As told to Roshmila Bhattacharya (MUMBAI MIRROR; May 1, 2020)

Today, a scene from my 2013 film, D-Day, flashes through my mind. Irrfan (Khan) looking at Chintuji, and laughing, amazed that they had finally managed to capture this much-wanted terrorist, despite their carefully-laid plans having failed. I remember Irrfan urging me to let the camera continue to roll, and what emerged was this moment of delicious irony.

We were shooting in the desert and while Irrfan and a lot of team bunked out in tents, Chintuji would drive two hours back to the hotel. He was averse to early morning shoots, but there was this sunrise shot we had to shoot with him and he was refusing to comply, saying, “I’m an actor, not a doodhwala.” Irrfan finally managed to convince him to spend the night in the desert with us with the promise of Chicken Jungli and alcohol. It was a near-impossible feat in Kutch, but he delivered on his promise and I got my shot.

Chintuji’s bungalow and our building in Bandra shared a common boundary wall. Every evening, while returning from R K Studios at 7.30 pm, he’d look out for my car, and if he saw it standing, he’d call me and invite me over for a jashn during which he would berate me for that Friday’s release, even when I reminded him I had not made the film. To be fair, he was also wowed by a few young filmmakers. My own Chandni Chowk To China’s trailer had impressed him. He’d called all his friends to say the film was another Sholay and I was the next Ramesh Sippy. After its release, I got an earful from him, saying I had made him look like a ch****a. More recently, he called me from New York, saying “Just saw the Batla House trailer… Fabulous”. Then, adding, “Par trailer toh tu hamesha achcha hi kaat ta hai, hope you’ve not f***ed up the film.”

On Wednesday evening, after speaking to his secretary, Shantiji, I messaged him, “I heard that you are unwell. Prayers and wishes for you always, sir.” The next morning, he was gone...our jashns are over.

The lockdown has forced Taapsee Pannu to re-slot her next five films, including the adaptation of German classic, Run Lola Run
Ankita Chaurasia (MUMBAI MIRROR; April 25, 2020)

The Coronavirus-induced lockdown has thrown Taapsee Pannu’s schedule for a toss. The actress admits that once normalcy returns, she will have to rejig her calendar to accommodate all five films that were to be shot this year. “If we get back on track in May, we can’t kick off Rashmi Rocket (a sports-drama with her as an athlete) in Kutch as the Rann will be scorching around that time. Similarly, Looop Lapeta (adaptation of the German cult thriller Run Lola Run) will be shot across Mumbai and in Goa. If it’s raining, how will I run?” she points out resignedly.

Scheduling glitches aside, Taapsee is kicked about the latter. Describing it as “a new-age comedy with a very interesting visual quality”, she informs that “it won’t be shot like a regular film”. The actress goes on to add that she’s had enough of making people cry for a year, with films like Badla, Saand Ki Aankh and Thappad, and now wants to evoke different emotions. “The humour in Looop Lapeta is dry, sarcastic and situational. It comes more from the pauses than punchlines,” she asserts.

With blue tank top and faded denims off-set by flaming red hair, the original’s titular character, played by Franka Potente, conjures an image as iconic as the film. Ask Taapsee if there are plans to recreate the look and she rules out the red hair. “We don’t want to copy the film scene by scene. Also, it’s not that radical anymore,” insists the actress, who’d dyed her hair for Anurag Kashyap’s Manmarziyaan, promising that her character will have an edgy look.

Taapsee adds that there are a lot of flashback scenes in the script and she will have several looks. “But the story takes place in one day, so I’ll be in the same look for the most part of the film,” she reasons.

Before schedules went awry because of the pandemic, Taapsee was to head to a foreign location for Anurag’s horror-thriller. “Now, we have to wait till travel restrictions are lifted. But Anurag finishes a film within 35 days, so we just have to reach the location and brace ourselves for a start-to-end schedule. I’m not worried,” she states.

And what’s her role in Anubhav Sinha’s next, Anek? “I am not a part of that film as is being speculated; it has Ayushmann Khurrana,” she clarifies, adding with a chuckle, “We are alternating now.”

Avinash Lohana (MUMBAI MIRROR; March 6, 2020)

Mirror has learnt that after Soorma (2018) and Saand Ki Aankh (2019), Taapsee Pannu starts shooting for her third athletic turn on screen, Rashmi Rocket, on March 26 in Mumbai. The actress, who started prepping for the role two months ago, has continued training at a school ground in Haridwar, where she is shooting for Vinil Mathew’s romance-thriller Haseen Dillruba.

“The students were so inspired by Taapsee that the school named their gym after her. She trains for two hours every day for better stamina and the body language of an athlete,” informs director Akarsh Khurana, adding that a diction expert has also been appointed to teach the actress colloquial terms and phrases in Kutchi. The first half of the film is set in Kutch, where shooting begins on April 1. “We’ll be shooting in three chunks. After Kutch, we head to Delhi in May and Dehradun and Mussoorie in June. Rann of Kutch is also an important part of our schedule. In fact, the first schedule starts with a song, which is set in the Rann Utsav,” Akarsh reveals.

The film also features Aparshakti Khurana and Bhavesh Joshi Superhero actor Priyanshu Painyuli. The screenplay is written by Aniruddha Guha, while Kanika Dhillon has penned the dialogue. “Aniruddha did a lot of research, speaking to several athletes and people from the athletics federation. Amit (Trivedi), who is composing the music, is excited about exploring the local music of Kutch,” Akarsh adds.

The director goes on to clarify that the Ronnie Screwvala, Neha Anand and Pranjal Khandhdiya production is more of a drama than a sports story. “The sport forms the backdrop of the film, while the story narrates an athlete’s journey from anonymity to fame and how she gets caught up in the politics and corruption of the sports system along the way,” he reasons.

When asked about the inspiration behind his heroine, the director shares that the character is fictional, but the story was a culmination of several real-life incidents involving female athletes from India and abroad. Besides Rashmi Rocket, Taapsee also has Shabaash Mithu in the works, which is based on cricketer Mithali Raj.

The actress had first heard the basic story idea of Rashmi Rocket from her South filmmaker-friend Nanda Periyasamy. “And she approached me to direct it after watching my last film Karwaan (featuring Irrfan Khan and Dulquer Salmaan),” Akarsh signs off.

Taapsee Pannu on the high of receiving praise from family and veteran actress Shabana Azmi, a new sports film and an interesting line-up
Ankita Chaurasia (MUMBAI MIRROR; October 25, 2019

Taapsee Pannu is minutes away from catching a flight back to Mumbai after a whirlwind promotional tour of her just released film, Saand Ki Aankh, in the capital. Encouraged by the positive response, the actress reveals that they began screenings for the press a week before release because they were confident of this real-life story of the Revolver Daadis, Chandro and Prakashi Tomar. “We didn’t want our little film to get lost in the noise that other bigger releases would make. After all, it isn’t a conventional festival release, what with two non-glamorous ladies running the show,” she reasons.

She was particularly thrilled when Shabana Azmi lauded the film. “I had invited her for a screening but didn’t know she was attending till the last minute. I was nervous and by the time I reached, the film was coming to an end. Shabana ji was wiping tears when she came out. She hugged us, saying how much she had liked the film and promised that she would tell everyone to watch it. Coming from a veteran actress, especially after the ageism debate, that’s a word-ofmouth that matters,” she avers.

Having dedicated the film to her mother, Taapsee also watched it for the first time with her, and a few days later, with her father and extended family. “My parents don’t say much, but these days my mother says that I can finally act. She cried while watching the film while my father was grinning from ear-to-ear. So, I assume they liked it,” she smiles.

While the actress admits the promotions have been hectic, she is also thankful for her busy schedule which didn’t allow her to suffer from “terrible” withdrawal symptoms post the wrap-up of Anubhav Sinha’s next, Thappad. “I had to know my character Amrita closely and though it was only 31 days of shoot, I felt claustrophobic getting into her mind. It was so emotionally taxing that I wanted the film to end, and at the same time, not quite,” she shares.

Taapsee is now prepping up to acquire an athlete’s physique for her next, Ronnie Screwvala’s Rashmi Rocket. While she was to kick off the new year with the film, she will now start shooting only by the end of February. “It would have gone into summer anyway. There are portions in the film for which I have to transform my body and there was no way we could have done it all during the winter,” she explains. But, by then, won’t it get really hot in the Rann of Kutch, where the film is based? “We had a choice between shooting in the heat versus shooting in January, during the Kutch mela, when there’s a lot of chaos around. We chose the former,” she informs.

Buzz is, she rolls with a Vinil Mathew-directed romantic-thriller in January. She refuses to comment on this, but admits 2020 will be a busy year. “I have some interesting projects lined up, but let the makers announce them first,” she says.

For now, she will be spending Diwali with her parents in Mumbai. Then, she plans to go on a vacation. “It will be either after Diwali or later in November. I am yet to decide where to go, but it will certainly not be a cold place as I hate the chill,” she pulls a face.


Pavail Gulati and Taapsee Pannu on the sets of Thappad

Chaya Unnikrishnan (DNA; August 30, 2019)

After essaying the role of a hockey player in Soorma (2018), and an octogenarian sharpshooter in the upcoming film, Saand Ki Aankh, Taapsee Pannu is all set to play an athlete in Rashmi Rocket. The film is about an incredibly fast runner, Rashmi, who hails from Kutch, and the villagers fondly call her Rocket. But when she gets a chance to showcase her talent professionally, she realises that the journey has many hurdles. Her quest turns into her personal battle for respect, honour, and her identity. Directed by Akarsh Khurana, this is a fictional narrative and not based on any real sports personality.

Says Taapsee, “This story instantly hit the right chord when I heard the idea. It’s one of those few films I was waiting to be developed into a script for me to do. Funnily, I have been made to run in almost every film I’ve done in every other genre. But this time, it’s going to be an out-and-out athlete’s tale. What excited me the most was the human drama that unfolds in her life, which makes it much more than a regular story of an athlete.” Akarsh reveals that the project was conceived in Florence, Italy. “Taapsee was there for a film festival with Manmarziyaan (2018) and Mulk (2018). I was at the same event with Karwaan (2018). We saw each other’s films, had some great food, and jammed over an idea that she had.”

The film is produced by Ronnie Screwvala, who shares that he couldn’t think of anyone better than the Pink actress to play this role. “Rashmi Rocket is the story of a girl who achieves and conquers in her field despite all the adversities that come her way. I cannot think of anyone better than Taapsee to play this character. This is a sportsperson’s story that needs to be told with a certain level of sensitivity and no one better than Akarsh to helm this.”

Upala KBR (MID-DAY; July 30, 2019)

After wrapping up the first schedule in Hyderabad, Ajay Devgn has taken his ambitious offering, Bhuj: The Pride Of India, to Gujarat. mid-day has learnt that over the past few days, Devgn and co-star Sonakshi Sinha shot for a song in Kutch, complete with a majestic set and over 300 background dancers.

Apparently, the song comes at a crucial juncture in the narrative where Devgn's character — Squadron Leader Vijay Kumar Karnik — is heading out for his mission. A retelling of an important chapter of the 1971 Indo-Pakistan war, the Abhishek Dudhaiya-directed project focuses on how Karnik and social worker Sunderben Jetha Madharparya had convinced the local women to rebuild the only runway in Bhuj after it was bombed by the Pakistani army.

Says a member from the creative team, "The unit arrived in Mandvi last week. A huge set was erected at the venue for the song. Composed by Amar Mohile and choreographed by Ganesh Acharya, the number was shot as a maha aarti where the villagers and jawans of the Indian Air Force and Border Security Forces are praying for the success of Ajay's mission. The song opens with Ajay and Sonakshi offering their prayers to Lord Ganesha."

Confirming the news, producer Bhushan Kumar says, "It's the climax song and has been choreographed in a grand manner by Ganesh Acharya. He brought 300-odd dancers that made the song majestic and visually beautiful." The climax of the war drama — also featuring Sanjay Dutt and Parineeti Chopra, and produced by Kumar, Ginny Khanuja, Vajir Singh and Kumar Mangat Pathak — will be shot at Kathda village in Mandvi over the next fortnight.

Rachana Dubey (BOMBAY TIMES; April 8, 2019)

Vivek Anand Oberoi has been in the news since December last year, ever since it was announced that he would headline the cast of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s biopic, titled PM Narendra Modi. In January, posters of the film featuring Vivek as PM Modi were launched in over 20 languages. All of these, including the teaser and trailer that were unveiled in the subsequent months, collectively drew more criticism than appreciation for the film. Recently, the movie was even dragged to court and accused of being ‘propaganda material’. Today is a crucial day for the film’s makers, as a petition against it is expected to be heard in the Supreme Court. In the meanwhile, according to a statement given by the producers, its release date has now been moved to April 11 from April 5. Vivek spoke to Bombay Times about his journey which has been anything but a cakewalk...

Bank Chor, Krrish 3 and Great Grand Masti were some of your last films that released between 2016 and 17. With PM Narendra Modi slated for release this week, and with all the controversies surrounding it, are you anxious?
More than anything else, I’m eager for the audience to watch this film. We’ve put in our heart and soul into it and the journey has been incredible. It was almost impossible, but we finished the film with its scale intact, in 38 days. We travelled from the hot landscape of Kutch to the freezing terrain of Harsil (Uttarakhand). This film was more difficult and taxing for me than all the 45 films I’ve done in my 18-year-long career.

It's learnt that you were being considered to play PM Modi for another biopic, much before this film was made. Why didn’t that project happen?
It wasn’t one project. A lot of people thought of making a film on Modi ji, including me. In my case, it started when I attended the swearing-in ceremony in 2014. Everyone believed his story amazing, but Sandeep Ssingh (producer) was the only one to say it with conviction, ‘Main bana raha hoon, aap aaiye’. Omung Kumar was approached to direct, but he wasn’t sure at the outset. I told him that he shouldn’t shy away from what he’s good at, which is making biopics. It will be interesting to see what his take on the subject is because he is politically insulated. For Omung, it was about unravelling the layers of a man’s personality. I am politically astute and I understand it. I was involved with student politics and during my student years, I was also a GS in the university.

What is it that really drives you to give the nod to a project such as this biopic?
I am on two extremes. When I am working on a film, I am committed and I give it my all. Cold and hot weather and a demanding scene don’t deter me, but I only take up a project when I am inspired enough. It’s not for the money or the thrill of adding another film to my CV. Like I took up Lucifer in Malayalam, knowing that it’s a tough language to speak. But my reason for doing it was that I didn’t want to miss a chance to reunite with Mohanlal (they worked in Company, 2002). I was also warned against trying new media (web series). I was told I would end up getting written-off completely, but here I am. I didn’t sink.

Your career started with a bang with Saathiya and Company. You were touted to be one of the most promising actors in the early 2000s. Interesting roles and intense performances also won you accolades. Given this, your career graph has not been as extensive as it could have been. Do you feel you could have given more to the industry and received more from it?
I’m the guy whose professional obituaries have been surfacing since 2004. Due or no due, the fact is that I am still here, unbreakable. I have worked in six languages and won around 20 awards and I still get some great work to do. Instead of being in the rat-race, and running to the finishing line, I am spending time watching my kids grow. Acting gives me joy, but so does playing football in the garden with my son and lighting up my daughter’s dollhouse with her. I am on crazy schedule even now, but I don’t miss a chance to feed my bachchas and break bread with my wife and parents. I believe in maintaining work-life balance. Each day makes me feel like a winner and gives me a sense of fulfillment. I’ve often been asked about not getting my due in the industry. On the contrary, I am blessed with so much that I don’t see life in a unidimensional manner. I have a happy family and I choose the work I do. I am Destiny’s child because there’s nothing that hasn’t happened to shut me down and I'm still going strong. This is my life and I have accepted it with a smile. What else can I do? Crying is not an option, woh sab screen pe theek hai.

Shortly after you attended the PM’s swearing-in ceremony, people made memes of your look at the event with comments about how you even made it there...
(Laughs!) Yes, I remember that. It still makes me smile. In 2004, people said how did I make it to the film industry, in 2014, people asked how did I make it to the PM’s swearing-in ceremony, and in 2019, they are asking how did I get the role. Someday, there will be a biopic on me if people keep asking these questions, which I don’t mind.

But how did you really make it to PM Modi’s swearing-in ceremony?
I don’t like to wear my relationships on my sleeves. I built a beautiful equation with Mr Modi when he was the Chief Minister (CM) of Gujarat. I’ve personally seen him work, and people don’t realise this but after Atal Bihari Vajpayee, he’s the only leader I campaigned for.

So, at some point, you do plan to get into politics?
I don’t know where life will take me, but for now, you will see me as a full-fledged politician for two hours on screen.

Are you in awe of PM Modi?
I am not a bhakt for sure. For me, it was a question of whether Modi ji's story inspires enough. It does. To me, even Dhirubhai Ambani’s story is just as inspirational. I am excited about this film because it tells every chaiwala and chowkidar that you too can become the PM.

It’s often said that getting too close to a subject could hamper your objectivity. In your case, you knew PM Modi very well. Didn’t that become a deterrent at any point?
One approach is to adapt the physicality of the person you’re playing. Omung and Sandeep ensured that I don’t caricature Modi ji. We were clear that the spirit of the man needs to be captured and portrayed. I did that when I played Maya Dolas in Shootout At Lokhandwala (2007). The man had curly hair, but it looked funny when I wore a wig to match his appearance. He also had a thick Marathi accent. Eventually, we decided to go without all of this and just focus on the kind of person Maya was. I studied him in great detail —his criminal history and met the cops who had shot him. The idea was to bring out that high he was riding on in the short span of his life.

Your film has been in the eye of controversies since inception. Even its release date has been moved twice. Did you anticipate that you might have to fight so many battles for this film to see the light of the day?
Yes, one knew that this might happen. Our legal team had warned us, but I could never understand why so many people (referring to political leaders) are scared of this film releasing. And if a film is so powerful, then people in politics should make films instead of campaigning and doing any other work in their constituencies. It’s great for cinema. If that theory was true, every election season would have a flurry of films. I think we’re giving too much importance to this issue. People will watch the film and decide whether it’s good or bad. Making films can never help anyone win elections. If someone thinks it is propaganda, let them prove it.

Biopics in India are often blamed for white-washing their subjects. Your film is being accused of it even before release.
Let them blame us, but we have never given that a thought. I’ve made this film for the mass audience. I’m told that Richard Attenborough was also accused of white-washing Mahatma Gandhi in Gandhi. The film is considered to be iconic. Uske aage hamari film ki kya haisiyat hai?

In a two-hour film, how much of Modi’s life have you really covered? Does your film also touch upon the Gujarat riots, which took place in 2002?
We’ve covered a great spectrum. Omung has done tremendous justice in his effort to bring out as much of Modi ji’s life as possible in a short screen time of about two hours. There’s everything right up to his swearing-in ceremony. It’s his trials and tribulations that make the film inspirational.

Lastly, will we get to see Narendra Modi in the film?
We tried incorporating a portion at the end but it didn’t work. There is enough Modi in me, but not the real Modi ji in the film.

BOMBAY TIMES (November 9, 2017)

Hiren Kotwani (BOMBAY TIMES; November 7, 2017)

Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; November 3, 2017)

Come November 4, Rann Utsav, the world-renowned festival that takes place in the arid white sands of Kutch, will see a special visitor in the form of Vidya Balan. We hear, the security at the festival is being beefed up ahead of her arrival. More importantly, members of the Border Security Force (BSF) have been assigned to oversee the security arrangements for Balan’s visit.

A source from the organising committee says, “Usually, BSF members are involved in the Seema Darshan programme. But this time, they are also looking into the security arrangements for Vidya’s visit. The local police, too, has extended their support since the actress will be spending an entire day with us. The local media, too, will be present. So, it is imperative to ensure the arrangements are done right.”

The actor’s visit to the Rann is being tagged as Rann Ki Sulu by local press, alluding to her upcoming release, Tumhari Sulu. A production source informs, “After Mr. Bachchan who shot an ad campaign there, Vidya is the second mainstream Bollywood star to attend the Rann Utsav. She will watch the cultural activities along with the tourists present there and will also visit the spot where the Tropic of Cancer passes.”

Balan is understandably excited to be a part of the festival that kicked off on November 1. She says, “I have been keen to visit Kutch and what better time to visit than during the Utsav.”

Ankur Pathak (MUMBAI MIRROR; January 2, 2015)

Mirror (July 9) was the first to report that Mira Nair's nephew Ishaan is turning director with a film being produced by Irrfan Khan.

The film, titled Kaash, is a love story within a road movie and Kalki Koechlin is a familiar face in a cast of mostly newcomers.

Interestingly, the French-origin actress plays a Gaelic traveller who takes the protagonists on a journey across Gujarat which changes their lives. And according to a source close to the film, the actress will be speaking French in the film. "It is a multi-lingual film.The Mumbai portions are entirely in English while in Ahmedabad the characters speak Gujarati. Kalki's character comes from France, so most of her dialogues are French. She recently shot her portions in the Rann of Kutch."

When contacted, Ishaan told Mirror, "I've known Kalki since I was a photographer; she was one of the first celebrities I clicked. She is perfect for the part and she readily agreed to come on board. It will be credited as a special appearance."

Seema Sinha (BOMBAY TIMES; March 25, 2014)

The international media is calling his film Jal “a breathtakingly photographed tragedy of Shakespearean proportions”, but director Girish Malik prefers to define it as a masala entertainer. He elaborates, “The film has all the spices that form a typical Hindi film. It has quirky fun moments, high-octane action drama and a beautiful romance leading up to a shocking climax.”

Set in the Rann of Kutch, the film is about a water diviner (played by Purab Kohli), who tries to solve the drought problems in his village, but faces unforeseen circumstances when he tries to help a female ornithologist save flamingoes. The film, distributed by DAR Film Distributors, was screened at various film festivals. Of the film’s journey, Girish says, “I have tried to talk about a very relevant global issue through my film without being preachy. I want to reach the masses.”

Adds the director, “I have travelled across almost the entire world in the last five years and am a keen observer. To make a film like Jal, you need to be a hippie at heart and enjoy the moment and the challenges it throws.”

Jal, produced by OneWorld Film, releases April 4.

Ananya Ghosh (MUMBAI MIRROR; February 26, 2014)

Sunita Radia, the associate cinematographer of Munnabhai M.B.B.S. (2003) and Rang De Basanti (2006), already has the international press raving about her work in the upcoming film, Jal which had its world premiere at the Busan International Film Festival.

“I had just finished my first film as a cinematographer, Aalaap, when I got a call from writer-director Girish Malik, just 15 days before Jal was to roll," recalls Sunita whose reccee took her to tribal villages where she attended weddings, listened to folk music, and met real water diviners and conservationists.

Set in the Rann of Kutch, Jal focuses on the water scarcity in the region. It's protagonist, Bakka (Purab Kohli) is a water diviner. The brief was clear; Girish wanted a surreal feel and so they chose to shoot in peak summer to capture the mirages and heat waves.

Surviving in the desert when the temperature was up to 50 degree celsius was an ordeal. "Sandstorms would garnish our meals daily but eventually, we got accustomed to them,” Sunita smiles.

All they had was the sky and a vast expanse of harsh, barren land. Creating a space which looks surreal, waiting for twisters, sandstorms and mirages was daunting. "But a few days into the shoot, we had a fair idea of how the weather would behave. The locals who know the topography and the climate well, were a big help," she says.

When a sandstorm was in the horizon, the team would prep to roll. Kesar (Kirti Kulhari), the female lead, is introduced during one of these sandstorms.

Malik was open to experimentations and there was no compulsion to make the frames look sanitised. "Girish was okay with me using extreme burnouts and shadows. I've drastically played with brightness and contrast to give the film a dreamlike feel," says Sunita.

The film has a vivid molestation scene but according to Sunita, being a woman only helped. Not only she could handle the scene more sensitively, the actress felt more at ease.

“I wanted to shoot it in a way that it will give you goose bumps but the serenity and dignity of the character would be maintained. I wanted the audience to feel her agony and pain, and also create a sense of intrigue,” she says, adding that there is also an aesthetically shot lovemaking scene in the film.

“However, the colourist found the scene too hot!” she quips.