Showing posts with label Pushkar-Gayatri. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Pushkar-Gayatri. Show all posts
I jokingly asked Pushkar and Gayatri, ‘Why didn’t you make Vikram and Vedha women?’-Radhika Apte
8:29 AM
Undeterred by her short screen time in Vikram Vedha, Radhika says film’s relevance in today’s times made her say yes to Hrithik-Saif starrer
Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; October 7, 2022)
As the title suggests, Vikram Vedha, which sees a cop in pursuit of a gangster, is a Saif Ali Khan and Hrithik Roshan show all the way. You’d wonder why an actor of Radhika Apte’s calibre — reliable as ever and lending gravitas to her scenes — would do the two-hero project. Did the promise of a commercial success make her say yes to the actioner?
“It’s a good film, and that matters to me. So many times, you are part of a film, but that doesn’t necessarily mean you like the film. Here, I like the film,” she smiles. “As for the body of work, no matter what your resumé has, success means so much in our industry. It makes you a bit relevant suddenly. Your commercial viability depends on your box-office success.”
Though the industry is evolving to depict women exercising agency on screen, one of the problems of male-driven masala movies is the little screen time it offers to its leading ladies. Director duo Pushkar-Gayatri’s movie falls into that trap. “I knew the story was about two men. My part was always going to be small. That said, it’s not about screen time. I loved working with Gayatri and Pushkar. I jokingly said, ‘Why didn’t you make Vikram and Vedha women?’ They told me there will be a next time. Would I like to be in films that offer me more scope and time? Definitely.”
For now, she is happy with how the movie perceives morality, depicting the thin line that separates the good and bad. “Vikram is darker than Vedha; that’s what I loved about the movie. I am tired of watching good and bad based on society’s ideas and mandated moralities that make no sense to me. People are extreme and intolerant across the world. The film is relevant for the times we are living in.”
Another source of joy for Apte was reuniting with her Sacred Games (2018) co-star. She says a lot of “uninhibited” conversations went into creating the on-screen couple. “I loved working with Saif. He is well-read, funny and straight-forward. He speaks his mind, and as a co-actor, he is receptive to your viewpoints. The one thing we brought in consciously to the couple was equality in their dynamics.”
In Vikram Vedha, Saif Ali Khan, Hrithik Roshan are on par with each other-Rakesh Roshan
8:28 AM
Asserting that Vikram Vedha is distinct from Tamil original, Rakesh Roshan says thriller scores because of directors’ fresh voice and leads’ performances
Upala KBR (MID-DAY; September 28, 2022)
In his decades of experience as a filmmaker, Rakesh Roshan has firmly held on to a belief — for a film to be successful, it must reflect the director’s unique voice. “If people come out of a screening and say, ‘Kya picture banayi hai’, it means the director has put his stamp on it. If you don’t see that, the movie won’t do well,” he asserts.
He is happy to observe that Pushkar-Gayatri’s next, Vikram Vedha, fulfils that criterion. The noir thriller is among the most anticipated Hindi movies of the year. It not only brings Hrithik Roshan and Saif Ali Khan together, but also sees the south directors foray into Bollywood with an adaptation of their acclaimed 2017 Tamil offering of the same name.
It has become common for Hindi filmmakers to turn to the south for remakes. But Roshan credits Pushkar-Gayatri for giving a distinct identity to the Hindi adaptation that sees Hrithik’s gangster Vedha pitted against Khan’s cop character.
“I had seen the Tamil Vikram Vedha before. After I watched Hrithik and Saif’s movie, I didn’t feel it was a remake. The directors have changed some sequences and added elements to make it a new film altogether, while retaining its [essence]. There are many Hollywood remakes, too, but how a director presents the film [matters].”
Roshan saw the first print on Friday with actor-son Hrithik, going in for a repeat viewing on Monday. The “riveting” screenplay, and the stellar performances stayed with him. “As Hrithik’s father, I may [sound biased]. But as a director, I can tell you that Saif and Hrithik are on par with each other in the film. If there was a slight imbalance in their performances, the movie wouldn’t have worked.”
So impressed was he by Khan that the filmmaker sent him an appreciation message right after the trial. “I messaged Saif, saying, ‘The film would have been incomplete without you.’ He replied saying that is good news. After the first screening, I hugged the directors and told them, ‘You’ve made a mind-blowing film. Now, you can sleep [after months of working].’”
For Vikram Vedha, Hrithik Roshan learnt the finer details of handling multiple kinds of weaponry-Pushkar
8:35 AM
With Hrithik’s character evolving into a dreaded gangster, Vikram Vedha director duo discuss how actor trained for weeks in hand-to-hand combat and handling AK-47
Upala KBR (MID-DAY; September 17, 2022)
At its heart, Vikram Vedha is a story of morals, of the fine line that divides good and evil. The most interesting character then is Vedha, a dreaded gangster who had his own reasons to turn to a life of crime. When Hrithik Roshan came on board as the antagonist to Saif Ali Khan’s cop character, the actor had to take extensive weapon training to do justice to the role.
In keeping with the noir thriller’s mood, writer-director duo Pushkar-Gayathri wanted the action sequences to be gritty. Action director Parvez Shaikh and his team worked closely with Roshan for the stunts, particularly two elaborate sequences.
A source reveals, “In the film, there are several gang wars and gun fights, leading to the final face-off between Saif and Hrithik’s characters. Hrithik shot a major portion of the action scenes in the back-lot of Khalifa Industrial Zone in Abu Dhabi, on a set that resembled the streets of Lucknow and Kanpur. One sequence, which sees him wielding a sword, came easy to the actor as he had previously trained in sword-fighting for Jodhaa Akbar [2008]. However, he had to train for almost three weeks before he shot the remaining two set-pieces. While one sees him in a hand-to-hand combat with Saif, the other has him taking on an entire gang single-handedly with a pistol and an AK-47. Since Hrithik knew how to operate a pistol, the focus was on making him adept at handling the rifle.”
The director duo, who had helmed the 2017 Tamil original of the same name, believe it will be a treat to see Roshan in a ruthless avatar. “Vedha starts off as an amateur, and develops into a gangster who is feared by all. Hrithik learnt the finer details of handling multiple kinds of weaponry. As Vedha grows [older], the weapons he uses get an upgrade too,” explains Pushkar.
Gayathri adds, “The attraction for us, as directors, is the way Hrithik emotes through his eyes. There can be a lot going on in the frame, but when Hrithik acts, his eyes speak louder than words.”
Every time, we would ponder over the many takeaways Vikram and Betaal's tales had, say Pushkar-Gayatri
8:17 AM
Having grown up on Vikram-Betaal’s fables, director duo Pushkar-Gayathri on reimagining it as a cop-gangster story in Vikram Vedha
Uma Ramasubramanian (MID-DAY; September 6, 2022)
Most writers will tell you that their films, regardless of the genre, germinate from a personal place. It isn’t any different for Pushkar-Gayatri who are foraying into Hindi cinema with the ambitious Vikram Vedha, starring Hrithik Roshan and Saif Ali Khan. Those who have seen the 2017 Tamil original of the same name — featuring Vijay Sethupathi and R Madhavan — can gauge that the cop-versus-gangster story has its roots in Vikram-Betaal.
“The core of Vikram Vedha’s story is inspired by the famous folklore. As children, we both grew up listening to the stories of Vikram and Betaal, and every time, we would ponder over the many takeaways their tales had,” says Pushkar.
The stories have again found a modern-day adaptation in the upcoming neo-noir thriller, in which Khan plays the conscientious cop Vikram, in pursuit of Roshan’s gangster character, Vedha. When Vedha shares a thought-provoking story in each interaction before slipping away from Vikram’s grasp, it slowly changes the cop’s perspective of good and evil.
Gayatri elaborates, “The film’s treatment draws references from these legends, where every time the two characters face off, they are at crossroads. We were fascinated with the dynamics shared by Vikram and Betaal. So when we started writing the story, we adapted that nostalgia into these characters.”
Hrithik Roshan, Saif Ali Khan are generous actors and have a deep understanding of the craft, say Pushkar-Gayatri
8:43 AM
Foraying into Bollywood with 'Vikram Vedha', acclaimed director duo Pushkar-Gayathri say Roshan and Khan gave their best to every scene
Uma Ramasubramanian (MID-DAY; August 27, 2022)
The buzz around 'Vikram Vedha' was inevitable. Since the project was announced in 2021, fans were eager to see Hrithik Roshan and Saif Ali Khan face off in the noir thriller. The success of the 2017 Tamil original of the same name only heightened the intrigue around the Hindi adaptation. Naturally then, the teaser of Pushkar-Gayatri’s directorial venture — that dropped online earlier this week — became a talking point among fans and in industry circles.
“We are overwhelmed with the love and positivity that the teaser received from the audience,” say the director duo.
Inspired by the Indian folk tale of Vikram and Betaal, the neo-noir thriller sees an honest cop, Vikram — essayed by Khan — in a cat-and-mouse game with Roshan’s gangster character Vedha. Vikram finds his perspective about good and evil changing as Vedha narrates three stories to him during their interactions.
That Pushkar-Gayatri excel in creating noir thrillers is evident in the success of the Tamil original, and their recent offering Suzhal: The Vortex. Their foray into Bollywood couldn’t have been with better collaborators, they say, heaping praise on the leading men.
“At the outset, the producers and we were looking for the best possible actors for the roles. Naturally, Hrithik and Saif were the top choices. Both are generous actors and have a deep understanding of the craft. It was always about making the scene work. As actors, they were so involved in the script that we were all perfectly in sync.”
Hrithik Roshan gets the depth and soul of Vikram Vedha-Gayatri
8:30 AM
Gayathri, one half of the director duo, discusses the Hindi remake of Vikram Vedha and why Roshan was apt for the role
Uma Ramasubramanian (MID-DAY; June 5, 2022)
When husband and wife Pushkar and Gayatri wrote and directed the Tamil hit Vikram Vedha in 2017, little did they know that the film will also be their entry ticket to Bollywood? Five years later, they are midway through the shoot of the film. Inspired by the Indian folk tale of Vikram and Betaal, the Saif Ali Khan and Hrithik Roshan-starrer tells the story of a tough officer of the law embroiled in a cat and mouse game to catch a calculative gangster.
Even before the duo could scout for talent in the Hindi film industry, it was decided that Roshan would be part of the ensemble. “Hrithik was the first actor to call us after the film’s release [in 2017] to appreciate it. He gets the depth and soul of Vikram Vedha. He is a talented actor, and it has been incredible [so far],” says Gayathri, adding that Roshan always looks at the larger picture and works towards making the project better. “There is no ego [involved] even if we don’t agree on the same thing. Even when he needs clarifications, it is never about [being] the star of the [film]. It is about the story of the film. He is extremely down to earth.”
Setting a part of the story in the city of Nawabs, the duo has created a makeshift Lucknow in Abu Dhabi. “We shot a few chunks of the film in Abu Dhabi, for which we built interiors and markets that [resemble the streets of] Lucknow. But that’s not all they were in the capital of the UAE for. It seems Gayathri also announced the global premiere of their Tamil series, Suzhal—The Vortex, set to stream on Amazon Prime Video, at the 22nd edition of IIFA Weekend and Awards.
Ask her about her collaboration with Pushkar and the co-director is quick to say that they have a harmonious relationship that is not affected by differences of opinion. “We’ve known each other since college and have grown up together. [Despite] being married, it is a smooth sail with no drama. On some level, our choices are also similar,” explains Gayatri, adding that even in case of a conflict, “we don’t try to prove a point”. “We are more friends than a traditional couple.”
As Laal Singh Chaddha is delayed, Saif Ali Khan and Aamir Khan's Vikram Vedha too gets pushed
8:32 AM
As Aamir Khan's calendar goes haywire after the filming of Laal Singh Chaddha is delayed, sources say the actor has postponed the shoot of Saif Ali Khan-starrer Vikram Vedha
Upala KBR (MID-DAY; June 25, 2020)
Aamir Khan's ambitious project, Laal Singh Chaddha, is among the many films that have been impacted by the Coronavirus lockdown. Last month, mid-day had reported that the Advait Chandan-directed venture, originally slated for a Christmas 2020 release, is likely to hit the screens in 2021. The deferral of the superstar's cherished project has had a domino effect on his other films. It is learnt that the Hindi adaptation of Vikram Vedha, which was to go on floors in February 2021, has now been pushed by the actor.A trade source reveals, "Almost 40 per cent of Laal Singh Chaddha remains to be shot. Aamir is certain that he will not return to the set until the situation improves. He does not want to risk the safety of the cast and crew at any cost. In all likelihood, he will resume shooting only after October and is eyeing a Christmas 2021 release for the film. He has informed Neeraj Pandey, who is producing Vikram Vedha, that he will begin work on the thriller only after the release of Laal Singh Chadha."
The noir thriller will mark Aamir's reunion with Saif Ali Khan after Dil Chahta Hai (2001). The adaptation of the 2017 Tamil hit of the same name will see Saif portray the role of Vikram, a righteous cop in pursuit of gangster Vedha, to be essayed by Aamir. The movie traces how Vedha, after surrendering to the police, narrates three stories to Vikram that change his perspective of good and evil.
Pushkar-Gayatri, who helmed the original, will take over the directorial reins again with K Manikandan serving as the dialogue writer. "The actor, who is spending the lockdown in his Panchgani bungalow, will re-work his dates for the movie after he returns to the city," adds the source.
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