Sidharth Malhotra says thanks to the highs and lows he faced in his career so far, he is ‘fearless and confident’ now
Prashant Singh (HINDUSTAN TIMES; November 10, 2019)

It’s more than palpable in actor Sidharth Malhotra’s demeanour that he is kicked about playing a “quintessential Bollywood hero” in his next, Marjaavaan. “It’s been a great experience, something that excited me a lot,” says the actor, who has been going through a lull of sorts, in terms of his box office standing. But the Delhi boy isn’t worried as he puts things in perspective. “Nobody knows the formula for a successful, hit film,” he says, as he talks about completing seven years as an actor. He also talks about his love life, saying he only wants the audiences’ love now. Excerpts from an interview:

This year, you completed seven years in the industry. How have things been?
I won’t say I am satisfied. I am still very hungry. In my head, I feel it’s just the beginning. I am grateful for the start I got because not many get that, especially since I come from a non-film background. I think during my initial years, I was just following the trends or going wherever I was getting pushed [around] in terms of films. Now, of late, when things are getting difficult, I feel challenged and so, I am becoming more independent and following my instinct.

From the outside, it looks like you have had a roller coaster ride…
Yes, I’ve had some amazing highs and lows, which moulded me as a person and an actor. I’ve pretty much gone through all emotions in the industry. At this point, I’m not thinking about the past — be it my hit or flop films. That has made me calmer and more aware of how this industry functions. I’m more charged, focused, and hungrier for work than I ever was. From now on, the attempt is to make films for a larger audience, for the middle class film lovers who are emotional people. If I can entertain them and create a niche, that would be great for me as an actor.

Talking of Marjaavaan, it looks totally different from what you have done till now?
I’d like to keep changing the zones and [kind of films] films that I do. Every time somebody says, ‘what you are doing is different’, I feel great that I look fresh, and am not repeating myself. With Marjaavaan, I go back to the zone of Ek Villain (2014) and Brothers (2015), but in a much larger-than-life way, with lots of action and dialogue-baazi. For the first time, I play a quintessential Bollywood hero like the ones I grew up watching — be it Sanjay Dutt, Sunny Deol or even [Amitabh] Bachchan saab’s films. It’s for the first time that I have been presented like a hero, who is beating up 50 people for love. Now, I am looking forward to the audiences’ response.

After a great start in the industry, things didn’t seem to go your way when your last few films didn’t do well at the box office. What does that do to you as an artiste?
Honestly, I feel it was important for me to experience the highs as well as lows in my career — from being praised to partly written off. For someone like me, who is not from a film background, it gives me immense strength as I have enjoyed the highs and also overcome the lows. Now, I know how both feel. Nothing is alien to me anymore. I feel the biggest fear is the fear of the unknown. When that fear is not there, I look at things positively ke, ab kya darna hai, I have experienced everything. Now, there’s nothing unknown to me and that kind of relaxes me.

So, are you saying that failures have only emboldened you?
Yes, now, I am more fearless, confident. Also, there’s something that people like about me, which is why I am getting work. Producers are not my uncles and aunts who are putting money on me. I think the trick is to not look back. No major actor can say that all his/her films went their way. The ratio to hits and flops is off that way, and I am no different. But now, I am used to films that don’t go my way. The idea is to not let that fear dictate your present work and choices.

Your new film, Marjaavaan reminds a lot of the cinema of the ’70s-80s with heavy-duty dialogue-baazi etc. Was it interesting for you as an actor?
It was a totally new experience for me. I am a fan of that kind of cinema from the bygone era that would have larger-than-life heroes. And I certainly enjoyed this experience for the first time in my career. Our film that is a love story — despite being set in today’s day-and-age — will give you the flavour of the ’70s and ’80s. I feel that kind of cinema is actually the base of modern-day Indian cinema. Essentially, our film is an intense love story, wherein it was exciting for me to see one lover kill the other. But the big question is: how and why? And that’s why you have to see the film (smiles).

Also, till date, you haven’t had many stints with ‘massy’ movies…
In a way, Marjaavaan is an answer to that because in the film, I play to the gallery and appeal to the ‘mass’ audience. I hope that they come in [huge] numbers, like this kind of cinema and open up a completely new avenue for me. I have worked in Brothers and Ek Villain in the past too, and I feel I want to explore this zone even more, may be once a year.

By now, you have seen successes as well as failures in your career. Do you feel your highs and lows have enriched you as an actor?
You know, the other day, I was telling a friend that jab yeh light bulb invent hua tha toh Thomas Alva Edison ne kam se kam 170 times attempt kiya and he got it right the last time. When he was asked how he kept up despite being unsuccessful so many times, Edison said: ‘I learnt how not to make a bulb that many times, and figured out how to make it only on the final attempt.’ Likewise, there is no formula for hit films, but I believe in the concept of learning — in every department of filmmaking — from your failures. I have also learnt the importance of story-telling, writing, release dates, production and having a correct team etc. That’s the experience I take away from a film.

In the future, do you see yourself trying your hands at other aspects of filmmaking?
I want to produce [movies] in the future and will then use all the experiences that I have gathered from my films to — hopefully — make a smooth, correct and better product. Sometimes, you do spot certain alarming things in a film, which gives you an indication that it’s not correct, but as of now, I am only involved in my films as an actor and don’t have much control over things. But as an actor, I am still up for trying new things. So, looking forward is the only way. And the idea is to work harder, and try to entertain different people as much as possible, in different ways. That’s why I am equally excited about Shershaah as well, which is a biopic [of Kargil War hero, late Captain Vikram Batra].

You are an outsider in the industry. So, when you face setbacks, do they become difficult to handle? How do you keep your sanity intact?
I think it’s about learning from other people’s journeys. I remember going online and looking up big superstars and their big releases. I saw how Mr [Amitabh] Bachchan had biggies such as Zanjeer (1973), Deewar (1975) and Muqaddar Ka Sikandar (1978) in the ’70s but there was a lull before that and even after that. Even Shah Rukh Khan faced it towards the late ’90s. So, I feel every actor goes through such a phase, and I am no different. That gives me some kind of a semblance that I’m not the only one, who this is happening to. It has happened to the biggest of stars. Anyway, this is a highly unpredictable profession.

By now, you must have got used to the link-up tales? Or do you still get bothered?
You know, I come from a family where people are salaried, and for whom security at work is very important. I think a part of me is longing for that kind of acceptance at work and that’s consuming most of my personal time as well. I have nothing against all the beautiful women [that I am linked with], but not everything that you read is true. Right now, I’ve the platform and opportunity to create stuff and be remembered for that. Fortunately, I have the understanding also to modify my craft, scripts and stories. That’s taking most of my time and I am enjoying that part of my journey, wherein I am focusing on myself, my craft, my professional life, and my movies.

Of late, you have been linked with Tara Sutaria and Kiara Advani…
Right now, the only thing that I am longing for is audiences’ love. I have had my relationships in the past but they are part-and-parcel of our profession. I genuinely feel that at present, I am more hungry and focused than I was even when I was launched or was struggling as an actor. I am single and am only mingling with people professionally. I think of late, my personal life has taken a back seat as I am being written about only for my professional stuff. You can say that I want love from not just one girl but all my female fans and audiences in general (laughs).

Titas Chowdhury (HINDUSTAN TIMES; November 8, 2019)

The year 2018 was a year of “rebirth” for filmmaker Milap Milan Zaveri. His directorial outing, Satyameva Jayate (2018), brought the genre of massy entertainers back. His upcoming release, Marjaavaan, is the next step in that direction. With the Sidharth Malhotra starrer, Milap intends on paying another tribute to yesteryear filmmakers such as Mukul Anand, Subhash Ghai, Rajkumar Santoshi, Manmohan Desai and Prakash Mehra, whose films he has watched growing up. “After Mastizaade (2016), there was a complete lull. I was written off and people refused to even meet me. It was as if I had committed treason. I had to fight and convince people to prove that I can also make an angry film or a drama. I’m enjoying this phase a lot, where my films are all about action, drama, masala and dialogue baazi,” says Milap.

Ask him about the inspiration behind Riteish Deshmukh’s character of a devious dwarf in Marjaavaan and he says, “Years ago, I had heard that Subhash Ghai sir was doing a film with Amitabh Bachchan called Deva, which got shelved. Lilliput sir (M M Faruqi) was supposed to be the villain in the film. I thought that having a midget villain would be so unique!”

Talking about the women in Marjaavaan, he elaborates, “The women have a lot to do in Marjaavaan. I agree with the criticism that Satyameva Jayate had. Unfortunately, Aisha (Sharma) didn’t have a very strong part. But Marjaavaan has two very strong female protagonists — Tara Sutaria and Rakul Preet Singh. Tara is the heart of this film. Rakul in Marjaavaan is like Rekha in Muqaddar Ka Sikandar (1978) or Tabu in Jeet (1996). She has a very powerful role with dramatic dialogues and scenes.”

For Milap, repeating the success of Satyameva Jayate with Marjaavaan is even more significant because he wants to deliver a hit film for Sidharth. “He hasn’t given a successful film in almost five years. His last hit was Kapoor & Sons (2016), but it was an ensemble film. He hasn’t had a big opening. I sometimes wonder why he’s doing the films he does. Two of his biggest openers were Ek Villain (2014) and Brothers (2015), both of which were massy, action-oriented and had angry characters. I wanted to bring back that Sidharth to the screen,” Milap signs off.

Sidharth Malhotra on his hits and misses at the box-office, living the dream of an actor, and why he is not keen on a digital debut yet
Upala KBR (MID-DAY; August 4, 2019)

After making his debut in 2012 with Karan Johar's Student Of The Year, Sidharth Malhotra often referred to as the chocolate boy of Bollywood, has tried to experiment with his choice of roles and scripts. While romance seems to be his forte, the actor, 33, says he likes to add layers to his characters. In a conversation with mid-day, Malhotra talks about his choices, his views on box-office failures, why he is not ready for the web and his dream role.

Edited excerpts from the interview.

It has been seven years since Student Of The Year released and you made your debut in Bollywood. You've had a few hits and misses over the years. How do you see your journey?
I had an amazing launch [with Student Of The Year], experienced the high of hits like Ek Villain (2014) and some that didn't pan out as expected, but that's what we call experience. None of the superstars that I grew up seeing have had perfect a record of hits. They have also experienced ups and downs in their career with respect to their movie choices. That is how I would describe my career as an actor as well—some films will work and some won't. In every generation, there have been only a handful of actors who have been accepted by the audience; and I am lucky that despite being an outsider, having no godfather in the industry, people have accepted me as a lead actor.

You've made some interesting adaptations to don the character of Abhay Singh in Jabariya Jodi.
Abhay Singh is the stark opposite of what I am in real life. I won't say that I have a business of 'picking up boys', I may have picked up a few girls in the past (laughs), but I was excited to do a character that is far removed from my past and personality. He is a colourful yet strong character, who wears a baali [earring], chews paan [betel] and smokes chillum. For roles like these, you cannot come unprepared on set because that will show on camera, so I put in a lot of prep work. I had a tutor train me in the language for two months. I am all about trying new things. From the styling of the character to the body language, colouring my hair and even getting used to wearing a gamcha was like adding layers to my character. I got to explore a lot playing this character.

Hypothetically, if you fell in love and circumstances were not ideal, would you kidnap or elope with her?
[Laughs] Hopefully, I will be suitable enough to get everyone's permission. Most parents like me, so I might charm my way into my future in-laws' homes and hearts. I don't think that nowadays, especially in cities like Delhi and Mumbai, with the lifestyle we lead, parents would want to go against their children's wishes. Yet, if I was born and raised in a different state, city or village, depending on how strongly I feel for the girl, I would think and react accordingly. I might fight for her.

Despite the highs and lows, you have often experimented with your choice of roles.
I have always plunged into a script from the viewpoint of the story and character, whether it's Ek Villain, Brothers (2015), Ittefaq (2017) or Jabariya Jodi. The decision was never based on whether it suits me as a hero or not. I have given a bit of myself to every character I played and often challenged myself in new situations. While some worked in my favour, a few didn't. My conscious decision has always been to do something that will encompass a much larger audience like with Jabariya Jodi. The film is a massy entertainer which caters to the issue of pakadwa vivah [groom kidnapping], the drama and also showcases a love story.

From playing Abhay Singh in JJ to Captain Vikram Batra in Sher Shah how do you flit from one character to the other with such ease?
That's what I enjoy as an actor and what drew me to the profession of filmmaking [Malhotra worked as an assistant director to Karan Johar in My Name Is Khan]. I grew up watching Shah Rukh Khan romance in the '90s, and [Amitabh] Bachchan Saab doing action in the '70s-'80s; now, I am living the dream by portraying similar characters—be it romancing in Jabariya Jodi or doing action in Marjaavaan [film with Riteish Deshmukh and Tara Sutaria]. It's exciting for someone like me to be able to don varied characters.

With Bollywood moving the digital way, have you considered experimenting with a web series?
I haven't really ventured or thought about it because there's so much I am already getting to do in films. Web shows still have a long way to go in India. It is a new phenomenon and our audience base is not as big as the west, neither are the characters or the budgets of these films. While the growth is evident, it will still take a while for showrunners to provide us with attractive characters and stories that will compel us to make the switch. Right now, I am very happy with my line-up of movies and scripts I am working on.

Sidharth Malhotra in Miami switches gears from intense lover boy to high octane maar-dhaad
Natasha Coutinho (MUMBAI MIRROR; June 16, 2016) 

Sidharth Malhotra who is currently shooting for the next Bang Bang film, in Miami has been squeezing time between breaks to take in everything the seaport city has to offer. "It has been a busy schedule with little free time but I have been visiting nearby cafes and experimenting with local cuisine on my days off. I also explored the South Beach and Hollywood Beach recently," the actor informs Mirror, adding that he's also indulging in water sports with his leading lady, Jacqueline Fernandez.

The duo has previously featured in Karan Malhotra's 2015 action-drama, Brothers, but this is the first time they're paired opposite each other. "We hardly interacted during Brothers since we didn't have any scenes together. She is a fantastic actor and I'm thoroughly enjoying working with her. The shooting has been intense but we manage to find some time to just catch up and relax," reveals Sid.

Switching gears from downtime to their new film, the 31-year-old actor admits he's enjoying the switch from intense lover boy roles to high-octane maar-dhaad. "I have never stereotyped myself. I'd rather experiment with versatile scripts and characters, portray different shades as an actor," he reasons, going on to praise Brothers co-star Akshay Kumar's action credentials. "He is the true action hero in Bollywood, his dedication to fitness is amazing. Jason Statham, who has a fit and lean physique as well, is the quintessential action hero in the West. Also, the action sequences in the Liam Neeson-starrer Taken series are a visual treat for action junkies."

Sidharth and Co who embarked on the film's Miami schedule on June 2 are looking ahead to the month-long shoot. Is he homesick yet? "I miss my dog, Oscar, and home-cooked food. But I have started enjoying my outdoor training sessions, they gives me an adrenaline rush," he says, adding that meeting fans away from home has been a pleasant experience as well. "There was this one girl who flew in all the way from Tampa; I was really touched."

Sidharth Malhotra says he is pretty much done with the younger heroines and wants to explore fresh pairings
Chaya Unnikrishnan (DNA; April 28, 2016)


Are you more confident now with each film?
Yes, definitely. But sometimes you do question your confidence when you are asked about someone being liked more or less in the film. Then you feel that it’s all about competition. But a good film as a whole gives confidence and Kapoor & Sons has given me a boost.

Does your confidence waver when the film doesn’t do well or is your attitude ‘I did my best and the rest is not in my hands’?
When a film doesn’t do well, it obviously disheartens an actor. More so, for somebody like me, who is an outsider making it here with no backing or option to go elsewhere. I am extremely sensitive and feel low about it. It takes me a while to come out of it. But with experience, I have realised that if you are criticised one Friday, you have the next Friday to prove yourself. It is all very subjective and temporary. Our industry is such that one successful Friday can make up for all the unsuccessful ones. You become level-headed because you know success won’t last that long nor will the downfall.

Since you tasted your first failure with Brothers, it must have been difficult.
Yes, I wasn’t experienced enough to understand kya hota hai when you don’t get love and acceptance for a film. I was extremely attached to Brothers because for the first time I went through a physical transformation for a film. I worked hard, did a lot more prep for it. For the first time, I prepped for three-four months and shooting also took the same amount of time. I was in agreement with Karan Malhotra (director) and Karan Johar (producer) about the kind of film we made. That said, I was obviously disheartened when the film didn’t get acceptance. The fear was there ke ab kya? But after another Friday and Kapoor & Sons doing well, people accepting me in a different genre, it brings to you the fact that people connect to a good film made with honesty. With experience I have become more level-headed and less stressed.

Do you feel a sense of relief after a hit film or is it all the same?
The first reaction is relief, then excitement as it reinstates that I am doing my job well. Then I become hyper again, thinking I have to keep this up now. I tend not to say it as I am not exuberant. It becomes internal for me.

Do you take time off in between films?
I try to take time off, but it’s been difficult since the last three films because once I stopped shooting for one movie, I started prepping for the next. So, now I make it a point to take a break during the New Year. I work like a dog and party hard at the end of the year.

Have you figured out what kind of roles people want to see you in?
No. I am just confused because if I see my trajectory, my most commercially successful film was Ek Villain. And now, the most loved performance is Kapoor & Sons. Both are diametrically opposite characters with different kinds of lives and acting. People have accepted both, so, I don’t need to choose. I will go by the content of the film as a whole. That’s the new trend. It’s the old school way of thinking where actors did only one genre. We are all here to break norms and stand out. And I have come from Delhi to do that.

What do you enjoy doing?
I loved beating up people, and getting aggressive like I did in Ek Villain and Brothers. It’s every young hero’s dream to beat up the bad guys. On the other hand, I had the most fun in Kapoor & Sons. It was a light film, there was no need to work out, I was reading my lines and reacting to co-actors. In future, I want to do both kind of films side by side. Also, I have just finished romancing Katrina Kaif in Baar Baar Dekho so that’s different again.

You and Deepika Padukone were hinting at doing a movie together. Is it happening?
That was just an interesting chat on Twitter. I gave an interview (about wanting to work with her), she reacted and I replied. We are waiting for somebody to cast us and come up with an interesting story. Deepika and I modelled together years ago and we have done ramp shows. It will be great to work with her. She has done amazing work of late. I loved her in Piku and Bajirao Mastani.

Any other heroine you would like to pair up with?
I am pretty much done with younger heroines. Now, I would like to work with Deepika, of course, and Anushka Sharma with whom I have done an ad. A lot new pairings are there to be explored and I am looking for good content and love stories to make them happen.

Sidharth Malhotra takes up yoga; his guru is quite impressed with his progress
Upala KBR (DNA; April 11, 2016)


Suveer says, “Sidharth started learning yoga when Brothers was about to release in August last year. Akshay had told him about the benefits of yoga and put him on to me. Sidharth started yoga to lose weight and prepare for his next role. He also had to recover from the various injuries he had while doing hardcore action in his earlier films. It was training for his mind and body and healing his injuries. Since then, he’s been doing yoga every day. He does his gym workouts and yoga as well.”

The yoga instructor adds that the actor is very dedicated. “Whenever he’s in town and free, he calls me over. The basic essence of yoga is how not to go haywire, practise our basic values in life and to change our dreams. Yoga is 99 per cent practice on mat and 1 per cent philosophy. It is not just about asanas and pranayams, but discipline and practising moral and ethical codes of conduct.”

Sidharth says, “Yes, I have been learning yoga under Suveer. Yoga is a complete workout for mind, body and soul which help me tackle modern-day stresses.”

After the light-hearted entertainer Kapoor & Sons, Sidharth Malhotra is itching to get back to doing some hardcore action
Chaya Unnikrishnan (DNA; April 8, 2016)


You must be happy with the response to Kapoor & Sons?
I am very happy. The film, on the whole has got maximum love by far. Normally, people say they liked this character, this part or that character, but here they liked the entire experience as a film and connected to it. I am overwhelmed and touched with the response. I get goosebumps every time somebody praises the film. I am supremely excited and hope to experience this feeling many more times in the future (Smiles).

Several people felt that Fawad Khan stole the limelight in the film. What is your reaction?
Somebody told me that the film was more from my perspective than the others. Everybody has the right to interpret the movie the way they want to. None of us would have worked, if it was bad. If Fawad’s character wouldn’t have worked, the film would have fallen flat, the same is true about my character. As I said, the film worked as a whole. We have all done our bits correctly and hence we are getting love at the box-office. As far as I am concerned, I never got a biased reaction, so that’s a first for me.

Has the success of this film erased the disappointment of Brothers?
Totally. The universe has a mysterious way of working. Kapoor & Sons was like an underdog film dealing with real issues. It did not have your typical commercial script. When we were making the film, we knew a certain kind of audience would like and connect to it. We never expected a wide variety of people to connect with it. Whatever little bit of acceptance I missed during Brothers, I got it and more with Kapoor & Sons.

You wanted to do something light and fun after Brothers. What do you want to do now?
Now, I want to go back to beating up people. In the middle, I will do a bit of a romance in Baar Baar Dekho. I will be romancing Katrina Kaif and will be seen in a new avatar. If I could describe the film in one line, I would say it’s like a fictitious story in a real man’s life. It’s not time travel. Imagine how it will be if a real man could look into his future. The film has got some great writing, love and humour in it. After that, I start beating up people in an untitled film directed by Raj and DK. They are known to have some amount of quirk to their movies. The film will have a lighter side to it. In fact, both my upcoming films are entertaining and don’t take themselves seriously, which is refreshing for me after the serious zone of Brothers and Ek Villain.

You have already done action in Ek Villain and Brothers. How will this be different?
I am training for a different kind of hand-to-hand combat, aikido (A Japanese martial art which includes joint-locking, striking and pinning techniques), jukendo and a little gun action. Unlike Brothers, I won’t be undergoing a physical transformation. I need to have a leaner physique as I play a more harder and agile character. I don’t need to bulk up, but I definitely need to get in shape which I was not in Kapoor & Sons.

Sidharth Malhotra opens up on his choices and living his dreams...
Nayandeep Rakshit (DNA; March 11, 2016)


Not many newcomers would possibly take up a two-hero film so early in their careers but most of your films were multiple-hero projects. Are you comfortable with that space?
Of course. It comes from a mindset where I am not just looking for a project to sign up. When I am looking for a film, I want to be a part of good stories so that I can have a library maybe years later. It’s very difficult to be good in a bad film. So I would rather be part of good movies where even if I have a smaller part or a part that I have to share. Because in the long run, I will have some really good films to be proud of and be happier.

Do constant write-ups about your love life affect you?
It used to. Now, I am used to it. We have so much to do in a day. We have to really choose what goes in our head. That comes with a certain amount of training. So I guess I have trained myself now to filter the information that comes in.

You have Alia opposite you. You think your real-life chemistry translated on-screen as well?
It’s good thing that people are first seeing the chemistry on screen which is the most important thing. What happens off camera is not. Bahut mazaa aaya to work with Alia again and I think we have both matured. Alia’s Hindi has become better, so she can improvise now. She used to struggle before. She has a great command over the screen now. Student Of The Year was our first film, so we were all nervous and could not enjoy the process. Now, we are enjoying the scenes!

First Akshay and now Fawad, anyone else you want to play brother to, on screen?
(Laughs) These castings weren’t on my wishlist! I had a different wishlist of actresses which I went through. Sadly, last two films I have had brothers (Smiles). Also, in the last two years, I have worked with all the young actresses so now I am happy, I am going to be out of that brother zone romancing Katrina. There’s no desire to be someone’s brother right now.

Brothers didn’t work as expected. Was it more disappointing given the hard work you piped in for the film?
Brothers not working was the first lesson because it was a new world altogether for me. Previously, I was lucky enough that I was spoiled by the audiences. All my films were hits and I was going up and up with Hasee Toh Phasee and Ek Villain giving me a high. I think the response to Brothers leveled me. It matures you a bit because you realise you can’t take the audiences for granted. Second, is the communication. It’s not like I would not back the film. We enjoyed the story that we made but sometimes, it’s also the dynamics of what people want the film to be, that comes into play. So when it was action, audiences only wanted the action and didn’t want the intensity and the depth. So probably, they missed the lighter moments. You become a victim of that when you try something new or portray a film of one genre. So yeah, it’s made me more grounded and aware of what the audiences will or won’t like. I will choose my films that way.

Are you more at ease with failure now?
Definitely. For the first time when you haven’t really experienced that, you get highly thrown off but once you come back from that dip, that’s what you call maturity. When you play a sport and just winning, scoring goals all the time, you are on a high. The first time when you lose and miss, it really plays on your mind. The third time you will know that this is how your career is going to be like. You need to realise that eventually it’s over a period of time and that’s not short term. You are here for the long haul and you will have ups and downs. But the common man’s dreams that I have — that won’t die!

Salman thinks the Gen-Y actors like you are his competition...
(Starts smiling) He is obviously kidding and being extremely sweet about it. He is in a league of his own. No one can be competition for him. As you can see, how the last year went. All the big films did not really take off and he was the only superstar who was constant. He is Salman Khan. He is definitely in a very, very big league which is impossible for us to be in.

Any biopic you would like to do on screen?
I want to do a sports biopic. I would love to play a famous sportsman on screen or maybe pick up a sport and present it. I think we need some good writers and we have so much talent in India. They need to write for us. I can’t pick one, because it’s very difficult.

Rugby player?
Rugby in India? (Thinks) Actually there’s a film being made on rugby down South. That will be fun and I was looking at that. Apart from that, we have so many sportsmen actually. Not just cricket, we should have one on the life of a soccer player. Kolkata has so many. Goa has so many. Even if they are local players, it has to be inspired. Even a tennis film will be interesting. I love sport, so I will do it with a lot of excitement.

Will you be comfortable going bald for the film?
Of course. It’s not a big deal today. If you have trust and faith in the director and they sell you a script, what’s the problem? It’s all about belief and conviction.

Would you ever take up a negative role?
Why not? It will be very interesting to do. Woh reh gaya hai karne ke liye. There needs to be a script for that. It’s my goal. I would love to do a negative role or a double role now. First of all, Ek Villain was testing waters. So people liked the little aggressive zone I was in for Ek Villain and Brothers. So now, since I have got positive responses, sky is the limit. If someone gives me to play an obsessive murderer or someone will be making something like Darr again, it would be great to try it out!

SINGH IS BLIING will just edge out the business of BROTHERS by a few lakhs. The lifetime business of Brothers and SINGH IS BLIING (expected) is as follows.

Week One
Brothers - 64,34,00,000
Singh Is Bliing - 59,41,00,000

Week Two
Brothers - 6,02,00,000
Singh Is Bliing - 9,82,00,000

Week Three
Brothers - 25,00,000
Singh Is Bliing -  1,48,00,000

Week Four plus
Brothers - 4,50,000
Singh Is Bliing - 30,00,000 (expected)

TOTAL
Brothers - 70,65,00,000
Singh Is Bling - 71,01,00,000 (expected)

BROTHERS is the lowest grossing Akshay Kumar starrer of the year despite being his most costliest film ever. It is a similar story Overseas with SINGH IS BLIING likely to finish at $4.25 million while BROTHERS had a final gross of $4 million.

The Hindi film industry just about got to parity with last year with the super success of BAJRANGI BHAIJAAN when two back to back duds hit in the form of BROTHERS and DRISHYAM. This has taken the yearly business below the levels of last year as the business of DRISHYAM and BROTHERS could not match the business of ENTERTAINMENT and SINGHAM RETURNS.

Last year ENTERTAINMENT and SINGHAM RETURNS grossed 205 crore nett between them and prior to release, the DRISHYAM and BROTHERS total was expected to be more and on a worst case scenario to at least match that.

The figures have not just fell short but fallen short by a distance as the combined business of DRISHYAM and BROTHERS will hardly touch 140 crore nett. BROTHERS has emerged a big flop all over while DRISHYAM is average in Mumbai with expected nett business to hit 30 crore but with just 13 crore nett coming in Delhi/UP and not even 6 crore nett in East Punjab, the film has failed outside Mumbai circuit.

The combined cost of DRISHYAM and BROTHERS is around 175 crore and the Indian theatrical share will be a shockingly low 67 crore. Its a sad state of affairs when the profits of a rare blockbuster like BAJRANGI BHAIJAAN are wiped out in four consecutive Friday's (DRISHYAM, BANGISTAN, BROTHERS, ALL IS WELL). Actually more than wiped out as these are not the only releases over the past four weeks.

The business in 2015 till date stands at around a little over 1500 crore while in the same period last year it was 1600 crore. The scenario in 2015 is very bad as its coming after no growth in 2014 and this year looks to be going the same way so it will mean business at a standstill for two years.

Joginder Tuteja (DNA; August 24, 2015)


“Sidharth is still establishing himself in the industry and it is a known fact that when he started off in Mumbai, he was living in a small apartment. However, now that he has started doing well in his career, he is thinking of buying a house for himself as well. In a casual conversation, Akshay asked him about his plans. When Sidharth spoke about a buying a small house to begin with, Akshay suggested that he think big and pick up a bigger house,” informs a common friend.

Since the Khiladi is also an outsider like Sidharth, investing in a house is a key thing that he does suggest to his near and dear ones. He believes that while it brings in an element of security, it also acts as a drive for an individual to work harder. “He told Sid that if he is thinking of a two-bedroom flat, he should actually pick a 4BHK. If he plans to bring in his parents, he should think of something even bigger. He even suggested that it wouldn’t be a bad idea to even keep on an entire floor to himself, as a house is long-term investment and a safe one as well,” the source continues.

When Sid expressed concerns over earning enough moolah to pay off a loan on the house, AK told him that based on personal experience, only if someone thinks a few notches higher would he be able to earn more as well. “Akshay told Sidharth that ‘Tu darr mat, bas le le; agar loan lena padta hai toh woh bhi kar, par soch mat kyonki paisa aa jaayega’,” the source adds.

Harshada Rege (DNA; August 20, 2015)

Stepping up to play father to grown up kids on the big screen is a huge step. It immediately put you in the ‘senior actor’ category. No wonder then actors keep turning down roles, even good ones, that requires them to age a bit. However, Jackie Shroff played father to Akshay Kumar and Sidharth Malhotra in Brothers. His Ram Lakhan co-star Anil Kapoor too went for a grey-hair look on screen to play Priyanka Chopra and Ranveer Singh’s dad in Dil Dhadakne Do. However, Anil ensured that the shutterbugs didn’t get a single shot of him while shooting the movie, he also ensured that his look in the film was kept strictly under wraps till the publicity of the movie was kickstarted. Not just the actor, even his family had doubts about him signing the movie. In an interview, he confessed that his wife Sunita advised against taking on the role. When asked if his wife Ayesha too had similar reservations, Jackie said, “Not at all. She has never bothered about what I do in the films. I have never stressed about these things either. Even when I got into films, it wasn’t intentional. We weren’t from a film family. I had no clue what was in store for me. Even now I take it as it comes..kya tension hai? I have played Chunni babu in Devdas, Hilal Kohistani in Mission Kashmir, a dad in Brothers... I have never bothered about these things. But for Anil, it must have taken a lot for him to play a father do it.” When told about the time that the actor took to consider all aspects before he was convinced about playing dad, Jackie shot back, “Yeah, well it shows... (laughs)”.

Sonali Joshi Pitale (MID-DAY; August 18, 2015)

Like most actors these days, Sidharth Malhotra visited a suburban theatre on Sunday evening to gauge the audience’s reaction to his latest outing, Brothers. But if sources are to be believed, it turned out to be a harrowing experience for him.

Some of his fans apparently got too close to him, pulling and pushing him around, all for a selfie.
An onlooker says, “As news spread about Sidharth visiting Gaiety Galaxy along with his film’s director, Karan Malhotra, people started gathering outside the theatre. Several mediapersons had also been invited to cover the event. Bouncers were present on the scene, but the situation became a bit chaotic. The crowd kept surging and a group of youngsters pushed Sidharth as they wanted to click pictures with him.”

It is said that the bouncers controlled the situation, but the actor did not stick around for more than 20 minutes. “It was a post release event and we were not expecting that people will mob him. He regained his composure and was happy to interact with his fans,” a source close to Sid says.

A similar incident had taken place on Friday outside Chandan cinema when a fan forcibly hugged the actor, taking him by surprise.

Sidharth remained unavailable for comment.

When the right people are involved in remaking a well-made and acclaimed film, one doesn’t really that the remake will go wrong. However, Brothers is an exception. It is directed by Karan Malhotra whose previous film Agneepath was not just a fine piece of cinema, but also better than the original in my opinion! It’s produced by Dharma Productions, known for some great films. Moreover, the original producer Lionsgate is also involved. Shockingly, Brothers turns out to be an average fare. Despite the dramatization and ‘Indianizing’ the whole thing, the film lacks emotional depth at most places.

The story of the movie: Ex-fighter Garson Fernandes (Jackie Shroff) is out of the prison for a gruesome crime that he committed many years ago. He starts mentoring his younger son Monty (Sidharth Malhotra) who has all the qualities to become a top fighter. Garson tries to reconcile with his older son David (Akshay Kumar) but he doesn’t seem interested in all. David was also a fighter once but is now a physics teacher in a school. He is married to Jenny (Jacqueline Fernandez) and they have a six-year old daughter Maria (Naisha Khanna). Maria suffers from a kidney ailment and its treatment requires lot of money. An international mixed martial arts (MMA) tournament called R2F (Right To Fight) is all set to commence in Mumbai. Both David and Monty decide to participate, but for different reasons.

Those who have seen Warrior will surely be dejected by the film, especially in the first half. But even those who haven’t will realize that the initial hour doesn’t really manage to grip viewers well. The flashback portions take up a lot of time. The remake also has the character of the mother (Shefali Shah) which was absent in Warrior. It gives a nice touch to the film, on paper. But the execution is such that it doesn’t really make an impact on celluloid. One doesn’t really get drawn into or empathize with what the brothers go through. Thankfully, the film gets better in the second half when the R2F commences. The fight with Gama is hilarious but the sound of the punch should have been stronger to make it look more convincing. The other fights are quite fun as well. Yet, the emotional angle is missing. Thankfully, the climax is a bit moving. It’s the most emotional portion of the film.



Somewhere, the performances get affected too due to the faulty script. However, one can’t deny that the actors have worked really hard. Akshay Kumar is the apt choice for this role. The scenes where he is training are stunning. The star anyways works hard on his physique but in this film, he has gone way ahead. Performance wise, he gives his best. This is especially in the finale. Sidharth Malhotra works even harder as he has to match up to Akshay Kumar. The actor gives his everything for this role and the dedication shows. Surprisingly, he doesn’t speak much but the impact is made with his eyes and also of course, his punches! Jackie Shroff steals the show, especially in the first half with his outbursts. He has always been a fine performer and this film just reaffirms that! Jacqueline Fernandez doesn’t have much to do but gives a decent performance. Naisha Khanna is fine. Shefali Shah puts her best foot forward. Ashutosh Rana (Pasha) is quite delightful. Kiran Kumar (Peter Braganza) is over the top but that is the requirement of the role and he does it very well. Kulbhushan Kharbanda gives a good performance and his scenes would surely be liked. Raj Zutshi and Kavi Shastri do a fine job as the commentators. The kids playing the younger David and Monty perform nicely. Real fighters have been used and they add to the realism. Finally, Kareena Kapoor is at her sexiest best in the song Mary.

Ajay-Atul’s music is soulful but won’t be remembered much. The only song that has a long life is Mary. The item song is unnecessary but one won’t complain as Kareena takes it to another level. Ajay-Atul’s background score however is exhilarating. Hemant Chaturvedi’s cinematography compliments the proceedings well. Justin Yu and Eric Brown’s action is one of the highlights of the film. Siddharth-Garima’s dialogues are fine for most of the film but at some places it goes bit out of hand. Why would anyone introduce a German fighter by saying ‘Ye Hitler ke desh se hai’?! Gavin O'Connor and Cliff Dorfman’s original story is brilliant and has all the ingredients of powerful film. However, the adapted screenplay (Ekta Pathak Malhotra) is a bit dragging. Karan Malhotra’s direction too fails to match up to Gavin O'Connor’s execution. Just by dramatizing or adding an additional family angle won’t make the film better or moving. The original didn’t have the character of mother and was shorter and yet it made a far better impact. Hope, Karan Malhotra gets back to his form in Shhuddhi because the stakes would be higher in that film and he can’t go wrong out there!

On the whole, Brothers is strictly an average film. Even if one has not seen the original film, one might be disappointed, especially with the film’s first half. What make the film watchable are the fight scenes, performances, climax and Kareena Kapoor’s song. But overall, it could have been much better and shorter. This one is a rare not-so-great film from Dharma Productions!

My rating - ** ½  out of 5!

Akshay Kumar says that the moniker given to him by his wife changed after she watched Brothers last night
Sarita A Tanwar (DNA; August 14, 2015)


You’ve done action films before. But Brothers has been the most physically exhausting one of all. Why is that?
Not just full of energy, it has the longest climax I’ve ever had to shoot for in my life. Brothers has definitely been the toughest, most technical, fighting action film of my career. This wasn’t about me turning up on a daily basis and giving my best. My best wasn’t good enough. Until I learnt how to perform skills like a proper MMA fighter, we didn’t go home, we didn’t pack up, there was no tomorrow until today was perfected. The entire stunt team made sure of that, there were no room for flaws, they got the best out of us, and my director got the best out of them…

You were always fit. But you got even fitter for Brothers. What was your physical training like?
For a year, my life was pretty much train-and-pain! If I wasn’t in pain, I hadn’t tried hard enough. So, back to the gym I went till the pain came. Don’t feel sorry for me, though. Loved every minute of it, even the worst days. I’d still rather be in the gym dedicating myself to this, than to be training everyday dedicating my body to only looking good in a mirror. This way, I got to do what I love and it produced results that shocked me our amazing American stunt team, who were all pretty much half my age (smiles) Moral of this story: Hard work really does get appreciated. By the right people anyway.

You have continued with your fitness regime to this day, much after the film is over. Why?
I cope with it because I love it. Now, I do Capoeira ginga for warm-up, thanks to Tenzin who is the phenomenal Chinese fighter in the film, who is my second opponent in the main arena. Grappling floor techniques to keep my body strong and agile, thanks to Eric, who was my professional MMA fight trainer for the film. Muay Thai Boxing thanks to the Hammer who kicks me so hard and fast in my last fight, that when I came out the ring alive I just wanted relive my past and kick like I did at 21. All this and then I do my functional training, that gives me the strength and grounding to perform all this whenever it is asked of me. I’m ready for a round in the ring right now if you want. (laughs)

No thanks! Brothers has a younger hero too: Sidharth Malhotra. How was it sharing screen space with him?
It was like fighting a mirror image of myself, though Sid had to grow twice his size for the film, I got the lucky card and had to shrink and tone. Sid had to multiply his muscles, gain fighting knowledge and attempt his first real action film with me. He had a tough task ahead of him last year, but how much this boy has tried, how much he trained and given his physical best to this film! We are both so grateful for each other’s efforts, because if it wasn’t for what we put in, we wouldn’t be sitting here so proud of what you’re all going to get out of us when you see it.

The film’s highlight is expected to be the crucial MMA fight in the climax. After a long time, two major heroes will be seen exchanging punches on screen, bare-chested. Are you ready for comparisons?
Hah!... People have compared me my whole life, as bare-chested as we both are, dying to give a performance of a lifetime. I genuinely don’t care who looks better, or who moves better, I don’t even care if I win or lose in front of everyone. All I care about is that people appreciate how hard we tried, how much we’ve given to offer something so new to this industry, and how well we’ve done to survive such a deadly climax almost completely unharmed. I’m proud of us. Sid’s my li’l Brother, on and off screen, no comparison or scrutiny is ever going to change that.

The year gone by has been a defining one for you, in terms of your career choices mainly. What’s the kind of change you have seen in yourself?
Well I’m definitely fitter and faster, so again, when you feel your best, your able to give your best, and that only proves one thing, people will then see you at your best. It’s been a great year, professionally and personally. As happy as I am, I’m still not going to sit here content with life, the minute one takes a day for granted, a whole year’s hard work can disappear in a flash, and one has to start all over again. I’m on a roll, but I need to keep rolling, so it’s head down, eyes down and let the good times roll…

This has also been your first film with Dharma Productions. How would you evaluate the working experience vis-à-vis your other producers?
Dharma is a dream company to work with, from their professionalism, to their work ethics, time management and budgeting. There is a reason they are one of the best in the entire industry. Karan Johar is a great producer, we felt his presence and love for our film without getting in the way of it’s creation. He made sure it got created right and then stepped back and let the big boys roll and there’s some seriously BIG BOYZ in this film (laughs).

This is one of the very few two-hero films we’ve seen in recent times. Why do you feel today’s generation of actors is shying away from doing two-hero projects?
Same reason it’s always been. Men like to feel they made it on their own! It’s in our DNA, Men think one brain is better than two. Why have two heroes when you can have one hero who does it all… To be honest I find that a shame, I always have, some of my favourite films of all time have been the ones I shared screen space with. That’s why I admire Sid for stepping up and doing Brothers.

The trade believes that Brothers might just end up being your career-best grosser at the box-office. What are your expectations from it?
There are enough expectations going around as it is, I really don’t need to add to it. We all sat down last night after seeing the movie together for the first time, and we all agreed at the end of the day, no matter what the outcome, we know we’ve made a wonderful film, and after you’ve been in the industry for as long as I have, numbers are just untouched figures. They come and go like the wind, but respect and pride lasts a life time, if your lucky enough to receive that, then what more as film makers can we ask for. I’ve already made the closest people in my life more proud than I could ever have imagined. My Friday happened last night when my wife and son watched the film. Let me put it this way, I’m more than the man of the house today (grins) I’m my family’s own treasured hero, and that is what means the absolute world to me…

WILL BROTHERS WORK?

Director Karan Malhotra made an impressive debut with Agneepath. It was a big film in terms of scale and casting and Malhotra handled the film like a pro. Now he is back with Brothers and yet again, he seems to be in control. It is the official remake of Warrior (2011) and stars Akshay Kumar, Sidharth Malhotra and Jackie Shroff. The trailer of the film has been damn impactful. Both Akshay and Sidharth have done a fantastic job as evident from the promos. And the way they have trained for the film – it’s shocking as well as stunning! The film also stars Jacqueline Fernandez and she plays Akshay’s wife. She too seems to be having a significant role in the film. Lastly, there’s a sizzling hot item number of Kareena Kapoor. She has never looked so hot before!

What goes against the film is that it might be too violent that might put away a section of audiences. However, the hype is there and it’s releasing in the Independence Day weekend. Hence, it can really score big time and can even turn out to be the biggest hit of Akshay Kumar’s career if all goes well!

The other release of the week is Gour Hari Dastaan, based on the real-life living freedom fighter Gour Hari Das. The film traces his journey of how the government authorities failed to give him the freedom fighter status on frivolous grounds. The lead is portrayed by Vinay Pathak and Konkona Sen Sharma plays his wife. Tannishtha Chatterjee, Ranvir Shorey also feature in this film directed by Ananath Narayan Mahadevan. The topic of the film is such that it will appeal only to the niche audience. Even then it can work and excel, especially if reports are extremely positive.

WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE BROTHERS OR GOUR HARI DASTAAN AND WHY? DO LET ME KNOW!

Sidharth Malhotra on his brothers (on screen and off it), his four-month break and more...
Sarita A Tanwar (DNA; August 12, 2015)


One a scale of one to 10, how exhausting was shooting for Brothers?
Twelve! There was much stress… The stress to match up with Akshay Sir, his action persona, and doing marital arts — which is his home ground — with him. He knows kicking and punching since years and I have no such background. The stress of looking convincing, the stress of looking like a person who has a certain presence of a guy who can physically hurt him. In that sense, both Karan (Malhotra, director) and I were aware of that. So they made me gain 10 kilos and made Akshay lose 10 kilos. And from there on, I felt happy that the physical transformation would make the character believable. I took four months off and did nothing, but just trained for this film.

That must’ve meant losing out on a lot of work...
Yes, but I think that’s paying off now. There’s no way an actor can keep gaining weight for a film, and doing other things at the same time. I used to train five-six hours a day with international trainers, then with my gym trainer, then for the recovery ice bath... So those four months were a great transformation phase where I ate, lived and breathed my character. Just like these fighters do and that’s what makes it a little convincing. He (Akshay) already having a background made it easier for him. For me, starting from scratch was difficult, but I think people will see the end product.

There was no insecurity when you did nothing for those four months and other actors were signing films, doing shows, shooting for endorsements, etc?
That, of course, but I didn’t feel it at that time. When I told Reshma (Shetty, his manager), about taking a break to train she said, ‘Oh, when do you want to start and finish?’ I said this will go on till four months. Her reaction was, “What!” I said “It’s a big film, what’s the point of giving it a half-hearted attempt because of our schedule. I said I have got a great opportunity and I will be stupid to miss it.” Now, maybe, in retrospect people say, ‘You missed out on other activities because you didn’t do anything.’ I didn’t do ads, I didn’t do any events, very few, because the look was also such I was not fitting into any clothes, I was getting bigger and broader everyday. And I am already big. Now I think, it all pays off this Friday. So then it’s quality over quantity, I am happy.

During the shoot of the film, Akshay stopped going out completely because it was so physically exhausting. Did that happen with you as well?
Oh yes. There were certain days where I was required to shoot slightly longer than him also. Akshay sir was there from seven to two and lunch time because he didn’t want to take any break, so we used to shoot nonstop. I used to take a lunch break and then we used to shoot till six. I had a longer shift. Obviously he has earned that space. There was a difference between our time on the set, which is fair enough. So, during the making of Brothers, I went into more of a shell because there was no time for socialising or even interacting with the family. There were days when I would come home and pass out even without eating. My cook was worried for me. He used to say, “khana nahi kha rahe aur so jaate hain.” I would just drink a shake and just crash. That phase for the latter half of last year was a space where I totally went into a shell. I anyway don’t get out much, and people were like, ‘Where the f**k is he? Don’t really know kya kar raha hai.’ When they would see me somewhere they would say ‘aare tum ne daddi kab ugali’. I met Salman (Khan) and Hrithik (Roshan) at Arpita’s wedding and it took a while for them to recognise me. I was wearing a suit, I looked even older with the beard wearing one big achkan. Hrithik looked at me and said ”shit what happened to you?” That reaction excited me, so yes that phase of going into a shell I feel was required. It pays off when you live in that zone for 24 hours.

Method acting is big in Hollywood...
Yes, they take their one film and do that and the impact is seen. See luck is different but if you put in hard work, it always gets you good returns. See with Akshay sir also in his career, he has done so much and it has given him back. I believe in the same, and it is paying off so far. I think that should be a trend for at least younger actors. Financially, if we are strong why we can’t do one film in a year? And give the role everything that it demands.

What sort of relationship do you share with your older brother?
He is six years older than me and we have obviously grown up in the same house, in the same room so we had lot of fights. And it’s tougher to beat somebody up when you are ten and he is 16. He was stronger, so the easiest thing I could do, was scratch him. That’s the quickest because I couldn’t hurt him so I used to scratch him hard during fights. And he used to have marks and my mom thought his girlfriend. (Grins) So, we have had a regular upbringing. I think in the late teens brothers don’t want to see each other, So I was in my own zone, I was 13 and he was 19. When I was 16, he was 22, and he was like I don’t want to hang out with you. I think we are more connected now. I think siblings bond more when they are men, rather than as boys. Today, also I feel much more settled and older. I am thirty today and he is thirty six and he has a family. He has a child. So, now we bond in a different way we have an emotional bond much more than we did before.

What were most of the fights with your brother over?
When I was young, random things.. about wearing his T shirt, tearing his T shirt, not leaving the room when he wants to talk on the phone to his girl friend, and me trying to get the phone from him to talk to my girlfriend, then waking up in the night where one wanted to study and the other wanted to sleep. I was very bad in studies and he would complain to mom. So, we have done the most weirdest and bizarre things you know when you live with somebody. I was so pissed off with him once he had beaten me up when we were fighting and obviously there was little blood all over my face. I went to the loo to wash my face and I was so pissed. The first thing I saw was his tooth brush and I picked up the tooth brush, put it inside the commode and put it back in its place.

That’s so cruel!
(Laughs) I told him after a week. Put yourself in my place, you are so angry, you are the weaker one and your sibling is six years older so then what do you do? You can’t physically hurt him… So the only thing I was doing for my satisfaction was being a sadist.

In Brothers, you and Akshay stop talking to each other. Off-screen how are you likely to react to an issue with your brother?
I used to shut down. Actually, I think most men do that. We tend to keep things in our hearts about what upset us because I think genetically or whatever it is, we are just programmed that way. It’s very similar to this film also. Two men don’t really talk about their issue till the very end, till the climax you see ke problem kya hai. You realise what is hurting them and why is he so angry and why is the other one so pissed off with him. So I think the same way, but learning is growing up, as is communicating. Initially I would really keep it inside. I would be giving subtle hints and insults and fight and snap but now I think we both are grown up and he is on the same page.

Who is more mature of the two?
Actually it’s a big toss up because even though he is married, we have done enough stupidity and now we are pretty cool. Now he parties with me and we hang out. But I think he is more mature.

Your dad’s reaction when you said you wanted to be an actor?
My father reacted in the sense that ‘are you sure about it?’ He was a bit confused. I told him when I was 19 or 20. He was not really aware of it. Then he had no idea, kaise karenge, kya hoga. He couldn’t get the connection between me saying I wanted to be an actor and it actually happening. I was modelling by then. But modelling doesn’t mean any surety. So I think he didn’t believe me. It was disbelief ke bakwaas kar raha hai, bol raha hai bachaa, he is a child, let him be happy and there was no such conviction or believing the fact that I would make it. From there I think he has come a long way to be really proud now. He is retired now and become old, he was posing in front of a Brothers poster in a mall and he sent me a picture. I am flying him down on the 12th and he will see the film with me. I have not seen the film yet. I feel responsible that roles have reversed between me and my dad, so I don’t look back at the time when my dad didn’t believe it. I am enjoying the time when my dad is really happy and proud.

Did your brother know about your aspirations?
Ya of course he was aware. He used to look at me and comb my hair in the mirror ke ‘Kya hero ban raha hai.” I never used to study so he used to keep teasing. He is like ‘you know what you have to acquire these skills, it’s not that easy.’ He has seen much more of my filmy side.

How was it shooting the Mary song with Kareena Kapoor?
Kareena and I sadly have only one song and in that song also, all I had to do is not look into her. It was the toughest thing for me because Karan Malhotra said that I had to be in character —brooding, aggressive fighter and someone who doesn’t really pay attention to a girl. So then I was questioning, ‘why was I in this place, it’s like “main kyon aaya hai idhar.’ In fact, I wanted to look at her. So there were many retakes when she was right there doing her charming dancing seductive moves and that time the most natural thing was look at the girl but I was told not to look at her. Looking the other way was the toughest thing I had to do. We have taken many retakes because I kept looking at her. So I had to go through against my natural instinct and ignore Kareena Kapoor’s sexy avatar. She has done a fab job. She loves what she does, it shows she eats and breathes this and she is just so happy on set. I think her team, her way of working, her whole vibe is amazing. I think somebody should make a film on her off camera.

Subhash K Jha (DNA; August 8, 2015)

Moving away from the guideline, Pahlaj Nihalani, the chief of the censor board, has shown that rules are not being obeyed rigidly and blindly. The soon-to-release pugilistic film Brothers has been allowed the profanity ‘bastard’ not once but twice. According to a reliable source, “The cussword ‘bastard’ featured five times in the dialogues in Brothers. Initially, the Censor Board members told director Karan Malhotra to delete all five ‘bastards’. But then the director pointed out that the word had a direct and deep relation to the storyline and to Akshay Kumar and Sidharth Malhotra’s relationship with their screen father Jackie Shroff.”

Apparently at this stage, Nihalani intervened. Says a source from Brothers’ unit. “Nihalani had a closed-door meeting with the director where Karan explained why the word was necessary. He finally allowed the forbidden word in two places in the dialogues.” Brothers has now been certified ‘U/A’ with three verbal cuts.

How Jackie said yes to playing a mother in Brothers
Nayandeep Rakshit (DNA; August 7, 2015)

Actresses in their prime are usually apprehensive about playing mothers on screen. As was Jacqueline Fernandez when she was approached to play a young mom in Brothers.

It took some convincing on Salman Khan’s part for her to say yes to the role. “Both the Karans (Johar and Malhotra) came to me with the story of Brothers. I met them at the office and he told me what this movie is about and that they wanted me to play Jenny Fernandes. I was like, ‘Why would they want me in the film?’ I was a little apprehensive about taking on an intense role like this. You are playing a mother and there are too many stereotypes attached to that. So I was a little sceptical.”

She adds, “I discussed it with Salman and he convinced me to say yes. He told me it would benefit me and that here was a chance for me to prove myself through performance and I should not worry about the glamour and styling taking it away. I thought if I could pull this off, it would be fantastic for me and my credentials as an actor. I pretty much owe it to Karan and Salman for believing that I could carry off the role.”