Aditya Roy Kapur says that his journey until now has been ‘full of twists and turns’; adds Malang’s success has validated all his hard work
Prashant Singh (HINDUSTAN TIMES; February 26, 2020)

Like all the other cast members, Kalank’s (2019) failure came as a huge dampener for Aditya Roy Kapoor as well. But the actor has clearly kicked off 2020 on a successful note with Malang. Although he has been lapped up by the audiences in his beefed up, action-hero avatar [in Mohit Suri’s directorial], Aditya says he isn’t ready to be put in a box. “Honestly, I am in a place where I want to keep pushing myself,” says the actor, as he readies for multiple releases this year. Excerpts from an interview:

Last year, you completed a decade as an actor in Bollywood. How do you look at the journey? Has it been a fulfilling and thrilling ride?
Undoubtedly, it has been (smiles), full of twists and turns. I started out as a VJ at 18, so you could say that it’s been 15 years for me in showbiz. I must say that I’ve learnt a lot on the way, about the craft of acting and even myself. Along the way, I’ve met some amazing people and have done some very fulfilling work. But somehow, I still feel that I’m just getting started.

Talking about Malang’s success, are you kicked, considering you stepped out of the box for the film?
Absolutely! I had been wanting to step into the action space for a while now, though the opportunity hadn’t presented itself (smiles). With Malang, I knew I’d be taking quite a jump and I was also very curious to see how the audiences react. It seems they’ve accepted me in the action avatar and it’s a huge validation for the hard work that I put in. In fact, lots of people are telling me now to do more of it, even as a few have suggested that I keep up the beefed up, psycho look all the time (laughs).

Personally, how important is the film’s success at this stage of your career, considering you haven’t had a successful film for some time now, until Malang released?
I think it was very important. My last solo release was OK Jaanu (2017) which was quite some time ago. But I was also very cognizant of the fact that I wanted to offer the audiences something new — a different version of myself that they had never seen before from me. And now, I feel the success of Malang validates that thinking.

In Malang, besides your acting skills, your transformation, physique and action avatar also impressed audiences a lot. What’s your take on it?
As an actor, I’ve always tried to change myself, physically, into whatever the character demands. In the past, too, there were subtle changes [as per the parts] but that might not have come across in the way that it did with this role. Besides, I think the lure of getting all beefed up and beating up the bad guys was too good a proposition to let go of (laughs). But in all seriousness, Mohit [Suri; director] was clear from the start that he needed to see a stark difference, not only mentally but physically as well, between the two time frames. People have commented on how the two versions look nothing like each other and are equally believable, which is — very honestly — all you want to hear as an actor.

Going forward, you have an interesting line-up of with films such as Ek Villain 2, Sadak 2 and Ludo among others...
Personally, I am extremely excited. Life’s so funny sometimes, when it rains, it pours. I hadn’t done a film in two years and now I’ve three releases in six months. And the funny thing is that all of it was never planned; these opportunities just presented themselves around the same time. Getting a chance to work with such directors [Mahesh Bhatt, Anurag Basu and Mohit Suri] was something I just couldn’t have missed out on. So yes, I’m really kicked as the roles are very different from one another.

In the 11th year of your career as an actor, how do you see the coming years pan out for you?
I want to try out [parts in] different zones, experiment, and take risks. As an actor, I’m most alive when I’m unsure of the work I’m doing and I want to keep seeking that sensation, regardless of wherever it might take me. As for competition from younger actors, I will just say, ‘bring it on.’ It keeps all of us on our toes.

The musician feels ‘recreations’ are fading as people realise one can’t take the fast food route for music
Nishad Neelambaran (HINDUSTAN TIMES; February 15, 2020)

With two Academy Awards, one BAFTA, one Golden Globe, one Grammy and six National Awards, musician AR Rahman is a global icon. Known for the way he blends western and Indian instruments, Rahman has gifted us an unending playlist of soulful melodies — Roja (1992), Bombay (1995), Dil Se… (1998), Rang De Basanti (2006), Rockstar (2011) — in a career spanning over two decades. In an interview, the Mozart of Madras talks about Bollywood music, the trend of remixes, future projects, and more. Excerpts:

In recent years, we haven’t seen much of you in the Hindi film industry. Was it a conscious decision to stay away?
I was concentrating on my movie, 99 Songs, which is yet to release and Dil Bechara, which is supposed to come out. I was also doing Tamil movies. My time was divided between my productions, building a studio, and spending time with my kids and nurturing them into musicians. That required a lot of attention and a lot of time. And now, they are almost on track (laughs). You have to play all the roles. I am satisfied with the time I have spent with them.

How has the digital wave changed the rules of the music industry?
There are no gatekeepers anymore. Any kid who is doing well can be discovered now. No one can say, ‘Oh, He is performing well but nobody is promoting him’. But of course, big players limit the scale of content into very small categories. If something works, they think this is what we need. For instance, if you think a dish is very good and let’s have this for breakfast, lunch and dinner, it becomes boring (laughs).

Remixes are ruling Bollywood. A few of your compositions were also recreated. Are you happy with any of them?
The one which I was happy with was The Humma Song (OK Jaanu; 2017) as it helped the movie. However, after that I didn’t like any of them. Some of them are really disastrous and very annoying. In fact, I told the company who made the remix, ‘You are forcing me to support this but I hate this one, and people are going to troll me if I support this’. As far as the trend is concerned, it’s over. I think people are realising that music needs love and finding a song for the movie, rather than taking the fast food route.

Do you think Bollywood music has overshadowed other forms?
I won’t say that, as Bollywood has a lot of marketing money. Where there is money, there is exposure. You hear something beautiful but there are only 30,000 views and then you hear something not so impressive, and it has more than 500 million views. It is the marketing money and there are paid views, people do that.

Looking at the music industry in India, how do you think things have changed over the years?
The fear of failure is more. It’s all-or-nothing. So the ease of doing something beautiful is gone.

Would we see more of Rahman’s compositions this year?
I am doing an Aanand L Rai movie, Atrangi Re, and two more films which you will come to know, hopefully! Then you might hear good news about 99 Songs, too.

Nayandeep Rakshit (DNA; April 20, 2019)

At a time when every actor is a call or a text away, Aditya Roy Kapur happens to be cut off from the world. Point this out to him, and he laughs, “I think everyone, including my team, has the same complaint.” He reasons, “I believe that you should only speak when you have something to say. I have a film coming out, so here I am.” Aditya hasn’t had a release in the last two years, which explains his absence. While he agrees that he needed some time for introspection, he also feels that it has helped him realise his aashiqui with his craft. Today, he’s busier than ever before, with four films lined up in the next one-and-a-half years. We chat with him about his break, choices and life, the way he wants it.

You didn’t sign anything between OK Jaanu (2017) and Kalank. Was this a conscious break?
It just happened, actually. In some ways, it was a self-imposed sabbatical. I hadn’t signed anything around the time OK Jaanu released, and after that, I wasn’t convinced about the stuff that was coming to me. So, I didn’t take anything up and it ended up becoming a break. I was away for a year, and, I started working on Kalank in 2018. It’s been a long absence for me at the theatres.

Has it also been a time for self-analysis?
There definitely was a certain amount of self-analysis. When a film doesn’t work, everyone analyses what they could or should have done. Without that, there can be no growth. You have to be able to tell yourself certain truths, and I went through that process as well.

Did you feel dejected at any point?
I’m lucky that to me, films are just one part of my life. Usually, we get so caught up with work that we tend to neglect other parts of our life. This takes up so much time that it looks like the be-all of and end-all of things. But it’s not. There are so many other things that give me joy, meaning and purpose and I like to keep it that way. I have a friend circle that I like meeting. I enjoy travelling and sport. So, I used this time to do a lot of other things in life.

How similar or different are you from Dev, your character in Kalank?
There are many parts of Dev that one can aspire to be like. He holds his principles high up, always trying to do the right thing and stands by his country and his family. It was a challenge to play this character because I’ve never done a period film before.

What about insecurities of sharing the screen with a big star cast?
Security comes completely from the director, and what he makes you feel like. From day one, when Abhishek (Varman) came to me with the script, one could see how clear he was about portraying every character in the film, everyone’s role and how important each person is to the film’s narrative. Everyone felt like they were in safe hands, because of how passionately and stubbornly he looked at this film.

Varun said in an interview that you’re so giving that you give up on your own lines for your co-actor...
(Laughs) Acting is about giving, no? Varun was being a little too magnanimous. I’m not someone who’s going to give away all my lines. It’s because of the scene we had to do together. It had to be a synergy between those two characters. Often, when you are like that with an actor, they pick up on it and reciprocate to it. It’s important to do that because then everyone’s guards are down. It sends out a good message of teamwork. We are here to make the scenes look good and not make ourselves look better.

After Kalank, you have Anurag Basu’s next, Malang and Sadak 2. Are you enjoying being busy?
I need to learn how to multitask a little better. A part of why I love making a movie is because I treat my outdoors and my schedules almost like an escape from everyday, mundane life. I’m really happy to be working in all these films. My only fear is, I want to be able to give my best in everything I do. Certain things require preparation and time. So, I’m having to find more hours in a day to be able to do justice to my work. While I’m very excited and really happy working 18-hour-long days, I really need to put in that effort in doing the homework, too, and not let it go just because I’m tired. It’s the time where I’m having to push myself a little more than normal.

Renuka Vyavahare (BOMBAY TIMES; April 16, 2019)

Aditya Roy Kapur is strikingly lean when we meet him at a suburban five star. He mentions that he has shrunk himself for an upcoming film, and given the fact that he’s a foodie, it has been a challenge. The actor took a hiatus of sorts after OK Jaanu (2017) and as fate would have it, is now swamped with work. He has four films lined up. Unlike a Varun Dhawan or Ranveer Singh, who are forever charged up, Aditya is calmer and quieter. He sits back, introspects and talks about his upcoming film Kalank, his self-imposed sabbatical, what failure at the box office taught him as an actor, why he is unlike his contemporaries and more. Excerpts...

Aditya, we haven’t seen you around for over a year after OK Jaanu. What have you been up to?
I went completely off the radar, and was on a self-imposed sabbatical. I didn’t find what was coming my way to be interesting. So, I didn’t do those films and it ended up being a sabbatical of sorts. I didn’t plan it that way, but I feel that’s how an actor’s life is.

Did the box-office failure of some of your films (Daawat-e-Ishq, Fitoor and OK Jaanu), followed by the sabbatical, offer you a fresh perspective on life and career?
Some amount of learning comes with everything. I have realised that I love being on a movie set, and because of that, I am working more now and not taking as many breaks as I did earlier. My approach towards work has changed. I am happy to be in a place where I have work to think about. Lately, I have been lucky to find work that interests me as well, but I am not overthinking things now. The movies business is unpredictable and you have to take that leap of faith. What is meant to happen, will happen.

You started off with multi-starrers (like London Dreams, Action Replayy and Guzaarish),without fearing that you might get lost in the crowd. Kalank, too, has a stellar ensemble cast. You clearly don’t seem to be an actor, who wants to restrict himself to solo hero films...
The confidence comes with the director and the script. Like Kalank, multi-starrers need a script that offers everyone their place to shine. After that, you need a director who has conviction and clarity of thought. Abhishek Varman was wonderful at portraying how he was looking at this film. He made me feel comfortable and confident about how he perceived my role. In fact, he was passionate and clear about each and every character in the film. Everyone has their moment and a distinct character. Even as an audience, I enjoy watching films with multiple narratives. So, why not work in these films?

One part of an actor’s life is to make movies. The second part is to promote them, be seen, meet people, and stay active on social media. While you are good at the former, being social isn’t your thing, right?
I am still trying to gauge how important the other part is (smiles). Yes, my favourite part as an actor is to make movies. It’s definitely far above the other things that come with the job. It’s not like I hate socialising. If I thought that the rest was important, I would probably be more outgoing. Many well-meaning people around me are giving me this advice as well — ‘do more’ (laughs!).

Varun Dhawan and you are buddies, but at the same time, you have contrasting personalities. How was it working with him?
Varun and I had long sequences in Kalank. I think everyone has a personality. You can’t help but be yourself. If you are at peace with who you are, you won’t end up looking over your shoulder. Varun enjoys his stardom. He has great energy, connects with people, and is passionate about his work. He is also good with his fans. It’s lovely to see him enjoying what he has achieved. I love chilling out with him. We have common friends and we share some common interests like watching the fighting league, etc. We were joined at the hip when we worked together.

You played an alcoholic in two of your successful films — Aashiqui 2 and Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani (both released in 2013). Did you ever wonder why such roles keep coming your way?
I am thankful that those roles came my way, and I am remembered for them. To be identified as an alcoholic is quite charming (laughs!). A lot of bartenders greet me with open arms. Sometimes, when I am into fitness, I don’t drink and they seem very disappointed. They don’t take my word for it and say, ‘Sir, ek toh pilo’.

It was funny how many people actually believed that Aashiqui 2 inspired the Bradley Cooper and Lady Gaga-starrer, A Star Is Born (2018)...
A lot of people messaged me saying how the Hollywood film was inspired by Aashiqui 2 (smiles) and how a lot of scenes were similar. I found it really funny. I loved that film, though. It was amazing how Bradley Cooper acted, sang in it and directed a new actor (Gaga). It’s a huge achievement.

You have your hands full with a slate of projects — Sadak 2, Malang and the sequel to Life In A Metro. After that brief lull, you are totally out there now...
When it rains, it pours. It’s a stark contrast to the phase that I was in before. Those were free days when I could do what I wanted, and now, I have no time to breathe. But I am happy and enjoying this hectic phase. I am excited about these films. I am getting a chance to try something different and challenge myself. I feel that as an actor, it’s scary to have found your zone…to think that you know what works for you. That’s dangerous, because you would then want to replicate it and that’s not what I am looking for. I am looking for subjects that pull me out of my comfort zone.

You are finally on Instagram, quite a late bloomer!
Varun, Alia, Shahid Kapoor, Shraddha Kapoor and all my other friends kept telling me that I need to be on it. I was told that it is important today. I tried to stay away for the longest time, but finally, I succumbed, and now I am enjoying it. I don’t have a team who handles it. If it’s my account, I might as well keep it real and do it myself.

Parineeti Chopra questioned your single status on social media, recently. Are you single?
I have to call Pari and even Arjun Kapoor and ask them why they said that. The T-shirt I was wearing in the Instagram photograph (with the word ‘Single’ printed on it) was self-explanatory. I am single.

Shaad Ali (MID-DAY; December 27, 2017)

Going by his recent outings, success has been eluding director Shaad Ali. His Shraddha Kapoor and Aditya Roy Kapur-starrer, Ok Jaanu, did not light up the box office. Neither did Kill Dil (2014), which featured Ranveer Singh and Govinda. The director is currently filming Soorma, based on the life of Indian hockey star Sandeep Singh, starring Diljit Dosanjh. When mid-day caught up with him at a hockey stadium in Chandigarh, Ali said he wants to start afresh. Set to work on a biopic for the first time, the director reveals, “I don’t want to limit myself. I am interested in all kinds of subjects.”

When he debuted with Saathiya (2002) , followed by the Abhishek Bachchan and Rani Mukerji-starrer Bunty Aur Babli (2005), Ali was hailed as the new-age director. But after Jhoom Barabar Jhoom in 2007, he wielded the directorial baton again only seven years later. Ali says he has learnt from his mistakes. “I am human. What does one do when he is hurt? Apply an ointment, tie a bandage and wait for the wound to heal. I have done the same thing. Time is a great healer. I hope things work out for the better now.”

Besides The Humma Song, nothing worked for Ok Jaanu, which was a remake of Mani Ratnam’s Tamil film, O Kadhal Kanmani (2015). Ali says he doesn’t know what went wrong. But with Kill Dil, he admits that he went off track. “The screenplay went awry. It proved to be cancerous. I realised that the balance was not right before the release itself.”

Ali has pinned his hopes on Soorma, which is about the tribulations in the life of a sportsman. The director says he is not making the movie with the intention of popularizing the sport. “But if it does, I’d be more than happy. I play, follow and love hockey."

Shaad Ali on nani Lakshmi Sehgal and nana Col Prem Kumar Sehgal; making a sports film after love stories and his faith in Diljit Dosanjh
Avinash Lohana (MUMBAI MIRROR; December 11, 2017)

Shaad Ali is shooting for a crucial sequence at the Chandigarh Hockey Stadium with Diljit Dosanjh, who plays field hockey player and ex- India captain Sandeep Singh in his upcoming sports biopic, Soorma. The filmmaker concentrates on the shot while also shouting out instructions to his assistants, one of whom is veteran actor Kader Khan’s son, Shahnawaz. But even after a long day on the turf, Ali looks at ease as he takes up a seat near a glass window of a five-star that offers a view of the adjacent mall, visibly satisfied with the day’s work and all charged up for the 6 am call time of the next one. Soorma is his sixth directorial outing after Saathiya, Bunty Aur Babli, Jhoom Barabar Jhoom, Kill Dil and OK Jaanu, which released earlier this year. Is it intimidating to helm a sports biopic after a series of love stories? The answer is a resounding “no”.

“In fact,” Ali goes on to explain, “I was excited by the story and the idea of a sports film. As a filmmaker, we want to do one war film, one sports film, one chor-police film and also an out-and-out masala film. Soorma falls in the slot of a human-sports drama and has completely sucked me in.” By his account, more than 35 days of work on the film, which is produced by Sony Pictures Networks Productions, Chitrangda Singh and Deepak Singh, has been wrapped up.

Ali knew he wanted Diljit as his protagonist from the outset. “And his first appearance on screen reaffirmed my faith in the decision. He doesn’t let go of a scene; he is a sharp and aware actor but different in the sense that he doesn’t take himself seriously. He gets a sense of the moment and gives it his best shot. So much so, that his routine is to pretty much just show up, deliver a scene, and leave. Apart from that, he sits quietly in a corner,” Ali marvels, adding that he’d wanted someone who looked honest and was without baggage of any kind.

OK Jaanu, featuring Aditya Roy Kapur and Shraddha Kapoor, didn’t fare well at the box office. While Ali admits to having been deeply affected by its failure, he is quick to add that he hasn’t brought the baggage over to the next film. “All I can know is that maybe there were things with that film that were wrong but I can’t put a finger on it. Ultimately, you have to trust yourself and hope that somebody else will trust you enough to give you the next job because it’s a tough industry. If you don’t do well, you will get neither the stars nor the money; these are tough challenges to deal with. That said, if you haven’t done well and still land a film because the makers think you are good, that really boosts your confidence,” he clarifies, reiterating that he doesn’t think that there was anything “drastically wrong” with OK Jaanu. “Maybe people want different stories now,” he keeps it short and adds that Mani Ratnam, from whose Tamil film OK Kanmani the Hindi one was remade, had in fact thought that a subject like live-in relationships would work better in Hindi than in South.

The two filmmakers go back a long way – Ali had first served as an assistant director on Ratnam’s 1998 Hindi film, Dil Se, returning for Guru and Raavan, in 2007 and 2010 respectively. Ali had also joined his favourite filmmaker on two schedules of his last outing, Kaatru Veliyidai, in Ladakh. “You have to have at least one person in your life besides your mother, father, wife and child, for whom you’d do anything. He (Ratnam) is that person in my life. He has been a boss, mentor, friend, elder brother and sometimes, even like a father, at different points in my life,” Ali asserts. “All his other assistants (including Bejoy Nambiar) also works on his films as it is like a boarding school and a reason for a reunion. He doesn’t even have to call us.”

Meanwhile, plans are afoot for a film on his maternal grandparents, freedom fighter Lakhsmi Sehgal and Colonel Prem Kumar Sehgal. “It’s only when I grew up that I started thinking of them as someone other than my grandparents. As a filmmaker, I want to make a film on them. It will happen one day. They were like my parents, as I grew up in Kanpur with them. My grandfather had a story to tell every day to his friends over a drink,” Ali reminisces.

What about Tigmanshu Dhulia’s Raag Desh, which was based on the INA trials of its officers, his grandfather, Colonel Gurbaksh Singh Dhillon and Major Shah Nawaz Khan? Ali says that he hasn’t seen the film but it got a clean chit from the rest of his family. “Tigmanshu was really relieved. He had done all the research, had even met my nana’s bother. I just gave him one or two scenes between my grandparents which he had asked for.”

Do we dare venture into his past filmography, including Kill Dill and Jhoom Barabar Jhoom? “I can’t feel bad about them as the audience that rejected them had previously gone to watch Saathiya and Bunty Aur Babli. The audience is always right,” Ali signs off with a smile

Sarita A Tanwar (DNA; September 19, 2017)

So what will be Karan Johar’s next film? Will it have old favourite Shah Rukh Khan or will he repeat Ranbir Kapoor? This time around, will he direct yet another film on relationships or a family drama, which he does so well? So many questions. And only KJo has the answers. So we posed the questions to him, and true to self, he didn’t shy away from talking about his future plans, about his next directorial venture, and his banner. Read on...

What kind of a film do you see yourself directing next?
I actually think about that every day and I do not know the answer. I have never been more lost in my life on what I want to do next. Every day, I wake up with a different idea and I am like, ‘No, it is not exciting me’, I know the kind of film I can’t do. What I can do, I have not yet been able to tap into.

Isn’t there a sense of ‘it has to happen now. I have to direct now’?
I am very restless. I am jealous of all filmmakers in my company who are making movies and I am not. The other day, Ayan (Mukerji) had a photoshoot and I went on the sets and I was like, ‘Shit, I really want to make a movie.’ I want to be a director again. Because producing movies is amazing and it is satisfying and it is great for the company, etc., but the pleasure you get out of directing a film on your own and putting out your narrative is another thing.

Many scripts must come to you, why don’t you direct one of those?
They come to the company, none of them come to me.

Any reservations about directing a film that comes to you as a project?
If somebody sends me a script that appeals to me, I will direct it in a heartbeat.

Will your next film also be about relationships?
Might not be. I might do something away from what is expected of me. I feel, one day I will make a film that no one is expecting me to make and everyone will actually applaud it.

You do relationships so well, like Yash Chopra, why would you want to do something else?
Yes, even Yash Chopra did very interesting work. Like the film that we are remaking now, Ittefaq, is actually a song-less thriller. I would love to direct a thriller, but I just don’t know how to write one. I would love to direct one though.

If you get a thriller, will you direct it?
In a heartbeat. If I love it, I will be on the set tomorrow.

What about remaking one?
I never wanted to direct a remake of any film. If you remake, then you remake an immortal classic that you think you can interpret in a different way. Otherwise, I am not seeing a film I want to make again. We made OK Jaanu and I watch a lot of South movies; storytelling down South is on another level. It is amazing. They have better writing. We have not empowered our writers the way they have. Writing is what is sorely lacking in our cinema.

Avinash Lohana (MUMBAI MIRROR; August 4, 2017)

The last seven months in Bollywood have been marked by a distinctive onslaught of remixes of ’90s hits. Shaad Ali recycled A R Rahman’s foot-tapping composition “Humma Humma” from mentor mani ratnam’s 1995 film Bombay for his Aditya Roy Kapur-Shraddha Kapoor love story OK Jaanu in January. It was followed by Badrinath Ki Dulhania, which saw Varun Dhawan and Alia Bhatt borrow tunes and moves from Sanjay Dutt and Madhuri Dixit’s “Tamma Tamma”. Come March, Abbas-Mustan’s romance-thriller Machine which launched the former’s son Mustafa, threw it back to Mohra’s “Mast Mast”. Then, there are upcoming films like Lucknow Central, Tumhari Sulu, Baadshaho and Poster Boys falling in step with Monsoon Wedding’s folksy “Kaavan Kaavan”, Sridevi’s iconic “Hawa Hawaii”, Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan’s ghazal-qawwali “Mere Rashke Qamar” and Daler Mehndi’s “Kudiyan Shehar Diyan” from Arjun Pandit respectively. And the name that binds them all together single-handedly is Tanishk Baagchi.

Speaking to Mirror earlier (June 6) the 30-year-old composer had been disarmingly evasive as he argued that remixes have been around for a long time, pointing to Shefali Zariwala’s “Kaanta Lagaa”. But Apoorva Mehta, CEO of Dharma Productions which produced OK Jaanu and Badrinath Ki Dulhania, says that recreations come with the pressure of expectations. “But Tanishk’s compositions are fresh, with a vibe that connects with the youth, and simultaneously are a perfect tribute to the original,” he explains.

Shabbir Ahmed, who has worked with the music director on “Tu Cheez Badi Hai Mast Mast” as an additional lyrics writer, raves about his passion and sound quality. “He catches the right musical notes and dances in his seat to get the feel of his tune,” Shabbir laughs at the memory.

Nikkhil Advani, the producer of Lucknow Central, who went a step further and got Tanishk to further remix Arjunna Harjaie’s recreated version of “Kaavan Kaavan” for promotions, had been so confident about the composer’s talent, that he’d been recommending him all over town even before he hit pay dirt. “I think filmmakers are reaching out to him because he has executed so many recreations successfully,” Nikkhil reasons, adding that Tanishk’s original stuff is just as fantastic. He’s just heard two tracks Tanishk scored for Lucknow Central and two more for Baazaar, including “Kem Cho, Majama” for Saif Ali Khan who plays a Gujarati stock broker in the film. “He is not only extremely knowledgeable about music but the way he approaches a song, whether recreated or original, is unique,” Nikkhil avers.

Surprisingly, Tanishk himself isn’t too kicked about recreations. T-Series head honcho Bhushan Kumar who offered him “Mere Rashke Qamar”, also agrees that they should be collaborating more on original music. “But we are here to entertain and it’s a public demand we are fulfilling. I’ve explained to him that he is not just remixing an original track but recreating it. He works really hard on these compositions, changing the tune and even the antaras but retaining the original feel. He is doing a great job,” applauds Bhushan.

Abbas who knew Tanishk even before he entered the film industry says Mustaan and he have several of the youngster’s original compositions. “Since he was doing the entire Machine album we also asked him to recreate “Tu Cheez Badi”. We believe these recreations are making the originals even more popular. Tanishk will compose even for our next which we are currently scripting,” promises the man in white. For his sake we hope that this time he will be allowed to give his own mast mast tunes.

Purvaja Sawant (BOMBAY TIMES; July 7, 2017)

Meena Iyer (MUMBAI MIRROR; February 10, 2017)

Naseeruddin Shah’s name still adds a certain gravitas and even excitement to a film; though his roster recently has more misses than hits. On the eve of the release of an upcoming social thriller, the veteran actor, known for his candour, admits to his follies, opens up about his late friend and reveals why he wants to give Shaad Ali a hug.

Irada releases a week from now, any thoughts on it?
I’m anxious because I will be held responsible for the quality of the film. It’s a grim thriller and hopefully will be accepted like A Wednesday. It has a couple of good twists and a socially relevant subject, talking about the poisoning of the soil and water by chemical industries and how it even affects the common man who drinks a glass of the contaminated water.

You once famously said that films are not arty or commercial but good or bad. Knowing this, how do you justify your mediocre choices?
Over the last few years, my output has not been outstanding, only Waiting turned out well. Some of the films I did for obvious reasons but it’s become embarrassing. Take Charlie Kay Chakkar Mein, which I did out of a sense of loyalty to a couple of my students who claimed they did not have any money. I agreed to a two-day appearance which stretched to five days and ultimately I ended up as the villain which I was not supposed to be in the first place. It was a dreadfully embarrassing movie which I couldn’t sit through myself. One review even said, ‘Naseeruddin Shah has now become the Messiah of mediocre cinema.’

It’s good that you can laugh about this?
Yes, of course. I did good films like Dedh Ishqiya which didn’t fare well and ghastly ones like Jackpot which deserved to flop. There were films like Dirty Politics, Bolo Raam and some whose titles I don’t remember which I did for various reasons. A couple were made by cash-strapped friends who needed a name to sell their projects. After 40 years of doing cinema, this is not a good enough reason for shoddy work.

So you agree you should be more discerning?
Yes, but there’s no way you can tell whether a movie will turn out to be good or bad. I had never heard of Neeraj Pandey before I did A Wednesday yet it’s one of my most memorable films. Ditto Shoaib Mansoor of Pakistan but again Khuda Kay Liye turned out good. Who was Shekhar Kapur before he made Masoom? It’s the roll of the dice. I am not embarrassed to admit that I’ve done a lot of movies for money. That is what we all work for. But there have also been cases where the money does not matter. Irada is one such film I’ve done because I believed in it.

But money is important to you?
I seriously suspect money can buy happiness but I’ve been a happier person since I started earning enough than when I was broke. I appreciate money and I work for it. I don’t expect something for nothing which is why I do not gamble. Money doesn’t solve every problem but it makes life easier and it’s better to have money than not have it.

Is there something like a typical day in your life?
No, there isn’t. Sometimes I wake at the crack of dawn, sometimes not until noon. It depends on bodily fluids and what I have lined up. I haven’t green-lit too many films and ideally I like to start my day with a game of tennis. Till a couple of years ago I was a cricket addict, now it’s tennis. I’ve been forbidden to play cricket and ride horses. I cannot even exercise because my back has given way.

Do you advice your children on the kind of work they should undertake?
You cannot influence or control your children’s lives. Parents overrate their influence. My parents had no control over me though they tried everything. I know better than to try to live my children’s lives for them. My only prayer for Imaad, Heeba and Vivaan is that they are happy and successful in whatever they do.

With Om Puri gone, you seem to be the only custodian of a certain kind of cinema…
Yes, I’m the sole survivor. Om is gone, Farooq (Shaikh) is gone, Amrish (Puri) is gone… It feels strange. I’m angry with Om, deeply grieved that he didn’t look after himself. He had no right to mistreat himself. But on second thoughts, who knows what he went through?

You couldn’t sit through OK! Jaanu because you were deeply disturbed by Om’s death, right?
Shaad Ali invited me to a preview a couple of days after Om passed away. I was deeply disturbed and left shortly after the film began. I’ve heard disappointing reports. I thought Mani Ratnam’s film was enjoyable and at a loss to explain what went wrong with the Hindi version. Shaad is sincere and worked hard, as did everyone else. I want to give him a hug because he must be feeling low. No one should feel like s**t after they’ve worked hard on something. He is a lovely chap! As that book on screenplay writing says at the end, no one knows a damn how things will work out as far as a film goes. After writing 400 pages on how to work on a winning screenplay, the last sentence is — no one knows a damn! That’s what filmmaking is all about.

Hrithik Roshan and Yami Gautam-starrer Kaabil to hit theatres across the border
Bharati Dubey (MID-DAY; February 2, 2017)

The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting in Pakistan issued a notification on Tuesday, announcing that the government has decided to continue with the existing open policy of displaying all international movies, including Indian films, in Pakistan cinemas. Kaabil will be the first film post the months-long ban to release. Cinemas will exhibit a movie after relevant approvals from the Censor Board, the notification, dated January 31, read. A source from Pakistan’s exhibitors circles, says, “Hrithik Roshan-starrer Kaabil is already on the programming charts of various cinemas in Pakistan. The film will be censored today. Kaabil was imported in Pakistan a couple of days after it released in India, but a few documents were pending submission. That was completed on January 30. ”

Meanwhile, hitlist has learnt that applications for import of four more Indian films, including OK Jaanu and Jolly LLB 2, have also been submitted.

As per rules, a Pakistani importer/distributor of a Bollywood film needs to submit a request to the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, while specifying cast, credit and country of origin. The request is then forwarded to the Ministry of Commerce for issuing the import license. The film finally requires clearance from the Pakistan censor board.

A young director who was on the verge of casting Roy Kapur thinks it’s an error of judgement
Subhash K Jha (DNA; January 20, 2017)

It looks like a sorry 2017 for Aditya Roy Kapur. Not that 2016 or 2015 were any better for him. In 2014 Aditya had a big box office dud with Yash Raj Films — Daawat-e-Ishq, that sank. In 2016 he was in UTV’s big budget bonanza Fitoor, that bombed. And now he began 2017 on the wrong note with Ok Jaanu with Karan Johar that has got a lukewarm response.

A young director who was on the verge of casting Roy Kapur thinks it’s an error of judgement. “Aditya thinks he’s choosing correctly. But he’s choosing the correct banners, not the scripts. By simply opting to work with Yash Raj, UTV or Karan Johar, he can’t ensure a successful film. Only the script can do that.” Says a trade analyst, “All he has to do is to choose the right type of films. He will learn from his mistakes. But yes has to pull up his socks NOW otherwise this industry is very harsh. They will write him off after one more flop.”

Says critic Raja Sen, “I haven’t watched Ok Jaanu, but judging from everything else he’s been in, I haven’t been at all impressed in any way by Aditya Roy Kapur.”

WILL RAEES-KAABIL HELP JANUARY END ON A GREAT NOTE?

The month of January 2017 hasn’t been a great one so far. A lot of expectations were riding on OK Jaanu and the grand Hollywood film XXX: Return Of Xander Cage. Sadly, both films turned out to be hugely disappointing at the ticket window.

Ok Jaanu always had a challenge since it was too urban. But still, it could have made a mark. However, from Day 1 itself, the collections were poor and it hardly increased in the days to come. Moreover, there was a crucial cricket match on Sunday that dented collections. Still there was hope that on Monday it will hold very well but that didn’t happen. XXX: Return Of Xander Cage on the other hand didn’t have a full release on Friday – shows commenced only after 6 pm. Usually this happens on Thursday but this is the first time a film had paid previews on Friday. By doing so, the makers lost on a crucial day. Friday collections were just Rs 2 crore when it could have been more if shows had started from morning. Again, just like OK Jaanu, it got affected on Sunday due to the match and not just that, even the big South releases affected the film. Also, we can’t ignore the fact that the word of mouth of both films was not that great. Yet, both films could have done marginally better if the match and South releases were not there, and also the Friday evening release in the case of XXX: Return Of Xander Cage.

Tomorrow sees the release of just Coffee With D. It will have a difficult time for sure due to lack of buzz and also because Raees-Kaabil are releasing on Wednesday January 25. The buzz for both films is quite high. A section of industry feels that the clash will affect but if both films are good, nothing can stop them from doing Rs 400 crore business collectively. More on both the films and their strengths and challenges next week!

Aditya Roy Kapur talks about the inconvenience of love-making on screen and more
Nayandeep Rakshit (DNA; January 14, 2017)

Aditya Roy Kapur’s last few films have mostly been romantic dramas. Another one, OK Jaanu has just hit theatres. While the film is a modern take on relationships, we corner Aditya for a long chat where he talks about his take on romance, life, marriage and... lovemaking scenes! Over to him....

Did doing a film like OK Jaanu, which deals with modern-day relationships, alter your perspective towards love?
No! I don’t think it has changed my perspective of love. But as an actor, for every role and character, you end up identifying with how the character feels throughout the film. Of late, I have only played characters which aren’t close to who I am in real life. Whether it’s Fitoor, Dawaat or Aashiqui 2, it’s been more about those characters. In OK Jaanu, I could bring in traits of my own personality. This genre is tough because you have to bring your own charm to the character. It was nice for me to get a chance to do that. Also, this guy (his role in OK Jaanu) isn’t too different from what I was when I was 24-25. When relationships needn’t have ended in marriage and I was just chilling, taking it one day at a time. (Smiles)

Does what is written about Shraddha and you affect your relationship with her?
We have been around for quite some time now. Being written about is nothing new for Shraddha or me. Whether it’s before or after my films, my personal life has always been discussed in the media. Maybe at the start of my career, such stories would have made me wonder why and what people might think. But Shraddha and I have been close friends and these things can never come in the way. Earlier, we would even discuss it. But now, people have been writing about us for so long that, we don’t even talk about it anymore. It’s something we don’t even acknowledge. Both of us know what the equation is and as long as we are on the same page, none of those things can affect us. We have maintained that we have been friends ever since Aashiqui 2 and it’s the press that has always written otherwise. There have been conjectures created by the media, but we have always been clear about our equation.

Are you commitment-phobic?
I am not commitment-phobic. I have been in many relationships in my life. I have had some serious as well as long-term relationships. That is what it is. But yeah, I believe in the institution of marriage. Most people opt for it, get married and believe in it. I am also one of them, but I don’t believe I am ready for it right now. I have not met someone who I thought is the correct person to get married to. If that happens, I will think about it but right now, there is no thought about it.

Isn’t there pressure from your parents?
Not at all. My family wants me to settle down when I am ready to. Of course, my mom brings it up every once in a while, in her own way. But there’s no pressure at all of this sort.

So tell us honestly, are you single?
Whenever people ask me that, it becomes the headline for all my interviews. At least for most of my interviews in the last two or three years, the headlines have either been ‘I’m single’, ‘I’m not in love’ or ‘We are just friends’. And, I am tired of it. So honestly, I will say I am chilling. This is the new term I would like to coin and you would know what that means. I’m not taking anything that seriously right now. But I guess, in other words, it also means that I’m single, so yes!

Parineeti Chopra said on Karan Johar’s show that she would never date an actor. Would you?
I believe in never say never. I don’t have a strong belief not to date an actress. If you connect with someone and there’s affection, there’s no reason to stop it based on what profession the person is in. I understand where Pari is coming from. Actors are so busy and we kind of live unstructured, crazy lives. It can get difficult between actors to maintain a relationship, to make time for each other and to make it work. But I won’t say I will never do it. You never know I might have to eat my own words two years down the line, so I will never say no.

Ranveer Singh has said in an interview that he gets turned on while filming a lovemaking scene. Has that ever happened to you?
I don’t know about it. But did he really say that he gets turned on while shooting a lovemaking scene? (Laughs) I have done quite a few lovemaking scenes in my career so far. And no, it has never happened to me. (Smiles) It’s always a very technical and tedious process where you are asked to tilt your nose in some direction, move your shoulders the other and other weird things. So, it’s not like they are really filming the act, so to speak. So it’s always been too technical and cumbersome a process for me to find any room to get turned on. Though Ranveer is a method actor, it might work well for him. (Bursts out laughing)

You are one of those few who have maintained a close bond with both Ranbir Kapoor and Katrina Kaif even post their break-up. Does it become difficult at times?
That’s something I would rather not speak about. Enough has been said about their relationship, whichever way it is. Let’s just say that it is something that I have maintained. I share an equation with both of them, I have worked with both Ranbir and Katrina. I have known them personally and I have not over complicated the matter. That’s why my equations with them are simplified.

It’s not uncommon to come across couples who are, well, not exactly a ‘couple’. They do everything that one does in a relationship and yet they are not in a relationship! Casual relationship, situationship – there are many such terms to it. It is so known and common now that one doesn’t even raise eyebrows when people encounter such ‘couples’. OK Jaanu tells the story of one such jodi, their happy and sad times and a lot more. It’s an official remake of the much loved OK Kanmani and manages to entertain and touch the heart and also raise some laughs!

The story of the movie: Adi (Aditya Roy Kapur) is new to Mumbai and stays at the house of Judge Shrivastava (Naseeruddin Shah), a family friend who is still madly in love with his wife Charu (Leela Samson) despite completing 49 years of marriage. The moment Adi lands in the city, he encounters Tara (Shraddha Kapoor) in a very unusual way. Both meet and sparks fly. They decide to even live-in but they also decide not to fall in the ‘trap’ of love and marriage.

For those who have seen OK Kanmani, OK Jaanu will come across as a slightly pale version of the original. For those who haven’t seen the original, OK Jaanu will turn out to be a fun fare. And also for those who have savoured OK Kanmani, the remake can be enjoyed as there’s certain freshness despite being a copy-paste of the original. The actors and their crackling chemistry especially bring that touch. The opening credits are super-cool and the film begins instantly with no time wasted. And that’s the beauty of this film – it keeps moving without taking needless halts. Even the songs don’t act as roadblocks as they are very well shot. The funny moments are aplenty and nicely done. The intermission point especially is quite something. Post-intermission, the film does get a bit unconvincing at certain places, a problem faced by OK Kanmani as well. Even the thrill-induced climax towards the end does seem a bit forced. But the film ends on a nice note and that’s what matters.

Aditya Roy Kapur is superb as Adi. He had lot of pressure since Dulquer Salmaan had killed it in the original. But Aditya with his laidback and fun style manages to give a splendid performance. The way he sings ‘Duniya Mein Logon Ko’ in the train, goofs up when Tara calls him for the first time and reacts in the emotional scenes is something to be watched out for. More than Fitoor, which had a better scope for a great performance, it’s in OK Jaanu that Aditya Roy Kapur manages to make an impact! Shraddha Kapoor also manages to leave a huge mark. She looks extremely lovable and matches Aditya very well. There’s no doubt that this is one of the coolest jodis we have in Bollywood! Naseeruddin Shah has a very crucial role and touches hearts. It’s great to see the veteran actor after a long time on screen and that too in such a lovely role. Leela Samson too does a fine job. She says very little but still stands out. Kitu Gidwani (Tara’s mother) provides fine support and the same goes for the actors playing Aditya’s brother and sister-in-law. Prahlad Kakar (Adi’s boss) overacts but that suits him!

A R Rahman’s songs are damn good and suit the narrative well. The title song is the best and equally rocking is The Humma Song (by Tanishk Bagchi & Badshah). The rap portion in the latter is bad but the song on the whole works big time! Enna Sona is stylishly presented and is worth watching. Kaara Fankaara and Jee Lein too are good. Background score is funky. Ravi K Chandran’s cinematography as always is first-rate. Sharmishta Roy’s production design is damn appealing especially in The Humma Song. Mani Ratnam’s story is fresh despite being predictable. Screenplay is top notch despite few unconvincing moments in the second hour. Gulzar’s dialogues are translations of the original dialogue at places but overall, he has added his touch and that shows. Shaad Ali deserves credit for his direction. Often those who helm the remake aren’t given much credit as people feel that they have merely done ‘copy-paste’. But that’s not true as even recreating something requires efforts. And Shaad Ali does a good job in this regard. He however falters at quite a few places. The problem is that the original is no nice that when one makes a slightly watered down version of it, it is seen as a huge downer. But a fine job and hope Shaad makes such great films in future too!

Some of the best scenes:
1. Adi and Tara meet in church
2. Adi sees Charu’s condition live for the first time
3. All songs of the film
4. Adi and Tara meet Shrivastava and Charu
5. The intermission point
6. Adi and Tara at the gynecologist’s clinic
7. Adi and Shraddha decide the plan for the last 10 days
8. The final 10 minutes

On the whole, OK Jaanu is a nice, entertaining ride that moves at a good pace and entertains thoroughly. There are no tearjerking moments but the film boasts of sequences that will touch the hearts of viewers. Aditya and Shraddha’s chemistry is crackling while the songs take the film to another level. If you haven’t seen OK Kanmani, OK Jaanu will be great fun!

My rating - *** out of 5!

Rachana Dubey (BOMBAY TIMES; January 11, 2017)

AFTER 2 DRY FRIDAYS, DELUGE OF RELEASES THIS WEEK!

Since a biggie Dangal released on December 23, no filmmaker obviously released his/her in the subsequent two weeks. Coffee With D was to release last week but got postponed at the eleventh hour. But Dangal will enter its 4th week now and it’s safe to release films which have lots at stake. And this Friday will see as many as 3 releases, all of diverse genres! My analysis on these films:

OK JAANU: This is a remake of Ok Kanmani, Mani Ratnam’s 2015 romantic film that was loved for its storytelling, music and performances. The remake stars Aditya Roy Kapur and Shraddha Kapoor and is directed by Mani’s loyal assistant Shaad Ali who incidentally also directed the south director’s Alaipayuthey into Saathiya. Karan Johar is the co-producer along with Mani Ratnam. The trailer of the film got a mixed response and same goes for the title song. But The Humma Song has become a rage, despite the criticism over the rap portion. The song has been shot very well and has made an impact. Aditya-Shraddha jodi is damn good and their chemistry seems crackling. At the box office, the film can have an average opening and then can increase if the response is positive. The premise definitely has promise and here’s hoping Shaad has executed it well!

XXX: RETURN OF XANDER CAGE: This is a Hollywood film but what makes it special is that it features Deepika Padukone in a leading role. Vin Diesel is the leading actor and few are apprehensive if Deepika will have a major role in the film. However, her name appears third in the credit and hence one can expect her performance to be quite prominent. The buzz for the film sadly is not skyhigh but Deepika’s presence will surely give this film an edge, also in the Hindi version. XXX: Return Of Xander Cage can in fact open better than Ok Jaanu. Strangely, the film is releasing with limited shows on Friday January 13 and will have a proper release from Saturday January 14. Never has a film been released on a Saturday in many, many years. An interesting thing is that the film is releasing first in India and it will open in USA and other markets on January 20!

HARAAMKHOR: This is a small-budget film from Sikhya Entertainment directed by Shlok Sharma. It stars Nawazuddin Siddiqui and Shweta Tripathi and tells the story of an illicit affair between a tuition teacher and an underage student. The film has been ready since sometime but it faced issues at the Censor Board. Ideally, this is not the right time for the film to release as it would get very less shows due to the humongous release of Ok Jaanu and XXX: Return Of Xander Cage. But then, Haraamkhor is anyways a niche film and it can make a mark even with a small release. Futher, there’s no film release next week and hence it has all the time till January 24 to earn as much as possible!

WHICH FILM WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE OUT OF THESE AND WHY? DO LET US KNOW!

Rachana Dubey (BOMBAY TIMES; January 9, 2017)