Rachana Dubey (BOMBAY TIMES; December 31, 2019)

Riva Kishan, Bhojpuri star Ravi Kishan’s daughter, is all set to make her Bollywood debut with Sab Kushal Mangal. The young actress, who wanted to pursue a career in cinema ever since she was a child, spoke to BT about the advice her father gave her when she decided to join the industry, working with a senior co-actor like Akshaye Khanna and more. Excerpts:

Bollywood saw over a dozen debuts in 2019. Priyaank Sharma and you will be the first pair to be launched in 2020. Are you nervous that the spotlight will be on you?
I am aware of the newcomers who were launched in 2019 and what each one has done and is doing. I don’t compare myself with anyone because we all have had our individual journeys into this profession. We are such different people that there is no reason for anyone to compare us.

This film was an unexpected gift when I was visiting Mumbai. I was in London, where I was attending acting workshops when this project came my way. It’s been a year-long journey since then, and today, I don’t feel nervous. I’ve tried my best to live up to my director’s vision. My father (Ravi Kishan) is always there for me and had prepared me to face this industry a long time ago. In fact, although I was a nerdy kid, I could never stay away from doing plays and dance acts in school. I worked with Naseeruddin Shah’s theatre group. His daughter Heeba Shah is someone who has taught me a lot.

Why did you want to make your debut with Sab Kushal Mangal?
It’s a clean movie with a power-packed story and two heroes falling for my character. What else could I ask for in a debut? The story was beautiful, but uske baad, badi mehnat karni padi set pe. Aasan nahi tha acting karna, halanki narration sunne mein bada mazaa aata hai. On the first day of shooting, Priyaank and I filmed a romantic song. I was nervous and emotional. After the initial bouts of hesitation, we were both chilled out. We had done workshops together, but that is different from the actual shoot.

Akshaye Khanna is such a senior and fine actor, was it intimidating to share screen space with him?
I was nervous before meeting him on set, but after I met him, things were different. He didn’t make me feel like a newcomer and never made me conscious of the fact that I’m a novice. It can be difficult to work with seasoned actors, but if they warm up to you, things can be a little easy. Akshaye sir was encouraging and supportive. We fumbled with our lines and at times, we would also goof up, but he never lost his cool. He would give us a little pep talk and help us overcome the difficult portions of the scene.

Given that you’re the first girl from your family to become an actor, how did they react to your decision?
My father and mother were very supportive and that’s what matters to me. Dad knew about my passion for cinema since I was a kid. When I was ready to step into the business, he had the most practical and valuable advice for me. He told me about the pros and cons with absolute clarity. Yes, my family is traditional, but I was never stopped from pursuing what I liked. My father told me, ‘Gandh mein mat padna. You don’t have to do everything that comes your way. If you love it, live it.’ I also understand that as the eldest child in the family, I have to be careful about the decisions that I make. Although I know that people’s mindset changes with exposure, I am very clear that I will not cross the line of decency and do anything on the screen that my family will be embarrassed about.

Will that restrict your career choices?
No, I am not limiting myself to anything. As long as people like me as an actor, they will give me work that they think I am capable of pulling off. I will leave the rest to destiny. I’m here to act and do a good job of any role that comes my way. Aur main itna pre-plan nahi kar sakti life ko, nahin toh mera present out of focus ho jayega. I’ll take it one day at a time.

Your father is a superstar in Bhojpuri films, and you will inevitably be compared to him. Does that bother you?
I don’t even think about it because whether I am compared to him or not, he will be my father and someone I deeply admire. To the world, he is a Bhojpuri actor, but to me, he’s my father, and I am like him. I don’t feel any pressure because I have his genes and that’s enough for me.

When was the first time you realised what your father does? Which was his first film that you saw?
It was his first Bhojpuri film called Saiyan Hamar. I was a little girl then. In the scene that I saw, my father was being beaten up by the baddies. I started howling as I could not bear to see someone hitting him. I stopped watching his films till I grew up. I used to enjoy the fact that dad also threw kicks and punches. As a child, I’ve visited his sets though he never let any of us see him work. In fact, he didn’t even come to my set when I was shooting. He allowed me my space as an actor. Of course, he was always a call away even when he was in the thick of election campaigns. There are times when my mother misses my calls because she has a thousand errands to run, but my father has never been unavailable to me.

Rachana Dubey (BOMBAY TIMES; December 29, 2019)

Akshaye Khanna is considered to be a reclusive actor, but when he speaks, he doesn’t hold back. Ahead of the release of Sab Kushal Mangal, he spoke to Bombay Times about working with new talent, being a secure actor and why he was drawn to a comedy after all these years. Excerpts:

Your portrayal of a lawyer defending a rape accused in Section 375 was appreciated by the audience as well as the critics. When your name was skipped in the nominations at recent award shows, it created a stir on social media. Does winning an award affect the work you choose to do?
No, it’s always the writing. If people liked my work in Section 375, it’s because I was backed by good writing. As for awards, it’s for the jury, and not me, to decide if I really deserved one. The awards in India are based on popular choice, and they make no bones about it. In a lot of other countries, the box office does not count when judging. In fact, it’s the opposite. Once you win a BAFTA, Golden Globe or an Oscar, your box office takes off. It’s a matter of time before that happens in India. To answer your question, I’ve never been disappointed or felt neglected that I didn’t win an award. And how does one possibly know while signing a film that the role can get them an award?

You said that it’s the writing that attracts you, is that the reason you signed Sab Kushal Mangal, too?
Yes, a film’s writing is the first interaction you have with the subject. Your reaction to that matters and then, you go into other details like what’s in it for me, who’s on board and who’s producing it. It was the sheer sweetness of the story that got me in.

Sweetness does not mean sugar-coated. The world of the film is really sweet. The last Hindi film that I could compare it to is Badhaai Ho (2018), which had an awesome topic. People in India have always been attracted towards cinema that can add that dash of sweetness to their lives. Such films are not necessarily escapist, like Sab Kushal Mangal is not. It has a strong, meaningful story.

Sab Kushal Mangal has two newcomers, Riva Kishan and Priyaank Sharma, making their debut. Do you, as a senior actor in the cast, feel a sense of responsibility to land them well into show business?
Yes, I do feel a little responsible, but not entirely. There is a degree of fondness for someone who is starting out with you. However, they have put their trust into the project, not me. They chose this as their first film. So, a lot depends on them, as well. Priyaank and Riva are kids, and they are sweet, innocent and raw, so you feel protective towards them, but not responsible for their debut.

The scenario when you began your career in the 1990s was hugely different from what it is today, wasn’t it?
Right from my first film, I had the privilege of working with some very senior actors like Hema Malini, Danny saab (Danny Dengzongpa) and my dad (Vinod Khanna). In Border (1997), I worked with Sunny Deol, Suniel Shetty, Puneet Issar, Kulbhushan Kharbanda, Rakhee ji. I have even worked with Rajesh Khanna and Sridevi. I don’t think too many people from my generation or the one after me have worked with any or most of these actors. I worked with some incredible artistes, some of who were in the last years of their work life and were working very sparingly. Sridevi worked selectively; it’s rare, and I cherish the work that I did with her. I feel fortunate that so many people, apart from the actors, were so considerate towards me. They were so giving and caring that it is impossible to forget their gestures. Had they not been so, things could have turned out very differently. As a young actor starting out, you’re so vulnerable.

Why do you say that?
When you come into any form of public life, you put yourself out there for love, hate, appreciation and brickbats. It takes guts to allow people to assess you. Sometimes when I speak to aspiring actors, I ask them, ‘When you start in any career with the energy of youth, besides imagining the highs and adventures that you will possibly experience, do you also visualise what will happen if things go the other way?’ I ask this because I know that anything can happen. As a young person, you could almost block it all out and think that everything will turn out fine. When I ask these questions, most kids say that they haven’t thought about the other eventuality, which is interesting.

Sab Kushal Mangal is a comedy and you haven’t worked in one in a fairly long time. How different do you find the current world of a comedy film as compared to your last experience?
I think it’s got nothing to do with a genre, but less time is spent on writing and more time on other things. The audience notices everything. Yes, there will be those comedies that aren’t great, but they are money spinners. However, today, the audience also equally appreciates a film with quality writing. Karan V Kashyap, who wrote and directed this film, is familiar with the industry. He was the dialogue assistant on Dil Chahta Hai (2001) and has worked with Mani Ratnam as well. His sensibility in terms of humour, the world and the characters that he has created are of quality and standard. There is a certain cleanliness in his film.

Your co-actors Richa Chadha (Section 375), Priyaank and Riva, have said that you’re an extremely secure actor, who doesn’t hesitate to say or help another actor cope under pressure on difficult days…
Okay, first and foremost, I would only do that with a co-actor I feel comfortable with. Richa is an experienced actor. If I felt like telling her something that could help her on a tough day, it’s entirely because of who she is, and how I felt about her. A lot of people here are not open to that, they don’t like it, irrespective of whether they are seniors, peers or younger. Had I felt that Richa won’t accept a word from me or won’t be receptive to it, then I wouldn’t have approached her. I wouldn’t have the nerve to go to an actor if I don’t share that level of comfort with them. And I would never hold back on my own performance to make someone else look better, even if they are newcomers. There is not a single time when I felt like going easy to let Riva or Priyaank cope with a certain scene. To their credit, they never requested me to do things differently to help them out. Most newcomers, in their first few films, tend to have the entire unit focussing on what is good for them. These two kids didn’t have anything of that sort. Priyaank and Riva were being equally competitive; that distinction is huge. My respect for them as actors and debutants is even more for this very reason. Not many people would even be remotely bothered to give this any consideration, but it matters to me.

Does any newcomer remind you of a younger version of yourself?
No, and that’s because I was an extremely unprofessional guy. If I look back at my behaviour and attitude in the first five or seven years of my career, I feel it was unacceptable. I don’t see that in any newcomer today. What I did was a disaster. My immaturity and inability didn’t let me grasp my responsibilities; it didn’t strike me for a long time. Thank God, but I don’t see newcomers who are like that today.

MUMBAI MIRROR (December 27, 2019)

Director Karan Vishwanath Kashyap discusses his upcoming film, the fun and feel-good Sab Kushal Mangal, the transformative role being played by Akshaye Khanna in it and the two debutants.

How did Akshaye come into the picture?
Akshaye was the first one to hear the script and come on board. I am extremely grateful to him because had he not believed in the potential of this film on paper, it would have never come to fruition. He was the driving engine to get this film started and he got Prachi Manmohan on board as producer, having worked with her previously and considering his relationship with Nitin Manmohan.

Were Priyaank Sharma (son of Padmini Kolhapure) and Riva (daughter of Ravi Kishan) cast because of their filmi backgrounds?
I get that question a lot. Look, pictures of Priyaank and Riva came through someone, but I was certain that if they didn’t fit the characters, I wouldn’t cast them. I was also lucky in that Prachi and Akshaye 100% backed me on this and they respected my creative vision.

People need to realise that this film wasn’t handed to Priyaank and Riva on a silver platter. After I saw their auditions, I realised that they have potential, but I told them a lot of work needs to be done. They were game for it.

We did workshops with them for months before the cameras rolled. In fact, I had given them an ultimatum that if they don’t become the characters of Pappu Mishra and Mandira (the film’s leads), they would not do the film.

It’s funny to talk about now because everything worked out, but they knew I was serious then.

You also ensured that the actors travelled in trains, auto rickshaws and mingled with people outside their friend circle.
I wanted them to come out of their comfort zone since the film is based in a small town and these characters are small town people. I must say, that both my actors have worked very hard and given it their best. No complaints, no questions, just single-minded determination and work. Seeing them on screen, you wouldn’t realise both of them were born and brought up in Mumbai. For that, I give them full marks.

Nitin Manmohan’s daughter Prachi, who’s debuting as a producer, is all praise for the actor and his co-stars in the film
Akash Bhatnagar (MUMBAI MIRROR; December 25, 2019)

Filmmaker Nitin Manmohan’s daughter Prachi, who is making her debut as a producer with Sab Kushal Mangal, says the pressure of living up to the family name is intense. “I have to prove myself to my dad more than anybody else. The script was chosen by dad and Akshaye (Khanna). After reading the script, he said that he didn’t think there could be a better film for me,” she shares.

Yesteryear actor-producer Manmohan, who is remembered for essaying grey characters on the big screen, was Prachi’s grandfather. Ask her if she ever thought of getting into acting herself and she says, “I have been a production person since I was a child. When I was seven-eight years old, I was on the sets of Deewangee. There were stars like Ajay Devgn, Akshaye and Urmila Matondkar, but when I walked in, I saw my dad ruling the set. I told him that I wanted to be like him.”

She is all praise for the film’s leads, debutants Priyaank Sharma and Riva Kishan, and Akshaye. “I have worked with Akshaye before and no words can describe how amazing he is. Both the new kids are so hardworking. All of them have done justice to their characters,” she raves.

Calling production “the most thankless job”, Prachi says that if her father feels even 20 per cent proud of her, she’ll feel that she has done her job. Would she like to remake any of his films? “Laadla, that kind of love story is what I would want to do,” she responds.

Akshaye Khanna talks about the choices that he has made and why he opted for risks over security and commercial viability
Roshmila Bhattacharya (MUMBAI MIRROR; December 21, 2019)

Even before you arrive at producer Nitin Manmohan’s office for the interview, you learn, to your surprise, Akshaye Khanna likes chocolates, but only one particular brand, and would order it even when they were shooting for the upcoming romcom, Sab Kushal Mangal, in Jharkhand. He is also always punctual, even when he has to drive to the ‘burbs all the way from town. Noon strictly means 12 pm. By the time we’re done, you know a lot more about the reclusive actor. Excerpts:

You have had two releases this year with one coming up on January 3. For someone who has always been super selective how does it feel?
It’s been a satisfying year as both The Accidental Prime Minister and Section 375 are films I believed in and I’m proud to be a part of them. That’s a great place to be.

So, we can hope to see you around for another five years?
Five years is just a number, a small one. I hope to be around till I drop dead. There’s a perception over the last few years that I tend to not do too much work, but it’s the opposite. Ayushmann (Khurrana) is doing three-four films a year, that’s the space I want to be in. I’ve always preferred a certain pace, but life has not always allowed it. If it happens, I’m the happiest. Sometimes a film requires 150-200 days of shooting, so you end up doing just one film a year. There are so many permutations and combinations in our business, it’s not like a factory assembly line where you can just churn out stuff.

Yet you seem optimistic about the future of Hindi cinema...
That’s because all kinds of films, be it Housefull 4, Bala and Pati Patni Aur Woh, are getting good releases. Ten years ago, if it wasn’t in the commercial bracket, a film wouldn’t get screens. Today, even Section 375 and Saand Ki Aankh get an audience and a voice. It’s like the social media, anyone can offer an opinion. The numbers may be small or large, but at least they get heard. The Accidental Prime Minister was the first authentic political film and that made it controversial in that it evoked different opinions. Ditto Section 375, as the topic itself was sensitive and so people reacted strongly and emotionally.

Yeah, one review described it as “a myopic ignorant train wreck” and another as a “gripping courtroom drama”.
That people would comment on both sides of the spectrum was to be expected. I might not agree with the one who calls it a “train wreck” but I can’t stop the critic from writing what he wants. I, too, have views about other people’s films. I might say I didn’t like it or that it could have been better...

In retrospect, would you have changed anything in the film?
Sometimes I feel—though it’s not my job or specific to one film that we can market and position our films better. You can never control a narrative, but you can balance it out. But that sometimes gets lost in too much information.

From the trailer of Section 375, one perceived a kind of a #MeToo trial so the twist in the tale was disappointing.
I’ve also got such preconceived notions and reactions. But that would be the obvious expectation and end, which is a choice my director didn’t make. Had it been a typical film, it might have fared better commercially. But the choice was to go in another direction. And that’s what made it interesting for me as an actor. If you believe in a certain premise, you have to live with the consequences. I really respected the thought process and the writing, and if I had to choose again, I’d go for the same. Unfortunately, in our country, while we have always celebrated democracy, freedom of speech and expression, and pluralism, when it comes to art—be it a book, an article or a film—if it offers a different perspective, we are not as accepting.

The upcoming romcom, Sab Kushal Mangal, seems less contentious even though it’s about a reality shows, goon politics and abductions.
It’s the sweetest script I’ve heard in a long time, a film I’d watch before I go to sleep as it leaves you with a nice feeling and no tension. I’d not done a comedy in a long time and my co-stars, Priyaank Sharma and Riva Kishan, are cute kids. Though they’re just starting out, I’m sure once people see the film, they’ll be pleasantly impressed by their performance. They have a certain maturity and focus which I didn’t in my first few films. This applies to all debutants across departments, which is fab and brave.

Brave? How so?
When you come into the public eye and put yourself out there as an actor, director or writer, you could be loved, hated, even ridiculed. So, that takes courage. You read about millennials in large numbers going into depression in their own private space, some even committing suicides over social media posts. Then, you see these kids who, irrespective of success or failure, are ready to give it a try. You can only win the game if you are playing it, not sitting outside. Life is about being on the court.

According to IMDB, you have signed up for two sequels, Phir Hulchul and Kick 2?
The information is incorrect.

Do you watch reality shows?
I rarely watch TV, I prefer movies. I’m getting less and less interested in information because anything you read or hear, unless coming directly from the source, arrives with layers of interpretation and so is never completely accurate. Even an article in the op-ed page of the newspaper, reflects someone’s opinions. Take the Talwar case. Despite years of articles, TV reports, films and a court case that cumulatively ran into thousands of hours, do we know the truth of what really happened the night Aarushi was killed? We don’t, which is why I’d rather read fiction, it’s always dependable.

Why aren’t our digital shows meeting expectations?
Our storytellers are used to the three-hour format. We have a history of television where shows go on for years. That’s why we are still struggling. But it won’t take our writers and directors too much time to get there. We are an extremely talented nation, look at the leap we’ve made technologically. We may not be there with the best of the best, but we can still produce a Baahubali which is a milestone in Indian cinema. It’s a beginning, we will build and improve on it. It’s happening already and the audience is rewarding the effort which is good.

That wall behind you has posters of several Nitin Manmohan productions, including your dad Vinod Khanna’s Insaaf and your Deewangee.
(Turning to look) Insaaf was one of dad’s fave posters. What an amazing shot! There are so many actors up on this wall, but I don’t know anyone who had his kind of body language... So fluid! It’s nice to be on a wall which has so much talent. You want to hear a great story?

Sure...
Nitin had gone to Mumbai airport to pick up a relative. Two-three decades ago, the entire family would go to pick up or drop off someone. I’ve many pictures of my dad leaving for an overseas shoot, in a suit, with all of us waving. But that day, there was no one to receive dad when he landed in India because hadn’t told anyone in the family that he was coming home from the US. He’d planned on taking a cab, but Nitin recognised him, even with the long white beard when he walked out. Nitin’s dad, Manmohan, and mine used to be very friendly and he insisted on dropping dad home in his car. They must have chatted on the way and that’s how Nitin produced his first film, Insaaf, with my dad making a comeback.

And what’s the story behind Deewangee?
There’s none, it was just a good film and very different from Anees Bazmee’s other movies. After that, he only concentrated on comedies and larger-than-life magnum opuses. He was a delight to work with as he has a good sense of drama. We also did a comedy, No Problem, which didn’t do well.

Looking back, are you happy with your choice of career? At 40, do you wake up eager or are you unhappy about it like so many?
I’m one of the luckiest few who looks forward to going to work every day because our job and days are not filled with monotony. One day, I could be doing a dramatic scene in Ooty, the next, a song in London, and on the third, an action sequence in a city studio. We’re meeting different people. Of course, you never know when the party will pack up, but at least till then, you can do what you love and that’s a gift life gives very few.

You know, I skipped my exams in the first year of junior college on purpose as by then, I was not interested in continuing with academics. I was so underprepared, I knew I’d fail and didn’t go. I had decided this was what I wanted to do. It was a question of when I was going to tell my parents because I was just 17 then. You fear resistance about your career choice from parents, and that delays communication. As a kid you don’t have the power to say “Bugger off!”

How did your parents react?
They were disappointed. Any parent would be hurt. They felt it was not my place to do what I did at that age. Parents of that generation were conservative, taking such risks was frowned upon. Even today, society is chasing security, and for the masses a government job is priority. It’s amazing that millions put their heads down, complete 60 years in service, do their duty with honesty and integrity and retire. It’s an achievement.

You opted for jittery Fridays. How long did it take your parents to accept?
They were fine after a while. Parents always come around.

Ravi Kishan’s daughter brushes off the nepotism issue, talks about her debut with Padmini Kolhapure and Tutu Sharma’s son Priyaank and Akshaye Khanna, which happened sooner than she expected
Akash Bhatnagar (MUMBAI MIRROR; December 17, 2019)

Ravi Kishan’s daughter Riva, who makes her debut with the first release of 2020, Sab Kushal Mangal, admits that while she had always planned on entering films, it’s happening sooner than expected. “I had wanted to travel and do acting workshops all over the world before making a beginning in showbiz,” the 23-year-old actress informs.

She had flown down from London to visit her family during the holidays when producer Nitin Manmohan, who had seen her pictures, called her father with this film offer. “And I saw my London dreams shattering!” she exclaims. What dreams, you prod? “I had wanted to return to London to enjoy the weather there and shop,” she chuckles.

Riva is cast opposite Priyaank Sharma (Tutu Sharma and Padmini Kolhapure’s son) and Akshaye Khanna in the romcom and admits that she shares an amazing bonding with the former because of their grounded and simple upbringing. “We were pretty much in sync even before we started shooting,” she says, adding that working in it was overwhelming having Akshaye as her hero. “Even in my wildest dreams, I couldn’t have imagined it. He gave me so much confidence and warmth, made everything easy for me,” the actress gushes.

Both Priyaank and she come from film backgrounds and there are certain expectations and pressure on her that comes with being Ravi’s daughter. “Acting is in my blood,” she asserts. Being labelled a product of nepotism, doesn’t bother her. “I’ll get a maximum of three films because of my dad, but who’s going to invest in me after that? It’s my talent that will help me survive,” she reasons.

So, has Ravi seen the film yet? “My father has never watched me act; neither in my theatre days when I worked with Naseer sir (Naseeruddin Shah) nor during my acting workshops. The first time he saw me act was in the film’s trailer,” Riva reveals, adding that getting appreciation from him is a tough job, but she managed it. “He was like ‘this kid from my own house is now a star’,” she smiles. Did he ever visited her sets while she was shooting? “No, he had faith in me or at least that’s what he told me,” she laughs.

Her father is a huge star in Bhojpuri cinema, does she plan to do Bhojpuri films too? “I would love to if it’s a good script and dad is producing the film, he might come up with something amazing,” she says hopefully. Ravi’s switch to Hindi cinema happened largely because of Bigg Boss, is she open to entering the house? “If I get an offer and I fit in, why not? I love watching the show,” she says.

So, is she a fan of Ravi, the Bhojpuri star or Ravi, the Hindi film actor? “He is a megastar, he kills it wherever he goes,” avers the proud daughter, but isn’t sure about sharing screen space with him. “I see him as a director since he knows how to get the best out of me,” she signs off.

Ravi Kishan’s daughter Riva on her B’wood debut with a comedy
Avinash Lohana (MUMBAI MIRROR; January 29, 2019)

Mirror had recently reported (January 23) that actress Padmini Kolhapure and filmmaker Pradeep Sharma’s son Priyaank is all set to make his film debut with first-time director Karan Kashyap’s Sab Kushal Mangal which also features Akshaye Khanna in the lead. We have now learnt that the film which is being produced by Nitin Manmohan’s daughter, Prachi, will also mark the Bollywood debut of Bhojpuri actor Ravi Kishan’s daughter, Riva.

“Ravi sir and my family has a common friend in Moin Baig who showed us Riva’s pictures and she looked right for the part of a bubbly small-town girl. She really liked the script and immediately came on board,” informs Prachi, adding that Riva and Priyaank have been attending workshops for the last two months and getting along well.

An elated Riva says, “I was travelling to Los Angeles and London, when I got a call from Baig uncle informing that Nitin uncle wanted to meet me for a film. One of dad’s first movies, Army, too was with Nitin uncle. I’m enjoying the journey and learning so much from it. This film is like an unexpected gift,” says Riva.

The debutante adds that she always wanted to be an actor and had worked with Naseeruddin Shah’s daughter Heeba in the 2015 play Parindo Ki Mehfil. “Dad is happy I will be making my debut with actors like Akshaye sir and Priyaank. I can’t wait to start shooting from March,” informs Riva.

The situational comedy has also been written by Karan who has earlier assisted Shaad Ali on Bunty Aur Babli, Shimit Amin on Chak De! India and Mani Ratnam on Raavan. They will be shooting in Jharkhand in a start-to-finish, 45-day schedule.