Showing posts with label Extraction. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Extraction. Show all posts
Bollywood’s homegrown kids kick off career with one-of-a-kind The Archies stage-gig at Netflix Tudum 2023
9:57 AM
Mayank Shekhar (MID-DAY; June 19, 2023)
The song ‘This is my story, suno’—primarily in English, made in Mumbai, from Zoya Akhtar’s forthcoming release, The Archies, which is peak American pop-culture—rent the air, at a massive park packed with wildly screeching fans in Sao Paulo, Brazil.
This is how Bollywood’s homegrown next-gen made their onstage debut, shaking a leg for their film—namely, among others, Agastya Nanda (Amitabh Bachchan’s grandson), Khushi Kapoor (Sridevi’s daughter), Suhana Khan (Shah Rukh Khan’s daughter)!
To sense the importance Netflix itself has accorded The Archies, it was the only piece of content showcased from Asia on the global stage. Also, the only performance in what was a night of sneak peeks, and conversations with the stars, at Tudum, the OTT platform’s first ever, live, global fan-event.
The Galia Womance
If there is another example of how the globe seemed one, consider Gal Gadot, who spoke on mid-day at the red carpet, and she couldn’t stop glowing about her co-star, Alia Bhatt: “I was a big fan of Alia from before. I’d seen RRR, and we were looking for someone fresh, with the ability to portray layered characters, and who could look beautiful as well. Alia was the perfect choice.”
All those adjectives, of course, apply to Gadot herself, who, with actor Jamie Dornan and Bhatt, in a shimmering green cocktail dress, presented the trailer of their film, Heart Of Stone. What’s Bhatt’s expectations, in terms of response—surely there will be the usual, from desi fans, about the length of her footage in the picture’s promo!
“Haan, woh toh hoga hi [that’ll happen, for sure]. But I’m not worried about that. Having seen the film, what I’m interested in is how people respond to the story,” Bhatt told mid-day, letting us in on how she’d travelled to Sao Paulo by herself, for barely two days (and back to Mumbai), while that’s how long the return-trip itself takes, travelling to the Americas’ most populous city.
It was indeed a big, international moment for Bhatt, who plays a character, (with the most ‘Bollywood’ name ever), Keya Dhawan, in the film. She walked the red carpet among the foreign press—the iconic Entertainment Tonight crew from Hollywood to our left; Korean, Mexican, Australian press, to our right—seemingly looking at ease. Casually revelling in the expected attention; hanging equally with TikTok/Instagram influencers, also, in the press pit.
Bhatt forays into a massive production after Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Gangubai Kathiawadi, with a Tom Harper directorial. How different from each other could that be? “Filmmaking on every set, all over the world, is the same—the same chaos, and working towards a common vision,” she said.
Thor’s Indian affair
Going reverse, action star Chris Hemsworth spoke to mid-day about how he loved shooting in India for the first Extraction film (the sequel has just dropped online): “It was one of the best experiences in my career. And it had to do with the people.”
“It’s never happened before that we’d shoot with 2,000-3,000 people lining up the street, watching. And as soon as they’d hear, action, they’d go quiet. The immediate reaction to the shots, after, was so gratifying. We make films for fans!”
What surprised us about the Sao Paulo crowd was actually the loud, public fandom for the show, Never Have I Ever (locally titled Eu Nunca), with Brazilian young adults screaming together, “Devi, Devi, Devi…”
Which is the character of Tamilian descent in the US that Maitreyi Ramakrishnan plays in the rom-com that one would’ve largely believed to be a desi diaspora series. Ramakrishnan, despite a sore throat, was also the main emcee at the Tudum event.
What about a series so culturally specific could resonate so deeply worldwide, we asked Ramakrishnan, at the red-carpet. She said, “Number one, our show is kinda funny—who doesn’t love that—and that we touch on human issues and emotions that are universal.
‘Born in wrong country’
“Especially, for South Asians and people of colour — we get to see someone that looks like us, and we get to see them in every scene. Not as best-friend, or characters that come in for a bit and go.
“I’ve been getting Brazilian fans telling me they’re gonna make me Brazilian now, and that I was born in the wrong country. I was born in Canada, and I don’t think it works that way, you know!” Never Have I Ever has now wrapped with the final, fourth season. It was an emotional farewell for the lead cast (Ramakrishnan, Jaren Lewison, Darren Barnet) on the Tudum stage.
Evidently, desi people were being seen, but that’s probably because that’s where our eyes were. The event was as multi-ethnic as it could get. Brazilians are primarily Portuguese speaking people. The electronic board on the gigantic screen displayed translations for all that was being spoken in English at the concert venue, with all spectators on their feet.
Comic-con vibes
Their unmitigated, mass-love for global content across genres — animation (Avatar: The Last Airbender), martial-arts (Cobra Kai), action-adventure (Outer Banks), comedy (Heartstopper), besides the well-known, huge Squid Game, or Bridgerton, and Queen Charlotte—might shame most cultures, often more obsessed with familiarly local fare.
You could sense the same mania, with enthusiasts lining up to experience physical pavilions of shows at the ‘spoiler night’—Netflix’s own ‘comic-con’ in Sao Paulo. Given the trailers that premièred at Tudum, on our wait-list has got to be the WWII series, All The Light We Cannot See, starring Mark Ruffalo, and 3 Body Problem, sci-fi, based on the Chinese novel of the same name by Liu Cixin. For the fandom we noticed, on our watch-list is certainly the Brazilian series, Sintonia.
Schwarzenegger swag
Barring Henry Cavill (representing the series, The Witcher), the loudest cheers to the stage, naturally, remained reserved for Arnold Schwarzenegger, 75. He’s returned to the screen with the show, Fubar, being renewed now for a second season.
Schwarzenegger has taken on a playful, professional role of ‘chief action officer’ for Netflix. By virtue of which, after playing bloopers from Fubar, he announced actor Linda Hamilton as joining the cast of Stranger Things S05.
As for the Indian Archies gang, which entered the red-carpet with director Akhtar doing press interviews on their behalf—their dance performance, while fun and frolicky, seemed rather short, at 40 seconds. Something the young cast had told mid-day about, before the event.
Which is just as well, given how much content got previewed/packed into Tudum. If the two-hour, Super Bowl style, high-energy show in the Southern Hemisphere’s windy, wintry park, had gone on any louder/longer—we could have lost our ears, or legs.
Gal Gadot, Alia Bhatt and Arnold Schwarzenegger
We thought it would be exciting to have one of the best Indian actors, Dhanush, join The Gray Man-Russo Brothers
8:10 AM
Despite their expertise in the MCU world, director duo Joe and Anthony Russo discuss how The Gray Man’s set-pieces weren’t easy to pull off
Uma Ramasubramanian (MID-DAY; July 22, 2022)
In the run-up to the release of The Gray Man today, the Russo Brothers — Joe and Anthony — have been on a whirlwind promotional tour. Their latest stop — India. The director duo are fairly familiar with the country, having previously shot here. Their Netflix offering has a strong India connect as well, as Dhanush features in it alongside Ryan Gosling, Chris Evans and Ana de Armas.
For Joe, a visit to the country takes him back to his Avengers days. “We have had a lot of experience with India, starting with promoting Avengers: Infinity War [2018] and Endgame [2019]. We also shot Extraction [2020] here. The Indian film market is as vibrant and exceptional as Hollywood. It is a rival to Hollywood, and has some amazing performers,” he says.
The director is glad that with The Gray Man, he got the opportunity to explore talent from a world far removed from Hollywood. “Not many actors [from India] have performed on an international scale. This movie is so global that characters from all over the world are coming to kill The Gray Man. We thought it would be exciting to have one of the best Indian [actors], Dhanush, join the film. He plays the main assassin who is hunting down Ryan’s character.”
The screen adaptation of Mark Greaney’s novel series of the same name revolves around a CIA spy Sierra Six, who is on the run after he accidentally uncovers the agency’s secrets. One would think a slick spy thriller playing out across different gorgeous locations would be easy to make for the directors who helmed four ambitious MCU films.
So, imagine our surprise when Joe says, “This was an exhausting movie to make. There are a lot of action sequences, [mounted] on a large scale. Also, we like to make changes while shooting. So, the actors would learn certain choreography, and would freak out when we would come up with a new idea on the set.”
For Dhanush, shooting his second international film after The Extraordinary Journey Of The Fakir (2019) was a novel experience. He says, “We were making this film when COVID-19 was at its peak. So, we had a lot of restrictions, but we worked around them. At the end of the day, filmmaking is the same everywhere. But to evolve as an actor, it’s great to learn, find new territories and new challenges.”
Coming soon: A ton of foreign films and series shoots in India
8:44 AM
To push India as a shooting hub for foreign projects, Film Facilitation Office (FFO),which comes under the I&B Ministry, has been ensuring timely permissions for film shoots. In fact, this year, at Cannes, the India Pavilion will focus on positioning India as the ‘Content Hub Of The World’
Niharika Lal (BOMBAY TIMES; May 16, 2022)
Over the last few years, the I&B Ministry’s efforts to make film shooting an easier and more seamless experience for foreign filmmakers seems to have paid off, with India becoming an increasingly popular shooting destination with foreign filmmakers. Even as the Film Facilitation Office (FFO) — which comes under the ministry — collaborates with states and central agencies to ensure timely permissions for film shoots of foreign projects — this year, at Cannes, the India Pavilion will focus on positioning India as the ‘Content Hub Of The World’ and establishing international partnerships in film shooting, distribution, co-production, and more.
As a result, while the pandemic may have put a temporary pause on foreign shoots, post reopening, several series and movies from across the world are lined up for shoot in India in the coming months. In addition to this, post-July, over 10 Hollywood and other foreign projects will be shot in India, say line producers.
KASHMIR AND VARANASI TO KARNATAKA: FOREIGN FILMMAKERS SHOOT ACROSS THE LENGTH AND BREADTH OF INDIA
Rahul Singh, a line producer who recently shot the Czech film Two Words As A Key in India, says, “We filmed in Varanasi, in hilly areas, at railway platforms and in trains. Broadly, for foreign filmmakers, prime Indian locations are — Varanasi, Delhi, Haridwar, Rishikesh, Spiti, Jaipur-Jodhpur and snow-capped mountains of Kashmir.”
A producer adds, “A few upcoming projects will also be shot in cities such as Kanpur and Bhopal, where foreign filmmakers intend to create the Bombay of 60s-70s. While metros have undergone massive changes, these small towns have retained that look, so they are preferred for such projects.”
Deborah Benattar, Indian producer of several French films such as The Best Is Yet To Come, Animal (a French documentary, shot in Mumbai, which was one of Cannes Film Festival 2021’s selections), Fahim (shot in Kolkata), Maya (in Goa), says, “We just completed the shoot of a French film, The Braid, in Uttar Pradesh and Karnataka. As far as we know, it was the first foreign feature film shot in India after foreign filmmakers were allowed to shoot in India amid the pandemic, and we had around 120 cast and crew members. The film has been shot at three railway stations. A special train was also booked for the shoot. Before the pandemic hit, the Swiss film And Tomorrow You Will Be Dead was filmed in Rajasthan in February and March 2020. We created Pakistan in Rajasthan.”
Tanvi Gandhi, an independent film producer, who recently finished an Estonian production, Wait Of Light, a film on ragpickers in Delhi, says, “I took permissions through the FFO and was pleasantly surprised by how smooth it was. I was getting follow-up emails and calls from Delhi Tourism, and it was quite a great experience. When foreign filmmakers come to India, their shoot is specific to the script. Often, they want to show locations that the global audience can identify India with — be it backwaters, rural spaces and places through which they can show the beauty of the country.”
TIBET, AFGHANISTAN, PAKISTAN: FILMMAKERS RECREATE FOREIGN LOCALES IN INDIA
Indian producers point out that foreign filmmakers, be it big-budget producers or those with modest budgets, have always been inclined to shoot in India as the country offers a variety of shoot locations. And now, with a relatively easier process, they are also recreating other foreign locales, like Tibet, Afghanistan, Pakistan and Bangladesh, in India.
Tanvi Gandhi, an independent film producer, says, “The sand dunes of Afghanistan can be recreated in Rajasthan’s deserts. If shot smartly, some areas of Himachal and Kashmir can be shown as European countries. The rough terrain of Ladakh can be recreated as Tibet, as in the case of the French film To The Top. Even the dense forests of the northeast can be shown as southeast Asia.”
Pravesh Sahni, Indian producer of several international projects, adds, “We have recreated Pakistan in Chandigarh and Patiala for films like Zero Dark Thirty, where we even recreated US Embassy’s building in Pakistan. In recent years, for Chris Hemsworth’s Extraction, Bangladesh was recreated in Ahmedabad. Our job is to find identical locations, and then the art department creates signage and the look.”
‘RAILWAY PERMISSIONS HAVE BECOME SO EASY NOW, TOO’
Line producers point out that while airport permissions remain a bottleneck for foreign projects, filming in India has become easier even in areas where permissions were difficult earlier. Back in 2011, a train sequence — which included a scene on top of a moving train — for the James Bond film Skyfall couldn’t be shot in India because of issues between the production team and the Indian Railways.
Pravesh Sahni, Indian producer of several international projects, says, “The Indian railways is a unique entity in itself, and foreign productions often want to include a few shots of railways. Lately, the permission in railways has become quite easy, which was not the case before.”
Although, I have an action-hero image, I have barely done action scenes in our movies here-Randeep Hooda
7:58 AM
Rachana Dubey (BOMBAY TIMES; July 5, 2021)
A year ago, had everything worked as planned, Randeep Hooda’s international film, Extraction, which was released on a digital platform, would have had a mega premiere in the US. The actor is now in talks for more international projects and an announcement might be made soon. When asked if he has achieved what he intended to with the film, Randeep says, “Yes, I have — I have widened my audience base and opportunities for the future, built great relationships, and finally, done action and combat scenes in my movie. Although, I have an action-hero image, I have barely done action scenes in our movies here. So, that was a new genre to explore, and it came to me at a time when I had spent three years prepping for a movie that was shelved. I was in a dark space.”
Around the time of the film’s digital premiere, Randeep had said, “Maybe they didn’t like my acting,” when he was asked about Bollywood’s cold reaction to his Hollywood project. Bring this up, and he shares, “I was asked that Bollywood which lauds a poster launch, a teaser launch or a blink-and-miss appearance of an actor in a Hollywood film had not said much about my work. I responded to that saying that maybe they didn’t like my acting man…”
Randeep, who was recently seen in Radhe: Your Most Wanted Bhai, admits that he does find himself in a better place on the international film circuit. “Their industry has just opened up and conversations have begun. Talks are on and I hope one of them materializes soon. They don’t want people to travel there right now looking at the situation that exists here and everywhere else in the world.”
After a two-decade career, one wonders if Randeep, who has barely had 50 releases, has figured where he’d like to head from here. Randeep says, “I want to do more action films now. I enjoy that genre and want to expand myself as an actor where I need to prepare and change myself in every way and experience another life. I feel fortunate that 20 years down the line, filmmakers find me exciting and unexplored. I am offered challenging work, and I hope it continues. I hope that I can keep doing challenging things till the day I die. I saw Anthony Hopkins in The Father. To win an Oscar for the best actor at his age is so amazing. It tells actors what they can do even when they get older. He’s brilliant. There is no end to roles and craft. It keeps getting better as long as you stay interesting and interested.”
The actor further adds, “Staying relevant is about a whole juggernaut of things that you need to do, which are not entirely in your hands. Keeping yourself interested in your work, trying to be better at it and translating thoughts into your work while connecting with yourself is in your control. I am going to keep doing that.”
I was chasing Salman Khan in Kick, I trained him in Sultan and I am now testing him in Radhe-Randeep Hooda
8:04 AM
Rachana Dubey (BOMBAY TIMES; May 12, 2021)
In one of your recent social media posts, you gave a shout out to help with oxygen concentrators in the battle against Coronavirus. How did you get involved with this work?
During the last wave of the pandemic, I had done whatever I could to help people. Back then, people didn’t have basics, daily amenities, and so many had been laid off from their jobs. This time, the fight is for oxygen. I have been associated with Khalsa Aid for many years now. We decided to tackle the most important and immediate requirement - oxygen concentrators. Some patients can manage with these devices at home for their oxygen requirement. By getting hospitalised, they occupy beds that can be used for critical patients. Concentrators are fewer in number. So, we decided to help out with it. Once a patient reaches out to us, we either home deliver it or have someone from their side pick it up from us. We collect it back once the patient is alright and pass it to the next one who needs it. We’ve got a tremendous response. Today, everyone is trying to help. In fact, I was also planning to go on the ground and assist, but I was asked to refrain from it to avoid chaos. So, I am doing whatever I can from home.
Amid this crisis, your film Radhe: Your Most Wanted Bhai is releasing. It has waited a year to see this day. Did you feel restless and impatient at any point, during this waiting period?
Well, as an artiste, you don’t have much control over the timing of a film’s release. There are bigger problems at hand and people are suffering a lot more than a film not making it to theatres on a preset date. So, one does not feel much about it being delayed. In the past, I have been guilty of preparing for a film for two-three years, and after that, things didn’t move. So, waiting is okay for me. During the last wave of the pandemic, my international project Extraction released and I was happy that we were able to entertain people and take their minds off a gloomy situation temporarily. Around the same time this year, we have Radhe... it doesn’t matter if it’s a year late.
You have worked with Salman Khan before and there seems to be a certain ease when you appear on the screen together. Whether you play the villain, his coach or someone chasing him — there is an unmissable camaraderie there.
Salman and I have hung out together and we have a friendship that goes back years. We get along well and I really like the guy. There is a camaraderie there which exists off-screen, too. I am very happy with my collaborations with Salman. I was chasing him in Kick, I trained him in Sultan and I am now testing him in Radhe... I think this progression was all planned by him (laughs!). The camaraderie on screen works out well when both the actors concentrate on their parts. Radhe... is an action entertainer and a story of cleaning the city of a drug ring, something that was being talked about last year. It’s an action entertainer. I worked with a cool action team from Korea and a team from the South, which, I would agree, is quite a blend. Prabhudheva keeps it simple and it’s not taxing to work with him. It’s a quintessential story about the good and bad guy and how the bad guy is taken down.
At this stage in your career, with 20 years and numerous roles in movies across genres, what do you seek in a prospective film?
There are many reasons I would say yes to a film — it has to primarily offer something new and exciting for me to do. I don’t like repeating myself. Of course, working with friends is an incentive. A scale like that of Extraction is something that also ticks a box. Primarily, I seek a story that should be something worthy of my time. I have worked with over 20 new directors in my career, so that has never been a constraint. At this stage in my career, with a few experiences in the past, the rest of the people attached to a film also matter a lot now. I have had many movies which didn’t get the perception and the release that they deserved.
Digital platforms have opened doors for actors to break new grounds, while the content is assessed purely on its merit. With Extraction,and now, Radhe..., which releases simultaneously on OTT, does the medium hold more appeal for you?
The longer format is interesting indeed, and I am doing a show, too. But the long format shooting is a new thing for me, and I don’t know yet if I am excited. Shooting for one show is like filming three-four films. This is a new territory and no doubt that new things are being explored. But I am not switching to the digital platform entirely. I still have that excitement about watching a film and being collectively infected with people’s energies in a cinema hall. That medium is still something! Over my career of two decades, I have delved into all sorts of roles across genres — villain, hero, satellite character — the work involved is the same in all these. I have to be truthful to the script, and the rest will happen. A lot of content comes my way, and some of it really excites me. I have enough on my plate to keep me busy; in fact, dates sometimes are an issue now. But I have a good blend on my table.
Lastly, in the pandemic, many actors have made their relationships formal and tied the knot. Have you been thinking on those lines?
Well, I am in the process, I guess. That’s all. That’s my answer — we are all progressing in life and let’s see where it takes us.
What Mirzapur 2 did for me is special. I haven’t got this much recognition so far-Priyanshu Painyuli
8:23 AM
Shreya Mukherjee (HINDUSTAN TIMES; January 6, 2021)
Priyanshu Painyuli had a great 2020, as the actor started the year portraying the role of Amir Asif in Extraction and ended it playing Robin in Mirzapur 2. Both the characters, according to him, redefined his journey and gave him recognition. He’s thankful to the web for churning out well-etched narratives that connect with the audience.
“Web is definitely providing us with a ground to experiment. The characters would have been different if they were in films. And the fact that both are web projects, it does help you reach a wider audience,” he says.
Looking forward to start the next season of Mirzapur hopefully in 2021, Painyuli adds that he knew about the “craziness” around the show, but experienced it firsthand only after being a part of it. “What Mirzapur 2 did for me is special. I haven’t got this much recognition so far from any other project. Robin and his ‘Yeh Bhi Theek hai’ dialogue have resonated with the audience. There are so many memes and jokes around it,” he says.
Painyuli, who made his web debut with Bang Baaja Baaraat in 2015, says nobody saw such upcoming web boom at that point of time.
“The show was experimental and did well. But there’s a catch. In a theatre, when someone buys a ticket, they usually sit through those two hours. But a web show need to keep the interest level high, or else the viewer would switch to some other show,” says Painyuli, who’s worried that the move around censorship of web content might affect the authenticity on the medium. “You can stick to authentic stories on the web while some demand certain things. I didn’t find anything wrong in the nudity in Game of Thrones or cuss words in Mirzapur 2 because those worlds are like that,” he notes.
The size of the screen is no longer the yardstick to measure stardom-Athiya Shetty
8:25 AM
Athiya Shetty sees promise in the web space for actors to hone their craft
Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; August 30, 2020)
The top brass of Bollywood, including Saif Ali Khan and Akshay Kumar, has turned its attention towards the web series. But it is Extraction actor Chris Hemsworth who Athiya Shetty points towards when making a case for the platform's potential. "His case [is an example of how the] biggest actors are now experimenting with the platform," says Shetty, who has spent her time in the lockdown revisiting shows and movies that moved her. "My dad [Suniel Shetty] and I finished The Family Man in two days because it was fantastic. I followed it with Michelle Obama's documentary, Becoming. Such creatively [satisfying] shows helped me reassess my life. I have now realised the importance of playing it by the day. A pause makes us see the changes [we need to bring about] within us. I want to slow down, pick my learnings, and create a better world."
Shetty, who hasn't had too much luck professionally, hopes to leverage the opportunities to make bold career moves. She says, "The size of the screen is no longer the yardstick to measure stardom."
Presenting lockdown list - Dil Bechara, Special Ops emerge most popular film and show
8:43 AM
As stay-at-home period runs into its sixth month, viewership tracking firm reveals Dil Bechara, Special Ops have emerged most popular film and show
Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; August 26, 2020)
In a domino effect of sorts, the Coronavirus lockdown caused a shift in the entertainment consumption patterns of the Indian population. A country that has had more than its fill of dramas about shape-shifting serpents and family feuds turned to digital entertainment, thus discovering the grim journey of Hathoda Tyagi or rooting for Sushmita Sen as the unlikely queen of a drug cartel. As we enter the sixth month of lockdown, it is only fitting to determine which series and direct-to-web releases grabbed maximum eyeballs and dominated the mainstream consciousness.
Refusing to divulge numbers, Shailesh Kapoor, CEO, Ormax Media, reveals that direct-to-web releases, though a recent phenomenon in the Hindi film industry, found an eager audience. "Dil Bechara has been the top film by a wide margin, followed by Gulabo Sitabo, Extraction, Shakuntala Devi and Gunjan Saxena: The Kargil Girl, in that order. These are based on estimates," he says. The results are arrived at basis the social media buzz generated by each offering, its reach and appeal.Even as Paatal Lok captured the imagination of the country post its May 15 release and Jitendra Kumar sealed his position as an Internet star with the endearing Panchayat, Kapoor reveals that it is, in fact, an espionage thriller that tops the list of the most-watched Indian web series. "Disney+ Hotstar's Special Ops fared the best. Amazon Prime's Paatal Lok comes second, followed by Voot Select's Asur." Amazon Prime's Panchayat and Disney+ Hotstar's Aarya round off the top five shows.
He observes that TV consumption increased by 40 per cent during the lockdown, with viewers tuning in to news on a daily basis. The top five television offerings between April and June, when old shows were being rerun, were Ramayan (Doordarshan), Mahabharat (Doordarshan), Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah (Sony SAB), Mahabharat (Star Plus) and Shri Krishna (DD). "With fresh episodes being aired from July, Kundali Bhagya has become the most-watched show followed by Taarak Mehta..., Anupamaa, The Kapil Sharma Show and India's Best Dancer."
Extraction is a paisa vasool film-Priyanshu Painyuli
8:13 AM
Extraction actor Priyanshu Painyuli preps for his next with Taapsee Pannu and virtual play
Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; May 20, 2020)
As the antagonist in the month-old Netflix release, Extraction, Priyanshu Painyuli successfully broke the mould of being a boy-next-door. The actor, who is best known for his role in Vikramaditya Motwane's Bhavesh Joshi Superhero, played the Bangladeshi don Amir Ali, Chris Hemsworth's nemesis. Backed by the Russo Brothers, the film opened to a rapturous round of applause from the audience, who have inevitably shifted to OTT platforms for their Friday fix of entertainment.The actor tells mid-day, "It's a paisa vasool film and picks you up if you are feeling low. When I auditioned [for it], I didn't know it was a Russo Brothers' film. It's not every day that you appear in a pivotal role in a film made by the people who made Avengers. Chris Hemsworth and David Harbour are huge stars and brilliant actors. It's the kind of film that requires you to up your game. I couldn't have asked for a better international debut."
With Extraction behind him, Painyuli says he harbours dreams of doing action on screen and it may come true with his next, Rashmi Rocket, headlined by Taapsee Pannu. "We were to shoot this month but it stands suspended for now. I play the role of an army officer. So, I ensure to workout regularly at home to avoid taking too long to attain the right level of fitness required for the film."
Amid the Coronavirus lockdown, the actor also seems to be busy with his virtual theatre act titled Lockdown Love. After the success of the English version, which saw him pair up with Shriya Pilgaonkar, Painyuli will feature in the Hinglish version of the same show with Radhika Madan, Kubbra Sait, Shikha Talsania, Siddharth Menon and Saurabh Nayar. "We are adapting a few more characters from the original play. It's about three girls and three boys finding each other through a series of weird dates. Who would have thought that we'd be performing live for 45 minutes in front of our phone cameras? It is directed by Sheena Khalid and the story was adapted by Roshan Abbas from an old script, which was revisited and adapted from Jonathan Rand's Check Please," explains the actor.
I have indulged in a lot of action in Radhe-Randeep Hooda
8:41 AM
After his mercenary act in Extraction, Randeep Hooda hopes to be rediscovered as an action hero with Salman's Radhe
Shaheen Parkar (MID-DAY; May 10, 2020)
When not bingeing on the Israeli series Fauda, Randeep Hooda keeps busy with household chores during the Coronavirus lockdown. "Cooking, baking, and doing the dishes have suddenly become exotic activities," he grins, taking a dig at B-Town stars whose social media feeds are full of such posts.
The PR gimmicks hold little charm for the reticent actor who prefers to stay away from the media glare. That has been particularly difficult over the past fortnight since the Netflix film, Extraction, dropped online. Hooda won glowing reviews for his assassin act in the Chris Hemsworth-fronted action thriller.
"Being an action hero is every actor's dream. You grow up watching action flicks like Rambo. So, with the film, I fulfilled one of my desires of essaying a gun-toting assassin and indulging in hand-to-hand combat," says Hooda. Known for his penchant for grey characters, he hopes the Hollywood production makes the industry see him in "a new light".
This year saw Hooda back on the scene after a hiatus. With Extraction and Love Aaj Kal behind him, he is looking forward to Radhe: Your Most Wanted Bhai that marks his reunion with Salman Khan after Kick (2014) and Sultan (2016). "Given the current scenario, the film is unlikely to release on Eid. I have indulged in a lot of action in Radhe, too. I busted my knee cap during one of the scenes and had to be hospitalised."
After almost two decades in the industry, Hooda has learnt to take professional ups and downs in his stride. "Before Extraction came my way, I had no work for three years. But, I did not let the situation get the better of me." His dream project, Rajkumar Santoshi's Battle Of Saragarhi, which was announced in 2016, did not take shape. He grew his hair and facial fuzz and remained in character for over two years, waiting for the film to roll. "When I realised it was not happening, I went to the gurudwara, apologised and then chopped off my hair."
Chris Hemsworth said he didn't benefit from traditional gym training for his action films-Randeep Hooda
8:17 AM
Polo player Randeep Hooda explains how training with physical genius Chris Hemsworth for Extraction made him ditch his traditional methods
Sonia Lulla (MID-DAY; April 22, 2020)
Despite being armed with years of equestrian training, Randeep Hooda recalls being "daunted" to commence physical prep work with Chris Hemsworth for Extraction. The actor's fears were not unwarranted when one considers how Hemsworth punched his way through 22 Marvel films as the superhero Thor, only to go on and launch one of the most successful fitness platforms in Hollywood.
"We'd train together almost each day. Chris said he didn't benefit from traditional gym training for his action [films] and hence took to [functional and agility work]. When I'd ask him why he'd do shoulder presses with one hand, he'd tell me how it worked in improving his core strength. [I too changed the way] I used the muscles of the core and shoulders," says Hooda, adding that despite being as famous as he is, the Australian star's demands during his India sojourn were rather trifling.
"The only thing he wanted was organic food, which his [nutritionist] would cook for him. All the stuff that his team did, inspired me to change the traditional way I [trained]. I took to compound movements, and learnt the importance of [practising] bodyweight [exercises]. Developing presence of mind and command over the body to enable it to do everything you want it to do, was [my biggest takeaway] during our three-week rehearsals before we rolled," says Hooda, who battles Hemsworth in a series of high-octane action sequences in the upcoming Netflix offering.
For debutant director Sam Hargrave, working on Extraction was both a familiar and alien experience at once. While on one hand, the former stuntman for Avengers' Captain America was reuniting with Hemsworth and producers Russo Brothers, on the other, he was exploring the unfamiliar terrain of India, where his film is based, and even employing languages that he couldn't himself comprehend.
"It is due to Sam's vision that we could create this world. We went through a lot of rehearsals [for the combat sequences]. Sam, along with the action team, ensured that the physicality was on point, and the scenes were realistic. I'd also watch the stuntmen, who had peculiar ways of training. They'd practice low-ground work, and take to exercises to strengthen the joints and ligaments. I'd watch them in awe as they performed martial arts and flips."
The research helped my character in Extraction create more layers-Priyanshu Painyuli
8:29 AM
Priyanshu Painyuli on his prep to battle Thor in Netflix's Extraction
Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; April 19, 2020)
Global recognition is every actor's dream. For Priyanshu Painyuli, it came true when he was approached to play a crucial role in the upcoming Chris Hemsworth-starrer Extraction, directed by Sam Hargrave. "I knew I had to give it my all," says the actor.
To play his role to perfection, Painyuli went the extra mile. A source informs, "He researched extensively to grasp the reality of the Bangladeshi war and drug lords. Considering the movie is set in Dhaka, Priyanshu learnt the native language."
The detailed script for the film which was originally named Dhaka enabled Painyuli to visualise his character better. He says, "The script has a clear vision for each character. To ensure that I do my best, I wanted to create a backstory for the character to justify how he is presented in the film."
Painyuli says director Hargrave often sat down with him to discuss his character and helped him with the research. "The documentaries and material he suggested gave me an insight into the country and its struggles. The nature of crime in a country reflects its social structures and the issues it is grappling with. I feel the research helped my character create more layers."
Mine and Randeep Hooda's hand to hand combat was exhausting but he put his 110%-Chris Hemsworth
8:31 AM
Ahead of his Netflix release Extraction, mid-day spoke to Hollywood star Chris Hemsworth on a video call, with the global press logging in from their respective homes!
Mayank Shekhar (MID-DAY; April 16, 2020)
We're asked to first wait at the Breakout Room, before being led to the Vetting Room (have spelt that right). After quite a few minutes, finally, allowed in to the Interview Suite. Felt like going past check-in, through security, into immigration.Except, this passage to the Hollywood home of Australian-born superstar Chris Hemsworth — globally, best-known as the superhero Thor — with various check-points in place, is happening over Zoom, the video-conferencing app. There's a posse of international press logging in at their designated time-slots, from respective homes, across the world. All of them, like Hemsworth at his place, it appears, are living under lockdown, due to Coronavirus spread/scare.
"If you think about it, what we're doing is unbelievable," says Sam Hargrave, referring to the unusual manner of this junket. This is before formal conversations begin, with a moderator rotating questions, as per a pre-decided order. Everyone but the specific questioner's microphone is on mute. No doubt, these are extraordinary times.
Hargrave, placed in the window to my right, is the director of the Netflix film Extraction, starring Hemsworth, that drops on April 24. If it wasn't for the pandemic, they'd both have been in Mumbai promoting this film. Which is where I am. And where, along with Ahmedabad, mostly, Extraction was shot.What was that like? Hemsworth offers the common adjectives — life, energy, people, positivity —that the uninitiated usually refer to mean an overwhelming experience, which India, without a national curfew, can certainly be. He recalls, "The [crowds] couldn't have been more accommodating, supportive — thousands of people standing in buildings and bridges, watching and applauding. The shoot felt like being in a coliseum, or live theatre!"
For Hargrave though, besides sanity, there was also the question of maintaining safety: "We were doing intricate action sequences, with cars flying over locked-up streets, at 50 miles per hour. [At any point in time], you'd have 300 people for security personnel alone, to make sure no one got hurt."Hargrave is one of Hollywood's top stunt-coordinators, with films from the Marvel Cinematic Universe under his belt, including the Avengers blockbusters directed-produced by (Anthony and Joe) Russo Brothers.
Extraction however is Hargrave's first film as director, and evidently furthest from his comfort zone, given its setting to start with: "Joe Russo, who wrote the script, actually set the film in Dhaka [Bangladesh] and India. Because western audiences haven't seen much of that side of the world. It offered lots of opportunities, visually."
Directing, as a job, is challenging enough. Double whammy for the debutant was, as he puts it, "Directing actors in two different languages — Hindi and Bengali. Neither of which I speak! We had an interpreter with us. But because of the prep we'd put in during rehearsals, while I couldn't understand what they were saying [in the dialogue], I could tell the intention.
"I knew when we'd nailed a take. And if something was off, I knew if we'd missed a line. With cinema, you can tell the scenario. Especially with action — once you've set up the hero and the villain, and they're at odds — the film speaks for itself."
One of the major Indian actors Hargrave directed for Extraction was Randeep Hooda, who comes up rather often in this conversation, as Hemsworth specifically refers to the "major [fight scene], involving hand-to-hand combat. It was so exhausting for both [Randeep and I]. Yet, when you've got an actor who's putting in a 110 per cent, neither of you is willing to quit, it's the best."
Which gives you fair sense of the film's genre — sort of a pure, street-style actioner in the old-world, Western mould. Hemsworth elaborates, "[It's] everything they used to do in the '80s and prior, [without] relying on special effects and green screen, because you couldn't. It was refreshing and rewarding to shoot like that."
Hargrave recalls, "When Randeep and I met, we spoke about the characters, relating them to the classic Westerns — Once Upon a Time in the West, The Good the Bad the Ugly..." Randeep has come again — maybe we could go further on that route (him and I went to the same school).
Or talk more about other Indian actors Hemsworth was referring to hanging out a lot with, while he was here. Or, perhaps mildly pick his brains on his last huge release, Avengers: Endgame — hugest one in the history of films!
Oh, I'm on mute. Chatting on a screen through a moderator is at best interviewing an interpreter, with a dysfunctional hearing aid. Feels rather distant. Upside? Could casually roll out of bed in boxers in Bombay, find myself seated opposite Thor for a few minutes, and then back to bed again. Done. Hoping it's not the new 'normal' though.
Chris Hemsworth is so grounded, and has an incredible zest to learn more and do better-Priyanshu Painyuli
8:11 AM
With Extraction trailer dropping online, Priyanshu Painyuli discusses locking horns with Chris Hemsworth in Netflix film
Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; April 9, 2020)
Not many Bollywood actors can boast a Russo Brothers production on their résumé. Naturally then, Priyanshu Painyuli considers himself among the fortunate few as he awaits the release of the Netflix film, Extraction. If the Sam Hargrave-directed actioner had piqued the curiosity of Indian cinegoers when leading man Chris Hemsworth flew in to the country last year for the shoot, the recently released trailer has only added to the excitement. "I got several messages from industry friends, who were surprised to see me in the role of a gangster. They were [taken aback] by my blingy look in the film," says an elated Painyuli, who is seen locking horns with Hemsworth in the kidnapping drama.The actor, who has another biggie in Rashmi Rocket, turns into a fan boy when the conversation steers to co-star Hemsworth. "He is so grounded, and has an incredible zest to learn more and do better." Painyuli, who has won acclaim for his performance in Upstarts (2019), says the exposure to an international project has made him "more disciplined". "With this film, I have been able to inculcate a methodical approach to work. The research was so thorough that there was zero scope for errors when the actors were in front of the camera."
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