Reza Noorani (BOMBAY TIMES; October 12, 2018)

National Award-winning filmmaker Pradeep Sarkar is a master when it comes to crafting stories around relationships. In his latest film Helicopter Eela, he explores the bond between a mother and son in today’s time, but he is not about to bore you with a heavy film — he touches upon the concept of helicopter parenting, with a dose of humour. In a freewheeling chat with BT, the director talks about how his relationship with his parents was not as cool as the one he now shares with his own kids and much more. Excerpts...

You have already made a mark in ad films, but the world of movies is different. So, what is it that draws you to it — the one factor that compels you to make a film?
Some idea or the other is always cooking up in my head, be it a story or its subsequent execution. The process is always on, you cannot stop that. It’s a primal instinct. So, you search for stories and judge whether they deserve to be told or not. Sometimes, you realise that you don’t want to tell a story. There are times when you overanalyse a story and there’s trouble then. But sometimes, it sticks. Eela stuck. I want to be 100 per cent sure before I make a movie. With Eela, it took a lot of time, energy and writing to come up with the first draft. And then, there were surprises which we had to incorporate, and I like surprises. Also, when you’re working with a person like Kajol, you can expect some surprises. Her spontaneity is incredible; you can’t help but use that. So, it is best to follow that and use it to make the film better. In fact, I allow every actor on my sets to surprise me with their spontaneity.

You are known for films that delve into human relationships, while Bollywood is still thriving on formulaic films, packed with death-defying stunts and item numbers. In such a scenario, how difficult has it been for you to find your space in the industry?
Who said I would not include an item number in my film? I’d love to do that. In fact, the Ruk Ruk remake (in Helicopter Eela) is in the same vein. However, I don’t look at it as an item number, I look at it as fun. When I heard the song, I was like, ‘Gosh, I have to be a part of this’. In fact, the ‘So Sexy’ voice in the song is my own. I told Raghav (Sachar, composer) to somehow make me a part of the track. I am open to all things. After all, we don’t have much time, so it’s best to enjoy as much as we can.

Helicopter Eela revolves around the concept of helicopter parenting, where a mother fails to draw the line between being protective and intrusive. Having said that, while parents were stricter in previous generations, today, many are more like friends with their children. Do you also think that the parent-child relationship has evolved over the years?
Mothers are mothers, their love won’t change. However modern you become, you will still need her shadow. But yes, I agree that the parent-child relationship has evolved now. They have become friends with their kids, rather than just being parents. Gone are the days when a parent can say, ‘I am the authority.’ If you are like that, there will never be any understanding between you and your kids. It was like that between me and my parents. I never knew my dad properly. On his deathbed, I cried like a maniac, and that’s the first time I hugged him. I was crying, because I realised how much closer we could have been. Today, there is more bonding and mutual understanding. Recently, I went for a drive with my son and he was at the wheel. I was on the edge in the beginning, but later on, I relaxed. The acceptance that he has grown up and that I should take it easy is important. The happiness this kind of parenting gives you is unimaginable. Earlier, people would die without knowing what their kids or parents want. Now, when kids and parents miss each other, they are vocal about it. My daughter, who studies in the US, speaks with me now more than ever, because she misses me and I miss her, too. It is such a fantastic feeling. Our relationships are emotionally rich now.

In a lighter vein, as the trailer of your film shows, mothers are still obsessive about packing your food dabba. That doesn’t seem to have evolved...
Yes, that will never change and it should not. My daughter called my wife the other day and said, ‘Ma, can you please send me some samosas?’ My wife was like, ‘Go away!’ So, the dabba is an assurance that your mom is with you. It is not just about the food; a lot of love goes into it. And if food does not have any love in it, then it’s a complete waste. There is no taste then.

Helicopter Eela is a silly and nonsensical film and it’s shocking how this film got approved in the first place. Director Pradeep Sarkar has given underwhelming films in the past but with this flick, he reaches a new low. Just about anything happens in the film – people walk out of their loved ones’s life at random, an otherwise well-mannered college student shockingly scolds his principal etc. The first half is haphazard and the kind of developments that happen will leave you shocked. In the second half, a few scenes here and there are funny and touching but the absurdities also continue simultaneously. The climax fails to pack a punch as well. Kajol does fine and looks great but in a few scenes, she goes over the top needlessly. Riddhi Sen, also a National Award winning actor, is an actor to watch out for. The film disappoints but he won’t! Neha Dhupia is decent in the supporting role while Tota Roy Chowdhury is laughable. Zakir Hussain, Rashi Mal and Chirag Malhotra are quite nice. All in all, avoid this helicopter ride at all costs!

My rating - ** out of 5!

SCARY FRIDAY AS 4 FILMS TO RELEASE TOMORROW!

It’s going to be a chaotic and frightening Friday as 4 medium-budget films will try their luck at the box office. None of the films look that exciting and can have poor openings. Thankfully, AndhaDhun, released last week, is doing exceptionally well at the box office and it’ll save the day to an extent. My analysis:

HELICOPTER EELA: It stars Kajol and National Award Bengali actor Riddhi Sen. It is based on the Gujarati play Beta Kaagdo, written by Anand Gandhi. Pradeep Sarkar directs this light-hearted flick while Ajay Devgn has produced it. The trailer is sweet and funny but doesn’t give viewers a high. It was to release in September but it was postponed in August when Pradeep Sarkar was hospitalized. The songs haven’t worked, including the remix of Ruk Ruk Ruk. The opening is expected to be in the Rs. 1-2 crore range and a positive word of mouth might help the film reach the Rs. 25 crore mark.

JALEBI: It is produced by Mahesh Bhatt and it’s the first film of Vishesh Films after more than a year. A remake of Bengali film Praktan, it stars Rhea Chakraborty, Varun Mitra and Digangana Suryavanshi. It also marks the directorial debut of Pushpdeep Bhardwaj. The film looks in big trouble as the trailer hasn’t worked at well. Bhatt’s films are known for its songs but in case of Jalebi, even the songs have failed to get notice. The opening is expected to be less than Rs. 1 crore and it seems all set to be a disaster.

TUMBBAD: This is a horror film and produced by Anand Gandhi, on whose play Helicopter Eela is based, incidentally. Anand Gandhi had earlier directed Ship Of Theseus which had Sohum Shah as actor and produdcer. Tummbad also has him as co-producer and also lead actor. The trailer is eye catching and it looks like a unconventional scarefest. The awareness however is negligible. But a good word of mouth can help the film get decent crowd in multiplexes of cities.

FRYDAY: It features Govinda, Varun Sharma and Digangana Suryavanshi in leading roles and is directed by Dolly Ki Doli director Abhishek Dogra. The film was to release in May initially but was postponed for certain reasons, one of them being that it was reshot a bit, as per inside news. The trailer is quite okay and doesn’t look that funny that would attract people to cinemas. This film, hence, would also have an opening of less than Rs. 1 crore.

WHICH FILM WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE AND WHY? DO LET ME KNOW!

Lasyapriya Sundaram (BOMBAY TIMES; October 10, 2018)

He is just 20, but has already bagged a National Award. Now, Riddhi Sen is all set to play the lead along with Kajol in Pradeep Sarkar’s Helicopter Eela, a film that revolves around the relationship between a mother and son. In a candid chat with BT, Riddhi talks about why he was eager to do Helicopter Eela, how winning the National Award (in the Best Actor category) last year, inspires him to do good work and how it was easy for him to slip into the role of a transgender in the Bengali film, Nagarkirtan. Excerpts…

You have acted in Hindi films earlier, but you are playing a prominent role for the first time in Helicopter Eela. Tell us about your journey of getting here.
Yes, I have acted in Hindi films like Kahaani, Parched and Bhoomi. I also did Children of War, which was Farooq Shaikh’s last film, but sadly, it didn’t get much recognition. I also featured in Chauranga that was produced by filmmaker Onir. In Helicopter Eela, I am playing the lead role.

Actors dream of getting an opportunity like Helicopter Eela and the credit goes to my director, Pradeep Sarkar. There are many actors waiting to land a role like the one I play in this film, but Pradeepda was confident about me essaying this role. Two years ago, I worked in a commercial with him in Kolkata and that's when he decided that I could pull off my role in the film. I didn’t have to audition a lot. In fact, I was cast in the film because my work in my earlier movies was appreciated. When Sujoy da (Ghosh) came to shoot in Kolkata for Kahaani, people from the Bengali film industry referred me to him. I thought I might have to audition for Helicopter Eela, but I didn’t have to.

Last year, you won a National Award in the Best Actor category at the age of 20 for the Bengali film Nagarkirtan. Having achieved that kind of recognition so early on in life, does it put pressure on you?
I have a long way to go. The fact that I won a National Award right at the start of my career scares me, because I have a lot to learn and explore. Today, thanks to the internet, I can familiarise myself with films which are being made all over the world and stay updated. More than being affected by people’s expectations, I want to live up to my own. I don’t feel the pressure to deliver because I have won a National Award. In fact, I have forgotten that chapter of my life. I have very high regard for the award, as well as for the jury who chose me, including Shekhar Kapur and I am extremely grateful for it. However, if I keep thinking about that achievement, I will not progress. I was the best, according to some people, but the next year somebody else’s performance will be lauded. In the next ten years, if I do good work then I can proudly say that I had won it.

The mother-son relationship that’s being portrayed in Helicopter Eela talks about how parents are overprotective and sometimes can also go overboard. Tell us about your relationship with your mother?
The film talks about what happens in most Indian homes. In the process of bringing up their children, parents don’t pay heed to their needs. They focus on only looking after the children and that is common in Indian society. Also, many parents feel that children should not have an opinion of their own. Some aspects of the relationship showcased between the mother and son in the film are similar to the bond that I share with my mother. Whatever I have achieved in life is because of her. Children observe their parents and I have seen my parents strike a balance between work and home. Both my parents are actors and they don’t have a nine-to-five job. However, that never affected my upbringing. They were there for me when I needed them and they also managed to work as well. My mother is my best friend and I have no inhibitions when it comes sharing my thoughts with her.

You have the experience of working in the Bengali, as well as the Hindi film industry. How different are they from each other?
The industries are different when it comes to the budgets of films. We have talented directors in Kolkata. If a Hindi film is shot in 50 days, a Bengali film has to be shot within 16 days. However, the end product is the same. The preparation before the shoot is immense. I played a transgender in Nagarkirtan for which I won the National Award. Usually, actors get close to six months to prepare for a role like this. The film was shot in 18 days. In the beginning, nobody was willing to produce a movie that revolved around a transgender. My director really rallied for the film. I had to prepare myself for the role much before the film went on floors. I knew the film will be made, but I didn’t know when it would go on floors, so I had to be ready to shoot at any given time. A low budget film shouldn’t look like one and that’s the trick the Bengali film industry has managed to pull off.

Was it important for you to do Nagarkirtan because it focusses on the love story of a transgender man? It’s a brave attempt and relevant to our times…
Aligarh is one of my favourite films. Nagarkirtan also addresses a similar concept. I am proud that the film’s director Kaushik Ganguly chose to narrate a tale that revolves around the love story of a transgender. I could play the role of a transgender with ease because of my upbringing. I grew up in a family of artistes. Also, I was part of theatre. I grew up surrounded by people like Aparna Sen, Soumitra Chatterjee and Rituparno Ghosh, who influenced me as far as my choice of roles was concerned. My upbringing helped in cultivating awareness on what happens. While growing up, my parents didn’t childproof conversations. They always gave an explanation. I watched my first ‘A’ rated film, Parzania, when I was seven years old. I was explained why the film was ‘A’ rated and also why a film with such a rating didn’t indicate that it was bad. By the time I was 19, I had an evolved understanding of gender. My parents also considered acting as a subject. In India, acting is not considered among subjects like Physics and Chemistry. But I hope things change some day.

Neha Maheshwri (BOMBAY TIMES; October 10, 2018)

Growing up, she was a diehard fan, who had posters of Kajol plastered on the walls of her room. Back then, little did Rashi Mal know that one day, she will get to share screen space with her favourite actress. The young actress will be seen with Kajol in the upcoming film, Helicopter Eela, in which she will play her son’s girlfriend, Nikita.

Rashi, who has been part of several TV shows and the yet-to-release film, Sir (it won an award at Cannes Film Festival this year), says that it was a dream come true to work with Kajol. “I had to pinch myself when my moment came to shoot with her. I told her that she hasn’t aged a day since Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge. She looked straight out of one of those posters I had in my room. I kept staring and smiling at her like a goofball,” she recalls.

About her experience of working with the senior actress, she shares, “I was nervous during my first scene with her. I didn’t want to fumble and somehow, she sensed it. Immediately, she started making me feel comfortable. She would also guide me and help me understand the camera angles better. We bonded over films, dark chocolate ice cream and taking Riddhi’s case.”

Rashi was spotted by director Pradeep Sarkar during an ad shoot, and she feels that the film will pave the path for her in mainstream cinema. “Working with renowned names helps. Since this is a mainstream film, I am sure that my work will get noticed, too. It’s a privilege to work with Pradeep sir. Even Riddhi, who has won a National Award, is level-headed and grounded. These people know what they are doing and they help bring out the best in you,” she signs off.

Director Pradeep Sarkar says multiple delays won't affect Helicopter Eela's box office chances
Sonil Dedhia (MID-DAY; October 8, 2018)

Kajol's Helicopter Eela has seen multiple changes in its release date. Initially scheduled to hit theatres on September 21, the Pradeep Sarkar-directed venture advanced its release to September 14 and subsequently, to September 7 to avoid clashing with other films. The family drama was again pushed by a month after the director was hospitalised for dengue.

Given that the first promo was unveiled in August, one wonders if the long-drawn wait may adversely impact the film's prospects at the box office. However, Sarkar is certain that his labour of love will be given a fair chance by the audience. "I don't think delaying Helicopter Eela has affected it at all. A good film will always perform well, and we are confident about our product."

"We had released our first promo before we had wrapped up the shoot, which is normal with any film. Unfortunately, I was hospitalised soon after. So we weren't completely ready, and showing a half-baked film would have been wrong on our part," says Sarkar, adding that producer Ajay Devgn was gracious enough to stand by his side through the delay.

The film, which sees Kajol returning to Bollywood after three years, revolves around the concept of helicopter parenting. Sarkar says he took inputs from his kids while making the film. "Since it's a youth-oriented film, I wanted to know their perspective. My kids would give me an honest feedback; they also guided me in getting the college lingo right."

Nayandeep Rakshit (DNA; October 6, 2018)

Kajol's next outing, Helicopter Eela, is less than a week away from hitting the screens. The film sees her in the protagonist’s role, which reflects the changing norm in Bollywood that doesn’t place the spotlight only on younger heroines anymore. Always known to be unabashed and unapologetic about her opinion, the actress tells us why she thinks this trend is beneficial for actresses of all ages. She also gives her take on the housewife vs working mother debate and explains how a supportive family can make the biggest difference. Over to her...

Last year, there was a debate when Mira Rajput said that she cannot be a working mother. What’s your take on it?
I think it’s a personal choice, as to when you feel ready to go back to work. I had a working mother (Tanuja) all through my life, but I don’t feel any less close to her or love her any lesser. It’s something that every woman faces and acts upon. Some choose to work while others don’t; your children would respect you equally, whether you are at home baking cookies or in office finishing assignments.

In the film, the mother gives up on her dreams. Do you have an unfulfilled desire of continuing to work?
Not really, because I have been really lucky in that respect. If I wanted to do something, I pretty much did it. My dream was to stay at home and take care of my kids and I did. When I wanted to work, I did. Yes, but I do want to travel to different places that I haven’t been able to. I want to take my children with me and I’ll make that happen as well. So, there are no desires that are unfulfilled, but there are a lot of wishes that I’ve to act upon.

Would you credit your supportive family for the same?
Yes, along with my husband Ajay (Devgn), I have my mother-in-law and mother to thank the most. My ma-in-law told me, ‘Beta, aap tension mat lo. Aap kaam pe jao. Hum hain na. Hum kis liye hain?’ Nobody put an obstacle in my way. Maybe because they also knew I’d probably overcome those hurdles. Nobody even tried, so I was lucky.

Roles being written for women today defy pre-conceived notions. Comment.
I think it’s a reflection of what our society is saying today. Films have always been and will be that. When you have a film like Wonder Woman doing so well, it’s because people now believe that a woman can also save the world. There’s a subtext in female-oriented films being made now. Suddenly, the society has started looking at the feminine gender in a different way. That’s why there have been such roles of late, whether a Tumhari Sulu (2017) or a Dum Laga Ke Haisha (2015). We’re accepting them. It’s not only a question of writing a film anymore; it’s about the movie being viewed by a wider audience and raking in money.

Do you think box-office numbers have given producers more confidence to make such films?
Absolutely! The audience has changed. They are willing to put their money where their mouth is. Finally, we have a much wider female audience that says, ‘I’ll watch it with all my girlfriends’. Maybe they didn’t have too many choices earlier. We are a service-based industry and make films for the audience. It’s not a home video meant for our personal collection.

Is there a change of perception towards married actresses as well?
We are talking about woman empowerment. Somewhere down the line, I believe we have to change the perspective we have of ourselves. Do you really believe that when you are married, everything is dead and over? If you believe that, then it will happen. We have had Meena Kumari, Saira Banu, Sharmila Tagore, my mother, Sridevi, Madhuri Dixit-Nene and Kareena Kapoor Khan, too, today. So this is a myth. It has nothing to do with whether women are married or not. It’s about the type of roles that change. Once you tie the knot, people just expect more from you, as a society. You have to take that into consideration when you are picking up a role or a film. And it’s not difficult.

That’s something you’ve done efficiently. Is there something you’d consciously stay away from?
I honestly don’t see myself doing three scenes and a song or a pointless film anymore. If I have to do just one scene, it has to be the most fantastic, amazing one ever. People should be left like, ‘Oh, my God!’ That’s what I will do. I did inconsequential stuff at one point. That was a conscious decision then. But not anymore, not in this space of things at least.

Do you think the digital revolution has also brought better projects for actors of all ages?
Most definitely. Earlier, if you joined films, there was nothing else you could do. You either succeeded at a spectacular rate or you failed miserably and couldn’t do anything with your life. With digital media, there are so many other productive things you can do rather than just being an actor. It’s given you that much security.

Are you open to doing a digital-only film or series?
I’d love to. I just want to act and not restrict myself to a particular medium. I’ve been offered web series and TV shows. But things haven’t worked out for different reasons. I hope it does at some point.

Roshni Olivera (BOMBAY TIMES; October 6, 2018)

She chose to tie the knot at 24 when she was at the peak of her career. She could have continued to be a part of the race even post that, but she preferred to focus on her family. That’s Kajol, who believes in setting her own benchmark when it comes to her life and career. And why not? It has worked superbly for her. Even after completing 25 years in Bollywood, she has the zest and enthusiasm of a newcomer. She takes her time to pick and choose just the kind of films that excite her. In a candid chat with BT, the actress speaks about her upcoming film Helicopter Eela, the relationship she shares with her kids and the lessons she has learnt from her mother Tanuja. Excerpts…

Your film was originally supposed to be titled Eela. How did it change to Helicopter Eela? Helicopter parenting is an American concept...
I don’t know about American parenting concept, but it’s definitely Indian parenting. It’s about overprotective parents, who are constantly hovering around their kids, asking them if they have eaten or not, what time they will be back from school etc. That’s just our way of parenting. Eela is probably a little more than that. But whatever she does, stems out of her love for her son.

How did this film come to you? Was Ajay (Devgn) looking for a good script to produce for you?
Nothing like that happened. Anand Gandhi and Mitesh Shah (writers) approached me saying that they had this script, which they wanted me to hear. When I heard it, I thought it was fabulous and fortunately for me, my husband also heard the script with me. He said, ‘If you like it so much, we will produce it.’ It’s one of those films that I instantly liked and said, ‘I am doing it. Nobody else is doing it!’ Eela is adventurously funny. The film has comedy and at the same time, it has a message. It’s about the relationship of a child with the mother, who’s a single parent. That kind of a relationship is deep and you know that it’s just the both of you against the whole world. You may fight with your mother and not like some of the things that she does, but if someone comes and says anything to her, you will be the first one to stand up for her. That’s exactly the relationship between Eela and her son.

In real life, has there been a time when your kids have complained about you being an overbearing mom?
Yes, of course, and I don’t think I would be a good enough parent if I wasn’t overbearing and overprotective at times. Putting it in the nicest way possible, you can’t always look at it from a child’s point of view. When you are in a parent’s seat, you have enormous responsibility on your shoulders and this is something you can’t fail at. You can fail at a lot of things in life, probably even things like your career or marriage and still bear it with some sort of dignity. But if you fail as a parent, it can be devastating. You can’t accept that you have failed at raising your child well. It’s a difficult pill to swallow.

Parenting is not easy, but do you think it’s even tougher in this day and age of social media, when children have so many other distractions? Also, how do you assert yourself as a parent without coming across as overbearing?
It’s difficult, because we can’t accept the fact that our children are different from what we were at that age. If you look at your child and say, ‘I never did this when I was seven years old’ it’s not going to work, because you were not in the same era or circumstances when social media was so dominant. Instead of putting your kids down or trying to put them in their place, you will have to figure out what their place really is. You have to put yourself in their shoes once in a while to understand that they think differently, and the fact that they will not be you. Whether they are watching television or are on the internet, how much can you control that? You will have to take it one day at a time, one channel or one mouse click at a time, literally, to figure out how to work out your relationship with them.

What’s Ajay’s role when it comes to parenting?
One of the biggest roles he plays is that he supports me completely in whatever I say, whatever rules I lay down. Like, if I say no gadgets for the next two weeks, he's very clear and tells them your mom has said it. I have 100 per cent support in that regard. There are times where he turns around and disciplines the kids, too, so it isn’t just me disciplining them. We play good cop, bad cop equally.

We have spoken about you as a mother. What about Kajol, the daughter? Growing up, what was the rapport you shared with your mom?
My mother is wonderful. I had an amazing upbringing and I thank her for it, especially after having my own kids. I always look back at what she taught me as a child, and I tell her that I love the way she handled things, especially simple things like talking to one’s kids about social responsibility, God, death and souls. My mother didn’t sit down to explain to me, but spoke about it freely in front of me. It was something we accepted as a part of life, and hence, as a grown-up, while dealing with certain situations, my reactions are not that of shock or disbelief, because it’s been drilled into me from a young age. I may not have listened to it at that time and even felt like ‘Oh God, she is at it again’. I had that attitude as well, but today, I see how it has helped me. I remember my mother telling me, ‘When you get angry, the other person wins. Do you really want that to happen?’ I used to get so frustrated then, but now when I am older, I can see that what she said, all along, was right. This is just one of the many things. I always tell her that she was gutsy, brave and out-of-the-box as a parent and I really hope that I can emulate her as far as my kids are concerned.

You have been a part of Bollywood for over 25 years. How do you react to comments like, ‘We have grown up watching your films’?
I tell them that I was really young when I started! It may seem a lot to somebody else, but when I look at it, I tell myself, ‘That’s it? You have done just some 30-odd films.’ I should have probably done around 100. But I feel my life has a lot more in it today and it’s not just about movies. It’s about my personal life, having a family and raising two kids. I am more complete and I feel more fulfilled than I did 26 years ago.

It’s assumed that you are not really ambitious…
I’d say that I am ambitious in a different way. I did good work and I still do films that I believe in. It’s all worked out well for me. Honestly, if I had done a film just for the sake of doing it or just because I had nothing better to do, it would have taken the sheen off it. I wouldn’t have liked that. I like the pace I am at and the fact that I can take a break from work and go on a holiday if I want to, look after my family and take care of myself. I like the space I am in.

What about teaming up with Ajay as a co-star for a film?
If we have to do a film together, it will have to be something that suits us both as people. We have been seen on screen and off screen for years now. The fact is that we have been married for 19 years. So we will have to keep all the parameters in mind.

What do your kids think about your performances in films?
My kids don’t talk about my acting abilities! They talk about my acting skills off screen more than on screen (laughs!). According to my daughter, I am highly dramatic, but I say that’s the way I am. It’s not drama, it’s normal. Also, my kids don’t like me crying, even if it’s on screen. I think it upsets them. They don’t like that.

DNA (October 5, 2018)

Director Pradeep Sarkar’s Helicopter Eela, which has the inimitable Kajol in the lead role, will see her as an over-protective mother to a teenager played by National Award winner, Riddhi Sen.

Off screen, the actress is one of those mothers who likes to keep herself updated with current trends. Having a teenage daughter helped her in bringing herself up to page with the new-age terminology. It was Nysa who convinced Kajol to join a photo and video-sharing social networking service, which is widely popular across the world. She also got her acquainted with acronyms used by Gen-Now like FOMO (Fear Of Missing Out), YOLO (You Only Live Once), BT (Bad Trip), etc.

Being the sharp learner that she is, Kajol topped the lessons Nysa gave her. It also made it easier for her to bond with her reel-life collegian-son Riddhi. All the gyaan that she gathered helped her speak and understand the millennial language. Before Nysa knew it, her mother was in perfect sync and of course, Riddhi noticed how the superstar had evolved in the character she was playing. All of this is reflected in the trailer and now, there is a lot of curiosity among the audience to see if they can relate to this modern-day mother and son’s relationship on screen.

Riddhi, who is all praises for his reel mom, says, “Sometimes I get confused about who is the millennial between Kajol ma’am and me. She is absolutely updated about our generation. On several occasions, I found her more up-to-date than me. She is definitely one of the coolest people I have ever met.”

Helicopter Eela, presented by Ajay Devgn & Jayantilal Gada (Pen), releases worldwide on October 12.

Nayandeep Rakshit (DNA; September 26, 2018)

Almost 24 years ago, Tabu made her big Bollywood debut with Vijaypath and her track Ruk Ruk had the whole nation noticing her. Now, the same song has been used for her co-star and good friend Ajay Devgn’s next production venture, Helicopter Eela. The number, originally composed by Anu Malik, has been recreated by Raghav Sachar and features the film’s leading lady, Kajol. The reboot of Ruk Ruk has already found an admirer — in Tabu.

Talking about it, the Golmaal Again actress is all smiles. “It’s really nice and sweet. Kajol is so good, she’s absolutely superb in it. This Ruk Ruk is new and fresh. They didn’t try to recreate or revamp the track, it’s completely seamless. I love the ‘so sexy’ in between, too,” she laughs. Tabu adds that she’s happy the song has stayed within the ‘same group’. “It started with Ajay (Devgn) and me and now, it’s back to Kajol. So it’s full circle for Ruk Ruk. It’s good that it remained in the same coterie. The soundtrack was one of Anu Malik’s best works.”

Ask her if this brought back memories, and she tells us, “Whenever I go to promote my films on any show, Ruk Ruk itna use hota hai ki it’s always there in front of my eyes. It’s not become old and I’m glad Ajay and Kajol have redone it in such a nice way.” She recalls another incident from the sets of Vijaypath. “Before we started filming this number, the ligament in my right foot had torn and I shot the entire track in that condition. I was jumping on one foot because I couldn’t land on both feet. It used to be swollen every morning, but we had to wrap up the song because it was shot outdoors,” Tabu signs off.

Harshada Rege (DNA; September 26, 2018)

Kajol is striking the perfect work-life balance. The actress, who will be seen on the big screen playing a mother in Helicopter Eela, is a hands-on parent in real life, too. These days, she is juggling many responsibilities with aplomb. She is busy with media interactions in Mumbai as well as other cities for her forthcoming film. However, that hasn’t stopped the 44-year-old from ensuring that she makes time for her family.

Kajol took son Yug to their farmhouse in Lonavala to celebrate her mother Tanuja’s 75th birthday on September 23. After spending the day with her mom, she drove back to Mumbai and took off to Singapore where her daughter, Nysa, studies. The young girl was missing her parents, and since Ajay is busy shooting, the Dilwale star got on a plane to meet her girl.

Meanwhile, back home, the Shivaay actor, who is known to be a prankster, gave out a phone number asking people to get in touch with Kajol as she was out of the country. The actress sent across a ‘no entry at home’ tweet in reply to his explanation about pranks on sets being a passé and playing one on Twitter instead.

In her first interview since the pregnancy announcement, Neha reveals why she kept the good news under wraps for long
Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; September 21, 2018)

It is only while she is attending to her fourth commitment of the day that we manage to steal some time with Neha Dhupia. Currently in her final trimester, the mommy-to-be vows to be on her feet till she goes into labour. "I don't want a maternity break. It's not that I am against women who decide to take those months off. It's my choice; it doesn't amount to saying that those who decide to take time off should be looked down upon," says Dhupia, who has been effortlessly dividing her time between her radio show, promotions for Helicopter Eela and her fashion-based television show.

While murmurs of the couple going in the family way were heard soon after she tied the knot with Angad Bedi in May, the two announced the good news only last month. Quiz her on the reluctance to open up about her pregnancy earlier, and she says the demands of her profession played a role in her decision. "I didn't want to tell people that I was pregnant for a large part of these nine months because I didn't want people's attitude towards me to change. I was worried people would stop offering work. It was a good thing my bump wasn't showing till the sixth month because appearances matter here, and one might be assumed to be unfit for a job. Fortunately, my energy levels are high. I did Eela and Styled By Neha through my pregnancy."

The romantic in her comes to the fore when the talk veers towards her "best friend" and husband. "I feel at home finally. When I have nightmares and wake up to his face, I am immediately at peace," she gushes, before quipping, "He is the best dad-in-the-making, but I'm worried what will happen when he and the baby gang up on me."

Natasha Coutinho (MUMBAI MIRROR; August 28, 2018)

On Monday, Kajol was making a guest appearance on Madhuri Dixit’s reality show, Dance Deewane, which the latter judges with filmmaker Shashank Khaitan and choreographer Tushar Kalia, when the duo had a surprise visitor. Veteran playback singer Asha Bhosle, who was shooting in the adjoining studio, decided to drop by the sets of Madhuri’s show and the trio caught up in Dhak-Dhak girl’s vanity van.

A source from the sets reveals that around 2 pm, Asha ji met Madhuri and Kajol as they were preparing for their shoot. Madhuri invited them into her vanity van and half an hour of banter followed. “Asha ji sang an impromptu version of 'Zara Sa Jhoom Loon Main' from Kajol’s 1995 blockbuster, Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge, and joked that she’d been trying to get in touch with Madhuri, but probably had the wrong number,” adds the source.

Later, Madhuri and Kajol proceeded to the set where they got talking about fashion and were all praise for each other’s outfits. It was a ‘parents special’ episode so the conversation veered towards their kids. “Kajol revealed that she is a strict parent and is confident that her kids, daughter Nysa and son Yug, would have a list of complaints about her, while Madhuri admitted that she is quite lenient with her boys, Raayan and Arin, but knows how to discipline them,” the source added.

DNA (August 24, 2018)

Producer Ajay Devgn decided to wait for director Pradeep Sarkar to fully recover from dengue before resuming the film’s post-production Last week (August 16), After Hrs reported how director Pradeep Sarkar took special leave from the hospital to shoot Amitabh Bachchan’s cameo for his upcoming Kajol-starrer, Helicopter Eela. The latest news is that the release of the movie, also starring Bengali actor Riddhi Sen, has now been rescheduled from September 7 to October 12.

A few days before the shoot, Sarkar was diagnosed with dengue and was admitted to a hospital in suburban Mumbai. However, since Big B had, much in advance, given the date of August 14 to shoot his portions, the director had to leave the hospital midway. Producer Ajay Devgn’s team had ensured that an ambulance and a doctor were kept on standby at the Andheri studio premises, where Sarkar was shooting. Since Ajay was not in town, Kajol was present on the set to ensure that everything went smoothly as the director wanted. After shooting Bachchan’s scenes, Sarkar, who still had the IV drip needle inserted, went back to the hospital. He was discharged yesterday (August 23) and has been advised a week’s rest.

Keeping Sarkar’s health in mind, the actor-producer reportedly decided to shift the movie’s release date. A source associated with the film tells us, “Ajay doesn’t want the post-production of the movie to go on without Pradeep dada around. He wants the director to complete the film as per his vision. Ajay is ready to wait for Dada to be fit enough so he can himself oversee the last stages of post-production. So, he decided to defer the release to October 12.”

Nayandeep Rakshit (DNA; August 21, 2018)

Four years ago, when I had to interview Kajol for the first time, I was a little bit intimidated by her. But after meeting her on several occasions, today we share a certain comfort. Our conversations are more about the laughs that follow. This time, it wasn’t different. Dressed in a blue jumpsuit, she is busy finishing a photo shoot as I enter the room. “You’ve asked me everything. What more is left!” she exclaims and then bursts out laughing. We begin our chat on that note. The effervescent actress talks about her upcoming film Helicopter Eela, her equation with her kids — Nysa and Yug — and the idea of parenting.

What appealed to you about Helicopter Eela?
I loved the way the story was told. I liked the humour in the film. The fact that we were showing a mother going to college with her son made me smile. Helicopter Eela talks about women, tags and empowerment. The film sends out a message that I completely believe in — nobody can empower us, we have to do it ourselves; only when we stand up and ask for things will we get them. No one will give them to us on a platter. They don’t hand it to men either. We deserve it more than we need it.

You have immense support from your husband, Ajay Devgn, when it comes to taking care of your kids. So, how tough was it to step into the shoes of a single parent?
I understood it because I have lived with my grandmother and great-grandmother nearly all my life. People need to realise that both the parents’ responsibilities come onto one set of shoulders. And Ajay isn’t around for many days in a month when a lot of decisions are taken by me. I’ve to play the good cop, and the bad cop at the same time. I know what it feels like and understand where my character Eela’s paranoia comes from. When you watch the film, you will, too.

How have the women around you influenced your personality?
(Smiles) My great-grandmother, grandmother and mother were extremely strong women who believed in a lot of things, acted on those beliefs and made sure they led their lives according to their own rules — damn the consequences. That was one inescapable rule that made my life and my decisions easier. The fact that I lived with these strong women made it simpler for me to be stubborn, have an opinion and stand by it. It affected nearly every aspect of my character. It was about being intelligent and not hiding it, at a time when femininity was equated with a certain dumbness and appreciated more because of a certain idiocy. I have inculcated that through every aspect in my personality.

What kind of a kid were you?
I was very naughty! There was a point when my mama and mami told me, “Thank God, you grew up and we don’t have to take care of you or discipline you anymore.” (Laughs) My dad used to sing this Elvis Presley song to me — (starts singing) ‘You look like an angel, you walk like an angel, you talk like an angel... but you are the devil in disguise.’ It completely encapsulated how I was. He always used to tell me that when your mother is around, you are this perfect, sweet child who does everything correctly. But when she’s not around, what happens to you? My mother would say, ‘I hope you have a daughter just like you’ (smiles).

Do you?
Yes, I do! My daughter is very intelligent but she is not as bad as I was. She definitely wants an answer to every question that she has. She’s a level-headed child.

Did you also have arguments with your mother when you were young?
No, my mother would have slapped me silly. There was no chance to even raise my voice against her. Even today,  I can’t think about doing that.

But your character in Helicopter Eela has a different take on life. What do you think of Indian parenting?
I don’t think Indian parenting is very modern, even today. I believe that disciplining your children or making sure they know what’s right and wrong for them are ways of showing your love and concern in what they eventually have to become. That’s like an underlying, constant dialogue between you and your kid. My children know I’m keeping an eye on them and I’m making sure they are eating properly. They also realise that I’m doing it because I love them. If I didn’t give a damn, they would have grown up differently. If I gave them too much freedom and let them go their way without any milestones and boundaries, they would have no one to say no to them. Discipline is like planting a creeper with a little bit of support to it, so that it can grow up strong and straight, instead of being curvy and crooked.

Nysa has a mind of her own. Does she share everything with you?
We definitely share shoes, manicures and pedicures (laughs). We have that kind of a relationship where we are able to talk to each other about a lot of things. But not everything because at the end of the day, I’m her mother. I still scold her and she will be like, ‘But whyyyy mom! (smiles). So, overall, we are in a good space.

She’s studying abroad. Has that brought you closer?
I don’t know whether we have gotten closer, but we definitely don’t fight as much as we used to. Things just don’t seem as important as they were when you lived with that person under the same roof. Also, I miss her so much that I just want us to be happy together whenever we meet. Earlier today, I was listening to a song ‘Ain’t no sunshine when she’s gone’ by Bill Withers. I was like, ‘I’m missing my baby’.

Does the second child have it easy then?
Easier! I feel one becomes much more relaxed as a parent for the second time. You are not as paranoid, you know things won’t get that bad as you think they will and the kids will grow up eventually. That itself is a huge relief.

Your son, Yug, has taken to fitness lately…
He wanted to learn how to do flips, parkour and stuff like that. He would watch videos on YouTube and try them out himself. Obviously, even though there are gymnastics classes in school, you won’t learn to that level because they are not going to give you individual attention and teach you in so much detail. When he watched Spider-Man, he was like, ‘I want to be like him.’ So I told him that you have to eat like Spider-Man because he didn’t just wake up one day and climbed a wall. Actually he did, but I didn’t tell him that! (Laughs)

Ajay is known to be a prankster. Do your kids gang up against you along with him?
Never with me. They just don’t do it to me. I’m quite scary (laughs).

As told to Natasha Coutinho (MUMBAI MIRROR; August 20, 2018)

Before I became a model, I used to help backstage during fashion shows in Delhi, assisting the girls who were walking the ramp with their clothes and accessories, running around during photoshoots assembling clothes and more such chores. The money was good — Rs 300 a day was a big deal back then — and I got to work with many successful supermodels like Madhu Sapre, Noyonika Chatterjee, Carol Gracias, John Abraham, Dino Morea and Arjun Rampal among others.

I have also taken on odd jobs at auto expos during summer holidays to make some extra money. I would get between Rs 500-Rs 1000 a day and didn’t even know how to spend that much money.

I never imagined I would end up becoming a model and actress myself because while growing up, I was made to believe that I would become an IAS officer and do something for the country as my dad was in the navy. What life had in store for me and what I was working towards were completely different worlds.

One day, auditions were being held in various colleges for a stage production. It was being directed by Roshan Abbas and choreographed by Shiamak Davar. Cyrus Sahukar, Gaurav Kapoor, Samir Kochhar and my brother, Hardeep, were among those who auditioned for it. I went to pick up my best friend and Roshan spotted me. He asked if I’ve acted before and I exclaimed, “Never!” He told me I had just landed my first role.

During the theatre production, there was a photographer in the audience who wanted to do a photoshoot with me. He thought my face had the potential. While he was clicking me, he told me his agency was auditioning for a music video. This was in December 1998 and I landed that role too. My first music video, “Sha Na Na Na”, was directed by Pradeep Sarkar. Shoojit Sircar was the executive producer and it was for the band Euphoria. I had never travelled by air or been abroad but thanks to that music video I got to work with a popular rock band, be on TV and even got paid. By the time I came back to college, I was famous!

My mum and uncle then saw an advertisement for the auditions for Miss India. I went for it and was told I would have to lose 10 kgs in two weeks. I did and ended up winning the crown in 2002 (right, above). And got me plenty of modelling offers which I was only too happy to grab.

Being an assistant earlier helped when I became a model myself. I was very disciplined. No job was big or small for me as I understood the importance of coordination and collaboration. I have always been a stickler for perfection and the one thing that makes my blood boil is incompetence. I would lock myself up in a room and scream!

At the age of 20, I spent six months in Tokyo promoting my debut film, an Indo-Japanese project, Nattu Odoru! Ninja Densetsu (right), a major part of which was shot in Chennai. Living in a city where I had no connections was interesting. I liked the vibe of the place. My parents didn’t have a computer then so they would go to a cyber café to interact with me. It was all vert heart-warming.

Three years later, in 2003, my first Hindi film, Qayamat: City Under Threat (below), produced and directed by Harry Baweja, opened. I was cast opposite Ajay Devgn, and it was a big launch. Fifteen years later, I’m still around, awaiting the release of Helicopter Eela with Kajol and Riddhi Sen. The mother-son story is directed by Pradeep Sarkar. Life has come a full circle.