Showing posts with label Bulbbul. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Bulbbul. Show all posts
I focus on box office as little as I can-Triptii Dimri
10:25 PM
From going mainstream this year with three entertainers to bagging Vishal Bhardwaj’s next, Triptii Dimri on reaching the career high by instinct, not strategy
Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; December 20, 2024)
When we get on a call with Triptii Dimri, she is finishing her look test for her next, a film on Hussain Ustara. A collaboration with director Vishal Bhardwaj seems like the perfect way to round off the successful year she has had. Following Animal’s (2023) wild success, the actor sealed her place in mainstream cinema in 2024 with Bad Newz, Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 and Vicky Vidya Ka Woh Wala Video. It’s a change of pace for an actor who shone in Bulbbul (2020), but she asserts that one cannot undermine the love that mainstream films bring to an artiste.
“I’ve never planned a day in my career. If I go into a narration and connect with the story and character, I say yes. I never think twice if it is a big or small film. I never think, ‘I have done enough commercial films. Now, let me do a Qala [2022] or a Bulbbul.’ For instance, while shooting Bad Newz, we were enjoying ourselves so much that we never thought about whether it would make money,” Dimri says of the comedy that will première on Star Gold this week.
The one thing she cherishes about her success is that it allows her the freedom to fail. That’s something she doesn’t ever want to lose. She elaborates, “I want to do characters that freak me out. No one can predict what will work because the audience’s taste is changing. The biggest example is Laila Majnu [2018]. Six years after no one saw it in theatres, it re-released to packed halls this year. So, all I have is my instinct, and I go into a film with that. I consciously don’t attach a lot of worth to failure or success. I focus on box office as little as I can. Years later, what will stay with me is the experience. I want to be surrounded by passionate people.”
This search for passionate collaborators has landed the actor straight on the sets of a Bhardwaj film. “He was a director on my bucket list. I am fortunate I’ve always had directors who want to know what I am thinking, how I want to approach a character. Vishal sir is clear that he has written the story, but he wants to hear how I will bring it to life. I am a director’s actor,” she states, equally excited about teaming up with Shahid Kapoor for the first time.
“I’ve been a big admirer of his work. He has such a great command over his material. I’m so grateful for the film, this year and for all the good that has come!”
There’s 8 years of hard work behind the overnight success-Triptii Dimri
8:38 AM
Vinay MR Mishra (BOMBAY TIMES; October 21, 2024)
Triptii Dimri’s rise to fame may seem sudden, but the actress admits that years of hard work have gone into that one magical film and moment that changed the course of her career. She stepped into showbiz eight years ago with Laila Manju, followed by Bulbbul, for which she won critical acclaim. However, Ranbir Kapoor-starrer Animal changed the game for her. In a conversation with us, Triptii talks about rejection, criticism, success and thriving in chaos.
‘Life’s been hectic, but it’s been a lot of fun’
"Life's been hectic, but it's been a lot of fun," Tripti begins, her infectious enthusiasm evident. "I'm enjoying every day of work, and God has been kind. I've prayed for such days."
The 30-year-old admits “it’s been quite a journey”, as she acknowledges the eight years of hard work behind her recent fame. "Some people think it happened overnight – it did happen with one film, yes – but there's eight years of hard work behind it. Eight years on the field, and another two years of auditioning and being rejected. Some people think that it happened one night, it did happen with one film, yes. But I don't complain, and I don’t want to, because that was the fun part,” she recalls.
‘I prefer this chaos in my life now’
Recalling a particularly disheartening experience, Triptii reveals how a hurtful comment fuelled her determination. She shares, “Someone taunted me and said something very mean, and that was the day I thought I can’t leave the city without making it. When you are new to this industry, you don’t know a lot of things, and you are confused because you often don’t know what’s right or wrong. Something that might be right for another person and must have worked for them, might not work for you. Those days, there was a lot of confusion and chaos. There is a lot of chaos now, too, but I prefer the current chaos over that chaos. Now, I have no time to breathe, eat or sleep.”
‘You need to know what your trigger points are and what makes you uncomfortable’
The last few months have been quite hectic for Triptii and at the same time, extremely overwhelming. Ask her how she’s coping with all the attention and pace at which life is unfolding, and the Bulbbul actress, who was recently announced as the face of Forever New explains, “You need to know yourself. You need to know what your trigger points are and what are the situations that make you uncomfortable. It’s not something you find out on day one, it’s a process. You must go through it to get through it. There are days, of course, when you lose your calm, and you’re like, what is happening? You talk to your friends and family, and gradually, try to understand yourself as well and get a hold of things. I keep myself busy with acting workshops, meditation and journaling. There was a phase where I was meditating heavily and journaling every day.”
‘There have been days when I was out of work’
Triptii’s mantra is clear: Enjoy the process and cherish the journey. “I always feel that you should enjoy the process and the journey. There have been hardships. There have been days when I was out of work. There have been days where every audition that I was going to, I was being rejected and I would wonder what is happening? Is it (acting) not for me? And then, there were days where I was not supposed to go for an audition, and I somehow landed there and cracked it,” she says.
She adds, "There were days when I would be putting wallpaper on my walls because I had nothing to do. I would tell myself that a phase will come when you won’t have time to do this. I have a lot of gratitude that those days have come."
Mujhe apna career dekh ke khud se jalan ho jaati hai-Avinash Tiwary
11:07 PM
Rishabh Suri (HINDUSTAN TIMES; April 25, 2024)
Actor Avinash Tiwary is very content with his career trajectory. Recently seen in the sleeper hit film Madgaon Express, the actor asserts that he isn’t insecure of competition or the fact that he is an outsider.
“Mujhe apne career ko dekh ke khud se jalan ho jaati hai. In the last three years, I don’t think any of my contemporaries have worked in such varied projects, with the country’s top producers, like I have,” the 38-year-old says.
“Laila Majnu (2018) is a popular romantic film, while Bulbbul (2020) is liked in the fantasy genre. Bambai Meri Jaan is one of the finest shows in its genre. Why wouldn’t I be envious of the career I am making?” the actor quips.
Point out that he takes up less work and Tiwary explains, “Bambai took four years of my life, then came Khakee: The Bihar Chapter. A web show is like three films. With the work I did, it felt like nine films in a year. I get very selective; there are only few things that excite me.”
Does he feel at home in the industry now? “When people see your work and admire it, they give love and respect. People respect (my work), so I feel a part of this industry a little more. It makes you feel you are one of them,” he says.
I am happy that more people are watching Qala, Bulbull because of Animal-Triptii Dimri
3:16 PM
Rishabh Suri (HINDUSTAN TIMES; December 9, 2023)
Touted as the national crush after Animal, Triptii Dimri’s Instagram following has jumped from 600k followers to 2.7 million within a few days. With her latest release, the actor is experiencing a flurry of emotions and says, “I have had sleepless nights due to the excitement.”
The 29-year-old might’ve had a small role in the Ranbir Kapoor-starrer, but she has created a mark for herself with films like Bulbbul (2020) and Qala (2022). While she is grateful for the adulation, she hopes that her new-found fame will prompt people to watch her earlier projects, too. “I think there will be a shift in my career now. I’ve always wanted films like Qala to reach out to more people. Now many people are messaging me and saying, ‘We watched your films’. It’s such a special feeling,” shares Dimri.
Ask about how she is dealing with her popularity on social media, and Dimri says, “More than me, my family is excited. Every time it (the number of followers) goes up, they send it to me (laughs),” she says.
The Laila Majnu (2018) actor recalls, “During an ad shoot, an assistant told me that (director) Sandeep Reddy Vanga sir wanted to cast me in this film. It was an instant yes when I heard the film’s backstory, but nothing happened for a year. He called me and said, ‘Tripti, I am not going to send you this character by saying it’s the lead; it is a negative character, but I don’t want you to play it like that’.”
The actor is likely to have a bigger role in the second instalment, tentatively titled, Animal Park.
Why do we view heroes as figures of perfection?-Triptii Dimri
8:23 AM
As Animal is widely criticized for its misogyny, Triptii says film doesn’t glorify Ranbir’s character but depicts him as the one who loses it all
Priyanka Sharma (MID-DAY; December 7, 2023)
After Laila Majnu (2018) and two OTT films, Triptii Dimri had wondered whether she’d ever see herself on the big screen again. Today, she may have a small part in Animal, but the joy it has brought her is immense. While a huge section of the audience is discovering her through the Ranbir Kapoor-led film, director Sandeep Reddy Vanga discovered her through Bulbbul (2020) and signed her on to play a woman, who is sent by her lover to con the protagonist.
“He told me, ‘She is a mole. She has come to kill him and his whole family. But I don’t want to see [even a shred] of negativity in her eyes.’ I was immediately excited about the role,” she says.
Dimri’s role also entailed an intimate sequence with Kapoor. She credits her co-star and director for creating a safe space on set. “The day sir offered me the film, he told me about these scenes. He said, ‘I promise you it will be aesthetically shot. But if you aren’t comfortable with it, we’ll think of a different way to do it.’ The rape scene that I did in Bulbbul was traumatic. I had to leave myself behind to portray that. I used the same [approach] here. There were four people on set—Ranbir, Sandeep sir, the DoP and I. [I] felt I was surrounded by people who respected me.”
Animal is being criticised for the brazen misogyny of its lead character and some disturbing sequences, including one where Kapoor’s character asks Dimri to lick his shoe. “We did discuss it a lot. Prior to that scene, my character is talking about killing him, his wife, his kids. So, there is a lot at stake for him.”
Even as she acknowledges and respects the different opinions surrounding the movie, Dimri points out that Kapoor’s character is not glorified. “His wife leaves him, his father is going to die. He is left with nothing. We see our mothers as figures of perfection, who have to do everything right. Why do we view our heroes the same way? We forget he is also a human being and is allowed to make mistakes.”
If within 30 seconds of reading a script, I’m still in doubt, I just say no-Triptii Dimri
8:27 AM
Aishwarya Vasudevan (HINDUSTAN TIMES; December 17, 2022)
Triptii Dimri is currently riding high on the success of her latest web release, Qala. The actor’s tragic act in the film was lauded by the masses and critics alike.
In just four years of being in the industry, Dimri has managed to make a mark by playing characters of substance. The key, she says, is the ability to say no. “It’s important to say no to things that you don’t like without thinking that this or that person might be offended, or that this will give me that many followers. I don’t look at films like that... Like, if within 30 seconds of reading a script, I’m still in doubt, I just say no. I’m like, ‘This is not for me’. If you’re not there fully, then it is not just a waste of your time, but also that of the 300-400 people who are going to be working on the project, and that’s not fair to you or to them,” the Bulbbul actor says.
Ask her if it was a conscious decision to go against the tide by not doing ‘masala’ films, and Dimri says it is “something that happened organically”. “The thought was just to make sure to pick stories and characters that relate to me,” she adds.
Elaborating on her approach while picking projects, the actor continues, “I feel it’s important to have a good experience when working on something. The highs and lows of releases come and go, it’s the experience that stays. When I think of Laila Majnu (2018), it’s not the release date that comes to mind; it’s the experience that I had shooting for it. The same is with Bulbbul. For that, you need to choose your people and your scripts really well.”
Vicky Kaushal is patient, supportive, and made sure that I didn’t feel nervous-Triptii Dimri
2:29 PM
After emotionally draining roles in Bulbbul and Qala, Triptii Dimri says shooting for rom-com Rola with Vicky Kaushal was a blast
Priyanka Sharma (MID-DAY; December 16, 2022)
Triptii Dimri had almost forgotten what laughing on screen felt like until she stepped on the set of her next, Rola. Having played two back-to-back emotionally exhausting roles in Bulbbul (2020) and the recent Qala, she admits that the Vicky Kaushal-led romantic comedy was a much-needed change of pace. The actor says, “I only remember laughing on the set. Vicky and I were having a blast, and our director, Anand Tiwari sir, was always cracking jokes.”
Rola marks her return to comedy five years after her debut vehicle, Poster Boys (2017). What makes the Karan Johar production stand out from her previous offerings is that it is mounted on a lavish scale. “I was nervous because, while I have done a commercial film earlier, this was a big set. So, you feel the pressure of a big commercial film.” Fortunately, she found a supportive co-star in Kaushal. “There’s so much to learn from him. He is patient, supportive, and made sure that I didn’t feel nervous.”
Besides Rola, Dimri has the Ranbir Kapoor-starrer Animal in her kitty. It’s not lost on her that she has come a long way from the phase when she had no offers in hand. She recounts, “After Laila Majnu [2018], I didn’t get any offers. People advised me on what to do, but nothing felt right. That’s when Bulbbul came my way. [Many] asked me not to do an OTT film after having a theatrical release. But I went ahead, and was proved right.”
There’s no point in being scared of competition, as it will only add to the pressure-Triptii Dimri
8:09 AM
Onkar Kulkarni (BOMBAY TIMES; June 26, 2021)
From playing a supporting role in Poster Boys (2017) to the lead in Laila Majnu (2018) and then winning critical acclaim for the web film Bulbbul last year, Triptii Dimri has made her presence felt in showbiz. In conversation with Bombay Times, she opens up on how destiny has had a huge role to play in her journey in showbiz and more. Excerpts…
You made your Bollywood debut in 2017 with Poster Boys. How do you look back at the four years you spent in the industry?
Frankly, I did not expect much. I hail from Delhi and I started off as a model and was doing commercial ads there. I didn’t want to pursue acting as a career, even though it did cross my mind. I never made an effort in that direction as I had no contacts and didn’t know how to go about it. Besides, for a career in movies, I would have had to shift base to Mumbai, which my parents would not have allowed. It was through social media that the team of Poster Boys spotted me and approached me. I told them that I don’t know anything about acting, yet I auditioned and to my surprise, got selected. It was only after the release of the film that my parents thought it was time for me to move to Mumbai. Soon after, I bagged Laila Majnu as the female lead. Luck seemed to be on my side as I realised where Bollywood enthusiasts complained about struggles, here I was... with good projects coming my way right from the beginning.
When you stepped into the industry, did you come prepped to face the camera and the multiple hurdles that come with the territory?
Honestly, at the time when I did Laila Majnu, I hadn’t done even a single workshop. I was unaware of the process one goes through while playing a lead in a film. So these workshops, character reading sessions and discussions over backstories were all new to me. When I used to attend these discussions with Imtiaz Ali sir (who co-wrote the screenplay and presented the film), Sajid Ali (director) and Avinash Tiwary (co-star), I would sit there with blank expressions. The first schedule of the film was a little challenging for me. Before the second schedule rolled out, the team asked me to take up acting classes. It was during this course that I enjoyed acting and realised I want to pursue it as my profession. So, when I landed on the set for the second schedule, the team was happy to see the improvement in me.
You gained popularity after your digital debut with Bulbbul. Did you see that coming?
A lot of people around me asked me to stay away from OTT after doing two feature films back-to-back. Thank God, I did not follow their suggestions because my digital film has changed my life completely, not just professionally, but personally, too. It is through this project that I learnt to grasp a character’s graph. It made me quite confident as a person and as an actor.
Between Laila Majnu and your web film, you had a gap of two years. Were you a little demotivated during that period?
It was demotivating... For how long can you keep your hopes high? You can do that for one or two months and then you get tired. I waited for good scripts to come my way, but it wasn’t happening. So that was the most difficult phase, because I would get up every day wondering what's next, especially when all my friends were working. It was too stressful for me. With free time on hand, I enrolled myself in acting classes. I wouldn’t be 10 per cent of what you see me as an actor today, had I not utilized that free time wisely.
You were discovered through social media, do you feel that this medium has led to a lot of competition as scouting for talent has become easier?
It is upon you to take the pressure or not. There is a positive or a negative side to everything. I believe in the fact that whatever is yours will come your way and you don’t have to fight for anything. This has happened to me! I was not ready for films and look at me today. So, what’s yours will come to you, and you just have to wait and work hard on yourself. There’s no point in being scared of competition, as it will only add to the pressure.
I won’t allow women to be depicted regressively-Anushka Sharma
8:06 AM
On Women’s Day, actor-producer Anushka Sharma discusses how she has tried to change female portrayal on screen by telling stories from feminist gaze
Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; March 8, 2021)
In her 13-year career so far, Anushka Sharma has showcased different shades of women — from the ambitious wedding planner in Band Baaja Baaraat (2010) to the spirited Aarfa in Sultan (2016) and the self-reliant Mamta in Sui Dhaaga (2018). Though the characters resided in different universes, a common thread tied them — each had a strong head on her shoulders and the agency to take life decisions. Sharma stepped up her efforts to change the depiction of women in Indian cinema as she launched her production house in 2015 and backed female-led stories.
As she puts her weight behind another powerful story Mai, the actor-producer says she knew early on in her career that she didn’t want to be boxed as the leading man’s arm candy. “I have been conscious enough to select roles that I felt could contribute towards changing the portrayal of women on screen. I was done seeing myself as an accessory. I vowed that as a producer, I will not allow women to be depicted regressively,” she says. Sharma admits it wasn’t easy to swim against the tide. “It took a lot of self-belief, but it was liberating to do this for myself.”
Her productions are proof that she walked the talk. If NH10 (2015) told the story of a woman raising her voice against honour killing, Bulbbul (2020) depicted the folklore of a blood-thirsty witch from a feminist gaze. Her upcoming offering Mai, headlined by Sakshi Tanwar, revolves around a mother who accidentally gets sucked into the world of violence and power. Sharma says that with each project, she aims to challenge society’s patriarchal ways. “Movies have the power to impact change and help people determine what is right and wrong. By being clear about how we will depict women in cinema, we can alter the mindset of people, and shatter age-old beliefs and customs. My film choices and productions are a testimony to the fact that I’m committed to sparking a conversation in society about equality, self-respect and empowerment.”
Bulbbul put me back in the game-Tripti Dimri
8:16 AM
Earning Best Actor (Film) nomination at mid-day and Radio City Hitlist OTT Awards for Bulbbul, Tripti on finally getting her due post Laila Majnu
Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; January 30, 2021)
In Netflix’s supernatural drama Bulbbul, Tripti Dimri effortlessly slipped into the complex role of the titular character — a woman silently breaking free from the shackles of patriarchy. Her performance, both understated and enigmatic, has won her a nomination in the Best Actor (Film) category for the mid-day and Radio City Hitlist OTT Awards. Dimri recounts how she cracked the character with ample help from her director Anvita Dutt, who gave her a safe space to make mistakes. “Actors should have the luxury of making mistakes and Anvita gave me that. We built the character brick by brick for two months.”
A large part of Bulbbul’s strength came from her sense of calm, and that body language was important to create that enigma around her. “I researched about child brides and understood the emotional ramifications on them. The research was heartbreaking and it helped me build the suffocation Bulbbul was living through. I was dreading the sexual assault and the domestic violence scenes. Anvita wanted to see life leaving my body. Full credit to Rahul [Bose] who was the best co-actor I could have had. After every scene, he would distract me, while Anvita hugged me and cried. These scenes were the turning point in the film. After the rape scene, I bawled for 20 minutes.”
Dimri concedes Bulbbul put her back on the map after 2018’s Laila Majnu failed to create the frenzy it should have, given the critical acclaim. “It put me back in the game. As an actor, one only wants to be taken seriously. Now people view me with greater respect. I am doing another film with Anvita and it will be as challenging as Bulbbul.”
Did you know?
Tripti Dimri and Avinash Tiwary also worked together in Laila Majnu (2018).
Cast your vote for the Hitlist OTT Awards
- Tripti Dimri has been nominated in the Best Actor (Female): Film category for Bulbbul.
The other nominees are:
- Radhika Apte: Raat Akeli Hai (Netflix)
- Saiyami Kher: Choked: Paisa Bolta Hai (Netflix)
- Tillotama Shome: Chintu Ka Birthday (Zee5)
- Janhvi Kapoor: Gunjan Saxena: The Kargil Girl (Netflix)
- Vidya Balan: Shakuntala Devi (Amazon Prime Video)
- Log on to www.hitlistottawards.com to cast your vote.
- You can also vote via SMS. Send HITLIST <space> category name <space> your choice (a/b/c as on the website) to 57575.
- Voting lines close on February 9.
Only the clutter-breaking content managed to stand out-Anushka Sharma
8:14 AM
Anushka Sharma feels with audiences mostly staying indoors this year, they wanted newer content
Prashant Singh (HINDUSTAN TIMES; December 22, 2020)
She didn’t have any releases this year, yet 2020 was eventful for Anushka Sharma as a producer. The production house she helms with her brother, Karnesh Ssharma, backed two of the most talked-about OTT projects of the year: web series Paatal Lok and the film Bulbbul.
Sharma feels Indian audiences, more than ever, want to experience fresh content now. “This has been a year of disruption in the content landscape. With the pandemic, we were forced to stay home and discover content that we wanted to truly engage with. Only the clutter-breaking ones managed to stand out as our tastes are evolving and we want to see new and different content,” she says.
The actor is thrilled that her productions were appreciated across the board. “We are glad that we managed to stand out with our bold decisions and give audiences two clutter-breaking shows,” she says.
Sharma says she has always endeavoured to be unique as a producer. “We’ve been trying to produce engaging and different content since day one of our inception as a company. We’ve always told everyone what they can look forward to from us. Our brand of cinema is extremely risk-taking and we are committed towards originality,” she says.
For Sharma, 2021 will be a continuation of sorts vis-a-vis new talents and unique content. “We’ve spent the entire year finding real gems that will definitely stand out,” says the actor, who is expecting her first child, with husband Virat Kohli, the Indian cricket captain.
Ask Sharma what’s next in terms of production, and she says: “Next year will be no different. The announcements will happen in due course. Right from the start, we collaborated with forward-thinking creative visionaries and we are eager to present some new minds next year too. We’re confident they will amaze everyone.”
I am not the kind of person who can text people for the heck of it, I can’t beg for work-Tripti Dimri
8:33 AM
Rishabh Suri (HINDUSTAN TIMES; September 11, 2020)
Socialising, partying, networking — this is something actor Tripti Dimri doesn’t believe in, despite being advised to do so. Add to that the ongoing debate on outsiders finding it tough to make it big in Bollywood.
Has it ever happened that she was finalised for a project, but later replaced by a star kid or someone with connections? “That has not happened with me, but I have heard about it. A lot of times, I was told ‘go to that party, build connections, that is how you get work’. I don’t believe in these things. I don’t believe me having a good equation with someone is going to get me work. If I am not talented and don’t know my job, then no matter what I do I will not get work. This is something people need to understand,” she tells us.
Dimri, 26, adds it must have worked for somebody, which is why this belief still persists, but says, “I don’t think I’m that person who can text people for the heck of work. I should be invested in that person, otherwise I won’t. I can’t beg for work. One day or the other, you will get work. In today’s day and age, there is work for everybody.”
While it’s her work in Bulbbul and Laila Majnu that got her noticed, not many people know the actor had actually started her film career with Shreyas Talpade’s Poster Boys (2017), starring Sunny and Bobby Deol.
“When I was new to Mumbai, I was auditioning for everything, be it television shows or music videos. I just wanted work at that point. In fact, my agency said I should not do Poster Boys, but I was like ‘I want to, tomorrow, I might not get this opportunity’. I am glad I did it, it got me noticed. This film gave me the confidence of being around so many people, the camera and interacting with people from the industry,” says Dimri, adding, “Whatever mistakes I make for myself, I don’t want to blame any other person later. And if it’s good, I want to take the credit.”
No one can guess that Bulbbul is a debutant's work-Rahul Bose
8:51 AM
Back on the scene with the Anushka Sharma-backed Bulbbul, Rahul Bose on greenlighting director Dutt's thriller
Shaheen Parkar (MID-DAY; June 28, 2020)
Following his performance in Dil Dhadakne Do (2015) and Vishwaroopam II (2018), and a directorial stint with Poorna (2017), Rahul Bose is back with the Netflix film, Bulbbul. The period horror also marks his digital debut. "I am also in the middle of two web series, but at this juncture, I can't talk about them. So, that makes Bulbbul my first web outing," says Bose.
He admits that the web platform is the go-to medium in the current scenario, but doesn't find a compulsive need to compare it with a theatrical screening. He is optimistic that post the pandemic, "movies, theatre, and television will flourish again."
In his three-decade long career, Bose has worked with a dozen debutante directors, making Bulbbul director Anvita Dutt yet another addition to that list. "What I look for in a director is vision and passion; there has to be a real need to tell the story. Anvita is a new voice. That's unusual because most directors find their calling several years into their profession. No one can guess that Bulbbul is a debutant's work." And while this is their first collaboration as director-actor, Bose had previously associated with Anvita on Poorna. "She had written a song for the film, but we did not use it."
When his film commitments don't occupy his attention, he keeps himself busy by managing the two NGOs that he has been running for 15 years—one for children's education and the other for child sexual abuse survivors. "It's a part of my life, I don't like to talk much about it. It's between me and the kids," says Bose who is also penning his next directorial venture, which may roll next year.
(Crisp) Movie Review: BULBBUL by FENIL SETA
6:14 PM
Bulbbul’s setting is ideal for a horror-drama flick. The sprawling and eerie haveli, the zamindari family, the British Raj, the patriarchy – everything is just correct and Meenal Agarwal's production design, Red Chillies VFX's VFX and Veera Kapur Ee's costumes add to the authenticity. However, the film is quite predictable. Also, it’s quite short at 94 minutes and lacks a punch. A few developments are not convincing and some questions are left unanswered. On the positive side, a few scenes are engaging. And performances are great. Tripti Dimri owns the film and she’s sure to benefit with this performance. Avinash Tiwari is fine as always. Rahul Bose is dependable but his character is not fleshed out well. Parambrata Chattopadhyay is natural while Pauli Dam leaves a mark. All in all, Bulbbul is plain disappointment!
My rating - ** out of 5!
Anushka Sharma will do everything in her power to make a story come alive-Anvita Dutt
8:13 AM
As her Netflix film, Bulbbul drops today, writer-turned-director Anvita Dutt on why Anushka Sharma is a dream producer
Shaheen Parkar (MID-DAY; June 24, 2020)
Writer Anvita Dutt is going through a gamut of emotions as her directorial debut, Bulbbul, drops on Netflix today. "But, the dominant emotion is sheer joy," says Dutt, who has been part of the industry for almost 15 years, juggling two distinct roles of screenplay writer and lyricist. "I like change. So, when I wrote Bulbbul, I promised myself that I will direct it."The supernatural drama — featuring Tripti Dimri, Avinash Tiwary, Rahul Bose, Parambrata Chattopadhyay and Paoli Dam — is backed by Anushka Sharma. Dutt previously collaborated with the star on Phillauri (2017) as the screenplay writer and Pari (2018) on which she served as the lyricist. "I have known Anushka and her brother Karnesh for long. Karnesh had read the script of Bulbbul during his merchant navy days, and told me if he ever turned filmmaker, he would produce it," recounts the writer-turned-director.
Years since the episode, Dutt is glad that Karnesh kept his word. She believes that Sharma has a discerning eye for scripts, which makes her one of the finest producers. "Anushka is a storyteller, which is clear from the kind of films she has made. Karnesh and she invest deeply in the script, and give you everything in their power to help you make the story come alive. Bulbbul has shaped up exactly as I had charted it out on the storyboard."Ask her if she has reservations about her debut film releasing digitally, and she laughs, "As a storyteller, my aim is to reach out to people. I would be happy even if it was a part of a bioscope show. Now, the film will be screened across the globe."
I am happy doing Bengali films, and occasionally, a Hindi project-Parambrata Chattopadhyay
8:31 AM
Despite being noticed for a handful roles in Bollywood, Parambrata Chattopadhyay on not being swayed by the Hindi film industry
Shaheen Parkar (MID-DAY; June 21, 2020)
His acclaimed act as an aide to Vidya Balan's character in the 2012 drama, Kahaani, made makers of Hindi films instantly sit up and take notice of him. But, Bengali actor Parambrata Chattopadhyay wasn't one to be swayed by the glamour attached with Bollywood. "Many people thought I would shift to Mumbai and do more Hindi films, but I am an actor and a director, and primarily belong to the Bengali film industry. I am happy doing Bengali films, and occasionally, a Hindi project," says the actor, who can be persuaded to take up a project from the Hindi film industry if it appeases his heart.
One such offering was the Anushka Sharma-backed Anvita Dutt directorial venture, Bulbbul. The supernatural period thriller, which drops on Netflix on June 24, sees the actor play a "character full of intrigue". The offering also has him collaborate with Sharma for the second time, after the duo shared screen space in the horror film, Pari. "When shooting for Pari, I was relatively new to the Hindi film [industry]. [Anushka and I] spent a lot of time doing workshops. I enjoyed the atmosphere on the set and was looking forward to working with [her team] again. She had dropped in when we were shooting for Bulbbul. It was good to reconnect with her as well as her brother, Karnesh [co-producer]."
Sharma's last production, Paatal Lok is being touted as one among the best to have released this year. Inevitably then, cinephiles have their eyes trained on Bulbbul, which promises to be an equally gritty offering. According to Chattopadhyay, Sharma has been "handpicking projects that are pushing the envelope, which provides actors from regional films to showcase their talent."
It was Dutt who roped him for this series. "I said yes immediately. Though she is a debutant, she didn't need my advice. She is confident about her craft," says Chattopadhyay, who is also working on a biopic on legendary actor, Soumitra Chatterjee.
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