As told to Himesh Mankad (MUMBAI MIRROR; November 21, 2019)

After becoming a household name on TV with shows like Naagin and Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa, I waited to move to films, knowing it would happen only if something substantial came my way. When the casting director of Gold called me for the audition, though I was keen, the timing clashed with my schedule. However, since they were close by, she suggested I dash over during lunch break.

I went to audition draped in my mother’s cotton saree. It went well but I didn’t hear from them for the next two months. Then all of a sudden, I was called to meet Reema ma’am (Reema Kagti, director). I was so excited at the prospect of meeting an intelligent woman like her that I pushed the shoot of my show even though there was no guarantee that I would land the role.

After a brief chat, she took me to Akshay sir’s (Akshay Kumar) office. Imagine my surprise when together they chortled, “Welcome to Gold.” I was later told that I was playing a Bengali girl, Monobina Das, married to Akshay sir’s character Tapan. Being a Bengali helped, but the challenge was to play someone who isn’t fluent in Hindi. My mom’s Hindi is terrible and that came to my rescue. Talking to her helped me perfect my bad pronunciation.

I had multiple script reading sessions but being on the set was a different experience altogether. The set-up was completely different from TV. A lot of time went into setting up a scene. On the first day, I had to shoot for the song “Monobina” with Akshay sir and the entire hockey team. I was thrilled, excited and very nervous. I had met Akshay sir only once before and was quite starstruck. For my first shot, I had to just look at him and smile, but I couldn’t get it right. It was like my jaw was stuck!

Being a real gentleman, he came to my rescue, going out of his way to make me comfortable. After a while, my nervousness subsided and I was on the way…

Mouni Roy on her priorities as an actor and working with Rajkummar Rao
Akash Bhatnagar (MUMBAI MIRROR; October 16, 2019)

Mouni Roy, TV’s Naagin, graduated to the big screen last year with the sports-drama Gold which featured her as Akshay Kumar’s Bengali biwi. The actress is now gearing up for a Diwali dhamaka with the quirky comedy, Made In China. The film is the journey of a struggling Gujarati businessman, Raghu, towards becoming a successful entrepreneur, with Mouni as Rajkummar Rao’s wife. She insists this character has nothing in common to her debut role.

What made her gamble with such an unusual subject so early in her career? “I have to thank Dinoo (Dinesh Vijan, producer) for that. They called me for a meeting and narrated the role to me. It was a complete no-brainer. Such roles and such stories don’t come every day,” she asserts, adding that since she doesn’t have many Gujarati friends, she took her cues from director Mikhil Musale, and writers Karan Vyas and Niren Bhatt.

Has any friend discussed sexual problems with her? “Not yet, but if anyone does, I’ll tell them what Raghu and Dr Vardi advise in the film, ‘For cough and cold, you go to a doctor, so for sexual problems you should see one as well,’” she laughs.

She admits she’s lucky to have worked with established actors like Akshay (Gold) and John Abraham (Romeo Akbar Walter). “You get to learn a lot from them. You see how they work and realise why they are where they are. Initially I was a little nervous with Rajkummar, but now I realise it will only make me a better actor,” she avers. Point out that neither of the two above mentioned films lived up to expectations and she retorts, “I don’t dwell on these things. My job is to act, and this is my first year. To get ahead, I need to focus more on my craft, not worry about box-office outcome.”

Having come from TV, where she was a huge name, there were expectations from her here too. Is she content with the reception she has got? “I have no complaints. I am a greedy actor and I want to be part of good stories. I am also a grateful and proud TV actor. I was very happy doing television and I am very happy making movies now,” Mouni avers.

Any collaboration on the cards with Ekta Kapoor who launched her in TV? “If she has a role for me, she will come to me and I’ll be happy to go back to her production house,” she beams. What about a TV comeback? “Not right now. TV requires a lot of time and commitment and presently my focus is films,” Mouni signs off.

Shalabh Bajpai (DNA; September 26, 2019)

While it usually takes a long time for TV actors to get films opposite big Bollywood stars, in just a year since her silver-screen debut, Mouni Roy has four plum projects. Best known for Naagin on the small screen, the starlet kicked off the journey with Gold opposite Akshay Kumar, followed by John Abraham in Romeo Akbar Walter (RAW), Rajkummar Rao in Made In China and now the villain in Brahmastra starring megastar Amitabh Bachchan along with Ranbir Kapoor and Alia Bhatt. Mouni talks to us about working with these biggies and more.

Tell us about your role in Made In China
I play Raghu’s (Rajkummar) wife Rukmani, who’s extremely independent and progressive and stays in a metropolitan city. After falling in love with the simple guy, she settles down in Ahmedabad.

You debuted on the big screen last year with a superstar like Akshay, then worked with John and now Rajkummar...
When you get to know that you are going to work with Akshay Kumar in your very first film, anybody would be on cloud nine. The same thing happened to me. When I got the news, I was jumping with joy. Likewise, while working with John and Rajkummar. It was like a dream come true. All three of them are top actors. Working with them feels like you have arrived because to reach the position where they are right now, needs a lot of passion and dedication. They have proved themselves through their work; that’s why they have reached here. In many ways, I have learnt many things from them.

You have done a period drama (Gold), action thriller (RAW), comedy (Made In China) and fantasy film, Brahmastra. What genre do you fit in?
I don’t belong to any one genre. I am open to all kinds of films and enjoy doing every role that allows me to experiment. I don’t think an actor can belong to a particular category of films. It’s their versatility that represents them.

What was the most difficult part of playing a villain in Brahmastra?
I am the antagonist to Ranbir Kapoor, Alia Bhatt and Amitabh Bachchan ji. As a villain, you have to obviously show fury and enmity towards them. That was extremely tough because I have looked up to Amitabh ji as a hero ever since my teenage years. Not only was I performing in front of him but also had to show rage. For this, I had to prepare myself a lot! It was hard but now I really look forward to seeing it on the screen. The audience will see me in a new avatar.

Tanvi Trivedi (BOMBAY TIMES; September 9, 2019)

Mouni Roy began her acting career with the daily soap, Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi (2007), and eventually became one of small-screen’s most popular actresses with shows like Devon Ke Dev... Mahadev (2011) and Naagin (2015). And last year, she made her Bollywood debut as Akshay Kumar’s sharp-tongued Bengali wife in Gold. The actress has an interesting lineup of films in her kitty, including Brahmastra and Made in China.

Ask her if her transition from TV to films was tough, and she replies, “Not really. I bagged Gold when I wanted to migrate from television to movies.” Now that she has successfully shifted mediums, Mouni wants to focus on movies. She shares, “I am what I am today because of Naagin. That show is popular and I hope that it continues for many years. But for now, I am only focussing on films.”

Mouni credits her success to hard work and nothing else. While there have been speculations that she landed films following recommendation by some top stars, the actress denies it. “I had always wanted to play characters that would challenge me as an actor and add value to the film. I have auditioned for all my projects and earned my place in them. I feel that cinema has opened up to every person who is talented. Hopefully, I will continue getting good work in the future,” she says.

On the personal front, Mouni has no plans of tying the knot in the near future. “I am single and my priorities are my family, friends and upcoming projects,” she signs off.

KESARI has got huge television numbers on its premiere with 1.5 crore plus impressions. It is the highest for Akshay Kumar starrers in recent times if we don't count 2.0 (Hindi) which is on fire on satellite racking up around 5 crore impressions on 6 peak time viewings.

The numbers are higher than films like TOILET - EK PREM KATHA, PAD MAN, HOUSEFULL 3, GOLD, AIRLIFT etc. The best of this lot was TOILET - EK PREM KATHA with around 1.1 crore impressions. KESARI ranks third for the year after TOTAL DHAMAAL and 2.0 (Hindi) but its minimal margins and KESARI would not have been expected to put up these numbers as its not in that comedy or action genre but a war drama.

It remains to be seen where it goes on the television circuit and maybe the numbers of TOTAL DHAMAAL or 2.0 (Hindi) may be difficult to match but its a HIT for sure on satellite. In the all time list of television premieres it will be among the top ten.

The top ten television premieres of 2019 are as follows.
1. Total Dhamaal - 1,67,93,000 (Star)
2. 2.0 (Hindi) - 1,65,13,000 (Zee)
3. Kesari - 1,56,66,000 (Zee)
4. Luka Chuppi  - 1,25,00,000 (Star)
5. Junglee - 1,11,77,000 (Star)
6. Simmba - 1,11,02,000 (Zee)
7. Zero - 92,60,000 (Zee)
8. Kedarnath - 72,88,000 (Zee)
9. Race 3 - 70,85,000 (Zee)
10. Uri - The Surgical - 61,37,000 (Zee)

INDEPENDENCE DAY WEEKEND TURNS OUT TO BE A WIN-WIN FOR ALL!

Last year on Independence Day, two interesting films with huge potential released. Gold, a period sports biopic, starring Akshay Kumar seemed like an ideal blockbuster because of Akshay’s presence and patriotic element. It even had a rocking opening at Rs. 23.63 crore. But reports were mixed and as a result, the film fell down quickly. It barely managed to reach the Rs. 100 crore club and its lifetime was Rs. 102.50 crore. The other film, Satyameva Jayate, starring John Abraham and Manoj Bajpayee, seemed like a smaller film and a movie that would have opening which would be half of that of Gold. The massy touch in the trailer and the super hit song ‘Dilbar’ however worked wonders and the film opened at a mind-boggling Rs. 19.65 crore. From here, a well-made film would have cruised easily into the Rs. 100 crore club. Sadly, the collections came down soon enough and it’s lifetime earnings were Rs. 79.61 crore. Satyameva Jayate was still a super-hit but a lot was expected after the blockbuster opening.

This Independence Day thankfully turned out to be much better. Again, an Akshay Kumar starrer and a John Abraham starrer clashed but both the movies are doing very well. Mission Mangal stars Akshay Kumar, Vidya Balan, Taapsee Pannu, Sonakshi Sinha, Kirti Kulhari, Nithya Menen and Sharman Joshi and is based on India’s Mars mission. The buzz created by the film was tremendous and moreover, ticket prices were hiked. As a result, it opened at a huge Rs. 28.50 crore on Thursday August 15. In the weekend, it sustained very well. As of Tuesday, it has managed to earn Rs. 112.50 crore and first week collections are expected to be around Rs. 125 crore. In its lifetime, it should net in the Rs. 165-175 crore range. If we don’t count 2.0, then Mission Mangal would be Akshay Kumar’s highest grosser.

The other release, Batla House, was also based on a true story, of a 2008 controversial encounter by the Delhi Police. It stars John Abraham and Mrunal Thakur and is directed by Nikkhil Advani. Again the trailer had raised hopes while the item song ‘O Saki Saki’ had impressed the masses. Still, the buzz wasn’t of Satyameva Jayate level. This was reflected in its opening of Rs. 14.50 crore. The weekend was fine but in the weekdays, it’s holding very well. The first week collections would be around Rs. 59-60 crore. It is expected to hold well in the second week as well as there are no release. Hence, if all goes well, it’ll go past the Satyameva Jayate lifetime, despite not opening the same way as 2018 flick. The difference here is the good word of mouth.

The audiences have got their money’s worth. The exhibitors too are happy with the footfalls recorded during the week and are hopeful that the coming weekend will also draw audience in hordes for these holdover films. Both films have emerged as profitable ventures for the producers as they were made on reasonable budgets. As a result, it’s been a win-win situation for everyone!

Chaya Unnikrishnan (DNA; August 17, 2019)

As the distraught father of four children in the digital film, Barot House, Amit Sadh has been winning rave reviews. The ZEE5 original is a suspense drama about a family that’s caught in a series of murders. The actor likens the viewers’ response to what he received for his first web outing, Breathe. “To be honest, I didn’t know it’s making such an impact — the calls, the messages and reviews that I am getting are similar to what I got for Breathe. I am a little numb. I am happy as an actor that it is unanimously accepted by everyone. This doesn’t happen often. It happened with Kai Po Che! (2013) and Sultan (2016). It’s like a rainbow, which doesn’t come every time and I am enjoying it,” he smiles. The Gold actor tells us how he prepped for the role, his upcoming projects and why after Super 30 he hasn’t signed any film yet.

Both, in Breathe and Barot House, you have played complex characters. Why are you drawn to such roles?
I am a huge fan of Leonardo DiCaprio and Matthew McConaughey. When you are starting your career, you are pushed to do so many different things. But now, I think I have found a corner, a groove of what kind of stories I want to be part of and what type of characters I want to play. I have a soft corner for damaged people or those who are not supposedly quintessentially perfect but have the instincts to be protective. Like Kabir Sawant in Breathe was a protector, even in Barot House, the father is a provider. I want to do real-life characters from real-life situations.

How did you prep for the role?
It was a hell of a ride because I had to dig in a lot. I had to be in the zone for hours, day in and day out so that the consistency of the character and the draft was constant. When you lose someone, you don’t eat properly, don’t sleep and you are grieving. There is a certain method to show that — how you do it is up to you — don’t drink water, food, or torture yourself by remembering your bad past. I wanted people to feel my pain. We all have untapped or locked emotions. I had to stretch them and dig into things that I have healed from. It’s a taxing process, but when you finish it, you feel light. There is a psychological cleansing. Now, when people see it and give their interpretation, it brings a smile to your face.

You are part of the web series, India Strikes Back, but there’s a film on the subject. How will your show be different?
I am a huge fan of that film (Uri: The Surgical Strike), too. It’s a great movie. But that is a movie format and this is a web series. You will get to see more details here. It’s an intriguing subject, so, I am sure people will be interested in watching all the details which are difficult to show in a film. We have about 10 episodes — you’ll get to see how special forces function, the democracy, the decision making when you are at war, etc.  We have really worked hard — I literally hurt and bent my back with 40-kg armour, shooting the entire day. After this series, my respect for the services and people in uniform has doubled.

You have worked with Abhishek Bachchan in the second season of Breathe. How was the experience?
It was great fun working with him. I always call him big bro. I have looked up to him in films like Guru and Yuva. Those were actually my learning curves before I even entered movies. I feel privileged and happy that he has brought new energy to Breathe. He is a talented actor and his fans will love him for what he has done in it.

Have you signed any films after Super 30?
Honestly, I don’t have any film right now. I am gearing up for India Strikes Back followed by Breathe 2. Let’s see, after watching all these if the producers and directors will think of giving me something special. This time I am going to wait, and not sign anything. I have done enough guest appearances; I want my fans to watch me in a full-fledged role in a film.

Do you feel you haven’t got your due in movies?
I don’t think like that. I have movies like Kai Po Che, Sultan and Gold. Everyone has their own interpretation about what is due to them, but yes, my fans keep messaging me on social media saying I am an underdog, or that I haven’t got my due. I came with Rs 200-300 in my pocket to Mumbai and aaj Hindustan mujhe janta hai. But, I do feel why I am not getting the parts that I want and somewhere I am grateful to the digital platform which has given me a new ray of hope. I am proud of my work here and I will continue to be on it. However, I am an actor and I want to do movies. The way I go to watch The Rock in Fast And Furious, I want people to come and watch me. I had three scenes in Super 30, but I got a good response. Still, as of now, I am not going to do guest appearances. I am waiting for that right film.

MUMBAI MIRROR (August 2, 2019)

After a year-and-a-half, the cold war between Akshay Kumar and Bhushan Kumar has come to an end. The two, who had become close friends collaborating on several films like Humko Deewana Kar Gaye, Bhool Bhulaiya and Airlift, fell out when the actor opted out of Mogul, the biopic of Bhushan’s late father, Gulshan Kumar.

A few months later, The T-Series head honcho decided to release Satyameva Jayate alongside Akki’s Gold on August 15, 2018, and buzz was it was his way of getting back at the actor for leaving their pet project in the lurch. While the filmmaker denied the speculation then, it didn’t come as a surprise when his acquisition, Saaho, toplining Baahubali sensation Prabhas, was announced to open in cinemas this Independence Day weekend, along with Akshay’s Mission Mangal.

Mirror has learnt that a few weeks ago, the duo decided to let bygones be bygones. According to a source close to the development, “Akshay and Bhushan met and decided to bury the hatchet. During the meeting, there was a reference to both their films releasing together on August 15 and if it could have been avoided. But since that seemed unlikely, neither of them pursued the subject.” The source adds that Bhushan understands that Akshay won’t be doing Mogul and it’s up to him and Aamir Khan, with whom he is collaborating on his pet project, to decide on another actor.

While Bhushan Kumar remained unavailable for comment, Akshay stated, “There’s no problem between us at all. Bhushan ji had come over to my office a couple of days ago and we’re planning a film together.” When asked if he will be acting in the sequel to Bhool Bhulaiya, Akshay said evasively, “We’ll be announcing it soon.”

Nikita Dutta, who plays an actress in Sandeep Vanga’s Hindi directorial debut, discusses her co-star and interesting aspects of her turn
Natasha Coutinho (MUMBAI MIRROR; June 20, 2019)

Nikita Dutta, who made her film debut with a supporting role in the 2014 film Lekar Hum Deewana Dil, before she moved on to the small screen to play the protagonist in Dream Girl, was back at the movies last year. In Reema Kagti’s Akshay Kumar-starrer sports-drama Gold, she was cast opposite Sunny Kaushal.

Now, the 28-year-old Delhi girl will be seen in Sandeep Vanga’s Shahid Kapoor and Kiara Advani-led Kabir Singh. “I play Jiya Sharma, an actress who falls in love with Kabir’s weirdness, which struck me as interesting,” she says, adding that shooting with Shahid was an easygoing experience. “He interacts with everyone on the set, which is superb. He once told me that I am not expressive off-camera. My poker face makes it difficult for people to figure out what’s on my mind.”

While Gold had also featured Mouni Roy, who played Akshay’s love interest, Kiara Advani plays the leading lady in Kabir Singh. When asked if she is okay with multiple heroine projects, Nikita says, “All my scenes are with Shahid. I haven’t worked with Kiara. After taking up a film there’s no point thinking about it. It’s better to take the good that comes your way instead of sitting around and waiting… nothing really works out in that case.”

So, is it a break from TV? “I’m focussing more on the web space and films for now. I’ve disconnected with TV a bit though it wasn’t a conscious decision. I like it this way though,” she signs off. 

Rachana Dubey (BOMBAY TIMES; April 1, 2019)

In just six months of making her foray into the movie business opposite Akshay Kumar in Gold, Mouni Roy, one of the most popular faces on TV, bagged films with John Abraham, Ranbir Kapoor, among others. Starting next week with RAW (Romeo Akbar Walter), she’s likely to be seen more often on the big screen now. In a conversation with BT, the actress talks about her films, finding more me-time in the middle of crazy shooting schedules and why patriotism is not a sentiment you imbibe suddenly while doing a film. Excerpts:

For the last six-eight months, you’ve virtually been living on different movie sets. Does it feel any different from the world of television?
It’s pretty much the same for me. Even before signing up for Gold, I spent long hours on set with two seasons of Naagin and a season of Jhalak Dikkhlaa Jaa. My well-wishers are happy about my transition and my relationship with work is still 100 per cent pure. The only difference is the medium where my work is displayed. While the journey of every actor is different, for me, TV is home. I loved it with all my heart. Each one of those shows helped me get where I am today.

Often, the transition for television actors to cinema is not very smooth and simple. In your case, you had RAW and Brahmastra in your kitty before Gold released. The rise has been quick, which has been lauded and also been a subject of much discussion.
Don’t most people often do that? There are people who pull others down and say these unpleasant things about them. What they fail to see is that I have worked for a decade, spending 15-19 hours on a set, without allowing myself to have a personal life, or even have the time to recuperate from that fatigue. I had auditioned for Brahmastra and was finalised only after the look tests. This is because of TV, which prepares you like nothing else. Today, there is nothing on a film set that I can’t deal with — be it production issues or a script change. We’ve seen such hard deadlines that we’re prepared for almost everything. Yes, the distinguishing factor is that with every film, it’s a new role, whereas with TV, we’re doing the same character for months or even years. I’ve understood one thing: if you love your work, it loves you back. It doesn’t ever cheat on you, unless you cheat on it.

Are you now able to manage some me-time for yourself?
Yes, and it’s wonderful! I have been reading, spending time with friends, taking short trips between schedules, planning little breaks to be with family, and working on myself to become a better actor. I’ve always valued me-time, and now that I have it, I use it well. As actors, we sometimes get restless, feel insecure and look for escape routes. Today, I know how to get rid of my insecurities. There’s no point devoting time to anyone other than yourself, and to a handful of people who add value to your life.

While most debutants take a while to sign up their second film, you dived into RAW even before the release of Gold. Don’t you sometimes feel that it all happened too soon?
No, I don’t think so. It’s working on its own pace. The good part is that even while working on Gold, no one treated me like a novice. I was petrified, because I was working with so many big names in a huge set-up, but they were so respectful towards my experience. We all had a great time working together. Sometimes, you don’t get the time to soak in the success of a show or a film. For instance, we knew Naagin was delivering numbers, but we realised how popular it had become when it won accolades and awards. It’s the same case with Gold. I feel I got lucky and benefitted a lot from it. There is a certain taboo as not many TV actors are able to make a smooth transition. In that sense, Gold did a lot for me to make in-roads in this business.

Let’s talk about RAW. What was the high point of shooting an espionage drama, which has John Abraham playing a spy?
I had a lot to express, but very little to talk and that’s a challenge for any actor. There are a few scenes that look very simple, but they’re quite emotionally challenging to pull off. I am not a girl of a few words, I like to elaborate on things. I go quiet or speak less only when I am angry. Here, I was playing a woman who says a lot with her eyes. She’s someone I have had no reference for and that made it all the more exciting.

The sentiment of the nation when you started the film last year was different from today. Does that bother you?
Yes, the sentiment was different then. What happened in Pulwama is unfortunate, but there’s no connection between RAW and the recent string of events. Our film was always meant to release in this window. It’s just that a lot of untoward things happened around the time when we brought out our trailer. At an individual level, I feel terrorism should not be tolerated by any country and no nation should encourage it on their soil either. There are lives at stake all over. War may not be a solution to a problem, but breeding terror is also not the way out, right? Although our film would have been relevant anyway, I now want people to see RAW and feel what we have felt for thousands of brave-hearts, who’ve done a lot for the nation, but have no place in history.

Ritesh Sidhwani on the franchises he wants to spearhead, what binds Farhan Akhtar and him together and that one genre he wants to explore
Himesh Mankad (MUMBAI MIRROR; March 11, 2019)

Was Gully Boy a gamble?
Since our first film, Dil Chahta Hai, I’ve never advertised box-office collections. It’s not about how much a film has earned but about whether the viewer believes it was money well spent, about how many have seen and liked it. Gully Boy brought rap into the mainstream and that makes me feel I’m on the right track.

Buzz is, your MC Sher, Siddhant Chaturvedi, is your talent management agency’s first client?
It’s not a talent management agency, we are nurturing actors with potential and Siddhant is a versatile artiste with great screen presence. We’re helping him focus on his strength. He’s clear he wants to only play protagonist and we’re developing a script with him as lead. He’s getting many offers independently as well.

What’s happening with Don 3?
We are still working on it and don’t know when it will happen. It’s a keenly awaited franchise and we can’t disappoint the fans.

Any plans to produce an out-and-out massy entertainer?
We have catered to the masses in the past with films like Don, Raees and KGF. And while everyone is waking up to the power of content now, we have always believed that without a writer, nobody in this industry would have a job. We believe Spiderman exists and that’s primarily because of the writer. We are here to tell stories, collaborate with writers with a similar vision. I want to do one kickass underworld action film. The hunt for a script is on. There was Raees, but what I am looking for belongs to a different world.

And the Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara sequel?
Hrithik and I have been talking to Zoya (Akhtar, director) and Reema (Kagti, writer) about this as everyone wants to know what happens to the friends (played by Hrithik Roshan, Farhan Akhtar and Abhay Deol) after that life-changing trip. But, I can’t force my team to write it, the germ of an idea has to come organically. We’d, however, love to work with Hrithik again and are looking at scripts to take to him. We may soon have one.

Meanwhile, Farhan teams up with Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra for a film on a boxer. What can we expect from Toofan?
It’s too early to talk about the script, but I can promise that Toofan will be at par with, if not better than, Bhaag Milkha Bhaag. Both Mehra and Farhan know the expectations they have to live up to and are working towards surpassing them. It’s a bigger film in terms of reach. We start shooting in July-August.

There’s Deepa Malik’s biopic…
That’s an incredible story about struggle and triumph. We will soon start on the casting.

Last year, you announced a film on fire-fighters, to be directed by Rahul Dholakia...
We’re working on the dialogue draft. Rahul was in LA for research as there aren’t many films in this space here. It’s a two-hero fictional story and we are in talks with some actors.

Gold underperformed and Rock On 2 was a disaster…
(Cuts in) But no one lost money on Gold nor was it panned by the critics. A certain segment didn’t watch the film in the theatres but it got good ratings on TV. People didn’t connect with the story of Rock On 2. It released around demonetisation when footfalls at cinemas were nil, but again, the TV feedback was good. We will be mindful and approach films better. Rock On!! remains an iconic film and if we come up with something that warrants a sequel we will go ahead.

Over the years, so many partnerships have fallen apart, what has kept Farhan and you together for almost two decades?
We have similar sensibilities and since we see this partnership as a collaboration, we chat about every aspect of filmmaking. We may not agree on certain things but we haven’t blamed each other for any failures. Sail or sink, filmmaking for us is all about ‘we’ and not ‘I’. 

As told to Himesh Mankad (MUMBAI MIRROR; February 25, 2019)

Since I was not getting the kind of work I wanted, I decided to script a sports-drama. My sister, Mukti Singh Srinet, and I are basketball players. I have played six national games and seen from up close the struggle of athletes in our country in the face of indifferent officials, political pressures, lack of facilities and meagre finances. Mukkabaaz grew out of the shock of seeing a once-feted senior boxer working as a porter and lugging bags at Varanasi Junction railway station. When I started researching for my script, I learnt of other athletes who had sold medals to make ends meet. There was another one who had to take up work as a sweeper.

After completing the script, I decided I wanted to play the protagonist, a talented pugilist, Shravan Kumar Singh, and started training in the sport while scouting for a director. It was a long journey, spanning two-and-a-half years during which I learnt the basics of boxing, before Anurag Kashyap agreed to direct the film. I had worked with him in Gangs Of Wasseypur, Bombay Talkies and Ugly and he was ready to direct my desi Rocky. His only condition was that I should look as convincing as any professional boxer.

In Mumbai, it’s difficult to train in pure boxing as most of the coaches are into mix martial arts, so I decided to shift to Patiala where I had a chance of training with professionals. I prepped with them for a year without them realising that I was learning the sport for a film. Had they known, they would have never taken me seriously.

The training sessions were long and rigorous, replete with potential accidents. I broke my ribs once, but by the end of my prep, I had managed to impress my coaches with my dedication. I developed neuromuscular reflexes at an age when most boxers retire. It was a miracle because the body stops responding to training after a certain age. In all, it was a four-year prep till the film went on the floors.

We were determined to keep all the fights non-choreographed and real as the film featuring professional international boxers. The reactions, reflexes and punches were all spontaneous without us compromising on anything. By then, I was trained to put up a good fight even against a boxer representing a country on an international platform.

After Mukkabaaz, I wanted to take up another sports film and auditioned for Reema Kagti’s Gold which revolved around India’s first hockey win in the Olympics as an independent nation. As opposed to my bulky look in Mukkabaaz, this one required a leaner body since people didn’t hit the gym in 1930s and ’40s. So, I changed my diet plan as well as my workout schedule to break all the muscle I had built. The hockey training sessions with the team were not difficult because I had played the sport in my childhood. That aside, the extensive boxing sessions had given me the strength to train like an international athlete, so I only had to work on polishing my skills.

The hockey sticks used in the ’30s and ’40s, however, were very different from the ones used today. They were heavy with thick blades, and that made it difficult to control the ball initially. Another challenge was to play on artificial grass as I had played on the turf as a kid. But I think I managed to do a convincing job as Imtiaz Ali, who was a part of the Indian team but after Partition crossed the border and went on to captain the ‘other side’.

Every character I play has its own graph. I make it a point to discuss them with the writer and director first to get their points of view before jumping into the prep. For my upcoming films, Adhar and Saand Ki Aankh, I had to learn two different lingos, from Jharkhand and Punjab respectively. I interacted with locals for around four months. This helped me imbibe and incorporate local characteristics into my performance as well.

Meena Iyer (DNA; February 13, 2019)

Zoya Akhtar has an impressive body of work, including feature films like Luck By Chance (2009), Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara (2011) and Dil Dhadakne Do (2015) as well as anthologies such as Bombay Talkies (2013) and Lust Stories (2018).

The writer-filmmaker is known for her attention to detail and presenting well-etched characters with an emotional graph. She is also the talent behind the Ranveer Singh-Alia Bhatt Valentine Day-release Gully Boy, which is currently the talk of the town. Frankly, her plumes need no further polishing. In a freewheeling chat, the pleasant yet candid award winner talks about her independent banner, teaming up with Ranveer for the second time and more.

Your banner name Tiger Baby is intriguing. Is Gully Boy your first production?
Well, we co-produced one movie with Ritesh (Sidhwani) earlier and also did Made In Heaven with Amazon, which is dropping on March 8. Gully Boy is our third offering.

Why Tiger Baby?
My partner Reema (Kagti) and I liked the name. I love the tiger, it’s extremely Indian. It’s fierce, feminine and most of all, it’s specific to us.

Coming back to Gully Boy, the film is tracking extremely well. Does that make you nervous?
Yes and no. Of course, you are happy, because when you put out content, you want everyone to respond to it. Now we’re just hoping they come in to watch our movie and enjoy it. So obviously, there is nervousness because people are excited about the film. But, we’ve crossed the first hurdle.

The voice of the movie is young, it’s inspirational. It seems like a Slumdog Millionaire kind of a story…
It is an underdog story. It’s also talking about a section of society that doesn’t normally get represented in the mainstream.

It speaks of rap, an art form that came up from the street, like anywhere else in the world. These people use music as a tool, they’re all poets, they speak truth to power, so, it’s exciting. Hopefully, it will resonate with a larger section of the audience than just the youth.

Was Ranveer always your first choice?
Yes, he was my first choice, so was Alia, actually.

You’ve watched Ranveer from his Dil Dhadakne Do days. What would you say about his growth as an actor?
I knew Ranveer even before he did his first film. I always got along with him. I liked his energy and what he brings to any situation that he’s in. When I did Dil Dhadakne Do, we got along so well. I’m extremely comfortable with him. He is a real collaborator. He is a generous actor and a good co-creator of the character. He comes without any ego. At the core of his stardom, he is an actor who wants to do well. He understands the role, the script, and reads between the lines. He knows exactly where I’m coming from and brings stuff to the table. We can say yes or no to each ther’s ideas. I find that really exciting. He lifts the characters up. Usually, people just see the flamboyant and slightly larger-than-life side of him, but he’s got a lot of depth and sensitivity. I like being on a film set with him.

And, Alia...
Alia is special, she operates from an instinct that is so powerful. She follows her gut. She is so centered within herself that it comes through in her performances. In fact, it’s evident in everything. She is in the moment. I think that allows her to make her choices and play the characters she does. She is a dream to work with. I can’t wait to collaborate with her again.

Both, you and your brother Farhan Akhtar have a good body of work. Is it possible for you to say who is better?
No, it’s not. There’s nothing as better. Honestly, we’re not even halfway through our body of work. We still have so many films to make, so many stories to tell.

So, there’s never been any sense of competition with him?
No, never. And there can’t be because my film is his film. He’s either acting in it or he’s producing it or writing it. So, the ownership is always there.

There’s also a common soul in your father, in Javed Akhtar saab, who is also associated with your work.   
Of course, I feel extremely privileged.

And who is the apple of his eye; you or Farhan?
I’d say it’s me (smiles). I’m the first born and a girl... so we have a different equation like my mother (Honey Irani) and my brother have a different dynamic. I feel blessed and lucky with my family, not because of the privilege, of course, I’m grateful for that as well that we never wanted anything. But what is a real privilege is that we (my brother and I) were treated equally. I was treated with equal amount of opportunity, freedom and confidence as him.

We were allowed to make mistakes. I mean that is a real privilege, to be able to go your own way, find your voice, just have a support system that allows you to do all that.

How involved is your partner Reema (Kagti) in this film?
She has co-written it; so yes, she is very much involved; from the research till the script was ready.

What did you think of her film Gold (2018)?
I cried at the end; It was a massive film. It was nicely made. I think there were certain things that went wrong for her, in terms that she wasn’t happy with the effects. There was not enough time and things went off there. But the film really moved me and I cried. I’m happy that it got made.

There was also talk of similarities between Gully Boy and Eminem’s 8 Mile (2002). Do you see it as unfortunate?
It’s not unfortunate, it’s obvious because 8 Mile is the biggest reference for rap. So people will look at it and be like, ‘Okay, this and that...’ Like during Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara’s release, everybody was saying it’s The Hangover (2009). But it was not The Hangover and I got upset. However today, I don’t feel that way about this film. I know that when Gully Boy opens in cinemas, they will understand that it’s specific to people from our space. I think what they are talking about is the rap battle, but those things are common everywhere. So, I’m not reacting to that.

Ranveer has done a good job rapping in the film. While you say he was your first choice for the role, was it the same case with his rapping, too?
It’s better na, because rap is spoken word. You can’t have another voice, it’s better that he do it himself. And he does rap, he also writes. So, there’s a certain sense of it. But we needed to know how he would flow with the sound that we were producing. I’m so happy that he’s in this film.

Did you get a chance to watch Simmba?
No, I was in post-production. I missed it but I will watch it once my film releases. Because when you’re in the last lap of post-production, you don’t have the space.

You, Karan Johar, Anurag Kashyap and Dibakar Banerjee have been collaborating on short films.  Will that association continue?  
Yes, definitely.

Who is your favourite filmmaker among them?
They or should I say all of us are unique. There isn’t another Karan. You can’t replace Anurag. They’re my gang, my friends. We have so much fun together. We’re a good bunch when we are together. And that’s what I mean; you can’t compare them, they are incomparable. Who will you replace Dibakar Banerjee with? There isn’t another one. We are four unique voices.

DHADAK had the top premiere on television in 2018 though the year was dominated by TIGER ZINDA HAI, GOLMAAL AGAIN and BAAGHI 2 which have has continued to rate very highly post the premiere. These films have all crossed 5 crore impressions in 6-7 viewings and are films having a great innings post the theatrical release.

These three films were the huge BLOCKBUSTER on television while DHADAK and STREE were SUPERHIT and all the others on the list were HIT barring PADMAAVAT, GOLD and RAAZI. PADMAAVAT has not done well at all post release which pretty much ascertains that the theatrical business had a lot to do with the controversy as never has such big grosser performed so badly on television post release. It was premiered on digital before satellite but so were others on the list like STREE and PARMANU but they still found an audience. It means seventeen Hindi new releases scored on television in 2018.

Below are the top twenty films on television. The number is the impressions which is basically the number of television sets which viewed the film.
1. Dhadak - 1,83,16,000
2. Golmaal Again - 1,63,52,000
3. Baaghi 2 - 1,61,45,000
4. Tiger Zinda Hai - 1,37,04,000
5. Stree - 1,23,29,000
6. Pad Man - 86,42,000
7. Parmanu - The Story of Pokhran- 79,10,000
8. Sanju - 77,95,000
9. Raid - 74,71,000
10. Yamla Pagla Deewana Phir Se - 69,76,000
11. Sonu Ke Titu Ki Sweety - 64,97,000
12. Sui Dhaaga: Made In India - 64,00,000
13. Hichki - 63,60,000
14. Genius - 63,01,000
15. Badhaai Ho - 60,86,000
16. Secret Superstar - 60,41,000
17. Padmaavat - 55,23,000
18. Fukrey Returns - 53,05,000
19. Gold - 50,66,000
20. Raazi - 48,79,000

Two releases, nine on track to the finish line by 2019 – sport was everyone’s favourite subject in cinema this year. In the coming months, almost every other biopic will be a sports film! Here’s why you’ll see a lot more sweat and blood on the big screen
Abhimanyu Mathur (BOMBAY TIMES; December 31, 2018)

The year 2018 saw eight biopics hit the screens. From a controversial writer in pre-Partition India and a movie star, to a crusader against menstrual taboos, there was no common theme in the films, except for two — both Soorma and Gold were films based on hockey. One told the story of Sandeep Singh, who fought bullet wounds to stage a miraculous comeback, and the other told the legendary tale of independent India’s first Olympic gold. Although sports biopics have been around for over a decade — Chak De! India set the ball rolling — 2018 was the year that really hit the ball out of the park. Apart from the two releases, the year saw over a dozen announcements of films on past Olympic champions, current sporting sensations, and even forgotten glory tales from Indian sport.

From on-field victories to on-screen hits
Over the next twelve months, at least nine sports biopics are up for release, which constitute almost 40 per cent of the total biopics being made in Hindi. And you can’t blame the makers. All the sports biopics made over the last five years have recovered their cost in box-office sales. Add to it satellite rights and other earnings, and making a sports biopic seems to be a sure shot money-earner. So, what makes these movies tick? Screenwriter Prasoon Joshi, who wrote Bhaag Milkha Bhaag, says, “When I was researching for the film, I met Milkha Singh ji and interacted with him. As I was leaving, I heard him say to someone else, “Iss aadmi ko sports mein koi interest nahi. Bas personal sawaal pooch raha tha.” And that is true. For me, Milkha Singh’s story is not a story of sports, but one of struggle. That’s what sports films give us — the underdogs, the winners who emerge from struggle, which is a universal theme. That’s why they work.”

It’s no secret that the real money in sports when it comes to India is in cricket — men’s cricket to be precise. According to a leading international publication, seven out of the top 10 highest-earning Indian sportspersons in 2017 were male cricketers. Curiously enough though, when it comes to cinema, cricket movies are not among the top-earners. The highest-grossing sports movies of India are usually based on female sportspersons from small towns in less-than-glamorous sports. Dangal earned Rs 2,000 crore as opposed to the Rs 216 crore run of MS Dhoni’s biopic. Mary Kom’s biopic earned more than the documentary of Sachin Tendulkar and biopic of Mohammad Azharuddin, neither of which crossed the Rs 100-crore mark at the box office. “In the last few years, even as sports viewers, we have been moving away from just cricket. With the badminton, kabaddi, and all other leagues coming up, audience today is exposed to more sports and more stories from those sports. What we look for are unknown stories and that we get from other sports. The more unknown the story, the greater the intrigue. Ab Sachin ki life ke baare mein toh humein sab pata hi hai. From childhood, we have grown up tabulating each incident, each run, and each record of his. This is where the newer stories and achievers from relatively less popular sports come in,” says writer Saiwyn Quadras, who wrote Mary Kom, and is currently writing a script on the Indian football team’s win at the 1962 Asian Games.

Actors say that despite the extensive training and preparation, the thrill of playing a sportsperson and getting a peek into an achiever’s mind is what attracts them to this genre. Speaking to us earlier this year, Shraddha Kapoor, who plays badminton champion Saina Nehwal in her next, had said, “There is so much training that goes into it, there is a lot of hard work that goes into it. It is extensive prep, it is extremely demanding, but I am very excited to play the role. I held her Olympic medal in my hand, that is one heavy medal. It must have been such a terrific feeling to win that medal. It was a surreal moment for me to hold that medal.”

Many in the industry say it’s a welcome trend, since cinema can use its wide reach to highlight more stories of sports that are relatively unknown to audience. Akshay Kumar, who played a hockey coach in Gold, says, “Sports films can make a lot of difference. Cinema has the power to bring about change. Sports films can go a long way in creating sports culture in the country. Films like Dangal, Bhaag Milkha Bhaag, etc. told people in India that there are other sports in the country apart from cricket; other sportspersons we can be proud of. And cinema needs to keep doing that.”



SPORTS BIOPICS YOU’LL SEE IN 2019/2020 – AND JUST ONE OF THEM IS ON CRICKET

- ’83 (based on India’s first Cricket World Cup win), starring Ranveer Singh as Kapil Dev
- Saina Nehwal biopic, starring Shraddha Kapoor
- Pullela Gopichand biopic, starring Sudheer Babu
- Dingko Singh biopic, starring Shahid Kapoor as the boxer
- KD Jadhav biopic, starring Sangram Singh as the wrestler
- Abhinav Bindra biopic, starring Harshvardhan Kapoor as the Olympic gold medallist
- Para athlete Murlikant Petkar biopic, starring Sushant Singh Rajput
- Film on Mohun Bagan’s 1911 win over East Yorkshire Football Club, starring John Abraham
- Film on the Indian football team that won the 1962 Asian Games, starring Ajay Devgn
- Biopics on Dhyan Chand, PT Usha, PV Sindhu, Mithali Raj and Deepa Malik have also been announced

Harshada Rege (DNA; November 22, 2018)

Michael Peña, whose last outing saw him playing the motormouth Luis in the second instalment of the Ant-Man series, makes a dramatic switch as he essays the character of Kiki Camarena in Narcos: Mexico. Unlike most actors, who get stereotyped in either the comedy or drama genre, Michael seems to be able to change sides without breaking into a sweat. Something that has helped him collect an enviable filmography. The actor, on his recent trip to India, spoke about his career graph, showcasing his work on a digital platform like Netflix, and finding inspiration from common people.

You manage to strike a good balance between comedy and drama — something that very few actors are able to do. What’s your secret?
To be honest, what I do is, I pick a character. I had never played a guy like Kiki Camerana. I had based the Marvel movies’ Luis on somebody else, and the guy from End Of The Watch was a composition of a couple of people, while the one from Observe and Report is based on another person. I always bring other people to the roles I play. It’s interesting to think like them. That’s kind of my technique. I try to embody a character and try to make them as real as possible and justify their actions.

You have spent over three decades in the industry. Do you find any difference now that films and shows are being aired on digital platforms rather than conventional mediums like theatres and television?
To me, it feels the same. I have been blessed to have success with shows and films, and that feels like a blessing. At the end of the day, you want to make people happy. When they get home and are tired, you want to entertain them. You want them to go, “Oh that was good.” That’s more on my mind than any other ratings or stuff like that.

Shows like Narcos have brought local culture and language to a global platform. How do you think it helps a show?
I think it adds authenticity. Nowadays, you are in a competing marketplace where you are sometimes going up against mediums like YouTube where people are able to see other parts of the world. In a weird way, it (the world) is coming together a little bit more because you are able to see it and understand it. You can’t really get away with hiring somebody who doesn’t speak Spanish like in Narcos. It just wouldn’t fly. But it’s also very interesting. I have yet to see things (shows/films) in India, but I definitely want to see Gold, Black Friday, and Maqbool.

People often binge watch digital shows...
Whenever there’s a new season starting, you have got to get past the first two episodes. That’s because they are just meant for establishing (the characters). By third, it starts to cook, and with the fourth, you are like, ‘Ok cool, this is how it goes’.

Kiki Camarena is not your typical hero. He often doesn’t get his way...
Yes, and it’s good to let that frustration show. You see what’s going on with him and how he reacts to it. The reason he does things the way he does is because he is just fed up with it (the system). Even if he makes sense, it doesn’t matter because people are either getting in the way or they aren’t taking any action. The fact that the Mexican police, the federal police, the politicians and the government are involved is a bit of nightmare. He wants someone to do something about it, but they just don’t do it. It leads to almost a resentment.

Considering this is a part of the Narcos series, was there any pressure to match up to the previous ones or to make it stand apart from them?
Not really. Because as soon as I read the first script, I knew that it’s not a typical TV show, it’s very much in the Narcos territory. It has that specific style of storytelling, in which they intertwine and set up things that are interesting and entertaining, but then they pay off in a way that’s unexpected. Here, the good guys have a lot of grey areas and vice-versa. You humanise both elements. At the same time, they aren’t glorifying anything because you can see that the bad guys end up dead or in jail.

Nayandeep Rakshit (DNA; November 19, 2018)

Over the last few years, Akshay Kumar has made interesting choices. The Bollywood superstar has balanced his commercial outings with social dramas, both of which have been lapped up by audiences. Now, he is all set to share screen space with Rajinikanth in the mega-budget venture 2.0, which releases on November 29.

A sequel to the much successful Robot (Enthiran, 2010), it’s also the biggest Indian film ever made on a budget of over Rs 650 crore. Given that the first part fared extraordinarily well at the box office, even outside the South Indian market, we asked trade pundits about the expectations from 2.0.

AKSHAY: THE BIGGEST HIGHLIGHT
Akki plays the role of a mad scientist or crowman, the antagonist to Rajinikanth’s Chitti in the sci-fi. Trade analyst Taran Adarsh states that his character will be the ‘biggest highlight’ in the project. “This is possibly the first time a mainline actor has taken up a role like this. There’s a lot of curiosity about Akshay’s role after his look and the promos were unveiled. He’s playing a bad guy, but nobody has done a film on this scale before. So, there’s definitely huge anticipation and euphoria. This could be a game changer,” says Taran.

Producer-distributor N R Pachisia, too, echoes the same sentiment and says, “The film’s creatives (promos and posters) featuring Akshay are creating a buzz among viewers. The curiosity will also help the film in the North Indian markets. Akshay will be the surprise package in 2.0. It’s such a larger-than-life character.”

AN ALL-INDIA CONNECT
Barring Baahubali, South Indian films, which are usually dubbed in several languages including Hindi, don’t really work outside their own market. The trade feels 2.0, too, can also recreate the same magic as the SS Rajamouli film, thanks to the Pad Man actor’s presence. Taran asserts, “Akshay’s addition to the cast means that the film will appeal to a larger audience and is a huge advantage for the film’s Hindi market.” Pachisia adds, “If you see the first instalment of the franchise, it did exceedingly well even outside the South Indian market. Shankar, as a filmmaker, caters to the pan-India audience.”

Pachisia says, “It’s lovely to see a filmmaker who’s trying to make movies on such a huge canvas and at par with international standards. The layman is intrigued by the VFX work. 2.0 will open big across the country for sure.” He adds, “Karan Johar, along with Anil Thadani are distributing the film. They have always chosen quality products.” The two had also presented the Baahubali franchise, which went on to create history at the Indian box office.

2.0 WILL SURPASS AKKI’S EARLIER FILMS
Toilet - Ek Prem Katha, which released last year and collected over Rs 132 crore at the BO is Akshay’s highest-grossing film till date. But it will be a different scenario altogether with 2.0. Pachisia says, “The film is tracking really well, it is somewhere around Rs 34-35 crore. The scale and the format of the film are adding to the excitement.” Taran also agrees, “Although it’s too early to predict the film’s opening, it is expected to be in the Rs 30-35 crore range. That also means 2.0 will be Akshay’s biggest opener till date. His previous best is Gold (2018) which collected Rs 25.25 crore on the first day. 2.0 will easily surpass that.”

Earlier this month, Aamir Khan and Amitabh Bachchan-starrer Thugs Of Hindostan (TOH) had an unprecedented opening-day figure of Rs 52 crore (from all languages). Taran feels that the record will be broken, with the Rajini-Akshay film. He tells us, “TOH has not worked, so the audience is also hungry for a good film now. The start for 2.0 will be mammoth for sure. After that, it’s up to the content and how people take to it. 2.0’s collections from all combined languages will definitely beat TOH’s Rs 52 crore mark.”

The film is also reportedly being planned for a grand release in over 5,000 screens in India. But Taran reasons, “The screen count can be decided only a week before the film’s release. In all probability, the film will have a big release all over India.”