As told to Ankita Chaurasia (MUMBAI MIRROR; December 3, 2019)

I was in a negative space, having just quit a TV show, Kumkum Bhagya, while also battling heartbreak. That’s when I came across a speech by Meryl Streep in which she said, “Take your broken heart, make it into art.” Coincidentally, around the same time, someone told me about this role and from Versova I rushed to Bandra, where the auditions were on. I connected instantly with the character because even I had been away from my sister for a while and missed her terribly. I didn’t know who the filmmakers or even my co-stars were, but when another film I was supposed to be a part of didn’t work out, I gave the nod to Love, Sonia. Since I had been losing weight for the earlier role, I could convincingly play a 17-year-old in my debut film.

My first shot was a test shot taken during a recce. I was told to play in the field and they shot me in silhouette. When I watched the final cut, I realised that the shot was retained as the final scene in the film. My actual first shot was with Adil Hussain in the field as I jump to the rescue of my little sister when she spills the grains while playing and is being scolded by our father. Before we faced the camera, Adil asked me if I’d done theatre and I had to admit I hadn’t. It was playing on my mind while we were enacting the scene and it made me conscious. Fortunately, I remembered I had done TV and hence I am spontaneous in front of the camera. But I was still thrown off when Freida Pinto whacked me on the face with an unbelievably hard roti. It had always been a part of the script, but I had not understood the word ‘whack’.

Another first was dubbing on the fly. We had just shot the scene where my character loses her virginity. Since I was raw and smarting from the mix of emotions, our sound engineer, Resul Pookutty, decided on the spur of the moment that this was the best time to get me to read out the lines of the letter that connects the story. I flew business class to Los Angeles and on the very first day, shot with my idol, Demi Moore. It was incredible!

I was waiting for Love, Sonia to release when I heard that auditions were on for Super 30. I went for them and then forgot about it till they called me a few months later. Several auditions followed and after a while, I broke down and called a friend from outside the Phantom Films office to ask her if I was really so bad an actress that they had to test me so many times. Then, one day, I was told I was on board. By then I had convinced myself that they really didn’t like me so I refused to believe that I was doing a film opposite Hrithik Roshan, till the film released.

My first scene in Super 30 was on the Ganga Ghat, when Hrithik’s character tells me to marry someone else because he can’t. Since Supriya is in love with his Anand Kumar, I was supposed to smile and cry at the same time. I was really nervous and walked to Hrithik’s vanity van, told him I was terrified of doing the scene with someone who’s such a good actor. I also insisted that I wouldn’t call him ‘sir’ as that would make it even more difficult for me. He laughed and told me that he had been freaking out because he thought I was too calm and collected for a newcomer. Now that I told him I had the jitters, he was feeling better. Immediately, the ice was broken.

To perfect her role of actor battling alcoholism in Zero, Katrina Kaif seeks inspiration from Hollywood stars like Liza Minnelli, Demi Moore and Lindsay Lohan
Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; November 2, 2018)

Director Aanand L Rai has a knack for extracting moving performances from his artistes. It's not surprising then that in Zero, her first collaboration with the director, Katrina Kaif has taken on a layered role of an actor battling alcoholism.

Considering the part was unfamiliar territory for her, she apparently turned to the personal journeys of Hollywood stars Liza Minnelli (left, below), Demi Moore and Lindsay Lohan (right) — all of whom have battled alcohol abuse at different points in their career — for inspiration.

"It's definitely one of Katrina's toughest roles to date. In order to understand the psyche of a star who resorts to alcoholism, she did extensive research on Hollywood stars who battled similar demons," reveals a source from the film's unit.

The trajectories of Minnelli and Lohan served as the perfect blueprint — while the veteran actor had famously said that she "inherited" her drinking problem, presumably alluding to mother Judy Garland, Lohan too struggled with alcoholism after catapulting to superstardom.

"Katrina read up on their stories to bring more gravitas to her role. Demi Moore, for instance, has spoken at length about how she would constantly be having thoughts of self-destruction, regardless of the success that came her way. Katrina also read up on Lohan's stints in the rehab. She also referred to books like Blackout and More, Now, Again that includes stories of people at different stages of addiction and how they kicked the habit." Also featuring Shah Rukh Khan and Anushka Sharma, the much-hyped film is eyeing a Christmas release.

Meena Iyer (DNA; September 22, 2018)

It’s raining films for Manoj Bajpayee. The actor, who will complete 25 years in showbiz next year, is enjoying this phase where he is feted, felicitated and rewarded with mainstream fare like Satyameva Jayate to the hatke stuff like Love Sonia and Gali Guleiyan. Right now, Mumbai is more like a stopover port for the 49-year-old, who has been travelling the world with his work. And though home is where the heart resides, Manoj admits that he also has to adjust being a suitcase daddy sometimes.

Excerpts of our chat with the multi-talented artiste, who never fails to surprise.

It’s been a Manoj Bajpayee season; it began with Aligarh and continues to gather momentum, right?
The typical response would be that God has been kind. But then, that’s also the truth. You have been a part of this business for a long time, in fact, you were around, much before I arrived on the scene. You know the nature of this business. One never knows when one movie starts and how the ball keeps rolling. You need to find a reason for it, so you can repeat the same thing in the coming season. But it never happens. Over the 24 years that I have been here, I have come to only one conclusion; when it’s happening, be happy and celebrate. In this field, the lows are too many and the highs are too few. So if you don’t celebrate, you will miss the train (laughs). No matter how big a star you are, you will feel lonely, left out and miserable. But the best part is that when the high comes, it can either spoil you, ruin you or make you think that you’re the best.

You’ve been able to mix and match very nicely. After a Satyameva Jayate, you also had a Gali Guleiyan.
This year has been great for middle-of-the-road films. Missing is doing well on the digital platform, but sadly, it wasn’t distributed too well during its theatrical release. Gali Guleiyan, too, has managed to generate curiosity and become a talking point, by the grace of God. It’s an independent parallel film, there is no denying it. But once you sit through it, it will not leave you easily. I’m proud of it.

Considering the whirlwind it has been, how are you holding on to sanity? Obviously, you have your wife Shabana and daughter Ava Nayla at home...
The sanity of the experience lies in keeping yourself intact. I’ve been doing a lot of things.

You’re doing a digital series, too, with Raj Nidimoru and Krishna DK.
Yes, we will be finishing it this month. It’s an amazing series about a middle-class guy, who tries to balance the demands of his job and family. He’s an intelligence officer and there’s this myth that they are like Superman. Through it, you understand what a government official working in the intel does, goes through and what happens to his family. There’s also a cultural difference as he’s from Benares while his wife is from South India and their children are studying in an English Medium school in Mumbai. So, you have three different cultures under one roof, failing and succeeding to strike a balance between both worlds. It’s a great subject and we’ve shot some amazing sequences.

Tell us about your experience with Love Sonia, though it’s a special appearance.
When it was first offered to me, I said no. It’s a pathetic character, I didn’t want to do it. I turned the complete black into some grey; that was my contribution. It’s a small role, but it stays with you. Director Tabrez Noorani, producer David Womark and I have put our minds to this character and have tried to make him look like a businessman who thinks he is a saviour of the girls. Pimp is too small a term for him, he is actually managing the racket or the mafia of human trafficking. He believes that he is a businessman and anyone who tries to ruin his job is in danger. We’ve given him a complete human look, and when he changes his colours, it baffles you as to how anyone can be such a chameleon. When you see his dark side, he is fearful and dangerous. On the other side, he is a father, mentor, guide and saviour of the girls. You see everything in him, but you can’t mess with his business as he calls it. I’m supporting the film because the issue is close to my heart. I fail to understand why in the world, none of the governments of any country could bring this into the forum of the United Nations and make it a global rule that people involved in human trafficking are given such a strict punishment that the message goes out to everybody.

Globally, films like Aligarh, Gali Guleiyan and now, Love Sonia have been earning you a lot of notices. How does that feel?
Demi Moore didn’t speak to me after Love Sonia. She was very chatty with me before it started. When Simi Garewal saw it in Melbourne, she said please don’t talk to me (laughs). So, I know for a few days, I’m going to lose some of my female fans because of the feelings my character evokes.

With your performances garnering international acclaim, are you looking at more opportunities in the West?
Yes, at the insistence of a few of my friends, I’m looking westwards. I’ve spoken to some and they have been selflessly working on finding a way to promote me. David is one of them. Tabrez is doing it in his way. Deepesh Jain, who is based in Los Angeles, is doing it for Gali Guleiyan. There are other friends in LA, and they have been at it, too. Also, because they love me as a performer, they feel I should find some work there.

How does being a suitcase daddy work for you? How does your daughter Ava Nayla react?
Since the last few months, I have been at home. My wife Shabana says this is what she likes. She knows that I will be coming home for a few months. It doesn’t matter if I’ll be leaving early morning and returning in the evening. So, it’s a good feeling. I’m loving it too. But now, they’re bored of me (smiles). That’s the life of an actor.

You’re looking leaner. Have you been hitting the gym and eating healthy?
Yes, I’ve been eating well, leading a very healthy life. I quit smoking 13 years ago and hard liquor as well. I used to have white wine earlier, but now I’ve quit that, too. For the last few months, I’ve been a teetotaller.

Has that been easy?
It’s very easy. In the 24 years that I have been an actor, you know how to switch off. I started believing that it was not all fluke, it was a lot of hard work. That’s the good feeling I have.

How good a driver are you considering you started late?
I’ve become a good and safe driver. I’ve been learning cooking also. I’m learning to become a good husband and a good father. When I’m at home, I try to be with my daughter. She shouts at me when I’m on my phone. She immediately says, ‘Papa, shut your phone.’ She demands my attention, which is good.

If others can want your attention, your daughter can also want it.
My daughter doesn’t want it, she grabs it (laughs).

Chaya Unnikrishnan (DNA; September 13, 2018)

Mrunal Thakur, who played the bubbly and vivacious Bulbul in Kumkum Bhagya, makes her film debut with Love Sonia in a de-glam role. The movie, which  has already won acclaim at international film festivals, is now releasing in India. The actress talks about playing the title role of a girl trapped in the global sex trade, how she prepped for it and why she chose an unconventional project for her debut.

Love Sonia is finally releasing in India. What are the thoughts going through your mind?
I am quite excited and nervous because this will be the first time that people will be buying tickets for my film and sharing their views. I am also eager to know how they absorb the movie and what message they take away from it.

This film tackles the serious issue of sex trafficking. Didn’t you want your debut film to be a love story or a romcom?
I always wanted to do a film, but wasn’t sure what kind of movie I would do. This one is about two sisters and what happens to them. When I auditioned for it, I connected with the character because I love my sister a lot. Also, on TV, I had done light roles, characters that were close to what I am in real life. Here, I was out of my comfort zone, I wanted to try and push myself. Also, despite being a newcomer, I got an opportunity to play the titular role, for which I salute director Tabrez Noorani. I worked with the most dedicated and passionate people in the film. Most of my male friends were jealous of me because I was working with Demi Moore!

What kind of prep did you have to do?
I had to lose some weight, but since I was already working out, it wasn’t difficult. We also did a couple of workshops. I went to Sonagachi (Kolkata) to meet the girls (who are into flesh trade) to figure out what their real life story is. It took them a little while to open up and express themselves. Hearing their stories gave me the chills. These girls look so full of life but their stories are so hard-hitting. They are the real winners for me. They have a right to live a happy life.

How difficult was it for you to shoot the scenes?
The director, Tabrez Noorani, made sure that he did not shoot anything that I wasn’t comfortable with. There he used sound and camera angles. Yet, I broke down during several scenes. There is this one scene where I, as a 17-year-old girl, is being sold off to a 60-year-old man. I told my director that I cannot do it. All he said was, ‘Mrunal, I will not force you to do it, but remember if you do the scene and the world sees it and even if one girl is saved, that’s your achievement’. That egged me on. We finished the scene in one take. I can’t tell you the satisfaction I got. I felt I was not just performing, but doing something for a cause.

After Love Sonia, you have Super 30 with Hrithik Roshan.
Yes, my first film is about two sisters and my second one is about education. As an actor, I have the benefit of being a privileged voice for an issue, twice! Working with Hrithik was amazing. My first reaction when I met him was thinking that his eyes are so pretty! I was star-stuck. I had to tell myself to focus on my scene (laughs).

Sonil Dedhia (MID-DAY; September 8, 2018)

While she would often daydream about becoming a Bollywood actor, Mrunal Thakur admits that even in her wildest dreams, she had not imagined sharing screen space with Hrithik Roshan in her maiden project. Elated to nab a big break in Super 30, the former television actor says, "I can't believe I'm making my Bollywood debut opposite Hrithik Roshan. He is a fantastic actor. Never did I feel that I was working with a superstar as he is so humble."

Before she makes her Bollywood debut in January, Thakur will also be seen in the Tabrez Noorani-directed bilingual, Love Sonia. The challenge of working in a gritty drama about women trafficking aside, she says she was overjoyed to collaborate with Hollywood legend Demi Moore. "Considering I have grown up watching her films, performing with her was another high. When I met her for the first time, I clicked a picture with her and posted it on my social media handle. Soon, I was flooded with messages from friends," she recounts.

Mrunal Thakur on finding inspiration in her co-star and working with Demi Moore and Freida Pinto on a film about child-trafficking
Avinash Lohana (MUMBAI MIRROR; July 31, 2018)

Mrunal Thakur, who plays Hrithik Roshan’s lady love in Super 30, math whiz Anand Kumar’s biopic, remembers that when she bagged this coveted role she wept with joy, so delighted was she to be working with Bollywood’s Greek God. “After seeing the Kangana Ranaut-starrer Queen, I’m also a huge fan of Vikas (Bahl, director) so to be also collaborating with him in Super 30 was a dream come true,” the 25-year-old actress says, admitting that even her parents didn’t know she was in the running for the film until the news leaked out. “It’s a big deal for them too that I’m in a film with Hrithik Roshan,” she adds.

While Mrunal can’t reveal much about her character, she is quick to point out that it is nothing like her other reel-life avatars, in Ekta Kapoor’s daily soap, Kumkum Bhagya, or the two Marathi films she featured in, including the 2014 drama Surajya and the Ajay Devgn-produced historical, Vitti Dandu. “She is a city girl based in Patna,” Mrunal informs, going on to rave about her 44-year-old co-star. “Whenever I would go to Hrithik’s vanity van to chat or rehearse lines, I’d see him working out or watching inspirational videos. One thing that I’ve learnt from him is that as an actor you have to worship your body.”

She recalls that if the call time was 10 am, her leading man would hit the gym early, then go back after pack-up. “Once he invited me to work out with him and now I’m focussed on my fitness thanks to Hrithik. He has become an inspiration and has always been really encouraging about my work.”

Mrunal has learnt Kathak for the film from Birju Maharaj’s disciple Renu Sharma and will be seen doing the classical dance in some sequences. “I was a real tomboy earlier, but after learning Kathak, I could sense some changes in my body language. There’s some nazaqat now, a lot more grace, kathak has also made me more expressive,” she says, quick to give full credit to her guru for this metamorphosis.

The actress is also playing the titular part in Tabrez Noorani’s directorial debut, Love Sonia. A film on child trafficking, it reunites the Indian producer of Slumdog Millionaire with his Latika, Freida Pinto, and also features Hollywood actress Demi Moore. The ensemble cast also includes Manoj Bajpayee, Rajkummar Rao, Anupam Kher, Richa Chadha and Lion star Sunny Pawar. After a year-long, countrywide search, Mrunal bagged the role of Sonia, a young Indian village girl whose life changes irrevocably after her cash-strapped father sells his younger daughter to small-time pimps to save his farm, thinking Preeti (played by Riya Sisodiya) will land a job in Mumbai. In order to rescue her, Sonia follows her into the depraved world, determined not to become one of the 800,000 victims of the vicious sex trade network.

“The film is about how Sonia courageously and smartly attempts to track down her sister. Her journey travels across India but also to Hong Kong and the US,” Mrunal informs.

Quiz her about working with Demi and Freida and she describes them as “wonderful women”, adding that she has improved tremendously as an actor after observing and working with them. “Demi shared stories of working with an organisation called Thorn (that works towards curbing circulation of child sexual abuse material and stands up to traffickers),” she reveals. “I went to Sonagachi, the red light area in Kolkata, and lived there for a couple of days, studying the body language of the girls there. I also interacted with the organisation called Apne Aap that helps such women and gets their children admitted into schools.”

On August 1, Mrunal turns a year older. “I prefer a working birthday but this year I will spend the day with my grandmother who is coming down to see me after around three years,” she says.

Lasyapriya Sundaram (BOMBAY TIMES; April 17, 2018)

Manoj Bajpayee is in Los Angeles these days, where his film Gali Guleiyan opened the Indian Film Festival of Los Angeles, recently. During the visit, the actor also met Hollywood actress Demi Moore. Manoj told BT, “Demi Moore is supporting another film of mine called Love Sonia. This film deals with trafficking of women, which is a huge issue across the world. A screening of the film was organised for the entire team, which is where I was introduced to her. We talked about the movie and our respective careers.”

Ask him how a social evil like the trafficking of women can be curbed and the actor replied, “Governments all over the world will have to come together to deal with this social evil. Women are being traded for sexual pleasure, and it’s pathetic and condemnable. The strictest of punishments need to be given to the perpetrators, which will act as a deterrent. The way the drug trade has been curbed the world over; this global problem should also be dealt with in a similar way.”

While many women are lured into the sex trade unbeknownst to them, India has also witnessed an alarming rise in the number of rape incidents being reported. In fact, many celebrities have openly spoken about and condemned the ghastly Kathua and Unnao cases. Manoj says, “The Kathua and Unnao rapes manifest the dark side of our society. As a community, we should condemn it vehemently. I feel that we have not come together and protested against sexual crimes aggressively, our voices have to be much louder. People have to speak out against this heinous crime.”

Chaya Unnikrishnan (DNA; September 13, 2017)

Mrunal Thakur, best known for her role as the chirpy and vivacious Bulbul in Kumkum Bhagya, will be seen in the Indo-American film Love Sonia made by Life Of Pi producer David Womark. While actresses crave to be seen in glamourous roles, Mrunal has chosen to take the unconventional path and will be seen in a completely deglam avatar in her debut international project. The actress plays the title role in the film that brings to light the issue of global human trafficking. She plays a village girl, who is trapped in global sex trade in the film that also stars the likes of Freida Pinto and Demi Moore. Here, the actress talks about how she bagged the role, her experience of shooting for the film and future plans...

Most actresses would want to make their debut with glam roles in commercial entertainers. What prompted you to do Love Sonia?
Yes, every actress would love to do a glamorous role with nice make-up, and designer clothes, stand in the snow, wave her sari and romance around the trees, but I wanted something that will give me a chance to perform. I wanted to show my skills as an actor and I have been waiting for my debut film for long. I don’t want people to just go and watch the film, but remember it for a few generations. And the subject of this film is such that it gives me a scope to perform.

How did you bag the role?
This journey has not been easy. The first time I gave an audition, I had no idea who the director was, the makers or the cast. I just read the script and gave a normal audition with 15-20 girls. All I knew was, it is about sex trafficking, my character loves her sister, the two share an amazing bond, and I would kill anybody for her. I felt connected and wanted to do it. In the second round (of auditions), I gave a look test with another actress who would play my sister. That’s when I learnt Tabrez Noorani, who was associated with Slumdog Millionaire and Life Of Pi, was directing it. And that’s when I met him. But still it was not easy because they had several options for Sonia’s role. It was only after six rounds of auditions and after many months that I was told I will be playing Sonia. The day I got to know, I was on cloud nine. I was even ready to be a spot girl on this film, as I would get so much to learn.

Did you know you will be sharing screen with Freida Pinto and Demi Moore?
When we started, I figured out there is Freida Pinto, Richa Chadha, Rajkummar Rao and Manoj Bajpayee. I was very excited because some of these actors I have grown up watching. Demi Moore came into the picture much later. With all these actors, there was a different pressure on me. I never expected them to be so humble, kind and always ready to help me. The best thing about my film was the combination of working with raw talent like Riya Sisodiya, who plays my sister Preeti and experienced actors. It is Tabrez’s first directorial, but he had been working on the project for 10-11 years, and he has a completely different vision.

How was it working with Freida and Demi Moore?
Freida is one of the kindest women I have worked with. We used to do our make up in one trailer, where we would chat about the film and other things. I never felt that I was with a big name like Freida. Love Sonia is one of the best performance-oriented roles of Freida. I became her fan after watching her in this movie. She is terrific as Rashmi who is also one of the victims. Demi is not only a great performer and a beautiful actress, but a wonderful person.

Did you take any tips from Freida on how to pursue a career in Hollywood?
The entire team is like family to me. I am sure they will guide me and support me when I ask them for suggestions whether it is Bollywood or Hollywood or TV.

What was your prep for this role?
Both Riya and I stayed near a brothel in Kolkata to study the body language of the prostitutes. We heard their stories and the problems they face. It was so depressing. I am a strong woman, but my BP literally dropped when I was with them.

It must not have been an easy shoot...
It was extremely difficult. I broke down while shooting several scenes. There is this one scene when producer David Womark was sitting next to me and I broke down. My make-up was such that I was made three shades darker, I hadn’t groomed myself — my eyebrows were grown, upper lip wasn’t done. The scene was of me as a 17-year-old girl being sold to a 60-year-old guy. I told my director that I cannot do it. All he said was ‘Mrunal, I will not force you to do it but remember if you do the scene and the world sees it and five girls are saved, that’s your achievement’. That egged me on. We finished the scene in one take. I can’t tell you the satisfaction I got. I felt I was not just performing, but doing something for a cause.

Did you get affected by your character?
There are a lot of method actors I have met, who love to be in character. If they have to fight with their co-actor in the film, they won’t talk for five days. I tried to do that with Sonia, but it was depressing. I realised that if I live the character I will go into depression and die. I decided to feel her and get into the skin of the character on the sets, but not live it.

When is the film releasing?
It will be out in March 2018, there are possibilities of it going to some film festivals — we missed the Toronto one — but they will be looking at others. I am keeping my fingers crossed as more than anything, the film is aimed at saving girls from trafficking.

You were approached for Sultan, but it didn’t happen. What went wrong?
I audition for a lot of films and I had done for Sultan, too. The reason I lost weight was because I was training for the film. I had the privilege of meeting Aditya Chopra and the amazing casting director Shanoo Sharma. At that time, I was chubby and out of shape. But they put a lot of effort in me and said, ‘Mrunal you can lose the weight’. I actually lost 10-11 kilos in three months, which was a great achievement for me. But I guess I ended up losing too much weight and did not look like a wrestler. Things might happen or not happen, what matters is the journey. Of course, I felt bad that it did not work out, but I am glad I at least got a chance to interact with them. I have grown up watching Yash Raj Films like Saathiya and Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge and trust whatever decision they make.

You are not doing any TV shows now...
TV requires a lot of commitment. When I have to travel to promote my film, the producer of the show will get hassled if I don’t give the dates. So, TV is not in the near future. But I am open to doing films, language no bar. I have done three Marathi films, too. So, whatever I find exciting and challenging enough I will take it up, whether it is Bollywood, Hollywood or Marathi. Currently, I am concentrating more on commercials. I get to work with different filmmakers and actors. And in 30 seconds you have to give your best. You grow as a performer and it is exciting. I got to do one commercial with Ranveer Singh. Not only is he a wonderful actor, but he is also a wonderful human being, energetic, yet down-to-earth. I would love to work with him again.

Renuka Vyavahare (BOMBAY TIMES; December 30, 2016)

BOMBAY TIMES (April 25, 2014)

Can a bit of yoga cure heartache? Hollywood star Demi Moore seems to think so. Reprising what the Beatles did back in 1968 for some peace of mind, the actress is planning a trip to Rishikesh for a series of yoga and meditation sessions along the banks of the Ganga. With a slight difference — she is doing this in order to avoid being in the same city when ex-husband Ashton Kutcher marries fiancee Mila Kunis.

Kutcher and Moore had made headlines when they married, due to the age difference between them. After being together for six years, they parted ways in 2011 when stories surfaced about Kutcher cheating on Moore.

“Demi is tapped into Ashton and Mila’s wedding planning and she’s telling friends that she’s going to get out of town during the time frame of the wedding. She knows she’ll have to endure hearing about the affair. But the wound is still fresh from their divorce. When she gets word about the exact date, she’s booking a trip to the yogic spiritual centre of India, Rishikesh, where she’ll submerge herself in days of waking at 4 am, chanting, meditation, yoga by the Ganges River, light eating of only meagre portions of vegan foods and dressing in saffron coloured robes,” a source revealed.