With the recent spate of biopics, Mirror investigates whether Indian filmmakers can strike the balance between fact and fiction
Kunal Guha (MUMBAI MIRROR; August 26, 2018)

While directing Pandit Bhimsen Joshi, a 1992 documentary on the maestro’s life, filmmaker Gulzar quizzed him on his relationship with his stepmother. This was to also understand why the renowned vocalist fled home at an early age. “He told me, ‘Woh meri roti mein ghee kam dalti thi. But I only needed an excuse to run away because I wanted to learn music and not go to school’,” says Gulzar, adding that if he had misrepresented this chapter from Joshi’s life on celluloid in order to heighten the drama, it would not have been entirely honest. “If I had made that into ‘sauteli maa zulm karti thi’, that would be wrong,” says Gulzar. “The authenticity of such incidents is important. If you try to reconstruct them just to make them emotionally-loaded, gadbad ho jati hain.”

In this season of biopics, this is a glaring pitfall many filmmakers choose to ignore. Sanju, based on actor Sanjay Dutt’s life, is a prime example. Despite raking in a whopping Rs 339.93 crore, the film has been panned for being a PR exercise, which looks at Dutt’s tumultuous life through rose-tinted glasses. Filmmaker Rajkumar Hirani’s protestations that Sanju isn’t a whitewash job, appears to have fallen on deaf ears. Evidently, the constitution of Indian biopics borders on hagiography or a glorified portrayal of a life less ordinary. As sociologist Shiv Viswanathan says, they “theoretically, degenerate between bad history and bad hagiography”. And this unique blend of fact and fiction, with a dash of sparkle dust, renders a compelling narrative of rising above circumstances. Juggling between sensitive tribute and glorified portrayal, biopics have become a box office favourite, and Bollywood biggies are leaning in to translate the lives of everyone — from celebrated astronauts to accidental politicians to controversial writers — onto the big screen. But are they accurate depictions?

Keeping it reel
Most biopics rest on three planks: Biography, myth and folklore. “For a biopic to be successful, myth and history have to reconcile in the narrative. It cannot just be a linear narrative,” says Vishwanathan, adding that “describing Sanjay Dutt as an ordinary, everyday person would result in a boring watch”. But Sanju is not the first biopic to be selective about fact and fiction. Veteran cricket writer Prem Panicker recalls Azhar, based on former Indian skipper Mohammad Azharuddin’s contentious life, as an attempt to clean up his tarnished image. The 2016 film delved into the cricketer’s life and detailed the part when he was banned from First Class cricket on match-fixing charges. “While the film’s climax acknowledges that he took money, it says he did so with the benevolent intention of exposing corruption in the sport. This transmutes it into pure fiction, as it never happened,” says Panicker, adding that Mani Ratnam’s multiple National Award-winner Nayakan (1987), was loosely based on gangster Vardarajan Mudaliar’s life “but it was never endorsed as a biopic”. When one claims to make a biopic, says Panicker, “the liberty of playing around with facts is considerably limited”.


Consensual creative liberty
Shaad Ali, who has directed Soorma, based on hockey player Sandeep Singh’s life, believes that “a filmmaker is allowed to take creative liberties if the subject is kept in the loop. But if you do it without their consent, you may end up with a breach of trust or contract.” That the hockey player was paralysed, waist down, following a freak shooting accident that threatened to end his career, provided Ali with “a readymade dramatic point”, eliminating the need to create one. But he did make minor alterations to fit his narrative. For instance, Singh’s comeback match was in the 2007 Men’s Hockey Champions Challenge, but in the film it is shown as a ‘Commonwealth Championship’. Also, Singh’s onscreen avatar (played by Diljit Dosanjh), is seen scoring three consecutive goals in the decisive final of a tournament that India didn’t even qualify for.

“If you took creative liberties, you wouldn’t be making a biographical film,” says Shyam Benegal, who directed Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose: The Forgotten Hero. While Netaji’s extraordinary life offered enough fodder for Benegal to not have to resort to fictionalisation, the final product didn’t go undisputed. “Quite a few people believe that Netaji hasn’t died, even to this day,” says Benegal, adding that ‘mythifying’ heroes is not unusual in Indian society. “Also, an entire political party refused to accept he was married and insisted he was a Brahmachari. This, despite his daughter being invited to attend various government events.” Clearly, even sticking strictly to facts gleaned from books doesn’t always validate a biopic.

Holding out for heroes
Why one biopic works and another doesn’t, depends on various factors. Shibasish Sarkar, CEO of Reliance Big Entertainment, feels that stories “told in an aspirational manner, do well”. His studio is backing forthcoming biopics such as Super 30 (where Hrithik Roshan will play mathematician Anand Kumar) and Chanakya (with Ajay Devgn playing the strategist). Sarkar thinks Indians have been “raised to follow idols and seek out stories of heroes”. He says: “We aspire to follow in the footsteps of heroes. Many are aware of [former Indian skipper] Dhoni’s success, but not many are aware of his journey to greatness, and that can be a great hook.” Even Krish, maker of the forthcoming Manikarnika: The Queen of Jhansi, feels this is an important factor to determine the success of a biopic. “Everyone knows the story of Lakshmibai, but how many know that her actual name was Manikarnika? People usually know things at a superficial level,” he says. “Everyone knows about Gandhi, but when you watch the movie, you learn so much more about his personality.”

The 39-year-old filmmaker, who is also slated to make NTR (on actor politician N T Rama Rao), feels biopics are often tinged by the larger-than-life aspect of their subjects. “NTR is treated like a prophet in Andhra Pradesh, and you cannot say anything [negative] about him. Everyone knows his story. He is both, a myth and a real person, so a film must reflect that — which means exhaustive research and treading with caution,” says Krish who considers Nag Ashwin’s Mahanati (on the life of actress Savitri) to be the “gold standard” in biopics.


Literary deductions

While working on the 1988 TV series Mirza Ghalib, Gulzar remembers how he managed to recreate the Urdu poet’s personality through his writings — his letters and published works. And Nandita Das, who will make her directorial debut with Manto, on Urdu writer Saadat Hasan Manto, followed a similar perocess. Das believes it is essential to retain the subject’s personality without whitewashing his flaws. “I have made no attempt to put Manto on a pedestal, like most biopics end up doing. He is fallible and full of contradictions, like all of us,” says Das.

But retro-fitting facts to elevate a personal account can actually be a dangerous thing. Panicker feels deliberate ‘lapses’ can be accepted by future generations unquestioningly as the truth. “What are you leaving behind as a record of your times? Why assume that art only exists in the moment, and has no resonance for the future?” Panicker asks, adding that his opinion of French courts, for instance, was partly formed by the writings of Alexandre Dumas. Viswanathan, on the other hand, feels that in India, a biopic is a clear combination of myth and history, and can never be just one or the other.

So who would make for a winning subject for a biopic? “Anyone who is a caricature of themselves,” says Vishwanathan, adding that late actor and politician Jayalalithaa would be a strong contender. “Her life as a corrupt chief minister is so sordid that it makes for great cinema. When an income tax office once raided Jayalalitha’s house and visited the bathroom, he saw that the tub was made of gold. He said, ‘I couldn’t even wash my hands as my sense of hygiene was vioilated’.” But there are those who feel sticking to facts will not render a compelling narrative. Mayank Tiwari, who is adapting Sanjaya Baru’s The Accidental Prime Minister, based on former PM Manmohan Singh, feels that “any biopic, no matter how sincere, will ultimately remain what it is: a story. But human life isn’t a story as such. I am not saying one should make up facts or create drama where there is none. But in the end, we are making a film, and the idea is to engage the viewer with as much truth and integrity as the writer/director can muster.”

MUMBAI MIRROR (July 5, 2018)

Priyanka had spent her teenage years in the US. And she had naturally acquired an American accent at the schools where she studied. ‘It was an honest American accent which she had picked up naturally,’ Merchant says while speaking to me about training the contestants. ‘Nothing was put on. When you are that young, you are impressionable and you pick up the accent you are hearing all around you.’

But knocking out Priyanka’s American accent became quite a challenge for Sabira Merchant. ‘She had that kind of a nasal twang. I told her if she was going to represent India, she could not come across as a Yankee sounding person. You have to sound Indian in front of the crowd or at least you should get a global English accent and not American English.’

And Priyanka worked hard at it. At that time Merchant was teaching at Mumbai’s SNDT University and she recalls Priyanka even following her there. ‘And I would be like, “Now Priyanka we have done enough work. You can relax, you are okay.” And she would say, “No, no, just one more question.” She was so bent on improving herself. She was so keen that it was just unbelievable.’

But Merchant also found Priyanka a bit childish, not unusual for an excited teenager. ‘She was always rushing into things,’ Merchant says. In comparison, Lara Dutta was always very mature and had a natural, yet modulated voice. One reason could be that Lara was already 21 years old in the fall of 1999, while Priyanka was just 17. ‘She (Lara) spoke very well. And she had the gift of the gab. Her vocabulary and choice of words was excellent. I worked very little with her, just to teach her not to do certain things.’

That year, the Miss India contest was held in Pune at the Poona Club. The date was 15 January 2000. The contestants faced a range of celebrity judges — actors Shah Rukh Khan, Juhi Chawla and Waheeda Rehman; cricketer Mohammed Azharuddin; media moghul and film producer Pritish Nandy; painter Anjolie Ela Menon, the then founder-chairman of Zee Media (and now Rajya Sabha MP) Subhash Chandra (Goel); fashion designer and perfume queen Carolina Herrera; and Marcus Swarovski, the great-great-grandnephew of the founder of the Austrian crystal company.

It was a day-long competition that started early in the morning, and included the swimsuit round. Finally, in the evening, the contestants faced the judges. Actors Rahul Khanna and Malaika Arora were the emcees. Each contestant picked the name of one judge to ask her a question. According to one news report, Juhi Chawla asked one contestant, ‘If you were granted a sixth sense, what would you like it to be? The contestant was stumped, but then she responded, ‘I would like to be a magician.’

The same report said that Shah Rukh Khan asked a question to another contestant. The report failed to mention that the contestant was Priyanka Chopra. But then again, Priyanka was just a regular contestant at that time, not the star she is now. There is a YouTube video of the classic moment — 17-year-old Priyanka wearing a leather jacket (all contestants dressed alike for this round, and their clothes for the day of the pageant were provided by the organizers), with her hair open, facing Khan who was already a huge star then, having acted in films such as Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge (1995), Kuch Kuch Hota Hai (1998), Dil Se (1998), Karan Arjun (1995) and so many more hits.

Shah Rukh started his long question by saying, ‘I am as nervous as you are, I go meek in the presence of beauty.’ And then, he posed the long question, ‘Hypothetically, if you were to marry one of the following, who will it be? An Indian sportsman, like Azhar bhai — who would take you all around the world, make your country proud and make you swell with pride. Or an artistic businessman with a difficult name to pronounce like Swarovski, who would bedeck you with jewels and fine necklaces and you would never have to buy a chandelier for your house ever again. Or a Hindi film star like me, who has nothing better to do than to give you a complicated multiple-choice question about a hypothetical wedding like this.’ Then he added, ‘And before you answer, let me tell you, whatever your answer is, none of it will prejudice my marks for you. I am sure Azhar Bhai and Swarovski won’t mind.’

Priyanka kept a smile on her face, trying hard not to show any signs of nervousness. A girl from Bareilly was suddenly talking to Shah Rukh Khan in public. She held her breath, thought quickly and responded, ‘If I was to choose one of these three very difficult choices, I think I would go to a great Indian sportsman.’ People cheered, and Priyanka continued, ‘Because when I come back home, or when he comes back home, I know I will be there to be his support to tell him I am proud of him, just as India is. To be able to tell him, “Hey look, you did your best and you are the best,” and I will take immense pride in my husband who will be a man of strong character if he can bring so much pride to my country. Thank you very much.’

Clearly, Sabira Merchant’s training combined with Guha and Saran’s efforts to instil confidence in Priyanka had come handy. The audience clapped and even Malaika Arora remarked with a ‘wow!’

Excerpted from PRIYANKA CHOPRA, The Incredible Story of a Global Bollywood Star by Aseem Chhabra with permission of Rupa Publications India. The book releases next week.

In a tell-all interview, Sangeeta Bijlani talks about her thoughts on the Mohammad Azharuddin biopic, her relationship with the cricketer and her future plans in B-Town
Sarita A Tanwar (DNA; September 4, 2017)

Is age just a number? I can’t help but wonder when I look at the fit and fabulous Sangeeta Bijlani. The former supermodel-actress is ready to take a tentative foot back in the world of films and TV, after a gap of over two decades. A lot has changed since Sangeeta was away. Including herself. Over some tea and sandwiches, she talks about her life, her choices, and her plan ahead. Read on...

You have been in Mumbai for some time now. The general perception is that you aren’t interested in acting. Is that correct?
It was a conscious decision to move back (to Mumbai) and explore other areas of my life. I was travelling a lot at one point and obviously didn’t have the time. My priorities were different at that stage. For some time — or a long time — I consciously kept away.

Were you getting offers all along?
I did get offers, but at that time, I wasn’t keen. Earlier, I was offered Shabd, which I didn’t do. I didn’t want to come to this space and do sensual scenes and seem desperate. Now, it is not a conscious decision of wanting to spread the word that I am interested. But if something really nice comes my way and I feel comfortable doing it, I will take it up because the kind of cinema they are making now is interesting.

Yes, like Sridevi came back with English Vinglish.
It was a fantastic film, and films like Parched and Pink are also being made. So, the industry has become more content-driven and that is very tempting. I am reading a script right now. If it appeals to me, then I may give it a nod.

Would you consider television too?
Television, yes, if it is as a judge on a show. If somebody came to me with that offer, I would take it up. I have started saying okay to things and I have started stepping out. And when you do that, automatically people start offering you work. I have been making appearances and stuff. I am enjoying it. I have got an offer for an ad too, so let’s see.

Apart from Salman Khan’s family, you have largely kept away from the industry. Was that a conscious decision?
I moved out of Mumbai, so I lost touch with people. Also, I just like being in my comfort zone. I have always been a private person. Though I feel I am in a different space right now. I am very open when I talk. I am easy about how things are and maybe because I am in complete acceptance of everything, I have evolved to a different space.

How different are you from how you used to be 10 years ago?
I feel just more evolved as a person perhaps because I feel more drawn towards spirituality now. I had my leanings even when I was acting but not many people know about it. Salman used to tease me about meditation even back then. I used to do it then, but not so much, because I had so much work happening that I used to get very less time. I began exploring it more when my mom passed away in 2005. When you lose somebody, who is really close to you, then you kind of go and search deeper. My dad is also into it; he is like my guru. I’ve learnt a lot from him. I got this knowledge from him.

You lost touch with all your friends from the film industry?
I was never in touch with the film industry. I would do my work and go back home. My mom was always with me. She travelled with me everywhere. Throughout my modelling and film career, she was always with me. It was just a comfort zone; you would get up and she would make my honey almond; she would pamper me with a glass of juice. It was such a comfort zone of having her around.

Star moms no longer accompany their daughters to sets and locations.
(Laughs) Maybe their daughters do not want them there.

Are you ambitious?
Honestly, I have never been very ambitious. I am a very laidback person. Whatever was offered to me, I just did it. I was just lucky that it all fell into my lap...

It’s different now. Everyone is very driven and competitive. And when you are not watching, you could lose a role to another actress.
It happened then, too, on a subtle level. But then, there was enough work for everybody. And there weren’t that many people. Now, every youngster wants to join the movies. It is like they are coming from every city and even from abroad. The girls from abroad are also looking for work in the industry.

A lot is being said about nepotism right now. Did you face it during your time?
No. Now there is a swarm of kids coming suddenly and it’s natural for people to rather go with a pedigree that is from the industry. It’s a tried-and-tested formula. It is more comfortable for the investor, producer and director as they already know them and have seen them. Most importantly, star kids have access. For a newcomer to enter, it is very tough. Right now, I don’t think there is space for a newcomer because this industry is swarmed with youngsters from the industry. You can call it nepotism or their destiny.

There was a time when models were considered bad actors, but today every second actor comes from a modelling background...
Everybody from Juhi (Chawla) to me to Aishwarya came from the modelling industry. Even Salman and Jackie (Shroff). We all did modelling for a few years; it was a great way to make a quick buck. It was exciting and you got trained to face the camera.

Something that a lot of people want to know — did you watch the Azhar biopic?
Yes, I did.

Did you like it?
I would have liked it if it were a biopic. It was fiction. Honestly, except for bits and pieces, they took cinematic liberties in the entire film. So it wasn’t really...

How was it watching yourself on screen with somebody else portraying you?
I couldn’t relate to it at all. I haven’t spoken about it, but I will now. The film didn’t make any sense. I wish they had actually shown the real story because it would have been worthwhile. Even the way they showed us meeting for the first time didn’t make sense. That wasn’t how we met.

Azhar wanted to be portrayed that way. I guess that was the aim of the film.
I don’t know about that. All it did was remind people about the match-fixing controversy.

What did you think of Nargis Fakhri? Would you have preferred someone else to play you?
Initially, they were going to take Bebo (Kareena Kapoor Khan) and that would have been fantastic because there is a similarity between us somewhere. I am not saying she looks like me or I look like her, but her mom used to say, ‘You both look more like sisters’. I remember Bebo telling me that Salman too would keep telling her that we look alike.

Are you in touch with the current lot of films?
I love watching films. I watch almost every film.

Any favourite actor and actress?
I like Alia Bhatt. She is a natural. She doesn’t care how she looks or how her face is because that is not important when you are acting. You don’t just need to look beautiful, which is what’s happening to most of the girls. They have become so stiff that they can’t smile and they can’t express. They cannot crinkle their eyes. My niece, who is 21, also has crinkles around her eyes when she smiles and she has laugh lines. So, why is everybody panicking about how they look? They are doing things and can’t even move their mouths! I understand there is pressure and maybe people, who are signing them want them to be perfect, which is fine, but only to a certain extent. But people are obsessed. I don’t understand what this trend is of making their mouths so plump that it cannot move. Why this obsession? Indian girls are so beautiful the way they are. I don’t know what is happening to the industry.

You have been writing a blog and talking about different things. Would you eventually publish a book?
Who knows? I am open to the idea. I am enjoying writing the blog. I write on paper. I feel the energy that flows with the hand is different. I feel that makes a difference. Then I type it and my friend posts it for me. I still don’t know how to post.

That’s good because very few people write anymore.
I feel there is a magical energy, which transfers from the hands. You feel that and it is like going through. My next blog is about how children, mostly sons, abandon their fathers.

Why just fathers?
It is a current hot topic. I feel that I am already revealing part of my blog, but I feel that no parent should transfer their property to their sons, which is what has happened to one of my friends’ brother. I have written some lovely blogs on love. I have written on marriage, but not trouble in the marriage.

Now that we’re talking about it, are you still married? There is a lot of ambiguity.
(Smiles) Let me just say that I am in a happy space of my own.

Are you in touch with Azhar?
Yes, I am. We are cordial.

How did you manage that?
It’s never happened that I’ve NOT been in touch with him. So, maybe my relationships are like that. I am in a happy space of my own. I have reached a space where I can be a silent observer to whatever is occurring around me. Maybe I have removed myself from that space, not intentionally, but it is a process, which has occurred over a period of time. Maybe because I meditate a lot, I can look at things and just be an observer.

Your views on marriage, infidelity, and relationships have changed a lot, right?
Yes, they have.

They might sound shocking to most people, who do not buy into that.
Yes, but that is my way of looking at life. So, I feel it is okay. It is a manufacturing defect in men. If they are attracted to somebody, they want to be with that person. I feel it is a man’s need to go out, and he will go out. He is made that way.

Would you accept it if you were in a relationship and the guy was cheating on you?
If I do not feel comfortable being in that space, I would move out. If I feel it is okay, I would stay...

You see a lot of filmy marriages like that. Everyone knows that the husband is having an affair with some actress and the wife stays back and everybody questions why she is in it. And whether it is because of the children?
I don’t think it is for anybody. It is feeling the comfort of that space or maybe a known devil is better than an unknown one or maybe she feels she belongs in that space...

You think that’s okay?
I definitely wouldn’t judge somebody. I feel it is okay because you do not know what that person is going through and it is unfair to stand in judgment and say how could you tolerate this and how can you take this sh*t! People are just seeing that part of it and isolating the rest of the life that she spent with that man. She may have spent 25 or 30 years with him and they are like, ‘Remove yourself from that space’. You cannot because your whole life changes then and it is a journey of life where, after a point, maybe even that lady may have isolated herself from whatever that is occurring and she may just like how men compartmentalise their lives. You leave that part and don’t want to deal with it, and that’s okay.

Men just use “we are wired this way” as an excuse to cheat.
Maybe they genuinely are. It is very sad if they are looking from body-to-body because that means they are searching for something within them, which they want to find in other bodies, which they will never get and they will always be dissatisfied because that space they are looking for lies within themselves. You should feel sorry for such a man, and I do.

You don’t feel the need for a companion?
I have that option. We are social beings and we do need people and so it is a need then. It is not about love and sex. I feel love happens when there is a chemical reaction in the brain. At that point, the dopamine levels are high and one is in a drugged state, and believes one is head-over-heels in love. But that happens when another body’s chemical reaction and your body’s chemical reaction gets in frequency with each other and come into that space of vibration. I feel everything is about energy. It is not love. You may call it love, but it is just a trigger in your brain. Then you go through that space and after a point, it is gone. So, you want to feel that feeling again. Some people want to feel that feeling again and take another partner. They want to feel the same sexual feeling they did, so they find another partner and then they don’t get it there and it becomes a routine for them. In the bargain, they lose themselves somewhere. As for me, I feel I am my best companion. I love my alone time. I am not a recluse, I do not isolate myself, I hang out with my friends, I travel, I do stuff and so it is about the frequency. So, that has to occur again, the vibration has to occur. If that doesn’t trigger then...

You are open to that happening?
I am open to anything happening. I am open to accepting people with multiple relationships.

When people go through a break-up or a bad relationship, they become bitter. You have just become the opposite.
Yes, I have become the opposite. And I am not pretending.

I know. It comes across.
That is what Salim (Khan) uncle had told me once: ‘Sangeeta, till 30-35, a woman looks like what she is on the inside. Ultimately, what you are within starts showing on your face’. It is so true because what you feel within does exude with time.

MID-DAY (May 12, 2016)

Emraan Hashmi-starrer Azhar chronicles the life of former cricketer Mohammed Azharuddin with focus on the controversial aspects, including his implication in the match fixing scandal in 2000. Needless to say, the cricketer is being cautious about the way he has been portrayed in the film.

When the cricketer watched his biopic recently, he broke down during a particular sequence which showcased the stressful phase of his life and career after he was accused of playing a big role in match fixing. Azharuddin had to go through a gruelling CBI interrogation back then. So, when that was being replayed on screen, he got emotional and requested the makers to delete the entire scene.

Says a source, “The scene was too upsetting for him to handle and asked for it to be removed from the film. The makers agreed to his demand. Now, the reference to the CBI enquiry has been added in the dialogues that Lara Dutta’s character mouths.”

Azhar director Tony D’Souza says, “I do not have the liberty to discuss what parts the film have been touched upon. All I can say is I am overwhelmed by the reactions and intrigue around it.”

BOMBAY TIMES (May 11, 2016)

MID-DAY (May 10, 2016)

The Kamasutra comes handy for tips on a spicier sex life and all the positions that you ever wanted to know or master. And now, there might soon be an Emraansutra — on kissing know-how. Though just a thought at the moment, Bollywood’s serial kisser Emraan Hashmi is likely to start writing a book on ‘how to kiss’ and ‘how to love’ very soon! During his recent visit to the mid-day office for the promotions of his upcoming film Azhar, Emraan revealed that author S Hussain Zaidi has been coaxing him to pen a kissing tutorial.

The actor says, “It is just in the talking stage. Right now, I am busy with my film commitments. But I might just give it a thought. After the Kamasutra, the Emraansutra! And hopefully, there will be a publisher for it.” Emraan, who has earned the sobriquet of the ‘ smooch king’, holds the distinction of kissing all his female co-stars over the years. It is said that no one kisses like he does. “Perhaps, I should give it serious thought. I don’t think there is any such book or guide in the market,” he chuckles.

Emraan recently penned a book on his son Ayaan’s tryst with cancer — The Kiss of Life: How a Superhero And My Son Defeated Cancer — which is also being made into a documentary. He has been appreciated for the narrative and might just use his writing skills next time round for what he is best known for on the big screen.

Like every film of his, he has been on a promotional overdrive for Azhar. “To say that it has been exhausting is an understatement. I have been at it for over a month, but then I always give my everything even when the film is complete,” he explains, adding that the biopic on former Indian cricket captain Mohammed Azharuddin will delve into many areas which the audience is unaware of, especially his early days in Hyderabad and his relationship with his grandfather.

After training in cricket extensively, Azharuddin has told him that he can take part in the celebrity cricket league. “But the biggest compliment I received was from Azhar bhai’s son (Mohammed Asaduddin), who said that when he saw me walking from the pavilion, it reminded him of his dad,” he smiles.

Sangeeta Bijlani reached out to her former husband, concerned about her presentation in his biopic
Upala KBR (DNA; May 10, 2016)

Sangeeta Bijlani is concerned about how she will be presented in the biopic of her former husband Mohammed Azharuddin. When he sold the rights to his life’s story, he made sure that he is protected by a contract. The parts of his life that he wants whitewashed, will be done. Sangeeta is worried that she might not come out looking as positive in the film.

Says a source, “Sangeeta hasn’t been in touch with Azhar in years... Since the time they divorced in 2010, they have kept out of each other’s way. She fears that the movie will not show her in a positive light. By now, it is known that Nargis Fakhri is playing her in the film, so whether she wants it or not, she is connected to the film. Even Sangeeta’s Oye Oye song is part of her portrayal in the film. So, she called Azhar and she voiced her apprehensions. And she expressed a desire to watch the film. Since then, they have kept regularly in touch. Azhar informed her that he too hasn’t watched the film and has asked the producers for a trial. But everything is being kept tightly under wraps till the release.”

Upala KBR (DNA; May 9, 2016)


Towards the end of his career, Azhar was accused of match-fixing and a lifetime ban on his participation in cricket was imposed by the BCCI in 2000. However, in 2012, the Andhra Pradesh High Court ruled that the life ban imposed on Azhar was illegal and lifted it.

Says a source, “When the film started, the production house had made it clear that he would have to travel with the rest of the team as they wanted to be a part of the promotions. Azhar was fine with it though he didn’t do all the promotional activities — only the fun ones or media junkets like the recent Dubai trip.”

On one such trip, a national news channel asked Azhar the question, he just got up in the middle of the show and walked out leaving the anchor stumped! He just lost his temper and everyone was shocked.

The source adds that he refused to come back and complete the interview after that even though the film’s marketing team told him all he had to do was tell them laughingly to watch out in the film to know the answer. “It’s for the same reason that he’s also refused to be part of a major show hosted by another news channel as he doesn’t want to be asked hard-nosed questions at all.”

MUMBAI MIRROR (May 4, 2016)

The fun and quirky Nargis Fakhri says she isn’t attracted to cricketers, co-stars or close friends... just yet
Upala KBR (DNA; May 2, 2016)


Have you met the real-life Mohammad Azharuddin?
I met him a couple of times. He’s a very nice person. We talked about regular things, nothing about the film or his life. I haven’t met Sangeeta Bijlani or Naureen. He is the only person I have met who is connected to the film. I didn’t take any inputs from him. We spoke about Hyderabad, the history of the city and the forts there as I love history.

What made you accept this role?
I enjoy watching documentaries and biopics, so I found the script interesting. I like to gain knowledge and learn about things that happened in history. I always joke that we humans are nosy because we like to know about other people’s business and their personal lives. Azhar was interesting to me because I didn’t know anything about him and when people would tell me stories about him, there was so much emotion attached to it. I found it interesting that after all these years, people were still so emotional about what had happened. So for me, to know that it was a true story based on events in this great cricketing icon’s life, made it really interesting and I wanted to be a part of it.

What fascinated you about Sangeeta’s character?
The glam factor. She’s so glamorous even to this day. I don’t even know how she stays so beautiful. I want to know her secret so I hope to meet her one day and when I do, I will ask her about her health and beauty secrets (laughs). Apart from the glam factor I am very curious about humans and relationships. I always ask questions to people who are married or divorced or dating about how their relationships work, what are their troubles because I want to know. The one thing that we all want to find is to live happily ever after but I think that’s maybe not a reality. So it’s very interesting to see Azhar’s love story unfold and at the same time see how it is when the other person gets left behind or to understand the human process of why we fall in love with someone else, why love ends for another... Azhar is the journey of love, of the ups and downs of love.

Who did you feel sympathy for — Naureen or Sangeeta?
I feel sympathy for both the characters because I can understand being left behind and I can understand being in love. When you are in love you can do crazy things and you don’t realise what you are doing and you try your best to be proper and a good human being but it’s not always possible. Things are not always in black and white. It can’t always be this-is-this and this is how it has to be. A great part of the story is that this great cricketer, a top actress and this regular woman are all so human. Whether one is a sports star, a movie star or a housewife, it doesn’t matter as we all have emotions, we are all humans.

If you were caught in an elevator with Sangeeta Bijlani and Salman Khan what will you do?
I don’t know maybe I would get really shy… I am a very shy person actually so I am really not that funny but since I know Salman and he has a great sense of humour, he would probably say something funny to me and I can say something funny back. I am sure Sangeeta has a great personality and they are good friends so who knows (laughs)? It all depends on how long we are all stuck in the elevator!

Most relationships between actresses and cricketers don’t work, agree?
My thoughts are that if you look at every human being on this planet and every relationship you will see the same thing. The problem is that the regular people are not in the news and in the public eye. That’s the difference. I think it has more to do with humans than with what you are. An athlete or an actress doesn’t see each other so often and both have their own lives, a ton of money and they need anybody. In relationships, while usually two people stay together out of love, sometimes they also stay together for the wrong reasons too because one person is dependent on the other. I love the fact that women have more independence today to opt out of a relationship which they have outgrown. I don’t think being in the public glare has to do with anything. It just makes more news.

Do you see yourself dating a cricketer?
I would say no right now because you just never know what life gives you. Never say never. I just feel that because my life is so hectic right now I would want more of a stable person. Cricketers lead erratic lifestyles as actresses so I would need an anchor to keep me rooted.

Who is the hottest cricketer?
Nobody. I don’t find anybody hot right now. I haven’t really looked. I am not in the head space as there’s so much work happening and promotions. I am thinking of getting these promotions over with, getting Banjo done and then me taking a vacation.

Sachin Tendulkar or MS Dhoni, which biopic you’d like to see?
Cricket is not my forte, I don’t like any sports in fact, I just enjoy every sport whenever friends or boyfriends take me to a game. I never followed any sport nor am I a sports person. When everyone asks me about it, I feel strange because I feel everyone loves sports and I don’t really have an attachment to any one particular sport. I don’t follow an athlete or movie star or musician for that matter. I’ve met MS Dhoni so I would have to say that maybe I will watch his biopic. I met him during an ad shoot and found him to be a lovely guy. He’s young, family-oriented, very normal and down-to-earth and easy to get along with. Dhoni’s not a very talkative person but he’s a nice guy.

Would you endorse an IPL cricket team?
Yes, why not? The more I get involved with stuff that has to do with cricket, the more I learn because then I am around people who talk about it. I wouldn’t mind… I have gone for some IPL matches yet I still get confused (laughs).

Recently you said you felt uncomfortable kissing Emraan Hashmi because his moustache could have been made from pubic hair.
Oh gosh! I have a bit of toilet humour. I have a potty mouth, I am sorry. Everybody has a different sense of humour I guess. Yes, I have to admit that Emraan’s moustache was really weird (laughs) and it was creeping me out. It looked like one of one of those pervert moustaches which peeping Toms sport which you see on American TV. I was like wondering how do they make these things because the hair is a weird type of hair so I would think, ‘Eeeww it’s not very nice feeling and looking!’

You have a very quirky sense of humour. Where does it come from?
A lot of people made fun of me when I was growing up in New York and you develop a sense of humour to laugh at yourself. Kids are mean when they are young. I was chubby and I couldn’t dance very well so everyone made fun of me. Now I can tell people ‘Look at me now! I can dance! Screw everyone!’ I never fit in as I was always the outsider. I was never a part of gangs and cliques that kids form. I don’t like to be grouped into something. I was always everyone’s friend but no one’s friend. Also, when kids start drinking and doing other naughty things that I didn’t want to do, that was the another thing that pushed me away from them. So I spent a lot of time alone and that’s when I developed my sense of humour. It may seem cool now but as a kid it’s not because then you are struggling and sad thinking nobody is your friend and you are all alone.

Prachi Desai who plays Azhar's first wife in an upcoming biopic, says that the latter is fiercely private but a very modern woman
Sanyukta Iyer (MUMBAI MIRROR; April 29, 2016)

Sonali Joshi Pitale (MID-DAY; April 28, 2016)

Emraan Hashmi starrer Azhar, which is based on the controversial life of cricketer Mohammed Azharuddin, is all set to hit theatres next month and promotions are in full swing. Now we hear the makers are in a fix as the cricketer insists that he be present during all promotional activities which is not exactly how the makers had planned it.

Says a source, “After completing initial round of combined interviews with Emraan Hashmi and Azharuddin, the makers are planning various ways of promoting the film with the entire star cast of Nargis Fakhri, Emraan and Prachi Desai. But it is difficult to have the cricketer around for all events.”

Apparently the makers also feel that if Azharuddin were present at all media interactions, the focus would be on him and not on the star cast. Says another source, “To create a buzz around the film, it’s important to bring these actor to the fore. If they do not get a chance to talk about the film and their experiences, it would become very difficult to lure audiences to theatres.”

Producer Ekta Kapoor and Mohammed Azharuddin remained unavailable for comment while the spokesperson of the film denied the buzz.

Fearing that they might be shown in bad light, a few cricketers of Azhar’s time have apparently asked to see his biopic before it gets released...
Gaurav Dubey (MID-DAY; April 16, 2016)

The biopic on tainted cricketer Azharuddin’s life is generating quite an amount of buzz. The movie, where Emraan Hashmi plays Azhar, is said to be focusing on the cricketer’s personal and professional life.

Now we hear a few of Azhar's fellow cricketers, including Navjot Singh Sidhu, Kapil Dev, Manoj Prabhakar and Ravi Shastri have demanded that they get to watch the film before its released so that they know how each of them is portrayed in the film.

A source says, “Some cricketers are anxious to see the film before it gets released because they want to know how each of them is represented. This is a controversial subject and obviously none of them want to be shown in any kind of bad light.”

“Yes, few of them have called and enquired about their role and how they have been depicted in the film and also they want us to show the film so that they get a clearer picture. We are currently in talks with them but have conveyed it to them that there are projected in a dignified manner in the film,” adds a source working on the film.

When contacted, Aman Gill, the CEO of Balaji Motion Pictures, which is producing the film, remained unavailable for comment.

Anirban Das (MID-DAY; April 14, 2016)

We arrive at a suburban  five–star on a hot Wednesday afternoon to meet Emraan Hashmi and Mohammed Azharuddin for the actor’s upcoming film, Azhar. It’s for the first time that the cricketer is promoting a film and is visibly cheerful when he sits down to give media interviews after a long gap. We couldn’t help but notice the trademark raised collar still intact. Excerpts from the their interview with hitlist

You took over a year to say yes to a film based on your life. And now that the trailer has already released, what do you think of it?
Azhar: You never think about your life being replicated on screen. So naturally it’s a different feeling. But I think Emraan bhai has done really well. He has worked very hard, trained and read a lot of paper clippings and is extremely professional. I like his approach towards work. He even hurt himself while training for the cricket portions and you have to make those sacrifices when you know you have to deliver. From whatever I have seen so far, it looks good.

People will be extremely critical when they see you essaying Azhar’s role on screen. Are you ready for some criticism too?
Emraan: You can expect that from any film of this nature. It is normal because you are playing someone popular and alive. You can’t please everyone. It’s something every actor would fear, but this is not exactly a biopic in its true sense. The film finds a sweet spot between a biopic and a film which is too outlandish to be true. I would say 90 per cent of his (Azhar’s) life is there in the film but it has been made a lot more dramatic. It’s a popcorn film; you go there to enjoy and get entertained. So I had to decide where I could take the liberty in treating a scene differently. I am ready to face criticism. But as of now, after the trailer launch, the praise has outnumbered the criticism.

Once the film releases, people will revisit the controversies of your life. Won’t it make you uncomfortable?
Azhar: People are bound to talk, but I don’t blame them. I think tough people survive difficult times. If you don’t have patience during those times, you will not survive. That is the law of nature. The first two years (after the match fixing case) were really difficult but I stood strong through the case. If I had lost (the case), it would have been a very different story. The film would have been made in a very different way. I don’t look at life negatively. I believe good things happen to positive people. Staying positive is my strength and I am thankful to Allah for giving me that strength and patience.

Even though the judiciary has given you a clean chit and withdrawn the ban, there might be people who don't support you. There are chances that negative talk about you will resume. Does it scare you?
Azhar: I am pretty used to it. Nobody can stop them from saying whatever they have to. I don’t worry about what people say about me as long as people who love me and my fans, who care for me, are happy.

A lot of people support you when you are successful. But how did people and the cricket fraternity react after you were connected to match fixing case?
Azhar: When you are doing well everybody wants to know you but when you are not, nobody wants to know you. That’s the fact of life and that always happens. But I don’t expect everybody to support me. My family and Sangeeta (Bijlani) supported me all along. From the cricketing world Kapil Dev, the late Raj Singh Dungarpur and Kamal Morarka are the three people who stayed in touch and always supported me.

Is it bothersome when people talk more about your controversies rather than your long, successful cricketing career?
Azhar: I think people who are negative will only talk about negative things. If people look at my career in a positive way, they will have good things to say about it. These talks don’t affect me. I think it was my destiny and whatever had to happen, happened. I have come out of it now.

You also showed immense strength when your son was treated for cancer.
Emraan: If I look back at the moment three years ago, I wonder from where did I gather the kind of will, courage and strength to go through it. It was a fight that went on for two years and is still on because cancer is not something that goes away after medication. But the doctors have said he is now out of the red zone where it could have come back. It was the mother of all traumas but I overcame it.

After all that happened, do you wish to associate yourself with the Indian cricket team by being a part of the management or becoming a coach?
Azhar: I will be happy if I am given an opportunity. I am willing to give back whatever cricket I have played. A number of players have come to me for advice but I choose to not talk about it for publicity. I am not that kind of a person. As a cricketer you must help people who are struggling and give them proper advice.

Sonali Joshi Pitale (MID-DAY; April 9, 2016)

The makers of Azhar biopic are set to recreate the song Oye Oye from Tridev (1989), as reported by hitlist on April 1. Now we hear that Mandana Karimi, who was shortlisted to feature in the song alongside Nargis Fakhri, is no longer a part of it. Apparently, Fakhri felt attention from her character would be diverted if the song featured known faces.

Says a unit source, “The song is an important part of the film since Tridev starred Sangeeta Bijlani, who was married to Mohammed Azharuddin for 14 years. The song is being shot on a grand scale and we were looking to cast some relatively known faces alongside Nargis, who essays Sangeeta’s role in the film. We had shortlisted Mandana to be a part of the song since she has worked with us in the past.”

However, Nargis apparently wasn’t too comfortable about well- known faces being cast in the song and requested the makers to rethink their decision. “It wasn’t Nargis’ decision. The team wanted to cast new faces. So, Mandana, who had earlier agreed to do the song, was told that she was no longer part of it,” adds the source. While Mandana, Nargis and the film’s spokesperson remained unavailable for comment, a source associated with the project confirms the story.

DNA (April 4, 2016)


The first time Prachi and Naureen met, they hit it off and spent hours chatting over over tea and cup cakes! There after Prachi spent four hours everyday with Naureen. The love story of Naureen and Azhar moved Prachi and helped her understand the wife’s part in her celebrity husband’s life.

In fact Prachi and Naureen share a striking resemblance to one another in reality. Naureen has become so close to Prachi that she’s given her a nickname too — Prats. Prachi says, “I’m just humbled by Naureen’s gesture. She is such a down-to-earth soul and I wonder why destiny was so unkind to her. We bonded well and I really look upto her for the strong woman she is. I’m in touch with her till this date and every time I’m in Hyderabad I make it a point to visit her. sets. Naureen’s narrated all her childhood memories and it was refreshing to hear about them.”

As a part of her prep, the actress even met her lawyer friend and observed her at work
Avinash Lohana (MUMBAI MIRROR; March 29, 2016)

Lara Dutta, who was last seen in Fitoor, returns to the screen now as Meera, a public prosecutor, in the Azhar biopic. The actress describes her latest screen avatar as a no-nonsense lawyer who fearlessly stands for the truth and is feared by her peers.

"It's a challenging role and I had fun playing it because it's a totally fictional character but integral to the narrative," says Lara, who is Mohammed Azharuddin's nemesis in the film as she fights the former Indian cricketer trying to prove that he's guilty of match fixing.

As part of her prep, she spoke to a lawyer friend and observed her at work to understand the body language and the finer nuances of playing the part. Director Tony D'Souza insists that he thought Lara was apt for this role that demanded a strong, stern look and someone who could act well. "She went through all the legal documents pertaining to the case. We also had regular reading sessions. She really worked very hard for the role," says Tony, who saw a lot of the independent Meera in Lara herself.

They shot most of her portions in Hyderabad and few scenes in London. Lara and Tony have known each other for years, having done Blue together earlier. "She instantly fell in love with the role. Lara in fact, was so much into the character that sometimes even off the camera she would speak the lawyer's language," he laughs.

'Bigg Boss 8' winner Gautam Gulati who will make his Bollywood debut with the 'Azhar' biopic
Avinash Lohana (MUMBAI MIRROR; March 28, 2016)

This two-decade-old picture shared with Emraan Hashmi (below) shows Mohammed Azharuddin in the company of his fellow teammates Sachin Tendulkar and Sourav Ganguly
Sonali Joshi Pitale (MID-DAY; March 9, 2016)

As part of his prep for the 'Azhar' biopic, Emraan Hashmi shadowed ex Indian cricket skipper Mohammed Azharuddin for months to perfect his demeanour both off and on the field. During one of their several meetings, the actor requested access to the cricket idol's personal photo albums. And to Emraan's delight, he agreed to share his snaps over the years, including some treasured ones with fellow teammates

A source says, "To understand Azhar's personality and his private life, Emraan wanted to see his pictures and memorabilia. The cricketer shared personal pictures from his teenage days and times spent with his grandfather and parents, to the ones in Team India's dressing room and on the field."

Azhar recently visited the film's sets during the London schedule to supervise Emraan's game during a few crucial scenes.

Emraan says, "It was kind of Azhar to open his home and heart to us, literally, while making this film. He instilled his trust in the team and shared memories with us that are unknown to the world and pictures that are unseen, yet reveal so much about his life."

Actor wants to work in more such films now after giving a year-and-a-half to the biopic, is equally gung-ho about taking two franchises forward
Roshmila Bhattacharya (MUMBAI MIRROR; March 7, 2016)