Prabhas has gone back in time to the World War II era — on screen, of course. The superstar and director Hanu Raghavapudi are currently shooting one of the most crucial portions of their period drama, Fauzi, in Hyderabad. mid-day has learnt that for the leg, the unit has recreated an elaborate Japanese Army camp of the 1940s at Ramoji Film City.

A source close to the production revealed, “The World War II backdrop is integral to the story. The director wanted every detail of the Japanese Army camp to feel authentic. The team has spent considerable time on the production design to recreate the period as accurately as possible for the screen.”

From what we’ve heard, Prabhas will continue shooting for Fauzi — that is reportedly set against the backdrop of the British Raj in India and sees the actor play a soldier — till July-end. After that, he will turn his attention to Spirit, his cop actioner helmed by Sandeep Reddy Vanga.

An insider said, “The major schedules of Spirit have been wrapped. Soon, the team will move to Dehradun and Goa for two stints.”

Actor Akshay Oberoi has started shooting for his upcoming Bollywood romantic thriller Love Lottery in the scenic city of Dehradun, Uttarakhand. The film, directed by Arvind Pandey and  produced by Kuldeep Bhargava 'Tushar' under the banner of Cinema Ganj Films, went on the floor in March. Akshay recently shared a few glimpses from the sets, giving fans a look at the early days of the shoot and the beautiful surroundings where the film is being shot.

Love Lottery is an intense courtroom drama that mixes romance and suspense. The film also stars Heli Daruwala along with a strong supporting cast including Kabir Duhan Singh and Manu Rishi Chadha, who play important roles in the story.

Talking about beginning the shoot in Dehradun, Akshay shared that the experience has been refreshing and exciting for him. “Starting the shoot for Love Lottery in Dehradun has been a really nice experience. The city has a calm and beautiful vibe, and it feels great to begin this journey here. We’ve just started filming, but the energy on set has been amazing. I’m excited to work with Arvind Pandey and such a talented cast, and I can’t wait for the audience to see what we’re creating.”

Talking about the kind of stories he is drawn to as an actor, he says, “As an actor, I’m always looking for stories that challenge me and push me out of my comfort zone. I enjoy characters that have layers and emotional complexity, because they allow me to explore different shades of human behaviour. When I heard the script of Love Lottery, I felt it had that intensity and unpredictability that excites me as a performer.”

Popular sitcom Bhabi Ji Ghar Par Hai! is making its way to the big screen. HT City has exclusively learnt that while the main cast — Shubhangi Atre, Rohitashv Gour and Aasif Sheikh — will return, new faces like Ravi Kishan, Mukesh Tiwari, and Brijendra Kala will also be part of the film.

The film was shot entirely in Mussoorie and Dehradun — in 20 days! We reached out to Shubhangi, who plays the role of Angoori Bhabhi confirmed the quick shoot and joked, “We should be in the Guinness Records!”

She further shared, “Bohot thand mein shooting ki humne. It was exciting, and the shoot was completed in March. It’s a complete laughter ride!”

Will there be any change in the treatment of her character in the film? “Angoori kuch alag karti hui dikhegi. It is a surprise for the fans. The love they have given to the show, I hope they give to the film as well! Bohot dil se banayi hui film hai!” Shubhangi says.

She has announced her exit from the TV show after 10 years, saying, “I have lived and loved this character with all my heart, but now it is time to move on.” Her final appearance will be next week.

(L-R) JP Dutta and wife Bindiya; (right) Nidhi Dutta

July has been a memorable month for filmmaker J P Dutta and his wife Bindiya. Their daughter Nidhi Dutta, producer of the upcoming Border 2, welcomed her baby, Sitara, on July 7. Naturally, then, the first-time grandparents’ joy knows no bounds. “Our life feels complete. All I can say is that Sitara is our greatest blessing,” says the veteran filmmaker.

Bindiya reveals that the name Sitara was chosen by Nidhi and Binoy Gandhi, director and her husband. “When they revealed the name to J P and me, we had big grins on our faces because it was perfect. She is our star,” says the former actor.

Over the past few months, Nidhi has been juggling the shoot of Border 2 and her pregnancy. For Dutta, seeing his daughter mount an ambitious war drama while embracing motherhood was a proud moment. “Watching how gracefully she balanced the two most important things in her life made me realise not only my daughter’s strength, but also what women are capable of.”

Bindiya, however, admits that she used to feel anxious. “Nidhi spent the fourth and fifth month of her pregnancy in Jhansi. In her eighth month, they were shooting in Dehradun. She stopped shooting just a week before her delivery. Now, she is back at work!”

Alot of concerts and public events were called off recently, given the ongoing situation in the country due to the India-Pak conflict. However, actor Lillete Dubey tells us that the shoot for Ginny Weds Sunny 2 is on track and she has also reached Uttarakhand to shoot her parts.

“The shoot is underway in Mussoorie and Dehradun. These are tough times, but the show must go on. We are all working to entertain the audience which is also very important,” Lillete tells us.

A sequel to the 2020 film Ginny Weds Sunny featuring actors Vikrant Massey and Yami Gautam Dhar, Ginny Weds Sunny 2 stars Avinash Tiwary and Medha Shankr. Sharing how the atmosphere on the set is like, Lillete adds: “Everything is calm here. Everyone is relieved with the truce, but, of course, on guard too.”

Last seen in the OTT series Dabba Cartel, the actor is doing “a commercial Hindi film after a long time”. She says, “The cast is lovely. I am playing Medha’s mother. It’s a funny and interesting romantic comedy that also has a message for society. It also stars Sudhir Pandey. After this, I will shoot for an English film.”

The news of Aasif Sheikh collapsing on the sets of Bhabi Ji Ghar Par Hai, in Dehradun and being rushed to the hospital spread like wildfire on Monday. And even though Aasif has been unwell for the past one week, he says the news was blown out of proportion.

"The news of my health has been blown out of proportion. I was definitely very unwell, but the news of me being hospitalized and rushed to Mumbai is not true. I was shooting for an action sequence in Dehradun where the whole cast of Bhabi Ji Ghar Par Hain! was shooting for the film, which is being made on the show. We have been shooting for around a month now there," he says, adding, "There was a lot of physical stress, and my back was paining a lot. So, I went to the vanity to give my back a little rest. After relaxing for a few minutes, I got up to shoot for my sequence, and while I was walking, I had a major muscle spasm and was in a lot of pain. It was basically a sciatica pain but I couldn't stand or walk."

However, Aasif shot for his part with heavy medication. "It was the second last day of the shoot. I took heavy painkillers and shot for the last few scenes. Since I couldn't stand and walk, I came back to Mumbai in a wheelchair. I am on painkillers and steroids and now I am due for an MRI today. I have been on bed rest ever since I returned to Mumbai. I am slowly recovering. I am not able to put my foot on the floor and I am still limping."

Talking about the time spent in Dehradun, he says, "I started shooting for the film in Dehradun on February 26 and finished on March 17. The city is beautiful. We had a great time and the weather to shoot and since the weather was so comfortable, the potential to shoot becomes better for actors. We also went to Mussoorie, and it was bitterly cold and also experienced a hailstorm there. I have been to Dehradun several times before as well. I went to Ellora bakery to buy some stuff for myself and although I was heavily disguised and had my face covered, the lady at the counter recognized me."

Apart from physical discomfort, Aasif has also suffered an emotional blow. He has lost his close friend writer Manoj Santoshi on Monday, who was also the writer of the show Bhabhiji... "I lost a very good friend," says an emotional Aasif, adding, "My relationship with Manoj Santoshi goes back several years back. He was a great talent — a great writer. Not many people know that he was a great singer too. Hamari bahot gaane-bajane ki mehefilein bhi hoti thi. We first met each other during the show Yes Boss. For this character of Vibhuti Narayan Mishra he told me that he wrote it keeping me in mind. For the past six months he had been struggling with his health issues. And when I went to meet him in Hyderabad, I knew something majorly was wrong with him seeing his drastic weight loss. But he has left a big void in my life. More than me, Shilpa Shinde, who has been with Manoj in his fight with his liver ailment, is in a state of shock. When she called me to tell me about Manoj's demise she was crying bitterly. She was all alone with Manoj and I have a deep respect for Shilpa — aaj ke time pe koi apna itna nahi karta jitna Shilpa ne Manoj ke liye kiya."

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One of the longest-running TV comedy dailies, Bhabi Ji Ghar Par Hai! is set to be made into a feature film.

Actor Rohitashv Gour (who portrays Manmohan Tiwari) confirms the news, saying, “Ji, wakayi yeh sach hai! We are super excited, as actors we all dream to see ourselves back on the silver screen and it’s happening. It’s like a dream come true.”

“It’s because of our fans’ love that we are getting to be part of such a huge leap. I joined the show much later but today it’s my family,” says actor Vidisha Srivastava (who portrays Anita Mishra) adding, “The essence of the show will remain, and we promise bahut saara dhamaal for the audience.”

A source from the production unit shares that the star cast will include Rohitashv and Vidisha, Aasif Sheikh (who plays Vibhuti Narayan Mishra), and Shubhangi Atre (Angoori Tiwari) alongside other characters who have been part of the show’s success. The film, which will be directed by Shashank Bali, will be released this year. Shooting will commence from March 15 in Dehradun (Uttarakhand) in a start-to-finish schedule.

The show has been running for 10 years in the prime-time slot, having aired over 2,500 episodes.

Dehradun: Aarushi Nishank, daughter of former Uttarakhand CM and ex-minister for human resource development in the Narendra Modi cabinet, Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank, was allegedly cheated of Rs 4 crore by two persons claiming to be film producers and promising her a role in a Bollywood movie. In her complaint registered at Kotwali police station in Dehradun, Aarushi said she was later replaced in the film, and the producers refused to return her money.

Aarushi, co-owner of Himshree Films, said Mansi Varun Bagla and Varun Pramod Kumar Bagla introduced themselves as directors of Mini Films Pvt Ltd and told her they were producing a Hindi film, ‘Aankhon Ki Gustakhiyan', starring Shanaya Kapoor and Vikrant Massey. "They offered me a significant role and promised fame and profit if I invested Rs 5 crore through my firm or an acquaintance," she said in her complaint.

An FIR has been filed against the accused have been booked under multiple BNS sections, including section 308(5) (extortion by putting someone in fear of death or grievous hurt), section 318(4) (cheating and fraud), section 336(3) (forgery with intent to cheat), section 338 (forgery of valuable documents), section 340(2) (using forged documents as genuine), section 351(3) (criminal intimidation by threatening death or grievous hurt), section 352 (intentional insult to provoke breach of peace), and section 61(2) (criminal conspiracy).

According to the FIR, an MoU was signed between Himshree Films and Mini Films Pvt Ltd on Oct 9, 2024. The next day, Aarushi transferred Rs 2 crore to the accused. She claimed she made additional payments in Oct and Nov 19, bringing the total amount to Rs 4 crore. The transactions included Rs 1 crore on Nov 11, Rs 25 lakh on Oct 27 and Rs 75 lakh on Oct 30.

Aarushi alleged that the producers assured her a 20% profit from the film, estimating total returns of over Rs. 15 crore. She was also promised the right to finalize her role's script, with a clause stating that if she was dissatisfied, her Rs 5 crore would be refunded with 15% annual interest.

On Feb 5, she learned that the film's shooting in India had been completed and another actress had been cast for her role, which was set to be filmed in Europe. She accused the producers of publishing a manipulated photograph on their company's official page, excluding her from an event she had attended. "This electronic forgery, categorized as a document, was used to defraud me and embezzle Rs 4 crore through a fraudulent MoU," the FIR quoted her as saying.

Aarushi also claimed that throughout this period, the producers intimidated her with threats of defamation and extortion. "They made derogatory comments about my Garhwali background and warned that if I pursued legal action, they would file false charges against me and my father, leading to severe consequences," she alleged.

Investigating officer SI Manmohan Singh Negi told TOI, "Based on her complaint, an FIR has been lodged at Kotwali police station in Dehradun. We will record her statement before proceeding further. It is too early to comment on the case at this stage."

Notably, in Dec, CM Pushkar Singh Dhami had met the film's team, including actor Vikrant Massey, in Dehradun. Aarushi was also present at the event.

If things had worked out according to producer-writer Nidhi Dutta’s original plans, actors Sunny Deol, Varun Dhawan, Diljit Dosanjh and Ahan Shetty would have faced the camera for Border 2 in November-end (Jawans summoned for the battle, September 30). But there seems to have been a change in plans. Now, mid-day has learnt that the sequel to J P Dutta’s hit Border (1997) will go on floors on January 6 in Dehradun. With less than a month to go, director Anurag Singh began look tests for the primary cast this week.

Sources tell us that a former Major in the Army, has not only guided Singh and Nidhi through the research but is also overseeing the styling of the film that focuses on a chapter of the 1971 India-Pakistan war.

A source in the know reveals, “While designer Sheetal Sharma is doing the costumes, the ex-Army Major is giving approvals on everything related to it—from the references and research, to the badges and uniforms, ensuring that they are accurate in terms of the period and designation. His contribution is not restricted to the costumes alone. Nidhi is seeking his guidance on the artillery that was used in the war, as well as the military strategies that were adopted. She wants the movie to look as authentic as her filmmaker-father’s Border. Varun and Ahan did their look tests this week, while Diljit’s is slotted after December 15. Sunny, who plays a Sardar again, will have his look test in the last week of December. The Major will be present for all the rounds.”

Following the intensive prep that will run throughout December, as Singh will call action on the war drama in January, Dhawan will be the first to slip into the jawan’s uniform.

The source elaborates, “Initially, the plan was to start with a massive action sequence involving Sunny, Diljit and Varun on November 25 in Jammu and Kashmir. But now, the schedule will begin in Dehradun with Varun, with sequences reflecting his journey from a small-town boy to someone who joins the Armed Forces. The war drama—which sees the four leads play officers from the Army, Navy and the Air Force—will be shot across real locations in north India.”

Drake and Kendrick Lamar may have just started, but it seems that after years of friction, Badshah is ready to end his feud with fellow rapper Yo Yo Honey Singh. In a surprising move, he seemingly took the first step to end their long-standing tiff, during GraFest 2024, held in Dehradun (Uttarakhand) recently.

In a viral video, he could be seen halting his performance midway and saying, “There was a phase in my life where I held this grudge, and now, I want to call it quits and leave that grudge behind — and that’s Honey Singh. I was unhappy because of some misunderstandings but then I realized when we were together, jodne waale bahut kam thay, todne waale bahut thay. Today I just want to let everyone know I’ve left that phase behind and I wish him all the best.”

It all started first in 2009 when the duo parted ways from the hip-hop group Mafia Mundeer. Since then, tension has simmered, with barbs exchanged in music and on social media.

For the average concert-goer, a flying bottle, students dancing on barricades or throwing water during fests is a common sight. The recent incident at SGRR University in Dehradun, where Sunidhi Chauhan dodged a bottle while performing on stage, is yet another in the line of instances that singers have faced at fests. “Fests mein aisa hota hi hai, woh thode scary toh hote hi hain,” singers tell us.

During Sunidhi Chauhan’s recent concert (May 2) in Dehradun, a bottle was flung at her.  “The bottle came flying towards me and hit the mic. Mere saath aisa pehle kabhi nahi hua tha, so I was taken aback. I was not hurt, and I continued singing. I realized that it was not done intentionally,” the singer told us.

It happened a long time ago with me at a college in Faridabad. I think it was a plastic cup or something but a couple of them were hurled on stage. It didn’t really hit my face. These things happen. I am not so surprised and I feel in a crowd of five to six thousand people, there are always a few odd ones but because of those, others should not suffer and miss out on the musical experience that they are having. You should just ignore and let it pass like Sunidhi did.

In 2014, we were performing at a DU college and there was some ego tussle within two university student groups. Excitement was at its peak and all of a sudden, there were a lot of lathis and so many sharp objects were thrown in the crowd. Palak jhapakte hi kuchh log stage tak aa gaye. Humko protect kar diya wahan ke management ne, lekin kuchh log wahan chadhke narebaji karne lage. Phir humne dekha kisi ka sar phoota hua hai, humko toh jaake car mein baithna pada. Kuchh logon ko photos chahiye issliye jhagda hua. Hum car mein baithe, toh ek banda car ke peeche bhaaga aur bola, ‘Bhai chahe mera haath toot jaye, main toh haath nikalunga nahi gaadi se’. Matlab mohabbat bhi hai, pyaar bhi hai, lekin aisa scary pyaar? Toh DU aur yeh college fests mein aisi cheeze hote hain yeh thode scary hai. Woh energy bhi alag hoti hai.

This has happened tons of times at my shows too, particularly in Delhi colleges. I was initially oblivious to it while performing, and then my bandmates told me that during several of our shows, bottles, oranges, and other random objects had been thrown around both in the audience and on stage. A bottle almost hit me once. It’s really sad and scary that people can get like this during concerts. It can cause accidents to both them and the people on stage.

This has never happened with me in all of my performing career. But people have said nasty or borderline nasty things sometimes. And back in the day, I was too chicken to reply but now I am not. So that’s one change I have brought in myself to handle situations like these. But honestly, I don’t know how I’d feel if someone would throw a bottle or something else on stage. As an artiste, that is devastating and that’s not why you display your art and talent in front of people. You want to be loved, appreciated and respected. If something like this happens, I think what Sunidhi did was absolutely praise-worthy. She handled it with utmost grace and so beautifully with a great presence of mind and I think I would like to salute her for it. Some artistes can be temperamental, call off a concert. One can shed a tear, one can get angry, there are so many ways to handle a situation like this, but what she did was incredible.

I was in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, it was a private party and the host got really drunk and I think he had a pattern of getting violent after having alcohol. He threw a glass with alcohol on the stage angrily which ended up hitting almost the right eye of my keyboardist. The injury was so bad that he had to get 12 stitches on his eyebrow. There was blood all over the stage, we were helpless because we were in a foreign country. And when someone invites us, you really can’t do much about it.

A video from Sunidhi Chauhan’s show at Shri Guru Ram Rai University’s annual fest Zenith 2024 in Dehradun, where a bottle was hurled towards the stage, has gone viral.

While reports suggest that the incident left the singer shocked and upset, Chauhan tells us, “I had no idea that the video has gone viral. It’s the first time something like this has happened with me and I don’t think it was done intentionally. I was performing my second last song and the crowd was having a blast. They were hurling bottles in the air and one came towards the stage. When I said, ‘Yeh kya ho raha hai? Show ruk jayega,’ they requested me to continue. I performed for another five-eight minutes.”

Chauhan adds that she’s glad she wasn’t hurt. “It hit my microphone with a lot of force. Of course, if the mic was closer to my mouth, I could have got hurt and would have perhaps responded differently. But aisa kuch hua nahin. Having said that, I am aware of some instances, when people deliberately misbehaved with the performers and threw things at them, aur woh galat hai. I strictly condemn that,” she ends.

Rajkummar Rao is gearing up for his first release of 2024 with Srikanth. But before he dives into the biopic’s promotions, the actor will have to make a quick trip to the ’90s. Rao, who leads Vicky Vidya Ka Woh Wala Video, a social comedy set in the ’90s, wrapped up an extensive schedule in Uttarakhand last week. Now, director Raaj Shaandilyaa is readying for a 10-day stint in Mumbai with Rao and leading lady Triptii Dimri, after which it will be a wrap on the film.

In late January, the director kicked off the project in Uttarakhand with the entire cast that includes Mallika Sherawat and Vijay Raaz.

A source from the creative team says, “Raaj likes to wrap up his projects fast. While a chunk of the comedy was shot in Rishikesh and Dehradun, only a part is now left to be filmed in Mumbai. Over the weekend, Rajkummar will prep to slip into the character again.”

Vicky Vidya Ka Woh Wala Video follows the pandemonium that breaks out in a small town when a couple’s intimate video tape goes missing. The source adds, “After the scandal, the couple comes to Mumbai in search of help. The unit will shoot in south Mumbai, Mira Road, Film City and Madh Island. While a dramatic scene will be canned at a hospital in Grant Road, another sequence is set in a cemetery.”

Producer Bhushan Kumar says, “We’re thrilled to wrap up shooting in Uttarakhand on schedule, and eager to continue the journey in Mumbai.”

Something old, something new—that’s what Vicky Vidya Ka Woh Wala Video represents for Rajkummar Rao. With the social comedy, the actor is set to reunite with Ektaa Kapoor, the producer who started it all for him with Love Sex Aur Dhokha (2010) and went on to work with him on several projects thereafter. The film promises to forge new bonds too as Rao teams up for the first time with Triptii Dimri of Qala (2022) fame, and director Raaj Shaandilyaa. mid-day has learnt that the project, which was announced in September, will go on floors by January 2024.

Sources tell us that Shaandilyaa began work on the entertainer in October, only weeks after the release of his last hit, Dream Girl 2. The team has already conducted a recce for the entertainer that is set in the ’90s. 

A source from the creative team reveals, “Raaj and his team visited Dehradun last month as the story has been envisioned in a north Indian town. He is currently scouting for locations in Rishikesh. Vicky Vidya… is right up Raaj’s alley, an entertainer with a social message. It revolves around the pandemonium in a small town when a VHS tape containing an intimate video of Vicky and Vidya, essayed by the lead actors, goes missing. The director wants to capture the lost charm of the ’90s, while bringing his trademark humour to the narrative.”

If things go as planned, the team will kick off the shoot in Dehradun from January 7. It will be a start-to-finish schedule with the lead actors having cleared the first two months of 2024 for the project.

The source adds, “First, the team will shoot the introductory scenes of the leads and their on-screen families. The protagonists’ families play a crucial role in the narrative. Raaj will finalise the supporting cast soon.”

Vicky Vidya… will mark Rao’s fourth release of 2024, after Sri, Stree 2 and Mr And Mrs Mahi.

Jubin Nautiyal may be away from his home in Dehradun, Uttarakhand, but the singer has been keeping track of the havoc caused by incessant rains in the northern states.

“It's truly heart-wrenching to see the news and witness the immense loss and suffering faced by the people there,” he says.

The Dehradun born singer who is currently abroad for a song shoot says, “Having my home in the mountains myself, the images and stories I've come across have left me feeling a sense of sadness and helplessness. Himachal Pradesh holds a special place in my heart, as I have personal connections with some of the places that have been heavily impacted by the calamity. It's truly devastating to see the beautiful landscapes, homes, and livelihoods destroyed in such a tragic manner. The impact of these natural disasters is immense, and my thoughts and prayers are with the people of mountains during this difficult time.”

Talking about the urgent need of rescue and restoration operations needed in the wake of the landslides and flash floods in Himachal, Jubin says, “The immediate focus should be on rescue operations, providing shelter, food, and medical aid to the affected communities. Additionally, it's crucial to ensure the safety and well-being of the people and restore the infrastructure as soon as possible.”

The singer who has given us Bollywood songs like Raataan Lambiyan and Manike is keen that help reaches the people affected as soon as possible.

He says, “I also urge the government and authorities to invest in long-term measures such as improving infrastructure resilience, early warning systems, and effective disaster management strategies. It's important to learn from these incidents and work towards minimizing the impact of such natural disasters in the future.”

Satish Kaushik passed away last week after suffering a heart attack. Over the past few months, the actor-filmmaker was focused on his upcoming production, Kaagaz 2, starring Anupam Kher, Darshan Kumaar and him. While some wondered about the social drama’s fate after Kaushik’s demise, mid-day has learnt that the VK Prakash-directed venture is complete, with only the finishing touches remaining.

Like Pankaj Tripathi-starrer Kaagaz (2021), the spiritual sequel too will focus on how the common man’s needs are neglected by the system. With a clerk who loses his child, at the centre of the narrative, the drama will emphasize how the government needs to change its attitude towards human rights. Producer Ratan Jain says that the shoot was wrapped up in Lucknow last November.

“Satish had completed everything, and the post-production is almost over. Since the film was shot in sync sound, dubbing is not required. Background music is done, only mixing is left at this stage. Satish’s nephew Nishant is taking care of things. Our production house has been in the film business for many years. If anything was left, we could have completed it. The movie was largely shot in Lucknow, with a segment filmed at the Indian Military Academy in Dehradun,” shares Jain.

The producer reveals that the team is planning a digital release for Kaagaz 2, and has initiated talks in this regard. “We are in talks with an OTT platform. We should get [a streaming partner] in the next two to three months. If someone wants to release it in the next 10 days, I am ready to deliver,” he smiles.

Kaushik planned to turn Kaagaz into a franchise, telling stories that highlight the common man’s socio-economic struggles. When the sequel had gone on floors in Lucknow last July, the actor-producer had spoken to mid-day, sharing his enthusiasm about the project (Satish Kaushik gets real, July 3).

He had said, “Kaagaz is about how a piece of paper can make a difference to someone’s life, where the common man gets neglected by the system and how he gets justice. In Kagaaz 2, I play a poor, self-respecting clerk who loses his child. [The story traces] how Anupam Kher and Darshan Kumaar, who play father and son, [help] me get justice.”

After breaking into the Bollywood scene with the remake of Sairat, Karan Johar’s Dhadak in 2018, Janhvi Kapoor is attempting another remake. Produced by her father Boney Kapoor, Mili is the official remake of the 2019 Malayalam film Helen.

A source informs that the project is near completion. “The Mumbai leg of the shooting kickstarted on August 4, and by October 30 the shooting in Dehradun and Mussoorie will be wrapped up. Post which, the crew will return to Mumbai and complete the remaining portions in five days on a set.”

Directed and co-written by Mathukutty Xavier, who also helmed the original, the film revolves around a girl who accidentally gets trapped in a cold storage unit. “The movie required a mall as the backdrop. Since establishments were closed in Maharashtra, the crew moved to Dehradun in September to can a few scenes and to Mussoorie for the songs,” informs the source, adding that the film also required Janhvi to shoot in a real cold storage unit to lend authenticity to the scene.

“Makeup artiste Ranjith Ambady, who won the National Award for Best Makeup Artiste for Helen, was flown down to Dehradun to do Jahnvi’s makeup.”

Mili is the first collaboration between father and daughter. Hence, Boney Kapoor is planning a grand launch when it releases in theatres next year. The Valimai producer remained unavailable for comment.

Earlier this year, Richa Chadha was Nainital-bound for the shoot of one of her projects. Little did she know that the filming of the eight-episode series in Uttarakhand would also serve as an unplanned recce of sorts for her maiden production venture, Girls Will Be Girls. The actor was so taken with the picturesque state that she has decided to shoot the film at the location.

Several artistes suggest that they occasionally find themselves leisurely working on projects offered to them, only to scramble and wrap up the work at eleventh hour. This interview with Farhan Akhtar and Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy appears to proceed no differently. Abundant tomfoolery predominates the first 15 minutes — it appears as though the quartet is enacting the rough draft of Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara. 

Reminded by their publicists that they are running against the clock, they seem to recall that they had ‘serious’ questions prepared for one another, as part of this interaction. They manage to squeeze some in, as Shankar enquires if the box-office performance of Farhan’s second directorial venture, Lakshya, was a disappointment. The latter, in turn, probes them about a project that has tested their sensibilities.

The entire interaction, available on our YouTube channel, is assuredly worthy of a watch. In the meantime, these edited excerpts will highlight why this team — whose latest work, Toofaan, releases on Friday — always creates the finest films based on friendship.

Farhan: I do, and, just the other day, I found these hand-drawn storyboards [that I had made] during the first few weeks of shoot. It was special. The memories of recording the music are special. I remember meeting you all at 4D [music studio]. You all were finalising the music of Mission Kashmir, and played the song Dhuan to me. It’s such a good song.

 

Farhan: Breathless had blown my mind. I was still writing [the script of Dil Chahta Hai] then, and didn’t know what my plans were. At the time, [A R] Rahman had become a big name. I spoke to pa [Javed Akhtar] and said I’d like to meet him. But he said he didn’t think our temperaments would match. I am the kind of guy who sleeps at 9 am, and he wakes up then. Also, I wanted someone who was hungry, like I was. I remembered how amazing Breathless was, and there were other songs [of SEL] that I liked. Dus’ Suno gaur se had also come out then, and it all felt right.

Shankar: I remember, [with Breathless], you, Zoya [Akhtar] and Javed ji were sitting in a room, and you told me, ‘We will make this video. It will become famous. Then we’ll make big movies, and lots of money.’

Farhan: [I’d say] anything to get you all on-board. Every script has a culture; every character a sound. That the three of you could understand the process, and make it effortless, seemed amazing. The music [in that decade] was very different. The way you processed it felt right.

Loy: There was one; was it a blues [song]?

Farhan: That song hasn’t left me. I’ve put it in the archives, or something. It is in my head, I have never forgotten it.

Shankar: Pyaar mein kitna gham hai.

Farhan: That’s it. I will 100 per cent use it in some film. We recorded one mukhda and antara for it. Pa had also written the lyrics. It was for [the section which eventually included] Tanhaayi.

Farhan: Yes, one was Chamkile din. I stand corrected now, but when I heard it, I told dad it sounded like a detergent [commercial]. Another one was pyar ke ghat jo utarte hai. I found the reference old-fashioned. But he said, like trends, words come and go. The young generation is reintroduced to some words only through songs. It’s a nice way to keep these words alive.

Farhan: There are a couple of films like that, including Lakshya. It’s not one you associate with music because it is about dramatic personal growth. In this case, it is about how effectively a writer can weave in a song to further the story. In films like Dil Chahta Hai and Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara, you can pause the story [to include a song]. But, in films like Lakshya, you can’t, because the driving factor for the viewer is the story. Such movies are tougher to work on. They are easier for the writer. So, for pa, it is easier because he knows where the song is being placed in the film, and can write in accordance with that situation. But, for the composers, it is harder. Because the music has to become an extension of the score.

Farhan: I’ve never boxed before. The closest I’ve come to boxing is evading punches from Zoya. But, when you are inspired by a script, something happens. You don’t feel like you’re working anymore. It’s not about the physicality. If I was walking down the street and someone told me to do 50 push ups, 

that will feel like hard work. But, if [a script like this] wakes something up within you, you are drawn to it.

Shankar: But to sustain that for [18 months] must have been tough. I remember, you would wake up and be at the boxing ring by 6.30 am. Often, you would message me from there with ideas about a song. I’d wonder how this man could do it?

Farhan: Like with Bhaag Milkha Bhaag, it came from being so excited and inspired by what was being asked of you. I’m sure it’s the same for you guys. If you’re in a studio, you all keep [creating music] till it feels amazing. Until that’s done, you can’t sleep.

Farhan: Yeah, but only because it was probably the hardest I had worked for anything. [We were always taught] that if you work hard, you will succeed. Here, we did. But I had expected it to do better than it did. I was disappointed. But, on the flip side, there’s a story I’d like to share. In 2017, I went to Dehradun for a live concert. It was the first time I was heading there after the release of Lakshya. I told [the officials] I’d love to visit the academy [where the film was shot]. Graciously, they organised a visit. There were 700 cadets. Someone asked me the reason behind making the film. And I narrated a story about [something that transpired in 2000]. I think you [SEL] were there with my father at an event in 2000, when an [army official] had told him that there was a shortage of officers entering the army, after Kargil. The army was praised for how they dealt with the intruders. But, as a career option for the educated, it was vanishing. Dad said he would write a film about it, and that is how Lakshya got made. I was telling [the cadets] this story. One major, who supervises them, said he wanted to show me something. He took to the mic and asked [the cadets] who among them had joined [the force on being inspired by] Lakshya. About 70 per cent raised their hands. And that made me realise that we are [unfortunately] only bothered about box-office numbers. Here, the purpose of making the film was evidently served.

Shankar: I had composed it before I had met Ehsaan and Loy. It was for a TV series. The difference between working for your production and another one is that we don’t need to consult anyone else. When we work on music, we arrive at many [melodies]. We like some, we throw some. But, if we like an idea, we can consult you, and it is [finalised]. It’s not like we’re told, ‘Okay, we’ll come back to you.’ The process becomes easier.

Loy: Yeah, the fact that you take the call on a song speeds up the process by 10 times. That’s the problem in the industry. [Delays] set you back significantly.