Showing posts with label Mausam. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Mausam. Show all posts
I wasn’t sure of doing Abbaji’s role in Maqbool-Pankaj Kapur
9:52 AM
Preeti Atulkar (BOMBAY TIMES; April 17, 2026)
At 18, when Pankaj Kapur shared his desire to pursue a career in acting, his father asked him if it was the glamour that he found attractive or if he truly had the ability to act. To find the answer, Kapur decided to join the National School of Drama. When he was leaving home to join NSD, his father, an English professor, told him — ‘Now, don’t look back.’ Kapur didn’t. In a career spanning five decades, the actor has excelled in different genres. During a recent interaction in Nagpur, the actor reflected on his journey in showbiz, recalled his NSD days and more.
‘DISCUSSIONS HELPED SHAPE ABBAJI’S CHARACTER IN MAQBOOL’
The conversation steered towards Kapur’s powerful screen performances and it would have been incomplete without the mention of Abbaji in Vishal Bhardwaj’s Maqbool. Interestingly, Kapur was initially hesitant to play the character.
“When Vishal Bhardwaj approached me with the role, I wasn’t sure of doing it. But he was insistent. So, I asked him to leave the script with me and said I would get back within a month. Eventually, I agreed,” said Kapur, adding, “I later got to know that Bhardwaj had offered the role to Naseeruddin Shah first, but he was interested in playing another character and suggested my name instead. Multiple meetings and discussions helped shape Abbaji’s character more effectively. For example, I had suggested to Vishal that Abbaji, who is short in height, be surrounded by tall, well-built bodyguards. The thought was that it will subtly reflect Abbaji’s authority and power,” said Kapur, who featured in the film with Irrfan and Tabu.
‘GRATEFUL TO ALKAZI SAHAB FOR GIVING ME A CHANCE TO DISCOVER MY OWN WORLD’
As Kapur spoke about his NSD days, there was a palpable happiness in his voice. “All the people who enter the world of acting hold Konstantin Stanislavski’s name in very high regard. In my first year, I went to the NSD library and took out Stanislavski’s An Actor Prepares,” Kapur recalled, adding, “Coincidentally, the then director of the institute, Ebrahim Alkazi, was walking in front of me. To impress him, I held the book up. He looked at me and asked which book I had taken and I, proudly, said, ‘Sir, I took out An Actor Prepares.’ To my surprise, he asked me to keep the book back on the rack.”
Kapur asked him why and Alkazi’s response changed his perspective. “He told me that Stanislavski wrote this book after 40 years of theatre experience and gave the world the concept of method acting. He told me, ‘You have to make your own way first. Once you achieve that, you can read this book’. Believe me, it’s been 50 years since I passed out of NSD and I have still not read the book. I am very grateful to Alkazi sahab for giving me a chance to discover my own world,” Kapur shared.
On Jaane Bhi Do Yaaro...
Kapur, who played the builder Tarneja in Kundan Shah’s cult comedy Jaane Bhi Do Yaaro, says that many have thought of remaking the film, but no one has till date. “I think such films are made only once in a lifetime. Many have contributed significantly to the film, but Kundan Shah’s name comes first in that list. It was commendable for him to think, write, and then execute with so much hard work and little money. It’s a film which will stay with the audiences for a long time to come,” Kapur shared.
‘Shahid has made right film choices’
Appreciating his son Shahid Kapoor’s professional moves, Kapur who has directed him in Mausam, said, “It is not easy to direct him because he is a huge star and a fine artiste. I would like to say that he is the best actor in his age group. The kind of characters he is picking need a lot of courage considering the fact that he is a star. He is constantly finding his way, which is a sign of growth for an actor.”
Remakes made with respect aren’t a bad thing-Sonu Nigam
9:35 AM
Samarth Goyal (HINDUSTAN TIMES; September 12, 2025)
Sonu Nigam has always maintained that remakes aren’t as bad as they’re made out to be — provided they honour the original. This belief is now personal, as the singer’s 1999 pop hit Bijuria makes a comeback in actor Varun Dhawan’s upcoming film, Sunny Sanskari Ki Tulsi Kumari.
“Remakes, if done with respect and regard to the original creators, are not a bad thing at all,” the 52-year-old tells us, adding, “Sometimes remakes spoil a song, but a lot of times they bring back old melodies and create nostalgia for people who grew up with them. Even I discovered singers Elvis Presley and Frank Sinatra through reimagined versions.”
Originally part of his third non-film album Mausam (1999), Bijuria was conceived as pure pop. “I had the freedom to choose what I wanted to sing. We weren’t thinking of movies at all. And now, after 26 years, it’s finding its way into a film. It is an incredible thing, really,” he recalls.
The music video, which featured Sonu as a ghost, cemented its cult appeal. “It caught the fancy of youngsters like Varun back then, which is why he has so much love for the song,” he says.
For Sonu, the original album will always be special: “We had legends like Shivamani (percussionist), Rupert Fernandes (composer) and others contribute. The bond we shared as a team is what reflects in the success of the album. That is why people are still in love with the songs.”
I loved Haribhai to death but he had one very irritating habit. He just couldn’t make it to shoots on time-Sharmila Tagore
8:55 AM
Sanjeev Kumar and Sharmila Tagore in a scene from Mausam (1975)
In a new biography on Hairbhai Jariwala aka Sanjeev Kumar, co-actor Sharmila Tagore remembers a stellar actor who drove her up the wall
MID-DAY (June 19, 2022)
I don't quite remember when I first met Haribhai. It was probably on the sets of Shandaar. He was already a big star. Our working equation began on a note of mutual respect and friendship. Shaandar was shot in 1974 in Chennai. The film industry there is extremely disciplined and strict about the language. Since Hindi is not their native tongue, they are very hesitant about changing even a single word of the dialogue that is sent from Bombay.
In one of the scenes, I had to say, “Mera dil huk uthega.” This to me sounded overly dramatic. I couldn’t identify with its sentiment. I got into a vehement argument. The director and the assistants tried to convince me that I had to say that line, but I wouldn’t listen. In those days there were no mobile phones, so they couldn’t get in touch with the dialogue writer in Bombay to suggest an alternative. Being a Bengali, I couldn’t come up with better suggestions either. This stalemate continued for a couple of hours at least.
Finally, Haribhai came up to me and whispered, “Rinku, [my nickname] do you want to stay here all night? It doesn’t matter, whatever the dialogue is, if you say it with the right emotion, I am sure you will sound convincing, and the scene will also work.”
I understood the wisdom of his words and did just that. That day I learnt an important lesson from him—that to make a scene work, one needs to cooperate. As long as you deliver your dialogue sincerely, the audience will also believe it.
Although I loved Haribhai to death, he had one very irritating habit—he just couldn’t make it to shoots on time. At one time, I was doing a double shift, Faraar in the morning and Mausam in the evening. In both the films, Haribhai was my co-star.
Those of you who have seen Mausam would know that I played a double role in the film. On my first day’s shooting as Kajri, I was extremely excited, and all keyed up. I was portraying this kind of a character for the first time and was really looking forward to the day’s shoot. I was ready with my make-up and dialogues by 2 pm, and guess at what time Haribhai came? 8 pm. I had been waiting for about six hours, and by the time we went to the set, I was exhausted and livid. I was so angry that I had a meltdown and said very nasty things to him, which had absolutely no effect on him. He remained totally calm, and that made me more angry.
Finally, Gulzar sahab, in a very conciliatory tone, said, “Can we at least take one shot?” Haribhai had no problem doing the scene. He did his part perfectly, and I, on the other hand, kept giving retakes after retakes. I don’t remember how the day ended, but again I learnt a valuable lesson—that you shouldn’t allow your temper to get in the way of your performance. We continued to work together for 14 hours a day, for Faraar in the morning and Mausam in the evening, but I refused to talk to him. I was still very angry.
Ten days went by, and I went to see Aandhi. I loved the film, and particularly Haribhai’s performance. The next day, when we were shooting for Faraar, I went and knocked on his dressing room door and told him, “You really are an awful person and very irritating but because you are such a brilliant actor I would like to shake hands and make up. Just one request, if you’re going to be late, please let me know so that I can adjust my time as well.”
He heard what I had to say calmly. If he felt anything, he didn’t show that, and of course, he didn’t apologize. But he had a twinkle in his eyes. I think our friendship became stronger from that day on. I had accepted him the way he was.
Once I visited his home. When I went to his room, I was so taken aback. It didn’t look like a ‘star’s’ room at all. Every inch of his bed, every chair was stacked with either his clothes or his papers; there was no place for me to sit. Finally, I asked, “Haribhai, where do you want me to sit? On the floor?”
So he transferred some clothes from one chair to another and made some space for me. This was his lifestyle. He was comfortable anywhere, whether in a crammed room or working with an annoyed co-star. Puffing away on his cigarette, which couldn’t have done him any good because there was a genetic cardiac problem in the family, he always managed to stay at peace with himself.
On many occasions, he came to our house. Tiger [Mansur Ali Khan Pataudi, husband] liked him very much. They would drink and chat, and sometimes Haribhai would have one too many. I remember that, on one occasion, Haribhai had to hold one hand with the other to ensure that the spoon of food actually landed inside his mouth. He loved his alcohol. But he would ring up the next day to ask if he had misbehaved in any way. And I would tell him, ‘You only wiped your hands on the curtain. But not to worry, I will send you the laundry bill.’
On another occasion, I forgot his birthday. The next day at a shoot, I apologized to him for my lapse and wished him a belated happy birthday. One of our co-stars made a snide remark, “This is a very convenient excuse.”
But Haribhai instantly checked her and spoke in my defence, ‘If Rinku says it, she means it. She doesn’t make up stories like you.’ Which still makes me smile. I knew then that he really liked me.
He was extremely devoted to his family, and his mother meant the world to him. In between shots, among other things, he would discuss his marriage plans with me. His mother was looking for a bride for him, but he didn’t agree with his mother’s choice. He wanted someone who was beautiful and dignified and would understand and appreciate his work. In that context, he mentioned a couple of co-stars, but nothing ever came of them.
Excerpted with permission from Sanjeev Kumar: The Actor We All Loved by Reeta Ramamurthy Gupta and Uday Jariwala, published by HarperCollins India
A pensive Hari. According to Paresh Rawal, he had the ideal actor’s face: plenty of space for expression and an excellent sense of proportion. PICS COURTESY/Sanjeev Kumar: The Actor We All Loved, HarperCollins India
The great obsession of media, in those days, was to get Hari married. His relationships, marriage plans, Baa’s preferences, etc. were a hot selling point for the press. Courtesy/RJ Anirudh Chawla
Hari seen here bonding with Dharmendra
Shahid Kapoor has maintained a healthy mix of classics, casuals and quirky ensembles-Kunal Rawal
8:31 AM
As told to Ankita Chaurasia (MUMBAI MIRROR; December 2, 2019)
Sonam Kapoor introduced me to Shahid Kapoor while they were working together in Mausam. The film was our first collaboration. I remember giving him a white tuxedo for a song, he looked really handsome in it. Shahid likes classic cuts and timeless silhouettes which complement his good looks. You don’t have to overdo things with him, including several elements in the attire to play up his looks. Instead we would have fun playing with combinations. I’ve learnt that though dressy, tuxedos don’t have to be serious all the time, nor a shirt-pant or a tee-shirt-chino combo. With Shahid, it was about including one interesting element and keeping the rest of the look clean and uncomplicated.Shahid has a quirky sense of humour which was reflected in our slogan tees. He also loves sneakers and we stocked up on a lot of them, to pair with different outfits. As a stylist, I keep a few things in mind while putting together a look. First, the body type and what works on it. Second, the personality of the actor, as most A-listers have a distinct identity they have worked hard to create. So, it’s important that their clothes should reflect that rather than my aesthetics.
Shahid is comfort-driven and likes to dress for the occasion. His style has not changed much, even after marriage. He has maintained a healthy mix of classics, casuals and quirky ensembles, and today, has a distinct voice.
Working on his wedding wardrobe was a lot of fun. We were so much in sync, that whenever we went shopping, we’d end up picking the same clothes. It was uncanny! He’s a sucker for tone-on-tone threadwork and I love it too so there was a lot of that. It was also the first time that we played with French knots and they became a huge hit. It was a non-traditional wedding look but worked so well, they set trends. I will cherish the experience all my life, more so because it was the first time I was designing for a wedding.
1. CHUTNEY COMBO: Shahid’s act, with Farhan Akhtar, for this event, was hilarious so we wanted the look to be playful. We did this chutney number in a well-tailored silhouette, and paired it with sneakers for a casual vibe.
2. ‘GROOM’ED: Shahid’s only brief was not to make the look ornamental, maximalist and Air India Maharaja-esque. Not many knew about the wedding, so, only a small team was working on his look. The jacket, with geometric detailing, was more panelled than a regular sherwani. We paired it with classic breach pants instead of a churidar.
3. MAN WITH A BUN: This look was created just when Shahid had started working on Udta Punjab. It immediately drew attention thanks to his man bun and eye make-up. At the time, I wanted to change the way Indian menswear looks, so the open kurta with texture-detailing and dhoop-chhaon thread-work on Patiala pants in a highly-reflective fabric.
4. GO GRUNGE: This was for a dream sequence song in R... Rajkumar. We incorporated layers of manly grunge for this kadi jacket with real kadis on the pockets. We used darker colours to complement the starkness of the Rann of Kutch.
5. MIX N’ MATCH: Shahid wore high-waisted pants and a kurtashirt with a cropped jacket for a show. He was sporting a stubble then and white looks good on him when he has the rugged look. We gave Mira an androgynous red co-ord set.
6. PIN-UP BOY: For Padmaavat promotions, we chose this black pinstriped kurta-shirt in handwoven handloom fabric. We teamed it with a churidar. An Indian look, with a global silhouette. We would work with a lot of blacks, whites and grays. Colours were in muted, washed out tones.
Funnily, I don’t like flying. I do it as a part of my job-Shahid Kapoor
8:44 AM
As told to Avinash Lohana (MUMBAI MIRROR; July 9, 2019)
How do I prep for a film? Well, the first thing I do as an actor is to get into the head of the filmmaker I am working with as it is eventually his vision that needs to be interpreted and his world that I must inhabit and represent. This process also gives me the opportunity to learn, observe and create new material which comes from the script and in most cases, is written by the director himself.
Once I have understood that, the second step for me is to work on the physicality of the character, including his hair, body, body language, attitude and the overall personality. As an actor, I try to change my silhouette as often as I can, and that, in fact, is one of the reasons for my choice of films. I don’t feel comfortable if I am too comfortable about how I am going to play a certain character as this means it’s in my comfort zone and so obstructing me from finding and attempting something new.
For my just-released film Kabir Singh, I had to create three different silhouettes, one of which needed me to be out of shape. My normal weight is around 71-72 kg, I had to add on over five kg, going up to 76-77 kg, a lot of it fat, and look destroyed in those scenes. It was challenging but also, I admit, very exciting at the same time.
The part I was apprehensive about was the one in which I had to portray a younger avatar. At 38, I was expected to play a boy of 25. Today’s audience is much evolved and won’t overlook any discrepancies in appearance, knowing that I worked hard to get my look right.
I play a surgeon in the film, and here I must mention that my director Sandeep Vanga who is a qualified physiotherapist himself was of great help. I did my basic R&D too, but beyond that, I wanted to find the character and not just focus on his profession.
Another challenging film was the 2009 caper thriller, Kaminey (right), directed by Vishal Bhardwaj, and my first double role, which had me playing twin brothers Charlie and Guddu with speech defects. While one lisps, the other has a stutter. As a part of my homework, I met people with speech disorders. I was very sure I was not going to mock them, rather I wanted the viewers to feel for the character and spent some time getting it right.Strangely, I have not needed a coach for any of my films, except for the one that I have for my work-outs, to oversee my physical prep. Only for Abhishek Chaubey’s Udta Punjab, in which I played Tommy Singh, we had a dialect coach on the set. Now that I think of it, I had one for a scene in Kabir Singh too where I speak Punjabi. It was to make sure that I am not mispronouncing anything and that my lines would flow naturally and organically on screen. Being a Punjabi myself, I know and understand the language well, but since I have grown up speaking in English and Hindi, I am not too fluent in it. So, I spent a few hours working on my dialogue delivery before facing the camera.
A film I had to train a lot for was my father’s (Pankaj Kapur) directorial debut, Mausam (left). I played an Air Force pilot in the film and had to go through three-four months of flight simulator training. The flight simulator is a device which artificially re-creates an aircraft flight and the environment in which it flies, for pilot training, design and other purposes.I also had to be in great shape as one has to be in prime fitness to get into an Air Force aircraft. Back in Mumbai, I used to train three times a week. Funnily, I don’t like flying. I do it as a part of my job, but for me, the sky is not my favourite place in the world. However, once I started training, I had a lot of fun.
Imtiaz Ali’s Jab We Met is still remembered 12 years after its release. I had to play the guitar in one of the scenes and I specifically learnt how to do that so that when I played, it would look believable on screen. It took me around a week to 10 days to get it right. I want to learn how to play a musical instrument for real, also, martial arts. I also want to play more sports, but I don’t get the time to do these things and more. Having said that, I really enjoy my job and I am happy with it. As part of my prep, I learn so many new and different things.
Stereotype of the star has now been broken-Varun Sharma
7:57 AM
Following
the super success of his last release, Fukrey Returns, actor Varun
‘Choocha’ Sharma has gone from running behind people for roles to being
approached with scripts
Sanyukta Iyer (MUMBAI MIRROR; January 3, 2018)
Jalandhar boy Varun Sharma won’t admit that he’s finally made it with the success of Fukrey Returns, in which he reprised his role as the lovable Choocha from the 2013 original. Instead, he gushes evasively, “In an industry where movie posters are dominated by chiselled bodies, there’s Fukrey Returns, with a chubby boy beaming on its posters. Content really is everything and I’m still coming to terms with the crazy numbers the sequel has achieved.”
The 27-yar-old actor goes on to recall walking into the 1400-seater Gaiety Galaxy on a Sunday which was packed to capacity for a latenight show. “The kind of reaction the film got is usually reserved for the Khans!” Varun exults, adding, “There was whistling, hooting, clapping for the fukras and Bholi Punjaban (played by Richa Chadha). I cried in the car on my way home. It was unreal. The stereotype of a star has been broken because people are in love with characters now,” the actor reflects.
For Varun, the road to screen glory has been paved with exasperatingly miniscule breakthroughs — he made tea and served as a production runner on Om Puri’s Brit comedy West Is West and Pankaj Kapur’s Shahid and Sonam Kapoor-starrer directorial debut, Mausam, was once thrown out of a film just a day before it rolled, and in another case, was asked to leave an audition for an ad because “he didn’t look the part”. “I used to collect food menus from restaurants and ask the cast and crew what they wanted. I also did odd jobs like printing the scripts and giving it to the actors. On the side, I began auditioning for nonspeaking roles,” he reminisces, adding candidly that everything felt exciting for a “nobody from Jalandhar”.
Varun was in college when the acting bug bit him but his initiation into the profession was far from conventional. “I realized during my student days in Chandigarh that the best way to get close to acting was to join a casting agency. I interned with (casting director) Nandini Shrikent and got to see how actors read for films like Talaash, Ek Main Aur Ekk Tu and Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani. Soon, I started auditioning too. I was filled with aspirations and even small gigs exceeded my expectations,” he smiles.
As a result of his early experiences, Varun believes that he is a product of Bollywood’s casting system and fervently vouches for budding actors who are eager to go through the gruelling motions of auditions day after day. “Many aspiring actors, including many of my friends, take auditions lightly but I am a classic example of auditions putting a rank newcomer on a movie poster. Now, my life has moved from auditions to narrations. It’s the most beautiful phase. I was running behind people for a role and now they come to me with scripts,” Varun shares.
After working with Abhishek Dogra in the Sonam Kapoor-starrer comedy Dolly Ki Doli in 2015, Varun recently wrapped up the filmmaker’s next, Fry Day, an Anees Bazmee production in which he features alongside Govinda. He also reveals that he is all set to announce another big project soon but for now he is happier about an upcoming holiday with his extended family to the Maldives that he’s putting together for his mother’s birthday next month.
Before that happens, he’s binge watching Black Mirror and Peeky Blinders as he takes his time considering each project that comes to him in the wake of this recent success. “For now, it’s narrations and lots of script readings, with a resolution that I’ll successfully learn how to play the drums this year,” he signs off.
Jalandhar boy Varun Sharma won’t admit that he’s finally made it with the success of Fukrey Returns, in which he reprised his role as the lovable Choocha from the 2013 original. Instead, he gushes evasively, “In an industry where movie posters are dominated by chiselled bodies, there’s Fukrey Returns, with a chubby boy beaming on its posters. Content really is everything and I’m still coming to terms with the crazy numbers the sequel has achieved.”
The 27-yar-old actor goes on to recall walking into the 1400-seater Gaiety Galaxy on a Sunday which was packed to capacity for a latenight show. “The kind of reaction the film got is usually reserved for the Khans!” Varun exults, adding, “There was whistling, hooting, clapping for the fukras and Bholi Punjaban (played by Richa Chadha). I cried in the car on my way home. It was unreal. The stereotype of a star has been broken because people are in love with characters now,” the actor reflects.
For Varun, the road to screen glory has been paved with exasperatingly miniscule breakthroughs — he made tea and served as a production runner on Om Puri’s Brit comedy West Is West and Pankaj Kapur’s Shahid and Sonam Kapoor-starrer directorial debut, Mausam, was once thrown out of a film just a day before it rolled, and in another case, was asked to leave an audition for an ad because “he didn’t look the part”. “I used to collect food menus from restaurants and ask the cast and crew what they wanted. I also did odd jobs like printing the scripts and giving it to the actors. On the side, I began auditioning for nonspeaking roles,” he reminisces, adding candidly that everything felt exciting for a “nobody from Jalandhar”.
Varun was in college when the acting bug bit him but his initiation into the profession was far from conventional. “I realized during my student days in Chandigarh that the best way to get close to acting was to join a casting agency. I interned with (casting director) Nandini Shrikent and got to see how actors read for films like Talaash, Ek Main Aur Ekk Tu and Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani. Soon, I started auditioning too. I was filled with aspirations and even small gigs exceeded my expectations,” he smiles.
As a result of his early experiences, Varun believes that he is a product of Bollywood’s casting system and fervently vouches for budding actors who are eager to go through the gruelling motions of auditions day after day. “Many aspiring actors, including many of my friends, take auditions lightly but I am a classic example of auditions putting a rank newcomer on a movie poster. Now, my life has moved from auditions to narrations. It’s the most beautiful phase. I was running behind people for a role and now they come to me with scripts,” Varun shares.
After working with Abhishek Dogra in the Sonam Kapoor-starrer comedy Dolly Ki Doli in 2015, Varun recently wrapped up the filmmaker’s next, Fry Day, an Anees Bazmee production in which he features alongside Govinda. He also reveals that he is all set to announce another big project soon but for now he is happier about an upcoming holiday with his extended family to the Maldives that he’s putting together for his mother’s birthday next month.
Before that happens, he’s binge watching Black Mirror and Peeky Blinders as he takes his time considering each project that comes to him in the wake of this recent success. “For now, it’s narrations and lots of script readings, with a resolution that I’ll successfully learn how to play the drums this year,” he signs off.
When will Bollywood gets its blockbuster war film?
7:47 AM
Aarushi Nigam (BOMBAY TIMES; December 8, 2017)
We love our movies. And we love our armed forces. But the powers of association alone are not enough to make us love our movies on the armed forces. While almost every major actor has played a soldier at least once, and a few others have made it a career regular, only a small percentage of those films is actually about the forces (and not a plot device to complicate a love story), and even a smaller percentage has clicked with audiences. Where is our blockbuster war film? Or one that swept away the National Awards and the box office? While tributes pour in for our men and women in uniform from all quarters including the film industry today, the best kind of tribute to our forces from the film industry – a defining, universally-appreciated war drama – is still missing. And as an audience, while the service and sacrifice of our uniformed forces might ignite our collective passions, the same can’t be said of consuming that topic on the big screen.
THE POST-WAR YEARS AND CINEMA
The conflicts of 1962, 1965 and 1971 inspired several films that rode the wave of nationalistic sentiment sweeping through the country at the time. Haqeeqat (1964) and Border (1997), based on the Sino-Indian conflict and the 1971 war with Pakistan respectively, are perhaps our only two war films that can be unquestionably called successful, in terms of winning over both critics and audiences. Many others, like Hindustan Ki Kasam (1973) and Vijeta (1982), will find mention among the better films on the forces to be made, and are remembered till today even though they failed to pull in audiences at the time. The 2017 film The Ghazi Attack, about the mysterious sinking of the PNS Ghazi in the 1971 war, suffered its own mysterious sinking — it earned positive reviews, but not box office numbers. 1971 (2007) might have won the National Award for Best Hindi Feature Film, but mention it to most and you wouldn’t get an immediate recollection.
The Kargil War, the first to be fought in the 24-hour news cycle that brought the war to our living rooms and nationalistic fervour out on our streets, failed to inspire the same zeal on the silver screen. The long-winding and multi-heroed L.O.C. Kargil could keep neither the viewers nor the critics glued, even as real-life accounts from the war, retold in countless Facebook posts, news articles and books,continue to find takers till today.
FICTIONAL CONFLICTS ON THE SILVER SCREEN
There have been other films with fictional stories set in the backdrop of real conflicts, but most haven’t come even close to being successful. The most enduring image from the 2011 Mausam might be of Shahid Kapoor in his Air Force uniform, but the image is all that still remains in audience memory. Others, including Param Vir Chakra (1995), Agnipankh (2004), Deewaar – Let’s Bring Our Heroes Home (2004) and Ab Tumhare Hawale Watan Saathiyo (2004), haven’t survived the test of time barely gone by since they released.
Today’s heroines have a better chance in Bollywood-Sharmila Tagore
7:45 AM
MUMBAI MIRROR (October 26, 2017)
Sharmila Tagore, who was honoured on Tuesday with the Lifetime Achievement Award by the PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry at Delhi’s Siri Fort Auditorium, said on the sidelines of the event that the life of a heroine during her hey days was not so exciting.
“During our times, it was nothing better than a good cry. We had to all look helpless...so, I think these people (heroines today) are having much more fun,” the veteran actress was recently quoted as saying.
Recounting the time when she played leading lady roles, Tagore added that heroines couldn’t be bad so it was the characters with negative or grey overtones who would be. “So Helen had all the fun. Also, we were working in three or four films at a time. So, maintaining a continuity was difficult because today Aamir Khan can put on and lose weight... we couldn’t do all that,” she added.
Talking about her repertoire of films, she said, “I like Safar and Mausam. People really like Amar Prem and Aradhana. The shelf life of these films is still there... but my favourite are the first two.”
About her favourite co-star, she said, “I liked Shashi (Kapoor) very much. He’s a friend. Of course, with Rajesh Khanna ji (Aaradhna, Amar Prem, Chhoti Bahu, Safar) I gave several hits, and Dharmendra (Mere Humdum Mere Dost, Chupke Chupke, Anupama, Ek Mahal Ho Sapnon Ka, among others).”
I find women more sexist than men in the film industry-Sonam Kapoor
8:14 AM
AFTERhrs Guest Editor on Women’s Day, Sonam Kapoor says it like she sees it
Upala KBR (DNA; Match 8, 2017)
It’s International Women’s Day and Sonam Kapoor takes the chair as the guest editor for the day. After a tour of the office and a few photographs, she settles down to answer a few rounds of questions. Over the course of an hour, one sees opinions change about her. She comes across a certain way, but those who know her well, know that she calls a spade a spade, works in the industry for the roles and not the money. She works with passion and takes up causes as passionately. She’s an animal activist with liberal views. She’s a non-judgmental feminist, to boot, and believes in inherently giving women the right to make informed choices. Here’s what she had to say about a variety of topics...
What kind of stories do you like to read in the papers?
I don’t open newspapers anymore as everything is available online now. I love reading opinion pieces a lot, columns and articles about what’s going on. All the so-called relevant news is now very easy to find all over social media, so they are the headlines of what’s going on in India, Mumbai or the world.
(Sonam picks up a copy of AFTERhrs and asks what the story on the front page is about) Ayesha and Krishna Shroff taking up for Tiger after Ram Gopal Varma passed unsavory remarks on him on Twitter.
(Laughs) They should be happy that Ramu doesn’t like Tiger. Whoever Ramu doesn’t like, does very well. I am very happy. I like Tiger. He’s very cool and least bothered. He is very well-behaved and performs so beautifully. I saw him performing recently at an awards event and he did such a good job. It was a pleasure to watch. I just haven’t had the chance to watch his performance, except for his first film, but whatever I see him at events and parties, I find the way he conducts himself very dignified. (Scans through to the back page)
Oh! There’s a Sonam vs Deepika article (We explain it’s about the outfits both wore and got criticised for and how both reacted to the criticism).
I was wearing a low dress and when dancing, it moved. Three of the photogs went behind and started taking pics sideways. When someone alerted me, I adjusted my dress, but those pics were already circulated. I was wearing correct innerwear, so nothing bad happened. They made it into such a big deal on social media! I was like, ‘God! So what I am wearing is so important!’ Of course, what I wear has always been discussed…
Your take on slut-shaming or body shaming or even shaming through fashion…
I have gotten all kinds of shaming. It’s very bad...
Are there any issues about women that need to be addressed — like women not being allowed to enter temples during menstruation?
How would anybody know that you are having your periods when you are going to a temple? I don’t know about religious reasons or practical reasons, but I feel everybody should have the choice. If somebody does not want to do something, you can’t say, ‘No, it’s okay for you to do it’. A lot of times, I have been judgmental about women who don’t do something I believe in and called them old-fashioned. But we shouldn’t judge other people for being different. A person should be given a choice and that’s the most empowering thing. Being in a burkha is as much your choice as much as not wearing one. You want to go into a temple, when you are menstruating, that’s your choice. If you don’t want to go in, that’s your choice. You have to make an informed decision. That’s what my parents did with me. They would always say these are the repercussions of what you are doing — these are the good and bad things.
Please continue...
I don’t believe in censorship in films, but there can be ratings to say this is appropriate for children. And restrictions like consuming alcohol at 25 or getting married at 18. I don’t drink, but it’s my choice, right? I am a vegetarian, but I spoke up against the beef ban because I felt you should be given a choice. Even though I truly believe that eating beef is bad for your system as red meat is unhealthy. I would campaign for vegetarianism, but I would never say you can’t have meat.
What do you think about freedom of expression for women? This is with reference to Gurmehar Kaur.
It was her dad, her opinion and a very compassionate way of looking at things. To not blame anybody and not have any resentment makes you a sensitive and evolved human being and if someone can’t see that, it’s disgusting. And if an artiste can’t see that, it’s even worse. I can understand a right-wing person commenting on it, but not an actor. It’s very ignorant and narrow-minded. As an artiste, you have to be sensitive — it’s a girl talking about her father. She’s not making a political statement and blaming anybody. She blames war. We are a country that won our independence through satyagraha (non-violence), and you are saying that it is okay to conduct war? We are the only country in the world that has not invaded another country, so how can you propagate the opposite when somebody is standing up for our belief system and says it’s war and violence that causes deaths, not a certain religious sentiment or a certain country. We should be applauding this, not criticising her for it.
Do you feel sexism exists in Bollywood?
Sexism exists everywhere, even though there are mostly women in this office right now (laughs) and your boss is a woman! You get judged for your clothes and makeup. How you dress, should not be a criterion. They can judge you as a professional on whether you can lead your team or not, or do your job or not. Why do people feel that when women get pregnant, they won’t be able to perform better? Pregnancy is not an illness. They also say, ‘Oh, she’s PMSing.’ I feel men PMS more than women most of the time. I can’t even understand most of the time what they are going through. Sexism is not just in the Indian film industry. It exists in the corporate jobs, media and households. My friend tells me his wife can’t handle money. Girls are bad drivers, they only like to shop. In my house, my dad likes to shop a lot and my mom handles the money. There’s a preconceived notion and I have gone through my own ideas of what people thought I was or still think I am because I like to dress in a certain way and I like to look pretty, or I am Anil Kapoor’s daughter or I am born with a silver spoon. As human beings, we need to break these preconceived notions based on someone who looks a certain way, or is a certain size. Never judge a book by its cover.
I have heard from actresses how the actors get better hotels to stay in, and their pay scales are higher, etc…
Yes, it exists a lot in the film industry. Earlier, I used to judge actresses, when they said, I am not getting enough money, and I’d say why the f**k are you doing it then? Don’t do it. But then I realised that I am in a position where I can say no to jobs. I can sit at home for a year. I have the luxury of choice, but a lot of women don’t. Actresses in successful position can say ‘If you are going to treat me badly, I won’t work with you.’ I made that choice and I took a year-and-a-half off after Mausam. I had a great time in Mausam because Pankajji knows how to treat people. But before that, I wasn’t treated right and I would wonder, ‘Why is so-and-so staying in this hotel and why am I staying in this hotel?’ or ‘Why is so-and-so getting paid this much and why am I getting paid this amount?’ All these questions were in my mind and I felt unhappy going to work. I felt like a second-class citizen and I took some time off and decided till I get the kind of work I want to do, till I get that respect, I am not going to work.
What are the things you’ve done differently?
I thought that my life would be harder, but I have not had one flop film after Raanjhanaa. It’s been five years and it’s only gotten better because my decisions have been very idealistic. I have never toed the line. If a director comes to me with a big project and actor, but no script I ask him how do I know what my role is? Why should I do this film? I don’t care if others have done it. Sooraj Barjatya has narrated his entire script to me. Sanjay Leela Bhansali has not once told me you cannot have an opinion. They are the most successful people. Aamir Khan has group screenings for all his films and he asks people to tell him what’s wrong so he can make it better. You should be open to that. Actors say they don’t read reviews. I read every review — so that I can become better. There may be some judgmental people, but I look at even them with an open mind. I never get offended if someone asks me a nasty question. The general perception is that the film industry is sexist but there are only a few people who are and very strangely, it is the women who are more sexist in the film industry.
Do you think actresses should campaign for their rights like they do in Hollywood?
That’s the only way when anything good can happen — when women come together. Unfortunately, in Hollywood also, there’s so much competition and insecurity. It’s more in the Indian film industry, as it’s very campy — there are lots of camps. But I have very good actress friends, Swara Bhaskar and Jacqueline Fernandez — I can trust them with my life. Even Bebo — the kind of love and encouragement she gives me, is incredible. And all of them are super successful and two of them are my contemporaries. So there is that option but there’s also that other side where everybody is at each other’s throat. I just stay away from those people.
Are you happy with the number of women you see on a movie set?
No, there are still not enough women on a film set, it’s still predominantly men. If you go to an airport there is one line for security for women and five lines for men! That poor lady gets exhausted by the end of the day. Come on! What’s going on? There should be equal opportunity for women everywhere.
Recreating old tracks is a mindless job-Shahid Mallya
7:45 AM
Rinky Kumar (BOMBAY TIMES; June 10, 2016)
Shahid Mallya shot to fame
with the romantic track Rabba Main Toh Mar Gaya (Mausam) five years ago.
He followed it up with songs such as Do Dhaari Talwaar (Mere Brother Ki
Dulhan), Kukkad (Student Of The Year) and Tauba Main Vyah Karke
Pachtaya (Shaadi Ke Side Effects). His recent numbers like Chitta Ve,
Ikk Kudi and Hass Nach Le from Udta Punjab are not only doing well on
the music charts but have also helped him to establish himself as a
versatile singer. The young vocalist from Punjab tells us about his
musical influences and his future plans.
Early beginnings
I learnt singing from my father. I used to watch him perform at various stage shows and was hugely inspired by him. During my school and college days, I participated in several state-level competitions. In 2002, I came to Mumbai as my friends suggested this city is the best place for me to realise my dream of becoming a professional singer.
If not a singer, you would have been
A politician. I have seen my father struggle and face several hardships. I used to think that it is worth the effort only if you enjoy some power. So, I thought I should pursue a career in politics. However, my father encouraged me to sing. Eventually, I realised that I am happiest when I am behind the mic. I'm glad I didn't go with my earlier plan as politics has now become a murky business. I would have been a really bad politician (laughs).
Musical influences
I grew up listening to Mohammad Rafi's songs and the composers whom he sang for like Madan Mohan, Naushad and Roshan. Among the current lot, I like Sonu Nigam.
A genre that you would like to attempt
I have tried to be versatile in my career. Right from romantic to Punjabi, qawwali to item numbers, I have sung a wide variety of songs. I have never stuck to any genre.
A composer whom you want to work
I want to sing different kinds of tracks. So, I'm open to working with any composer who can help me tap my talent in a better way.
Favourite song
Rabba Main Toh Mar Gaya from Mausam will always be a favourite as it was my first song and was received so well. Ikk Kudi from Udta Punjab is also close to my heart. Amit Trivedi was so happy after I had recorded it that he hugged me. He enjoys listening to my voice.
Favourite musical era
I love the 90s as that era had many melodious songs. I also like the 70s as I grew up in that decade. 70s songs remind me of my childhood.
On songs being recreated
Recreating old tracks is a mindless job. We should respect the songs of yesteryear. Just adding some new elements to them doesn't mean that you have recreated an old track. Surprisingly, people are winning awards for this when all they have done is just tweaked them a bit.
On how being a singer has changed him as a person
Facing various hardships and challenges has helped me evolve into a better person. Challenges are a part of life. Once you become successful, you forget all your hardships. Also, earlier, I was shy and timid. Today, I'm no longer scared of trying anything new and believe in myself.
On the current musical scenario
Today, I feel promotion has taken precedence over talent. If a singer or actor's work is promoted well then that artiste becomes famous. However, it doesn't necessarily mean that that he or she is genuinely a good singer or composer.
Alternate plans
I'm a part of an Elektro Sufi band where I sing live Sufi vocals and there is pure electronica with percussion playing in the background. The act starts off with an acoustic unplugged set and then we pick up the momentum with Sufi. We started last May and so far, it has received a great response from people.
Early beginnings
I learnt singing from my father. I used to watch him perform at various stage shows and was hugely inspired by him. During my school and college days, I participated in several state-level competitions. In 2002, I came to Mumbai as my friends suggested this city is the best place for me to realise my dream of becoming a professional singer.
If not a singer, you would have been
A politician. I have seen my father struggle and face several hardships. I used to think that it is worth the effort only if you enjoy some power. So, I thought I should pursue a career in politics. However, my father encouraged me to sing. Eventually, I realised that I am happiest when I am behind the mic. I'm glad I didn't go with my earlier plan as politics has now become a murky business. I would have been a really bad politician (laughs).
Musical influences
I grew up listening to Mohammad Rafi's songs and the composers whom he sang for like Madan Mohan, Naushad and Roshan. Among the current lot, I like Sonu Nigam.
A genre that you would like to attempt
I have tried to be versatile in my career. Right from romantic to Punjabi, qawwali to item numbers, I have sung a wide variety of songs. I have never stuck to any genre.
A composer whom you want to work
I want to sing different kinds of tracks. So, I'm open to working with any composer who can help me tap my talent in a better way.
Favourite song
Rabba Main Toh Mar Gaya from Mausam will always be a favourite as it was my first song and was received so well. Ikk Kudi from Udta Punjab is also close to my heart. Amit Trivedi was so happy after I had recorded it that he hugged me. He enjoys listening to my voice.
Favourite musical era
I love the 90s as that era had many melodious songs. I also like the 70s as I grew up in that decade. 70s songs remind me of my childhood.
On songs being recreated
Recreating old tracks is a mindless job. We should respect the songs of yesteryear. Just adding some new elements to them doesn't mean that you have recreated an old track. Surprisingly, people are winning awards for this when all they have done is just tweaked them a bit.
On how being a singer has changed him as a person
Facing various hardships and challenges has helped me evolve into a better person. Challenges are a part of life. Once you become successful, you forget all your hardships. Also, earlier, I was shy and timid. Today, I'm no longer scared of trying anything new and believe in myself.
On the current musical scenario
Today, I feel promotion has taken precedence over talent. If a singer or actor's work is promoted well then that artiste becomes famous. However, it doesn't necessarily mean that that he or she is genuinely a good singer or composer.
Alternate plans
I'm a part of an Elektro Sufi band where I sing live Sufi vocals and there is pure electronica with percussion playing in the background. The act starts off with an acoustic unplugged set and then we pick up the momentum with Sufi. We started last May and so far, it has received a great response from people.
Best thing about me & Mira Rajput is that we communicate well-Shahid Kapoor
9:14 AM
In a candid conversation, Shahid Kapoor admits how life has changed dramatically post Haider and his marriage
Shubha Shetty Saha (MID-DAY; October 16, 2015)
After Haider (2014), you seem to have become more careful about your choice of films. You turned down Farzi.
Yes, a lot has changed. In fact, the change started just before I took up Haider.
After the debacle of Mausam (2011)?
Not really. I am proud of Mausam. It's just that it didn't turn out the way it should have. I realised a large part of me felt that I couldn't express myself as an actor. Under pressure, I did a lot of things, not because I wanted to, but because I needed to do them in order to become successful. Around that time, I strongly felt I should follow my gut henceforth. And then, Haider came my way. It was a big gamble, which paid off. If Haider had not turned out as outstanding as it did, it could have worked against us.
Would you say you came of age?
Probably. I became more fearless. If I were cautious, I wouldn't do films like Haider and Udta Punjab. These are the kind of films that you need to do to back yourself as an actor without worrying about commercial success.
Are you doing it because you are more confident now?
Probably. I feel a little more sure-footed as an actor, but there's also the fact that I am working with the right people. You feel secure when you are taken care of as an actor. I enjoyed working with Vishal (Bhardwaj), Vikas (Bahl) and Abhishek (Chaubey). I am doing my third film (Rangoon) with Vishal sir, and it's so cool. Every time he chooses me, I feel like high-fiving everybody around me. Although he has the finest talent around him, including my father (Pankaj Kapur), Naseer saab (Naseeruddin Shah), Irrfan and Tabu ma'am, he still gives me opportunities. When we did Kaminey (2009), we shared just a director-actor relationship. But post Haider, it became more than professional. Now I have an emotional attachment with Vishal sir. Whatever he has done for me has been way beyond my capacity.
Do you take a director's work into consideration before choosing to do a film with him/her? Would you have done Shaandaar if Vikas' filmography didn't include 'Queen'?
I signed Shaandaar before Queen released. It helps to have viewed someone's work to understand his/her sensibilities to an extent. But that apart, I go ahead with a film if I like the script. I think I am in a nice place now. Earlier, I used to be more conventional and play safer with my choices. For example, I did Phata Poster Nikla Hero and R...Rajkumar. I was in a zone where I felt I should be part of commercially successful films. Today, I do films without worrying about how well they can do. I am investing in people I believe in. My journey now is internal; I am no longer looking around and wondering what would work for me at the box office. In today's time, one needs to be more relevant than commercially successful. Focussing on commercial success can make you dated. Relevant films will keep you connected to the youth; you can move ahead with your sensibilities.
Is that the difference between a star and an actor?
Not really. Some of the biggest stars in Hollywood have recognised the importance of being relevant. Look at Leonardo DiCaprio and the films he chooses. People who are relevant are bound to find success in the long run. I want to focus on the process instead of worrying about the result. I want to enjoy my work and take pride in it. Everything around us is changing, especially the way we are consuming content. With the advent of 4G, I expect a drastic evolution in the next two or three years. Imagine the amount of information we are going to be exposed to. It is mind boggling. I have been in this industry for 12 years and if I don't learn to adapt, I will be obsolete.
How's life after marriage?
Three months ago, I had 100 per cent stake in my house. But now, I have about 49 per cent, and I guess I will soon hold only 33 per cent (laughs). I am in a happy space. For 10 years, I stayed alone and now I have someone to share my life with. It is great to have someone to come home to. I remember, every time I won an award last year, I repeatedly felt the need to share it with someone my age. Of course, being single comes with a lot of advantage, including freedom, but it is also nice to share with someone all that you have. It is a great feeling that everything in my life has become important to someone and vice versa.
Mira and you seem like really different people.
The best thing about us is that we communicate well. We come from different backgrounds and are actively working towards finding who we are and making adjustments to reach a common point. From the time we first met, we were open to adjust to each other's personalities. Mira always tries to understand me. Being different works because it is good to go back to a normal home and have a normal conversation.
Two years ago, you told me that you were tired of being serious in a relationship and wanted to have fun before getting married. What changed?
(Laughs) I guess we all change with time. At different stages in life, you go through an emotional process. I think I was ready for marriage. It happened very fast, but seemed right. I feel settled now, which is great.
Mausam producer Sheetal Talwar says that Sahara owes him Rs 1 cr
8:50 AM
Vickey Lalwani (MUMBAI MIRROR; March 31, 2014)
It was in September 2011 that Sahara One bought the seven-year satellite rights of 100 films, including Aamir Khan's Delhi Belly, Shahid Kapoor's Mausam, Ekta Kapoor's Ragini MMS and Shoaib Mansoor's Bol for Rs 70 crore.
The big buy was part of an effort to spruce up their entertainment wing after four years during which they did not acquire any satellite rights.Though they invested Rs 500 crore, many of the films are yet to air on the small screen, including the Shahid-Sonam Kapoor starrer Mausam. Now, the film’s producer Sheetal Talwar is alleging that Sahara is yet to make the full payment.
“I have yet to receive Rs 1 crore on the satellite deal that I struck with Sahara. And despite several reminders, the officials at the channel are showing no signs of paying up,” he said. “They showed great interest while buying the satellite rights of my film. I wish they would show half that interest in making the full payment,” added Talwar.
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