R Balki makes an assurance after his Mission Mangal director, Jagan Shakti, underwent surgery for a clot in the brain
Himesh Mankad (MUMBAI MIRROR; January 28, 2020)

Jagan Shakti, who made his directorial debut with the Akshay Kumar-fronted Mission Mangal , was admitted to Kokilaben Hospital on Saturday after he collapsed while socialising with friends in the city. A clot in his brain was detected and Jagan underwent surgery on Monday. His mentor, R Balki, who produced his debut film confirmed the news. “Jagan is doing well post the surgery and there is nothing to worry about now,” he was quick to add.

Mission Mangal was inspired by ISRO’s Mars Orbiter Mission and featured Vidya Balan, Taapsee Pannu, Sonakshi Sinha, Kirti Kulhari, Nithya Menen, Sharman Joshi and Dalip Tahil as scientists working on the project. Dalip admitted he was shocked when he heard the news and wishing the director a speedy recovery, promising to visit as soon as the hospital permits. “I heard Akshay was among the first to know and got Jagan admitted, taking charge of things,” he said.

“I heard Akshay was among the first to know. He got Jagan admitted to hospital and took charge of things,” says Dalip Tahil.

Sanjay Kapoor, who played Vidya Balan’s husband in the film was equally shocked. “He is such a fit guy. I’m praying for his speedy recovery,” the actor asserted.

Jagan was gearing up to kick off his next, Ikka, the official Hindi remake of the Tamil hit, Kaththi.

Dhaval Mehta (DNA; September 9, 2019)

Sharman Joshi is currently basking in the glory of Mission Mangal as the film has done exceedingly well at the box office. Based on Mass Orbiter Mission, the project has almost made it to the Rs 200 crore club. The 3 Idiots actor says excitedly, “I heard the audiences applauded and stood up in theatres when Mangalyaan completed the mission.” Here, he talks about the success of the movie, the rough patch while doing solo films and being completely rejuvenated now.

Mission Mangal proved to be among the biggest movies this year...
I’m absolutely elated and on top of the world! It was a unique subject made in an entertaining way by R Balki, Akshay sir (Kumar) and Jagan (Shakti, director). They managed to find a balance between learning and at the same time made it a huge commercial success. I am back in the game because of this movie.

What made you choose the film despite the limited screen presence?
The credit goes to Jagan and Balki sir for what they have written. The script was all there. The first time I heard the brief and read the script, I was excited. Initially, some of my friends were skeptical about what the film would portray  about Mars. I told them that we will capture the technical aspects of the mission and also about the personal and professional lives of the people.

The banter between you and Sonakshi Sinha received a lot of appreciation...
I’ve always admired Sonakshi. The first time I met her was when she was still a child and I had gone to meet her mum (Poonam Sinha) regarding a film. I always thought she was pretty and looked forward to working with her.

You have been part of cult films like Rang De Basanti (2006) and 3 Idiots (2009). Do you feel you have underachieved or made bad choices as an actor?
Akshay sir keeps saying that success of a film is 70 per cent luck and rest 30 per cent is script, hard work and everything else put together. I get where he is coming from. After Ferrari Ki Sawari, I believed that I chose the right scripts. It was sheer bad luck that they failed at the box office. And naturally, it impacted me. I was not chasing to be the centre or the whole and sole of films because many times actors falter while doing that. I was focussing on scripts then and even now and they were all ensemble projects.

So, was it a wrong perception that you only wanted to do solo films?
After Ferrari, which was a solo film, which other solo film did I do? Gang of Ghosts, War Chhod Na Yaar, Super Nani were all ensemble films. I was not chasing solo films but I didn’t want to do them just for the sake of it.

Have you been relegated to being just a comic actor?
I’m extremely proud that people think I am a good comic actor. I’ve never felt any lesser on being called that. The audiences are maturing and the producers are taking chances. I think comedy is among the most difficult forms of emotions to create. It requires you to be clean and naked in front of the camera and there is only so much a director can do.

What are your upcoming projects?
I have Pawan Puja coming up, which is directed by Shaad Ali and produced by Siddharth P Malhotra. I just hope that more luck shines in my favour this time around as an actor and want to entertain the audiences.

Chaya Unnikrishnan (DNA; August 26, 2019)

Sanjay Kapoor may have had a small role in Mission Mangal, but the actor is ecstatic with the response he has got in the hit movie. As Vidya Balan’s nagging husband and father of two, the actor had a moment on the screen when he danced to his hit number Ankhiya Milao from Raja (1995). “That got maximum claps and whistles! Initially, they were planning to take another song, Bee Gees' Staying Alive for the scene, as they didn’t want any of my tracks because it would have been obvious. Later, they zeroed in on Ankhiya Milaye and it worked out in my favour. I can say that in the era of remixes and recreations, I am the only actor to have danced to my song twice on-screen! First in 1995 with Madhuri Dixit and 24 years later with Vidya Balan. Besides, the dialogue after the song is crucial to the narrative,” Sanjay beams.

Ask him why he decided to be a part of a film that already had such big stars, and he says it was the ensemble cast that drew him to it. “Akshay Kumar and Vidya Balan have got the main roles but the rest of us have our moments. It’s like Oceans 11, where George Clooney and Brad Pitt are the leads and the others have their moments,” he reasons, adding that there is no point playing a lead role in a film that won’t be seen by the audience. “I am not living in a dream world asking for lead roles. When you’re in a film with Akshay, you know it will have a wider audience,” says he.

It was his outing in the web anthology Lust Stories that impressed filmmaker R Balki to cast him in Mission Mangal. “When I met him and Jagan Shakti (director) they told me it’s a special role. They needed someone young for it as he’d burst into a dance, and not a typical husband to Vidya,” says Sanjay, who feels his character resonated with the audiences because it was real and identifiable. “On social media, a girl wrote to me saying my character reminded her of her father,” smiles the actor.

In real life, the 53-year-old is a cool dad to his son Jahaan and daughter Shanaya. Interestingly, he will be seen playing his niece Sonam Kapoor aka Sonam K Ahuja’s father in The Zoya Factor. “When we were filming it, Sonam was newly married and Anand (K Ahuja) used to come to the sets often. It was lovely working with her,” he says, adding that his bond with the actress became stronger after the film. “I share a warm and affectionate relationship with Sonam. All my scenes are with her and we used to spend 13-14 hours on the set every day. We used to share lunches and dinners and I got to know her really well. Earlier, we’d meet for family functions and festivals like Rakhi and Diwali, but for the film, we spent a lot of quality time together,” he avers.

Besides the Zoya Akhtar directorial, the Mubarakan actor will be seen in a 10-episode digital series as the main lead. “Being an actor on the big screen and simultaneously doing a web series in which I play the main lead — I am in a great phase of my career. I couldn’t have asked for better,” he says.

There is also talk about his daughter Shanaya being readied for her Bollywood debut. Is that happening anytime soon? “She is definitely training for it. So far, she has seen a life of glamour but I wanted her to experience the process of filmmaking. She had to know that it’s not just about posting pictures on social media or going to events. So, she is assisting director Sharan Sharma for the Gunjan Saxena biopic starring Janhvi (Kapoor). Karan (Johar, producer) told me it will be shot in four months and it is a small unit, so it will be best for her to work as an AD,” explains the actor.

Shanaya was in Lucknow for the shoot and the proud papa tells us that she shared a room with another assistant director instead of staying with cousin Janhvi in a hotel. “When Shanaya called to inform, I told her she is doing the right thing because Janhvi is a star. Shanaya needs to experience it from the ground and see it from close quarters, running around, interacting with spot boys, etc. These are small things but when she becomes a heroine, she will value and respect the assistants more,” he signs off.

Chaya Unnikrishnan (DNA; August 19, 2019)

Dressed in a long kurta with a flared palazzo in magenta and long mane flowing, Vidya Balan looks radiant as we meet for a tête-à-tête. She is receiving rave reviews for her outing as the project director of the Mars Orbiter Mission in her latest release, Mission Mangal, which got an excellent opening at the box office. “From the word go, I had a good feeling about this film. I was sure of it because Balki (writer) narrated the script to me and the moment he finished the narration, I said, I’m doing the film. It’s never happened to me before,” she beams.

Interestingly, after playing a scientist, the Tumhari Sulu star will try her skills in mathematics as she essays the ‘human computer’ Shakuntala Devi in a biopic. “I was good at Maths, but I didn’t like Science, so, I am feeling good I passed this (Mission Mangal) test,” she smiles. Here, the talented actress talks to us about the changing phase of cinema, playing roles with substance and why she took a long gap between Tumhari Sulu and Mission Mangal. 

You said you gave your nod to Mission Mangal immediately after R Balki narrated it. What did you like about the script?
Just the fact that everything came together so beautifully. The scale of the mission was big, but the science was simple. There was humour in it and the way personal lives of the characters had been fictionalised, it had drama. Jagan (Shakti, director) inspired faith in me, even though he’s a first-time director. Also, Balki was involved with the project. Then, of course, I was getting to team up with Akshay (Kumar) after Bhool Bhulaiya (2007) and Thank You (2011) — all those factors came later. Once I said yes after the narration, even while filming and promoting, I felt it was a good film.

Tumhari Sulu, which released two years ago, was a hit and you won a lot of acclaim. Still, Mission Mangal came after a long gap...
I didn’t intend it. But I think what happened post Tumhari Sulu is: Firstly, I had a hit after a long time! So, I was just relieved, I think I wanted to enjoy that feeling. Secondly, some of the things I liked were only ideas, like the Shakuntala Devi biopic. The idea was shared with me, but the script was not in place. They were going to start working on it. There were a couple of other things also that I liked and were at different stages of development. So I thought, chalo, let them take time. Anyway, I had worked on three films back-to-back — Kahaani 2, Begum Jaan and Tumhari Sulu. I did a Telugu film in between, but that was not too much work. I enjoyed that time, I think it was just a relief that I had had a hit movie after long (laughs).

People associate you with movies that have substance. Do you choose such roles or do filmmakers approach you with them?
It is my natural inclination and, yes, filmmakers also come to me with such roles. I think that’s because I came in with Parineeta (2005). So, from the beginning, I have always been offered interesting parts. I tried to do different things in between, early on in my career, and I realised I don’t enjoy that kind of stuff (playing the typical glamorous heroine). Since 2008, I decided to only do films that excited me or instinctively felt I must do. So, Paa (2009), Ishqiya (2010), No One Killed Jessica (2011), The Dirty Picture (2011) and Kahaani (2012) happened back-to-back. As these films started seeing success, directors and producers also began to feel, ‘We can go to her with this kind of subject’. It was a choice that I made and I think the success furthered it.

Everyone is talking about how films have become content-driven lately. For you, personally, how has it been?
I think the scope of work that I’ve been offered in the past 11 years, has really widened. Ishqiya was a definitive film in that sense because suddenly, you had a femme fatale who you hadn’t seen in Indian cinema so far. And you know, a rural femme fatale; not a glamorous, cigarette-smoking woman. Slowly, people felt that I was open to doing these kinds of films. They came to me saying, they had a story for long, but didn’t think they could make, but now it’s possible. When these films started seeing success, it encouraged more people to invest in movies like these. Then other actors started doing it. Now, it’s like Pandora’s Box has just been opened. The content is so varied and exciting. Sometimes, it is different for the sake of being different, but that’s okay. At least people are trying. There’s no dearth of exciting content. Even in Mission Mangal, you would have thought that a film that has Akshay Kumar may not have so much for the female leads to do. But this film has.

Right, but it is being touted as Akshay Kumar’s biggest opener... 
Yes, but that’s because they still talk about the business of films in terms of the male actors. When people said the poster has Akshay’s face so prominently — it’s not fair because it’s about the women — I said, ‘I’m happy to use his stardom to my advantage’. You have to be practical about these things. He is the biggest star amongst all of us. And if it’s going to help us get more people into the theatre, why not? But now that the film is released, actually, a few people asked me this, not just in interviews, even otherwise. And I’m saying, that will also change, someday they’ll talk about the business of films in terms of female actors.

In this film there are five known actresses, was it necessary to have a mainstream hero in the film?
It was not necessary but faayda hua. Akshay’s a huge superstar, so it makes the film accessible to that many more people. By putting his face prominently on the poster, it will bring more eyeballs. But, I’m saying someday, I hope my face is equally big or bigger (than the male star). Not just mine, but all the girls’. Similarly, I hope the business gets talked about in terms of a Vidya Balan and Akshay Kumar film. That change will happen. I always look at the glass as half-full. What’s extremely heartening for me is the fact that in a film with Akshay Kumar, the roles (his and hers) are of equal importance. That itself is a step forward. Normally in any big hero’s film, the female part is not so strong, but I have played such a prominent role, it gives me great satisfaction and is fulfilling.

Jagan Shakti on putting an ensemble cast together and fictionalizing a true story
Himesh Mankad (MUMBAI MIRROR; August 15, 2019)

Jagan Shakti insists he had to fictionalise the story of his directorial debut, Mission Mangal, which is inspired by ISRO’s (Indian Space Research Organisation) Mars Orbiter Mission (MOM), as “everyone is aware of the event”. “I perceived the story as a human drama around ordinary Indians who accomplished something historic. The details are in the public domain so, the challenge was to weave an entertaining story around it,” the director explains.

Jagan may not have managed to get permission to shoot inside ISRO, but he did get hold of people who were involved in the mission, which helped him during scripting. “We interviewed all the scientists who were a part of the tea have over 100 hours recording,” he says, adding that they were briefed about the tone of the film and how the team intended to fictionalise the story.

Mission Mangal, headlined by Akshay Kumar, features Vidya Balan, Sonakshi Sinha, Taapsee Pannu, Kirti Kulhari and Nithya Menen. Was it difficult to get the ensemble cast? Jagan says, “Our script was designed with Akshay sir at the centre, he gets the team in place. Then, we wrote characters with back stories, like there’s one who is married with a grown-up child, while another’s husband is in the hospital. Every character reflects our society and has a good reason to be in the film,” he asserts, reasoning, “While presenting a film to actors of this stature, it is important to have meaty parts for everyone.”

Last month, ISRO launched Chandrayaan 2, India’s second lunar exploration mission. Is that a potential subject? “Sci-fi is an interesting genre, and I will pursue it as one of my core strengths. And now that you have given me the idea, I will think of it,” he chuckles. Jagan would love to work with all Bollywood actors but doesn’t rule out another collaboration with Akshay. “I am grateful that a superstar like him agreed to work with me. If a script suits him, I’ll go to him again,” Jagan concludes.

Madhureeta Mukherjee (BOMBAY TIMES; August 14, 2019)

In an industry where the power scale continues to tip largely towards the leading male stars, Vidya Balan has held her own; making brave moves and rare choices. The scenario is gradually changing, and mindsets, too. And Vidya, whose upcoming film Mission Mangal is on the verge of release, rightly explains, “It takes a lot to stand up for yourself, and I think women are slowly getting there.” In a conversation with BT, she expresses her opinions on the over-sensitive section of the social media, how women should adeptly use their EQ to make the cut in a man’s world, and how she doesn’t need to clock in more movies to prove a point. Read on...

We have seen you lead the show in most of your films, and then, here is this ambitious mission-to-Mars film, with a new director and a huge star cast. You haven’t really been seen in this space before...
WelI, I had worked with Jagan (Shakti, director) on Paa (2009), as he was assisting R Balki then. He showed me all the videos and presentations he had, and I asked him why he wanted to make this film. For a first-time director, Mission Mangal is quite an ambitious film to attempt. He said that he has been wanting to tell this story for a long time now; also, his sister (Sujatha) is a part of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), hence, he knew quite a few scientists. He had done hours of research and culled out all the highlights to make it cinematic. I had been offered films on the same subject thrice before, but none of those really interested me. But when Balki narrated this story to me, I instantly said… I am in. That is a rarity for me.

The information and details about MOM (Mars Orbiter Mission) are pretty much in the public domain, but the way the lives of the characters in the film are fictionalised, it gives the film a wholesome feel. What interested me about the story is not just the mission, but what the characters were going through in their personal lives. Thankfully, I believe that in reality, those scientists didn’t go through such conflicts, but cinematically, we needed that. So, here, we juxtapose both — their lives and the mission at hand.

Add to that, a bunch of very talented women sharing screen space, which is a rarity, too...
Akshay was already on board when I heard the story, and then they told me about the rest of the cast. I thought that if this cast comes together, it will be fantastic. I am so glad it did. How often do you get to work in an ensemble cast like this, and in this day and age?

In an interview, Taapsee Pannu said that it is tough to get an A-list male actor to feature in a film where the women have a massive role to play? Having headlined so many films as a ‘hero’ in the typical sense, if I might say so, what do you have to say to that?
I think it is fantastic that Akshay is part of a film (as actor and co-producer) that has so many female actors. That is incredible. I have seen a lot of films that came along, but it didn’t get a so-called superstar. I am talking about the early days of my career, around 2005-2006, when there were quite a few films which the male superstar didn’t consider at all, because they had a woman playing the protagonist. They didn’t end up doing it, the budget didn’t get justified, and finally, the film was shelved. Hence, this project (Mission Mangal) is a fantastic attempt. Having said that, there is still a long way to go. If it was just one woman in this film, then we’d have to see how far it would have gone (laughs!).

When the first poster of the Mission Mangal was released, it became a talking point. People felt that Akshay got more prominence in it than the rest of the actresses. While it is important to have such conversations, the industry’s point of view remains that whoever draws in the audience leads the promotions. In fact, your other co-stars from the film like Tapsee and Sonakshi, too, agreed on it. Your thoughts...
Well, we are in the business of cinema. And finally, if Akshay is going to sell the maximum tickets, it only makes better business sense. Slowly, actresses are gaining in strength, and someday, our faces will be equal, if not bigger than the lead actor. I am saying this in jest, and with no feeling of being slighted or anything. Also, I really feel that we are getting touchy about too many things these days. It is great that today there are conversations about so many things (on social media) that people would not speak about before, but sometimes, I do think that the people who are commenting are not even aware of what they are saying. They want to be part of a herd, and they feel compelled to take on other people’s opinions, just so that they look like they have one, too.

Do you feel pressurised to comment on various issues, give your point of view (POV), react and respond to everything being said and done (in the universe of movies and the world around us).
Yes! People out there want everyone to give their opinion on everything. Many times, I don’t have a POV on a lot of things, and I am okay with admitting that. If someone asks me about some political developments in our country, I say that I can’t comment on it as I am not fully aware of it. I don’t think as actors we need to be aware of everything. In that case, even non-actors should be aware of everything. Why are we actors held to higher standards than everyone else? We are blamed for everything like all the evils in our society, perpetuating stereotypes, not standing up for a cause, not giving an opinion, or not rallying together. It is like we are held responsible for everything, why?

Talking about feats, you have pulled off quite a few on celluloid. A lot of the characters you have portrayed, like Ishqiya (2010), The Dirty Picture (2011) and Begum Jaan (2017), command authority and exude power. In reality, do you feel that women think twice before exercising their power in various areas of life? Is a woman’s show of strength often considered to be arrogance in a man’s world?
Women are emotionally extremely strong, while men are physically strong. The moment a woman enters the left-brain domain, she brings a certain soft power and EQ (emotional quotient) to the table. We use that to bring out the best in people and situations. When we are in a man’s world, we often start thinking that we need to be like men to be successful. And when that happens, you begin to take on their aggression and other traits. I feel that’s not needed. When there is a marriage of our strength and theirs, we can achieve great results. Sometimes, I know that we (women) have had to portray ourselves as being more powerful, more aggressive, only so that we are seen as professionals and not soppy, emotional people. This struggle makes it harder for us. Of course, there are individual differences in all of this. We suppress that power that we naturally have within ourselves. The more we become comfortable with ourselves, the more we won’t feel the need to align with what we see as expressions of power in men. Women can redefine power. Yes, it’s true that women often tend to accept less, because they feel that they can’t ask for more, or ask for what is rightfully theirs — whether it is more responsibility or respect. It takes a lot to stand up for yourself, and I think women are slowly getting there.

The good thing is that today, whether a film is headlined by women, men, or both, or by a huge line-up of stars, beyond a point that does not matter. At least, for a section of the audience, who is looking for good content, great stories and nothing else...
Yes, this means that we will churn better content, and it is a great time to be in the movies. This also means that today, it’s not just the superstars’ films that have chances of getting an audience and doing well. It opens the horizon for all of us and there is an audience for every kind of film. In the past, I remember someone telling me, ‘I don’t know if India is ready for a space film’. The way Mission Mangal is made, whether or not you are ready for it, you will get it. It is simplified, without compromising on what needs to be explained. The parlance is not scientific in that sense. If you ask me, which is my favourite sci-fi film, I have very few, as I get intimidated by science.

Also, today, the audience is looking for heroes in common people. They are keen to see stories about simple heroic deeds that impact their lives. Right?
Now, we are no longer saying that the hero is some other-worldly being. If the hero is one of us, that excites the audience. Hence, we are seeing all kinds of unlikely heroes. Today, the hero does not need to bash up ten people; instead, if that person is able to live his or her life well and realise their dreams, then that is inspiring. It makes the audience feel that they have a chance at being a hero, too. That is what social media is doing, isn’t it? It makes everyone feel that their voice has value and their words have power. I am not sure if that it is a great thing always, in this respect, but that is what is happening.

There was a point earlier when you were trying to fit in, be a certain type and look a certain way. Then you broke those barriers and set yourself free from those trappings. Subsequently, we saw you flourish in roles like The Dirty Picture (2011), Kahaani (2012) and more, but still at that point, you were in the process of gaining a strong foothold in the industry. Now, having made a crack (a big one at that), and settling into a space that truly belongs to you, is life calmer? Are you more in control and has it slowed your pace, work-wise?
I did three intense films back-to-back, Kahaani 2 (2016), Begum Jaan (2017) and Tumhari Sulu (2017). When you are leading films like that, there is prep, shoot, dubbing and promotions. Five months or more are consumed by one film. I had three releases in a span of one-and-a-half-years or less. It got a bit too much. I also need time for myself, spend time with family, read and travel. It was coincidental that the subjects that I had liked were being developed. The only ready project was Mission Mangal, which I agreed to do immediately. I know that I am here to stay, so it doesn’t matter how many films I do in a year. I think that I am an eternal optimist. I always feel that this is the best time of my life. I felt that way even in my worst phase, at a time when my films were not working. I have this attitude and it is a blessing. I feel that I am having the best time of my life and wonder how it can get any better. I am still as passionate about cinema and that has not changed at all. Like I said, I don’t feel the need to clock in a certain number of films. I did a Telugu film in between, which was like doing two films and I ended up shooting more than I thought I would. I am starting the biopic on Shakuntala Devi immediately after Mission Mangal releases. I want to work at my pace. I think after that phase, where I had five hits and then my films flopped one after the other, I kept thinking about what is going wrong. I couldn’t figure what needed fixing, and then, that phase taught me that nothing needed fixing. I realised that this is how it is, and this is how it is always going to be. If that phase (of success) wasn’t permanent, even this wouldn’t be. I guess, it is all about growing up. And the amazing thing is that, the more I grow up, the more I am in touch with the child in me. It is because it frees you. I am not waiting for validation, approval or acceptance anymore, it’s all there (in your head). It is never an absolute, but I am definitely better than I was before.

Vidya Balan dispels the notion that Mission Mangal is a women-centric movie and tells us that men and women had an equal part to play in the real mission
Harshada Rege (BOMBAY TIMES; August 13, 2019)

There has been a lot of talk about Mission Mangal being a women-centric film, given that there are five women leading the show. However, team Mission Mangal has gone to reiterate the fact that it might appear like one, but the film is not a women-centric movie. In fact, the movie celebrates the equal contribution of women and men in making India’s first interplanetary mission — Mars Orbiter Mission (MOM), also known as Mangalyaan — a success. Talking about it being called a women-centric film, director Jagan Shakti told us, “To me, they are all scientists at Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). Gender doesn’t get into the way of their everyday work, which is complex and challenging. For them, a sari or a shirt doesn’t matter — all that matters is that you are a scientist who can aid India’s space program.”

When we spoke to Vidya Balan, who was offered three projects based on the story before she signed Mission Mangal, she explained, “That was also the difference between the scripts that I had read earlier (on the same subject) and this one. The contribution of men to the mission is very clear in this story. The other stories had made it out to be a women-led mission, but in reality, it was not. Men and women had contributed to it equally. So yes, this is not a female-centric movie. The hero of the story is ISRO, and it’s about how they overcome challenges that seemed insurmountable. It seemed impossible to work within those budgets and meet the deadlines.”

Talking about how India achieved the feat within a controlled budget, she said, “We are a nation of jugaad, and we should be proud of that. I am not talking about some bogus jugaad. When I say this, I mean that we know how to make do with what we have, and Indians know how to think out-of-the-box. Every time I travel abroad, I am so amazed by how they always stick to the rules and processes, which is great. But at the same time, they are not flexible, while we are. The world said that it was an impossible feat, but this is what made the mission possible in the first attempt.”

Mission Mangal actor and South star Nithya Menen on why she was in no rush to sign Bollywood projects
Sonil Dedhia (MID-DAY; August 13, 2019)

Over a decade into her flourishing career in the South, Nithya Menen is ready to make her Bollywood debut with Mission Mangal. It is easy to see that she believes in content rather than calculated moves — the actor has no qualms foraying into the industry with an ensemble film, that also features Vidya Balan, Taapsee Pannu, Sonakshi Sinha and Kirti Kulhari. "The way I have operated has always been unconventional. I don't have a strategy. When I select a film, it is on the basis that I would like to watch it," says Menen.

Over the past few years, several filmmakers tried to woo her for Bollywood. Quiz her why it took her so long to explore Hindi cinema, and she replies, "For me, Bollywood is just another language as I work in four different languages [Tamil, Telugu, Kannada and Malayalam]. I didn't want to succumb to the pressure of doing a Hindi film. I felt that people weren't able to understand my space. I have always been content-driven and that's what worked with Mission Mangal. R Balki [producer] honestly told me that it's an ensemble film. Jagan [Shakti, director] was aware of my work and had an understanding of the artiste that I am."

While it was earlier believed that only B-Town stars enjoy pan-India appeal, the actor dismisses the notion. "Few months ago, I stepped out of a Mumbai restaurant and was surprised to see people asking me for selfies. Later, I figured that the dubbed version of South films are popular. It's not necessary to be a Bollywood star to be recognised."

Vidya Balan on her early struggles as an actress and how it helped forge a bond with her screen alter ego in her next, based on the Mars Orbiter mission
Roshmila Bhattacharya (MUMBAI MIRROR; August 12, 2019)

Today, who doesn’t know Vidya Balan. She is the lovelorn Lolita of Parineeta, the desi siren of Ishqiya, The Dirty Picture’s unabashed Silk, the surprise twist of Kahaani and housewife-next-door of Tumhari Sulu with a call-in-the-night radio show. And these are just some of her screen turns which have made the National Award-winning actress a household name. But there was a time when her aspirations made her cry.

“Coming from a non-filmi family I had no idea how to go about becoming an actress, yet I wanted to be one. It worried my family, though they have always supported me. It must have come as a relief to them when my first TV show, La Bella, shut down after a few months. They must have thought, ‘Chalo, abhi to bhoot utar jayega,’” she reminisces.

But Vidya continued to chase after her celluloid pipedream, despite friends telling her she needed to her studies or at least a back-up plan in plac She did enroll for her Masters to keep herself occupied after some of the offers she had been banking on fizzled out. “It was three years of constant rejections from down South and there were days when I would go to sleep in tears. But next morning, I and smiling, hop something good would happen, and Parineeta did,” she smiles. Perhaps it was her real-life struggle, along with the fact that in the last decade she has spearheaded many films which can get frustrating when things are not going right, that helped Vidya forge an instant connection with Tara Shinde, her character in the upcoming Mission Mangal. The Independence Day-release is inspired by India’s Mars Orbiter Mission which had once seemed like an impossible dream too. “But even when the challenges seem insurmountable, Tara refuses to give up,” says Vidya, pointing to the similarities between herself and her screen alter ego.

You wonder if as a child she had wanted to be an astronaut and reach for the stars, and she laughs, “The closest I have come to that is being on the sets of this film. In fact, I was nervous about spouting all the technical jargon because these concepts were so alien to me. I spent hours reading and watching the videos Jagan (Shakti, director) had given me for my prep.”

Her journey with co-star Akshay Kumar goes back to 2007, Heyy Babyy and Bhool Bhulaiyaa. How much has he changed in the years since, you wonder, and Vidya admits she was thinking the same thing before they started shooting. “But I quickly discovered that the madness is intact, while interestingly, Akshay has reinvented himself as an actor, exploring different genres, moving from action and comedy to socially relevant subjects which he feels strongly about. Which is perhaps why these films are working for him,” Vidya reasons. And for her, how different was it moving from a woman centric film to a women centric one? Vidya is quick to correct you, pointing out that both genders contributed equally to the Mars mission, though the five women, played by her, Taapsee Pannu, Sonakshi Sinha, Nithya Menen and Kirti Kulhari, have a significant role to play in this narrative. “Personally, I like all the girls and the work they are doing. All of us in our own ways are trying to push the envelope and do something interesting,” she avers.

Next up for her is the Shakuntala Devi biopic which kicks soon. Vidya admits that since it was reported that she is doing the film, several people, including her Kahaani director, Sujoy Ghosh, have told her that they had met the mathematician, and all of them have an interesting story to tell about the ‘human computer’. “For me, Shakuntala Devi was just a photograph in the newspapers—her head slightly tilted, a smile playing on her lips and a bindi dotting her forehead. Since I am a South Indian, academics come easily to me, still when I heard the narration, I was left gobsmacked!” she exclaims. Prod her on what impressed her the most, and she says, “She wasn’t only about numbers, she had a wicked sense of humour too.”

There was a time when Vidya was offered as many as eight biopics, but apart from the one on M S Subbulakshmi, which has hit a roadblock, she steered clear of the rest. “It’s not enough to just make a film on an imposing personality. The person should have a story to tell too,” she explains, sighing over the fact that she’d been approached for a Meena Kumari biopic soon after The Dirty Picture, and since their trajectories were similar, she’d turned it down. “Since then no one else has come forward, but I’d still love to play my favourite actress on screen.”

For now, she is working towards resurrecting our former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi on screen, after having bought the rights to Sagarika Ghose’s book, Indira—India’s Most Powerful Prime Minister. “The project is not likely to take off soon, it needs a lot of work. The material is vast, Ronnie Screwvala is helping me figure out what we want to tell,” Vidya informs.

The high for now is that after several misses in the early stages of her career, she has just featured in her first Tamil film, the remake of Shoojit Sircar’s Pink. “I worshipped Sridevi as an actress and for the love I have for her and my affection for Boney Kapoor (who produced the film), I agreed to a special appearance,” she points out, as she gets ready to blast off into space with another mission impossible. 

Rachana Dubey (BOMBAY TIMES; August 11, 2019)

As women, trying to find their feet in their respective industries on their own terms, Nithya Menen and Kirti Kulhari have come a long way. Nithya has had her share of well-crafted characters in Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam and Kannada films, while Kirti has played pivotal parts in films like Pink and Uri: The Surgical Strike. The two ladies will be seen sharing screen space with Akshay Kumar, Sonakshi Sinha, Vidya Balan and Taapsee Pannu in the upcoming Mission Mangal. The actresses spoke to BT about this ambitious project, finding work on their own terms and why it’s not important to force-fit oneself in any one notion of beauty. Excerpts:

With eight acclaimed actors leading the cast of Mission Mangal, was it difficult to find your space in the narrative?
Kirti: Once upon a time, there were films like Jaani Dushman (1979), which had so many big names in the lead. When I am offered a film with multiple actors in the key cast, I feel relieved that I don’t have to do much; there’s not much riding on me (laughs!).
Nithya: To me, a film like that sounds like it that has many strong characters. This is not even a point of consideration for me. A good story demands actors to work together and make it believable. This is not about any one of us. I don’t ever think in terms of how many people I am sharing the lead space with. With the narration that I heard for Mission Mangal, it was obvious that it was a story of a mission that a team of scientists accomplished together. So, there was ample for each one of us.
Kirti: On a serious note, it’s really good that such stories are being told. It was the story that attracted me to the film. I’m glad that with films like Uri: The Surgical Strike and Mission Mangal, stories behind landmark events are reaching far and wide. People will know how we achieved something that was considered nearly impossible. Films like these educate and entertain without becoming overbearing. When I was approached for it, apart from the narration, I was amazed with the names that had come on board. The treatment was light and fun. When you hear the word mission, you tend to think it’s a serious film, but this is a slice-of-life movie. And with Akshay Kumar in the cast, it turned out to be more fun than I had imagined.
Nithya: This isn’t a run-of-the-mill kind of a film. It’s a space film, something that hasn’t been attempted before. It was an interesting premise for me. It’s my first Hindi film, and I wanted to make sure that I am in the right team. I’ve been offered Hindi films before but the approach and the reasoning Balki and director Jagan Shakti had for casting me seemed right to me. They were familiar with my work and I was specifically needed for this part. After a point, the language and the industry I was stepping into didn’t matter. I looked at it the way I would see any other film that I give a nod to.

The camaraderie, between Sonakshi Sinha, Vidya Balan, Taapsee Pannu and the two of you was visible on the day of the trailer launch. With so many talented women and cool women as part of the cast, was it like a house on fire. People often have this reservation about so many actresses getting along and working together…
Kirti: We didn’t have to stage that camaraderie; it exists between us. And can someone explain how do men get along? I think they have more issues than women do when it comes to getting along with each other. I’ve done Pink and some other projects, and so I am used to hanging out with other women. Akshay spoilt all of us equally on the set with his ghar ka khaana. We could shamelessly ask him to bring things. The atmosphere on the set was warm; why is that hard to buy? With someone like Nithya on the set, we got so many insights into how the South film industry functions. The things she (Nithya) stands for in the South and the kind of films she eventually does, is what I am trying to do here. She’s fought for so many things to finally be able to do things on her own terms. Also, when we got the script, we all knew what each one was doing in the film. So, we just got down to work and passionately did what our parts required. None of us was bothered about what the other was trying to do with their part. At the end of the day, we had to be the characters and do what is needed for them to feel real. That is what people will eventually remember when they see the film.
Nithya: I was making my debut in Bollywood, and I felt it was wonderful being on a set like this. It was very different and far more professional than a set down South. Also, I have never done a film with so many women in the past. All the women in the cast were good to me. They didn’t let me feel like an outsider in their world. In a way, I was a debutante, but I was treated at par with all of them. They respected and acknowledged my work. We appreciated each other for pulling off a scene well or for anything else one of us did. A film is bigger than any of us. We’ve collectively tried to do something, which could not have been marred by personal rivalries. Thankfully, we were all on the same page. Competing with each other, especially when we are all playing equally important characters, doesn’t work. It’s a wrong notion that any of us would have tried to show one-upmanship. We worked together to bring out the best in each other, displaying our strengths to the fullest.

It’s taken the industry quite long to start making ensemble films without giving into stereotypes. Why do you think films have only now started playing to an actor’s strengths more than his or her face value?
Kirti: For decades, the film industries in the South and here have functioned on the star system. People have thronged to cinemas to catch a particular star’s film and that has driven a lot of things. But things are gradually changing. While we continue to make stereotypical multi-starrers, films with a hefty cast that don’t play by those rules are also on the rise. We have taken a long time to be okay with so many of us working together in a film with equally prominent roles. Hollywood has had such films for decades. Today’s generation is far more secure in that sense. Also, it takes a lot of security for an actor at an individual level to decide to share screen space with another buddy, who is as famous as him or her.
Nithya: Things are changing right now because of the exposure that the audience has to international content. It’s more accessible to us than it ever was. That has made people sit up and take note of everything from performances and stories, to the technical aspects of a film. The film industry in India is playing catch-up, which is beneficial for everyone. Newer platforms have made people realise that you don’t need a face to sell a good story; you need the right mix of actors who may or may not be stars. That is gradually rubbing off on the rest of the industries.

The film industry has certain expectations of how a leading lady should look, and you both don’t really fit into that conventional box. What are your thoughts?
Kirti: At the outset, I was doing ad films. I had the options of going completely commercial or taking off on the path that I am on to today. It was a given that I might go the commercial route but somewhere along the way, I started understanding myself better. I wisened up and adhered to the fact that I was gravitating to some very different kind of work. I’ve been through that phase of being unsure of how I look. In such phases, people around you often advise you, to the point of not even letting a pimple pass by without a comment. At one point, I wasn’t happy with the way I looked. I had issues with it. Today, things are different but getting here has been a journey of understanding what can keep me sane. For the sake of a character, I will do anything, even go bald if need be. But at a personal level, I want to be an individual who doesn’t look or sound like every other walking-talking person in the industry. It takes something to be the person you are. The day you become okay with who you are, it’s magical how people outside will also be okay with you. I’ve experienced it to say it with authority. Today, I don’t feel the need to fit into a certain mould of beauty. Beauty lies in the eyes of the beholder, but you need to believe that first when you see yourself in the mirror.
Nithya: I wish I could trim my curls a bit, but the industry likes it this way, so I let it be. But it’s right that there is a lot of emphasis on how an actress looks. I’ve had to deal with that. There is a lot of criticism and backlash and undue negative commentary that comes your way when you don’t fit into the typical definition of beauty. You have to be sure of what you are and why you do things. It’s impossible for me to go against my heart and do something, ever. I’d rather brave the comments than try to force-fit myself into any notion beauty because it’s never a constant. The notion changes all the time; how much can you change yourself? Mental and physical health is important. I don’t feel the need to change or nit-pick on small things about myself and get affected by it. I believe in being healthy and never doing anything where I need to go against myself, whatever the repercussions are.

Actresses are often subjected to body-shaming, and as women, what’s your defence mechanism? Does an actor’s physical appearance limit the kind of work that comes their way?
Nithya: Physical appearances can limit you as an actor and there’s no point in sugar-coating that. It impacts the roles that come your way. Yes, I completely understand that as an actor people want to see you looking fit and they find it difficult to accept you otherwise. It’s a visual medium and it has its demands and limitations and we all have to play by that. But people who make incessant negative remarks about an actor’s look need to consider the fact that we, too, are human. While my fans don’t increase or reduce with a change in my contour, there’s always talk about how I need to look a certain way. Despite the troubles and trolling that I have faced, I’ve never felt the need to attempt size zero to fit into a film. People assume that weight is a result of eating without exercising. Trust me, no actor is lazy. An actor’s physicality does not define their acting prowess.

Despite the criticism, how do you manage to stay positive? Would you like to elaborate on that…
Nithya: Nasty comments or the pressures will lead you nowhere. It’s not easy to talk like I am talking today. We’ve all been through our phases of being hurt, feeling insecure and pained with what is spoken about us. While dealing with insecurities of this profession, I’ve always looked at the bigger picture. Sometimes, I’ve allowed myself to cry and get over it. Sometimes, people have a narrow perspective. I can deal with a lot of negativity also because my life goes beyond films. My work doesn’t consume me. If films were at the centre of my life, things would have been harder. I’ve never tried to be a part of films; it’s happened organically.
Kirti: No one can lie or pretend here. You have to be secure and grounded to be able to see the bigger picture. It’s important to find yourself and not compromise on that, which even my co-actresses have done. I just remind myself of what I want from life and figure a route to get there.

Madhureeta Mukherjee (BOMBAY TIMES; August 9, 2019)

He is a man on a mission, literally. He’s cracked the social drama space with success — whether he’s telling the story about building toilets, or breaking taboos around menstruation — Akshay Kumar has picked subjects that nudge you to think about the various levels at which our society and mindsets need to change. Or entirely evolve. And now, with his next Mission Mangal, which is based on India’s first interplanetary mission, he is moving into another space. In a chat with BT, the actor tells us how women are the heroes of this mission, how life has always taught him to get up and fight back, and that, doing a comedy and moving out of the social drama orbit for a bit, is a breather. Read on…

The social dramas that you have done in the past like Toilet — Ek Prem Katha (2017) and Pad Man (2018) were all driven by several moving and heart-wrenching stories that you had heard around these issues. What urged you to pick a subject like Mission Mangal,a story that revolves around the scientists, who led our country’s first interplanetary mission?
In our country, and this is something most of us must have seen or experienced, a certain section of people believes that there are some professions, which men are cut out for, not women. If a woman says that she wants to be a scientist, a lot of people will tell her that it’s an area better suited for men. The whole idea of this film is to break that stereotype. It shows the story of five strong women, who are part of this ambitious mission and their journey. When MOM (Mars Orbiter Mission), also known as Mangalyaan, was launched (on November 5, 2013), my wife (Twinkle) had posted a message on social media, saying that if the mission was called DAD, it would still have been circling around. Thank God, that it was called MOM, that’s why it went to Mars. I believe that, too, though it is not my quote, it is entirely hers. The prospects for students — women and men — in fields of science, technology, education and maths are growing in our country, and with this film, we also want to bring that into focus.

The film is based on a real mission, which is obviously dramatised for the big screen. But when you are dealing with a subject like that, it is always tricky to get the right balance between reality and fiction. And, of course, you have to also think about the entertainment value, the commercial prospects at the box office, et al...
I am happy that my production house is the first to make a film on such a subject here, along with my co-producer, of course. I told my five actresses (Vidya Balan, Sonakshi Sinha, Nithya Menen, Taapsee Pannu and Kirti Kulhari) and Jagan (Shakti, director), ‘Please don’t worry about how much the film will make. I promise you that you will be proud of this film’. We are telling a true story and we are extremely proud of it. In 2014, New York Times had carried a cartoon, which had an illustration of an elite space club with a few men (scientists) sitting inside and reading a newspaper with a headline that read, ‘India’s Mars Mission’. Outside the space club, there is an Indian scientist knocking on the door with a cow standing next to him. (Following a huge number of complaints from readers, NYT later apologised for the cartoon and clarified that its intention was not to mock India). In 2017, Times of India carried a cartoon after the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) created a record for sending 104 satellites into space on one rocket. A befitting reply to the NYT cartoon, this illustration showed an Indian scientist, along with a cow, sitting inside the elite space club. And the rest of the scientists were knocking on its door, holding rockets in their hands. I thought that was an amazing response. Can you imagine that this whole mission cost India only Rs 450 crore? The budget of my 2018-film 2.0, was more than this. When I heard the story, I said that I will make this film by hook or by crook.

During Pad Man, too,you had said that you were not bothered about how much the film rakes in at the box office, and what was of prime importance was the fact that this subject (menstrual hygiene) was being addressed through cinema…
Yes, I strongly believe that some subjects go beyond box-office collections, budgets and all those things. And that is the reason why these subjects excite me so much.

In an interview, Taapsee Pannu (one of the actors in Mission Mangal) had said that it is hard to get a male star to feature in a film with strong female characters. Would you agree?
At times, I fail to understand how things work in this industry. I have always said that it is good to be part of a great film in which you might not have a big role. You must think whether the film and the story are great or not, rather than wondering mera role kitna hai. If you think of the latter, then, you are being very small-minded. It is a mindset that some actors have. These women in Mission Mangal are leading the show. The stage is theirs. I am just standing behind them and applauding their achievements.

So, you wouldn’t mind playing a small part in a film, if you like the role?
Yes, I would do it and I have done it earlier, too. When Rajkumar Santoshi had offered me Khakee (2004), he told me, ‘Yeh chhota role hai, tu karega?’ I said, ‘Haan, main karunga!’ That role was initially offered to Paresh Rawal, but then, they approached me and tweaked it a bit. The film mostly belonged to Amitabh Bachchan and Ajay Devgn, and my character died at interval point. It was a small role, but I loved what Rajkumar Santoshi had made. Even today, when I interact with policemen, they often tell me, ‘Woh aapki Khakee dekhi thi, maza aaya hai. Woh film mein hai baat!’

Well, in the West, it is not rare to see the biggest of actors do brief roles in huge films, or be a part of an ensemble star cast. This mindset and the way they view their role in cinema are different, right?
They do that in Hollywood, but it is rare in our industry. I know of (Bollywood) actors, who, in recent times, have done a two-hero film (without taking names), and one of the actors told the filmmaker, ‘Main ek shart pe kaam karunga, ki aap mera solo poster pehle chapwao’. Such is the mindset. He wanted his solo poster to appear first, and then a combined poster, so that he is a step ahead.

Right, if that mindset and perspective changes, we will probably see some fine actors do more films and deliver fabulous performances...
Well, it is not just about doing more work, it is also about the content and being part of a great story. It is about bringing something new to the table. In the history of cinema, being remembered as an actor who was part of a great story, is what matters the most. I can do more full-on commercial films and earn three times more than what I will earn with this film. I can do more films like Rowdy Rathore (2012) and Singh Is Kinng (2015) and make more money. Of course, I am doing films like Sooryavanshi and Laxmmi Bomb, but movies like Pad Man and Mission Mangal mein kuch aur hi maza hai.

A debate sparked online when the first poster of Mission Mangal released, as it featured you more prominently than the five leading ladies. Taapsee was quick to point out that you can bring in the numbers with your star power. The women in this film are excellent actors, but what Taapsee stated is a harsh reality to a certain extent. Your take?
The women in Mission Mangal are the heroes of the film. They have taken it to another level. And what Taapsee is saying comes from her broad thinking. Look, things like how a poster is designed is planned by the studio that is backing the film. They want the film to have a wider reach, and I am no one to stop it. The promo, Yeh Sindoor Hai, which released just a few days ago, has me in only one frame. It is entirely picturised on the leading ladies and it has been done beautifully. The next poster shows us all on Mars, like one big team. Like I said before, these women are all superb actors, and they have taken centre stage in this story.

Today, you find yourself in a very secure place — whether you are doing action, comedy, social drama or anything else in the entertainment space. You don’t need to look over your shoulder or watch your back. Has that sense of security come with time, experience and success?
I think security comes from your childhood and family. Success is a part of it, but that only comes later. I believe that what makes your spine strong is your family. I have seen highs and lows through my journey. I still remember that day, when I was standing right outside this building (where we are sitting). Earlier, there was a sort of slum here, by the sea. I was working with photographer Jayesh Sheth, and I was keen to get a picture clicked against the stunning backdrop of the sea. But the chowkidaar pushed me away and asked me to leave. Well, it was not a Trishul kind of moment, where like Mr Bachchan, I said ki ek din mein yaha pe ghar leke rahoonga. The fact that the building that I live in is on the same spot, is sheer coincidence. I still have that picture with me, where I am standing on the wall (pointing towards it) and posing for the camera. During one phase of my career, I saw 16 flops and then made a comeback. I have been an actor who was gaya gaya gone many times over, and each time, I somehow made a comeback. It reminds me of my time in Bangkok when I was learning martial arts and fighting. I would lose so many games in Thai Boxing. Those fighters were so good, and they would beat me hollow. That did not mean that I wasn’t ready for another fight. Every time I was down, I knew that I had to get up and fight again. That’s the way my life has been. I didn’t come from a film family, there were many other actors who were rooted here. Their families have been a part of the industry for years, so they were familiar with the way it functions. Jab main pehli baar camera face karne gaya tha… that was the time main pehli baar aisa camera dekh raha tha. I didn’t know any better. Every phase of my life has been a learning experience and the learning has been endless. I had spoken about deconstructing myself in my previous interviews. I learnt this thing about deconstructing myself from a businessman. He was a successful man, who had various other businesses, but was starting a new business from ground zero. When I asked him why he was taking that risk, he told me that he wanted to start from scratch, as he felt that he had hit the glass ceiling. That was an eye-opener for me. It became my mantra for life.

Your film is clashing with Batla House (headlined by John Abraham) at the box office. You guys are known to be buddies, and when we asked John about the clash, he agreed that the viewership of films does get divided, but he also added that if you have faith in your content, you should go ahead and do it. Your take?
He is right. And these clashes will get worse in the coming days. Now, if there are two films releasing on big holiday weekends, going ahead, there will be more than two clashes on such weekends. What else do we do? In 52 weeks, there are hardly any dates, which has such holidays. Everyone will jump at those opportunities. About 200 Bollywood films are made every year, and on top of that, there are Hollywood and Tollywood releases, too. All the ‘woods’ are hitting the screens together. How can we help it? It will be a wooden furniture showroom soon (laughs!).

One social mission after another… after all those intense dramas, how does it feel shooting a comedy film like Housefull 4?
It feels like being on a vacation.

But comedy is not a mean feat, too, right?
After so many social dramas and action, doing a comedy film feels like I am finally exhaling. Yes, making people laugh is not easy, and comedy is tough, but well, not all the award nights recognize that (laughs!). They always find comedy frivolous, don’t they?

You are working with many new directors like Jagan Shakti and Raj Mehta ( Good News)...
I have worked with many new directors. What I love about them is their hunger to do good work, and they are full of passion. Look at Jagan, that guy has not slept in two months. Agar aur koi director hota jisne bahut kaam kiya hai, he would tell someone, ‘Baaki ka kar lena tu hi yaar.’ (laughs!) It is this greed to make a movie and this intense drive they have that makes them work so hard. A new director knows that this is their chance to make or break it, and so, they give it their all.

Nithya Menen on doing a multi-starrer for her Hindi film debut, and how Bollywood beat South Indian cinema to go into space
Hiren Kotwani (MUMBAI MIRROR; August 5, 2019)

Nithya Menen, who makes her Bollywood debut with the Akshay Kumar-fronted Mission Mangal, which also features Vidya Balan, Sonakshi Sinha, Taapsee Pannu, Kirti Kulhari and Sharman Joshi, is a popular name in the South film industry, having worked in all four languages – Kannada, Tamil, Telugu and Malayalam. Her Tamil hit, O Kadhal Kanmani, was remade in Hindi as OK Jaanu and her Kanchana 2 is being adapted into Laxmmi Bomb with Akshay in the lead.

With three Best Actress Filmfare Awards to her credit, Nithya has been routinely receiving Hindi film offers. “But I’ve always been choosy, I didn’t want to do a film just because it’s a Bollywood project. I followed the same thought before opting for Mission Mangal,” she says, adding that she knew the director (Jagan Shakti) had seen her films and is aware of her work. “He knew why he wanted to cast me. It’s not a run-of the-mill film. And I don’t think of it as a Bollywood debut. For me, it’s always the subject first.”

Despite being an established name in Southern cinema, Nithya didn’t have reservations about starting out here in an ensemble cast film. “I’m an actor first, a heroine later,” she points out, adding that she has featured in character roles and special appearances down South as well. “I’ve never approached my profession in a self-centric way, it’s not important that I have to be the most important actor in the project. If I like the character, if I like the film, I’ll do it,” she asserts.

When asked if she has wondered why a film on a space mission materialised in Hindi first, given that the South industry is often credited for making better films, she quips, “That’s a controversial question. I think someone came up with the idea first. But, there’s no point discussing it now. Even Jagan is from South India and his sister works with ISRO, and so does my aunt.” Speaking of comparisons between the two industries, Nithya admits that Bollywood is a lot friendlier and more professional.

There was a “lot of camaraderie” while working on Mission Mangal. “We’d all lunch together, and not once did I feel like a newcomer here. Whether it was Akshay sir or Vidya ma’am, Sonakshi or Taapsee, they were all very nice. Going to work was a lot of fun,” she smiles, admitting that there was a bit of ragging and teasing, albeit in good spirit.

While two of her Tamil films have made their way to Bollywood, the actress insists that she usually avoids remakes, even if she has been a part of a few in the past. “An original is an original. You can’t really do justice to it in a remake. Most of the time, the magic can’t be recreated,” she explains.

Any more offers from Hindi filmmakers? “Not right now. I have quite a few films lined up down South to sign on anything new,” she concludes.