Avinash Lohana (MUMBAI MIRROR; June 10, 2019)

He was initially inclined towards music, having played the piano and the guitar. He’s also played basketball at the state level and was studying business in New York when a chance meeting with Sanjay Leela Bhansali changed the course of his life. Meet Meezaan, veteran actor-comedian Jagdeep’s grandson and Jaaved Jaaferi’s son…

A film debut backed by SLB must be a dream come true. How did you land the part of Shiva in the Mangesh Hadawale directorial, Malaal?
I had met my co-star Sharmin back in 2011 and since then we have been best friends. She was working as a costume assistant on Sanjay sir’s Bajirao Mastani. One day Ranveer sir (Singh, leading man of the film) wasn’t available, so when she asked me, I tried out his costumes for the team. That’s when I met Sanjay sir for the first time. At the time he had no idea who my father was, yet told me that he wanted to launch me.

I was studying business in New York and had some interest in direction. But his faith in me made me take up acting. I still remember after the meeting, I went back to my car and just sat in it for 15-20 minutes trying to process what had just happened. It was unbelievable!

You went on to assist him on Padmaavat. He’s been known to mould his proteges in a certain way, share the process with us…
Initially, it’s just a basic understanding of Sanjay sir’s school of filmmaking, his vision for the film and the actors. I learnt from him both as an assistant director and an actor. We’d watch recorded performances of other actors and sir would guide us on the correct approach and technique. For my character in Malaal, Mangesh sir and Sanjay sir ensured I got under the skin of Shiva.

Go on…
Shiva is the complete opposite of Meezaan. He’s a Maharashtrian boy so I had to start with understanding his culture and learning his language. Thankfully, Mangesh sir is a Maharashtrian himself and helped me a lot. Since Shiva lives in a chawl, I visited a few and dressed like the residents, travelled in local trains, would sip chai at tapris, chatting with other customers in Marathi. It was a year-and-half of prep, including several workshops and readings.

Your hair reminds one of Ranveer Singh in Goliyon Ki Raasleela Ram-leela. Was it the requirement of the character or SLB’s fixation with Lochinvar locks?
My hair is actually quite straight, but for Shiva we curled it a bit. It would take me an hour every day to style it before the shoot. I guess, because of my hair and beard, all these comparisons with Ranveer Sir, even Ranbir Kapoor sir are coming up. But we’re all completely different. Ranveer sir is one of the biggest stars, so being compared to him is a compliment.

Shiva goes through a tumultuous relationship in the film. Have you been through one?
Not like Shiva who is loud and extreme. I am more practical. I never had a relationship like his but I have friends grappling with problems and heard things from both the girl and and boy’s perspective.

Buzz is, you’re dating Navya Naveli Nanda...
(Laughs) We’re from the same friends’ circle, she’s my sister’s bestie and a really good friend. I’m not in a relationship with anyone.

How did your father Jaaved Jaaferi react to SLB’s offer?
(Laughs) Mom started crying while dad was really happy and proud. My mother told me this, as my family doesn’t believe in praising me much as they are afraid it will go to my head. Dad keeps telling me to stay humble, true to my roots and treat everyone equally.

I discuss the craft more with my grandfather (veteran actor Jagdeep) who, having worked with Guru Dutt, Bimal Roy and Mehboob Khan, among others, tells me how these filmmakers thought an actor and a director should behave. That helps me understand how I should conduct myself.

You may have bagged the film on your own merit but you won’t be spared the nepotism debate.
At the end of the day people know that my dad is Jaaved Jaaferi and I cannot deny that I am a celebrity’s son. So yes, maybe I was one step ahead of another guy but eventually, we all have to go through the same grind and look to the audience for acceptance. Nepotism exists in every field.

Any chance of the dance reality show Boogie Woogie making a comeback and you collaborating with your dad and uncle Naved?
Like other kids, I grew up watching Boogie Woogie and I am trying to push my dad to bring it back. With the digital boom, there are many big platforms available. I think they will kick it off soon.


Meezaan with Navya Naveli Nanda

There’s something endearing about Shweta Bachchan-Nanda. It’s a Sunday afternoon, and the newly published author of Paradise Towers walks into a room at Janak, the Bachchans’ office in Mumbai’s Juhu. Dressed in a loose tee and slacks, her hair heavily oiled, she asks with childlike curiosity: “Did you really like my book?” Rarely known to give interviews, the statuesque daughter of Amitabh and Jaya Bachchan is expressive and often self-deprecating in person, as she tells Mohua Das about writing a light-hearted book of fiction, being shy, and starting a new life at 44
Mohua Das (THE TIMES OF INDIA; September 23, 2018)

Congratulations on your debut as a writer with Paradise Towers. How did you manage to spin a tale on people in a Mumbai high-rise, given that this world is removed from the kind of home you’ve lived in?
This is something that I’ve been asked before. In fact, the first time I was asked this was by my own mother because she’s the only one in my family to have read the manuscript. Please allow me this flattery, but she said, ‘How do you know so exactly what happens in a multi-storeyed building? That’s not your life’. And I said ‘Yes mama, but I have eyes, I’ve had enough friends growing up who lived in buildings, and I observe.’ She felt that there are a lot of characters and a certain milieu of society that I’d got bang-on. I think it’s one of the benefits of being born into a family of actors. They observe. Wherever they’re going or whatever their interactions are, they observe the characteristics and quirks of someone’s nature… the more pronounced the better, and I think I’ve just inherited that. It’s something I do actively whenever I’m meeting someone or out at a party. What I love doing is just sitting and watching things unfold. And today it’s not just passive observation, I also make notes.

You mean, active eavesdropping!
No no! (Laughs) I was a very shy child while growing up. Always hiding behind my mum, hating being pushed forward… I’d sit quietly and observe things and I think that has become second nature. We lived a very protected life, growing up. My parents were from UP and MP — they came to Bombay to work and make a living, it was the ‘70s. My father worked hard and made a name for himself but back then it was all very new. My brother and I were the first inheritors of what my father had made for himself. And of course as a parent you don’t know how this recognition can affect your family, so the first instinct is to be protective. We were also part of a very big joint family — my chacha, my cousins were always together. My grandparents lived with us. But there was always this curiosity about life in buildings when friends in school would say, ‘I’m going to my building friend’s birthday’ or that magic hour between 4 and 6 in the evenings when they’d all go down to play. The grass is always greener on the other side and Paradise Towers is born out of that observation and desire, for ‘building friends’ you can access at any time, and interactions between people in different flats. It’s come from 44 years of keeping my eyes open, being shy and looking at what everyone’s doing.

Your parents must be proud because you’re carrying forward the legacy of both your grandfathers — Harivansh Rai Bachchan (noted poet) and Taroon Coomar Bhaduri (journalist and author).
They’re happy — proud they will be after they read the book when it releases next month. No one apart from my mother has read it yet because she’s direct, honest and if she didn’t like something she’d tell me. I’m not the only one who writes though. My cousin brought out a book of poems. I’ve been a writer for myself, I’d write short stories and they remained in my journals or got torn up and thrown away. It was only when I started putting some of my writing out in a column and got a compliment or two, that I found the confidence. Then one day I just woke up with this story in my head and it took me a year to put it together.

Why take a risk with fiction when you could have rustled up an authentic account of India’s most famous film family?
Fiction was a conscious decision because my father has said many times that he doesn’t want his biography done. I also feel that actors’ lives are shared with the public on such a large scale, that sometimes you have family memories or moments you may want to just keep to yourselves. Their lives are so vast that I wouldn’t even attempt or know where to start because I’d be biased and not be able to look at either my father, mother, brother or sister-in-law’s lives objectively.

Are you nervous about living up —or writing up — to expectations?
I am, but I hope it’s enjoyable and it gives people a couple of hours of feeling good. It’s not a heavy book or one fraught with darker issues. It’s a light book that my mother feels one can pick up and finish reading on a flight from Delhi to Bombay.

You’ve been famously media shy. Suddenly we’re seeing a lot more of you in the public eye… You’ve been writing columns, you faced the camera for an ad film and you also launched a fashion line. Has the last year given you a newer perspective on life?
It’s actually not that thought-out but I also believe something I read somewhere that every seven or eight years, your life, outlook and many things about you change completely. It’s almost like a snake shedding its skin. For me that happened when I hit 40. Both my children were out of home in boarding school and suddenly I was sitting there with nothing to do. I thought I’d go crazy just looking at the walls or going to visit my children and sitting on their heads. Which teenager would want that? It would have caused a lot of teen rebellion and friction. I am shy, I am an introvert and I’m trying to push myself out there, so I’m not in my comfort zone even as I sit here talking to you but it’s just out of a desire to do something. I feel good about starting a life at middle age. It’s fun and I hope more women do that, especially if you’re a stay-at-home mom and you find yourself in that space when children have their own lives, husband’s away at work and you’re wondering ‘what am I doing with all this free time?’ Women are famous multitaskers. I’ve always heard that said, seen my mum do it, and now suddenly I’m doing it. Be it designing or writing, they’re all different aspects of creativity and it’s keeping me busy.

You must be tired of being asked this but does acting still not interest you?
I have no potential as an actor, let’s get that sorted!

But your father insists that you’re the real actor, a mimic par excellence in the family…
I think there’s a very fine line between good mimic and good actor and I don’t think I’m crossing any of those! Even this ad I managed to do because I had him right by me. He asked me to behave with him the way I do at home. My Dad and I have that equation so it was easy but I don’t think I can do it otherwise. I have complete respect for those who face the camera every day and manage all those emotions they share with us. I’m happy to hide behind my words.

Does the public gaze bother you more now? You maintained a certain normalcy while growing up but how do you shield your children today with so many more cameras and paparazzi following star kids around?
In a certain way, yes but I also understand that this is the way the world is now. They haven’t lived in India for so long and have been away from the film scene here but yes, there’s a constant gaze and they’ll have to learn to balance and make their peace with it. They’ve also made my job easy by not being the kind of children I need to be constantly watching over. I also had an internal dialogue and made a conscious decision to take a couple of steps back when they turned teenagers. Of course I’m always there for them. My son Agastya is in England, my daughter Navya Naveli is in the US and they’re fed up of me asking them for pictures even if it’s from their geography field trip! (Laughs)

And, how would you define the Bachchans in one line?
I think we’re very, very tight knit as a family.

Rachana Dubey (BOMBAY TIMES; September 12, 2018)

His two-year hiatus from films was marked by more appearances at football and kabaddi matches, and a stoic silence on the work front, until his next film came up for release. Abhishek Bachchan chose to stay away from the spotlight for two years only to strategise the road ahead. On the eve of the release of his next, Anurag Kashyap’s Manmarziyaan, the actor speaks to BT about what kept him away from the big screen, the changing definition of romance, the evolving audience tastes and more. Excerpts…

Between 2012 and 2016, you stuck to the one-film-a-year routine and then took a two-year gap to come back with Manmarziyaan. Was it all planned?
Yes, this gap was actually planned. I took a sabbatical because I needed to stop doing what I was doing. I wanted to re-evaluate what I was doing and how I was doing it. It took me two years to put a plan in place and make it work. It took me that much time to resume being an actor. I was thinking over this for long. I felt complacent and it took me a while to re-energise, reassess myself and get back.

Today, taking a step back is a huge risk for anyone in show business. Also, the industry is far more calculated and aggressive in its approach...
I calculated the risk I was going to run and I was convinced that it was one worth taking. I was also sure that I would make it work for me. You have to be able to do your work better. I wanted to change the way I worked. I wanted to be more focussed and create a new set of goals. You know something? I never had a plan in my career. I was just happy acting and doing the best of what came my way. I realised that if it’s a career, it needs to be planned. When I set out to do that two years ago, I wanted to challenge myself and feel uncomfortable about the roles I was doing. I just had to ignite that fire in myself again. There’s no shame in asking questions to yourself, and if answers don’t satisfy you, then you can kick into a different mode and do things differently.

Your father Amitabh Bachchan’s career has been through almost everything an actor can experience in one lifetime. Did you model your journey’s 2.0 version on what he did when he decided to reinvent himself as an artiste?
No, I didn’t. My career path is nothing like my father’s and it never will be. Don’t even think about it. For once, I thought selfishly and decided to do things my way. It’s not like ‘if someone could do this, so can I’. It was about how I wanted things to be. Your circumstances are completely different from anyone else’s. I was very sure that Manmarziyaan was the right decision for me in that direction.

In the 17 years that you’ve been around as an actor, a lot has changed. For instance, the number of stories that have a stronger female voice are on the rise. From writing a compulsory part for an A-list male actor in a female story, to letting a heroine take centre stage with two strong male stars, don’t you think the industry has come a long way?
I don’t think that is a change; it was always that way. We don’t acknowledge the fact that this is a business, a creative one related to an art form. Films are patronised on the basis of the business that they generate. That dictates everything from casting to costing and everything beyond. You can’t get too caught up with that as an actor. I’ve been a part of many films where a love story is centred around the woman. Paa was like that. Main Prem Ki Deewani Hoon was about a dilemma that Kareena Kapoor Khan’s character faces while choosing her man. These kind of films have always been around.

I’m talking about the kind of films that are now getting made in every genre, which, right at the core are different from films of the 1990s and 2000s.
That change is dictated by commerce. A lot of these masala action films are made because they do business. The reason particular actors get the billing they do is because they work at the box office. If they don’t, they won’t get a job again. It doesn’t matter if it’s a man or a woman. I agree there has been a lot of discussion about this. Having been a producer and as someone who grew up in this industry, I’ve realised that at the end of the day, how you fare at the box office is what matters. If you’re doing well, no power on earth can shake that. I have seen the mightiest of the mighty go through a bad patch and that’s it; they are forgotten. They are cast aside. It has happened with me as well. One year, I was there, hitting the ball out of the park. Two-three films don’t work and people stop calling you. They don’t care because this is a business. It’s harsh. The difference in the industry lies in the variety of subjects that people are willing to consume today along with what they already like. The audience is seeing and accepting a lot more. It’s safe to say that 20 years ago, getting a director like Anurag Kashyap to give his interpretation on a love story like Manmarziyaan would not have happened. It’s possible today because the audience is open to a different voice.

Also, a decade ago, Abhishek Bachchan and Anurag Kashyap, with their distinct body of work, would also not have teamed up for a film (except for a project like Yuva, whose dialogues were written by him).
We don’t say Anurag Kashyap and a love story in the same breath, do we? I think Anurag has also had to change a lot of stuff around him. He is at a stage where he wants a challenge and this film is just that. He was open to trying something like Manmarziyaan and that attracted me to know his take on a love story. We joke with Anurag that when we watched the trailer, we were waiting to see the serial murder pop out of the screen and spread blood on the floor. Anurag, too, is in a phase where he wants to reinvent himself.

In recent years, the idea of a formulaic love story has changed. Today, the focus is on the depiction of a man and woman’s equation in a more realistic set-up.
That’s because your audience and the generation has changed so much. Today’s generation is far more all-encompassing and non-judgemental, and I am not saying that in a good way or bad way. Even the idea of romance has changed. During my parents’ time, when they were courting, their parents probably would have said that ‘If you are going to bring a girl home, you better commit to marriage’. During my time, it wasn’t like, ‘Oh you’re marrying her’. It was okay; parents could come to terms with their children having a girlfriend or boyfriend. The current generation of youngsters is borderline frivolous about relationships. It’s normal and acceptable to have a girlfriend or boyfriend, it’s no biggie. No one is going to put you under pressure to marry the one you’re dating. I don’t know if marriage is an institution anymore that the millennials think is worthwhile. God knows, years down the line it may not even exist. I have always believed art is a reflection of real life. That’s the way movies are also moving forward. Romance has changed since the 1950s. It’s the genius of Aanand L Rai to get Anurag to direct a love story because he can give it a contemporary twist and make it palatable for the current generation. At some level, today’s youth will connect with the characters.

Do you think you will find takers for this film right at home – your nephew Agastya and niece Navya Naveli are from the generation you’re talking about…?
Absolutely, they will relate to the film. You know it’s a privilege that I get to see and understand their lingo and thoughts very well from close quarters. I get to witness what their generation thinks. I also get a chance to understand a lot about the generation after them, which is the one Aaradhya belongs to.

In the last two years, one word that seems to have had drawn opinions across the industry is nepotism. While there’s talk about your niece Navya Naveli joining films, the debate continues on whether being an industry kid gives you an edge. What’s your take on that?
Is being an industry kid beneficial? Yeah, it is, but it’s not always beneficial. It only helps till your first film. I remember Yash uncle (late Yash Chopra) told me at the premiere of my first film, Refugee, ‘Your father has got you up to the premiere night of your film. It’s your journey from the next morning’. His words ring in my ears even now. You have to prove yourself. No one in this industry has had an easy journey. If you are not talented, hard-working and humble, no one will give you work. It doesn’t matter whose kid you are. Initially, is it easier? Of course, it is. But it’s so in every field. At the end of the day, if you are gifted and meticulous, you will sail. Look around you, and you will find way more examples of people who have made it big in the industry without being industry kids. I don’t see what the debate is about because it’s a reality that everyone is aware of. No one seems to talk about other professions because it’s not really an issue over there. We are privileged to be born here, and the people who enjoy the privilege, as far as I know, don’t take it for granted. If they do, they’re not getting their next job.

Manish D Mishra (DNA; September 4, 2018)

Laidback-yet-luxe, comfort-driven-yet-chic — that’s been style savant Shweta Bachchan Nanda’s sartorial approach. Over the years, she has shown an amazing ability to oscillate between a pared-down and minimal athleisure look for her flight time to a high-octane metallic look for an evening of glamour. While she’s always dressed to suit the occasion, she isn’t scared to take style risks, too. So, it’s not surprising to see ease and wearability translating into her new luxury prêt label MXS in collaboration with designer Monisha Jaising.

The collection, incorporating close to 52 pieces, exemplifies a sense of ease, a mix and match appeal and versatility. The duo wants their customer to be the stylist, play dress up and create her own look. The offering is a cornucopia of sporty glam separates, which can be paired with each other depending on one’s individual taste. Hence, a sequinned blazer can be teamed with a pleated skirt and a sweatshirt can be thrown on a pair of party pants and a shine-on jumper can be styled with track pants. I meet the tall and statuesque Shweta at Monisha’s Pali Hill store and she’s dressed in a pair of sweatpants, a comfy tee and trainers. Looking at her easy breezy style, it’s not hard to comprehend how the line marries her grown-up approach to fashion with Monisha’s timeless glam slam touch. Superimpose this synthesis with the all-pervading street cred and you’ve got a winner. Over to the style maven...

What does style mean to you?
For me, comfort is key. Style is something I actually don’t give much thought to, it’s just the way you put stuff together. It should appeal to your body type and you should be able to carry it off. There are a lot of things on the racks and I’m like, ‘Wow, that’s gorgeous, but I can’t wear that’. I think, in order to be stylish, you have to know yourself and you have to be comfortable in your own skin. For me personally, at 44, I haven’t been more comfortable in my skin than I’m today.

How do you interpret your personal style?
What you’re seeing right now — T-shirt and track pants. It’s something I can be comfortable in and during the evenings, I like to wear something elegant. Sometimes when I’m in a fun mood, I want to don something crazy. I love bling a lot (smiles).

What does luxury mean to you?
If I had to choose something between that’s handmade, handcrafted and an experience, I’d choose an experience. It’s the whole experience of when you pick up an item to how it makes you feel when you wear it only in the fashion space. Of course, there are other definitions of luxury. It’s something unique to you, which you can interpret the way you like. It should be versatile.

What’s your take on street influence on luxe fashion?
I love it. It means I can come to work in trackpants, I can wear trainers with a long skirt and that’s fine. So, you don’t have to be uncomfortable and squeeze yourself into stilettos anymore. You can wear Doc Martens with a short dress. I want more of it (smiles). Both Monisha and I are huge fans of street fashion. Of course, it’s something we feel isn’t around in India. There is a lot of high-end luxury stuff around and there’s low-end stuff, but there’s nothing in between. We wanted to cater to it, so it’s a little bit above high street. Since both of our aesthetics is about street style and when we are looking at stuff online, we look at streetwear, so that’s a natural evolution. That’s the way it goes.

How was the process of shooting the label’s campaign?
We sat down and had many discussions. It’s easy because like I said, today I’m comfortable in my skin and I know what I can carry off. I also know what my daughter can carry off. Even though she wasn’t here when we were thinking of it, I knew what I wanted her to wear and how I wanted her to wear it. Also, with this brand, if you sport one of our items, you don’t have to be fussy in terms of accessorising it. Our outfits speak for themselves. That’s what we’ve done in the shoot. We have not used any jewellery and we haven’t gone overboard with shoes or anything else. We’ve tried to keep it simple and showcased our clothes. I knew what would suit Navya and her body type. And I knew exactly how I wanted it to look and we both came up with clothes we’d like to showcase. Rohan Shrestha shot it for us. He’s a master at this kind of photography and he made us comfortable.

Half the time we didn’t even know we were being shot. We were talking and fixing our hair, he was shooting and he said, ‘I’ve got my shot’ and I think that translated very well. It’s relatable because we are not models and don’t aspire to be one. We come in all shapes and sizes. I’d like women my age to feel comfortable wearing what a 21-year-old would pick as well. I hope that came across well in the campaign. It is a bonafide label and we plan to have four to five collections a year. This one has close to 52 pieces and we are already working hard on our next one. We hope it’s well received. We have our fingers crossed.

Who are the style icons you admire?
There are a lot of lovely ladies in Mumbai itself who get it right all the time. Some of my top favourites are Tanya Dubash, Haseena Jethmalani and Priya Aswani. They are always so chicly turned out and never ever wrong. Whatever they buy, they make it work and accessorise it beautifully. They never overdo or underdo it. I love that. From a young age, I have seen my mother and through her, I met Abu Jani Sandeep Khosla. During my summers, I would work in their factory and I have learnt so much about fashion from them. They’ve been training my eye while I was with them. This develops your acumen and you are what you learn.

Most people today love fashion and what’s wonderful is that it’s so accessible now. You can shop online. It’s wonderful. What I feel excited about is there’s finally an Indian designer catering to street fashion. You can step out of your house, come into our store and pick a piece of clothing, wear it to a party, maybe wear it to office or a beach. And finally, someone in India is doing it. Normally you run to ZARA or H&M. Today, hopefully, you can come to us (smiles).

Which city, according to you, is the fashion capital of the world and why?
Paris. I feel the most stylish people are Parisians. They wear the simplest things like a pair of blue jeans, a white T-shirt and a jacket and make it look so stylish.

Is there a Parisian undercurrent in the line?
The label is an amalgamation of all our exposure and travels. When you’re wearing a graffiti pencil leather skirt with a camisole, it has a French feel to it. Both of us have drawn from our travels.

Who are your favourite designers?
In India, it’s Abu Jani Sandeep Khosla. Abroad, they keep changing — Alaia, vintage YSL. I love Gucci because they keep reinventing themselves. I loved them when they were with Tom Ford and I love them now. Prada used to be amazing.

Which era in fashion history appeals to you?
I am loving this time right now. I love normcore and athleisure because they are fantastic. It’s something everybody can wear. It’s not exclusive to a certain section of society.

How often do you shop?
I am a huge shopper. Sometimes it’s crazy shopping, like I’d buy something for a week online. Most of my shopping is online. Otherwise, I go for months without buying something. Online shopping has made it difficult not to shop.

RAPID FIRE

Vintage or Runway
Runway

Lamé or Velvet
Velvet

Black or Navy
Navy

Prints or Embellishments
Prints

Tuxedo or Gown
Tuxedo

Flats or Heels
Flats

Punk or Rock n Roll
Rock n Roll

Midi or Mini
Midi, I don’t wear minis. I’d love to, but I don’t (laughs)

Minimalism or Maximalism
Minimalism

Town or Country
Country


Shweta Bachchan Nanda with daughter Navya Naveli

Manish D Mishra (DNA; August 3, 2018)

It’s been a season of creative fashion collaborations. A few weeks ago, After Hrs had reported that Shweta Bachchan Nanda was collaborating with an Indian designer on a fashion line and now we are happy to reveal it’s none other than Monisha Jaising — the synonym for relaxed glamour. The duo has worked together to launch MxS, a luxury fashion pret brand, which has been inspired by Shweta’s gorgeous daughter Navya Naveli Nanda’s personal and multi-layered style.

HOW DID IT HAPPEN?
It was a common friend’s 50th birthday and the theme of the party was ‘Shimmer and Shine’. The style-savvy Shweta knew exactly what she wanted to wear to the soiree. She wanted someone to translate her vision into the final product and she thought of MJ, whose laidback-yet-chic designs she swears by. She approached the reinventor of the kurti to create an exclusive outfit. After a couple of brainstorming sessions, both of them came up with an effortless ensemble comprising a pair of relaxed party-ready trousers with a matching oversized shirt.

After this artistic interface with Monisha, Shweta felt that the two should come up with a capsule collection together which then progressed to building a long-term association through MxS.

A MATCH OF SENSIBILITIES
The collaboration is hardly surprising as over the years, SBN has emerged to be an eclectic dresser and Monisha’s design vocabulary has been the metaphor for easy chic and evening glamour. Besides, Shweta’s daughter Navya had worn one of Monisha’s ice blue, beaded creation at a Vogue event last year. This is how the two sartorially-savvy ladies came up with their line. They worked together with a team of talented designers and skilled craftsmen. The team then did research on trends and applied the core design sensibilities of MxS to it to come up with ideas for the collection under Monisha and Shweta’s astute guidance. The sampling process started with sourcing of raw materials, sketches and embroidery swatches after soaking in the inspiration of the collection. The first sample took birth after a toile was made and once approved it went to the factory for production followed by a quality check. Finally, the dispatch for the collection hit the shop floor.

One can’t wait to see the line which has been the result of their instinctual design prowess. Also, it’ll be exciting to see the creations on Navya, who’s been the muse for MxS.

Upala KBR (MID-DAY; October 3, 2017)

Amitabh Bachchan’s 70th birthday bash in 2012 was a grand celebration befitting the shahenshah of Bollywood. As we inch closer to the megastar’s 75th birthday on October 11, reports suggested that he would be hosting a sit-down dinner for the who’s who of Bollywood at Film City. However, mid-day has now learnt that contrary to reports, Bachchan Sr will be taking off on a family holiday to Maldives.

Says a friend of the superstar, “The entire Bachchan clan, including Shweta Bachchan Nanda and her children Navya Naveli and Agastya, will be heading out to Maldives on October 10. Abhishek and Aishwarya have planned a week-long celebration and supervised all the arrangements. Aaradhya has designed a special hand-painted card for her grandfather. They will ring in his birthday with fireworks, cake and wine.”

We hear Big B was certain that he wanted his birthday celebration to be a private affair this year. Considering it would be difficult to stay away from prying eyes in the city, the family decided to make a holiday of the occasion. When it came to zeroing in on the destination, the family members unanimously decided on Maldives. Turns out, their Maldivian trip to celebrate Abhishek’s 40th birthday in 2016 turned into a love affair with the exotic island country. “They had enjoyed the Maldives trip so much that they decided to revisit it. They will be putting up at the same hotel that they stayed in, during Abhishek’s birthday. In fact, Abhishek has planned a yacht party for the whole family again,” adds the friend.

They have taken time off from their respective work commitments to be part of the celebrations. “Aishwarya will shoot for Fanney Khan for a week before heading out on the break. Big B has also intimated the team of Kaun Banega Crorepati about his impending holiday.”

In her first interview, Bachchan granddaughter asserts acting is not on cards and mother Shweta had a role to play in her decision
MID-DAY (August 3, 2017)

Navya Naveli Nanda is veteran actor Jaya Bachchan’s favourite grandchild. Don’t believe us? She’ll tell you herself. “I’m her favourite grandchild,” she says. See? The communications major is equally close to her mother, Shweta. At an age when most teenagers love to oppose their parents, Navya, 19, tells Vogue India in her first exclusive interview out in their August edition, that she and Shweta are “best friends”. It comes as no surprise then that Navya’s decision to stay away from the film industry has something to do with Shweta’s advice. “I try to tell Navya about all the cons [of being a part of the film industry]. I have nothing against the industry, it’s who we are. But, it’s not an easy world to be in,” the mother says. The trick works, as the star kid asserts there’s “no way” she’ll make a career in acting.

Instead, she is enjoying her internship at an advertising agency while on a break from studying at a New York university. “I love the independence,” she says about life in Manhattan, where she spends mornings attending a spinning class, trawling the city streets and relishing meals with friends at Serafina.

While Shweta doesn’t believe Navya has taken after either of her parents, the young girl mirrors certain qualities of her mother — she is confident, self- aware and polite. She has also inherited a love for reading, and wants everything from her mother’s closet, including her shoes. The banter between a mother and daughter is evident during the interview.

Whenever Shweta interjects, Navya shoots back. “I’m being nice about you but you know this interview can go both ways,” she says. “She [Shweta] uses all the wrong lingo… And she has to punctuate everything! It drives me crazy,” Navya rolls her eyes.

This friendly discourse takes a serious turn when the teenager attracts unwarranted attention via her social media presence. With an Instagram account that boasts of 1,60,000 followers, Navya is among those leading her tribe. “I’ve been lucky to be quite away from it all,” she shrugs, adding that it’s only when her mother calls her seeking answers, that she’s aware of how public her private life is.

Such is the bond between the Bachchan women that even grandmother Jaya, known to be the family disciplinarian, is more lighthearted around Navya. “I can get away with anything,” Navya says, adding that the trips she takes with Shweta and Jaya throw up the best memories. The most recent one was to the Maldives, where she took a couple’s massage with Jaya since Shweta hates the spa.

Next on the cards is a safari trip. “They [Jaya and Shweta] are so OCD, I can’t wait to see them freaking out in the outdoors."

Avinash Lohana (MUMBAI MIRROR; April 24, 2017)

The legend. The megastar. The actor. Amitabh Bachchan discusses family, future, films and women empowerment
Meena Iyer (TIMES LIFE; January 8, 2017)

You wrote a letter to your granddaughters Navya Naveli Nanda and Aaradhya Bachchan asking them to lead life on their terms, irrespective of their famous surnames. Did you have any real conversations with your granddaughters after that?
Aaradhya is very young. Yes, the day the letter appeared in the media and on social media platforms, Navya who studies in New York, called me in the middle of the night and said, “Nana, I read your letter. I want to tell you that I am very proud to be your granddaughter. I will exactly follow every word.“ That felt very nice. Today's children have so many other distractions and activities, avenues to go to. But for someone like Navya, who spent most of her study-time overseas and is exposed to so much in the outside world... to be able to react to my letter in this way was wonderful.

Is it true that your daughter Shweta was the first to see Pink?
Yes. And she felt proud of the fact that I had been involved in a film like this. She has a lot of friends and all of them went to the movie together. She said that when people learnt she was watching it with them, many of them walked up to her and congratulated her. She told me she was so proud, she almost felt as if she had acted in the film. It was very gratifying. While on Shweta, I must tell you that all of us in the house go to Shweta to get real reactions for our movies. She is the one who gives us feedback on our songs and movies. And 99.9 per cent of the time she is bang on! We have a private thing amongst ourselves saying that when Shweta endorses a film or a song, we are in safe hands.

How about Jaya? Isn't she quite discerning in her taste?
Jaya is very conservative with her compliments. Unless she really likes something, we do not hear from her. Jaya has studied at the FTII (Film & Television Institute of India.) So, she normally looks at cinema as a complete package ­ script, sound, editing, screenplay, the whole thing. When she says some thing complimentary, it is genuine. I normally watch a film only for the performances. I am not so critical of the other aspects of cinema. If it is a film of mine, I am normally looking at my own performance and finding faults! Jaya definitely has more knowledge of cinema than I have and she usually looks at a movie as a whole.



Did more compliments pour in from women for Pink?
Women felt the tag line, 'No means No', was very powerful and it got accepted universally. It almost be came revolutionary in a sense. Even quarters that generally do not react to films, reacted to this one. The praise and the accolades are more for the acceptance of the concept. That is important. For me, I work for the girl child in the United Nations as the ambassador and I also work for the Government's campaign on Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao. So, the movie was very relevant to what I do. Legally, the film was well researched. Shoojit (Sircar) and his team went through a lot of real life cases, so we got the language correct. When the first trailer came out, people were somewhat taken aback with the strong language we used in court. But when we checked, we were told this is the kind of language used in courts to interrogate women in sexual assault cases.

Would you authorize someone to make a biopic on you?
Who would be interested in making a biopic on me? There is nothing in my life that merits a biopic. I would rather work on something that my father, Dr Harivanshrai Bachchan, has written. Those who are fond of literature say that my father's prose is better than his poetry. And some of the chapters are incredibly amazing.

Perhaps one can make a biopic on your father?
Not a movie. There is far too much to be consumed. To be able to put it into a film would be difficult. But I am working on something. Perhaps we can do a serial on his life. It's just a thought now. Nothing is firmed up.

You seem to have a certain avariciousness for work...
What else do I do sitting at home? I need work. I need a job. A lot of people seem to think that I do not need a job, but I do need one. There is no greed. However, I think if you are satisfied, you are being arrogant. I don't think any creative artiste should ever be satisfied. If he/she does that, then that is the end of life. Every day is a huge learning ground. When I see the younger stars, I am amazed at their work and confidence. I get to learn so much by being in their company. And therefore, I need to keep working. The kind of roles I now get are limited to my age. Having said that I still need to find work. I'm still thankful to the people of the country who go and watch my films. They are keeping me alive in a sense. Not many films are written with such characters. I am grateful to filmmakers who are still doing it and I am happy that there are people who still watch our films. Movies can be about pure entertainment too. However, if something creditable and worthwhile can be said through our movies, it makes me feel good.

What's in the pipeline?
I have Sarkar 3 and Thugs Of Hindostan. Next year, I have another season of Kaun Banega Crorepati. But you see, time is the factor. It is very difficult to explain to someone that they should understand time. A lot of filmmakers who approach me for their movies say, “Sir we will wait for you for two or three years.“ However, time is not on my side. I am 75. The younger generation has more time, so that is something they can talk to them about. However, you cannot talk to me about something three years from now. That is not right. With age, you never know. There can be deficiencies in you, I may not be able to work. There are so many ifs. When I look at my date calendar, I tell filmmakers, “Tell me what we can do in the next few months“. I have my diary sorted out for the next six months. That is okay, God willing, but usse zyada nahin. I always say let us overcome this six-month period and then we will speak. Do not look at me as you would look at a Ranbir Kapoor or Ranveer Singh. They have time on their side.

MUMBAI MIRROR (December 17, 2016)

MUMBAI MIRROR (March 19, 2016)

While the Bachchan-Nanda scion, 19-year-old Navya Naveli, has us all wondering if she'd soon announce her arrival in Bollywood, the teen beauty has been busy living it up in the UK, where she is studying. And she has a handsome young man for company.

After partying up a storm in the Queen's City with a Brit friend, Shweta Bachchan and Nikhil Nanda's famously stylish firstborn flew down to Delhi with him. The duo made a pit stop at the Taj Mahal in Agra to click a memento before arriving in Mumbai, where Navya introduced her companion to the famous vada pav.

The youngster made headlines when she was invited to attend the prestigious Bal des Debutantes in Paris last year but pulled out following the terror attacks in the French capital. Is a more ceremonious debut of another kind in the works?