Showing posts with label Chunky Pandey interview. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Chunky Pandey interview. Show all posts
I was wild; my daughter Ananya is nothing compared to me-Chunky Pandey
8:28 AM
Chunky Pandey on Ananya, working with Prabhas and Rana Daggubati and affinity for villainy
Ankita Chaurasia (MUMBAI MIRROR; August 28, 2019)
Chunky Pandey is quite pleased with the way he has approached the character of Don Kaali in his next, Prassthanam, which is the Hindi remake of the eponymous Telugu original. More so because he was told not to watch the film, which allowed him to interpret the character in his own way. He even had an idea in mind for his look as soon as Deva Katta (the original’s director who is also helming the remake) finished the narration. “I hate to say it, but I am not original. I modelled the look after Guy Pearce’s in Lawless. I always wanted to wear glasses and look unreadable, which was perfect for this film,” he shares.At the same time, the actor is not exactly in love with Don Kaali’s characteristics. “He is a kingmaker, an opportunist and quite the slime ball,” Chunky states, quickly switching gears, as he goes on to equate shooting for the film (with Sanjay Dutt, Manisha Koirala and Jackie Shroff in Lucknow) with time-travel. “Sanjay and I get along like a house on fire. Young kids like Ali (Fazal), Satyajeet (Dubey) and Amyra (Dastur) were amused to see us behave like kids on the set,” he laughs, adding, “The part that scares me the most is... (whispers) we haven’t changed at all; we are wild. We have that streak that the newcomers lack.”
In a stark contrast to Prassthanam, shooting for Sujeeth’s Saaho required Chunky to isolate himself to channel the evil. “Most of the characters in the film are grey but my guy is black. I was in a bad mood throughout the shoot. I wouldn’t interact much with anyone and since I was holed up inside Ramoji Film City, it was easy to play this horrible character,” he recalls.
After focussing on comedy for most of his career, the actor seems to be enjoying playing the baddie. “I’ve been a huge fan of Amrish Puri, Amjad Khan and Shakti Kapoor. It is so much more interesting than the hero’s role,” he insists. Ask him if he regrets not playing negative characters in the 1990s and he remarks, “I didn’t look like a villain in those days. Now, whenever I get into an argument with my wife, she keeps telling me, ‘You’re a real-life villain. Why don’t you play one on screen?’ I started doing these roles to win the argument,” laughs Chunky. In his second innings, Chunky is taken up by how organised film sets are now. “We never had scripts. Films were made on the sets. I still don’t read a script and tell them to explain the role. Why should I know what the others are doing?” he reasons. Point out that with Housefull 4, Saaho and Prassthanam, he will have three releases this year, and Chunky quips, “This is my Bahubali year,” referring to the fact that he has worked with the hit franchise’s hero, Prabhas, in Saaho and its antagonist, Rana Daggubati, in Housefull 4.
The advent of social media has revolutionised the concept of fan interaction and Chunky feels it’s a mixed bag. “Back in the ’80s-’90s, we’d do stage shows, the only way we could witness public reaction. Now, everyone has become a critic. I am used to it now and I am trying to teach the same to my daughter (Ananya); at their age bullying is rampant,” he shares, adding that as a father, it was difficult to let his little girl work. “Ananya had been a part of the industry socially but to work in it is a different ballgame altogether. That said, Bhavana (wife) has brought her up well and she’s equipped to be a good employee.”
The assurance still gave way to anxiety every now and then, especially before Ananya’s debut, Student of the Year 2, hit the marquee. “I’d see her return home depressed sometimes but I let her be. When I saw the film’s trial show, I was sure she would make it,” he smiles.
Ananya was recently quoted as saying that she tries to “behave like a normal teenager”. Ask Chunky about his own wonder years and he chuckles, “I was wild; my daughter is nothing compared to me. I had a lot of wrong pressures on me. Being the son of two doctors, I was expected to become one too.”
My wife screamed when she saw me-Chunky Pandey
7:26 AM
Chunky Pandey talks about his much-awaited evil and ugly avatar
Sanyukta Iyer (MUMBAI MIRROR; September 1, 2016)
Chunky Pandey was last seen
in Sajid Nadiadwala's Housefull 3 as Aakhri Pasta, the owner of an
Italian restaurant. The film had just released when the 53-year-old-actor
known for his impeccable comic timing, decided to audition for a role
he'd never been seen in before. He was hoping to bag the role of the
baddie, originally called Kabir, in Begum Jaan, Srijit Mukherji's
Bollywood debut based on his 2015-Bengali post-Partition period drama,
Rajkahini.
“The ADs were in splits because they had seen Housefull 3 just the previous night and didn't think I could play anyone so evil and gut-wrenchingly ugly. I did the audition without much hope of bagging the role but a few days later, I was called over by Srijit,“ Chunky recalls. Srijit told Chunky that he'd have to shave off his identifiable locks. “He marched me into a barber's shop. I came out bald and when I reached home my wife (Bhavna) screamed and ordered me out of our bedroom for the next two weeks. She wouldn't even look at me till I looked like the normal Chunky,“ he reminisces with a laugh, adding that there is a scene in the film where his villainous character kills the Begum's pet dog and has it served to the ladies of the brothel who even savour it till they learn the truth. “That's definitely going to alienate my daughter who's a complete dog-lover. But it's a side to my acting, no one has seen before.“
Jisshu Sengupta played the role in the original and though Chunky has only seen the trailer of Rajkahini and a few rushes online, he'd like to have a long chat with the Bengali actor on the role. He admits that he was strictly forbidden from watching the original, and a lot has changed in the Hindi remake, with Vidya Balan stepping in for Rituparna Sengupta. “Vidya will do complete justice to the film, she's the madam after all,“ he asserts, but complains about mosquitoes and the scorpion that bit him during the gruelling Jharkhand schedule and filming through thunderstorms.
Chunky who was the leading man of Aag Ki Aag, Paap Ki Duniya and Aankhen has no issues auditioning for roles. “I look up to actors like Paresh Rawal and Shakti Kapoor, who have an outstanding body of work. I'm hungry for great work. I auditioned for the role of Alia Bhatt's father in Shaandaar but was flatly told that I looked too young to play her dad,“ he reveals, adding that even though he had two scenes in Tehzaab, it continues to be one of his most memorable roles. “Next, I want to go down South and act in a few Tamil and Telugu films. The content seems outstanding. Baahubali was spectacular!“ he signs off.
“The ADs were in splits because they had seen Housefull 3 just the previous night and didn't think I could play anyone so evil and gut-wrenchingly ugly. I did the audition without much hope of bagging the role but a few days later, I was called over by Srijit,“ Chunky recalls. Srijit told Chunky that he'd have to shave off his identifiable locks. “He marched me into a barber's shop. I came out bald and when I reached home my wife (Bhavna) screamed and ordered me out of our bedroom for the next two weeks. She wouldn't even look at me till I looked like the normal Chunky,“ he reminisces with a laugh, adding that there is a scene in the film where his villainous character kills the Begum's pet dog and has it served to the ladies of the brothel who even savour it till they learn the truth. “That's definitely going to alienate my daughter who's a complete dog-lover. But it's a side to my acting, no one has seen before.“
Jisshu Sengupta played the role in the original and though Chunky has only seen the trailer of Rajkahini and a few rushes online, he'd like to have a long chat with the Bengali actor on the role. He admits that he was strictly forbidden from watching the original, and a lot has changed in the Hindi remake, with Vidya Balan stepping in for Rituparna Sengupta. “Vidya will do complete justice to the film, she's the madam after all,“ he asserts, but complains about mosquitoes and the scorpion that bit him during the gruelling Jharkhand schedule and filming through thunderstorms.
Chunky who was the leading man of Aag Ki Aag, Paap Ki Duniya and Aankhen has no issues auditioning for roles. “I look up to actors like Paresh Rawal and Shakti Kapoor, who have an outstanding body of work. I'm hungry for great work. I auditioned for the role of Alia Bhatt's father in Shaandaar but was flatly told that I looked too young to play her dad,“ he reveals, adding that even though he had two scenes in Tehzaab, it continues to be one of his most memorable roles. “Next, I want to go down South and act in a few Tamil and Telugu films. The content seems outstanding. Baahubali was spectacular!“ he signs off.
Do I believe in ghosts? I'm married to one!-Chunky Pandey
7:47 AM
Upala KBR (DNA; March 22, 2014)
Chunky Pandey’s is a spirit in his latest release Gang Of Ghosts - a first for him. Here he talks about his ghostly aspirations and more. Read on...:
What kind of ghost would you make - one like Casper or the one from Ragini MMS?
I would like to be the ghost of Ragini MMS 2. Who wouldn’t want to be in THERE with Sunny Leone! But if I were a spirit I want to possess Ranbir Kapoor’s body as I want to be a bachelor all over again!
What kind of ghost are you playing in GOG?
I play a ghost who died in 1935 so I come in black and white. But I play a bechara ghost and not an evil one. I speak with a nasal twang in the film — a la KL Saigal.
Do you believe in ghosts?
I’m married to one (Bhavna Pandey). I’m joking. But I do believe in spirits - like Grey Goose and Black Label (winks).
Ever have a ghostly experience?
Yes. I actually saw a female ghost in my bedroom a few months before I met Bhavna. She was very beautiful, dressed in white and looked like a princess. At that time I was broke, my films were not working and I had made some bad investments so I was very depressed. She walked into my cupboard and it spooked the crap out of me but from that day I never had money troubles again. I met Bhavna and married her. I think seeing that ghost was a good omen for me.
Three people you’d want to be your friends when they become ghosts?
Sajid Khan who constantly makes me laugh, Dhirubhai Ambani and Marilyn Monroe are the people I would want to know in the afterlife. But I’m in no hurry to kill Sajid as he has given me a new lease of life in films.
If you could choose whose ghost could haunt you, you would choose?
Bhoothnath! The one and only Amitabh Bachchan. He is so talented and what a beautiful voice.
As a ghost, whose bedroom would you like to haunt?
Karan Johar. I would love to share his wardrobe and the information he has on everyone.
Three celebrity ghosts who would frighten you?
Dev Anand. I still think he’s alive. Bhavna Panday because I’m so scared of her in real life and my dear friend Gulshan Grover as the characters he plays are so frightening! Imagine his ghost!
As a ghost how would you scare girls?
I don’t think girls are scared of ghosts so I’d turn into a cockroach. Sure shot girly heart attack!
Why do ghosts only wear white?
I will ask Abbas-Mastan.
Why are there more female ghosts?
Many females without make up look like ghosts.
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