Itishree Misra (BOMBAY TIMES; August 8, 2020)

Actress Anupria Goenka is happy that she has been able to prove her acting talent with the diverse roles she’s played in films. Originally from Kanpur, Anupria has featured in films, including Padmaavat and War. She first caught everyone’s attention with the Myntra ad she did in 2015, playing one of the partners in a same sex relationship. Talking about it, the actress says, “Firstly, I had loved the script and secondly, I have always been a strong believer of the LGBTQIA+ rights. I’ve never had any qualms about playing a lesbian, neither did I have to think twice about it or ask my parents. I have received messages from many same-sex couples, congratulating and thanking me.”

Ask Anupria if she believes in the ‘insider-outsider’ debate going on in the industry these days, and she says, “Not really. This is the best time for anybody to be an actor as compared to before. We’ve come a long way. These days, we have a lot of forums to explore and exhibit our talent. Also, many of our stars these days are not industry kids, per se. Having said that, it’s also true that as somebody who’s an outsider, who is always pegged against an insider, there is obviously a huge gap. One has all the privileges, while the other is at a lower end.”

Neha Maheshwri (BOMBAY TIMES; November 7, 2019)

When your directorial debut turns out to be the biggest sleeper hit of the year, the pressure on the second outing can be daunting. So, how is Amar Kaushik of the Stree (2018) fame dealing with it, now that his second film Bala, which stars Ayushmann Khurrana, Bhumi Pednekar and Yami Gautam, is about to release? Bala has already had its fair share of controversies, including accusations of plagiarism. However, in a chat with BT, the filmmaker says that he is unfazed, and all he cares about is staying true to his craft. Read on...

‘BALA IS NOT JUST ABOUT BALDING’
When producer Dinesh Vijan approached Amar with a rough draft of the story, the latter was entrusted with developing the script, as a creative producer. From there to actually helming the project was a result of him falling in love with the story. Amar says, “The original story was set somewhere else, but I moved it to my hometown, Kanpur. While developing the script, maine isme bahut apnapann daal diya. I showed my writer around the city to make him understand the Kanpur wala vibe, dialect and swag. The process lent a personal touch and that’s when I decided to direct it.”

For him, Bala was never the story of just a man facing premature balding. He wanted to tell a lot more than that, and that’s how Bhumi’s character — that of a dark-skinned lawyer — came into the picture. Amar asserts, “It’s not just about being dark, short or bald. We assume that a fair person has it easy in the world, but by calling him/her gora, aap wahin discriminate kar dete ho. We often poke fun at tall people by asking them, ‘Oopar ka taapmaan kya hai?’ Our conditioning doesn’t let us stop and think that such terms could be hurtful. I have tried to explore all these complexities and not just premature balding in the film.”

‘SMALL-TOWN HUMOUR HAS SHAPED MY SENSIBILITIES’
Having said that, the director is not keen on ‘correcting the wrongs’ of society through his films. Amar tells us that it’s the small-town attribute of not taking oneself too seriously, that has helped him tell stories that people can relate to.

He says, “Preachy isn’t my style. I always try to look at the humour in any situation; it’s easier to empathise that way. I was once partying with a couple of friends till late night when the cops arrived and picked us up. On the way to the police station, the bizarreness of it all hit me, and I started laughing. One of the cops was flummoxed and asked me what I found so funny. I told him that it was quite hilarious to be heading to a police station after partying with friends. He found it funny, too, and dropped us by the road after that.”

‘I HAVEN’T BEEN CORRUPTED YET’
The filmmaker says that he will not choose a script just because it is safe. “Money is important, as you can’t expect your producers to make losses on a film. Mujhe paise nahi kharaab karne, par mujhe apna cinema bhi kharaab nahi karna. I don’t want to make a film just because the script is safe and will work. A lot of people ask me about the Stree sequel, as they are certain that it will work. It would be a disservice to my craft if I start taking popular conjecture seriously and get on with a sequel, even though the script is not in place. That’s when corruption will win over my craft! I haven’t been corrupted yet. Corruption, to me, is making a film with wrong intentions. I have retained my innocence as a filmmaker in Bala. Woh innocence jis din jaayega, main corrupt ho jaaunga aur main kharaab film banaane lagoonga. Following the success of Stree, I felt the pressure to work on a different film, but I realised that I needed to ensure that whatever I am making should have my complete focus and honesty,” he says.

It’s not difficult to figure out the inspiration behind his worldview. He has assisted the likes of Raj Kumar Gupta and Onir, who are known for making films they resonate with. He says, “I feel fortunate to have worked with the right people, who moulded my thought process. They taught me that cinema is more important than making money. I am forever hungry to learn, which is why I assisted Majid Majidi on Beyond The Clouds (2018). I wouldn’t mind assisting renowned filmmakers, like Sriram Raghavan, to hone my skills, whenever I feel that I am slipping. Ek success ke baad aapko bahut chadhaane wale mil jaate hain. So, I have brought my old friends closer, as I can always depend on them for honest reviews.”

‘KUCH TOH AAJ DHAMAAL KARENGE’
Amar says that the absence of a superstar in his cast has never been a roadblock for him. “I haven’t worked with a superstar yet, to talk about the pressure or ease one feels around them. For me, everyone who is hungry to do some good work, and everyone who thinks at the start of their day, ‘Kuch to aaj dhamaal karenge’, is a star. I see that hunger in Raj (Rajkummar Rao), Ayushmann, Bhumi and Yami. When we started working on Stree, we were told that we don’t have a big star. I said that we have so many stars that they will leave us blinded by their light when they shine together,” he reminisces.

‘COPYING SOMETHING IS AGAINST MY UPBRINGING’
The run-up to Bala’s release hasn’t been smooth; the film was mired in controversies after the makers of Ujda Chaman, which also revolves around premature balding, accused them of copyright violations. So, how did he deal with the sudden hullabaloo? Amar replies, “It’s against my upbringing and ethics to copy anything. We spent over six months developing Bala and suddenly, someone calls it a copy… it does feel bad. However, I maintained a dignified silence or it would have turned uglier. After all, you know that you haven’t done anything wrong and people will see it in theatres.”

Ask him if he has watched the other film to understand whether their allegations are justified and he says, “No, I haven’t. I watched the Kannada film, Ondu Motteya Kathe, whose rights they (makers of Ujda Chaman) bought to remake it in Hindi. I realised that we were making a completely different film. They started shooting 20-25 days after we wrapped up Bala. After we announced our release date, they announced theirs, which was scheduled to release before ours. However, that’s a producer’s call.”

With Ayushmann top-lining the cast, did he ever feel that his film has an edge over the other? “If a film is good, it will work irrespective of its cast. So, the fact that Bala has Ayushmann and hence it will do better, didn’t cross my mind,” he concludes.

Onkar Kulkarni (BOMBAY TIMES; November 6, 2019)

Ayushmann Khurrana is making his on-screen appearance, with yet another distinct role, in Bala. The actor plays the role of man facing premature balding. While talking to BT he reasons why he always picks up such quirky characters. The actor also opens up about his brother Aparshakti, who too is set out on a journey in Bollywood, his wife Tahira’s battle with cancer, the work that’s keeping her busy and lot more...

Just a week ago, a film based on a similar subject hit the theatres. Bala, also went through its own ordeal, with the release date going back and forth to avoid the clash...
We were the first to release the teaser (of a film based on premature balding). We completed the shooting of the film before anybody else did. We were the first one to get that idea. Anyway, it’s okay that there are more films being made on the same subject. Eventually, the content will speak, and we are confident about our film.

We know you love your hair, so, when you saw yourself with the bald look in the mirror, what was your reaction?
The first time I saw myself like that, I thought I looked like my grandpa. He had less hair. It felt really different. For my research, I met a lot of my friends who had a receding hairline or were bald. I realised that there were two perspectives. One was, they were full of complexes, the other was that they had accepted themselves the way they were. They were confident about the other talents they had. They were also confident that women thought they were attractive. This is exactly the journey of my character in the film, from being a person with complexes to self-acceptance. Likewise, there is Bhumi’s (Pednekar) character who is dark-skinned and believes in self-love. On the other hand, is Yami’s character in the film is someone who is a fair-skinned model.

Coming back to my bald avatar, when I was shooting for Bala in Kanpur, I was surprised to see that nobody could recognise me. I used to cross the street, walk around the gallis and people wouldn’t even react. They knew that Ayushmann was in their town for the shoot, and they would ask, ‘Ayushmann kidhar hai?’, but wouldn’t spot me even when I would pass by them. I thought that I would get mobbed by people, instead main toh saamne se nikal jaata tha, aur logon ko pata bhi nahi chalta tha.

Have you faced hair loss in real life?
No. I am genetically blessed. My father turns 70 next year and he still has good hair. I know a lot of actors who wear wigs or have got transplants done to hide their baldness. However, I look up to someone like Rajinikanth. Onscreen he plays such varied, larger-than-life characters, but off-screen he is himself (doesn’t shy away from appearing bald in public).

From playing the role of a man facing erectile dysfunction (Shubh Mangal Saavdhan) to a man facing premature balding (Bala), to being part of the upcoming Shubh Mangal Zyada Saavdhan, which is based on homosexuality, how is it that you always pick up movies with distinct and taboo-breaking characters?
Well, that’s because this (taboo-breaking cinema) is my zone. This is my staple — taking up quirky, taboo-breaking, social, slice-of-life films. Well, there has to be an impetus for the audience to buy tickets and watch something different, right? Every actor has this zone. You can’t have a Tiger (Shroff) not do action in his films. Having said that, once in a while, I will venture out and do movies like Andhadhun and Article 15. These two films were not even made for me. I extracted these scripts out of directors Sriram Raghavan and Anubhav Sinha respectively. For Andhadhun, I went up to the director and asked him to take my screen test. He was looking for someone else. He said that a movie like this wasn’t my zone. Likewise, Anubhav had a quirky romcom for me, but I told him that he should do a film like Mulk with me. I asked him to share the subjects that he was working on with me. He told me about this film (Article 15), which was earlier titled Kanpur Dehat. I read the draft, I got excited and then we went ahead with it. Content is important for me. If I don’t get good films, then I will just do events, sing at weddings and college concerts for survival.

Your brother Aparshakti is now getting noticed in Bollywood. As a character actor, he is getting good roles too in content-driven films. Any chances of coming together for a film?
He is having a beautiful journey. I am proud of him. He is only shown his funny side till now, but I know he has got a lot in him and can pull off varied roles with finesse. He is extremely talented. While I take time over a script when it comes to picking the right one, he has a talent in sniffing the best one in a jiffy. I liked him in Dangal and Stree. We are looking forward to working together. I am waiting for a good script where we can play siblings on screen.

As an elder brother and an actor who has seen many years in this industry, does Aparshakti discuss the scripts that he is looking at?
Well, it is both ways. Whenever we are not sure about a project, we discuss it with each other. We speak about the pros and cons associated with the project. We have got a keen eye on good scripts.

Personally, what kind of bond do the two of you share?
Initially, it was very irreverent. Later, it grew to a typical elder-brother-younger-brother kind of a bond. Now we are more like friends. I remember we never cracked adult jokes in front of each other, but now we are more casual and do that.

Your wife Tahira went through a tough phase during her battle with cancer. Is she back to work now?
She is in Chandigarh, busy with the pre-production of a film. She is also working on a couple of short movies. I hope she writes something for me too. She is mostly obsessed with female protagonists. I don’t know if I will ever get a chance to act in a project helmed by her.
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On Monday evening, Ayushmann Khurrana was seen taking a walk along the Chet Singh Ghat in Varanasi. The actor was there to promote his upcoming film Bala. Apart from participating in the Ganga pujaand watching the aarti,he participated in a jam session with some city collegians at the Chet Singh Fort. Not just this, he also spent some time with fine arts students from the city, who sketched his look from his upcoming film.

After a short stroll, the actor boarded a beautifully decked bajra (boat) to take part in the Ganga aarti at the Dashashwamedh Ghat. “Though it has been nearly a month since I have been in Varanasi, this is my first boat ride and I must say it is beautiful,” shared Ayushmann,soaking in the beauty of the ghats.

While the actor took part in the Ganga puja, which took around 20 minutes, once the aarti began, he preferred the solace of the bajra to witness it. “It is so overwhelming to be a part of such a spiritual experience. I remember that before my film Dream Girl released, I was at Lalbaugcha Raja in Mumbai and now, as Bala is set to release, I am in Varanasi,” Ayushmann told us, adding, “While performing the Ganga puja, I just expressed my gratitude to the universe. I am blessed to work with great people and I have got the opportunity to prove my talent and showcase my capabilities when there is so much talent all around. I came to Mumbai chasing my dreams of making it big and now that this is happening, it is an overwhelming feeling.”

Onkar Kulkarni (BOMBAY TIMES; November 3, 2019)

Films have kept her busy, but Yami Gautam, like her contemporaries, has a side business on her mind. The actress has a beautiful property in her hometown, Himachal Pradesh, which she says will lead to a ‘fruitful’ venture, quite literally. In a candid chat with BT, she spoke about her upcoming film, Bala, future plans and more. Excerpts from the chat:

You made your Bollywood debut with Ayushmann Khurrana in 2012 with Vicky Donor. Bala reunites the two of you. Has your equation changed? Have the two of you been in touch over the years?
After Vicky Donor, we did a music video together. This time we have teamed up for a movie. We have been in touch, but wouldn’t communicate often, as we have been busy with our respective careers. However, when we met for Bala, the energy was the same as it was in our first film together. Only, earlier we used to hog on the sets, but this time around we were more in control (laughs!). The caterer on the sets of Vicky Donor was really good! We used to gorge on dal makhni, butter chicken, chicken tikka, malai kebab etc. Also, the guest house we were staying at, had a private cook. He knew we loved food and so he would excitedly tell us that he made special kadhi or crispy pakodas for us. You can see in Vicky Donor, how healthy we looked on the screen (laughs!). However, the Punjabiyat in him and the pahadiyat in me, when it comes to food, has taken a backseat now. Now, we are more fitness conscious.

Which parts of the country did you explore while shooting for Bala? Did you also relish some local cuisine, this time around?
Bala has been shot at places like Lucknow and Kanpur. I was a part of the Lucknow schedule where I enjoyed tunday kebab and chaat. They also had this amazing ice-cream, which was served in a patton (leaves) ka bowl; it’s a delicious pista-flavoured ice-cream, which you will find only at a local vendor’s shop. On my day off, I explored the city alone. I visited places like the Bara Imambara, Chota Imambara, and a museum. I also went to the market to buy the chikankari work, which was beautiful.

These days, many films are set and shot in the small towns of India. How’s the experience of shooting at such locations?
Films are set in small towns because people like the stories that come from the heartland. Also, I feel setting films and shooting them in a small town is economical. If a film that is set in a small town, is shot at a real location then you can capture the right flavour. After all, a set is a set. I am from Himachal Pradesh and was raised in Chandigarh. So, I am used to small gallis and mohallas. I enjoy shooting at such places. If you just leave your phone aside and observe their daily routine, how they do their job, how they cook, etc, it is really fascinating. There’s so much to grasp. We shot in remote areas where there were a lot of people, but the shoot happened smoothly.

Have you ever shot for a film in your hometown in Himachal Pradesh?
I will be shooting the last schedule of my next film, Ginny Weds Sunny, in Manali. Once the shoot is completed, I would like to spend some time there. However, I am waiting for a film to come my way, which is completely set in Himachal, where I get to speak in the pahadi language. I have many relatives there. My nani stays in the neighbourhood, while my parents are in Chandigarh. I own a small farmhouse in Himachal, and I enjoy staying there with my family. It’s in Mandi and the house is a 100-year-old, well-maintained property. I bought it two years ago, and we have maintained the old, rooted architecture as is. In fact, it still has a chulha in the kitchen. Abhi bhi wahan gobar (cowdung) ki lipai hoti hai on some floors. Kuch rooms abhi bhi mitti ki bane hue hain. Also, there is a stream flowing next to the house. At night, we have to be careful, as leopards can come in. I love chatting with the locals there. They call me ‘Amy’ and invite me to their place and make chai for me. They give me local gossip, and there are no filmy conversations at all. Once there, I enjoy farming. We already have organic produce and I want to develop it further. We grow apples and plums. The plums from my farms are as huge as apples and they are amazingly juicy and sweet. We don’t use any chemicals or fertilisers. We also grow ginger, potatoes, cucumbers and onions. We sell the produce in the local markets. In the future, I plan to take this further, come up with homemade products and maybe develop it into a side business.

Coming back to Bala, Bhumi plays the role of a self-loving dark-skinned girl, while in real-life, you endorse a fairness product...
We (Bhumi and I) have had this conversation before. I had already shot with the brand for a couple of ads, in the capacity of a model. This is before I had joined the movies. Over the years, I have had conversations with the brand’s team that we need to evolve and move beyond what the brand was (established as) 20-30 years ago. Thankfully, today we don’t have those kind of ads being made, which were produced earlier. I feel that the whole idea of beauty should be, to each his own. Looks are completely your perspective. It’s your face, your body, whatever you feel makes you happy is good for you. Being fair, being tanned, going for tanning cream, fairness creams or no creams at all is your choice. And this is the idea that needs to be propagated. Therefore, we don’t have the old ads anymore. Not being fair cannot be a reason to be unhappy. The brand has been working on it. We now speak about ‘glow’ in our ads, in order to move away from the ‘gorapan’ conversation. I am glad that I got to be a part of a film like Bala, as it addresses many topics like age-old notions, insecurities and perceptions. The film tackles those and looks beyond them.

Abhimanyu Mathur (BOMBAY TIMES; July 2, 2019)

It has only been days since Ayushmann Khurrana-starrer Article 15 released and the film is already facing resistance and backlash from certain communities across India. On Saturday, the civic administration of Roorkee in Uttarakhand banned the film’s screening, citing law and order issues.

The film, which is loosely based on a real incident of gang rape and murder in west Uttar Pradesh, raises the issue of caste-based discrimination in India. The portrayal of a certain community as the perpetrators of this discrimination in the film has reportedly irked several organisations, who claim that it maligns their image.

An order from the office of Roorkee’s Sub Divisional Magistrate (SDM) prohibited the screening of the film in the city. SDM Ravindra Singh Negi said, “Representatives of Hindu Sena met me on Friday and expressed their concerns that the film, Article 15, portrays a particular community in a poor light. They demanded a ban on the screening. My view was that if the film is screened in the city, it could lead to law and order issues.”

The local police confirmed that the film’s screening has been stopped after the order was issued. Amarjeet Singh, Station House Officer, Roorkee, said, “We received the orders and ensured that they were enforced. As of now, the film isn’t being screened in the city.”

Article 15, directed by Anubhav Sinha, also faced opposition in Kanpur and Madhya Pradesh.

This isn’t the first time that a film has faced ban at the hands of local administration in Uttarakhand. Last year, Kedarnath drew the ire of several right-wing groups and was banned across the state’s seven districts. In neighbouring UP, too, films such as Muzaffarnagar: The Burning Love and Shorgul have been banned at places after instructions from district authorities.

SCREENING RESUMES IN KANPUR ON SUNDAY
The screening of Article 15, which was stopped by fringe groups on Friday, has resumed in Kanpur, the police said on Sunday. Exhibitors had suspended the screening of the Ayushmann Khurrana-starrer after various fringe organisations protested outside theatres, raised slogans against the actors and the producer, and tore off film posters, the police had said.

Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; May 27, 2019)

Two days into the second schedule of Bala in Kanpur, Yami Gautam has little option but to work at break-neck speed. While the Kanpur leg has been planned as a 10-day schedule for the unit that also includes Ayushmann Khurrana and Bhumi Pednekar, the actor is eyeing to wrap up her portion by May 31. Reason - Gautam is expected to head to China on June 1 in time for Kaabil's (2017) release on June 5.

A source close to the actor tells mid-day, "Initially, Yami's shoot was clashing with the dates of the promotional activities for Kaabil. Since the thriller has been one of her biggest successes, she was keen to join co-star Hrithik Roshan in China. The makers of Bala were happy to consider her request. So, Yami is now working double shifts to ensure that she honours her shooting commitment before flying to Beijing."

Confirming the development, Gautam said, "I'm elated with the news of Kaabil releasing in China. It has been a special film for me and I'm glad that it's finding new audiences."

Actor reunites with former co-stars Radhika Apte and Shweta Tripathi for Honey Trehan’s directorial debut
Natasha Coutinho (MUMBAI MIRROR; February 27, 2019)

Nawazuddin Siddiqui, who recently kicked off casting director Honey Trehan’s directorial debut, Raat Akeli Hai, reunites with his former leading ladies Radhika Apte, with whom he appeared in Badlapur and Manjhi-The Mountain Man, and Haraamkhor co-star Shweta Tripathi, the latest addition to the cast. The romantic crime-thriller also features Ila Arun, Tigmanshu Dhulia, Swanand Kirkire, Khalid Tyabji and Padmavati Rao.

A source reveals, “The Kanpur-based story has Nawaz playing an investigative officer who is working on a high profile case. That is when his character meets Radhika, a rich girl from a small town, and Shweta. The film will also be shot in Lucknow and Gwalior and will wrap up on March 25.”

Shweta confirmed the news, saying, “Acting alongside Nawaz bhai is a learning experience. He is a master of the craft and makes you look good by just being in the same frame as you.” The actress also pointed out that although Masaan was her debut film, she had signed Haraamkhor first, which makes Nawaz her first co-star. The film’s story is set in the 1980s, and shows the male lead’s journey from a cop-in-training to a police officer.

Himesh Mankad (MUMBAI MIRROR; February 22, 2019)

Divyendu Sharma, who was last seen in the Akshay Kumarstarrer Toilet - Ek Prem Katha, has started shooting for his next, Kanpuriye. The film went on the floors in Kanpur in January-end with a start-to-finish schedule with Aparshakti Khurana, Harsh Mayar, Harshhita Gaur and Vijay Raaz.

“It’s a coming-of-age story of three young men from the city, who are willing to go to any extent to realise their dreams,” said a source close to the development, adding that the plot has several twists and turns.

The film is being shot at several locations within the city, and the team is slated to shoot till mid-March. “It’s a 35-day schedule and the makers are set to release the film in the second half of the year,” the source added. Kanpuriye marks the directorial debut of Ashish Aryan, whose last project as a writer, T For Tajmahal, won the Best Story award at an American film festival. He has also written and directed a short film, which was produced by Nawazuddin Siddiqui.

The actor has signed up for Anubhav Sinha’s next, which is set in Kanpur, and likely to roll mid-2019
Himesh Mankad (MUMBAI MIRROR; January 29, 2019)

After Mulk, filmmaker Anubhav Sinha is currently busy with the pre-production of his next with Ayushmann Khurrana in the lead. Buzz is, the film is set in Uttar Pradesh and rolls in mid-2019 once the actor wraps up his current projects.

“A chunk of the film will be shot in Kanpur. Like other Ayushmann-starrers this one too is high on content and on a socially-relevant topic. It is based on a true incident and Ayushmann will play a cop for the first time,” informs a source.

If reports are to believed it has been titled Kanpur Dehaat, and the makers are looking to release it in the last quarter of the year.

While interacting with Mirror earlier (January 21), Ayushmann when quizzed about the film neither denied nor confirmed the news. All he said was, “Yes, I am in talks with Anubhav for a film but we have still not finalised on a lot of stuff.”

Last year proved to be a good one for Ayushmann with back-to-back hits in AndhaDhun and Junglee Pictures’ Badhaai Ho. This year, he has already kicked off Ekta Kapoor’s Dream Girl and signed up for Dinesh Vijan’s Bala. While in the former he plays a man who has the ability to modulate his voice to sound like a woman, in Bala he plays the titular role of a small town guy who suffers from premature balding. 

BOMBAY TIMES (August 12, 2018)

The makers of the upcoming Akshay Kumar-starrer Gold are all set to celebrate independent India’s first gold medal victory at the 1948 Olympics with grandeur. On this historic day, August 12, India as a free nation bagged its first Olympic gold on British soil. For the first time in 70 years, the day will be celebrated with grandeur and pride, as iconic venues across the country will be turning ‘gold’, to honour this landmark event and the Indian hockey team that created history.

Venues like Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT) in Mumbai, Magarpatta City in Pune, Sabarmati Riverfront in Ahmedabad, Statue Circle in Jaipur, JK Temple in Kanpur, Prinsep Ghat in Kolkata and a few other venues will shine in gold, 7 pm onwards today.

Gold, directed by Reema Kagti, releases on August 15.

Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; February 24, 2018)

Ajay Devgn’s Raid is reportedly based on an incident that unfolded on July 16, 1981, when income tax officers raided the house of businessman Sardar Inder Singh in Kanpur. IT Commissioner of Lucknow, Sharda Prashad Pandey, led the search that recovered assets worth Rs. 1.6 crores in cash and gold.

The makers of the movie, who have loosely based their film on this incident, are careful never to name the man. “It is an unsaid code amongst IT officers that they never spill the details of the searches they’ve conducted,” says a source close to the film’s production.

This is probably why director Raj Kumar Gupta is measured in what he says about the “enigmatic man” on whom he has based his story. “Everyone wants their story to be real. He was clear that we should not fictionalise it so much that the reality gets buried beneath,” said Gupta, before adding, “Anybody who is parting with an episode of his life would want to see it being told in a responsible way. My body of work helped me win his trust.”

Gupta says he was fascinated when he learnt of the 1981 raid that reportedly went on for 18 hours and had 45 people present only for the counting of notes. “The press wasn’t as widespread back then, so the information in the public domain was limited.”

While carrying out his research, Gupta discovered how the officers abided by a code of secrecy. “Officers never told their family members where they were going. A lot of heroic stories have got lost from those times. I hope to highlight them.”

Neha Maheshwri (BOMBAY TIMES; February 4, 2018)

Singer-composer Ankit Tiwari is set to start a new chapter in his life. The Sunn Raha Hai Na Tu singer will tie the knot with Pallavi Shukla, a Kanpur-based mechanical engineer, on February 23. The wedding, an intimate affair, will be held in his hometown, Kanpur. The couple will exchange rings on February 20 and a reception will be held on the 26th.

Ankit tells us, “It’s an arranged match. Pallavi and I were introduced to each other by our parents around a month ago. I liked her simplicity and the way she bonded with my parents, especially with my father. She is his choice. Pallavi is an educated girl with high family values. I am from a middle-class family and I wanted a partner jo parivaar ko saath lekar chale.”

Pallavi is also a fan of Ankit’s music and her favourite composition of his is Galliyan (Ek Villain). Does she also like to sing? “Usko gaana gaane ka shauq hai. There will be music sessions during all the rituals and don’t be surprised if I sing her favourite number.”

Ankit, who was accused of rape in 2013 and acquitted last year, says Pallavi has no hang-ups about his past. “We met before the marriage was finalised and I discussed everything with her. Her parents were also made aware of everything right from the start. Ab zamaana bahut aage badh chuka hai. Aaj bhi log discussion kar sakte hain, I can’t stop them. What’s important is ki jiske saath mein judne wala hoon, nothing is hidden from her and her family. I didn’t need to justify myself to her,” he says.

A get-together with industry friends will be held in Mumbai later. Here’s wishing the soon-to-wed couple all the very best for a melodious beginning.

– With inputs from Itishree Misra