Showing posts with label Deepak Tijori. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Deepak Tijori. Show all posts
I was intimidated because I have looked up to Bhumi Pednekar-Samara Tijori
10:51 AM
Oshin Fernandes (MID-DAY; February 5, 2026)
While Bhumi Pednekar makes a commanding return to OTT in Amazon Prime Video’s Daldal, she finds an almost formidable counterpart in Samara Tijori. As the mercurial serial killer Anita/Anant Acharya, the actor has earned significant acclaim for her portrayal of a ruthless antagonist masquerading as a journalist. Reflecting on the reception, Tijori admits the response has been profound: “It is overwhelming; my heart is full,” she notes with evident gratitude.
Samara Tijori chopped her hair for the part
Samara, who wanted to pursue criminology, thinks she subconsciously manifested getting the part. Her dedication knew no bounds. She chopped her hair for real. Ask her why, and she explains, “When I went in for the look test, we tried a wig. I remember being like, ‘This is not really making me feel anything.’ When the wind was flowing, the hair was not moving. It wasn’t looking real. I thought to myself, ‘This is a part that I have, and I’m going to give 150 per cent to the performance on an emotional and physical level.’ As soon as I cut my hair, it was helpful to be Anant. It helped me detach, and it was certainly a good decision that I made.”
Samara Tijori on working with Aditya Rawal and Bhumi Pednekar
In the series, Samara shares a close bond with Aditya Rawal. With an evident onscreen chemistry, she asserts that they had become each other’s safe space while filming. “I love him to bits. We immediately clicked as friends. We watched a couple of films together because we had no reference point and had to enact the vulnerability,” she says.
As for her senior, Bhumi Pednekar, Samara recalled working as an AD on Bhoot – Part One: The Haunted Ship (2020) that starred the former. But things were different now that they were co-actors. She says, “I definitely was intimidated because I have looked up to her for a very long time. I met her the first time at the reading. And she literally hugged me and said, ‘I'm so happy that we are doing this together.’”
Deepak Tijori's advice to daughter Samara
Samara, who is the daughter of veteran actor Deepak Tijori, says that she had to shoot the climax earlier than expected, which left her petrified. But one phone call to her dad added a massive dose of encouragement. “He has always told me to be patient because it’s not always hunky-dory. I saw good and bad days with my father, and what I took from that is resilience. He emphasizes being ready because when something comes, you shouldn't be slacking,” she says.
Samara is aware of the pressures that come with great work. But she believes in going with the flow. “For a change, I would like to play happier roles,” she laughs. “If I can access these parts of myself and express them as an actor, there is nothing more fulfilling than that. But I am definitely in a space where I want to see where this takes me. It's not like some 50 things are flooding me. It’s very soon,” she signs off.
I was typecast as a commercial actor during my prime-Deepak Tijori
9:41 AM
Ancela Jamindar (BOMBAY TIMES; July 26, 2025)
Deepak Tijori, who was in Ahmedabad recently for the muhurat of Get Set Go, is excited about doing a Gujarati film after a long time. The Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikandar actor shares, “I did a Gujarati film (Hun Tu Ne Ramtudi) more than two decades ago. I have been watching Gujarati films and fortunately, things have changed for the better and interesting concepts are being explored. I was offered a couple of other films prior to Get Set Go, but I felt I should explore this one. Ahmedabad has changed a lot over the years, but I have always enjoyed coming here. The city has a rich culture, with the right blend of modernity, and I love the people. Whenever I am here, I never miss eating dal dhokli, which is among my favourite dishes.”
‘After almost 20 years, I am reinventing myself’
Talking about how he was stereotyped as an actor, he says, “I always wanted to do contemporary films which were out of the box, but I was typecast as a commercial actor during my prime. I grew up watching actors like Naseer sahab (Naseeruddin Shah) and Om Puri sahab, and I had a theatre background. Once, I met Govind Nihalani and asked if I could work in his films. He told me that I could never work with him as I was recognised as a highly commercial actor. This had such a big impact on me that I never approached any makers of art films, as I didn’t know how to change this perception.”
He adds, “Now, after almost 20 years, I am reinventing myself with a new look in Veena Bakshi’s Ittarr. I always wanted to do such films, the kind that Irrfan did. Once, I even met Irrfan to discuss a film on these lines, but unfortunately, it was too late. Now, I am getting opportunities to experiment. I want to do roles which suit my age and have depth. I would love to do a sequel of Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikandar with Aamir (Khan). It should be a continuation of the story. May be, we can play headmasters of rival schools.”
‘After the slump, I’m now ready with interesting films’
Recently, he was nominated for the Best Actor award at the Independent Short Awards, Los Angeles, for his short film Echoes of Us. He shares, “I wrote and acted in it as I wanted to explore something beyond stereotypical roles like playing a father or other supporting roles. I wrote this movie in English as I did not want to limit it to regional languages, as it then gets considered in the foreign language category at international film festivals, thus limiting the scope. This movie received laurels at film festivals, and I was excited to be nominated for the Best Actor award.”
While he has also directed and produced films, he says, “My passion has always been acting. But I took a step back intentionally as I was swayed into the wrong kinds of roles. I put myself in a bracket where producers did not bank on me. Once, when Bhatt sahab (Mahesh Bhatt) tried to offer me a lead role, producers said that I can’t be a hero. I idolized Sanjeev Kumar and dreamt of the kind of roles he played in films like Trishul and Sholay. After the slump, I’m now ready with interesting films. I hope directors offer me more character roles suitable for my age. I don’t want to play just a father.”
Asked about his thoughts on the OTT boom, he shares, “OTT is a haven for hidden talents and artistes who never got recognition. There are many stories that can’t be told on the big screen due to time limits, and OTT doesn’t have this constraint. It has its pros and cons. Audiences now know that even if they don’t watch a film in theatres, they can watch it on OTT after a month.”
‘I fully support Deepika Padukone’s demand for an eight-hour workday’
Recently, Deepak had supported Deepika Padukone’s decision to opt out of Sandeep Reddy Vanga’s next film due to a disagreement over working hours. He says, “I fully support her demand for an eight-hour workday because she wanted to spend time with her child. She has worked in 12-hour shifts in the past. It (working hours) should be one’s individual decision and she shouldn’t suffer because she is a mother. While there are factors like budget, time, and availability constraints, I feel these things can be managed. Earlier, actresses had to give up acting after marriage or having kids, but the industry has evolved, and we need to be more progressive.”
People say Kabhi Haan Kabhi Naa is Shah Rukh Khan’s film. I say it is Kundan Shah’s baby-Suchitra Krishnamoorthi
2:47 PM
Mimansa Shekhar (HINDUSTAN TIMES; February 25, 2024)
Do you recall the songs Ae Kaash Ke Hum and Aana Mere Pyar Ko, featuring Suchitra Krishnamoorthi and Shah Rukh Khan? That’s from the film Kabhi Haan Kabhi Naa (KHKN), which completes 30 years this year. The lead actor, Krishnamoorthi, who rose to fame for her role as Anna, is overjoyed: “Wow! 30 years mein logon ka punar-janam ho jaata hai. We are still going strong. I guess it’s a miracle that it’s relevant even today.”
Released in 1994 alongside films from big banners and superstars including Hum Aapke Hain Koun...!, Mohra and Raja Babu, KHKN, starring Krishnamoorthi, Shah Rukh Khan and Deepak Tijori, stood out as an unconventional romance drama of the ’90s, thanks to director Kundan Shah. Krishnamoorthi credits Shah for turning the romance of the era, known for its exaggeration, into something real and honest. “People say KHKN is Shah Rukh’s film. I say it is Kundan’s baby,” she tells us.
Recalling her journey into the film as an inexperienced actor and a popular model at the time, Krishnamoorthi shares that she faced challenges adapting to the “hard work and discipline of a film set”. She also confesses that she had lots of arguments with Kundan Shah due to these challenges: “Oh my God! He was such a hard taskmaster, he would make me cry.” She adds, “I used to say I wanted to go home and meet my boyfriend.”
Reflecting on the enduring appeal of KHKN, a story of romance, heartbreak, unrequited love, dreams and coming-of-age, the actor goes on to highlight the mature resonance the movie holds. However, the fact that Sunil (played by SRK), the male lead, did not end up with Anna is still a major talking point, according to Krishnamoorthi, who adds she still “faces fans’ ire for choosing another guy in the film”.
Laughing, she tells us about “getting gaalis” online, adding that some even tell her, “You don’t deserve Sunil.”
Deepak Tijori files Rs. 2.60 cr cheating complaint against his co-producer
8:18 AM
V Narayan (THE TIMES OF INDIA; March 20, 2023)
Mumbai: Actor Deepak Tijori filed a complaint with the Amboli police alleging that he was duped of Rs 2.60 crore by a producer who joined him to co-produce a thriller movie. An FIR was registered on March 15 against Mohaan Nadaar who signed the contract to co-produce the film.
The case was registered based on the written complaint that Tijori had filed 10 days ago after he did not receive money from Nadaar who siphoned off on the pretext of using it for the shoot location.
"The actor and the accused had signed the contract in 2019 for the movie Tipppsy. The accused did not pay the money and the cheque issued to him kept getting bounced. We are probing the case, and no arrest has been made so far," said Amboli police senior inspector Bandopant Bansode. Tijori did not respond to TOI's calls and text messages on Sunday.
In the complaint, Tijori said: "Nadaar took the money to pay for the location in London in September 2019. The money was paid after he promised to return, but he kept giving excuses and the cheques kept bouncing."
Tijori in the FIR said Tipppsy's shoot commenced in September 2019 in London. But Nadaar did not complete the project and incurred a loss of Rs. 2.60 crore. TOI is in possession of the FIR.
I told my father the entire story, but didn’t let him read the script-Samara Tijori
9:18 AM
Deepak Tijori’s daughter Samara on her debut alongside Bachchan Jr in Ghosh’s Bob Biswas
Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; January 3, 2022)
Ten pages into the script of Bob Biswas, Samara Tijori knew that Sujoy Ghosh’s story ticked all the right check-boxes. As a crime thriller buff, the genre, characters and the film’s milieu spoke to her deeply. “It was a layered character and it’s not an easy role to [nab]. When you are about to make a debut, people give you all kinds of suggestions. They won’t tell you to not do a film, but they will recommend that you think twice. [People often told me to] launch with a love story. I listen to everyone, but make my own choices,” says Deepak Tijori’s daughter, who didn’t let her father as much as read the script.
“I told him the entire story, but didn’t let him read the script. Before I began narrating it, I told him I would do it, regardless of what he says.”
That producer Sujoy Ghosh assured Tijori his daughter was in safe hands helped the latter give his nod. “The text read: ‘Now I have two daughters on set’. That is also how he treated me. Sujoy sir is the mentor I need in my life. Every time I struggled on set, he would say something encouraging. Within minutes, I could crack whatever I needed to.”
Barely a month since the release of the Abhishek Bachchan-starrer, she has already wrapped up the shoot of Hotstar’s next original series, in which she features opposite Boman Irani. The series is being monitored by Mirzapur creator Gurmeet Singh. “It is a thriller/drama, which hinges on family dynamics. I play the lead role, and the emphasis is on [my] craft. It also explores a father-daughter relationship. My mother isn’t pleased that this time also [I won’t be] glammed up.”
Irani, she says, is commendably “authentic”. “He has the unique ability to switch on and off while acting.”
At one point, I almost hated Deepak Tijori-Shah Rukh Khan remembers Kabhi Haan Kabhi Naa
8:26 AM
Roshmila Bhattacharya (MUMBAI MIRROR; February 27, 2020)
At the 39th annual Filmfare Awards, Shah Rukh Khan made history, walking home with two Black Ladies. He was adjudged Best Actor for Baazigar in the Popular Awards category and also bagged the Critics’ Award for Best Performance in Kabhi Haan Kabhi Naa. For the first time, two Filmfare acting awards went to the same performer. He was understandably ecstatic. “I’m a sportsman, I love awards. I’ve kept every trophy and medal I’ve won, even one for a balloon race from kindergarten,” he exulted when we met, with trademark SRK humour.
According to Shah Rukh, Kundan Shah’s coming-of-age romcom was his first anti-hero film. “Sunil is a failure, he flunks his exams and loses the girl. He lies, cheats and doesn’t bounce home with a silver cup,” he reasoned, but conceded that the character, despite the flaws, was lovable and he could identify with every shot and emotion. “I was thinking of Gauri (his wife) all through, from the time Sunil meets Anna till he proposes to her, only to realise she’s in love with someone else. At one point, I almost hated Deepak Tijori (he played Chris who wins Anna).”
Recently, Suchitra Krishnamoorthi, who played Anna, admitted that she auditioned four times before Kundan finally settled for her and with refreshing candour acknowledged that she was pretty clueless through the making of her first film. “When the song 'Woh Toh Hai Albela' required her to drop a tear on camera, there was a mad scramble for glycerine. But Kundan knew exactly how to extract the right emotions. He told me to imagine that one of my sisters was gone and after that the tears wouldn’t stop flowing,” she laughed, remembering how she’d hang out with Gauri during the long outdoors in Goa, and once, when made to wait four days, cribbed endlessly about wanting to be with her boyfriend. “I was reprimanded and told a heroine didn’t talk about having a boyfriend, definitely not one like Shekhar Kapur,” she recounted, breaking into peals of laughter.
Suchitra agreed that she was probably cast because she looked the part and Kundan would often ask her that apart from showing up on the sets what else could she bring to the role and she’d tartly retort, “I don’t know, you tell me.” Twenty-six years later, she marvelled at how innocent she’d been and how well her director had captured her 19-year-old naivety on screen.
Prod her on her co-star and she remembered Shah Rukh as someone very focussed, regaling everyone on the sets with stories from the sets of his other films. “He would give Kundan two options for every shot, it’s one of his best performances. He went on to become a superstar while I stopped acting and moved on to singing. My first album, ‘Dole Dole’ released after Kabhi Haan Kabhi Naa opened on February 25, 1994. I’d wanted to sing for the film too, but those days actresses did not do their own playback,” she rued. Shah Rukh and she continued to bump into each other, as their children were in the same school and she is still overwhelmed by the outpouring of love she gets for the film which the makers wanted to call Albela but couldn’t get the title.
“The film ended after 'Woh To Hai Albela', the second half was just a wrap,” Shah Rukh had explained, adding that the distributors would have loved it if it had ended with him telling Anna after the weddings, “It’s okay, I never loved you” with a brave smile. “Then the mother would have come up, put a hand on my shoulder, nodded understandingly and it would have become another Sagar,” he laughed.
But he was not ready to play the stereotypical sacrificial hero so they toyed with three endings. In the first, he’s standing dejectedly on the bridge after Anna is gone, when a girl walks up and stands beside him. When he asks her disinterestedly what she’s doing there, she tells him that his best friend Yezdi had promised to meet her there at 6 pm. With a gleam in his eyes Sunil tells her, “No, Yezdi won’t be coming at 6 pm but at 7 pm and he’s asked me to take you out for an icecream,” and waltzes off with her.
In another scenario, he goes down in church, walking on all fours—a quirk that never found its way into the film, like the pebble glasses and buck teeth that Shah Rukh had in mind for a podgy Sunil—but for the first time falls flat on his face. The symbolism was too obtuse for the distributors who preferred the third, more commercially viable conclusion, wherein a Juhi Chawla dances into the frame and asks him for directions to the church. He offers to take her along, lugging her bags, when she spots a shooting star and he tells her airly that “yahan toote taare girte rehte hain” even as the two criminals enter the frame to break the third wall assuring the audience that Sunil will be fine. While many saw it as the beginning of a new romance, for the hero himself, Sunil could have got lucky this time… Or maybe not. Kabhi Haan Kabhi Naa, that was the title, right?
Shah Rukh Khan's character in Darr Rahul was written keeping me in mind-Rahul Roy
8:02 AM
Himesh Mankad (MUMBAI MIRROR; February 4, 2020)
Rahul Roy, Anu Aggarwal and Deepak Tijori came together on The Kapil Sharma Show to celebrate 30 years of their 1990 musical hit, Aashiqui. The trio took a walk down the memory lane to reminisce about the good ol’ days. Rahul, who became an overnight sensation post Aashiqui’s release, revealed that he didn’t get any work for six months after it. “But suddenly I was offered almost 49 films and I didn’t know which to take and which to leave,” he confessed adding, “I remember Yash Chopra ji had called me for a narration. I was pre-occupied with other films and couldn’t take up the offer as many of the projects I had signed on were already on floors and filmmakers were fighting for my dates.”When prodded, the actor replied, “Well, the film was Darr, which later went to Shah Rukh Khan and shaped his career. His character Rahul was written keeping me in mind. I still have the big regret of not signing that film.” Rahul also admitted that back then, opting out of the industry was his choice. “I went out for a good nine years, and that was my choice. So I can’t really complain,” he maintained.
Neeraj Vora used humour to tackle challenges-Vipul Shah at prayer meet
8:06 AM
Neeraj Vora’s friends remembered the late actor-filmmaker-writer at a prayer meet on Monday
Natasha Coutinho (MUMBAI MIRROR; December 19, 2017)
On Monday, friends and colleagues of Neeraj Vora, who passed away at
age 54 on December 14, gathered at Stree Mandal in Santa Cruz at 5 pm
for his prayer meet. Filmmaker Firoz Nadiadwala, who had airlifted the
late actor-writer-filmmaker from Delhi’s AIMMS to his Mumbai residence,
Barkat, after he went into coma last year, told Mirror, “Religious hymns
recorded on the taar shehnai by Neeraj’s father, Pandit Vinayak Nanalal
Vora, played all through the chautha. It was good to see his friends
and colleagues show up and remember him.”
Filmmaker Vipul Shah
who was also among the attendees, said that even though he hadn’t worked
with Vora on a film, they shared a long association. “He was a genius
but people didn’t get to see all of it, now that untimely death has
taken him away. I have never seen a guy with a better sense of humour.
He used it to tackle all of life’s challenges.”
Vipul recalled that in college, Vora had directed plays and he acted in some of them. “We had no money so we went through some tough times together but he was always spirited. We kept discussing projects. While nothing worked out, our friendship continued.”
Also present at the two-hour prayer meet were director duo Abbas-Mustan, actors Kay Kay Menon and J D Majethia, among others. Pooja Bhatt and Deepak Tijori, who had played the lead in Ashutosh Gowariker’s directorial debut, Pehla Nasha, for which Vora, along with brother Uttank had scored the music, arrived together.
On Monday, friends and colleagues of Neeraj Vora, who passed away at
age 54 on December 14, gathered at Stree Mandal in Santa Cruz at 5 pm
for his prayer meet. Filmmaker Firoz Nadiadwala, who had airlifted the
late actor-writer-filmmaker from Delhi’s AIMMS to his Mumbai residence,
Barkat, after he went into coma last year, told Mirror, “Religious hymns
recorded on the taar shehnai by Neeraj’s father, Pandit Vinayak Nanalal
Vora, played all through the chautha. It was good to see his friends
and colleagues show up and remember him.”
Filmmaker Vipul Shah
who was also among the attendees, said that even though he hadn’t worked
with Vora on a film, they shared a long association. “He was a genius
but people didn’t get to see all of it, now that untimely death has
taken him away. I have never seen a guy with a better sense of humour.
He used it to tackle all of life’s challenges.”Vipul recalled that in college, Vora had directed plays and he acted in some of them. “We had no money so we went through some tough times together but he was always spirited. We kept discussing projects. While nothing worked out, our friendship continued.”
Also present at the two-hour prayer meet were director duo Abbas-Mustan, actors Kay Kay Menon and J D Majethia, among others. Pooja Bhatt and Deepak Tijori, who had played the lead in Ashutosh Gowariker’s directorial debut, Pehla Nasha, for which Vora, along with brother Uttank had scored the music, arrived together.
Apparently I was crap, they removed me from Jo Jeeta Wahi Sikandar-Akshay Kumar
3:49 AM
mid-day's exclusive in-depth conversation series, Sit With Hitlist, started off with Aamir Khan. Akshay Kumar is a fine follow-up. Both being kings of box-office. Besides that they've being reigning over Bollywood since the '90s
Mayank Shekhar (MID-DAY; November 24, 2017)
Now since this is part of a conversation series, I was trying to look at stuff that links you and Aamir. But, of course, you haven't done a film together. An interesting bit of trivia that I suspect audiences may not be aware of is that you, in fact, had auditioned for Aamir's cult classic Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikandar [1993], and it didn't eventually work out, is that true?
So, I went there. Apna screen test diya maine, for Deepak Tijori's role [Tijori played the young anti-hero in the school-campus rom-com]. And they didn't like it. And, apparently, I was crap, so they removed me. So, there you go!
Were you auditioning a lot [and perhaps getting rejected] in those years?
Yeah, I had auditioned with B R Chopra, Ravi Chopra, Raj Sippy, Pramod Chakravorty. I didn't have money to get my own portfolio shot, so I assisted photographer Jay Seth, on the condition that one day, he'd shoot and make my portfolio for me. I worked for him without any pay. Then there was the producer Salim Aftab, who'd made lots of films, including Loha, that I gave an audition for.
So usually, in Mumbai, over 20,000 people come over every year with the expressed intention of working in films. And over the years...
Per year, no? In Bombay Central station itself, kariban 5,000 log roz utarte hai [get off everyday]. From the North, and the South, but mostly from the North. Of these, around 3,500 return, because nothing works out for them. That is the actual figure. And this is from one station.
So they step out of Bombay Central, and a lot of them head straight towards Lokhandwala, and adjoining areas...
Yes, Lokhandawa is the hub.
Most of them hang around in CCD [Café Coffee Day], Barista…. Was the scene very similar, when you were starting out? Was there like a CCD equivalent, where people would dress up, chill, discuss scripts...
Back then, there was nothing known as script. As for places, there was one called Bonbon. Have you heard of it? It's a shoe shop in Seven Bungalows [Andheri]. That's where everyone would gather. Aur, ikatthe bhi kaun hote thhe [and the ones who would gather would be] strugglers, with fight masters. So, they would sit there, talk about stuff. The fight masters would then take us to meet some producers, directors. Because every film had fights. I think, after every eight to ten scenes, there would be a fight. If you see films from those days, you'll realise how they used to be full of fights, and fights, and fights. Yaha tak ki, I've heard so many directors say, ki jab film ke screenplay mein dhalaan aaye [when the story peters down], toh fight dal do [put in a fight sequence], toh upar aa jayegi [the tempo will pick up]!
So you're saying these action directors were the casting agents, in their own ways, back then? That you look good, can fight well, let me take you to a producer/director?
Yes. For the entire day, Bon Bon would be our hub to meet up, because the fight masters were there.
Why outside a shoe store though?
Because uske baju mein [right next to it], kabab ki dukaan thi [there was a kabab shop]. All Punjabi fight masters used to go there, wahan kabab shabab khate the. But because the name of that kabab shop was not easy to pronounce, we used to refer to the place as Bonbon [for the shoe store next to it].
Because uske baju mein [right next to it], kabab ki dukaan thi [there was a kabab shop]. All Punjabi fight masters used to go there, wahan kabab shabab khate the. But because the name of that kabab shop was not easy to pronounce, we used to refer to the place as Bonbon [for the shoe store next to it].
Another really fascinating thing I came across, and I'm not sure how many people know this, has to do with your name. A lot of conversations have happened around why you decided to take up Akshay Kumar [his real name is Rajeev Bhatia]. There was a [little known] Mahesh Bhatt film called Aaj, that you worked in, where you were supposed to be a stunt-person...
Martial arts teacher.
And when you actually saw the film, your role had been snipped to about seven seconds. Is that correct?
No, it was always that long. I had shot for seven seconds!
And then, you realised that the hero of that film is called Akshay. So you started to call yourself Akshay as well. Is that really the story?
Yes. That is a true story. Kumar Gaurav was the hero in that film. He was called Akshay. And, I don't know why, it's not that I thought my name was bad. Rajeev is a very good name. Pata nahi, dimag mein koi chah aa jati hai [something just interests you in your head]. And I just wanted to go, and change my name, and I went to the court in Bandra East and did it. I have a full certificate as proof [of my name-change].
And on one fine day, you decided to have a visiting card with that name.
Yes, a yellow and white coloured card.
Do you have the card with you?
I'm sure it's lying around somewhere. It was yellow and white in colour, I still remember that. I put my [new] name on it, my address, baaki toh kuch ttha hi nahi [there was nothing else to put anyway]. I just wrote, black belt, under it. That's it.
And your life changed on that day!
Actually there's a long story behind this. You want me to say it?
Absolutely.
So, I woke up one morning to start my workout. At six in the evening that day, I was meant to go to Bangalore for a modelling assignment that I'd got. At 5.10 am, I got a call from the airport. The [modelling] agency guy asked me where I was. I said I was home. And then he blasted me, over how unprofessional I was. He said, "You will never succeed in life, I can guarantee you." I asked, "What happened?" And then I realised, the flight I had thought was for 6 pm, was actually for 6 am. I was actually in tears telling him, "Yaar, mein bhag ke, motorcycle pe abhi aata hoon [I can just rush in now]." Unfortunately, they didn't agree. Obviously, they were also right. They had to catch a flight as well. Ussi din, mera card bhi aa gaya chap ke [That's the day my visiting cards arrived from the printing press]. I was very low. My father had gone to work. I was talking to my mother, who said, as every mother says in their own language, "Puttar koi baat bahi. Jo honda hai, Rab theek karta hai [Whatever happens, happens for the good]." That line, I've heard so many times from my mother. So, I went to Natraj studio that day, where I met [filmmaker] Pramod Chakravorty's company's make-up man. He asked me, "Hero banna hai?" I said, "Haan yaar, banna hai [Yes, I want to be a hero]. He said, "Photo hai [You have pictures]?" At that time, we used to travel with such big photographs, in a huge album. Because directors, and producers, would not want to see a small picture. I don't know what they wanted to see - pores in your skin, or what. But they wanted to see everything closely. So, he took that album inside the office, Pramod Chakravorty saw it. I was called in. Much to my surprise, he gave me my first cheque, signed me up for three films, immediately. Right away. He gave me a cheque of Rs 5000, for the first film, Rs 50,000, for second film, and the third cheque had Rs 1.5 lakh on it. The exact time he gave me those cheques was 6 o'clock in the evening. It would have been a disaster, if I would have gone to Bangalore. Today, I would be a retired model somewhere. So yes, whatever happens is for the good.
So you didn't go to Bon Bon the next day?
I did.
To tell everyone, boss, I got my break?
You know how it is. Humare dimag mein yeh bhi ek rehta hai na, ki jab tak film shuru nahi hoti, tab tak kya pata [You're never sure until the film actually rolls]. So many slips happen so often. You just never know. When Dada [Chakravorty] started taking care of me, I became his family.
So that make-up man is still your make-up person?
Yes, he's still there. Since I entered the industry, my driver, spot-boy, everybody has been the same.
I'm assuming the film you got that day was Deedar, which was also supposed to be Karisma Kapoor's debut?
Actually, Nagma had given the screen test first. Then Karisma did, and Karisma got selected.
This would have been your first film on screen, but it wasn't. And it was a romantic film?
Yes.
So you would have started out as a romantic hero, rather than the 'action star' that you eventually became.
But it [Deedar] had lots of fights too!
The persona that stuck with you was that of 'Khiladi', which is from your third or fourth movie onwards. Your name itself became Khiladi. Correct me if I'm wrong, one of the tests for old-world stardom in Indian movies, is when the actor acquires a sobriquet: for instance, Amitabh Bachchan is Shahenshah, Shah Rukh is Badshah, or King Khan… After Khiladi, in particular, was there a moment when you finally realised or told yourself, "Boss, I'm finally a star"?
I have this habit of listening to lots of people's stories, and learning from their experiences. Like, I love hearing about what happened with Rajendra Kumar, or Sunil Dutt saab, or Rajesh Khanna, or some producer, and I've learnt from their experiences. And the fact remains, there's nothing called a star. Kyunki aaj hai, kal nahi [It's there today, gone tomorrow]. Yeh mein bahut jaldi seekh gaya [I learnt this quite early on]. So I never took the idea of stardom very seriously. Sure, they call me Khiladi viladi, and they still do. For the last 15 years in the industry, I haven't made a 'Khiladi' film, yet if I step out, people say, "Aye Khiladi!" Even if I do 50 more films, woh naam hatega hi nahi [that name won't disappear]. But, I have never taken the word 'star' seriously, because I'm very scared that this is all going to go away. Without taking names, I have even heard stories of people going mental, when this star [syndrome] has been taken seriously, and things have started falling apart. Because this is a very deadly industry. Kabhi bhi gira sakti hai [You can fall any minute]. Kuch bhi ho sakta hai [Anything can happen].
Any other stories you might want to tell in this regard, even if without taking names?
Actually, I've learnt a lot from Danny Denzongpa. He's the one guy I would always like my life to be like. He has never taken his stardom seriously. He has his own very straight and simple life. He has his small beer company, where he gets his money from.
Dansberg, yes. You don't drink, but it's a superb beer though!
Yeah, I don't drink, but I know what you mean. Similarly I would also like to have a small company, so money keeps coming in. Then for three months in the summers, he [Danny] doesn't work. In the winters, if there's work, he'll go there. For two months, he goes alone, taking his flute, and he's singing, swimming in lakes! He really spends a life, and he has a great family life too - a man without any stress. I look at him, and say I want to have a life like him. So I follow him, and try to ape him. I'm sure you didn't expect Danny Denzongpa's name.
As your idol?
Well, only for the way he leads his life.
Sure, not as a professional, because very few people have been as competitive as you. I mean you take your holidays, but you make sure that you do four films a year.
Well, I don't make sure. It is not science. I fail to understand why people think of four films as a big deal. It's 38 days, into 4, that's 152 days in a year, give it 10 days each for the film's promotional activities, the rest of the days are yours, ghumo firo! (chill).
The other thing about highs and lows, very few have seen that as much as you - strings of hits followed by string of flops - and you've done so many films that you've probably lost count yourself...
No, I count them. It's 131.
Does that include Aaj?
Yes.
Because, Aaj doesn't feature much online...
I actually have another film, even before Aaj, called Harjaee.
What did you do in that movie?
I'm throwing flowers at Randhir Kapoor, he's getting married! (Audience laughs)
So when you've done that many movies, clearly by now, you have a sense of chalegi ya nahin [will it work or not]?
No.
Not at all?
Kisika baap nahi bata sakta! I challenge anybody who can say, yeh chalegi [this will work].
So are you still stunned by arrey, yeh, chal gayi [wow, that worked]? Or the other way round?
I can only say that this film will make a name for itself. But I can't predict what kind of business it'll do. For example, with Toilet [Ek Prem Katha], I knew people are going to say that we've made a good film. But that it would make Rs 130 to 132 crore was shocking for me.
And 2017 has been your year again: two back-to-back massive hits.
Things have been very good. It's been like this from the beginning of my career. Flop chal raha hai toh chal hi raha hai. 14 flops ek saath marta hoon! [If films are flopping, then I hit 14 flops in a row!]. And if it's hits, toh 12 hits mari hai ek saath [then I've scored 12 hits in a row!] Right now, the number is six [hits in succession]. Between 2010 and '12, I had delivered six flops together.
So you're saying it's purely luck of the draw then. By now I'm certain you've the inherent instinct to figure the business out; I mean that's how you budget movies, isn't it?
Okay, chalo mein aapki baat maan leta hoon [Let me agree with you then]. Golmaal [Again] released. I bet Rs 2 lakh that the film will hit Rs 200-crore mark. And that number worked.
Who was the bet with? Ajay (Devgn)?
No, I'm not going to tell you; someone else.
That's another interesting relationship you have with Ajay Devgn. You were apparently chosen to star in his first [Phool Aur Kaante, 1991]. Is that true?
Yes, I was in Phool Aur Kaante. I sat in on the [music] sessions, with Nadeem-Shravan at Sunny Super Sound [recording studio]. Those days, there used to be 30-40 violin guys in every song, a separate orchestra. Ab toh, we finish off everything in an instant. So at night, I was readying my ice box. You had to do it on your own in those days - paani dalna, barf dalna [placing water, ice]. So I was getting ready for the first day's shoot. And then I get a call, ki bhaiya aap mat aana. Koi aur aa raha hai [You don't need to come for the shoot, someone else is].
Nepotism?
No. But around the same time, a few days later, I met Abbas-Mustan at Juhu Centaur. And got Khiladi [1992].
Now another thing you'd maintained throughout in your career, is that you will never turn into a producer, that you only want to remain an actor. But you first produced Waqt [2005], the earnings of which, if I'm not mistaken, you donated to a cancer hospital in Canada. It seemed like a one-off call. But now you're one of those most active producers. What led to that change?
See, it became very difficult for me after a point. Now a producer comes in and says, "Bhaiya, mein produce karna chahta hoon, aap kitna paise lete hain [How much do you charge]? I don't know what to charge. Because, actually, nobody can come to know what to charge. The best way then would be that I make my own film. And I don't charge anything. When the film releases, I take whatever the earnings are, the whole thing.
You take the whole thing?
Yes, because I'm producing it. Unless, agar aap paise laga rahe ho [you're putting in money], I have to pay you. I make most of my films at a budget of Rs 20-30 crore, say. That return is guaranteed. Beyond that, if the earnings are Rs 40, 50, or 60 crore, good. And if it totally doesn't work, and makes Rs 10 crore, even then I have not caused a loss to anyone. It's a very simple. Obviously a newcomer can't do this. You have to be in this industry for quite a while. But, this is my calculation behind producing films - the fact that I cannot quote a price on myself, to any producer. Because I don't know how much the film will make. And I don't know what is going to happen - sometimes satellite rates go up, digital rights numbers go down, music works, or Bhushan ji [T-Series' Bhushan Kumar] says ki nahi chali [didn't work]. Nobody knows what is happening. There is no certainty to anything. So, why not take the blame on myself? And if I earn, I earn. If not, I lose. And obviously, there's no chance of losing, because that much [of investment], you can always earn [recover].
Are you good with money, otherwise?
I'm very good with money. My father was an accountant. I can calculate money very fast.
Does money interest you a lot?
No. To a certain extent, yes. Earlier I used to work in films for money. But, now I don't - I want to make films, which make a difference to society. That's why you'll see my choices of films have changed. Yes, when I entered the industry, it was a pure and simple thing - paisa kamao, ghar jaao [earn and leave] - I just wanted Rs 10 crore in my bank. Ab, woh calculation bandh ho gaya. That money wire in my head has been cut off. Now my calculation is, what next.
That's such a huge change from how you used to be-from your subjects in films, to your approach to movies itself.
But then that wire got cut!
When that wire was there, what did you love about money most? Was there ever a moment when you bought something and that felt like worth earning for?
I had not seen much money since childhood. So there was certainly an attraction towards it. But when I bought my house, that felt good. It was later that I realised that it was the same place where I'd done a photo shoot, and the chowkidaar had thrown me out! It's just a coincidence that I bought that house. Not exactly a scene from Anitabh Bachchan's Deewar [1975]! I still have a photograph of me lying on the ledge, and it's the same place where I live now. I have memories of coming to that beach with my parents. We would spend family time together.
It seemed to me that [your wife] Twinkle [Khanna] also had a role to play in the change in your film choices. She happened to be in the room while I was having this conversation with you recently. She agreed and said, in jest, that she keeps whispering in your ears while you sleep: "Do good films. Win awards." You said that you whisper back into her ears, "Mela, Mela..."
I also tell her about Kuch Kuch Hota Hai [1998]. Even that was offered to her. She read the script, and she didn't understand it. Eventually, Rani [Mukerji] did that role. She still tells Rani, "Teri zindagi maine banayi [I made your life]." She'd actually thrown the script, and called it sh*t!
As a couple, you share fabulous chemistry in public. But you guys seem very different from each other otherwise. She is a popular writer, very vocal about her opinions. You are extremely diplomatic. Are you much of a reader?
I don't read anything, except my agreements. I am a movie person. I watch every film, and almost every day. Anything on TV catches my attention. Just the other day, I was watching a Malayalam film, with no subtitles. I wasn't understanding anything. But mentally, I was weaving my own story of what's playing, based on the visuals. A lot of the times we make movies, by looking at movies.
Do you usually also look for material to remake?
I don't remake films, I remake scenes. Earlier in Hindi films, we would copy a lot. Things became really strict over time. Earlier, copyright meant right to copy. But thankfully, now we've a lot of original scripts to choose from. With studios coming in, things have fallen in place. People are working towards original screenplays. When you watch new movies, you can feel this change in cinema - Vicky Donor [2012], Shubh Mangal Savdhan [2017]… Earlier, who would think of making a film on sperm donation?
That's also the mode you've picked: mainstream, entertaining movies, slightly high-pitched, with a strong message [Jolly LLB 2, Toilet - Ek Prem Katha].
You have to do that.
While you're extremely diplomatic on political affairs, I was watching an interview of yours, where you've said that you wouldn't mind being a sports or health minister. Really?
I know these two areas very well. I don't want to do politics, for the sake of politics. I know what a sportsman thinks. I know I can do something about it. Even if I am given a stadium, I know I can change things. All my life I have been into sport. I might not be that educated, but sports has provided me education all along.
So far as movies are concerned, the one thing that you can certainly take credit for is bringing about change in the lives of stuntmen. Awara Pagal Deewana [2002] was the first movie to introduce stunts, using cables. Back in the day stuntmen used to die, lose limbs during jumps. There was hardly any safety net from an insurance point of view either.
I am happy to say that every fighter now has insurance. Hindi films' stuntmen are the only insured people. This practise has yet to reach Tamil and Telugu industries. Those men also need to be insured. I remember, once I was wearing my knee pads on the sets, that I had got from Bangkok. The stunt-master came up to me and said, "Kya kar raha hai, beta. Chand pe jaa raha hai. Mera bhi ghutna toota hai, theek hai. [What're you doing, son? Are you going to the moon? Even I've broken my knee, it's okay!]." There was such lack of knowledge.
Have you seen a major mishap happen in front of your eyes?
I have seen someone die. I can never forget that. He was a young boy, doing a car stunt. He waved out at all of us. And then the crash happened. We all went running. But by the time we got him out, he had snapped his neck. People don't understand that there is a lot of physics behind stunts. You've to understand it better. Suppose, if someone has to jump from a highrise or even from a chopper, what you think is the middle point, where you have to land, is actually not the mid-point. You have to take into consideration the airspeed which will shift you from it. I remember someone had to jump from a height, and land on boxes, and he fell out of it. People blamed me for it, said he was trying to copy me. People need to understand that every stunt - be it jumps, or those involving fire, skidding on a motorcycle - can be calculated. Stuntmen don't take proper care. They've started to of late. Earlier, we used to lose our men, left, right, centre.
Another area that you've actively worked on is self-defense for women. I was quite stunned to learn that this year, you had 21,000 girls graduate from your school.
Well, there was a recent case as well. A guy tried to molest one of the girls trained from my school. Forget resisting the molestation, she was so powerful that she beat him black and blue. He is in jail now. It's not about learning martial arts. Women have to understand that they should be able to combat blows. What happens when someone holds a girl's hands, she freezes. She can't believe that someone has caught her like this [inappropriately]. She doesn't scream, move or shriek. That is when a man takes advantage of her. I am trying to teach them how to be more confident in real life, besides being able to get out of an unfortunate situation. I teach them that they have to scream. I never have them come to the school in track pants. If people go to work in saree, they should come to learn in a saree. When someone attacks, you won't say, "Ruko track pant pehen ke aane do [Wait, let me wear my track pants]." They practice in heels, shoes everything. We have all kinds of students -from CEOs, to maids -training, free of cost. They come, enjoy the classes, and win medals. My farewell gift to them is a keychain with a whistle on it. When a girl whistles, the guy withdraws, and gets shocked. It scares him. It's an Israeli tactic.
Final question, and coming back to films, and actually how we began this conversation, with the Aamir Khan connection. Your next huge film is Shankar's 2.0. Because Rajinikanth wasn't well at a point, he had called Aamir up to check if he might want to do his role in 2.0. And Aamir said this was the most kick-ass script he'd read in the longest time, and that it would to be the biggest hit of the year. Except, he couldn't imagine himself playing that part, he could only see Rajini, when he closed his eyes. That great?
Yes, it is something very different. As I always say, Shankar is not a director, he's a scientist. He discovers things. Once you watch the movie, you will wonder for a while, "Yeh hua kya?" The topic is great. And it's a superhero film, where you get emotional as well. I don't know how Shankar does it. I have no idea how he wrote it.
And this is one of those films that can actually go across India, Rajini, you - South, North?
Yes. It has the capacity to travel even outside India, in a big way.
(Excerpts of the conversation transcribed by Sonia Lulla, Mohar Basu and Sonil Dedhia)
I have nothing to hide or fear-Deepak Tijori’s wife Shivani BREAKS silence
8:13 AM
Subhash K Jha (DNA; April 4, 2017)
After 22 years of being married to wife Shivani, actor-director Deepak Tijori is now claiming that his shaadi is invalid as his biwi had never divorced her first husband.
Shivani, who had maintained her silence so far, finally stated, “Deepak Tijori , my husband of 22-plus years and the father of our young daughter has crossed all limits and has over-stepped the domains of decency, morality, sensitivity, sensibility and above all, the premises of every legality. I choose not to speak at all, simply because the matter between us, is subjudice.”
Shivani, who is currently in Delhi, adds, “As an honest and responsible litigant, I have nothing to hide or fear. Let the courts decide based on the facts. I am positive that truth shall prevail.”
Deepak remained unavailable for comment.
Vishesh Films turn 30; Bhatts throw a small bash & screening of Begum Jaan
8:08 AM
Vishesh Films' anniversary was a nostalgia trip that doubled up as the first preview screening of their upcoming Partition-drama
Sanyukta Iyer (MUMBAI MIRROR; April 3, 2017)
Friends, family and former
colleagues converged at a suburban studio on Sunday, to raise a toast to
Vishesh Films which completed a three-decade run. The bash began at 7pm
with Salim Khan cutting a two-tier cake moulded like a film reel and a
clapboard. Bhatt protégés Deepak Tijori, Anu Aggarwal, Shraddha Kapoor,
Aditya Roy Kapur, Anupam Kher and Patralekha cheered from the sidelines,
along with Anu Malik and Hansal Mehta. Mukesh Bhatt's producer-son
Vishesh who'd organised the do told Mirror, “We live in a transitory
world so it's important to celebrate such priceless moments. We decided
to bring together everyone who has been a part of my family's landmark
journey.“
Mahesh Bhatt, the designated host for the evening, ushered
in his guests into a special screening of their upcoming production,
Begum Jaan. He recalled how after the back-to-back successes of Saaransh
and Naam, they were sitting in Salim Khan's house when he told Mukesh
that it was the right time for them to turn producers. “It was because
of him that Vishesh Films was born,“ he exulted, adding that it was
important to re-create the moment with people who had impacted his
journey.--------------------------
Aashiqui meets Aashiqui 2
MUMBAI MIRROR (April 3, 2017)
Mahesh Bhatt was in school
when he met Lorraine Bright, who was studying at a suburban orphanage
close to where he lived. It was love at first sight. When they were
caught, Lorraine was asked to leave.Her beau got her a room in YWCA and
enrolled her for a typing course, which later got her a job. After
landing two ad film offers, he asked her to marry him. She accepted,
changed her name to Kiran Bhatt and they had two kids, Pooja and Rahul.
Their love story translated on screen as Aashiqui, Bhatt's biggest
musical success. 25 years later, the Rahul Roy-Anu Aggarwal-Deepak Tijori
story got a sequel, featuring Aditya Roy Kapur and Shraddha Kapoor.
Rahul was MIA but Deepak and Anu turned up to celebrate the day. Now,
Aashiqui 3 is being penned by Bhatt's daughter, Shaheen.
Tom Dick And Harry sequel kicks off in August in Hyderabad
7:43 AM
Natasha Coutinho (MUMBAI MIRROR; June 20, 2016)
Ten years after his comedy,
Tom Dick Harry, hit screens, Deepak Tijori has announced that he is
ready to roll with the sequel that will be a Sharman Joshi, Aftab
Shivdasani and Jimmy Shergill-starrer. The film will kick off in
Hyderabad
this August.
“Like the original, the three leads are deaf, mute and blind but have grown up together in an orphanage and share a great bond since childhood. At one point they decide to move out and buy a home for themselves and end up getting tricked in the process,“ a source close to the film informed Mirror.
Director Tijori adds, “The pre-production is complete. Neeraj Vora has written the story. While the characters remain the same, the premise is entirely different.“
Meanwhile, Tijori is also set to kick off Tipsy, a desi version of The Hangover, but with female leads. “Yes, Tipsy is a chick-flick about five girls at a hen party and how their life changes the next day. We are yet to finalise shooting locations but it will be outside Mumbai,“ he informed.
“Like the original, the three leads are deaf, mute and blind but have grown up together in an orphanage and share a great bond since childhood. At one point they decide to move out and buy a home for themselves and end up getting tricked in the process,“ a source close to the film informed Mirror.
Director Tijori adds, “The pre-production is complete. Neeraj Vora has written the story. While the characters remain the same, the premise is entirely different.“
Meanwhile, Tijori is also set to kick off Tipsy, a desi version of The Hangover, but with female leads. “Yes, Tipsy is a chick-flick about five girls at a hen party and how their life changes the next day. We are yet to finalise shooting locations but it will be outside Mumbai,“ he informed.
It's tough to make a breakthrough with actors if you haven't had a hit-Deepak Tijori
8:06 AM
Lakshmi V (BOMBAY TIMES; June 7, 2016)
There are two things we
learn about Deepak Tijori when we meet him for this interview - first, he
is extremely religious and second, his day starts at 2 pm. The actor,
who has been part of some memorable movies in the '90s, spends a good
five minutes praying before he sits down to speak about his film, Do
Lafzon Ki Kahani, which releases this Friday. “I believe in God and pray
everyday. I'm also very
spiritual. I love how peaceful it is at night and find it easier to work
then,“ he says. In a chat with BT, he opens up about his sabbatical,
penchant for love stories and why he doesn't party with his B-Town
friends often these days. Excerpts:
You've made Do Lafzon Ki Kahani after a gap of seven years.
Yes, after Fox, I was almost on an exile. I spent my time watching movies and catching up with the trends in the industry. I've tried out different genres, both as an actor and a director. So, after experimenting with thrillers and comedies, I thought it was time I made a love story. Writer Girish Dhamija had narrated an outline to me long back and I had loved the concept. Incidentally, I met producer Avinaash Rai in my gym, and we got talking about the story. He was planning to start a production company and that's how the whole thing fell into place. We started working on the movie in 2014, but it was only last year that we were able to sign the actors and finally go for a schedule. It's tough to make a breakthrough with actors if you haven't had a hit. And I don't blame them. I found my hero in Randeep Hooda; he belongs to the actor breed besides being a star. Luckily for us, he was also looking to do a love story and this one was right up his alley. As for Kajal Aggarwal, she is a star in the South and has a lot of potential. We were looking at a fresh, unique combination because I think that's what helps love stories create magic.
While Randeep plays a former MMA fighter, Kajal essays the role of a visually-impaired girl. So, what were the challenges that you faced?
The biggest challenge was for Randeep to physically transform himself. He worked for four months and practised hard to get into the skin of the character. We hired a coach, who represented India at the Asian Games, to train Randeep. Though Kajal plays a visually-challenged person, her character is not morbid about life. She neither wants sympathy nor is a helpless girl who needs a man to support her. She attended a workshop to understand the lifestyle of such people. Though the characters might come across as grim, there are no soppy scenes.
Are there any typical 'love story' clichés in the film?
The only thing that's clichéd is that it is a love story (laughs). You really can't do much with the situations in a romantic film - the girl and the boy meet, fall in love, part ways and meet again. However, Do Lafzon Ki Kahani has some moments that are unusual and help the story flow. Interestingly, though there are six songs, this is one love story in which not a single track has been sung either by the hero or heroine. It was a big challenge for us to have soulful numbers and yet, not have the actors lip-sync to them.
The song, Kuch Toh Hai, had leaked online. Did that affect your promotional plans?
Yes, we had included a few lines of it in the trailer to give viewers a feel of the film. Amaal Mallik and I then completed the track, but we were shocked to find it online within a few days. While the traffic had increased for the full version of the song, we had to deal with comments like 'We have heard this, now where's the video?'
In an earlier interview, you had said that you were deeply influenced by Mahesh Bhatt while shooting this film.
Bhatt sahab once told me, “It's never about how you shoot, it's what you shoot.“ So, when I started directing I was so relieved that I didn't have to worry about technical angles and cuts. If you have two people just talking but have good content, you can put your camera anywhere and it will come out well. When we were shooting the emotional scenes, I could feel his presence around me. After seeing the trailer, he hugged and kissed me. It was a big compliment for me.
You stopped acting when the going was still good for you. Any regrets?
None, at all. At that time, cinema was not what it is now; it was stuck in a time warp. There were still the typical villains and comedians who had to bail the situation. Ghulam and Vaastav happened out of the blue. I always wanted to direct and thought this was the right time to take the plunge. I knew it would take me a few years before I could say I was a director. I never assisted anyone and whatever I learnt was by observing Bhatt sahab on the set. So, when I took to direction, I kept going despite the hits and flops that came my way. I'm still learning and growing. But now, cinema has changed. We can think of Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Irrfan, Vinay Pathak or Boman Irani as lead actors. We are not formula-driven anymore; an actor doesn't need to have eight packs or be a star to be a hero. This is a beautiful time for actors and directors.
What do you do when you are not making movies?
I watch films and surf the net.
We also don't see you attending fraternity parties...
I don't drink or smoke and I'm a vegetarian. I remember a funny incident. While we were working on Department, Ram Gopal Varma had called me home for a chat and asked me what I would like to drink. When I said nimbu paani, he looked at me in a funny way and said he doesn't trust people who don't drink! There was a time when Raveena Tandon, Shah Rukh Khan and I would party together. They knew my habits and were fine with it. But when you become part of a new circle, you are not sure if they understand your habits. So, there's no point making others uncomfortable.
You've made Do Lafzon Ki Kahani after a gap of seven years.
Yes, after Fox, I was almost on an exile. I spent my time watching movies and catching up with the trends in the industry. I've tried out different genres, both as an actor and a director. So, after experimenting with thrillers and comedies, I thought it was time I made a love story. Writer Girish Dhamija had narrated an outline to me long back and I had loved the concept. Incidentally, I met producer Avinaash Rai in my gym, and we got talking about the story. He was planning to start a production company and that's how the whole thing fell into place. We started working on the movie in 2014, but it was only last year that we were able to sign the actors and finally go for a schedule. It's tough to make a breakthrough with actors if you haven't had a hit. And I don't blame them. I found my hero in Randeep Hooda; he belongs to the actor breed besides being a star. Luckily for us, he was also looking to do a love story and this one was right up his alley. As for Kajal Aggarwal, she is a star in the South and has a lot of potential. We were looking at a fresh, unique combination because I think that's what helps love stories create magic.
While Randeep plays a former MMA fighter, Kajal essays the role of a visually-impaired girl. So, what were the challenges that you faced?
The biggest challenge was for Randeep to physically transform himself. He worked for four months and practised hard to get into the skin of the character. We hired a coach, who represented India at the Asian Games, to train Randeep. Though Kajal plays a visually-challenged person, her character is not morbid about life. She neither wants sympathy nor is a helpless girl who needs a man to support her. She attended a workshop to understand the lifestyle of such people. Though the characters might come across as grim, there are no soppy scenes.
Are there any typical 'love story' clichés in the film?
The only thing that's clichéd is that it is a love story (laughs). You really can't do much with the situations in a romantic film - the girl and the boy meet, fall in love, part ways and meet again. However, Do Lafzon Ki Kahani has some moments that are unusual and help the story flow. Interestingly, though there are six songs, this is one love story in which not a single track has been sung either by the hero or heroine. It was a big challenge for us to have soulful numbers and yet, not have the actors lip-sync to them.
The song, Kuch Toh Hai, had leaked online. Did that affect your promotional plans?
Yes, we had included a few lines of it in the trailer to give viewers a feel of the film. Amaal Mallik and I then completed the track, but we were shocked to find it online within a few days. While the traffic had increased for the full version of the song, we had to deal with comments like 'We have heard this, now where's the video?'
In an earlier interview, you had said that you were deeply influenced by Mahesh Bhatt while shooting this film.
Bhatt sahab once told me, “It's never about how you shoot, it's what you shoot.“ So, when I started directing I was so relieved that I didn't have to worry about technical angles and cuts. If you have two people just talking but have good content, you can put your camera anywhere and it will come out well. When we were shooting the emotional scenes, I could feel his presence around me. After seeing the trailer, he hugged and kissed me. It was a big compliment for me.
You stopped acting when the going was still good for you. Any regrets?
None, at all. At that time, cinema was not what it is now; it was stuck in a time warp. There were still the typical villains and comedians who had to bail the situation. Ghulam and Vaastav happened out of the blue. I always wanted to direct and thought this was the right time to take the plunge. I knew it would take me a few years before I could say I was a director. I never assisted anyone and whatever I learnt was by observing Bhatt sahab on the set. So, when I took to direction, I kept going despite the hits and flops that came my way. I'm still learning and growing. But now, cinema has changed. We can think of Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Irrfan, Vinay Pathak or Boman Irani as lead actors. We are not formula-driven anymore; an actor doesn't need to have eight packs or be a star to be a hero. This is a beautiful time for actors and directors.
What do you do when you are not making movies?
I watch films and surf the net.
We also don't see you attending fraternity parties...
I don't drink or smoke and I'm a vegetarian. I remember a funny incident. While we were working on Department, Ram Gopal Varma had called me home for a chat and asked me what I would like to drink. When I said nimbu paani, he looked at me in a funny way and said he doesn't trust people who don't drink! There was a time when Raveena Tandon, Shah Rukh Khan and I would party together. They knew my habits and were fine with it. But when you become part of a new circle, you are not sure if they understand your habits. So, there's no point making others uncomfortable.
Randeep Hooda & I fought before every romantic scene-Kajal Aggarwal
8:03 AM
Lakshmi V (BOMBAY TIMES; May 26, 2016)
The minute you walk into Kajal
Aggarwal's cosy nest in the city, you feel calm. It's partly
because the entire house is done up in white. Ask her if she considers
it her lucky colour - she wears white in the introduction scenes in most
of her films, including her biggest hits Magadheera and Singham -and she
promptly says, “I don't believe any colour in particular can bring good
luck. I think it's just a coincidence that I was introduced in white
costumes. That said, the colour is very soothing. So, my house is all
white.“ Her third film in Bollywood - Deepak Tijori's Do Lafzon Ki
Kahani, which has her starring opposite Randeep Hooda - is set to hit
screens on June 10. The actress talks to BT about her chemistry with
Randeep, how she juggles careers in Bollywood, Tamil and Telugu
industries and why she finds it difficult to shift base here from south,
where she has a huge body of work.
With your third film in B-Town up for release, have you started feeling butterflies in your stomach?
After Singham and Special 26, this is a big release for me in Bollywood. I'm slightly nervous, but I'm more excited. It's a great story and working with Randeep was fab. My character is meaty and I had a beautiful time playing Jenny. I saw the Korean film (Always), from which this one is inspired and it made me want to do the Hindi version with all the more passion.
How did you land the role?
The makers wanted someone who wasn't too exposed in the Hindi industry, but at the same time, was experienced. I've done my share of big films in the south and this worked to my advantage. They wanted someone who looked innocent (smiles) and I guess I fit the part well. But, my character is visually impaired, so, prepping for the role wasn't easy. I've done my bit of homework, met people and rehearsed a lot to portray the character.
You learnt Braille in the process...
Yes, just the basics and trust me, it's a difficult system to learn. When you are younger, your fingers are nimble and sensitive to the different dots in the system. But as you get older, it's difficult to differentiate between them. I visited a centre for the visually challenged as part of my preparation to understand the lifestyle of the people there. Did you know that visually-impaired people have gadgets especially made for them? They have their own cell phone, microwave and typewriters. They follow a set pattern to walk and it's called assisted walking; they hold on to a stick or another person, and that too, with their right hand because it's easier to maneuver. I also read a lot of Hellen Keller books.
How difficult is it to act when you can see everything, but have to pretend that you can't?
This is the first time I'm playing a differently-abled person. And portraying visual impairment is difficult. I can see what's going on, but I have to act like I can see nothing. And this can be quite a challenge. I wanted my eyes to look blank, but at the same time I had to be careful about not looking expressionless. So, I tried seeing with each eyeball on either side. Hopefully, it's worked and people will notice it.
Did rumours of the film being shelved affect you, given that this is your first Bollywood release in almost three years?
There were a lot of production issues, but the movie wasn't shelved. It was just pushed to a further date. I was busy with my other projects, so it didn't worry me because I knew we would get the best possible date for its release.
Your chemistry with Randeep is sizzling and your lip-lock was the talk of social media...
He is a powerhouse performer and the best thing about him is that he is honest in the way he talks, acts and in every sphere of his life. He is passionate about his craft and that shows in whatever he does on screen. We shared a great camaraderie. We used to pull each other's leg and just to trouble the crew, we fought before every romantic scene. Another thing I remember is that every time we prepared to film a crucial scene, it would start raining. And we had to deal with rains in Malaysia, which are torrential most of the time. So, we would run to a café nearby and sip on hot coffee, waiting for the downpour to stop. Deepak (who was the director) would initially fret, but soon he got into the groove.
You've worked with Ajay Devgn, Akshay Kumar and now, Randeep. Who do you find hotter?
It's so difficult to choose. All three are blessed with brain, brawn, personality and talent.
Bollywood is known to be a tough industry to survive in. Do you feel your juggling act (between south and Hindi films) could cost you some good roles on both sides?
No, not at all. Balancing my career between two industries has never been an issue. I started with a Telugu film and have a soft corner for the south industry, though I've grown up speaking Hindi. I don't think language can be a barrier when it comes to acting.And, since I come from a theatre background, I'm used to memorising my lines. So, I get to choose what I want to do.
However, not many heroines from down south have been able to balance both industries with as much success?
I'm very loyal to my south fans and the industry there. So, it's hard for me leave all the love, respect and admiration and shift base here. I'm a Mumbai girl and have lived here for most of my life. At the same time, I've spent 10 years of my life in the south and feel like a south Indian at heart. Even if I'm comfortable, and I know everyone in Bollywood, I can't just leave behind my roots. It's not easy to migrate to another industry. So, my contemporaries and I are trying our best to strike a balance. This way, we get to enjoy the best of both the worlds.
With your third film in B-Town up for release, have you started feeling butterflies in your stomach?
After Singham and Special 26, this is a big release for me in Bollywood. I'm slightly nervous, but I'm more excited. It's a great story and working with Randeep was fab. My character is meaty and I had a beautiful time playing Jenny. I saw the Korean film (Always), from which this one is inspired and it made me want to do the Hindi version with all the more passion.
How did you land the role?
The makers wanted someone who wasn't too exposed in the Hindi industry, but at the same time, was experienced. I've done my share of big films in the south and this worked to my advantage. They wanted someone who looked innocent (smiles) and I guess I fit the part well. But, my character is visually impaired, so, prepping for the role wasn't easy. I've done my bit of homework, met people and rehearsed a lot to portray the character.
You learnt Braille in the process...
Yes, just the basics and trust me, it's a difficult system to learn. When you are younger, your fingers are nimble and sensitive to the different dots in the system. But as you get older, it's difficult to differentiate between them. I visited a centre for the visually challenged as part of my preparation to understand the lifestyle of the people there. Did you know that visually-impaired people have gadgets especially made for them? They have their own cell phone, microwave and typewriters. They follow a set pattern to walk and it's called assisted walking; they hold on to a stick or another person, and that too, with their right hand because it's easier to maneuver. I also read a lot of Hellen Keller books.
How difficult is it to act when you can see everything, but have to pretend that you can't?
This is the first time I'm playing a differently-abled person. And portraying visual impairment is difficult. I can see what's going on, but I have to act like I can see nothing. And this can be quite a challenge. I wanted my eyes to look blank, but at the same time I had to be careful about not looking expressionless. So, I tried seeing with each eyeball on either side. Hopefully, it's worked and people will notice it.
Did rumours of the film being shelved affect you, given that this is your first Bollywood release in almost three years?
There were a lot of production issues, but the movie wasn't shelved. It was just pushed to a further date. I was busy with my other projects, so it didn't worry me because I knew we would get the best possible date for its release.
Your chemistry with Randeep is sizzling and your lip-lock was the talk of social media...
He is a powerhouse performer and the best thing about him is that he is honest in the way he talks, acts and in every sphere of his life. He is passionate about his craft and that shows in whatever he does on screen. We shared a great camaraderie. We used to pull each other's leg and just to trouble the crew, we fought before every romantic scene. Another thing I remember is that every time we prepared to film a crucial scene, it would start raining. And we had to deal with rains in Malaysia, which are torrential most of the time. So, we would run to a café nearby and sip on hot coffee, waiting for the downpour to stop. Deepak (who was the director) would initially fret, but soon he got into the groove.
You've worked with Ajay Devgn, Akshay Kumar and now, Randeep. Who do you find hotter?
It's so difficult to choose. All three are blessed with brain, brawn, personality and talent.
Bollywood is known to be a tough industry to survive in. Do you feel your juggling act (between south and Hindi films) could cost you some good roles on both sides?
No, not at all. Balancing my career between two industries has never been an issue. I started with a Telugu film and have a soft corner for the south industry, though I've grown up speaking Hindi. I don't think language can be a barrier when it comes to acting.And, since I come from a theatre background, I'm used to memorising my lines. So, I get to choose what I want to do.
However, not many heroines from down south have been able to balance both industries with as much success?
I'm very loyal to my south fans and the industry there. So, it's hard for me leave all the love, respect and admiration and shift base here. I'm a Mumbai girl and have lived here for most of my life. At the same time, I've spent 10 years of my life in the south and feel like a south Indian at heart. Even if I'm comfortable, and I know everyone in Bollywood, I can't just leave behind my roots. It's not easy to migrate to another industry. So, my contemporaries and I are trying our best to strike a balance. This way, we get to enjoy the best of both the worlds.
Check out Randeep Hooda’s make-up artist playing nurse in Do Lafzon Ki Kahani
7:37 AM
Anirban Das (MID-DAY; May 23, 2016)
Deepak Tijori’s Do Lafzon Ki Kahaani starring Randeep Hooda is finally set to hit theatres next month after a long struggle for that perfect release date and a source close to the project tells us that the actor’s make- up artist, Renuka Pillai will be making her acting debut with it. She plays a nurse — a role that accidentally fell into her lap while she was busy getting Randeep ready for his scenes.
“Renuka barely had any ambitions to act, but it was on location that the director decided to cast her. She will share screen space with Randeep,” informs a source.
The director was not too happy with the casting agent’s initial selection for the nurse’s role and so, took the decision impulsively. “They were shooting in Malaysia when Deepak felt he needed a replacement for the nurse’s character. He requested Randeep to ask his make-up artist if she could volunteer,” adds the source.
Deepak confirms the buzz, saying, “The casting agent did not get us the actor I would have liked to play the nurse. I wanted someone to be well versed in Hindi. So, at the last minute, I requested Randeep to offer the role to Renuka. She was willing to play the part and that’s how she is making her acting debut.”
Kajal Aggarwal had no prior knowledge of her first on-screen kiss with Randeep Hooda
7:56 AM
Harshada Rege (DNA; May 9, 2016)
Kajal Aggarwal, who has never kissed on screen,
participated in her first liplock in the most surprising manner. Be it
her movies down South or her Bollywood projects, the actress has never
kissed on the big screen. But now, she’s has broken her rule.
Randeep Hooda, apparently, got carried away while shooting an intense romantic scene with Kajal Aggarwal and ended up kissing her. This happened during the shoot of Deepak Tijori’s Do Lafzon Ki Kahani in Malaysia.
Kajal was obviously stunned when Randeep kissed her and was upset. Although she did not say anything to her co-actor, she called for a cut and went aside.
Deepak had to pacify Kajal. She asked him to delete the shot and reshoot it, Deepak says, “I do remember Kajal had told me that she does not do kissing scenes on screen, as she is a huge South Indian movie star, and this would impact her career in South movies. But let me tell you, there was no intention to malign her or kiss her without her knowledge. It was the emotional moment between two lovers as per the script, and I generally prefer actors doing scenes impromptu, so Randeep followed the emotional quotient of the scene.”
Speaking about Kajal’s reaction, he adds, “She did back off after calling for a cut, but later on once I had explained to her the significance of the liplock, she surrendered herself to the script, and went on to do the scene with all the passion she could put in.” If this isn’t a strange story of love and passion, what is?
Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikandar actor Mamik returns as MMA coach in Do Lafzon Ki Kahani
7:43 AM
Avinash Lohana (MUMBAI MIRROR; August 20, 2015)
Mamik Singh, who had played older brother to Aamir Khan in Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikandar, has been away from the limelight for quite some time. The 52-year-old actor, who was last seen in Wilson Louis' Mallika in 2010 is returning to the big screen with actor-turned director Deepak Tijori's upcoming movie, Do Lafzon Ki Kahani, featuring Randeep Hooda and Kajal Aggarwal.
Mamik plays a Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) coach to Randeep in the film. "Deepak is a friend, so there was no way I could have said no to him. But that wasn't the only reason for me to go ahead with the project. At this age too, I am quite fit and also look the part, so I said why not?" says Mamik, who plays a coach to both the good and the bad guy in the film. "I quite enjoyed playing this role. I think both Deepak and Randeep have put their heart and soul in the film and I am sure it's going to turn out well," adds Mamik, who doesn't wish to comment about the length of his role in the film. "Primarily it's Randeep's film, but I have an integral role as well. I have shot for a good amount of the portions for the film."
Considering that he plays an MMA coach, did he train and research about the form before shooting? "We had three months of training before going to Kuala Lampur to shoot. I am quite fit but we did have to understand what mixed martial arts was all about, including the basic terminologies," says Mamik. What kept him away from films? "I have been a very reluctant actor. Though I have had a great opening at the films, which I am sure many would crave for, but back then I didn't know how to tackle things. I had been quite laid back too. But I am going to get in touch with a few directors now," he says.
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