Onkar Kulkarni (BOMBAY TIMES; November 2, 2019)

After producing films, Abhishek Pathak turned director with Ujda Chaman, which released this Friday. The movie stars Sunny Singh in the role of a 30-year-old man who is dealing with the issue of premature balding. When asked about how difficult or different it was to wear the director’s hat, he replies, “The only hindrance I faced was when we had to shoot in the high temperatures of North India. It was really hot and sweaty, and I was worried about how my actors will perform in such weather, especially Sunny, who wore prosthetic makeup for his role of a partially bald man.” This is not the first time Abhishek is collaborating with Sunny. He had produced Akaash Vani (2013) and Pyaar Ka Punchnama 2 (2015), which featured the actor. Interestingly, Abhishek is Sunny’s childhood friend.

He said, “My father (film producer Kumar Mangat) and his father (action director Jai Singh Nijjar) have worked together before. That is why we know each other well.” He added, “The reason I cast him for the film was because Chaman (Sunny’s character in the film) is extremely coy and does not speak much. I felt Sunny was right for the part and would nail this role.”

Fortunately, the film released a week before Ayushmann Khurranastarrer Bala, which also deals with the same subject. Speaking about the similarities in both the films, Abhishek elaborates, “I bought the rights (of 2017’s Kannada release Ondu Motteya Kathe). Later, I got to know that they (producer Dinesh Vijan) are making Bala. In one of the interviews, I read that the film is about a person’s inner beauty. I realised that the premise of both films seemed similar, that’s when I sent out a friendly notice to the team of Bala. I also suggested that we sit across the table and discuss the content of our respective films. However, they told me that there was no need for a discussion as their content was different. Meanwhile, I had also released a public notice stating that we have the rights of the original. When the trailer of Bala released, I was shocked to see that it is similar to mine.”

There was a time when both the films were slated to release on the same weekend. However, a clash between the two, at the box office, was averted. Abhishek says, “Releasing two films based on the same subject on nearly the same date would have been disastrous.”

After Ujda Chaman, Abhishek is producing Khuda Hafiz, which is based on a news report published in The Times of India. “It is a romantic thriller inspired by a news report, which was published in 2007. It was actually the director of the film, Faruk Kabir (Allah Ke Banday fame), who had researched the article and came up with the idea,” said Abhishek. The film stars Vidyut Jammwal, and the shooting has commenced in Uzbekistan. Shedding more light on the story of the movie, the filmmaker shared, “It’s a real-life story based on a couple from Hyderabad. It’s a fabulous story that needs to be told.”

Onkar Kulkarni (BOMBAY TIMES; October 30, 2019)

He began his journey in the entertainment world with television shows. Sunny Singh was a part of one of India’s longest-running daily soaps, Kasautii Zindagii Kay (2001-2008). He made his debut in Bollywood with Madhur Bhandarkar’s Dil Toh Baccha Hai Ji (2011). However, it was the 2015 release Pyaar Ka Punchnama 2 that set the ball rolling for him. This year, the actor reaches a landmark in his career as he gears up for the release of his solo lead project, Ujda Chaman, directed by Abhishek Pathak. In a chat with BT, Sunny talks about his struggles, the mentors who have shown him the way and opens up about the averted clash of his film with the Ayushmann Khurrana-starrer, Bala. Read on…

Ujda Chaman is your first film, which features you as the solo lead. How does it feel to carry the weight of a movie on your shoulders?
It feels really good, especially to see yourself featuring on the poster, solo (laughs!). I was waiting for such a project. I also wanted to do something different. I had faith and knew that one day, something like this will come along. When I was approached for this film, I got excited hearing the concept and details about my character.

Ayushmann Khurrana’s film Bala, based on a similar subject (premature balding), is releasing a week later. Amidst all that excitement, does this bother you?
When I saw the trailer of Bala, I couldn’t believe my eyes! I was like…what just happened? Later, when the feeling sank in, I was fine. Personally, I like Ayushmann and love his work. He is my senior and I am his fan. I had also met his wife Tahira and brother Apar (Aparshakti), they all are very sweet. They are like my family. I remember meeting Ayushmann at the screening of De De Pyaar De. I had a guest appearance in the film. He came to me and appreciated my work in the film. About the clash, I have no pressure, as such. I know that I have given this film my 100 per cent, and I am hoping it will connect with the audience.

Tell us all that went in to get the bald look right on screen?
It was a long, tedious procedure. On the first day, I thought it would be a cakewalk. However, when I sat through the look test, I realized that I had to go through this every day on set. The prosthetics team would use glue and a silicon cap to get the look. It would take three hours for me to get ready. I would arrive on the sets at 4 am and get ready only by about 6.30. Removing it would take another half an hour. During the three-hour process, I would watch movies on my phone. Shooting in Delhi and Ghaziabad was the toughest as it was very hot, leading to sweat getting accumulated under the silicon cap. It would be extremely uncomfortable.

From being a part of a TV show to bagging a solo lead film project, what have been your biggest hurdles along the way?
I have come a long way and reached here, I am truly happy for that. Well, the thing is that I have been extremely focused. I wanted to be an actor ever since I was five years old. I would tell my father (Jai Singh Nijjar, action director) that I wanted to be a hero. I used to enact scenes from the film Ram Lakhan (1989) at home. Seeing my enthusiasm, my father supported me, but also told me that it is going to be a very tough way ahead. He warned me that I would have to stand in long queues for auditions and he also said that he could approach people through his contacts, but eventually, I had to impress them with my talent. If didn’t, I had to ready to face failure. And I have faced it all. I would be very nervous during auditions. After waiting in long queues and then getting a chance to perform in front of casting agents, I would often get the response, ‘Aap mein yeh kami hai, woh kami hai.’ Finally, when I turned 18, a casting agent approached me and asked if I willing to do television shows. That is how Kasautii Zindagii Kay happened. I just took it up to get the experience of facing the camera. After a couple of TV shows, I quit doing that and focused only on movies. One day, I met Luv Ranjan through a casting agent. That was the best day of my life. After my family, he is the only person who I trust and have faith in.

The film industry is accustomed to seeing star kids make their way in showbiz. Lately, sons of fine technicians are also making their mark here, like Vicky Kaushal (whose father Sham Kaushal is an action director). It is interesting and remarkable…
Yes, it is interesting. I am good friends with Vicky Kaushal. In fact, he is from my hometown and our homes are just a kilometre apart. Our families get together during occasions and we know each other very well. He is a very sweet and simple guy. He has been so focused all these years and has worked really hard to reach where he is today. I have seen him go through the process. In fact, on three-four occasions we have gone for narrations together.

As a kid, would you accompany your father on film sets?
My father would tell me stories from what would happen on the sets. I would ask him to take me along, as I wanted to see the stunts live. I remember being on the sets of Vijaypath (1994), where Ajay Devgn was shooting a scene with a tiger. My father was training him, even Veeru Devgan (Ajay’s father, who was also an action director) was there. My father was lying down and the tiger was on his chest. They were demonstrating this to the actor and the duplicate. It was very scary to see my father doing that.

Which is that one actor you idolised while growing up?
I have been crazy about Akshay Kumar, probably because he gives me the Delhi vibes. While growing up, I would watch each and every movie of his. My father worked with him on Khiladi 786 (2012) and many other films.

Your upcoming film Pati Patni Aur Woh reunites you with your Pyaar Ka Punchnama 2 and Sonu Ke Titu Ki Sweety co-actor actor Kartik Aaryan. What’s your equation with him?
I am doing a guest appearance in the movie. It was Kartik who called me and informed me about the cameo. Later, I met director Mudassar Aziz and came on board. It’s fun working with the entire team. Kartik has been a good friend. We know each other since 2011 and ever since, we have always hit it off well.