The wedding season is in full swing, and celebrity nuptials are making headlines, which makes actor Saqib Saleem happy because he enjoys desi weddings. “I’m from Delhi and we have big farmhouse weddings there. I’ve grown up attending a lot of them. I enjoy weddings,” says Saleem, who recently attended the wedding of actors Rajkummar Rao and Patralekhaa, which he describes as “beautiful.” The Rangbaaz (2018) actor adds, “It was in a lovely setting with lovely food and great hospitality.”

Despite his admiration for the institution of marriage, the actor believes there is still time for him to take the plunge. “Do I get emotional when I see two people in love? I do, indeed. But I never return home thinking about my marriage. It is a lovely institution, but I believe I still have time for it. It is not on my mind,” Saleem explains.

On the work front, though he was seen in two web shows, Saleem’s last big release on the silver screen was 2018’s Race 3, and the actor was trolled for his performance in the movie. He, however, took it in his stride. “I think with Race 3, I got lazy. I did nothing new. I went in with the idea that commercial films are like that — I have to look cool. I never really got into the character and only played it superficially. It was important for me to hear that I wasn’t very good at it. When I was being trolled for the film and many people asked ‘Why he was in it? and ‘What he was doing?’... it provided me with a sense of clarity about what I should do next,” he says.

As long as it’s strictly for work, the actor doesn’t mind being trolled. “I want healthy criticism in life. How else will I learn? Sometimes, we actors approach every role in the same way. So, these things add fuel and push you to do better. Criticism is important, but not personal remark,” he ends.

Despite his modelling background, the handsome Freddy Daruwala often gets roped in to play the villain rather than the quintessential hero in Bollywood films. The actor, who’s been appreciated for his villainous acts in films like Holiday: A Soldier Is Never Off Duty (2014) starring Akshay Kumar and Race 3 (2018) that featured Salman Khan, is looking at exploring much more, but he’s consciously not thinking too much about it. “The thing is that everyone in Bollywood is ambitious and everyone is working hard to do their best. There are days when I look at other actors and feel ki, ‘Arrey, iska toh yeh project ho raha hai, mera kyun nahi?’ All this leads to anxiety. There have been times in my life when I’ve been depressed because of work. However, with time I’ve begun to understand the business better.”

Freddy adds, “I have realised that as an actor, I might work for just 100 days and be free for the rest of the year. The industry is teaching me that you have to eventually be happy and accepting in order to lead a healthy life.”

The Commando 2 actor also believes that luck plays an important part in the success of an artiste in showbiz. He explains, “Unlike most other professions, luck plays a major role when you have a career in showbiz. We all know that Ranbir Kapoor was the original choice for Band Baaja Baaraat (2010). He turned it down and Ranveer Singh was roped in. Look at Ranveer now! Ek pal mein sab kuch badal sakta hai idhar.”

Looking back at his personal experiences, Freddy reveals, “When I was offered Race 3, I was told that it would be a small role and so it didn’t interest me. I didn’t even pay attention to the narration and turned it down. It was then that the casting director Mukesh Chhabra informed me that I would be pitted opposite Salman in the film. I was also told by the film’s producer Ramesh Taurani that since I am the main villain I’ll also get a poster. So you see, this film was meant to be mine. Even after turning it down, it came to me. Likewise, I auditioned for Commando: A One Man Army (2013). I didn’t get the part, but seeing that audition the same team approached me for Holiday.”

The actor admits to being heartbroken at losing out on roles. He shares, “I was angling for the role of the main villain in Force 2 (2016), but at the time the makers were keen on having Imran Khan as the baddie. He turned down the part at the last minute. When the team tried to reach out to me for the role, I had already taken off to the US, assuming that the role had gone to someone else. I felt devastated for losing out on that role.”

Onkar Kulkarni (BOMBAY TIMES; September 13, 2020)

He made his Bollywood debut with Barsaat (1995), and since then, Bobby Deol has played varied roles across genres. The actor hit a rough patch in his career a few years ago, before coming back with a makeover in Race 3 (2018). Raring to go, he is now exploring new avenues and mediums. As he celebrates 25 years in Bollywood this year, Bobby looks back at his journey so far. Excerpts from a chat...

You have been a part of about 45 films in 25 years. Tell us about some of your most unforgettable experiences?
I have been working for many years, and every film has left me with pleasant memories. However, the one memory I cherish the most is of the day I faced the camera for the first time. It was for a film by Shekhar Kapur also starring Twinkle Khanna (he had appeared as a child artiste in the 1977 film, Dharam Veer). It was a simple shot where I was walking down the stairs, leading to an arena where I was supposed to have a fight. The first day on a film set felt like a dream come true. I shot for that film for 27 days, but it never got made. Shekhar got an opportunity to direct Bandit Queen (1994), and he had to choose between that film and ours. Since the former was a gateway to Hollywood, my dad (Dharmendra, who was the producer of that film) didn’t push him to do it.

You faced a lull in your career before coming back with a makeover in Race 3 (2018). Looking back, do you regret not reinventing yourself a little earlier on?
As an actor, you think of becoming secure and fearless at the same time. There have been times when I tried to do something different, but it didn’t work. That’s when you think of taking a safer path. After seeing the ups and downs, and then making a comeback, I felt that I needed to take chances in life. I became fearless and took chances. With Race 3, I was trying to get noticed and get more work. I am really happy with the opportunities that came my way post that. The OTT projects feel like a great start to a new life. Now, I believe in myself more than I ever did. I feel that even if I fail today, I have the capacity to bounce back. I am in a much happier space in life. I am always going to be persistent.

Was there a particular moment that prompted you to get your act together?
One day, I heard my sons asking their mom, ‘Why is dad at home? Doesn’t he go to work like you do?’ That was the trigger point.

You have ventured into the digital space this year.In fact,your web show, Aashram on MX Player, has won a lot of appreciation. How has your experience been exploring a new medium in the 25th year of your career?
Shooting for a web show is just like shooting for a movie, just that in the former, you are shooting for a five-hour-long movie (laughs!). I feel that web shows are a great platform for new actors to showcase their talent.

You are known as one of the most shy and reserved actors in Bollywood. But, is there someone who you have opened up to and connected well with, in the industry over the years?
I have done many films with Abbas-Mustan (Ajnabee, Humraaz, Naqaab), and they treat me like a younger brother. I have fond memories of working with them. That apart, I am very fond of Preity Zinta. I call her Pritam Singh. I knew her from even before she became an actor. She used to be a part of my friends’ group. I remember she was studying Criminal Psychology and asked me to be her case study. I turned her offer down (laughs!). I had suggested her name to Abbas-Mustan bhai for Soldier (1998) and that’s how we got cast.

Over the past few months, there have been debates about favouritism and nepotism in Bollywood. While you were never a part of any film circles or camps, the fact remains that you come from a starry family?
I don’t believe in being a part of any camp, and that’s the way I have been brought up. Chaplusi karna aadat nahi hai hamari. My family has been away from all this. My dad struggled his way into the film industry. He is the biggest example of an outsider making it big in Bollywood. I am blessed that I am his son and part of this profession. If the nepotism bit was true, toh mere paas kaam aate rehna chahiye tha.

You followed your father and elder brother’s (Sunny Deol) footsteps into the industry. Are your sons gearing up for a career in movies as well?
My sons are just 18 (Aryaman) and 15 (Dharam) years old. My older son is academically inclined; he is a class topper and has got selected by one of the top universities in the US. He is studying Business Management. He still has a few years to decide his career choice. The younger one is in 9th grade. I have seen how the industry has become competitive over the years. It is not easy for everyone to make a mark. At this point, I just want them to be well-educated, so that they can explore various career options.

Rishabh Suri (HINDUSTAN TIMES; August 25, 2020)

Portraying the role of a gritty and brooding cop in Class of '83 has brought Bobby Deol back into the game, and the actor admits he only wants to experiment with the kind of roles he takes up, and this one is a far cry from whatever he has done till date.

“That was the challenging part. I’ve played a cop earlier also — in Kranti and Chor Machaye Shor (both 2002) — and they were larger-than-life characters. But this one was very real — the journey of an honest cop (Vijay Singh), who sacrifices his family life, and the turmoil he went through fighting this system. That was very exciting to play,” he says.

Given that Deol shouldered the entire project, which also marks his comeback as the lead after multi-starrers Race 3 (2018) and Housefull 4 (2019), makes it even more special. He tells us, “It was a character-driven film, and that’s what I was looking for. It’s amazing that OTT platforms are giving actors such opportunities. For me, Race 3 boosted my career, and people noticed me — I’ll always be grateful to Salman (Khan, actor) for taking me in that film. Then Housefull 4 took my career forward. At the end of the day, one is always looking for a role that gets you noticed as an actor. It’s been 25 years for me in the industry and in the next 25, I want to play interesting characters.”

Deol has been getting rave reviews for his act in the recently released Netflix film. Ask him the best compliment he has received so far, and he laughs saying each one of them means a lot. “They’re such a boost to your self-esteem, and make you feel energised. I’ve been trying to do work which will get appreciated, and help me move further. I put faith in all my fans... that makes producers and directors notice me. I’m excited people have praised my work,” he gushes.

However, he’s quick to add that getting a call from the film’s producer, actor Shah Rukh Khan, was an icing on the cake. “From someone like him, who has achieved so much in life as an actor, it’s so nice to hear that. My brother (Sunny Deol) was so happy. Obviously, he’s family, but even then there was a glow in his eyes, seeing me excel as an actor. My sister couldn’t see Bobby, but only the character. That’s something you always wish as an actor,” Deol ends.

DABANGG 3 just about managed to get 1 crore footfalls despite the failure of the film. This means that Salman Khan had just one miss in the gone decade where only one of his films failed to hit the 1 crore footfall mark, that is, VEER. One crore footfalls is basically a real 100 crore nett value at the box office be it 1970 or 2020. Obviously today 1 crore footfalls means much more than 100 crore nett at the box office and in a few years it will give even more as ticket rates go higher.

One crore footfalls also means reaching a sizeable audience although some films need to reach a bigger audience due to the size of the films and most Salman Khan films come into this category. The one miss was VEER (2010) which was his first release of the decade and became before DABANGG (2010) which established his image of a mass action superstar across India and then films like BODYGUARD, READY and EK THA TIGER rubber stamped this image. VEER actually scored in Rajasthan and Bihar but Salman Khan was not the same star at the time of this release as he was a year or two later.

Basically just one film under 1 crore footfalls through the whole decade means most of his films got an audience irrelevant of content. If we compare, then Aamir Khan had one film which fell under 1 crore footfalls in the 2000-2009 decade but there were just nine releases and Manoj Kumar had one miss in the 1970-1979 decade but only ten films. Limited films had a hand in not missing the 1 crore mark for Aamir Khan and Manoj Kumar.

The Salman Khan films of the last decade are also finding big audiences on television in the Coronavirus lockdown period especially the two TIGER films. As far as OTT goes its being said that these B and C grade web series which have foundations based on sex and profanities rather than story and screenplay are the rage in the lockdown period but just the price paid for Salman Khan starrers which is around 100 crore is enough to tell what has a bigger audience. TIGER ZINDA HAI, RACE 3, BHARAT and DABANGG 3 have all fetched this price or nearabouts it.

The footfalls of Salman Khan starrer in the last decade are as follows. There were sixteen releases in total.
1. Veer (2010) - 73,47,000
2. Dabangg (2010) - 2,50,86,000
3. Ready (2011) - 1,84,52,000
4. Bodyguard (2011) - 2,21,48,000
5. Ek Tha Tiger (2012) - 2,47,39,000
6. Dabangg 2 (2012) - 2,05,28,000
7. Jai Ho (2014) - 1,43,98,000
8. Kick (2015) - 2,41,92,000
9. Bajrangi Bhaijaan (2015) - 3,54,17,000
10. Prem Ratan Dhan Payo (2015) - 2,22,76,000
11. Sultan (2016) - 3,20,85,000
12. Tubelight (2017) - 1,15,74,000
13. Tiger Zinda Hai (2017) - 3,08,89,000
14. Race 3 (2018) - 1,58,19,000
15. Bharat (2019) - 1,60,68,000
16. Dabangg 3 (2019) - 1,01,63,000

After the lukewarm response to Street Dancer 3D, director Remo D'Souza takes time off from dance films; to helm actioner sans favourite actor Varun Dhawan
Upala KBR (MID-DAY; February 9, 2020)

During the promotional leg of Street Dancer 3D, reports suggested that director Remo D'Souza and his favourite actor Varun Dhawan will reunite for another dance film. The rumours have all but quietened down after the lukewarm response to the Republic Day release. The director-choreographer, on his part, insists that he has pencilled in on his next—an actioner.

Wonder if he has decided to steer away from the dance genre after having burnt his fingers with Street Dancer 3D, and he dismisses the suggestion. "My next is an action drama and it's completely different from Race 3 [his last actioner]. I had written a few scripts when I was [busy with my choreographing duties], including a dance film. But this is the one I want to make first; I may start shooting for it by April-May," says the director, before hinting, "I am in talks with a top actor for the same."

Does that mean he won't knock on the door of his frequent collaborator Dhawan? "I think he is busy with other projects. Varun [has his plate full with] three films, so my next won't star him, but you never know after that. The ABCD series has been lucky for all of us."

Not too long ago, it was speculated that D'Souza would helm Dance Daddy with Salman Khan. Soon after, there was buzz that he had pitched the idea to Dhawan. Quiz him on the developments, and he says, "These [reports that he is collaborating with Dhawan] are rumours. The script of Dance Daddy is with Salman sir. If he ever wants to make it, I will do it with him."

Nishad Neelambaran (HINDUSTAN TIMES; January 30, 2020)

Choreographer-turned-director Remo D’souza feels Bollywood’s apathy to the dance genre is finally changing. “I feel there are a lot of changes now. After ABCD: Any Body Can Dance (2013), this genre has opened up and people are making these kind of movies,” says the director of the recently released Street Dancer 3D.

As a choreographer, Remo has films such as 36 China Town (2006), Singh Is Kinng (2008), London Dreams (2009) and Pyaar Ka Punchnama (2011) to his credit, among others. And the 46-year-old feels “dance has changed big time in Bollywood”. “I think the transition happened about a decade ago when dance reality shows started. Now, we have every actor doing some amazing dance steps,” he says.

Katrina Kaif was initially roped in for Street Dancer 3D, but had to quit due to Bharat (2019). Remo says Shraddha Kapoor was the next choice. “Since Katrina had to opt out, we didn’t think of anyone else but Shraddha. In 15 minutes she came on board,” he shares.

Ask if it’s more comfortable to direct dance-themed films and Remo says, “It has more to do with the script. In F.A.L.T.U (2011), ABCD, ABCD 2 (2015) and Flying Jatt (2016), I was a part of the screenplay. The only movie I was not a part of writing was Race 3 (2018). It’s not like I wasn’t comfortable directing it. I am a little more comfortable with a script that I’m part of. I’m willing to direct different genres going ahead.”

Remo, who had directed the Salman Khan-starrer, feels “it wasn’t a failure”. “People used to talk about films being a hit, flop or a blockbuster. Now, the focus is on how much it made in its first weekend. As a director, I feel ₹180 crore is not a bad number. Baaki sab ki films ₹120-130 crore karti hai toh it’s a blockbuster, but people felt my film didn’t do well at the box office,” he observes.

And the director, who has a cheating and extortion case against him, claims it’s “false”. Told to hand over his passport to the police and not to travel abroad without the court’s nod, he says, “As far as my passport is concerned, my lawyers are taking care of it. Whatever the case is, it is false,” Remo adds.

Renuka Vyavahare (BOMBAY TIMES; October 22, 2019)

Still popular with the ladies, Bobby Deol’s quiet charm and style — long curly hair, glasses and jackets — made him a trendsetter early on in his career. However, somewhere along the way, he disappeared from the scene and is back now, keen to explore his untapped potential as an actor. In a chat with Bombay Times, he tells us about the slip-ups in his career, how he’s coping with the changes in the industry, his upcoming film Housefull 4 and more.

After years of staying away from the limelight, you had to reboot your career a year ago with Race 3, and now, here we are, with another multistarrer, Housefull 4. How is this renewed phase of your career going?
Everybody goes through their own journey. Your life takes a turn at some point or the other. You don’t know if those changes are right or wrong. Eventually, when you realise that you are on the wrong track and if you are sane enough to understand the values that have been imbibed in you by your parents, you get back to your senses. You start getting your focus back. How you cope with the change is what defines you. You learn from your mistakes. If you don’t learn, then you allow the wrong decisions to take you further in the wrong direction. It gets worse. I eventually decided to gear up, change myself and work harder. There’s so much potential in me as an actor. There’s so much more that I can do and offer to the entertainment world. When things don’t go the way you want them to, you start doubting yourself. Are you capable or not? It’s all in your hands. Everyone is capable.

If given a change to undo something, what would be that one thing?
I just wish I was more focused in my life. I wish I knew what competition was and how to face it. I thought everyone has their own space and everyone will get work, but it wasn’t like that. It’s not about being in a rat race; the point is that you need to get work. I have always been a straightforward person. Things like networking and PR, have become a part and parcel of the movie business, which I never indulged in. The world we live in now has become cut-throat. Not that I have become that way, but I do understand that you need to be visible for people to notice that you are interested in working. I am excited that I have changed within the time that I should have. Things are now moving in the right direction. I have become braver. Now, I believe in myself more than I ever did.

Given that you come from a family of movie stars, and huge ones at that, was it ever the case of being too proud to ask for work?
It was never about being too proud to ask for work. Even in those days, if I met a director who I wanted to work with, I would say, let’s work. Now it’s different. You have to be at it. It’s getting more systematic. I never had a PR handling my work, but I have one since the past two years. It’s all about being seen — be it on social media or otherwise. Of course, you also have to also think twice before saying anything on these platforms.

They say it’s a big bad world of movies, and it is especially harder for those who have no industry connection. Do you think that’s changing?
Not just mine, but many kids from the new generation are dying to be a part of the movies, as it’s becoming cleaner and more open. There was a time when people wouldn’t encourage girls to enter films, but that’s changing. People now tutor their kids from childhood, so that they can pursue acting. Also, reality shows are helping children to enter this field. Not everybody can get a chance, but at least some can get noticed.

Govinda once told us that he went wrong by declining films like Gadar Ek Prem Katha, which turned out to be huge hits. He said he couldn’t take up roles that he thought were risky as he didn’t have anyone to fall back on. He said, “Sunny Deol ji is Dharmendra ji’s son. Unkey parivar mein aadha dozen stars hai. Main toh Govinda hoon, aur mujhe apni puri familyko dekhna hain, so it is difficult for me to take risks...”
Every actor decides to do roles, which they think will work, so I don’t believe in that. When you are out there, you are nobody’s son. If the public enjoys your work, you will survive. I don’t agree or disagree with Govinda. He is a great actor. I believe every individual goes through their own journey and makes their own decisions.

Given your father and brother’s image and legacy, do you think the Deol family often gets stereotyped as action stars and are overlooked for other roles?
At the end of the day, the public’s love is your biggest award. Till date, my father hasn’t got a Best Actor award, but if you see his films, every performance is different, and they keep lingering in your mind. The amount of hits he has given in the first 25 years of his career, very few have managed to. He is one of the most successful actors here. As far as stereotyping is concerned, it happens to everyone, like the way it has happened to my father and brother. That’s why I avoided doing action films when I entered the industry. But because of my family name and image, I ended up getting roles that were action oriented. My love stories didn’t do as well.

What made you choose multi-starrers and big-ticket films like Race 3 or a Housefull 4? Does it feel comfortable to be a part of an ensemble cast?
I am glad I have started my career again and I am getting to be a part of these films. They give me an opportunity to do roles that defy my image. It is also a big platform for me because I want to be noticed by the new generation. They haven’t seen much of my work and I need them to know that there is an actor called Bobby Deol. When you take a break for five years, life moves on. New movies come, you have no PR and no one sees you or talks about you. I can now test my capability as an actor and do roles that I otherwise wouldn’t have the guts to do.

Housefull 4 has its own brand of humour. A comedy film is also a tricky genre, it is all about whether the audience gets the humour bang on, or not...
It is tough to play characters in a movie like Housefull 4, because unless the script is not written well, the actors can look silly doing it. I feel the USP of the franchise is Akshay Kumar and Riteish Deshmukh. They have an amazing chemistry. They have done so many films together and have known each other since long. They have a whacky sense of humour on and off the set, and they constantly entertain us.

Your curly hair, dark glasses (which came to be known as Barsaat glasses after your debut film) and leather jackets, made you a trendsetter back then. You’ve always a had a lot of female fans swooning over you, however, you strangely seem unaware of it...
I get embarrassed when I hear this. I didn’t think that my hair or what I wore would become a rage. I just wanted my hair to be long as I loved long hair. I am very chilled out, so I liked the kind of unkempt hair that rock stars and musicians sported. Even in my school days, I would want to keep it long and my teachers would tell me to chop it off. During my debut film Barsaat (1995), I was into sunglasses and I still am. I wanted to wear my personal purple sunglasses for the film, but director Rajkumar Santoshi said, ‘Yeh mat pehennna’. I showed it to our cinematographer Santosh Sivan, and he said, ‘Wear it’. I did it and that’s how that chashma got famous. Also, those days things weren’t easily accessible to everyone, so it was easy to become a trendsetter. Now everything is available to people, which is nice, as they can dress the way they want.

You said this is your second innings in a way. What lies ahead?
I am now open to everything. It’s not easy to get good scripts, so I am still fighting that battle. I love the new brand of movies that Ayushmann Khurrana and Rajkummar Rao are doing. That’s the kind of cinema you want to watch. Even my dad has done such family entertainers with middle-class values, which are funny, but not over the top. But for me to get such films, I need to change my image. The industry still thinks of me as a glamorous guy (from films like Gupt). They always told me I can’t play a poor man’s role. Also, because my films that did well were thrillers in a commercial set-up, which were also glamorous roles, that image of me has stayed. I did try to do films like Vaada Raha, Nanhe Jaisalmer and Kareeb, which were films with a message, but they didn’t work. Now, I am ready to explore roles that I never have.

Bobby Deol, who’s back in the race and fighting to regain lost ground, even while he admits that work is not easy to come by
Roshmila Bhattacharya (MUMBAI MIRROR; October 19, 2019)

He’s one of the coolest actors in B-Town, both in style quotient and temperament. Nothing ruffles him, neither a hit nor a flop. That’s because Bobby Deol is careful not to get arrogant with success or let failure make him bitter. “If success is a high, then failure is the after-effects of that high. And like any downer, it can leave you feeling depressed. So, you need to keep things in control and not let them get to you,” reasons the actor who’s been see-sawing between two extremes through a career spanning almost 25 years.

At the moment, Bobby is trying to regain lost ground after a selfimposed exile from the screen, which he admits was a mistake. He is grateful to Salman Khan, whom he describes as “the greatest human being he has come across”, for getting him back in the race. “Thanks to him, I got Race 3 without which I would not have landed Housefull 4,” he acknowledges, admitting that choices are limited with work opportunities not easy to come by when you have been out of the running. “You need lots of luck, but I don’t want to leave it to just luck. I’m going out of my way to mingle and learn everything there’s to learn. It’s never too late, age is just a number. You’re as old as you are in your mind.”

He’s made 50 the new 20 and is at his fittest today. Bobby admits that after letting himself go, he is now focussed on staying healthy. Well, he couldn’t have got much sleep this week, with Akshay Kumar pushing up the call time of The Kapil Sharma Show to 6 am, then taking his Housefull 4 coactors on a train-ride to the capital as part of the film’s promotions. “Akshay bhaiya even got Kapil to the set early,” he laughs. “He’s a great guy and it was fun being on his show. The train journey brought back fond childhood memories. When we were in school and college, every year, during summer and winter vacations, we’d travel with the extended family to Punjab. It reunited the gang and gave us quality time together.”

While Akshay and Riteish Deshmukh have been a part of this franchise through four parts, Bobby is a new entrant. So, how was the Housefull experience for him in the context of producer Sajid Nadiadwala’s observation that every actor in the cast needs to shed their inhibitions and perform shamelessly, because without that conviction they’d stand out like a sore thumb in this crazy comedy. “Akshay and Ritiesh are the USP of this franchise. They’re amazing actors, with great comic timing and chemistry. For me, it was an opportunity to understand that kind of cinema. Fortunately, my character is not too over the top, but I’ve learnt a lot from them. I want to step out of my comfort zone now, do all kinds of roles, even on the digital platform because that’s where people turn to at the end of a long day to unwind. The younger audience does not have a set image of me, so I can get a little more experimental,” he avers.

Given that Diwali is a great release week, he must be hoping Part 4 replicates the success of the previous three films and gives him a much-needed box office boost? “I’m hoping people will enjoy this more than the other three. Akshay is a superstar, people love his movies, and through him, I hope they get to see me too,” he smiles.

And will we get to see the three Deols—Dharmendra, Sunny and Bobby—in at least one more film even if it’s not Yamla Pagla Deewana 4? “Definitely,” he assures. “We were all disappointed, particularly, that YPD 3 did not fare better. Next time, we will focus more on the subject so those who love us don’t feel let down,” he promises.

They must also be disappointed that Pal Pal Dil Ke Paas which heralded the entry of the third generation of Deols, Sunny’s son Karan, did not live up to expectations. Where did they go wrong, given that Sunny had directed it? “Every father will do his best for his child, so I have no answer to that. My nephew has talent and promise. He’ll definitely will make a name, he just needs to get the right project,” Bobby reasons.

Is his older son, Aryaman, gearing up for his Bollywood debut? He points out that it’s every father’s dream for his children to follow in his footsteps, and while it will make him happy too, he will never impose his views on his sons. “My father didn’t, the decision was my own, and I want my boys to think for themselves too. I will be equally happy if they want to do business,” he asserts, pointing out that today with more competition, it’s as difficult for a star kid as it is for someone with no film background.

He doesn’t believe in advice, but speaks to both Aryaman and Dharam about what is important, corrects them if necessary and tries to inculcate in them the values he grew up with. “We were taught to be honest and a good human being. That can be conflicting because human beings by nature are not honest. So, you try to be a good human being because then you’re more honest,” he smiles, adding that with his sons, he’s the good cop while wife Tania is the bad cop. “The mother is usually the disciplinarian, who ensures the children don’t go out of control. She’s also the one they love and connect with most.”

For Bobby, Tania is his lifeline. “While your father, mother, siblings always stand by you, it’s your better half who goes through ups and downs with you. My wife has been my biggest strength and most honest critic. Tania has given me the determination to fight back. Today, every step I take, I see it as a way forward,” he signs off with a smile.

Ten films which went beyond the two-and-a-half hour length and stood to gain… or lose
Akash Bhatnagar (MUMBAI MIRROR; July 22, 2019)

A movie’s run time is tricky business. If it is too short, the audience may not get it, if it is too long, it could turn into a snore fest. So, most Hindi filmmakers play safe and keep it to two-and-a-half hours, but once in a while, surprises do crop up, be it the almost four-hour-long Lagaan or the hour-and-a-half Dolly Ki Doli. Currently on a record-breaking spree, Kabir Singh, is almost three-hour long, yet the audience is happily lapping up the dollops of misogyny. To cut a long story short, many filmmakers today are ready to gamble with the age-old maxim ‘the longer, the better’. Does the length of a film influence its box-office outcome? Trade experts analyse...

KABIR SINGH (2019) - 2 hrs and 53 mins
Director: Sandeep Vanga
Cast: Shahid Kapoor, Kiara Advani
Synopsis: A remake of the Telugu romance Arjun Reddy, the film follows an alcoholic surgeon on the path of self-destruction after his girlfriend leaves him.
Trade speak: Distributor Raj Bansal believes the runtime affects number of shows and this film could have upped its business by 10-15 per cent had it been 20 minutes shorter. “Long runtime erodes entertainment value and brings down collections, but that’s where content kicks in. The trade had not expected Kabir Singh to even hit the century mark, but people found it engaging and identified with Shahid’s angry young man with the result that even the most vitriolic criticism could not keep them away,” he reasons.


BHARAT (2019) - 2 hrs and 47 mins
Director: Ali Abbas Zafar
Cast: Salman Khan, Katrina Kaif, Sunil Grover
Synopsis: A remake of the South Korean film Ode To My Father, Bharat traces the six-decade parallel journeys of independent India and the film’s eponymous character.
Trade speak: According to exhibitor Manoj Desai, the audience today finds it hard to understand and relate to the sacrifices made for India’s independence. “Partition is too out-dated for the Gen X and the film was a drag resulting in less than expected business. Salman should stick to action and romance, he is invincible in these genres and will rule for the next decade or two,” he adds.


KALANK (2019) - 2 hrs and 46 mins
Director: Abhishek Varman
Cast: Varun Dhawan, Alia Bhatt, Sanjay Dutt, Madhuri Dixit, Aditya Roy Kapur, Sonakshi Sinha
Synopsis: The period-romance unfolds against the backdrop of the Partition and revolves around star-crossed lovers.
Trade speak: Distributor Raj Bansal believes that despite a stellar cast, Kalank failed to impress as it lacked depth; also, characters were not well defined and their world too alien. “Sanjay Dutt and Madhuri Dixit’s reunion didn’t add to the narrative, with the former barely there and the latter largely ineffective despite her all-pervasive presence. Even Varun and Alia’s love story was insipid. So despite opening with a bang, it ended on a whimper,” he explains.


AVENGERS: ENDGAME (2019) - 3 hrs 1 min
Director: Anthony Russo, Joe Russo
Cast: Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, Scarlett Johannson, Chris Hemsworth, Mark Ruffalo
Synopsis: In the aftermath of the destruction caused by Thanos, the Avengers team up with their allies to reverse the damage.
Trade speak: Kamal Gianchandani of the PVR chain of theatres, says that it is the audience’s love and loyalty for the franchise and its characters that pulled them in. “The film offered spectacular visuals and action sequences, so people didn’t mind sitting through three hours. Also, in this case the runtime did not restrict the number of shows due to the number of screens allotted in India,” the exhibitor avers.


RANGEELA RAJA (2019) - 2 hrs 42 mins
Director: Sikander Bharti
Cast: Govinda
Synopsis: A comic flick about twin brothers, where one of them decides to bring the other’s life on track.
Trade speak: Industry veteran and founder of Mumbai’s first multiplex chain, Fame Adlabs, Balkrishna Shroff believes Govinda’s time as a lead actor is over. “Script and all other factors were secondary, this film did not have star appeal to begin with. The runtime didn’t matter because there was no audience,” avers Shroff, adding that Govinda is still a talented actor but should do roles complementing his age.


PADMAAVAT (2018) - 2 hrs 44 mins
Director: Sanjay Leela Bhansali
Cast: Deepika Padukone, Ranveer Singh, Shahid Kapoor
Synopsis: A period drama revolving around Maharani Padmavati, Raja Ratan Singh and Alauddin Khilji and how she performed jauhar to protect her honour.
Trade speak: Kamal Gianchandani, of the PVR chain of theatres, believes that irrespective of its length, SLB’s storytelling, his ability to extract strong performances and his music is a big draw. “The combo of an exceptionally talented director and characters played by phenomenal actors in a brilliant film is what worked for Padmaavat,” explains the exhibitor.


KAALA (2018) - 2 hrs 42 mins
Director: Pa Ranjith
Cast: Rajinikanth, Nana Patekar
Synopsis: Kaala is about the Nellai/Tirunelveli-based Tamils who live in Mumbai.
Trade speak: Industry veteran Balkrishna Shroff says Rajini’s appeal is limited to the South. Also, since the multiplex audience doesn’t care for action films, numbers were affected. “Kaala was made for a different market. The Hindi dubbed version was only for extra revenue,” he adds.


RACE 3 (2018) - 2 hrs 40 mins
Director: Remo D’souza
Cast: Salman Khan, Anil Kapoor, Jaqueline Fernandez
Synopsis: A family of criminals deal with loyalty issues while planning their next heist.
Trade speak: Trade analyst Komal Nahta reasons that a 2-hour film can feel like a 4-hour one if the script is bad. “Makers depended on only Salman’s charisma to pack in the crowds. That’s where Race 3 failed,” he asserts.


THUGS OF HINDOSTAN (2018) - 2 hrs 44 mins
Director: Vijay Krishna Acharya
Cast: Amitabh Bachchan, Aamir Khan, Katrina Kaif, Fatima Sana Shaikh
Synopsis: An adventure-thriller about a man’s love for his country and another’s lust for power.
Trade speak: Exhibitor Manoj Desai believes that dearth of originality has hit Bollywood with Thugs... being a prime example. “The story ceased to interest post interval. The makers failed to extract anything from Amitabh Bachchan and Aamir Khan, a pity given the actors they are,” he says.

ZERO (2018) - 2 hours and 44 mins
Director: Aanand L Rai
Cast: Shah Rukh Khan, Anushka Sharma, Katrina Kaif
Synopsis: Bauua Singh who is vertically challenged aims to broaden his horizons and find purpose in life.
Trade speak: Trade analyst Komal Nahta describes Zero as a “flawed script” so even the holidays didn’t help. “SRK’s string of failures can’t be blamed, it wouldn’t have worked with any actor given the overload of sadness. No film fails because it’s ‘too long’ but because it’s ‘bad’,” he asserts.

WILL BHARAT EMERGE AS THE BIGGEST BOLLYWOOD GROSSER OF 2019?

The semi-dry period is about to end. Arguably the biggest film of the year, Bharat, is all set to release tomorrow and the excitement can easily be felt. It stars superstar Salman Khan and it releases on Eid, which has now become a tradition. But the last two Eid’s weren’t that satisfactory for his fans. 2017 Eid saw the release of Tubelight which was devoid of masala and heroism, associated with Salman Khan. On 2018 Eid, Race 3 released and it had these missing ingredients in abundance. But still, the fans were somewhat dejected as direction and content were poor.

But this year, it seems like the fans are in for a treat. After all, Bharat looks like a fabulous entertainer. It’s a story that begins in 1947 and ends in 2010 with Salman playing the role of a 20-year-old guy and also a septuagenarian. The various looks of the actor have been very much appreciated. Also, Bharat is bit of an unusual Salman Khan entertainer since there’s no hero-villain angle as such. But it’s helmed by director Ali Abbas Zafar, who has previously directed Salman in blockbusters like Sultan and Tiger Zinda Hai. He knows the pulse of the audience and from the trailers and songs, it seems like the film will be a typical entertainer despite not-so-typical setting and premise.

Besides Salman Khan, Bharat also stars Katrina Kaif, Disha Patani, Sunil Grover, Jackie Shroff, Tabu, Nora Fatehi, Sonali Kulkarni along with Varun Dhawan in a special appearance. Katrina’s role was to be essayed initially by Priyanka Chopra but she stepped out of the film at the eleventh hour as she wanted to get married to Nick Jonas. Her sudden exit infuriated Salman it seems and it was evident when he would bring Priyanka and taunt her in interviews and events. However, Salman later clarified that all is well and he only wishes the best for Priyanka.

The songs of Bharat haven’t been huge hits but Slow Motion has become a chartbuster. All in all, the buzz is there but is not tremendous. The opening is expected to be huge. Also, it’s Eid tomorrow and hence, a Rs. 40 crore opening won’t be ruled out. Sadly, a crucial ICC World Cup cricket match is also scheduled for tomorrow (India vs South Africa) and hence, collections will be hit from afternoon onwards. The same will happen on Sunday when India will play against England. But if the film gets positive response, it will manage to earn considerably in the long run.

The aim for Bharat is to cross the Rs. 300 crore mark and emerge as the biggest Hindi grosser of the year. Although 6 more months are left, the other Bollywood biggies of the year like Housefull 4, Dabangg 3, Hrithik Roshan-Tiger Shroff untitled flick are not expected to gross so much. Hence, here’s hoping Bharat brings cheer for everyone!

WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE BHARAT AND WHY? DO LET ME KNOW!

Renuka Vyavahare (BOMBAY TIMES; June 4, 2019)

In a chat with us ahead of his upcoming film Bharat, Salman Khan speaks about the longevity of his stardom, his choice of cinema, why he works with his friends and family, Priyanka Chopra Jonas and more.

Salman, you have had a strong connect with the audience for almost three decades now. You are often tagged as a massy entertainer, but what kind of films do you personally like watching?
I like watching entertaining films with an underlying message of compassion. When you come out of a theatre, it should make you want to be like the hero, follow him, look like him and behave like him. It should inspire you to change your personality, even if it’s just for a bit. A film should make you want to be a better person.

Indian cinema has evolved over the years with changing times and sensibilities. What do you think will always resonate with the audience?
I feel the ‘good-versus-evil’ theme will always resonate with the audience. Some people get into (questioning) a film’s sensibility and stuff like that, but where there are emotions and drama, there’s never any logic. I make movies to entertain my fans. Thoda sa hasao, rulao, elevate their spirit, taaliyaan, seetiyaan... that’s the kind of entertainment I want to offer. It comprises larger-than-life plots and success stories. What happens with some directors is that, they make their first two films for themselves, but then from the third film onwards, they make movies for other directors and critics. For me, that doesn’t work.

Bharat spans over six decades and has you sporting six looks. Tell us what the film is all about...
It’s an official adaptation of a Korean film. Bharat is hard to describe as a film. From Partition to decades later... it navigates a man’s journey and his hardships. It’s a serious plot with plenty of fun elements. There’s thrill, emotions, entertainment and, of course, heroism.

People often wonder why you stay in your comfort zone and mostly work with your friends and family...
You want me to work with my enemies? First of all, I don’t have any (smiles). Only if I get a good script, do I give my nod to a film. If my friends are getting me good scripts, why would I say no to them? I am a scriptwriter’s son, and a good script has always been my top priority. I need to love a script so much that it should make me want to begin the shoot tomorrow. All the films that I choose to do, begin as soon as they can go on the floors.

At a recent press conference, you said that Bharat isn’t for pseudo-intellectuals and critics. However, your films like Bajrangi Bhaijaan and Sultan have received rave reviews from the critics as well, so why this preconceived notion?
It’s not just about me. I am talking about others and the industry in general. When my film is rated one star, two stars or five stars, it doesn’t matter to me. The other producers are affected when you rip a film apart and influence the audience. Even if 10 per cent of the audience is affected, it’s still a dent. People work hard on a movie for 100-150 days, so I believe that you should let the fans see and judge the film for themselves. Whether they like it or not, let them decide that. Also, constructive criticism is fine, but that rarely happens. Most are personal attacks.

In your career spanning over three decades, you have seen overwhelming stardom, irrespective of the success of your films. What is it that keeps you going?
I feel it’s my job to keep people entertained, happy and motivated. That’s what I like doing. The pain that I go through in my life representing the emotions I feel or the amount of hard work that I put in... it’s all difficult. But when you see your fans enjoying and appreciating your work, you want to work that much more. It’s a redeeming factor. When people appreciate your work, you feel encouraged, and when that happens, it pushes you to do better. And for those who are not your fans, you want to convert them, too, and that makes you work even harder. Also, every single day that I work, provides bread and butter to a lot of people, and it’s a huge support system for them. We make films, they release in theatres and we pay the income tax... So many people contribute to various aspects of filmmaking — hairdressers, make-up artistes, stylists and people in various other production departments. Films generate revenue for so many people.

Are you amused by the fact that you continue to be a style icon? Be it your bracelet, hairstyle, sunglasses or outfits... everything is imitated by your fans...
I have seen these articles where you guys circle women’s clothing saying, isne yeh function mein yeh pehna tha or usney same outfit woh function mein pehna tha. If you were to do it on me, you’ll have to do it everywhere. I still wear the shoes that I have been wearing for the last five years. You will see me in the same black T-shirt and jeans for years. Meri Rs 500 ki T-shirt chalti rehti hai saalon saal. It’s a T-shirt, after all! You wash it and wear it again... Isme hai kya? Mere belts bees-bees saal tak chalte hai. Katrina (Kaif) ne ek belt diya tha, I still wear it. Bracelet pehle se pehenta hoon. The young fans, who like my style and might want to emulate it, should be able to do it without burning a hole in their pocket. Everyone likes new clothes. Even I like them, but I am not fussy about these things. The fancy stuff you see me wearing in my films is when I am told or required to wear them to play the part. I don’t know about being a style icon! In real life, I am a black T-shirt and ripped jeans person. My first pair of jeans was the one that my uncle got me from Germany. I wore it so much that woh pehen-pehen ke phat gayi. I still wore the phata hua jeans, and people thought it was cool. This was years ago, and today, ripped jeans are in fashion!

Have you been able to adapt to the social media frenzy?
Social media is good provided people don’t conceal or fake their identities to insult and humiliate others. Why hide? Are you ashamed of your name, identity? Aadhar card, passport, driver’s license sab real hai, but internet pe aake, jhuti profile se gaali deni hai. Even if you want to criticise someone, you should have the guts to do it with your real identity. Hindustan has a certain culture, sabhyata hain. Why do this? This random abusive language, gandi cheezen likhna... I feel it’s uncalled for and should be censored. You see stuff on the web that’s almost like porn and it’s accessible on your phone, even children can see it. What about these young kids? In films, 40 per cent of action sequences are cut when there’s too much blood or gore, aur social media par kuch bhi chal raha hai.

The Khans — Shah Rukh, Aamir and you — continue to dominate Bollywood, but 2018 was relatively challenging for the three of you as far as the box office was concerned...
Since the beginning of the film industry, not even 100 films may have touched the Rs 100 crore benchmark. Rs 100 crore is still a large number. I keep on saying, I hope ke jitni badi mega flop (aapko meri picture lagti) hai, main dua deta hu ke dusron ki picture utni hi badi hit ho jaaye. Even Race 3, which people say didn’t do that well, did a business of over Rs 170 crore, that’s huge. With all the negativity around it, the film still worked.

Priyanka Chopra Jonas was originally cast in Bharat. She had to walk out at the last minute owing to her marriage. During the Bharat promotions, it seems like you have been taunting her — even if that’s your sense of humour...
I am not taunting Priyanka Chopra at all. People would leave their husbands for a film like this, but I feel what she has done is the most amazing thing. She has worked so hard in her career. She really wanted to do this film and she left it to get married. I just joke about it in front of Katrina. If she says something about the film, I say, ‘Thank you, Priyanka’, hinting (playfully) she should say it, so that Katrina gets annoyed. I just tease Katrina. I have no problem with Priyanka. It’s a wonderful thing what she has done. She did it knowing perhaps that I might get upset, I might not like it or might not work with her... Despite all the thoughts that may have crossed her mind, she chose to get married to a man instead of this movie, which is a correct, noble and gutsy thing to do.

There have always been speculations about your marriage. Do you believe in marriage?
I don’t believe in marriage. I think it’s a dying institution. I don’t believe in it at all. Companionship? Yes.

What about fatherhood? Are you looking forward to having children?
When it has to happen, it will happen.

A lot of people in the past have approached you to write a book on your life, but you’ve declined. Will we ever see you changing your mind about it?
I’ll never change my mind about it.

Vivek Anand Oberoi had shared a meme about Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, which created a furore on Twitter recently. Are you aware of that?
I don’t know about it. I haven’t seen it.

What inspires you?
A lot of people these days get impressed with negativity or gandi aadat, which they think is cool. I get drawn to nobility. People who make it big despite facing all the possible politics and hardships, I get impressed with their perseverance, spirit and attitude. I met this 24-year-old kid from Pune, who asked me how many toilets I have built. I said 36 outside Aarey Milk Colony, and he told me that he has built over 10,000 toilets. I was shocked to hear that. If you have people like him in your country, you don’t have to worry about your future. It’s in safe hands.

SIMMBA got a good rating on television with over 1 crore impressions and is the third best of the year after the biggies TOTAL DHAMAAL and 2.0 (Hindi). TOTAL DHAMAAL is a BLOCKBUSTER on television after recording almost 85 lakh impressions on its second screening. The film has 2.5 crore impressions on just two viewings.

2.0 (Hindi) is a Super HIT and SIMMBA is a HIT or maybe SUPER HIT depending how it does in the long run. The film is the first HIT film of Ranveer Singh on television after the disaster results of BAJIRAO MASTANI and PADMAAVAT. The other two films which have recorded decent numbers on television are RACE 3 and URI. The latter has good figures while RACE 3 still managed numbers despite a 7 month delayed television premiere.

The top five television premieres of 2019 are as follows.
1. Total Dhamaal - 1,67,93,000 (Star)
2. 2.0 (Hindi) - 1,65,13,00,000 (Zee)
3. Simmba - 1,11,02,00,000 (Zee)
4. Race 3 - 70,85,000 (Zee)
5. Uri - The Surgical - 61,37,000 (Zee)

Jacqueline Fernandez on taking acting classes in LA, getting out of comfort zone & learning to express emotions which are alien to her
Roshmila Bhattacharya (MUMBAI MIRROR; May 31, 2019)

Her last film released almost a year ago and since then Jacqueline Fernandez has gone missing from the race. Turns out she was taking acting classes at the Ivana Chubbuck Studio in Los Angeles. The lady has trained Hollywood A-listers like Charlize Theron, James Franco, Brad Pitt, Halle Berry, Gal Gadot and Gerard Butler, so it was the place to be for pretty Miss Sunshine.

“Even though I’ve been a part of the film industry for a decade now, I’ve never really studied acting and it wasn’t something I could learn here in a classroom. In LA, Ivana takes on individual students, you grow as a person and your craft evolves,” she informs, saying it was one of her life’s best experiences and something that will come in handy with future projects.

The actress says Ivana is keen to visit India and she would love to bring her to the country so aspiring actors and working professionals can explore different techniques with her. “You never know what works for you till you try it,” she points out knowledgeably.

Back in B-town, Jacqueline wants to take a step back and get a little more experimental with roles but is quick to clarify that this won’t take her away from her commercial Hindi cinema. “That’s me, I love to entertain people, make them laugh, sigh and dance,” she asserts. “But as an actress, I want to discover myself, do things a little differently, add to what I have done before. So, now, it’s all about balancing the two.” Following this train of thought, she has jumped onto the digital platform and is all set to play a serial killer. “The work I’ve done in the past were no-brainers really, I could pull off many of these roles without too much effort. But since the last couple of years, I’ve been looking for scripts that will take me out of my comfort zone, a film that will be on my shoulders,” she admits.

But a serial killer? That’s as far removed as is possible for a happy-go-lucky person who seems to be friends with the whole world. “But that’s the challenge!” she exclaims. “When I’m asked to show emotions like anger, jealousy, sorrow and hatred it gets really tough because there’s nothing to fall back on. That’s not to say that I will go looking to experience them, it’s something you feel intuitively when you play certain characters. That’s the beauty of acting.”

Prod her on what makes her angry and after a reflective pause she says, “I really don’t know, I’ve held it back for so long. I don’t explode or implode but it’s important to understand and portray certain emotions as it will make me more rounded as a performer.”

Meanwhile, her next release Drive has been delayed yet again. Disappointed? “No, I’m not because the special effects need to be done well and that takes time. Both Tarun (director Tarun Mansukhani) and Sushant (co-star Sushant Singh Rajput) have done a great job. Action is my favourite genre and in this case the action is slick and stylised. It will release in a couple of months and you will see,” she says confidently, adding that she regularly goes in for combat training. “It’s a great stressbuster and it makes a woman feel physically strong and powerful. I also learnt weaponery when in LA, how to handle knives and guns,” she makes the surprising revelation. Meanwhile, during Race 3, Salman Khan introduced her to art. How many paintings has she done since? “Just one artwork, I’ve been neglecting art,” she sighs, acknowledging she had an instructor on the set during Race 3, had got herself an easel, paper and paints, and painted a lot. “I will definitely get back to it, I still have my easel. It was wonderfully therapeutic,” she beams.

Another thing she’s been neglecting is her love life. “I have been focussed on work for so long and these things can’t be forced or planned,” she reasons, quick to add that she’s a die-hard romantic. “All actors are,” she concludes with a smile.