IANS (BOMBAY TIMES; January 28, 2019)

On Saturday, actors Vicky Kaushal and Yami Gautam visited the Attari-Wagah border during the Republic Day celebrations and interacted with BSF jawans. Varun Dhawan, too, was part of the event and stole the show with an energetic performance. He later took to social media and posted a photograph of his act. “An incredible honour to perform live at the Attari border today... thank you, Jai Hind, Happy Republic Day,” he said. Varun was accompanied by choreographer-director Remo D’Souza.

Yami and Vicky, too, shared videos and photographs of their border visit on social media. “Absolutely thrilled and honoured to celebrate #70thRepublicDay with our First Line of Defence — the BSF Jawaans — and a crowd of 28,000 Indians at the Attari-Wagah Border,” Vicky posted on his Instagram account. Yami said she had a “surreal experience” at the border, she wrote, “The josh was unbeatable today for the Republic day celebrations at the Wagah Border.” The two also interacted with BSF jawans. “Thank you @BSF_India and everyone for such a surreal experience,” Yami tweeted.

Maniesh Paul shares a day - and umpteen selfies - with BSF jawans in Jammu as part of a channel's Spread The Cheer campaign
Sonia Lulla (MID-DAY; January 20, 2019)

No sooner does Maniesh Paul set foot at the Border Security Force (BSF) base camp in Jammu than the news is broken to him - a sniper has been planted on location, and his aim is the coveted television show host, who has turned up at the cold climes of the city to 'Spread The Cheer' amidst Army men as part of Comedy Central India's annual event. Paul, animated as he is when donning his hat as a performer, lends a suspicious cursory glance before the proceedings serve as a distraction. He has a feat at hand - to give a go at the military drills that are part of the soldiers' daily routine.

A background in crossfit serves as his saving grace as he is tested against the fittest. He follows a BSF jawan as the latter navigates a rope to travel a few meters. Paul replicates the task, albeit failing to get past a few feet. Appreciable, one would say. Yet, much like the host with celebrated comic timing, the Army men too have a joke or two that they can humour with. Another jawan comes in to repeat the feat again, this time, donning artillery worth several kilos on his back. Is Paul up for the challenge? He lets it pass with a smile.

If there's any aspect of India that abides by the notion of the guest being God, it is the Indian Army. And whether or not they may have followed Paul's work - given that some of the jawans claimed to have watched their last Bollywood film decades ago - for them, he is a superstar. Amidst smoke bombs employed to set the scene of a war front, Paul is introduced to drills like battle rope, and those involving callisthenics, and puts up a miserable attempt at bringing home a point in a match of kabaddi. He joins the jawans at approximately the 12th round of an endurance run, and bows out at the 17th, while they continue to put their athletic ability on display.

However, when the tables turn, and it's time for Paul to turn entertainer, he doesn't disappoint. Even before he spells it out for us during an interview later, he makes evident why he is immensely adored. "Whoever I'm talking to, I try to make him/her the hero," he says. Entertaining a packed audience of men in uniforms, Paul decides to play to their strengths. Having been applauded for his work as host of the recently concluded Indian Idol 10, he recreates the scene here, well abreast of the melodious voices hidden within the men in uniform. In little time, he has found his top three contenders. Sprinkling their attention-grabbing renditions with mimicry that brings Bollywood to Jammu, the jawans back Paul in his claim that there's no lack of talent here. And just when we're about to wrap up, the Army pulls out its most powerful weapon.

Avinash Poon, a former aspirant of the dance reality show, Dance India Dance, now serving as a BSF jawan, puts his popping skills on display. "I learnt only last night that I have an act to put up. I created the track on an app, and then choreographed the dance accordingly. They say music means life, and for me it's a beat. If anyone plays a beat, I can dance." The Shillong resident turns teacher when he is in his hometown, where he runs classes with the help of his brother. "But I haven't had a chance to go back and teach ever since I've enrolled here."

Overseeing the proceedings, a BSF spokesperson shrugs his shoulders when asked about the impact that cultural activities of this nature have within the unit. "You can see its effect. These jawans are deployed at the border throughout the year. We do some activities to entertain ourselves. But, when someone from the cine world comes and entertains us, it's very soothing for people and they feel jubilant. The jawans look forward to the next day when they know someone is coming. Despite being a disciplined force, you may have seen how they jumbled for photographs [with him]."

In a bid to encourage those with a knack for the arts, the team, the spokesperson says, gives them a platform at gatherings. "It's called bada khaana, where we have a common kitchen for the entire unit. We hold it once in 15 to 30 days and on other important occasions. Rank structures are not maintained here. Everyone comes together, and whoever is willing to perform, does so for himself and others. When talent is spotted, we nurture it and give them a chance to perform. We send them to other locations when they are needed to entertain [others]."

Evidently relieved that he could be one among the lot who've turned up at the venue to gift the jawans "a beautiful day", Paul says, "I can't do what they do at the border, but they will shine if brought to a talent show. I feel happy that I could share a smile with them." As for the sniper, despite a fair amount of cajoling - and an offer to interact with Katrina Kaif - he doesn't relent. Plopped atop a tree a mere few feet away from us, and seated motionless for six hour, he deceives us with his disguise. When put to test at the war front, a sniper, we're told, can maintain his position for four days.








The sniper situated at the location

Sonil Dedhia (MID-DAY; January 15, 2018)

It’s not easy to live the gruelling life of an Indian Army jawan. Sidharth Malhotra and Manoj Bajpayee, who play Army officers in their upcoming film Aiyaary, got a sneak peek into their lives when they visited the Border Security Force (BSF) camp in Jaisalmer last week.

The cast and director Neeraj Pandey celebrated Lohri with the men in uniform as they entertained them with some good ol’ song-and-dance, and even picked up a few steps from the Rajasthani dancers. The team also took the opportunity to ring in an early birthday of a few jawans, who share their big day with Malhotra on January 16.

Taking the celebrations further, Bajpayee, along with co-stars Rakul Preet Singh, Pooja Chopra and Malhotra, took it upon himself to treat the jawans to his signature dish — Bihari mutton. “This was more of a picnic than a promotional activity. Getting into the kitchen, making food and sharing it with everyone was an amazing experience,” says Bajpayee.

What stuck with Malhotra, however, was the visit to the famous Tanot Mata temple the next day. Legend has it that the Pakistani army dropped several bombs to demolish the temple, during the 1965 Indo-Pak war, but the shrine remained intact. Enthusiastic about his visit to the temple, Malhotra says, “The jawans have tremendous belief in the temple and rightfully so, given its history. It was lovely to seek blessings there.” Pandey adds, “It [the temple] reinforces my belief in the powers beyond us.”




The actors with co-stars Rakul Preet Singh and Pooja Chopra

From PT drills to a low-down on the maintenance of arms, the cast of Aiyaary talks about its experience with BSF jawans in Jaisalmer
BOMBAY TIMES (January 15, 2018)

Recently, the team of Aiyaary had an opportunity to experience from close quarters how the men in uniform from the Border Security Force (BSF) at Jaisalmer (Rajasthan), lead lives away from their loved ones and homes. Clearly, working on a film that has the armed forces as its backdrop has its own pluses.

The film’s writer-director, Neeraj Pandey, along with his film’s actors Manoj Bajpayee, Sidharth Malhotra, former Miss Indias Rakul Preet Singh and Pooja Chopra, were invited to the BSF camp in Jaisalmer, by the soldiers to experience their professional routines and the course of their lives in general, which they lead miles away from their homes and loved ones.

On Thursday (January 11), the movie’s team embarked from Mumbai to the camp. What followed was a two-day activity with the jawans. As a part of the routine, on the first day, the movie team visited the camp for a PT drill where they did a set of warmup exercises followed by pit jumping, jumping over six-foot walls and rope climbing.

After spending a tiring few hours on the field, the team was given a lowdown on the maintenance of arms, followed by the arms-drill by Sidharth, Manoj, Rakul and Pooja. Post that, the team sat down for breakfast. At the end of the day, the jawaans and the Aiyaary team enjoyed traditional Rajasthani dance performances, put together by the locals of the region. The film’s team also participated in the revelry.

The next morning (Saturday, January 13), the cast visited the border where Sidharth and Manoj also performed a Kurra checking of pillar 609 near Tanot along with the BSF jawans. To keep their experience more real, the team ditched their SUVs and travelled with the jawaans in the BSF trucks and jeeps.

Talking about the experience, Sidharth, told BT, “It was a great learning for us. This was my first visit to any border of our country and all thanks to the Aiyaary team, I had a chance to experience things, which I will remember for the rest of my life. It was almost life changing to know what the BSF does and how much effort they put in to protect us and to serve the country 24x7. I have newfound respect for the security forces of our country and I wish them more luck and safety. I can’t thank them enough for educating me about the life a man serving at the border leads every single day.”

Manoj, who had been to the Jaisalmer border area while shooting for his film Road, added, “Everything has changed since my last visit here. I have seen a few women jawans here and it is a great sight. It has been quite an educational tour.”

BOMBAY TIMES (January 14, 2018)

The team of Aiyaary was recently at the BSF camp in Jaisalmer to celebrate Lohri with the jawans. Neeraj Pandey, along with Manoj Bajpayee, Sidharth Malhotra and former Miss Indias Rakul Preet Singh and Pooja Chopra, decided to stay at the BSF camp for two days. They also spent time learning about the routine of the jawans and training with them. The actors posted pictures and videos from the camp, where they can be seen learning to shoot rifles, climb ropes and march. In another video, the whole team can be seen having fun inside the camp’s kitchen.

Nayandeep Rakshit (DNA; January 11, 2018)

Sidharth Malhotra’s next, Aiyaary, sees him playing a man in uniform for the first time. The actor, whose grandfather was in the Army, holds soldiers, who are at the border protecting our country, in high regard. In an earlier interview to this paper, he had said, “My dadu worked in the Armed Forces, so I’m not alien to that world. Even now, some of my relatives are part of the Indian Army and I’ve great respect for them. In Aiyaary, we are also speaking about what the defence forces do and how important their work is. Sometimes, it goes unnoticed and as an average Indian, we don’t even realise what they have to go through every day. Because of my background, I have great respect for everyone — be it the Border Security Force (BSF), the Army, the Navy or the Air Force. I’m happy I play a character like that today.”

DESERT TRAIL
Now, in a unique promotional spree, the Aiyaary team will be in Jaisalmer to celebrate Lohri with the jawans on January 13. Sidharth will be joined by director Neeraj Pandey and the rest of the cast including Manoj Bajpayee, Rakul Preet Singh and Pooja Chopra. Says the film’s spokesperson, “The BSF camp in Jaisalmer had actually invited the team of Aiyaary to commemorate Republic Day with them. But, the makers have decided to stay at the camp for two days and celebrate Lohri instead.”

BONDING WITH THE ARMY MEN
The tour will involve a host of events, along with the Lohri celebrations. “The team will train with the BSF soldiers, understand their routine and what they do on a daily basis. They are excited about the whole exercise. There will also be a special musical night planned for the jawans,” the spokesperson adds. Neeraj and his team have been inundated with messages and calls from the troopers who have loved the movie’s trailer.

This is not the first time that actors have visited the Armed Forces. In the past, Akshay Kumar had met the Indo-Tibetan Border Police Force for Toilet - Ek Prem Katha, while Ajay Devgn, Emraan Hashmi and Esha Gupta had interacted with BSF personnel in Rajasthan for Baadshaho.

Hiren Kotwani (BOMBAY TIMES; November 7, 2017)

Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; November 3, 2017)

Come November 4, Rann Utsav, the world-renowned festival that takes place in the arid white sands of Kutch, will see a special visitor in the form of Vidya Balan. We hear, the security at the festival is being beefed up ahead of her arrival. More importantly, members of the Border Security Force (BSF) have been assigned to oversee the security arrangements for Balan’s visit.

A source from the organising committee says, “Usually, BSF members are involved in the Seema Darshan programme. But this time, they are also looking into the security arrangements for Vidya’s visit. The local police, too, has extended their support since the actress will be spending an entire day with us. The local media, too, will be present. So, it is imperative to ensure the arrangements are done right.”

The actor’s visit to the Rann is being tagged as Rann Ki Sulu by local press, alluding to her upcoming release, Tumhari Sulu. A production source informs, “After Mr. Bachchan who shot an ad campaign there, Vidya is the second mainstream Bollywood star to attend the Rann Utsav. She will watch the cultural activities along with the tourists present there and will also visit the spot where the Tropic of Cancer passes.”

Balan is understandably excited to be a part of the festival that kicked off on November 1. She says, “I have been keen to visit Kutch and what better time to visit than during the Utsav.”

An easy permission process through the BSF, fuss-free shoots and year-round availability have made Jaisalmer the most popular desert location for film shoots in the last last few years
Niharika Lal (BOMBAY TIMES; October 7, 2017)