Showing posts with label Jimmy Sheirgill. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Jimmy Sheirgill. Show all posts
I have four incredible stories lined up for release-Dia Mirza
10:03 AM
Natasha Coutinho (HINDUSTAN TIMES; January 3, 2026)
The year 2026 promises to be a milestone one for actor Dia Mirza Rekhi, as she balances multiple projects, including the film Ikka with Sunny Deol and Akshaye Khanna, another film with Rahul Bhat, and web series’ alongside actors Nawazuddin Siddiqui and Jimmy Sheirgill, while also preparing to launch her first series of children’s books.
The 44-year-old shares, “I have four incredible stories that I’ve already shot, all lined up for release, along with films we’ve produced and scripts we’re preparing to take forward in the coming year. I’m also excited to see my children’s books reach young readers.”
She adds, “I’m keen to continue learning, especially around storytelling for impact, sustainability, and emotional well-being. I also want to return to quieter, nourishing practices: reading more, spending more time in Nature, and reconnecting with creative disciplines that bring calm and clarity.”
Despite her professional demands, Dia says she is committed to being present for her family, especially her four-year-old son, Avyaan. “In 2026, I wish for our children to grow up in a country where their health is a priority: cleaner air, water, healthier soil and food,” she ends.
Divya Dutta and Manoj Bajpayee to star opposite each other for the first time in upcoming project
3:39 PM
Komal RJ Panchal (MID-DAY; November 2, 2025)
They’ve shared screens, sets, and soirées — but never the same frame. After three decades in the industry, Divya Dutta is finally starring opposite Manoj Bajpayee in their yet-untitled upcoming film — a wish long on her list. Although they’ve shared credits in four films, “this will be the first time we’re truly featured opposite each other”. “It was lovely because half my year was spent working with him,” she says.
Describing her interaction with Bajpayee, Dutta says that whenever they discussed work, they would often digress towards food, a love they both share. “It’s nice to have known him more closely now, beyond being co-actors who would just cross paths on set. We have a certain relatability and connect, and he’s a fabulous actor. Even when we were exhausted from shooting late nights, both of us would stay back to give cues to each other. And if you ask what we discussed the most — it was food! He’s such a foodie. He loves to cook and feed people, and he cooked a lot for me,” shares the actor.
After wrapping up her collaboration with Bajpayee, Dutta will be seen in the romantic drama Tum Rahe Na Tum, opposite Jimmy Sheirgill. She’s also working on a new project with Neeraj Pandey. But what excites her most is Echoes Of Valour, co-starring Neeraj Kabi, a festival favourite that premièred at Venice Film Festival.
“It’s a beautiful love story between a husband and wife. Jimmy is a terrific actor. Working with such co-actors is always enriching,” she adds thoughtfully. She also has a big show coming up with JioHotstar. “I can’t talk much about it yet,” she teases, “But I’m very excited. I feel like I’m doing everything an actor should be doing.”
Reflecting on her journey with quiet gratitude, Dutta believes that “enjoying in the now gave her a lot”, but that doesn’t dim her hunger for better roles. The actor is especially pleased with the changing narratives around women in cinema.
She elaborates, “There was a time people said married actresses couldn’t romance heroes or look glamorous. But look at Kareena [Kapoor Khan], Vidya [Balan], Alia [Bhatt] — they’ve changed that narrative. We’re now telling stories about what happens after ‘happily ever after’. Women in their 30s and 40s can play both younger and mature roles — it’s a beautiful phase..”
Jimmy Sheirgill is holding on to his pauses way better now-Neeraj Pandey
7:51 AM
In the run-up to the release of Sikandar Ka Muqaddar, director Neeraj Pandey talks about being genre-agnostic, and working with Jimmy Sheirgill over the years
Sucheta Chakraborty (MID-DAY; November 24, 2024)
“More numbers on the speed dial, you mean?” quips Neeraj Pandey when we ask him about the things that have changed in his approach to filmmaking in the 16 years since he burst onto the filmmaking scene with A Wednesday! The rigours of storytelling remain unchanged, he says, just as the pressures of dealing with producers, studios and networks persist.
“The ability to grasp things might have gotten sharper, but now you’ve got new tech that throws new challenges. You live and learn every single day on the set, and you just hope you’re always catching up. The tech is growing faster than you can imagine, and so that part of learning is pretty complicated and you want to stay up to speed,” he says.
Pandey’s new film Sikandar Ka Muqaddar marks a return for the writer-director to the thriller, a genre he has often experimented with in the past through projects such as Special 26, Baby, Special Ops and The Freelancer. “I consider myself pretty genre-agnostic though,” he refutes. “It’s mostly about getting a story you’re excited about.”
Sikandar Ka Muqaddar, which premieres on Netflix on November 29, builds around a diamond heist. “Sikandar [Avinash Tiwary] becomes a suspect and cop Jaswinder [Jimmy] shapes Sikandar’s destiny throughout the film, over the course of 15 years,” Pandey tells us. Hence the title.
Is there a reference to the Prakash Mehra-directed Amitabh Bachchan film it plays on? “Nothing,” shrugs the director, “apart from the fact that I grew up on that film and my entire generation loved its music.”
Sikandar Ka Muqaddar was shot over a period of three months in Mumbai, Karjat, Pune, Lonavala, Agra and Abu Dhabi. While there are usually different trials and challenges to negotiate on a set, the weather and light conditions proved tricky, the director tells us. Since they wanted to finish filming by April to shoot with a certain kind of light and weather, they were racing against time, he adds.
The new film also marks another collaboration between Pandey and Jimmy Sheirgill after A Wednesday!, Special 26 and Auron Mein Kahan Dum Tha. His “longevity” distinguishes him, says Pandey of the actor who began his film career in 1996 with the Gulzar-directed Maachis. “He’s been around and not changed much as a person. He’s pretty much the same guy he was when I was filming A Wednesday! in 2007—at least with me,” he says.
At the same time, he has evolved significantly as an actor through the different roles he has done, he points out. “There’s a certain amount of stay that has come in. His performance is more nuanced and he’s holding on to his pauses way better now.”
Besides Sheirgill, Tiwary and Tamannaah Bhatia in lead roles, the ensemble also features actors like Zoya Afroz, Ridhima Pandit and Rajeev Mehta. “As individuals, these actors are chalk and cheese, and so, it gets interesting when you’re dealing with them on set,”
Pandey tells us, explaining how a director must understand the actors’ individual processes and ways of interpreting information. “You cannot use the same grammar, the same vocabulary with every actor. With some, like Jimmy who’s had this journey with me, I can convey [a lot] without saying too much.”
I deserve much more money than I’m getting-Jimmy Sheirgill
9:03 AM
Syeda Eba Fatima (HINDUSTAN TIMES; October 27, 2023)
In his 30 years in showbiz, Jimmy Sheirgill has consistently proved his acting prowess. While appreciation has always come his way, the actor feels he is not compensated fairly for his work. “I think I deserve much more money than they (makers) are giving me at the moment for the hard work I put in,” he tells us.
Shergill admits that this is also because of the image he has created of himself over the years. The actor, who was recently seen in the web show Choona, elaborates, “Main shuru se thoda experimental raha hoon. I have always had the urge of doing something different and picked roles that were good, even if the screen time wasn’t enough or the makers didn’t have enough funds for the actors’ fees. That created an impression ki ‘yeh toh free mein bhi kar leta hai’.”
While he hopes that things get better for him in this regard, Sheirgill doesn’t let these thoughts affect his craft: “I’m enjoying my work. If somebody (makers) promises me less [fee] but delivers it on time, it’s alright. It is better than failing and not delivering.”
Speaking of work, the actor has been a part of multiple OTT shows in the last few years. But, the medium of a project doesn’t factor into his script choices.
The 52-year-old says, “Everyone says OTT gives more room to experiment. But, I’ve experimented my whole life. I was doing solo leads, but moved on to do supporting roles because I found them meatier. I’ve always tried to do something different. And now, I want to do lighthearted, comedy roles.”
A lot of people called me mad for giving up lead roles with prestigious studios-Jimmy Sheirgill
8:02 AM
Jimmy on how 10 cups of coffee and a long conversation with director convinced him to play the villain in Choona
Letty Mariam Abraham (MID-DAY; October 3, 2023)
Jimmy Sheirgill was certain he didn’t want to play another arrogant MLA from UP, and turned down the makers when they approached him for the Netflix outing, Choona. However, writer-director Pushpendra Nath Misra was certain that once the actor read the script, he would change his mind. Sheirgill shares that Misra was right, almost.
“I was happy that there were people writing such fresh content. However, I had a bit of an issue with the character,” says the actor, who then wanted to meet Misra.
“I loved it because [the script made me] not only love the main character but everybody in the show. I told [Pushpendra] that I had done something similar. In another meeting over a dozen cups of coffee, while I was busy convincing him that I didn’t want to take it up, he ended up convincing me. And I am glad he did,” smiles the actor, crediting the director for keeping the energy on set and always being on his toes. “He barely slept for two to three hours a day during the shoot.”
Choona revolves around a group of misfits who band together against a common enemy, a ruthless yet superstitious politician. Considering the series, also starring Aashim Gulati, Namit Das, Chandan Roy Sanyal, and Gyanendra Tripathi, among others, was to be dubbed in several languages, Sheirgill insisted on dubbing the Hindi and English versions.
Asked if the comic value is sometimes lost in dubbing, the actor says, “It is lost, but when you have viewers all over the world, it is imperative to use different languages. I spent a lot of time trying to make sure that we kept the humour intact when I dubbed it in English, at least. When you already know the story, scene by scene, you know how you will react. However, [while shooting], we were also laughing at things we didn’t initially think would be funny.”
Sheirgill, who has seen ups and downs in his career, is now more at peace. When he wanted to shift his image from being a chocolate boy to doing more character-driven roles, he was strongly advised against it.
“I felt the chocolate boy image wouldn’t last long. I took a little break and thought about things. When I returned, I started taking up films like Munna Bhai MBBS, Yahaan, A Wednesday, among others. I won’t say it was a good time because a lot of people called me mad for giving up lead roles with prestigious studios and taking up supporting roles instead. It gave me sleepless nights. But when I look back now, I am happy that I made that decision.”
Ajay Devgn to kick off romantic thriller with Neeraj Pandey in March
8:20 AM
Months after its announcement, Devgn to kick off romantic thriller with Neeraj Pandey in March; to follow it up with Rohit Shetty’s Singham 3
Upala KBR (MID-DAY; December 22, 2022)
By all counts, 2022 was a hectic year for Ajay Devgn, who had three releases in Runway 34, Thank God, Drishyam 2, and made his web debut with Rudra: The Edge of Darkness. Will next year be any lighter? Hardly so. The actor will open 2023 with Maidaan that hits the screens in February, followed by the release of his directorial venture Bholaa.
It is only in March that the actor will set foot on a movie set. mid-day has learnt that Devgn, who announced his first collaboration with Neeraj Pandey in October, will kick off the romantic thriller at the end of the first quarter.
A source reveals, “Ajay will sport a distinct look in Neeraj’s movie, and hence, it is necessary for him to shoot a chunk of the film in one go. While the leading lady has yet to be finalised, Jimmy Sheirgill plays a pivotal role in the movie.”
It may be recalled that in 2018, Devgn had announced that he would team up with Pandey for Chanakya. However, when the socio-political drama was put on the backburner in the subsequent years, the director developed another subject that would do justice to the superstar.
Another project will come calling on the heels of the yet-untitled romantic thriller. We hear Rohit Shetty will take his much-awaited Singham Again on floors in April. “The filmmaker was busy throughout 2022 with Cirkus, and Indian Police Force. Next year, he will turn his attention to Singham, the franchise that marked the origin of his cop universe. Ajay will try to wrap up Neeraj’s film before he reprises the role of upright cop Bajirao Singham,” states the source, before adding that Drishyam producer Kumar Mangat Pathak is also in talks with Devgn for a film.
“If Ajay gives his nod, he may begin the shoot from January, before diving into his movies with Neeraj and Rohit.”
Devgn’s spokesperson remained unavailable for comment.
Lara Dutta, Jimmy Sheirgill and Satyajeet Dubey bag Grey Wars, based on the 2019 Balakot airstrike
11:27 PM
Hiren Kotwani (MID-DAY; October 30, 2022)
Filmmakers have always had a penchant to showcase real-life stories on screen, especially, if the story is one that has all of India burning with rage. Early in February 2019, news of a vehicle-borne suicide bomber at Lethpora in the Pulwama district targeting a convoy of vehicles that killed almost 46 CRPF (Central Reserve Police Force) personnel, stirred widespread anger. Few weeks later, on February 26, Indian warplanes air bombed a terrorist training camp in Balakot, Pakistan.
While conspiracy theorists claim that it was a state-sponsored attack to turn the general elections in favour of the ruling party, official statements termed it as a retaliation to the Pulwama attack. Immortalising the sacrifice of the men in uniform, director Santosh Singh of Broken But Beautiful (2018) fame, is now making a series, Grey Wars, on the Balakot airstrikes.
While it is still unclear who will play Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman—the air force pilot who was captured by Pakistan and released after 60 hours—Singh has roped in Lara Dutta Bhupathi, Jimmy Sheirgill, Satyajeet Dubey, and Ashish Vidyarthi to play pivotal roles in the film. The main crux of the series will be centred around the Balakot airstrike, but it will also throw light on other peripheral aspects.
“The show will include several other aspects apart from the Balakot strike itself, which is a high point of the narrative,” says the source, adding that the Viacom18-produced series will be shot in and around Kashmir and a few other locations in the country. “The series is set to go on floors next month,” confirms the source.
Grey Wars is not the first screen adaptation of the air strike. The theme was set in motion with Vicky Kaushal’s Uri: The Surgical Strike (2019), which was a sleeper-hit. Later in December, Sanjay Leela Bhansali, Abhishek Kapoor, Bhushan Kumar, and Mahaveer Jain announced their joint production for a film on the same subject.
I started focusing on roles that are memorable to viewers regardless of screen time-Jimmy Sheirgill
8:31 AM
Even as he leads thriller Aazam, Jimmy Sheirgill on gravitating towards meaty supporting roles
Uma Ramasubramanian (MID-DAY; October 28, 2022)
Earlier this week, the makers of Aazam: Rise Of A New Don unveiled the film’s first look, featuring Jimmy Sheirgill. Shravan Tiwari’s directorial venture, which revolves around the succession battle as crime lord Nawab Khan barely has a fortnight to live, sees Sheirgill as a dreaded gangster. Given his penchant for thrillers, saying yes to the project was a no-brainer for the actor.
“It follows a series of events that happens over one night, and shakes up the crime world. There’s more to the story than meets the eye, and that is the beauty of the script. I am fond of thrillers, and this one [appealed to me], especially the well-written dialogues. I read the entire script in one go,” says Sheirgill.
He is joined by Abhimanyu Singh and Indraneil Sengupta in the movie.
While Sheirgill leads this drama, the actor hasn’t shied away from taking small parts of late. From De De Pyaar De (2019) to Judgementall Hai Kya (2019), he says it has been a conscious decision to judge roles by their impact, not screen time.
“I am taking up roles that have a small part in the narrative. How many lead roles in films can a person do? Over the years, I started focusing on roles that are memorable to viewers [regardless of the screen time]. Now, interesting roles are being written for almost every character,” he says, adding that the script and director’s vision are paramount to him.
There were insecurities, as I was returning so many people’s signing amounts-Jimmy Sheirgill
8:30 AM
Rishabh Suri (HINDUSTAN TIMES; February 27, 2022)
Social media has memefied actor Jimmy Sheirgill as the guy who never gets his lady love, thanks to his characters in Mere Yaar Ki Shaadi Hai (2002), Tanu Weds Manu and Saheb Biwi Aur Gangster (both 2011). Ask him if he’s aware of it, and he laughs and answers with a yes.
But then, doesn’t this mean that he got stuck in a stereotype? To this, the 51-year-old shares, “After Mohabbatein (2000), everything written about me was ‘chocolate boy’. It got me thinking: was this lover boy image going to get me any far? I felt I should better start doing roles like Haasil (2003), which I was shooting then, something interesting.”
However, with the resolve came self-doubt. “There were insecurities, as I was returning so many people’s signing amounts. People said, ‘You are having a great time right now, doing lead roles. Why are you venturing into Munna Bhai MBBS (2003), etc?’ My decision gave me sleepless nights,” admits the Your Honor actor.
Then, he took up projects that helped shatter his earlier image. “I did films like Yahaan (2005), A Wednesday (2008), Special 26 (2013). I was always trying to do things which didn’t end up typecasting me again,” he ends.
I never understood adding nudity and abuses for fizzle-Jimmy Sheirgill
8:04 AM
Rishabh Suri (HINDUSTAN TIMES; January 12, 2022)
Actor Jimmy Sheirgill has a rule while choosing his projects — any family should be able to watch it together. And this extends to his OTT choices as well.
“I try to choose things that have a strong connect. Tomorrow, if I get another series which is over the top, little mad in terms of comedy, I would want to try that as well, as long as it is universal, and maximum people can watch and relate to it. That is what I keep in mind,” says the 51-year-old, who has been a part of web shows such as Rangbaaz and Your Honor.
How does the actor look at the nudity and abusive language which some shows employ to grab eyeballs? Sheirgill says, “Nudity aur yeh sab se toh main comfortable nahin hoon. Unless there is some sense to what is going on in the scene, and it really demands my character to do it — like, if we don’t show this then the character’s frame of mind won’t be apparent — then I will do it. But just to add fizzle to it to capture that kind of audience, woh maamla na filmon mein samajh aaya hai na yahaan (OTT) pe samajh aaya hai.”
This is why he felt comfortable taking up Your Honor, and even starred in its second season recently. The thriller is a Hindi adaptation of an Israeli show. Sheirgill says he had been into international content even before the OTT wave came to India.
He tells us, “I had been watching a lot of shows on digital streaming platforms, and even on DVD, before these platforms came to India. When I was offered the first season of Your Honor, I watched the original as well. I was able to connect to it, hence I took it up.”
Ronit Roy Bose to return to daily soaps after seven years
7:50 AM
Jimmy Sheirgill was originally approached for the role in the upcoming show Swaran Ghar , but the deal fell through
Neha Maheshwri (BOMBAY TIMES; January 12, 2022)
We had reported about Jimmy Sheirgill being approached to play the male lead in Sargun Mehta and Ravi Dubey’s Swaran Ghar. He was likely to make his TV debut with this show. However, the deal between the actor and the makers has fallen through. We have now learnt that they have roped in Ronit Bose Roy to play the part in the daily soap, which will also star Sangita Ghosh.
Informed a source associated with the show, “Ronit has signed on the dotted line and will shoot a promo with us in a couple of days. The shoot will take place in Chandigarh, as the story is set in the city. The show revolves around a couple, who have sacrificed a lot in life for their children, who, however, abandon them later in life.”
Ronit’s last daily soap was Itna Karo Na Mujhe Pyaar (2015) after which he reprised the role of advocate K D Pathak in Adaalat 2 (2016), a bi-weekly. In recent years, he has mostly made cameo appearances in shows like Naagin 3, Shakti - Astitva Ke Ehsaas Ki and Yeh Rishtey Hain Pyaar Ke. Swaran Ghar will mark his return to daily soaps in a full-fledged role after almost seven years.
The actor started his career in films, but switched to television and catapulted to fame as Mr Bajaj in Kasautii Zindagii Kay (2001) and Mihir Virani in Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi (2002).
While Ronit remained unavailable for comment, Jimmy told us, “Sargun and Ravi, who are very close to me, narrated an idea, which I quite liked. We thought we could work it out. However, with the third wave striking us and leading to a lot of restrictions, my dates had to be shuffled. It was very difficult to squeeze in this show among my other commitments. The dates couldn’t be worked out.”
Jimmy Sheirgill to make his TV debut soon; will play the lead opposite Sangita Ghosh in upcoming show
8:41 AM
Neha Maheshwri (BOMBAY TIMES; January 8, 2022)
TV couple Sargun Mehta and Ravi Dubey, who are the makers of Udaariyaan, are all set to roll out another show titled Swaran Ghar. We hear that they have roped in Sangita Ghosh and approached Jimmy Sheirgill to play the lead couple. Seasoned Punjabi actress Nirmal Rishi will play Jimmy’s mother on the show. This show will mark Jimmy's debut on the small screen.
Informs a source associated with the project, “While Sangita has signed the contract and is on board for the show, talks have reached an advanced stage with Jimmy. We are hoping that he will sign on the dotted line soon. The show will go on floors next month in Chandigarh. Sangita is playing the character of Swaran and the show is about how parents sacrifice for their children and what they get in return when they are dependent on them. The lead couple will have three sons.”
Jimmy Sheirgill met Gulzar hoping to get the job of an AD on Maachis
8:13 AM
Titas Chowdhury (HINDUSTAN TIMES; October 25, 2021)
Actor Jimmy Sheirgill marked his debut with Gulzar’s Maachis (1996). As the film clocks 25 years of its release, he exclaims, “Who could have asked for a better start!” Sheirgill admits he was rather “intimidated” being directed by the iconic lyricist-filmmaker. “I knew I was in safe hands, but on the other hand, I felt the constant pressure of living up to what the scenes demanded, because I had no prior experience in films,” he recalls.
Sheirgill reveals that he went to meet Gulzar at his office, hoping to get the job of an assistant director on the film. “When he came to know that I attended acting classes, he asked me why I wanted to get into direction. Then he told me to read the script. When he asked me which character I liked the most, I told him Jaimal Singh, as we shared the same nickname. He laughed and gave me the part,” he says.
Upon its release, Maachis emerged as a box-office hit and it won the National Award for Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment, in 1997. “When trade pundits would talk about Maachis prior to its release, they’d refer to it as an arty film. But it went on to become a commercial blockbuster,” he ends.
No one thinks of shooting small because a film will go on OTT-Jimmy Sheirgill
7:56 AM
Sugandha Rawal (HINDUSTAN TIMES; August 5, 2021)
The screen for OTT projects might be way smaller than compared to a cinema hall, but that doesn’t affect the scale and scope of stories being churned out on digital platforms, feels actor Jimmy Sheirgill.
In fact, the cinematic ethos remains the essence of web content, which reflects in the projects releasing in that space. “When people shoot films for a web platform, they don’t think, ‘Since it is coming on a streaming platform let me make it small’. They try to make a film like a film. And a good web series like a good web series,” he points out.
And it’s the key to survival in showbiz. “It’s not going to survive with substandard stuff. You have to show people the scale your story requires,” says the 50-year-old.
Sheirgill has always been one to reinvent, be it ditching his lover boy image in the initial phase of his career, or by keeping a distance from masala films. He has explored the OTT space as well, with projects such as Your Honor (2020) and Collar Bomb (2021). “For instance Collar Bomb, the first film I shot in the pandemic, is filmed in a big way”. He credits the pandemic for helping audiences discover a “different form” of stories. “I know many people who were true to theatres, but started watching web shows. Now, they are big fans of that kind of work,” he adds.
As Mohabbatein turns 20, it's actors take a trip down memory lane
8:43 AM
Parampara. Pratishtha. Anushasan. And the magic of first love. It’s been 20 years to Mohabbatein, the feel-good college romance. We get its actors to take a trip down memory lane
Shreya Mukherjee, Rishabh Suri & Juhi Chakraborty (HINDUSTAN TIMES; October 27, 2020)
Kim Sharma
The mood would be grateful, given that in such times we have amazing things to commemorate. But it doesn’t feel like 20 years have gone. I was 18 and this film was a learning experience under Aditya Chopra. I’ve found good friends in Jimmy and Preeti. You don’t get to make such memories and such films often.
Jugal Hansraj
On one hand you had the whole strict Gurukul and Mr Bachchan. Then there was the middle ground in Shah Rukh Khan’s character. In us, there were the wide-eyed youngsters. We were told to lose weight, get small haircuts, sleep well and look fresh. All six of us have good memories, it was a lot of hard work but good fun too.
Jimmy Sheirgill
I remember, right from the rehearsals all six of us did, to the first scene, with the three of us looking out of the window — Uday, Jugal and I. Initially, people were saying ‘You should reduce the film’s length’, but Aditya was clear, ‘I’m making a film, trying to tell a story, I don’t want to cut anything. If it works, it works, if it doesn’t, it doesn’t.’
Preeti Jhangiani
I never auditioned for Mohabbatein. Aditya saw me in music videos, and my dad and I went to meet him in his office. The film was a training ground. We were young on set and had fun. I remember Mr Bachchan would sit with us and say, ‘I enjoy spending time with youngsters, not the oldies’.
Shamita Shetty
It is a very surreal feeling. I was so raw at that time, but it was a beautiful experience. I loved the end product on the big screen. I made some beautiful friendships, and am still in touch with most of them. I was someone who always loved watching Yash Chopra’s films, and it was a dream debut. I couldn’t ask for anything better
Tanuj Virwani gears up to shoot in the UAE
8:49 AM
Kavita Awaasthi (HINDUSTAN TIMES; June 28, 2020)
Actor Tanuj Virwani is thrilled that two of his projects will commence next month in the UAE. He has been signed on for two new web series, starring R Madhavan and Jimmy Sheirgill, respectively, which were scheduled to start shooting before the Coronavirus lockdown was announced.
“The outbreak is quite contained in the Emirates and it might be a relatively better environment to shoot in rather than in India, where the number of cases are rising everyday. The plan is to shoot in mid-July but it is subject to permission from the authorities in Abu Dhabi. Plus, international flights have to resume, too. We will have the entire cast and crew, so, a total of 80-90 people will travel from India. It’s a wait-and-watch kind of situation. These are unprecedented times, so safety is a major concern as we don’t want the shoot to stall once it starts.” He admits that the producers are also thinking about chartering a flight to reduce the potential risk.
The Inside Edge actor states that the guidelines in the UAE are strict and stringent, which “is quite reassuring”. He says, “They instil confidence in me. But the scenario is constantly evolving, so will know more soon. The government might relax a few rules or put some stringent measures in place. I am sure once we land, we will have to quarantine ourselves for a certain period of time. Everyone in the unit will have to be alert and mindful and ensure to maintain proper hygiene. As an actor, my focus is on the story and my role. I am leaving all this to my producers.”
Virwani will be shooting for both the web shows but will make two separate trips as he has few projects in India that might start shooting in July end. “I have some patchwork left for the next season of Inside Edge and have to shoot for two other web shows, Cartel and Kamathipura. I will have my work cut out as every time I go from one country to the next, I will be quarantined for sure,” he signs off.
Don’t lose heart, wait for the next opportunity-Jimmy Sheirgill
8:40 AM
Kavita Awaasthi (HINDUSTAN TIMES; June 20, 2020)
“Being in the limelight, actors are talked about more than others. But people in other fields, too, go through depression,” says actor Jimmy Sheirgill, reacting to the tragic death of actor Sushant Singh Rajput, which has put the focus back on mental health.
He adds, “I agree that we need to talk more about mental health issues and get help for those who need it. But often, we take the issue into different directions and tangents, and the main topic — which is mental health — gets diluted.”
As nepotism and camps in Bollywood sidelining talented actors is being talked about once again, the Tanu Weds Manu (2011) actor says he has seen many highs and lows in his career. “There could be a number of reasons for losing out on a film, such as a director choosing their favourite actor, which could be me, or an actor having multiple commitments. It is not that someone didn’t want me in a camp so I didn’t get a film; that is a wrong way of looking at things, I feel. Even if someone did so with me, no one told me directly that ‘I don’t want you to do well so I won’t cast you’... I’ve never paid attention to such things,” Sheirgill says.
The 49-year-old points out that his mantra in life has been to keep working and moving on, and also shares that being a family man has helped him lead a balanced life. He says, “Work has always brought me joy. One shouldn’t lose heart, but wait for the next good opportunity. Everyone goes through highs and lows in careers, but most of us are lucky to have families to go back to... People used to ask me why I wasn’t seen at parties and events, and I would say that after work, I like going back to my family. That part of my life has somewhere helped me in keeping a balance in life, between work and family.”
Will second time be a charm for Iulia Vantur?
8:16 AM
With debut vehicle on back-burner, Salman Khan's rumoured girlfriend Iulia Vantur begins another project, with the same director
Shaheen Parkar (MID-DAY; January 15, 2020)
Iulia Vântur's Bollywood launch, Radha Kyun Gori Main Kyun Kaala, which was rechristened Moh Moh Ke Dhaage, did not take off. Prem Raj Soni's directorial venture was announced in 2018. Two years later, the Romanian actor-anchor finds herself back in his fold for another project, Laila Manju.The comedy, starring television actor Shashank Vyas, beauty pageant winner Nehal Chudasama, and Abhimanyu Tomar, who featured in the song, Yaad piya ki aane lagi, is being shot in London since a month.
Says a source, "She is the latest addition to the cast. Iulia began shooting on Monday. The makers are keen to keep things under wraps and have told the cast to not post pictures from the set, or reveal details about the film at this juncture."
Both Vântur and Soni have a common connect — their proximity to Salman Khan. The source adds, "It is because of this [connect] that she landed a role in Radha Kyun Gori... but the project faced production issues."
Soni earlier directed the Khan-starrer Main Aurr Mrs Khanna (2009) and later helmed Preity Zinta's 2013 film, Ishkq In Paris, in which Khan had a cameo.
When mid-day reached out to Soni, he responded with a pithy: "I am busy with the shoot." Vântur did not respond to our texts.
Last year, Vântur shot for Ali Jacko's thriller, Jack Stall Dead, in London. Jacko, a former world lightweight kick-boxing champion, who is based in the UK, is also Khan's buddy.
"Vyas and Tomar play the title roles. It is a laugh riot about two youngsters trying to win over a girl [Chudasama]. Jimmy [Sheirgill] and Farida Jalal are also part of the cast."
It is also said that Khan is keeping himself up-to-date about the project. The film is being shot in a start-to-finish schedule. The unit is slated to return next month.
I don’t want my wife’s life to be as restricted as mine-Jassie Gill
7:33 AM
Singer-actor Jassie Gill, who plays Kangana Ranaut’s husband in her upcoming sports drama, is married with a one-year-old daughter
Ankita Chaurasia (MUMBAI MIRROR; January 13, 2020)
Jassie Gill is on his way to fulfilling another dream. He is outside a recording studio, waiting to sing a Shankar Mahadevan composition for his upcoming release, Panga. The lyrics are by Javed Akhtar and the actor-singer is excited to add it to his repertoire of peppy, fun numbers that shot him to stardom in Punjab. “It is completely in my zone,” he exults.Jassie used to watch reality TV shows and imagine what it would be like to be a famous singer. In college, he opted for music because it meant less studying and practising what he already loved. “I started winning at youth festivals and realised I was good at it. Then, I visited my sister in Australia on a tourist visa and after four days, knew I couldn’t spend three months sightseeing. So, I repeatedly pestered my jiju (brother-in-law) until he got me a job at a car wash. With that money I cut an album upon my return. I believe it’s the same money circulating since, multiplying many times over,” he smiles.
To increase the reach of his music, he started making videos to convey the meaning of the lyrics. And through them he learnt to face the camera and emote. “I have have worked with Gurdas Maan ji, Jimmy (Sheirgill) ji and now Kangana (Ranaut) ji and learnt from everyone to make up for my lack of experience,” Jassie says earnestly.
He plays Prashant, a supportive husband to Kangana’s Jaya, in the Ashwiny Iyer Tiwari’s directorial. At 31, Jassie is himself married, having met his wife in the first year of college, and has a one-year-old daughter he dotes on. “My mother had told me I’d be working in Bollywood one day and after the birth of my daughter, I signed my first Hindi film (Happy Phirr Bhag Jayegi),” he shares.
His wife and daughter are settled in Canada and he keeps visiting them or they come over from time to time. “Even if they were here, I wouldn’t be able to stay with them all the time because of my work commitments, so, it’s better this way. My daughter recognises me on TV now and likes music, so I’m relieved,” he laughs. But why are there no pictures of him with his wife on his internet feed though there are videos of him dancing with his toddler? “I’ve learnt my lesson the hard way and now keep my personal life private. I can’t go out whenever I want anymore. I don’t want my wife’s life to be as restricted as mine, so you won’t see her accompanying me to events and shows,” he reasons.
Did he channel his real-life husband-self for the film? “You can say so. I am quite hands-on, in that I can cook and look after the house,” Jassie admits, adding that it comes from growing up around strong women. “My father was a farmer and my mother a housewife, but they educated my three elder sisters despite everyone advising them to marry them off. My eldest sister is a doctor, the second has done her MBA and the third is an engineer. My strength comes from seeing them.”
The actor believes Panga could be a turning point for him in the industry. There’s another film, Sonam Gupta Bewafa Hai, in the pipeline, but Jassie doesn’t want to abandon his first love. “I’m collaborating on many music videos and will keep doing Punjabi films whenever my schedule allows. The industry has its limitations in terms of budget, but we have amazing content and soon, Punjabi films will be as famous as Punjabi music,” he promises.
Applause Entertainment announces a dark thriller drama series, Your Honor
7:54 AM
(Clockwise from left) Yashpal Sharma, Sunjoy Waddhwa, Jimmy Sheirgill, Sameer Nair, Suhasini Mulay, Mita Vashisht and E Niwas
MUMBAI MIRROR (September 12, 2019)
Close on the heels of successful drama series like Criminal Justice, City of Dreams and Hostages, Applause Entertainment, the content studio from the Aditya Birla Group, led by Sameer Nair, announced the completion of their latest drama-thriller, Your Honor. Adapted from the Israeli series Kvodo, distributed by Yes Studios, Your Honor has been produced for Applause Entertainment by Sphereorigins.
Dark, gripping and morally complex, it tells the story of Bishan Khosla (Jimmy Sheirgill), a judge known for his uncompromising honesty. His attempt to protect his son Abeer Khosla (Pulkit Makol) who is involved in a hit-and-run accident triggers a disturbing downward spiral of events, as Bishan uncharacteristically obstructs justice to hide the truth.
The series, directed by E Niwas, is adapted by writer Ishan Trivedi and produced by Sunjoy Waddhwa. It also features Mita Vashisht, Varun Badola, Yashpal Sharma, Parul Gulati, Suhasini Mulay, Richa Pallod, Kunj Anand, Pulkit Makol, Mahabir Bhullar in key roles.
Sameer Nair, CEO, Applause Entertainment says, “At Applause, we aim to create premium content that will appeal to the discerning mass audience in India and across the world, and Your Honor is a perfect example of this vision. E Niwas has helped us craft a stunning thriller, and we are excited to have on board a dazzling array of talented actors, led by Jimmy Sheirgill”.
Jimmy Sheirgill adds, “The substance of the story is what convinced me to take up the part. The length an individual can go, burning all the bridges and principles for the ones he loves, is truly compelling.”
Director E Niwas says, “I am excited to mark my digital journey with Your Honor, a show packed with intense emotions and depth of characters. I am glad to have worked with creative minds like Sameer, Deepak and Sunjoy to re-create this adaptation.”
Sunjoy Waddhwa, CMD of the production house Sphereorigins says, “E Niwas has helmed the Indian adaptation brilliantly which has resulted in a truly gripping drama. Our entire team is very thrilled to have associated with Sameer Nair and Applause Entertainment.”
Your Honor will be streaming soon on a leading OTT platform.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)