Showing posts with label Gulmohar. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Gulmohar. Show all posts
To make sure I don’t accidentally give out incorrect information during promotions, I refer to research file-Manoj Bajpayee
8:34 AM
Kanksha Vasavada (BOMBAY TIMES; July 2, 2026)
“Yahan jaisa aamras kahin nahi milta,” shares Manoj Bajpayee, who was in Ahmedabad recently. The versatile actor, who was recently seen in Governor, talks about playing the RBI Governor for the first time, what draws him to unconventional characters, and more.
‘No character can change you as a person’
Be it movies like Special 26 and Sirf Ek Bandaa Kaafi Hai or shows like The Family Man and Killer Soup, Manoj has always played unconventional characters. Does it change something in him too?
Manoj says, “While nothing changes you as a person, there are certain things that stay with you. Since you live with a character for such a long time, they inevitably stay somewhere in your subconscious. But I come from a different upbringing and have a completely different backstory from the characters I play, so portraying them doesn’t change who I am. However, it teaches me what I got right and what I could have done better. I carry those lessons forward and apply them to my next project.”
‘I keep a research file with me for certain characters’
Talking about how he prepares for a role, Manoj shares, “Main script ko baar baar padhta hoon, research karta hoon, and have meetings with creative teams. Phir readings hoti hai, and personal research karna padta hai. You have to imagine the character on screen, their behavioral patterns, body language, and emotions. Khali kirdar parde pe khada ho raha hai toh woh kaafi nahi hai. Uske khade rehne se aapko pata chal jaana chahiye woh kaun hai, kahan se aaya hai, aur uske dimag mein kya chal raha hai. What you see on screen is the result of two to three months of preparation.”
He adds, “While Google is very useful for research these days, for certain characters, like the RBI governor, I keep a research file with me. There’s often a long gap between shooting a film and its release, and by then I’ve usually completed two more projects. To make sure I don’t accidentally give out incorrect information during interviews or promotions, I refer to that file whenever needed (smiles).”
‘Audiences are very black and white’
Do audiences prefer his crime-based roles and politically charged characters more? Manoj candidly says, “Main iss pe yakeen nahi karta. People loved Gulmohar, and Sirf Ek Bandaa Kaafi Hai was a blockbuster. In fact, it had the highest views on OTT and then was released in theatres too. Toh audience kabhi aise decisions nahi leti. Be it films or OTT projects, the audience either likes it or doesn’t. They are very black and white, and that is their final decision.”
He adds, “Gulmohar was a simple film, and we thought it was a family film people would enjoy. Nobody knew how it would be received. But it was received very well. I get messages on social media even today. These weren’t crime-based films, but people loved watching me in them. Ek seedha-saadha aadmi aur seedhi-saadhi zindagi hai. But the lives of these characters were interesting, and their struggles against their circumstances resonated deeply with audiences.”
‘Playing the RBI Governor needed extensive preparation’
Talking about playing the RBI governor in his latest release, Manoj says, “A lot of preparation went into this. Maine na toh kabhi RBI Governor ka character kiya tha, na main kisi RBI Governor se mila tha. Everything was new for me. My character is an economist, but I was never good at maths or economics, so even understanding terms like ‘fiscal deficit’ was a learning experience. (smiles).”
He adds, “We faced other challenges too. We weren’t allowed to enter the RBI building. Only the art director was permitted inside to observe and note every detail, as photography was strictly prohibited.”
Talking about the city, Manoj shares, "Ahmedabad is a great city, and I have been here many times. Yahan pe aa ke main sabse pehle yahan ka khaana khata hoon. I love the aamras here. Ghar pe aamras banane ki koshish ki thi, par woh yahan jaisa nahi bann paata. Yahan jaisa aamras kahin nahi milta."
Suraj Sharma set for another India-based project
9:52 AM
The actor says he wants to work in India more often and already has multiple projects “in the pipeline”
Rishabh Suri (HINDUSTAN TIMES; December 1, 2025)
Suraj Sharma has always prioritised the quality of his work over volume. A choice reflected in his limited Indian projects so far. He has appeared in only two Hindi films: Phillauri (2017) and Gulmohar (2023), the latter winning Best Feature Film in Hindi at the National Film Awards.
Now, we’ve learnt that the actor is set for another India-based project, with an announcement likely as early as next year. Recently in Goa for the screening of his international film This Tempting Madness alongside Simone Ashley at the 56th International Film Festival of India, Sharma confirms that something is brewing.
“Yes, there are a few projects in the pipeline. Things are in the works, and I am looking forward to it. In an ideal world, if I could do at least a film in India every year, that would be a gem for me. Not just because of the industry, but because I miss being in India. I love working here and that’s important to me.”
When asked whether his next Indian outing will be a web project or a feature film like Phillauri, Sharma says the medium doesn’t matter: “The format for me is irrelevant. What matters is the story. The format is just a different way to present it to the audience, right? Also, the people involved... who am I working with? Is it a healthy, collaborative environment? And is the story something that tugs at my heartstrings? That’s what I’m usually running for.”
Sharmila Tagore told me, 'I don’t know if the audience will accept me as a queer lady character'-Rahul V Chittella
8:00 AM
Niharika Lal (BOMBAY TIMES; October 24, 2024)
Rahul V Chittella’s debut film Gulmohar won three National Film Awards, including Best Hindi Film and Best Dialogues. Rahul, who has worked with Mira Nair for over 14 years, has been producing, writing, and also directing short films.
Rahul says he stumbled into producing by chance when Mira Nair’s producer suddenly backed out. “I didn’t want to produce, but she said, ‘We have no option.’" So, he gave it a shot and ended up enjoying it. He was also all set to produce A Suitable Boy, but then Gulmohar was greenlit.
When Rahul set out to make this film, he knew he wanted it to be about family, as Hrishikesh Mukherjee's films had a huge influence on him. However, the idea of a house being packed up came to him when Mira Nair’s Delhi home of three decades was being sold.
His portrayal of Delhi in Gulmohar is so accurate that people often assume he is from Delhi and lives there. Rahul jokes, “Every time I meet someone in Bombay, they ask, ‘Oh! Aap kab aaye?’ And I’m like, ‘Arey, main idhar hi rehta hoon!’
In a chat after the National Film Awards, the director and co-writer of the film spoke about how Gulmohar came together.
'The idea of a home, family, the warmth comes from the influence of Hrishikesh Mukherjee's films'
Rahul says his approach to family and the warmth in his films is heavily influenced by Hrishikesh Mukherjee, whose films from Chupke Chupke to Guddi he has seen several times.
He shares, "That's where it comes from. I wanted to make a film about family and explore what that means. Mira’s house in Delhi became our home for 12 years. Every time I came from Bombay, I stayed there. My first short film was edited in that house. All our casting used to happen there. So, when the house was sold, it felt very emotional. I remember, one day while we were writing, we didn’t have the idea of a house being packed up. We were just fleshing out the characters. Then the movers came, and suddenly I got this idea of packing up the house as the backdrop. Weirdly, in the film, the packers you see are the same ones who packed up Mira’s house."
'When Mansi told me that Piku's house was not a real Delhi house but a set, I was heartbroken and hired her'
The production designer of Gulmohar is Mansi Dhruv Mehta, who also worked on Piku. Initially, the plan was to shoot the film on a set, similar to films like Roma and Parasite, where most of the action happens on a constructed set of home. Rahul recalls, "Piku’s house was a set built in a hotel in Bandra. When Mansi told me this, I was heartbroken. I thought it was a real Delhi house, but she said, no, it was a set. And that’s how I decided to hire her."
However, due to the pandemic and travel restrictions, building a set wasn’t feasible, and the search for the Gulmohar bungalow began.
In the film, dialogues are woven into the house itself, with stairs playing a symbolic role. Manoj Bajpayee’s character quotes his father, saying that a house with stairs is a sign of success, which made finding a double-storied house essential.
Rahul shares that they needed the house for three weeks and asked the family living there to move out with all their furniture - a tough ask.
Sharing how he got the bungalow, Rahul says, "I’ve always loved the culture of Delhi houses. Aise ghar toh Bombay mein hote hi nahi hain. When I approached the owner, he told me that when he was eight, Sharmila Tagore came to the house and took a photo with him and his family in the front yard. When he renovated the house, that photo got lost. He told me he wanted a photo with her in the same spot. That’s how I got the house - because of the owner’s love for Sharmila Tagore. I got it just three weeks before the shoot. Now, that man has told me he’s renamed the rooms of the house based on Gulmohar's characters."
He adds, "Bollywood is very powerful - we shouldn’t diss Bollywood."
The film also received a lot of praise for its aesthetics, with walls adorned with art, photographs, bookcases, and original paintings. Rahul, who was visiting an art gallery in Delhi before the interview, says, "My DOP Mansi and I are both very fond of art in real life. We had the privilege of exploring and had a lot of fun picking out each piece of art for every corner. I’m very fond of art. One of my friends created original paintings for the house in the film."
'I enjoy dialogues because, ultimately, you’re trying to say something or question something'
Talking about his collaboration with co-writer Arpita Mukherjee, Rahul says, "We have our similarities, and we have our differences, but we respect each other and value our friendship."
Rahul believes dialogue isn’t just about writing - it’s about how the actor delivers it. He says, "I love dialogues. Many times, when we write scripts and send them to colleagues, they say, ‘Arey! Silence hona chahiye, it’s too verbose, this and that.’ But I love dialogues because I have confidence in the actors I cast. The dialogues we wrote for Gulmohar became great not just because of the lines, but also because of how the actors spoke those lines. I had actors who were such good students of text. It’s quite a talky film, with a lot of dialogues, and then my direction came in - to keep it as colloquial and natural as possible. Aisa dialoguebaazi na lage. I enjoy dialogues because, ultimately, you’re trying to say something or question something."
Sharing an example, he says, “Manoj’s dialogue - ‘Do manzilon ka ghar to ban gaya, kamre bhi badh gaye, par iss ek ghar mein na jaane kab hum sabne apne-apne kamron mein khud ke ghar bana liye hain.’ It wasn’t something I consciously tried to write - it just came to me. I called Arpita and said, 'This is what our story is going to be about,’ because we were still trying to figure out the core of the story."
'I think dialogue writing is like conducting an orchestra'
What does he think makes a dialogue click with the audience or the jury? Rahul says, "I think it’s the whole experience of the scene that gets communicated through dialogue. There was another scene where Manoj goes to meet his biological father at a dhaba, and the man says, ‘Aap de sakte hain kyunki aapko di gayi hai.’ That idea came from Arpita, and we both agreed we wanted to show gratitude there."
At a time when silences are often seen as more telling in films and dialoguebaazi is frowned upon, how does a director decide how much the characters will say and what will be left unsaid?
He explains, "It’s not about the length of the dialogue. If you look at Srif Ek Bandaa Kaafi Hai, Manoj’s final monologue is about five pages long. But at the end of the day, it’s about whether that emotion gets communicated through the scene and the story, and whether it hits your heart. I think dialogue writing is like conducting an orchestra - you know when to start, when to slow down, and when to hit that note. In that way, it’s like music. You can’t make it mechanical. It only feels like dialoguebaazi when it’s obvious the line is written."
He says that’s where direction comes in - you direct in a way that doesn’t make it feel like dialoguebaazi. You’re seamlessly fooling the audience and suddenly grabbing them.
When does he know it’s a good dialogue? Giving example, he says, "One of my favourite lines of Sharmila ji in the film is, ‘Kabhi-kabhi zindagi ko apne panne khud likhne do.’ And then, ‘Yeh ghar humne int pattharon se nahi, dil se banaya tha...’ When I’m writing, I’m also visualizing. So, when a line doesn’t land, you have to keep working at it.”
'I feel OTT gives the kind of budget that retains quality '
Rahul says that when you're making a film, you're not going to work any less just because it's on OTT. "In fact, I sometimes feel that making a film for OTT is tougher because anybody can just pause and walk away. It’s much harder to engage and keep the grip. You can't undermine a film because it’s an OTT film - a film is a film."
Giving examples of films like Srif Ek Bandaa Kaafi Hai, Qala, and Bulbbul, he says, "I feel OTT gives the kind of budget that retains quality - not just for the actors but for production quality and standards."
'Love is love'
Rahul shares, "Sharmila ji took three days to read the script and then called me and said, 'Listen, at the end of the day, I’m Sharmila Tagore, and I come with this legacy of work, image, and audience perception. I don’t know if the audience will accept me as a queer lady character.' And I told her, 'Sharmila ji, love is love, just like in the film, and we should treat it like that. We shouldn’t sensationalize it. It’s a personal choice.' And she said, 'Okay, let’s have fun with it.'"
Rahul says that he knew Manoj Bajpayee for a very long time before he approached him for the role. He says, "In fact, there was a film that Mira and I were producing, and we were talking with Manoj. That’s how I met him. He had seen my short film Azad and said, 'Whenever you’re making your first film, I’m gonna do it.' And I thought - these stars, they keep saying it, but he won’t do it. But when I finished the script, Manoj and I read it together for three hours. After that, he asked, 'When do you want to shoot?' So first, Sharmila ji said yes in three days, and right after her, I went to Manoj. These two people I cast in 2019, and they stuck around for so long, saying, 'Whenever you want to shoot, we’ll do it.'"
He shares, "We keep joking, and I told Manoj, 'We’ve only seen you as a normal person, a cop, or a middle-class guy. Only in Zubeidaa have I seen you as a rich person.' He started laughing and said, 'Nobody casts me as a rich person.'
'If you don’t like the actor as a person, it becomes difficult to edit them, and then you’ll start hating the scene'
Rahul shares that he casts every part personally. He says, "Again, because in all the films that Mira and I have done together, we have always been very involved in casting. I thoroughly enjoy working with actors. Also, what people don’t realize is that you have to love your actors for two years - through casting, shooting, and then editing. You have to like the actor. If you don’t like the actor as a person, it becomes difficult to edit them, and then you’ll start hating the scene."
Rahul says that one can't alienate - 'Ye film Bollywood hai, ye un-Bollywood hai. Manoj is as Bollywood as it gets, Sharmila ji is a Bollywood icon. I completely love Bollywood."
---------------------------------------------------------
"The thing with Gulmohar that I realized is that yes, it was appreciated, but it was also deeply loved and watched a lot."
---------------------------------------------------------
"The film was always titled Gulmohar because, during a particular season, Delhi lanes are filled with Gulmohar trees. It’s a very Delhi-specific flower; it’s very poetic," says Rahul. Another reason for the title was his love for Gulzar’s song “Gulmohar gar tumhara naam hota."
I am never considered for high society roles-Manoj Bajpayee
8:49 AM
Renuka Vyavahare (BOMBAY TIMES; September 25, 2024)
Manoj Bajpayee, whose career boasts of some remarkable and versatile power-packed performances, points out the stereotyping that exists in Bollywood and says that it’s time the film industry looks within and works on its weaknesses instead of defending them.
‘I am never considered for high society roles’
Talking about how stereotyping exists, looking back at his own film journey, Manoj says, “The only film before Gulmohar (2023) where I played a rich guy was Zubeidaa (2001). That was Shyam Benegal’s conviction. He was the one who felt that real maharajas were not Greek gods. They looked normal. In Veer-Zaara (2004), I played a politician from Pakistan. I had two scenes in it, but Yash ji (Chopra) was adamant that I do it. He cast me after watching Pinjar (2003). These filmmakers had that vision which stems from seeing life up close. Bakiyonko mujhe rich dikhaane mein dikkat hoti hai. The roles that I portrayed were mostly set in middle-class and lower middle-class stories. I am never considered for high society roles. No director could think of me as a rich guy, barring the two stalwarts that I mentioned. This stereotyping exists.”
‘Most people in decision-making positions in our industry belong to a generation that hasn’t seen India’
Manoj feels there’s a larger problem that the industry is facing today. He feels, if you dig deeper, you’ll notice that our industry (Bollywood) lacks insight towards life, our country and people.
The celebrated actor explains, “No one can plan a hit or flop. No one sets out to make a bad film. The problem that our industry is facing is lack of insight. Most people who are at the helm of studios or decision-making positions, belong to a generation that hasn’t seen India. They are completely cut off from reality. Their references are other films and not real life. And there came a point when tickets became unaffordable and south films in dubbed versions became people’s staple diet in the north because those films were more relatable.”
‘If you wish to pursue a career in Hindi movies, you must learn the language’
He also believes that actors in Hindi cinema need to have a command over the language. “As parents, those who can afford it, we want our kids to study in the best of English medium schools and get the best education. There’s nothing wrong with that. However, if these kids wish to pursue a career in Hindi movies, you must learn the language,” he argues.
Manoj adds, “You will be surprised to know, 20 years back, I didn’t have to struggle to get my script in Devanagari. Today, it’s a struggle because 98% actors read Hindi lines written in English. Without defending our weaknesses, we need to look within and correct those areas.”
‘People like me who come from remote places have seen life’
Talking about the advice he once gave an aspiring actor, he said, “People like me who come from remote places, we have seen life. I once told an aspiring actor, ‘Train mein baitho aur ek saal Hindustan dekho. Mere gaon chale jao, mera ghar khulva doonga. Stay there. That’s where you will learn about relationships as you will talk to common people’. For me, that experience will teach you more than any acting school.”
Led by Aattam, South Indian cinema walks away with top honours at National Awards
9:10 AM
Best Director Award For Barjatya Marks Bollywood’s Presence
Manash Gohain (THE TIMES OF INDIA; August 17, 2024)
New Delhi: Southern cinema grabbed centerstage winning a clutch of major awards in the 70th National Film Awards. The best feature film award went to the Malayalam movie “Aattam: The Play”, while Rishabh Shetty received the best actor award for the Kannada hit “Kantara.” Best actress prize was shared by Nithya Menen for the Tamil film “Thiruchitrambalam” and Manasi Parekh for the Gujarati movie “Kutch Express”.
Sooraj R Barjatya (Hum Aapke Hain Koun) seized the best director award for “Uunchai”, marking Bollywood’s presence among the top categories. Nina Gupta received the best supporting award for the same film while Pavan Malhotra, known for his riveting performances in films such as Salim Langde Pe Mat Ro and Bagh Bahadur, earned the supporting actor award for Haryanvi film, Fouja.
The jury members presented the list of winners for 2022 to Union I&B minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Friday.
Malayalam cinema led the charge, winning eight awards, including for best child actor, best screenplay, and best editing. Overall, 20 south Indian films bagged awards a cross various categories in the feature film segment. In the feature film category, out of the 24 awards, excluding the sub-category of best feature film in each language, 20 awards were shared by Malayalam, Haryanvi, Kannada, Gujarati, Tamil, and Bengali movies. Only six awards were bagged by three Hindi films, with two being shared with other regional language movies.
“Fouja” won two other awards: best debut film by a director for Pramod Kumar and best lyrics by Naushad Sadar Khan.
The award for Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment also went to a non-Bollywood film, the Kannada blockbuster “Kantara”, which explores the intricate connection between humanity and nature through its folklore-based storytelling. Rishabh Shetty played the dual roles of a father and son in this film.
The top honour, the best feature film “Aattam: The Play”, directed by Anand Ekarshi, revolves around a theatre troupe and the changing dynamics after its only woman member alleges she has been groped by one of the men.
The best female playback singer award went to Padma Shri awardee “Bombay” Jayashri Ramnath, a champion of Indian Carnatic music, for the track “Chaayum Veyil” from the Malayalam film “Saudi Vellaka CC 225/2009” (Saudi Baby Coconut CC.225/2009), which also won the best Malayalam film award.
A R Rahman won the National Film Award for best music director (background music) for his work in Mani Ratnam's ‘Ponniyin Selvan-Part 1’, which was also named the best Tamil film. Pritam got the award for best music director (songs) for ‘Brahmastra-Part 1’.
------------------------------------------
Rishabh Suri, Mugdha Kapoor, Soumya Vajpayee, Yashika Mathur, Akash Bhatnagar (HINDUSTAN TIMES; August 17, 2024)
I was not expecting it: Manoj
It’s Manoj Bajpayee’s fourth National Award and this time it’s a Special Mention for the actor for the film Gulmohar (2023). We break the news to him, and he exclaims, “Wow! Best Hindi film too! I must call my director (Rahul V Chittella) right away. I was not even expecting an honour. He is deserving of it, as he made such a beautiful film.” Bajpayee feels grateful that his work is getting recognised now: “There have been performances and films that went unrecognised.”
I am still processing it: Manas
Manasi Parekh, who bagged the Best Actress award for Kutch Express (2023), says, “I am shooting for my new film, and got a message from (actor-filmmaker) Anand Tiwari: ‘Congratulations on the National Award’. I exclaimed, ‘What!’ I am still processing it, I can’t believe it.” The actor looks at the award as a vindication for her hard work: “I love what I do. What makes this win sweeter is that my husband and I produced Kutch Express. I want to do the best work and make the best of films.”
Kantara is a tribute to our land: Rishab Shetty
Rishab Shetty, who won Best Actor for Kantara (2022), with the film also winning the Best Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment award, tells us exclusively, “The win feels overwhelming. I wanted to bring authenticity and a raw portrayal of our heritage. The film is a tribute to our land and the deep-rooted stories that have been part of our cultural fabric for many years, true to the essence of the Kannada culture. I’m thankful to the Daiva for their divine blessings and dedicate this award to the Daiva Nartakas.”
This feels so special: Pritam
Pritam Chakraborty, who won the Best Music Director award for Brahmāstra: Part One – Shiva (2022), says, “This feels so special. I am really grateful to the jury. I want to thank the makers and everyone who was associated with the movie for their support and trust in me. But, most importantly, a big thank you to the audience for their love to our music.”
’This is such an auspicious day’
“I didn’t know that the National Awards were going to be announced today!” says director Chandoo Mondeti, whose film Karthikeya 2 won the National Award in the Best Telugu film category. Mondeti also tells us how he heard of the win after a friend called to congratulate him. “It is such a happy day for us. Karthikeya 2 is a very special film. This is such an auspicious day,” the filmmaker beams, adding that celebrations will follow right away: “It is such great news for me and everyone associated with the film.” This is Mondeti’s first ever National Award.
Like a pat on the back, says Pavan Raj Malhotra
Actor Pavan Raj Malhotra, who won the National Film Award for Best Supporting Actor in the Haryanvi film Fouja, says, “This is my second award, and it feels really good. I remember the first time around, there used to be a rehearsal before the main ceremony without the President and I was wondering how to greet him. Suddenly, I uttered the words ‘Jai Hind’ and it was perfect. This kind of recognition is what every artiste works for. It’s like a pat on the back and as far as I know, these awards are not manipulated. Fouja is actually close to my heart as it is about the desire to join the army; it is a great honour to be a part of the Indian Army. I don’t know how much of an impact this might have, but I have been working for 40 years now. If you keep working and doing what you like, these awards just make you feel appreciated.”
Showing that every human irrespective of the class is vulnerable was fulfilling as an actor-Manoj Bajpayee
11:04 AM
Showing that every human irrespective of the class is vulnerable was fulfilling as an actor
Syeda Eba Fatima (HINDUSTAN TIMES; December 27, 2023)
With remarkable performances in Gulmohar, Sirf Ek Bandaa Kaafi Hai and Joram, Manoj Bajpayee surely had a great 2023. Besides earning critical acclaim and several awards, the actor created history as Sirf Ek Bandaa Kaafi Hai became the first film to release in theatres after a successful run on OTT. Looking back at the year, Bajpayee takes a sigh of relief and says, “I am happy that with this year, all my pre-pandemic commitments are over.”
While one may see it as three back-to-back successful performances, the actor looks beyond that. “What’s remarkable is that within one year, people saw me play three diverse characters — one from the privileged class (Gulmohar), one from the middle class (Sirf Ek Bandaa Kaafi Hai) and one from the downtrodden class (Joram). That’s my achievement. Showing that every human [irrespective of the class] is conflicted and vulnerable, and that everyone has their own struggles was fulfilling as an actor,” he explains.
Having played such diverse roles, ask if there was a takeaway for him, and the 54-year-old shares, “My takeaway is the education that I get during the making of those characters. It could be through the conversations I had with the directors or during my research for the roles. For example, during Joram, I got to understand about people living on the margins and what displacement does to a person.”
What made the year even more special for him were the film festivals, where his movies were applauded: “It feels good to be appreciated. However, despite all the praise, releasing those films in theatre is a different ball game. After the pandemic, the kind of content being consumed has changed, as most people want to see potboilers. So, when a film like Joram impresses the audience and is liked so much that they become promoters of the film and give shout-outs, it’s far greater than any box-office numbers. It’s an indication of the great time ahead.”
During Satyamev Jayate, people whistled and cheered on my entry-Manoj Bajpayee
9:31 PM
In a chat with us at IFFI, the actor shares why commercial cinema never attracted him, his love for independent films and how OTT ‘empowered’ him
Monika Rawal Kukreja (HINDUSTAN TIMES; November 27, 2023)
It has been three years since Manoj Bajpayee had a theatrical release, but the actor isn’t complaining. Instead, he has been making his presence felt in the OTT space with back-to-back releases. This year, his web projects — Gulmohar and Sirf Ek Bandaa Kaafi Hai — earned rave reviews. As the films were screened at the ongoing 54th International Film Festival of India (IFFI) in Goa, Bajpayee is grateful for all the love and adulation.
I have done very few films that gave me a chance to experience euphoria inside the theatre. Satya (1998) was one of them. It gave me a high. I would think that in this industry, I’d only get to do character roles, or play heroine ka bhai or the villain’s henchman. And suddenly, I had a career, which I never thought was possible. Then I got a high with Raajneeti (2010) and the dialogue ‘Karara jawaab milega’. Also, during Satyameva Jayate (2018), people whistled and cheered on my entry,” Bajpayee tells us the morning after his films were screened at a packed theatre at IFFI.
Ask why he feels he hasn’t done many mainstream films and the actor says the medium has never been a concern for him and all he’s cared for is good work. “In cinema, while I was dabbling in different genres, I just wanted to push and promote independent cinema and independent directors who I wanted to work with. And to do that, I needed that power for myself. So, I did a few mainstream films, got the power and then used it for my own independent films, which were quite a lot as I was enjoying my stint in independent films,” the 54-year-old says.
He adds, “I was looking for the directors because I realised that it was nearly impossible for any independent director to approach me. Also, it was evident that the mainstream people didn’t have a solid thing for me. They didn’t know what to do with Manoj Bajpayee. All they could think of me doing was [playing] a villain and that I never wanted to do. Such characters never excited me.”
And thanks to OTT, Bajpayee, who gave a masterclass on Crafting compelling web series for OTT at IFFI, witnessed an influx of diverse and experimental roles, which gave a new direction to his career. Saying that the web space empowered him, he adds, “It came at a time when the pandemic was at its peak and people were inside their houses. So, they got a chance to explore it deeply. Also, with streaming coming in, the choices became way too many [for actors]. And to my luck, The Family Man happened, which changed OTT’s demography. It empowered me. OTT was a turning point for me and many other talents.”
Making the chat with us more interesting, actor Manoj Bajpayee, who’s at the ongoing 54th International Film Festival in Goa for the screening of his films, talks about his upcoming theatrical release, Joram. He doesn’t mince his words, acknowledging that while most filmmakers would think “it’s apt for a digital release” due to the subject, the studio backing the film didn’t hesitate before taking it to the theatres, followed by OTT.
“It shows that makers now have a lot of confidence in Manoj Bajpayee and his talent. And I feel that confidence comes from what I’ve done in these four years. We (actors and filmmakers) have used the OTT medium very well to our advantage, helping expand the fan base and get the audience to watch the content they want,” he says, adding that going forward, his career is going to be a fine blend of OTT and theatrical releases.
“I’m not going to differentiate between them. The box office never bothered me in the past; it still doesn’t. It’s always about the content and the quality of the product that I am part of. This is where the buck stops [for me] because only [a project] that nobody knows how to do would get me excited [for the part]. The numbers will never decide how good the film is, and that will never change for me. My love story with the cinema will be whether it is on OTT or in theatres; it doesn’t matter,” ends the actor, who will be seen in the action-drama Bhaiyaaji next year.
On OTT, if four or five people are watching the content, it only counts as one view-Manoj Bajpayee
9:18 AM
While theatrical success is measured only by tickets sold, it’s not the same on OTT, says Manoj Bajpayee as he discusses the impact of OTT on content and on actors like him
Niharika Lal (BOMBAY TIMES; June 24, 2023)
What Manoj Bajpayee – who has played a lawyer in his latest film, a spy in a web series and a sensitive son in a recent OTT film – likes about OTT is that actors like him are getting their fair share of appreciation and space in the entertainment industry. While all his shows and films on OTT consistently rank high on various lists, Manoj says he doesn’t believe in ratings. In a recent conversation, he shared with us why he thinks the top 10 categorization is a false benchmark to judge content on OTT, and how streaming is only evolving for the better.
‘ON OTT, EVEN FOUR-FIVE PEOPLE WATCHING COUNTS AS ONE VIEW’
Manoj says that the feedback he received for his recent release Gulmohar was that families were making plans to watch the film together. He says, “It is a big deal. If they are saying that Gulmohar garnered 10 million views in the first week, that is fine, but how many people were actually watching it? That way, Gulmohar is very different. If you are saying 10 million, then I would say double it or triple it because most of the time people have seen it with family members. So if you go by that, Gulmohar today is the most watched film on OTT. If you are going to watch a film in a cinema hall and three people are going, you will buy three movie tickets, but on OTT, if four or five people are watching the content, it only counts as one view.”
‘WHAT PEOPLE LIKE ON OTT IS DIFFERENT FROM THEATRICAL FILMS’
Manoj says, “The parameters of success of a project on OTT and theatres are entirely different. While for theatres it is the number of tickets sold, for OTT it should be genuine likes and praises,” adding, “The OTT business is very different, and what people like on OTT and what they don’t like are very different from films. In theatres, they can make something about metaverse, and suddenly these films are earning thousands of crores, but that doesn’t mean everyone has gone and watched it. And even if they have gone to theatres, it doesn’t mean that they liked it.”
‘OTT IS A WRITER’S MEDIUM FIRST, THEN THE ACTOR’S’
In the last few years, OTT has given space to good actors to shine in a country where only stars ruled supreme. Explaining how OTT has democratized the entertainment scene, Manoj says, “It has happened because of the digital revolution worldwide. US and India both have really lapped it up and used it beautifully. It has only empowered real talents from all departments of filmmaking – be it editors, cinematographers, music directors or writers. If you ask me, it is a writer’s medium first and then the actor’s medium, which is such a beautiful thing that writers are being chased today.”
‘I DON’T BELIEVE IN ‘TOP’ OTT SHOWS AND FILMS RANKINGS’
Manoj shares, “Some online surveys and agencies that say that Manoj shares, “Some online surveys and agencies that say that these are the ‘top’ OTT shows or films I don’t believe in them. these are the ‘top’ OTT shows or films I don’t believe in them. OTT platforms don’t share any such stats. The rankings of most OTT platforms don’t share any such stats. The rankings of most watched content within a platform can still be accurate but not watched content within a platform can still be accurate but not the rankings across multiple platforms. This to me feels like an the rankings across multiple platforms. This to me feels like an attempt to change the democratic nature of OTT content and attempt to change the democratic nature of OTT content and make it also like box office numbers.”
‘THE DIGITAL REVOLUTION ISEVOLVING EVERY DAY’
Manoj, who feels that the global reach of OTT will benefit Indian talent, says, “One thing that I see is that the digital revolution is something that has not paused (even after cinemas reopened). It is changing, evolving every day. With it, entertainment will evolve and ways of telling stories will evolve. There are good times ahead for all the people who are working in the industry – global opportunities and more availability of content. The ways of telling stories will also change.”
Ayushmann Khurrana, Manoj Bajpayee, Hansal Mehta raise thought-provoking points at FICCI Frames
3:52 PM
The rise of Hindi films and emerging trends in storytelling were in focus on Day 1 of FICCI Frames
Rishabh Suri (HINDUSTAN TIMES; May 5, 2023)
Local stories and the changing face of entertainment through OTT — the opening day of FICCI Frames 2023, being held in Mumbai, was all this and more. It kicked off with a fireside chat with actor Ayushmann Khurrana, who was happy and surprised with India bagging an Oscar for the documentary The Elephant Whisperers.
“Ten years ago, I went to a wildlife sanctuary at the tri-junction of Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu, and witnessed first-hand the relationship between man and animal. I never thought that in 2023, that relationship would be spoken of worldwide and give us an Oscar. The more local we go, the more global we reach. Our film industry is at the cusp of global greatness,” Khurrana said, adding that he never imagined his choice of quirky, socially relevant subjects will come to be called ‘the Ayushmann genre’.
THE FILMMAKERS ASSEMBLE
It was a fascinating conversation between four auteurs of Hindi cinema: Hansal Mehta, Sriram Raghavan, Abhishek Chaubey and Sudhir Mishra. Mehta started off with recalling his beginnings as a filmmaker and how he continues to “find myself through the stories that I try to tell”, before going on to dismiss the notion that Bollywood exists as a single entity. “Bollywood does not exist. What exists is respect for each other and each other’s work. There is a desire to share what you have done with each other. You support and appreciate each other’s work and using that to propel your work forward,” he said.
Chaubey, on the other hand, was not too happy about box-office collections being the sole measure of a film’s success. “Over the years, it has gotten even worse. This obsession with weekend numbers is unnatural... So, I think this revolution that has happened through OTT has happened in good time,” Chaubey shared.
MANOJ BAJPAYEE’S REQUEST
In attendance with Gulmohar director Rahul V Chittella and his co-actor from the film, Utsavi Jha, Bajpayee asked the audience if they had seen the film yet. When not many hands went up, the actor quipped, “Theatres mein aati hain films, aap nahin jaate. Ab OTT pe aa rahi hain, tab bhi nahin dekhte!” On the power of content, he added, “After watching Gulmohar, my daughter went to the bathroom and howled. She washed her face, came out, and then told me that the dadi in the film (played by Sharmila Tagore) reminded her of her nani, who had passed away last year. That is the impact.”
(L-R) Abhishek Chaubey, Sudhir Mishra, Hansal Mehta and Sriram Raghavan PHOTOS: RISHABH SURI/HT
50 Years of Daag: Yash Chopra was a live wire and always full of Punjabi endearments-Sharmila Tagore
8:10 AM
As Daag completes 50 years today, leading lady Sharmila says it was a ‘compliment’ to front film that laid the foundation for Chopra’s banner
Upala KBR (MID-DAY; April 27, 2023)
It’s hard to pick a favourite film when you have a filmography as rich as Sharmila Tagore’s. But to the veteran actor, the late Yash Chopra’s Daag: A Poem of Love is among the movies closest to her heart. As the romantic drama, also starring Rajesh Khanna and Rakhee, completes 50 years today, Tagore says it was a joy to be a part of the movie that laid the foundation for Yash Raj Films.
“I saw it as a great compliment to be a part of Yash’s first venture as a producer. Fifty years since, Daag and its songs remain so popular. Recently, Manoj Bajpayee [during the shoot of Gulmohar] was constantly singing Jab Bhi Jee Chahe,” she laughs.
With the 1973 drama, Chopra stepped away from his signature romantic movies to explore the theme of bigamy. Regardless of the brave theme being explored on screen, the mood on the set was always vibrant, remembers Tagore. “Working on Daag, or even Waqt [1965], was a wonderful experience. As a director, Yash was a live wire and always full of Punjabi endearments.”
In a Yash Chopra movie, one could always be assured of stunning locations. But the senior actor jokes that the behind-the-scenes action of Daag wasn’t always pretty.
Recollecting an incident, she says, “In Shimla, which was snow-covered, I had to walk to the set. I was ready in costume, hair and make-up, and had barely walked five steps when a bunch of girls started hitting me with snowballs. I tried explaining to them [that it was ruining my outfit], but they were happy playing. I threw some snowballs at them too. But I had to change at the location because I was drenched.”
The film reunited her with Khanna after their hits Aradhana (1969) and Amar Prem (1972). She remembers, “Kaka looked gorgeous in his mustachioed avatar in the film.”
I have stepped out of that zone where I’d think about how much business my film has done-Sharmila Tagore
8:31 AM
Following up Gulmohar with adventure drama Outhouse, Sharmila Tagore on going beyond roles of the family matriarch and feeling liberated as an actor
Upala KBR (MID-DAY; March 28, 2023)
Gulmohar was one of those well-rounded Hindi films that boasted of several sterling qualities, from mature performances to competent direction. But to many ardent fans, the biggest highlight of Rahul V Chittella’s directorial offering was seeing Sharmila Tagore back on the screen after over 12 years. Fortunately, we’ll be seeing more of the veteran actor in the coming months. Tagore has wrapped up the shoot of Outhouse, an adventure drama that sees her as a grandmother who joins her grandson in his search for his dog.
Tell her the premise sounds charming, and Tagore says National Award-winning director Sunil Sukthankar’s film has a big heart. “Outhouse also stars my dear friend, Mohan Agashe. All of us loved the script, and made it on a shoestring budget, shooting in a start-to-finish schedule in Pune. It’s an independent film that [at the moment] doesn’t have any OTT backing, so I don’t know what its fate will be. But I have no doubt that it will be liked by people, if and when it is released,” smiles the senior actor.
In the slice-of-life movie, she plays a graphic designer who, on an occasion, has to babysit her grandson. “Unknown to her, the grandson also has a dog. In the morning when they wake up, the dog is missing, and that’s how their [adventure] begins.”
With the Hindi film industry telling unheard stories, now is fortunately a good time for female actors as well as senior artistes. Tagore agrees, noting that she is cherry-picking projects and ensuring that she goes beyond the roles of a family matriarch. She is looking forward to playing complex parts.
“I am open to playing a grey role. I have stepped out of [that zone] where I’d think about how much business my film has done, compare [myself] to others, or feel the insecurity that comes with a film not doing well. All that angst is behind me. I almost feel like a newcomer now.”
Today, she is doing movies only for her love for the craft. “I don’t have any of that competitiveness in me. God has been kind. With humility, I can say today that I don’t need the money because my needs are not complex. I don’t need fancy cars, houses, or even shoes because I cannot wear high heels. Maybe I have distanced myself [from such needs] because I have so many other things happening in my life that I don’t consider myself only an actor.”
We’ve hardly portrayed the strength of a homemaker on screen-Simran
8:46 AM
Subha J Rao (HINDUSTAN TIMES; March 25, 2023)
It has opened to rave reviews, but the other thing that Gulmohar is drawing viewers across sections of the audience with, are the characters of its leading ladies, Kusum and Indu. If the former, played by Sharmila Tagore, is all things grace — the latter, essayed by Simran, is the picture of tenderness and tenacity. With her compelling turn in the family drama, the actor, who’s a household name in Tamil and Telugu films, seems to have finally got nationwide recognition.
Ever since she first sat down for a narration with Gulmohar director Rahul V Chittella three years ago, she has had her heart set on the character. At 47, “having experienced life to an extent”, she felt confident of bringing the necessary gravitas to Indu Batra. She notes, “We’ve hardly portrayed the strength of a homemaker on screen. Indu is one such woman. She gives strength to every person in her life, and has the experience of a lifetime.”
Having said that, the actor — who burst upon the Hindi scene with Tere Mere Sapne (1996) — took on roles that called for maturity even very early on in her career. “When you play certain roles in life, they spill over to performances too. There are some roles you research for. Some are a reflection of your own life. I’ve been very choosy about my work — it has to fit in with my personal life and schedule… I was lucky to work with directors who wrote [female] characters well.”
Like for Indu, family comes first for Simran, who has lived and worked in Mumbai, Delhi and Chennai. Until recently, her sons travelled with her when she was working. The actor believes that having to shift schools and cities has given them a “solid education on life”.
Fame still sits lightly on her — a lesson she says she learnt early on. “In my head, fame equals hard work. The love that you get, that’s for the work you put in… It’s easier when you’re yourself off screen and not a version of what people expect you to be,” she signs off.
To make people watch the film... that’s a very hard job-Manoj Bajpayee
8:23 AM
Manoj Bajpayee feels that his job is not just to act but to promote his films; who shows up in support is not in his hands
Rishabh Suri (HINDUSTAN TIMES; March 23, 2023)
Manoj Bajpayee has had two reasons to celebrate recently: his latest web film Gulmohar, in which he features alongside actor Sharmila Tagore, has been well received by audiences and critics, and he has been awarded an honorary doctorate by a university. However, he remains humble and doesn’t feel deserving of the title “doctor”. As he puts it, “I don’t have the courage to use the word doctor before my name; it is given to those who have devoted their lives to studying. But, I accept it with humility.”
As for Gulmohar, the actor is happy that appreciation has come from all quarters. For Bajpayee, a job well done is half the battle won, and then comes taking the film to the people. “I had called so many people [from the industry] to show Gulmohar, but several of them did not turn up. I didn’t feel bad. I just told myself that I have done my job; I am putting in my best efforts to promote it and create awareness about it. To make people watch the film... that’s a very hard job. [I feel that] one’s job is not [limited] to just giving interviews. It also about strategizing and being the frontrunner of the project [to create more buzz around it],” says the 53-year-old.
When prodded further about people not showing up for his film’s screening and asked him if it affected him at all, and Bajpayee replies, “In the industry, some people are busy; some don’t like watching films at a private screening; and some don’t think it’s significant to show up. People have their own reasons. I don’t mind it. At the end of the day, you can send out an invitation, and it can be met with different intentions. And it is not my job to understand it (the intentions).”
But he appreciates those who go out of their way to show support and solidarity, such as actor Arjun Kapoor, who sent his sister as a representative to watch the film when he couldn’t attend himself. “Arjun sent his sister Anshula (Kapoor, entrepreneur)... This is what it tells you about the character of that person. I will never forget this gesture. These things look small, but they tell so much about people. I want this industry to be that warm and of that nature. I thank everyone who showed up on my invitation; they promoted the film on their own,” ends the actor.
On Bastille Day in Paris, Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi asked me to marry him-Sharmila Tagore
8:27 AM
On The Kapil Sharma Show, veteran actor Sharmila Tagore recounts her love story with Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi and the dreamy proposal in Paris
Upala KBR (MID-DAY; March 12, 2023)
Sharmila Tagore and the late Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi’s love story is straight out of a fairytale. The senior actor recently opened up on her four-year courtship and decades-long marriage with the cricketer, as she shot for an episode of The Kapil Sharma Show. Tagore, who was joined by her Gulmohar co-star Manoj Bajpayee on the episode, took a walk down memory lane, reliving how she met Pataudi through a common friend.
The veteran actor recounted that she was an ardent cricket fan. She shared, “My parents were mad about cricket, and Kolkata has a craze for all kinds of sports. I remember we would stand in a queue and cheer for the cricketers; I was [M L] Jaisimha’s fan. It was around that time that I met Nawab ji. At the time, he had recently returned to India and his English was difficult to understand as he had a pure British accent. His sense of humour was also unique. I wouldn’t say it was love at first sight, but I always felt that he would never hurt me. I felt I could trust him, and that is where love blossomed between us.”
Many dream of having the perfect proposal in Paris. Tagore considers herself lucky that she experienced it. When one of the hosts, Archana Puran Singh, asked her how Pataudi popped the question, she replied, “We were in Paris, and it was Bastille Day when the entire city was on the streets celebrating their independence. He went down on one knee, and asked, ‘Will you marry me?’ Since it was very loud, I couldn’t hear him. So, he asked again loudly, and I said ‘Yes!’”
On the comedy show, Tagore and Bajpayee were joined by other cast members of Gulmohar. When host Kapil Sharma asked Bajpayee about his experience of working with the veteran actor, he admitted that it was a dream come true.
“I still can’t believe that I have worked with Sharmila Tagore. After the reading for the film was done, the workshop conducted by me was about to begin. We all expected Sharmila Tagore ji would leave, but she didn’t. Despite the workshops not being intended for her, she wholeheartedly participated in all the exercises. She was incredibly supportive during the film’s making.”
Sharmila Tagore told me, 'Treat me as your dadi and you’ll feel comfortable'-Utsavi Jha
8:30 AM
Indie singer Utsavi Jha, who plays Manoj Bajpayee’s daughter in Gulmohar, on how her music background helped her bag debut film
Upala KBR (MID-DAY; March 8, 2023)
Acting was never in the scheme of things for Utsavi Jha, who plays Manoj Bajpayee’s younger daughter Amrita in Gulmohar. The singer-actor was the lifestyle editor of a popular tech-lifestyle magazine, before music tugged at her heart.
“Singing happened to me midway through my first job. After leaving the job, I started my YouTube channel and released original music in 2020,” begins Jha. At the time, she had no idea that it would lead her to the world of acting.
In the Sharmila Tagore and Bajpayee-led family drama, Jha’s character is a budding singer. “My director Rahul Chittella wanted a singer-songwriter for the role. After I was approached, I went through almost five-six rounds of audition before they finalized me,” says Jha, who lent her voice to Woh ghar in the film.
While facing the camera was a challenge in itself for the debutant actor, playing a character from the LGBTQiA+ community was a bigger responsibility. “I was scared about not being able to do justice to the part. There was a fear of appearing inauthentic, or seeming preachy. I wanted my portrayal to be honest. I tried feeling every emotion that Amrita experienced, and empathized with her.”
Sharing screen space with Tagore has been a cherished experience for her. “On my first day of shooting with her, I told Sharmila ma’am that I was nervous about acting alongside her. She said, ‘We are all on the same level here, and collectively working towards [realizing] the director’s vision. Treat me as your dadi and you’ll feel comfortable.’ She was such a warm presence.”
Sharmila Tagore said I am natural on screen and that I should act more-Talat Aziz
8:27 AM
Musician on juggling duties as singer and actor in Sharmila Tagore-starrer, Gulmohar
Uma Ramasubramanian (MID-DAY; March 5, 2023)
The March 3 release, Gulmohar, sees Talat Aziz take on dual duties as singer and actor for the Disney+ Hotstar movie. Aziz says, “I have been part of roles that are serious, dramatic and also comic. So, I am comfortable. I am not there because I am a singer or something, with good actors, I can come out and do some decent work. I can balance both worlds. I [conduct] my classes, and travel too. Sometimes, I must juggle some dates, but it’s not a big deal.”
Aziz plays a family friend of the protagonists, and says his character is the “Sutradhar” of sorts. “The film opens with my song, Dilkash. Sharmila [Tagore, cast-member] appreciated my song, and liked my role. She called me after watching the film and said that I am a natural on screen, and I should do more work in front of the camera. She is a seasoned actor, and this is also her comeback film, so her words are special to me. She is a graceful, and classy woman. We shot it in Delhi. It was a breeze working with this cast.”
(Crisp) Movie Review: GULMOHAR by FENIL SETA
10:38 AM
Gulmohar, which was released yesterday on Disney+ Hotstar, tells the story of a family and their trials and tribulations days before moving out of their beloved house. The treatment and certain situations remind one of Kapoor & Sons and also Monsoon Wedding. There are multiple tracks and at certain places, director Rahul V Chittella has seamlessly moved from one track to another. Some emotional and confrontational moments stand out, more so in the second half, and the film ends on a fine note. On the flipside, the film never really goes on a high or makes eyes moist, though some scenes had potential. A few developments raise questions. The music is poor and moreover, there are far too many characters and it takes time to process and understand who is related to whom. The film, in fact, could have done away with certain characters and it would have still made sense. Speaking of performances, Manoj Bajpayee takes the cake. He’s playing a character older than his real age but he shines. Sharmila Tagore is graceful and a pleasure to see her on screen after ages. Simran leaves a huge mark. Suraj Sharma plays his part with ease. Anuraag Arora is adorable while Amol Palekar steals the show. The same goes for Chandan Roy (Param; of Panchayat fame). Jatin Goswami (Jeetendra Kumar), Santhy (Reshma) and Gandharv Dewan (Irfan) do well. The other actors who deliver fine performances are Kaveri Seth (Divya Batra), Utsavi Jha (Amrita Batra), Talat Aziz (Avinash) and Nargis Nandal (Payal). All in all, Gulmohar is a clean, niche urban entertainer and worth a watch.
My rating - *** out of 5!
My rating - *** out of 5!
I told Manoj Bajpayee that he’d play a 55-year-old father. He didn’t see it as a deterrent-Rahul V Chittella
8:46 AM
Making his feature debut with Gulmohar, director Chittella says Bajpayee and Tagore came on board as soon as they read the script
Hiren Kotwani (MID-DAY; March 3, 2023)
In 2017, after Rahul V Chittella’s maiden short film Azaad was screened by the UNESCO, a deeply impressed Manoj Bajpayee promised to work in his debut feature film. Almost six years later, it has resulted in Gulmohar. It’s easy to gauge that the drama — starring Sharmila Tagore, Bajpayee, Simran and Suraj Sharma — isn’t your run-of-the-mill Bollywood fare. That has much to do with Chittella’s cinematic sensibilities that have been shaped by working on Mira Nair’s The Reluctant Fundamentalist (2012) and A Suitable Boy (2020).
As he developed the story, he could only envision Tagore and Bajpayee in the central roles. He knew that bringing the veteran actor out of her 12-year hiatus wouldn’t be easy. So, co-writer Arpita Mukherjee and he made the character as close to Tagore as possible, by listening to her old interviews.
“The idea was to know how Sharmila ji is in real life, and incorporate that in the writing. It took her three days to read the script and call me to say she was on board. After that, I went to Manoj ji. After he read the script, his first reaction was, ‘When do you want to shoot it?’”
The director couldn’t believe his luck. “I reiterated that it was an ensemble film, and that he’d play a 55-year-old father. Manoj ji [didn’t see it as a deterrent].”
As Gulmohar drops on Disney+ Hotstar, the filmmaker is curious about his next step. Though he is a “Bombay boy” at heart, he is not entirely familiar with Bollywood. “People still don’t know that I live in Mumbai. So, I guess it will take a while [to land projects]. I am doing a show, and a film. Also, I hope my wife throws me another challenge,” he smiles.
Fenil's Bollywood Talk # 767
2:36 PM
SELFIEE’S DEBACLE PUTS THE INDUSTRY INTO TRAUMA
The year 2023 began on a very rocking note with the blockbuster success of Shah Rukh Khan’s Pathaan. It was expected that the momentum would continue and that the industry would also deliver a few hits in the month of February. Unfortunately, that didn’t happen. Shehzada, starring Kartik Aaryan, opened on a poor note and is expected to end its lifetime with around Rs. 32 crores. However, the bigger blow was delivered by Selfiee, starring Akshay Kumar and Emraan Hashmi. The film always seemed a bit unexciting. Yet, the hope was that it’ll open in the range of Shehzada, that is, around Rs. 5.75 crores.
The advance booking of Selfiee opened very late and with very few tickets sold, one expected that Selfiee will open poorly. But still, the hope was that it’ll get spot bookings. That, however, didn’t happen the way it was intended to. Selfiee opened at a shocking Rs. 2.60 crores. It didn’t grow over the weekend as the word of mouth was not extraordinary. And on Monday, it dropped to around Rs. 1.15 crores. Its first week collections are expected to be around Rs. 14 crores and it won’t even be able to cross the Rs. 20 crores mark.
On top of it, there’s no major release this week. A small film, InCar, is being released in Hindi as well as Southern languages but it carries negligible buzz and awareness. The Hollywood film, Creed III, will get better footfalls. On OTT, Gulmohar, starring Manoj Bajpayee and Sharmila Tagore, will probably make the maximum noise on social media this week. It premieres tomorrow on Disney+ Hotstar.
With few films finding takers in theatres, several multiplexes will keep some screens shut from tomorrow. All eyes are now on Tu Jhoothi Main Makkaar, starring Ranbir Kapoor and Shraddha Kapoor. It releases on Wednesday, March 8 and is expected to end this dry period in Bollywood.
The year 2023 began on a very rocking note with the blockbuster success of Shah Rukh Khan’s Pathaan. It was expected that the momentum would continue and that the industry would also deliver a few hits in the month of February. Unfortunately, that didn’t happen. Shehzada, starring Kartik Aaryan, opened on a poor note and is expected to end its lifetime with around Rs. 32 crores. However, the bigger blow was delivered by Selfiee, starring Akshay Kumar and Emraan Hashmi. The film always seemed a bit unexciting. Yet, the hope was that it’ll open in the range of Shehzada, that is, around Rs. 5.75 crores.
The advance booking of Selfiee opened very late and with very few tickets sold, one expected that Selfiee will open poorly. But still, the hope was that it’ll get spot bookings. That, however, didn’t happen the way it was intended to. Selfiee opened at a shocking Rs. 2.60 crores. It didn’t grow over the weekend as the word of mouth was not extraordinary. And on Monday, it dropped to around Rs. 1.15 crores. Its first week collections are expected to be around Rs. 14 crores and it won’t even be able to cross the Rs. 20 crores mark.
On top of it, there’s no major release this week. A small film, InCar, is being released in Hindi as well as Southern languages but it carries negligible buzz and awareness. The Hollywood film, Creed III, will get better footfalls. On OTT, Gulmohar, starring Manoj Bajpayee and Sharmila Tagore, will probably make the maximum noise on social media this week. It premieres tomorrow on Disney+ Hotstar.
With few films finding takers in theatres, several multiplexes will keep some screens shut from tomorrow. All eyes are now on Tu Jhoothi Main Makkaar, starring Ranbir Kapoor and Shraddha Kapoor. It releases on Wednesday, March 8 and is expected to end this dry period in Bollywood.
I remember there were no vanity vans until Amitabh Bachchan got the first one-Sharmila Tagore
8:18 AM
As she makes her OTT debut with Gulmohar, Sharmila Tagore on identifying with her spirited character, and her family’s reaction to the movie
Upala KBR (MID-DAY; March 1, 2023)
There is always something new to try your hand at, even after 60 years in the acting business. Sharmila Tagore will vouch for it. The veteran actor, who was last seen on screen in Break Ke Baad (2010), is making her OTT debut this week with Gulmohar. From shooting in the ’60s without vanity vans, to headlining an OTT project in the present day, Tagore has witnessed a sea change in showbiz.
“I remember there were no vanity vans until Amitabh [Bachchan] got the first one. Now, it has become so much more comfortable to work in films, and OTT is even more organized. Everybody is punctual. While shooting for Gulmohar, everything was spot-on — from the first shot, to the outfits, to the time you pack up,” she marvels.
Gulmohar sees Tagore as the Batra family’s matriarch, with Manoj Bajpayee playing her son, and Suraj Sharma, her grandson. In Rahul Chittella’s directorial venture, she got not only a powerful script, but also a spirited character.
“Kusum is independent, has clarity of vision, and is a senior who leaves the door open for the younger people to reach out to her. While she loves her family, she is clear about what she wants to do, and has no guilt [about pursuing it],” says the actor, admitting that she shares many similarities with her on-screen persona. She praises Chittella for making a film that goes beyond a family drama.
“It is a story of three generations, and our [different] points of view. Every character is well-rounded. It’s up to the viewer to get the [subtext] as each line says something. I have seen it three times, and found it faultless. I am openly asking my friends to come and watch it,” she laughs.
So, has her family watched it? “Saif [Ali Khan] is yet to watch it as he is shooting in Amritsar. Kareena [Kapoor Khan] saw it last night. Soha, Saba and Sara have loved it. The movie speaks to different generations — from Sara’s to mine.”
Going forward, the actor, 78, is aware that she might not get scripts as brilliant as Gulmohar. Tell her it’s not easy to get her nod for a project, and she says it’s imperative to be selective. “[I am so] because at this stage, I don’t want to do anything I might regret later. When you are young, you make many mistakes, but you have time to make up for them. But when you reach a certain age, you cannot be foolish in your choices because there are expectations and goodwill [attached to you]. Unless you are sure about the character, there is no point in doing a project.”
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)