Akash Bhatnagar (MUMBAI MIRROR; November 6, 2019)

A day full of interviews might seem tedious for some actors, but Pulkit Samrat finds the experience “therapeutic”. He goes on to talk about the Fukrey franchise, being a part of Anees Bazmee’s team, his equation with Kriti Kharbanda, everything except…

Why Pagalpanti?
Every promo or song ends with ‘An Anees Bazmee Film’, and that’s what appealed to me. I grew up watching his No Entry and Welcome, and today, I’m a part of his film’s poster. It gives me goosebumps.

What’s special about Anees?
Most senior directors don’t give you a script or a narration personally, but Anees sir sat me down and gave me a proper narration, twice. Once we started shooting, Kriti (Kharbanda) and I were the only new entrants as Anees sir has worked with the rest before. I was intimidated about doing a film with Anil Kapoor, John Abraham, Saurabh Shukla and Anees sir. But John and Arshad treated me like a kid brother—covering for me and protecting me, advising and appreciating me. It was an addictive, productive team and none of them made Kriti and me feel like raw, uncooked rice.

Weren’t you apprehensive about being a part of a multi-starrer?
As a viewer, while watching a film, I don’t count how many scenes or dialogues an actor had, it’s the impact of the scene that matters. As long as I’m convinced about my part, the length or the genre doesn’t matter. My character, Chandu, thinks he is smart but he is actually dumb.

That would make him different from Vikas Gulati aka Hunny. What’s the status on Fukrey 3?
(Laughs) Ask Ritesh (Sidhwani), Farhan (Akhtar) and Mrigh (Mrighdeep Singh Lamba). We’ve told Mrigh we’ll lock him in a room and throw away the key until he comes out with a script. A good portion has been written. We are being careful as we don’t want to mar the franchise. It has been seven years of highs and lows. There was a phase just before the release of Fukrey Returns, when things were not working out for me. I was disturbed, wishing I’d played my innings differently. But I’m happy now. I still remember my seat number in the theatre where I watched No Entry and the scenes that made me laugh. To be a part of that team is an out-of-the-world feeling. The idea is to keep moving forward, irrespective of hits or flops.

You’re reuniting with Kriti after Veere Ki Wedding and with Urvashi Rautela after Sanam Re. Has your equation with them changed since?
I’m happy to be paired with Kriti, she’s a spontaneous actress and endearing on screen. We are together in Taish also though not opposite each other. It is difficult to find this kind of comfort level with co-stars and I am lucky to have found it with her. She is my best friend…

And Urvashi?
Hello… Hello… Hello…

The connection breaks and Pulkit since has gone missing. 

Neha Maheshwri (BOMBAY TIMES; March 7, 2018)

She’s an intense actress, while he’s as commercial as an actor can be. But with 3 Storeys, their latest project together, Richa Chadha and Pulkit Samrat have chosen to play roles vastly different from what they have done in the past. While Pulkit is doing a dark and intense film for the first time, Richa plays a seductress with a twist. Meanwhile speculations have been rife that the two are at loggerheads due to an alleged fallout between Pulkit and Richa’s beau, Ali Fazal, during the promotions of their last release. But both are quick to dismiss the rumours. Excerpts from their interview:

Pulkit, contrary to the rumours of a tiff between you and Ali (Fazal) during the promotions of Fukrey, you seem to get along with Richa like a house on fire...
Richa: Yes, we are friends, more like bros. We have been hanging out since Fukrey.
Pulkit: She is the only girl I can call at 2 am.
Richa: That was a joke. I would like to say that these stories of catfights and tiffs between co-actors would probably work in the 90s, but not anymore. Such stories do not lead to any awkwardness, but only make us laugh.

Richa, how does it feel when people cast aspersions on your relationship with Ali, calling it a publicity stunt?
Pulkit: Publicity stunt toh nahi pata, but stunt hai. Handling Richa and Ali is as good as a stunt.
Richa: Theek hai yaar, we are explosive together. On a serious note, I find it very offensive when people call our relationship a publicity stunt. We don’t need to resort to such gimmicks for publicity as we are already famous. We may not be mega stars, but people know us. We don’t need publicity; certainly not through such tactics.

Talking about 3 Storeys, which is set in a chawl, how did you familiarise yourself with the life there?
R: I have had friends who have lived in such conditions and I’ve hung out with them in chawls.
P: I don’t think you have to live in a chawl to understand the lifestyle. When you come from a different city, you have to toil and slog before you can accomplish your dreams in Mumbai. You experience and learn everything and that’s the beauty of this city.

What’s easier to work in — an unconventional subject like this or an out-and-out commercial film?
R: Fukrey, which was a typical commercial film, was not easy to make either. Even for actresses (in a commercial film), being on low-carb diet, not eating salt for a few days, wearing a 20-kilo heavy ghaghra and dancing are difficult tasks.
P: Acting is not easy. People get petrified while facing the camera. They become conscious even while clicking a picture. You have to get rid of all your inhibitions. If you are a kid at heart all your life, then you can be a good actor. It is about being convincing but having fun, too.

What are the most bizarre rumours you’ve heard about yourself?
R: Lots. People think I am not funny. I am very intense. My favourite one is, isko bohot gussa aata hai. In fact, Pulkit knows how rarely I get angry. Another one is that I can’t dance. People also feel I am not happy. I am often asked if I feel that I have got my due as an artiste. I say that I am flattered that you think I deserve more! Being outsiders, we have made our careers brick by brick. I am proud of what we have achieved.
P: The notion people have about me is that I am always angry and irritated. Also, I report late to work and I am not serious about my job. But if all these things were true about me, people wouldn’t be working with me.

Richa, you feel strongly about a lot of issues plaguing the industry. Does that reflect on the kind of films you choose?
R: Just the other day, someone told me, ‘We need a fair girl for the part’. We slot actresses according to their skin colour. The film industry is obsessed with looks, however, these things don’t bother me. There are actresses who are 40, but look 30 because they have done every plastic surgery possible and they say, ‘I only eat natural and drink coconut water’. That makes me feel better about myself. At least, I am real. So, while I have been affected by nepotism in the industry, I have not suffered so much on gender equality or pay parity issues. Maybe, because I am not at that level where I am drawing people to the theatres. I find other ways to contribute to society rather than doing films, which deal with issues. Kyunki films mein bhadaas nikaalne ke liye karungi toh bohot gadbad ho jaayegi. Suppose I become a symbol of woman empowerment, and then I play Bholi Punjaban (her character in the Fukrey franchise), who is a criminal dealing in drugs and is involved in sex trafficking? I don’t want the burden of my personality on the characters I play.

Is it difficult to be opinionated in an industry, where everyone is trying to pander to someone’s ego?
R: Do I look afraid? I don’t give a damn! One of the reasons I wanted to become an actor was to be able to use my position to say something meaningful.

Meryl Streep was trolled for talking about Donald Trump. You are known for being strongly opinionated. Do people find you intimidating because of this?
R: I don’t think people are intimidated by me; I think they are respectful of my opinions. But at the same time, I am not an activist. There are actors like Swara Bhasker and Sona Mohapatra, who take their activism far more seriously. I just do my own thing quietly. We pay 51 per cent tax, so as a tax-paying citizen of this country, I can have an opinion. If this makes me opinionated, so be it. People say that Bollywood bigwigs don’t speak up because it can be detrimental for them. Their films get banned in states, they lose endorsements and they are publicly humiliated. Kaun lega itna sar dard? They are already busy. If there was unity among the top stars and they didn’t have their little battles to pick, it would have been a different scenario.
P: She doesn’t have a lot at stake; hence, she can freely talk about things. A lot of people, who are bigger than her, are wary to voice their opinions because they have a lot at stake. Unki shaayad film atak jaaye ya unka relation kisi se saath kharaab ho jaaye. This is a nice place to be, where you don’t have much to lose.

On a lighter note, Richa, are you planning to settle down with Ali anytime soon?
P: I want to marry Ali.
R: You totally can. You guys have great bromance. On a serious note, I’m not thinking about marriage right now. I want to expand and grow… not horizontally.
P: I’ve recently turned single. Ab mujhe thodi aiyaashi karne do. Being single is better.

Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; January 5, 2018)

Praise continues to roll in for Richa Chadha, who played the boisterous Bholi Punjaban in Fukrey (2013) and Fukrey Returns (2017). A source tells mid-day that a city pub has named a cocktail after her character.

“The owners reached out to her. The drink, called Bholi Bhali Punjabi, fits the bill because they like to adapt to pop culture and Richa’s character from Fukrey has become popular among the youth.”

The drink is a concoction of whisky, litchi, cranberry and mint. It will be served to patrons from January 8. The owners had invited Chadha to launch the product, but given her packed schedule, she won’t be able to make it.

When contacted, Chadha tells mid-day, “I am happy that my character from Fukrey will make people happy. It’s a great idea. I’m flattered.”

TIGER ZINDA HAI IS A BLOCKBUSTER; 2017 ENDS ON A GREAT NOTE!

The year 2017 hasn’t been great overall as a lot of films failed miserably. The worst of all were the debacles of biggies like Tubelight and Jab Harry Met Sejal, featuring superstars Salman Khan and Shah Rukh Khan. But thankfully, the last month of the year proved profitable. Fukrey Returns was expected to fare decently at the box office. But it emerged as a super hit at the box office and crossed the 70-crore-mark, which was unexpected! And then came Tiger Zinda Hai! Of course it was expected to rock at the box office. And sure enough it did! A lot of people expected Day 1 to be very huge and cross the 40-crore-mark. But that didn’t happen as Day 1 collections amounted to 34 crore. Day 2 was slightly better at 35.25 crore. By then, many lost hope that the film will ever cross the 40-crore-mark. But it did on Sunday when it collected a huge 45.50 crore, which brought cheer among everyone in the trade and industry. Monday (Christmas holiday) was huge at 36.50 crore. Then a few skeptics expected the film to fall on Tuesday, which was a working day. But it didn’t and it collected 21.50 crore, followed by around 18 crore on Wednesday! The film’s collections are now in the 190 crore range. By the end of Week 1, it will cross the 200-crore-mark and by Friday morning, it will cross the collections of Golmaal Again [205 crore approx] and emerge as the biggest Bollywood grosser of Bollywood. There’s another four-day weekend coming up since Monday January 1 is also a holiday. If Tiger Zinda Hai manages to do well in these four days, then sky would be the limit for the film.

The number of flops was too high this year and thanks to the blockbuster and super-hit business of films like Jolly LLB 2, Badrinath Ki Dulhania, Toilet – Ek Prem Katha, Judwaa 2, Golmaal Again and of course Fukrey Returns, this year has been somewhat better. Also, small films like Hindi Medium, Mom, Shubh Mangal Saavdhan, Bareilly Ki Barfi, Newton, Tumhari Sulu and of course Fukrey Returns fared very well and that also kept the excitement going. Sadly, on the other hand, films that came with a lot of expectations like OK Jaanu, Rangoon, Sarkar 3, Meri Pyaari Bindu, Raabta, Jagga Jasoos, Munna Michael, A Gentleman, Simran and Chef failed miserably. Films like Mubarakan and Baadshaho were okay and underperformed. In fact, the three months before Toilet – Ek Prem Katha were pretty bad with not a single film emerging as a clean hit.

There was one more film that was a hit; in fact, it was Indian cinema’s biggest blockbuster and it’s none other than Baahubali 2. It rewrote history but sadly, it was not a Bollywood film. But trade experts believe that if this film was not there, 2017 would have been a big disaster. In 2018 too, it’s again a Southern film 2.0 that is expected to be the year’s biggest grosser. But thankfully, it’s a bi-lingual and hence, can be called a Hindi film. Even the other films of 2018 look very promising and there are high chances that it will prove to be better than 2017!

Sonil Dedhia (MID-DAY; December 27, 2017)

A month after she had revealed her desire to take Bholi Punjaban across the country through stand- up acts, Richa Chadha has been inundated with offers from show organisers ahead of New Year Eve. The actor, we hear, is being offered Rs 3 crore each for three shows, if she’s willing to slip into her character from Fukrey. The shows will be held across three cities.

On New Year’s Eve, Chadha may kick-off a gig in Ludhiana, which will be followed by acts in Meerut and Jaipur. Her spokesperson tells midday, “Richa has tried her hand at stand-up [comedy] and loved the experience. Post the success of Fukrey Returns, she has been approached to perform as Bholi in different roles. While one act may see her as anchor, another may see her as host, or even a stand- up comic.”

A source adds that Chadha’s team is currently looking into her schedule to allot the dates accordingly.

Excel Entertainment head Ritesh Sidhwani on the successful year that was 2017 and plans for 2018
MUMBAI MIRROR (December 26, 2017)

You began 2017 with the Shah Rukh Khan-starrer Raees, followed by Inside Edge and now Fukrey Returns. How has the year been for you?
It’s gratifying to see that you had a film like Raees where you take a big superstar like Shah Rukh Khan and make him do something that is so different from what he has done before. It makes you feel good about the fact that you tried to do something different and it paid off. Then we stepped into a different medium with Inside Edge, which has done extremely well too. I have been told that it’s in the top 2 or 3 most downloaded shows and in the completion rate, where people began watching the show and saw the entire season. Amazon was impressed, which is why for the first time we are commissioning season 2 and 3 simultaneously. We are shooting both the seasons in 2018, though it will be released at a gap of 6 to 8 months.

Fukrey Returns also did well at the box office…
Fukrey was a sleeper hit in 2013 and people had lapped it up on TV as well, because of which its reach had amplified many folds. I think it’s amazing to see so much love for a small film, which has gone on to make such big numbers.

There is a lot of pressure on sequels to live up to the original. What challenges did you face while making Fukrey Returns?
Interestingly, after its theatrical run, when Fukrey had released on TV, I got a lot of messages on my social media platforms wanting to know what happened with Bholi and the other parts. I spoke with Mrig (Mrighdeep Lamba, director-writer) and Vipul (Vipul Vig, writer) to think about a sequel. When they came back with the story, we were very impressed.

Is a third part on the cards too?
You will be amazed to know how many people on Twitter and Instagram have sent me story ideas for the third part. Though I haven’t had the time to sit with the writers, we would definitely like to take the franchise forward.

The Fukrey merchandise including comic books, phone covers and t-shirts too have created immense buzz…
Yes, in fact, I recently got a message from the Shoppers Stop team for placing an additional order.

What should we expect from the upcoming seasons of Inside Edge?
In season 1, there is an interesting character called Bhai Saab, what we do with him will be revealed in the next season. Karan Anshuman won’t be directing the upcoming seasons as he is busy with another web series called Mirzapur that features Ali Fazal and Vikrant Massey and is also running our writers room.

So on the digital front, what’s next for 2018?
We have a few shows planned already. Besides Mirzapur, we also have Made In Heaven, which is created by Zoya Akhtar and Reema Kagti and will be helmed by interesting directors including Zoya, Alankrita Shrivastava, Nitya Mehra and Prashant Nair.

And what are the films slated for the next year?
The first one is 3 Storeys, which releases in February, then there is Gold on August 15 with Akshay Kumar. We also have Gully Boy with Zoya who will start filming from January 14 with Ranveer Singh and Alia Bhatt. Ranveer is amazing to work with and has terrific energy, while this is our first collaboration with Alia. We’ll be announcing the rest of the cast by next week.

Is Don 3 in the making too?
We are definitely going to make Don 3. Earlier if you had asked me, I would have said no, but now we do have an idea and we are working towards it. Shah Rukh will obviously be a part of the film, but we’ll zero down on the rest of the cast after the script is locked.

Sonil Dedhia (MID-DAY; December 19, 2017)

Having put up a composed front when rumours of her relationship with Ali Fazal began to be termed a promotional gimmick, Richa Chadha now breaks her silence. “I feel sad for those who think Ali and I are faking our relationship,” she tells mid- day of her Fukrey co-star. Alluding to a storyline that appeared to pair her alongside Varun Sharma’s character, Choocha, she adds, “If I had to start a love rumour to promote the film, I would have done it with Choocha. Ali and I never wanted to talk about [our relationship] publicly because we knew this is how people would react. People should use their brains before passing comments. I hope they get the right message after reading this.”

It was almost a year ago that tongues started wagging about the duo’s affection for each other. Three months after Fazal spoke about their relationship, Chadha says they’ve been “in a happy space since a long time”. “Ali and I have known each other since we were doing theatre. Speculations were rife since then. People weren’t surprised when the media published it. In fact, the media was the last to know about it.”

Chadha’s arrival at the LA premiere of Fazal’s Brit film, Victoria & Abdul, in September, appeared to be the validation that the media was seeking about their affair. The actor says the comprehension was fitting, after all, “it was obvious that I would not go so far if we were only friends.” Usually tight-lipped about her personal life, she admits the revelation then was unavoidable. “But I feel it’s always good to avoid conversation about it [a romance] as it preserves the sanctity of the relationship.”

Sonil Dedhia (MID-DAY; December 16, 2017)

It appears that the positive response to Fukrey Returns, which released last week, have the makers eager to capitalize on the success of the franchise. mid-day has learnt that producers Farhan Akhtar and Ritesh Sidhwani have already greenlit the third instalment.

Talking about the Ali Fazal, Varun Sharma, Pulkit Samrat, Manjot Singh and Richa Chadha starrer, a source says, “They will return to essay the same characters, with the same quirks. While there was a gap of four years between the first two instalments, the third part is likely to hit screens by mid-2019.”

The source adds that director Mrighdeep Singh Lamba has been asked to begin work on the script already. The cast members have also been told to block their dates for filming next year. The third outing will kick off from where part two concluded. “Initial ideas being tossed around suggest that part three will show Bholi Punjaban contesting elections. She eventually becomes the chief minister of Delhi,” reveals the source, adding that the production house is eyeing a five-part series.

We reached out to the producers, but they remained unavailable for comment.

FUKREY RETURNS IS A HUGE SUCCESS!

Almost every trade pundit and moviegoer had expected Fukrey Returns to have a not-so-great opening and hopefully, do better on Saturday and Sunday before having a healthy weekday. After all, the buzz didn’t seem huge. But no one can predict the pulse of the audience. It seems like the audiences were desperately waiting to see a good Hindi film. Before Fukrey Returns, it was Tumhari Sulu that had done decently at the box office but it had come 4 weeks ago. After that, films like Julie 2, Firangi, Tera Intezaar etc failed to attract audiences. As a result, when they realized Fukrey Returns is funny and has an appeal, they went for it in huge numbers. A 4-5 crore opening was expected but the industry was surprised when the film’s opening day collections went up to 8 crore! The weekend ended at 31.65 crore! There was a fear that it might drop in the weekdays after such a huge weekend but that hasn’t happened. It’s doing great and the first week collections would be around 48-50 crore. If it sustains well in second weekend, then it can have a lifetime of around 70 crore, which would be double of the previous Fukrey film.

Initially, Padmavati was to release on December 1 and Fukrey Returns was scheduled to release on December 15, just a week before Tiger Zinda Hai. If that was the case, Fukrey Returns would not have done so well. The makers got quite lucky since it came at a correct time and also, Padmavati got pushed. Not just Fukrey Returns, even Tumhari Sulu did slightly better as it got an almost four-week open run. Justice League that also released with Tumhari Sulu also managed to hang around in theatres for a long time and hence managed decent collections. This wasn’t expected after a not-so-huge weekend. Fukrey 3 is now bound to be made but it’s difficult to ascertain if it’ll be able to do such kind of business.

Nevertheless, the success of Fukrey Returns has brought sudden cheer in the industry and for the exhibitors. The only expectation was that it should do marginally well so that there would be some collections in theatres before Tiger Zinda Hai releases. However, Fukrey Returns has exceeded all expectations. Surprises and shocks never cease in Bollywood!

Sonil Dedhia (MID-DAY; December 13, 2017)

Bollywood, it appears, is set to get its first cinematic universe with the makers of Fukrey considering creating spin-offs of individual characters. Four years after they first introduced Delhi boys, Honey, Choocha, Lali and Zafar to the world, producers Farhan Akhtar and Ritesh Sidhwani are set to copyright the characters. The development comes close on the heels of the success of Fukrey Returns, which hit screens last week.

A source tells mid-day that the decision was fuelled by the audience’s reception to the second installment. “The franchise enjoys tremendous success. The audience connects with the characters. By copyrighting them via the government website, the makers plan to develop individual properties. They may consider creating spin-offs or even entire series. It’s too early to say anything,” says the source.

Fukrey features Pulkit Samrat, Varun Sharma, Manjot Singh and Ali Fazal. It also stars Richa Chadha in her much-acclaimed avatar, Bholi Punjaban. Chadha, in a previous interview to midday had stated, “The audience holds on to a role that appeals to them. Even if I play a variety of roles, I am still asked to narrate the dialogues of Bholi Punjaban during press interviews.”

Confirming the development, the spokesperson says, “It’s incredible that people have loved the film and the franchise. Only rarely are characters etched in the memories of viewers. The makers thought it would be interesting to copyright the characters and create independent properties.”

The makers have already tied up with Diamond Comics for the creation of a comic book, Chacha Chaudhri And The Fukrey Returns.

Renuka Vyavahare (BOMBAY TIMES; December 9, 2017)

Amidst their whirlwind promotional tour ahead of the film’s release yesterday, Team Fukrey Returns took some time off to go on a seaside date with BT on a beautiful breezy evening. The group, comprising lead actors Richa Chadha, Pulkit Samrat, Varun Sharma and Manjot Singh, owned Marine Drive with their antics as they posed exclusively for our cameras. We also took them for a drive around SoBo during which they spoke about their camaraderie, the Delhi vs Mumbai debate and their film. The lads joked that they considered Richa as one of them (read londa). The actress nodded in affirmative, as she made Manjot sit on her lap so that we all could fit in the car! Here’s what transpired on that hilarious journey. Excerpts...

Looks like Manjot is the baby of the gang. Having worked together in Fukrey,we’re sure that you all are extremely comfortable with each other. So, how was it reuniting for the sequel?
Richa: Manjot wants to be the baby. (Asks him) ‘Itni badi daadi ho gayi hai, tu bada kab hoga?’ As far as reuniting with these boys is concerned, I have worked with men, who were senior and serious, during the Gangs of Wasseypur. They used to discuss 1975 or 1982 mein kya hua. With the Fukras, I can talk and laugh about banal and crazy things. It could be with anyone — Ali (Fazal), Pulkit, Manjot or Choocha (Varun Sharma).
Varun: Fukrey was my debut film and I was thrilled to see myself in a movie. To reunite for the sequel was nostalgic. The chemistry we share off screen reflects on screen as well. We hope that people have jhamfaad fun this time around, too.

Pulkit, Fukrey had struck a chord with the youngsters, especially your song Ambarsariya. What can we expect from the sequel?
The story picks up a year after the events that unfolded in Fukrey. Bholi Punjaban (Richa) is out of the prison and she is back with a vengeance. It’s double the fun this time around. In Ambarsariya, I was trying to woo the girl (Priya Anand), but this time around, the song, Ishq De Fanniyar, shows us dating. However, there’s still no French kiss (smiles).

Talking about each other, what’s that one quality of your co-star that you find most fascinating?
Pulkit: Richa is very knowledgeable, she can make you feel like an idiot. She knows a lot, is a good orator, has good command over languages and you can have a healthy debate with her. There will be disagreements, but she will listen to you. At the end of the day, it’s like aaj humne kya sikha? Varun inspires me a lot. Put him in any tricky situation and he will come out victorious. Manjot achcha hai (all laugh). The most fun we have is when we all get together to make fun of him; he cracks terrible jokes.
Richa: I never make him feel like an idiot! Pulkit is a typical Punjabi boy — he is protective and he likes to feed people — he gets us the food we like. Just the other day, he got broccoli manchurian for me, which Manjot ate. Also, he doesn’t like to eat alone. So, the credit of us eating together goes to him. He’s a gentleman. Even during promotions, he takes care of us. As far as Varun is concerned, usko dekhte hi hasi aati hai. He is very hard-working; Manjot is the bakra in the film and in real life.
Manjot: Inka din nahi dhalta, mujhse pange liye bina. They are all very sweet to me.

Work ceases to be work when you are with your friends, right?
Richa: That’s true. I’ve never had an experience like this before; we didn’t even know ke picture shoot kab ho gayi.
Manjot: The Fukrey franchise is an addiction, we are pampered and spoilt by Excel Entertainment (production company). I don’t know what I’ll do after the film releases. We hope that people like the sequel and demand a third installment.

What was the vibe on the set during breaks?
Pulkit: We shot in the months of November and December in Delhi when it was freezing cold. So, during breaks, we would sit in front of a fireplace with a quilt.
Varun: All of us eat together. We didn’t have a single meal on our own, except for Manjot, who never shared his food (laughs). Even now, he hasn’t offered us the fruit that he has been nibbling on.

Since your film is set in Delhi, do you think there are any differences between Mumbai and Delhi Fukras?
Varun: Fukrey fukrey hotay hain. Language could be different, but dil same hota hai. Fukron ki zindagi umeed pe nahi, jugaad pe kaayam hai.
Richa: Delhi Fukras have more time. For Mumbai’s Fukras, life is busier and there’s so much traffic! We had so much time in Delhi for ourselves.

Continuing the Mumbai vs Delhi debate, what are the major differences between the two cities?
Pulkit: Delhi has the best food when compared to any other city in the country. We also have winters! On the other hand, you’ll find medical stores in every nook and corner of Mumbai, which is great. Of course, now you have those 24/7 stores in Delhi too, but not as many as in Mumbai. Plus the cycle pe garma garam chai and idli that you get in Mumbai, you won’t find it in Delhi.
Varun: Mumbai has no open roads and no playgrounds in schools. There’s severe space crunch. In Delhi, you can discover an internal route where tum gedi maar sakte ho. Raat ko Marine Drive pe Punjabi log shaayad gedi maarte honge. If you listen to loud music in cars, you know a guy is with a girl.

Fukrey Returns is a hilarious roller-coaster ride that provides the audiences the laughter and entertainment in adequate doses. The plot however is too unconvincing for its genre. Part 1 also didn’t rest on logic as such but still, it was in the zone where the goings on were not difficult to digest. In Fukrey Returns, few developments could have been simpler, easier to understand and slightly more sensible. Nevertheless, there are enough funny moments in the film and hence, there won’t be complaints as such. Talking of performances, Varun Sharma is terrific and seems at ease playing the lovable character of Choocha. Next best is Richa Chadha. Even she seems to be enjoying playing Bholi Punjaban and this time, her character has a lot of shades. And she performs them with conviction. Her surprise act in the climax is seen to be believed! Pankaj Tripathi, who now has become quite a big name, also delivers a smashing performance. Pulkit Samrat also does well while Manjot Singh contributes to the laughter. But both of them sadly had less to do in Fukrey Returns as compared to Fukrey. Ali Fazal has even lesser contribution and that’s unfortunate. Rajiv Gupta is the surprise of the film. Priya Anand and Vishakha Singh are lovely but again, they are there in the film just for the heck of it. All in all, this one is a timepass flick and those dying to watch a good Hindi film should not miss this one!

My rating - *** out of 5!

Natasha Coutinho (MUMBAI MIRROR; December 8, 2017)

Varun Sharma, who returns with the second instalment of his first film, the 2013 Mrigdeep Singh Lamba-directed comedy Fukrey, today is understandably excited. “Choocha was the first character I ever played so I was kicked to hear that a sequel was in the works. Not many actors get to reprise their debut role. The characteristics and tonality were decided in the original but while prepping for the sequel, I was constantly wary of going overboard. In the last four years, I’ve worked on different characters so there was also a lot of unlearning to play Choocha again,” he admitted.

The reunion with the original cast was a nostalgia trip. “We returned to Delhi University’s Miranda House college on the first day, where the original was shot as well. On the sets, we slipped back into our respective characters seamlessly,” Varun recounts.

The 31-year-old actor recently moved into a new house in Andheri, a three-BHK terrace flat that he shares with his mother, and reveals that he feels more at home in it than in his previous pad. “My mother is a painter and she likes the new setup. She has decorated the house according to her tastes and it’s comforting as I have lived in a bachelor pad for so long,” Varun explains.

On the work front, he has begun shooting Abhishek Dogra’s comedy, Fry Day, with Govinda. “I’m finished with the first schedule, we start the next by the month-end. It’s going to be a busy New Year for me. But there’s something to look forward to. On January 14, I leave for the US with friends from kindergarten to college. We plan to visit Universal Studios, ” he signs off.

WILL FUKREY RETURNS BE BETTER THAN FUKREY?

Fukrey released with very less excitement in 2013. But the film turned out to be hugely entertaining. Moreover, it had a lovely Delhi vibe due to which it did great business in the Northern belt. On TV, it was not huge but not poor either. A sequel to the film wasn’t a bad idea as such. Fukrey Returns releases tomorrow and it has certain advantages of excelling at the ticket window.

Often, it’s seen that the sequel or part two of the film has a change of star cast, usually change of heroines. Thankfully, that’s not the case here. All the principle actors from the film – Pulkit Samrat, Manjot Singh, Ali Fazal, Varun Sharma, Richa Chadha, Pankaj Tripathi, Priya Anand and Vishakha Singh – have been retained. Just like Fukrey, Fukrey Returns will also deal with the Fukras and their confrontation with Bholi Punjaban. The trailer looks interesting but songs haven’t worked much.

The biggest advantage of the film is that it’s releasing at a time when there’s no other significant Hindi film around. Padmavati was to release on December 1 but it has been postponed indefinitely. The recent releases like Firangi, Tera Intezaar and Julie 2 have failed miserably. Tumhari Sulu worked but it’s been 4 weeks already. Audiences are starving for a good Hindi film and those who can’t wait till Tiger Zinda Hai on December 22 would surely like to see Fukrey Returns. Still, the opening will be average but if the response is positive, it can grow very well over the weekend and sustain in the weekdays. Next week, there’s hardly any interesting film up for release. So Fukrey Returns can have a decent run in theatres till December 21 if all goes well.

WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE FUKREY RETURNS AND WHY? DO LET ME KNOW!

Lasyapriya Sundaram (BOMBAY TIMES; December 7, 2017)

After delivering the sleeper hit Fukrey (2013), the makers are back with its sequel, Fukrey Returns. Ask director Mrighdeep Singh Lamba what prompted the sequel and he says that the success of the first film in the franchise was the main factor. He adds, After Fukrey, characters like Hunny (Pulkit Samrat), Choocha (Varun Sharma), Bholi Punjaban (Richa Chadha) and Lali (Manjot Singh) became popular.

Clearly, people wanted to see more of them. In fact, we toyed with the idea of making a prequel as well. That’s how Fukrey Returns materialised. Producer Ritesh Sidhwani explains, “It’s a sequel in the true sense of the word because this film starts exactly one year after the first one comes to a close. The world of the film is still the same. The situations and conflicts in the narrative have become bigger. It’s a comedy that one can enjoy with the entire family. It’s not crude and neither will it make one cringe. The dialogues are spontaneous, clean, fun and replete with one-liners. The characters in Fukrey Returns don’t take themselves seriously and that’s what's unique about the film.”

Over the years, filmmakers have created their own space in comedy within the genre. While the 1980s saw Hrishikesh Mukherjee eliciting a chuckle with the world he created, with characters close to reality, filmmaker David Dhawan opted for the slapstick variety and wanted the audience to guffaw or laugh out loud in the 1990s. Ask Mrighdeep how he would define the Fukrey kind of comedy and pat comes the reply, “Ram Gopal Varma infused his own style into the genre of crime dramas, changed the grammar and made it real. Similarly, in the genre of comedies, Fukrey Returns is set in a real world. The film speaks the language of real people and the kind of problems that they would perhaps face.” Talking of the comedies being made in Bollywood, Ritesh elaborates, “I think comedies are being made on a regular basis. Earlier, there were actors who specialised in this genre. Now, all the actors in a film have to be able to pull off a comic role. Honestly, it also depends on the audience's threshold for humour.”

Apart from the characters, what worked in favour of the first film in the franchise was the distinct North Indian milieu, which struck the right chord with the audience. Mrighdeep says, “The writer (Vipul Vig) and I belong to Delhi. So, we are familiar with the flavour that we infuse the film with. It is easy to convey to the cast members as well because most of them are from the North.” Ask him how he managed to retain the North Indian nuances and yet ensure that it was palatable for one and all and he adds, “We have revised some of the dialogues, which were too ‘theth’. It’s not intentional, it comes naturally.” Ritesh explains, “The flavour is distinct and yet universal. If the guy sitting next to me is laughing at the dialogues and I am left wondering why it’s connecting with him and not with me because I don’t understand the meaning of the words, then that becomes a deterrent. When you are making a pan-India film, the emotions have to be conveyed in a lingo that everyone can understand, but at the same time, we don’t compromise on the flavour.”

Making a sequel, which entirely relies on the popularity of its characters and the success of the first film in the franchise means that the budget has to be reasonable to set the cash registers ringing. Ritesh admits that he never insists on having conversations with his directors regarding the budget of the film and says, “I have never discussed the budget with Mrighdeep. He discussed it with the executive producer. As producers, we ensure that even in the worst-case scenario, the film achieves a certain number at the box office. We work out the budget backwards. Also, one needs to make sure that even if nobody ends up making money, no one should lose money either. You cannot be a part of films only to make money; you have to be driven by passion. With Fukrey Returns, we have upped the scale.”

Sonil Dedhia (MID-DAY; December 6, 2017)

With promotional activities believed to be a determining factor of a film’s success, it’s not surprising to see actors go the extra mile for their movies’ publicity. In a bid to promote Fukrey Returns that hits theatres this week, the makers are giving fans an opportunity to meet the comic caper’s lead actor, Richa Chadha aka Bholi Punjaban. What’s new, you ask? Instead of the mundane meet-and-greet session with fans, Chadha will turn cab driver for the day and give them a ride around the city.

A unit hand informs, “Going by the film’s theme, the contest allows a person to nominate a fukra friend who, if chosen, will get a cab ride with Richa. The winners will enjoy the ride in the coming week.”

Always game for a curveball, Chadha says her fans can expect “an entertaining cabbie” in her. “It’s wonderful to meet fans though such interactive mediums. I am looking forward to driving them around the city and giving them a special experience. I will make for a funny and entertaining driver,” she laughs.

Ask her if she would like to drive around any famous celebrity and she says with the eagerness of a fan girl, “I’d love to have Meryl Streep and Madhuri Dixit as passengers! They’re my idols.”

The actor also makes a strong case for public transport, saying that she enjoys using it whenever the opportunity arises. “I take a rickshaw whenever my car breaks down. It’s the most convenient mode of public transport.”

MUMBAI MIRROR (December 4, 2017)

Fukras Pulkit Samrat, Varun Sharma, Manjot Singh and Ali Fazal will now be spreading their jugad by opening a restaurant in Mumbai for college students. The eatery takes a cue from the theme of the Fukrey franchise and the new film, Fukrey Returns.

While the film’s characters hopped from one famous Fukra spot in Mumbai and Delhi to another, they realised the need for a place that is affordable yet offers a varied range of delicious food for forever broke college students.

Confirming the news, actor Pulkit Samrat said, “We are naming our restaurant ‘Lukkha’ because we have seen the Fukra spots where people eat cheap food while standing in the sun. We are providing them the same food in air conditioned spaces and a good atmosphere in a good area.”

Listing the unique features of the ‘lukkhas’, Pulkit said, “We thought we would provide unlimited Beer. But with a condition. You can drink as much as you want in a limited amount but if you use the washroom you’ll pay again. So that’s an interesting angle for Fukreys. Vada pav is a staple food for students in Mumbai, so we have thought of making it interesting by introducing variations in Vada Pav like Chinese version, Italian version and Masala vada pav and an authentic version. Also, one Vada pav which will be a healthy one with multigrain bread and sweet potato filling. So there are other interesting things that we are planning for the same.”

Produced by Ritesh Sidhwani and Farhan Akhtar, Fukrey made a huge buzz in 2013, winning hearts with its unusual concept and emerged as a hit at the box office.

When a sequel to the Mrighdeep Lamba-directed film was announced, everyone was delighted. While the audience was curious to witness the story of Hunny, Choocha, Lali, and Zafar going forward, the trailer of the film added to the excitement.

The first film touched our hearts with the equation of the four guys and tickled our funny bone with the banter between Choocha and Bholi, the trailer of Fukrey Returns makes it even more interesting.

The songs from the film, “Mehbooba”, “Peh Gaya Khalara” and “Ishq De Fanniyar”, have added to the excitement among the audience. The film hits theaters on December 8.

Natasha Coutinho (MUMBAI MIRROR; November 25, 2017)

After Victoria & Abdul, Ali Fazal’s Hollywood career has got a new lease of life with two new international projects that kick off next year. “One is a biopic again and I have the titular role. I was the fi rst one to come on board. There’s another project that will be announced later,” the 30-year-old actor informs.

Back home, he’s gearing up for the Fukrey sequel in which he reprises the role of the mild-mannered musician, Zafar. “It’s been three years since Fukrey released. It rarely happens that people who meet on film sets stick around after wrap-up. In this case, we have been constantly in touch,” Ali says, adding that his role will be far more interesting this time around. “That was one of the first questions I asked my director (Mrighdeep Singh Lamba) as my character was boring in the first film. This time, the story is fastpaced and there’s a lot of action. Fukrey took time to introduce characters, now the audience knows us so this time it’s 10 notches up. Let’s see if it works,” he adds hopefully.

Ali recounts a particular sequence with co-stars Pulkit Samrat, Varun Sharma and Manjot Singh. “Every day was an adventure, but the highlight was 300 people chasing us on the Old Yamuna Bridge in Delhi. In that shot, we had to run with a three-camera setup following us and then jump into the river. The water was very dirty but we managed to pull the sequence off in one take,” he says at the memory.

Speaking about his rumoured girlfriend Richa Chadha, who is also part of Fukrey Returns, he adds, “Richa is an impeccable actress who’s the most pivotal part of the film. But working with her is like working with anyone else for me. We are two professionals who understand the space we are in regardless of our personal equation. The sets of Fukrey Returns was full of energy and the entire cast has developed a strong bond over time. Working with Richa, which I’m sure everyone else would agree with, is fulfilling as she’s a talented actress and it’s always great to be around such individuals,” Ali explains.

Ask him about his post-Hollywood life and the actor admits that he has had to make some major sacrifices on the personal front. “I feel so guilty, I missed one of the most important weddings in my family. I haven’t seen my mother in three months. It does take a toll on you. That said, I’d never thought I’d have a full-fledged career in the West. Now, I have to balance it with Bollywood because this is home,” he says.