BOMBAY TIMES (June 25, 2020)

Sushant Singh Rajput’s untimely death by suicide has shaken up Bollywood and resulted in a lot of issues and grudges – that were simmering for a while – surfacing in the public domain. Over the last week, the biggest topic of debate in the entertainment industry has been the alleged powerplay in the Bollywood music space and how it is supposedly controlled by a few music labels. It all started when Sonu Nigam, in a vlog, said, “I want to request everyone and especially our music companies to be kind because today an actor – Sushant Sigh Rajput – has passed away, tomorrow you can hear the same about a singer or a composer or a lyrics writer because unfortunately there is an even bigger mafia in the music industry than in the film industry.”

He further added that young and struggling musicians are distressed because “the composer would want to work with them, the producer and director would want to work with them but the music company would say ‘no, this is not our artist’. This is not right that the power is in the hands of two music companies only.” He also made the charge that “Even directors and producers are not happy because they are not being allowed to make the music that they wish to.”

The video sparked a debate with charges and counter-charges flying. Later, in a second video, after a few names from the industry spoke to the media and contradicted these charges, Sonu named T-Series’ Bhushan Kumar and alleged that Bhushan was trying to forcefully counter his views by getting other singers to speak against him. Soon after, Bhushan’s director-actor wife Divya Khosla Kumar called Sonu “thankless” in a post and accused him of selling “lies and deceits.” T-Series is by far the biggest player in the Hindi film music industry, with an estimated 50% market share. —TNN
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‘THIS INJUSTICE HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR A WHILE. MUSICIANS GET DUMPED FROM FILMS IF THEY ARE NOT PART OF A LABEL’S ROSTER’

Several veterans of the music industry came out in Sonu’s support after he posted the videos. While Alka Yagnik just said “Yes, it’s true I am with Sonu on this... and most of us senior singers are too,” and chose not to elaborate further on this, others shared their experience of having dealt with this “injustice.”

BHUSHAN KUMAR COMPLETELY SCRAPPED THE MUSIC WE HAD COMPOSED FOR A FILM: SALIM MERCHANT

Salim Merchant, one half of the composer duo Salim-Sulaiman, says, “Usually, big labels do not interfere with the music or the composers; once in a while, they may tell us to include a song from their bank in a film. But T-Series says, ‘Salim-Sulaiman ko hi nikal do. We will get our own composers and singers’. Unless the film’s producer is an A-lister or somebody in the same league, Bhushan Kumar makes all the decisions. There are many who have gone through this. Sonu Nigam is absolutely right, this has been going on for a while now – this injustice against creative people, including singers, who get dumped because they are not part of the roster of his label.”

CREATIVITY CONTROLLED BY THOSE WHO HAVE NO CLUE ABOUT CREATIVITY: ADNAN SAMI

Sharing his thoughts online, Adnan Sami wrote, “The Indian film and music industry needs a shake up. Especially in the context of music, new singers, veteran singers, music composers and music producers – who are being exploited to the hilt. Why is creativity being controlled by those who have no clue about creativity and are trying to play God? Is all that we have to offer is remakes and remixes? Stop this and allow the truly talented new and veteran artistes to breathe.”

TODAY, THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO CAN’T SING AT ALL, BUT THEY ARE THE ONES IN THE LIMELIGHT: MADHUSHREE

Madhushree, who has often given her voice to A R Rahman’s projects and songs like Kabhi Neem Neem, Tu Bin Bataaye and In Lamhon Ke Daaman Mein,says, “Nepotism and music mafia have always been there. But earlier, there were really good singers, too. Today, there are people who can’t sing at all, but they are the ones in the limelight.” The singer says that she has had to face a lot of discrimination in the Bollywood music industry throughout her career and “all kind of tricks were used to ensure that my voice does not reach the public.” “But I am very grateful to A R Rahman ji who gave me so many superhit songs,” she shares.

A FIRST-TIME DIRECTOR IS ARM-TWISTED WHEN IT COMES TO CREATIVE DECISIONS ABOUT THE MUSIC OF HIS FILM: CLINTON CEREJO

Clinton Cerejo, who has composed for films like Kahaani and Badla, apart from other non-film work, says, “If I’ve spent two years working with the director and creating songs and a score that are cohesive, and two weeks before the release the label suddenly decides that they are going to use one of their own artiste’s songs as a ‘promotional song’ and that artist becomes the face of the film in the eyes of the public, it’s not fair to me. This happened to me on multiple occasions and it used to bother me. I decided to just move on and focus on my own journey as an artiste.”

Cerejo adds, “If a director is senior, he cannot be arm-twisted beyond a point, but a first-time director will often be completely disregarded when it comes to making creative decisions about the music of his own film. That’s one of the reasons why there’s very few current songs in Bollywood that will stand the test of time.”
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‘THE MUSIC INDUSTRY DOES NOT FUNCTION THE WAY BOLLYWOOD FUNCTIONS. IT’S A DIFFERENT ANIMAL, NO OUTSIDER BIAS’

Some, like singers Shilpa Rao, Jubin Nautiyal, Amaal Mallik, composer Rochak Kohli, lyricist Manoj Muntashir and singer-composer Sachet Tandon didn’t agree with Sonu’s claims of the music industry being biased and favouring insiders.

THERE IS NO OUTSIDER BIAS IN THE MUSIC INDUSTRY. WHAT YOU GET IS TOTALLY BECAUSE OF YOUR WORK: SHILPA RAO

Shilpa Rao, the voice behind Bulleya and Ghungroo, among others, says, “The music industry does not function the way Bollywood functions. It is a different animal. I feel there is no outsider bias in the music industry. What you get is totally because of your work. I have been here since 2007 and in this industry, it is about how you sound and what you bring to a song. There are people giving songs to absolute newcomers too. Experimenting with newer voices is not a problem here.”

TODAY, ONLY GOOD CONTENT MATTERS: JUBIN NAUTIYAL

Singer Jubin Nautiyal said to a channel, “Today, it’s more content-driven. Even a small song from anywhere can turn out to be a huge hit. Nepotism can be one of the factors that affected the industry in the past, but today, what matters is good content, talented artists and good sound. That’s what every music label or producer is looking for.”

IT WASN’T EASY FOR ME OR MY BROTHER ARMAAN BECAUSE OF OUR SURNAME: AMAAL MALLIK

Talking about nepotism, Amaal Mallik, who comes from a family of musicians, had said, “A lot of people have the notion that it must have been easier for me because I had the Mallik tag. But I don’t feel it’s right. I agree I have an advantage. I know how things work. I have seen the failures of my family members so I know and that’s the only difference. I have been doing this since the age of 19 but I got my first film at 24.” Speaking about his first film, he added, “I miserably failed in that film and that song didn’t work despite being on such a huge scale. For one year, I had no work. I don’t think anyone repeated me, just like it’s with other newcomers. It’s not happened overnight for me and my brother. Maybe, it’s even a bit tougher for people who have a name.”

THE MUSIC INDUSTRY HAS A VERY PROGRESSIVE PROCESS: ROCHAK KOHLI

Music director Rochak Kohli added, “When I approach a singer for a song, I always tell them that I want to try you for this song. And we will try our best to keep your voice in the song because things change. It's not just for new singers. I also tell the same to people like Arijit (Singh), or Jubin (Nautiyal) and Sachet (Tandon). Everyone understands. Singers come up to me and tell me they want to sing maximum scratches. The singer also gets his taiyaari and his voice also reaches out to a lot of people. It’s indeed a very progressive process.”

Divya Khosla Kumar discusses Satyameva Jayate sequel, says ‘Bharatiya naari sab par bhaari,’ defines her role in the film
Himesh Mankad (MUMBAI MIRROR; February 13, 2020)

Divya Khosla Kumar, who plays John Abraham’s leading lady in writer-director Milap Zaveri’s Satyameva Jayate 2, insists that while the first part was “more of a cat-and-mouse chase”, the sequel tackles a larger issue. “It’s about the country and John and I take a strong stand against corruption in the film. Milap is shedding light on an important topic,” she shares, adding that her character is different from her real self. So, attending reading sessions came in handy.

While part one was all about John’s heroism, Divya assures that the new film has plenty of scope for the female protagonist, too. “I got a solo poster and Milap has written the line, ‘Bhartiya naari sab par bhari’ for me, which speaks a lot about my role,” she asserts. Moving forward, the plan is to take up more acting jobs. “I hope exciting stuff comes my way and I get to do different characters,” she beams.

After making her acting debut with the Akshay Kumar-starrer Ab Tumhare Hawale Watan Saathiyo, Divya stepped away from the limelight, only to return 13 years later with a short film, BulBul. She followed it up with the music video, “Yaad Piya Ki Aane Lagi”, and is now gearing up for a big screen comeback with Satyameva Jayate 2.

But she doesn’t think of it like a comeback. “I was always here. After Ab Tumhare Hawale Watan Saathiyo, I wanted to learn about things like cinematography and editing. The hunger to learn drove me towards the technical side of filmmaking,” she explains.

The actress turned director with Yaariyan and followed it up with Sanam Re. She is now prepping for her acting turn, which goes on the floors in April. “I feel there is a lot of untapped potential in me. This is a brilliant time to be an actor in the industry as it’s not just about the stars anymore, but the concept. Talent is being recognised,” she shares.

In the early 2000s, the actress appeared alongside Salman Khan in the music video “Honey Honey”. More recently, she was on his reality show, Bigg Boss 13, to promote her single. “Salman is my childhood crush; ever since I watched Maine Pyar Kiya. My cheeks go red whenever I see him. Even today, he calls me ‘Honey Honey’ after the song we did,” she blushes.

Divya is one of the producers on the Ajay Devgn-starrer Bhuj: The Pride of India with husband Bhushan Kumar. How excited is she for the film? “Firstly, I am so proud to see where Tanhaji: The Unsung Warrior has reached because Ajay sir and his team worked hard to make the spectacular vision a reality. I am sure even Bhuj will be a big one,” she says.

Her husband is one of the busiest producers in the industry, with over 20 films lined up for release. “He has worked extremely hard in life. The banner was his father’s (the late Gulshan Kumar) dream and he has taken it so far. It was possible only because of the emotional connect between them. Both of us are middle class at heart,” she says.

Divya and Bhushan are parents to nine-year-old Ruhaan. Ask her if he aspires to enter Bollywood as well and she says, “He doesn’t know anything about the industry. He is an intelligent kid and wants to be an astronaut.” As a parting shot, she confirms there are no plans to return to direction right now. “It’s difficult to juggle acting and direction. I keep hearing scripts. I’d direct something in the future, but I am focused on acting for now.”

Milap Zaveri reveals that Satyameva Jayate sequel will go on the floors in April with National Award-winning action director-duo Anbu and Arivu designing stunts
Himesh Mankad (MUMBAI MIRROR; December 31, 2019)

Mirror had earlier reported (May 23) that Divya Khosla Kumar will play the leading lady opposite John Abraham in Satyameva Jayate 2. Now, we have learnt that the vigilante action drama, which is currently in the pre-production stage, is going on the floors in April 2020.

According to director Milap Zaveri, the sequel will be bigger in scale. “The first film dealt with corruption, but with Part 2, corruption in all spheres—from the police to politicians, industrialists, the common man—will be tackled,” he says, adding that there will also be elements of humour in the film. “It is situational, in the Dabangg and Rowdy Rathore zone. There are moments in the film where John will play to the gallery.”

The filmmaker goes on to reveal that he has got National Award-winning action director-duo Anbu and Arivu, who worked on KGF: Kolar Gold Fields, on board to choreograph action set-pieces. “We have already started working on the action. I am finding new things for John to tear apart now. He is my Hulk and I believe he can smash anything,” Milap asserts, adding that two songs have been locked, while planning, story-boarding and location-hunt are in progress. “There will be schedules in Mumbai and some other states.”

Next up, Milap plans to make one film in the franchise every two years. “Like Sylvester Stallone has done Rambo, I will keep making Satyameva Jayate with John addressing new issues. He will keep growing older but will continue to fight corruption in the series. His personal aesthetic in films is more in the realistic zone, but he often jokes that Milap’s films are his cheat days,” the writer-director laughs.

After several adult comedies, Milap forayed into the action-drama zone with Satyameva Jayate and followed it up with Marjaavaan. Ask him what led to the shifting of gears and he says, “I have grown up watching Manmohan Desai and Prakash Mehra films and got a taste of heroism while working as a dialogue writer with Sanjay Gupta on Kaante. After Mastizaade failed, I faced a lot of flak. The only way to fight back was to do something dramatically different. Also, I had to prove to myself that I could do something more.”

On Divya’s acting comeback after 15 years with the Bhushan Kumar, Nikkhil Advani, Monisha Advani and Madhu Bhojwani production, the director says, “There’s a lot of depth and dignity to John and Divya ma’am’s characters. I started my career with a love story and its failure made me take a step back. The confidence to write the tender moments in this story has come from Marjaavaan.”

Nishad Neelambaran (HINDUSTAN TIMES; November 30, 2019)

After a break of almost two years, actor, director and producer, Divya Khosla Kumar made a comeback in the music video of Yaad Piya Ki Aane Lagi. The song, which is a recreation of Falguni Pathak’s ’90s hit, Chudi, has garnered more than 64 million views on YouTube. Divya, who featured in the video, says that it was truly amazing to be part of the recreation of this iconic song. “It is coincidental that it was directors Radhika (Rao) and Vinay (Sapru), who got me into the industry. They had selected me from an audition with over 1,000 girls in a Falguni Pathak video in Delhi. And now that I am beginning with acting again, I am working with them in another Falguni Pathak song,” she says.

Divya, who has directed movies such as Yaariyan (2014) and Sanam Re (2016), says that she is in a completely different frame of mind while acting. She says, “Though I have donned multiple hats, my frame of mind while acting is completely different from my frame of mind while I am directing. As an actor, you have to trust your director and their vision. It is the director who is the captain of the ship and I don’t believe in interfering in that.”

So, was it a conscious decision to stay away from acting for the last two years? Divya says, “It wasn’t a conscious decision. I am a workaholic and I love working in this industry. I am very passionate towards this field. I was getting a lot of offers to direct, but I always felt that I should focus on acting. I was waiting for the right opportunity to come my way. Nikhil Advani, Monisha Advani and Milap Zaveri saw Bulbul (short film that she directed) and they offered me Satyameva Jayate 2. I am very excited to be on board for that project and I hope it won’t be so long a wait further on. And whatever I get, if it’s good, I will take it. I am concentrating on acting now.”

About how things have changed due to digitisation, she says, “I think people only watch songs or movies on digital platforms. Digitisation has changed the rules and it is also good because if anyone wants to show their talent to the world, they can just upload it on these platforms and you never know, it might just get viral. It has made things much easier and it has brought the world closer.”

Divya, who will next be seen opposite John Abraham in Satyameva Jayate 2, says, “I am super excited to be working with him. He completely amazed me with his performance in Batla House.”

Rachana Dubey (BOMBAY TIMES; November 19, 2019)

John Abraham and Bhushan Kumar are in a happy space as creative collaborators. After Satyameva Jayate (2018) and Batla House, their third outing together, Pagalpanti, is ready to hit cinemas this week. Ahead of that, they spoke to BT about what makes their equation work and why, despite two hectic years ahead, they believe that they will not reach a point of burnout. Excerpts:

In the last 18 months, you have collaborated on two films — Satyameva Jayate and Batla House — and Pagalpanti is the third in line. There are half-a-dozen films more in the offing, too. What do you think has cemented your equation as partners?
John Abraham: Bhushan has been extremely forthcoming and he has the desire to be involved creatively with projects. He has transitioned from being the baron of a music label to a creative producer, who is not afraid to take risks and back films that are daring and unique. Batla House is a case in point. People would have thought a thousand times over about backing it, but he went right ahead, and put his money where his mouth is. Our association has been organic because we never set out with a plan. Today, if I find something that I want us to do together, I reach out to him. If it doesn’t work for him, we leave it there. There’s no compulsion, ever.
Bhushan Kumar: I feel very comfortable working with John and he’s right when he says that ours is an organic relationship. He gives the producer his due space. Actors who are also producers often take over the project completely and don’t allow producers to have a say. Here, we are on the same page. After Pagalpanti, we have Mumbai Saga, Satyameva Jayate 2, an untitled film with Arjun Kapoor and Rakul, Attack and another one that we will announce soon. This can happen only when you build an equation of trust and respect.

One places trust and respect in any equation only after it has stood the test of time. How did you guys go about winning each other’s trust?
John: I think you can place trust and respect in the other person, especially in a work equation, when he or she displays transparency at all times. Bhushan has been in the industry for longer than I have and we both have been cheated on several occasions. Transparency is something that I insist on, and I respect immensely. If there’s an issue, he’s always there to back me up. When we make a commitment, we stand by it. He has displayed the courage to back a creative producer like me who only goes after tricky subjects. I don’t have the power to propel a project like Bhushan, but his sensibilities as a producer match mine. He helps me secure that new space that I’m trying to tap into in the best way possible. Studios are about balance sheets, board of directors and paperwork, but I have a one-to-one relationship with Bhushan. If I tell him why our project will be slightly more expensive, he will hear me out and we will find a way to make things work.
Bhushan: John takes my word for it because I’ve always lived up to my word. He believes me and has shown faith in my work. This industry works on relationships and no relationship can survive without mutual trust. John is a straightforward guy and he gets really upset when someone breaks his trust. Our comfort level grew over time, it didn’t happen overnight. And the kind of comfort I have while working with John is different from what I have with other actors. He’s an actor-producer, and he understands what viability of a project is. Other actors would probably see that as us trying to cut corners for the sake of it. John knows the math, and he understands how and why we’re trying to work around our costs.

Is this the reason you wanted your wife Divya Khosla Kumar to make her acting comeback with John?
Bhushan: Not entirely, but yes, my equation with John is one of the reasons I was happy for Divya to make her comeback with him in Satyameva Jayate 2. She’s also very comfortable with the team, she knows Nikkhil Advani and his family. She knows John very well. She knows how Milap Zaveri works. Everyone was happy to have her on board. As her husband, Divya’s comfort is of prime importance to me.

John, you’ve had a fairly long spell of serious films and they seem to be working for you. Why did you decide to then digress into a comic caper with Pagalpanti? Bhushan, did you ever have second thoughts about his decision?
Bhushan: Once the audience accepts an actor for his comic timing or for his serious outings, it makes life easy for a producer. John has been accepted in both. It’s like Akshay Kumar, who does a lot of serious films, but he balances it with a comedy film. He can do that because he is accepted in both spaces. John has done that, too. So, I am not at any risk. I’ve seen Pagalpanti and I think the title is apt. Anees Bazmee has made a full-fledged comedy. I was actually excited about it from the time John told me about it. I called Kumar Mangat ji, and joined forces with him on this one.
John: It’s true that I have been doing serious films for a while. I really wanted to give myself a break from that and I am also a big Anees Bazmee fan.

Comedies are often accused of lacking a credible story and the narrative relies mostly on one-liners and the actors’ comic timing. Was that ever a concern here?
John: Not at all. Pagalpanti has a relevant plot, apart from being very entertaining. Fugitives have escaped our country after looting our banks and robbing thousands of middle-class people of their savings. Our film uses this as the core story. In an entertaining way, we are giving out a message to the audience. When you see characters running around the streets of London in circus outfits, you can’t figure out what’s going on. But it’s a good story, which in a weird manner, is patriotic.
Bhushan: I was game for all this craziness. It’s not a tricky film for a producer to back. It’s a well-rounded film with so many elements and such good actors. After backing Batla House and Kabir Singh, this film feels pretty cool.

Over the next two years, you already have films like Mumbai Saga, Satyameva Jayate 2 and Attack lined up. While churning out one film every quarter, do you fear that your equation might reach a state of burnout?
John: We approach each other only when we find something really striking. Both of us are not in a hurry to bring out projects. Our films are getting green-lit pretty organically. He believes in my process and he knows I will not approach him because I want to create a slate of films with him.
Bhushan: Luckily, even though we have a string of projects together, we’re doing some very cool films, which are all in different spaces. There’s no room for monotony and so, I don’t see a burnout situation, ever.

MUMBAI MIRROR (November 9, 2019)

After sharing the poster of her new song, "Yaad Piya Ki Aane Lagi", a few weeks ago, Divya Khosla Kumar will be shooting for the video at Jogeshwari Station today. What makes it a nostalgic moment for the actress-filmmaker is that she began her career in the hit Falguni Pathak song, "Aiyo Rama" and now she is recreating the magic with another one of the singer's popular numbers.

Interestingly, Radhika Rao and Vinay Sapru, who are directing the Tanishk Bagchi-recreated track, had first spotted and cast Divya for the Falguni number, "Aiyo Rama". "Radhika ji and Vinay ji had spotted me during my Delhi modeling days and cast me in 'Aiyo Rama'. The song went on to become a chartbuster instantly," says Divya, adding, "'Yaad Piya Ki Aane Lagi' is one of my favourite 90s tracks. So, when Radhika ji and Vinay ji suggested it as something we can work on, I agreed immediately. It's their idea and I'm very excited about shooting for it."

The recreated version is a single produced by Gulshan Kumar & T-Series, penned by Jaani and sung by Neha Kakkar is completely Radhika and Vinay's concept of how they see Divya, a talented actress, enacting their vision. The actress-filmmaker says, "But as far as the audio goes it’s nowhere similar to the original song; it’s a beautiful recreation, keeping the melody intact, albeit more peppy.” As the video tells a short story, Divya will bring it to life by sporting different avatars.

Point out to her that those who swear by old songs attribute recreations to a lack of originality, and Divya disagrees. She reasons, "There are several songs from our Hindi music industry which are beautiful. Yet many from today's generation have not had a chance to hear them. Recreation is one such way to introduce them to these songs with a fresh tune and flavour that is very today."

Probe her on what makes her confident that Bhushan Kumar's "Yaad Piya Ki Aane Lagi" will be as popular for future generations as the original was, and Divya states, "The original song will always remain popular. Our version will be well accepted because of its melody, contemporary sound, concept, story and re-enactment."

After filming some portions in Jogeshwari, Divya and the team will move to the heart of the city, South Bombay and also shoot a part in a college campus.

Milap Zaveri on his muses, mentors, massy action entertainers and why he is done with sex comedies
Himesh Mankad (MUMBAI MIRROR; September 23, 2019)

After the 2018-action thriller, Satyameva Jayate, with John Abraham and Manoj Bajpayee, the trio of Milap Zaveri, Nikkhil Advani and Bhushan Kumar are teaming up for Marjaavaan, featuring Sidharth Malhotra, Riteish Deshmukh, Rakul Preet Singh and Tara Sutaria. Director Milap Zaveri insists that his next is a commercial entertainer, and unlike his previous ventures, a love story with hummable music. Excerpts from an interview:

How different is Marjaavaan from Satyameva Jayate?
Well, it is a massy action film - angry, powerful and emotion - alalong the lines of those made by Mukul Anand, Subhash Ghai and Rajkumar Santoshi. While Satyameva Jayate was a bromance between John and Manoj, Marjaavaan is a love story with lots of action, dialoguebaazi and some beautiful tender moments. It also has a midget villain in Riteish’s character, who has a dark sense of humour.

What was the idea behind cutting the antagonist down to size, literally?
Years ago, Subhash Ghai started a film called Devaa with Amit ji (Amitabh Bachchan) as the hero, and Mr Lilliput as the villain. The project didn’t materialise but that detail stayed with me. The greatest antithesis is making a larger-than-life guy short in stature.

And what made you cast Riteish?
I made my debut as a director with Riteish in Jaane Kahan Se Aayi Hain and I was the one who recommended his name to Mohit (Suri) as the bad guy in Ek Villain. He was known for his comic timing back then and I felt that this would make it a surprise casting. While writing Marjaavaan, I was clear I’d approach Riteish only if the character had something more to offer than what he’d already done in Ek Villain. Something he couldn’t refuse.

With Riteish and Sidharth on board, did the thought of spinning a sequel to Ek Villain which you had written, cross your mind?
That’s a Balaji franchise and I believe Mohit (Suri, director) is already developing a script for Ek Villain 2. Marjaavaan’s world is very different.

We haven’t seen Sidharth in a commercial space like this before…
Sid’s character is modelled on the lines of Amitabh Bachchan in Deewar, Sunny Deol in Jeet and Jackie Shroff in Hero. Raghu is a rugged, intense guy who walks around with a match-stick in his mouth and spouts some smart one-liners.

Very Vijay from Deewaar?
Raghu is like a homage to Amit ji’s Vijay in Deewar. Vijay played around with a rope, Raghu with a maachis, which is an indication of how volatile he is.

Sidharth’s last few films haven’t worked at the boxoffice. Does that add to the pressure?
Shahid’s (Kapoor) last few films hadn’t opened well and then Kabir Singh brought in record numbers. Likewise, for Sushant. Sonchiriya didn’t work, but Chhichhore is doing wonders. Everyone goes through a low phase and needs someone to believe in them. Sid has a strong voice and is a dramatic performer. The audience loved him in Ek Villain and I hope they will like him in my film, too.

Marjaavaan plays out against the backdrop of Ram and Raavan. Were you disappointed you couldn’t release it in the Dussehra week, as planned?
Not really, because we would have never been ready on time, given the special effects needed for Riteish’s character. Also, there’s no shame in admitting that Hrithik Roshan and Tiger Shroff’s War is humongous. And since we are targeting the same audience, business would have been badly divided. Any good story is timeless. We have a solo release now on November 8 with a couple of partial holidays in the week. What else could be better?

Tell us something about your partnership with John Abraham and Nikkhil Advani?
John is my Hulk, my superhero. He picked me up from oblivion and gave me a chance to stage a comeback while Nikkhil is my mentor. My kind of cinema is very different from his, but he has the vision to support me. It was Nikkhil’s sister Monisha who bought the script of Marjaavaan from me even before I had written Satyameva Jayate. She was the backbone of Satyameva Jayate too. I’m equally grateful to Bhushan sir (producer Bhushan Kumar) and Madhu (producer Madhu Bhojwani).

You team up with John again for the Satyameva Jayate sequel. With so many cop films and action entertainers up for release next year, what sets your film apart?
John wasn’t a cop but a vigilante in Satyameva Jayate and the anger against corruption in the police force connected with people. Part 2 is not a continuation of the original, but a new story with a larger issue and more action. We start shooting by the year-end or early next year.

And Divya Khosla Kumar returns as the female lead…
When I was writing the script, I heard that Divya ma’am was interested in acting again and since I felt the role suited her perfectly, we approached Bhushan sir and her.

You have directed and written several sex comedies. Is the genre dead?
An adult comedy, Veere Di Wedding, did well, so there’s hope yet. I admit we overkilled the genre with Mastizaade, Kya Kool Hai Hum 3 and Great Grand Masti, all coming in the same year. But I’m sure, if Indu ji (Director, Indra Kumar) makes Masti 4, there will be takers for it. Success depends on the trailer and marketing. How exciting the film looks…

Would you revisit the genre?
No, never, I’ve reached saturation point. And while the genre may get you box-office numbers, it doesn’t earn you any respect.

Remo D’souza and his actors, Varun Dhawan, Shraddha Kapoor and Nora Fatehi, let their hair down to celebrate pack-up on their upcoming musical
Avinash Lohana (MUMBAI MIRROR; August 1, 2019)

After kicking off Street Dancer 3D in Amritsar in January, Varun Dhawan, Shraddha Kapoor and Nora Fatehi wrapped up the Remo D’souza directorial last Friday with tears and cheers. It’s been a long journey, from Punjab to London, Dubai and finally, the finale shoot in Mumbai. On Tuesday, the team reunited for a wrap-up party at Remo’s suburban restaurant.

“It was time for the team to celebrate, let their hair down. The bash took off around 10 pm and went on till after midnight,” informed a guest. Both Varun and Nora opted for white—he, dapper in a jacket and she, sexy in shorts and an off-shoulder—Shraddha was dressy in a black Dolce & Gabbana with sheer sleeves. Producers Bhushan and Divya Khosla Kumar (right), and Lizelle D’souza (left; below) were also there, along with Prabhudheva and choreographers Rahul Shetty, Sushant Pujari and Salman Yusuff Khan.

“Remo doesn’t drink while shooting but on Tuesday he was in high spirits, pulling everyone to the dance floor and getting solo acts from his guests. Varun and Shraddha stayed for half an hour and danced to popular tracks like Batla House’s 'Saki Saki' with Nora, who exited around the Cinderella hour and her 'Dilbar' played on loop,” informed the guest, adding that at one point, Remo shook a leg on the bar counter to Aparichit’s “Aaya Dil Ko Churane Remo” while his dancers cheered. Later, he even took over the DJ console, playing a remixed version of Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani’s “Balam Pichkari.”

Party eats included pizza, paneer and chicken. But more than the bites, guests were interested in clicking selfies for their memory bank. The film unveils on January 24, 2020.

Nikkhil Advani reveals that he plans to bring the memoirs of the man behind Mangalyaan on screen even as he applauds Akshay Kumar’s film on the same subject which releases on the same Friday as his Batla House encounter
Roshmila Bhattacharya (MUMBAI MIRROR; July 29, 2019)

How does it feel to see a five-year dream come alive on screen? Isn’t this the best time for a film like Batla House given that the audience today has evolved?
Yes, that Article 15 on castesim has done so well is heartening. And I’m excited because I’ve managed to say all that I wanted to through this film. But there are butterflies now as August 15 nears. Batla House is dear to me and I want people to understand it. The encounter which happened on September 19, 2008, was a conflicting operation, it created a lot of noise. In all the noise, truth tends to get lost. And truth is connected to people, be it a committed police officer who was suddenly labelled a murderer or a student a terrorist because of his complicity.

John Abraham’s character is modelled on then ACP Sanjeev Kumar Yadav. Would you say the encounter changed him as a person?
The police officer who inspired the film is cautious, committed to following the rule of law. He only shared that much which is in the public domain but he approves that we are telling the story from three points of view: his seven-member special cell team, the students’ defence and what the court accepted. He was constantly urging us to cross-check facts.

Has D-Day added to the pressure of delivering a quality film?
After D-Day I was suddenly tagged a “respectable filmmaker”, a legacy which irrespective of box-office outcome, was cemented by my TV show POW, also films like Airlift and Bazaar which I produced. Batla House is also a collaboration with Ritesh Shah, the writer of D-Day, Pink, Airlift and Raid and has the attraction of John who has a Madras Café and Parmanu too. All this makes it, as Bhushan Kumar says, a ‘mudda ka film’.

Are you nervous about the clash with Akshay Kumar’s Mission Mangal?
From what I’ve seen, that film looks good. After it releases and does, as I hope, extremely well, I want to make another film on Dr Koppillil Radhakrishnan. Born in a village in Kerala, he was the Chairman of the Space Commission at ISRO and spearheaded the mission to Mars. He empowered women scientists and it’s good Mission Mangal focusses on them. But I have the rights to Dr Radhakrishnan’s autobiography, My Odyssey: Memoirs Of The Man Behind The Mangalyaan Mission, and I owe him a film on his life and achievements.

Milap Zaveri’s Marjaavaan is now on a collision course with Hrithik Roshan and Tiger Shroff’s next. Does the October 2 release date still stand?
That will be a collective decision taken by Milap, the producers and the studio. And while this is not a reflection of his work, it’s important for Milap to come up with a quality hit film after Satyameva Jayate. Just the teaser has everyone talking about Hrithik and Tiger’s film, so some brainstorming on our release is in store.

Is Satyameva Jayate 2 a 2020 Independence Day release?
It’s too early to speculate on the release when Milap is still working on the script. As of now, all that I can say is that the sequel will feature John and Divya Khosla Kumar.

Will you kick off your football film with John, 1911, after Batla House?
We kick off 1911 next year, after John wraps up some commitments and I finish shooting the first season of my series. John, Bhushan and I have a commitment to produce six joint ventures; John and I will collaborate on four, 1911 is the first.

Buzz is, Anil Kapoor and Dimple Kapadia have joined Shabana Azmi, Ronit Roy and Dia Mirza in Mughals?
That’s speculation. It’s just Shabana ji, Ronit and Dia for Babar’s story, but with each season, we plan to get more interesting and get as big a star cast. We’ve spent two years on research, are collaborating with a writing team from Hollywood whose approach is far more dramatic than our history book perspective. I’ve been to Uzbekistan and Rajasthan twice on recce. It’s exciting but also exhausting.

Then there’s swipe right, swipe left story of Indoo Ki Jawani with a Rs 200 crore heroine Kiara Advani and Aditya Seal...
That’s a fun film about experiments with a dating app going wrong as a girl in Ghaziabad tries to be one up on her boyfriend. It’s been put together entirely by my producer partners Madhu (Bhojwani) and Monisha (Advani). They heard the script, finalised the cast, set things in place while I was shooting Batla House.

The actress last seen opposite Akshay Kumar, will feature in the Satyameva Jayate sequel
Roshmila Bhattacharya (MUMBAI MIRROR; May 23, 2019)

Nine months after its Independence Day release, Satyameva Jayate is gearing up for a sequel. The vigilante action-drama will once again have John Abraham at its fulcrum. But the real surprise is that it will feature Divya Khosla Kumar opposite him in the Milap Zaveri directorial.

Divya debuted in Anil Sharma’s 2004 war-drama, Ab Tumhare Hawale Watan Saathiyo, as Akshay Kumar’s leading lady. On February 13, 2005, she married T-Series head honcho Bhushan Kumar and moved behind the scenes. After a course in cinematography and editing, she went on to direct around 20 music videos. In 2014, she helmed the coming-of-age musical romance Yaariyan, followed by Sanam Re two years later. Now, she is ready to return to acting and according to a source close to the development, has signed up for Satyameva Jayate 2.

“Milap had fleshed out strong characters for John and Manoj Bajpayee in the first part. This time, he has written a memorable leading role for Divya. While SMJ 2 will still pack a lot of punches, this time around it will be a commercial family entertainer with a patriotic flavour. What drew her to the project is that the role is integral to the narrative and will present her in an interesting light,” informed the source, pointing out that the actress was last seen in a short film, Bulbul, in which she had played several different characters.

The original which opened on the same Friday as Akshay’s sports-drama Gold, was a cat-and-mouse chase between a senior inspector, Shivansh, played by Manoj, and John’s hooded killer, Virendra Rathod. The vigilante threatened to rid the city of all corrupt cops to avenge his father’s death. High on blood and gore, it brought back memories of the action films of the ’70s, featuring Amitabh Bachchan, Dharmendra and Vinod Khanna among others.

Speaking to Mirror (Jan 7), John had said, “The sense of heroism was lost till Satyameva Jayate came along and reiterated that this country needs heroes… With the senior heroes getting too senior and the younger heroes still being boys, you need a man who can run through walls and break down doors. I’m going to be the action hero for the masses.”

According to the source, Milap has locked the final draft of SMJ2 and is in the process of ironing out other details before he gets into prep. The film is expected to go on the floors soon after the release of his next, Marjaavaan, on October 2, which has Sidharth Malhotra up against four-and-a-half feet Riteish Deshmukh. “Today it is content that sells and so this is the right time for Divya to be back in the spotlight,” the source concluded.