Salman Khan on plans to take the Dabangg franchise forward even after a prequel; bringing Chulbul, Radhe and Devil in a crossover film and being approached by Farhan Akhtar with a script
Roshmila Bhattacharya (MUMBAI MIRROR; December 12, 2019)

He arrives like the star he is. And instantly, the slumbering parking lot of Mehboob Studio comes alive. Flashbulbs pop as Bhai strikes a pose. There are journalists waiting to meet Salman Khan and a Bangladeshi cricketer too. He obliges some of those waiting, before beckoning you to take two chairs, one stacked on top of the other so you are at his eye level. Excerpts:

This time, we believe you have been credited with the story, screenplay and dialogue. What makes Dabangg 3 different from the earlier two films?
When I heard the story of the first Dabangg, which Dilip Shukla had written, I liked the plot but thought the character wasn’t noble. There were no songs, he was grey, corrupt and ruthless. I changed him into the Chulbul Pandey you see, and it worked. There was a lot of angst. The mother passes away, after which he accepts his father and brother as family. That script was not mine; we retained the mota mota plot and made the scenes more massy and today, with a different kind of swagger. If you were to meet Chulbul on the road, toh aap usey maroge because he’ll appear arrogant and badtameez. But on screen, you like him. He does tedha things but for the right reasons. Like the zehreela sharab scene in Dabangg was negative but uska fayda was positive.

In Dabangg 2, they wanted just Chulbul, without the family. I argued that Chulbul worked because of his mother, father, Makkhan Chand Pandey, Bobby ji, Tiwari ji, Pichkari ji, Rajjo, everyone. How could I take them out? So, we retained them.

The third part is about how Chulbul became the man he is. We’ve dug up his past, there’s pain. It’s an emotional vendetta story.

At a time when filmmakers are struggling with sequels, you’re coming with a prequel…
We have Dabangg 4 written too.

Yeah you are going up to Dabangg 743 as you mentioned in our last interview. Seriously, how do these ideas happen?
(Laughs) They just come about. Sometimes, one film gives you an idea for the next. In Dabangg 3, we explore why Rajjo’s father was an alcoholic and how Chulbul met her. Aap jab picture dekhoge toh aapko samajh mein aayega kahan kahan se nikle hain hum.

After two films, today, the minute I walk into the Dabangg set, I stop being Salman Khan, the actor, and become Chulbul Pandey. Ditto, Sonakshi who transforms instantly into Rajjo. That’s how it is with the whole cast; we’ve become a real family.

Do you have a personal connection with Chulbul?
Well, I’m writing it, playing the character, so there has to be some thought behind it.

The director this time is Prabhudheva and he knows the pulse of the audience…
Yeah, that’s why he’s in the film. Arbaaz (Khan, brother and the director of Dabangg 2) would take time to understand, his BP would shoot up and down. So, this time, the first thing he said was that he wouldn’t direct the film and we should get someone else. I suggested Prabhu, and his reaction was, “Fantastic!” Prabhu is very receptive, he gets what I want to say in a second. Language is a problem with him, so I have to explain things to him, but once he gets it, he executes it beautifully... Larger-than-life, with humour and emotion. Bang on! With a film like Dabangg, we go from high point to high point. We’re not pakaoing anyone. The message comes through the scenes.

Even before Dabangg 3 was complete, you announced Radhe with Prabhu. Obviously, you have a lot of confidence in him and he reiterates you share a great equation, which is rare...
Yes, we have a good working relationship and I believe one shouldn’t spoil that. We were looking for a director for Radhe. My friend Prashant suggested Prabhu. I recalled he had told me that after Dabangg 3, he was going on a two-month holiday, but Prashant urged me to speak to him and Prabhu agreed. The script was halfway through. I was working on a film at the time... I don’t remember the name... and it was to come out on Eid, which didn’t happen…

Inshallah with Sanjay Leela Bhansali? Wasn’t that the film?
Inshallah… Inshallah… Radhe is happening Inshallah on Eid. We are working day in and day out to put it out on Eid.

You were saying Radhe’s script was ready…
With us, plots are always ready, then, they evolve. You write at home, in a hotel or an office. But then, when you come on the sets, the story changes with the setting.

Radhe is also your story?
No, but we have made a lot of changes.

Eid is your date…
No, it’s not, it’s nobody’s date, anyone is welcome to release a film on the day. It’s just that my films happen to come on Eid. Actually, my last film, Bharat, released during Ramadan, three days before Eid. And now, Dabangg 3 is arriving on Christmas. I’ve had releases during Diwali and Republic Day too. Any festive day is a good day.

Next Eid, Akshay Kumar’s Laxmmi Bomb is releasing with Radhe...
Yes, and there is scope for another two-three films to come on that day. Then, the audience decides which film to spend on. Agar picture achhi lagi, they will watch it. If they don’t, toh nahin dekhenge, festive date ho ya koi bhi date ho.

Bharat has made a lot of money at the box-office. But do you think the scale of the film magnified the expectations?
Not really. I just thought towards the end, the father should have come back. That was my problem with the film. But aaj kal ke yeh new people think that a reunion with the father is a cliché. Father ki age kya hogi? Uski story kya hogi? I don’t give a damn, he should have come back.

Yes, the film did phenomenal business, my sister (Alvira) is happy, we’re happy with the product. But if we had shown a 70-year-old man and a 90-year-old man having a conversation, it would have been a more emotionally satisfying film. Bharat’s whole journey was about him waiting for his father to come back to him. So, for me, the film looked incomplete.

Talking about fathers, Salim Khan saab recently said that Farhan Akhtar has come to you with a script and you have liked it. Is the film happening?
I don’t know. Farhan has come to me with a script and I like him. He is like a kid brother; he has grown up with us. That bond will always be there with Zoya (Akhtar) and him. They are like my younger siblings.

Rohit Shetty and you have been talking too. Will Chulbul Pandey join Rohit’s cop universe, with Singham and Simmba?
Chulbul is a universe within himself. So is Singham.

This is a separate film, then?
Nothing’s finalised. We’ve been talking about other things too.

But Kick 2 is definitely happening and we are told it could arrive in December 2021?
It could.

How does it feel to bring Devil back? He has his own fans...
Yeah, one thing I want to do later is bring Kick’s Devil, Dabangg’s Chulbul Pandey and Radhe together.

That’s a wonderful idea. If The Avengers can do it, why not Salman Khan. Are you joking or is it a possibility?
No, I have something in mind.

Kick is Sajid’s film. He is not just a producer but a good friend...
Yes, he’s like a brother to us.

And what is it like bringing him back as a director?
(Laughs) He didn’t even know he was directing Kick, he got to know on Twitter.

You have introduced several newcomers to Hindi cinema, not just technicians but actors, too. From Sonakshi Sinha to Saiee Manjrekar now...
Saiee is a sigh of relief for the industry. Watch out for her.

We have heard that she is playing a mute in the film, no dialogue, speechless… True?
Nooo, you guys will be speechless when you see her. I’d introduced Sonakshi at an award show and this time too, I took Saiee along. As soon as we faced the paparazzi, they started saying, we want solo pictures of her. So, I thought, ho gaya Saiee ka. Rocket Singh, straight out! Then, I heard this comment, “Saiee, tu sahi aahes.”

We thought you were introducing Saiee’s sister, Ashwami? Are you?
We don’t have anything right now, but she is very talented.

How does Bigg Boss feel after all these years? It’s become a part of you?
Yeah, a part of mine wants to cut that part and throw it out and the other part wants to keep it. And the latter is haavi on the part that wants to throw it out.

You don’t like the show?
I like it. It gets stressful, but I learn a lot. And I get to know where the country is going, what is happening to values, morals, scruples and principles. We see it right there, with celebrities. The beauty is once they are out of the house, they are not like that at all. It’s not as if they are giving performances, the house makes them like that.

Has being in a particular place changed your personality?
No.

What’s happening with Sohail Khan’s film Sher Khan?
That film requires a lot of visual effects. After it is shot, it will take six-eight months, almost a year, for it to be ready. After the next two-three films, Sher Khan goes on the floors. It’s beautiful.

I’m not going to ask you about marriage this time…
Okay.

…But whenever I see you with kids, I feel a child is missing out on a really good father.
Even I feel that way.

Are there plans of having a child through adoption, surrogacy, though that’s outlawed...
No, not yet.

So, no plans?
No, when it happens, it happens.

How will it happen?
(With a straight face) I can’t describe the whole process to you.

What I mean is that you don’t want to get married or adopt…
There are enough kids in the house. Another child will be born now, in December.

Would you like to raise your sister Arpita’s child?
No, Arpita does a fantastic job of raising her child, in fact, she is raising all of us correctly right now.

Your dad, even at 84, is all there…
Yeah, because there were five of us, and now many more, so he has to be all there.

It’s wonderful how he knows everything that is happening with all your projects.
I share things with him when he is sitting across the table, tell him the basic plot. He will say, “Yeh galat hai, isey nikalo.” When he sees the film, too, there are times he says, “Yahaan mazaa nahin aa raha hai, isey nikalo.” Some bits we do listen to.

Did he have any suggestions for Dabangg 3?
No.

Salman Khan on why his next collaboration with Sanjay Leela Bhansali was called off three days before it was to roll
Hiren Kotwani (MUMBAI MIRROR; August 27, 2019)

Since it was announced, Inshallah ( In-shaa-Allah as spelt by SLB), Salman Khan and Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s collaboration 20 years after Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam (1999), has been grabbing headlines. With Alia Bhatt as the leading lady, the film was to take off on Wednesday. But on Sunday night, the actor tweeted, “The film with Sanjay Leela Bhansali is pushed but I will still see you all on Eid, 2020. Insha-Allah!! (sic).” The post had rumour mills buzzing, more so following a statement on Tuesday afternoon from the director: “Bhansali Productions has decided to not go ahead with Inshaa-Allah for now… Further announcement will be out soon… God Willing (sic).”

While the development has shocked the film fraternity and the audience, a source privy to the development informed Mirror that the decision was mutually taken by the actor and the filmmaker after an amicable closed-door meeting. By then, satellite and digital rights had been sold and sets built in different studios. After looking at the complete picture before shooting began, they figured that instead of In-sha-Allah, they’d prefer to collaborate on another project in the future.

Salman and SLB's friendship blossomed during their first film together, the latter's directorial debut, Khamoshi: The Musical. They went on to make Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam during which friction erupted when SLB succumbed to pressure from his distributors and Aishwarya Rai’s character Nandini went back to her husband Vanraj (Ajay Devgn) instead of reuniting with Salman’s Sameer. Buzz is, Salman wasn’t happy about Shah Rukh Khan bagging SLB’s Devdas either and dropped out of his Bajirao Mastani, planned with him in the lead. They put their differences aside when Salman agreed to a special appearance in Saawariya, Ranbir Kapoor and Sonam Kapoor’s debut film, in 2007, and subsequently agreed to collaborate on an adaptation of the Hollywood film, The Prestige, till SLB chose to cast Hrithik Roshan in Guzaarish (2010). In an interview to Mirror (March 20, 2019) the filmmaker had admitted that they have had a few issues in the past. “But whenever we met, even sporadically, we picked up from where we’d left off without dwelling on the past and the differences of opinion we might have had. My fondness for him is pure, and Salman, once he offers his friendship, even if you don’t meet or talk in five years, he’s there waiting for you.” The previous day, they had officially announced their fourth collaboration together, In-shaa-Allah, in which Salman was reportedly playing an Orlando-based businessman with Alia as a 20-something aspiring actress from Varanasi.

In the same interview, SLB said that from his understanding of Salman as a man, an actor and as a superstar, In-shaa-Allah was the right film for them to collaborate on. “I’ve been working on it for the last year-and-a-half, starting three months before Padmaavat released, to take my mind off things that were happening at that time. I wrote and reworked it till I felt it was ready, then, went to him,” he had informed. Salman was quick to give his nod to the project.

But a few weeks ago, reports started coming in about financial issues and creative disagreements between the duo. However, according to a source, “Salman didn’t insist, forget dictate, any changes in the script but Bhansali and he have amicably decided to not make this film for now”.

Meanwhile, on Tuesday evening, Salman announced, “Itna mat sochna mere baare mein, Dil mein aata hoon.. aur Eid pe bhi (sic).” Since the cryptic tweet was strongly reminiscent of a punchline from Kick, “Mere baare mein itna mat sochna, Main dil mein aata hoon, samajh mein nahin”, which released on Eid 2014, it fuelled speculations that the actor was planning to push Sajid Nadiadwala’s Kick sequel, which had been initially announced as a Christmas 2019 release, to Eid 2020. But according to the source, the tweet was made in jest.

“Salman has shortlisted two subjects and will take a call on which film he wants to make next and announce it soon. Shooting of Dabangg 3 is almost complete, he’s looking to start his Eid 2020 outing next month,” added the source.

While Salman remained non-committal on his Eid 2020 release, he cleared the air on In-shaa-Allah while talking to Mirror. “Sanjay was a friend even before we started working on Khamoshi. He had come to meet me through Manisha Koirala. After that, we collaborated on Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam. When he came to me with this film, I liked it and we decided to work together again. One thing I can say is that Sanjay won’t do gaddaari with his film. I want him to make the film he wants to make. Nothing changes between us as friends and I’m sure nothing has changed in Sanjay’s heart for me. I’m extremely close to his mother (Leela) and sister (Bela). I wish him all the best. He and I will still work in future on a film, Inshallah,” Salman said.

While Sanjay Leela Bhansali etched a pure love story, Salman Khan wanted a proper potboiler, leading to the project being binned
Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; August 27, 2019)

The week started on a shocking note for Salman Khan fans. While the superstar announced on Sunday night that his Eid 2020 offering will not be Inshallah but another film, Monday morning saw Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s studio reveal that the team was not going ahead with the love story "for now". A shame since the Alia Bhatt starrer, was to mark the reunion of Khan and Bhansali — a seal of sorts, if you may, to announce to the world that their feud was a thing of the past. Ironically though, In-shaa-Allah was not meant to be. The film has been shelved owing to creative differences between Bhansali and Khan.

A source close to the project tells mid-day, "Salman wanted to change the fabric of the film. While he was happy with the first hour of the story, he had requested Bhansali to rework the rest of the script, especially the climax. Even as the production team set up the first day’s shoot, the two couldn’t agree on the narrative. Bhansali wanted it to be a love story, and Salman could only envision it as a typical Eid potboiler, in which romance is one of the elements. Bhansali respects his actors, and their suggestions are welcome, but not if they aim to alter the narrative. Hence, he took the decision to shelve the film."

Khan has promised his fans that his Eid date with them remains unaffected, leading to speculation that he will fasttrack Kick 2 to meet the deadline. So what happens to In-shaa-Allah? Dismissing rumours that Bhansali’s other favourite — Shah Rukh Khan — might step in to save the day, the source reveals, "Bhansali might turn his focus to Izhaar, a romantic film that he has been discussing with Shah Rukh for a while. The film will be mounted only by November and is not eyeing the Eid 2020 release."

Which leaves us with the big question — what happens to the friends-turned-foes-turned-friends Khan and Bhansali? "Not even a makkhi will go to the cinemas to watch that film," Khan had said about Guzaarish (2010) after their last public fall out. Should we expect more of such jibes?

Akshay Books Eid Date
Even as fans and industry insiders were reeling under the latest turn of events, Akshay Kumar wasted no time in booking the Eid 2020 window for his film, Laxmmi Bomb. While the Kiara Advani starrer was to hit the marquee on May 22, it will now enjoy a festival release. With this, the stage is set for a clash of the titans — Salman Khan has made it evident that he will not miss his date with the audience on Eid 2020.

Shooting for the last leg of the actor’s cop-drama is on in Jaipur, after which he heads to Mumbai studio to shoot SLB’s next and a reality show
Himesh Mankad (MUMBAI MIRROR; August 16, 2019)

After wrapping up the Phaltan schedule of Dabangg 3 with co-stars Sonakshi Sinha and Saiee Manjrekar, Salman Khan has flown to Jaipur for the last leg of his cop-drama. The film has been shot for approximately 75 days, and the current schedule will go on for another eight days. “The crew is filming at a remote village, Basco, on the Agra road, which is 50 km away from Jaipur city. The shoot started on Independence Day. A huge crowd had gathered around the spot to get a glimpse of Salman,” revealed a source close to the development.

The Prabhudheva directorial marks Salman and Sonakshi’s return to the franchise as Chulbul Pandey and Rajjo respectively, after seven years. In this schedule, the duo will also shoot a romantic song composed by Sajid-Wajid. “It’s an outdoor schedule, and the idea is to capture the monuments of Jaipur,” the source added. After wrapping up the cop-drama, Salman will take a break with a trip to the US, returning to India in the first wee of September, after which he jumps into Sanjay Leela Bhansali’ Inshallah alongside Alia Bhatt. “The film was supposed to kick o by mid-August, however, owing t the tight schedules of both the leads, the shoot will now only commence in the first week of September in Mumbai,” the source informed.

After Mumbai, the romantic saga, which opens on Eid next year, will move on to the Varanasi and Florida schedules. “Like all Salman films, Inshallah will take around 100 days to be completed,” the source shared, adding that “the actor will be tied up with the project till February next year.” Incidentally, the last leg of Dabangg 3 and the beginning of Bhansali’s film will overlap with the shoot of Bigg Boss, which is returning with its 13th season next month.

In a first, the set for the reality show has been moved from Lonavala to the Maximum City, and the Bigg Boss house is being constructed at Film City, where Salman will also shoot for Inshallah. “Bigg Boss is a weekly job for Salman and he has been managing film shoots with reality shows for almost a decade now. The theme last year revolved around the beach. This time, it is a youth-centric set-up to lend the show a fresh touch,” the source added.

Built in 1923, the bridge has appeared in films like Ganga Ki Saugand, Sonu Ke Titu Ki Sweety, Bunty Aur Babli and more
Niharika Lal (BOMBAY TIMES; July 15, 2019)

On Friday, the Uttarakhand government shut the 96-year-old suspension bridge Lakshman Jhula in Rishikesh for the public after a Public Works Department (PWD) report stated that the bridge was in a bad condition and could not “sustain more traffic in its present state”. The development will not only have an impact on the locals and tourists but also many film producers as the iconic bridge is one of Bollywood’s favourite shooting locations.

Om Prakash, Additional Chief Secretary (ACS), PWD, Uttarakhand, said that orders were issued to have the bridge shut on the PWD-appointed consultant’s recommendation. “It is not certain when the bridge will be opened,” he said.

The bustling 450 ft iron suspension bridge has long been one of the most popular shooting locations in Rishikesh, where everything from movies to television shows to ad campaigns have been shot. It has featured in a number of films, including Amitabh Bachchan’s 1978 film Ganga Ki Saugand, Ayushmann Khurrana’s Dum Laga Ke Haisha and last year’s Batti Gul Meter Chalu.

SALMAN KHAN’S NEXT MAY BE THE FIRST FILM TO GET AFFECTED
Shooting for Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Inshallah, starring Salman Khan and Alia Bhatt, is scheduled for next month in Rishikesh, Haridwar and Uttarkashi. A Rishikesh-based line producer says, “In April, Sanjay did a recce in Haridwar and Rishikesh. We don’t have the list of locations yet, but one of the major locations was Lakshman Jhula. It won’t be possible for his crew and him to shoot there now.”

‘ONCE THE AUDIENCE SEES THE BRIDGE, THEY KNOW IT IS RISHIKESH’
Line producers say that Lakshman Jhula in Rishikesh is as iconic as the Eiffel Tower in Paris, the Taj Mahal in Agra and the India Gate in Delhi. “Even for those scenes that are not shot on the Lakshman Jhula, directors instruct us to pick spots from where the bridge can be seen in the background, like it was seen in Qarib Qarib Singlle. Similarly, if a shot is placed in a restaurant nearby, they prefer frames in which the Lakshman Jhula is visible. Once the audience sees the bridge, they know the place,” says Nitin Pundir, a Rishikesh-based line producer. He adds, “Every year during the kanwar yatra, the bridge is shut because of traffic. Initially we thought that this time also it was because of the yatra but it seems the bridge is shut permanently.”



RULES WERE FLOUTED OPENLY, SAY PRODUCERS
While the spot has been popular for film shooting since the 1960s and 70s, permissions from multiple local authorities were required. And even back then, most of the time, rules were openly flouted. Javed, a Delhi-based line producer who was a part of the crew filming Dum Laga Ke Haisha at Lakshman Jhula, says, “Whenever we asked for permission to shoot at Lakshman Jhula, we were told to not allow more than 50 people together on it. But there was no way we could shoot with just 50 people. To shoot any sequence in a film, we need way more people including the actors, the key crew, the supporting cast and vehicles.”

A Delhi-based line producer adds, “While filming Dum Laga Ke Haisha, we had to put 20-30 dancers on the suspension bridge, which was against the set rules. But, we took the liberty to do that while shooting. Actually, in most cases, a situation like this is unavoidable. The situation is pretty similar with almost all the song sequences that are shot on the bridge.”

Another prominent line producer chips in, saying, “Riding a bike is not allowed on the bridge but the rule was flouted blatantly for multiple ad campaigns.”

TIME FOR THE SPOTLIGHT TO SHIFT TO THE RAM JHULA?
“Production houses can still shoot in Rishikesh, but it will be at Lakshman Jhula’s twin bridge Ram Jhula. It’s located only a few kilometres away. It’s not that popular right now, but we don’t have an option anymore,” line producer Pundir points out.

A Dehradun-based line producer states, “It’s a huge loss for several line producers because Lakshman Jhula is an iconic location. A lot of shooting-related queries from Indian as well as international production houses trickled in only for that location and of course, the Ganga ghat. However, it is better to take precautions than to regret later. Now that Lakshman Jhula is closed for good, it’s high time that we found our options. The state is blessed with a lot of natural beauty and there are plenty of untapped locations which will probably find their space in the spotlight now.”

The actor has been undergoing a physical transformation as he flits between sets of one film to the next
Himesh Mankad (MUMBAI MIRROR; June 22, 2019)

For his last outing at the movies, the Eid release Bharat, Salman Khan had to gain some weight to shoot his character’s older portions. After wrapping up the schedule in February, the 53-year-old actor moved on to Dabangg 3 which, incidentally, required him to maintain that physique for his seven-year comeback as Chulbul Pandey. The cop-drama is based in two eras - the present and flashbacks - that narrate the protagonists transformation from a local goon to Robinhood cop.

Now, after wrapping up the presentday portions, in which his character is closer to his real self in age, Salman is shedding all the extra weight to acquire a leaner look so that he can shoot for the flashback scenes that feature him in a younger avatar. “In the flashback portions, Chulbul is a man in his 20s, and Salman has been hitting the gym to get the required look,” revealed a source close to the development. Salman will be shooting for his younger portions in the film’s ongoing schedule in Mumbai, where he will also romance the second leading lady of the cop-drama, who is yet to be unveiled. “While it’s Rajjo in the current era, the flashback features another actress,” the source added. The shoot will wrap up by August after which, Salman begins shooting for Inshallah.

 

Sanjay Leela Bhansali is on a three-week recce in the US for his next, which is expected to go on the floors by August-end
Himesh Mankad (MUMBAI MIRROR; June 20, 2019)

Mirror was the first to report (February 23) that Salman Khan and Sanjay Leela Bhansali are set to reunite 20 years after Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam with a contemporary love story, which goes on the floors in the second half of the year. Soon after, it was revealed that the film, titled Inshallah, will feature Alia Bhatt in the lead and is gearing up for an Eid 2020 release. Now, we have learnt that Bhansali and his team are currently on a recce in the US.

According to a source close to the development, the team will be in the country for the next three weeks as they search for ideal shooting locations in the state of Florida. “The prime spots on their wish-list are the streets of Orlando and the beaches of Miami,” the source informed, adding that Salman’s character, of a 40-something businessman, is based in Orlando, a city in central Florida. “It’s a character that’s young at heart and Salman will sport a stylish look, complete with designer jackets and sunglasses.”

Before flying to the US, Bhansali and his team visited Varanasi, Rishikesh and Haridwar. “Alia’s character (of an aspiring actress in her mid-20s) is from a place that is situated near the river Ganga, which is why Bhansali is contemplating on these locations,” the source informed. The real-life age difference between the leads forms the core of Bhansali’s story which, according to the source, is a humorous tale of love rooted in the Indian culture. SLB has worked on the script for almost two years, and apart from the two leads, an ensemble is being cast for the film.

Inshallah is expected to go on the floors by August-end, once Salman is done filming his copdrama, Dabangg 3, which marks his return as Chulbul Pandey after seven years. Alia, on the other hand, will wrap up work on her debut home production, Sadak 2, as well as a major chunk of Ayan Mukerji’s Brahmastra co-starring Ranbir Kapoor. Following the Bhansali film, she moves on to Karan Johar’s period-drama Takht. With Inshallah, Salman steps out of the larger-than-life zone, while SLB will be taking a break from intense dramas after Goliyon Ki Raasleela Ram-Leela, Bajirao Mastani and Padmaavat. “It’s a younger film, the kind I’ve wanted to make for a long time after all the dark, intense, over dramatic ones. Life is not only about dark nights, it’s also about beautiful sunshiny mornings. It’s a new chapter for me as a filmmaker,” Bhansali had earlier told Mirror (March 20).

MUMBAI MIRROR (June 13, 2019)

On Wednesday, Salman Khan put all speculations around a face-off between his 2020 release Inshallah and Akshay Kumar’s Sooryavanshi to rest. Taking to the social media, the 53-year-old actor announced that the Rohit Shetty-directed Akshay and Katrina Kaif-starrer would now release on March 27, 2020. The cop-drama was initially slated to hit the marquee during the Eid 2020 weekend, clashing with Salman’s reunion with Sanjay Leela Bhansali, which features Alia Bhatt as the female lead. “I always thought of him as my younger brother and today he proves it... #RohitShetty. Sooryavanshi releasing on 27th March, 2020 (sic),” Salman shared.

In March, the makers of Sooryavanshi had shared the first look of the film and revealed that it would release on Eid in 2020. Now, Rohit’s response to Salman’s announcement has fueled speculation that the actor is the newest entrant in his cop universe after Ajay Devgn (Singham), Ranveer Singh (Simmba) and Akshay. “You can compete with the world but not with your family... See you soon Chulbul Pandey!” Rohit said.

Recently, Salman had reportedly confirmed that he is in talks with Rohit for a film. Later, he was quoted as saying that he had suggested a Singham-Dabangg crossover to the filmmaker a while ago. Rohit, on the other hand, has spoken highly of Dabangg and Chulbul’s legacy in the past. Salman is currently shooting for Dabangg 3 at a city studio and the film is gearing up for a Christmas 2019 release.

Hiren Kotwani (DNA; June 12, 2019)

Even as his Eid outing, Bharat, is showing in cinemas, Salman Khan is apparently planning a project with his youngest bhai Sohail Khan — jungle adventure Sher Khan. This will be one of the several projects that Dabangg Khan has in the pipeline. The Bollywood superstar has scheduled his next two releases — Prabhudheva-directorial Dabangg 3 on December 20 and Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s InshaAllah on Eid 2020. After that, there is Sajid Nadiadwala’s Kick 2 and possibly a movie with Rohit Shetty, apart from Sohail’s pet project.

Sher Khan first made news about seven years ago.

However, back then, the Khan brothers weren’t too pleased with the way the script was turning out. So, they put it on the back-burner and Sohail made Jai Ho (2014), instead. It’s likely that they will crack the script in the coming months.

“Even though Sher Khan was put on hold, its writing had not stopped. The brainstorming continued and now, a considerable portion of the script has been completed. The adventure film will also have a good dose of VFX, which is also being incorporated in the screenplay,” says our source, adding that the Khans are hopeful of cracking the screenplay by the time Dabangg 3 releases.

The insider adds, “The Khan clan is pleased with the way the script has turned out so far. Naturally, if they can lock it by the first quarter of 2020, then Salman would like to work on Sher Khan after Inshallah wraps up.” As for Kick 2, our source tells us that work on the script is still underway. Sajid Nadiadwala, who directed Salman’s 2014 Eid blockbuster, will helm the sequel too.

Our source sums up, “Sohail is the darling of the family. And Salim Khan saab and Salman absolutely dote on him. Given that Alvira and Atul’s Bharat is out and Arbaaz’s Dabangg 3 is under-production, Salman is looking to line up Sher Khan. Since they have finished a considerable portion of the script and are likely to lock it in the coming months, it won’t be surprising if Salman decides to do it after completing Inshallah.”

IT’S ALL IN THE FAMILY
In the last 10 years, Salman has had films with his siblings, one after the other. After Arbaaz’s maiden production venture, Dabangg (2010), he had Ready (June 2011), on which Sohail was one of the producers, followed by his 2011 Eid release Bodyguard, which was produced by his sister Alvira Khan Agnihotri and brother-in-law Atul Agnihotri. The superstar’s Christmas 2012 outing Dabangg 2, which marked Arbaaz’s directorial debut, was followed by Sohail’s Jai Ho (2014). Now, post-Bharat (also produced by Alvira and Atul) and Dabangg (co-produced by Arbaaz), it looks like Sohail’s turn won’t be too far away.

Sonil Dedhia (MID-DAY; June 4, 2019)

Currently filming for the third instalment of his cop film, Dabangg, Salman Khan is expected to jump into the shoot of yet another franchise, next year. Almost a year after Kick producer Sajid Nadiadwala announced a sequel to the Jacqueline Fernandez-starrer, mid-day hears that the film will go on floors in April 2020.

A source says, "When the sequel was announced, the script wasn't ready. Since part one included high-octane action sequences, Nadiadwala wanted to take the second instalment a notch above. Now that the production house is ready, the actor has also given his nod. Once he finishes shooting for Dabangg 3, he will move on to Sanjay Leela Bhansali's Inshallah, and then Kick 2."

Pre-production work on the film is expected to begin by the year-end to meet a December 2020 release date. "While the film will not be a continuation of the last edition, Salman's character's traits will be retained. Jacqueline has been finalised for it."

Salman Khan admits he has changed a lot over the years, opens up about future projects, joking that Dabangg will stop at 743rd instalment
Roshmila Bhattacharya (MUMBAI MIRROR; May 22, 2019)

He’s the boss even in a makeshift shamiana in the parking lot of a city studio. The night is young, and the mood is mellow. As he gears up to embark on a six-decade cinematic journey, Salman Khan, as always, is full of surprises. He cracks jokes with a straight face, shares changes that he’s noticed in himself without the slightest discomfiture and reveals plans that sound impossible but with Salman you can never tell. Excerpts from an interview:

Your director Ali Abbas Zafar has said that Bharat is a film that could only be made with you because of the beautiful relationship you share with your father (Salim Khan)?
Everyone shares a beautiful relationship with their parents. So, this film could have been made with anyone and they would have done complete justice to the film because the script is so beautiful. Ab bolne ke liye it can be said that because I share a beautiful relationship with my father, mother, sisters, brothers and friends I was the only choice but the fact is that had anyone else done it, it would have turned out just this way, maybe better.

It’s an official adaptation of a Korean film, Ode To My Father…
We’ve taken the rights of that film, but it’s changed a lot. Their culture is different from ours and when you adapt it, scenes change, moments change, the screenplay changes. But the plot has remained the same.

Having written stories and screenplays yourself, what was it about this one that caught your attention?
My visual of this film is that of two old men standing together at the end with tears in their eyes. Beta bhi buddha, baap aur buddha.. Since the age of nine, this guy has been waiting for something like this to happen…

Ali says he now has a two-hero script for a film which he’d like to make with Shah Rukh Khan and you.
I don’t know anything about this. At the moment there’s only Bharat.

What does the word Bharat mean to you?
It means my country, the country I love, and what I can do for it.

Every year on Eid you come with a film which is like a gift... an Eidi for your fans.
Films arrive during every festival, whenever one is ready, aa jaate hain. Dabangg 3 will come this Christmas and I’ve had releases during Diwali too. It’s just a coincidence that some of my films have opened around this time which makes people say that Eid is booked by Salman Khan. Arre any actor can come during the festival, it’s a good date, a holiday, when people have got their salaries and their bonuses. Since this is the only entertainment we have, they come flocking to see their favourite heroes. It’s strange, when you are watching something on the digital platform, you watch alone, but when it’s a film, you always take family or friends along. Picture sab saath mein baith ke dekhte hain aur isse bonding ho jaati hai theatre ke andar.

What kind of films did you grow up watching?
The kind of films I’m making right now, and I went to the theatres to watch them. And believe me, the best kind of marketing for a film is still in-theatre promotion. The posters we saw in the foyer and the trailers we waited for, are what draw cinegoers. People come to the theatres to watch films all the time and for them posters must be tangaoed and trailers chalaoed so they know what’s arriving next.

There’s another Korean film, Veteran, around a detective and a crime syndicate…
Yeah, it’s an outstanding film. Atul (producer brother-in-law Atul Agnihotri) has acquired the rights of both Ode To My Father and Veteran.

Will you feature in the Hindi adaptation of Veteran too?
We will see about that.

Dabangg 3 traces how neighbourhood rowdy Chulbul became Inspector Robinhood Pandey. What triggered off the idea of a prequel?
The plot was in our minds when we were writing Dabangg.

So the franchise was conceived as a three-part series.
No, the first and the second parts which were linked lead up to the third. It was like iske baad yeh hoga aur third mein yeh hona chahiye.

So there’s going to be a Dabangg 4, 5,6… Where do you stop?
We will stop at (after pondering for a moment) Dabangg 743.

It will spin for 700 years?
(With a naughty twinkle) No, we will finish everything now.

Ek saal mein kitne aayenge?
(Smiling) Aa jayenge.

The TV show, Bigg Boss, has become synonymous with you but buzz is, you will not be hosting this season. True?
I wish it were true but I’m doing it.

What do you enjoy about getting people into the house every year?
I don’t enjoy it. Endemol and Colors enjoy picking up people and putting them in the house who I have to then deal with. Sometimes I enjoy it, sometimes I don’t enjoy it, not at all. But I get to learn a lot from them.

Would you allow anyone to lock you into a house like that?
I would never allow it, but unfortunately, I don’t have a choice. They do come and pick me up and block me.

Not anymore…
No? I hope not.

As an actor you’re always playing characters written for you, in the process don’t you lose sight of the real Salman Khan?
People write different characters for me and I think I am doing them differently, but they all turn out the same. That’s my speciality! Kitna bhi different le kar aao, they all end up looking alike.

As Ali says, even when you are playing a character, Salman Khan doesn’t disappear 100 per cent. Perhaps that’s what your fans like…
They come to see Salman Khan, but they need to see who I really am. Who am I? Even I don’t know myself. I have no idea.

So you see a lot of changes in Salman today from the one who did Maine Pyar Kiya?
Oh, yes.

But your director, Sooraj Barjatya, says he saw the same “beautiful soul” of Maine Pyar Kiya a quarter of a century later in Prem Ratan Dhan Payo…
Sooraj sees what he is in others. He has not lost his innocence and his niceness. But I know that naivety in me disappeared a long time ago. I see a huge change in me and that’s how it should be. You can’t have the same innocence at this age, you will look like an idiot.

Sanjay Leela Bhansali who is reuniting with you on Inshallah after almost two decades mentioned that you simply picked up from where you had left off…
That’s how it should be, whenever he and I meet, there is this connect It’s just not an actor-director relationship. Just because he was working with other actors, it didn’t have to hamper or spoil our equation. I work with other directors too, so should he. Now we will be collaborating on this very sweet love story.

The film pairs you with one of the most promising young talents we’ve had in recent years…
See how she’s turned it around, from a student to now, it’s beautiful! And no one can take credit for her growth except Alia Bhatt herself. Jo bhi bole humne usko banaya hai, is not to be believed. It’s Alia who has honed her talent.

What’s it like to be working with this bundle of talent?
A godown of talent will be meeting with a bundle of talent… (Laughs) Actually there’s no talent here.

Tiger Zinda Hai 3 is expected to start soon...
It might, I’ve still to hear the script. Right now, I have two films.

Will Katrina Kaif return?
Of course. Dabangg will always have Sonakshi (Sinha), Jackie (Jacqueline Fernandez) will always be a part of Kick and Tiger can never be made without Katrina.

Talking of Jacqueline you brought art into her life…
(Smiles) Yeah, she was painting a lot during Race 3.

Planning to share some of your paintings with the world?
There’s just no time to paint now but in around three months time I’ll have an exhibition for sure.

What about your other ventures? There was talk of you starting a restaurant…
Restaurant? No, that’s not on the cards, but we are retailing in clothing, jewellery, gyms and equipment, with the focus being on quality and durability. Mashallah, all the ventures are doing well with plans of getting much bigger.

As a producer you recently gave your nod to a romcom revolving around a wedding to be directed by Rohit Naiyar…
Rohit was the assistant director on two films I’d done with Raj Kanwar. Minutes into the narration I stood up and began laughing. It’s one of the funniest scripts I have heard.

Your wedding has become a national concern….
Yeah, I think I should announce it on May 23… (Laughs)

Seriously, any plans?
Not for some time.

And children? You love them…
(Smiles) I want children, but with children comes the mother. I don’t want the mother, but they need one. But I have a whole village to take care of them. Maybe I can work out a win-win situation for everyone.

Ayan Mukerji, who is also in London, makes music with Pritam
Avinash Lohana (MUMBAI MIRROR; May 3, 2019)

On Thursday (May2), Mirror reported that in Sadak 2, which marks Mahesh Bhatt’s return to direction after 20 years, Alia Bhatt’s character is out to expose a fake guru who runs an ashram and she will be accompanied by Sanjay Dutt’s character. While a huge set is being designed at Bandra’s Mehboob Studio for the shoot that kicks off in a fortnight’s time, the actress has taken off to London for a short break.

“After a meeting with Sanjay Leela Bhansali for her next, Inshallah, a contemporary love story with Salman Khan, Alia took off to London for a vacation. She was accompanied by her Brahmastra director Ayan Mukerji. While Alia will be enjoying some ‘we’ time with sister Shaheen, who’s studying at the Interior Design School, Ayan will be working with Pritam, who is also in London, on the film’s music,” informs a source close to the development. Ayan posted a picture from the airport, captioning it, “Adventure (of a Lifetime).”

Alia will return in the second week of May and dive immediately into prep for her first home production. 

Himesh Mankad (MUMBAI MIRROR; April 27, 2019)

Salman Khan announced on Friday that the third instalment of his successful Dabangg franchise will be a Christmas 2020 release. It will hit the marque on December 20. The film is directed by Prabhudheva, also features Sonakshi Sinha as Rajjo, Kannada actor Sudeep as the antagonist and producer Arbaaz Khan returning as Makkhi and will be seen in khaki for the first time in the franchise. Dabangg 3 follows a non-linear narrative with a prequel showcasing the journey of Chulbul Pandey into the police force from a neighbourhood rowdy.

The date was blocked by Karan Johar almost six months ago for the release of his ambitious fantasy adventure film, Brahmashtra, featuring Ranbir Kapoor and Alia Bhatt in the lead, and Amitabh Bachchan, Nagarjuna, Mouni Roy and Dimple Kapadia in pivotal roles. The Ayan Mukerji directorial has been in the making for a while. It was initially slated for an Independence Day release but the filmmaker pushed it by a few months because it is a VFX-heavy film and requires extensive post-production. Brahmastra has been planned as a mythological trilogy.

The sudden announcement by Salman has set up a box-office clash, amongst the biggest of the decade. Salman and Ranbir have shared a love-hate relationship despite the former having played a cameo in RK’s debut film, Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Saawariya.

In 2017 too, Salman and Ranbir were supposed to lock horns on Christmas with Tiger Zinda Hai and Sanju. However, the latter’s shoot took longer than expected and gave Tiger a clear run.

Incidentally, this will be Salman’s second clash with KJo. The two will face-off on the Eid 2020 weekend, with Salman reuniting with SLB for Inshallah, opposite RK’s steady date Alia Bhatt, and Karan pushing Rohit Shetty cop-drama, Sooryavanshi featuring Akshay Kumar and Katrina Kaif. 

Meena Iyer (DNA; April 26, 2019)

It’s rare for a Bollywood star to regain lost ground. But Katrina Kaif has managed to do so. She was the ruling diva of Hindi cinema when she stepped back three years ago (for just a wee bit) to pursue her personal dream with Ranbir Kapoor. That chapter ended; perhaps, not in the way she wanted it to. However, to borrow a cliché, she rose like a phoenix from the ashes.

What’s commendable is that Kat didn’t waste any time in doing so. She just aced her game with convincing performances in big-ticket ventures like Tiger Zinda Hai (TZH, 2017), Thugs Of Hindostan (TOH, 2018) and Zero (2018). TZH netted Rs 339 crore at the domestic box office, but TOH and Zero were epic disasters. The fate of the films aside, Katrina has been the sole beneficiary in all of this.

Her journey as an actress has been noticeably good. As she readies herself for yet another magnum opus, Bharat, the leggy lass talks about the change in her craft and also about her personal transformation. Over to Katrina, the girl with the maximum stardom in B-Town.

Salman Khan and you are an evergreen jodi. TZH pushed the bar.
I feel the audience expects a lot from Salman and me as an onscreen jodi. We have received so much love and support from fans that we have that much more responsibility to deliver a good film. Nowadays, the tolerance for anything less than perfect is so little. Cinema has evolved; entertainment is available across so many platforms and there is an influx of digital shows. So, people are no longer in a mood to tolerate anything other than the best. They want quality, they want soul. No fancy, flowery words and image-building exercises will help make the cut. If your product doesn’t have quality, be sure it will be rejected. Your story and your film have to have soul. And Bharat has that, it has substance.

How do you think it will compare with the best?
I don’t mean to say that all our films need to compare with those of Steven Spielberg. There are all types of films. But, there has to be a super-honest quality about your work. As an actor, you have to make sure that when you are standing on that set, in whatever capacity, you are giving it your all. If you don’t, the audience will not spare you.

In your opinion, have Salman and you evolved as a screen pair?
Yes.

You stepped into the film post Priyanka Chopra Jonas’ exit?
Yes, I was not meant to do Bharat initially, Priyanka was. Just two months before the shoot, (director) Ali Abbas Zafar called me and told me there was a change of heroine. Initially, I thought he was pulling my leg because I was genuinely unaware of everything that had transpired on the PC front. Anyway, he asked me to read the script. What I like about Ali is that he is a straight-forward person. He was clear that I should do the film only if I liked my part. He didn’t want me to base my decision on the basis of our friendship. It took me three hours and 15 minutes to read the script and I was blown away by it. I was sitting with my script coach. And, I told him, ‘Isn’t this really good?’I called Ali and said I loved it.

Tell us more about your character Kumud.
It’s a strong, well-written character. I saw this as an opportunity to play a part that actually spoke to me, to portray a desi Hindustani woman. The closest that I had done to something like this was my role in Prakash Jha’s Raajneeti (2010). But even that wasn’t as desi as this. So, it was a challenge for me.



You are playing a woman from the ’70s?
Playing this character didn’t mean just working on one aspect. It meant a lot more. From the first day of the shoot to the last, I immersed myself into it. I slowed down myself to fit into the mould of a woman from the ’70s. You know the world today is so fast-paced. Everything is at the touch of a button. Whether it’s social media or something else, we’re so wired. However, Kumud is not from that world. I didn’t even want my usual gym-toned body. Instead, I stuck to yoga and some stretching exercises to stay fit. She works in a hot, sweaty employment exchange in Delhi. So, I had to display the mindset of a single woman battling it out in a man’s world back then. For the 20 days of the schedule, I behaved like Kumud. I didn’t run to the gym after pack up to pump iron or even begin to get out of character. Even after pack-up, I lived in this bubble; sticking to the way Kumud talks, keeping her attitude in mind.

Of late, you appear to be pushing yourself too hard. True?
I don’t think I push myself in an unhealthy way. Sometimes, you say to yourself — okay, this is not where I expected to be at this point. This is where I am. We don’t remain the same person we were. Each of us grows. Today, I have to be honest to the person who I am. I don’t know what the future holds. However, I feel the world has been a more welcoming place to me in the last two years. Earlier, I used to have a lot more fear. Now, that is gone.

But you’re still very work-oriented...
All of us try to be the best at what we do. I feel I need to be absolutely true to my work. I have been fortunate to have people who have come into my professional life and I am happy for their guidance. I have learnt that the deeper you connect to your work, the more enjoyment you derive from it. I have found that place of growth and connection. So, it is not as if I have been unkind to myself. I have just evolved.

You have become an expert at maintaining equations with people — whether it’s Alia Bhatt, Deepika Padukone or Ranbir Kapoor. You were seen exchanging pleasantries with them at a recent awards ceremony.
I will tell you something important. A certain thing is already playing out in a certain manner. My reaction to it makes no difference. I can sit here and feel anger and bitterness. I can make myself unhappy. Or I can take into consideration that, how miserable I am makes no difference to anyone else. So, instead, I can lighten my own burden and say — let me be happy and at peace. And what is meant for me, will come my way.

I’m not trying to be Ms Goody Two Shoes. I’m not some extra-terrestrial being. I do go through my own share of pain and angst. But I see no point in holding a grudge. Whoever it is (no names taken), I don’t see the point of holding on to anything unpleasant from the past. I would rather let bygones be bygones. I don’t think anyone is out there to hurt me. People are trying to do the best for you. But, sometimes, in trying to do the best for you, you get hurt. Too bad. However, I would rather have a friend than an enemy.

Profound…
Believe me, I would genuinely prefer having a friend than an enemy. I like to laugh, I like talking to people. I like hanging out with people. Under the circumstances, I see no point in staying aloof. I believe in making friends.

You’ve signed yet another biggie, Sooryavanshi?
I am happy to be back on a set with Akshay Kumar and Rohit (Shetty) sir. On so many levels, Akshay is so special. Ours is a long association and that doesn’t go away with time. When I was standing next to him on the terrace shooting for the photograph that we did to announce the film, I was genuinely happy. It was a good feeling.

Rohit sir is someone whom I have always admired. The cinematic world that he puts together — the mega franchises (Golmaal, Singham, Simmba) which he has come to be known for — is incredible. People go to theatres to watch a Rohit Shetty film. The larger-than-life cinema he makes is admirable. He is a self-made man and his achievements are commendable.

One hears Salman’s Inshallah and Sooryavanshi will clash next Eid.
Salman loves Akshay, he loves Rohit. He will always be supportive of me in the work place. So, I don’t think he will let his film clash with Sooryavanshi.

DNA (April 19, 2019)

The superhit jodi of Salman Khan and Katrina Kaif, who have appeared in several films such as Maine Pyar Kyun Kiya (2005), Partner (2007), Ek Tha Tiger (2012) and Tiger Zinda Hai (2017), will return to entertain audiences this Eid, with Bharat. The Ali Abbas Zafar directorial, which is a remake of the 2014 Korean film Ode To My Father, opens in cinemas on June 5. The movie, which chronicles the journey of a man and a nation named Bharat, sees the titular character’s journey from a kid to an old man. The Race 3 actor’s various looks have already piqued the curiosity of movie buffs.

However, we have now learnt that Salman and Kat, who share a great rapport, will apparently lock horns with each other next Eid. While the former will be seen in Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Inshallah opposite Alia Bhatt, the latter will reportedly play Akshay Kumar’s love interest in Rohit Shetty’s Sooryanvanshi, which will also open in cinemas on the festive occasion.

A source says, “If this happens, it will be a win-win situation for the audience as they will be spoilt for choice and can look forward to not one but two star-studded films during Eid. But it will be interesting to see how the stand-off between Sallu and Kat pans out, considering both the actors are close friends.” Akshay and Kat, too, are a formidable pair who have delivered hits such as Namaste London (2007), Singh is Kinng (2008) and De Dana Dan (2009), to name a few. If they reunite for Sooryavanshi, then they will be seen together on screen after a decade. Their last outing as a lead pair was Tees Maar Khan (2010).

Itishree Misra (BOMBAY TIMES; April 18, 2019)

Sanjay Leela Bhansali has begun work on his next film Inshallah, starring Salman Khan and Alia Bhatt. The Padmaavat filmmaker spent four days last week scouting for locations for the film in Haridwar, Rishikesh and Uttarkashi.

Bhansali reportedly also visited the famous Maya Devi temple in Haridwar and sought the blessings of the deity before beginning his recce in the region. “Bhansali sir last week yahan aaye thay aur unhone Haridwar aur Rishikesh mein kuchh locations dekhen hain jo unhe pasand bhi aaye hain,” informs Chinmay Pandit, the line producer in Haridwar, who took the National Award winning-director around in both towns to show him probable shoot locations. While in Rishikesh, Bhansali saw a few bylanes and ashrams in the town and also the ghats for the shoot. “Sir also saw the Ganga aarti and also participated in it in Haridwar besides seeing a few houses too,” says Pandit.

The filmmaker is also planning to shoot the film in Varanasi and will be conducting the recce there in the coming days. “I am still awaiting his confirmation for that as to when he wants to go there,” informs Chinmay.

It is after nearly two decades that Bhansali will be working with Salman Khan after Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam in 1999. Khan had then last done a cameo in Ranbir Kapoor-Sonam Kapoor’s debut Saawariya, while this film, touted to be a love story, will be Alia’s first film with the Devdas director.
----------------------------
Himesh Mankad (MUMBAI MIRROR; April 18, 2019)

Mirror was the first to report (February 23) that Salman Khan and Sanjay Leela Bhansali will reunite after 19 years for a contemporary love story, which goes on the floors in the second half of the year. Soon after, it was revealed that it is titled Inshallah, will feature Alia Bhatt in the lead and is targeting an Eid 2020 release. Now, we have learnt that the film is a contemporary romance rooted in Indian culture and goes on the floors in September. According to a source close to the development, the film will be shot around the river Ganga, as Bhansali is looking for a certain landscape. “The locations under consideration are Haridwar, Rishikesh and Varanasi,” the source informed, adding that Bhansali and his leads will also fly to the US for a major schedule. “The crew was contemplating on several places, including Europe, but settled on the US after several rounds of recce. Salman and Alia will be there in winters.”

Contrary to the buzz, that Salman and Alia are cast as siblings in the film, the source confirms that the duo is romantically paired. “Salman is a businessman in his mid-40s. The character is reminiscent of his turn in his 1997 romcom Jab Pyar Kisise Hota Hai. Alia plays a 20-something aspiring actress. All the factors, including age gap, have been taken into consideration. The story will justify the teaming up of two actors, from different generations, on a romantic journey,” the source revealed.

While Salman is stepping out of the larger-than-life zone for Inshallah, SLB is taking a breath from intense dramas with it.

Before starting work on his first love story since Sultan, Salman will wrap up Dabangg 3, while Alia will finish up work on SS Rajamouli’s RRR and take Sadak 2 on the floors before moving on to SLB’s film.

Mirror reached out to the film’s production team but they refused to comment. 

Stressing that she wants to play the myriad hues of a woman's personality, Alia Bhatt on holding her own and making sense of her success
Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; April 14, 2019)

Kicking off the year with Gully Boy, Alia Bhatt is ruling the roost in B-Town. Her line up features films with Karan Johar (Takht), SS Rajamouli (RRR), Sanjay Leela Bhansali (Inshallah) besides others in the works. One would assume the actor, 26, has no downtime as she does a double shift promoting Kalank and shooting for Brahmastra, which will be her first movie with boyfriend Ranbir Kapoor. "I get enough time to myself despite all of this. I make sure I pamper my cat [Edward], have meals with my parents and chill with my sister [Shaheen]," says Alia. Over the next 30 minutes at a Juhu hotel overlooking the beach, she decodes what feeling on top of her game does to her mind space if her age has led people to undermine her and gravitating towards playing the defiant woman over a damsel in distress. Edited excerpts from the interview

With your upcoming films, the wins for Raazi at award shows, do you feel at the top of your game?
I consciously don't let myself feel overconfident. I feel motivated to create work and push boundaries. Every time things go right in my life, professionally and personally, I become more driven, focussed, and hard working. Success should never be a reason to slack; it's the impetus to go at it harder. It's almost a decade in the movies for me. The first five years were a breeze. When Student Of The Year (2012) happened, I had no clarity on where I was headed. I look at the last decade as an adventure trip with a few fabulous pit stops. I feel settled now. I am naturally an over thinker and stressor, so, I consciously have to pull myself away from negative thoughts. I want to take each day as it comes.

While you have learnt acting on the job, people often claim that you have a natural flair for it. Do you agree?
No, I have consciously tried to learn each day, from every director I have collaborated with. No one is a natural. I still look at every role as an Everest to climb, that's my process. I remember when Udta Punjab (2016) came my way, I was petrified. But there was an underlying excitement, not fear. However, I am not delusional. I am aware of my limitations. When I read something, I know if I can crack the psyche or not. If I can't do justice to the ethos of the film, I will back out than do a shabby job. Every film makes me go back to ground zero and follow my instinct.

So, a film with Varun Dhawan and Abhishek Varman feels like home turf and is thus, easier?
It is home ground, but nothing is easy about it. Abhishek and Varun are my best friends. Varun makes me feel comfortable at work and that's essential because this is a difficult film. There is moral support when work gets overwhelming. I was shooting Brahmastra and Kalank simultaneously, some days were just impossible to get by. It's not easy to live up to Abhishek's vision. Roop, my character, is a millennial living in the 40s. Her thought process may be evolved, but she is always graceful in her demeanour. We deliberately kept Roop imperfect. I like that because as an actor it's a challenge to bring out the vulnerabilities of a character. Being perfect all the time is boring and a burden. The climax of the film was draining.

Talking about women expected to be perfect, a large part of the audience found your character Safeena from Gully Boy, toxic. Did you see it the same way?
I saw her as wild and that was liberating. The violence is not something I endorse, but she is real. What else would happen to someone who has been pigeonholed? She built up a lot of negative energy inside her, but as a person, she wasn't toxic. I understand the traits are similar - she was manipulative, but Safeena was also honest and colourful, with her heart in the right place. Minus the violence, she was a top character.

Do you gravitate towards strong women parts?
They come to me and to be fair, women roles in films are written with greater responsibility and heft. I opt for different shades of a woman. Sehmat in Raazi wasn't fiery like Safeena but she was incredibly brave. If I love the film, I will go ahead regardless of it being women-centric or not.

Both Kalank and Gully Boy are ensemble films. Termed as one of the top female actors of this generation, do you feel deterred agreeing for multi-starrers that aren't being driven by you?
That's a negative attitude towards cinema in general. Films are larger than any actor. I look at characters as how they affect the larger storyline. If you pull a character out of the storyline, do you still have a film? If you don't, then the character is important. Vying for screen time and the eternal war over it is a trapping, which no actor should submit themselves to. I will still do a two-scene part if I love the story. Sometimes, we all do smaller roles in greed of working with a director and their vision; and that's fine too.

Is it ever hard to share your opinions in an industry where the prevalent notion is that age is synonymous with experience?
I have been raised to nurture unabashed opinions. My mentor Karan Johar keeps a democratic set up at work where no matter who you are, how old you are if you feel something, your point will be made note of. The industry is a much better place than we make it out to be.

Romancing Salman Khan on SLB's orders
Bhatt says that working with Khan and his pool of experience, inspired her to do better. "Bhansali is a visionary. People are too quick to judge. There is a plan in place and a reason behind the [unusual] casting. I am thrilled to be working with Salman. Even I never thought this combination [working with Khan and Bhansali] is possible. It will be an intriguing journey and Salman is genuinely warm and kind. They are a magical duo together and I am blessed to be in it."

Meena Iyer (DNA; April 12, 2019)

Salman Khan makes his superstardom look so easy. His approach to media interactions appears cavalier. You only hear people talking about how he arrives late and how his coterie gets bigger each day; almost isolating him from the ‘real’ world. Yet, when you meet the man himself, his conversation only veers around being focussed, being real and, of course, being human. You come back thinking, ‘Yaar, perceptions were all wrong. Salman definitely walks the talk.’ Over to SK:

Once, you seemed the least celebrated of the three Khans — Aamir, Shah Rukh and you. Now, you’re the biggest. Have you ever given this a thought?
Not really. By the grace of God, the films that I’m choosing have done well. But it is not as if Aamir or Shah Rukh are choosing bad or worse films. There are times when the movies I’ve chosen, to the best of my knowledge, haven’t worked. And then one film works and you’re back. SRK is a legend, as is Aamir. A bad movie here or there may happen, but they will always come back. Actually, tension toh mera hai. Aamir and SRK know their craft. I’ve heard people saying they’re not so sure about me (laughs)!

Stop kidding, what are you tense about?
My thing is that I’m surviving on mediocre talent and luck. Actually, I don’t know what I’m surviving on, but I’m surviving. Mere ups and downs toh hote rahenge. By the grace of God, hamari fan following itni tagdi hai. There’s also Akki (Akshay Kumar), Hrithik (Roshan) and Ajay (Devgn).

Then, there are the new boys — Tiger (Shroff), Ranveer (Singh) and Varun (Dhawan). Everyone is so good that all of us will also have to, you know, be on our toes.

All the stalwarts have stuck with you. Sooraj Barjatya wants you, Sanjay Leela Bhansali, Sajid Nadiadwala and Aditya Chopra have you. Surely, you must be doing something correct because these guys couldn’t have chosen wrong.
Like I said, luck hai, destiny hai. Maybe there is something they see that I don’t. Anyway, what they look for in a hero is a mystery. The audience wants to spend money to see my films on screen, they watch them on satellite television also and they want to see me in my shows. I don’t know yeh kab tak chalega, but jab tak chal raha hai, my idea is to give my best, no matter what problems I go through, physically or mentally.

Agar humko yeh formula pata hota, ki kya karne se kya chalega, then what should I say? We would be taking everything for granted. We thought that Tubelight (same combination of Kabir Khan and me) will be a beautiful film, after our much-appreciated superhit, Bajrangi Bhaijaan (2015). But for an Eid release, the public wanted to see something happy. In Tubelight, they all cried. They were like, ‘What the hell! Eid kharaab kar diya!” (laughs). They went into depression. Today, when the film comes on digital and satellite, people love it and wonder why it didn’t work. It did a business of over Rs 110 crores in the domestic market alone. So, even my ‘flops’ notch numbers. Bahuton ki filmein utni bhi nahin chali. So, I’m fortunate that itni badi hit film bhi flop maani jaati hai. I’m grateful for the blessings.

How ambitious are you for Salman Khan Films?
Ambitious, I can’t say. But one thing is clear in my mind. I just want to make clean, entertaining films. I’m constantly wondering if I’m doing the right thing or the wrong thing because there are bizarre trends today. The kind of films that are being made (especially some of the stuff jo web pe aa raha hai) are shocking! I can’t even watch the stuff, but people are watching it. I understand that is also private viewing, phone pe, laptop pe. Akele dekhne mein bhi humko thoda aisa lagta hai ki yeh kya ho raha hai. Because hamari upbringing hai, parents hain... after our first film, we moved straight into the Barjatya family zone. Abhi bhi when a kissing scene comes on screen, we’re all awkward. See it whichever way you want, but I will put my heft behind clean cinema.

So, instead of ones and twos coming in to watch movies, I’d rather want our banner to have films where people know they will have the naughtiness, humour, action and romance, but all of us can watch them together. That’s what I want to keep it to. Aur agar koi picture ‘A’ rated hogi, then it will be because of action. I’m not for kissing and nudity in films at all.

Hum Aapke Hain Koun..! completes 25 years this August. How does that feel?
I swear it feels like yesterday. Pranutan (Bahl), my latest protégée from Notebook, was born in front of us. I worked with her mother in Saajan (1991), and with her father, Mohnish (Bahl), in so many films. Suddenly, she was all grown up and wanted to be a lawyer. Then I got a call from Monya (Mohnish) that she wanted to act in movies. She auditioned for us, three to four times and I liked her. I will need lawyers in my life (laughs), but Pranutan’s calling was films.

Next, you will launch your bodyguard, Shera’s son?
Yes, after them (Pranutan and Zaheer Iqbal), it’s Tiger, Shera’s son. He’s been working hard for his debut. Once he is as good or better than some of the existing boys, we’ll start.

Newcomers have it tough today, don’t they?
You have to take into account that the boys have to dance and do action better than the existing heroes. Otherwise, they will find it hard. Hamare time mein, it was comparatively easier; yet, we found even that difficult. But now, it’s actually very tough. Today, you have got to be better than the existing actors. It requires a lot of time, hard work, patience and dedication, which all these guys have shown. Then, of course, it depends on the movie, the vibe of it, the acceptance of fans and movie-goers. As I said earlier, what they see in the hero, no one knows. Sometimes, the film doesn’t do well, but the hero is accepted. And sometimes, the movie does very well, but the hero is not accepted.

Speaking of your films, you have two releases lined up this year.
Yes, this year, I’ll have Bharat on Eid and Dabangg 3 in December. Next Eid, Inshallah (God willing), we’ll have Inshallah (smiles).

Madhureeta Mukherjee (BOMBAY TIMES; April 12, 2019)

She’s in a different mind space — high on success, deeply in love and passionate about all things that matter. In the midst of the chaos that surrounds her, she’s found her calm. She reveals, “I’m more centered now.” On hearing that, Varun Dhawan (her co-star in the upcoming period film Kalank), sitting right across the room teasingly adds, “She is just becoming more spiritual these days, she is in that zone”. Well, that’s the kind of warm friendship and banter the two of them share. While we all have witnessed how Alia Bhatt magically melts into every character she portrays on screen, in this chat with BT, we attempt to dig deeper into what runs through the mind of this 26-year-old when the flashbulbs are not shining on her. She’s fierce, fearless, and funny, too. Now, for the best part, we will leave that for her to reveal. Over to Alia…

After doing four films with Varun Dhawan, would you say that you have reached a point where you exactly know how he will react to a scene, how he will take a cue and how much emotion he will pack into a scene?
I know every instinct of his; I know when he is being his complete honest self and I also know when he is lost during a take. Before he says ‘cut’ (sometimes he calls for a cut, if he is distracted by something), I know that he is going to say it.

I know him too well, I guess, and it is vice-versa. I also feel that it makes our association much stronger. When we are doing a love story like Kalank, in which the love has to be powerful and at the same time organic, you have to play off the actor. The power will come with the passion that we both feel for the part and for each other. The beautiful thing about us is that, if I am passionate about my performance, I feel the same way about his. Honestly, I feel grateful that I found this association with Varun, because in an industry like ours, the pairing of screen couples goes a long way in the audience’s hearts and memories. It feels like Varun and I have grown up together (in our careers). We did Student Of The Year (2012) and we took a break from working with each other, then we did Humpty Sharma Ki Dulhania (2014) and took a break. Whenever we come back together, we are a little wiser, with more experience, and probably with some more hits to our credit. But that doesn’t change our vibe.

Talking about another meaningful relationship in your life, and probably the most special one right now, you are dating Ranbir Kapoor. It is something that he had admitted to a while ago. However, you took your time to talk about it openly. And when you did, it was a moment to behold and for all to see. What kind of change has this being-in-love state of mind brought about in you?
Love always makes you a better person. It has definitely brought about a positive evolution within me. I am beginning to sense and feel different things, and things that I have not felt before. The attitude that I have towards my life is different now. My relationship has brought about a beautiful feeling of wonder within me that feels so precious. I feel like I’m walking around, holding on to it closely and carefully. May be, that’s why I am not so vocal about it, because I don’t want it to become a show.

So, when you went up on stage and expressed your love for Ranbir at an awards event, was it a moment that you had played out in your head?
What I said was not rehearsed; it came from the heart. Since a few days before that, I was feeling a lot of gratitude. RRR (SS Rajamouli’s Telugu film), and Inshallah (Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s next with Salman) were just announced. I had won this award (Filmfare Award for Best Actress), so I was feeling very blessed. I believe that in a moment of gratitude, it is important to thank everybody, who has contributed to your life. The energy that I have today... Ranbir is a very big part of it. So, I thought that it was only right for me to thank him.

Two brilliant actors in a relationship — does that mean there is a lot of talk about movies, acting, this process, that prep and all that comes with the territory?
Of course, he is way more informed about all kinds of cinema. I have always been a Bollywood buff, and I mostly watch Bollywood films, which I am happy about. Ranbir has watched far more Hindi films than I have and all other kinds of cinema, too. He is way more in tune with cinema, so I am constantly trying to absorb all that from him. On set, our shooting process is very similar. We both are switch-on and switch-off actors. I was always looking forward to this moment, where I would get to work with Ranbir and see the actor that he is. I have always looked up to him as an actor; he is fabulous on screen. What I realised a few weeks into the shooting of Brahmastra is that, he doesn’t have a process, and if he does, you don’t see it. I have actually heard people say that about me as well. With Ranbir, I keep wondering…where is his process, what is it, is it hiding behind a chair? When he is in front of the camera, he is in the moment, and that’s the beauty of it.

You shot for Kalank and Brahmastra in the same year. Needless to say, these are drastically different films, set in a different space and time. As an actor, how does it work out when you are mentally tossing from one part to the other, especially for someone like you, who delves so deep into each character?
I will admit that last year wasn’t easy for me. There were a lot of moments when I questioned myself…. Am I doing my job well, can I give it my 100 per cent? It was also my eagerness to take on these films that helped me through it. It was nerve-racking, but that’s where the director comes into play. It was my director’s prerogative to bring me back in to focus, in case I was doing some other kind of acting. Abhishek Varman likes a certain kind of acting, Ayan Mukerji (Brahmastra) likes another kind of acting, and they are both poles apart. There was a time when I was shooting for Kalank (a period drama) during the day and for Brahmastra (a fantasy film) at night, and even now, when I was dubbing for a scene for Kalank, I saw some flashes and I told Abhishek, ‘I am doing a terrible job, please save me because I am not my best today’. Also, luckily, I found my characters soon enough, so on the set, I just had to keep reminding myself of that.

Talking about finding your characters, in your previous film Gully Boy, did you find a lot of Alia in your character Safeena? The girl is traditional, has her set of values, at the same time, when it comes to following her heart, she boisterously breaks rules and maybe a few bones too…
Safeena was an impulsive character. In that sense, I am impulsive, too. Not in my actions, but in my thoughts. My thoughts race way ahead than they should, so I have to gradually bring them back. Earlier, I would behave more impulsively, but now I have calmed down. I am more centered. I needed to do that. A lot of Safeena’s ‘I don’t give a damn attitude’ comes from how I want to be in life. I don’t really think I can be that way, but yes, it comes from a space where I want to be (laughs!).

Everyone who works with you says that you don’t come across as a 26-year-old and that you are way ahead of your age. Does that maturity help when it comes to going deep into the psyche of the various characters you play?
My experiences have made me realise that the anxiousness that I had (not always in a negative way, but even in an excited way) would drive me crazy. So, I needed to bring myself to a middle-ground, where I don’t feel every feeling that I am going through. You know what I mean? At times, you have to eliminate some feelings and thoughts going through your head, and this is something that I have learnt in the past year. I won’t say that I have mastered it, but it is a process. Speaking of being ahead of my years, to understand the characters you play and empathise with them, your emotional quotient (EQ) has to be supremely high. I believe that I have very high EQ and I credit all of that to my parents (Mahesh Bhatt and Soni Razdan) and sister (Shaheen). The way we have been brought up, we are a very vocal family. We don’t bottle up things inside us; instead, we say things that one wouldn’t usually say. Even when I was younger, and I would cry for no real reason, or if something would upset me, my mom would no matter what age I was, never stop me from crying. She would tell me that it is okay to cry, and it is good to cry. That is also the reason why I have been able to explore the emotional space inside me so much.

I would think that actors need to have a high EQ, right? How else will one tap into the range of complex emotions to play so many parts?
Yes, they need to. Actors have unusual life experiences. You play different characters, you are saying so many lines and you have to mean them. That’s why it is often said that an actor gets too close to the character. You can’t help but feel a certain way in certain situations. You get close to people working together on a film, and then, you don’t see them for really long. This is also why sometimes actors prefer being quiet, instead of spending too much time with too many people, because later, you have to balance it within yourself. Sometimes, when you are not feeling up and about, you still have to show that it is all good. That’s what I mean when I say that actors tend to lead very unusual lives, hence, they generally have a very high regard for emotions and real moments. This is something that I have noticed with all the actors I have worked with. Whenever there is an honest, real moment in life, the way they respond and hold on to it is amazing.

At 26, you are successful, you have a slate of films ahead that any actress would vie for and you are unquestionably growing from strength to strength. But you have also set the benchmark very high for yourself, does that stress you out? Does that give you reason to fear, or let anxiety lurk around you?
There is fear that I might change as a person, so I am constantly keeping a check on that. I don’t want to ever become overconfident or affected by success. That is something that my father and Karan (Johar) keep telling me… ‘Just stay grounded’. Every time my film does well, or I do well according to the people in my life, they praise me for two minutes, but for five minutes, they remind me that I have to stay grounded. So, my fear is that all this might change me as a person, but I don’t think that I will ever get there because I won’t allow it. Talking about anxiety, it is something that could happen to you even while everything in your life is going just right. That is what I discovered in the last year, that I was having these bouts of anxiety and I kept telling myself that I was imagining it. Then, I spoke to some of my friends and they told me that it is no imagination, if I am feeling it, it is for real. It is amazing to learn how you can accept happiness with so much warmth, but in the same way, you can’t accept your anxieties. I decided that every time I feel low, instead of trying to decode it and feel better, I will go through it. I did that. The reason was also that I was working round the clock and I didn’t have a moment to myself. Every day was feeling the same, I would wake up and it felt like I never went to sleep. While I was enjoying it, somewhere it was taking a toll on me. In retrospect, I was happy that I went through that experience because it has toughened me and it made me ready to take on bigger challenges.