Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; May 17, 2019)

Only days after she offered a bold, whimsical take on the theme of the Met Gala, Priyanka Chopra Jonas is ready to make her debut at the Cannes Film Festival.

While her fans wait with bated breath to see her sartorial game at the French Riviera, mid-day has learnt that the actor will sashay down the red carpet with Hollywood star and Oscar winner Julianne Moore. The two actors are expected to attend the screening of Dan Krauss' documentary 5B at the famed Palais de Festival on Boulevard de la Croisett.

A source reveals, "Priyanka is representing the Swiss luxury brand Chopard at the festival. Her four-day itinerary is jam-packed with her first appearance scheduled for the premiere of Rocketman followed by 5B."

Chopra, we hear, is yet to pick her final outfits for the multiple appearances. However, sources reveal that the actor, along with her trusted stylist Mimi Cutrell, have zeroed in on two creations — a red number and a white outfit.

Monica Bellucci on detaching herself from her public image, her growing fascination with Hindi cinema and her upcoming visit to Mumbai
Anupama Chopra (MUMBAI MIRROR; September 27, 2017)

For years there have been rumours about you doing a Bollywood film and now you are finally coming to India for the Mumbai Film Festival. What do you like about Hindi cinema and what are you most looking forward to?
I would love to make a Hindi film. One of the reasons I am an actress is because through my work I have the pleasure of creating new human experiences and getting in contact with new cultures. I first saw Bandit Queen, made by Shekhar Kapur, and got very interested. I loved films like Anurag Kashyap’s Ugly and Neeraj Ghaywan’s Masaan. It is amazing to see how much Indian stars and Indian movies are loved all over the world.

The first Bollywood films I saw was Devdas, which was screened in Cannes in 2002. I loved it and discovered Shah Rukh Khan, Madhuri Dixit and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan are not only great actors but great dancers too. It is impressive as I can’t dance myself.

I am glad to have met a delegation of Indian actors, directors and producers in Morocco once. I could feel the love of the public, it was really special and quite unique. I was seated next to Shah Rukh Khan at the royal dinner so we had a real conversation about cinema and India. I have a lot of respect for him and his career. He is a kind-hearted man. I hope to meet him and his family during my stay in Mumbai.

I’ve wanted to come to India for a long time but didn’t find the time. I’m happy to be visiting in October, I’ll receive the first Trailblazer Award given to a woman for her role in cinema at the fest.

You have worked with some of the world’s leading directors, including Giuseppe Tornatore, Emir Kusturica, Francis Ford Coppola, Sam Mendes, Mel Gibson, Gasper Noe. What is the hallmark of a great director? What is the one trait common to them?
They are all very talented in different ways. A great director for me has to have his own universe. That’s what makes him or her special! I am curious and always ready for new adventures.

When Bahman Ghobadi was asked why he picked you for Rhino Season, he said, “Number one, she is a good human being. Number two, she is a good human being. Number three, she is a very good actress.” Do you have to be a good human being to be a good actor?
No. What you do is not what you really are!

Actors like you, Isabelle Huppert, Helen Mirren, Judi Dench, Charlotte Rampling have broken the clichés of ageism in cinema — specially when it comes to leading ladies. How hard has it been to do this and what is the secret sauce?
Things are changing and women have different visions about themselves. They respect themselves much more and it creates more respect from outside. There are also more roles today for mature women. That’s why actresses like Julianne Moore and Isabelle Huppert work a lot. They put themselves in danger and take risks in their roles.

You said in an interview that “being pretty when you are an actress is like a painful banality. Do you know many ugly actresses? If I was an astronaut it would be more original.” Do you think your beauty has been an obstacle?
Beauty is like a horse. You have to know how to ride it. If you count only on beauty, you don’t go far!

Ageing is difficult for everyone but I imagine that it’s especially hard for someone whose beauty is so celebrated. You said that you look at yourself with compassion. How do you do this?
I think it is important to learn how to get detached from your image. There is a moment when it is important to work on your inside beauty. It is the real ageless beauty! To become a mother taught me so many things in this way.

You had children at 40 and 45. What are the advantages of becoming a mother later in life and how has the experience shaped you as an actor?
I started my career very young, first as a model, then as an actress. When I became a mother my career gave me the freedom to choose when I want to work and have time for my children. Children bring you some serenity and I guess some distance with things. You only focus on what really matters so all these things must reflect in you as an actor.

I can’t resist asking — how do you manage to look so incredible. You’ve said that you occasionally have a face massage, acupuncture and you do pilates. Surely there’s got to be more!
What makes me feel beautiful is to be loved by the people I love.

What’s your life mantra?
Be free.

Sonil Dedhia (MID-DAY; May 20, 2017)

Making her debut on the French Riviera, Deepika Padukone has wowed the fashion police with her various red carpet appearances.

Sharing her experience with mid-day via FaceTime, the actress says, with great joy and positivity around, it’s ‘literally like sunshine’. The L’Oreal brand ambassador is soaking in a variety of experiences at the festival, right from fashionable outings to catching up films.

Comparisons with Sonam Kapoor and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, who are regular at the fest, have already started but the actress feels it’s uncalled for. “I feel it shouldn’t happen. This is an incredible platform to showcase our talent and represent a brand or a movie. We all are such strong individuals and I don’t see any overlap [tension],” she says.

Deepika mingled with Hollywood celebrities Julianne Moore and Susan Sarandon on day 1, and calls that a moment she will always cherish. “At 7 am, we were getting our hair and make-up done. What I enjoyed the most was that we all are celebs, but in that room, we were three women giggling, chatting and being real.”

Talking about the perception of Indian cinema at Cannes, the actress says, “Susan was talking about her son picked up a dance element from Indian films and incorporated in his film. I know all our movies are not just about song and dance. Though people are aware of the kind of films we make, there’s a lot to do in terms of educating them,” she adds.

Nimrat Kaur on The Lunchbox's prospects at the BAFTAs, her red carpet encounter with Ethan Hawke and sharing a designer with Michelle Obama
Ankur Pathak (MUMBAI MIRROR; February 5, 2015)

Nimrat Kaur, who has been touring the world, including Zagreb in Croatia, with her debut film, The Lunchbox, is back in Mumbai.

She has just returned from Los Angeles after the Screen Actors Guild Awards and on Friday flies out to London for the BAFTAs.

"I walked the SAG red carpet with Ethan Hawke whose films I've never missed, Can you imagine!" she says excitedly, sounding like a starry-eyed fan. "I told him Great Expectations is my favourite. I also met his sister."

Besides exchanging pleasantries with the Before Sunrise star, she befriended 12 Years A Slave Oscar-winner Lupita Nyong'o. "But I was too shy to talk to Meryl Streep, Julia Roberts and Julianne Moore. I used to watch their movies when in school and college. I could have never dreamt then that one day I'd be seated next to them. Notting Hill's Anna was right there besides me and I couldn't work up the courage to say Hi," she admits.

At the pre-awards party, Nimrat wore an outfit designed by Bibhu Mohapatra, who had dressed America's First Lady Michelle Obama during her recent Indian visit. "Quite a coincidence that,"quips Nimrat.

Ask her what she's wearing for the BAFTAs and she informs that she's shortlisted a bunch of designers but the final fittings will happen in London, a day before the ceremony on February 8.

"I am going crazy, I don't enjoy this part of stardom. It stresses me out. I remember in the early 2000s, Aishwarya Rai was torn apart by the so-called fashion gurus for her Cannes wardrobe. I understand that as a public figure, you are constantly under scrutiny. But red carpet fashion shouldn't score over films representing India at the fest," she grouses.

What are the chances of her film winning a BAFTA in the foreign film category? "I am not hopeful of a win since some really good films are also in contention. But just to be a part of the incredible night will be an unforegttable moment. And this time if I see Meryl or Julia, I'll definitely go say Hi!" she laughs.

Nimrat's international turn as ISI agent Tasneem Qureshi in Homeland's fourth season drew much praise. "If they set the show in Pakistan next season, I may return. But shooting for the show is very time-consuming and my return to it will depend on availability of my dates too," she says.

Her second film will be the Akshay Kumar evacuation drama Airlift. Will it be a worthy followup to The Lunchbox? "We'll know next year,"she quips "It's diametrically opposite to The Lunchbox. I just had my first script session with Akshay yesterday."