Showing posts with label Doctor G. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Doctor G. Show all posts
A good film will find its audience; everybody knows that Shershaah was a hit, or everybody was talking about Freddy-Rakul Preet Singh
8:36 AM
Neha Maheshwri (BOMBAY TIMES; February 27, 2023)
Rakul Preet Singh clocked in five releases in 2022 and one at the beginning of 2023. It’s obviously a busy time in her career. Lately, the actress has also been making news for matters of the heart as she is dating actor-producer Jackky Bhagnani. Rakul, who is enjoying this phase of her career, believes that her work will speak for her. Excerpts from a chat with the actress:
Right after the pandemic, you had five releases (in 2022) — Attack, Runway 34, Cuttputlli, Doctor G and Thank God. What do you think is working in your favour?
I don’t put much thought into what I have done right because I always live in the present. The moment my films release, it becomes the past. My energies are always on what I need to do next and how I can do better projects and grow as an actor. I am grateful that things panned out the way they have. I am also grateful to all the makers who believed in me as I got to do diverse films — from a commercial movie like Cuttputlli to a thriller like Runway 34 and the campus comedy Doctor G, in which I played a small-town doctor. What’s most important is the love of the audience because box-office numbers are driven by too many factors.
You have been doing South films long before the audience started consuming them widely across the country, the way they are now. Lately, there has been a lot of debate about the content of South films being better than Bollywood.
We are creating a debate where there is none. It’s just an outcome of there being so many platforms and the fact that everyone has an opinion on social media. South Indian cinema has been celebrated for the longest time on Hindi GECs (general entertainment channels), where people watch these films. It’s the influx of too much consumption during the pandemic, which is why it became a talking point, and I am glad because those films needed to be celebrated. Regional and Hindi cinema both are a part of the Indian industry, so there is no comparison. Today, if a film is good, it will find its audience. We should rather speak about the amazing time that we are in, where a great exchange of content, artistes and directors is happening, and the fact that we can make such great international-level cinema using talent across the country.
There are a lot of films releasing directly on OTT these days. Do you think your film Chhatriwali , which was released on OTT, would have done well in theatres?
No, I haven’t had that thought because it was never meant to be for the theatres. Today it’s not about which medium the film releases on. Everybody knows that Shershaah was a hit, or everybody was talking about Freddy. A good film will find its audience, whether it’s through OTT or theatres. Sometimes, good movies like Runway 34 get way more appreciation on OTT. Of course, the box-office numbers matter when a film is released in the theatres, but I think we understand that we are going through a re-correction phase currently, and the box office alone does not define whether the film is good, or whether you are good.
But it does matter when it comes to cementing your position in the industry, right?
Fortunately or unfortunately, it does to some extent. There has been a backlog of films for two years. Films are being released every week; sometimes, there are two releases. How do you expect the audience to come and watch every film? It’s an expensive affair. In the South, there is a cap that the government has on the pricing of the tickets, which you do not have here. So, they pick that one film a month but that doesn’t mean that your movie is bad. It just means that people possibly don’t have money right now. This can be one of the factors. While numbers give you a positioning, the industry realises that it’s a sensitive time today. So, your work is possibly not just looked through the prism of your box-office numbers.
You aren’t hiding your relationship with actor-producer Jackky Bhagnani. Recently, there was buzz about your marriage…
The thing is that I have always been vocal and whenever that conversation happens, I will be open. Given the films I am shooting and the ones Jackky is producing, where do you think we have the time? Whenever it happens, I will be the first one to announce it. As of now, we are extremely busy with our work.
A lot of wrong decisions were made in the script of Doctor G-Anubhuti Kashyap
7:54 AM
Taking Doctor G’s lacklustre performance in her stride, director says biggest learning is to shoot only when ‘completely satisfied’ with material
Priyanka Sharma (MID-DAY; November 4, 2022)
Our firsts often leave us with valuable lessons. Anubhuti Kashyap would agree. In the three weeks since her maiden feature film Doctor G opened to an underwhelming response, the director has cut the emotional cord that bound her to it, to gain an objective perspective. So, what has been her been biggest takeaway?
“There were a lot of wrong decisions made, even in the script and narrative arc,” she says thoughtfully. A coming-of-age story of a sexist gynaecology student, the Ayushmann Khurrana-starrer was well-intentioned but inconsistent. Kashyap, who co-wrote the script with Sumit Saxena, Saurabh Bharat and Vishal Wagh, attributes it to the tonal differences.
“Sumit and I are different writers. [That resulted in] tonal differences. More than regrets, there has been learning. The biggest one is that you must be completely satisfied with the script before going to shoot.”
While making the social comedy, Kashyap drew from her experience as an assistant director on filmmaker-brother Anurag Kashyap’s movies. In hindsight, she realises that every director must find their distinct approach. “Anurag’s scripts are mostly half-written, and he forms them as the films are made. I came from that school [of filmmaking]. So, [when approaching Doctor G], there were certain parts that weren’t finished in the script, but we thought, ‘Let’s shoot it now, we will see it later.’ The film would’ve probably worked better had it been completely my script, giving me more control while shooting it.”
That said, she stuck to her guns on most occasions, including changing the lead character from being “out-and-out misogynistic” to “casually sexist”.
She has taken the box-office misfire in her stride. “Its opening figures were better than our expectations. Also, those who watched it liked it. That is the saving grace.”
Once upon a time in Banaras: The Kashyap siblings and their earliest engagements with cinema
11:26 PM
How do three of a family all become filmmakers? Kashyap siblings Anurag and Anubhuti didn’t watch movies when growing up. They played Cinema Cinema, and making up stories was their favourite pastime
Heena Khandelwal (MID-DAY; October 30, 2022)
When most children their age would play ghar-ghar, the Kashyap siblings played cinema-cinema. “Carrom board coins would become my audience, and board games would turn into a make-shift auditorium. Sometimes I would cut out film posters [to make it more realistic],” recalls Anurag Kashyap, the eldest of three siblings, over a phone call.
What about the plot? “A magazine called Sarita carried a review section called Chanchal Chaya. I would read the review, make up the story and they [Anubhuti and Abhinav] would think that I watched all the films,” he laughs. “He would create random stories… ones with shock value,” adds Anubhuti, the youngest of three siblings.
“He would also draw and turn them into comics and novellas. These would be circulated among all the cousins during the summer vacations.” “One was titled Mr Huge Ho Gaye Fuse,” pipes in her eldest brother. “I had also created a character called Wonder Man. This was back in the 80s, much before Marvel.”
All three siblings—writer, director and actor Abhinav is the middle child—had very little exposure to cinema, partly because their father, an engineer with the Uttar Pradesh energy department, would be posted in remote areas. As a result, the trio grew up in Obra and Anpara, small thermal power colonies near Banaras. Also, cinema was considered a bad influence.
“Besides an occasional Amitabh Bachchan movie on screen,” shares Anurag, “we watched most films on VCR, with pirated cassettes. In fact, the version of Mr India [1987] that we saw was without the climax.”
Anubhuti was the first among them to explore her creative side; she co-wrote a play in college and acted in it. “It also travelled to some festivals, but that was it,” she says, adding that her options for adulthood were simple: Either study and make a career for yourself, or get married.
“None of us actually aimed at getting into movies,” she says. “An MBA seemed like a good option [for me].” After graduation, Anubhuti worked in the corporate sector in Pune and Mumbai for a few years.
Meanwhile, Anurag enrolled in a zoology course at Hansraj College in Delhi, but was exposed to world cinema at a film festival. He moved to Mumbai and was soon writing scripts for television serials and films. “I was young and arrogant,” he recalls, “and turned down a lot of work that came my way, thinking this was not what I wanted to be known for.” But Abhinav, who was in Mumbai to prepare for an MBA degree, saw it as a great opportunity and became a mainstream scriptwriter.
However, it took several years for Anubhuti to quit her job. “I had reached that point where I knew that if I didn’t realign [with my creative side], it wouldn’t happen later,” she says. “So I took a sabbatical. Anurag [who was wrapping up No Smoking in 2007] recognized my talent much before I did. He subtly nudged and manipulated me into joining films.”
Anubhuti joined the team of researchers working on Bombay Velvet, which released much later in 2015. “It involved watching many films,” she laughs. Around the same time, scriptwriter Raj Kumar Gupta was making his directorial debut with Aamir (2008), and was looking for an assistant director. Anubhuti came on board. Later, she assisted Anurag on Dev.D (2009) and Gangs Of Wasseypur (2012).
“All the people who worked with me and went on to become directors—such as Neeraj Ghaywan and Vasan Bala—stayed with me only because of Anubhuti,” says Anurag. “I am chaotic, but she would handle me as well as them.”
After Gangs Of Wasseypur, Anubhuti stopped assisting and moved in the direction of short films. “The first was Let Stalk, my take on stalking, which never saw the light of day,” she says. “Then I wrote and directed Moi Marjaani [about a single mother and her encounter with love].”
It took almost a decade for Anubhuti to stake her claim to the spotlight. It came with the Ayushmann Khurrana-starrer Doctor G, which released earlier this month. The movie revolves around a male medical student stuck in the Gynaecology department.
“The script came to me in 2016, but the following three years saw a lot of ups and downs in the production company Junglee. We were just about to start shooting when the pandemic happened,” she says. Anubhuti also directed the web-series Afsos (2020).
Has Anurag been a support system in Bollywood? “He would have, had he known,” she confesses. “But I never shared any of it [struggles] with him.”
“We are the kind of siblings who hug each other a lot, but never really talk,” says Anurag. “Actually, it is not easy to talk with me around,” interjects Anubhuti, mentioning that during conversations, she is more of a listener than a talker. “I am the one who talks a lot,” explains Anurag. “She is usually worried about me, and wants updates about my life.”
Their style of cinema also differs from each other. While Anurag’s work is best described as dark, Anubhuti’s lens sees shades of grey; Abhinav makes mainstream potboilers. “Anubhuti is far from the cancel culture,” says Anurag. “She sees everyone as a work in progress, and believes everything is forgivable.” Similarly, their personalities are different too.
“While I grew up on world cinema,” says Anurag, “Anubhuti feeds off on real experiences. I have mad energy, while Anubhuti is calm.” “I am also very lazy,” interjects Anubhuti, adding that Anurag can write endlessly, but she needs a lot of pushing. “I am very independent, but I’m also happy doing nothing and I have no hurry in life.”
In an industry where nepotism is brought up every Friday, the Kashyap siblings wanted nothing to do with each other. “I have produced a lot of films,” says Anurag. “Anubhuti could have made a film [with me] long ago, but she wanted to make it on her own. Even Abhinav chartered his own path; he is very enterprising. The credit goes to our parents. We were all told that once we complete our education, we would have to make our own living. And we did.”
I don’t want to do roles that have two scenes and one song-Rakul Preet Singh
10:44 PM
Playing a cop who is more successful than her husband in Thank God, Rakul says her Army background makes her choose strong female characters
Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; October 25, 2022)
Only 10 days after the release of Doctor G in which she plays a feisty medical student, Rakul Preet Singh is ready with her final offering of 2022, Thank God. Her past four releases prove that her desire to do different roles is coming true. “I don’t want to be repetitive. Runway 34 is nothing like Doctor G, and Thank God is nothing like my last film. I want to do everything — from masala to hard-hitting movies,” she says.
Thank God, featuring Ajay Devgn and Sidharth Malhotra, belongs to the former category. But it goes beyond a laugh riot to ponder over our tendency to take things for granted. For Singh, the bigger draw was to play an honest cop, who is more successful than her husband, and unapologetically so. The actor says that she consciously chooses roles where the woman exercises complete agency.
“Being an Army kid, I have grown up with a voice. I operate like that in my personal space. I can’t be stopped from expressing my opinion. It reflects in the scripts I choose. I don’t want to do roles that have two scenes and one song. Thankfully, our generation of actors is working at a time when better parts are written [for women]. Films connect with the masses, and have potential to effect change. Thank God talks about the seven sins; it is about introspection and becoming a better person.”
The comedy reunites her with Malhotra after Aiyaary (2018) and Marjaavaan (2019). Stating that they bond over their Delhi roots, she adds, “He has had an incredible journey of making it big.”
In the last two months, Singh got a taste of both worlds — while Cuttputlli received largely negative reviews, Doctor G was celebrated for its progressive thinking. How does she process the feedback and apply it to her future work? “As an actor, I must give 200 per cent to a filmmaker’s vision and the story. If something doesn’t work, we feel bad, but we have to move on. My learning is always to find out how I can better myself. If someone says Rakul can’t act, I will take measures. I will give my all to my next [film].”
My voice is different from that of my brothers, Anurag and Abhinav-Anubhuti Kashyap
7:33 AM
Foraying into direction with Doctor G, Anubhuti says she doesn’t feel the pressure of comparison with filmmaker-brothers Anurag and Abhinav
Uma Ramasubramanian (MID-DAY; October 16, 2022)
With Doctor G, debutant director Anubhuti Kashyap looks at the humorous journey of a gynaecology student who becomes the only male in the female-dominated stream of medicine. One’s first film comes with immense pressure. For Anubhuti, the pressure is only multiplied as she will inevitably be compared to her filmmaker brothers Anurag and Abhinav Kashyap. How does she view it? “I think I had that pressure when I joined the industry. In the past 10-12 years, I have learnt to not take that pressure at all. I have spent so much time exploring my own voice. As I started to write more and do more films, I realised my voice is very different from that of my brothers,” she smiles.
Their movies belong to diverse worlds. Anurag’s penchant for dark, gritty films is known—be it Black Friday (2004), Gangs of Wasseypur (2012) or Raman Raghav 2.0 (2016)—while Abhinav has churned out masala films like Dabangg (2010) and Besharam (2013). Anubhuti appears to have taken the best of both worlds. Her Ayushmann Khurrana, Shefali Shah and Rakul Preet Singh-starrer is a light-hearted entertainer that makes a statement about misogyny and gender stereotypes. She says that the three siblings, close as they are, march to their own beat.
“We are not the kind of people who are in touch on a daily basis. But, on a holistic level, we are completely dependent on each other. So from time to time, we take advice from each other and check up on one another. I run my scripts past my brothers, or they will be the first ones to see [my] film. Their opinion matters, but it’s never done with the intention of seeking advice. They never give me advice unless I seek it.”
She is happy with the way her maiden directorial venture has shaped up. As Doctor G hit the screens on Friday, Anubhuti says she has taken care to represent the medical world accurately. “We had to put in a lot of work to understand this world. It is not sanitised or dumbed down; it’s a true representation of how things happen.”
I think the female gaze is important in any progressive cinema-Ayushmann Khurrana
8:39 AM
Madhureeta Mukherjee (BOMBAY TIMES; October 15, 2022)
He has made a career out of taking risks for the right reasons, by his own admission. He rewrote the rulebook for the mainstream Bollywood leading hero. And with one gutsy act after another, he won over the audience’s love with several light-hearted movies that carried the load of heavy-weight subjects. With Junglee Pictures, Doctor G, which hit the theatres on Friday, Ayushmann Khurrana stepped into an unfamiliar space once again and owned it. In a conversation with us, he talks about the women force in his life, stepping out of his skin for roles and more. Read on…
From being a sperm donor in Vicky Donor, cut to 10 years later, here you are seen delivering babies in Doctor G?
Life has come a full circle, isn’t it? And it’s evident how you have staunchly followed your belief in a certain kind of content-heavy cinema. I have always believed in cinema for change and it is something that I started with my first film, Vicky Donor, and since then, I have been tirelessly treading on that path. I think a film is more palatable to people when it is shown in a way that it has something to say. And yes, you are right that life has come a full circle. It was beautiful that I got a chance to play a doctor in this film, and this is the kind of content that attracts me.
In Doctor G, your character, Dr Uday Gupta is quite a chauvinist, and his beliefs clearly fall within gender stereotypes. In real life, you are a far stretch from that. Tell us about how the women around you have impacted your life and the choices you have made.
It all depends on the kind of women and people you are surrounded with in your life. My grandmom was a pure artiste, she would sing at the gurudwara, and was interested in various art forms. She would appreciate cinema, too. My grandfather was very strict, so she would take her five sons to the theatre to watch movies. She was a huge Raj Kapoor and Dev Anand fan, and she would mimic actors. I have never seen a woman of that age mimic actors, she was ahead of her times. My mother, who taught me Hindi, would really motivate me to take part in debates, especially in Hindi. I was in an all-boys school and college, and then I met Tahira, and she made a gentleman out of me. I really thank these women for shaping my life.
This year you complete a decade in Hindi cinema — quite a landmark year. However, your journey began much earlier — as a theatre artiste, RJ, VJ, TV reality show celebrity and finally, as a Hindi film actor. What is it that remains unchanged about you through this journey which has seen high, lows, and a lot of success?
I think my core is still the same. In my early days, I did a lot of street theatre, which was based on social issues, and I firmly believe that my cinema is an extension of that. My experience in theatre has always helped me choose subjects which are relevant, topical, close to people and mostly taboo. It comes from there. I am still a simple guy from Chandigarh. I would love to call myself a minimalist, I know there are a lot of embellishments that come with this profession, but I would love to stay away from that.
Do you think the fact that filmmakers saw you as this rare lead actor who was willing to push barriers with subjects that most commercial actors would not dare to do (as your roles were not the typical alpha male characters) helped you carve this distinct space you have in the industry today?
I always thought I was an unconventional actor, and I would have to make unconventional choices. I probably saw the industry closely when I was an anchor, journalist and radio presenter. I learnt a lot by watching them and the choices they made closely. I remember when I was a VJ, I had turned down six films. I believed that if I made the wrong choice, then being an outsider, I wouldn’t get a second chance. So, I thought that my first film had to be special and clutter-breaking. And I am glad that I got a movie like Vicky Donor because it couldn’t have been better. Coming from a small city and trying to make it on my own — I didn’t know how else I could have been different. It had to be with choices and films that were different from what was conventional.
It’s the third time in your career that you are being directed by a woman. While gender does not define what one is capable of or how good someone is at a task, do you think that the female gaze makes a difference, or at least for certain subjects?
I think every film should have a female gaze. I know a director is a director, but a female director brings a lot to the table. There is more sensitivity, and you just can’t say anything as the right of humour. I think the female gaze is important in any progressive cinema. I know that a typical commercial cinema could be slightly regressive in nature, and I am saying slightly as I may offend a lot of people, but I understand that it goes with the popular palate. I have worked with three female directors — Nupur Asthana (Bewakoofiyan), Ashwiny Iyer Tiwari (Bareilly Ki Barfi), and now Anubhuti Kashyap, who is fantastic. I think every film should have a female gaze, not just this. In a lot of commercial films, maa ka kaam kya hota hai? Bas khana parosna? Ya biwi ka kaam kya hota hai? The women have nothing to do in the movie. So, a film like Doctor G is for the women, of the women and by the women.
Today, in the digital era, many actors are talking about taking risks and pushing boundaries to win over a wider section of the audience who consumes content largely on OTT platforms. We have seen you play characters where you are a man battling baldness, figuring out how to deal with erectile dysfunction, impersonating a female voice for a living and more such. And this was all for mainstream cinema and way before the OTT wave. In that sense, would you say you were ahead in your choices and thought process?
Well, maybe. People have called me a trailblazer and trendsetter, as I said earlier, I guess the confidence in my script writers came with my first film. They started thinking so out of the box that they started writing subjects that were not spoken about. From 2017 onwards, I started getting great scripts. I think they started writing keeping me in mind and believing that I would support it and take their vision forward. Also, I am saying this because most of my hit films are with first-time directors or fairly new directors. Doctor G, too, and even my next one. I’ve always been a quintessential risk taker, and I love working with fresh talent as it gives me the impetus to give my best.
And they also fearlessly bring in an entirely new and fresh perspective to cinema, right?
The entire genre of my films is based on fearlessness. And that is important and only a first time director is fearless. The more you succeed and climb the ladder of success, you become fearful of what will happen.
However, in your case, it seems like the appreciation and success you got with every unconventional film, made you more fearless to take on such subjects. Would you agree?
Yes! Every single time I get approached by a script writer or a director, there is no parameter that I have to work with this or that director. Of course, I would like to work with filmmakers like Rohit Shetty, Zoya Akhtar and Raju Hirani. At the same time, I have always got great scripts from first-timers. I have also been doing films which are away from my skin, like Andhadhun, Article 15, and they were very different from my staple genre – slice of life, social comedy, dramedy. Then, I have Action Hero coming up, which is again completely different from my skin. So, I have to break out of my genre after every two-three films, and every time I do that, yes, I get nervous as it is away from my core, and that’s the real challenge.
(Crisp) Movie Review: DOCTOR G by FENIL SETA
2:30 PM
After a fine beginning, Doctor G falls. The first half is all over the place and one wonders if it’ll get any better in the second half. Thankfully, it does. An important track dominates the last 30-40 minutes and it's quite intriguing. The makers also raise some important issues and attempt to normalize conversations. A few scenes are novel and have never been seen in a Hindi film before. Ayushmann Khurrana, as always, is in top form. This is a tailor-made role for him and he slips into the part effortlessly. Rakul Preet Singh is fine but her track is weak and she gets forgotten after a point. Shefali Shah is excellent, as expected. Sheeba Chadha shines, especially in the second half. Ayesha Kaduskar (Kavya) is a surprise. Indraneil Sengupta and Abhay Mishra (Chaddi) leave a mark. Priyam Saha (Dr Jenny), Shraddha Jain (Dr Kumudlatha Pamulparthi Diwakaran aka KLPD) deliver decent performances but are let down by the writing, especially in the first half. Songs are forgettable. All in all, Doctor G is a fun and enlightening watch and can be seen once.
My rating - *** out of 5!
My rating - *** out of 5!
In Doctor G, I represent the quintessential man who thinks he is progressive, but he is not-Ayushmann Khurrana
8:03 AM
Harshada Rege (BOMBAY TIMES; October 14, 2022)
Ever since the first look and the trailer of Junglee Pictures’ Doctor G were unveiled, there has been immense excitement and curiosity about the film and the subject. Ayushmann Khurrana has always managed to win the audience over with his stellar performances and choice of unconventional roles that leave a solid impact. He once again steps into an unexplored territory in Hindi cinema with this medical campus comedy. In the film directed by Anubhuti Kashyap, the actor will be seen playing Dr Uday Gupta, who reluctantly accepts a seat in the gynaecology department of a medical college in Bhopal while his real interest lies elsewhere.
Here, he is surrounded by a strong all-women team of doctors, who have a significant role to play in his journey — on campus and off it. The story, which largely plays out within the hospital wards, has ample humour, witty punches and a narrative that’s handled with intelligence and sensitivity. Doctor G releases in theatres today.
Junglee Pictures, which has backed films like Raazi and Badhaai Ho, is known to make unique, path-breaking films. Doctor G is their third collaboration with Ayushmann. “I have had an amazing experience essaying this character, and I also enjoyed collaborating with Anubhuti and Junglee Pictures for the third time after Bareilly Ki Barfi and Badhaai Ho. This experience is definitely special. Doctor G has a specific theme which I hope the audience enjoys,” he says.
The film also boasts of a fine star cast, which includes Rakul Preet Singh, Shefali Shah and Sheeba Chadha, among others, where each character adds that extra dose of humour. In Doctor G, Ayushmann’s character is unwilling to be a part of a world that he feels is a woman’s domain. However, in our everyday life, we all hear a lot of stories of how women navigate their way through male-dominated fields.
When asked if this interesting aspect drew him towards the film, Ayushmann says, “Dr Uday Gupta’s character doesn’t know that he is a chauvinist and patriarchal in his thinking.”
Ayushmann says, “It is more dangerous when you come across a sweet, harmless-looking guy, and then you get to know the person and realise that he is a typical guy and by that, I mean he is a chauvinist. So, it’s not a black-and-white character. Dr Uday has the potential to become a nice guy or someone who believes in gender parity. That’s his journey in the film. Unfortunately, we live in a man’s world, and more films and art forms should be introduced that drive this message forward. Like in this film, we have great women representation — Anubhuti Kashyap (director), Amrita Pandey (CEO, Junglee Pictures) and Rangoli Agarwal (associate cinematographer). Also, it’s not just me (my character), every female character in Doctor G has a voice — whether it is the character portrayed by Shefali Shah, Rakul Preet Singh, Sheeba Chadha or my batchmates. In the film, I am the one who is imperfect and needs to be treated. I represent the quintessential man on the road who thinks he is progressive, but he is not. So, I think this will definitely be a talking point of the film.”
Talking about Doctor G and the interesting mix of characters, director Anubhuti Kashyap says, “I always saw this film as Uday’s journey and his conflict with this entire department and not any one individual. Yes, the head of the gynaecology department (played by Shefali Shah) is evidently the one he is up against, but he has an entire department that he has to work around. We needed a few key characters, some of who are his classmates, nurses and seniors, who could lend the story a solid layer. The conflicts with these characters always lead to something concrete. Every character was thoughtfully cast, keeping the end goal in mind.”
Fenil's Bollywood Talk # 747
10:16 AM
10 FILM RELEASES THIS WEEK; ONLY DUBBED KANNADA FILM HAS CHANCE TO SUCCEED
The pre-Diwali week has always been a dry period for movies as people are busy with shopping, house cleaning and other such activities. Yet, this Friday, as many as ten major films will be released in theatres. Sadly, 9 out of these 10 movies stand little chance to excel, though the two major Hindi releases might surprise if the content is strong.
DOCTOR G: It stars Ayushmann Khurrana, Rakul Preet Singh and Shefali Shah and is a story of a reluctant gynaecologist. It is right up Ayushmann’s alley as it speaks about a taboo topic in a light-hearted manner. However, unlike other films of Ayushmann Khurrana, Doctor G is an adult-rated film. In fact, this is his first A-rated film ever! This and minimal hype will result in poor collections on day 1, in the range of around Rs. 70 lakhs-Rs. 1 crore. The collections might get better if public reports are positive.
CODE NAME TIRANGA: After The Girl In The Train, Parineeti Chopra and director Ribhu Dasgupta reunite once again for this spy thriller. The film was shot in secrecy during the second wave, in Turkey. The trailer did surprise many as no one expected it to be such a slick action film. But the promotions have been poor and on the ground, many are not even aware that it’s releasing tomorrow. Hence, its opening will be poor, in the range of Rs. 50 lakhs. The ticket prices in most cinemas are a maximum Rs. 150 and it might help to a small extent.
KANTARA: It is originally a Kannada film which released in cinemas on September 30 and became a surprise blockbuster. Even in a city like Mumbai, it did well. This prompted the producers, Hombale Films of KGF fame, to dub the film in Hindi. There’s already a lot of hype and curiosity surrounding this movie. Hence, it might take the best opening tomorrow. Just like Code Name Tiranga, Kantara’s Hindi version will also have tickets priced at Rs. 150.
CHHELLO SHOW (LAST FILM SHOW): It is a Gujarati film which is India’s official entry to the Oscars. It has some chances in Gujarat and Mumbai city. The makers have released the film in 95 screens and on Friday, they have priced the tickets for just Rs. 95! During the rest of the week, one can watch this film for just Rs. 150.
AYE ZINDAGI: It stars Revathy, Satyajeet Dubey and Mrinmayee Godbole. Revathy has also directed the movie which is inspired by a touching true incident. It’s a very niche movie and will find few takers sadly. On Book My Show, one can get one ticket free on every ticket. Since the offer hasn’t been promoted well, not many are aware.
MODI JI KI BETI: The concept of this film is very interesting. But due to the absence of a popular star cast, it’ll sink without a trace.
That’s not all. Love You Loktantra, Jaggu Ki Lalten, Kahani Rubber Band Ki and Mid Day Meeal will also hit cinemas and these films will struggle to find an audience.
The pre-Diwali week has always been a dry period for movies as people are busy with shopping, house cleaning and other such activities. Yet, this Friday, as many as ten major films will be released in theatres. Sadly, 9 out of these 10 movies stand little chance to excel, though the two major Hindi releases might surprise if the content is strong.
DOCTOR G: It stars Ayushmann Khurrana, Rakul Preet Singh and Shefali Shah and is a story of a reluctant gynaecologist. It is right up Ayushmann’s alley as it speaks about a taboo topic in a light-hearted manner. However, unlike other films of Ayushmann Khurrana, Doctor G is an adult-rated film. In fact, this is his first A-rated film ever! This and minimal hype will result in poor collections on day 1, in the range of around Rs. 70 lakhs-Rs. 1 crore. The collections might get better if public reports are positive.
CODE NAME TIRANGA: After The Girl In The Train, Parineeti Chopra and director Ribhu Dasgupta reunite once again for this spy thriller. The film was shot in secrecy during the second wave, in Turkey. The trailer did surprise many as no one expected it to be such a slick action film. But the promotions have been poor and on the ground, many are not even aware that it’s releasing tomorrow. Hence, its opening will be poor, in the range of Rs. 50 lakhs. The ticket prices in most cinemas are a maximum Rs. 150 and it might help to a small extent.
KANTARA: It is originally a Kannada film which released in cinemas on September 30 and became a surprise blockbuster. Even in a city like Mumbai, it did well. This prompted the producers, Hombale Films of KGF fame, to dub the film in Hindi. There’s already a lot of hype and curiosity surrounding this movie. Hence, it might take the best opening tomorrow. Just like Code Name Tiranga, Kantara’s Hindi version will also have tickets priced at Rs. 150.
CHHELLO SHOW (LAST FILM SHOW): It is a Gujarati film which is India’s official entry to the Oscars. It has some chances in Gujarat and Mumbai city. The makers have released the film in 95 screens and on Friday, they have priced the tickets for just Rs. 95! During the rest of the week, one can watch this film for just Rs. 150.
AYE ZINDAGI: It stars Revathy, Satyajeet Dubey and Mrinmayee Godbole. Revathy has also directed the movie which is inspired by a touching true incident. It’s a very niche movie and will find few takers sadly. On Book My Show, one can get one ticket free on every ticket. Since the offer hasn’t been promoted well, not many are aware.
MODI JI KI BETI: The concept of this film is very interesting. But due to the absence of a popular star cast, it’ll sink without a trace.
That’s not all. Love You Loktantra, Jaggu Ki Lalten, Kahani Rubber Band Ki and Mid Day Meeal will also hit cinemas and these films will struggle to find an audience.
The entire film had to be given a female gaze, says Doctor G director Anubhuti Kashyap
8:20 AM
First-time director Kashyap discusses how she reimagined original plot of Ayushmann-starrer Doctor G to tell it from a female gaze
Uma Ramasubramanian (MID-DAY; October 13, 2022)
Firsts are always special. For her maiden film, director Anubhuti Kashyap knew that she had to tell a story that aligned with her sensibilities. When the concept of Doctor G came her way, Kashyap redesigned the story, lending it sensitivity and maturity.
“The original script had been written by an ex-doctor, and was with Junglee Pictures. They wanted a female director. I was sold on the medical world. [When I heard the premise], I told them I would like to work on it, but I would change the script entirely. They were happy [with the idea]. I brought in another writer, Sumit Saxena, and we worked on it,” she recounts.
The Ayushmann Khurrana, Shefali Shah and Rakul Preet Singh-starrer tells the humorous journey of an aspiring orthopedic surgeon who lands a seat in the gynaecology department, becoming the only male in a woman-dominated field. Kashyap says that she began by understanding the medical world, before reimagining the plot.
“The entire film had to be given a female gaze. Even though the author who had written it is a feminist, he had approached the story [from a male perspective]. He brought in the central character’s perspective, while I brought in every other character’s viewpoint.”
With the film shattering gender roles, she says the central idea was to showcase the everyday misogyny that goes unchecked. “My approach was far more subtle and relatable than what is seen in a traditional Indian commercial movie. It’s a story about today’s educated youth, about today’s men who are sometimes misogynistic and chauvinistic without realising that they are being so. This film tries to make men understand women a little more, and respect them a little more.”
Khurrana, given his penchant for social comedies and his ability to connect with masses, was an obvious choice for Doctor G. The director agrees that the role is tailor-made for him. “After the trailer [was launched], everybody said, ‘Ayushmann is back with his kind of films.’ That was exactly our thought when we pitched the film to him. It is [right up] Ayushmann’s alley because he chooses concept-heavy movies.”
In my early days in Mumbai, I stayed in a medical college hostel-Ayushmann Khurrana
8:11 AM
The actor, who is headlining Doctor G, talks about the time he secretly shared a room with his doctor buddy
Rachana Dubey (BOMBAY TIMES; October 13, 2022)
Somehow, over the last decade, films on tricky, taboo and risky subjects – ranging from sperm donation and erectile dysfunction to same sex relationships and premature balding have been headlined by Ayushmann Khurrana, who turns them all into believable narratives. Keeping up with the trend he has set for himself, the actor once again chose to pick a role that has not been portrayed in Hindi cinema before. Junglee Pictures’ Doctor G, which releases in theatres tomorrow, will see Ayushmann step into the shoes of a reluctant gynaecologist — and the only male doctor in an all-women department.
Interestingly, before he became an actor, Ayushmann aspired to be a doctor, but then he followed his heart and pursued his passion to become an actor. Also, interestingly, during his struggling days, he stayed with a friend on a medical college campus.
Recounting that phase of his life, Ayushmann shares, “I had opted for physics, chemistry, biology in my 11-12th grade and aspired to be a doctor. I got one seat in some remote college in dentistry, but eventually, I decided that I always wanted to be an actor. I am still in touch with a lot of my batchmates who went on to become doctors.”
Ayushmann says, “During my struggling days, when I came to Mumbai, I had no place to stay. I had a friend who did his MBBS from KEM Hospital, and he told me, ‘Tu hostel me reh le.’ At first, I was unsure how that would happen, but then I ended up staying there for a month. I shared the room with two guys, and I remember it was so humid that we would sleep in our chaddis. I would even wear a lab coat when I entered and exited the premise. During that time, I would go out to give auditions for roles. It was so bizarre, and now it feels so surreal that I am a part of Doctor G.”
When asked what his medical fraternity friends feel about him playing this role in Doctor G, he says, “My doctor friends say that this is the first time the medical fraternity has been taken seriously in a film. Generally, waise hi dikhaate hain…ke hamne injection de diya hai, ab sab kuch theek ho jaayega. And the character in the film asks, 'Doctor saab, main dekh toh payunga na?' So this film is nothing like that, and the medical community is very excited about watching the film.”
Doctor G also features Rakul Preet Singh, Shefali Shah and Sheeba Chadhain pivotal roles.
Director Anubhuti Kashyap explains how Ayushmann got into the zone for the medical campus comedy. She says, “Ayushmann doesn’t shy away from bold topics, evident from his choices so far. I still remember we had narrated the film to him the day after Bala’s success party. Although he had allocated a limited window to us, he started enjoying the narration so much that he just decided to call off everything else. Right after the narration, he expressed that he liked it and wanted to make it work. Ayushmann likes films that are conversation starters, and he’s a feminist deep down. So, it didn’t need any extra coaxing on our part.”
Given that the film was shot during one phase of the pandemic, the actors had to prep for their parts through video calls. Anubhuti shares, “Though Ayushmann couldn’t train physically, he prepared himself really well through the video calls. And the fact that he had spent time on a medical college campus during his early days as an actor gave him an edge. He was familiar with the kind of life people lead in hostels of medical colleges. He got a sense of how to step into the character much faster.”
I don’t take success seriously because it changes with every release and role-Shefali Shah
8:18 AM
Neha Maheshwri (BOMBAY TIMES; October 12, 2022)
There has never been a dearth of compliments for her acting prowess, ever since Shefali Shah ruled the TV in the 90s. However, her innings on OTT has given her career a new spark. Today, when it comes to casting a woman for pivotal roles, Shefali is at the top of most makers’ minds.
The actress will now be seen playing Dr Nandini Srivastava, head of the gynaecology department in the medical campus comedy Doctor G produced by Junglee Pictures, which releases on October 14. In a candid conversation, she opens up playing strong, layered characters, being ‘ridiculously passionate’ about everything in life and how it has impacted her journey in the entertainment world. Excerpts:
You have a knack for choosing the right scripts. What did you find intriguing about Doctor G?
The first thing that struck me was what I read on paper. I thought it was a hilarious script. The film explores an important subject, but not in a preachy way. Doctor G is about a male gynaecologist (Ayushmann Khurrana) in a woman’s world. All the characters are etched out beautifully and I loved it.
You play Dr Nandini Srivastava, the head of a gynaecology department. Your dialogue ‘You have to lose the male touch’ to Ayushmann in the film has caught everyone’s attention. Has the character changed your outlook towards the subject?
It’s not something that I have learnt from this film, because it didn’t occur to me. It’s not even worth a conversation for me that only a female can be a gynaecologist. Probably, there are some who are not comfortable with consulting a male gynaecologist. However, people’s reaction to that line in the trailer is huge and suddenly they feel that this is a conversation worth having.
Junglee Pictures is known for backing content-driven films with strong, well-written roles, which include all the characters that are a part of the story. How complex is Dr Nandini?
Nandini has a past that has affected her present as well, which comes as a surprise in the film. But otherwise, I don’t see her as a complex person. She has no doubts about who she is. She believes that she has been blessed with the talent and education to save and bring lives into the world, so she won’t tolerate any nonsense and incompetency when it comes to her profession. She is not just picking on Uday (Ayushmann) because he is a man. She is picking on him because he is not giving his 100 per cent to what he is doing. She values her department and every seat in that department. Nandini would have done the same if one of her female students had faltered.
Like you, Ayushmann is also known for his brave and unconventional choices in cinema. What was it like to interact with him on the set?
I respect Ayushmann tremendously for carving out a niche not just for himself, but for so many actors. He has created that space where you are not the conventional hero and where the topics that are dealt with are not the kinds that are usually touched upon in cinema. It’s amazing the kind of work he does. He is a good actor and is a lot of fun. He is simple and genuineas a person. It’s always a pleasure when you are working with someone like that. You enjoy what you do and grow together. The process becomes so easy.
Your body of work proves that you have never been restricted to a certain image on screen. How liberating is it to not be a slave to such trappings?
It’s liberating to know that my choices have worked. As an actor, you don’t want an image. I don’t want to be seen as Shefali in a character. I would rather people recognise me as Vartika Chaturvedi, Rukhsana, Shamshunissa or Nandini Srivastava. That’s the point of being an actor. Besides, the image is often associated with a star, not an actor.
Today, one can see that you are bagging some of the finest roles of your career and the way it’s heading, it seems like it will only get better hereon. What according to you is working in your favour?
I think it was Delhi Crime (2019), where a director took the chance of putting me in the lead role. DC became so huge that suddenly there were writers writing characters for me and directors saw me as the lead and parallel lead. So, that has been a turning point in my career. What has worked for me personally as an artiste is that, I get obsessed with what I am doing. I am ridiculously passionate, not just about work but about everything. That’s my personality trait, which might not always work in my favour, but that’s what keeps me going.
You are tasting tremendous success at this stage in your career, which also in a way marks your second innings. How do you perceive it? Do you take it seriously?
I would say, it’s probably the first innings (laughs!). I don’t take success seriously because it changes every day with every release and role. I take my work and not myself seriously. It works very well for me. I start with the belief ki mujhe nahi aata, as that will only lead to growth. Let’s say I was good in my last project and was loved by the audience, but that doesn’t mean that I will be the best everywhere. I have to keep working at it.
What’s your biggest fear today?
None really, but I just hope that I am not out of work. I want to have a busy year like I have had so far and do the kind of work I want to. I am the happiest on the set. I want to work... I love it. It’s not fear but I just hope it’s not a flavour of the month. I don’t want to be the flavour of the month or the year. I want to be the comfort food. I want to be like rice. You can make biryani, pulav, kheer or whatever you want to with it. It’s great to go back to and can give you the most delicious or the simplest comfort food in the world. It can change drastically with a little twist.
The fact is that some of the best gynaecologists in the world are male doctors-Rakul Preet Singh
8:01 AM
Onkar Kulkarni (BOMBAY TIMES; October 11, 2022)
Her upcoming film, Doctor G, produced by Junglee Pictures, gave Rakul Preet Singh an opportunity to step into the shoes of a doc. The film revolves around Dr Uday Gupta’s (played by Ayushmann Khurrana) discomfort at practicing at the stree-rog vibhaag (gynaecology department) of a hospital and the funny incidents that unfold owing to his chauvinistic beliefs. In a conversation with us, Rakul talks about what prompted her to grab this film that releases on October 14, taking risks as an actor and believing in content-driven cinema. Read on...
Doctor G revolves around a man who feels he is stuck in the women’s world, as the only male student in the gynaecology department of a hospital. How did you react to the quirky storyline of the film when you first heard it?
When I got a call from Anubhuti (Kashyap, director), I had no idea what to expect from the narration. Midway through the narration of this campus comedy, I knew that this is one of those projects that I need to grab. I got to know about the whole world (the film was set against) through the narration and I instantly loved it. We have all seen campus dramas, but rarely have we seen any medical campus drama.
It is such a fresh approach. Though people might think differently, the fact is that some of the best gynaecologists in the world are male doctors. I thought it was such a new subject and the beauty of the script is that every character has its own charm — be it my character (Dr Fatima), Ayushmann’s character (Dr Uday Gupta), or Shefali Shah’s or Sheeba Chadha’s. They all bring in a lot to the script.
There is a certain belief that women feel comfortable consulting female gynaecologists. Personally, what has your experience been with male doctors?
Have you ever consulted a male gynaecologist? When I was a teenager, I had to see a gynaecologist and it turned out to be a male doctor. At that age, I did feel a bit shy and wondered how I would speak to him (about my problems). Luckily, I had my mom with me, and I felt okay. Then as you grow up, you mature, and today, I don’t think that way (about approaching a male gynaecologist). As I went through the process of making this film, I realised that there was a point in my life where even I thought that way, so there might be so many people who would feel the same way too. I feel a doctor is a doctor, and the credibility of a doctor doesn’t depend on their gender. The sex of the doctor doesn’t define how good the doctor is (at their practice). In case of an emergency, we want the best doctor to treat us irrespective of their gender and whatever the ailment might be — be it related to the brain, heart or whatever else. Does it then have to be different in the case of (treating) the uterus?
Contrary to what we see in the film, did you ever feel that you had to battle your way through the film industry that’s considered to be male-dominated?
I don’t think it is about a particular industry, the fact is that it is a male-dominated world! I am just happy that over the years we are seeing the change, thanks to the kind of conversations that are happening. Having said that, when I started out that thought didn’t even cross my mind. I was just happy about stepping into a new world, which is the world of my dreams! Today, we see so many women on sets — in the capacity of directors, assistant directors and in other departments, too. It is not about male or female, my only belief is that it is about your credibility, which should not be limited by your gender. We still have a long way to go, because we are a society where these conversations are limited to the cities. But nevertheless, it is the beginning and it is a good one.
So, how important is it to address socially relevant subjects like these through films to start more such conversations? Junglee Pictures is known to have successfully backed content-heavy subjects. Did it also encourage you to take up this film?
We make films to entertain people. The main agenda of a film is never to start an aandolan. But yes, through a film, which is a beautiful medium, if we can influence people’s thoughts in a subconscious way, then that’s great. As far as the latter part of your question goes, it’s always a package you look at… if there is a script that is different from usual and then you know that the production house has been successful in delivering such different concepts, it definitely gives you more confidence to believe in the script and the team. Junglee Pictures did an amazing job with, first, trusting the film and then, letting everybody create this on their own — whether as actors, directors, writers or other talents associated with the film.
Going by your choices of films lately, one can say that you have gone beyond exploring the quintessential, commercial roles. Are you at a stage where you are willing to take more risks?
Well, there’s a little bit of both. I want to be known as a versatile actor and I want to challenge myself. My endeavour is to be different in each film and not repeat myself. I don’t want to be slotted into a category. I know that I can do a De De Pyaar De and a Runway 34 at the same time; I can do a Chhatriwali and even a Doctor G. I want to showcase my talent and also keep pushing the envelope to be able to do different, diverse roles. Having said that, I want to do masala films and romantic films, too, in fact, I am dying to do a love story.
Doctor G is the first film shot at Allahabad University in 20 years
8:48 AM
Tigmanshu Dhulia’s Haasil was the last film shot there in 2002, post which the University closed its doors to film units
Rachana Dubey (BOMBAY TIMES; October 8, 2022)
While fighting COVID caused operational challenges, director of Junglee Pictures’ upcoming film Doctor G, Anubhuti Kashyap, had a tough time scouting for locations to shoot the movie, which stars Ayushmann Khurrana and Rakul Preet in lead roles. On the one hand, the prep sessions had to be largely conducted virtually to ensure the safety of the actors and technicians involved. On the other hand, medical campuses in Madhya Pradesh refused to allow the shoot owing to a surge in Coronavirus cases during the summer of 2021.
Eventually, the film, which has Ayushmann playing Doctor Uday Gupta, who unwillingly lands up being the only male student in the gynaecology department of a medical college, was shot partially at Allahabad University in Prayagraj.
Talking about the location hunting process, director Anubhuti says, “We wanted to shoot in Bhopal and surrounding areas, but Coronavirus just cut our access to these campuses. Madhya Pradesh has interesting structures and institutes, but we couldn’t procure permission. In fact, we had finalised a location in Indore, which fell through at the last minute because of a surge in COVID cases on the campus. We had originally written the film to be set in Lucknow. We had also conducted recce in parts of Uttar Pradesh like Kannauj, Lucknow and the surrounding areas. Allahabad University had that Victorian structure which we had loved. I wanted something like that since the epicentre of our story originally was the King George Medical College campus in Lucknow. So, we decided to shoot at the Allahabad University campus.”
Haasil, starring Jimmy Sheirgill and Irrfan Khan, which had hit the screens in 2003, was the last film that was shot on this campus in 2002. Elaborating on getting the necessary permission to shoot Doctor G, Anubhuti shares, “It took a lot of convincing, plenty of paperwork and written assurances that nothing would be damaged or changed on the campus. We had to identify the rooms and assure them that we wouldn’t make any structural changes, harm the stone walls, floors and ceilings. We made so many rounds of the place. When the new Vice Chancellor stepped in, we got our permission because she was cool with what we wanted to do, and she wanted to do good for the university, too. Some of the rooms were beautiful and had been unused for years. Like there were sequences shot in an old library that had unused furniture piled up to the ceiling. The university had not seen a film shoot in 20 years. Haasil (directed by Tigmanshu Dhulia) is the last film shot there. After that, the university stopped allowing shoots, so Doctor G is the first to have entered the place in years.”
She further adds, “The university was particular about every inch of space that we used for the shoot, and they were very happy that we had kept our word till the last moment of the shoot. We were so cautious of things. Every once in a while, they had people visiting the sets and hanging around. The other departments that were working would also drop by during our shoot. The university officials and professors were a really friendly bunch.”
The medical campus comedy also stars Shefali Shah and Sheeba Chadha in pivotal roles.
Doctor G releases in the theatres on October 14.
Ayushmann Khurrana and I discussed that Doctor G is one of the funniest scripts we’ve read-Rakul Preet Singh
8:26 AM
Rakul, whose Doctor G shatters gender stereotypes, says it’s important to deliver message in an entertaining way to effect change
Uma Ramasubramanian (MID-DAY; October 6, 2022)
It has been a busy year so far for Rakul Preet Singh who packed in three releases. For the actor, her next, Doctor G, is both — the most exciting project and the one that demanded the most prep. As she joined Ayushmann Khurrana to play a gynaecology student in the social comedy, getting a basic understanding of the stream of medicine was a must. “I was excited to play this part because it required me to understand the world of gynaecology better. I had to know the tools and terms.
So, we had a gynaecologist on the set who would walk us through it, and help us get the terminology right,” says Singh. The prep for debutant director Anubhuti Kashyap’s offering, also starring Shefali Shah, extended to diction training. “I had to speak clear Lucknowi Hindi. I had to prep to make sure my diction is on point. I loved that Dr Fatima [her character] is a sassy and bold woman of today.”
In the past few years, Khurrana’s films have become a sub-genre of sorts — laced with humour, these movies make a larger statement. Doctor G is no different. Singh notes that the first-time director has ably gone beyond a campus comedy to shatter gender stereotypes and normalise the idea of male gynaecologists.
“It’s liberating when, through entertainment, you can start a conversation that needs to be had. You can touch people’s lives, and bring a change through stories. Sometimes you can go overboard [in driving your point home]. But this film’s beauty is that it’s not preachy. Our intention is to entertain everyone.”
Joining forces with the leading man was a riot. Off camera, the two Punjabi actors bonded over their love for food, and on it, over their love for the script. “Ayushmann and I often discussed that this is one of the funniest scripts we’ve read. Ayushmann comes with an abundance of energy, and brings a nice vibe to the set.”
Real life mein toh nahi ban paya, but film mein doctor ban gaya-Ayushmann Khurrana
8:20 AM
The actor, who headlines Doctor G, in a behind-the-scenes video, revealed that he wanted to pursue a career in medicine before his showbiz journey began
Rachana Dubey (BOMBAY TIMES; October 5, 2022)
After two successful songs and a widely applauded trailer, Junglee Pictures unveiled a behind-the-scenes video featuring Ayushmann Khurrana on the sets of Doctor G, directed by Anubhuti Kashyap. The video depicts the effort the actor took to get under the skin of his character, Dr Uday Gupta, the only male doctor in the gynecology department of a medical college in Bhopal.
The video also makes a personal revelation about the actor. Few know that before pursuing a career in theatre and cinema, Ayushmann was studying and preparing to step into the medical field.
In the video, Ayushmann reveals, “I wanted to be a doctor, and no one knows about it. I have gone through all the exams — the pre-medical tests, etc. Real life mein toh nahi ban paya, but film mein doctor ban gaya. This is a beautiful script and playing a doctor on screen is a dream come true for me.”
As a part of his prep to play a doctor, Ayushmann went through intense reading sessions, dialect training with coach Akshayye Varma and on-ground training to handle various medical equipments and get his body language right. Dr Sapna Khare, a practicing gynecologist, also the wife of one of the film’s writers, was present on the set to provide guidance for the shoot.
Talking about it, Ayushmann says, “It was a blessing to have a competent gynecologist like Dr Sapna on the set. She’s the wife of one of the writers, and she was always on the set, guiding us on what to do and what not to do.”
Doctor G, which also stars Rakul Preet Singh, Shefali Shah and Sheeba Chadha in pivotal roles, releases in the theatres on October 14.
Ayushmann Khurrana-starrer Doctor G will be released in theatres on October 14
8:21 AM
Ayushmann Khurrana plays a reluctant gynaecologist in the medical campus comedy backed by Junglee Pictures
Rachana Dubey (BOMBAY TIMES; September 19, 2022)
After impressing the audience with a brave, thought-provoking and entertaining film like Badhaai Do earlier this year, Junglee Pictures, known for backing high-concept films, brings to you another unique and engaging story, Doctor G, that unfolds at a medical college campus. For the first time in his decade-long career, Ayushmann will be seen portraying a doctor in the stree-rog vibhaag (gynaecology department) in a medical college in Bhopal.
The story revolves around Ayushmann’s character, Uday Gupta, who finds himself as the lone male student in the gynaecology department. His reluctance to be there leads to chaos, confusion, a lot of comic situations and eventually, great camaraderie with his fellow classmates.
The vibrant posters that will be unveiled today gives us a quick look at the madness and mayhem that surround Uday’s life as a medical student. Ayushmann has constantly surprised the audience with an interesting variety of roles over the years, and with this film, he is all set to wow the audience once again.
Adding more power to the cast are Shefali Shah as Dr Nandini Srivastava, Rakul Preet Singh as Dr Fatima Siddiqui and Sheeba Chadha who plays Ayushmann’s mother, in prominent roles. This medical campus comedy, with a set of lively, spirited and dramatic characters, tells a refreshing story with a good dose of humour, light-hearted moments, and some shots of drama, too.
Talking about exploring this unique subject, director and co-writer Anubhuti Kashyap says, “I was in talks with Junglee Pictures for a different set of projects when they offered Doctor G to me. I read the story and the screenplay that they had at that time. I strongly felt that the world the writers had created had something unique and powerful to offer to the audience, something that they hadn’t seen in cinema before. It had a compelling story and it took me into a zone that I had never been in before. It was reason enough to jump right in. And it didn’t stop at me. When we met Ayushmann for the first time, he not only stretched the narration from an hour to a few hours, but was also instantly attracted to the story. He was intrigued, curious and extremely interested in bringing this story to life. I saw similar interest in Shefali, Rakul and Sheeba. They were equally forthcoming and invested in the parts they were cast for. Each one of their willingness to go the whole hog and give their best has brought us this far.”
Since the time the film was announced, there has been a lot of curiosity around it, and now the excitement is mounting further. The trailer of the film drops tomorrow, so get set to book your appointment with Doctor G! The film releases in the theatres on October 14.
Anek will ask what it takes to be an Indian above all the divide that the country faces-Ayushmann Khurrana
8:28 AM
Set to kickstart the year with Anek, Ayushmann on how Anubhav’s social drama explores national identity and patriotism in current political climate
Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; April 9, 2022)
The one thing that the audience expects from an Ayushmann Khurrana offering is novelty. The actor is assured that Anek, his second project with Anubhav Sinha after Article 15 (2019), will deliver on that count. While it is known that the social thriller is set in north-east India, Khurrana reveals that the director has deftly explored the theme of national identity in the current socio-political climate.
“Anek is a powerful film [that] should invoke a sense of patriotism among the audiences. It will ask what it takes to be an Indian above all the divide that the country faces. [At its core] is a hard-hitting question: What does it take to be called an Indian?”
To the actor, Anek — labelled as an “unlikely patriotic film” by the makers — is an extension of his pursuit for brave stories. Even as he took it slow in the past two years, Khurrana championed queer love in Shubh Mangal Zyada Saavdhan (2020) and brought a transgender romance in Chandigarh Kare Aashiqui (2021).
His line-up for 2022 is equally diverse. “I have always tried to handpick projects that are out of the ordinary, and I’m bringing the best of content that I can find for the audiences to watch,” says the actor, who has a social comedy in Doctor G and a mass entertainer in Action Hero.
Director Anubhuti Kashyap’s medical campus drama, also starring Shefali Shah and Rakul Preet Singh, sees Khurrana as a male gynaecologist. “Doctor G will make people ponder about an important social issue that is told in an entertaining manner,” he says, while admitting that Aanand L Rai’s production Action Hero is a break from his own brand of movies.
With the Anirudh Iyer-directorial venture, the actor has added an out-and-out actioner to his resume. “Action Hero is fresh, zany and quirky. I loved exploring this genre for the first time.”
Nobody knows that there is a humorous and wicked side to me. Darlings explores that-Shefali Shah
8:11 AM
Creatively satisfied after shooting for six projects in 2021, Shefali discusses why working on Paatal Lok co-director’s next, 3 Of Us, has been enriching
Uma Ramasubramanian (MID-DAY; January 20, 2022)
Shooting six projects in a year can be quite a handful. How does one go from one film to another without feeling spent? If you’re Shefali Shah, you see each project as an opportunity to embrace a new character. “I did six projects last year,” she exclaims, almost surprised that she packed in Delhi Crime 2, Human, Darlings, Doctor G, Jalsa and 3 Of Us in the same year. “I have always been choosy. But after having such a line-up, I have to wait for something better. I am dying to go back on the set, but [the project] has to be as rich as the ones I have done till now.”
The actor, who began the new year with medical thriller Human, is now looking forward to Darlings. Alia Bhatt’s maiden production venture is special to Shah as it gave her the rare opportunity to showcase her comic timing. “I somehow have this serious image. Nobody knows that there is a humorous and wicked side to me. Darlings explores that.”
Where she can capture the essence of Darlings with a few adjectives — “It is wicked, dark and hilarious” — the actor chooses her words more carefully when describing 3 Of Us. “It’s complex, but the whole film seems so simple,” she reflects.
Director Avinash Arun, who is making his Hindi feature film debut after the much-acclaimed Paatal Lok (2020), has roped in Jaideep Ahlawat opposite Shah. “The story is so delicate. We shot in the Konkan region, which is stunning. The film is in Hindi, but has a Maharashtrian backdrop. It comes from the culture of Malgudi Days, but it’s not exactly like that.”
It is evident that she is impressed by Arun’s passion for his craft. “Avinash is an emotionally rich person to be able to create something like 3 Of Us. We both were completely in sync. If I would deliver a shot in a certain way, he would say, ‘Why don’t we try it differently?’ I would say, ‘I will do it, but I think the first one goes better.’ Sure enough, the moment he’d call cut after the shot, we used to look at each other and say, ‘Let’s go with the first one.’”
This can’t keep going on forever. We’ve to be able to defeat the virus-Rakul Preet Singh
8:27 AM
Rakul Preet Singh is worried about Omicron harming livelihoods in film industry
Titas Chowdhury (HINDUSTAN TIMES; January 4, 2021)
With four films lined up for release this year – Attack, Runway 34, Doctor G and Thank God, actor Rakul Preet Singh feels 2022 is going to be “a super important year” for her. Talking about it, she says, “I’ve been waiting for my work to come out. I’m glad that four of my films have announced their theatrical release dates. Hopefully, there will be more releases.”
However, the surge in Coronavirus cases is a matter of concern for Singh, much like anyone else. Worried that the theatrical release of many films might be delayed again, she adds, “A lot of people have been struggling with getting their films out. There’s so much money riding on each film. The livelihoods of so many people, apart from actors, directors and producers, depend on films.”
Currently, the fear of an impending lockdown affecting film schedules and shutdown of theatres all across the country is looming in the air. And the 31-year-old prays for brighter days. “The rise in Omicron cases is a sad reality. Everything is unpredictable. All we can do is hope that people get vaccinated, take necessary precautions and follow protocols. This can’t keep going on forever. We’ve to be able to defeat the virus,” she shares.
The film industry suffered significant losses over the last two years due to the pandemic. Ask her if she feels that showbiz is mentally prepared for another wave, and Singh says, “I guess, yes. However, the industry may suffer a hit again. The films that released in 2021 did well. We were all going back to our normal lives. But we have to wait and see what the future has in store for us.”
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)