Roshmila Bhattacharya (MUMBAI MIRROR; June 10, 2020)

Mansoor Khan’s action-romance Josh, set in ’80s Vasco and unveiled on June 9, 2000, revolved around two rival street gangs, Eagles headed by Shah Rukh Khan’s Max Dias and Bichoo by Sharad Kapoor’s Prakash Sharma. Not many know that when the project was conceived, Mansoor had wanted his cousin Aamir Khan to play Rahul, Prakash’s younger brother who returns from Mumbai, falls in love with Max’s twin Shirley and decides to settle down in Goa, leading up to a bloody fight. “But Aamir wanted to play Max and thinking he could convince Shah Rukh to swap roles, Mansoor set up a joint narration with both. As soon as he arrived, Shah Rukh asked Mansoor, ‘Who’s Max?’ When told that Aamir wanted to do the role, he immediately walked out, saying he wasn’t doing the film,” recounts the film’s producer Ratan Jain.

After a few months, they decided to revive the film with Salman Khan, Akshaye Khanna or Saif Ali Khan. Later, since Chandrachur Singh was doing well at the time, they roped him in to play Rahul opposite Aishwarya Rai’s Shirley. But soon after, Salman was offered Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s love story Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam opposite Aishwarya and wasn’t sure he wanted to play her brother. “And that’s how Max and Josh returned to Shah Rukh,” shares Ratan ji.

He reveals that there was also a change in the music director after A R Rahman sent across a song after weeks of anticipation. “Unfortunately, neither Mansoor nor I liked it and when we asked for another one, Rahman told us he’d need a month. Since we were ready to shoot and didn’t want to delay the film, we decided to go with Anu Malik,” he informs.

Twenty years later, Anu recalls how devastated he was when he learnt that after the melodious Akele Hum Akele Tum, Mansoor would not be repeating him in Josh because he wanted to work with a new composer every time. Then, one day, he returned home at 7 am, caught a few hours of sleep before his next recording and was in the shower when the phone rang. It was Mansoor, admitting that he was in a tight spot and needed Anu to rush to Film City immediately. “The set was lovely, transporting me immediately to Goa. Mansoor told me he wanted to film a fight musically between the two gang leaders and as I looked on, the words, 'Sailaru Sailare Kya Bola Phir Bol Re' flashed through my mind and I started humming. Mansoor heard me and jumped excitedly, saying this was what he’d been wanting for six months. I was finalised on the spot,” narrates Anu, adding that lyricist Sameer came up with a prelude to his hookline, 'Hum Bhi Hain Josh Mein, Baatein Kar Hosh Mein, Yun Na Aankhen Dikha' and they were ready to record with Kumar Sanu and Udit Narayan. “Both are brilliant singers, but they were not getting the vibe right, singing too romantically, so I turned to Kay Kay and Shaan, before finally settling for Nagoor Babu aka Mano, with whom, I had done a show and rapper/singer and composer Suresh Peters. To date, I perform this song on public demand.”

Anu also made a playback singer of a reluctant Shah Rukh. Lyricist Nitin Raikwar had penned a catchy mukhda, “Apun Bola Tu Meri Laila, Woh Boli, Phekta Hai Saala”. Anu hummed it for Mansoor, who loved it and wondered if they could get Shah Rukh to sing it with the swagger it needed. Anu was confident he could, but never having sung before, the actor flat-out refused to do it. Anu sat him down and sang the mukhda and antara for him, pointing out that he only had to croon it conversationally.

Once he agreed to give it a try, Shah Rukh was totally committed, writing the words down, rehearsing the song on other shoots and with Anu whenever he could squeeze out the time. “By the time we went for recording, he was pitch perfect. He got it right the first time, giving the song so much love and life. But Shah Rukh being Shah Rukh, insisted on another take. I, however, went with the first one,” reminisces Anu.

The album had other beauties, like “Hum To Dil Se Haare”, “Mere Khayalon Ki Malika” and “Haye Mera Dil Churake Le Gayi”, the latter; a hat tip to Aishwarya’s ethereal beauty. Ratan ji recalls shooting “Haye Mera Dil” with Aishwarya and Chandrachur on a tiny island in Mauritius. By the time they packed up, it was low tide and the boat couldn’t come in. “We were told we’d be picked up only the next morning. Unwilling to spend the night on a dark island, at around 7 pm, many of us, including Aishwarya and Chandrachur, decided to walk back to the main shore. At times, the water reached up to our necks, but we waded through that 2 km of sea to reach the beach around 8 pm. That’s the kind of josh Josh inspired,” Ratan ji concludes with a laugh.

Himani Shivpuri on industry’s daily wagers; wonders if distancing will bring back ‘flower kissing’ ways
Ankita Chaurasia (MUMBAI MIRROR; June 1, 2020)

When the Coronavirus lockdown started, Himani Shivpuri was grateful as it enabled her to practice yoga and brisk walking on the same day. But after two months, the veteran actress is feeling the heat and is upset by the government’s apathy towards the entertainment industry. “We are always the first to offer help in times of distress, yet Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman didn’t think it necessary to address our plight. I understand we’re better off than migrant labourers, in that we have homes to live in and food on the table, but we’re also daily wage workers because our homes run on salaries,” she points out.

Himani insists that TV industry’s norm of 90-day deferred payments be stopped immediately. “We’ve only been paid till last November, and that too because it was a reliable producer. Many are struggling to make ends meet,” she sighs. While producers are trying to resume shooting, promising to follow social distancing rules, the actress is not convinced. “A TV show requires a crew of 400 people and actors can’t shoot with masks. And do they plan to go back to ‘flower-kissing’ ways?” wonders Himani, who used to spend 12 hours on the sets of the TV show Happu Ki Ultan Paltan playing Katori amma. Another two hours were spent in the commute to reach Naigaon. “By the time I returned home, I even stopped my mother from watching TV. Now I’m addicted to the idiot box,” she laughs, saying she’s been binging on yesteryear hits which brought back fond memories of Salman Khan and Hum Aapke Hain Koun..! “Our first shot was a regular scene. Suddenly, he picked me up and whirled me around. My surprise was for real. The next time I was prepared and playfully slapped him in response,” she chortles.

When they were in Mauritius for Biwi No 1, he didn’t turn up for a morning shoot and Himani, who had gone shopping because her call time was in the afternoon, was dragged back from the mall. “When Salman learnt what had happened, he apologised,” she recalls.

She remembers another Khan, Shah Rukh, who walked up to her on the sets of Anjaam and reminded her that he’d been a part of the crowd in a National Award-winning film, In Which Annie Gives It Those Ones, in which she had played the female protagonist.

Ranjeet with and without wig (right) in Namak Halaal

Roshmila Bhattacharya (MUMBAI MIRROR; May 16, 2020)

By the time I started writing about movies, he had stopped making them. But Prakash Mehra could still spin a story. On the one occasion we spoke, over the phone, I brought up Zanjeer, whose ‘Angry Young Man’ had, by then, become the Shahenshah of Bollywood. He confided that he had a sequel in mind to take Vijay, Mala and Tejaa’s story forward with their children. When I prodded him for details, he asked me to meet him in person. I didn’t take up the invitation and the veteran producer-director bowed out of the world on May 17, 2009, probably to the tune of “Rote Hue Aate Hain Sab, Hansta Hua Jo Jayega, Woh Muqaddar Ka Sikandar Jaaneman Kehlayega”.

That missed opportunity haunts me as much as the white stallion on the charm bracelet had haunted Vijay in the film. That prancing animal had eventually led the brooding cop to his parents’ killer while I was only served a thanda remake of Zanjeer 40 years later. By then, the quest for the story behind a story had started, and this week I dialed yesteryear baddie, Ranjeet, who had worked with Prakash ji in several memorable films, including Haath Ki Safai, Laawaris, Muqaddar Ka Sikander and Namak Halaal.

“Do you know I wore a wig in Namak Halaal? But only in one scene,” the veteran actor revealed, pointing to the sequence where Amitabh Bachchan’s Arjun Singh comes into his office for a job interview and, in response to his “Yeh kis cheez ko le aaye ho?” launches into the now-famous monologue, “I can talk English, I can walk English, I can laugh English because English is a very phunny language.” What happened to the wig? He chuckled, “The next day, I told Prakash Mehra I didn’t care for it and would go with my own hair. He didn’t argue. Those days filmmakers were accommodating because we were otherwise committed actors. That first scene was retained and the dialogue has since gone viral.”

If you think that’s hair-raising then you have to know how the climax of Haath Ki Safai was shot. The run-of-the-mill film revolved around two brothers, Vinod Khanna and Randhir Kapoor, and the lost-and-found theme, with Simi Garewal and Hema Malini as their leading ladies. Ranjeet, who was the baddie, was as busy as these stars. Yet, they managed to finish the film smoothly, with the exception of the climax.

“While shooting a scene in the hills of Khandala, I sprinkled petrol around a car, in which the dummies of the hero and heroine sat, and pressed the lighter to set it ablaze. As the flame sparked, the petrol ignited and a ball of fire rushed at me,” he flashbacked. Though he had a lucky escape, they couldn’t complete the shoot that day or the next. Prakash ji tried to rush the shoot through at the Dadar railway yard, but the presence of stars brought along the crowds. Some of the bystanders started pelting stones and once again, they had to quit midway.

“After that, I flew to Mauritius for Sanjay Khan’s Chandi Sona. On my way to Beirut from there, I had a five-hour stopover in Mumbai. Normally, you are not allowed to leave the airport when in transit, but the producer of Haath Ki Safai (I A Nadiadwala) had got special permission to whisk me off to Panvel railway station to complete the climax,” recounted Ranjeet.

He got into the car to find director Satyen Bose sitting inside, with his cinematographer. “Dada ki korcho?” Ranjeet asked, taken by surprise, and the filmmaker informed that he wanted some close-ups for his film, Mastaan Dada, and had come prepared. “He gave me the eye-patch which was a part of my get-up and the jacket I had been wearing, along with a cigar, and as the car sped along, they clicked several shots of me mouthing my lines. By the time we reached Bandra, he was done. I dropped dada off and sped towards Panvel, a car in front and one behind to ensure that there were no hold-ups along the way,” the actor reminisced.

By the time they reached Panvel railway station, Ranjeet had changed into his costume in the car and was ready for action. He just had to make a run, get fatally shot and fall face-down. End of the story. The scene went off without a hitch and with a flight to catch, Ranjeet dashed off, still wearing the blood-splattered white suit.

He ran into the airport as the last boarding announcement came on. “The security at the gate was shocked by my appearance and asked, ‘Saab, kya hua?’ I told him I’d been shooting and hurried inside. I was the last passenger to board. As I ran up the stairs and entered the aircraft, a scream stopped me in my tracks. The airhostess standing at the entrance was in shock,” he guffawed at the memory, saying it took a while to convince everyone that the blood stains were not real. “Since my baggage had already been checked in and I was not carrying a change of clothes, I had to keep the suit on, scrubbing at the stains with a pile of tissues the air-hostess brought me. They have remained, a memory of Prakash Mehra and Haath Ki Safai.”


A still from Haath Ki Safai

Sources suggest Taapsee Pannu's next with Anurag Kashyap, which was to be shot in foreign locales, to be filmed in India now to make up for the lost time in lockdown
Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; April 18, 2020)

In a recent interview to mid-day, Taapsee Pannu had stated that the schedules of Rashmi Rocket, Shabaash Mithu and the yet-untitled thriller with Anurag Kashyap were "disrupted" due to the lockdown. Now, the buzz is that Kashyap's supernatural film will be Pannu's first film to roll, albeit with minor tweaks. While the production team had surveyed spots in Thailand and Mauritius, they are now planning to set the story in India.

A source reveals, "The story is not dependent on the milieu, so the makers are considering changing the backdrop. Anurag and his team are figuring out possible locations in the country. The script will undergo minor tweaks once the backdrop is finalised.

We aren't sure when the project will go on floors, but the team is hoping to set the ball rolling by August."

Director Mohit Suri discusses how Disha Patani, known for her girl-next-door roles, took on a grey character in Malang
Upala KBR (MID-DAY; January 26, 2020)

When he is not churning out intense romantic dramas, director Mohit Suri dabbles in thrillers. His upcoming whodunit movie, Malang, has the principal actors—Anil Kapoor, Aditya Roy Kapur, Disha Patani and Kunal Kemmu—explore the dark end of the spectrum. Acknowledging that Patani—known for her girl-next-door roles—is an unusual choice for a grey character, the director says that the four-film-old actor surprised him with her performance.

"On the last day of shoot, I told her, 'You have a lot more depth than you let on. You are a beautiful woman, but could take your acting more seriously,'" says Suri, adding that given a substantial role, Patani is likely to surprise the audience. If she showed gumption by taking on a grey role early on in her career, Suri says that she also displayed a knack for imbibing nuances with little effort. "While working with her, I realised that Disha had [gained an understanding] of her character. Initially, I asked her how she wants to play the role—that's a process I follow with all my actors. When she saw that I trusted her with that responsibility, she started responding well."

High on stunts, the thriller demanded Patani to train in water sports, including scuba diving and kite surfing. A self-confessed water baby, she took to them enthusiastically. "Disha has performed some tough stunts. But the scariest was when she had to jump off a cliff in Mauritius. Before filming the scene, she told me that she was scared of heights. I offered to shoot with a double, but she said she wanted to try it once. After that, she made all other stunts look easy," he laughs.

Director Sanjay Gupta designs elaborate combat scene between John Abraham, Emraan Hashmi for Mumbai Saga climax
Upala KBR (MID-DAY; September 14, 2019)

Even as director Sanjay Gupta kicked off the second schedule of Mumbai Saga yesterday with Emraan Hashmi, action directors Vikram More and Anbariv are busy designing the fight sequence for the climax. Talking to mid-day, the director reveals that the climax of the actioner — that traces the shutdown of mills in Bombay in the '80s, thus changing the landscape of the city — will see Hashmi take on his on-screen rival John Abraham. "What's the point of bringing two heroes together if they don't have a face-off? I have chalked out several confrontation scenes between the two leads. For the final sequence, we have designed an elaborate action set-piece that will have John and Emraan engage in hand-to-hand combat," says Gupta. Probe him if the two actors play leaders of rival gangs, and he is unusually tight-lipped. "I can't divulge what they play but I can assure you that Mumbai Saga is full of action and one-liners."

The director adds that Hashmi has been devotedly working out to look like a worthy rival to Abraham. "Emraan was shooting for Ezra in Mauritius. He took his trainer along and came back a changed man — all pumped up, broad shoulders and bulked-up arms. He told me, 'Come on, I have to go up against John, it has to look convincing.'"

Chaya Unnikrishnan (DNA; June 7, 2019)

Aditya Roy Kapur, who was last seen in the period film, Kalank, is gearing up for his first action outing in Malang. The film, which is an edgy revenge drama with a blend of romance, will see the Aashiqui 2 star in two distinct looks. One will have him sporting a muscular physique and the other will see him in a lean and chiselled look.

Recent pictures of Aditya on his social media page and at events show him looking unusually lanky. A source close to the actor says he has lost around seven kilos and is the leanest he has ever been. “He had to first shoot for those portions, which had him appearing lean. So, he was on a strict diet. He had cut out carbs and was doing more of functional training. Post filming in Goa and Mauritius, he has started shooting in Mumbai now. This schedule requires him to bulk up and gain around nine kilos. Aditya has changed his diet and is consuming more calories. He works out for two hours every day and is doing a lot of weight training to build muscles,” adds the source.

Not only that, since it is his first action film, the Fitoor actor also took specific training to work on his flexibility and mobility.

Shaheen Parkar (MID-DAY; June 5, 2019)

Sunny Leone is all set to turn a legal eagle in the upcoming spy thriller, Helen. In a bid to shed her item girl image in Bollywood, the actor has given her nod to Saurabh Choudhary’s directorial venture. Leone is excited to play a lawyer, don the black robes and argue in the courtroom.

Says a source, “She is serious about doing different kinds of cinema. The makers are confident that the audience will like Sunny in a de-glam avatar as well.” Says Choudhary, “Sunny is a great actor. She has played different kinds of roles. When I was looking for an actor who can get into the lawyer’s garb, I thought Sunny was best suited for it. The thriller will be shot in Mumbai and Mauritius.”

The rest of the cast has to be ascertained. Helen is produced by Mukesh Kumar of MKG Films. Leone was last seen in Tera Intezaar (2017) with Arbaaz Khan as co-star.

The actor has taken up kite-surfing to film underwater stunts in his upcoming reunion with Mohit Suri; team back in Mumbai after Mauritius schedule
Natasha Coutinho (MUMBAI MIRROR; May 21, 2019)

Aditya Roy Kapur, who will be seen in an action avatar in Mohit Suri’s upcoming directorial Malang, has taken up kite-surfing for an important sequence in the film. It was filmed during the film’s Mauritius schedule last week for which a Mumbai-based trainer was flown down to ensure a smooth shoot. Kite-surfing is an action sport that combines aspects of snowboarding, windsurfing, paragliding and sailing into one extreme sport.

Besides the stunts, Aditya kept track of his fitness routine with personal trainer Sudarshan D Amkar, who travelled with him to Mauritius to ensure that the actor was prepared for the action-packed schedule. Aditya has been put on a strict diet which he is to follow till the film wraps up.

According to a source from the sets, the leading man will be seen performing high octane action in the film and the team has incorporated a lot of water stunts as the film is set in Goa. “Aditya trained for a month before shooting the final sequence. Currently, he and Disha (Patani, the leading lady) are shooting for the Mumbai schedule, and will can another underwater sequence for which they had been training with professional stuntmen for over a week.” Mirror had earlier reported (March 22) that in the Bhushan Kumar and Luv Ranjan production, Aditya plays a Goa resident exploring the party scene in the tourist state when an incident changes the lives of the protagonists. The actor will be sporting two looks in the film and has just started bulking up for the second one. The film, which also features Anil Kapoor, Kunal Kemmu and Akshay Oberoi, went on the floors in Goa in March. The ongoing Mumbai schedule is slated to wrap up by the month-end.

Neha Dhupia on celebrating her first wedding anniversary with hubby Angad Bedi and daughter Mehr Dhupia Bedi
Upala KBR (MID-DAY; May 4, 2019)

If their nuptials last year was an intimate affair, their first wedding anniversary won't be any different. Neha Dhupia and Angad Bedi will be heading to Mauritius on May 6 for a week-long trip to celebrate their year of togetherness. Keeping them company in their we-time will be their six-month-old daughter Mehr.

"It's a tough flight for a little baby, but we are going to do it. It's Mehr's first trip abroad. The first time I ever travelled out of the country was Mauritius, and it is the same with my daughter. We had her passport made when she was a month-and-a-half old, and her photograph saw her all swaddled up in clothes," laughs the proud mommy.

She says the island nation is an ideal location as Mehr is growing up to be a water baby like Bedi and her. Having been busy with her chat show, Dhupia says the vacation will give her a well-deserved break with her family. "Ours is young love. Angad and I didn't spend much time with each other before our marriage. So this feels like our dating phase. Every day, I feel I can't love him more, but I just do."

Himesh Mankad (MUMBAI MIRROR; February 18, 2019)

Mirror had earlier reported (January 21) that Mohit Suri’s next will see Aditya Roy Kapur and Disha Patani team up for the first time. Now, we have learnt that the yet-untitled film will also feature Anil Kapoor in a pivotal role, along with Kunal Kemmu.

According to a source close to the development, the film is essentially an action thriller with a romantic track between Aditya and Disha playing out in the backdrop. “Anil’s character has shades of grey. The film will go on the floors in March and will be shot in Goa, Mauritius and Mumbai. It should release by the year-end,” added the source.

The film is currently in pre-production and shooting will commence with a brief schedule in Mumbai next month. A huge set is being put up for the first schedule, following which the team will shoot outdoors for rest of the film. Mohit is on a recce at present.

Produced by Luv Ranjan and Jay Shewakramani, the film reunites Mohit with Aditya, six years after Aashqiui 2. Kunal teams up with the director 14 years after Kalyug. Initially, buzz was Kriti Sanon had been signed as the female lead but now it’s confirmed that the makers have got Disha on board. 

Emraan on the film set; Sobhita Dhulipala and Vedhika Kumar (below)

Natasha Coutinho (MUMBAI MIRROR; February 8, 2019)

Emraan Hashmi, who will next be seen in Jeethu Joseph’s Hindi directorial debut The Body, recently shot for a romantic number with both his leading ladies - Sobhita Dhulipala and South actress Vedhika Kumar. The investigative thriller revolves around a missing dead body. The song, which adds to its love quotient, was shot in Mauritius and choreographed by Ranju Varghese.

A source from the set says, “The song comes at a crucial point in the story where Emraan’s character is seen romancing his wife while the girl he is actually in love with is on his mind. It portrays his dilemma. The song was shot in a week-long schedule with both actresses. Beaches, a waterfall and the streets of the island where the characters are seen driving around, form its backdrops.”

Besides fronting the film, Emraan has reportedly been attending music sittings and Jeethu, who is not too familiar with Bollywood songs, is said to be glad to have the input for a good soundtrack. The Body also features Rishi Kapoor as a cop investigating the case.

The veteran actor’s next borrows its title from his 1979 release that was directed by Ravi Tandon and featured actress-wife Neetu
Natasha Coutinho (MUMBAI MIRROR; August 2, 2018)

Rishi Kapoor’s next, a family entertainer featuring Sunny Singh and Omkar Kapoor, borrows its title from his 1979 film with wife Neetu Singh, Jhootha Kahin Ka. In the film, the two boys go to Mauritius to study and love it so much there, that they are reluctant to return home. Rishi plays Omkar’s dad who turns up from the village to surprise him and is in turn surprised by his son’s lifestyle.

“It’s a family entertainer about these two boys who get trapped in their own lies and into trouble with their families. We have been shooting in Punjab and Mauritius. The film is almost complete with only the climax left which we begin shooting from August 6 in Mumbai,” informs director Smeep Kang.

On his choice of Rishi for the part of the patriarch, the director says, “We needed someone who looks threatening without compromising on the comic element and Rishi ji fit the bill perfectly.”

Incidentally, the film, produced by Anuj Sharma, marks a reunion for Omkar and Sunny, who had previously shared screen space together in Luv Ranjan’s 2015 film Pyar Ka Punchnama 2 as best friends.

After Mary Kom, the National Award-winning director returns to Manipur for a film on rugby
Natasha Coutinho (MUMBAI MIRROR; April 26, 2018)

Omung Kumar, the National Award winning director of the Mary Kom biopic that featured Priyanka Chopra, will be returning to the North-East for his next, Yubi Lakpi. “I’ve been writing this film for the past two years. It’s on rugby, a game that has its origin in Manipur where it was played with a coconut for centuries. We will start the film in Manipur and after the interval move to London. We will also be shooting in Mauritius,” informs Kumar who was in Manipur for research and will leave for London next month.

He plans to roll early next year. “We have five writers on the project—one is from Manipur, another from Australia, two from Mumbai, and me,” says the filmmaker, quick to add that going back to Manipur was not a planned move, the story just came along.

While Mary Kom was the inspiring story of one woman in the boxing ring, this film will focus on a team. “Rugby is still an alien sport for most Indians. Few know about the rugby competition for the Calcutta Cup that was launched in India but is now played between England and Scotland. The film will touch on this and other incidents that are a part of the sport’s history,” explains Kumar.

Producer Sandeep Singh adds that in some scenes Mauritius will pass off as Manipur. “The film will be largely shot in Mauritius and UK with a few portions set in Manipur because shooting in the state is difficult,” he reasons, confident that Omung who specialises in sports-dramas will do justice to this one too.

Besides the protagonist the duo plans to use local talent from Manipur and UK. “We will undergo classes in Manipuri and will work on their rugby skills for six months,” Sandeep signs off.

The actor plays a genius entrepreneur in Anil Sharma’s comeback film also featuring the director’s son in his acting debut
Shravan Shah (MUMBAI MIRROR; April 3, 2018)

Mirror had earlier reported (October 11, 2017) that Nawazuddin Siddiqui had joined the ensemble cast of Gadar: Ek Prem Katha filmmaker Anil Sharma’s next, Genius. Now, we have learnt that the actor will be essaying the role of a businessman in the romance-thriller that also marks the acting debut of Sharma’s son, Utkarsh.

Sharma, who is back to direction after five years — his last film was the Sunny Deol-starrer Singh Saab The Great in 2013 — informed Mirror, “Nawaz plays MRS, a successful businessman who has come up the hard way. The story revolves around two geniuses, Nawaz and Utkarsh, both characters with grey shades.”

The filmmaker also reveals that he was keen to cast the 43-year-old actor even as he worked on the script. “I wanted somebody who could play the character brilliantly so I approached Nawaz. While shooting, he added nuances and portrayed the character with finesse. We had been in talks to cast Nawaz for a long time. After several telephonic conversations, we met and he liked the script,” Sharma revealed, adding that he and the actor met when the film was being shot in October 2017. “I had wrapped up the 30-day first schedule in Mathura and Vrindavan when we met. He came on board and we were shooting his portions by November-end, wrapping up the film in February after shooting with Nawaz in Mumbai, Indore, Maheshwar and Mauritius.”

When asked about his choice of script, the filmmaker said that he wanted to make something that was relevant to the recent times and that it took him two years to develop the script. “I wanted to make a film with young actors as I am now focused on films that are a bit different from the kind I have made before. This one is a complete entertainer,” Sharma says.

DNA (March 4, 2018)

Mauritius and Bollywood have had a long-standing love affair. For decades, the Indian Ocean island nation has been a favourite with Hindi filmmakers. Its local population, which is part French and part a mix of all races including a strong segment that follows Bhojpuri cinema, has had a huge respect for all things Bollywood.

The Government of Mauritius hosts Hindi film producers on a regular basis. A source says, “This month, they were keen to host a group of eight to 10 film personalities. They wanted Sridevi, accompanied by her husband Boney Kapoor, to be the Chief Guest at the Women’s Day function, which is being hosted over the March 8 weekend. Now, this won’t be possible.”

IN THE MEANWHILE...
A stream of visitors continued to visit the Kapoors over the weekend. Sunny Deol and Bobby Deol, who were conspicuous by their absence at the Celebration Club and at the funeral in Vile Parle on Wednesday, made a personal visit to Sridevi’s residence at Green Acres the same night. An insider says, “The Deols spent time with Boney and gave their condolences in person.”

On Thursday, too, the Kapoor khandaan — Anil, Sunita, Sanjay etc — was with Boney. Janhvi and Khushi, who are slowly coming to terms with the irreparable loss and have taken charge of the household. At the moment, their father is fully dependent on Anil and Sunita for major decisions pertaining to smooth functioning of his home. Late actor-filmmaker Raj Kapoor’s wife, Krishna Kapoor, also reportedly dropped by to meet him on Thursday.

THE ASHES WERE FLOWN TO RAMESWARAM
Sridevi’s ashes were flown to Rameswaram for immersion via a private charter yesterday and the family returned the same night. As the funeral was delayed by three days, the Kapoors skipped the chautha (the prayer meet that happens on the fourth day after a person’s demise) that was being planned to be held at five-star hotel’s banquet hall on Tuesday in Mumbai.

However, they will have a puja to mark the 13th day in Chennai. Sri shared a close bond with the city as she grew up there. She also owned a house and farm-house in the capital of Tamil Nadu. As the family comes to terms with Sridevi’s demise, the treasure trove of her memories and her legacy is all they have to fall back on.