Back when Farhan Akhtar was a kid, a common visitor to his home used to be family friend, ace photographer, late Gautam Rajadhyaksha. Gautam was once assigned a photo-shoot for a pressure cooker ad, in which a child is supposed to look excitedly at the contents of a cooker — “Like, this is the best matar pulav I have eaten in my life; that expression!”

Gautam asked Farhan’s mother, Honey Irani (a child actor once herself), if her little boy could pose for the ad. She agreed, and he did. For the longest, Farhan’s face had remained associated with the pressure cooker. “I’m talking about the ’80s,” he recalls. This is, in fact, the first story he also recalled to his childhood friend and later his producer-partner, Ritesh Sidhwani, when he first learnt about Ritesh’s family business.

“You mean you shot an ad for Marlex?” Ritesh asked, naming the kitchen appliance company his father owned, and the son worked in as well. “Oh, no,” said Farhan: “It was for your biggest rival, Hawkins. We were rivals when we were kids. Now, the two opposing giants of the kitchen corporate-world are collaborating together!”

Gautam hired the “naughty boy [Farhan], for his mischievous streak.” Which Farhan offers another evidence of, when I ask him how he got a scar under his right eye — the permanent identification mark on his passport; also something you’ll notice, especially, when he plays rugged parts in films like Lucknow Central (2017) or Toofaan (2021).

Is there an interesting story to that injury? Not really, he basically tripped and fell on the side of a table, when he was two. In school though, when kids would ask him about it, he’d look them in the eye and go, “Vietnam [accent on nam]!” Imagining a story in his head similar to how Sylvester Stallone’s character has his face slashed across, in Rambo: First Blood Part II (1985), his favourite film then!

Ritesh and Farhan went to Juhu’s Maneckji Cooper Education Trust School together. Which is also where, he reveals, the name of the production house they jointly founded, Excel, gets its name from: “There was a tossup between two names. The other day we were trying our hardest but couldn’t remember what that other [possible] name was. Besides its obvious meaning, Excel comes from our school motto: There is no excellence without labour.”

The two Maneckji boys — who later went to Jai Hind College, while Farhan dropped out — came together only to make the film Dil Chahta Hai (DCH, 2001), where Farhan was explicitly the writer-director, and Ritesh the producer. It’s during the film that Ritesh sat Farhan down and reasoned, “This is something you want to keep doing — then it really is important that you keep ownership of your work.”

“Maybe it is a business lesson that he had learnt from what he was doing earlier in life. Things have to belong to you — when you work so hard to create them,” Farhan agreed. By then, he had already spent few years learning production in Adi Pocha’s ad film company Script Shop. He obviously came from a film family — both his parents, Honey and Javed Akhtar, having been accomplished screenwriters.

“The closest Ritesh came to film was putting a VHS tape into his VCR player,” Farhan laughs, of the time his business partner quit his family firm, placed both his trust and money into a movie and an industry he had such little idea about.

And yet, he says, it is actually Ritesh’s continuous commitment to produce more and more movies that inspires him: “In our industry, Ritesh is known as a hard negotiator. That is what I hear about him. And in business, being a hard negotiator is a good thing. That’s what you are supposed to be. People also respect him, because he is always there for them. Six years down the line [after DCH], Lakshya, Don and Honeymoon Travels Pvt Ltd — by 2006 in fact, producers would call him to find out how is it that we were doing certain things differently. Of course we were only doing [or putting systems in place] that is commonplace in, say, LA.”

Which is where Farhan, 47, is speaking to us over the screen from. It’s 8 am for him (8 pm for us). A morning person “for 15-16 years”, he’s usually up by 6 am, to hit the gym. The regimen works best for his health, “which is something you owe yourself, and your loved ones.”

Of course he wasn’t always this way: “I was also a teenager once — not wanting to wake up before 11-12.” Which is the phase from Farhan’s life that his father Javed, he says, had probably modeled Hrithik Roshan’s character Karan Shergill on, in Lakshya (2004), that Farhan directed.

After DCH, of course — a Hrithik-mania type directorial debut, no less, when viewed in hindsight. Each year, social media explodes on August 10 to celebrate DCH Day, replete with heartfelt tributes and personal anecdotes.

Which is quite common for a lot of movies — even random ones, whose non-landmark anniversaries get celebrated every other day. Including messages like, “I wish this movie many years, a long life, 50 years, golden anniversary…” As if films were humans who could otherwise pass on with a heart attack.

The year 2021, nonetheless, was special for DCH, since it completed 20 years of relentlessly growing in public imagination. Ever since, Farhan himself has expanded his CV to become among the most hyphenated contemporary entertainers around — music composer, rock-star, movie star, screenwriter, director, lyricist, talk-show host… His introduction has become a cliché.

The job description that doesn’t get enough attention still is of him as a consistent/prolific producer, for the longest — having established arguably the most successful creative-commercial collaborations in Bollywood, with Ritesh.

Together they’ve produced 36 films and series, according to IMDb — generating what should be a healthy balance sheet, given smart calls like an early foray into OTT, with franchise shows like Inside Edge, Mirzapur, Made in Heaven. Even DCH, you realise, for all its creative acclaim, was one of the early Hindi films to be insured, for instance — opening titles credit United India Assurance Co (Ajit Gupta).

“It just wasn’t possible or a film to qualify for insurance against calamities in India, until then — because of the way the film industry worked I guess,” Farhan says. DCH was a commercial success of course, but slightly eclipsed in the box office that year, because “on June 15, came Lagaan and Gadar. Gadar at that point had become the biggest hit that India had ever seen. Lagaan captured the nation’s imagination in a way that money can’t quantify.”

Everything about DCH, though, has become part of popular folklore since. Starting with the back shot of the three lead actors — Aamir Khan, Saif Ali Khan, Akshaye Khanna — on Chapora Fort in Goa, that is now called the Dil Chahta Hai Fort! Farhan had obviously been to the fort on his trips to Goa, “Just never had the kind of deep thought Akshaye’s character has, when they are staring out!”

Likewise the line, “Hum cake khane ke liye kahin bhi jaa sakte hain” — that’s morphed into a line with multiplex context. “The story behind it is my absolute love for cake,” Farhan says. “I was a member of this club at Hotel Sea Rock that no longer exists, and which used to have the amazing Black Forest and Chocolate Truffle I could not afford. If somebody ever said, let’s go somewhere, it is my treat, it was the happiest day of my life! Later in college, the cake could become a free meal, free drink… So I just threw in that line for Sameer [Saif’s character].”

The first actors Farhan approached for DCH were in fact Preity Zinta and Akshaye Khanna — both of whom had come to his home to audition for Kya Kehna (2000), written by his mom Honey, and directed by Kundan Shah.

“Akshaye was already there in the film. They were looking to cast a new girl, which is how Preity came in. She still hadn’t had her release of Dil Se, and all the other films that followed. I told her about what I was writing. She asked me to meet her when I was done. She became a massive star after, but kept her word.” Farhan had bonded with Akshaye on the sets of the latter’s acting debut, Pankuj Parasher’s Himalay Putra (1997), where Farhan worked as an assistant director.

The script Farhan would’ve probably shown Preity and Akshaye was then titled Hum Teen: “It sounded like an anti-allergy tablet to people!” He later called it Dil Chahta Hai, which in English would make sense as, “What your heart desires!” Except in Hindi, it sounds incomplete, or so his father Javed asked: “Dil kya chahta hai?” Farhan was stuck, and asked lyricist dad to bail him out. To explain, Javed came up with the song words, “Dil chahta hai… Kabhi na beetein chamkeele din… Hum na rahein kabhi yaaron ke bin…”

While DCH arguably altered/reinvented the grammar of popular, metropolitan Hindi cinema altogether, in the beginning of the naughties — it is in fact Farhan who wholly reinvented himself by the turn of the decade. Branching out into full-time acting instead — scripting a completely different direction for his career, away from film direction itself.

Was there a moment of epiphany? “I guess you see me as a full-time actor — because that is my only visible work out there. But I was very involved in producing a lot, writing dialogues for Game, Karthik Calling Karthik, Talaash, Dil Dhadakne Do, working with different directors, doing Rock On 2. There was a desire to creatively extend myself in different ways. I actually took a year and half away from acting itself—to write and record my album as [an independent] musician.” The album, Echoes, dropped in 2019.

Few artistes in Mumbai have freely allowed themselves as many avenues to max out their varied creative potential — whatever the eventual outcome, that effort itself could be a measure of personal success. Music, of course, happened naturally with Farhan’s acting debut on screen, Rock On (2008) — about a retired musician who goes back to stage. Farhan sang his songs, instead of simply lip-syncing.

The soundtrack was a smashing hit that’s stood the test of time: “I had always wanted to play the guitar, and been teaching myself from chord books and the Internet, age 16-17 onwards. But it was a private passion. In 2012, I tinkered with the idea of putting together a bunch of like-minded musicians to form a band [Farhan Live]. We’ve performed in over 100 cities since — colleges, festivals — twice to the US, Australia, Middle East...”

Farhan’s last release as a director was Don 2 (2011). Whatever your opinion on the film — there is surely a social media clamour for Part 3 — what’s undeniable is how it spawned a series of sequels in Bollywood. Just as his Don (2006) remake, before that, made old Bollywood remakes a thing to roll out every few months.

His most challenging move as an actor, until 2013, was to play the Olympian athlete in Bhaag Milkha Bhaag — a role he was even more determined to pull off convincingly, once he heard a journalist in Chandigarh ask him why a Punjabi wasn’t picked for the ‘Flying Sikh’ Milkha Singh’s part. After the film released Farhan went back to Chandigarh, especially reached out to the journalist — besides to gauge her response, to thank her for inadvertently “serving as great motivation”.

Bhaag Milkha Bhaag similarly unleashed a series of sports biopics — a gift that Bollywood can’t stop giving, as we speak. What does he make of the formula? “Well, I guess if a car sells with a certain kind of artificial intelligence system now, then all cars will go get artificial intelligence. Because that is what people like. If there is a new flavour in the chips packet, suddenly everybody will have that same flavour. That is how life is, and how the world functions I guess.”

That commercial benchmark for films, of course, is the number of views/hits online; or box-office figures in case of theatrical releases. But creative failure can also be defined as mismatch between intentions, and outcomes. Have there been such instances he could talk about, with regard to his own works, as an actor, or filmmaker.

“Of course that’s happened. A lot of things, at times, do not translate from script to screen as effectively as you want. I don’t want to take names of those movies though. Because there are other people, who have their effort, talent and reputation attached. And it is not fair for me to speak about a work, as if it only belongs to me, or my learning from it.”

For a more particular example, I bring up Rock On 2 (2016) — did that turn out the way he would’ve liked? “Well, the first Rock On obviously had a lot more people loving it, than not liking it. With Rock On 2, it was a bit more mixed, for sure. But we also got absolutely slapped in the face with demonetization happening two days before the film released. The carpet got pulled from under our feet. People didn’t have enough money to buy food; they were queuing up outside ATMs. There were news stories on TV about how demonetization had affected the film industry. It was sad for me to see posters of Rock On 2 on walls in these clips — not a crow in theatres. It was completely empty. Which is understandable.”

The great part of the original Rock On’s success, though, was it delivered for Farhan’s sister Zoya a saleable star right at home. Given that she’d been struggling to take off as a director for years, taking rounds of hero’s homes, unable to cast for the lead of Luck By Chance (2009) — a Bollywood movie, on Bollywood itself; a subject supposedly too close for superstars to sign up for.

Farhan suitably stepped in. Together as director-actor, they’ve collaborated on Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara (ZNMD, 2011) and Dil Dhadakne Do (DDD, 2015) since. Both those films co-produced by Farhan, where he has also written the dialogues. Giving one a sense that between the two, perhaps Farhan has the edge in dialogue writing. With Gully Boy behind her, Zoya can easily stake a claim for the most interesting voice in current Hindi mainstream.

Age wise, the siblings are a year apart. Zoya was also the casting director on DCH. How are they different as directors, I ask Farhan, who takes a second to think this through, and eventually boils it down to how they are different as personality types as well.

“She is more open about her feelings — more of a people’s person than I am — better at communicating her thoughts. Because she speaks with a lot of clarity. I tend to keep things more inside, which can be unnerving sometimes — an actor or technician could feel anxious, about why am I not saying what I feel? So, there is that.”

This seems like an accurate assessment, even when you compare Zoya to Farhan from an edition of this series Sit with Hitlist on YouTube. While Farhan does hold a more public job — facing the camera, surrounded by selfie-hunters, massive audiences before a concert stage — it is Zoya who comes across as more naturally the extrovert!

She develops screenplays with her long-time writing partner, Reema Kagti. But for the dialogue draft of DDD, that required a lot of back-and-forth with Zoya for the number of voices/characters involved, Farhan says, he’s worked on all scripts alone, by himself. Which would be true for song writing, an equally solitary job, as well.

Farhan was last seen on screen with a dramatic physical transformation, playing a boxer in the film Toofaan (2021). He enters the ring as director next — first time, behind the camera since a decade.

With Jee Le Zara, starring Priyanka Chopra Jonas, Alia Bhatt and Katrina Kaif, slated to open in 2022. Which is also the first time he’ll be co-writing a screenplay, with Reema and Zoya: “For me this is actually going to be a new experience. Working on screenplay, maybe not dialogue so much, but at least on screenplay, with two other writers, who are so hands-on.”

Where the siblings are likely to meet on the same page, I’m guessing, are inevitably some inside jokes. As they did with the popular refrain, “Bwoy”, in ZNMD. That caricature of a school teacher in the decade’s breeziest Bollywood film was based on their common PT instructor at Maneckji Cooper — one, Mr Dubey, who is no more.

Mr Dubey’s daughter, who saw the film, instantly got the reference and called up Farhan to convey how glad she felt that he and Zoya remembered her father fondly still: “All these things from those years leave such great impressions on our minds, isn’t it?”

Akhtar siblings grew up in the sea-facing Bandstand in Bandra, which is where I’m hosting this conversation from, I tell Farhan. It’s a few blocks away from his family home, that Farhan intends to shift back into, once he returns from LA. On the other end of the same street is Galaxy apartments, where Salman Khan grew up, and still lives. Both Salman and Farhan, respectively, being sons of Salim-Javed, the hyphenated, greatest blockbuster writers of ’70s Bollywood.

Javed had come to Bombay to become a film director. Salim Khan had acted in many films — realised he wasn’t getting too far, and so stepped back to pursue screenwriting instead. Both came full circle with their kids — Farhan turning director, and Salman a superstar.

“I think we are making it too melodramatic [with the observation],” Farhan cautions: “In the ’90s, my father was so busy writing songs, working with everyone — I think in every second film or third film, the songs were written by him. I thought this is what he always wanted to do. It was when we were doing Lakshya, and he was writing it, that at one point he spoke about having wanted to direct. And that this is going to be a very challenging film, etc. I was like, okay — I didn’t know you wanted to direct! That is when I found out — at 29!’

Salim-Javed’s sons could not have turned out more differently still. If anything Salman stands for larger than life, ganjee-boots mardaangi/masculinity—about never going back on a commitment. Let alone choice in dialogue, script or films, even in life outside cinema, Farhan actively runs an NGO tackling toxic masculinity itself.

What explains two lifelong neighbours, with fathers who went by a common name for years, turning out such polar opposites? Farhan says, “The interesting part of your question, really, is that our creative paths are different, but we do come from the same pool. Which is a pool that Salim uncle and my father kind of created. That is the world we grew up in, and those are the films we grew up on, and knew. But why that happens, or how that happens? I don’t know. I guess you are a product of your environment in some ways. He [Salman] is massively successful. I don’t think we should question his choices at all!” Mic drop.

Ritesh Sidhwani on the franchises he wants to spearhead, what binds Farhan Akhtar and him together and that one genre he wants to explore
Himesh Mankad (MUMBAI MIRROR; March 11, 2019)

Was Gully Boy a gamble?
Since our first film, Dil Chahta Hai, I’ve never advertised box-office collections. It’s not about how much a film has earned but about whether the viewer believes it was money well spent, about how many have seen and liked it. Gully Boy brought rap into the mainstream and that makes me feel I’m on the right track.

Buzz is, your MC Sher, Siddhant Chaturvedi, is your talent management agency’s first client?
It’s not a talent management agency, we are nurturing actors with potential and Siddhant is a versatile artiste with great screen presence. We’re helping him focus on his strength. He’s clear he wants to only play protagonist and we’re developing a script with him as lead. He’s getting many offers independently as well.

What’s happening with Don 3?
We are still working on it and don’t know when it will happen. It’s a keenly awaited franchise and we can’t disappoint the fans.

Any plans to produce an out-and-out massy entertainer?
We have catered to the masses in the past with films like Don, Raees and KGF. And while everyone is waking up to the power of content now, we have always believed that without a writer, nobody in this industry would have a job. We believe Spiderman exists and that’s primarily because of the writer. We are here to tell stories, collaborate with writers with a similar vision. I want to do one kickass underworld action film. The hunt for a script is on. There was Raees, but what I am looking for belongs to a different world.

And the Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara sequel?
Hrithik and I have been talking to Zoya (Akhtar, director) and Reema (Kagti, writer) about this as everyone wants to know what happens to the friends (played by Hrithik Roshan, Farhan Akhtar and Abhay Deol) after that life-changing trip. But, I can’t force my team to write it, the germ of an idea has to come organically. We’d, however, love to work with Hrithik again and are looking at scripts to take to him. We may soon have one.

Meanwhile, Farhan teams up with Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra for a film on a boxer. What can we expect from Toofan?
It’s too early to talk about the script, but I can promise that Toofan will be at par with, if not better than, Bhaag Milkha Bhaag. Both Mehra and Farhan know the expectations they have to live up to and are working towards surpassing them. It’s a bigger film in terms of reach. We start shooting in July-August.

There’s Deepa Malik’s biopic…
That’s an incredible story about struggle and triumph. We will soon start on the casting.

Last year, you announced a film on fire-fighters, to be directed by Rahul Dholakia...
We’re working on the dialogue draft. Rahul was in LA for research as there aren’t many films in this space here. It’s a two-hero fictional story and we are in talks with some actors.

Gold underperformed and Rock On 2 was a disaster…
(Cuts in) But no one lost money on Gold nor was it panned by the critics. A certain segment didn’t watch the film in the theatres but it got good ratings on TV. People didn’t connect with the story of Rock On 2. It released around demonetisation when footfalls at cinemas were nil, but again, the TV feedback was good. We will be mindful and approach films better. Rock On!! remains an iconic film and if we come up with something that warrants a sequel we will go ahead.

Over the years, so many partnerships have fallen apart, what has kept Farhan and you together for almost two decades?
We have similar sensibilities and since we see this partnership as a collaboration, we chat about every aspect of filmmaking. We may not agree on certain things but we haven’t blamed each other for any failures. Sail or sink, filmmaking for us is all about ‘we’ and not ‘I’. 

Currently busy with his upcoming web show, Gangster Newton, Shashank Arora on why it’s important for filmmakers to be passionate about craft of storytelling
Letty Mariam Abraham (MID-DAY; May 15, 2018)

Shashank Arora is a man who dons many hats, and each one, with panache. Currently filming for actor Nakuul Mehta’s production, the web show Gangster Newton, the writer, music composer and actor is now set to explore direction too. Apart from his upcoming Indian project, Manto, starring Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Purab Kohli and Paresh Rawal, Arora is also awaiting the release of Songs Of Scorpions. The latter features Golshifteh Farahani, Irrfan Khan and Waheeda Rehman and is set to release next month. When we meet him at his Goregaon apartment, he talks to us about juggling multiple roles, and turning down big projects. Edited excerpts from the interview.

Your upcoming web show, Gangster Newton, has an unusual title. Tell us about it.
It’s about a young Maharashtrian boy who fails to find a job despite being an IIT topper. He has struggled all his life, and despite being studious, doesn’t get a job. He never made friends or fell in love, because he wanted to study and be an achiever. In the end, a garage owner gives him a job. He later realises that there is something sinister going on in the garage and they [the workers] are part of a mafia gang. He kills everyone and rises to the top [to be part of the mafia circle]. He has no physical strength, and only uses his mind to make his move. He uses mathematics to fight and calls himself Newton.

What is the status of the project?
We are yet to shoot the entire series. Since everyone got busy with other projects, this one took a backseat. But, we will wrap it up this year. We don’t have a The Big Bang Theory [American show, based on geeks] here. We don’t have to copy them, but the effect it [the show] has had on the population is brilliant.

Is the show expected to have violence?
There will be a bit of it, but ultimately, it is a story of a boy and his use of maths. Every episode is based on a [real-life] scientist and that is more than I should have said. There is nothing like it in the web space right now.

Are you consciously choosing non-commercial projects?
My decisions have been organic. I have refused conventional roles since Titli (2015) released. I refuse to do films where I can’t bring something to the table or grow as an actor. I want to serve the audience with something good.

There were reports of you turning down some big-ticket projects. Were those decisions easy to take? 
I did feel scared and worried that if I gave the wrong impression, I would be ignored in the industry. But it depends on how you say no. If you have a legitimate reason, the person will understand. I never let the producers feel there is something lacking in the project. I ask two questions before I agree to take up a role: ‘Why does this person want to tell this story’ and ‘do they like telling stories’. If a filmmaker is making a film for money alone, they will not be able to tell the story. Money is important, but it is not my primary motive.

But not all projects you take up can be successful, take the example of Rock On 2 (2016).
I liked the script [of Rock On 2]. It was a story of a band that was trying to make people aware of the plight of farmers. But certain films don’t turn out the way you expect them to. [Even today] I don’t see Rock On as something I wouldn’t be part of.

You’ve dabbled in various fields. What part of the business comes naturally to you?
Music and writing comes easier than acting and direction.

Are you composing anything new?
I am composing for a Malayalam film called Moothon, which has been written by Anurag Kashyap. It stars Nivin Pauly and sees me as the villain. It is about a boy who comes to Mumbai in search of his brother. It was shot in Kamathipura, Dharavi and Andaman. We are expecting a year-end release.

Roshni Olivera (BOMBAY TIMES; January 2, 2017)

Second installments didn’t work well at all this year at the BO
DNA (December 24, 2016)

Kahaani 2, the last of the sequels in 2016, has released. The film has done fairly well, but it’s nowhere close to the figures expected right from the very first day. Although, the fate of the Sujoy Ghosh film starring Vidya Balan and Arjun Rampal flick is slightly better than the other sequels released this year.

Hit Housefull
“2016 has been so horrible for sequels that even a decent outcome of Kahaani 2 is fair enough,” says a trade expert, “Just look at the manner in which sequels like Rock On 2, Tum Bin 2, Raaz Reboot, Force 2, Ghayal Once Again and Great Grand Masti folded this year. They couldn’t even do half the business of what the last installment had done. There is only one clear hit (Housefull 3) among sequels with the majority turning out to be flops and disasters, it is high time that the entire business model behind sequels is re-looked at.”

Sequels needed?
The impact has been felt most when it comes to expensive sequels. “It is one thing if a film doesn’t live up to expectations and doesn’t perform, totally another when a film doesn’t even open well, despite the sequel/franchise tag attached to it. When you are not even doing better than your predecessor even on the opening day, it is quite apparent that it was a fallacy to even bring a sequel on floors. Clearly, audiences are not interested,” the trade expert adds.

Not interested
In certain cases, the theatrical promo itself sealed the fate for the film. “Tum Bin 2 is a clear example of the audience just not being interested. Also, Tere Bin Laden - Dead or Alive. Audiences didn’t even bother to check these films out,” points out a trade analyst. The biggest difference in the opening day collections of a sequel with its predecessor was evidenced in case of Great Grand Masti and Raaz Reboot. Grand Masti opened at Rs 12.5 crore while Great Grand Masti did just Rs 2.5 crore. That’s a difference of Rs 10 crore. No other sequel in history has underperformed to such an extent. Raaz Reboot, too, had a similar fate.

The maximum growth evidenced by a sequel was in Akshay Kumar, Riteish Deshmukh and Abhishek Bachchan-starrer Housefull 3 (Rs 15.2 crore) which brought in Rs 1.5 crore more than the last in the series.

Sequels lined up for 2017
Hopefully, 2017 will be better for sequels. The year begins with Jolly LLB 2 and the Akshay Kumar-starrer is expected to open much better than Arshad Warsi’s Jolly LLB (Rs 3 crore). For the sequel trend to continue, Commando 2 and Sarkar 3, which release immediately after, need to do well. Then there is the prequel to Baby, Naam Shabana. “The ‘baap’ of them all is going to be Baahubali 2 — The Conclusion, though, which should bring back the respect and credibility that a quality sequel should ideally boast of,” says a prominent filmmaker, “Then, of course, there are big-ticket sequels like Golmaal Again and Judwaa 2. These will be big for sure but then need to be blockbusters in order to warrant further sequels. As for a film which should give good enough ‘takkar’ to Baahubali 2 - The Conclusion for the crown of best sequel of 2017, it is going to be Robot 2.0.” Thankfully, there is much to look forward to before 2017 comes to a close, what with Salman Khan’s Tiger Zinda Hai coming after Ek Tha Tiger.

HOW THEY FARED

Day One collections of sequels and their predecessors, and then the lifetime and verdict of the sequels

Better than last in the series

Housefull 2 [13.7 crore] and Housefull 3 [15.2 crore] - Difference: +1.5 crore [Lifetime collections: 109 crore. Verdict: Hit]

Kahaani [3 crore] and Kahaani 2 [4.25 crore] - Difference: +1.25 crore [Lifetime collections: Awaited. Verdict: Awaited]

Force [5 crore] and Force 2 [6.05 crore] - Difference: +1.05 crore [Lifetime collections: 40 crore. Verdict: Below average]

Kya Super Kool Hain Hum [7.12 crore] and Kya Kool Hain Hum 3 [8.15 crore] - Difference: +1.03 crore [Lifetime collections: 31 crore. Verdict: Flop]

Tum Bin [0.20 crore] and Tum Bin 2 [0.60 crore] - Difference: +0.40 crore [Lifetime collections: 3.5 crore. Verdict: Flop]

Rock On [1.75 crore] and Rock On 2 [2.02 crore] - Difference: +0.27 crore [Lifetime collections: 11.5 crore. Verdict: Disaster]

Worse than the last in the series

Grand Masti [12.5 crore] and Great Grand Masti [2.5 crore] - Difference: -10 crore [Lifetime collections: 14 crore. Verdict: Disaster]

Raaz 3 [10.25 crore] and Raaz Reboot [6.3 crore] - Difference: -3.95 crore [Lifetime collections: 30 crore. Verdict: Flop]

1920 Evil Returns [4 crore] and 1920 London [2.5 crore] - Difference: -1.5 crore [Lifetime collections: 15 crore. Verdict: Below average]

Tere Bin Laden [0.75 crore] and Tere Bin Laden - Dead or Alive [0.75 crore] - Difference: 0 crore [Lifetime collections: 3.35 crore. Verdict: Disaster]

Rachana Dubey (BOMBAY TIMES; December 12, 2016)

While multiplexes claim that they aren't heavily impacted, the demonetization drive has, in fact, affected the movie business, with BO collections taking a hit. BT takes a closer look into the matter
Rachana Dubey (BOMBAY TIMES; December 2, 2016)

Rock On 2 makers say poor BO performance due to cash crunch; Bollywood jittery in week 2 with two films lined up for release
Sonil Dedhia (MID-DAY; November 16, 2016)

Over a week into Prime Minister Narendra Modi's demonetization drive, which caught the entire nation off guard, Bollywood has been feeling the jitters with a direct impact on box office business. Last Friday's release, 'Rock On 2', was the first casualty.

On day one, the musical drama managed to collect a little over Rs 2 crore and ended the opening weekend with barely Rs 7 crore. While critics panned the film, the makers blamed the tepid response on cash deficit following demonetisation.

Producer Ritesh Sidhwani had told hitlist, "People are too caught up trying to get cash home. Watching a movie is the last thing on their mind right now. But I had no option. We had sent our prints overseas when the announcement came through on Wednesday. In a country plagued by movie piracy, we couldn't have risked letting the film get leaked."

In week 2 of the 'Rs 500 and Rs 1000 nahin chalega' policy, when cash-strapped India is still struggling to get by, two films are awaiting their rendezvous with the audience this Friday. Though uncertain about the fate of their films under current circumstances, the makers of 'Force 2' and 'Tum Bin 2' do not intend to change the release date.

"If we push our date, films lined up for the following weeks will be affected. There will be utter chaos," Vipul A Shah, co-producer of 'Force 2', said. "Besides, by Friday, people will be worn out after having stood in serpentine queues outside banks. A new film will provide some entertainment to them." Shah was quick to add that his team is willing to suffer losses for a decision aimed at eliminating a parallel economy. "Our PM has taken a bold step and we need to support it. If there are losses, so be it," he added.

'Tum Bin 2' director Anubhav Sinha insists his film is insulated from box office figures. "I am aware that the PM's decision will affect my film's collection, but we don't feel postponing the film is a solution. 'Tum Bin 2' has already recovered its cost through the sale of music, satellite and digital rights. So, the collection from day one will be our profits. But, we do hope that the situation improves, so that we aren't affected much."

Upala KBR (DNA; November 16, 2016)

Shraddha Kapoor-starrer Rock On 2 released this week. It may have performed dismally at the box-office, but there is a silver lining yet. The actress who has sung four songs in the film, has won high praise from Lata Mangeshkar herself. She talks about the experience...

You have sung four songs in the film and that too, without formal training. Comment.
I trained with my Nana (Pandharinath Kolhapure) when he was alive. He was a well-known classical singer, but unfortunately, I did only a few classes with him. I wish I had done many classes… It’s as if there was a treasure in my own house, but I didn’t spend enough time on music with him. For Rock On 2, I did a few classes with jazz singer and vocal coach Samantha Edwards. We did voice exercises which were really fun. Basically, all these exercises are a workout for the vocal cords and helps control them. They are like biceps in your throat (laughs)! While singing Udja Re, I was a bit hesitant as it’s a challenging song but Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy were there throughout to guide me along.

Has your aunt Lata Mangeshkar heard you singing?
I met Lataji ages ago and I wish to meet her again soon. She speaks to my mother and aunt every now and then and she said something really sweet. She called them up and said, ‘Please tell Shraddha that she’s a really good singer.’ And I was thrilled! It made my day! I really want her to listen to the songs I have sung.

Like Jiah in RO2, you come across as aloof and guarded…except with friends and family.
Possibly... I like to be in my own little bubble. That’s all that I have actually — my family, friends and work… And of course, there’s food (laughs) which I enjoy A LOT! I eat dinner and sleep very early. I don’t follow any diet or avoid any foods. I eat, I have a little petu (tummy) also, haan?

The fate of Force 2 and Kahaani 2 hangs in the balance after Rock On 2 is rejected
Upala KBR (DNA; November 15, 2016)

Rock On 2 released to dismal figures on Friday. The film’s fate is cause for worry for two upcoming sequels Force 2 (releases on November 18) and Kahaani 2 (releases on December 2). Is it a wrong time for sequels? Here is what trade pundits have to say about the release of the two sequels and what went wrong with the Farhan Akhtar-Shraddha Kapoor starrer.

Trade analyst Amul Mohan says, “We can’t write off Kahaani 2 and Force 2. It depends from movie to movie. Box-office success also depends on the popularity of the first part. Force and Kahaani were good pan-India hits, so their sequels have a good base to build on. Rock On 2 didn’t do well as it is a metro-centric and not a pan-India film. Rock On! wasn’t a universal hit, so the sequel needed to hit it out of the park from day one. RO2 released with Chaar Sahibzaade: Rise Of Banda Singh Bahadur which did phenomenally better. The fate of Force 2 or Kahaani 2 will be much better than Rock On 2. Both films are relevant. Force 2 is an action-based film and action works well with the masses while Kahaani was a runaway success."

Film exhibitor Akshaye Rathi says, “You can’t say that the fate of Force 2 and Kahaani 2 looks bleak because Rock On 2 did poorly. Rock On!! became a cult film post its release, but the makers failed to capitalise on that and make the sequel bigger and better. They missed out on a huge opportunity. The reactions for Rock On 2 are negative. The promos of Kahaani 2 and Force 2 look extremely exciting and the content looks promising. Force was John’s first solo mass hit. The brand value of the series give the film some visibility and awareness, but eventually the audience decides purely on merits of promos. Demonetisation is a good excuse to use as a reason for its failure. But if that was true, why did Chaar Sahibzaade: Rise Of Banda Singh Bahadur do so well?”

Luke Kenny on his cameo in 'Rock On 2' and reuniting with his boy gang
Soumya Vajpayee Tiwari (MID-DAY; November 11, 2016)

When Magik's Rob Nancy succumbed to brain tumour in Abhishek Kapoor's 2008 musical-drama, 'Rock On', few would have expected the keyboard player to make an appearance in the sequel. Yet, Luke Kenny is delighted to reprise his role in part two.

"Although I will only be seen in a single song, I am excited to be a part of the film." Prod him on how his character will fit into the movie and he says, "It is this track that will set the mood for the film and help in taking the story forward. Farah Khan has directed the track; it was a pleasure working with her," he says.

Reuniting with Rock On co-stars Farhan Akhtar, Arjun Rampal and Purab Kohli after eight years was enjoyable. "Purab, Farhan and Arjun are great to hang out with. Farhan and Arjun had their hands on the guitars, Purab had his drum kit and I plugged in my keyboard. Give a boy gang that and they are bound to annoy the crew with some musical rambling," he says cheekily. "But when we began eating into production time, Farah cracked the whip and had us back shooting promptly again."

Sometimes it’s easy to forgive others even when they have deceived or betrayed you terribly. But sometimes, it’s extremely difficult to forgive your own self and to move on. Rock On 2 deals with this aspect and tries to blend it with the theme of music that the film is based on. The first part was a great entertainer and quite touching as well. Rock On 2 sadly fails to reach that level. At best, it’s an average fare!

The story of the movie: It’s been 5 years since the band Magik have performed together. KD (Purab Kohli) left his father’s business and is dabbling into music. Joe Mascarenhas (Arjun Rampal) runs a bar and is a judge on a reality show. Aditya Shroff (Farhan Akhtar) on the other hand has shifted to Meghalaya, leaving behind his wife Sakshi (Prachi Desai) and son Rob, after a huge tragedy. In Meghalaya, he’s trying to bring development by helping the poor villagers. Things change when Magik band members reunite and they bump into Jiah Sharma (Shraddha Kapoor), an aspiring singer.

Rock On 2 begins well although it doesn’t go quite high. The characters and their journey since the last installment are nicely put forward and there’s also a mystery as to what went wrong. The sequence where the Magik members reunite in Meghalaya is heartening. The tragedy that occurs in the hilly state is shocking. The best however is reserved for the intermission point – it comes as a bolt from the blue! Post-intermission however, things begin to slide down. The film gets too stretched. Moreover, the songs – the soul of the film – are just not happening enough. The challenges that the Magik members face while putting up the concert make for a great and even thrilling watch. Even the concert sequence starts off with a high. But then, it goes a bit downhill. The climax of Rock On was memorable as there was enough tension, entertainment and combined with some great songs, the impact was huge. But in case of Rock On 2, that doesn’t quite happen. Also, there are some unconvincing moments in the narrative that should have been avoided.

Rock On 2 however is embellished with fine performances. Farhan Akhtar as always looks dashing (his new look is cool) and does a fine job. It doesn’t look like he’s playing some other character – the nuances that he had brought alive with the first part are very much alive in Rock On 2. And his singing is also decent, though the ‘magik’ of the first part somewhere is missing. But he alone can’t be blamed for it as it has more to do with the quality of songs in the sequel as well. Shraddha Kapoor looks charming and performance wise, she does well. The way she brings alive the introvert side of Jiah is praiseworthy. Her singing is quite nice. Arjun Rampal looks quite dashing, despite his long hair missing! He delivers a rocking performance. The sequence where he blasts KD and others is brilliant. Purab Kohli is very adorable. And he does such a cool job as the ‘sutradhar’ as well. Prachi Desai delivers a great performance and looks stunning. Shahana Goswami (Debbie) is there just for one sequence and as always, she is fine. Shashank Arora (Uday) does a fine job in the supporting role. He does very well in his initial scenes. Priyanshu Painyuli (Rahul) leaves a major mark in the film. His character is quite integral to the plot. Dinesh Kumar (Manjot) wins hearts. Kumud Mishra (Pandit Vibhuti) is okay. Others are fine.

Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy’s music is quite alright. They have worked hard but the benchmark set by the first film is damn high. And the songs just don’t reach there. Even individually, the songs don’t make that kind of impact. Jaago, Udja Re, You Know What I Mean, Manzar Naya, Tere Mere Dil and Woh Jahaan are just okay songs. The best one however is Hoi Kiw/Chalo Chalo – this song makes the maximum impact. Usha Uthup, Kit Shangpliang, Pynsuklin Syiemiong, Vishal Dadlani and Siddharth Mahadevan appear in cameos and are good. Background score is subtle. Marc Koninckx’s cinematography is exciting. Pubali Chaudhuri and Abhishek Kapoor’s story is quite nice, without doubt. Pubali Chaudhuri’s screenplay is quite stretched and that’s one of the big reasons why the film loses sheen after a point. Shujaat Saudagar’s direction is decent but with a not-so-great screenplay, even he could have done little to salvage the situation. Anyways, one can’t go overboard with such a film since its first part boasted of simple direction.

On the whole, Rock On 2 is an average fare at best. The performances are fine and even the storyline has potential. But the film is too long due to which the impact is diluted, especially in the second half. Also, the songs are just not exciting and this really takes the film down. On the positive side, the film has some fine moments that keep the interest going. At the box office, Rock On 2 unfortunately is going to face a very tough time.

My rating - ** ½ out of 5!

WILL ROCK ON 2 MANAGE TO WORK DESPITE THE CHALLENGES?

Rock On released in 2008 and turned out to be a decent urban hit. The songs became a rage for those who liked the film. One instantly thinks of Magik band when one sees an amateur band performing anywhere in India. The film presented Farhan Akhtar as actor and singer and that’s one of the greatest things done by this film. Now the sequel, Rock On 2, is all set to release tomorrow. It retains the original cast – Farhan Akhtar, Arjun Rampal, Prachi Desai, Shahana Goswami and Purab Kohli – except Luke Kenny, who dies in the first part, but he appears in a cameo in the film. Additionally, there’s also Shraddha Kapoor and Titli actor Shashank Arora.

Very unfortunately, the film doesn’t look very exciting. The songs haven’t worked till now. Since it’s an urban niche film, the collections anyways won’t be very high. But yet, it can work if the excitement would have been there. But with Rock On 2, there’s just not enough excitement. Moreover, with the demonetization of Rs 500 and Rs 1000 notes, there’s a chaos in the country. Many feel that at a time when people are trying to save their Rs 100 notes, not many will venture out to spend their cash on movies. In fact, the release of 2 small budget films – Saansein and 30 Minutes – has been pushed forward due to the demonetization!

However, all is not lost. If the response is very positive, the collections of Rock On 2 can increase significantly from Day 2. Rock On was a great entertainer and here’s hoping Rock On 2 manages to be as good, if not better than the first part!

WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE ROCK ON 2 AND WHY? DO LET ME KNOW!

Junior artistes struggle to put food on table, producers worried for unit folk
Mohar Basu & Sonil Dedhia (MID-DAY; November 10, 2016)

In a cul de sac of an Aarey Colony slum, Rakesh and his four-member family have an awkward conversation over their measly lunch — chapattis (fewer than usual) and daal. His wife, Kamla, didn’t have money to buy vegetables last morning. Unlike other days in their happy household, the air was tense and uncomfortable.

Their sons, aged nine and seven, could feel something amiss, but hadn’t dared to broach the subject that was on everyone’s mind. “Discussing and debating the unfairness of it all is futile for us. We only care about how much aloo, gobhi and bhindi cost,” says Rakesh, a junior artiste, who, like all his other colleagues, seems to be the worst hit by PM Narendra Modi’s announcement to demonetise Rs 500 and Rs 1000 yesterday onwards. He received his Monday wage on Tuesday evening and within a couple of hours, the news trickled in. “I don’t know when I will paid next.”

Pappu Lekhraj of the Junior Artistes’ Association says, “People like Rakesh are the worst affected because they depend on daily wages to light fire in their kitchens. We also need to get organised. For the last many decades, we have not maintained records since we make payments on daily basis. On Tuesday, we cleared Monday’s dues. Wednesday onwards, we are keeping track of each junior artiste and their shifts, including overtime. Most extras make money from daily soaps, but producers have asked us to make payments only when the situation normalises.”

Fortunately, the situation for the stuntmen, who also draw daily wages, is a lot better. Mohammed Aejaz of the Stuntmen’s Association of Motion Pictures says, “We get our payments in bulk, by way of NEFT or pay order. There is hardly a two per cent cash transaction for stunt artistes. Producers commission stunt directors, who, with the help of our association, choose fighters and body doubles. The payment is made to the association which then disburses money to individual bank accounts. Even spotboys and lightboys are part of a larger organisation, which don’t do cash dealings.”

Veteran producer Mukesh Bhatt maintains the demonetisation move is for the industry’s larger good. In recent years, Bollywood has seen a decline in black money, which was mostly prevalent in the ’80s and '90s. “Since 2000, black money has been abolished from the film industry. We are a clean industry. Today, everyone is paid in cheques. But, I worry for my associates. My security guard has been stressed all day since he had just two Rs 500 notes in his wallet. They have no value now,” says Bhatt.
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Question mark hangs over Friday footfalls

Amod Mehra, trade analyst, says the effect of NaMo's decision was felt on Wednesday since there was a big drop in footfalls in theatres. "People's focus now is on getting daily life back on track, rather than going to watch a film. So, it will definitely make a dent in the collections of 'Rock On 2', which releases tomorrow." Hardly 10-20 per cent of the audience prefers online booking, he adds, "In smaller cities, people buy tickets at the windows. Without cash in hand, how will they go to a theatre?"

Distributor-exhibitor Akshaye Rathi, however, disagrees. He says the impact on 'Rock On 2' would be minimal. "If it were a more massy film, like a Sultan or a Dangal, and evokes as much curiosity in small towns of Uttar Pradesh as much as in Mumbai, then there was reason to worry. Rock On 2 is mainly for college kids who like to avail cash back on credit cards and use other online payment methods. The convenience fee being waived off would also work in their favour."

However, the impact on Harry Baweja's 'Chaar Sahibzaade – Rise of Banda Bahadur', which is also releasing tomorrow, could be lethal. The first part was a hit, the maximum revenue coming from Punjab. "In urban centres, the footfalls should be good, but in smaller cities, it may get off to a weak start. You can't expect a card-swiping machine in small towns," Rathi says.

Shraddha Kapoor on how her successful streak at the movies hasn’t changed how her parents treat her
Upala KBR (DNA; November 7, 2016)

I met Shraddha Kapoor at Ekta Kapoor’s Diwali party, and I noticed she was the only actress mingling with everyone in a warm and friendly manner (and not just as a formality). She was also the only one helping herself to the fish tikka platter that were going around. I have never seen an actress eating what I call ‘normal people food’ (as oppposed to steamed broccoli), so I was impressed. I notice that although she is warm and friendly when we meet for an interview, her guard is up. At the onset, Shraddha tells me sternly that she won’t answer any ‘masala’ questions (read: her linkup to Farhan Akhtar and Aditya Roy Kapur). So, we begin chatting about films, friends, family and of course, Rock On!! 2. Read on for excerpts...

You’re known as a lucky mascot for giving almost back-to-back hits.
I don’t like to be known as a lucky mascot because I have worked really hard for this and to put it down all to luck is trivialising that. My life is only about work and acting. I don’t do anything else. My day begins and ends with work. If I go to a party, I will go for only an hour and leave. It’s only for courtesy. It’s nice to meet people you work with. I sleep and wake up early and watch films when I get the time. I think if my films have worked it’s because the films have been loved. I feel that a film has its own fate.... Tomorrow, I can be a part of a film which is not a hit or I have not done a good job with a film where it is a hit.

You don’t take fame or success for granted...
Once Priyanka Chopra told me: ‘You should wear your success like a T-shirt and you should always remember that.’ That advice stuck with me as I really admire her a lot. She works hard and has a fabulous body of work. The only people who know my efforts are the people I have worked with or am working with. There is all this love and appreciation that is coming and there’s obviously a reason it’s coming my way... I have to admit though that sometimes, I can give my parents a difficult time but that’s for other reasons. I am very spoilt by nature. But I also know that success does not last forever.

When you were offered Rock On!! 2, how did you react?
When I watched Rock On!! with my parents and brother, I went berserk. When the end credits were rolling, it was such a filmi moment! My family got up to leave and I was still sitting and gazing at the screen. I call my dad Baaps so I told him very confidently ‘Baaps, agar iss film ka sequel banayenge na, mein uss me rahoongi!’ And he was just like ‘Haan, okay..’ he said indulgently. And it actually happened! They say that when you ask something from the Universe, you get it, and I am a big believer of The Secret. I read it when I was going through a very low time before Aashiqui 2 happened. My first two films hadn’t done well and I was feeling pretty miserable when I read the book and the power of the Universe and what you ask for you get and I just put it out in the Universe that I will be in Rock On!! sequel and here I am! That’s why you also have to be careful about what you ask for and how much you really want it.

Tell us about your character.
My character’s name is Jiah Sharma and she’s a musician. She plays the keyboard and she sings. Jiah is a moody vagabond. I got mentally bruised while playing this role. It was a tough journey because it’s an intense film and an intense character. There were days when I just wanted to sit and weep because I was thinking about my character. There is something that had happened in her life which I kept thinking about as I found it disturbing.

Please continue…
There used to be times I couldn’t sleep for nights and there were days when I had to wake up and shoot and I would wake up thinking — shoot! I haven’t even slept and then we would shoot all day. I believe that every film changes you in a certain way. Also I think when you play a particular character that forces you to be in that space and triggers some things inside yourself that makes you think about your own life. I can say that Jiah is one of the most intense characters that I played till now — at least in some scenes. She’s also a pretty aloof character. It wasn’t easy for me to switch off from Jiah to myself. One day we were shooting an intense scene at night in Shillong and I couldn’t stop crying even after the director called cut. I went to the van and started crying again. While going back to the hotel in my car I was still crying… I was like: what is happening to me? Then I got into bed... I was alone in my room at night and awake and still crying. There have been some heavy days like that.

How else did you manage to understand your character?
My director told me to be alone as much as I could because Jiah is a loner. He said, ‘I don’t think you have ever experienced being alone and you have had a very protective upbringing. So you need to be alone, make your own food, be independent.’ He was right because I am constantly surrounded by my family at home. I don’t live alone. I live with my parents and brother. I told him I had lived in college alone with my roommate so he said I hadn’t stayed really alone in an apartment till now — as in college I had friends. I didn’t live alone as he wanted me to but I spent time in my room as much as I could. I put this DND sign outside my bedroom as that meant nobody could knock or come in. My family abided by it and gave me that space. Of course it’s very difficult to be alone like that! Playing such intense characters can be both emotionally draining as well as fulfilling.

You don’t make any statements on Twitter or have an opinion on things.
I enjoy Instagram. I don’t like saying much on Twitter, I am better with photos. It’s not that I am cautious about writing anything. I just feel that I don’t know anything much on the matter or about a person, so better not I don’t say anything. If you ask me anything about food or films or my dog I will talk (laughs).

Are you mummy’s (Shivangi) pet or daddy’s (Shakti) darling?
Both. Though sometimes my dad is like a baby and I mother him. But both have been strict with my brother and me for different reasons. Dad is strict when it comes to my food — like eat healthy, don’t eat this or that which he is right because I have no control over my food. My mom is strict about coming home on time etc. I still have a curfew and I need to come back home at a certain time. But I tell mom that if I sleep over at my friends homes then there can’t be any curfew, no? (laughs) So sleepovers happen but all my friends stay in the other end of town so then commuting becomes a bit of a pain. My friends don’t come to Juhu as they feel crossing the Sea Link is non-happening. Sobo people are snooty.

Your friends are not from Bollywood?
No they are not. They are my school friends, they watch all my movies and are my biggest critics. I always get messages from my friends passing comments about how I was in which film and how the film was. We are seven of us — one boy and the rest are girls. I don’t have very many friends. All six of them are my best friends. One of them is in Paris and another in Delhi.

How do your parents react to your linkups?
Whatever rumours are written, are written about everyone. Actors and actresses are linked to one another. My parents know better. Initially when I used to get linked to anyone, I would get more upset than them. I would ask why’s this happening to me?. I would get very affected but my parents would me sit down and explain that it was all part of the profession. They have been in this industry for years so they would ask me to calm down and say that they know its all rubbish.

You have been linked to two of your co-stars — Farhan Akhtar and Aditya Roy Kapur…
(Laughs) What? I have been linked more than two to my co-stars! It’s not something that I appreciate. I will just say this: People should write about relevant stuff. I work hard on all my films and my life is only about my work. I am single and very happy at being single. And as clichéd as it may sound I am romancing my films. It’s true — I am only thinking of my films. So much so that my parents tell me, ‘Come on now, just take a break.’

Don’t your parents ask you about falling in love or getting married?
They know me and they understand that now is not the right time to ask these questions to me. But they do tell me to take a break, so I get to know what movies I would like to do. Once I switch off, I can then switch back in a rejuvenated way. I haven’t taken a holiday since last July and that was just one week with my family. Since then there hasn’t been a day when I have not been on the phone or not do anything related to my movies or meeting someone. I need to put my phone off for a week and just chill, read some books, watch some movies, be with nature.