Juhi Chakraborty (HINDUSTAN TIMES; August 10, 2020)

The Coronavirus pandemic caused Bollywood film productions to come to a standstill in mid-March. While TV shoots resumed shooting in June, films and web series were still waiting it out, until recently. Now, as shoots are resuming, actor Akshay Kumar has left for London, UK to start his film, Bellbottom. He was accompanied by the film’s cast Huma S Qureshi, Lara Dutta and others.

Incidentally, Kumar was also one of the first actors to shoot a commercial during the lockdown. Talking about resuming work, Kumar recently told Hindustan Times, “I don’t think I’ve ever stayed away from the camera for this long and now, there’s a newfound excitement.”

Actors Dhanush and Sara Ali Khan are also set to begin shooting for director Aanand L Rai’s romantic drama Atrangi Re in Madurai, Tamil Nadu. Khaali Peeli, starring Ishaan Khatter and Ananya Panday, is also set to resume shoot soon. Late last month, Yoodlee Films became the first production studio to start shooting for two full-fledged feature films Comedy Couple and Zombivali.

“Shooting in this time is a different experience all together. But the production house is taking precautions,” says director Nachiket Samant, who is helming Comedy Couple.

Precautions and safety measures are paramount for those who have resumed work, says Siddharth Anand Kumar, vice-president, Films and Events, Saregama (Yodlee Films). He adds, “Things are a little more expensive also. But that’s okay. We are shooting, and things are going well. This period is a testament to the adaptability of humans.

Not just films, shoots for web series, which are not less grand than a film shoot have also begun. Director Ken Ghosh, who is helming Abhay 2 admits that these are indeed difficult times but that does not mean that people will sit at home. “There were a few rejigs required because some part of the series was shot before lockdown and some parts had to be shot post it. A web series is no less than shooting a film and that is always a challenge,” he says.

Actor Chunky Panday, who stars in the series, says, “It is a challenge to work with fewer crew members, but it was smooth. There will always be a fear among all of us but we have to move on.”

So, is it at all challenging for actors to adapt to this new way of shooting? Actor Aftab Shivdasani, who has started shooting Poison 2, doesn’t think so. “I didn’t have any problems at all. The day prior to the shoot, the crew had set up everything, and all of it was done before the actors came on set,” he explains.

As Mastram garners 11 million streams in a day, during the Coronavirus lockdown, we take a look at how a number of ‘erotic’ shows have, of late, been heating up temperatures on OTT platforms
Prashant Singh (HINDUSTAN TIMES; July 25, 2020)

Adults-only content has existed forever but they were always few-and-far-between, and hardly ever meant for mainstream consumption, especially in India. But now, titillation seems to have become a tried-and-tested formula with the number of such shows on OTT platforms steadily increasing. And even audiences seem to be lapping them up.

Big numbers
According to a LetsOTT report, on July 3, adult comedy, Mastram recorded the highest single-day streams — 11 million. It has 362 million views till date in Hindi, Telugu and Tamil. Swara Bhasker was recently seen in a sensuous avatar in a new web series, Rasbhari that focuses on the hypocrisy surrounding female sexuality in a patriarchal society. Plus, a few weeks back, XXX Season 2 was in the news and found itself in legal turmoil for depicting scenes “insulting the Indian Army”.

“It’s very simple: there is a demand for adult content and that’s why makers are attempting them,” says filmmaker Ken Ghosh, who has been associated with shows such as XXX Season 1 and Dev DD. “If made responsibly and in a sane manner, such content can go on to do very well. Also, unlike theatres or TV, OTT isn’t about community or family viewing. It gives privacy, so one can consume such content without feeling awkward.”

Demand and supply
Experts, though, contend that the idea behind such shows shouldn’t be to only “titillate or excite.” “In foreign shows, there’s a lot of nudity and skin show but it’s all a part of the narrative, and that’s how it should be,” says trade analyst Taran Adarsh. “In India, the genre is new, mainly because OTT is getting bigger now. Plus, the streaming space gives the freedom to push such content due to no censorship.”

Probably that’s why, by now, a number of shows — high on erotica — such as Gandii Baat, Panchali, Khul Ja Sim Sim, Kavita Bhabhi and Charmsukh among others have streamed on various OTT platforms. “Why are we becoming so painfully shy? After all, we are a land of Kamasutra. If there’s a need for erotica in the storyline, why not? Also, such shows are doing well because audiences are starved of such content from other platforms,” says ad guru Prahlad Kakar.

Lockdown effect
In India, such shows — almost always — come with their set of controversies/talking points. Bhasker-starrer Rasbhari, for example, was also under fire. “Nobody bats an eyelid to adult sex comedies (with men) but when you have a show about a woman, who is celebrating her sexuality, then everyone talks about Indian values, culture and the future of children,” the actor said recently.

Experts feel the viewership for adult shows is most likely to have gone up during the lockdown. “With OTT having been the preferred platform for entertainment now, such shows may have seen a spike in viewership. But to keep people hooked these shows can’t just be about erotica,” says Adarsh.
------------------------
Censoring OTT?
Unlike films and TV, OTT platforms aren’t under the purview of censorship/regulation. There has been a lot of talk about ‘a self-regulatory mechanism’ and ‘possibility of censorship’. But creators feel the authorities “should give audiences the freedom” to choose. “Right now, makers are trying new things since it’s a new platform. Soon, they’ll settle down. Makers must self-regulate but viewers should also have the option to watch or skip shows as per their wish,” says Ghosh.

Juhi Chakraborty (HINDUSTAN TIMES; July 19, 2020)

Given the number of films that are going for a direct-to-OTT release owing to the Coronavirus crisis, theatre owners remain at loggerheads with producers. More so because cinemas have still not been given the nod by the government to reopen, which director Ken Ghosh thinks is a wise move.

“I don’t see why the theatre owners are upset. It is like ‘I’m drowning, so you’ve to drown with me’. It’s a very silly argument. We’re in a situation we can’t control. The theatres aren’t open and even if they do, I don’t know if people will feel comfortable to go out,” shares Ghosh.

The filmmaker feels that no matter how much people love movies, “I don’t think they want to risk their lives or of their loved ones by going to a theatre as yet.”

Lending full support to his friends who have decided to release their films on the web, he says he understands their decision was based on the current situation. “None of them said ‘Let’s make a film for digital’. They always wanted to make a big screen film. They had to adapt to the situation. But hopefully, next time this year, people will be back in theatres. Either we’ll have the immunity or the vaccine,” he says.

Ghosh reveals he shot half of his web series before the crisis and now will have to resume the shoot but with a major rejig to the script. “There are no big crowd scenes anymore. We also have to work with a team which is much smaller,” he adds.

MID-DAY (October 26, 2019)

There's good news for Bipasha Basu's fans who have missed seeing her on-screen. While there has been chatter that she is toying with the idea of foraying into digital entertainment, looks like the actor has finally zeroed in on a project.

It has been heard that Basu will front the Indian adaptation of UnReal, the popular American television series that revolves around a reality television producer. Bankrolled by Applause Entertainment, the web series will be directed by Ken Ghosh.

A source close to the development reveals, "The original show, which ran for four seasons, explored how a young reality television producer is compelled by her superiors to generate salacious content in the bid for higher TRPs. The screenplay is currently being reworked to suit the sensibilities of the Indian audience. However, the essence of the original will be retained with the series showing the behind-the-scenes workings of a reality show and examining the cut-throat competition prevalent in the entertainment world. Besides Bipasha, the series will have a strong principal cast; the makers are currently in the last stage of the casting process." Basu is expected to start shooting early next year.

Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; December 23, 2017)

The makers of Ragini MMS were in for a rude shock last week when an intimate scene featuring Karishma Sharma, one of the leads of the web series, was leaked online. Realising that it forms a crucial part of the narrative, producer Ekta Kapoor decided to have the sequence reshot. Not just that, the reshoot came with a rider -- it would be shot with an all-female crew.

A source close to the production house reveals, "It was a production call. Since it is a sex scene, Ekta thought it best to have an all-women crew. That way, the artistes would feel more comfortable. She was also clear that no mobile phones would be allowed inside the studio."

The shoot took place at Film City in Goregaon on Thursday. While the series is helmed by Ken Ghosh, the scene in question was directed by one of his first assistant directors. Confirming the development, Ghosh tells mid-day, "We had several rehearsals before the sequence was filmed. There was a complete lockdown when it was being shot. We did everything to ensure that the environment for the girls was as comfortable as possible."

Ghosh adds that the legal team at Balaji is looking into the matter of the leak. "They are trying to track down the source. The production house is doing their best to ensure this doesn't happen again. It was disturbing for all of us, especially the actors." The series also stars Siddharth Gupta and Riya Sen.

Actor traces milestones in over a decade-long career and roles that are identified with him now
Roshmila Bhattacharya (MUMBAI MIRROR; February 16, 2017)


RANGOON (2017)

In the last two-three years, I’ve been able to reinvent a new silhouette for myself in almost every film which is a fortunate place for an actor to be in. Rangoon is my third association with Vishal Bhardwaj, probably the most relevant filmmaker in my career who has given me opportunities, again and again, to showcase myself. And Nawab Malik is as unique a character as Haider or Guddu and Charlie in Kaminey.

There’s something about men in uniform that draws you. They are always soft-spoken and courteous despite what they do. You can feel their nobleness, discipline and heroism irrespective of the times they live in. What makes Nawab Malik distinctive is that he is with the British Indian army in the 1940s, a complex time when India was on the verge of independence and patriotism at its peak. How Nawab Malik, a patriot, lives with these dual realities given his feeling towards his country and its freedom made the dynamics of this character exciting for me and the conflict a cinematic experience for viewers.

The other exciting thing was that as an actor it gave me the opportunity to engage with the heartland of the country. During Haider, I’d stayed in Kashmir, shot in the interiors, met locals, felt the energy of the place and savoured the flavour of the state. That was true for Udta Punjab too, which was filmed in Punjab. With Rangoon, I discovered Arunachal Pradesh in 20-25 days. We filmed at railway stations and in jungles on the Indo-China border. We also drove for fivehours from Guwahati in Assam to shoot at a waterfall and stayed in places where there were no proper roads, electricity and telephone lines. That is a strong association I’ll always have with Rangoon, apart from getting to play a fresh and completely original character.

UDTA PUNJAB (2016)

Tommy was the most obnoxious character I’ve played — a drug addict on an ego trip, a spoilt brat who took his success for granted and behaved badly with women. On paper he was a much hated guy but my director’s (Abhishek Chaubey) brief was that in five minutes people should love him and that was the challenge.

I modelled him on the kid you sometimes see lying on the floor in a kids’ shop, throwing a tantrum for something they want. Your first thought is: What a terribly behaved child. And then you tell yourself he’s just a kid, he doesn’t know better, and you forgive him. That’s how I wanted viewers to see Tommy — a spoilt, lost kid who gave me the freedom to be obnoxious. It was liberating and enjoyable at times.


HAIDER (2014)

I remember shooting the scene where Haider is standing by the grave of his father at a wildlife sanctuary in Kashmir. Since he has believed all this while that his father is alive, he breaks down when confronted with the reality that he is no more.

We did the shot in a single take, the cameras placed far away from the action. By the time Vishal sir called “Cut” I was so into the shot that for that moment it had become real to me and I was overwhelmed. When I opened my eyes, Vishal sir was holding me in his arms. For me, Haider is that moment.


KAMINEY (2009)

Kaminey is impossible to forget because someone or the other, usually at traffic signals, will randomly start talking to me in the ‘Pha’ language, “Abe phaale, pha ko pha bolta hai. Pha ko ‘pha’ nahin bolega to kya ‘la’ bolega.”

It was the first double role of my career and scary because every actor worries about pulling it off. It came in the first six-seven years of my career so I couldn’t say I was prepared or experienced enough. I’m glad I got it right and my first double role wasn’t rejected though I could have done better.

When we started, everybody thought Guddu was closer to my natural personality so we focussed on the rugged bad boy Charlie who was very different from my familiar image of the sweet boy next door. We shot the first 20 days with me as Charlie and when we finally got on the sets for Guddu, Vishal sir and I looked at each other and asked, “How do we play him?” Guddu evolved on the set as we didn’t have time to prep for him.

Stammering is something actors often get wrong and I didn’t want Guddu to be seen as a funny guy who stammers. Stammering is a speech defect which comes from a lack of confidence. That Guddu turned out as hero whose speech defect was presented with sensitivity and dignity was our victory.

Will there be a Kaminey 2? I doubt it. I’d be surprised if Vishal sir makes a sequel. I don’t even know if I’d want to play the characters again after so many years.


JAB WE MET (2007)

It was my most under-rated performance. I feel for Aditya Kaushik, both in the movie and after its release, because he didn’t get the recognition he deserved. Instinctively, I knew that 10 years later people would get this guy but at that time, to make Jab We Met work, one character had to anchor the story so the other one could jump around.

In an actor’s journey, you get to play the clown often. Nine out of ten films you are offered, you will be playing to the gallery. Seldom do you get to play a character that is silent, complex, layered. But I had a great time doing the film. Imtiaz Ali was still new. Who was to know that he would turn out to be the brilliant filmmaker he is today. I feel privileged to have worked with him so early in his career in a film that turned out to be so memorable, so liked and so relevant. The best thing about it is that wherever I go people talk to me about Jab We Met and say that, “Yaar jab bhi we are in a bad mood or low, we play this film and we feel so happy.”

That is the magic of Imtiaz. He was able to make people happy with something that wasn’t an inyour-face laugh riot but a simple story with a good heart. Whatever Imtiaz was feeling at that time, he made people feel it… And they are still feeling it!


VIVAH (2006)

Vivah, I must confess, was a world I had never experienced. So, to play Prem, I simply imitated Sooraj ji (director Sooraj Barjatya). It’s ironic today that I have had an arranged marriage but at that time I had no idea what such a match was all about, where a girl and a boy just talked over tea and ‘paani’ was referred to as ‘jal’. I give 200 per cent credit to Sooraj ji for the way he moulded me, got me in the right emotional space for the character. He helped me find and stay in the sur. I was really soft-spoken and nice during those couple of months which was good for those around me.

I remember flying to Delhi for the last leg of promotions. A day before the release, I was sitting with Sooraj ji whose previous film, Main Prem Ki Deewani Hoon, hadn’t done well, and he told me, “Shahid, tomorrow I will tell you if this film will work or if it has been rejected too.” The next day he came to my room, post launch, “Don’t worry Shahid, now I will talk to you in 10 weeks, the film has been accepted.” I was stunned because those days the maximum a film would run was five weeks. But Sooraj ji was right. This one completed a silver jubilee! He has a loyal audience and he made a film for those people.

I bumped into him after my own vivah at a recording studio. He smiled and said, “Finally, you have settled down!”


ISHQ VISHK (2003)

I was selected for my debut film after several rounds of auditions and rejections over three-four months. Finally, when I got to meet the director, Ken Ghosh, he was sitting at a computer and laughing at the screen. Turned out, he was looking at a video of a baby chimpanzee sticking his finger in his butt, smelling it, and swooning. He was watching it on a loop. It made me wonder, “Is this the guy who will introduce me to the world as an actor? My ‘mai baap’? for the next one year.” I was petrified!

On the first day of the film’s release, Amrita (Rao), Ken and I visited a theatre in town. It was before the advent of social media, and since we were newcomers, no one knew us and simply smiled politely as we walked in. But after the show got over, we had to be shunted to a room and barricaded to avoid the fan frenzy. I went from being a normal person to a star in a matter of three hours. That’s the magic of cinema.

Chaya Unnikrishnan (DNA; January 6, 2017)

Sanjay Suri, best known for his roles in Jhankaar Beats and My Brother Nikhil is all set to step into the shoes of Chandramukhi, metaphorically, in Ekta Kapoor’s web series Dev DD. It is a bolder and feminine version of the classic story written by Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay and Sanjay gives a masculine twist to the character of Chandramukhi.

“Yes, it is the male version,” laughs Sanjay adding that when he was approached for the role, even he wondered what his character would be playing as the original Chandramukhi is a courtesan. He says, “My character Anurag completely breaks the notion of Chandramukhi, but the essence is retained and the importance remains the same. It’s a complex character, yet very intense. Anurag is not always at the receiving end in the story, which is contemporarised.”

He explains that some natural characteristics that come with being a man will seep into the character and give another layer to it. “How this guy comes into contact with the protagonist Devika is different, his trajectory is different,” he adds.

Unlike in the films where Chandramukhi’s past is unknown, Anurag’s past will be explored. He says, “Everything seems right in his life, he ticks all the boxes, but he is carrying certain baggage. There are some things in his life that he prefers to keep at the back of his mind, but those come to his mind when he meets some people (read Devika). He is a mix of strong and weak and becomes an important part of the protagonist’s life.”

The actor says shooting for web series is more liberating as an artiste. “Though the grammar is pretty much the same for a film and web series, here the narrative becomes edgier. When you are shooting for a film somewhere it becomes restricted because you have the burden of the release — how difficult or easy it will be — and the subjects you can touch upon in the current environment. On the web, it is more democratic, you can explore characters which you would not easily touch upon in a film. Language is not a barrier. Writing is different since the attention span is shorter for this audience and the plot points are changed,” elaborates Sanjay.

The series to be streamed on Alt Balaji is directed by Ken Ghosh.

The filmmaker’s modern-day retelling of the Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay classic has a female protagonist while men take over as Paro and Chandramukhi
Natasha Coutinho (MUMBAI MIRROR; November 25, 2016)

After Bimal Roy, Sanjay Leela Bhansali and Anurag Kashyap, Ekta Kapoor is gearing up to roll with a bold retelling of Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay’s classic novel, Devdas. To be made into a web series titled Dev DD for her soon-to-be launched app, ALT Balaji, the series, set in modern times, will have a female protagonist and will be directed by Ken Ghosh. It traces the life of the young and rebellious Devika and her journey through love, passion, heartbreak, sex, self-destruction and redemption.

“It’s the female, younger version of Devdas and has a cool, modern look with a different approach. The title comes from the protagonist’s name, Devika Dharam Dwivedi. Instead of Paro and Chandramukhi, we have two men,” Ken told Mirror, adding that the show’s concept and script came from Ekta who wanted him to direct it.

Ken refused to divulge details about the acting lineup but revealed that 90 per cent of the cast comprises of new faces. “I must have seen at least 700 auditions for the 20-odd characters I have in my film. Before starting work, I had a workshop with all of them,” he informed.

The team will start shooting in Mumbai in the next few days after a long September schedule in Jaipur. “There are about eleven episodes but we are shooting it like a film. It’s top quality,” Ken promised.

Natasha Coutinho (MUMBAI MIRROR; November 16, 2016)

Ekta Kapoor’s Ken Ghosh-directed erotic film XXX which has been creating buzz as the film that the production house claimed is pushing boundaries in bold content, even inserting a nudity clause in their actors’ contracts (Mirror, April 9, 2015), is yet to see the light of day.

Featuring newbies Kyra Dutt, Aparnaa Bajpai, Pryanca Talukdar and Aparna Sharma in prominent roles, the film was initially set for a release last year on July 3 (pegged as a ‘lucky day’ by Ekta as one of her flagship shows, Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi, took off on the same date in 2000). Now, Mirror has learnt that the film is on the backburner with the makers considering a release on Balaji’s soon to be launched app, ALT.

According to a source associated with the project, the film was shot and completed a year ago and the makers had informed the team about plans to release it in mid-2016 but have now gone incommunicado. “Around May-June we were informed that the film should release in the next couple of months but there has been no update after that. Everybody from the film’s team seems to be equally clueless,” the source added.

While Ken Ghosh said he had “no idea about the release of the film”, Sameer Nair, group CEO of Balaji telefilms clarified that the delay in release was not pertaining to censor issues. “There are various shows being planned for ALT which we will announce one by one. As of now, there are no plans for XXX on the app. XXX has been completed and is in post-production. We haven’t given it’s release much thought yet but it won’t happen anytime soon. We are currently busy with TV, preparing for ALT, among other things.”

The actress-singer is returning to acting with a play which is based on her 2013 autobiography.
Avinash Lohana (MUMBAI MIRROR; September 2, 2016)

After a Hindi film debut in Kundan Shah's 1994 romcom Kabhi Haan Kabhi Naa, Suchitra Krishnamoorthi headed to the small screen with the mini series Kash-m-Kash two years later, only to return with Jijy Philip's 2005 Anil Kapoor-starrer, My Wife's Murder. Six years after her last screen turn in Ram Gopal Varma's Rann, the 40-year-old actress-singer is staging an acting comeback with a play.

Titled Drama Queen, it is directed by Inaayat Ali Sami and is based on her eponymous 2013 autobiography. Interestingly, the play also features anecdotes from the book, including Suchitra's proposals to filmmakers Karan Johar and Ram Gopal Varma, and has her sister, Sujata Kumar, playing her mother. It also features Suchitra Pillai as a shrink, Suresh Menon as RGV, and filmmakers Nagesh Kukunoor and Ken Ghosh as her love interests.

Suchitra reveals that it was her 15-year-old daughter, Kaveri, who has been trying to get her back to acting. "She insists that she is 'big now' and keeps reminding me that I can't use her as an excuse to stay away anymore," she laughs, adding that her "madcap and wacky" play is about the struggles and naivete of finding true love in an untrue world. "It is about exploration of loneliness, madness and the chaos in the life of a single mother trying to reclaim her place in the world."

Will there be references to her eight-year marriage to filmmaker Shekhar Kapur which ended in 2007? "I have no place for nostalgia in my life. It feels nice when people associate me with my movies but I don't feel connected with them. I am barely attached to what happened the day before yesterday, forget what happened 15 years ago," she says shortly.

DNA (March 7, 2016)

In recent times there have been reports that XXX directed by Ken Ghosh, has been stuck with the Censor Board for the past three months because of it’s explosive, steamy and suggestive content. Rumours suggest that the film ran into trouble when it applied for the certificate and the censor board refused to give them a certificate. There are whispers about the producers planning to release the film online. Ken however rubbishes the rumour. “I have been hearing this too but the fact is we are still finishing the post-production work like dubbing and editing so how can we submit a copy to the Censor Board when the film is not yet complete?” CBFC chairperson Pahlaj Nihalani, echoes Ken’s words, “We are yet to receive any print titled XXX for certification so the question of it getting held doesn’t hold.” So who’s behind these rumours?

Sunanya Suresh (BOMBAY TIMES; October 16, 2015)

 
Upala KBR (DNA; August 6, 2015)

Ekta Kapoor’s XXX is giving nothing away, save for the fact that Ken Ghosh will be directing several newcomers in the film. The title by itself is giving rise to much speculation. Most feel it’s an erotic thriller, replete with sex and nudity. We’ve found out that the film is segmented into a series of short stories. One of these stories has a penis talking to a vagina.

Chhoti Kahaniyaan
A source reveals, “XXX centers around five short stories revolving around very strong women characters. The film begins with two people telling each other stories. Each story, while under the guise of erotica, tell a tale that comprises a message. The genre of each story is different — from edgy, to thriller, quirky, romantic and even comic. While people are assuming that XXX revolves around erotica and sex, the fact is sex is just a part of each story and moves it forward.”

Kya bolti tu!
About the ‘private’ conversations tale, the source says, “The story about a conversation between a male and female sexual organ, is very quirky in its take.” Adds the source, “There are no double-meaning dialogues in the film, nor is it a sex comedy. It’s a new-age, one-of-its-kind film, something neither Ekta nor Ken haven’t attempted before. The stories have been written by Ken, Tanveer Bookwala (Chief Creative Officer at Balaji Motion Pictures) and writer-actor Mayank Tiwari, who also plays a character in XXX.”

Music matters
The film is complete except for a couple of songs and post production. “In the music department too, Ken and Ekta wanted to be different. Ken apparently listened to 100 songs before finalising four, all composed by new music directors and sung by new-age singers. The music is said to be outstanding as all four are party songs. The uniqueness of the songs are that despite being party songs, none of them have the words daaru or mention of any type of alcohol in the lyrics!”

Sanyukta Iyer (MUMBAI MIRROR; May 8, 2015)

When Sushant Singh Rajput made his big Bollywood debut with Abhishek Kapoor's Kai Po Che! in 2013, television czarina Ekta Kapoor, promised his co-star from Pavitra Rishta that she would launch him in Bollywood with equal fanfare. Two years later, Rithvik Dhanjani, who starred alongside Sushant in the popular soap for six years, will make his debut in Ken Ghosh's erotica, XXX, being produced by Ekta.

"Rithvik play a casanova with magical powers that has girls flocking to him," reveals a source close to the film.

The TV actor who won Nach Baliye Season 6 last year, is the first male actor to sign Ekta's much-talked-about nudity clause. Kyra Dutt was the first actress to sign on the dotted line. Rithvik has agreed to a full frontal nude scene. "You will definitely catch a glimpse of his bare butt in the film. But still, the girls will reveal a lot more than the guys," adds the source.

In an interview to Mirror (April 8), writer-director Ken Ghosh had revealed that XXX has five different stories with Kyra as the narrator. Now, Mirror has learnt that Rithvik's character, a charismatic vagabond, too will appear in all the five stories which will see him have four different sexual escapades.

""His character binds the stories together and steams up the screen with not one but multiple actresses," reveals the source.

So where will Ekta and Ken draw the line?

"There will be no depiction of oral sex! Even with clever cinematography, neither Ken nor Bollywood is ready to handle the kind of sex scenes we've seen in Hollywood films like Basic Instict, Wild Things and Blue Valentine."

The calendar girl insists nothing can go wrong with a nude scene when you trust your director.
Sanyukta Iyer (MUMBAI MIRROR; April 25, 2015)

Ekta Kapoor's upcoming erotic drama, XXX, was making headlines even before it went on the floors with director, Ken Ghosh announcing to Mirror (April 8) that the debutant actors will have to sign a contract with a 'nudity clause' to make sure that later they did not demur about shooting explicit, sex charged scenes or mouthing titillating lines. Kingfisher Calendar model, Kyra Dutt, is the first actress to agree to the "techno-legal clause" for her Bollywood debut.

The film is a compilation of five different stories, each one exploring a different aspect of sexuality. Kyra plays the glamorous narrator who binds the four other shorts together. The 24-year-old model-turned-actress has already started shooting for the film and is unabashed about filming a full frontal nude scene.

"I'm extremely confident about my body and I know nothing can go wrong with a nude scene when you trust your director completely. Ken is a cinematographer and editor first, and I know I am in safe hands," she asserts.

She adds that the plot is as mysterious as her chameleon-like character whose look changes in every story. "Its only in the climax that you know who my character was related to," she says, adding that the film will take eroticism head on. "I have been asked to leave my inhibitions behind. And I'm willing to give it my all because how long can actresses play the girl-next-door? People are bored of that stereotype. Ekta Kapoor with Ken Ghosh is bringing to the Hindi film screen a genre Bollywood has been afraid of tapping till now."

And isn't she afraid of the repercussions of going bold and brazen with her very first screen appearance? "The scene I will be shooting, would have got me branded either as an 'Indie film actress' or a 'sleazy star'. Thanks to XXX, I'll be neither," she signs off.

Asira Tarannum (MID-DAY; April 17, 2015)

Ken Ghosh recently took on the mantle of director for Ekta Kapoor’s erotic drama, XXX. If the latest buzz is to be believed, he had approached Shahid Kapoor to be part of the project, which will have five stories exploring various aspects of sexual relationships. However, the actor is said to have turned down the offer from Ghosh, who had launched him in Ishq Vishk (2003).

“Shahid’s date diary is choc-a-bloc and moreover, he is not keen on getting into the erotic genre,” explains a source, adding that the director is now sulking.

“At a recent get- together, he was asked about Shahid and he mentioned that he was upset with him for not agreeing to do the film,” the source states.

Ghosh, however, dismisses the buzz. “Why should I be ( upset) when he was never part of the film?” he asks.

A source close to Shahid also insists that all is well between the director-actor duo, stating: “When he has chosen projects like Haider and Shandaar, why will he choose a semi-porn film? And everything is fine between them.”

Shahid denies the story, saying: “I was never offered any such film.”