Actress Sanya Malhotra on watching her first director’s new film and planning a sabbatical to learn a new dance form
Avinash Lohana (MUMBAI MIRROR; October 15, 2019)

Sanya Malhotra, who rose to fame as the feisty Babita in Nitesh Tiwari’s Dangal, has been amassing followers on social media with her dancing skills. Trained in ballet, she’s planning a sabbatical in a year or two but before that she hopes to land a musical. “Dancing is my passion. I’ll take a break to go abroad to train in a new dance form, may be tap-dancing. But if I get a dance film, I can stay here and earn money,” she laughs.

Not many know that she had choreographed her Dangal co-star and mentor Aamir Khan in the “Sexy Baliye” song for Advait Chandan’s 2017 musical-drama, Secret Superstar. “That was a dream come true. Advait wanted me to choreograph the song but I thought he was kidding. After a week, he called to ask if I was ready. It was a lot of fun, but I don’t want to choreograph myself. I’d tried it for the title track in Pataakha but I can’t handle everything if I’m in the frame too,” says Sanya, who recently returned to the city from the UK schedule of the Shakuntala Devi biopic with Vidya Balan in the titular role. A self-confessed fan, she describes her co-star as a “wonderful person with a great sense of humour”.

Meanwhile, she’s still on a high after Junglee Pictures’ Badhaai Ho was adjudged Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment at the National Awards. She describes the win as “exciting and gratifying”. “It’s a special film and I’m glad so many loved it. We haven’t had time to celebrate yet as everyone is busy with work commitments, but hopefully it will happen soon,” she beams.

Sanya is also all praise for Nitesh’s recent release, the Sushant Singh Rajput and Shraddha Kapoor-starrer Chhichhore. She had met up with the filmmaker and her Dangal co-star Fatima Sana Shaikh after the film opened, sharing a picture of the reunion writing, “Chhoriyan Chhichhoron Se Kam Na Hai.” “I saw the film twice. The second time, it struck me that the way Sushant spoke, walked and sat, was all Nitesh sir,” she exclaims. The director paid her a visit recently when informed that her mother was in town. “He came over to eat chhole bhature, it was so much fun. We haven’t discussed work yet, but I would love to work with him again,” she admits.

Next up, Sanya will be seen alongside Aditya Roy Kapur in Anurag Basu’s untitled next. “I can’t talk about my character but working with Aditya is amazing. We are a lot alike. Besides having the same number of followers on Instagram and sharing a manager, dono chup chap rehte hain aur zyada baat nahin karte,” the actress concludes.

Sanya Malhotra on sharing screen space with actress in Junglee Pictures’ Badhaai Ho and why she wouldn’t choreograph her own songs
Natasha Coutinho (MUMBAI MIRROR; October 17, 2018)

After playing unconventional protagonists in Dangal, Pataakha, Sanya Malhotra is joining the Bollywood mainstream as a hip Delhi Girl in Amit Sharma’s Badhaai Ho, in which she also showcases her skills as a trained dancer. Excerpts from an interview:

What was it like working on Badhaai Ho?
It is a well written film, and I wanted to be a part of its mad circus. My character Renne, who is Nakul’s (Ayushmann Khurrana) colleague and girlfriend, is a sensible girl who doesn’t judge his parents and tries to explain to him that they are entitled to have sex at whatever age they want to. It’s none of his business.

What was it like sharing screen space with veteran actors like Neena Gupta and Surekha Sikri?
Besides being an amazing actor, Neena ji is fierce and confident. I remember watching her TV serial, Saans, with my mother, who is a big fan and was also her junior in college. I was nervous about working alongside her, Surekha ji and Gajraj ji (Rao). It’s just my third film and I wondered if I would do a bad job. But when I saw Neena ji and Gajraj ji on the first day of shooting, they had transformed into Nakul ke mummy papa. That was my favourite day on sets. It was a delight to watch them improvise.

You’re a trained dancer, but this is the first time that you will be seen showcasing your prowess in Bollywood dancing on screen…
I was so excited to know that I’d be in the song “Morni Banke”. It was also nerve-wrecking as it was my first time dancing in front of the camera instead of an Instagram video. I’m a huge Guru Randhawa (who has sung the song) fan and the choreography was fun.

Tell us about Nawazuddin Siddiqui, your co-star in Ritesh Batra’s Photograph.
I play an introvert who is also Nawaz’s muse. We might announce the release date soon. I am an introvert in real life too, so it was an interesting experience.

How has your family adjusted to your fame?
I am getting pictures clicked even if I go home for two-three days. Sometimes, people get wind of my arrival and approach my mom for a picture with me. I am exhausted by the end of the day, but my family feels so proud and that’s cute.

Tell us about your initiation into Bollywood.
I came to Mumbai to participate in (the dance-based talent hunt show) Dance India Dance, but couldn’t go beyond the top 100. However, I decided to stay back and pursue my dream of acting. You don’t have access to the industry in Delhi and I thought maybe a reality show would open those doors. It didn’t, and I was heartbroken. I think things worked out for the better — if I had got through the show, I wouldn’t have been an actor today.

You also have a bit of a choreographing experience...
I directed the song “Sexy Baliye” in Secret Superstar and had taken it up because why would anyone say ‘no’ to working for an Aamir Khan production? When Advait (Chandan, director) came up with the idea, I thought he’s joking. After a few days, he asked me if the steps were ready and that’s when I realised that he had been serious about it all along. In the future, if I get a good opportunity to choreograph, I will take it up, but I don’t want to choreograph my own songs because it would be quite a distraction.

Is it true that you have signed choreographer Bosco Martis’s directorial debut?
I haven’t signed the film as of now, but we might announce something soon. Stay tuned…

Every year, there are a couple of surprise successes – films that don’t seem that exciting prior to the release but turn out to be great entertainers and box office hits. Happy Bhag Jayegi was one such film of 2016. It released just a week after the big Rustom vs Mohenjo Daro clash and had a slow opening. But the word of mouth was encouraging and it sustained very well. Its lifetime collection was around Rs. 28.19 crore which is quite good for a film that opened at Rs. 2.29 crore.

The positive response prompted the makers to come up with the sequel, Happy Phirr Bhag Jayegi. The lead attractions of the first part were Jimmy Sheirgill and Piyush Mishra and both have been retained. The original ‘Happy’ Diana Penty and her lover Ali Fazal have a supporting role this time and they pass the baton to Sonakshi Sinha and Jassi Gill. In the first part, Happy accidentally ventures into Pakistani and in Happy Phirr Bhag Jayegi, the madness unfolds in China!

The trailer was unveiled yesterday and it has met with an encouraging response. The film looks hilarious and its dialogues are expected to bring the house down. The elements that made the first part a success – chaos happening in a neighbouring country, family-friendly genre, a munhfat Punjabi girl, effective performances – all are present in the sequel as well.

The opening is expected to be much better than the first part. It has Genius for competition, which is directed by Anil Sharma and is the debut of his son Utkarsh. The film looks very poor and Happy Phirr Bhag Jayegi would surely dominate. The genre and comic moments in fact makes it ideal for a festival release. Viewers crave for a movie that they can enjoy with their whole family during Diwali, Eid, Christmas etc. In that regard, Happy Phirr Bhag Jayegi is ideal. Festive releases always get an additional push due to the joyous mood and holiday factor. Hence, films that release during these periods always do a bit better. The Eid release of this year, Race 3, would have been a disaster had it not released during the festival. The money it earned during the first weekend saved the film from becoming a big-time flop. Similarly, films like Golmaal Again, Tubelight, Raees etc got a boost for releasing during the correct period.

In the past, we have seen some very ugly clashes happening when two biggies release on the same day. It not only leads to a divide of screens, but it also results in bad blood between the makers as they try every trick in the book to get more screens and outwit the other. However, when there’s a clash between a biggie and a small film, then things can be better. An example of this is the smaller film Secret Superstar releasing with the big-budget Golmaal Again on Diwali 2017. Initially, issues cropped up as Secret Superstar producer Aamir Khan tried to get half of the screens. But when he realized that his film doesn’t deserve that many screens, he gave it away to Golmaal Again. Both films did well, ultimately and there was peaceful co-existence from thereon.

Happy Phirr Bhag Jayegi is also a small film with reasonable costs and reach. If it had come out with say Thugs Of Hindostan on Diwali day this year, it would have been a great idea. Viewers would have got a chance to see two films on this big festival. Happy Phirr Bhag Jayegi would have benefited as it would have opened better than on a non-festival day. As for Thugs Of Hindostan, the film is too big and exciting and it won’t have got impacted much with the clash with Happy Phirr Bhag Jayegi. In short, a win-win situation for all!

At a time when clashes are becoming inevitable, such kind of measures would surely help and benefit one and all. Nevertheless, here’s hoping Happy Phirr Bhag Jayegi meets all the expectations and manages to do extremely well, despite being a non-holiday release!

Suchitra Krishnamoorthi on her comeback with a John Abraham film, nudging Kaveri towards films and why she will never work with filmmaker ex-husband Shekhar Kapur
Natasha Coutinho (MUMBAI MIRROR; July 19, 2018) 

Suchitra Krishnamoorthi, who was last seen on the big screen in the 2010 film Mittal V/s Mittal alongside Gulshan Grover and Rituparna Sengupta, is back on the big screen with the espionage drama, RAW: Romeo, Akbar, Walter, also featuring John Abraham, Jackie Shroff and Mouni Roy. The actress-singer kicked off shooting in Vadodara, Gujarat, for the Robbie Grewal film earlier this month and is set to move to Junagadh with the team on July 26 for the next schedule.

“I got a call from the casting director a month ago but I was leaving for a Himalayan trek. But soon afterwards, I injured my back and was advised not to continue the trek. Two days later, they called again and I gave my nod. This is the first time I am working in such a big film in a commercial setup,” she says. She has shot a few scenes with Jackie who plays the RAW chief.

Suchitra admits that she regrets turning down some films in the last few years. “I’m a moody actor. But some of the films that I rejected went on to become really big hits. This time, I have decided to take up the offers that I find interesting. I’ve been getting mother roles off late so it was a relief to land a film like RAW which is a true story set in 1971 India. The look is also based on real characters,” she informs, refusing to divulge anymore on the subject or her character.

Meanwhile, her teenaged daughter Kaveri, who has three singles to her credit, is also making inroads into the film industry. “I’m very keen to see Kaveri in a movie. She was offered Aamir Khan’s Secret Superstar (a role which eventually went to Zaira Wasim) but she declined the offer. I begged her to do just this one film, but she wanted to focus on being a singer-songwriter at the time. So, she put on her most pronounced foreign accent and said, ‘No, mum, are you crazzzzy!,’” she informs mimicking her with a still disappointed sigh.

The actress-singer further reveals that her daughter is gradually warming up to the idea of being in films but is currently at the prestigious Berklee College of Music in the US doing a summer course. “Her father (filmmaker Shekhar Kapur) has shot her next music video in Goa. It should be out in September,” she informs.

Is a collaboration with her ex-husband in the offing, too, you wonder, and she is quick on the uptake, “Never!”, adding with a laugh, “We manage to get along for Kaveri’s sake and that’s a great thing. Who wants to start fighting again.”
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Jammu and Kashmir government promises security for shooting of Romeo, Akbar, Walter

Bunty Walia, one of the producer of RAW, recently met top police officials in Srinagar to request for security for the team when it arrives in the Valley for its third schedule.

According to a source, Bunty is camping in Srinagar ahead of the schedule to facilitate a smooth shoot. “I don’t expect any trouble while filming here but looking at the present situation, I have asked for security for the cast and crew so that they feel secure while at work,” the filmmaker told Mirror.

He adds that the spy thriller will be filmed at three locations, including Gulmarg and Srinagar. “My earlier film, Lamhaa, was shot in the state, during the Amarnath land row. The locals are very cooperative and I’m sure we will be taken care of this time as well.”

The source revealed that a twotier security, which includes Jammu and Kashmir Police and CRPF, has been promised to Bunty for his team during the duration of the shooting.

After the Vadodara and Junagarh schedules in Gujarat, the team will arrive in Gulmarg on August 18. The film is expected to wrap up by August-end and hits the theatres on January 26. The Republic Day date is a coveted one for Bollywood filmmakers. — Anil Raina

SECRET SUPERSTAR did well on television getting 60 lakh impressions although remains to be seen how it goes post its premiere. The film has beaten films like BAADSHAHO and RAEES on television by a small margin which is very good as the film hardly holds any appeal for the wider audience in India.

It may not be too strong post the premiere but at least it found some sort of audience post theatrical as films of this type struggle post theatrical as they are for a limited audience and those who are interested in this cinema are a minority and watch it in the theatres.

JUDWAA 2 has maintained its crazy run post theatrical release as its fifth screening gets nearly 50 lakh impressions. It is almost the same as the first screening of SECRET SUPERSTAR. The total in five screenings is 4.21 crore, a figure only surpassed by BAAHUBALI 2: THE CONCLUSION over first five screenings.

The ratings of JUDWAA 2 on its first five screenings are as follows. The numbers are impressions which are the number of television sets viewing the film.
First - 1,52,66,00,000
Second - 92,78,000
Third - 63,78,000
Fourth - 64,53,000
Fifth - 47,59,000
TOTAL - 4,21,34,00,000

Upala KBR (MID-DAY; February 16, 2018)

With Secret Superstar having made over Rs 600 crore in China within four weeks of its release, Aamir Khan has been busy fielding messages from the film’s team, all reading the same thing — party toh banti hai!. Jubilant over the film’s runaway success himself, the producer-actor has finally decided to pop the bubbly. mid-day has it that he, along with wife Kiran Rao, will be hosting a bash on February 21 at his Bandra residence to celebrate the movie’s success.

Says a source close to Khan, “The film’s team had been demanding a party for some time now. Since Aamir was busy with the shoot of Thugs Of Hindostan, he kept stalling it. He first told them that he will throw a party when it crosses the Rs 100-crore mark in China. When it did, he good-naturedly joked that he’ll wait till it makes Rs 500 crore. Now, he has zeroed in on a date.”

Knowing Khan’s proclivity towards keeping things low-key, the do too will be an intimate affair. Besides Secret Superstar actor Zaira Wasim, director Advait Chandan and the crew, the actor has also extended invitations to some of his Bollywood director friends including Rajkumar Hirani and Nitesh Tiwari among others. “Aamir is currently shooting at nights for Thugs Of Hindostan. However, he will change it around and shoot through the day on February 20 and 21, so that he can host the party on Wednesday night,” adds the source.

The small-budget film hit the screens in China on January 19. While the movie had made Rs 64 crore upon its Diwali release in India, it has emerged the top-grossing imported film of 2018 in China, thus continuing Khan’s success streak in the neighbouring country after PK, 3 Idiots and Dangal.

Upala KBR (MID-DAY; January 26, 2018)

The past five days may have been frenetic for Aamir Khan, but he is not complaining. The superstar is on a whirlwind tour across China, promoting Secret Superstar. When he is not reaching out to his fans or attending press conferences, Khan has been taking in all that China has to offer - from trying out their delicacy to playing a round of table tennis.

Turns out, during his Shanghai visit on Monday, the superstar set out to taste authentic Chinese cuisine with his good friend, Chinese actor-director Deng Chao. A source in the know reveals that Chao made him try a special Chinese dish called Century Egg. "As Aamir was about to pop one into his mouth, Deng warned him that a recent CNN poll rated it as one of the world's most horrible foods. However, Aamir enjoyed the dish," says the source.

Another event in Shanghai saw the actor match his table tennis skills with Liu Guoliang. The Olympic gold medallist gifted an autographed racquet to Khan, who reciprocated by gifting him a guitar.

With the Zaira Wasim-starrer marking Khan's fourth film to release in China, he has built a steady audience in the neighbouring country - fans have given him the moniker 'Uncle Aamir'. The source adds, "There was a special event organised for Aamir. Since Jackie Chan couldn't attend it, he sent across a video message, welcoming Aamir back to the country." Talking about Secret Superstar's success in China, Khan said, "I'm happy to see the way the film resonated with the youth of China."

Box-office superstar
China got a taste of Aamir Khan's box-office pull as Secret Superstar earned Rs 265 crore in less than a week of its release. With this, the Chinese collections have surpassed the lifetime earnings in India of Rs 64 crore. The film that hit screens in China on January 19 raked in Rs 174 crore over the first weekend, besting Dangal's opening weekend collection of Rs 80 crore.


Khan having Century Egg with Deng Chao

Salman Khan swears by Eid, SRK bets on Diwali but will Hrithik Roshan manage to steal Christmas away from Aamir Khan by booking two years in advance?
Komal Nahta (MUMBAI MIRROR; January 14, 2018)

Sanjay Leela Bhansali announced the release date of his controversial Padmavat on Republic Day — it was to clash with Akshay Kumar starrer Pad Man and Sidharth Malhotra starrer Aiyaary but the makers of Aiyaari postponed their release. Arguably one of the most eagerly-awaited films of the year, Padmavat has been so neck-deep in controversies that the moment it got an okay from the CBFC, the trade community was ready to back its release. That both Padmavat and Pad Man will now release on January 25 makes us wonder what is it about the national holidays and festival weekends that make producers chase them.

While the success of a film was once measured by how long it ran in theatres — completing silver, platinum and golden jubilees — the new mantra is cracking the opening weekend. This shift in emphasis has to do with the fact that films today release in thousands of cinemas simultaneously, as against 150 odd cinemas in the ‘60s, ‘70s and ‘80s. Most films are also off cinemas in a couple of weeks and don’t run for months as they once did. Consequently, there is no time for collections to pick up on the strength of positive word of mouth publicity.

The obsession over blocking festival dates began once stars turned producers. You did not have a Rajesh Khanna or an Amitabh Bachchan chasing a festival week for their films. Filmmakers then, would base their release strategy on the theme of the film. A patriotic film would get an astounding response if released on Independence Day. Also, stars then had three, four and even more releases every year and couldn’t manage to stick to festivals alone. However, today’s top stars have one or, at the best, two releases in a year or sometimes, in two years — a reason why they want to be sure that nothing goes wrong. A smart way to ensure that is by releasing on festivals.

The Diwali duel
Diwali was the first festival to be considered auspicious by producers. That the Hindu festival is celebrated over three days (Laxmi Pooja, New Year and Bhai Dooj) directly translated in steady box-office collections over the period. Collections do get adversely affected when Laxmi Pooja is held in Hindu households and offices. Another reason for a spike in collections is that a lot of companies disburse annual bonuses during Diwali, boosting spending power. Actor-producer Aamir Khan would have never risked getting his medium-budgeted Secret Superstar to release alongside the multi-starrer Golmaal Again, had it not been during Diwali. Few know that Khan graciously relinquished shows in all multiplexes from the second day onwards when approached by Rohit Shetty whose Golmaal Again was struggling to accommodate since it was running to packed shows. “No purpose is served if I underutilise the cinema capacity while Rohit [Shetty] is in need of more capacity for his film,” Aamir said, before ordering his distribution team to help Golmaal Again with more shows.

The desperation to nail the box office on a Diwali weekend has, at times, even taken a sour turn. When Yash Chopra’s Jab Tak Hai Jaan and Ajay Devgn’s Son Of Sardaar clashed during Diwali in 2012, a few days following the filmmaker’s demise, the sombre atmosphere didn’t ease the competitive streak. Devgn dragged the late filmmaker’s company to the Competition Commission of India, alleging that they had cornered most premium cinemas. “This is monopoly at its worst,” Devgn thundered then, adding, “I won’t allow Aditya Chopra to corner all the cream cinemas for his film.” The CCI dismissed the case in no time. Point to note is that Devgn was not willing to let go of the Diwali week even if it meant having to contend with fewer screens.

Eid’s good
Over time, producers realised that if Diwali spells success, so would Eid. A testament of the commercial potential of the Eid holiday is evident from the success of Salman Khan films which have monopolised the weekend for years. Since a lot of Muslims abstain from all entertainment activities for an entire month (during Ramzan) prior to Eid, collections during the period are often at an all-time low. But if a producer is willing to take the risk of releasing his film one, two or three days prior to Eid, one can imagine the boost the film gets during the holiday. Salman Khan’s Kick was the Eid blockbuster in 2014, while his Bajrangi Bhaijaan became Khan’s first film to join the Rs. 300-crore club. Until Tiger Zinda Hai in 2017, Bajrangi Bhaijaan was the biggest blockbuster in Salman’s career, next only to Sultan which, incidentally, was also an Eid release (2016).

Shah Rukh Khan and Rohit Shetty worked overtime to release Chennai Express on the Eid week of 2013. It remains the biggest grosser in the superstar’s career (Rs 226 crore net collections in India). Chennai Express and Once Upon A Time In Mumbai Dobaara! were slated to release on the Eid week — a week prior to the Independence Day. To avoid the clash, Ekta Kapoor offered to postpone her film by a week — a move much appreciated by Khan who met Kapoor to arrive at the decision. But when Chennai Express became a hit, Khan refused to surrender shows in multiplexes which Ekta had envisaged would come to her in return for her gesture.

Going against the grain
Rajshri Productions is one of the few which don’t hanker after holiday weekends to release their films. Although Rajshri’s last film, Prem Ratan Dhan Payo (2015), was a Diwali release, the company’s highest grossing film of the 1980s Maine Pyar Kiya (1989) released on December 29, while Hum Aapke Hain Koun..! (1994) which broke box office records released on August 5.

Looking ahead, we welcome Salman Khan’s Race 3 (15th June) on Eid, Aamir Khan’s Thugs Of Hindostan (November 7) as a Diwali offering, and Shah Rukh’s Zero (21st December) as a Christmas gift. And given Bollywood’s obsession with festival releases, Rakesh Roshan has announced the release date of his Krrish 4 — the Christmas week of 2020. Yes, you read it right, it will come two years later but the date has been blocked. Does that prevent Aamir, who has had much success in December (Dangal, PK, 3 Idiots), from announcing his film in the same week? You must be kidding!

The author is a film trade analyst

Sonil Dedhia (MID-DAY; December 7, 2017)

After its run-in with the Censor Board earlier this year that resulted in the film being postponed, Saif Ali Khan’s Kaalakaandi is ready for release. The makers have announced that the quirky comedy will hit the screens on Jnuary 12. However, Khan cautions that there may be a change of plans owing to Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Padmavati. “If Padmavati comes in [on that day], we will think of shifting our release date. I hope we don’t have to do that. Kaalakaandi is a film I am proud of,” says Khan, who has explored uncharted territories with the Akshat Verma film.

While most makers avoid box office clashes like the proverbial plague, the actor believes that different films releasing on the same day only go on to show the diversity that cinema can offer. “It would have been nice to see Kaalakaandi releasing with Padmavati, as it shows that we have a film industry, which makes different kinds of movies. Recently, we saw Secret Superstar and Golmaal Again releasing on the same day and both films did well. Personally, I feel it’s a good time to have films releasing alongside one another. But filmmakers are wary about it and you need to take that into consideration.”

The box-office hasn’t been kind to Khan over the past few years — his last release, Chef, didn’t manage to rake in the moolah. Admitting that it “bothers” him when his films don’t fare well, the actor says his innate self-confidence keeps him going during such times. “It’s easy to think that people no longer want to see me in a film. But I don’t do that. I get my confidence back every time, irrespective of whether my film works or not. I’ll keep working and hopefully, things will fall into place.” Saif Khan.

Nayandeep Rakshit (DNA; December 4, 2017)

There was a time when Sonakshi Sinha was only seen opposite male superstars in masala entertainers. Then came Lootera, but such films were few and far between. However, in the last one year, she has upped her game. Akira, Noor, and Ittefaq had her playing well-etched out roles. Sonakshi admits that this is what she wants to do, hereon. She has a few projects lined up, mostly two-heroine projects (Happy Phirr Bhag Jayegi, Dabangg 3, and Abhishek Varman’s untitled next). Here, she talks about what she looks for in such films and why two-heroine projects aren’t just about catfights.

Your last film Ittefaq was different from your previous work. What excites you more — doing films with tight budgets that give good ROI (return on investment) or doing big films?
It has to be both because I have had the best of both worlds and I’m able to adapt to both kinds of cinema equally well. Whether it’s a big-budget commercial film or it’s a well-budgeted film like Ittefaq, I feel I’ve broken those barriers. I can fit into both the zones. I enjoy them both because I enjoy my craft a lot. So, whether I have to play a Maya or a Rajjo, I will do it with as much enjoyment.

You have mostly been seen in masala films, with the exception of Lootera. But with the films you are doing or have signed in the last one year, have you come into your own?
I think so. Honestly, from my very first film, a lot of people didn’t know what to expect because I was not into the limelight that much. I never wanted to be an actor, but right from Dabangg, people saw some spark in me, which is why they expected me to do a lot more. Nobody ever said that this girl cannot act. They said I held my own in a Salman Khan film, which was the biggest compliment for me. Honestly, when a film like Lootera came along while I was doing Son Of Sardaar and Rowdy Rathore and all that, it struck a chord somewhere. I felt that this will be something that will push me in a way that other films won’t. And it did. I enjoyed doing it. After that, I was already committed to these commercial films. Then came Akira, Noor, and Ittefaq, and I knew these were films that would push my buttons. They alter my thinking, and honestly, today the audience is so unpredictable that you never know what they like, what they don’t. So why not take that risk?

Are you more confident after all these years, and a flop here or there doesn’t really matter?
No, the confidence comes from the fact that I was able to establish myself as a quintessential Hindi commercial film heroine. The kind of reach that I got by doing those commercial entertainers is outstanding because people in the cities know me as well as someone from the heartland. The confidence that I have is that whoever has liked me in those films, will go and watch these movies, too. More confidence comes from the fact that it has become so unpredictable. Now is the time to take risks, to do things that are different and to experiment.

So numbers have stopped mattering that way then?
Honestly, numbers never mattered to me. Even when numbers were humongous, they never made a difference. Obviously, someone who’s a part of a film, made with so much love, effort, and hard work, would want their films to do well. But it’s only because you want those many people to watch your film and appreciate it. That’s what matters. What’s the point in getting the numbers and still get gaalis? We want people to love us and what we do.

Did doing TV help increase your audience?
Absolutely! I believe that, for sure. Right now, television as a medium is so vast, probably bigger than films. It has a very wide reach because you are sitting at home and flipping channels. The remote is in your hands and you have a whole platter to choose from. Some of these talent-based shows are really really good, because you get to see so many different talents and spend time with them. The reach is tremendous. For me, it’s not about taking time off to do TV because I’m doing it simultaneously. My work in movies hasn’t stopped. I am shooting for Happy... and another film. I’m flying back and doing TV and going back again. It’s become a part of my job.

What led you to Happy Phirr Bhag Jayegi?
Ittefaq se, I am doing two comedies now and I enjoy it so much. There’s the Wizcraft and Vashu Bhagnani film along with Happy Phirr Bhag Jayegi. It’s so interesting to get that comic timing right. The little nuances and funny stuff on the screen are things I love to do. I’m a very happy person by nature. It’s automatic for me to make people laugh. Especially with Happy, it’s a fun world because I’m a wannabe Punjabi. My father’s a Bihari, my mom’s a Sindhi, but in my head, I’m a Punjabi (laughs). I am happiest playing this character.

How’s it going?
A lot of fun, actually. We just wrapped up a schedule in Amritsar and I stayed there for 10-12 days. Shooting for the film is making me happy as well.

Diana Penty and you are shooting together. Have there been any catfights?
I don’t understand why that’s said only about heroines. I can tell you men are more insecure and also gossip more than women (laughs). They are the ones who gossip the most.

So what goes on in your mind when you are offered a two-heroine film?
It’s absolutely fine as long as you are happy with your role and character. Why do you want to think about who else is doing what? If you are not happy, then you try to make tweaks if you enjoy the premise of the film. But other than that, if you are okay with what you are doing, do it else don’t. The choice is in your hands.

Would it be difficult to sign a two-heroine film when you know the other girl is someone you don’t share an equation with?
No, how do you make equations like that all the time? So many times there have been actors whom I didn’t know or had an equation with when I worked with them for the first time. Akshaye Khanna, for instance. Why should it be any different for a heroine? I have not worked with Jacqueline (Fernandez) before but I also meet her at parties and we get along really well. I am someone who gets along with everyone. So I need to find someone who I’m not okay with, first to decide on this.

What about doing a chick flick?
Yes! I would love that. In fact, I was offered a few chick flicks, but they never worked out. I don’t know for what reasons. It will be a lot of fun, when it happens.

If you had to choose a few women to do a chick flick with, who would you choose?
Jacqueline Fernandez for sure. We get along like a house on fire and she’s too funny. And obviously, Alia (Bhatt) because I adore her.

There’s always an A-list actress in a male superstar’s film. But when women take the lead, no A-list actor wants to play the second lead. Comment.
That’s again their prerogative. A film should be made not based on who is in it or who’s doing a special appearance. If you’re making it for a character and to project that character in a certain way, then do it for that. In the end, you need to be true to yourself. It should be seamless, for instance, like Secret Superstar. Aamir Khan was fabulous in the film. It should not be like daalne ke liye daal diya, just for the name. Nahi chahiye naam ke liye! We should have that much confidence in ourselves, the script and the content that we will be able to do without that.

Upala KBR (MID-DAY; November 21, 2017)

At 17, Zaira Wasim boasts of a feat that many Bollywood stars, double her age, are struggling to achieve. The youngster’s second film, Secret Superstar, has collected Rs 121 crore worldwide, thus making her the youngest lead actor to have a 100-crore grosser to her name.

Ask her how she feels to be part of the elite club that includes the likes of Salman Khan, Shah Rukh Khan, Akshay Kumar and of course, her Secret Superstar co-actor Aamir Khan among others, and she laughs, “I have not been aware of the collections so much. It’s great that the film has done so well worldwide but for creative people like us, what matters is how the audience connects to the film emotionally. I am really overwhelmed when people come and tell me they loved the film.”

Point out to her how she has possibly the brightest minds in the business as mentors and she cuts in, “I don’t agree with the thought that they [Khan and wife Kiran Rao] are my mentors. They are family for me. Whenever I need any advice, I speak to them. They are just one call away.”

Much like Khan, Wasim too is extremely choosy about the projects she gives her nod to. Admitting to being flooded with film offers, she says, “I haven’t liked any of the offers as of now. Let’s see [what my next project is]. Right now, I am going with the flow.”

Adding to her list of achievements, Wasim also received the 2017 National Child Award for Exceptional Achievement from President Ram Nath Kovind last week. “It’s a privilege to receive an award from the President. This is my second National Award, so I feel really honoured. I hope I continue to do good work for society, especially women and children.”

While she is Bollywood’s not-so-secret superstar, she throws a curveball on being asked whom she considers her favourite star. “I don’t watch a lot of films, but my favourite star would be Sanjay Mishra. The kind of movies he does is amazing!”

Harshada Rege (DNA; November 14, 2017)

At 17, Zaira Wasim already has two movies that have won critical appreciation and worked at the box office, too. In both her movies, she brushed shoulders with an actor like Aamir Khan and matched him. In fact, Aamir called her the best actress in the industry today. While her performance as Geeta Phogat in Dangal won her the National Award as the Best Supporting Actress, Zaira proved her talent all over again in the recently-released Secret Superstar where she played school-going Insiya, who dreams of becoming a singer. In real life, Zaira comes across as someone who is unaffected by all the fame that has come her way. The credit for which, she gives her parents. On the occasion of Children’s Day, she spoke to us about how working in films has changed her, advice to other children, who want to become actors, and why people still don’t recognise her. Over to Zaira...

You have been working in films for almost four years now, do you think it has had a huge impact on your personality?
I don’ t think I have yet understood or realised the change that has happened because it has been gradual. People around me probably noticed it more. I genuinely believe that while I was acting in these two films I have learnt a lot. I got so many varied experiences. The best part was that I got to know a lot of things about myself. I got to know my strengths and weaknesses, as a person and as an actor, too.

Has it made you more confident?
I think it has definitely helped me. Now, I get to meet many people who inspire me. So, that helps for sure.

What’s the most fun thing about facing the camera even after doing two films?
You become a different person. You get to portray a variety of emotions. At times, you can escape from your own reality. What you do on screen, could or couldn’t be you. That’s the best part about acting. You get to display a huge range of emotions and be someone else.

Did you seek advice from anyone about dealing with fame?
I did not make a deliberate attempt to speak to anyone. I have been raised in a certain way. I value the things that come my way. I realise that I have been very lucky that I got to be a part of these two films at such a young age. I got a chance to associate with these brilliant things — the people, the scripts, all the other things too. Everything about my life has been wonderful.

What would you tell other children who want to be actors?
I would tell them just be yourself. The stars, the sun, the moon, they all shine at their own time, so just be patient.

You said that many people did not recognize you after Dangal because your hair was really short. Has that changed after Secret Superstar?
No... I don’t know why that has not changed. People look at me and they are in a dilemma whether I am that girl or not. So, people still have a hard time recognising me.

Movies with children as the protagonists have become more real in the recent past especially with films like Taare Zameen Par, Stanley Ka Dabba, Chef and now Secret Superstar. Are you excited to watch films that show children in the right light?
It’s wonderful that such films are being made. The problem with these films is that there isn’t much of a market for such films. There are people who have written great stories, but they have this apprehension; they don’t know where to go as there’s not a huge market for such films. I hope that really changes. People should have a choice and have cinema for all age groups.

Acting was not something you had planned, so was there any other profession that you had in mind?
No, I am still exploring what I want to do. I hope to discover it someday. I am just going with the flow right now.

Do you have a favourite subject?
I have always been interested in Psychology and I have now taken it up.

Did you ever bring studies on sets?
No, every time I was on sets, I was only shooting. But when I used to come back to my hometown in Kashmir, I would study. I am a really bad multitasker, so I can’t really. I can’t be on the sets and study. When I was shooting, I was just focussing on acting and at home, I would only concentrate on my studies.

Do you have any favourite movie made for kids?
I really like Taare Zameen Par and Secret Superstar, of course (laughs).

What’s next?
Nothing is keeping me busy right now. Secret Superstar has just come out and I am getting so much love. I just want to live the moment and enjoy it. As for acting, there’s nothing in the pipeline for now. I am looking forward to good things happening to me in life. Let’s see what happens.

Harshada Rege (DNA; November 14, 2017)

Working with children is not an easy job, and it becomes an even bigger challenge when it also happens to be your directorial debut. Advait Chandan, however, managed to do to that and how! His movie Secret Superstar has been loved by the audience and critics alike. He worked with Zaira Wasim, who played Insiya and Tirth Sharma and Kabir Sajid, who played Chintan and Guddu, respectively. Advait doesn’t think that it’s a stressful job to work with kids. He says, “The children brought in a great energy to the crew. There’s a schedule, you are losing light, you have to finish a certain number of shots, but the minute there’s a child on sets, everyone becomes happy.”

WORKING WITH ZAIRA
The film revolved around Zaira’s relationship with her mother, who is a victim of domestic violence. The two had a friendly equation when it came to working on the sets. “I have literally watched her grow in front of me. At this age, she has grown so fast from how she was in Dangal. She is so confident, so skilled. I feel really proud to see her go through this journey. She is an amazing person to work with,” he says. Not just as a person, but as an artiste too, Advait only has praise for Zaira. “She is very involved in her craft. She isn’t someone who will get carried away with all the attention that she gets”

BEING HONEST
The one thing that every director who has worked with kids talks about is dealing with days when their actors aren’t in a mood to work. Advait, however, feels that it’s not just kids who have difficult days. “Even I have my share of good days and bad days. It happens to everyone. The main thing is that you have to treat them like an equal. If someone is having a bad day, you have to respect that and ask them whether they want to or don’t want to do a certain scene.” It’s only natural for a child actor to get nervous about difficult scenes. So how does a director deal with that? “I remember, Zaira was very nervous to do the scene where she has a breakdown on the terrace. I told her that I too am feeling very nervous. It was genuine. I really was nervous because it was a tricky scene to shoot. We supported each other because we were both having a scary day.”

MANAGING THE WORK ENVIRONMENT
The director admits that they were careful about certain things. “We were careful about things like how we behave and talk. Things like raising our voice. So, that it becomes a happy environment to work around them. At times, we were shooting in a school, so there were these two (Zaira and Chintan) and other 14-year-olds, too. So, we always were in that kind of an environment where we had to keep it right for the kids.”

Having worked on Taare Zameen Par, that was directed by Aamir Khan, probably helped Advait a lot. “I remembered how careful Aamir sir was with all those kids. He was very gentle with all the kids who worked in the film. I think that was the quality that I tried to bring to the sets on this project too.”

Shaheen Parkar (MID-DAY; November 1, 2017)

A popular face in television, Meher Vij began attracting attention after her outing in Bajrangi Bhaijaan (2015), and more recently, Secret Superstar. With Aamir Khan’s slice-of-life film acquiring attention following positive reviews, Vij, who played mother to Zaira Wasim, suddenly finds herself in the spotlight again. “I am taken aback by the response. It’s heartening to see that people have loved my work,” Vij tells mid-day. Essaying the role of Najma, an inhibited housewife who fights to fulfill her daughter’s dream, was “defining”, Vij says.

Despite winning accolades for Secret Superstar, a hint of uncertainty about her acting prowess is evident when she says, “I consider myself a mediocre actor. There are many more talented actors out there. But, I give my films my best shot.”

It isn’t surprising then that she was taken aback when the offer came her way. “I got a call from Advait [Chandan, director], and thought a prank was being played on me. Advait had seen my work in Bajrangi Bhaijaan, and watched the film four times to ascertain if I could pull off the character the way he had envisioned.”

The part eventually landed in her lap, and Vij says working on the film was a “new learning curve”. “We would have script reading sessions with Aamir at his office. I felt like I was back in school. The intense preparation helped me understand the nuances of the character. It paid off.”

However, with two successive releases that showcased her in the role of a mother, she now wants to experiment with new offerings. “I want to do all types of roles. I think I am good at comedy. I don’t want to bask in the glory. I just want to keep acting. The bar has been set high and people’s expectations [from me] have skyrocketed. I will have to live up to them,” says Vij who was also featured in Tum Bin 2 (2016) besides television shows like Ram Milaayi Jodi, Yeh Hai Aashiqui and Kis Desh Mein Hai Mera Dil.