Showing posts with label Four More Shots Please. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Four More Shots Please. Show all posts
Rajeev Siddhartha on his relationship with Kirti Kulhari: "We bonded over acting and spirituality"
10:20 AM
Neha Maheshwri (BOMBAY TIMES; August 27, 2026)
Rajeev Siddhartha and Kirti Kulhari may have occasionally shared glimpses of each other on social media, but they have largely kept their relationship away from public conversations. In an exclusive chat with us, Rajeev confirms that they have been together for around a year and a half.
Rajeev, who was recently seen in Musafir Cafe, shares, “We were introduced on the sets of Four More Shots Please! in 2017, and it’s quite funny that we hardly spoke to each other then. Perhaps it was because I’m an introvert and she tends to keep to herself as well. It was only during the last leg of the final season that we discovered each other. Perhaps we had to go through our individual journeys before we could meet at the right time. Maybe our frequencies match now. We like to keep our private lives private, but we don’t censor ourselves either. If we feel like sharing something, we do. Ultimately, we just want to live a normal life.”
Their shared interests have become an important part of their bond, particularly their love for acting and spirituality.
He says, “People may think they understand what an actor’s life is like, but only an actor truly knows how uncertain, exciting and, at times, difficult it can be. Kirti and I understand each other because we are in this field for the right reasons. We bonded over acting and spirituality, and both remain a big part of our conversations. We talk about performances and films because we genuinely enjoy them; for us, it isn’t just work. We both love the craft, and everything else that comes with it is secondary to us.”
Their shared profession, however, has not made their approaches to acting alike. “We have different perspectives and approaches to acting, and we respect each other’s space. If I ask her for advice, she gives it to me, and vice versa. Because of my theatre background, I enjoy rehearsing my lines irrespective of the project, even when I’m driving, walking or at the market. She sometimes tells me to relax, and I take that advice too,” he says with a smile, adding, “Kirti has just completed her first production, and we are both acting in it. She had her process and I had mine, but when we came together for our scenes, the result was beautiful. As long as the final performance is truthful, there is no need to interfere with each other’s process.”
For Rajeev, a relationship is also about retaining a sense of self while being present for the other person through life’s highs and lows.
He shares, “You can’t look for completeness in another person. You have to be complete within yourself, and perhaps only then can you find someone who is right for you. Both of us have learnt that life is not always a bed of roses. There will be ups and downs, and it is important not to become too elated when things are going well or too despondent when they are not. When one of us has a difficult moment, we are there for each other, offering support and perspective.”
This is the first time in my career that I have been trolled-Kirti Kulhari
3:13 PM
Stating that a section of the audience is judging her for Badass Ravi Kumar, Kirti Kulhari says she starred in the spoof action comedy to challenge her own perception of being a serious actor
Priyanka Sharma (MID-DAY; February 8, 2025)
Why her?” That was the question many viewers had after watching Kirti Kulhari in Badass Ravi Kumar’s trailer. Interestingly, the actor too had a similar question—“Why me?”—when actor-musician Himesh Reshammiya offered her a role in the Keith Gomes-directed spoof action comedy. After all, Badass Ravi Kumar was wildly different from the powerful stories, like Shaitaan (2011), Pink (2016) and Criminal Justice: Behind Closed Doors (2020), that Kulhari has leaned towards in her 15-year career.
“I was shocked. But Himesh told me, ‘I need an actor for this role.’ I was flattered that he thought of me for his film,” she smiles.
Kulhari laughs that her hairdo, a short bob at the time, was another reason why Reshammiya thought she would be the perfect fit to play a glamorous assassin. She recalls, “He said, ‘I really like your hairstyle. I want that look for the part.’”
The actor knew that the audience would be surprised to see her in the action comedy that demands suspension of logic. She viewed it not as a deterrent, but as an opportunity to challenge the audience’s perception of her. More importantly, she wanted to challenge her own biases about the kind of actor she wants to be.
“I am seen as a serious actor. But I realized that I didn’t want any strict notions about me, not just from the audience, but also myself. I wanted to shatter any judgment I harboured for spoof films. I also wanted to break the perception I had of myself as an actor. Until a few years ago, I wouldn’t have said yes to a film like this.”
In the days between the trailer’s release and the film hitting the marquee, Kulhari got it all, from compliments to criticism. “People are telling me that I’m looking hot. I’m surprised by it because I had a glam look in Four More Shots Please! There are also many comments where people have criticized me. In fact, this is the first time in my career that I have been trolled. People have written, ‘Aisi bhi kya majboori thi [that you had to do this film]?’ When you’re used to being praised for your work, this feels like a different experience. I asked myself if I was at ease receiving criticism, and the answer was yes. It felt freeing.”
Sayani Gupta believes having intimacy coordinators makes things awkward
3:17 PM
Despite working with professionals who taught her tricks to shoot intimate scenes, Sayani Gupta, who plays a part in her next, isn’t always in favour of their appointment
Upala KBR (MID-DAY; November 6, 2024)
The makers of Khwaabon Ka Jhamela have easily hit the bull’s eye by casting Sayani Gupta in the film that revolves around a finance whiz (played by Prateik Babbar) and a spirited intimacy coordinator, Ruby. After all, Gupta, who plays the role of the latter, has worked with several intimacy coordinators in her previous films, and has also taught her peers the art of filming tricky scenes.
“We had a professional on set in 2013 while shooting Margarita With A Straw. Back then, this was an alien concept, but director Shonali Bose got Monsoon Bisell and Adil Hussain to work with Kalki Koechlin and me. Later, we also had another intimacy coordinator, Aastha Khanna Bhardwaj, on board for Four More Shots Please. Having worked with them, I jokingly say that I have a PhD in the subject.”
Gupta has also taught her peers the tricks to shoot graver sequences in which violence may also be involved. “I have been part of scenes that were intimate and violent. Off screen, I have worked as a coordinator too. So, for this film, I didn’t have to undergo any prep work. I always say that the best research comes from life’s experiences. Of course, workshops and rehearsals help.”
Though the addition of intimacy coordinators on film sets may easily be seen as among the most progressive steps that the industry has taken to cater to women’s safety, Gupta isn’t always in favour of their appointment.
“Sometimes, it is great to work with one, but at times, having them on the set comes in the way of doing scenes in an organic way. As an actor, I know the kind of conversations I must have with my co-actor, and the presence of a coordinator makes things awkward. It can also hamper the flow of a scene that is naturally unfolding with two actors who share the same wavelength.”
As for Danish Aslam’s romcom that releases online on Jio Cinema on November 8, Gupta admits that no intimate scenes are involved. She describes it as a tale of two people who are “equally strange” in their own ways. “The film delivers a message but doesn’t get too serious. It talks about inclusivity and gay pride. We shot at a pride parade, so the film is truly inclusive and open; a celebration of love,” she says of the movie that reunites her with Babbar after the show, Four More Shots Please.
“I recommended Prateik for it. I had already come on board, and Danish was looking to cast for his role. We share chemistry on screen because we are good buddies in real life. We constantly make fun of each other and have seen each other [evolve] in certain ways.”
Intimacy experts are bringing comfort to film shoots
11:09 AM
Kate Winslet’s comment highlights crucial role of intimacy coordinators; in Bollywood, more directors are using their services
Natasha Coutinho (BOMBAY TIMES; April 12, 2024)
Most directors will tell you how the filming of an intimate scene is among the most delicate parts of a shoot, as it requires comfort and trust between actor and director.
Over the past few years, Bollywood has been increasingly roping in intimacy coordinators based on the needs of a project. The Shahid Kapoor-Kriti Sanon starrer Teri Baaton Mein Aisa Uljha Jiya, which released recently, had multiple intimate scenes, one of which was trimmed by the CBFC.
Director Amit Joshi, who shared credits with Aradhana Sah, told us: “It’s important for actors and directors to build trust before the filming begins. Scenes are discussed in detail in advance so that actors can state their reservations, if any. We ensured our actors were comfortable. Today, even actors understand the creative process.”
We spoke to intimacy coordinators, directors, and actors to understand the challenges that intimate scenes pose and how those are overcome during the shoot.
WHAT IS A NUDITY RIDER?
The actors sign a contract document called the nudity rider which details the intimate scenes and the fact that the actor has agreed to shoot them
HOW ARE INTIMATE SCENES SHOT?
- Knowing the script: Understanding what kind of intimacy scenes — kissing scenes, disrobing, simulated sex — the script needs. Workshops are conducted to make the actors feel comfortable with each other
- Discussions with the director: The coordinators discuss with the director what they are looking to portray
- Detailing and checklist: The scene is finalized after thrashing out the minute details, such as where the actor will place his hands while shooting a kissing scene.
(Inputs by Akshay Muraka, intimacy choreographer)
At times, just a conversation with the actors is enough: Coordinator Aastha Khanna
“I was working as Shakun Batra’s assistant prepping for Gehraiyaan when I joined (Hollywood intimacy coordinator) Amanda Blumenthal’s training programme. This helped when we were shooting the intimate scenes in the film. In web series such as Saas Bahu Aur Flamingo, and Four More Shots Please! (S3), collaborating closely with directors has given me the freedom to push artistic boundaries. At times, the actors have already figured out what works for them. So, just a conversation is enough to make them understand how the scene will work.”
Rehearsals for intimate scenes play an important role, says actress Shilpa Shukla
“During my first few films like Khamosh Pani and BA Pass, we would improvise intimate scenes on set. As an actor, my concern with intimate scenes is to create the right emotions. I have always been at ease with these scenes. I played a lesbian character in Four More Shots Please! (S3). Rehearsals for intimate scenes play an important role.”
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If a kissing sequence is happening, they say how much you should kiss, and where to refrain
- Kartik Aaryan
I have never had an intimacy coordinator but we absolutely need it. I was once told to do something and I did because I agreed with the vision. I didn't even thing about the fact that how it was done was wrong
- Radhika Apte
Sayani Gupta, Gulshan Devaiah, Pratik Gandhi etc talk about essaying queer characters of impact
9:52 AM
Navya Kharbanda (HINDUSTAN TIMES; June 19, 2023)
REGINA CASSANDRA
I’m very happy to be someone who was in the initial phase of the evolution of the film industry. There has always been an audience for these stories but now, there’s more awareness. It was so surprising when a few years ago, a girl came up to me and said, ‘Ek Ladki Ko Dekha Toh Aisa Laga (2019) was my gay awakening’. It made me feel so happy that my role had actually impacted a set of people.
SAYANI GUPTA
A lot of people were scared of and said no to playing the queer character in Margarita With A Straw (2014) that I eventually did. Not doing a part like this is pure dumb. I did not care about the acceptance of the audience — I did it because it was a good part and a great script. The younger and even the older generation are becoming much more aware, open and inclusive now. Cut to 2023, people have become way more accepting and I believe my character in the film contributed to it.
GULSHAN DEVAIAH
In Badhaai Do (2022), I was just sincere and honest with the script, and it impacted the audience in a way. For instance, I was in Dehradun (after Badhaai Do), and coincidentally, Raj (Rajkummar Rao) was, too. So many times, elderly women would come to us to appreciate the film and say that we made a great couple on screen. We underestimate our society. It really depends on how things are communicated to people.
PRATIK GANDHI
The Indian audience is also understanding that it is much more beyond sex. Indian cinema, too, has also evolved in showcasing LGBTQIA+ stories with sensitive representation of characters. As opposed to earlier, when queer characters would be comic devices, now, it is more real and in-depth. The gay characters Ranveer (Brar, chef) and I played in Modern Love Mumbai were not at all typical. They were instead very simple and true to their own selves. The LGBTQIA+ community are our own and don’t need to be spelled out differently. The way Manzu (his character) stood for himself and tried explaining to his family and the way he manoeuvred around it was very real. Pyaar sirf pyaar hota hai!
BANI J
Shows and films can help impact society and promote inclusivity. With the amount of content coming out and the exposure such stories and characters are getting, Indian audiences are surely watching. I’m glad that my character in Four More Shots Please! showcased very simply that queer people exist and that their stories deserve respect. It’s also important that the portrayal isn’t demeaning or caricature-ish.
Four More Shots Please made me more comfortable about my body-Kirti Kulhari
8:21 AM
Syeda Eba Fatima (HINDUSTAN TIMES; February 6, 2023)
Kirti Kulhari has always managed to impress audiences with her choice of scripts and strong characters that she portrays on screen. However, the actor admits she is not “entirely satisfied” as an artiste yet.
The reason? “I want a lot more. I have a lot of potential that is still not explored,” says Kulhari, adding, “My understanding of cinema and filmmaking is increasing day by day and I need to find people and scripts that can match my growth. So, am I getting the kind of scripts I really feel like doing? Not much. And that’s precisely the reason why I don’t do too much work either.”
The actor, who has played pivotal parts in films such as Mission Mangal (2019), Shaadisthan, The Girl on the Train (both 2021), etc. believes in doing one thing at a time and not burdening herself. “I am trying to find stuff that stimulates me. But now, being a producer, I am able to create that stuff for myself. I am not just restricting myself to acting. I’m also looking for scripts I really want to work on. I am able to contribute a lot more to what I feel my artistic requirements are,” says the actor, who launched her production house in January 2022 and will star in its first dark comedy thriller, Nayeka.
Last seen in Four More Shots Please! season 3 in 2022, Kulhari admits working on the show gave her career as well as her personal life a push: “It alleviated my positioning in the industry and people’s perception of me; I was never known to be a glam girl. People considered me a good actor, but the show gave me so much variation. Personally, too, it made me more comfortable about my body and increased my confidence to do intimate scenes on screen.”
Kirti Kulhari preferred spending time alone and we girls totally respected that-Maanvi Gagroo
8:11 AM
S Farah Rizvi (HINDUSTAN TIMES; November 22, 2022)
Actor Kirti Kulhari recently said that she’s not too close to her Four More Shots Please (FMSP) co-stars Bani J, Maanvi Gagroo and Sayani Gupta. Reacting to that, Gagroo says, “In this season, Kirti was very much into herself. She preferred spending time alone and we girls totally respected that. As we have known each other for so long, we understand whether the person is upset or happy. So, we know when to leave the person alone and let her be. To sum it up, I would say that ab humein acting nahin karni padti dost hone ki. For me, we are friends forever.”
Having worked together in three seasons of the show, the Shubh Mangal Zyada Saavdhan (2020) actor feels the bonding among the female cast members is quite strong. “Very much like in FMSP, we are an off-screen girl gang too and we are well connected. The four of us also have a chat group and we keep it updated with regular girly talks,” the actor says.
On work front, the Tripling actor is happy playing characters that have no physical attributes attached to them. “Earlier, I used to play plus-sized, chubby characters. My frame of mind was that I’ll be conveying some kind of message attached to these social stigmas, but I don’t do that anymore. As far as getting image-bound is concerned, I have realised that it’s all in my hands. When I’ll put on weight, similar roles will follow. I am glad that things have changed and I’m getting to play a variety of roles now,” the actor ends.
If you show a flawed woman, she is up for criticism-Joyeeta Patpatia
8:58 AM
Noting that troubled heroes are met with kindness, Four More Shots... director says viewers have double standards for female-led series
Uma Ramasubramanian (MID-DAY; October 21, 2022)
Who better than a woman to tell the story of four Mumbai women? After Anu Menon and Nupur Asthana, Joyeeta Patpatia has taken up the directorial baton for Four More Shots Please, starring Kirti Kulhari, Sayani Gupta, Maanvi Gagroo and Bani J. The third season takes the viewers through the lives of the four friends as they navigate love, loss and challenges. So, how does it feel to be the latest entrant in the team?
“Since everyone else [on the acting and writing team] is constant, I got a well-oiled machine. I saw it as an advantage. The actors had a comfort level,” starts the director.
The beauty of the Amazon Prime Video offering is that it shows us real women who play by their own rules, make mistakes, suffer heartbreaks and pick themselves up. While the four unapologetically flawed characters have struck a chord with a section of the audience, they also have detractors. Patpatia views this as a marker of our society’s hypocritical nature.
“Women, who watch Fleabag and resonate with it, don’t want to see [Indian] women mouth certain lines. But films and shows are a mirror to society. This show is doing well because a majority of people identify with it. As soon as you show a flawed and independent woman, she is up for criticism. There are so many flawed male protagonists, but everyone’s take on that is different.”
To emphasize her point, the director notes how Kulhari’s character Anjana — who is seen growing close to her ex-husband — received much hate after the third season’s trailer dropped online. “One user commented, ‘Anjana divorced this guy. He is happily married to someone else, but she wants to ruin his life. What a disgusting woman, and you’re celebrating her?’ Another user echoed my sentiments when they wrote back, saying, ‘What about the husband? You haven’t said a word about his choice.’ That’s how society is. They have a million [opinions] about a woman’s flaws.”
I have come too far to just sing and dance in a film-Kirti Kulhari
8:27 AM
Onkar Kulkarni (BOMBAY TIMES; January 25, 2022)
In her repertoire of movies, Kirti Kulhari has been seen in a variety of films, however, not every time did she have lengthy screen time. But that doesn’t mean her performance didn’t grab our attention and leave a mark. While she faced her own struggles to create space for herself in Bollywood, it was through the OTT platform that reinstated her faith in her acting career.
In a candid conversation with BT, she talks about a new chapter that she began in her film journey this year, about her separation from husband Saahil Sehgal and how that phase was a liberating experience. Read on. . .
You have been a part of Hindi cinema for over 10 years. In the past few years, one has seen you pick strong parts that focused on your character. What has been the kind of shift you have witnessed personally in your journey up until now?
I grew up with the idea of becoming a Bollywood heroine who sings and dances. Only after I stepped into the industry, started doing theatre and watching foreign cinema that my vision widened. So, while I wanted to do the typical Bollywood stuff, I was mesmerized seeing varied content and from thereon, an inner conflict started growing inside me. I wondered if I would get to do such powerful roles here in Bollywood. Every time I was sort of given a choice to make, I did end up choosing the kind of films I actually enjoy watching.
Yes, I did start off with a Khichdi: The Movie (2010), but then I also did a Shaitaan (2011). Not every choice that I made worked commercially and that’s where I kind of lagged behind. If I chose the kind of cinema that I chose and it did commercially well, then I think it would have been easier for me to say, ‘Oh, wow I found my path. This is what I love doing and this is doing well, too’. That way it would have been a win win for everyone. But it didn’t happen that way. Pink (2016) bridged that gap between commercial viability of a film and critical acclaim. It assured me in a way that maybe this is your path. It was at that point that I consciously took a stand and almost became unapologetic about it. I think I have left a mark with almost every film I have been a part of, and I think that is also the reason why when OTT showed up in the country, I was probably among the first names that came to filmmakers’ minds. I never believed that anything you do goes unnoticed. If you have done something well, it will shine no matter what. Along with OTT (Kirti was seen in shows like Four More Shots Please!, Bard Of Blood, Criminal Justice: Behind Closed Doors), I am open to a lot more stuff in Bollywood. But I have come too far to kind of go back and say... Let me just sing and dance in your film.
So, would you say that filmmakers are now seeing you in a new light, and hence, you are being offered such interesting parts, the type that you always wanted to do?
I think filmmakers have been a little confused over how to cast me for Bollywood films. They are not sure how much I am willing to try in the commercial space. And then, some of the films that I did, didn’t turn out the way they should have, which distanced the filmmakers even more. It happens because Bollywood purely runs on box office. What you get to do, how much you get to do depends upon your box office success, for sure. For me, Uri: The Surgical Strike (2019) and Mission Mangal (2019) changed that in a big way. I believe that there might be filmmakers wanting to work with me, but then factors such as, throwing names (networking and recommendations), commercial viability and the commercial standing of an actor — that persists, and eventually stops them. So, while multiple times, I was at a point where I was losing my faith in the way this whole system works in Bollywood and wondering if my real talent would ever get recognised...it was OTT that reinstated my faith. As I moved along one project after another, I realised the power it holds and the kind of freedom it provides me as an actor.
The year marked your foray into filmmaking as you turned producer. What inspired you to take up this step?
It came from the fact that people have been taking me seriously and it has strengthened my position in the market. So now, I want to be a part of the storytelling process in a bigger way. I wanted more control. Also, every time I consumed content, I felt certain scenes should have been done in a certain way. So, I thought why not have a first-hand experience instead. The first project that I am co-producing is Nayeka, in which I play an actress and that way I get to essay multiple parts.
Last year you separated from your husband Saahil Sehgal. How much has your life changed since then?
My marriage pushed me in a way which has really made me evolve as a person. This whole experience that I have had with Saahil has really made me a better human being. It took a lot of contemplation to come to this decision.
But once I took it, the kind of strength and empowerment I felt is something that I never felt before. It was the toughest decision to make because it had an impact on a lot of people around me. It is liberating for me to stand up for myself. Liberation is all about feeling free to make your own choices to move on in life like you want to. It has, in a way, given me a lot of confidence to take more and more important decisions in my life and just stand up for myself. In that sense, it has been very empowering and very liberating. It has made me a wiser person. Today the views I have on marriage, the advice I can give to men and women about marriage are so different from what I would have had four years ago. So, surely this is the better and the best version of me for the world to see.
So, are you open to falling in love again, or giving marriage another chance in the coming years?
I am very open towards love, but is there a need for another? No! There is no need for another, because I have also really understood the idea of selflove. I think coming out of my marriage has also brought me closer to myself and made me connect with myself in ways that I have never before. I am very happy in the space that I am in. There is no need for another, but yes, if there is something out there for me, I would be more than open to it. I love kids in general and I want to do something for kids. There was a time I really loved the idea of being a mother and having my own kid. But the way life has panned out for me, the idea kind of faded away. If you ask me today, I see myself being unmarried and not being a mother for the rest of my life. That is the plan I have for myself for now. Rest, I don’t know what turn life will take, but this is how I see it now.
Four More Shots Please and Made In Heaven makers to revive long-pending foreign schedules?
8:17 AM
With EU set to welcome vaccinated travellers, makers of Four More Shots, Made in Heaven revive long-pending foreign schedules
Mohar Basu, Uma Ramasubramanian (MID-DAY; May 22, 2021)
The European Union, on Wednesday, announced that it will soon reopen its borders for fully vaccinated travellers. Among the vaccines approved by the European Medicines Agency are Pfizer, Moderna, AstraZeneca and Janssen. Closer home, this news came as a ray of hope for the makers of films and web series who have long put their foreign schedules on the backburner. Zoya Akhtar and Nitya Mehra had lined up an extensive Made In Heaven schedule for April 2020. After waiting out the 2020 lockdown, the team began filming the second season in Delhi this year. “The makers had to cancel their Italy leg last year. If all goes well, the international schedule will kick off in the latter half of 2021,” says a source.
Before producers can begin reworking their plans, the top priority is to get the cast and crew vaccinated. Four More Shots Please creator Rangita Pritish Nandy has apparently kept a six-month window before lead actors Kirti Kulhari, Sayani Gupta, Maanvi Gagroo and Bani J can be Europe-bound. “The team had begun shooting the third season in February in Mumbai, but had to soon call time on it in April. With the timelines now being reworked, they are targeting November for the international leg,” says a source.
However, the shortage of vaccines may disrupt the best-laid plans. While Aditya Chopra has teamed up with the Federation of Western India Cine Employees to inoculate 30,000 film workers, Birendra Nath Tiwari, president, FWICE, says, “In case of foreign shoots, the concerned production houses will get the crew vaccinated.”
Lesbian love stories are blossoming on screen
8:33 AM
It’s been 25 years since Deepa Mehta made Fire, India’s first mainstream same-sex story. But it’s only now that queer women are getting their space on screen
Sonam Joshi (BOMBAY TIMES; April 4, 2021)
A female bank employee finds herself irresistibly drawn to a woman who sings jazz at a pub in Mumbai. A closeted student confesses to her best friend that she’s finally found someone she likes — another girl on their campus in Jaipur. Two women, a gym trainer and a film star, walk down the aisle in Udaipur in the presence of friends. A married woman begins a clandestine affair with her late colleague’s widow in Delhi. A queer woman and non-binary person seek acceptance from their families.
These storylines from recent films (Sheer Qorma) and web shows (Bombay Begums, Mismatched, Four More Shots Please! and The Married Woman) show how much screen portrayals of queer women have evolved, reflecting not just the hurdles of same-sex relationships but also the fun, the romance and heck, even the ordinariness of it all. Not surprising since many of them have LGBTQ writers and filmmakers at the helm.
Director Faraz Arif Ansari, whose latest film Sheer Qorma stars Swara Bhasker and Divya Dutta as a couple, recalls being asked why they chose to make a film about queer men and not women during a screening of their debut Sisak. “It got me thinking ‘Where are the queer women?” says Ansari, who is non-binary. Ansari adds that the film hopes “to open a deeper dialogue about love and acceptance, especially in South Asian communities across the world”.
Shohini Ghosh, media professor at Jamia Millia Islamia, says it’s just the beginning and as the idea of same-sex love becomes more acceptable in society, queer sexuality will become more visible on screen. “I think the exciting process has begun and will continue,” she says, giving the example of the 2019 queer romance Ek Ladki Ko Dekha Toh Aisa Laga. “When the star body, in this case Sonam Kapoor’s, embraces queer sexuality it becomes a powerful statement in itself,” she says. “It is a delight to see a whole new generation of women, like Bani J and Lisa Ray for example, who are comfortable and uninhibited about playing queer roles.”
So why has it taken so long, though there were subtle hints at lesbian love in Dedh Ishqiya? After all, it’s been 25 years since Fire introduced a lesbian love story to mainstream audiences for the first time in 1996. Writer Apurva Asrani, who has worked on Aligarh and Made In Heaven which had queer men in lead roles, says that it simply boils down to the fact that the dominant voice continues to be that of men. “Women’s voices are muffled in our society, so even within the LGBTQ scene and pride marches, the representation for women is lesser than that of men,” he says. “Maybe that’s why we haven’t had many stories out there.”
Ansari says that when they reached out to producers for Sheer Qorma, they were told to change the lead characters of the queer woman and non-binary individual to men. “I was even told to cast ‘hot, muscular, fair men’ and I would have the required investment,” they say. “Misogyny is real and runs deeper than you and I can imagine.”
But some of that’s changing, and Ghosh credits the blossoming of queer romance to the hard work of activists. “In the early 1990s, none of us would have guessed that queer sexuality would find such wide acceptance. To a very great extent the activism of the LGBTQI community has been responsible for this.”
Gazal Dhaliwal, a trans woman who wrote Ek Ladki Ko Dekha Toh Aisa Laga and Mismatched, says the reading down of section 377 in 2018 has given creators more freedom. “Earlier, there was an inhibition because the very act of loving someone from the same sex was a crime but that is not there anymore. I see more people coming out and owning their identities so there are more stories both on and off screen.”
There has also been a rise in the number of queer women like Dhaliwal in the television and film industries. Dhaliwal says it is important to give space to queer creators to tell their stories, and create nuanced characters rather than caricatures. For instance, while adapting a rom-com novel into the Netflix series Mismatched, she consciously stayed away from clichés. “We wanted to flip the cliche of the female lead’s gay male best friend by having a male protagonist with a female gay best friend,” she says. “She’s also a regular girl-next-door who falls in love with a character who isn’t gay.”
Asrani feels it’s important to have queer creators if you want to tell a story sensitively. “Otherwise it is like mansplaining,” says Asrani, adding that “the Hindi film industry is one of the gayest and also very closeted film industries and to find queer writers and filmmakers is actually very easy.”
Sulagna Chatterjee, 24, is a queer screenwriter who has penned slice-of-life same-sex romances such as Firsts on YouTube and the forthcoming short film Feels Like Ishq on Netflix. “I wanted to tell love stories that our community can relate to,” she says. “Growing up, I barely had such content. There were stories of discrimination, pain and the hard side of accepting our sexuality but we deserve to have our sappy romances to watch with our partners too.”
Firsts follows the relationship of a young lesbian couple who move in together soon after they start dating, and explores the themes of coming out and being in a relationship for the first time. “Many queer women said it was an inside joke, since we are known to jump into relationships,” she says. Feels Like Ishq is also about navigating romance and youth. “Often sexuality is used as a plot point to drive the story, but queer people have lives that are not just defined by their sexuality,” she says.
However, filmmaker Onir, whose next film We Are celebrates gay, lesbian, trans and bisexual love stories, feels that on-screen representation still amounts to tokenism “which keeps a heteronormative audience comfortable”. Ansari agrees. “The whole increase in queer content has not really been about representation but about cishet people (a heterosexual person who identifies as the gender they were born with) using their inauthentic, tokenism to tell queer narratives.” Ansari says it’s time to put the spotlight on queer makers. “Let us tell our stories. Like I keep saying, move, cis!”
Chatterjee says even LGBTQ stories need to go a step further. “We need to talk about gender fluidity, asexuality, trans lives. Our spectrum shouldn’t be about just men loving men and women loving women.”
Bold and edgy: OTT breaks sexual taboos
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The digital space is revolutionsing the portrayal of female sexuality by exploring its varied dimensions
Sugandha Rawal (HINDUSTAN TIMES; March 27, 2021)
For decades, female sexuality has remained a hushed topic onscreen, with no focus on the demands, needs or pleasure of a woman. But not anymore, as the OTT space is scripting a change in the narrative, while stripping off the taboo around such subjects, changing mindset – one show at a time.
“Female sexuality is finally being acknowledged in storytelling. This is a positive change. Women are finally being acknowledged as sexual beings and not merely as objects of male desire,” says actor Rasika Dugal, who received acclaim for her role of a sexually dissatisfied wife, who starts a relationship outside marriage in web series Mirzapur.
There was a time when the subject of sex came with a bundle of awkwardness, sometimes wrapped together with suggestive lyrics or visual metaphors like brushing of flowers. Yet, sex was hardly a female affair, and that is what the filmmakers are out to change now. Be it a story of four friends exploring their sexuality in Four More Shots Please!, or the importance of consent in Aahana Kumra’s Marzi, or a more complex look at sex play in recently launched, Bombay Begums.
And filmmaker Imtiaz Ali is pleased by this positive change in the way these subjects are being explored. “OTT platforms allow the point of view and the duration to look at women in a more multi dimensional manner,” says Ali, creator and writer of She, adding, “Sexuality is something that in our society is often used as a weapon to repress people. And being able to make a story about that was very interesting”.
Interestingly, now, the focus is not just on sex, but on exploring one’s sexual identity and owning it up without any hesitation. If there are women indulging in acts of self-pleasure, then there are also women struggling with their orientation. Some examples of redefined portrayal include shows such as Lust Stories, A Married Woman, Dolly Kitty Aur Woh Chamakte Sitare, and Made In Heaven.
Dugal finds it encouraging that “scripts are now exploring and celebrating femininity”; however, she has her concerns. “Filmmaking is a visual medium and there’s a long journey between the written words and the visual. Sometimes, even the most well-meaning scripts end up with sexualised images or visuals. Even with the best intentions we’re finding it hard to break away from those,” she rues.
Actor Shweta Tripathi Sharma, whose introduction scene in Mirzapur showed her character indulging in an act of self-pleasure, feels it’s time to normalise the conversation about women having desires. “This happens, there’s no point shying away from it. Let’s not be hypocritical,” she says. Recalling her introduction scene, Sharma says, “I didn’t think it was a big deal. But there were so many journalists who asked me about it, and I was like ‘Come on.. As actors, we put ourselves out to tell a story... toh iss ko itna bada mat banao.”
For Sharma, the intent of a story is more important than the act. “As long as that intention is correct, it should definitely be explored,” she says, adding, she’ll never associate with a scene which is done just to catch eyeballs. “We have huge responsibility as actors and as storytellers, and we shouldn’t exploit the power... Our moral compass should be in the right place,” she shares.
Director Abhishek Pathak feels that “the way the content is perceived by the audience has also changed in a positive way”. To this, Sharma adds, “The more educated we are, the better it will be. I think the audience is definitely more aware.”
A still from (L to R) She, Bombay Begums and Dolly Kitty Aur Woh Chamakte Sitare
We will shoot Four More Shots Please 3 in Mumbai till May end-Rangita Pritish Nandy
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Four More Shots Please creator kicks off the third season in the city, adhering to safety norms; says schedule unaltered despite rising COVID-19 cases in the state
Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; March 20, 2021)
Creator Rangita Pritish Nandy, who kicked off the shoot of the third season of Four More Shots Please last weekend after a year-long wait, believes her emotional state can be captured in three words: “We feel alive”. The all-women drama, headlined by Kirti Kulhari, Sayani Gupta, Maanvi Gagroo and Bani J, is being shot in South Mumbai. “After the year we’ve all had, being on set, exchanging ideas, discussing characters, and even squabbling over costumes — it all feels like coming home,” says Nandy.
The creator finds herself leading a 100-plus crew at a time when the impact of the second wave can be strongly felt as Maharashtra recorded its highest number of Coronavirus cases in a day since March 2020. Undeterred, Nandy says they are being cautious and following guidelines to the T. “Our protocols are driven by the government’s prescribed norms and Amazon’s exhaustive list of SOPs [standard operating procedures]. We’re testing [daily], masking up, using the private mode of travel, and not sharing food or liquids. We’re living in a bio-bubble — all this, while we keep a close watch on the changing situation to devise new precautions.”
The team is sticking to the original plan despite the adverse conditions. “We will shoot in Mumbai till May-end. We have another Indian city and an overseas location on the cards.”
The benchmark is set high for the third season. After all, the first edition bagged an International Emmy nomination and the second instalment became Amazon Prime India’s most-watched Indian original of 2020. “We wrote and prepped for season 3 before any of this happened. So, we don’t feel any pressure. But we have a duty to all the fans; we want to deliver a bigger and stronger season for them.”
My character in Four More Shots Please 3 will stand up for herself now-Kirti Kulhari
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Ready to shoot Four More Shots Please 3 this week, Kirti Kulhari on the evolution of four protagonists
Uma Ramasubramanian (MID-DAY; March 8, 2021)
The recently released The Girl On The Train is but a blip for Kirti Kulhari, who has been on a hot streak since last year with Four More Shots Please 2 and Criminal Justice: Behind Closed Doors. The Ribhu Dasgupta-directed thriller, which sees the actor as a cop investigating a murder case, received a mixed response. “When you walk into a remake, you know what you’re getting into. So, the comparison [with the original book and the Hollywood thriller] was the least of our concerns. I haven’t read the reviews, but my family enjoyed the film. I moved on from the film a year ago because I was doing a lot of other projects,” begins Kulhari.
For now, the actor has her blinders on, ready to focus on the third season of Four More Shots Please. The International Emmy-nominated series is among the many projects that have been delayed due to the pandemic. “I will join the team on March 12. We will shoot in Mumbai and Ludhiana, following which we will hopefully fly to Europe for a schedule. I will wrap up the show by June-end,” says Kulhari, who has already planned a much-needed vacation right after the stint.
The Amazon Prime Video series, also starring Sayani Gupta, Maanvi Gagroo and Bani J, traces the lives and loves of four women who stand by each other through thick and thin. In the upcoming edition, she promises that her lawyer character Anjana will have a dramatic arc. “My character will stand up for herself in a way that she hasn’t before. That is not to say that she won’t make mistakes, but she will learn from them. We’ll show growth in terms of all the characters. People often think that this series is all about fun, but the truth is that the characters are complex.”
Censorship, for me, comes in the way of complete freedom of expression-Kirti Kulhari
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Kirti Kulhari shares why, as an artiste, she isn’t in the favour of censorship, and dictating ‘what should be told or how it should be told’
Rishabh Suri (HINDUSTAN TIMES; January 23, 2021)
Actor Kirti Kulhari is currently among the biggest names working in the OTT space. The year 2020 saw her show Four More Shots Please! returning with its second season and even bagging an International Emmy nomination for Best Comedy Series. She ended the year on a high note with Criminal Justice: Behind Closed Doors fetching her rave reviews. Even her next, The Girl On The Train, is set to release on a digital platform.
Her journey in films is cruising along smoothly as well, but it won’t be wrong to say that web has helped her gain a solid footing. Excerpts from an interview with the 35-year-old:
You must be getting a lot of web offers. How are you choosing from the lot? Any things that you won’t do?
There’s no particular criteria as such, also because I have a certain filmography now (Pink, Mission Mangal, Indu Sarkar, Uri: The Surgical Strike). People know the work I’m generally associated with, so I don’t get anything which is just random. Pretty much everything I’m offered is in a space I want to do, but obviously I can’t do everything.
So, how do you manage to zero in on the kind of work you want to do, especially on the web?
If I have five things, I want to be part of the most wonderful script and character. But, at the same time, I also need to see the team associated with it — the producers, platforms, the director... I look at all that as well. These are the few things. Also, the kind of energy that would go into preparing and doing a particular character, the tougher the better. But, I should also have the right people around for me to feel confident that this can be worked on and will come out well.
Has it ever happened that a script has been too good, but the backing wasn’t up to the mark? What did you do in such a scenario?
I generally back out because I know how much effort I put into what I do. If I don’t see the promise of it being made well and being done justice to, in terms of making and releasing it, I do not like to get into it.
Of late, there has been a looming fear of censorship on the web, and OTT platforms also came under the ambit of Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. What’s your comment on this?
With the way the world is today, anything is a possibility. I’m ready for anything... But am I in the favour of censorship? Of course not. I’ve always been in favour of certification in films as well, but not dictating what should be told and how it should be told. Censorship, for me, comes in the way of complete freedom of expression. As an artiste, I’m not in favour of that.
Last year really showed us the power of streaming platforms, with Delhi Crime winning an International Emmy and Four More Shots Please! earning a nomination. Do you feel that finally Indian talent and content is getting its due?
Yes, the world is opening up that way. This change has a lot to do with OTT as well; we owe a lot of things to it. Our work is reaching the world, and vice versa. Boundaries are kind of being destroyed for the better. I also feel that we cannot complain about not being a part of the international [scene] because I really think we don’t create enough stuff which is actually worthy of being showcased internationally. When I look at them and at what we create, I’m seldom satisfied with what we do. I think rather than thinking, ‘Oh my God, why aren’t we acknowledged internationally?’, we should work harder and be sincere towards what we do, to create stuff that’s worthy. It happened in some way in 2020. If we keep going after it with the right attitude, I’m sure it will happen this year and every year.
We'll begin shooting Four More Shots Please Season 3 in January 2021-Kirti Kulhari
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After eight-month delay due to pandemic, Kirti Kulhari reveals Four More Shots 3 to roll in city
Uma Ramasubramanian (MID-DAY; December 19, 2020)
It has been a long wait for Kirti Kulhari, who was eager to join Maanvi Gagroo, Sayani Gupta and Bani J for the third season of Four More Shots Please. The Tannishtha Chatterjee-helmed edition was to go on floors in April, before the pandemic threw a wrench in their plans. Now, Kulhari reveals that the Amazon Prime Video offering is set to roll in the new year.
"We have been trying to shoot since September. Understandably, people want to be careful on the sets, so there were many guidelines [laid down] by Amazon. Now, we'll begin shooting in January. The dates have yet to be locked," says the actor, who plays a lawyer in the series that revolves around the lives and loves of the four women protagonists.
Though a chunk of the season is set in Europe, they will begin work on home turf first. "The first schedule will be in Mumbai. We will conduct the Europe stint once [the situation has improved] around the world."
In Criminal Justice 2, I had to say a lot through my silences-Kirti Kulhari
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Counting it among her toughest roles, Kirti Kulhari on playing prime accused in a murder case in Criminal Justice 2
Uma Ramasubramanian (MID-DAY; December 17, 2020)
If Four More Shots Please sees her play a powerful lawyer, Criminal Justice: Behind Closed Doors has Kirti Kulhari on the other side of the table — as a woman on trial for a murder. "What a digression," she exclaims, the dramatically different character arcs not lost on her. "The reason I said yes to the role is because it was completely opposite to what I played in Four More Shots Please. I like surprising myself, going from one role to another and exploring different shades of human nature. Anuradha [her character in Criminal Justice 2] personifies victimhood. The character is intense and dark."
In the upcoming Disney+ Hotstar series, Kulhari’s Anuradha Chandra confesses to stabbing husband Bikram to death, leading many to believe it will be an open-and-shut case. Enter Pankaj Tripathi as legal counsel Madhav Mishra, and the secrets surrounding the case are slowly unravelled. An official adaptation of the British thriller of the same name, the Rohan Sippy and Arjun Mukherjee-directed season delves into what prompts a woman to kill her partner of many years.
"The general idea is that characters can communicate only through dialogues. But in this show, I had to say a lot through my silences. It was one of my toughest roles," says Kulhari. Ask her about the experience of collaborating with Tripathi, and she says, "He has an interesting character. Sometimes, I used to be jealous that he was having so much fun with his role!"
As online platforms come under I&B ministry, censorship fear looms large; but no one ready to pass judgement yet
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The decision to bring online mediums under the I&B ministry has led to fears of censorship
Rishabh Suri (HINDUSTAN TIMES; November 15, 2020)
OTT platforms have always had one trump card over basically every other medium of entertainment — it faces no censorship. The freedom to say what the maker wants, and the viewer getting to see it uncensored always offered a thrill. What’s happening now however has led to some apprehensions.
The Union government, this week, brought streaming video services such as Netflix, Amazon Prime and Hotstar under the ambit of the Information & Broadcasting ministry for regulation. When we reach out to industry people for a reaction, cluelessness figures high.
Producer Pritish Nandy, who was behind the popular web show Four More Shots Please!, says, “Right now, they have brought all online content under them. It is difficult for me to pass a judgement about what they plan to do. They haven’t said anything.” He agrees that it could lead to censorship. “It hasn’t led to it yet. Till now, Prakash Javadekar has not done anything which is a serious infliction or affliction on freedom of media,” he says.
Echoing the same sentiment is Vikramaditya Motwane, who helmed the critically acclaimed show Sacred Games, which was credited as bringing in the web revolution in India. “I can’t comment till we have more information. The only bit that came out is this, what that means is something nobody knows. Censorship could be a possibility, but until they tell us, what we can all do is speculate,” says the 43-year-old.
Actors, on their part, fear the snipping scissors. Sayani Gupta, who has been a part of Four More Shots Please! and the web film Axone, says, “Censorship should not have come. It is too early to say, I have not spoken to anybody about it. Having said that censorship is not a good thing.”
While OTT platforms such as Zee5 and Eros Now didn’t want to comment at the time of going to press, Karan Bedi, CEO - MX Player issued a statement saying they “look forward to working with the ministry to implement self-regulation efforts...”
Trade expert Taran Adarsh says this coming of OTT platforms under the government isn’t a reason to worry. “In any case, when you watch a film on the big screen, even that’s censored. In today’s time, you have so much content coming out, there are people who cross a line. There has to be some kind of censorship, you need to draw a line. I am not being moralistic, but even kids are watching it,” he confesses.
Emmy nod won’t make a difference to your career in India-Sayani Gupta
8:21 AM
Juhi Chakraborty (HINDUSTAN TIMES; September 27, 2020)
It is not every day that a project you are a part of gets an International Emmy nominations. Well, for Sayani Gupta, it has happened twice. The actor, whose web series Inside Edge received a nomination at the ceremony in 2018, this year it is her female-led web series Four More Shots Please! which has received a nod for the Best Comedy Series.
“People are more excited than I am. It has come at a nice time, things are so bleak everywhere, for everyone, so it is a nice happy news,” she says.
While this may be the second time for her, this time around the actor hopes she can attend the ceremony with the show’s teams, including actors Kirti Kulhari, Bani J and Maanvi Gagroo.
“For Inside Edge, we didn’t go, it was only Karan (Anshuman, director) and his family and Ritesh (Sidhwani, producer) and all. This time, we all hope that they let us travel to New York. I don’t know with the Covid situation. Let’s see,” she points out.
While it is a huge deal to get an international recognition such as this one even if it may be just a nomination, the 34-year-old says it does not make a huge difference career-wise. “I don’t think it makes a huge difference in our country. It is cool, it is like a cool celebration kind of thing but in terms of career, I don’t think it is a big thing. It does not matter. It is not that people will start paying you more,” adds Gupta.
However, the actor is happy to see how actors, writers and makers of OTT shows are getting international recognition. “Now OTT is not a way forward but the only way forward. It has shifted, it has revolutionized and I think it is going to stay for eternity now. Not to say that we do away with theatres, we all love the big screen but I do believe that especially with the lockdown now, the audience is extremely receptive to good content, you no longer need a star to pull them to content,” she concludes.
Work in the time of Coronavirus: Bollywood goes around the world to shoot amid pandemic
7:57 AM
With Akshay Kumar set to kick off Bellbottom in Scotland, filmmakers consider overseas locations for shoots; Aamir Khan to take Laal Singh Chaddha to Turkey, Shakun revives Sri Lanka plan for Deepika Padukone-starrer
Uma Ramasubramanian, Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; August 6, 2020)
Even as the Unlock India plan continues, one phase at a time, filmmakers are contemplating taking their projects abroad due to the ease of shooting and flexible safety restrictions. The idea has got a boost with India undertaking the Air Bubble agreement with the UK, US, France, Germany and the UAE. Among the first Bollywood projects to roll will be Akshay Kumar's Bellbottom. The spy thriller — that features Vaani Kapoor and Lara Dutta — is expected to go on floors this month with the 120-member team flying to Scotland in private jets.Taking a cue from Kumar, Aamir Khan is gearing up to take Laal Singh Chaddha to foreign turf. The setting is a crucial element in the Advait Chandan-directed venture as the narrative traces India's important political and cultural milestones as witnessed by the protagonist. A source reveals, "Aamir is planning to recreate Punjab in Turkey and Georgia as the former has brought the crisis relatively under control. The team is in the process of locking locations via virtual recce and will head there when the travel restrictions ease. The pending Ladakh schedule will possibly be shot in Kargil before that."
The third season of Four More Shots Please was to go on floors in April, with a portion to be filmed in Italy. Director Tannishtha Chatterjee reveals she has been taking updates from friends in the United Kingdom and Italy to understand the situation. "Shooting abroad is safer, but one must consider the rules of quarantine. If my unit has to be quarantined for 14 days, the budget will get affected. Also, the bigger chunk of the show is set in India. So, we have not determined when we will shoot."Director Shakun Batra is handpicking a team of 50 that will fly to Sri Lanka for the shoot of the yet-untitled relationship drama, featuring Deepika Padukone, Siddhant Chaturvedi and Ananya Panday. "On August 1, Sri Lanka opened the airports for tourists again. Shakun is hopeful that India will resume flights to the country by November," says a source.
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