Showing posts with label Sukhee. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Sukhee. Show all posts
I’m aiming for a film with a theatrical release, so my kids can watch me on screen-Shilpa Shetty
9:57 AM
Vishakha Pandit (HINDUSTAN TIMES; June 7, 2026)
As Bollywood navigates shifting audience preferences and the growing influence of OTT platforms, Shilpa Shetty Kundra believes the economics of filmmaking have changed dramatically. The actor says the industry’s current slowdown has prompted both filmmakers and actors to rethink their choices.
“The industry is going through a little bit of a lull also because they’d rather not take the onus or the risk, and just do OTT. I don’t blame them. The whole mathematics of making a film, the costing, all of that, has changed,” says Shilpa.
Having spent over three decades in the industry while balancing films, TV and entrepreneurship, the actor says she is now more selective about the projects she takes on. “I don’t want to compromise too much on what I want to do because I’ve been there, done that for a very long time. I want to justify it when I’m seen on screen,” she says.
One of the reasons she is keen on returning to theatres is personal. “My children haven’t seen me in a theatre. That’s why I want to do a film that gets a theatrical release,” says Shilpa, referring to her son Viaan, 14, and daughter Samisha, 6.
She adds, “My son watched Sukhee (2023), but it was in a preview theatre. I hope I get something that’s like the films we used to make earlier.”
Reflecting on the release of Sukhee, the actor says the film did not get the theatrical reach it deserved. “It released at a time when we didn’t get enough theatres. It was such a disservice to the movie. But OTT is a great platform because people can discover a film at their own time.”
Even as she acknowledges the reach of OTT platforms, Shilpa, who will next be seen hosting Maa Hai Na, says her goal is clear: “I’m aiming for a film with a theatrical release, so my kids can watch me on screen.”
I am one of the few artistes who are very particular even about kissing on screen-Shilpa Shetty
8:20 AM
All for experimenting and risk-taking on OTT, Shilpa Shetty Kundra draws the line at onscreen intimacy
Navya Kharbanda (HINDUSTAN TIMES; February 21, 2024)
Having ventured into the OTT space with Rohit Shetty’s Indian Police Force recently, actor Shilpa Shetty Kundra is all praise for the medium. She says, “When you are going theatrical, there’s a lot of pressure on whether the role or that kind of content will be accepted. OTT, on the other hand, allows artistes and filmmakers to take risks.”
While the web space brings with it more scope and liberty to experiment, the 48-year-old still has her reservations while picking scripts. “I want my kids to be able to watch my content. So, I always do family-oriented stuff. I am one of the few artistes who are very particular even about kissing on screen. I have never done it. I am clear about what I can and can’t do.”
A significant advantage of working in web projects is that one gets to operate without the pressure of the box-office. And Kundra experienced that firsthand when her last big-screen outing, Sukhee, found its audience on OTT after a dismal box-office run.
“[While doing web shows,] I feel like I can throw caution to the wind and do interesting stuff without being judged by the box-office collections,” says the actor, who feels one’s personal growth reflects in their professional graph too — which is what is happening with her right now.
“There was a time when I did glamorous films, and then I did serious cinema with Dhadkan (2000), Dus (2005), Life In A... Metro (2007),etc. Just when I was starting to understand the craft, I got married and took a sabbatical. Now, I feel like I am rediscovering myself. That’s why, people saw a new Shilpa in Sukhee,” she ends.
Sukhee got me the most praise in 30 years-Shilpa Shetty
11:05 AM
Rishabh Suri (HINDUSTAN TIMES; December 27, 2023)
Shilpa Shetty Kundra looks back at 2023 with a smile. Why? It’s her 30th year as an actor. As someone who has stayed relevant over the decades, Kundra was appreciated for her role in Sukhee. “I felt it should have been a direct-to-OTT release. We make a lot of movies and garner love and fan following because of the characters. But the kind of appreciation I got for Sukhee was something I’d not received in all these years,” says the 48-year-old, whose career began with the thriller Baazigar in 1993.
Talking about reinventing herself, the actor says it’s more challenging to please the audience today: “When I started out, the audience was different, because the exposure was much lesser for us vis-à-vis the audience. They were easy to please. Today, we are exposed to the point of being trolled. So, you have to constantly be a people pleaser.”
Looking back at the highs of her career so far, Kundra adds, “I started off with a small role in a platinum jubilee hit, then evolved to being a mainstream heroine with Dhadkan (2002), reached the pinnacle of popularity with songs like Chura Ke Dil Mera (Main Khiladi Tu Anari; 1994) and Main Aayi Hoon UP Bihar Lootne (Shool; 1999)... Then came international fame, with winning Big Brother, shifting gears with films like Life... In A Metro (2007). These have been major milestones in my career so far.”
Recent Bollywood releases fail to work at the box office; trade experts share their views
8:28 AM
The dismal box-office performance of recent Hindi film releases isn’t great news for the industry. Experts say the audience has turned ‘ruthless’
Navya Kharbanda (HINDUSTAN TIMES; November 1, 2023)
Bollywood seems to be struggling again, big time. While hits like Pathaan, Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani, Jawan and Gadar 2 got the cash registers ringing after a long lull. The last few months have seen several films, including Ganapath: A Hero is Born, Yaariyan 2, Ghoomer, Sukhee, The Great Indian Family and Tejas, fail to rake in the moolah. Medium and small-budget films are being rejected by audiences on day one, which is “alarming”.
Trade analyst Girish Johar says, “Only the big-banner commercial films are bringing in the money. The rejection rate of small films is very alarming.”
Shilpa Shetty Kundra-starrer Sukhee earned only Rs. 30 lakh on day one and fell thereon. Actor Kangana Ranaut’s Tejas collected Rs. 1.25 crore initially and dipped severely on day three.
Trade expert Atul Mohan says, “If you don’t score good in the first weekend, the film is dead. The trends have changed after the pandemic and the opening matters. When people see the promotions and watch a trailer, they decide if they want to watch the film or not.”
FIRST IMPRESSION
Tiger Shroff’s Ganapath: A Hero is Born fell flat on its opening day, earning only Rs. 2.50 crore in India, making it the actor’s lowest opening. The Akshay Kumar-starrer Mission Raniganj also failed to bring people to the theatres. “They were straightaway rejected by the audience,” says Mohan, citing lack of promotion as the reason behind the lack of numbers.
“If the producers are not spending much on their project, why will the audience pay to watch it? Either makers were overconfident, thinking that word of mouth would help the film do decent business or they didn’t believe in their product,” he adds.
BAAT SE BAAT BANTI HAI
Having said that, many believe that content is king and only if a story has merit, the audience would head to the theatres. Calling the audience “very ruthless”, trade analyst Taran Adarsh says, “The recent instances of films tanking back-to-back have been on the rise. Tejas was rejected outright, while 12th Fail is doing better by the day, with word of mouth. So, unless the film’s content is extraordinary, it will not be watched after the first weekend. People now judge the film quickly on the basis of the quality of posters, teasers, trailers, etc. I noticed the same trend in the ’70s and ’80s as well.”
(Crisp) Movie Review: SUKHEE by FENIL SETA
2:55 PM
Sukhee rests on an interesting idea and is very relatable. That is the biggest plus for this film as one doesn't feel alienated with the goings-on. What is depicted in the film is very real. A few moments are touching and even funny, and keeps the interest going. On the flipside, the film is very lengthy and should have been shorter by 15-20 minutes. Some funny and nail-biting scenes don't work as intended. Also, it reminds of movies like English Vinglish, Queen etc. Shilpa Shetty, however, does very well. Instead of being melodramatic, her performance is subtle. Chaitannya Choudhry (Guru) is apt for the part and gives a fine performance. Maahi Jain (Jassi) is an actor to watch out for. Amit Sadh is damn good as always. Kusha Kapila (Meher) leaves a huge mark while Dilnaz Irani (Tanvi) and Pavleen Gujral (Mansi) also perform ably. Vinod Nagpal (Dadaji) and Mridula Oberoi (Sanjeeta; neighbour) are damn good. All in all, Sukhee is well-intentioned but turns out to be an average fare.
My rating - ** ½ out of 5!
My rating - ** ½ out of 5!
Fenil's Bollywood Talk # 796
2:21 PM
NEW RELEASES TO FACE A TOUGH TIME; JAWAN TO BE THE FIRST CHOICE FOR MOST MOVIEGOERS
The Shah Rukh Khan starrer Jawan continues its dream run. By the end of the second week, it would have earned Rs. 460 crores in Hindi at the Indian box office. If it manages to do another Rs. 60-65 crores, it’ll end up beating Gadar 2 and Pathaan and emerge as the biggest Hindi hit ever. What will also benefit the film is that it has no major competition from the new releases.
The biggest release of the week is The Great Indian Family. It stars Vicky Kaushal and Manushi Chhillar. Backed by Aditya Chopra’s Yash Raj Films (YRF), the family comedy is directed by Vijay Krishna Acharya. The film was made way back in 2021 and is YRF’s first release after the blockbuster Pathaan. The promotions started late but have been very aggressive. Yet, the buzz and awareness are limited. The target should be to cross the first day numbers of YRF’s last year’s release Jayeshbhai Jordaar, which was Rs. 3.04 crores. If the word of mouth is positive, it can see a huge jump on Saturday.
The other big Hindi release is Sukhee, starring Shilpa Shetty. It’s a story of a woman in her late 30s who ditches family responsibilities to live for herself. The idea is interesting but the trailer has got an okay response. Hence, even its screen count is limited. The first-day earnings of the film would be around Rs. 40-50 lakhs.
Then there’s the Hollywood film, Expend4bles, which will have paid previews from Thursday, September 21. It’s an action franchise comprising several old Hollywood actors. The series has never been big in India. Nevertheless, it can surprise and emerge as the biggest grosser out of all 3 films.
Lastly, Jaane Jaan premiered on Netflix today. Starring Kareena Kapoor, Jaideep Ahlawat and Vijay Varma, it is directed by Sujoy Ghosh and looks like an engaging thriller. Thanks to the star cast and trailer, it’ll be the most talked about film this week.
The Shah Rukh Khan starrer Jawan continues its dream run. By the end of the second week, it would have earned Rs. 460 crores in Hindi at the Indian box office. If it manages to do another Rs. 60-65 crores, it’ll end up beating Gadar 2 and Pathaan and emerge as the biggest Hindi hit ever. What will also benefit the film is that it has no major competition from the new releases.
The biggest release of the week is The Great Indian Family. It stars Vicky Kaushal and Manushi Chhillar. Backed by Aditya Chopra’s Yash Raj Films (YRF), the family comedy is directed by Vijay Krishna Acharya. The film was made way back in 2021 and is YRF’s first release after the blockbuster Pathaan. The promotions started late but have been very aggressive. Yet, the buzz and awareness are limited. The target should be to cross the first day numbers of YRF’s last year’s release Jayeshbhai Jordaar, which was Rs. 3.04 crores. If the word of mouth is positive, it can see a huge jump on Saturday.
The other big Hindi release is Sukhee, starring Shilpa Shetty. It’s a story of a woman in her late 30s who ditches family responsibilities to live for herself. The idea is interesting but the trailer has got an okay response. Hence, even its screen count is limited. The first-day earnings of the film would be around Rs. 40-50 lakhs.
Then there’s the Hollywood film, Expend4bles, which will have paid previews from Thursday, September 21. It’s an action franchise comprising several old Hollywood actors. The series has never been big in India. Nevertheless, it can surprise and emerge as the biggest grosser out of all 3 films.
Lastly, Jaane Jaan premiered on Netflix today. Starring Kareena Kapoor, Jaideep Ahlawat and Vijay Varma, it is directed by Sujoy Ghosh and looks like an engaging thriller. Thanks to the star cast and trailer, it’ll be the most talked about film this week.
I designate hours of the day to cry-Kusha Kapila
8:46 AM
Shifting gears to be an actor with Sukhee, Internet star Kusha Kapila on dealing with brutal trolling
Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; September 6, 2023)
“If you’ve ever sat down with your girlfriends to discuss life, age, career, politics, and dating, among other things, without the fear of judgement, then you know what sisterhood feels like. But we don’t have enough stories about female friendship,” says Internet star Kusha Kapila, who presents the theme in her upcoming films Sukhee and Thank You For Coming.
Taking baby steps into Bollywood, Kapila, who has previously been part of Masaba Masaba, Plan A Plan B, and Selfiee, will share screen space with Shilpa Shetty Kundra in Sukhee. She says that the story and “cracking the chemistry” with director Sonal Joshi drew her towards the film.
“And Shilpa is a woman’s woman. She is a technically sound actor who lets you shine in scenes. From telling me when to dab my face and do touch-ups to [instructing] me on the kind of lighting that would make me look better. It is inspiring to be around someone who has been in the industry for three decades.”
While she is relatively new in Hindi cinema, Kapila is a star in the Internet universe, with millions following her every reel. She says that the people around her exist to ground her. “They, in fact, treat me poorly. When I go back home, I have to get an appointment to meet my friends. Recently, my friend was complaining how I am not there for her because I have been busy,” jokes the actor, adding that it is endearing to see her close friends still treat her the same after she became popular.
“They troll me on pap videos. Friends give you a reality check and remind you of who you are and used to be. Their interventions have saved my life.”
Although on home ground nothing seemed to have changed, her private life has been split wide open for comment. Especially after she announced her separation from husband, Zorawar Singh Ahluwalia, Kapila endured unnecessary hate online. It became worse when reports of her dating Arjun Kapoor went public, which she denied on social media with a long post.
A week later, we asked her how she dealt with the negativity, she said, “I designate hours of the day to cry. Love on the internet comes with its fair share of criticism, from slut shaming to body shaming. I am easily affected. This year has been a lesson in silence and going to work with blinders on. I don’t want to trivialize it by saying, ‘Farak nahi padta hai [It doesn’t matter]’. Everyone is affected by it, but how you navigate it shows who you are.”
Does success put a balm on it? “Success offers the privilege to distract yourself. It also gives you perspective on how to move on with life and protect oneself from pain,” she concluded.
I don’t want to have a party on my birthday, says Shilpa Shetty on her 48th birthday
8:17 AM
As Shilpa Shetty Kundra turns 48 today, she plans to keep it low-key and spend the day with her family
Rishabh Suri (HINDUSTAN TIMES; June 8, 2023)
Currently in London, Shilpa Shetty Kundra is spending quality time with her family — husband Raj Kundra (47) and children Viaan (10) and Samisha (3). As the actor turns 48 today, she tells us that she will be holidaying for a while, with a short trip to India for a work commitment. “I will visit India briefly for the shoot of a reality show and will return to London after wrapping it up,” says Shilpa.
Party all night? Not really
The actor proudly calls herself a “homebody” and says she doesn’t like to party, even on her birthday. “I end up going to parties because I am from the industry (showbiz) and I have so many friends. Toh parties mein mooh dikhana padta hai. But, I am the kind of person who likes to unwind with her kids, read them stories and have her dinner by 7 pm. I don’t want to have a party on my birthday. My family might have some plans, but as far as I know, it’s going to be a simple celebration,” says Shilpa.
BEST BIRTHDAY KI YAADEIN
Among all the birthdays she’s had so far, Shilpa considers her 40th the most memorable one: “My husband planned a party for me in Montenegro (Europe) and invited 40 of my friends. When I was on the way, I had no clue about the celebration. But I knew that my son wasn’t there, so I felt guilty as a mother. But by the time I got to the resort, I was surprised to see Viaan, my in-laws and parents. My father was also alive then. It was a beautiful celebration.”
LONDON, HER SECOND HOME
Shilpa says since she had a busy 2022, taking some time off to be with her family was a must. “With Indian Police Force and Sukhee (her upcoming projects), I worked really hard last year. So, I needed to get out. London is my second home and there’s so much to do here with the kids. I just wait to do normal things and not be seen. We go strawberry picking and visiting theme parks with them. I am feeling rejuvenated. It’s great to not be looked at or judged,” admits the actor.
I have only been in the industry for 20 years and still have 40-50 years to go. So, I will get more romantic roles-Amit Sadh
8:29 AM
The actor clarifies that he hasn’t distanced himself from rom-coms
Navya Kharbanda (HINDUSTAN TIMES; May 16, 2023)
Around 20 years ago, actor Amit Sadh won hearts as Aditya Bhargav in the TV show Kyun Hota Hai Pyarrr. He has since gone on to do a slew of serious roles in web series such as Jeet Ki Zid and Breathe, among others. In his next, Main, the actor is playing an encounter specialist.
Is it a conscious choice to stay away from rom-coms or romantic roles? Sadh says, “I am not a cry baby, but I don’t really get so many movie options.”
He explains, “When I did Gold (2018), the role of Raghubir Pratap Singh was very charming. The audience liked it. I remember Reema Kagti, my director, asked me, ‘Why don’t they give you such roles?’ I said, ‘I can’t really complain’. I have only been in the industry for 20 years and still have 40-50 years to go. So, I will get more [romantic] roles, it’s not like I won’t be getting any such roles.”
Having cemented his position in the industry as a versatile artiste, is there a particular kind of role that he wishes to portray on screen? Sadh is quick to mention that he doesn’t have any kind of inclination and his only motive is to “entertain”.
“I have shown that I can play a hockey player, Army officer and cop. In Shakuntala Devi, I played a husband... I have been lucky that I got versatile roles,” he shares, adding, “I am an actor, I want to work. I want to entertain, make movies — I want to do everything! I want to do romance, jump off planes, play a psychopath... I want to entertain people, that’s my inclination. I just want to improve and work with great people.”
Going forward, the 39-year-old wants to challenge himself further with the roles he picks and wishes to mix it up.
“You just have to choose from what you get,” he says, adding, “I have a romantic role in the film Sukhee opposite Shilpa Shetty (Kundra, actor), which is also releasing very soon. I am playing a light-hearted role and I am sure my fans are not complaining. I am not sure what the future holds, but as an actor, I want to be versatile. I want to be challenged and I want to do different roles. Fingers crossed, I think things will be good!” he signs off.
It’s a huge compliment to be cast by Rohit Shetty. It’s actually a hero’s role-Shilpa Shetty
8:20 AM
Shilpa, who plays a woman cop in Rohit’s Indian Police Force, on how she had to sport a “muscular” look
Uma Ramasubramanian (MID-DAY; June 27, 2022)
Rohit Shetty’s cop universe is populated with macho men fighting for their ideals. The thought extends to Indian Police Force, which sees Sidharth Malhotra donning the khaki uniform. But the Amazon Prime Video offering has an interesting addition to the cast — Shilpa Shetty Kundra will be seen matching Malhotra, punch for punch, in the series. Shilpa is ecstatic to be a woman cop in Rohit’s testosterone-driven world.
“It’s a huge compliment to be cast by him. It’s actually a hero’s role. I manifested it. I keep telling Rohit, ‘Main kuch aur maangti toh woh bhi mil jaata,’” she laughs.
The actor, who makes her web debut with the series, says she had to gain weight for the part. It proved to be tricky, as she was simultaneously filming director Sonal Joshi’s Sukhee. “I gained around four kilos for Rohit’s show. I had to sport a different look for Sukhee. So, my weight was yo-yoing during these two projects. I had to look tough and muscular for Indian Police Force.”
The actor is expected to resume work on the series, after the director returns from his Khatron Ke Khiladi 12 shoot.
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