Showing posts with label Kookie Gulati. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Kookie Gulati. Show all posts
I shot many action pieces, including Jaideep Ahlawat, Saif Ali Khan’s confrontation in Jewel Thief-Kookie Gulati
4:03 PM
Kookie Gulati, who has co-directed Jewel Thief, on how he was roped in midway to design the heist thriller as a mainstream entertainer with glamour and songs
Upala KBR (MID-DAY; May 2, 2025)
Gloss, style, and scale are not lacking in Jewel Thief: The Heist Begins, but many feel the Saif Ali Khan and Jaideep Ahlawat-led crime caper has neither the smarts nor the taut storytelling expected of the genre. Kookie Gulati, who has helmed the Netflix film with Robbie Grewal, isn’t perturbed by the audience’s mixed reactions.
The director shares that he was brought on board by producers Siddharth and Mamta Anand to design it as a “commercial entertainer”, a count he has delivered on.
“At some point in the shoot, they realized that they wanted it to be more of a Bollywood commercial entertainer with glamour and songs. The makers thought I could bring that to the film. That’s when I took over from Robbie, who had other commitments that were overlapping with the shoot. If I came on board, I had to make it mine. [We] added three more songs. I also rewrote parts of the script, and shot many action pieces, including Jaideep and Saif’s confrontation.”
Jewel Thief sees Saif Ali Khan and Ahlawat’s characters trying to outwit each other in their attempt to rob a rare diamond. Having worked with both actors, Gulati is impressed by their distinct approach to their craft.
“Saif would be constantly talking to me about the film, the scene and his character. Jaideep comes prepared; he always brings his A-game on set. He discusses a scene thoroughly before the shoot, and when the camera rolls, he adds subtle touches to his character.”
After the testosterone-heavy crime caper, Gulati’s next will be a woman-led actioner. Admittedly ‘charged’ about his next, the director reveals, “It’s about a strong woman who finds herself in a dangerous situation. It’s a high-octane thriller with an emotional twist.”
Saif Ali Khan attack: Shoot of Netflix film, promotions of Jewel Thief and Kartavya pushed
3:18 PM
As Saif Ali Khan recovers after being stabbed during a burglary attempt, sources say the actor has promotions for Jewel Thief and Kartavya lined up in the next few months
Mohar Basu, Upala KBR (MID-DAY; January 17, 2025)
Thursday afternoon brought relief to Saif Ali Khan’s family and fans as the team of doctors at the Lilavati Hospital, following the surgery, issued a statement that the actor “is out of danger”. He had suffered six injuries after being stabbed by an alleged burglar at his Bandra residence in the early hours of January 16. The actor, who is on the road to recovery now, has a packed 2025 ahead. In the next few months, he is expected to kick off promotions for his summer releases, Jewel Thief — The Red Sun Chapter, and Kartavya.
It is heard that Jewel Thief, also starring Jaideep Ahlawat, is targeting a March-end release. An insider tells mid-day, “The heist thriller, which is directed by Robbie Grewal, with certain sequences helmed by Kookie Gulati, was wrapped up late last year. The project has now moved into the final post-production stage. While Saif had finished a chunk of the dubbing in November, he only has two days of dubbing left. The team is likely to begin promotions in mid-March before its March 27 release.” Meanwhile, Kartavya, an OTT film helmed by Pulkit of Bhakshak (2024) fame, is slated to release mid-2025. “The promotions will begin after May,” adds the source.
On the shooting front, Khan’s next will be Race 4 that is expected to roll in August. A source says, “The producers are currently finalizing a director.” The actor also has Priyadarshan’s yet-untitled next and Devara: Part 2 in his kitty.
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Sources say Saif Ali Khan’s historical drama with director Rahul Dholakia, which was to roll on January 20, was deferred till he recovers from the stabbing injuries
Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; January 18, 2025)
On Friday, Saif Ali Khan, who suffered multiple injuries after he was stabbed by an intruder in his Bandra residence a day earlier, was shifted out of the intensive care unit of Lilavati Hospital. The actor has been advised rest and restricted movement for a week by his team of doctors. With Khan’s recovery being the top priority of his family and collaborators, we have heard that director Rahul Dholakia and producer Nikkhil Advani have deferred their yet-untitled Netflix film with him that was to kick off on January 20.
Sources tell us that a set was built at Madh Island for the project that also stars Pratik Gandhi and Deepak Dobriyal. But in light of recent events, the makers informed the team that the shoot has been pushed until he recuperates. A unit hand tells us, “Originally, we were supposed to shoot in April, but because things progressed fast, the filming was advanced to January 20. Given the unfortunate incident, the team has reverted to the original plan of shooting by March-end or early April. It can be pushed further ahead as the makers want to give Saif sir as much time as he wants for his recovery. After he has healed, Nikkhil sir and Rahul sir will meet him and chalk out the plan as per his convenience.”
The film is reportedly a historical drama chronicling India’s first general elections that were held between October 1951 and February 1952. Khan will portray Sukumar Sen, India’s first Chief Election Commissioner, who played a pivotal role in executing the country’s landmark democratic process.
Saif Ali Khan’s Jewel Thief wraps up for second time as Kookie Gulati reshoots action sequence and songs
10:23 AM
Director Kookie Gulati, who was roped in to revisit some scenes and shoot songs of Robbie Grewal-helmed Jewel Thief, wraps up Saif Ali Khan’s thriller
Upala KBR (MID-DAY; December 5, 2024)
Saif Ali Khan’s Jewel Thief—The Red Sun Chapter is one of those rare films to reach the finish line twice. First, director Robbie Grewal called a wrap on the heist thriller in May. Last month, mid-day reported that producer Siddharth Anand had roped in director Kookie Gulati, believing he would be a better fit, to revisit some scenes and shoot two songs of the Khan, Jaideep Ahlawat and Nikita Dutta-starrer (Plot twist in the heist, November 16). Now, after a three-week schedule, it’s a wrap again on the film.
With a robbery at the centre of the plot, Anand wanted the movie to be pacy and slick. Sources say that Gulati reimagined an action sequence and shot it with Khan at Mehboob Studios in Bandra.
A source from the unit reveals, “Siddharth wanted to enhance the action and tension in a particular scene reflecting the heist. So, late last month, a set was built at the Bandra studio. Saif and another actor, who plays a significant role in the film, shot the sequence. Part of the set-piece was also filmed against the green screen. Saif rehearsed extensively with action director Parvez Shaikh before filming it. Kookie is now supervising the VFX work on it.”
Between mid-November and December 1, Gulati also shot two songs. While one was a romantic track filmed in Alibaug on the leading man and Dutta, the other was a peppy dance number. The source adds, “It was choreographed by Shazia Samji and Piyush Bhagat, and featured the entire cast.”
Kookie Gulati roped in to add 2 new dance numbers to Saif Ali Khan and Jaideep Ahlawat's Jewel Thief
10:53 AM
Months after director Robbie Grewal wraps up Jewel Thief, Kookie Gulati roped in to helm two songs and revisit a few scenes of Saif and Jaideep’s heist thriller
Upala KBR (MID-DAY; November 16, 2024)
What’s a heist thriller without a last-minute twist? In this case, it’s off screen. In late May, Saif Ali Khan and Jaideep Ahlawat had wrapped up Jewel Thief—The Red Sun Chapter, following a 10-day schedule in Budapest and a patchwork shoot in Mumbai. But now, it turns out the shoot is not quite over. mid-day has learnt that the unit will report back to the set to film two songs and re-shoot some scenes. Surprisingly, the new portions will be shot not by director Robbie Grewal, but by Kookie Gulati of The Big Bull (2021) fame.
From what we’ve heard, the inclusions have been recommended by Siddharth Anand, who has written and produced the crime thriller that sees Khan and Ahlawat’s characters in a battle of wits. Sources tell us that after the Budapest schedule was wrapped up in May-end, Grewal dove headlong into the film’s post-production.
“The team completed the patchwork by June. But recently, Siddharth felt that some scenes needed to be revisited to up the heist thriller’s slick feel. He also was of the opinion that two more songs would enhance its appeal. While Robbie felt the existing cut is pacy and slick enough, he understood the producer’s need to make it more appealing to the audience with the new numbers. So, for now, Robbie is focusing on the post-production while Siddharth has roped in Kookie to film the additional parts,” reveals a source.
Gulati was Anand’s first choice for the job as he has directed over 300 music videos. The source adds, “The first song and a few scenes, featuring Saif and leading lady Nikita Dutta, will be shot in Alibaug this weekend. Sid has briefed Kookie that the sequences, which are being re-shot, need to have more drama and action. Another song will be filmed at Mehboob Studios with the entire cast later this month. The dance track will be choreographed by Shazia Samji and Piyush Bhagat.”
Khan, who sports long hair and a beard in the movie, has grown his hair again for the upcoming stint.
When mid-day reached out to Grewal, he said, “We were to shoot [these portions] in August, but it got pushed to November. Since I was already committed to an Amazon show in this [window], I couldn’t do it. Kookie was kind enough to step in and help us out.”
We thought, ‘Let’s take Fardeen Khan, Riteish Deshmukh out of their comfort zone and see what happens’-Kookie Gulati
3:42 PM
Casting Fardeen as a Dongri boy and Riteish as a pilot in Visfot, director Gulati says he wanted to take his actors out of their comfort zone
Priyanka Sharma (MID-DAY; September 12, 2024)
When director Kookie Gulati boarded Visfot, he was intrigued by not only the story of the thriller, but also the film’s leading actors Fardeen Khan and Riteish Deshmukh. He was excited about presenting the two actors in roles far removed from their image, an anti-casting of sorts that saw Deshmukh play a pilot who crosses paths with Khan’s Dongri boy.
“The typical casting would have been Fardeen playing a pilot and Riteish being from Dongri. But we turned it on its head and said, ‘Let’s take them out of their comfort zone and see what happens.’ I don’t think Riteish has [brought] so much drama and emotions before, nor has Fardeen played a guy from the streets before,” shares the director.
Gulati also had the challenge of directing Khan, who was returning to movies after a 14-year gap. Although the recent Khel Khel Mein marked the actor’s comeback in films, he had shot for the JioCinema offering before. Gulati recalls being impressed by Khan’s hunger in his second inning.
“For three months, he was totally into the character. He worked with a dialect coach. I had worked with him in Fida [2004] where he was a star, but here, he was an actor. He was interested in how a character would play out. His mindset had changed. I’m sure he had jitters, but that nervousness helps one perform.”
I am the biggest Feroz Khan fan, and Fardeen has his father’s screen presence-Sanjay Gupta
10:12 AM
Impressed after working with Khan on Visfot, maker Sanjay Gupta discusses the hardships indie producers face to release their films in today’s volatile market
Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; September 5, 2024)
In Maximum City: Bombay Lost and Found, author Suketu Mehta described Bombay as “the city of dreams where nothing is as it seems”. Filmmaker Sanjay Gupta feels it’s an apt description of the city that plays a prime role in his next, Visfot. Mumbai’s contrasts—wealth and poverty, tradition and modernity, ambition and despair—became the perfect backdrop for the filmmaker’s desi adaptation of the Venezuelan film Rock, Paper, Scissors (2012).
“Mumbai is not just a backdrop; it’s the heartbeat of the stories I want to tell. It’s a city of dreams, but also of harsh realities. In Visfot, we continue my love affair with Mumbai, using the city’s gritty locales to the film’s themes of conflict and redemption,” shares Gupta.
The Riteish Deshmukh and Fardeen Khan-starrer plays out over a day, as two men from opposite backgrounds find their fates intertwined. It’s an unusual casting decision, considering Deshmukh is usually seen in comedies and Khan has returned to movies after a 14-year hiatus.
Gupta says, “I am the biggest Feroz Khan fan, and Fardeen has his father’s screen presence. I was delighted to work with him on this. When people watch the film, they will ask, ‘Why was this guy not around for a decade?’ He and Riteish bring a brilliant on-screen face-off.”
The producer found the right director in Kookie Gulati, who previously helmed The Big Bull (2021). “I was mighty impressed by The Big Bull and knew I wanted to work with him. Kookie has elevated the material with his incisive direction. I never needed to visit his set, he ran the show gloriously.”
Visfot is slated to première on Jio Cinema this week. Does it bother him that the action thriller is OTT-bound instead of getting a theatrical release?
“The film was made for OTT from the word go. We cannot undermine the power of OTT. During the lockdown, we saw how the viewing patterns changed.”
But it is a stressful market to release films in, when a movie’s success or failure is unpredictable. How does it affect independent producers? “It makes us feel alone. To be empowered to tell a story in its truest sense, you need immense logistical support. That becomes much harder in a shaky market. But this is also the time where passionate storytelling will take precedence.”
To me, Visfot is an ode to Ram Gopal Varma’s Satya-Kookie Gulati
9:05 AM
Visfot director says he was surprised by Riteish’s emotionally restrained act as a father searching for his abducted son
Upala KBR (MID-DAY; October 8, 2022)
Director Kookie Gulati is not quite done with thrillers yet. After the R Madhavan starrer Dhokha Round D Corner, the director’s next is Visfot, which stars Riteish Deshmukh and sees Fardeen Khan return to the screen after 12 years. The movie — an official adaptation of the 2012 Venezuelan film, Rock, Paper, Scissors — sees Deshmukh as a pilot who races against time after his son is mistakenly kidnapped by Khan’s gangster character.
Gulati is particularly impressed by Deshmukh, who has brought vulnerability to his character that is caught between his love for his son, and a simmering anger at his wife’s infidelity. “Visfot will bust the myth that Riteish can only do comedy or rom-coms. It will [showcase] his scope as an actor,” he says.
After producer Sanjay Gupta bagged the remake rights, Deshmukh was among the first artistes to be associated with the project. “Riteish came on board before me. His is an emotional part, and the title [encapsulates] his emotional outburst. We didn’t have rehearsals as I wanted his emotions to be natural. I wanted it to look raw and real. I would rate it among Riteish’s top three performances. Fardeen had a different approach to his character and underwent rigorous training.”
Rock, Paper, Scissors was Venezuela’s official entry for the Best Foreign Language Film at the 85th Academy Awards. The director has reimagined the movie for the Indian audience. “Emotions are the high points of that movie, but we have [heightened] it because Indians are more emotional. To me, Visfot is an ode to Ram Gopal Varma’s Satya, in which we see Mumbai’s underbelly.”
We had 44 days to shoot, but we finished Dhokha Round D Corner in 29 days-Kookie Gulati
8:23 AM
'Dhokha' director Kookie Gulati heaps praise on actors R Madhavan and Darshan Kumaar for pulling off long shot in no time, and with finesse
Upala KBR (MID-DAY; September 18, 2022)
After his lauded portrayal of former scientist and aerospace engineer Nambi Narayanan in the biographical drama, 'Rocketry: The Nambi Effect', R Madhavan is gearing up for his next, 'Dhokha Round D Corner', which sees him as a husband. Directed by Kookie Gulati, the film also stars Khushalii Kumar, Aparshakti Khurana and Darshan Kumaar, and releases on September 23.
Based on an urban couple—played by Madhavan and Khushalii—whose lives get upturned when a terrorist (played by Khurana) enters their home. The trio then interact with a cop (Darshan), who helps the husband rescue his wife.
Highlighting the filming of a crucial scene, Gulati says, “It was a four-page scene involving Darshan, and was lengthy, continuous, and dramatic. I thought I would end up filming it for two days, with several breaks. We finished that scene in a single take. We have used that shot—where Maddy sir and Darshan confront each other. When Maddy sir hears that his wife is trapped in the apartment, he has an emotional breakdown. You get to see how vulnerable he is. Both these actors were amazing and that moment was so special that the entire crew clapped for 10 minutes after it got over.”
Calling this shot one of his best work, he adds, “The speed at which they worked, and their chemistry, were magical. As a director, it is rare to be surprised, because we are in control of things, but when your actors surprise you, the feeling is unmatched. We had 44 days to shoot, but we finished it in 29 days.”
Considering Madhavan is picky about his scripts, Gulati says he felt validated when the actor gave his nod to the film.
We had planned to shoot for 25 days, but R Madhavan finished his portions in 15 day-Kookie Gulati
8:17 AM
Eager to work with R Madhavan for years, Dhokha Round D Corner director is impressed by the leading man’s command over his craft
Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; August 17, 2022)
After delivering The Big Bull last year, director Kookie Gulati dove right into the making of Dhokha Round D Corner. The thriller stars R Madhavan, Aparshakti Khurana, Darshan Kumaar and marks the acting debut of Khushalii Kumar. Gulati begins the chat by saying that he had signed the movie before The Big Bull came his way.
“It so happened that we shot The Big Bull first. When it was in post-production, we resumed discussions on this project. I had written this story because I wanted to explore a thriller in a confined space. It was a challenge to me as a director because you don’t need a big budget, big action sequences and lavish songs. You just need to tell a compelling story,” he states.
The movie, the teaser of which released recently, revolves around an urban couple — played by Madhavan and Kumar — whose lives turn upside down when a terrorist breaks into their home. For the director, collaborating with Madhavan was a big draw.
Gulati says, “He knows so much about his craft. Since he is also a director, he understands that space intimately. We had planned to shoot for 25 days, but Maddy finished his portions in 15 days. He understood his character so well and added nuances to it.”
Though thrillers are meant to be edge-of-the-seat affairs, Indian offerings have often been critiqued for being too predictable. Gulati says his attempt was to steer clear of tropes. “The genre is about twists and turns, and a big finish in the end. The end can’t be evident. This film goes into perceptions of good and bad, and explores the different shades of human nature.”
Kookie Gulati
R Madhavan’s professionalism makes him a class apart-Kookie Gulati
8:44 AM
Madhavan teams up with The Big Bull director Gulati for psychological thriller revolving around an urban couple
Upala KBR (MID-DAY; July 9, 2022)
R Madhavan dedicated the last many months to Rocketry: The Nambi Effect, the biopic on former ISRO scientist S Nambi Narayanan. However, he juggled the film with the shoot of his next, Dhokha Round D Corner that revolves around an urban couple. Giving finishing touches to the film, director Kookie Gulati says he has explored his favourite genre — psychological thrillers.
“It tells the story of a couple, played by Madhavan and Khushalii Kumar, whose lives change in the course of a day. Aparshakti Khurana plays a terrorist who enters their home, and the film traces how their lives become intertwined. The movie is about how we perceive certain things, when the reality could be [different]. It revolves around mind games,” says Gulati, who helmed The Big Bull last year.
Dhokha Round D Corner, which also stars Darshan Kumaar and is backed by Ajay Devgn’s cousins Dharmendra and Vikrant Sharma, is lined up for a September release.
For the project, Madhavan was the director’s first choice. Gulati reveals that the two had been in talks for long. “He had liked the story. He and Khushalii were to do another film for Bhushan Kumar, which didn’t happen. So, I got those dates. Madhavan’s professionalism makes him a class apart. We completed the shoot in 29 days.”
I was fortunate that I could take that time off and witness the growing up years of my children-Fardeen Khan
8:11 AM
Returning to movies with Visfot after 12 years and two children, Fardeen reflects on how he took a hiatus to build his family
Upala KBR (MID-DAY; June 15, 2022)
“How can I forget my first day of Visfot shoot,” exclaims Fardeen Khan. It was momentous for him — the actor, last seen in Dulha Mil Gaya (2010), was facing the camera after a 12-year hiatus. In these years, Khan had moved to London, become father to two children and piled on excess kilos that made him almost unrecognizable. Amid all these sweeping changes, what remained constant was his love for acting. In 2021, he decided that it was time to be Bollywood-bound again. Those extra kilos were quickly shed, and the actor — once again looking as dashing as he did in the aughts — returned to Mumbai.
“When I returned, I reached out to industry people to let them know that I am keen to work again. I met Sanjay [Gupta, Visfot producer] too. He liked the way I look; he said there is maturity and manliness in my demeanour now. He asked me to read the script of Visfot. I was a bit taken aback as it seemed a godsend,” he says, with his impish smile.
Visfot, also starring Riteish Deshmukh, is the remake of the Venezuelan movie, Rock, Paper, Scissors (2012). As the Kookie Gulati-helmed crime drama rolled late last year, Khan admits it took a while to get back on the saddle. “Initially, I was nervous, but it wasn’t a disabling nervousness. I spent three weeks doing script-reading sessions, perfecting the lingo and had many discussions with Kookie. I play a Dongri boy who emigrates overseas, but has to return to the country. His life then turns topsy-turvy overnight.”
Does he think filmmaking has changed in the past 12 years? “Things have changed a lot in terms of technology. The most profound change is that the audience’s standard of quality has risen with the [advent of] streaming platforms.”
A chat would be incomplete without understanding what made him take the long hiatus. “Natasha and I were trying to have a family. Since we had a bad experience with doctors here, we decided to consult doctors in London in 2011. That’s when we moved. IVF has its own demands, and I wanted to be there for my wife. I admire Natasha for everything that she has gone through. In 2013, we had our first child [Diani]. When I saw my daughter for the first time, my heart melted. We had our son [Azarius] in 2018. I was caught up in parenthood, and time just flew. I was fortunate that I could take that time off and witness their [growing-up] years.”
Seema Biswas and Sheeba Chadha are the kind of actors who are able to turn any story around-Kookie Gulati
8:19 AM
Visfot director Kookie Gulati discusses roping in Chadha and Biswas to play Dongri-based women in the Fardeen-Riteish starrer
Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; March 19, 2022)
Visfot may be centred on leading men Fardeen Khan and Riteish Deshmukh, but director Kookie Gulati knew that the women characters were key to driving the narrative. As soon as writers Hussain and Abbas Dalal developed the story set in the bustling streets of Dongri, the director was certain about casting Seema Biswas and Sheeba Chadha in the supporting roles.
Gulati believed only the senior actors could bring the fierceness that the parts required. “Sheeba ji and Seema ji are the kind of actors who are able to turn any story around. I love them as performers. So when we were casting, I had them in mind for specific characters. They play quintessential women from Dongri, so they have a menacing gait. Their presence conveys more than the dialogues. We needed actors who can bring that aura on screen,” he explains.
The thriller, backed by Sanjay Gupta and Bhushan Kumar, also features Krystle D’Souza and Priya Bapat. Gulati, who helmed The Big Bull last year, says it was a conscious decision to rope in strong women actors in the ensemble cast. “The men might be doing the action in the film, but these ladies pack a punch every time they are on screen.”
It’s daunting to make a fresh start, I feel like an intern again-Fardeen Khan
8:17 AM
Rachana Dubey (BOMBAY TIMES; February 24, 2022)
After an 11-year-long hiatus, Fardeen Khan is all set to step on the big screen once again. In fact, the actor recently wrapped up work on his comeback venture, Visfot, co-starring Riteish Deshmukh. In an exclusive chat with BT, the actor spoke about facing the camera after a long break and the journey ahead. Excerpts:
Now that you are back in the spotlight officially, what changes do you see in the way things work today?
It’s a whole new landscape in terms of the content and the way the system works now. There’s a much higher standard of creativity. Streaming has brought in a different kind of audience, and that has changed the way content is being created, and protagonists are being designed. The lines between OTT and theatrical content are blurred. Of course, the budgets, timelines and challenges differ, but unlike TV, streaming content has the same standard as a slick movie. I have consumed a lot of content over the years on streaming platforms, but to now see it functioning from the inside is great. What hasn’t changed is the human dynamism and the foundation of how we tell stories, how it continues to play on emotions and create an experience. The pandemic just turbocharged the change in the movie business that was waiting to happen.
How have people within the industry reacted to your re-entry into the fold?
Even though I was meeting fewer people due to the pandemic, I met Sanjay Gupta, Mudassar Aziz, Sajid Nadiadwala and many of my colleagues and friends with whom I had worked previously. I let them know that I am back, transformed, eager and committed to getting back to cinema. A lot of people thought I was not living here at all. Everyone I met was warm and welcoming, no upfront promises to work together, but a reassurance that we would team up for sure soon. This industry is where I belong, and I was always going to come back to work in some form. You need the courage to make a fresh start. It’s daunting and I feel like an intern again.
You have completed the shoot of Visfot. How was the experience of facing the camera again after more than a decade?
I was extremely nervous! (laughs!) I hadn’t slept a few nights before the first day of the shoot. We had workshops and readings. I was nervous about facing the camera again from the day I signed up for it. The film had its own kind of journey before going on floors. We changed locations from London to Goa and eventually to Mumbai, looking at the pandemic situation. I’m playing a character from a certain kind of background that I have never done before.
I wasn’t sure I would fit into that. I had apprehensions, but we got the look right, and that was the beginning. There were jitters; I wondered if I still knew how to act after 11 years of not doing it. The workshops helped me a lot to get a grip on the character, and it all started coming back. Knowing Kookie Gulati (director), Riteish (Deshmukh) and Sanjay went a long way in settling back in. They are my friends who had my back and they made me feel very welcome. I was fortunate to have the luxury of being treated rather gently for the first couple of days. A fortnight or so in, and the kid gloves were off! (laughs!) Then all of them were like, ‘He’s okay! Let’s get on with it!’ No more gentle treatment from there! I had a great time shooting at an outdoor place like Dongri. I have driven through it but never shot there. Shooting at one of their shopping streets was quite an experience. That day, I also realised that common people have not forgotten me, although it has been long since they saw me in a movie.
Earlier you spoke about how the way Bollywood functions has changed, what are the changes that strike you the most?
As an industry, we are now subscribing to a new standard of professionalism and creativity. Bollywood, in general, was operating with a lot of mediocrity. A percentage of the crowd did some amazing work, comparable to international cinema, but largely, we were still trapped in mediocrity, and that includes me, too. There is no room for that anymore. Everyone has upped their game today. You have to be on-point. Time is the most precious entity now and no one’s forgiven for wasting it. In this case, as Sanjay was involved with Visfot, I felt a sense of comfort as both of us are from the old school of Bollywood and we are together grappling with the new stuff. So much has changed; there are so many new faces and talent. The learning curve is huge, but I am enjoying the process. It felt like I was back in school.
Now that you’re back to the grind, have you introduced your kids to the work you have done so far?
Not yet. My daughter and I have not even seen a movie together. We have watched cartoons and other stuff. I think we will watch Heyy Babyy first. I have shown my children some of my film songs. My daughter (Diani) is older, and she is trying to wrap her head around the idea that there is something called acting for a livelihood. They have lived for the most of their life in the UK and one year in Dubai now. They have not been exposed to this side of what I do. Had the scenes allowed me, I would have loved to show her around one of my sets of Visfot. Even one of the last schedules had a lot of cussing and some extreme stuff, which is not meant for kids. But I hope to take her on a set soon. My son (Azarius) is amused to see the songs featuring me. The mere concept of seeing daddy act is new for him. Since they live in a different country and are not in the cinema ecosystem, it takes them time to understand all of this.
I met Fardeen Khan and was taken by his transformation-Sanjay Gupta
8:33 AM
As Khan’s comeback vehicle Visfot rolls in Mumbai, producer Gupta on how the actor’s casting happened due to a chance meeting
Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; October 14, 2021)
Two years ago, Sanjay Gupta’s agents in Los Angeles sent him the link of the Venezuelan film, Rock, Paper, Scissors (2012), which was the country’s official entry for the Oscars that year. The remake rights were up for grabs. After watching the drama, Gupta knew that it was the perfect recipe for a slick Bollywood thriller. That’s how he started his journey for Visfot, the Fardeen Khan and Riteish Deshmukh starrer that goes on floors today. “During the first lockdown, we commissioned writers Hussain and Abbas Dalal to [adapt] the film,” begins Gupta.
The film will mark Khan’s return to Bollywood after 11 years. While Deshmukh was his first choice for one of the leads, Khan’s casting happened by chance. “When we were still looking to cast the other lead, I met Fardeen and was taken by his transformation. He is so hungry to get back to the saddle, and has worked hard to lose oodles of weight. Riteish watched the film first, post which he read the script. He felt the script was better.”
The filmmaker has handed the directorial baton to Kookie Gulati, who helmed The Big Bull earlier this year. “The Big Bull made me marvel at his skill of handling the subject in two hours. I reached out to congratulate him, and sent him Visfot’s script.”
Gulati is thrilled to bring his interpretation to the remake. “It’s a story of how things can go crazy over a day. It will be fun filming on the streets of the city,” he says.
The movie will be shot in Bandra, Andheri, Girgaum and Dongri. Bhushan Kumar, who is backing the project with Gupta, says, “Kookie has a sense of emotions, and can ground the story while creating a big-screen extravaganza.”
While Abhishek is far more jovial on the set, Amitabh Bachchan sir is professional and humble-Kookie Gulati
8:03 AM
Months after directing Abhishek in The Big Bull, Kookie works with Big B on Chehre song
Upala KBR (MID-DAY; August 25, 2021)
When director Kookie Gulati wrapped up The Big Bull with actor-friend Abhishek Bachchan, he had little idea that he would be collaborating with his father Amitabh Bachchan within a few months. The director, who has helmed over 300 music videos so far, says giving shape to the title track of Chehre was special for obvious reasons.
“Anand Pandit [producer] and Rumy Jafry [director] were looking for a director to helm the title track. Abhishek suggested my name. It was an emotional moment for me when I shot with Bachchan sir. After we filmed the video, I folded my hands and bowed to him,” says Gulati.
Having worked closely with the father-son duo, the filmmaker says they are more alike than different. “While Abhishek is far more jovial on the set, Bachchan sir is professional and humble. He would call me Kookie sir. But the moment the camera rolls, their involvement is 200 per cent. They transform into their characters.”
Working with the veteran actor has been a lesson in dedication for Gulati. “We were to shoot for four to five hours, but Bachchan sir got so involved that he shot for far longer. He shared his inputs. For a shot, I wanted the camera to move while he remained stationary, but Bachchan sir said he would walk, thus conveying more through his body language. His suggestion [enhanced] the sequence.”
Ajay Devgn calls me only when he knows something is special-Abhishek Bachchan
8:11 AM
Bringing a fictionalised tale inspired by Harshad Mehta in The Big Bull, Abhishek Bachchan says moral responsibility to not glorify the protagonist rests with the director and actors
Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; March 30, 2021)
In early 2019, Abhishek Bachchan’s neighbour-friend Ajay Devgn called him to discuss a film he was producing. “He calls me only when he knows something is special. He is like an elder brother. Out of my love and respect for him, it’ll be a blind yes,” begins Bachchan, recounting how director Kookie Gulati, writer Arjun Dhawan, Devgn and he came together to create the world of The Big Bull, and its principal character Hemant Shah. “Kookie had a clear vision about the journey of a man with big dreams. He wanted it to be an emotional journey for the audience rather than [delving] into the technicalities of the story.”
But a fictional narrative inspired by the life of stockbroker Harshad Mehta poses a cardinal problem — how does one maintain the character’s essence while being careful not to glorify him? “I don’t know if the moral responsibility of the subject [rests with] the writers. Storytellers shouldn’t bother with morality. When the producers, actors and the director step in, that’s when the moral responsibility steps in. I was clear in my initial discussions that if Hemant is aspirational, he also has to be shown as a flawed man. Hemant initially lives in a chawl, and then owns an apartment with a swimming pool in the balcony. He is so taken in by the world he has created. He has human frailties, and I like the fact that he slips. We have not tried to whitewash him. The audience has come of age, and wants our heroes to be real and flawed.”
Hansal Mehta’s Scam 1992, centred on the same subject and starring Pratik Gandhi in the lead, took the nation by storm last year. Bachchan knows that topping it will be a tough act. “All my life, I have been compared to the best in the business. It doesn’t frazzle me,” smiles the star son.
True to his generous nature, Bachchan says he loved Scam 1992. “It’s such a well-made show. But in terms of design and intention, series and movies are different disciplines. A web series has the liberty of time, and hence, will have depth and detail. In cinema, you have to make the story pacy. The two shouldn’t be comparable.”
Ajay Devgn suggested Abhishek Bachchan’s name for the role in The Big Bull-Kookie Gulati
8:16 AM
From producer Ajay Devgn not playing the lead to having to tackle comparisons with Scam 1992, The Big Bull director Kookie Gulati talks about his passion project
Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; March 26, 2021)
When Kookie Gulati was working at Dalal Street in the early ’90s, young recruits would run to catch a glimpse of Harshad Mehta, their version of a superstar. With The Big Bull a fortnight away from release, the director says that the Abhishek Bachchan-starrer is a heavily fictionalised tale of the stockbroker who took the Bombay Stock Exchange by storm. “I leave it to the audience to [form their opinions] on the character. I have highlighted that he had grey areas, but he had good intentions that were corrupted by the situation,” he begins.
Gulati credits producer Ajay Devgn for casting Bachchan in the titular role, which he believes is a masterstroke. “The character journeys from the grass-root level to become [a billionaire] with swag. The actor would have to lend intensity to the performance. Ajay sir suggested Abhishek’s name for the role, and I jumped at it.”
Why didn’t Devgn lead the cast, considering he was producing the movie? “The character was younger. Plus, he would’ve taken three years to start shooting [given his date diary]. But for Ajay sir, it was about getting the right actor for the part. He believes that an actor shouldn’t be cast just because of his stardom; he has to justify the role. Here, I had a star producer who encouraged me to be honest to the story.”
Some may view the film as India’s version of The Wolf Of Wall Street (2014), but Gulati says the stories couldn’t be farther away from one another. “The world, lifestyle and aspirations are so different. My character will never want to buy a yacht. For him, dining at Taj’s most expensive restaurant is a high point.”
Closer home, viewers have been drawing comparisons with Hansal Mehta’s Scam 1992 that dropped online last year. Mehta recently dismissed these comparisons, tweeting that multiple tales can be told on the same subject. Gulati shares the filmmaker’s sentiment as he says, “People will see the difference between their series and our movie. The gaze is completely different. It was gracious of Hansal Mehta to tweet that, and shower us with love. We are all here to tell personal stories, and encouraging one another is important.”
I worked in the stock market from 1990 to 1992-Kookie Gulati
8:04 AM
Sharing Abhishek Bachchan’s first look from The Big Bull, director Kookie Gulati on bringing his interpretation to Harshad Mehta’s securities scam
Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; March 19, 2021)
In what may turn out to be a definitive part, Abhishek Bachchan has slipped into the titular role of The Big Bull, which is said to be inspired by the life and times of Harshad Mehta. Naysayers may be quick to draw comparisons with Scam 1992: The Harshad Mehta Story, but director Kookie Gulati says he has brought his own interpretation to the securities scam that shook the country in 1992, even fictionalizing the narrative where necessary.
The trailer, which drops today, sees Bachchan transform from the wide-eyed Hemant Shah, eager to make his mark in the world, to the unstoppable force that sends Bombay Stock Exchange to new heights. Sharing the actor’s first look with mid-day, Gulati says, “My father had forced me to join the stock market, straight out of school. I worked in the stock market from 1990 to 1992. Since I had seen it all first-hand, it was easy for me to take the reins of this story. For me, it was important that the authenticity of the story isn’t compromised.”
The director recreated Bombay of the early ’90s for the Disney+ Hotstar film that also stars Ileana D’Cruz, Nikita Dutta and Sohum Shah. Gulati adds, “The entire team, from my DoP [director of photography] to my assistants to the production designer and stylists, pooled in to bring the ’80s and ’90s alive for the audience.”
I have never been on a real date-Ileana DCruz
8:41 AM
Ileana D’Cruz talks amid rumours of a split; says she’d like to be serenaded and reveals she wants to launch a singing career soon
Ankita Chaurasia (MUMBAI MIRROR; November 2, 2019)
As soon as she comes on the line, Ileana D’Cruz apologizes for her hoarse voice. She blames it on a sore throat. Then, laughs and admits with refreshing candour that she thinks she sounds sexy and wishes it stays this way. Almost instantly, a bond is forged with the actress who turned 33 on Friday, and brought in her birthday gal pals, Pooja Vijan, Hanna Stromger Khan and Anisha Dixit. And since it follows Halloween, it was a spooky costume party that ended with her cutting the cake as the clock struck 12. After that it was just a low-key dinner with close friends.She is currently promoting the Anees Bazmee-directed laugh riot, Pagalpanti, which opens later this month. It’s the perfect time for a flashback to her first Telugu film, Devadasu, which she admits, happened because of an absolutely insane decision. “I told my director that I couldn’t act, dance or even speak the language. He simply insisted he would take care of all that. Now, this is what I do for a living. My career has been a long ride of pagalpanti,” she chortles, still seemingly incredulous about her 13-year journey in films.
Ileana plays John Abraham’s lady love, Sanjana, in her next, and describes her character as someone who loves and trusts her boyfriend, only to be struck by his bad luck and lose all her money. “John is a massive case of panauti in the film,” she laughs, adding, “Anees ji has effectively explained the film with the tagline, ‘Dimag mat lagana, kyunki inmein hai nahi’. I haven’t watched the entire film yet, but I couldn’t keep a straight face while dubbing my lines.”
Ileana is one of those few actresses who has worked in several two heroine projects, like Barfi!, Main Tera Hero, Mubarakan and Baadshaho without baring her fangs or claws. Point this out and she quips, “I have had more issues with men than with women on the sets. With actors, you are dealing with a lot of egos.” Yet, she has managed to stay out of the headlines? “What can I say…I’m a good girl,” she chuckles. “I don’t like confrontations, so, the minute I feel that a situation is leading to that, I move away. I’m extremely chilled out, but I also have a nasty temper though I try not to let it get the better of me. It takes so much energy to pick, continue and end a fight that I’d rather not get started.” She is all praise for her director. “You can throw in the most egotistical actors together and Anees ji will ensure that everyone is happy,” she marvels.
Meanwhile, she’s shot a chunk of her portion in the Abhishek Bachchan-starrer The Big Bull and will be reuniting with the team in a month for the next schedule. Apparently, there was some hesitation before she got on board? “It’s a completely different zone and started so quickly, I didn’t have time to think. This character is such a strong woman that I was unsure about taking it up at first, but Kookie (Gulati, director) makes it easy,” avers the actress, who also wants to get back to masala movies down South.
For now, she is tending to her health, her voice having worsened because of the pollution. “I was in a choir. I begin and end my day with music,” sighs Ileana, who has admitted that if not an actress, she’d have been a singer. Yet, she has never given playback for her movies? “I have stage fright. When you’re acting, you can put on a mask, but singing requires you to bare your soul,” she confides, adding that she can’t sing even in front of her family.
“I’m that shy, it’s weird.” But there’s hope. She plans to launch her singing career soon. “It has to be the beginning of something. It can’t be a one-off song in a film. Also, my taste in music is very different—I like jazz, bluesmore western. Let’s see when I can muster up enough courage,” she says wistfully.
While she’s admittedly shy in real-life, Ileana’s online personality seems to have no problem opening up to social media followers, posting her thoughts, OOTD and pictures of her newly chiselled bod in itsy-bitsy bikinis. “Have you seen that meme which talks about how you stare at yourself in the mirror for hours? That’s me. I work-out and I immediately wonder if I have abs. Then, I click tons of pictures only to later go, ‘Ugh, no!’ and delete them. The ones that pass muster get posted after much deliberation. Before putting them up, I tell myself there’s going to be at least one person who will pull me down, but to hell with them,” laughs the actress, happy that her posts inspire others to pick up the pieces and move on. “I got the Latin word for inspire inked on my wrist as my first tattoo because it’s such a huge part of my life. It feels great to know that I can be an inspiration by being myself.”
She admits that she’s been taking better care of herself of late. “It’s a lifestyle change because that’s what it takes for the results to show. I think I look a lot better now. It’s never late to start working on yourself, which is what I have been doing, both physically and mentally,” Ileana shares.
Does this have anything to do with the fact that a couple of months ago, she deleted most of her pictures clicked by photographer-boyfriend, Andrew Kneebone. Without saying much, Ileana states, “The advantage of having an Instagram account is that it’s there for all to see. I don’t want to make headlines using other people’s names. That’s unfair!”
Around the time, she also shared a quote which read, “You don’t always need a plan. Sometimes you just need to breathe, trust, let go and see what happens,” fuelling break-up rumours. Touch on the subject and she philosophises, “It resonated with me, it wasn’t meant to be a dig at anyone. Reading it, I thought to myself, ‘This is life, and it can be pretty sh**ty.’ Sometimes you depend so much on another person that you forget that there’s one person who will always be there for you and that’s you. I love my mum; I am very close to her. But sometimes I want to handle my sh** myself rather than call her and bawl. You’ve to toughen yourself up.”
So now that she’s in a good place, is she seeing someone? “I have never been on a real date. It will be fun to go out with someone to a fancy restaurant for a candlelit dinner, be serenaded, then, dropped home…You know, the works. But for now, I’m happy hanging out with my girlfriends, dressing up for myself, telling the girl in the mirror that she looks good and that everything is going to be okay,” she signs off.
A still from Pagalpanti
Breaking: Abhishek Bachchan, Ileana DCruz bag Ajay Devgn's next production based on real events
8:16 AM
Bachchan Jr to play the lead in the film which is based on real events and is produced by his former co-star; also featuring Ileana D’Cruz, it goes on the floors by year-end
Avinash Lohana (MUMBAI MIRROR; August 7, 2019)
Ajay Devgn and Abhishek Bachchan, who had last shared screen space in Rohit Shetty’s 2012 action-comedy Bol Bachchan, are set for a reunion. Mirror has learnt that the duo is collaborating on a yet-untitled drama which will be produced by Ajay and will feature Abhishek and Ileana D’Cruz as leads. The film will be directed by Kookie Gulati who had worked as a creative director on the Indra Kumar-directed Total Dhamaal, also featuring Ajay.According to a source close to the development, pre-production is currently underway, and the film’s team will start recce shortly. “It is based on real events that took place between 1990 and 2000 and changed India’s financial fabric. Ajay loved the subject and immediately agreed to back it. Ileana has a very strong role in the film but isn’t paired opposite Abhishek. The team is on the lookout for an actress to be paired with him. The film will go on the floors by the year-end,” the source informed.
Ajay is presently busy shooting for Bhuj: The Pride of India, which also features Sanjay Dutt, Sonakshi Sinha and Parineeti Chopra, while Abhishek will next be seen in Anurag Basu’s yet-untitled anthology film. The duo had first worked together in Rohit’s 2003 action film Zameen, followed by Mani Ratnam’s Yuva for which the Junior Bachchan bagged a Filmfare Award for Best Supporting actor. The true-to-life drama also marks Ajay’s reunion with Ileana after Raj Kumar Gupta’s Raid.
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