Kriti Sanon on the after-effects of the movement, playing a surrogate in her next and working with Akshay Kumar
Avinash Lohana (MUMBAI MIRROR; October 16, 2019)

It’s always nice to have a busy year,” says Kriti Sanon, who kick-started 2019 with Luka Chuppi and followed it up with a special appearance in Kalank . Then came Arjun Patiala , with Diljit Dosanjh, and now she is gearing up for a Diwali dhamaka with Housefull 4 , while the year wraps up with Ashutosh Gowariker’s period drama, Panipat . The actress on playing juggler to perfection:

After your debut, Heropanti, you were supposed to work with Akshay Kumar, but you chose Dilwale over Singh Is Bliing. You have finally worked with him after four years with Housefull 4.
It wasn’t like I chose Dilwale over Singh Is Bliing. The latter was delayed by almost five months, and when it finally started, the dates overlapped with Dilwale. I admire the way Akshay has steered his career. Every time people try to typecast him, he breaks away. He’s done action, comedy, content-driven films and in the middle of all of that, it’s comedy again. I like the fact that he doesn’t let anyone categorise him. Plus, his energy is infectious, and he thrives on improvisation.

Producer Sajid Nadiadwala said in a recent interview that for a film like Housefull 4, the actors must forget their inhibitions and be shameless on camera because without that conviction, they will stick out like a sore thumb. Do you agree?
Absolutely! Comedy, in general, is tough and in a film like this, in certain portions if you don’t take the humour a few notches higher, it won’t be as funny and for that you have to be absolutely shameless. Hamming with conviction is probably the most difficult thing I’ve ever done. But it was fun, we’d play games between shots. Akshay would suddenly pick up an orange and start playing catch, or flag off a game of noughts and crosses or throw a ball at a bottle. It was a holiday we didn’t want to end (Laughs).

Your sister Nupur is making her music video debut with Akshay.
Yes, Nupur is a trained singer but she also loves acting and has attended several workshops. She was talking to someone for a singing project and was asked if she’d want to act in a music video. Later, she learnt that Akshay too was in the video and that was a bonus!

Did you give her any tips?
I just asked her to relax and be herself. Akshay is not someone who will make you feel jittery. He’s like a Delhiite, so I told her to be her Delhi self. (Laughs)

Farhad Samji took over as director of Housefull 4 after sexual harrassment allegations came up against Sajid Khan. Has the #MeToo movement, which exploded last year, changed things in the industry?
I have always been for the movement and have been vocal about it. It takes a lot of courage to come out in the open and speak about what you’ve been through. It’s unfortunate that there’s no legal way to resolve this conclusively but at least it has instilled fear in every industry and that’s important. I am fortunate that I haven’t been through any of this, but I’ve noticed that meetings, which would earlier happen at home, are now scheduled outside to avoid coming across as shady.

You have also spoken up for gender equality and pay parity in the industry. Any change there?
There’s still a huge gap as far as pay is concerned and the only way to reduce that is for women to present a united front in their demand for a certain remuneration. I’m glad films revolving around a female protagonist are making the numbers. Slowly, producers will have the confidence to let a woman carry a film on her shoulders.

Speaking of women-centric films, aren’t you doing one with Rahul Dholakia?
That’s not happening, there were some date issues there. But I am doing Dinesh Vijan’s Mimi on the subject of surrogacy. It is inspired by the Marathi film, Mala Aai Vhhaychay! (I Want To Be A Mother!) but has been transformed into a different script. Laxman Utekar sir (Luka Chuppi director) is directing it and I start shooting on November 1 in Mandawa, Rajasthan. He can tell an intense, emotional story with humour and make it an entertaining watch. I play a young girl with big dreams but due to certain reasons, she agrees to be a surrogate and that completely changes her life. I haven’t experienced the emotion of being a mother yet so it will be interesting to figure it out with Mimi.

Buzz is, you’re also doing Farah Khan’s Satte Pe Satta remake with Hrithik Roshan?
No, I’m in talks for some films, but this is not the one.

You have a special appearance in the Pati Patni Aur Woh remake…
I can’t say anything about that character right now, but it was a lot of fun being on set with Kartik (Aaryan) even if only for a day. After Luka Chuppi, we know each other’s energy well. It’s also Juno Chopra’s film, I’ve done Bareilly Ki Barfi with him earlier.

While Luka Chuppi did well, Arjun Patiala didn’t live up to expectations. How do you deal with failure?
Honestly, failure does disappoint you, but as long as you understand what didn’t work, learn from it and move on, it’s not difficult. The spoofy genre of Arjun Patiala was an experiment for all of us who were associated with the film. We tried our best and next time we will try even harder.

Upala KBR (DNA; December 15, 2016)

Arjun Kapoor is playing a Sardar for the first time in Mubarakan. He has a double role and and in one of the roles, he sports a beard and turban as per the Sikh faith’s norms. The actor who completed his first schedule of the film recently talks about his first Sikh character.

How has it been playing a Sardar for the first time?
Playing a Sardar for the first time was the biggest reason that I signed the film. Though I was excited about taking on such a role, I was nervous and apprehensive before I started. To play a character is one thing, but to imagine, build on it and look the part is another ball-game altogether. I was nervous, but fortunately, the look worked out and I feel I did it convincingly. It’s been a really amazing journey playing a Sardar. It changes your body language, the way you walk, everything. Wearing that turban changes your demeanour. It’s like when you wear a suit you gain in confidence. When you wear a turban, you do the same — your demeanour becomes more confident.

How long does it take you to tie the pagdi?
The pagdi takes 20 minutes to be worn correctly. I don’t do it myself. The same guy who tied it for Akshay Kumar in Singh Is Bliing ties the pagdi for me. It has to be tied correctly as sentiments shouldn’t get hurt. When you are playing a character from a certain religion, you need to be sensitive to the people’s sentiments. The pagdi bit was sorted. What was tough, was the double role part as I play a Sardar as one character and not in the other, so I had to wear a pagdi in one scene and then shoot it without one in the same scene. That gets time-consuming as you have to keep changing in between. But the crew was very well-organised. We shot within the time frame.

Tell us about your characters.
Mubarakan is a comic entertainer and is more than about just characters. It revolves around humour. I have never done an out-and-out comedy before. I have grown up watching and enjoying Anees Bazmee’s films. He’s a man who has an experience of 40 years in Bollywood and has been an assistant to the late Raj Kapoor. When you are working with a director of that level, you are relaxed.

Have you kept a thicker beard for the Sardar character?
The film can get tricky when you are playing two characters and the boys are mostly together, so you need to make it simpler. The length of the beard is the same, but we have shown a different side-swept, messier hairstyle for the guy who is not a Sardar. They are two different people. The Sardar’s character is neater, sorted and more defined. He is from Chandigarh and wears more sweaters while the one from London is more flamboyant. All thanks goes to Kunal Rawal, who is doing my clothes. We even have the outfits in tonal elements —matching outfits with the pagdi.

Will he be speaking in Punjabi in the film?
While I had to learn a bit. It’s there as much as you would hear in a daily conversation when you have a Punjabi man speaking Hindi. There are elements and traces of Punjabi in the film but at the end of the day, its a universal film which caters to all regions and sections of audiences. Sometimes, the humour can get lost in another language. Another character is being played by Pawan Malhotra, who is hard-core Punjabi and that makes it simpler for me as he helps me as an actor.

The final footfalls of 2015 are as follows.
1. Bajrangi Bhaijaan - 3.55 crore
2. Prem Ratan Dhan Payo - 2.28 crore
3. Bajirao Mastani - 1.88 crore
4. Dilwale - 1.53 crore
5. Tanu Weds Manu Returns - 1.50 crore
6. ABCD 2 - 1.22 crore
7. Welcome Back - 1.09 crore
8. Gabbar Is Back - 1.08 crore
9. Baby - 89 lakhs
10. Singh Is Bling - 83 lakhs   

The top ten releases of 2015 sold around 15.85 crore tickets. The comparable for 2014 was 16.90 crore tickets sold which outlines 2014 had better films bringing much more people to the theatres although the business in terms of nett or gross is similar.

Bajrangi Bhaijaan easily had the highest footfalls in 2015 and also the highest this decade. Another Salman khan starrer Prem Ratan Dhan Payo was second on the list and was the only other film to be above 2 crore. The top ten footfalls of 2015 are as follows.
1. Bajrangi Bhaijaan - 3.55 crore
2. Prem Ratan Dhan Payo - 2.28 crore
3. Bajirao Mastani - 1.86 crore (expected)
4. Dilwale - 1.55 crore (expected)
5. Tanu Weds Manu Returns - 1.50 crore
6. ABCD 2 - 1.22 crore
7. Welcome Back - 1.09 crore
8. Gabbar Is Back - 1.08 crore
9. Baby - 89 lakhs
10. Singh Is Bliing - 83 lakhs

All four Akshay Kumar starrers nearly made it into the top ten with only Brothers being just outside in 11th place. The top ten films sold 15.85 crore tickets and despite Bajrangi Bhaijaan being the highest for fourteen years it was still less than last year where the top ten sold 17 crore tickets approx.

That’s the only pressure Kriti Sanon reveals she has, before her second film — a star-studded multi-starrer — hits theatres…
Nayandeep Rakshit (DNA; December 7, 2015)


You left Singh is Bliing to be a part of Dilwale. As a newcomer, how important is your second film?
Honestly, every film is important. That’s how your career graph gets shaped. The second film is crucial because after your first film works, the audience expects more from you which you have to deliver. Coming from a non-filmi background, people have not really seen me much. I don’t know how many people have seen Heropanti, although it was a big hit. The second film always needs to be one notch higher than the first. About Singh is Bliing, the film was getting pushed and by the time, they locked in the schedule, I had already signed Dilwale and could not accommodate that. Hence, I had to leave the film.

Dilwale is many notches higher than your debut film…
(Laughs) I actually feel blessed to get this opportunity so early in my career. I don’t know if I will get to work with so many experienced actors with a big director after this. You don’t get such a film too often in your career and when it’s the second film, it’s already a big plus.

What after Dilwale? Feel the pressure?
(Cuts in, laughing) No, no, aise toh I’ll die if I keep taking such pressure. Not everything needs to be a notch higher, but it needs to be different from what you’ve done before.

Tell me about signing Dilwale.
In my head, I knew that I was going in for a short narration of a film being directed by Rohit Shetty with Shah Rukh Sir and Kajol in it and me opposite Varun. Everyone was cast but Kajol ma’am wasn’t confirmed till then. When I heard the narration, I found it to be a lot of fun, but the best part was I didn’t find it to be only a fun comedy like Rohit’s other movies. It had a lot of romance, drama, and a proper storyline about these four people, which got me intrigued.

You don’t have a reason to be nervous about this one, right?
It is definitely little less than what I felt during Heropanti. I think I will be nervous all my life before all my films’ releases. You put in so much of hard work... and for Dilwale, we worked for around a year and finally, when it’s coming out, one definitely ought to be a little anxious about it. There are so many heavyweights in the film that the only thing I have in mind is I don’t want to be the weak link in the film. That’s something I had in my head while performing also. I didn’t want any scene to become less impactful because of me. I am very inexperienced, it is just my second film and I’m still learning a lot. So I wanted my performance to at least match up to their level. That pressure is a different kind of pressure but it’s always there.

You and SRK have a lot in common. Both of you are from Delhi and have no prior film connection. Comment.
With Shah Rukh sir, you literally don’t need any similarities to bond. That’s the kind of personality he has. No matter who you are, where you come from or what kind of a person you are, he makes you a friend in seconds. That’s a quality that he has and he just makes you feel more comfortable when he speaks to you. Whether it’s me who he didn’t know at all, or Varun who was an AD on My Name Is Khan, or the character artists on the sets, he makes everybody feel so comfortable. My sister had come to visit me on the sets for a few days and he instantly bonded with her, too. There’s no difference in his behavior.

Having SRK-Kajol in one film, did you ever fear being overshadowed?
I don’t think I ever compared myself to SRK-Kajol. I’m too new to do that. You cannot really compare yourself to legends like that. For Shah Rukh sir and Kajol ma’m, the best quality is that they know they don’t have to prove themselves anymore. They have done that for years now. Whether it’s a scene or the promotions, it was actually he who made sure we get the focus. At the Gerua launch, it was his idea that we dance to his and Kajol’s previous tracks. We loved that and we enjoyed it. I think that’s why it never occurs to us that he will get all the limelight. He treats us like his babies.

Tell me about facing the camera with SRK.
I just never wanted him to give retakes because of me. But he had to obviously give a little bit of them. (Smiles) The first time I met him was when he came on the sets in Goa to visit us. And I went absolutely quiet. So, Rohit sir kept teasing me saying kitna bolti hai tu har time, aaj bilkul chup ho gayi hai. And SRK was like, “Nahin nahin” and put his arm around me. I felt like pinching myself. Then he started telling us stories of his times, his friends, all the masti they used to do. He has a lot of stories because of the several experiences he’s been a part of. We were listening to that and then towards the end of it, I opened up a bit. Before I shot with him, I met him a lot of times. We had conversations, chilled in his room, so I think I had become comfortable enough to the extent that I could say anything to him.

Who are you more scared of: SRK or Kajol?
I think Kajol ma’m. I was really scared of her in the beginning. Also, I hadn’t met her at all. I met her on the sets when we were shooting our first scene together. It wasn’t even a fun scene, it was more of an emotional, serious scene. But then as we progressed, things become very normal. SRK says things in masti which eases the mood. Like every time she had to stand next to me, she had to wear heels. She is a great actor. She would tell me, ‘You can do it this way’ and the scene would turn out really well.

SINGH IS BLIING will just edge out the business of BROTHERS by a few lakhs. The lifetime business of Brothers and SINGH IS BLIING (expected) is as follows.

Week One
Brothers - 64,34,00,000
Singh Is Bliing - 59,41,00,000

Week Two
Brothers - 6,02,00,000
Singh Is Bliing - 9,82,00,000

Week Three
Brothers - 25,00,000
Singh Is Bliing -  1,48,00,000

Week Four plus
Brothers - 4,50,000
Singh Is Bliing - 30,00,000 (expected)

TOTAL
Brothers - 70,65,00,000
Singh Is Bling - 71,01,00,000 (expected)

BROTHERS is the lowest grossing Akshay Kumar starrer of the year despite being his most costliest film ever. It is a similar story Overseas with SINGH IS BLIING likely to finish at $4.25 million while BROTHERS had a final gross of $4 million.

Renuka Vyavahare (BOMBAY TIMES; October 11, 2015)

The October 2nd holiday is one of the major release dates but it is proving to be unlucky as all major releases on this date are not performing as they should be. TALVAR may turn out be one of the rare winners which have tried to take benefit of this holiday but this is not a big film. BANG BANG released last year which was a under performer is also one of better releases on this day.

The last major winner which was released on this holiday, we have to go years back to 1998 when the Salman Khan starrer BANDHAN scored all over India. Since then its been mediocre success at best with TALVAR looking to change if it keeps on going for the next few weeks but expected winners have not done much. Below is a list of films released on this date in the past few years.

2015
Singh Is Bliing - Poor Trend
Talvar - Going Well

2014 (Not just one holiday but five in a row)
Bang Bang - Decent but under performer
Haider - Mediocre (Lucky that actor and director were on profit sharing; so big losses were avoided)

2013
Besharam - Poor

2012
No Release (OMG - Oh My God released a week earlier)

2011
No Release

2010
Anjaana Anjaani - Mediocre

2009
Do Knot Disturb - Poor
Wake Up Sid - Mediocre (Saved due to low costs)

TALVAR was rock steady on Tuesday with collections similar to Monday. The film is looking to finish with a 15.25 crore nett first week and go into week two with a strong weekday finish. The business of the film till date is as follows.
Thursday - 50,00,000 (paid previews)
Friday - 2,50,00,000
Saturday - 2,75,00,000
Sunday - 3,25,00,000
Monday - 1,65,00,000
Tuesday - 1,65,00,000
TOTAL - 12,30,00,000

The way the film is going it will challenge SINGH IS BLIING in week two which is a shocker. TALVAR released on around 625 theatres but many of these theatres had 2-3 showings. Next week it will get a whole screen to itself meaning fours shows at most of the theatres. SINGH IS BLIING is trending badly and so week two is going to be very close between the two films with TALVAR having a chance to outscore the bigger film.

SINGH IS BLIING had a fair first weekend aided by the national holiday on day one. The film has done well in Delhi/UP, East Punjab, Rajasthan and CI but rest if the circuits average with Mysore and Tamil Nadu/Kerala being poor. The business of SINGH IS BLIING over the first weekend is as follows.
Friday - 18,25,00,000
Saturday - 12,50,00,000
Sunday 14,50,00,000
TOTAL - 45,25,00,000

The film will need a solid 7-8 crore nett on Monday but it may be difficult as the trend is not so strong in many circuits. The weekend collections are 2 crore nett less than BROTHERS but it should hold better than that film due to North India.

SINGH IS BLIING was decent on Saturday. The drop is 30% from Friday and basically it has to reverse that and on Sunday and show growrh in that range. The business of SINGH IS BLIING over the first two days is as follows.
Friday - 18,25,00,000
Saturday - 12,50,00,000
TOTAL - 30,75,00,000

The problem for the film is Mumbai circuit. The two day figures are less than Holiday in Mumbai which was released on a normal weekend. Gujarat/Saurashtra is doing decent but is not at the level which it could have been resulting in better figures for Mumbai circuit.

SINGH IS BLIING grossed 18.25 crore nett on day one. It is the second highest first day collection of the year though if it was not a holiday the collections would be lower than ABCD 2 and WELCOME BACK. In the all time list the film is 15th highest ever with similar numbers to films like KRRISH 3 and JAI HO. It is the highest ever for an Akshay Kumar starrer.

The film has collected well though ideally a 29 crore nett plus number was needed so that the second day could have stayed around 14-15 crore nett which would have been good. It can still happen but if its the normal drop after such a holiday then it will be hard.

The film was very good in Delhi/UP, East Punjab and Rajasthan, good in CP Berar, CI, Bihar and Gujarat/saurashtra but elsewhere business was just decent and on a holiday that is not good enough. The film is going to find it hard to work in dome areas due to the very Punjabi content but a strong hold in Delhi and Punjab is important because if these don't hold then others don't have much of a chance.

Akshay Kumar is known for his comic timing. Many believe that he got repetitive in the comedy genre but in my opinion, he has always tried to something different be it Entertainment or Housefull or Housefull 2 or Welcome or any other such film. In Singh Is Bliing, Akshay shows yet another comic side of his and as hoped, it is too good. But that’s not all. Lara Dutta and Amy Jackson also put their best foot forward. Despite the ordinary premise, the funny moments and performance take Singh Is Bliing many notches higher!

The story of the movie: Raftaar Singh (Akshay Kumar) is from Bassi Pathana, Punjab and is having a great life. He’s always having fun and this is not fine with his father (Yograj Singh) who feels Raftaar should get serious and take up a job. His mother (Rati Agnihotri) is very protective of Raftaar but she’s able to do nothing when Raftaar is compelled by his father to go to Goa and work under his friend Kirpal (Pradeep Rawat). Kirpal asks Raftaar to take care of his special guest Sara (Amy Jackson) and in no time, Raftaar falls for her. However, Sara is not a simple, coy girl. Most importantly, she doesn’t understand Hindi while Raftaar doesn’t know the language at all. He hires a translator Emily (Lara Dutta) but things go haywire. On the other hand, there’s the evil Marc (Kay Kay Menon) and he’s in search of Sara.


Singh Is Bliing has its emotional moments but more or less it’s a fun ride. The comic timing of the actors is impeccable. In fact, humour arises at the unlikeliest of places! The film begins with Raftaar’s entry and his antics in the village. The lion sequence is hilarious and sets the mood firmly. Sara’s entry is whistle worthy and her confrontation with Marc is well executed. The film gets better as Raftaar, Sara and Emily come together. From hereon, the film gets fabulous right through the bomb blast sequence in the second half. After that, the film sadly falls and the interest level slightly dips. However, the climax revives the interest. It’s damn good and it gives a great finale to the tale.

Akshay Kumar, as aforementioned, is funny and very adorable. His comic timing is perfect and he shines even in the emotional and action sequences. And he looks like a paaji. Here’s hoping he does some more films wherein he’s playing a sardar! Amy Jackson is not just eye candy. She has a significant part to play and arguably, she kicks more butts than Akshay! Despite not speaking a dialogue in Hindi, she leaves a mark. Lara Dutta is the surprise of the film. She showcases her comic timing like never before. She is extremely cute and her midnight walk at the beach scenes are definitely going to be loved a lot. A great comeback for sure! Kay Kay Menon is strictly okay but shines in the climax. Rati Agnihotri is lovely while Pradeep Rawat is decent. Yograj Singh is just okay initially but makes his presence felt in the scene where he talks to Amy about Akshay. Arfi Lamba and Anil Mange (as Raftaar’s friends) raise laughs in some scenes. Kunal Shashi Kapoor makes a comeback after ages. Here he plays Sara’s father and does a fine job. Sunny Leone’s cameo is superb. Others do a fine job.



Music is one of the highpoints of the enterprise. Tung Tung serves as a great entry song of Akshay. Dil Kare Chu Che is the best of the lot for its idea and presentation. Cinema Dekhe Mumma and Aaja Mahi are dman good tracks too. Background score is exciting. Rohit Shetty’s DOP Dudley as always does a fine job yet again. ANL Arasu’s action enhances impact. Story is ordinary and nothing new but screenplay is great. Prabhu Dheva directs it very well. He proves that even with an ordinary story, one can come up with a great film. The comic moments are superb and the manner in which he has given prominence to not just Akshay but also to Amy, Lara and Rati is praiseworthy. After seeing Singh Is Bliing, one can safely say that Action Jackson was a fluke and he’s still one of the most saleable directors around!

Some of the best scenes:
1. Raftaar’s entry
2. Raftaar with the lion
3. Sara’s entry
4. Raftaar meets Kirpal
5. The airport scene
6. Emily’s midnight walk at the beach
7. Sara bashes goons at the restaurant and bar
8. The bomb blast and the chase sequence that follows
9. The last 20 minutes

On the whole, Singh Is Bliing is an entertaining joyride with loads of unexpected funny moments. Akshay’s funny antics as expected are too good but he’s not only one dominating the scene. Amy Jackson impresses while Lara Dutta is the surprise of the film. Go for it and enjoy the antics of Raftaar Singh!

My rating - *** ½  out of 5!

SINGH IS BLIING VS TALVAR!

Just like last year, this year too, October 2 will see the release of a biggie and a relatively smaller content-based film. While Bang Bang and Haider clashed last year on Gandhi Jayanti, this year, it’s Singh Is Bliing and Talvar that will vie for audience attention. My views:

SINGH IS BLIING: It stars Akshay Kumar, Amy Jackson, Lara Dutta, Kay Kay Menon and Rati Agnihotri. It marks the coming together of Akshay and director Prabhu Dheva after the blockbuster Rowdy Rathore which still ranks as Akshay’s biggest grosser. The promo is fine and contrary to what some feel, this is not a part of Singh Is Kinng franchise. Songs are damn good and each track has been well received. Singh Is Bliing looks like a fun film with sufficient doses of comedy and action. Hence, it surely has a mainstream appeal. In the past, we have seen how films like Welcome Back and Kis Kisko Pyaar Karoon exceled at the box office. Hence, a lot if expected from Singh Is Bliing. Opening definitely will be huge and after that, it’s the content that will do the talking.

TALVAR: It is directed by Meghna Gulzar and stars Irrfan Khan, Konkona Sen Sharma, Neeraj Kabi, Sohum Shah and Tabu, in a special appearance. It is produced by Vishal Bhardwaj who has also composed the songs while Meghna’s father, the legendary Gulzar, has penned the lyrics. Hence, the songs make a deep impact and hopefully will grow once the film releases. Talvar is inspired from the 2008 Aarushi-Hemraj murder case. Meghna with this film attempts to throw light more on the investigation and not on who’s the culprit. Just like in classic film Rashomon, Talvar will put forward three different versions of the ghastly incident. The film had its screening at the 40th Toronto International Film Festival and the response was outstanding. Many who have seen the film are going gaga over the film. Hence, the excitement of the film is there. However, one must not forget that it is a niche film and collections would not be skyhigh. But if the film can sustain well for a couple of weeks and have average to fair collections, it will be great.

WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE SINGH IS BLIING OR TALVAR AND WHY? DO LET US KNOW!

Lara Dutta, wants to play fun, out-of-the-box characters now
Chaya Unnikrishnan (DNA; September 30, 2015)


You made your debut opposite Akshay Kumar in Andaaz and now your comeback film is also with Akshay…
(Smiles) That’s just a coincidence. Honestly, I was enjoying my time with my daughter Saira and if I had to leave her for a particular period of time to shoot for a film, in all probability it was only Akshay who could have convinced me! It’s fun to be part of an Akshay film, it’s like working with family. What’s more, I could take my daughter along with me, so I had a good time. Also, the character that I am playing in the film is something that you have never seen me doing before. Yes, I have done a lot of comedy films, but most of them had an ensemble cast and humour was created around other characters. But in this I am the key comic character. Plus, she has a diabolical streak to her. She has this chasmish look, is quiet and mousy — these little traits appealed to me and the fact that there was no pressure to look glamorous!

Did you miss being away from the screen?
I wouldn’t say I missed it that much because becoming a mom really changes your priorities overnight. The first few years of a child are the most important as that is the time they form impressions. Much was going on with Mahesh (Bhupathi) as he was busy setting up his tennis league besides playing, so it was vital that one parent was constant. My first priority was Saira. It’s only when you actually get back on the sets that you think you probably did miss it.

You are playing a small role in Fitoor as well.
Gattu (Abhishek Kapoor) and I have known each other since we were teenagers. Both of us had done a music video together years ago, which we call our masterpiece (laughs). We kept in touch. When he came over and narrated the character to me I found it interesting. It is the only character that does not exist in the book (the film is based on Charles Dickens’ Great Expectations). It also gave me an opportunity to work with the newer lot of actors.

What kind of roles are you looking at doing now?
I have been lucky so far. I got to play an elegant, sophisticated and intelligent woman in Fitoor, a fun character in Singh Is Bliing and in Azhar, I am playing a plucky lawyer. Filmmakers today are actually writing different characters and looking at actors who can convincingly portray them. I am having the most fun I have ever had in the industry now. It is not about being a leading lady to Akshay or Salman. Just being a romantic lead is over and done with. Today’s characters require acting chops and they are real, the kind I always wanted to do. However, being part and parcel of Bollywood, you have to play the leading lady for ‘x’ amount of films. But yes, great characters are being written for women, which was not the case even seven or eight years ago. And, we can continue to work well into our thirties, which is good. Today, there are a bunch of fantastic directors like Bejoy Nambiar, Dibakar Bannerjee — I did Bejoy’s David when Saira was five months old — and others. I enjoy watching films like Fukrey where the female characters are well written and still remembered. I want to play fun, out-of-the-box characters. I am past the point of playing safe, now I want to play unsafe.

Priyanka Chopra is making her international TV show debut with Quantico. You both began your career together. Your take?
It’s incredible what that girl has been able to accomplish. The entire country is looking forward to it. Unfortunately, in our line people are not so happy with others people’s success, but the energy that is shown around PC’s show is of the rare kind. The industry people are behind her and I genuinely hope this girl is able to break through.

Did you ever think of crossing over?
I had the offers and the opportunity during my time as Miss Universe. It would have entailed me and my family moving to the US, but I chose not to do that.

You have judged a beauty pageant on TV. Has anything else interested you on the small screen?
I have been getting offers to judge different kinds of shows, but TV requires a huge commitment. You have to give 12-13 hours in a day, which is taxing. I did that show because it was about mentoring girls for the international beauty pageant and that is something I have experienced. Besides, everything has to balance out — my career and home.

Finally, do you feel that today more women-centric films are being made than in the past?
Yes, and there’s a simple reason for that. Today’s girls are better actors than boys! It may sound biased, but it’s true, whether it’s Kangana (Ranaut), Anushka (Sharma) PC, etc. Let me put it this way — there are more women who are better than men, and filmmakers have no choice, but to write great roles for them.

Sonali Joshi Pitale (MID-DAY; September 16, 2015)

The makers of Akshay Kumar-starrer Singh Is Bliing have apparently agreed to delete certain “objectionable” portions from the film after inviting the wrath of a section of the Sikh community. When the trailer was released last month, Akal Takht, the highest Sikh temporal authority, took offence to a dialogue that mentioned chicken, whisky, Kabaddi, bhangra, turban and the Golden Temple as the major attractions in Punjab. There were also objections to posters showing semi-clad women and the Sikh kara with Gurbani imprinted on it.

Now we hear the makers have approached the Delhi Gurudwara committee and sorted out the problem. “We held a screening of the film with the producers and members of the Gurudwara committee as well as the Censor Board. We put forth our objections and the makers agreed to remove some portions from the film,” says Jitender Singh Shunty of the Shaheed Bhagat Singh Sewa Dal.

Once the matter was settled, the Singh Is Bliing team was invited to the birth anniversary celebrations of Shahid Bhagat Singh on September 27. What’s more, Akshay will be honoured on the occasion. “The Sadbhavna award along with our traditional sword will be presented to the actor. He is expected to perform at the event along with co-stars Amy Jackson and Lara Dutta,” reveals a source.

The film’s co-producer, Ashvini Yardi says, “We have taken extra care and effort in terms of content, dialogues and the overall look in the film so as to not offend or hurt anyone’s sentiments.”

Pehle hi keh dete na paaji, picture dekhni thi!

MUMBAI MIRROR (September 11, 2015)