar’s Kaimur district, had gone to UP for work and got drunk there. In dry Bihar, people are not allowed to enter after consuming alcohol and can be prosecuted.
Subsequently, Kumar was put into the police lockup and it was there that he sang a popular Bhojpuri song, “Darogajiho… Sochi-sochi jiya hamro kahe ghabrata…”, which caught the attention of many music lovers. Cops were seen appreciating his skills, and saying: “Waah, waah.”
Impressed by his mellifluous voice, Ankit Tiwari, a prominent Bollywood musician based in Mumbai, has offered Kumar to sing a song for his music company Mist Music Private Limited. “I want to give this person a chance to sing for my music company,” tweeted Tiwari, known for his ‘Aashiqui 2’ songs.
Stating that addiction is a social evil, Tiwari said art has the power to defeat it. Sources said Kumar also got a chance to sing for a music company in UP.
Suniel Shetty asks Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath to help end #BoycottBollywood
3:29 PM
BOMBAY TIMES (January 7, 2023)
Suniel Shetty on Thursday urged Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath to help get rid of the ‘Boycott Bollywood’ trend on social media. The UP CM, who was on a two-day Mumbai visit, rounded off his trip by meeting film personalities such as Shetty, Subhash Ghai, Jackie Shroff, Rajkumar Santoshi, Manmohan Shetty and Boney Kapoor. Though the agenda of the meeting was to discuss shooting and investment prospects in Noida Film City, Shetty took the opportunity to put forward the grievances of the film industry.
‘NOT COST OR SUBSIDY, OUR PROBLEM TODAY IS BRINGING AUDIENCE BACK TO CINEMAS’
“Today if we are facing a problem then it is not about cost or subsidy, but it is to do with the audience. We have to bring the audience back to theatres. It is very important,” Shetty was quoted as saying during the session.
He added, “The hashtag that’s going on Boycott Bollywood yeh ruk bhi sakta hai aapke kehne se. It is important to spread the word that we are doing good work. One rotten apple is everywhere, but just because of that you can’t call the whole industry rotten. Today, people think that Bollywood is not a good place, but we have made such good films here. I was a part of one such film too, when I did Border. I have been a part of many good films. We have to come together and work towards how we can get rid of the Boycott Bollywood hashtag. We have to figure out how we can stop this trend.”
‘FEEL VERY STRONGLY ABOUT STIGMA AGAINST BOLLYWOOD’
“It is of great importance that this stigma that is on us is gone. It’s a very strong emotion for me. Dukh hota hai bolne me ke humaare pe yeh stigma hai because 99% of us are not like that. Hum din bhar drugs nahi lete, hum galat kaam nahi karte. Hum achhe kaam se jude hai. Bharat ko agar bahar ke desho se kisi ne joda hai toh woh hai humaara music, and our stories. So, Yogi ji, if you take the lead and talk to our beloved Prime Minister about still continues it, it will make a huge difference,” said Shetty.
Subsequently, we spoke to Suniel Shetty who told us why he chose to raise the impassioned request at the event. Excerpts:
There were a lot of people attending the event, someone asked for an entertainment park (in UP), someone asked for more theatres etc. All I asked for was some help for our film industry because we are probably at the worst stage that we have ever been in. I asked for help to revive the industry and get our respect back.
Mera ek hi kehna hai ki if I do something wrong, if I project myself wrongly, then hang and ban me, but don’t ban my industry because there are thousands of workers. After all, the film industry is not only about actors. It is about people at various levels and various stages, right from spot boys, carpenters, dancers etc. and all of them are a part of the film industry. I keep praying and wishing that our golden days come back. We have connected the world through music. At birthdays or naming ceremonies, it is our music that is played, and that is what people enjoy.
I didn’t ask for a piece of land, I didn’t say I needed subsidy for one of my movies, I just said help the industry stand on its feet. Yogi ji is someone who wanted to meet the industry and listen to us. We are on the back foot right now and someone needs to come forward. I know I will get a lot of gaali from people who want to boycott Bollywood. They will abuse me and say, ‘Yeh toh flop actor hai, etc. ’ Par woh sab mujhe chalega.
Yogi ji gave a very positive reaction (to my point) and I am happy about that. The new beginning can happen beautifully from a state like UP, because UP and Bihar are the heartland of India when it comes to Hindi movies. Bolte hain ki UP, Bihar mein film chal jaati hai toh all-India mein ripple effect hoke film chal jaati hai. UP has always been a state where we have shot our films and enjoyed them. I became an action hero thanks to UP, Bihar. That love still continues.
— Onkar Kulkarni and agencies
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)