BT invited Emraan Hashmi to meet students from colleges across Mumbai and discuss the problems plaguing the education system in India
Rachit Gupta (BOMBAY TIMES; January 15, 2019)

His upcoming film, Why Cheat India, highlights the trails and travails of the education system in the country. Keeping in line with the theme of the film, Emraan Hashmi, who plays a wily exam paper agent Rakesh Singh, has been engaging in conversations around the problems of students in the country. Recently, when Emraan visited the Bombay Times office, we invited a bunch of enthusiastic college students from campuses across the city to engage in an interesting and constructive debate with the actor. The discussion revolved around the flaws of the education system and the vocation and solutions that we can strive to incorporate in the existing structure. Excerpts from the chat where Emraan partakes in some hard-talk with students.

‘EDUCATION SHOULD NOT BE A COMPETITION’
I am no expert on education, I dropped out of college to become an actor, but I feel examinations and cut-throat competition in rote learning doesn’t value add to a person’s life in any way. I feel doing away with the entire concept of exams, grades and scores should be explored as a solution for the educational system. It’s happening in the West, countries like US are doing away with examinations. We should inculcate a system where we encourage young minds to pursue their passions and interests. Too many parents and students are obsessed about engineering and medicine as fields of vocation. I know Arts is picking up now, but for the longest time, Arts and Commerce have been fields for those who couldn’t get through in science. Not every child is inclined towards maths and science. We’ve turned the education system into a game of winners and losers. That’s not how it’s supposed to be.

‘SOCIAL STRATA SHOULD NOT AFFECT A CHILD’S EDUCATION’
A child’s social and financial status has a large bearing on his educational prospects. There are certain educational institutions that cater only to the elite. The fees at the colleges and schools can be quite intimidating as well. My son Ayaan goes to a decent school and I feel his fees for a single year are a lot. Thank God, I’m an actor and thankfully I have the financial wherewithal to afford that kind of education. But, my point is, access to good education should not be limited by your financial status. The education system in Finland is considered to be one of the best in the world and it’s completely free. There’s no division of the quality of education between the rich and the poor. All kids, regardless of how affluent or how challenged their families are, study together. That will establish a sense of equality in individuals during their formative years and that’s the kind of step that will create positive influence on society in general. I understand that countries in Europe or even the US don’t face the challenges of population and governance that India does. But, we cannot make that as an excuse to not experiment with these ideas. We can take smaller steps and see if a radical idea like free education for all can find its feet and become a country-wide phenomenon.

‘TEACHERS NEED CARE TOO’
I don’t blame the teachers who focus on tuitions and private classes, because the salary of an average teacher can be quite paltry. Teachers are role models for the youth of the country. These people are literally training the future of the entire nation and we gravely undermine their contribution when their salary amounts to peanuts. I know we don’t have great labour laws, but the government and the authorities should ensure that the teachers and the staff, especially at public education institutions are paid well. We’re one of the biggest tax-paying economies of the world and should use our budgets to carve out better educational policies for citizens.

‘PAPER MAFIA BELIEVES THEY’RE INTO SOCIAL SERVICE’
During the prep for my role, I met a lot of people who work in the exam paper mafia. Basically, these people leak papers to students for large sums of money. But they don’t look at themselves as bad guys at all. For them, it’s merely a business opportunity. They’ve spotted a hack in the education system and they’re using it to make money. The way they see it, they’re actually helping the students out. Their logic is — there’s so much pressure with competitive exams and ranks that students are forced to commit suicides. If we’re leaking the paper and helping the student cheat, we’re doing it so he can score decent grades and not end up killing himself. As flawed as that opinion is, the guys who work in the exam paper mafia actually believe that they’re doing social service.

‘BREAK-PROOF FANS FOR SUICIDE ATTEMPTS’
My director Soumik Sen informed me during the shoot that there’s a company in Kota, Rajasthan which offers sturdy ceiling fans that don’t break when a student tries to hang himself / herself from them. Can you imagine that? They’ve turned exam pressures and suicides into a surreal business opportunity. So, in a place like Kota, where there are dozens of colleges and universities and stiff competition amongst students, you have a firm that’s selling break-proof fans to students, assuring them, that at least the fan won’t break during a suicide attempt.

Emraan Hashmi on the title change of his upcoming film and the decision to push forward its release
Roshmila Bhattacharya (MUMBAI MIRROR; January 14, 2019)

It’s close to 9 pm but with less than a week to the release of his first production, a relaxing weekend is the last thought on his mind. It’s been a long day and it’s not over yet. His voice is laced with exhaustion but his mind is ticking as he fields a barrage of questions with a lazy drawl that is typically Emraan but a maturity that is definitely new-found.

Excerpts from an interview:

Why is ‘why’ important in the context of your film whose title, Cheat India, now has a ‘Why’ attached to it following Censor Board guidelines?
This was an addition which came at the nth hour and we couldn’t argue because the film was close to release so we are just going along with the ‘why’ and I’m still asking myself ‘why?’. For me what’s confusing is that the promos were cleared with Cheat India, I would have imagined they would have had a problem then because they didn’t have a reference, right? Right now, they are seeing it in the context of the film, and suddenly, it’s objectionable. What I’m guessing is the two words, Cheat and India, in themselves have a negative connotation, it somewhere conveys that the makers want to promote cheating the country. But if you add the ‘why’, it would mean why would you want to cheat India, you shouldn’t. I’m confused, you’re confused, the audience is confused, only the Censor Board has an answer.

Do you feel cheated given that implementing the ‘why’ would mean confusion during promotions and an unanticipated financial burden?
Of course, I feel cheated. The film has already been pushed ahead by a week to January 18 and mid-promotions, we have to spend time changing the logo, the standees, all communication. It’s dissipating our energies when we need to channel it into other things. It’s uncalled for.

What does this three-word name reflect on the education system that your film endeavours to expose?
(Sighs) That there needs to be more open dialogues, a logical and analytical way of thinking and a semblance of consistency which I’m not seeing. Our system is all about rote mugging and not asking questions. No one is supposed to ask why, ‘why’? We as creative people put material out there and we are open to it being debated and criticised. But when you impose something like this on a film it raises the query, “Is there creative freedom?” Obviously there isn’t. I don’t see any problem with the original title given that the film exposes the malpractices in our fractured, corrupt education system and is from the point of view of the person heading the cheating mafia in UP.

Do you name anyone?
No, no, we don’t. It’s a well-researched film and the world, inspired by the umpteen scams and paper leaks, is very real but the story and characters are fictional. But I promise it will still be an eye-opener for many.

Pushing forward the release from January 25 to January 18 has snipped off a week from your promotions. How big a loss is it?
When you weigh the pros and cons of a release date change, you have to realise that now we are coming on a clear Friday instead of battling it out with three other films given that Thackeray has both Hindi and Marathi versions. Our distributor was very gung-ho about a Republic Day release but I prefer this one because I believe our film, which is a new concept on a relevant subject, needs some room rather than arrive on a Friday when there’s too much noise. It took time to lock the date because we were confused between coming on January 18 and February 1.

A Republic Day release would have been ideal for you given the subject. You were the first ones to announce that you were coming on the day. The general feeling is that you moved because you didn’t want any problem with the Thackerays?
No, that’s not true. It was an amicable decision. Their Marathi version was to come out on Balasaheb’s birthday, January 23, and they were kind enough to move that by two days to give us a clear week. It works for both our films, there was no pressure.

But Bala Lokare, secretary of the Chitrapat Sena, a Shiv Sena-affiliated film workers’ union had put out a Facebook post threatening they would not allow any other film to release on the same day as their film and your decision announced in the presence of Thackeray producer Sanjay Raut and Aditya Thackeray came soon after.
Yes, we were gunning for a Republic Day release though Friday is January 25, but that wasn’t the case. I feel bringing forward the release will work in our favour. There was no pressure from anyone, it was done in our own interests.

Does being a producer add to the responsibilities?
It does. As an actor you come on the sets, shoot, and are a part of the marketing. But the last few films didn’t turn out the way I thought they would and it made me feel a little vulnerable and powerless. As a producer you can oversee the entire process which is not possible when you are just an actor on the film. I’ve enjoyed the process but I would have gone mad if I didn’t have my three other producer partners. Among Bhushan (Kumar), Atul (Kasbekar) and Tanuj (Garg), we divided the work.

There have been some #MeToo allegations against your director Soumik Sen. He hasn’t been a part of the promotions and buzz is his name may be removed from the credits?
Soumik was completing work on the film till recently. Moreover he volunteered to opt out of the promotions to let the focus remain on the film. Soumik has been credited in the film.

You have another production lined up, Father’s Day. What are some of the lessons you will carry into that one?
You learn a lot of lessons on the way but every film is a different experience. Each film will bring its own challenges and hurdles. That will be a new learning experience. We take off mid this year, after I finish with my series and the promotions for The Body which opens in June.

You had said earlier that you won’t do another thriller and then signed The Body. As an actor are you satisfied this time?
I am satisfied with the shooting process. I have immense faith in the director, Jeethu Joseph, a great mind who really understands the genre. It’s very intense and high drama, I think it will be one of my best thrillers.

Will Rishi Kapoor’s health impede the promotions should he not be able to join in?
No, no, I’m sure he will be back before the film releases.

And Captain Nawab, is that happening?
Shelved… shelved.

There have been franchises which you have spearheaded, be it Jannat, Murder or Raaz. Cheat India has shown us a very different Emraan, can you now see yourself going back to them?
The scripts I’ve picked up today, I would not have five years ago, or maybe I would have, but these scripts weren’t floating around then. Our film wouldn’t have been made then. But now audience has evolved, I have always tried to do something different. Getting back to your question, there are no pre-set notions but my concerns have changed, there’s a certain maturity that comes with life’s experiences. I can’t go back but never say never. I had promised myself I wouldn’t do another thriller, and then The Body came and blew me away. It’s the story that draws you back. Right now, the answer will probably be no because I don’t think I have anything more to offer to these franchises. I don’t even know how they will take it ahead, beyond this.

Now that you are a producer will you collaborate with the Bhatts?
I wouldn’t mind but collaborations will only happen if we mutually agree on a great idea.

Just eight days before its release, the makers have to append a ‘why’ to the original title Cheat India
Roshmila Bhattacharya (MUMBAI MIRROR; January 10, 2019)

Emraan Hashmi’s upcoming drama which opens on January 18, has a new title thanks to a last-minute objection from the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC). Earlier titled Cheat India, it will now release as Why Cheat India.

Tanuj Garg who is producing the film with Bhushan Kumar, Atul Kasbekar and Emraan Hashmi, confirmed the news, saying, “Yes, the Board had concerns about the previous title. We had an extensive conversation regarding the proposed change since the theatrical trailer and TV promos had already been certified with the original title. We felt this would lead to dual communication with the audience but finally, in the interest of time, we mutually agreed on a title change.”

According to a source close to the development the Examining Committee saw the film last Thursday and to the makers’ shock, said that the title was a point of discomfort as it was controversial and misleading when seen in the context of the film. “They argued that the film with the title has been in the public domain since the last two years, and was playing the trailer and promos for a long time, but the EC was firm and referred it to the Revising Committee which watched the film on Saturday and echoed the sentiments of the EC,” informs the source.

Given that they had less than two weeks to go and that they had otherwise got only one cut whereby they were asked to blur out a shot of drug use, the makers eventually caved in and various options were suggested of which Why Cheat India was mutually agreed upon by both parties. The Regional Officer finally cleared the film on Wednesday with a U/A certificate.

“It’s a last-minute thing and a financial strain on the makers who will have to append all future promotional material with a ‘why’ now and also incorporate it in the film. Given that Padmavati (whose title was changed to Padmaavat) and Loveratri (changed to Loveyatri) had faced the same issue with the Board, it seems to be becoming a trend that filmmakers will have to be prepared for in the future, bringing with it unnecessary headaches,” adds the source.

We texted RO Tushar Karmarkar but he did not respond.

Exhibitors, producers of films opening on same day panic; makers of biopic say this is not party stand
Himesh Mankad (MUMBAI MIRROR; December 28, 2018)

Bala Lokare, a functionary of the Shiv Sena film wing, has sent ripples of fear through the film frat following his threat that the Bhartiya Chitrapat Sena will not allow any film to clash with Thackeray. While the biopic of his party founder opens on January 25, Bal Thackeray’s birthday, the other two films, the Emraan Hashmi-starrer Cheat India and Kangana Ranaut’s period drama, Manikarnika: The Queen of Jhansi, are eyeing the same release date. There was another film in the fray earlier, looking to cash in on the Republic Day weekend. But Shibasish Sarkar, COO, Reliance Entertainment, stated that Hrithik Roshan’s Super 30 is not coming on that day. “Our film is getting completed and won’t release on January 25. We will announce the release date soon,” Sarkar told Mirror.

“The film Thackeray is releasing on January 25. We will not let any other film to release on the same day,” read a Facebook post by Lokare. He was later quoted as saying, “If anyone does release a film, then we will give them a Shiv Sena-style answer. Since the film is based on Sena founder Bal Thackeray, this is the view of all the Shiv Sainiks who follow him.”

The statement has stirred panic amongst exhibitors in Maharashtra. When Mirror reached out to them, many refused to comment on the matter. Only Manoj Desai, the owner of two single screens in the city, Gaiety Galaxy and Maratha Mandir, who is currently in Dubai on a Christmas break, stated that he will discuss the matter with other exhibitors before taking the final call. “I wouldn’t want my property to be damaged. We will discuss the matter and arrive at a collective decision,” he reiterated.

Meanwhile, Kamal Jain, the producer of Manikarnika, asserts that his film will release on schedule. “We are definitely coming on January 25 since the Republic Day weekend justifies our film. Rani Lakshmibai is a national icon like Balasaheb Thackeray and there are enough screens and shows to accommodate the two films so there shouldn’t be an issue with respect to screen count,” he reasoned, adding that if necessary, he will discuss the matter with the Shiv Sena to arrive at an amicable and viable conclusion that works for both films.

Tanuj Garg, whose Cheat India takes on the corruption in the Indian education system, when asked to comment on Lokare’s stance, was tight-lipped. “We have just heard this news. We will review the situation,” was all he was willing to say.

Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut, the producer of Thackeray, clarified that Lokare’s comments were not the party’s official stand. “It seems like just spontaneous reactions from supporters. Not allowing any other film to release along with Thackeray on January 25 is not the party’s stand,” Sanjay maintained. 

Ashwini Chaudhary's next film revolves around education and employment mafia
Himesh Mankad (MUMBAI MIRROR; December 19, 2018)

National Award-winning director Ashwini Chaudhary recently wrapped up his next, titled Setters. Featuring Shreyash Talpade and Aftab Shivdasani, it is set against the backdrop of the education and employment mafia in India, a premise which on paper sounds similar to Emraan Hashmi’s upcoming film, Cheat India. Unfazed by the comparisons, Ashwini insists his film tackles a completely different social evil.

“After seeing the trailer of Cheat India, I can say confidently say that they are two different films. Ours is in the real space, and more than education, it deals with employment market. I hope Emraan’s film works big time so it sets the ground for mine,” he smiles.

He reveals that while researching the subject, they discovered that a mafia exists in both sectors, and they are called setters. “There isn’t an exam in this country which isn’t rigged. And we are looking to expose the modus operandi of both these mafias within the framework of a thriller,” explains Ashwini who shot the film in Delhi, Jaipur, Varanasi and Mumbai over 42 days.

He believes that Setters is closest he has come to his 2000 directorial debut, Laado, which bagged him the National Award. “After that I went into a commercial space but with Setters, I’m returning to my roots. In terms of content and treatment, it’s as hard-hitting as Laado,” he signs off. 

Makers snip it out of the trailer and posters to avoid controversy
Himesh Mankad (MUMBAI MIRROR; December 13, 2018)

“Nakal Mein Hi Akal Hai”, the intriguing tagline of Emraan Hashmi’s next, Cheat India, had sparked off a certain amount of curiosity among the cinegoers. However, the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) have now raised objections to it, as members of Examining Committee believe that it could be interpreted as promoting cheating.

“The film’s teaser was viewed by a different examination committee and they had no objection to the tagline. But the committee which viewed the trailer felt it was not suitable for television and theatres as it might mislead youngsters,” a source close to the development told Mirror.

When Mirror reached out to Tanuj Garg who is producing the project with Atul Kasbekar, Bhushan Kumar and Emraan himself, he confirmed the news, saying, “Even though one examining committee had cleared the film’s tagline in the teaser, another committee found it inappropriate for the trailer. We complied with the CBFC directives and altered the communication for the cinema and television versions of the trailer, after which a U/A certificate was duly granted.”

So, does the tagline feature in the film? “No, it doesn’t. The closest that it gets is the dialogue that features in the trailer, ‘Akalmand Toh Tum Ho, Nakalmand Ban Sakte Ho Kya’ between Emraan and his protégé,” clarified Tanuj.

Cheat India is set against the backdrop of the Indian education system, and highlights scams during several competitive entrance examinations. It is gearing up for a Republic Day release in 2019. 

On National Education Day on Sunday, Emraan Hashmi discusses the Indian system, which is the subject of his upcoming film, and the issues it has been grappling with
Roshmila Bhattacharya (MUMBAI MIRROR; November 12, 2018)

Describe ‘education’ in five words…
Driver of human and economic development.

What is the difference between education and schooling?
A school is an organised process of learning, it’s about sitting within four walls. Education is way more than schooling, it is broader and deeper. It ought to be more practical and experiential but unfortunately, our system is overly theoretical and loophole-ridden. Outdated syllabi, overcrowded classrooms, limited teaching faculty, focus on learning things by rote, and of course, all the scams, crimes and malpractices perpetrated to help undeserving students clear exams are weighing it down.

What was the one subject you hated in school which has come in handy today?
I disliked accounts but it’s the one subject that comes somewhat handy even today. At least I know the basics! (Laughs) But truth be told, nothing else I learnt in school is of practical use in modern living which is why I’m clear about getting my son an education that will focus at honing his analytical skills and problem-solving abilities.

What is the one thing that your son taught you?
My son is my superhero. Life delivered a knockout blow and he fought it bravely. I was thrown into a zone that I had never imagined finding myself in. Empathy and how to out-stretch oneself is what I learnt the most. At such a young age, I find Ayaan all grown up. The things he says sometimes I don’t hear even from 50-year-olds.

Which was the biggest education scam that shocked you?
Vyapam, it was like watching Game of Thrones. The plot kept getting thicker and just when a character garnering public sympathy came to the forefront, he was bumped off days later under mysterious circumstances. This is only possible when there is a collusion between politicians, government officials, middlemen and business persons. My upcoming film, Cheat India, is not about any particular scam but depicts the corrupt eco-system and the stakeholders involved in commodifying a student.

What is the most common kind of cheating and how can it be stopped?
I have cheated during exams while I was in school and college. We’ve carried chits and wrote information on our hands. But all this is kindergarten stuff in light of all that’s going on today. Every other day one reads about more and more creative ways of cheating. Who can forget that picture that went viral a few years ago: desperate parents, relatives and friends in Bihar climbing walls to provide answers to students appearing for their exam inside. And the hilarious video of a topper from Bihar who pronounced ‘Political Science’ as ‘Prodigal Science’! The reality of the matter is that education in India has turned into a serious business, which is driven by mega bucks. The politician-private sector nexus is murky.

If you ever caught a kid cheating, what would you do?
Obviously, I’ll tell them off, but at the same time, I’m not going to get overly moralistic. Like I said earlier, our education does not stimulate mental faculties but it puts undue pressure on kids to mug text books without really understanding the content. Some parents are unfairly pushy as well and will go to any extent to see their child clear his exam. The child ends up feels victimised and has no choice but to resort to subversive means. Some even commit suicide.

Your favourite teacher in a movie?
Morgan Freeman as principal Joe Clark in Lean On Me. He turned an entire school upside down with his borderline-illegal methods but he was left with no choice. Extreme situations warrant extreme measures. I also loved Eddie Murphy in The Nutty Professor and Julia Roberts in Mona Lisa Smile. By the way, I hope you don’t think that I’m playing a teacher in my next film.

Do you see hope for the country’s education system?
I don’t want to sound cynical or pessimistic but I think way too much water has flown under the bridge and not much is going to change. Our system needs a radical overhaul which I don’t see happening as there are too many vested interests involved.

So, learn or cheat?
Whatever rocks your boat! (Smiles)

Chandraye Sarkar, one of the many women who accused Soumik Sen of sexual harassment, writes to Cheat India producer Atul Kasbekar to take action against the director
Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; October 27, 2018)

After an actor of Cheat India anonymously named and shamed director Soumik Sen last week for his sexually exploitative behaviour, Ellipsis Entertainment - the production house backing the Emraan Hashmi starrer - issued a statement asserting that they had not received "any complaint of inappropriate behaviour by director Soumik Sen from any female member in our unit of Cheat India".

Now, media professional Chandraye Sarkar - one of the four women to have outed Sen - tells mid-day that she has appealed in writing to Cheat India producer Atul Kasbekar to take stringent action against him.

Sarkar says, "I don't understand why the producers are not taking the allegations seriously. Their statement is blasphemous and protects Soumik." In her account, Sarkar claimed that Sen sent her erotic passages in 2012, a post which she complained to Gulaab Gang co-producer Anubhav Sinha. Her story was corroborated by Sinha last week. "I was angry that Anubhav didn't act in time, but at least he said sorry now. Anubhav sent me a message saying he will never work with Soumik again. I respect him for the stand. Emraan Hashmi said he wants to clean the industry, then why is he hiding now? They are establishing that they are either accomplice to the matter or partaking in it."

She adds, "I have sent a mail to Ashoke Pandit and Balwinder Sandhu of IFTDA. I have written a mail to Atul Kasbekar and Tanuj Garg because they claim no complaint has come to them."

It has also been heard that after actor Priyanka Bose's revelations against Sen, the makers are considering corrective measures. An associate reveals, "We will have to let Soumik go from the promotional leg of the film. Emraan was clear that he wouldn't tolerate any instance of harassment against women on his film. He wouldn't want to keep his ties with the perpetrator in this case."

Hashmi, who is shooting in Ladakh, is yet to be updated on the matter. mid-day reached out to Kasbekar, who claimed he was travelling and couldn't respond.


Atul Kasbekar and Soumik Sen. Pic/Instagram

Hiren Kotwani (DNA; September 12, 2018)

The Republic Day weekend in 2019 will see four films hitting the marquee. The face-off between Kangana Ranaut’s Manikarnika - The Queen Of Jhansi and Hrithik Roshan’s Super 30 has got more intense with Nawazuddin Siddiqui’s Thackeray and Emraan Hashmi’s Cheat India joining the fray. None of the makers are ready to back off and let go of the lucrative weekend. Thackeray, the biopic on Balasaheb Thackeray, will get a three-day jump over the other contenders as it releases on January 23 (the Shiv Sena supremo’s birthday).

THE SUCCESS STORIES
If you take a look at the R-Day releases over the last two years, it’s evident why makers have developed a liking for this weekend. In 2017, Raees and Kaabil clashed at the BO on this date. However, both films did well. This year, Padmaavat hit the screens on January 26. While Akshay Kumar’s Pad Man and Neeraj Pandey directorial Aiyaary were earlier slated to open in cinemas on this date, they decided to avoid a clash and moved to the forthcoming weekends. Meanwhile, Padmaavat went on to become one of the highest grossers of 2018.

MARK THE DATE
While Manikarnika - The Queen Of Jhansi, which is backed by Zee Studios, focusses on Rani Laxmibai’s story, Super 30 is inspired by mathematician Anand Kumar’s initiative for lesser-privileged children. With Thackeray’s birthday on January 23, producer Sanjay Raut, in a recent interview, stated that he is ready to face the competition. Cheat India is about the education scams that have taken place in the country. When asked about choosing this already-crowded weekend, its producer Tanuj Garg says, “For us, it’s a great national holiday weekend. Our film’s theme and title lent itself to this particular weekend. So, it’s only organic for us to come out with our movie on this date. From the overall monetary perspective, too, it makes more business sense for us to release it on the Republic Day weekend.”

WAIT FOR THE PROMOTIONAL CAMPAIGNS
While all the films are either inspired by prominent personalities or real issues, which of the four films will cinegoers prefer to see first? Trade analyst Taran Adarsh feels it’s too early to predict. He reasons, “We’ll have to wait till November-December for the movies’ promotional campaigns to start to know what they’re offering. Once some more of the content is showcased, only then a clearer picture will emerge.”

THERE’S SPACE FOR EVERYONE?
While it’s not difficult for filmmakers to book the required number of theatres and screens, juggling four releases isn’t going to be a cakewalk either. Tanuj Garg feels there’s enough place for all the films. “The exhibitors surely know how to allocate screens and show timings for the multiple releases,” he says. Adarsh agrees with him but adds, “More theatres will open up in the future, too. But it’s going to be the survival of the fittest.” He feels the industry needs to brace itself for more such clashes in the future. He points out, “Producers have no choice. We’ve had clashes earlier, too. In recent times, we saw Bajrangi Bhaijaan coming a week after Baahubali: The Beginning, and both became blockbusters. So, if the content is good, it will only expand the market.”

MUMBAI MIRROR (September 10, 2018)

Over the weekend, Mirror spotted Emraan Hashmi sitting on the edge of the pier that originates from Radio Club in South Mumbai. The actor-filmmaker was joined by his debutante leading lady, actress-model Shreya Dhanwanthary, as they filmed a romantic song sequence for his debut home production, Cheat India, over four hours. The film’s team recently returned from Lucknow, where they had kicked off the first schedule

Thackeray producer Sanjay Raut is determined to have the film release on Republic Day, as are Manikarnika, Cheat India makers; Hrithik Roshan’s Super 30 to clash with all three
Avinash Lohana (MUMBAI MIRROR; August 30, 2018)

The Republic Day weekend of 2019 will be a crowded one with as many as four Bollywood biggies lining up for the box-office.

What is interesting is that these include three biopics — Vikas Bahl’s Super 30 with Hrithik Roshan as math wiz Anand Kumar, Kangana Ranaut in and as Manikarnika - The Queen of Jhansi and Nawazuddin Siddiqui playing Bal Thackeray in the Abhijit Panse directorial on the late Shiv Sena supremo. The fourth film in the quartet is Emraan Hashmi’s first production, with Bhushan Kumar, Tanuj Garg and Atul Kasbekar, the social drama Cheat India, which showcases malpractices in engineering colleges and other educational institutes in India. While Super 30, Manikarnika and Cheat India will arrive on January 25, the Thackeray biopic will open on January 23, on the late politician’s 93rd birth anniversary.

When Mirror reached out to Sanjay Raut, who has produced Thackeray, on the upcoming boxoffice clash he was unfazed by the competition. “I can’t stop other filmmakers from releasing their films on the same weekend, but no matter how many films come up against us, the country is waiting for Thackeray. Nawazuddin Siddiqui has played him extremely well and while people are aware that Balasaheb was a politician, cartoonist and an orator, we are showcasing his rise from a common man to a superman which makes for interesting viewing,” asserts Raut, adding that during his recent travels aboard, he also sensed a growing excitement among the diaspora. “We were the first to announce the release and I’m not going to shift the date come what may,” he states firmly.

Kamal Jain, the producer of Manikarnika, reveals that he had two release dates in mind for his period drama from the beginning given the subject: Independence Day and Republic Day. “I don’t know about any clashes nor do I want to comment on them. January 25 is an apt date for us which is why we have zeroed in on it. I’m not worried about the competition,” he says confidently.

Reiterating her producer’s thoughts Kangana had recently told Mirror (August 25) that after unveiling the first poster of the historical drama on August 15, they had the choice of coming on Republic Day or Independence Day, 2019, and they decided to push for the former, even though there is some patchwork left and director Krrish who has got busy with the NTR biopic can only spare dates after its release on January 11. “The writers want certain transitional scenes shot before the release, I’ve assured the studio I won’t leave Manikarnika even if it means rescheduling dates and sacrificing personal time,” the actress had stated.

Tanuj who is in Lucknow where Cheat India is currently being shot, states a similar reason for opting for the date. “Our title and theme organically lend themselves to the Republic Day weekend,” he explains.

Republic Day is a much-coveted date for filmmakers because it is a national holiday so it promises a long weekend and consequently bigger crowds and collections. Next year, January 26 is a Saturday.

In 2017 Shah Rukh Khan’s Raees and Hrithik’s Kaabil had clashed on the same weekend. Rajinikanth’s 2.0, touted as one of the most expensive Indian films till date, had moved from Diwali 2017 to Republic Day 2018. It didn’t make it to the theatres eventually because of pending special effects work and nor did Neeraj Pandey’s Aiyaary, even though the latter had been the first to announce that he was coming on the day. Neeraj eventually pushed his espionage thriller to February, as did Akshay Kumar for Pad Man, after Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s controversial Padmaavat, featuring Deepika Padukone, Ranveer Singh and Shahid Kapoor, took over the Republic Day slot

Emraan Hashmi’s innings as a producer is guided by his concerns as a father as he takes on the education system and child kidnappings
Roshmila Bhattacharya (MUMBAI MIRROR; August 13, 2018)

Every actor, at a certain age, turns the corner and it seems that this rebellious lover too is getting into a more mature groove now with films like Cheat India and Father’s Day.
(Chuckles) I don’t know if I’d call it maturity because I can still be quite immature at times, but with a certain amount of experience, your concerns and priorities change, as does your outlook of the world and cinema. And this reflects in the films you do. What you did 10 years ago, maybe even five years ago, seems like a been there, done that now and you want to move to something new. With different platforms offering interesting content, the audience too is evolving. You have to keep up with the times if you don’t want to be left behind. I’m lucky these scripts are coming my way.

Would you say the turning point in your journey were films like Raja Natwarlal, Hamari Adhuri Kahani and Raaz Reboot that didn’t work?
I wouldn’t want to take names but I admit I did feel like I was sleepwalking through some films, and the time and effort was not worth all the money in the world. I needed to challenge myself as an actor. Since I’m producing my next two films, it will give me a chance to nurture them from their inception to their fate.

You have been talking about getting into production for a while. One wondered what kind of cinema you’d invest in when you took the plunge.
(Smiles) My sensibilities are very different from the kind of films I’ve chosen to do in the past. When people see me in person, they often find me to be a total mismatch from what they were expecting. A decade ago, films like Cheat India and Father’s Day would have been dismissed as ahead of their time by the industry, but today with the language of cinema changing and the audience too, I can afford to experiment.

I want my films not just to be entertaining, cinematic experiences, I also want the stories to stay with people for days, months, hopefully years. They shouldn’t be like that box of popcorn you toss into the bin as you leave the auditorium.

You’d have been thinking of your son Ayaan’s future when you set up your company...
I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t. When Ayaan grows up, if he wants to take over the reins, the company is his. And since I’m an actor, my son would be inclined to follow me into the industry. But I don’t want him to limit his options. Sure, I’d be able to guide and protect him here since I know the territory well, but what if he has an acumen for business or wants to become a doctor? The decision has to be his. We destroy our children’s future by imposing our dreams and our fears on them. But our children come from us, not for us and Ayaan doesn’t owe me anything.

There’s also the issue of nepotism…
On the subject all I can say is you can hold your child’s hand, take him to a point, but the journey is his. It’s a double-edged sword. If Ayaan decides to become an actor, he will definitely have an easier access coming from a film family, but there’d be attempts to mould him into becoming his father’s carbon copy and he’d lose his individuality.

Cheat India deals with our education system and personally I don’t think there’s anything encouraging left there.
Yeah, the SSC and HSC paper leaks in Maharashtra and the Vyapam entrance exam, admission and recruitment scam in Madhya Pradesh in 2013 are very disturbing not only because a bunch of rich kids have the money to buy question papers and become merit holders, but they can then also pay their way into jobs which they are not qualified for and that makes all of us very vulnerable. Imagine that the doctor operating on you in a small town has no medical experience? It’s bizzare and scary. Our education system is archaic with text books being updated every five-10 years, the teacher-student ratio skewered because of over-population and the teachers themselves under-qualified for the job at times. Do you know that India’s expenditure pumped into the education system is a measly 4 per cent of the GDP, a major shortfall from the realistic target of 6 per cent and above? Cheat India will touch on all this and other concerns but the vibe is entertaining.

You have a school-going son, how does all this affect you?
I’ve made sure Ayaan is not studying in the same board that I did as it wasn’t very interesting for me to go to school and when that happens, it’s the school’s fault and not the child’s. I’m very happy with my son’s curriculum. It doesn’t encourage rote mugging but develops social skills, a sense of discipline and responsibility and is aimed at all-round development. There’s a suicide happening in our country every hour and the reason for this is that our education system does not equip us with original thinking or give us real-world knowledge. It’s all about grades and fostering a competitive streak in our kids which leads to depression and disillusionment in later years because the kids are lost when looking for a job.

What appealed to you about the story of Suryakant Bhande Patil, the Pune-based civil engineer who’s worked with cops to solve 120 child kidnapping cases for free?
Very few script narrations have left me feeling emotionally charged and satiated like this one. Maybe it was the bond between father and son.

Since the film is called Father’s Day and features two children, will we see Ayaan sharing the screen with you?
I’d love to share the screen with him because I know rather than me, Ayaan will teach me a few things about acting. He’s so spontaneous, expressive, energetic and totally unabashed but I’ll leave the ball in his court. Even if it’s a nine-year-old’s decision, I know it will be the right one because my son knows what he wants. Kids today are very smart.

What’s happening with Captain Nawab, the fim about the Kargil war?
It’s on pause right now, Tony (D’Souza, director) could fill you in on it.

And The Body?
I just finished it. It’s a horror thriller, a space I hadn’t touched for a while because the scripts I was getting were so predictable. But this stays ahead of the audience till the end. Director Jeethu Joseph is a brilliant mind. It has an interesting cast of Vedhika, Shobita (Dhulipala) and Rishi Kapor who plays the detective.

Meet the B.Tech graduate who is gearing up to expose malpractices in the education system on the big screen
Avinash Lohana (MUMBAI MIRROR; August 3, 2018)

After the surprise casting of Manav Kaul opposite Vidya Balan in Tumhari Sulu, the makers of Cheat India have now zeroed in on Shreya Dhanwanthary as Emraan Hashmi’s leading lady in the Soumik Sen directorial which looks at startling crimes in the Indian education system. The actress, who was selected from 50-odd aspirants, has finished nine-days of shoot in Lucknow. “Emraan is warm, kind and helpful. There’s a great banter going on which helps build up the relationship on-screen,” Shreya points out, adding the workshops and readings they did as part of their prep also helped. “We are having a blast and everyone’s horrified by how much I can eat,” she laughs, revealing she’s waiting for her day off so she can binge on the ever-enticing street food.

She plays a simple small-town girl who’s very different from the real Shreya. “I grew up in the Middle East and lived in seven countries before shifting base to India for higher studies as my father works in aviation. I come with a decent amount of experience as I’ve been acting since I was four and have trained in theatre and dance, including Bharatnatyam, Kuchipudi and Kathak,” she reveals.

The actress has a B.Tech degree and ironically, her first film produced by Bhushan Kumar, Tanuj Garg, Atul Kasbekar and Emraan showcases the malpractices in engineering and other institutes in India. “I could identify with the story because while I was studying, we had a subject called Radio and Television in which we were still being taught about cathode ray tube TVs at a time of flat screens and LED TVs. There are many more issues like the admission process, lack of teachers and invigilators among others,” she signs off.

Actor’s taking in the culture and history of Lucknow before his first home production goes on the floors on Wednesday
Natasha Coutinho (MUMBAI MIRROR; July 24, 2018)

Emraan Hashmi’s debut production, Cheat India, which deals with malpractices in the Indian education system, kicks off on Wednesday in Lucknow. The makers have hired over 70 local actors for the schedule.

A source from the film reveals, “The team is in the city for a 35-day schedule. We will be shooting all over the city, covering colleges, restaurants, university campuses and houses that have been booked for the shoot. We arrived on location over the weekend to start prep ahead of the shoot.” Along with Emraan, the film is also being produced by Bhushan Kumar, Tanuj Garg and Atul Kasbekar.

The actor, when contacted, told Mirror that he’s happy to be shooting in Lucknow for the first time and has been doing his research on the location. “I’m glad that my first home production is about a subject that is topical, relevant and volatile. Every Indian student and parent will relate to it. This is the first time I’m shooting in Uttar Pradesh so it’s a different milieu for me. I’ve been reading extensively with the team members, most of whom hail from the region. Even the look-referencing is being done meticulously. I have great production partners, so I am feeling like a stress-free actor and producer,” Emraan said.

Meanwhile, it has emerged that Emraan’s leading lady in the film, which is directed by Gulaab Gang filmmaker Soumik Sen, will be a new face who was finalised recently, but the makers are keeping her identity under wraps for now.

Sanyukta Iyer (MUMBAI MIRROR; March 28, 2018)

A day after Mirror reported (March 27) that Delhi-based writer Dinesh Gautam and actor Imran Zahid had alleged that the story of Emraan Hashmi’s upcoming production, Cheat India, in which he also features in the lead, was ripped off from their film, Marksheet, the Screen Writers Association (SWA) has clarified that the organisation takes all complaints seriously and have strict protocols in place. “Knowing the seriousness of copyright issues, we make every effort not just to be transparent but also neutral, giving equal opportunity to both complainants and respondents to present their case. It is owing to the due diligence practised by SWA’s Dispute Settlement Committee that its intervention is taken seriously by the film and television industries. When cases adjudicated by SWA have gone to court, judges have asked for our report and have also upheld our decisions several times,” Vinod Ranganath, Chairperson of the Dispute Settlement Committee of the SWA, asserted.

Members of the SWA are particularly upset about a comment made by the team of Marksheet — “the organization is toothless”. Ranganath clarifies, “Imran Zahid sent an email to the SWA in January 2018 asking us to take action against the producers of the Cheat India (T-Series, Ellipsis Entertainment and Emraan Hashmi) alleging copyright infringement of his script Marksheet. However, since his SWA membership had lapsed in March 2013, he was asked to renew it, as we can only accept complaints from members. He was advised to fill the complaint form as that would systematically reveal all the relevant details of his complaint.”

Ranganath goes on to inform that Imran re-applied for membership in mid-March and on being re-admitted, again wrote to the SWA on March 24, asking the organisation to take action against the filmmakers. An official complaint is still awaited.

“Hence, it is surprising that Dinesh and Imran claim that the SWA is ineffectual,” Ranganath says, continuing, “Being a union, the SWA doesn’t have judicial powers and can’t enforce decisions on non-members. It is only because of the credibility of our dispute intervention process that producers have honoured SWA’s decisions in the past.”

Both Cheat India and Marksheet are based on scams in the Indian education system and are expected to roll in July.

The actor is co-producing a film inspired by real incidents which is expected to roll in July and is scheduled for a February 2019 release
Natasha Coutinho (MUMBAI MIRROR; January 16, 2018)

After announcing his first home production, Captain Nawab, in August 2016, Emraan Hashmi has signed another co-production. The actor will headline Cheat India which takes a look at the startling crimes in the Indian education system that have created a parallel ecosystem infested with greedy harvesters. The film is slated for a February 2019 release and will be directed by Soumik Sen who had earlier made Gulaab Gang with Madhuri Dixit and Juhi Chawla in 2014. The edge-of-the-seat drama kicks off in July, and is inspired by real incidents. Soumik promises it is a film for every Indian student who is under pressure to excel in a competitive environment. After Tumhari Sulu, Bhushan Kumar has joined hands with Atul Kasbekar and Tanuj Garg to produce the film, with Emraan on board as actor-producer. Says Bhushan, “The film will reflect the new-age appetite for compelling content rooted in realism.”

Emraan asserts that the subject has wide appeal because it’s about everyone’s base, the education system in our country. “There will be a lot of revelations that look at the glitches in the system. It’s one of the finest scripts I’ve read in the last 10-15 years. I am thrilled to be essaying what I believe will be a landmark role in my filmography,” he revealed.

Getting nostalgic about his days as a student, the actor shares, “I struggled a lot through school, not particularly academics, because I was a borderline distinction student, getting around 70-75 per cent in almost all subjects. But I wasn’t particularly fond of studies and had to really push myself. Everything that I did was to make my parents happy.”

The actor adds he was even more confused when he went to college about what he should be doing. “A lot of people in our country go through the same confusion because we don’t get any vocational training which is an absolute must to give direction to a student’s life and career. We spend five years working towards a degree while trying to figure out what to do in life,” he grouses, admitting that even though he has a commerce degree, in retrospect he says that he should have taken up Arts. “Nothing I did in college could be applied to my profession. They were the five most confusing years of my life.”

Being a father to seven-year-old Ayaan, Emraan admits that parenting is tricky because everyone has got an opinion on it. “But despite all the advice, you learn along the way and that’s how it is with Ayaan. When enrolling your child in school, you get down to researching what route to take. We zeroed in on a particular school after talking to a lot of other parents and reading about all the options. It’s like a well thought-out road map,” he points out, adding that he is particular about not burdening his child with his own fears or dreams as a lot of parents do.

Speaking about what Ayaan wants to do in life, the actor says he’s given his son complete freedom to make his own choices. “He can be anything he wants and it’s not necessarily acting. He could be a doctor or a pilot or engineer, whatever he wants I’m fine with it. Ayaan is his own person, he has very definite likes and dislikes, and I’m sure he will be clear about his future course of action over the next few years. As parents we are there as his support system,” he smiles.

Co-producing a film is a new experience for Emraan and he believes prep is the most important to the process and will be giving a lot of time to it. “For an actor there’s always the greed to essay a character that tests his skills and this one, I know, will keep me on my toes,” he exults.

Producer Tanuj Garg has the last word. “From Neerja to Tumhari Sulu, the projects we are developing are incredibly diverse, varied in scope, and speak to the elevated tastes of audiences today. Cheat India will entertain and uplift,” he promises.