Ever since the first glimpse of Ramayana dropped, the film’s costumes have become a talking point. Social media has been abuzz with debates over its modern styling, with many questioning why Sita (Sai Pallavi) is seen wearing blouses, unlike traditional depictions of mythological characters. Memes comparing Kaikeyi’s look (Lara Dutta) to television serial characters have also gone viral.

Costume designers Rimple and Harpreet Narulah, known for their work in films such as Padmaavat and Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar, aren’t surprised with the scrutiny.

“We knew conversations and comparisons were inevitable,” says Rimple, adding “An epic like Ramayana has lived in our collective consciousness for generations. There will always be opinions about the casting, costumes, visual effects and what people believe is right or wrong. We were prepared for that. What has kept us grounded is our honesty towards our craft.”

Addressing the biggest criticism — Sita’s blouses — Rimple says, “When I close my eyes and think of Goddess Sita, I don’t think about archaeological authenticity. I wanted my Goddess, the one sitting in my mandir, to look like the image that has lived in my consciousness. That was a deliberate choice.”

She adds that there are no surviving costume references from the Treta Yuga that can conclusively say what people wore.

“Research is the foundation of costume design, but interpretation is what makes it art. There aren’t preserved garments from that period that we can simply recreate. We’ve all grown up seeing calendar art, miniature paintings, temple imagery and Raja Ravi Varma’s interpretations. Ramayana itself has been interpreted differently across cultures and countries. This is our interpretation,” she explains.

Talking about Lara Dutta’s Kaikeyi look, Harpreet shares, “The green in her costume represents motherhood, while the deep maroon reflects the emotional strength and darkness of the decision she has to make. She is torn between her own son and Ram. Every colour was chosen with intention. Sometimes people react too quickly before understanding the thought behind it.”

He signs off saying, “This is our attempt to make an ancient epic speak visually to a new generation. There’s thought behind every thread. We want to appeal to viewers — don’t decide before you see it. Watch it, experience it and then form your opinion.”

Three decades after she first entered the spotlight as a model, Lara Dutta is now raising necessary questions about India’s modelling industry. Reflecting on her own journey — from signing contracts alone at 16 to building a career across fashion, films and entrepreneurship — she says models still lack protection, structure and representation. Calling the industry “the wild wild west” in her early years, she believes models today need stronger voices, better safeguards, and even a union to protect their interests.

Lara Dutta hails from an era of modelling, when supermodels were a rage. However, the sector, she thought was disorganized.

“For us, it was a lot more disorganised. We never had agencies and agents. We never had anyone looking out for us or watching our backs. It was literally like you were in the wild, wild west,” she recalls, adding, “I was a 16-year-old who looked at my own contract that came to me by a multi-million dollar conglomerate across the globe. I had no lawyers or agents reading the fine print for me. And I think we learned how to navigate our way through this industry on our own. It just made us tougher and savvier.”

She feels the industry now has more structure, but also more pressure, while she raises a pertinent question. 

“Today, a lot of times, the models are at the mercy of agencies. If you want this job, this is what you’re getting paid, and this is what the environment is going to be. It’s up to you whether you want to do it or not. You are, in a way, thrown off the deep end,” she says.

She further explains, “There are no unions. There never were. Even the film industry has a union. At least you have a place to go where there are laws that monitor the functioning of things. In modelling, that doesn’t exist. We have multiple fashion weeks, through the year, a massive industry, but no real structure, guidelines, or real respect for what the profession is about. Models need more voice, they need to be their own person.”

At 47, Dutta, who is known for movies like Bhaagam Bhaag, Partner, and Andaaz, is working on two big projects – Ramayana and Welcome To The Jungle. “I’ve always said that in my 40s, I am having the best time as an actor because I’m finally doing the kind of work that I want to do,” she says.

On her next big film, she adds, “I’ve got Ramayana coming out next year. It’s going to be possibly the most massive thing that’s ever come out of India. I’ve had the opportunity of working with one of the most talented ensemble casts and it was an incredible experience. This is not an easy film to make, and the characters are not easy to play.”

Looking back at her own 30-year trajectory, Lara says time feels unreal. “When I look back now, it feels like it’s gone in the blink of an eye. But I think the one thing that remained constant is the focus and the hard work. From the age of 16, I knew what I wanted, and I went after it. I never wanted to be boxed into one industry. I constantly moved and reinvented myself as I went through life. I refused to stay just an actress for all my life as there’s so much more that I want to do,” she reminisces.

The ripple effects of the West Asia conflict can be felt the world over, including in the Hindi film industry. On March 30, mid-day reported that the Dubai schedule of Shah Rukh Khan’s King had to scrapped (When war affects the King’s strategy, Mar 30). Now, the latest film to call off its Dubai shoot is the Akshay Kumar-starrer Welcome To The Jungle. Director Ahmed Khan was to take his ensemble comedy to the emirate for a song shoot, but is now reimagining it in Mumbai.

Postponing the track’s filming was out of the question as it includes the entire primary cast — Kumar, Suniel Shetty, Arshad Warsi, Raveena Tandon, Jackie Shroff, Paresh Rawal, Lara Dutta Bhupathi, Disha Patani, Jacqueline Fernandez, Shreyas Talpade, and many others — and getting their combination dates a second time over would have been difficult. So, the director did the next best thing. 

A source revealed, “Elaborate sets will be put up in Madh Island, Golden Tobacco Studio, and Film City in Goregaon. Created by production designer Sailesh Mahadik, the sets will depict night clubs, casinos, and private jets. Ahmed and producer Firoz A Nadiadwallah essentially imagined it as a glamorous song that shows how the rich live the good life. That’s why Dubai would have been the perfect location. The unit waited for a month for things to settle down there, but when they didn’t, they shifted the location.”

Khan will begin the song shoot on April 15. Confirming the location shift, the director told mid-day, “We will now shoot the song in Mumbai. It’s a glamorous song with the entire cast.”

Among many Indians stranded in the UAE during the bombings in the midst of the ongoing US Israel Iran war was actor Lara Dutta Bhupathi. After posting an emotional video on social media about the situation she was facing in Dubai, the actor is now safely back in India. Excerpts from her conversation on The Right Angle with Sonal Kalra:

I normally don’t put out videos like that, as you don’t want to create panic. But I was undertaking a dangerous journey back with my daughter (Saira, 14), and we didn’t know what was awaiting us. I had this 1% thought that this could possibly be the last thing that ever goes out.

My daughter has been playing tennis since she was seven, and three years ago, we made a choice to move to Dubai to allow her to train with an elite coach who’s based there. Saira and I were on our own because (husband) Mahesh (Bhupathi, tennis player) was away in London for work when this war broke out. Until the time you actually have bombs being intercepted overhead, it doesn’t feel like it’s a close reality. However, the UAE government is doing an incredible job of keeping everybody safe.

So we chose to take a flight from Fujairah. We hadn’t left the house until then. The only instructions we were given were to stay indoors. We lived just about 10 kms away from the Jebel Ali Port, which was being bombed every day. So we decided to take a chance, as I wanted to be with my husband and my family. We drove two hours to Fujairah, and just a day earlier, Fujairah port and the oil refinery had been bombed. It was scary. I was joking with my co-star Akshay Kumar that I felt like I was part of Airlift 2.

Even at the airport, you could hear these booms, and you were just hoping that nothing was struck. Hats off to the airlines, as well. I am very sure my daughter is going to have some amount of trauma after this experience.

Lara Dutta says motherhood didn’t add layers to her identity; instead, it reshaped it entirely. Speaking to Mirror, the actor shared how becoming a mother brought a profound shift in perspective. “Motherhood, for me honestly, was a great leveller because in the initial years it takes away your entire sense of self. It stops being about you. It stopped being about me, and it was constantly about this other little person in my life — and that priority doesn’t change,” she said.

Now a mother to a 13-year-old daughter Saira Bhupathi, Lara says the experience has evolved dramatically. “I’ve got a teenager on my hands now, and it’s completely different. It’s an absolutely different ball game. Today we have a very different relationship from when she was a child,” she added.

Reflecting on her role as a parent today, Lara said, “I feel like I’m learning so much more from her than what I’m able to teach her. My role now is more of a guide and a mentor because I want to raise an incredible human being. My daughter teaches me things every single day.”

Beyond motherhood, Dutta says her entrepreneurial journey has been driven by lived experience rather than trends. “For me it was a lifestyle vision really born honestly from the belief that I think beauty, fashion, lifestyle and wellness are all interconnected expressions of oneself. So over the last three years with Arias, I've kind of thoughtfully tried to build out products that will empower women to embrace every facet of themselves, to feel confident, to feel inspired and beautiful. My prime sort of focus is women in their 30s and 40s who are really embracing possibly a new chapter of life. They're a bit more thoughtful, they're independent, they're intentional. I don't think these women follow trends blindly. They sort of seek out authenticity and meaning in whatever they do today," she said.

On what entrepreneurship means to her, she says it isn’t about selling — it’s about adding value. “For me, as an entrepreneur, I'm not trying to sell. I'm not trying to be a businesswoman who just wants to create a product and sell it to somebody. The idea is to add value to someone's life. I've had the opportunity of working with women through every decade. Your requirements, your outlook, your thought process changes with every decade that you go into. As you mature, you start looking beyond just a trend or beyond just what a product is — you start looking for value in something," she ended.

Lara Dutta Bhupathi lost her father, Wing Commander L. K. Dutta (Retired), earlier this year in June. On Air Force Day today, the actor shares memories of her late father and the environment she grew up in.

The 47-year-old says, “My father was commissioned very young as a flying officer straight out of NDA. He won two Vayu Sena medals for gallantry; one during the 1965 Indo-Pak war and the other during the 1971 war,” adding, “When dad retired, he was flying for Indira Gandhi, then Prime Minister, and was stationed at Hindon (Uttar Pradesh), where I was born. We grew up knowing that the men in our lives were married to the motherland first, and then to their families; and that the officers’ wives’ were women of resilience.”

Lara says her father left behind a void that can never be filled. She recalls, “Growing up, I would sit on my dad’s lap and announce to the world that I wanted to be an ‘omelette’ because I could not pronounce pilot.”

She adds that growing up in a military family has taught her adaptability. “Every few years you are at a new Air Force station. As a child, there’s no better education you can have than experiencing different cultures and languages. I’ll always remain an air force brat,” she signs off.

Intrigue is the first word that admittedly comes to Sheeba Chadha’s mind when we mention Ramayana. The actor, who plays Manthara to Lara Dutta’s Kaikeyi in filmmaker Nitesh Tiwari’s ambitious drama, finds the intrigue around the Ranbir Kapoor, Sai Pallavi, and Yash-starrer surreal.

She admits that at the time of shooting her portions, she didn’t expect such heightened anticipation around the movie. “Everybody everywhere is asking me about Ramayana. When I was shooting it, I did not know that the project is so ambitious! The intrigue or curiosity around it [is off the roof],” she exclaims, before adding, “I have a small role, but it was fun working on the movie. My work was largely with Lara Dutta.”

For now though, the actor is focusing on The Trial’s second season, led by Kajol. Chadha reveals that this edition will explore the vulnerable side to her “daunting” character. “Malini is a strong character and stands her ground. But you see other shades to her this time.”

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Choreographer turned director Ahmed Khan entered the film industry as a child actor in 1986 with Mr India. The next year will mark his four decades in cinema, a time that saw his evolution from actor to directing action movies (Baaghi 2, Baaghi 3, Heropanti 2) and now comedy with Welcome To The Jungle (WTTJ), the franchise’s third instalment. In a candid chat with BT, Ahmed revealed why commercial cinema is here to stay, Welcome sequel’s casting changes and why he has no intention of sticking to making sequels only.

Sanjay Dutt’s last-minute exit from WTTJ sparked curiosity. The director revealed, “When I started the film, everyone had this fear, kaisay hoga. Casting changes happen in all films whether big or small. It can happen just 15 days prior to shooting. Sanjay Dutt had a good role but dates sabke manage karnay mein issue ho gaya tha. We are like a close-knit family, so we understood each other. He just shot for a day before exiting the project. I can’t tell you if he was replaced or we created a new character because it will trigger this whole talk about isko liya tha pehle, usko liya tha pehle. Aap dekhogay toh aapko yeh pata nahi chalega that who was cast as whom before.”

It was speculated the film was delayed due to its casting and financial hiccups. “I would not like to comment much but we started the film in March last year 2024. Itni badi film will need a year so there’s no delay as such. Half the industry was working with me. The film has Akshay Kumar, Jacqueline Fernandez, Disha Patani, Raveena Tandon, Aftab Shivdasani, Lara Dutta and Shreyas Talpade. I cancelled other actors' dates for Shreyas, when he faced an untimely health scare. We waited and shot with him. Every actor stood by Shreyas and said they will change their dates for him. He is a strong guy.”

Nana Patekar and Anil Kapoor as Uday and Majnu were iconic characters of Welcome and their omission too felt strange. Ahmed clarified, “I tried to change the vibe of the third instalment. We wanted a totally new look because the audience has changed, humour has changed. They may be back in welcome 4 but it wasn’t necessary for us to recreate the same casting now.”

The filmmaker feels that while commercial films are looked upon as run-of-the-mill, it’s a challenge to make them.

He explains, "Commercial films are toughest to make because everything needs to look good. Be it the hero, heroine, costumes, songs, high octane action or location. The reach is more so the backlash is more as well. You must do it unapologetically. You have to meet expectations of people who want it to be larger than life and yet believable. Bimari pay ek film banalo. Serious hai, background music kam hai, action nahi hai, gaane nahi hai, hospital hai, ghar hai, bimari hai, pareshani hai, dawai hai. People don’t care if it’s not looking good visually. Content driven film may have 50 people on set, we have 500. A lot of effort goes into managing that sort of crew. Commercial Hindi films will never go out of style. Women want a man to give them flowers, be gentle, shower attention, lock eyes with. SRK gives you that."

Looking back at his four decades in cinema, he says, “I started off as a child actor in 1986. I was a choreographer for 25 years of my life! Imagine jumping from choreography to directing action movies and action to directing comedy. I have seen the evolution of cinema. Today’s actors are so well trained. Pehle dhundna padta tha actors ki body hai ki nahi, dance aata kay ahi, now look at today’s boys. They can be compared to international actors and models. The competition is now Timothee Chalamet when it comes to talent and Chris Hemsworth when it comes to physique. Alia Bhatt worked with Gal Gadot and they don’t even make noise about it. 90’s mein main bhi battameez tha. I used to feel it’s okay to be arrogant if you are in the film industry. Today, the youngsters address makeup dada as sir, Tiger Shroff addresses a spot boy as sir.”

The director we hear will launch his son Azaan as an actor soon. Ahmed revealed, “He is a charming 23-year-old. He wants me to launch him like Rakesh ji did for Hrithik. I am very objective that way. I will never say, mera beta superstar banega and he will never say my daddy is the strongest. He knows I am not tall, and I tell him he’s not light-eyed like Hrithik. We are very honest that way, we roast each other. My son knows I am quite critical. He knows he will only succeed if he has it in him.”

The more, the merrier has been a long-standing mantra in the world of Housefull. Now, it looks like Housefull 5 will be a crowded affair. While Akshay Kumar, Abhishek Bachchan and Riteish Deshmukh lead the comedy, sources tell us that producer Sajid Nadiadwala and director Tarun Mansukhani are planning to rope in cast members from the past instalments. Apparently, the idea is to bring all the franchise players together, thus enhancing the Housefull universe.

A source reveals, “Talks are on with Arjun Rampal, John Abraham and Bobby Deol, who starred in the first, second and fourth edition respectively. The makers are envisioning it as a clash of the protagonists and antagonists. Discussions are underway with Chunky Panday, who will have a double role. From its many leading ladies over the years, Lara Dutta, Nargis Fakhri and Jacqueline Fernandez may join the latest offering. While some actors will have cameos, others will be seen in crucial roles.”

The upcoming laugh riot is set aboard a luxury cruise liner. The film will roll in London in August, after which the cast and crew will move to a cruise liner for a 45-day schedule.

The source adds, “The cruise begins in Newcastle in England, then heads to Scotland, Ireland, France and Spain. Tarun wants to ensure everything is planned in advance, leaving no room for delays as a huge star cast will be onboard.”

The director wants to wrap up the shoot by October.

All-good or all-bad is boring. The magic lies in the grey, says Lara Dutta, echoing most actors’ sentiments. Which is why she relished playing the role of Manisha Saigal, a leading news channel’s primetime anchor, in Ranneeti: Balakot & Beyond.

“My character is something of a spin doctor, and it is inspired by a couple of people who exist [in today’s journalism world]. These are powerful journalists who work behind the scenes, spinning narratives for people to see and [influencing their] perception,” says the actor.

The Jio Cinema offering— also starring Jimmy Shergill, Ashutosh Rana, and Ashish Vidyarthi—is set against the backdrop of the 2019 Balakot air strike and offers a fictionalized retelling of the events. Every actor craves layered roles, but Dutta admits she could not have done justice to this character earlier in her career.

“You need maturity to portray this character. You will see cynicism, lived experience, moments of weariness and frustration in her. I couldn’t have brought that to the table with less life experience under my belt.”

Dutta believes life and its wisdom have made her ready for more complex parts today. It shows in her recent choices. The glamorous roles of the aughts—from Andaaz (2003) to No Entry (2005) and Partner (2007)—have been replaced with mature turns in Ishq-e-Nadaan (2023) and Charlie Chopra and The Mystery of Solang Valley (2023). Is she enjoying this change of pace?

“I am 1,000 per cent happier today,” beams the actor, 48. “Age has finally freed me from all these shackles of perception, of being perceived only as a pageant winner or a glamorous leading lady. That was never the work I wanted to do. The work I got over the last few years was the kind I had 

always wanted to do.”

In the pipeline are Suryast, Welcome to the Jungle, and Nitesh Tiwari’s Ramayana, in which she plays the manipulative Kaikeyi. She couldn’t be happier about the diverse roles filmmakers are imagining her in.

“Today, we are getting offered amazing roles, and for that, I give credit to all the women who have come before us. Apart from those in front of the camera, today you have so much female talent as producers, directors and technicians. It has been a hard-fought battle, but it’s exciting to be a part of this change.”

Welcome To The Jungle is a classic case of the more, the merrier. Ahmed Khan’s directorial venture has a star-studded ensemble cast comprising Akshay Kumar, Sanjay Dutt, Suniel Shetty, Raveena Tandon, Jacqueliene Fernandez, Arshad Warsi, Disha Patani, Lara Dutta, Shreyas Talpade, Paresh Rawal and more. While the unit has shot three schedules that have included only a few combination scenes of actors, the next few days will see the entire cast come together for a grand dance number.

Bringing together 10-plus actors is a delight on screen, but off screen it entails a major logistical set-up. Sources say the director has envisioned the song on a big scale, complete with 200 background dancers. 

“While the background dancers began their rehearsals last week, the actors have been separately practicing their steps with the choreographer and his team for the past few days. The idea is to be fully prepped before they face the camera on Saturday at Royal Palms in Goregaon. The director will have a 500-member crew working on the song over seven days, during which actors will shoot their individual and joint sequences.”

If things go as planned, Khan will wrap up the comic caper’s Mumbai leg by May-end.

There is no such thing as too many stars. At least for Akshay Kumar and director Ahmed Khan. Last September, the superstar announced Welcome To The Jungle that has a stellar ensemble cast including him, Sanjay Dutt, Suniel Shetty, Raveena Tandon, Disha Patani, Jacqueliene Fernandez, Arshad Warsi, Lara Dutta, Shreyas Talpade and many more. While the comedy went on floors last December, the director kicked off the second schedule in Mumbai on Tuesday. 

The ongoing leg is particularly ambitious as it brings together the entire cast at Club Millennium in Juhu. 

A source reveals, “The cast will shoot at various locations over the next two days, including Empire Studio in Andheri. The major work, however, will begin on March 15. The director has lined up an extensive schedule at Royal Palms in Goregaon, where over 20 actors of the principal cast will do their combination scenes. On days that the actors have their individual scenes, is setting up parallel sequences so that nobody’s time is wasted.”

The third instalment in the Welcome franchise is slated for a December release.

College romances and first loves have been depicted one too many times in Hindi films. Mature romances, however, are few and far between. Which is why Lara Dutta believes that her latest release, Ishq-E-Nadaan, comes as a breath of fresh air. “It’s not about couples finding their first love. I’m glad we moved on from that in the 1970s, but then, we regressed so badly [in the last few decades],” begins the actor.

Through three couples —essayed by Neena Gupta and Kanwaljit Singh, Dutta and Mohit Raina, and Shriya Pilgaonkar and Suhail Nayyar—the Jio Cinema offering studies the different shades of love. Dutta’s track sees her as a rich, glamorous woman who falls in love with a hotel executive, thus exploring a romance between two people from different socio-economic strata.

“The three tracks are realistic and mature love stories. [The core] is that all of us deserve to be given a second chance in life and love. That sentiment is more realistic than the idea of love conquering all.” 

The actor doesn’t subscribe to the love-can-conquer-all notion. That’s too much of a “rose-tinted view” for her liking. “Love can make life a great deal better, but it doesn’t have to be only romantic love. Many times, we pin our happiness on the [idea of] finding a perfect partner, and stop focusing on our remaining relationships that are equally fulfilling.”

Her love story with former tennis player Mahesh Bhupathi is for keeps. The two have been married for 12 years. Asked the secret to a successful marriage, Dutta says, “The cornerstones for it are mutual respect, and understanding where the other person is coming from. Both Mahesh and I are alpha human beings, we are self-made people. So, we became the wind beneath each other’s wings, and our daughter [Saira] is our top priority.”

When director Avishek Ghosh narrated the script of Ishq-E-Nadaan to Lara Dutta, it took her back to the world of Hrishikesh Mukherjee movies. From Guddi (1971) to Bawarchi (1972) and Chupke Chupke (1975), the late director’s offerings were noted for their ability to look at the joys of everyday life.

“I’ve been a huge fan of Hrishikesh Mukherjee’s films. His characters would make the story what it is. Ishq-E-Nadaan is special in that sense; the love and the relationships in this film are innocent,” says the actor, who was last seen in Kaun Banegi Shikharwati (2022).

Besides Dutta, the Jio Cinema offering stars Neena Gupta, Kanwaljit Singh, Mohit Raina, Shriya Pilgaonkar and Suhail Nayyar. Through three distinct stories, the movie explores love and life in the bustling city of Mumbai. The simplicity of the characters and the slice-of-life story drew Dutta to the film. She shares,

“I loved the innocence of Mohit’s character. The film’s concept—that love conquers all—[resonated with me]. Sometimes, it’s nice to come across scripts that are heartwarming, and not necessarily looking to be unusual or thrilling. Sometimes, you just want to switch on [the television] and want to feel good about life; it is one of those beautiful stories. Plus, it’s releasing in the monsoon. I can’t think of a better way than curling up on a rainy afternoon with [this movie] and a hot cup of chai.”

In her 20-year career in Bollywood, Neha Dhupia has played varied characters, including that of a pregnant cop in A Thursday, while being eight months pregnant in real life. The actress has witnessed the shift in the industry over the years and while she appreciates that Hindi cinema has evolved with its content and representation, she feels there are some aspects that call for a larger conversation. In a chat, Neha highlights the disparity of pay between male and female actors, body shaming and more. Read on.

In a recent interview, Priyanka Chopra shared that it took her 20 years in the industry to get the same paycheck as her male co-actor. Neha Dhupia and Priyanka started their film careers almost at the same time.

Ask Neha whether she has faced a similar disparity and she says, “Priyanka Chopra, Lara Dutta, Shahid Kapoor and I started our film careers almost at the same time. But I don’t like to compare because each of our body of work is different.”

Despite the difference though, Neha firmly believes that pay disparity is a conversation that needs to be had because it’s important and relevant.

“I can’t do apples and oranges, but I want to take this conversation forward because it’s high time that the film fraternity blurred the difference and tackled pay parity,” shares Neha.

A former beauty queen, Neha says that when Harnaaz Sandhu was crowned Miss Universe, it was a proud moment for the country. But Harnaaz was also body shamed after she gained a few pounds due to a medical condition.

To this, Neha says, “Body shaming is unacceptable. I faced it too, after giving birth to my first child. Life has different chapters and we have to play different roles. The pressure of looking good is a lot and I have experienced that.”

“If your Instagram bio doesn’t say, actor, host, influencer, mother and more, then you are just not doing it right,” opines Neha, adding, “Next year will be all about multitasking and having multiple accomplishments.”

Talking about how she manages everything, she shares, “I am not someone who would wait for the right kind of work. My mantra is to work towards career objectives every day and put in all the hard work to achieve them. Roz subah uth ke humein apna kuan khud khodna hai aur paani khud dhoondna hai. I find honour and pride in every job that I do,” says Neha.

In a career spanning 26 years, the last five years have been the busiest for Lara Dutta Bhupathi. The actress, who began a new inning in recent years with web shows and movies, believes that age has given her more freedom to play every character that appeals to her. In a chat with Bombay Times, she spoke about juggling different roles as an entrepreneur, a mother, a wife and an artiste without sacrificing one for the other. Excerpts:

I think it’s fantastic! The OTT platforms have changed the landscape for the better. As an artiste, I find the writing varied, in-depth, and experimental, and there’s definitely a lot for women to do. I think I am possibly doing the best work of my career right now. The last decade has been busier than the one before that. The amount and quality of work have been really good over the last two to three years. I am enjoying this new phase of my professional journey. Among the films and shows that I’m doing, I’ve picked exciting and challenging roles to play.

Growing older has liberated me as an actor. I don’t need to fit into any box anymore. Being a leading lady and a former Miss Universe, I was always viewed from a glamorous lens. Age has liberated me in terms of playing characters and roles. The acting muscles existed, but they were not utilised until a few years ago. Everyone is trying to strike a fine balance between all their roles at home and work. In all of this, it’s important to find a partner who supports you with everything. I was fortunate to find that in Mahesh (Bhupathi) and we make it work together.

Saira has always seen me as a working mom. Yes, there was a little phase when I had taken a bit of a sabbatical when she was really young, but I have been on the go, and I would travel with her during Mahesh Bhupathi’s tours. She has grown up seeing me as a busy, working mother. I need to let her know that I’m passionate about my work, I enjoy it and the financial stability and independence that come with it.I hope she imbibes these thoughts, too.

It was a good thing that I had produced a film back in the day before I became an entrepreneur. Any kind of prejudice that I had to face here, was far greater and harder for me in the film business. It made me thick-skinned. In the film business, they all wanted to have creative discussions with me, but it made the men very uncomfortable to have any financial and money-led chats with me. It’s far easier to be a businesswoman in another space altogether. Gradually, people are seeing that actors bring value to a business and also insight. They’re investing in companies and being smart about their money.

I never left that space. I’ve been a producer since then, and we have done a lot of content in the advertising and digital content verticals. The production house is functional, but I am not a producer who makes formula, big-budget films, one after the other. At the moment, I’m active as an artiste, and I need to balance things out. I don’t intend to burn out. Striking a balance between my roles as a mother and wife, an entrepreneur and an artiste, is essential to me. When things are right, and the timing is perfect, and the universe conspires, I will make another film, but for now, my plate is full.

Filmmakers have always had a penchant to showcase real-life stories on screen, especially, if the story is one that has all of India burning with rage. Early in February 2019, news of a vehicle-borne suicide bomber at Lethpora in the Pulwama district targeting a convoy of vehicles that killed almost 46 CRPF (Central Reserve Police Force) personnel, stirred widespread anger. Few weeks later, on February 26, Indian warplanes air bombed a terrorist training camp in Balakot, Pakistan.

While conspiracy theorists claim that it was a state-sponsored attack to turn the general elections in favour of the ruling party, official statements termed it as a retaliation to the Pulwama attack. Immortalising the sacrifice of the men in uniform, director Santosh Singh of Broken But Beautiful (2018) fame, is now making a series, Grey Wars, on the Balakot airstrikes.

While it is still unclear who will play Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman—the air force pilot who was captured by Pakistan and released after 60 hours—Singh has roped in Lara Dutta Bhupathi, Jimmy Sheirgill, Satyajeet Dubey, and Ashish Vidyarthi to play pivotal roles in the film. The main crux of the series will be centred around the Balakot airstrike, but it will also throw light on other peripheral aspects.

“The show will include several other aspects apart from the Balakot strike itself, which is a high point of the narrative,” says the source, adding that the Viacom18-produced series will be shot in and around Kashmir and a few other locations in the country. “The series is set to go on floors next month,” confirms the source.

Grey Wars is not the first screen adaptation of the air strike. The theme was set in motion with Vicky Kaushal’s Uri: The Surgical Strike (2019), which was a  sleeper-hit.  Later in December, Sanjay Leela Bhansali, Abhishek Kapoor, Bhushan Kumar, and Mahaveer Jain announced their joint production for a film on the same subject.

Shriya Pilgaonkar considers travelling her soul food. The actor, who recently returned from a threeweek vacation in Spain, says she’s all charged up after the trip and is ready for her work commitments for the rest of the year. “The past six-seven months have been incredibly busy in terms of work. Three of my projects were released and I finished shooting for two more. So, I needed to unwind. In Spain, I had the time of my life with my friends and am back with more energy and enthusiasm. It was a much-deserved vacation for me,” shares Shriya. In a chat, the actress elaborates on her passion for travelling, exploring the OTT space and more...

The Fan actor says that she is an explorer at heart, and adds, “The thrill of being in a new place and meeting new people is incomparable. Since acting is about observation, I feel that travelling is a necessity for me in order to gain perspective. I may take a luxury-filled or laidback trip with my family.”

Shriya adds, “But on solo trips or a holiday with friends, I like to bring out that adventurous side of mine and try offbeat stuff like hiking, scuba diving, cliff jumping etc. Since I am a foodie, discovering a place through its food is also an important part of my travels. Just go with the flow is my travel mantra.”

While her mother, actress Supriya Pilgaonkar encouraged her to go on solo trips, Shriya calls her maternal grandfather Arun Sabnis a travel inspiration. Shriya says, “My grandfather is 83 and has travelled around 95 countries. We have done a few fun trips together, including an unplanned trip once. Since he has so much experience, he ended up becoming my tour guide. Travelling with him is genuinely fun and easy. He maintains travel journals, a habit I have now imbibed too.”

Shriya has been basking in the glory of the success of her recent OTT projects, and believes that this is an exciting time in her career. She adds, “The digital space has turned out to be a real game changer for my career. Along with the critical appreciation, it feels amazing to get the audience’s love. I am flooded with messages.”

That said, she wishes to be seen on the big screen too. “I want to do feature films as well. It’s been a while since I have had a theatrical release. There is a project in the pipeline, a romantic comedy which also features Neena Gupta and Lara Dutta. In addition to that, I am actively seeking international projects,” she says, adding, “I want to establish myself as a global artiste. In international projects, the need for inclusivity and the writing have promoted multi-ethnic casting. It’s good to see characters being written in a way that breaks stereotypes and cliches. To me, the body of Irrfan sir’s work is inspiring. My priority has always been a good script, irrespective of the medium or language. There are different kinds of roles that I am aiming to do now.”

Shriya says that she wants to maintain a balance between doing films and OTT projects. She also says that she’s looking at different ways to put herself out there in order to avoid getting stereotyped. “The recognition I got from OTT shows helped me bag films. I would like to believe that good filmmakers and production houses don’t put actors in a certain bracket. At times, people are quick to stereotype you with respect to your roles. But I think you have to keep putting yourself out there in different ways and roles. That’s the only way to hopefully avoid getting stereotyped,” she says.

Shriya comes from a film family. In fact, her father, actor-director Sachin Pilgaonkar, was the one who directed Shriya in her big screen debut, Ekulti Ek (2013). While the actress agrees that there are perks of coming from a film family, she says she is happy to have established a place in the industry on her

own. “It is indeed a privilege to have parents who are actors. Since they have vast experience in the field, they understand the highs and lows and what it takes to navigate the industry as an actor. They have helped me get stronger from within, and be able to deal with the ups and downs. But I would like to say that it has been a step-by-step journey for me. I have never approached things from an entitled space. I had to work very hard for everything that I have achieved, and I still do. I have carved a path for myself,” says Shriya.

She adds, “I was selected for most of my projects after auditioning for roles. Every actor has their journey. In my case, good work has brought in good work. There have been projects that didn’t work, but I have enjoyed doing those. I give all projects my best, but the outcome and response is something that’s not in my hands.”

What do actors Alia Bhatt, Lara Dutta Bhupathi, Deepika Padukone and Kangana Ranaut have in common? They are all making their mark behind the camera, and venturing into filmmaking. But Bhupathi feels there is a need for more women to get associated with the business side of showbiz.

“My 20s and 30s were spent in building relationships. Because at the end of the day, everybody knows that the film industry functions on the personal relationships that you build,” Bhupathi shares, adding, “I was very fortunate to have worked with some of the best people... Now, the industry knows me not just as an actor, but as a producer as well.”

The Hundred actor feels it is fantastic to see more women behind the camera, making it a level-playing field. “Today, you have Deepika, Alia and Kangana as producers. Now, the industry is accustomed seeing women [actors] wanting to take more challenging roles, not just from a creative point of view but also from a business point of view,” stresses the 43-year-old.

And that’s one of the things she wants to witness more in the industry. “I want to see more acceptance. I want to see more women succeed within the business, making successful projects. Because that’s when you will also see a change in content. And you will see things become less formula-driven,” opines the BellBottom (2021) actor.

But for this change to take place, the Chalo Dilli (2011) producer hopes filmmakers take more chances with scripts. “Sometime back, I was having a conversation with the makers of Bade Miyan Chote Miyan if there is a female villain in the story; and told them they should really explore it soon because it has never been done on screen yet. These are the things we look forward to do,” she signs off.