Kajol says that one can only pray and hope that one’s film does well; also talks about My Name Is Khan completing a decade
Rishabh Suri (HINDUSTAN TIMES; February 12, 2020)

There’s a certain freshness and credibility that Kajol brings to every role she plays, which is why even after almost 30 years in Bollywood, she still manages to surprise everyone. Her latest release, the epic Tanhaji: The Unsung Warrior, with husband Ajay Devgn, has left everyone astounded. It has so far cruised past ₹260 crore in India alone. We get talking to the 45-year old actor about starting 2020 with a bang, and her film My Name Is Khan (2010) completing a decade of its release.

Were you sure that Tanhaji would do such big numbers?
You can never be sure of any film. I think it’d be overconfidence on our part if we assumed that all the films we made with all our heart and soul will do well. Of course, we hope and pray that they do. Thank God, he answered our prayers.

Your portrayal of Savitribai was lauded by the audience and critics. What’s been the best compliment?
The fact that people stayed back till the end titles were rolling. That was the biggest one I got, without anybody saying a single word. The nicest one on the other hand was when the audience in a multiplex stood up at the end and said ‘Bharat Mata Ki Jai’. I loved the fact that I was in a film that got that reaction.

Your husband also produced the film. How different is Ajay the husband from Ajay the co-star and producer?
(laughs) I know all three versions of him, and I married all three of them. He’s not too different from how I imagined him to be. All three versions of him were created in front of me. We’ve been married for 20 years, which is a long time.

One of your most popular films, My Name Is Khan, marks 10 years of it’s release today. How important a film would you call it in your filmography?
I’ve never done films for my resume. I had a great time doing this film. I remember the moment Karan (Johar; director) narrated the script to me, and both of us were sitting and discussing it at my house. ‘We’re going to do this, go here, this is what the film eventually will look like’ — we were straightaway thinking about all this. So, I have many precious memories.

Karan has always joked that you falling down on his film’s sets is lucky for him…
(cuts in) And it happened with this one, too, and nobody came forward to help me, because as I fell down, everyone was laughing and congratulating each other. I was sitting on the steps all by myself after falling down, and after five minutes, Mickey (Contractor, make-up artist) was like ‘Baby, I’ll help you’. I said, ‘Don’t you think that it’s nasty, that for five minutes you all were clapping your hands while I fell down on my butt?’

The film was so unlike the previous films you, Karan and Shah Rukh Khan had done. Were there apprehensions in that sense?
Not at all, all three of us think the same in a weird way, and we get down to it, and didn’t think our viewpoints differed too much. Karan is so good at telling us what he wants done. We’re all on the same page when we get down to work.

(clockwise): Priyanka Chopra and Nick Jonas; On the guestlist: Mukesh Ambani and daughter Isha; Nita Ambani; Shloka Mehta and Akash Ambani

Nayandeep Rakshit (DNA; December 2, 2018)

After a whirlwind romance, Nick Jonas and Priyanka Chopra are now man and wife. They had a Christian wedding yesterday afternoon. A source says, “Nick’s father, Paul Kevin Jonas Sr, officiated the ceremony, as per Christian norms. PC looked resplendent in a Ralph Lauren gown for the occasion and walked on a bed of flowers before saying ‘I do’. Nickyanka’s family members recreated their first date, in the latter half of the day.”

Keeping in sync with the theme of the nuptials, the Umaid Bhawan Palace in Jodhpur was decked up in white. “While the sangeet and mehendi ceremonies were on, the organisers had called for over 50 kilos of white flowers for the Christian wedding. Their family and friends raised a toast to them after the groom kissed the bride in front of everyone amidst loud cheers. PC’s mom Madhu, brother Siddharth and cousin Parineeti had some wonderful things to say post the wedding. Nick’s parents and brothers also shared some secrets about the pop singer-songwriter that left everyone in splits.” The contingent then celebrated PC and Nick’s union with a cocktail dinner.

PC-Nick will tie the knot once again today afternoon in a traditional Hindu ceremony at the palace’s Baradari Lawns. While reports have suggested that Priyanka will sport a stylish red ensemble by designer duo Abu Jani-Sandeep Khosla for her Hindu wedding ceremony, the presence of Sabyasachi Mukherjee at the nuptials has led to speculation that she may actually sport a traditional outfit designed by the latter. The white floral decorations will be replaced with colourful blooms that have been brought in from different parts of Jodhpur. The mandap will be around 40-feet high with the Mehrangarh Fort as the backdrop. The newly-married jodi will host a lavish party tonight for the guests and will fly to Delhi tomorrow for the first reception, which is scheduled on Tuesday evening.

A WELCOME KIT AND AN NDA
Security has been beefed up at the heritage hotel for Nick and PC’s shaadi. Nita, Isha, Anant and Mukesh Ambani along with Reshma Merchant (Anant’s friend) arrived in Jodhpur on Friday.

Meanwhile, Akash Ambani and fiancée Shloka Mehta along with to-be brother-in-law Anand Piramal landed in the Blue City on Saturday. Each guest arriving at the venue has to show their invitation card to get access to the hotel . Our source added, “They were welcomed amidst the traditional dhol and shehnai with a Rajasthani folk dance performance (kalbelia) and a welcome drink (a glass of champagne), followed by a kit that the lovebirds had arranged. It included the entire itinerary along with a wedding brief for their guests to understand the ceremonies that they were getting ready to witness. The couple handed guests a box of treats (that included Indian spices and eatables) along with a guide that had detailed information about the city and more. As per the Indian custom, they have also gifted them silver coins with the images of Goddess Lakshmi and Lord Ganesha. A wishing well has also been set up where the attendees can hang their greetings.” Nick and Priyanka’s initials (NP) have been installed at various places at the venue. None of the guests were aware about the functions before heading to Jodhpur as the hosts had maintained secrecy. To ensure that they don’t face any inconvenience in buying Indian attire at the last moment, pop-up stalls featuring the creations of Punit Balana and Abu Jani Sandeep Khosla were set up.

Buzz is that Nickyanka have struck a huge deal with a leading magazine and sold the rights to their wedding pictures at a whopping $2.5 million (around Rs 18 crore), which is why they don’t want any images to be out on social media. We contacted make-up artist Mickey Contractor, who refused to share any information. “I’ve just reached the hotel. I can’t say anything. We have all signed an NDA (Non-Disclosure Agreement),” he said before disconnecting the call.

FUN AND GAMES DURING MEHENDI
Many family members arrived with the couple on Thursday, whereas their guests including friends and other relatives started coming in only on Friday afternoon. One of the invitees informed, “Madhu Chopra got emotional during the mehendi. Priyanka looked pretty in a pink-and-yellow lehenga for the ceremony. Mehendi Hai Rachne Wali (Zubeidaa, 2001) played in the background as she reached the venue. Nick made a dhamakedaar entry wearing a silver kurta, on Sukhbir’s popular Punjabi chartbuster Tare Gin Gin. Priyanka got an elaborate mehendi done on her hands and feet, and later, the family even asked Nick to find the couple’s initials in it, which he managed to do.”

Apart from the mehendi, the team had planned some fun games, too. “It was Chopra vs Jonas — a battle royal between the two families. Parineeti hosted the event and there were several games lined up including cricket,” adds our informer.

BAND, BAAJA, SANGEET
While the mehendi was held on Friday morning, the gang was ready to rock the sangeet in the evening. “The theme was black, gold and silver, so everyone turned up in their shiniest best. The functions kicked off with a group of Rajasthani dancers performing their traditional dance form for the guests. Post that, Nickyanka walked in together and were seated on a pedestal, like a king and queen. Along with Priyanka, Nick’s mother Denise Miller-Jonas, to-be sister-in-law Sophie Turner and the ladies from his immediate family, sported saris. Nick donned a bandhgala and the men from his side also opted for Indian wear.”

The evening featured several performances from both the families narrating the couple’s love story. “Nick had prepared an entire act on his beloved’s chartbuster tracks including Tune Maari Entriyaan and Gallan Goodiyan. PC took to the stage to groove to Desi Girl. Mommy Madhu and sister Parineeti also joined her later for another song. The Jonas’ too weren’t behind. The family put up a stunning act for the couple.”

A VARIETY OF FOOD ITEMS
The hosts have ensured that the guests get a taste of various cuisines during the ceremonies. “There was a mix of Indian, Rajasthani and Mughlai dishes at the table. There was Chinese and continental food, too. For the western wedding and dinner, chefs were flown down from Goa. There were several coastal delicacies on the platter, along with Indian and continental fare. While the dishes kept changing, one thing remained the same — the food was served in silverware,” our source tells us.


(clockwise): Priyanka Chopra and Nick Jonas; Umaid Bhawan Palace decked up for PC-Nick wedding; and The couple’s kits for their guests

Renuka Vyavahare (BOMBAY TIMES; May 13, 2018)

One of the finest young actors of today, Alia Bhatt’s fearlessness isn’t limited to the screen. At 25, she is fiercely objective and individualistic about her opinions and life choices, a trait that’s visible in her choice of films, too. Like her outspoken parents — Soni Razdan and Mahesh Bhatt — you admire her urge to express herself earnestly. In Meghna Gulzar’s Raazi (produced by Junglee Pictures and Dharma Productions), which has opened to rave reviews, Alia is seen on the screen for the first time with her mom Soni, an accomplished theatre and film actor. On Mother’s Day, BT caught up with the mother-daughter duo to talk about their real-life camaraderie, representation of women in Bollywood today and sharing screen space for the first time in this real story on an unusual spy. Excerpts...

You play mother-daughter in Raazi.Did your off-screen relationship help you portray your roles better? How was it being co-stars for the first time?
Soni: I was so focussed on my role that I didn’t really bother about what she was doing on the set (laughs!). I am very professional and Alia is a lot like me, so we didn’t think of us being mother and daughter on set. Having said that, it helped me to have her around — all the emotions came naturally to me because of that.
Alia: Barring the first day, I didn’t really think that I was working with my mom in a film. Also, as far as her career is concerned, I believe that it’s going to restart now. I am already sensing a certain excitement about her in the industry. It’s like, ‘Oh, she is still interested in acting’. I think she will be busier than me in a few years and I will have to wait for her dates (smiles).

Talking about Raazi, there’s a bidaai track — Dilbaro— in the movie. The song has been shot so realistically, did it compel you to think about Alia’s real-life shaadi? Today’s actresses have become game-changers. Many of them have balanced their marriage and career beautifully
Soni: I don’t believe that marriage stops you from doing other things in life, but it has its own challenges. So, I feel that Alia needs at least five years before she settles down. Actually not ‘settle’ per se, you should keep going. This profession is so demanding, I feel that you need to take your time before making the decision.
Alia (cuts in): I don’t like to put numbers to life. It all depends on the timing — right person, right time, right feeling. When I feel I have found the right person who makes me feel, ‘This is it’, I will do it.

Soni, you are an accomplished actress in your own right. So, how does it feel to be known as ‘Alia Bhatt’s mom’ today? On the other hand, Alia, from being known as Mahesh Bhatt and Soni Razdan’s daughter, you’ve created an identity for yourself. You must be proud of what you’ve been able to achieve in a relatively short span of time…
Soni: Now I have a new claim to fame. Wherever I go, people say, ‘Alia Bhatt ki mummy aayi hai’. Chalo, I have suddenly become important and that’s fine. I am very happy to hear that, actually (smiles).
Alia: I will always be their daughter first, but yes, I am happy that whatever I had hoped for has happened so fast. That’s why I didn’t start off my career by doing a film for my father. I was 16 when I met Karan. The minute my mom realised Karan (Johar) was interested (in launching me), she knew that it was safe territory. I give her a lot of credit for making the right decisions for me when I was a kid.

Soni, at 25, Alia is one of the highest paid actresses in India. Do you two still have those typical mother-daughter banters on late nights, savings and relationships?
Alia: I will answer that! We don’t even live together anymore, but mom still calls me to say, ‘I hope you are going home straight after this (an event).’ We have a family instant messaging group and that’s very entertaining. About money, I have asked my parents to deal with it as it stresses me out. If I get calls from banks, I get more confused. Like mathematics, I just don’t get money handling. It’s one of my pet peeves.
Soni: I have a ‘find your friends’ app on my phone and both my daughters (Shaheen and Alia) are on it. I am not saying that I am a detective mom, but once in a while, I keep checking on them. I know that it’s exhausting to constantly explain where you are and what you are doing, so I don’t ask her too many questions every day.

Soni, many feel that Alia has achieved too much too soon as far as her career is concerned. What are your views on it?
Soni: It’s all relative. She may not have faced the struggles that I did, but it’s tough to be where she is today and to live up to so many expectations. I know that people will say, ‘I’d love to have her kind of struggle with all that money in my bank’. But you cannot understand the pressures of this job until you are in it. When she was younger, it was stressful for her to follow a strict diet and things like that — it would play havoc with her emotional state. Media plays an important role, too. The feedback you get before a film release can be very intimidating.
Alia: I feel that as human beings, even if we don’t have problems, we will still find problems to fuss about. It’s solving them that give us true happiness. I might not have the problems of an average 25-year-old girl, but I have other problems that I struggle with on a daily basis. Those who are not part of this industry, might not be able to relate to it, but those who do understand, let me be.

Soni, you started off in the late ‘70s, when Bollywood’s leading ladies had a certain image, and you didn’t necessarily fit into that mould. Do you think actresses of today, including Alia, are fortunate, as the industry is less rigid now?
Absolutely! I am happy that Alia has entered an industry, which is ready for her in terms of physicality, roles and mindset. I was a complete anomaly in this business. I didn’t fit into the Hema Malini-Zeenat Aman commercial cinema mould, neither the Shabana Azmi-Smita Patil art cinema mould. It was a miracle that I became an actress. I survived because of hard work and perseverance. Jo bhi mila, le liya... I probably marketed myself all wrong. I had exotic looks, I should have done those glamorous roles that exuded oomph. But in my head, I was always an actress first. I didn’t want to be a sex symbol. That was perhaps my mistake, but you can’t really change who you are.

From the outside, Alia doesn’t seem like a typical selfie-obsessed 25-year-old. How would you describe your daughter?
Soni: She is in no way a typical 25-year-old. She hasn’t been a typical teenager or college-going girl either, she never had the chance. She started working from a very young age. Alia is emotionally intelligent and exudes wisdom beyond her years. Her understanding based on instinct is a quality that is rare.

Alia, what’s the one piece of advice from your mom that has helped you the most in your journey as an actor?
I think she is a fabulous actor. I remember while I was filming Student Of The Year, during one shot, she told me, ‘Sometimes, doing less is more’ and Mickey Contractor (make-up artist) follows the same mantra. That advice really helped me, because sometimes we think, ‘Expression dena hai toh hum aanth expressions ek shot mein de dete hai’. Doing less and not overacting is what I have learnt from my mom.

You have made many brave choices in your career so far. Have you inherited this trait from your parents?
Alia: The film choices are mine, but the mindset is theirs. My father is a walking-talking quote book, so I constantly get advice and direction from him. When you are brought up in a house that allows an individual to voice his/her opinion freely, it shapes your thinking.
Soni: When you have a family that is open to talking about anything, it makes a lot of difference, because you don’t have to hide anything. You don’t have to lead a double life.

Alia, do you think you have taken after your mother?
Alia: My mom and I are similar in a lot of ways. We have a certain objectivity when looking at things, as that’s the way we have been brought up.
Soni: It’s not just parents who bring up their children, children bring up their parents, too. At some point, there’s a role reversal. They are the younger generation. They have their ideas and that rubs off on you, which is interesting.

The actress is set to appear on an episodic show with longtime friend, Mickey Contractor, as they embark on a no-holds-barred trip down memory lane
Sanyukta Iyer (MUMBAI MIRROR; August 17, 2016)

Sonali Joshi Pitale (MID-DAY; July 24, 2014)

When Kajol attended Vogue Beauty Awards 2014 on Tuesday night, onlookers were surprised to see the bubbly actress suddenly break down after making her red carpet appearance. An onlooker says, “Kajol was in a very jovial mood as she posed for the cameras. She walked in alone for the event and post her red carpet entry, she met a fellow actress.”

Soon after she saw noted makeup artiste Mickey Contractor and she rushed towards him. “Kajol knows Mickey for years now; they worked together in her debut film Bekhudi and since then, he has been a close friend of hers. He has done some of her non-film assignments as well, so she was very happy to meet him after a long time. In fact, she broke into tears as they caught up with each other,” says a source.

It turns out that nobody knows the exact reason why she started crying at the event, but an onlooker says that the actress must have become emotional after having a long conversation with Mickey Contractor. “Tears started rolling down her eyes even before she could realized it. In fact, some people were shocked to see her in this state but they later realised that nothing really had gone wrong. But she cried for a few minutes and then regained her composure. They spoke to each other for some more time and then sat through the awards ceremony.”

Kajol was unavailable for comment.