Showing posts with label Gowtam Tinnanuri. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Gowtam Tinnanuri. Show all posts
I never set out to coach people in societal behaviour-Shahid Kapoor
8:23 AM
Gearing up for Jersey’s release, Shahid on life post Kabir Singh and how he doesn’t justify his problematic parts
Uma Ramasubramanian (MID-DAY; April 1, 2022)
There are certain characters that speak to you in a way others rarely can. When Jersey came Shahid Kapoor’s way, the central character of Arjun — a defeated man who revives his love for cricket, at the behest of his son — left a lasting impression on him. He says that the protagonist’s quiet passion drew him in.
“I could relate to him strongly. In him, I got the right vessel to [pour] my emotions into. I have felt that success, big love [from the audience] and a wide-reaching film have come to me after years of waiting. We all have fire [in our belly]. There are certain people whose fire is dampened over time, and then, there are those whose fire keeps burning. I fall in that category, as does Arjun.”
A remake of Gowtam Tinnanuri’s 2019 Telugu film of the same name, Jersey sees Kapoor sharing screen space with actor-father Pankaj Kapur. Holding your own in front of the veteran actor is no mean feat. “It’s scary as hell to share a frame with him,” smiles Kapoor, before narrating an incident. “After a scene, Gowtam walked up to dad and told him it’s a good shot, [but looked despondent]. I asked Gowtam if everything was okay, and he said, ‘Your dad is a great actor, but my story is about your character. So, if you don’t do well, the audience will only be looking at him.’ I told him that I will try my best,” he laughs.
Kapoor’s last release Kabir Singh (2019), though a runaway success, wasn’t without its share of problems. There was much debate about the film’s glorification of toxic masculinity. In the past few years, there has been an increased awareness among artistes on the messaging of films. Has it made him scrutinise his roles harder?
“My concern is with the lack of authenticity or unfounded behaviour [in a character]. I never set out to coach people in societal behaviour. An actor’s role is to honestly represent life. I never try to justify my characters because I have played [parts] that are problematic or troubled. But cinema is a reflection of life. We are merely saying that these things happen. Whether it’s right or wrong, you decide. I think the junta gets it; the over-intellectual minds tend to chew on things a bit too much.”
It’s a wrap on Jersey, shooting during COVID is nothing short of a miracle-Shahid Kapoor
8:12 AM
The actor, in a social media post, shares his joy on completing Jersey against all odds, and director Gowtam Tinnanuri tells BT that Shahid’s dedication is unparalleled
Rachana Dubey (BOMBAY TIMES; December 16, 2020)
While talking to BT, director Gowtam Tinnanuri says, “Jersey was one of the first few films to stop shooting before the lockdown. We felt it was the right thing to do. We did not know when we would be able to resume the rest of the schedules and safety was our priority. During the lockdown, we had some lengthy and intense internal discussions as to how to continue the shoot once normalcy restores. But hats off to my producers for making everything go so smoothly. We resumed shooting in October in Uttarakhand. They made sure that all precautions pertaining to COVID-19 were taken. The sets used to be sanitised at regular intervals and everyone had to wear their face shields, gloves and masks, including the actors when they were not performing before the camera. I’m thankful to the entire team for their support during these tough times.”
Elaborating on his experience of working with Shahid on the sports drama, Gowtam says, “It was a delight working with Shahid Kapoor. He slipped into his character’s skin with rare ease. I’d be present during his cricket training sessions and I must say that his dedication and sincerity are unparalleled. He is one of the best actors of this generation. It was an enriching collaboration.”
I am confident Shahid Kapoor will pull off the role in Jersey-Nani
9:50 AM
With Kapoor headlining the Hindi adaptation of Jersey, star of the Telugu original, Nani, discusses how the sports drama has pan-India appeal
Uma Ramasubramanian (MID-DAY; September 6, 2020)
After the raging success of Kabir Singh (2019), Shahid Kapoor turned to the South again to look for inspiration, taking a shine to Jersey (2019) this time around. Nani, who had headlined the Telugu original, had delivered one of his strongest performances as he essayed the role of a retired cricketer who strives to make a comeback. The South actor believes the subject of the sports drama has a pan-India appeal."I am confident about Jersey because it has the backdrop of cricket, which will strike a chord with the audience across India. Plus, the film has a strong emotional core. The combination of these two cannot go wrong," says Nani, asserting that an actor of Kapoor's calibre will do justice to the role. "Shahid is a good actor and has been picking up the right content. I have been following his work and I am confident he will pull off this role."
When Nani had flown down to Mumbai last year, director Gowtam Tinnanuri, who is helming the Hindi adaptation as well, had lined up a meeting with Kapoor. "Gowtam was keen that we meet. But, the meeting did not take place as I had gone to Mumbai for a two-day shoot and had to rush back."
With four films, including Hit: The First Case, Middle Class Abbayi (MCA) and Ninnu Kori, being remade in four different languages, the actor is proud that regional cinema is getting its share of the spotlight. "I am glad people like my choice of content and feel it will work in another language. It validates my work," he reasons.
For now, Nani has trained his attention on V, which is set to enjoy a digital premiere on Amazon Prime Video. As the theatre-versus-OTT debate rages on, the actor admits he will always be a fan of the big screen. "However, I am not disappointed [about the digital release] as the film is dropping in various countries."
Shahid Kapoor would need at least 2 weeks of cricket practice before we restart shooting Jersey, says director
8:42 AM
Director Gowtam Tinnanuri explains why Shahid Kapoor would need time to get back into the physical form required to play a cricketer in the sports drama
Rachana Dubey (BOMBAY TIMES; July 10, 2020)
Gowtam Tinnanuri, director of the film, who also helmed the original, says, “Now, there is a cap on the number of crew members who can be present on a film set. Whenever the government allows us to increase the number, following the health situation in the country, we would need about four weeks to be on floors. As for Shahid, he would need at least two weeks of cricket practice before we begin the shoot to get back into the groove. He is a good cricketer, so we have less to worry on that front.”
Elaborating on why Shahid will require some prep before he stars shooting, fitness coach Rajiv Mehra says, “Both, Shahid and I, feel that we need at least seven to 10 days of practisc before the shoot starts again. We have to ensure that he doesn’t sustain any injury while practising or shooting. We have to help his body adapt to a certain level of activity, build strength and brush up his cricket skills. It’s a very delicate situation to be in because now we will be working against a tight deadline.”
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