Showing posts with label Kriti Sanon interview. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Kriti Sanon interview. Show all posts
I wanted a movie like Cocktail 2, especially after Tere Ishk Mein, which was so intense-Kriti Sanon
8:27 AM
Upala KBR (MID-DAY; December 26, 2025)
“Happy, positive, fun,” rattled off Kriti Sanon, describing the mood on the Cocktail 2 set. Earlier this week, the actor wrapped up the shoot of Homi Adajania’s directorial venture, which teams her up with Shahid Kapoor and Rashmika Mandanna.
“I wanted a movie like Cocktail 2, especially after Tere Ishk Mein, which was so intense and heavy. I wanted to be in this light, fun, rom-com space. Things fell in place at the right time,” she said, smiling.
For Sanon, Cocktail 2 is a mix of something old and something new. While it reunites her with Shahid Kapoor after Teri Baaton Mein Aisa Uljha Jiya (2024), it also marks her first collaboration with Adajania.
Reflecting on working with the director, she said, “Homi has this fun energy and coolness that he brings to his characters and movies. He likes to find his characters. He does not want them to be perfect; he wants them to make mistakes and do things that real people do, and still be cool. It has been an absolute mad ride.”
Even as she looks forward to opening 2026 with the rom-com, Sanon is equally grateful for how 2025 shaped up. She had a sole release in Aanand L Rai’s Tere Ishk Mein, which crossed the Rs 100 crore mark in early December.
“When a film’s critical appreciation is combined with box-office numbers, that is the best thing anyone associated with the film can ask for.”
The movie may be widely debated for its depiction of toxic love, but to Sanon, it will remain special as it gave her Mukti.
Expressing her love for the character, she said, “Mukti has been one of my most layered characters to date. A lot is unspoken; a lot is [implied] between the lines and [through] the eyes. That’s where the character can come across as grey. But the fact that she is flawed makes her relatable. While shooting, Aanand sir told me, ‘My story lies in Mukti’s conflict and dilemma’.”
‘Cocktail 2’ reunites Kriti Sanon with Shahid Kapoor after ‘Teri Baaton Mein Aisa Uljha Jiya’. “It was amazing working with Shahid, since I was a human being this time,” joked Sanon, who played a robot in their first outing.
I love it when people say, ‘This is her best performance’ after every film-Kriti Sanon
11:00 AM
In a season marked by blockbuster love and personal growth, Kriti Sanon reflects on screen power, confidence and creative freedom
Rishabh Suri (HINDUSTAN TIMES; December 5, 2025)
One can hear the joy in her voice. Kriti Sanon is riding a wave of acclaim — both from the box office and the love pouring in for Tere Ishk Mein (TIM). With Cocktail 2 and Don 3 up next, she’s clearly in a strong season. Excerpts from a conversation:
You’ve been everywhere with TIM — theatre visits, housefull shows. How does this success feel?
It’s extremely overwhelming. The film has received so much love. I, as an actor, have received so much love. It’s rare for a film to get great reviews, critical acclaim for performances, and strong box office numbers. I’m getting all of it at the same time. I couldn’t have asked for more.
It’s also rare for both the male and female leads to get equal limelight, instead of the male star walking away with it. Was that refreshing?
Very refreshing. When I read the film, on paper Shankar (played by Dhanush) had the punches, the lines, he seemed to be leading a lot. But the layers of Mukti (her role) were somewhere in Aanand (L Rai, director) sir’s head. He was clear he wasn’t making a one-sided love story. He told me, ‘I see more of Dhanush’s love and pain in the first half, but I see more of Mukti’s in the second’. It’s beautiful when two characters are equally powerful; it doesn’t lessen the male character’s weight at all. It becomes more balanced, more real. A girl might relate more to Mukti, but they’re both giving equally to the story.
After a National Award-winning turn in Mimi, TIM has fetched you fresh praise. Feel relieved now?
When your work is appreciated, it energizes you. You put so much mental and emotional energy into your characters. I’m grateful that my choices are connecting with fans. Mimi gave me confidence to take risks and a sense of security, that I don’t have to keep proving myself. This industry constantly pits actors against each other, which can make you insecure.
But there comes a point, and I’m glad I reached it, when you realize: people know you can act. You’ve proven yourself. Now you just want to enjoy the work. I’m not competing with anyone anymore. I’m not chasing box office rankings. I only want to better myself. And I love it when people say, ‘This is her best performance’ after every film.
People are discussing TIM’s themes a lot. Are you keeping track of opinions on social media?
Yes, I’m obsessed! I’m always reading what people are saying, not just critics. I love debating; that’s the point of art. Not everyone sees a painting the same way, and the same goes for cinema. You connect with something because of your experiences, because you’ve known someone like Shankar or Mukti. TIM is interesting because it shows toxic love, but the girl also calls out the toxicity.
If you’re not talented, you won’t go beyond 4 or 5 films-Kriti Sanon
11:14 PM
Kriti Sanon spoke about her journey in showbiz and her take on nepotism at a session in IFFI 2024
Niharika Lal (BOMBAY TIMES; November 27, 2024)
A t the ongoing IFFI 2024, Kriti Sanon spoke about a myriad of topics, inlcuding her love for filmmaking and nepotism not being an industry-specific phenomenon.
‘AUDIENCE WANTS TO WATCH CERTAIN STAR KIDS, SO INDUSTRY MAKES A MOVIE ‘
Expressing her views on nepotism, Kriti said, “The industry has given me a very warm welcome since the time I came. Of course, when you don’t belong to a film background, it takes time for you to get there, to get the opportunities you crave for. It takes time for you to even get those magazine covers. But after 2-3 films, if you keep working hard and if you are at it, nothing can stop you. Ye jo hum nepo kids-nepo kids karte rehte hain, I feel, it’s not just the industry that is responsible for nepotism, it is also the media and the audience. The audience wants to watch what the media is putting out about certain star kids and because they are interested in them.”
Kriti added, “People in the industry feel like the audience is interested in them, so, let’s make a movie here. It’s a circle. But I believe, if you are talented, eventually, you will get there; no matter where you come from. If you’re not talented, you won’t go beyond 4-5 films.”
‘I’VE REALISED THAT THE SUCCESS OR FAILURE OF A FILM IS NOT IN MY CONTROL’
Kriti shared that she was advised against taking on Mimi by many people. “Still, I chose it because the script touched my heart. For me, that’s the most important factor while selecting a film,” she said, adding, “There’s a lot of chatter around actors. A lot of people tell you what to do, what not to do. I’ve gone through all of that. I’ve listened to many things, but I’ve also realised that the success or failure of a film at the box office is not in my control. There are certain films that haven’t worked, and that’s broken my heart. But if you ask me whether I’d go back and do the same film again – I would, because I enjoyed the journey of it.”
She elaborated, “Sometimes, (let’s say), my agent says I should do a film because great people are involved, or it might collect Rs. 100 crores. That Rs. 100 crore is not in my hands. But if your heart’s not in it, and that film doesn’t work – toh ek toh hear tbreak hota hi nahi hai kyunki tha hi nahi dil wahan pe. Upar se lagta hai kyun kara? There is no formula, there will never be.”
We have more women in film industry today due to amenities like vanity vans, bathrooms-Kajol
8:52 AM
It’s Kajol first time ever playing a cop, and Kriti Sanon’s first double role. Together they talk about navigating writer Kanika Dhillon’s unpredictable, scary world
Sucheta Chakraborty (MID-DAY; October 20, 2024)
I’ve always loved thrillers. Be it [those by] Agatha Christie, James Hadley Chase or Sidney Sheldon,” producer, author and screenwriter Kanika Dhillon tells us. “There are various artistes, directors and writers who have been influences, [for instance]—David Fincher, in the way he holds tension. I also really enjoy writing thrillers.”
Do Patti, releasing on Netflix this week, is her second thriller this year after the Taapsee Pannu-starrer Phir Aayi Haseen Dillruba, a sequel to 2021’s twisty Haseen Dillruba. Dhillon, however, is quick to point out the differences between the films.
“Hasseen Dillruba was a pulpy thriller, it was in-your-face, loud and unapologetic. Do Patti is more inward, subtler—its unpredictability creeps up on you. These films are at two different ends of the spectrum. I’m really enjoying the diversity and exploring these nuances within the larger genre of thriller,” she shares.
Dhillon has also co-produced the film with its star Kriti Sanon, and shares how the experience taught her of the importance of good collaborators. “It made me appreciate the kind of people I partner with [because] they have your back and you are in it together. One really values that as a new producer.”
Do Patti is a story of siblings, twins, played by Sanon, who do not have “obvious physical differences except for the length of their hair,” the actress points out.
“They were born and brought up in the same environment, and speak in a similar manner. It is their personalities, the way they react to things, their expressions, and their [respective emotional] baggage from their past, that was different.”
And then, there’s Kajol. “The writer and producer in me were doing cartwheels,” Dhillon tells us excitedly of the day the actress accepted the role. The character, a cop assigned to investigate a case involving Sanon’s characters, had to have a sense of authority and believability, especially since much of the story is told from her perspective
“The audience has to instantly connect with her and we knew that Kajol, as an artist, connects hugely with audiences across age groups and borders. [Getting her] was a big win,” the screenwriter admits.
“I have been offered the role of a cop before, but I didn’t want to do a throwaway [role] just because I hadn’t done it before,” shares Kajol. “It had to be done properly and in the right way. I felt that this was the right script for it. I loved it from the get-go.”
Though the script had enough to go by, the character underwent some alterations during the process of filming. “We got a little bit of a dialect and I think when you speak differently, you walk differently. Your entire body language changes,” Kajol observes.
Kajol and Sanon have worked together previously in 2015’s Dilwale. “A lot has changed in her since then,” chuckles Kajol about her co-actress. “Dilwale was [Kriti’s] second film and she’s done a lot more movies in this time. Experience takes its toll, allows you to grow up.” She admits that the Rohit Shetty film didn’t have too many scenes of them together and by comparison, Do Patti was “a more involved” experience. There was “a lot more meat [to work with]” this time around.
The younger actress recalls the time when they shot Dilwale as one when she was still making sense of the world of acting and film sets and was both reserved and in awe of the people and processes around her.
“I don’t think we broke the ice at that point because [we didn’t have a lot to go by]. I am glad that in this film we spoke about other things and discussed scenes.” Besides being a remarkable performer, Sanon points out how Kajol is honest enough to indicate if a co-actor can do better in a scene. “She’s open to things if it’s good for a scene and when there’s a little pat on the back from her, it just means so much.”
Kajol, from a film family herself, who has now effectively worked for more than three decades in the industry, speaks of some of the changes she’s been witness to over the years. Vanity vans, she says, have been a positive change. “We didn’t have them when I started work. It was ridiculously difficult to be on location and change clothes, or use the bathroom. One of the reasons I think we have more women in the film industry today is the proper amenities we have now. It has made a huge difference. I know it sounds small, but it isn’t.”
But there are things she misses about the old days too. “I think one of the great things was that we didn’t have mobile phones. It gave us a lot more freedom and because you didn’t have a phone, you had nothing better to do on set. So, you bonded. When you sat around on a set with another hundred people, you were bound to talk to somebody. And, your friends came over in between shots. I think at that time everything was not so specialized, so a 100-people unit was considered a really big unit. [The industry] has gone from being a small business to a big business. That’s the main difference.”
Actors should be mindful of costs. We need to be mindful of everything on set-Kriti Sanon
8:45 AM
Kriti Sanon, who is also a film producer now, shares her views on the ongoing discussion about stars’ fees and rising production costs
Vinay MR Mishra (BOMBAY TIMES; June 11, 2024)
In recent months, there has been a lot of discussion within the film industry about the rising costs that go into a film’s production. This subject has become a growing concern given that several big budget Bollywood films lately have been unable to create the desired impact at the box office. In a chat with Bombay Times, actress and now producer Kriti Sanon, shares her perspective on this matter.
Last month, reportedly a meeting occurred between four film bodies — Indian Motions Picture Producers’ Association (IMPPA), Producers Guild of India, Active Telugu Film Producers Guild and Tamil Film Active Producers Association, along with five talent agencies, to address the escalating costs of movie production.
Talking about it, Kriti tells us, “Actors should get paid what they deserve, however, there are a lot of things that should be checked. There are certain areas where a lot of unnecessary expenditure happens. At the end, it is the content that wins. No matter what you are paying people or whether you think you are paying them more, if you’re not focusing on the main thing which is the content, I don’t think the rest matters.”
Lately, multiple filmmakers such as Anurag Kashyap and Farah Khan in their interviews, have spoken about the rising issue of stars’ unnecessary expenses while shooting. “A lot of money that is spent doesn’t go into making the film. It goes into the paraphernalia; it goes into the entourage. You’re shooting in the middle of a jungle, but one car will be sent to the city three hours away specifically to get you that five-star burger you want. You don’t get into the process of it,” Anurag had said in an interview with Humans of Cinema.
Ask the Crew actress about the paraphernalia, from the point of view of an actor and a producer, and she replies, “I’ve not experienced any of that myself, so I wouldn’t be able to comment on that. But it should not be ridiculous. It should make sense at the end of the day. For instance, if you are giving an actor a certain kind of food or a trainer — is that the requirement of the script and the role he/she is playing? That is the question. When I was doing Mimi, I was supposed to be on a particular diet and I was supposed to gain weight, which I was doing only for the film. So, in such a case, it makes sense for the production to take care of it. But yes, we should be mindful of costs. We need to be mindful of everything on set.”
My Teri Baaton Mein Aisa Uljha Jiya character lacked emotions, so I didn’t expect the response to be this overwhelming-Kriti Sanon
8:21 AM
Onkar Kulkarni (BOMBAY TIMES; February 19, 2024)
Kriti Sanon, one of the top actresses in the industry today, is basking in the appreciation and love she’s getting for her film Teri Baaton Mein Aisa Uljha Jiya (TBMAUJ), in which she effortlessly plays a robot and looks stunning while at it. The National Award-winning actress talks to us about playing risky roles, her craft and more.
Your character, SIFRA – Super Intelligent Female Robot Automation – in Teri Baaton Mein Aisa Uljha Jiya has received a great response. It’s been dubbed as one of your best performances to date. Did you expect that kind of reaction?
I always felt that people equated good performances to intense scenes and emotions. This character lacked emotions, so I didn’t expect the response to be this overwhelming. To convince the audience that I am a machine in the film was extremely tricky. I knew it was a challenging role, which is what made it easy for me to take it up. There couldn’t have been many references for a character like this.
What was your reaction when you were offered the part?
When I heard the role for the first time, I found it exciting and over time, it became even better. To strike a balance between human and robot as a humanoid was tough. When I was trying to look for a reference, the only reference I could see was Scarlett Johansson’s voice in Her. I couldn’t find references to robots as characters where they were so close to being humans, which made it exciting for me as an actor.
Just like in Mimi, Luka Chuppi and Bareilly Ki Barfi, people have appreciated your comic timing in this film, too. Do you wish to do an out-and-out comedy film?
I have always been looking for an out-and-out comedy film. Female actors are not perceived for roles in the comedy genre. Some female actors, like Sridevi ma’am, Madhuri (Dixit Nene) ma’am and Juhi Chawla, have attempted comedy. Personally, I have enjoyed watching films like Andaz Apna Apna, Chaalbaaz and a movie like Queen, which was more of a feel-good film with comedy organically weaved in it.
The best compliment Kriti has received for her performance in TBMAUJ
“People told me that you were completely like a robot, but we felt for you, and that’s what I was trying to achieve. The challenge was to be like a robot, not falter, and seem human-like at the same time. Consistency was the key. At the screening, I saw my sister (Nupur Sanon) laughing and thoroughly enjoying it. She loved Mimi, and after watching this film, she said, this is my best performance to date. Nupur is honest and critical, so her positive reaction meant a lot to me.”
When you make exercising fun, you can integrate it into your life-Kriti Sanon
7:59 AM
Asserting that consistency plays a crucial role in effecting physical change, Kriti says choosing exercises that are “enjoyable” is her utmost priority
Sonia Lulla (MID-DAY; November 22, 2023)
As fate would have it, a film venture that required her to gain 15 kilograms redefined Kriti Sanon’s fitness journey. Ever since Sanon adopted a new routine to shed the weight she had gained for Mimi, she has turned heads with her athletic abilities, which became increasingly prominent after the release of her last actioner.
For anyone hoping to learn about Sanon’s fitness routine, her social media feed could be deceptive. She does, after all, explore a variety of formats. Ask her which ones she has most benefited from, and she says, “Given the kind of body type that I have, I prefer to choose exercise formats like weight-training coupled with 30-second-long bursts of activities that shoot the heart rate. Typically, these are HIIT-styled exercises, and this mix is suitable for me. Because I lose weight very quickly, I prefer not to do too many cardiovascular activities. Sometimes, I may also practice yoga or incorporate flexibility exercises into my routine. I also meditate.”
For Sanon, however, developing a liking for fitness was a work in progress. It was during the time that she had to lose the 15 kilos that she had packed on for Mimi that she chanced upon trainers with whom she subsequently went on to launch a business venture.
“This was during COVID-19, and I had to train from home. The three trainers I trained with had started virtual sessions, and each of their energies was fresh. Each had something unique about their styles that made exercising enjoyable. The fact that I wasn’t executing the same monotonous routine again and again felt good. In case I needed to be in recovery or had injured my knee, [my trainer] knew which exercises would help me recover. Many people are often not motivated to exercise, but fitness is something that should be part of their lives, so the idea is to make it as [interesting] as you can. People think of exercise as something that needs to be regimented. But when you make it fun, you can integrate it into your life.”
Her biggest learning from the process, she shares, has been her comprehension of the importance of consistency. “Nothing happens overnight. Even if you exercise for two hours each day and slog yourself, you won’t see results in four days. You have to be consistent.”
All game for another action film, Sanon says her body type is suited for the genre. “I know I have the frame that is required for action to look good. But only when I feel that the script touches my heart, and that getting to do action would be [a bonus], will I do it. The script has to be more than just action alone.”
When the actor shares that she’s never had a cheat meal, we preemptively believe she adheres to a stringent one. It turns out to be the opposite.
“I am not a believer in following a strict diet or not having a certain food item. I don’t have cheat meals because I give my body everything. Of course, if there is a shot for which I need to show my midriff, I’ll cut down on the [amount of] carbs I have at night. But if you simply eat clean, that is, the right kind of foods, including vegetables, protein, carbs and fat in moderate amounts—that’s all that you need to do to stay fit. I’m a Punjabi. I love food. For me, it’s important to enjoy food, and I do,” said the actor while speaking to mid-day on the sidelines of the recently held Skechers marathon.
The two things I never miss having on Diwali are mithais and chhole bhature-Kriti Sanon
8:34 AM
Onkar Kulkarni (BOMBAY TIMES; November 12, 2023)
This year’s Diwali is a special one for Kriti Sanon, who has moved into her new house recently. Like every year, she will be celebrating the festival with her family. “This is my first Diwali celebration at my new home and I am excited.”
“We will also do Laxmi Puja and have some yummy khaana, like homemade chhole-bhature; it’s our thing! I will also indulge in some lip-smacking sweets,” says Kriti, who has taken a three-day break for Diwali from the shoot of her maiden production, Do Patti.
The actress, who grew up in Delhi, says “The festive spirit during Diwali is the same throughout the country, be it in Mumbai or Delhi.”
‘Diwali is beautiful in Delhi with every street lit up’
Remembering her childhood memories of celebrating the festival in Delhi with her younger sister Nupur, Kriti shares, “Diwali is beautiful in Delhi with every street lit up. Celebrations start here much before Diwali, from Navaratri, with every locality having mela and garba nights. I still have my house in Patparganj and as kids we used to go to every society ka mela. It used to be a big event for us. Also, Diwali card parties start weeks in advance and they continue even after Diwali. I feel Diwali celebrations in Delhi are really grand.”
The actress, who was recently in Delhi to receive her Best Actress National Award for Mimi, reminisces, “My sister and I would spend the whole day making rangoli, decorating the house and meeting friends in my colony. I remember how all the houses in our locality would be decked up with diyas and fairy lights. Nupur and I would stroll through the neighbourhood to soak in the festive spirit. Meeting relatives, having lots of mithai and, of course, wearing a new outfit for Diwali was the tradition. Diwali is my favourite time of the year.”
‘Never miss having mithai and chhole-bhature on Diwali’
From making rangoli to indulging in her favourite mithai, Kriti has her to-do list ready for Diwali. “Every Diwali, my mother is after my sister and me, saying ‘naha lo’! The entire day goes in cleaning the house and making rangoli – we get shouted at 50 times and then we take a shower and get ready for the puja. After dinner, we step out to meet friends,” she tells us.
Kriti says that Diwali is the best day to indulge in sweets. “Gujiya is not really a Diwali sweet but since we do not get good gujiya in Mumbai, we make it on Diwali. Give me anything with khoya and sugar and I will love it! Every Diwali after puja, we have homemade chhole-bhature. Having chhole bhature for Diwali dinner has become our family ritual now. Like on the day of kanjak it is fixed that we will have halwa, puri and chane, on Diwali it is fixed that we will have chhole-bhature. So, the two things I never miss having on Diwali are mithais and chhole-bhature,” says Kriti.
In 2020, I wrote in my diary that I wanted to win the National Award-Kriti Sanon
8:41 AM
Divya Kaushik (BOMBAY TIMES; October 19, 2023)
"Seeing the pride in my parents’ eye was special,” Kriti Sanon tells us after receiving the Best Actress National Award in the capital for Mimi. From waiting to win any award for best actress for years, to now being a National Award winner, Kriti has come a long way. Excerpts from a chat:
‘To receive a National Award within a decade of being in this industry is a huge deal’
This award is the highest form of validation that any actor can receive in this country. It is something that all actors dream of. You don’t think of getting a National Award because you don’t get it easily. It’s a big one. I had not even received any best actress award before Mimi. So I thought a National Award is far away, but I still wrote it in my diary in 2020. To receive it within a decade of being in this industry is a huge deal. The kind of pride that I saw in my parents’ eyes when the award was announced, how overwhelmed they were, was special. When I told my father about it, he jumped up and hugged me. He had tears in his eyes, which is extremely rare for him. It took my mother a few seconds to believe it was true. She thought somebody was playing a prank on me. She rushed back from the salon, where she was, and hugged me. It was such a sweet moment.
‘Mimi offered me so much as an actor’
Mimi has been a special film. Everyone associated with it has been very passionate about it. It offered me so much to do as an actor, which I was craving for. Sometimes you need a character that allows you to explore your potential as an actor. Mimi gave me that. There were so many challenges, both emotional and of physically transforming myself by gaining almost 15 kgs. While we were shooting the film, we divided the pre and post pregnancy shoots as happy and sad schedules. In the sad schedule, every single day had very draining scenes. I was dealing with a three-year-old Scottish child who had no idea of acting, did not know Hindi and had never faced the camera. It was not easy. I didn’t tell him my real name, he used to call me Mimi. I had to become his best friend and played with him in between scenes - and that’s when you get magical moments. I am so thankful that Dinesh Vijan (producer of Mimi) gave me that chance. Laxman Utekar (director of Mimi) sir believed I could do it and I was ready to give it my everything. He used to call me Mimi, and would say, ‘Mimi aap dekhna, iske liye aapko National Award milega’. I used to tell him that I have not even received a best actress award, but he believed it.
‘I always thought Mimi was meant for theatres’
(At the National Award ceremony) Pankaj sir and I were talking about the film and he was like ye agar theatre mein aati toh kamaal karti. We held the film for a year, and I always felt that Mimi was meant for theatres. We are used to box office numbers being the only sign of validation. I think today that every film has its own destiny. Mimi has gotten all the love even on OTT. A friend who was confused about adoption told me that after watching the film they decided to adopt. Someone’s mother was not okay with them adopting a child but after watching Mimi, she was okay with it. These stories were precious. I feel that if you make such an impact, it’s beautiful. A good film will get what it deserves, it doesn’t matter on what platform it comes.
The magnitude of VFX in Adipurush is massive. It's going to be a visually spectacular experience-Kriti Sanon
8:13 AM
Onkar Kulkarni (BOMBAY TIMES; June 14, 2023)
In one of the biggest roles of her career, Kriti Sanon will be seen playing Janaki in Om Raut’s magnum opus Adipurush. The movie that has her sharing screen space with Prabhas for the first time, hits the screens this Friday. Ahead of the film’s release, Kriti talks about the challenges she faced in bringing this part alive on screen. Excerpts:
‘PORTRAYING A CHARACTER THAT IS SO REVERED IS A PRIVILEGE’
In her repertoire of films, Kriti played contemporary roles, rooted characters from the heartland of India and even starred in period films. Talking about transforming into Janaki for Adipurush, Kriti says, “Portraying a character that is so revered is an extraordinary privilege that rarely presents itself in an actor’s career. I’m truly grateful to Om Raut and Bhushan Kumar for entrusting me with this remarkable role. I believe we don’t choose our films and characters. The films and characters choose us. I was meant to play Janaki and I feel blessed that Janaki chose me. ”
‘PRABHAS HAS EXPRESSIVE EYES AND A CALM DEMEANOUR’
Speaking about working with Prabhas for the first time, she shares, “I had heard he was reserved and initially he did come across as shy. But there wasn’t much ice to break. I just casually started talking about how my first film was a Telugu movie and it’s tough to act in a language that I didn’t know, then he opened up and started talking. He is incredibly grounded, warm and respectful. He has very expressive eyes and a calm demeanour and I couldn’t imagine anyone else playing Raghav.”
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"The transformation into Janaki was also about internalizing the essence of the character. It took a lot of effort to immerse myself into Janaki's persona and understand her emotional journey and virtues and bring her alive on screen"
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"This is the first film that I've fully shot on a blue screen. It was a huge learning experience to adapt to this style of filmmaking. The magnitude of VFX in Adipurush is massive. It's going to be a visually spectacular experience"
Bhediya was one of the first few films that I was not nervous about; I'm extremely proud of Adipurush-Kriti Sanon
7:52 PM
Onkar Kulkarni (BOMBAY TIMES; January 31, 2023)
In her showbiz journey over the last nine years, Kriti Sanon has been a part of films of diverse genres. After making her debut with Heropanti in 2014, she made a mark as the quintessential Bollywood heroine in several big-ticket films. But she didn’t stop at that. She went on to pick roles that gave her a chance to push the envelope and showcase her range as an actor. In 2021, Kriti won immense appreciation for her role as a surrogate mother in Mimi and the Filmfare Award for the Best Actress, which was followed by the creature comedy Bhediya last year, a genre that hasn’t been explored in Bollywood much. In a conversation with BT, the actress talks about how she’s constantly changing gears in her career and the surprises she has up her sleeve for the audience this year. Read on...
2022 was a year of surprises and shocks for the Hindi film industry, but amidst that, there were some movies that left an impact, one of which was the creature comedy Bhediya, which won much appreciation. How confident were you to be a part of a film which was an attempt at a genre that’s rarely explored in Bollywood?
Success at any time is what we all are looking for, especially in times like these where films are struggling a bit to do what they should do or would have done in another time. So, when Bhediya got the reactions it did and performed well, it gave me a little more confidence in my own choices.
It was one of those films that I was extremely sure of when it came to content. Also, I knew we had done something unique in terms of its VFX. When you are absolutely sure of something and that doesn’t end up working then you start questioning your thought process, your choices and decisions. You start wondering if your choices are still resonating with the audience and that is a scary feeling. Bhediya was, in fact, one of the first few films that I was not nervous about. Sometimes you are aware that the part that you are playing in a film isn’t long in terms of screen time, but it is relevant and there is meat in it. I also did the film for that one twist (in the climax). I am glad Bhediya got the love it deserved.
2022 ended on a positive note for you. What’s in store this year?
The audience can probably look forward to far more versions of me. It starts with a very glamorous one which is a family entertainer, followed by probably my biggest film, Adipurush, which I am extremely proud of. Then there is a lot of action coming in with Ganapath, something I have done for the first time. You will see me ride a dirt bike, throw kicks and punches and also use a weapon. I am also doing a quirky love story with Shahid Kapoor. We are teaming up on screen for the first time, so you will see fresh chemistry. Then there is The Crew, which has three women (Tabu, Kareena Kapoor Khan and me) coming together, having a lot of fun and creating something amazing.
After observing the pattern at the box office last year and the beginning of 2023, has your thought process on choosing films and subjects changed?
No. I don’t think we can make our future choices in retrospect. It isn’t a good way to move ahead. We can’t say... ‘Achcha this has worked, so let me do this’. Because that film has worked at that time. I believe that every film and genre have the right timing. Timing is important in terms of when the film is releasing and what the audience is craving for. I go by my gut feeling and instinct. When I hear a script, I try to see if it gets me excited as an actor, as an audience or both. I don’t want the audience to put me in a box where they say if it is a Kriti Sanon film toh aisi hi hogi. I want to give them a variety of content and characters. After Bareilly Ki Barfi, I was getting small-town roles one after the other. So, I did the war epic drama Panipat. Then I took up a strong and meaty role in Mimi and moved on to the next level. I want to shift the gear constantly and not stay in one particular zone. You have to move on and think what’s next, otherwise you will stagnate.
Today, you are in the top league, and are being offered the kind of roles that you want and deserve. But the road up to here has not been easy. When you look back, what has kept you going?
I have been here for nine years and I am glad that finally people are seeing the actor in me. Having said that, I don’t think I have reached even 50 per cent of what I can do. There is a lot more I can offer. Sometimes the opportunity you get gives you a lot to do and you shine. Sometimes it is limited in terms of what the role is or what the screenplay is. There is only so much for you to perform and do. Then there is a film like Mimi, which gives you the range and kind of scenes where you can go all out and shine. So, it is a matter of getting the right opportunity at the right time. I am just glad that people are seeing me in different zones. I am glad Om Raut saw me as Janaki for Adipurush, Vikas Bahl saw me kicking ass as Jassi in Ganapath, Rohit Dhawan saw me as this glamorous urban girl for my upcoming film, Shehzada. I feel excited and blessed in this phase, which probably is the best of my career. It took a lot of consistency, passion, hard work and belief in myself to get here. It is only when you believe in yourself that someone else will believe in you. I’m happy with where I am today, but I still feel that I am not even close to exploring half of my potential. I want to do more. So, you just believe in yourself and hold on closely to the people who are with you when you are not doing well! I think that is very important, too.
When you get an opportunity to do so much in a film, you start craving for that feeling and experience-Kriti Sanon
7:44 AM
Onkar Kulkarni (BOMBAY TIMES; December 1, 2021)
When the actress known for her glam roles did a Bareilly Ki Barfi in 2017, she felt proud that people saw beyond her good looks and praised her performance. After that, she saw a certain shift in the kind of projects that started coming her way. This year, Mimi tested her acting skills, and she could sense something similar, but amplified to another level. Post the release of the Laxman Utekar directorial that had her playing the role of a surrogate mother, Kriti Sanon feels that times have changed for her in Bollywood. Excerpts from a chat with the actress:
This is the last month of the year. 2021 was tough on most, the film industry included. For you professionally, Mimi has taken your already successful career notches higher. Do you think this film has been a huge turning point for you?
Mimi, for me, has been special from day one. When I heard the script, I knew this was something I am going to be very passionate and excited about because somewhere, I was craving to dig in deeper. I was craving for a platform to play a character that was so layered that it could make me nervous, but at the same time, help me open up and showcase a lot more in one film. Mimi was that film for me. I loved the way the film was written because it had humour, it had moments that made you laugh and cry a little bit at the same time, and it also kind of whispered something into your ears which stayed with you. Many times, it happens you’re shooting scenes and you like them, but you don’t know how they will finally turn out when the film is ready. Here, all the actors on set were on the same page, and every time we shot a scene, we felt like it was better than what was on paper. What the film says about adopting kids at the end touched my heart.
Mimi also marked my debut on OTT platforms, and I don’t think I could have asked for a better film to debut digitally. This has been my toughest role so far, and I’m really happy about the kind of response that I got.
This is the first film of your career where you played the titular role. How did you gather the confidence to pull off the part?
I felt that I had more potential, and I wasn’t getting the right kind of opportunity to tap into those parts of me and bring out a layered performance. When Mimi came my way, it felt like the perfect film to take up as the main protagonist. Yes, it did make me nervous because I was supposed to be in every frame of the film, and if I faltered anywhere, the entire film could fall apart.
The character was also emotionally heavy in the second half. I think those scenes satisfied me as an actor. I like being challenged and being in a situation that scares me, makes me nervous and makes me wonder how to do this.
Some subjects draw a lot from you emotionally, and it gets difficult to break away from them even when you are not facing the camera. Was this film one of those?
This, I think, was one of the most challenging and emotionally heavy films I have done, even though most part of the film is actually comedy. I remember the first schedule of Mimi was very light (before she became a surrogate mother), as her life is very colourful and spunky. I used to call that a happy schedule. The second schedule was where she gets pregnant, and her life turns around. She matures as a woman and her dreams are shattered. Those bits were very emotional and heavy because I was almost doing an intense or sad scene every single day. And you end up drawing from what you’re feeling inside. So, during that entire schedule, I think I was crying, or I was sort of screaming at someone or fighting with someone every single day.
Has Mimi changed your process of picking roles and will it reflect in your film choices in the future?
There are films that have excited me before, but now they feel like a cakewalk, and I don’t feel like taking them up anymore. When you get an opportunity to do so much in a film, you start craving for that feeling and experience. A movie like this doesn’t come your way very often. So, as an actor, you have to tell yourself that you are not going to get these kinds of roles all the time. You need to balance it out by doing films of all genres. There could be projects that are challenging in different ways; for example, when I’m doing an action film, it is also something that I’ve never done before. In Ganapath or Adipurush, the aura and the weight of the character that I’m playing is exciting for me.
Over the years, has there also been a change in the way filmmakers perceive you and your strength as an actress?
Yes, I do feel a change in the way people approach me and the kind of projects that are coming my way. I think, after Mimi, I got a lot of calls and messages. People started taking me a lot more seriously as an actor, and it’s something that I felt after Bareilly Ki Barfi released because before that I had done glamourous roles. Bareilly Ki Barfi was a little de-glam, people saw the actor in me more than my appearance. I remember seeing a certain shift in the kind of projects I was getting after that. With Mimi, I think it’s amplified.
It is often a challenge, as an actor, to strike a balance between all-out masala films and ones that are entertaining but traverse along a different path, too. How has that process been for you?
Yes, it’s difficult to strike a balance. Many times, you end up getting into a loop of doing things that are working for you. When an actor does a film that is centred around a female protagonist and gets praised for it, the tendency is to get drawn towards more such projects only. I don’t want to get typecast with any kind of limitations. I feel like taking more risks and trying something new. I want to give my audience something different to watch. And I will do so, but yes, that won’t stop me from doing other kinds of films. I want them to see me in all colours. I want to be in a completely massy entertaining film and at the same time, I also want to do a film that has a strong message and says something important that I believe in. I am as excited about Bachchan Panday, which is a complete entertainer, as I am about my first horror-comedy, Bhediya. Then, there is a lot of action in Ganapath, and Adipurush is based on history and mythology is a completely different world for me. To be able to do all these kinds of films in a span of one and a half years — there’s nothing more I could ask for.
Kriti used to avoid talking to me about her boyfriend; she didn’t want me to have one-Nupur Sanon
8:16 AM
Onkar Kulkarni (BOMBAY TIMES; August 22, 2021)
This Raksha Bandhan, Sanon sisters take a moment to thank each other for being each other’s rakshaks in times of the pandemic. As the world battled through the coronavirus crisis, work came to a standstill and people had no choice but to be confined to their homes, the Sanon sisters — Kriti and Nupur — say that they were blessed to be by each other’s side during this phase. While their current state of mind is celebratory, with Kriti receiving rave reviews for her performance in Mimi and Nupur’s music video, Filhaal 2, winning appreciation, the last few months were a tough ride.
As Bombay Times celebrates #MyPandemicRakshak, the sisters open up about the bond they shared through their growing up years and how the pandemic redefined this equation. Read on…
To begin with, let’s talk about the equation the two of you shared in your younger days and how has it evolved over the years?
Nupur Sanon (NS): As a kid, Kriti was always that badi behen for me. We couldn’t crack that bond where the two of us could be very friendly with each other. It is only in the last six years that we developed that kind of a bond where I could share things with her, even my secrets.
Kriti Sanon (KS): As kids, we were like friends and played ghar-ghar and teacher-teacher together. We had the same group of friends. As I became a teenager, I branched out. I had my separate set of friends and I became this protective elder sister to her. Nupur and I have an age gap of five years. So then, you have your limitations where you can’t discuss everything with your younger sibling, right?
NS: Kriti used to avoid talking to me about her boyfriend, because she didn’t want me to have a boyfriend (laughs!).
KS: Yes, I wouldn’t tell thinking that she would get influenced by me and start dating at a young age. Our equation changed drastically the moment I moved to Mumbai to pursue a career in Bollywood. I was by myself here and I would miss her a lot. Then, when she moved in with me, our relationship blossomed.
Through the Coronavirus pandemic you had each other for company. What did you do to keep each other’s spirits high?
KS: We used to cook and do jhaadu-poocha on alternate days and this actually took us back to our childhood. I remember in Delhi, when on some days our domestic help wouldn’t turn up, the two of us would do the dusting and mopping. We also bonded over watching digital content during the lockdown.
NS: These two years have been quite stressful. In such times of uncertainty, it was good to have someone who you can vibe with. We kept each other entertained with long chats over coffee. We even play Ludo at times. We developed a fondness for cooking, especially Kriti, who had begun to bake a lot. She used to bake these really amazing meetha stuff and different kinds of bread.
KS: I also remember these small moments like oiling each other’s hair…
NS: Or even our attempt at making the Dalgona coffee, which was trending then.
KS: Our efforts went in vain because humse woh ban hi nahi raha tha (laughs!)
Nupur, you are just starting your career in Bollywood, and at this point, to go through a phase where work suddenly came to a halt, can be very unsettling. Has Kriti been an emotional support for you, given her experience in handling the highs and lows of a film career?
NS: On the work front, it definitely got stressful for me, because when you are starting your career and you don’t know which direction it is heading in, it can be tough. I am so glad that Kriti was there at home to calm me down. Whenever I would feel stressed or anxious, I would just go to her room and we would have long chats. She used to calm me down saying that it is affecting not just me, but everyone.
KS: I can understand where she is coming from. When I stepped into showbiz, things were normal. Today, there is no certainty about when the theatres are opening in many cities. I don’t expect people to spend that money in COVID times and go to theatres to watch newcomers on the big screen. At this point, people are relying on bigger films to open in theatres to entice the audience back to the cinema halls. Nupur had her low moments, and even I had my share of anxiety. I felt low, too, and I am glad that my sister was at home with me, otherwise it would have been very difficult to go through all those months.
NS: There have been those instances, too, where I have stood by her. You know how insensitive people can get and write about actors, or the times when I know that she has felt bad about losing a project to someone else when she worked really hard for it… during such times, we have stood by each other.
You come from a non-filmy background, and now, you both are part of showbiz. How did your parents feel about it? Were they deeply concerned about how their girls would fight the odds in this unpredictable and extremely competitive profession?
KS: My parents were not against my decision. They were supportive. It’s just that sometimes they would get worried thinking it is an insecure profession.
NS: Mom used to get worried, especially when her friends or relatives would feed her stories saying, ‘Bollywood mein bahut struggle hai, it is quite a tricky field.’ During such times, I would calm her down.
KS: When Nupur moved to Mumbai it felt good, because it meant that I won’t be returning to an empty apartment everyday. Initially, when she came, she was only focused on her singing, which is her first love. So, I helped her with a few contacts of people, who she could meet or could seek assistance from. But then things changed one day, after she got a call for an audition.
What is the first piece of advice you gave Nupur before she set foot in the film industry?
KS: I just asked her to go with an open mind. I feel until and unless you do something, you can’t figure out if you can or want to do it. When she came back from the audition, she said she enjoyed being in front of the camera. She said, ‘I feel like I can emote.’ She then wanted to pursue acting and did a lot of workshops. She wanted to be completely ready before she took the plunge. I understand that as a newcomer there are times where you get restless. You want to crack that first film desperately. Having been through the process, I told her that it is rather important to hold on and see when you start and what you start with. I told her that everyone has their own journey and that everything happens when it is supposed to happen. You have to wait for the right opportunity and not do something because you want to do it ‘right now’!
Kriti, you made your Bollywood debut as an actress seven years ago (with Heropanti),and Nupur, you stepped into showbiz with your music videos (2019 and 2021). Today, when you see each other on screen how does it feel?
KS: I was pleasantly surprised seeing her emote on screen as I knew that Nupur could only sing. In her second music video, I could see that added confidence in her as an actor. She prepped by attending a lot of acting workshops. I have seen her grow as an artiste. I feel she is a lot more mature as an actor than I was when I started off. I knew nothing about acting. I had done no workshops. So, whatever I learnt was on a film set.
NS: I was blown away seeing Kriti on the big screen as I didn’t expect her to be so confident. I remember that when mom and I went to the screening of her first film, we were very nervous. We went to the theatre with blank faces and we were hoping ki sab kuch achcha ho. But we were so happy and surprised with what we saw because mom and I never expected this from Kriti. For us, she was a shy kid. Between Kriti and me, I was the talkative and social person. But this proves that what you do on screen has nothing to do with what you are off screen.
How are you celebrating Raksha Bandhan today, and how has the celebration been at home over the years?
KS: Since childhood, Nupur and I have been tying rakhis to each other, with the idea that Raksha Bandhan is all about protecting your siblings, irrespective of the fact whether you have a brother or not. When either of us is not at home, we connect over a video call or courier a rakhi to each other.
NS: Mostly our father is in charge of getting rakhis for us, but his taste is too blingy and Kriti and I usually prefer simple designs on thin threads.
I’m protective of my younger sister, so there’s a chhoti mummy inside me-Kriti Sanon
8:08 AM
Describing Mimi as her most special project, Kriti says she was confident of pulling off author-backed role after Bareilly Ki Barfi and Luka Chuppi’s success
Uma Ramasubramanian (MID-DAY; July 26, 2021)
To Kriti Sanon, Mimi is the manifestation of how far she has come in her career. After seven years in the industry and several hits, she is ready to carry a film on her able shoulders. “This is my most special project because it’s the first film I am shouldering; it’s a big responsibility. People have invested their money, believing in [me]. With Bareilly Ki Barfi [2017] and Luka Chuppi [2019] winning applause, it gave me the confidence and hunger to find something more character-driven.”
The Netflix film, also starring Pankaj Tripathi and Sai Tamhankar, sees Sanon as a small-town woman who agrees to become a surrogate mother. She says that director Laxman Utekar has a knack for weaving strong social messages in comedies — be it embracing live-in relationships through Luka Chuppi, or putting the spotlight on surrogacy with his latest offering. “When I read the script, I realised it’s a serious subject set in an entertaining world. This film does not preach about surrogacy. It’s based on a true incident that took place 13 years ago when a foreigner couple [roped in] an Indian woman to become their surrogate, but abandoned her mid-way. After that, the surrogacy laws in India became stricter.”
Not too long ago, the industry believed that a young actor playing a mother was hara-kiri for her career. She is glad that we’ve left such regressive ideas behind. “It didn’t cross my mind until I heard people saying, ‘You shouldn’t play a mother so early in your career’. I don’t think [such notions] matter. My producer Dinoo [Dinesh Vijan] was surprised to see how well [my performance] shaped up. Women have a maternal instinct. I’m [protective] of my younger [sister], so there’s a chhoti mummy inside me,” she laughs.
The film reunites her with Tripathi, who played her father in Bareilly Ki Barfi. “People loved our equation in Bareilly, and here, you can’t put a tag to our relationship. That’s the beauty of it. Our characters aren’t friends, siblings or lovers.”
I was initially terrible at auditions; filmmakers were right in rejecting me-Kriti Sanon
8:15 AM
Onkar Kulkarni (BOMBAY TIMES; May 23, 2021)
Uprooting herself from her overprotected life in Delhi, more than seven years ago, Kriti Sanon landed in Mumbai to chase her Bollywood dreams. There were many within her close circle who dissuaded her from taking that big leap of faith, but Kriti went ahead and followed her passion. Today, when she looks back, she can’t believe that she has packed in so much in the years that have gone by. In a conversation with Bombay Times, the actress opens up about what made it possible to make Bollywood her home, her evolution as an actor and the facets of her personality she unravelled along the way. Excerpts:
The year 2021 began on a positive note for you as you were busy shooting for films like Bhediya and Bachchan Pandey. Then, the second wave of Coronavirus hit the country and everything came to a halt again…
Yes, this year had definitely started off well. I was back on film sets, something that really excites me. I shot for Bhediya, Bachchan Pandey and had even started working on Adipurush. The second wave hit all of us like a tsunami. I feel, at this point, nothing is more important than getting the situation of COVID under control.
Personally, how has the lockdown of 2021 been for you? You, too, had tested positive in December 2020. This time around, there seems to be more panic and fear...
Last year, it was all about dealing with the ambiguity around COVID-19, as the virus was new to us. This time around, we are dealing with a far more fatal situation.
It’s quite a scary phase. I asked my parents to come to Mumbai from Delhi, because I wanted them around. I knew I would be more at peace if we were all in the same house. While last year people got busy cooking and working out, this year, people have been helping others with resources. Even I have been trying to help as many people as I possibly can. A lot of my relatives have been down with COVID, too. While on the one hand, I am doing my best to help people, on the other hand, I am also utilizing this time to prep up for my movies. I am going through the dialogues and preparing for the next schedule of Adipurush, which is being directed by Om Raut. I am also looking forward to Ganapath, for which I have to train for the action portions. I am gearing up for the phase when the restrictions will be eased, and shootings will be back on track.
Looking back at your seven-year journey in Bollywood, does it feel like a dream?
This journey has been extremely special, something that I never dreamed of. I come from a simple, middle-class family — my mom is a professor and dad is a chartered accountant. I am an engineer, and I had never thought that acting would be my profession. And here I am today, realising that acting is one thing that gets me excited. It gives me satisfaction, peace and is something that keeps me going. Initially, my relatives and friends told me that Bollywood is too big a dream to pursue and there are too many people who are struggling and want to be in this industry. So, I do feel fortunate to get opportunities to come this far and live my dream.
Back then, when you had just stepped into the industry, were you worried about being accepted by the people here? Was Bollywood welcoming enough?
I don’t think I was ever working towards getting accepted in Bollywood. What I really wanted was to get opportunities to be able to do films and work with directors of my choice. Yes, you do need people who believe in you, and I am lucky to have people like Sajid Nadiadwala, Dinesh Vijan, Ashwiny Iyer Tiwari, Nitesh Tiwari and Ashutosh Gowariker who showed faith in me and that only motivated me to do better. I got the feeling of being accepted right from the beginning, but it took me some time to find my place in the industry. I was new to the city, came from a non-filmy background and knew nobody here. I did feel like a bit of a loner in these filmy parties, which sometimes I still do. Frankly, as you keep working, doing more films and meeting more people, you start feeling like you are part of the industry. However, reaching this far wasn’t easy. I went for a lot of auditions before I got Heropanti, and I must say I was initially terrible at it (auditions). So, I don’t think it was wrong of them (casting directors/filmmakers) to reject me.
The rejections and the failures that you face make you stronger. I believe you learn a lot more from your failure than success. Success gives you a lot of confidence to move ahead and take risks. The appreciation I got for films like Bareilly Ki Barfi, Luka Chuppi or Panipat gave me the confidence to take up roles that were a little different, which people didn’t expect me to do. But my failures made me realise that I shouldn’t be afraid and that I can overcome even a situation like this as well. I have been a learner and have constantly evolved, which is probably why I have reached where I am today.
So, how different is the Kriti Sanon of 2021 vis-à-vis the day you started off in showbiz?
As a person, I feel I have opened up a lot. I was far more stubborn about my opinions, but now I am a lot more open-minded. I have lived a very protective life, so I was more of a black and white person, but now, I see more greys. The past years have also been a journey of self-discovery. As an actor, I have understood my craft and my process better. During Heropanti, I had absolutely no idea about the process of filmmaking, and today, here I am approaching my scenes differently. I think at a deeper level now and find a lot more layers in my characters. It is exciting to be still discovering your process and I wish that I continue to do that.
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The actor, who completes seven years in Bollywood, calls it a learning experience and a journey of self discovery
Juhi Chakraborty (HINDUSTAN TIMES; May 23, 2021)
It was seven years ago, on this very day, when Kriti Sanon made her Bollywood debut with Heropanti, and since then, she has shown versatility through her choice of films. From the big actioner Dilwale (2015) to slice of life Bareilly Ki Barfi (2017), from quirky comedy Luka Chuppi (2019) to historical drama Panipat (2019), the actor calls the past seven years “a learning experience” and a journey of self discovery.
She elaborates, “I discovered my own process as an actor and it has been an extremely fulfilling journey. I’m blessed and fortunate to have got so many different kinds of opportunities that have made me grow as an actor.”
Looking back, Sanon, 30, confesses being “completely clueless” on the sets of Heropanti. “From not knowing my camera angles or how filmmaking actually happens to being fascinated by it... I’ve always been a thinker and have had the urge and excitement to learn. That has helped me all these years to grow and evolve,” she says.
While Sanon has become more confident with each of her films, she admits it has been quite a learning to not just polish her craft but also understand herself as a person.
“In these seven years, I remember figuring out my process almost by hit and trial, and seeing what works for me and what does not. I discovered one more thing about myself that it’s nice when you don’t know it all. I don’t know it all and I don’t want to know it all. I’m still discovering the process,” she muses.
The present year may be marred with the second wave of the pandemic, but Sanon has a packed and exciting line-up ahead including pan-India mythology film Adipurush, horror film Bhediya, which she recently shot in Arunachal Pradesh, Mimi, action film Ganapath, Bachchan Pandey and Hum Do Hamare Do.
While she’s pleased with her new slate of films, the actor admits there’s something that she’d have wanted to do differently in the last seven years.
“I have no regrets about the films that I’ve been a part of. I’ve learnt from each one of them — from my successes and my failures. The first three to four years of my career, I was pretty slow. I was being very safe and cautious. I didn’t want to make a wrong move. I was very selective with the projects that I did. I didn’t realise it back then that a film or script doesn’t have to be absolutely perfect. When a script comes to you, it also goes through a journey, and sometimes, things end up getting much better than what is on paper. I’d have probably liked to have done more number of films if I could,” she concludes.
Varun Dhawan is married now, but he is still the same, only a little more mature than before-Kriti Sanon
8:22 AM
Onkar Kulkarni (BOMBAY TIMES; May 10, 2021)
From a horror-comedy to an out-and-out entertainer and an action film, Kriti has a variety of movies lined up. What makes it interesting is that in these films, she reunites with some of her previous co-stars. The actress will be seen with Akshay Kumar in Bachchan Pandey, opposite Varun Dhawan in Bhediya and with Tiger Shroff in Ganapath and the sequel to their debut film, Heropanti (2014).
Elaborating on working with Akshay again, Kriti says, “The first time I worked with Akshay sir was in Housefull 4 (2019). He is someone who’s always fun to be with on the set. This time around, the entire team was in Jaisalmer, shooting together for 45 days. With him at work, you tend to have lunches, dinners, basically all meals together. It’s like a lot of people on one table. It became like one big family. During breaks, we used to play games like housie and ludo.”
Kriti also got together again with Varun, with whom she worked in Dilwale (2015). “It’s been six years since we worked together. I think both of us have grown as actors and individuals. He is married now, but he is still the same, only a little more mature than before (laughs!). Bhediya, which is a monster-comedy, is drastically different from what we did in our last project, so it is great fun.”
The actress, who made her Bollywood debut in 2014 with Heropanti along with Tiger Shroff, cannot contain her excitement as she teams up with him again in Ganapath. What’s interesting about this project is that, this is the first time Kriti will flaunt her action avatar on screen.
“I have always wanted to do an action film, and who better to do it with than Tiger? For this film, I will have to get the hang of riding a dirt bike. Also, action as a genre is new for me, so I will be spending a lot of time prepping up when it comes to technicalities and stunts. I’ve wanted to do the kind of roles Uma Thurman has done. I always felt like I could make better use of my height and long legs, and here I am getting a chance to do that,” she signs off.
Mimi should be watched by more people who are rooted in areas where OTT isn’t watched-Kriti Sanon
8:04 AM
Kriti Sanon wishes movies would get back to theatres
Rishabh Suri (HINDUSTAN TIMES; April 8, 2021)
Shooting, travelling, and shooting again — Kriti Sanon’s life is all about that. With a host of biggies such as Bachchan Pandey, Bhediya and Ganpath in her kitty, she is of course excited. And it was also recently announced that she will join Prabhas and Saif Ali Khan in Adipurush.
Despite the rise in Coronavirus cases and several restrictions reimposed, including shutting of theatres, Sanon says she would prefer theatrical releases for all her films. “Obviously, as an actor you want the film to reach beyond just the OTT audience. Of course, they are great platforms, and everyone is hooked on to it and the platforms have great content. But as an actor you want it to reach even the ones who don’t really go on these platforms,” says the 30-year-old, whose film Mimi, in which she plays a surrogate mother, is also waiting for a release.
It’s been some time since the film was announced and has been shot. Ask what’s happening on that front, and Sanon says she recently wrapped up work on the last scene. “Mimi as a film needs to reach the masses. It is based on surrogacy, it’s a unique subject and made in a very entertaining manner. It is something that will touch your heart, make you cry, laugh, and leave you with food for thought. It should be watched by more people who are rooted in areas where OTT isn’t watched,” she says.
In fact, it was raining release dates until recently in Bollywood, when the pandemic reared its head again and forced many film releases to be postponed again. “We are very excited for Mimi to release. The times we are in, it’s important for a film like that to get a release. I hope things are normal soon. There are so many films waiting to release. I am hoping Mimi does too, soon, sometime around mid 2021. I don’t know what the producers are deciding. It should get what it deserves,” says Sanon.
People’s sentiments are attached to the character of Sita-Kriti Sanon
8:03 AM
As she picks up Telugu, perfects body language, Kriti Sanon admits playing iconic character of Sita in Prabhas-led Adipurush comes with pressure
Uma Ramasubramanian (MID-DAY; March 24, 2021)
With great roles, comes great responsibility. Kriti Sanon is aware that all eyes are on her as she portrays the role of Sita, one of the most revered characters of Ramayana, in the magnum opus, Adipurush. “I am overwhelmed and grateful that I am playing such an iconic character. The role comes with a lot of pressure because we don’t want to [portray] anything that is not [true to] the part. People’s sentiments are attached to the character,” she begins. The Om Raut-directed spectacle features South sensation Prabhas in the titular role with Saif Ali Khan essaying the role of Raavan.
The bilingual marks Sanon’s second period drama after Ashutosh Gowariker’s Panipat (2019). Noting that being authentic to the story is half the battle won, she says, “When you’re telling a story that is not set in today’s times, you have to keep a check on your body language and dialogue delivery. With Om, I am in safe hands. I like his clarity on the film, and he is technically sound. This is the first time I am shooting a film that demands such extensive chroma work. It is a pan-India film, so I had to work on my Telugu.”
If the film offers her a role of a lifetime, it also sees her team up with Prabhas. The Baahubali star is known to be a man of few words, so, it’s surprising when she quips that he talks nineteen to the dozen. “When I first met him, I thought he was shy, but once we started chatting, we were unstoppable. He is a foodie, and loves feeding his co-stars,” laughs Sanon, the ambassador for Breezer Vivid Shuffle.
Over the next few months, she will be time-travelling, going from the golden days of Ramayana to the universe of horror comedy Bhediya. “I have four days’ work here, post which I will head to Arunachal Pradesh for Bhediya for 15 days, and follow it up with another schedule of Adipurush. I have dedicated March, April and May to the two films.”
2020 was probably the worst year of my life-Kriti Sanon
7:51 AM
Onkar Kulkarni (BOMBAY TIMES; March 20, 2021)
Kriti Sanon, who recently started shooting for an upcoming film with Varun Dhawan, is looking forward to the line-up of movies she has signed. The actress is glad that the year 2020 is now a thing of the past. “Honestly, 2020 is probably the worst year of my life. I would just delete the year had it been in my hands,” she says. While the year started on a good note, it later took a toll on her emotionally and physically.
“The year began with me being busy with film shoots, post which the lockdown was announced. I was glad that I was in the company of my parents through that phase. They were visiting me in Mumbai for a week, but they ended up staying for nearly a year due to the lockdown. It would have been tough to be alone at home. Back then, I shot a nice campaign to boost people’s spirit and even did some media interactions. It is only later that I disconnected and was only active on social media.”
It was the time when Sushant Singh Rajput’s demise shook the nation on June 14 and led to numerous debates. The actress, on multiple occasions, poured her heart out on social media and revisited memories.
She says, “At one point, there was so much noise around that I didn’t want to be a part of it. It reached a point where people stopped being sensitive, and there was too much negativity around. I didn’t want to be a part of that negativity. I knew what I felt about the situation and I wanted to keep that to myself. I didn’t feel the need to talk to anyone about anything that I was feeling. Also, what you want to say, you can always say it on social media. You can write and express yourself instead of talking out loud.”
As Kriti battled through the emotional phase, she was happy to get back to work in the last quarter of 2020. However, in December, she tested positive for Coronavirus. She says, “The toughest part of it was quarantining for 14 days in one room. It gets to you a lot more. I was fortunately at home when I tested positive. Thankfully, I had finished my film’s schedule and I didn’t fall ill in the middle of the shoot.”
Kriti, who has a penchant for writing and has been penning poems, began journaling this year. She elaborates, “I actually started journaling in 2020. However, it was a different kind of journal, more of a gratitude journal. I realised that I wasn’t enjoying that too much, so from January 1, I started a five-year journal to scribble whatever I want. It is a daily thing, where at the end of the day, I just take out two minutes and write whatever happened throughout the day, or I pen down my thoughts through that day. It will be interesting to look back next year and read what happened last year on a particular day. It’s a nice way to record your memories.”
With Mimi, it was interesting to discover feelings that I had never experienced in real life-Kriti Sanon
8:28 AM
Kriti Sanon on playing mother and stepping out of her comfort zone
Himesh Mankad (MUMBAI MIRROR; May 11, 2020)
After wrapping up a major chunk of her next film, Mimi, in which she plays a surrogate mother, Kriti Sanon was in the process of shedding the 15 kilos she had gained for the character. Reportedly, the actress was to shoot for a special lavni song in the Dinesh Vijan production. Now that the shoot has been pushed owing to the Coronavirus pandemic-induced lockdown, Kriti is spending the downtime baking cakes and puddings. But despite the sugar rush, as evidenced by her Instagram pictures, she is in perfect shape for the Maharashtrian folk dance number.
What was once considered a risk is slowly becoming an idea worth a shot, and Kriti was excited to play a mother on screen, even though she has been in the Hindi film industry for just six years. “I play a young girl who aspires to become a Bollywood actress. Yes, Mimi has dreams of her own and there is a reason why she agrees to become a surrogate. It’s the most beautiful script I have come across and Mimi was one of those films which I agreed to be a part of in the first narration itself,” the actress reveals.
She goes on to inform that like her, Mimi, too, is not ready for motherhood. “I had my own take on the emotions required to bring out her dilemma, and discussions with Laxman sir (director Laxman Utekar) really helped. It was interesting to discover feelings as an actress that I had never experienced in real life,” Kriti asserts.
The film is a remake of the National Award-winning 2011 Marathi film, Mala Aai Vhhaychy! It also features Pankaj Tripathi and Sai Tamhankar. Mimi was shot in Jaipur and was expected to release around July.
Kriti believes that cinema today is all about good content that excites both the audience and the actors. “Whenever I have stepped out of my comfort zone, it has worked for me big time. Bareilly Ki Barfi was the first time I played a small-town character and it got me a lot of love from the audience. Things changed in a good way after the film’s release. Ditto, Luka Chuppi, which was a risky subject as it was exploring live-in relationships in another small-town set-up, but in a lighter way,” she points out.
So, is she looking for hatke scripts now? “I am looking for scripts that have something meaningful to say and also give me the platform to showcase myself as a performer,” the actress explains.
Next up for Kriti is another film with Dinesh Vijan, Second Innings, which reunites her with her Bareilly Ki Barfi co-star Rajkummar Rao, and also features Dimple Kapadia and Paresh Rawal. She’d have been shooting for the Abhishek Jain directorial by now in Delhi, had it not been for the lockdown. Prod her for more details on the project and she says, “It’s a quirky film about a couple in the process of adopting parents. It will be a great watch as it’s an entertaining story.”
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