Ek Villain sequel will roll in a foreign country; will showcase latter in a ripped avatar
Himesh Mankad (MUMBAI MIRROR; August 22, 2020)

Mirror was the first to report that Mohit Suri decided to part ways with Aditya Roy Kapur following creative differences over the Ek Villain 2 script. Subsequently, producers Bhushan Kumar and Ekta Kapoor have found a replacement in Arjun Kapoor, who is all charged up about taking on John Abraham in the action-thriller. This will be a second collaboration for Arjun with Mohit after Half Girlfriend and the film is expected to take off towards the year-end with a marathon schedule. “A major chunk of the film will be shot abroad. The team is currently identifying locations where the Coronavirus pandemic has abated. Mohit is expected to fly off for a recce next month,” informs a source close to the development.

Arjun, like John, plays a grey character in this film, along the lines of Ishaqzaade and Aurangzeb. However, what has the actor really excited is that he will get to showcase a new ripped avatar. Arjun has been on a weight loss spree since the beginning of the year and already looks lean and mean. According to the source, Mohit has made some changes in the script and character following Arjun’s entry into the project. “He has two-three different looks in the film, with the key one being a ripped physique. He will be hitting the gym rigorously for the next few months to work on his body. The story focuses on a confrontation between two powerful personalities,” the source informed.

While John will romance Disha Patani, Arjun will be paired alongside Tara Sutaria. “They have planned on an overseas schedule because Mohit wants to mount the film on a certain scale with big action scenes. Before moving on to the Ek Villain sequel, John will wrap up Mumbai Saga and a 20-day schedule of Attack. He will also kick off Satyameva Jayate 2,” adds the source.

Writer Aseem Arrora’s actioner is a tribute to the Gorkha regiment
Hiren Kotwani (MUMBAI MIRROR; August 14, 2020)

The nationwide lockdown coming in the wake of the Coronavirus outbreak was believed to be the best time for screenplay writers. Aseem Arrora busts the myth. The writer of the Akshay Kumar-starrer Bellbottom, the Ek Villain sequel, the John Abraham-fronted Gorkha and Luv Ranjan’s urban comedy, says he works maximum six hours a day as against the usual 14-16 hours. “I have to look after my two-year-old son Shivaay who wants to play all day,” he sighs.

Akshay’s espionage drama will roll in Scotland in a few days. Last Wednesday, the entire crew left for London, from where they headed to Scotland. Since commercial flights are not operational, the makers arranged for chartered flights to London. Each crew member is being given a safety kit comprising PPE, masks, sanitisers, oximeters and other mandatory essentials. “Bellbottom is set in the turbulent ’80s when the intelligence agencies of countries like China and Pakistan were very active. We were just 10 odd years old then, with RAW (Research and Analysis Wing) becoming independent of the Intelligence Bureau, so it’s amazing that we could neutralise threats to India’s security. The film is inspired by real events,” he informs. As for the title, Aseem says, “It is set in an era when bell bottoms were in fashion and the connection our protagonist has with them, is all I can say for now.”

Aseem’s interest in espionage and the army stems from his Sainik School background. “I couldn’t clear the (NDA) National Defence Academy exams because I didn’t have the perfect eyesight and had to leave after three years,” he rues, adding that his fascination with the uniform, discipline and dedication remained and motivated him to read more on the subject. “The idea of Bellbottom came when I stumbled upon a piece of information during my reading. Since not much literature was available, I contacted those who could tell me more,” he says, adding that while intel officers never reveal their real identity as their acts of bravery are contradictory to their image and the agency’s operations, the film will share some names and give these real heroes their due.

Aseem is equally passionate about Gorkha, an action thriller which pays tribute to the Gorkha regiment of the Indian Army. Set against the premise of an army background, the story is set in hinterland of India and has a strong emotional quotient. The film addresses a social vice that John, a polished, educated guy who finds himself in a world totally alien to him, fights. “The social vice is the villain of the story,” says the scriptwriter who has also authored a book on the mananimal relationship and the poaching menace. “It’s a story of a forest ranger and a tiger cub,” he reveals. When asked if he has spoken about it to John, who’s previously campaigned to save tigers, Aseem says, “I was already in talks with another production house before I met John. But in due course of time, I will talk to him about it.”

Onkar Kulkarni (BOMBAY TIMES; May 9, 2020)

Disha Patani and Aditya Roy Kapur’s sizzling onscreen chemistry in the romantic thriller, Malang, had become a talking point. And, it looks like the on-screen couple will get to recreate it in Mohit Suri’s Ek Villain 2 as well. Though they shared screen space for the first time in Malang, few people know that they go back a long way.

In fact, their camaraderie made the shoot of Malang a fun experience for both actors. Disha, who works out and dances religiously and even does gymnastics to stay fit, says that she once defeated Aditya in a game of basketball. She recalls, “I knew Aditya even before we worked together. We used to go to the same gym and have even played basketball together. In fact, I had even defeated him in a game of basketball. Since I knew him well, there was no awkwardness while shooting for Malang.”

The Bharat actress feels that they also share some personality traits. “I believe he is also a bit anti-social, like me (laughs!). So, we relate to each other as we both are introverts.”

Like Disha, Aditya, too, is at ease working with her. During an earlier interaction, he had told BT, “We are very comfortable in each other’s company. Hence, our onscreen chemistry looks natural.”

Disha Patani is utilising her time by pampering her pets, working out, and practising basic dance steps
Rishabh Suri (HINDUSTAN TIMES; May 4, 2020)

Actor Disha Patani has been treating her fans to glimpses from her daily life in the Coronavirus lockdown on social media. Be it cuddling with her pets, or sharing nostalgic memories, she is making sure that she doesn’t disconnect altogether.

We ask her how the entire situation has been for her, being holed up inside her house, and she says that this is all too new for her. “I’ve a lot of free time to myself, something that rarely happens because of shooting schedules and travelling around. I’m spending most of the time pampering my pets. And apart from all this, I am also catching up on some movies. I’m also working out at home and practising basic dance routines to keep me occupied,” says Patani.

The 27-year-old had started the year with a successful release — Malang — and was excited for her subsequent biggies. However, due to shoots of all kinds being stopped, her films, too, had to be stalled. “My upcoming film, Radhe: Your Most Wanted Bhai, with Salman Khan got pushed, and so did the commencement of Ek Villain 2. I am hoping for everything to start soon. It’s difficult to stay at home, but it’s necessary for all of us, so that we can fight the pandemic,” confesses Disha.

Even in this lockdown, her personal life was under the scanner. Reports earlier, did the rounds that Patani is maybe living with her Baaghi 2 co-star Tiger Shroff’s family. And her goofy video on Instagram with Tiger’s sister Krishna added fuel to the fire.

However, Krishna cleared the air and said recently, that Disha isn’t living with them, she just lives close-by. On who else she is in touch with apart from Tiger’s family, all Patani says is, “I’ve been in touch with my family and my team (for work). We do our regular meetings etc., on conference calls.”

Amid the many things she is keeping herself busy with, the actor has also got time to introspect. And here’s the realisation she has come to in the past one-and-a-half months, “Nothing is more important than your and your loved ones’ health. We all need to come out of this pandemic, safely and in good health,” she signs off.

Himesh Mankad (MUMBAI MIRROR; April 25, 2020)

Mirror (January 6, 2020) was the first to report that John Abraham and Aditya Roy Kapur are teaming up for Mohit Suri’s Ek Villain 2, which will be produced by Ekta Kapoor and Bhushan Kumar. Disha Patani is John’s lady love while Tara Sutaria who plays a singer, is opposite Aditya, with both the heroines have an underlying shade of grey in this battle royale between two villains.

Now, we have learnt that Mohit is planning to create his own universe of villains, leading to a final showdown. “After a crossover of superheroes and super cops, Mohit is looking to explore the dark side of human behavior with this franchise,” informs a source, saying that like the cop-universe, wherein a new character is introduced in the film’s end credits, Mohit, too, wants to introduce a new villain in the upcoming action thriller, whose character sketch is currently being worked upon. “He is also contemplating changing the title from Ek Villain 2 to Do Villain.”

The film was to go on the floors in July, but with the future looking uncertain, following the Coronavirus outbreak, he is using the lock-down to fine-tune his script and is in constant touch with his actors over video calls.

Mohit’s 2014 action thriller, Ek Villain, featured Sidharth Malhotra and Shraddha Kapoor in lead with Riteish Deshmukh stepping into the antagonist’s shoes for the first time.

In the time of social distancing, the actor and his director, Mohit Suri, have taken to video-calls to ensure that work on their reunion project is not interrupted
Himesh Mankad (MUMBAI MIRROR; March 31, 2020)

Mirror was the first to report (January 10) that John Abraham and Aditya Roy Kapur are teaming up for Mohit Suri’s Ek Villain sequel, with both actors playing characters with grey shades. Soon after, we revealed that Disha Patani has been paired opposite John in the film, while Tara Sutaria will play Aditya’s love interest.

The project was in preproduction, when work across films, TV and OTT platforms came to a standstill following the Coronavirus outbreak. Now, with the 21-day lockdown in effect till April 14, the team of the Ekta Kapoor and Bhushan Kumar production has come up with a novel idea to ensure that work doesn’t stop.

According to a source close to the development, Aditya and Mohit have taken to video-conferencing to discuss details of his character. “Adi’s character will be seen in several avatars with corresponding mannerisms for each of them. The next step for him and Mohit is physical prep, for which they will draw up a fitness routine,” the source informed, adding that Ek Villain 2 is expected to go on the floors in the second half of the year. “Adi and Mohit were to meet for reading sessions to understand the psyche of the villainous character, but now they will be working from their respective homes till the lockdown is in place.”

Mohit, who is also designing action and chase sequences for the film while at home, intends to start recce with his team once the situation improves. Point out that Aditya had undergone a transformation for their last film together, Malang, as well and the director says, “When I am working with Adi, I feel the need to give him my best. That’s the nature of our relationship. With this film, we are trying to raise the bar. It’s the first time that Adi is playing a villain.”

Exploring the genre and buying a plot of land to build an elephant shelter tops the to-do list of self-confessed tomboy Disha Patani
Ankita Chaurasia (MUMBAI MIRROR; March 28, 2020)

Like her peers, Disha Patani is staring at a schedule which is suddenly pried open by the Coronavirus-induced shutdown. “We are so used to working all the time that everyone is going through a sort of a breakdown. But it’s necessary to connect with yourself, too,” she philosophises, adding that she hopes her pet dogs, Bella and Goku, and cat, Keety, are happy to have her around.

A few weeks ago, the actress sizzled in a red dress at the success party of her last release, Malang. The do also marked the announcement of Ek Villain 2. Point out that she’s been chasing one high after the other, much like her character Sara in the film, and Disha chuckles, “I am enjoying the diverse roles coming my way. The success of Malang is gratifying because I gave the nod 10 minutes into the narration. It’s not every day that you get a strong character like Sara, someone who exacts revenge.”

In the 2014 revenge-drama, leading lady Shraddha Kapoor dies in the first half, spurring the protagonist into action. Will Ek Villain 2 follow suit? “I died in two of my earlier films (M S Dhoni - The Untold Story and Baaghi 2) and both were successful but, I hope I don’t die in this one. It’s very different from what I’ve done before,” is all Disha will divulge right now. With the pandemic throwing schedules astray, there’s no telling when the film will go on the floors.

With the film, she reunites with director Mohit Suri and insists she couldn’t be luckier. “Nobody presents a girl like Mohit. Thanks to his wife (actress Udita Goswami) and daughter, he connects with women well and portrays them beautifully on screen. He is open to ideas and lets you tweak lines if he thinks it’s justified,” she gushes.

Disha has already shot for Radhe: Most Wanted Bhai, in which she plays Salman Khan’s ladylove. While working with the superstar was one of her career’s highpoints, she can’t stop raving about her director Prabhudheva, who choreographed the new version of the hit Telugu song, “Seeti Maar”. “It’s tough to keep up with him. He’d show me how to do a particular step and it looked so easy because he is the God of dance. But I was unable to do it when I tried. So, he kept making me do retakes till I got it right. I was so intimidated dancing next to him,” she admits.

The actress plays Jackie Shroff’s sister in the film. Since she has worked with his son, Tiger Shroff, in Baaghi 2, you wonder if she noticed any differences between their styles of working. “They are very different; there is a huge age gap. It’s like asking if my father and I are similar,” she shrugs. “He is so cool, takes things easy… And has so much swag. No one can match up to him.”

Now that she’s working with such big names, does she feel she has arrived? Her voice echoes her incredulity, “I have a long way to go to leave a mark. I am working hard every day and hoping that someday, people accept me in a different way,” she says earnestly.

What’s the different way? Disha, considered to be one of the hottest actresses in Bollywood, says that she has always been a sports-loving tomboy. “I grew up on superhero and action films, especially Jackie Chan’s. I want to do an out-and-out action fest,” she reveals, adding that she once wanted to be an Air Force pilot. “Thankfully, I didn’t try pursuing that dream because I have major motion sickness,” she giggles.

Any personal milestones? “There are a lot of places for cats and dogs but nothing for elephants. I want to buy a plot of land for them. Let’s hope it comes true soon,” she concludes.

Actress on board Bhushan Kumar and Ekta Kapoor’s film which also features John Abraham and Disha Patani
Himesh Mankad (MUMBAI MIRROR; March 11, 2020)

Mirror earlier reported (March 2) that Disha Patani had come on board to play the female lead alongside John Abraham in Mohit Suri’s Ek Villain sequel. We’ve now learnt that the makers have finalised casting Tara Sutaria opposite Aditya Roy Kapur in this multi-starrer. With Tara’s entry, the four central characters of the action thriller are locked. Mohit and his team are now ready to take off to a recce.

The Bhushan Kumar and Ekta Kapoor production is scheduled to go on the floors by the middle of this year and readied for January 8 release.

Tara, who made her Bollywood debut Karan Johar’s Student Of The Year 2, will play a singer. A trained singer in real life who has sung in operas, her role is in the Gone Girl space too. “It takes a lifetime to get the nuances of a musician but luckily for me, Tara has been training for this all her life. What more can a filmmaker ask for,” exults Mohit, adding that after seeing Tara’s work, he believes that she has the voice of today. “A new-age, uninhibited voice which comes from a place of honesty. That’s exactly what my character needs in the film.”

Before the film rolls, he will conduct ice-breaking sessions with his actors. Buzz is, Mohit is planning to create his own universe of villains, who will come together in a final showdown. Ek Villain 2 is a step forward in this direction. “We have seen a crossover of superheroes and super cops. With this franchise, Mohit is looking to explore the dark side of human behavior and continue with it in the future,” informs a source close to the development.

Unlike Ek Villain, which was a face-off between good and evil, embodied by Sidharth Malhotra and Riteish Deshmukh, Part 2 is a battle royal between two villains played by John and Aditya.

Actress joins John Abraham, Aditya Roy Kapur on Ek Villain sequel to play a Gone Girl-ish character
Akash Bhatnagar (MUMBAI MIRROR; March 2, 2020)

Mirror had earlier reported (January 6) that Mohit Suri is returning with the second instalment of his 2014 action-thriller, Ek Villain. The director has teamed up with John Abraham and Malang actor Aditya Roy Kapur for Part 2. Now, we’ve learnt that Disha Patani, who had featured alongside Aditya in the film, is on-board the new project as one of the two female leads.

Mohit says, “Disha is the first heroine who walked up to me and said, ‘I want to do more action, beat up people, perform stunts… kick some butt. Just the way boys do it in your films. I want to be the hero’. That’s when I asked her if she would do the Ek Villain sequel and she was game.”

The filmmaker goes on to add that the actress will be seen in a different avatar in the film. “While Malang brought Disha’s free-spirited avatar to light, this one will showcase her as an integral part of the action-franchise.”

According to an industry source, Disha is paired opposite John in the film. “The makers are trying to give the film a different twist by pairing them, considering she was opposite Aditya in their last film. Disha will be seen doing some heavy-duty stunts as well. The hunt for a second leading lady is still on,” the source informed, adding that both the characters are in the Gone Girl zone. The Bhushan Kumar and Ekta Kapoor production will go on the floors later this year and will release on January 8 2021.

Aditya Roy Kapur says that his journey until now has been ‘full of twists and turns’; adds Malang’s success has validated all his hard work
Prashant Singh (HINDUSTAN TIMES; February 26, 2020)

Like all the other cast members, Kalank’s (2019) failure came as a huge dampener for Aditya Roy Kapoor as well. But the actor has clearly kicked off 2020 on a successful note with Malang. Although he has been lapped up by the audiences in his beefed up, action-hero avatar [in Mohit Suri’s directorial], Aditya says he isn’t ready to be put in a box. “Honestly, I am in a place where I want to keep pushing myself,” says the actor, as he readies for multiple releases this year. Excerpts from an interview:

Last year, you completed a decade as an actor in Bollywood. How do you look at the journey? Has it been a fulfilling and thrilling ride?
Undoubtedly, it has been (smiles), full of twists and turns. I started out as a VJ at 18, so you could say that it’s been 15 years for me in showbiz. I must say that I’ve learnt a lot on the way, about the craft of acting and even myself. Along the way, I’ve met some amazing people and have done some very fulfilling work. But somehow, I still feel that I’m just getting started.

Talking about Malang’s success, are you kicked, considering you stepped out of the box for the film?
Absolutely! I had been wanting to step into the action space for a while now, though the opportunity hadn’t presented itself (smiles). With Malang, I knew I’d be taking quite a jump and I was also very curious to see how the audiences react. It seems they’ve accepted me in the action avatar and it’s a huge validation for the hard work that I put in. In fact, lots of people are telling me now to do more of it, even as a few have suggested that I keep up the beefed up, psycho look all the time (laughs).

Personally, how important is the film’s success at this stage of your career, considering you haven’t had a successful film for some time now, until Malang released?
I think it was very important. My last solo release was OK Jaanu (2017) which was quite some time ago. But I was also very cognizant of the fact that I wanted to offer the audiences something new — a different version of myself that they had never seen before from me. And now, I feel the success of Malang validates that thinking.

In Malang, besides your acting skills, your transformation, physique and action avatar also impressed audiences a lot. What’s your take on it?
As an actor, I’ve always tried to change myself, physically, into whatever the character demands. In the past, too, there were subtle changes [as per the parts] but that might not have come across in the way that it did with this role. Besides, I think the lure of getting all beefed up and beating up the bad guys was too good a proposition to let go of (laughs). But in all seriousness, Mohit [Suri; director] was clear from the start that he needed to see a stark difference, not only mentally but physically as well, between the two time frames. People have commented on how the two versions look nothing like each other and are equally believable, which is — very honestly — all you want to hear as an actor.

Going forward, you have an interesting line-up of with films such as Ek Villain 2, Sadak 2 and Ludo among others...
Personally, I am extremely excited. Life’s so funny sometimes, when it rains, it pours. I hadn’t done a film in two years and now I’ve three releases in six months. And the funny thing is that all of it was never planned; these opportunities just presented themselves around the same time. Getting a chance to work with such directors [Mahesh Bhatt, Anurag Basu and Mohit Suri] was something I just couldn’t have missed out on. So yes, I’m really kicked as the roles are very different from one another.

In the 11th year of your career as an actor, how do you see the coming years pan out for you?
I want to try out [parts in] different zones, experiment, and take risks. As an actor, I’m most alive when I’m unsure of the work I’m doing and I want to keep seeking that sensation, regardless of wherever it might take me. As for competition from younger actors, I will just say, ‘bring it on.’ It keeps all of us on our toes.

John Abraham on how to ensure longevity in the industry and why he wants to go easy on workouts
Roshmila Bhattacharya (MUMBAI MIRROR; February 10, 2020)

Mumbai Saga, Attack, Satyameva Jayate 2… Going by the line-up, 2020 will mark the return of John Abraham, the action hero.
Well, barring Attack, which is purely an action entertainer, the other two have elements of action but are not strictly in this genre. Satyameva Jayate 2 tackles social issues in an entertaining way, while Mumbai Saga is the true story of gangster Amar Naik. I wouldn’t say it works or is a safe bet, but it’s something I enjoy doing and with a lot of ease.

Apart from Tiger, no younger actor owns this space like Akshay Kumar, Ajay Devgn, Hrithik Roshan and you. What’s your USP?
Every action hero has a different positioning and I revel in the raw and real. People like to see me as this larger-than-life guy who bangs heads against the wall, lifts and smashes bikes and cars and takes down a lot of people at one time. And I enjoy playing to the gallery sometimes.

Satyameva Jayate played to the gallery and succeeded in its novelty. But will the exaggerated machismo, which is rooted in ’80s cinema, work a second time? The appeal seems to have waned with Marjaavaan...
While we will continue to play to the gallery in our quest for a larger audience SMJ 2 will be very different in its treatment. The original was primarily a film for the masses. This time, we aim to get the classes in, too, by tackling relevant issues. In the action, too, we are steering clear of what was done in Part 1 or in Marjaavaan. John Abraham will still do what someone believes he can, but I promise, it won’t be over-the-top, and it will be super-entertaining.

Buzz is, it’s going to be John versus John versus John. In short, you are playing a triple role.
I hope that’s true, but Milap (Zaveri, writer-director) is still in the process of developing certain characters and he might like me to play other roles, too. But that’s still up for a lot of discussion. So, I can’t say if there’s going to be one, two or three of me in the film.

While you evolved as an actor with films like Parmanu, Batla House and Madras Café, Pagalpanti pulled you down, which was disappointing for the audience.
It was disconcerting for me too. I’m not going to pass on the buck or get into postmortems. I enjoyed making Pagalpanti and I stand by it. The other three films were my productions and while, as an actor I want to entertain, as a producer, I want to make meaningful films. I consciously separate the two, but when they come together, it’s an explosive combo. I’m walking on eggshells with Attack, asking myself if the audience will accept it, but backing my debutant director, Lakshya Raj Anand all the way. It’s a risk, but I believe people are tired of the regular action films and I want to effect a change. I’m not afraid of failure. You are insecure only if you feel the pressure to succeed.

You gave two years exclusively to your own production, Parmanu. Then, just when everyone was beginning to believe you’d focus on one or two films a year, comes a spate of announcements. Have you gone back to being just an actor with the producer taking a backseat?
In advertising, I learnt that half of what you spend goes waste, you just don’t know which half. From all these announcements, I really don’t know which ones will finally go on the floors. I like to take my time with my films, my own productions are all curated over three-four years and are high on content. Nothing is a proposal. As an actor, I love the scripts of both SMJ2 and Ek Villain 2. I wouldn’t force a sequel just to make some money.

Many actors, who have turned producers, have confessed to doing certain films to raise funds for a passion project, a new house, a farm and such-like.
I don’t use money as an excuse to do a film. That would be disastrous in the long run. I believe if you treat money as a by-product and the film is the central issue, the probability of your longevity is higher. I do films because I want to. But I charge what I think I deserve. I’m not putting a gun to a producer’s head. If he feels I am not worth it, we go our separate ways, else we work together. Sometimes I make certain choices, like Pagalpanti, and I stand by them. If our film failed, it’s not the end of the world. Will I stop doing such films? No. If I get a script that I’m entertained by, I will do it.

The word ‘content; has made a comeback in our cinema…
(Laughs) Better late than never.

How does that feel for the man who gambled with Vicky Donor, Madras Café, Parmanu and more recently, Batla House?
I wish they had woken up to this 15 years ago or that I had come 15 years later. That way, I could have bypassed the earlier motions of filmmaking. Ten years ago, if you made a content-driven film and it failed, you would say, “Thank God, I’m making a commercial film next, maybe that will work.” (Smiles) Today, it’s the reverse.

True. Content films are commercial today…
And commercial films are niche. Content is the star. Typical proposals and formulae are not selling any more. We introduced Ayushmann Khurrana seven years ago, I will launch another newcomer and I will convince studios to put their money on young directors and different stories. Besides Attack, I’m working with Nikkhil Advani on Gorkha, which takes off next year. It’s one of the most hard-hitting films I’ve done. Then, there’s Ray with Abhishek Sharma which I can proudly claim is unlike anything you’ve seen before in Indian cinema. Appreciation for a film like Batla House means there’s a lot of pressure on me to perform better and choose the best. The audience today sees me as an intelligent producer and hopefully, an intelligent actor and not just John Abraham, the body (Laughs). That’s a relief; I can go easy on my workouts now.

Talking about physicality, the image of you coming out of the ocean in only a pair of trunks in Dostana is imprinted on the audience’s mind even after a decade...
If I had to give anybody credit for that film, it would be Karan Johar. He handled the subject with so much care and sensitivity. I went to hear it with absolutely no expectations and was laughing throughout the narration. By the end of it, I told myself, “This is really funny, it would be fantastic to do it.” Recently, on Abhishek’s (Bachchan) birthday, I posted a picture of us pouting. It was brave of him to give me a kiss.

And it was brave of you to reveal a lot more for the camera…
When I look back on my introduction scene, I think, “Ufff, how was I so brave to pull down my trunks!” But it was a light, breezy film. It wasn’t vulgar; we got away with it.

Onkar Kulkarni (BOMBAY TIMES; February 2, 2020)

Mohit Suri is a director known for portraying passionate romances on screen. In a conversation with BT, he talks about his Aashiqui 2 (2013) hero Aditya Roy Kapur getting a makeover for the upcoming Malang, why he needs to take a break from thrillers, and why his wife, former actress Udita Goswami, isn’t going to be back on the silver screen. Excerpts...

Out of the 12 movies that you have directed, at least six are romantic thrillers. Aren’t you excited that Malang brings you back to the genre? Were you itching to do a film like this?
Every time I get bored with work and it becomes repetitive, I break the pattern. Just when I thought that I was getting into the pattern of thrillers with films like Awarapan (2007), Crook: It’s Good To Be Bad (2010) and Murder 2 (2011), Aashiqui 2 broke the monotony. At the time, there was this huge buzz about how we were launching or relaunching two actors (Aditya Roy Kapur and Shraddha Kapoor) through the film. Casting was never a focus when I began working on Aashiqui 2. I wanted to break the pattern and so, I directed a romantic film. In fact, Emraan Hashmi, who I was thinking of casting in Aashiqui 2, didn’t want to die at the end of the film and so, we went ahead and cast Aditya. I also directed two romantic dramas — Hamari Adhuri Kahani (2015) and Half Girlfriend (2017) — back to back. Now, to break away from that, I am here with Malang.

This film brings you back with your Aashiqui 2 hero, Aditya. At the trailer launch of the film, you asked him to ‘start working and take responsibility in life’. Could you emphasise on the reason behind saying this?
In 2017, after Half Girlfriend released, Aditya came to me and complained that I work with other actors, and not him. He wanted me to give him some kind of transformation. He knew something was going wrong (in his career). I told him, ‘I can’t change you on screen if you can’t change yourself’. I did Malang with him, because he has worked really hard on his physical attributes and he will also be seen doing action in the film. We got trainers and dietitians in place and he followed a strict regime. It’s showing results, as people are talking about his beefed-up avatar (seen in the trailer). I share this kind of a bond with Adi, where he can walk up to me and open up. Disha (Patani), on the other hand, is extremely guarded. She has recently started talking to me (on a personal level), but doesn’t reveal too much about herself. Maybe she hasn’t yet met someone or worked with someone who she can open up with. I like to have a personal bond with my actors.

The film also stars Anil Kapoor in an interesting role. How did the others match up to his energy levels?
I was reaching out to many actors for the role, but wasn’t convinced. It was Luv Ranjan’s (co-producer) idea to cast Anil Kapoor for the part. For the last few years, he has played positive roles on screen, and then, here we were approaching him to play a bad guy in a thriller. He is extremely enthusiastic. He had only one action scene, but he trained even for that. It was great to have an experienced actor like him on set, who behaves like a newcomer.

After this, you are teaming up with Aditya again for the sequel to Ek Villain (2014). It looks like the two of you have found a comfort zone...
I have seen Aditya’s makeover in Malang, and I thought that he would be the right guy for the sequel to Ek Villain. I don’t believe in roping in my favourites for my films. In fact, John (Abraham, who stars in the sequel) was initally concerned about who he would be having a face-off with, because of his huge frame. He was happy to see an action scene from Malang where Aditya is fighting with some 30 people. John messaged to tell me that I had got the best actor for the film.

You have taken Aditya under your wings. What about Shraddha Kapoor, who you reintroduced in Bollywood with Aashiqui 2 and even cast in Half Girlfriend?
I would definitely like to work with her. We did not team up for Malang because I needed an actress who had an element of enigma associated with her. I couldn’t team up with her in the sequel to Ek Villain because she dies in the first part.

Today, we see a lot of actresses working in movies even after marriage and motherhood. Your wife Udita was an actress before she got married. Does she want to make a comeback?
She was offered a web show, recently. In fact, they were paying her big bucks, too (laughs!). I was encouraging her to take it up, but she refused. She says that she doesn’t enjoy acting. However, I am happy that she is resuming work as a DJ. She took up a career in music after we got married. In between, she did a few gigs, too, but stopped doing it after she got busy with the kids. Now, she has taken up a gig and will be performing soon.

BOMBAY TIMES (January 30, 2020)

Ekta Kapoor and Bhushan Kumar, two of the biggest names in Bollywood, are now joining forces to create films. While Ekta is known for her creative talent, Bhushan is backing some of the biggest Hindi films being made today. Both have created their own success stories, and carved a niche for themselves in the entertainment sector.

Balaji Telefilms and T-Series will jointly produce several films, beginning with the recently announced sequel to the 2014 hit, Ek Villain. Like its first instalment, this one, too,will be helmed by Mohit Suri. The film, which will go on floors in the second half of this year, is scheduled to release on January 8, 2021. With this, Ekta and Bhushan will begin their long-term association to back content-driven cinema, which will also give importance to music. Ekta says, “It is always exciting to work with like-minded individuals and people who share the same passion as you. As producers, we’re always looking to enhance the experience and entertainment quotient for the audience, and the collaboration with Bhushan and T-Series will help us create just that. This association is indeed a mark of a new beginning.”

Bhushan Kumar shares, “Ekta and I have previously collaborated on the music of her films. I am glad that we are joining hands to produce meaningful cinema and bring diverse content to our audience. It will be a powerful collaboration, and I am hoping to present some pathbreaking stories on screen.”

Titas Chowdhury (HINDUSTAN TIMES; January 28, 2020)

Director Mohit Suri’s Aashiqui 2 (2013) made Aditya Roy Kapur an overnight sensation. Seven years later, the duo is back together for Malang. Talking about working with Aditya, the writer-director says, “I’ve seen a huge growth in Aditya. When the narrative of the film is connected to the personal journey of an actor, it hits the right note. He has been my friend since Aashiqui 2. He said to me, ‘I stood by you through hits and flops but you’ve always treated me as a friend and not as an actor. You work with everyone else but me’.”

Mohit reveals that it was Aditya who was instrumental in giving life to Malang. “He was part of the writing process. He took the initiative and pushed us to write the film. Aditya has been pushing the film since the beginning and he made sure that it happened,” he shares.

Mohit says that Aditya is seamlessly transitioning “from a hippie to a hero” in his real life. “It’s similar to his character’s journey in Malang. I always knew that Aditya had the intensity to pull this character off because I had done Aashiqui 2 with him. Maybe, I can get under his skin. I directed him but he walked through this journey on his own,” he says.

Shedding light on Aditya’s preparation for the film, Mohit elaborates, “He changed his physique, body language, and grew a beard. The image that you see of him in the promos and the poster isn’t a touched up image. To build a ripped physique, you need to change your mental makeup, too. To enter the mind of his character, he slept for eight hours, didn’t shave and stopped going out.”

The Hamari Adhuri Kahani (2015) director adds, “When I asked him why filmmakers don’t see and explore this side of him, he said that nobody has given him that chance yet. I wouldn’t have cast him in [my next] Ek Villain 2 if he didn’t have this kind of a mental makeup. His journey from the hippie to the hero and then from the hero to the villain is impressive. He has grown up immensely over the last six years.”

Mohit wishes that Malang gives Aditya the due that he deserves. “I hope for him that Malang does really well. When a person takes all his cards and places them on the table and says that this is it, it normally does fall into place. I enjoy working with him. There’s a certain amount of faith that we both have in each other,” signs off Mohit.

Aditya Roy Kapur on link-up rumours with Diva Dhawan; admits it’s been a tricky run at the b-o but doesn’t believe any of the films were wrong decisions
Akash Bhatnagar (MUMBAI MIRROR; January 24, 2020)

After intense turns in his last few films, Aditya Roy Kapur is ready to dive into the deep end of the dark spectrum. In Mohit Suri’s upcoming revenge-drama Malang, the actor plays an action hero for the first time. What is it about dark characters that appeals to him? “Dark characters can be really liberating. As a hero, you must always be right but negative roles don’t have such preconditions,” he reasons, adding that action and playing two sides of a character that are five years apart was challenging. “Usually, you get time to train before you start such a film. But, I was doing Kalank and had to jump straight into Malang. Having grown up watching action films and idolising Arnold Schwarzenegger, Sylvester Stallone, Jean-Claude Van Damme and Jackie Chan, were the only prep I had, which kind of channelled through this character.”

Aditya’s first solo hit came with Aashiqui 2 in 2013. It has been a constant search for the next one ever since, but the actor doesn’t mind the wait. “Yes, it’s been a tricky run, but these things play out only over time,” he maintains. “Films are a mysterious thing. No one knows what will work, and if anyone claims they do, don’t believe them. I find it tough to analyse my failures, but I never considered them wrong decisions. I believed in those films and gave my all to each.”

Last year, he was a part of Kalank, one of the most anticipated multi-starrers of the year, but the film didn’t work. The actor doesn’t believe that his character was weakly-written. “Dev had a lot to explore within the narrative and that made the script special. Every character felt whole,” he asserts. Remind him of his Afro look from his second film, Action Replayy and Aditya bursts into laughter, “I’m proud of that look. Maybe, it wasn’t the quintessential Hindi film hero look but I enjoyed it.”

Point out that he hasn’t collaborated with filmmaker-elder brother Siddharth Roy Kapur in a long time, and other Roy Kapur says that as a family (along with actor-brother Kunaal) they ensure that their respective careers remain separate from each other. “Even the films I did for him back in the day were driven by the director, in terms of casting, and not him,” he clarifies. But Siddharth has been looking for a hero to play the lead in the Rakesh Sharma’s biopic for a while now. Insisting that he doesn’t “even know what the film is about”, Aditya elaborates, “I don’t know where he is at with that film. He has obviously got a vision, but I haven’t even read the script.”

He is all praise for Anurag Basu, the director of the upcoming crime-anthology Ludo. “Working with sir is like working with a master. His understanding of filmmaking is so broad; you just submit to his world. He makes you feel like you can try anything, and that’s how great things come out,” he shares, moving on to another upcoming project, Sadak 2, with Alia Bhatt. Referring to his cameo in the actress’s 2016 release, Dear Zindagi, he reveals, “What you saw there was a starter. Now, you will have the main course.” Then, there’s another reunion with Mohit—Ek Villain 2—which, he promises, “explores a new world”.

Mention the intermittent reportage on his on-again-off-again relationship with Diva Dhawan and Aditya appears to be caught off guard. “She gave a nice statement, saying there is no truth to it and I reiterated it. I guess it gathered steam after we went out for dinner. We have been friends for years and hadn’t met in a while. But we got papped and that’s where it started from. Marriage is something far-fetched for me. I am in no hurry.”

Mohit Suri explains how he is dialling up the drama with his next directorial; reveals one of the female leads will be Gone Girl-ish
Himesh Mankad (MUMBAI MIRROR; January 10, 2020)

Mirror had earlier reported (January 6) that John Abraham and Aditya Roy Kapur have collaborated for the first time on the sequel of 2014 romantic-thriller, Ek Villain, which will be produced by Bhushan Kumar and Ekta Kapoor. Like the original, which featured Sidharth Malhotra, Riteish Deshmukh and Shraddha Kapoor as leads, Ek Villain 2 will also be directed by Mohit Suri.

The filmmaker explains that part two warranted a fresh cast as it is not a “direct sequel”. “Ekta and I were looking to create a whole franchise on villains. Shraddha (leading lady of Aashiqui 2 and Ek Villain), Sidharth and Riteish (Ek Villain co-stars) have been a part of my biggest films and I love them, but this is a different story, with new characters that refer to the older ones,” he elaborates.

While the original was a tale of conflict between a hero and a villain, with Shraddha as the catalyst, Mohit confirms that the second instalment is more of a fight between bad versus worse. “It’s essentially villain versus villain. Both Adi and John are playing negative characters,” he shares, adding that the call to cast the former was taken after watching glimpses of his intense turn in his upcoming directorial, Malang. “We are going to push the bar further with Villain 2,” he promises. And what led him to cast John? “I was an assistant on John’s first film and we have been trying to work with each other for a while. This script proved to be a great platform for the two of us to come together and I am excited about it. We start rolling in June.”

The filmmaker goes on to list out the challenges of taking a franchise forward. “Aashiqui 2 was also a part of a series but a completely different film. While it was being shot, a senior person asked me to recreate 'Dheere Dheere' from Aashiqui as one can’t make a sequel without mentioning this song.” Then, he says, it dawned on him that he had to make music for today’s generation and not just be stuck in the idea of a franchise. “So, I believe sequels should work as independent films, too.”

Speaking of soundtrack, the Ek Villain album attained chartbuster status. Is he contemplating bringing back one of its songs with part 2? “I haven’t decided yet, but if I want to, I would recreate ‘Galliyan’,” he reveals.

Buzz is, the makers had approached an A-list actress to play the female lead in Ek Villain 2, but Mohit reveals that said names “are not looking at themselves in this (narrative) space and I respect that. There are two girls in the film. One of them is pretty much a villain as well. It’s a Gone Girl-ish zone and I have to get casting right.”