Showing posts with label Dharamshala. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Dharamshala. Show all posts
Vikrant Massey to recreate Musafir Cafe world with 20-room artist residencies
4:38 PM
Upala KBR (MID-DAY; September 27, 2026)
Movies and shows have a way of turning fictional worlds into real-life destinations. From Rancho-inspired cafés in Leh after 3 Idiots (2009) to fans seeking out Friends’ iconic Central Perk, screen locations often become tourist attractions in their own right.
Now, fans of Netflix’s Musafir Cafe can step into the world of the show as Vikrant Massey, who plays Chander, has begun work on two real-life Musafir Cafés — one in Dharamshala, Himachal Pradesh, and another in Uttarakhand — with his wife, Sheetal Thakur.
A source close to the development said the cafés are being designed along the lines of the one featured in the series. “Work has already begun on it. The idea is to recreate the café seen in the show, along with spaces where artists can stay and work. Around 20 rooms are being designed as residencies for artists,” said the source.
Massey said the idea took shape after the “euphoric response we got for the show”. While fans initially suggested that he open a Musafir Café in the hills, the actor was aware that “as fan service, several Musafir Cafés were already built after Divya Prakash Dubey’s book Musafir Café, [from which the series has been adapted], hit the shelf a decade ago”.
“I was chatting with Divya, Sharanya Rajgopal [show creator], and Vijay Subramaniam [founder of Collective Artistes Network] about how it would be a great idea to recreate the on-screen experience of the show in real life,” explained the actor.
The cafés will offer food, coffee, books, and spaces for visitors to unwind amid nature. Massey hopes they will give people a chance to escape the “hustle and bustle and chaos of the city” and work on projects. He plans to launch the cafés by “summer next year”.
Spots made famous by movies/series
- Central Perk Coffeehouse in Boston (American sitcom ‘Friends’)
- Twede’s Café in North Bend, Washington (‘Twin Peaks’, 1990)
- Polka Café in Anantnag, Kashmir (Vijay’s ‘Leo’, 2023)
- SH Khan Restaurant on Leh’s Mall Road (‘Dhurandhar’, 2025)
I went to Dharamshala for a holiday, but I returned with a life lesson-Divya Dutta
9:27 AM
Onkar Kulkarni (MUMBAI MIRROR; June 9, 2026)
Divya Dutta recently met the Dalai Lama during a visit to Dharamshala, describing the interaction as a memorable experience.
Divya said, “It was a special experience. Spending time in the presence of His Holiness the Dalai Lama was deeply moving. I went to Dharamshala for a holiday, but I returned with a life lesson. Meeting His Holiness reminded me that peace isn’t something you find outside; it’s something you nurture within yourself. That’s a thought I will carry with me forever.”
On the professional front, Divya was recently seen in the historical drama Chhaava and the OTT series Chiraiya.
Speaking about the response to Chiraiya, Divya said, “What has been encouraging is the way viewers have engaged with the story and shared their own experiences. It’s rewarding to see the conversations the series has sparked.”
I truly believe that you don’t have to be rich to travel-Fatima Sana Shaikh
2:16 PM
Onkar Kulkarni (BOMBAY TIMES; September 28, 2024)
Fatima Sana Shaikh, an avid traveller, loves going on backpacking adventures. Be it desi locales or foreign destinations, the actress has a penchant for exploring new places and the local culture and cuisine. Fatima, who was struck by wanderlust much later in her life, says, “As a kid, I would only go to Jammu and Kashmir, during my summer vacations, and I would enjoy those times. It was only later in life that I started travelling more. I truly believe that you don’t have to be rich to travel.”
‘I want to explore the North-East and places in South India’
Fatima loves travelling abroad, but she also enjoys exploring our country. “I love travelling in India because the demographic of the country is so varied. There’s everything from mountains and beaches to winter destinations and deserts, and the cultural experience is extremely diverse across the country. While I have seen many parts of India, I want to explore the North-East and places in South India,” she says.
‘I travel to find peace’
The actress, who was last seen in Sam Bahadur, shares that every time she feels low, she picks up her bags and takes off to some destination, which helps her find peace. She says, “Dharamshala and other places in Himachal are the go-to places for me. The moment I feel I need to get out of the city, I go to the mountains. Sometimes, I take Bijlee (her pet dog) along, or I go solo. When you are in the mountains, you are at peace. It’s the most beautiful sight to see the sun rising and setting there. It’s almost like watching a live painting when you see the sky changing colours.”
‘I splurge only on flight tickets and take non-stop flights’
Over the years, Fatima has figured out travel hacks that suit her. She shares, “I splurge only on flight tickets and take non-stop flights. Usually, when I travel, I prefer staying at rental places or my friend’s homes. I also walk a lot. You just need to be a smart traveller and plan well.”
While Fatima enjoys travelling solo, she says she has also been lucky to have friends who proved to be great travel buddies. She says, “I have been fortunate enough to have friends who would go out, and I would tag along for free when I had limited means. My first such trip with them was to Goa. I went on three such trips with my friends, and they stepped in because I had only minimal savings each time. When I started working, I could do the same for them.”
Fatima’s advice for solo travellers
Ask her what are the precautions she takes when traveling solo, and she says, “My advice to solo travellers, and this is something that I always follow, is - keep checking your IDs and wallet and have a backup plan in case you lose your phone. Also, keep the number of the local police station and ambulance handy always, and be informed about the nearest hospital.”
Fatima’s most memorable work trip
Her most memorable work trip was the outdoor shoot of Chachi 420 (1997), in which she featured as a child artiste. She recalls, “I was four years old, and we were shooting in Chennai. We stayed at this beautiful hotel with a swimming pool and a beach near it. I still remember the smell of the area, as there were certain flowers that bloomed combined with the geeli mitti ki khushboo because of the rain.”
Anshuman Jha to tie the knot this October
8:15 AM
Kavita Awaasthi (HINDUSTAN TIMES; August 10, 2022)
After a two-year wait, actor Anshuman Jha is all set to tie the knot with his fiancée, Sierra, on October 29. While Sierra moved to India last year, the couple was waiting for visa restrictions to ease so that their families can be present at the ceremonies. The American leg of the wedding will be in October, followed by the Indian ceremony in March next year.
The Mastram actor, 36, tells us, “We are excited about our [wedding] ceremony. Sierra always wanted to have an Indian ceremony. Ma would have wanted that, too. It will be a private affair at both the places, because that’s what we both believe in.”
Jha first met Sierra, a triathlon athlete, in 2019 at Dharamshala, Himachal Pradesh, when he went to get Tibetan medication for his mother, who was ailing from cancer. Sierra was even by his side when he lost his mother the following year. “I feel she’s my mum’s blessing,” he says.
Amid the pandemic in 2020, Jha flew down to the US to pop the question. This, he says, happened “organically”. “We didn’t plan the engagement; it felt like the [right] thing to do. Our relationship remains the same; tags don’t change anything. Same is the case with marriage, too. It feels right,” he shares, adding, “We are very grateful for every moment and don’t take each other or anything for granted.”
On the work front, the actor, who has featured in the web film Hum Bhi Akele Tum Bhi Akele (2021), besides other projects, will commence shooting for his next with director Harish Vyas in September, before he takes off for a month. Sierra, on the other hand, is training for the Ironman Triathlon, which is slated to be held in November in Israel, which is why they have chosen to get married in October. “Sierra’s dad will be rowing across the lake instead of walking her down the aisle,” Jha shares.
If south films have made 3 times amount of money that Hindi films are making, why does this divide exists-Shruti Haasan
8:27 AM
Citing reason behind being turned down for Bollywood film, Shruti on how success of Baahubali, RRR have done little to bridge gap between industries
Upala KBR (MID-DAY; April 26, 2022)
Asserting that a female Bollywood actor with prominent roles in films starring Shah Rukh Khan, Salman Khan, or Akshay Kumar would be sought-after in any Indian film industry would be a justified analysis. However, Shruti Haasan would testify that Bollywood doesn’t seem to be equally welcoming of revered female actors from other film industries. Haasan may have a line-up of projects with the south Indian film industry’s megastars — Prabhas (Salaar), Chiranjeevi (Mega 154) and Nandamuri Balakrishna (NBK107) — but is still frowned upon when being considered for a Hindi film.
Haasan says, “Several southern technicians, like DOP’s and action choreographers, have been working in Hindi movies for years. They don’t blow their trumpets. They complete the work quietly, and return home. That is the work ethic. [This rift] cannot exist in 2022. If south films have made three times the amount of money that Hindi films are making, one wonders why this divide exists?” she asks, referring to movies like Baahubali, RRR, and Pushpa, which found several takers in consumers of Hindi cinema too.
A recent incident has left a particularly bad taste in Haasan’s mouth. “I met [a team] for work in a Bollywood movie, and they said, ‘Oh! But you belong to the south.’ I told them [about my parents], that I made my debut with a Hindi film, I speak the language fluently, and live in Mumbai. When I was shooting for the Hollywood series Treadstone in Dharamshala, I met young monks who had seen all my Telugu films which were dubbed in Hindi. People know Tamil, Telugu, and Kannada actors. The audience is leading the way. They are the ones buying the tickets and making the movies blockbusters.”
While the success of films like Baahubali and KGF: Chapter 2 has played a significant role in erasing the lines demarcating the industries, Haasan says a large chunk of the responsibility also falls on the shoulders of the common man. “We must change how we communicate with people of different cultures. The way we say, ‘Gujarati log aise hote hai’, ‘Tamil log accounting karte hai’, ‘Punjabi log khana khaate hai’ is stereotypical, and should not happen in 2022. Our beauty is in our diversity. Isn’t it sad that we tear down people over differences? Cinema can pave the way for the celebration of these differences.”
People don’t know what went on in green room-Pankaj Tripathi
8:03 AM
Transforming into Man Singh for '83, Pankaj says film will highlight former Indian cricket team’s manager’s role in World Cup victory
Uma Ramasubramanian (MID-DAY; December 15, 2021)
First things first, Pankaj Tripathi makes it known that he doesn’t watch cricket. But therein lies the beauty of Kabir Khan’s '83 — it captures the spirit of the Indian cricket team perfectly, and looks set to convert even the most uninterested to a fan of the sport. Tripathi, who has stepped into the shoes of manager P R Man Singh for the retelling of India’s victory at the 1983 cricket World Cup, remembers being stumped by the script. “After reading the script, it almost felt as if [the Indian contingent] went there to develop a script rather than play the sport. It was undoubtedly a brilliant story,” says the actor.
The shoot of the Ranveer Singh-starrer was preceded by a boot camp that helped the actors pick up the sport. “I don’t watch cricket. We had vast written material to help us prep for our roles. I met Man sir in Hyderabad. When we went to Dharamshala for a 10-day boot camp, we met all the real-life players. That is when I attained all that I needed to play Man Singh. After I met Man Singh, my look was decided in half an hour. I stepped out of the vanity van [in my get-up], and Kabir Khan said, ‘We have found our Man Singh.’”
While Kapil Dev and his teammates have been widely celebrated over the decades for bringing the World Cup home, Tripathi hopes the sports drama will help people understand Singh’s role in the feat. “Everybody knows the contribution of each team member [on the field]. But people don’t know what went on in the green room, changing room and meeting room. People will know Man Singh’s contribution through the film.”
You have to function with humanity at this time-Arjun Kapoor
8:10 AM
Having wrapped up Ek Villain Returns stint before Goa lockdown, Arjun Kapoor says shoots should remain stalled to ensure crew safety
Uma Ramasubramanian (MID-DAY; May 21, 2021)
It has been a case of perfect timing for the team of Ek Villain Returns — Arjun Kapoor and John Abraham had only wrapped up their schedule when the Goa government imposed a state curfew. Kapoor, who has returned to the safety of his home since, backs the restrictions levied by the state governments to curb the virus transmission and believes it is important to halt all shoots, despite the losses incurred.
“As actors, we are always protected, but one has to empathise with the 50-60 odd people who are in charge of the lighting or running around in the creative department. They also have a family back home. You have to function with humanity at this time. It is easy to say that I will act, and go back to [the safety of] the vanity van, but you have to take into account the mindset of people. Their energy will drive the film,” reasons the actor. “I’m glad shoots are not happening at the moment, and the country is working together on more important things.”
The Mohit Suri-directed actioner is his third project shot amid the pandemic after the Netflix film, Sardar Ka Grandson, and Bhoot Police. Kapoor admits that working during these trying times has been emotionally difficult. “We managed to shoot Bhoot Police during 2020-end. We shot in Dharamshala and Jaisalmer at a time when the Coronavirus cases were on the decline.”
My dad is into events; he was struggling in 2020 and I could see that-Jacqueline Fernandez
8:31 AM
Onkar Kulkarni (BOMBAY TIMES; January 1, 2021)
After a lull that the world faced in 2020, due to the Coronavirus pandemic, Jacqueline Fernandez hopes that the New Year brings in some positivity and prosperity for everyone. Post the lockdown, the actress steadily began getting back in action. As a silver lining, the year 2021 will see her shooting multiple big-budget ventures.
Jacqueline, who’s looking at the New Year with a ray of hope, tells BT, “I expect that something good will come out of 2021. The last year was a difficult one for a lot of people. There was a lot of uncertainty in the air. I am happy that people are going back to work, and we are slowly trying to resume doing things that we used to. I know so many of my friends and family members who have been really struggling to get past this quarantine. Like my dad, who’s into events. He was struggling and I could see that. I faced my share of tough times, too, though, through this phase, I really started believing in the power of positivity, and I kept spreading it with whoever I connected.”
In the last quarter of 2020, the actress began shooting for two films simultaneously — Bhoot Police and Cirkus. Opening up about the former, which has her working with Saif Ali Khan, Arjun Kapoor and Yami Gautam, the actress, says, “I am glad that with a film like Bhoot Police, I got an opportunity to shoot in Dharamshala (Himachal Pradesh). Luckily, Yami is from Himachal, so I got to try the local flavours of the place. Even Kareena and Taimur joined Saif for some part of the shoot, and we had a great time every single day. It is fun teaming up with Saif after so long, and this is the first time I am working with Arjun.”
While shooting for Bhoot Police was a chilled out experience for her, on the sets of Cirkus, Jacqueline found herself to be extremely nervous. “I was thrilled as working with Rohit Shetty and Ranveer Singh was my dream. When you finally get to work with someone who you have looked up to, the experience, in the beginning, can be intimidating,” she shares.
The other project that she is excited about is Bachchan Pandey, which reunites her with Akshay Kumar. She says, “I will start shooting for the film in February. With Akshay, you get to learn so much when it comes to acting, comedy and fitness. The film also stars Kriti (Sanon), who is such a cool person. I am happy to have a girlfriend on the sets (laughs!).”
Besides these projects, there has also been buzz about the sequel of Kick. The film, which released in 2014, was a turning point in Jacqueline’s career. The actress who spent a lot of time with Salman at his Panvel farmhouse during the lockdown, says, “I am excited to get back to working with Salman that too in the sequel of a film that changed the course of my career. The script is ready and we would probably go on the floors by mid-2021.”
Like Hrithik Roshan, Ibrahim should just explode on screen-Saif Ali Khan
8:21 AM
Saif Ali Khan takes on exciting challenges professionally, and personally, prepares for a new addition to the family
Roshmila Bhattacharya (MUMBAI MIRROR; December 3, 2020)
For years, Saif Ali Khan and wife Kareena, with little Taimur in tow, have been taking off to Gstaad towards the year-end. But this year, with a baby due soon, they will have to skip their annual vacation in the Swiss snows. No complaints, no regrets. His horror comedy took the actor to the hills of Himachal, and with his wife and son joining him there, it’s been an enjoyable shoot so far.
“Bhoot Police is funny and spooky, the kind of film I’ve always wanted to do in its story, characters and locations. Usually, I have to sacrifice family time when I’m working, but this time I could be with my Kareena and Tim every evening after pack-up,” he exults, pointing out that while in terms of luxury and privacy, food and wine, Gstaad is special, Himachal also offers amazing cuisine and picture-perfect alpine slopes. “In fact, it’s closer to nature than Gstaad. There are not too many people around, you can go trekking up in the hills and fishing in the river. It’s a great place to holiday too and in the country.” Saif rattles off from his happy place, admitting that Dharamshala sells some incredible Buddhist art and he’s picked up some lovely paintings and sculptures too.
It’s 7 pm and the actor’s back in his suite. You can hear Taimur chattering away in the background and daddy is happy to report that with cookery and pottery classes organised within the hotel, and exploring the glorious outdoors, his son has been totally off his iPad and handset. Point out that pictures of him moulding clay brought the trolls out and an unfazed Saif shrugs it off saying that since he is not on any social media platform, such comments don’t upset him. “I’m lucky I have an amazing job that brings me to places like these. Not everyone is as lucky, and it can get frustrating being penned in a small apartment in the big city. Knowing that the negativity comes from there, I can be forgiving,” he reasons.
Quiz him about his autobiography and recent reports that he’s having second thoughts about writing it, and Saif firmly says that he is committed to his publishers and will do it. “I am going into it with some trepidation because I want to do it honestly and truthfully, with depth, without hurting anyone, simply embracing my life and sharing experiences,” he says.
During Diwali, one saw pictures of Ibrahim on the social media that brought back memories of a younger Saif. Acknowledging his elder son as a “good-looking kid” who makes him proud, daddy believes that he should stay away from the social media. “Like Hrithik Roshan, he should just explode on screen. There will be comparisons with me; he can’t avoid that, but he’s still growing, developing his own personality, so it’s best to be seen less for now,” he says wisely.
And has he seen the trailer of daughter Sara Ali Khan’s upcoming Christmas release, the Coolie No 1 remake? “No, I haven’t, but she showed me some of the songs and it was evident she was having fun. It’s funny seeing Sara on screen because, for me, she’s still a little girl, but of course, she’s all grown up now,” he shares fondly.
He must be excited about the soon-to-arrive baby? “Yeah, the more the merrier,” he quips tongue-in-cheek, but sobering up quickly points out that actors can get really lonely, returning to empty hotel rooms at the end of a long day. “Reminds me of Sartaj Singh from Sacred Games who would leave the lights on so he didn’t have to come back to a dark home. I find myself offering a prayer of thanks to God for this gift of love. The warmth of a family is something I’ll always be grateful for. Someone up there sure loves me,” he says emotionally.
Professionally, he’s making interesting choices. 2021 promises to be an exciting year with the Vikram Vedha remake and Adipurush, in which he plays Lankesh to Prabhas’s Ram and Kriti Sanon’s Sita. “It’s interesting to play a demon king, less strictures in that. But we will make him humane, up the entertainment quotient, justify his abduction of Sita and the war with Ram as revenge for what was done to his sister Surpanakha by Lakshman, who cut off her nose,” Saif is quick to assure, adding that Om Raut is one filmmaker he got along well with during Tanhaji: The Unsung Hero. “I admire him as a director. We boost each other towards creating something exciting. I am also in talks with Ritesh (Sidhwani) and Farhan (Akhtar) for something exciting”.
Bring up the subject of his evolution and he admits that back in the ’90s, he was young and careless. “Those were also more complacent times, one would just do his job and leave. But now, cinema is changing, evolving technologically in the hands of directors like Om. These films challenge me as an actor,” he says.
While these films will only take off next year, Saif has a release towards the year-end, Bunty Aur Babli 2. “I know we’re still in the midst of a pandemic, but this is a film for the theatres. It’s good, clean fun, perfect family entertainment. Personally, I was happy to reunite with the production house (Yash Raj Films). After Shah Rukh (Khan) I have done the maximum films with them,” he reminds.
Saif had flagged off 2020 with his own production, Jawaani Jaaneman. Any new projects in the pipeline? Candid as ever, he says, “I was producing films when I was not getting good offers. I am having too much fun as an actor now, but if something nice comes up we’ll go down that road again,” he concludes.
Actor Asif Basra, 53, found hanging in his McLeodganj home
8:24 AM
Yudhvir Rana & Suresh Sharma | TNN (THE TIMES OF INDIA; November 13, 2020)
McLeodganj: Actor Asif Basra, a familiar face in Bollywood films for nearly two decades and recently seen in OTT series Pataal Lok and Hostages, allegedly died by suicide at his rented home in HP’s McLeodganj on Thursday.
The 53-year-old, who also had impressive cameos in ‘Kai Po Che,’ and ‘Jab We Met,’ was staying in the house since September.
Locals had seen him with his dog earlier in the day. He was allegedly found hanging from the roof by his girlfriend, who informed the police. “Prima facie, it appears he hanged himself,” Kangra SP Vimukt Ranjan told TOI. No suicide note has been recovered so far, he said. Basra had been visiting McLeodganj intermittently for the past five years.
“A team of forensic experts has taken evidence from the spot. His family members will reach Dharamshala on Friday. The post-mortem will be carried out only after their arrival,” Ranjan said.
Actor Nawazuddin Siddiqui tweeted, “It is unbelievable, yet another loss of a dear friend #AsifBasra - gem of a talent & full of life personality…”
As an actor, Basra was known for his expressive eyes. He commanded attention even in the smallest of roles. Often his acting was so effortless you hardly seemed to notice it. He only had a minute or more of screen time as a predatory shark hitting on a lonely Geet Dhillon (Kareena Kapoor) in a railway station in Jab We Met. But we still remember the scene. His excellence was also evident in a recent Titan ad with Rajkummar Rao. The way his facial expressions change when he learns that his former young employee is offering him a CEO’s job underlined his quality as an actor. He had also worked in 2017 Himachali film, ‘Saanjh’, described as the first in the state’s western Pahari language.
Several Bollywood actors and directors expressed shock at his sudden death. Actor Divya Dutta tweeted, “Terribly shocked to hear about @asifbasra’s untimely demise. We shot together for #hostages2. Looked such a happy free spirited man! And was such a fab actor!! Rip Asif. This is hard to digest.” Ranvir Shorey posted, “Asif Basra was a warm, generous and exuberant co actor and friend. He will be missed dearly. My heart goes out to his family and friends. RIP.”
Director Rahul Dholakia wrote, “Shocked to hear about Basra!! What a wonderful actor and a jovial fellow - I mean why would he?? Very Sad - Had directed him in Parzania (Chagan), in Lamhaa (the Darzee) - and also in society - Very sad to hear about his passing !! #asifbasra Hope you are at peace.” Fellow director Vivek Agnihotri tweeted, “OMG... no way... you can’t do this Asif. We just did #TheTashkentFiles together and we were supposed to start my new film. OMG. What’s happening? Why? Not you? Never...”
Kareena Kapoor and Saif Ali Khan to celebrate a quiet Diwali in Dharamshala
8:19 AM
Harshada Rege (BOMBAY TIMES; November 12, 2020)
Most B-Towners have planned to celebrate Diwali with just a few loved ones for company this year. With minimal celebrations everywhere, some are even catching up on work. Recently, while Saif Ali Khan took off to Dharamshala to shoot Bhoot Police, Kareena Kapoor Khan, too, resumed work in Mumbai. The couple, along with son Taimur, will bring in the festival of lights away from the city in the quiet and pretty locales of Dharamshala.
Talking about their plans, Kareena shares, “Saif is shooting in Dharamshala for a film, and I have never been there, so Taimur and I will join him there. We are actually looking forward to setting out. It will be great to travel to the mountains and spend time in the open air and sunshine. It’s been a year where we had to be at home for a long duration. So, going to Dharamshala and being there for a few days will be great.”
Away from the festivities in Bollywood, the couple will make the most of being in the lap of nature. “We plan to keep it very quiet and spend as much time in the open as we can. It’s obviously not going to be a big Diwali, and I am very happy with that, I would rather have it small this year,” she says.
I don’t get upset about nepotism & unfairness-Fatima Sana Shaikh
8:18 AM
Rachana Dubey (BOMBAY TIMES; November 7, 2020)
In a chat with us at the beginning of the lockdown, you seemed anxious about not having a single film release since your Diwali release in 2018. And now, you have two films coming out almost simultaneously.
I am so relieved that finally kuch toh aaya itne time ke baad. People must have thought I had left, woh do picturein karke (laughs!). Frankly, I have worked hard and now when people are watching the songs and trailers of both the films (Suraj Pe Mangal Bhari and Ludo), I feel happy and relieved that baat aage badhi. Also, I am over that feeling of anxiousness. A lot of things have happened since our last chat. The world around us has changed. Ab mujhe apni bahut saari problems choti lagti hain. I feel I am in a better place than so many others. I am grateful for that.
Suraj Pe Mangal Bhari directed by Abhishek Sharma is a comedy set in the 1990s. You play the girl who the men — Manoj Bajpayee, the brother and Diljit Dosanjh, the lover — are fighting over. What drew you to this film?
It was a combination of things. The cast is brilliant. I loved the script. I’ve also loved Abhishek Sharma’s films — Tere Bin Laden (2010) and Parmanu: The Story of Pokhran (2018). The project ticked many boxes for me. Plus, the era is familiar to me. I’m a 1990s kid. I belong to that generation. It’s an urban character and it didn’t feel like this was too far off. What I also feel is that emotions are the same, irrespective of which time zone the story is set in. The tools to connect and communicate change, but we still say the same things. I got a lot of help from the film’s writing. It was nuanced. My character is from a simple, Maharashtrian family. She’s sincere and shaant, but she has another side which she keeps away from the family.
You were juggling Suraj Pe Mangal Bhari and Ludo at the same time. Was that too much to handle?
Frankly, there was no struggle. With Ludo, one had no clue what we were shooting the next day. Dada (Anurag Basu) always asked us to trust him and to go with the flow. I followed his instructions to the T and now whatever it is, it’s his doing entirely. He drew out the performances from all of us. But I have to admit that I had fun working with him. With Suraj Pe Mangal Bhari, I was stressed to deliver my best while enacting scenes with so many talented names. There was no room for me to fumble. The only difficult task at hand was to bring in the Maharashtrian accent and internalise the qualities of the character I am playing. But I didn’t have to switch on and off much between my roles in both the films. Other than these things, I am still figuring out what sort of an actress I am. I think I am learning a lot on the sets of my films, while I am doing scenes. I don’t know much about the artiste in me. I hope I find her soon, bas woh karte karte kahin barbaad na ho jaaoon.
Does acting make you feel liberated; does it give you room to let your real emotions pour out without anyone noticing?
I think I am more comfortable playing characters than playing myself. While playing a part, you can be who you want to be without being judged. Even if you are expressing your own emotions on the screen while doing that, it’s still something that you’re enacting which is written by someone else. No one will judge you for that. I feel very liberated in front of a camera. I can be anything and anyone. There is nothing better than having the chance to live so many lives and emotions in one lifetime.
In the course of the lockdown, the industry was under the radar for nepotism, alleged drug addiction and more, following the death of Sushant Singh Rajput. As someone from a non-film family, you had a stint as a child actor, and now, you are a leading lady. How did all those conversations and news reports make you feel?
These things don’t affect me at all. People have time to talk about this today. Tomorrow, they will find some new topics to discuss. I don’t get upset about nepotism and unfairness. Every industry and every generation has seen things which are unfair. It has always been about the survival of the fittest. Nepotism is a part of every industry, not just cinema. If I have gone through the struggle, made a lot of effort and created a space under the sun, I would like my child to be the next in line for the space that I created. I wouldn’t like him or her to go through the grind. It would be totally unfair if there was no opening for outsiders. We have Shah Rukh Khan, Priyanka Chopra Jonas, Manoj Bajpayee and others who are stars, despite being outsiders to the business. I am getting work. Siddhant Chaturvedi is an outsider whose work speaks for itself. So many of us have been embraced by this industry. So, what is the point of cribbing? We knew when we entered that there will be an Us v/s Them situation; it was an unfair game from the word go. If you want things to change, you will have to make the change yourself. That will create a tomorrow which is different from today. Being bitter is not an answer to anything. Voicing opinions is great, attacking is not.
You’ve been in Dharamshala for two months now. How does stepping out in the new normal feel?
It feels normal; as humans, we adjust and adapt so quickly to things around us. As a race, we have seen so many things and braved it all to tell the tale. Wearing a mask is second nature now. Six months ago, it would have felt like an ordeal. It doesn’t hurt anymore.
I’m gearing up again for a suitcase life-Jacqueline Fernandez
8:03 AM
Jacqueline Fernandez is all excited to shoot back-to-back films from mid-November; admits that though life will be hectic for a long time, she will be in her happy place
Himesh Mankad (MUMBAI MIRROR; October 29, 2020)
In 2018, Jacqueline Fernandez took a break from film shoots to introspect on her career moves, enrolling for an acting course at Ivana Chubbuck Studio in Los Angeles. Thereafter, the actress signed Attack, alongside John Abraham who is also producing the action thriller. It kicked off late last year, before the Coronavirus pandemic brought work to a halt. During the lockdown, Jacky isolated herself in Panvel, wherein she spent time with mentor-friend Salman Khan at his farmhouse and shot a video with him. She also signed two films during this period which are set to roll in November.
Jacqueline will fly off to Dharamshala in a couple of days to commence shooting for Bhoot Police, with Saif Ali Khan, Arjun Kapoor and Yami Gautam. The horror comedy commences from the first week of November. “I’m super excited to kickstart Bhoot Police as it’s a different genre I will be exploring. Now, with the new normal, things are going to be very different when we are shooting. We have to finish our quarantine period and immediately head to the sets for the shoot,” Jacqueline points out. The team will be shooting at real locations for over a month as the horror comedy is set in the hills. This schedule will be followed by a brief stint in Mumbai in January, before calling it a wrap.
Jacqueline also features in Rohit Shetty’s comic caper, Cirkus, with Ranveer Singh, Pooja Hegde and Varun Sharma. The film goes on the floors in Mumbai in mid-November, and will subsequently be shot in Ooty and Goa. It is based on Shakespeare’s play, The Comedy of Errors, with both Ranveer and Varun in double roles. Earlier, Gulzar’s Angoor had adapted the same play, with Sanjeev Kumar and Deven Verma in double roles. “After the Bhoot Police schedule, we will commence work on Cirkus. The production is figuring out the exact date,” she informs, adding that she’s excited to get back to the shoot life. “I’m gearing up again for a suitcase life; and it’s going to be that way for a long time, but I am not complaining as I will be in a happy place. Of course, there will hardly be time to unwind, as I will have to switch from one character to the next.”
She also has the Sajid Nadiadwala-directed Kick 2 with Salman in her kitty. The first draft of the script was locked in August, and the team is currently working towards finalising it and starting the film by early 2022. “Jacqueline will be doing another film or two before moving on to the Kick sequel,” informs a source.
Director Pavan Kirpalani zeroes in on Himachal Pradesh for Bhoot Police
8:43 AM
Encouraged by fewer cases of COVID-19 in Himachal Pradesh, Bhoot Police director decides on Dharamshala, Dalhousie for the first schedule of Saif-Arjun starrer
Uma Ramasubramanian (MID-DAY; October 24, 2020)
It has been a long wait for director Pavan Kirpalani, who wanted to take Bhoot Police on floors early this year. However, good things come to those who wait — the filmmaker, joined by his cast that includes Saif Ali Khan, Arjun Kapoor, Jacqueline Fernandez and Yami Gautam, will head to Himachal Pradesh next month to kick off the shoot of the horror comedy.
"We will film the first schedule in Dharamshala, followed by stints in Dalhousie and Palampur. The idea is to shoot a chunk in the first schedule; we will wrap up the rest in January," says Kirpalani, glad to shake off the lockdown ennui with what he loves doing the most — going behind the camera. "I think everyone wants to resume work; it has been on our mind for a long time."
While the picturesque hill stations lend themselves naturally to the script of the horror comedy, the director says the team's choice of locations was determined by a more pressing factor. "[Shooting under current circumstances] is definitely a risk, but for how long can we be sitting at home? Himachal is one of the safest locations in our country. The number of cases is low and the region hasn't witnessed [rampant] spread of the infection." He also points out that the production house will follow all the safety norms, thus ensuring a smooth schedule.
Even as he prepares to set the ball rolling on his project, he does not discount the possibility of a sequel. "Horror films lend themselves well [to a franchise]. But right now, our effort is to make a good movie."
Yami Gautam, Jacqueline Fernandez bag Saif Ali Khan-Arjun Kapoor starrer Bhoot Police
8:40 AM
After Arjun Kapoor replaces Ali Fazal in Bhoot Police, Yami Gautam, Jacqueline Fernandez signed on as leading ladies instead of Fatima Sana Shaikh; maker attributes cast change to evolving script
Uma Ramasubramanian (MID-DAY; September 3, 2020)
Director Pavan Kirpalani can finally heave a sigh of relief. The filmmaker, who wanted to set the ball rolling on Bhoot Police early this year, can take the project on floors by the year-end. In the interim, however, the cast of the Saif Ali Khan-led horror comedy has undergone a change — after Arjun Kapoor stepped into Ali Fazal's shoes, mid-day has learnt that Jacqueline Fernandez and Yami Gautam have been brought on board.
Kripalani, who has previously dabbled in horror with Ragini MMS (2011) and Phobia (2016), is excited about giving a humorous touch to the paranormal. "This will be my first collaboration with the entire cast. We needed someone to add an element of craziness to this entertainer, and both of them will add magic to the script." Seconding him, producer Ramesh Taurani says, "From the beginning, we were keen on Jacqueline and Yami joining the team."
The laugh riot, which revolves around a pair of ghostbusters, was announced last year with Khan, Fazal and Fatima Sana Shaikh as the leads. Probe the director about the change in the cast, and he reasons it was the demand of the story. "The script has gone through several changes after Ramesh ji and Akshai [Puri, co-producer] got on board. Saif, Arjun, Jacqueline and Yami perfectly complement each other in the film," says Kirpalani.
The team has begun the groundwork on the horror comedy, which will be largely shot across Dharamshala, Dalhousie and Palampur. "We are consulting experts to plan safety measures for the team. We aim to wrap up 80 per cent of the film during the outdoor schedules. The remaining portions will be shot at a set in Mumbai," adds Taurani.
Lockdown has been enjoyable for me-Fatima Sana Shaikh
8:31 AM
Fatima Sana Shaikh has packed in a lot, from dabbling in photography to shooting & directing a music video; a wedding comedy is up next
Akash Bhatnagar (MUMBAI MIRROR; August 26, 2020)
Five months of being locked in may have driven many over the edge, but Fatima Sana Shaikh has enjoyed chilling at home. “Lockdown has been enjoyable for me. I’m a very private person and hardly attended any social gathering even when life was normal. When I went out, I’d often go unrecognized because people were looking for Dangal’s Geeta, the same body type and hair, and I was very different. Sometimes, they come up to me looking confused and wonder if I was really Geeta and just to test them, I’d say no,” she admits, breaking into peals of laughter, and admits that now no one follows her downstairs when she goes out for a walk. “I’m not a star yet,” she reasons.
To keep herself occupied, the actress brought home a hyper active puppy, Bijli, who’s kept her busy through the Coronavirus lockdown. That apart, Fatima has been honing her photography skills for the collaborative work she is doing. “I’m exploring editing and following the works of some well-known editors and cinematographers. I dabbled in bird photography which required a fair amount of research. Soon, I hope to head for Dharamshala, my favourite holiday spot, for some travel clicks,” she informs.
Her camera skills came in handy recently when she did a music video with Vishal Bhardwaj, based on a poem by Dr Bashir Badr, “Palkein Kholo”. “The song is about appreciating people around us during these unprecedented times. I’ve been pestering Vishal sir to make a film with me and when he made me this offer, I jumped at it,” she exults, adding that she also got a chance to direct herself in it. “Vishal sir asked me for my inputs, then, gave me the freedom to shoot the music video the way I wanted.”
She points out the National Award-winning filmmaker-composer must have expected her to opt for a static camera, but wanting to impress him with her photography skills, she got creative, shooting on the road and inside her house, with her brother as her one-man crew. “Even Bijli makes an appearance in the song. She is lucky to debut in a Vishal Bhardwaj music video. Even if she steals the limelight, I would be a proud mother,” Fatima chuckles.
So, will she move behind the camera next? “No, shooting is just a hobby. Managing myself is different from managing a whole unit. I just want to please the director as an actor,” she asserts, adding that now she wants to be directed by Vishal. “On a real set.”
Fatima will next be seen in the Abhishek Sharma-directed wedding comedy, Suraj Pe Mangal Bhari, and she is happy it isn’t releasing soon or on the OTT platform. “I don’t want people to see my work in this situation,” she reasons, adding that working on the film was amazing as she was shooting with talented people like Manoj Bajpayee, Diljit Dosanjh and Abhishek himself. “Manoj ji is a senior actor but so humble, with perfect work ethics. I recently watched his 2017 psychological drama, Gali Guleiyan, and called him to ask how he had come up with such a brilliant performance. Wah!”
After 30-hour journey to USA in a PPE suit, Anshuman Jha gets engaged to his girlfriend
7:57 AM
Kavita Awaasthi (HINDUSTAN TIMES; July 30, 2020)
Life has not been easy for actor Anshuman Jha since he lost his mother in January, this year. Although he took to reading the Vedas and cooking during the Coronavirus lockdown, he found it hard to stay alone at home, so much so that he flew down to the US to be with his girlfriend, Sierra, and get engaged.
A source says, “Jha has been quiet about his personal life, and has been posting cryptic images with his partner for the past year. And the most recent read ‘Gone Boy’ with an image of their hands with the rings. He met Sierra in Dharamshala last year when he went there to get Tibetan medication for his mother ailing from cancer. She is a Triathlon athlete and a food major at Duke University. She was in India from December to March to see his mother, and when he lost his mother, she was by his side.”
However, the journey wasn’t easy. The Mastram actor, 34, had to stay in a PPE kit for 30 hours straight. He didn’t use public restrooms or eat “anything other than dry fruits from home” during the journey. Once he reached, he was in self-quarantine for two weeks in North Carolina, after which the couple ventured out for a trek.
Talking about being engaged, Jha says, “I am just grateful I could get here and be with her. The trip was an adventure, JFK airport felt like a location of a sci-fi film — it was completely empty. The trip felt a little like a ‘tapasya’. If she asks me how much I love her, I will show her my photo in the PPE suit!”
Yami Gautam chosen as brand ambassador for the Global Investors Meet in Himachal Pradesh
8:32 AM
Chosen as an ambassador for investors' meet in home state, Yami Gautam on her entrepreneurial dreams
Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; October 30, 2019)
"It makes me proud and builds a feeling of responsibility in me," begins Yami Gautam, who has been chosen by the state of Himachal Pradesh as the brand ambassador for the Global Investors Meet in Dharamshala. The two-day event — scheduled for November 7 and 8 — is expected to witness the participation of investors from over 40 countries. While the tourism sector continues to be the biggest source of revenue for the state, the actor says this is the first step towards building new avenues of employment. "This shift towards proactively pursuing development is quintessential to creating a stronger workforce, and thus, a stronger future. It will bring in a dramatic change in my home state."
Gautam, who is a budding entrepreneur in the field of organic farming, hopes to pick the brains of the investors present at the event. "I hope to create a business model where farmers can directly sell their produce to consumers. Abstaining from the use of chemicals is a challenge, especially when it comes to protecting crops from pests. But we are developing natural methods to tackle the problem. The long-term idea is to encourage fresh produce to reach maximum people across the country."
It felt like the country had come together for '83-Ammy Virk
7:54 AM
Ammy Virk on Kabir Khan’s next and playing a fighter pilot in an upcoming Ajay Devgn film
Himesh Mankad (MUMBAI MIRROR; May 15, 2019)
After Diljit Dosanjh, Jassie Gill and Gippy Grewal, another Punjabi singeractor is gearing up for his Bollywood debut. In Kabir Khan’s Ranveer Singhstarrer ’83, 27-year-old Ammy Virk essays former cricketer Balvinder Sandhu to the leading man’s Kapil Dev.
By his own admission, it was his spirited turn as an aspiring hockey player in the Punjabi film Harjeeta, which released last year, that secured him a place in Kabir’s onscreen team that revisits India’s first cricket World Cup win in 1983. “Kabir sir asked me to audition and checked my cricketing skills, particularly the bowling action (Balvinder was a fast bowler who famously clean-bowled West Indies batsman Gordon Greenidge with a huge in-swinger during the finals). Soon after, I got a call that I had bagged the role,” Ammy says.
Fast forward to a few months later, and the actor has attended several workshops under the supervision of Sandhu—who has been roped in to coach the actor-players—and will start filming for his portions in the first week of June. “The team trained in Mumbai and Dharamshala and the original players attended the sessions to share tips and insights. It proved to be very helpful to us. It was more of a bonding exercise. The team is made up of actors from different film industries and it felt like the entire country had come together for this film,” the actor smiles.
He is also all praise for Ranveer and says, “I still remember how down-to-earth and positive he was during our first interaction. He is energetic and one of the kindest persons I have met.”
After ’83, Ammy will be seen in another multi-starrer, Bhuj - The Pride of India, which is led by Ajay Devgn and features Sanjay Dutt, Sonakshi Sinha, Parineeti Chopra and Rana Daggubati. “I am happy to represent India in both films. Bhuj has a strong ensemble and I play a Sikh fighter pilot in it. There will be a lot of workshops before I start shooting. It is a new space for me,” he adds.
Like his predecessors, Ammy started off as a singer in early 2013 and forayed into films in 2015 with the Punjabi film Angrej. He believes that this transition comes naturally to all singers in North India. “After you have built a fanbase, people call you to promote their films. Often, it leads to acting offers. After that, it’ just a matter of your film working,” he explains.
So, is it goodbye to home-ground, now that he is finding feet in Bollywood? “I can’t leave Punjabi films and will make it a point to act in at least one film a year there,” he signs off.
DNA Exclusive: Ranveer Singh to live with Kapil Dev and train with him for 10 days in Delhi
8:06 AM
Meena Iyer (DNA; May 7, 2019)
Ranveer Singh is a perfectionist. He doesn’t make bones about the fact that he wishes to be seen as the best actor of his generation. The young superstar, who won accolades for Bajirao Mastani (2015), Padmaavat (2018) and Gully Boy (2019), is aware that the name of the game is to excel. People, who know him closely, credit his obsessive preparation to transform into a character on screen as the primary reason behind his incredible performances.
One recalls that during Padmaavat (in which he played the fearful Alauddin Khilji), the actor took his prep to the next level. He shut himself out from the world for close to three months, just spoke to his parents over the weekends, lived in a dark room, watched crimes of tyrants and pushed himself to the brink of darkness to essay a villain who will be remembered for a long time to come. In fact, he managed to pick up awards for his performance as well. Similarly for Zoya Akhtar’s Gully Boy, he spent nearly two months with the people of Dharavi. Ranveer was keen to understand their minds and their way of life. Once again, his superlative portrayal as the underdog rapper in the film is one of the best performances one has seen. He looked like he belonged to the world that he inhabited in the film.
Now as he prepares for his next, Kabir Khan’s 83, Ranveer is again changing the rules of how an actor prepares for his role. He wants to wow cinegoers with his transformation as Indian skipper Kapil Dev, who led the team to victory in the 1983 Cricket World Cup. So, he is heading to the capital tomorrow to live and train with the sportsman for 10 days. He feels this visit is immensely important for his process to become the iconic captain on screen.
A source says, “No actor has ever lived with the person he is playing on screen. Of course, in cases like Sanju, you do have Ranbir Kapoor trying to study Sanjay Dutt from close quarters, but Ranveer is going a step ahead. He is going to live with Kapil to soak in his personality and behaviour. He is keen to pick up the latter’s finer character traits. Ranveer is supremely excited about the challenge and wants to again deliver a performance that he hopes will leave an indelible mark. Kapil became a legend after he rallied the team to win the 1983 World Cup.”
The source adds, “There’s a lot of curiosity about this incredible untold story of one of India’s greatest victories and Ranveer wants to do justice to this anticipation. He has a set plan for his Delhi trip. He wants to see, live and breathe Kapil before he starts shooting.”
Ranveer confirms, “I’m looking forward to spending more time with Kapil sir. He is kind, generous, warm and funny. I had a memorable two days with him in Dharamshala. I’m going to spend more time with him in Delhi to learn more about him. It’s a first-of-its-kind exercise in my acting process where I’ll be studying the man himself in the flesh for my onscreen portrayal of him. I’m thrilled to have this opportunity to learn about life from a true legend.”
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