Showing posts with label Jim Sarbh. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Jim Sarbh. Show all posts
Jim Sarbh insisted on going bald for his role in Made In India-Robbie Grewal
8:41 AM
Upala KBR (MID-DAY; September 28, 2025)
Robbie Grewal has high praise for Naseeruddin Shah and Jim Sarbh. The reason? The actors leave little for the director to do on set. They come so well prepared that the filmmaker can sit back and let them interpret the story, get into character physically and mentally, and put their best foot forward. That is exactly what he did when he adapted Vinay Kamath’s book Titan: Inside India’s Most Successful Consumer Brand into a six-episode series, Made In India: A Titan Story.
The series chronicles Titan’s journey from its establishment in 1984, when Jehangir Ratanji Dadabhoy Tata, insulted by a Swiss watch company, hired Xerxes Desai to create a new watch brand made entirely in India.
“It’s a compelling story and a part of history, so we wanted to make it,” says Grewal. “It is a story about JRD. Who is not enamoured by him or the journey of making a watch into a brand? The Tatas are a name to reckon with and we trust it. If you look closely, Naseer saab has an uncanny resemblance to JRD Tata. The physical similarity and the body language were a perfect fit. Luckily for us, he agreed when we approached him [for the role]. He loved the writing. Jim was a natural choice to play Xerxes Desai, who is the pivotal protagonist of the story,” explains the director. The series also stars Namita Dubey, Vaibhav Tatwawadi, Kaveri Seth, Lakshvir Saran, and Paresh Ganatra in key roles.
Grewal loves to observe Shah’s passion and dedication to his work rather than comment on it. He feels Sarbh is cut from the same cloth. Both actors, despite the age difference, exude a similar understanding of their characters.
“Naseer saab takes his job so seriously and is so well prepared before the shot. Whether it is two or five pages, he comes on set as JRD Tata. Both Naseer saab and Jim are from theatre, and while every actor has a different method of acting, they are similar in terms of understanding their characters and being prepared for it. They ideate, understand, and develop their characters pre-shoot. The material to create magic happens before the shoot. They bring so much to the table,” shares the director.
What surprised him further was Sarbh’s decision to go bald to play Desai instead of relying on prosthetics.
He shares, “They say actors are vain. Many would have worn a prosthetic scalp cap but Jim is a true actor. He insisted on going bald from day one. He told me that he wanted to be Xerxes Desai and to be him he had to be like him.”
I think they see the grey hair and my two broken hips and they’re like, ‘he must be 50’-Jim Sarbh
9:01 AM
Akash Bhatnagar (HINDUSTAN TIMES; September 25, 2025)
Jim Sarbh is 38, but the internet recently aged him a decade too soon. A social media post placed him among Bollywood’s “hot at 50” actors, prompting the actor to clap back with trademark wit. “I stay fit at 50 by being 38,” he wrote on X.
Ask him about the mix-up and Jim bursts out laughing: “I was flattered, it was very nice. I just thought it was funny. The list was a good one to be part of, they just got the figures wrong. I think they see the grey hair and my two broken hips and they’re like, ‘he must be 50’.”
Fresh off Inspector Zende, where he played a character inspired by French serial killer Charles Sobhraj opposite actor Manoj Bajpayee, Jim admits he’s usually offered unconventional roles. “I have no idea why I’m not approached for boy-next-door parts,” he says, adding, “I’d be happy to play those too. But often, you play some things and the idea of you becomes the truth. People have to be able to imagine me in those roles, and if they can, I’ll do my best.”
The film features Manoj as Inspector Zende, the cop who nabbed Sobhraj twice, and culminates in a stylized showdown between the two — choreographed like a dance. “We’ve been joking that we had the most intimate scenes together,” Jim quips.
Calling them technicians makes them seem non creative-Jim Sarbh, Zoya Hussain
8:35 AM
Actors Zoya Hussain and Jim Sarbh’s new talk show turns the tables, putting actors in the interviewer’s seat to speak to composers, editors and make-up artists
Mitali Parekh (MID-DAY; January 14, 2024)
There is a certain perverse delight in hearing actor-producer-director, SoBo boy-gone-movies Jim Sarbh talk about how much research he had to do as preparation and how he had to learn to not interrupt people when they were speaking. And assess what kind of questions made for interesting answers and which did not.
This has been in preparation for Crew Cut, co-actor Zoya Hussain and his new endeavour on YouTube that takes the audience into conversation with technicians in the business. “I like the term crew better than technicians, because it makes their contribution seem, well, technical and not creative,” says Sarbh, whom we saw most recently as Adil Khanna in Made In Heaven and in Rocket Boys as Dr Homi J Bhabha. “Often, they are the ones with a sense of entirety about the project, a sense of visual storytelling matched only by, perhaps, the director. As actors, we only know a section of the project.”
Sarbh confesses to be “endlessly curious” about filmmaking and is constantly speaking to music composers, sound artistes, cinematographers about their craft, or wondering how the set designers on Gangubai [Kathiawadi] gave the walls that patina so evocative of age and decay. “If a costume designer has put two pens in the pocket of the character (as for Rocket Boys), I need to know why,” he says. “Are they different coloured? Which colour would Dr Homi Bhabha use for what? Is it because he has many documents to sign and doesn’t want to run out of ink.”
Hussain, also, has been “fascinated by what film [the actual reels] look like, shadows, lights, the nostalgia. I romanticised light and how long takes made you feel. As I gained a better understanding of things, I gravitated towards how cinematographers make the visual language of a film. The intake while we watch a movie, way more than we realise, is thanks to them.”
Fascinated as much as both were by these aspects, they knew the general populace may not be drawn to these conversations, so they reeled in more recognisable friends to spotlight these heroes with their fame. So, actor Vidya Balan speaks to long-time collaborator, costume designer Niharika Bhasin who won the National award for Costume Design for The Dirty Picture. Rasika Duggal quizzes editor Namrata Rao (Fan, Mrs Chatterjee VS Norway, Made In Heaven), Hussain speaks with make-up artist Ayesha Seth (Queen, Slumdog Millionaire), and Sarbh himself chats with cinematographer Harshvir Oberoi (Rocket Boys, Kathal) and music composers Naren Chandravarkar and Benedict Taylor (Udta Punjab, Nil Battey Sannata).
In waiting are sound designer Resul Pokutty (Slumdog Millionaire, Highway), make-up and prosthetic artist Preetisheel Singh (Padmavat, Bajirao Mastani), costume designer Maxima Basu, music composers Dub Sharma (Gully Boy, Made In Heaven) and Achint Thakkar (Rocket Boys, Scam 1992), editor Sanjukta Kaza (Tumbbad, Bhediya, Paatal Lok) in the wings with actors Kalki Koechlin, Ali Fazal, Arjun Mathur, Vivek Gomber and Tillotama Shome.
“We just reached out to people we know first, and then kind-of-know, and then don’t-know-but-want-to-know,” says Hussain about the process of pairing actors and technical experts. “And almost everyone was thrilled to participate,” says Sarbh. “There was the matter of getting dates, but that’s just technical.” Balan, for instance, was so immersed that she had memorized the three sheets of questions handed to her to conduct the interview seamlessly.
While Hussain says “there wasn’t much prep” as an interviewer, Sarbh admits at first getting into the technicalities of the craft such as the type of lens used, etc and then realising as he saw the episode, that it didn’t make for engaging conversation for everyone. “What was interesting was the minutea of the vision. For example, for Rocket Boys, two timelines converge and I asked Oberoi what was the overriding emotion he was trying to evoke at this point of conversion. He said ‘death of the utopian ideal’. Two decades into independent India, which was built on non-violence and a dream of a great country, the country was besieged. We had lost a war with China, things weren’t great with [East and West] Pakistan, and Bhabha and Sarabhai had to now build a bomb.”
Besides these technicalities, Hussain wanted to know the human elements: Why they picked the profession, what inspires them, what they like outside of work, who they are, some jokes, lots of advice, and how their brains just cook up things. “It’s been lovely to see what technical aspects of film viewers are fascinated by. It’s also just lovely to be a silent participant to watch and listen to energies come together,” she says.
Comparisons (with Irrfan Khan, Priyanka Chopra) are unavoidable-Kirti Kulhari
9:44 AM
Though thrilled about her first international film Sach Is Life, Kirti Kulhari admits playing a real-life character and doing justice to her journey is harder
Priyanka Sharma (MID-DAY; October 23, 2023)
Years of manifestation has brought Kirti Kulhari on the cusp of taking her career international. She is set to begin work on her maiden international venture, Sach Is Life. But while there is excitement, there is also nervousness about stepping into a real-life story.
“I have wanted to explore work opportunities outside. The kind of work that I do in India and the kind of actor I am, going international felt like a natural progression. I am a little nervous about playing a real-life character. The person will watch me play her on screen and could well say, ‘I didn’t enjoy this,’” she begins.
At the same time, the actor is certain that such a story compels you to approach it with complete honesty. Debutant director Harsh Mahadeshwar’s film is about an Indian couple based in the US, who are determined to provide their three-year-old son, diagnosed with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, a life that he deserves. While Kulhari plays mother Daisy Munshi, Jim Sarbh will be seen as her on-screen husband.
“I am a sucker for real-life stories. I get 10 times more excited about a true story than a fictional one. Daisy-ji’s life revolves around their son, Sachin. She is hands-on and takes three hours to take Sachin through his morning routine. She happens to be the carrier of this particular gene, and it weighs upon her like a rock, even today.”
That Kulhari has an equally passionate co-star in Sarbh makes her all the more excited. “Jim is not only an intelligent actor, but also an intelligent human being. He is someone who will be driven to tell a story. Only if he knows he can dive into the story with his time, efforts and can do justice to it, will he sign it.”
From the late Irrfan Khan to Priyanka Chopra Jonas, Indian cinema has had successful exports to the West. Does she plan to follow in their footsteps? Not really. Kulhari wants to surrender to the universe’s plans.
She says, “I want to follow Kirti's footsteps. As the world opens up to me, I will make my decisions. I want to work in the West and strike a balance with my career in India. But am I aiming for [more international projects] actively? No. I am doing my thing, taking each day as it comes and hoping for the best. Comparisons are unavoidable. people, who want to draw comparisons, will do that. But it's not in my control so why should I bother about it?"
At the rate we procreate, we must talk about sex-Saba Azad
8:09 AM
Saba Azad on how the series, Who’s Your Gynac, is a step towards normalizing dialogue around reproductive health
Letty Mariam Abraham (MID-DAY; October 3, 2023)
"Such topics need to be normalized,” states Saba Azad during our interview, highlighting how our society shies away from sex education and discussions on reproductive health. Now, the actor is bringing the subject right to our laptop screens with Who’s Your Gynac? In the Amazon miniTV series by TVF, she plays a gynaecologist who is scouting for patients for her new clinic. In a chat with mid-day, the actor discusses how the show explores an urgent theme, and why she has been away from mainstream cinema.
Edited excerpts from the interview.
When was the first time you visited a gynaecologist? Were you awkward during the visit?
I was 19 or 20 when I first felt the need to visit a gynaecologist. I was awkward at first because it is not comfortable taking your pants off in front of the doctor. Almost 30 seconds into it, it was so technical that it didn’t feel much.
What were your initial thoughts when you got the show?
I didn’t have any inhibitions. This is a long time coming. People should talk about sex, reproductive health and have sex education. At the rate that we procreate, we must definitely be talking about these topics.
In the series, it is shown that the menstruation is covered in sex education in schools, but the topic of intercourse is ignored. Your thoughts?
I don’t think sex education has been made compulsory throughout the country. It needs to be because it is ultimately about health and making adults aware about their bodies. No one talks about reproduction, and people are walking into life with half-baked information. Kids have a lot of questions about their bodies, they must be addressed. Open dialogue with parents or in school would be the best practice.
When did you have this conversation?
It was during sex education in school. My parents never had this conversation with me. Conversation on sex should be normalized.
Why do you think people are wary of going to a gynaec?
In our culture, we have attached shame to anything regarding reproduction, which is weird because we procreate the most. There is a sense of shame attached to sexuality and sex, and it has been passed on from generation to generation. So, kids find it awkward to talk to their parents about it and vice versa.
Your Rocket Boys co-star Jim Sarbh has bagged an Emmy nomination. Did you congratulate him?
I am yet to call him. This is a fantastic development. We were all secretly manifesting it.
What do awards mean to you?
Awards mean something because it’s celebrating someone’s hard work. That said, it also depends on the body that is giving out the awards. There are a lot of award functions, which are held for the purpose of making money, and they do little to facilitate talent or go through a voting process. But something as prestigious as the Emmys is wonderful and respectful.
You haven’t done too many films. Why?
I forayed into films with Dil Kabaddi [2008] and Mujhse Fraaandship Karoge [2011]. After that, I was being offered only college [capers] and rom-coms. I am a child of theatre and wanted something substantial. I was bored of the [offers] coming my way. Thankfully, I am a musician-singer and a theatre actor. My hands were in several pies, so I didn’t feel the lack [of work]. I pulled back from mainstream [cinema]. But as soon as the lockdown happened, a lot of people came in the eye-line of casting directors. Now, I am finally getting meaty roles where I can sink my teeth.
Does cinema satisfy you as much as theatre does?
I am in a transitional phase. I have always been a live performer. However, over the last five years, I have begun to enjoy being in front of the camera as much as I do on stage.
Dumbing down art into entertainment is a worldwide trend-Jim Sarbh
7:58 AM
Renuka Vyavahare (BOMBAY TIMES; October 3, 2023)
Jim Sarbh’s uninhibited performances speak a language of their own. Ram Madhvani’s Neerja put him on the map, and he has continued to prove his mettle in films and web shows like Padmaavat, Made in Heaven, Mrs. Chatterjee vs. Norway and Rocket Boys, to name a few. Recently, Jim was nominated for an International Emmy in the Best Performance by an Actor category for his role of nuclear physicist Dr Homi Bhabha in Rocket Boys. Excerpts from a conversation...
Cillian Murphy is expected to sweep the acting awards internationally for Oppenheimer and your portrayal of Dr Homi Bhabha in Rocket Boys has won you an International Emmy nomination. Isn’t it quite a coincidence that both these standout performances portrayed nuclear physicists?
I don’t think we ever shot it but there was a scene in the original version (of Rocket Boys) where Dr Bhabha went to see Oppenheimer. The story changed direction a little bit. I have liked Cillian for a long time. He was scary and strange in Batman Begins as the Scarecrow, and you must see him in The Wind That Shakes The Barley (2006).
As far as Rocket Boys is concerned, I am overwhelmed and excited to be nominated for an Emmy. It is an honour to be recognized amongst such talented individuals from across the world. The series salutes some of India’s scientists, artists and leaders, the pioneers of a newly birthed nation. I am so glad the makers believed in this project, and in me.
You exude this free-spirited, fiercely independent streak. How have you managed to retain that quality as an actor in an industry that often expects one to toe the line?
A film should be a creative collaboration between all the partners. Of course, you have a captain of the ship, but the best directors that I have worked with are the ones who encourage and enjoy collaborations. If you know your lines, if you are not forgetting your cues or are not changing the rhythm of the scene too much, within that frame, you have a choice as to how you want to interpret a moment. Good directors are always open to listening. Filmmaking requires expertise in general across the board. An incredible editor or a production designer can change your film and hide all potential flaws. I believe in that kind of culture.
You never hold back or hesitate to speak your mind. What would you attribute this outspokenness to?
I think it’s more of mounting frustration and eventually, the fact that I can’t stop myself from saying something. I know that the wiser choice would be to act cool or make jokes about it or pretend that it’s someone else’s problem. I just get frustrated and if I am in a bad mood on a particular day, I will eventually say something. I remember when I was doing interviews for Padmaavat, I was asked three standard questions. 1) What was it like to work with Ranveer Singh? 2) What was it like to work with Deepika Padukone? 3) Were you afraid of playing gay? These are such shallow questions. I think there is a trend worldwide of dumbing down art into content or entertainment purposes only so that no one thinks too deeply.
Has your upbringing played a huge role in bringing out your honest, true self, on screen and in reality?
My grandmom told me to speak the truth. That was most important to her, and my mom tells me to lie instead (laughs). She tells me (mimics her), “You don’t have to tell me everything no, Jim. Learn how to lie a bit.” I will send her this article.
DO YOU THINK EVERYTHING IS MADE FOR INSTANT GRATIFICATION IN A WAY?
Nothing is provocative or makes you think too deeply anymore because if we can’t understand something in 10 seconds, it’s labelled as ‘boring’. Christopher Nolan is a master of his craft. Whether you like his films or not is a separate thing. Tenet for instance didn’t strike a chord with me emotionally as much as I thought it would, instead it was a puzzle for me to mentally unravel. I prefer to experience a film emotionally and it can leave me with questions that I can ponder about later. I remember seeing No Country For Old Men in the US with a friend. At the end of it, we were so affected that we couldn’t say a word. On the drive back home, we spoke of its elements and concluded that we really liked it. It left us perplexed.
Zoya Akhtar shoots intimate scenes in a way that makes them feel real and raw-Jim Sarbh
9:21 AM
Made In Heaven 2 actor Jim Sarbh on how creator Zoya Akhtar directs intimate scenes with sensitivity, putting artistes at ease
Priyanka Sharma (MID-DAY; August 16, 2023)
From the sound of it, Jim Sarbh is one of us. The actor, who plays one of the central characters in Made In Heaven, is binge-watching the second season and can’t stop reacting to it like any other viewer. “Even people I watched it with, screamed during certain scenes and gasped at some other sequences,” the actor grins.
Since it dropped on Amazon Prime Video last week, the Sobhita Dhulipala and Arjun Mathur-led series has dominated conversations, just the way its maiden season did. This time around, through glitzy weddings organized by Dhulipala and Mathur’s wedding planner characters, the show has touched on several themes—from India’s obsession with fair skin, to Dalit identity, and self-love.
Pleased with the response, Sarbh says, “At the end of the day, a story wants to be heard and experienced. So, I am glad people are connecting, asking questions and having feelings—be it good, bad or bewildered.”
The second season reunited him with one of his favourite collaborators, Zoya Akhtar, who has co-created the show with Reema Kagti. He credits Akhtar for handling intimate sequences with sensitivity, thus creating a comfortable environment for actors.
“Zoya is a lot of fun to shoot with. She takes control of the sets and is always a delight to jam ideas with. Also, intimate scenes can cause a certain amount of trepidation, if you feel you aren’t in safe hands. But because she is there, you feel safe. She has a good eye for such sequences; she shoots them in a way that makes them feel real and raw.”
It’s a miracle that despite so many factors, we shot Made In Heaven 2-Jim Sarbh
8:33 AM
Despite the four-year gap between seasons, Jim says writing of Made In Heaven 2 made it easy to reprise role
Letty Mariam Abraham (MID-DAY; August 6, 2023)
Four years is a long gap between two seasons. And it feels longer when you’re awaiting the second edition of a well-crafted series like Made In Heaven. But Jim Sarbh, who reprises his role of Adil Khanna in the upcoming season, says the delay was inevitable.
“The pandemic delayed the shoot, and then [there were] delays because the filming was riddled with [many issues]. We shot in Delhi and several tricky places. It’s a miracle that [despite] so many factors, we shot the series. The makers were strictly adhering to the protocols,” shares the actor.
The opening season of the Zoya Akhtar and Reema Kagti-created series played out against the backdrop of grand weddings as two planners—essayed by Sobhita Dhulipala and Arjun Mathur—organised one shaadi after another. Sarbh played the character of Adil Khanna whose marriage with Dhulipala’s Tara is headed towards divorce. Reprising his character after four years wasn’t difficult, says the actor.
“It’s almost like an old record that you used to listen to. As soon as you put it back on the gramophone and set that needle, you’re back in the groove. The character is written [so well]. I tried to stay true to those moments as best I could.”
This time around, the International Emmy-nominated show has an addition—Neeraj Ghaywan. How was it working with the acclaimed director? “It was interesting to see how he saw the characters and hear his perspective on it. With Zoya, Nitya [Mehra], Alankrita [Shrivastava] and Reema, there is a lot of comfort because of having worked together in the past. You know how they think of the character and how they would break down the scene,” he explains.
Icons are more heroic when they have the same vulnerabilities and flaws as you and I do-Siddharth Roy Kapur
8:10 AM
As Rocket Boys 2 wins acclaim, producer Siddharth says showing Bhabha and Sarabhai’s vulnerabilities worked in the show’s favour
Uma Ramasubramanian (MID-DAY; March 24, 2023)
Rarely has the second season of a series matched the brilliance of the first. Rocket Boys finds itself in that coveted club, with the latest edition of the Jim Sarbh and Ishwak Singh-starrer opening to wide praise. So, what’s the secret to the success? Producer Siddharth Roy Kapur attributes it to how director Abhay Pannu has humanized the protagonists, Homi Bhabha and Dr Vikram Sarabhai.
“We thought it was important to stick to the facts, but obviously dramatize them because that is important to creating a compelling series. We made sure to humanize these characters. Often, we depict these icons as demigods. But I believe such icons are more heroic when they have the same vulnerabilities and flaws as you and I do. Despite their flaws, they go ahead and achieve such great things. Abhay and his team have managed to show that,” explains the producer.
The second season of the Sony LIV series chronicles Bhabha and Sarabhai’s efforts to make India a nuclear power. While the drama is further elevated by fine performances, Sarbh steals the show with his portrayal of the dynamic Bhabha. Kapur agrees that the actor’s casting was a masterstroke.
“It’s one of those few times when the role chooses an actor, and vice versa. It felt organic for Jim to play Homi Bhabha. He has portrayed the brilliance, humanity and sensitivity of Bhabha beautifully.”
The immediate similarity between Homi Bhabha and I was being privileged, being Parsi-Jim Sarbh
8:46 AM
Jim, who reprises the role of Homi Bhabha in Rocket Boys 2, says his similarities with the character made it easier to approach it
Uma Ramasubramanian (MID-DAY; March 9, 2023)
Sometimes, an actor knows he is onto something special well before he starts shooting for the project. For Jim Sarbh, that was the case with Rocket Boys. His faith in the material was rewarded as the first season received wide acclaim. “We made the show with so much love and care. If the first season wouldn’t have been appreciated, we would have been a bit heartbroken,” he reflects.
As the second season of the Abhay Pannu-directed series drops online in a week, viewers will see Sarbh reprise his role of Dr Homi Bhabha. The upcoming edition will chronicle how the physicist joined forces with Dr Vikram Sarabhai and APJ Abdul Kalam, essayed by Ishwak Singh and Arjun Radhakrishnan respectively, to make India a nuclear power. Sarbh, who received glowing reviews for his portrayal of the dynamic physicist, says certain similarities with his on-screen character made it easier to pull off the part.
“For the role, I brought my entire 35 years of being alive, to the table. The immediate similarity [between us] was being privileged, being Parsi, having travelled abroad a lot, and having a global view. These simpler things made it easier [to become the character]. Besides that, you bring your own research and approach to life.”
The actor is glad that the Sony LIV series doesn’t paint heroes as larger-than-life figures. Instead, it shows them as people, with their share of flaws, who fight for a cause. “In this show, all of us are heroes. These are two men who took all their privilege and worked for the betterment of mankind. That’s brilliant. The show doesn’t whitewash them; we tried to make them as human as possible.”
After being screened at Indian Film Festival of Melbourne, Akshay Oberoi’s Bad Egg to stream on festival’s website
8:49 AM
Hiren Kotwani (MID-DAY; August 11, 2022)
The pandemic continues to inspire filmmakers to tell different stories set against such unprecedented circumstances. Director Mehak Jamal, who has previously co-written Love Hostel, is set to showcase one such narrative with Bad Egg at the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne (IFFM). After the screening at the festival on August 13, the 28-minute short, starring Akshay Oberoi, Zoya Hussain, Jim Sarbh, Sheeba Chaddha and Shruti Sridharan, will stream on the official website till August-end only in Australia.
Excited about the screening, Oberoi says, “Mehak is a talent to watch out for, who deserves all the glory and success. The film will be a great beginning to bigger and better things for her. It’s all credit to Mehak that our short has been selected for a screening at the IFFM.”
Interestingly, Bad Egg was the first film Oberoi shot for when filming resumed post the lockdowns. “I think it was gutsy to make this film [at such a time]. Short films don’t have big budgets, so we all had to be responsible as a team and work in tandem,” adds the actor.
Without divulging much about the film, Oberoi promises the story is “full of mystery and unpleasant surprises”. “I’m looking forward to the audience response at the IFFM 2022.”
Bad Egg is about a how a daughter unfolds the mystery behind the kidnapping of her sister.
Is something brewing between Jim Sarbh and Zoya Hussain?
8:19 AM
Vinay MR Mishra (HINDUSTAN TIMES; May 4, 2022)
Actors Jim Sarbh and Zoya Hussain could be more than just co-stars. If the latest buzz is to be believed, Sarbh and Hussain are the newest lovebirds of tinsel town.
An insider from the industry shares, “The two have been going out quite often, of late. Jim was last known to be dating a lawyer. But that was three to four months back. Now he is often seen with Zoya. It’s new, but the two are not shying away from holding hands at parties and social gatherings. Clearly, something is brewing between them.”
Both the actors are known for keeping their dating lives incredibly discreet. However, the insider adds, “They might come out in the open about [their relationship].”
From what we have gathered, although Sarbh, 34, and Hussain, 31, first shared the screen three years ago in singer Prateek Kuhad’s Cold/Mess music video, they started going out as recently as the beginning of this year.
Hussain and Sarbh refused to comment on their equation, despite repeated attempts. They were last seen in another music video by Kuhad, titled Into The Night in 2019.
I tend to repeat working with the same cast or crew-Zoya Akhtar
8:06 AM
Backing Eternally Confused And Eager for Love, Zoya discusses reuniting with Rahul and Suchitra for series
Hiren Kotwani (MID-DAY; March 15, 2022)
Zoya Akhtar has been one of the early birds in Indian digital entertainment, giving us the nuanced Made In Heaven (2019). If the web series studied the many failings and hypocrisies of love, her upcoming show is a younger and lighter take on romance. Eternally Confused And Eager For Love, directed by Rahul Nair, traces the awkward Ray’s struggles in finding a partner despite a plethora of dating apps.
Considering the story hinged on Ray’s romantic misadventures, Akhtar — who, along with Reema Kagti, serves as the producer — says they auditioned extensively for the male lead, finally zeroing in on Vihaan Samat.
“Finding Ray was key because he is the show. We needed someone endearing and attractive, but at the same time, he couldn’t be so attractive that [it would make you question] why he is in such a dilemma at all. He had to have a lot of heart, but had to make you feel as though he could be an ordinary boy. We weren’t getting [the right fit] until we found Vihaan,” she states.
The Netflix series also features Rahul Bose and Suchitra Pillai, who are all too familiar with Akhtar’s brand of stories. Bose previously teamed up with her on Dil Dhadakne Do (2015), while Pillai played an interesting part in Farhan Akhtar’s directorial debut Dil Chahta Hai (2001). “I tend to repeat working with the same cast or crew,” admits Akhtar. “Aside from the fact that they are talented, there is a comfort that comes out of having synchronization, having the same values, and the same kind of humour. It makes going to work enjoyable.”
Jim Sarbh has bagged a fascinating role — he is the voice behind Wiz, Ray’s guiding light in the series. Point out that the audience may expect a star to serve as the narrator, like Aamir Khan did in Dil Dhadakne Do, and the director disagrees. “[That line of thinking] is the same as those who feel that an A-list star is must for a box-office [hit]. With OTT offerings, you don’t have to decide [your cast] based on how many eyeballs they will grab. It’s based on whether they fit the part or not. Jim is perfect for the role,” says Nair.
Rahul Bose and Suchitra Pillai in the series
Bollywood is a commercial beast that works on numbers-Jim Sarbh
8:24 AM
Juhi Chakraborty (HINDUSTAN TIMES; February 22, 2022)
In the past few years, Jim Sarbh has dabbled more in the OTT arena than he has in the big screen movie space. And the actor claims that his OTT initiatives have reintroduced him to his fanbase in a way that he couldn’t have done through his films. “Bollywood is a commercial beast. It works on numbers, and no one can say anything about those numbers,” shares Sarbh.
And it is because of this distinction — the absence of the number game — that the digital space scores higher for Sarbh than theatrical outings. “Within the web platforms, there is a scope for working in different genres. Also, many people have got chances they may not have before, and that’s a good thing. Yes, that is also the case with me,” says the actor, who has been a part of web projects such as Made In Heaven, Yeh Ballet (2020), Taish, House Arrest (2019) and Smoke.
The 34-year-old has several Bollywood projects — Neerja, A Death In The Gunj (both 2016), Padmaavat and Sanju (both 2018) — to his credit as well. Ask him how he chooses those ventures, and he says, “Sometimes the role is interesting, sometimes the project or director is nice, and sometimes it is because you owe a favour to a director from an earlier (collaboration) or your friends are in the production team.”
However, when it comes to his web projects, it’s a whole different ball game. Sarbh claims that he focuses completely on the role and the value it provides for him as a performer, something that has happened in the case of his recent web series, Rocket Boys, in which he plays Indian physicist Dr Homi J Bhabha.
He says, “I said yes to it immediately. While preparing for the role, I did my research and fact-checking. But we had a great team, and I trusted them. I like to prep hard and rehearse intensely.”
I love Jim Sarbh’s work and also envied him for the kind of hustle he has been through-Ishwak Singh
8:05 AM
Armed with a well-researched script, Ishwak Singh on bringing alive the role of physicist Vikram Sarabhai in Rocket Boys
Letty Mariam Abraham (MID-DAY; February 9, 2022)
After several blink-and-miss roles, Ishwak Singh created an impact with his act as an idealistic cop in Paatal Lok, following it up with an earnest performance in Unpaused. With his portrayal of Vikram Sarabhai in SonyLIV’s Rocket Boys, the actor has shown once again that he can slip into difficult roles, with ease. In a chat with mid-day, Singh talks about becoming the physicist on screen and how the show’s biggest win is its remarkable writing.
What was your first reaction when this role was offered?
I was excited. After all, it’s not every day that you get a part where everything is up your alley. I wanted to do work that involves great writing, and the show [offers that]. Early on, I got to read a part of the script during the auditions, and I knew it was a human story. When I started reading the episodes, it seemed like a great piece of literature. It makes me aware of the world of science.
How much of Vikram Sarabhai’s life were you aware of before?
I was aware of him. I had the opportunity to [see] Mallika Sarabhai perform at Darpana Academy of Performing Arts. Vikram Sarabhai started IIM [Indian Institute of Management], he is the father of Indian space research, but it was [fascinating] to know the circumstances and the resources with which he created all this. It was inspiring to know about the anecdotes, which can easily be transformed into multiple stories. No matter how much research I did, I didn’t feel the burden of playing a character like that.
How much of the story is fictionalized?
For me, the script was the bible. That said, I also referred to his biography, Vikram Sarabhai: A Life written by Amrita Shah. I kept going back to the book to know Vikram. In the series, everything is factual and authentic, to the point that at times, I felt the script was more informative than the biography. You can’t call it fictionalising; it is more like filling in the blanks.
Was there a part of Sarabhai’s story that didn’t make it to the final cut?
That’s a question for the writers. Since I got to know him through the research and script, I think all the significant aspects of his life [were portrayed]. The family was involved in the making of the story at an early stage. Some things may not have found their way into the script, but it was complete [in its own way].
Did you identify with Sarabhai’s ideologies against making an atom bomb?
If you have read Sarabhai’s [biopic], the series will be an eye-opener. This man was brilliant, highly educated, had everything at his disposal, and was a great thinker. I find no reason to not subscribe to his ideology. I didn’t require great acting skills to get into the mind of Vikram Sarabhai because I could understand where this man is coming from.
How was it to work with Jim Sarbh?
I love Jim’s work and also envied him for the kind of hustle he has been through. I have seen him make suggestions about how we could [do a scene], during the workshops. We wouldn’t necessarily agree on everything, but there was always mutual respect. It was a collaborative effort — one of the reasons why I always want to work with new-age filmmakers like Abhay Pannu.
You have Berlin up next.
I love Atul Sabharwal’s [director] writing. We are already doing workshops; the character is creeping inside and becoming a part of me.
It’s sad if youth has only film stars as its heroes. They need to learn about people like Homi Bhabha-Nikkhil Advani
8:24 AM
With Rocket Boys opening to wide applause, creator Nikkhil Advani says he wanted to reacquaint viewers with worthy idols like Bhabha and Sarabhai
Uma Ramasubramanian (MID-DAY; February 8, 2022)
In a sea of crime thrillers and YA shows, it is refreshing to find a story that is rooted in the world of science. Rocket Boys is an unusual offering in the Indian OTT scene — as much for remembering heroes from a field that should be hailed more often, as for the deft handling of the subject. The Sony LIV series, which sees Jim Sarbh as Homi Bhabha and Ishwak Singh as Vikram Sarabhai, has opened to high praise.
With this, creator Nikkhil. Advani believes he has achieved the primary goal behind developing the show. “The intention to create this show can be summed up in one line: It’s sad if the youth of this country has only cricketers and film stars as its heroes. They need to learn about people like Bhabha and Sarabhai who were not only scientists, but also Renaissance [men]. They encouraged art and culture, and set up institutions. They paved the way for India to become what it has today,” says Advani.
One of the big wins of the show is its casting. If Singh is wonderful as the idealistic Sarabhai, Sarbh shines bright as the dynamic and irreverent Bhabha. Director Abhay Pannu says that Sarbh was the only choice to portray Bhabha. “The show was written after he was signed on. While we were doing research on Homi Bhabha, we realised he is an intriguing personality with a wicked sense of humour. Jim has a similar personality; he is charming and intelligent. Casting Jim was a no-brainer. Also, I don’t think there are many Parsi actors out there.”
Beginning in the 1940s, the eight-part offering traces the early years of the two physicists that formed the foundation for their greatness. “When we are showing their lives in 1940s, they themselves didn’t know that they would become such luminaries. They are making mistakes, falling in and out of love, fighting with each other. Everybody goes through what they went through, but their ambitions were much bigger,” says Advani, adding that the second season is in the offing. “We shot both seasons together. After a well-deserved break, Abhay will work on the second season’s post-production.”
Check out Jim Sarbh as Homi Bhabha in the upcoming web series, Rocket Boys
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Jim Sarbh honoured to pay tribute to India’s brightest scientists as he plays Homi Bhabha in Rocket Boys; Ishwak steps into Vikram Sarabhai’s shoes
Letty Mariam Abraham (MID-DAY; June 23, 2021)
Bollywood has had more than its share of biopics on athletes, war heroes and freedom fighters, but little screen time has been devoted to the scientists that the country has produced. With 'Rocket Boys', director Abhay Pannu intends to show that scientific discoveries make for stimulating stories as he offers a dramatised retelling of the lives of Homi Bhabha and Vikram Sarabhai, thus celebrating their contributions to the fields of atomic and space research. Finding actors who can do justice to the geniuses could not have been easy, but the director has found his leads in Jim Sarbh, and Ishwak Singh of Paatal Lok fame.
As he shares his first look as Bhabha in the Sony LIV series, Sarbh says that stepping into the celebrated nuclear physicist’s shoes was an honour. “Taking on the role of Homi Bhabha is special, partly because of our shared Parsi heritage. But more importantly, it is [a privilege] because he was an interesting, driven, Renaissance man. His dedication to scientific process and discovery, his notes on arts and culture, and his ability to have a good laugh make him a delicious character to play,” says the actor, who began shooting for the Nikkhil Advani and Siddharth Roy Kapur-backed series in late 2019.
A story about India’s brightest minds is incomplete without Sarabhai, considered the Father of the Indian space programme. The show will study his early years of research. Singh remembers saying an enthusiastic ‘yes’ to the project right after the narration. “The concept of [remembering] India’s science heroes grabbed my attention. As a youngster, I was fascinated by stories of space and what lies beyond. By playing Vikram Sarabhai, who established the Indian Space Research Organisation, I will help other enthusiasts know more about his accomplishments.” The series, shot across Mumbai, Pune and Rajasthan, marks his second project with Advani after Unpaused.
Jim Sarbh, Harshvardhan Rane and Amit Sadh in Bejoy Nambiar's Taish
7:48 AM
Natasha Coutinho (MUMBAI MIRROR; May 28, 2019)
Bejoy Nambiar who had last directed Wazir in 2016, featuring Amitabh Bachchan, Farhan Akhtar and Aditi Rao Hydari, is now set to roll with a thriller. It is titled Taish, which translates as rage.
A source connected to the film reveals that shooting begins in the United Kingdom in July, where the film will be shot entirely. Jim Sarbh, Harshvardhan Rane and Amit Sadh are the three leading men. The actresses opposite them are yet to be finalised. The film is a revenge drama. “Bejoy had been working on the script for a long time and now just the final details are being worked on,” adds the source.
The director had also written the story of the Irrfan Khan, Dulquer Salmaan and Mithila Palkar journey film, Karwaan. It was directed by debutant Akarsh Khurana and released last year in August.
I get along famously with all my heroines-Varun Dhawan
8:15 AM
Meena Iyer (DNA; April 24, 2019)
Gen-Now sweetheart Varun Dhawan has flown to Bangkok to celebrate his 32nd birthday (today)with his boy gang. Whether or not, steady girlfriend Natasha Dalal travelled yesterday to ‘surprise’ the Bollywood superstar is not known. Of course, while VD himself was holidaying, his home banner decided to announce their first production Coolie No.1, an inspired version of the 1995 superhit. The film is directed by Varun’s prolific father David Dhawan, who is the pasha of commercial cinema. And, one will see the young actor team up with star beti, Sara Ali Khan.
Excerpts from a chat with him...
New-age actresses Janhvi Kapoor, Sara Ali Khan, Tara Sutaria, Ananya Panday and the likes want to team up with you. All of them feel you are the perfect mainstream hero.
What do I say (smiles)? I am happy and flattered. It’s a big responsibility. All of them are new and if they trust me at the start of their careers, then I have to take them past the finishing line. I do take that responsibility seriously when I share screen space with any actress for that matter. Whether it’s Shraddha (Kapoor), Alia (Bhatt), Jacqueline (Fernandez), with whom I’ve done two films or even Taapsee (Pannu), I’m sure I will act with them again. I did a song with Kiara (Advani) in Kalank and it was good working with her. We also performed at the Zee Cine Awards 2019 together. Kriti (Sanon), too, has surprised me. She was superb in Bareilly Ki Barfi and damn good in Luka Chuppi too. She’s done a song in Kalank as well. I get along famously with all of them.
How competitive are you? Today, it’s hard to pinpoint a No.1 because Ranbir Kapoor, Ranveer Singh, Tiger Shroff and Ayushmann Khurana are all doing well.
I think it’s great. I’m a fan of Jim Sarbh’s work too. He was superb in Made In Heaven. He’s quite a cool guy. I’ve always been an admirer of talent. If I see someone is good, I feel happy and I’m upfront about it. These guys you named and even some whom you didn’t name, motivate me to do better work.
Honestly, I am competitive. I’m not some saint sitting in the Himalayas pretending that I’m not competitive. I want to be the best. There’s no doubt about it. I’m also doing a film which has ‘No. 1’ in it. I feel the competition in today’s day and age has changed. There are so many different avenues to compete and anyone who says he’s not competitive is lying.
Recently, during a conversation, Salman Khan mentioned your name and said he sees a spark in you. He seems fond of you.
It’s genuine affection. The relationship that we share is beyond films. He’s spent so much time with dad, having done a number of films with him that he’s part of the family. Salman bhai has always been magnanimous with people. He does so many things that go unnoticed. He is kind and has helped people. That’s his greatness. Sometimes, a lot of people misunderstand and choose to see other facets of his personality. They don’t realise that it’s his heart that makes him what he is. I don’t think anyone can have such a large heart. He’s incredible. I’ve spent a lot of time with him. I really love the way he works and the way he is with his parents, brothers and sisters. I have a brother and a family, too. If I can be a family man like him, then it would be a great quality to have.
Alia Bhatt to host a special screening of mother Soni Razdan's No Fathers In Kashmir
8:04 AM
Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; April 3, 2019)
The journey of No Fathers In Kashmir from the storyboard to the big screen has not been easy - it took months for director Ashvin Kumar to procure a U/A certificate from the Censor Board for the Kashmir-based drama.
While Soni Razdan, who plays a pivotal role in the film, batted for its unhindered release, daughter Alia Bhatt too took to social media to champion the cause. Now, we hear the actor is hosting a special screening tonight for her industry friends, ahead of the movie's release on April 5. Bhatt has apparently lent her support to the project - which depicts the conflict in the Valley from the perspective of two teenagers who set out in search of their fathers - as she feels it is a story that needs to be told.
A source reveals, "The screening will be held in a Juhu theatre and will be attended by the Bhatt family and their close friends. Alia's friends, including Swara Bhasker, Ayan Mukerji, Kalki Koechlin and Jim Sarbh are expected to attend."
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