Showing posts with label Rajat Kapoor. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Rajat Kapoor. Show all posts
Revealed: Saare Jahan Se Accha is one of Netflix India’s biggest series, with a budget of around Rs 100 crore
9:12 AM
Makers of Pratik Gandhi’s spy thriller Saare Jahan Se Accha recreated parts of Karachi in Mumbai and Chandigarh
Upala KBR (MID-DAY; July 25, 2025)
When Netflix India unveiled its 2025 slate in February, one of the shows that caught attention was Pratik Gandhi's Saare Jahan Se Accha. Set in the 1970s, the spy thriller — which also stars Tillotama Shome, Rajat Kapoor, and Sunny Hinduja — revolves around an Indian undercover agent who is sent to Pakistan to stop it from becoming a nuclear force. Sources indicate that with a chunk of the series set in Pakistan, director Sumit Purohit and his team had to recreate parts of the country in India.
A source said, “More than half the story is set in the neighbouring country. As the unit couldn’t travel to Pakistan, massive sets reflecting Karachi were made in Mumbai and Chandigarh. One was built at the Golden Tobacco Factory in Vile Parle, Mumbai, and a Karachi marketplace was recreated at a local market in Chandigarh.”
Sejal Shah and Bhavesh Mandalia, who recently backed Nawazuddin Siddiqui’s Costao, serve as the series’ producers and showrunners. “It is one of Netflix India’s biggest series, with a budget of around Rs 100 crore,” added the source.
Saare Jahan Se Accha comes as the latest offering from Gandhi, who is on an upward streak with Madgaon Express (2024), Do Aur Do Pyaar (2024), and Dhoom Dhaam earlier this year. But unlike these projects, the spy thriller will see him step into a grey role — something that he excels in, if his breakthrough show Scam 1992: The Harshad Mehta Story (2020) was any indication.
“The makers needed someone who could give a strong performance, and Pratik fit the bill. He is playing a complex character — under the cover of being a diplomat, he is an R&AW [Research and Analysis Wing] agent who stops Pakistan’s nuclear program. The role has been inspired by different real-life Indian spies. The show depicts the period when late Prime Minister Indira Gandhi was at the helm, and R N Kao was heading R&AW, as India and Pakistan were trying to edge out one another in the nuclear arms race.”
Initially, the six-episode series was titled For Your Eyes Only. What brought on the rechristening? The source added that it was a mutual decision between the makers and the streaming giant. “All the stakeholders felt Saare Jahan Se Accha was a better fit as it’s desi and reflects the show’s patriotic theme.”
Censorship is not a valid excuse to not make good films-Rajat Kapoor
10:27 AM
V Nichita (BOMBAY TIMES; April 30, 2025)
While Rajat Kapoor has brought many notable characters to life in films such as Kapoor & Sons, Drishyam, and Pari, it is filmmaking he’s passionate about, “I have no attachment to roles because I don’t take my career as an actor very seriously. My focus is filmmaking; my work as a director is what truly matters to me. I’m happy to take on acting opportunities, but my real challenge lies in directing films.” Excerpts from a chat with him during his recent visit to the city:
‘FILMMAKERS MUST FIND A WAY TO NAVIGATE THROUGH CENSORSHIP’
Amidst recent discussions surrounding censorship and Indian filmmakers’ apprehension of backlash, Rajat asserts, “The ideal scenario is the absence of censorship and complete freedom of expression. So, if I accept that there is censorship in our country, then it’s my job as a filmmaker to find a way to navigate these restrictions and convey my message. As an artiste, I believe in finding alternative means to communicate the same message and ultimately subvert [these limitations].”
He continues, “Look at Iran; despite censorship far more stricter ours – they can’t show a man and woman holding hands, they can’t show a woman without a hijab – they still produce beautiful films. We can’t use our censorship as an excuse for not making good films.”
‘ACROSS MEDIUMS, THE ONE CONSTANT REMAINS THE DESIRE TO CREATE’
Having witnessed the evolution of the film and entertainment industry from television to OTT over 30 years, Rajat shares, “Between television, OTT and film, one thing is constant and that is the desire to create something. Of course, a lot of work is driven by money or profit. But if you keep that aside, the medium does not matter. The desire to create and leave a piece of your own universe behind transcends the medium.”
‘I HAVE A SICKNESS THAT KEEPS PUSHING ME TO MAKE FILMS’
Rajat tells us that from a young age, he was exposed to “some of the finest in world cinema”. “Seeing the work of Ingmar Bergman, Jean-Luc Godard, Werner Herzog, and Rainer Werner Fassbinder for the first time blew my mind. I was exposed to some great cinema while growing up” he says, noting that this appreciation for good films continued into adulthood.
“I have a sickness that keeps pushing me to make films. It’s a drive that has given me a push in my tough times as well, I don’t know what it is, but there is an immense drive that keeps me going, even today,” he adds.
Imagine Chameli without Kareena Kapoor's face; A R Rahman was a co writer in Lagaan-Sudhir Mishra
7:49 AM
Niharika Lal (BANGALORE TIMES; November 8, 2024)
Sudhir Mishra sees filmmaking as a constant process of rewriting. But, he insists that filmmaking is not only a director’s medium. “Actors are co-writers of the film. Every actor has a different process, and the director’s job is to follow their process,” he says. In a recent interview, the filmmaker opened up about the making of Tanaav Season 2, his love for long-form storytelling, how he connected with Kashmir, and what it’s been like working with actors throughout his career.
‘WHAT’S THE POINT OF ACTORS IF EVERYTHING IS PRE-WRITTEN’
Sudhir Mishra tells us, “I consider cinema a constant process of rewriting. You rewrite with locations and with the actors, otherwise, what’s the point of actors when everything is pre-written? Imagine Hazaaron Khwaishein Aisi without Chitrangda Singh’s face, or Chameli without Kareena Kapoor, or Serious Men without Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Yeh Saali Zindagi without Irrfan Jhan, or Dharavi without Om Puri and Shabana Azmi. You can’t – they’re co-writers.”
He adds, “Then, the camera takes its position, the location speaks, and you gather all that material and sit with the editor. The film you imagined may not be there, so you try to find it. You add music – take A R Rahman’s score in Lagaan. Put another piece and the film changes. So, for me, Rahman is a co-writer of Lagaan.”
‘THE FILM I MAKE SHOULD IMPACT ME’
For Mishra, discovering the film is the aim of making a film. He says, “When I make a film, I should learn something I didn’t know before. The film should impact me – that’s the fun, the excitement, the therapy.”
Sudhir Mishra says all his films have surprised him – sometimes for the better, sometimes for the worse. “You can’t say it’s not the cinematographer’s medium – then why do you hire him? The director is a bit like an architect or a designer of the overall film. A director is like a conductor of an orchestra. Sometimes he writes the score and also conducts it,” he adds.
‘After making Tanaav, I understand Kashmir better’
About making Tanaav and shooting in Kashmir, he says, “I just love Kashmiris. They are really compassionate, warm, but also very sad. So, you have to work with that rhythm. I tried to bring out the human aspect (in the show). After making Tanaav, I understand Kashmir better.”
Talking about films on Kashmir and how he managed to avoid any controversies, Mishra says, “Most films about Kashmir are made by outsiders, and many of them don’t have a deep enough connection to the place. If your purpose is not to offend, and you approach things without bias – seeing them as they are – no one gets offended. If you’re not a sensationalist, not pretending to be the final word on anything, not strutting around like someone who thinks they know everything, there’s no issue.”
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About working with Rajat Kapoor, the filmmaker says, “You just have to indicate the character to Rajat and he will bring himself to it”
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Talking about Irrfan, Sudhir Mishra says, “He knew the character and was more interested in ensuring the entire scene works, because if the scene worked, he worked”
After winning three National Awards if a filmmaker has to struggle, it needs to be debated-Vinay Pathak
7:55 AM
Debarati S Sen (BOMBAY TIMES; September 4, 2024)
Rajat Kapoor and Vinay Pathak have been friends for over 30 years and have worked together in various projects, including films such as Bheja Fry, Khoya Khoya Chand and Mixed Doubles. More recently, they came together for the Hindi play Karamjale Brothers, an adaptation of the 19th century Russian classic The Brothers Karamazov by Fyodor Dostoevsky. The play, written and directed by Rajat, has Vinay in the lead and it was recently staged in Mumbai.
In a chat with us, the two spoke about returning to Hindi theatre after many years and their camaraderie. Excerpts...
I’m doing a Hindi play after 25 years: Rajat
Vinay, who returned to the stage after a long time, says, “Mind you, hamare Rajat sahab aasaan kaam nahi kartein hain kabhi bhi. He decided to adapt a Russian novel to Hindi. Both of us haven’t dabbled in Hindi stage production for a while now. My last play was around eight years ago.”
Rajat adds, “I am doing a Hindi play after 25 years! This one is closer to the real world, unlike my previous plays Macbeth: What’s Done is Done and Hamlet The Clown Prince, which belonged to a very different space. This play has a specificity of a place, a moment in time and characters you can identify with.”
30 years sounds a lot, it doesn’t seem long enough for me: Vinay
Going down memory lane, Vinay shares, “Rajat and I became friends first, and four years later, we worked together for the first time in the play C For Clown. Everything that we do together, despite its challenges, is always fun and I have only good memories. While 30 years sounds a lot, it doesn’t seem long enough for me.”
Rajat quips, “It has been twenty nine-and-a-half to be precise. That is longer than a lot of relationships! I am lucky to have somebody like Vinay as a friend and a collaborator. I think when you work together, the bond tends to get stronger. And the best thing about doing theatre is the process of creation itself, which is made possible because of the immense trust between the director and the actor. Be it a film or a play, we have a blast when we work together.”
Theatre has a bigger audience now: Rajat
They may have branched into other mediums, but theatre will always remain special. Talking about the changes in recent years, Rajat says, “There is definitely a bigger audience now than earlier. People have more money and are more willing to spend it on things like a theatrical experience. That is really heartening. However, we still don’t make many good plays. I mean 10-12 good plays a year may not be an optimum output. Hopefully, that will change soon.”
Vinay adds, “The fraternity is growing, especially in the big cities. However, this needs to spread to smaller towns too. People, especially the younger generation, need to watch and get into theatre more.”
I think makers should get more freedom to create original content: Vinay
The two have been through their shares of ups and downs, but their passion for the craft has kept them going.
Vinay says, “In this job, there are always challenges, both physical and mental. But without that things can get boring. I think makers should get more freedom to create original content. It gets difficult when the industry we work in becomes too commerce-driven and less tolerant of experimental stuff. I’ve seen Rajat struggle every time he had to make a film. After winning three National Awards and making such good films, if a filmmaker has to struggle, then something like this needs to be debated.”
Talking about the difficulties a maker has to go through, Rajat says, “The struggle to make a film, release it, find an audience and the disappointment every time we get a bad release, all this is part of the game. But what keeps us going is the creative challenge. Every script, film, play is a new puzzle. It never gets easy. One has to go through the grind to come up with something valuable. And that is the real challenge.”
Rajkummar Rao, Triptii Dimri to film two songs in Vicky Vidya Ka Woh Wala Video's mohalla set in Rishikesh
10:48 AM
Upala KBR (MID-DAY; February 15, 2024)
Last year, mid-day had reported that Rajkummar Rao and Triptii Dimri would kick off 2024 with the shoot of Vicky Vidya Ka Woh Wala Video (New year begins with a scandal, Nov 22). Sure enough, director Raaj Shaandilyaa’s social comedy rolled in Rishikesh on January 27 and is now in its last leg. We hear the team is gearing up to film two songs, after which it will be a wrap on the Ektaa R Kapoor production.
Set in the ’90s, Shaandilyaa’s film revolves around the pandemonium that happens in a small town when an intimate video of Vicky and Vidya, essayed by Rao and Dimri, goes missing. In keeping with the setting, production designer Rajat Poddar and his team built a set reflecting a mohalla of a north Indian town in Rishikesh.
A source reveals, “Everything, from the cars to the television sets, has been designed keeping the ’90s in mind. The director has been filming with the entire cast, including Mallika Sherawat, Rajat Kapoor and Vijay Raaz, in a start-to-finish schedule since January-end. He has allotted the next fortnight for the two songs. From Sunday, he will can a situational number that plays out against the backdrop of the mohalla and features the whole cast. The second is a romantic track featuring the lead pair.” If things go as planned, the project will reach the finish line by March 4.
Vicky Vidya Ka Woh Wala Video marks Rao’s first collaboration with director Shaandilyaa as well as leading lady Dimri.
Pratik Gandhi to play R&AW agent in ’70s spy thriller For Your Eyes Only
8:28 AM
Scam 1992 star Pratik Gandhi to play R&AW agent in ’70s spy thriller For Your Eyes Only; series, inspired by real-life events, to roll next month
Upala KBR (MID-DAY; September 18, 2022)
After 'Scam 1992: The Harshad Mehta Story' (2020) and 'The Great Indian Murder', Pratik Gandhi has zeroed in on his third web series. Next month, the actor will begin filming 'For Your Eyes Only'. One hears that the Netflix show—produced by Sejal Shah and Bhavesh Mandalia, the creators of 'Serious Men' (2020) and 'Decoupled' (2021)—will be an espionage thriller set in the ’70s, with Gandhi portraying an R&AW agent.
Mounted on a grand scale, the story of 'For Your Eyes Only' travels across India and all the way to Budapest as the protagonist goes undercover to find and neutralise security threats to the country. A unit member informs, “Backed by Sejal and Bhavesh’s production house, The Bombay Fables Motion Pictures, the project will roll on October 1. An elaborate set is being put up in Mumbai, which will be the venue for the first schedule. After that, the team will move to Delhi, Rajasthan and Visakhapatnam, before heading to Budapest. It will be a start-to-finish schedule of over 40 days.”
The series also stars Rajat Kapoor, Tillotama Shome, Sunny Hinduja, and Kritika Kamra. In keeping with the style of the ’70s, Gandhi will sport a different look. “The designer and make-up teams have already created the looks of the primary characters, including that of then-Prime Minister Indira Gandhi and R N Kao, the first chief of India’s external intelligence agency. While many films have depicted spies as suave and stylish, this story remains authentic, depicting Pratik’s character and other R&AW agents as everyday men whose job requires them to blend into the crowd. The subject has been researched for over a year. The creators including Gaurav Shukla and director Sumit Purohit want it to be authentic and gritty. Important real-life events of that decade will be depicted.”
The source adds that 'For Your Eyes Only' will be one of the biggest drama series sanctioned by Netflix India, besides Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Heeramandi. “A foreign DoP has been hired. The budget too is steep as sets resembling certain cities of Pakistan will be built for crucial sequences. The title is derived from the fact that when the intelligence agencies send confidential documents to the prime minister, they are always put in an envelope with the words ‘For Your Eyes Only’ written on them.”
So many studios don’t want to do this kind of cinema-Rajat Kapoor
8:10 AM
Having made Rk/Rkay through crowdfunding, Rajat Kapoor says lack of studio backing has enabled him to stay true to his vision
Upala KBR (MID-DAY; July 18, 2022)
Most actors will tell you that playing a double role is challenging. So, one can only imagine how tough it might be to juggle a double role and directorial duties. “It was hard,” says Rajat Kapoor, who has starred in and helmed RK/RKAY. The drama sees Kapoor play a filmmaker who has to convince his leading man Mahboob — also essayed by the actor — to complete his movie.
“Often [while filming a scene], I was playing opposite myself, so there was nobody sitting in the opposite chair. Then, I would shift to the opposite chair and talk to nobody again. Working with another actor gets you a response. Here, it was difficult to gauge if [the scenes] were going well or not,” states the actor-director.
But the triple duty was not the hardest part of making the film, which also stars Ranvir Shorey, Kubbra Sait and Mallika Sherawat. Despite Kapoor being the mind behind compelling movies like Ankhon Dekhi (2014) and Kadakh (2020), producers shied away from backing RK/RKAY. The project was made with the help of crowdfunding. “About 15 per cent [was crowdfunded], and I put in some of my money. Halfway through the crowdfunding, Priyam Srivastava and Harshita Karkare stepped in as co-producers.”
Point out that so many studios are betting on small films, and he cuts in, “So many studios don’t want to do this kind of cinema. It doesn’t upset me; I have accepted my situation. I have made eight films. Every time, in spite of some studio not backing me, I move on. When I look back, I see I have made these films on my terms. If I had to struggle again to raise money for my next, it’s okay because it gives me the freedom to make what I want to.”
Tanaav promises to be a thrilling watch; check out the exciting star cast
8:07 AM
Applause Entertainment reimagines Fauda as Tanaav for a larger Indian and global audience; series to stream on Sony LIV
BOMBAY TIMES (June 14, 2022)
Applause Entertainment, the content studio of the Aditya Birla Group, is all set to reimagine and retell a story of conflict and struggle, with the Indian adaptation of the globally acclaimed Israeli drama series Fauda. Hailed as one of the best Israeli shows, the Indian version of the show, produced by the content studio in association with Applause Productions, is titled Tanaav (which means tension, chaos or stress). The series will be helmed by National Award-winning director Sudhir Mishra and co-directed by Sachin Mamta Krishn.
Set against the idyllic backdrop of Kashmir in the year 2017, the series tells the story of a Special Covert Ops Unit, their bravery and courage. Delving into the human drama behind the ideologies, dealing with complex emotions and flawed characters, all of whom share the same feelings of love, loss, betrayal and revenge, the series is a socio-political action drama with family at its core.
Shot extensively in real locations in Kashmir over 100 days, this fast-paced drama is told over 12 episodes. The cast is an eclectic ensemble of talented actors and performers cast by Mukesh Chhabra. The show features Manav Vij, Sumit Kaul, Rajat Kapoor, Shashank Arora, Arbaaz Khan, Zarina Wahab, Ekta Kaul, Waluscha Dsouza, Danish Hussain, Satyadeep Mishra, Sukhmani Sadana, Sahiba Bali, Amit Gaur, Arslan Goni, Rockey Raina, M K Raina, Sheen Dass and Aryaman Seth, amongst others, in prominent roles.
Created by Avi Issacharoff and Lior Raz and distributed by yes Studios, Fauda has received praise internationally. While staying true to the original format, its Indian adaptation has been reimagined for a larger Indian and global audience.
Sameer Nair, CEO, Applause Entertainment, said, “A global sensation, Fauda was always a story waiting to cross borders and be adapted in a new setting. We find it immensely gratifying to bring an edge-of-the-seat drama of this calibre to Indian audiences, offering a new perspective to the human stories depicting all sides of the conflict. With filmmakers like Sudhir Mishra and Sachin Krishn at the helm, backed by a stellar cast and talented writing, creative and production teams, we are excited to partner with Sony LIV to bring this show to the world. This partnership only strengthens our already strong relationship after successful collaborations on Scam 1992, Avrodh, Undekhi and Your Honor.”
Sudhir Mishra said, “Applause Entertainment discovers some of the best international stories to be reimagined and adapted for the Indian audience. As a filmmaker, Tanaav allowed me to explore a variety of characters and delve deep into their psyche. It is a true Indian story weaved into a tightly-knit action drama that highlights human emotions and the dilemmas they face. I cannot wait for the audience to binge-watch Tanaav, soon to launch on Sony LIV. ”
When I acted in Murder, I was almost morally assassinated for those scenes I shot-Mallika Sherawat
8:02 AM
Rachana Dubey (BOMBAY TIMES; May 26, 2021)
At a time when most film releases are being held up due to the pandemic situation, you must be relieved that your film, RK/RKAY has released in theatres in Canada and the US. How is the situation there at this point of time?
It lifted my spirit in a big way. I left India after completing the work on my web series. I feel fortunate that this film is getting a theatrical run. We all love digital platforms, but nothing beats the joy of watching a movie on the big screen. This release gave me something to look forward to in these times. The situation in LA is changing — things are opening up, indoor seating in restaurants is at 50 per cent. People are careful, things are still pretty contained. Whenever people or the media here ask me about the situation in India, my response to them is that it has been difficult for us, but we’re united as people and we will get past this, too.
You have mostly been seen in all-out commercial films. Working with Rajat Kapoor might have been a fairly new and interesting experience...
I should give him credit for thinking outside the box and offering me this film. I have been a huge fan of his work and his film Ankhon Dekhi is one of my favourites. I was eager to work with him, but I guess filmmakers are hesitant to come to me with serious roles. They are not sure if I can pull off such characters. Rajat was brave enough to approach me to play this part. There is a film being shot within the movie. I’m an actress, Neha, who plays Gulabo, a character in that film. Since that story is set in the bygone era, we researched the looks of the actresses from the 1950s and 60s. It’s been so long since a character like this was crafted for a movie. To answer your question, it is difficult to imagine Rajat and me together and I am thankful to him for casting against type.
From the time you came into the movies, a lot has changed. You started off at the turn of the millennium. What do you think has changed the most?
When I acted in Murder (2004), I was almost morally assassinated for those scenes I shot; I was seen as a fallen woman. Today, those things I did back then are common in our films. People’s perceptions have changed. Our cinema has changed. But even now, when I think of it, nothing beats the cinema of the 50s and 60s. We had wonderful roles for women, but we lack that beauty in our films in a big way. I have waited for years to get a role that has substance.
Waiting for long periods of time for your film to release would be really exhausting, you went through that for the release of your recent film. How did you keep yourself engaged?
I was doing so many other things — I was travelling and doing web shows. I am living my life. I don’t have a backing or a boyfriend in this business who will recommend me for roles. I have made my peace with that and the fact that I will do things my way and lead my life on my own terms. It’s great to be a part of cinema.
In the last one year, the content consumption patterns and conversation around the kind of cinema that we are heading towards has changed...
(Cuts in…) I definitely see a big change and that’s because of streaming platforms, which have been a boon. But even there, how many films and shows do you come across that genuinely have enough and good, meaningful parts for women? Yes, it’s changing, but there are very few projects for women in comparison to what they make for men. We need more movies where women play key characters.
After having been a part of the industry for 17 years, in which direction to do you see your career moving ahead?
I want to play meaningful roles. I have missed doing that. People were approaching me for very glamorous roles, with a lot of money, but no soul in the character or meaning to it. It’s important to reinvent yourself after a period of time. If I do the same things that I have done before, you will only get vintage Mallika. RK/RKAY was the perfect opportunity to start the process of reinvention, and have people see me in a more etched-out role. It’s fulfilling to start a new adventure, a new inning. I hope people see what I can offer. In the past, people have judged me and seen me with a certain mindset. Even after working in films like Pyaar Ke Side Effects (2006) and Dasavathaaram (2008), I got typecast. As an actor, I could only choose the best from what was offered. So, here I am, starting off on a new journey, with my fingers crossed.
Indians are more expressive than the French, so, there was no need to tone down Call My Agent remake-Aahana Kumra
8:03 AM
Aahana Kumra says the character in Call My Agent is outspoken
Uma Ramasubramanian (MID-DAY; January 4, 2021)
With her first attempt at comedy with Sandwiched Forever behind her, Aahana Kumra has trained her eyes on her next, the remake of the coveted French offering, Call My Agent. A tale brings to the fore the goings on at a talent management agency, as employees navigate tricky situations to cater to their high-profile celebrity clients.
But, will the desi adaptation be an earnest portrayal of what transpires in the show business? "We haven't toned it down at all. Shaad [Ali, director] says that Indians are more expressive than the French, so, there was no need to tone it down. My character, Andrea is showcased as one who is 'out there'. While the role has been adapted for an Indian setting, she is as [outspoken] as the original character is," says Kumra.
Apart from a stellar cast, including Rajat Kapoor, and Soni Razdan, several artistes play cameos in the show, says Kumra. "At one instance, when the actors were together, it felt like the entire industry had collected," says Kumra, adding that Farah Khan and Tigmanshu Dhulia also feature in it.
It wasn't a challenge in getting Call My Agent makers to agree to give us the rights-Deepak Segal
8:01 AM
As desi adaptation of Call My Agent goes on floors, makers on how they convinced French studio to part with the rights
Uma Ramasubramanian (MID-DAY; November 3, 2020)
With the French comedy, Call My Agent, gaining worldwide popularity, it was heard that Karan Johar was keen to procure the adaptation rights to develop a similar series for Netflix India. However, in October, Applause Entertainment bagged the rights for the Indian adaptation that is being headlined by Rajat Kapoor, Soni Razdan, Aahana Kumra and Ayush Mehra.
The Shaad Ali-directed workplace comedy went on floors last week at Filmalaya Studios. Deepak Segal, head of content, Applause Entertainment, reveals that the team initiated discussions with TF1 Studio in France to set the ball rolling on the Indian remake. "[Generally] we [try to] understand why we are convinced that this story will work well for the Indian audience. This understanding, along with our expertise, helps us convince the format owners that they can trust us with the job. Once that is done, agreeing on the commercial terms is easier. When we approached TF1, the format owners, with our vision for the Indian adaptation, it wasn't much of a challenge in getting them to agree to give us the rights," says Segal.
The Indian version will be seen through the lens of four celebrity managers, who leave no stone unturned to ensure their star clients are at the top of their game in Bollywood. Each episode will feature an exaggerated version of a real-life celebrity. "The world of talent managers set in the film industry has not been explored here yet. Writers Hussain and Abbas Dalal have done a great job of writing the six episodes under Shaad's supervision." Besides working with a lean team and having mandatory thermal screening daily, Segal says the studio has appointed a COVID inspector to monitor the safety measures on the set.
Pratik Gandhi, Shreya Dhanwanthary, Satish Kaushik bag Hansal Mehta's Scam 1992 - The Harshad Mehta Story
7:56 AM
MUMBAI MIRROR (December 17, 2019)
In 1992, a storm descended on India’s financial circle, when the biggest securities scam was exposed by financial journalist Sucheta Dalal. Scam 1992 - The Harshad Mehta Story is the tale of a seminal moment in a seminal decade in Indian history.
Applause Entertainment, the content studio from the Aditya Birla group is creating this whitecollar crime thriller, based on Debashis Basu and Sucheta Dalal’s best-selling book The Scam. The series is being directed by National Award winner Hansal Mehta and is produced by Studio Next.
Mukesh Chhabra, along with Hansal, discovered celebrated Gujarati actor Pratik Gandhi to portray one of the most controversial stock brokers, Harshad Mehta. Shreya Dhanwanthary will play the role of the fierce journalist Sucheta Dalal. The series boasts over 30 featured parts representing colourful, real-life characters played by actors like Satish Kaushik, Ananth Mahadevan, Rajat Kapoor, Nikhil Dwivedi, K K Raina, Lalit Parimoo and many others. The book has been brilliantly adapted by screenplay and dialogue writers Sumit Purohit, Saurav Dey, Vaibhav Vishal and Karan Vyas.
Sameer Nair, CEO, Applause Entertainment said, “Scam 1992 brings together a passionate team focused on creating a powerful narrative of a stockbroker who single-handedly took the stock market to dizzying heights, and almost brought down a government. We have found a remarkable director in Hansal and with an exceptional cast, we promise to give the audience a thrilling treat.”
Hansal Mehta, showrunner and director, commented, “I said ‘yes’ to this project as soon as Sameer told me that Applause has bought the rights of the book. Growing up in the ’80s and ’90s, we all knew Harshad as a fascinating, larger-than-life character, and I am happy to be able to tell his story.”
Pratik Gandhi added, “It’s a wonderful opportunity to be working with the amazing team at Applause and a creative maestro like Hansal Mehta. The audience will have a great time figuring if the real Harshad Mehta was a hero or a villain.”
Shreya Dhanwanthary said, “To get the opportunity to play Sucheta Dalal, one of India’s top financial journalists and Padma Shri recipients, has been my absolute privilege. I honestly cannot wait for the audience to witness the exciting world of the stock and money markets.”
The filming of Scam 1992 is nearing completion and it will stream soon on a leading OTT platform.
Raghu Dixit, Rohit Roy, Srijit Mukherji, Anu Malik, Kailash Kher debut on #MeToo list
8:22 AM
#MeToo list
While Vinta Nanda’s #MeToo account involving Alok Nath was followed by the actor conveying through his lawyer that he had taken ill and would respond to the allegations after recuperating, Sandhya Mridul, who worked with the actor in a 1990s telefilm, has recounted her own ordeal.
Narrating an incident from the Kodaikanal schedule of the show, Sandhya outed Alok Nath with a long Twitter post, saying, “Every evening he would drink and every night calls were made to my room. I dreaded the ring… I had to keep it off the hook most of the times. But then he would come calling. It was a catch-22 situation. I had the hairdresser moved in to my room permanently. I was a nervous wreck.”
More testimonies entered the public domain on Wednesday, with fresh allegations against Begum Jaan director Srijit Mukherji, actor Rohit Roy, musician Raghu Dixit, composer Anu Malik and singer Kailash Kher. Srijit denied all allegations levelled against him through a Facebook post, saying, “I deny the allegations of non-consensual flirting and harassment, and believe the situation in entirety should be judged. My conversation with the said individual started with a work query which I answered at the very outset. It then, OVER TIME, went on to other topics with equal participation and was consensual…”
Singer Sona Mohapatra took to Twitter to accuse Kailash Kher of touching her inappropriately during a work meeting. Kher’s name cropped up for the first time earlier this week after a female journalist recounted how he allegedly misbehaved with her during an interview. At the time, Kher was quoted as saying that he was “extremely disappointed” to hear the accusations and wasn’t aware of the incident. In a separate Instagram post, Sona also accused Anu Malik of being a repeat offender. “This guy, Kailash Kher is a serial predator and has been for years as are many others like Anu Malik in the industry,” she said.
Rohit Roy joined the growing list of alleged offenders with an unnamed woman reaching out to a Twitter user to allege that the actor had sent her “suggestive” messages when she was about 16. “He’s harassed me on several occasions since, trying to get me to kiss him. Including when his wife (was) in the next room,” she added. Rohit denied the allegations to a publication, saying, “I checked the entire account, that’s not me at all. I would love to know who this is. It’s not actually sexual harassment or anything like that. I saw the entire thing. I think there has been some mistake. I’d love to know who I have harassed in my life.”
Down South, Raghu Dixit, the frontman of a multilingual folk band, has been accused of sexual harassment by an anonymous woman, whose account was shared by singer, Chinmayi Sripaada on Twitter.
The woman, who called the musician “among the top predators”, said he once molested her at a recording. Dixit responded by saying that the allegations were mostly accurate, but he is not a predator. The singer said he “completely misread” the situation and had immediately apologised to the person concerned and will do so again in private.
On Wednesday, Sripaada had accused veteran Tamil lyricist Vairamuthu of inappropriate conduct during a foreign tour sometime in 2005 or 2006.
Actor-filmmaker Rajat Kapoor, who was accused of sexual misconduct by a journalist and a former colleague last week, faced fresh allegations when an anonymous woman revealed on Twitter that he had tried to kiss her eight times in a dark spot years ago.
Special committee for safe workplaces
A day after extending support to #MeToo survivors and proposing a “robust process” to provide safe spaces for employees on film sets, the Producers Guild of India has set up a special committee.
Headed by filmmaker Sneha Rajani, the committee will address sexual harassment at the workplace within the industry. Dharma Productions CEO Apoorva Mehta, Ekta Kapoor, Kiran Rao, Priti Shahani, Rohan Sippy and Siddharth Roy Kapur, among others, have been appointed as members.
He tried to kiss me eight times, reads another allegation against Rajat Kapoor
8:00 AM
New allegation surfaces against Rajat Kapoor, as the #MeToo movement hits closer to home
MID-DAY (October 10, 2018)
Two days after he issued an apology stating that he has "tried to be a decent man," comes another allegation against Rajat Kapoor. An anonymous user has come forward to accuse the actor of sexually harassing her when she was 20.
The survivor alleged that they would often interact on Facebook, where she would refer to him as 'Sir' while he used to call her 'little b**ch'. She further revealed that the incident in question occurred when they met in Bandra and he insisted on dropping her home. She recounted the horror as he "tried to hold my hand, touch my cheek...and tried kissing me not once, not twice, eight times."
This accusation comes close on the heels of two women accusing him of sexual misbehaviour. While a journalist tweeted that he misbehaved with her during a telephonic interview, another stated that he had demanded on "shooting in an empty house" with her.
In the wake of these allegations, his film Kadakh has been dropped from the MAMI line-up.
More offenders under harsh glare of #MeToo
8:23 AM
MUMBAI MIRROR (October 9, 2018)
Over 10 days after actress Tanushree Dutta emerged from a selfimposed exile to revive sexual harassment accusations against her Horn OK Pleassss co-star Nana Patekar, the #MeToo wave has taken root in the Hindi film industry.
Sexual assault allegations have also returned to haunt Queen director Vikas Bahl and his associates. Over a year after Mirror broke the story (April 2017) about the filmmaker harassing a crew member in Goa. The survivor has spoken up about the ordeal again. Following the renewed backlash against Bahl and his friends, Anurag Kashyap, Vikramaditya Motwane and Madhu Mantena, who cofounded the production house Phantom Films’ and are being pulled up for not doing anything to protect the survivor at the time, the quartet has dissolved the company.
In the wake of newer testimonies, most prominent of the lot being from Bahl’s Queen heroine Kangana Ranaut’, who revealed that she too had been subjected to the filmmaker’s predatory behaviour, a major digital platform has reportedly dropped Bahl as the director of an upcoming show. Hrithik Roshan, the lead of his directorial Super 30, released a statement urging the film’s producers to take a ‘hard stand’ against the director. “It is impossible for me to work with any person if he/she is guilty of such grave misconduct.
I am away and have access to sporadic information. I have requested the producers of ‘Super 30’ to take stock of the apparent facts and take a hard stand if need be. This is not to be hushed or brushed under the carpet. All proven offenders must be punished, and all exploited people must be empowered and given strength to speak up,” Hrithik tweeted on Monday.
On Monday, actor-filmmaker Rajat Kapoor took to Twitter to apologise for his actions after a journalist accused him of “lewd” and unprofessional behaviour while a former assistant director revealed that he had harassed her to “shoot a film in an empty apartment” 10 years ago. After another journalist revealed that Kailash Kher had kept his “hand on my thigh,” the singer was quoted as saying that he was disappointed. “Those who know me will know how much I respect humanity, especially women, even more for the ones who work in media since their work is difficult,” he said in a statement.
Meanwhile, skeletons continue to tumble out on the comedy scene after Twitter user Mahima Kukreja called out comedian and YouTuber Utsav Chakraborty for harassing several women in the last few years. Aravind Subramanian, Jeeveshu Ahluwalia and Kanan Gill have joined the list of offenders as revealed by anonymous accounts by Twitter users. The comedy collective AIB put out a statement on Monday, revealing that its founder and CEO Tanmay Bhat, who has been accused of inaction even after being apprised of Utsav’s behaviour, has “stepped away” from the comedy collective.
“We have been closely monitoring the sequence of events on social media around the allegations against AIB and against our co-founder and CEO Tanmay Bhat. We cannot overlook Tanmay’s role and in light of this he will be stepping away from his association with AIB until further notice,” read a statement from Vidhi Jotwani, AIB’s Head of Human Resources.
Gursimran Khamba, an AIB cofounder who has been accused of sexual misconduct by a former female friend, has also stepped down from his position at the company after issuing a separate statement in which he apologised for his “bad behaviour,” adding, “But I categorically deny any violation of consent”.
Vikas Bahl dropped from Amazon Prime's next; to be kept out of Hrithik Roshan's Super 30 promotions?
8:32 AM
Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; October 8, 2018)
Barely a fortnight after Tanushree Dutta sparked the #MeToo movement in Bollywood, Vikas Bahl found himself in the eye of the storm over the weekend. The director was accused of sexual harassment by a former employee of Phantom Films, which was further corroborated by his ex-business partner Anurag Kashyap on Twitter. In light of these allegations, mid-day has learnt that the National Award-winning filmmaker has apparently been dropped from a series that he was to direct for Amazon Prime.
A source reveals, "The project is being produced by Monozygotic Solutions, which is owned by Raghu Ram and Rajiv Lakshman of Roadies fame. The show was a reboot of an Australian series that revolves around couples spicing up their sex lives. It was scheduled to roll by year-end. But with the latest controversy, Amazon wouldn't be comfortable backing it with Vikas on board. The production house has discussed the matter with Amazon, and will soon start scouting for another director."The weight of the allegations has understandably impacted the Queen (2014) director's other project — Hrithik Roshan starrer, Super 30, which also has him as a co-producer. Buzz suggests that Bahl will be kept out of the promotions. "The post-production has to be done under his supervision because it would be impractical to bring someone new on board at this stage. But after that, Vikas will be asked to dissociate himself from the film," says an insider.
Bahl was also in advanced talks to helm a show for Ekta Kapoor's ALT Balaji. mid-day reached out to Kapoor and Amazon Prime. Neither had responded till the time of going to press.
Yet another allegation surfaces
Rajat Kapoor was accused of sexual misconduct by two women on Twitter yesterday. A journalist revealed that he misbehaved with her during a telephonic interview, asking her about her vital stats. Another woman stated that the actor had hounded her with phone calls and made her uncomfortable with his demand of shooting a film with her "in an empty house."
I welcomed getting older with open arms-Neha Dhupia
7:53 AM
Chaya Unnikrishnan (DNA; February 1, 2018)
She is one actress who has mastered the art of reinvention. She may be getting older, but she has found a way to not only stay connected with the masses through cinema but has also become relevant to the youth, thanks to her TV outings. We are talking about Neha Dhupia who made her debut as a glamorous heroine in 2003 with Qayamat and soon got tagged as a sex siren with Julie. But she managed to shed the image by playing significant parts in small-budget films like Mithya, Phas Gaye Re Obama and Moh Money Maya. Today, she has impressed everyone with her acting prowess in content-driven movies such as Tumhari Sulu and Qarib Qarib Singlle. In a freewheeling interview, Neha talks about embracing age, playing good roles and keeping up with the times.
You grabbed attention 15 years ago with your bold roles and now have emerged as the go-to actress for strong supporting roles. How did the metamorphosis come about?
I welcomed getting older with open arms. I didn’t shy away from it. I kind of have goosebumps saying this because I have never said this before, but even I wonder what happened. I’m not being immodest but am saying this with a lot of gratitude. When I came into the industry, a lot of people said, ‘You’ll be done in four-five years, what will you do after that’? I was working towards being an IAS officer, I was raised believing I would serve the country. Then, I got into movies and I kind of started believing people around me, that my stint would only last for five years. Then I thought to myself, we can change that. Times are changing as people are looking at good content. Everything doesn’t have to be about others’ idea of what it is supposed to be. Everyone is doing so many different things, looking at different role models. My role model is Karan (Johar), he does everything including making films! He is the cultural export, the first face of Indian cinema. He is seen everywhere from award shows to world economic forums.
What really changed was the way I look, the skills that I have, and me getting older in the business. The one thing it taught me is to hustle every day. My biggest strength is I’m not a lazy person. My mind ticks like a time bomb. It’s a combination of getting older, being a little restless, understanding what the audience wants and knowing where you stand. People are not coming to me with lead roles, but good parts. It will be stupid if I think, it’s not the lead, why should I do it? I’m not that person. My decisions are based on instinct.
After films like Qayamat, Julie, etc there was a phase when you did small-budget cinema with the likes of Rajat Kapoor and Ranvir Shorey. What changed for you?
Everything, personal or professional, is like a pack of biscuits that comes with an expiry date. I emerged in a bikini from the water when I started off in Qayamat. I did Julie, in which I had an author-backed role. But what happened with that was it gave me a certain image. Now, either I am happy that I have an image — sometimes it takes a lifetime — you do interesting work but you don’t have an image. I had one and I was playing on that. But then I realised this image is going too far, I needed to change that. So, I took two steps back. I did not take up any work. One day, I met Rajat Kapoor in the gym. He said, ‘I have been looking for you for almost a year now, where were you?’ It was a random run-in and he told me, ‘I will call you in two months once my script is ready’. In April 2006, he met me and gave me the script of Mithya. He said he wanted me to play the part of Sonam. That was it, and I ended up doing five-six films with all of them — movies like Ek Chaalis Ki Last Local, Raat Gayi Baat Gayi, Phas Gaye Re Obama up to Moh Maya Money. I thought Moh Maya Money was a great film, but it didn’t work at the box office. That’s when I realised it’s time to reinvent myself. I thought I’m older so I need to crack the youth market.
Is that how Roadies happened?
Yes. I got this show and I decided to take it up as the youth are the most discerning audience. To win them over — I knew I won’t be doing Student Of The Year anytime in my life — so Roadies was a great way to get into the youth audience. After that I opened my production house with NoFilterNeha and did two seasons which led to BFFs with Vogue.
What is exciting about hosting BFFs with Vogue?
I always consider myself a rank outsider, I am not from the business, so for someone like me just to wake up and do work that I love is the most exciting thing. I like being in conversation — it’s like asking a cricketer to do cricket commentary. Listening to people and hearing their stories is something that I genuinely enjoy. It comes organically, it is not forced. The other exciting part are the guests. I know most of them like Karan and Shweta (Bachchan) Nanda and while talking to them at one point, I forgot the camera. I just sat on the lounge and chilled with them. But there are some celebrities like Juhi Chawla, Radhika Apte and Rani Mukerji, who I have been a fan of, but hadn’t met, and it was great interacting with them. Also, I don’t see many women, especially of my age, hosting a talk show. Usually the talk show hosts are much older and a little bit of overachievers which is a pre-requisite. I don’t fit into that category. So for me to be able to host such a show is flattering.
Will you be working on the third season of #NoFilterNeha?
I don’t know yet, but I am hoping for it. I remember I was in a coffee shop and talking to my writer about doing something interesting. I have so many live sessions with friends from the industry discussing all the madness we went through. I thought this needs to be out in the open. I met Rishi Malhotra (he owns a digital streaming service) who said that I have a good sense of humour, which people don’t know about, and I need to have my own talk show. That’s how NoFilterNeha came about.
Was it easier for you to get celebrities on your show?
It’s never easy to get celebs. But I must say the first one was easier than the second. After the first season, celebrities who had seen it were like, ‘Hope we are not invited as there are tricky questions’. But trust me they are all brighter than me. They know how to swerve around them. Season 2 was more interesting as we used a different way of doing it and were fortunate enough to not repeat the guests. Everyone who was on my wishlist on season 1 and season 2 has appeared. If I have a third season, I definitely want Shah Rukh Khan to come because I want to have a conversation with that man on record.
Talking about Shah Rukh Khan, you once made a statement, ‘Only SRK or sex sells in cinema’. Would you say the same now?
I think a lot of things are changing, but that still doesn’t take away from the fact that SRK and sex sell!
Taapsee Pannu reunites with Rishi Kapoor for Anubhav Sinha's social thriller Mulk
7:03 AM
Natasha Coutinho (MUMBAI MIRROR; July 28, 2017)
Taapsee Pannu is gearing up for Anubhav Sinha’s next, the social thriller Mulk, which also features Rishi Kapoor. The actress plays the veteran actor’s onscreen daughter-in-law. The duo had earlier acted together in Taapsee’s Bollywood debut, Chashme Baddoor. Prateik Babbar also features in a pivotal role.
A source informs Mirror that the film will roll in October-November and will be shot in Lucknow and Varanasi. “The plot revolves around a joint family who is embroiled in a controversy with the actress out to reclaim their honour,” adds the source.
Anubhav Sinha says, “The film is a thriller set in my hometown Varanasi. I’ve been directing for a long time now but never done anything in my part of the country. Rajat Kapoor is also on board with Taapsee, Rishi and Prateik. Others are still being cast. The film is inspired by true events.”
Prominent writers and filmmakers to grace fourth Indian Screenwriters' Conference
7:48 AM
The fourth Indian Screenwriters' Conference in Mumbai will address disconnect between cinema and social reality, gender equations, writers' rights, and the digital platform
Nishi Tiwari (MUMBAI MIRROR; July 30, 2016)
When the Film Writers Association (FWA) kicked off its Indian Screenwriters Conference in August, 2006, it was attended by 275 screenwriters at the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII) in Pune. The second edition, in December, 2008, saw 575 screenwriters and writer-directors in attendance at the Indira Gandhi Institute of Development Research in Mumbai and the third, at St Andrew's Auditorium, in 2013, had 700 screenwriters. Now entering its fourth edition on August 3-4, the conference, titled 'So Near So Far - Do Our Stories Reflect India's Reality?', returns to St Andrews, expecting a foot-fall of almost 800.
According to screenwriter Anjum Rajabali (Ghulam, Raajneeti), one of the most vocal FWA members who will serve as a moderator on two sessions, the conference has helped bring about many changes in the industry. "The importance of a script is acknowledged more clearly now. Many people don't confirm films unless they have a bound script in hand. Writers' fees have improved as well; people recognise the value of a good script, and, more importantly, that of a good writer. You may have also noticed that writers are being featured more prominently in film publicity," he explains.
With seven sessions that address topics ranging from gender equations in films to the fledgling digital platform and the way forward for writers' interests - including pay and rights - the conference will open with a keynote address by veteran journalist and Magsaysay award winner, P Sainath, with Sahitya Akademi award-winning poet and essayist Ashok Vajpeyi as the chief guest.
Writer of Piku and Vicky Donor, Juhi Chaturvedi joins Sudip Sharma (Udta Punjab) and Tushar Hiranandani (Housefull 2, Ek Villain) for the session, "Changing Gender Equation in Film", which is moderated by Sanyuktha Chawla Shaikh (Neerja, Bobby Jasoos) while indie pioneers - Neeraj Ghaywan (Masaan), Hansal Mehta (Shahid), Shonali Bose (Margarita, With a Straw), Meghna Gulzar (Talvar) and actor-filmmaker Rajat Kapoor talk about "Little Big Films". "This year is different in the sense that it involves a lot of introspection - what are we doing on our part? Is it enough? We're also opening up the dialogue by inviting studio and channel heads like Ronnie Screwvala, Ritesh Sidhwani and Gaurav Banerjee (Star). It's a big step towards addressing issues in a more public, transparent way," Rajabali concludes.
Huma Qureshi, Radhika Apte & Swara Bhaskar spice up X: Past Is Present
11:32 AM
BOMBAY TIMES (October 31, 2015)
Huma Qureshi, Radhika Apte and Swara Bhaskar, three powerhouse actresses known for their avant-garde choice of films, share credits for the first time in the upcoming film, X: Past Is Present. Having made their mark playing offbeat yet strong characters, the three actresses will be seen in a bold passion play of man-woman relationships.
Helmed by 11 directors with strikingly diverse filmmaking styles, the cinematic treat delves into the mind of a single man who recalls his passionate journey with various women spanning 25 years. Rajat Kapoor as the lead character, the mysterious and brilliant K, proves his mettle once again. He shares sizzling chemistry with each of his leading ladies. Apart from Huma, Radhika and Swara, the ambitious project also features nine other beautiful actresses. Anshuman Jha (of Love, Sex Aur Dhokha fame), is also a part of the interesting cast that comprises fresh and known faces.
Conceptualised by Sudhish Kamath, this venture took shape after Manish Mundra and Shiladitya Bora, who produced Ankhon Dekhi and Masaan, decided to back this film. Besides Sudhish, a diverse group of filmmakers like Abhinav Shiv Tiwari, Anu Menon (London Paris New York), Nalan Kumarasamy (Soodhu Kavvum), Pratim D.Gupta (Paanch Adhyay), Q (Tasher Desh), Raja Sen, Rajshree Ojha (Aisha), Sandeep Mohan (Hola Venky) and Suparn Verma (Aatma) have collaborated for this project that has been shot on a tight budget.
The movie's credits also feature some big names - from award-winning cinematographer Ravi K Chandran to multiple National Award-winning editor A Sreekar Prasad and writer-director Thiagarajan Kumararaja (Aaranya Kaandam).
After a rousing premiere at the South Asian International Film Festival (SAIFF) last year, where it played as the opening film, the producers are now ready for a nationwide release by PVR Pictures. It has already generated curiosity on social media with many celebrities sharing the intriguing trailer.
X : Past Is Present, produced by Drishyam Films, releases November 20.
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