With Avrodh depicting the 2016 surgical strikes, Amit Sadh says he is unfazed by comparisons with Vicky Kaushal's Uri
Letty Mariam Abraham (MID-DAY; August 4, 2020)

It has been a busy month for Amit Sadh. After Breathe -  Into The Shadows, the actor had three more releases — Shakuntala Devi, Yaara and Avrodh: The Siege Within — all in a span of four weeks. "When I didn't have work, people complained that they don't get to see me. So, I'm sure my fans will be thrilled to see my work back-to-back. All I did was to submit to the masterplan that the universe had for me," grins the actor.

His latest series on Sony LIV, Avrodh, a retelling of the 2016 surgical strikes, is based on a chapter from Shiv Aroor and Rahul Singh's book, India's Most Fearless. The nine-part series, which was conceptualised after eight months of research, was ready since late last year. "I was offered this role when I was lean and weighed about 72 kilos, and was filming my cameo in Super 30. The director [Raj Acharya] gave me pictures of men in Special Forces who had big builds. That is when I took the challenge [of bulking up]. My brother, who is in the Indian Army, introduced me to someone in the Special Force units. Their training protocol, manner of functioning, orders and responses are quite different from regular armed forces."

Before facing the camera as a Special Force officer, Sadh read India's Most Fearless as part of his prep. "I have read both their books [in the series]. Their research in the books has been accepted by the army chief, and several others in the armed forces." The actor reveals arrangements are underway for a screening of the series for the army personnel.

The 2016 Uri attacks has already been depicted on the big screen with the much acclaimed Uri: The Surgical Strikes. Comparisons with the Vicky Kaushal-starrer do not bother Sadh. "I am like Arjun with my eyes trained on the target. We didn't make Avrodh keeping such comparisons in mind. Uri was a great film and I am a fan of Vicky's work. I will be thrilled if Vicky watches the series," he says.

While Abhishek Bachchan-fronted Breathe 2 has its share of fans, the series was panned by critics for its contrived storytelling. Says Sadh, "I have only read the audience's reviews, and they have loved it. I only consider the views expressed by the audience, my director, and the studio. With due respect, I will not [pay heed] to criticism by five people, who are doing the job of giving star ratings. I prefer to know whether my fans liked my work or not."

As the ‘boycott China’ chorus grows louder, we find out what’s at stake for Hindi films in China
Prashant Singh and Juhi Chakraborty (HINDUSTAN TIMES; June 19, 2020)

Of late, China has emerged as a lucrative market for Hindi films, though it’s still not anywhere near other overseas countries such as US, UK or Europe. PK which released in China in 2015, Dangal in 2017, Secret Superstar, Bajrangi Bhaijaan (BB) and Hindi Medium in 2018 and Andhadhun have had dream run at the China box office.

However, the present situation in eastern Ladakh, where 20 soldiers of the Indian Army were killed in a violent confrontation with Chinese troops in Galwan Valley late on Monday, has posed the question of whether Indian films will cease to release in the neighbouring country.

While Dangal earned a whopping ₹1,908 crore, Secret Superstar raked in ₹874 crore. Likewise, PK made ₹831 crore, even as Andhadhun touched ₹324 crore figure in China, while BB also crossed ₹300 crore mark.

No more number games
Filmmaker Nikkhil Advani refuses to look at the balance sheets. “If 20 of our soldiers have been brutally killed, there’s no question of even talking or thinking about having our films released there, or how much financial losses — miniscule or big — it will entail. Hypothetically, if we are in such a tense situation with a country that contributes in a big way to our overseas film business, will we think of releasing films there? No, I don’t think so,” he says.

Filmmaker Sanjay Gupta, whose Kaabil released recently in China, admits that China is “undoubtedly the fastest growing movie market in the world”. “But Hindi films don’t have a definite market share there yet, with a very negligible business. So, it’s not like we are going to lose out on a huge pie if we skip China,” says Gupta. Exhibitor-distributor Akshaye Rathi puts it in perspective. “It’s a producer’s call. Money-wise, you don’t stand to lose much. So, our filmmakers can skip it,” he says.

A high probability
Film trade expert Amul Vikas Mohan feels that film industry is most likely to take a stand on the matter. “I will be shocked if they don’t. I understand that China is a brand new market, and movies are doing well there. But regardless of the financial aspect, the patriotic feeling is much stronger and that will affect decisions,” he says. Trade analyst Atul Mohan also agrees that when emotions run high in the country, it won’t be business as usual for the film industry.

Not a big blow
Despite the whole monstrosity about the China market, Rathi notes that revenue-wise, not releasing films in China will not make much of a difference to the overall scheme of things.

“China has a policy where they allow only a limited number of foreign language films to release. So, we weren’t looking at the release of more than three to four Indian films there anyway. Plus, the business policies that the Chinese entertainment industry has is such that out of the big money that a film makes, a very small share comes to the producers,” Rathi explains.

The Covid factor
While it indeed is lucrative for Indian filmmakers to release their films directly on 25,000 screens in China, the Coronavirus pandemic has anyway dented that prospect and cast a cloud of uncertainty about theatres opening in such large numbers.

Joginder Tuteja says, “It will take two months for an Indian film to get a clearance for release there. The films which are going to release are anyway old, they will go there, release silently and come back. It won’t make much of an impact,” he shares.

The big rush!
Till now, a number of Hindi films have hit Chinese big screens starting with 3 Idiots and PK among others. Of late, Hindi films like Hichki, Andhadhun, Kaabil and Mom released in the neighbouring country to varying degrees of success. In April, reports suggested that Hrithik Roshan-starrer Super 30 will release in China once the situation becomes ‘normal’ after Coronavirus pandemic. We tried to reach out to Reliance Entertainment Group CEO Shibasish Sarkar about the same, but he refused to comment.

Mrunal Thakur on her dream run at the movies and playing Shahid Kapoor’s better half, mother to a young boy in the Jersey remake
Himesh Mankad (MUMBAI MIRROR; April 2, 2020)

Mrunal Thakur admits that 2019 was a dream year for her. The actress grabbed eyeballs with her performances in Super 30, a biopic on math whiz Anand Kumar, and the cop-drama Batla House. She is still in touch with both her co-stars, Hrithik Roshan and John Abraham respectively, who are very encouraging and appreciative of her work. “I can’t believe, it’s almost a year since I shot for both films,” Mrunal admits, adding that after the encouraging reviews, the responsibility of delivering consistently has increased.

The actress has two sports-dramas coming up this year—the first one being the official remake of Nani’s Telugu hit, Jersey, with Shahid Kapoor. “He’s a sweetheart and always supportive,” says Mrunal, who has watched the original and now, when on the set, is often consulted by the director for inputs.

The Gowtam Tinnanuri directorial sees the protagonist—a retired cricketer trying to make it to the national teamage from his early 20s to mid-30s. Shahid and Mrunal play parents to a young boy and the actress is unfazed by the prospect of on-screen motherhood. “I’ve met girls who had kids in their early 20s. Even I played a mom of two in a commercial when I was 18. It’s just acting,” she says nonchalantly.

There’s also Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra’s Toofaan, which features Farhan Akhtar as a boxer and Mrunal as his ladylove. “We shot most of the film in one go in Mumbai so the flow wouldn’t break,” she informs. “My character has a certain graph, and music is helping me prep.” The song “Her Grace” by Maverick Sabre allows her to live out the character and underlines the film’s vibe. “Music is my biggest weapon on a set,” she says, acknowledging that the challenge while juggling Jersey and Toofan was to make both characters distinctly different. “It’s tough to do one thing in different ways.”

The actress ends the year with a quirky comedy, Umesh Shukla’s Aankh Micholi, which rides on an ensemble cast, including Paresh Rawal, Abhimanyu Dassani, Sharman Joshi and Divya Dutta. “We completed the film in two chunks, in Europe and Patiala. It’s a fun film where characters with great flaws come together under one roof. Watch out for our mad house,” she signs off with a laugh.

There final classifications of 2019 were as follows as the year delivered 19 HIT films and nine of them of being major HITS. There were further six successful films and then two Below Average films. The year was dominated by Akshay Kumar with three of the top six hits belonging to him.

There was an ALL TIME BLOCKBUSTER film in 2019 also but that came from Hollywood with AVENGERS: ENDGAME. However, despite doing 363 crore nett business, the footfalls of KABIR SINGH were still more than AVENGERS: ENDGAME. KABIR SINGH and WAR were the only films to go over 2 crore footfalls and no film even came close to 3 crore.

The final classifications of films released in 2019 with distributor shares in brackets are as follows.

All Time Blockbuster 
-

Super Blockbuster
1. Kabir Singh (135 crore)

Blockbuster
2. War (151 crore)
3. Uri: The Surgical Strike (101 crore)

Super Hit
4. Housefull 4 (104 crore)
5. Good Newwz (96 crore)
6. Mission Mangal (94 crore)
7. Chhichhore (66.50 crore)
8. Dream Girl (65 crore)
9. Bala (50.50 crore)

Hit
10. Saaho (Hindi) (77 crore)
11. Total Dhamaal (75 crore)
12. Kesari (74 crore)
13. Super 30 (70 crore)
14. Gully Boy (66 crore)
15. Batla House (41.75 crore)
16. Luka Chuppi (41.50 crore)
17. Badla (39.50 crore)
18. Pati Patni Aur Woh (37 crore)
19. Article 15 (28.50 crore)

Semi Hit
20. Bharat (102 crore)
21. De De Pyaar De (44 crore)
22. Mardaani 2 (21.75 crore)

Average
23. Manikarnka - The Queen Of Jhansi (43 crore)
24. The Accidental Prime Minister (11.25 crore)
25. The Tashkent Files (5.50 crore)

Below Average
26. Student Of The Year 2 (32 crore)
27. Marjaavaan (22 crore)

The year 2019 turned out to be pretty decent with the top twenty five films collecting 3600 crore nett plus as compared to 3000 crore nett last year. But a lot is to do with lower GST in 2019 as the GROSS numbers are 4250 crore compared to 3850 crore in 2018. There is a 20% difference in NETT numbers which would be a good result if all things were equal but in actual terms the difference is 10% as in GROSS numbers, all is equal. The 10% growth is roughly how much ticket rates grew in 2019.

The biggest grosser of the year was WAR (Hindi) grossing 292 crore nett but the biggest HIT was KABIR SINGH. It was the universal blockbuster of the year which did equally well in all parts of India. It also had the highest footfalls of the year as it was released outside holiday periods on normal ticket rates. WAR and URI were also BLOCKBUSTERS but could have done better in the Central India markets where there performance was lower as compared to other areas. The other film to top 200 crore nett HOUSEFULL 4 could have done better in North.

No film got close to 3 crore footfalls which tells there was no really huge BLOCKBUSTER. In fact the last 3 crore footfall film was TIGER ZINDA HAI in 2017 though PADMAAVAT may have got there if it had released all over. Only two Hindi films - KABIR SINGH and WAR - managed to get more than 2 crore footfalls and the third film was AVENGERS: ENDGAME from Hollywood. SAAHO also manged it in all formats and if we take all formats into consideration then this film had the most footfalls of any film in India last year at 2.60 crore.

The ranking of the top films in terms of NETT collections are as follows and these twenty stand above the rest as the 26th film is under 50 crore nett. The GROSS collections may change the positions a little as there is state levy and higher service charges in some states and if films have a higher ratio coming from these areas then it changes the NETT to GROSS ratio.

1. War (Hindi) - 2,92,71,50,000
2 Kabir Singh - 2,76,34,00,000
3. Uri: The Surgical Strike - 2,44,00,50,000
4. Housefull 4 - 2,05,60,50,000
5 Bharat - 1,97,34,50,000
6. Good Newwz - 1,95,78,00,000 (35 days)
7. Mission Mangal - 1,92,67,00,000
8. Kesari - 1,51,87,50,000
9. Total Dhamaal - 1,50,07,50,000
10. Saaho (Hindi) - 1,48,84,00,000
11. Chhichhore - 1,47,32,50,000
12. Super 30 - 1,47,00,00,000
13. Dream Girl - 1,39,37,00,000
14. Dabangg 3 (Hindi) - 1,34,79,00,000
15. Gully Boy - 1,34,21,50,000
16, Bala -1,10,97,50,000
17. De De Pyaar De - 94,50,00,000
18. Manikarnika - The Queen Of Jhansi (Hindi) - 90,81,00,000
19. Luka Chuppi - 88,50,50,000
20. Badla - 87,56,00,000
21. Batla House - 84,99,50,000
22. Pati Patni Aur Woh - 80,41,00,000
23. Kalank - 80,03,50,000
24. Student Of The Year 2 - 65,70,50,000
25. Article 15 - 65,17,50,000

NOTE - Good Newwz is still running in week six but will not change the rankings as it has only 25-50 lakh more to come

Hrithik Roshan says there’s a lot more that he has to offer as an actor
Rishabh Suri (HINDUSTAN TIMES; February 5, 2020)

He set the box office on fire with two consecutive hits last year — Super 30 and War — two roles as different from each other as chalk and cheese. And this is what actor Hrithik Roshan has always done in his career spanning 20 years. From Krrish (2006) and Guzaarish (2010) to Agneepath (2012) and Kaabil (2017), he has pushed the envelope. As the rumour mill goes on an overdrive about what is going to be his next film, we talk to the 46-year-old about the journey so far:

You had mentioned once that ‘playing a suave charmer who can dance well doesn’t come naturally’ to you. This is despite the fact that you are a regular on the lists of ‘most sexy men’ and are considered to be among the best dancers in Bollywood. So what made you say that?
I am frankly more comfortable doing characters where the exterior is not something I have to sell as ‘sexy’. Because it really is a lot of hard work, physically, and there is a chance to get carried away by that exterior. I need to be extra vigilant in each shot, to make sure my character is coming from a real place and does not appear pretentious about his looks when facing the camera. Unlike a character like Rohan from Kaabil or Anand from Super 30 where it is just all heart — that to me is easier. But then again, the mental stimulation when playing people like Aryan from Dhoom 2 (2006) and Kabir from War is just unmatchable. So, both have benefits.

Having done over three dozen films in a career spanning 20 years, have you figured out your process as an actor yet?
I don’t think that there is ‘a’ particular process of acting. An actor’s job is to bring a scripted character to life. It’s quite easy to imitate someone or even an emotion, but only good ‘actors’ can do that. I, on the other hand, need to feel it or I can’t act it. So, in that regard I am a bad ‘actor’. Hence my basic process in the larger sense is first identifying the way I want the audiences to feel about the particular scene or the film, and then feel that emotion and hold on to it till the end, towards that goal.

Is there still something left in your bucket list that you would want to tick off?
A bucket list is something that sets the basis for what all one wishes to do or achieve. So while I keep ticking off things I have managed to achieve, I also keep adding newer things to that list and there are too many of them. The ticks are an encouragement, and all the additions to the list are all motivations.

There are ups and downs in everyone’s lives. Who has been your inspiration? Does box-office success play an important role? 
Like you said, there are clouds in everyone’s lives. A professional high would definitely bring some kind of sunshine in your life but the key is to keep going, whatever the weather.

Do you believe that a part of the actor in you is yet to be tapped?
I’d stop acting if I ever felt that there is nothing more in me to be explored as an actor. I have always believed in taking up challenges and being more and more versatile in my craft. I am grateful for the kind of projects that have come my way to help me do that. Possibilities are endless and one needs to just keep discovering their capabilities

Birthday boy, Hrithik Roshan isn’t in favour of any ‘extravagant celebration’ on the special day; career-wise, the actor says he is ‘loving this current phase’
Prashant Singh (HINDUSTAN TIMES; January 10, 2020)

Right from his debut film (Kaho Naa... Pyaar Hai; 2000), he epitomised great looks and smooth dance moves. Even 20 years later, not many can match Hrithik Roshan’s Adonis-like looks and to-die-for dancing skills. Not just that, the actor — all along — also has had audiences in awe of his pitch-perfect histrionic skills, thanks to many solid performances as well. “I am loving this phase of my career. It feels like the journey has just begun,” says Hrithik, who turns 46 today. Excerpts from an interview:

To start with, would you call yourself a birthday person?
Not really. Usually, I realise quite late that it’s my birthday and then, I have to quickly decide on a plan, if at all, or not. Honestly, I am not someone who looks forward to having any extravagant celebration on this specific day (smiles).

Any special plans for the birthday this year?
For me, the best way to celebrate is to make my birthday a ‘gratitude day.’ I focus on my family, friends and my incredibly steadfast fans, who do not leave a single chance to make me feel special and loved. That’s why birthdays are always dedicated to them. So, for me, it’s about spending time and doing things for them. That’s all I am going to do this year as well.

Last year turned out to be special one for you with the success of Super 30 and War. Now, as we start 2020, how do you look back at 2019?
When I look back at 2019, my heart is filled with joy, relief and gratitude. There is a lot to be grateful for about the last year. I feel blessed for the opportunities, for all the love and support from my fans, and for being surrounded by people who inspire me on a daily basis. Having said that, I feel 2018 was a more important year for me when I was actually working on these two beautiful films — Super 30 and War.

Your last two films were diametrically opposite to each other in terms of their worlds and characterisation. Does that give you a kick as an actor?
Absolutely! It gives me a kick to take up challenging roles and mould myself into different characters (for films), but doing it in the same year — within four months to be specific — was pretty excruciating. But it has its own high in terms of overcoming a tough challenge. I think, perhaps that’s the addiction (smiles).

Interestingly, in 2020, you also complete 20 years as an actor since Kaho Naa... Pyaar Hai. How do you look back at your successful journey till now?
Each year, and with every film, there has been so much of learning. But it is only in the last couple of years that I have started feeling more assured as an actor. Kaabil was that turning point for me and it was followed by Super 30 and War. There is some sort of composure now and I trust my instincts more than ever. I don’t feel the need to be as meticulous about what I’m going to do for a particular shot and rather just let it all flow. It is a different feeling altogether.

Now, as we step into a new decade, do you have any particular target or plan in mind that you would want to achieve in the coming 10 years?
A decade is a long time and one’s thoughts and goals would either change or evolve during this time period. Having said that, an ideal target to achieve would always be to have a healthy balance between doing some quality work and spending enough time with my family.

There has been a lot of speculation about your next film...
There are a lot of scripts that I am reading right now. When I find the one that I cannot say no to, you will hear from me and that is going to be very soon.

Recently Deepika Padukone said that she and Ranveer Singh couldn’t stop gushing over you while watching War. She also called you ‘death by chocolate.’ How do you take such statements/praises?
I really didn’t know how to react to that (smiles). It was quite flattering. Thanks to Deepika for the compliment. But I also think that it is the magic of the movies. And it is very encouraging, and of course special when people from your own fraternity compliment you in such a manner.

Hrithik Roshan on his 20-year acting career, looking for more than ‘blowing up cars and fistfights’ in action films and earning a solid year at the box office
Himesh Mankad (MUMBAI MIRROR; December 26, 2019)

By his own admission, it’s been a while since he had such a successful year. “I have worked hard for it,” says Hrithik Roshan, who caps off 2019 with two screen turns—Math wiz Anand Kumar in Super 30 and rogue agent Kabir in War. Excerpts from an interaction:

What was it like juggling Kabir and Anand Kumar in the same year?
I didn’t have to juggle at all, because I like to immerse myself in the character till one film is over. It was great to be a part of films that make me feel the best as I am a restless person and get bored easily. For me, it has always been a pattern of jumping from one extreme to the other. The fact that I can do a Kabir right after Anand Kumar ignites me.

Does the success of Super 30 give you the confidence to be more unconventional in your choice of roles?
The decision to do a film has little to do with the success of films in that zone but more to do with how I feel about the character. I only agree to do things I can’t say no to.

Many believe that you should be doing more action films than you have so far.
I am dependent on the kind of scripts and directors who approach me. After Kaabil, I was looking to do an action film. In fact, I met the entire industry and encouraged a lot of people to write an actioner for me. I waited for a year for something impactful in that space, but it was Super 30 that struck a chord. That decided my fate for the next one year. People think I am deciding these things, but they aren’t really in my control.

What do you look for in the script of an action film?
I look for intelligence; the general approach is important. The story cannot be just about bravado but also about a flawed character. There has to be a contrast because usually, action films are all about the hero being pitted against the villain and that’s not enough. I don’t mind doing an ensemble or a two-hero film, but it needs to be intelligently written. Blowing up cars and fist-fights aren’t action for me. It should emanate from the protagonist’s attitude.

What’s happening with Krrish 4?
The film is underway but it’s best that I speak at the right time; once I begin work on the film.

Can we expect an update on the film next year?
Fingers crossed.

What do you think has made Krrish a successful franchise?
It wasn’t a pretentious superhero film; the logics were right. The genesis of superhero films in India requires a prequel and then to be taken forward into the template. In my head, Krrish became a superhero in Krrish 3. Koi Mil Gaya was a backstory with Rohit; Krrish was a personal story though, by the end, you feel that the character could be a superhero but in Krrish 3, he became one. The three films have established a solid foundation for the franchise. Any such series needs that because we are building the character from scratch.

It has been over two years since you announced a film. When can we expect one?
As soon as I find a script that I can’t say no to (smiles). I have never restricted myself to any genre, though the advice I get is to do more action films now. It’s not in my hands; it’s really about the script.

Super 30 came a year-and-a-half after Kaabil, your last release. Are you looking to shorten that gap?
The number of films is irrelevant because if I get three exciting films in a year, I will do all of them but if I get one in two years, there will be just one release. I will never not do a film that I love.

You have spoken about Hollywood offers in the past. Anything happening on that front?
Not really, but I am open to working there. I haven’t found anything, either in Bollywood or Hollywood.

Would you explore a feel-good film in the Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara space again?
I’d love to. I hope someone will write something like that for me.

We don’t see you often at Bollywood parties anymore…
I love spending time with my kids (sons Hrehaan and Hridhaan). Not that I don’t like being at parties, I enjoy being with friends, too. Perhaps I have been busy with films. It’s time to catch up with friends at their parties now.

Buzz is, you will be producing films, too, now...
Yes, my production house is actively looking for good content and my team and I have been reading a lot of scripts. I may not act in these films or maybe I’ll do a small part, but the idea is to produce content-driven films, triumph-of-life stories or something that can leave an impact on the audience.

This was your 20th year in the industry. Did you expect your journey to lead to stardom?
It’s a gift that I am nothing but grateful for. I have realised that stardom is a huge responsibility that requires a lot of skill to bear, otherwise it becomes a burden. I feel I have gotten better at handling it with every year but it’s not easy. I think of myself as someone who is shy. I am here to act, so there is a bit of awkwardness while putting the star jacket on. I am getting used to it.

Any regrets?
I don’t regret anything because everything happens for the best and has got me to the point where I am today. I worked in two films from different genres in the 20th year of my career, both of which are big successes. What more could I ask for?

Hrithik Roshan wants to continue exploring uncharted territory after a terrific 2019
Rishabh Suri (HINDUSTAN TIMES; December 26, 2019)

At the beginning of 2019, no one would have thought how big an impact Hrithik Roshan was going to make with his films. First came Super 30, which saw him strip all the sexiness that one associated with his Greek God image. His portrayal of a mathematician from Bihar, who trains underprivileged IIT aspirants, won hearts and the box office alike. And then, he flexed his muscles to deliver a monster hit with the action film War, which has emerged as the highest grosser of the year. Clearly, 2019 couldn’t have ended on a better note for the 45-year-old. Excerpts:

Super 30 must have been an emotionally tough journey. Before it released, did you have any clue about what fate it will meet?
The journey of Super 30 wasn’t particularly easy because of some tough but important calls that we had to take. As for its fate, of course I had major doubts whether it would work at all, yet I had no choice but to do it because I felt so much emotion and love for this film. Every day on set, I was living life at its best. I was stimulated, passionate and woke up with infallible conviction in my heart about the day’s work. Step by step, it started becoming something so inspirational and moving. And then, the magic that a film like Super 30 created at the box office was heartening to witness.

And you were back in your macho avatar in War. What did its success mean to you?
The success of War, Super 30 or any other movie teaches you only one thing — following your heart and working hard is the best way to work. It reaffirmed my faith in my instincts. Professionally, it has been a celebratory year. We had a small celebration with the team of War after it crossed ₹300 crore. And for Super 30, I had a lovely dinner with Anand (Kumar, the mathematician on whose life the film is based) sir and my family.

Is the box office a deciding factor for you when you sign a film?
Well, by now, I know which characters and traits work at the box office, so I could easily open shop and keep selling them one by one. Or I could keep exploring extremes and unchartered territory as I’ve been doing. As an actor, with my last three films, I’ve found a certain composure now in front of the camera. So, in fact, it would be a great time to explore even more with newer worlds and characters to see how I’d approach them.

Even after the success you’ve achieved, is there something that still intimidates Hrithik the star?
Self-doubt, fear, and uncertainties go hand-in-hand with growth and happiness. These are just signs of living an inspired, stimulated life.

Has your stardom ever come in the way of you portraying any character?
No, because I’ve never let stardom overpower the actor in me. It’s too fickle for it to be taken seriously.

You’ve been voted as the sexiest Asian male of the decade in a UK poll. How do these ‘sexy’ tags given to you repeatedly make you feel?
It’s embarrassingly flattering. However, I see such tags and titles as a compliment and am thankful for them. It’s also encouraging as it makes me feel like I must have done at least something right!

There is speculation about War being turned into a franchise…
Well, it does have the scope, but you should ask this question to Adi (Aditya Chopra, producer) and Sid (Siddharth Anand, director). They are the best people to answer this.

What is the update on the Satte Pe Satta remake and Krrish 4?
I think we should wait for official announcements and stop speculating.

As told to Ankita Chaurasia (MUMBAI MIRROR; December 3, 2019)

I was in a negative space, having just quit a TV show, Kumkum Bhagya, while also battling heartbreak. That’s when I came across a speech by Meryl Streep in which she said, “Take your broken heart, make it into art.” Coincidentally, around the same time, someone told me about this role and from Versova I rushed to Bandra, where the auditions were on. I connected instantly with the character because even I had been away from my sister for a while and missed her terribly. I didn’t know who the filmmakers or even my co-stars were, but when another film I was supposed to be a part of didn’t work out, I gave the nod to Love, Sonia. Since I had been losing weight for the earlier role, I could convincingly play a 17-year-old in my debut film.

My first shot was a test shot taken during a recce. I was told to play in the field and they shot me in silhouette. When I watched the final cut, I realised that the shot was retained as the final scene in the film. My actual first shot was with Adil Hussain in the field as I jump to the rescue of my little sister when she spills the grains while playing and is being scolded by our father. Before we faced the camera, Adil asked me if I’d done theatre and I had to admit I hadn’t. It was playing on my mind while we were enacting the scene and it made me conscious. Fortunately, I remembered I had done TV and hence I am spontaneous in front of the camera. But I was still thrown off when Freida Pinto whacked me on the face with an unbelievably hard roti. It had always been a part of the script, but I had not understood the word ‘whack’.

Another first was dubbing on the fly. We had just shot the scene where my character loses her virginity. Since I was raw and smarting from the mix of emotions, our sound engineer, Resul Pookutty, decided on the spur of the moment that this was the best time to get me to read out the lines of the letter that connects the story. I flew business class to Los Angeles and on the very first day, shot with my idol, Demi Moore. It was incredible!

I was waiting for Love, Sonia to release when I heard that auditions were on for Super 30. I went for them and then forgot about it till they called me a few months later. Several auditions followed and after a while, I broke down and called a friend from outside the Phantom Films office to ask her if I was really so bad an actress that they had to test me so many times. Then, one day, I was told I was on board. By then I had convinced myself that they really didn’t like me so I refused to believe that I was doing a film opposite Hrithik Roshan, till the film released.

My first scene in Super 30 was on the Ganga Ghat, when Hrithik’s character tells me to marry someone else because he can’t. Since Supriya is in love with his Anand Kumar, I was supposed to smile and cry at the same time. I was really nervous and walked to Hrithik’s vanity van, told him I was terrified of doing the scene with someone who’s such a good actor. I also insisted that I wouldn’t call him ‘sir’ as that would make it even more difficult for me. He laughed and told me that he had been freaking out because he thought I was too calm and collected for a newcomer. Now that I told him I had the jitters, he was feeling better. Immediately, the ice was broken.

Kavita Awaasthi (HINDUSTAN TIMES; December 1, 2019)

Mrunal Thakur is basking in the success of two hit films — Super 30 opposite Hrithik Roshan, and Batla House co-starring John Abraham. But other than box office success, she has also been overwhelmed with the love that she has been receiving from the audience. “I have got so many marriage proposals on social media post Super 30 and Batla House. Messages that say, ‘Can I marry you?’, ‘You are the perfect wife material’, ‘I am crushing on you’. Such messages are so sweet and I have never heard or received reactions like this before. It is wonderful. I remember, once I was returning home after pack up of my film, this teenager met me and literally jumped on me. She gave me a tight hug and kept calling me Bulbul, the name of my character from my last TV show. When people show such unadulterated love, personally or via messages, I don’t know how to respond,” says the Love Sonia (2018) actor.

Talking about her personal love life, she says, “Love is important and I am waiting for it. I really want to fall in love. I want a man who can cook and sing for me (laughs). I want him to travel with me as I love to travel and he has to make me laugh.”

Mrunal has a number of films in her kitty. She is shooting for Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra’s Toofan, co-starring Farhan Akhtar, a horror anthology film called Ghost Stories and the Telugu remake of Jersey, starring Shahid Kapoor. She points out that she has a long way to go, “but one actor who is on my wish list is Ranveer Singh. He is a fabulous actor and bagging a film with him would be mind blowing”.

Hrithik Roshan was keen that the Patna-based math wiz break bread with his parents, Rakesh and Pinky Roshan, uncle Rajesh and the extended family
Shaheen Parkar (MID-DAY; November 16, 2019)

Thanksgiving Day came a fortnight early for Hrithik Roshan as he invited Super 30 founder and the muse for his runaway hit by the same name, Anand Kumar, to his Juhu home on Thursday. Since he holds the biopic close to his heart, the superstar was keen that the Patna-based math wiz break bread with his parents, Rakesh and Pinky Roshan, uncle Rajesh and the extended family.

"Hrithik would keep telling me that his folks were keen to meet me. But he got busy with his next film [War], and I, with my classes back home. As a result, the dinner plan did not materialise for long," says Kumar. However, with Thanksgiving Day around the corner, the actor thought it was the perfect occasion to catch up with the man who helped him bounce back in the game.

"It felt like I was with my family. I was touched when Rakesh ji served food to me," says Kumar, who was accompanied by brother Pranav for the meal. His most treasured compliment came from the actor's mother Pinky. "She told me that she had seen the film nine times in the theatre."

Hrithik Roshan feels no one expects him to dance in every film just because he happens to be a good dancer
Prashant Singh (HINDUSTAN TIMES; November 16, 2019)

Right from the start of his career (Kaho Naa Pyaar Hai; 2000), he has been loved as much for his dancing talent as for his histrionic skills. So much so that Hrithik Roshan’s dance pieces — almost always — become the centre of attraction in his films. But the actor feels there is no hard and fast rule about featuring dance numbers just because of his presence in a movie.

“I think that’s an old thought process, which doesn’t even exist now,” says Hrithik, whose latest moves in the chartbuster, Ghungroo (from War), have been lapped up by audiences. “People are getting far more real about films. Our society is changing and at the end of the day, our films are a reflection of the evolution of our society. The collective consciousness is evolving and becoming more intelligent,” he says.

Before War, Hrithik had hits such as Super 30 and Kaabil, and both didn’t feature him in well-choreographed, dapper dance numbers. “See, our films are also evolving. And when you look at movies through that filter then you won’t expect an actor, who is known for dancing, to dance just because he knows how to, especially in films like Super 30 or Kaabil,” he says.

The 45-year-old actor, who was loved for his dance moves in films such as Kaho Naa..., Lakshya (2004), Dhoom 2 (2006) and Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara (2011) among others, says, “Filmmakers are only going by the audience’s instincts. I don’t think anyone is saying, ‘Oh, Hrithik hasn’t danced in Super 30. Why hasn’t he?’ That’s why, at the end of the day, it doesn’t affect anything or translate into anything.”

While Hrithik is on a career high and is set to complete two decades in the industry next year, he is clear that films “have to impact” him. “Otherwise, I can’t do them and won’t even be able to last for those 80-150 days [to shoot a film]. My enthusiasm won’t last because some day, you will reach a stage when it will be so hot and you are so uncomfortable that you will be like, ‘Let it go to hell and let’s get it done somehow’,” he says.

The Jodhaa Akbar (2008)  actor says that he would “never want to reach such a point in my life.” “If you are truly excited by a film, even at 45 degrees and when you’re uncomfortable and don’t want to do what you are doing, that script and that germ of an idea will just keep pushing you. My script becomes fuel for days like that, when I don’t want to get up and work,” he smiles.

Reel vs real
Till now, Hrithik has played a variety of characters, which have been loved by the audiences. But he doesn’t want to take it all seriously. “I don’t think I will ever be comfortable with the guy I portray on screen. That’s my craft and art, put together, twisted into a presentation. If I start thinking I’m that guy, then, there is a problem,” he says. “I can’t ‘act’ like that guy outside that world, or do an impersonation,” he adds.

WAR is the top single screen grosser with almost 75 crore nett while SAAHO (Hindi) has the highest ratio of single screen business against the multiplex business and both have one thing in common and that is action. The big difference being that War had a star cast while SAAHO (Hindi) was a film from the South and worked for the action only.

The single screen has been coming down for years as they slowly shut down while others get converted into twin screens. But the single screens business is still a sign of stardom for the actors involved and also the reach of the film where the higher the business means the film has reached a larger audience. There are four films in the history of Hindi cinema that have crossed the 100 crore nett mark in single screens and they are BAJRANGI BHAIJAAN, SULTAN, BAAHUBALI 2: THE CONCLUSION and TIGER ZINDA HAI. BAAHUBALI 2: THE CONCLUSION a is among the greatest BLOCKBUSTERS ever and the other three are Salman Khan starrers and its this pull which makes him the top star at this time.

The top ten NETT grossers at single screens across India in 2019 are as follows.
1. War - 74,72,00,000 (28 days)
2. Kabir Singh - 54,82,00,000
3. Bharat - 53,29,00,000
4. Housefull 4 - 44,56,00,000 (17 days)
5. Saaho (Hindi) - 43,89,00,000
6.Total Dhamaal - 38,93,00,000
7. Mission Mangal - 33,15,00,000
8. Kesari - 29,05,00,000
9. Uri - The Surgical Strike - 27,94,00,000
10. Super 30 - 20,17,00,000

The business from multiplexes today forms majority of the business for Hindi films and there have been 3 films which have topped the 200 crore nett at multiplexes in 2019 and they are KABIR SINGH, WAR and URI.

The collections are from around almost 1100 cinemas which are multiplexes and twin screens so can be classified as multiplexes. KABIR SINGH, is not the top grosser of the year but its business at multiplexes is higher than WAR which is the top grosser of 2019. There are certain films that are called multiplex films but this is not because they have the best collections at multiplexes but more so because they hardly have any collections at single screens. The examples of these are URI, CHHICHHORE, SUPER 30, DREAM GIRL and GULLY BOY. These films also struggle post release on television as the wider audience is not there for these films.

The top ten NETT grossers at multiplexes across India in 2019 are as follows.
1. Kabir Singh - 2,21,52,00,000
2. War - 2,17,25,00,000 (28 days)
3. Uri - The Surgical Strike - 2,16,06,00,000
4. Mission Mangal - 1,59,52,00,000
5. Housefull 4 - 1,48,94,00,000 (17 days)
6. Bharat - 1,44,05,00,000
7. Chhichhore - 1,34,21,00,000
8. Super 30 - 1,26,83,00,000
9. Dream Girl - 1,25,53,00,000
10. Gully Boy - 1,22,70,00,000