BOMBAY TIMES (August 3, 2019)

After making an impressive debut with LoveYatri, Aayush Sharma will next be seen in Kwatha. He will be joined by Isabelle Kaif, who will make her Bollywood debut with the film. The movie is based on incidents revolving around the Indian Army.

To step into the shoes of an army officer, Aayush underwent intensive prep for his role, including working hard on his physique and look. Isabelle has undergone training for acting for four years at the Lee Strasberg Theatre and Film Institute in New York. While details of her role are under wraps, sources reveal that the character is tailor-made for her.

Confirming the news, director Karan Lalit Butani says, “We are excited to announce Aayush Sharma and Isabelle Kaif as the leads of our film. Kwatha is a village on the border of India and Myanmar. While the film is based on true events, the plot is unconventional, and Aayush and Isabelle are perfect for a film like this.”

Producer Aditya Joshi of Cult Entertainment adds, “When we first heard Kwatha, we realised it’s a different film, which showcases the spirit of the Indian army.” The young actors are currently participating in multiple reading sessions and intensive workshops for the film, which is set in North East India.

Kwatha, produced by Sunil Jain, Omprakash Bhatt, Aditya Joshi, Alok Arbind Thakur and Sujay Shankarwar, is presented by Purple Bull Entertainment and Cult Entertainment.
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Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; August 3, 2019)

Tattle around who would feature alongside Aayush Sharma can finally be put to rest as Katrina Kaif's sister has jumped aboard Kwatha. Isabelle will star in the film alongside Sharma, who slips into the part of an Army officer. The film takes a leaf out of history books to trace the unrest at the India-Burma border.

A storyline that innately drew him in was reason behind his decision to greenlight the movie, he says. "When I heard it, I instantly connected to the story. The film is inspired by true events, and I was surprised that something like this had happened, and that most of us are unaware about it. The film has a different take on stories revolving around the Indian Army." Asserting that his rugged avatar as an officer will be far distanced from the lover boy he played in his debut film, LoveYatri (2018), Sharma adds, "I am trying to transform my body to look like an officer. Also, I will train with soldiers at base camps. I want to get the mannerism on point."

Referring to Isabelle as skilled and creative, Sharma says acting and music make up a major part of their conversations. "Ever since she joined the project, she has been working on her character. She is hard working and dedicated. Isabelle and Arpita [Khan, wife] know each other, so, I have obviously heard so much about her. We are currently discovering each other as actors."

That he has interacted with her at social events implies that there is a level of comfort that has developed between them; one that is likely to enhance their act, on screen. "Scenes turn out well if the actors are comfortable with one another. We will start shooting from September. Till then, we are occupied with workshops."

Isabelle adds, "Aayush and I had a great time shooting for the announcement, and are looking forward to discovering our characters."
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Chaya Unnikrishnan (DNA; August 3, 2019)

After making his debut in Loveyatri, Aayush Sharma will next be seen in Kwatha, to be directed by Karan Butani. The actor plays a soldier in the film, which is based on real-life events of an army officer and set in the village of Kwatha, that borders  India and Myanmar. Now, we have learnt that Katrina Kaif’s sister Isabelle Kaif has been signed opposite the actor.

Aayush had to transform his physique into that of a soldier for his role. The actor hit the gym with a vengeance, undergoing boot camp training to look the part. Says a source, “Aayush has been posting workout videos on Instagram and very few know that his new regime is for his role in the film. From rope climbing to lifting heavy weights, the actor is doing it all, not just as part of his prep for the film but also to transform his physique into that of a soldier.”

Aayush says, “Kwatha is an interesting film and I am excited to be part of this heartwarming film, which is inspired by true events. It has a different take to the Indian army and that excited me to take up this project. I look forward to working with Isabelle as she has a very positive energy and brings a lot of enthusiasm to the film.”

Natasha Coutinho (MUMBAI MIRROR; June 5, 2019)

Aayush Sharma, who made his debut with the Salman Khan production Loveyatri last year, has signed his next, Kwatha, in which he plays an army officer. The film is being directed by Karan Butani.

Karan confirmed the news, saying, “It’s a real-life story and the title Kwatha comes from a place in Manipur, one of the last villages on the border of India and Myanmar. It’s a story about the army officer and the relationship he shares with this village.”

Karan met Aayush while writing the film and believes he’s a perfect fit for the character. “We clicked in the first meeting itself. Very few films have been made on the North East and it’s time that the rest of India and the world see how beautiful it is and the stories it has to tell,” he says emotionally.

Recce is underway and the film should roll in September. Aayush meanwhile is working on getting the body language of an army man right. “We don’t know about Kwatha but we will definitely shoot in the unexplored North East,” says Karan who’s currently scouting for a leading lady.

Singer Suchitra Krishnamoorthi on returning to the recording studio with Sawan Barse, almost two decades after her last track released
Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; November 21, 2018)

"The last time I was promoting a song was when I was pregnant with my daughter Kaveri," says Suchitra Krishnamoorthi of the incident dating 18 years, when she unveiled the track Zindagi. Sawan Barse marks the singer-actor's return to the mic after approximately two decades.

"I had lost my voice and my confidence over the years following a psychological block. It was an emotional voice paralysis. Even though, medically, my vocal chords [were not injured], I would feel anxious if anyone would ask me to sing," says Krishnamoorthi, adding that the decision to release a new single was no mean feat.

"It is a big move. Three years ago, I met my guru, Ravi Jule ji, who brought my voice back into [tune]. Once, during our riyaaz, he told me, 'I am going to make you Suchitra Krishnamoorthi again. You have forgotten who you are, but we, lovers of music, still remember you.'"

The development, she reveals, occurred after a music director attending a film's private screening, where she was also present, expressed his desire to work with her. "He started messaging me on Facebook. I ignored him for several weeks, but finally put my fears aside and decided to do it. We recorded the song in a few hours. I played it for a few of my friends in the business to get feedback."

The video of the track has been directed by Karan Butani, she reveals. "The idea behind the video is 'Return to innocence'. It is about reclaiming your essence, the purity of childhood and the love we owe ourselves. I've already recorded a few more songs with some talented musicians. The industry is different from when I left it. It is more vibrant, flexible and fun."