Showing posts with label Ittefaq. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Ittefaq. Show all posts
I personally never got affected by the concept of nepotism-Nawazuddin Siddiqui
8:06 AM
Actor Nawazuddin Siddiqui feels that whoever invests money in a film can decide whom they want to cast
Prashant Singh (HINDUSTAN TIMES; September 9, 2020)
He went for hundreds of auditions, took up every role that came his way, and waited patiently for 12 long years to get his first big, breakthrough. So, Nawazuddin Siddiqui would surely know a thing or two about struggle, especially from an outsider’s perspective. Today, as nepotism becomes the buzzword vis-à-vis Bollywood, Siddiqui looks at it differently.
“Nepotism har jagah hota hai. I’m sure the day a budding actor comes to Mumbai, he/she is aware about it. But despite all of that, so many ‘outsiders’ get established. ‘Insiders’ shouldn’t be blamed or targeted. If it’s their money, they can decide ke woh kis par apna paisa lagana chahte hai. It’s pure business for them. Also, it’s not as if there’s a merit system to become an actor” says the actor, adding that he personally “never got affected by the concept of ‘nepotism’.”
“And that’s because I don’t believe in formula films, which are mostly synonymous with ‘nepotistic’ films. So that way, mujhe kabhi zyaada fark nahi pada. At the same time, there are so many directors, who work with other actors too [apart from ‘insiders’],” says Siddiqui, adding that ‘insiders’ are also respectful of genuine talent. “Agar aap respect deserve kartein hain, they give it you in abundance. Be it Yash Raj Films or Dharma Productions, they have offered me a film almost every year,” he says.
Siddiqui recalls how Karan Johar had called him for a part in Ittefaq (2017). “I remember he was very respectful, and said that he ‘always wanted to work with me but waited for a role that was worthy of me.’ Although I couldn’t take up the offer due to dates, he reacted in an extremely professional manner. Thanks to the kind of training I’ve got as an actor, I want to do films that can explore things/skills I acquired,” says the actor.
Even as the Hindi film industry gets shown in a negative light [due to various stories in the wake of actor Sushant Singh Rajput’s death], Siddiqui is “extremely pained” about it.
He explains: “When you say ‘Bollywood’, do you include all the directors, writers, DoPs, editors and so many others, who are all ‘outsiders’? They’re all working and earning their livelihoods from the same industry. Isliye yeh kehna ki puri industry gandi jagah hai ekdum galat hai. If such a dirty picture is painted of the industry, the outside talent would be too scared to come in,” says the actor, who is enjoying “all the tension-free time” that Coronavirus lockdown has brought along.
“I am getting to spend time with my nieces, nephews, and, most importantly, with my mother. Yeh sab shaayad normal times mein kabhi nahi ho paata. Plus, this period has also given a lot of time for some introspection. Maybe, that’s why I don’t have too many complaints about the lockdown. Kaam bhi kar lenge sahi waqt pe,” he concludes with a smile.
One look at Iftekhar and the cop saluted him, letting us off, the penalty forgotten-Hina
8:18 AM
Roshmila Bhattacharya (MUMBAI MIRROR; March 5, 2020)
For millennials, the name Iftekhar may not ring a bell, but for me he was the ‘inspector uncle’ of my growing up years at the movies. While Sayedna Iftekhar Ahmed Sharif may well have played a smuggler, Mulk Raj Daavar, in Deewar, and the notorious Black Cobra masquerading as Inspector Bhupinder Singh in Rishi Kapoor and Neetu Singh’s romantic thriller Khel Khel Mein, in my memories, he’s always on the right side of the law. I remember him as Zanjeer’s Police Commissioner Singh who takes Amitabh Bachchan’s Vijay to task for getting “personal” with criminals and Don’s DSP D’Silva whose brainwave it is to pick up another Bachchanesque Vijay, this one a simpleton slumdweller, and pass him off as a mafia boss who was gunned down during a chase. He wore the vardi with distinguished panache, bringing dignity to his many cop roles in Hindi films, and according to his wife, Hina, was even accepted as one of them by the cops.
Hina ji recalled that once they were stopped by a havildar when they mistakenly drove into a ‘No Entry’ lane. “But one look at Iftekhar and the cop saluted him, letting us off, the penalty forgotten,” she had laughed when I met her decades ago.
Interestingly, despite looking so convincing in a uniform, Iftekhar saab himself never aspired to join the force. He started off in his father’s firm in Kanpur, disinterestedly waded through some more office jobs, before he was spotted singing at a function in Kolkata by composer Kamal Dasgupta who not only recorded two songs with him for a private album, but even recommended him for an acting role in the 1944 film, Taqrar, which flagged off a career in the movies that continued for half-a-century.
Three years later, communal riots uprooted him from the City of Joy and brought him to Mumbai while the Partition separated him from his family who migrated to Pakistan. A period of struggle followed, during which both Iftekhar saab and his wife were too proud to ask for money, even from their own families. The roles kept coming, be it that of a gardener in Patanga, an Air Force officer in Sangam, a doctor in Cha Cha Cha or a public prosecutor in Shaheed. And then there was a string of police inspector roles, in films like Shree 420, Guide, and Teesri Manzil. But it was the cop turn in Ittefaq in ’69 that marked a turning point in his career.
Ashok Kumar had recommended Iftekhar saab, who he had known since his Bombay Talkies days, to his producer-friend B R Chopra, for the suspense thriller directed by his brother Yash. Though he was a decade older, Dadamoni and Iftekhar saab were inseparable and would jabber away in French. In fact, it was his buddy, a Lucknow School of Arts alumnus, who got him hooked to painting when Dadamoni was ailing and laid up in bed, to distract him. “One day a beautiful painting of a horse arrived from Dadamoni with a note, saying, ‘To my guru who put the brush in my hand for the first time,’” flashbacked Hina ji. In ’64, Iftekhar saab had painted the title credits for Kishore Kumar’s Door Gagan Ki Chhaon Mein.
He was an honest man and a conscientious actor whose heart broke when his daughter Saeeda was diagnosed with cancer. “For five years he watched Saeeda… the tension and depression killed him. At night he would cry silently into his pillow,” Hina ji sighed.
Six days after his daughter passed away, on February 7, 1995, Iftekhar saab was rushed to the hospital. He recovered enough to bring in his 75th birthday on February 22, but the next day, suffered a paralytic stroke. On March 4, he took his last curtain call, dreaming of the kebabs and paaya his Hina would cook for him. He had met her when she was 16 and had broken off his engagement to marry the pretty Jewish girl who had come into his building in Kolkata and entered his life following a Japanese air raid. Once they were married, they were never apart. Till his daughter called him away… For me, there will never be a better ‘inspector uncle’.
Most parents like me, so I might charm my way into my future in-laws' homes and hearts-Sidharth Malhotra
8:49 AM
Sidharth Malhotra on his hits and misses at the box-office, living the dream of an actor, and why he is not keen on a digital debut yet
Upala KBR (MID-DAY; August 4, 2019)
After making his debut in 2012 with Karan Johar's Student Of The Year, Sidharth Malhotra often referred to as the chocolate boy of Bollywood, has tried to experiment with his choice of roles and scripts. While romance seems to be his forte, the actor, 33, says he likes to add layers to his characters. In a conversation with mid-day, Malhotra talks about his choices, his views on box-office failures, why he is not ready for the web and his dream role.
Edited excerpts from the interview.
It has been seven years since Student Of The Year released and you made your debut in Bollywood. You've had a few hits and misses over the years. How do you see your journey?
I had an amazing launch [with Student Of The Year], experienced the high of hits like Ek Villain (2014) and some that didn't pan out as expected, but that's what we call experience. None of the superstars that I grew up seeing have had perfect a record of hits. They have also experienced ups and downs in their career with respect to their movie choices. That is how I would describe my career as an actor as well—some films will work and some won't. In every generation, there have been only a handful of actors who have been accepted by the audience; and I am lucky that despite being an outsider, having no godfather in the industry, people have accepted me as a lead actor.
You've made some interesting adaptations to don the character of Abhay Singh in Jabariya Jodi.
Abhay Singh is the stark opposite of what I am in real life. I won't say that I have a business of 'picking up boys', I may have picked up a few girls in the past (laughs), but I was excited to do a character that is far removed from my past and personality. He is a colourful yet strong character, who wears a baali [earring], chews paan [betel] and smokes chillum. For roles like these, you cannot come unprepared on set because that will show on camera, so I put in a lot of prep work. I had a tutor train me in the language for two months. I am all about trying new things. From the styling of the character to the body language, colouring my hair and even getting used to wearing a gamcha was like adding layers to my character. I got to explore a lot playing this character.
Hypothetically, if you fell in love and circumstances were not ideal, would you kidnap or elope with her?
[Laughs] Hopefully, I will be suitable enough to get everyone's permission. Most parents like me, so I might charm my way into my future in-laws' homes and hearts. I don't think that nowadays, especially in cities like Delhi and Mumbai, with the lifestyle we lead, parents would want to go against their children's wishes. Yet, if I was born and raised in a different state, city or village, depending on how strongly I feel for the girl, I would think and react accordingly. I might fight for her.
Despite the highs and lows, you have often experimented with your choice of roles.
I have always plunged into a script from the viewpoint of the story and character, whether it's Ek Villain, Brothers (2015), Ittefaq (2017) or Jabariya Jodi. The decision was never based on whether it suits me as a hero or not. I have given a bit of myself to every character I played and often challenged myself in new situations. While some worked in my favour, a few didn't. My conscious decision has always been to do something that will encompass a much larger audience like with Jabariya Jodi. The film is a massy entertainer which caters to the issue of pakadwa vivah [groom kidnapping], the drama and also showcases a love story.
From playing Abhay Singh in JJ to Captain Vikram Batra in Sher Shah how do you flit from one character to the other with such ease?
That's what I enjoy as an actor and what drew me to the profession of filmmaking [Malhotra worked as an assistant director to Karan Johar in My Name Is Khan]. I grew up watching Shah Rukh Khan romance in the '90s, and [Amitabh] Bachchan Saab doing action in the '70s-'80s; now, I am living the dream by portraying similar characters—be it romancing in Jabariya Jodi or doing action in Marjaavaan [film with Riteish Deshmukh and Tara Sutaria]. It's exciting for someone like me to be able to don varied characters.
With Bollywood moving the digital way, have you considered experimenting with a web series?
I haven't really ventured or thought about it because there's so much I am already getting to do in films. Web shows still have a long way to go in India. It is a new phenomenon and our audience base is not as big as the west, neither are the characters or the budgets of these films. While the growth is evident, it will still take a while for showrunners to provide us with attractive characters and stories that will compel us to make the switch. Right now, I am very happy with my line-up of movies and scripts I am working on.
I haven’t shied away from trying new things-Sidharth Malhotra
9:14 AM
Harshada Rege (DNA; February 10, 2018)
Sidharth Malhotra has completed five years in the industry. And it’s been quite a ride for him. From huge successes like Student of the Year and Ek Villain to box-office failures like Baar Baar Dekho and A Gentleman, he has seen the best and worst of the business. The rollercoaster ride, however, hasn’t deterred him from making some out-of-the-box choices. Here, he talks about his journey so far and making some brave moves.
Are you happy with the way your career is shaping up?
I can never be happy. I can’t be absolutely satisfied. It’s a mirage...to be completely satisfied, especially in our business. In this industry, if one Friday is very satisfying, another might not be, and I have had my fair share of both in this journey. It has definitely helped me grow and got me to experience both, the highs and the lows. So, it’s a great experience. It’s training me in some way to do better and bigger things and preparing me for the future.
Go on..
As of now, I am happy that I have tried different things. Yes, some have worked, some haven’t, but that’s an experience that I will be taking forward. The kick of just trying something that’s out-of-the-box and not expected of you is great. Be it an Ittefaq where I had a negative role or even Aiyaary...or even Ek Villain’s Guru, who was an extremely aggressive character. It’s not like I have anything against the run-of-the-mill, mainstream films. I love them and grew up on them as well, and I will do that, but my instinct on these stories was that they need to be told... they will be newer, fresher. But I have also learnt not to be fearful of making different choices and listening to my instincts. Because that’s all an actor has in this business. You can’t depend on anything else but your instinct for a guaranteed good performance or film.
From the Archie-Betty-Veronica kind of world in Student Of The Year, you have moved towards a more realistic zone. Has that been a conscious decision?
I think the stories have also changed because the audience wants to watch them now. Today, real stories are being accepted in the mainstream in a commercial way. If you look at Aiyaary, it’s my most real film in that sense. We haven’t used any sets, they are all real locations. We have shown what they are likely to do, how they would behave. We are playing real-life spies, not the James Bond kind of characters. It’s a good variety that I am not playing larger than life. Doing it with a director like Neeraj Pandey, who has done so well in this zone, is a great opportunity.
Does appreciation for a movie like Ittefaq give you the courage to try out something new?
Yes, definitely. That’s why I have been making these choices. I had an instinct about this film (Ittefaq) and this character, I knew that it would be interesting to find out that I am the killer in the end. People appreciate it and pinpoint certain scenes or enjoy the climax. That is definitely satisfying for a performer, especially a young actor like me. And especially, when I am doing something risky and am not playing the typical hero. When you get phone calls, messages or those kind of reviews, it’s very satisfying. That’s what we came into the business for.
Considering the fact that you are an outsider, isn’t the fear of failure more pronounced for someone like you?
The fear of shying away from trying new things isn’t something that overwhelms me. I haven’t shied away from trying new things, but I like to balance both — something that is very typical with something that’s edgy and out-of-the-box. If I can balance both these things in one year I think it will be a great year.
Men gossip more than women-Sonakshi Sinha
7:57 AM
Nayandeep Rakshit (DNA; December 4, 2017)
There was a time when Sonakshi Sinha was only seen opposite male superstars in masala entertainers. Then came Lootera, but such films were few and far between. However, in the last one year, she has upped her game. Akira, Noor, and Ittefaq had her playing well-etched out roles. Sonakshi admits that this is what she wants to do, hereon. She has a few projects lined up, mostly two-heroine projects (Happy Phirr Bhag Jayegi, Dabangg 3, and Abhishek Varman’s untitled next). Here, she talks about what she looks for in such films and why two-heroine projects aren’t just about catfights.
Your last film Ittefaq was different from your previous work. What excites you more — doing films with tight budgets that give good ROI (return on investment) or doing big films?
It has to be both because I have had the best of both worlds and I’m able to adapt to both kinds of cinema equally well. Whether it’s a big-budget commercial film or it’s a well-budgeted film like Ittefaq, I feel I’ve broken those barriers. I can fit into both the zones. I enjoy them both because I enjoy my craft a lot. So, whether I have to play a Maya or a Rajjo, I will do it with as much enjoyment.
You have mostly been seen in masala films, with the exception of Lootera. But with the films you are doing or have signed in the last one year, have you come into your own?
I think so. Honestly, from my very first film, a lot of people didn’t know what to expect because I was not into the limelight that much. I never wanted to be an actor, but right from Dabangg, people saw some spark in me, which is why they expected me to do a lot more. Nobody ever said that this girl cannot act. They said I held my own in a Salman Khan film, which was the biggest compliment for me. Honestly, when a film like Lootera came along while I was doing Son Of Sardaar and Rowdy Rathore and all that, it struck a chord somewhere. I felt that this will be something that will push me in a way that other films won’t. And it did. I enjoyed doing it. After that, I was already committed to these commercial films. Then came Akira, Noor, and Ittefaq, and I knew these were films that would push my buttons. They alter my thinking, and honestly, today the audience is so unpredictable that you never know what they like, what they don’t. So why not take that risk?
Are you more confident after all these years, and a flop here or there doesn’t really matter?
No, the confidence comes from the fact that I was able to establish myself as a quintessential Hindi commercial film heroine. The kind of reach that I got by doing those commercial entertainers is outstanding because people in the cities know me as well as someone from the heartland. The confidence that I have is that whoever has liked me in those films, will go and watch these movies, too. More confidence comes from the fact that it has become so unpredictable. Now is the time to take risks, to do things that are different and to experiment.
So numbers have stopped mattering that way then?
Honestly, numbers never mattered to me. Even when numbers were humongous, they never made a difference. Obviously, someone who’s a part of a film, made with so much love, effort, and hard work, would want their films to do well. But it’s only because you want those many people to watch your film and appreciate it. That’s what matters. What’s the point in getting the numbers and still get gaalis? We want people to love us and what we do.
Did doing TV help increase your audience?
Absolutely! I believe that, for sure. Right now, television as a medium is so vast, probably bigger than films. It has a very wide reach because you are sitting at home and flipping channels. The remote is in your hands and you have a whole platter to choose from. Some of these talent-based shows are really really good, because you get to see so many different talents and spend time with them. The reach is tremendous. For me, it’s not about taking time off to do TV because I’m doing it simultaneously. My work in movies hasn’t stopped. I am shooting for Happy... and another film. I’m flying back and doing TV and going back again. It’s become a part of my job.
What led you to Happy Phirr Bhag Jayegi?
Ittefaq se, I am doing two comedies now and I enjoy it so much. There’s the Wizcraft and Vashu Bhagnani film along with Happy Phirr Bhag Jayegi. It’s so interesting to get that comic timing right. The little nuances and funny stuff on the screen are things I love to do. I’m a very happy person by nature. It’s automatic for me to make people laugh. Especially with Happy, it’s a fun world because I’m a wannabe Punjabi. My father’s a Bihari, my mom’s a Sindhi, but in my head, I’m a Punjabi (laughs). I am happiest playing this character.
How’s it going?
A lot of fun, actually. We just wrapped up a schedule in Amritsar and I stayed there for 10-12 days. Shooting for the film is making me happy as well.
Diana Penty and you are shooting together. Have there been any catfights?
I don’t understand why that’s said only about heroines. I can tell you men are more insecure and also gossip more than women (laughs). They are the ones who gossip the most.
So what goes on in your mind when you are offered a two-heroine film?
It’s absolutely fine as long as you are happy with your role and character. Why do you want to think about who else is doing what? If you are not happy, then you try to make tweaks if you enjoy the premise of the film. But other than that, if you are okay with what you are doing, do it else don’t. The choice is in your hands.
Would it be difficult to sign a two-heroine film when you know the other girl is someone you don’t share an equation with?
No, how do you make equations like that all the time? So many times there have been actors whom I didn’t know or had an equation with when I worked with them for the first time. Akshaye Khanna, for instance. Why should it be any different for a heroine? I have not worked with Jacqueline (Fernandez) before but I also meet her at parties and we get along really well. I am someone who gets along with everyone. So I need to find someone who I’m not okay with, first to decide on this.
What about doing a chick flick?
Yes! I would love that. In fact, I was offered a few chick flicks, but they never worked out. I don’t know for what reasons. It will be a lot of fun, when it happens.
If you had to choose a few women to do a chick flick with, who would you choose?
Jacqueline Fernandez for sure. We get along like a house on fire and she’s too funny. And obviously, Alia (Bhatt) because I adore her.
There’s always an A-list actress in a male superstar’s film. But when women take the lead, no A-list actor wants to play the second lead. Comment.
That’s again their prerogative. A film should be made not based on who is in it or who’s doing a special appearance. If you’re making it for a character and to project that character in a certain way, then do it for that. In the end, you need to be true to yourself. It should be seamless, for instance, like Secret Superstar. Aamir Khan was fabulous in the film. It should not be like daalne ke liye daal diya, just for the name. Nahi chahiye naam ke liye! We should have that much confidence in ourselves, the script and the content that we will be able to do without that.
I won’t drop my underwear on screen, unless...-Sidharth Malhotra
9:12 AM
Nayandeep Rakshit (DNA; November 27, 2017)
Sidharth Malhotra is visibly happy. His last movie outing, Ittefaq, made its mark. He has an interesting line-up of films — there’s Neeraj Pandey’s Aiyaary, and the slain martyr, Vikram Batra’s biopic right after. Here, Sidharth talks about the parameters on the basis of which he signs a film. He explains why box office isn’t the be-all-and-end-all of things. Interestingly, he also tells us why he won’t drop his pants on screen.
What is more important to you — to have a huge film do good business or a small film that gives a better return on investment (ROI)?
I would like to have a mix of both. In that aspect, recently, what I just needed was to push myself as an actor, do a character which is difficult to convince people, surprise the audience and get that appreciation back. Ittefaq happened at the right time because I never chose that film for commercial reasons. It was meant to be a smaller film, with no song and dance, no lavish locations or costumes. I didn’t even play the hero. I chose it because I got to play a different shade in the film. After Ek Villain, I liked the intensity of this film. As an actor, it’s great and satisfying. It wasn’t a safe bet, but now that it has romped home, it is safe. I have never played it safe when it comes to any of my choices.
Do you think it’s easier for you to be part of smaller, but content-driven films, which will have a limited reach, because you’ve established yourself as a star?
I have always experimented, so that doesn’t apply to me. I have never done things, which have been done in the past. I have never been in that zone where I have thought, ‘Senior actors ne yeh kiya hai, toh main bhi yehi karunga’. My endeavour as a new actor is to push my limits. Whether it works or doesn’t is a different thing because that’s beyond my control. All my Fridays have been different. When people look at my filmography, they will feel that Sid has done everything differently from his contemporaries in the first five years.
So, you don’t think about the box-office prospects of a film when you sign it?
It’s not like that. It’s just that I am looking at the bigger picture as opposed to the smaller things. I can’t keep thinking about the box-office business. You can’t live off a big hit for a long time, but if you get appreciation, you get a bigger equity and a better legacy. Yes, of course, there are films that have not done well, but there have been movies that have been appreciated as well. I’m not insecure in that zone because I still have the same confidence with which I came into this industry. I know that I will make it, but there’s time to do that. It will happen over some time. It’s a matter of getting the correct combination. These are times to learn from because an actor learns the most when things don’t go his way. There’s a sense of maturity that comes in and fear goes away. And that will only help me better myself as a performer.
Have you ever regretted signing any of the films that you’ve been a part of?
Never! I have made all the choices consciously, and I stand by them. Yes, I learn from them. On the sets, when I see directors change something because of the location or technical matters, then it’s just an experience ki aisa bhi ho sakta hai. That’s the learning, but not a regret ki yaar kyun kiya.
How have your choices changed in the last year?
I think my choices are inclined more towards content-driven films. I haven’t really done the typical, mainstream films. I have always looked for that one peg in all my films. More than it changing my choices, it changes my performance. What I do with those films and characters is what’s important. Aiyaary is next and it has a talented director like Neeraj Pandey and he likes things very subtle. So, the film is more about the story than just the performances. I have not seen the film yet so I can’t speak for it. Henceforth, like in the Vikram Batra biopic, whatever I do, there will be far more shades to it than what you saw in Ittefaq. Probably, now, I get the push to try things like that better.
What about doing a niche film?
Of course, I would love to. I have not differentiated between commercial and niche films. Some of my most commercial choices have not worked. Right now, nobody knows what will work. The smaller films are doing well mainly because they are made on tight budgets. They usually turn out to be sleeper hits. That’s far more satisfying than falling into the trap of having a big film, releasing at a period and following a certain graph.
Would you like to do a web series?
I haven’t been offered one. I am selfishly ambitious to be on 70 mm — to do bigger and better films and build that equity. I came to Mumbai to become a Hindi film actor and not digress from that. It’s not creatively that attractive right now. Ittefaq could have even been a web series but I’m getting to do it here. Why would I go to a digital team when I’m getting to do so many interesting things in films?
Would you go bald for a role?
I would do it for a character if needed. I gained weight for Brothers. I buzzed my hair and had a beard and didn’t come out in the media for the first three months to keep my look away from the eyes of the paparazzi.
What about a Full Monty then? Are you comfortable?
Of course, I would do it. But only if there’s a reason or logic behind it. I will not drop my underwear unless it’s aesthetic and it’s great to do a character like that (laughs). I won’t go nude just for the heck of it. It’s pointless.
I want to take my own time to understand how digital platform is working-Shah Rukh Khan
8:06 AM
Sonil Dedhia (MID-DAY; November 8, 2017)
Given how the digital platform is booming, it’s not surprising that actors like Saif Ali Khan, Nawazuddin Siddiqui and Richa Chadha have joined the bandwagon. However, Shah Rukh Khan fans will have to wait to see the superstar experimenting with a web series. While he is all for innovation, the actor says he will venture into the territory only for the right reasons and not just to be a part of the revolution.
“I have heard that Saif and Nawaz are doing a series, which is great, but I want to see how well Indian series do on the digital platform,” he says before adding, “I want to take my own time to understand how the medium is working. The format is completely different and I don’t think I will venture into it just for the sake of doing it.”
Last year, video-streaming giant Netflix signed a deal with Khan’s Red Chillies Entertainment to license its catalogue of films globally. “They have been kind enough to bring some of my old as well new films including Raees, Jab Harry Met Sejal and Ittefaq on their platform,” he says.
That the digital platform will be a game-changer is not lost on him, but he says the magic of the big screen will remain. “In the near future, I’m sure films will start releasing digitally. But there will still be filmmakers who will continue bringing people to cinemas. I don’t think people will stop going to theatres.”
Why should I feed off something from the past and do safer films?-Sidharth Malhotra
7:49 AM
Hiren Kotwani (BOMBAY TIMES; November 8, 2017)
In an industry where it's
easy to get stereotyped, Sidharth Malhotra, who made his Bollywood debut
with Karan Johar's Student Of The Year (2012), has always made a
conscious effort to choose diverse subjects. His latest release,
Ittefaq, further reaffirms his eagerness to explore yet another genre.
“I was well aware that the thriller didn't have commercial trappings like songs and foreign locales,“ says Sidharth, adding, “It's a concept and content-driven film and I was excited to play a multi-layered character, who delivers a punch in the end. He's not your typical Bollywood hero. It's challenging to convince the audience of the positive and negative aspects of a character - it's almost like a double role. We're happy with the response the movie has garnered and are hopeful of the business it will do in the coming days.“
Ittefaq, also starring Akshaye Khanna, is not the first time that Sidharth has been pitted against an experienced actor. Previously too, he held his own against Akshay Kumar in Brothers. Not one to be insecure, the young actor says, “If Akshaye's character hadn't worked, my punch would have lost its impact. It's great to have a senior actor to share screen space with.“
Probe if switching genres is a professional strategy and Sidharth explains, “I've never taken a safe route. Being an outsider and a part of the younger generation of actors, I see this as my way of standing out. Why should I feed off something from the past and do safer films? Some films work, some don't. I'm pushing my limits and am happy that people are noticing my growth as an actor.“
Sidharth, whose repertoire also features Hasee Toh Phasee, Kapoor & Sons (Since 1921), Ek Villain and Baar Baar Dekho, points out that the definition of mainstream has changed.“This is the new mainstream - content-driven subjects made on reasonable budgets. While I'd also like to do a big-budget film once a year or so, they have to be relevant today. Like my next, Aiyaary, a thriller-drama directed by Neeraj Pandey. Actors can create a legacy only from films that make an impact, which lasts longer than box-office success. Few films can achieve both. We know of so many memorable films that didn't exactly work well commercially. Years down the line, when people look at my filmography, I'd like them to see a legacy of new-age content films,“ he signs off.
“I was well aware that the thriller didn't have commercial trappings like songs and foreign locales,“ says Sidharth, adding, “It's a concept and content-driven film and I was excited to play a multi-layered character, who delivers a punch in the end. He's not your typical Bollywood hero. It's challenging to convince the audience of the positive and negative aspects of a character - it's almost like a double role. We're happy with the response the movie has garnered and are hopeful of the business it will do in the coming days.“
Ittefaq, also starring Akshaye Khanna, is not the first time that Sidharth has been pitted against an experienced actor. Previously too, he held his own against Akshay Kumar in Brothers. Not one to be insecure, the young actor says, “If Akshaye's character hadn't worked, my punch would have lost its impact. It's great to have a senior actor to share screen space with.“
Probe if switching genres is a professional strategy and Sidharth explains, “I've never taken a safe route. Being an outsider and a part of the younger generation of actors, I see this as my way of standing out. Why should I feed off something from the past and do safer films? Some films work, some don't. I'm pushing my limits and am happy that people are noticing my growth as an actor.“
Sidharth, whose repertoire also features Hasee Toh Phasee, Kapoor & Sons (Since 1921), Ek Villain and Baar Baar Dekho, points out that the definition of mainstream has changed.“This is the new mainstream - content-driven subjects made on reasonable budgets. While I'd also like to do a big-budget film once a year or so, they have to be relevant today. Like my next, Aiyaary, a thriller-drama directed by Neeraj Pandey. Actors can create a legacy only from films that make an impact, which lasts longer than box-office success. Few films can achieve both. We know of so many memorable films that didn't exactly work well commercially. Years down the line, when people look at my filmography, I'd like them to see a legacy of new-age content films,“ he signs off.
I am least concerned about length of my role-Sidharth Malhotra
7:47 AM
Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; November 7, 2017)
After a string of flops, Sidharth Malhotra's latest release, Ittefaq, has managed to garner a positive response. The actor says when it comes to signing a film, getting more screen space is not his priority.
"The length of a role is the least of my concerns when I green-light a script. In Ittefaq, the story is told by Akshaye Khanna, who has a sizeable part in the movie. Since I don't belong to a film family, I never get into the insecure zone. Personally, I am not the one to eat into someone's work or role. It's always better to work with better actors. I am upping my game," he says.
The actor is proud of his career choices. "For me, stories matter the most. In films like Brothers and Aiyaary, I was clear that I wanted those parts to make my resume stronger," says Malhotra. He adds that he wants to experiment with different genres. "This is the time to test the waters. I am reacting to stories rather than if I am going to get to hog the limelight."
It’s too early to analyse Ittefaq-Akshaye Khanna
8:10 AM
MID-DAY (November 6, 2017)
Actor Akshaye Khanna, whose latest release Ittefaq opened to good reviews but slow collection, says it’s too early to analyse the film in terms of collection. “The movie just released. But the initial response that I got has been positive... so we will analyse it [the film] later,” the actor said at the post- release press meet along with co-stars Sonakshi Sinha and Sidharth Malhotra.
The murder mystery, which is a remake of the 1969 hit Ittefaq, has been backed by three production houses. Khanna says there were no disagreements among the producers. “Sometimes there are fights, but nothing like that happened in the case of this film. everything went smoothly. Shah Rukh Khan and Karan Johar [producers] are good friends.”
Khanna favours the decision of less promotions for a film. “When the viewers watch the promo of a film, they decide whether they want to watch it or not. After that, even if an actor gives several interviews, I don’t think it matters or makes a difference. But it [film promotions] definitely creates awareness,” he says.
Khanna, who had taken a long sabbatical from films before making his comeback with the Sridevi-starrer Mom, says he wants to work on more projects. “I will do more films now. I have received some offers and will announce my next project soon,” he says.
(Crisp) Movie Review: ITTEFAQ by FENIL SETA
2:08 PM
Ittefaq is a juvenile murder mystery and it’s shocking how the script got approved and that too by three acclaimed production houses – B R Films, Red Chillies Entertainment and Dharma Productions. There are so many loopholes, especially in the investigation done by the police in the film. Even a layman would realize that. The film starts off well and the end is also unexpected. But it’s too little and gives a déjà vu of similar films in this kind of a space. The middle portions are slow and dragging and there’s not much of a meat in the entire tale. What save the film are few scenes, dialogues (some of them are hilarious) and performances. Akshaye Khanna has the most screen space and he does extremely well, even though the characterization is a let-down. Sidharth Malhotra underplays his part very well while Sonakshi Sinha also gives a fine, restrained performance. Ajay Jadhav (Constable Tambe) is hilarious and thank god he’s there in the film – thanks to him, there’s some amount of laughter. All in all, a major disappointment!
My rating - ** out of 5!
Fenil's Bollywood Talk # 489
1:38 PM
WILL THE UNCONVENTIONAL ITTEFAQ SUCCEED?
Nowadays, a big film releasing without multiple events and interviews is unheard of. Such kind of massive promotional activities have become an indispensable part of movie business. At such a juncture, the makers of Ittefaq are releasing their suspense thriller with very little promotions! At one point, they had actually decided not to promote the film at all. But it seems like the buzz was very low. Hence, they had to come out and talk about the film. Earlier this week, the entire cast and crew attended an event which helped the film to an extent. Also, two of the film’s producers – Shah Rukh Khan and Karan Johar – gave an interesting print interview.
However, all these things still haven’t helped the film much. The buzz is still low. But it can massively pick up if the response is positive. It’s a suspense flick and such films can be fun to watch. Also the star cast is interesting – Sidharth Malhotra, Sonakshi Sinha and Akshaye Khanna. This is a remake of the 1969 film of the same name which starred Rajesh Khanna and Nanda in leading roles. It was produced by B R Chopra’s B R Films who have also produced this film along with Shah Rukh Khan’s Red Chillies Entertainment and Karan Johar’s Dharma Productions. B R Chopra’s grandson Abhay Chopra is the director. It’s not a scene by scene remake and there have been some changes, including the climax and the identity of the murderer. The suspense is a closely guarded secret and that’s the reason they didn’t wanted to do promotions as they didn’t want anything of the film to be out. Not just that, they even cancelled the Thursday release of the film in Dubai, fearing that the suspense will be out. And yes, no pre-release screenings of the press either. It’s only on Friday when viewers will get first-hand the knowledge of the murderer.
The costs are limited and the chances of it becoming a flop are rare. But you never know in today’s times. Everybody expected Chef to underperform, but it hardly did 6-7 crore, which sent shockwaves. Ittefaq might not do that less but it needs to do at least around 25 crore and only then will the figures seem respectable.
WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE ITTEFAQ AND WHY? DO LET ME KNOW!
Shah Rukh Khan is in denial, but he is actually a full-on commercial film buff-Karan Johar
8:16 AM
Madhureeta Mukherjee and Lasyapriya Sundaram (BOMBAY TIMES; November 1, 2017)
Shah Rukh Khan, Karan Johar
and Juno Chopra have joined hands as producers for the Sidharth
Malhotra-Sonakshi Sinha-Akshaye Khanna-starrer, Ittefaq, a thriller
directed by debutant Abhay Chopra. Karan calls it the '2.0' version of
the 1969 thriller of the same name that was directed by Yash Chopra. For
the first time, SRK and Karan Johar attempted a unique promotional
strategy - of keeping the promotions threadbare, apart from the fact that
even the lead cast have not given interviews to the media. In an
exclusive chat with Bombay Times, SRK and Karan discuss why thrillers
have never been the mainstay of commercial Hindi cinema, how their
passion for making movies goes beyond the commerce, and the one role SRK
is waiting to portray on screen. Excerpts...
SRK and Karan, how has it been not promoting Ittefaq? Does it make you uncomfortable because while promoting a film, you get a better understanding of how people are responding to your subject?
Karan Johar: I definitely think the decision we took to not promote the film dealt with some kind of anxiety through our journey. It's not so much the ramifications of it, but the insecurity of not doing something that bothers you. If we had gone all out promoting our film, it would probably make a difference to our opening numbers, but I strongly believe that Ittefaq is in that space where it's a Saturday film. It is one of those films, which has the potential to start very well and then word of mouth takes it to another level. Lately, I feel that's the trend that films have been following. Overt and excessive promotions work for event films, which are celebratory in nature. Ittefaq is a whodunnit movie where all we can say is that, 'We can't tell you anything or talk about it'. The same thing would have been said over and over again. We don't have songs to dance to, we don't have scenes we can discuss or plot points which can be revealed. So, what would we promote? When Shah Rukh and I discussed it, we took the call of not putting it out there. Of course, we all have to combat the fear whether people are aware of the film. We had to fight those insecurities, but I think we have done something new and we don't know whether it's right or wrong. In fact, I have often heard people tell me, 'You and SRK started this concept of marketing films.' More than me, I think it's SRK who popularised and explored film marketing the way he did.
SRK: I think marketing is not about talking a lot about the film, it is actually telling people what the film stands for. The last film Karan and I collaborated on was Dear Zindagi, and after some promotions, we left it at a point. Raees was in competition with another film, so we could take it over the top. Good marketing is about knowing the nature of the film. In a film like this, actors get a chance to play characters, which is a shift from the typical hero and heroines, so that becomes the part of the storytelling. If I tell you about the character, then I will have to tell you what the character does as well. Karan understands better if it's a Saturday film or a Friday film, but when you come out of the theatre, you will feel it's a cool film. You will feel, 'aisi film banni chahiye'.
In Hollywood and other parts of the world, the thriller genre is hugely tapped. But what deters filmmakers in Bollywood from exploring it more?
Karan: It's because of the way we tell our stories and the fact that what we make is mainstream entertainment. We are used to integrating song and dance sequences to our stories. A thriller is supposed to be pacy and keep the audience on the edge of their seats. We like blending music because that's our viewing habit. We make fewer thrillers because we don't conform to the real format of a thriller. We even have an interval. In fact, when Abhay Chopra, the director, wrote the film, he didn't write it with an interval. I asked, 'Where are we going to break for an interval?' We like to escalate the film and then stop, and then we have to re-escalate the film from that point. That's why a lot of our films suffer from the second-half phenomena. Eight out of 10 second halves are weak because of the interval. Nobody in any teaching course around the world will account for how to handle an interval in movies. It's only Hindi cinema that breaks the narrative and that's another problem with the thriller genre. It was a big challenge that we faced.
Three big production houses (Red Chillies Entertainment, Dharma Productions and BR Studios) have come together to make this project happen. Is this the way forward for films in the future?
Karan: Collaboration is everything. There is always something that you don't have and that someone else has. In this case, SRK had the vision to make it, I had the infrastructure to put it together and the creative resources, which is the most important aspect, was brought in by BR Studios. I will continue to do these kind of collaborations again and again. SRK, Gauri Shinde and I collaborated on Dear Zindagi. Gauri had the script and the talent, SRK is the only man who could have pulled off the role of Dr Jehangir Khan with that brilliance. All I did was step in as a media-broker to bring two people together. By collaborating, maybe the share of the pie gets divided, but I don't mind it. People who really don't know Shah Rukh and me well probably don't know that we have one big commonality. Shah Rukh and I don't make movies for money. He might do an event for money, I might host a show for money, but we will not make movies for money. If you make money on movies, it's a humongous upside. My father once told me that SRK was the first actor whose price for a film was Rs 25 lakh for nearly seven-eight years. By the time he took a leap to a crore, it was quite late. That's when I realised what he is all about. With cinema, we believe that it's about putting out good content and we have no problems collaborating with each other. Other people might think that 'hamara brand value dilute ho jata hai.' Kuch nahi hota. Eventually, we know that the movie is important and not the names behind it.
Having collaborated as producers for ten years, has your vision and appetite changed with respect to the kind of films you would like to make?
SRK: Creatively, Karan has always been on the ball. I think he understands what the audience would like to see, apart from being a creative person. I have no other sensibility apart from being creative and I just want to do it because it should be done. So, I could make a wrong choice. Hence, someone like Karan is a great asset, as he knows the changing face of cinema. He understands and absorbs things that are happening around and he brings it to Indian cinema. Even 8-10 years back, I would tell my friends that collaboration is the way forward. We just talked about it, but Karan went ahead and did it. Like we were talking about earlier, Karan understands the issues of an interval and the phenomena of the second half being a letdown. Having said that, films are an industry and not just an art form. So, you need to earn to survive. Just making films for the sake of money is wrong. Just making films for the sake of creativity is also wrong.
Were all of you as involved in the casting process?
Karan: It all started with Shah Rukh really liking the film and wanting to be a part of it as an actor. With him doing multiple films, he couldn't be a part of Ittefaq at that time. So, we decided that we should go ahead and make it. The casting was fairly easy because Sidharth Malhotra was offered the film two years ago and Sonakshi Sinha was ideal for the role. The narration and reading happened over two days and everyone was on board. Initially, SRK wanted to play Akshaye Khanna's part (of a cop).
SRK: Yes, I wanted to play a cop as I have never done it.
Karan: It is quite ironic that a lead actor who is such a big star has not played a cop in mainstream Hindi cinema.
As creative minds working together for so many years, do both of you have any disagreements?
Karan: If you don't like something, it's all about how you word it. Shah Rukh is so sensitive that he takes very long to express something that he doesn't like because he doesn't want to hurt you. He will take three hours to say that he doesn't like something instead of just saying it right away. Sometimes he gets shocked at my candid nature and tells me, 'Tu kaise bol leta hai yeh sab'. But I tell him that one has to get on with it. Gauri (SRK's wife) and I know this about him, so we have to break things very gently to him. When he saw the film, he had some valid points. SRK undermines his ability to be intuitive when it comes to anything mainstream. He is in denial, but he is actually a full-on commercial film buff. He likes to say he is not because he comes from an alternate headspace, as that's how he entered the movies. But, there is no one more masala and commercial than SRK.
SRK: I am a firm believer that what belongs to someone should remain with that person. Within that, you add on a little more, without ever disturbing that sensibility. I don't think that I could have done a Kuch Kuch Hota Hai or Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge as I never thought of myself as a guy who should do romantic films. When I tell people that I don't listen to a script, I don't mean that 'ki main kahani nahi sunta'. I just don't listen to it from the point of view of being a scriptwriter or a director. I believe that I have to trust the writer as he best knows what he has written. A director's life experiences are completely different from mine, so I need to add my creativity to it without disturbing the subject. It's not that I am oversensitive, but because of the respect and love that they have for me, I don't want them to feel that, 'abhi karna hi padega kyunki Shah Rukh bhai ne keh diya hai.' I don't want to close doors for discussion. I really want this film to do well, firstly, because I love the team and secondly, I feel this genre is still untapped.
JUNO CHOPRA
SRK is very creative. He helped us shape up Akshaye Khanna's role as the cop and gave us a lot of suggestions. Whether it was the posters or the trailer, he has always given us valuable inputs. We are very fortunate to have SRK and Karan together on board, and hopefully, you will like the film as much as we enjoyed making it.
SRK and Karan, how has it been not promoting Ittefaq? Does it make you uncomfortable because while promoting a film, you get a better understanding of how people are responding to your subject?
Karan Johar: I definitely think the decision we took to not promote the film dealt with some kind of anxiety through our journey. It's not so much the ramifications of it, but the insecurity of not doing something that bothers you. If we had gone all out promoting our film, it would probably make a difference to our opening numbers, but I strongly believe that Ittefaq is in that space where it's a Saturday film. It is one of those films, which has the potential to start very well and then word of mouth takes it to another level. Lately, I feel that's the trend that films have been following. Overt and excessive promotions work for event films, which are celebratory in nature. Ittefaq is a whodunnit movie where all we can say is that, 'We can't tell you anything or talk about it'. The same thing would have been said over and over again. We don't have songs to dance to, we don't have scenes we can discuss or plot points which can be revealed. So, what would we promote? When Shah Rukh and I discussed it, we took the call of not putting it out there. Of course, we all have to combat the fear whether people are aware of the film. We had to fight those insecurities, but I think we have done something new and we don't know whether it's right or wrong. In fact, I have often heard people tell me, 'You and SRK started this concept of marketing films.' More than me, I think it's SRK who popularised and explored film marketing the way he did.
SRK: I think marketing is not about talking a lot about the film, it is actually telling people what the film stands for. The last film Karan and I collaborated on was Dear Zindagi, and after some promotions, we left it at a point. Raees was in competition with another film, so we could take it over the top. Good marketing is about knowing the nature of the film. In a film like this, actors get a chance to play characters, which is a shift from the typical hero and heroines, so that becomes the part of the storytelling. If I tell you about the character, then I will have to tell you what the character does as well. Karan understands better if it's a Saturday film or a Friday film, but when you come out of the theatre, you will feel it's a cool film. You will feel, 'aisi film banni chahiye'.
In Hollywood and other parts of the world, the thriller genre is hugely tapped. But what deters filmmakers in Bollywood from exploring it more?
Karan: It's because of the way we tell our stories and the fact that what we make is mainstream entertainment. We are used to integrating song and dance sequences to our stories. A thriller is supposed to be pacy and keep the audience on the edge of their seats. We like blending music because that's our viewing habit. We make fewer thrillers because we don't conform to the real format of a thriller. We even have an interval. In fact, when Abhay Chopra, the director, wrote the film, he didn't write it with an interval. I asked, 'Where are we going to break for an interval?' We like to escalate the film and then stop, and then we have to re-escalate the film from that point. That's why a lot of our films suffer from the second-half phenomena. Eight out of 10 second halves are weak because of the interval. Nobody in any teaching course around the world will account for how to handle an interval in movies. It's only Hindi cinema that breaks the narrative and that's another problem with the thriller genre. It was a big challenge that we faced.
Three big production houses (Red Chillies Entertainment, Dharma Productions and BR Studios) have come together to make this project happen. Is this the way forward for films in the future?
Karan: Collaboration is everything. There is always something that you don't have and that someone else has. In this case, SRK had the vision to make it, I had the infrastructure to put it together and the creative resources, which is the most important aspect, was brought in by BR Studios. I will continue to do these kind of collaborations again and again. SRK, Gauri Shinde and I collaborated on Dear Zindagi. Gauri had the script and the talent, SRK is the only man who could have pulled off the role of Dr Jehangir Khan with that brilliance. All I did was step in as a media-broker to bring two people together. By collaborating, maybe the share of the pie gets divided, but I don't mind it. People who really don't know Shah Rukh and me well probably don't know that we have one big commonality. Shah Rukh and I don't make movies for money. He might do an event for money, I might host a show for money, but we will not make movies for money. If you make money on movies, it's a humongous upside. My father once told me that SRK was the first actor whose price for a film was Rs 25 lakh for nearly seven-eight years. By the time he took a leap to a crore, it was quite late. That's when I realised what he is all about. With cinema, we believe that it's about putting out good content and we have no problems collaborating with each other. Other people might think that 'hamara brand value dilute ho jata hai.' Kuch nahi hota. Eventually, we know that the movie is important and not the names behind it.
Having collaborated as producers for ten years, has your vision and appetite changed with respect to the kind of films you would like to make?
SRK: Creatively, Karan has always been on the ball. I think he understands what the audience would like to see, apart from being a creative person. I have no other sensibility apart from being creative and I just want to do it because it should be done. So, I could make a wrong choice. Hence, someone like Karan is a great asset, as he knows the changing face of cinema. He understands and absorbs things that are happening around and he brings it to Indian cinema. Even 8-10 years back, I would tell my friends that collaboration is the way forward. We just talked about it, but Karan went ahead and did it. Like we were talking about earlier, Karan understands the issues of an interval and the phenomena of the second half being a letdown. Having said that, films are an industry and not just an art form. So, you need to earn to survive. Just making films for the sake of money is wrong. Just making films for the sake of creativity is also wrong.
Were all of you as involved in the casting process?
Karan: It all started with Shah Rukh really liking the film and wanting to be a part of it as an actor. With him doing multiple films, he couldn't be a part of Ittefaq at that time. So, we decided that we should go ahead and make it. The casting was fairly easy because Sidharth Malhotra was offered the film two years ago and Sonakshi Sinha was ideal for the role. The narration and reading happened over two days and everyone was on board. Initially, SRK wanted to play Akshaye Khanna's part (of a cop).
SRK: Yes, I wanted to play a cop as I have never done it.
Karan: It is quite ironic that a lead actor who is such a big star has not played a cop in mainstream Hindi cinema.
As creative minds working together for so many years, do both of you have any disagreements?
Karan: If you don't like something, it's all about how you word it. Shah Rukh is so sensitive that he takes very long to express something that he doesn't like because he doesn't want to hurt you. He will take three hours to say that he doesn't like something instead of just saying it right away. Sometimes he gets shocked at my candid nature and tells me, 'Tu kaise bol leta hai yeh sab'. But I tell him that one has to get on with it. Gauri (SRK's wife) and I know this about him, so we have to break things very gently to him. When he saw the film, he had some valid points. SRK undermines his ability to be intuitive when it comes to anything mainstream. He is in denial, but he is actually a full-on commercial film buff. He likes to say he is not because he comes from an alternate headspace, as that's how he entered the movies. But, there is no one more masala and commercial than SRK.
SRK: I am a firm believer that what belongs to someone should remain with that person. Within that, you add on a little more, without ever disturbing that sensibility. I don't think that I could have done a Kuch Kuch Hota Hai or Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge as I never thought of myself as a guy who should do romantic films. When I tell people that I don't listen to a script, I don't mean that 'ki main kahani nahi sunta'. I just don't listen to it from the point of view of being a scriptwriter or a director. I believe that I have to trust the writer as he best knows what he has written. A director's life experiences are completely different from mine, so I need to add my creativity to it without disturbing the subject. It's not that I am oversensitive, but because of the respect and love that they have for me, I don't want them to feel that, 'abhi karna hi padega kyunki Shah Rukh bhai ne keh diya hai.' I don't want to close doors for discussion. I really want this film to do well, firstly, because I love the team and secondly, I feel this genre is still untapped.
JUNO CHOPRA
SRK is very creative. He helped us shape up Akshaye Khanna's role as the cop and gave us a lot of suggestions. Whether it was the posters or the trailer, he has always given us valuable inputs. We are very fortunate to have SRK and Karan together on board, and hopefully, you will like the film as much as we enjoyed making it.
Karan Johar & I would like to do different and wild for our next film-Shah Rukh Khan
8:22 AM
Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; October 31, 2017)
Shah Rukh Khan may have featured in Karan Johar’s co-production, Dear Zindagi (2016), but it has been over seven years since the superstar featured in his directorial. So when Bollywood’s favourite hitmaker duo, who are co-producing the Sidharth Malhotra-Sonakshi Sinha starrer Ittefaq, shared the stage at a media event yesterday, the obvious question was: When will fans see the two reunite for a blockbuster? Stating that they have been discussing probable film ideas over the past year-and-a-half, Khan said that he is keen to attempt a different genre with Johar — one that would be a departure from the love sagas that they have done so far. “In our long association, we’ve done mainly romantic films and family movies. So this time, we’d like to do something more — something different and wild. Whenever both of us are ready, we’ll definitely work together,” he said.
Khan also revealed his inclination to be part of a thriller. “It’s my favourite genre,” he gushed before expressing his love for Kevin Spacey’s The Usual Suspects (1995). “Every time I want to watch a thriller, I go back to The Usual Supects despite knowing everything about the film.”
Johar said that Bollywood hasn’t explored the genre enough. “This genre can’t work if we include six songs, as it stops being thrilling."
Ater Ittefaq, I’ll never be scared of not having money again-Kapil Chopra
8:05 AM
Kapil Chopra, with brother Abhay, on tumultuous times, suspense thrillers with alternate endings, and the promises tomorrow holds
Avinash Lohana (MUMBAI MIRROR; October 30, 2017)
Sitting comfortably in a living room crowded with mementoes and memories, BR Chopra’s grandsons and Ravi Chopra’s sons, Kapil aka Juno and Abhay Chopra, revive childhood memories, discuss epic battles and tell us why Ittefaq happened. Excerpts from the interview…
What do you remember of the original Ittefaq?
KAPIL: I saw it as a kid on DVD and I remember Nanda running in a blue saree (laughs). I’d loved the concept even then and the fact that it was a songless thriller.
ABHAY: Yeah, it was way ahead of its time, reminded me of Alfred Hitchcock and was such a departure from Yash uncle’s later films.
The film was produced by your granddad, B R Chopra, directed by his brother, Yash Chopra, and your father, Ravi Chopra, was an AD on it. Quite the family plot, right?
ABHAY: In the scene where the chandelier falls, dad was the one holding it and cueing the action.
KAPIL: Yash uncle and dad were more friends than chacha-bhatija. They had a bachelor pad in town and were mad about convertibles. Yash uncle visited dad regularly when he was ill, when all Yash uncle wanted to know was when dad will get back to making movies.
Did you ever imagine yourself in any other profession?
ABHAY: I was always fond of films but loving cinema as a filmmaker grew with time. It’s a tough business and you have to really love it, to want to do it. Our parents never forced it on us.
KAPIL: I did a course in marketing in the US and on my return, assisted Karan (Johar) on Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham. Associate director Nikkhil Advani was a taskmaster, but nobody wanted to go home. (Laughs) I even skipped a friend’s wedding because I didn’t want to leave the office even though we were actually not doing much.
Tell us about your grandfather?
ABHAY: When I was studying in film school, I’d send mom my scripts. She would read them out to him and he’d send them back with valid comments.
KAPIL: He really spoilt us and regaled us with stories like how he got Rs 6 lakh to shoot an episode of Mahabharat when it actually cost Rs 8 lakh. When dad pointed out that they were losing Rs 2 lakh on every episode he told him, “Just do this well, phir humari pidhiyan khayengi.” It’s true, Mahabharat is still earning us money and was our saviour in bad times. My grandfather taught us never to run after money but focus on content that would make us proud.
Your association with Shah Rukh Khan grew through Bhoothnath and its sequel and now he has co-produced Ittefaq.
KAPIL: He’s been a pillar of support, when dad was really ill, he came home and offered to help. We owe him a lot. Ittefaq would not have been made without Shah Rukh.
Who else helped you weather the tumultuous times?
ABHAY: Mom (Renu Chopra), she’s very strong…
KAPIL: And always positive. I get stressed out easily but Abhay always calms me down, saying, “Don’t worry, we’ll figure it out.” In these last four years, we’ve grown as a family. When I didn’t want to burden mom, I shared my problems with my brother.
Is the financial crunch behind you now?
KAPIL: We are limping back. But after this, I’ll never be scared of not having money again.
What support did you receive from Aditya Chopra?
KAPIL: Adi was very supportive during Bareilly Ki Barfi. And we began shooting Ittefaq at his studio and wrapped it there with the song “Raat Baaki.” The studio was booked solid but Adi worked it out saying he’d love for us to return.
In these days of social media how will you keep the suspense under wraps?
KAPIL: We have shot alternate endings and except for the cast, director and the producers, nobody knows what the actual ending is. We are running the ‘No spoiler campaign’ requesting people to keep the secret.
BR Chopra’s repertoire includes fi lms like Nikaah which is relevant today in the wake of the Supreme Court judgement on triple talaq and Insaf Ka Tarazu given the #Metoo campaign. Any more remakes in store?
ABHAY: We are blessed to have a library of films but even Ittefaq is not a copy. As long as you find a new way to tell an old story, it’s fine.
KAPIL: Karan (Johar) and I were recently discussing a remake of Pati Patni Aur Woh. We’d like to do more remakes and adaptations, but also put out original content. In January, we roll with a road trip film which Nitin Kakkar will direct. Fawad Khan had given the nod to it earlier but now we are looking for another actor.
Sidharth Malhotra-Sonakshi Sinha starrer Ittefaq to be remade in Telugu?
8:02 AM
Nayandeep Rakshit (DNA; October 30, 2017)
Sidharth Malhotra and Sonakshi Sinha starrer Ittefaq releases this Friday. But a few days before the film hits the screens, the buzz is that producers from South have already expressed interest in remaking the movie.
Says a source, “Abhay Chopra and Juno (Kapil) Chopra have been approached by a few South makers to sell the rights of their film. They want to remake the film in Telugu. Abhay and Juno have had several discussions and are also keen to give the producers the right to remake.”
While Sid and Sona’s film, which is being co-produced by Karan Johar and Shah Rukh Khan along with BR Studios, is an adaptation of the 1969 Yash Chopra directorial, the South makers want to acquire rights of the newer version. “Abhay and Juno won’t be making the film down South. Filmmakers from South have loved the promos and shown interest in the modern, more contemporary storyline,” adds our source.Another source reveals, “The makers have been offered a good price to sell the remake rights.”
Revealed: The Shah Rukh Khan connect in Ittefaq trailer being attached to Golmaal Again
8:11 AM
DNA (October 13, 2017)
While the Ittefaq trailer being attached to Golmaal Again is seen as a Karan Johar and Ajay Devgn patch-up, there’s another angle to this story. Let’s not forget the Rohit Shetty-Shah Rukh Khan connection. SRK is the co-producer of Ittefaq and shares a bond with Rohit who has directed him in two films. So, naturally, the actor played a part in attaching the Ittefaq trailer with Shetty’s Diwali bonanza.
Gaurav Verma, Chief Revenue Officer, Red Chillies Entertainment, says, “We have always enjoyed a great relationship with Rohit Shetty and are thankful to him and Reliance Entertainment for attaching the Ittefaq trailer with Golmaal Again. We are happy with the response and appreciation the Ittefaq trailer has received and Golmaal Again will give us an opportunity to showcase it to a wider audience on big screen.” Now, you know who the connecting link is.
Karan Johar to attach trailer of Ittefaq with Ajay Devgn's Golmaal Again?
7:54 AM
Nayandeep Rakshit (DNA; October 10, 2017)
The entire film industry was witness to the ugly chapter that followed after Karan Johar and Ajay Devgn released their respective films, Ae Dil Hai Mushkil and Shivaay, on the same Friday last Diwali. But looks like the jhagda that began during the festival of lights last year has ended this Diwali.
An insider reveals, “Karan is attaching the prints of his next production venture Ittefaq to the prints of Ajay’s Golmaal Again, which releases in Diwali week. Given the ugly fallout they were involved in last year, this is a good sign.”
PALLY NOW?
This does not mean that KJo and Ajay will now be buddies, but it’s a start. Says another source, “Karan and Kajol recently patched up and now that truce is extending to her spouse. Ajay wouldn’t have allowed Karan to attach his trailer to his film and Karan, too, would have never even given it a thought if all was not well between them.” We are just glad that the hostilities are over.
KAJOL: THE PEACEMAKER?
Earlier this year, Kajol and KJo buried the hatchet at her birthday party. They have been in touch ever since. Ajay and Karan, on the other hand, are still at war over their films on the same incident. Ajay had announced he’s making a film on Battle of Saragarhi way before Karan made his film (with Akshay Kumar) official. Also, Ajay isn’t even close to Shah Rukh Khan who’s co-producing the film. We wonder if Kajol convinced hubby Devgn to finally put an end to their long-standing feud.
Ittefaq remake to have a recreated version of Namak Halaal’s 'Raat Baaki'
8:13 AM
Avinash Lohana (MUMBAI MIRROR; October 7, 2017)
Abhay Chopra’s remake of the 1969 Yash Chopra directed murder mystery, Ittefaq, was supposed to be a songless film like the original, which had featured Rajesh Khanna, Nanda and Sujit Kumar in the lead roles.
But now, Mirror has learnt that the makers have decided to revisit the popular track, “Raat Baaki Baat Baaki”, from the 1982 Amitabh Bachchan, Parveen Babi and Shashi Kapoor-starrer Namak Halaal, for this one.
However, the Tanishk Bagchi-recreated song will be used as a promotional track. “It’s a masterpiece of a song composed and sung by Bappida (Lahiri) with Asha Bhosle and has a nice, haunting feel. We thought that it was apt for the film. We plan to shoot next week with Sonakshi (Sinha), Sidharth Malhotra) and Akshaye (Khanna),” says producer Juno Chopra, adding that they have stayed true to the original.
He confirms that the song will not feature in the film. “It’s a 100-minute songless film but there is an element of mystery in this song given that Ittefaq is a taut thriller. Shah Rukh (Shah Rukh Khan, producer) and the actors, along with the rest of the team are really excited and hope to live up to the original,” he signs off.
Akshaye Khanna’s tough cop act in Ittefaq to impress viewers
7:54 AM
Harshada Rege (DNA; October 5, 2017)
Akshaye Khanna, who won a lot of critical acclaim for his role of a cop in Mom, returns to the big screen as one yet again with Ittefaq, co-produced by Red Chillies Entertainment, BR Studios, and Dharma Productions. The movie is a remake of Ittefaq, which released in 1969. The original featured Rajesh Khanna and Nanda, while the remake will see Sidharth Malhotra and Sonakshi Sinha along with Akshaye reprise the roles. The intriguing movie revolves around two murders.
TALES OF TWO
The movie that releases on November 3 will see the return of a star-studded murder mystery after a rather long time. It’s left to Akshaye’s character to get to the truth and nail the culprit. He is faced with two murders and two suspects, who present two versions.
KEEPING IT CRISP
One of the main things in a film of a thriller genre is the pace. The good thing about Ittefaq is that its runtime is around 100 minutes, which means, get ready for a ride of nonstop thrills, ending in a nail-biting finish. Like the original, this version directed by Abhay Chopra too, will be a song-less movie.
LIKE FATHER-LIKE SON
In Hindi films, Vinod Khanna was one of the actors who played the tough cop with absolute conviction. Movies like Amar Akbar Anthony and Inkaar saw him play an honest cop. And it seems only natural that Akshaye takes forward his legacy.
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