Madhureeta Mukherjee (BOMBAY TIMES; June 1, 2020)

Her talent is not unknown to movie lovers, she owns every character she plays and slips into it like she’s almost lived the part. Yes, she’s had a fair share of lows, but like the actress rightly says, “You fight every battle and come out stronger.” In a chat with BT, Parineeti Chopra talks about success, setbacks and the roles that she is now obsessed with. Read on...

So, we have all been in lockdown mode for over two months, with things gradually opening up now. But, what were you doing just before everything came to a sudden halt?
We had just started the promotions of Sandeep Aur Pinky Faraar, and I remember calling my marketing team and telling them, ‘Guys, this (Coronavirus) seems to be spreading, we should not be stepping out for promotions, as we will be interacting with so many people.’ At that point, it felt like a drastic step, but the next day, we cancelled all our plans. I saw this coming, but I didn’t realise the magnitude of it.

Tough times teach you some of life’s best lessons. There was a period (around 2016) when you took a break as you were going through a rough patch — professionally and personally. You even went through depression and came out of it stronger. What did that phase teach you about life and yourself?
Well, at the risk of sounding like a sadist, let me tell you that when something really bad or challenging happens in my life, I get a little excited. I tell myself that I’ve gone through it and come out of it feeling proud of the person that I have become. Now, I actually believe every quote that I’ve read online, which says that failure teaches you a lot more than success. I didn’t believe it till it happened in my life. I hit rock bottom in every department of my life, and I actually thought that I would not survive it. But then, you fight every battle and come out stronger. In fact, if you haven’t gone through ups and downs, you have had a very boring life.

Such phases also make you value everything you have so much more — success, fame…all of that.
I am not wishing tragedies upon anyone, but I truly believe that when you go through a setback, you appreciate life so much more. I feel that I grew up during the low phase of my life. And I definitely think that today, anything that I do, is a result of what I learned during that period.

You already had a solid body of work before the brief slump happened. Over the years, you have proven yourself as a stock of talent, so I guess that it made the process of getting back on your feet easier. Soon after, you saw huge success with Golmaal Again (2017), right?
I had two films that year, Meri Pyaari Bindu and Golmaal Again. The first one didn’t do well at the box office, but the other one did. And I said to myself…this is exactly how everything balances out. There is so much to be thankful for, so there’s no need to be depressed. Also, I’ve never wanted to be an actress in my life, I’ve always wanted to do something else. So, my heart and my brain are not completely consumed by the industry and that’s why I am able to distance myself and do more with my life.

You have said that your upcoming film, The Girl On The Train, is the toughest film that you have done...
That one and Saina (the biopic on badminton champion Saina Nehwal) are undoubtedly the toughest films I’ve done. I’ve literally given my heart and soul to them and I feel like I am more a producer of those films than an actress. The Girl On The Train sealed in my mind the kind of actress I want to be. I think all my films before The Girl On The Train were a personal experiment to find what I wanted to do, and with this film, I found it. I was obsessed with being those two characters in both the films, I was obsessed with performing. It gave me clarity on how I want to select films from now on.

Rachana Dubey (BOMBAY TIMES; July 28, 2019)

She is feisty and fearless, while he is suave and straightforward. Together, they are a likeable jodi on screen. Ahead of their next release, director Prashant Singh’s Jabariya Jodi, Parineeti Chopra and Sidharth Malhotra talk to BT about various things, including the camaraderie they share, gender inequality and why it’s the best time for actors to step out of their comfort zones. Excerpts...

The last film the two of you did together was Hasee Toh Phasee (2014). At that point, both of you were relatively new to the industry. While you have hung out socially, over the years, is it different when you start working together after a considerable gap?
Sidharth: Pari and I are friends. We hang out socially, and we’ve also been part of a dance tour. When you work together at the beginning of your career, you are in a totally different phase of life. You’re growing together, and there’s less work to distract you. You don’t even have enough exposure to understand certain things. When we met on the set of Jabariya Jodi or even before that for our workshops, we had that same energy. Pari and I have a lot in common as individuals. We’re outsiders, we live in the city alone, and we come from a similar background and culture. The comfort that comes with sharing so much is visible on camera, too. There’s definitely an advantage of working with someone you have worked with in the past.
Parineeti: Sidharth and I are buddies. And why just us? This generation of actors is more in touch with one another than the previous generation. We all hang out together. Most actors from our generation have that bro-vibe. The way this film has shaped up and the way we worked our way through it, is a testament to our friendship. It was a new world for both of us and we could sink into it comfortably. We share a brutally honest relationship. He has motivated me to do things I didn’t want to, and I could point out to him when and where he went wrong. It would have been a disaster had the equation changed. If it had, it would have been very difficult to work on this film. I can’t fake it with a co-actor. I should share enough comfort with my co-actor where I can tell him that he has messed up. Sid and I almost started out together. We were vulnerable at that time, and it is something that bonds you like nothing else. He’s still the Sid that I knew back then.

Increasingly, starting with Jabariya Jodi, both of you are trying to explore new spaces as far as selecting roles is concerned. You both are doing it at a time when your innings at the box office hasn’t witnessed a steady high...
Parineeti: Every actor wants to get out of his/her comfort zone and do something different, because the audience has so many options to choose from, and an actor doing anything substandard doesn’t work. In fact, we feel empowered to do something different because of the way the audience has been reacting to cinema lately. These are the best times for one to be an artiste, because you can have the confidence to do something different and you know that there is a fair chance of the audience lapping it up.
Sidharth: This is such an unpredictable profession that with every film, you are simply guessing and learning. Yes, out of so many people who were launched in recent times, we are among the handful of artistes who have been accepted by the audience. After that, it’s a matter of being consistent as an actor. Not every film will work and you will make mistakes. It could be the route you took, the approach you had for a role or the team, or something else. You have to constantly keep a tab on these things — on what worked in your favour and what didn’t. Unfortunately, it all becomes about the actor, but there’s a team behind every film. I can’t be solely blamed for a film’s poor collections, and I also can’t be the only reason for a film to work. If you are producing a film as an actor, which a lot of people are, you become more liable. The more you face the camera, the more you learn. The only thing I have tried doing through the years is to ensure that no two roles of mine feel similar. People just assumed that I may not be very convincing as a Bihari boy in Jabariya Jodi because I’ve never done something like this before. What they don’t realise is that I come from Delhi and I know people who speak in that lehza, and so, it couldn’t have been so difficult for me to speak like that.
Parineeti: The audience no longer cares for the box-office result of your last film. They are now assessing you on the basis of the content you present to them. There was a time when people would come to watch your film if you’ve given hits and vice versa, but today, it’s only about the content in question. People no longer lap up nonsense because the actor starring in it has had multiple hits earlier.

Doesn’t commerce get into the way when a producer decides to cast actors and invest money? Doesn’t the fate of your last film have a role in what you do next?
Parineeti: Yes, from a producer’s point of view, the math does get into the picture. But success is very difficult to measure. There are so many successful films that don’t have big numbers at the box office. I can quote an example from personal experience. I worked on the marketing of Band Baaja Baaraat (2010). While the lifetime collection of the film is not very big, it’s still a successful film. So, how does anyone measure success? A producer can decide your fee as per the last film you did and the budget he or she would allocate to your film, but you still have to put content out there, which the audience likes. Actors are the only people in this business who are not allowed to get affected by anything. We still have to go out there and do the same work, with a smile, without looking bothered. We can only thank our stars that out of a million people, who aim to get here, we’re the chosen ones and we have work to prove our worth. If we start thinking and getting affected, most of us will exit the business in just six months.

Clearly, both of you have survived many ups and downs. So, what has kept you going?
Parineeti: It’s the good that happens after a bad phase. It’s not like we were banging our heads against a wall when things were not going the way we wanted them to. The highs and lows come and go. I’ve had a phase where I sat home for eight months, returned with Meri Pyaari Bindu (2017), which didn’t work, and again sat at home and came back with Golmaal Again, which worked, and then Namaste England released. It’s a sea-saw that you’ve hopped onto and the only reason you don’t give up, is the faith that the audience puts into you each time they see the honest effort you make.
Sidharth: I was 21 when I came to Mumbai. The first thing I learnt here is that there is so much competition. The first advertisement I auditioned for had 150 other contenders. It’s daunting when you have to compete from day one. Competition is more inbuilt in people who come from outside the industry, because they are aware that they are not the only ones being considered for a job. After facing rejection early on in our careers, we’re more prepared to handle it if it were to happen again. I didn’t get every commercial I auditioned for. As years go by, you get trained in handling an emotional, creative and subjective field where one thing can mean different things to different people. I started out as an assistant behind the camera. As I went along, I learnt to deal with the ups and downs. Dukaan chalti rehni chahiye. Yes, it’s a catch-22 situation where sometimes, budgets become a constraint because of an actor’s past record, but the good part is that, all the actors today are working on all kinds of films. It’s a matter of which phase of life you are in and finding the right mix of things to do. I always take the lows as a punch in my gut, and give it my all each time I face the camera.

Coming back to Jabariya Jodi. Your film is a funny take on gender inequality, turned on its head. The practice of abducting grooms has existed for years. So, what’s your take on gender inequality that exists everywhere, including the industry you belong to?
Parineeti: At the risk of sounding like an Alice in Wonderland, I have to admit that I knew nothing about it until I stepped out in the professional world. I didn’t know that such a thing existed, because I was given more opportunities than my brothers all my life. I had more merit as a student and my parents believed in giving more opportunities to the one who merits it. So, I didn’t know that something like lesser chances and pay parity existed. It’s good that conversations around gender inequality have gained momentum at the right time, and why not address it via films? Yes, our film does address it, reversing the equation. Why should merit and personal preferences not decide things, especially when it’s to do with something like marriage? Why should anyone be forced to abduct a groom or pay dowry for it? Conversations are the beginnings of change. I’ve grown up in an equal set up and my sister Priyanka (Chopra Jonas) works with the United Nations for the girl child (UNICEF). Yes, I agree that in many parts of the country, boys are given more chances than girls but maybe, 50 years down the line, we may just be talking about inequality as a thing of the past.
Sidharth: Inequality between genders has existed for centuries. It was an outcome of the way the society functioned a few centuries ago, where men and women had different roles to play. Things are changing; while our previous generation didn’t speak about it, we are. The next generation will experience the benefits of this conversation. To me, this is progress. We are still in the middle of a transition, but by the time our kids grow up, hopefully, practices that underline gender inequality will become archaic, at work and at home.

As told to Avinash Lohana (MUMBAI MIRROR; October 15, 2018)

Every film is a learning experience and with Junglee Pictures’ upcoming slice-of-life comedy Badhaai Ho, the challenge was to make my new turn as a Delhi guy different from my previous three outings — Vicky Donor, Bewakoofiyaan and Shubh Mangal Saavdhan. For this film, I had to speak Hindi in three dialects — first, the anglicised Hindi my character Nakul uses at his work place, then, a UP accent at home as my parents, played by Neena Gupta and Gajraj Rao, have migrated to the capital from Meerut and finally, a Haryanvi accent with friends. I started working on it right from the first day of our workshop and was continuously guided by our writers, Akshat Ghildial who is from Meerut and Shantanu Srivastava from Haryana, who were always on the set.

Since I’m from Chandigarh and my parents live in Panchkula, it wasn’t very difficult getting a hang of the Haryanvi accent though it did require lots of hard work. But that’s not a problem as I enjoy prep and I’m able to pick up accents easily. I had learnt the Khariboli to convincingly play Prem Prakash Tiwari who owns a video cassette shop in Haridwar for Dum Laga Ke Haisha. My co-star Mahesh Sharma, who was also my trainer, was always around me to teach me how to say my lines right.

The recently released Andhadhun was my most challenging film as an actor. Piano is not an easy instrument to learn, one needs to be ambidextrous to play it, and while I’ve been playing the guitar since I was in college, the piano was new to me. Since I refused to use a hand double, I had to work extremely hard to get the notes right. My trainer Akshay Verma who is from Los Angeles but now based in Mumbai, taught me basic hand movements, telling me repeatedly to keep my fingers curved while playing. There were some very difficult pieces and I have tried to hit the right notes with Akshay who was always on the set keeping a check on me on the monitor. The training lasted for about six months with us sometimes spending five hours a day rehearsing on the piano. Now, I can use the skill during concerts.

Playing a blind guy wasn’t easy either. During prep, I realised in our country we don’t have many facilities for the physically challenged, for instance on buses and trains they don’t have special platforms. But we do have lifts with braille so I’m sure we are going in the right direction. My focus was to learn how a blind person walks and had strolled through the streets wearing a blindfold too. It was an enlightening experience.

Earlier, I had learnt Marathi for Vibhu Puri’s Hawaizaada in which I had played Shivkar Bapuji Talpade, a Maharashtrian scientist who is credited with having constructed India’s first unmanned plane. The screenplay writer Saurabh Bhave who is a Maharashtrian and writes scripts for Marathi films was my trainer. He incorporated some Marathi words in this script too and I would speak to my staff and maid in Marathi. It’s good to speak and know the language of the city you live in. Aata mala sagrah samajhte.

I learnt Bengali for Meri Pyaari Bindu which is a little more difficult than Marathi as the lingo was never a part of my milieu. I had trained a lot with writer Suprotim Sengupta and also watched many Bangla films, listened to Bengali songs and was glued to Anurag Basu’s Chokher Bali from his TV series, Stories by Rabindranath Tagore. I discovered the Nobel Laureate while shooting for the film and fell in love with Bengali literature and culture. Sometimes I feel like a Bengali trapped in a Punjabi’s body.

Chaya Unnikrishnan (DNA; May 31, 2018)

Ayushmann Khurrana is not only anti-smoking but he has also never been tempted to light up in his growing up years. He was not even influenced by his theatre background, where most people live on chai and cigarettes. The actor has had to take a few drags for some roles in his films in order to essay his onscreen characters effectively, but it hasn’t been easy. On World No Tobacco Day today, the Shubh Mangal Saavdhan actor talks about the advantages of being a non-smoker and how he manages to practise what he preaches.

Despite being a non-smoker, you have been seen taking a drag in films. How did you manage it?
I’ve never had the inclination to smoke, but I’ve had to do it for my movies. While shooting for Dum Laga Ke Haisha, there was a small scene where the female protagonist is shocked that I am taking a puff. But in my upcoming film Badhaai Ho, I had to take 10 drags continuously. It was difficult because I started puking after that. I had to give five takes as I couldn’t get it right. In Meri Pyaari Bindu, it was easier because director Akshay Roy was a non-smoker. So, he could not gauge if I was really smoking or not. There are two ways to do it, either you inhale it or you don’t. I was not inhaling the smoke. But in Amit Sharma’s (director of Badhaai Ho) case, he is a Delhi boy and he was clear that I should do it for real or not do it at all. So I did, but it was too heavy for me. You should be selfish for your health and stay away from cigarettes as it’s not good.

Haven’t you been tempted to smoke?
No, I have never been tempted though I come from a theatre background where smoking was a common practice. I have a wonderful story to tell. My father used to be a chainsmoker and usually, children take after their parents. It’s their first induction. Having said that, in the mid-’90s, I asked my father, ‘Why don’t you quit smoking?’ He just smiled and said okay, ‘I will quit, but you have to promise me you’ll never smoke in your life.’ I promised him and he did not light up after that because he is headstrong and never goes back once he commits himself. I have also kept my promise to him.

What message would you send out to the boys and girls of impressionable age who may be tempted to take a puff?
As I said, most children hero-worship their parents, especially, young boys who consider their father as a superhero. A father is someone who doesn’t do wrong, so whatever he does, the son will imbibe. That’s why, it’s imperative that parents send out the right message and set a precedent. It’s important to not smoke. What happens is your body gets used to it and you feel you have to take a drag to freshen up in morning. In such cases, one has to join rehab centres where your body learns to live without cigarettes. It’s difficult but not impossible for a chain smoker to kick the butt.

Not only parents, but teenagers also get influenced by peer pressure...
(Cuts in) Yes, peers influence you, but you have to be wise enough to stay away from it. You also look younger if you don’t smoke. Being an actor, you need to look a certain way. I will give you a practical example of what happened when I participated in Roadies in 2004. There was a task of sperm donation and my sample was selected because I was a non-smoker. Most of the contestants in Roadies were smokers. I used to donate blood also because I had a healthy haemoglobin. All these things matter a lot.

Have you always been conscious about your health?
Yes, I had no inclination towards smoking or drinking. Nobody said no to it. My father was lenient — in fact, he is an occasional drinker, but I don’t drink. Health is everything; if you have it, you will lead a good life.

Do you follow any particular diet?
I live to eat. Thankfully, I’m blessed with good metabolism. It’s only before a film shoot that I follow a certain diet for a couple of months. I eat fewer carbs, stay away from wheat, consume less rice, etc, otherwise I eat everything. My favourite food is homemade rajma chawal. I love Indian cuisine, be it from North East, Gujarat or the South.

Do you cook?
Khaane se fursat hi nahin milti, when will I cook! My brother Aparshakti, however, has discovered his love for cooking, recently. I am shocked! Both of us love to eat and now he has acquired a sudden passion for cooking (laughs).

What is your fitness mantra?
I maintain a fit body. I have never had bulging biceps because I never went for that. But I would like to explore that side where I have to put on muscles if I get to play such a character. I am known for realistic films, so I maintain a natural physique by doing a combination of weight training and cardio.

Nayandeep Rakshit (DNA; October 30, 2017)

Parineeti Chopra’s last three releases didn’t do well at the box office. While Meri Pyaari Bindu received a lot of critical acclaim, it failed to set cash registers ringing. But with Golmaal Again becoming the highest grosser of the year among Hindi films, the actress is back on track. An excited Parineeti talks to us about the success of GA and explains why it’s unfair to decide whether the younger actors will become superstars, just yet! Over to her...

This is the first hit after three films that did not work at the box office. How does that feel?
The usual answer would be that it is amazing. But honestly, I always wanted Golmaal Again to be a film that’s liked and appreciated and hence, made money and not just for any other reason. I wanted people to say that it’s a good film, which deserves all the money. That has happened, thankfully. The full credit for that goes to Rohit (Shetty) sir and he’s made such an incredibly new and fresh story, with the same characters. Then, you have the comfort zone of these five-six characters like Johnny (Lever) bhai, Sanjay (Mishra) sir, and others, and there’s also the new horror-comedy element. It completely changes the film and gives you a new product. It’s also a very kid-friendly film, so it’s for the family audiences and it feels like it deserves the money that it’s making.

This is your first Rs 100 crore film. Does the success feel any different?
The success feels bigger now. It is more of a milestone because, yes, there’s a thing that’s been created, which is the Rs 100 crore club. And, somehow, every film wants to be in it because it also means that many people have gone to see your film. There are more people who watch these films than those who watch a Rs 50 crore film. So, I can’t compare Ladies Vs Ricky Bahl, Ishaqzaade or a Hasee Toh Phasee to a Golmaal Again because this is more of a pan-India film for the masses, so automatically there will be a larger number of people going to the theatres. But, success is success, yaar! I was waiting for a success after my last three films didn’t do well. After Meri Pyaari Bindu, I hoped that my next film does well. Thankfully, that has happened. You feel charged up, motivated again. It is my biggest film and I always wondered why Rohit sir chose me for the film, but now, I feel proud about that. It’s not a small achievement.

The way the age gap between you and Ajay Devgn was dealt with, was great. Do you think Bollywood has started making love stories that are more mature, in this regard?
I don’t think it has got anything to do with maturity. It’s just that we are the current lot of actresses, so we started around 23-24-25. Alia (Bhatt), Shraddha (Kapoor), Anushka (Sharma) and I are all in the same age bracket. It is amazing that these actors who have been working for 25 years are still superstars today. People want to watch them and have loved them equally for these many years. I can’t even imagine 25 years of stardom. That also should not mean that we will limit ourselves to not working with them. Why should I not work with an actor who’s older? He was also 25 when he started his career. So, it’s very weird and unfair that if people want to watch me, and people want to watch Ajay sir, too, why wouldn’t they want to watch both of us together? I don’t think it’s got to do with maturity, but the situation. In this movie, my character was of a girl who they knew as a child. She comes back into their lives once again when they are older. According to the story, they needed a younger actress, who was half their age. Rohit sir has done this before as well. In Chennai Express, he had said that Shah Rukh’s character is 40 years old. He is one of the most honest directors, he won’t con the audience ever. He will give them what they either know or expect.

The superstar tag has been bestowed upon any young actor. Do you think it’s because of over-exposure?
No, not at all! It’s very simple. They have been superstars for 25 years now, which means people have had the same interest to watch them all these years. They have spent their money on them. All of us in the younger generation of actors are not older than five-10 years in the industry. Hrithik Roshan also debuted in 2000, it is 17 years that he’s been here. We are too young to be superstars now. Ten years from now, maybe even people will feel the same about some of us at least. Maybe we also can achieve that but again, it all depends on the audiences. It’s got nothing to do with anything else. It’s just our age and experience currently.

How did you celebrate the success then?
Oh! I had a three-day party. Since March, when I started the film, I had this at the back of my mind — that the film releases on October 20 and October 22 is my birthday, so I hope I have a ‘happy’ birthday and the film becomes a huge success. And that’s exactly what happened. I left for Goa on the day of the release, Friday, with about seven friends, and we partied for three days and had a blast. All my birthday messages, too, had congratulatory notes for Golmaal, so that was a special feeling.

Nayandeep Rakshit (DNA; October 19, 2017)

Parineeti Chopra looks at ease when we meet her. It’s only her eye infection that’s troubling her. Otherwise, she’s relaxed. “Keep the door open and let me feel the breeze,” she says as we ask her one question after another. In her six-year-long career, this will be Pari’s first big budget masala entertainer — something that she’s shied away from for quite some time. But now that she’s jumped on to this bandwagon, she admits she wants to do more such films. Over to her...

Meri Pyaari Bindu didn’t work but was appreciated. Does it hurt you that not many people went to watch your film?
Honestly, Rohit (Shetty) sir has taught me that a film is a real hit if it goes crazy on satellite. Actually, those are the people watching it on repeat. It’s like an Andaz Apna Apna. It was a flop film, but I love it and I don’t even need to ask you — I know you love the film, too. The whole world loves it. There are many films which have worked only on satellite. I think Bindu might become that film because every human being who meets me says the same thing that they loved the film but they don’t know why it didn’t make money. If I really analyse it, honestly, I feel it was just the timing. Baahubali 2 had just released, IPL was going on and we only had that one week along with the fact that it was a shared release with two other films. So, it didn’t get the desired audience. But I am still very satisfied because you won’t believe, people talk to me about Bindu when they meet me at airports. That, for me, is a big success.

Has your way of evaluating success and failures changed?
My perception towards success and failure has changed. Maybe because you mature more in your personal life, which in turn, reflects in your professional life, too. I took a break and it gave me so much perspective about my personal life, professional life, health, money, and absolutely everything. It’s helped me deal with my career so much better.

You are doing Golmaal Again in the sixth year of your career. What took you so long to try this space?
It was not a planned thing. The kind of persona that I am, it was really important for me to become the best actor that I could. In the first four films. I was not a glam doll, I didn’t have anything that the usual heroines need. And at that time, the industry, too, was going through a phase of change. So if you look at it, I did the most perfect films at that point of time. Whether it was Ishaqzaade, Shuddh Desi Romance, Ladies Vs Ricky Bahl, Hasee Toh Phasee... And I made a mark for myself. Then, I allowed myself to play out more genres. When I did, things didn’t work and I took some time off. Now, I’m trying out this space with Golmaal Again, so I’m quite content with how things have happened. Because if I tried doing a bikini shot as an intro scene, I don’t think it would have worked.

Go on...
It’s not like Golmaal Again came to me two years ago and I made a sweeping statement saying, ‘now, is not the right time’. It wasn’t like that. When I changed my image and became 2.0, different directors looked at me differently. Producers thought of investing money in me in different ways. And that’s why these films have come my way. Even Dibakar’s (Banerjee) film (Sandeep Aur Pinky Faraar) or Namastey Canada wouldn’t have never been a part of me, if I was the same person like I was three years ago.

Did filmmakers not approach you for masala entertainers assuming you’re averse to them?
Of course, that was the perception, 100 per cent. They would have definitely thought like that. Somehow, because I have never been a part of the industry, I didn’t know how everything works here. I haven’t grown up watching these films, so, this was an alien world to me and I didn’t think of these things. I was very busy making myself that award-winning actor. And it’s true that the people I met thought I only want to do certain kind of films. But Golmaal Again will change that hopefully. Even Namastey Canada is the next step in that. People’s perceptions will invariably change because when you do a commercial film, it does not get bigger than Rohit Shetty.

Akshay Kumar said that comedy is the toughest genre because it’s easier to make people cry than laugh. Agree?
Yes, I agree and I completely feel the same. It’s a cliche but it’s true. Comedy is serious business, it really is. It’s so hard to make people laugh. That’s why I get attracted to personalities who have a good sense of humour. Because I feel that there are grey cells up there. My really close friends are hilarious! I connect with people who are funny because I find them to be intelligent. It is the most difficult genre because you are making people laugh from Gujarat to Orissa to Srinagar to Kanyakumari, which is basically everybody. Which is why I salute Rohit Shetty who has aced and set a benchmark in this genre.

Doing a Rohit Shetty film will also mean you reach out to the remotest corner of India...
That definitely played on my mind, too. Why else would I do a commercial film? If I was to do a calculation, as an actor, I would do at least one commercial film in a year. But it is also emotional. I am an actor and I would like to be known by the people in Nashik and Rajkot as well. They, too, are my audience, so, of course, when you are doing a Golmaal, there’s a vast connect with my audience.

So you intend to do more commercial bonanzas now?
I want to balance it out. I would love to do many more commercial films because those are the films I have not done, which is why I am doing Namastey Canada after this. But I would never say no to a Dibakar as well.

Recently, Kangana said that post Sridevi, there is no other actress with great comic timing. Comment.
It’s possible that the impact that Sridevi had in the comedy genre, nobody has ever been able to replicate that. Maybe, all of us have done that one odd film. Alia’s done one, I’ve done two-three, but nobody owns the comedy genre.

Is it because not many comedy roles are written for women?
That’s again a catch 22 situation. My dad and I are not sitting and writing the stories. So I have to wait for a comedy role, backed by the screenplay and story, to be offered to me. That will still be one film, and not five, so that I can’t own the genre like Govinda, Sridevi or Hema Malini did. For that, I need to do at least five to 10 films. Now, I don’t know if writers will write those films. They won’t because producers and distributors won’t back them. Unfortunately, it’s a vicious circle. I’m putting it out in the universe that I want somebody to write a great comedy role in a comedy film and I want to do it.

When someone approaches you for a film, do you sign it on the basis of intuition or instinct?
I will say (pauses), it’s instinct first. It’s what I feel at the end of the narration. It’s pretty much that. I don’t think a lot of planning and calculations work in this industry. I think it’s only instinct that works.

Actress on singing, her second film after a hiatus, working with Arjun Kapoor on two new films and a future in film production
Avinash Lohana (MUMBAI MIRROR; October 18, 2017)

After a two-year hiatus and a dream makeover, Parineeti Chopra returned to the big screen with Akshay Roy’s romance-drama Meri Pyaari Bindu earlier this year. Now, she is gearing up for the release of Rohit Shetty’s ensemble comedy, Golmaal Again. There are also plans of putting together a single. “I got so tied up with Golmaal that the single has been postponed a bit. But I am working on it with a music company and will reveal details soon,” the actress promises.

She would also want to venture into film production in the future. “But right now, I am concentrating on acting. I don’t think I have enough experience yet to take on the responsibility of producing a film, but in a couple of years, I will, for sure,” she is quick to clarify.

In her next the 28-year-old actress shares screen space with Ajay Devgn, Tabu, Arshad Warsi, Shreyas Talpade, Tusshar Kapoor and Kunal Kemmu, and refers to Shetty as “the best director in the whole world”. “Rohit sir generates so much positivity on the set. And let me assure you that the girls are going to surprise you in the film, I know my character definitely will. Working with him has been such a good experience that I have told him that I want to work in all his films,” she says.

By Pari’s own admission, her director’s optimism was offset by a well-known fondness for pranks. “One day, he told me to stand with my face to the camera for a shot. When I turned around five minutes later, the whole crew had left. They are all a group of pranksters with Ajay sir and Rohit sir as their leaders,” she laughs.

Next up, she starts work on Dibakar Banerjee’s thriller, Sandeep Aur Pinky Faraar, with Arjun Kapoor, which kicks off in November. “It is going to be an intense two-weeks prep as Dibakar is a workshop-oriented director and wants us in character before we start work. It’s going to be gruelling but satisfying as an actor,” she explains.

Then, there’s Vipul Shah’s Namastey Canada, again with Arjun, in February. About her equation with her 32-year-old frequent co-star, Pari says, “We are friends and protective of each other. I was in Arjun’s first film, Ishaqzaade, and now I am curious to know what it’s like to work with him after so many years,” she says.

What about comparisons with Katrina Kaif, who had featured in Namastey London? Pari quips, “Namstey Canada is not a sequel so there is no question of comparisons.”

Talented, vivacious and candid as ever, Parineeti Chopra talks about life in B'town
Jeena J Billimoria (TIMES LIFE; September 30, 2017)

The spunky and spirited Parineeti Chopra on love, crushes and possibility of working with cousin PeeCee
Upala KBR (DNA; June 19, 2017)

Parineeti Chopra is currently shooting in Ooty with Ajay Devgn for a romantic track in Rohit Shetty’s Golmaal Again. She’s never spoken about her personal life and insists that she has single till the time she announces her relationship. The “long-term-kind-of-girl” asserts that everyone should fall in love as the experience shapes and rewards you. The actress, who was earlier linked to her director Maneesh Sharma, lets her guard down and shares her take on love and relationship. Over to her...

How do you prioritize your career and your relationship with someone special?
For me, it’s 50-50. My work life and relationships are balanced out. My personal life is as important as my work and that is because career is there right now and maybe there for the next 10-25 or I don’t know how many years. But your life, your relationships, your love life, boyfriend, husband, children — whatever your absolute immediate family is, that will remain all your life. So, I make a conscious decision, even against the wishes of others, that my personal life is in order always. I can’t only work or only concentrate on my personal life. I have to have a healthy and balanced work and personal life.

What kind of love do you connect to?
I am more for the Abhimanyu-kind-of-love, which Ayushmann Khurrana portrayed in my last film Meri Pyaari Bindu — a very romantic kind of love, where he is in love with a girl right from day one and will probably be in love with her till the day he dies. I am that kind of a person. I always try and invest in long-term relationships. It’s never fleeting or just for a day or night...

Please continue…
I am quite the planner and very disciplined and responsible, sorted, and more consistent in my love life. I have never been reckless in my relationships. I am not like Bindu was — a person, who hops from one relationship to the other. I am the long-term-kind-of-girl.

You have always made an extra effort to keep your relationships under wraps. Comment...
It’s not been an effort but it just has to do with the timing. I am not secretive. I am an open person, but it’s just that I have not felt that the timing has ever been right to come out into the open. Whenever I do feel the time is right, I will come out and talk about my love life.

Do you remember your first crush and your first love?
Oh yes! Love is very different from crush. My first crush was when I was in Class V. Crushes toh change every few hours. I can have a crush on anybody, who says something funny, smart or smells nice. It’s more of an attraction than an actual crush. But I am not the sort to stalk the boy – that’s not going to happen! Crushes keep happening all the time. My first love was when I was 22 and yes, who can forget your first love right? It completely changed my life and shaped the person that I am today.

Was he connected to films?
I don’t want to get into all those details because it doesn’t matter today. But I will say this - the feeling of being in love with somebody is one of the most selfless feelings. I feel that everyone should fall in love. If it works out great, and if it doesn’t work out great even then, but falling in love rewards you, teaches you, shapes you... because that’s is in our DNA… Oh Wow! I just said DNA! (Laughs)

It’s clichéd but I will ask you - are you single?
(Laughs) I am single till the time I announce any relationship.

Have you ever thought of cutting your own album?
I don’t know if it will be an album but I definitely want to sing many songs. When I was recording Maana… I really wanted to see if people accepted my voice and me as a singer, like they accepted me as an actor. The song has become a big hit and that has given me the confidence to sing many more. A lot of singers and music directors have reached out to me about recording songs. I will get into it soon and start working on my set of songs.

What about a duet with your cousin Priyanka Chopra?
That would be a dream come true for me. It’s a dream for me to do something with her. It will be good fun!

If you had to choose between recording an album and shooting for a film, what would you choose?
No. I would try and do both! There are no more thoughts about it. I will work day and night and do double shifts and do both.

He doesn’t care about the numbers game. All he wants to do is create a niche of his own, one where he is the Badshah
Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; June 11, 2017)

Though his last release, Akshay Roy’s Meri Pyaari Bindu, failed to stir the box-office, Ayushmann Khurrana walked away with everyone’s hearts. As the unrequited lover of Bindu (Parineeti Chopra), he brought to life a character who was not the quintessential Indian male. With two films lined up for release — Ashwiny Iyer Tiwari’s Bareilly Ki Barfi and R S Prasanna’s Shubh Mangal Savdhan — in the coming months, the actor-singer talks of creating a niche for himself in the industry, being the Amol Palekar and Farooque Shaikh of this generation, and his wife, writer Tahira Kashyap. We caught up with Ayushmann at Yash Raj Studios, Andheri. Excerpts from an interview.

Five years into the industry, have you finally found your space?
People expect novel stuff from me, which is great. Dum Laga Ke Haisha (2015) was a defining film for me. I practically sleepwalked through Vicky Donor (2012). Playing a quirky Punjabi guy was just playing myself. In Dum Laga Ke Haisha, I became a different person adapting to different languages and physicalities.

Why did you choose Meri Pyaari Bindu?
It started with Balki’s Ki & Ka (2016) and in Meri Pyaari Bindu, it is the potent subtext where the man is a giver and a pleaser. I knew it was an unrequited love story which might not work, but it was a risk. Mainstream movies are depicting what’s changing in reality, at least in urban India. By Indian standards, the nation by and large is attempting to think more progressively. Happy endings aren’t the focus. Moreover, Kolkata (where a major chunk of Meri Pyari Bindu was shot) lured me. I always thought I am a Bengali trapped in a Punjabi body. When I went to Kolkata, I was blown away. I can spend hours strolling down Park Street and live there forever. I have spent months there and I am in love with the city. The first time, however, when I was part of the reality show Roadies in 2004. When we flagged off from Shantiniketan, everyone around was focussing on the bikes and the races, but I sat under Tagore’s favourite tree, soaking in the moment.



How is it that a progressive thinker like you made your wife Tahira shift base?
When I got married, I had no money. Tahira has been doing better than me professionally for the longest time. She was gutsy enough to marry a man just for love and have faith in his talent. She is a rockstar; she was a professor, had her own PR firm in Chandigarh. She was also the programming head of a radio station in Punjab. She supported me in every possible way. I was a struggling actor, which is often a gamble. But there was never any ego between us. When there’s love, there’s no scope for ego. Most men in India aren’t secure enough to be comfortable with such an arrangement. It comes with the family. It depends on how your father treats your mother. But a man, no matter where he comes from, could always trigger a change. If it’s a patriarchal family, the dynamics are different. In my case, Tahira became the daughter in a household that had none.

With the lines blurring, would you ever go back to television?
I was a VJ because I wanted to be an actor. If I were a star kid, I wouldn’t need to do Roadies or be a radio presenter. Now that I am here, I would never want to go back. Star kids get that guaranteed good launch by virtue of their lineage and network. But, I don’t agree with people when they say there’s nepotism. We might not have had a direct entry into the industry, but those who are good will stay.

How do you take failure?
The string of flops made me work harder. It was a great learning experience. I am a realist in life. I do my work and get detached fairly easily. Success is a lousy teacher. Actors are myopic sometimes, focusing on their lines, their look and not caring much about the film. When something flops, you analyze things in totality. That’s when Dum Laga Ke Haisha happened. I was playing a despicable man, but I was up for the challenge because I saw more than just what I am doing in it.

Is there a set goal in terms of what you aspire to be in the industry?
In five years, I have given two films (Vicky Donor and Dum Laga Ke Haisha), which have won National Awards. Everyone is gung-ho about being a superstar these days, but who will become the Amol Palekar and Farooq Sheikh of this age? I want to own that space. I want to be the parallel superstar. Everyone is a good actor these days. There is no room for non-actors anymore. At least in the space I am targetting, the crowd is less. Playing safe cannot work. I have to do quirky stuff. My next film, R S Prasanna’s Shubh Mangal Savdhan, is about a likeable guy who is suffering erectile dysfunction. His girlfriend loves him despite that. That love story is on a different spiritual level, focussing on a problem that is as common as a headache. Men don’t talk about it because they feel being a man is about how well they are able to perform in bed. As long as anything I do triggers a discussion, I am happy.

Ayushmann Khurrana (DNA; May 14, 2017)

Life began with waking up and loving my mother's face
—George Eliot

For every child, its mother is the most beautiful creation. I remember I troubled my mother a lot, but she never let go of her smile. Mothers are like perfect souls to their children.

Even when I think about the actors who played my mother on screen, I see perfection. Dolly Ahluwalia in Vicky Donor was adorable. Blindly in love with her donor son. Loud, expressive and impulsive. At the same time, Alka Amin in Dum Laga Ke Haisha had dry humour. Again blindly in love with her loser despicable son. The common factor is the blind unconditional love.

That's how mothers are. They are wired to love their children. Their love is so unadulterated that it is difficult for them to be objective about their own kids. Fathers, on the other hand, have a tendency to be over-critical. Sanjay Mishra was such a bully of a father in Dum Laga Ke Haisha. A mother can never become that person. Even Aparajitha in Meri Pyaari Bindu has the affection of the entire world for Abhimanyu to the point of being jealous of Bindu.

Dear mom, mother or mummy? I think 'Mama' sounds the best. It has an adorable vibe. Thanks, Mama, for giving me patience and composure. These are my biggest talents. I'm ever-smiling just like you. I'm the shadow of your calm self.

I'm a simple guy because of your pure upbringing. And what I would have done if I was born without your dimples? I'm guilty of not calling you everyday. But I think about you and your well being every single day. You may never be expressive as a person, you never say anything. But whenever you see me your eyes well up and that explains a lot.

You still give me money for luck in that loud envelope before bidding adieu. That's been happening since time immemorial. I don't call you everyday. But with a mother like you, everyday should be celebrated as Mother's Day.

One-sided love can be the most beautiful and also the most painful. Karan Johar attempted a touching film on this subject last year (Ae Dil Hai Mushkil). Newcomer director Akshay Roy now brings out out Meri Pyaari Bindu that also gives a take on unrequited love. However, it has the ability to stand out thanks to talented lead actors, Kolkata setting, use of old Hindi songs etc. Sadly, the film progresses too quickly and doesn’t allow the viewers to actually empathize with the character.

The story of the movie: Abhimanyu Roy (Ayushmann Khurrana) and Bindu Shankarnarayanan (Parineeti Chopra) are neighbours in Kolkata and also best friends since childhood. Abhimanyu however has been forever in love with Bindu but could never confess his feelings. As time passes, Abhimanyu and Bindu get separated as their life takes them to different cities and even countries. But their bond stays strong. This motivates Abhimanyu even more that she’s the one for him.

Writer Suprotim Sengupta and director Akshay Roy certainly deserve credit for trying to offer audiences something new. The opening scene itself is quite intriguing. The 119 minute long film keeps viewers engaged as there’s no space for boring or dragging moments. Few sequences definitely stand out, be it Abhimanyu and Bindu’s childhood or the Goa sequence and of course, the finale. Several old Hindi classic songs are well woven in the narrative. Despite so many plusses, Meri Pyaari Bindu falters at a lot of places because in the process of telling the story, the makers seem to have rushed through the narrative. As a result, one fails to relate or sympathize with Abhimanyu. Not just Abhimanyu, one fails to connect with Abhimanyu’s buddies or Bindu’s mother, both of which are there in crucial sequences in the film. The climax is definitely different but again it’s not something that will elate the audiences.

Performance wise, all actors have done well. Ayushmann Khurrana has a certain innocence and charm that works big time for this character. He also looks every inch a Bengali writer as he types on a vintage typewriter while smoking occasionally, wearing kurta pyjama. Parineeti Chopra does even better and it’s a pleasure to see her on screen after almost 2 ½ years. Her critics will still be a bit unhappy as she’s not done something drastically different when compared to her earlier films. But pick up any of her performance and one realizes that it’s different from the rest. Meri Pyaari Bindu is no exception. Prakash Belawadi, (Bindu’s father), leaves a mark. The actor gives yet another great performance after Airlift and Talvar. Rajatava Datta (Abhimanyu’s father) and Aparajita Adhya (Abhimanyu’s mother) are fine. Prabal Panjabi and Abish Mathew play Abhimanyu’s buddies and hardly have anything to do.

Sachin-Jigar’s music is lovely but it’s the old Hindi songs, incorporated in the film, that are more memorable. Maana Ke Hum Yaar Nahin is the best song of the lot followed by Ye Jawaani Teri. Background score is in sync with the film’s mood. Tushar Kanti Ray’s cinematography is brilliant. The locales of Kolkata are well captured. Amit Ray, Subrata Chakraborty’s production design gives the film a realistic touch. Shweta Venkat Mathew’s editing is too fast. Suprotim Sengupta, Soumik Sen’s dialogues are simple and witty. Suprotim Sengupta’s story has promise but the screenplay is faulty. It doesn’t allow the characters to grow on viewers. Same goes for Akshay Roy’s direction. He’s definitely talented and can definitely do wonders if he’s provided with the correct script in future!

On the whole, Meri Pyaari Bindu is laced with some fine performances and songs. The use of old Hindi songs and the Kolkata setting gives the film a nice touch. But the love story isn’t very convincing and moves too fast. Hence, viewers will find it difficult to relate with Abhimanyu and his dilemma. Average fare!

My rating - ** ½ out of 5!

Harshada Rege (DNA; May 11, 2017)

An actor’s screen persona often calls for extreme admiration. So much so, meeting them in person off it is underwhelming. But Ayushmann Khurrana was a refreshing change. He spoke about everything from movies, to his love for music to his plans for his band in this half-hour long tete-a-tete.

You are an actor, singer, writer, and composer... which persona do you identify with right now?
Right now, I identify with being a writer because I play a writer in the film and I am writing columns now. I am glad that DNA gave me that opportunity to explore that territory every week. Though I have written my songs and a book with my wife, at this particular time I am writing every week and there’s a deadline. It’s a challenge every week. And I am glad that it happened at this time because I am playing a writer in Meri Pyaari Bindu as well. Being a writer, you can just be more creative, you can express your love in a very creative way.

Being musically inclined, was it difficult to play someone who is musically challenged?
I think it’s very important to keep my musical identity separate from my identity as an actor. It’s not always supposed to mix. Even in Dum Lagaa Ke Haisha, I made a conscious decision not to sing because I played a Kumar Sanu fan… a simpleton, a loser, who you don’t expect to sing. Similarly, in this film, I play a non-singer, Parineeti plays the singer. So we have to establish that fact. It would have diluted that communication of my character, had I sung. I can sing in my other films. There’s no desperation to sing.

Did it make any difference to you that both you and Parineeti were musically minded?
I had never connected to a co-star like that. She is musically inclined, her influences are very similar to mine. She was born in Ambala, I am from Chandigarh. We both are from Punjabi families. And most importantly, we love retro music. I mean, most of the people in our industry, probably don’t know retro music that much. Parineeti and I would discuss ke yeh toh Madan Mohan ki composition hai, woh Laxmikant-Pyarelal ki hai, or RD, SD Burman, etc. We know all these names and their compositions. I was really happy that I could discuss these things with my co-actor. And I am glad that she had become a music buddy. Our time off-camera was just like a huge jamming session.

Did you have any inputs for the music of the film?
Producer Maneesh Sharma and director Akshay Roy would send us scratches of the songs (composed by Sachin-Jigar) and take our opinions. There’s a Bengali song in the film that has been sung by Monali Thakur. That was, in fact, my input.. to put a Bengali-heavy song (Khol De Baahein) because the backdrop is Kolkata. I am glad they took it seriously.

How are you making time for your band now?
For the past two months, I have been shooting for Shubh Mangal Savdhan and the band has taken a backseat, but I had a concert in Mumbai recently. Whenever I get time, I do a show...

And when will your next single be out?
Next single, I have no idea. I will probably sing a cover of Bindu after the release. I have three films coming up this year. I could not sing for this film, but I will in others.

2 MEDIUM BUDGET FILMS TO RELEASE TOMORROW

The Baahubali 2 wave is still going strong. The 2 Hindi films releasing tomorrow will surely bear the brunt of it. But even if Baahubali 2 was not there, both these movies would have still faced a tough time. My views on these films:

MERI PYAARI BINDU: It is Parineeti Chopra’s first film after almost 2 ½ years – her last film Kill Dil released way back in November 2014. It also stars Ayushmann Khurrana and is produced by Yash Raj Films. Newcomer Akshay Roy, who was at one point going to direct Badtameez Dil starring Emraan Hashmi and Kareena Kapoor, is the director. The promotional strategy is slightly different – the makers came out with 5 trailers, calling each of them as chapters. Before that the song Maana Ke Hum Yaar Nahin was unveiled which is sung by Parineeti herself. Songs in fact are quite melodious and have got noticed. Ayushmann-Parineeti look damn good together. Yet, the excitement is very limited. The opening hence would be average at best. But the film’s premise and setting has potential and can work if reports are positive.

SARKAR 3: This is the third part in the Sarkar series after Sarkar and Sarkar Raj. It stars Amitabh Bachchan, Amit Sadh, Yami Gautam, Rohini Hattangadi, Manoj Bajpayee, Jackie Shroff and Ronit Roy in principle roles. The trailer looks fun although it lacks the punch of the earlier two parts. Also, Sarkar itself isn’t that successful as a franchise – the first part was a semi-hit and popular only in Maharashtra due to the local flavor. The second part got mixed response and was below average. The franchise isn’t memorable as a result. No wonder there’s hardly any excitement for Sarkar 3. A good word of mouth can salvage the film although the chances of commercial success seem remote.

WHICH FILM WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE AND WHY? DO LET ME KNOW!

Subhash K Jha (DNA; May 10, 2017)

Ram Gopal Varma hasn’t had a hit since Sarkar Raj in 2008. He is looking at the third Sarkar film as his comeback ticket into Bollywood. However theatre chains are not likely to welcome Varma’s successful franchise as enthusiastically as expected.

A representative of a leading multiplex chain from Mumbai says, “Sarkar 3 would have got much better screen space without the Baahubali factor. Right now, we are not inclined to remove Baahubali from any shows.” Apparently, Yash Raj Films (YRF) cut a deal with the multiplex chains for a decent number of screens to be given to their Friday release Meri Pyaari Bindu.

“YRF had foreseen the roadblock posed for new releases by the Baahubali juggernaut. They therefore reserved their screens from long before the release of Baahubali 2: The Conclusion, which the multiplex theatres would now have to allot, regardless of the Baahubali craze. So if any other film gets any space this week it’s Meri Pyaari Bindu,” says an informed trade source

Plus there is the big Hollywood franchise Alien: The Covenant, the latest in Ridley Scott’s Alien series, being released by Fox Star India, which gets a scattering of theatres as it is being dubbed in Hindi Tamil and Telugu. So trade pundits feel Sarkar 3 is likely to be the fourth choice of moviegoers’ this week after Baahubali 2, Meri Pyari Bindu and Alien: The Covenant.

Says trade analyst Atul Mohan, “The way Baahubali mania has gripped the nation, I think, in the third week, too, it would be the first choice of multiplexes owners. They would rather give Baahubali preference than this week’s new releases. It’s better to place bets on a horse, which is winning the race than on dark horse”

Parineeti Chopra talks about leading a life under constant scrutiny; says a years sabbatical from Bollywood helped her rejuvenate
Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; May 9, 2017)

"My break has been over-scrutinised," Parineeti Chopra says with a sigh. After the debacle of her 2015 film 'Kill Dil', the actress took a break from Bollywood. Almost a year later, she returned to the scene in a much leaner avatar, but seemed to be in no hurry to sign films. Now promoting her next release, 'Meri Pyaari Bindu', Pari admits she is tired of answering why she took a break.

"I took time off for barely 10 months; I wanted to work on my fitness. I wanted to set up my new house. There was no strategy for my return. When 'Meri Pyaari Bindu' was offered, I liked the story and came on board. I wasnt taking a break to analyse my choice of films. Bringing variety to the table is a constant endeavour."

Did two successive flops - 'Daawat-E-Ishq' (2014) and 'Kill Dil' - trigger Parineeti Chopra's decision? "This is a field where you cant plan [how things will turn out]; everyone would be a superstar otherwise," she retorts, admitting that staying away from the limelight for a bit did a world of good to her. "But people write all sorts of things about an actor taking a sabbatical. If I go scubadiving, people ask if I am doing it for a film. Am I any less of a human being because I am an actor? In this age of paparazzi, there is little scope to make mistakes. If my feet hurts and I step out in chappals, they will circle my footwear and question why I wore them."

Shilpi Sampad (MID-DAY; May 5, 2017)

The upcoming Justin Bieber concert has not only got Bollywood excited, but also triggered a competition of sorts between two film camps. Sources say makers of Meri Pyaari Bindu and Half Girlfriend are keen to get their respective lead pairs on stage to take promotions to another level, minutes before the 22-yold pop icon takes over. The only problem is that they both are seeking an exclusivity clause.

An insider says, “The two camps are vying for an exclusive 15-minute slot, given that both Parineeti Chopra (Meri Pyaari Bindu) and Shraddha Kapoor (Half Girlfriend) are good singers too. A music concert headlined by Bieber can serve as an effective platform for them to flaunt their singing talent and publicise their film as well. However, the concert schedule is pretty tight and there might be room to accommodate just one of the two films.”

When we reached out to the promoters (White Fox India), they refused to comment. Bieber will perform at the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai on May 10.

Sonil Dedhia (MID-DAY; May 3, 2017)

Irrfan Khan-starrer 'Hindi Medium' is out of the triangular box office contest on May 12. Supposed to release alongside an Amitabh Bachchan-starrer 'Sarkar 3' and YRF's 'Meri Pyaari Bindu', the film has been postponed by a week and will now lock horns with Arjun Kapoor and Shraddha Kapoor's 'Half Girlfriend'.

The reason behind a last-minute change in date, the makers say, is to ensure that the cast gets more time to spread the word about the film. Producer Dinesh Vijan says, "After watching the film, we felt we should give an extra week to promotions since it has the potential."

Co-producer, T-Series boss Bhushan Kumar says, "We are happy and proud of the final product and feel that this film deserves to be promoted more so that we can reach out to more people."

Interestingly, 'Hindi Medium' revolves around a couple (Irrfan and Saba Qamar) trying to seek admission for their child in a good school, while in 'Half Girlfriend', Arjun's rustic, desi character struggles to speak English.

Nayandeep Rakshit (DNA; April 12, 2017)

In her next film Meri Pyaari Bindu, Parineeti Chopra’s playing a singer, who beautifully connects one song to each moment in life. Similarly, we decided to make a mix tape of her favourite songs, where she dedicated one song to each of the Bollywood stars.

We tell her about the idea and she quips, “Oh, that’s amazing! Let’s do it. But yes, whatever songs I mention are the ones which are either all first memories of mine with that actor or the one that instantly reminds me of them. When I think of that actor, which song comes to mind so these will be the ones I associate with the most.” And we begin...

Side A
Shah Rukh Khan - Tujhe Dekha toh yeh janaa sanam
Salman Khan - O o jaane jaana
Aamir Khan - Aati kya Khandala
Saif Ali Khan - Kuch toh hua hai
Akshay Kumar - Main khiladi tu anari
Ajay Devgn - Golmaal Golmaal
Ranveer Singh - Jigar Da Tukda
Aditya Roy Kapur - All the Aashiqui 2 tracks
Sidharth Malhotra - Drama Queen
Varun Dhawan - Palat, Tera Hero Idhaar Hai
Arjun Kapoor - Chhokra Jawaan and Pareshaan
Ayushmann Khurrana - Paani Da Rang

Side B
Priyanka Chopra - Tinka Tinka
Kareena Kapoor - All the K3G songs
Sonam Kapoor - Masakaali
Anushka Sharma - Dance Pe Chance
Alia Bhatt - Radha on the dance floor
Shraddha Kapoor - Galliyan
Deepika Padukone - Balam Pichkari
Katrina Kaif - Kamli
Vidya Balan - Oo la la
Madhuri Dixit - Dhak Dhak karne laga
Sridevi - Hawa Hawaii
Karisma Kapoor - Dance Of Envy

Chaya Unnikrishnan (DNA; April 11, 2017)

After Parineeti Chopra’s Maana Ke Hum Yaar Nahin, the makers of Meri Pyaari Bindu are all set to launch Haareya, the second song from the film, today. Filmed on Ayushmann Khurrana, composed by Sachin-Jigar and sung by Arijit Singh, the song depicts Abhimanyu’s (played by Khurrana) fascination for Bindu (Parineeti) as he loses his heart to her. Says the actor, “This is one of my favourite songs in the film. It is easy on the ear, hummable, and has an instant connection to anybody who is besotted by his girlfriend. It is an ‘unplugged’ song that immediately uplifts your mood.”

Since Ayushmann plays a pulp fiction writer in the film, the song is set in his workplace that comprises a typewriter, books like Awara Dhoban and Guitarphobia that he has written, music CDs and posters. “There are several photos of Bindu and props from the past as they remind him of his love. Since he is a writer, he weaves all his female characters around her, every girl resembles her! That’s how besotted he is with her,” elaborates the actor.

Interestingly, even though the song is featured in the film, they have cut a separate video for it, which they are launching. “The footage is taken from the film as there is no lip sync of the song in the movie, it will play in the background,” he says.

Incidentally, while Parineeti made her singing debut in the film, Ayushmann who is a singer, hasn’t sung a single song in the movie! He says, “I had to unlearn singing to play the character in the film. Since I am playing a writer who does not know how to sing, I actually had to act that up.”