Showing posts with label Dasvi. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Dasvi. Show all posts
I have gratitude that the audience has tolerated me for 25 years-Abhishek Bachchan
8:06 AM
Onkar Kulkarni (BOMBAY TIMES; August 4, 2025)
Abhishek Bachchan may have clocked in 25 years in the movies, but he isn’t resting on milestones. From an unprepared 22-year-old stepping onto the sets of Refugee, to navigating highs, lows, reinventions and resurgences, in a conversation with us, the actor reflects on his journey so far and says he is eager to see what lies ahead. Excerpts:
‘I’m not someone who looks back, I prefer to keep my eyes on what’s ahead’
Reflecting on his 25-year journey in cinema, which has included movies like Dhoom, Yuva, Guru, Bunty Aur Babli and Sarkar, he says, “I can’t believe it’s been 25 years. I’m not someone who usually looks back — I prefer to keep my eyes on what’s ahead. But when I do reflect, the first feeling that comes to mind is gratitude. I have gratitude that the audience has tolerated me for 25 years (laughs), and to the filmmakers who believed in me, and continue to believe in me.”
‘Whenever you look back, you’re going to find something you could have done better’
When asked what advice he would give to his younger self, he says, “I’d say, wait, spend some more time preparing yourself. I was 22-23 years old when I started shooting for Refugee. I was so excited to have bagged a film that I just jumped into it. J P saab is such a master at what he does that you really didn’t have to prepare anything because he takes such brilliant care of you. He was the ultimate puppet master. We would just show up and he would make us do everything. He treated us like kids and spoiled us thoroughly. In retrospect, after 25 years of experience, I’d say take some time and be a bit more prepared. But I guess whenever you look back in life, you’re always going to find something you could have done better.”
‘Everybody around me had advised me against the break I took’
During his career, Abhishek stepped away from the screen for a while in the late 2010s, only to return with Manmarziyaan (2018), a comeback that marked a significant shift. The actor, who is enjoying the new phase of his career with projects like Breathe and Dasvi, shares, “Everybody around me had advised me against it. However, it was the best decision I took. I think it’s important for actors to recalibrate when things are not going the way they want. So, it was important for me.”
‘It’s not an easy industry to survive in’
Now, in the 25th year of his acting career, he’s seeing a resurgence that’s hard to ignore. Abhishek, who was recently seen in Kaalidhar Laapata, says, “Thankfully, people are still giving me an opportunity to make films. For any actor to continue to work for so long is a privilege. It’s not an easy industry to survive in. Right now, I’m truly enjoying this phase of my career. I’m being offered diverse roles like I Want To Talk, Be Happy, Housefull 5 and Kaalidhar Laapata. I’m glad directors believe I can take on such variety. It’s challenging, and it’s great that they think I’m worthy of that challenge. So, I just keep my head down and focus on work.”
‘I have many more peaks to conquer’
Interestingly, several fans online have claimed that this is Abhishek’s “eternal peak.” Reacting to the praise, he smiles and says, “Wow, I am at the ‘eternal peak’? Let me just frame that word, eternal peak means I am never coming down from here. I am very flattered, however, I hope it’s not true because I have miles to go. I have many more peaks to conquer. We’re just getting started. Twenty-five is just a number. I’m very energized. I feel like a newcomer and excited for what lies ahead.”
Sidharth Malhotra bags romantic film; to be directed by Tushar Jalota of Dasvi fame
8:30 AM
Sources say after a string of actioners, Malhotra to front romantic film helmed by Tushar Jalota of Dasvi fame
Priyanka Sharma (MID-DAY; August 29, 2024)
Sidharth Malhotra is looking for love on screen. After headlining a slew of actioners—from Mission Majnu (2023) to Yodha and Indian Police Force—he was keen to return to the romance genre, and seems to have found just the project. It has been learnt that the actor will front a love story produced by Dinesh Vijan.
A source says, “Sidharth has been in talks with Dinesh’s production house for some time. He loved the script and is excited to team up with a banner that is known for bringing modern romances to the screen.”
The yet-untitled project will be helmed by Tushar Jalota, who previously directed Dasvi (2022).
With this, Malhotra will revisit the genre that he favoured in the initial years of his career. While his debut film Student of the Year (2012) was a campus romance, he starred in several other rom-coms, including Hasee Toh Phasee (2014) and Baar Baar Dekho (2016).
The source adds, “Sidharth believes his fans like seeing him in the genre. At the same time, he was certain that he didn’t want to do a run-of-the-mill love story. That’s where this film fit perfectly with its novel tone.” If things go as planned, the project will roll later this year.
If one female actor’s film stands out, it makes space for more-Yami Gautam
10:21 AM
Madhureeta Mukherjee (BOMBAY TIMES; December 28, 2023)
It won’t be wrong to say that Yami Gautam Dhar is probably in the best phase of her career right now. Her recent spate of films has made filmmakers more aware of what lies untapped and how they can mould her for a variety of characters. She admits, “It took a lot of time for everyone to turn around and say, ‘We didn’t think of her in the same light’.” Now the arc lights are shining bright on her, the floor is all set, and Yami is here, bringing on her A-game. Excerpts from a conversation.
You have had an interesting few years, with back-to-back releases on OTT. Do you think the medium has opened doors for you and tapped your potential like never before?
I see this whole phase as a process of evolving, and fortunately, before the pandemic struck, I had two important theatrical releases, Uri – The Surgical Strike and Bala. To get a role like the one in Bala was so different. I don’t think we have enough well-written comedy parts for actresses. These films opened up the box office, and for me, they opened avenues and gave other directors ideas on what more they could explore with me as an actor. After that, I did A Thursday, Dasvi, Chor Nikal Ke Bhaga, Lost and OMG 2. For me, the whole idea of choosing films is not about filling in some dates in my calendar and doing one film after the other. I need to feel that the work I am choosing is taking me ahead, not just from the box office point of view, though I understand that is critical, too. I need to know that the work I choose has something new to offer and the potential to connect with the audience.
So, films like Uri – The Surgical Strike and Bala were the gamechangers?
Yes, Uri and Bala were turning points in my career. Those films allowed everyone to see my potential from a new lens.
You started your journey in the movies on a very different note, with an unconventional film like Vicky Donor. Was that your way of setting the tone for your career?
If I chose to be part of a film like that at the beginning of my career, what does that tell the audience? That you are here to do something with substance, and not just be a part of what is trending. What follows is not in your hand, and in my case, it took a lot of time for everyone to turn around and say, ‘We didn’t think of her in the same light’. There was a period when I was trying to find my ground. I had clarity, but that had to be expressed through my work. And there comes a point when you don’t fear saying no and let go of films that you don’t think you should be a part of, because you want to create equity for yourself and be a pivotal part of stories. For me, this realization happened around 2019. So, I, too, had to shift gears, evolve, and change my perspective.
Do you see a change in the way the industry views women in cinema – the kind of roles they can do and what they can bring to the table with their talent?
There has been a change, and I do sense an awareness among actresses and respect for them among writers, directors and producers who back good films. We want well-written roles, and we want to be pivotal to the story irrespective of the genre. The change will not happen in one day; years ago, it took one woman to muster the courage to go home and say she wanted to become an actress. Since then, we have had a series of great actresses because of whom we are here. Today, we are doing better work, expecting better roles, and making a place for ourselves, and if one female actor’s film stands out and does well, it makes space for more.
You have been married to filmmaker Aditya Dhar (director of Uri: The Surgical Strike) for over two years now. Tell us how this phase in your life has been so far.
It’s the best feeling to come back home to someone who loves you, respects you and is always on your team, no matter what. We talk about everything – from what we ate to discussing the scenes I shot. We like to keep it light and happy. Both of us like talking about films, and not just the films we are working on, but different kinds of movies. It is so refreshing for the actor in me to hear a director’s perspective on a certain scene. I love his perspective and observations on my work, too.
Today, things like the length of your role in a film and how many scenes you have doesn’t matter. It is about the bigger picture, right?
Internationally, we see some of the biggest stars coming together for a film and if we want to take our cinema ahead, we have to let go of these things (like the length of your role) and create a sense of new culture where these factors are not a hindrance. We (the industry) and the media should change their lens. For so many of my films, including Kaabil, I have been written about for the length of my role, instead of what I added to the film or what I held as an actor on my own. We all need to evolve if we wish to make the change.
On social media perceptions
I don’t believe there is anything like ‘couple goals’. I find it very interesting to read these terms, and people get excited by them because they see them (couples) in a certain way. You will never know about anyone’s life, every marriage is different and every picture you see is very different. So, you don’t need to engineer that thought in people”
2022 has been like a bookmark in my life-Nimrat Kaur
8:21 AM
Syeda Eba Fatima (HINDUSTAN TIMES; March 15, 2023)
For Nimrat Kaur, birthdays are all about spending quality time with family, and this year was no different. The actor, who turned 41 on March 13, rang in her birthday with her loved ones in Delhi. “It was all the more special because after Covid-19, this was the first time that my maasi and mama came down from Canada. I had not seen them in three-four years. It was a family reunion of sorts,” shares Kaur.
Reflecting on the year that went by, the Dasvi (2022) actor feels it was like a “life marker” as “a lot of exciting and new things happened” on both the personal and professional fronts. “I changed my house. Moving to a new place was a major step. Moreover, I bought myself a new car, which had been a dream for a while. Professionally, too, last year has been really interesting as it’s been my busiest yet. I worked in four different projects. So, it’s been like a bookmark in my life,” says the actor, who shot for Happy Teacher’s Day, which is scheduled to release this year, among other unannounced projects.
Birthdays are a time for self-reflection. On that front, Kaur feels she has become “free and fearless” over the years. “I can sense that I am becoming more free and more forgiving of myself. [But] I haven’t perfected that yet. I do know I’m in a place where I judge myself less. I’m willing to take bigger risks in life. I’ve learned to prioritise my time,” she shares.
On the one advice that she would give to her younger self, the actor says, “That little girl should know that she’ll never really have everything figured out. She’s always going to keep learning. Perfection is nothing. It’s all about the journey.”
OTT has a larger audience base compared to theatres-Abhishek Bachchan
8:25 AM
Rishabh Suri (HINDUSTAN TIMES; June 7, 2022)
Abhishek Bachchan’s last five releases came out during the pandemic. In fact, all his projects — Ludo (2020), The Big Bull (2021), Breathe - Into The Shadows, Bob Biswas (2021) and Dasvi — released directly on the web. Since theatres are running in full strength now, the talk around box-office figures has gained relevance again.
Ask if his projects taking the OTT route ever bothered him, and the 46-year-old shares, “I am an actor. My job is to act. Obviously, we love to be on the big screen, but I think a huge advantage of being on a streaming platform is the kind of reach you have. OTT has a larger audience base compared to theatres.”
Bachchan adds that thanks to OTT, films now reach a wider audience, including people in the interior parts of India. “Be it Ludo or The Big Bull [they were watched by a large audience]... In case of Dasvi, 400 million people could access it on the web by the push of a button. Even if we had to debate on it, if 10% of that number decided to watch the film in theatres, that’d be a total of 40 million. Take the average ticket price that is Rs. 120 in India and do the math. The figure is mind-boggling,” says Bachchan, who will next be seen in the third season of Breathe.
In recent times, it’s been observed that box-office numbers affect the mindset of moviegoers. In fact, the numbers become a factor in deciding if they want to watch the film in theatres or not. Bachchan is glad that the number game doesn’t exist in the web space, yet. “How nice that OTT platforms don’t release this data. Unfortunately, the box office has become the focus of the audience over the years. Earlier, whether a film is good or not used to be the focus,” he ends.
Finally, with Dasvi, I got to taste super success and reach the masses-Abhishek Bachchan
8:19 AM
S Farah Rizvi (HINDUSTAN TIMES; April 24, 2022)
After being part of films like Luka Chuppi, Chopsticks (both 2019) and the recently released Dasvi, actor and comic Arun Kushwah, aka Chote Miyan, is happy to finally strike a chord with the masses.
“My videos and sketches on web channels gave me instant recognition, and I was overwhelmed with the way my web character, Chote Miyan, wows the viewers. But, amid all this, I knew that I had to sharpen my skills to reach out to a larger audience. That’s when I turned towards films, but nothing big happened till everything fell into place with my recent hit film with actor Abhishek Bachchan. Finally, I got to taste super success and reach the masses,” says Kushwah.
The Gwalior-lad is clear about keeping his content away from making it appearance-bound. “One cannot always crack jokes on someone’s physical appearance and build a career on it. I mean, being tall or short or being fair or dark is certainly not in our hands! So, why make it a point of laughter and, for that matter, how long will you be able to make people laugh with those same jokes? I was sure that my content would never be restricted to making fun of physical features.”
The YouTuber has over a million followers. “If you are talented, you don’t need pegs like appearance to make people laugh, and my videos are a fair example of what I think. And it’s not because I am short. Trust me, it would have been the same if it had been the other way round. It’s entirely a matter of exploring and putting your craft to work. I believe in generating good content by being fully aware of my surroundings and happenings.”
Talking about his latest character and its instant connect with the audience, Kushwah says, “When I got this role of Ghanti, I knew it could be my best of characters that I have played till date. But such a huge response surprised me bit time.”
Nimrat Kaur says that her 7-year absence from Bollywood was not a conscious choice
8:30 AM
Titas Chowdhury (HINDUSTAN TIMES; April 21, 2022)
Actor Nimrat Kaur, who has been busy with projects in Hollywood, wishes she had spent more time in the Hindi film industry. She returns to Bollywood with the recently released social comedy, Dasvi, seven years after her last Hindi film, Airlift (2016).
Kaur says, “I wish I could have chased my last Hindi project way quicker with a new project. But that’s something you can’t control, especially me, because I work abroad, too. Straight after Airlift, I went abroad to do a television show called Wayward Pines, which took six months.”
In between, Kaur did a Hindi web series titled The Test Case, before returning to the West, once again, to shoot for the eighth season of the TV series, Homeland. She does, however, add that the need to match up with her first project, the critically acclaimed The Lunchbox (2013), drove her to be picky with Bollywood scripts.
“You want to work much more, but things don’t fall into place or you don’t get the kind of project that you want to do,” shares the 40-year-old, adding, “There are a host of variables that you can’t control. I tend to not worry about things that are beyond me, and thankfully, that’s a part of my nature.”
The actor goes on, “I haven’t consciously stayed away from [Bollywood] films. I genuinely wanted to work on more projects.”
Ask Kaur, if at any point, she was worried about being forgotten by the Indian audience, given her absence, and she says, “I’ve enough faith and belief that whichever project I take up in any part of the world, no matter how much time it takes, there will always be a space in the audience’s mind for me. I hear things like ‘they want to see more of me’, and that’s very encouraging. It’s the ‘absence makes the heart grow fonder’ kind of thing.”
I feel bad for my parents sometimes-Abhishek Bachchan
4:17 PM
Abhishek Bachchan on why dad Amitabh refrains from talking about his performance in public
Rishabh Suri (HINDUSTAN TIMES; April 13, 2022)
Actor Abhishek Bachchan has been lauded for his performance in his latest release, Dasvi. And his father, actor Amitabh Bachchan, has been most vocal about his act. He took to social media when the film released and wrote, “…Abhishek, tum mere uttradhikari hoge, bus keh diya to keh diya! (sic).”
Abhishek says, “He is just like any other father. We tend to forget that parents, at the end of the day, are parents. I feel bad for them sometimes. My father told me that he wants to reserve his comments about what he feels [about my performances] at times, because he doesn’t want people to misunderstand and say, ‘You are being biased.’ It was very touching of him to say what he said. It made me emotional and thankful.”
Bachchan senior has been constantly sharing songs and retweeting fan comments about the 46-year-old’s performance in the film that had an OTT release.
“He is very excited. I am a parent as well, so I know you cannot see beyond your children. It gives you so much happiness when you see them happy, healthy, and, hopefully, successful,” adds the Manmarziyaan (2018) actor.
Right before the film released, he had written a note on social media, wherein he mentioned he was “reticent to speak about his films and is borderline apologetic about his work”. Ask him about it, and he replies, “Well, it’s the truth. I just wanted to say I was very excited after seeing the film, happy and proud of our director. I just wanted to put the positivity out there. In the past, I have been shy to say anything, as I thought, ‘Let the film talk’. But with this one, I thought, ‘You know what, I want to talk about it’.”
(Crisp) Movie Review: DASVI by FENIL SETA
5:03 PM
Dasvi has an interesting premise and is a clean family entertainer. However, the film fails to impress as it lacks humour. There are lot of loopholes in the script and moreover, the makers rush through some of the important developments. On the positive side, a few scenes are well executed and the ending is watchable. The performances also save the film. Abhishek Bachchan gives a sincere performance and tries his best to rise above the script. Nimrat Kaur is a surprise and is terrific. She’s sure to benefit the most from this film. Yami Gautam is convincing as the strict police officer. Manu Rishi Chadha is decent while the others are okay. All in all, Dasvi is disappointing.
My rating - ** out of 5!
Fenil's Bollywood Talk # 720
2:47 PM
HOLLYWOOD, ABHISHEK BACHCHAN'S NETFLIX FILM, DELAYED HINDI MOVIE TO DOMINATE THIS WEEK
The trade and industry are gearing up for the release of KGF 2 next week, along with Jersey and Vijay's Tamil film, Beast. Due to the clash of these films and also because of the start of Ramzan, this week would not see the release of any major Hindi film.
The major film hitting cinemas is Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets Of Dumbledore. This is the third Fantastic Beasts film and it is a part of the Harry Potter universe. The first part opened at Rs. 1.50 crore and had lifetime collections of Rs. 15 crore approx. The sequel opened at Rs. 2.75 crore and ended its run by collecting around Rs. 22 crore.
Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets Of Dumbledore would not collect so much as the second part. An opening of Rs. 1-1.75 crore would be ideal. For exhibitors, it'll be an apt film this week to fill cinemas before the big films release on April 13.
The other release is The Lost City. The awareness and hype are minimal though it can get some audiences due to its star cast (Channing Tatum, Sandra Bullock, Daniel Radcliffe and Brad Pitt). Chris Pine-starrer The Contractor, meanwhile, would suffer due to zero awareness.
Speaking of Bollywood, Hurdang starring Sunny Kaushal, Nushrratt Bharuccha and Vijay Verma would arrive in cinemas. The awareness is there but the hype is negligible. It has got a very limited release and hence, its collections would be disastrous.
On Netflix and Jio Cinema, Dasvi was released today. It stars Abhishek Bachchan, Yami Gautam and Nimrat Kaur. It tells a hilarious story of a chief minister who goes to jail and who then decides to complete his education. It looks like a clean family film and hence, it might get decent viewership.
My journey doesn’t conform to norms. The balancing act can be draining-Nimrat Kaur
8:11 AM
Nimrat Kaur discusses enjoying the best of both worlds as she headlines Dasvi and an international project in Foundation 2
Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; March 26, 2022)
In the six years since her last Hindi film Airlift (2016), Nimrat Kaur has featured in Wayward Pines, The Test Case (2017), and played an ISI agent in the final season of Homeland. An eclectic choice of projects, you would agree. So, it piques our interest when she says that Dasvi gave her a character she had “the most fun with”. “The journey from Bimmo to Bimla Devi was unrelatable for me. For the first time, I had to imagine everything from scratch,” she begins.
In the Netflix film, the actor plays a homemaker who becomes the chief minister overnight when her politician husband — essayed by Abhishek Bachchan — is put behind bars. It’s easy to see that her role is inspired by former Bihar Chief Minister Rabri Devi. “I had heard the one-line [character sketch] in 2020; I hadn’t even heard the script. I knew right then that I had to do it. My interest was independent of whom the role was based on. She is initially oppressed, and then becomes an oppressor. I had to be careful not to judge her. I piled on 15 kilos, and did accent training. I will never forget this film because it is rewarding to play a part where there isn’t an ounce of Nimrat.”
Over the years, Kaur has learnt to juggle international and domestic projects. Her idea is simple — to build a repertoire that has a spectrum of performances. “I have a First-World problem. I have one gig here and one gig [in the West]. This is how it has been since The Lunchbox. My journey doesn’t conform to norms. The balancing act can be draining, but it feels great to play satisfying characters.”
Next, she will take the baton from Kubbra Sait to play a key role in the second season of Apple TV’s Foundation. “For a sci-fi freak like me, it is a dream universe to be a part of. I have maximum scenes with Jared Harris, who is an institution. David Goyer [executive producer] is a genius. Plus, there is Alex Graves, with whom I worked on Homeland. He has a vision that’s rare to come by.”
I have always taken the pressure of delivering a good film-Abhishek Bachchan
8:26 AM
Abhishek Bachchan, who plays corrupt politician in Dasvi, says the movie furthers his priority of experimenting with roles
Uma Ramasubramanian (MID-DAY; March 24, 2022)
When he returned for a second innings in 2018 after a self-imposed hiatus, Abhishek Bachchan had promised to only take on movies that challenge him. The actor has since stuck to his resolve, even as his experimental streak has resulted in varying degrees of success. Dasvi, which sees him portray a corrupt chief minister who sets out to clear the 10th standard examination from jail, is another step in that direction.
To Bachchan, the rustic Ganga Ram Chaudhary may be rough around the edges, but is endearing nonetheless. “In the first five minutes, you’ll discover that he is lovable and sweet. By the end of the film, he has a deeper understanding of society. His relationship with his wife [played by Nimrat Kaur] is something that I enjoyed. Contrary to how we perceive [such characters], he is not chauvinistic,” he reflects. One might assume that the Netflix film highlights the need for educated politicians. The actor, however, says, “We are not making a social commentary. The emphasis was on making an entertaining film. After that, if people can walk away with a social message, we’ll be happy.”
While he won praise for Bob Biswas (2021), his last success was the ensemble drama, Ludo (2020). The upcoming Tushar Jalota-directed venture, in contrast, sees Bachchan shouldering the social comedy. Does he feel the pressure? “I have always taken the pressure of delivering a good film. It doesn’t matter where [I] stand in the frame. I have never thought in terms of [lead and second lead]. You should take ownership of your films, only then can you truly submit to them.”
It is evident that he walks the talk. Bachchan is known to take ownership of his movies — be it the recent offerings that have won him appreciation or the forgettable ones in the past. “I review my films all the time as a learning process. I make notes to see where I could have done things better. I take criticism seriously because every opinion matters to me. Here’s somebody telling me what I need to improve. Why would I not listen to that?”
Artistes can’t depend on Bollywood for a chance anymore, feel Sachin-Jigar
8:15 AM
Juhi Chakraborty (HINDUSTAN TIMES; December 30, 2021)
In the last two years, the music industry was heavily impacted due to the pandemic, but it also made artistes realise that they needed to be self-sufficient. Composer Sachin Sanghvi of the musical duo Sachin-Jigar, who suffered from Coronavirus himself, shares how it gave him time to re-evaluate.
“It has been a good time for artistes to understand that they cannot depend on films or a chance from Bollywood anymore. Everybody has to find their own sunshine. We are living in such times that every artiste has a chance to become as popular as a film star,” he explains.
The pandemic opened them up to new ways of making music. The duo came up with the entire album of Chandigarh Kare Aashiqui in the lockdown. Jigar Saraiya adds, “We both have always made music in studio, but the pandemic brought out a new side of making music at home. All the songs were made online, and we were recording and sharing them with Abhishek Kapoor (director) simultaneously.”
Looking back at 2021, the duo agrees that it has been a fulfilling year, as they were able to cater to the masses as well as the critics through their music. “With Roohi, Shiddat and Bhoot Police, we were pretty massy with what we did. But with Chandigarh Kare Aashiqui, we struck a balance between the masses and critics,” Saraiya tells us.
As for 2022, the has a jam-packed calendar, composing music for Dasvi and Bhediya along with two web shows and four Gujarati films.
It felt amazing to shoot in hometown Noida, with family visiting me on set-Nimrat Kaur
8:01 AM
Niharika Lal (BOMBAY TIMES; August 6, 2021)
Recently, Nimrat Kaur wrapped up the schedule of her upcoming film Dasvi in Noida. The actress, who is returning to Bollywood after five years with this film, has shot in various locations in India and abroad during the course of her career. However, this was the first time she shot in her hometown, Noida. She spoke to us about how it felt to be back home, to have her family on set and the experience of shooting post-pandemic.
‘HOW I NEVER SHOT IN DELHI OR NOIDA IS A MYSTERY TO ME!’
While shooting in Noida, Nimrat says she was hit by a sudden realisation — “I thought, ‘Oh God! I have shot everywhere in the country, but I have never shot in Delhi or Noida!’ It’s actually a mystery to me, how all these years I never shot for any film, series, or even an ad, in Noida. We have lived there for over 26 years now. It is my hometown. I have done my schooling there and my family still lives there. So, filming in Noida was an amazing experience,” she tells us, adding that the icing on the cake was having her folks on set. “These are such extraordinary times, and so it feels amazing to even be shooting. What makes it even better is to be doing that in my home town with my family visiting me on set,” she adds.
‘IT WAS AMUSING TO SEE FAMILY’S REACTION TO SHOOT’
Since this was the first time her family was ever visiting a film set, Nimrat says their reactions were a sight to behold.
Nimrat adds, “As I was shooting in Noida for the first time, I was like they must come on set, as they have never seen me shoot before. It was so lovely. I was so amused to see their reactions. They had no idea how much hard work goes into shooting, how many times one has to repeat their lines, and how things keep disrupting shots — like flies, the heat or somebody’s phone going off. My mother very innocently said, ‘I thought it was like a play, and you just watch’ (laughs!). I was like, ‘it’s nothing like a play’. She couldn’t believe that there were so many people involved in the process. It was so hilarious for me. My folks loved it, and we all had a wonderful time.”
‘MISS SOCIALISING WHILE SHOOTING, BUT WE HAVE TO BE CAREFUL’
Talking about shooting amidst the Coronavirus pandemic, Nimrat says, “This shoot was pending for the last three months, and I was just waiting to come back to it. Most of us are vaccinated and everybody is doing what they can to be safe. I feel that while we should not throw caution to the wind, at the same time, one needs to try to come back to some form of normalcy, and we can see everyone the world over trying to do the same.”
Has the pandemic changed the set in any way, apart from enforcement of safety protocols? Nimrat says, “Everyone is careful on set. People are not chit-chatting. You do your work and you are back in your vanity van. Work-wise, nothing can change on a film set, but we miss hanging around and the social part of the shoot. However, we have to be careful."
Amid rising Coronavirus cases, film shoots in Delhi-NCR come to a halt
8:21 AM
Niharika Lal (BOMBAY TIMES; April 19, 2021)
FILM SHOOTS POSTPONED
Line producers say that even though shoot permissions were acquired, most production houses have decided to not shoot in NCR due to the current situation. Sumit Tyagi, a line producer, says, “The shoot schedule of Fukrey 3 was ready and some locations were final, but now, the film’s shoot has been postponed. Rajkummar Rao’s Monica, O My Darling, which was scheduled for this month, has also been postponed.”
Javed Khan, a line producer, says, “Abhishek Bachchan, Yami Gautam and Nimrat Kaur’s Dasvi’s next schedule was a week-long shoot in Delhi, but due to the rise in COVID cases it has been halted, and a day-long indoor shoot may happen in NCR at a later date. Abhishek will not come to Delhi for the shoot. Tejas also had a short schedule in Delhi which has been stalled.” Another line producer informs, “Luv Ranjan’s was scheduled this month in NCR, but it has been postponed.” However, films scheduled for June are not cancelled yet.
‘LOCALS COMPLAIN TO THE POLICE ABOUT SHOOTS’
With a rise in COVID cases, locals end up complaining to the police about the gathering due to film shoots. Javed says, “If we tell the police that we will shoot with a small crew of 20-30 people, we get permissions. But when locals see a shooting happening in their area, they call the Police Control Room. Earlier this week, in Lucknow, where Dasvi’s shoot was going on in a park, some locals complained to the police and objected to it due to rising COVID cases, and the shoot was stalled. This is a new problem we are facing in cities with a higher number of cases. Last Sunday when I was shooting for an ad in Lodhi Colony in Delhi, locals objected to the shoot. We had a small crew and all the permissions. They complained to the police, asking why a film shoot was being allowed when there are restrictions in place.”
UNLESS CASES GO DOWN, SHOOTS MAY NOT HAPPEN IN NCR
Another issue line producers say they face is not getting the junior artistes’ COVID rest results. A line producer says, “We receive COVID test results of the crew before the shoot begins. But at every location, junior artistes are different and getting their test results on time is not possible.” Line producers say that unless the number of cases go down, shoots are unlikely to happen in NCR or elsewhere.
My gaps in work are unintentional-Nimrat Kaur
8:08 AM
Returning to Hindi cinema after five years with Dasvi, Nimrat Kaur on being unfazed about losing films as she juggles international and Bollywood career
Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; February 27, 2021)
With Dasvi that also stars Abhishek Bachchan and Yami Gautam, Nimrat Kaur returns to a Hindi movie set after five years. It’s a shame we don’t see the actor — a delight on screen - in Hindi cinema more often. “I didn’t realise it’s been five years. Time just flew by. After Airlift [2016], I did two international series and one here. It’s been a while since I faced a camera for a movie,” says Kaur.
When we last spoke to her, she was filming Homeland in Casablanca. The actor shone in the final season of the Emmy Award-winning show as Pakistani agent Tasneem Qureshi. Have her standards been set high after the Claire Danes-led series, making her picky about roles? “My gaps in work are unintentional. Sometimes, projects take far too long to come together. Shooting a long-format series like Homeland was a year-long assignment, from February to October 2019. The Test Case was also a long-term project. The stop-gap arrangement is fast getting rectified by the sheer velocity of work. I am not picky, but experimental. The Test Case was an experiment; I did it when web shows weren’t booming [in India]. The desire is to be versatile.”
But with flourishing careers in two industries, she is bound to miss out on work due to date clashes. The actor isn’t perturbed as she says, “I operate from a place of gratitude. As I start Dasvi, I am not wondering what I will lose out on in the US. I am engaging in conversations with suits [of production houses] abroad. As an artiste, I am privileged that I can do diverse work and cater to different sets of audiences. Eventually, if I miss a project, I believe there’s a greater plan.”
While Agent Qureshi’s story reached its resolution in Homeland, one would have assumed that Kaur would reprise her role as Captain Shikha Sharma in the second season of The Test Case. She clarifies, “My journey ended with the first season. I have nothing more to do in that show than what I have offered.”
I have waited for these chances, says Yami Gautam as as she signs eight films
8:03 AM
Kavita Awaasthi (HINDUSTAN TIMES; February 5, 2021)
With eight films in her kitty, actor Yami Gautam is on a roll. This year started for her with a bang as she recently wrapped up the shoot of her upcoming film, Bhoot Police. Next, she starts prep for Dasvi, a social drama, which will be shot in Agra (Uttar Pradesh) in mid-February, alongside Abhishek Bachchan.
“I am looking forward to playing a cop in this film, it will be fun to learn Haryanvi. Another film that I am excited about is, A Thursday, which is a sequel of A Wednesday (2008). It is one of the best scripts I have read in a long time. Apart from headlining this film, I am also the lead in director Aniruddha Roy Chowdhury’s next, which is a take on crime journalism. I didn’t want to headline a movie just because it is female led. These are really good scripts and roles with some amazing directors,” says Gautam, adding that the other four films will be announced soon.
The actor admits that in nine years of her career, she has had phases where she would have just one film in hand. “People would say, why are you so choosy? One can be choosy only when you have many options. If you don’t, then you do one film at a time, like I did. But things changed after I did films like Kaabil (2017), Uri: The Surgical Strike and Bala (both 2019). These films changed people’s perspective about me, and things started rolling,” she says.
Gautam adds that she waited for these opportunities as she wanted to focus on strong subjects. “The idea was to select films and be a part of scripts which also help me portray and become a versatile actor. I want to be who I am as a person but on screen, I want to surprise myself and the audience and see what more can I explore. That’s what makes it fun,” she says.
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