Showing posts with label Mithya. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Mithya. Show all posts
Neha Dhupia on 52 Blue: "It took a filmmaker from Egypt to see me like this"
9:08 AM
Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; July 13, 2026)
A day after the London premiere of 52 Blue, Neha Dhupia is still processing what she experienced. The actor, who stars in Egyptian filmmaker Ali El Arabi's international feature, says the biggest change isn't what the film might do for her career, but how it has changed the way she sees herself. "I would've accepted everyone's congratulations until yesterday," she says with a laugh.
"But the difference between speaking to you yesterday and today is that I've now seen the film. I'm genuinely proud because it's one of those films that adds something to your body of work. Every film has its own fate, I don't know where this one will go, but there's a dialogue my character Lakshmi says: 'Everything you do and everyone you meet is pushing you in a direction you're meant to be in.' That's exactly how I feel about this film."
What drew her to 52 Blue wasn't the prospect of an international project, but the opportunity to play someone she hadn't been allowed to play for years. "When they first called and told me about this woman from Kerala who's carrying so much emotional weight and eventually ends up living on an island, I was convinced I wasn't going to get the part. You fight for roles like these at the beginning of your career, and then somewhere along the way you stop expecting them."
The irony, she admits, isn't lost on her. "It took a filmmaker from Egypt to notice that he could see me like this. At one point, even I had forgotten that I could see myself like this. You start believing you have range, but then you slowly surrender to the box people put you in. I had opened one side of that box through films like Mithya and A Thursday, but after a point the rules become the same. That's why it's so special when somebody else's belief in you helps you rediscover yourself."
Her first meeting with Ali El Arabi happened over Zoom, but the director's instinctive reading of her stayed with her long after. "He told me, 'When I look at you, I feel like you've been through a lot. Your eyes tell me you're strong, but somewhere you haven't given up'. That's not something people usually tell you the first time they meet you. He also felt becoming a mother had given me something this character needed. Honestly, if this film had come to me before I had children, I don't think I would've been able to play Lakshmi the same way."
Years ago, Dhupia says, she actively chased the idea of crossing over into international cinema. "When I was younger, I really craved that crossover. Now, if this film opens doors internationally, wonderful. But even if it simply leads to more interesting work here, I'll be equally happy."
The biggest validation, she says, came immediately after the London screening. "Prakash Jha was in the audience yesterday. After the film, he came up to me, patted me on the back and said something that stayed with me. Sometimes all you need is for filmmakers to suddenly notice something in you that they hadn't seen before. Even that is enough."
Watching herself on a giant screen also became an exercise in confronting vulnerability. "This film made me braver than I've ever been. There's no makeup, no vanity, nothing to hide behind. You're completely exposed. I didn't think I was brave enough to do something like this. If I can be this raw and still feel proud of what I've done, then I know I can do so much more. I've always wanted to do a sports biopic because I've always been athletic. Maybe I'm older now, but then again, not every sports story is about an athlete at their peak. Some of the most interesting stories happen afterwards."
Despite working across films, television, OTT and podcasts over two decades, Dhupia admits she still feels her versatility hasn't translated into the kind of opportunities she craves.
"I don't value my versatility enough myself," she says candidly. "Maybe after conversations like this I'll feel good for twenty minutes. Then someone will call to negotiate a fee and I'll go back to being an earnest worker who's grateful to have work. I've been in this industry for over two decades. I'm grateful that people know who I am wherever I go. But I genuinely wish my body of work was much wider than it already is. Sometimes I see a filmmaker's work and think, 'I'd love to do something like that.' Then later I hear they never even thought of me. That's the part that still hurts."
I don’t believe in ‘angry’ feminism-Huma Qureshi
10:54 PM
Ancela Jamindar (BOMBAY TIMES; May 1, 2026)
An actress who consistently prioritises substance over stereotypes, Huma Qureshi is as compelling in conversation as she is on screen. From redefining feminine archetypes to championing authentic empowerment, her perspective serves as a mirror to the evolving consciousness of the modern woman. During a recent visit to Ahmedabad for an event, Huma spoke at length about the complexities of womanhood, the fallacy of "angry" feminism, and why she refuses to be pigeonholed.
‘To do the tried and tested (on screen) is boring’
Huma’s career trajectory has been defined by a refusal to follow the "tried and tested" path, which she dismisses as "dead and boring". People are always ready to put you in a box. I always say, ‘Give me something you think I haven’t done, and I’m going to do the character differently and prove you wrong.”
Huma says, “Today, audiences are very smart, and we must respect their intelligence by giving them something they can truly engage with. As an actor, I would get bored doing the same thing repeatedly. My pact with my audience is to bring them something new every single time.”
Huma, who’s played layered, complex titular characters on OTT, admits that “Essaying intense roles like Rani Bharti in Maharani, Juhi Adhikari in Mithya, or dark, manipulative antagonists Badi Didi in Delhi Crime 3and Monica Machado in Monica O My Darling, which resonated with the audience, were deeply satisfying and enriching experiences. These shows also let me experiment with intense, dark and morally ambivalent characters who were not just cardboard cutouts as leads or even the antagonist.”
She adds, “Maharani really challenged me as a performer, and I want to bring the success I’ve had with Maharani on OTT to single-screen theatres as well. I want to be part of the kind of work that brings audiences back to cinemas.” Ask Huma what else lies ahead professionally, a genre she has yet to conquer, her answer is immediate: “Action.”
‘Morally grey female characters are accepted’
Reflecting on the industry's shift, Huma admits that she’s “excited” about the “acceptance of morally grey and complex female characters, probably because they are more real and relatable. There is space for far more nuanced portrayals and an audience as well”.
She says that the "damsel in distress or the one-dimensional vamp are relics of a time when cinema failed to represent real women. Audiences were always ready for layered stories," she says, adding, “The fault was simply that we weren’t consistently representing the reality of women on screen.”
'I am not an angry feminist; we need to move beyond constant comparisons'
Huma feels there’s an invisible weight often placed on women’s shoulders, and societal expectations can be a heavy mantle to carry. “It’s exhausting that women are often made to feel responsible for everything—the family’s honour, its dignity, and so much more,” she says.
For Huma, feminism isn't a battle of the sexes. “I don’t believe in ‘angry’ feminism," she says. "The idea is not to be against men; the real issue is patriarchy—a system sustained by men and women. We need to move beyond constant comparison."
She credits her own confidence to the secure men in her life, specifically her father and brother, saying that their “support allowed her the freedom to own her journey, mistakes and all. I believe that behind every successful woman, there are also secure and supportive men."
On her connection with Ahmedabad
Huma’s connection with Ahmedabad runs deep, fuelled by film shoots and a close circle of friends and not just promotional tours.
She says, “I love Ahmedabad. I think it's the best city ever. I get so much love here. I've visited Ahmedabad not just for promotional tours; I have shot movies here, and I have a lot of friends here. My connection with this city is beautiful. I haven’t been able to travel around much, though I have been here many times, but someday I would really like to explore it as a tourist.”
I told the director, ‘This is bad casting; If I’m in that scene, I will punch the goons’-Huma Qureshi
8:33 AM
Be it reworking a dialogue in Mithya to assert a woman’s individuality or rejecting a film that depicted her as a damsel in distress, Huma Qureshi on ensuring her roles always have agency
Priyanka Sharma (MID-DAY; October 29, 2024)
A sports presenter in Double XL (2022), a politician in Maharani, and a chef in Tarla (2023). Glance through Huma Qureshi’s recent work and you’ll notice that her characters’ professions are at the centre of the stories. It stands true for her upcoming projects too. While in Gulabi, she plays a rickshaw driver, she is a detective in director Bikas Mishra’s thriller Bayaan. “I fight for my characters to have identity, I demand it,” she says when we mention this to her.
Portraying a role that is designed to further the male protagonist’s track is of little interest to her. Instead, Qureshi will consciously pick characters whose lives are separate from the men in the stories. A case in point being Mithya, in which she essays a professor.
“It’s a conscious choice. For instance, in the first season, my character has a months-old son and she has written a book. In a scene, she is supposed to deliver a speech about the book. The lines that came to me made me upset. [They conveyed] how happy she is that she has written this book for her son. I told the writer, ‘If a man wrote this book, he would not attribute it to his children; he’d talk about what the book meant to him. But the moment you have even a month-old baby, everything becomes about the child for a woman. That’s the lens we put on women all the time. I resent that.’ The writer agreed it was a collective mistake and should be rectified.”
As she awaits the second season of the ZEE5 series, the actor says that while choosing projects, her criteria are clear. To her, screen time doesn’t matter. “I always look for parts that have agency. Length doesn’t matter.” Qureshi has applied this mantra throughout her 12-year career. So much so that she turned down an opportunity to work with a filmmaker she admired, as the female character in the movie was depicted as a damsel in distress.
She recounts, “This film was with a big star. But there was a scene where the goons are beating up the hero, while I am crying and asking them to spare him. I told the director, ‘I want to work with you and the hero. But this is bad casting! If I’m in that scene, I will dole out one or two punches to the goons.’ The director laughed and said we’ll work on something else.’”
When Vicky Donor came out, I’d tell people this is my story-Naveen Kasturia
7:55 AM
Niharika Lal (DELHI TIMES; October 13, 2024)
“People have this perception that Delhiites are like Chucha (from Fukrey); they are all loud. But Oye Lucky! Lucky Oye is also Delhi, Vicky Donor is also Delhi,” says Naveen Kasturia, while discussing the image and reputation of the city.
Even if critics felt he doesn’t quite look like a typical Delhi guy, he’ll tell you there is no one format for Dilli ka ladka. In conversation with us, Naveen speaks about his hometown, his popular roles, and how he fell in love with Delhi again.
‘WHEN VICKY DONOR CAME OUT, I’D TELL PEOPLE THAT THIS IS MY STORY’
Naveen grew up in Lajpat Nagar and before moving to Bombay 16 years ago. “Main pura Lajpat Nagar Amar Colony ka product hoon. In fact, when Vicky Donor came out, I’d tell people this is my story. He was from Lajpat Nagar, so am I. Usmein mujhe flaw bhi dikhta tha – woh (Ayushmann’s character) Lajpat se metro leta tha, but people from there use the Moolchand metro station.”
‘Khosla Ka Ghosla represents Delhi’
Naveen says he’s always told that he doesn’t look like he is from Delhi. He says, “I did a film called Sulemani Keeda in which two characters are trying to make it big in Bollywood. Uske ek review mein likha tha, ‘Arey ye Dilli ke bane hue hain ladke, ye Dilli ke toh lagte nahi.’ Ab main Dilli ka hoon aur Dilli ke ladke ka role kar raha hoon, I’m playing myself in a way!”
He adds, “Mere liye badi inspiring film thi Khosla Ka Ghosla. Usmein Khosla sahab ke jo do ladke hain Bunty (played by Ranveer Shourie) aur Chiraunjilal (Parvin Dabas) dono alag hain. That film represents Delhi, I feel.”
‘I find central Delhi very pretty in mornings’
In the last few years, the actor fell in love with Delhi again. He shares, “I think I was shooting for Aspirants, and I’d shoot in central Delhi early in the morning, around 6 am, and I’d find the city very pretty. Main uss waqt wahan jata tha toh mujhe aisi feeling aati thi ki mujhe desh ke liye kuch karna hai. Main roz uss DM ke kirdar mein ghusta tha, waise kapde pehenta tha. At that time I started thinking about doing a job where I could contribute to the country. Maine ek dost se baat ki aur usne kaha, ‘Iss umr mein tu defence mein ja sakta hai kisi tareeqe se, lekin IAS toh ab tu nahi ban sakta.”
‘I really want to do roles set in different worlds’
Talking about the roles he gets, he says, “Sometimes I’ve been slotted into the role of a common guy trying to achieve something, but I really want to do roles set in different worlds. Only when people see me in diverse roles and settings will they start thinking of me in different parts. That’s why I was so happy when I got Breathe and Mithya. I did a role in the second season of Mithya because I really liked the character and the world in which it is set. It’s a really complex part. We shot most of the scenes in Darjeeling. Mithya ke baad Rajit Kapur mere favourite co-actor ban gaye hain. Jab aap manjhe huye actor ke saath kaam karte hain, toh kai baar aap woh cheezein kar jaate hain jo aapne sochi bhi nahi hoti hain.”
I don’t remember the last film that had a damsel in distress-Avantika Dassani
8:19 AM
Rishabh Suri (HINDUSTAN TIMES; April 25, 2022)
After bucking the trend by not making her debut with a typical Bollywood masala film, actor Avantika Dassani has chosen a non-Hindi project — a Telugu film — as her second outing. “I take my time to choose different roles, and I am very happy about the response to my web debut, Mithya,” says Dassani, the daughter of actor Bhagyashree, who adds that it is too early to talk about her next as she is “still shooting” for it.
The one thing common between her debut series and the upcoming project is her roles aren’t the damsel in distress stereotype. “I don’t even remember the last film [I saw] that had dancing around the trees or a damsel in distress,” she notes.
The 27-year-old further tells us that she didn’t succumb to the pressure of taking up a Hindi film because she’s trying to keep her ear to the ground. “I want to see what’s working. I am open to everything. I am only picky about the story, characters and people I work with... As an actor, I don’t want to limit myself to anything. All experiences are welcome,” she ends.
Comedy is under represented on OTT in India-Rohan Sippy
8:14 AM
Rishabh Suri (HINDUSTAN TIMES; March 11, 2022)
Filmmaker Rohan Sippy is quite active on OTT. After the Raveena Tandon-starrer Aranyak and Mithya with Huma S Qureshi, he has a comedy show in the pipeline next. Sippy admits that the digital format is his focus now.
“OTT is something I have been working in for the last four-five years. I don’t think that will change. The scenario for films to release theatrically was uncertain until now due to Coronavirus. Some even released directly on web platforms,” he says.
The 51-year-old adds, “For me, there’s definitely more likelihood that OTT is where I will be spending more time working.”
He points out that while variety is the second name of web, there are certain genres that get neglected despite their popularity. Sippy says, “Comedy is so under-represented on OTT. If you turn these platforms on, half of the trending shows will be sitcoms like Seinfeld, The Big Bang Theory, etc. It is such a huge part of consumption. It is likely to be the trend.”
In fact, the filmmaker is of the opinion that comedy is probably the genre with the most repeat value. “People might not see a mystery or thriller multiple times, but I know people who watched Indian or overseas comedy shows 10 times, almost 100 episodes. Comedy has that kind of shelf life,” he asserts.
Talking about his future projects, he shares that he has collaborated with Aranyak writer Charudutt Acharya for the comedy show. “It will be a bit more humorous family drama. I have a couple of directing assignments as well, but I can’t talk in advance. They will be of different genres,” Sippy concludes.
Before Mithya released, it was ‘Bhagyashree’s daughter’, but all the reviews had my name in the title-Avantika Dassani
8:13 AM
Avantika Dassani on the drive to live up to her family’s legacy
Rishabh Suri (HINDUSTAN TIMES; March 11, 2022)
After making her acting debut with Mithya, where she shared screen space with actor Huma S Qureshi, Avantika Dassani feels it’s inevitable to feel some pressure of hailing from a film background. The daughter of actor Bhagyashree says, “I am not going to say there is no pressure. I want to do it exactly the way my mother or brother (actor Abhimanyu Dassani) did on their own.”
Ask her if being referred to as someone’s daughter or sister gets to her, and she says, “Before the show released, it was ‘Bhagyashree’s daughter’, but all the reviews had my name in the title. So that was nice. Obviously, she is my mother, Abhimanyu is my brother, and I am very proud of them. I am more than happy to be referred to as her daughter and his sister. But I am here to make my name, my identity with my work, and make both of them proud as well.”
In fact, the 27-year-old believes it further motivates her to carve her own path. “They came out with their own decisions and the choices have paid off for them. If there’s something to learn from them, it is the ability to make strong choices which resonate with who I am,” shares Dassani.
Elated with the response her first acting stint fetched her, the actor says it’s an amazing feeling to be appreciated. “The show had such a great cast and crew... I knew it was going to be good when I read the script. The response was just overwhelming,” she ends.
I don’t think the baggage of being a star kid affects you as an artiste-Avantika Dassani
8:13 AM
Making her acting debut with Mithya, Bhagyashree’s daughter Avantika Dassani on landing the web series on her merit
Uma Ramasubramanian (MID-DAY; February 11, 2022)
Where Bhagyashree made her comeback with a supporting role in Thalaivii last year, her actor-son Abhimanyu Dassani is making his presence felt, one film at a time. Now, following in their footsteps, Bhagyashree’s daughter Avantika Dassani is making her acting debut with Mithya.
At a time when the nepotism debate has highlighted star kids’ easy access to the industry, Avantika insists she landed the show after several rounds of auditions. “I was auditioning for this role just as other actors do. When I told my mom that I got the project, she looked up at me and asked, ‘Which one?’ [Since] I had auditioned for a couple of other projects, she didn’t know which one I had bagged,” says the actor.
She firmly believes that the advantages or pitfalls of being a star kid fall to the wayside when one is facing the camera. “I don’t think the baggage [of being a star kid] affects you as an [artiste]. On set, you are the actor [regardless of your background]. Whether you’re a star kid or a newcomer gets sidelined as long as you stay focused.”
The ZEE5 series sees Avantika as a student who is accused of plagiarism by her professor, essayed by Huma Qureshi. What begins as a matter of academic deception soon snowballs into a mind game between the two. Even as she is proud to have bagged a venture on her merit, the actor admits her family was initially apprehensive about her foray into the industry.
“I am an emotional and sensitive person. Any protective family would be concerned, since this line of work has so many ups and downs, and one has to take criticism [on the chin]. But when you are passionate about [your craft], everything takes a backseat. My family saw I wouldn’t be happy if I wasn’t doing this. From then on, they have been encouraging.”
I welcomed getting older with open arms-Neha Dhupia
7:53 AM
Chaya Unnikrishnan (DNA; February 1, 2018)
She is one actress who has mastered the art of reinvention. She may be getting older, but she has found a way to not only stay connected with the masses through cinema but has also become relevant to the youth, thanks to her TV outings. We are talking about Neha Dhupia who made her debut as a glamorous heroine in 2003 with Qayamat and soon got tagged as a sex siren with Julie. But she managed to shed the image by playing significant parts in small-budget films like Mithya, Phas Gaye Re Obama and Moh Money Maya. Today, she has impressed everyone with her acting prowess in content-driven movies such as Tumhari Sulu and Qarib Qarib Singlle. In a freewheeling interview, Neha talks about embracing age, playing good roles and keeping up with the times.
You grabbed attention 15 years ago with your bold roles and now have emerged as the go-to actress for strong supporting roles. How did the metamorphosis come about?
I welcomed getting older with open arms. I didn’t shy away from it. I kind of have goosebumps saying this because I have never said this before, but even I wonder what happened. I’m not being immodest but am saying this with a lot of gratitude. When I came into the industry, a lot of people said, ‘You’ll be done in four-five years, what will you do after that’? I was working towards being an IAS officer, I was raised believing I would serve the country. Then, I got into movies and I kind of started believing people around me, that my stint would only last for five years. Then I thought to myself, we can change that. Times are changing as people are looking at good content. Everything doesn’t have to be about others’ idea of what it is supposed to be. Everyone is doing so many different things, looking at different role models. My role model is Karan (Johar), he does everything including making films! He is the cultural export, the first face of Indian cinema. He is seen everywhere from award shows to world economic forums.
What really changed was the way I look, the skills that I have, and me getting older in the business. The one thing it taught me is to hustle every day. My biggest strength is I’m not a lazy person. My mind ticks like a time bomb. It’s a combination of getting older, being a little restless, understanding what the audience wants and knowing where you stand. People are not coming to me with lead roles, but good parts. It will be stupid if I think, it’s not the lead, why should I do it? I’m not that person. My decisions are based on instinct.
After films like Qayamat, Julie, etc there was a phase when you did small-budget cinema with the likes of Rajat Kapoor and Ranvir Shorey. What changed for you?
Everything, personal or professional, is like a pack of biscuits that comes with an expiry date. I emerged in a bikini from the water when I started off in Qayamat. I did Julie, in which I had an author-backed role. But what happened with that was it gave me a certain image. Now, either I am happy that I have an image — sometimes it takes a lifetime — you do interesting work but you don’t have an image. I had one and I was playing on that. But then I realised this image is going too far, I needed to change that. So, I took two steps back. I did not take up any work. One day, I met Rajat Kapoor in the gym. He said, ‘I have been looking for you for almost a year now, where were you?’ It was a random run-in and he told me, ‘I will call you in two months once my script is ready’. In April 2006, he met me and gave me the script of Mithya. He said he wanted me to play the part of Sonam. That was it, and I ended up doing five-six films with all of them — movies like Ek Chaalis Ki Last Local, Raat Gayi Baat Gayi, Phas Gaye Re Obama up to Moh Maya Money. I thought Moh Maya Money was a great film, but it didn’t work at the box office. That’s when I realised it’s time to reinvent myself. I thought I’m older so I need to crack the youth market.
Is that how Roadies happened?
Yes. I got this show and I decided to take it up as the youth are the most discerning audience. To win them over — I knew I won’t be doing Student Of The Year anytime in my life — so Roadies was a great way to get into the youth audience. After that I opened my production house with NoFilterNeha and did two seasons which led to BFFs with Vogue.
What is exciting about hosting BFFs with Vogue?
I always consider myself a rank outsider, I am not from the business, so for someone like me just to wake up and do work that I love is the most exciting thing. I like being in conversation — it’s like asking a cricketer to do cricket commentary. Listening to people and hearing their stories is something that I genuinely enjoy. It comes organically, it is not forced. The other exciting part are the guests. I know most of them like Karan and Shweta (Bachchan) Nanda and while talking to them at one point, I forgot the camera. I just sat on the lounge and chilled with them. But there are some celebrities like Juhi Chawla, Radhika Apte and Rani Mukerji, who I have been a fan of, but hadn’t met, and it was great interacting with them. Also, I don’t see many women, especially of my age, hosting a talk show. Usually the talk show hosts are much older and a little bit of overachievers which is a pre-requisite. I don’t fit into that category. So for me to be able to host such a show is flattering.
Will you be working on the third season of #NoFilterNeha?
I don’t know yet, but I am hoping for it. I remember I was in a coffee shop and talking to my writer about doing something interesting. I have so many live sessions with friends from the industry discussing all the madness we went through. I thought this needs to be out in the open. I met Rishi Malhotra (he owns a digital streaming service) who said that I have a good sense of humour, which people don’t know about, and I need to have my own talk show. That’s how NoFilterNeha came about.
Was it easier for you to get celebrities on your show?
It’s never easy to get celebs. But I must say the first one was easier than the second. After the first season, celebrities who had seen it were like, ‘Hope we are not invited as there are tricky questions’. But trust me they are all brighter than me. They know how to swerve around them. Season 2 was more interesting as we used a different way of doing it and were fortunate enough to not repeat the guests. Everyone who was on my wishlist on season 1 and season 2 has appeared. If I have a third season, I definitely want Shah Rukh Khan to come because I want to have a conversation with that man on record.
Talking about Shah Rukh Khan, you once made a statement, ‘Only SRK or sex sells in cinema’. Would you say the same now?
I think a lot of things are changing, but that still doesn’t take away from the fact that SRK and sex sell!
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