Prashant Singh (HINDUSTAN TIMES; September 13, 2020)

Like others, showbiz has been among the most adversely hit sectors amid the pandemic and everything in the film industry stopped in its tracks when the Coronavirus lockdown came into force in March. For Rajkummar Rao though, the pause mode was already on, when the nationwide shutdown was declared.

“I last shot for The White Tiger, two-three months before the lockdown started. So, in essence, I haven’t shot for anything since December 2019. Also, because I had worked non-stop for two-three years, I thought lockdown would be a good break. But I never thought it to be so long,” the actor says with a laugh.

But now, the Stree (2018) actor is yearning to face the camera again. “Acting is like oxygen to me, so I just can’t wait to resume work. I really hope everyone gets back to work soon,” says Rao.

Excited to have completed a decade in Bollywood since his debut film, Love Sex Aur Dhokha in 2010, Rao, 36, feels that if one knows their job well, audiences and filmmakers will take notice. “The way Hindi cinema, and the overall industry functions, has changed a lot now. If you’re really good at what you do, you will flourish,” he adds.

Among Rao’s upcoming slate of films will be a remake of 1975 cult classic Chupke Chupke that starred Amitabh Bachchan and Dharmendra. “I am so excited about starting work on it. Like everyone else, I’m a huge fan of the original film and I know it’ll always be the original. That’s why there is no question of us even trying to compete with it,” says the actor, who will reprise Dharmendra’s part in the reloaded version.

“We want to pay the best-possible tribute to the film and Hrishi-da (director Hrishikesh Mukherjee), in the most entertaining manner,” he says.

The Omerta (2018) actor, however, believes that box office verdict can decide a lot of things in an actor’s career, “but I can’t only think about that while working”.

For Rao, there’s no difference in the way he approaches his parts. “Like serious films, fun films, too, require a certain amount of mental as well as emotional prep. But once that bit is sorted, on sets, you can have a lot of fun with your scenes. As an actor, you should just be sincere with your material,” he concludes.

With Shahenshah, Satte Pe Satta, among others, B’wood ready for new wave of Bachchan remakes
Himesh Mankad (MUMBAI MIRROR; April 14, 2020)

After Don, Agneepath, Zanjeer and Sholay, among others, 2.0 versions of several yesteryear hits featuring Amitabh Bachchan are under consideration. An industry source tells Mirror that Tinnu Anand, who directed the 1988 vigilante-drama Shahenshah, has been approached by many for the remake rights of the film. “He is yet to part with them. Another one of his directorials, Kaalia, is also a strong contender, with a lot of industry insiders keen to put a modern-day spin on the action-entertainer,” informs the source.

Meanwhile, we hear negotiations are underway for the rights of Prakash Mehra’s 1982 comic-caper, Namak Halaal, which featured the Big B, Shashi Kapoor and Smita Patil. “It’s a timeless comedy and multiple producers are in talks. If the deal is locked, one of them is looking to approach a top actor-star kid, whose forte is comedy, to step into Bachchan’s shoes,” the source shares.

Bhushan Kumar had announced a remake of Hrishikesh Mukherjee’s Dharmendra and Bachchan-starrer classic, Chupke Chupke, with Rajkummar Rao as botany professor Parimal Tripathi, who masquerades as chauffeur Pyare Mohan to hoodwink his wife’s (Sharmila Tagore) protective brother-in-law (Om Prakash). The actor, who will step into Bachchan’s shoes to play literature professor, Sukumar Sinha, is yet undecided.

Rohit Shetty is bank-rolling a Satte Pe Satta remake, with Farah Khan in the director’s chair. The 1982 original was top-lined by Bachchan in a double role—as Ravi Anand, who lives with his six brothers, and the antagonist, Babu. Farah was keen to have Hrithik Roshan step in for the Big B for the second time after Agneepath. After several rounds of discussions, the actor walked out, reportedly due to differences over the script. The director then approached Salman Khan, who was skeptical about playing a character previously essayed by the veteran actor. Buzz is, the makers are now in talks with Ajay Devgn for the part.

“It’s challenging to get such a huge ensemble in place. An official update on the film is expected once the Coronavirus pandemic subsides,” adds the source.
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OTHER REMAKES

SHAKTI
A few years ago, a filmmaker was planning a remake with Bachchan Sr. playing DCP Ashwini Kumar, originally portrayed by Dilip Kumar, and Abhishek Bachchan stepping in to play the son, Vijay Kumar. Sanjay Gupta was to direct the film which was shelved before reaching the rewrite stage.

DO AUR DO PAANCH
In the 2010s, Vashu Bhagnani was planning to revamp the Rakesh Kumar-directed comedy, which also featured Shashi Kapoor, Hema Malini and Parveen Babi. After the success of Karan Johar’s Dostana, the producer approached John Abraham and Abhishek Bachchan but the film, to be directed by debutant Akshai Puri, never saw the light of day.

Hiren Kotwani (MUMBAI MIRROR; November 16, 2019)

Earlier this year (April 20), Mirror had informed that Hrishikesh Mukherjee’s cult comedy, Chupke Chupke, was being remade by Bhushan Kumar and Luv Ranjan with Rajkummar Rao reprising the role of Professor Parimal Tripathi aka Pyaare, essayed by Dharmendra in the original. We have now learnt that that after the producers decided to remake the 1975 original, they realised that they didn’t have the title as Manish Goswami had registered it for his production house long ago.

“However, when Bhushan’s company approached him, he immediately issued a ‘No Objection’ letter to the Film and Television Producers Guild of India as he didn’t have a suitable script ready,” informs a source, saying Manish has earlier given the title to Ekta Kapoor for her Ayushmann Khurrana and Nushrat Bharucha starrrer, Dream Girl. “We’re industry colleagues, so, we should help one another in times of need,” said Manish.

Rajkummar Rao on reprising Dharmendra’s much loved role in the Chupke Chupke remake, not being able to do the Dostana sequel and why he doesn’t need the magic soup yet
Akash Bhatnagar (MUMBAI MIRROR; October 15, 2019)

After last year’s sleeper hit, Stree, Rajkummar Rao and Dinesh Vijan reunite for a quirky comedy, Made In China, which has the actor playing a struggling Gujarati businessman, Raghu. His career takes an about-turn after a trip to China where he finds a product that enhances sexual performance. Has anyone ever come to him with a bedroom problem? “Not yet,” the actor smiles, but points out that you read about them in the newspapers every day and it’s surprising that people still have so many misconceptions about sex.

Diwali is a time for family entertainers, so will their off-beat film with sexual innuendos find favour with the audience? “It has a U/A certification, the jokes are cracked by responsible actors who won’t do anything crass and the humour is situational, the kind you can watch with family,” he promises.

This is his third release of the year, after Ek Ladki Ko Dekha Toh Aisa Laga and Judgementall Hai Kya, both of which didn’t perform well at the box office. But Raj feels no pressure. “I can’t control how a film fares, so, there’s no point taking any pressure,” he shrugs.

Karan Johar has been vocal about his keenness to work with him. Before you can say more, Raj quips that he’s equally keen to work with KJo. “He’s one of the finest filmmakers in the country. I hope something works out soon and I’m pretty sure it will,” he insists. He was reportedly offered the Dostana sequel. So, why didn’t things work out? “Dates,” he sighs. “My next project, opposite Priyanka Chopra, will be shot during the same time. But it’s a great script and Collin D’Cunha, the director, is my classmate from FTII,” he informs.

There were reports of him reprising Dharmendra’s role in the Chupke Chupke remake. Confirming the same, Raj says, “It’s a big responsibility to step into his shoes. The scripting is underway now. We know that we can’t match Hrishida’s (Hrishikesh Mukherjee, director) standard, but we will try and put our best foot forward.”

The actor has a busy year ahead with Hansal Mehta’s Turram Khan opposite his first co-star Nushrat Bharucha and RoohiAfza with Janhvi Kapoor. “Janhvi is a fabulous actor, she is going to stun the audience with her performance, and Nushrat has already proven her mettle,” he raves. Raj is also a part of Anurag Basu’s crime comedy and promises that the audience will see him in a very different avatar in it.

Meanwhile, returning to his Diwali release, you wonder if he ever felt the need for a performance enhancer in his personal life. “As of now, I don’t need any magic soup,” he laughs. And given that Patralekhaa and he have been going steady for a while and are a made-for-each-other couple, is marriage on the cards? Raj suddenly turns reticent. “It will happen when it is supposed to happen,” he signs off on an enigmatic note.

Karan Deol on matters of the heart, the senior Deols and why he chose to make his big Bollywood debut with a love story
Avinash Lohana (MUMBAI MIRROR; August 28, 2019)

Karan Deol looks comfortable seated in a sea-facing room of a suburban hotel. He is the third generation of the Deols, gearing up for his Bollywood debut in daddy Sunny’s third directorial, Pal Pal Dil Ke Paas, and gleefully informs that his first media interaction happened at age seven. “My grandfather (Dharmendra) was in an interview while I sat quietly nearby, playing with my toys, when he suddenly called out to me. Being a shy kid, I was hesitant, but he pulled me to his side and urged me to speak. It’s a cute memory,” he smiles.

Karan’s nickname is Rocky because Sunny is a huge fan of Sylvester Stallone and the Rocky films. Given that the Deols are known for their action films, it’s unusual that he is starting his career with a love story. “I’m an intense romantic and I’m starting with a love story because I found it interesting. While we were brainstorming, the idea just came up and Pal Pal Dil Ke Paas was born. Having said that, there is action in the film too as another side to my character is unveiled later in the film. It’s a film about external factors which influence the lives of the couple and try to stop the romance from blossoming,” explains the debutant, promising an interesting outing at the theatres. He then goes on to surprise you by revealing that there is a scene in the film in which his dialogue is similar to his father’s iconic line, “Yeh dhai kilo ka haath” from his 1993 crime drama Damini.

In school, Karan was a reserved kid who wanted to take part in plays but was too scared to do so and would find comfort in films instead. He would watch animation, the Star Wars franchise and Quentin Tarantino films. “When I felt low, I used music to vent. I started writing poetry when I was 12 and it went on to become a hobby. I still have most of them except for the earlier ones, I wish I had preserved them too. I have also written some short stories and given a chance, I would love to write a script too,” avers Karan, adding that love and angst are his two favourite topics to write on.

He broke the news of wanting to be an actor to his father first. “Dad said we have to tell my grandfather as he is the boss in the house. When I did, he promised his support but cautioned me about the competition, asserting that I had to be mentally and emotionally strong,” flashbacks the youngster, admitting that while he is a quiet guy in real life, he becomes the character and enjoys the moment while on set. “My grandfather was nervous for me, but gradually everyone eased into the idea,” he shares. They shot across Himachal Pradesh in extreme conditions, going to places which didn’t have proper roads. “But dad is a taskmaster and we’d trek for a couple of hours, set up the shot and shoot. I wonder if many of those locations have even been seen on screen before,” Karan points out, adding that at night, the temperature would go down to minus three-four degrees, which was physically challenging, but the memories will always be warm. Prod him for details and he recalls a wall of ice which he had to slide on with co-star Sahher Bambba. “There was a waterfall too, a blast of cold wind and icicles. We had to keep going with a smile on our faces. It was scary but gave us an adrenaline rush,” he informs.

The film had been in the making for a long time and there have been sporadic rumours that certain portions were reshot. Karan attributes this to global warming which has made the weather unpredictable all over the world. “When we were in Manali, the monsoons kicked in early. When the rains continued for a week, we had no option but to return home. It even started snowing early but dad was determined to shoot at these same locations, so we waited,” he reveals, adding that sometimes they had to reshoot because the framing went wrong in all the chaos. “If it wasn’t for this, we’d have finished earlier.”

What’s his favourite Dharmendra film? Pat comes the answer, “Chupke Chupke.” And a film of Sunny’s which he likes the best? “Arjun,” he replies, recalling that the umbrella sequence in the 1985 Rahul Rawail directorial was fabulous. “It is a film that can be remade today. It was about politics and a young man. The aesthetics may have changed but the topic is still relevant.”

The family was ecstatic when Sunny won the 2019 Lok Sabha elections from Gurdaspur in May. Karan informs that his father doesn’t discuss politics at home, it’s always movies. “We didn’t know what to expect when he was getting into politics but were happy for him when he was elected. He went through a lot and deserved it,” says Deol Jr.

Buzz is, the debutant already has another film in his kitty. Hesitantly, but with a big smile, Karan nods, “I do. It is a comedy, very different from what I have done in my first film.”

One last question: Is he in love, for real? “I am somewhat in love I would say,” he blushes and clams up.

The film produced by Bhushan Kumar and Luv Ranjan has the actor playing the role reprised by Dharmendra in the original
Avinash Lohana (MUMBAI MIRROR; April 20, 2019)

Last week, on April 11, Hrishikesh Mukherjee’s 1975 slice-of-life cult comedy Chupke Chupke which had featured Dharmendra, Amitabh Bachchan, Sharmila Tagore and Jaya Bachchan in the lead, completed 44 years. Speaking to Mirror (April 13) Dharmendra who played a professor of botany, Parimal Tripathi, masquerading as a chauffeur, Pyare Mohan to hoodwink his wife’s (Sharmila) jeeja ji (Om Prakash), an all-knowing lawyer, while on their honeymoon, when quizzed on whether the film could spin off a remake had said, “With an intelligent writer, for sure. But it would be a challenge because so many people, young and old, have seen the original and loved it. So, it will have to be just as matchless.”

Mirror has now learnt that producers Bhushan Kumar and Luv Ranjan are collaborating on a remake. And one of the first actors to be roped in is Rajkummar Rao. He will be reprising Dharmendra’s role.

“Chupke Chupke is an iconic film and a favourite of many, including Rajkummar. He loved the idea of a remake and has agreed to come on board. It will have Raj in the dual avatars. The script is still being finalised, while the director and the rest of the cast are yet to be locked but the team is really excited about this one,” informs a source close to the development.

Big B played Sukumar Sinha, a nerdy professor of English literature who when he takes on Parimal’s identity, is forced to teach botany to Vasudha, enacted by his real-life better half Jaya. Usha Kiran, Asrani, Lily Chakravarty, David and Keshto Mukherjee made up the strong supporting cast. Interestingly, Chupke Chupke was the Hindi adaptation of Uttam Kumar and Madhabi Mukherjee’s 1971 Bengali film Chhadmabeshi, coming four years after it.

It has remained unforgettable, entertaining generations of cinema lovers through television reruns. Dharmendra himself admitted that he sits down to watch it when he sees it playing on some channel. “Chupke Chupke was the Sholay of comedy,” the actor asserted.

This will be Bhushan’s second straight remake after Pati Patni Aur Woh. While the 1978 original had featured Sanjeev Kumar, Vidya Sinha and Ranjeeta, the new version has Kartik Aaryan, Bhumi Pednekar and Ananya Panday. The Chupke Chupke remake is expected to go on the floors in a few months.

Roshmila Bhattacharya (MUMBAI MIRROR; April 13, 2019)

Mention Hrishikesh Mukherjee and the floodgates open immediately. “Dada was so affectionate, he would come home and tell my parents, ‘Beeji, bauji, Dharam achcha actor hai, mera chhota bhai hai.’ Once when he won an award in Kolkata, he insisted I go and pick it up on his behalf,” Dharmendra reminisces with a smile.

The duo worked together in six films, including Anupama, Majhli Didi, Satyakam, Guddi, Chupke Chupke and Chaitali. The film I remember this week is Chupke Chupke which opened on April 11, 1975. In this comedy of errors, Sharmila Tagore was Dharam ji’s newly-married biwi, while he juggled dual identities—Professor Parimal Tripathi and chauffeur Pyare Mohan. Amitabh Bachchan played Sukumar Sinha, a nerdy professor of English literature who, when he takes on Parimal’s identity, is forced to teach botany to Vasudha, enacted by his endearing better half Jaya Bachchan. Om Prakash, Usha Kiran, Asrani, Lily Chakravarty, David and Keshto Mukherjee made up the supporting cast.

It’s been 44 years, but the laugh riot remains unforgettable, delighting generations of cine buffs through TV reruns. “Even I sit down to watch it when I come across it playing on some channel and still enjoy it immensely. Chupke Chupke was the Sholay of comedy,” admits Dharam ji, adding that the shoot was a 27-day picnic. “We had a blast though Hrishi da could be quite a task master, a school teacher-like disciplinarian who commanded respect,” he shares.

Sounding like a chastised schoolboy, Dharam ji goes on to reveal how once when he turned up late for the shoot, the director snipped out an entire antara from the song, “Sa Re Ga Maa” despite his fervent pleas. On another occasion, juggling two shoots, he reported late for the film’s climax, and Hrishi da, a stickler for punctuality, sternly pointed him towards the washroom, telling him to come out pulling up his zip. His hero protested, “Kya dada, what are you saying,” only for the filmmaker to pointedly look at his watch and tell him not to waste anymore time. A bemused Dharam ji followed his cues, to find the camera on him as he stepped out, his action recorded for posterity as ‘punishment’ for arriving late.

Dharam ji’s Pyare Mohan speaks shuddh Hindi, much to the exasperation of his lawyer brother-in-law played by Om Prakash. He admits that given his natural command over the language, he could rattle off his lines at breakneck speed, impressing Om Prakash ji. “Towards the end of the film, Pyare even starts stammering, and when Sulekha’s jeejaji (Om Prakash) asks him about his new irritant, his driver quips, ‘Gusse mein nacheez haklata hai aur saath saath Urdu bhi bolne lagta hai.’ That line was my contribution,” Dharam ji proudly reveals.

Quiz him on his co-stars, and he points out that he had worked with Sharmila ji earlier, in two of Hrishi da’s own films, Anupama and Satyakam, and they shared a wonderful equation. “Jaya is very sweet, like family, while Amit is a great actor. I couldn’t match his histrionics no matter how much I tried. In fact, all the actors in the film were talented artistes who lived their roles. Perhaps that’s why even after four decades, the film stays with us,” he raves.

Though Dharam ji likes to underplay his own performance, it’s a fact that when Sharmila ji and he take off on their long-delayed honeymoon as man and wife, leaving it to the Bachchans to carry forward the charade on screen, you miss his ‘lovable’ Pyare.

The film was the Hindi adaptation of Uttam Kumar and Madhabi Mukherjee’s Chhadmabeshi. Dharam ji admits that he had been asked to watch the 1971 Bengali film, but had refused. “I didn’t want to be influenced. Uttam Kumar was a great actor; I might have played the role different had I watched his film. I like to be original, I like to be myself,” he asserts.

In this era of sequels and remixes, can Chupke Chupke be remade, you wonder. Pat comes the answer, “With an intelligent writer, for sure. But it would be a challenge because so many people, young and old, have seen the original and loved it. So it will have to be just as matchless.”

Roshmilla Bhattacharya (MUMBAI MIRROR; February 11, 2014)

"Chupke Chupke is one film I sit down and watch everytime I come across it playing on TV and enjoy every moment. I’m proud I was the hero of this film,” says Dharmendra, recalling the 1975 romcom.

The film, a Hindi remake of the Bengali Uttam Kumar-Madhabi Mukherjee starrer Chhadmabeshi, revolved around a botany professor, Parimal Tripathi, played to perfection by Dharmendra, who tricks his wife’s all-knowing jijaji, Raghavendra, into believing that he is a chauffeur named Pyaremohan. Slowly, Pyaremohan’s chaste Hindi and his growing interest in his just-married sister-in-law, Sulekha starts getting on to the nerves of Raghavendra (Om Prakash).

On the sets, Dharmendra at times drove his director Hrishikesh Mukherjee crazy too by turning up late. Almost four decades later, he rationalises his unpunctuality by pointing out that he was shooting two-three shifts a day at that time. But that argument cut no ice with the disciplinarian filmmaker who edited him out of one antara of Sa re ga ma when he didn’t report on time on the day of the shoot.

“He even threatened to cut me out of the climax for the same reason. I protested saying that I was the hero and editing me out would be a blunder. He was adamant that he could do without his errant hero, but eventually relented because of his deep affection towards me,” reminisces Dharmendra. Apart from Chupke Chupke, the duo made some evergreen classics together, including Anupama, Satyakam and Guddi.

Being the hero, Dharmendra preferred his shots to be taken from a certain angle, but Hrishida would only print the shots he okayed. “One day when we were shooting at Mehboob Studio he complained hat he was feeling tired. I urged him to go home and as soon as he was out of sight, I started instructing the cinematographer Jaywant Pathare to take shots from the angle I wanted,” admits the actor.

However, his newfound sense of authority was short-lived. Fifteen minutes later, they were interrupted by a deep voice asking, “Dharam kya kar rahe ho?”

That’s when the actor realised that like Om Prakash in the film he too had been fooled into believing that the uncompromising director had put the reins in his hands. He says, “Dada knew what I’d be up to as soon as he turned his back and got a laugh out of my over enthusiasm.”