Showing posts with label I Want To Talk. Show all posts
Showing posts with label I Want To Talk. Show all posts
I have gratitude that the audience has tolerated me for 25 years-Abhishek Bachchan
8:06 AM
Onkar Kulkarni (BOMBAY TIMES; August 4, 2025)
Abhishek Bachchan may have clocked in 25 years in the movies, but he isn’t resting on milestones. From an unprepared 22-year-old stepping onto the sets of Refugee, to navigating highs, lows, reinventions and resurgences, in a conversation with us, the actor reflects on his journey so far and says he is eager to see what lies ahead. Excerpts:
‘I’m not someone who looks back, I prefer to keep my eyes on what’s ahead’
Reflecting on his 25-year journey in cinema, which has included movies like Dhoom, Yuva, Guru, Bunty Aur Babli and Sarkar, he says, “I can’t believe it’s been 25 years. I’m not someone who usually looks back — I prefer to keep my eyes on what’s ahead. But when I do reflect, the first feeling that comes to mind is gratitude. I have gratitude that the audience has tolerated me for 25 years (laughs), and to the filmmakers who believed in me, and continue to believe in me.”
‘Whenever you look back, you’re going to find something you could have done better’
When asked what advice he would give to his younger self, he says, “I’d say, wait, spend some more time preparing yourself. I was 22-23 years old when I started shooting for Refugee. I was so excited to have bagged a film that I just jumped into it. J P saab is such a master at what he does that you really didn’t have to prepare anything because he takes such brilliant care of you. He was the ultimate puppet master. We would just show up and he would make us do everything. He treated us like kids and spoiled us thoroughly. In retrospect, after 25 years of experience, I’d say take some time and be a bit more prepared. But I guess whenever you look back in life, you’re always going to find something you could have done better.”
‘Everybody around me had advised me against the break I took’
During his career, Abhishek stepped away from the screen for a while in the late 2010s, only to return with Manmarziyaan (2018), a comeback that marked a significant shift. The actor, who is enjoying the new phase of his career with projects like Breathe and Dasvi, shares, “Everybody around me had advised me against it. However, it was the best decision I took. I think it’s important for actors to recalibrate when things are not going the way they want. So, it was important for me.”
‘It’s not an easy industry to survive in’
Now, in the 25th year of his acting career, he’s seeing a resurgence that’s hard to ignore. Abhishek, who was recently seen in Kaalidhar Laapata, says, “Thankfully, people are still giving me an opportunity to make films. For any actor to continue to work for so long is a privilege. It’s not an easy industry to survive in. Right now, I’m truly enjoying this phase of my career. I’m being offered diverse roles like I Want To Talk, Be Happy, Housefull 5 and Kaalidhar Laapata. I’m glad directors believe I can take on such variety. It’s challenging, and it’s great that they think I’m worthy of that challenge. So, I just keep my head down and focus on work.”
‘I have many more peaks to conquer’
Interestingly, several fans online have claimed that this is Abhishek’s “eternal peak.” Reacting to the praise, he smiles and says, “Wow, I am at the ‘eternal peak’? Let me just frame that word, eternal peak means I am never coming down from here. I am very flattered, however, I hope it’s not true because I have miles to go. I have many more peaks to conquer. We’re just getting started. Twenty-five is just a number. I’m very energized. I feel like a newcomer and excited for what lies ahead.”
BO numbers disturb you, says Shoojit Sircar on I Want To Talk
9:51 AM
HINDUSTAN TIMES (January 31, 2025)
Filmmaker Shoojit Sircar’s I Want To Talk (2024) may have opened to positive responses from audience and critics alike, but the Abhishek Bachchan-starrer failed to impress at the box office.
“I was completely disoriented because I didn’t know what did or did not work in terms of audiences going to the theatre,” the 58-year-old said in an interview with NDTV, adding, “But now, the film is also on OTT, and I see a lot of people reacting to it. It is very difficult for me to explain. But yes, box office collection disturbs you.”
On the film being called niche, Shoojit remarked, “This film is based in the US, so there are a lot of languages spoken. The title of the film is in English. A lot of film lovers are exposed to international content. What do you call the subjects that they watch? So, if you look at it from that perspective, I never thought my film was in that niche category.”
However, the filmmaker adds that “people are telling me that about the film”. “So, it is very difficult for me to identify what is niche and what is not niche, and how that would impact people coming to cinema halls,” he said.
Babil Khan pe bahut zyada pressure hai, almost depression mein hai-Sutapa Sikdar
10:44 AM
Deep Saxena (HINDUSTAN TIMES; December 5, 2024)
Late actor Irrfan Khan’s wife, writer-producer Sutapa Sikdar, candidly opened up about the challenges faced by their son, actor Babil Khan, who has featured in The Railway Men and Qala, during her recent visit to Lucknow. Sutapa revealed how constant comparisons with his legendary father have created immense pressure on Babil, affecting his emotional well-being.
“Babil pe bahut zyada pressure hai aur mujhe yeh thik nahin lagta! This pressure should not be there. Irrfan never had this kind of burden, and when you don’t put pressure on yourself, your individuality shines. It’s not just about work; losing his father has left Babil almost in depression. Usmein yeh stress and comparison hai all the time. As a mother, I feel, ‘Please mere bachche ko chorr do.’ He’s very vulnerable and does not have a fighter’s spirit. His father was very strong and so am I, but genetically kahin se toh aaya hoga,” shared Sutapa.
Drawing parallels, she compared Babil’s journey to actor Abhishek Bachchan’s career struggles. “Like, Abhishek Bachchan did amazing work in I Want To Talk but wahi hai...comparisons with legendary Amitabh Bachchan have worked against him. I feel Babil is going through a similar ordeal. I just hope he overcomes it soon.”
On the professional front, Sutapa, who contributed to Kahani (2012), is slowly returning to her creative pursuits. She has consulted for two TV shows and is now working on a book and a film. “I am writing a book and a film, but to be honest, I am still unable to become an individual that I can focus on career or writing. I am unable to detach myself, and simultaneously, Babil’s career has started, and phir kabhi kuch, kabhi kuch…so I am still stuck. I have written the skeleton part of the film. Besides, I have started a book on Irrfan but not a serious preachy one and want to do it in a funny genre, which needs time,” she said.
Asked if she plans to direct or act in her film, she said, “Whoever I have narrated the concept has suggested that I should direct it. Babil can fit in as it’s about mother and son, but surely, I won’t act in it.”
I would have expected a bit more footfall for I Want To Talk-Shoojit Sircar
8:38 AM
Stating that he made I Want To Talk to spread hope, director Shoojit Sircar reveals how artistes in the industry often battle mental health issues while hiding behind the facade of glamour
Priyanka Sharma (MID-DAY; November 28, 2024)
At the moment, Shoojit Sircar is all about observing and learning. Reason? His latest film, I Want To Talk, had a slow start at the box office. “The pre- and post-COVID releases are a different dynamic altogether. I’m getting beautiful reactions from whoever is walking into the theatres. But I would have expected a bit more footfall,” the director tells us candidly over a phone call.
But that hasn’t shaken his faith in the Abhishek Bachchan-starrer. Or in his brand of cinema. Over the years, the filmmaker has championed middle-of-the-road films — from Vicky Donor (2012) to October (2018)—in an industry that values mainstream entertainers and box-office numbers over all else.
“That persistence is required, otherwise filmmakers like me will vanish. It’s my job as a filmmaker to tell a different kind of story. Somewhere, I need the support of the audience, too, to survive. Many recent films that fall in this category have slowly grown and I am expecting my film to grow in the coming weeks,” he says optimistically.
In I Want To Talk, Sircar tells the true story of a cancer patient, who was told he had 100 days to live, but went on to create a longer and beautiful life for himself. The film has themes that are recurring in the director’s world—death, hope, and mental health.
“We are always fearful whenever the word death [comes up] or when we have to explain it to a child. I have embraced it in such a way that it makes me free of fear, and opens me up to live in joy, awe and wonder. In these times of mental issues, I want people to have hope, and maybe my device to make them more hopeful is death,” he shares, adding that the movie is also inspired by his observation of the mental health challenges that his colleagues from the film industry face.
Sircar says, “I do a lot of healing. [Mental health issues] are so rampant in our industry, you can’t imagine. With their make-up on, artistes can smile at you, laugh, hug you, and show off, but I have seen deep inside in their eyes a lot of insecurity and mental pressure; I can see that loneliness. Many times I have taken them to a corner, spoken to them and they have started crying. That has given me a lot of understanding.”
As we talk about the film industry, it’s impossible not to mention how his movies have almost always been led by top Bollywood stars, who turn up in non-glamorous avatars for the parts—be it Deepika Padukone in Piku (2015), Varun Dhawan in October (2018) and Vicky Kaushal in Sardar Udham (2021). The realisation has hit Sircar only now, with I Want To Talk.
“If someone in front of you feels not so insecure and calms down, a lot of things can happen. The most important thing is to calm them down and get them out of their vanity. We call them stars, but at the end of the day, they are also normal people. Because of the pressure of vanity, they carry it to the set also. But if you calm their nerves down, they will understand the character more.”
So, what is the filmmaker up to next? He laughs and replies, “I have nothing right now. I may work on a romantic or a mythological project. I’m working on a couple of subjects.”
Fenil's Bollywood Talk # 858
10:57 PM
WILL CINEMA LOVERS DAY BENEFIT MOANA 2, THE SABARMATI REPORT?
The dry period continues in Bollywood and to get some spike in footfalls, the theatres have decided to once again celebrate Cinema Lovers Day on Friday, November 29. This is the fourth edition of Cinema Lovers Day of 2024. Earlier this year, it was held on February 23, May 31 and August 9. A National Cinema Day, meanwhile, took place on September 20. Hence, on November 29, theatres will sell tickets for Rs. 99 for the fifth time this year.
Moana 2 will be released in cinemas this Friday and is expected to benefit big time. The first part was a decent success as it collected Rs. 9.50 crores. Over the years, it has been consumed widely and has a fan following. And with the Cinema Lovers Day offer, the collections are expected to be encouraging. This will be a good sign for the film as it has only six days before Pushpa 2 releases on December 5 and takes away most of the screens.
The other major beneficiary of Cinema Lovers Day's offer will be The Sabarmati Report. It has held very well and will fall around Rs. 60 lakhs on Thursday. If it can jump to Rs. 1 crore on November 29, it’ll be a good sign.
Kal Ho Naa Ho, meanwhile, is having a rocking re-release run. Its tickets are priced at just Rs. 150. But the Rs. 99 offer can prove tempting and result in house-full shows. All We Imagine As Light is also doing well in select theatres and will continue to get audiences on Friday. Singham Again and Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 will also have some benefit.
I Want To Talk sadly has failed to get any audience due to niche genre and title. Its collections fell to just Rs. 8 lakhs on Monday and it remains to be seen if the Cinema Lovers Day offer helps this film in any way.
(Crisp) Movie Review: I WANT TO TALK by FENIL SETA
10:19 AM
I Want To Talk tells an emotional story of a socially awkward and not-so-likeable person who has to undergo multiple surgeries due to a sudden illness. The film has some fine emotional moments not just between the father and daughter but also the patient and the doctor as well as the patient and the nurse. The cinematography is topnotch while a special mention should go to Shabana Latif's make-up and prosthetics and Petr Gorshenin's special prosthetics. On the flipside, the narrative jumps timelines and it becomes difficult to understand how many weeks or months or years have passed. A few scenes could have been more emotional while a few aspects could have been better explained. Lastly, the soundtrack is poor. Abhishek Bachchan, however, is outstanding and this is surely one of his greatest performances after Guru and Yuva. Pearle Dey is superb as the young Reya but watch out for Ahilya Bamroo as the adult Reya. She's outstanding and it's difficult to imagine that this is her debut film. Jayant Kripalani (Dr Deb) lends able support while Kristin Goddard (Nancy) is very adorable. Johny Lever is dependable as always. All in all, I Want To Talk could have been much better but is still worth watching for the subject and the performances of Abhishek Bachchan and Ahilya Bamroo.
My rating - *** out of 5!
My rating - *** out of 5!
Fenil's Bollywood Talk # 857
11:09 AM
WILL KARAN ARJUN AND NEW RELEASES ATTRACT FOOTFALLS?
The trend of re-releases is going on in full force and tomorrow, the biggest experiment in this regard is going to take place. Karan Arjun, the much loved film starring Shah Rukh Khan and Salman Khan, will be re-released on a grand scale. It’ll have the biggest screen count for a re-release in India and also abroad. Producer-director Rakesh Roshan has gone all out to promote the film with his son Hrithik Roshan even giving voiceover to the re-release trailer. The film has been remastered and hence, now looks as good as a fresh film.
The advance booking began in full force on Wednesday evening. The makers are keeping their expectations within limits but the exhibitors are hopeful that it can surprise.
As for the new release, the biggest is I Want To Talk, starring Abhishek Bachchan. It is directed by Shoojit Sircar of Piku and Vicky Donor fame. The trailer is intriguing and Abhishek seems in top form. However, the film also looks quite niche. The pre-release screening reports are positive and hopefully, it can see a jump in the collections from the second day.
All We Imagine As Light, which made waves for India abroad, will finally get an all-India release tomorrow. The film has got a limited release and might surprise in select pockets due to the extremely positive buzz around it. Of course, since it’s a film festival cinema, it’s meant for a minuscule audience.
Interestingly, Naam finally arrives in cinemas tomorrow. It was shot 20 years ago and stars Ajay Devgn, Bhumika Chawla and Sameera Reddy. It is directed by Anees Bazmee of Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 fame. None of them are promoting the film and even the audience is aware that it’s a dated movie. As a result, the awareness is limited and the excitement to see it is negligible.
Lastly, the big Hollywood release is Wicked. The musical fantasy is all set for a very huge opening in North America. In India, the buzz is hardly there but it’s a film that can surprise and keep getting audiences for weeks, albeit in select premium multiplexes, if the reports are positive.
The trend of re-releases is going on in full force and tomorrow, the biggest experiment in this regard is going to take place. Karan Arjun, the much loved film starring Shah Rukh Khan and Salman Khan, will be re-released on a grand scale. It’ll have the biggest screen count for a re-release in India and also abroad. Producer-director Rakesh Roshan has gone all out to promote the film with his son Hrithik Roshan even giving voiceover to the re-release trailer. The film has been remastered and hence, now looks as good as a fresh film.
The advance booking began in full force on Wednesday evening. The makers are keeping their expectations within limits but the exhibitors are hopeful that it can surprise.
As for the new release, the biggest is I Want To Talk, starring Abhishek Bachchan. It is directed by Shoojit Sircar of Piku and Vicky Donor fame. The trailer is intriguing and Abhishek seems in top form. However, the film also looks quite niche. The pre-release screening reports are positive and hopefully, it can see a jump in the collections from the second day.
All We Imagine As Light, which made waves for India abroad, will finally get an all-India release tomorrow. The film has got a limited release and might surprise in select pockets due to the extremely positive buzz around it. Of course, since it’s a film festival cinema, it’s meant for a minuscule audience.
Interestingly, Naam finally arrives in cinemas tomorrow. It was shot 20 years ago and stars Ajay Devgn, Bhumika Chawla and Sameera Reddy. It is directed by Anees Bazmee of Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 fame. None of them are promoting the film and even the audience is aware that it’s a dated movie. As a result, the awareness is limited and the excitement to see it is negligible.
Lastly, the big Hollywood release is Wicked. The musical fantasy is all set for a very huge opening in North America. In India, the buzz is hardly there but it’s a film that can surprise and keep getting audiences for weeks, albeit in select premium multiplexes, if the reports are positive.
Shoojit Sircar and I are all dads to girls, and truly understand that emotion-Abhishek Bachchan
8:15 AM
Appearing on KBC 16, Abhishek Bachchan says his profound relationship with his daughter Aaradhya made him connect deeply with I Want to Talk’s narrative
Upala KBR (MID-DAY; November 21, 2024)
Amitabh and Abhishek Bachchan’s joint appearances are often marked by their witty banter. Things, however, took an emotional turn as the duo shot for an episode of Kaun Banega Crorepati 16, which will be aired tonight. As part of the promotions for I Want to Talk, Abhishek appeared on the quiz show along with director Shoojit Sircar and author Arjun Sen, on whose experiences the film is based. In the episode, Abhishek recounted how Sircar pitched the film to him.
“Shoojit-da didn’t tell me the entire story. He only spoke about Arjun-da’s journey, and that alone left a lasting impression on me,” said the actor.
I Want to Talk tells the story of a man whose medical diagnosis alters his life journey, following which he reaches out to his estranged daughter. With the movie offering a retelling of Sen’s personal experiences, the author recalled his battle with cancer and how his daughter Raka became his motivation to emerge triumphant.
“My three-year-old daughter, Raka, asked me three questions, ‘What is dying? Are you dying? Will you dance at my wedding?’ I reflexively told her that I’d dance at her wedding. Seeing her eyes light up, it became my life’s mission to be there for her,” recounted Sen on the show.
Abhishek then revealed that the movie’s profound exploration of the father-daughter relationship was the primary reason he agreed to front it. He reflected, “Aaradhya is my daughter, and Shoojit-da has two daughters. We are all dads to girls, and truly understand that emotion. What resonated with me the most was Arjun’s promise to his daughter. That unwavering commitment as a father is beyond words.”
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