Actor on reuniting with his ‘Queen’ and the Kapoors, and why his onscreen chemistry with Shraddha Kapoor is attracting attention
Natasha Coutinho (MUMBAI MIRROR; June 11, 2018)


It has been a busy year for Rajkummar Rao. The actor started out with Hansal Mehta’s Omerta and with some big-ticket films — horror-comedy Stree opposite Shraddha Kapoor, Fanne Khan with Aishwarya Rai and Anil Kapoor, Mental Hai Kya opposite Kangana Ranaut and Ek Ladki ko Dekha Toh Aisa Laga co-starring Sonam and Anil Kapoor — on the anvil, he is hardly complaining. Excerpts from an interview:

Last week, you and Kangana kicked off a month-long schedule of Mental Hai Kya in London…
It’s always great to work with good co-stars. Kangana and I have come a long way since our Queen (the 2014 Vikas Bahl directorial) days. She is one of the finest talents in the country with multiple National Awards and I’m glad we got to reunite. London is a lovely city but this time I will miss being in Mumbai during the monsoons.

You’re reuniting with Hansal with the tentatively-titled Swagat Hain…
Yes, but that is something we are still talking about. It will be (actress-girlfriend) Patralehkaa, Hansal sir and me again after Citylights (2014). Hopefully this new film will materialise soon.

Your film 5 Weddings with Nargis Fakhri seemed to appear out of nowhere. When did it happen?
I did that film more than two years ago. I hear it’s now releasing in India and I have nothing to say because it was only supposed to open in the US. I was told it was made primarily for an American audience. It took a long time to get the film ready.

You play a tailor in Stree, what was prep like for that role?
It seems easy from the outside but once you start practicing it, you realise how tough it is. You are constantly using your legs over the machine and it can get exhausting. It took me a while to get a hang of it but once I got it right I would do everything on my own. There was a tailor on set, but I preferred to do everything myself. Also, to play a guy from Madhya Pradesh, I interacted with the locals to get the accent right.

It is your first film with Shraddha Kapoor.
Shraddha is a lot of fun. It’s probably the most fun I’ve had on a film set. She is a hard-working girl and everyone who has seen the film has a lot to say about our onscreen chemistry.

After Dolly Ki Doli, you are reuniting with Sonam Kapoor on Ek Ladki...
That film is almost done. Sonam is a good friend and we share a unique bond. We sometimes catch up even when we’re not working on something together. Anil (Kapoor) sir is also a part of the film, with whom I’m working on Fanne Khan. His energy is infectious.

You arrived in the Hindi film industry without any connections. Now, you have multiple mainstream releases lined up.
I’m blessed that I got a chance to work with all these wonderful people. But there is nothing I know how to do besides acting. I want to do this forever and keep living my dream.

Chaya Unnikrishnan (DNA; June 7, 2018)

Anil Kapoor is a joy to talk to. His exuberance is infectious. Looking dapper in a tee and jeans, the ageless actor has been doing media interactions since noon at Mehboob Studio and even though I’m one of the last journos to meet him at around 7 pm, he is as energetic and eager to talk about films and more. At one point, the PR person interrupts to signal that my time is over, but Anil will have none of it. “You can’t be so cut and dry, life is about emotions,” he chides the spokesperson and continues his conversation with me. So, over to the evergreen and ‘youngest’ — he personifies the adage ‘age is just a number’ — actor of Race 3 toplined by Salman Khan.

You are the only star to be a part of all the three instalments of Race. Was it new for you each time?
There have been gaps between all the three parts, so obviously it becomes fresh every time. But this has been the most exciting one. There was something which was very positive about it in terms of the journey and the actors. We shot the film in six months — kab shuru hui, kab khatam hui pata hi nahin chala! Everything went like clockwork. Working with Salman (they have done No Entry together) and Jacqueline (Fernandez) again as well as Remo (D’souza, director), Bobby (Deol), Daisy (Shah), Saqib (Saleem) and Freddy (Daruwala) for the first time was wonderful. We don’t know the film’s fate at the box office. Nobody can predict it, but the journey has been fantastic.

Both Race and Race 2 were thrillers, which were about mind games, but Race 3 is being promoted as an action entertainer...
(Cuts in) You go according to what the script demands. Here, the scale is much bigger. When you have Salman in a film, the scale automatically goes up. His movies can afford to do that. We have tried to make an entertaining flick. This is made for a larger audience. Families and kids didn’t really go to see the first two films. They were more for a certain section of the audience. That’s why though they did well, their business was not as big as blockbusters. Salman has a fan base, and you have to be careful with that. You can’t take it lightly. It’s an action and musical bonanza as well as an Eid release, so don’t intellectualise it. Race 3 still has its twists and turns, but they are more relatable to the family audience.

Even your role is different from the earlier films...
Yes, it has completely changed. In the first two instalments, there was a funny side to my character. I was an investigative cop. The humour was underlined — he loved eating fruits! In this, I am the head of a family. He has many sides to him, but he is not funny. In fact, he is more dramatic than the first two films.

After Race 3, which movie do you start next?
Right now, my focus is on promoting Race 3. I have a day-and-a-half shoot left for Fanne Khan, which needed me in a different look. Then I start promoting that movie. Once that is done, I’ll shoot for the climax scene of Ek Ladki Ko Dekha To Aisa Laga, the release date of which is already announced. After that, I shoot five-six days for Total Dhamaal. This year I have four releases, so it’s quite busy.

How was it working with your daughter Sonam K Ahuja in Ek Ladki Ko Dekha To Aisa Laga?
It’s like two professionals working. Sonam is an established actress. People respect her work and have loved her acting. They have appreciated her in Neerja and loved her in Raanjhanaa as well as Veere Di Wedding. Ek Ladki Ko Dekha... has a nice script and is helmed by a woman, Shelly (Chopra Dhar), so there is a comfort level. It’s fun to shoot with Sonam.

You are reuniting with three of your past heroines — Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Madhuri Dixit-Nene and Juhi Chawla this year. How has the experience been?
I am very happy that all of them agreed to do the films. I can’t see Fanne Khan happening without Aishwarya. I have done Taal and Hamara Dil Aapke Paas Hai with her earlier. Both were successful and appreciated. In Fanne Khan, she is not opposite me, but she is the pillar of the film. Madhuri and I are chhapa and kaata in Total Dhamaal — two sides of the same coin! Madhuri alone will not be correct for the comedy and I alone will not be the same without her.

As far as Juhi is concerned, I feel I should have done more work with her. When I used to meet her, I would say ‘Juhi, main tere saath zyaada kaam nahin kar saka, mujhe teen-chaar aur films karni chahiye.’ It was so much fun working with her. I did a few films with her (Benaam Badshah and Loafer to name a few), but none of them became big hits. So, when she agreed to do Ek Ladki Ko Dekha..., I got really excited, because her smile, voice and comic timing is very special. We have few scenes in the film, but hopefully after this I’ll act in more movies with her. I am fortunate I got an opportunity to work with these beautiful girls, who have made a mark in their personal and professional lives. They carry themselves so beautifully that working with them is an honour. They will make these three films special by being in them.

In a rare instance, your son and daughter’s films clashed at the box office recently..
Yes, it was wonderful. This month has been quite exciting. Earlier in May, there was Sonam’s wedding and June 1 saw both Bhavesh Joshi Superhero (BJS) and Veere Di Wedding (VDW) releasing on the same day. Both are different films. What I am happy about is that both have a made a mark in a different way. One (VDW) has got critical and commercial success, while the other (BJS) has got critical acclaim but not the box office numbers. The most important thing is people have appreciated Harshvardhan’s work. He has an entire lifetime left to do more films and achieve success.

Are you advising him to do movies that are in the commercial space now?
I also did exactly what he is doing. I did Vamsa Vruksham (Telugu) first (1980) and Mani Ratnam’s Kannada film Pallavi Anu Pallavi (1983). I also did MS Sathyu’s Kahan Kahan Se Guzar Gaya (1981). Woh Saat Din came much later. Similarly, Sonam started with Saawariya and then did Delhi 6. She was appreciated in them, but they did not get box office numbers. The scary part is when you are not being appreciated and it doesn’t do well commercially, either. That gets tricky. However, if people say aapne zabardast kaam kiya, but the movie doesn’t fare well, it’s not in your hands. You’ve to do your work with conviction. So, whatever Harshvardhan does next will hopefully get the numbers. We, Sonam and I —  are all improving ourselves as actors and doing better films. It’s an ocean, there is room for improvement for all of us, why only newcomers?

Anil Kapoor on the secret behind his 40-year career, his ‘zabardast’ support system, and why Sonam and Harshvardhan are different from other star kids
Sanyukta Iyer (MUMBAI MIRROR; June 7, 2018)

What is more tedious — producing a film or being the father of the bride at a big fat Indian wedding?
I haven’t done either entirely by myself. Sonam’s wedding was put together by my wife, Sunita.
Whether it is films or a wedding in the family, I appear when I’m needed. Nobody disturbs me otherwise. I am lucky that I have such a zabardast support system. We’re a great team — my family and friends. All of us can stand alone independently as well as come together during a crisis. For most of last year, I’ve stayed quiet. I thought it was better to talk to the media when I have a film releasing. The business of movies is so public, you have to be mentally and physically prepared for whatever comes your way. But this year has been sensitive and all of us thought it best to keep silent. In hindsight, it was a good decision.

In 2019, you will feature alongside daughter Sonam in Shelly Chopra Dhar’s Ek Ladki Ko Dekha Toh Aisa Laga and with son Harshvardhan in Kannan Iyer’s Abhinav Bindra biopic. Excited about playing dad to your children on screen?
We’ve almost finished shooting for Ek Ladki... with only the climax pending. I am proud of the fantastic actress Sonam has become. She has found her own way with Sanjay Leela Bhansali (Saawariya), Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra (Delhi 6), Ram Madhvani (Neerja). Working with her is like working with any other actress — she’s professional and makes my job easy. My son, too, has found his way with Mirzya and Bhavesh Joshi Superhero. If I was producing or acting in their debut films, I wouldn’t have been so proud of them, I’d have felt guilty of trying to promote them too hard. But I’m fortunate because they’ve made it on their own. They’ve always found directors who want to work with them. They may be Anil Kapoor’s children, but there are so many others from well-known families in the industry, but how many of them are raising the bar?

Are you tired of playing dad on screen yet?
I am not delusional. There are times when I say ‘no’ to a film but it often depends on who the writers, directors and producers are. There is no such thing as certainty in life and you have to be smart and sensible with your choices. Fortunately, I am aware of my capabilities and of the things I can do better than others. I know exactly how much value I add to a film.

You are also working with debutant directors like Atul Manjrekar (Fanne Khan) and Shelly Dhar…
I would have been careful early on in my career but now I want to take risks. I am not one to force opinions on set but if I don’t like something I tell my director about it. I also suggest how I think it should be done. Fanne Khan has an experienced producer like Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra backing it and with Ek Ladki... there’s Vidhu Vinod Chopra, whom I have known closely for 23 years. So the debutant directors are well-cushioned. Their new energy is balanced out with experienced producers. It’s a lethal combination.

You’ve been a part of the film industry for nearly four decades now. To what do you credit your longevity as a leading man?
On June 23, it will be 35 years for me as a successful leading man. It’s a combination of goodwill, the right choices, hard work and working with the right people. My wife and family have kept me going. Sometimes, I also made the call to do something at someone’s behest and payback came later. You cannot have a cut-throat attitude for momentary gains. At the risk of being called boring, I chose to preserve myself physically and mentally. I’d slip out of parties when they were just warming up. There were always other actors who were more in the news than me, but I chose to only be written about for my work. Everyone seems to be in it for a quick fix, while I have patiently run the marathon. Today, I am reaping benefits from seeds I sowed many years ago.

You are the only actor who has been a part of Ramesh Taurani’s Race franchise for the last ten years. How has it been so far?
Every time I heard the script of a new Race film, I was confused whether I should do it or not. Almost each time, I decided not to do it but you can’t always be selfish. I was producing Feroz Abbas Khan’s Gandhi, My Father when the first Race came to me and he said that it wouldn’t hurt to do it. I’m used to films in which I appear in all the scenes and I was reluctant to be a part of a bheed-bhaad of actors. I did the film anyway, with my character entering only minutes before the interval, but the film worked.

During Race 2, I told the makers to give me something that would add value. During discussions, Deepika (Padukone) walked out. When I look back, I realise that the stars always align for this franchise. The script was rewritten, Deepika came back, and I was given a better role. Race 2 went on to become Deepika’s first big commercial hit. God was kind and we had all made the right choices once again. Then, last year, I turned Ramesh ji down for the third time. I had scenes to wrap up with Aishwarya Rai in Fanne Khan, my dates for Ek Ladki… were locked and I was to begin Total Dhamaal with Ajay Devgn and Madhuri Dixit. All the films had different looks and needed time. Once again, the stars aligned. I eventually signed Race 3 for many reasons that I don’t want to revisit now. The Abu Dhabi schedule was pushed by four months for me, and I shot in Mumbai last December. Despite a lot of stress surrounding (leading man) Salman Khan during the schedule of the film earlier this year, we wrapped up at lightning speed.

This time, Remo D’Souza has taken over the reins from Abbas-Mastan, who directed the original as well as the sequel.
Do you know that only Indians think of sequels in this manner? Internationally, there is always either a new director or new team or a change of a few actors. It works best to take the fatigue away from a franchise with a new team. In the West, they’re pragmatic, while in India, we are more sentimental.
Remo has brought freshness to Race 3. It wouldn’t have been in 3D if not for him. Also, the smartest thing Ramesh ji has done is retain writer Shiraz Ahmed (screenplay and dialogue) for all the three films so there’s continuity, but with new energy.

You seem to enjoy acting in big-ticket potboilers...
I act in films like Race 3 so that I can produce different content. There are mainstream-commercial films and then there are out-of-the-box films, which we are trying to make more commercial, but essentially their purpose is to raise the collective standard. I need to be cushioned in order to produce high-content films and my acting keeps my production house secure. We can do a 24 and Veere Di Wedding in India because I am doing a Mubarakan, Race 3 and Total Dhamaal. Thirty years ago, Mr India could be made because of the same reasons.

Sonam Kapoor on why her co-star couldn’t shoot during her pregnancy, kicking off work on her next with Dulquer Salmaan, and scouting for someplace warm for her honeymoon
Sanyukta Iyer (MUMBAI MIRROR; May 30, 2018)

While almost everyone who has been at the centre of a big fat Indian wedding will rate it as one of the most overwhelming and physically draining experiences of all time, Sonam Kapoor, who wed businessman-beau Anand Ahuja in a three-day celebration earlier this month, has already moved on to regular programming.

While she has a new film — Veere Di Wedding — coming up, all everyone wants to know is where she is going for her honeymoon. “I don’t blame anybody and try to keep it as classy as possible. During film promotions, it’s just a lot to take in. It’s stressful to face all the media at once. Otherwise, I am oblivious to everything,” the 32-year-old actress says, dismissing rumours that she and Anand are headed to Greece. “We will go on our honeymoon by October-end or November. We want to go someplace warm, but haven’t finalised the destination yet.”

After Veere Di Wedding hits screens on June 1, she has 15 days of work pending on Shelly Chopra Dhar’s Ek Ladki Ko Dekha To Aisa Laga, in which she shares screen space with father Anil Kapoor for the first time. Then, she kicks off Abhishek Sharma’s The Zoya Factor, which is based on Anuja Chauhan’s eponymous bestseller. “I really have a lot of work coming up. The Zoya Factor will be filmed for three months straight, from August to October,” she informs.

Chauhan’s 2008 novel follows a Rajput girl named Zoya Singh Solanki who meets the Indian cricket team through her job as an executive in an advertising agency and ends up becoming a lucky charm for them for the 2011 World Cup. “I love the sport, but now, there is too much to follow with the Premier League and I’ve lost touch over the years,” she says. When she wondered if she should brush up her knowledge for the film, she was asked not to. “Zoya doesn’t like cricket. She has a different perspective on it and sage advice to give to the team,” the actress notes, adding that she will focus on learning more about being an “addy” (slang for an advertising executive) instead.

Sonam goes on to reveal that she was offered the Hindi remake of Mani Ratnam’s Tamil romance, OK Kanmani, which was directed by his protégé Shaad Ali. Coincidentally, the original had featured Dulquer Salmaan, who is now paired opposite Zoya as Nikhil Khoda, captain of the cricket team and her biggest detractor.

In Veere Di Wedding, Sonam takes centrestage alongside Swara Bhaskar, Shikha Talsania and Kareena Kapoor. The film notably sees its female protagonists drinking, smoking, cussing and asking each another if they “want some boom boom”. Sonam is not surprised that women of all age groups have loved the teasers and says that her 61-year-old father is the biggest cheerleader of the film. “And mind you, he didn’t have as many nice things to say about Khoobsurat (her last home production),” Sonam chuckles, adding, “Most women will enjoy the film because it depicts most women or what they want to be. Most of them want to see themselves having fun.” The Shashanka Ghosh directorial is also different in that it is the first film to feature two A-list, married actresses. Sonam recalls that her younger sister Rhea Kapoor, who has produced the film alongside Ekta Kapoor, was willing to shoot right through Kareena’s pregnancy as well. “There was never a question about doing the film with any other actress,” Sonam asserts.

The film was expected to go on the floors in early 2016, when Kareena announced that she was expecting. After welcoming Taimur Ali Khan in December, she began prepping for the part, which involved a four-month-long weight loss regime. Shooting commenced nearly 18 months later than originally planned. “We were very open to shooting with Kareena even when she was pregnant. Unfortunately, you cannot get insurance if you’re pregnant and making a film without insurance is impossible. We did not know about this before,” Sonam reveals. “As women, we need to stand by each other in every way possible. After Kareena said ‘yes’ to Veere Di Wedding, there were other actresses who wanted to do the role and we could have gone ahead with anybody else. But she was the best fit for the role, the first choice, and an irreplaceable part of the film. Someone as committed and talented as she is, deserves a team that waits for her,” Sonam says.

What was it like being directed by a man on a film that is about women and produced by women? “It was Shashanka who came up with the idea with Rhea and they conceptualised it together. He has directed me in Khoobsurat, but first and foremost, he’s the creator of one of my all-time favourite films, Quick Gun Murugan. He’s a master of dramedies. You’ll know when you see our new film,” Sonam says.

Hiren Kotwani (BOMBAY TIMES; May 24, 2018)

Sonam Kapoor aka Sonam K Ahuja wears many hats with aplomb. She is not only a popular actor but also has a successful clothing label with her sister Rhea Kapoor. On the career front, she seems to have struck a perfect balance between the characters she essays and her movies that become memorable. Like her last release Pad Man that was the first mainstream Bollywood film to talk about menstrual hygiene, in which she played an important role. This came after Neerja (2016), which earned her the National Award Special Mention for her inspiring performance.

She is also a suave fashionista whose every public appearance is looked forward to. As an industry person says, “Sonam has such an amazing sartorial sense that you can be sure she will be talked about more than other actresses at the same event.”

For the last few weeks, she has been more in the news for tying the knot to businessman Anand Ahuja. When we meet her at a suburban five-star hotel, she’s there to promote Veere Di Wedding (VDW), her first release as Sonam K Ahuja. A quick Q&A with the actress...

Considering that VDW is your home production, didn’t you ever want to play Veere?
No, I don’t think so. How boring would that be! I think Kareena (Kapoor Khan) suits the role best.

But why Kareena?
That you need to ask the producer and the director because it’s their choice. However, after seeing the film, you will understand why Kareena is the best choice for Veere Di Wedding.

Isn’t it odd that in all these years, no one thought of casting you and Kareena together?
Did it ever occur to anyone in the industry to cast two A-list female actresses together without A-list men? This is the first time that has happened. I think that itself is cool.

The film’s promos show that it must have been a fun shoot. Which was the last film you had so much fun working?
Raanjhanaa. We had a blast during VDW, even behind the scenes. I think that should remain behind the scenes only. I don’t think we should discuss that in print, at all (laughs).

The dialogues have got extreme reactions. While filming, did you anticipate any censor issues?
No, I don’t think we did. This is how women talk to each other. We didn’t think, ‘My God! People are going to say something about this.’

Why the tag line ‘It’s Not a Chick Flick’?
That’s a derogatory way of looking at a film. It’s not a chick flick. Firstly, we should not be called chicks. And secondly, it’s a movie about four people, which caters to both men and women.

Looking at the trailer of VDW, some feel that it’s a reversal of the Pyaar Ka Punchnama series.
The Pyaar Ka Punchnama series is great but it’s very sexist. VDW is not about women discussing men and putting them down or discussing what they are going through. It’s quite different.

Your sister Rhea is the producer but what role do you play in the production house?
I’m my sister’s partner in everything; whether it’s Rheson, her styling me or producing films. I think we work well together. But I only have creative involvement; whether as an actor or discussing scripts to put projects together. My sister is the producer. She and I work well as partners.

Your brother Harshvardhan’s film Bhavesh Joshi Superhero is finally releasing on the same day as your VDW, after mulling over avoiding a clash.
I think there is space for everyone. I’d rather have my brother’s film releasing on the same day than anyone else’s.

The last time you worked with your dad Anil Kapoor was for his first commercial for a luxury brand pen. How is it working with him in the film Ek Ladki Ko Dekha To Aisa Laga?
Working with dad has been an amazing experience. It took me a while to accept working with him as it’s hard to shoot with him (smiles).

While your production house has announced the screen adaptation of The Zoya Factor, there’s no news of the film on Battle Of Bittora, the rights of which you had acquired.
We have the rights of Battle For Bittora and the film is is very much on. That will be made after The Zoya Factor.

Sanyukta Iyer (MUMBAI MIRROR; May 5, 2018)

In the run-up to his elder daughter Sonam Kapoor’s wedding with Anand Ahuja on May 8, Anil Kapoor’s Mumbai bungalow in Juhu, which is located on the same street as Shatrughan Sinha and Anupam Kher’s residences, is bathed in lights. Sonam and her Delhi-based businessman beau, who have been dating for four years, will tie the knot in a private ceremony in the presence of extended family and friends. Round-the-clock prep is on in full swing for the two-day shindig that will take place across three venues on May 7 and 8.

On Friday, the bridegroom’s family began arriving from Delhi, with friends and family expected to fly in from the US and London over the weekend. Anand himself touched down in the Bay on Friday, dressed down in a casual tee as he smiled wide for the paparazzi. “Sonam’s look for her wedding day has been finalised. It will be regal, teamed with heirloom jewellery,” a source close to the family told Mirror. Meanwhile, Varun Dhawan, Karan Johar and cousins Arjun, Jhanvi, Anshula and Shanaya Kapoor, have kicked off rehearsals for their dance routines for the sangeet on Monday.

On May 14, Sonam will be in the French Riviera to walk the red carpet at the Cannes Film Festival that opens on the same day as her wedding. “Anand won’t be at Cannes with her but the couple is planning an October-November honeymoon which will be delayed because of the bride-to-be’s choc-o-bloc schedule,” the source informed, adding that the actress will resume shooting for Shelly Dhar’s Ek Ladki Ko Dekha To Aisa Laga and jump into the promotions for her upcoming wedding drama Veere Di Wedding immediately after the nuptials. In August, she kicks off the The Zoya Factor with Dulquer Salmaan, which is also an extensive, start-to-finish schedule.

After the wedding, Sonam and Anand will divide time between Delhi, where his family owns a plush bungalow on the Amrita Shergill Marg, home to the capital’s crème de la crème, Mumbai and London. “Anand owns homes in Delhi and London, and Mumbai is Sonam’s base,” the source concluded.

The actress joins Anil and Sonam Kapoor, Rajkummar Rao in their next film
Natasha Coutinho (MUMBAI MIRROR; April 10, 2018)

South actress Regina Cassandra was to make her Bollywood debut in Gaurang Doshi’s Aankhen 2 alongside Amitabh Bachchan, Arshad Warsi, Arjun Rampal and Anil Kapoor. But after an announcement in August 2016, the sequel hasn’t taken off.

Now, Mirror has learnt that the actress who has worked in a number of Tamil and Telugu films, is a part of another Bollywood biggie. She has been signed for debutante director Shelly Chopra Dhar’s upcoming family drama, Ek Ladki Ko Dekha To Aisa Laga, which has the father– daughter duo of Anil and Sonam Kapoor teaming up for the first time, and Rajkummar Rao.

A source from the sets revealed, “Regina has been paired opposite Rajkummar’s character. She has begun shooting in Patiala.”

Rajkummar Rao raves about Ekta Kapoor’s ‘crazy thriller’ in which he faces off with his Queen Kangana Ranaut
Sanyukta Iyer (MUMBAI MIRROR; March 6, 2018)

Over the last few weeks, National Award-winning actor Rajkummar Rao has been juggling three films, each directed by debutantes. There’s Shelly Chopra’s Ek Ladki Ko Dekha Toh Aisa Laga, Amar Kaushik’s Stree and Atul Manjrekar’s Fanne Khan. And his slate for 2018 doesn’t end there. Mental Hai Kya, which kicks off in Mumbai this summer and will be fi lmed across London, marks the Hindi directorial debut of National Award-winning Telugu filmmaker Prakash Kovelamudi, whom Raj describes as a “visionary”. “All the new directors I’ve worked with are extremely talented and know exactly what they want from me,” Raj says, adding that he usually feels like a nervous junior on set. “I keep looking to them to tell me how to do a scene differently, how I can improve,” he adds.

Raj says Prakash is “celebrated in the South” for Bommalata (2004), Anaganaga O Dheerudu (2011) and Size Zero (2015). Mental Hai Kya has been penned by his writer-wife Kanika Dhillon. “For the narration, I met them together, and I was blown away. It was edgy, thrilling and as the characters are well-defined, my mind was full of ideas,” he says.

Mental Hai Kya marks his reunion with Kangana Ranaut four years after Queen. “I had such a great time shooting with her, I’m a great admirer of her work, be it Tanu Weds Manu or its sequel. We both play unique characters and it will be great to see how we execute it,” he points out. The second re-union comes eight years after Raj began his career with two Ekta Kapoor productions — Love Sex Aur Dhoka and Ragini MMS. “When Ekta is excited about a project, I know that she will give it her blood and sweat. So when she told me that she wanted to discuss a 'crazy thriller', I knew it would be a big deal. We share a great rapport,” Raj says.

Since Mental Hai Kya will be a demanding film, Raj is happy to be wrapping up Ek Ladki Ko Dekha Ko Aisa Laga and Stree by April-end. He’ll also be completing a song for Fanne Khan around the same time, which will give him enough time before he starts workshops for the Ekta Kapoor production. “Juggling films is a first for me and it’s not been easy. I’ve been shooting Stree and Ek Ladki... and both my characters are so different in terms of language, background and styling. It takes a lot of energy to switch between the two even though both the films are light-hearted, fun dramas. That’s why before Mental Hai Kya, whose prep is going to be as intense as my work in Shahid or Trapped, even though the genres are different, I want to be done with all the other films. I’ll only be focussing on Mental Hai Kya then,” he says.

As a young boy from Gurgaon, who has trained at the prestigious Film and Television Institute of India (FTII), Raj believes that it’s not just his hard work and dedication to the craft that has helped him evolve as an actor, but also a worldview that Bollywood has been instrumental in broadening. “There is a certain level of maturity that I have today. I’ve learnt that the more I have travelled, the more I have seen and the better I have become equipped to recreate life on the big screen. As Rajkummar, I have evolved. Facing the camera is an ongoing process. I learn something new on set every day. Sometimes, you’re in a completely different state of mind and have to deliver an emotion at the other end of the mood spectrum. There are days when I have been surprised and days when I have surprised myself. But it’s all made me a more honest actor,” he says.

Buzz is, four years after they debuted their crackling chemistry with Hansal Mehta’s Citylights, the Hindi remake of the BAFTA-nominated Metro Manila, Rajkummar and his actress-girlfriend Patralekhaa are gearing up for a second collaboration, which kicks off this year too. “There are scripts that we have been offered together since the release of Citylights, but it’s never been exciting. Now, there is a project we might be doing together, but it’s too soon to talk about it,” Raj says.

Unlike his contemporaries, who make sure they maintain their “single status” and are tight-lipped when asked about their “close friendships”, the 33-year-old actor does not shy away from talking about being a committed Bollywood hero. “Patralekhaa and I are extremely proud of our relationship and there is nothing to hide. Also, whom are we kidding? Everyone has a mobile phone and you are frequently spotted at places together. Then, the paparazzi play the guessing game about whether two actors are a couple or not. Why do that? I’m proud of my partner. We don’t go over the top and talk about it all the time, but we are happy together. We have each other’s backs,” Raj says.

Sanyukta Iyer (MUMBAI MIRROR; February 13, 2018)

Anil Kapoor and his actress-daughter Sonam Kapoor may be tucked away in Patiala, filming their on-screen debut as father and daughter, but the duo never train or prep together on set. “Anil’s training time is his ‘me’ time when he concentrates solely on himself, no distractions, no compromise,” says his Australia-based trainer, Marc Mead, who has been working closely with the actor since 2011.

Marc had first come on board as the actor’s yoga instructor and, over the years, has trained the 61-year-old actor with multi-functional workouts. Now, he is travelling with the actor for the first schedule of his next, Ek Ladki Ko Dekha To Aisa Laga.

The film which kicked off on January 24, also features Anil’s Andaaz and Deewana Mastana co-star Juhi Chawla who will join the schedule in February, and Rajkummar Rao as Sonam’s love interest. TV actress Madhu Malti has stepped in as Anil’s wife. “Anil is like a kid, extremely excited. His character sports a look that hasn’t been seen in a long time — with a grey beard. We are shooting at a family house in Patiala which is the perfect setting for the film,” director Shelly Dhar reveals, adding that the film is being shot entirely at real locations.

Meanwhile, Marc’s focus has been to make Anil looking suave for the part. The actor will be undertaking a new routine every month so he stays energised. “We brought in a tyre-training technique to help him improve his compound moves. On location, there is no gym. Anil likes adapting to a new training environment while my aim is to find new ways to shock his muscle system. He trains with at least one or two intensive workouts, six days a week, and never has a slack period,” informs Marc.

Father-daughter duo is set to shoot together in Patiala for debutante director Shelly Dhar’s family-drama which also features Juhi Chawla
Avinash Lohana (MUMBAI MIRROR; January 24, 2018)

Mirror (September 23) had earlier reported that Vidhu Vinod Chopra’s sister Shelly Dhar is set to turn director with a film titled Ek Ladki Ko Dekha To Aisa Laga which will have Sonam and Anil Kapoor, who play a father-daughter duo in the film, share screen space for the first time. We have now learnt that the film goes on the floors today with Anil and popular TV actress Madhu Malti (as his mother) in Patiala, while Sonam will join them in the next few days.

Shelly confirmed the news to Mirror, saying, “I just came back from a meeting with Anil and he is like a kid, extremely excited about his role. His character sports a look that hasn’t been seen on him in a long time. We will be shooting at a family house in Patiala, which is perfect setting for the film. I am shooting entirely at real locations as I want the film to develop as organically as possible. We can’t wait to start rolling now.” Juhi Chawla, who has worked with Anil in films inlcuding Deewana Mastana and Andaz, among others, joins the unit in the first week of February.

The debutante filmmaker also reveals that the father-daughter duo is nervous about sharing screen space for the first time. “But Anil is also really looking forward to the outing. While I have all his costumes in place, he insisted on bringing his own stuff too,” she laughs, adding that her producer-brother Vidhu Vinod Chopra will be joining her on the sets in a few days. “Vinod is busy with his next directorial at the moment but I talk to him all the time. He is on top of everything and knows what is happening here.”

Meanwhile, Rajkummar Rao who is playing Sonam’s love interest in the film is presently shooting for Dinesh Vijan’s horror-comedy Stree with Shraddha Kapoor and will be joining Anil and Sonam on Januray 29.

Incidentally, Rajkummar has earlier worked with the 32-year-old actress in the Arbaaz Khan-produced romcom Dolly Ki Doli and is sharing screen space with her father in another debutante filmmaker, Atul Manjrekar’s musical Fanne Khan.

Nayandeep Rakshit (DNA; January 8, 2018)

In the 10 years that Sonam Kapoor has been a part of the film industry, there’s one question she’s been repeatedly asked — when we can see her and dad Anil Kapoor in a film together. Last year, After Hrs was the first to tell you that the father-daughter duo is teaming up for Shelly Chopra’s next, to be produced by Vidhu Vinod Chopra.

While the title (Ek Ladi Ko Dekha To Aisa Laga) and the other principal members of the cast (Juhi Chawla, Rajkummar Rao and Rohan Verma) have been announced, nobody knows what the film is about. A source tells us, “All that is known currently is that Anil and Sonam will play father-daughter and Juhi Chawla will play her mother. Rajkummar Rao will play Sonam’s love interest. Everyone’s tight-lipped about the storyline.”

There’s a reason why everything’s so hush-hush. None of the actors are permitted to reveal anything about the story. Sonam says, “I can’t speak anything about that film. I’ve signed an NDA with the makers.”

Anil elaborates, “First of all, it’s too early to talk about the film. Plus, I have signed an NDA with Vidhu Vinod Chopra so I cannot say a single word without proper permissions as I will be breaching the contract. These days, everyone is becoming protective about their content. Stakes are so high and with so much media and social media around us, everything gets out even when we want to keep it a surprise. So everyone is careful because they don’t want to affect their film. And it’s also good in a way.”

Nayandeep Rakshit (DNA; December 12, 2017)

It seems 2018 will be the year of reunions. And Anil Kapoor is likely to topline it. Why? After sharing screen space with Aishwarya Rai Bachchan in Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra’s Fanne Khan and Madhuri Dixit Nene in Indra Kumar’s Total Dhamaal, he will now reunite with Juhi Chawla for Vidhu Vinod Chopra’s Ek Ladki Ko Dekha To Aisa Laga.

A source reveals, “After casting Anil with his daughter Sonam Kapoor for the first time in his film, Vidhu has now signed Juhi. It’s a family drama which has a lot of humour and emotions. That’s what excited Juhi and she immediately agreed.” Although Anil and Juhi have done eight films together, they will be coming back together on screen after over a decade. Their last outing was Salaam-e-Ishq that released in 2007. Our source says, “Both the actors have been great friends, so their chemistry is expected to be electrifying in this movie, too. It was not too difficult to convince Juhi since she’s already comfortable with Anil.”

Adds the source, “Juhi and Anil will be seen as Sonam’s parents in the film while Rajkummar Rao plays her love interest.”

Natasha Coutinho (MUMBAI MIRROR; November 7, 2017)

Mirror (September 23) was the first to report that Anil Kapoor and daughter Sonam have been roped in for Shelly Chopra’s directorial debut, titled Ek Ladki Ko Dekha To Aisa Laga. It’s the first film in which the father-daughter duo is sharing screen space. Now, Mirror has learnt that Rajkummar Rao has been roped in to play Sonam’s love interest and the trio is expected to start shooting early next year.

A source close to the development reveals, “Sonam and Raj have earlier worked together in Dolly Ki Doli where her character conned him into marrying her. This one will explore their onscreen chemistry better.”

When quizzed on the subject, the actor had appeared guarded, refusing to be drawn into a straight ‘yes’ or ‘no’. “If it happens I’ll be happy. Right now I’m busy promoting my two upcoming films, Shaadi Mein Zaroor Aana and Omerta. I’m a big fan of the films Vinod (Chopra) sir makes under his banner and have long admired his vision.” Messages and calls to Shelly went unanswered.

Meanwhile, Rajkummar will resume shooting for the romantic musical Fanney Khan from next month. A fractured ankle has put him out of action temporarily but Anil Kapoor and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan are on track. Sonam is busy filming sister Rhea’s Veere Di Wedding in Thailand with her girl gang, Kareena Kapoor Khan, Swara Bhaskar and Shikha Talsania.

Reveals Anil Kapoor who eventually accepted Vinod Chopra’s pre-Partition film in the ’90s after being floored by ‘Ek Ladki Ko Dekha Toh Aisa Laga’
Roshmila Bhattacharya (MUMBAI MIRROR; October 14, 2017)

Mirror (September 23) was the first to report that Anil Kapoor and daughter Sonam have been roped in for Shelly Chopra’s directorial debut. On Thursday, Shelly announced that the film’s title, Ek Ladki Ko Dekha To Aisa Laga, has been borrowed from brother Vidhu Vinod Chopra’s 1994 directorial 1942: A Love Story, featuring Anil, Manisha Koirala and Jackie Shroff. Anil will be reuniting with Vinod with whom he also did Parinda in 1989, who is producing the film along with Rajkumar Hirani, after almost 25 years. The actor reveals that it was the song earlier that had convinced him to give the nod to the pre-Partition love story.

“It’s hard to believe but 23 years ago, I had not wanted to do 1942 because I felt I was too old to do a love story. Even though both Vinod and his brother Veer were convinced that I could pull off the role, I recommended Bobby Deol who was on the verge of being launched for the role, along with Aamir Khan,” reminisces Anil talking to Mirror from Dubai.

The Chopra brothers then came up with a masterstroke by convincing him to listen to R D Burman’s songs, which had already been recorded. They played 'Kuch Na Kaho' and 'Ek Ladki Ko Dekha To Aaisa Laga' for Anil and he was wowed. “I couldn’t let anybody else sing those beautiful songs. I told them, ‘Yeh picture main karunga’, convinced that when I am dead and gone, I will definitely be remembered through these songs if not my work,” the actor says.

This is the first time he will be working with Sonam and Anil confides that his daughter had never wanted to work with him. “It’s the script, somewhere it resonated with both of us. Vinod with whom I have stayed in touch, has come to me with all his scripts, from Mission Kashmir to the present one, and screens the films for me well before the release. He spoke to me about this film. Raju approached Sonam when she was shooting with him recently,” says Anil, raving about how his daughter has come into her own as an actress. “She is spontaneous, instinctive and very modern in her approach to work. That’s why there is a freshness in her work, it’s very today and connects with the audience who no longer want to see actors on screen but something real and natural.”

He starts shooting for the film early next year and refuses to divulge any details, unwilling to even confirm if it’s a father-daughter story. Will it complete a hattrick for Vinod and him?

“I can only hope,” says Anil, who returns to the shoot of Atul Manjrekar’s musical-drama, Fanney Khan, which also features Aishwarya Bachchan and Rajkummar Rao.