Showing posts with label Mussoorie. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Mussoorie. Show all posts
Film version of Bhabi Ji Ghar Par Hai shot in 20 days; Ravi Kishan, Mukesh Tiwari join cast
9:14 AM
Yashika Mathur (HINDUSTAN TIMES; November 26, 2025)
Popular sitcom Bhabi Ji Ghar Par Hai! is making its way to the big screen. HT City has exclusively learnt that while the main cast — Shubhangi Atre, Rohitashv Gour and Aasif Sheikh — will return, new faces like Ravi Kishan, Mukesh Tiwari, and Brijendra Kala will also be part of the film.
The film was shot entirely in Mussoorie and Dehradun — in 20 days! We reached out to Shubhangi, who plays the role of Angoori Bhabhi confirmed the quick shoot and joked, “We should be in the Guinness Records!”
She further shared, “Bohot thand mein shooting ki humne. It was exciting, and the shoot was completed in March. It’s a complete laughter ride!”
Will there be any change in the treatment of her character in the film? “Angoori kuch alag karti hui dikhegi. It is a surprise for the fans. The love they have given to the show, I hope they give to the film as well! Bohot dil se banayi hui film hai!” Shubhangi says.
She has announced her exit from the TV show after 10 years, saying, “I have lived and loved this character with all my heart, but now it is time to move on.” Her final appearance will be next week.
Vikrant Massey, Mahima Makwana to romance in Musafir Cafe
8:54 AM
Vinay MR Mishra (MUMBAI MIRROR; November 10, 2025)
Actors Vikrant Massey and Mahima Makwana will play the romantic leads in the web-series adaptation of the novel Musafir Café. We have learnt that Mahima has begun the shoot in the hill town of Mussoorie. The series is slated for streaming on Netflix.
Massey, known for his intense yet nuanced roles, takes on the central character (presumably the book’s “Chandar”), while Makwana steps into the role of the free-spirited lawyer “Sudha”.
Although Vikrant Massey and Mahima Makwana played parts in the popular daily soap Balika Vadhu, they never shared screen space together. This will mark their first major joint project.
For the unversed, Musafir Café by Divya Prakash Dubey is a Hindi-novel exploring modern relationships, choices and the idea of carving a space for oneself. Two very different people — Sudha, a principled divorce lawyer who doesn’t believe in marriage, and Chandar, a software engineer with literary dreams — meet via a matrimonial setup and then drift into an unconventional living arrangement.
We reached out to Vikrant, Mahima and the platform but didn't get a response.
Earlier in an interview, Vikran shared how he chooses his scripts. He said, "There are quite a lot of things actually. There are so many permutations and combinations that go behind you choosing a role. But I think that right at the core of it lies the question as to what that story evokes within me... I hate the narrations, I always insist on reading what will be shot eventually. I read it as an audience, if it is evoking what it is ought to, if it’s ought to make me laugh, does it make me laugh, if it’s ought to make me cry, does it make me cry, does it evoke that sense and then comes the other combination which is like have I done this before as an actor? Does this ring a bell with me? Is this a story that I actually want to tell?"
Lillete Dubey shoots for Ginny Weds Sunny 2 in Dehradun: "The show must go on"
10:35 AM
Deep Saxena (HINDUSTAN TIMES; May 14, 2025)
Alot of concerts and public events were called off recently, given the ongoing situation in the country due to the India-Pak conflict. However, actor Lillete Dubey tells us that the shoot for Ginny Weds Sunny 2 is on track and she has also reached Uttarakhand to shoot her parts.
“The shoot is underway in Mussoorie and Dehradun. These are tough times, but the show must go on. We are all working to entertain the audience which is also very important,” Lillete tells us.
A sequel to the 2020 film Ginny Weds Sunny featuring actors Vikrant Massey and Yami Gautam Dhar, Ginny Weds Sunny 2 stars Avinash Tiwary and Medha Shankr. Sharing how the atmosphere on the set is like, Lillete adds: “Everything is calm here. Everyone is relieved with the truce, but, of course, on guard too.”
Last seen in the OTT series Dabba Cartel, the actor is doing “a commercial Hindi film after a long time”. She says, “The cast is lovely. I am playing Medha’s mother. It’s a funny and interesting romantic comedy that also has a message for society. It also stars Sudhir Pandey. After this, I will shoot for an English film.”
The news of my health has been blown out of proportion-Aasif Sheikh
8:44 AM
Akash Wadhwa (BOMBAY TIMES; March 26, 2025)
The news of Aasif Sheikh collapsing on the sets of Bhabi Ji Ghar Par Hai, in Dehradun and being rushed to the hospital spread like wildfire on Monday. And even though Aasif has been unwell for the past one week, he says the news was blown out of proportion.
"The news of my health has been blown out of proportion. I was definitely very unwell, but the news of me being hospitalized and rushed to Mumbai is not true. I was shooting for an action sequence in Dehradun where the whole cast of Bhabi Ji Ghar Par Hain! was shooting for the film, which is being made on the show. We have been shooting for around a month now there," he says, adding, "There was a lot of physical stress, and my back was paining a lot. So, I went to the vanity to give my back a little rest. After relaxing for a few minutes, I got up to shoot for my sequence, and while I was walking, I had a major muscle spasm and was in a lot of pain. It was basically a sciatica pain but I couldn't stand or walk."
However, Aasif shot for his part with heavy medication. "It was the second last day of the shoot. I took heavy painkillers and shot for the last few scenes. Since I couldn't stand and walk, I came back to Mumbai in a wheelchair. I am on painkillers and steroids and now I am due for an MRI today. I have been on bed rest ever since I returned to Mumbai. I am slowly recovering. I am not able to put my foot on the floor and I am still limping."
Talking about the time spent in Dehradun, he says, "I started shooting for the film in Dehradun on February 26 and finished on March 17. The city is beautiful. We had a great time and the weather to shoot and since the weather was so comfortable, the potential to shoot becomes better for actors. We also went to Mussoorie, and it was bitterly cold and also experienced a hailstorm there. I have been to Dehradun several times before as well. I went to Ellora bakery to buy some stuff for myself and although I was heavily disguised and had my face covered, the lady at the counter recognized me."
Apart from physical discomfort, Aasif has also suffered an emotional blow. He has lost his close friend writer Manoj Santoshi on Monday, who was also the writer of the show Bhabhiji... "I lost a very good friend," says an emotional Aasif, adding, "My relationship with Manoj Santoshi goes back several years back. He was a great talent — a great writer. Not many people know that he was a great singer too. Hamari bahot gaane-bajane ki mehefilein bhi hoti thi. We first met each other during the show Yes Boss. For this character of Vibhuti Narayan Mishra he told me that he wrote it keeping me in mind. For the past six months he had been struggling with his health issues. And when I went to meet him in Hyderabad, I knew something majorly was wrong with him seeing his drastic weight loss. But he has left a big void in my life. More than me, Shilpa Shinde, who has been with Manoj in his fight with his liver ailment, is in a state of shock. When she called me to tell me about Manoj's demise she was crying bitterly. She was all alone with Manoj and I have a deep respect for Shilpa — aaj ke time pe koi apna itna nahi karta jitna Shilpa ne Manoj ke liye kiya."
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Actor Aasif Sheikh, who was hospitalized after collapsing at the shoot of his film recently, says that his “body just gave up due to exertion”
S Farah Rizvi (HINDUSTAN TIMES; March 26, 2025)
Actor Aasif Sheikh left his family, friends and family deeply worried when he recently collapsed during the shoot of his upcoming film in Dehradun. The actor was filming an action sequence on March 16, when he fainted after complaining of a searing pain on the left side of his body.
Aasif, who was rushed to a hospital nearby, has since returned to Mumbai. Sharing his health update with us, he says, “I am okay now, but full recovery will take a few more days. I am being administered injections every alternate day and have been advised complete bed rest.”
Talking about what went wrong, he says, “I think my body just gave up due to exertion. I already had slip-disc issues, and that, along with sciatic nerve pain, made my left leg totally numb. On that day, I couldn’t take the pain anymore and phir kya hua, I don’t know.”
Aasif, who is under observation, adds that he will also undergo an MRI scan. “Hopefully, I will be back in another couple of days,” he says. His upcoming film is based on his ongoing TV comedy show, Bhabi Ji Ghar Par Hai.
Akshay Kumar, Nimrat Kaur, Veer Pahariya to shoot lavish promotional song for Sky Force
8:24 AM
Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; December 11, 2024)
Akshay Kumar and the makers of Sky Force have booked January 24, 2025, as the patriotic drama’s release date. But before Sandeep Kewlani and Abhishek Anil Kapur take their maiden directorial venture to the big screen, the duo is gearing up to shoot a lavish promotional number next week. We’ve heard that the leading man, along with Nimrat Kaur and Veer Pahariya, who makes his acting debut with the movie, will can the song in Mussoorie over four days. That’s not all. An A-list celebrity is rumoured to join them, fuelling speculation about a cameo.
An insider close to the Dinesh Vijan production revealed that the song has been added as part of the film’s promotional strategy. “The goal is to create a visual and musical spectacle that resonates with the audience ahead of the January 24 release. We will begin shooting on December 18, but the prep begins well in advance. The director duo will start pre-production this week, and Amar Kaushik [as the creative producer] is overseeing the proceedings. Some of the most picturesque locations of Mussoorie have been chosen for the song’s backdrop,” said the source.
Sky Force, which will mark Kumar’s first release of 2025, reportedly delves into India’s first airstrike during the Indo-Pakistan war of 1965.
Kajol plays a cop for the first time in Do Patti; picture from the shoot location out
8:58 AM
mid-day lays its hands on pictures from Do Patti shoot that sees Kajol playing a cop for the first time in her 31-year career; the actor chases Kriti Sanon’s character in the thriller
Upala KBR (MID-DAY; October 18, 2023)
For the past 12 years, we’ve seen Ajay Devgn roar on screen as the no-nonsense cop Bajirao Singham, a role that he is reprising in Singham Again. But it looks like he has another fierce cop right at home. One hears that Kajol plays a tough-as-nails police officer in Do Patti, which also stars Kriti Sanon and Shaheer Sheikh. Sanon and writer Kanika Dhillon’s maiden production went on floors on August 18 with a brief shoot in Mumbai, before the unit headed to Nainital. On Saturday, the unit wrapped up the Uttarakhand schedule.
mid-day laid its hands on a few pictures from the shoot, which have Kajol sporting the khaki uniform and shades. Those in the know say that the actor plays a fiery character in Shashanka Chaturvedi’s directorial venture. That’s not surprising considering Dhillon has a knack for writing strong-minded female protagonists—be it Rumi from Manmarziyaan (2018), or Rani in Haseen Dillruba (2021).
A source reveals, “Kajol portrays a tough-talking, sassy police officer from north India in the mystery thriller. Kriti’s role is equally exciting. In the movie, Kajol’s character is in hot pursuit of Kriti, chasing her across Mussoorie, Landour and Nainital. In her three-decade career, the actor has essayed diverse roles, but the opportunity to play a cop never arose before. She was immediately drawn to this complex role.”
While Kajol was an integral part of the Uttarakhand schedule, Sanon and Sheikh joined her last week. “The two actresses filmed some dramatic scenes. Brijendra Kala too was a part of these sequences. On Saturday, the unit wrapped up the schedule with a party,” adds the source.
The film’s third leg will begin in Mumbai by the month-end. It is Kajol’s third Netflix offering after Tribhanga (2021) and Lust Stories 2. In July, the actor made her web series debut with The Trial.
I want to thank this jury for acknowledging not just this song, but also the pain of migrants-Vishal Bhardwaj
8:40 AM
Sugandha Rawal (HINDUSTAN TIMES; July 24, 2022)
Filmmaker and music director Vishal Bhardwaj is delighted to get his eighth National Film Award. Filmmaker Vinod Kapri’s 1232 Kms: Marenge To Wahin Jaakar, which documents the suffering and anguish of migrant workers during the initial wave of Coronavirus and the lockdown, earned Bhardwaj the honour of Best Music Direction in the Non-Feature Film category.
The 56-year-old says that the honour acknowledges the suffering of migrant workers: “Woh acknowledge nahin hua tha, na ho raha tha. I really want to thank this jury for acknowledging not just this song, but through this song, they are actually acknowledging the pain of all the migrants.”
Recalling the making of the music, Bhardwaj shares, “Amid the pandemic, I had shifted to Mussoorie (Uttarakhand). When Vinod Kapri (filmmaker) contacted us, Gulzar (lyricist-filmmaker) and I, we were so moved. We decided to do it free of charge, and asked him to make the basic recording cost. We were all pent up inside because of what was happening in the pandemic and the images we were seeing of the migrants walking for thousands and thousands of kilometres. Gulzar ji had put it succinctly, ‘Marenge To Wahin Jaakar’ found an outlet to express my feelings through the documentary,” he says.
For Bhardwaj, the sanctity of the award remains undefeated. “Baaki awards jo hote hain, woh lagta hai ke kisi paan ya gutke ke awards hain. Everyone wants to sell something and wants to show it on television to recover the money, and stars se dance leke usko exploit karenge. They come with a cheapness attached to it,” he says, adding, “Whereas, at the National Film Awards, the President gives you the award. You feel honoured to receive it from the first citizen of India. The sanctity of the National Award, its beauty and its honour are precious.”
Mili, starring Janhvi Kapoor and produced by Boney Kapoor, to be wrapped up next month
8:25 AM
Boney Kapoor’s first production, an official remake of the Malayalam film Helen, with daughter Jahnvi, to be wrapped up by next month
Upala KBR (MID-DAY; October 24, 2021)
After breaking into the Bollywood scene with the remake of Sairat, Karan Johar’s Dhadak in 2018, Janhvi Kapoor is attempting another remake. Produced by her father Boney Kapoor, Mili is the official remake of the 2019 Malayalam film Helen.
A source informs that the project is near completion. “The Mumbai leg of the shooting kickstarted on August 4, and by October 30 the shooting in Dehradun and Mussoorie will be wrapped up. Post which, the crew will return to Mumbai and complete the remaining portions in five days on a set.”
Directed and co-written by Mathukutty Xavier, who also helmed the original, the film revolves around a girl who accidentally gets trapped in a cold storage unit. “The movie required a mall as the backdrop. Since establishments were closed in Maharashtra, the crew moved to Dehradun in September to can a few scenes and to Mussoorie for the songs,” informs the source, adding that the film also required Janhvi to shoot in a real cold storage unit to lend authenticity to the scene.
“Makeup artiste Ranjith Ambady, who won the National Award for Best Makeup Artiste for Helen, was flown down to Dehradun to do Jahnvi’s makeup.”
Mili is the first collaboration between father and daughter. Hence, Boney Kapoor is planning a grand launch when it releases in theatres next year. The Valimai producer remained unavailable for comment.
Since Girls Will Be Girls is set in a hill station boarding school, Uttarakhand will be the perfect location-Richa Chadha
8:12 AM
Wowed by the north Indian state’s beauty while shooting for a series, Richa decides to film maiden production in Nainital and Mussoorie
Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; October 5, 2021)
Earlier this year, Richa Chadha was Nainital-bound for the shoot of one of her projects. Little did she know that the filming of the eight-episode series in Uttarakhand would also serve as an unplanned recce of sorts for her maiden production venture, Girls Will Be Girls. The actor was so taken with the picturesque state that she has decided to shoot the film at the location.
The Shuchi Talati-directed movie, which revolves around a 16-year-old girl’s relationship with her mother, is set in a Himalayan boarding school in a north Indian hill station. After spending weeks in Uttarakhand, Chadha was convinced that it would serve as the perfect backdrop for the coming-of-age drama — a decision that was seconded by producer-boyfriend Ali Fazal.
“The location was so peaceful and serene that I found it easier to focus [on things] than when in the city. Since Girls Will Be Girls is set in a hill station boarding school, Uttarakhand will be the perfect location,” says Chadha, who along with Fazal, is setting the stage for the first project of their banner, Pushing Buttons Studios.
The film’s pre-production will kick off by the year-end, with shoots planned across Dehradun, Mussoorie and Nainital.
I want to do roles that have more substance rather than just playing lead actor’s wife or girlfriend-Prachi Desai
8:16 AM
Titas Chowdhury (HINDUSTAN TIMES; September 12, 2021)
Five years after the release of Rock On 2 (2016), Prachi Desai returned to the screen with Silence... Can You Hear It, a series that marked her debut in the digital space. She was happy to wait for the right content to come her way rather than be part of projects that didn’t challenge her.
She shares, “Not being on the screen post Rock On 2 didn’t deter my spirit. I was okay not doing films during the past few years. I spent my time being engaged in things that can help hone my craft. I watched a lot of content. That helped me understand what I want to do.”
Desai, who will be seen playing important parts in Kosha and Forensic, says that the past few years helped her understand the content that she wants to be a part of. “My approach to my craft had changed,” she remarks, adding, “I had made this conscious decision a few years ago. I want to do something that has more substance rather than just playing the lead actor’s wife or girlfriend. I want more meat to bite now.”
While she has been taking it slow in the past few years, the actor, who turns 33 today, is glad to be spending the day doing what she loves the most. “This birthday, I will be on the sets of Forensic, in the lap of nature, tucked away in the hills and mountains of Mussoorie where the clouds and mist play hide and seek and literally pay us a visit on land,” she says.
Times are tough and so, this birthday will be about being thankful. “After the year we have all had, I am now more grateful for everything. I am trying to make the most of each moment. Waking up to this piece of heaven is making me count my blessings,” Desai concludes.
Check out exciting images from sets of Rajkummar Rao-Bhumi Pednekar starrer Badhaai Do
8:36 AM
Rajkummar Rao and Bhumi Pednekar open up about working together in Badhaai Do and shooting in the cold. Director Harshavardhan Kulkarni talks about working with the cast, and we bring you some exclusive snapshots from the film’s set
Divya Kaushik (BOMBAY TIMES; February 6, 2021)
While Rajkummar Rao is playing a cop in Badhaai Do, Bhumi Pednekar plays a PT teacher. The film happens to be the first collaboration between Rajkummar and Bhumi, and they say they are very excited about it. “Working with Bhumi is great. She is immensely talented and I’ve been following her work. There is so much growth in her as an actor. I was looking forward to working with her and I was not finding a good script. Then Badhaai Do came our way and we both jumped at the chance,” says Rajkummar.
Bhumi adds, “Raj has been a revelation for me. I thought he would be someone who’s very serious and a bit of an introvert, but he’s not like that — at least not in this film. He is a blast to work with, and a fantastic actor. Both of us were looking for the right film to collaborate on, and there couldn’t have been a better collaboration than Badhaai Do.”
Even for director Harshavardhan Kulkarni, working with the two of them has been a treat. He says, “Both of them are very hard working. They’re always trying to fine tune their craft and improve upon it, so there are some times when I say that is enough and they say, ‘let’s try a little more’. That’s been the best part about shooting with them. They also challenge me and I need to be on my toes all the time when I am working with these two.”
EXPLORING THE ‘MODERN, NEW-AGE’ DEHRADUN
Shooting outdoors in the biting cold has been a challenge for the cast, but exploring the serene and scenic surroundings are definitely a plus, says Harshavardhan, who shot at Wynberg Allen School in Mussoorie, for two days. We were informed that Badhaai Do is the first movie to be shot there in over 30 years, the last film being the Rajesh Khanna-starrer Ghar Ka Chiraag. “Shooting in Dehradun and Mussoorie has been fabulous. We are very lucky that we are shooting in the winters, and the sunlight that we capture is stunning. Most of the locations that we are shooting at are unexplored and never-seen-before spots, especially the ones in Dehradun,” informs Harshavardhan.
For Bhumi, shooting in Dehradun has been a revelation as the actress says that she always thought Doon to be a small town. “We have been shooting some parts of the film in Mussoorie, but we have shot extensively in Dehradun and it’s very pretty. The cold is intense and being born in Mumbai, I’ve never really experienced winter, so this is extreme for me. But it is exciting to shoot here as Dehradun is a fun city, as opposed to what I thought of it to be. It is not a small town — it is a city with nice cafes, malls etc. I think people haven’t really seen this part of the new-age, modern city, it’ll be very fresh for the audience with what we are showing in Badhaai Do,” says Bhumi.
Being from NCR, Rajkummar is used to cold winters, and isn’t complaining. “I love winters and I am having a lot of fun,” he says.
I think we needed that jolt and this pandemic has given us that-Tara Sutaria
8:20 AM
Juhi Chakraborty (HINDUSTAN TIMES; December 31, 2020)
This has been an unusual
year for everyone, with the Coronavirus pandemic crippling the world for months,
and the effects of it are still wearing off slowly. For actor Tara
Sutaria, 2020 made her count her blessings in more ways than one. “This
year has been hard in so many ways that we could not even imagine. It
has made me look at life very differently. It is a good thing for our
generation to have gone through this. One thing that we have learnt from
this is patience. It is something that as a generation we could really
do with,” shares Sutaria.
The actor says she got the time to introspect, and adds, “I think we needed that jolt and this pandemic has given us that. It’s taught us a lot of lesson we would not have leant had this not happened.”
Her films may have skipped release owing to the pandemic this year, but the 25-year-old says she didn’t lose motivation. “What kept me motivated despite all the low and terrible days was just having friends and family. It is a real luxury that we shouldn’t take for granted. During the pandemic when everything seemed bleak and all of us were confused, what kept me going was people I can count on. It is a real blessing,” explains the Marjaavaan (2019) actor.
Sutaria, who has resumed shooting of her next film Tadap in Mussoorie and Rishikesh, is happy to see things getting back to normalcy in the film industry. “Everyone is back to filming, very safely and responsibly. I think we have handled it very well. Coming out of this, we will have to find our way. It’s a first for all of us, there will be a lot of firsts and newness. Things will be a bit iffy but we will come out of it stronger than ever,” she concludes.
Excited I’m now going to explore Agatha Christie, like I did with Shakespeare-Vishal Bhardwaj
7:51 AM
Anshul Chaturvedi (BOMBAY TIMES; October 19, 2020)
“I had hoped this will be over in two or three months. But then I realised that this is not going to go away so soon. And as a filmmaker, I became very confused as time went by. How will I make the films I had planned to? How do I shoot? How do I shoot a scene in a public place? If I have a crowd in the backdrop, they will all be wearing masks. And in what time period is a film set — if it is post Coronavirus, will all characters be wearing masks? I became very confused,” he narrates the frustration of a locked-in filmmaker.
Denied the option to do what he had planned to do, he explored what he could do, where he was – in the hills, largely locked in.
“My location and my situation gave me an idea – of the sort of movie that can be made in such a situation,” he cheerfully narrates. “For a long time, I have had a love for murder mysteries. I am a big (Alfred) Hitchcock fan. He made films inside a single home – have you seen Rope? He made that film in nine shots! And that meant nine reels – each shot was the maximum length of a reel. That was the mastery of Hitchcock. And then there was Psycho, North By Northwest, The Man Who Knew Too Much – I loved those films!”
Then he comes to the other master of these situations, the one he is engrossed with presently.
“And I love Agatha Christie. India has a huge fan base of hers. And people of our generation, those who did not grow up with mobile phones and social media – you know we lived on novels! Summer vacation, libraries... those memories, wishing that the book never ends!”
But those with mobiles and social media – have they been able to escape her influence altogether?
“No, perhaps they haven’t. After speaking to my son and a few others, I realised that even the current generation is a fan of hers. Agatha Christie has not faded with time. Now, it so happened that about a couple of years back, there was an outreach, they wanted to bring their franchise to India. But I was busy, things did not really move ahead. But now, as we were all locked indoors in Coronavirus, I realise that there is only one type of film that can be made without too much trouble in this situation – the Agatha Christie murder mystery type. I love Hercule Poirot, I love Miss Marple. So I got in touch with them again...”
Er, who exactly is they and them?
“Agatha Christie Limited is a big estate and Agatha’s great grandson, James Prichard, is the Chairman. Did you know that after Shakespeare, she is the second largest selling author in the world? And I felt very honoured, very fortunate, that I have worked with Shakespeare’s works and now I will have a chance to work on an Agatha Christie project... So many movies have been made on Agatha’s stories all over the world. And many of her stories are already taken. Recently, the British director Kenneth Branagh, the one who made Murder On The Orient Express and Death On The Nile – he has acquired the rights for all Hercule Poirot stories, for instance.”
“Anyway, in this lockdown, I contacted the estate. We started discussing if we could make a movie in India. We clicked well, but it was a very long process. They offered me many novels, out of which I picked the first one (he attempts to keep the title a secret, for now).”
And this first film will introduce a young heroine thrown into solving a murder, who teams up with an unlikely companion to unravel the case. Future films will follow the duo as they continue investigating multiple murder mysteries.
“I proposed to the estate that I want to take two characters from the story, a boy and a girl who are not professional detectives, and make a franchise out of them – and they loved the idea! I’m going to place the story in Auli since the whole plot is rooted in mountains, and the mountains are a character in the story (fans, here’s your hint).”
Does he look at her works differently now than he did in the school summer vacations?
“When I first read her novels, I am not sure I fully appreciated her skill. Today, when I read her again, I marvel at the characters she created – you look at it differently when you are also a writer. The dysfunctionalities, the motivation – I realised that she wrote such great human dramas. Even if you take away the murder mysteries from her stories, the relationships are so deep and layered that you can still make a film on them.”
He pauses, then exclaims: “I am so excited because this gives me an opportunity to explore Agatha Christie in our context – like I have been doing with Shakespeare with Haider and Maqbool and Omkara. Place them in our social, political backdrop.”
A Hindi film based on an Agatha story?
“Bilkul! Iss mein gaane bhi honge!”
Why not a bilingual, perhaps? To sell Agatha back to an English audience, globally?
“But now the language barrier has been broken, hasn’t it? Narcos, Fauda and so many shows on digital platforms – they have broken the language barrier. It doesn’t really stop you anymore.”
Point. Has the casting been done?
“We are still in that process.”
I cannot resist a question here. Will they be genuine new talent, or will they be an extension of – well – nepotism?
Vishal breaks into boisterous laughter that pauses the conversation for a couple of minutes.
“I have a different take on nepotism. I came from outside, so I cannot be a supporter of it, right? But I don’t agree with the branding of our industry. Nobody says anything to the biggest industrialists in the country if one generation takes on the work of the earlier one. In our space, it is a very fair deal actually – your break does not make you a star. It is such a cut-throat business. Why does everyone only count the names of those who have survived and grown? Count the list of names who are from within the industry and who have failed. Woh list barabar ki hai – actually uss se zyada hi milegi aap ko. Aap nahi bana sakte kisi ko star! And if someone has talent – maine aaj tak kisi ko rukte hue nahi dekha. In our country, we enjoy commenting on cricket and cinema. And our cricketers, they don’t say anything political, anything controversial. They stay apolitical and so they largely stay out of trouble. We filmmakers speak out on things and so hamara yeh hashra kiya jaata hai.”
As a filmmaker, and as an outspoken one at that sometimes, what does he find troublesome? Online trolling?
“I don’t care for trolls. I don’t read the comments after I write something. And if (spouse) Rekha or (son) Aasman see anything about me, I have told them, if it’s something good, let me know, else don’t bother. In fact, I want to make a film on the troll army.”
That’s a smart comment, or a straight one?
“No, genuinely. I really want to make a film on them. I want to acknowledge the sincerity of their efforts, the great job they are doing, every single day. The organisation, the dedication, the commitment – hats off to them! They should be given due credit.”
When it was the turn of my first shot, it started raining-Ananya Panday
8:02 AM
As told to Akash Bhatnagar (MUMBAI MIRROR; April 15, 2020)
Three years ago, I had to audition for Student Of The Year 2, which took place a day after Holi. I couldn’t celebrate the festival as I was afraid to get colour on my face which may not have come off the next day. After the audition, I was in touch with Punit (Malhotra, director), but he never told me explicitly if I made it or not. Naturally, I was nervous and didn’t know what to do. At the same time, I got into college and was conflicted if I should go for it or not.In July, Karan (Johar, SOTY 2 producer) called me to his office, sat me down, told me I was a part of the film and welcomed me to his (film) family. I first thought I was dreaming and someone was going to wake me up. It was such a big moment for me because it had been a lifelong dream to be a part of that iconic family. Everything I had dreamed and asked for was finally happening.
My first day on the set was two years ago, on April 7. Punit took me and Tara (Sutaria, fellow debutante) to Mussoorie (where the film was shot) a few days earlier than everyone else. It was our first film and he wanted us to ease into it instead of feeling ambushed on the film’s set. Our first shot was supposed to be for the song “Jatt Ludhiyane Da”. Punit had individually promised the three of us (leading man Tiger Shroff, Tara and her) that all our first shots will be solo so that each one of us gets to savour it.
Tiger’s was a dance step, while Tara got a beauty shot. When it was my turn, it started raining. I got upset, thinking I wouldn’t get to shoot, and that my first day was ruined. Everybody got to do their scene except me. Luckily, Punit changed mine into an indoor shot so everything worked out.
For the scene, I was supposed to climb down a flight of stairs while recording myself, singing, on a phone. My mom (Bhavana Panday) and Manish (Malhotra, designer and family friend) were there, and that made it really special for me. Manish has been there for a lot of actresses’ first shot. I just felt elated to be a part of that iconic list.
I shot my audition video for Special Ops in a public washroom-Karan Tacker
8:08 AM
Karan Tacker reveals how he bagged Neeraj Pandey's Special Ops as he makes his web debut with the espionage thriller
Letty Mariam Abraham (MID-DAY; April 7, 2020)
The chocolate boy of the telly world, Karan Tacker has been missing from daily soaps for almost seven years. Now, the actor is back in the thick of things with his maiden web offering — Neeraj Pandey's Special Ops on Hotstar. As he gears up to explore the digital medium, the actor discusses why he felt the need for creative rejuvenation and how the spy thriller is a dream come true.
Edited excerpts from the interview.
Why have you been off the radar for so long?
The last daily soap I did on television was Ek Hazaaron Mein Meri Behnaa Hai in 2012. When it comes to content on TV, there has been a slight slump. After a point, I felt I had done it all on television and there was nothing left to explore creatively.
Does it mean you're done playing goody-two-shoes characters?
For the moment, I am done. That said, I don't want to leave TV because it has put me on the map. I have immense love and respect for it. Television takes you into people's living rooms; it has a mass reach. But I needed to take the next step.
How did you bag Special Ops?
Neeraj Pandey is someone I have always aspired to work with. In fact, I had asked my lyricist friend, Manoj Muntashir, to introduce us in 2017. I was in Mussoorie when I got a call from the casting agency, which asked me to send a self-test for the audition. Unfortunately, the public washroom there was the only place where I got some [cellular] network. So, I shot my audition video there [laughs]. Somehow, I got a call-back!
What made you believe that the series would be a perfect web debut for you?
As actors, we are as good as our director and the script. Neeraj Pandey is known for etching out his characters beautifully. How often do you see every actor on the poster of a series? That's his mindset. So, when you are working with him, you know he is going to be true to the content.
However, this couldn't have been your first web offer.
I did get plenty of offers. But you visualise yourself in a certain light and [gravitate towards such parts]. Nothing that came my way left me charged until Special Ops.
Espionage thriller is a different ball game from romance dramas. Was it challenging?
Overcoming the fear of heights was one of the toughest things I had to do [during the shoot]. One of the scenes, which had my character contemplating suicide, required me to stand on the ledge of an apartment on the 25th floor. Since I have vertigo, it was particularly challenging even though all safety measures were taken. At one point, I even mustered the courage and climbed on the ledge, but stepped back within a minute. As I stepped back, I started crying, and I am not embarrassed about it. It took us about four to five hours to film the scene.
Taapsee Pannu to start shooting for Rashmi Rocket on March 26 in Mumbai
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Avinash Lohana (MUMBAI MIRROR; March 6, 2020)
“The students were so inspired by Taapsee that the school named their gym after her. She trains for two hours every day for better stamina and the body language of an athlete,” informs director Akarsh Khurana, adding that a diction expert has also been appointed to teach the actress colloquial terms and phrases in Kutchi. The first half of the film is set in Kutch, where shooting begins on April 1. “We’ll be shooting in three chunks. After Kutch, we head to Delhi in May and Dehradun and Mussoorie in June. Rann of Kutch is also an important part of our schedule. In fact, the first schedule starts with a song, which is set in the Rann Utsav,” Akarsh reveals.
The film also features Aparshakti Khurana and Bhavesh Joshi Superhero actor Priyanshu Painyuli. The screenplay is written by Aniruddha Guha, while Kanika Dhillon has penned the dialogue. “Aniruddha did a lot of research, speaking to several athletes and people from the athletics federation. Amit (Trivedi), who is composing the music, is excited about exploring the local music of Kutch,” Akarsh adds.
The director goes on to clarify that the Ronnie Screwvala, Neha Anand and Pranjal Khandhdiya production is more of a drama than a sports story. “The sport forms the backdrop of the film, while the story narrates an athlete’s journey from anonymity to fame and how she gets caught up in the politics and corruption of the sports system along the way,” he reasons.
When asked about the inspiration behind his heroine, the director shares that the character is fictional, but the story was a culmination of several real-life incidents involving female athletes from India and abroad. Besides Rashmi Rocket, Taapsee also has Shabaash Mithu in the works, which is based on cricketer Mithali Raj.
The actress had first heard the basic story idea of Rashmi Rocket from her South filmmaker-friend Nanda Periyasamy. “And she approached me to direct it after watching my last film Karwaan (featuring Irrfan Khan and Dulquer Salmaan),” Akarsh signs off.
I wanted to be a singer; acting was not a part of my plan-Tara Sutaria
8:05 AM
Onkar Kulkarni (BOMBAY TIMES; November 14, 2019)
After stepping into Bollywood with Student Of The Year 2, Tara Sutaria will be seen with the original ‘student’ from the franchise, Sidharth Malhotra, in the upcoming film Marjaavaan. While she plays the role of a speech-impaired girl in the film, offscreen, Tara loves singing and wants to pursue a career in music. In a candid chat with BT, she spoke about her Bollywood journey, singing aspirations and rumours of a link-up with Aadar Jain. Excerpts:
Sidharth Malhotra and you hail from the same on-screen school — Saint Teresa College (from Student Of The Year) — and have the same mentor, Karan Johar. Did that make it easy to bond?
Honestly, Sidharth and I rarely spoke about Student Of The Year (SOTY) on set. In fact, we had a lot of other things in common. Both of us are not from the industry and would talk about our families and siblings. Sid would tell me how he has changed as a person, since the time he joined the industry. And I told him that I wasn’t sure if I will change because I am extremely shy and reserved. I used to ask him about how he deals with filmi parties as I am new to the industry and feel scared at these events. He would share his personal experiences, and we got to know each other during the making of Marjaavaan. We tried to understand each other, as the film is very intense and we had to portray that kind of chemistry. Someone also told him that I sing well, so he asked me to sing a few lines. He loves music, and we connected over that, too.
Like your debut film, you are once again sharing screen space with a female costar; this time with Rakul Preet Singh...
(Cuts in) Ananya (Panday) and I had a lot more in common. We were making our debut together and were huge fans of the franchise (SOTY); both of us also have the star signs — Scorpio. On the other hand, Rakul (Preet Singh) has done so much work. I didn't know her at all, and we had very few scenes together. In our limited interaction, we spoke mostly about food. She would give tips about replacing ingredients that will help me make healthier choices. She was doing two shifts in a day and still wasn’t exhausted on the sets. It was interesting to see how she managed it all.
While Sidharth and Riteish Deshmukh have shared screen space in Ek Villain (2014), this is the first time you are working with Riteish…
Yes, but I did not have many shots with him. My character dies when his character comes into focus. Our scenes were mostly shot in the night. I remember him crawling on his knees as he played a vertically-challenged man. He had many funny stories to share and was very witty, which would lighten up the mood during the late-night shoot.
Milap Zaveri, who has directed Marjaavaan, is known for his sex comedies. Are you a fan of the genre? Which films of his have you seen?
I haven’t seen any sex comedies. I remember that he had shown me the trailer of Mastizaade (2016). I don't think I will ever do a sex comedy; it’s just not my thing.
Considering the fact that you are a trained singer, will we see you singing soon?
I wanted to be a singer; this (acting) was not a part of my plan. Whenever I see a photo of mine or read articles about me, I still can’t believe it. I am already promoting my second film and shooting my third… all of it feels like a dream. While this year, I focused on acting, next year, I will also look for opportunities in music. I want singing to be a huge part of my career next year. I idolise Barbra Streisand and Beyoncé, and am very old school when it comes to music and like 50s music. I want to see myself as a singer very soon.
Post SOTY 2, are you still in touch with Karan Johar? Do you consult him when you make your career choices? Also, you had got along well with Tiger Shroff. Do you manage to catch up with him?
I will always be in touch with Karan. He is very special to me. He calls us (actors of SOTY 2) his babies. If I need advice, especially when it is related to the industry, he is my go-to person. Even if he is busy, he makes sure that he is there for us. As far as Tiger is concerned, I have a special place in my heart for him. He is my first co-star and the first person with whom I could share everything. We will be friends forever. We two have a lot of things in common, and have lots to talk about whenever we catch up.
There is a strong buzz about you dating Aadar Jain. Do you want to clear the air?
I met Aadar at Karan’s (Johar) Diwali party last year. Well, he is very special to me, and we do go out a lot. We enjoy the same things. We have a similar taste in music and enjoy bingeing on good food. We also get photographed together, and I am fine with it as there is nothing to hide. We are very fond of each other and like each other's company a lot.
Like your debut film, your third film, the remake of RX 100, has an industry kid — Suniel Shetty’s son Ahan — stepping into Bollywood...
Yes, I am excited about it. Ahan is great to work with. The film a remake of RX 100, but our roles are very different from those in the original. We will be announcing the title of the film and releasing the first look very soon. We will start shooting the film in Mussoorie on the day that Marjaavaan releases. I had shot SOTY 2 there as well, so I will feel like a local when I am there (laughs!).
Aadar Jain is special to me; we really enjoy each other’s company-Tara Sutaria
8:32 AM
Tara Sutaria fields questions on rumoured beau Aadar Jain, her sequinned sari, letting go of films that became hits & going from glam to girl-next-door
Avinash Lohana (MUMBAI MIRROR; November 5, 2019)
When it comes to star-studded house parties, Tara Sutaria sure knows how to work the cameras and then some. Barely two months after reports emerged that she could be dating Aadar Jain, the Student Of The Year 2 debutante arrived at the Bachchan Diwali party with the actor, draped in a sari which has, incidentally, been spotted on Karisma and Kareena Kapoor (Aadar’s cousins) earlier. Presumably to contemporarise it further, Tara paired it with a décolletage-flaunting satin blouse. Online, the look found takers and haters in equal measure, depending on whether you’re listening to a millennial copywriter or a seasoned blogger.“Manish (designer Manish Malhotra), very sweetly, designed that look for me. I love his sequin saris, they are famous,” the actress shares as she sinks into a comfortable chair at a suburban five-star. For this turn, she has opted for a pair of denim shorts, white sneakers and a Gopi Vaid jacket made of traditional prints, trims and embroidery.
She is relatively less forthcoming on the topic of her date, who had, not long ago, accompanied her to Malaika Arora’s birthday bash as well. “It’s important to say this, we enjoy going out and spending time together. Aadar is special to me and both of us are foodies, so we are going to be spotted at restaurants. We met for the first time last Diwali and have a lot of mutual friends.” But are they dating? “Well, we really enjoy each other’s company,” she reiterates evasively.
Previously, there had been link-up rumours with her Marjaavaan co-star, Sidharth Malhotra. Tara is quick on the uptake, saying, “Such rumours, and not just with Sid, started even before SOTY 2. They are annoying because they’re not true and there is nothing you can say to clarify. Now, I understand this comes with the job, so I take them with a pinch of salt. I got to know Sid because of Marjaavaan. Before that we had only met at parties. We realised that we were neighbours and had so much in common as we are both ex-Students and come from non-filmi families.”
Speaking of the ex-Students’ first film together, the actress will be seen in a de-glam avatar after a teenybopper turn in her debut “I connect with Zoya more than with Mia (SOTY 2), she is passionate about music and so am I,” she explains.The film’s release date has been moved around a few times but Tara is unfazed. “I am new in the industry, so I don’t really understand numbers yet, but I am happy that it is releasing around my birthday,” she beams, going on to share that she was planning a prom-themed party for her 24th birthday on November 19. “But now I am leaving for Mussoorie on the 15th for my next film (RX 100 Hindi remake). Ahan (Shetty, co-star) is already there.”
She is excited about portraying her first grey character in the film. “Everyone wants to play safe when they are young and starting out. I never thought I would do the things I am doing in this film,” she gushes.
Tara was offered Sandeep Vanga’s Kabir Singh which could have been another South remake for her besides RX 100. Ask her if she’s glad she didn’t do the film considering the flak it received for its blatant misogyny and she says, “I don’t think I agree with that (the film’s misogynistic tone). It’s not a true story and I think everyone has the artistic right to show what they want in their film. Having said that, I also understand and respect everyone’s opinion. I couldn’t do Kabir Singh as I was shooting for SOTY 2 and had signed Marjaavaan at the time, but I loved Shahid (Kapoor) and Kiara (Advani) in it.”
Tara also had to let go of the role of Princess Jasmine in Guy Ritchie’s live-action adaptation of Aladdin featuring Will Smith as Genie.
Ask her if she wonders whether it would have been a better launch pad and the answer is a resounding ‘no’. “I have three films coming out in my first year in the industry. That wouldn’t have happened if I had done anything else. There is a lot to be grateful for with SOTY 2. People expected it to do crazy numbers, which I understand it didn’t, but it still did well. It will always be special for me as it’s my first film,” she asserts.
Sunny Leone explores horror-comedy with her next film, Coca Cola
8:05 AM
Sonil Dedhia (MID-DAY; April 30, 2019)
The success of Golmaal Again (2017) and Stree (2018) has made Bollywood wake up to the genre of horror comedy. mid-day has now learnt that Sunny Leone is ready to try her hand at the genre with her next, Coca Cola. After a string of special appearances and dance numbers, this will mark Leone's first feature film in Bollywood since Tera Intezaar (2017).
Confirming the news, producer Mahindra Dhariwal says, "We have signed Sunny Leone for the horror comedy. I thought this is the right time to explore the genre since the audience has taken a shine to it. We have already registered the title so that there is no copyright issue in the future."
Refusing to divulge details about the film's premise, the producer — who has previously backed Bhaiaji Superhit (2018) and Maa Tujhe Salaam (2002) — intends to take the project on floors by June. "Most portions will be shot in Dehradun, Mussoorie and Haridwar in a start-to-finish schedule. We are in the process of finalising rest of the cast."
Suniel’s son Ahan Shetty's debut film to go on floors in May
8:08 AM
Himesh Mankad (MUMBAI MIRROR; February 14, 2019)
Suniel Shetty’s son, Ahan, is set to kick off his acting debut, a yet-untitled Milan Luthria directorial produced by Sajid Nadiadwala, in May this year. For his launch vehicle, which comes almost four years after his sister Athiya’s first film Hero, Ahan is prepping for his character with bike-riding lessons and acting workshops.
According to a source close to the development, the film’s team is currently on a recce. “Besides the cast, it’s important to get the locations right. The plan is to set the film in Rishikesh, Mussoorie and Haridwar. The script is a blend of romance, action and drama and Milan wants the film’s treatment to be raw and real,” the source added.
Apart from the outdoor shoots, a brief schedule has been set aside for a Mumbai studio. The film is scripted by Rajat Arora, who has previously worked with Sajid on Kick. “Though the basic premise has been adapted from the Telugu film, RX 100, Rajat has reworked the script to cater to a pan-India audience,” the source added.
Buzz is, just like the 2014 action film, Heropanti, that marked the debuts of Tiger Shroff and Kriti Sanon, Sajid plans to launch Ahan with a female debutante.
Incidentally, Suniel had received his first pay-cheque in the industry from Sajid, for his second production, Waqt Hamara Hai. “Though Balwaan was my debut film, it was Waqt Hamara Hai that I had signed first, in 1992. Sajid is a friend and a father figure for Ahan,” Suniel said.
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