Hindi cinema hasn’t quite explored the genre of action creature films. Siddhant Chaturvedi’s next, an ambitious film  by Netflix India, was to fill that gap. However, mid-day has now learnt that the project has been shelved. Sources revealed that budgeting became an issue for the film, which was to be helmed by debutant director Neha Sharma.

Tentatively titled Ramree, the two-hero movie was reportedly set in 1945 and to be produced by Ajay Devgn. A source said, “Work on the film had been going on for over a year. Given the subject and the period setting, it was an expensive project. For an OTT film, this would have set a benchmark in scale and imagination, but budget constraints caught up with it. Even though the platform heads were excited about the story, there was too much at stake financially. So, they decided to not move forward with it.”

Another insider shared that a movie being put on pause is a common occurrence in the streaming world, where a project is considered greenlit in the true sense only when it goes on floors.

“Ramree was an idea in development that did not move forward, a natural part of the creative process where multiple concepts are explored. While some take shape, some don’t,” added the source.

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Neha Sharma, who previously wrote ‘The Zoya Factor’ (2019) and ‘Tere Bin Laden: Dead or Alive’ (2016), was to turn director with this project

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Reports suggest that the two-hero film, tentatively titled ‘Ramree’, was to star Mohit Raina alongside Siddhant Chaturvedi

Stepping into the world of Dhadak 2, which examines casteism in the country through the story of two lovers, can be an emotionally demanding experience. Siddhant Chaturvedi, who plays a Dalit man in Shazia Iqbal’s directorial venture, says that shedding the character was an all-consuming process as well. “It took at least six months for the character to completely leave me. In those six months, I didn’t take up any work. I was just travelling,” says the actor.

“[Such stories] leave an impact on you. It pushed me to an extent where I always desired to be, as an actor. That’s why I wanted to stay with it. At the same time, when I was dubbing for it recently, it all came back and I tried to finish dubbing as soon as possible because it haunts me.”

Chaturvedi, who stars opposite Triptii Dimri in the love story, was aware of the emotional weight of playing a Dalit character, especially as someone who does not share that lived experience. His approach involved understanding the world and drawing parallels with his life, he says.

“I won’t say there is a process to it, or try to be pseudo about it. I could say that I locked myself in the room for four days, but no, this character wouldn’t come like that. You have to understand the world first. I was not a cricketer in Inside Edge; I was not a rapper [in Gully Boy, 2019]. If it’s not a lived experience, I draw parallels. I try to go as close as possible to that in my own life, take out certain emotions, and try to match them. When I read a script, I don’t want to see the character from a lens of sympathy because then you’re adopting a third-person view. This is not a life I’ve lived, and I’ll never be able to achieve that fully. What I do is I never fall in love with my characters,” he reflects.

Every actor aspires to be bankable at the box office, but Chaturvedi’s metric is different. “People like us, who come from outside the industry, are grateful to be getting work. We’re always searching for stories that move us. Since we have lived a life before Bollywood happened to us, we’re drawn to stories that reflect that life. Both Triptii and I have made it here on our own, and that journey grounds you. There is always a little voice that tells us, ‘This feels right, this does not’. In the end, we follow our morals and instincts.”

In a moment that sparked widespread concern, Babil Khan, son of late actor Irrfan, posted a series of emotional videos on Instagram Stories on Saturday. The now-deleted clips made their way to Reddit, showing him opening up about his experience in the entertainment industry.

“Bollywood is the most fakest, fakest, fakest industry that I’ve ever ever been a part of. But there are few people that want Bollywood to be better... I got to show to you so much more, so much more, so much more. I have so much more to give you,” the 26-year-old can be heard saying.

In another video, he mentioned some of his contemporaries: “I just want you guys to know that there are people like Shanaya Kapoor, Ananya Panday, Arjun Kapoor, Siddhant Chaturvedi, Raghav Juyal, Adarsh Gourav and Arijit Singh. There are so many more names. Bollywood is so f*****.”

Even as he deleted and later reinstated his profile with 1.2M followers, several celebs came out to lend support (see right), with actor Harshvardhan Rane advising him to “stay away from parties”.

Filmmaker Sai Rajesh shared a lengthy note on Instagram criticizing the outburst and subsequent statement: “It feels like only those whose names were mentioned in his video deserve respect — and the rest of us are just fools for standing by him all this while? ...I genuinely wanted to stand by him even until an hour ago. But if you’re taking us for granted, that stops here. These sympathy games won’t work on us anymore. A sincere apology is the least you owe us.”

Babil replied, claiming Sai “really broke my heart”: “After everything I’ve given to you... Complete physical atrocity to my body just so I can do justice to his character, I gave him my soul, rejected everything that came in my way for 2 years, anything and everything he needed for 500 days of my life.”

He added, “Man, I had bugs in my beard because he needed that in the character. I gave him my laughter while I held back my tears. I slit my f****** wrist for him.”

Babil is reported to star in the remake of Sai’s  Telugu film Baby (2023). Babil later deleted his comments and Sai, his post.

On Sunday, Babil’s team issued a statement: “Babil has earned immense love and appreciation for his work, as well as for his openness about his mental health journey. Like anyone else, Babil is allowed to have difficult days, and this was one of them. We want to reassure all his well-wishers that he is safe and will be feeling better soon. That said, a video of Babil has been widely misinterpreted and taken out of context.”

The note further read, “In the clip, Babil was sincerely acknowledging a few of his peers whom he believes are making meaningful contributions to the evolving landscape of Indian cinema. His mention... came from a place of genuine admiration for their authenticity, passion, and efforts to restore credibility and heart in the industry.”

Whenever there is a series about the entertainment industry, an award show sequence is almost always woven into it. It seems to be true of Aryan Khan’s debut series, Stardom, as well. mid-day has learnt that the first-time writer-director began shooting an award function scene in Mehboob Studios in Bandra yesterday. Sources tell us that as many as 18 stars have been lined up for the sequence.

On Friday, Rajkummar Rao, Arjun Kapoor, Siddhant Chaturvedi, and Shanaya Kapoor filmed their portions. A source reveals further, “On Saturday, Aryan will shoot with his superstar-father Shah Rukh Khan, Sara Ali Khan, and social media influencer Orhan Awatramani aka Orry. Seasoned actors Karisma Kapoor and Neelam, as well as personalities from Bollywood’s inner circle, including Seema Khan, Bhavana Pandey, and Maheep Kapoor, are expected to join. With so many industry figures making cameos, it will be an exhaustive affair. The director plans to wrap up filming by Sunday.” The sequence, we are told, serves as a crucial plot point in the show.

For his maiden directorial venture that is led by Mona Singh and Lakshya, Aryan has chosen to take an intimate look at the world that he knows best—showbiz. Stardom, slated to drop on Netflix next year, has been described as the story of “an ambitious outsider navigating the glitzy yet tricky world of Bollywood.”

After establishing herself in the Tamil and Malayalam film industries, giving Bollywood a shot felt “natural and right,” Malavika Mohanan tells us during a recent interaction. From Majid Majidi’s Beyond The Clouds and the Tamil hit Master to her Bollywood debut Yudhra, Malavika says she’s all for diversifying her portfolio, whether in terms of language or genre.

“I have worked in some big films in the south, but I was waiting for the right offer to enter Bollywood. Working with Siddhant (Chaturvedi), Farhan Akhtar (producer), and Ravi Udyawar (director) was an opportunity I didn’t want to miss,” Malavika says, that being established in one industry makes it easier to receive good offers in another.

“The boundaries between languages and industries have blurred significantly. If you’ve done a good job in a Tamil or Telugu film, it’s reaching audiences everywhere. So, you can now collaborate with great filmmakers across the board. Thanks to OTT platforms and social media, well-made films are no longer confined to the regions they originate from.”

Malavika’s filmography includes several action films, one of her favourite genres. “I love doing action. Initially, it is very challenging to get the technical aspects right, but once you learn the nuances, it is fun. I’ve done my fair share of action, so now my friends call me the ‘female Bruce Lee’ (laughs). I prefer this over standing delicately next to a hero while he’s beating everyone up. Why should boys have all the fun, right?”

While opting to do OTT projects has become a rite of passage for actors today, Malavika hasn’t made the switch yet, though she’s open to the idea. “Exploring OTT depends on the project, who’s directing it, what the role is like, etc. For the last couple of years, I’ve been so busy with feature films that I haven’t had time to explore other mediums, but it might happen if the right opportunity comes along.”

The actress says, “I don’t opt for narratives in which women are treated in a misogynistic way. I’m mindful of the characters I choose and prefer roles where women have agency, and are portrayed in a positive light.”

Malavika’s father is a renowned cinematographer (K U Mohanan), but she says he doesn’t interfere with her choices. “My parents come from a school of thought where they tell me, ‘You do you.’ They never pull me away from what I do want to do. They’re very liberal, and let me figure things out on my own.”

From playing a rapper Gully Boy, to charming the audiences as Zain in Gehraiyaan and recently turning on his action avatar in Yudhra, Siddhant Chaturvedi has dabbled in a variety of genres in a short span since his debut. In the city for an event a while ago, the actor spoke to us about doing action sequences, trying different roles and more. Excerpts from a chat:

Siddhant says he’s on the lookout for a variety of roles. He has stuck to that thought and will continue to, through his upcoming films. “I just keep trying to do different things,” says the actor, adding, “There’s a risk of failure as well because people might not like or accept you in a certain role. But sometimes you have to fail when you're trying to go into unknown territory. I'm young, I want to understand failure. I don't want to reach a height and then fail because that would be too big of a fall. I am fine taking a step in a new direction, failing, getting up and trying again.”

Siddhant believes that trying different things also helps him evolve as an actor. “I want to surprise the audience with whatever I do. Acting is like being a magician. The audience should not know what you're going to pull out of the hat. That’s the feeling I want to give the audience,” he shares.

Siddhant recently did a lot of action in Yudhra and got to work with international stunt director Nick Powell, who has projects like Gladiator, The Bourne Identity, RRR and Kalki to his credit.

Speaking about getting into the action mode, Siddhant says, “If you're doing long sequences without cuts, it's highly important to understand each moment, along with the breathing pattern. When you start doing action, you are pumped but Nick asked me to slow down and do it all at a 20% speed. I would get restless but then he told me how he trained other actors, including Tom Cruise, like that.”

Recalling the climax shoot Siddhant adds, “When we finally shot the scene, I could see all that Nick had told me coming together automatically. It felt like a magical process. I think I'll follow this every time I do an action scene.”

Originally from Ballia in Uttar Pradesh, Siddhant has fond memories of being raised in a small town. However, He is yet to get a chance to portray such a character on screen. “I have an urban image because of the films I've done. Barring Dhadak 2, I never got a role which was rooted in a smaller town. My roles have been very aspirational. I want to be aspirational, but I also feel sad about not getting to play roles that reflect my background. When Khesari Lal Yadav and Pawan Singh's Bhojpuri songs are played at home, my thumkas come out. No one has seen me like that and I’m waiting for something like this to come my way.”

In May, producer Karan Johar announced that Dhadak 2, starring Siddhant Chaturvedi and Triptii Dimri, would arrive in theatres on November 22. But now, it looks like the romantic drama won’t be able to keep its date with the audiences. mid-day has learnt that its release has been postponed. While a few factors have contributed to the delay, the primary reason is that some portions are left to be shot. 

An insider says, “A few songs and some patch work have yet to be filmed. The makers are now looking at the first quarter of 2025 for release.”

Dhadak 2 is the official remake of the Tamil hit, Pariyerum Perumal (2018), which told the story of two lovers against the backdrop of casteism. Shazia Iqbal, who is helming the Hindi adaptation, is said to be tackling the subject head on.

“Dhadak had been criticized for replacing the caste angle—which formed the crux of its original, Sairat [2016]—with class difference. This time around, Karan as well as Shazia are going all out in exploring the issue. There has been a shuffle in the post-production team, which has added to the postponement,” adds the source. 

Another source reveals that the debacle of Chaturvedi’s recent offering Yudhra has also led to the deferral. “The makers were looking at Yudhra’s box-office fate because it was Siddhant’s first solo theatrical release. After its underwhelming run, the team felt it wise to have a considerable gap between the two movies.”

mid-day reached out to Dharma Productions, which didn’t respond till press time.

Yudhra might be Siddhant Chaturvedi’s sixth film in his eight-year career, but it was the first one he signed after his big-screen debut with Gully Boy (2019). Producers Farhan Akhtar and Ritesh Sidhwani had zeroed in on him for Ravi Udyawar’s directorial venture, but with the development taking long, the actor made a request to the makers.

“They were still working on the script. Meanwhile, I was offered Bunty Aur Babli 2 [2021] and Gehraiyaan [2022]. So, I told Ritesh sir, ‘You need some time to prep. For an action film, the actor needs equity. Since the responsibility on me is huge, let me go out and get some equity,’” he recalls.

By the time the actor was ready to face the camera for Yudhra, which also stars Malavika Mohanan, the pandemic delayed the project. It, however, didn’t stop Chaturvedi’s prep.

“I knew the weight of responsibility on me. I was also scared. Because of the pandemic, the industry’s commerce went upside down. In such a scenario, any other producer would’ve backed out because it’s all about the returns. But Farhan sir, Ritesh sir and Ravi sir had immense faith in me and the script.”

For this, he remains grateful to the makers. Akhtar and Sidhwani showed gumption as they backed a relatively new actor like him, just as they had in Inside Edge, Gully Boy and Kho Gaye Hum Kahan (2023).

“When the market is so volatile, they could think, ‘We are making this film with this new boy. What if it doesn’t open [well] at the box office?’ It takes guts [to bet on new talent]. That’s why Farhan sir and Ritesh sir are game changers.”

While he made his debut with a supporting role in Gully Boy, Chaturvedi has quickly graduated to lead roles. In the pipeline, he has Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s yet-untitled production, and a Karan Johar film co-starring Triptii Dimri.

“My dreams were always big, to be a Hindi film hero. At the same time, I am attached to my craft and won’t do things for the heck of it. There were films that I could have done, but I always need gravitas in the story.”

In that pursuit, the actor has turned down some movies, including Brahmāstra: Part One—Shiva (2022). His criteria while choosing projects are simple. He explains, “There should be substance. I need to control my craft, the rest is not in my control.”

Actors Siddhant Chaturvedi and Mrunal Thakur are teaming up for the first time in filmmaker Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s next production. The film is a musical romance, and we’ve exclusively learnt that it has got a title.

A source close to the development tells us, “The film is a love story and the makers have named the film Tum Hi Ho. The title resonates with love as it comes from one of the most iconic romantic tracks in Hindi (from Aashiqui 2, 2013),” adding that the next shoot schedule for the film, which went on floors in May, will take place in the hills.

“The team will be heading to Uttarakhand towards the end of September and will be stationed there till around mid-October for the next leg of the shoot. Siddhant and Mrunal will be joining the shoot there along with the rest of the team,” the source adds.

The film, which is directed by Ravi Udyawar and has both actors playing musicians, is expected to feature some soulful compositions.

With Yudhra, Siddhant Chaturvedi is excited to show his action avatar on screen. But there is something else that has him even more thrilled about Ravi Udyawar’s directorial venture—co-star Malavika Mohanan’s character. “She is not a damsel in distress, she is as strong as I am in the film. Yudhra will break the stereotypes [of a female character in action films],” he says proudly.

When reading scripts, one of the things Chaturvedi keeps an eye out for is the presentation of female characters. “I’ve been raised by women. There is mom, and in the film industry, it was Zoya [Akhtar]. I feel proud when women are presented in a raw and strong way. I like women being shown stronger than me and the protagonist in a film.”

A dialogue about women’s safety has been reignited after the Hema Committee report shed light on the exploitation of women in the Malayalam film industry. As the male lead, Chaturvedi sits at the top of a film’s hierarchy structure. How does he ensure that women working with him feel safe? By listening to them, says the actor.

“It’s about the environment you create to make a woman feel safe. When you’re approaching any scene, you have to make sure that the person is feeling comfortable; if that’s not the case, you flag it to your first AD, director and producer. Listen carefully to what makes her uncomfortable. Listening is the most powerful tool that people don’t use. Listen, process and go to the root of the problem—why is it happening and how did we, as a responsible crew, let it happen? It’s the responsibility of every man and woman on the set to look out for each other. If it happens to someone, it needs to be addressed then and there.”

No role is too small. Who knows that better than Triptii Dimri, her brief part in Animal (2023) having changed her career overnight? The blockbuster’s success brought her many things, including a wider audience and the ‘national crush’ label. Last month, Karan Johar announced his next production, Bad Newz, starring Vicky Kaushal, Dimri and Ammy Virk. While the posters released in March showed Dimri sporting a baby bump, mid-day has now learnt that director Anand Tiwari’s comedy revolves around the rare medical condition, heteropaternal superfecundation.

A source tells us that like director Raj Mehta’s Good Newwz (2019), its spiritual sequel too has pregnancy as the central conflict. “While Good Newwz was about accidental sperm swap, Bad Newz is based on a medical condition called heteropaternal superfecundation, where a woman gets pregnant with twins from different men. The film is based on a true incident,” the source says.

In the comedy, the actor will be seen romancing both Kaushal and Virk. More importantly, her character marks a stark departure from her submissive role in Animal. It’s also her first light-hearted part after back-to-back intense portrayals of an ill-fated lover in Laila Majnu (2018), a woman seeking revenge in Bulbbul (2020), and a singer battling depression in Qala (2022).

“Triptii will be seen as a mainstream leading lady for the first time. Like Dharma heroines, she plays today’s woman, an ambitious chef, who can go to any lengths to further her career,” adds the source. 

It’s evident that Dimri is consciously steering towards mainstream cinema this year. The actor has the horror comedy, Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 with Kartik Aaryan, and Vicky Vidya Ka Woh Wala Video opposite Rajkummar Rao in the pipeline. That, however, doesn’t mean she has bid adieu to intense stories. The actor, along with Siddhant Chaturvedi, will front Johar’s yet-untitled romantic drama, helmed by Shazia Iqbal. From what we hear, it’s a profound love story set against the backdrop of the caste system.

“The film is a remake of the Tamil hit, Pariyerum Perumal [2018]. It is currently in post-production. The makers are contemplating titling it Dhadak 2, as a spiritual sequel to Janhvi Kapoor-Ishaan Khatter’s Dhadak [2018], which explored class difference.”

Actors Mrunal Thakur and Siddhant Chaturvedi are teaming up for the first time in filmmaker Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s next. And we’ve exclusively learnt that the duo is all set to start filming for it next week.

“The actors have been taking workshops with director Ravi Udyawar since the first week of April as part of their prep. Both actors play musicians in the film and have put in a lot of work in their preparations,” a source close to the development reveals to us.

Produced by Bhansali, the musical will be helmed by Udyawar, who previously directed Mom (2017). The fresh pairing has fans of both actors excited, especially with Thakur’s recent releases Sita Ramam (2022) and Hi Nanna (2023) — both romances — having done well at the box office. Chaturvedi, too, had praised her work in Super 30 (2019) and Sita Ramam in an earlier interview. Recently, Thakur had recalled how the two had a long call to discuss cinema, with the Kho Gaye Hum Kahan (2023) actor praising her performances.

The source adds that Bhansali aims to finish the shoot of this film, billed as a contemporary romance drama, before jumping to his next directorial, Love And War, which stars Ranbir Kapoor, Alia Bhatt and Vicky Kaushal.

After a long period of not being on screen, Siddhant Chaturvedi got a much-needed hit in the form of Kho Gaye Hum Kahaan last year. A direct-to-OTT release, it fetched him good reviews, something the actor had been craving for since Gully Boy in 2019. In the actor’s next, “both the male and female protagonists have become so relevant in the last three months”. However, he is waiting for the official announcement to take place.

With things finally looking up for him, ask if his industry peers supported him when his movies failed to connect with the audience and the 30-year-old says, “I don’t keep personal expectations from the industry, only professional ones. Everybody has been very nice. When I went to parties, they spoke to me and said, ‘It happens to everybody’.”

Chaturvedi adds, “I spoke to Ayushmann (Khurrana, actor) and he said that the one good thing is this phase happened at such an early age, now I will know how to handle things [at a later stage]. He told me, ‘Right now, phoonk phoonk ke kadam rakho’.”

“Surprised” by actors Vicky Kaushal and Ranbir Kapoor’s support to sail through tumulous waters, the actor shares, “Ranbir doesn’t go to parties. But, he spoke to me at length when he called me over to [his house] to chill, I told him, ‘I don’t know bhai, kuchh chal nahi raha’. He said, ‘Keep working, Don’t get agitated about other people doing 100 other things or being seen’. That is his way of doing things. Ranbir and Alia (Bhatt, actor) are the only two people who messaged me after Gehraiyaan (2022).”

Kapoor told Chaturvedi that he thought his film, “Rocket Singh: Salesman of the Year (2009) would be his Munna Bhai MBBS (2003)”. However, the film did not make it big at the box office. So, Kapoor shared one piece of advice with the Phone Bhoot (2022) actor: “He said, ‘Jab tu expect nahi kar raha hoga, tab chalegi film’. I was not expecting much from Kho Gaye... I said, ‘Okay, we have made it for a target group, those people will give it love’. I didn’t know so many people would like that film,” he ends.

Magic that happened at the right time”—that’s how Ananya Panday describes Kho Gaye Hum Kahan (2023). While Arjun Varain Singh’s directorial venture is winning praise, Panday’s tender performance as Ahana, whose self-worth takes a beating when her boyfriend leaves her, is being particularly talked about. The actor admits the character was close to her real self, and that made it tougher. She reflects, 

“Sometimes, you are open to [a script] because you are feeling similar things in life. Yet, it’s tough to play out those emotions because it’s hurting you. I could strongly relate to Ahana. Now that the film has released, I feel it’s not just my story, but almost every girl has felt the same way. They are strong in front of their friends and families, but if a relationship doesn’t work out, it can affect their self-worth. I’m happy that through this part, I could reach out to many girls.”

The Netflix young adult drama tells the story of three youngsters who find an escape on social media, away from their broken lives. The easy chemistry between the leads—Panday, Siddhant Chaturvedi and Adarsh Gourav—makes the film a breezy watch. How was it working with Chaturvedi, with whom she has a history? In an interview, he had pointed out that Panday had more privileges than outsiders in the nepotistic industry.

“We’ve worked together in Gehraiyaan [2022] too. Now, he and Adarsh will always be Imaad and Neil for me. Kho Gaye… has set a solid base for our friendship. Also, whatever came out in the media [then], people made it bigger than it was. Siddhant and I always had an honest friendship.”

Over the years, Panday hasn’t had an easy relationship with social media. But now, the incessant trolling doesn’t bother her. “My personal relationship with social media has changed so much over time. When I started out, I used to get affected by the trolling. But I’ve realized that in the long run, it’s better to be yourself. Even if a few people like you, they like you for who you are. You have to put yourself and your mental health above everything.”

As an actor who has millions of followers, she is also aware of the influence she exercises. “We have to be careful about what we post; our actions and words will be taken seriously by millions of people who follow us, and are influenced by the way we act, dress and behave. I am driven by the impact that I could possibly have on people. That’s why I strongly believe in myself. With the passage of time, I feel more comfortable in being who I am and being unapologetic about it.”

It’s been some time since Siddhant Chaturvedi won appreciation for his performance until his 2023 film Kho Gaye Hum Kahan (KGHK). After the Gully Boy (2019) fame, the actor saw a bit of a lull in his career. Then, he went MIA for a year with no media interactions and rare public appearances. In a free-wheeling chat over a video call from his holiday, the actor bares his heart, but refrains from sharing one thing — his holiday destination. Excerpts:

It was long due after Gully Boy. I needed some motivation again... it’s been a while since it released, followed by Bunty Aur Babli 2 (2021), Gehraiyaan and Phone Bhoot (both 2022). The pandemic happened, I thought we were kind of losing touch with what was working. I had been working for three-four years, things were not happening. And especially after Gully Boy, everybody had high expectations saying I am the ‘next big thing’... I felt I let people down. I would also not blame my choices. Consumer behaviour changed. Big-scale films became front-runners, no one was ready to invest so much money on a newcomer. What I had shot for was just right before the pandemic, the films released after that. I was disappointed with myself, (and thought) where was it going? I finally needed a push like KGHK.

I thought mere paas kuch hai nahi baat karne ke liye, aur mera kaam bolta hai. Jab kaam nahi bol raha with the audience, who has moved on to some new kind of cinema... and then there are YouTube influencers, creators. As a newcomer, you are put between 360 degrees of entertainment, where you have to compete with so much. I felt that putting stuff out on social media and being spotted is not who I am. I felt I need to work harder to choose the right things.

I feel overwhelmed with the love right now, but if people are scattered away, I am not going to stand and shout ‘I am spotted, I am going to the gym, I bought a new car’ — that’s not the kind of actor I am. There are so many of them already; everybody has a great life on Instagram. If everyone is an influencer, then who is influenced? I understood my vision is to be there on the screen — be it digital or theatrical. Obviously, the dream is to be at the box office, but whatever it is, cinema is my way of communicating with people. What would I have talked about? I can’t put pictures of my vacations or go to award shows who are just giving me one. Initially after Gully Boy, I loved the attention (on social media) as there was chatter, I was excited. Later, I realized I needed something substantial.

I have nothing against people who do that. Out of sight was on purpose. If I was out of mind and then came with an unexpected performance, it would blow your mind. I have faith in myself. I was nowhere before Gully Boy... suddenly people saw me on the map, I wanted that same effect.

I saw them on Reddit. I go and read the gossip and blind articles. It is really disturbing.

Yes. Pehle achha lagta tha padh ke, before I had made it, maza aata tha. Par jab khud ke baare mein hota hai toh aankhein khulti hain. They call me arrogant, cocky, overrated. I was underrated before Gehraiyaan (2022), overrated after it, and then they said ‘he has disappeared, bada aaya tha’. That really hurt. I take it in a good way, but after reading (such comments), I am not able to sleep at night. I sit at the same window where I sat and dreamt, and decide, I will show the world. Earlier, I almost wrote a reply defending myself from fake profiles, but just before sending it, I would be like ‘no yaar, let the perception be, it’s good to break it with work’. I don’t expect people to be soft on me because I have got the hard way in life. It is not easy to make it and even harder to sustain it.

Adarsh Gourav, Ananya Panday and Siddhant Chaturvedi star in the upcoming Kho Gaye Hum Kahan, a film that explores the trappings of the digital age. Seen here with Avanti Nagral

We are at the Netflix office. The cast of Kho Gaye Hum Kahan—Ananya Panday, Siddhant Chaturvedi and Adarsh Gourav—who play Ahana (an MBA corporate professional in love), Imaad (a stand-up comic) and Neil (a fitness trainer)—are checking their phones and hair in between interviews. “I don’t even have to pretend for this photo,” says Pandey as she poses with her phone, typing away. The movie, which releases on Netflix on December 26, follows the lives of the three friends as they navigate work, love, self-worth—all while living in a world that is slave to social media.

And so, we got creator, influencer and singer Avanti Nagral to sit down and speak to them about some of the major themes in the movie—stalking, comparisons, trolls, and identity. Nagral has a dual degree from Harvard University and the Berklee College of Music, and uses her social network to talk about gender and youth issues. What ensued was a “therapy session” as Chaturvedi put it. 

Siddhant Chaturvedi: Actually, I haven’t felt so found before.

Adarsh Gourav: I feel like I always space out… every 10-15 minutes, I space out.

Ananya Pandey: What? I have been thinking you are such a good listener…

SC: I keep it private. I also feel that I don’t have much to show, I am boring! Everything is through my characters, through cinema. That’s how I would like to be remembered. Otherwise, I am a boy next door, ordinary.

AN: But you do share some thoughts with small snippets as @siddychats on Instagram. 

SC: Yes! More than my pictures, I like to write so I share my thoughts. I validate my thoughts, but I also connect with the [ones in the] world who relate to them.  It’s a conversation through text. That’s the maximum I can go. There was a point when I was doing a lot—after my first film (Gully Boy). I was receiving a lot of love, and so I was like, let’s be out there. But I got done with it soon. I said no, I need to work on myself as an actor, and the more I keep myself private, I can do that. Anyway, we have so much competition from creators like you who are killing it. I can’t do that so well—the way you guys do. I have taken a back seat. I will talk to people through cinema; that’s my thing.

AP: I think the attempt has been to be as real as possible—without giving away too much of my personal life. But when I am on it, I am real. So many young girls come up to me and say they relate to me, and that’s a win. I have always owned up to my mistakes, and not been afraid to mess up, or say something wrong. I am like cool, I said the wrong thing, I will be careful next time.

AP: It was much of the same. Cyber bullying is so rampant but no one was talking about it at that time. Most people didn’t know how to deal with things—numbers you could call if you were being bullied at school or something. It was about starting a conversation.

AN: Kudos to you, Ananya. Adarsh, your first film was 13 years ago. You have been in the limelight… 

AG: I came into the limelight after The White Tiger… I was more interested in being a singer before.

AG: You try to find yourself in every character you play, but I also try to play characters that are different from me. When life gets hectic, you can escape, and adopt another person’s problems. That’s exciting. I need to be constantly stimulated and get bored easily. Being an actor and singer fulfills all my needs.

AP: It’s always easy!

SC: Unless you like someone’s picture as you are stalking…

 

AP: The more we keep our dating lives personal, the more real they feel. That’s one of the only parts of my life that I can protect; everything else is out there. Adarsh is very open about his relationship and comfortable doing that. I am somewhere in the middle—it depends on who you are with. It depends on the day too! Some days you want to scream from the rooftops, and some days you are like, no one can see this.

AG: There is not much to hide! It’s chill only.

SC: All the time! I make sure that I do not. I do express myself on social media, and I do say what I feel bending the front of poetry. There is no name, no picture, and people can connect to it. I channelize my need for expression towards my partner in art so that other people can connect. 

SC: There is an ethical and legal line for sure! 

SC: As an artiste, everything is always a grey zone. There is no black or white—and that’s where the fun is. There is no way to be preachy about it; you can explore as much as you can. Sometimes it may be wrong, but if I need to derive something from my life and out it through a character, I use it. For example, I don’t smoke [in real life], but in this film I do.

AG: (Laughs out loud)

SC: Okay, okay. For Gully Boy and this film, I had to start smoking. So, I did. And it’s hard to let go of that—and I am struggling with that. I am being honest. But whatever is needed for the character, I do it. Even Ananya had to.

AP: Yes. We were all given tasks for the movie—Adarsh had to build his body, Sid had to learn to [do] stand-up [comedy]. I had to smoke. And I couldn’t light a cigarette! 

SC: There were so many bodily changes. Adarsh can speak about those...

AG: I kept farting! I had to eat so many eggs and have so much chicken! But after I stopped working out, I became dysmorphic. Before, I think about my body so much, but now I wonder why I am not as ripped as I was in the film. But I am not playing a trainer in my next movie. However, your mind gets so used to that beautiful image… it’s the best you have ever looked.  

 

AP: Before social media, it was school, where people would say you are too hairy or too thin. My only attempt is to be kinder to myself. When I started out, I was on a very strict diet. I would cheat on Sunday, and I would fall sick because I ate so much. I thought I had to look a certain way and was depriving myself. But I became kinder to myself. When I look at my younger sister, I never want her to feel the way I did, or for that matter, any young person. The only thing I can do is be positive about my body, and hope people get inspired by that.

 

AP: I related with Ahana. If you think I was natural, it was because it wasn’t acting. I miss Ahana. She helped me deal with so much that I was going through in my own personal life. 

SC: For me, it was Adarsh’s character, Neil. The family dynamic he has in the movie, is very close to my own family. When I read the script, I called Arjun (the director) and asked him, how did you crack Neil’s character. He is from London, how could he have know all this? The details are so minute—that’s when I knew he was going to be a great director. My own character was great, but I choose characters that are not close to who I am in real life. I can’t play myself in a movie. 

AG: It’s boring na!

SC: Yes, it’s boring.

AG: By the way, Ahana is not like Ananya at all. I related to Neil and my client in the movie, who never wants to work out.

AP: Just go hug your friends, and don’t let go. Like, in a non-creepy way.

SC: Leave them eventually.

AG: Please celebrate your birthday with your family. Don’t abandon your birth givers. 

SC: Just be yourself, guys. The world is very noisy. Just chill and be yourself. There is so much gyan on Reels anyway. Tum log bas maje karo.

At a time when audiences are back to watching movies on the big screen, Siddhant Chaturvedi says he would like to balance it out between OTT projects and theatrical releases. After making his debut with Gully Boy in 2019, he had a couple of theatrical releases like Phone Bhoot as well as films like Gehraiyaan, which were released on the digital medium.

Sharing his views on working parallelly on both the mediums, Siddhant shares, “For me, OTT is like 20-20 and theatrical releases are like one day game or test matches. I will balance it out. There are certain kinds of films and subjects that you choose for OTT. Those films might not perform as well in theatres. I can keep switching and I don’t mind doing that, but right now, the focus is just to be out there to entertain people, to be seen more and to have a voice. I want to have a conversation with the audience through cinema, that’s all; the medium doesn’t matter.”

Siddhant has been able to explore the unconventional space through digital mediums. Early on in his career, he was seen in the web show Inside Edge. However, the actor believes the divide between conventional and unconventional cinema is gradually blurring.

He shares, “Because of OTT there’s an influx of content from all over the world. With each passing day, it’s getting tougher to keep the audience engaged. Now, we also have social media content like reels and videos. I think the divide between conventional and unconventional cinema is fading away. People just want to see something new, exciting, intriguing and different. The challenge is to offer them the best content. We also have competition from all over the world, and we have over 100 years of conventional Bollywood cinema there, and you can’t beat that. I’m trying to step out of the mould, push the limit a little bit and redefine the conventionalism of the industry. I’m trying, but I need some time.”

Talk to him about how he selects his roles across mediums, and he says, “As much as I’d like to make it sound like it’s branding or a strategy, I just choose films based on the things which I see, the life that I’ve seen and the life I’m living. I want to tell the story of my age, and the times we’re living in. We are constantly evolving with social media, relationships and love. Everything is evolving, so I just want to catch on to what’s currently going on and the state of people’s minds. My focus for some time is primarily the youth. I want to play youth-centric roles because you’re young only once.”

In the recent months, speculations about a budding romance between actors Ananya Panday and Aditya Roy Kapur have been making headlines. The duo intensified these rumours when they posed together at designer Manish Malhotra’s Diwali party last year, captivating everyone’s attention. However, Panday chooses to keep her relationship status under wraps, stating, “It’s good to be curious; people should keep guessing who I’m dating.”

While the buzz around her personal life continues, Panday has faced some setbacks on the work front. Both her films — Liger, starring Vijay Deverakonda and Shakun Batra’s Gehraiyaan (both 2022) — failed to gather a significant positive response. Reflecting on these challenges, Panday reveals that she has “learnt valuable lessons”. 

“No matter how cliché it sounds, it’s about the journey and not about the destination,” says the 24-year-old, adding, “My lessons are not giving up and not thinking too much about the outcome, but living in the moment and giving it your all.”

Looking ahead, Panday expresses enthusiasm for her upcoming film, Dream Girl 2, alongside Ayushmann Khurrana. She describes her character as “super bubbly and fun”, emphasizing that her “role is crucial in shaping the film’s outcome”. Kho Gaye Hum Kahan is another project that she eagerly anticipates.

The film will be her second collaboration with actor Siddhant Chaturvedi, whom she describes as “one of her closest friends in the industry”. She adds, “We are like Tom and Jerry!” 

Furthermore, the actor expresses her eagerness “to venture into the action or thriller genre”, saying, “I don’t want to bore myself and the audience as well, so I am always striving to do something different.”

Known for her unconventional choices as an actor, Kalki Koechlin has a way of making each character and their quirks her own. Despite her passion towards the craft, she hasn’t allowed it to alienate her from day-to-day life. Having a healthy work-life balance is a priority for the actress, who now lives in Goa with her daughter Sappho and partner Guy Hershberg. Kalki frequently visits Mumbai for work and during one such visit, tells us what it’s like to be a mother, her shift to Goa and why environmental conservation is no longer a matter of choice. Excerpts...

The primary reason was having a child and realizing that we don’t have a park around for kids to play. That outdoor space was missing. It’s hard to find spaces for children in cities unless you go to a shopping mall. I wanted my daughter (Sappho) to have more exposure to nature instead of pollution.

I acknowledge the fact that we are privileged enough to have both lifestyles. I can come and work in Mumbai but still live in Goa. This shift has done a lot of good for us adults as well.

She’s a fun kid. She speaks four languages – Hebrew, Hindi, French and English – and she chats comfortably in all four. It’s so entertaining. Every day, I want to frame at least one of her sentences and put it up on the wall. She comes up with such unique lines. When you multitask, you tend to miss out on things. Motherhood has taught me to be more organized. It has taught me to use an Excel spreadsheet. I have learnt that if you want something in life, you need to seek it in advance and list it down. Planning has now become a huge part of my life. I jot down things and months when I want to be at home, and when I will be at work.

I do think that I have learnt patience through motherhood. I have understood that certain things do take time, like even getting your body back to normal after giving birth. The concept of quickly returning to your old self is not there. You must let your body take its own sweet time to heal. I have more patience today, but my life is way more hectic.

I live in a very quiet jungle sort of area in North Goa near Colvale. It’s away from the hustle and bustle of tourist attractions. We have a big garden comprising papaya, tomato and lemon trees, passion fruit and basil plants. It shows our kid where our food actually comes from, and that it doesn’t magically appear in the supermarket. I want her to know that. Our food is sourced from local farmers, so we eat mostly what is in season.

This was also my attempt to go green. We have a big compost area at the back of the garden. All the cleaning products in my house, be it laundry cleaner or dishwasher are non-chemical and not harmful to the environment. I have switched to everything herbal.

I had gone on a girls’ trip to Israel. He went to a music school with one of my friends and so he was one of our contacts when we went there. That’s how we met. We both are extremely resilient. He is like a cactus that can survive in a desert. He still works a lot in Israel, so he is also on the road a lot. He enjoys being in Goa as it is calm and beautiful. I don’t think he was a fan of Mumbai. Since he is a musician, he can work from home when he’s composing. The piano is our background in life. We wake up to Bach’s music for breakfast. I can’t play the piano at all, he does.

When I am unhappy or when I see things not going according to my instinct, I have a big knot in my stomach that I can’t ignore. I have to act upon it. It’s visceral. I have to feel healthy inside out to function as a person. I don’t think money and career are everything. Life is meant to learn. When you don’t learn you stagnate. My work pace has slowed down a bit since I now have a daughter and we live in Goa. It’s a choice I have made. I don’t want to be as busy as I used to be. I want to strike a healthy work-life balance. I am doing a lot of writing, theatre, and other performances that keep me active and satiate my creative needs. It’s important for me to be creative in some form or the other. This all happens from Goa, and I come over to Mumbai whenever I have shoots. Goldfish with Deepti Naval should release soon and Kho Gaye Hum Kahan will see me in a romantic relationship with Siddhant Chaturvedi.