The actress talks about being a part of the biopic on J Jayalalithaa, her equation with co-star Kangana Ranaut and how she is looking forward to coming back on the screen after five years
Debarati Sen (BOMBAY TIMES; May 15, 2020)

With shoots coming to a halt owing to the Coronavirus pandemic, the schedules of several films have gone haywire. The list includes director A L Vijay’s Thalaivi, a biopic on former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, late J Jayalalithaa. The movie, which features Kangana Ranaut in the titular role, will also see Bhagyashree in a pivotal part.

The Maine Pyar Kiya actress, who was last seen in Laut Aao Trisha five years ago, is looking forward to coming back on the screen with this movie. She tells us, “I had begun shooting for Thalaivi in September 2019, in Mysore, Chennai and Hyderabad. The fact that I am a part of the film was kept under wraps, with the makers wanting to announce it in April, but then, the Coronavirus lockdown happened. Ab toh pata nahi kitna samay lockdown rahega. Now, my director has given me the go-ahead to talk about it.”

Talking about her role, she elaborates, “I play a key role in the film and my character brings about a turning point in Thalaivi’s life. Kangana and I have a lot of scenes together, and the entire team loved our on-screen chemistry. It was fun working with her because she is a fantastic artiste, who puts a lot into her performances. It was great to get back to the set after a very long time.”

Bhagyashree is also excited about her look in the film. “The interesting part is that my look in the film is completely different from what people have seen me in,” she shares. Ask her about her equation with Kangana, and she replies, “I had first met Kangana in 2006, when she had just started her career. Even on the set of Thalaivi, she was extremely respectful, and would greet me as soon as she reached the set.”

En-route to losing the 20 kilos she had gained for her next film, Kangana on withdrawal symptoms, and missing her heels
Sonia Lulla (MID-DAY; April 29, 2020)

We don’t expect the usual Kangana Ranaut candour in an interview largely about how many squats she packs into her regimen. But the actor isn’t one to offer the ordinary.

Unbowed by the heft of her battle against the bulge, Ranaut is playfully self-deprecating when chronicling her 20-kilo weight-loss attempt.

“I didn’t expect to gain 20 kilos,” she says of her endeavour to emulate J Jayalalithaa in the actor- politician’s upcoming biopic, Thalaivi.

“When Kareena [Kapoor Khan] was pregnant, she gained 16 kilos. I told myself, I am like [a] post-pregnant Kareena Kapoor!” she exclaims at one point, before breaking into a laugh. “I never remember feeling so unfit. At one point, I needed to support myself with my palms to stand up off the floor,” she says at another, before the ever-so-slight quiver in her voice reveals the moments that triggered her badly.

“I was unable to carry my weight in heels, and that almost left me in tears. One thinks they’ll eventually adjust, but, I couldn’t walk in my own shoes! Usually, I can run in them, but now my feet would swell. I didn’t know how to handle it.”

Train, but gain
The diligence with which she had kept tabs on the weighing scale as it climbed by 10, 12 and 15 kilos was rendered redundant after a few weeks of lull. “[The makers] told me to start losing weight so that we could shoot [Jayalalitha’s] younger portions, and that’s when I noticed that I had gained 20 kilos. I wondered if I had gone too far, and questioned if the decision to take the hormone injections was appropriate.”

It was towards the close of 2019 that Ranaut had first admitted to leaning on hormone supplements to add bulk to her hips and thighs, to emulate her muse. Unlike the misshapen built acquired by Bollywood’s top brass of actors gaining weight for cinema, Ranaut’s avatar, though voluptuous, had to resemble the shapely and nimble-footed bharatnatyam dancer that Jayalalitha was. “I had to do bharatnatyam for two hours, yoga for one, and still gain weight in a desirable manner. The mild hormone dosage helped [me] gain weight around the hips. Bharatnatyam involves a lot of leg work, so the dancers tend to [gain weight in this region]. Also, I needed to put on so much weight because I am tall. At 5’ 8", I had to ensure that the [bulk] was visible on my frame.”

Winning the race, slowly, steadily
Currently nestled in picturesque Manali, Ranaut decided to make the most of the lockdown by taking along her trainer of several years. Under the guidance of Siddhartha Singh, founder of iSweat, she has shaved off seven kilos, and continues to crawl, jump and jog off the rest. “We are focusing on workouts that encourage movement for a long duration of time, instead of those involving shorter intervals. The idea is to keep movements sustainable by not rendering her breathless, so that more calories can be burnt. The evening functional training sessions last 45 to 75 minutes, and are coupled with a 20-minute morning walk in her 100-metre driveway,” says Singh, attributing her body’s positive response to the regimen to her consistent yoga practice.

Her high metabolic rate may afford her many luxuries, but Ranaut won’t abuse what she has been blessed with. For as long as Singh can recall, she isn’t swayed by food that has little nutritional value, and prefers “home-cooked meals”. “Kangana is attuned to her body’s [nutritional] needs. If she craves something, she’ll have it in limited portion, or cook a [healthier] version of it at home.”

That her body had become complacent with the additional weight also began to work against her, making the weight-loss process more demanding than both she and Singh had anticipated. “It was difficult. I had to undergo detox. I was affected by the sugar withdrawal, and felt like I was in rehab. For over six months, I was perpetually hungry, and had mood [swings]. The weight wouldn’t budge. Also, at 33, things are not as easy [as they were when I was younger].”

Asked if she will do it all over again if a film demands it, her response is prompt, but not very assertive: “No, yaar!” she says. “It’s not worth it. My cholesterol level was quite high this time. In my 30s, I don’t enjoy doing this.”

Singh on principles he uses to train Ranaut
- We’re targeting the anterior and posterior muscles at once. We use the driveway to do short jogging sets, shuttle lunges, back crawls, and jumping jacks.

- Usually, I avoided exhausting her because actors have to work for the rest of the day, and can’t be dealing with aches and pains. I had to be mindful of not targeting the muscles that she would be using for her action films, like Manikarnika.

For instance, horse-riding employs a lot of leg work, and hence, when she was learning it, I’d only do weight-less leg workouts with her. Similarly, when she was training in sword- fighting, and using her upper-body muscles, I’d have to shift focus away from her shoulders and arms [in the gym].

- With physical activity currently limited, she is consuming only two to three meals a day. The morning jogs that she takes help in activating her metabolism.

Sharanya C R (BOMBAY TIMES; February 26, 2020)

Actress Madhoo, of Roja fame, will be essaying the role of V N Janaki, MGR’s wife, in Thalaivi. Vijay, who is helming the project, says, “I first wanted to cast Madhoo ma’am for the role of Sandhya, J Jayalalithaa’s mother, but once I met her in person, I felt that she would be apt as Janaki.” Meanwhile, the second look of the film, which has Kangana Ranaut in the title role, was recently revealed to the audience.

While there were reports that South actress Priyamani would essay the role of Sasikala in the film, now, another South actress Shamna Kasim has been roped in for the part. A L Vijay says, “We had some date issues with Priyamani. Our immediate choice was Shamna. I have seen her work and she’s a phenomenal performer. We did a make-up test and she was perfect for the role. Both, Shamna and Madhoo, have begun shooting. Casting is crucial for any film, and even more so when it’s a biopic. I am happy to have such good performers on board.” The team is presently shooting in Chennai. “It will be a long schedule and will go on until March,” says Vijay.

Sharing the new look of Kangana as a young Jayalalithaa on the politician's birth anniversary, director says Thalaivi is an unvarnished retelling
Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; February 24, 2020)

Over the past few months, Kangana Ranaut has been single-mindedly focusing on Thalaivi, the biopic on the late J Jayalalithaa and arguably the actor's most defining film. To mark the 72nd birth anniversary of the late chief minister of Tamil Nadu today, the makers of the biopic shared an exclusive glimpse of Ranaut in her politician avatar. While the first look that was unveiled last year reflected the politician in the autumn of her life, the new image sees Ranaut as a 30-something Jayalalithaa as she forays into politics.

A L Vijay, who is helming the multi-lingual (Hindi, Tamil and Telugu), says, "The film depicts the early years and struggle she faced, both as an actor and a politician."

From being a young actor who was forced into the profession by her mother, to finding a mentor in MG Ramachandran and rising to power in politics despite having a formidable adversary in M Karunanidhi, Jayalalithaa was as controversial as she was charismatic. The director insists that his offering will be an unvarnished depiction of her life. Explaining that he has kept cinematic liberties to the minimum, he adds, "Her life was a mix of glamour, love, heartbreak, struggle and success. Our focus is to make it as real as possible, without trying to glorify her, but to show the human side of the person she was."

Give Ranaut a meaty role, and you can be assured she will sink her teeth into it. The director says that the leading lady has brought a fierce quality to her muse, who was a firebrand. "Kangana's dedication towards playing the character [shows in the fact that] she has gained weight to stay true to the stage of [Jayalalithaa's life] that she is portraying. Her attention to details, like makeup and costumes, will make it a visual treat for the audience; they will feel they're watching Jayalalithaa herself on screen."

Rishabh Suri (HINDUSTAN TIMES; January 14, 2020)

One of the most popular names in south cinema, actor Ramya Krishnan has to her credit films spanning five languages — Telugu, Tamil, Kannada, Hindi and Malayalam. Her biggest project till date happens to be the one which broke the barriers between regional and Hindi cinema — Baahubali.

However, after Bade Miyan Chote Miyan in 1998, Ramya wasn’t seen in any Hindi film. “I didn’t work in Hindi films because the ones I had done previously didn’t do well. I worked with the best of directors, but the films didn’t do as well as we expected them to. I didn’t get my success. But Baahubali did what Bollywood couldn’t do for me,” says the 49-year old, who was seen in the web series Queen recently.

What surprised everyone is the fact that she was cast as Prabhas’ mother in the franchise, who is just nine years younger to her. Ramya says that this did not bother her at all after going through the script. “There were no apprehensions after I heard the script,” says the actor. As for age discrimination against women in Bollywood, Ramya believes that things are not the same anymore. “I think times are changing, and all that doesn’t exist anymore. It also depends on the roles you get and the kind of films you do. That extends your shelf life,” she says. The actor says that female actors get more screen time now. “Earlier, women just had to be a subordinate, the love interest, running around trees, singing songs. It has actually grown beyond that,” says Ramya whose film choices have been very surprising. She decided to follow up a blockbuster like Baahubali with Super Deluxe (2019), a critically-acclaimed non-masala film. “I choose from what comes to me. Luckily, I get diverse roles, thank God for that,” she says.

Her web series went on air recently, in which she plays a politician. Some believe the character is inspired by the late politician Jayalalithaa. Ramya clarifies, “It is actually not so. It’s inspired by a book called Queen by Anita Sivakumaran. If you find similarities, that’s just incidental. I won’t deny that, but it is not a biopic for sure,” says the actor.

As makers of web series inspired by Jayalalithaa recreate politician’s 1999 tell-all interview with Simi Garewal, iconic host explains why she refused to reprise her part
Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; December 13, 2019)

Ramya Krishnan-starrer Queen — which tells the story of Shakthi Sheshadri, a reluctant actor who goes on to dominate the world of politics — bears striking similarities with the journey of J Jayalalithaa, the former chief minister of Tamil Nadu.

Now, mid-day has learnt that directors Gautham Vasudev Menon and Prasath Murugesan have recreated her tell-all interview on Simi Garewal’s show, Rendezvous With Simi Garewal, for their digital outing. Turns out, the makers initially approached the iconic host to reprise her part for the web series, but she turned down the offer.

Acknowledging that Garewal was his first choice for the role, Menon tells mid-day, “We wanted the interviewer on the show to be able to connect with Shakthi and bring out the most candid aspects of her life. Who better than Simi Garewal to do so? Her ability to empathise with the guests made her the perfect fit. However, it didn’t work out. We eventually cast Lillete Dubey. She makes for a great talk show host.”

The charismatic politician’s 1999 interview remains her most significant dialogue, where she candidly spoke about pining for her mother’s attention as a child, being one of the “most criticised” public figures and her tempestuous equation with M G Ramachandran. It was evident that the fiercely private leader had let her guard down when she sang one of her favourite numbers, Aaja sanam (Chori Chori), with the host.

On her part, Garewal cherishes her heartfelt chat with Jayalalithaa and says it felt morally wrong to recreate it. “The makers called my office a few times, but it seemed wrong to enact my interview with a person who is no longer [with us]. It was out of the question because it would look forced, and it would be lowering my standard. I have my moral reasons to turn it down. But it is, in no way, reflective of the quality of the show. I wish the makers success in retelling the story of one of the most indomitable women of our times.”

As she plays Jayalalithaa in web series, South star Ramya Krishnan unfazed about comparisons with Kangana Ranaut's Thalaivi
Shaheen Parkar (MID-DAY; December 9, 2019)

While Kangana Ranaut is busy giving shape to Thalaivi — the biopic on the late J Jayalalithaa, South star Ramya Krishnan appears to have beaten her to the finish line. The senior actor, who played Sivagami in the Baahubali franchise, has slipped into the role of the former Tamil Nadu chief minister for Gautham Menon's multilingual web series. Coincidentally, the show is titled Queen — a moniker bestowed upon Ranaut after the success of her 2014 film by the same name.

Krishnan is unperturbed about the inevitable comparisons with Ranaut's multi-lingual film. "I know there will be comparisons, but our show will release first," she states of the show that is scheduled to drop online this weekend. Though the offering — inspired by Anita Sivakumaran's book, The Queen — claims to have fictitious characters, Krishnan's part of Shakthi Seshadri bears several similarities to Jayalalithaa, including her rise in filmdom and subsequent dominance in politics.

"My first reaction was, what else, but a yes! Jayalalithaa was such a strong woman. It is not easy for a woman to emerge powerful in a man's world. She went through hurdles and came up triumphs with grace. I have been her fan all my life, but unfortunately never met her."

Krishnan had given a shot at Bollywood in the late '90s. Ask her if a return to Hindi cinema is on the cards, and she says, "There is nothing that has excited me to return to the Hindi film scene."

Thalaivi actor Kangana Ranaut discusses gaining weight to play Jayalalithaa, employing prosthetics for features that her transformation couldn't address
Upala KBR (MID-DAY; November 25, 2019)

Netizens didn't exactly go gaga over Kangana Ranaut's first look as Jayalalithaa in the late actor-politician's upcoming biopic, Thalaivi. But Ranaut is a picture of calm as she addresses questions on her commendable transformation in A L Vijay's directorial venture.

"[When aping a person for cinema], actors usually get the apparel and appearances on point, but not the physical transformation. Vijay wanted me to resemble her as closely as possible. She [Jayalalithaa] endured a drastic physical transformation in her life. Having grown up as a Bharatanatyam dancer, she had an hour-glass figure. Then, when she joined politics, she had an accident which demanded that she be injected with huge doses of steroids. While we could not depict all of that, we did take measures [to resemble her during these phases]."

Having previously spoken about her struggle to gain weight, Ranaut says that for this film, she put on six kilos. "That was needed so as to look voluptuous, especially around the belly and thighs. Since I am tall and skinny, and my face is angular, not round, I had to take mild doses of hormone pills to look different. Of course, I also started eating foods that promote weight gain."

For the features that the pills couldn't address, Ranaut sought aid from Jason Collins, who has worked on the prosthetics for big-ticket Hollywood actioners like Blade Runner 2049 and Captain Marvel. "His team made a structure that was suitable to make me look voluptuous. During the portions showcasing her as a young politician, we aimed to only make my face look fuller. As for the rest of the body, it took the team seven hours each day to acquire the look. The hands had to be re-done, and different kinds of pads were used for different parts of the body."

But even as the makers worked diligently to address the physical nitty-grittys, Ranaut, as vociferous as she is, knew that it was acquiring Jayalalithaa's soft-spoken demeanour that would be the toughest feat to achieve. "She was strong-willed; I am fiery. Acquiring her demeanour [was a challenge]. It's a body language that I am being introduced to for the first time."

Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; September 4, 2019)

The Jayalalithaa biopic was christened Jaya in Hindi with its Tamil and Telugu counterparts being titled Thalaivi. However, mid-day has learnt that leading lady Kangana Ranaut has had a change of heart with regard to the film's title. Rumours suggest that the Hindi offering may be rechristened Thalaivi after Ranaut explained to the makers that the film may benefit from having a uniform title across languages.

A source reveals, "Director A L Vijay and the team had refrained from using Thalaivi as the title since they felt that the word would alienate audience beyond the South belt. However, Kangana recently had a word with the makers and pointed out that Bollywood films have often had titles that may not be necessarily Hindi, but have stayed true to the film's milieu."

"An example being Kai Po Che (2013), that derived its title from the Gujarati phrase and went wonderfully with the story. The actor told the makers that the Hindi version should bear the same title as the Tamil and Telugu offerings, and suggested that a tagline could be added with 'Jayalalithaa' or 'Jaya' in it so that there is no room for confusion regarding the film's subject. The makers are considering her recommendation."

Makers of Jayalalithaa biopic to join Kangana Ranaut in her hometown as she begins prep and look tests ahead of September shoot
Upala KBR (MID-DAY; July 26, 2019)

Having seen Judgementall Hai Kya reach its finish line, leading lady Kangana Ranaut intends to head to Manali next month. However, work will follow the actor to her hometown. mid-day has learnt that the makers and creative team of Thalaivi, the biopic on the late Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa, will join her in Himachal Pradesh in early August to kick off look tests and workshops with the actor. Director A L Vijay hopes to take the trilingual — titled Jaya in Hindi, and Thalaivi in Tamil and Telugu — on floors by September-end.

Producer Shaailesh R Singh, who also backed Judgementall Hai Kya, reveals that the groundwork on the biopic has been underway, with writers Vijayendra Prasad and Rajat Arora working dedicatedly on the cinematic retelling of the inspiring journey of India's Iron Lady. Now, it is Ranaut's turn to begin the process of becoming Jayalalithaa for the big screen. "Kangana has already started her Tamil classes for the biopic. Now, she will head to Manali to kickstart her prep that will include studying Jayalalithaa's body language and doing look tests. My team, including the writers, and I will travel there, too," says Singh.

On the agenda are sessions with the prosthetics team since Ranaut, 32, will have to age for the role. The biopic opens during Jayalalithaa's student days at Stella Maris College when she had to discontinue her studies to become an actor, and progresses to chart her rise as a force to reckon with in the world of politics.

Singh adds, "We are in talks with the makeup and prosthetics teams of Gary Oldman's Darkest Hour (2017). We intend to get the best team on board, and lots of international technicians will be involved. We will begin shoot in Mysore, and then move to Chennai and Mumbai."

A recorded discussion lost: Michelangelo Antonioni and Akira Kurosawa with Satyajit Ray during their visit to India in 1977

Stalwart filmmakers Shyam Benegal and Sai Paranjpye rue the rigid unaccountability of Doordarshan, which has resulted in the loss of priceless documentary footage, exclusive interviews and several serials
Khalid Mohamed (MUMBAI MIRROR; July 3, 2019)

Even as the hallowed Doordarshan has announced recruitment for 89 vacancies in its English news channel, beyond priceless footage has gone missing or has been cavalierly erased.

No official in the public service broadcaster initiated by the government of India on September 15, 1959, has an answer to the missing documentary footage, exclusive interviews and several of its commissioned TV serials.

Filmmaker and writer Sai Paranjpye (left), who incidentally was among one of the first six women to be recruited as a producer at DD in New Delhi, states, “For years, I went blue in the face asking officials—senior and junior—to locate four of my programmes. I should have persisted for an answer. Admittedly, now I’ve become lackadaisical because of the who-cares! attitude about the disappearance of its treasure trove.”

Gone missing are Paranjpye’s documentaries on Captain Lakshmi Sahgal, revolutionary of the independence movement, on movie-hoarding painters including bytes from M F Husain, a human-interest story The Little Tea Shop on a feisty woman running a dhaba single-handedly on the Delhi-Agra highway, and a portrait of the revered composer and singer Pankaj Mullick.

According to a source in the capital, a 1980s documentary on the proposed statehood of Gorkhaland featuring the first teleinterview of the leader of the Gorkha National Liberation Front, Subhash Ghisingh, and the then West Bengal chief minister Jyoti Basu, is untraceable.

A programme on Tamil Nadu politics including an interview with Jayalalithaa after the passing away in 1987 of the state’s chief minister M G Ramachandran, is either inaccessible or has been binned.

The same fate has befallen the original video-tapes of the two-part documentary Footprints Across India on the global media baron Rupert Murdoch’s visit to India in the 1990s, as well as a bold account on the dacoits of the Chambal Valley.

These, in fact, form just a miniscule part of the missing DD footage. A majority of the official as well as independent producers and directors are no longer living. Most of the surviving filmmakers contacted shared the view, “Why re-open wounds? Over the decades, the various chiefs of Doordarshan have pinned the blame on their predecessors.”

Clearly, the lapse –unintentional or not-—is part of a larger issue of lost content in the history of broadcasting. Besides DD, the All-India Radio and Films Division, have remained rigidly unaccountable. From personal experience, I can recall that shortly after the imposition of the Emergency, the International Film Festival of India had hosted the legendary Akira Kurosawa, Michelangelo Antonioni and Elia Kazan. A round-table discussion between them and Satyajit Ray was recorded by columnist Amita Malik, simultaneously for DD and AIR. And it has been confirmed that those were erased since there was a shortage of recording tapes. A producer at DD is lored to have recorded another programme over the valuable interview.

Malik, during her lifetime, would often lament that her exclusive with the iconic actor Marlon Brando, interviewed during his UNICEF-sponsored visit to India circa 1967, was also wiped out.

There is no news either of the tapes of interviews with the legendary actors Jeanne Moreau from France and that of Vanessa Redgrave from Britain – in the course of their visits to the International Film Festival of India.

On the sports front, archived tapes of the tied 1987 Ahmedabad test between India and Pakistan are one among the many disappearing chronicles. The match was singularly important, showing Sunil Gavaskar as the first cricketer to cross the 10,000-run mark.

On being quizzed about this, Gavaskar had described the incident as “unfortunate” adding that perhaps in the 1980s technology wasn’t as advanced, leading to the loss of an incalculable number of files, tapes and papers. “At least from now on, they should ensure that they archive stuff properly,” he had suggested.

In response, a Doordarshan official had stated that of late tapes are being digitised to ensure there is a back-up support in case a tape has to be re-used. Seemingly, earlier there wasn’t an option. In the absence of “proper guidelines, it was easy to overwrite a tape.” Easy? The word speaks for itself.

Filmmaker Shyam Benegal (left), who has consistently demanded the need for preservation of documented footage, states candidly, “It’s a crying shame really. Supposedly DD is required to hand over its material to the National Film Archive of India in Pune. How many have been handed over is a mystery. The archive is meant to store and preserve our national heritage of cinema and TV series. Clearly, the archive has never been looked after or given any priority.”

Although some episodes of Benegal’s seminal series Bharat Ek Khoj (right) (1988)– based on Jawaharlal Nehru’s book Discovery of India --have been officially uploaded on YouTube, the original tapes shot on 35 mm gauge have disappeared. “The storage facilities at the archive are awful,” Benegal remarks. “I am clueless about how many of the 53 episodes are still surviving.”

His documentaries revolving around the subject of the various forms of music like rhythm and melody were given to the archive but are no longer accessible. Moreover, the auteur’s documentaries on the sarod maestro Ali Akbar Khan, and the sitar wizards Ravi Shankar and Abdul Halim Jaffer Khan, have either perished or are mouldering in the cans somewhere.

Any salvaging operations possible? To that, Benegal ripostes, “None that I can think of. Except to raise the consciousness that it’s never too late to start preserving filmed material.”

And he makes the point, that it’s not only the national film heritage which has been squandered over time. What about our books, which should have been looked after? Where have all the original parchments gone? We must have lost out, he contends, on at least a millennium of our literature.

To encapsulate the topic, Benegal has a one-liner. And that is, “Whatever token attempts have been made, they have amounted to zilch.”


Also gone missing is Sai Paranjpye’s documentary on Captain Lakshmi Sahgal (seen above with Subhash Chandra Bose), revolutionary of the independence movement

Nayandeep Rakshit (DNA; April 3, 2019)

A few months ago, Kangana Ranaut announced that she would be teaming up with Anurag Basu, who launched her in Bollywood with Gangster (2006), for a project. Imali, as the film was tentatively titled, would have been the actress’ third collaboration with the filmmaker. But now, we have learnt that she has opted out of the project.

Kangana says, “Last year, when I announced Panga and Imali together, Anurag Basu’s film was supposed to go on floors in November 2018. But I had to direct and reshoot Manikarnika: The Queen Of Jhansi. So, I had to push Imali. I was also meaning to be a director for a while, so I couldn’t have said no to this. Meanwhile, Panga had already started and I couldn’t not do that.”

The busy schedules of her films have caused a few shifts in her choices, too. Kangana has picked the Jayalalithaa biopic, which goes on floors this October after she wraps up work on Ashwiny Iyer Tiwari’s sports drama. The Queen heroine explains, “Manikarnika has done very well, so I want to take my directorial career further. I can’t not direct now. I had signed the Jayalalithaa biopic because it’s a strong character and in sync with whatever I’m doing with regards to women empowerment.”

Kangana adds that it was a “tough call” for her to make. “Anurag and I have spoken about it. I feel extremely bad because Imali was giving me an opportunity to work with my mentor again, but I’m on the verge of announcing my own film in a few weeks from now. That has taken a lot of my time and I have conveyed it to Anurag, who understood my situation,” she adds. 

Ask her if she and Anurag will reunite for a project soon and she replies, “We will work together at some point. Imali is a beautiful love story and we can do that later. But right now, my focus is on my next directorial venture because I’ve just delivered an Rs 100-crore film and it’s the right time for me,” she signs off.

Kangana Ranaut on giving precedence to a biopic on Jayalalithaa over her own life story and taking it on the floors in October
Roshmila Bhattacharya (MUMBAI MIRROR; April 1, 2019)

Mirror had earlier reported (February 14) about Kangana Ranaut revealing that after making her directorial debut with Manikarnika - The Queen of Jhansi, she’s now all set to direct her own life story and the film was being scripted by K V Vijayendra Prasad. The duo has since had several exhaustive recording sessions during which the actress retraced her journey with the Baahubali scriptwriter. During this process, Vijayendra Prasad confided in her that he was writing another story that was in many ways similar to hers, but with a culmination, and suggested she consider it. And that’s how Kangana learnt about the Tamil-Hindi bilingual, Thalaivi/Jaya, a biopic of the late actress-turned-politician J Jayalalithaa.

The actress who gifted herself a 10-day wellness retreat conducted in absolute silence in Coimbatore for her 32nd birthday, admits that though she’s from the North, she’s been spending a lot of time in her guru’s ashram in Tamil Nadu for the last two years. This had sparked off a curiosity about the people and culture. “They call me akka but I get mobbed more in my guru’s ashram in the US than when in Coimbatore. It’s a different world down South. Their own actors are mega stars and they hardly watch Hindi films, so apart from capital cities like Chennai or Hyderabad, I go largely unrecognised and can walk around freely,” she smiles.

Kangana admits that while she knew Jayalalithaa as a politician, she didn’t know her as a person and hadn’t seen her films. So, when the story was narrated to her, she was taken by surprise. “It presented an image of her that was contrary to the one I had in my mind, so I asked for some time to think over the film during which I read up some more on her and was blown away by what I learnt. It’s a story that needs to be told and I am happy to be telling it even though she was the absolute opposite of me,” she says. Opposite? How? “She was far more docile and refined in her demeanour, more sophisticated in her choice of words and always ladylike no matter what she was going through. But if you tried to run her down, she would always bounce back. She’s risen over every controversy and adversity and I could identify with that spirit though our styles of expresion were very different,” she explains.

What makes the ‘Iron Lady’ even more fascinating for her, as an actress, are the contrasting sides to her personality. “She was emotionally dependent on some people, including her mother and MGR (actor-turned-polician), and allowed them to mould her into an actress and politician when she never wanted to be either. When they, and several others she had grown to rely on, left her, alone and vulnerable, she didn’t flounder. She took charge of her life and went on to become a bigger actress and politician. That’s remarkable, unbelievable!” Kangana marvels. You wonder if the film will cover Jayalalithaa’s last years and her controversial end, and the actress discloses that the film will start with Jayalalithaa as a child, cover her journey to emerging as one of the biggest stars and end with her becoming the chief minister of Tamil Nadu for the first time. “After that it would become a more political film and mean a shift in focus and genre,” Kangana says.

With the elections coming up, what’s her take on power politics? “Politics is important for a country, you can’t not be interested. Shifts in power have always been brutal but fortunately, now there’s no bloodshed, only mudslinging,” she laughs. Is that what’s kept her away from the political arena even though one feels she’s cut out for it? Admitting that her great grandfather Sarju Singh Ranaut was a politician in Himachal, Kangana reveals she’s been wooed by every political party. “Some of them even offered me posts. I know my voice can make an impact but if I get stamped, I’d lose that. Why belong to a certain school of thought when you can be a free voice? People change, relationships change, partners change, so one should have the freedom to be objective,” she reasons.

She adds that if you want to make a difference, politics should be a full-time involvement. “I’ve never done a halfbaked job. Just having talent or good intentions is not enough. You must build a brand, sell it. I’ve let go of many opportunities, both films and endorsements, which 90 per cent of the time doesn’t work for my bank balance, because I don’t want to dilute my brand. I’d be just as selfless and committed if I were to join politics. For now, I love being an artiste and this film will give me a taste of reel-life politics,” she avers.

So, what’s happening to her biopic? “That’ll have to wait for now as the focus is on this film. It’s the same writer and in many ways our stories, our struggles, are so alike. We both came from humble backgrounds into a male-dominated world, fought the odds to make a place for ourselves. It’s the success story of a survivor with a lot of drama that’ll make for exciting cinema,” she asserts.

The film—Thalaivi in Tamil and Jaya in Hindi—goes on the floors in October. As part of her prep, Kangana will be learning Bharatanatyam as Jayalalithaa was a top classical dancer, besides being an A-list actress and there are many dances in the film. She’d also like to dub in Tamil and plans to learn the language. “Then, because it’s a biopic of a familiar public figure, I have to adopt her mannerisms to make the performance convincing. I’m looking forward to the challenge of playing a woman who was at once soft and strong. It’ll be a refreshing change to play someone so restrained. There’s also the high of working in a South film. Our three top grossers are Baahubali, Baahubali 2 and 2.0, their film industries are bigger than ours, which is why when the offer came along, I thought, ‘Why not?’” Kangana signs off with a twinkle.

Nayandeep Rakshit (DNA; March 24, 2019)

New-age Indian actresses have completely changed the ball game where their remuneration is concerned. We hear that after being roped in to play Jayalalithaa Jayaram in the late politician’s biopic, Kangana Ranaut has now reportedly become the highest-paid Bollywood actress.

A WHOPPING AMOUNT
Says a source, “Kangana is being paid to the tune of Rs 24 crore for the bilingual project, which will be made in Hindi and Tamil. The makers are sure that her star power will help reach a pan-India audience.” This is apparently the highest amount ever paid to a Bollywood actor for any South venture. The source adds, “Whenever Hindi artistes have done South movies, they have always shared screen space with a top star from the region. But the Manikarnika heroine will be leading from the front as the movie revolves around her character’s journey. The producers have already signed a contract with her.” Kangana has already proved her merit at the box office. South director AL Vijay will helm the project, which is written by Baahubali writer KV Vijayendra Prasad, who had also penned the actress’ last superhit film.

BEATING SEVERAL A-LIST ACTRESSES
The powerhouse performer has beaten a few top stars to bag the film. Another source says, “Vidya Balan and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan were also vying for the same project, but the producers felt Kangana would be a better bet. When she was approached, she immediately agreed to be a part of the biopic, since she has closely followed the life of the former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister.” Shooting begins in a few months after the actor-filmmaker wraps up Ashwiny Iyer Tiwary’s Panga.

BOMBAY TIMES (March 23, 2019)

Over the years, Kangana Ranaut has beaten many odds to establish herself as a name to reckon with, in Bollywood. So, it’s only befitting that on her birthday, an official announcement has been made that the actress is all set to portray the late Jayalalithaa, a legendary actress-turned-politician, who is fondly referred to as ‘Puratchi Thalaivi’ (revolutionary leader).

Titled Thalaivi in Tamil and Jaya in Hindi, the film will be bilingual and directed by Vijay, one of South’s leading filmmakers, who has made movies like Madrasapattinam and Deiva Thirumagal. Talking about the biopic, Vijay said, “Jayalalithaa madam was one of the most prominent leaders of our country. Making a film on her life is a big responsibility and we are going to do it with utmost care and honesty. I am proud and happy that a talented actress like Kangana Ranautji will portray the dynamic role of this dynamic leader.”

The film will be written by K V Vijayendra Prasad, who has also penned Baahubali and Manikarnika - The Queen Of Jhansi, and will be produced by Vishnu Vardhan Induri and Shaailesh R Singh under the banners of Vibri and Karma Media and Entertainment. “This is my fifth collaboration with Kangana. Working with her is always an enriching experience. I’m glad that Vishnu and I are producing a film that is based on an eminent personality,” Shaailesh shared.

When asked about the film, Kangana said, “Jayalalithaa ji is one of the biggest female success stories of this century. She was a superstar and went on to become an iconic politician, it’s a great concept for a mainstream film. I am honoured to be a part of this mega project.”

Gladwin Emmanuel (MUMBAI MIRROR; November 10, 2018)

On Friday, the makers of the Tamil film Sarkar agreed to do away with some “objectionable” scenes from their Diwali release in the face of backlash from members of the ruling AIADMK party. According to sources, a scene in which a character is shown discarding a mixer and grinder (given as freebie by the AIADMK) in a fire will be deleted. Additionally, the word ‘Komala’ from the name Komalavalli (an apparent reference to the late Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa), along with a few dialogues, will be muted.

The Vijay-starrer opened on Tuesday. Almost immediately, Information and Publicity minister Kadambur C Raju came out strongly against the above-mentioned scenes following which, several theatres screening the film were reportedly targeted by AIADMK supporters. They damaged publicity material and banners, forcing the filmmakers to throw in the towel.

Meanwhile, A R Murugadoss who has directed the film, tweeted that cops had visited his house late night on Thursday and banged on the door several times before leaving as no one was home. He later moved Madras High Court for anticipatory bail. The court has reportedly stayed his arrest. And according to reports, security has been provided at his leading man’s residence.

Extending support to the film’s team, Rajinikanth condemned the backlash against the film, saying, “It is against the law to hold protests seeking the removal of some scenes from a Censor Board-certified film and trying to stall the screening and damaging the banners.” Pa Ranjith, who has directed Rajinikanth in films like Kabali and Kaala, slammed the government as well, saying that those who use government machinery and violence against the film were already aware that democracy has collapsed in this country. Filmmaker and head of Film Employees Federation of South India (FEFSI), RK Selvamani also issued a statement in support of the film. 

Producer Vishnu Induri reveals details on late Tamil Nadu CM J Jayalalithaa's biopic, which is currently underway
Upala KBR (MID-DAY; August 16, 2018)

After a biopic on Andhra cine-idol turned top politician NT Rama Rao, there have been reports about a similar biopic on the former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, J Jayalalithaa. But now the project has been finalised, informs producer Vishnu Induri who's incidentally also making the NTR film, along with '83 - film on India's first cricket World Cup victory.

Induri says the Jaya biopic will be directed by award-winning Kollywood filmmaker, A L Vijay, of Madrasapattinam (2010) fame. It will be made in Hindi, Tamil and Telugu. Vijay will direct the movie in all languages.

While top South actors' names, including Keerthy Suresh's, were doing rounds for the titular role, it is learnt that in fact three top Bollywood female stars instead have been shortlisted for the lead part, to be played simultaneously in Tamil, Telugu and Hindi.

Says a source, "In an interview to Simi Garewal in 1999, Jayalalithaa had said that Aishwarya Rai-Bachchan would be best suited to play her on screen. But she hasn't been approached yet. Incidentally Rai-Bachchan had played a role inspired by Jayalalitha in her debut, Mani Ratnam's Iruvar (1997)."

According to sources, Tabu, Vidya Balan, and Deepika Padukone have been sounded off to play Jayalalithaa, "Vidya is already in the NTR biopic - playing the protagonist's wife Basavatarakam - so the makers already share a rapport with her."

Induri admits, "We are looking at a Bollywood actress, since this is a national, multilingual film. We want the story to travel across India. Though Jayalalithaa was the CM of Tamil Nadu, her story has a global appeal. We have approached two-three top Bollywood actresses. Director Vijay is overseeing the pre-production work of the film" Induri plans to release the Jaya film, along with '83, and the NTR biopic, in 2019.

Jinxed by Jayalalitha’s death, Jallikattu and the cyclone, Rajini-Akki’s Diwali release goes on floor
Shaheen Parkar (MID-DAY; February 1, 2017)

Battling all odds, filmmaker Shankar has finally begun shooting for his sci-fi thriller, 2.0, starring Rajinikanth, Akshay Kumar and Amy Jackson in Chennai. The sequel to his 2010 film, Enthiran (Robot), which starred Rajiniknath and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, was initially slated to kick off in early December, but was deferred following the death of TN Chief Minister J Jayalalitha. The successive schedule too was affected after the city was hit by heavy rains, which wreaked havoc on the sets.

Shankar’s nephew and the film’s executive producer, Pappu Shankar, tells hitlist, “The delay was primarily because of the December rains that destroyed the sets. Then came Christmas and New Year. The film’s crew, which comprises Western technicians for special effects, had to leave for the holidays.”

Pappu adds since shooting for a film with special effects is time consuming, the team decided to postpone the schedule to January 17. Yet, as fate would have it, that schedule, too, had to be deferred owing to protests in the city for Jalikattu, which found support from Tamil celebs, including Rajinikanth.

2.0 finally rolled on Tuesday with Rajinikanth and Amy. The makers will release the first teaser in April, close on the heels of the Tamil New Year. The film, which will also have a Hindi and Telugu version, is apparently made on a budget of Rs 350 crore, and sees Akshay in a negative role. The first look of the film, which is set for a Diwali 2017 release, was unveiled in November in Mumbai.

Hema Malini remembers the doyen of Tamil politics
As told to Subhash K Jha (DNA; December 7, 2016)

“It’s hard to believe that Jayalalithaa ji has gone so soon…she and I are the same age. In fact, I started my career with her. I was supposed to do my first film in Tamil in which she was the other heroine. The film was titled Vennira Aadai. It was a love triangle with Jayalalithaji and me playing the hero’s two love interests. But then the director Sridhar removed me from the film after a few days of shooting. I was only 15. Too young to understand the complexities of love and relationships. So, I don’t blame them for asking me to leave. The few days that I shot with Jayalalithaa ji I got to observe her very closely. I was impressed by her grace, beauty and dignity. She came to the sets with her mother. So did I. She remained aloof during all the time that I met her on the sets…didn’t speak much to anyone. I wonder how that shy lady I met on the sets of my first film (which I never did) transformed into one of the most powerful women in India!

Jayalalithaa ji was not just a politician, she was the messiah of the masses. Look at the way the masses of Tamil Nadu, especially women, are mourning for her. She gave hope to the poor even before she became the chief minister and then, after she came to power she didn’t forget her pledge to help the poor. She provided free rice, televisions sets, computers even homes to the poor. That’s why they loved her and called her Amma. If you go to Tamil Nadu now, you will hear the people wailing ‘Amma Amma’. It’s as if the State has lost its mother. That’s the place Jayalalithaa ji made in the hearts of the masses. They loved and worshipped her like a God.

I must tell you about one of her lesser known achievements. She helped restore hundreds of temples in Tamil Nadu, which were on the verge of collapse. She truly and fearlessly cared for her people. To me her biggest achievement was that she took on the male-dominated bastion of politics with such fearlessness and grace. They tried to humiliate and cow her down in every way possible. But Jayalalithaa ji was unstoppable.With every attack on her integrity she became stronger. It’s such a pity that bad health and illness snatched her away from us so soon. She had so much more to give. A truly inspiring woman for all of us.

My career resembles hers in several ways. We both started in our mother tongue in Tamil cinema. We both went from acting to politics. Jayalalithaa ji also danced on stage, like I did. As an actress too she was par excellence. She did filmi dancing with the correct mass movements without losing her dignity. We could say the same about her conduct in politics. There will never be another woman like her.”

Simi Garewal on the ailing Jayalalithaa, who she once had on her television chat show for atwo- part special
Shaheen Parkar (MID-DAY; December 6, 2016)

Jayalalithaa featured in Simi Garewal’s chat show, Rendezvous With Simi Garewal, in 1999. Simi, who is currently out of the country, has been keeping herself updated about the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister’s health condition.

Simi says, “Jayalalithaa is one awesome woman. They don’t make them like her anymore. I am praying for her. I had interviewed her in Chennai. The conversation kept flowing and I had to telecast the episode in two parts. It was a warm, amiable Jayaji, she even sang a song! I was told several things about her, but she proved to be contrary to the image created about her. She was an interviewer’s delight. She is a great fighter and has won many battles. I am waiting for her to win this one too. Talking about her in a few lines just won’t do justice to her.”