Stating that Karan Johar and he mutually decided to shelve Mr Lele, director Shashank Khaitan says Varun Dhawan-starrer would've been an expensive proposition in the current Coronavirus scenario
Uma Ramasubramanian (MID-DAY; August 17, 2020)

Varun Dhawan and Shashank Khaitan had kicked off 2020 with the announcement of Mr Lele, their third outing after Humpty Sharma Ki Dulhania (2014) and Badrinath Ki Dulhania (2017). Only weeks after they had released its poster, it was heard that the comedy had been put on the backburner. Even as the decision broke his heart at the time, Khaitan, in hindsight, admits it was wise to have stalled the project.

"As per our original plan, we were supposed to start filming on March 13. The [suspension of shoots] was announced on March 15. So, the stalling of our film was a blessing in disguise; otherwise, we would have ended up spending a lot more on the pre-production," says the director, asserting that the project will be revived at the right time.

Mr Lele was the actor-director duo’s second venture after Rannbhoomi to be announced amid fanfare, only to be subsequently put on hold. Buzz suggested it was shelved due to the busy date diary of Dhawan and rumoured leading lady Janhvi Kapoor. Quiz him on what went wrong, and he offers an evasive reply. "We were not able to form a flow for the shoot. It was a small film that was to be based in Mumbai, but things were not falling in place. I kept feeling that something is not right. Since Karan [Johar, producer], Varun and I collectively felt it, we decided to hold off the project for the time being."

After announcing Rannbhoomi with fanfare, director Shashank Khaitan reveals why Varun Dhawan-led war drama was put on the backburner
Uma Ramasubramanian (MID-DAY; August 10, 2020)

Director Shashank Khaitan had caught everyone's attention when he had announced the epic war saga, Rannbhoomi, with Varun Dhawan in 2018. The movie was to mark the third outing of the actor-director duo who had delivered hits in Humpty Sharma Ki Dulhania (2014) and Badrinath Ki Dulhania (2017). Soon after, the Karan Johar-production was put on the backburner.

While little was known about why it was shelved then, Khaitan finally reveals that the film's staggering budget compelled the makers to do a rethink. "The film demanded world-class special effects and technology. As I started discussing with technicians, we realised that the budget was turning out to be humongous. It's not easy [to recover costs] if you mount a big-budget movie. For every Baahubali that has done well, there are several other [expensive] movies that have not been successful. This puts a lot of pressure on the producers," he says.

Even as he is creatively inclined, the three-film-old director keeps a sharp eye on the finances. "With such a large budget, I, as a director, had to be doubly sure that I am equipped to make the film. So, we unanimously decided to wait it out," says Khaitan, who graduated to production with Good Newwz last year. As the film premieres on Zee Cinema on August 15, the filmmaker says, "Taking on the additional responsibility of a producer was a novel experience."

Months after Rannbhoomi was pushed, Badrinath director Shashank Khaitan puts actioner with Varun Dhawan on the backburner
Sonil Dedhia (MID-DAY; May 29, 2019)

Close on the heels of Dhadak's (2018) release, director Shashank Khaitan had announced that he was reuniting with his favourite actor Varun Dhawan for an espionage thriller. Touted as an ambitious action entertainer, the film was to be backed by Karan Johar, thus completing the troika behind the Dulhania series. However, in the latest development, the project — which was to go on floors this year — has been put on the backburner as the director has not been able to crack the script. Interestingly, their epic war saga, Rannbhoomi, was pushed to make way for the thriller.

Confirming the news, Khaitan tells mid-day, "I had cracked a great first half, but I botched things up in the second half. Since there is so much great material coming out [from the industry], I felt that if I don't have anything new to say, I shouldn't say it. So as of now, I have put the film on the backburner."

While it would be convenient for him to imagine a third instalment after Humpty Sharma Ki Dulhania (2014) and Badrinath Ki Dulhania (2017), the filmmaker doesn't want to cash in on the franchise without a strong script. "It's a franchise that has been loved. So, Karan, Alia [Bhatt], Varun and I are conscious that we don't want to do it just for the money. If I come across a script that naturally lends itself to the franchise, we will do it."

For now, he is enjoying his stint as a judge on the second season of Dance Deewane. "I like its unique concept of having three different generations competing," he says.

Meena Iyer (DNA; April 11, 2019)

Meeting Varun Dhawan is always a delightful experience. Unlike many other superstars who wear their most amicable face during film promotions and go back to hiding behind ‘dark glasses’ otherwise, Varun is transparent. He always wears his best profile, knows what he wants and is fully tuned in to what he is selling, whether it is his film or his talent. With him, what you see is usually what it is. For this alone, you have to give him hundred on hundred.

Over to Gen-Now’s sweetheart; yup, he has a huge draw at the box office and he knows it. Excerpts...

Is Alia Bhatt your best friend?
I wouldn’t say Alia is my best friend. My best friend is Aman Malhotra, who lives three buildings away from me. I met him at the age of two. And I have another friend called Ankit. So, if I take Alia’s name, they will get upset (smiles).

But she is definitely a very close friend of mine. Rarely do you form a close connection with someone you work with. But in her case, my relationship with her goes beyond work. We have formed a successful pair having begun with Student Of The Year (2012)  and then Humpty Sharma Ki Dulhania (2014) and Badrinath Ki Dulhania (2017). We’re here today with Kalank that releases on April 17. Whether I work with her or not in the immediate future, it doesn’t matter. She and I share a bond.

Did you really mean it when you said earlier that Kalank is your last film together?
It was a joke. We won’t be working together for some time now. That’s the way life has it. Her forthcoming movies (Brahmastra, RRR, Insha Allah) and my next slate of projects (Coolie No 1, Street Dancer, Shashank Khaitan’s next), will take a lot of our individual time. In fact, the one I’m doing with Shashank (Khaitan), titled Rannbhoomi, will actually take a year to make.

Is Alia not in it?
The makers haven’t started the casting for Rannbhoomi yet. It’s got a lot of VFX and we’re trying to do something new in terms of technology as well. I don’t know when we (Alia and I) will work together next.

Considering we won’t see Alia and you together for a while now makes Kalank even more special, doesn’t it? There is a certain screen chemistry between the two of you.
I think it’s something that just kind of happened. Definitely, we did work hard on it, we knew we were on to something special.

Alia and I knew people love watching us on the big screen. I think what they recognise is the drive that we both have towards our work, we don’t take it for granted. We are very passionate about what we do. It’s not that we meet, get along and that translates on screen. Of course, that’s also a part of the whole thing, but the other part is the hard work, the practice, the rehearsals and the focus. If we call each other, it’s about work. Whether it’s 8 am or 2 am, we’re discussing how we can do better. She is someone who is my equal as far as our collaborations go. I’m slightly arrogant when it comes to my films and knowledge of cinema. But she is superior to me in terms of craft. Drive-wise, I won’t say she is better, but she is equal. And she will also agree with this. It’s like a line in our song in Kalank, ‘Hazaaron mein kisi ko taqdeer aisi mili hai, Raanjha aur Heer jaisi.’ That kind of sums up our relationship, which translates into our onscreen chemistry.

The film also stars Sanjay Dutt, Madhuri Dixit, Aditya Roy Kapur, Kunal Kemmu and Sonakshi Sinha. Then, why are people rooting for just the two of you?
Honestly, this is an ensemble and the biggest I have done so far. It’s the biggest ensemble that people will get to see on screen in a long time. Also, I believe, everyone should root for Abhishek Varman’s hard work and dedication. And I’m not saying this because he is the director. I’ve never worked with such an obsessive filmmaker, who wants to be involved in every aspect of the movie. Even if a picture or a line about it is being released, he wants to be involved. That’s the level of obsession Abhishek has as far as this film is concerned. Usually, when my movies release, I am the most obsessed and I can go to any lengths for it, but I must say Abhishek beats me.

He (Abhi) is like a tigress guarding her cub. He has put everything on the line for Kalank. There are so many things that have gone on in Abhishek’s life and there is so much he is going through. But he won’t be happy if I say anything about it. Trust me, he’s gone through hell and made this film. But his focus hasn’t faltered even for a second. He is my friend and I love him. Kalank is his baby and I’m protective about it.

Abhi and you were assistant directors at a point. Did your friendship help your working equation?
I think I was the only one who made him laugh on the set. I would do certain things and he would burst out laughing, ‘Why are you doing this, Varun? Don’t disturb me.’ I know him as a friend. When he was shooting the Heera Mandi portions with someone else, there was the Munshi quarter where I would go in for my shots and lie down on one of the cots. He would say, ‘What are you doing? I’m making a film here.’ And I would tell him, “You direct, I’m not disturbing you. I just feel like lying down here and seeing what you’re doing.” During the 35 days we shot there, I’ve pretty much stayed on the set. He’s the only director who would leave the set at 2 am and be back at 6 am. So, I would tell myself, ‘The director is giving so much to the film, even I want to be around. Aur yeh dost bhi hai.’ I think he shouted at me the most!

Shouted the most at you in yaari-dosti?
I don’t know about that. I’m a little dheeth (stubborn, thick-skinned) also. If I have a certain take on the scene, I like to perform it that way. Alia and Abhishek would gang up against me. They have worked together before on 2 States, so they have a certain wavelength. He really gets what he wants from her. I have the habit of doing every scene ulta. He has retained certain things that I did. But there are many things that he has removed. There would be a little sparring going on between us.

You got appreciation for October and Sui Dhaaga: Made In India. But those were films that weren’t too mainstream. Did you have a reason for doing them?
Those films were made for a reason and the fact that you are talking about them today makes me happy. October just struck a chord. When Shoojit (Sircar) sir spoke about it, it hit something in my heart. I felt I was becoming selfish as a human being. After two back-to-back big hits (Humpty Sharma Ki Dulhania and Judwaa 2), I was becoming something I wasn’t. When I heard October, I wanted to be like Dan and the only way I could be like him was to play him. I learnt a lot. As for Sui Dhaaga, it was a fun script. My character is a family man. The film explored the father-son relationship, too. Getting to team up with Aditya Chopra sir, who was super-passionate about it, was also a draw. In fact, I keep asking Maneesh (filmmaker Maneesh Sharma) when is it releasing in China. The film did pretty much the business I expected it to do. All in all, I’m quite happy with it. Even now, when it comes on satellite television, people talk about how they liked the film.

Do you ever feel that you’re a commercial actor and you have to prove your acting chops with subjects like October and Sui Dhaaga? Or you can show that in films like Kalank, too?
That opportunity is there 100 per cent in Kalank, too. But actors have to work equally hard, whether the film is commercial, middle-of-the-road or just plain art. Even when it comes to a Street Dancer, I need to pour everything I have within me into it. People may believe it or choose to ignore it but jab aapko ek chhota sa emotion milta hai aur uske saath khelna padta hai, toh ek actor hi khel sakta hai. If you don’t know acting, then you’ll fall flat on your face. Every scene in a film must hold. I’m acting to be a good dancer among great dancers. I’m acting to dance as well as Prabhudheva. Actually, I’m not in his league. Obviously, he is better than me. But if I can make people believe that I can give him a takkar, then that’s acting. There is a lot of hard work and talent in it, but there’s also performance in it to make people believe that.

Varun Dhawan on fronting a multi-starrer, reuniting with father David Dhawan on a challenging comedy, why he won’t be seen in a sports film anytime soon and his next with Shashank Khaitan
Himesh Mankad (MUMBAI MIRROR; April 10, 2019)

Varun Dhawan is as unassuming in real life as his happy-go-lucky screen turns. Before settling down for an interview at a suburban five-star, the 31-year-old actor summons a photographer and requests him to take some “candids”. What follows is a freewheeling chat on his upcoming films, the impending wedding and everything in between. Excerpts:

In early 2000s, Karan Johar wanted to make Kalank with Shah Rukh Khan. How did you react when he came to you with the film?
He (KJo) let Abhishek (Varman, director) approach me and I was blown away by the script. The film celebrates love, pain, tragedy and romance, and the premise has ample twists and turns.

Since the idea came from Karan’s father, Yash Johar, does that increase the sense of responsibility?
Of course, it does. I also feel responsible because of its budget. And I not only have to bring in the numbers (at the box-office) but also ensure that the audience loves it. In a way, both the producers and the audience have put their trust in me given how much is invested in the film.

How do you react when films like Sui Dhaaga fail to reach expected numbers?
Films today are not celebrated till they do a business of Rs 100 crore. But you can’t sign a film thinking about the money it will make. Articles about the box-office make for an interesting read but soon all this will cease to matter. Films should be fun. I loved (Sohum Shah’s) Tumbbad, but I don’t know how much money it made.

Kalank’s release was advanced by a couple of days to April 17. Was it to get a nine-day run before Avengers: Endgame arrives?
We are releasing at a time when there is constant flow of films, both before and after. But today, there are enough screens to accommodate two big films and hopefully, we will get some shows in the second week too when Avengers arrives. It has a run-time of three hour and three minutes, ours is much shorter, so that will help us get some shows. That aside, April 17 is a partial holiday and we would benefit from it. We want to make as much money as possible before Avengers arrives.

You have grown up watching Sanjay Dutt and Madhuri Dixit, how was it sharing screen time with them?
I’ve got many challenging scenes with Sanjay sir and Madhuri ma’am. Working with them is one thing but getting to do powerful scenes with them is another.

And what’s the equation like with Alia Bhatt given that this is your fourth film together?
I don’t think my bond with Alia has changed much. Both of us are here because of films and that’s why we get along well.

How relevant are big-scale family-dramas today?
The audience hasn’t seen a film like this in a while, which makes Kalank exciting. We revealed only a part of the story in the trailer, there is a lot still under wraps. It’s a simple film but will evoke a lot of emotions.

Was the shift from comedies to intense dramas a conscious move?
It wasn’t planned. I am not trying to shift gears and I don’t think people feel that way either. I want to be an actor who can excel in all kinds of roles. Yes, there have been back-to-back intense films but now there are some lighter ones ahead.

Like Coolie No 1 with your father, David Dhawan…
(Beams) I’m dying to do a comedy again and this one has lots of dance. With dad, it’s going to be exactly the way it was during Main Tera Hero and Judwaa 2. He will kick my ass on the set. But I plan to start learning my dialogue rightaway as the journey ahead will be challenging.

We don’t see as many coolies now as we used to…
(Cuts in) I think it’s still an active profession at railway stations. We did a lot of research before deciding to make the film. The original screenplay was outstanding, so is this one. Our film is not a remake but an adaptation with the same title.

Will we see you take the No 1 franchise forward with adaptations of Biwi No 1, Hero No 1…
(Laughs) For now, it’s just Coolie No 1.

How does it feel to be a star?
I honestly don’t know how to be a star, I am still the same person I was back in school. I don’t try to be important.

But Alia and you are spearheading Kalank despite an ensemble cast...
I wouldn’t say Kalank is spearheaded by anyone, it is an ensemble film with interesting characters. Some of them are more out there than others because of their personalities, my Zafar is one of them.

What’s happening with Shashank Khaitan’s Rannbhoomi?
It’s a prep-heavy film and Shashank is still working on the script.

A lot of actors are doing either sports-based films or real-life stories. When will we see you in that zone?
They make for interesting stories but as a lot of people are already dabbling in them, I won’t. ABCD 2 was based on a real-life story. Even Street Dancer has a lot of real instances, but it is a masala film. I am into swimming, cricket, football, and hockey. At present, I am practicing Mixed Martial Arts but there is no sports film on the horizon for now.

How has it been shooting for Street Dancer?
It’s shaping up well. It’s physically exhausting but I can’t wait to start the next schedule on May 5.

Buzz is, after Badlapur, you team up with Sriram Raghavan for Ekkis…
Sriram is one of the best directors of this generation and there is always a possibility of us teaming up. Whenever he is ready with a script for me, I will be ready.

A fan recently tried entering your house and made death threats to your girlfriend Natasha Dalal…
Unfortunately, I can’t speak about this because the police are involved.

But you can tell us if marriage is on the cards this year?
It’s not happening right now as I am busy with all my releases. When I decide to get married, I will send out a picture. 

Roshmila Bhattacharya (MUMBAI MIRROR; October 29, 2018)

On February 19, Karan Johar had taken to Twitter to announce that his blue-eyed boys, Varun Dhawan and Shashank Khaitan, after two instalments of their hit franchise — Humpty Sharma Ki Dulhania and Badrinath Ki Dulhania — would be coming together to complete a hattrick with Rannbhoomi. He described their third offering as “solid spectacle with a beating heart” which would be a Diwali 2020 release.

More recently talking to Mirror (June 20), Shashank who was then gearing up for the release of Dhadak, the Hindi remake of Nagraj Manjule’s Marathi hit Sairat, had admitted that even as a child playing with He-man toys, he had dreamt of making a warrior epic. At that time he revealed that he was still in the research phase as far as Rannbhoomi was concerned but was happy to have ‘warrior’ Varun on board.

Now, Mirror has learnt that this film has been pushed to a later date, and the duo are working on a new project. According to a source close to the development, it could spin off into a franchise but not in the Dulhania genre, which Shashank plans to return to in the future.

Says the source, “This one will be an action packed film on the lines of Tom Cruise’s Mission: Impossible series. In fact, the plan is to spin a franchise. It will be shot in India as well as abroad and is expected to go on the floors towards the middle of next year.”

Back in 2016, we had seen Varun do hardcore action in brother Rohit’s Dishoom which also featured John Abraham. In that film, we saw John speeding down a winding mountain road on a bike, with Varun riding pillion. “There were no body doubles and it was a fast-paced cliff sequence, with high-octane blasts happening everywhere,” Varun had reminisced (Mirror, August 15, 2015). Badlapur and Judwaa 2 also had their share of thrills. We can expect more daredevilry in this action thriller.

Buzz is, Shashank’s Dhadak leading lady, Janhvi Kapoor, will join Varun in this adventure. But according to the source, no leading lady has been finalised yet. “The film will only take off towards the middle of next year so there’s time yet,” adds the source.

Nayandeep Rakshit (DNA; October 5, 2018)

Varun Dhawan and Shashank Khaitan have worked together on Dharma Productions’ hugely-successful Dulhania franchise. Besides their great professional equation, Shashank and Varun also share a warm camaraderie. The two of them were supposed to team up again for Rannbhoomi, an epic war saga, which was announced earlier this year. However, we have learnt that Rannbhoomi has been postponed and instead, this winsome twosome will join hands for another exciting project.

AN ESPIONAGE THRILLER
Our source reveals, “Shashank has been designing an espionage thriller and he has bounced off the idea to both Karan (Johar, who will produce it) and Varun, who will, of course, star in it. The film is expected to go on floors in 2019.”

Confirming the development, Shashank says, “Yes, I’m doing an action entertainer with Varun. We are still scripting the movie. It’s something both he and I have never done before.”

Another insider told us that the makers are planning to design the film on the lines of Jack Ryan or the Bourne series. “It’s a spy thriller in which Varun plays a special agent. It’s an innovative idea and all three of them (Karan, Varun and Shashank) want to present it differently. They are also planning to get renowned Hollywood stunt experts to design the film’s action,” our khabri informs.

RANNBHOOMI TO TAKE SOME TIME
As for Rannbhoomi, the Dhadak director asserts, “I’m going to take some time on that because I want to be sure of the world we are creating. Proper research needs to be done. Right now, Varun, Karan and I are excited about this new idea that I had. We are all guns blazing on this. It’s in a cool space.”

Shashank Khaitan is scripting his next, which will kick off before his Varun Dhawan-starrer
Natasha Coutinho (MUMBAI MIRROR; October 4, 2018) 

After the Janhvi Kapoor and Ishaan Khatter-starrer Dhadak and the Dulhania films, Shashank Khaitan is gearing up to foray into the action thriller genre with his next.

According to a source close to the development, the film is currently in the scripting stage and is expected to go on the floors by May next year.

“Shashank will give Karan (Johar, producer) a narration before beginning work on casting,” the source added.

Mirror has also learnt that the film is set to kick off before Shashank’s upcoming Varun Dhawan-starrer war film Rannbhoomi, which was announced in February this year as a Diwali 2020 release. The latter will now kick off only after the release of the action-thriller.

“Rannbhoomi is a warrior film, which showcases love, relationships, sacrifices, revenge, and heroism. I began developing it in December 2015 and shared the idea with Varun, who was excited about it. Now, Karan has given us the wings to fly and we are looking forward to turn this dream into a reality,” the director had stated.

Stating that he has a finger on the audience's pulse, Varun Dhawan promises that his upcoming film, Sui Dhaaga, will cater to the masses
Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; September 26, 2018)

Having won applause for his restrained act in October earlier this year, Varun Dhawan is ready to explore the other end of the spectrum with Sui Dhaaga — Made In India, a project that he describes as "my most massy film to date." Ahead of the movie's release, Dhawan says that it has piqued the audience's curiosity.

"I have been in the movies long enough to know when a film has generated pre-release buzz. We did no media spends on this movie, but it has still resonated with everyone." He credits the realistic tone of the Sharat Katariya-directed movie for striking a chord with the masses. "The idea of heroism has changed over the last 10 years. Mauji [his character] is the hero of his family because he is able to rise to the occasion."

From the younger crop, Dhawan is one of the few actors who can seamlessly alternate between mainstream and middle-of-the-road cinema. He attributes it to his innate understanding of the audience. "I am intuitive about what people want. An actor has to know what people expect of him. Alia [Bhatt] and I often discuss this."

After churning out eight films in four years, he emphasises that he will take it slow hereon. "I have consciously chosen movies that require me to invest longer time in creating a different world. Kalank will take 100-plus days to shoot. Rannbhoomi too will be a tough one to film owing to its action sequences."

Harshada Rege (DNA; July 10, 2018)

It’s been an unspoken rule that festive weekends are earmarked for Bollywood superstars. While Salman Khan always has a big-ticket movie on Eid, Shah Rukh Khan has shown a liking for the Diwali weekend. However, some of his films have released during other festivals. While Don 2 opened in cinemas pre-Christmas, Chennai Express was an Eid release, and Raees hit the marquee on the Republic Day weekend in January 2017. Akshay Kumar prefers the Independence Day or Republic Day holiday, and Aamir Khan often opts for the Christmas weekend that leads up to the New Year.

The year 2020, however, might see a change in the order of things. The next generation of actors, who have already proved their mettle at the box office, are ready to stake their claim on these dates. It remains to be seen whether the superstars will take them head on and plan their own set of releases, too. As of now, Ranbir Kapoor, Ranveer Singh and Varun Dhawan are eyeing these lucrative days.

Ranveer Singh ticks the five-day weekend
Ranveer Singh plays Kapil Dev in Kabir Khan’s ambitious project ’83. The movie will follow the sportsman’s journey as a newly-appointed captain of the Indian cricket team, who brought home the World Cup of 1983. Ranveer recently announced on social media that the film will release on April 10, 2020. This is the Good Friday weekend, which is one of the longest holidays in 2020. It begins with the Good Friday holiday (April 10), followed by Saturday (April 11), Sunday (Easter, April 12), Monday (Baisakhi, April 13) and ends with Ambedkar Jayanti on Tuesday (April 14). While Baisakhi may not be a major holiday overseas, this is the Easter Monday, which is a public holiday in many countries.

Ranbir Kapoor claims Bakri Eid-Raksha Bandhan holiday
July will see Ranbir take pole position at the box office with Shamshera. The project, which is backed by Yash Raj Films, will hit the screens on July 31, 2020 on the Bakri Eid weekend. It will also get the benefit of the Raksha Bandhan holiday on Monday (August 3). While Ranbir plays the protagonist, Sanjay Dutt is the antagonist in this dacoit drama. The Kapoor scion will be seen as a daaku for the first time. The film also stars Vaani Kapoor and will go on floors by the end of 2018.

Diwali days for Varun Dhawan
This festival has traditionally been seen as a big-ticket window. SRK has enjoyed a 100 per cent success ratio whenever his movies hit the screens on this weekend. In 2020, Varun Dhawan will stake his claim with Rannbhoomi. The revenge drama, produced by Dharma Productions, will be mounted on a huge scale. It will see Varun reunite with his Dulhania series director Shashank Khaitan. Karan Johar had released Ae Dil Hai Mushkil during Diwali 2016. And this five-day weekend would be the right time to present this movie to viewers.

Ajay-Ranbir join forces for the big Christmas release
Aamir Khan’s movies Taare Zameen Par (2007), Ghajini (2008), 3 Idiots (2009), Dhoom 3 (2013), PK (2014) and Dangal (2016), have all been Christmas releases. Among these, the last two are among the highest-grossing Indian films of all time. While it’s not just the date that holds the magic, a lot depends on the film. And with Ajay and Ranbir headlining the project and Luv Ranjan holding the reigns, this one might just be a great project to end the year with.

Director Shashank Khaitan praises his leading lady who returned to work soon after Sridevi’s sudden demise, says he is gearing up to live out a childhood dream and admits it will be exciting to return to the Dulhania franchise
Natasha Coutinho (MUMBAI MIRROR; June 20, 2018)

With the successful Dulhania franchise — Humpty Sharma Ki Dulhania and Badrinath Ki Dulhania – to his credit, Shashank Khaitan is one of B-town’s most promising young directors today who’s hoping to score a hat-trick with the upcoming Dhadak, featuring Ishaan Khatter and debutante Janhvi Kapoor. Talking about his decision to adapt the Marathi hit Sairat, the filmmaker reveals that he loved the film so much that as soon as he stepped out of the theatre, he called up mentor-producer Karan (Johar) and told him he wanted to make this film.

“I knew I couldn’t just make a blind remake so we changed the setting and the characters a bit but I have retained the soul of Sairat so the audience is proud of Dhadak too,” he asserts, adding that he has yet to meet the original filmmaker, Nagraj Manjule, but hopes it happens soon. About his own take on Manjule’s runaway hit, he says, “The idea was to direct the film my way but I hope I get to meet Nagraj soon.”

While the original was set in Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh, Shashank has shifted his film to Rajasthan with the story in the second half moving to Kolkata. “I immediately thought of Rajasthan because I’m a Rajasthani and have travelled a lot in the region. I know the people well and know the conflicts of the place. Also, I was born in Kolkata and grew up there so again I know the place well and know how different it is from Rajasthan which is essential to the plot. We did a lot of readings but the dialogues are not Marwari or Mewari since we are making a Hindi film and I want it to reach the whole country, not just a particular region or state,” Shashank explains.

Though new to showbiz, both his actors come from film families — Ishaan is Shahid Kapoor’s halfbrother and Janhvi is Boney Kapoor and the late Sridevi’s elder daughter. But Shashank insists that as mentor he didn’t want to pressurise them with his expectations and instead shifted the focus to work. “My actors were instructed to stay with the script for six months. They just kept reading and absorbing every word, not just their scenes but the entire film. I wanted them to know the script like the back of their hand so that if they needed to incorporate an extra word they would know enough to pull it off,” he reveals.

The director is all praise for his leading lady who suddenly lost her actress-mother in the middle of the shoot but was professional enough to ensure that the film was completed on schedule.

“In the wake of the tragedy we tried to keep the atmosphere on the set as normal as possible, knowing that the more we tried to sympathize with Janhvi, the more the situation would affect her. We kept the focus on work and not on what had happened knowing that time is the best healer. I salute her courage,” he says emotionally.

Shashank’s date with the movies began in 2000 when, as an undergrad from the small town of Nashik, he started pursuing dance to understand the medium of entertainment. “I worked my way up, doing a lot of events till 2006 when I decided to do a two-year professional course in filmmaking after which I became an assistant. In 2013, Karan Johar approved my script for Humpty Sharma Ki Duhania and suddenly life turned around,” he says, grateful that he’s now getting to make the movies he wants and that his actors trust him. “The nature of the business is so fickle that one shouldn’t get carried away by success,” he reflects.

After Dhadak which opens on July 20, Shashank will start prepping for another period film, Rannbhoomi, with Varun Dhawan in the lead. It takes off sometime next year. “As a child while playing with He-man toys, I dreamt of making a warrior epic. I’m still in the research phase but happy that Varun is on board,” he says.

And will it have his ‘Dulhania’ Alia Bhatt teaming up with Varun again? “We have not spoken about Rannbhoomi because I’ve been busy with Dhadak. Once we are clearer about the script and sure of the casting ourselves, we will be in a position to reveal more. It’s a film we have dreamt of, so we won’t hide the leading lady,” he adds.

And are they planning a third instalment in the Dulhania franchise? “Let’s see after Rannbhoomi. I’d be excited to return to the Dulhania franchise which we built from scratch and are so proud of,” he says.

Chaya Unnikrishnan (DNA; May 25, 2018)

Varun Dhawan will soon make an appearance on the dance show Dance Deewane for which he shot a promo yesterday. Just before the shoot, Shashank Khaitan, who is one of the judges on the show and has directed Varun in Humpty Sharma Ki Dulhania and Badrinath Ki Dulhania told us that the actor will bully him. “I have directed him in my films, now that I’m in front of the camera, he will bully me. He is going to take my case,” laughed Shashank, who was looking forward to it. And, the promo actually has Varun styling the director and telling him how he should talk and in general prepping him for his TV debut!

“Varun and I started out as actor-director but we have become good friends, so much so that whatever happens in our lives, we tell each other first — whether we are signing a film, when our movies are ready, etc,” says Shashank. So, has he shown 'Dhadak' to Varun? “Not yet, but I have been chasing him. Woh bhi mujhe gaali de raha hai ki why I haven’t shown the film to him yet! But when we meet for the promo, I will discuss about the screening,” says the director.

Shashank, who has learnt dance and even used to teach at one point, feels that Varun dances from the heart. “Technically he may not be the best dancer, but it touches you. So many times during the rehearsals, I would tell him, do a little better, but jaise woh camera ke saamne aata hai, pyaar se dance karta hai,” gushes Shashank. Though Dhadak doesn’t star Varun, Shashank says, “We will work again soon (Rannbhoomi). He is possessive about me and I am about him,” he smiles.

Harshada Rege (DNA; April 24, 2018)

Varun Dhawan is on a roll. The 31-year-old, who is among the most successful actors of his generation, has not only garnered a lot of appreciation for his performance in October, but also bagged some plum projects. These films, which are being made by the biggest banners in B-Town, will see him share screen space with a few leading ladies for the first time.

ON THE LIST
The actor is already working on Sui Dhaaga: Made in India, which will be his last release this year (September 28). The next biggie in his kitty is Kalank, which is being directed by Abhishek Varman and produced by Karan Johar, Sajid Nadiadwala and Fox Star Studios. The shoot of the period drama, which also stars Sanjay Dutt, Madhuri Dixit-Nene, Alia Bhatt, Sonakshi Sinha and Aditya Roy Kapur, is currently underway. It is expected to wrap up around November-end and will hit the marquee on April 19, 2019. Post that, he gets a breather in December. Apart from taking some time off, the star will also undergo rigorous training for Remo D’souza’s ambitious project. Says a source, “There were reports that the actor will begin shooting the film in December. But this will actually be his turnaround time where he is likely to plan a vacation and train in various dance forms. The movie, which will see Varun collaborate with his ABCD 2 director Remo, will have some hardcore dancing. Though he is easily among the top dancers in the industry, he will definitely hone his skills furthermore for the film that is being made in the 4DX format. The team is likely to begin shooting in January and the dance flick is slated to release in November 2019.”

PLANNING 2020
Varun will then be seen in Rannbhoomi, which is also being made under his mentor’s banner, Dharma Productions. For this, he will once again team up with his Humpty Sharma Ki Dulhania and Badrinath Ki Dulhania director Shashank Khaitan. The warrior film, which showcases love, relationships, sacrifices and revenge, opens in cinemas during Diwali 2020. The actor has also hinted that he may make time for a project with dad David Dhawan, which will ensure that Rannbhoomi won’t be his only release that year.

FIRST-TIME JODIS
This year, Varun has been seen opposite heroines with whom he hasn’t been paired before. Though he had worked with Jacqueline in Dishoom and Judwaa 2, the latter saw him romance Taapsee Pannu for the first time. In October, he played Dan alongside newbie Banita Sandhu. While he has been paired opposite Anushka Sharma in Sui Dhaaga, Remo’s movie will see him shake a leg with Katrina Kaif. It’s not known whether Sonakshi will play his love interest in Kalank, as it also features Alia, with whom he has worked in three films.

Nayandeep Rakshit (DNA; March 17, 2018)

Since the time Varun Dhawan made his debut six years ago, he has had a neat box office record. From the looks of it, his future seems rosy. One look at his upcoming projects and it seems he’s also the busiest Gen-Y star today.

Says a source, “Varun has as many as six films lined up. He has already given his nod to them and has no dates free till early 2020.”

Our source reveals, “October will be the first of the lot to release next month. Varun is currently in Chanderi shooting for Sui Dhaaga opposite Anushka Sharma. He will take a few weeks off from it and be back around March end or first week of April to kick-start the promotions for the Shoojit Sircar film.”

For the next year or so, the actor will juggle his frenetic shooting schedules with promotional activities. Adds the source, “Post October, he returns to shoot Sui Dhaaga and wraps the movie by June. Around July, he starts shooting for Abhishek Varman’s period drama Shiddat. He will finish the first schedule and then be back for the promotions of the Sharat Katariya directorial that releases on September 28. Once that hits the screens, he will return to filming Shiddat. The exact dates of the schedules have not been finally locked but the team plans to finish principal shooting by January next year.”

After that, Varun reunites with his ABCD 2 director Remo D’Souza for a dance flick. “He will first take a few weeks off to train in different dance forms for this one. They start rolling the film around March next year. It’s scheduled for a November 2019 release,” informs the source. 

The star will also play the lead in Karan Johar’s ambitious project — Rannbhoomi — which will be directed by Shashank Khaitan. “It’s a revenge war saga and will be mounted on a huge scale. The team is finalising everything — right from the location to the look, and the way they plan to shoot this VFX-heavy film. That process will take at least another year because Shashank is currently busy finishing Dhadak. Rannbhoomi is set for a Diwali 2020 release. So, the team will have enough time to get the film ready.”

Varun is keeping his dates free to accommodate the movie but in case it’s delayed by a few more months, then he might shoot his home-production. “David Dhawan wants to make a film with his son, but he needs time to get the script in place. His films are usually quick, so the actor might finish this one in between Remo’s film and Rannbhoomi. It all depends on when KJo plans to start his project. If it happens first, then the home production will kick off after that.”

The teenage heartthrob certainly has busy two years ahead!

Sonil Dedhia (MID-DAY; February 20, 2018)

Karan Johar may be miles away in Germany, but he created ripples in Bollywood yesterday as he announced his next with Varun Dhawan, Rannbhoomi. Dhawan is said to play a warrior in the Shashank Khaitan-directed project. Interestingly, sources in the know reveal that Rannbhoomi is a re-imagined version of Shhuddhi, Johar's pet project that unfortunately never took off.

For the uninitiated, the filmmaker had announced Shuddhi with Hrithik Roshan and Kareena Kapoor Khan in 2013. After Roshan bowed out of the project, Salman Khan had stepped in for a while before exiting the magnum opus. The project was in limbo until Johar found his new leads in Dhawan and Alia Bhatt in 2015. However, the film did not make headway in the years to follow.

A source reveals, "Karan was always attached to Shhuddhi and felt it would bowl the audience over if it were to be made. While Karan Malhotra was supposed to helm it in 2013, Karan now entrusted the job to Shashank. The director has reworked the script to suit a younger actor like Varun. The budget too has been resized."

As Johar felt ready to revisit the film, one of the first things he told his team was that the drama be rechristened. "Since he could not roll Shhuddhi in the past four years, Karan felt that it was a bad omen. So he was sure that this project would not share the same title," adds the insider.

BOMBAY TIMES (February 19, 2018)

Even before director Shashank Khaitan could add finishing touches to Dhadak, Sairat’s official Hindi remake, producer-director Karan Johar has chosen him to helm Rannbhoomi with Varun Dhawan. This is the third time that the trio will work together on a project. Previously, they delivered two films in the Dulhania series — Humpty Sharma Ki Dulhania and Badrinath Ki Dulhania, which struck a chord with the audience.

This time, Shashank will have to switch genres and focus his energies on creating an action-drama loaded with emotions and opulence in equal measure. A love story at heart, this Diwali 2020 release will have an element of revenge at the core of the narrative. The makers aim to turn this project into a cinematic experience worthy of a mega festive release.

Confirming this development, Karan, sitting miles away in Berlin, says, “Rannbhoomi is Shashank’s colossal and ambitious imagination to attempt a hat-trick with Varun. Shashank and Varun make an epic blend of creative and commercial extravaganza, which is Dharma Productions’ vision for the next few projects.”