Showing posts with label Nargis Fakhri. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Nargis Fakhri. Show all posts
Nargis Fakhri married to Tony Beig in a hush-hush wedding in Los Angeles?
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Vinay MR Mishra (BOMBAY TIMES; February 23, 2025)
Actress Nargis Fakhri and her longtime beau Tony Beig have reportedly got married in a hush hush wedding in LA, we have heard. From what we have gathered the couple got hitched at a five-star property in Los Angeles, last weekend.
A source shares, “Both Nargis and Tony ensured that nobody clicked pictures of the two from the wedding. It was an extremely private function with only family members and close friends.” Apparently, the newlyweds are in Switzerland for their honeymoon.
Nargis and Tony reportedly started dating in 2022. After almost three years of courtship, they seemed to have finally decided to take the plunge.
We reached out to Nargis for a comment, however, there was no response till the story went online.
For the unversed, Tony is a Kashmiri born LA based businessman. Nargis, on the other hand, made her debut with Rockstar and has been a part of multiple Bollywood films such as Housefull 3 and more.
Earlier in an interview with us, Nargis for the first time admitted to being in a relationship. Nargis who never opened up about her relationship said, “I don’t want to go into the details, but yes, I have someone in my life. I am very happy.”
She also added, “I am a very lucky person that I am loved by many. I am a partner person, so I love to do things with people I care about. And it doesn’t have to be just in a relationship. No, I am not an obsessed girlfriend. Everybody who is with me loves my company so much that they miss me when I am not around."
When asked if she would want to make things official soon, she replied, “What is official? Even those who are married aren’t official! Good love is the one that’s stable; it is something that makes you feel normal and at home.”
Nargis Fakhri’s sister Aliya held for killing ex-beau and his friend in New York
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Nargis’ sister Aliya has been arrested for alleged murder of ex-boyfriend and his friend in New York
BOMBAY TIMES (December 4, 2024)
Nargis Fakhri was in the news on Tuesday after her younger sister, Aliya Fakhri was arrested for allegedly setting fire to her ex-boyfriend Edward Jacobs’ home in New York City, which led to his and his friend Anastasia Ettienne’s deaths. Queens District Attorney, Melinda Katz, confirmed that Aliya has been indicted on firstdegree murder and related charges. Katz stated that the fire, which authorities believe was set by Aliya in the detached garage near Jacobs’ home, caused both victims to die from smoke inhalation and burns.
Reports claim that Nargis was estranged from her sister and the two had not been in contact for almost 20 years. According to sources, the Rockstar actress only learned about the incident through news reports.
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HINDUSTAN TIMES (December 4, 2024)
Actor Nargis Fakhri’s sister, Aliya Fakhri, has reportedly been arrested in connection with the murder of her ex-boyfriend and his friend in New York last month. Aliya, 43, “deliberately” set on fire the detached garage of a house, which led to the death of her 35-year-old ex-beau Edward Jacobs and Anastasia Ettienne (33), according to a press release by Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz.
“You’re all going to die today”, Aliya allegedly yelled at Edward after arriving at the garage early on November 2. Edward, who lived upstairs, was asleep during the incident. A witness came out hearing her voice and saw the building on fire. Anastasia came downstairs on being alerted and went back up to save him, but neither of them survived the incident.
Aliya was indicted by a grand jury for four counts of murder in the first degree, four counts of murder in the second degree and one count each of arson in the first degree and arson in the second degree, the release said, adding that she faces a potential maximum of life in prison if convicted of the top charge.
According to reports, Aliya’s mother has said that she was struggling with opioid addiction after a dental mishap, which she believes may have caused her daughter’s behaviour. Meanwhile, a source close to her told India Today that she hasn’t been in touch with her sister for 20 years. We reached out to Nargis, but she was unavailable for comment till the time of going to press.
Housefull 5 team to shoot grand song celebrating 14 years of the franchise
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Sources say Housefull 5 stars to shoot a grand song, representing the franchise’s journey, over three nights this week
Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; November 19, 2024)
Joy, laughter and chaos make up the on-screen world of Housefull. Imagine all that packed into a song, and what you get is the upcoming schedule of Housefull 5. Word is that director Tarun Mansukhani has planned a grand number that sees the entire cast — including Akshay Kumar, Riteish Deshmukh, Fardeen Khan, Jacqueline Fernandez, and Nargis Fakhri — shake a leg together. The song will apparently be shot over three nights at Chitrakoot Grounds in Andheri.
An insider reveals, “The track has been envisioned as a celebration of the franchise’s journey over the past 14 years. It will be larger-than-life, with expansive sets, elaborate costumes, and choreography that highlights the playful chemistry between the cast. It will be a night shoot going on from November 21 to 23.”
Over 100 background dancers have been roped in for the number, which is being choreographed by Remo D’Souza. The cast will begin their rehearsals today.
Another source from the production says, “Tarun wanted the vibe to be classic Housefull—quirky and over-the-top, with moments in the song that will leave the audience in splits.”
Late last month, the entire cast had filmed another lavish dance number (End the party with a song, Oct 29).
Housefull 5: After fortnight of cruise filming, Akshay Kumar-starrer moves to Sidmouth for next phase
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Having completed the cruise liner portions over the past fortnight, Housefull 5 cast now shooting in Sidmouth; to kick off final Mumbai leg mid-October
Upala KBR (MID-DAY; October 4, 2024)
Shooting aboard a luxury liner sounds like one big party, and that’s exactly what it has been for the Housefull 5 team. Director Tarun Mansukhani kicked off the shoot of the multi-starrer—that features Akshay Kumar, Riteish Deshmukh, Abhishek Bachchan, Fardeen Khan, Jacqueline Fernandez, Nargis Fakhri and Chitrangda Singh, among others—on September 16 on a cruise liner in Newcastle, England. After a fortnight of filming on the sea, it is now learnt that the team has made a pit-stop in the town of Sidmouth. For the next two weeks, a chunk of the comedy will be canned at Sidmouth, Exeter, London and other cities in the UK.
The latest instalment in the Housefull franchise is being envisioned as the biggest so far, with Mansukhani even roping in actors from the previous editions for key roles (Everyone’s invited to this house party, June 19).
A source reveals, “This time around, most of the narrative unfolds on a cruise. The ship set sail from Newcastle, going to Spain, then Normandy and Honfleur in France, before turning back to Plymouth in England. From October 2, the unit began shooting in the picturesque town of Sidmouth, which is a couple of hours away from London. The plan is to wrap up the UK leg by October 16.” Last week, Kumar also organized a surprise party on the ship to celebrate co-actor Chunky Panday’s birthday.
As soon as the cast returns to India mid-October, they will begin the Mumbai leg. Sanjay Dutt, Nana Patekar and Jackie Shroff will join the unit in this schedule. From what we’ve heard, the three actors play grey characters.
“Producer Sajid Nadiadwala and Tarun were keen to cast Sanjay in Housefull 5, given his knack for comedy. When the actor’s application for the UK visa got rejected, hindering his Son of Sardaar 2 shoot, Sajid chose a wiser route by ensuring that all of the actor’s Housefull 5 portions would be set in Mumbai. Huge sets representing the interiors of the luxury ship will be erected in a Mumbai studio, where the climax will be shot with the entire cast.”
If things go as planned, the principal photography will be wrapped up by November.
The fact that Shah Rukh Khan is a humongous star is something I hadn’t made a provision for-Imtiaz Ali
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On Mid-day's Sit With Hitlist, Imtiaz Ali goes back in time to share anecdotes from his first film Socha Na Tha, right up to the latest, Amar Singh Chamkila
Mayank Shekhar (MID-DAY; August 17, 2024)
“Whatever you do, sir, just don’t fix the money [for your next film], before calling me,” actor Shahid Kapoor told director Imtiaz Ali, in 2007, when Jab We Met (JWM) had opened “lukewarm” in theatres.
It’s going to become a big film, Shahid suggested to Imtiaz, whispering to him then, “You could charge 2X of what you’re thinking [in lakhs], or you know what? It could even be a crore!”
Imtiaz was set to do Love Aaj Kal (2009). Negotiations were on. He waited it out, upon Shahid’s advice. He says, “It was Dinoo [producer Dinesh Vijan], who suffered! You ask him, he will never forget this. He is like, ‘Sir aapne jo number bola, [the number you quoted], my head hit the roof’. I said, blame Shahid!”
Shahid had recalled to us (on Sit with Hitlist), telling Imtiaz, not to carry a script with the name Geet (working title for JWM), given the heroine’s name on it, when shopping around for the hero!
But it’s actually Shahid, Imtiaz remembers now, who reminded him about the Jab We Met script, in the first place. He’d heard about it from others, while it was being passed around film industry folk.
Shahid had dates available. As did co-star Kareena Kapoor, who was going through the more important size-zero regimen for Tashan (2008), the supposed blockbuster in the making (that she explains in detail, in another episode of Sit with Hitlist).
Both said yes, and Imtiaz had literally a “window of 21 days” to get on shoot, while the screenplay wasn’t absolutely complete, dialogues had yet to be written, let alone pre-production, for locations to be locked, etc.
The script that Imtiaz had gone over to Shahid with is the same one that he met Ranbir Kapoor for, years later. That movie is still to be made—about time, we say! Ranbir took the said script with him to read, but asked Imtiaz about Rockstar (2011), instead.
It’s the story that, once upon a time—right after Imtiaz’s debut, Socha Na Tha (2005)—was to be made with UTV, starring John Abraham in the lead! Nothing came of that Rockstar.
Ranbir, in fact, narrated Imtiaz’s Rockstar story to Imtiaz himself. He’d heard it at a friend’s place, a few days from when they met: “Sir, let’s make that film,” he proposed.
Hearing Ranbir narrate the script, he knew that’s the actor to cast. This is post Ranbir’s debut, i.e. Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Saawariya (2007), which Imtiaz hadn’t watched still. The reverse-narration was the clincher.
Now, there are wholly savable Word/Finaldraft documents, and the computer, of course. “Despite everything”, Imtiaz admits, he had lost that script.
He rewrote Rockstar, from memory, for Ranbir. “The common thing between Ranbir and [and his wife now] Alia Bhatt is that I met both at a screening,” Imtiaz recalls.
Alia did Highway (2014) with him. She was not the original choice. He had a maturer actor in mind for the role, someone perhaps in her 30s: “Aishwarya Rai, without the make-up, maybe. It was that kinda film.”
While his core crew wasn’t convinced about Alia in Highway, he got her over to the office, to narrate the film to everyone. Done with that, the unit was satisfied.
It’s a hack he’d learnt from Ranbir’s narration of Rockstar. He tried it on Alia. Two unrelated people, “who have a kid together now; how filmy,” Imtiaz laughs.
We remember Alia telling us (on Sit with Hitlist) about how she seduced Imtiaz into casting her in his film (any film)—when she set her eyes on the director, at the screening of Luv Shuv Tey Chicken Khurana (2012).
Which is not how Imtiaz remembers it: “She’s just sweet!”
He handed her a novella-like outline of Highway; called her up later to check on what she felt. He could tell she was petrified. Given that she’s in every scene of the film.
He went over to meet, where dad Mahesh Bhatt was convincing her to go for it: “He’s a nice director.” Alia had said it was simply her dream to work with Imtiaz.
In fact, this profile, heavily excerpted, is almost wholly around anecdotes that other guests on Sit with Hitlist, this conversation series, have narrated, on Imtiaz himself.
The entirely unedited, fun chat, on video, is uploaded online. The other person, who inevitably shows up in most conversations to do with Bombay film talents, who were similarly newbies in the ’90s, is Mahesh Bhatt, aka semi-godman Bhatt Saab!
Imtiaz says, “Bhatt Saab was the first person to offer me to direct a film. He was planning on retiring as a director. He had seen an episode of Imtihaan, a series I was doing for Star Plus. Manoj Bajpayee was in it. He called me up one day, and asked me to meet at his office.”
Imtiaz went over to Bhatt Saab’s workplace—far too packed with people, over a majlis, listening to warm sermons on life, films, the works. Imtiaz was intimated.
From across the floor, Bhatt Saab shouted out to Imtiaz, “I’ve seen the scenes you’ve shot; loved this, didn’t like that, blah blah, blah… You’re directing my next film. Now go, I don’t have time.”
Totally taken aback by what had happened, Imtiaz called Bhatt Saab back, from the pay-phone, downstairs, “‘Sir, I didn’t understand what you said.’ He laughed, and asked me to come back the next morning. That was a movie to do with two musicians. Bhatt Saab was going to write and produce it for Vishesh Films. I hope to make it someday.”
Imtiaz, as is widely known, was born and raised in Jamshedpur, then Bihar, now Jharkhand. You can see his Jamshedpur in Vikramditya Motwane’s Udaan (2010), which is not a happenstance.
As Vikramaditya had told us, he had got Imtiaz to read the script, who asked him to stay over with his family back in his hometown, to get a sense of the setting. It made sense for Udaan to be placed specifically in the steel township of Jamshedpur.
Imtiaz’s younger brother Sajid, a school kid then, used to show Vikramaditya around—who, in turn, felt Sajid would make for the perfect lead actor for Udaan.
The film remained stuck between producers, over years. By which time Sajid had grown up. He debuted as director with the romantic musical, Laila Majnu that, as we speak, six years later, has made a rerelease/comeback into theatres, vastly outpacing collections/footfalls, from when it first opened in 2018.
Vikramaditya and actor Abhay Deol were childhood buddies. Which is how Imtiaz and Vikramaditya met. Abhay, the young Deol in town, was looking to enter films, ideally with fresher ideas/talents.
Imtiaz, who had been working in television—after graduating in advertising, from Mumbai’s Xavier Institute of Communications—went over to Abhay’s place to narrate his script.
Abhay needed a close bouncing-board for a second-opinion. He called his friend Vikramaditya over. Likewise, Imtiaz says, he took his friend Anurag Kashyap along for the meeting.
Such is how Socha Na Tha (2005), both Imtiaz and Abhay’s debut film was born. Whether or not right there, and then, but certainly seeded in the same room.
Imtiaz’s career since has largely been marked by strong romantic films, but all the more associated with Punjab. For the Bombay film industry itself, Punjab, as the prime muse, is hardly a surprise.
Most top Bollywood stars and producers have had their ancestral roots in the land of five rivers. The nostalgia around which—sarson khet, bhangra, giddha, karva chauth—have inevitably showed up in their popular works.
Imtiaz, though, is from Bihar—having also spent seven years of growing up in Patna, where his father was posted. Not that he has an iota of a Bihari accent. Which, he says, is more because of Jamshedpur, which is an altogether cosmopolitan town.
He’s sure to switch into a Bihari twang, while responding to it. In the same way, he says, among Delhi-ites, can go full ‘Delhi’. That’s where he went, to Hindu College, to read English literature. He can similarly react to the Punjab accent.
How come Punjab, though? He wears a kada alright, that was gifted to him, when still in school, and he’d visited Punjab on a holiday then. But, that’s it.
“Punjab began with JWM,” he says. And has, of course, continued with his last film, Amar Singh Chamkila, the most deeply felt, insider’s account of the state, where both compassion and blood flow (always has).
Chamkila is also the most watched Indian film on Netflix.
Imtiaz had first set JWM in Rajasthan. But his feisty, female lead character, Geet, and her words, fitted in more with “Sikhani girls, who I had interacted with a lot in Delhi.”
The train of JWM, hence, moved to Punjab instead. Namely a small-town called Nabha. The locals thereafter guided him towards achieving authenticity. He’s since been drawn to “the land of grace, mysticism and love. All the great lovers in India have been from Punjab.”
Which isn’t to say he hasn’t subverted the setting enough, or gone with clichés of old-world Bollywood altogether. My favourite instance is him placing a Brazilian model, Giselli Monteiro, as a ‘kudi’ from the ancient Punjab pind, in Love Aaj Kal (2009)!
Imtiaz was looking to cast Giselli—visiting India on an assignment—as Saif Ali Khan’s Latin American girlfriend, in the London/modern portions of the pic. Looking at her, his co-producer, Preety Ali, suggested her for “Harleen Kaur [from Brazil] for Punjab!”
He had similarly picked Nargis Fakhri—half Czech, half Pakistani, fully American, from Jackson Heights, Queens, New York City, as a pucca Delhi-ite, from Kashmir, in Rockstar.
He spotted her in an ad, in a fashion magazine. Whether or not that casting convincingly worked out, Imtiaz reasons the idea behind it was to find a “dil todne ki machine [complete heartbreaker]—someone so out of the league, in terms of looks, face, body, even for Ranbir!”
In hindsight, he does feel he could’ve factored in the bit that she was American, into the script. Nargis’s casting was strongly criticised, if you recall, after the release of Rockstar.
Imtiaz defends himself with the same film’s successful rerun in theatres recently: “Nobody expressed a problem with it now.” Nargis’s character Heer is from St Stephen’s, which is the college across the road from Hindu, where Imtiaz went.
I reckon if it’s his most personal film, yet? Imtiaz agrees. More so, for its central question—about whether success, in general, let alone the arts, was possible, without experiencing sufficient turmoil in life.
It’s something Imtiaz had grappled with himself. He says, “During interviews for Chamkila, I realized, even Diljit [Dosanjh, his lead actor] had grappled with the same dilemma: ‘Koi tragedy nahin hai [No tragedy], how will I become a singer?’ And then he says, so nicely, ‘Koi baat nahin, continue karte hain [Never mind, let’s continue]!’”
The other theme that Imtiaz related to most deeply was “illogical attachment” with issues that, otherwise, we have no engagement with, but have empathy for—the fact of ‘Sadda Haq’!
“Even in my own movies, there are moments that move me, but I don’t know where they come from, in terms of a [direct] source. That said, the character, Jordan, is nothing like me. The thoughts are.”
At Hindu College, Imtiaz named and founded Ibtida, its dramatics society, that runs even today. During his time in Delhi, he belonged to what he calls the “Mandi House jhol”.
Meaning, the theatre scene in and around the National School of Drama (NSD), with independent groups, such as Act One, headed by N K Singh, that he was part of—along with the likes of Manoj Bajpayee, Piyush Mishra, Shoojit Sircar, Ashish Vidyarthi, Gajraj Rao, Prashant Narayanan, and the lot.
These are well-known names, and the list grows big enough to avoid recounting—for the number of creative talents, who moved to Bombay, around the same time, from Delhi, to work in the film industry.
Establishing a new filmic voice of sorts—Vishal Bhardwaj, also from Hindu; Tigmanshu Dhulia, from NSD; Kashyap, from Hansraj College; Saurabh Shukla, from next-door Khalsa (the latter two wrote Satya, 1988)…
Imtiaz, 53, says, “Somebody must do a study [on how that came to be]. We were all friends, or friends of friends; often crashing at each other’s homes. This was the generation that was both ‘Sholay’ and ‘Shyam Benegal’.”
Delhi’s Act One had a “sister-concern, with similar values”, Barry John’s Theatre Action Group (TAG), that shared talents, on occasion.
That’s from where emerged Shah Rukh Khan, who had dropped out of the mass communications programme at Jamia, after a successful stint on television in Delhi—establishing himself, soon enough, as the ‘King of Romance’ in Bollywood.
Imtiaz, as a director, broke out with the romantic genre as well. Surely, he would’ve thought of Shah Rukh for his star at some point?
“No, he was too big; never on the anvil. For that matter, even now, I can’t think of Amitabh Bachchan. He’s too big for me. Even Mr Bachchan doesn’t realise how big he is. I have seen people pull out theatre seats, because he’s appeared on the trailer for Geraftaar [1985]!”
Shah Rukh and Imtiaz did team up on a romance together—that’s Jab Harry Met Sejal (JHMS, 2017). It’s a film that, Imtiaz says, pretty much got triggered from a Facebook comment on Tamasha (2015).
Possibly his most polarizing picture—loved to death by many. While some got bored to death as well, questioning the realist basis of the male lead (Ranbir). Which is, to be honest, really their bad. If they didn’t get it, that is.
“Well, there is something snooty about the appreciation for Tamasha. It’s become the club that I never saw myself in. I used to think, I’m a sell-out. So, I just wanted to make an easy, accessible film [with JHMS],” Imtiaz says.
It was the biggest ticket film—genre, star, and director, perfectly in sync. But I don’t think he sees it that way. Again, in hindsight, criticisms or box-office apart, you wonder what he thinks he could’ve done differently with JHMS?
He says, “With theatre, television, and films, I’ve worked the same way. Written a story, and brought it together, through actors. Which is what I did with JHMS. The fact that Shah Rukh is a humongous star is something I hadn’t made a provision for. Because, in life, he’s such an easy and accessible person—he doesn’t give you that impression, either.”
“Of course, there are enough good things in the film, which get lost [when it’s not accepted]. But I could have brought in a flashback, a backstory, and Shah Rukh, as the star, could’ve been used to the best of his strengths.”
Going back to the Delhi crowd that made the ‘new Bollywood’ in the ’90s, as it were—where Imtiaz seems separate from the mainstream-indie, migrant directors, that emerged then, is foremost with music.
He remains among the few realistic, new-age filmmakers, indulging deeply with romance, song picturizations, lip-syncing, adapting soundtrack, as situations, into his scripts. That is, after all, an inherited art-form, syntax, and grammar—threatening to die with later talents.
All of it, he says, comes from growing up in Jamshedpur. If you’ve seen Cinema Paradiso (1988), that’s him—young boy sitting behind the projectionist, switching reels. His family owned Jamshedpur Talkies and Karim Talkies, two local theatres, that he had complete access to.
He says, “I’m inherently drawn to the ‘cinema-ness’ of cinema. The moving melodrama, that actually comes with music—to represent mood, feelings, turns [in the story], or time transition, through montage….
“And I found myself so lucky to be in the company of such crazy and kind musicians [Sandesh Shandilya, A R Rahman], who literally opened their doors for me [to work with them]. I find music composition to be the highest art form.”
In that respect, his strongest collaborator, in terms of writing, might well be the “shayar” Irshad Kamil, from Malerkotla (Punjab), whose lyric is essentially an extension of dialogues, in Imtiaz’s films—they’ve worked on each one together.
Imtiaz found Irshad, through Sandesh. They instantly bonded over the common love for poetry: “In this city [of Bombay], you crave that, and when you find a person like that, you catch that person!”
Speaking of getting caught, the most hilarious anecdote I’d heard about Imtiaz and Irshad was actually about how they were once caught by the police together.
This is on Versova beach, past midnight. Him, Sandesh and Irshad, lost to the world, discussing music (for Socha Na Tha).
“Those days, if we had to meet at night, it had to be outside. Homes were small. People would be sleeping inside.” In comes a cop, wondering what these guys were up to on the desolate beach.
“It was 2 am, but it’s not like we were up to anything nefarious… Irshad said we were making music.” Which is probably the lamest explanation/excuse the beat-cop would’ve heard in his life, over three men, allegedly gallivanting.
Next thing they know, they’ve been put inside a police van. Further, into the police station. They were right in the middle of having arrived at a track, though.
Each time they regrouped, whether in the van, or the police station, they simply carried on with cracking the idea: “Well, we knew, if we get the song right, none of this will matter!”
There is a charming stoicism about Imtiaz. You can sense it in his company. He’s also an engaged conversationalist, never repeating stuff you’ve heard him say before. Totally in the moment; mulling, responding, detaching, yet fully interested.
It’s probably the same way he handles personal fame. I know this from independent sources. As in, friends, who’ve bumped into him at local bars/restaurants in the past. Imtiaz being among the few directors, who’s so public a face.
As he puts it, in another context, quoting Buddha, “Eyes half open, half closed. Half with yourself, half with the world. It’s such day-dreamers, who drift into the film industry. Instead of the other way around. It’s a boon to make a living out of dreaming.”
Even while he was looking to make films, and surely, it’s a struggle for everyone, he says, he was fine, the way he was. “You never really make it, anyway. Manisha Koirala told me once that when she was in Bombay, auditioning for films, that was her life.
“If nothing ever happened, she was still satisfied. Only if she felt dissatisfied [for any other reason], she would have returned, done something else.”
That said, certainly the rigours of film as an industry can get to most—hits, flops, etc. Consider the unusually cold streak that Imtiaz had, JHMS onwards—in particular, Love Aaj Kal (2020), or even stuff helmed as producer, Thai Massage (2022), series such as She (2020), Dr Arora (2022).
Whatever one’s personal opinions on those works, and those are subjective, anyway—they didn’t turn out to be pop-culture moments, or at least haven’t, yet.
And that Chamkila (2024) was, effectively, the comeback, as it were? Does he ever feel that he’s on a rough patch? He says, “Always! Because you’re always engaged, with a certain [new/next] challenge. I’m only worried about that, at any point in time.”
Going by the theme of picking moments from Sit with Hitlist, when guests have brought him up, there is a not-so-positive one, if you may.
“Bring it on, I love negative stuff,” Imtiaz smiles. That’s when his lead actor Sara Ali Khan mentioned to us that she hated herself, in the new Love Aaj Kal! Or, at least, something to the effect.
On the film itself, he says, “You know, my English teacher, Swaroopa Mukherjee told me, when she saw Love Aaj Kal, that it remined her of her English classes.
“She said, ‘There is this strange thing that when you explain things to young people, and ask—have you understood? They say, ‘Yes miss, I’ve understood. But, actually, they haven’t.
They never say—no, I haven’t understood. There was something very sensitive in there, and the youngsters in the film, perhaps, didn’t get what you were trying to say’.”
He adds, “I’m not blaming Sara. The point is that direction is a process of working with an actor. The actor, who has surrendered, is not obliged to understand. They have said the words/lines. I couldn’t get through to the actors, to own the material [in Love Aaj Kal].”
Going beyond stars, it’s my turn now to pose to Imtiaz something that has annoyed people, at large. And that’s do with fans of JWM!
When asked during a recent interview about what he thought might happen to the it-couple, Geet and Aditya, if the film had a sequel? He said, they would be at the divorce-lawyer’s office!
Only fair that I pass on the outrage. Imtiaz laughs, “That interview was before a live audience. I just thought it was a smart thing to say!”
Nope, not letting go that easy. “Well, films have to be dramatic. So—what if, they’re at a divorce-lawyer’s office? That’s the question. Now, if that’s the beginning of the film—the end will be happy, right? You start at a crisis, and come to a solution!” Well saved.
Final question, and this has to do with an old print interview of Imtiaz’s, that’s remained in my head since. Chiefly because there was no follow-up to his answer, and I kept wondering exactly what he meant, when he once said, “Married men are the most ch***** version of themselves!”
Mercifully, he remembers that decade-old interview. He smiles, “There was a context to it. Some of which I’ve forgotten now. All that remained was the headline!”
Go on? “Well, marriage in itself is nothing. Relationship and vibes are important. Anyway, I don’t believe in bracketing relationships. The problem is when people start playing ‘married’. The same thing applies to the wife.
“And then you dumb yourself down, playing ‘rules of the game’. Rather than respect each other, for who you are. That’s when you become a bad version of yourself.”
Okay, explain with an example? “That husband and wife are supposed to do things together. Why? Let’s say, I wanna go on a solo-trip to Jhumritalaiya, or read a book. And she wants to go to Switzerland, or watch a movie.
“You would, if you were friends; so why not? But you’re married people. So, what? And then resentment sets in. You start keeping secrets from the one person, you’ve actually sworn never to keep secrets from.”
Aptly, we’ve ended with precious gyan on love, from Imtiaz. Outside of films, of course. “Disclaimer: Please don’t follow anything I say. I know nothing,” he signs off.
Housefull 5 makers to rope in Arjun Rampal, John Abraham, Bobby Deol and actresses of previous editions
9:35 AM
Sources say Housefull 5 makers to rope in Arjun, John, Bobby and other actors from past four editions to enhance comedy’s universe
Upala KBR (MID-DAY; June 19, 2024)
The more, the merrier has been a long-standing mantra in the world of Housefull. Now, it looks like Housefull 5 will be a crowded affair. While Akshay Kumar, Abhishek Bachchan and Riteish Deshmukh lead the comedy, sources tell us that producer Sajid Nadiadwala and director Tarun Mansukhani are planning to rope in cast members from the past instalments. Apparently, the idea is to bring all the franchise players together, thus enhancing the Housefull universe.
A source reveals, “Talks are on with Arjun Rampal, John Abraham and Bobby Deol, who starred in the first, second and fourth edition respectively. The makers are envisioning it as a clash of the protagonists and antagonists. Discussions are underway with Chunky Panday, who will have a double role. From its many leading ladies over the years, Lara Dutta, Nargis Fakhri and Jacqueline Fernandez may join the latest offering. While some actors will have cameos, others will be seen in crucial roles.”
The upcoming laugh riot is set aboard a luxury cruise liner. The film will roll in London in August, after which the cast and crew will move to a cruise liner for a 45-day schedule.
The source adds, “The cruise begins in Newcastle in England, then heads to Scotland, Ireland, France and Spain. Tarun wants to ensure everything is planned in advance, leaving no room for delays as a huge star cast will be onboard.”
The director wants to wrap up the shoot by October.
If you can’t afford boats, make sure you have friends who can afford them-Nargis Fakhri
8:30 AM
Onkar Kulkarni (BOMBAY TIMES; March 13, 2024)
Dressed in a summery outfit with a hat and sunglasses, Nargis Fakhri was excited to hop on a yacht at the Gateway of India for an early morning sailing session. The actress posed exclusively for Bombay Times as she enjoyed the breeze and tranquility of the ocean.
“I love sailing. It is so peaceful and relaxing when you sail and are surrounded by the ocean. You get to be with yourself and enjoy being amidst Mother Nature. I feel a sense of freedom when I go sailing. The best time to go sailing is either at sunrise or sunset, and never forget to wear sunscreen,” she says.
The Rockstar actress, who hails from New York, says that though there was scope for sailing in the Big Apple, she never tried it there. She shares, “It was in Greece in 2007 that I went sailing for the first time. It is my favourite destination for sailing. I made a lot of friends in Greece, who happened to have boats. That’s how my love for sailing began. So, if you can’t afford boats, make sure you have friends who can afford them (laughs).”
As the yacht hits choppy waters, Nargis draws comparison with the ups and downs in life. Something she has experienced in her career, too. After making her Bollywood debut with Imtiaz Ali’s Rockstar, she was seen in films like Madras Café, Main Tera Hero and Housefull 3, and more recently the web show Tatlubaaz. She feels that filmmakers are now looking at her differently.
“My last show Tatlubaaz saw me in a character that I never imagined I could play. I sported desi looks and beautiful saris. It was a challenging role,” she adds.
On the personal front, ask the actress, who is in a relationship, if marriage is on the cards, and she says, “Marriage is something that does not define me. I am very happy where I am in life today. Whether or not it happens, it is not something that I even think about. My life’s journey is more about new experiences. I just want to experience everything in life and that’s my only ambition.”
BT Exclusive: Nargis Fakhri admits being in a relationship: "Yes, I have someone and I am happy
3:57 PM
Vinay MR Mishra (BOMBAY TIMES; December 19, 2023)
Twelve years ago, Nargis Fakhri made her Hindi movie debut with Imtiaz Ali’s Rockstar and witnessed overnight fame. But dealing with it wasn’t easy. She says, “I was overwhelmed by it. Imagine waking up one day and you are famous, you are just in a state of confusion.” A dozen years later, the actress, who is self-admittedly sensitive, has found a way to maintain a healthy relationship with the industry.
‘It was difficult to navigate my way in the Hindi film industry’
Talking about why she found it challenging to deal with the situation after the release of her debut films, she explains, “It was difficult to navigate my way in the Hindi film industry given my sensitivity. It was something people could not understand. Also, fame took me by surprise. From no one knowing you to everyone knowing you – people being intrusive didn’t make sense. Also, people rushing towards you to click pictures… all of this became overwhelming. You become anxious and insecure. Now, I am completely okay, because I have changed my perspective. I was fearful of everybody, even of those who loved me. I couldn’t believe that they loved me. Now I am just grateful.”
The actress, who recently made her digital debut with Tatlubaaz felt misunderstood at the early stage of her career. “I felt misunderstood because I didn’t do what everyone else did. I always followed my own path. People thought it was weird,” Nargis shares.
‘I wish I had a better support system’
Ask her, given another chance, how differently would she do things, and the Housefull 3 actress says, “I was never prepared for this (acting career). I wish I had a better support system to show me the way and make me understand how this is supposed to work. I was a carefree person; I accidently landed in India and had no plans to be an actor. Every year, I would say I am leaving, but I would stay back because I enjoyed acting. I wish there was somebody to guide and teach me.”
‘Good love is the one that’s stable’
On the personal front, Nargis is seeing Kashmir-born, LA-based businessman Tony Beig. Nargis who has never opened up about her relationship says, “I don’t want to go into the details, but yes, I have someone in my life. I am very happy,” she says.
She adds, “I am a very lucky person that I am loved by many. I am a partner person, so I love to do things with people I care about. And it doesn’t have to be just in a relationship. No, I am not an obsessed girlfriend. Everybody who is with me loves my company so much that they miss me when I am not around."
Ask her when would she make things official with Tony and she replies, “What is official (today)? Even married ones aren’t official. When you say you are in love, all the chemicals go in the wrong direction, but you are not functioning properly. That is the wrong (idea of) love. Good love is the stable; it is the one that makes you normal and home.”
Are you seeing Tony? “I am seeing him with my eyes?” she replies. Are you dating Tony, she again replies, “There are many dates in the calendar. In the future, we will send you a note (laughs).”
Nargis Fakhri didn’t know ‘dorky’ Ranbir Kapoor or ‘strange’ Imtiaz Ali before Rockstar
8:50 AM
HINDUSTAN TIMES (July 29, 2023)
Nargis Fakhri shot to fame with her performance in the Imtiaz Ali directorial Rockstar (2011). However, the actor revealed recently that she “hadn’t heard of” neither Ali nor the lead, Ranbir Kapoor, before starting the shoot.
In an interview with Mashable Middle East, Fakhri recalled how she came to be cast in the movie. She was spotted by the director in a jewellery campaign that was on billboards in India without her knowledge. She was contacted by a member of Ali’s team, who insisted that she meet the director on his trip to Prague.
“I was like, ‘Oh, what the hell, let me go meet this person. If he’s weird I’ll kick him in the b**ls and run’,” she said, adding, “[I go and see] this strange man with big curly hair… Good person, very nice, felt safe [and] told me the most beautiful story I’ve ever heard in my life. He said, ‘If you come to India, we can teach you the language’. I said ‘I don’t know’, because that’s a huge thing to do. After a couple of weeks, they asked again, and I said I’ll just go and try.” shares the Pakistani-Czech former model.
Recalling her experience with “dorky guy” Kapoor, Fakhri said, “Working with Ranbir was a blessing, in hindsight. I didn’t know who he was. But he’s very cool, and it was so much fun. I wasn’t nervous, because I didn’t know who they (many of the cast members) were, and when you don’t know, you don’t even care.”
I would never be naked for a project-Nargis Fakhri
8:05 AM
Syeda Eba Fatima (HINDUSTAN TIMES; July 10, 2023)
Soon to make her OTT series debut, Nargis Fakhri is excited that the move to the web space is allowing artistes to push their boundaries. The actor says, “I wanted to be a part of the OTT space knowing it has exploded with so much content. It pushes an actor’s limits. There are a variety of characters and I think that’s the spice of acting.” She will be seen alongside actors Dheeraj Dhoopar and Divya Agarwal in the series Tatlubaaz.
Ask if her excitement for OTT stems from the fact that she wasn’t able to realise her potential on her the big screen and Fakri says she doesn’t think “cinema held me back”. “I think I fit certain characters better and so, I got cast for them over and over. They call it pigeonholing. But I don’t think it was on purpose,” says the 43-year-old, who has already made her OTT film debut with Torbaaz (2020) alongside actor Sanjay Dutt.
Open to experimentation, the Amavas (2019) actor, however, draws the line at nudity. “I would never be naked for a project,” she says, adding, “But I wouldn’t mind playing any kind of character, including that of a homosexual. It does not bother me because it’s part of my job.”
Deepika Padukone, Katrina Kaif and I should do Charlie's Angels-Nargis Fakhri
8:47 AM
Returning to Hindi movies after three years with Shiv Shastri Balboa, Nargis wishes to front action film with Deepika and Katrina
Priyanka Sharma (MID-DAY; February 4, 2023)
You can’t miss the exhilaration in Nargis Fakhri’s voice as she speaks about her return to the Hindi film industry after over three years since her last release, 'Torbaaz' (2020). To her, now is the best time to be part of Indian stories.
Reason? “The OTT explosion,” she exclaims, before adding, “Different kinds of movies and shows are being made. There are opportunities for all kinds of actors.”
In 2011, the actor had caught everyone’s attention with her debut in the Ranbir Kapoor-led Rockstar. A slew of largely underwhelming films followed. Now, she is set to begin again in Bollywood with Shiv Shastri Balboa. The Anupam Kher and Neena Gupta-starrer is special to Fakhri for a reason — set in New Jersey, the drama shows the real America, she believes. “The story doesn’t take place in glitzy Manhattan or Los Angeles, but in the small cities where real people live.”
The actor hopes this marks the beginning of exciting offers. In her new innings, she hopes to not repeat the missteps from her past stint. “In the past, I used to receive so many scripts. But you have to remember that your agency positions you a certain way. [They told me] that one has to think about the producer; they wanted me to work with so-and-so. Sometimes, you don’t have a say in what you do, even if you feel a script is amazing. It was difficult to adjust to it, but I trusted them because I didn’t know anything about the business.”
Now, the actor is more confident about her perspective on movies. Going forward, she will only listen to her heart, not the opinions of people around her. “There is no one telling me what to do. If anything interesting comes my way, I will do it.”
Does she have anything on her wish-list? “I would love to do action. That helps me push my boundaries. I would love to see strong women in action.”
Her contemporaries Deepika Padukone and Katrina Kaif are matching their male counterparts, punch for punch, in big-budget spy thrillers. Mention it to Fakhri, and she quips, “We three should do Charlie’s Angels.”
People could not see my hard work-Nargis Fakhri
7:58 AM
Nargis Fakhri shares how tough things were for her when she started out in showbiz
Rishabh Suri (HINDUSTAN TIMES; June 29, 2022)
After marking her Hindi film debut with Rockstar in 2011, Nargis Fakhri has only done over a dozen films till now. “My team is very picky about what I should be doing,” says the actor, adding, “Not being from the industry, I obviously have to take advice from people who are from the industry. Something like Madras Cafe (2013) came after Rockstar. Even though there was a break [of two years] between the two, I got recognized for good acting. I’m happy about the choices I made.”
Being an American, the actor had a tough time honing her Hindi-speaking skills. “People could not see it (her hard work). I didn’t see my family for two or three years. I studied Hindi for almost 10 hours in a small office. It was hard work, but also good luck at the same time, because my team was really good. They worked on getting the right projects for me,” shares Fakhri, who will be seen next in the Telugu period drama Hari Hara Veera Mallu.
Ask the 42-year-old if the slower than usual pace with her film outings was because she had fewer connections in the industry, and she shares, “I just lived life carefree, open to opportunities. I did modelling, and when I came to the film industry, I had really put in a lot of hard work.”
I definitely faced body shaming; people posted that I was pregnant-Nargis Fakhri
8:48 AM
Rishabh Suri (HINDUSTAN TIMES; April 7, 2022)
Actor Nagris Fakhri, who was on a planned break in the US, is now back in India and raring to get back to work. However, despite being on a break, she was making headlines. Rumours that she has found love again with US-based Kashmiri businessman Tony Beig were under the spotlight recently. “You know, people say so many different things, so I am actually not going to say anything about this, because everyone just writes whatever they want to, so I will just let everyone have fun,” she laughs when we ask about it.
Aside from their love lives, another recurring topic that celebrities deal with is their body image. And Fakhri was a victim of it when she took a three-year break after Azhar (2016) and returned to the big screen with Amavas (2019). The rumour mills labelled this break a maternity leave. Several sources claimed that the actor was pregnant, when it was simply a case of weight gain, as she later revealed on Instagram, with before and after pictures: “On the left I weighed 178lbs (80kg) and on the right, I was 129 (58kg). I have since lost 20lbs (9kg) through making lifestyle changes. If I can do it, so can you.”
Ask her about the same and she reveals, “I definitely faced body shaming for a short time. I do believe there is a certain look or appearance people expect from you. So there is pressure to maintain that.”
Delving into the details when we probe further, the actor continues, “It’s funny because I realised you are never good enough, and everyone has an opinion. When I first came to India, I was too skinny, so everyone was like, ‘You need to put on weight’... I have a naturally skinny physique. Later, I gained about 50 pounds (approximately 22kg), so they posted that I was pregnant, which I thought was very funny. I think at first my feelings were hurt, but I realised it’s my job to take care of myself. I lost 40 pounds (about 18kg), worked out, and got that [fitter] body back.”
I was overworked & stressed; I felt that I wasn’t doing things that made me happy-Nargis Fakhri
8:07 AM
Onkar Kulkarni (BOMBAY TIMES; March 27, 2022)
Nargis Fakhri, who came into the spotlight with her debut film, Imtiaz Ali’s Rockstar opposite Ranbir Kapoor in 2011, was later seen in films like Madras Cafe, Main Tera Hero, Azhar and Housefull 3. She also showed off her dancing skills in songs like Dhating Naach (Phata Poster Nikla Hero) and Yaar Naa Miley (Kick). After a busy 2016, when she had five releases, Nargis suddenly packed her bags and flew back to her home in New York. While she continued to stay connected through social media, she was hardly seen on the big screen. In a heart-to-heart chat with Bombay Times, Nargis, who is now in India, spoke about her exit from Bollywood, her plans for re-entry and what lies ahead. Read on…
Buzz was that you left Mumbai because of health issues. What brings you back to the city?
That was a long time ago. I don’t want to focus on that today. I am healthy now and am ready to take over the world (laughs!). I was to come to Mumbai earlier, but the world was hit by the Coronavirus pandemic. In March 2020, I had joined a 10-day meditation retreat, and when that ended, and I came out, I was shocked to see that life had come to a standstill. I had a ticket to come back to Mumbai in April 2020, but look at the irony, I was all set to take over the world, but the world had shut down! When I was in the US during the pandemic, I was eager to get back to work. Now that I am in India, I am looking forward to start shooting for my south project, Hari Hara Veera Mallu with Pawan Kalyan. It is a period film, a genre I haven’t done before, and it excites me. I want to do more Hindi projects. I also know that the OTT space has opened up, and people have consumed so much digital content in the past few years that fantastic work is coming up now. I will certainly not discriminate between films on the big screen and OTT.
Tell us about the time you spent in the US away from the lime light. Did you utilize it to explore other avenues and better yourself as an artiste, too?
I always explore other facets of my personality. I am definitely not one dimensional. I am a creative person, and I spent my time reading, writing and even painting. I have painted still life and abstract art. I have a Major in Fine Arts, and my love for painting comes from there. I am also into health, wellness and spirituality.
When you live a hectic life as an actor, you are only working in a specific area or space, and you don’t get to enjoy those other things that are still important to you and make you happy. I also took this time to explore a few investment and business options.
Following the success of your debut film Rockstar, you were in the spotlight in Bollywood. In fact, in 2016, you had five releases. So, at a time when your career in Bollywood was looking bright, why did you leave it all and head back to the US in such haste?
Somewhere down the line, I realised that I was overworked and stressed. I missed my family and friends. I remember that 2016-2017 was a period of realisation for me. I felt that I wasn’t doing things that made me happy. I did films back-to-back and thought there was just too much happening, and I needed to stop. I felt the need to pause to balance my mind and body. And that’s when I took the step.
Weren’t you worried that leaving at that point would make your comeback into the space a lot tougher?
Once in a while, it is important for the sake of your mental and physical health to take a break. I know that in the industry, actors, their managers, and even PR agencies tell you that you have to be more visible and that if you take a break for too long, people tend to forget you. I think there is a lot of fear in the minds of the artistes who don’t want to lose what they have worked hard for. My perspective is, you never lose, especially when you take time out for yourself, for selfcare, and to introspect. Instead, you actually win when you do that.
You have a home and life back in New York, too. Does it get lonely living by yourself to pursue your career here?
It is definitely difficult for those who go back alone to an empty home. It is important that, as humans, you have a support system in your family or have good friends around. That is also the reason I moved back to New York. I hadn’t seen my mother and friends for a long time. So, when I went back, I spent a lot of time with my mother and shared everything with her. Nothing can compensate for the time you spend with your family.
While you were here, did you make friends in Bollywood who could be your support system here?
I have made some good friends here who I love to hang out with. But in the end, everybody is just so busy here, so it is quite hard to get together. I know Varun Dhawan, Ileana D’Cruz and Huma Qureshi very well. I am happy that we have kept in touch. However, there is nothing like friends who you have a history with and your own family.
You were in a long-term relationship with Uday Chopra. At present, you are reportedly dating businessman Tony Beig. What is your take on relationships, and do you plan to take your relationship to the next level?
Right now, I feel work is the most important part of every human life. You need to have a purpose and coming back to Bollywood and working in the film industry is part of my purpose. Hopefully, the job you choose is one that you love and enjoy. Talking about relationships, how many people who take their relationship to the next level are happy? Do we know? Obviously not, because people usually don’t talk about it in public. You don’t have to take the relationship to the next level to feel settled. You can have a great partnership. The two of you can be good to each other... like best friends. What’s most important is that someone keeps you happy and supports you throughout.
Has Nargis Fakhri found love again?
8:23 AM
Vinay MR Mishra (HINDUSTAN TIMES; January 20, 2022)
Actor Nargis Fakhri, who rose to fame with Ranbir Kapoor-starrer Rockstar (2011), was once in the news for her rumoured relationship with actor Uday Chopra before moving on to date American director Matt Alonzo and then chef Justin Santos. Fakhri, 42, spoke about breaking up with Santos in October last year.
Now, it appears that she has fallen in love again. We’ve learned that Fakhri, who is currently in Los Angeles, US, is seeing an entrepreneur there. It appears that she began seeing Kashmir-born Tony Beig, 37, who also happens to be the MD of a conglomerate, towards the end of 2021.
A source says, “They met socially and instantly hit it off. They love spending time in each other’s company, and you will often find them going out together. Nargis wants to keep it very low-profile as it’s still very new. But there seems to be love blossoming.”
Despite several attempts, Fakhri didn’t respond to us. Her representative says, “She only wishes to talk about her work.” The actor is expected to return to India soon.
Sanjay Dutt-starrer Torbaaz to finally see the light of day?
8:30 AM
Sources say Sanjay Dutt's long-in-the-making film picked up by Netflix; to mark his third digital premiere after Sadak 2, Bhuj
Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; July 14, 2020)
After Bhuj: The Pride of India and Sadak 2, another Sanjay Dutt-starrer appears to be gearing up for a digital premiere. It is learnt that the actor's long-in-the-making film, Torbaaz, has been picked up by Netflix and is tentatively slated for an October release.
A source reveals, "The OTT giant will announce its new slate this week. Torbaaz, which revolves around child suicide bombers in Afghanistan, is one of the many films that it has acquired in the past month. Though the release date of each project has yet to be determined, the Girish Malik-directed venture is pacing towards completion." The movie, also starring Nargis Fakhri, had gone on floors in Kyrgyzstan, in December 2017. After a spate of intermittent schedules, the makers had finally wrapped up the shoot in February 2019.
mid-day reached out to producer Rahul Mittra, who remained evasive about the Netflix deal as he said, "We are in talks with big OTT players, but let's wait for the final announcement."
Nargis Fakhri gets rid of tattoo featuring ex-boyfriend Matt Alonzo's initials
8:01 AM
Ankita Chaurasia (MUMBAI MIRROR; July 1, 2020)
After a whirlwind year-long romance, Nargis Fakhri broke up with filmmaker-boyfriend Matt Alonzo in January last year. Soon after, the actress deleted all traces of him from her social media accounts and began anew. But it was only on Tuesday that she finally lasered out a tattoo with Matt’s initials inscribed on her hand. The duo had got matching tattoos with each other’s initials on May 1, 2018. “#ByeByePast,” she wrote, sharing a clip of the procedure.The couple had parted ways earlier too, after which Nargis took up spirituality, dedicating four hours a day to yoga. They got back together then, though it was reported that instead of living in with him, she had rented out a place close to his pad. The tattoos were significant because she had confirmed their relationship by sharing a picture of the side of her hand and his palm where the initials of their names ‘MN’ were freshly inked. Apparently it was Matt’s idea and he had convinced a reluctant Nargis.
Seems like it was the actress’s new relationship with chef Justin Santos that prompted her to take the step. After spending the Memorial Day weekend with her boyfriend by the San Clemente beach, when she thanked him for “coming out and cooking up a storm”, the actress has been hanging out with Justin back home in Los Angeles, too.Three days ago, Nargis posted on Instagram, “Spring proves that regardless of the darkness & desolation, new life is not only possible, it once again thrives! Embrace your spring and live your new life.” The words could be a reflection of the times or her life. Way to go, girl!
There’s more to my life than just acting-Nargis Fakhri
8:23 AM
Sangeeta Yadav (HINDUSTAN TIMES; April 29, 2020)
Stationed far away in Los Angeles, USA amid the lockdown, Nargis Fakhri is “alone but certainly not lonely”. Thanks to the internet that has made long-distance short.
“It wouldn’t matter where I am. I’m alone here and would have been alone (in India), too. I’m grateful for the internet that enables me to connect with everyone,” she says.
New projects were set to start for the actor, but like all others, Fakhri’s work life, too, has halted. “A few events and shoots have got cancelled. But that’s okay. Health is more important,” says Fakhri, who plans to visit India once the Coronavirus threat is over.
Fakhri, 40, believes “there’s more to my life than just acting.” She adds, “I’ve been on a spiritual sabbatical, prioritising my health. I’m enjoying getting to know myself.”
Fakhri is also spending this time thinking about “the next chapter” of her life. “I do miss working in Bollywood and would love to keep doing films, but work-life balance is very important,” she says.
Reflecting on the current scenario, she feels everything is temporary. “Security is an illusion. It’s important to be able to adapt to circumstances. We take the most important things for granted. But now, it’s back to basics,” she says.
For those who’re taking the pandemic lightly, Fakhri has a word of caution. “Following these rules is a matter of life or death. If a country succeeds in reducing the infection rate, we must follow them,” she urges.
It’s important that I don’t get insecure and sign films just for a release or two-Jacqueline Fernandez
8:08 AM
After a self-imposed sabbatical, Jacqueline Fernandez reveals her game plan
Himesh Mankad (MUMBAI MIRROR; October 31, 2019)
Mirror had earlier reported (May 31) that Jacqueline Fernandez had taken a break to take acting lessons at the Ivana Chubbuck Studio in Los Angeles, from which Hollywood biggies Charlize Theron, James Franco, Brad Pitt, Halle Berry, Gal Gadot and Gerard Butler have graduated. It has been six months since and the actress is back in the race.“We actors always want to be in the limelight, but it’s nice to take a step back, get a perspective on what’s working for you and the trends,” she reasons, admitting that while many of her frat are too scared to take a step back, it’s important for her to live without the fear. “Now, when I sign a new film, it won’t be because I’m insecure but because I’m excited about the project.”
She acknowledges that there was a phase when she was skeptical about challenging herself as an actor. “I was hesitant because I wasn’t confident I’d be able to do justice to the part. But today, having trained myself, I’m open to experimenting with different roles and genres,” she avers, quick to add that commercial Hindi films will always be a part of her filmography as they are fun and challenging in their own right. “As long as you believe in what you do, you can give it your 100 per cent.”
Jacqueline regrets having missed out on a brilliant script earlier by a really good director. “I always thought I worked better in the commercial space, so, I was hesitant. Sonam (Kapoor) encouraged me to take on the challenge, but I didn’t do the film,” she sighs.
Opening up about future projects, she informs that she will kick off an action film in January. “It will be announced with the actor soon. Then, there’s Kick 2 which rolls next year. “Nadiad (producer Sajid Nadiadwala, who made his directorial debut with Kick in 2014 and will helm Part 2) is writing the script now. The earlier film was a game-changer for me. I’m sentimental and emotional about Kick. We’ll give the sequel our 200 per cent to make it bigger and better,” she promises.Kick 2 will mark the third collaboration for Jacqueline and Salman. She’s in awe of her co-star: “Salman’s reach is so huge. Working with him is like going to film school, you get invaluable lessons while on the job.”
A woman-centric action film, which she is producing, is also in the pipeline. “We have zeroed in on something interesting and are locking the logistics. It’s something I’ve wanted to do for a couple of years. We should have things in place by early next year,” she reveals. After Rohit Shetty’s cop-universe brought together Ajay Devgn, Ranveer Singh and Akshay Kumar to fight against a common evil, can she see a franchise led by three women? “Sonam has already set a trend with female collaborations, I hope they happen frequently. I’ve worked well with Deepika (Padukone) in Race 2, Nargis (Fakhri) and Lisa (Haydon) in Housefull 3. So, I’m open to such films,” Jacqueline beams.
She was to play the lead in the official adaptation of The Girl On The Train, but eventually stepped out, making way for Parineeti Chopra. “Her first look was brilliant and Parineeti will do an amazing job. It was not the film for me at that point. It’s important for me do films I absolutely want to do. It’s important that I don’t get insecure and sign films just for a release or two,” she signs off.
Sanjay Dutt and Nargis Fakhri's delayed drama Torbaaz reaches finish line
8:16 AM
Sanjay Dutt wraps up Torbaaz, producer asserts film will be 'his next release'
Shaheen Parkar (MID-DAY; February 14, 2019)
Over 14 months after it went on floors, the shooting of Sanjay Dutt's Torbaaz is finally complete. Producer Rahul Mittra says that his leading man recently completed the last stint in Mumbai before training his focus on Ashutosh Gowariker's Panipat. "We shot at Essel Studios where a special set was erected."
The Nargis Fakhri starrer - that revolves around child suicide bombers - kicked off in Kyrgyzstan in December 2017 followed by another stint in May 2018. Ask him about the intermittent spells of shooting that led to the delay, and Mittra says, "It is an ambitious and difficult film. There is a lot of VFX involved. Some films take a long time."
However, he assures that he will make up for lost time - even as Dutt's Kalank is slated to hit theatres on April 19, Mittra says Torbaaz will be "Sanjay's next release". "Finding a right date is important, we are weighing the options. We will announce the date next month."
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