Veteran actor Mumtaz believes the passing of actor Feroz Khan in 2009 may have been a turning point in the relationship between her daughter Natasha Madhvani and son-in-law, actor Fardeen Khan. According to her, the emotional impact of losing his father might have led to misunderstandings between the couple.

Fardeen and Natasha are separated but not officially divorced. They parted ways in 2023 after 18 years of marriage. While Natasha currently lives in London with their children and Fardeen continues to stay in Mumbai, the two remain connected as co-parents.

Speaking in an interview on Sitaron Ka Safar, she said “When Feroz passed away... he (Fardeen) was very attached to his father... So I don’t really know what happened at that time. Natasha shifted to London for the children’s education. After that, I’m not sure what misunderstandings arose between them. But that’s when some problems began.”

She praised Fardeen for the way he continues to support his family. “He is a very sweet guy. Even today, he goes to London to see the children. Natasha was unwell, and he went ten times to check on her. I never expected that men these days would do so, but he looked after everything,” she added.

Veteran actress Mumtaz speaks frankly, and it's led her into some tangled scenarios. In her recent interviews, she openly discussed her complex relationships—with Shammi Kapoor, Yash Chopra's unrequited love for her, and the dating rumors swirling around Rajesh Khanna.

“Everybody keeps asking me the same old things. And my sister got a few calls. People complained to my sister. They say, ‘Mumtaz shouldn’t answer those questions’. But how many times should I say no comments? People want to ask me everything. My sister told me, ‘You are hurting industry people’. I don’t want to hurt anyone; they are my family. People who I have spoken about, now their kids have grown up and they don’t like when I speak the truth. And I cannot lie,” she tells us.

Ask her if she regrets talking about her contemporaries, and she replies, “I don’t regret it. But it does get monotonous. Everybody just wants to ask me about Rajesh Khanna and Shammi Kapoor. It is so monotonous. His (Shammi’s) wife feels bad, ‘Why is she talking about my husband’. So, I don’t want to hurt anyone.”

Though she's often in the spotlight, the actress, who is known for films such as Khilona (1970), Apna Desh (1972), Jheel Ke Us Paar (1973) and Aap Ki Kasam (1974), isn’t in a rush to return to acting. “You either work when there is a necessity, and I have no such majburi. Otherwise, I have not gotten any tempting offers,” she says. She is a fan of Jane Fonda-starrer, Monster-In-Law.

“I would like to do a movie like that, because the director showed Jane the way she looked. If a director shows me in that light, I might do it. I look reasonably good even now. But if they (makers) ask me to play a mother to a hero who is 60-year-old then I refuse it,” she explains.

Mumtaz was supposed to make a comeback to the showbiz with Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Heeramandi. The actress refused to play a part, which was eventually played Koi Sehri Babu co-actress Farida Jalal. Opening up about it for the first time, she states, “I love Sanjay. If you saw Heeramandi, it is a multi-starrer. There are many characters, and each has something to do. I felt what would I have done in that show? Sanjay was even open to make a few changes (in the script). I will die to work with Sanjay, but I want an important character. I don’t want to do a movie, where every character is doing something so the importance gets distributed. Itna dum nahi tha, uss character mein. He understood my point.”

She adds, "I don’t miss being in front of the camera. I started working at the age of seven as an extra. So, I was really tired. Yes, I do miss my colleagues. Bohot mazaa ata tha on set. I miss the people, and the fun times.."

Mumtaz’s daughter Natasha Madhvani and her actor-husband Fardeen Khan have been reportedly separated. Query about the couple to the actress and she sheds some light: “They are saying they are separating but they aren’t still divorced. I love Fardeen a lot. He was born in front of me. They are still husband and wife.”

Has Mumtaz sat down with the couple to identify what went wrong? She answers, “Nothing serious has happened. Maybe they don’t get along anymore. Every marriage has ups and downs. They are too old; they won’t listen to me. Sometimes people don’t get along with each other. Arguments hote hai. Natasha and Fardeen should not divorce, as they have kids. And I have seen Fardeen is a good father. He shifts his shooting days according to their schedule. He respects me to date. I don’t know what they want to do. Even if they divorce, they won’t be separated due to their kids.”

At 77, the Do Raste actress continues to remain fit. She eats at 7 pm, works out for over an hour, and has a diet to follow. Talking about her need to still look perfect, she shares, “If you don’t work out, you won’t look good. I have not done any facelifts, but sometimes when I am too tired, I do use fillers on my left and right side of the face. Usse chal jata hai ek do mahina. I do it once every four months. I don’t feel the need of going under the knife, till now.”

She further talks about the idea of plastic surgery which is rampant amongst the younger actresses these days. “If you feel there is anything less in you, then you must rectify it. It is not a crime to change it. Everybody wants to look good and beautiful. Even if I feel like I need something I need to work on, I will change it. Even if I have to do a plastic surgery, I will do it. If that makes me look beautiful, why not. Everybody should do it,” she ends.

Fardeen Khan grew up in an environment that was all about movies. In a chat with us, he shares that while his father, actor-filmmaker Feroz Khan, gave him a launch pad, he also told him that beyond that, he would have to find his own foothold. “It was crucial for my father that his children create their own identity. He was protective but always insisted that I had to earn my own goodwill and place in the industry,” says the actor.

Fardeen agrees that he had the privilege of being from a film family, but he was also aware that there was a certain responsibility that came with it. “As time passed, I built my own relationships, separate from my father’s legacy. I grew up learning from him – not just as an actor, but seeing him as a producer and director. I had a front-row seat to how films were made and the challenges filmmakers faced. And that taught me to balance both the actor’s and producer’s perspectives, so I’ve never caused trouble for any producer,” he shares.

Over the years, Fardeen believes he has built his own goodwill in the industry. He says, “I’d like to think I earned my reputation. I have worked with several filmmakers like Sanjay Gupta, Mudassar Aziz, and Ram Gopal Varma multiple times. Also, whenever there’s been a tough situation, I’ve taken responsibility to resolve it personally.”

Recalling the time when his debut film, Prem Aggan (1998), directed by Feroz Khan, failed at the box office, Fardeen says, “When Prem Aggan didn’t succeed, I was quickly written off. My father sat me down and said, ‘Son, we made an effort, but we failed. You’ve got a college degree, you’ve learned from my experiences and from your own life. Now, you’ll have to pave your own way.’ He told me he would support me for one year, but after that, I would have to be on my own.”

Joy, laughter and chaos make up the on-screen world of Housefull. Imagine all that packed into a song, and what you get is the upcoming schedule of Housefull 5. Word is that director Tarun Mansukhani has planned a grand number that sees the entire cast — including Akshay Kumar, Riteish Deshmukh, Fardeen Khan, Jacqueline Fernandez, and Nargis Fakhri — shake a leg together. The song will apparently be shot over three nights at Chitrakoot Grounds in Andheri.   

    

An insider reveals, “The track has been envisioned as a celebration of the franchise’s journey over the past 14 years. It will be larger-than-life, with expansive sets, elaborate costumes, and choreography that highlights the playful chemistry between the cast. It will be a night shoot going on from November 21 to 23.” 

Over 100 background dancers have been roped in for the number, which is being choreographed by Remo D’Souza. The cast will begin their rehearsals today.

Another source from the production says, “Tarun wanted the vibe to be classic Housefull—quirky and over-the-top, with moments in the song that will leave the audience in splits.”

Late last month, the entire cast had filmed another lavish dance number (End the party with a song, Oct 29).

The year 2024 marked Fardeen Khan’s comeback to the movies. In a conversation with us, the actor talks about how he struggled to make a re-entry into showbiz after a hiatus of 14 years, his moments of self-doubt, and how his father, Feroz Khan’s death deeply affected him. Read on...

Fardeen, who spent most of his time away from the limelight living in London with his family, says that making his way back to the industry was a struggle.

Fardeen says, “A lot went into these last three years… just sitting at home, believing in yourself and keeping that hope. It’s been a struggle, especially because I wasn’t coming back after a couple of years, but 14 years and that too, after turning 50. I had a lot of questions like, will filmmakers be able to slot me in a role? Do people even want to see me? Today, the content is very different from what it was in the 2000s. The protagonists have changed. Different parts of our country are being represented so beautifully now. The times are very different. So, I came back with the mentality of literally starting off a new career.” The actor was recently seen in the web show Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar and films Khel Khel Mein and Visfot.

While he’s happy to face the camera again, when asked what led him to step away from the industry at an important juncture of his career, he says, “It was a conscious decision. We had challenges having children at that time, so we moved to London. There, we had an incredible doctor, and soon after, my daughter was born (through IVF) in 2013, followed by my son in 2017. After my daughter was born, I intended to take a two-year break to enjoy parenthood. I enjoyed being a father so much that it ended up being a break that lasted more than a decade. I wish I hadn’t taken such a long break from work. The only brownie point is that I have two beautiful children with whom I could spend so much time.”

The other reason he stayed away from the limelight was his father’s (Feroz Khan) demise in 2009 due to lung cancer, after which he faced a health scare himself. It’s a phase of his life that he doesn’t want to recall. “Let me just say that I had a surgery that also affected me. Also, my father’s illness was very serious, as his prognosis was not good from the beginning. Those two years were very tough. I needed time for closure. Dad’s death affected me deeply,” he shares.

Fardeen, who would shuttle between Mumbai and London, was heavily trolled for his weight gain in 2016. Those comments shook him. “I was like… why are they after me? However, that version was the heaviest version of me. I realised that there was an audience that wanted to see me. I saw some love in all that criticism. Then, when I decided that I needed to make a comeback, I started losing weight.”

Fardeen’s kids, Diani and Azarius, he says, are loving this fitter version of him. “They called my belly, Tungu (laughs). So now they are like, ‘Daddy, your Tungu’s gone!’ I don’t think there is any greater form of self-love than to look after your health. Now, I enjoy playing sports with my kids. My son is just about starting out and he’s showing interest in football. I’m introducing him to Jiu-Jitsu.”

While the actor lives here now and is totally focusing on his career, his kids continue to live in London. There were reports of his separation from his wife, Natasha. While he doesn’t want to talk about his personal life, he does open up about missing spending time with his children.

He says, “It’s not easy. I don’t want to get into why they’re away, but yes, it’s not easy. I miss them terribly. I see them every four to six weeks and we talk over video calls daily. But I definitely miss being a part of their daily life, watching them grow up, be a part of their decision-making process and help them find their own identity. My kids paint and I have put up their artwork on the walls of my house in Mumbai. I miss their hugs, cuddles and kisses. I keep working to keep my mind distracted. And whenever they come down to Mumbai, I clear my entire schedule and be with them 24/7.”

Shooting aboard a luxury liner sounds like one big party, and that’s exactly what it has been for the Housefull 5 team. Director Tarun Mansukhani kicked off the shoot of the multi-starrer—that features Akshay Kumar, Riteish Deshmukh, Abhishek Bachchan, Fardeen Khan, Jacqueline Fernandez, Nargis Fakhri and Chitrangda Singh, among others—on September 16 on a cruise liner in Newcastle, England. After a fortnight of filming on the sea, it is now learnt that the team has made a pit-stop in the town of Sidmouth. For the next two weeks, a chunk of the comedy will be canned at Sidmouth, Exeter, London and other cities in the UK.

The latest instalment in the Housefull franchise is being envisioned as the biggest so far, with Mansukhani even roping in actors from the previous editions for key roles (Everyone’s invited to this house party, June 19).

A source reveals, “This time around, most of the narrative unfolds on a cruise. The ship set sail from Newcastle, going to Spain, then Normandy and Honfleur in France, before turning back to Plymouth in England. From October 2, the unit began shooting in the picturesque town of Sidmouth, which is a couple of hours away from London. The plan is to wrap up the UK leg by October 16.” Last week, Kumar also organized a surprise party on the ship to celebrate co-actor Chunky Panday’s birthday.

As soon as the cast returns to India mid-October, they will begin the Mumbai leg. Sanjay Dutt, Nana Patekar and Jackie Shroff will join the unit in this schedule. From what we’ve heard, the three actors play grey characters.

“Producer Sajid Nadiadwala and Tarun were keen to cast Sanjay in Housefull 5, given his knack for comedy. When the actor’s application for the UK visa got rejected, hindering his Son of Sardaar 2 shoot, Sajid chose a wiser route by ensuring that all of the actor’s Housefull 5 portions would be set in Mumbai. Huge sets representing the interiors of the luxury ship will be erected in a Mumbai studio, where the climax will be shot with the entire cast.”

If things go as planned, the principal photography will be wrapped up by November.

In Maximum City: Bombay Lost and Found, author Suketu Mehta described Bombay as “the city of dreams where nothing is as it seems”. Filmmaker Sanjay Gupta feels it’s an apt description of the city that plays a prime role in his next, Visfot. Mumbai’s contrasts—wealth and poverty, tradition and modernity, ambition and despair—became the perfect backdrop for the filmmaker’s desi adaptation of the Venezuelan film Rock, Paper, Scissors (2012).

“Mumbai is not just a backdrop; it’s the heartbeat of the stories I want to tell. It’s a city of dreams, but also of harsh realities. In Visfot, we continue my love affair with Mumbai, using the city’s gritty locales to the film’s themes of conflict and redemption,” shares Gupta.

The Riteish Deshmukh and Fardeen Khan-starrer plays out over a day, as two men from opposite backgrounds find their fates intertwined. It’s an unusual casting decision, considering Deshmukh is usually seen in comedies and Khan has returned to movies after a 14-year hiatus.

Gupta says, “I am the biggest Feroz Khan fan, and Fardeen has his father’s screen presence. I was delighted to work with him on this. When people watch the film, they will ask, ‘Why was this guy not around for a decade?’ He and Riteish bring a brilliant on-screen face-off.”

The producer found the right director in Kookie Gulati, who previously helmed The Big Bull (2021). “I was mighty impressed by The Big Bull and knew I wanted to work with him. Kookie has elevated the material with his incisive direction. I never needed to visit his set, he ran the show gloriously.”

Visfot is slated to première on Jio Cinema this week. Does it bother him that the action thriller is OTT-bound instead of getting a theatrical release?

“The film was made for OTT from the word go. We cannot undermine the power of OTT. During the lockdown, we saw how the viewing patterns changed.”

But it is a stressful market to release films in, when a movie’s success or failure is unpredictable. How does it affect independent producers? “It makes us feel alone. To be empowered to tell a story in its truest sense, you need immense logistical support. That becomes much harder in a shaky market. But this is also the time where passionate storytelling will take precedence.”

Certain portions of Khel Khel Mein have left fans confused in the United Arab Emirates, after the UAE Media Regulatory Office edited out the film’s crucial segments. A key sequence in the climax featuring Fardeen Khan, whose character arc hinges on his sexuality, has been snipped as per local restrictions.

Ironically, another dialogue that goes, “Meri 10 saal ki beti ki soch aapki soch se behtar hai,” also has been scissored.

The comedy—also starring Akshay Kumar, Taapsee Pannu and Vaani Kapoor—marks Khan’s return to the big screen after a 14-year hiatus. Fans are disappointed that such a significant part of the storyline has been removed.

A fan from Dubai, on condition of anonymity, told mid-day, “This edit changes the narrative of Fardeen’s character. It’s disheartening to see such an important moment erased. I felt cheated when I found out from Indian cine-goers about this. Censorship like this denies audiences the full experience of the film’s powerful message.”

Another fan, Ahmed Al Mansoori, added, “I was looking forward to seeing this film because of its progressive storyline. These are stories we need to see more of, not less.”

Mudassar Aziz’s directorial venture revolves around seven friends whose secrets surface over a game night. When we asked Aziz about the censorship, he chose to look at the movie’s positive impact, saying, “I’m a filmmaker. To write all sorts of characters and raise topics of conversation is my professional and moral duty! Khel Khel Mein does that. While it’s heartbreaking to see that something so relevant, and done with so much dignity, found its way out of the UAE release, I’m thrilled at the applause that [the rest] of the world is sending my way for those very scenes.” Khan stated, “Through this role, I hoped to contribute to a conversation that is necessary and relevant. While edits may have been made, the intention behind the role—that of acceptance—remains unchanged, and I stand by the message’s importance.”

What do you get when Akshay Kumar, Taapsee Pannu, Vaani Kapoor, Fardeen Khan, Ammy Virk, and Pragya Jaiswal huddle together? A mad story of one night, says Aditya Seal. The actor reveals that their upcoming rom-com, Khel Khel Mein, delves into the themes of friendship and relationships, all unfolding over the course of a night.

“Khel Khel Mein is a story set over one night, and how it changes relationships between friends. It’s a roller-coaster of emotions and hilarity, exploring the dynamics of friendships and romantic entanglements. There is nuance and depth, over and above the fun and frolic,” he says.

Director Mudassar Aziz took the project on floors in London last October and is now readying it for an August 15 release. Seal is upbeat about the movie’s cast that is led by Kumar and has a diverse set of actors. 

“It’s such a unique cast that has a diverse fan base. Between Ammy paaji and Pragya, we have gone all the way from north India to down south. We all bonded as one, and had so much fun on set that there were days when we would wait for the others to finish their last few shots and then leave together.”

Fardeen Khan took a trip down memory lane as his film Dev completed 20 years recently and also reminisced the memories from the sets. Directed by Govind Nihalani, the film also featured Amitabh Bachchan and Kareena Kapoor Khan.

The No Entry actor took to Instagram to share a clip featuring scenes from the film and wrote, “20 years of Dev. It was my third film with Kareena (the two also worked together in Fida and Khushi) and it was she who recommended me for the role, and I will always be grateful to her for that. Being signed by Govind Nihalani for a film with legends like Amitabh Bachchan and Om Puri was a huge endorsement for any actor. Govindji was highly respected and was known for his careful direction and powerful storytelling.”

He added, “This role gave me the chance to work on a film that was relevant and meaningful, which was rare at the time. But the greatest take away for me from Dev was getting to share the screen with Amit ji, an actor I idolize. His life and most amazing career have had a profound influence on Indian cinema and has left an indelible mark on not just me, but on every Indian. It was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, a true honour and an absolute privilege to work with him, making it one of the highlights of my career (sic).”

Twenty years is a long gap between a movie and its sequel. But we’re not complaining as director Anees Bazmee has put No Entry Mein Entry, the sequel to his 2005 laugh riot No Entry, back on the table and plans to roll it next year. Last month, it was reported that it would star Varun Dhawan, Arjun Kapoor and Diljit Dosanjh instead of original cast Salman Khan, Anil Kapoor and Fardeen Khan. Now, we hear the second part will be a case of double trouble—Dhawan, Arjun and Dosanjh will be seen in double roles, which will be the source of confusion and comedy in the narrative.

Producer Boney Kapoor and the director had finalised No Entry Mein Entry’s script as early as 2019. However, over the past five years, the two were unable to get the comedy off the ground due to casting and date issues.

A source close to the project reveals, “Earlier, there was talk of Salman, Fardeen and Anil doing the sequel. While that did not materialize, they have now been replaced by Arjun, Varun and Diljit. The trio will step into the roles played by the original stars in the 2005 film that revolved around three philandering men, but it will be an entirely new setting and fresh dynamics. The double roles and mix-ups will add to the film’s humour. Varun, Arjun and Diljit loved the script, and are eager to explore their on-screen camaraderie.”

The next obvious question is: who will be the leading ladies? That will have to wait as Bazmee is currently busy shooting Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3, and will begin casting for the female leads only after the horror comedy’s release.

The source adds, “A few months ago, rumours were rife that the second part would feature 10 actresses, including Kriti Sanon, Kiara Advani, Disha Patani and Rashmika Mandanna. But the script has been tweaked since then. Anees will zero in on the leading ladies by the year-end and take the film on floors by early 2025.”

Apparently, producer Boney, who is busy with Maidaan, is keen to release No Entry Mein Entry in 2025 to mark 20 years of the original.

It seems everything is not bliss in the marital life of actor Fardeen Khan and wife Natasha Madhvani. We have exclusively learnt that the couple has decided to part ways amicably. From what we have gathered the two have been living separately. While Fardeen is residing in Mumbai, India, along with his mother, Natasha is in London with her kin. What went wrong between them remains unclear.

A source shares, “It’s been over a year since the two have been living separately. Issues started cropping up between the two. When they were unable to cope with the circumstances, they decided to go separate ways for the betterment of each other.”

When we reached out to Fardeen and Natasha they stuck to a “no comments” stance.

Fardeen and Natasha tied the knot in a rather lavish ceremony in 2005. Their wedding was an affair to remember with the biggest and most popular celebrities in attendance. The couple has two children together – a daughter Diani, and a son, Azarius.

For the unversed, Natasha is the daughter of yesteryear actor Mumtaz. On the professional front, Fardeen is set to make a comeback with the movie Visfot, which also stars Riteish Deshmukh.

It has been almost eight years since Bipasha Basu was last seen on the 70-mm screen. The actor, whose last film was Alone (2015), has been on the lookout for interesting work. Last year, in November, actor-husband Karan Singh Grover and Basu announced the birth of their daughter Devi.

While motherhood kept her busy, the actor continued to sift through scripts to pick the right roles. Sources now claim that Basu is in talks with the makers of No Entry for a prominent role in the much-awaited sequel.

A source says, “Things are moving fairly fast. After Tiger 3 wraps, Salman Khan will take a short break and kick off this film. The No Entry sequel has been on the cards for many years. Bipasha Basu was the X-factor last time, and this time too, the makers wouldn’t move the project without her.”

Rumour has it that she will be playing a feisty and glamorous character while balancing comedy and charisma. The film was to be helmed by Anees Bazmee, but we hear the filmmaker will instead be kicking off his project with Shahid Kapoor next.

“There is some time before the No Entry sequel goes on floors, [which will] give everyone enough time to regroup,” shares the source.

Sanjay Gupta’s romance with crime dramas continues. This time around, though, he has traded Mumbai’s grimy setting for the beaches of Goa. The yet-untitled film, starring Harshvardhan Rane and Meezaan Jafri, revolves around two brothers, who are also football players. After narrating several gangster stories, Gupta is relieved to move towards a modest setting.

“After Mumbai Saga [2021], I felt I was done with set-pieces. I came across this wonderful script, which is about two brothers and football,” says Gupta, who has co-written the drama.

The movie’s setting isn’t the only factor that sets it apart from the filmmaker’s previous offerings. Having collaborated with stars in the past, it was rejuvenating to work with relatively newer faces. “I wanted to first cast the actors with the right physicality and screen presence. I am quite old-fashioned [in my belief] that a hero [must] look like a hero. I felt these two boys have the potential to break through. I cast them because they were football players as well as good actors,” he says of Rane and Jafri.

Currently in post-production, the crime drama is among the five projects conceptualized by Gupta’s production house in 2021, for direct-to-OTT release. “We have no illusion of taking these movies to theatres and making big numbers. I was clear that it would take minimum two years for [Bollywood to recover after the pandemic].”

Besides the upcoming project, Fardeen Khan and Riteish Deshmukh’s Visfot is ready to stream next year. The remaining three are also thrillers set against different backdrops. Gupta adds, “One is a story of a day in Chandni Chowk, while the other is a comedy thriller. I will direct the third, which is a black comedy.”

Director Kookie Gulati is not quite done with thrillers yet. After the R Madhavan starrer Dhokha Round D Corner, the director’s next is Visfot, which stars Riteish Deshmukh and sees Fardeen Khan return to the screen after 12 years. The movie — an official adaptation of the 2012 Venezuelan film, Rock, Paper, Scissors — sees Deshmukh as a pilot who races against time after his son is mistakenly kidnapped by Khan’s gangster character.

Gulati is particularly impressed by Deshmukh, who has brought vulnerability to his character that is caught between his love for his son, and a simmering anger at his wife’s infidelity. “Visfot will bust the myth that Riteish can only do comedy or rom-coms. It will [showcase] his scope as an actor,” he says. 

After producer Sanjay Gupta bagged the remake rights, Deshmukh was among the first artistes to be associated with the project. “Riteish came on board before me. His is an emotional part, and the title [encapsulates] his emotional outburst. We didn’t have rehearsals as I wanted his emotions to be natural. I wanted it to look raw and real. I would rate it among Riteish’s top three performances. Fardeen had a different approach to his character and underwent rigorous training.”

Rock, Paper, Scissors was Venezuela’s official entry for the Best Foreign Language Film at the 85th Academy Awards. The director has reimagined the movie for the Indian audience. “Emotions are the high points of that movie, but we have [heightened] it because Indians are more emotional. To me, Visfot is an ode to Ram Gopal Varma’s Satya, in which we see Mumbai’s underbelly.”

The Salman Khan-Anil Kapoor-Fardeen Khan comic caper, No Entry, was immensely successful in 2005. In the last few years, there has been a buzz about the film’s sequel, No Entry Mein Entry, being in the discussion. Finally, things are falling into place for the project, and if all goes well, the movie might roll in January next year.

Confirming the same, film’s writer and director Anees Bazmee says, “Finally, it is all coming together. We might just roll in January. The film will continue from where No Entry ended and we will have Salman, Anil and Fardeen taking the narrative ahead.”

Ask Anees why the project has taken so long, and he reasons, “We don’t just want to cash in on the popularity of the franchise by making something mediocre, but want this film to live up to its previous part. When we first spoke about making a sequel as a team, we bounced off several ideas, which we discussed and eventually rejected. Finally, in 2016, we came up with a one-line idea, which we all agreed upon. Developing a script around this one-line idea and then writing the dialogues took a lot of time. People say that one should leave their brains behind while watching such films, but to make such a film jahan log apna dimaag apne ghar chhod kar theatre mein aaye aur enjoy kare, we have to work our mind a lot (laughs!).”

The other aspect that’s taking up a lot of time at the scripting stage is the storyline that boasts of 10 heroines playing prominent parts. Explains Bazmee, who’s working on the script, “If you tell a writer to weave a script keeping 10 heroines in mind, he is definitely going to be dazed.”

While the original male star cast is retained, Bazmee says that he hopes that heroines from the earlier part, which included actors like Bipasha Basu, Lara Dutta Bhupathi, Esha Deol Takhtani and Celina Jaitly, are also a part of the sequel too, but it all depends on future discussions with the team.

Talking about how Salman, Anil and Fardeen reacted to the script, he shares, “Salman has loved the script. Fardeen, too, is quite excited. Anil ji ko maine ab tak kahani nahi sunaiyi hai. We have done so many films together, so he counts on me. Once the final touches are done, I will narrate it to him.”

While he is working on a couple of scripts, Bazmee feels that No Entry Mein Entry willbe his next project after the success of his last Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2. The director is quick to add, “Aise waqt mein iss film ne woh umeed jagayi hai ki if the audience likes your film, then nothing can stop its success. The happiest moment was when Priyan ji (Priyadarshan, director of Bhool Bhulaiyaa) called me and praised the film. He is a friend and a very big director, and I was touched by his gesture,” says Bazmee.

So, is Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 on his mind? “I would love to make it. I enjoyed the horror-comedy genre. Buss ek achchi script mil jaye toh kyun nahi?”

With Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2 behind him, Anees Bazmee is training his attention to another sequel, that of No Entry. The 2005 offering starring Anil Kapoor, Salman Khan, Fardeen Khan, and Bipasha Basu, among others, was a comic caper that fared well at the box office. The sequel is titled No Entry Main Entry.

A source tells mid-day, “Salman has loved the script, and the team is awaiting a confirmation on his dates. Right now, he is busy with his next production, Kabhi Eid Kabhi Diwali. The sequel might take off from where the original ended, but with a different take.” 

Fardeen confirms the sequel, stating, “I spoke to Anees to congratulate him on the success of Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2, and we discussed No Entry Main Entry. He is excited about the script. It stars Anil, Salman and me, but in double roles. The three of us have loved the script. There are many actors involved and everyone has to clear out their schedules. There are talks of it rolling this year, and I hope that happens. There is a lot of anticipation about the movie because the ensemble looked great on screen in the original. Whenever I meet someone anywhere in the world, they inquire about the sequel. Anees is talented and passionate, and I am fond of him as a person too.”

If all goes as planned, a book chronicling the life and times of actor-producer Feroz Khan could soon be flying off the shelves. Actor Fardeen Khan, who is gearing up for his comeback this year in Visfot, plans to commission a writer soon to create an authorised biography of his father, who had a prolific career, stretching into five decades in show business.

The book will document different aspects of the actor-filmmaker’s life, including his personal life, unique sense of style, journey as an actor, foray into filmmaking and reveal lesser-known things about him.

“At the moment, Fardeen and his family have not zeroed in on the writer. It will be an authorized biography in which people close to Feroz Khan, like his children, siblings, business associates and friends, will speak to the author about different facets of his life. This is something that the family wanted to do officially, and they started working on it a few months ago,” says a source.

“How can I forget my first day of Visfot shoot,” exclaims Fardeen Khan. It was momentous for him — the actor, last seen in Dulha Mil Gaya (2010), was facing the camera after a 12-year hiatus. In these years, Khan had moved to London, become father to two children and piled on excess kilos that made him almost unrecognizable. Amid all these sweeping changes, what remained constant was his love for acting. In 2021, he decided that it was time to be Bollywood-bound again. Those extra kilos were quickly shed, and the actor — once again looking as dashing as he did in the aughts — returned to Mumbai.

“When I returned, I reached out to industry people to let them know that I am keen to work again. I met Sanjay [Gupta, Visfot producer] too. He liked the way I look; he said there is maturity and manliness in my demeanour now. He asked me to read the script of Visfot. I was a bit taken aback as it seemed a godsend,” he says, with his impish smile. 

Visfot, also starring Riteish Deshmukh, is the remake of the Venezuelan movie, Rock, Paper, Scissors (2012). As the Kookie Gulati-helmed crime drama rolled late last year, Khan admits it took a while to get back on the saddle. “Initially, I was nervous, but it wasn’t a disabling nervousness. I spent three weeks doing script-reading sessions, perfecting the lingo and had many discussions with Kookie. I play a Dongri boy who emigrates overseas, but has to return to the country. His life then turns topsy-turvy overnight.”

Does he think filmmaking has changed in the past 12 years? “Things have changed a lot in terms of technology. The most profound change is that the audience’s standard of quality has risen with the [advent of] streaming platforms.”

A chat would be incomplete without understanding what made him take the long hiatus. “Natasha and I were trying to have a family. Since we had a bad experience with doctors here, we decided to consult doctors in London in 2011. That’s when we moved. IVF has its own demands, and I wanted to be there for my wife. I admire Natasha for everything that she has gone through. In 2013, we had our first child [Diani]. When I saw my daughter for the first time, my heart melted. We had our son [Azarius] in 2018. I was caught up in parenthood, and time just flew. I was fortunate that I could take that time off and witness their [growing-up] years.”