Rakul Preet Singh recently joined Ayushmann Khurrana and Shefali Shah, her co-stars in Junglee Pictures’ Doctor G in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh. Due to the Coronavirus pandemic, the film’s unit has been shooting in a bio-bubble for the period of the shoot. Rakul plays a medical student in the movie directed by Anubhuti Kashyap.

Talking about the experience of filming the movie in Prayagraj, the actress says, “It’s the first time that I am shooting for a film in Prayagraj. When the unit decided to shoot here, I wondered what this place would offer that others won’t. But when I got here and went around the campuses, college and university buildings, I realised why we had chosen this place. The campuses are so beautiful; they have such an old-world charm. They look stunning and speak so much about the varied cultures that the city has been witness to. The shooting has been hectic but smooth. We’re in a bio-bubble, so as much as I want to look around and explore the city, I can’t do it right now. We’ve been taking all the possible precautions. We get tested every few days, wear masks and sanitise the sets regularly.”

Rakul is eagerly looking forward to getting a day or two off to be able to visit Sangam, a couple of historical sites located at short distances and relish the kachoris and chaats sold by local vendors. “I am excited to look around and experience this city. The only other place I have been exposed to is Lucknow. I have barely seen the state of UP. I want to explore Prayagraj and the neighbouring places of historical relevance. Varanasi is also a few hours away from here, and I will need a day to visit the place. But we’re largely functioning in a bio-bubble right now. So, even if I get a day off, I am not sure if I want to visit a crowded place,” says Rakul, who has several films lined up, including Mayday, Thank You, and Mission Cinderella.

When asked about teaming up with Ayushmann and Shefali for the first time, Rakul says, “I’m having a blast working with Ayushmann. I am a Sardarni and he’s Punjabi. Both of us are foodies and we both enjoy a certain brand of humour, which stems from our home state. We’re perpetually cracking some Punjabi lame jokes. Of course, he’s a fantastic professional who loves to improvise his scenes. He’s also equally sharp when it comes to picking up the improvisations his fellow actors make. That’s a very important trait and he’s fantastic with it. And Shefali ma’am is a delight to work with and learn from. She picks on the nuances and the arc of her character really well. She’s spontaneous, too, but there are several other traits that separate her from the rest of us. She is a brilliant actress and a treat to work with.”

Onkar Kulkarni (BOMBAY TIMES; October 19, 2019)

Ayushmann Khurrana and the team of Shubh Mangal Zyada Saavdhan has been shooting in North India for the film for the last few weeks. The story of the film, which also features Neena Gupta and Gajraj Rao as husband and wife, is set in Allahabad. A few portions of the story are also set in Delhi. News is that the entire film will be shot in Varanasi, including the portions that depict the National Capital.

A source close to the project informed us, “The makers are canning it on real locations. Even though parts of the film are set in Prayagraj and Delhi, the team decided to shoot these portions in Varanasi because they wanted the schedule to move rapidly. So, it made sense to recreate parts of these cities in the holy town itself.”

Taking the Shubh Mangal Saavdhan franchise ahead, this film deals with homosexuality and gay relationships. The team plans to wrap it up in a start-to-finish schedule by the end of November.

Nushrat Bharucha on why her next, based on Mandal Commission agitation, finds resonance today
Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; July 12, 2019)

"Cinema has the scope to tell versatile stories," starts off Nushrat Bharucha, proud that her next project, Hurdang, tackles a brave subject. Even though the Sunny Singh and Vijay Varma starrer is a love story at heart, the drama also shines a spotlight on the caste reservation system and its impact on students.

"It's a love story set against the backdrop of the Mandal Commission [agitation] in the '90s. Students took to the streets rebelling against [the report], raising pertinent points and asking the right questions. The reservation system is still being debated, thus making this film relevant even today," says Bharucha, who plays a college student, Jhullan, in the Nikhil Nagesh Bhatt-directed venture.

Slipping into the part of Jhullan, she says, comes naturally to her as she identifies with her struggles and her courage in the face of adversity. "I have always broken moulds as a person. I come from a Bohri Muslim family and am the only child. I have waged many personal battles to get where I am today. So, I get Jhullan to the T. She feels like an extension of me."

Before she kicked off the Prayagraj schedule a fortnight ago, the actor reveals that she spent considerable time with the girls of Allahabad University to gain a better understanding of college life. "Interacting with the students also helped me ace the diction. They helped me discover what college is all about."

Ahead of the last schedule of fantasy series Brahmastra, Alia Bhatt bets big on director Ayan Mukerji's vision
Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; April 12, 2019)

Few films have piqued the audience's curiosity the way Brahmastra has. Since its announcement in 2017, there has been much conjecture about the Amitabh Bachchan, Ranbir Kapoor and Alia Bhatt starrer, courtesy the grand scale it is mounted on. Bhatt, on her part, maintains that director Ayan Mukerji's vision of the three-part fantasy series is at par with international offerings.

"Ranbir and I have always maintained that Brahmastra is not a superhero film; it is a mystical fantasy drama. There is no reference [for comparison]. It's a new film that is emerging from our industry. It could be a film that will make this industry proud and put us on a global pedestal. I don't want to blow my own trumpet, but there's immense faith in Ayan's vision," says the actor of the Christmas 2019 release.

In keeping with the ambitious nature of the movie, the makers unveiled the logo in a spectacular fashion, on the final day of the Kumbh mela in Prayagraj. "The film is deeply rooted in mythology. Brahmastra is the biggest astra and has played a crucial role in every important war and every mythological text from the Mahabharata to the Ramayana. Once the story starts unravelling, everyone will understand why we launched it with drones at the Kumbh mela."

The film - which will soon commence its final schedule - also marks her first outing with beau Kapoor. Quiz her about sharing the frame with him, and she beams, "I have always been a great admirer of his craft. He is an honest actor who extracts the best from himself when in front of the camera. There are no trappings, and even if he has a process, it is an internal one, [which finally translates] on camera."

Meera Vohra (BOMBAY TIMES; February 17, 2019)

Director Madhur Bhandarkar fulfilled a long time wish of visiting the mega fair of Ardh Kumbh Mela at Prayagraj this week. “I’m happy that I was able to fulfill what I wanted to do for a long time,” said the filmmaker, who took part in the Ganga Aarti that took place there. “The dip in the river Ganga was an once-in-a-lifetime experience. The water was really cold. But once I submerged in it, I forgot everything and just savoured the experience,” he added.

The National Award winning director explored the Kumbh Mela extensively during his two-day trip there. “I went to the various akharas, met the sadhus and gurus. In fact, I visited an akhara post-midnight and filmed certain things. It was serene, beautiful and blissful in Kumbh,” he said.

Madhur found a lot of change, in terms of visitors at the Kumbh. “Earlier, Kumbh was projected as more of a rural fair. But I was surprised to see a lot of people from the metros like Mumbai, Delhi and, Kolkata also being a part of it. I also bumped into some musician friends from Israel. Having said that, there is a vast global presence at the Kumbh this time, the proof of which you’ll also find on social media,” he said.

Kumbh is also every creative person’s delight, believes the Indu Sarkar director. “Kumbh has so many layers and stories to it, which is interesting from the point of storytelling,” he elaborated.