Madhureeta Mukherjee (BOMBAY TIMES; February 27, 2018)

 He is not the dreamy-eyed ‘Raj’ of Hindi cinema, who promises fantasy-filled romances in the Alps and on sun-kissed beaches. He’s the Raj who is closer to home; one you won’t find in dream sequences, but in reality. Yes, reality that is inescapable and unforgettable, just like his performances. The intensity of his acts can fire up the screen, and irrespective of the part he plays, he leads the show. And the year 2017 was his show all the way. He was the toast of the town, winning awards for all his performances, including the Filmfare Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role for Bareilly Ki Barfi. In a heart-to-heart chat with Bombay Times, he tells us his gripping story, which is marked by trials, triumphs, scars and sweet success. Read on...

From films like Love Sex Aur Dhokha, Kai Po Che and Queen to Aligarh, Bareilly Ki Barfi and Newton, your journey has been fascinating, even a revelation. There has been a huge change in the way filmmakers perceive you today. Has there been a shift in the way you see your place in the industry?
While growing up in Gurgaon (now known as Gurugram), for me, the industry was a different planet that was orbiting around us. I always wanted to do movies, but it was such a faraway dream that I didn’t know if I could ever achieve it. I was madly in love with cinema and actors. Now, I am a part of it and some of the actors are my colleagues, but I continue to remain a fan of some of them. From the outside, the industry looks glamorous and rich and people think that actors live fancy, dream lives. It’s not like that; it is a lot of hard work.

You have seen your share of struggles, moving from Gurugram to Mumbai, without friends and family in showbiz. A city like Mumbai can be hard on you, but then it is accepting too, right?
Mumbai is home to me now and with the kind of freedom and independence that I enjoy here, I can’t imagine living anywhere else. When I first moved here, I was shocked by how expensive the city is. With the rent that I was paying for a small flat, I could afford a bungalow in Gurugram. And of course, there is chaos and traffic, but I wouldn’t give up Mumbai for anything. I came here when I was 16, to audition for a dance show for two days. I was fascinated by films and Shah Rukh Khan, so I would stand outside Mannat (SRK’s bungalow) for hours and look at it with wonder. I haven’t told SRK that, but he knows about my love for him. I was a crazy fan and I still am. I adore him as a human being, too. I guess I can connect with his journey, because he came from nowhere and became one of the biggest superstars of our country.

For a middle-class boy, pursuing acting without having a plan or a back-up plan in place is quite a leap of faith. Didn’t you worry about how you would keep the kitchen fires burning?
Honestly, I have never thought that acting se mujhe ghar chalana hai. I just knew that mujhe actor banna hai. Of course, I knew that I would eventually earn money, but that’s not what motivated me. I come from a typical middle-class family, and it wasn’t like they could swing things for me. They said that they would support me as far as they could and they have always been there for me, especially my mother. She had a strong belief that I would make it. Whether it is my career or love, I am an extremist. I go all out. For me, there is no mid-way or half measure. When I don’t like someone, I don’t. I wouldn’t use the word hate, as it is a very strong word, but when I get negative vibes from a person, I tend to keep away.

Your first film Love Sex Aur Dhokha (LSD) wasn’t the usual Bollywood fare. If at all, the content was ballsy and quite a shocker. How did your family react to it?
I wasn’t there when my family was watching LSD. It was my first film, and there I was… butt naked and humping a girl. I have always lived in a joint family, so 20 of my family members watched my first film together. I had forewarned them about the naked scene. I don’t know if it’s good or bad that the Censor Board had blurred it out (laughs). I am sure that my family felt slightly awkward about it, but I don’t think that they have ever talked about the scene with each other. They were just so thrilled that their son has done something that he wanted to do all his life.

You have spoken about rejections in the past; is there still a fear lurking inside you — what if it happens again? And every time you were rejected, what did you tell yourself?
If I have to face rejection again, I am ready for it. Even if I don’t have work for the next two years, I know that I have enough to sustain myself. But like I said, for me, acting was never about the money. If I am not working in films, I will do something in a similar zone — like short films, or theatre... as long as I don’t stop acting. In the beginning of my career, I have faced rejection and I have heard strange excuses from people. I’ve been told that I am not muscular, not fair enough and that my eyebrows look different in close-ups. That was the most bizarre thing that I have ever heard. I have read a lot of biographies of personalities like Mr Amitabh Bachchan and Shah Rukh Khan and I know that most of them have faced rejection. I always knew that no one would be waiting for me in the industry with open arms, saying, ‘Raj, we were waiting to cast you in our film’. I was sure I had to struggle for work, but irrespective of whether it would take two or 10 years, I had made up my mind that I won’t leave Mumbai.

When the same people approach you now, how do you react? Is there a sense of victory?
I won’t say that there is a sense of victory, but if they approach me, with due respect, I will politely tell them that I won’t be able to do it. It is not because I have a personal problem with them, but I have a problem with their mindset. They couldn’t see any potential in me back then, but there were others who took a leap of faith and I will always respect them.

Are you now getting attached to fame and your newfound stardom? Has it changed you at all?
I am still the same guy that I used to be, and I am fully aware that stardom can fade away any time. We have often seen stars suddenly losing their stardom. I don’t have love for fame, selfies or money. I feel happy when someone sees me and wants to click a picture, but when someone messages me and tells me that they could connect with my character, it’s a different high. When I go abroad and people come up to me and thank me for doing the kind of films that I am doing, it’s a great feeling. To me, stardom means that I get to do the work that I believe in and I have the power to choose the films that I want to do. Stardom is having the power to say ‘Yes’ when you want to say ‘Yes’, and ‘No’ when you want to say ‘No’.

Today, the audience doesn’t care about who is the lead, supporting actor or villain. They like the actors, or they don’t; they like the film, or they don’t. Does it make it easier for actors like you, who can slip into the lead, supporting role or any other character role without thinking what it would do to your image or star power?
For me, a movie is about the whole experience, not just one actor or one role. There are some actors like Aamir Khan, whose film I can go to with a sense of surety that I will enjoy the whole film. He has achieved that kind of confidence from people, wherein they believe that if it is an Aamir Khan film, it will be worth their time. Someday, I would love to be in that space, where people say that it is a Rajkummar Rao film, so it’ll be worth our time. My first two films were as leads and both did very well, and then I did small parts in films like Shaitan, Gangs Of Wasseypur 2 and Talaash: The Answer Lies Within. Then somewhere, I thought that I didn’t want to keep doing small parts. We are all hungry actors and we all want to be on screen for longer. Luckily, during Gangs Of Wasseypur, I met Hansal (Mehta) sir, and my journey with the film Shahid started. It was my first big lead role, so in a way, that was a turning point for me. Hansal sir had met a lot of big actors and he was desperate to make the film. He could see that hunger in my eyes and I guess that convinced him to cast me.

Are you very critical about your work?
Yes. I wasn’t happy with my performances in Dolly Ki Doli and Hamari Adhuri Kahaani. I didn’t like myself in those films. Whenever I talk or think about it, I feel that I should have worked harder on it. It’s like a scar and I feel horrible about it. Well, with acting, you can’t change it once you are out there on the screen, that’s the problem. At that point, I wanted to sit back and rethink what I was doing. After that, Aligarh happened and I started shooting for Trapped, Newton and Omerta, so I moved on.

You are working in a horror comedy with Shraddha Kapoor. This genre has not been explored much in Bollywood. There are ample genres we can still dabble in, like we see in Hollywood, but here, we generally play it safe. It is changing, but we need to do much more beyond love stories and romcoms. Your views?
Now is the time to experiment and it is great to see that people are backing such stories. We can’t just play around with conventional ideas and say, ‘This is what sells, so let’s keep making it’. I would request everyone to experiment with their stories, writing and acting. It’s so exciting to witness this phase, not just as an actor, but as a movie lover. I think we can also make good sex comedies, but we are not doing that. I guess, somewhere, we are scared of the Censor Board, and people’s reaction to such subjects. I think sex comedies can be mature and intelligently made; Delhi Belly is one such example.

On a lighter note, Patralekhaa and you have been frank about your relationship. Any plans of settling down?
It will happen eventually, but we haven’t fixed a date. We are not getting married anytime soon. Right now, we are focusing on our careers.

Do you believe in marriage?
That is a tough one to answer. More than marriage, I think a relationship is about two people being genuinely happy and comfortable with each other. It’s a great institution, and I am sure it works for many people. Patralekhaa and I have been together for more than six years now, and we are very happy with each other. Even if we get married, we will be happy. I know so many people who are not married, but they are living together and they are happy. So, it’s not like both of us don’t think about marriage, but we don’t stress about it. I know that eventually it will happen as our families would want us to get married, though they have never pressurised us.

BOMBAY TIMES (December 21, 2017)

Govinda has always enthralled cinegoers with his acting chops, especially his impeccable comic timing. For his next, Fry Day, helmed by Abhishek Dogra (of Dolly Ki Doli fame), the actor is joined by Varun Sharma (Fukrey series). With a major portion of the film already shot, those who have seen the two actors at work can’t stop talking about the camaraderie they share, in front of, as well as off the camera. Their collaboration is also a fresh combination for movie buffs. While Govinda has already proved his mettle when it comes to comedy, Varun, too, has fast established himself in this genre. Incidentally, he is also referred to as Chi Chi (Govinda’s pet name) by his close buddies.

In Fry Day, Varun plays a failed salesman while Govinda essays the role of a theatre actor. Produced by Sajid Qureshi, the film follows the duo in the course of a day. Talking about the movie, Govinda says, “Varun is a sincere actor and his comic timing with me will be something outstanding for the audience. In my entire career till date, this is my second film after Kill Dil that I’ve finished in one schedule. It’s a great feeling working with the new generation of directors like Abhishek. He is extremely hardworking and understanding. The movie is young and fresh and I am sure people of all age groups will love and enjoy it.”

Varun, who has become popular as Choocha, the character in his last release, can’t contain his excitement of teaming up with the senior actor. He enthuses, “I’ve grown up watching Govinda ji’s films and there is so much that one can learn from him. He is the best in the industry when it comes to comedy. So, it was quite an enriching experience working with him. This is my second film with Abhishek after Dolly Ki Doli. He has a great sensibility as a filmmaker.”

The director sums up, saying, “I had a great time working with Govinda sir and Varun. It was like a house on fire. Expect firecrackers on screen with these two actors, who have an amazing timing in comedy. Their energy is so infectious that we had to cut between takes since the crew would burst out laughing during the shoot!”

Fry Day, presented by Inbox Pictures Pvt Ltd, is slated to release in the summer of 2018.

Rajkummar Rao’s dual turn in Bareilly Ki Barfi is not only winning him rave reviews but has also made him a suitable boy for eligible ladies
Avinash Lohana (MUMBAI MIRROR; August 22, 2017)

Rajkummar Rao’s dual turn as Pritam and Vidrohi in Junglee Pictures’ and BR Studios’ just-released rom-com Bareilly Ki Barfi, has been getting him plenty of raves and the versatile actor admits that over the weekend, he has received calls from several directors praising his performance as it’s a side of him they haven’t seen in reel life before. “Many girls have also reached out to me on Twitter and Instagram telling me I’m 'sweet' and some are even asking me to marry them,” he admits, his eyes twinkling.

And how does ‘good friend’ Patralekhaa react to the flood of proposals given that, at a recent promotional event he made his relationship status clear to a curious journalist by quoting Salman Khan’s Wanted dialogue. “Ek baar jo maine commitment kardi, uske baad toh mein apne aap ki bhi nahi suntna”? Is marriage on the cards? “Not right now, but it will happen eventually. At the moment we’re both focussed on our careers,” he says, going on to add that Patralekhaa is his most honest critic and she thoroughly enjoyed the film.

He agrees that he’s been offered many commercial scripts earlier too, but none of them matched his sensibilities. “What fascinated me about Bareilly was the world Ashwiny (Iyer Tiwari, director) created. I was curious to find out if the dual personalities in one character concept would work. It was a difficult part to play and I was careful not to go over-the-top to keep Pritam and Vidrohi believable and relatable,” he says.

Prep included visiting a saree shop in Juhu and learning how to drape it correctly. He also paid attention to his accent which was a mix of Lucknowi and Bareilly colloquialism, with diction coach Rohit Choudhary, who also played Munna in the film. “I had to find a different body language for both characters to make sure they didn’t look similar, the costumes helped,” he says. So, which character is Raj like? “Both are figments of imagination. I’m neither as sweet as Pritam nor as aggressive as Vidrohi,” he laughs.

What made the film memorable for Raj was the naach gaana. Believe it or not, the usually-serious actor has happy feet and was even part of a dance group when in Gurgaon. “I started my stage career by dancing in school, but later fell in love with acting. Strangely, I haven’t had much scope to show off my dancing skills before, except for one time in Dolly Ki Doli with Malaika (Arora Khan). In this film, I really let go but I made sure to dance like Pritam Vidrohi and not Raj,” he says.

AN ANALYSIS OF THE FIRST QUARTER OF 2015

The first quarter of the year is about to get over and have been pretty okay. The first quarter of 2014 had delivered hits in the form of Queen and Ragini MMS 2 and also a 100-crore grosser – Jai Ho. However, 2015’s first quarter has been poor. Films that were expected to fetch good numbers like Alone, I, Dolly Ki Doli, Shamitabh, Khamoshiyan, Roy etc turned out to be huge flops. What surprised many was how some of the films were made on an insanely huge budget. Hawaizaada and Shamitabh turned out to be disasters thanks to the costs involved. Both these films hardly attracted viewers and got entry into the list of ‘biggest disasters of recent times’. Roy opened well and might have recovered going by the opening weekend numbers. Sadly, the content was outright disappointing. It started dropping from Day 4 heavily, that left many shocked.

Thankfully, few films made a mark commercially. Baby opened on an average note but held up very, very well. Badlapur attracted people despite the violent theme. Same goes for NH10. Dum Laga Ke Haisha had a very poor opening. But it was a fabulous film and hence sustained beautifully, even during weekdays.

However, a big commercial hit is missing in the first quarter. The industry has suffered many such setbacks previously but sadly, lessons are never learnt. And everyone has to make an effort. The makers on their part should make films on reasonable costs (which is very much possible). This also includes not overspending on publicity. For instance, NH10 was made in 3-4 crores and almost 8-9 crores were spent on publicity. It is said that the film would have opened with similar numbers if the makers had spent even half the amount on publicity. Hence, correct and impactful marketing is the key. Just by going all out is not a guarantee that people will throng to see the film. And more important than the cost is the fact that makers should invest in good scripts. The success of NH10 and Dum Laga Ke Haisha has proved how people are ready to see different subjects. The multiplex wallahs on their post should bring costs down on an immediate basis. It’s shocking to see tickets priced at 300-400 bucks during weekends, for all kinds of films! Theatre owners should realize that they are bound to lose a chunk of audience by having such inflated ticket rates. Thirdly, the audience should be smart as well. There are times when genuine efforts go unnoticed just because those films weren’t ‘typical entertainers’. Audiences should realize that they should invest their hard-earned films on good films, whether or not it’s entertaining in the conventional manner.

However, there’s a lot to cheer. The next quarter promises some fabulous films like Detective Byomkesh Bakshy, Dharam Sankat Mein, Mr X, Gabbar Is Back, Piku, Mastizaade, Welcome Back, Bombay Velvet, Dil Dhadakne Do, Hamari Adhuri Kahani etc. Hope good times are here and they are here to stay!

It took just an hour-and-a-half to record Phatte Tak Nachna from Dolly Ki Doli, says Sunidhi Chauhan
Debarati Sen (BOMBAY TIMES; February 27, 2015)

Meena Iyer (BOMBAY TIMES; January 30, 2015)

The sisters — India’s answers to the Olsen twins — will be hosted by the Italian fashion house and will be schmoozing with the who’s who of the high fashion galaxy and Hollywood’s caviar set.

Sonam, who has worn Armani Prive in the past as well, will be donning a couture outfit from the brand’s latest offering. Sonam said, “I’m looking forward to watching the show in Paris. I admire Giorgio Armani’s work deeply and I’m really looking forward to being there. Arbaaz (Khan) has been wonderful. He has agreed to give me a three-day break from the post-release promotions of Dolly Ki Doli just so I can attend this show.” Attending fashion shows internationally isn’t new to the actress who wears couture like second skin. She often receives invitations to sit in the front row at the shows of top international luxury brands like Chanel, Dior, Louis Vuitton, Burberry and Dolce & Gabbana.

Last year, at Cannes she had created quite a stir in a voluminous Elie Saab ballgown. Here’s hoping that this time too, she whips the chic set into a frenzy with her front-row act. Au revoir!

Several male actors in Bollywood have played conmen but the heroines have rarely got the chance. Even if they did, they were mostly paired with a hero who was also a conman (Badmaash Company, Bunty Aur Babli, Dhoom 2 etc). Sonam Kapoor in Dolly Ki Doli gets a novel chance to portray the leading con person in a film and makes good use of the opportunity. The film itself is quite an entertainer and boasts of a well-written, tight script!

The story of the movie: Dolly (Sonam Kapoor) is a fraudster who traps gullible, single men, gets married to them and then steals their wealth on the wedding night itself. Her gang members pose as her family members and they try their best to ensure that the groom’s family doesn’t smell anything fishy. Among the many men that she cons, two of them are Sonu Sehrawat (Rajkummar Rao) from Haryana and Manjot Singh Chadha (Varun Sharma) from Delhi. The police obviously have got a whiff of Dolly’s activities and Inspector Robin Singh (Pulkit Samrat) is given the charge of nabbing the ‘looteri dulhan’.



Dolly Ki Doli seemed decent from the promos but once viewers see they film, they’ll realize that this is just not another con entertainer. The writing is superb, the direction is crisp and the performances are extraordinary. Moreover, Dolly Ki Doli is surprisingly just 100 minutes long. But there is enough drama, entertainment and twists and turns and one doesn’t get the feeling that the film got over too soon. The story progresses from the first scene itself. The Rajkummar Rao track is great and the Varun Sharma angle is even better. The characters are straight out of life and that gives a touch of realism. The intermission point is much unexpected and makes for a great twist. The fun and unpredictability continue in the second half as well. The climax is quite unexpected and the film ends on a surprising but justified note.

Sadly, Dolly Ki Doli has few blemishes. Certain developments in the story are unexplained. The story makes sense even then but it would have been great if the makers had devoted few more minutes in explaining certain developments. Also, this is 2015 and it seems very surprising that nobody has clicked Dolly’s pictures except the wedding photographer. In today’s times, it is fairly common for lovers to engage in photo and selfie sessions during the courtship period. This is one cinematic liberty of the film that didn’t make seem convincing! Also, Dolly’s back story could have been better explained and slightly better written as her decisions didn’t seem totally justified. Thankfully, the writing otherwise is so engaging and tight that one doesn’t really mind about these glitches.

Talking about the performances, Sonam Kapoor isn’t extraordinary but manages to impress nevertheless. Her act in Khoobsurat was arguably easier as she was more or less playing herself. But Dolly is anything like Sonam but she pulls it off. At the end of the day, Dolly is supposed to look cool and shrewd but never negative. Sonam takes care of that aspect and hence no complaints. Rajkummar Rao is outstanding and probably for the first time, he gets to portray his comic side (if we forget the forgettable Boyss Toh Boyss Hain). And he’s fabulous! Varun Sharma is ideal for the role and thoroughly entertains. At the same time, he subtly ensures that it doesn’t seem similar to his Choocha act of Fukrey since both were more or less in the same space. Pulkit Samrat does fine and is quite sincere but somewhere creates the least impact out of the three actors. One wishes that his character too had some unique quirk.



Archana Puran Singh is terrific as the ‘monster-in-law’ and evokes tons of laughter. Manoj Joshi is as always dependable. Mohd Zeeshan Ayyub once again delivers a great performance. Rajesh Sharma too gets a chance to raise laughs. Saif Ali Khan looks extremely dashing and enhances impact in his scene. Rajani Vaidya (Dolly’s grandmother) is hilarious although she speaks just one dialogue in the film! Brijendra Kala is okay while Zeena Bhatia (Dolly’s mother) doesn’t get much scope. Malaika Arora Khan is as always sizzling. Others are fine.

Sajid-Wajid’s music is fine and works with the context of the film. Fashion Khatam and the title song make the maximum impact. Sanjoy Chowdhury’s background score goes well with the film’s mood. Costumes are eye-catching, especially the various bridal outfits worn by Sonam. Umashankar Singh and Abhishek Dogra’s story is unique and entertaining. Their dialogues are hilarious and quite witty. Their script is quite tight and gripping but it would have been great if some loose ends were taken care of. Abhishek Dogra’s direction is very good and also it’s commendable that he scores a sixer with his debut venture. Also, it’s rare to see an entertaining Hindi film replete with song-and-dance have a running time of just 100 minutes. However while doing so, Abhishek also skips a few details which didn’t seem a bit right. But nevertheless, it is a great effort…kudos!

Some of the best scenes:
1. Sonu talks to his family about marrying Dolly
2. Sonu visits Dolly’s house to meet her father
3. Sonu realizes that Dolly has vanished
4. Dolly and her ‘family’ meet Manjot and his family
5. Manjot asks for a kiss from Dolly
6. The intermission point (great surprise!)
7. Dolly fools Sonu again
8. The Udaipur sequence
9. The last 10-15 minutes

On the whole, Dolly Ki Doli is surprisingly very, very entertaining and well-made film. The film rests on an interesting and somewhat novel idea and the director and writer do full justice and come up with a great product. Sonam is fine but its Rajkummar Rao, Varun Sharma and Archana Puran Singh that leave the maximum impact. At places, the film moves too quickly and skips a few details. But nevertheless, it entertains overall and that’s what matters. Sadly, the film has opened poorly and Baby has turned out to be a huge competition. But if possible, do give Dolly Ki Doli a chance…this ‘Looteri Dulhan’ will surely entertain you!

My rating - *** ½ out of 5!

Sajid-Wajid, one of Bollywood’s most prolific composer-duos give us a glimpse into their music-making process and tell us what has driven their pursuit of excellence over the years
Bryan Durham (DNA; January 24, 2015)


Is it okay to tell you that I enjoyed Dolly Ki Doli’s music more than Tevar’s?
Sajid: It happens. Each soundtrack has to be different. Also, you also have to consider that a director’s vision is involved and consider how that works in a collaboration.
Wajid: And people like what they want. Despite releasing this close to each other, it helps that none of the songs sound the same. And that both albums have worked. That says a lot.

When voice casting, how do you reach a balance between using established and new singers?
Wajid: I believe the song chooses the singer. Nobody could’ve sung Phatte Tak Nachna like Sunidhi or Fashion Khatam like Mamta or Superman like I did (laughs).

You’ve had a great run over the last few years...
Sajid: Yes, 2014 went quite well — we had Jai Ho, Main Tera Hero, Heropanti, Daawat-E-Ishq and this year, Tevar and Dolly Ki Doli!

More often than not, Mika and Mamta Sharma feature in almost every other album of yours
Wajid: Really? I don’t know. (shrugs). When you speak of item numbers you need to have a voice. And Mamta is fantastic for character singing. Her voice texture is brilliant. She goes perfect inside that pocket, if you know what I mean. She just sits there... the way she learns the song and she's very raw, those little nuances she adds to a song, a trained singer cannot. And Mika has that alag andaz to his singing.

How do you choose your lyricists?
Wajid: Whoever gives me the best line (laughs). Of late, we’ve been working with Kausar Munir a lot, but here’s the thing. We work as a team. Danish Sabri, who’s my cousin as well as my assistant, has written some of the lyrics on the latest albums and I credit him for his contributions. But I give Kausar credit. She’s a senior writer who also appreciates something somebody else has written and is willing to share credits where it demands. Most lyricists are not open to doing that.

You’ve also worked with Kumaar...
Wajid: Yes, he’s written Mere Naina Kaafir Ho Gaye (from the DKD soundtrack) and is very happy. He writes hit songs for most films but never something like this for anyone. This one was exceptionally good.

Each soundtrack now sounds like a bazaar.. a cacophony of sounds with multiple composers on an album
Wajid: I’m not happy with this thing going on. it’s not fair to anybody (shrugs).
Sajid: At the same time, it’s fair also. you can’t even say if its fair to them or not fair to them, because jo struggle kar raha hai, usse ek gaana mil jaaye toh woh bahut badi baat hai. It all depends on whether you want to be a one-song wonder or a versatile music director.

Do you think it’s a passing phase?
Wajid: We really don’t know. We can only speak for ourselves when we say we’ve really worked hard to get to where we are. We work extra hard to ensure that all our songs are hits.

There are times directors/producers go in for an extra composer at the last minute...
Wajid: How much difference does it make to a film? Most often, these are promotional tracks and has a short shelf life. It happens with a lot of films.

What keeps you motivated enough album after album?
Sajid: Our love for music and our upbringing.
Wajid: We lost our father, Ustad Sharafat Ali Khan last year. He was a passionate musician who taught us that you don’t have to compete with anyone else but yourself. We work extra hard to make sure we live up to his name.

In the days of OP Nayyar and R D Burman, composers were kings, then singers became the superstars. I believe the age of composers (rather composer-singers) is upon us. Your take?
Sajid: Composers have come back in a big way.
Wajid: For me, it always was the composer who was the rockstar. Being a composer-singer is always a bonus. If you can sing your compositions, very good. I’ve seen new composers struggle to get a foothold but new singers manage with gigs. No such luck for struggling composers .Woh daldal hi hai. Either he has to sink in or get out of it. He has no other choice. It is very important to understand that. Everyone is equal. Bas koshish mein kami nahi honi chahiye.

How do you divide the work among yourselves?
Wajid: Sajid bhai always tells me if a song isn’t working. He’s got a fantastic ear. And he comes up with fabulous one-liners. He likes to compose that much and jokes, ‘Aage ka kaam tera hai’.
Sajid: But seriously, to make it simple we give the other his space.
Wajid: I do more compositions while he looks after the arrangement and how it sounds. But he’s the elder brother, so he takes the cake. He takes advantage of that.

Wajid, do you seek out his opinion?
He respects it when I do. I should be clear to counter him if needed. We do have disagreements at work because at the end we want what’s best for the film. We welcome our technicians as well to to voice their opinions openly. We foster that kind of culture at the workplace. We’re more like best friends than music directors.

I remember reading somewhere that Salman Khan said at a children’s event that he wished that you two were here because they’d keep the kids more entertained. What does he know that we don’t?
Wajid: One thing we’ve learnt from him is to exude that energy impromptu. We used to be shy, but he’s made us so free that now if he asks us to do something, we readily agree. We’re like kids who forgot to live and are getting a chance to relive our childhood by being kids around kids.

It’s a lesser known fact that you were the composers of Sonu Nigam’s Deewana album...
Wajid: What most people don’t know is that the album was prepared even before Sonu Nigam could come on board. He joined the project after all the compositions were created. His involvement began with later albums. Back then, to have an album on that level where the composer could call the shots musically — we were first-time composers then — was a big deal. At the time, only Daler Mehndi worked and everybody advised us to compose Punjabi numbers. I told them ‘I’ll do what my heart feels.’
Sajid: I said the same thing. We made that album, it broke records and made history. Since then, our formula has remained the same, eight songs toh eight songs hit, five songs toh five songs hit. The D-factor has worked for Sajid-Wajid, right from Deewana to Dolly Ki Doli!

What makes either of you incomplete without the other?
This rishta is made by Allah, it is not of this world. It will last us beyond forever. What stronger bond than that? We’re bound by blood, what can come between us? Those that don’t share that strong a bond can be separated by the smallest of things. In my opinion, it is all about upbringing. There exist differences between siblings, but they shouldn’t be that great that it separates you. That’s common between us as brothers. There are three of us — Sajid, Wajid and Javed. We’re a really close-knit family.

Rajkummar Rao, the poster-boy of indie cinema, comes clean on his alleged womanising ways, says that he 'truly, deeply, madly' loves his girlfriend.
Ankur Pathak (MUMBAI MIRROR; January 23, 2015)

For Rajkummar Rao success is newfound. With films like Shahid, Queen and Citylights earning him both commercial success and critical praise, the actor's Bollywood trajectory is on a steady upswing. With more work comes more attention and money. By the actor's own admission, his "materialistic lifestyle" has become "more materialistic". And for Rao, who broke into the indie scene with films like Love, Sex aur Dhoka and Ragini MMS, this means the privilege to do things that he only dreamt of earlier.

"I'd travel in buses and look longingly at fancy restaurants and wonder how it must be to sit inside and enjoy the food. It's been a long struggle and it's still a struggle to find good roles and keep growing. But yes, the cars have become fancier, I can travel anywhere without worrying about finances and eat at the restaurant of my choice. I was horrified when some website wrote that I can't afford the EMI of my car! Thank you, but I'm doing alright!" he exclaims.

With fancy cars, the female attention too has grown, substantially. Word in town is that he is having a series of one-night stands. "Tell me that's a joke?" he says stunned."I'm truly, deeply and madly in love with Patralekhaa. She's the woman of my dreams who I will marry. I don't need one night stands as I'm happy having several of them with Patra."

The actor insists that while he's never cheated on his girlfriend, infidelity doesn't mean the end of a relationship. "You should always talk and try to sort things out, rather than walking out without discussion." he insists. Recently, the couple went on a holiday to New York. They spent two weeks walking down the streets, sampling cuisines, and even caught Bradley Cooper on Broadway.

While real-life is brimming with romance, reel-life has more variety to offer. He's chasing Dolly who's robbed him of his money and serenading Hema Malini in Ramesh Sippy's Shimla Mirchi. Is he slowly but surely veering from indie to the mainstream? "No, I accept any role that will help me find a unique part of my personality. I'm as proud of a Dolly Ki Doli as I am of a Citylights. My integrity towards my job is the same irrespective of what genre the film falls in," he asserts.

However, there is a genre which he won't touch yet -- sex-comedy. "It's not that I will never do one. It should match my sensibilities," he reasons.

And while his Dolly, Sonam Kapoor, is 'chilled-out,' he is still in awe of the "beautiful" Hema Malini. "It's how she sustains her character's emotional continuity that bowled me over since it's something I find very challenging," he points out. "And in contrast to these films there's Hansal Mehta's Aligarh, a dark drama about a gay professor where I play a TV journalist." Is he homosexual too in the film? "Wait for the film," he says enigmatically.

BABY VS DOLLY KI DOLI!

The first major clash of 2015 will happen on Friday January 23. My views on these 2 films:

BABY: It marks the return of Akshay Kumar-Neeraj Pandey jodi. Their last collaboration Special 26 was much loved and hence, the excitement is there for Baby. The trailer was unveiled just 1 ½ months back and it got lot of appreciation. Compared to Special 26, Baby is in a more no-nonsense space and very realistic. It’s shot in multiple countries and looks quite fresh and engaging. Akshay looks terrific and the rest of the cast members – Taapsee Pannu, Rana Daggubati, Anupam Kher, Danny Denzongpa, Kay Kay Menon, Sushant Singh – seem to have done a great job as well. And Rashid Naz as the mastermind terrorist can turn out to be the surprise of the film. Music has no scope and yet, the makers have added 2 songs. While one track is just there for a minute or two, the other has been incorporated with the opening credits. Here’s hoping that the film doesn’t go the Special 26 way, that faced criticism for unwanted songs. The other challenges faced by Baby are excessive length (160 minutes) and its mood and feel which is not in the mainstream entertainment space. The opening can be good but not great. But if response is positive, the film can turn out to be a huge grosser. Also, it has the advantage of a 4-day weekend (Monday January 26 is a holiday).

DOLLY KI DOLI: This is the 3rd production of Arbaaz Khan after Dabangg and Dabangg 2 and features Sonam Kapoor as the ‘Looteri Dulhan’. Rajkummar Rao, Pulkit Samrat and Varun Sharma are the actors opposite Sonam. The trailer of the film is really hilarious and has caught attention. The film has been receiving encouraging response at the special screenings that are being held since Sunday. However, the songs haven’t worked and hence, the buzz for the film didn’t quite sustain after a point. Also, Baby can give a tough competition. What goes in Dolly Ki Doli’s advantage is that it’s made on reasonable costs. Also, the duration of the film is just 100 minutes.

WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE BABY OR DOLLY KI DOLI AND WHY? DO LET US KNOW!

Sonam Kapoor dismisses much-talked about dig at Deepika Padukone
Roshmilla Bhattacharya (MUMBAI MIRROR; January 21, 2015)

Sonam Kapoor is miffed that she has been drawn into another war of words with Deepika Padukone. "I didn't even mention her name but as usual my words were lost in translation," she says exasperatedly. The actress is reported to have said that she would never publicise her plans to do social service, soon after Deepika announced her plans to support the cause of mental health awareness.

Sonam insists that she only said that while charity needs a public platform, it should not be used for personal gain. "I don't even know what causes Deepika supports. I respect her, she's always gracious," she points out.

So why did Deepika give her the 'royal snub' at a recent award function, refusing to sit next to her? "I didn't even know she was at the same function," retorts Sonam. "Seriously, there's nothing wrong between us, it's the media which lacks news. Any kind of negativity makes for good copy."

She's adds that she's somebody who is always unapologetically herself which is why she connects with her character in Dolly Ki Doli, a conwoman who dupes men into marrying her, then robs them. "She's no Sati Savitri, she's quirky and fun," Sonam laughs. "Good, bad or ugly, a woman should always be someone rather than a decorative prop. All my screen avatars from Dolly to Zoya (Raanjhanaa) and Mili (Khubsoorat) have their own identity."

Buzz is, she's pairing up with her Khubsoorat co-star, Fawad Khan, againfor a film adaptation of the novel, Battle For Bittora. "Since I have bought the rights of the book, I'm definitely doing the film. Fawad is family and will always be our first choice. But he has to like the role too," she reasons.

So is Sonam, of late, her name has only been associated with Shah Rukh Khan and Raees and Ram Madhvani's film on Neerja Bhanot, the Pan Am air hostess who was shot dead in 1986 by terrorists on board the hijacked flight. "Neerja is close to my heart, she was a brave girl. But I can't speak about the film since the deal hasn't been sealed yet. As for Raees, that was just a rumour not started by me. It's the fastest way to hype a project," she says dismissively.

For Sonam, a self-proclaimed Salman Khan fan, Prem Ratan Dhan Payo is the "big deal". "It is the biggest film of my career so far," she asserts, recalling a call from Sooraj Barjatya in July 2013 after he'd seen Raanjhanaa.

"Six months later, when shooting in Rajasthan, I finally learnt that I'd been cast opposite Salman and started jumping. I play a traditional Indian girl with a modern upbringing. It's not a four song, three scene appearance. I'm on the sets everyday," she asserts.

Salman, along with Anupam Kher, has a double role, what about her? "No one has a double role but there are surprises in store," she promises.

Any advice for brother Harshvardhan who will debut in Mirziya? "I tell him to keep his head down and work hard because your work speaks for you, irrespective of who your father is. It was easier for me, I was just Anil Kapoor's daughter, but Harsh, being a boy, will be directly compared to dad.

Fortunately, he looks like both mom and dad and being a fourth generation Kapoor, he should be able to handle the pressures," she says. And when is Ms Kapoor's doli going to leave her home? "After six years I'm finally being taken seriously as an actress, so for the next couple of years the focus is on acting and filmmaking," she says. "My film has a line, 'Dolly ki Express shuru ho gayi hai, tez speed se jaa raha hai, usse rokhna nahin.' I'd say the same to you."

The Kapoor girl on award picks, performances, career choices and challenging roles
Srishti Dixit (DNA; January 21, 2015)


How important is winning an award?
Any kind of recognition is nice. Honestly, to be awarded for a comic and romantic role is really sweet. I don’t know if I believe in it or not, just that it feels nice to be recognised for what you do.

Aamir Khan and Kangana Ranaut boycott awards. Think good actors skipping awards is becoming a new statement?
Even Salman Khan has steered clear of awards shows for quite a few years now, Everybody wants to do what they feel is right. I believe that as long as you stand for something, that’s great. It’s important, to have one’s own opinion.

Who do you feel delivered the best performances this year?
I felt Kangana’s and Tabu’s performances in Queen and Haider respectively, were amazing. But one of my favourite performances this year has to be Anushka Sharma in PK. It’s not the easiest performance, but she did it so effortlessly. Some people don’t recognise that. Anushka deserves awards this year.

Alia Bhatt, Shraddha Kapoor and other younger actresses attained popularity far quicker than you did. Regret any choices you made?
No, I don’t regret anything. Everything is a learning experience and I am in a very happy place right now. I feel like I have made amazing career choices this past year and made some of the greatest friends in the industry and I’ve got some great work happening for me.

Ever feel you’re not being offered challenging roles?
No, I don’t think so. Everything from Khoobsurat to Dolly Ki Doli to Prem Ratan Dhan Payo is quite challenging.

Priya Gupta (BOMBAY TIMES; January 20, 2015)

The two big releases of Friday - BABY and DOLLY KI DOLI - have got U/A certificate from the Censor Board.

DOLLY KI DOLI is 100 minutes long and is passed with zero cuts. BABY is 160 minutes long and was been passed after the abusive words C*****a, B******d and F**k were muted.

Seema Sinha (BOMBAY TIMES; January 17, 2015)

The Dolly Ki Doli actress on similarities with her latest role, her co-stars, her film choices and working with the Khans
Chaya Unnikrishnan (DNA; January 16, 2015)

Looking pretty as a peach in an off-shoulder dress, Sonam Kapoor is all charged up to take on the world with her upcoming film Dolly Ki Doli. The actress has had a good run at the box office with Raanjhanaa, Bhaag Milkha Bhaag and Khoobsurat. Raanjhanaa became the first of her films to reach the Rs 100 crore mark followed by Bhaag Milkha Bhaag. Sonam considers Raanjhanaa to be the turning point in her career as people started taking her seriously after that. But no, being a Rs 100 crore heroine is not what the leggy actress is aiming for. She would rather do a small budget film that romps home comfortably. The bottom line, as she says, is the film should make profits. And having a home production, Sonam can rattle off figures easily to make her point. Over to the spunky actress who tells it like it is...

You’ve worn bridal outfits in a couple of films earlier, but this film revolves around you as a bride. Does it feel surreal?
No, it’s a role. I have changed eight bridal outfits in a day for Dolly Ki Doli! Eventually, they are all costumes and I play a fake bride, a con bride (smiles). It’s not like I am actually getting married! I think it’s only when you are really getting married that you feel stressed.

How much of Sonam is there in Dolly?
I am not from North India and I am not conning people! But the one thing similar to Sonam and Dolly is both of them are unapologetically themselves. They are not afraid of being who they are.

How was it working with Rajkummar Rao and the relative newcomers Pulkit Samrat and Varun Sharma?
Pulkit is the kind who pampers you a lot. He will force you to cheat on your diet chart with this wonderful platter of food laid on his table. He won’t leave you until you try them. He’s got me those chocolate candies which I love. He’s a very chilled out guy. Varun is like a kid. He is my brother’s age. So, I mostly feel like pulling his cheeks. Rajkummar is very intense and a little more serious than these two. But he’s an immensely talented actor.

You have a great sense of humour, would you be a part of AIB’s Roast?
I am sorry, I have never heard of it. I have been working, and not been in town. I have to see it to comment on it. As for being a part of it, it depends on how intelligently it is done.

You are hailed as a fashionista. Does it take away from you as a performer?
I don’t think so. On the contrary, it just adds to my image. Especially after I give good performances and when people appreciate my work, like after Raanjhanaa, Bhaag Milkha Bhaag and Khoobsurat.

You were quoted saying that you will never publicise it if you start doing social service. It was reportedly a dig at Deepika Padukone who tweeted that she will be supporting the cause of mental health awareness in 2015..
(Cuts in) I never said that.

What is your equation with Deepika?
Deepika is a colleague who I respect a lot.

Though you have briefly worked with Salman Khan in Saawariya, you are now cast as the romantic lead opposite him in Prem Ratan Dhan Payo. Do you consider working with the Khan trio a benchmark?
For me the benchmark would be doing any film which is made by an amazing director with amazing co-stars. A Sooraj Barjatya film opposite Salman Khan is definitely a high point in my life.

What kind of roles are you looking at?
I have consciously decided to choose roles that do not have me as a pretty face dancing in four songs without any meat in it. I would rather do meaningful roles. The length does not matter. I had a 25-minute role in Delhi 6, but still Bittoo’s character had a huge impact in the film. I want to try out different genres. Let’s see how it shapes up.

How important is the Rs 100-crore mark to you?
Raanjhanaa had Dhanush and me in it. The budget of the film was different from Khoobsurat. The number of screens it released was much higher. Khoobsurat released in 900 screens as opposed to 3000 screens. So, even if it went houseful for three weeks, it would only make so much as opposed to if it would have released in 5000 screens. It is mathematics. How much you spend on a film also counts. Raanjhanaa was a Rs 35 crore film, Khoobsurat was a Rs 12 crore film. Ranjhanaa is a multiplex film as well as a single screen film. Khoobsurat is only a multiplex film for youth. Dolly Ki Doli is a little different from Khoobsurat because maybe we are releasing it in 200 more screens. It has got a different audience appeal. So technically, it’s not whether you make Rs 100 crore or Rs 20 crore with your film, the bottom line is whether your film manages to make huge profits. It does not matter to me as long as it’s a hit film.

Srishti Dixit (DNA; January 15, 2015)


But he denies any animosity with John Abraham because he has stepped into his role in Welcome Back too and now Hera Pheri 3. AK says, “I just spoke to him! I knew it from the beginning that he is going to be signed for the film. I wasn’t approached for Hera Pheri 3. Anyway, I have another film lined up after this and they wanted to start shooting early so I just had no time to do it.”

When asked if there was a conscious decision to stay away from funny films for some time and if he is looking at doing serious films only, the Khiladi says, “You have to do all kinds of cinema. I won’t say I am deliberately staying away from comedies because I am doing a commercial comedy Housefull 3. Yes, there is a deliberate attempt to go towards the kind of cinema Baby is because I have started loving and enjoying doing that. But at the same time, I don’t want to miss on commercial capers kyuki mazaa aata hai to do a slapstick comedy or something which children enjoy or jiska sar paer nahi hota!”

Though he is doing serious cinema now, he feels one should not be serious while working. “Honestly, I don’t like doing my work seriously, I hate it! Work is a serious affair but you have to joke. You cannot be working seriously working all the time, that’ll just get boring. One should enjoy being at the work place and that is what I try to do. I want to wake up feeling ‘Aaj mazaa aayega aaj wahan shooting karne ja rahe hain’ not ‘Arey yaar aaj phir shooting karne jana hain!” So, you laugh and joke on the sets and keep the atmosphere light.”.

Speaking of serious things he puts to rest rumours that Baby will project Pakistan in a negative light. “I don’t believe in battering any country. We haven’t named any country in the film. We have just named the person, now it is for the audience to decide where the individual has come from.”

And finally, though Akshay wanted his first release of the year to come as a solo release, it is clashing with Sonam Kapoor starrer Dolly Ki Doli. His reaction? “Whatever it is, it is a good day and everybody should earn from it, yes people do like their films to be solo releases, but it is a nice holiday and everybody wants to make money of it.”