Showing posts with label Kunal Kapoor. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Kunal Kapoor. Show all posts
Mumbai’s studios are running out of takes
9:45 AM
Developers eye prized real estate as Bollywood’s legacy shooting floors fight to stay in business
Jane Borges (MUMBAI MIRROR; October 26, 2025)
At Filmalaya Studio in Andheri West, October’s heat hangs heavy in the air, bringing with it a languid stillness. The Diwali holidays, spilling into the week, have also tempered the usual chaos and bustle of shoot days. It’s the lull before production houses resume business early next week. A staff member guides us through the premises. One floor, he informs, is out of bounds as a set is being built there. The other, on the ground level, resembles a vast, unending warehouse. This is where Bollywood’s biggest fantasies have played out, and where actors have unknowingly scripted their own success stories.
“Stars were born here,” says Samrat Mukerji, managing director of the studio, as he drops the names of Sanjeev Kumar, Asha Parekh, Saira Banu, Bindu among others. Grandson of the late pioneering filmmaker-producer Sashadhar Mukherjee, who established the studio in 1958, and cousin to Kajol and Ayan Mukerji, he is the third-generation torchbearer of the family business. Mukerji is also among the few remaining custodians of legacy studios that once defined the city’s golden film era.
Over the last few years, Mumbai has lost some of its iconic studios — Filmistan in Goregaon West (also founded by Sashadhar Mukherjee) and Famous in Mahalaxmi have officially shuttered. They await a fate similar to that of the iconic R K Studios in Chembur, which, in 2019, made way for plush towers. Soaring real estate prices have made these coveted plots of land highly lucrative, and the unpredictable film business has hardly been able to keep up, admits Mukerji.
One challenge, he says, is to not give in to the pressure. But the other is to constantly reinvent to keep up with the fast-evolving demands of the film industry. “Filmalaya has fought the tide bravely,” he says with a half-smile, acknowledging the studio’s arduous journey. “It has taken a lot of hard work. But my cousins, Monjoy, Sujoy and Ayan, and I are determined to keep the studio going. It’s what our grandfather would have wanted us to do.”
The boom and bust of studios
Bombay’s “studio era”, says Dr Debashree Mukherjee, film scholar and author of Bombay Hustle: Making Movies in a Colonial City, took off in the early 1930s, when the city first saw film companies grow into larger institutions with their own sound stages, equipment, and salaried staff.
“Studios that jumped to capitalize on the talkie transition made their mark quickly, and I’d consider Ranjit Movietone, Sagar Movietone, Wadia Movietone, and Bombay Talkies as the most emblematic and most successful studios of that decade. Their stars and their songs were the talk of every town,” adds Mukherjee, who is associate professor and director of undergraduate studies, Middle Eastern, South Asian, and African Studies (MESAAS) at Columbia University, New York.
Each studio, she says, also had a set of unique advantages that made them thrive: Ranjit had a network of Gujarati credit and finance, BT had corporate and colonial elite networks of modern business, while Sagar relied on a bank of solid stars. Wadia, on the other hand, was incomparable in the genre of the stunt film.
According to Mukherjee, there was no single moment marking the downfall of these studios — there were, in fact, “many moments of boom and bust”. “World War II was a big game-changer. Not only did a handful of studios manage to leverage their influence to get government-rationed film stock and keep the cameras running, many small companies mushroomed overnight, thanks to the huge influx of cash and black money from wartime profiteering. Never had the city seen so many people thronging the theatres,” she says. But the increase in film competition also led to an increased fight to hire the most profitable stars. “And that’s partly how the studio model started to crumble.”
Cinematographer-turned-photographer Hemant Chaturvedi notes that most salaried staff gradually left studios to work independently as freelancers. “Actors could now sign on for multiple films across different production companies simultaneously,” he says.
Interestingly, the 1950s also saw other models of studio success such as Mehboob, Filmistan, and Kamalistan. The rupture between the studio era and independent or runaway production was hence, not clear-cut, says Mukherjee. “They have always co-existed.”
Today, other concerns have caused the studios to take a hit. With budgets having tightened drastically after Covid-19, many production houses now prefer shooting on location or farther out on the outskirts of Mumbai. Bungalows at Madh Island have also become more affordable, especially for smaller productions like ads and web series. Bigger studios — Yash Raj in Andheri West, Mehboob in Bandra, and Film City in Goregaon — have managed to hold fort, but for a city that has been the mecca of Bollywood, having just a handful of studios does a disservice to the industry, say insiders.
Kunal Kapoor, founder of the production company Adfilm-Valas, whose uncle, the legendary filmmaker Raj Kapoor, founded R K Studios in 1948, says that most of the earlier studios were built by “people who actually made films”. “They were passionate, and knew what was expected [from a studio]; they built and modified the spaces as they went all along.”
RK had storage for lights, camera equipment, along with a dedicated section for their costumes, says Kapoor. Filmalaya, Mukerji shares, had its own acting school, which ran for decades and shaped future A-listers. “That breed is no more,” feels Kapoor. Studios that survived struggled with subpar facilities, including non-functional toilets, non-air conditioned sets, and poorly lit makeup rooms, all of which made them less appealing, he adds.
Keeping up with the times
G M Studios in Saki Naka, Andheri East, has been trying to change the narrative. Established in 2009 by Brijesh Maurya, whose family has been in the textile business, the space, spread across two parcels of land and spanning 35,000 sq ft, is one of the few premium studios that offer ready sets for shoots.
In its early years, GM rented out its spaces to television channels. “At the time, we gave out empty sheds,” recalls Maurya. By 2017, he started opening it out for films. But during the pandemic, when the movie business took a big hit, Maurya, having interacted with many filmmakers and understood that there was a major requirement gap, decided to modify the studio to create eight new ready-to-use air-conditioned sets.
When Mirror visited on Friday, Maurya walked us through the sets created across two floors. The spacious Parsi traditional home, which has a vintage early 20th-century vibe with old wooden furniture, large wood-framed French windows, walls decorated with old paintings and black-and-white photographs, and antique glass chandeliers lighting up the space, is the most popular, he tells us.
Maurya has similarly built a New York-style apartment, bachelor pad, a café cum bar, a grand European style duplex, and an office at GM. The latter was where Aryan Khan shot some scenes for the recently released Netflix series, The Ba***ds Of Bollywood. Maurya got a professional film set designer to recreate these spaces, ensuring that the technical aspects of camera and lighting arrangements were properly met. “Depending on the requirements of script, the designers can also change the décor of these spaces, replacing with their own furniture and giving another coat of paint to the walls,” he says.
“These sets are more lucrative. The turnaround is faster, as the production design team doesn’t have to create a set from the ground up, and we can book more shoots per month. “As a business model, this is most viable,” he says. Everyone from Mani Ratnam to Rohit Shetty, who has shot here, has appreciated the attempt to revitalise the studio. The investment has been high, but “if we don’t meet the needs of the industry,” he says, “we risk the fate of other studios.” “Builders are constantly reaching out, but I’m too passionate about films to cave in,” he confesses.
Further north, in Mira Road, K Sera Sera set up a tech-forward facility, Virtual Productions, a few years ago. The space has two large studios, one of which features a state-of-the-art LED VR studio with a green screen. The studio is used for everything from full-length feature films to advertisements.
“We can recreate the Himalayas, Greece, and Dubai — all within the same space — using a software called Unreal Engine,” says Prakash Kutty, cinematographer and head of Virtual Productions. This, he explains, helps save on production costs, because you can access different locations across the globe, without having to physically travel or worry about securing permissions for the shoot. This is also the best option, when the script demands harsh outdoor conditions.
“For example, if you want to shoot in snow, there are many challenges. You have to work within a short window of time because the light fades quickly, and of course, you’re exposed to the elements,” says Kutty, adding that a studio setup like theirs allows filmmakers to replicate the same atmosphere and shoot at one’s own convenience.
Need to start afresh
For Samrat Mukerji of Filmalaya, opportunity can come from the most unexpected places. He says the advent of OTT, microfilms on YouTube and other streaming platforms, and the podcast boom have really opened up newer possibilities for studios. “And we need to tap into it,” says Mukerji, who is also a wildlife photographer and conservationist. Filmalaya is slowly expanding. “We are going to get back into production starting next year,” he says, adding, “I am already working on two scripts.”
There’s also the question of technology and how rapidly it is developing. “Right now, it’s hard to predict the future because of AI,” says Maurya. “A lot will depend on whether people embrace AI-generated movies or still prefer traditional filmmaking,” he says. He feels that government regulation could help reassure studio owners.
Mukerji agrees. “I feel that subsidies and support from the government will also go a long way in protecting this cultural and economic ecosystem. It needs to thrive,” he says, adding that moving the studios out of Mumbai is akin to erasing Bollywood from the city.
Chaturvedi, who was the cinematographer for many large-scale projects, including the Saif Ali Khan-starrer Kurbaan and Vishal Bhardwaj’s Maqbool, says that from a technical point of view, the scale and height offered by a set is nonpareil. “The interesting thing about studio shoots is that the real talent of the cinematographer comes out in recreating natural-looking light artificially.”
Production designer Anindya Choudhury aka Bodo shares the sentiment: “I love creating spaces from the ground up, and giving it a certain kind of personality — that’s always been the endeavour. Lately, however, due to dearth of studio spaces, this has become challenging. We often find ourselves adapting existing spaces which sometimes are not shoot-friendly and don’t offer the same creative freedom.”
As our tour of GM Studios concludes, Maurya leads us through a duplex — one floor a vintage European home, the other a sleek modern apartment. “Just a flight of stairs, and the whole vibe changes,” he says. That’s the magic of sets: they bring us as close to reality — just like the movies.
The North Vs South divide suits politicians, not artistes-Kunal Kapoor
8:43 AM
Divya Shree (BOMBAY TIMES; July 8, 2025)
Kunal Kapoor, best known for his breakout role in Rang De Basanti, is set to make a comeback in Telugu cinema as the antagonist in Vishwambhara, starring opposite Chiranjeevi. At the same time, the actor is also gearing up for Nitesh Tiwari’s highly anticipated Ramayana in which he’s set to appear in a key role along with Ranbir Kapoor, Sai Pallavi, Yash, and Sunny Deol.
“It’s a little early to talk about Ramayana, given that the release is still far off. But I believe it will be something very special — a cinematic experience worthy of such an integral part of our culture and history,” he says. In a candid conversation with Hyderabad Times, the actor opens up about his admiration for Chiranjeevi, his views on fitness and emotional well-being, and the evolving synergy between film industries across regions.
‘Chiranjeevi sir has this ability to make everyone feel like family’
Reflecting on his time shooting for Vishwambhara with Chiranjeevi, Kunal says, “Chiranjeevi sir is just incredible, both on and off screen. His work ethic is absolutely humbling, and he approaches every film with the energy of a newcomer, even after doing over 150 films.”
Kunal says it was the Megastar’s passion that left a lasting impression on him. “Legendary status isn’t just about talent; it’s about showing up every day with love for the craft. And that’s exactly what he does. Plus, he’s got this amazing ability to make everyone feel like family on set. I went in intimidated and came out inspired,” he notes.
‘The North-South divide shouldn’t exist for storytellers’
Kunal, who has worked across industries, sees the growing synergy between regional film industries as one of Indian cinema’s biggest strengths.
“Whether I’m shooting in Mumbai, Hyderabad or Chennai, the essence is the same. We’re all storytellers. The North vs South narrative serves politicians, not artistes. Each region brings something unique. Be it storytelling style, visual texture, or cultural flavour. When we combine all of that, we’re not just making films that connect within the country, but ones that resonate globally. The cross-pollination that’s happening right now is very exciting. It’s no longer about regional cinema, but Indian cinema. And the world is watching,” he remarks.
‘You can have six-pack abs and still be an emotional wreck’
Known for his impressive physical fitness, Kunal believes true wellness goes far beyond the surface. “Fitness isn’t just about looking good. It’s about feeling balanced, emotionally and mentally. People often overlook the emotional side of fitness. But that’s just as important. If you’re mentally scattered, it shows — on screen and off. You can have six-pack abs and still be an emotional wreck. Your body and mind are roommates. If one is struggling, the other will too,” he says.
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Balancing work and fatherhood in this industry can be tough. Sometimes you’re away for weeks at a stretch. But the flipside is, between projects, you get stretches of real quality time that most other professions don’t allow for
I’m not playing hard to get; good scripts are playing hard to get with me-Kunal Kapoor
8:45 AM
Abhimanyu Mathur (HINDUSTAN TIMES; May 19, 2025)
After a four-year hiatus from the big screen, Kunal Kapoor made a striking return with Jewel Thief: The Heist Begins, which also stars Saif Ali Khan and Jaideep Ahlawat. In a candid conversation with us post the film’s release, Kunal reflected on his absence from cinema and the difficult choices that came with it.
“It’s been difficult,” he admits, “I’ve had to let go of a lot of work. People often ask me, ‘Why aren’t you seen more?’ or ‘Aren’t you afraid that out of sight is out of mind?’ And yes, it’s a valid fear — when you step back, you do risk fading from filmmakers’ memory. But at the same time, I didn’t want to keep repeating the same kind of roles.”
For Kunal, the essence of acting lies in exploring new perspectives: “If people want to typecast you and make you do the same thing over and over again, it loses its charm.” He also spoke about the constant balancing act between visibility and artistic satisfaction.
“You keep getting similar roles. At some point, you have to choose between just being seen or doing something meaningful. Sometimes, you take on a project just to stay visible — hoping that leads to something more creatively fulfilling,” he shares.
When asked whether his selectiveness might come across as being too choosy, Kunal laughs, “I get that a lot! I heard a couple of directors discussing me, saying, ‘Maybe he’s very choosy.’ But honestly, I’m not. I love being on a movie set. You don’t become an actor to hide; you do it because you want to be seen. I’m not playing hard to get — I think the good scripts are playing hard to get with me. If I got the kind of roles I’m looking for, I’d be on a film set all the time.”
Jewel Thief was never supposed to be this profound thing that changes your opinion about the world-Kunal Kapoor
10:38 AM
Actor Kunal Kapoor talks about the mixed reviews on his film; says it was supposed to be a fun ride
Abhimanyu Mathur (HINDUSTAN TIMES; May 14, 2025)
Actor Kunal Kapoor, who made his acting comeback with Jewel Thief, received praise for his performance but the film did not land well. Co-starring Saif Ali Khan and Jaideep Ahlawat, it received mixed to negative reviews.
“You would obviously want the film to land 100%. That is the most important thing. Having said that, the reactions that I have gotten from people have shown that it did what it was supposed to do, which was entertain,” the 47-year-old says, adding, “It was supposed to be fun and have enough surprises to keep you engaged. It was never supposed to be this profound thing that changes your opinion about the world. It was supposed to be a fun ride and it has delivered on that.”
Speaking about what drew him to the project, the actor shares that it was “multiple things”: “Starting with a chance to do something I haven’t done before.”
Though his role was brief, Kunal feels it added impact. “My belief is that sometimes a smaller part can make more of an impact if it surprises people, as opposed to a leading part where you do something they have already seen you do. This kind of character has always been my favourite. It’s just unfortunate I have never had the chance to be part of one of these films,” he ends.
I am happiest on a movie set but I was not feeling excited about what was coming my way-Kunal Kapoor
9:55 AM
Returning to movies with Jewel Thief, Kunal Kapoor on how the gap inspired him to turn producer and gave quality time with son
Priyanka Sharma (MID-DAY; April 20, 2025)
The dishy and debonair Kunal Kapoor has been selective with his choice of films since his breakout role in Rang De Basanti (2006). He last appeared in the magnum opus, The Empire (2021). Known for choosing stories rooted in realism, Kapoor found Robbie Grewal’s upcoming Netflix heist thriller, Jewel Thief, a tempting opportunity to embrace something more filmy.
“I grew up watching these films [filled with] dialogue baazi. It’s great fun to do, especially because all the films that I have done have been more real, not over the top. Here was a chance to not only be rooted and real but also have a lot of fun with it. In fact, I would love to do more of it,” smiles Kapoor.
Produced by Siddharth Anand’s Marflix Pictures, the film also stars Saif Ali Khan, Jaideep Ahlawat and Nikita Dutta. As much fun as it was to shoot for it, Kapoor, who plays a cop in Jewel Thief, says a commercial entertainer is more difficult to pull off than a “serious film”, contrary to popular belief.
“People assume it’s difficult to make a serious film. I think it’s even more difficult to make an entertaining film, especially a thriller. It’s difficult to get it right because you need to keep the audience hooked. [That’s why] it’s important that you work with the right people,” says the actor, who returns to films after four years.
He shares that the break wasn’t a voluntary one but stemmed from uninspiring script offers. Having worked on movie sets for 25 years—as a production assistant, then an assistant director, and eventually an actor—he says, “I am happiest on a movie set. [But I was] not feeling excited about what was coming my way. So, the break wasn’t out of lack of desire. The break gave me a chance to spend time developing work that I enjoy, like have the writers’ room develop scripts, some that I want to act in and some I want to produce. It also gave me an incredible amount of time to spend with my son. He is three years old now. So, that was a good thing about not getting the right scripts.”
Kunal Kapoor’s calendar
>> The actor has a film with south star Chiranjeevi, titled Vishwambhara.
>> He is set to shoot for Nitesh Tiwari’s Ramayana where he plays Indra Dev.
>> Kapoor has a yet-untitled film with Aamir Khan Productions, slated for release this year.
Jewel Thief makers had no that I liked dancing-Jaideep Ahlawat
8:20 AM
With his smooth moves taking the internet by storm, Jaideep Ahlawat says he enjoyed shaking a leg for the first time and playing to the gallery with Jewel Thief
Priyanka Sharma (MID-DAY; April 17, 2025)
Who is ruling the internet the past few days? Jaideep Ahlawat, with his smooth dance moves. Give the actor a role and he will knock it out of the park, but no one expected him to burn the dance floor. That is, until viewers saw Jaadu, the party number from Jewel Thief, also starring Saif Ali Khan and Nikita Dutta.
“No one, not even Siddharth and Mamta [Anand, producers] had any idea that I liked dancing. When I was asked to do it, I said, ‘I can manage this much dance,’” he smiles.
Ahlawat didn’t exactly spring a surprise on us. In a 2021 interview, the actor had told mid-day that he wanted to strap on dancing shoes for the screen (Want to tell everyone I’m a dancer as well, April 15, 2021).
Bring it up and he says, “I knew I could dance, but for some reason, such a script never reached me. Here, Sid sir and the makers thought of making me dance. They could have easily shot the song only with Saif and Nikita. But Kunal bhai [Kapoor] and I were included. I saw the opportunity and accepted it.”
That’s not it. We’ll see him shaking a leg again soon. “I did a film before Jewel Thief. Its release got delayed,” he tells us.
The Netflix heist thriller, with its dialogue-baazi and cat-and-mouse chase between the protagonists, comes as a departure from Ahlawat’s serious offerings. How was it playing to the gallery? “Ek dum mast,” he says.
“I’ve done all of this before, for instance, in Commando [2013], which had only dialogue after dialogue. This kind of dialogue-baazi becomes fun when you know it’s not force-fitted. We have grown up watching [Amitabh] Bachchan saab, then Shah Rukh [Khan] saab. So, there is no prep needed to play such a character.”
While Ahlawat has teamed up with Khan in the Robbie Grewal and Kookie Gulati-directed thriller, he also shared screen space with the co-star’s wife and actor Kareena Kapoor Khan in Jaane Jaan (2023). “Ab main family member kaha jaa sakta hoon,” he quips.
When we ask him if there are any differences or similarities between the two actors, Ahlawat shares, “As actors, they are slightly different. Jaane Jaan was quite serious. So, [her] preparation was different. But the one thing I found interesting is that despite being such big stars, both of them never intimidate you with their stardom.”
Visiting Ranbir’s house felt slightly different because they were famous-Zahan Kapoor
10:20 AM
Zahan Kapoor, fresh off the success of the hit show Black Warrant, speaks about making his own way as a lesser known Kapoor, his beginnings in theatre, and growing up with star cousins Ranbir, Karisma and Kareena
Priyanka Sharma (MID-DAY; February 2, 2025)
Star kids are not discovered. They are launched, unless you are Zahan Kapoor. He made his screen debut three years ago with Hansal Mehta’s poignant drama Faraaz, but his breakout role finally came three weeks ago, with Vikramaditya Motwane’s prison drama series, Black Warrant. Audience praise for his turn as a rookie jailer grew into curiosity, and viewers slowly learned that a new Kapoor had entered the industry.
Kapoor is the grandson of Shashi Kapoor, grandnephew of Raj Kapoor, nephew of Rishi Kapoor, and second cousin of Ranbir, Kareena and Karisma. On the maternal side, he is the grandson of veteran filmmaker Ramesh Sippy. As he speaks to us, sitting by Prithvi Theatre—also second home to him—Kapoor is happy his surname reached the audience after his work. “I am proud that my work has spoken before me,” he smiles.
Not that the actor’s debut had gone unnoticed. Whoever watched Faraaz reserved praised for him, but it didn’t translate into an immediate buzz around him. He must have been advised to hire a PR, at least? “Yes, but that’s a lot of money also and I don’t have that kind of money. I know no one will believe me.” That’s not the only unbelievable, rather unexpected, aspect of the young actor’s journey. “I didn’t know what the relevance of my family was growing up,” he shares. It was a lot to do with both his parents—Kunal Kapoor and Sheena Sippy—not working in the film industry.
“I didn’t have that ‘filmy bubble’ pressure. I was very separated from it, which I am very grateful for, because it helped me to stay connected to the world. I was exposed to the world at large,” he says. Even before he aspired to be an actor, Kapoor was passionate about horse riding, which took him to different cities in the north, opening up his world-view further.
When the films and storytelling bug finally bit him, the pursuit of an authentic connection with his prospective audience also brought the need to learn the language to communicate with them. “No one in my family speaks in Hindi. And in school, I had dropped out it [Hindi elective]. That was the main issue for me,” he recalls, “I am dyslexic— I am a visual thinker. I had a really hard time in school and languages were especially difficult for me.”
Tell him that the Internet has taken note of his command over Hindi, which seems to be a disadvantage of many of his contemporaries belonging to film families, and he promptly replies, “Theatre ki wajah se. Woh bhi maine prayas kiya hai. Abhyas karte raho (It’s because of theatre. I worked hard at it, you have to keep practising).”
“I read short stories, poetry, and literature. Currently, I am reading a lot of mythology. Manav Kaul has written such lovely short stories. He has such a lovely contemporary voice. I am reading Purano ki Kahaniyan. I keep going back to Manto, Harishankar Parsai is hilarious,” he adds.
Kapoor says he also relied on the companions he has curated over the last decade. “I surrounded myself with people from different backgrounds. People I can listen to, learn from and grow… I like language and articulation, because that’s how you connect with someone. I still struggle. I want to be good enough to really write and have control, to write real poetry,” he says.
Of course, the rest of his family is already in awe of his skill with the language. “My family thinks I speak marvellous Hindi. They say, ‘Waah, your Hindi is the best’. And I tell them, ‘That’s because I worked the hardest’,” he laughs.
Theatre was not just the proving ground for his Hindi skills, but also his acting chops, and this was intentional. He was terrified of being launched as a Kapoor kid that he decided to take what he calls a “rooted approach”. “Not that people were saying, ‘This is the next hero’. That was never the case,” he says, “People looked at me with doubt, thinking ‘Do you have it in you?’ Some were okay to take a chance on me because I had the name. But I didn’t want to risk my entire career on a chance that someone would take only because I am a Kapoor. Which is why I decided to do theatre and learn my craft,” he says.
The result was he debuted on stage with Pitaji Please before making it to the silver screen. In between Faraaz and Black Warrant, the actor also did another play, Siachen, co-created with his Faraaz co-star Aditya Rawal.
He credits his parents for making it clear since the beginning that he would have to stand on his own feet. “My parents told me, ‘We will emotionally support you but won’t call people and ask them to cast you’.”
“I am not asking for support from my family,” he adds, “I say, ‘I will do it on my own but I will come back to you only to ask how my work was and then you guide me’.”
So, his famous cousins also remained just family, never contacts. Kapoor recalls growing up around his star cousin, Ranbir. “Visiting Ranbir’s house felt slightly different because they were famous and successful. Still, it was very warm. All of us love food, we talk a lot,” he says.
“I used to ask Ranbir a lot of questions and was fascinated that he was working on these big films. Ranbir would talk about his shoots, scripts that excited him or projects that frustrated him,” he recalls. Kapoor is happy that now, for the first time, he is able to share his experiences from the set with them. He tells us that Ranbir recently told him how much he had enjoyed watching Black Warrant.
“My pace is slow. But this is authentic to me. There’s a confidence that comes with slowly doing it. No one handed anything to me; I earned my work,” the newest Kapoor on the block says.
Raring to go at 90, Shyam Benegal is “working on two to three projects”
8:34 AM
HINDUSTAN TIMES (December 16, 2024)
Many would consider turning 90 a significant milestone in life, but filmmaker Shyam Benegal doesn’t attach too much importance to birthdays. “We all grow old. I don’t do anything great (on my birthday). It may be a special day, but I don’t celebrate it specifically. I cut a cake at the office with my team,” he said.
This year, however, his loved ones made it special for Benegal on his birthday (December 14). His 90th was celebrated at Bombay Gymkhana in Fort, Mumbai with family and friends, including actors Naseeruddin Shah, Shabana Azmi, Divya Dutta, Kulbhushan Kharbanda, Rajit Kapur, and Kunal Kapoor, among others.
Despite the physical challenges that come with age, including frequent hospital visits for dialysis three times a week, Benegal is committed to his passion for filmmaking.
He told PTI, “I’m working on two to three projects; they are all different from one another. It’s difficult to say which one I will make. They are all for the big screen.” The director’s most recent film was the 2023 biographical, Mujib: The Making Of A Nation.
In Veeram, I was given a role that no one in Hindi cinema was offering me end at the time-Kunal Kapoor
2:47 PM
M Priyanka Goud (HYDERABAD TIMES; September 27, 2024)
Kunal Kapoor, who began his Bollywood journey as a lead actor nearly two decades ago, is now making a mark in the south film industries, particularly in antagonist roles. Following his performances in Veeram (Malayalam) and Devadas (Telugu), Kunal shared that he feels more satisfied in his career, especially when portraying negative characters.
In an exclusive interview with Hyderabad Times, he spoke about his upcoming Telugu film Vishwambhara, where he stars alongside Chiranjeevi. “Playing an antagonist is more exciting than the protagonist. There are no rules to follow. For a long time, I was stuck in certain roles, but it’s incredible how south filmmakers are seeing me in a whole new way now,” he said.
‘BACK IN THE DAY, I HAD VIDEOTAPES OF CHIRANJEEVI’S AAJ KA GOONDARAJ & PRATIBANDH’
Working with Chiranjeevi sir has been an absolute pleasure — he’s among the kindest and most supportive co-stars. He’s truly a legend, both on and off the screen. I’ve always been a huge fan of Chiranjeevi garu. Back in the day, I had a vast collection of videotapes, and Aaj Ka Goondaraj (Gang Leader in Telugu) along with his Hindi debut Pratibandh were part of it. The last film of his that stood out to me was Sye Raa Narasimha Reddy. Though he’s a Megastar on screen, he’s incredibly down to earth in real life. I remember during an action scene, I felt a slight twinge in my shoulder, and the first thing he asked was, ‘Is your shoulder okay?’ It’s rare to meet someone of his stature who is so thoughtful and concerned about everyone on set.
‘AUDIENCES SEEM TO PREFER ANTI-HEROES OVER TRADITIONAL ONES’
When I started, the roles I was offered were all very similar. Back then, a hero was expected to fit a certain mould, but now even the idea of a hero has changed. Audiences seem to prefer anti-heroes over traditional ones, and I feel fortunate to explore these grey-shaded characters, especially in south films. In the Malayalam film Veeram, I was given a role that no one in Hindi cinema was offering me end of the year.at the time. Director Jairaj saw something in me that the Hindi film industry didn’t, and I’m enjoying this new phase as an actor.
‘IT’S AMAZING TO SEE PEOPLE APPRECIATING FILMS BEYOND THEIR LANGUAGE’
This is an incredible time for actors and technicians, with collaborations across industries becoming more common. South films like Baahubali, RRR, and Kalki 2898 AD have broken language barriers and are being watched nationwide. As an actor, it’s exciting to explore diverse roles in different regions. The content today is outstanding — like the Tamil film Maharaja, which became the most-watched film, largely thanks to OTT platforms making it accessible to wider audiences. It’s amazing to see people appreciating films beyond their language. Everywhere I’ve been, from Bombay to Hyderabad, people have been praising Vijay Sethupathi sir’s performance in that film.
‘I have an exciting lineup of films ahead’
I’m working on Jewel Thief with Saif Ali Khan and Jaideep Ahlawat, followed by a mythological project, Ramayana, alongside Ranbir Kapoor and Sai Pallavi, with shooting starting soon. I’ve also ventured into writing and recently completed a script for an action-packed vigilante series, which is set to begin production by the end of the year.
Raj Kapoor’s Awara to premiere at TIFF
8:23 PM
Niharika Lal (BOMBAY TIMES; August 28, 2024)
The restored version of Raj Kapoor’s 1951 film Awara will be screened at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) in the classics section. The film was restored in 4K by the National Film Development Corporation – National Film Archive of India (NFDC-NFAI) under the National Film Heritage Mission.
NFDC sources tell us, “In 2018, Randhir, Rishi, and Rajiv Kapoor shared film materials, including several of Raj Kapoor’s classics with the NFAI. Among this invaluable collection was a 35mm dupe negative of Awara, which has now been selected for scanning after careful visual comparison with several 35mm release prints from the NFDC-NFAI collection.”
They add, “The colour grading for the restoration is being supervised by Kunal Kapoor, who has previously worked extensively on the restoration of films produced by Shashi Kapoor.” Awara was nominated for the Grand Prize at the Cannes Film Festival in 1953.
‘The 100th anniversary of Raj Kapoor’s birth’
TIFF said in a statement, “This screening commemorates the 100th anniversary of director Raj Kapoor’s birth in 1924... This recently restored classic threads messages of socialist reform among its musical numbers and Charlie Chaplin homages, and is often considered to be the greatest film by the greatest showman of Indian cinema,” TIFF said in a statement.
For the longest time, I was offered the role of either a poet or a terrorist-Kunal Kapoor
8:59 AM
Vinay MR Mishra (BOMBAY TIMES; July 18, 2024)
In 2004, Kunal Kapoor debuted with Meenaxi: A Tale of Three Cities, after which he went on to do a prominent and probably one of his most memorable roles in Rang De Basanti. It’s been two decades since the actor started his journey as an actor. Talking about falling in love with cinema, he shares, “At the core, I believe I am a storyteller, and for me, this is the best place to be.”
Elaborating on his decision to pursue a career in show business, Kunal says, “I discovered movies by chance after doing many things in my life. I became an assistant director (assisted director Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra on Aks), and once I was on a set, I felt this was the most magical place.”
“It was the most exciting place to be – whether as an actor or a storyteller. But it’s also a place with its own set of challenges. There have been ups and downs, there have been very exciting times, and then, there have been frustrating times. But when you’re in a place you love, you take everything in your stride and move on,” says Kunal.
‘Waiting for the right script can be frustrating’
In his 20-year-long career, Kunal has never really spoken about the ups and downs he has faced. He says, “Sometimes you don’t get the kind of work you’re looking for. You’ve to wait for it, and that can be a bit frustrating. It’s like being part of a football match; everyone’s playing the match, and you’re sitting on the bench waiting for your chance to get in.”
He further adds, “For the longest time, I was offered the role of either a poet or a terrorist. Those were the two kinds of roles that constantly came to me. As an individual, you know there’s so much more you can do and explore.”
‘I am working on 6 scripts with different writers’
Kunal hints at the lack of lucrative acting gigs as the reason for concentrating on writing and production. The actor, who was seen in the web show The Empire, explains, “At one point, I realised I wasn’t getting the kind of work I wanted. Instead of waiting, I decided to create the work that I wanted to be a part of. It pushed me in the direction of writing. Today, I am working on six scripts with different writers and also acting in four projects. I feel I have probably entered the best phase of my career now.”
‘I didn’t fit the mould of a stereotypical Bollywood hero’
Over the years, the syntax of movies and storytelling has changed, which Kunal believes is the best thing to have happened. “When I started out, there were certain kinds of movies that would be made, and the hero was expected to be of a certain kind. You had to fit into a mould, which I didn’t. There were certain expectations about the kind of films that you had to do. And I didn’t enjoy those films. Fortunately, what’s happened is that the mould has changed now, and different kinds of characters are being written, and different stories are being made. That’s the kind of space I enjoy,” he says.
‘I feel the audiences would not have accepted Animal or Kabir Singh 10 years ago’
Kunal believes that the quintessential Hindi movie hero has also evolved along with our movies. “Today, the audience accepts all kinds of heroes. You have characters like Shahid Kapoor in Kabir Singh and Ranbir Kapoor in Animal. These characters wouldn’t have worked maybe 10-12 years ago because people expected heroes to be a certain way. The more we stretch that mould, the better it is for everybody,” he signs off.
Jewel Thief makers conduct an extensive schedule in Budapest, Saif Ali Khan films action scenes and songs
9:08 AM
Sources say Jewel Thief makers conduct an extensive schedule in Budapest, with Saif filming action scenes and songs; thriller to wrap up soon
Upala KBR (MID-DAY; July 15, 2024)
It’s a transcontinental on-screen heist for Saif Ali Khan and Jaideep Ahlawat. In March, mid-day reported that an extensive schedule of Jewel Thief—The Red Sun Chapter was being conducted in Mumbai, after which the team would head to a European country (Chor in the city, March 27). Now, it has come to light that director Robbie Grewal shot a chunk of the thriller in Hungary with Khan, Ahlawat, Kunal Kapoor and Nikita Dutta.
Jewel Thief, produced by Siddharth Anand, is apparently centred on a high-stakes robbery with Khan and Ahlawat’s characters pitted against each other. While the cast filmed the climax and most action sequences in Mumbai, the Budapest leg saw them shoot some songs.
A source reveals, “The final leg began on May 18 as they filmed songs featuring Saif and Nikita against the picturesque locales of Budapest. Some action-packed chase sequences were also canned in the 10-day stint. Robbie has envisioned Jewel Thief as a slick heist thriller, with the leading man sporting a suave look, complete with a ponytail. Saif has also built a chiselled, six-pack physique, for which he has been working out since last year.”
With the international schedule having been wrapped up on May 28, the film is nearly complete. All that remains is a patchwork shoot that will take place in Mumbai next month.
The source adds, “It will be only a few days of filming that will include some city and car shots. Robbie is currently neck-deep in post-production and wants to wrap it up by October.”
Jewel Thief—written by Anand, Grewal and Sambit Mishra—marks the producer’s reunion with Khan over 17 years after Ta Ra Rum Pum (2007).
No one is putting me on a magazine cover before my debut film-Zahan Kapoor
8:37 AM
Choosing the gritty Faraaz instead of a glitzy star-kid launch, Shashi Kapoor’s grandson Zahan hopes to ‘earn’ his place in the industry
Priyanka Sharma (MID-DAY; February 3, 2023)
There is bound to be immense curiosity when the late Shashi Kapoor’s grandson makes his Hindi film debut. But Zahan Kapoor wants people to watch Faraaz with the expectation of a good film, not as a star-kid’s launch vehicle.
“My biggest fear is this being construed as the debut film of a Kapoor. If you are coming in with that expectation, you will be disappointed,” he says.
Hansal Mehta’s directorial venture, also starring Aditya Rawal, recounts the 2016 terrorist attack at the Holey Artisan Bakery in Dhaka, Bangladesh, where five gunmen held customers hostage for 12 hours and killed over 20 of them. Zahan plays the eponymous character, a young boy who stood on the right side of faith and humanity in the face of violence.
“This film is not about a character who is prepared to be on a mission; here, the character emerges. Hansal sir’s choice was to show that the guy was caught in an experience, and was compelled to stand by his belief,” explains Zahan.
It’s easy to see that the hostage drama is far from the conventional star-kid launch vehicles that come with a fair amount of razzmatazz. Zahan, son of Kunal Kapoor and Sheena Sippy, says it falls perfectly in line with his family values, where merit takes precedence over privilege.
“No one is putting me on a magazine cover before my debut film. We have to earn our place. I was taught that despite our privilege, we have to be responsible and aware about the reality that surrounds us. My father is an ad filmmaker, and when he started working, we weren’t in a good position, financially. His story was independent of his father’s, and I hope mine is independent too.”
His father often reminds him of the fickle nature of both success and failure. “He often jokes that he could tell how my grandfather’s career was going by the number of bouquets that would come home on his birthday. The biggest advantage is not the family, but the privilege to make our own choices.”
With the movie, he says he has “reintroduced” himself as an artiste to his family that has more than its share of superstars — from cousins Kareena Kapoor Khan and Ranbir Kapoor, to Alia Bhatt. “My family is proud of me. I am happy I could tell [my cousins] that I am also walking the same path, even if behind them.”
After Rang De Basanti, some said that I am finished and that I have disappeared-Kunal Kapoor
8:08 AM
Rishabh Suri (HINDUSTAN TIMES; October 18, 2021)
It’s a great time to be an onscreen artiste in the current scenario with multiple avenues and mediums to explore and be part of. But a couple of years back, becoming an actor, especially when you were an ‘outsider’ was tough, confesses actor Kunal Kapoor.
He reveals he was dissuaded from entering showbiz just before his big-screen debut in 2004 with Meenaxi: A Tale Of Three Cities. “When I was starting off, a lot of people said ‘Don’t become an actor, because it is difficult for outsiders to get a breakthrough’. Then for a while, I was the next big thing after Rang De Basanti (2006) was released. Then they (makers) said, ‘He has disappeared; he is finished’. And now, I have a lot of filmmakers calling me to say, ‘You are such an interesting actor, we would like to do more stuff with you’. That is a full-cycle you go through as an actor,” says Kapoor.
He admits that the industry is unstable and emphasises that perceptions change quite quickly here. “A month back, there were filmmakers who didn’t think I was right for a part that they were writing. Now a couple of them have called and asked ‘Would you be interested in hearing the part?’ Perceptions change rapidly here,” reveals Kapoor.
Talking more about the insider-outsider debate, he says, “The only option you had earlier was, if you didn’t make it as the lead, then you sort of graduated to being a supporting actor, then the villain.”
However, with the entrance of OTT, things have changed. The Empire actor says, “In case, you don’t find the films you are looking for, there are incredible shows that you can do. You can even be a part of films on these platforms. This is the best time for outsiders to be actors.”
The actor, who turns 44 today, says he is “pretty neutral” about celebrating his birthday. “I don’t hate it but I don’t feel like doing cartwheels either. It’s nice to be wished and all that stuff... But there’s the pressure to have a good time.”
Babur in The Empire is probably different from how Babur was in real life-Kunal Kapoor
8:01 AM
Amid social media backlash against The Empire, Kunal Kapoor says he merely remained truthful to the way the Mughal emperor was portrayed in the source material
Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; August 30, 2021)
Kunal Kapoor remembers reading Alex Rutherford’s Raiders From The North, the first book in The Empire Of The Moghul series. Call it serendipity or what you will, but a few months later, the actor received a call from Nikkhil Advani, who offered him the role of Babur in The Empire. “Nikkhil said he has the book rights and wanted me to read the script. Sometimes, scripts are not able to live up to the source material, but here, the script enhances it,” says Kapoor, who fronts the Disney+ Hotstar period piece that dropped over the weekend.
Telling the story of Mughals in the current social climate is not easy. As soon as the Mitakshara Kumar-directed series dropped online, a section of social media users expressed their anger against it for “glorifying the Mughals.”
Kapoor says he tried to be honest to Babur, a man of many contradictions. “Babur in the show is probably different from how Babur was [in real life]. We were being honest to the way the character was written in the book. In the book, he was a physically strong man who was emotionally vulnerable, even weak sometimes. He is the emperor, but is crippled with self-doubt. He is constantly asking himself if he is good enough for the throne. I found these nuances fascinating. I saw in him a man torn between the voice of his father — a softer, poetic man [Umar Sheikh Mirza II] — and his ambitious grandmother [Aisan Daulat Begum]. In historical dramas, there is a tendency to make it theatrical. I wanted him to come across as relatable.”
Many had thought that things would look up for the actor post Veeram (2017), the acclaimed Malayalam rendition of Shakespeare’s Macbeth. Does he feel that he didn’t get his due? “The moment you say you didn’t get your [due], or you should’ve got more, it will make you a bitter person. I don’t want to project myself as a victim of the industry. I live in the present. I am being offered exciting work and I would rather focus on that.”
Kunal Kapoor, Esha Gupta and Malaika Arora have never been out of shape; dole out tricks to maintain a good physique
8:13 AM
Kunal Kapoor, Esha Gupta and Malaika Arora, three actors who’ve never been out of shape, dole out details of their routine and tricks to maintain a good physique for decades
MID-DAY (August 25, 2021)
Kunal Kapoor
What egged you on to take to a healthy lifestyle?
People assume body-shaming is restricted to those who are overweight. But, I went through it because I was thin. I was a child who had bronchitis, and fell sick as soon as seasons changed. People always told me I needed to eat more. I [connected] with someone who, like me, was thin, but was able to bulk up, and began to train at an akhada. When you see results, and hear people compliment you, you are inspired. It started off with the desire to look good, but it evolved into something bigger. Eventually, I got deeply involved, and began to learn new things. I also recently went to London to do a parkour course.
A regimen that forms the crux of your routine I think martial arts and yoga are pretty comprehensive. They target different factors associated with wellness, including strength and flexibility training, apart from other essentials.
As someone with a high Basal Metabolic Rate, what are the tricks to bulk up for cinema ?
Compound movements, and lifting heavier weights. You need to also eat seven to eight meals a day, and up the carbohydrate intake. There have been days when I have had to wake up early only to eat a heavy meal. I also need to train, regardless of my shooting schedule [to prevent muscle depletion]. This may involve waking up at 4.30 am to exercise, or doing so at 1 am, after the shoot wraps up. Between shooting schedules, I also train in the vanity van. However, given a choice, I’d rather be lean and fast [than big and bulky]. There’s no point in looking great if you can’t do functional movements.
Misconceptions people have about physical transformations
An actor does it under supervision, with the involvement of a dietician, and nutritionist who monitor blood parameters. Don’t aspire to it.
Esha Gupta
I have been on a gluten-free vegan diet for 13 years. I was born in a vegetarian family, so becoming vegan was not a tough task. It definitely reduces your meal options though. The more I learn about the right kind of protein and fat that should be consumed, the more agile I feel.
A mistake you would never make
Fall for fad diets, or take pills to lose weight, as promoted by celebrities. I also know that staying fit involves taking to a fitness regimen as well. You cannot follow an unhealthy diet, and train, and wonder why you are not seeing the results you desire. On the other hand, any kind of training is important to keep the body mobile, and burn surplus calories.
Toughest part of maintaining a physique post the age of 30
Women have it tough when it comes to maintaining weight. We get bloated during our periods, or at the slightest hormonal change. It is important to practice healthy habits from [a young age]. I used to play volleyball, now I play tennis. Also, when I head for [vacations] with my friends, we indulge in a lot of sports-related activities.
Malaika Arora
Biggest learning in maintaining a healthy physique
Working towards building a strong mind is as crucial as building a [physique]. Nourishing your body with wholesome food, staying hydrated, getting restful sleep, and being physically active are incredible tools to maintain fitness levels. Also, being self-assured is essential. That is what is also promoted in the show I judge, MTV Supermodels.
A principle that forms the crux of your regimen
I swear by the goodness of yoga. It’s an integral part of my lifestyle and has umpteen benefits. It helps me stay calm and feel good about myself, inside out. I can do the asanas anywhere, and it’s my go-to mantra whenever I need to clear the clutter in my mind. It makes me disciplined and peaceful. Also, I find joy in trying everything, be it yoga, pilates or weight training.
Toughest part of maintaining a physique post the age of 40
After a certain age, your athletic levels become apparent. Ageing takes its toll; metabolism slows down, and bones begin to weaken. To combat it, it is essential to prioritise taking to a healthy life, and treating the body like a temple. It is the best way to remain youthful and fabulous.
Ashwiny Iyer Tiwari, Abhishek Chaubey and Saket Chaudhary team up for Netflix anthology Ankahi Kahaniya
8:18 AM
Uma Ramasubramanian (MID-DAY; August 18, 2021)
From exploring the complexities of relationships in Ajeeb Daastaans to the breezy Feels Like Ishq, filmmakers have brought us varied shades of romance with the two anthologies. Now, Netflix India is ready to roll out another anthology, Ankahi Kahaniya. Directors Ashwiny Iyer Tiwari, Abhishek Chaubey and Saket Chaudhary will take us through the winding paths of love and longing as actors Abhishek Banerjee, Zoya Hussain, Kunal Kapoor and Rinku Rajguru bring their stories to life in the RSVP Movies production.
Tiwari is no stranger to romance, having helmed the delightful Bareilly Ki Barfi (2017). The director says her latest outing will blur the lines between reality and fantasy. “I want to challenge myself as a storyteller with every story. [With my latest offering], I hope to captivate the imagination of movie lovers with questions of untold emotions that every human goes through,” she states.
For his short film starring Rajguru and Delzad Hiwale, Chaubey of Udta Punjab (2016) fame has gone back to the ’80s. It is as much an ode to the innocence of young love as it is to Mumbai’s single-screen cinemas.
The filmmaker says, “When you’re young and caged in Mumbai, looking for love is a sweet escape. What’s better than finding it at the movies, however fleetingly?”
Chaudhary counts himself lucky to be part of the anthology as he says, “Love stories have always been one of my favourite genres.”
While making The Empire, we have blindly followed the book-Nikkhil Advani
8:51 AM
As he backs a show on Mughal emperor Babur in current social climate, creator Nikkhil Advani says The Empire is true to Alex Rutherford’s written word and vetted by historian
Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; August 10, 2021)
One look at the trailer of The Empire, and zealous Indian netizens immediately drew comparisons with the iconic Game Of Thrones. While the comparisons are premature, there’s no denying that creator Nikkhil Advani has taken on an ambitious task — through the eight-part Disney+ Hotstar offering that is adapted from the first book in Alex Rutherford’s Empire Of The Moghul series, he will offer a retelling of the life and times of Mughal emperor Babur up until the First Battle of Panipat in 1526. With the material of this nature at hand, wasn’t he inclined to design it as an elaborate big-screen outing? “This story can’t be told in two hours; that would be gross injustice to the book. Our intention is to adapt all six books in the series,” begins Advani.
The creator’s singular brief to director Mitakshara Kumar, who has trained under Sanjay Leela Bhansali, was to make it an extravagant affair. “I was constantly hovering around to ensure we made it bigger,” he laughs, adding that shooting post the 2020 lockdown was an ordeal. “Our crew strength [pre-lockdown] was 400, and post the lockdown, we were told only 50 junior artistes could be used. [Since 2020], we went to Uzbekistan thrice; the weather was a spoilsport every time. Writing was relatively easier. We brought down a Hollywood writing consultant [Matt Pyken] who joined the director, Bhavani Iyer, myself and the internal teams from Emmay and Hotstar. During the lockdown, we went back to writing, and were able to flesh out the women characters better. These women [influenced] the dynasty by being manipulative, courageous, kind and sacrificial.”
The team hired a historian to ensure they are factually accurate, every step of the way. “From the scripts to the costumes, the lyrics to dialogues, everything was sent to Ejaz bhai [Syed Ejaz Hussain, History department, Visva Bharati University] for vetting. This was followed by an intensive legal vetting at the streaming giant’s end.”
Though the period drama was earlier announced with Shabana Azmi, Ronit Roy and Dia Mirza, the latter two were replaced to include Kunal Kapoor, Drashti Dhami and Dino Morea. Asked what led to the change in the cast, he says, “We changed our approach to the story. Earlier, we wanted three heroes to play Kunal’s character, but that was reduced to two. Kunal did justice to both, the younger and older parts. Drashti came well-recommended by Gaurav Banerjee [president and head, Hindi and English Entertainment, Star India] because we didn’t have time to set up her character. Her off-screen image was important for that instant connect and given her television presence, she was a great fit.”
Difficult as it is to achieve the grand scale of the show, Advani probably has a bigger hurdle. It presumably cannot be easy to tell an honest story about Mughals in the current political and social climate. He takes a pause before saying, “I am lucky that we have the rights to the book. We have blindly followed the book. Diana Preston and her husband Michael Preston, who use the pen name Alex Rutherford, are avid historians of the Mughal period. As creators, we have to be true to the characters.”
The creator hopes that the drama creates “hungama” so that he can make the second instalment even grander. “I envy the makers of Mirzapur. They put out a teaser, and fans go gaga. I hope we are able to create that frenzy. But eventually, as a creator, I hope we can tell the story that we are supposed to be telling,” he smiles, leaving us to decode that loaded sentence.
Kunal Kapoor to make a biopic on India’s Winter Olympian Shiva Keshavan
8:25 AM
The actor is excited to turn producer with this project that he will also be creatively involved with
Rachana Dubey (BOMBAY TIMES; August 2, 2021)
Actor Kunal Kapoor has been writing stories since his days as an assistant director. And ever since, he had been harbouring the dream of turning a filmmaker someday. The Rang De Basanti actor finally decided to take the plunge and turn producer. “I think this is the best time to be a storyteller. When I was starting off, there were a certain kind of films being made. Films that had to fit into a mould, which has now been broken. The audience is exposed to so much content from across the world, that they are open to different stories and new ways of storytelling. And you have a whole new breed of technicians, who think in a way that is original and unique. It’s exciting that you have so many films being made which are rooted in India. Stories from small towns, of unsung heroes and about the history of our country,” says Kunal.
Kunal shares, “I’ve been writing stories since my days as an assistant director. And I would love to bring those stories to life not only as an actor, but also as a producer and director. As an actor, you have little control over what stories you get a chance to tell. You can only choose from what you are offered and you’re part of someone else’s vision. But as a producer, you have a chance to bring your own vision to life.”
The actor has chosen to back the biopic of Shiva Keshavan, considered India’s greatest Winter Olympian, who has always displayed his determination to give back to the sport of luge and develop winter sports in the country. Called India’s fastest man on ice, he represented the country in six consecutive Winter Olympics and was also its lone representative during the 1998 and 2002 Games.
Kunal elaborates, “He is an amazing athlete. What drew me to Shiva Keshavan was not only the fact that he has represented India in the Olympics six times, but that it was also a story about the spirit of India and the incredible things we manage to achieve with limited resources. It’s a story of resilience and the path less taken; it’s also a celebration of our culture and diversity.”
My character writes pulp fiction; Kunal Kapoor surprisingly showed me his books & 80% were pulp fiction-Amin Hajee
8:00 AM
BOMBAY TIMES (March 25, 2021)
Kunal Kapoor is all set to return to the big screen with the murder mystery, Koi Jaane Na. The film revolves around a writer, who churns out pulp fiction novels, and features the actor with Amyra Dastur in lead roles. Amin Hajee, who makes his directorial debut with the suspense thriller, feels Kunal is the perfect fit to play the protagonist. Also, the fact that the actor is a huge fan of pulp fiction and an avid reader of the genre, helped him get into the skin of his character with ease.
Speaking about Kunal, Amin shares, “I had narrated him the script four years ago at his home. After the narration, he took me to his room and showed me his books. This story is about a character who writes pulp fiction, so he showed me all his books and out of all the books there, 80 per cent were pulp fiction.”
Amin Hajee says, “Kunal smiled and told me, ‘You know I am your Kabir’ and I said, ‘I know you are.’ I thought he was right for the part because of his physique and other characteristics, but the guy within was also the same person.”
The director shares, “Kunal came up to me with many fabulous ideas. He has not just been my lead actor but also helped me on the creative front.”
Kunal is thrilled with the response to the film’s trailer. Many people from the industry, too, have appreciated it. Hrithik Roshan took to social media and applauded it, saying he ‘loved it’, while Abhishek Bachchan said that the trailer looks ‘killer’ and that he was happy to see Kunal back on screen. Vicky Kaushal, Ali Fazal, Sunny Kaushal and others also praised Kunal and the trailer. Kunal responded saying, “I’m overwhelmed by the response the trailer has received.”
The trailer gives the audience a glimpse of Kunal’s intense performance and look in Koi Jaane Na, along with the chemistry he shares with Amyra, which stands out. Get ready to watch the nail-biting thriller on April 2 at a theatre near you.
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