Meena Iyer (DNA; April 24, 2018)

It’s a quiet Sunday afternoon. The only sound you hear around filmmaker Rajkumar Hirani’s suburban bungalow is the rustle of dry leaves that wither and fall, unable to bear the scorching sun. Raju is neck-deep in editing his biopic on Sanjay Dutt, which stars the dynamic Ranbir Kapoor.

We tiptoe into his room guided by a polite assistant, who points to a set of sofas away from the work table. After we have finished a cup of strong, homemade chai and bitten into a slice of cake, Raju walks across. He says he is nervous because the teaser of the film is about to launch. When I call him the Big Daddy of Bollywood who has delivered superhits like the Munnabhai franchise, 3 Idiots and PK, he sighs and says, “Please, don’t do that. All this makes me even more nervous.”

Of course, when he begins to talk about Sanjay’s biopic, everything changes. You can tell he has been deeply affected by his subject. After all, the actor isn’t just a stranger whose story he will bring alive on the marquee. That his Munnabhai has laid bare his life and entrusted Raju with the task of taking it across to the world clearly shows Sanju’s respect for his craft. Over to Rajkumar Hirani...

Your biopic on Sanjay is highly anticipated. Are you excited?
Quite honestly, expectations are always there at this stage. I’m happy and excited, but nervous, too. Also, it is hard for me to be objective about my own work. You live with the movie for so long. You write it, then shoot it and edit it. There are so many internal and external processes involved.

What prompted you to make this biopic on Sanjay? Weren’t you discussing another Munnabhai film with him?
I must tell you how I got attracted to it. I was writing Munnabhai. However, much earlier when I was penning PK, Sanjay was out on parole and I happened to meet him. He just started talking about his life. He was lonely. Manyata (I think) was in hospital and he used to go there (sometimes) and then come home to an empty house. So, he was just venting, speaking straight from the heart. And, he started giving me anecdotes that were just gems for a filmmaker... ki aisi film toh hum soch hi nahin sakte, likh hi nahin sakte... Even though I had worked with him, I wasn’t close friends with him, like, say, other filmmakers such as Sanjay Gupta, Mahesh Manjrekar and others were. I knew Sanju, but there was always a distance. He had never opened up like he did on that occasion. I had gone at 5 pm, stayed with him till 3 am and then came back home.

The next day, when I was editing, he called me and asked me to come over. I think he wanted to talk. After that, I called Abhijat (writer Abhijat Joshi) and told him I’m hearing these crazy anecdotes, which even if I want to write, I don’t know how to go about it.

The following day, I took Abhijat along. For over 25 days, we sat for a crazy amount of time and recorded everything. We didn’t know if there was a film because most of the things he recounted were anecdotal. I had no idea how to string them together. But what we did feel was that here was a man who had led such a crazy life in every way. He was coping with the loss of his mother, he had been to rehab for drug addiction, then he went to jail (sighs). Besides what he told me, I also met others who knew him — journalists, cops, relatives and friends. I felt there was a movie that should be told. The first thought that came to me was we will say it like it is. I told Sanju that we won’t glorify him and he was okay with it. He was like, jo bhi hai, banao.. He had talked about drugs, women, the gun, almost everything that happened. For a filmmaker, it’s like a goldmine.

How did you think of titling it Sanju? Dutt went around for a long time...
Actually, we thought of many titles. One of them was Aisa Hi Hoon. Anything you attach with a name in a biopic is like an adjective. Even if you say Aisa Hi Hoon or Sarphira, either you are glorifying him or attacking him. One thing all of us were clear about was that we wanted a neutral title. Dutt seemed a little harsh. Then I heard a gem from him. Apparently, Nargis ji used to call him ‘Sanju’ with a lot of affection. We thought this is the most non-committal and neutral title, with no pre-conceived notions.

You are the maker of super-duper hits like the Munnabhai franchise, 3 Idiots and PK. Why should you be nervous at all?
The first films are the most fearless ones; you don’t worry about them. When your first movie releases, in my case it was Munnabhai MBBS, I was just relieved that it was out there. Just that sheer thought makes you happy. It is only later that other thoughts cross your mind. Slowly, you realise that you want your movie to be liked, then you want it to succeed and become a hit. But as I said, these are thoughts that come much later. The first thing is relief.

Oh, but all that is clearly in the past. Now, you’re the Big Daddy of cinema!
Don’t bait me. I don’t buy into such things (smiles). I’m a filmmaker first, nothing else matters.

People say that you’re the best writer in the business...
Abhijat and I work together as a team. Please don’t put pressure on me by saying things like that. Anyway, in this case, we didn’t have to write. For the last 50 years, Sanjay has been writing his life. It’s said that bad choices make good stories. And this is a classic case of that.

The teaser gets launched later today. A penny for your thoughts on this occasion?
I have a terrible reputation for being nervous. If you ask Abhijat and Boman Irani, I’m a nervous wreck before every film. I recall after seven days of 3 Idiots’ release, I asked Boman if people were liking the film or was it just Aamir’s presence. I’m a bit of a mess like that because as I pointed out earlier on, I write, shoot and edit a film for months. So being objective about the end product is so hard. Every moment, every joke stops affecting me after a point in time. However, I am fortunate to have people like Abhijat, Boman and a couple of others. So, I see it from their point of view. Their reactions are fantastic to the teaser of Sanju, so I guess it’s good.

You managed a coup when you cast Ranbir Kapoor as Sanjay. The two of them are not directly connected. How did you manage to see him as Sanju?
I had a basic draft of this biopic when I sent Ranbir a message, ‘I’ve a script, let’s meet up when you’re free.’ Ranbir is usually aware of everything that is happening in the industry. He is very sharp. I’m guessing he already knew that I was planning a biopic on Sanjay. When I sent him the message, Ranbir promptly replied, ‘I hope it’s not the Sanjay Dutt biopic.’ And I thought, ‘Oh God, maybe he has heard and he may not want to do it.’ I told him it’s the same script, but let’s meet. When I met him, I realised he knew a lot about Sanju. He had spent time with him and knew him well. He used to work out at his gym and had probably heard the stories. But when he saw the angle of the story, he was like, ‘It’s interesting, let’s do it.’

Yet, Ranbir made for an unusual choice...
Hmmm. Why Ranbir? The first reason for choosing him is that he’s a fantastic actor. And the second reason is that he is at the perfect age. I needed an actor who could be 21 (years old) because that is where the film begins. That was the age when Sanju was shooting for Rocky and his drug phase started. And then we have Sanju when he came out of prison (around 56 years). So, we needed someone who could fit that transformation.

Since you managed to get up, close and personal, did you spot any similarities between them?
Both come from film families, and have that X-factor, the charm. They have lived the life of actors all through. Ranbir is not someone from outside the industry who came here to be a hero. In a sense, it was easier for me to see him as Sanju. Physically, they’re not similar. Sanju is bigger, but Ranbir is slightly taller than him. He doesn’t seem so, but it is true. Ranbir worked very hard to get the physicality right. He spent days watching tons of videos to strike the right balance and when you observe him in the film, you will notice that there is a resemblance of Sanjay Dutt, yet you know it is Ranbir Kapoor. If he did anything slightly more, it would look caricaturish and if he did a little less, it wouldn’t work. I didn’t think about anyone else. I first thought of Ranbir and went straight to him and I can tell you, we were right.

Have you shown the teaser to Sanjay?
Yes, I have shown it as well as some scenes to him. He gets overwhelmed. In fact, I told him to see the full film, but he said no, he would watch it when it’s complete. He came to the sets only twice. I think he is pretty brave. He has talked about everything in his life. I don’t think everyone will have that courage.

In novel move, biopic makers to launch teaser at the Wankhede on April 24, with Dutt, Hirani and Kapoor chatting about the movie for 30 minutes
Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; April 19, 2018)

Since last week, rumours have been rife that the teaser of Sanju, the Rajkumar Hirani-directed biopic on Bollywood's 'bad boy' Sanjay Dutt, would be launched on April 24. Considering the Ranbir Kapoor starrer is one of the most anticipated releases of the year, the makers are understandably going beyond the norm of launching the first look at a theatre in the presence of the press.

In a country that celebrates films and cricket to the point of feverish obsession, Hirani plans to combine the two forces for his next - the team is aiming to release the first glimpse at the T20 match on Tuesday, in the run-up to the scheduled game between Mumbai and Hyderabad.

Fox Star Studios, the producers of the biopic, have pretty much inked the deal to launch the teaser on Cricket Live, the pre-T20 show, on Star Sports. The source adds the filmmakers are also eyeing the possibility of the trio launching the teaser at the Wankhede Stadium, the venue of the match, amidst spectators. A formal approval is on its way.

If all works out as planned, the talk show will see Kapoor, Dutt and Hirani speak at length about their labour of love. "The 30-minute chat will be moderated by Hirani. While Ranbir will talk about slipping into the character and the challenges they faced while shooting, Sanjay will speak about how he was surprised to see Ranbir's transformation. Hirani will also shed light on how difficult it was to pen an engrossing script, especially since Sanjay's life has been widely covered by the press. The officials at Fox Star have already started a dialogue with the channel for this. The idea is to ensure that the teaser reaches as many people across the country as possible, which explains the launch on the cricket pitch as well," says the source.

After its digital release on April 24, the sneak peek will also be attached to the Hollywood big-ticket, Avengers: Infinity War that hits theatres on April 27, owing to the merger of 21st Century Fox and Disney.

Besides the teaser, the next few weeks will apparently also see the makers release a series of video snippets as a run-up to the final trailer launch. Also featuring Anushka Sharma, Sonam Kapoor, Dia Mirza, Karishma Tanna, Manisha Koirala and Paresh Rawal, the biopic is scheduled to hit theatres on June 29.

DNA (March 31, 2018)

Ever since it was reported that Sonam Kapoor is doing a cameo in the Sanjay Dutt biopic, speculations have been rife about her role in the Rajkumar Hirani directorial. While she teams up with Ranbir Kapoor after 11 years since their debut, Saawariya, buzz has been that she plays one of Sanju’s romantic interests, who was also an actress. That led to people assuming that Sonam was either playing Tina Munim or Madhuri Dixit, who the Saajan actor was reportedly seeing in the 80s and 90s respectively.

However, when asked about her character, Sonam dismissed the rumours stating, “I have a small but important part in the movie. It’s not what everyone is thinking. I am not playing an actress. I am not allowed to say anything about it. But it has been wonderful working with Rajkumar Hirani. He is one of the biggest reasons why I said yes to this film.”

So who is Sonam essaying in the Dutt biopic? Keep watching this space.

Harshada Rege (DNA; February 24, 2018)

Vicky Kaushal’s work in movies like Masaan and Raman Raghav 2.0 won a lot of praise. This year, the actor stepped into a new zone by being part of the first Indian film made for a digital streaming platform. The actor was seen in Love Per Square Foot, the quirky romantic comedy that premiered on Netflix recently. His future projects — Raazi and the Sanjay Dutt biopic — will see him sharing screen space with Alia Bhatt and Ranbir Kapoor, respectively. We caught up with the actor to talk about his digital film debut, future plans, and love for the big screen.

This is India’s first film that was screened directly on a digital platform. Are you happy with the response that it has got?
It’s special because it’s a new thought that you conceive and try to execute. You are working every day for 16-17 hours over two months. Eventually, when it reaches the audience in around 190 countries, it’s a great feeling. Getting messages from people of countries with whom you have never interacted before is amazing. They don’t know much about Indian cinema, but when they watch your film and tell you that they have liked it, that means a lot.

Has it been any different from how you would shoot a film meant for the big screen?
Not really. Every film has its own challenges. With a film like Raman Raghav 2.0, the space is so intense that playing that character is tiresome. Then there are movies like Masaan, where you are so restricted by the budget and there’s so much to shoot, that it’s a challenge to make it. With a movie like Love Per Square Foot, the content is light and breezy, but when you have to cover a city like Mumbai, which is almost like an important character here, you have to face different kinds of difficulties. However, these are also the things that you enjoy. When a team takes up the task of making a movie, it can be difficult and tiresome, but you are happy to get a chance to tell the story that you want to. As artistes, we are always up for such a challenge.

Unlike your earlier films — Masaan and Raman Raghav 2.0 — which were intense, this is a light-hearted movie. Was that the reason you took it up?
It definitely was. This was a genre that I hadn’t explored as an actor. Also, when I heard the narration from director Anand Tiwari, everything worked. The story, the character, the humour...I was smiling throughout the narration. The story is so relatable. It’s one of those stories, which we see around us all the time, but nobody has narrated it. The dream of finding a house in Mumbai is something that people are talking about constantly or it’s on their minds. Here we managed to convey that struggle in a fun and humourous manner.

Do you see yourself doing more work on digital platforms?
A film has to suit the medium. It’s about getting a chance to be a part of a good story. The point is to reach the audience. The trend is changing... you never know, eventually a majority of films might be made for digital platforms. But I dreamt of being part of cinema because I have seen actors on the big screen. That’s the reason I wanted to be an actor. So. my dream of being on the big screen will never die.

Considering you are new in Bollywood, wasn’t it a risk to invest your time in a film that would be seen on a streaming channel?
When we shot the film, it was meant to have a theatrical release. Yeh decided nahi tha ke iska final release kis medium pe hone wala hai. Eventually, when I got to know that it would release on a digital platform, obviously, we asked questions. But producer Ronnie (Screwvala) sir has an extraordinary vision. He understands the trends well. He explained it all to us, and now we are reaping its benefits.

Weren’t you apprehensive that you are investing your time into a film, which won’t have a theatrical release?
By the time the decision was taken to stream it on a digital platform, we had made the film. Whenever a new trend sets in, you do have a lot of questions. You are trying to understand the trend as an audience yourself. Almost all of us are subscribing to digital platforms and are hooked on to their content. When you know that you are the first Indian film to come out on this platform, it’s a huge honour. Its reach is immense, not just in India, but across the globe. That people around the world are going to judge Indian cinema on the basis of this film is a huge responsibility. We are happy that people are reacting in a positive manner.

How did Ranbir Kapoor’s cameo happen?
That was the time when I was just locked for the Dutt biopic. We used to sit for workshops when I was finishing this film. Ronnie sir and a few other people from the crew had worked with Ranbir before. They made a call and he was sweet enough to agree to come on board.

You are working with Ranbir in the Dutt biopic and Alia Bhatt in Raazi...
It’s been wonderful working with both of them. They are great to work with and really secure as actors and human beings. Working with them is easy as they don’t have starry airs... They don’t carry any extra baggage. They just come on the sets and do their job like the rest of the crew. When your co-actors are amazing, your work shines. So, it’s wonderful to act with them.

Are you playing Gulshan Grover’s character in the Dutt biopic?
No, I’m not playing Gulshan Grover. I play a very close friend of Sanjay Dutt. I can’t divulge much about my role.

Deepali Singh (DNA; February 16, 2018)

Ever since the shoot of the Sanjay Dutt biopic was wrapped up, there has been constant speculation and eagerness to know when the movie’s trailer will be out. Helmed by Rajkumar Hirani, the film is based on Sanjay Dutt’s life and stars Ranbir Kapoor. Now, according to sources, Sanju is keen that the film’s trailer comes out on May 8 because of emotional reasons. “Sanjay started his career with Rocky, which released on May 8, 1981. Naturally, the date is very important and memorable for him,” says a source.

Rocky is also special for Sanjay, as it was directed by his father, the late Sunil Dutt, who also starred in the film. However, they did not share screen space in the movie. Again, it was Hirani who brought the father-son duo together for the first time in Munnabhai MBBS. Now, it remains to be seen whether Raju will respect actor’s wish, and release the trailer on May 8. The film is slated to hit the big screen around June-end.

The release of Rocky came at a very trying time in Sanjay’s life. His mother Nargis lost her life to cancer on May 3, just five days before his big screen debut. A source says that they had left a seat vacant in the theatre in her memory at the premiere of the film. Both, Sunil and Sanjay Dutt, are known to have broken down when the latter appeared on the screen because the most important woman in their lives had just passed away.

Chaya Unnikrishnan (DNA; February 8, 2018)

While Ranveer Singh has walked away with laurels for his evil turn as Alauddin Khilji in Padmaavat, there’s another actor who has been getting rave reviews for his stellar performance as the Sultan’s slave, Malik Kafur. We are talking about Jim Sarbh, who as Malik, perfectly complements Khilji with his dark thoughts and undertones of lust for his master. The scenes between Ranveer and Jim stand out in the film and the two share an amazing chemistry, especially in the song Binte Dil! Here Jim takes us through his journey in the film, his interpretation of the character, and how one can see Alauddin Khilji, the man, through Malik Kafur’s eyes.

Amidst stars like Ranveer Singh, Shahid Kapoor and Deepika Padukone, your performance has stood out in Padmaavat. When you were offered the role of Malik Kafur, what were your thoughts?
I was excited to be a part of a Sanjay Leela Bhansali film. I was excited to act with Ranveer, who I heard was a great co-actor. Ranveer also mentioned, at our first meeting, that he suggested me for the role, which gave me the confidence as we mutually admired each other. I enjoyed the audition scene, Sanjay sir spoke with a lot of love for the character, as did the entire team working on the project. When I read the script, I could see why.

How did you interpret the character and what was your approach to the role?
I thought of him as a lithe, fierce black panther, who slinks around with his big, grizzled tiger, master Alauddin Khilji. He is a slave, who has hit the jackpot. He doesn’t take people very seriously. He finds them amusing and their very obvious, silly motivations. He’s like the fool, cavorting around with kings and queens, irreverent and if so commanded, deadly.

Ranveer Singh said that you enhanced his performance in Padmaavat. What do you have to say to that?
His performance would have been groovy with or without me. However, sometimes, I feel the only times we can truly see Alauddin Khilji, the man, is through Malik Kafur’s eyes. Ranveer is a wonderful co-actor, the kind of actor where we are always hoping to strike magic. Sometimes we did, sometimes we didn’t, but the attempt was always there.

He is always bringing new ideas and fresh energy to the set, and he was always kind and supportive of me. I would be messing up takes, over and over again, somehow not cracking the moment, and he would not bat an eyelid. If he was frustrated, he didn’t let me feel it, he shielded me from it, and instead was supportive and showed he believed in me. What more can you ask for? I felt my character could easily understand his principles, because I was a version of him, just born in very different circumstances. Kafur was also extremely ambitious, dangerous, and was not bound by the same morals and scruples as the people around them. A good pair of sociopaths.

From Neerja, Raabta to Padmaavat, you have grabbed attention with your performance. So far which role of yours did you find more challenging?
Each had their own challenges, really. Neerja was hard because it was so intense, for such a short burst; like a serious sprint. Raabta was more like a triathlon, a little running, a little cycling, a little swimming. Padmaavat was like a serious marathon.

Going ahead, what are the kind of roles that you would like to do?
Interesting, complex ones. What kind would you like to see me in?

How do you balance films and theatre? Which medium do you enjoy more and why?
Well, since the film work has picked up, I haven’t done any new theatre, just continued to act in the shows that were already up and running. I enjoy the power of a live performance, but I prefer the medium of film, on the whole. I am only just starting to learn the technical aspects of film acting — I think Padmaavat has been essential in that regard — and I hope to continue to explore playing around with my slowly growing knowledge of the power of the frame.

That said, I hope to do a play later this year, around May, with one of my favourite directors of all time, Rehaan Engineer. The text he has chosen, as usual, is gorgeous: the kind that makes you sit up as you read, because you can’t help imagining playing it out, because you are grappling with a mysterious sentence, the intention of which is still hidden from you on first read. Fingers crossed.

Which films will you be seen in next?
The Sanjay Dutt biopic releases in June, in which I have quite a bombastic part, so I am very interested in seeing how that plays out. I have a day left on Made In Heaven, a web series helmed by Zoya Akhtar and Nitya Mehra, which I have enjoyed working on for the last few months. I am also in a web series called Smoke, and am wondering when that will see the light of day. I have also acted in a film called Teen Aur Aadha, directed by Dar Gai, with Zoya Hussain. I am hoping that receives a theatrical release, because it is a very sensitive and beautiful script. Three stories occurring in the same house, the same room, are told with three long takes, each about 30-40 minutes long.

Deepali Singh (DNA; February 7, 2018)

Paresh Rawal believes he could not have asked for a better end to 2017 or for a happier beginning to 2018. “Last year, I worked with Yash Raj Films in Tiger Zinda Hai for the first time in my 35-year-long career. And now, I’m working for the first time with Rajkumar Hirani in the Dutt biopic. God has been very kind,” says Paresh, folding his hands in gratitude and looking upwards. We are at the actor’s office in Juhu, and even in the chaotic midst of acting in movies and performing in plays, there is a sense of calm that pervades him.

Ask him about his positive, Zen-like frame of mind and he attributes it to the Dutt biopic. “I think I’m blessed that my desire to work with Rajkumar Hirani has been fulfilled. Then, I got to play someone like Sunil Dutt and the cherry on the cake was working with Ranbir Kapoor,” he says with a smile.

For somebody who has been a part of the film industry for more than three decades, the veteran actor says he still feels gung-ho about getting up each morning and going to the sets. “Work is exciting when it’s challenging. It should be something that makes me afraid initially and prompts me to ask myself whether I’ll be able to do it or not. That fear motivates me to pull up my socks. Otherwise, with so much experience, certain things we can do just like this,” he says with a snap of his finger.

Over a cup of chai, he shares his thoughts on playing an artiste whom he admires, the current crop of actors and filmmakers and his plans for the Modi biopic...

You’re playing Sunil Dutt in the Dutt biopic. Had you ever met him?
First of all, he’s been my favourite actor and human being. I have met him two or three times. The first time, a friend of mine had some cancer-related issue, so we went to meet Dutt Saab. Then, after the Bombay riots in 1992-93, a token fast had been organised, in which both of us had participated. He had to deal with a lot of things — his wife’s illness, his son going adrift — but in spite of that, he was a dignified man. When your character and values are good, only then can you carry on like that. The only other person who comes to my mind when I think about all this is (Amitabh) Bachchan saab. Despite facing so many hurdles in his life, he never had a bad word to say about anyone. God was with him. You get to learn a lot from people like them.

You have worked with Sanjay Dutt in a couple of films. Do you think Ranbir Kapoor has managed to depict the nuances of his character?
It was such a huge challenge. You think that it’s about mimicking his mannerisms or his walk. Haath paer koi bhi hila dega uski tarah, magar aankh mein baat leke aani hai. It was important to look like a lost child who doesn’t know what to do. That’s what Ranbir has managed to do. Plus, I think he’s a great actor. Look at his choices. No faaltu roles! He has done films like Rocket Singh: Salesman of the Year and Wake Up Sid. An actor is known by his choices, not by his box-office figures. And Ranbir (Kapoor) has shown that. Humko bhi aise actor ke saath kaam karne mein mazaa aata hai, varna humko bhi boriyat ho jaati hai.

What about the Modi biopic? Is it happening?
Yes, we are making it. The script is almost locked. There are one or two issues yet to be resolved, then we will move ahead with it.

And you’re playing Modi?
Only I can play Modi (smiles). I say that even at the cost of sounding pompous because I really love him. Baat samajh mein aati hai unki. I have observed him a lot. I am also acting in a film on the 2016 Uri attack, where I play the role of National security advisor Ajit Doval. We have been talking about who should play Modi in that. I said just by sporting a white beard, someone can’t be Modi on screen. Aankhon ka power aur anguish hai Modi. People have tremendous faith and trust in him. They know this man is right. Some mistakes might happen lekin accha kaam karte karte galti ho rahi hai.

You’re working with some of the current crop of actors, filmmakers and writers. What do you think of the present Hindi film scenario?
According to me, the golden period of films has started. We are going to go very far. Look at the new breed of writers, directors and actors. Whether it’s Rajkummar Rao, Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Irrfan Khan, Sushant Singh Rajput or Vicky Kaushal — pakad pakad ke character karte hain. They don’t do 10 films together, they will do just one but they will hold it together. They have enriched the acting space. Work ethics have changed. You get to see a written, full-bound script. It’s a positive and hopeful sign. I’m really happy that I’m getting to be a part of such wonderful stories. I just have to do one thing, and that is to keep myself fit and healthy.

THUGS OF HINDOSTAN: This easily is the biggest all-Bollywood film of the year as it stars Aamir Khan. And this time, he’s teamed up with Katrina Kaif, Amitabh Bachchan and Fatima Sana Shaikh for this period action film. It’s being shot in some beautiful, virgin locales and should be a visual delight. Director Vijay Krishna Acharya doesn’t quite enjoy a great reputation thanks to Tashan but his last film Dhoom 3 was a terrific entertainer, though mindless. Hence, Thugs Of Hindostan can be expected to be a pan-India entertaining flick.

ZERO: With each passing year, the respect and credibility of Aanand L Rai has been increasing thanks to his choice of films. Also, as a director, he has chosen some grounded, witty scripts that has made him one of the best that we have. Hence, one can’t help but wait eagerly for Zero, which features Shah Rukh Khan as a dwarf. The sneak peek was hilarious and this could be a fun-filled entertainer.

SANJAY DUTT BIOPIC: It’s an exciting venture as it stars Ranbir Kapoor and that it talks about the roller-coaster life of Sanjay Dutt. But more than, it’s the fact that it’s directed by Rajkumar Hirani which makes it all more the exciting. He has had 100% track record and Dutt biopic should be another feather in his cap.

PADMAAVAT: The film had created buzz even before it got into controversies. Sanjay Leela Bhansali has been having a great run since Goliyon Ki Raasleela Ram-leela. His last release Bajirao Mastani also was too good. The grandeur that he showcases in his films can’t be missed at any cost. The casting too is intriguing – there’s Ranveer Singh and Deepika Padukone but both reportedly don’t come face to face in the film at all. And Shahid Kapoor plays Deepika Padukone’s warrior husband all three look great and totally into their character.

2.0: Robot was terrific and hence its sequel 2.0 has to be a highly awaited one. Director Shankar knows the pulse of the audiences (his 2001 film Nayak still is very relatable) and what’s more, this time we have Akshay Kumar as the super villain. That it’s shot in Hindi and not just dubbed is another exciting factor.

SAAHO: The whole nation has fallen in love with Prabhas after the Baahubali series. Hence, his next flick Saaho is eagerly awaited. It’s a trilingual film and not dubbed like Baahubali. Nothing is known about this film’s plot but from the teaser, it’s evident that it’s going to be a visual extravaganza.



PAD MAN: R Balki can work wonders when he attempts new, unusual stories (he faltered just once with Shamitabh). Pad Man seems to be another entertaining-moving film from this genius maker. It deals with a small-town resident who makes low cost sanitary pads. Twinkle Khanna has written the story and this is something very exciting since we all know that she is a great writer!

AIYAARY: Neeraj Pandey is a name to reckon with. From A Wednesday to Special 26 to Baby to M S Dhoni – The Untold Story, he has never disappointed. Hence, despite the not-so-awesome trailer, Aiyaary is a film that makes me curious and excited.

PARMANU: The last time John Abraham took up a real-life political subject with Madras Café, audiences were left amazed. Hence, there’s some sort of curiosity for Parmanu, that talks about India’s Nuclear programme. It also stars Diana Penty and Boman Irani.

RACE 3: It is disappointing that Saif Ali Khan, the mainstay of Race franchise, is missing from the third part. Also, Abbas-Mustan aren’t directing it this time. But then there’s Salman Khan who has taken over the mantle and he is also accompanied with Anil Kapoor. Race is about sizzling hotties and this time, Jacqueline Fernandez has been retained. She’ll surely add the required sizzle to the film. It’s an Eid release moreover and hence, should be a dhamaka!

SONU KE TITU KI SWEETY: It’s directed Luv Ranjan, whose Pyaar Ka Punchnama films became a game changer. There was absolutely no excitement for his next, Sonu Ke Titu Ki Sweety, but it all changed when the trailer was unveiled. Kartik Aaryan seems in great form and Nushrat Bharucha is also expected to rock the show.

RAID: Ajay Devgn is on a roll after Golmaal Again crossed the 200-crore-mark. His first film of the year is Raid, featuring him as a no-nonsense officer in Uttar Pradesh. It is directed by Raj Kumar Gupta, known for his gritty films. Ileana D’Cruz is seen opposite Ajay once again after Baadshaho. Surely, a film that can work wonders if it has the right amalgamation of entertainment and substance!

OCTOBER: Shoojit Sircar can never be underestimated, especially after the much loved Vicky Donor and Piku. October is supposedly dark but with Shoojit at the helm, one can expect for something interesting. Also, Varun Dhawan gets back into unconventional zone after Badlapur with this one.

BAAGHI 2: Till date, I haven’t been really impressed with Tiger Shroff’s films. Yet, his films are always keenly awaited for me as he’s a treat to watch on screen. Thanks to people like him, there’s hope that masala film genre will survive for a longer time. I found Baaghi strictly okay and hoping Baaghi 2 rocks and shows Tiger in all its glory!

MANIKARNIKA: Kangana Ranaut is a fabulous performer and I am really looking forward to see how she has essayed Rani Lakshmibai in this historical!

RAAZI: Meghna Gulzar left viewers stunned with Talvar and something similar can be expected from Raazi, which stars talented actors like Alia Bhatt and Vicky Kaushal. That it’s shot in beautiful Kashmir locales is an added advantage.

VEERE DI WEDDING: Chick flicks are rarely made in Bollywood. Hence, once such a film is about to arrive, the excitement surely goes up. And Veere Di Wedding is extra special as it stars two fashionistas – Kareena Kapoor and Sonam Kapoor. Swara Bhaskar and Sumeet Vyas also feature in this slice of life wedding drama.

SANDEEP AUR PINKY FARAAR: I feel Dibakar Banerjee is way ahead of Anurag Kashyap when it comes to realistic fares. He was missing from the scene since sometime but now it’s great to see him back with what seems like a fun-filled entertainer. Arjun Kapoor and Parineeti Chopra are the leading actors in this flick. It’ll be interesting to see the locales of Uttarakhand as well, which is a rarely explored location despite the proximity from Delhi.

BATTI GUL METER CHALU: Uttarakhand will be shown prominently in Batti Gul Meter Chalu as well, directed by Toilet – Ek Prem Katha director Shree Narayan Singh. This Shahid Kapoor-Shraddha Kapoor-Yami Gautam starrer talks about the relatable issue of hefty electricity bills and it’s based in small towns, which will be interesting to see on screen.

DEEPIKA PADUKONE-IRRFAN KHAN STARRER: Deepika Padukone’s next after Padmaavat will be a film on the life of Sapna Didi who attempted to kill Dawood Ibrahim. Irrfan Khan also stars in this drama which will be directed by Vishal Bhardwaj himself.

TOTAL DHAMAAL: Golmaal Again proved how multi-starrer clean comedies can go a long way. Hence, there’s tremendous excitement for Total Dhamaal. It’s star cast itself is terrific – Ajay Devgn, Anil Kapoor, Madhuri Dixit, Arshad Warsi, Riteish Deshmukh and Ashish Chowdhry! Dhamaal has been a fun franchise and Total Dhamaal hopefully would go one step ahead.

SIMMBA: Ranveer Singh is a powerhouse of energy and comedy. But this part of his has been rarely explored in films. Finally, it will be displayed in full glory in Simmba, directed by Rohit Shetty. The first look itself looks highly entertaining and colourful and more importantly, masaledaar, the need of the hour!

SHOOT THE PIANO PLAYER (Tentative title): Sriram Raghavan’s crime dramas are unforgettable. Here’s hoping Shoot The Piano Player continues with the tradition. It stars Ayushmann Khurrana in his first ever dark role along with Radhika Apte and Tabu.

KARWAAN: This can be the sleeper hit of the year. It stars Irrfan Khan and South sensation Dulquer Salmaan along with Marathi actress Mithila Palkar. The title gives a nice travel vibe and Irrfan is amazing as always. Surely, a film to watch out for!

KEDARNATH: Kedarnath has always been on my priority list of places to visit. Hence, a film about this temple town is quite exciting for me. Moreover, the makers plan to show the flood that ravaged the town in 2013 and it’ll be intriguing how they manage to show it authentically. Abhishek Kapoor faltered with Fitoor but he has proven his worth with Rock On and Kai Po Che. The star cast too can be interesting – Sushant Singh Rajput and Sara Ali Khan.

SUI DHAAGA: The title is catchy and it brings together Varun Dhawan and Anushka Sharma for the first time. Moreover, it talks about Gandhian principles and it’s directed by Sharat Katariya, whose 2015 flick Dum Laga Ke Haisha is still memorable.

DNA (January 5, 2018)

Filmmaker Sajid Nadiadwala wasted no time yesterday in sending out a press release saying that his Tiger Shroff-Disha Patani action-thriller Baaghi 2, directed by Ahmed Khan, would hit the screens on March 30.

The date previously belonged to Rajkumar Hirani, who was to release the highly-awaited Sanjay Dutt biopic on that date. A trade source said, “Both movies are backed by the same studio. It seemed that the Dutt biopic (tentatively being referred to as Sanju) needed more time. So, the studio requested Sajid to release his Baaghi 2 on that date.”

According to sources, as of now, Sanju may hit the marquee on April 27 or August 11. If the latter happens, then it will clash with Akshay Kumar’s hockey drama Gold, which also releases on the Independence Day weekend.

The Dutt biopic is one of the most-anticipated movies of this year. Though Ranbir was seen a special appearance in PK, this is his first full-fledged movie with Hirani. The movie also features Anushka Sharma, Sonam Kapoor and Dia Mirza. Manisha Koirala will portray the role of Nargis Dutt, while Paresh Rawal will be seen as Sunil Dutt.

WHY 2018 WILL BE BETTER THAN 2017 FOR BOLLYWOOD

Bollywood has gone wrong on many levels over the past few years. The writing was on the wall but it was ignored. Finally in 2017, it finally dawned upon the industry that one can’t be making niche and urban films and even substandard films at high costs and expect them to work. Films like Rangoon, Noor, Meri Pyaari Bindu, Sarkar 3, Raabta, Jagga Jasoos, Munna Michael, A Gentleman, Simran and Chef failed hugely at the box office. The debacle of Shah Rukh Khan-starrer Jab Harry Met Sejal and Salman Khan-starrer Tubelight especially send shockwaves. Both these films had limited appeal and on top of that, had negative word of mouth. Hence, even if they had got good response from public, it wouldn’t have been an all-India blockbuster. But the cost of the film was such that it had to be a big super hit to recover investments and ensure that all parties make profits.

In this regard, 2018 is expected to fare better than 2017 for sure. To begin with, all three Khans – Shah Rukh Khan, Salman Khan and Aamir Khan – have a film each – Zero, Race 3 and Thugs Of Hindostan. And thankfully, all three are big, event films with a mass appeal. And they are releasing on festivals – Christmas, Eid and Diwali – respectively. Hence, all three of them are expected to be huge hits. Then there’s Sanjay Dutt biopic, directed by Rajkumar Hirani who is one of the greatest filmmakers ever. Hence, a lot of hopes are riding on this film. Padmavati (now called Padmavat) will also hopefully see a release and can excel at the box office big time. Ranveer Singh-starrer Simmba can prove to be the 2nd 200 crore grosser of Rohit Shetty. 2.0, the bi-lingual sequel to Robot, looks very exciting and might not do as well as Baahubali. But it has the ability to cross the 300 and even the 400 crore mark. Baaghi was a huge hit and Baaghi 2 can emerge as the first 100 crore grosser of Tiger Shroff. Other films that can cross the 100 crore mark are Pad Man, Gold, Raid, Super 30 and Total Dhamaal. Parmanu, Pari, Aiyaary, Hichki, Sonu Ke Titu Ki Sweety, Kedarnath, Drive, October, Sui Dhaaga, Manikarnika, Raazi, Veere Di Wedding, Sandeep Aur Pinky Faraar, Deepika Padukone-Irrfan Khan starrer directed by Vishal Bhardwaj, Fanne Khan, Dhadak and Namastey England can also work wonders at the box office, even if they don’t cross the 100 crore mark.

Of course, mistakes will still be repeated and there would be challenges. But looking at the line up and the fact that almost all the big films look quite massy and entertaining, there’s no doubt why 2018 won’t be better than 2017!

Subhash K Jha (DNA; October 28, 2017)

The Rajkumar Hirani-Ranbir Kapoor biopic on Sanjay Dutt’s life just got more exciting. The latest development on that front is the inclusion of the song Kya Yehi Pyar Hai from Sanjay Dutt’s debut film Rocky (1981).

Music buffs will recall this Lata Mangeshkar-Kishore Kumar duet composed by R D Burman as one of the most romantic melodies of the 1980s. This was the song Sanjay sang to his then-girlfriend Tina Munim, who played the romantic lead opposite him in Rocky.

While the ultra-romantic track’s inclusion in the film is indeed welcome, what comes as surprise is the context in which it will be used in the new film. Says a source, “Kya Yehi Pyar Hai won’t be about romantic love, but the love for life. The female voice has been completely eliminated and will only have singer Armaan Malik crooning about the love for life as Sanjay Dutt (Ranbir in the movie) goes from one crisis to another. The song will play like a theme track throughout the film.”

Amaal Malik, who has been given the task of remixing the song, says, “Yes, I am doing a new version of Kya Yehi Pyar Hai. But what a huge responsibility this is. This R D Burman song is the baap of romantic duets. To recreate that kind of composition and to get the voice quality of Kishore Kumarji is so difficult. I am not much into remixes, but I had to do this one because a filmmaker like Rajkumar Hirani asked me to and also because it’s a vintage R D number.”

Amaal is prompt to point out that he will be duly crediting Burman for the song. “Not for a moment am I going to claim credit for it. I see many reprised versions where the guy doing the remix talks of the song as though it is his original. That’s a shame.”

Rishi Kapoor on the burnt down RK Studio, his upcoming film that reunites him with a ‘courageous’ Taapsee Pannu and why she stands apart from other actresses
Natasha Coutinho (MUMBAI MIRROR; October 19, 2017)

Rishi Kapoor, who has been juggling between Umesh Shukla’s 102 Not Out and Anubhav Sinha’s Mulk, is back in Mumbai from a five-day Lucknow schedule of the latter, in time for Diwali. But after a four-day break, it will get even busier, the actor tells Mirror at an Andheri studio where he is shooting for the last day of Shukla’s film. “We were to wrap up on Monday, but the unseasonal rains played spoilsport, resulting in early pack-up. I return to Lucknow for a 20-day shoot of Mulk, after which I start work on Leena Yadav’s Rajma Chawal,” he says.

Rishi recently took his followers by surprise when he shared his Mulk look online. “The look was my conception but Preetisheel Singh’s (make-up artist) team brought it to life with special effects makeup. For someone like me, who enjoys doing different characters, it’s important to find the right team,” he explains, clarifying that contrary to reports, he is playing a positive character. “It’s like the saying, ‘All terrorists are Muslims but all Muslims are not terrorists’. I play a retired lawyer, a serious, devout Muslim, who takes up a case for justice.”

Mulk marks his reunion with Taapsee Pannu, with whom he had featured in David Dhawan’s 2013 comedy, Chashme Baddoor. “She is a spirited actor and has been part of some successful films. No young heroine ever says, ‘I’m working in a film with a senior, has-been actor like Rishi Kapoor.’ I loved the fact that Taapsee said that she is working in Anubhav Sinha’s film with me. Any other heroine would like to say I’m working with Hrithik Roshan or my son, Ranbir Kapoor,” he beams, adding that Taapsee’s contemporaries could use a cue from her. “You know she’s got guts when she says, ‘My role and the story are important, not the actor’. I commend her for that.”

He goes on to admit that he’s a character actor today though he has the main role in a film which has other good actors like Rajat Kapoor, Manoj Pahwa, Ashutosh Rana, Neena Gupta and Prachi Shah. “A star like, maybe Alia (Bhatt) or another actress may find it uncool but Taapsee is so level-headed; she wants to work in films where she is not just a bimbo. To work in a good film, it’s not necessary to have a big hero; you just need a good part. Deepika (Padukone) or Priyanka (Chopra) can take risks because they have graduated to being huge stars but a newcomer like Taapsee taking on a film like this is courageous,” he reiterates.

The 65-year-old actor is gung-ho about 102 Not Out, in which he shares screen space with Amitabh Bachchan. “We are trying for a January 20 release so I have to complete the dubbing too. We are working together after 27 years, it’s fun,” he says.

Ask him on the future of R K Studios, which was gutted in a fire recently, and Kapoor says there’s a while before the family decides how to reconstruct it. “It’s been a month since the fire and we are still looking into the insurance and things. We will eventually rebuild the studio but we don’t know how and when. Today, it’s not practical to build studios but we would like to do it for emotional reasons. Whatever my father built is all burnt down. All the memories, even publicity material; everything lays gutted. But we brothers, want to reclaim the spirit of the studio,” he says.

We move on to his son, Ranbir, who will next be seen as Sanjay Dutt on screen. “I’m using his van so I can’t say anything wrong about him,” he says, adding that his van is still in Lucknow. “Everybody has been praising his film. Knowing Ranbir, the actor, he has hopefully done well,” papa says.

Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; September 23, 2017)

After Kareena Kapoor Khan flew down to Mumbai on Wednesday to ring in a quiet birthday with family and friends, now, it is her Veere Di Wedding co-star Sonam Kapoor’s turn to return to the city. While the actor was supposed to shoot the Delhi schedule of the Rhea Kapoor production in one go, she had to reconsider her plan after Rajkumar Hirani sent out an SOS to her.

A source from the unit informs, “Raju needed Sonam on the set of Dutt biopic to shoot an important sequence. Sonam had wrapped up her portions in the film, but this seems to be a last minute addition to the story.”

Kapoor, who admires Hirani and his brand of cinema, was happy to accommodate the unscheduled shoot, although it meant losing out on a day of Veere shoot. “She will fly down on Sunday morning, shoot for the day and leave on Monday.” She will be shooting the sequence with Ranbir Kapoor.

While in town, the actor might even make an appearance at a fashion awards gala.

DNA (August 19, 2017)

Ranbir Kapoor and Varun Dhawan are both industry kids, and friends. So it’s a happy coincidence that the first teaser of Ranbir’s next — the Sanjay Dutt biopic — should be attached to Varun’s Judwaa 2. “The Dutt biopic is easily the most-awaited film of 2018. Even though pictures of Ranbir’s look have been out, there is a lot of curiosity about the film.” So now there’s more reason to look forward to Judwaa 2!

Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; July 22, 2017)

While rumour has it that filmmaker Rajkumar Hirani will have an extended cameo in the Sanjay Dutt biopic, playing Subhash Ghai in the film, a unit hand tells mid-day that Hirani will, in fact, be playing himself. He will appear in a few scenes where Dutt [played by Ranbir Kapoor] is offered Hirani’s film Munnabhai MBBS (2003) . “That Raju sir is making an appearance makes the movie more authentic. He has already shot for the part,” says a source.

In an interview, Hirani had revealed that years ago, he came to Mumbai to become an actor, but never got the offers he was looking for. He is best remembered for a Fevicol advertisement. “After Raju sir finished his shot, Ranbir and Vicky [Kaushal] celebrated his return to acting and threw a party after pack-up,” says the source.

Ranbir Kapoor on dad, dating, Dutt, and the idea behind his directorial debut
Mayank Shekhar (MID-DAY; July 16, 2017)

Ranbir Kapoor is a reluctant star. And we don’t mean it in the same way as many refer to Rahul Gandhi as a reluctant politician. A 24x7 actor, and in the case of Jagga Jasoos, a producer, Ranbir is very much out there — taking calls, doing interviews, on-camera, off-camera, through the evening, at Bandra’s Mehboob studio, where we meet. The reluctance has more to do with his laconic, reticent personality. He usually pauses during the interview, awaits the next question, rather than elaborately answering the previous one. That way, he reminds you more of Aamir Khan until, thankfully, Kiran Rao happened to him. And, as Ranbir admits it himself, he’s certainly nothing like Rishi Kapoor, his wildly exuberant father! Excerpt from the interview:

About a year ago, you’d said in an interview that you’re in a “pause or metamorphosis phase, somewhere between “what if” and “f*** it”. Still in the same state?
Well, no. At the time, I was also starting a new film, the (Sanjay) Dutt biopic, and I’m nearly completing it now. So I got to live a new person, and a new experience. I feel more alive now.

But what does “somewhere between ‘what if’ and ‘f*** it’” mean anyway?
I was a bit lost. I didn’t know how to understand and deal with failures. I didn’t know if the choices (I was making) were wrong. I was questioning my instincts. So you’re at that crossroad where you don’t know what’s happening, in terms of having control over your life. And I think that phase is really important — the confusion, turmoil, or to be stuck between ‘what if’ and ‘f*** it’. And it’s your own battle to fight. Some people come out of it sooner, some take time. Fortunately, the medium I’m in, films — which I love the most — changes me a lot, from phase-to-phase. Whether it’s the experience of (making) a film; or how inspired and excited I am (during the process). Dutt really gave me that.

You’d also mentioned that you were tired of seeing yourself on screen. Did this come from the fact that a lot of your films have followed very similar narratives: a lost boy, confused about everything, including love, finally comes of age. Was that choice in itself a coincidence?
I think that’s the phase I was in, earlier on. So those were the parts I was choosing. And those were the best parts being offered. Also, somewhere I was working with the same filmmakers — Imtiaz (Rockstar, Tamasha), Ayan (Wake Up Sid, Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani), Karan (Ae Dil Hai Mushkil) — because they had stories to tell, that I wanted to be a part of. But yes, I have to change that. I can’t ‘come of age’ anymore! I can’t walk out of a marriage with tears in my eyes. I can’t pursue an ambition, be selfish, and have a girl make me realise what my true dreams are, so I can come back to her!

A year ago was also a time when three films of yours back-to-back had bombed, Besharam...
Bombay Velvet.

Also Roy. You were right on top of that poster. Now whether those movies were good/ bad is subjective. All that the film industry cares about is if you’re the star, then your poster must guarantee bums on seats in the first weekend.
To be honest, Besharam opened to Rs 21 crore on Day 1. So, we count that out. And even Roy, for whatever it’s worth, opened to Rs 11 crore. But yes, Bombay Velvet did not open well at all. And I do take blame for that. But as I said, I had no control over it. Bombay Velvet was a film I loved on paper; it was a film that I would stand by. But there is no formula. I don’t know what’s gonna work, or not.



Do you think this whole obsession with the star system is antithetical to huge risk-taking; has that taken us back over the years?
Not at all. I can’t follow somebody else’s career path. In my career, what’s always paid off have been the risks. When I’ve done something formulaic like Besharam, I’ve always fallen flat on my face. I just go by gut instinct, which was the same that made me sign on Rocket Singh, Wake Up Sid, Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani, Rockstar, Rajneeti, and Barfi. And it was the same instinct that made me sign on Besharam and Anjaana Anjaani. So, this is the person I am. I am going to have lots of failures in my life; hopefully I’ll have some successes too. But I can’t really plan anything. I’m just spontaneously living my dream.

Is it then more about the craft, parts, performances, in terms of living the dream, as it were?
Not at all. You need bums on seats. I’m not here to prove to people that I’m a great actor, and that I only get great reviews, and awards. At the end (of the day), it’s about box-office collections — about how many people know you as a star, and come to see you in a movie. But I have a long way to go. I’m still struggling to find that rhythm. And I hope that I struggle for a long time. The day it gets a little easy, I might get contented.

Speaking of distinction between star and actor, you have attempted to bridge the two. For instance, your dad says you actually went back to acting school in the US simply to get the stammer right for Jagga Jasoos.
It’s my job as an actor to do my preparation. Eventually the audience has to connect with my character. And if my character stammers, I’d try to get it right. I can’t look foolish on screen. But, that’d be the same if I was a driver — I would have to know how to drive, both a manual and an automatic car, not a big deal. As for the star-actor issue, or trying to become a star while remaining an actor, I think you just have to become capable at your job. Everything else follows. If you’re honest, a good person, and your intentions are correct, you will become a star. You can’t really concentrate on ‘ki mein star kaise banoonga’, and begin to design things around it; I don’t think that works out well for anybody.

You went to Lee Strasberg school (in New York) and studied method acting. How much of that have you applied in your films?
Not much, you know. Having come back home after an under-grad course in direction (from the US), I was around 20, a star-kid, getting attention from a lot of directors willing to work with me. But I was too young then. My father asked me if I might want to go back to the US and do something for a year. I went to the Lee Strasberg Institute for nine months, to learn the ‘method’ (style/school of acting). It’s not something I thoroughly endorse myself. I think acting is not something you can learn. In a practical form, yes (it helps) that you’re working with other actors, doing scenes, and so you’re putting it (the craft) into a method. But the Strasberg or Stanislavsky ‘method’ ( acting) itself is not something I buy. As an actor, you have to develop your own method — if you’re intelligent, have had good exposure in life, and can surrender to a moment, or material. You don’t need a curriculum or syllabus.

Would you do drugs to play Sanjay Dutt, for instance?
(Laughs) It’s acting, and you have (an actual) sense of it, it always helps, and might seem truer. But I’m not really going to kill somebody to know what it feels like for a scene! I’m not that deep into the ‘method’. Playing Dutt, I’d want to see how I can get into the soul of the character. The look is easy…


The look, which leaked online, was frickin’ nuts!
Yeah! We worked really hard at it, doing four months of prosthetic (make-up) trials, lots of disappointments, thinking that it’s not going to work out. But you need to put in that time and effort. It’s a daunting task to play someone like Sanjay Dutt, who everybody knows anyway.

We met Dutt recently; he said he was astounded to see you during the shoot.
It was surreal for me. You’re acting like him, and the director calls cut, you look up, and suddenly there’s Sanjay Dutt actually sitting behind the monitor! But then I’d got so obsessed with him. Every time I’d see him, I’d start observing him like a hawk — the way he scratches his beard, twitches his eye, drinks water, hugs… It'd become a bit of a sickness for me. But that obsession is necessary for acting, or any form of art — that madness to get something right. You may still fall flat on your face, but it's necessary.

The other biopic you were working on was Kishore Kumar's, with Anurag Basu. We saw you in the Asian Paint ad recently, where you were clearly channeling Kishore, you even looked like him in it. True?
Yes, Prasoon Pandey had directed that ad, and his reference was Kishore Kumar. But I was really upset that the Kishore biopic didn't happen at the time. It's such an amazing story waiting to be told, and he's such a genius. He's also someone that many in today's generation have forgotten. At that time, we didn't get the permission from certain real-life people to use (the story). It was a bit of a bu***r. But I hope that film gets made, and I'd love to play Kishore Kumar.

As stars, inaccessible Kishore, or Dutt, for that matter, held much aura/mystique around them. The way you've played out your career so far — not on social media, never done TV — is there a conscious attempt to take stardom back to how it once used to be, there being distance between audience, work, and the person?
Well, I'm trying to. And yes, that is the intention. But it's really hard, because today, people want data. They want to consume things, and if they like you, they want info on you, and talk to you, since there is access.

I think that really comes in the way of your job, especially if you're an actor, because you're not yourself on screen. You're playing different parts. I may be wrong, and maybe the order of the day is to be on social network, market yourself, and have direct contact with the audience. It's my natural instinct to stay away from all of this. And I'm happy. My life is more peaceful, simpler. I've fewer things to pretend about.

Your dad, on the other hand, is a social media star, because he basically doesn't give a s***. We read your foreword for his autobiography, where you hope that you don't become a dad like him. Now that's being just as publicly honest as he is.
I can't be like my father. He's one of a kind. He's so honest, which is which is admirable. He’ll have no guilt or baggage in his life. He’ll always be a free man. We’re all, at some level, hypocrites. If there’s a political question at a press conference, I’ll have a hypocritical answer, or I’ll clam up, or wriggle out of it. But he won’t. And he regards himself as junta. So if he has an opinion on politics, sports, entertainment, ban on a certain food, he will give it. He feels he has that freedom of speech. Unfortunately he’s an actor, so that gets blown out of proportion, or gets taken too seriously. I don’t think I have that frankness, openness.

Are you more like your mother in that sense?
My personality is more like hers than my father’s. My sister (Riddhima) is more like my father.

Did you also grow up being closer to your mom?
I think that’s true (for kids) in most Indian families, where the father is away at work, and is a strict person. Growing up, we hardly saw our father. Back then, they used to do two shifts a day, six movies a year. We could only see him during holidays — in Ooty, Kashmir or Switzerland. He’d be shooting there, and we needed a holiday, so we’d go where he was.

You have spoken about how marital problems between your parents really affected you as a kid. Does that remain a sore point still?
Not at all. Besides the problems they went through, the greater thing is how they came out of it. I still see so much passion, love and respect between my parents. My father is still so possessive about her. My mother is still so inquisitive about how he’s doing. It’s been 38 years. So, no, I don’t think there’s a scar. I feel happy when I see them together. They’ve found a healthy companionship.

According to psychology, a possible fallout with parents having marital issues, and the kid being too close to the mother, is that as an adult that child turns into a “love avoidant” — as against a “ love junkie”, which mostly happens when you’ve been neglected by parents while growing up. Do you find yourself being either?
No, I think I’m different with different people, and different phases. Everybody wants attention, companionship, and to feel loved.

I’m talking in terms of relationships.
Relationships only. There are varying degrees of what you expect (from a person). As you grow older, you understand more about life, and how much you have to give (back) in a relationship. What I was like while dating a girl in school, and what I am now, and what I will be to my girlfriend later or my wife, will be very different. There is no way to measure it. But there is a different sense of evolvement so far as love in my life is concerned.

Do you go on dates with people outside films, or regular folk, as it were?
Unfortunately I don’t. I’m so obsessed with my films, my life at the movies, and working through the year, that I don’t really get to meet people, unless I travel, or it’s a chance encounter. Usually the only people you get to meet are from the (film) industry. And mostly you interact with actresses. I’m not saying that’s a bad thing. Film people are amazing, but I’d like to, you know, go on a date…

With an architect, or a doctor…
Yeah that’d be lovely. I think it’ll be hard for that person though, because of the kind of lives we live. There’ll be a lot of insecurities. But if you meet somebody who’s sorted, and if you’re yourself sorted…

How would you even meet them? Surely you're not Tinder, unless you have a fake account there as well, like the one on Instagram.
Unfortunately, or fortunately, I’m not on Tinder. Wahan tak ki naubat aayee nahin abhi tak!

You make it sound like it’s a bad thing to be on Tinder.
No, actually, I shouldn’t say that. It’s not a bad thing to be on Tinder. Tinder is doing good to people — it’s getting them together. But I’m happy falling in love with my own company. I’ve always been like that. I don’t mind traveling, having breakfast, lunch, dinner, alone. Sure, being with someone is amazing. There is nothing more beautiful than that. But being alone is something I also enjoy very much.

Would you consider yourself a loner, in that sense?
Not dramatically, but yeah. I’m constantly in a bit of a meditative state — I don’t have a thought (in my head), or stress, anxiety problems, or insecurities. So I’m at peace with myself.

You’ve spoken about how it bothers you that you’re considered a Casanova, when you’re really not.
It used to bother me before. But I’ve also understood that this is how show-business and media operate. The media made me a star even before I deserved it. So this is a small price to pay. I’ve dated actresses, so there’ll be some interest over where you had dinner, or went on a holiday. It comes with the territory. There was a time I used to get bitter about it. I was hating on them going, “How dare they?” But now it’s fine. As long as people don’t judge me for what’s written about.

Of course they will.
But I have no control over that. I can only hope my work over-rides all of it.

Have you ever had a personal publicist?
I never had a PR person because I really don’t know how to play the game. If I knew how to market myself, I definitely would. I don’t know how to be exciting; apart from the parts I play. Films give me an outlet to express myself, and become interesting. I like to become non-interesting after, so I can save the interesting parts for my movies. My personality is boring. I am an introvert.

At 31, you said by 25, you’d want to have a movie, as a director, out of the way; at 34, are you close to checking that box?
I always feel I’m close, but then I get lazy. I have a brilliant idea, which I’ve been sharing with my director friends, and others who’re close. I just don’t have the strong discipline, and gift, to write. It’s still definitely on my to-do list — a big ambition. Having said that, the more I work with good directors— (Anurag) Basu, (Raju) Hirani, Ayan (Mukerji) — I realize how far away I’m from it. I just don’t want to direct a film, since I’ve said it, or it’s cool. I want to be good at it. I want a story that I wish to express myself through. I think I have it…

So you do have the idea for your directorial debut.
Yes, I do. The genre is fantasy-romance. I don’t mean fantasy in the sense that it’d take the audience away to another time or place that they can’t connect with. I mean a love story with a fantasy quality — that’s idealistic, magical. I’ve always leaned towards the genre.

Prachita Pandey (DNA; July 1, 2017)

Ranbir Kapoor has made unusual career choices. From Saawariya to Rocket Singh: Salesman of the Year and from Barfi to Rockstar, most of his unique choices have paid off. What he lost in terms of commercial success, he made up for it in terms of critical acclaim and respect. He has even had commercial films like Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani and Ae Dil Hai Mushkil to his credit. But the one thing that’s been missing from his repertoire is a family entertainer.

Recently, Anil Kapoor emphasised the importance of family entertainers for longevity of an actor’s career. Anil’s long career is proof of this theory. None of Ranbir’s films fall in that category. But he feels that an actor can’t really design his career, “You know when YJHD happened I didn’t design it. It just happened that Ayan (Mukerji) wrote that film and he came to me. Whatever the film became, it became without us knowing it. So, you can’t really create that. I did Ae Dil Hai Mushkil, which was kind of a love story. The film I’m going to do with Ayan (Dragon), in that, too, love is a very important theme. Sanjay Dutt biopic is, of course, a biopic. So, I’m not really designing or planning anything ke achcha abhi maine ye film ki toh iske baad comedy karunga ya romantic film karunga. As directors come, stories which you like, you do!”

Nothing’s bigger than the story
Is the current breed of actors staying away from the family entertainer zone? Ranbir says, “It all depends on the filmmaker and the kind of stories that come to you. Sometimes, the story appeals to you. So the story is the bigger thing, there’s nothing bigger than that.”

Nayandeep Rakshit (DNA; June 22, 2017)

The year 2017 would have seen the biggest clash of films during Christmas, when Salman Khan (and Katrina Kaif) in Tiger Zinda Hai would have gone head to head with Ranbir Kapoor’s Dutt biopic. But, that has been averted as RK’s film has been pushed to March 2018, giving Tiger Zinda Hai a solo release.

A close match
Our trade source tells us there were several reasons why the Rajkumar Hirani film was pushed, “Vidhu Vinod Chopra is mounting this film on a huge scale and this might be the film Ranbir has been wanting for so long. Hirani can hardly go wrong with content, and is the most bankable director in the industry, so it would have been a ‘close match’ but the distributors and exhibitors asked the producers to delay the film’s release.”

The big clash
A reason for the delay was that VVC allegedly asked for whopping Rs 110-120 crore for theatrical rights. Our source confirms, “The exhibitors weren’t willing to pay more than Rs 70-80 crore for the film because if the clash had happened, the films would have suffered. Also, Salman’s film would have had an advantage when it comes to the division of screens. TZH would have still done more than Rs 200 crore business, but Ranbir’s film would have done maximum Rs 150 crore, even if the content was terrific.”

Solo release
It was then that the trade experts met VVC and explained the situation. “The Dutt biopic is a huge film, and will definitely do crazy numbers. But that’s only when it doesn’t clash with a superstar’s film, especially Salman’s. So the distributors agreed to pay them Rs 110 crore for the theatrical rights, on the condition that the film was pushed to a later date. Now, it has a solo release on March 30.”

Akshaye Khanna admits he regrets turning down films which ended up becoming big hits, wants to make his social media debut to promote himself and is happy to embrace his bald pate
Sanyukta Iyer (MUMBAI MIRROR; June 16, 2017)

Akshaye Khanna has clear instructions for his publicist — no telephonic interviews, no group discussions and no other people in the room other than the interviewer and him. “I’m old school that way, I like to forge a connection through the conversation,” he says, lighting a cigarette, settling down in an armchair in Mom producer Boney Kapoor’s Versova office. He’s been coming here every day since the last week. As if on cue, a young boy enters the room to announce that there’s fish curry for lunch. Akshaye’s mood instantly lifts and then drops when he learns that Boney had yet to arrive. He decides to wait for him and talk shop meanwhile.

After a four-year hibernation, Akshaye returned to the screen in 2016 as the bad man in Rohit Dhawan’s Dishoom. This year, he has two releases, the Sridevi-starrer Mom, in which he plays a cop, and Ittefaq, a remake of BR Chopra 1969 classic murder-mystery, in which will see him as a cop too. Why is he settling for extended cameos when he has already established himself as a lead actor with films like Taal, Hulchul and Dil Chahta Hai and Akshaye assures, “I’ll never do a film in which I cannot score, I’m a selfish actor that way. Both Nawaz (Nawazzuddin Siddiqui plays the antagonist in Mom) and I may not have shot for many days but the impact of our characters on the story and its finale is huge.”

He goes on to explain that since being an actor is not his birthright, he has to work every day to live up to it like everyone else. “Just to be in a position where I can get work as an actor in India is a big deal because only one or two new faces make it every year. Bollywood is too exclusive a club to take for granted,” he asserts, admitting that returning to the arclights hasn’t been easy as he is constantly living with the fear of not being good enough and rusty.

The feeling has previously plagued him when he was working with Rajesh Khanna in Aa Ab Laut Chalen, Hema Malini in Himalay Putra and Sunny Deol in Border. “Filmmaking is a collaborative process and the irony of being an actor is that you are dependent on many other people. So my quest now is to surround myself with great talent and grab good scripts,” he says.

Ask him why he chose to be a part of a film helmed by a debutant for his second film in five years, when he could have worked with filmmaker friends like Farhan Akhtar, Priyadarshan and Anees Bazmee, he reasons that if Boney and Sridevi who has done just one film in the last 15 years were willing to place their bet on a debutant director, who was he to question the fate of the project. He recalls how while shooting in Georgia, Sridevi had confided in him that Ravi was the best director she had worked with. “I was taken aback by her revelation because she has worked with the best of the best. If I tell Ravi he’ll probably faint,” Akshaye guffaws.

Recluse alert
Prod him on Sridevi whom he refers to as a “national treasure” and he quips that he can never be friends with her for the same reason that other actors can never befriend him. “I thought I was borderline reclusive but Sridevi takes being a private person to a whole different level. She is the ultra non-communicator, I haven’t seen this quality in actors in a long time. No one can be friends with us unless they have known us for years, there can never be an icebreaking moment and I love it!” he exclaims.

You realise what he means by that when you touch on the subject of his father, the late Vinod Khanna, who succumbed to cancer on April 27. “I’m not in the right frame of mind to address any questions on the subject. It’s not even been a year, I will speak about it when the time is right,” he says shortly. While Akshaye maintains a stoic silence, brother Rahul has been remembering their father with a series of throwback images online. Akshaye surprises you by informing that he will be making his social media debut soon. “I love it because anyone can express themselves uncensored. As an actor, I have to go through a Censor Board for every action, dialogue and scene. It’s frustrating, but on Twitter, you can say immature, offensive things and get away with it. I don’t think I’d have much to say though,” he chuckles, admitting its time to rebuild his image and promote himself.

Marlon and me
One of his greatest regrets has been turning down films which went on to become hits. “Marlon Brando showed director David Lean the door when he approached him for Lawrence Of Arabia, telling him there was no way he’d spend two years shooting in a desert. Peter O’ Toole bagged the part while Brando lived with a lifetime of regret,” he sighs, admitting that he would have loved to play Sunil Dutt’s role in Rajkumar Hirani’s Sanjay Dutt biopic because it’s the finest piece of writing he’s read in his life but unfortunately failed the look test.

He passed muster with Ittefaq though and was blown away by this script too. “My connection to the material was spontaneous,” he says, pointing out that he has never been rejected for a role because of his age or because he wasn’t physically or mentally fit. “I started at 19 and at 42, I feel younger. All our current superstars are 50-plus and at the top of their game. So age is not a blip on my radar,” he smiles, looking better, fitter and meaner despite a receding hairline. “Actors are suckers for recognition and appreciation like everyone else. I too want a pat on my back, a hug and a compliment. That’s what I wake up for every morning. As for my hairline, I flaunt my bald pate.”

Aastha Atray Banan (MID-DAY; June 11, 2017)

"Even if he hadn’t won the Nobel Prize, we should know who he is. When I tell people I am going to be playing Kailash Satyarthi in Jhalki, they ask ‘who is that?’” cringes actor Boman Irani, “It’s embarrassing.” In the film, Irani portrays the2014 Nobel Peace Prize winner who was lauded for his campaign against child labour and protection of their right to education.

Jhalki, which is being directed by Brahmanand Siingh, is a work of fiction that follows a girl in search of her younger brother, who was sold as bonded labourer. Boman, as Satyarthi, helps him escape. Speaking of the activist, Irani says, “He is a crusader, and the way he approaches his mission is amazing — he has freed almost 87,000 children, and says he won’t stop till all children are free. If you are on YouTube watching something, make it something worthwhile and watch his speeches.”

It could be the case of life imitating art but 5 halki’s premise of saving children at risk also holds close to the 57-year-old’s heart. When he is not working, Irani plays mentor at the Don Bosco Shelter Home for Children at Risk, that houses kids rescued from the streets where they are susceptible to a life of drugs and crime. “I help them find some confidence. They all want to be working members of society. They used to be angrier, now they are more focused. They have ambitions, like becoming a DJ, being in the IT sector or theatre. These are all achievable goals too.”

Along with mentoring, Irani has also been instrumental in raising funds for the school. “Recently, a bunch of kids came here from Itarsi. It was the first time they had seen the sea. I was not an actor to them, just a person who was talking to them. This gives me a lot of calmness and joy,” he says, and then adds, “Even just a line of encouragement can change a life.”

Irani, who is known for his iconic roles in Munnabhai MBBS and Khosla Ka Ghosla among many others, is not one to rest on his laurels. He is working on two more projects, one of which is a John Abraham production. Parmanu, revolves around the 1998 Pokhran blasts. “I play a bureaucrat. If you are asking me how it altered my view on the nuclear blasts, I have one primary question: Should anyone in the world have ever made a nuclear weapon? That’s the first and most important question. But since that is the case, I now feel that it’s a response to being bullied. That’s what I got out of that character.”

He is also doing a bit role in Rajkumar Hirani’s Dutt, a biopic on Sanjay Dutt’s life. And even though he can’t tell us what the role is, he seems excited about it. “Raju called and said, ‘you have to be a part of this story’. I said, write me in, get my mug there.”

On the surface of it, all movies that he is involved in now seem to have political or social relevance, and when asked if that is a conscious decision, he shrugs. “I think all my movies shouldn’t be the same, so I do make it a point to do different kinds of films. But yes, right now, they are socially relevant…” he pauses and then says, “I like the idea of movies making a difference, but, at the end of the day, a person does need to be entertained. The guy on the street wants to go to the movies with his family and have a good time. That’s why I make it a point to do a fun movie. As an actor, I am an entertainer, and we should really not take everything so seriously. It’s okay if a few movies do not have a message to impart.”