Showing posts with label Ladies VS Ricky Bahl. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Ladies VS Ricky Bahl. Show all posts
Arjun Kapoor was my first friend in the industry, and will always be special-Parineeti Chopra
8:33 AM
BOMBAY TIMES (August 3, 2020)
Though Parineeti Chopra’s first film was Ladies vs Ricky Bahl (2011), it was Ishaqzaade (2012) — in which Arjun Kapoor made his debut — that cemented her place in Bollywood. In an industry where people move on quickly after working with each other and find little time to keep in touch, the two actors have remained great buddies all these years. Yesterday, we all celebrated Friendship Day, however, there are many like Arjun and Parineeti, who don’t really feel the need to be constantly in touch to strengthen their friendship. In a recent chat with BT, talking about the unique bond they share, Parineeti said, “Arjun was my first friend in the industry. During the making of Ishaqzaade, I went through a very vulnerable time, and he was going through something very big in his personal life, too.”
It was during the making of the film that Parineeti had her first taste of stardom. She shares, “Ladies vs Ricky Bahl released when I was shooting Ishaqzaade. Overnight, I got success and became whoever I went on to become. I experienced that phase with the crew of Ishaqzaade, so they will always be special for me.” Besides Ishaqzaade, Arjun and Parineeti have also shared screen space in Namaste England (2018) and an upcoming film.
While their shooting schedules and the frantic pace of life doesn’t allow them to meet up often, Parineeti says that her equation with Arjun remains unchanged. “We probably may not end up speaking to each other for three months, and then, I’ll call him one day, and we just start from where we left. It really shows that nothing has changed between us. We’ve done three different films together, and our friendship has only grown. We, too, have grown up as people. I think he’s grown up a lot, and I’ve grown up, too, at least, he tells me that all the time,” she shares.
Talking about their journey in showbiz, the actress says, “Arjun has actually seen me as the child that I was back then. So, he will always be special, and I am very protective of him. Nobody can dare say anything against him around me. There is absolutely no formality between us. I don’t talk to him like a co-star, I talk to him like a friend and so does he. He can easily come and say, ‘Yeh mat karo tum, yeh bakwaas hai’, and I can do the same with him. We can have arguments, and we can say anything to each other, and that’s what real friendship is all about.”
Women who have been hurt should speak up. There is nothing worse than being assaulted and harassed-Parineeti Chopra
8:32 AM
Rachana Dubey (BOMBAY TIMES; October 14, 2018)
It seldom happens that an actress, the sister of a top leading lady in Bollywood, decides to debut in a film in which she doesn’t play the lead. In six years, Parineeti Chopra has chosen roles that have largely played on her strengths as an artiste. With a glamorous new avatar and fresh choice of films, she is all set to return with a bigger bang. She is no hurry to reach the top spot. Instead, the plan is to choose roles that give her an opportunity to display her acting chops. In an interview with BT, she talks about the on-going #MeToo campaign in Bollywood, her plans ahead and what it is like to reunite with Arjun Kapoor for Vipul Shah’s Namaste England. Excerpts:
After your dramatic weight loss and the recent glam photo shoot, everyone is talking about your new avatar. What’s the reason behind this reinvention?
One bad photo (laughs!). I saw the photo and decided that I don’t want to look like that anymore. Coincidentally, I bought a house around the same time and decided to dedicate six months to that and to my body. I had just worked in six films and I was feeling exhausted. I was overworked and I felt that I didn’t give enough time to my body. As actors, we exhaust ourselves emotionally and physically, which no one sees. People just see the glamour. During the break, I changed my lifestyle and today, I live every moment, following the ‘Kal ho na ho’ mantra. I’m not always up and about, I have low moments too, but I am aware of how I want to live.
Do you view your career as a pre and post phase, after the weight loss?
In this industry, it’s sad that a superficial thing like weight loss can actually define your career, but if that is the case, so be it. I wanted a break of six months. I knew I needed to do something new, including a fitness regimen and my film choices, too. I came back with Meri Pyaari Bindu (2017), Golmaal Again (2017) and now, I have films like Kesari, Sandeep Aur Pinky Faraar and Jabariya Jodi apart from Namaste England. The aim was always to have a good mix. Yes, that has been magnified by the talk around my fitness levels, because I have struggled with it all my life and I think that’s great. I wanted to inspire all those girls who used to say, ‘Hey! We are just like you’ when I didn’t want them to be like me. Now, I want them to be like the new me.
Do you have reservations about being a part of films with ensemble casts and multiple leading ladies?
I would love to be a part of a project like Ocean’s 8, if such a film is ever made in India. For me, the focus is always on what I am doing in a film. I started my career like that. I was one-fifth of Ladies vs Ricky Bahl (2011), where Anushka Sharma and Ranveer Singh had just come out of Band Baaja Baaraat (2010). I made a first impression in a film with an ensemble cast. Over the years, my screen characters have become meatier, but they were not the most glamorous-looking women. I don’t think I would have lasted six years in the industry if I didn’t make some bold choices. I don’t think Golmaal Again (2017) could have been my debut film. The timing of the project also makes a difference. I haven’t put any such rule in place, because the thought of not working in films with an ensemble cast has never crossed my mind. It would be great to work in a film with lots of women. Good films and good performances will help you go further in your career. You can’t get too far by just choosing leading lady roles.
Arjun and I were nothing when we started working together. Our lives have been through a lot of changes, but we’re still the same people. Working together was literally like taking off from where we left. What has changed is that today, we can’t shoot on a crowded street without being mobbed. The good thing is that Arjun hasn’t changed his attitude towards me though. But, we are more aware, wiser and we have grown up. In a spell of seven months, we shot two diametrically different films — one where we hate each other and another, where we have to be romantic. Dibakar Banerjee’s Sandeep Aur Pinky Faraar had so many difficult scenes and was physically demanding, too. In Namaste England, we had to be romantically in sync. We could pull off both because we’re comfortable with each other.
Your cousin, Priyanka Chopra and you stepped into the industry as outsiders. With so many conversations happening around nepotism, what’s your view on the subject?
Nepotism exists, but not in a bad way. If someone’s child wants to pursue their profession, any parent will ask their associates for help. Why is that wrong? So, star kids will get that first meeting and audition easier than someone who is not from the industry, but everyone’s journey is the same. Arjun Kapoor is a star kid, but if he keeps giving flops, no one will make a film with him, right? He’s an actor and a star today because he is bankable. Yes, his first audition may have been easier than mine, but our journeys are the same. People don’t get that. Outsiders like Ranveer Singh, Ayushmann Khurrana, Shah Rukh Khan, Deepika Padukone and Katrina Kaif came out of nowhere and have made a mark. Alia Bhatt, Varun Dhawan and Kareena Kapoor Khan have done well, too. They are all doing well because their films are doing well. Sadly, Indians don’t give people enough time or opportunities to explain their side of the story.
Your take on Tanushree Dutta’s case at the Namaste England song launch stunned quite a few people. The #MeToo movement has found wind in India too, but you had a different opinion…
I was asked at the event if this is the start of the #MeToo campaign in India. I said I hope it’s not because if this is the start, then more stories will tumble out and we’ll have to witness more women who have been hurt; actors, directors and choreographers who have been wronged in a beautiful industry like ours. Perhaps, I’m simply trying to avoid discomfort and conflict, but I know if there are women who have been hurt, they should speak up. There is nothing worse than being assaulted and harassed. I am a staunch feminist because I come from a family where girls and boys have always been treated equally. Tanushree’s case is unique because she is the first person who has spoke up at a time when the world is sensitive to this topic. Sadly, she must have said something in 2008 also, and maybe it fell on deaf ears... we don’t know. I think if a #MeToo campaign had started a decade ago, she would have been heard right then. I wasn’t on set and so I don’t know who is right. It’s hard to think that she would make this up; why would she? If she has been hurt by someone, action must be taken, but if she is lying, she should be equally taken to task because what she is alleging is not a small thing. It’s a life altering situation. Is India quick to judge? Yes. The thing is people in India judge quickly and also forget things just as fast. However, here is a girl who is speaking up, so let’s listen and investigate; everyone will rally for her if she is right.
Do you think being a star’s sister and being represented by a top studio ensured that you were protected from the predators in the industry?
I started my career under the leadership of Yash and Aditya Chopra. No one would dare to do anything immoral to anyone working with them. At the start of my career, my dad was skeptical and had asked me if I need my mother to be with me all the time. I told him that times have changed. The working environment in the film industry is young and cool now, there are more women on a film set than men.
I learnt first-hand how actors are supposed to behave in public-Parineeti Chopra
7:47 AM
As told to Sanyukta Iyer (MUMBAI MIRROR; December 4, 2017)
I aced almost every exam as a schoolkid, as well as all the courses I took at the Manchester Business School where I was studying for a triple honours degree in business, finance and economics. I was also a part of orientation classes for new students and managed to make time for a part-time gig for the Manchester United Football Club as team leader of the catering department. My years in Manchester were filled with different academic experiences and loads of fun. In my final semester, I began applying to investment banking firms. I didn’t want to restrict my options to just the UK and was keen to take up any good corporate job anywhere in the world.
However, I guess destiny had other plans for me as my graduation in 2009 coincided with the global recession a subsequent dip in the job market. I returned to India empty-handed and was wondering what to do. I was always a dreamer and seen as a top-notch corporate honcho with a leading bank and was pretty upset when I had to start from scratch back home.
After a short stay with my parents in Haryana, I decided to move to the City of Dreams and stayed with Mimi didi (her actress cousin Priyanka Chopra). That’s when I applied for a role at Yash Raj Films and got it too. My first job lasted for a year-and-a-half, I worked as an intern in the studio’s communications department and went on to serve as a marketing and public relations executive.
In hindsight, I can connect the dots on my insights into the world of entertainment and the pressures it exacts on actors and their teams. I learnt first-hand how actors are supposed to behave in public, what they are expected to say and when they are not allowed to speak. It was all about understanding the two worlds of being a celebrity and realising that only one of them allowed you to be yourself. I also got a chance to understand the filmmaking process, from prep to the shoot and the strategies that come into play after a film is completed and readies for release.
I figured early on that I loved interacting with the media. Many journalists still remember me for my PR pitches but if you were to ask me if I’d ever want to go back to working behind-the-scenes, it would be a resounding “no”. I am grateful that Maneesh (director Maneesh Sharma) spotted me and cast me in a small but prominent role in Ladies v/s Ricky Bahl and of course, to my mentor, Aditya Chopra.
I love being an actor. There is nothing I enjoy more than being in front of the camera. And I want to continue to act and make my family proud.
I liberated myself from that fear of judgement so I could express myself freely-Ranveer Singh
9:49 AM
Madhureeta Mukherjee (BOMBAY TIMES; June 5, 2016)
It's the year of the
Olympics. Where the motto goes 'Faster! Higher! Stronger!' Ranveer has
chosen just that year to zoom into top gear. Peaking with Bajirao
Mastani last year, even while he clashed with a biggie he came out
winning. This year, too, the actor seems just as unstoppable. Picking
every moment to live it up. Love it up. Always in his extraordinary
style. Even if he's doing an interview, or running his daily sweat
trip. Or well, doing both together. Yes, here was the plan. This was going
to be a talkathon, literally. One hour of cardio with some great
conversation. I meet the actor at 11pm at a suburban studio. He shoots
all day, and the only time he can fit in his gym schedule is midnight.
So be it. If he has to run, he pulls up his socks and runs. No matter
when. In his six-year career, he's only been on the go. The short strides
have now turned into leaps. Oh well, he stumbles too, but he's quick to
sprint and catch up.
“I've learnt to not take success to my head and not take failure to my
heart. I am blessed that the universe has given me the opportunity to do
what I love doing for a living. There can be nothing greater than
that,“ he says.
Jogging his memory, he adds on, “I came into the industry as an outsider and I got so much recognition for my first film Band Baaja Baaraat. It's an all-time loved film. It's a story that you can start watching from anywhere, as many numbers of times. The most important thing for a film is not the critical claim that it garners, or the commercial success, but how much it is remembered. After my second film Ladies VS Ricky Bahl, I started being looked upon as a sex symbol because of all the shirtless scenes, which were designed for the purpose. Then came Lootera, which for me is a gem in my body of work, as it's one of those films that you can pick up 1520 years later and it will still make you cry. I was very adamant that I wanted to pull off a solid performance-oriented film, and not be typecast into this energiser bunny that fits into gregarious, bubbly characters. The film gave me the kind of recognition I desired then.“ That was walking down memory lane. Now, we speed up and move ahead.
He swept most of the awards this year for his class act in Bajirao Mastani. Yet, the National Award eluded him. Amitabh Bachchan won the National Award for Best Actor for Piku. Was it a tad bit disappointing? “If I didn't win the National Award it only means that I have a lot more ahead of me to do. Amitabh Bachchan won it, so there is nothing to feel bad about. At an awards show recently, Mr Bachchan said some incredible things to me on stage, and that felt much greater than winning that award. It was magnanimous and gracious of him to say all that. Amitabh Bachchan nahi jeetega toh kaun jeetaga!“ A warrior, with a true spirit, I must say.
We have done several rounds of brisk walking already. There is no sign of slowing down. And our talkathon is not even halfway there.So what does Ranveer do to slow down? And get some 'me' time in the midst of the madness, paparazzi and fans. He quickly says, “I need to travel out of the country to kind of get that feeling of normalcy and calm. I believe that mobile technology has changed the meaning of celebrity life, it wasn't so bad years ago.“ It's intrusive and not so flattering always, right? “Exactly! Sometime I go to the most expensive restaurant in Bombay thinking that yahan photo nahi lenge, but they click you even there while you're eating with your mouth wide open. Once when I was in the men's room of a fancy hotel taking a leak in the stall, I turned around and saw someone trying to click a picture. This is a bit too much, isn't it? Then there was this incident where these rowdy boys were chasing my car and they surrounded it. My car couldn't move. It's not like they are being nice or showing any positive excitement. If they want pictures, I will step out and do that but if they are going to harass me and call me names, I will obviously react. I am very patient, but not with miscreants. If people are doing something wrong, I am never afraid to get into a fight.If there is a fight on the road, I feel compelled to step out of the car and mediate. I am a stand-up and take-it-on kind of guy. My security guys get stressed and frustrated as I tend to jump into the crowd and stop for every picture (laughs).
Acting apart, Ranveer stands out for his inimitable style. From bizarre, wild, OTT to shockingly stylish. He could saunter on the red carpet in beach wear, making other dandy dudes feel out of place. He laughs out loud and says, “I know I am often written about as this style icon, but honestly, it is not something I think about as much as people think I do. I hardly take time to get ready and it takes me seconds to choose my clothes. I look at the rack and I know exactly what I want to wear. This is something that is really not known, but I was always like this even in my school days. My friends would say atrangi aaya atrangi aaya. Basically, all Bandra boys are heroes in their head, right? They always followed the Sanju baba style which is cow boy boots, boot cut jeans and a shirt. In my college days I was the first to wear baggie jeans, sports jersey and gel my hair. I was always attracted to this type of stuff. But it was only after my first two years of working that I gained the self-confidence to be myself, whether it is my speech, actions or the way I dressed. In the beginning, I felt out of place as I thought had to fit into a pre-existing mould of what a rising actor in Bollywood needed to be. So, I would make all safe choices. From never being in the limelight to being constantly in the public eye can be very taxing for someone.“
He pauses to think (not stopping in his tracks even for a moment), and add, “I think around the time I did Goliyon Ki Raasleela Ram-Leela, I came into my own. I started to look the way I wanted to. In fact, if it was left to me, I would love to always sport long hair and a beard. My chiselled look in the film also added to my self-confidence and I realised that I didn't have to be cagey with my humour or hold back my natural wit. Maybe, earlier I was just apprehensive about the way people would react to me. Slowly, I liberated myself from that fear of judgement so I could express myself freely. Now I do what I want, say what I want and wear what I want.“
We have been walking for over 45 minutes and completed over 10 rounds of the sprawling studious. Between racing heartbeats and sips of water, our conversation speeds up. Ranveer is all heart. There is a certain way he can make people his own. He even talks to the media folks with warmth and willingness that's rare. Is it real? Is it spontaneous? He says, “It all stems from that feeling of gratefulness that I have to be in this positon today. Most of the time I can't believe what is happening to me. My twitter profile says... Living a dream. I mean it. Every day of my life is like a dream. When I see fans wanting to click a picture, I still feel like... 'Wow they want to click my picture. Sure, go ahead and take two.' So, most of the time I can't believe that I am living this life. I guess that's why I am like that with people. I think Priyanka Chopra articulated it pretty well when she told me that, “You're that kind of guy who can't believe it. You still say...'Mummy mummy dekho mein actor ban gaya'. I believe that we are living in a kalyug where there is too much hate, too much negativity. I just like to be a source of positivity, and spread goodness and cheer.“
A few years ago, he had said that he wouldn't mind retiring at 35. Well, the way he's darting ahead, it's unlikely he will pack up in his mid-30s. He reacts with a full throttled laugh and says, “Well, what I meant by that was I would like to do one film a year at 35 and live my life a little more. I find that people who work too much are terribly unhappy. It's important to live a balanced life where you can spend time with family, nurture meaningful relationships, and live a little bit for yourself. I want to have a house where I wake up and do yoga, paint, cook and watch movies. Eventually, that's kind of the life I want. Hopefully by the time I am 35, I will have enough confidence in myself to explore other creative avenues of filmmaking, like writing, direction and composing music. Someday, I hope I have the courage to direct a film, as I think it's a very brave thing. Cinema is a director's medium, and we actors are just a piece of their puzzle."
And while he's on the run, what keeps his feet firmly on the ground. “I am not aware or conscious of my own behaviour, but people around me say that I haven't changed. I have solid friends and a great family who ensure that I stay on track. I have someone like Aditya Chopra who will smack me on my head if he sees me changing. If there are some instances where he feels that I have been bratty or highhanded, he will tell me and take my case.“
By this time, we had walked for an hour. And finally, slowed down. For Ranveer, this was a cardio-cum-chat session. After this, he was heading out to the gym to pump some heavyweight. Phew! Such is his obsession in everything he does. Any chances of taking that big leap to the West, where supposed girlfriend Deepika Padukone is shooting her first Hollywood film? I mean, as an actor. He quickly replies, “I am being offered Hollywood films to play some very interesting parts. But honestly, I am getting some amazing Hindi films as well, and I think the ones here are far more exciting.“
During our talkathon, Ranveer tells me how that he loves his running shoes and he wouldn't mind living in them. And why not? He's here for the lambi race, and we know that he will keep running. And those who keep the adrenalin pumping have also proven to have the greatest heart.
Jogging his memory, he adds on, “I came into the industry as an outsider and I got so much recognition for my first film Band Baaja Baaraat. It's an all-time loved film. It's a story that you can start watching from anywhere, as many numbers of times. The most important thing for a film is not the critical claim that it garners, or the commercial success, but how much it is remembered. After my second film Ladies VS Ricky Bahl, I started being looked upon as a sex symbol because of all the shirtless scenes, which were designed for the purpose. Then came Lootera, which for me is a gem in my body of work, as it's one of those films that you can pick up 1520 years later and it will still make you cry. I was very adamant that I wanted to pull off a solid performance-oriented film, and not be typecast into this energiser bunny that fits into gregarious, bubbly characters. The film gave me the kind of recognition I desired then.“ That was walking down memory lane. Now, we speed up and move ahead.
He swept most of the awards this year for his class act in Bajirao Mastani. Yet, the National Award eluded him. Amitabh Bachchan won the National Award for Best Actor for Piku. Was it a tad bit disappointing? “If I didn't win the National Award it only means that I have a lot more ahead of me to do. Amitabh Bachchan won it, so there is nothing to feel bad about. At an awards show recently, Mr Bachchan said some incredible things to me on stage, and that felt much greater than winning that award. It was magnanimous and gracious of him to say all that. Amitabh Bachchan nahi jeetega toh kaun jeetaga!“ A warrior, with a true spirit, I must say.
We have done several rounds of brisk walking already. There is no sign of slowing down. And our talkathon is not even halfway there.So what does Ranveer do to slow down? And get some 'me' time in the midst of the madness, paparazzi and fans. He quickly says, “I need to travel out of the country to kind of get that feeling of normalcy and calm. I believe that mobile technology has changed the meaning of celebrity life, it wasn't so bad years ago.“ It's intrusive and not so flattering always, right? “Exactly! Sometime I go to the most expensive restaurant in Bombay thinking that yahan photo nahi lenge, but they click you even there while you're eating with your mouth wide open. Once when I was in the men's room of a fancy hotel taking a leak in the stall, I turned around and saw someone trying to click a picture. This is a bit too much, isn't it? Then there was this incident where these rowdy boys were chasing my car and they surrounded it. My car couldn't move. It's not like they are being nice or showing any positive excitement. If they want pictures, I will step out and do that but if they are going to harass me and call me names, I will obviously react. I am very patient, but not with miscreants. If people are doing something wrong, I am never afraid to get into a fight.If there is a fight on the road, I feel compelled to step out of the car and mediate. I am a stand-up and take-it-on kind of guy. My security guys get stressed and frustrated as I tend to jump into the crowd and stop for every picture (laughs).
Acting apart, Ranveer stands out for his inimitable style. From bizarre, wild, OTT to shockingly stylish. He could saunter on the red carpet in beach wear, making other dandy dudes feel out of place. He laughs out loud and says, “I know I am often written about as this style icon, but honestly, it is not something I think about as much as people think I do. I hardly take time to get ready and it takes me seconds to choose my clothes. I look at the rack and I know exactly what I want to wear. This is something that is really not known, but I was always like this even in my school days. My friends would say atrangi aaya atrangi aaya. Basically, all Bandra boys are heroes in their head, right? They always followed the Sanju baba style which is cow boy boots, boot cut jeans and a shirt. In my college days I was the first to wear baggie jeans, sports jersey and gel my hair. I was always attracted to this type of stuff. But it was only after my first two years of working that I gained the self-confidence to be myself, whether it is my speech, actions or the way I dressed. In the beginning, I felt out of place as I thought had to fit into a pre-existing mould of what a rising actor in Bollywood needed to be. So, I would make all safe choices. From never being in the limelight to being constantly in the public eye can be very taxing for someone.“
He pauses to think (not stopping in his tracks even for a moment), and add, “I think around the time I did Goliyon Ki Raasleela Ram-Leela, I came into my own. I started to look the way I wanted to. In fact, if it was left to me, I would love to always sport long hair and a beard. My chiselled look in the film also added to my self-confidence and I realised that I didn't have to be cagey with my humour or hold back my natural wit. Maybe, earlier I was just apprehensive about the way people would react to me. Slowly, I liberated myself from that fear of judgement so I could express myself freely. Now I do what I want, say what I want and wear what I want.“
We have been walking for over 45 minutes and completed over 10 rounds of the sprawling studious. Between racing heartbeats and sips of water, our conversation speeds up. Ranveer is all heart. There is a certain way he can make people his own. He even talks to the media folks with warmth and willingness that's rare. Is it real? Is it spontaneous? He says, “It all stems from that feeling of gratefulness that I have to be in this positon today. Most of the time I can't believe what is happening to me. My twitter profile says... Living a dream. I mean it. Every day of my life is like a dream. When I see fans wanting to click a picture, I still feel like... 'Wow they want to click my picture. Sure, go ahead and take two.' So, most of the time I can't believe that I am living this life. I guess that's why I am like that with people. I think Priyanka Chopra articulated it pretty well when she told me that, “You're that kind of guy who can't believe it. You still say...'Mummy mummy dekho mein actor ban gaya'. I believe that we are living in a kalyug where there is too much hate, too much negativity. I just like to be a source of positivity, and spread goodness and cheer.“
A few years ago, he had said that he wouldn't mind retiring at 35. Well, the way he's darting ahead, it's unlikely he will pack up in his mid-30s. He reacts with a full throttled laugh and says, “Well, what I meant by that was I would like to do one film a year at 35 and live my life a little more. I find that people who work too much are terribly unhappy. It's important to live a balanced life where you can spend time with family, nurture meaningful relationships, and live a little bit for yourself. I want to have a house where I wake up and do yoga, paint, cook and watch movies. Eventually, that's kind of the life I want. Hopefully by the time I am 35, I will have enough confidence in myself to explore other creative avenues of filmmaking, like writing, direction and composing music. Someday, I hope I have the courage to direct a film, as I think it's a very brave thing. Cinema is a director's medium, and we actors are just a piece of their puzzle."
And while he's on the run, what keeps his feet firmly on the ground. “I am not aware or conscious of my own behaviour, but people around me say that I haven't changed. I have solid friends and a great family who ensure that I stay on track. I have someone like Aditya Chopra who will smack me on my head if he sees me changing. If there are some instances where he feels that I have been bratty or highhanded, he will tell me and take my case.“
By this time, we had walked for an hour. And finally, slowed down. For Ranveer, this was a cardio-cum-chat session. After this, he was heading out to the gym to pump some heavyweight. Phew! Such is his obsession in everything he does. Any chances of taking that big leap to the West, where supposed girlfriend Deepika Padukone is shooting her first Hollywood film? I mean, as an actor. He quickly replies, “I am being offered Hollywood films to play some very interesting parts. But honestly, I am getting some amazing Hindi films as well, and I think the ones here are far more exciting.“
During our talkathon, Ranveer tells me how that he loves his running shoes and he wouldn't mind living in them. And why not? He's here for the lambi race, and we know that he will keep running. And those who keep the adrenalin pumping have also proven to have the greatest heart.
I really wanted Parineeti Chopra’s role in Ladies Vs Ricky Bahl-Anushka Sharma
7:50 AM
Anushka Sharma, who has done the most two-heroine projects, raps about what keeps her grounded and secure
Sneha Mahadevan (DNA; May 19, 2015)
Of the current crop of actresses, Anushka Sharma is
one of the few actresses comfortable doing a two-heroine project. And
repeatedly so. Her second film Ladies Vs Ricky Bahl was a four-heroine
project. However, she admits she found co-star Parineeti Chopra’s role
to be better than hers. “I am usually very secure as an actor. But I
really wanted Parineeti’s role in LVRB and told Maneesh (Sharma, the
director) that I want that role. He was all like ‘But that isn’t the
lead role’. But I still said I want that role. He finally said that he
couldn’t give me that role. But that’s how I think. Parineeti’s role was
the best role in that film and I kept telling him ‘Mujhe woh hi
chahiye’. So that’s how I look at things,” she explains.
She went on to work with Katrina Kaif in Jab Tak Hai Jaan and Priyanka Chopra in Dil Dhadakne Do. She explains her choices, “In DDD, my screen time may not be as much, but it’s the coolest part. It wasn’t something I’d done before. I knew the role was incredible and that Zoya would do a great job with it. In JTHJ, I thought my role was fabulous. It was great and I knew I could do something fun with it. I knew I had that security in that sense. No one is forcing me to do something. I am at a place in my life where I can say no to things. If you are taking it up with the willingness to do it, why would you have any insecurity?”
The actress, who is doing Karan Johar’s next Ae Dil Hai Mushkil with Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, adds, “I am not one of those actresses who is going to bother about what she is wearing, how long will the other actresses’ role be, etc. I have no idea how many days each actor gives to a film and who is signing what. I don’t ask those kind of questions. It’s just too taxing. That information does nothing to me. I don’t need to know all that. I have faith in the director, faith in the project and most importantly faith in myself that I will be able to do a good job with the role. I am so focussed on doing my job correctly. Where is the time to sit and think what someone else is doing?”
You feel good that Aditya Chopra has your number and is texting you-Parineeti Chopra
8:25 AM
Priya Gupta (BOMBAY TIMES; December 17, 2013)
Parineeti Chopra, 25, is often compared to Kajol possibly due to her friendly, enthusiastic persona and her uninhibited style of acting. She is emotional and sensitive and cries easily, but is primarily happy as a person. She considers herself loyal, but a poor judge of people. Ahead of her upcoming romantic film Hasee Toh Phasee, she talks to Bombay Times about her strict father, the caring Aditya Chopra and why Maneesh Sharma will always hold a special place in her life. Excerpts:
How did you come into films?
I was born and brought up in Ambala. My dad is this typical orthodox, narrow-minded Punjabi man, in front of whom you can’t even utter the word called boyfriend. He expects you to get up at seven in the morning and go for a jog. We had little money and would go on a cycle to school. But my nana lived in Africa and was very affluent, as he owned a big insurance company and so every summer vacation we would fly first class for our holidays there and from there to a new country. My mom had come to Delhi for a oneyear course and her relatives wanted to marry her off. She went to see this boy at a singing performance where the Chopra brothers, Priyanka’s father and my father, were performing (they did shows for their passion) and my mother fell in love with my father and married him.
I have always been a big city girl, so post college in Ambala, I went to Manchester and did a triple honours degree in Business, Finance and Economics, but in 2009, when I graduated, recession had hit hard and there were no jobs for bankers. So I had no choice but to come back to India. My dad was a supplier to the army and was not a very well-off person. I had gone on a big student loan to study there with some help from my nana. I would do part-time jobs to sustain my life and study there. I worked with Manchester United and used to do a catering job. I would meet the entire team, including David Beckham, everyday. I knew he was a star and my friends would get envious as I got to see the matches for free, but I was not a football fan at all. For me, it was just a well-paying job. I also took orientation classes for new students at the university and worked at a departmental store. Coming back to India was a big jolt, as it was a waste of degree and money. Due to recession, there were no jobs in banking even in India. So I had once come with my sister Priyanka to YRF, while she was shooting for a film. I used to judge films and actors and feel they were useless and would often tell my sister, ‘You have such an easy job. You just have to wear good clothes and travel the world and make money.’ She would get very disturbed and say, ‘You don’t know what acting is.’ But all that was theory for me. So I applied and got a job as a marketing intern with YRF and started enjoying films and then got myself a permanent job. After a year, I thought of giving acting a shot. I had only done school plays for annual days before that. The good thing was I did not struggle and got my first film, Ladies vs Ricky Bahl, easily. I had worked on the marketing of Band Baaja Baaraat and Maneesh Sharma would often see me and say, ‘Why don’t you become an actress?’ That got me thinking, but I did not tell him till one day he sent me to the casting director to give my audition. After a few months, I resigned from my job as I had decided to go and take an acting course. But the very next day, I got a call from Maneesh saying they wanted to sign a three-film deal with me. I went to meet Adi and just cried and hugged him.
What is Adi Chopra like? He is the coolest man ever. He will sit and discuss a film with you and is fine with you even saying no to a film, even though he is the one who has made you. He is chilled out and will eat and discuss food with you. You feel so important that Adi is having a meal with you. He can remember scripts and characters like no one can. He is such a lovely person to learn from and is a perfect producer. The only one who comes close to him is Karan Johar.
How different are Adi and Karan? Karan is a very media-savvy person and he likes to talk about his films and shows, and is as big a superstar as any other in the industry. Adi is a very shy person and likes to be the person behind the curtain, but I don’t think he wants to come out. We must respect that even though he is an extremely powerful man and wants to do a lot in his life, he does not want to add the fame and stardom to it.
Does Adi express his emotion? On a Friday, when your film releases, he will send a personal message to you. I know that he must be really nervous about what is going to happen to the film and, yet during the first show, he will make you feel better saying, ‘Whatever happens, we have made a special film and you have done well.’ Luckily in my case, all three films did well, but his message really helps as I know he cares. I think he is doing a great job as a leader as he is telling his team, ‘Don’t worry, whatever happens to the film, I am proud of you.’ You feel great and it releases your pressure and you feel so much more loyal and connected to him, apart from the fact that you feel good that Aditya Chopra has your number and is texting you. I have cried reading his message each time.
People you really want to work with? I really want to work with Karan Johar and Imtiaz Ali as directors. I find Saif very intelligent and would like to work with him.
Are you close to your sister Priyanka Chopra? Priyanka’s dad and my father are real brothers. We have never lived together, but Ambala was the central Chopra house and she would come there during her summer vacations or New Years or Diwali and we would all be together.
Priyanka and you seem to be quite different as people? She is shamelessly hardworking, more than anybody I know. She will not stop, not eat, but will keep working and is incessant. I don’t have the physical stamina to do what she does. The one thing I want to take from her is that, when I have done as many films like she has, she still works as if it is her first film and wants to prove to everybody. I feel I could get bored in a few years. Apart from that, she is a big family person. If she is in Mumbai, she will make it a point to go back and have dinner with her family. I am so lazy that I will tell my parents, ‘I am not coming to Ambala, you guys come here.’ I am not a huggy, touchy kind of person with my parents like she can be. You won’t believe it, but I have never seen my parents hug, so I often tell them that the three of us have been produced by magic as there is no romance between the two of you and they laugh. They wish each other on birthdays by shaking hands, but you know that my dad would kill someone for my mom. There is no good night and good morning. So I land up hugging people around me all the time. Also, unlike my sis, who is very well-versed with the world and knows how to deal with people and situations and knows what to say, I don’t think so much before saying things and I’m more spontaneous.
How does your dad deal with your kissing in films? He accepted the fact that I am in films because my sister had done well and working with Yash Raj, he assumed I was in safe hands. But it’s still very uncomfortable for him many times, for instance, when he saw the love-making scene in Ishaqzaade, he did not talk to me for a day. He was not angry, but just uncomfortable. He saw Shuddh Desi Romance alone with my mother, but did not say anything to me. I can’t tell him about my relationships till I am getting married to the person. My mom knows about everything. But I also know that over time he will understand it and is happy that I am doing well.
Who are your emotional anchors? My younger brother Sahaj who is now living with me in Mumbai and is assisting on a film before he goes back to doing business. While he is four years younger, he is like the eldest in the family.
Are you dating Maneesh Sharma? I love Maneesh and he has changed my life, but am not in a relationship with him. After Sahaj, he is my go-to person. I can wake up Maneesh in the middle of the night if I have a problem. I get along with people older to me as they talk more sense. Maneesh is 33 and one of the most wonderful people I have met. He is perfectly understanding of people and tries to understand why the person may be doing something and I have learnt that from him. He has taught me to be patient with people. He is very intelligent and has the gift of the gab. I enjoy people who talk intelligently. I love him, I love him a lot and he is the greatest person I have met. I consider him my best friend. My parents too really like him and everytime I buy something like a car or house, my mother will send him a text saying, ‘Thank you again and it’s because of you, she is here.’ He is the angel in my life. He will see you for what you are and will fight for you and give you another chance. Everytime I see him, I feel like touching his feet and saying thank you.
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