Showing posts with label Cirkus. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Cirkus. Show all posts
All Christmas releases in last 7 years have flopped badly or underperformed
8:42 AM
Box Office India Trade Network
The Christmas period is probably the best time of year for a release as a period unless you get lucky at some other point in the year when the holidays fall together. The holiday on Christmas Day may not be the biggest if we compare with the other national holidays but that period till New Year is no doubt the best. Its been proven by the way PUSHPA 2 - THE RULE and MUFASA: THE LION KING have held up in the Christmas week.
But this period is seeing bad results recently with films doing badly (and that is putting it mildly). The results are bad and that is with the holidays so imagine but what would be the results of these films outside if this period was not there. The last money spinner on Christmas was TIGER ZINDA HAI way back in 2017 and since then results have been awful with just SALAAR that can be called a HIT film and that too because of outside elements of block bookings. If you take that out, it will not be a HIT.
Also this film is from the South industry and if we take the films from the Hindi film industry then its only DUNKI to have AVERAGE status. But here there was block bookings as well and on top it had titans like Shah Rukh Khan and Rajkumar Hirani and the Christmas period. On that basis, its pretty much a flop as well as far as the industry goes but for for the records books its gets average collections.
The period was seen as dull due to the cold weather in the North but with multiplexes mushrooming post 2006 and a few Aamir Khan films running riot in this period, it became the best time for release but the last few years have gone for a toss with the period going to waste with poor films. The potential of this period is still huge and that can be seen by the fourth week numbers of PUSHPA 2 - THE RULE. But it needs the film and looking at the list below it has seen some super duds in terms of content in the last few years with ZERO,' 83, CIRKUS and now BABY JOHN.
The difference with Christmas and other holidays is not about a day or two but a period and some numbers should pile up. However, its just bad luck that some of the worst movies have come on Christmas and the period hardly mattered as the story is over on day one itself.
The verdicts of Christmas releases over the past few years is as follows.
2018
Zero - DISASTER
2019
Dabangg 3 - FLOP
2020
-
2021
'83 - DISASTER
2022
Cirkus - DISASTER
2023
Dunki - AVERAGE
Salaar - HIT
2024
Baby John - DISASTER
Is it fair to sacrifice talented artistes at the altar of shoddy scripts?
8:20 AM
Talented actors are trolled and criticized for taking certain roles, but is it right to question only the performances?
Syeda Eba Fatima (HINDUSTAN TIMES; June 8, 2023)
Sometimes, poor scripts are elevated by great performances. But, what do you expect when best of actors are given sketchy characters in a badly written story? Case in point: Gajraj Rao in Bholaa, Sanjay Mishra in Jogira Sara Ra Ra and more. Such actors, known for their versatility, were reduced to frivolous characters in certain projects, which left their fans, and audience at large, disappointed. The bigger question is: Is it fair to sacrifice talented artistes at the altar of shoddy scripts? Industry experts help us decode.
Actors state their reasons
‘FOCUS ON WHAT’S GOOD FOR ME’
Gajraj Rao says he’s “very selective” with picking films, thus he doesn’t regret taking up any role. “If I start getting bothered by what people like to see, I won’t be able to survive in this industry. I feel, you’re the best judge of your work, so I only focus on what I think is good for me,” he says.
‘CAN ONLY DO WHAT’S OFFERED’
Renuka Shahane was highly criticized for Govinda Naam Mera (2022), but she doesn’t take “vague opinions” seriously. “If you tell me that this role wasn’t good enough for me, it does not make sense to me. How is it going to change anything for me? I can only do what’s being offered.”
‘HAVE TO PUT BREAD ON THE TABLE’
Ronit Roy, who played Kartik Aaryan’s father in Shehzada, opines that decisions are often determined by several factors. “I have to create a balance between the films I like and projects that will facilitate putting bread on the table. I never feel short-changed because I sign the film knowing what my role is,” he says.
‘MAIN KYUN NA KARUN?’
Siddharth Jadhav was brutally trolled for his cringe acting in Rohit Shetty’s Cirkus (2022). He admits that sometimes actors sign up a film only to collaborate with a director and banner. “Kabhi kabhi achche logon ke saath kaam karna bhi impactful hota hai. That’s why I took up Cirkus and Radhe (2021), which had Salman Khan in the lead and was directed by Prabhudheva,” he says.
There are several factors at play, say trade experts
‘NOT THE ACTOR’S FAULT’
Taran Adarsh feels that actors’ judgement can in no way be blamed for a script misfire. “Actors very well know what they are signing up for. Nobody is cheating or lying to them or making false promises. This used to happen earlier when there was no hard bound script, but that’s not the case anymore,” he says.
LOST IN TRANSITION
Atul Mohan explains how at times, the character’s strength gets lost in script-to-screen transition. ”Paper par jo hota hai, wo bahut exciting hota hai. I’ve been part of so many narrations where the director described a character in such a way that any actor would get convinced. But it did not translate well in the final outcome.”
Sachin Tendulkar bhi kabhi zero par out huye hain, says Siddharth Jadhav on Cirkus’ failure
8:25 AM
Ashish Kumar Singh (HINDUSTAN TIMES; February 2, 2023)
Filmmaker Rohit Shetty’s Cirkus (2022), starring Ranveer Singh, failed to make an impact at the box office. Actor Siddharth Jadhav, who played a prominent role in the film, compares the unexpected fate of the film with a match where former Indian cricketer Sachin Tendulkar may have had a bad innings:
“Kabhi kabhi Sachin sir bhi zero par out huye hain, iska matlab ye nahin ki woh bure hain. Issey pehle ke matches ke apne mazze liye the, so aage ki paari achchi khelenge.”
On whether the film’s team met to discuss where they went wrong, Jadhav, who has previously worked with Shetty on films such as Golmaal (2006), Golmaal Returns (2008) and Simmba (2018), among others, says, “We are in the entertainment business and we always aim to entertain the audience. But mujhe lagta hai iss baar audience ki expectations hi zyada thi (from Rohit Shetty).” But, the 41-year-old isn’t losing hope: “We will try and put our best foot forward the next time.”
The actor has been a major force in Marathi cinema and credits his stint in Marathi films for helping him foray into Bollywood.
Referring to the frequent mention that films from South are performing well, he says, “Marathi cinema sabse upar hai. A handful of movies for the South, like RRR, Kantara and KGF - Chapter 2 (all 2022), worked at the box office. Har ek picture nahin chalti. Agar har film chalti tab South ka bol-bala hota.”
Fenil's Bollywood Talk # 759
10:07 PM
NO FILM RELEASE IN THE FIRST WEEK OF 2023; ALL EYES ON PATHAAN
The first Friday of 2023 is here but there won’t be any release. There was a time when it was said that the films that release in the initial week of the year flop at the ticket window. This jinx became popular as several films that were released in the first week didn't work. No one was ready to accept that these films were badly made and hence, bombed. The jinx was broken by No One Killed Jessica. It was released on January 7, 2011, and yet, was a hit as it was loved and also had generated some buzz before the release.
In 2021, RRR was all set to be released on January 7, 2022. But due to the Omicron wave scare, it was pushed to March 25. Had it been released as scheduled, it would have obviously worked the same way as it did later on.
This year, no producer had planned to take up the January 6 date for the simple reason that the biggie, Adipurush, was supposed to release on January 12, 2023. Its teaser was unveiled on October 2 and was panned for its VFX and graphics. As a result, the makers decided to rework on the CGI, resulting in the postponement. The official announcement about the change of release date to June 16 was done in November. As per reports, a few makers did think of preponing their films, planned for a release in February and March, and releasing them on January 12. But due to various reasons, it couldn’t happen. T-Series, the producers of Adipurush, then announced that their small film, Kuttey, will release in the second week of January. The Hindi version of Vijay-starrer Varisu and Ajith-starrer Thunivu will also clash with Kuttey and can surprise.
But more than these films, the trade is looking forward to the release of Pathaan. It marks Shah Rukh Khan’s comeback after more than four years and hence, it has generated tremendous excitement. It’ll release on January 25 and after a disastrous 2022, the trade is hoping that this action-packed film brings some cheer and respite.
In fact, another reason why no one preferred coming on January 6 after Adipurush’s postponement is the release of Cirkus. It is directed by Rohit Shetty and released in theatres on December 23, 2022. The trade, industry and even moviegoers expected it to have a superb run at the box office. However, it had a poor opening and due to word of mouth, it is now struggling to cross the Rs. 40 crores mark. Had it been a hit, it had the potential to rule the cinemas till Pathaan’s release on Republic Day. Alas, it flopped and Adipurush also got pushed, resulting in the lack of big releases in January, except the Shah Rukh Khan starrer.
The first Friday of 2023 is here but there won’t be any release. There was a time when it was said that the films that release in the initial week of the year flop at the ticket window. This jinx became popular as several films that were released in the first week didn't work. No one was ready to accept that these films were badly made and hence, bombed. The jinx was broken by No One Killed Jessica. It was released on January 7, 2011, and yet, was a hit as it was loved and also had generated some buzz before the release.
In 2021, RRR was all set to be released on January 7, 2022. But due to the Omicron wave scare, it was pushed to March 25. Had it been released as scheduled, it would have obviously worked the same way as it did later on.
This year, no producer had planned to take up the January 6 date for the simple reason that the biggie, Adipurush, was supposed to release on January 12, 2023. Its teaser was unveiled on October 2 and was panned for its VFX and graphics. As a result, the makers decided to rework on the CGI, resulting in the postponement. The official announcement about the change of release date to June 16 was done in November. As per reports, a few makers did think of preponing their films, planned for a release in February and March, and releasing them on January 12. But due to various reasons, it couldn’t happen. T-Series, the producers of Adipurush, then announced that their small film, Kuttey, will release in the second week of January. The Hindi version of Vijay-starrer Varisu and Ajith-starrer Thunivu will also clash with Kuttey and can surprise.
But more than these films, the trade is looking forward to the release of Pathaan. It marks Shah Rukh Khan’s comeback after more than four years and hence, it has generated tremendous excitement. It’ll release on January 25 and after a disastrous 2022, the trade is hoping that this action-packed film brings some cheer and respite.
In fact, another reason why no one preferred coming on January 6 after Adipurush’s postponement is the release of Cirkus. It is directed by Rohit Shetty and released in theatres on December 23, 2022. The trade, industry and even moviegoers expected it to have a superb run at the box office. However, it had a poor opening and due to word of mouth, it is now struggling to cross the Rs. 40 crores mark. Had it been a hit, it had the potential to rule the cinemas till Pathaan’s release on Republic Day. Alas, it flopped and Adipurush also got pushed, resulting in the lack of big releases in January, except the Shah Rukh Khan starrer.
Fenil's Bollywood Talk # 758
4:15 PM
2022 ENDS ON A SAD NOTE AS CIRKUS FLOPS
A lot was expected from Cirkus, the last big release of 2022. In last week’s edition, we informed readers that the advance booking of the film is not upto the mark. Yet, it seemed like the film will open in the range of Rs. 10-13 crores. We had mentioned that if it opens in single digits, it’ll be a shocker.
Sadly, the worst fears came true as the spot bookings didn’t pick up and Cirkus ended up with the first day collections of just Rs. 6.50 crores. The reports were bad and hence, it saw a drop on Saturday, when it collected Rs. 6.25 crores. On Sunday, due to the big Christmas holiday, the collections jumped to Rs. 8 crores, which was not enough. The weekend collections, hence, were just Rs. 20.75 crores and this ideally should have been its first day earnings.
On Monday, Avatar: The Way Of Water and Drishyam 2 picked up but Cirkus had more than a 50% drop as compared to Friday. On its fourth day, it collected Rs. 2.75 crores. The collections in the next three days remained steady. This was a surprise as usually, a rejected film keeps falling with each passing day. Cirkus, however, is probably having an advantage of the holiday season. Hence, it might have some sort of respectable collections in the coming weekend, with the big January 1 holiday falling on Sunday. From Monday, January 2, however, it will have a major drop. While the first week's collections will be in the range of Rs. 30 crores, it now remains to be seen if it's able to cross the Rs. 40 crores mark in its lifetime.
2022 has not been a good year for the Hindi film industry as several biggies flopped. Drishyam 2’s surprise blockbuster success had given hope and all eyes were on Cirkus. What’s worse is that there’s no major release till Republic Day, when Shah Rukh Khan’s Pathaan arrives in cinemas. Fortunately, the theatres are safe as they’ll be playing Avatar: The Way Of Water. It held very well in the second week and by Thursday, it would have collected Rs. 285 crores at the Indian box office. It is expected to see another jump in the festive weekend when it’ll enter the Rs. 300 crores club.
Meanwhile, a Marathi film, Ved, will release tomorrow in Maharashtra and a few other centres. It marks the directorial debut of Riteish Deshmukh. The film also features him as an actor and his wife Genelia Deshmukh along with Jiya Shankar. Riteish and Genelia have also produced the movie. It is the remake of the 2019 Telugu film Majili, starring Naga Chaitanya and Samantha Ruth Prabhu. The film has got decent advances and it can grow big time if the word of mouth is positive. Due to the debacle of Cirkus, it has got additional shows. A highlight of the film is the cameo of Salman Khan in the song ‘Ved Lavlay’.
A lot was expected from Cirkus, the last big release of 2022. In last week’s edition, we informed readers that the advance booking of the film is not upto the mark. Yet, it seemed like the film will open in the range of Rs. 10-13 crores. We had mentioned that if it opens in single digits, it’ll be a shocker.
Sadly, the worst fears came true as the spot bookings didn’t pick up and Cirkus ended up with the first day collections of just Rs. 6.50 crores. The reports were bad and hence, it saw a drop on Saturday, when it collected Rs. 6.25 crores. On Sunday, due to the big Christmas holiday, the collections jumped to Rs. 8 crores, which was not enough. The weekend collections, hence, were just Rs. 20.75 crores and this ideally should have been its first day earnings.
On Monday, Avatar: The Way Of Water and Drishyam 2 picked up but Cirkus had more than a 50% drop as compared to Friday. On its fourth day, it collected Rs. 2.75 crores. The collections in the next three days remained steady. This was a surprise as usually, a rejected film keeps falling with each passing day. Cirkus, however, is probably having an advantage of the holiday season. Hence, it might have some sort of respectable collections in the coming weekend, with the big January 1 holiday falling on Sunday. From Monday, January 2, however, it will have a major drop. While the first week's collections will be in the range of Rs. 30 crores, it now remains to be seen if it's able to cross the Rs. 40 crores mark in its lifetime.
2022 has not been a good year for the Hindi film industry as several biggies flopped. Drishyam 2’s surprise blockbuster success had given hope and all eyes were on Cirkus. What’s worse is that there’s no major release till Republic Day, when Shah Rukh Khan’s Pathaan arrives in cinemas. Fortunately, the theatres are safe as they’ll be playing Avatar: The Way Of Water. It held very well in the second week and by Thursday, it would have collected Rs. 285 crores at the Indian box office. It is expected to see another jump in the festive weekend when it’ll enter the Rs. 300 crores club.
Meanwhile, a Marathi film, Ved, will release tomorrow in Maharashtra and a few other centres. It marks the directorial debut of Riteish Deshmukh. The film also features him as an actor and his wife Genelia Deshmukh along with Jiya Shankar. Riteish and Genelia have also produced the movie. It is the remake of the 2019 Telugu film Majili, starring Naga Chaitanya and Samantha Ruth Prabhu. The film has got decent advances and it can grow big time if the word of mouth is positive. Due to the debacle of Cirkus, it has got additional shows. A highlight of the film is the cameo of Salman Khan in the song ‘Ved Lavlay’.
Cameos in Bollywood don’t work anymore, feel industry experts
8:43 AM
Ashish Kumar Singh (HINDUSTAN TIMES; December 27, 2022)
Actor Shah Rukh Khan’s brief act in Brahmāstra: Part One – Shiva, actor Deepika Padukone’s appearance in a special song in Cirkus and actor Salman Khan’s dance act in actor Riteish Deshmukh’s directorial debut, Ved, were the most talked about cameos this year. We also saw actor Akshay Kumar’s surprise appearance in An Action Hero, actor Ranbir Kapoor’s cameo in Govinda Naam Mera, and actors Anushka Sharma and Aamir Khan’s cameos in Qala and Salaam Venky, respectively.
While short acts by big stars do become a talking point on social media, the big question is, do cameos really have a novelty factor anymore and do they add any value to films in terms of viewership? Recent numbers and fan reviews suggest that they don’t help most films these days.
Trade expert Atul Mohan says, “Cameos may not really help in pushing the box-office numbers. I don’t think fans throng theatres just to catch a glimpse of their favourite actor in a cameo appearance. Guest appearances by A-list actors can be a nice marketing tool that only helps a film before the release. Cameos were more meaningful in the ’80s or ’90s.”
Echoing a similar sentiment, trade expert Komal Natha adds, “No one buys a film ticket because of cameos. Thinking that a movie will work because of guest appearances is a misconception.”
While many agree that guest appearances get talked about on social media, most releases with big cameos this year failed to attract audiences or get cash registers ringing. For instance, fans loved Akshay’s scene with actor Ayushmann Khurrana in An Action Hero, but it didn’t translate into love for the film.
Director Anirudh Iyer, who helmed the movie, says, “One needs to be very thoughtful about cameos. A forced one might make the audience instantly disconnect from the film.”
Up next, there are reports of Salman making a cameo in Shah Rukh’s upcoming film, Pathaan. Also, Shah Rukh is rumoured to return the favour by doing a cameo in Salman’s Tiger 3. While this may generate curiosity, experts feel that ultimately, a film’s fate is only decided by its content.
Casting director Gautam Kishanchandani shares, “If it is a well-told story, cameos are interesting. The narrative needs to be engrossing and the cameo works only if it is put in the film the right way. If the film is weak, kisi ko bhi le aao, kuch farq nahin padega.”
(Crisp) Movie Review: CIRKUS by FENIL SETA
2:12 PM
Cirkus rests on a promising story and is riddled with some madcap characters. With Rohit Shetty at the helm, one can’t help but expect a crazy ride. After all, he has delivered some memorable comedies in the past like the Golmaal series, All The Best and Bol Bachchan. Unfortunately, the blockbuster director falters this time. The big culprit is the screenplay. Cirkus should have been a laugh-a-minute riot but instead, the funny moments are few and far between. The first half has very little humour. Even the finale is underwhelming. On the positive side, the two scenes of Momo (Siddharth Jadhav) bring the house down. A few scenes of Rai Bahadur (Sanjay Mishra) also raise laughs. The dialogue writers try their best to induce humour in the film though some lines backfire. Speaking of performances, Ranveer Singh underplays in most scenes and handles the lead part well. Varun Sharma provides able support. Pooja Hegde and Jacqueline Fernandez are fine but don’t have much to do. Siddharth Jadhav is the funniest actor in the film. Sanjay Mishra comes next, though his gag gets repetitive. Murli Sharma (Dr Roy Jamnadas) leaves a huge mark. Anil Charanjeett (Prince) contributes to the madness. Johny Lever (Polson Dada) plays an amusing character but doesn’t get much scope. Sulbha Arya (Chachi), Uday Tikekar (Dr Joy Jamnadas), Vijay Patkar (Shankar), Saurabh Gokhale (Inspector Vikram), Vrajesh Hirjee (Naagmani), Mukesh Tiwari (Daku Begeera), Tiku Talsania (Velji Bhai), Brijendra Kala (Yusuf), Ashish Warang (Mango), Umakant Patil (Chikki), Nikitin Dheer (Joy's father) and Ashwini Kalsekar (Shakuntala Devi) are okay. Deepika Padukone is superb in the song. All in all, Cirkus is an average fare.
My rating - ** ½ out of 5!
My rating - ** ½ out of 5!
Fenil's Bollywood Talk # 757
10:53 AM
WILL CIRKUS WORK DESPITE NOT-SO-ENCOURAGING ADVANCE TICKET SALES?
The last big film of the year, Cirkus, will be released tomorrow and it’s riding on a lot of expectations. It is directed by Rohit Shetty, who’s considered a hit machine with Ranveer Singh playing the lead. The last time both came together for Simmba, they ended up giving a Rs. 200 crore plus blockbuster. Also, the film seems like a fun comic entertainer and a film ideal for the whole family. Besides Ranveer, Cirkus also stars Varun Sharma and both feature in double roles. Jacqueline Fernandez and Pooja Hegde are the female leads. The film also has several supporting actors like Johny Lever, Siddharth Jadhav, Tiku Talsania, Sanjay Mishra, Vijay Patkar, Ashwini Kalsekar, Mukesh Tiwari, Vrajesh Hirjee, Brijendra Kala etc. All of them have been displayed on the posters and it’s heartening to see how they were also made a part of the promotions.
Cirkus has two surprises. One is that Ranveer’s wife Deepika Padukone features in an item number. Secondly, Rohit Shetty has attempted a Cirkus-Golmaal crossover. Cirkus is set in the 60s and 70s and the characters of Golmaal Again are seen in the film as kids.
Despite so many plusses, the buzz for Cirkus is limited. This is because the trailer has been met with a mixed response. Many felt the trailer was barely funny. As a result, the advance booking hasn’t been strong yet. It has shocked the trade and industry as many expected the film to open at Rs. 20 or Rs. 25 crores. However, as of now, it seems like it’ll open in the range of Rs. 10 and 13 crores. If it opens in single digits, it’ll be a shocker and that’s not good news for the industry that hasn’t had a great year. Also, Avatar: The Way Of Water has emerged as a huge hit and it’ll take away some shows.
But all hope is not lost. Many moviegoers have opted for a wait-and-watch. If the response is positive, Cirkus will see a jump from Friday evening, and Saturday and Sunday will also be huge. From Rs. 10 crores, it can jump to Rs. 25 or 27 crores on Sunday. Also, it has no competition till Pathaan, which releases on January 25, 2023. The sky will be the limit for Cirkus if the public accepts it. But in case the audience rejects the film, it’ll prove detrimental, especially when it’s not going to open to big numbers.
The last big film of the year, Cirkus, will be released tomorrow and it’s riding on a lot of expectations. It is directed by Rohit Shetty, who’s considered a hit machine with Ranveer Singh playing the lead. The last time both came together for Simmba, they ended up giving a Rs. 200 crore plus blockbuster. Also, the film seems like a fun comic entertainer and a film ideal for the whole family. Besides Ranveer, Cirkus also stars Varun Sharma and both feature in double roles. Jacqueline Fernandez and Pooja Hegde are the female leads. The film also has several supporting actors like Johny Lever, Siddharth Jadhav, Tiku Talsania, Sanjay Mishra, Vijay Patkar, Ashwini Kalsekar, Mukesh Tiwari, Vrajesh Hirjee, Brijendra Kala etc. All of them have been displayed on the posters and it’s heartening to see how they were also made a part of the promotions.
Cirkus has two surprises. One is that Ranveer’s wife Deepika Padukone features in an item number. Secondly, Rohit Shetty has attempted a Cirkus-Golmaal crossover. Cirkus is set in the 60s and 70s and the characters of Golmaal Again are seen in the film as kids.
Despite so many plusses, the buzz for Cirkus is limited. This is because the trailer has been met with a mixed response. Many felt the trailer was barely funny. As a result, the advance booking hasn’t been strong yet. It has shocked the trade and industry as many expected the film to open at Rs. 20 or Rs. 25 crores. However, as of now, it seems like it’ll open in the range of Rs. 10 and 13 crores. If it opens in single digits, it’ll be a shocker and that’s not good news for the industry that hasn’t had a great year. Also, Avatar: The Way Of Water has emerged as a huge hit and it’ll take away some shows.
But all hope is not lost. Many moviegoers have opted for a wait-and-watch. If the response is positive, Cirkus will see a jump from Friday evening, and Saturday and Sunday will also be huge. From Rs. 10 crores, it can jump to Rs. 25 or 27 crores on Sunday. Also, it has no competition till Pathaan, which releases on January 25, 2023. The sky will be the limit for Cirkus if the public accepts it. But in case the audience rejects the film, it’ll prove detrimental, especially when it’s not going to open to big numbers.
Shooting with Dharmendra and Johny Lever is like living a dream-Ranveer Singh
8:46 AM
Rachana Dubey (BOMBAY TIMES; November 8, 2022)
During our interactions with Ranveer Singh, he has always expressed how lucky he feels to be an actor, to work with industry stalwarts and live his dream. During a recent chat while talking about the kind of gratitude he feels for being a part of the industry for over a decade, the actor spoke about some instances that left him feeling surreal and emotional.
Ranveer shared, “There was this one time when I was shooting on Rohit Shetty’s set for Cirkus. I walked past the vanity vans to reach the set. While passing, I came across a van that had Johny Lever’s name on it. It struck me in that flash of a moment that I’m working with a legend. Johny Lever is an industry stalwart when it comes to comedy. I was about to perform a scene with Johny sir, whose comedy shows we’ve seen for years before he became an actor. It was among the first live comedy shows my father took me to watch when I was a kid at an auditorium in Juhu. Johny sir would bring out his trademark white handkerchief and wipe his sweat. It’d be hot on the stage and he’d still be dishing out one great humour piece after another. ”
The other extraordinary moment for Ranveer was when he shared screen space with veteran actor Dharmendra in Karan Johar’s upcoming directorial Rocky Aur Rani Ki Prem Kahani. Ranveer said, “On the set, Karan was briefing us. Dharam ji was in the room and he was intently listening. And when I began to perform the scene with him in the frame, it was just him and me, and I realised what a moment it was! Who gets to do this? How did I even get here? Sometimes, I have to pinch myself to believe that it’s all happening to me. Working with these stalwarts is like living a dream.”
People have taken jibes at the way I look and questioned how someone like me can even be called an actor-Siddharth Jadhav
8:35 AM
Mihir Bhanage (BOMBAY TIMES; October 9, 2022)
On screen, he’s called ‘energy bomb’ and ‘Ranveer Singh of the Marathi industry’ but there’s another side to Siddharth Jadhav. One that’s vulnerable and introspective. In a chat with us, the actor, who has been shaking up our social media feeds as much with his style as with his new projects, speaks to us about breaking the comedy stereotype, the new phase and the ups and downs in his career. Excerpts:
‘COMEDY IS MY FORTE, BUT THAT’S NOT ALL THAT I AM GOOD AT’
Throughout his initial years in Marathi cinema, Siddharth created a name for himself among the list of comic actors in the industry. But he gradually branched out into different roles with films like Me Shivajiraje Bhosale Boltoy, Razzakar, Dream Mall etc. Ask him what changed, and he replies, “As a person nothing changed drastically. People identify me as a comic actor, and I too know that comedy is my forte. But that’s not all. I am fortunate that people accepted my serious roles as nicely as they did my comic ones. Credit for this goes to the directors and writers who thought of me for these roles, especially Mahesh Manjrekar sir who was among the first people to recognize and execute a different side of mine on the big screen. He was also someone who told me that I had the talent of making people laugh when I laughed, and cry when I cried. I consider myself fortunate to have worked with people who saw beyond the stereotype that I had come to be associated with.”
‘WENT THROUGH A VERY LOW PHASE FROM 2013-17’
Despite his best efforts, many of Siddharth’s hatke films didn’t work at the box office. The actor, who is otherwise full of energy, went through a low phase between 2013 and 2017. “Although I was doing a play, Gela Udat, and a TV show, I was devastated that my films weren’t working. These four years were an extremely low phase for me. I didn’t know what to do and life seemed to have stopped at one point. It was like being stuck on a boat in the middle of the lake. But my brother, Dr Lavesh Jadhav, told me something that I haven’t stopped following till date,” he says.
“Mahesh sir said that we only think that nothing is happening because there’s no work to do. But there’s so much work that you can do work on yourself, meet people, write, develop your skills. That helped me dive from that stuck boat and swim to the shore. In the process, I left the baggage from Siddharth Jadhav 1.0 behind because had I carried that with me, I would’ve drowned. So, to anyone who may be going through such a phase right now, I want to say that stay put and be strong, this too shall pass,” shares Siddharth.
2017 AND BEYOND: SIDDHARTH JADHAV 2. 0
In 2017, things changed for Siddharth with the release of Faster Fene. Then came Simmba, which reunited Siddharth with his Golmaal director Rohit Shetty and had him sharing the screen with Ranveer Singh. “Aditya Sarpotdar, Kshitij Patwardhan, Riteish Deshmukh these people believed in me and gave me an opportunity in Faster Fene. I won’t ever forget that. With Simmba, of course, came wider recognition. These were not things that I had planned. They happened. All I did was to give my best to whatever I did and just enjoyed the moment,” he says.
Siddharth’s tryst with big-budget Hindi films continued with special appearances in Radhe and Sooryavanshi. He will soon be working with Rohit Shetty and Ranveer Singh again in Cirkus, and he has a silent film titled Gandhi Talks set to release next year. “Cirkus is a family entertainer where I play a fun character. On the other hand, Gandhi Talks is a very interesting film by director Kishor Belekar. It’s a silent film, which also features Vijay Sethupathi, Aditi Rao Hydari and Arvind Swamy. The music is by A R Rahman. What else does one need in a film?” asks Siddharth.
‘EVERYONE HAS AN OPINION ON SOCIAL MEDIA’
While he has learned to ignore trolls on social media today, there was a point when they affected him. Sharing that he is open to criticism of his work, Siddharth adds, “Personal attacks are something I don’t like. People have taken jibes at the way I look and questioned how someone like me can even be called an actor. I would feel bad before, but not anymore. Criticize my work if you find it bad, but avoid personal attacks. That said, I realise that people need an outlet to vent their frustrations and often, public figures are at the receiving end. Yes, there are some people who troll others just for the heck of it. But I’ve learned not to fixate on that. Today, even if someone writes something bad about me on a photo I have posted, I like the comment and move on.”
It’s imperative that big screen films have a huge scale-Ranveer Singh
8:14 AM
Rachana Dubey (BOMBAY TIMES; October 1, 2022)
At the recently concluded FICCI Frames Fast Forward 2022, Ranveer Singh engaged in a detailed conversation which revolved around his learnings during the pandemic, how we all need to adapt to the changing content landscape and the way his wife, Deepika Padukone, has influenced him as an artiste. The actor spoke from his heart to a packed room full of individuals from different walks of the entertainment world, dignitaries and foreign delegates. Excerpts:
‘I HOPE WE CAN ADAPT AND DELIVER CONTENT THAT BRINGS PEOPLE BACK TO THEATRES’
On a personal level, the pandemic has changed me and deeply affected me, as it did to everyone in the world. The Indian entertainment sphere has been rapidly accelerated to where the western entertainment spheres are now. The gulf between the big-screen and at-home entertainment has become distinct, evident from the films that have been released in the past year. It is imperative that big screen films are made on a huge scale and are a community-watching experience. The community viewing experience is as important as enjoying a movie or a show all by oneself at home.
The rise of new verticals is evident. It’s all one giant landscape of entertainment now. The average Indian consumer has access to every kind of content at the click of a button, so there is an extra onus on us to look at the content we are creating. I am committed to big-screen cinema and excited about my releases in the forthcoming months. Yes, it is alarming that we have 12,000 cinemas shrinking to 8,000, but we are the people who are committed to the cause of big screen entertainment, and I hope we can adapt and deliver content that brings people back to theatres. After the pandemic, when I went back to cinemas, I felt like I had missed this experience.
As an entertainer, I want to contribute to things that make people laugh and entertain them. My next offering, Cirkus, is the kind of film you expect Rohit Shetty to deliver, and you go into a theatre seeking that. I have consciously chosen to be a part of this, and you have to give something to the audience that justifies their time and money.
‘THE HUNGER TO DO MORE AND DO BETTER IS STILL BLAZING’
I couldn’t have dreamed of being here. It’s almost every day that I wake up with gratitude, and I can hardly believe I am in this position where I am working with the finest filmmakers and working on the biggest offerings. I can’t believe it has happened to me. I feel like I am dreaming. I think 12 years usually is long enough for people to believe and for things to sink in, but it hasn’t sunk in for me. I am just as hungry as I was when I started. The hunger to do more and do better is still blazing.
‘DEEPIKA PADUKONE IS ONE OF THE GREATEST BLESSINGS THAT I AM GRATEFUL TO HAVE’
Deepika is a consummate professional with exemplary habits. I learn a lot from her. It’s been a while since we acted together. Bajirao Mastani is where we had a large number of scenes together. People liked the little portion we had in '83. Since we shot Bajirao Mastani, there has been immense personal growth, and as people and actors, we grew and navigated our spaces as actors.
The kind of credibility she brings to her work is amazing. For someone who has dealt with anxiety and mental health issues, to performher part in Gehraiyaan with that excellence is something. It is authentic, has finesse and is honest. I admire her craft and want to work with her again.
On a personal level, her art of creating work-life balance and sustainable life choices with authenticity is what I love. It has been a decade since we started dating. And she is one of the greatest blessings that I am grateful to have.
‘TODAY, ACTORS HAVE MORE EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES’
I think this is the best time to work in Indian entertainment. I was talking to aspiring actors once, and I told them that this time is very different from when I started. Things were insulated then and the opportunities were fewer. Today, you have OTT platforms and films and so many employment chances. Back then, we didn’t have OTT channels and we would have to network, going to offices and meeting people with physical copies of our pictures. That’s how we got our foot into the door. When asked for advice, I just say that my story and time were different and your path and journey to get your foot into the door will be different, but I will encourage you to take the plunge.
Ranveer Singh, Rohit Shetty shoot additional scenes of Cirkus over week-long schedule
8:28 AM
Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; July 25, 2022)
Rohit Shetty, who recently returned from South Africa after filming Khatron Ke Khiladi 12, has immediately dived headlong into the world of Cirkus. We hear leading man Ranveer Singh has retraced his steps to the set of the comedy to shoot an additional sequence and some patch scenes.
A source reveals, “Rohit has lined up a seven-to-10 days’ schedule for the patch shoot with the principal cast. Ranveer began filming his portions on July 21 at Mehboob Studios, Bandra, where a set has been put up. If things go as per plan, the shoot will be wrapped up by the month-end, following which Rohit will focus on post-production.”
Cirkus, which also stars Pooja Hegde, Jacqueline Fernandez and Varun Sharma in key roles, is slated to hit the big screen on December 23. With the laugh riot, Shetty has attempted to give a desi twist to Shakespeare’s renowned play, The Comedy Of Errors. The film, which marks Singh’s second project with Shetty after the successful Simmba (2018), will see the actor in a double role.
I’ve been offered films opposite big stars in Bollywood, but those characters didn’t add any value to the script-Pooja Hegde
8:19 AM
Pooja Hegde says she was offered many films opposite big stars, but the roles didn’t add any value to the script
Titas Chowdhury (HINDUSTAN TIMES; April 2, 2022)
In a career spanning about a decade, actor Pooja Hegde has only done two Hindi films. Talking about her sporadic Bollywood career, Hegde says, “After Mohenjo Daro (2016), I waited, and after a big gap, did Housefull 4 (2019) because the banner was good. That film was a stepping stone for me. It gave me Kabhi Eid Kabhi Diwali and Cirkus (her upcoming Hindi movies).”
Quiz her if she was unsatisfied with the offers coming her way, and the 31-year-old says, “It was a conscious decision to not do Hindi films. I didn’t want to do them just for the sake of it or do roles that didn’t matter to the storyline. I’ve been offered films opposite big stars, but those characters didn’t add any value to the script.”
During her time away from Bollywood, she worked intensively in the Tamil and Telugu film industries and created a fanbase for herself, which she believes gave her the confidence to navigate through her Hindi film career.
“My biggest boon is that the Telugu audience has accepted me as one of their own. The south has given me so much respect. And that gave me strength to pick and choose the films I wanted to do in Hindi. Sometimes, it (Bollywood) can be a little unforgiving if you aren’t from a film background or you don’t have the right push; it takes some time to get the kinds of roles that you want to do,” Hegde elaborates.
But the Radhe Shyam actor is happy that she is taken more seriously today. “After Most Eligible Bachelor (2021) did well at the box office, people began to take me more seriously and began to think that I’m more bankable because it grossed Rs. 50 crore. Now, I’m getting a lot of female-oriented films,” Hegde wraps up.
When Rohit Shetty offered me Cirkus, I never asked him what the film was about-Pooja Hegde
8:30 AM
Pooja Hegde wants to look beyond the star cast before signing a film
Rishabh Suri (HINDUSTAN TIMES; February 22, 2022)
Actor Pooja Hegde is still receiving praise for a film that came out two years ago and is still making waves. The movie Ala Vaikunthapurramuloo, in which she starred alongside actor Allu Arjun, is being recreated in Hindi with actors Kartik Aaryan and Kriti Sanon in the leading roles. “I wish them good luck; it is a very special film for me. I hope more people watch the film,” is what Hegde has to say about this development.
She adds, “On Ala... we wanted to do a fun, happy film. I laughed so much when the director narrated the script to me. I never thought it would go on to become a big hit. I got many awards and appreciation.”
With regards to her upcoming work, the line-up includes Cirkus with actor Ranveer Singh and Bhaijaan starring actor Salman Khan. Ask her if a big star is reason enough for her to sign a film, and she says, “not anymore”. “I feel like I have done enough. There is no linear way to select films. Sometimes, you look at the script, sometimes at the director. At times, the script is okay, but the director is not going to translate it on screen. I have also learned that there are some times when the director makes magic happen on screen but the script is not that good,” shares the actor.
But there are some filmmakers whose names alone are enticing enough for her to say yes. She gushes, “If Rajkumar Hirani calls me, I am not going to ask for the script; same for Sanjay Leela Bhansali and S S Rajamouli.”
The 31-year-old, who is all geared up for next, Radhe Shyam, which has got a new release date now, continues, “When (filmmaker) Rohit Shetty offered me Cirkus, I never asked him what the film was about. He later told me Ranveer (Singh) was a part of it. I was very excited to work with Rohit since my dad is a big fan of his films.”
Never in my wildest dream did I expect that someday I will be the face of a project-Sanjay Mishra
8:15 AM
Deep Saxena (HINDUSTAN TIMES; February 12, 2022)
After his National School of Drama course, when actor Sanjay Mishra took up acting in early ‘90s, his only quest was to do impactful roles.
“My aim was just one — film chahe jaise bhi ho, people must say ‘Aap bahut acche thhe’, be it a comedy any other genre. Never in my wildest dream did I expect that someday I will be the face of a project. But, Ankhon Dekhi (2014) changed the game, followed by Masaan, Dum Laga Ke Haisha (both 2015) and Kadvi Hawa (2017). Thankfully, ab toh kamaal ka kaam aa raha hai,” he says while shooting in Lucknow.
He continues, “It’s rare that makers look at actors like us as a leading face of a project. Mukhya patra ke roop main log dekhte jaroor hain but himmat bahut kam log karte hain. But slowly, now it has started to happen. Drift has happened and the taste of audience has changed too. Hero, heroine ke alawa bhi ab kahaniyaan hain… due to which, now big productions houses see us as a leading face!”
Mishra further adds, “The best thing that happened to me is that so-called success came to me slowly but surely — warna log pagla jate hain (laughs). Climbing step-by-step, I kept my feet on the ground. And, that’s the reason I enjoy doing short films exploring deeper characters. The hunger to do new things keeps me going.”
The 58-year-old has an interesting mix of projects in his kitty. “I have shot for Rohit Shetty’s Cirkus, Anees Bazmee’s Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2, Colour Blind, Woh Teen Din... I shot a lovely film in Leh-Laddakh besides Teachers Day and Fugitive in Dehradun. Some more projects have happened but aajkal woh non-disclosure sign karwa lete hain sab…” he shares.
Last seen in 36 Farmhouse, Mishra laments that with the overflow of work, often he doesn’t have time to meet his family, “and my kids are solely dependent on their mother as I cannot give them time.”
For marriage to happen, I need to find a girlfriend, and for that, I have to explore life and travel-Varun Sharma
7:56 AM
The actor considers friendship a major prerequisite for being romantically involved and eventually marrying someone
Titas Chowdhury (HINDUSTAN TIMES; February 9, 2022)
Marriage bells might be ringing for many in the film industry, but “it’s not on the cards” for actor Varun Sharma, yet. The Chhichhore (2019) star would rather focus on his career right now. With a dash of his signature humour, he tells us, “For marriage to happen, I need to find a girlfriend, and for that, I have to explore life and travel. But, in the past two years, the maximum I could travel was to Lonavala (laughs).”
But he is quick to add that he is “open to the idea of a relationship”. The actor continues, “If I am meant to connect with someone, it will happen. There is no pressure from my family. Ideally, I want to wait for two-three years (before getting married).”
Talking about his idea of a perfect relationship, Sharma shares, “There has to be mutual respect and compatibility. In a relationship, you and your partner should be able to see and bear the extremeness of every emotion. There shouldn’t be any filter between two people in love.”
The 32-year-old believes that connection and friendship form the basis of any relationship. “If friendship wanes, then the whole charm of a relationship is lost. You should be able to do the wackiest things together, and that’s when every day spent with your partner will feel like a new day,” he says.
On the work front, he will be seen in filmmaker Rohit Shetty’s Cirkus alongside actor Ranveer Singh. However, the film that went on floors in 2020 has been suffering sporadic delays due to the pandemic. Quiz him if these halts bother him, and he says, “It’s the feeling of togetherness that binds us. Despite the breaks, every time we got together, we would pick up from where we left, and all the inertia would be gone.”
Amid rising Covid cases, Rohit Shetty adopts bio-bubble shoot to wrap up Cirkus
8:36 AM
Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; January 15, 2022)
With the release of Sooryavanshi last Diwali, Rohit Shetty proved that the pandemic couldn’t deter him any longer. The filmmaker’s relentless shooting of the final schedule of Cirkus could be deemed, in a way, a sequel to his won’t-stop-at-anything act. Despite the daily Coronavirus cases in the city hovering around the 15,000-mark, Shetty gave finishing touches to Ranveer Singh’s comedy over the past fortnight.
A source reveals that in light of the recent situation, the director imposed new safety norms on the Film City set, thus ensuring that the cast and crew were not in harm’s way. “Once the cases started rising, there was a preliminary discussion about calling off the shoot. But Rohit, after consulting his team, decided to put stricter protocols in place. While daily testing and masks were a regular feature from the start, the unit decided to film the remaining portions in a biobubble. Ranveer, who had finished his portions in the last stint, was not part of this leg,” says the source.
On Thursday, Shetty called it a wrap on Cirkus without reporting a single case on the set. The film, also starring Varun Sharma, Jacqueline Fernandez and Pooja Hegde, is based on Shakespeare’s The Comedy Of Errors.
Bringing Chulbul Pandey and Singham together is a big responsibility-Rohit Shetty
8:25 AM
Building his own cop universe with Akshay, Ajay and Ranveer, Shetty says team developing the final draft of script hopefully to make way for new hero in uniform
Upala KBR (MID-DAY; December 12, 2021)
If Hollywood has its superhero world of Marvel Cinematic universe, closer home, Rohit Shetty has built his own cop universe with the Singham franchise, Simmba (2018) and the recent Sooryavanshi. The filmmaker is happy to have created three heroes — Ajay Devgn’s Bajirao Singham, Akshay Kumar’s Veer Sooryavanshi and Ranveer Singh’s Sangram Simmba Bhalerao — each distinct from one another.
“For me, the most important part of a cop universe should be that the characters should not be the same. Tomorrow if another cop comes on board, he has to be completely different from Simmba, Sooryavanshi and Singham. Each of the three films have a distinct take on cop heroes. When people come to the theatres, they should not feel ‘Arre, yeh toh Singham jaisa hai,’” says Shetty.
Clearly, the filmmaker is thinking of expanding the universe, bringing a fourth hero to join forces with Kumar, Devgn and Singh. In fact, there’s talk that Shetty may introduce another police officer in Singham 3. “At present, we cannot say what we will be doing,” he laughs, before adding, “We have another story for a different cop, but we have not decided whether he will come in Singham 3. [We could also] add a lady cop. We need to write the final draft of that story keeping Sooryavanshi [the last offering in the universe] in mind.”
Speculation is rife that Salman Khan aka his Dabangg cop character Chulbul Pandey will make an appearance in Singham 3. The union of Dabangg with Shetty’s world will be a treat for Bollywood fans. Excited as he is at the prospect, the filmmaker chooses to tread with caution. “Whenever Salman and I meet, we talk about Singham and Chulbul coming together, but nothing has been planned. Bringing both of them together is a big responsibility. Chulbul has a [big] fan following and is a brand in himself. If and when it happens, it will be a big [undertaking]. At present, I don’t see it happening as I am focusing on Cirkus, and then Singham 3.”
Somebody had to take that first step and release their movie in theatres. I couldn’t be selfish-Rohit Shetty
8:20 AM
Rohit Shetty discusses taking the lead in reviving cinemas with Sooryavanshi, and shooting Ranveer’s Cirkus during pandemic
Upala KBR (MID-DAY; December 2, 2021)
Ahead of Sooryavanshi’s release, director Rohit Shetty had told himself he would be content if the film made about Rs. 130 crore, considering it was coming on the heels of a long theatre shutdown. Almost a month since, Akshay Kumar’s cop caper has crossed the Rs 190-crore mark in India. “Rs 130 crore would have been an achievement as Maharashtra and some other centres were operating at 50 per cent theatrical capacity. I was always confident about the movie, but my only concern was whether the audience would come to the theatres [amid the Coronavirus pandemic]. I am happy they came in large numbers,” he exclaims. The director is equally grateful to the film fraternity for lending support to the actioner.
During the film’s 19-month wait to the big screen, Shetty had lucrative offers from OTT players for a digital premiere. “I didn’t feel tempted to take up their offer. Sooryavanshi is a big-screen experience. There are 40,000 cine employees in India, and there was speculation about cinemas not reopening [soon]. Somebody had to take that first step and release their movie in theatres. I couldn’t be selfish.”
Elated as he is about Sooryavanshi’s success, Shetty has now moved on to Cirkus with Ranveer Singh. The unit will head to Ooty next week for the final schedule. Was it tough to shoot a movie during the pandemic? “I can’t sit around doing nothing. We wrote the script during the first lockdown. During the shoot, we followed many safety protocols. Luckily, not a single case was reported on the set.”
Vicky Kaushal, Sidharth Malhotra and Tiger Shroff top choices for Rohit Shetty's Amazon Prime web series
8:23 AM
Shetty forays into web as creator-producer with cop drama; Vicky, Sidharth, Tiger contenders to front Amazon Prime series
Upala KBR (MID-DAY; September 25, 2021)
Rohit Shetty has given Bollywood two of its much-loved cops in the Singham franchise and Simmba (2018). Not to mention, another brave police officer in the form of Akshay Kumar’s Sooryavanshi will explode on the big screen as soon as the makers deem it feasible. With his next, Cirkus nearing the finish line, the filmmaker is ready to introduce us to another cop drama. mid-day has it that Shetty is backing an eight-episode web series for Amazon Prime Video, which will be helmed by his assistant director Sushwanth Prakash.
Prakash, son of National Award-winning choreographers Rekha and Chinni Prakash, previously directed the short film, CopyCat (2015). “Sushwanth has been part of Rohit’s team for many years. The filmmaker, in his maiden digital offering, will serve as the creator and showrunner. With only 10 days’ work remaining on Ranveer Singh’s Cirkus, Rohit has started working on the cop thriller with his team of writers. The story is said to be inspired by true events,” reveals a trade source.
Shetty has apparently initiated talks with Vicky Kaushal, Sidharth Malhotra and Tiger Shroff for the series, and will zero in on the leading man in the coming weeks. “They are Rohit’s top choices for the role as the material demands an actor who is adept at action. If all goes well, the actioner will roll by December. Though it marks Rohit’s foray into the OTT world, he is not in a rush to announce it and will probably do so only after the release date of Sooryavanshi is finalised.”
Shetty remained unavailable for comment.
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