Showing posts with label Dobaaraa. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Dobaaraa. Show all posts
Decoding can't-live-with-or-without-you equation of cinema stars and paparazzi
9:11 AM
Are star photographers biting the hand that feeds them? Showbiz’s frenemies slug it out in a bid to draw boundaries and gain respect in a dog-eats-dog entertainment world
Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; July 23, 2023)
In February this year, Alia Bhatt slammed photographers who had from a structure opposite her apartment taken photographs of her inside, scrolling through her phone and spending private time with family. The A-lister took to Instagram to call out the “invasion of privacy” and tagged the Mumbai police.
“Are you kidding me? I was at my house, having a perfectly normal afternoon, sitting in my living room when I felt something watching over me. I looked up and saw two men on the terrace of the neighbouring building with a camera right at me. In what world is this okay and is this allowed? This is a gross invasion of someone’s privacy. There’s a line that you must not cross, and it is safe to say that all lines were crossed today (sic),” the 30-year-old said in the post.
Soon, several other celebrities shared similar experiences. The situation alluded to the cant-live-with-or-without-you equation that cinema stars share with photographers. While the big names may not like to admit the publicity that paparazzi or photographers’ social media accounts generate for them, for the smaller faces, being clicked could prove make or break. It is a symbiotic relationship.
Without the stars, the photographers would not only be jobless, they’d be robbed of the following they enjoy and the reactions that pictures of the famous garner for them. And in this mix is the star’s publicist or manager, often the key to a celebrity presence tip off.
If you thought that the surprised expression that heroine sported when she walked out of a Bandra cafe right into an assembly of photographers, was spontaneous, you’ve been living under a rock. It’s often the manager’s job to alert the paparazzi about the star’s whereabouts, whether it’s a Saturday afternoon blow dry at the salon, a dinner with friends in the neigbourhood or a flight to the next shoot. It changes the headline of the “spotted” picture to “arranged-to-be-spotted”, but that’s hardly of concern to the fans and public, as long as they get to see their favourite star in ‘candid’ mode.
Mumbai’s top freelance celebrity photographers have a following that rivals the actors’. Viral Bhayani leads with 7.5 million followers; Manav Manglani has 2.8 million, and Yogen Shah has two million. It has made them powerful enough to decide who will be in conversation today, circulation tomorrow. And it’s a power that the stars and their agents have played a critical role in handing to them.
Three days ago, leading film publicist Alpa Turakhia who is co-founder of Communique PR, shared a screenshot on her Insta account of a conversation between a well-known pap and her colleague. The pap wrote, “Even prostitutes want a post for airport spotting. So all these celeb managers are pimps indirectly.”
Fed up, she says, of enduring this behaviour, Turakhia called him out. When this writer, in a moment of solidarity for women professionals, reposted, we received a flurry of messages from celebrity publicists and artiste managers, each with their own version of what they called a pap horror story.
One of them, on condition of anonymity, told mid-day, “Once he [pap] put up a picture of Dharmendra and Waheeda Rahman on his page; it was not a tasteful picture. We requested him to take it down. He ranted, threatened, vomited venomous words. Most of them [paparazzi] are arrogant and have no understanding of how disgraceful their tone can be.”
Another female publicist, who runs a boutique agency, told us, “They give us maa-behen gaalis; blackmail is common. We have sometimes had to keep proof of text message exchanges so that when our clients [stars] ask us why we aren’t dealing with certain senior paps, we can show them why. In our firm, if an artiste wants a post put up by a pap who has behaved badly with us in the past, we ask the agency to reach out to the photographer directly.”
Turakhia didn’t name the photographer, but she may have been referring to Bhayani, who identifies himself as a digital creator. The independent photographer who has gone from working solo to hiring a team of 12, reached out to mid-day after our post, saying he is often misunderstood. He admitted to being under overwhelming pressure.
“I start my work day at 7 am. It’s non-stop until 1 am. I have a team, yes, but the work becomes too much. I take 200 to 300 calls a day. I admit that I might have spoken rudely or misbehaved with some; I think I should now hire a manager to streamline the communication,” he said.
Bhayani, like most other top paps, gets paid for each post. If he won’t deliver, the publicists and stars are sure to come after him. “Say, I schedule a photographer for celebrity spotting at the airport at 8 am. The publicist to a star will call me at 7.50 am, saying s/he is exiting in 10 minutes. I call my guy, he may not answer. He calls me back after 15 minutes. By then, I have had an argument with the publicist. When the pressure mounts and tempers flare, we become negative and end up saying what we shouldn’t. I am fighting for respect, too. No matter how far I go in life, I will always be seen as the man who chases celebrities. I have once had a call from an actor, threatening, ‘Photo nahin dalega tu? Chal, utha leta hoon tujhe’. I am frequently at the police station handling defamation threats. Having said this, I do want to work on my misbehaviour. I have no vices, no hobbies. I work. I don’t want to hurt with my words,” he says philosophically, mirroring his mood from an Instagram story that quotes Buddha: Only I can change my life. No one can do it for me.
Bhatt is not the only one to have taken a stand. Taapsee Pannu’s altercation with the paps during the promotions of her film Dobaaraa is now infamous. When Pannu didn’t like the way they spoke to her, she had a heated exchange. mid-day reached out to Pannu this time to understand where her relationship with the paps stands.
“Honestly, at that point, it was a reflex action. At times, I have felt that they have crossed the line. They have shouted at me. We are extra-courteous to them because we acknowledge that they spend their days filming us and building us up. That said, sometimes when our personal space is violated, it elicits a reaction. I can’t generalize because like every industry, there are good ones too. Someone sitting at a desk across the country doesn’t realize that paps don’t capture the moments when they misbehave because the camera is on us, not on them. The videos of us reacting are used as clickbait later, because negativity sells on social media. After the Dobaaraa incident, I thought a lot about this—is this a healthy part of my profession? Of course not. I am okay if I don’t get clicked often. People notice me because of my work, not how often they see me in fancy clothes. I don’t want to fear what the paps might do if I don’t go out of my way to entertain them. The power we gave them is biting us back. We have overindulged. The boundaries must be drawn. I am happy to meet them at work and entertain them, but not at the cost of my respect.”
Parag Desai, CEO of Universal Communications, a leading entertainment PR firm that represents Ajay Devgan and Amitabh Bachchan, explains how the paparazzi in India became all important. “Social media platforms have become an easy access point for fans to get their news and content on-the-go. Many freelance photographers caught on to this trend and began offering the audience insights into the daily routine of their favourite stars. Their pages soon gained popularity, and the public began interacting with their content. We have come to a point where a top pap’s social media is the essential medium for us to reach audiences directly. For young actors, this is crucial to gain recognition, reach a wider audience, and maintain regular visibility. We work on mutual trust and respect. We can’t do without the other. But, dignity and decorum has space,” he says.
Fan clubs in the city and those who run them understand the angst of agents. They say, they too have been at the receiving end of arrogance. Sumit Kumar, who runs a popular Sidharth Malhotra fan club with 110k followers on Instagram, spoke of paps expecting revenue sharing. “Fan clubs share content taken from the paparazzi, and credit it to them. What is on social media is out there for everyone to pick up. I was threatened by a pap to not pick up his content. He said I had to become a ‘50 per cent partner’, if I wanted to use his content. He wanted a stake in my revenues and followers. I had to delete his posts from my page and stopped using his content.”
Independent photographers charge for every post they put up. Some of them enjoy a remuneration in the range of three to five lakh. An industry insider says, “The top paps charge in the range of Rs 10,000 to Rs 15,000 per post. If they are given a non-industry person to post about, they hike their fee by another Rs. 10,000. For instance, a businessman who wants to be featured will end up paying more than a celebrity.”
Not everyone, though, is making a killing. A senior photographer with a leading newspaper offers an insight into the freelance photographers’ game. “Most paps make twice the salary of someone like me, a full-timer with a publication, in just a day. Despite this income flow, they choose to hire stringers for as little as Rs 10,000 a month. They don’t ask for hikes, holidays, benefits, food. Most paps you now see hanging outside say, a Bandra cafe waiting for a celebrity, are fans themselves, who want to be close to their stars. They are handed a camera by a top pap and do a bit of his work for him. There is a well-known stringer called Sneh Zala. He was a huge Deepika Padukone fan and would track her every move. He was soon hired by a senior pap. That’s how fans who hang around with their camera phones become ‘content creators’. So many paps have a previous life as delivery boys or drivers. They are not trained or professional. You’ll see them crack cheap comments or catcall the actors.”
He speaks of success having brought along hubris. “Some of them have made fake press cards,” he says. “It gives them access to places where they ordinarily couldn’t go,” he says. But he adds that it’s a juggernaut with multiple players, and all have contributed to this mess: production houses, publicists, and even the stars.
“There are stars who have multiple paps on their retainer payroll. You won’t find them posting a bad picture of these actors. Every snap and video that goes up has their approval. So, the world is seeing exactly what they want to show—how relatable, s/he is when s/he eats pani puri on the road just like an average Joe.”
When celebrities are involved in major celebrations, like a marriage, iftar party or a house get together, leading paps are paid anywhere between Rs 10 lakh and Rs 30 lakh to cover it. Interestingly, not much of this reaches the foot soldiers, who are often jabra fans, too star-struck to ask for more or better. “They are also unaware of the problem they are becoming.”
Discussing what an important cog in the wheel the paparazzi have become in India, Varun Gupta of Max Marketing, tells mid-day, “Before pap culture, only keen fans would know about a certain star’s arrival in say, Delhi to promote a film. Now, everybody knows. If Kartik [Aaryan] and Kiara [Advani] are at a launch in Jaipur, we can reach out to the entire country simultaneously through paps. They are instrumental in allowing us to reach the right target group across the country. Paps started spotting where celebrities frequented— gyms, salons, cafes, etc. It was organic and gradually, the masses followed. Now, of course, authenticity is out of the window. Anyone can pay and earn a post. They have the power to make a nobody a sensation. Take Uorfi Javed,” he says of the television actor with an outrageous fashion sense.
“We all know her, but we have no idea what she does. Ranveer Singh mentions her on Koffee with Karan!”
Gupta cites a marketing campaign they did for Oscar-winning film, RRR. They called it RRR march. “We were in different cities on the same day and did interviews against the most famous landmark of the said city... Varanasi Ghat, Howrah Bridge, Statue of Unity. We took four posts a day with the pap pages in a bid to showcase that we were everywhere promoting the film. RRR was a pan-India movie and we had to reflect this in the campaign. It is a marketer’s job to use the paps right. What you put out there and how you use them is in your control.”
Shrenik Gandhi, social media strategist and founder of White Rivers Media explains that enigma is no longer in fashion. The stars want to be accessible, and relatable. Aura doesn’t sell.
It wasn’t like this 20 years ago, says veteran photographer and curator, Piramal Gallery, NCPA, Mukesh Parpiani. He remembers a time when they landed a photograph through what they heard and dug out. “When I was photo editor at mid-day, senior photographer Pradeep Dhivar got a tip off about Amitabh Bachchan walking to Siddhivinayak mandir at night. It wasn’t routine for stars to do this back then. We got the shot in 2007 in the wee hours of the morning. When we learnt that Mandira Bedi would run on the beach early morning, we clicked her exclusively. Even when we did a shoot in conjunction with someone famous, it was more about executing an editorial call, it wasn’t staging a picture. I remember that when Rakhi Sawant was becoming famous, we realised that a middle-class girl was making it big. We shot her on a local from Andheri to Vile Parle. It was part of telling her story.”
Marcellus Baptista, who has been covering Mumbai’s party circuit for decades, recalls a time when celebrity invites were sent in hard copy. “There was no PR agency to speak of,” says Baptista who started his career with Free Press Bulletin in 1981. “It was friendly. I once went to an art event and met Amitabh Bachchan there. I didn’t even know he was going to come. It was wonderful. Perhaps publicists should stop encouraging the paparazzi. They are creating a vicious cycle.”
With inputs from Aastha Atray Banan
Sumit Kumar, Viral Bhayani and Marcellus Baptista
Alpa Turakhia, Parag Desai and Varun Gupta
(Crisp) Movie Review: DOBAARAA by FENIL SETA
3:11 PM
Dobaaraa rests on a great plot, which will keep viewers gripped. Anurag Kashyap has executed it in a very simple manner and hence, the narrative never gets confusing. A few scenes are even funny and give the film a nice touch. However, the thrill element takes a backseat after a point though the trailer promised that the film will be a thrilling ride. The film ideally should have ended on a high which doesn’t happen. Also, a few developments are bewildering. Speaking of performances, Taapsee Pannu, as always, is dependable and a delight to watch on screen. Pavail Gulati looks dashing and puts his best foot forward. Rahul Bhat doesn’t have much to do initially but later on raises laughs and is fine. Saswata Chatterjee is let down by the script. Sukant Goel (Abhishek) leaves a mark and so does Aarrian Sawant (Anay). All in all, Dobaaraa works due to the novel idea and is worth watching once.
My rating - *** out of 5!
My rating - *** out of 5!
Fenil's Bollywood Talk # 739
3:59 PM
LAAL SINGH CHADDHA AND RAKSHA BANDHAN FAIL AND HOW
A lot was expected from the biggest Bollywood clash of 2022. Sadly, both Laal Singh Chaddha and Raksha Bandhan didn't impress the audiences. What was worse was that not many people turned up to watch the film on day 1, which shows that audiences were just not interested.
In last week's edition, we had predicted that though Laal Singh Chaddha can open at Rs. 14-15 crores, one should be prepared for a poor opening of Rs. 11-12 crores, since times are quite unpredictable today. And the worst fears came true as it opened at just Rs. 11.50 crores. Had the word of mouth been positive, it would have got more footfalls on the evening of the first day. It was released on Thursday, August 11 and had the advantage of a five-day weekend. Yet, it managed to collect just Rs. 46 crores in 5 days while the industry and trade had hoped that the film would be able to cross the Rs. 50 crores mark in 2 or 3 days in the worst case scenario. On Tuesday, once the holiday period got over, the collections fell to Rs. 2 crores as compared to Rs. 6 crores the previous day. Laal Singh Chaddha's lifetime is expected to be less than Rs. 60 crores.
Raksha Bandhan, too, faced rejection. As predicted last week, it opened at Rs. 8 crores. It was not a huge opening but the film could have gone anywhere from here if public reports were in their favour. But the word of mouth, though not entirely negative, was average. Hence, the film fell and crashed after the holidays. It’ll be able to collect around Rs. 43-44 crores at best in its lifetime.
A lot of trolls started celebrating after Laal Singh Chaddha flopped. They took credit for it which is laughable as regular moviegoers never took the ‘Boycott Bollywood’ campaign. They didn’t go for the film as they were plainly not interested.
Meanwhile, Karthikeya 2 came out of the blue and attracted audiences. It had a weird release as it came in cinemas on Saturday, August 13. The first-day earnings were just Rs. 6 lakhs. But the film’s earnings jumped to Rs. 25 lakhs on Sunday followed by a huge Rs. 1.25 crores on Monday, Independence Day! Even the number of shows increased from 50 to more than 1000. The film came down a bit on Tuesday, which was unexpected as it could have grown more. The first week’s collections are expected to be around Rs. 4-4.50 crores.
In week 2, it’ll be released in many more cinemas and if all goes well, it can collect more in Week 2 than in Week 1. It’s still not a big hit and won’t do as much as Laal Singh Chaddha and Raksha Bandhan as people are made to believe. But the fact that it jumped from Rs. 6 lakhs to more than Rs. 1 crore in 2 days shows that the audience wants to see the film.
Surprisingly, Karthikeya’s first part wasn’t a big hit in Hindi. Many have not even seen and don’t even know whether Karthikeya 2’s story is connected with part 1. Yet, they are going for it in hordes.
The major Hindi release of the week is Dobaaraa. It is the remake of the Spanish film Mirage and stars Taapsee Pannu, Pavail Gulati and Rahul Bhat. The film is directed by Anurag Kashyap and produced by Ekta Kapoor. The trailer is intriguing and the film seems to rest on a great plot. Sadly, the buzz is negligible. When Akshay Kumar and Aamir Khan’s films are not finding an audience, a niche film of Taapsee Pannu, unfortunately, stands no chance. Her last film, Shabaash Mithu, which was released last month, had opened at just Rs. 40 lakhs. This film will open in the same range. If the word of mouth is positive, it can grow and surprise.
Our film Dobaaraa has nothing to do with Stranger Things-Pavail Gulati
8:30 AM
Pavail Gulati recounts how Anurag Kashyap offered him Dobaaraa after being impressed by his performance in Made In Heaven
Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; August 12, 2022)
The first time Pavail Gulati received a congratulatory text from Anurag Kashyap was when he worked on Yudh (2014). Years later, the filmmaker reconnected with him after watching his performance in Zoya Akhtar’s Made In Heaven (2019). “He texted me, saying, ‘I loved you in the show. You deserve bigger and better.’ He asked me to meet him after 10 days,” recounts Gulati.
At the time, he had little idea that the meeting would set the stage for the upcoming thriller, Dobaaraa. “I followed up 10 days later, and he texted back at 1.30 am, calling me for a meeting at that hour. He was shooting for Sacred Games 2. I assumed he’d give me a part in it, but then, he told me about Dobaaraa. He said I would play a cop in the film. At the end of the meeting, he said, ‘Lead role hai.’”
A highlight of working on the project was reuniting with Taapsee Pannu after Thappad (2020). “She is so mean to me, and gets immense joy from being so. But that’s the bond we have built over the years. She has become a support system for me.”
Making the adaptation of the Spanish movie, Mirage (2018), was thrilling. “We didn’t see the original film until much later. When you work with Anurag, you have to know how to not prepare. One day, I had a long scene and was fully ready with prep. He scrapped the scene completely. He is eccentric and impulsive, but also encouraging. Every time you do a good scene, he is ready with warm hugs,” laughs Gulati.
After the trailer dropped online, netizens had a field day with memes suggesting that the movie shares similarities with Stranger Things. Are the comparisons daunting? “It is just that one shot [of a child cycling down the road]. Our film has nothing to do with the series.”
I was boycotted ever since I came to the industry-Anurag Kashyap
8:59 AM
As Dobaaraa nears release, Anurag discusses how a narrative of boycotting certain films or actors is being created to control the Hindi belt
Uma Ramasubramanian (MID-DAY; August 11, 2022)
When sitting down to watch an Anurag Kashyap film, one can be assured of novelty. Even though his upcoming film Dobaaraa is an adaptation of the Spanish movie, Mirage (2018), we won’t be surprised if there’s a classic Kashyap twist to the narrative. The director, too, hints at it as he begins, “I won’t say that we have remade a film; we have adapted a script. If you compare [the two films], you will see a massive difference in the characters and writing.”
With the Taapsee Pannu and Pavail Gulati-starrer, the filmmaker explores the subject of time travel. Teaming up with Pannu after Manmarziyaan (2018) and Saand Ki Aankh (2019) is a delight, he says. “I have an amazing friendship with her. If she is feeling something, she will say it upfront. Many people in the crew might find it difficult [to work with her] because she is straight-forward and doesn’t pretend to be polite. But five minutes after the fight, she will be normal. So, working with her is easy.”
In the run-up to the film’s August 19 release, Kashyap and Pannu have been joking that their film should be boycotted, thus mocking certain groups’ tendency to boycott films and actors. The latest films to be targeted are Laal Singh Chaddha and Raksha Bandhan.
“It’s a narrative being created around Hindi cinema because they want to control the Hindi belt. People have bought into the narrative and are not talking about the real problem. I was boycotted ever since I came to the industry. It’s affecting those whose films make Rs 200-300 crores. My movies have never crossed Rs 32 crores. So, I have always struggled to find theatres and release my films. I don’t even need trolls to do it,” he laughs.
We weren’t really expecting to see people crying at the end of Dobaaraa-Pavail Gulati
8:16 AM
Sugandha Rawal (HINDUSTAN TIMES; July 25, 2022)
Actor Pavail Gulati had recently jetted off to London (UK) for the world premiere of Dobaaraa at the London Indian Film Festival 2022. And even his social anxiety couldn’t hold him back from enjoying the experience.
Filmmaker Anurag Kashyap’s thriller premiered on the opening night, with Gulati joining actor Taapsee Pannu and Kashyap to represent the film at the prestigious fest. “The response to the film was really overwhelming. There were so many people! We weren’t really expecting to see people crying at the end of the movie... We went in for a moment to see what the audience was feeling, and it was so nice to experience it. That meant the world to me,” Gulati tells us.
Admitting that he did feel nervous about the experience, about going on an international platform and the exposure, the actor continues, “I have a little problem with social anxiety. So itne saare log dekh ke main nervous ho gaya tha... But it was still a nice experience, and stirred up so many emotions within me.”
The film will also open the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne 2022. The 34-year-old, who starred in Made In Heaven and Thappad (2020), feels that international exposure is undoubtedly “fantastic” for a project. “Every actor wants their film to do well and to be seen by a lot of people, so international exposure is an added thing. We felt really overwhelmed... The team from London Film Festival had planned a party. During that, there were so many people who came to congratulate me,” he concludes.
Anurag Kashyap's Dobaaraa, starring Taapsee Pannu, to open Indian Film Festival of Melbourne
8:08 AM
Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; July 22, 2022)
Anurag Kashyap’s films are known to be festival favourites. It stands true for his next release, Dobaaraa. A month after it premiered at the London Indian Film Festival (LIFF), the Taapsee Pannu and Pavail Gulati-starrer has been chosen to open the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne (IFFM) 2022, to be held from August 12 to 30.
Pannu previously collaborated with the filmmaker on Manmarziyaan (2018), and his production Saand Ki Aankh (2019). This time around, the two have explored the realm of time travel. An adaptation of the Spanish film, Mirage (2018), Dobaaraa sees Pannu’s character attempting to save a 12-year-old boy, who had witnessed a death during a thunderstorm 25 years ago, by connecting with him in the present day through a television set. Sci-fi is a relatively new genre for the filmmaker, and Kashyap is eager to see the audience’s reaction to his take on the subject.
He says, “I am excited to showcase our film on the opening night. I have previously been to the IFFM, and have seen how Indian films and those from the subcontinent are celebrated in unison. As a filmmaker, Dobaaraa is a special film for me.”
For festival director Mitu Bhowmik Lange, the thriller represents the cinematic excellence they want to put forth through their platform. “Being a fan of Anurag Kashyap’s work, I always look forward to his films. Dobaaraa is highly anticipated because of Taapsee as well; I admire her work equally. It gives me great pride to showcase some of Indian cinema’s finest talents through this film at our festival.”
Anurag Kashyap is the nicest man I have ever met; I can be completely myself around Taapsee Pannu-Pavail Gulati
8:16 AM
As Dobaaraa opens London film fest, Pavail says Anurag’s spontaneity keeps actors on their toes
Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; June 27, 2022)
Anurag Kashyap’s upcoming thriller Dobaaraa premiered at the London Indian Film Festival 2022 on June 23. For actor Pavail Gulati, the joy was two-fold — it marks his first film to be invited to a festival. That the movie reunited him with Kashyap and his Thappad (2020) co-star Taapsee Pannu was another cause for celebration.
“It was the festival’s opening film. It made me ecstatic and nervous in equal parts. In the days leading up to it, I kept thinking what to wear, how to style my hair. Taapsee had to give me a lot of tips,” grins Gulati.
He admits that since their Thappad days, Pannu has been more than a co-star to him, a dear friend who is always willing to help. “We became friends on the third day of filming Thappad. The comfortable equation comes from a lot of arguments and fights. It is easy and fun working with her because I can be completely myself around her.”
With Kashyap’s movies, one can expect the unexpected. This time around, the director has explored the concept of time travel through the sci-fi thriller. Elated to reunite with the filmmaker after the television show, Yudh (2014), Gulati says, “That man is a different beast altogether. At heart, he is a child. He is the nicest man I have ever met. For me, he is a mentor who has guided me. Working with him is like a workshop. On set, he is the most chaotic man, and figures out what to do only when he reaches the set. All your preparation goes out the window. He will take a scene and make it something else altogether.”
It’s going to be quite nerve-racking as it’s the first time an open audience is watching Dobaaraa-Taapsee Pannu
8:08 AM
Taapsee keen to see audience’s reaction as Anurag-helmed Dobaaraa is set to premiere at London Indian Film Festival
Uma Ramasubramanian (MID-DAY; June 23, 2022)
Only hours away from the premiere of Dobaaraa, Taapsee Pannu admits she is a ball of nervousness. The sci-fi thriller, which marks her reunion with director Anurag Kashyap, will be screened at the London Indian Film Festival this evening. “I am looking forward to seeing the first reaction of the audience. It’s going to be quite nerve-racking because it’s the first time an open audience is watching the film. So, I am excited, and equally nervous too,” she grins, before quipping in her trademark humour, “But it’s London. That makes everything feel a little better.”
If her past associations with Kashyap are anything to go by, Pannu has little reason to worry. The two previously collaborated on the critically acclaimed Manmarziyaan (2018), following it up with Saand Ki Aankh (2019) that saw Kashyap serve as a producer. This time around, the duo have teamed up for a sci-fi offering that reportedly revolves around different time zones and time travel. Joining Pannu in the Ekta R Kapoor-backed project is her Thappad (2020) co-star Pavail Gulati.
Happy to reunite with them, Pannu says, “I have been so consistently in touch [with Anurag] since Manmarziyaan, and with Pavail, that it feels like a continuation of sorts. It didn’t feel like we were working after a break. I am looking forward to working more with them.”
The film is slated to release on August 19.
It was taken for granted that Anurag Kashyap and I will work together-Taapsee Pannu
8:31 AM
Ecstatic to reunite with Anurag on Dobaaraa after Manmarziyaan, Taapsee says filmmaker is among the few in Bollywood who can pull off sci-fi thrillers
Uma Ramasubramanian (MID-DAY; October 14, 2021)
In many ways, Taapsee Pannu and Anurag Kashyap are alike — individualistic, spirited and driven by creativity. Their friendship then was inevitable. That it has also resulted in some clutter-breaking cinema is an added advantage. After the heartfelt romantic drama, Manmarziyaan (2018), the two have joined forces for Dobaaraa, a sci-fi thriller.
For Pannu, reuniting with her favourite filmmaker was only a matter of time. “Even after Manmarziyaan got over, we have consistently been in touch. He has been a friend. In fact, I admire him more as a person than the director he is. So, it was taken for granted that we will work together,” says the actor, adding that it is sheer joy to work with Kashyap, owing to his originality. “We will collaborate in the future again, [and I am certain] it will be something crazy. We have taken each other’s presence in our lives for granted, but when he is on the set as a director, I don’t take him for granted.”
The duo wrapped up the shoot of Dobaaraa in March, right before the second wave of the pandemic. The actor believes Kashyap is the best choice to bring to the audience a sci-fi thriller — a genre that has remained largely unexplored in Hindi cinema. “The story jumps different time zones that will connect [in the end]. Dobaaraa will be unique [in that regard]. When it comes to Anurag, people know the story will be presented in a [perfect] way.”
Pannu’s knack for fronting compelling stories has been evident in the past few years. Her next, Rashmi Rocket, will see her questioning the gender-testing practice in sports. “I want to bring something new [to the screen] because it motivates me to keep working. If I keep repeating a certain formula, thinking why fix it if it ain’t broke, then it will become like sleepwalking. I am scared of monotony, and directors [like Kashyap and Akarsh Khurana] take more than half the responsibility of making sure I am not being repetitive.”
I have done the typical stuff at the beginning of my career. I’m now enjoying being the grey, bad girl-Taapsee Pannu
8:15 AM
Rachana Dubey (BOMBAY TIMES; September 23, 2021)
In her eight-year stint in Bollywood, Taapsee Pannu has gone from playing a commercial heroine to a leading lady whose presence in a film promises interesting content. In a chat with BT, she talks about completing a few projects during the pandemic, turning producer and where she sees her career headed. Excerpts:
In 2020, you had said that the first lockdown gave you a chance to slow down and catch your breath, but post that, you have been shooting almost non-stop. And each project has you playing a character that’s challenging and requires a lot of prep. Emotionally, how do you make the transition from one character to another in such a short span?
It fatigues me and drains me out. When I started working last year, post the lockdown, I went from one film to another. In fact, Rashmi Rocket and the subsequent film (Looop Lapeta) had me running for most parts of the narrative. I wrapped up four films between September and February and completed one or two that needed little work to be done. The fatigue was mental and physical, and at another time, I probably wouldn’t feel the fatigue as much as I felt this time.
I was drained when I joined the cast of Dobaaraa. I was also training for Shabaash Mithu at that time. It was exhausting to train and shoot. The characters are in such different spaces that, at some point, it does tire the mind. I stayed put at home after Dobaaraa wrapped up to charge my batteries before the biopic based on Mithali Raj kicked off. It doesn’t bother me that I keep playing these offbeat women because I have done the typical stuff at the beginning of my career. I’m now enjoying being the grey, bad girl. In the midst of that, Thappad came along as the whitest character I have ever played. I don’t think an actor can ask for more.
But somewhere, the fact that you are getting to dabble in a variety of characters must be giving you a kick, right?
Yes, playing the range of characters is challenging and fun. I have waited for years to reach a point in my career where I get scripts that I can’t say no to. I don’t have to say yes to a project merely to keep myself busy, to just work with someone else or make some money.
You’ve just completed the shoot of Blurr, your first film as a producer. The dual responsibility must have been a challenge, given that the film is a psychological thriller of sorts.
Yes, it was slightly different from all my other shooting experiences. I was a different person on this set and my patience and tolerance levels shot up incredibly. I have a lot more perspective on how certain things work beyond what an actor has to do in front of the camera. Previously, for all my films, I had to focus on my performance and deliver what the director needed from me. For this film, the downtime after the shoot and the time before I stepped onto the set was where I was a producer, looking into all that needed my attention. When I was on set for the shoot, I was just an actor like I am on any other set. I had to keep my focus on the character and the scenes.
Now that you have taken the plunge and turned producer have the goals that you had set for yourself changed?
It’s fun to be able to become any character. In fact, I feel it’s dangerous to become complacent in this profession. This liberty to experiment is what this line of work gives you in a big way. You can only grow when you do different things. Today, my aim is to remain a bankable actress for the producers and the audience. At the end of the day, it’s a business where apart from making good films, we also have to be able to make some money.
Anurag Kashyap undergoes angioplasty
8:07 AM
Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; May 27, 2021)
The past few days have been cumbersome for Anurag Kashyap who underwent angioplasty over the weekend. It is heard that the filmmaker, who had been working on the post-production of his next, Dobaaraa from home, decided to seek medical attention after he suffered mild chest pain.
A source reveals, “Late last week, Anurag complained of discomfort and decided to get it checked at the earliest. An angiography revealed a few blockages in his heart. He was immediately admitted for surgery.”
Kashyap underwent the procedure at an Andheri hospital and has been advised a week’s rest before he can resume work. On his plate is the sci-fi thriller, led by Taapsee Pannu and Pavail Gulati. The director had wrapped up its shoot in late March.
When mid-day reached out to Kashyap’s spokesperson, he confirmed the news, stating, “Yes, he underwent an angioplasty. He is now recuperating.”
Anurag Kashyap postponed the scene’s shoot only because I had prepped for it-Pavail Gulati
8:17 AM
Reuniting with Anurag Kashyap on Dobaaraa seven years after the TV show Yudh, Thappad star Pavail Gulati says working with the director has honed his craft
Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; April 20, 2021)
What’s the most telling sign that Pavail Gulati has climbed the ladder of success? According to the actor, it’s the fact that he has moved straight to narrations, from endless hours of auditions. His line-up of films could well be another barometer — after his breakout performance in Anubhav Sinha’s Thappad (2020), he has shot for Anurag Kashyap’s Dobaaraa. “Thappad gave me the ground to showcase my talent. I never wanted to be an overnight sensation. Jo bohot jaldi upar jaate hain, woh bohot jaldi neeche aate hain,” he begins.
The actor had worked with Kashyap on the ambitious television show, Yudh, in 2014. Seven years on, as he reunited with the filmmaker, Gulati is happy to note that the filmmaker’s set remains one of the most creatively stimulating places. “He is an instinctive director, so the prep happens entirely on set. The script was constantly being worked upon through the pandemic. I was prepping intensely for a particular sequence, and he postponed the scene’s shoot only because I had prepped for it. His set is a beautiful chaos where people might not know what they are doing, but they have the utmost conviction in him.”
He believes working with Kashyap has helped him hone his craft. “He will bring out your raw self in every shot, and you gain confidence on his set.” That the thriller has him sharing screen space with Thappad co-star Taapsee Pannu is another incentive.
If he describes Kashyap as “a film school”, his next, Goodbye has him rubbing shoulders with Amitabh Bachchan, an institution unto himself. “I chew his brains to get trivia on his past films, and he is kind enough to indulge me. The real learning happens behind the camera,” says Gulati.
It took me 10 years to get where I am, and I want to make the most of it-Pavail Gulati
8:12 AM
Onkar Kulkarni (BOMBAY TIMES; April 5, 2021)
Pavail is happy that Anurag did not only push him to do better, but also provided him with a project to showcase his talent with this film. “When I met him for Dobaaraa, he told me that he has an interesting role for me. It was only when I was leaving post the narration, that he called me back and informed me that I was the male lead in it. I had signed Dobaaraa before Thappad, it’s just that the latter released first.”
So, would he have preferred to have Do Baaraa release before Thappad, a film that went on to win critical acclaim and awards? “I am just happy that roles and films like these are coming my way. I can’t sit back and think on these lines because I am an outsider and there was no grand launch that would have happened for me,” he says, adding, “I don’t have any baggage, not many people know me, so it is good when people show confidence in me and offer projects like these.”
Pavail is being extra cautious with the work that he is taking on. He explains, “I started my journey in this space with a film like Thappad. It was a credible project. So, I want to be extra careful about the work I do. It took me a good 10 years to get into the space that I am in today and I want to make the most of it. So, the pressure is not about choosing only lead roles, but also about choosing the right projects and not taking things for granted. I want to experiment and grow as an actor. I want to work with the best people who I have looked up to all these years. Even if I get a minuscule part in Raju sir’s (Rajkumar Hirani) film, I will take it up.”
Pavail is excited to share screen space with his Thappad co-star, Taapsee, once again. Talking about their equation, he says, “While shooting for Thappad itself, we knew that we were going to be working together for a longer period of time. We bonded well on the first day itself. We both hail from Delhi, and that helped us get along. I like that Taapsee is extremely straightforward and honest, and those are also the things I hate about her (laughs!). Sometimes, whatever she says can sound beautiful, and at times, it can pierce through you. We are very comfortable around each other and it leads to us performing well on camera.”
I don’t have skeletons in my cupboard. My honesty gives me the confidence to be fearless-Taapsee Pannu
8:02 AM
Rachana Dubey (BOMBAY TIMES; March 8, 2021)
Taapsee Pannu has been one of the busiest actresses for the last few years, churning out an average of four releases a year, with the exception of 2020. In the last six months alone, she’s completed four films and started her fifth. It was while shooting with Anurag Kashyap for Dobaaraa that an I-T raid was carried out on her properties. In a chat with BT, the actress talks about how she dealt with what has happened over the past few days, but most importantly, on the occasion of International Women’s Day, Taapsee reflects on her journey in the film industry and the road ahead for the next generation of women. Excerpts:
On Saturday, you got your phone back from the I-T authorities and tweeted about the raid that were carried out at your homes last week. After all that happened, could you comment on how things are at home right now and what do you feel about the whole incident?
I was not available for a few days, but I was pretty much fine during that time. My family is okay, too. They’re also asking me the same question, ‘Are you fine?’ And in return, I am asking them that, too. It’s like we know something has happened, but we don’t know what we are supposed to feel about it because we’re just fine.
You’ve always been fairly vocal about various issues on social media — whether it’s standing up for matters to do with the film industry or other social issues. What drives you to do that in a space where everything one says is often met with a lot of harsh comments and scathing criticism?
I have been like this all my life. When you start from scratch and build everything, including this impression people have of me, over a period of time with hard work, and not by fluke, you don’t have to make an extra effort to protect it. By now, people can see this is who I am; it’s not a facade. I don’t have skeletons in my cupboard. My honesty gives me the confidence to be fearless. Apart from my work, I’m a little lazy about other things, which is one of the reasons I can’t lie.
It takes a lot of effort to cover up a lie with more lies. It’s better to say what you feel, but not at the cost of hurting others. Even if someone is targeting me in a certain tone, I don’t feel the need to respond to the person in the same manner. What’s the difference between us, then? I like to look at life in a simple, peaceful way. I will call out what is wrong, but without pointing fingers at individuals.
When you were younger, were there occasions when you had to put your foot down and fight for what you thought was right?
I have questioned my family about the things they felt I am not supposed to do, purely because I am a girl. It came to a point when I became an engineer, and I wanted to pursue modelling and acting. My being in cinema was a far-fetched idea for them. They had conjured up negative thoughts about this business on the basis of what they had read in magazines. It took me a lot of effort to change that. In those days, becoming a model was not considered the best career option for someone coming from a middle-class family.
My family had barely ever let me stay overnight at my friends’ places. For them, it was difficult to accept that I will live alone in a new city when I started working in the South film industry. Eventually, I also got my sister, Shagun, to stay with me. We moved base to Mumbai, where I started my career from scratch in Bollywood. I knew I might have to go through the same grind again, but I was okay with that.
For a long time, my father kept thinking that my acting career will wind up soon, and I will pursue my MBA degree. He’s accepted my career now. My sister is a wedding planner and it has taken him time to come around that, too. I was the first girl in my family to break conventions. It worked in my favour and paved the way for my siblings.
In the last decade or so, in show business, women have increasingly taken up high offices and even jobs that were once executed only by men. How do you think this change can be sustained for the future?
The numbers have increased quickly and drastically. It will only grow exponentially from here. The only hindrance we have to fight, is ourselves. It’s the deep-rooted conditioning, stemming from patriarchal systems that we need to get rid of. It’s been normalised for generations. It affects how we think. The job of any DOP (director of photography) is heavy-duty, as they have to stand on the set all day. On the set of Rashmi Rocket, our DOP was Neha Parti Matiyani, and I didn’t know for a while, even after the shooting commenced, that she was pregnant. It was a challenging shoot, with Coronavirus protocol and locations like the Rann of Kutch where races had to be shot. Neha was going through the most critical period of her pregnancy while doing all this. For me, she’s a rockstar and an inspiration. I had never thought aisa bhi kuch kabhi kisi set pe dekhungi. As women, we have to start doing things that inspire the next generation of women. We cannot give up, and why should we?
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