Showing posts with label Rajeev Siddhartha. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Rajeev Siddhartha. Show all posts
Rajeev Siddhartha on his relationship with Kirti Kulhari: "We bonded over acting and spirituality"
10:20 AM
Neha Maheshwri (BOMBAY TIMES; August 27, 2026)
Rajeev Siddhartha and Kirti Kulhari may have occasionally shared glimpses of each other on social media, but they have largely kept their relationship away from public conversations. In an exclusive chat with us, Rajeev confirms that they have been together for around a year and a half.
Rajeev, who was recently seen in Musafir Cafe, shares, “We were introduced on the sets of Four More Shots Please! in 2017, and it’s quite funny that we hardly spoke to each other then. Perhaps it was because I’m an introvert and she tends to keep to herself as well. It was only during the last leg of the final season that we discovered each other. Perhaps we had to go through our individual journeys before we could meet at the right time. Maybe our frequencies match now. We like to keep our private lives private, but we don’t censor ourselves either. If we feel like sharing something, we do. Ultimately, we just want to live a normal life.”
Their shared interests have become an important part of their bond, particularly their love for acting and spirituality.
He says, “People may think they understand what an actor’s life is like, but only an actor truly knows how uncertain, exciting and, at times, difficult it can be. Kirti and I understand each other because we are in this field for the right reasons. We bonded over acting and spirituality, and both remain a big part of our conversations. We talk about performances and films because we genuinely enjoy them; for us, it isn’t just work. We both love the craft, and everything else that comes with it is secondary to us.”
Their shared profession, however, has not made their approaches to acting alike. “We have different perspectives and approaches to acting, and we respect each other’s space. If I ask her for advice, she gives it to me, and vice versa. Because of my theatre background, I enjoy rehearsing my lines irrespective of the project, even when I’m driving, walking or at the market. She sometimes tells me to relax, and I take that advice too,” he says with a smile, adding, “Kirti has just completed her first production, and we are both acting in it. She had her process and I had mine, but when we came together for our scenes, the result was beautiful. As long as the final performance is truthful, there is no need to interfere with each other’s process.”
For Rajeev, a relationship is also about retaining a sense of self while being present for the other person through life’s highs and lows.
He shares, “You can’t look for completeness in another person. You have to be complete within yourself, and perhaps only then can you find someone who is right for you. Both of us have learnt that life is not always a bed of roses. There will be ups and downs, and it is important not to become too elated when things are going well or too despondent when they are not. When one of us has a difficult moment, we are there for each other, offering support and perspective.”
Political plots rule OTT, woo audience
8:19 AM
Many shows themed around political incidents or real-life political figures have been popping up on digital platforms
Juhi Chakraborty (HINDUSTAN TIMES; June 19, 2021)
Variety is the spice on the OTT platforms and there is no dearth of content from all possible genres. However, lately the digital space is increasingly exploring plots and stories around the political spectrum, some of which seem inspired by real-life political figures and incidents too.
Most recently, shows such as Maharani, which loosely resembles the real-life political drama of Bihar in 1990s, is garnering much praise from the audience and critics alike. Actor Huma S Qureshi, who plays the titular role in the series, tells us, “Maharani is a political show for sure, but also a very hopeful show. It’s not something that leaves you without hope... It’s almost like a fantasy that everybody harbours that if, ‘I’d be the chief minister or Prime Minister, I’d do this and that’. It’s a common man’s dream.”
Qureshi cites an example of Anil Kapoor-starrer Nayak (2001). “It plays into that fantasy. But when done in a realistic political setting, most people connect with that,” she adds.
Even Ramya Krishnan-starrer Queen, which chronicles the life of Shakti Seshadri — a character that bears an uncanny resemblance to late Tamil Nadu chief minister J Jayalalithaa — has been loved by audiences.
There are multiple reasons that make political dramas an audience favourite, feels Gautam Talwar, chief content officer of the OTT platform that screens Queen. “Firstly, these larger than life personalities who’re tasked with running the government, tend to garner heightened attention and curiosity from viewers. Secondly, their personal lives — be it what motivated them to join politics, their childhood, their lives as young adults, among others, make for compelling storytelling, and the common man loves to know the back story about the leaders,” he explains.
Among other web shows based on political themes is the Telugu web series Chadarangam, which revolves around the life of Sr NTR, Modi - Journey Of A Common Man based on Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s life, and City Of Dreams, that explores themes of crime, politics and family conflicts. There’s also a biopic series planned on the life of actor-turned-politician, Sumalatha.
Talwar says that as a storyteller, what interests him the most about political genre is the fact that they’re able to recreate certain parts of history with a nuanced POV, that makes for an interesting watch. “What really appeals is the journey of these characters from very humble, modest beginnings, to them achieving the epitome of power in their respective field,” he adds.
Amit Sial, who stars in Maharani, opines that the shows based on, or inspired by, political figures give the audience a deep sense of satisfaction, as well as a hope. Talking about the show, he shares, “It’s a well etched out script, so I mostly relied on what was written. Subhash Kapoor (creator of the show) is an ex political journalist, so he has deep knowledge and good understanding of the subject. I think the audiences really like complex, political stories, and politics is the in thing right now.”
Actor Rajeev Siddhartha, who stars in Aashram, that has a plotline exposing godmen-politican nexus, feels that such stories can be explored in a bigger way on OTT platforms. “Web space allows to add more complexities, more layers and more information about the incident and characters. I feel that even the audiences like that. In the coming time, we’ll see more of these,” he concludes.
Nupur Asthana directs web series of 2 men in love titled Romil And Jugal
8:34 AM
Nupur Asthana is putting a modern twist on the classic love story for a digital series for Ekta Kapoor’s soon-to-be-launched app
Natasha Coutinho (MUMBAI MIRROR; November 29, 2016)
After directing hit TV shows, Hip Hip Hurray and Mahi Way, and the Hindi film Mujhse Fraaandship Karoge, Nupur Asthana is now working on a contemporary take on Romeo and Juliet which will have two men in the lead. Titled Romil And Jugal, the 10-episode series will air on Ekta Kapoor’s soon-to-be-launched app, ALT Balaji.
“Romil comes from a loud Punjabi family and Jugal is from an intellectual South Indian family. There is an instant clash of cultures that the families have to get over besides accepting the fact that their sons love each other. We auditioned many actors for the lead roles and zeroed in on Manraj Singh for Jugal and theatre actor Rajeev Siddhartha who featured as the main antagonist in 24 as Romil. Finding an actor who is open to romancing another guy on screen is not easy,” Nupur told Mirror.
Ask her how she prepared her actors for the bold scenes and she says, “I told them about the story at the audition and asked if they would be comfortable. I told them to trust me and they did. We also had a workshop for the entire cast which really helped.”
While the series has a gay love story at its centre, Asthana is hoping that the mainstream audience will accept it too. “It’s a progressive show and I want my mother to enjoy it even if she’s squeamish about watching two boys in love. I want the mainstream audience to be less judgemental when they watch it and realise it’s just another kind of love. The essence is the same as Romeo-Juliet, with two people in love and feuding families and how love conquers all,” she asserts. The show is set in a fictional town in Uttarakhand so there was an outdoor schedule while some parts were shot in Mumbai.
The filmmaker is particularly kicked about working for the digital platform. “There were so many censor issues while I was working on Mujhse Fraaandship Karoge even though it was a college film. Here, I’m happy my actors can say fourletter words without anyone creating an issue. I don’t have to worry about stuff like, ‘Should I keep a kiss 10-second long instead of 20?’ You don’t have to censor yourself at the writing stage itself,” Nupur says, further revealing that Romil and Jugal was initially meant to be a film. “When I read the script I felt we could explore the idea better if it was a series spread over 10 episodes. It’s Romeo and Juliet with a twist. Romeo and Juliet is timeless and to do it with two boys was a challenge,” she concludes.
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