Hasti Doshi (BOMBAY TIMES; December 11, 2019)

Actress Vedhika Kumar says she is ready to give her best in her first Bollywood film, The Body, after having done 22 films in multiple languages down South, which include Kannada, Tamil, Malayalam and Telugu. The actress, who has hits like Kanchana 3, Paradesi and Shivalinga to her credit, talks to Bombay Times about her debut in Hindi films, the experience of working with Emraan Hashmi and Rishi Kapoor, among others. Excerpts...

You are doing your first Hindi film, The Body, after having worked in the South film industry for around eight years. Didn’t the thought of exploring Bollywood cross your mind earlier?
I started my acting career very early. I was still completing my schooling when I began my career in the South film industry. I was doing well there while also completing my studies. Bollywood has been on my wishlist for a long time, and I got the right launchpad with The Body. Besides, I also felt that I should gain some experience there and then do Hindi films.

Have you ever been offered Hindi films before The Body?
I was offered a few scripts, but they never excited me as the scope for performance was very limited. They were not the kind of debut vehicle I wanted to launch my Bollywood career with. So, when The Body came my way there were many things that seemed to work in my favour and one of it was the film’s script. I play Ritu (Emraan’s love interest), who is like a girl-next-door and is a character that I can totally relate with. Secondly, it has such fine actors like Rishi Kapoor sir and Emraan Hashmi. It’s a great opportunity to work with some of the best in the industry, so there was no way I could miss it. Besides, there’s a lot of freshness in the character that I play, which is that of a college girl. This is the way I wanted to be presented in my first film.

Do you think that your experience as an actor in the South film industry worked in your favour in bagging this film?
There is no formula for bagging a film, you just work through whatever is given to you and aim for the best. Having said that, the experience that I gained while working in South films has been an advantage. The director of The Body, Jeethu Joseph, is aware of my work and films in the South. So, when I met him and Sunir Kheterpal (the producer of the film), they felt that I fit the role perfectly and that’s how things fell into place.

What was the experience like to work with Emraan Hashmi and Rishi Kapoor in the film?
I am a huge admirer of Emraan and his work. His movies have great music and this film is no different. He is down-to-earth and made me feel comfortable from the word go, so it never felt like I was working with him for the first time. I had a different impression of Emraan in my head. I thought that he would be intense and serious, like he is in some of his films (laughs!). I haven’t shared screen space with Rishi sir in the film, but I did meet him, and he took the entire team out for dinner. It was a really sweet gesture to include me in their plans as well. These are small moments that I am going to cherish.

Showbiz is known to be a tough space to survive in, so how did you handle the ups-and-downs in your career?
For me balancing my films and studies was difficult, but once I put my heart into something, then I give it my all. I didn’t know much about South film industry and how it worked, so initially, a few things didn’t work in my favour. It wasn’t a smooth journey for me, but eventually, I was approached for mainly performance-oriented, strong author-backed roles where I got to work with and interact with National Award winners like Bala sir (Palanisamy), Vasantha Balan, A R Rahman as well as Raghava Lawrence. I have also been part of hit films like Kanchana 3, Paradesi and others. I believe that there should be a graph to my career, so that it teaches me to make better choices.

Do you feel this film will help open more doors for you in Bollywood?
I am already receiving a warm welcome in Bollywood and meeting the best of people here. I have also been offered a few projects and one of them will be announced very soon. I am ready to do all kinds of films as I don’t want to be stereotyped. I have done roles that are poles apart in South cinema, and that is what I am aiming for in Bollywood, too.

MID-DAY (December 9, 2019)

After bringing the 1897 Battle Of Saragarhi to the big screen earlier this year, Sunir Kheterpal, the producer of Kesari, has greenlit a film based on the life of IAS officer Durga Shakti Nagpal, who currently serves as the officer on special duty to Agriculture Ministry.

Nagpal burst into the national spotlight in 2013 when she blew the lid on the illegal sand mining mafia in Gautam Budh Nagar in Uttar Pradesh. This led her to getting stuck in a political conflict, with the Uttar Pradesh government suspending her for allegedly demolishing an illegal mosque wall in Greater Noida. After a growing demand from various political parties and public for her suspension to be revoked, Nagpal was reinstated to duty with full honour. Khetarpal has teamed up with Romeo Akbar Walter maker Robbie Grewal for the movie.

The duo is currently in talks with several female actors for the central role. "Our priority is providing entertainment to audience while not compromising on powerful content. With the story of Durga Shakti, we want to make the audience aware of this ideal hero," says Khetarpal. Looking forward to roll the project in mid-2020, Grewal says it's a "privilege" to narrate Nagpal's story.

Avinash Lohana (MUMBAI MIRROR; June 19, 2019)

After Laxman Utekar’s Hindi directorial debut Luka Chuppi, Kriti Sanon is gearing up for three releases this year—Farhad Samji’s Housefull 4, Rohit Jugraj’s Arjun Patiala and Ashutosh Gowariker’s Panipat. Now, Mirror has learnt that after directing Shah Rukh Khan in Raees, National Awardwinning filmmaker Rahul Dholakia is making a film featuring the 28-year-old actress. The yet-untitled thriller will draw inspiration from real-life stories for a fictional set-up in Mumbai. The Sunir Kheterpal production will go on the floors in August.

Confirming the news, Kriti said, “I had been waiting for the right female driven film to come my way and this one ticked all the boxes. I play a media professional for which the research has already started. I can’t wait to start shooting for this film. It’s an entertainer with a powerful core idea and will connect with audiences without being preachy.”

The film, which will be shot in a start-to-finish schedule, has been written by author-turned-screenwriter Bilal Siddiqi, while a top VFX studio from South Korea is being brought on board for the film which is heavy on visual effects. Rahul, who is also co-producing the film, is excited to work on the thriller. “This idea was pitched while it was being developed and we realised that there is an exciting thriller format that this story lends itself to. It’s a cracker of a script and Kriti is the ideal choice for the protagonist,” he asserted.

Sunir further informed that the film is currently in the pre-production stage. “The team will be conducting a week-long workshop which will start by the end of July,” he revealed, adding that the film will release in the first half of 2020. 

Avinash Lohana (MUMBAI MIRROR; March 12, 2019)

After Anurag Kashyap’s 2018 love story Manmarziyaan, in which she played the feisty heroine Rumi, Taapsee Pannu is reuniting with the filmmaker again. Mirror has learnt that after playing protagonist alongside Bhumi Pednekar in Anurag’s production Saand Ki Aankh, the actress will front his next directorial, a yet-untitled supernatural thriller, which will go on the floors by the year-end and will be shot in a start-to-finish schedule.

Confirming the news, Anurag said, “Taapsee keeps me on my toes and is on a mission to make me take on challenges. I have never done anything like this before, so I am looking forward to it.”

Taapsee, who had hit it off with Anurag while working on Manmarziyaan, admitted that she knew she would reunite with the director soon. “But I didn’t know it would happen so soon. We had been discussing stories and this one received a resounding ‘yes’ from everyone. I am looking forward to it as I have not explored the supernatural genre in Hindi films yet,” the actress said.

The film is produced by Sunir Kheterpal who admits that the trio has been brought together by superlative material. “It just gets better given the genre and the talent attached,” he added.

While speaking to Mirror earlier (February 15), Taapsee had revealed that she had found a close friend in Anurag. “We are two brutally honest people and too lazy to hide things from each other or make up stories. Don’t be surprised if we work together again,” she had said.

Meanwhile, Anurag is presently exploring locations for their new film as the setting will play an integral role in creating the right atmosphere.

Duo is heading to London and Scotland in June to kick off Sujoy Ghosh’s next
Natasha Coutinho (MUMBAI MIRROR; May 16, 2018)

After Shoojit Sircar’s courtroom drama Pink, Amitabh Bachchan and Taapsee Pannu are reuniting for Sujoy Ghosh’s next. Produced by Sunir Kheterpal, the film is tentatively titled Badla.

A source close to the development informs that the shoot kicks off in the second week of June. “It is a month-long schedule and they will be filming in London and Scotland. The film is a murder mystery which revolves around the duo and Taapsee’s love interest who is a businessman.”

Sujoy had earlier directed 75-year-old Bachchan in his 2009 fantasy-adventure, Aladin, which also featured Riteish Deshmukh and Jacqueline Fernandez, and was the creative producer on Ribhu Dasgupta’s 2016 thriller, Te3n, with Big B, Vidya Balan and Nawazuddin Siddiqui.

Avinash Lohana (MUMBAI MIRROR; April 2, 2018)

After Shoojit Sircar’s National Award-winning 2016 film Pink, Amitabh Bachchan and Taapsee Pannu are set to reunite for Sujoy Ghosh’s next directorial. While shooting for the courtroom drama, the actress had impressed the Big B by pulling off a 13-page scene in one take.

“The film produced by Sunir Kheterpal is tentatively titled Badla. A crime thriller, it is expected to roll in mid-June. Mr Bachchan has liked the script but is yet to sign on the dotted line but Taapsee has already committed to the project. The makers have already started work on the prep,” informs a source close to the development.

Sujoy had earlier directed the 75-year-old veteran in his 2009 fantasy-adventure, Aladin, which also featured Riteish Deshmukh and Jacqueline Fernandez, and had produced Ribhu Dasgupta’s 2016 thriller Te3n with Big B, Vidya Balan and Nawazuddin Siddiqui. Bachchan’s next is Umesh Shukla’s 102 Not Out with Rishi Kapoor while Taapsee has been shooting for Anurag Kashyap’s Manmarziyaan with Abhishek Bachchan and Vicky Kaushal.

Viacom18 Motion Pictures and Azure Entertainment have joined hands to produce the actor’s next
MUMBAI MIRROR (February 19, 2018)

Viacom18 Motion Pictures, the studio behind Bollywood’s biggest films like Queen, Gangs of Wasseypur, Toilet - Ek Prem Katha and the most recent Padmaavat, is presenting an as-yet-untitled horror thriller, being produced by Sunir Kheterpal for Azure Entertainment. The film features Emraan Hashmi and Rishi Kapoor in key roles.

The film marks the debut of ace Malayalam director Jeethu Joseph in Bollywood. Jeethu is best known for the Mohanlal-starrer, Drishyam, which was subsequently remade into four Indian languages and is one of the top two biggest grossing Malayalam films of all time.

“Directing a Hindi feature film has been on the anvil for some time and I have been waiting for the right story. This crime mystery thriller with elements of horror has excited me tremendously and we have got the perfect casting for the two protagonists. I am looking forward to start the film at the earliest,” asserted Jeethu.

Emraan is equally excited. “It will be a riveting, nail-biting treat for fans of the genre and with Jeethu at the helm, I’m confident the film will be a game changer,” he promised.

Sunir Kheterpal, CEO, Azure Entertainment, exulted, “Jeethu Joseph is a superlative directing talent and we are proud to be producing his Hindi feature film debut. Viacom18 Motion Pictures has a great track record of backing content-driven films and we are happy to collaborate with them.”

Ajit Andhare, COO, Viacom18 Motion Pictures, added, “Ever since we produced Drishyam, a Hindi remake of Jeethu Joseph’s original masterpiece, we have been looking for a subject to make with him in Hindi. This amazing crime thriller, developed with Azure, is a story with which we are looking forward to creating the same kind of magic that the audience experienced with Drishyam.”

Nayandeep Rakshit (DNA; September 19, 2017)

After Hrs was the first to tell you that John Abraham and Taapsee Pannu were being paired opposite each other in a thriller adapted from the Spanish film The Invisible Guest. Now, we can confirm that Kriti Sanon has replaced Taapsee in the film to be directed by debutante Lakshya.

It’s not a date issue or price issue that led to this change, as it is, in most cases. There’s a tale behind this development. Says a source, “The film is being jointly produced by John Abraham Entertainment, KriArj Entertainment and Sunir Kheterpal. There was a disagreement between the makers regarding the female lead.”

Sunir, who had the rights to the Spanish thriller, had promised the role to Taapsee much before KriArj came on board. John, who has previously produced Rocky Handsome for Sunir, was in agreement with the choice of the leading lady. But once KriArj came on board, they wanted a change. Debate and discussion followed and it was decided that Kriti is a better choice for the role. John also agreed and then the film was offered to Kriti, who came on board.”

This won’t be the only film that Kriti will be doing with KriArj. “Prernaa Arora and Arjun N Kapoor loved Kriti’s performance in Bareilly Ki Barfi and they have signed her for one more film they will produce now,” adds our source. The film rolls this year end.

Sanyukta Iyer (MUMBAI MIRROR; January 17, 2015)

John Abraham is already a master of the top three martial arts which originated in Thailand - Karate, Taekwondo and Muay Thai. He has now added another to the list after a two-week workshop in Lerdit, a practice used by the Royal Thai Army. He uses it to brutal effect in his upcoming thriller, Rocky Handsome.

Co-producer Sunir Kheterpal says, "His action director and trainer Kesha with a 10-member team filmed an action sequence in Thailand and sent it to us. We reviewed it and then John flew down to train for the sequence. The sequences took 72 days to finish and were finally shot at Ramoji Studios, Hyderabad."

Four larger than life action sequences were filmed in Thailand. In one, John had to take on a group of 10-12 baddies without any weapons. "Kesha did not use sound effects. The noises you will hear are not the 'dhishoom dhishoom' kind but John's fists punching the men," informs a source from the sets.

A native Thai, Kesha, did not speak English or Hindi and used a translator to communicate with John. But by the end of the shoot, the action director was happily speaking English, all thanks to John. "They became buddies and soon Kesha didn't need a translator anymore," the source added.

The team is now likely to head to Rajasthan for two songs sequences and a final fight. "John will take on the drug mafia in the desert," said the source.

The film is an adaptation of the 2010 Korean hit The Man From Nowhere, in which the drug mafia kidnaps an eight-year-old girl and puts her neighbour with whom she shares a unique bond on the path of revenge.

"The film begins with the little girl teasing John, 'Eh, Handsome' which explians the 'Handsome' in title," the source adds. 

Roshmilla Bhattacharya (MUMBAI MIRROR; September 27, 2014)

Mirror (February 27) was the first to report that Tigmanshu Dhulia is making a film on friendship, love and betrayal titled Yaara, featuring Irrfan Khan, Vidyut Jammwal, Amit Sadh, and Shruti Haasan. The film is an official remake of Les Lyonnais, a 2011 French drama directed by Olivier Marchal.

After initially denying the news, Tigmanshu confirmed that it was a story of two friends and their relationship over a period of 35 years. He also revealed that Manoj Bajpayee and Irrfan Khan will be playing the older buddies while Amit Sadh and Vidyut Jamwal would be seen as their younger avatars. Explaining why he had opted for two sets of actors, Tigmanshu reasoned that the audience will not accept Manoj and Irrfan as 25-year-olds or Amit and Vidyut as 50-year-olds.

Eventually Manoj dropped out of the film and Tigmashu decided to step into his shoes.

Now, buzz is, even Irrfan has opted out of the film and Amit and Vidyut will play both the roles. When Mirror contacted the actor, he insisted that he was still "open to the project" and was waiting for Tigmanshu to return from the second schedule to get clarity on his role. "I'm okay with the idea but I have no clue how they have developed my track," he said.

However, Sunir Kheterpal, who is co-producing the film with Tigmanshu, was categorical that Irrfan was no longer a part of the cast. He informed that the lead protagonists, Vidyut, Amit and Shruti, are playing characters who are in their mid-20s and mid-40s.

"Before starting the first schedule in Dehradun in June, the makers took the call to cast the same actors to play different ages as it would have a better connect with the audience. A 20-year age gap does not warrant casting different actors for the same characters," he argued.

When Mirror updated Irrfan on the same, he sounded surprised by the developments. He graciously added: "If Tishu is going with another actor he must have strong reasons for doing so. The decision will not come in the way of our friendship. It's not a given that I have to work in every film he does or vice versa. We have never commercialised our friendship."

Roshmilla Bhattacharya (MUMBAI MIRROR; April 7, 2014)

In an interview to Mirror (December 30, 2013), hours before he flew out to Los Angeles to quietly tie the knot with girlfriend Priya Runchal, John Abraham had excitedly spoken about his next home production, Rocky Handsome. The actor described it as “Force to the power of 10”. But he promptly laughed off the vision of another Hulk with tattooed biceps and a 12-pack saying, “This time Nishi (director Nishikant Kamath) wants a lean killing machine.”

Now Mirror has it that Rocky Handsome is an official remake of South Korea’s highest grossing film of 2010, The Man From Nowhere. The stylised action-thriller follows the journey of a lone crusader, played by Won Bin, who goes on a murderous rampage against the drug mafia when the only person he cares for, a seven-year-old girl, is taken from him, along with her mother.

“It’s a universal story and its USP is the emotional connect between the protagonist and the child. We bought the rights and took it to John who loved it, so did Nishi,” says Sunir Kheterpal, whose company, Azure Entertainment, is coproducing the film with John’s JA Entertainment.

While the original, one of the most critically acclaimed action films to come out of South Korea in the last decade, was a gritty piece of cinema, the Bollywood version will be more commercial and will have some song and dance thrown in. “It will have four songs composed by ensemble music directors, like Vicky Donor. But the highlight of our film is the action. We are getting action directors from abroad—Eastern Asia—for the stunts,” said Kheterpal.

Rocky Handsome rolls in May in Goa. Added Khetarpal, “We’ve locked February 6, 2015, as the release date. The film co-stars Shruti Haasan and an eight-year-old girl whose identity we wouldn’t like to reveal at the moment.”

Roshmilla Bhattacharya (MUMBAI MIRROR; March 21, 2014)

Alexandre Dumas’s 1844 literary classic, The Count Of Monte Cristo, has anchored on Bollywood shores after numerous international adaptations.

The story of a wronged man, who unearths a treasure on his way to revenge and true love, will be directed by Abbas-Mustan and produced by Sunir Kheterpal of Azure Entertainment.

A source close to the developments told Mirror, “Saif Ali Khan will be playing a businessman in this film. There will be two heroines opposite him; one will be a younger actress and another six years older than him.”

Kheterpal confirmed the news saying, “Yes, we are working on an adaptation of the novel with Saif in the lead. The revenge drama is right up Abbas-Mustan’s alley. The film is still untitled and will release in 2015.”

Mustan added that film will not be an outand-out adaptation as the story and screenplay are their own and different from that of the novel’s.

“We gave Saif a one-and-a-half hour narration before he left for Mauritius for the shoot of Humshakals. He liked it and after he returned we met him with a bound script,” says the filmmaker who’s waiting for the actor to return to Mumbai from Phantom’s Chandigarh schedule, to work out the film’s details.

The director duo has worked with the actor earlier in Main Khiladi Tu Anari and the Race franchise. But as Mustan points out, the first one was a two-hero film with Akshay Kumar and in Race and Race 2 too he shared the screen with two heroes—Akshaye Khanna and Anil Kapoor in the first and Anil and John Abraham in the second.

“This is a solo hero project. Tentatively, we should roll in October, after Phantom opens on October 2. But there could be a two-three months time lag,” Mustan says.