Does the small-screen tag still weigh down actors keen to make a transition to the big screen?
Juhi Chakraborty (HINDUSTAN TIMES; June 20, 2020)

Sushant Singh Rajput was the biggest TV-to-film success story in recent times. And his death has indeed brought a pall of gloom in the TV industry, especially to many who looked up to the actor’s phenomenal journey.

Actor Radhika Madan recalled how, when she was transitioning from television to movies, people always said, ‘Don’t do it’. “And I remember always giving them Sushant’s example. He made it look.. achievable. He inspired many actors like me,” she posted recently. Actors such as Mohit Raina and Karan Kundrra, too, shared how Rajput inspired many small-screen actors eyeing the big screen. But his death has raised questions on whether TV actors are whole-heartedly accepted in the film industry, despite the precedent of a certain Shah Rukh Khan.

Actor Hiten Tejwani, who has dabbled in both TV and films, with his last big-screen appearance in Kalank (2019), says in Bollywood, unlike in the West, some still believe in the demarcation of a TV actor and film actor. “But it is slowly going away. Casting TV actors does get a bit difficult as people have the thing of TV actors being over-exposed,” he says.

TV actor Manasi Parekh (below), who made her Bollywood debut with Uri: The Surgical Strike (2019), feels stigmas around TV actors are long gone. “Whatever struggles he [Rajput] had, what he could or could not do, is his journey. We all loved him as an actor, he was extremely talented. It is unfortunate what happened. But we should let it be, not speculate,” she says.

Film trade analyst Atul Mohan feels talent is what matters at the end of the day and, in the recent past, there has been “a healthy influx of actors from the television world in films”.

Actor Rohan Mehra, who starred in the TV shows Bade Achhe Lagte Hain and Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai, besides a few films, says, “He [Rajput] was an inspiration; his death is a demotivation for sure. If your inspiration does this after achieving so much, what are we going to do?”

And actor Ragini Khanna, star of several hit TV projects and films such as Teen Thay Bhai (2011) and Gurgaon (2017), observes every industry is tough. “Films are not a step up and TV is not a step down. We should not look at it like that. As an actor when you are out there, who are you seeking acceptance from? The only acceptance an actor needs is from the audience,” she shares.

Tara Sutaria on why she crushes on two Students; reveals she was to do Guy Ritchie’s musical with Will Smith but ended up shooting a Hindi song with him
Avinash Lohana (MUMBAI MIRROR; May 6, 2019)

There is a definite hangover of the original in Student Of The Year 2. The audience’s tastes have evolved in seven years…
I admit there are many similarities, but the differences are also huge. For example, the focus is on a not-often-seen-before sport like kabaddi. Even the music, dances and Tiger’s (Shroff) action is unique. Despite evolving tastes, there are some films we want to watch and SOTY 2 is one of them.

You debuted as a child star in 2010 with Big Bada Boom, did sitcoms like The Suite Life of Karan & Kabir and Oye Jassie and Raell Padamsee’s stage version of the John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John 1978 musical Grease. Was movies the logical next step?
I’ve trained in music and dance all my life, so I wanted to be a part of the arts but wasn’t consciously thinking of Bollywood. Theatre was my home, I was raised performing on stage, there’s nothing more beautiful than that. Grease, which you mentioned, was my favourite stage production, and to play Sandy Olsson was a dream. I wish someone would adapt it on screen, I’d jump at the opportunity to feature in it again. To answer your question, I wanted to be a singer. But when I was 20, I met Karan who asked me if I was interested in acting, they were scripting SOTY 2. I instantly agreed as I’m a huge fan of the original and after graduating in Bachelor of Mass Media (BMM) from St. Andrew’s College, I auditioned for the role. It’s been a whirlwind since.

Tiger and you must bond over Michael Jackson?
We do, but I have many other idols like Priyanka Chopra who has made us proud as Indians and as women.

Why do you keep saying Tiger’s ‘good boy’ image is a facade?
(Laughs) Tiger has two sides to him but it’s only when he is comfortable with you that he reveals his true self, which is funny and naughty. He is also very sweet. On my first day of shoot in Dehradun, during a dance sequence, I sprained my ankle. He pulled up a chair, put my foot up and massaged it. We hardly knew each other then and I wasn’t expecting it. As my first co-star, he’ll always be special. It’s no secret that I have a crush on Tiger.

But on Karan’s talk show you confided that you don’t have a crush on a current student but on an ex-student. Sidharth Malhotra?
Sid and I live close by so we hang out together. He’s very busy and so am I but it’s nice to have someone close by. We have a lot in common, he’s wonderful! We are friends… good friends.

Reportedly you were dating Rohan Mehra earlier?
Rohan and I have known each other for a very long time. We have a lot of mutual friends too.

Your second film, Marjaavaan, is with Sidharth…
There’s a third film now (Hindi remake of the 2018 Telugu action-drama RX 100), which I kick off in two weeks with Ahan Shetty. It’s a blessing to be doing three films in my first year. I’ve just wrapped up Marjaavaan, an emotional, dramatic, violent love story which was quite a change from the light-hearted SOTY 2. When I heard the script for the first time I wondered if I’d be able to do it as it’s such a different world. The girl in the RX 100 remake is also completely different.

Buzz is, you’re singing in the RX 100 remake too.
I want to do everything related to music. I love singing and I hope I get to do it in the film.

Why did you let Shahid Kapoor’s Kabir Singh get away?
It didn’t work out because we had so much left to shoot of SOTY 2, but I am glad I did Marjaavaan soon after.

Weren’t you supposed to play Princess Jasmine in Guy Ritchie’s upcoming musical fantasy Aladdin with Will Smith as the genie?
I’d even started training for it in London but SOTY 2 was on, and there was a lot happening here. Still, training with everyone there was a lifetime’s experience while SOTY 2 is a dream come true.

But you ended up doing a song with Will Smith in your debut film.
(Laughs) Yeah, it was such a pleasant surprise. Life works in funny ways.

As told to Avinash Lohana (MUMBAI MIRROR; May 6, 2019)

When I was studying mathematical economics and econometrics at the University of Nottingham in the UK, they encouraged us to intern during summer breaks. So, when I returned to Mombasa, Kenya, where I grew up, I took up a three-month internship with the Diamond Trust Bank. I was 19 and it was my first proper job. It was a 9 am to 5 pm shift and I spent time in the front office, helping with accounts and deposits, giving clients information and similar duties.

A couple of days in a week they’d tutor us on how a bank operates and its core functions. It was interesting but not the most exciting job in the world. While there, I realised I actually wanted to travel the world, tell stories and experience life in different ways. But studies were important, so I went back to the University and completed my three-year degree course. I learnt a lot, for example: how a certain econometric formula came into use and not just its application.

After completing my education, I moved to India. I wanted to explore the country, learn about it and its people as I’d been away for so long. I travelled from Ladakh, Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh to Punjab and Agra and on to Patna and Bodh Gaya. In the process, I rediscovered my home.

I also started working as a ghost writer for a screenwriter. I can’t reveal the identity of the person or the project, the job was to nurture my filmmaking aspirations. I did this for a year-and-a-half and got paid a monthly sum of Rs 7,500. This was my first income and the logical thing would have been to save every rupee, but I followed my heart and took my sister Soniya out for lunch.

While travelling and ghostwriting, I was also teaching guitar to kids. My teacher from Kenya had also moved to India to teach at a school in Firozabad, and one day she called to ask if I’d like to teach there for a couple of months. I grabbed the opportunity and along with the guitar, I also taught mathematics.

Teaching was one of the most enriching experiences of my life. The first day the kids were shy and hid behind parents, teachers and friends. Slowly, they started listening to me. You have to come up with different ways to teach them, keep it simple and fun. It helped me evolve as a person.

When I returned to Mumbai, I joined a few acting schools like Anupam Kher’s, learnt method acting from the Jeff Goldberg Studio and studied with Abhay Joshi. I then assisted Sanjay Leela Bhansali on Bajirao Mastani. During this time I uploaded a few portfolio pictures on Instagram. They got me Nikkhil sir’s (producer Nikkhil Advani) Baazaar, directed by Gauravv K Chawla.

Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; October 26, 2018)

"I am lucky that Baazaar chose me," says Rohan Mehra when we settle down for a chat in his suburban hotel room that overlooks the sea. "There was great struggle attached to my debut. I chased Nikkhil [Advani, producer] for this, and relentless rounds of auditions [ensued]," says the son of late actor Vinod Mehra, as he makes his entry into the industry as a stockbroker from Allahabad, who comes to Mumbai to work with Shakun Kothari (played by Saif Ali Khan).

The actor admits his casting in the offering that deals with stock market trading was a game played by destiny. "Gauravv [Chawla, director] called me to audition for a different film. But that didn't work out. He had told me simply that [Baazaar, the other film he was working on] was not for a newcomer. Still, I secretly sent him an audition [video]."

Months passed by before he got a call to take the discussion further. "It's a fabulous character. I did my best to crack the accent and personality [needed for this role]."

As it would be for any debutant, working with Khan was educational for Mehra. "Watching him work and listening to him speak is the best learning [experience one can get]. He says things with wisdom, but not with the intention of preaching. We bonded over our British humour and would often laugh [so much that] the director would have to separate us. I count myself lucky that my first film is with such a huge star; one who is grounded and humble."

Having reiterated that nepotism had no role to play in his career, Mehra points out that he had never even met his father. "He passed away when my mother was pregnant with me. I was born here [India] but shifted to Kenya [Mombasa]. I was far away from Bollywood. My town had one single-screen. I didn't grow up thinking I'd do this. I grew up wanting to be an investment banker. India always spoke to me, so I wanted to settle here. Even Nikkhil didn't know of my lineage when he signed me on."

Rachana Dubey (BOMBAY TIMES; October 24, 2018)

Late actor Vinod Mehra’s son Rohan Mehra, is gearing up to flag off his acting career with Baazaar. He might be a star kid, but he grew up in another country, far from the glitzy bylanes of Bollywood and the conversations of film industry insiders. The young actor, who had to work hard to land his first role, speaks to BT about his father, finding his way back to Bollywood and realising his true dream of being an actor. Excerpts…

Are you excited about the kind of reactions your debut film, Baazaar might receive?
I wish the film would open tomorrow and not on Friday, because I am really impatient. I want everyone to see it right away and I am so blessed to be in this situation. Not everyone gets a chance to experience this. I’ve waited a long time for it. Yes, waiting in the wings made me anxious and I doubted what I was doing. In retrospect, maybe this is how it was meant to be. In the process of waiting for the film, I grew up, matured and I developed a sense of what life has to offer.

You grew up in Kenya, far away from the film industry in Mumbai. Did those experiences have any impact on your dreams and aspirations?
I grew up in Mombasa, Kenya. It’s a small town, far away from arts of any kind, where everyone aims to follow typical careers like banking, medicine or engineering. I wanted to be an investment banker. Funnily enough, my first film revolves around the stock market. At 18, I moved to England to study mathematics and economics and I did well. But, my heart wasn’t in it. I wasn’t as passionate about numbers as I was about music, movies and stories. I decided to make a career out of that. I came to Mumbai, after completing my education, to work in the film industry. I was ready to work in any capacity – assistant director, photography, music, acting – I just wanted to be a part of the storytelling process. I tried a bit of everything, believing that it will help sharpen my skills.

You weren’t the first choice to play Rizwan in Baazaar. How did you land the part when the makers weren’t keen on casting a newcomer?
I was auditioning for films and had put up a couple of photos from a shoot on my social media page. Gauravv K Chawla (director of Baazaar) saw those and called me for an audition. That film didn’t take off, but the company was keen to do something with me. Maybe, I had created an impression. I remember reading about Baazaar, which was Nikkhil Advani’s (producer) homage to Trishul (1978). It fascinated me. I approached Nikkhil to cast me in it, but he didn’t want to even talk about it. After a lot of persuasion, he gave me a scene to enact, just for fun. I kept working on the scene with his inputs for months and kept reading that the role had been offered to several actors. Eventually, he decided to cast me because he was convinced with my audition videos.

Baazaar does not seem like the traditional first film for a star kid. Did you consciously opt for an unconventional debut?
I don’t think I would have wanted it any another way. Maybe, the unconventional nature of my debut will make it stand out a little bit. It’s given me a chance to step out of the song-and-dance routine. In Baazaar, I have worked with some really big names, right at the beginning of my career, and that has been scary and nerve-racking. But, it’s all turned out to be fine eventually and the entire team made me feel comfortable.

Your father Vinod Mehra passed away before you were born. Do you think your journey would have been different had he been around?
I don’t know how to answer that. Honestly, while growing up I didn’t ever get a chance to know him. From everything I hear, I realise that he was a really lovable guy. My mother was still pregnant with me when dad passed away and she moved away from Mumbai, when I was a toddler. I’ve grown up watching my mother closely. Had I lost her, I would have really felt the pangs of separation and missed her immensely, because she’s part of all my memories and we have shared a life together. It’s difficult to imagine how my father would have reacted to watching me on the big screen, but trust me, I did think about that a lot. Especially, the day we were launching the trailer.

Which of your father’s films are your favourites?
Anurodh (1977), Ghar (1978) and Bemisaal (1982). I rooted for him in Bemisaal, even though his character had grey shades. Ghar was such an unconventional love story and far ahead of its time. Anurodh is a film you can always empathise with. My father had a pleasant screen presence and that’s something I have tried to imbibe, too.

You are the son of a Bollywood star, but your story and upbringing don’t really fit into definition of a star kid.
Every clique or circle has the insiders and the outsiders. I am on the fence looking inside. I am an accidental star kid, because I grew up away from Bollywood, in a neighbourhood where there were no stars or their families. No one treated me like a star kid. So, I’ve never started a conversation in my life talking about the fact that I am Vinod Mehra’s son. People within the industry weren’t affected by that either. Even when people found out whose son I was, they continued to do their job, unaffected, which is great and that made everything seem normal to me. People did tell me that they’re huge fans of my father’s work, but gladly it didn’t change their attitude towards me.

There have been rumours, romantically linking you with Tara Sutaria who makes a debut in Student Of The Year 2…
That’s an occupational hazard. You will always be watched and people will try to gather stuff about you all the time. But right now, I don’t know if I have time to fall in love with anyone except for my work.

Meena Iyer (DNA; October 17, 2018)

Newbie Rohan Mehra, son of the gentleman actor of the ’80s, Vinod Mehra, has not met his dad. Unfortunately for the 27-year-old, his father passed away when his mother, Kiran, was four months pregnant with him. And since he can only unravel the mystery of who his papa was through conversations with people who had met him, Rohan, who has many traits (but naturally) of his late father, hangs on to my every word. After all, I knew Vinod well.

Through my conversation with the debutant, who will foray into Hindi cinema with the stock market thriller Baazaar, which releases on October 26, I discover a few similarities between him and his dad. More importantly, I find that Rohan is eager to make Bollywood his mainstay. Over to him:

Let’s talk about Baazaar.
Yes, let’s first tackle the elephant in the room (smiles). Baazaar, produced by Nikkhil Advani, Monisha Advani and Madhu Bhojwani, is my debut film. Nikhil sir is my Godfather. This is the first time I’m facing the camera. And I must say, it was overwhelming. I’m excited and impatient for it to release. It’s an interesting movie for the time and place. Even though it is set against the backdrop of the stock market, and some viewers might think it’s niche, I personally think the story will resonate with everyone. It’s about relationships. It’s what every good story should be in my opinion like how people interact with each other, how far are you willing to go to get what you want, are you willing to make enemies and who your heroes are, etc. When you put great elements against the backdrop of the stock market, you get a story that the audience can relate to. It seems niche but they will be like ‘Wow, I know exactly what that feels like.’

You were the rookie on the set. So were you the pampered one?
Quite the opposite really (laughs). I was not pampered. They were like, Rohan will be there as long as you want, he is new, he will do anything and everything. If you want him to shoot overtime, it doesn’t matter. I’m glad they did that, and I shot upto 15 hours a day. In a way, they were testing me. Everyone knew that I was coming with an abundance of energy and they wanted to see how long I could sustain. I would go on the set thinking I’ve got a big scene and I’m going to give it my best, get into character and be amazing. When I first arrived on set, I would be all charged up. An hour later, I would be a little tired; two hours later, when they still hadn’t taken my angle, I would be slightly restless. However, even if I had to wait for five hours, I would make it a point to sustain my energy. After all, it is my film and I was not going to let anything come in the way. So, I was not pampered. I was pushed as hard as I could be because it was a challenging movie to make.

So, Baazaar was a solid training ground?
It’s a big-budget film where you have the luxury of a nice brand. At the same time, it has prepared me for the conditions and times. We shot in real locations, nothing much on the studio or the set. So, it’s the best of both the worlds.

The film’s release got pushed. Did that make you impatient? Were there times you had to keep yourself motivated?
I would be lying if I said that I didn’t feel impatient and a little worried. But I had to keep in mind that such things are a part and parcel of this profession. Moreover, I got into this at the right time and right age. As clichéd as it may sound, I feel good things come to people who wait. Five years ago, I would have been like, ‘Why isn’t this happening, why am I not getting the work that I want to do?’ Through that process, I learnt that if you wait, you’ll get something good. You get wisdom from that process.

How was it interacting with an actor like Saif Ali Khan?
I had this perception of him as a star whose films I have grown up watching. But I remember the moment I walked on the set and did my first scene with him, all that went away. The way he said, ‘Hi Rohan.. how are you?’ helped dispel all my apprehensions. It was like two co-actors working together to give the best we could. It became such a friendly contemporary relationship, rather than ‘Oh, my God! It’s Saif Ali Khan in front of me’. With due respect to him, he never made me feel that ‘You’re a newcomer and I’m this big star’. I’m thankful to him that he made my first experience on a film so lovely.

Have you been meeting other filmmakers?
Even as I wait for Baazaar’s release, I have been meeting other filmmakers simultaneously. I’m blessed that I have someone like Nikkhil to guide me. He has seen the world and has had his share of ups and downs. I’m fortunate to have him because he, Monisha and Madhu Bhojwani really look out for me.

Since you said that you didn’t know your dad, what you’re getting to know about him is through stories from others, including your family.
I guess, as you can see, it’s one of those really strange stories wherein, how many people in the world can say my father passed away when my mother was four months pregnant with me. After I was born, I went to Kenya where my mom’s grandparents lived. Two things happened. Firstly, I had a lovely childhood. Secondly, I moved to a place where no one knew my father on a personal level. They were aware of Vinod Mehra, the Bollywood actor, but no one could sit across the table and tell me what he was like as a human being. So, I grew up not knowing him. To be honest, there was a slight intrigue factor. When you’re raised in an environment where everything is given to you, you don’t seek out that knowledge. But when I moved to Mumbai six years ago, the world completely opened up. It was like knowing your dad 21 years later. People said, ‘Oh Rohan, you do this as well! Your father did things exactly like that.’ When I started learning about him, my interest increased. I wanted to know more about him. I could relate to him, I feel we’re almost the same person.. he’s not there, but I feel so close to him. Suddenly, the jigsaw puzzle makes sense. I meet my bua (my dad’s sister) and she says, ‘Oh my God! You’re exactly like him.’ Discovering him through other people’s experiences and interactions with him has been an incredible journey.

Like everyone else in the industry, your private life became news before your professional life had started.
Yes, it did (laughs). It’s an occupational hazard. You sign up for it. It’s no secret that I feel emotional about my family, friends. If you dig deep into my social media posts, you’ll notice that I’m very open about everyone. Whoever my friends are, I express what I feel about them.

Have you faced heartbreak?
I get the person you’re speaking about (Tara Sutaria). We’ve been great friends, she is a lovely girl. She is doing a big film and I wish the absolute best for her.

Saif Ali Khan opens up on Taanaji biopic, his stint as a Naga sadhu, dabbling with stocks and shares as a Gujarati buisnessman and the #MeToo movement
Natasha Coutinho (MUMBAI MIRROR; October 15, 2018)

Your transformation into a Naga sadhu for Hunter is eye-catching.
This is the hardest thing I’ve done and I’m still recovering. It’s a new story and a brave attempt by (director) Navdeep Singh. Taanaji is another amazing part but that’s on set-CG (computer graphics). I have to wear a headgear in the film and the director (Om Raut) asked me if I’m okay with that. I told him I’d done something 60 times harder. Hunter was live, we did everything, from horse riding and sword-fighting to action sequences in mud wearing kilos of makeup. I shot for 80 difficult days, my scalp would bleed from the weight of the wig.

For Taanaji you are reuniting with Ajay Devgn, 12 years after Omkara.
I respect Ajay and like the way he looks at life. I’m happy to be a part of this huge historical which will be a screen extravaganza, a post-Baahubali kind of experience in 3D. Ajay loves cinema, is a great producer, and this is the right film to make today as it highlights patriotism and heroism. Kids will love it, so will the rest of the country.

Your character has shades of grey?
Let’s just call him an anti-hero. It’s a cool part and I’ve have already started shooting.

Before that you have Nikkhil Advani’s Baazaar which has you playing a Gujarati businessman, Shakun Kothari. Another startling metamorphosis.
I like transformations, and this is one of the best roles I’ve been offered so far. Mumbai has a strong business side which remains largely unexplored in our films. Baazaar is about money and what it means to different people.

I remember a quote by Kathleen Turner, during Romancing the Stone, “Actors look different, but how often do they sound different?” Very relevant. Working on a Gujarati accent for this film is one of my best dubbing jobs. People used to make fun of my voice, now I’ll surprise them.

Is your character inspired by any businessman?
It’s a mix of personalities. Since he’s older than me, I gave my hair a tinge of grey. Some friends protested, saying, “Why are you doing this when there’s a younger actor?” It’s great to defy convention knowing the audience looks beyond all that.

Your take on co-stars, Rohan Mehra, Chitrangda Singh and Radhika Apte?
Radhika is a wonderful, spontaneous actress. Chitrangada’s an attractive girl with great screen presence. We make an interesting couple onscreen. Rohan, like me, has spent time in England, so I understand where he’s coming from. He’s grown up in Kenya and I love Africa, God’s earth. He’s a fine actor, I can’t believe it’s his first film.

Do you dabble in stocks and shares?
I’ve never taken any chances, I’m safe and boring in my investments.

Tell us about Nitin Kakkar’s Jawaani Jaaneman?
I’m producing that one, a light-hearted film I’m looking forward to after all the action and drama.

Your take on #MeToo?
Women finding a voice in the film industry is important as we’ve always been considered liberal. I want the industry to be safe for all sexes. I don’t like bullying, it’s disgusting! It’s never been there in my world and I want to see it gone. #MeToo is a good start because people will now think 20 times before misbehaving.

Did Kareena Kapoor surprise you with her decision to turn RJ with What Women Want?
Radio is a fantastic medium, I’d love to do something on it. She’s charming in her promo. If she asks me to come on it, I’ll go.

You recently did a show with your Sara. Excited about her debut?
She’s all grown up now and it was fun shooting with her. It’s her big launch and I’m glad I could help her.

Actor has been hanging out with singer-actress Tara Sutaria frequently
Avinash Lohana (MUMBAI MIRROR; January 24, 2018)

Professionally, late actor Vinod Mehra’s son Rohan is looking forward to his Bollywood debut, Nikkhil Advani’s Baazaar, also featuring Saif Ali Khan, Chitrangda Singh and Radhika Apte. The debonair debutant also seems to be in a happier space on the personal front, having found a ‘good friend’ in actress Tara Sutaria, popular for her television show Oye Jassie. Buzz is, she is also one of the female leads in the Student of the Year sequel, which is to be headlined by Tiger Shroff.

“They have been together for more than a year now and love spending time with each other. Tara is very close to Rohan’s sister Soniya and the duo has even met each other’s families. They share a common interest in music too,” informs a source close to the couple who rang in the New Year together in Goa and brought in Tara’s birthday in November over a lunch with Soniya by their side. Soniya had posted a picture from the luncheon, referring to it as “family time”. Rohan too posted a picture with Tara captioning it, “Happy Birthday to my true happiness. The future is golden when Tara Sutaria is by your side.”

Tara has trained in classical ballet, modern dance and Latin American dance at the School of Classical Ballet and Western Dance, Royal Academy of Dance and the Imperial Society for Teachers of Dancing in UK. She has been a professional singer since the age of seven and has sung in operas and competitions.

Rohan grew up in Mombasa in Kenya and has a degree in econometrics and mathematics from the UK. He was on course to be an investment banker till his love for the arts wooed him away. He has assisted Sanjay Leela Bhansali, dabbled in photography and has even done some ghost-writing.

When we reached out to Rohan he refused to speak on the subject of Tara.

Radhika Apte on new projects, debutant co-star Rohan Mehra and reuniting with Sriram Raghavan, Anurag Kashyap
Natasha Coutinho (MUMBAI MIRROR; January 4, 2018)

Radhika Apte who is known to be experimental in her choices and gives her nod to very few films, spending a lot of time in London with husband Benedict Taylor, surprisingly has her filmi platter full this year. Pad Man, with Akshay Kumar and Sonam Kapoor, is coming up this Republic Day weekend, followed by Baazaar featuring Saif Ali Khan, Chitrangda Singh and debutant Rohan Mehra. She has just completed Anurag Kashyap’s short film for the Love and Lust anthology and is looking forward to films with Dev Patel and Sriram Raghavan next. Over to the busy-bee actress…

Does working in big-budget films like Pad Man and Bazaar with A-listers like Akshay Kumar and Saif Ali Khan take you one step up, professionally?
Pad Man for me was a start-to-finish schedule. We stayed in Maheshwar for a month and wrapped it up with Akshay working eight hours a day which was amazing. It was all quick. With Baazaar we filmed all over Mumbai, every day we were on the move, and the film took time to complete. With big films you reach more people, that is the only difference.

Akshay recently shared a video quizzing you on his films and joking about the fact that you didn’t remember much.
We stayed in this small resort which grew its own plants and didn’t have room service so the crew ended up eating together. Akshay’s table was the most fun as everyone was cracking jokes. Even on set he would surprise me or throw me off with his innovative ideas. He is really funny and this video was just an example of his sense of humour.

The film also features Sonam Kapoor. Was there one-upmanship? Can two actresses really get along?
I don’t believe in that cliché, just like I don’t agree that women are bad drivers.

Did the film require any special prep given that you play a woman from Madhya Pradesh?
Since it is set in a small village, I had to drape the sari right and tie my hair in a certain way. I worked on the accent with Swanand Kirkire (lyricist, playback singer) who is from Indore and is the film’s co-writer.

Pad Man is inspired by the life of Arunachalam Muruganantham, a Tamil Nadu-based social activist who revolutionised menstrual hygiene in rural India by creating a machine for low-cost sanitary napkins. Any apprehensions touching on a stigmatised subject?
Tell me one woman who doesn’t have periods. It’s the most fundamental reality of the world. Today if we shy away from discussing menstrual hygiene tomorrow we will shy away from giving birth.

You have co-written Anurag Kashyap’s portion Love And Lust. Is more writing on the cards?
It’s kind of Anurag to say that I have co-written the film. It was a collaborative effort and a lot of the scenes were improvised. The film is a product of my discussions with him. Usually actors work with a written script but Anurag wanted to experiment so we tried things differently.

Anurag has spoken about another film you will collaborate on and for which you will be prepping for eight months.
There is a film I plan to do with Anurag next year. I hope it happens because we have been talking about it for so long. I’m not sure about the prep yet but I will do whatever it takes because the script is wonderful.

You have worked with two newcomers, Rohan Mehra in Baazaar and Akash Thosar in Love and Lust. Did you offer them any advice?
Rohan knows the industry since he was born. I’m sure he knows more about it than me. He’s a sincere and sweet boy and I really enjoyed working with him. He’s given so much time and effort to the film, his dedication is commendable. I haven’t seen Sairat yet, I must be the only one who hasn’t seen Akash’s film in Maharashtra, and I met him directly on set. Anurag has captured some stuff that is very Akash. He’s a young boy and a bit shy at times. Anurag has moulded the character according to his personality. I will catch Sairat soon.

Having worked with Sriram Raghavan in Badlapur, how’s it teaming up again with him for the upcoming Ayushmann Khurrana-starrer?
Working with Sriram is a pleasure, he’s always so excited. He told me about this character and if I’d do it. I didn’t have any hesitation at all. The character is very different from Badlapur.

Buzz is, there’s a film with Dev Patel on the cards.
Yes, I’m doing a film with Dev which I will announce soon.

What is the status on your horror film with Phantom which was shot in a graveyard?
I’ve completed it, hopefully it will release by March.

Sanyukta Iyer (MUMBAI MIRROR; September 8, 2017)

Earlier this week, Saif Ali Khan hosted a private get-together at his Bandra residence for his director-friends. Present at the brain-storming bash were Airlift-director Raja Krishna Menon, Delhi Belly writer Akshat Verma, TV show P.O.W. Bandi Yuddh Ke’s writer-director Gauravv Chawla, NH10 director Navdeep Singh and Udaan filmmaker Vikramaditya Motwane, along with Saif’s Bazaar co-star Rohan Mehra. Saif’s begum, Kareena Kapoor, and little nawab, Taimur, were in Delhi for the shoot of Shashanka Ghosh’s film, Veere Di Wedding, but the actor played the perfect host, arranging a lavish spread of kebabs and other finger food and the choicest of drinks for his band of boys.

“Conversation revolved around the changing face of Hindi cinema, the future of digital media and the need for unique content. Saif, who has his own production house, is looking to collaborate on projects across mediums and found the discussion very stimulating,” informed a guest present at the dinner. The guests departed late after midnight promising the host that they would sit together again for more such creative sessions soon.

And Mirror has learnt that this was not the first of such meetings. “Saif wants to understand and explore diverse genres and has been quietly building a bank of content, meeting with other filmmakers and writers as well,” the guest added.

Natasha Coutinho (MUMBAI MIRROR; June 8, 2017)

In a departure from her girl-next-door avatars on screen, Radhika Apte will be seen playing a hot, ambitious financial analyst along with Saif Ali Khan’s businessman part in Nikkhil Advani’s Baazaar.

The actress, who is currently shooting for her turn in Mumbai, is cast opposite the late actor Vinod Mehra’s son, Rohan, who is making his acting debut with the film.

“It is an unfair slotting when it comes to Radhika. Just because she looks sultry, they cast her as a village girl. I find that quite bizarre. She’s a talented actress who brings a lot to a part. That’s the whole point of casting her as the ball-breaker, ambitious Priya who has no qualms using her sexuality to climb the corporate ladder. For me, it was essential to cast her. We needed someone intelligent enough to understand the nuances of the role,” Advani told Mirror, adding that casting her opposite Mehra works in the film’s favour.

“I did not want to portray Rohan as the chocolate boy star son in his launch vehicle. We needed a strong actor opposite Rohan who would help him be his character Rizwan Ahmed. He plays a starryeyed boy who comes to the tough city of Mumbai. Radhika is older than him so it makes their relationship interesting.”

Radhika, who is kicked about her ‘different look’ in the film says, “I liked that the film is about the stock market. It is an interesting concept. I play a Mumbai girl who’s strong and ambitious. I have never had this kind of a look in any of my previous films, and I love it. It’s very me in many ways.”

Incidentally, Radhika plays a rural girl in R Balki’s Akshay Kumar starrer PadMan. “It’s an added benefit that my part is drastically different in both films. I don’t like being typecast. I have finished my part in Padman and I’m focussing on Baazaar now,” the actress signs off.

Rohan Mehra moves from Mombasa to Mumbai to trade a career in investment banking for Bollywood, giving his first shot on Sunday, 27 years after his father's untimely demise
Roshmila Bhattacharya (MUMBAI MIRROR; May 15, 2017)

BOMBAY TIMES (May 10, 2017)

Nayandeep Rakshit (DNA; March 23, 2017)

Nikkhil Advani’s Bazaar is all set to go on floors. A thriller set against the backdrop of the stock market, the script, after a few alterations is ready. Saif Ali Khan will play the lead in the film, which will also mark the debut of Vinod Mehra’s son Rohan.

Says a source from the team, “The casting is done. Saif plays the older hero while Rohan plays the younger parallel lead. Arjun Kapoor was approached for it, but he didn’t have the dates they wanted to shoot for.”

And now, they have approached two prominent leading ladies opposite Saif and Rohan. Adds our khabri, “Nimrat Kaur has been offered the main leading lady’s part opposite Saif where she will play his love interest. There will be another young, fresh romantic angle with Rohan Mehra’s character. For that, Nikkhil has cast Dangal girl Fatima Sana Shaikh. Nikkhil has loved her in Dangal and feels she will be brilliant in this thriller too.” Interesting.

Evicted Bigg Boss contestants comment on the shocking incident on the reality show
Tanvi Trivedi (BOMBAY TIMES; January 6, 2017)

Chaya Unnikrishnan (DNA; January 3, 2017)

Gaurav Chopra, who was nominated along side VJ Bani and Monalisa for eviction this week is a “little lost and surprised” with his ouster. He says, “A part of me is still inside the house. There were no evictions last weekend because of New Year so we all assumed they would happen in the following week. Also, I wanted a week or two to do what I had started sometime ago, and that is unmasking certain people in the house.”

Ask him who they are and he takes Mona, Manveer and Manu’s names. “Those three are just pretending to be what they are. Nothing about them is instinctive, everything they do is part of a plan. They have a huge complex somewhere and are always plotting and planning. There is always some agenda with them. They are smart in raking up non-existent issues,” he says.

One of the highlights of his stay in the house was his friendship with Bani. While the popular VJ has a strong personality, Gaurav often didn’t take a stance and remained neutral in the house. Many viewed their friendship as that of pure convenience. However, Gaurav refutes that, “We are two very different people, but on a human level we connected in a strong way. I felt protective about her and also took things upon myself when she was going through a volatile, emotional phase. I had a strong concern for her and when you connect with someone in Bigg Boss house, you value that.”

Will the friendship last beyond the show? “Of course, not only with her, but also with Rohan (Mehra) and Rahul (Dev),” he says. So, who does he feel are the strong contenders to win the game? “I don’t want to name anyone because it’s the game that is the strongest and everyone else is a puppet. But yes, I am supporting Bani and Rohan.”

As for Om Swami, Gaurav feels he is not just manipulative, but has a criminal bent of mind. “I don’t know why he is inside the house, he is dangerous. He carries weapons with him, hides knives and spoons, and sharpens wood pieces. Sometimes in the middle of night I would get up to find him staring at me,” he says. And yet, he did not voice his opinion against Swami till Salman Khan called him out on that a few weeks ago. “That’s not true. From day one Swami is the only person against whom I lost my cool. He has been out of line with the women in the house and that is the biggest problem I have with him. But yes, in the last few weeks things got aggravated and I had also been voicing my opinions,” he says.

Tell him that overall he came across as an actor conscious of his image and not being himself and he denies it. “I did say that I have been invited to the show as an actor and that I am not in the show to be on TV. But what you saw was the real Gaurav,” he signs off.

Bigg Boss inmate Rohan Mehra’s father, making light of the time his son allegedly slapped Swami
Natasha Coutinho (MUMBAI MIRROR; December 30, 2016)


The Bigg Boss house isn’t new to controversies. On Wednesday, 27-year-old contestant Rohan Mehra of the telly soap, Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai, slapped Swami Om while they were in the middle of a task. The Swami claimed to be grievously injured and was taken out of the house for two hours to undergo an MRI scan.

Speaking to Mirror, Rohan’s father Ravinder Mehra defends his son’s action reasoning that he comes from a business family, was a National-level table tennis player who represented Punjab, Delhi and Mussoorie and an actor who has featured in two movies and the daily soap.

“Being a sportsperson, Rohan’s very focussed on the tasks and was irritated with Swami Om for his unwanted interference which was against the rules. Besides, it was Swami Om who got violent first, injuring Rohan and Manveer. He even started stripping in front of female contestants and urinated in the kitchen. Rohan is only doing this show because Salman Khan is hosting it, otherwise there is no reason to tolerate such contestants,” Mehra rages.

He goes on to argue that Rohan has been really patient for 11 weeks, ignoring the Swami’s disparaging comments. He goes on to add that since Manveer and the Swami himself were pushing people around, Rohan must have thought it would be as bad.

“Rohan respects his elders and addresses them as ‘aap’. It must have taken a lot of provocation for him to forget his maryada,” Mehra asserts. Quiz him on Rohan’s decision to quit after Bigg Boss punished him by nominating him for eviction throughout the season, and the father quips, “Rohan is a child. The makers have had a word with him and he understands that he is contractually bound to the show. I’m sure you’ll see the Swami dancing in the next episode,” he signs off.

High voltage drama (what else?) ensued when hitlist grilled seven Bigg Boss 10 inmates
Letty Mariam Abraham (MID-DAY; December 9, 2016)

The makers of 'Bigg Boss 10' invited hitlist for a tete-a-tete with the seven nominated inmates yesterday, with captain Gaurav Chopra also in attendance. Pumped with ammunition, we got the green chit to grill the contestants on their actions and lack of it, albeit with a few restrictions — we weren't allowed to inform them about any occurrences outside the house, including the demonetization issue (although, they seemed to have a fair idea already).

Gaurav was questioned for not generating enough 'content' and being diplomatic. The actor said, "I am doing enough in the house, but since you get to see an edited version, may be you should ask the makers why more isn't being shown." The actor even retorted to claims that he has no identity without co-contestant Bani J, by stating that this was merely a perception.

Bani, who has been providing ample entertainment for the past 50 days in the house with her tears and screams, walked out during the press conference because Lopamudra Raut wouldn’t let her speak. The two have been at loggerheads for some time. It is believed that Lopamudra is the real reason for the conflict between Gaurav and Bani.

While no one accepted it, their demeanor spoke volumes about their dislike for each other. Lopa claims, “Bani doesn’t bother to talk or have a conversation. Yes I think she is a little insecure with me because I am strong. I wished her on her birthday and she didn’t even look at me or say thank you.”

Bani responds, “Lopa is like a child. She is immature person who lives in a bubble.” But even before Bani could complete, Lopa would interrupt and not let the VJ finish her statement. After a few repeated occurrences, Bani lost her cool, especially when she was interrupted while expressing her love for Gauahar Khan. Irate, Bani got up and strutted right out of the room. So much drama!

Priyanka Jagga, who seems to have lost her thunder after returning to the house, chuckled with joy each time a female contestant was put under the scanner. The only exception was Bani, whose opinions were constantly backed by Jagga.

Jagga kept harping on how Lopa is fake, made expression with every statement Rohan Mehra made and kept giggling every time Nitibha was grilled. Jagga claims, “This place cannot let you make relationships, here people can only play games.”

But her attitude towards Bani has definitely changed because she kept following Bani’s lead and supporting everything the celebrity said.