Showing posts with label Bombairiya. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Bombairiya. Show all posts
I am not a star and I wasn’t introduced as a star kid either-Siddhanth Kapoor
7:15 AM
Rachana Dubey (BOMBAY TIMES; January 18, 2019)
Living in the shadow of a renowned father and an A-list sibling is not easy. Siddhanth Kapoor, however, is a different breed. He’s unaffected by the fact that often, people introduce him as Shakti Kapoor’s son or Shraddha Kapoor’s brother. In fact, he holds those descriptions in high regard and is waiting for the day when he’ll make them proud, too. His upcoming film Bombairiya was in the making for long and the actor talks about carving a niche in the film industry, on his own terms. Excerpts:
You’ve had to wait for two years for Bombairiya to release. That must be a huge relief for you?
Yeah. I am looking forward to the film’s release. Bombairiya has been edited a couple of times in these years and the current version looks good. It’s a comedy with a series of misadventures that give it the feel of a serious thriller. It’s like a Guy Ritchie film, which throws light on the problems in our country, but with a fresh spin. Actually, we had finished shooting for this film before we started work on Haseena Parkar (2017). I’m glad the makers took two years to edit the film and make it sensible and justify the characters. Also, it’s an indie film that needs screens for a decent run and finding that space is never easy. It’s a bit of a struggle, although things are changing now. It’s actually coming out at the right time.
You’ve been appreciated for your acting chops, but your choice of films hasn’t always worked in your favour. Do you agree?
I feel, my best is yet to come. Yes, some decisions have gone against me, about 30 per cent of the films that I have acted in have fielded negativity and controversies. In some cases, we started on the wrong foot and in some cases, the publicity went wrong. But the characters, irrespective of the screen time, have won me some good reviews. What can I say beyond that? I worked in a film called Fattak, which is one of my best works, but the film couldn’t release because the producers went bankrupt. Things like these happen in our industry and that makes life difficult for people like me. I am not a star and I wasn’t introduced as a star kid, nor am I the type of actor who is high on hero roles. I’ve had an affinity for dark and slightly, edgy characters. Not everyone likes playing ugly characters, but I love them. So, I’ve realised this will take a little time, but things will work out for me. Also, I’m not the type of a guy who just hangs around in Bollywood. I have my circle and I do my own things. I don’t hang out with industry people to get work.
Your father also started off playing some really insignificant roles, but he gradually rose to the stature of a supporting actor who was loved and adored by the masses. Earlier, actors got more opportunities and time to prove their worth, which is not the case today. Does that worry you?
It does, but when I look around, I have a lot of contemporary examples of actors who have made their way up, brick by brick. Look at Nawazuddin Siddiqui. Yes, my father is a brilliant actor and the way that the industry functioned in those days was different. It’s true that people today, run out of patience pretty easily, but I am a different guy. I perceive cinema differently. I want to be subtle with my choices and work at my own pace. I don’t really want to prove a point to anyone. If the content and character work for me, I take it up. I haven’t got the right opportunities to display my range as an actor yet, but that day will come. I am Shakti Kapoor ka beta and Shraddha Kapoor ka bhai and I am mighty proud of both of them. And there will be a day when they, too, will be proud of me.
Fenil's Bollywood Talk # 552
9:20 AM
A DRY FRIDAY BEFORE THE BIG REPUBLIC DAY WEEKEND!
The first big holiday of the year – Republic Day – will fall next week. A week before, that is tomorrow, as many as 4 films will release but barring the first, all other 3 films don’t seem exciting and will have a tough time. My analysis:
WHY CHEAT INDIA: It was earlier named Cheat India but the Censors raised objection to this title. Hence, ‘Why’ was added in the beginning, prompting many, including actor-producer Emraan Hashmi, to ask ‘Why’ was the title changed! The change of title in no way makes much of a difference, especially when the earlier one was found to be derogatory. The film however is on the interesting topic of cheating mafia during exams which is a very big problem of our country. Emraan plays a smart guy who has found a hack in the system and has no qualms in exploiting it. The trailer is interesting and Emraan looks in his element. Besides the title change, the film faced few roadblocks, but not major ones. Firstly, it’s director Soumik Sen got under the #MeToo scanner. Thankfully for him and the film, it didn’t turn into a storm like in the case of Sajid Khan and Nana Patekar. Secondly, the film was initially scheduled to release on Republic Day. But realizing that clashing with Thackeray and Manikarnika – The Queen Of Jhansi would be foolhardy, the makers preponed the release by a week. They also did a press conference wherein they invited Aaditya Thackeray, grandson of Shiv Sena founder Balasaheb Thackeray, on whom the film is based, just to show that it’s all amicable. At the box office, the buzz for the film is quite less and this would reflect in its opening. Why Cheat India should open at around Rs. 2.5-3 crore. If response is good, the collections can go on a high in the weekend. However, it has just one week to collect well since there are two big films releasing next week. Also, last week's Uri has turned out to be a super-hit and it’ll also affect the collections.
FRAUD SAIYAAN: This is a delayed film but fortunately for the makers, it doesn’t look dated. It stars Arshad Warsi in a lead role and is about a con guy who gets married to various women and then runs away with their money. It also co-stars Sara Loren, Saurabh Shukla, Flora Saini, Varun Badola and Elli AvrRam. The film looks like a nice comic caper but has chances to do well in television than in cinemas. The opening can still be in the range of Rs. 60-70 lakhs and only if response is extraordinary can this go anywhere.
RANGEELA RAJA: It stars Govinda in a double role and is produced by Pahlaj Nihalani. The film was to release initially on November 16, 2018 but the Censor Board played dirty games. They dilly-dallied in watching the film after it was submitted. And then they asked for lot of cuts. Pahlaj Nihalani, who has earlier been a CBFC chairperson, refused to take these cuts since as per him, he has made the film according to the guidelines. He therefore demanded a U/A certificate with no cuts. He moved Court and later the film was passed in December 2018 with 3 cuts and U/A Certificate. This controversy made lot of noise since Pahlaj himself had asked for cuts in lot of films and this time he was at the receiving end. The buzz for the film then was bit more. Now, it’s very limited. It might open well in the mass centres and single screens and has no chance in multiplexes. Govinda’s recent films like Aa Gaya Hero and Fry Day opened at less than Rs 30 lakhs. Rangeela Raja hopefully will open at around Rs. 40-50 lakhs which is still a poor opening.
BOMBAIRIYA: Again this is a delayed film and has an ensemble cast comprising of Radhika Apte, Siddhanth Kapoor, Akshay Oberoi, Adil Hussain, Ravi Kishan, Amit Sial and Shilpa Shukla. It seems to be about the events that occur in the lives of these people in a day (or maybe two). The trailer is entertaining and funny. But it looks quite niche and promotion wise, it has failed to make any noise. In fact, the marketing has been zilch. Very few people are aware of its release. As a result, it’s opening can be very less, around Rs. 25 to 35 lakhs. If response is very, very good, then it can give tough competition and do better than Rangeela Raja.
WHICH FILM WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE AND WHY? DO LET ME KNOW!
The budget or scale of a film should not make a difference to an actor-Radhika Apte
8:00 AM
Rachit Gupta (BOMBAY TIMES; January 17, 2019)
Slowly but steadily, Radhika Apte has cemented her spot in the world of movies. In 2018 alone, she had three bigticket releases — PadMan, AndhaDhun and Baazaar. But she reveals that a calendar full of releases isn’t her ideal year. She would rather spend time shooting for films than promoting them and seeing them release. Perhaps that’s why she has no qualms about working in small, but promising movies like Bombairiya, which releases this week. In a conversation with BT, the actress talks about walking the path of showbiz differently. Excerpts from a freewheeling chat…
You play a film publicist in Bombairiya, that’s a character you must have been familiar with from your day-to-day life. Did playing this role give you a new perspective on the world of promotions and PR?
I work with film publicists every day, but you view their job and life from your own perspective. But having played one in a film, I now have a point of view from their end. I realised that to be a PR, you just have to do certain things to get things done. It’s basically about dealing with a lot of egos and getting people to do things that they don't want to do.
The film highlights the frantic life of Mumbai and its citizens. Since you relocated from Pune, having once viewed the city of dreams and ambitions from the prism of an outsider, how has your perception changed about the city?
I feel the title of the movie is quite appropriate because the word ‘bairiya’ describes a place like Mumbai very well. People migrate to this city for work and to realise their dreams. It’s basically a place full of different energies coming together. Even though the city is such a chaotic place, it gives you a lot. Life in a place like Mumbai can be quite frenetic and demanding, but the fact that people extend so much warmth and compassion towards strangers also makes it very interesting. For me, the strongest connections with the city are because of my friends and work. That’s what draws me to Mumbai, the most.
When you work in a relatively small-budget film like Bombairiya,does that give you more creative freedom and satisfaction?
I shot for Bombairiya almost three years ago. Again, the budget or scale of a film should not make a difference to an actor; you have to put the same effort in every movie, regardless of the production scale. I enjoy being involved in the creative process and I am happy as long as my role and the story are exciting. This year, too, I will start work on a small film, but it has a superb script and characters. That's all that matters to me.
Slowly but surely, you have carved a niche for yourself in commercial cinema. Not just Bollywood, you’ve also had the chance to play strong characters in South films. How does it feel to be acknowledged as an acclaimed and sought-after actor?
I’ve had a hectic, but very memorable 2018 and I am really grateful for films like Pad Man, AndhaDhun and Baazaar. It obviously feels greats to receive the appreciation and the success for your hard work, but I am someone who likes to look ahead instead of looking back. Instead of dwelling on the past, I would rather look forward to the coming months and my upcoming releases. Unfortunately for me, I spent the major part of 2018 engaging in film publicity rather than doing good work.
While you’ve worked in several movies off late, do you feel that you are being offered too many supporting roles? Would you prefer to work in films where you have more prominent roles?
The length of the role doesn’t really matter, what matters is how much you connect with your character and how engaging you find the story to be. In a film like AndhaDhun, the story centres around Ayushmann Khurrana and Tabu’s characters, so I can’t expect my role to be longer. But I must add that I am not satisfied working in a film for just five, ten or fifteen days. I really enjoy the process of working on a role and telling a story, so, I want to work on many more films and want to be able to dedicate more time to work on my characters. I just want to keep working on good stories, challenging roles and make money, too (laughs!).
Part of being a movie star means that you have to cater to the media glaze and be in public eye. Do you find the process of promotions a bit tedious?
I don't enjoy film promotions at all. I have to do them, but I can’t lie. It’s not a process that I look forward to at all. I would rather spend that much time and energy fleshing out a character and working on my performance in a film. Having said that, when I am on a holiday, I don’t like to think about work. I prefer to do things at their designated time.
You’ve been married to film musician, Benedict Taylor, since 2013. Do you feel the perception towards married actresses still matters in the film industry?
I don’t think marriage has anything to do with my work. Being married doesn’t really affect a woman’s career at all. The world knows that I am married. I feel that my marital status has no bearing on the kind of work that I am offered.
How much do friendships and connections matter in the film industry? Does striking a chord with your director help with getting opportunities in the future, too?
I have had the opportunity to work with some fantastic filmmakers like Sriram Raghavan and R Balki, so I don’t mind exploiting those connections and getting more work in the future. I work in the film industry for creative satisfaction, probably more than for the money and commercial acclaim. So, if establishing connections with these fabulous storytellers results in better work in the future, why not?
There is a niggling fear that work will run out-Akshay Oberoi
8:08 AM
Gearing up for the cricket drama Selection Day, Akshay Oberoi on straddling movies and web, and how an actor’s life is plagued by insecurity
Letty Mariam Abraham (MID-DAY; December 11, 2018)
You've been roped in for the cricket drama, Selection Day. Aren’t you worried about comparisons with Amazon Prime’s Emmy-nominated Inside Edge?
Selection Day is based on Aravind Adiga’s book [by the same name] and was the second Netflix original to be sanctioned. I haven’t seen Inside Edge, but I know it’s about how Indian Premier League [IPL] started and the chaos behind it. Selection Day is about two 16 and 14 year olds, who aspire to become the next big thing in cricket. I play their manager. The show is about relationships, dreams and aspirations.
You also have Law And Order in the pipeline.
It’s like Suits, with glamour and style. Law and Order sees me as a lawyer, and depicts the Indian law system. It’s produced by the Test Case producer Samar Khan, so I didn’t think twice before giving my nod. The cases in the show are thoroughly researched. This will be a promising show, thanks to the star cast that includes Satyadeep Mishra, Piyush Mishra and Neha Sharma.
For someone who started his career with a romantic film, we’ve barely seen you explore the genre again.
I ran away from the genre [laughs]. Isi Life Mein (2010) was a washout when it released. But Rajshri Productions invested a lot of money in a nobody like me; I will always be grateful for that. However, I hated my work in the film — what I was doing, the way I looked. I still can’t watch it on TV. Had that film been a hit, I would have probably gone down that path. But after the film released, I discovered that, that was not the kind of actor I wanted to be.
How do you deal with the insecurity of being an actor?
Fortunately, I have not been unemployed for the last two to three years. Besides the web shows, I’ve got films like Junglee, Chhote Nawab and Bombairiya with Radhika Apte. So, my kitchen is running. But there is a niggling fear that this [work] will run out.
Considering you were raised in New York, why didn’t you try your luck in Hollywood?
I thought I would establish myself here quicker than I would in Hollywood. I expected to get meatier parts. I know I’m not as successful as Ranbir Kapoor; but then again, I am not Rishi Kapoor’s son. With 10 to 11 films behind me, I’m happy with my career graph. It would not have happened there. I would have played a terrorist or something random. Mira Nair, who has been my idol, asked me the same question when I recently met her. And she agreed with my viewpoint.
Not too many people know that you’re a trained ballet dancer.
I learnt it when I was 15 because I wanted to be in Hindi cinema. The training paid off with respect to body language — it helps you align your body.
Four-year wait comes to an end for Radhika Apte as Bombairiya all set to release in January 2019
7:59 AM
A film the actress shot for in 2015 with Akshay Oberoi, Ravi Kishan is hitting theatres in January
Natasha Coutinho (MUMBAI MIRROR; November 15, 2018)
In 2015, Radhika Apte had shot for debutante filmmaker Pia Sukanya’s film, Bombairiya, which also features Ravi Kishan, Siddhanth Kapoor and Shilpa Shukla, among others, and sees her in the role of a film publicist. Now, with a theatrical release scheduled for January 2019, the film is finally set to see the light of day.
Michael E Ward, who has produced the film, attributes the delay to the intricacies of shooting a film in Mumbai. “The idea was to tell a real story set in the city, which can be really difficult and expensive so most local producers avoid it. Since there was no way around it for us, we shot the film, a comedy set in Mumbai’s streets, at 40 real locations with sync sound and a crew that was not too large. Once, while we were shooting on a Mahim set, 53 policemen turned up to collect hafta. This happened even though we had all permissions to shoot.”
According to the filmmaker, other unforeseen crises added to the crew’s woes. During the shoot, Siddhanth suffered an injury and was unable to shoot for months after getting 47 stitches on his arm. Then, technology played spoil sport. “We were mid-shoot when we had to update all sequences involving VFX, which took a year of complete rework on visual effects when it usually takes eight weeks,” Michael informed, adding that it was worth the effort in the end.
Radhika Apte shown a victim of a leaked MMS in upcoming film Bombairiya
8:23 AM
Actress relives real life ordeals with clip leaks for a new film
Natasha Coutinho (MUMBAI MIRROR; November 28, 2016)
Radhika Apte battled leaks of sexual content from her films when clips from Madly and Parched made their way to the internet. Last year pictures of a woman in the shower had started doing the rounds. But at that time Radhika decided to take matters into her hands and had posted a stern message on social media which read, "You guys! If you're going to get someone to pass off as naked me, she needs to look a lot more like me."
Now, for the twist in the tale... In a case of real meets reel, the actress is shown as a victim of a leaked shower clip in her upcoming film Bombairiya in which she plays a publicist named Meghna.
Filmmaker Michael E Ward confirms the news, saying, "Yes, we do have such a scene in our film which was shot around the same time when a clip from Anurag Kashyap's film, Madly, was leaked. For a while we were afraid that we may have to change our script as Radhika who was really upset about the real leak might be uncomfortable shooting it. But she's a brave girl and bounced back strongly and agreed to do the scenes. Her character is a film publicist whose phone is snatched on the street. She chases after the thief frantically because there's a an MMS in it of her in the shower after a Holi blast which she knows could be embarrassing to her as well as the Bollywood actor she works with."
Michael is quick to add that they weren't trying to cash in on Radhika's real life controversies, "The scene was always a part of the script and Radhika understood that. We are definitely not exploiting what happened to her earlier," he asserts.
I want to be in Chennai to see the Rajinikanth craze-Radhika Apte
8:19 AM
Radhika Apte, the Thalaiva's newest leading lady, on working with the superstar and other projects
Roshmila Bhattacharya (MUMBAI MIRROR; July 20, 2016)
On Tuesday, rumour mills
were abuzz that Rajinikanth's upcoming gangster drama, Kabali, had been
leaked online, three days before release. This despite the producer, S
Thanu, having filed a petition with the Madras High Court to stop
illegal downloads by 180 named websites and countless unknown sites.
Radhika Apte, Rajini's leading lady, is on her way to the dentist when
this is conveyed to her and she reacts with an “OMG, really?“ She's been
busy shooting for her horror film, Ghoul, and was completely out of the
loop, unaware that Udta Punjab, Great Grand Masti and Sultan had also
leaked online. “It's sad but watching a film on your laptop is not the
same as watching a film on screen. Those who want to experience the
magic of cinema, will go to the theatre,“ she asserts.
Working with the Big R, she says, was a dream come true. “To be honest I'd not even dreamt of it,“ she exults, admitting that she had accepted Kabali simply because it was a Rajinikant film. “But I also knew from the first phone call that even though it's a commercial film, it was a content-driven one and I had a role that had substance. I wasn't just there to sing songs. I also like writer-director Pa Ranjith's sensibilities,“ she reveals. She met the legendary actor for the first time during a photo shoot. He was in his vanity van and she asked the manager if she could meet him. When she reached the van he was waiting outside to receive her. “It was a great gesture. We chatted...Random conversation, we chilled right from first connect. He spoke to me in Marathi on the first day of the shoot,“ she reminisces with a smile.
They started out with a night shoot in Goa. Radhika had a lot of lines, her hero had none. She was all prepped up and the scenes went off well. “Since it was Goa he was sitting outside and we continued to chat about a lot of things,“ she recalls acknowledging that she was both excited and nervous about sharing screen space with the Thalaiva but he turned out to be warm, exceptionally professional, a down-to-earth man. “He speaks to you as if you're his equal so there's no pressure and you don't feel stressed,“ she explains.
It was in Malaysia that she realised what a huge star Rajini is and was mesmerised to see fans throng the sets, hang out all day, scream every time they spotted him. “He would acknowledge them with a smile and a wave and I would absorb the fan worship,“ she flashbacks, admitting that she's never really idolised anyone though she has been inspired by many. “The one person I was crazy about was author Milan Kundera. After reading The Unbearable Lightness of Being, I bought everything he'd written and went backpacking through Europe, foolishly hoping to bump into him. I didn't but I met someone who knew him.He told me some interesting stories about Kundera.“ Returning to Rajini, she is embarrassed to admit that she doesn't remember the names of his films she'd watched when in school but does recall all his moves--from the stunts with bullets to his unique style of putting on his sunglasses. Did she ask him to demonstrate them? “I would never do that,“ she says primly.
Radhika was seen in Shrish Kunder's debut short, Kriti, recently which after a controversy over copyright violation is back on YouTube. She has just wrapped up an English film, The Ashram, also featuring Hollywood actress Melissa Leo (Olympus Has Fallen, Oblivion). “I know the director, Ben Rekhi, well, it was shot in the Himalayas,“ she says, equally gung-ho about the women-centric Parched, produced by Ajay Devgn, which is getting rave reviews on the festival circuit. “Another film, Bombairiya, should open this year.Then there's Ghoul, a Phantom-Ivonhoe production, in which I play the female protagonist. A horror film like this has never been seen before in India,“ she says.
Ghoul could keep her away from being a part of the Rajini festival on Friday. “I really want to be in Chennai for the premiere, see the Rajini craze for myself, but the shooting is keeping me in Mumbai,“ she sighs. Tell her that a holiday has been declared in Chennai and Bangalore so Rajini fans can see their 'hero' in action and she quips, "See what I mean, I want to be a part of all this!“ Meanwhile, she's gearing up for a holiday in September. “I haven't decided where I'm going but on my birthday, September 7, I'll definitely not be working,“ she signs off.
KABALI LEAKED, YES! AFFECT NONE!
The alleged leak of Kabali on the 'Dark Web' (unindexed peer-to-peer sharing deep web part of Internet ) has not even broken a sweat on exhibitors and distributors of the film in Bangalore. Tulsiram Naidu, whose company, Lahari Music, is releasing the film in the city's multiplexes (and also for the first time in India in five star hotels) said, “The information we have now is that bits of the film are available on the dark web. Such risks are associated with all big films and even more so for a Rajinikant-starrer. The advance bookings for the film are unaffected by such things and as of now, all the screens where advance bookings have opened are sold out, including in five star hotels. Fans want to enjoy the film with friends, families and a crowd, not in privacy.“
Abey John, a web expert based in Pondicherry said, “Almost all movies can be found on the dark web if you know where to look. Full HD versions. New releases if they turn up are either stolen prints or theatre filmed“.
Working with the Big R, she says, was a dream come true. “To be honest I'd not even dreamt of it,“ she exults, admitting that she had accepted Kabali simply because it was a Rajinikant film. “But I also knew from the first phone call that even though it's a commercial film, it was a content-driven one and I had a role that had substance. I wasn't just there to sing songs. I also like writer-director Pa Ranjith's sensibilities,“ she reveals. She met the legendary actor for the first time during a photo shoot. He was in his vanity van and she asked the manager if she could meet him. When she reached the van he was waiting outside to receive her. “It was a great gesture. We chatted...Random conversation, we chilled right from first connect. He spoke to me in Marathi on the first day of the shoot,“ she reminisces with a smile.
They started out with a night shoot in Goa. Radhika had a lot of lines, her hero had none. She was all prepped up and the scenes went off well. “Since it was Goa he was sitting outside and we continued to chat about a lot of things,“ she recalls acknowledging that she was both excited and nervous about sharing screen space with the Thalaiva but he turned out to be warm, exceptionally professional, a down-to-earth man. “He speaks to you as if you're his equal so there's no pressure and you don't feel stressed,“ she explains.
It was in Malaysia that she realised what a huge star Rajini is and was mesmerised to see fans throng the sets, hang out all day, scream every time they spotted him. “He would acknowledge them with a smile and a wave and I would absorb the fan worship,“ she flashbacks, admitting that she's never really idolised anyone though she has been inspired by many. “The one person I was crazy about was author Milan Kundera. After reading The Unbearable Lightness of Being, I bought everything he'd written and went backpacking through Europe, foolishly hoping to bump into him. I didn't but I met someone who knew him.He told me some interesting stories about Kundera.“ Returning to Rajini, she is embarrassed to admit that she doesn't remember the names of his films she'd watched when in school but does recall all his moves--from the stunts with bullets to his unique style of putting on his sunglasses. Did she ask him to demonstrate them? “I would never do that,“ she says primly.
Radhika was seen in Shrish Kunder's debut short, Kriti, recently which after a controversy over copyright violation is back on YouTube. She has just wrapped up an English film, The Ashram, also featuring Hollywood actress Melissa Leo (Olympus Has Fallen, Oblivion). “I know the director, Ben Rekhi, well, it was shot in the Himalayas,“ she says, equally gung-ho about the women-centric Parched, produced by Ajay Devgn, which is getting rave reviews on the festival circuit. “Another film, Bombairiya, should open this year.Then there's Ghoul, a Phantom-Ivonhoe production, in which I play the female protagonist. A horror film like this has never been seen before in India,“ she says.
Ghoul could keep her away from being a part of the Rajini festival on Friday. “I really want to be in Chennai for the premiere, see the Rajini craze for myself, but the shooting is keeping me in Mumbai,“ she sighs. Tell her that a holiday has been declared in Chennai and Bangalore so Rajini fans can see their 'hero' in action and she quips, "See what I mean, I want to be a part of all this!“ Meanwhile, she's gearing up for a holiday in September. “I haven't decided where I'm going but on my birthday, September 7, I'll definitely not be working,“ she signs off.
KABALI LEAKED, YES! AFFECT NONE!
The alleged leak of Kabali on the 'Dark Web' (unindexed peer-to-peer sharing deep web part of Internet ) has not even broken a sweat on exhibitors and distributors of the film in Bangalore. Tulsiram Naidu, whose company, Lahari Music, is releasing the film in the city's multiplexes (and also for the first time in India in five star hotels) said, “The information we have now is that bits of the film are available on the dark web. Such risks are associated with all big films and even more so for a Rajinikant-starrer. The advance bookings for the film are unaffected by such things and as of now, all the screens where advance bookings have opened are sold out, including in five star hotels. Fans want to enjoy the film with friends, families and a crowd, not in privacy.“
Abey John, a web expert based in Pondicherry said, “Almost all movies can be found on the dark web if you know where to look. Full HD versions. New releases if they turn up are either stolen prints or theatre filmed“.
Bombairiya is a mix of love and intrigue with quirky characters
7:41 AM
BOMBAY TIMES (October 22, 2015)
Debutante director Pia Sukanya's Bombairiya is a tribute to Mumbai and has been shot in various parts of the city. She wanted to give audiences a joyride where anything can happen. All the characters are unpredictable, battling the pressures of fast-paced lives in the metropolis. “The way their stories interweave makes the movie interesting,“ she says.
Radhika Apte, who plays Meghna, a film publicist, admits she could identify with the way her character handles pressure. She explains, “I ensure that bad stuff doesn't make news. But the movie focusses on the worst day of her career as she has to battle personal and professional problems. When her cell phone gets flicked, her tendency to lie draws her into a much bigger story where the lives of several people are at stake. I identify with Meghna's ability to cope with chaos.“
About his role as Abhishek, an IT professional, Akshay Oberoi reveals, “It would be unfair to describe him as a mamma's boy. He is a positive and family-oriented guy. His idealism tends to make matters worse for Meghna whom he is trying to help in spite of her rebuffing him. He has to endure both physical and mental agony for her.“
Siddhanth Kapoor portrays a mysterious biker who drives a pink scooty. “I like the fact that my character has no name. His job is to deliver a parcel from one place to the other, without asking any questions. When people suddenly start chasing him, he realises he has landed himself in a mess. But he is street-smart,“ says the actor.
The comedy also features Ravi Kishan as Karan Kapoor, a fading superstar and Shilpa Shukla as Iravati, a politician in a moral dilemma.
Bombairiya, produced by Michael Ward in association with Beautiful Bay Entertainment and Kreo Films of Dubai, releases next year.
Akshay Oberoi is a hatke superhero in Bombairiya
7:43 AM
Sanyukta Iyer (MUMBAI MIRROR; August 11, 2015)
Vivek Oberoi's younger
brother Akshay Oberoi who was last seen as Deepika
Padukone's runaway date in Shoojit Sircar's Piku, now plays Abhishek
Sharma, a simpleton on the streets of Mumbai in Pia Sukanya's
directorial debut titled Bombairiya.
“He's a good chap, addicted to comic books and inspired by superheroes. He believes that his hat will help him fight crime and never takes it off,“ Akshay told Mirror, adding that his character goes from believing that his crimefighting skills lie in his hat to eventually no longer needing the hat.
Also featuring Radhika Apte as a publicist and Siddhanth Kapoor as a biker, the film spans 24 hours in reel time and subtly explores how people survive in the city. “We shot for 30 days in Mumbai and it was an adventure,“ Akshay smiles. This year, Akshay will also be seen as Mufti romancing a younger Begum, played by Aditi Rao Hyadari, in Fitoor, Abhishek Kapoor's adaptation of the Charles Dickens classic, Great Expectations.
“He's a good chap, addicted to comic books and inspired by superheroes. He believes that his hat will help him fight crime and never takes it off,“ Akshay told Mirror, adding that his character goes from believing that his crimefighting skills lie in his hat to eventually no longer needing the hat.
Also featuring Radhika Apte as a publicist and Siddhanth Kapoor as a biker, the film spans 24 hours in reel time and subtly explores how people survive in the city. “We shot for 30 days in Mumbai and it was an adventure,“ Akshay smiles. This year, Akshay will also be seen as Mufti romancing a younger Begum, played by Aditi Rao Hyadari, in Fitoor, Abhishek Kapoor's adaptation of the Charles Dickens classic, Great Expectations.
Juliet versus Romeo scene recreated for Bombairiya
7:37 AM
Mohar Basu (BOMBAY TIMES; July 23, 2015)
Recently, at a shooting
location in Mumbai, Radhika Apte and Ravi Kishan were enacting a
Juliet versus Romeo scene for Bombairiya. Radhika was spotted standing on
a bridge with Ravi making a passionate plea to her from a swan boat
parked below.
Speaking about it, the actress says, “Ravi plays Karan Kapoor who is in love with my screen character Meghna. She doesn't wish to confront him. However, when her phone gets stolen she is forced to communicate with him in person. There was a bit of shouting involved but ironically it is a rather sweet scene. With the pressure of the day getting to her, she goes ballistic for a bit.“
Debutante filmmaker Pia Sukanya explains the psyche of her characters, “Both Meghna and Karan are at difficult phases in their lives. Meghna is battling the fear of exposure, while Karan is facing the possible end of his career. And he refuses to talk to anyone else but her about it. As the scene plays out, it seems comic on one level but has many layers that say a lot more. We've carefully crafted such scenes in the movie to enhance the bigger darker story that our main characters get dragged into.“
Speaking about it, the actress says, “Ravi plays Karan Kapoor who is in love with my screen character Meghna. She doesn't wish to confront him. However, when her phone gets stolen she is forced to communicate with him in person. There was a bit of shouting involved but ironically it is a rather sweet scene. With the pressure of the day getting to her, she goes ballistic for a bit.“
Debutante filmmaker Pia Sukanya explains the psyche of her characters, “Both Meghna and Karan are at difficult phases in their lives. Meghna is battling the fear of exposure, while Karan is facing the possible end of his career. And he refuses to talk to anyone else but her about it. As the scene plays out, it seems comic on one level but has many layers that say a lot more. We've carefully crafted such scenes in the movie to enhance the bigger darker story that our main characters get dragged into.“
My character in Bombairiya is affectionately called Topiman-Akshay Oberoi
7:43 AM
BOMBAY TIMES (July 1, 2015)
Actor Akshay
Oberoi plays a software engineer attracted to Radhika Apte's
hard-edged PR agent in director Pia Sukanya's upcoming comic thriller
Bombairiya. The film, that has parallel storylines, hidden mysteries and
embarrassing secrets, is currently under production.
Akshay talks about his character, Abhishek, in the film, who dons a hat, “My character is affectionately called Topiman by his mom and teased by his dad because he goes all out to help people and the hat is like his cape. He doesn't know whether the damsel in distress requires his help as Meghna (Radhika) keeps brushing him off. Abhishek doesn't get the credit he deserves for trying to bring a criminal to book, because he sometimes worsens the situation with his civic-minded intervention, by approaching things with a clean heart.“
When he loses his hat on the way, one can't help but wonder if he will be able to stand up to Meghna and take on the bad guys without it. And whether he'll be able to pierce her allergic reaction to him when ever he turns up to assist her. Akshay smiles, “I'm pretty sure I'm going to get through to her in the second schedule, which we are filming after the monsoon season,“ he trails off.
Pleased that characters like Abhishek exist, the actor says that he knows such people in real life. “Genuine guys stand out today because it's a cynical world out there and someone like Meghna does need to be rescued from her cynicism! And with my Topi in my hand, I'm just the guy to do that,“ he sums up.
Akshay talks about his character, Abhishek, in the film, who dons a hat, “My character is affectionately called Topiman by his mom and teased by his dad because he goes all out to help people and the hat is like his cape. He doesn't know whether the damsel in distress requires his help as Meghna (Radhika) keeps brushing him off. Abhishek doesn't get the credit he deserves for trying to bring a criminal to book, because he sometimes worsens the situation with his civic-minded intervention, by approaching things with a clean heart.“
When he loses his hat on the way, one can't help but wonder if he will be able to stand up to Meghna and take on the bad guys without it. And whether he'll be able to pierce her allergic reaction to him when ever he turns up to assist her. Akshay smiles, “I'm pretty sure I'm going to get through to her in the second schedule, which we are filming after the monsoon season,“ he trails off.
Pleased that characters like Abhishek exist, the actor says that he knows such people in real life. “Genuine guys stand out today because it's a cynical world out there and someone like Meghna does need to be rescued from her cynicism! And with my Topi in my hand, I'm just the guy to do that,“ he sums up.
Delhi Belly writer Akshat Verma turns actor in Bombairiya
7:36 AM
The writer will play a director who's making a film with Ravi Kishan.
Avinash Lohana (MUMBAI MIRROR; June 18, 2015)
Akshat Verma, the writer and associate director of Aamir Khan's black comedy, Delhi Belly, will make his acting debut in Pia Sukanya's Bombairiya. The film which co-stars Radhika Apte, Sidhant Kapoor and Akshay Oberoi, has Akshat playing a director on screen too.
"There is a film being made within the film. It stars Ravi Kishan and I'm directing it," he informs, quickly adding that he's not playing himself but a character.
The Delhi Belly writer agreed to be a part of this project as the makers are his friends. "They felt I fitted the part well and since I enjoy trying different things and am comfortable in front of the camera, I agreed. It was great fun. But I hope they got what they were expecting from me in the film," he laughs.
Will we now see him more in front of the camera than behind it? "I don't know," he shrugs. "If something interesting comes up then I am open to doing it. But at the end of the day, I am a writer and a director. That's what I enjoy."
Akshat has already begun work on his directorial debut. It is a quirky comedy set in Mumbai and will be produced by Anushka Sharma. I features her NH10 co-star Neil Bhoopalaam in the lead.
Since Delhi Belly released in 2011 and went on to become a surprise hit, there have been talks of a sequel. "That's not true. I don't know if anybody else is making it, but I am definitely not," he retorts.
Akshat is also developing a mini series, possibly for television or the web because of the nature of it's content. "It's still in the planning stage," he says shortly.
Check out Siddhanth Kapoor wearing pink helmet in Bombairiya
7:39 AM
Sanyukta Iyer (MUMBAI MIRROR; May 27, 2015)
Siddhanth Kapoor who was seen in a dark and dangerous avtaar in Anurag Kashyap's Ugly, will once again play a baddie in Aishwarya Rai's comeback vehicle, Jazbaa.
"My character is a psycho in the film. You wouldn't know whether you want to hate him or pity him," Siddhant says.
And before we see him unleash violence on screen, he'll be seen riding around Mumbai city on a pink two-wheeler, sporting a matching helmet. The actor will be seen as a delivery boy who finds himself in the centre of a chaotic accident which in turn leads to a dat full of dramatic events in Pia Sukanya's upcoming film, Bombairiya.
"I am on my way to deliver a parcel when things go completely wrong. It might sound funny, but it's an extremely scary chain of events that can happen to anyone in the city," Siddhant adds.
The actor's mishap also adds to the dilemma of the other characters played by Radhika Apte and Akshay Oberoi. "Their day keeps getting worse and it's not just them, even a mantri and a helpful, neighbourhood chap find themselves in a soup," grins Siddhant.
Siddhant who fell off the bike himself while shooting for a sequence for the film says that he's been at the centre of chaos offscreen as well. "I'm completely accident-prone. I skid from the bike and hurt my leg badly on the set once. My character is always on the run in the film and trust me, I've had some pretty crazy experiences in real life too," concludes Siddhanth.
Check out Radhika Apte shooting for Bombairiya on Mumbai streets
7:45 AM
Putting the recent nude video controversy behind her, Radhika Apte shoots for her Indo-Brit film
Sanyukta Iyer (MUMBAI MIRROR; May 20, 2015)
Radhika Apte made headlines recently when a semi-nude scene featuring her, shot for Anurag Kashyap's 20-minute film, was leaked online and went viral. The makers filed an FIR but the actress wants to put the incident behind her for the moment. "I will be releasing an official statement at the time of the film's release," says the 29-year-old actress who is busy filming her first Indo-UK collaboration, Bombairiya, on the streets of Mumbai.
She's playing Meghna in Pia Sukanya's upcoming drama which spans 24 hours and subtly explores how people survive in the city. "I play a publicist whose phone is stolen and this can be catastrophic when you are chasing deadlines and handling a lot simultaneously. No one has the time to take a break," she informs.
Radhika is paired with Siddhanth Kapoor who plays a biker. The strangers meet and take off on a thrilling ride. She has three looks in the film. In the first one she's seen in a lacy sari and green sports shoes. "There is a reason for the mismatch but I'm not telling," she laughs. "It's a thriller of sorts and there's a particular thought behind why I'm dressed like this. The film's all about not judging a book by its cover."
I don’t know any friend of mine who hasn’t had sex before marriage-Radhika Apte
8:51 AM
Radhika Apte (DNA; March 28, 2015)
Radhika Apte is on a high after her two back-to-back
hits Badlapur and Hunterrr. She is quite taken up with the praise coming
her way. “I guess what really worked for me was that the two films and
my characters in them were so different from one another. It was just
lucky that the two films came out together. We shot Hunterrr over a long
period of time. We did a major part of the shooting and then stopped.
We picked up the threads again after two years, completed the film and
quickly released it.”
For an actress who has worked in films in seven languages, Radhika has a hunger to excel in unexpected roles. “I cannot see myself just looking pretty and dancing. I am sure that requires a helluva lot of discipline and hard work. But I’d rather channelise my energy to do something different, like I did in Badlapur and Hunterr.”
In Hunterr Radhika’s character had a murky past. “We are living at a time when women are not expected to be sati savtiris. My character in Hunterrr had a relationship and an abortion. This is a relatable person. I don’t know any friend of mine who hasn’t had sex before marriage,” she explains. And her quest for real characters continues. Says the actress, “I don’t care what the language of the cinema is, as long as it has a connect with real life. I am doing Leena Yadav’s Parched set in Rajasthan. I am also doing The Field about the Delhi mafia where my co-star is Neeraj Kabi (the monk in Ship Of Theseus). Then there is Mountain Man, the biopic on Dashrath Manjhi with Nawazuddin Siddiqui, which Ketan Mehta has directed. I got to play a Bihari rustic woman for the first time.” Radhika is also doing a couple of short films, one directed by Pia Sukanya called Bombairiya, another one by Sujoy Ghosh and a short film by Anurag Kashyap on forbidden love.
Radhika, who is married to a British musician, Benedict Taylor, is very clear about her views on nudity in cinema. “I have done a nude scene for an English film. In fact, I wrote an article about how strongly I felt on the subject of nudity. At the same time, I wouldn’t allow my personal space to be violated by any intrusive attention. Some time ago, somebody had posted a nude selfie on the internet claiming it was me. The girl didn’t even look like me. And the controversy died a natural death.”
Radhika adds, “I am here because I am passionate about acting. Just after I was noticed in Shor In The City, I left for London to study contemporary dancing. I came back feeling more empowered. I grew up idolising Aamir Khan. I had a poster of his in my room. Every day I said bye to it before going to school. I want to create a similar sense of self-worth in my career.”
Badlapur has definitely got me a lot of visibility-Radhika Apte
8:46 AM
Radhika Apte is back in B-town with Badlapur and has replaced Richa Chadda in a Brit film
Ankur Pathak (MUMBAI MIRROR; March 9, 2015)
Why the long break between Shor In The City and Badlapur?It was annoying because all I was getting were sari-clad, middle-class housewife roles and I didn't want to get typecast. So I went off to London for two years to study contemporary dance. On my return, I bagged Badlapur which was different and more glamorous than Shor. Yeah, this wife is uninhibited yet vulnerable and will go to any lengths to protect her husband.
How much did Sriram Raghavan shape this act?
I had extensive discussions with both Sriram and Varun (Dhawan) to understand the complexity of my role and the worldview of all the characters. It was in one of these quasi workshops that one of the best lines of the film popped out , "Ab tum yeh 15 saal bhoolne ki koshish karna."
I had extensive discussions with both Sriram and Varun (Dhawan) to understand the complexity of my role and the worldview of all the characters. It was in one of these quasi workshops that one of the best lines of the film popped out , "Ab tum yeh 15 saal bhoolne ki koshish karna."
So now it'll be mainstream Bollywood over indie films?
No, my love for indie cinema is intense. I feel complete as a performer when I work in that space. What I'm focussing on now is several Indo-foreign collaborations as they're a great blend of sharp content and great visibility.
No, my love for indie cinema is intense. I feel complete as a performer when I work in that space. What I'm focussing on now is several Indo-foreign collaborations as they're a great blend of sharp content and great visibility.
But international projects like The Mountain Man, Parched, The Field and
the Hindi film, Kaun Kitney Paani Mein are yet to see the light of the
day...
It's good that they didn't release before Badlapur. The
Field is yet to start and Hunterrr is close to release. I'm optimistic
that the rest of the films too will be out by the year-end.
Meanwhile, you've bagged Anurag Kashyap's international project and
Michael Ward's Bombairiya which initially had Richa Chadda in the lead
role. So has Sriram's film changed the game for you?
It's too early to tell but Badlapur has definitely got me a lot of
visibility. It has been watched by every filmmaker in town, one of whom
texted me saying he'd
like to work with me. I've never received this kind of response before. Anurag's film is an interesting
take on an extra-marital affair. It's much darker than any of the films
he's made earlier. Bombairiya is a lovely script by Pia Sukanya who is
also directing the film. (Smiles) And I get to add another foreign
production to my portfolio.
Richa Chaddha leaves British producer in the lurch; walks out of Bombairiya?
7:42 AM
The actress walks out of debutant director Pia Sukanya's Indo-British venture at the last moment to do a Saif Ali Khan-starrer
Ankur Pathak (MUMBAI MIRROR; December 12, 2014)
Richa Chadha was to play the female lead in debutant director Pia Sukanya's Indo-British venture Bombairiya. The film, which costars Shraddha Kapoor's younger brother, Siddhanth and Pizza actor Akshay Oberoi, was to go on floors in December. The makers claim that they were in for a rude shock when the actress unceremoniously left the project for the Saif Ali Khan-Kangana Ranaut starrer, Mr. Chaalu, produced by Ritesh Sidhwani and Farhan Akhtar.
When contacted, a fuming Michael Ward, the film's British producer, said: "We made some adjustments in our film's schedule earlier after she told us she's working on a Sudhir Mishra film (Aur Devdas). We reworked the combination dates."
But they had to go through another round of adjustment after Richa informed them that she had a commitment with Pooja Bhatt who had 'blanket control' over her dates. "Initially the film was to go on floors in October. Despite the dates getting postponed twice, we were ready to start the shoot in early January, " says Ward. "Now, we're left in a lurch."
However, Richa has a different story. When contacted, the actor's manager said, "We've trying to get everything down on paper but the producers are yet to send us a signed contract. Had the dates been set, none of this drama would have happened. Richa is a thorough professional, all her producers will vouch for this."
Meanwhile, the film's makers are trying to find a last-minute replacement for the Gangs of Wasseypur actress. "We've been pushed around enough. A third rearrangement of schedule was the last straw. We will now begin shooting in April with another actress," Michael signed off.
Shraddha's brother Siddhanth Kapoor turns delivery boy for Bombairiya
7:49 AM
Ankur Pathak (MUMBAI MIRROR; November 1, 2014)
After his turn as a gangster in his debut film, Shootout at Wadala, Shraddha Kapoor's younger brother Siddhanth had disappeared from the big screen. Now, Mirror has learnt that the actor is set to resurface in a film titled Bombairiya which co-stars Richa Chadha and Akshay Oberoi.
Siddhanth will play a delivery boy who unwittingly gets trapped in a conspiracy. The film is directed by debutante Pia Sukanya
A source told Mirror, "Siddhanth doesn't have a name. He's called 'the Biker' and is a mysterious character. He has to achieve his target by nightfall and this is the catalyst for the story."
Confirming the same, the actor told Mirror, "While Richa plays a public relation executive from Bollywood, I'm a delivery boy who comes from a small town and is learning the ways of how the industry functions."
He admits that he had to go through several rounds of auditions before he bagged the role. Bombairiya will be shot across Mumbai and is expected to go on the floors in the first week of December.
Richa Chadha-Akshay Oberoi in international Hindi film Bombairiya
7:38 AM
Sonali Joshi Pitale (MID-DAY; October 17, 2014)
For a long time now, Richa Chadha had been claiming to have signed a foreign film. Turns out that the film titled Bombairiya is being made by an India-born British producer, Michael Ward, and will be shot in the city itself. A source says, “Though Ward is the producer, it is a Hindi film. Richa has been cast opposite Pizza 3D actor, Akshay Oberoi. Pia Sukanya will make her directorial debut with this project, which is slated to go on floors in Mumbai soon.” The script demanded that the film be shot in Mumbai and in Hindi.
Ward says, “Pia and I are essentially Indian at heart and Bombay is an integral part of our being. The story is inspired by a real life incident.” He added that Richa plays a film publicist, who is in the habit of putting out fake news, while Akshay would be seen as a middle-class, IT programmer, who is awkward with girls. “Richa and Akshay are both making a mark in commercial Hindi cinema, so we decided to cast them,” he said.
Richa confirmed her participation in Ward’s film, calling it a ‘great story with immense universal appeal'. “I am thrilled to collaborate with Michael and Pia,” she said.
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