Showing posts with label Hit - The First Case. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Hit - The First Case. Show all posts

Professionally, anything uncomfortable excites me; comfort scares me-Sanya Malhotra

8:32 AM

Posted by Fenil Seta

0 comments

Sanya Malhotra: Comfort in professional life scares me

Walking into 2023 with four biggies, including Jawan and Kathal, Sanya says she seeks unconventional subjects to keep growing as an artiste
Priyanka Sharma (MID-DAY; December 12, 2022)

Sanya Malhotra has no time to pause. With four films slated to release next year, she is moving one from movie set to another. Does the frenetic pace get to her? Far from it. “There is no other way I would like it to be,” the actor grins.

“This is something that I had always imagined myself doing. [The shoots] are back-to-back. I had mentally prepared myself to live a life like this.”

Her line-up for 2023 is promising — she has Jawan that sees her share screen space with Shah Rukh Khan, the Hindi adaptation of acclaimed Malayalam film The Great Indian Kitchen (2021), a comedy in Kathal, and a period drama in Sam Bahadur. Malhotra counts herself lucky to be a part of such eclectic stories.

“These films are so diverse, yet rich in their storytelling. To reunite with Guneet Monga for Kathal [after Pagglait], work with Meghna Gulzar ma’am and Vicky [Kaushal in the Sam Manekshaw biopic], and headline a big film like The Great Indian Kitchen — [these films] helped me check many boxes on my wish list.”

In comparison, 2022 was a tepid year for the actor. Though Love Hostel with Vikrant Massey received positive reviews, it failed to attract viewers. Her second release, Hit - The First Case opposite Rajkummar Rao, didn’t make an impact at the box office either. Malhotra, however, is unfazed, continuing to front subjects that speak to her.

“I don’t look at choices as risks; I only see them as opportunities. Also, today, I feel everything is mainstream, or nothing is. My journey began with an unconventional character [in Dangal], and what followed was a natural progression. Comfort scares me. In my personal life, I like being easy-going, but professionally, anything uncomfortable excites me because I know those are the areas where I will grow in life. Growth, as it is, is not a comfortable experience. I’m constantly seeking to grow as an actor, and I hope that never stops.”

(Crisp) Movie Review: HIT - THE FIRST CASE by FENIL SETA

3:09 PM

Posted by Fenil Seta

0 comments

Hit - The First Case starts well and the investigation process keeps viewers engaged. A couple of chase sequences add to the thrill. The climax is a shocker and definitely unpredictable. However, the various aspects attached to it are very silly. Moreover, a few questions remain unanswered. Though the makers have promised that it shall be answered in the sequel (as it was done in the original film of the same name), one wishes that the makers answered it in this part itself. Rajkummar Rao, however, is in terrific form and looks great in the action scenes. Sanya Malhotra is first-rate but has a limited role. Milind Gunaji and Jatin Goswami leave a huge mark in small roles. Shilpa Shukla is let down a bit by her character. Performance wise, she’s good. Sanjay Narvekar is fine and it’s good to see him after ages. Rose Khan (Preeti), Noyrika Bhatheja (Psychiatrist), Akhil Iyer (Inspector Rohit), Nuveksha (Sapna), Hemraj Tiwari (Mohan; Preeti's father) and Raviraj (Fahaad) are fine in supporting roles. All in all, Hit - The First Case is an average fare.

My rating - ** ½ out of 5!

Fenil's Bollywood Talk # 734

11:26 AM

Posted by Fenil Seta

0 comments

A DRY WEEK BEFORE SHAMSHERA WAVE ARRIVES

The last few weeks have not been great for Bollywood. This week too shall be one of those dry weeks though there are the following four films up for release

SHABAASH MITHU: It is the biopic of cricket legend Mithali Raj. Taapsee Pannu plays the lead in this film, which is the first-ever sports biopic on a female cricketer. The film was earlier supposed to be directed by Rahul Dholakia. However, he had to leave the project as it got delayed due to the pandemic. Srijit Mukherji then stepped in. The trailer of this film is impressive and Taapsee seems to have given yet another smashing performance. The buzz, however, is limited. Moreover, after the debacles of cricket films like ’83 and Jersey, one wonders if Shabaash Mithu will be able to excel at the ticket window. The opening of the film is expected to be in the range of Rs. 1-1.50 crore.

HIT - THE FIRST CASE: It is the remake of the 2020 Telugu film of the same name. It stars Rajkummar Rao and Sanya Malhotra in lead roles and is about a cop who is trying to solve the case of the disappearance of a young girl. Though the trailer is intriguing, the film has failed to generate any sort of excitement. It also looks like a film for the classes and will have no chance in the mass centres. Its opening would be in the range of Rs. 1 crore or even less.

LADKI: It is directed by Ram Gopal Varma and stars Pooja Bhalekar as a martial arts fighter. The film’s posters and trailer caught attention as it features a skimpily clad Pooja fighting baddies. The release is limited as the hype is minimal. It stands a chance in B and C centres and might even do better than Shabaash Mithu and Hit - The First Case in certain cinemas.

JUDAA HOKE BHI: It is directed by Vikram Bhatt and written by Mahesh Bhatt. The thriller stars Akshay Oberoi and Aindrita Ray of Bhavai fame. At one point, such films by Vikram Bhatt would be able to find at least some audience. In the case of Judaa Hoke Bhi, the marketing strategy is absent. Viewers are not even aware that such a film is being released in cinemas. Hence, it’ll have a very tough time at the box office.

Besides these aforementioned films, Jaadugar will be released on Netflix, on July 15. It stars Jitendra Kumar and Arushi Sharma of Love Aaj Kal fame. Sameer Saxena of TVF has directed and also acted in the film. It is a story of a small-town man who aspires to be a magician and who has to reluctantly participate in a local football tournament to win his love. The film looks like a clean entertainer and hence can record significant viewership.

Being a trained martial artist helped me pull off some sequences in HIT-Rajkummar Rao

8:33 AM

Posted by Fenil Seta

0 comments

Rajkummar Rao: Trained in martial arts till college

Despite his expertise in martial arts, Rajkummar says he was never offered an action film before HIT
Uma Ramasubramanian (MID-DAY; July 14, 2022)

Pick any genre, and chances are Rajkummar Rao has tried his hand at it — from a horror film in Ragini MMS (2011) to a biopic in Shahid (2013), from a survival drama in Trapped (2016) to a black comedy in Newton (2017). Which is why it’s surprising that the actor’s filmography, rich as it is, was devoid of a full-blown actioner until HIT: The First Case came his way. Is it by choice or chance?

“Nobody offered me an exciting action story,” he smiles. “The action in HIT is organic and gritty. When you see the sequences, you believe that two men can fight like this [in real life]. Being a trained martial artist helped me [pull off] some sequences. I trained in martial arts for several years till college.”

With HIT: The First Case, director Sailesh Kolanu has adapted his 2020 Telugu thriller of the same name for the Hindi audience. Rao, who saw the original as part of homework, believes the Hindi offering has a different flavour from the source material. He states, “Sailesh wanted to tell the story from a fresh perspective.”

In the film, also starring Sanya Malhotra, Rao plays an officer in the Homicide Intervention Team who has to navigate his troubled past, while investigating the disappearance of a young girl. “This film needed intense prep because Vikram [his character] carries a lot of baggage from his past. Since I don’t have any personal experience [on this front], I had to read a lot and watch videos of people suffering from PTSD. Doing those scenes was physically and mentally taxing. Being in that mind-space for hours affects you.”

It’s a busy year for the actor who has Monica O My Darling, Bheed, and Mr and Mrs Mahi in the pipeline. Known to have a keen eye for scripts, he says that the story is the only criterion when choosing a project. And the fat fee? “I will never do a film for money, because that guilt stays with you forever, [that movie] stays in your filmography. So, for me, the only [determining factor] will be the script.”

The excitement of an acting student is intact in Rajkummar Rao-Sanya Malhotra

8:53 AM

Posted by Fenil Seta

0 comments

A still from the film

Despite HIT being an intense thriller, Sanya says being surrounded by creative minds like Rajkummar was a source of joy
Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; June 25, 2022)

Imagine you are shooting for a thriller, but off camera, it feels like a comedy,” laughs Sanya Malhotra. It is evident that the shoot of HIT - The First Case, an adaptation of the 2020 Telugu film of the same name, was a blast. The film’s trailer released on Thursday, depicting Rajkummar Rao as an officer in the Homicide Intervention Team (HIT) and Malhotra as his love interest who goes missing.

While Sailesh Kolanu’s directorial venture is a dark thriller, Malhotra says it’s the most fun she has had on a set. “Through the film’s making, I was overworked. I was juggling multiple projects. But that set didn’t feel heavy even for a day. HIT was a boost of serotonin, as I was surrounded by such creative minds.”

The actor heaps praise on co-actor Rao, with whom she has collaborated for the first time. “There is so much to learn from him. Everyone knows how good he is. He knows he has proved himself, and yet, he never stops or lets himself slack. The excitement of an acting student is intact in him,” she notes.

It’s an important month for Malhotra. The actor has also kicked off the prep for Sam Bahadur, Meghna Gulzar’s biopic on Sam Manekshaw. The film sees Vicky Kaushal as the country’s first Field Marshal, and Malhotra as his wife Siloo. She is elated to have a Gulzar film so early on in her career. “She is the kind of filmmaker you learn from. I am ready with notepads and pens, because for an actor who is learning on [the job], this is a place that will [teach me a great deal].”

Rajkummar Rao bags Hindi remake of Telugu thriller HIT - The First Case

9:14 AM

Posted by Fenil Seta

1 comments


Actor to play troubled cop in Hindi remake of a Telugu thriller
Himesh Mankad (MUMBAI MIRROR; July 15, 2020)

On February 28, a couple of weeks before a nationwide lockdown was announced, Telugu thriller HIT - The First Case fronted by Vishwak Sen and Ruhani Sharma, emerged a big winner at the box-office down South. The Dr Sailesh Kolanu-directorial was among the last film to open in the theatres and its run was cut short when fear instilled by the Coronavirus pandemic started keeping the audience away. Mirror has now learnt that the mystery movie will be remade in Hindi with Rajkummar Rao stepping in as the cop. It will be produced by Dil Raju and Kuldeep Rathore.

Confirming the news, Raj told Mirror, “When I watched HIT, I instantly connected with the story. It’s engaging and relevant in today’s times. As an actor, I am always on the lookout for characters I have not explored before and HIT gives me the chance to do that. I am looking forward to this journey.”

The film revolves around a cop in the Crime Investigation Department working in the Homicide Intervention Team, who is on the trail of a missing woman. It is currently being scripted keeping the sensibilities of a pan-India audience in mind and is expected to roll in 2021.

Sailesh elaborated on the narrative, informing that Raj’s cop is caught in a battle between his past and the present. “He’s a troubled character and I wanted to cast someone who can bring that darkness to the role and still make the audience root for him with a mature performance,” reasons the director who believes that Raj can evoke just this response. “I have been following his work since Shaitaan, he is a terrific actor and has managed to surprise us with his performance every time.” The Telugu film had an open-end, hinting at a sequel and Sailesh admits Part Two is in the works. “It has the potential to be a successful franchise in Bollywood, too, because the premise is global rather than local,” he says, revealing that he will be tweaking some portions, the idea being to create a realistic world of crime and investigation with a bunch of beautifully flawed grey characters inhabiting it with multiple stories unfold within that world.

Apart from HIT, Dil Raju is also producing the official Hindi adaptation of Nani’s 2019 sport drama, Jersey, with Shahid Kapoor and Mrunal Thakur in the lead. The film’s shoot was halted in March and the makers are waiting for normalcy to return, so they can resume work and complete the remaining 30 per cent.

Subscribe to: Comments (Atom)