Zee Studios on Wednesday announced its latest film Berlin, a spy thriller mystery starring Aparshakti Khurana and Ishwak Singh of Paatal Lok fame. Set in the early ’90s Delhi, the film will be written and directed by Atul Sabharwal of Netflix crime thriller Class Of '83 fame.

According to the makers, Berlin narrates the story of a sign language-expert, who gets into the “dark vortex of rivalry” between intelligence agencies, deceit, and corruption. Sabharwal said he is excited to mount the film, which is set to go on floors early this year. 

“We have a great history of spy thriller films, this thriller drama is based on a mute and deaf spy. Also, seeing the Delhi city of the ’90s will be first of its kind visual interpretation, while covering an exciting time in the history of the country. The team can’t wait to bring the magic on screen,” the writer-director said in a statement.

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The Indian market hasn’t particularly done justice to the genre of spy thrillers, which makes Atul Sabharwal’s next, noteworthy. Sabharwal, whose resume boasts of projects like Class of 83, and Aurangzeb is set to present Berlin, a true-blue spy thriller revolving around a mute and deaf spy. 

In a round of casting that may seem rather unusual, the ebullient Aparshakti Khurana is set to play the protagonist in the project that pairs him with Pataal Lok actor Ishwak Singh. “I am currently putting together a list of spy thriller films that I need to watch as prep work. I have also begun reading and watching interviews of former spies. I am working on understanding their point of view, and learning about their experiences. There are several anecdotes that I have come across that, I am sure, will come handy,” says Khurana. 

Set in Delhi in the early ’90s, the Zee Studios offering will see the protagonist get involved in the rivalry between intelligence agencies. 

“This project is giving me the chance to explore new horizons. This is a genre that I haven’t explored before, but have wanted to since a long time. I am grateful to get a chance to unleash this side of me. I am thrilled, yes, but I would be lying if I said I am not nervous.” Having found comfort in the genre of comedy, Khurana says that while this genre “comes second”, he’s happy to “test new waters and push myself beyond the comfort zone.”

From Bobby to Manisha Koirala, Sushmita to Sanjay Kapoor, it’s second innings for a host of nineties stars
Sonam Joshi (THE TIMES OF INDIA; September 6, 2020)

Whatever happened to Chandrachur Singh? That was pretty much the question on the minds of those who remembered his performance in the Gulzar-directed Maachis in 1996. The role got him a Filmfare award, and plenty of critical acclaim but not too much else. Cut to 2020, the 54-year-old, who had been quietly raising his son as a single parent in Dehradun, returned to the public eye with family crime drama Aarya, which also brought back Jayant Kripalani and Sushmita Sen after a hiatus.

“My priorities were clear — I needed to be a parent. Also, I wasn’t getting the kind of offers I was hoping to get but the role Ram Madhvani offered resonated with me because Tej (who he plays) loves music and is a family man like me,” says Singh.

In the last few years, many actors who began their careers on the big screen in the 1990s and then faded away are now returning to the small screen in newer avatars through streaming platforms. There’s Sanjay Kapoor playing a father in Coronavirus lockdown thriller The Gone Game, Karisma Kapoor as a mother in Mentalhood, Bobby Deol as a godman in Aashram and police officer in Class Of '83 and Manisha Koirala as a Irani cafe owner in Maska, among others.

Casting director Abhimanyu Ray, who worked on Aarya and Class of '83 after himself taking a decade-long break from the movie industry, says Bollywood has often been judgmental towards actors perceived to be carrying baggage. “Filmmakers are afraid of taking chances and often actors are cast by what they’ve been seen in,” he says. “The downside is you get tired of seeing the same face portray the same characters again and again.” Talking about the positive response to Aarya, he adds, “These people have existed; it isn’t as if they were pulled out of a Pandora’s box, but the question is why have such good actors been forgotten?”

Ray also attributes this to mainstream actors’ aversion to web series until recently. “Many would think it would be a step down for them,” he says. “So one had to dig deeper and find actors who are talented but haven’t been around for a while.”

Actors are also willing to play their age now, and open to sharing the screen with other actors rather than hankering for the central role, says Karishma Kohli, who directed Karisma Kapoor along with an ensemble cast of Dino Morea, Shruti Seth and Sandhya Mridul in Mentalhood. “I was in awe of Lolo and stood with my jaw open on the first day of the shoot,” she recalls. Mentalhood’s casting director Aadore Mukherjee, who recently cast Bhagyashree and Sharon Prabhakar in a film and series respectively, credits “better content and good scriptwriters for bringing back actors to our screens”.

For viewers, seeing these familiar faces in a new avatar often invokes curiosity and nostalgia. Casting director Seher Latif, who picked Koirala for Maska, says the web offers freedom from box office pressure, thus opening up opportunities. About Koirala, he says, “We felt it would be a nice meaty role we’ve never seen her in before, and she also relished the challenge of working on the Parsi diction.”

Actor Sanjay Kapoor, who essayed the role of a father to a grown-up son in the series The Gone Game, says web series allow for more character development by virtue of their length. “The digital medium has given a platform to many actors who couldn’t make a mark in films, including me — I’m getting this kind of recognition after 25 years.”

Kapoor, who had shifted from acting to production due to lack of good roles, already has two other web shows on the cards. “The opportunities have definitely increased and I can do a greater variety of roles than a decade ago. Every character gets their due because of the longer format,” he says.

The fact that actors like Sushmita Sen and Lara Dutta can play leads in their 40s, something unheard of in mainstream films, also indicates a lesser degree of ageism and gender bias on OTT platforms. “When I narrated the script of Hundred to Lara, she said she’d never thought she’d be getting such a meaty role at this age,” says showrunner, creator and co-director Ruchi Narain. She points out that it is also difficult to tell the stories of strong older women in films “where everything other than a story of a young hero is considered fringe”.

Madhvani, who had worked with Sen on a commercial, says he approached her because she embodied the qualities of Aarya: “A woman who is confident, strong-willed, graceful, poised, someone who loves her family and children and would do anything to keep them safe”. He feels that for the audience to be invested in the characters and the relationships, the correct casting is of prime importance. “Tej’s character needed to be someone who was charming, innocent and lovable; Chandrachur had all these qualities along with a certain purity.”

Veteran actor Jayant Kripalani, 70, who plays Sen’s father, says it was the opportunity to play an underworld drug don that drew him to the role. “Web series are definitely a lot more adventurous and take risks with stories,” says Kripalani, who has been working on Bengali OTT shows in the last couple of years. “They fall somewhere between theatre and TV, giving an actor scope to do things they couldn’t do in front of a camera but could in front of a live audience.”

However, Ray adds that it is important that filmmakers keep thinking in imaginative ways. “It shouldn’t be the case that the actors who are now getting popular are used again and again,” he says. 

Bobby Deol on how superstar-father Dharmendra nudged him to explore digital entertainment as he follows up Class of '83 with Aashram
Uma Ramasubramanian (MID-DAY; August 27, 2020)

He has been receiving congratulatory calls from industry folk since Class of '83 dropped online last week, but Bobby Deol is eagerly awaiting father Dharmendra's feedback. The actor says that the veteran, who has been spending the Coronavirus lockdown in their Lonavala farmhouse, has been unable to watch the Netflix film.

"The mobile network and wi-fi connectivity are weak in the farmhouse. I can't wait for him to watch Class of '83 and my upcoming show [Aashram]. My brother [Sunny Deol] loved my work in the movie. It's wonderful when your hard work pays off," says Deol.

Having dedicated the past 25 years to films, the actor believes it was time he explored a new dimension of entertainment. He reveals that his 84-year-old superstar-father nudged him to explore digital medium. "He loves the OTT platforms and their content. Papa always says that one must keep working, regardless of whether your work is being showcased on an OTT platform or in a cinema hall. OTT is new to us at this stage, but he has embraced it."

It has admittedly been a hectic week for Deol as he follows up the Shah Rukh Khan-backed cop drama with the Prakash Jha-directed web series, Aashram. "People have noticed that the two projects, though releasing back-to-back, see me portray diverse characters. In Aashram, I play a criminal disguised as a baba. The show tries to raise awareness about [self-styled godmen] who exist in society."

Rishabh Suri (HINDUSTAN TIMES; August 25, 2020)

Portraying the role of a gritty and brooding cop in Class of '83 has brought Bobby Deol back into the game, and the actor admits he only wants to experiment with the kind of roles he takes up, and this one is a far cry from whatever he has done till date.

“That was the challenging part. I’ve played a cop earlier also — in Kranti and Chor Machaye Shor (both 2002) — and they were larger-than-life characters. But this one was very real — the journey of an honest cop (Vijay Singh), who sacrifices his family life, and the turmoil he went through fighting this system. That was very exciting to play,” he says.

Given that Deol shouldered the entire project, which also marks his comeback as the lead after multi-starrers Race 3 (2018) and Housefull 4 (2019), makes it even more special. He tells us, “It was a character-driven film, and that’s what I was looking for. It’s amazing that OTT platforms are giving actors such opportunities. For me, Race 3 boosted my career, and people noticed me — I’ll always be grateful to Salman (Khan, actor) for taking me in that film. Then Housefull 4 took my career forward. At the end of the day, one is always looking for a role that gets you noticed as an actor. It’s been 25 years for me in the industry and in the next 25, I want to play interesting characters.”

Deol has been getting rave reviews for his act in the recently released Netflix film. Ask him the best compliment he has received so far, and he laughs saying each one of them means a lot. “They’re such a boost to your self-esteem, and make you feel energised. I’ve been trying to do work which will get appreciated, and help me move further. I put faith in all my fans... that makes producers and directors notice me. I’m excited people have praised my work,” he gushes.

However, he’s quick to add that getting a call from the film’s producer, actor Shah Rukh Khan, was an icing on the cake. “From someone like him, who has achieved so much in life as an actor, it’s so nice to hear that. My brother (Sunny Deol) was so happy. Obviously, he’s family, but even then there was a glow in his eyes, seeing me excel as an actor. My sister couldn’t see Bobby, but only the character. That’s something you always wish as an actor,” Deol ends.

Class Of '83 could have made for a thrilling entertainer as the plot has a lot of potential. Also, the story stands out from that of the rest of the films made on the underworld. Sadly, the script and direction is very poor and lame. The film is just 98 minutes long but moves very fast and doesn’t allow any time for character and story development. The makers fail to convincingly recreate the 80s era and heavily rely on stock footages to depict the period. This is shocking, considering that it’s produced by Red Chillies Entertainment that has a fantastic in-house VFX division. At places, stock footage is not used and there, the makers resort to voiceover to explain the backdrop. Again, it doesn’t make the desired impact. The climax is too filmy and difficult to digest. On the positive side, a couple of scenes work big time and these are the sequences where director Atul Sabharwal doesn’t hurry. Secondly, Viju Shah’s background score has the vintage feel and is out of the world! I wish they release the OST soon as it’s worth it. Talking of performances, Bobby Deol genuinely gives his best shot but is letdown by poor writing. Also, his screen time is limited. Newcomers Hiten Bhojraj, Bhupendra Jadawat and Sameer Paranjape do a very fine job. But they look too similar to each other and it’ll be difficult for viewers to distinguish. Prithvik Pratap leaves a mark in an important sequence. Annup Sonii, Joy Sengupta, Vishwajeet Pradhan, Geetika Tyagi and Spruha Joshi do a fine job. All in all, Class Of '83 is a massive disappointment!

My rating - ** out of 5!

AS HOLLYWOOD GETS READY TO RELEASE ITS FIRST MAJOR FILM OF THE SEASON, BOBBY DEOL GEARS UP FOR HIS WEB DEBUT!

We had reported more than a month back that Hollywood is trying it best to release new films in cinemas of USA. Sadly, the Coronavirus cases increased and new hotspots emerged in the months of June and July. Hence, all the films that were to release in July got pushed. However, Unhinged, starring Russel Crowe is all set to release tomorrow in USA finally. It was to earlier release on July 10 and then got postponed to July 31. Interestingly, this film opened in international markets in July itself. It arrived in cinemas in Germany as early as July 16. It then released in Australia, Denmark, New Zealand and Singapore on July 30; in United Kingdom, Ireland, Norway and Poland on July 31, and in Canada on August 14.

But since it’s a Hollywood film, a release in USA matters a lot. Hence, the release of Unhinged in the major North American country is keenly awaited. What’s important to know is that cinemas in all cities are still not open yet. According to Variety, it releases in 2,000 locations, which is 1,000 fewer venues than normal. And most importantly, theatres in major markets like New York and Los Angeles are yet to resume. Also, theatres will have to operate with reduced capacity to maintain social distancing. Both these factors would be detrimental to it’s revenue earning.

However, at the same time, the competition is virtually non-existent. Films usually have to earn considerably in the first few weeks before another film takes over screens. In case of Unhinged, it has a clear one-week window after which films like The New Mutants, Rocket Hunter, Tenet etc are expected to release. But again, the usual flow of releases is missing and each film will get a chance to perform. That Unhinged has a smaller budget of $33 million also goes in its favour.

Till now, Unhinged has earned $7.7 million from international territories. In the first week of August, it was the top performing film in 11 countries - Australia, UK, Germany, Netherlands, New Zealand, Switzerland, Sweden, Ukraine, West Indies, Lithuania and Latvia. In many countries, footfalls have been encouraging. It also got the first mover advantage. Interestingly, the reviews are mixed and yet, audiences have been going steadily and this shows there’s a lot of pent-up demand. It remains to be seen how it performs in USA, the country with the maximum cases of Coronavirus. If Unhinged works here, it can give a boost to other filmmakers whose films are lined up for release.

Meanwhile in India, cinemas are still shut and tomorrow, Bobby Deol’s first web outing, Class Of '83, is all set to release on Netflix. It is directed by Atul Sabharwal, who earlier directed Aurangzeb, and is produced by Shah Rukh Khan’s Red Chillies Entertainment. From the trailer, it seems like a gritty action thriller set in the 80s, a time when Mumbai was grappling with the underworld menace. Bobby seems in great form and it can make for a thrilling watch if made well.

Charting new territory as he clocks 25 years in the industry, Bobby Deol discusses why he chose the gritty drama, Class of '83, for his digital debut
Upala KBR (MID-DAY; August 19, 2020)

Class Of '83 comes at an important juncture in Bobby Deol's career. In his second inning, he has tasted success with ensemble films such as Race 3 (2018) and Housefull 4 (2019). Now, armed with the conviction to go beyond the tried-and-tested, the actor is set to headline the Netflix film. Not only is the Atul Sabharwal-directed venture his solo outing after almost a decade, but also marks his debut in digital entertainment.

Tell him the stakes are high, and Bobby Deol says he wouldn't have it any other way. "After not working for two to three years in between, fortunately, I got the chance to reboot myself [in 2018]. I started doing movies again, and people took notice. When I read the script of Class Of '83, I realised I was getting an opportunity to play a character that is so different from what I have done in the past. It also aligns with the kind of roles that the audience wants actors to portray, today. So, it was the perfect way to change how the audience perceives me."

Set in 1983 Bombay, the gritty crime drama sees Deol play an honest cop, Vijay Singh, who is shunted to a posting in a police academy, where he moulds five officers into encounter specialists. "My real name is Vijay Singh Deol," he laughs, indicating that the coincidence immediately endeared him to the character. "Here, I was totally out of my comfort zone. I learned so much from these young [co-stars] while doing workshops with them. They are trained actors and have a different approach to the craft." Even as he clocks 25 years in the industry, the actor describes himself as a work-in-progress. "Now, the way I look at cinema has changed. [Even off the sets] I am attentive and observant, trying to grasp the things happening around me. For me, Class Of '83 is like my first film all over again as I am foraying into a new medium."

As he awaits the audience's response, Deol reveals he got his biggest compliment from producer Shah Rukh Khan. "He called to say how much he loved me in the film, especially in the scene where I break down in the car. I was touched by his compliment."