Showing posts with label Raj Singh Chaudhary. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Raj Singh Chaudhary. Show all posts
When I used to watch western films, I’d notice how landscape was similar to that of Rajasthan-Raj Singh Chaudhary
8:08 AM
Thar director Chaudhary on the challenges of shooting Anil and Harshvarrdhan-starrer across Rajasthan
Uma Ramasubramanian (MID-DAY; May 2, 2022)
To director Raj Singh Chaudhary (below), Thar is the result of his two loves — western thrillers, and his home state Rajasthan. As someone who was fascinated with the genre from the get-go, the filmmaker believed that the arid terrain of Rajasthan provided the perfect setting for such stories.
“I was a fan of the western genre right from my childhood. I loved western comics and novels. I belong to a part of Rajasthan that [doesn’t have] palaces and deserts. When I used to watch western films, [I’d notice how] the landscape was similar [to that of the state]. So, I wrote the story around [this setting],” says the director.
The Netflix film, starring Anil and Harsh Varrdhan Kapoor, tells the story of an antique dealer who heads to a village that has been rocked by violent killings. The team did an extensive recce, scouting for locations that would add mood to the proceedings. “The major prep was finding the locations that I had visually imagined. The second part [of the prep] was creating visual references. For instance, we created a dhaba that didn’t look like a regular dhaba. We also found an antique shop in Ajmer that matched our film’s style.”
With a chunk of the drama filmed in real locations, Chaudhary admits that it was a physically demanding shoot. “It was a tough shoot, but it was fun as well. We would trek for half-an-hour carrying equipment on our shoulders. When we would get tired and sit down, Anil would continue walking on, saying, ‘Come on, let’s go.’ With Anil and Satish Kaushik sir, you learn a lot just by being with them on set.”
There’s nobody who’s anybody’s fan in our house-Anil Kapoor
8:24 AM
Anil Kapoor and Harsh Varrdhan Kapoor get candid about their dynamics as co-actors and their father-son equation
Monika Rawal Kukreja (HINDUSTAN TIMES; April 24, 2022)
It’s not everyday you have this father-son duo talk about their equation as co-actors, and the bond they share off camera. As Anil Kapoor and Harsh Varrdhan Kapoor gear up to share the screen again in the Netflix film Thar, two years since their first onscreen outing together in AK vs AK, they get candid about collaborating with a family member and if at all it changes anything on set. Excerpts:
When family members come together for a film, there’s always more buzz. As actors, what changes for you?
ANIL: What really excited me about being part of Thar is that we’re not playing father and son. We play characters. With Sonam (Kapoor Ahuja; actor-daughter), in The Zoya Factor and Ek Ladki Ko Dekha Toh Aisa Laga (2019), I was playing her father. If given a choice, I’d rather do a film [with my kids] where we’re actually strangers.
HARSH: When you do maybe a more star-driven film, then you’re a little more conscious. But Thar is a character-driven film, so you just kind of try and submit to the world you are a part of.
What is it like to be superstar Anil Kapoor’s son on a film set? Do directors treat you any differently?
HARSH: The directors I’ve worked with — Vikramaditya Motwane, Vasan Bala and Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra — couldn’t care less. They’re not starstruck in any way; they’re focused and proud of their work. I’ve not been in any starry-kind of films, so I don’t really feel like I’ve been treated differently. I’ve just been like any other actor on set.
What advice did you give to Harsh and Sonam early on in their acting careers?
ANIL: You would be surprised, but I don’t give much advice to my kids. I just let them be. All the films that Harsh and Sonam have done so far, they have got them on their own. I had no contribution. I am not one of those fathers who sits down with a stick and gives gyaan. In fact, the whole family is very independent and has their own point of view and tastes in food, films, clothes, and aesthetics. There’s nobody who’s anybody’s fan in our house.
For Thar, Harsh came on board first and convinced you to join the cast. What was this process like?
ANIL: For me, it’s always a combination of who I’m working with, who the director is, and, of course, the material has to be good. Somewhere, I think, through Harsh, I’m getting an opportunity to work with the younger filmmakers and let them navigate me.
HARSH: For quite a long time, I’ve been working with director Raj Singh Chaudhary, to make sure that this happens. I came on board in 2018, then we got dad towards the end of 2019. We shot it last year and now it is set for release.
How do the dynamics change when you’re also producing the project?
HARSH: There’s definitely more responsibility to ensure things are how we dream them to be. There’s no room for complacency or wasting time because time is money, especially on a film set.
ANIL: When I’m on the set, I’m not a producer, I’m just an actor. Also, I’m not a very intrusive or confrontational person.
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Sonam will make a passionate and a perfect mum, says father Anil Kapoor
I was very emotional on hearing the news [of Sonam’s pregnancy]. She’s a perfectionist in whatever she does. I’m sure she’d be a perfect mother, too. The way she has been, she has taken the aesthetics from her mother, grandmother, and her maasi (Kaveeta Bhambhani Singh), who’s an interior designer. So, all the women in the house had that [good taste]. And they’ve all been great mothers, wives, and homemakers, and Sonam will also be like that. Even professionally, all of them have worked all their lives. Sonam also loves working. She’s a very passionate actor, wife and daughter, and would be a passionate mother now. She’s very generous and very giving. People just love her. She hasn’t had a [film] release for quite some time, but I’m sure she’s going to do even better films after she delivers and gets back to work. She’s looking forward to getting back to work soon.
It was Harsh Varrdhan Kapoor who brought Thar to me-Anil Kapoor
8:45 AM
Reuniting after AK vs AK, Anil and Harshvarrdhan on Thar’s four-year journey from drawing board to screens
Uma Ramasubramanian (MID-DAY; April 11, 2022)
There’s a charm to Western noir movies, you’d agree. Anil Kapoor and Harsh Varrdhan Kapoor are ready to give the genre a go with Thar. While the two have shared screen space before in AK vs AK (2020), it was Harshvarrdhan’s idea to cast his actor-father in Raj Singh Chaudhary’s directorial venture.
Anil remembers being blown away by the Netflix film that revolves around Harshvarrdhan’s Siddharth who goes to a remote village in Rajasthan that has been rocked by violent killings. “It was Harsh who brought the film to me. His faith in the story, and the fact that it was a new genre for me and hence, a new learning opportunity — these were reasons enough for me to do the film. The story strikes the perfect balance between gritty and slick, fast-paced yet nuanced,” says Anil.
That it teams him up with his son is sheer joy for the senior actor. He adds, “Harsh has a unique approach to his craft. Working with him was a learning experience for me. I can’t wait to do it again with the Abhinav Bindra biopic.”
With Thar set to drop online on May 6, it marks the culmination of a four-year journey for Harshvarrdhan. The actor remembers receiving a call from Vikramaditya Motwane in 2018 regarding the film. “He said he had a script for me. When I read it, I wanted to do it. It was meant to be produced under Phantom Films, but the company dissolved after a few months. After that, for a year, I met several producers, trying to get the film going. Raj and I were [simultaneously] working on the script, and I just fell into the role of a producer. Finally, one day, a producer came to offer me a love story. I told him about this movie instead, and [he was on board],” he recounts, adding that they proceeded to do a test shoot with Anil to understand their synergy. “We performed three key scenes. Around the same time, we were talking to Netflix about AK vs AK. We shared the script of Thar, and the test shoot. They were excited by our vision.”
The actor, who plays an intense character, says the idea was to make the performance “almost meditative”. “I worked with Jeff Goldberg, my acting coach, on the character’s backstory, and with Natasha Goldberg on my voice. I put on nearly 10 kilos in two months to play Sid. He doesn’t speak much, and tries to conceal who he is. Within that [framework], I had to make it engaging.”
Is pay-per-view the future for cinema?
8:11 AM
With theatres shut, industry insiders seem open to pay-per-view on OTT but add only time will tell how it fares
Shreya Mukherjee (HINDUSTAN TIMES; September 15, 2020)
Trade expert Komal Nahta feels that many big films such as ’83 and Sooryavanshi might consider releasing both in theatres and pay-per-view format. “Hopefully, theatres will start opening up soon, but it might stay shut in containment areas. Footfalls will also take time to get back to normal,” he adds. Explaining his opinion, Nahta continues, “It’s a good opportunity for people to watch a film with family without having to spend money on individual viewing.”
Welcoming the format, director Amar Kaushik says this will help one understand how many people have watched the film and “how a film has fared”. Producer Ramesh Taurani adds, “It won’t affect the theatre business, rather open up another avenue.” Meanwhile, trade expert Atul Mohan feels a lot depends on the pricing. “In India, people are very particular about money. How much time one gets to watch a film is also important,” he shares.
Director Raj Singh Chaudhary says, “This format is feasible for films of big stars who people want to watch.” Director Anees Bazmee sees it as another opportunity to release films.Filmmaker Kunal Kohli opines, “In this format, a film’s success, much like in theatres, will depend on who stars in it. While some actors draw audiences, in case of other films, word-of-mouth publicity helps. Correct price point is also essential. I feel theatre owners shouldn’t hold on to films that aren’t doing well and let producers release it in pay-per-view or other formats. But one thing that concerns me is piracy.”
Kirti Kulhari to play a singer who finds herself while on a trip in Raj Singh Chaudhary's flick
7:41 AM
In her upcoming film, a ‘slice-of-life-meets-satirical-drama’, the actress plays a singer who finds herself while on a trip
Natasha Coutinho (MUMBAI MIRROR; April 2, 2019)
Kirti Kulhari, last seen in Uri: The Surgical Strike, is all set to play a singer in her next. It’s the story of two contrasting personalities from different worlds who come together during a road trip from Mumbai to Ajmer. During the journey, views are exchanged, lives impacted and stereotypes broken.
Kirti plays Sasha, the lead singer of a band, who persistently questions society and its doctrines. The actress describes the Raj Singh Chaudhary-directorial as “slice-of-life meets satirical drama” and her character as “truly liberated”.
“Sasha is not bound by society’s rules and lives life on her own terms. It’s something all of us seek but few find. She reflects who I am in real life,” Kirti admits, adding that she also enjoys road trips and often takes off to Goa with her husband, Saahil Sehgal. “Last year, in February, we traveled from Switzerland to Germany. The weather was beautiful, it’s important to enjoy nature,” she reminisces with a smile.
Her love for music brings her closer to her character. “I enjoy listening to all kinds of music which is an important part of my life. I’ve been learning Indian classical for a while. I have a harmonium and an electronic tanpura at home and take time out for riyaaz even while shooting. It’s meditative,” she signs off.
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