As told to Ankita Chaurasia (MUMBAI MIRROR; May 20, 2020)

My first shot for a film was for my dad’s (Kamal Haasan) Hey Ram. It was a well-researched period-drama that opened in 2000. While shooting a scene, the team realised that they needed to show Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel’s young daughter. I was on the sets that day, assisting my mother (Sarika), who was the costume designer on the film. Suddenly, they made me wear a salwar kameez and asked me to walk in front of the camera. It was that one shot without a single line of dialogue. That’s how, at the age of 14, I made my debut as a child artiste. It was what you would call a blink-and-miss appearance.

Incidentally, I had wanted to be an actress since I was six; I aspired to be like Madhuri Dixit. But over time, I told myself that I would never look as pretty as her or dance as well as her, so I gave up on that dream and started pursuing music, which I loved anyway. While I was studying music in California, we had to be part of a play. My dad helped me with it and later, he told me I should think about acting.

When I returned to India, my raakhi brother Imran Khan suggested my name to the makers of the 2009 action-thriller, Luck, which featured him in the lead, along with Sanjay Dutt and Mithun Chakraborty, among others. He convinced them that I’d fit the part of Ayesha/Natasha. And I bagged my first Hindi film, which had me playing a double role. I have to admit that I had not prepped for it and I was terrible. My first shot was with Sanjay Dutt, and I started to shiver as soon as the camera was switched on. I was so nervous. My co-star had no idea it was my first shot, but my director (Soham Shah) guided me through the process. Every scene of that film was really difficult and I had no idea what was going on. I had been on a lot of sets while growing up, but acting in a film is a different ballgame. The only thing I liked about myself in the film was my look, of a badass babe, which really caught on. Also, singing and performing to the song “Luck Aazma”. It was right up my alley. Thankfully, people remember me for the song and not my performance in the film.

I was disappointed at the missed opportunity and realised that I was not naturally-gifted as an actor and must work on my skills, more so because my surname was getting me places that many couldn’t reach. All dad said was, “Keep working”, after watching the film. I’d rather have him criticise me; this was not even a feedback! But I did heed his advice and started putting in more effort. I was much happier doing my second film, which was my first Telugu film, Anaganaga O Dheerudu, and worked really hard on A R Murugadoss’s 7aum Arivu. However, it was only after my turn in 3, that I won my father’s approval.

(L-R) Sakett Sawhney, Mahie Gill and DoP Santosh Tundayil

While the show’s producer alleges that the cops didn’t come to their rescue, the investigating officer insists that the unit did not have permission to shoot at the venue
Rachana Dubey (BOMBAY TIMES; June 21, 2019)

In a video released on Wednesday, the cast and crew of an under-production webshow, have alleged that they were beaten up by drunk goons on their set near Thane (Ghodbunder Road). The incident occurred on June 19, when the unit was filming at a factory. The shooting had commenced at 7 am, and around 4.30 pm, a group of men barged in. In the video shared by producers of the show Ekta Kapoor and Tigmanshu Dhulia, actress Mahie Gill and another co-producer Sakett Sawhney can be seen alleging they were harassed by drunk goons.

However, after the video became viral, an FIR in the matter was registered at Kasarvadavali Police Station, Thane. The matter is being looked into by officer Kishore Khairnar. Early on Thursday, his team arrested three people, Krishna Sonar, Sonu Das and Suresh Sharma, for attacking the sets. The search for two other accused is on.

When BT reached out to officer Khairnar, he informed us that those arrested are spot selection agents and they had assaulted the cast and crew with bamboos. A case has been registered under IPC section 326 (Voluntarily causing grievous hurt by dangerous weapons or means) and 34 (common intention).

“The crew did not have any permission to shoot at the said venue. The problem arose because of two warring groups of spot selection agents. The police station has to be informed and permission for shooting has to be sought. That’s the general way of functioning. Sakett Sawhney claimed in the video that his agent had all the requisite permissions, but when we asked him to produce the papers at the police station, he had nothing to give. In fact, we were informed by an eye-witness that some sort of a fight had broken out on the set, and that’s how we learnt about the shoot happening at that factory. By the time the patrol vans could get there, everyone had left. They didn’t come to the police station immediately, they headed back to Mumbai instead,” Khairnar said.

Officer Khairnar adds, “The people who were left behind on the location knew nothing about the incident. In the meanwhile, Sakett and some others had started putting up videos accusing us for not doing our duty. We can only act if they let us do so. There are so many shootings that happen in the vicinity and there are patrol vans around all the time. These people didn’t inform us; if their agent or they had done that, we would have had it in our records.”

Sakett, along with Ashoke Pandit, president of the Indian Film And Television Directors’ Association (IFTDA), actor Shabbir Ahluwalia, director Soham Shah, producer J D Majethia and actor Mahie Gill, made their way to Vidhan Bhavan in Mumbai, to voice their concerns against such harassment, to CM Devendra Fadnavis.

When we reached out to Sakett, he told us, “We identified a property and a coordinator told us to pay a certain amount which included Rs 5,000 for police permission. We were given an invoice. When the issue spiralled, we found out that the agent had slipped and not taken police permission. The point is, if I am being harassed, will the police first ask for my permission papers or rescue me? It’s like if you are bleeding on the road, will the police ask for your aadhar card before getting you medical help. We were not in the wrong, we had duly paid for the venue. It was someone else’s slip up, and in turn, my crew and artistes were hit and bruised. We had no idea how to react when they barged in on our set, shouting, abusing and holding rods and sticks in their hands. They said, ‘Yeh hamara area hai, aap idhar nahi shoot kar sakte’. We didn’t get any help in time. We left our stuff on the set and went to the hospital. Eventually, we did go to the cop station and file an FIR. The reason we didn’t immediately go is that we didn’t want undue and prolonged harassment for an incident like this. We felt victimised, but after the video became viral, the cops got into action and filed a complaint, released all our equipment and also arrested three of the accused.”

Talking about the visit to the CM’s office, Sakett told us, “We met the CM. We had reached out to Ashoke Pandit and J D Majethia. We felt this is not a one-off incident and it needs to stop. It occurs too often in Naigaon, Mira Road, Umargaon and Karjat, where a lot of shoots happen. A meeting was arranged with the CMO, and he not only heard us but also sprang into action immediately. He made us speak to the IG of the area and also assured us that the accused will be behind bars for a considerable period. It’s a great feeling that the head of state takes immediate action to help us. We reached out because we felt we have access and we must present our grievances to him. It’s a question of human life. When we step out for work, we also want to return home safe. Sometimes, escalating a problem to the highest power corridor in the state is the only option you are left with.”


Shabbir Ahluwalia, Sakett Sawhney, JD Majethia, Mahie Gill, Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis, and Ashoke Pandit with others

The actor is so impressed, he’s getting a tattoo with the same design!
Upala KBR (DNA; September 15, 2016)

On Monday afternoon, Ajay Devgn, who was editing his next release Shivaay at his Juhu office, was shocked when Soham Shah (who directed him in Kaal) walked in to gift him a huge painting of Lord Shiva.

Ajay says that he found the painting brilliant in colour and design and very inspirational. “I found the painting so beautiful that I am now planning to get a tattoo of it on my back. Of course, it will be quite painful as the design is so intricate.”

Soham adds that he had conceived the painting the day the first trailer of Shivaay released last month. “This was my way of wishing Ajay luck for his film. The rudra murti as represented in the film, is a form of taandav and an apt gift for his film as Ajay’s Shivaay is angry in the film and he wants to retaliate. So there’s a powerful, angry connect to the painting and the film. Ajay has always been there for me since Kaal and has been extremely supportive. Shivaay is his biggest film and I wish him luck. Of course, he was taken aback when I gifted him the painting. He didn’t know I could paint! Direction is my work and passion while painting for me is both a hobby and passion. I have graduated from the JJ School of Arts and have always been an artist,” he adds.

Subhash K Jha (DNA; February 26, 2016)

The news that Sanjay Dutt will first start work on Siddharth Anand’s action film is not correct. Apparently Dutt has vowed to first complete his protégé Soham Shah’s long-pending film Sher which went into a limbo after Dutt’s incarceration. The film, which also stars Vivek Oberoi and Humaima Mallick, was as good as shelved after its producer got itself into a financial and legal tangle. Says a source in the know, “Dutt is first committed to finish Soham’s film because Soham’s career has come to a standstill. He has seven films lined up after his release from jail. But Siddharth Anand’s project is not one of them.”

Sonup Sahadevan (MID-DAY; May 13, 2015)

If the latest buzz is to be believed, Rana Dagabatti will soon go shirtless and bare his wild side. Giving him company will be Sunny Leone.

Sources in the industry suggest that the two actors have been signed for Sohum Shah’s next directorial venture, Adventures of Tarzan. While Rana will essay the titular role, Sunny will be seen as his romantic interest, Jane.

Says a source, “The makers felt there was no better bodied actor in Bollywood than Rana to play Tarzan today. So he was the obvious choice. And Sunny will play the usual glam doll.” It is believed that the movie will be a sequel to the 1985 film of the same name that had Hemant Birje and Kimi Katkar in lead roles. “It won’t be a sex-laced film, but Sunny as Jane will be seen wearing leaves for clothes to cover her modesty. The film will be as bold as its prequel,” informs a unit hand.

The movie is slated to go on floors in October. Sohum and producer Ketan Maroo were not available for comment.

Vickey Lalwani (MUMBAI MIRROR; January 20, 2014)

The makers of successful films like the Golmaal series, Jab We Met and Bol Bachchan, Shree Ashtavinayak Cine Vision Ltd, is making news again, but this time for the wrong reasons.

The production house has lost three of its offices -- 001, 204 and 205, in VIP Plaza, Andheri, to State Bank of India (Malad West) whom they owed a sum of Rs 29 crore. Officials from the bank confirmed taking over the properties and Mirror also has a copy of the possession notice.

A few months back, SBI had taken ‘symbolic possession’ of the mortgaged properties, after the company defaulted on payments.

SBI had planned to take over the offices last November and even sought police help. However, Sachin Tendulkar’s farewell Test at Wankhede Stadium came to Ashtavinayak’s rescue. The police force got busy providing security for the high-profile match and SBI had to wait their turn.

A source close to the development revealed, “After the Sachin match got over, Raj Mehta, head honcho of Ashtavinayak, kept buying time from SBI. Last week he even told the bank that one of his family members was unwell and he should be given more time.”

Added the source, “Since Monday, SBI officials have been trying to convince him to either pay up or handover the properties. But, Mehta did not relent.”

On Saturday, around 9.30 am, the bank officials came in with a few cops in plain clothes and took possession of the properties. By 1 pm it was all over.

Soham Shah, who is working on the film Sher for Ashtavinayak, was summoned to the office and asked to take all the files and important documents.

Buzz is, some furniture was given away to the staff before the offices were sealed.

VIP Plaza is also rejoicing as SBI has promised to clear the dues amounting to Rs 48 lakh, which the production house owed to the society. “We have a letter from SBI stating all the dues will be cleared at the earliest,” the Joint Secretary of VIP Plaza N D Nagpal told Mirror.

Ashtavinayak chose not to respond to the story.