Showing posts with label Noor. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Noor. Show all posts
I had no training in acting or dancing. I was not groomed for it-Sonakshi Sinha
8:02 PM
Onkar Kulkarni (BOMBAY TIMES; March 8, 2024)
Sonakshi Sinha is very excited to team up with Sanjay Leela Bhansali, the director who she has been waiting to work with. As she spoke about their upcoming OTT show and her dream collaboration, Heeramandi, Sonakshi also looked back at her journey in showbiz while talking at FICCI Frames 2024 in Mumbai.
She said, "I’ve grown and learnt through experiences. I’ve started from scratch, I had no experience of being on a film set. I used to not visit my dad’s sets when I was a child. I had no training in acting or dancing. I was not groomed for it. I was thrown into the deep end of the pool and told to, ‘swim’, so that’s how I learnt things. So, every experience for me was something that I cherish because I learnt a lot from every person I worked with."
The actor thanks the director for showing conviction in her. She shares, "It has got me to the point where Sanjay Leela Bhansali has confidence in me to offer me a role like Fareedan, who is very complex."
While she got great opportunities to play strong female characters on screen, she doens't dismiss the films which were male dominated.
She shares, "I’ve been working for 14 years and I’ve done all sorts of roles. I started off with commercial masala films, where it was always about the hero, which I’m not complaining about as it gave me an audience and wide reach. It gave me the confidence then I was able to shoulder films on my own and that’s when I started playing strong women characters, which were different from the other, like Akira or Noor or Khandaani Shafakhana or Dahaad, I consciously choose roles that I’ve not played before that pushed and challenged me as an actor. So, when sir came to me with this, I was like, ‘Thank you for imagining me like this’ because it’s such an honour for an actor when a director envisions you in a way that nobody has even thought of you as, that’s what every actor craves for."
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MID-DAY (March 7, 2024)
“Next time you visit Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s office, have tea, not coffee,” says actor Sonakshi Sinha while narrating a fun anecdote behind her casting in the director’s upcoming web show, Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar.
Bhansali produced Sinha’s Rowdy Rathore (2012), and they have been trying to collaborate for a long time but nothing materialized. “He has been encouraging. We were always in touch. Every time I went to his office, we would chat over coffee. I was like sir, ‘Every time I come to your office, we have coffee and then I leave. I’m not having coffee with you, I will have tea’. I had tea [and] we had the same sort of conversation and I went home. And then, I am in Heeramandi. So, tea is the answer guys, not coffee,” the actor said on day two of FICCI Frames 2024.
Sinha, who plays Fareedan in the multi-starrer drama set during India’s freedom struggle when courtesans ruled the cultural landscape, said she loves the way Bhansali, known for films such as Devdas (2002), Bajirao Mastani (2015) and Gangubai Kathiawadi (2022), presents women on screen film after film.
“I’m glad [our collaboration] happened with Heeramandi. The way he portrays his women on screen, nobody is able to do that. He has got a different vision for it in spite of it being a magnum opus. He takes good care of how his female characters are portrayed on screen, and that’s something I appreciate about him,” she said.
The eight-part series also features Manisha Koirala, Aditi Rao Hydari, Richa Chadha, Sharmin Segal, and Sanjeeda Shaikh. According to Sinha, the director has given equal importance to all the female characters in the series. “In Heeramandi, we have six different women with six stories to tell, and each one has been [given] importance. To be part of something like this is tremendous.”
Having worked with the National Award-winning director, Sinha said she has blossomed into a “patient and stronger” actor. “I walked away as a more resilient actor after Heeramandi. That’s a good thing, and good things take time and greater things take more time. To be a part of something like this does require a lot of patience. I know I do my job well. Here, you have to mould yourself along with what has been created in front of you, the process of completely surrendering and if you are not able to do that, then you cannot be part of something like this.”
At this stage of her career, the Dahaad (2023) star said she wants to be challenged as an actor. She also expressed gratitude to Bhansali for having the confidence in her. “Every actor craves to be challenged. I’ve grown and learnt through experiences. I’ve started from scratch. I had no experience of being on a film set, and I [never] visited my dad’s sets when I was a child. I had no training in acting or dancing, I was not groomed for it. I was thrown into the deep end of the pool and told to swim. That’s how I learnt things. Every experience for me was something that I cherish because I learnt a lot from every person I worked with. It has got me to the point where Sanjay Leela Bhansali has confidence in me to offer me a complex character like Fareedan,” the actor said.
The actor, who has appeared in masala entertainers like Dabangg (2010-2019), Rowdy Rathore (2012), and R... Rajkumar (2013), said she has no qualms about doing commercial films at the onset of her career. She added that the experience of working on such movies gave her the confidence to headline women-oriented films.
“I’ve been working for 14 years and I’ve done all sorts of roles. I started off with commercial masala films where it was always about the hero, which I’m not complaining about, as it gave me an audience and wide reach. It gave me the confidence to shoulder films on my own. That’s when I started playing strong women characters, which were different from the others, like in Akira [2016] or Noor [2017] or Khandaani Shafakhana [2019] or Dahaad, I consciously chose roles that I’ve not played before, which pushed and challenged me as an actor,” she said.
Each of my roles has a different texture-Sonakshi Sinha
8:22 AM
After a string of box office failures, Sonakshi Sinha hopes year ahead will be a game-changer with four promising projects under her belt
Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; January 31, 2019)
Her last few films may have been box office turkeys, but Sonakshi Sinha is optimistic that 2019 will change things around for her. Shotgun Jr has impressive projects to boot - having wrapped up the post-Partition drama Kalank, the actor is currently shooting in Amritsar for Mrighdeep Lamba's yet untitled comedy. She will then resume her shoot for Mission Mangal that reportedly sees her as one of the ISRO scientists behind the Mars Orbiter Mission.
In cherry-picking her projects, the actor says she has made a conscious effort to be part of stories that belong to diverse worlds. "What made me opt for these films is that [they gave me a chance to] narrate different stories and play characters that are so far apart from each other. The headspace of each character is individualistic, and every director's narrative is different, which makes the entire process riveting," says Sinha.
In her nine-year long career, she has seamlessly graduated from masala films to content-driven cinema. Point out how her last few offerings haven't spun their magic and she is assured that, given the evolving taste of the audience, she will shine. "We are in a great phase in terms of the content that is being churned out, and the audience is wonderfully accepting of it. Be it Dabangg (2010), Lootera (2013), Akira (2016), Noor (2017) or Happy Phirr Bhag Jayegi (2018) - each of my roles has different shades and textures. The promising times ahead will only aid my effort to diversify my offerings as an artiste."
What excites her the most about the year ahead is teaming up with Salman Khan for Dabangg 3. The cop franchise is set to roll in April. "It feels like I am back home because that's where I started my career. My life changed completely after that film, it's how I found my calling. Dabangg will always be the most special to me."
Bollywood steps out of its comfort zone; shoots in Mumbai's most unconventional locations
8:08 AM
Sanyukta Iyer (MUMBAI MIRROR; December 14, 2017)
Fanne Khan – Bhandup
Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Anil Kapoor and Rajkummar Rao recently wrapped up a 10-day schedule of Atul Manjrekar’s musical-comedy-drama, Fanne Khan, in the north-west suburb of Bhandup. “We started shooting just before the unprecedented showers hit Mumbai in December and despite the threat of cyclone Ockhi, the team braved the inclement weather to trudge to the off-beat location,” producer Prernaa Arora told Mirror. According to the makers, there are two big, well-lit studios in close proximity in the area that allowed the film’s lead trio to shoot individual scenes as well as the joint ones. “Also, it was great to see that none of them seemed to mind the commute,” Prernaa added.
Gold – Ghodbunder Road, Wadala cricket ground
Ashutosh Gowariker filmed his 2016 historical romance, Mohenjo Daro, at Thane’s Ghodbunder Road with Hrithik Roshan and Reema Kagti went back to the same location earlier this month with Akshay Kumar for her sports drama, Gold. On December 1, Akshay shot from 7:30 am to 5:30 pm with over 20 bouncers and a dozen security personnel deployed to monitor the crowds. After a three-day shoot there, the unit shifted to the Wadala cricket ground for a rain sequence for the film which is inspired by India’s first hockey gold in the 1948 London Olympics.
Kaala Karikaalan – Sion’s Pratiksha Nagar, Masjid Bunder, Grant Road
Rajinikanth’s upcoming Tamil-Hindi gangster flick got into action in May at Grant Road, before moving to Sion, Masjid, Marine Drive and Wadala over 40 days. The Thalaiva plays a man from Dharavi who becomes a notorious criminal, and a chawl at Sion’s Pratiksha Nagar served as his character’s house in the early days.
Munna Michael – Mulund, Vasai highway
Three massive sets were built in Mulund for Tiger Shroff and Nawazuddin Siddiqui to film dance sequences. The climax was shot on the Vasai highway which passed off as the Delhi-Agra Expressway. “When shooting on Mumbai streets, the crowds are unmanageable. Also, several permissions are needed. So, the freedom of shooting outside city limits is liberating,” producer Viki Rajani reasons.
Beyond The Clouds – Sewri
Iranian filmmaker Majidi Majidi kicked off his upcoming sibling drama, Beyond the Clouds, at Mukesh Mills in Colaba before moving to Versova where they filmed extensively. The team also spent a week at the Sewri creek capturing over 2000 flamingos at daybreak. “For one crucial action scene, Ishaan (Khatter) fought off two co-stars at Sewri jetty. He had to jump into the muck 64 times before Majidi was satisfied,” informs producer Shareen Mantri.
Noor – Reay Road
Sonakshi Sinha as Noor and Purab Kohli as Ayan filmed a romantic song sequence across the salt pans at BPT Colony, Wadala’s railway yard and the cement yard in Reay Road in January. Debutant director Sunhil Sippy admits that he has long been fascinated by the serenity of Eastern Mumbai and has been documenting the area from Reay Road to Wadala for five years through his photographs. “Here you see acres of industrial land, neglected and crumbling, with barely a person in sight most mornings. It has a strange, contemplative beauty and was the perfect setting for Noor to be reintroduced to a city she thought she knew so well,” says Sunhil.
Baadshaho – Dahisar, Mira Road
Milan Luthria canned a gritty torture and rescue sequence on a police station set in a Bhandup studio with Ajay Devgn for Baadshaho over two days in June, following up with a four-day shoot in Mira Road and Dahisar. The Bhandup studio made for an ideal dilapidated, down-market setting while Sansi village was created in Dahisar and Mira Road for the pre-climax sequences,” the film’s spokesperson informed, pointing out that the studio runs alongside a narrow path on Mira Road which worked perfectly to shoot a looting sequence.
Mere Pyare Prime Minister – Slums in Ghatkopar and Powai
Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra filmed his upcoming social, Mere Pyare Prime Minister, at a slum in Ghatkopar near Khandooba on May 3 before moving to another slum behind Powai Lake in mid-June. His film revolves around four slum kids, one of whom wants to build a toilet for his single mother and makes an appeal to the Prime Minister. Mehra chose these two slums because of the complete lack of sanitation facilities. “The slum-dwellers behind Powai lake get water for just 30-45 minutes in a day and have no toilets. During monsoon, they are forced to defecate on the railway tracks. I read a story in Mumbai Mirror about a woman who was run over by a train while defecating and wondered, ‘Is a toilet worth losing your life over?’” Mehra had pointed out.
Only I was accused of doing regressive roles, not the writer or the director-Sonakshi Sinha
10:43 AM
Pallabi Purkayastha (BOMBAY TIMES; December 10, 2017)
After years of maintaining stoic silence on the accusations of portraying regressive characters in her movies, Sonakshi Sinha has finally opened up on the long overdue issue. At an event on women’s empowerment and safety, hosted by the US Consulate in Mumbai recently, the actress stated, “Only I was accused of doing ‘regressive’ roles, not the writer who wrote the script or the director who made the film. I went on the defensive and thought to myself, ‘Maybe, I should start doing different roles’. So, I did Akira, Force 2 and then Noor; for Akira, I even learnt Karate, which empowered me.”
The event, an initiative to promote activism against gender-based violence, also showcased eight short films that were judged by a jury comprising model-turned-actress Sarah Jane Dias, actress Seema Biswas and director Alankrita Shrivastava, among others.
Talking about the importance of women empowerment, US Counsel General Edgard Kagan said, “Equality and empowerment of women are not favours to them — that is the right thing to do. It is a cause that both Americans and Indians are passionate about and is one of our crucial interests.”
No Noor for children under 16 in Singapore
7:46 AM
Subhash K Jha (DNA; April 24, 2017)
If you’ve seen Noor, you would know that Sonakshi Sinha drinks heartily in the film. In fact, there’s so much booze-binging in the film, the censor board of Singapore has clamped down on the otherwise innocuous film, granting it the draconian NC16 rating which means ‘No Children Under 16 Allowed’.
In India, Noor got a ‘UA’, which means children of all ages could watch the film as long as they are accompanied by an adult. Censor chairperson Pahlaj Nihalani says, “The Central Board of Film Certification is accused of being ultra-conservative. But we are far more liberal than the censor boards in many parts of the world. Though tobacco and alcohol consumption is restricted by censors the world over, we allow it because if we don’t, we’re called prudes. On the other hand, we’re being questioned on why so much alcohol consumption is allowed in Noor. Damned if we do, damned if we don’t.”
Pahlaj is quick to point out that “In Singapore, they were reluctant to grant the film a censor certificate at all. They did so just hours before release, giving it an NC16.”
Movie Review: NOOR by FENIL SETA
1:39 PM
Sonakshi Sinha is a fine actress but often gets ridiculed for choosing roles that are not very significant to the film’s principle plot. But last year, the perception changed a bit with Akira. And with Noor, the performer is again trying her luck with a film centered totally on her. And as expected, her performance is great but the same can’t be said about the film.
The story: Noor Roy Chaudhary (Sonakshi Sinha) works in a news agency where she’s compelled to do inconsequential stories. She’s interested in doing stories on real issues and despite submitting several such stories to her boss Shekhar Das (Manish Chaudhari), the latter doesn’t even feel the need to look at those files. However, her life goes for a toss when she comes across a shocking incident. When Noor attempts to bring the story in front of the people, things don’t go as planned.
Noor begins on a very average note. The protagonist is well off financially, is able to afford drinks in a place like Social even when she’s facing money issues, she goes to work in a car and has a very supportive father and friends. Yet, she’s always cribbing. Agreed that when there’s no job satisfaction, life sucks. But Noor overdoes it and that isn’t convincing. Thankfully, the film is fast-paced and there’s a lot happening. Things get better when Ayan Banerjee (Purab Kohli) enters the narrative. Noor really makes an impact when she stumbles upon a shocking scam. The way it’s unveiled makes for an excellent watch. The twist before the intermission point is predictable but still leaves a mark. Post-interval, the film slows down a bit but the UK episode is sweet. The film falls when Noor returns to Mumbai. This whole bit is very unrealistic. Suddenly she put the blame of the entire fiasco on Mumbai. The finale is also convenient especially since the people Noor takes panga with are supposed to be highly dangerous. The end credit scene thankfully helps the film end on a slightly better note.
Noor belongs to Sonakshi Sinha. The film might not impress but Sonakshi will surely be loved. The actress beautifully carries the film on her firm shoulders. Noor is a complex character and though the makers and writers have made it slightly unconvincing, Sonakshi comes out with flying colours. Yet another brilliant performance from this great performer! Kanan Gill (Saad) is highly impressive. The ease with which he performs makes him highly adorable. He is more or less playing himself and it will be interesting to see if he can handle something different and hatke in his next films! Purab Kohli leaves a huge mark in a supporting role. And yes, as Noor points out in a scene, he does look hot! Smita Tambe (Malti) is damn good and plays a very crucial character in the film. M K Raina (Noor’s father) and Shibani Dandekar (Zaara) are decent. Manish Chaudhari as always rocks the show. His character however is a bit bewildering. Also, the entire track of the Kapadia Trust is hard to decipher. Sunny Leone is okay in the cameo.
Amaal Mallik’s music is nothing great. The only song that stays in one’s mind is Gulabi Aankhen and that too because it’s a badly remixed. Naren Chandavarkar and Benedict Taylor’s background is good. Keiko Nakahara’s cinematography is quite nice and captures the locales and the different moods of the city beautifully. Mansi Dhruv Mehta’s production design is appealing as well as realistic. Noor is based on Saba Imtiaz’s novel Karachi You’re Killing Me. The idea is quite promising but Althea Delmas-Kaushal, Shikhaa Sharma and Sunhil Sippy's screenplay doesn’t do proper justice to it. Few things are quite strange – why does Noor have to rely on Malti to get her geyser fixed? Why can’t she herself call the electrician and do the needful? Ishita Moitra Udhwani’s dialogues are simple and sharp. Sunhil Sippy’s direction however is fair.
On the whole, Noor is an average fare despite a great idea and some great performances. It is very unconvincing – right from Noor’s ‘I hate my life’ attitude to the way she bounces back. Few scenes however leave a mark but that’s not enough. At the box office, Noor sadly will turn out to be Sonakshi Sinha’s lowest grosser.
My rating - ** ½ out of 5!
Fenil's Bollywood Talk # 461
10:05 AM
TWO WOMEN CENTRIC FILMS TO CLASH AT THE TICKET WINDOW TOMORROW!
Fast & Furious 8 released last week and set the box office on fire. A week later, Baahubali 2 will release and will perform even better. The Friday in between will obviously be the one which will see small films trying their luck. Interestingly, two women centric films are set to release tomorrow and sadly, both of them hardly stand a chance to succeed at the box office.
The bigger out of these two films is Noor, starring Sonakshi Sinha in the lead. It’s based on Pakistani author Saba Imtiaz’s book Karachi You’re Killing Me. It looks like an urban, slice of life film and the idea is that the central protagonist should be relatable. She’s shown as someone who’s unpopular, not-so-confident and struggling with weight issues. Sadly, the way it’s presented doesn’t make any impact. 8 years ago, Wake Up Sid, a similar film, became a craze among urban youth as from the promos itself, it looked very relatable. Noor fails to do so. Songs also haven’t made an impact either. Hence, a poor opening is on the cards. If the film is good, then it can work. Or else, it can drop heavily and turn out to be Sonakshi Sinha’s lowest grosser, even lower than Joker.
Maatr on the other hand is Raveena Tandon’s comeback film. It’s a story of a woman whose daughter gets raped and she gets no justice from the system. Again, just like Noor, it’s a very relatable and today’s concept but it hasn’t been presented well. Moreover, there are hardly any exciting promotions done by the team. Maatr hence will flop even if reports are positive.
WHICH FILM WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE AND WHY? DO LET ME KNOW!
I have never chased perfection. It is nicer to be imperfect; it makes you more real-Sonakshi Sinha
6:58 PM
Madhureeta Mukherjee (BOMBAY TIMES; April 19, 2017)
She stormed into the scene
with the iconic dialogue, 'Thappad se darr nahin lagta saab, pyar se
lagta hai' (Dabangg). That Sona has come a long way. She has won hearts
and damned her detractors. She has shamed the body shamers and kicked
some mean ass on screen. Brash and beautiful, with some 'golden' luck for
company. She was criticised for her safe, sureshot hit films, but
after the action-drama Akira, she confesses, “I felt like I have tasted
blood.“ In her upcoming Noor, an adaptation of the novel Karachi You're
Killing Me!, directed by Sunhil Sippy, she plays a journalist who
hates
her life. In a chat with BT, Sonakshi Sinha talks about her choices, her
struggles and why she wants to interview Kim Kardashian. Read on...
In the first few years of your career, you chose only Bollywood potboilers. Then Akira happened, in which you led the show and kicked some butt, too. And now, Noor. Has your choice of films changed?
I won't say my choices have changed, but yes, they have evolved. I think in a certain sense, the industry has evolved, too. They are making films on different subjects, backing stories with female protagonists. I am adapting to the environment and loving the process.
But with such choices and big bucks riding on you comes a lot of responsibility...
I love challenges. I was comfortable in my space till a couple of years ago, but then I decided to move out of that zone and push my limits. I didn't need a trigger to do that, something just flipped inside me. I got offered a good role in Akira, and once I started shooting for it, I felt like I had tasted blood. Now, I don't want to go back to anything lesser than that. The feeling of pulling a film off on my own shoulders is a real high. It gives me a kick; in a way, it is liberating. I am not depending on anybody else for the way the film turns out; I just have a great team backing me.
Today, you wear the badge of a bankable actor, so you can take chances and risks. But was it a planned strategy to take safe bets at the start and then go this way?
I have never drawn a road map for my career, I have always been instinctive. The films that I did are the ones that I enjoyed watching as an audience. They worked. I loved the singing, dancing, drama... all of it rolled into one film. Whatever I know today is what I learnt while doing those commercial films. Well, I didn't ever plan to be an actor, I suddenly became one. Dabangg came my way, and once that happened, I didn't want to be anything else (laughs!).
You had a successful run with big-ticket films, but on the flip side, you were judged for making safe choices...
I faced criticism for being part of big, blockbuster films. It's strange, right? Why should I be apologetic about it? And this criticism is the opinion of a small section of people; majority of the audience has enjoyed my work and films. I have a certain fan following owing to the blockbuster films I have done, and today, because of those choices, I have the chance and ability to shoulder films like Akira and Noor on my own.
For films like Noor and Akira, is it challenging to find male actors for various parts, especially a parallel hero of that stature?
Well, it all depends on the kind of film you are doing and the story. Having said that, it would be nice if our male stars are open to doing what we have been doing in all their films. It would be great if sometimes, the roles are reversed. Honestly, John Abraham did that for Force 2, in which we were at par even though it was an action film. I was never made to feel that I was lesser than him and that was very encouraging. I hope that other actors are also as open to it. Like in the West, actors think of what value they are adding to the film and not how big or small the role is.
You have interacted with so many journalists in your career. Did your observations help sketch your character in Noor?
I don't prepare for any role; I am a complete director's actor. I prefer to go with the way they have visualised the character and the film. The role was so well written that I didn't need to prepare. Noor is also very relatable; there are so many situations where I would react the same way like she does in the film. Like, being kept at work beyond a certain time (laughs). But yes, I do observe people and pick up nuances for my parts. You come across so many kinds of journalists. Some are extremely passionate about their job, some are ethical, and then there are those who will cross the line. There are also some who are very cautious about what they do and say, and there are those who are not. I am sure that there are reporters who want to cover something and aren't able to... and they question their own ethics, like Noor does. It felt nice to be on the other side, hold the boom (mic) and see their world.
Do you also step back and question yourself and your choices from time to time?
Yes, that's part of life and coming of age. You need to stop, take a deep breath and think of what you are doing. You need to think if you are doing the right thing. Are you hurting someone, or are you helping someone? We all need to go through this process; this is how we grow up.
Having led such a privileged life, which part of Noor's struggle did you relate to most?
I've had struggles too, like everyone has. We are today's girls, who want everything in life. We want a great career and love life, we want to party, enjoy and we also want our space. We want to make a difference, too, and that is what we are chasing. My struggles and insecurities as a girl would be different from yours. Honestly, even Noor is chasing perfection - she is looking for the perfect love, job, and weight. She finds happiness only when she realises that she needs to embrace her imperfections. I have never chased perfection and I am very content and happy with that. I don't think perfection is all that it seems to be. I think it is nicer to be imperfect; it makes you more real and relatable.
Your journey to this super-fit stage of your life was hard and probably, emotionally tough, too. We still see you take on body shamers on social media...
Yes, I still do that. It is not right to body shame anyone as you don't know what struggles they are going through. While growing up, I was always an overweight kid, but I never once felt that my weight made me any lesser as a person. I had a great personality and I was a confident girl, so my weight was something that I didn't pay attention to. I knew this is how I looked and there were other more important things in my life. Even as an actress, when I was subjected to scrutiny for my weight, my attitude was the same. I was confident that I had so much more to offer; I knew that I acted well, I danced well and people enjoyed watching me on screen. Gradually, when I started finding more time for myself, the change in my fitness levels came about. There was a time I was doing three-four films simultaneously, and that would send everything for a toss as I would skip my workouts and eat whatever I wanted to. I still don't like going to the gym, but now that I am doing one film at a time, I have more time for myself. I am fitter; I am eating better and feeling better.
If you were a reporter in real life, which beat would you like to cover?
I have always been interested in sports, so I would like to cover that.
What about covering entertainment? Movies?
No! I have a punctuality issue, I believe in being on time. If someone is not on time, it makes me really angry. I don't make journalists wait, you know that. So, I wouldn't want to run around and wait for actors (laughs!).
Which international sports star or celebrity would you like to interview as a journalist?
I would like to interview Kim Kardashian, not because I am a follower, but just to understand how she has built this entire empire around herself. Anything that she touches turns to gold, so it would be interesting to know more. In India, I would like to interview my dad (Shatrughan Sinha) and Mr Amitabh Bachchan. If I interviewed my dad, I would start by telling him not to say 'khamosh' to any of my questions.
Rumours of your engagement often do the rounds. Is it on the cards? Is there any pressure from your parents to settle down?
I have nothing to say now, I will comment only when I have something to say. As of now, there is nothing on the cards. There's no pressure from my parents either. When I am ready to do it, I will.
Noor is an adaptation of Pakistani journalist writer Saba Imtiaz's 2014 novel, Karachi You're Killing Me!. Do you ever feel that your city, Mumbai, is killing you?
Honestly, this film made me see Mumbai in a different light. Director Sunhil Sippy is a street photographer too, so we shot in such interesting locations that I've heard of but never explored. Like the Worli Village, cement factories, salt pans in Wadala where we saw the sunset, areas of Govandi, which is a different ecosystem altogether. It is great when you can rediscover your city through a film. We all have our frustrations with our city, yet, we are so attached to it. The energy of Mumbai is brilliant, and we all want our city to change for the better. I wouldn't leave Mumbai for anything in the world.
In the first few years of your career, you chose only Bollywood potboilers. Then Akira happened, in which you led the show and kicked some butt, too. And now, Noor. Has your choice of films changed?
I won't say my choices have changed, but yes, they have evolved. I think in a certain sense, the industry has evolved, too. They are making films on different subjects, backing stories with female protagonists. I am adapting to the environment and loving the process.
But with such choices and big bucks riding on you comes a lot of responsibility...
I love challenges. I was comfortable in my space till a couple of years ago, but then I decided to move out of that zone and push my limits. I didn't need a trigger to do that, something just flipped inside me. I got offered a good role in Akira, and once I started shooting for it, I felt like I had tasted blood. Now, I don't want to go back to anything lesser than that. The feeling of pulling a film off on my own shoulders is a real high. It gives me a kick; in a way, it is liberating. I am not depending on anybody else for the way the film turns out; I just have a great team backing me.
Today, you wear the badge of a bankable actor, so you can take chances and risks. But was it a planned strategy to take safe bets at the start and then go this way?
I have never drawn a road map for my career, I have always been instinctive. The films that I did are the ones that I enjoyed watching as an audience. They worked. I loved the singing, dancing, drama... all of it rolled into one film. Whatever I know today is what I learnt while doing those commercial films. Well, I didn't ever plan to be an actor, I suddenly became one. Dabangg came my way, and once that happened, I didn't want to be anything else (laughs!).
You had a successful run with big-ticket films, but on the flip side, you were judged for making safe choices...
I faced criticism for being part of big, blockbuster films. It's strange, right? Why should I be apologetic about it? And this criticism is the opinion of a small section of people; majority of the audience has enjoyed my work and films. I have a certain fan following owing to the blockbuster films I have done, and today, because of those choices, I have the chance and ability to shoulder films like Akira and Noor on my own.
For films like Noor and Akira, is it challenging to find male actors for various parts, especially a parallel hero of that stature?
Well, it all depends on the kind of film you are doing and the story. Having said that, it would be nice if our male stars are open to doing what we have been doing in all their films. It would be great if sometimes, the roles are reversed. Honestly, John Abraham did that for Force 2, in which we were at par even though it was an action film. I was never made to feel that I was lesser than him and that was very encouraging. I hope that other actors are also as open to it. Like in the West, actors think of what value they are adding to the film and not how big or small the role is.
You have interacted with so many journalists in your career. Did your observations help sketch your character in Noor?
I don't prepare for any role; I am a complete director's actor. I prefer to go with the way they have visualised the character and the film. The role was so well written that I didn't need to prepare. Noor is also very relatable; there are so many situations where I would react the same way like she does in the film. Like, being kept at work beyond a certain time (laughs). But yes, I do observe people and pick up nuances for my parts. You come across so many kinds of journalists. Some are extremely passionate about their job, some are ethical, and then there are those who will cross the line. There are also some who are very cautious about what they do and say, and there are those who are not. I am sure that there are reporters who want to cover something and aren't able to... and they question their own ethics, like Noor does. It felt nice to be on the other side, hold the boom (mic) and see their world.
Do you also step back and question yourself and your choices from time to time?
Yes, that's part of life and coming of age. You need to stop, take a deep breath and think of what you are doing. You need to think if you are doing the right thing. Are you hurting someone, or are you helping someone? We all need to go through this process; this is how we grow up.
Having led such a privileged life, which part of Noor's struggle did you relate to most?
I've had struggles too, like everyone has. We are today's girls, who want everything in life. We want a great career and love life, we want to party, enjoy and we also want our space. We want to make a difference, too, and that is what we are chasing. My struggles and insecurities as a girl would be different from yours. Honestly, even Noor is chasing perfection - she is looking for the perfect love, job, and weight. She finds happiness only when she realises that she needs to embrace her imperfections. I have never chased perfection and I am very content and happy with that. I don't think perfection is all that it seems to be. I think it is nicer to be imperfect; it makes you more real and relatable.
Your journey to this super-fit stage of your life was hard and probably, emotionally tough, too. We still see you take on body shamers on social media...
Yes, I still do that. It is not right to body shame anyone as you don't know what struggles they are going through. While growing up, I was always an overweight kid, but I never once felt that my weight made me any lesser as a person. I had a great personality and I was a confident girl, so my weight was something that I didn't pay attention to. I knew this is how I looked and there were other more important things in my life. Even as an actress, when I was subjected to scrutiny for my weight, my attitude was the same. I was confident that I had so much more to offer; I knew that I acted well, I danced well and people enjoyed watching me on screen. Gradually, when I started finding more time for myself, the change in my fitness levels came about. There was a time I was doing three-four films simultaneously, and that would send everything for a toss as I would skip my workouts and eat whatever I wanted to. I still don't like going to the gym, but now that I am doing one film at a time, I have more time for myself. I am fitter; I am eating better and feeling better.
If you were a reporter in real life, which beat would you like to cover?
I have always been interested in sports, so I would like to cover that.
What about covering entertainment? Movies?
No! I have a punctuality issue, I believe in being on time. If someone is not on time, it makes me really angry. I don't make journalists wait, you know that. So, I wouldn't want to run around and wait for actors (laughs!).
Which international sports star or celebrity would you like to interview as a journalist?
I would like to interview Kim Kardashian, not because I am a follower, but just to understand how she has built this entire empire around herself. Anything that she touches turns to gold, so it would be interesting to know more. In India, I would like to interview my dad (Shatrughan Sinha) and Mr Amitabh Bachchan. If I interviewed my dad, I would start by telling him not to say 'khamosh' to any of my questions.
Rumours of your engagement often do the rounds. Is it on the cards? Is there any pressure from your parents to settle down?
I have nothing to say now, I will comment only when I have something to say. As of now, there is nothing on the cards. There's no pressure from my parents either. When I am ready to do it, I will.
Noor is an adaptation of Pakistani journalist writer Saba Imtiaz's 2014 novel, Karachi You're Killing Me!. Do you ever feel that your city, Mumbai, is killing you?
Honestly, this film made me see Mumbai in a different light. Director Sunhil Sippy is a street photographer too, so we shot in such interesting locations that I've heard of but never explored. Like the Worli Village, cement factories, salt pans in Wadala where we saw the sunset, areas of Govandi, which is a different ecosystem altogether. It is great when you can rediscover your city through a film. We all have our frustrations with our city, yet, we are so attached to it. The energy of Mumbai is brilliant, and we all want our city to change for the better. I wouldn't leave Mumbai for anything in the world.
'Unpretentious reviewer’ Kanan Gill to spoof his own debut film Noor
7:58 AM
Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; April 6, 2017)
Kanan Gill may have offended cinephiles and producers alike with his YouTube movie review show, where he pokes fun at Bollywood films with co-host Biswa Kalyan Rath. But the online star is now gearing up to put himself under the spotlight by reviewing Sonakshi Sinha- starrer, Noor, which also marks his maiden Bollywood outing. The 27-year-old says, “I have proposed to do a Pretentious Movie Review (his web show) of Noor. I know of details that others wouldn’t, and can pull this off better than anyone else.”
It was Kanan’s web show that caught the eye of director Sunhil Sippy, who was scouting for an actor to play Sonakshi’s friend in the drama. “After the show, I have been getting offers. When Sunhil looked up online [to find an actor], there I was! I am excited to be a part of the film, but unlike others, I don’t have plans and goals.”
While he is happy with his performance, Kanan continues to question his acting abilities. “It’s hard to say if I am an actor. Any role that may demand greater range is going to test my skills,” he says earnestly.
Noor’s alter ego Saba Imtiaz can’t watch Sonakshi Sinha starrer in her city
8:15 AM
Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; March 29, 2017)
In Noor director Sunhil Sippy’s words, Pakistani author Saba Imtiaz is feeling like a child in a candy store, seeing her book, Karachi, You’re Killing Me, adapted into a feature film. She is ecstatic after watching the trailer of the Sonakshi Sinha-starrer.
Speaking to mid-day, Saba says she wasn’t involved in the making of Noor. “Doing the same project again would be dull. There is thrill in seeing someone else breathe renewed zest into your material. I had suspended my vision and allowed them to paint it in a new light. When the film’s rights were sold, I was in Mumbai. That was two years ago, when the project was still being discussed. Creatively, we (Saba and the makers) never stayed in touch. My interaction with them was limited only to paperwork.” Has she watched the film? “I’ve seen exactly what everyone else has of the film.”
Saba and Sona had exchanged tweets after the first trailer was out, but the author calls herself an average cinegoer. In an interview with us, Sunhil shared that he’d love to watch Noor with Saba, but the author isn’t sure of her plans. “My labour was the book and this is Sunhil’s. I am not sure when I will watch the film. I live in Jordan. The last Hindi film that released here was Raees. There is no plan to come down to India for the film’s premiere,” she adds.
I am consciously choosing characters that don’t need me to look like an arm candy anymore-Sonakshi Sinha
8:13 AM
Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; March 29, 2017)
"I have finally become confident of the fact that I can carry an entire film on my shoulders,” asserts Sonakshi Sinha as we meet her to chat about her upcoming film, Noor. The actress, who started her career with Salman Khan-starrer Dabangg (2010) and faced flak for her weight and frivolous screen appearances, insists she has turned over a new leaf. She played the title role in her last film, 2016 actioner Akira, and will once again be seen as the protagonist in Noor.
“Work of many years has led me to have faith that I can pull this [film] off by myself. At one point, I was comfortable doing the films that were working [at the box office]. In the past few years, there has been a marked change in the kind of films being made. I merely adapted to my surroundings. Those were the kind of stories I wanted to try, but couldn’t in the past. This is my time,” she says.
Quiz her about shedding the label of an arm candy and she says, “I am consciously choosing characters that don’t need me to look like an arm candy anymore. I loved the masala movies I have done in the past. I love the absurdity of it all. But now, I would try and do both Lootera and R… Rajkummar (both 2013). Even if I’d received flak for it, I never let that get to me. I took it positively and tried to understand what is expected of me. Choosing ‘woman-centric’ parts wasn’t a result of any pressure on me to deliver ‘different’ content. I won’t do something just because I want to follow in the footsteps of my colleagues. I am doing what my heart wants.”
In the process, Sona has had to lower her box office expectations. But she isn’t complaining. “Experiences matter more than numbers. In Akira, (director) A R Murugadoss pitched me as a full-blown hero, fashioning me like the superstars he has always worked with (Akshay Kumar, Aamir Khan). In the last year, the trajectories have changed; films with strong female leads are doing well too."
Sonakshi Sinha jams with Diljit Dosanjh & Badshah for a song in Noor
7:49 AM
The actress has teamed up with her real life buddies for a track on friendship
Natasha Coutinho (MUMBAI MIRROR; March 6, 2017)
Sonakshi Sinha who plays the
titular role in Noor recorded a special song titled “MYL“ last week
with Diljit Dosanjh and Badshah. The video featuring the trio will be
shot over the next few days. It's a song about friendship and how it is
important to have buddies who are sounding boards and will always stand
by you. “The song fits well with the spirit of Noor,“ says producer
Vikram Malhotra.
Noor is a slice-of-life drama based on Pakistani writer Saba Imtiaz's novel, Karachi, You're Killing Me! Sonakshi plays a journalist with Kanan Gill and Shibani Dandekar as her confidantes. But when it came to recording the song, the actress wanted her real-life buddies, Badshah and Diljit, to join her. Producer Bhushan Kumar loved the idea and brought the trio together. The vocals are by Sonakshi and Diljit with Badshah doing the rap. The video will be choreographed by Adil Sheikh who recently won the Filmfare Award for Best Choreographer for “Kar Gayi Chul“ from Kapoor & Sons.“
An excited Sonakshi told Mirror, “Badshah and I have wanted to collaborate for almost a year now. I'm so glad it's finally happening for Noor as this film is special to me in many ways. I'm also very fond of Diljit as a performer and a person, so having him on this with us is amazing. It's going to be super fun shooting with these two livewires for the video.“
Diljit added that he's really excited to collaborate with Sonakshi for the first time. “I'm looking forward to working with my friend Badshah again and Bhushan Kumar,“ he says. Diljit and Badshah have given hits like “Proper Patola“ earlier together.
Noor is a slice-of-life drama based on Pakistani writer Saba Imtiaz's novel, Karachi, You're Killing Me! Sonakshi plays a journalist with Kanan Gill and Shibani Dandekar as her confidantes. But when it came to recording the song, the actress wanted her real-life buddies, Badshah and Diljit, to join her. Producer Bhushan Kumar loved the idea and brought the trio together. The vocals are by Sonakshi and Diljit with Badshah doing the rap. The video will be choreographed by Adil Sheikh who recently won the Filmfare Award for Best Choreographer for “Kar Gayi Chul“ from Kapoor & Sons.“
An excited Sonakshi told Mirror, “Badshah and I have wanted to collaborate for almost a year now. I'm so glad it's finally happening for Noor as this film is special to me in many ways. I'm also very fond of Diljit as a performer and a person, so having him on this with us is amazing. It's going to be super fun shooting with these two livewires for the video.“
Diljit added that he's really excited to collaborate with Sonakshi for the first time. “I'm looking forward to working with my friend Badshah again and Bhushan Kumar,“ he says. Diljit and Badshah have given hits like “Proper Patola“ earlier together.
Sonakshi Sinha to sing the title track of Noor?
7:50 AM
Avinash Lohana (MUMBAI MIRROR; January 21, 2017)
Mirror (June 1, 2016) was the first to report about Sonakshi Sinha playing a journalist in Noor, which is based on Pakistani journalist-writer Saba Imtiaz’s 2014 novel, Karachi You’re Killing Me, and is directed by ad filmmaker Sunhil Sippy. We have now learnt that the 29-year-old actress will lend her voice to the title track of the slice-of-life story.
“Sonakshi has a beautiful voice so the makers came up with the idea of getting her to sing. The track will be composed by Amaal Mallik and will be recorded shortly,” informs a source close to the development. Sona has earlier sung “Rajj Rajj Ke” for AR Murugadoss’s Akira and had released her debut single “Aaj Mood Ishqholic Hai” composed by Meet Bros in 2015.
The actress wrapped up shooting for the Bhushan Kumar and Vikram Malhotra production last week. Shooting had kicked off last July, when she had informed Mirror, “It’s about the ups and downs in Noor’s relationships with friends, family and coworkers that every girl will be able to relate to.” The official T-Series spokesperson confirmed the news.
Sonakshi Sinha and Purab Kohli explore the lesser known parts of Mumbai for Noor
8:01 AM
Natasha Coutinho (MUMBAI MIRROR; January 13, 2017)
On
Wednesday, Sonakshi Sinha and her Noor co-star Purab Kohli explored
some lesser known parts of Mumbai. Purab who plays a photojournalist,
shows Sonakshi’s Noor her own city through the eyes of a lensman during a
romantic track. The duo shot at Salt Pan, BPT Colony and Railway Yard
at Wadala, Worli Fort and cement yard at Reay Road.
A source from the sets said, “The song comes when Noor begins to fall for Purab’s Ayan. The locations are quaint yet distinct and make her fall in love with the city again. Director Sunhil Sippy, a photography enthusiast, had taken pictures of these locations years ago and decided to shoot there.”
Sunhil admits that he’s been fascinated by the serenity that eastern parts of Mumbai offer unlike the rest of the bustling metropolis, and has been documenting the area for five years. “There’s acres and acres of industrial land, neglected and crumbling, with barely a person in sight. There’s a contemplative beauty that made me rethink my perspective on the city. It was the perfect setting for Noor to be reintroduced to a city she thought she knew well,” he adds.
A source from the sets said, “The song comes when Noor begins to fall for Purab’s Ayan. The locations are quaint yet distinct and make her fall in love with the city again. Director Sunhil Sippy, a photography enthusiast, had taken pictures of these locations years ago and decided to shoot there.”
Sunhil admits that he’s been fascinated by the serenity that eastern parts of Mumbai offer unlike the rest of the bustling metropolis, and has been documenting the area for five years. “There’s acres and acres of industrial land, neglected and crumbling, with barely a person in sight. There’s a contemplative beauty that made me rethink my perspective on the city. It was the perfect setting for Noor to be reintroduced to a city she thought she knew well,” he adds.
Girls all set to pack a PUNCH in 2017
8:08 AM
Rachana Dubey (BOMBAY TIMES; January 2, 2017)
Year 2017 has just kicked in
with some pleasant news. It is set to continue the successful run of
women-centric films at the box office, as leading ladies will slug it
out with solo heroine films. It's girl power all the way, with Anushka
Sharma, Kangana Ranaut, Vidya Balan, Sonakshi Sinha, Rani Mukerji, Sonam
Kapoor, Kareena Kapoor Khan and Shraddha Kapoor coming up with films in
which they play the protagonist.
Vidya is set to lead the girl pack with three films this year - Begum Jaan, Tumhari Sullu and Kamala Das' biopic, followed by Sonakshi in Noor, Kangana in Simran, Shraddha in Haseena and Kareena-Sonam's Veere Di Wedding. Besides acting in Phillauri, Anushka has also taken over as the producer - her second production after NH10. Rani's comeback vehicle post motherhood will roll mid-year, too.
LONGEVITY OF THE TREND
Says independent distributor Amod Mehra, “The boy-girl-romance-drama formula has run out of steam. We have progressed from the Main Chup Rahungi-type female-oriented stories to contemporary and bold ones like NH10. Content, in the last few years, has emerged as the king. And since there is acceptance for a great story, even those revolving around women are applauded.“ He adds that the longevity of this trend will depend on how hefty the pay packets of these heroines become eventually. “Actresses must take a cue from their male counterparts and partner as producers to reduce cost-driven risks. Anushka does that, others can do it too. Apart from the monetary factor, finding a suitable male lead is increasingly becoming a problem that has to be addressed.“
PAY GAP
Between 2014 and 2016, over two dozen films have been made with heroines playing dominant roles, with theirs as the only faces on the posters, like Queen, Mary Kom, Mardaani, NH10, Tanu Weds Manu Returns, Piku, Dear Zindagi, Neerja and Pink. Most of these films hit the bullseye, but heroines still don't earn as much as the heroes. The pay disparity in Bollywood continues.
Producer Vikram Malhotra, who is currently backing Noor, says that the gender pay gap is not only a subject of intense debate in India, but also in Hollywood. He adds, “The dominant female lead is an idea that has now found firm footing in the Hindi movie industry and is here to stay. Films like Queen, Neerja and Pink have not only garnered critical acclaim and awards, but have also set the cash registers ringing. Given this blend of creative and commercial success, the number of scripts being written with female protagonists will only shoot up. And like in any industry or business, compensation for talent, male or female, will have to be commensurate with the commercial results that an artiste can deliver directly or influence. So, the subject of higher fees for female movie stars will have to be seen in this light.“
Producer Mukesh Bhatt believes otherwise. He stresses that eliminating pay packet dis parity seems impossible. “For years, films have had strong heroines. But this is a male-dominated industry. Even when a woman plays an equally strong role as a man, her pay packet is not likely to match up to him, thanks to the age-old dynamics,“ he says.
BIASES BEYOND PAY GAP
Most gender biases begin at the writing stage. Hearsay is that NH10, one of 2015's critically acclaimed films, didn't have takers back then, despite an international female lead in place. It was reportedly titled Kaali and had Frieda Pinto in the lead. For the lack of studio backing, it almost didn't get made and the writers contemplated changing it from a female-driven film to a male-driven commercial movie. Luckily, Anushka's entry gave the project a new lease of life and the results are for everyone to see. Shoojit Sircar couldn't find a studio to back Pink either, but the filmmaker released it with his partners. The rest is history.
According to writer Juhi Chaturvedi, who wrote Piku, filmmakers, over the last few years, have consistently been making efforts to reduce the gap. “Shoojit, while making Pink, wasn't trying to 'repeat' the success of his past movie. But generally, films with heroines are becoming popular with the ticket buyers, and producers have no choice. Scripts are written with heroines in mind. As a creative industry, we're influencing change and are getting influenced too. Deepika Padukone, Kangana and even Alia Bhatt prove that actresses are more than just props. They've raised expectations so much that the audience questions if their roles are not finely written. And this, at some point, will reflect in their salaries, too,“ she says.
The writer is quick to add a word of caution. “Nothing must be done for the heck of it. Overindulgence is not a good idea. Don't put the heroines on a pedestal while trying to make them relevant. I agree that the importance heroines are enjoying today was long overdue, but a balance has to be struck. Otherwise, there might come a day when we'd be fighting gender bias from the other sex's point of view.“
The box office is the culmination point for every film. Ticket sales are the true deciders. Cinema-chain head honcho Manoj Desai believes that a male or a female can only create an initial draw. The sustenance depends on a film's subject and performances. He sums up, “It seems 2017 will be the year of heroines. The line-up is strong and the stories we hear are quite promising but we'll have to wait and watch what eventually happens. But if what is promised is delivered in these heroine-centric films, there's no stopping the girls at the box office.“
Vidya is set to lead the girl pack with three films this year - Begum Jaan, Tumhari Sullu and Kamala Das' biopic, followed by Sonakshi in Noor, Kangana in Simran, Shraddha in Haseena and Kareena-Sonam's Veere Di Wedding. Besides acting in Phillauri, Anushka has also taken over as the producer - her second production after NH10. Rani's comeback vehicle post motherhood will roll mid-year, too.
LONGEVITY OF THE TREND
Says independent distributor Amod Mehra, “The boy-girl-romance-drama formula has run out of steam. We have progressed from the Main Chup Rahungi-type female-oriented stories to contemporary and bold ones like NH10. Content, in the last few years, has emerged as the king. And since there is acceptance for a great story, even those revolving around women are applauded.“ He adds that the longevity of this trend will depend on how hefty the pay packets of these heroines become eventually. “Actresses must take a cue from their male counterparts and partner as producers to reduce cost-driven risks. Anushka does that, others can do it too. Apart from the monetary factor, finding a suitable male lead is increasingly becoming a problem that has to be addressed.“
PAY GAP
Between 2014 and 2016, over two dozen films have been made with heroines playing dominant roles, with theirs as the only faces on the posters, like Queen, Mary Kom, Mardaani, NH10, Tanu Weds Manu Returns, Piku, Dear Zindagi, Neerja and Pink. Most of these films hit the bullseye, but heroines still don't earn as much as the heroes. The pay disparity in Bollywood continues.
Producer Vikram Malhotra, who is currently backing Noor, says that the gender pay gap is not only a subject of intense debate in India, but also in Hollywood. He adds, “The dominant female lead is an idea that has now found firm footing in the Hindi movie industry and is here to stay. Films like Queen, Neerja and Pink have not only garnered critical acclaim and awards, but have also set the cash registers ringing. Given this blend of creative and commercial success, the number of scripts being written with female protagonists will only shoot up. And like in any industry or business, compensation for talent, male or female, will have to be commensurate with the commercial results that an artiste can deliver directly or influence. So, the subject of higher fees for female movie stars will have to be seen in this light.“
Producer Mukesh Bhatt believes otherwise. He stresses that eliminating pay packet dis parity seems impossible. “For years, films have had strong heroines. But this is a male-dominated industry. Even when a woman plays an equally strong role as a man, her pay packet is not likely to match up to him, thanks to the age-old dynamics,“ he says.
BIASES BEYOND PAY GAP
Most gender biases begin at the writing stage. Hearsay is that NH10, one of 2015's critically acclaimed films, didn't have takers back then, despite an international female lead in place. It was reportedly titled Kaali and had Frieda Pinto in the lead. For the lack of studio backing, it almost didn't get made and the writers contemplated changing it from a female-driven film to a male-driven commercial movie. Luckily, Anushka's entry gave the project a new lease of life and the results are for everyone to see. Shoojit Sircar couldn't find a studio to back Pink either, but the filmmaker released it with his partners. The rest is history.
According to writer Juhi Chaturvedi, who wrote Piku, filmmakers, over the last few years, have consistently been making efforts to reduce the gap. “Shoojit, while making Pink, wasn't trying to 'repeat' the success of his past movie. But generally, films with heroines are becoming popular with the ticket buyers, and producers have no choice. Scripts are written with heroines in mind. As a creative industry, we're influencing change and are getting influenced too. Deepika Padukone, Kangana and even Alia Bhatt prove that actresses are more than just props. They've raised expectations so much that the audience questions if their roles are not finely written. And this, at some point, will reflect in their salaries, too,“ she says.
The writer is quick to add a word of caution. “Nothing must be done for the heck of it. Overindulgence is not a good idea. Don't put the heroines on a pedestal while trying to make them relevant. I agree that the importance heroines are enjoying today was long overdue, but a balance has to be struck. Otherwise, there might come a day when we'd be fighting gender bias from the other sex's point of view.“
The box office is the culmination point for every film. Ticket sales are the true deciders. Cinema-chain head honcho Manoj Desai believes that a male or a female can only create an initial draw. The sustenance depends on a film's subject and performances. He sums up, “It seems 2017 will be the year of heroines. The line-up is strong and the stories we hear are quite promising but we'll have to wait and watch what eventually happens. But if what is promised is delivered in these heroine-centric films, there's no stopping the girls at the box office.“
Awards never mattered to me, but the pride in my parents' eyes is my biggest award-Amaal Mallik
8:26 AM
BOMBAY TIMES (January 1, 2017)
Year 2016 could not have
ended on a bet ter note for Amaal Mallik. For the second time
consecutively, his compositions have featured on Radio Mirchi Top 100
Songs of the Year. After his track Sooraj Dooba Hai (Roy) shot to the
top spot in 2015, hits like Kar Gayi Chull (Kapoor & Sons) further
cemented his position. Both the songs have won the Diamond Discs at the
Mirchi Awards.
At 25, Amaal is the second youngest composer to bag a Filmfare Award with only Rajesh Roshan picking one at 21. He has also bagged accolades at other award ceremonies besides Radio Mirchi Awards, TOIFA and the prestigious Dadasaheb Phalke Academy Award for the Best Music Director. Not just in India, he is also creating waves overseas. Recently, two of his films - Sarbjit and M S Dhoni - The Untold Story - made it the Oscar list. In an interview with BT, the composer charts his success story and what the future holds for him...
You have ended 2016 on a high note...
Yes, many of my songs were received well. Soch Na Sake, Tu Bhoola Jisse, the songs in Sanam Re, Kar Gayi Chull and Buddhu Sa Mann (Kapoor & Sons), Sab Tera, Bol Do Na Zara (Azhar), Salamat (Sarbjit), Kuch Toh Hai, the tracks in M S Dhoni - The Untold Story...the list is long.
It must have been really tough to compose for a films like Airlift and M S Dhoni - The Untold Story, which are rooted in reality...
Certainly so. Airlift was inspired by incidents of the 90s, and I had to travel back to create music belonging to that era, and still make it connect with my generation. On the other hand, composing for M S Dhoni - The Untold Story was a dream come true, as he is the only cricketer whose biopic has been made while he is active in the game. I had composed music for a few commercials featuring Dhoni, but never thought I'd score the entire soundtrack for his film. Dhoni's album is a fine blend of rock and orchestral music. It's not a regular soundtrack and I'm glad I got the chance to do something like this so early on in my career.
You have turned singer, too in Badrinath Ki Dulhania...
A lightly sung scratch by me was loved by Karan Johar and Shashank Khaitan who felt my voice did justice to the song and suited Varun (Dhawan)'s character and his age in the film. The track lists the various reasons a man loses his heart to a woman. Varun will be seen wooing Alia Bhatt in it.
How busy is the next year for you?
I am really excited about Badrinath Ki Dulhania, Noor and Mubarakan. Having said that, I have decided to take it a little easy in 2017. I have released 46 songs in two years and I feel I should now focus on creating even better music. Also, I always look out for that spark in someone's eyes, a need to prove themselves...I am here to support talent, and I will do it in whatever ways I can. I worked hard only to make my parents proud. Awards never mattered to me, but the pride in their eyes is my biggest award.
At 25, Amaal is the second youngest composer to bag a Filmfare Award with only Rajesh Roshan picking one at 21. He has also bagged accolades at other award ceremonies besides Radio Mirchi Awards, TOIFA and the prestigious Dadasaheb Phalke Academy Award for the Best Music Director. Not just in India, he is also creating waves overseas. Recently, two of his films - Sarbjit and M S Dhoni - The Untold Story - made it the Oscar list. In an interview with BT, the composer charts his success story and what the future holds for him...
You have ended 2016 on a high note...
Yes, many of my songs were received well. Soch Na Sake, Tu Bhoola Jisse, the songs in Sanam Re, Kar Gayi Chull and Buddhu Sa Mann (Kapoor & Sons), Sab Tera, Bol Do Na Zara (Azhar), Salamat (Sarbjit), Kuch Toh Hai, the tracks in M S Dhoni - The Untold Story...the list is long.
It must have been really tough to compose for a films like Airlift and M S Dhoni - The Untold Story, which are rooted in reality...
Certainly so. Airlift was inspired by incidents of the 90s, and I had to travel back to create music belonging to that era, and still make it connect with my generation. On the other hand, composing for M S Dhoni - The Untold Story was a dream come true, as he is the only cricketer whose biopic has been made while he is active in the game. I had composed music for a few commercials featuring Dhoni, but never thought I'd score the entire soundtrack for his film. Dhoni's album is a fine blend of rock and orchestral music. It's not a regular soundtrack and I'm glad I got the chance to do something like this so early on in my career.
You have turned singer, too in Badrinath Ki Dulhania...
A lightly sung scratch by me was loved by Karan Johar and Shashank Khaitan who felt my voice did justice to the song and suited Varun (Dhawan)'s character and his age in the film. The track lists the various reasons a man loses his heart to a woman. Varun will be seen wooing Alia Bhatt in it.
How busy is the next year for you?
I am really excited about Badrinath Ki Dulhania, Noor and Mubarakan. Having said that, I have decided to take it a little easy in 2017. I have released 46 songs in two years and I feel I should now focus on creating even better music. Also, I always look out for that spark in someone's eyes, a need to prove themselves...I am here to support talent, and I will do it in whatever ways I can. I worked hard only to make my parents proud. Awards never mattered to me, but the pride in their eyes is my biggest award.
Gulaabi Aankhen reworked for Sonakshi Sinha starrer Noor?
7:56 AM
Rachana Dubey (BOMBAY TIMES; December 24, 2016)
In keeping with the trend of
reworking old hit numbers, the makers of Noor have recreated a version
of Rajesh Khanna and Nanda's yesteryear chartbuster, Gulaabi Aankhen,
from the film, The Train. While the original was composed by RD Burman,
the new version has been created by Amaal Mallik. The song was recently
shot with Sonakshi Sinha, the leading lady of the film, and her
co-actors at a suburban studio. According to a source close to the
production team, the song has plenty of trendy dance moves. On the music
front, the revamped number is big on EDM and has a bunch of fast-paced
beats. The song is expected to come out early next year. A few years
ago, the classic number was also reworked for Alia Bhatt as a part of
her entry sequence in Student Of The Year.
Akshay Kumar & Ghulam Ali Khan guided our students at T-Series Academy-Tulsi Kumar
8:17 AM
Singer Tulsi Kumar has started an academy with Shaan, Sonu Nigam, Dino Morea, Sharman Joshi and Ahmed Khan on board
Kasmin Fernandes (MID-DAY; September 26, 2016)
It is proving to be an eventful year for Tulsi Kumar. It started with Airlift’s Soch Na Sake, a recreation of Hardy Sandhu’s Punjabi hit Soch. Bollywood father-daughter team Anil and Sonam Kapoor launched her special tribute Mere Papa, which she rendered with sister Khushali for her dad, late Gulshan Kumar. More recently, she dueted with Arijit Singh on Salamat (Sarbjit) and Neeraj Shridhar on Nachange Saari Raat (Junooniyat). Apart from her songs in upcoming Tum Bin 2, Wajah Tum Ho and Noor, the Delhi-based singer is making her father’s dream come true with a new venture for new talent.
You have a song coming up this week.
I’ve sung romantic duet, Dekh Lena, composed by Ankit Tiwari in Tum Bin 2. The first film is close to me. It’s my mom’s favourite film. Everyone will be transported into the melodious era of the past with the songs from the sequel of Tum Bin.
Your vocals feature on three tracks in next year’s Wajah Tum Ho.
Yes, the title track is composed by Mithoon. I have sung another by Meet Brothers; the third is a recreation by Abhijit Vaghani. The songs will roll out next month.
What’s keeping you busy?
I will be traveling to Muzaffarnagar for a gig soon. Then, of course, there are more concerts lined up in November and December. Like I mentioned, I am rendering three tracks for Wajah Tum Ho and Noor next year. Noor is a multiple composer soundtrack with a song by Amaal Mallik which I gave vocals for. My husband and I have started T-Series Stageworks Academy of Film, Music and Performing Arts in Film City, Noida. It offers certification courses in music, singing, acting, modeling and dance. Eventually, we will venture into direction and editing courses. It’s a continuation of my father’s dream; he encouraged a lot of new talent in Bollywood. It has certification courses in different streams. The academy has Shaan and Sonu Nigam (singing), Sharman Joshi (acting), Dino Morea (modeling) and choreographer Ahmed Khan (dance) on board for the courses. We’ve already had a visit from Akshay Kumar and Pakistani singer Ghulam Ali Khan saab to guide the students.
From day one, I have been a Dabangg girl-Sonakshi Sinha
7:44 AM
Sonakshi Sinha says her upcoming action flick is, in no way, an attempt to silence body shamers
Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; September 1, 2016)
In an industry fixated with body image, Sonakshi Sinha was always considered a misfit. She dares to call out bullies who have shamed her for her voluptuous figure and mistaken her candour for arrogance. But Jr Shotgun isn’t one to give up. As Sonakshi returns to screens with AR Murugadoss’ action extravaganza, Akira, she tells us why B’wood is ready to get a taste of girl power. Edited excerpts from an interview:
When you joined the industry with Dabangg in 2010, you were criticised for your physique. Is this film a retort of sorts?
This thought didn’t even cross my mind at the time of signing Akira. I didn’t do this film to prove a point. This movie touches upon some important topics like self defence, ragging, acid attacks, corruption. It is an entertainer, which shows a mirror to society. It is made with that intention, not to silence my detractors about my weight. From day one, I have been a Dabangg girl. Maybe, that’s why they signed me for Akira.
Was the physical preparation for this film draining?
I trained in mixed martial arts; it was physically demanding. I wanted to ensure that the action scenes didn’t look gimmicky.
Did you hand out acting tips to Anurag Kashyap, who is the villain in the film?
He is a really good actor and got the pulse of his character bang on. Anurag was the perfect antagonist to Akira.
Till a few years ago, a solo heroine film was not considered saleable. Do you feel that mentality has changed?
Definitely. For years, we have only had men playing action hero parts. It is high time we change that. The audience has become more accepting now and is ready to watch experimental stuff. They don’t mind watching a woman pumelling goons. Look at our women athletes who brought back medals from the Rio Olympics. There’s really nothing girls can’t do.
You are an action heroine in your next film too.
Force 2 and Akira are as different as chalk and cheese. The former is slick and stylised. I enjoyed playing a RAW agent. Next up, I have Noor in which I play myself.
Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; September 1, 2016)
In an industry fixated with body image, Sonakshi Sinha was always considered a misfit. She dares to call out bullies who have shamed her for her voluptuous figure and mistaken her candour for arrogance. But Jr Shotgun isn’t one to give up. As Sonakshi returns to screens with AR Murugadoss’ action extravaganza, Akira, she tells us why B’wood is ready to get a taste of girl power. Edited excerpts from an interview:
When you joined the industry with Dabangg in 2010, you were criticised for your physique. Is this film a retort of sorts?
This thought didn’t even cross my mind at the time of signing Akira. I didn’t do this film to prove a point. This movie touches upon some important topics like self defence, ragging, acid attacks, corruption. It is an entertainer, which shows a mirror to society. It is made with that intention, not to silence my detractors about my weight. From day one, I have been a Dabangg girl. Maybe, that’s why they signed me for Akira.
Was the physical preparation for this film draining?
I trained in mixed martial arts; it was physically demanding. I wanted to ensure that the action scenes didn’t look gimmicky.
Did you hand out acting tips to Anurag Kashyap, who is the villain in the film?
He is a really good actor and got the pulse of his character bang on. Anurag was the perfect antagonist to Akira.
Till a few years ago, a solo heroine film was not considered saleable. Do you feel that mentality has changed?
Definitely. For years, we have only had men playing action hero parts. It is high time we change that. The audience has become more accepting now and is ready to watch experimental stuff. They don’t mind watching a woman pumelling goons. Look at our women athletes who brought back medals from the Rio Olympics. There’s really nothing girls can’t do.
You are an action heroine in your next film too.
Force 2 and Akira are as different as chalk and cheese. The former is slick and stylised. I enjoyed playing a RAW agent. Next up, I have Noor in which I play myself.
Check out drenched Sonakshi Sinha shooting for Noor at Goregaon railway station
7:43 AM
Sanyukta Iyer (MUMBAI MIRROR; August 15, 2016)
At 6 am on Sunday, the central bench on platform number 7 of the Goregaon railway station doubled up as a makeshift makeup room so Sonakshi Sinha could get her touch-up done.
Next to her was Noor-director Sunhil Sippy on a wireless, instructing the motorman to go back and forth with his 12-coach train. The ticket counters at the end of the platform had been shut; Sona's vanity van was parked near the entrance. The makers had booked the entire train for the day-long shoot, which wrapped up around 4pm.
In Noor, based on Pakistani author Saba Imtiaz's novel, Karachi, You're Killing Me!, Sonakshi plays the eponymous journalist who travels by the local every day. The summer-2017 release is produced by Bhushan Kumar and Vikram Malhotra.
The makers had been hoping for a downpour given the inclement weather over the last few weeks, but it turned out to be a rare, sunny day. "The unit had to make do with artificial rains, with pipes fixed to the platform ceilings, since Sonakshi was required to get completely drenched for the scene," an onlooker from the sets informed Mirror.
Because of the Sunday megablock, the team had expected empty platforms too but news of the golden girl had spread far and wide and there were star-gazers gathered on the overhead bridge as well as the platforms three and four, as Sona turned into a commoner in blue. "Managing the crowd was a pain but watching Sona handle them was a pleasure," the source concluded.
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