Neha Maheshwri (BOMBAY TIMES; November 25, 2019)

“I am a drama queen in real life,” she proclaimed, her smile lighting up the entire auditorium during the ‘Women in Lead’ session, at International Film Festival of India (IFFI), 2019. From being called the ‘bad luck charm’ of the South film industry to becoming one of the faces of content-driven Bollywood cinema, Taapsee Pannu’s journey has been an interesting one. Excerpts from the session:

FROM GEEKY TEENAGER TO AN ACTRESS
It’s no secret that Taapsee landed in cinema purely by chance. “I was the geeky, nerdy frontbencher. After college, I got a corporate offer through campus placement, but I wanted to pursue MBA. I am a drama queen in real life, but I had no connection to dramatics ever. In fact, during my college days, I was part of the dance troupe and used to have huge fights with the dramatics club over the rehearsal space. I would laugh at them for being so overenthusiastic about drama, which I didn’t think much of back then. But eventually, I started modelling just for pocket money, and somehow cinema followed,” she recounts. And when did she finally decide that this was the career path that she is going to follow? “After my first film released,” says Taapsee.

THE RELATABLE AND VERSATILE ACTOR
Starting off with the typical commercial potboilers, Taapsee slowly made a move towards subjects that can be termed unconventional. From a Chashme Baddoor to a Mulk, Badla and Saand Ki Aankh, was the transition a conscious choice? “My first Hindi film was Chashme Badoor, a commercial potboiler, an appropriate launchpad for a girl from South to get into Bollywood. And who would say ‘no’ to a David Dhawan film? I wouldn’t, not even today. Then I thought, what next? I realised that there were already a lot of girls, who were really good at these commercial potboilers. And they were all being backed or recommended by someone or the other. So, I realised that it was too crowded a space here. I didn’t think I could get an edge over them, because these girls were drop dead gorgeous and doing a swell job. Plus, I had no one backing me. So, I had to find a new path and create my own space.”

But, now that she has created that space, and can afford to be selective about her roles, how does she go about it? It seems that she has a three-point checklist. Taapsee says, “When I hear a script, the first thing I think is if I would spend my hard-earned money and time to go and watch it. Secondly, I think if I will be able to make an impact on the narrative. I would want the audience to take my character back home with them. I am not concerned about my screen-time. If the audience remembers me after coming out of the theatre, I am happy. The third one is a little filmi. I really want my kids to be proud of my filmography.”

‘I AM NOT ANSWERABLE TO A FAMILY LEGACY’
Taapsee is as bold in her choices as are her characters on screen. She says, “I don’t get scared because I don’t have a surname to protect. I am not answerable to a family legacy. That’s why I say that I have an edge being an outsider. I am here because I am having fun. And till the time I am having fun, I will do everything that the world tells me I can’t do. The day I get bored or get similar offers, I will happily and gracefully step down and do something else in life. For me, films are not the be all and end all of my life.”

FROM SOUTH TO BOLLYWOOD
“At no point have I ever used the South industry as a stepping stone to Bollywood,” Taapsee insists. But will she continue working in the South, now that she has established herself in Bollywood? “It would be very stupid of me to leave that market just because Hindi is perceived to be pan-India. The South film industry taught me a lot and I have an immense sense of gratitude towards that industry. With the kind of highs and lows I saw there, from making a successful Tamil debut to being called a bad luck charm or the iron leg after four of my Telugu films bombed, it was hurtful and I learnt a lot. The journey toughened me up for Bollywood.”

HER DREAM ROLE AND LOVE FOR ROBERT DOWNEY JR
Towards the end of the session, Taapsee let it slip that she often DMs Robert Downey Jr on Instagram, letting him know that how heartbroken she is that his character had to die in The Avengers. This comes soon after she talks about her dream role. “I want to be an Indian superhero in The Avengers. That’s my dream role. I love X-Men and The Avengers and love Robert Downey Jr to an extent that I will happily play the Iron Man suit,” she signs off.

Renuka Vyavahare (BOMBAY TIMES; April 3, 2019)

It cannot get bigger than this. “I am not going to answer any questions on the plot of Avengers: Endgame. It took me three years to protect it from Tom Holland and Mark Ruffalo, so I am not going to suddenly give it away,” jokes American filmmaker Joe Russo, of the Russo brothers, co-director of the year’s, perhaps, the decade’s most awaited superhero film — Avengers: Endgame, in a candid chat. This is his fourth Marvel film and the twenty-second film in the entirety of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). In Mumbai, to kick-start the film’s promotions, Joe spoke to Bombay Times on Indian influences in the Marvel series, his comic-book fixation, Stan Lee, Robert Downey Jr (RDJ) being nothing like Tony Stark, need for diversity, longevity of superhero films and more.

This is your first visit to India. Take us through your experience so far.
I have never been here before, so I came with an open mind. I am ecstatic. One of the real values of getting to work on these films is that you get to travel across the globe and interact with people from different cultures. I am a big fan of telling my children that their job in life is to collect as many fascinating experiences as they can. Part of that is travelling, cultural experiences, understanding the world and becoming a global citizen. It’s really meaningful for me to get my family here.

Are you familiar with Indian cinema?
I have seen a few Indian films like Dabangg. I think Indian audiences will love the fact that Robot/Enthiran (S Shankar’s 2010 bilingual starring Rajinikanth) was almost a big influence on Avengers: Age of Ultron, 2015 (directed by Joss Whedon). There is a sequence in Robot, where all the robots come together to form a giant snake. In the Avengers movie, there was a bunch of Ultrons, who come together to form a giant Ultron. The scene was eventually cut for time, but that was a direct influence from Robot.

You have made four Marvel films in the past six years. What do you think is integral to the future of superhero films?
The more diverse they get, the more interesting they become. Everyone has a right to see themselves on screen. Audiences become more passionate, when storytellers get more inclusive. The next phase of Marvel movies will get more diverse. Look at the success of Black Panther and Captain Marvel. The new crop of stories will have more pure global influence.

During an interview Tom Hanks told us that because of the rich technology and CGI, superhero films are living up to the promise of comic books. But eventually, the tide will turn. The stories that always remain with you are the ones showing human condition.
These (superhero films) are human stories! They are highly relatable characters. Listen, I think that if it’s not your cup of tea, you tend to shutout. For a whole global generation of film goers, these movies have become very important. They are a part of their growing up years and pop culture. The best of these movies tell compelling stories about humans, who happen to have powers. The powers are secondary to the experiences of characters as people and the choices that they make. I think the best of these movies have incredible thematics in them. I don’t necessarily think you can call superhero films a fad, when it has this kind of global reach. I think you just have to respect the fact the audience finds a lot in these films to inspire and connect them.

Speaking of #Whateverittakes (the punchline of Endgame),what does it take for you and Anthony (the other Russo brother co-directing the film) to work with so many superstars on one film?
It takes a lot (smiles!). It’s been a great experience for us. We have been very fortunate that this cast is incredible. Look, Oscar winners show up just to do one day’s work for your film, so you are spoilt as a filmmaker with the love of your cast.

You hear things like Robert Downey Jr wanting multiple vanity vans. He even jokes about it. He seems like a diva. Is he like that for real?
He jokes about it (laughs!), but you know why he does that? I think it is to play along and create a persona. He acts like a diva, but he is actually the hardest working actor you will ever work with. He is exceedingly professional. There is a reason why he is one of the biggest movie stars in the world. The energy and effort he puts into his work every second and the way he approaches his character and believes what it is, the way he shows up on set everyday, the level of intensity he brings to his work ethic — it’s commendable. Even when he promotes his films... that requires a lot of effort. He has a certain effervescence about him that’s universally translated and it comes at a cost. It requires him to project himself a certain way.

Tony Stark feels like RDJ’s alter ego, Chris Hemsworth exudes Thor’s confidence in his physical strength... it’s amazing how these characters seem like they are based on the actors that play them.
It’s interchangeable, isn’t it? You want the actors to have an emotional connect with the characters they play. When you really get to know Robert, you discover that he is nothing like Tony Stark. He has a public persona that he slips into, which is like Tony but when you have an intimate conversation with him, you realise he is very different. He is warm, genuine and generous human being. Chris Evans relates to one of the important people from his childhood. He based Captain America’s performance on this man he knew, so that’s very personal. They all find a certain sense of themselves in these characters after playing them for so long.

Is this Chris Evans’ last film as Captain America? He had hinted about it.
Chris Evans said this is his last film? I don’t know what he has been drinking (smiles). Impossible to say, anything can happen. This is the Marvel Universe. I won’t give away the plot, except that Infinity War was told from the point of view of Thanos and this one is not.

The legendary Stan Lee is no longer with us. It won’t be the same without him, isn’t it?
I wouldn’t be where I am today if it wasn’t for Stan Lee. I grew up on his comic books since I was 10, he is my idol. I believe that his final cameo is in this film. To get an opportunity to not only work on the material that he created, but to be able to work with him was a dream come true.

What are the pros and cons of co-directing with your brother Anthony, being part of a joint venture?
The pros are the fact that we have been able to make four Marvel movies in the last six years without dropping dead. There are no cons. Of course there are conflicts. We are always arguing and that makes this process successful. We challenge every idea that comes to the table and the best idea wins. It’s about maintaining the right balance between pushing against each other and backing off. Out of that comes a chemistry that creates these movies.

The superheroes abstain from sex. There was an interesting article on this that recently went viral.
No sex in Avengers movies? There was a bedroom scene in Infinity War, which implied that. But I think it is about the demographics. These movies need to translate with the children as well as they do gravitate towards these movies. The whole family should be able to enjoy these films without having to put hands on their children’s eyes. At the core, the characters are human and their psychology has been the focus more than their sexuality I guess.

What’s next for you in the MCU?
Eleven years of storytelling, nine franchises and 22 movies culminate into this film. Now, I want to take a little break. We have made four films in six years. You need to find the right stories to be able to reach the audience on this scale. It has been an enriching experience for us.

Purba Dutt (BOMBAY TIMES; December 19, 2016)

Nayandeep Rakshit (DNA; April 12, 2016)


The film, which is about a young detective (Ranbir) on a relentless search for his father seemed like another filmy idea but the novelty factor was added when we heard that it’s a musical where the characters too speak to each other in the form of songs. Ranbir had told us there are almost 15 songs in the film and he also added, “Many dialogues, too, are in the form of songs.” Katrina too had admitted that in the film, Ranbir and her characters communicate through songs.

Does this sound similar? An industry source tells us, “Jagga’s plot might be the different but the entire novel concept of having the characters talk through songs is copied from The Singing Detective.”

For those who don’t know, The Singing Detective is an old TV series which also was converted to a film of the same name in 2003 starring Robert Downey Jr. It’s about a writer suffering from a skin disease who falls into a fantasy world and hallucinates solving a mystery through musical numbers and paranoid plots. Coincidence much?

DNA (August 6, 2015)

Salman Khan, Amitabh Bachchan and Akshay Kumar have pushed Hollywood actors like Johnny Depp, Dwayne Johnson and Leonardo DiCaprio out of the top 10 Forbes Highest-Paid Actors 2015 list. Of the 12 newcomers who are part of the ranking, five are from B-Town.While Big B and Salman come at No.7 with $33.5 million, Akshay ranks ninth with $32.5 million. Shah Rukh Khan comes at No.18 ($26 million) but is ahead of stars like Ben Affleck, Hugh Jackman, Seth Rogan, Will Smith and even Brad Pitt. Ranbir Kapoor ($15 million) comes at number 30. The world’s highest-paid actor is Robert Downey Jr ($80) while No.2 is Chinese actor and martial arts star Jackie Chan ($50 million) and Vin Diesel comes third ($47 million).

Anupama Chopra (MUMBAI MIRROR; January 14, 2015)

I've been to film award ceremonies all over the world ­ including the Oscars (stiff and supremely well-orchestrated) and the Jameson Empire Awards in London (untelevised and therefore cheerfully bawdy) but little prepared me for the opulence and sheer good fun of the Golden Globes.

At the 72nd Annual Golden Globe Awards, the party started on the red carpet. As staggeringly beautiful and talented people made their way past the cameras, toward the entrance of The Beverly Hilton hotel, waiters dutifully served Moët minis soft-drink sized bottles of Moët & Chandon Champagne. According to the New York Daily News, 1500 bottles were served on the red carpet and 400 magnums were available inside. Guests were guzzling even before they reached their tables and it set the perfect tone for the evening.

Because above all, the Golden Globes is a fantastic party. Started in 1944, the Globes are hosted by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA), a group of foreign journalists who cover the entertainment industry. Fewer than 100 journalists vote for the Globes and yet, over the years, the awards have grown into the biggest event in showbiz after the Oscars. Everybody in Hollywood shows up for the three-hour plus ceremony that celebrates achievement in both television and film; divides the best film award into two categories ­ drama and musical or comedy; and occasionally throws up the most bewildering nominees. ­ In 2011, Angelina Jolie and Johnny Depp were nominated for The Tourist.

Their track record might be spotty but the Globes have come to constitute an industry celebration. Unlike the Oscars, the Globes are more casual and entertaining. The round-table seating, the flowing alcohol and cosy atmosphere makes it more of a high-glam networking event rather than a serious, awards night. I was sitting on a table fairly close to the stage. We were welcomed by Godiva ­ chocolate boxes were placed on each of our seats. Dinner was done by 4.45 pm and the show started at 5 pm sharp. What impressed me the most was that the ladies room included a make-up area where L'Oreal artists did quick touch-ups. In this room, on that evening, you couldn't be unattractive even if you tried.

After every two or three awards, there would be a commercial break in which guests would mingle and schmooze. An adjacent banquet room offered more drinks, cold cuts, a Godiva counter that held stacks of chocolate covered strawberries and another counter where guests could taste caviar that cost $4000 a box. I ran into Frances McDormand in the ladies room and spotted Joaquin Phoenix sauntering around. The room was filled with A-list talent and it was hard not to be dazzled.

The after-parties were even more startling ­ post-awards, several parties were held simultaneously on the hotel premises. The beautifully decorated pool area was taken over by HBO. On the other side of the driveway, Netflix and Weinstein and Fox were having parties in giant tents. The highlight of my evening was meeting Harvey Weinstein. He stood in his own party, surrounded by security.

As I finally made my way back to my hotel, I wondered: showbiz is a brutal business rife with competition, insecurity and nastiness, and yet in Hollywood, people can get into a room to applaud each other's work. A-list stars like Robert Downey Jr., Harrison Ford and Gwyneth Paltrow, who weren't nominees, showed up just to present awards. The speeches were heartfelt and the gratitude genuine.

In Bollywood, A-list names come to an award only if they are winning or being paid to perform. What stayed with me after the Golden Globes were Michael Keaton's tears, Amal Clooney's elegance and her husband George's reminder that there were no losers in that room ­ if they were in the room, they were already winners. Someday, I hope Bollywood can replicate such an evening.