Etti Bali (HINDUSTAN TIMES; August 4, 2020)

The insider-outsider debate has opened a Pandora’s box in the Hindi film industry. Even musician A R Rahman and sound designer Resul Pookutty spoke about facing rejection in Bollywood post their Hollywood stint. Now, music producer and composer Ram Sampath, who has given music for films such as Delhi Belly (2011) and Fukrey (2013), opens up about favouritism in the industry and how only a select few have the final say.

“Bollywood is a bunch of clans and as a music composer, you end up working for one of them. Unlike the West where there are studios, professional executives, a pipeline to launch talent and a pride in systems that nurture future stars and reward the meritorious, here, the shots are called by a few interconnected families, with rare exceptions,” he says.

Having composed music for advertising campaigns and pop songs, Sampath felt the need to take the leap into Bollywood as “having a few successful Bollywood films under your belt makes life much more tenable as a professional”. He shifted gears with Khakee (2004). What followed was requests to copy songs. “I can’t recall a single enjoyable experience of working with producers in Bollywood, except Aamir Khan. Everyone else has a contract that takes away your rights before you play a single note, or shop for third party music behind your back, or have limited budgets and unlimited changes,” he shares. His wife, artiste Sona Mohapatra, recently tweeted about his plight. “Getting a ‘Laila’ shoved down my throat in the last film I scored, Raees (2017), despite the initial brief being to make a dance song like my own, ‘Aisa Jadoo Dala Re’, was a blow,” he says.

The composer, who started working at the age of 16 to support his family, has now found solace in other activities. “With Sona’s help, I’ve been focussed on living a well-rounded life,” he says, adding, “The independent music scene is bursting with new talent and now is a good time to revive the music scene outside of Bollywood.”

“Filmi” is what everyone said on hearing of the Kanpur encounter. Encounters happen in secluded spaces, of course, out of our sight, but cinema has played out the episode of the encounter so often that it becomes an immediate reference point
Rachana Dubey, Niharika Lal and Divya Kaushik (BOMBAY TIMES; July 11, 2020)

WE HAVE CREATED A FORMULA FOR SHOOTOUT FILMS — CLOSE TO FACTS WITH CINEMATIC LIBERTIES: SANJAY GUPTA
Filmmaker Sanjay Gupta, who has helmed Shootout At Wadala and written Shootout At Lokhandwala, says, “In my entire career, I don’t think I have come across a single genuine encounter. What has happened recently is ludicrous. There are so many loopholes in the story. The Lokhandwala encounter (on which the movie Shootout At Lokhandwala was based) had witnesses, but what happened on the staircase and inside the house, no one saw. We have created a formula, at least, for the Shootout films — a true, shocking story, as close to facts as possible with cinematic liberties. That’s what makes them stand out. It is non-fiction, but has the star cast and the trappings of a masala film and it takes a stand on the right and wrong.

While making a film, once we have the story in place, we start talking to survivors, witnesses and people who were connected with, let’s say, an incident, including the journalist who has reported stories around it. Author S Hussain Zaidi was a great reference for Shootout At Wadala. For Shootout At Lokhandwala, we had A A Khan (former IPS officer) and a lot of the witnesses from the building. Now, talking about the Vikas Dubey encounter, it will lend itself one hundred per cent to a movie and I have no doubt about that.”



ENCOUNTER MOVIES ARE BASED ON POLICE VERSIONS: DILIP SHUKLA, DABANGG WRITER
In encounters, there are no witnesses. Police’s word is final. What we are seeing in Vikas Dubey’s case, there are no witnesses, what police is saying is the final version. If a filmmaker tomorrow makes a film on Vikas Dubey, he’ll make it based on the statement the police gives today.

Whether what the police is saying is right or wrong is something a filmmaker can’t find out. When a film is based on a real incident, like Ab Tak Chhappan and Shootout At Lokhandwala, the police’s version is what writers and directors have.


PEOPLE TEXTED ME FRIDAY MORNING SAYING ‘YEH ENCOUNTER TOH AAPKI FILM BULLETT RAJA KE SCENE JAISA HAI’: TIGMANSHU DHULIA
Tigmanshu Dhulia, who has directed films like Bullett Raja and the Saheb Biwi Aur Gangster franchise, says, “I was really happy when I read that Vikas Dubey was arrested. Interestingly, I have information about UP criminals, but I never heard about Mr Dubey. When I read about the encounter on Friday morning, I found it amusing. I also got messages from three people saying,‘Yeh encounter toh aapki film Bullett Raja jaisa hai.’ I was amused as there was a similar sequence in Bullett Raja, in which Saif Ali Khan’s character is fleeing when police catches him in the fields, and then comes a twist. But this encounter was too similar to that scene. When I read about the encounter, I felt good that I thought of such a situation earlier in one of my films. This encounter is actually close to what we would imagine for our films.

We hear stories of UP encounters and gangsters and in films, we fictionalize it — we imagine and create scenes, and sometimes in life fiction becomes reality.

It has happened with me often. In my first film, Haasil, I didn’t mention the university or Allahabad in the film, but people knew it was based there. The situation of Allahabad University was not as bad as it was shown in the film, but after one year it reflected the film. It was shown on many TV channels what was happening in the film and what was happening at Allahabad University at that time.”
---------------------------------

RAEES (2017)
Raees, a local gangster, is unknowingly implicated in smuggling explosives that lead to serial blasts in the country and aware that he will be killed, Raees surrenders to the police. He is later taken to a deserted spot and killed in a staged encounter by police officer Majmudar.


SHOOTOUT AT LOKHANDWALA (2007)
Shootout At Lokhandwala is based on the 1991 Lokhandwala Complex shootout, a real-life gun battle between gangsters and Mumbai Police. In the film an ‘encounter squad’ is created to eliminate terrorists and gangsters.


ARTICLE 15 (2019)
The Ayushmann Khurrana-starrer delves into the issue of caste divide. In the film, Mohammed Zeeshan Ayyub plays the role of a local youth leader, who is killed in a staged encounter for opposing a political alliance.


AB TAK CHHAPPAN (2004)
Ab Tak Chhappan, inspired by real-life Mumbai police officer Daya Nayak, is the story of encounter specialist Sadhu, played by Nana Patekar. Responsible for handling the underworld, Sadhu holds the record of having killed 56 people in encounters.


ENCOUNTER: THE KILLING (2002)
The film is about a police inspector, played by Naseeruddin Shah, who is trying to find the parents of a young mobster he accidentally killed during a chase.

ZERO has done pretty well on television with nearly 1 crore impressions. The film had a delayed a premiere on television due to the digital rights and it has managed to score far better than other films which have come on television more than six months after its theatrical release.

RACE 3, RAEES and JAB HARRY MET SEJAL all came at least six months after theatrical release and the best of this lost was RACE 3 with 70.85 lakh impressions and ZERO has beaten RACE 3 by around 20 lakh impressions. It is similar rating to HAPPY NEW YEAR if we go by TRP as the BARC impressions were not there during HAPPY NEW YEAR's time. The difference however is that HAPPY NEW YEAR did well at the box office while ZERO did not.

The next few screenings will tell if ZERO can succeed on television though it will be a surprise if it does. TOTAL DHAMAAL and 2.0 (Hindi) dominate in a big way as 2.0 (Hindi) hits 4.42 crore impressions in five screenings and TOTAL DHAMAAL is at 4.05 crore after 4 screenings.

The top ten television premieres of 2019 are as follows.
1. Total Dhamaal - 1,67,93,000 (Star)
2. 2.0 (Hindi) - 1,65,13,000 (Zee)
3. Luka Chuppi  - 1,25,00,000 (Star)
4. Junglee - 1,11,77,000 (Star)
5. Simmba - 1,11,02,000 (Zee)
6. Zero - 92,60,000 (Zee)
7. Kedarnath - 72,88,000 (Zee)
7. Race 3 - 70,85,000 (Zee)
9. Uri - The Surgical Strike - 61,37,000 (Zee)
10. Gully Boy - 52,08,000 (Zee)

Neha Maheshwri (BOMBAY TIMES; May 9, 2019)

Pretty, perky and poised, Bhavna and Chunky Panday’s little daughter Ananya Panday is all set to make her Bollywood debut with Student Of The Year 2 (SOTY 2). She describes her debut vehicle to be a dream, which she manifested so strongly that it became a reality. Close to the release of the film, the debutante fields questions on trolls, lessons from her dad and facing bullying. Over to Ananya…

Considering the fact that SOTY catapulted the previous students — Alia Bhatt, Varun Dhawan and Sidharth Malhotra — to instant fame, what kind of pressure are you facing?
Fortunately, there is not that much pressure on me alone, as Tara (Sutaria) and Tiger (Shroff) are sharing it with me. It’s just excitement now. Talking about Alia, she was extremely raw when she debuted with SOTY, and today she is a superstar. She has always maintained that she started out as a baby and wasn’t perfect. The audience has seen her through all her stages, be it in Highway, Badrinath Ki Dulhania, 2 States and her other films. People have seen her grow from strength to strength and that’s more exciting a journey than anything else. Like her, I want people to see me grow, too. I don’t want to come across as this ‘Miss Perfect’ and a know-it-all, because at 20, I am raw and don’t know anything.

Alia seems to have inspired you immensely ...
Yes, she is my biggest inspiration. Karan (Johar) asked me who do I look up to, when I met him for the first time, and I said Alia. He told me that the one thing I should learn from her is to be myself. I remember watching the first instalment of SOTY. I was around 15 at that time and not allowed to attend the film screenings that my parents went to. I begged my mom to allow me to accompany them because I was excited about watching it. I sat on the floor as there was no place to sit and was transfixed when I saw Alia. That’s when I realised that I wanted to be an actress and I wanted to be in this film. I have manifested my biggest dream into reality.

Though you auditioned for the part, it’s easy to assume that your filmi lineage must have played a role in bagging this film?
I always acknowledge my privilege and I am aware of it. I agree that nepotism exists and not just in our industry, but everywhere. It can get you into those rooms with important people, but what you do there depends on you. It got me a chance to meet Karan (Johar). He didn’t know that I wanted to be an actor, and asked me to audition for the film, which I am glad I did, and he and Punit (Malhotra) liked it. I will never have to look back and say, ‘Oh! I got this because of my parents’. Having said that, I’d never want to feel ashamed of who my father is as he has worked hard to get where he is today. It’s not fair to take that away. Besides, no one invests money on someone they don’t believe in. So, I would like to believe that Karan gave me the opportunity because he believes that I am talented enough. This has been my dream, and I don’t want to be silly and not make the most of it.

Star kids have to face the nepotism jibe. How do you deal with being judged even before people have seen your work?
The first step of dealing with it is to own it, but beyond that, I want to create my own identity. Also, people will be able to make a fair judgement once they see me in the film, and I would be okay if they don’t think that I am talented. I have been written and talked about by the media since I turned 17. I have been trolled since and it’s normal now. I have become thick-skinned now. I have seen how my dad never let anything affect him. He is always the one to crack a joke on himself and the first one to laugh. People ask me what advice has he given me. All I can say is that he doesn’t need to give me any; he is an example of someone who does not get affected by the highs and lows. He has always been nice to people. He has never changed and that’s something I need to learn from him.

What’s your first memory of Bollywood?
Besides watching SOTY, I remember this incident when Suhana (Shah Rukh Khan’s daughter) and I visited the set of Karan’s directorial My Name Is Khan, starring Shah Rukh Khan. They needed some extras to give a passing shot. We were 10 back then. We thought we had given the shot of our life and waited with bated breath for the scene, but it never came. We were devastated to know that it had been edited from the film. I also worked on Raees as the junior assistant director. I was basically the runner, calling the secondary cast on the set, telling them, ‘Sir, aapka shot ready hai’. It was quite an exciting time for me.

Given the fact that your father has seen his share of ups-and-downs in showbiz, how open was he to you becoming an actor?
My parents didn’t realise how serious I was about becoming an actor until I turned 17. They would see me enact scenes at home with my friends Shanaya (Sanjay and Maheep Kapoor’s daughter) and Suhana, but they never took it seriously. However, their outlook changed when they saw me perform in a play in school and realised that I was serious about it. I had to really convince them that I wanted to be an actor because they have seen my father go through ups and downs. However, they never imposed their plans on me. They wanted me to apply to a college and were fine about me wanting to audition for movies. They have always been realistic.

While SOTY featured three newcomers in the lead, this film has a popular actor like Tiger Shroff. Did it help that he came with some experience?
I met Tiger for the first time when he had already emerged as this big star after the release of his debut film Heropanti. My mother sent me across to seek his advice. I saw him doing a perfect full split as I walked in. He told me that if I wanted to be an actress, I will have to follow a strict regime — wake up at 4 am, sleep at 8 pm, avoid ice cream and outings among several other things. That got the 15-year-old me thinking, ‘Oh my God, do I really want to be an actor?’ After that meeting, I met him directly on the set of SOTY 2. Tiger and I have this bro relationship — he is extremely comfortable around me. I would tell people that he is very funny and I can’t wait for the world to see this aspect of his personality. If he finds a clean spot on the ground, he will sit there. When he is so humble, how can we be arrogant? I think the credit goes to our fathers for instilling the right values. They have had a similar career trajectory. Now everyone considers our dads so cool.

The world of SOTY 2 seems unrealistic, but aspirational. Could you relate to the institution that we see in the film?
There is no such school anywhere, but we have never claimed SOTY to be a documentary or realistic cinema. We are making a fun, masala and bubblegum film. Our objective is to entertain people and make them forget their worries. In my school, we wore uniforms and couldn't apply nail polish or kajal. I had so many problems like body issues, stress and exams. I am really skinny even though I eat like a beast. Everyone wants to have a curvy body and look a certain way, but I think now I am comfortable in my skin. In school, I would always be uncomfortable because my skirt would expose my thin, chicken legs and wiry hands. I would get called a hunchback as I am tall and would always bend down to hear people. This is the reason trolls don’t affect me, as I have been bullied in school.

Like the previous batch of student — Sidharth Malhotra, Varun Dhawan and Alia Bhatt — Karan Johar is your mentor, too. How would you describe your equation with him?
Karan always exudes that paternal vibe whenever he is around, not just for me, but for everyone. He has seen me from the time I was born, so we have an unspoken connection. Though SOTY is his franchise, he has let Punit interpret and direct it the way he wanted to. He visited the set only twice when we were shooting a song, but he was just a text message away whenever we needed him, even if it was for the silliest of things.

Your camaraderie with Tiger and Tara is a break from the usual chatter of actors not getting along and fighting over screen space…
I am a secure person. Even if I am in a film for two minutes, I will do it if I connect with the part. I don’t think ki do ladkiyaan hain toh main nahi karungi. My second film, Pati Patni Aur Woh also features two girls. I will never be able to do what I like if I get into such petty things. If I like a script, I will do it irrespective of the screen time. At the end of the day, even if you are in a film for merely two minutes and people like your work, you will be appreciated.

You are extremely active on social media. Didn’t you feel that overexposure on social media could take away the curiosity around you before your movie debut?
We live in the age of social media and should use it to our advantage. Look, we can’t avoid being out there, because if I don’t, someone from the media will click my picture and post it. We can use this tool to reach out to the youth, which is important. I allow people I look up to on social media as that’s a good way to connect with them. So, instead of shying away from it, we should look at it as a blessing. I don’t overthink before posting something. I even write the silliest of captions. I believe that’s what people like; they want to see you being real.

You other best friend Shanaya, who is an AD on the set of her cousin Janhvi Kapoor’s next, is also getting into films. What do you have to say about your close friends joining movies?
I am so happy that Shanaya is getting this experience because I learnt a lot while working as an AD on Raees. Whatever little I know, including the technicalities and camera angles, is because of my time on that set. I didn't know the importance of lighting, nor was I aware of the use of multiple cameras on the set. I can’t wait for her to join the movies. Suhana is also a brilliant actor. Suhana, Shanaya and I are like sisters. We have grown up together. I was Aryan’s friend before Suhana was born. So, we share a bond that is similar to the one that I share with my younger sister, Rysa. They are family to me. I look forward to the time when three of us will work together. And there will be healthy competition, too.

Roshmila Bhattacharya (MUMBAI MIRROR; July 30, 2018)

After the 2017 crime-drama, Raees, with Shah Rukh Khan in the title role, Rahul Dholakia is once again joining hands with his producer-partners, Farhan Akhtar and Ritesh Sidhwani, for an action-thriller which is expected to roll early next year. Set in Mumbai, this close-to-life story revolves around a fire-fighter named Tukaram and how he motivates his team to tackle various SOS calls. The project is not a biopic of any one person but will weave in several real-life incidents, along with an emotional father-son story, with an antagonist thrown in to create friction.

The National Award-winning director who after Raees dabbled with a lot of ideas before zeroing in on this one, has been developing this unique concept for the last year-and-a-half, and points out that with the exception of Ravi Chopra’s 1980 The Burning Train, the subject of fire hasn’t been tackled in Hindi mainstream cinema in a big way. “But a series of fires in the city of late makes me believe that it’s time for a film that celebrates these unsung heroes. For me, the firefighters are on par with cops and soldiers, but their heroics have gone largely unacknowledged even in a city of skyscrapers. They put their lives on the line every other day to put out and save us from fires which sometimes spark off from our own carelessness and violation of safety norms. They are also called to pull a child out of a borewell, rescue a kitten from the roof, clear an uprooted tree from the road and help during a building collapse or a deluge. Even during the 26/11 attacks they played a significant role in the rescues but went unheralded,” says Rahul.

He goes on to admit that even as a child he was fascinated by these firefighters, and during his research, has met many in person, visited fire stations and even been on few trails with Randeep Hooda, the face of the Mumbai Fire Brigade and the brand ambassador of fire services in India. During his prep, he observed from up close that sometimes, despite the lack of equipment like long ladders, arduous working hours and other hurdles, these men with their never-say-die spirit are always up for a challenge, showing indomitable courage when battling fires like the one at ONGC.

“A film like this offers plenty of scope for emotions and drama, action and visual thrills, with a larger-than-life protagonist at the centre, the surroundings and story-telling technique bringing in the realism,” Rahul points out.

National Award-winning dialogue writer, Vijay Maurya, who has films like Chillar Party as a writer and Tumhari Sulu as an actor to his credit, and is now working with Kabir Khan on his World Cup cricket drama, 83, and Zoya Akhtar on her upcoming musical Gully Boy, has been collaborating with Rahul on the dialogues. When Farhan read the first draft, he was so impressed with the world they have created, he gave his go-ahead.

“Farhan has contributed a lot of inputs to the script and Ritesh is a brilliant producer. This is a big film and will cost a lot. It requires sensitive makers because while being visually dramatic, it needs to be an ‘experience’ for the audience to see and feel. Having worked with Farhan and Ritesh on Raees, I can’t think of anyone better to take this film forward with me,” says the perfectionist director.

Rahul has a final narration with the producer duo in a couple of days after which they will start on the casting. “I need a 40-plus actor to play Tukaram,” he informs. Farhan is 40-plus, you point out. “He is,” laughs Rahul. “So is Shah Rukh and smany others. We will definitely cast an A-list actor but right now both the title and the cast are under discussion.”

Rahul Dholakia on creating "engaging" films across genres, avoiding controversial subjects
MID-DAY (May 19, 2018)

Eighteen months after he delivered his last film, Shah Rukh Khan-starrer Raees, Rahul Dholakia tells mid-day that rumours of a second instalment have little merit. "There will be no Raees sequel," says the director, quick to add that he does, however, have a series of ventures, primarily with Farhan Akhtar and Ritesh Sidhwani's Excel Entertainment, in the pipeline.

"I've written about four scripts over the past year-and-a-half, which are expected to go on floors. They're all of various genres — social drama, thriller, a relationship film and another hardcore, realistic low-budget venture. I am also in talks with Red Chillies [Khan's production house]."

For his upcoming projects, Dholakia hopes to keep an arm's length from subjects that may fuel controversies during the time of release, even as he laments the lack of change brought about in the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) after the replacement of the infamous chief Pahlaj Nihalani with Prasoon Joshi. "Nothing has changed since [Joshi took office]. I remember, when he was appointed, I was so excited because Prasoon is such a wise [ad] filmmaker. I thought he'd be the change we all wanted, because he understands cinema, and is sensible and sensitive. But, that has not happened. We still have issues with films like S Durga and Nude."

The director says the fear of the CBFC's scissors has them "censoring in our mind while writing the script itself". "Even when a character like Raees is crafted, we have to consider if we should show him as someone who smokes. Because then we have to consider that two minutes will go in adding the disclaimer, apart from including it each time he is shown doing so. So we conclude that we'll be better off showcasing a gangster who does not smoke. In turn, the character loses its charm."

PADMAAVAT has emerged one of the biggest blockbusters to be released in January as it grossed 284 crore nett apprx. The only bigger films released in January post 1994 are KAHO NAA... PYAAR HAI and Karan Arjun. In fact we can say post 1984 instead of 1994 that these three are biggest blockbusters in January as between 1984-1994 there are some big hits in January but none are likely to come at the level of these three with adjusted numbers.

KAHO NAA... PYAAR HAI is a 300 crore value film on the first quarter 2018 ticket rate and KARAN ARJUN could reach 300 crore value also by the ticket rate value at the end of the year. If we look at grossers, then JAI HO and RAEES at 138 crore and 133 crore would get into top ten also. However, these films were not outright HITS but semi successful films.

The biggest HITS released in the month of January since 1994 are as follows

All Time Blockbuster
-

Blockbuster
1. Kaho Naa Pyar Hai (2000) - 300 crore
2. Karan Arjun (1995) - 293 crore
3. Padmaavat (2018) - 284 crore

Super Hit
4. Agneepath (2012) - 165 crore
5. Raja Babu (1994) - 154 crore
6. Bandit Queen (1996) - 131 crore
7. Hum Aapke Dil Mein Rehte Hain (1999) - 132 crore
8. Airlift (2016) - 125 crore

Hit
9. Rang De Basanti (2006) - 127 crore
10. Guru (2007) - 105 crore

Nayandeep Rakshit (DNA; April 19, 2018)

People say that children usually follow in their parents’ footsteps. But for Malavika Mohanan, it was just the opposite. While her dad K U Mohanan is a celebrated cinematographer, the young lady is ready for a career in front of the lens. The actress talks to us about her maiden Hindi venture, Majid Majidi’s Beyond The Clouds (BTC), her wish list of actors as well as directors and how she plans to take her filmi career ahead from here. Over to her...

Beyond The Clouds is quite an unconventional choice for a debut. Did you always want it this way?
Like everyone else, even I wanted a grand debut. When I say grand, I mean an A-league team. And it can’t get more A-league than this. I had Majidi sir leading the pack, Vishal Bhardwaj has written the dialogues and Ishaan (Khatter) is a newcomer, but he is a fantastic performer. So the team was kick-ass and it was an amazing experience. Today, even in Bollywood, things are changing and a lot of focus is on performances instead of naach-gaana.

The line between conventional and unconventional cinema is blurring now. Comment.
Previously, there was a strong divide between indie and masala films, but yes, now the lines are getting blurred. The change is great because it opens up different avenues for actors like me who can do a Beyond The Clouds and an Imtiaz Ali film side by side. We can fit into different movies and I hope I get a diverse range of roles. And why not? In Hollywood, actors get all kinds of roles, so it’s high time that in Bollywood, too, we start exploring new stuff rather than just sticking to massy formula films.

Does it mean you are averse to doing a movie in the masala space?
I grew up watching Karisma Kapoor and Shah Rukh Khan’s movies. So, I respect them and their cinema, too. I want to work in a team that looks after you. There’s Karan Johar and I have loved his films, so why won’t I do that? I was seven or eight when Kuch Kuch Hota Hai released. I want to work with Dharma and even with Vishal sir because he does different cinema. I got into my costume and character in BTC. If I can do that, I should be able to do the others as well. I would like to believe that today, there’s a huge space for newcomers like me. Look at Ishaan, he already has a lot of attention and has signed a film before this. But he was interested because he was hungry as an actor. To be directed by Mr Majidi is the cherry on the cake. Only an idiot would think twice about doing his film. Today, there’s no formula to becoming a star. So you might as well do what you love.

Have you already planned your next project?
I’m in talks with a few filmmakers and I need to decide which project to do next. But I don’t want to get stereotyped, but play interesting characters.

Any plans of doing an international film?
Not yet. I have been too consumed with this project. We have travelled with it to a bunch of film festivals, but I haven’t given Hollywood a thought as of now. All the movies I’m in talks for currently, are in Hindi. But, yes, the walls are getting thinner and people like Priyanka Chopra are doing stuff that’s not been done before.

Given a chance, which actor would you work with in a movie?
I love Ranbir Kapoor and Shah Rukh Khan and would readily do a film with them. Also, because we have grown up watching SRK. My dad (K U Mohanan) shot Don 2, Raees and whenever he’s shooting, I keep going on set. I have met Shah Rukh several times and every time I meet him, I have my fangirl moment. Maybe when I meet him next, I’d talk to him about working in a film together.

MUMBAI MIRROR (March 26, 2018)

Pakistani actress Mahira Khan, who made her Bollywood debut with the Shah Rukh Khan-starrer Raees last year, says the Hindi film industry was never her aim. The film released in January last year, just a few months after bilateral tensions intensified following the Uri attack on September 18, 2016 which left 19 Indian soldiers dead. India retaliated on September 28 with surgical strikes on Pakistan terror camps. Raees did not release in Pakistan and Mahira was not allowed to promote the film in India as the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena issued a ban on Pakistani artistes.

“At that time, I was sad and angry,” she admitted to BBC World News, saying today she’s come to a place where she believes anger doesn’t make her a better actor or do anything for her as a person, so she’s let go of it.

Mahira goes on to say that “Bollywood was never really the aim” and right after Raees, she started working on a Pakistani film Verna, even before all of this happened. “My focus was always Pakistan,” she asserted, adding that while people may perceive it as a “big jolt” to her career, she has moved on and she’s a part of a movement in the Pakistan film industry. “Because how I look at it, is that 20 years from now when either my son or kids from today want to become actors, we would have set this industry for them, where they won’t have to struggle so much.” The 33-year-old actress has a son named Azlan. Her film Verna, which is based on the rape culture and politics in Pakistan, has reportedly rubbed many in Pakistan the wrong way. With freedom of expression getting suppressed in her home country, has she ever considered shifting base to another country? “I don’t think that I can tell any story better than the story of my own country, than stories of my own countrymen. I want to be able to bring out stories like Verna, as well as stories which are of the modern and new generation like Ho Mann Jahaan on the youth of Pakistan. I want to be that person,” she asserted, adding, “Because we are artistes, I think that’s a problem we all suffer. We are dreamers, so we are constantly looking at what is going to happen. Honestly, that’s all I’m thinking about all the time, that one day I will go to a cinema house and there just won’t be enough space to fill it.”

Mahira is currently filming for Saat Din Mohabbat In and Maula Jatt 2.

Tanvi Trivedi (BOMBAY TIMES; March 15, 2018)

Narendra Jha’s deep baritone and impressive performances won him appreciation for his work across television as well as films. The 55-year-old actor passed away on March 14 at his farmhouse in Wada after he suffered a massive heart attack. Narendra was at the farmhouse with his wife Pankaja Thakur, former CEO of Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC).

His death has come as a shock to his colleagues in the industry. Manoj Bajpayee said, “Narendra was a versatile actor who suited a variety of roles and he has gone at a time when he was needed the most. Also, he belongs to my home state Bihar and I really appreciate people who come from other states, take the unknown path in films and make it on their own. Narendra was one such guy who made it on his own and was doing good work.”

Filmmaker Rahul Dholakia, who directed Narendra in Raees, told BT, “I can’t believe that he is no more. Why are we losing people so young? First Sridevi and now, Narendra. When we were casting for the role of Musa Bhai in Raees, I wanted an actor with a towering personality, who had a good voice and could hold fort opposite Shah Rukh Khan. He justified the role completely.”

Veteran filmmaker Shyam Benegal, who worked with Narendra in Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose: The Forgotten Hero and Samvidhaan, shared, “He was a fine gentleman, extremely talented, perfect in his performances and a thorough professional. His performances got better with every film.”

TV actor Amit Behl and Narendra were friends for more than 23 years and had spoken to each other just a day before his death. Amit said, “I can’t believe that he is no more. On Monday when we spoke, he told me that he would visit my home on Gudi Padwa to enjoy the Maharashtrian food my wife cooks. He was a good person and also was one of the finest actors in our industry.”

Narendra’s memorable films include Haider, Hamari Adhuri Kahaani, Ghayal Once Again, Shorgul and the TV shows Begusarai, SuperCops Vs Supervillains and Samvidhaan. He was currently shooting for Salman Khan’s Race 3.
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MID-DAY (March 15, 2018)

Actor Narendra Jha, best known for films like Haider (2014), Raees (2017) and Kaabil (2017), passed away yesterday due to a heart attack. He was 55.

Jha was at his farmhouse in Nanegaon, Maharashtra, when he complained of chest pain, the actor’s driver, Lakshman Singh, said. “He had no health issues and last night (Tuesday), he was fine. He ate properly and spoke to us. Around 4 am today, he felt a chest pain so we took him to a nearby hospital, but everything was over by then,” he said.

Born and brought up in Delhi, 6 ha also worked in Shyam Benegal’s Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose: The Forgotten Hero (2005). He also featured in a play, Samvidhaan, in which he played Mohammed Ali Jinnah. The actor was also signed for the upcoming Salman Khan-starrer, Race3. He is survived by wife Pankaja Thakur, former CEO of the CBFC.

His sudden demise left the film industry in shock as his friends and colleagues said he was hale and hearty, and was geared up to feature in several new projects. Director Awani Agrawal said he was fine while shooting for his film, De Ijaazat Rahun Tujhme, in Gujarat earlier this month. “He was shooting for my movie in Vadodara. He was accompanied by his wife to the location. They left on March 8. He didn’t have any health issue. He was a co-operative and supportive actor, and beautiful person.”