MID-DAY (December 24, 2017)

Industry artistes on who showers them with gifts, inspiration and affection all year round

Kailash Kher
My [late] mother and father are my Santa Clauses. They taught me the art of giving. I feel their presence in the appreciation and love that I get for my deeds. Even though they are not physically present, I feel their guidance in my instinct and conscience.


Yo Yo Honey Singh
My father, Sardaar Sarabjit Singh, is my Santa Claus. He’s the most hard-working person I’ve seen. [Being a mechanical engineer] he would travel for months on work, so that he could provide my younger sister and me with the best.


Sonakshi Sinha
My dad [Shatrughan Sinha] has been my Santa Claus. He would travel for work often, and whenever he returned, he was never empty-handed. Dad would always bring back a doll, or the latest toy, or a souvenir.


Shamita Shetty
It’s definitely my sister [Shilpa Shetty Kundra]. No matter how busy she is, she is always there for me. Every year, I make a list, and let her know what I want. Come Christmas, whether I’ve been naughty or nice, I have always been rewarded. She is my friend, mentor and my super sexy Santa too.


Shekhar Ravjiani
Every child that make me smile and every listener who expresses his/her love for my music, is my Santa. I celebrate Christmas every day. With my current bearded look, I think I am also starting to resemble Santa.


Saiyami Kher
The Santa in my life is Gulzar saab. He is full of life. Every time I meet him, he gifts me a wonderful book. He brings a smile to my face. I wish the world had more people like him.

Swara Bhaskar
My parents have been my Santas, always getting me gifts when I least expect to receive any. And now, Sonam Kapoor and my Nil Battey Sannata director, Ashwiny Iyer Tiwari, play that role. Both are constantly spoiling me.

Sanyukta Iyer (MUMBAI MIRROR; November 7, 2017)

The rapid unravelling of media mogul and Hollywood’s leading producer-distributor Harvey Weinstein, followed by House of Cards-star Kevin Spacey accused of molesting a minor, has shaken up the entertainment world in the West and prompted many victims to speak up against other power players.

Over the last two weeks, multiple allegations have been reported against actor-comedian Andy Dick, producer David Guillod, Oscar-winner Dustin Hoffman, songwriter Ethan Kath, TV star Jeremy Piven, filmmaker Brett Ratner, writer-animator Chris Savino, screenwriter-director James Toback, to name a few.

While Hollywood has sprung into a much-needed clean-up operation at the workplace, Bollywood has remained tightlipped on the issue. Finally, actress Swara Bhaskar speaks up about being harassed by a drunk filmmaker and why it’s important to break the code of silence.

The casting couch is not new to Bollywood. So why isn’t our film frat ready for a spring cleaning of sorts, a la Hollywood?
Sexual harassment is a universal phenomenon because fundamentally it is about power or rather the misuse of power. No relationship, even the most intimate, is devoid of power dynamics. Power operates most brazenly in an unregulated workplace and that is what Bollywood is. The way a film set operates is often feudal and always hierarchal, where some people give instructions and others execute them. It is an uncertain place ruled by fortune, the cruel seductress, populated with a crowd of forever anxious ambitious dreamers and hustling freelancers. If you succeed, money, glory and power is yours. If you fail, the world falls apart. Conditions at the workplace are ripe for sexual harassment, more so because victims can be easily silenced.

The shaming movement in the West is so effective because actors are naming offenders.
Actors are vulnerable because they are perennially either looking for or out of work and much too ambitious to risk their careers for a cause. Also, the backlash on the social media is scary. See how Mallika Dua was trolled on Twitter by random people. (The comedienne wrote an open letter, after Akshay Kumar, judge of reality show, The Great Indian Laughter Challenge, commented at her, “Aap bell bajao, main aapko bajaata hoon...”) Bollywood is not conducive to an honest conversation about sexual misconduct.

Over 300 women have spoken up in Hollywood and 31 official complaints have been registered so far.
I would like to make a distinction between sexual misconduct, inappropriate remarks and rape. Kevin Spacey has been accussed of attempting to rape a minor. Whenever Bollywood faced a similar situation — the case of Shiney Ahuja comes to mind. The reaction was to quietly allow the law to take its own course. In other cases too, celebs have chosen not to comment, which in some ways is better than slut-shaming the victim or accuser. Ours is a small industry where everyone is friends with or related to someone which makes the task harder. We need to follow the example set by the Malayalam film industry which has instituted an anti-sexual harassment committee after the rape of an actress to create a safer working environment and to get justice.

Have you personally faced harassment on a film set?
Of course. I’ve been propositioned by men who were in a position to cast me. I lost a few roles because I didn’t give in. It made me vulnerable, nervous. Some people even stopped responding to my messages because they knew I would not give in. Being an articulate, educated girl they sensed that I would not take things lying down.

There have been catcalls during shoots and eve-teasing on one of my sets. I’ve been groped by a mob during promotions and during a 56-day outdoor at a remote location, when I was still fairly new, the director harassed me with texts and dinner invites. He stalked me during the day and called me through the night. I was asked to go to his hotel room on the pretext of discussing the scene and would find him drinking. During the first week itself, he started talking about love and sex and one night, arrived in my room, drunk, and asked to be hugged. It was scary! I was young and alone. I would switch off the lights after pack-up and remove my make up in the dark so he would think I was asleep and stop calling me.

Did the harassment stop?
Yeah, after I told him that he was scaring me and making me uncomfortable. I told him I wouldn’t be able to act if this continued. He acted hurt and said I had misunderstood him. He stayed away for two weeks, then he was back to his tricks. I finally confided in the executive producer and made sure that I was escorted everywhere.

What is the best way for an actress to deal with harassment on a film set?
Lose the part but don’t get on the couch. It’s not a feminist choice and it’s certainly not a liberating choice. It’s like giving a bribe and that is succumbing to a wrong.

In Anaarkali Of Aarah, your character sleeps her way to the top. How did you feel playing this role?
Anaarkali Of Aarah is a path breaking film. Anaarkali is a promiscuous, ambitious girl who sleeps with the manager of her troupe to become the lead singer. She’s a grey character, difficult to sympathise with and yet, by the end, you do empathize with her.

There is a dialogue in the film with Anaarkali saying, “I am a whore/slut according to your morals and definition but it is still not okay to molest or harass a girl.” That took the debate away from the girl’s lack of virtues to put the blame squarely on the aggressor. That is what has to happen in real life too. It doesn’t matter what a woman does, she does not want to be touched or propositioned without consent. Period.

Earlier this year, TVF founder-CEO Arunabh Kumar, was forced to step down after several complaints. Bollywood remained a silent spectator through the controversy.
The TVF controversy started a conversation that was long overdue. But the first allegation was an anonymous letter and it is difficult to say anything about an anonymous allegation. What was interesting was that many other girls came forward subsequently, spoke up, giving up their identities. That created a public discourse. We need to stop silencing and start sharing. We need to stop slut-shaming and ask for a collective platform to deal with this issue. We are all guilty of being in the know and remaining silent. And that is complicity.

Sanyukta Iyer (MUMBAI MIRROR; November 4, 2017)

After wrapping up a fun-filled Delhi schedule, the ensemble cast of Veere Di Wedding — Sonam Kapoor, Swara Bhaskar, Kareena Kapoor and Shikha Talsania, along with producer Rhea Kapoor, are taking off to Phuket for a 10-day shoot, during which a song will be picturised on the girls. The romcom revolves around Kareena tying the knot with Permanent Roommates-star Sumeet Vyas, and what the four girls do during the run-up to the wedding. “It’s all about a woman’s emotions and a special film,” says Kareena, who is jetting off to Thailand on November 5.

The gang of girls were dining, travelling and living together during the recent outdoor in the capital with Kareena pulling Sonam’s leg when the 32-year-oldactress admitted to being confused over whether to have dessert or not. “She shouldn’t be eating dessert because she just ate a box of Pringles,” the begum had revealed and while a guilty Sonam sulked adorably, everyone else had burst out laughing.

The friendship isn’t restricted to workdays. After the first schedule ended and the actresses were back home for a month-long Diwali break, Kareena sent Sonam an air purifier after reading reports of how Mumbai was experiencing the worst air quality this season owing to vehicular traffic and crackers. Sonam had been wheezing and developed bronchitis.

The quartet has shot a wedding song, followed by emotional sequences between Sumeet and Kareena. The duo also shook a leg. The next song will be different with the actresses trading wedding wear for beach wear and donning party hats. This marry-go-round promises to be a riot.

Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; October 19, 2017)

Working with Sonam Kapoor has its perks. Not only does producer-sister Rhea Kapoor double up as Santa Claus, bringing in bulk of food regularly on the set of Veere Di Wedding, her rumoured boyfriend Anand Ahuja too pampers her colleagues. Ahead of Diwali, Ahuja treated Kareena Kapoor Khan, Swara Bhaskar, Shikha Talsania and the rest of the team to a bagful of goodies.

A source from the Delhi unit reveals, "An all-girls crew was working round the clock to ensure that the schedule finished in time. Noticing how hard they worked, Anand gifted the cast and crew outfits from Bhane [Ahuja's line of apparels] as a token of appreciation." The gifts also included sneakers from Veg-Non Veg, Ahuja's multi-brand sneaker boutique.

One of the actors working on the chick flick adds, "Anand has his own way of making the girls feel special. No wonder Sonam is so smitten with him. Everyone was thrilled with the gifts. Rhea gifted us a wonderful goodie bag when we started [shooting] and now, Anand pampered us." While Kapoor remains mum about her relationship, her co-star is forthcoming. Ask her if the Kapoor-Ahuja alliance is official and she says, "Of course it is. But then, let Sonam talk about it first."

Nayandeep Rakshit (DNA; October 11, 2017)
Amitabh Bachchan, who turns 75 today, is still playing central characters. No other Indian actor has had this distinction. A career spanning over four decades, some great films and many hits. From professionalism to punctuality, he has set a benchmark for other B-Town actors. We spoke to actors younger to him, and asked them about his one quality they wish to imbibe. Here’s what they had to say...

Salman Khan: Hardworking like him
Bachchan saab is the prime example of where hard work can take you. Even at his age, his dedication and passion towards work is incredible. He’s one of the best actors we have and he’s maintained his stardom for over four decades. That’s no joke. I wish I was as hardworking as him. I’m just lucky.

Alia Bhatt: His relentless energy
I met Mr Bachchan recently at the NDTV Swach Bharat Abhiyan where he spent 12 hours on the platform talking about the issue. It had been 11-and-a-half hours when I came in and he had more energy than even I did. What I love about him and hope to embody, is his relentless energy. He is the most hardworking consistent human being I’ve come across. Happy birthday Mr Bachchan, can’t wait to work with you and learn from you!

Sushant Singh Rajput: curiosity and Appreciation
I am mighty surprised by how he finds time to watch each and every performance of all actors and then he writes letters to them appreciating their work. This kind of willingness to admire only comes with genuine curiosity. For someone as reputed and popular as Mr Bachchan to sustain this level of curiosity after so many years of almost nailing his every performance with his skills, is worth taking notice. And for someone like me, who thrives because of curiosity, I myself am extremely excited with the prospect that time may not dilute my curiosity and I will keep enjoying my work as long as I want to avoid the experience trap.

Arjun Kapoor: Be Bilingual
Mr Bachchan’s ability to articulate in Hindi and English. He is so fluent, clear and puts his thoughts across so fluidly on screen and off screen.

Parineeti Chopra: His dedication
His dedication and hard work! He puts in more work than anybody around and is dedicated as if it’s his first film. If I could maintain that discipline, I would be very happy.

Riteish Deshmukh: Seeking knowledge
I’ve had the privilege of working with Amitji in three films. I’ve learnt observing him on the sets and one quality I like about him, which I have tried to imbibe, is the fact that even after achieving so much and mastering his craft, he never ceases to be a student. He wants to learn every day. Even today he seeks knowledge. Isn’t that amazing?

Bhumi Pednekar: Command over language
Mr Bachchan is an institution. When sir starts to talk, the whole world comes to a standstill. You just want to keep listening to him. He is so learned, his command over the language, his voice and everything he says just leave you in awe of him. He is just so dynamic. This would be that one thing I would like to imbibe from sir.

Swara Bhaskar: Discipline and work ethic
Discipline and work ethic because as a creative person, discipline is the best way to ensure that you continue to hone and keep your craft alive. It’s also a huge testament to Amitabh Bachchan sir as an artiste that despite the immense superstardom and legendary status, the hungry actor in him is alive enough to be punctual on the sets and get ready and wait for his shot as opposed to keeping people waiting. If I could imbibe an iota of such discipline and work ethic into my daily life, I would be a much more productive person.

Ayushmann Khurrana: A seeker
He’s the only megastar we have in Bollywood. The main reason behind this megastardom is his evolution with the changing times. He inspires me to be a learner, seeker, disciplined and a hard worker. I’ve become regular with my blogs because of him.

Harshvardhan Rane: Being experimental
His ability to evolve every five years. As a kid, we saw him playing the typical hero fighting the bad guys. Later, he changed himself, with the times. Films like Piku where he has experimented with a subject which one couldn’t have even imagined Mr Bachchan in, are proof that he’s evolved with time and I, as a fan, would love to imbibe that in myself because that’s the only way to be and to reach out to the audience.

Richa Chadha: Reinventing himself
After Ram Leela, I received a handwritten note from him appreciating my performance. I admire that such an icon takes the time to encourage young talent. There’s not one but many lessons one should emulate from his life. For me, the biggest one is reinventing and never giving up but rising from the ashes like a Phoenix.

Itishree Misra (BOMBAY TIMES; May 20, 2017)

Swara Bhaskar on the issues women face in society today, feminism and its misuse...
Nayandeep Rakshit (DNA; April 29, 2017)

Swara Bhaskar’s last release — Anaarkali Of Aarah — saw her playing a victim of sexual abuse and violence, who finally takes revenge. It’s just a reflection of the society we live in, albeit that it’s not any film and everyone doesn’t have the courage to fight it out, thanks to the societal pressure. In this interview, Swara speaks about the different issues that plague society, especially Indian women today, explains her take on feminism and how people misuse it as well. Over to her...

You played a woman who’s sexually abused in your last film. Have you ever faced something like that?
You tell me who hasn’t been? It is somehow a rite of passage for a passenger in India to be molested. People actually chat about the first time they were molested. Usually, all girls have faced molestation by the time they are around 14-15. That’s how dangerous our society is. I don’t believe you can grow up in any part of the world, and especially in India, without ever being molested by a man. It is not possible. I have been molested. Interestingly, I have been molested and eve-teased in Mumbai as much as I have had to deal with it in Delhi.

The biggest challenge for a woman in a society where you have to be ashamed for what has happened to you, is to fight your impulse. I have done that, I have fought my impulses to make myself react. I have been groped during Prem Ratan Dhan Payo when we landed at Rajkot. I was travelling with Salman Sir and nobody realised, but there were around 2,000 people at the airport to see him. Despite the fact there was security, people got in and it was Anupam Kher who made sure I got into the car. It was crazy. As a female artiste, you know the feeling of being vulnerable in front of a crowd, which is why I connected with my character Anaarkali. You know that when we were shooting the Holi scene in Ranjhanaa, the production has put five boys from the AD team around us in that get-up, to protect us from the rest of the crowd.

Have you ever hit anybody?
Yes, lots of times! The first time, I slapped a guy for pinching me in Old Delhi. There used to be a Sunday book bazaar there, so I caught hold of the guy. These people don’t expect women to react which is why it’s all the more important for women to react. Because the whole mentality of a molester, groper and an eve-teaser is the anonymity and the confidence that the girl won’t react. The moment you instill that fear in their head that the girl may react and she can beat the s**t out of them, they tend to stay away. I have hit people in Delhi, Chennai and sometimes, I have chased people. I have beaten someone with my umbrella in Mumbai. I was in a train alone — this was my first year in Mumbai — going somewhere to collect a cheque. I was in the first-class compartment and it was in the late afternoon so it was empty. A drug addict got in and when I turned around, I see this man masturbating. For one second, I was scared. It took me a second to realise what was going on, I started yelling at him, and beating him with the umbrella. I tried to catch hold of his collar because I knew the moment the train stops, he will run. I knew I can get him to the police if I hold him back. But the moment the train slowed down, he realised I was holding him to get him to the police, and he jumped off from the other end of the compartment.

Do you think victim-shaming is something that women are scared of and hence they prefer to not report serious incidences...
(Cuts in) Absolutely! Frankly, Indian women inherit this collective cultural unconscious — this sense of guilt, shame and dishonour. What do we teach our girl child today? We teach them to be guilty of their own desires, if they shop for themselves it’s wrong. But spend on your husband, your kids, be obedient and think about everybody else’s good except yours. I remember for the longest time, especially when I was growing up, the first time I kissed a guy, I felt ashamed. I felt I did something very wrong and imagine, I was 18 years old then. It wasn’t that I was too young as well. I think Indian girls need to become shameless and a little selfish too. It’s not about individuals, it’s about girls in general. We need to lose that burden of guilt and that ‘haww’ feeling. That is the stupidest feeling ever.

What was the situation in your house when you were growing up?
My parents actually have always been very liberal people. They are very decent, nice understanding and empathetic people. I was 14 when I was just going around with a boy and at that time, going around meant just saying hi to each other during the lunch break. My parents were shocked when I told them ‘I was going around with so and so’. They were like what, where are you going? They were very upset but like I said, when you put something on the table, it suddenly doesn’t become wrong anymore. There was nothing to hide so when the phone calls would come, I would tell them about it. I was a very proper ethical kid and my boyfriends were literally warned to not give me blank calls because that was the scene that time. Papa ne hello bola toh phone rakh dena is not happening, I told everyone. You have to ask for me and you need to have the balls to do that. My dad won’t say no if someone called for me. So, it became normalised and as a daughter, I have told my parents everything. I know a frank conversation can solve everything. This is how the policy of total honesty started with my parents.

They must be really happy about it, given how kids usually are with parents today...
No. Now they feel bad because I feel they don’t want to know so many details about me. (Laughs) If there’s anything that they have to know or the world gets to know about me, they hear it first from me. That’s a rule I follow in life. Now, maybe they are a little sick of it, I guess. They have that ‘do we need to know everything?’ look and feeling nowadays. I tell them all the awkward things through email.

What’s your take on feminism? Or do you think it’s misinterpreted by most women today?
I think there’s a lot of misuse of the word feminism. I don’t think if people even understand it. It’s not about getting special rights for women or getting more rights than men. Not about cutting the balls off men. That is all bullsh**. Feminism believes that men and women should be free of gender constraints. Their sex should not determine what their aspirations, personalities or their opportunities are in life. So, a woman shouldn’t always be pressured to be a woman, a man also shouldn’t constantly be asked to ‘Be a man’. Feminism is equally fighting for men — to be free of masculinity. If there’s a pressure of patriarchy on women, there’s also a huge pressure that patriarchy puts on men — to be manly, masculine in a certain way. I don’t think feminism is about being a nasty person. It’s about getting rights for women in general collectively. If you don’t have any feeling of sisterhood about women, how are you even a feminist? You have to be able to be friends with other women. Equally, feminism is not about just burning bras because these are all symbolic things that happened in the ’60s or something. It’s done, it’s over with. It’s much misunderstood term.

Are you a feminist?
Yes, I am a feminist. I’m a balanced person, I don’t want special rights for women. And I know a lot of people call out feminists for fake dowry cases. But all I will say is a truly feminist person will never ever file a fake dowry case. There can be nothing more damaging for feminism than to misuse laws that are meant to protect women.

AFTERhrs Guest Editor on Women’s Day, Sonam Kapoor says it like she sees it
Upala KBR (DNA; Match 8, 2017)

It’s International Women’s Day and Sonam Kapoor takes the chair as the guest editor for the day. After a tour of the office and a few photographs, she settles down to answer a few rounds of questions. Over the course of an hour, one sees opinions change about her. She comes across a certain way, but those who know her well, know that she calls a spade a spade, works in the industry for the roles and not the money. She works with passion and takes up causes as passionately. She’s an animal activist with liberal views. She’s a non-judgmental feminist, to boot, and believes in inherently giving women the right to make informed choices. Here’s what she had to say about a variety of topics...

What kind of stories do you like to read in the papers?
I don’t open newspapers anymore as everything is available online now. I love reading opinion pieces a lot, columns and articles about what’s going on. All the so-called relevant news is now very easy to find all over social media, so they are the headlines of what’s going on in India, Mumbai or the world.

(Sonam picks up a copy of AFTERhrs and asks what the story on the front page is about) Ayesha and Krishna Shroff taking up for Tiger after Ram Gopal Varma passed unsavory remarks on him on Twitter.
(Laughs) They should be happy that Ramu doesn’t like Tiger. Whoever Ramu doesn’t like, does very well. I am very happy. I like Tiger. He’s very cool and least bothered. He is very well-behaved and performs so beautifully. I saw him performing recently at an awards event and he did such a good job. It was a pleasure to watch. I just haven’t had the chance to watch his performance, except for his first film, but whatever I see him at events and parties, I find the way he conducts himself very dignified. (Scans through to the back page)

Oh! There’s a Sonam vs Deepika article (We explain it’s about the outfits both wore and got criticised for and how both reacted to the criticism).

I was wearing a low dress and when dancing, it moved. Three of the photogs went behind and started taking pics sideways. When someone alerted me, I adjusted my dress, but those pics were already circulated. I was wearing correct innerwear, so nothing bad happened. They made it into such a big deal on social media! I was like, ‘God! So what I am wearing is so important!’ Of course, what I wear has always been discussed…

Your take on slut-shaming or body shaming or even shaming through fashion…
I have gotten all kinds of shaming. It’s very bad...

Are there any issues about women that need to be addressed — like women not being allowed to enter temples during menstruation?
How would anybody know that you are having your periods when you are going to a temple? I don’t know about religious reasons or practical reasons, but I feel everybody should have the choice. If somebody does not want to do something, you can’t say, ‘No, it’s okay for you to do it’. A lot of times, I have been judgmental about women who don’t do something I believe in and called them old-fashioned. But we shouldn’t judge other people for being different. A person should be given a choice and that’s the most empowering thing. Being in a burkha is as much your choice as much as not wearing one. You want to go into a temple, when you are menstruating, that’s your choice. If you don’t want to go in, that’s your choice. You have to make an informed decision. That’s what my parents did with me. They would always say these are the repercussions of what you are doing — these are the good and bad things.

Please continue...
I don’t believe in censorship in films, but there can be ratings to say this is appropriate for children. And restrictions like consuming alcohol at 25 or getting married at 18. I don’t drink, but it’s my choice, right? I am a vegetarian, but I spoke up against the beef ban because I felt you should be given a choice. Even though I truly believe that eating beef is bad for your system as red meat is unhealthy. I would campaign for vegetarianism, but I would never say you can’t have meat.

What do you think about freedom of expression for women? This is with reference to Gurmehar Kaur.
It was her dad, her opinion and a very compassionate way of looking at things. To not blame anybody and not have any resentment makes you a sensitive and evolved human being and if someone can’t see that, it’s disgusting. And if an artiste can’t see that, it’s even worse. I can understand a right-wing person commenting on it, but not an actor. It’s very ignorant and narrow-minded. As an artiste, you have to be sensitive — it’s a girl talking about her father. She’s not making a political statement and blaming anybody. She blames war. We are a country that won our independence through satyagraha (non-violence), and you are saying that it is okay to conduct war? We are the only country in the world that has not invaded another country, so how can you propagate the opposite when somebody is standing up for our belief system and says it’s war and violence that causes deaths, not a certain religious sentiment or a certain country. We should be applauding this, not criticising her for it.

Do you feel sexism exists in Bollywood?
Sexism exists everywhere, even though there are mostly women in this office right now (laughs) and your boss is a woman! You get judged for your clothes and makeup. How you dress, should not be a criterion. They can judge you as a professional on whether you can lead your team or not, or do your job or not. Why do people feel that when women get pregnant, they won’t be able to perform better? Pregnancy is not an illness. They also say, ‘Oh, she’s PMSing.’ I feel men PMS more than women most of the time. I can’t even understand most of the time what they are going through. Sexism is not just in the Indian film industry. It exists in the corporate jobs, media and households. My friend tells me his wife can’t handle money. Girls are bad drivers, they only like to shop. In my house, my dad likes to shop a lot and my mom handles the money. There’s a preconceived notion and I have gone through my own ideas of what people thought I was or still think I am because I like to dress in a certain way and I like to look pretty, or I am Anil Kapoor’s daughter or I am born with a silver spoon. As human beings, we need to break these preconceived notions based on someone who looks a certain way, or is a certain size. Never judge a book by its cover.

I have heard from actresses how the actors get better hotels to stay in, and their pay scales are higher, etc…
Yes, it exists a lot in the film industry. Earlier, I used to judge actresses, when they said, I am not getting enough money, and I’d say why the f**k are you doing it then? Don’t do it. But then I realised that I am in a position where I can say no to jobs. I can sit at home for a year. I have the luxury of choice, but a lot of women don’t. Actresses in successful position can say ‘If you are going to treat me badly, I won’t work with you.’ I made that choice and I took a year-and-a-half off after Mausam. I had a great time in Mausam because Pankajji knows how to treat people. But before that, I wasn’t treated right and I would wonder, ‘Why is so-and-so staying in this hotel and why am I staying in this hotel?’ or ‘Why is so-and-so getting paid this much and why am I getting paid this amount?’ All these questions were in my mind and I felt unhappy going to work. I felt like a second-class citizen and I took some time off and decided till I get the kind of work I want to do, till I get that respect, I am not going to work.

What are the things you’ve done differently?
I thought that my life would be harder, but I have not had one flop film after Raanjhanaa. It’s been five years and it’s only gotten better because my decisions have been very idealistic. I have never toed the line. If a director comes to me with a big project and actor, but no script I ask him how do I know what my role is? Why should I do this film? I don’t care if others have done it. Sooraj Barjatya has narrated his entire script to me. Sanjay Leela Bhansali has not once told me you cannot have an opinion. They are the most successful people. Aamir Khan has group screenings for all his films and he asks people to tell him what’s wrong so he can make it better. You should be open to that. Actors say they don’t read reviews. I read every review — so that I can become better. There may be some judgmental people, but I look at even them with an open mind. I never get offended if someone asks me a nasty question. The general perception is that the film industry is sexist but there are only a few people who are and very strangely, it is the women who are more sexist in the film industry.

Do you think actresses should campaign for their rights like they do in Hollywood?
That’s the only way when anything good can happen — when women come together. Unfortunately, in Hollywood also, there’s so much competition and insecurity. It’s more in the Indian film industry, as it’s very campy — there are lots of camps. But I have very good actress friends, Swara Bhaskar and Jacqueline Fernandez — I can trust them with my life. Even Bebo — the kind of love and encouragement she gives me, is incredible. And all of them are super successful and two of them are my contemporaries. So there is that option but there’s also that other side where everybody is at each other’s throat. I just stay away from those people.

Are you happy with the number of women you see on a movie set?
No, there are still not enough women on a film set, it’s still predominantly men. If you go to an airport there is one line for security for women and five lines for men! That poor lady gets exhausted by the end of the day. Come on! What’s going on? There should be equal opportunity for women everywhere.

She also told Rai clearly that she wanted to romance King Khan and not play his sister or daughter!
DNA (March 3, 2017)

Swara Bhaskar is a huge fan of Shah Rukh Khan and has been wanting to work with him.

She has worked with Aanand L Rai so when she heard that Rai was making a film with the star, she approached him for a role.

She told the director that she loved SRK and had grown up watching his films. She also told Rai clearly that she wanted to romance King Khan and not play his sister or daughter!

But Rai told her that the only role that he had left was the mother’s role which he could offer her. A mortified Swara kept quiet after that.

Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; February 3, 2017)

Before a movie starts in the theatres, a short film is played out to remind you of the hazards of tobacco use. Now, one more awareness video will become part of your movie-going experience.

Vivek Oberoi, the anti-tobacco spokesperson for World Health Organisation, has lent his support to a social campaign for a short film, Hawa Badlo, on air pollution. It is also something that will make you question your behaviour towards traffic cops. For this initiative undertaken by his charity foundation, the actor has joined hands with industry colleagues Kalki Koechlin, Vir Das and Swara Bhaskar.

Vivek says, “Nobody cares about the traffic cops, ulta sab log unhe gaali dete hain. People have zero respect for them. The amount of polluted air that goes into their lungs is equal to smoking 40 to 50 packets of cigarettes a day. About 59 per cent of them suffer from respiratory problems due to constant exposure to toxic air. Can you imagine what they put themselves through everyday?”

Directed by Karmik Varma, the video clip will start playing out in theatres from February 18. But a film without follow-up action may not go far. So, the Hawa Badlo team plans to gift respiratory masks to 10,000 traffic cops in Mumbai next week.

When asked, here’s who some of the actresses we spoke to wanted as their screen sibling
Nayandeep Rakshit (DNA; January 20, 2017)

Enough with bromances and films about two brothers. We need more films where actresses play sisters. 2015 had Sidharth Malhotra and Akshay Kumar (Brothers), Varun Dhawan and Shah Rukh (Dilwale) and 2016 had Sid again, this time with Fawad Khan (Kapoor & Sons) in bhai-bhai mode, while only Kriti Sanon and Kajol (Dilwale) played sisters in recent times. When asked, here’s who some of the actresses we spoke to wanted as their screen sibling...

Shraddha Kapoor
I have always been a huge Priyanka Chopra fan, so I would definitely pick her over others. She has been really warm to me each time we have met and I am sure our bonding will show on screen if anyone decides to cast us as sisters. I anyway admire her body of work and it will be great if an opportunity comes my way.

Parineeti Chopra
I want to do a film with Mimi didi (Priyanka) someday. She has been one of the strongest supports in my life, even when I came to Mumbai for the first time. I initially used to stay with her and we have always been really close. People keep asking me when they will get to see both of us in a film, so this would be the perfect set-up for us to do a film together.

Disha Patani
I would love to play Priyanka’s sister in a film. Just look at the amount of work she’s doing across the globe. It’s incredibly inspirational. Being in the same frame with her would mean a lot to me.

Kriti Sanon
I will probably choose Deepika. I hardly had one or two shots with her in the song she has done for my next film Raabta. She is super fun and has great energy on the sets. And of course, she’s also tall and has a similar body structure, so it will be easier for us to play sisters.

Anushka Sharma
Alia! Because I think she is a very, very good actress so I would love to act with her. Also, she’s a fun person to be around, so it will be great to hang out with her on the sets!

Alia Bhatt
It has to be Katrina Kaif. I have the fondest relationship with Katrina and we are extremely close. We are always there for each other and there’s a great vibe around her. She is a very positive person and we gel really well. I have said for the longest time that I want to do a film with Katrina. What better than playing sisters!

Athiya Shetty
Aishwarya Rai Bachchan! She’s the prettiest sister anyone could have, but besides that, I have always admired and looked up to her for as long as I remember. The reason I wanted to become an actress was seeing her on the sets and being in complete awe of her. I think I would be so fortunate to share screen space with her. I would get to learn so much. She’s beautiful inside out. And she’s family already, so being on set with her would be a blast!

Swara Bhaskar
I have a fabulous relationship with Sonam. I feel she’s one of the most real and honest actresses we have today. Sonam’s my best friend. I can be myself around her without thinking too much. I guess it’s the same way around with her as well. Our wavelengths match really well and although we have done a few films together, we have never played sisters. I hope we get an offer like that really soon!

Itishree Misra (BOMBAY TIMES; January 13, 2017)

Swara Bhaskar talks love, relationships, living-in, marriage and more...
Nayandeep Rakshit (DNA; December 3, 2016)

Whether it’s Ranjhanaa or Nil Battey Sannata, Swara Bhaskar’s performances have always been applauded. Now, she has attempted something absolutely different — It’s Not That Simple — a web series with an unusual, but urban take on marriages, relationships and extra-marital affairs! Swara is herself in a happy and settled space with boyfriend Himanshu Sharma. In this interview, the actress gets candid about her relationship with her boyfriend, her marriage plans and why there will always be a fun debate between her and Himanshu. Excerpts:

What made you jump on board a web series?
I think the audience is shifting to digital content, if one goes by the kind of stuff that’s working on the Internet. As actors, we don’t think that we will act differently for films or TV or a web series. My acting will remain the same. It’s Not That Simple is young, fresh and again something I haven’t done ever before. It’s a relationship drama in a space I have never attempted. It’s heavy on the anglicised side of it. When they pitched it to me, it was an instinctive yes right away.

But it’s a completely different medium...
Yes, it’s more intimate — something you’d watch with your headphones on. It’s not like you are walking into a cinema hall with 200 other people to watch the film. It was interesting to explore it. Other than that, the show is a great take on relationships, marriage and on modern, urban life. It was great fun and I also had my first on screen kiss...

Was the first screen kiss awkward?
I didn’t know whether I was excited or nervous about it. I felt very hassled about it! (Smiles). When you are not in love with someone, it’s just about putting your mouth on someone else’s mouth. But we have do it because a good actor can do anything between action and cut. But then again, we also have to be careful that there’s a life before action and after cut. So, we need to be careful about everything because it’s going to have an effect on your personal life for sure.

Most actresses who are in a relationship refuse to liplock on screen...
I’m lucky because Himanshu is from the industry and he’s a writer himself. Though he’s never written a make-out scene! But he is someone who theoretically understands how scripts are written. You can’t create a show about extra marital affairs and not show the affair! Temperamentally, he’s a very understanding, patient and rational person. Had Himanshu not been a writer, he would still have had the same reaction that he did. The only thing he actually told me was to be careful what I do it for. The act of intimate scenes or taking your clothes off can mean one thing in a Martin Scorcese film and it will turn out to be a legendary scene. But the same scene, in the hands of a different director can seem B-grade. That is the biggest challenge for sure. But I looked at Danish and the team, I trusted them and I think I was completely right in my judgment.

Do you believe in the institution of marriage vs a live-in relationship?
I have been in a live-in relationship, but I haven’t been married. The thing with a live-in is that you are basically married, except for the paperwork. The routine is exactly like that of a married couple. I mean what is marriage than two people sharing a home or life? When I was living-in, both our families knew and we were close to each other’s family. It was not any different from a marriage. Also, urban living in modern India is slowly changing the institutions, the values. But I believe in marriage because I believe in family. My strongest support and the reason why I am still rational and not flipping insane is because of my family. I want to be married and have a family.

When is that likely to happen?
I haven’t thought about it. Himanshu and I have discussed marriage, but we both still don’t know when. I just know that I want my marriage to be a huge party, like a massive affair. I want to have lots of days, lots of functions and lots of gaana-bajaana. I want to be drunk for the entirety of it. When I told my mother, she was shocked. She said, ‘Chhi beta, who talks like this? How shameful.’ But I don’t care, I will be drunk from the first day to the last day. (Bursts out laughing) I have a lot of friends abroad and I want them to come for my shaadi. I have all these plans, but there’s no timeline so sometimes, I worry the person should be the same. We joke about this too and we’re very different temperamentally..

Like what?
He wants to get married in court without any taam jhaam. And I’m like, I’m getting married. Swara Bhaskar is retiring from the playing field and there won’t be any taam jhaam? (Laughs) It has to be a party and how! I need to go out with a bang.

How did you meet Himanshu?
On the sets of Tanu Weds Manu. Then there was Raanjhanaa and Tanu Weds Manu Returns too. I was in a state of love with the character during Raanjhanaa. I had always admired him but I felt he was special during that film. We became friends during Raanjhanaa and we got together at the end of Tanu Weds Manu Returns.

But who popped the question?
He feels that I did and I feel he did. This is a huge debate between him and me. (Laughs) He started flirting with me and I was responding. But he claimed that I made the first move. I have also pictured that that we will end up together and this debate will go till we have our grandchildren. Then we would be telling them, ‘Beta, nana or dada had proposed me first. And he will just say the opposite.’ (Laughs) But it’s him, he started it!

Sanyukta Iyer (MUMBAI MIRROR; November 11, 2016)



Nil Battey Sannata actress Swara Bhaskar is teaming up with three of web world’s most popular faces —Permanent Roommates actor Sumeet Vyas, Tripling’s bratty Amol Parashar and Pitchers leading man Naveen Kasturia — for a yet-to-be-titled light-hearted, urban comedy revolving around relationships among young professionals. Set to kick off later this month, it will be shot across Mumbai at real locations and marks the directorial debut of Gaurav Sinha who has written Aanand L Rai’s 2007 drama, Strangers.

“My character has my wry cynicism. And yes, I admit that I’ve been in a 'confused' relationship like this too and it’s definitely not fun,” Swara tells Mirror, adding, “I think the peril of modern-day dating is that young people underestimate the intensity of their emotional attachments and pretend to be cool… casual… often bordering on disinterested, when that is not really the case. This is a set-up for all kinds of chaos that follows.”

The film also focuses on the blurring of traditional institutions because urban women are now more demanding and free and expect men to adjust accordingly.

Swara is excited to play Sumeet’s love interest in the film, pointing out that the roomie’s best quality as an actor is his spontaneity and ability to think on his feet. “He also has a lot of energy and is great fun. We’ve worked briefly together in the past and I am looking forward to shooting a film with him now,” beams the actress.

Sumeet is quick to add that this time he’s not playing the victim in love and instead is quite the charming player. “The film is a situational comedy, high on drama, and portrays relationships very differently. I pounced on my part when I heard the script,” laughs the actor who is presently filming Rakhee Sandilya’s Ribbon opposite National Award-winning actress Kalki Koechlin.

Nayandeep Rakshit (DNA; October 30, 2016)

It’s Halloween, a night that celebrates the afterlife. Whether you believe in the supernatural, spirits, ghosts, or beings from the other world, somethings can never be explained. And it’s this brush with the supernatural that sometimes leaves us speechless, wondering if it was all real or our imagination playing tricks on us. We got celebs to share some of their spookiest experiences. Read on for some hair-raising tales...

Ajay Devgn
When we were young, during college days, we used to go on trips and jeep rides. It used to be a lot of fun. So we also have been to a few haunted houses. I am not really scared of ghosts but we did have such experiences back then.


Katrina Kaif
I do believe in spirits. Wherever they are. That’s about all I will say on the matter.


Swara Bhaskar
I was staying at this colonial bungalow-style hotel while shooting for a film in Pachmarhi. Every night, when I would return after the shoot had wrapped up and would take off my make-up I would hear a strange scratching sound coming from behind the walls of the bathroom. For a month, I slept with the lights switched on at night. During the last week of shoot, we discovered that there was a cow who came every night at the same time to graze in the garden behind my room.


Athiya Shetty
I have been to a haunted house before and it was extremely creepy. I don’t like the idea of ghosts at all and I am extremely spooked about it. I don’t even like visiting those made-up haunted houses at amusement parks.


Jacqueline Fernandez
I’ve done a full-on exploration of an abandoned home with my brothers when I was a kid. We saw some weird stuff like dead cats and a strange coffin-like structure there, but we ran out of there soon after.


Sushant Singh Rajput
I think I saw a ghost once, and since I have narrated this story like a thousand times, I don’t know if it’s true or not, but it was during my 10th grade. Back in Delhi, there was this hospital. It was shut for two years. So, one night, we just went inside and there was nothing inside. We were more scared because there was just one torch and four of us. We went to the terrace to have a look and there we saw something. Eleven feet above us was a ventilator duct where the fan was missing and there was someone sitting there. Just like the film Grudge. The next day, we discussed it and everyone had the same experience. Once you see it, you can’t help but believe it.


Sooraj Pancholi
I was in an all boys’ school. One night, my friends and I decided to meet at Bandra and go to this really old bungalow on Bandstand which was supposed to be haunted. Although we didn’t find anything creepy or ghastly there, the entire experience of being to a bhoot bungalow was really exciting.

Kartik Aaryan
We were staying at a hotel and there was this room which was mostly locked and not for the guests. But due to unavailability of the rooms, I had to stay there. It was apparently haunted and after I went to sleep, I heard a voice talking to me. There was no one there. I still am confused if it was for real or not. I couldn’t sleep through the night and changed the hotel next day itself.

In her web series debut, the actress who plays a conflicted wife makes a strong case for affairs outside of marriage
Natasha Coutinho (MUMBAI MIRROR; October 4, 2016)

Swara Bhaskar is making her web series debut with the unabashedly raunchy It’s Not That Simple in which she portrays a married woman making a strong case for extra-marital sex.

“I play a woman torn between duty and desires. Most Indian women encounter this conflict at some point in life. Women are taught to feel responsible for the family’s all-round well-being but my character is flawed, like all human beings, and therein lays her redemption,” she informed Mirror.

Given the show’s bold theme, was it difficult to shoot lovemaking scenes with co-stars Vivan Bhatena, Karan Veer Mehra and Akshay Oberoi? “I told my director, Danish Aslam, what I was comfortable doing and asked for a completely closed set. He was very understanding and sensitive. Two of my stylists were present throughout,” said the 30-year-old actress, confessing that she was nervous and uncomfortable before the cameras rolled but could joke about it once it got over.

Ask her if her personal take on infidelity aligns with her new project’s ethos and Swara clarifies, “I think everyone has to decide what works for them. I’m not married and so I’m in no position to impart advice. To me, the problem with an extramarital affair is not in the sex but in the lies. If you find yourself lying consistently, there’s something wrong with your marriage. I must add that it’s a riskier territory for women because they are judged more harshly than men.”

Mirror had earlier reported (June 1) that the actress is moving in with her beau, Tanu Weds Manu writer Himanshu Sharma into an apartment at Yari Road. All ensuing shaadi-related queries are quashed down with a practiced ease. “I believe in family and marriage and I hope I turn out to be a good wife. But I feel men should be asked what kind of husbands they would make too, why should the onus of any relationship be only on the woman? Whenever I get married, I hope the other person plays his role equally well. However, marriage is not on the cards right now. In my flights of fancy, I plan a destination wedding but it’s always with just me and imaginary guests,” the actress signs off with a chuckle.

DNA (September 17, 2016)

In her upcoming film Veere Di Wedding, Swara Bhaskar will be seen in a hot and glamourous avatar. And for the first time she will be seen sporting a bikini alongside her bestie and fashionista, Sonam Kapoor. In fact, Sonam has styled her for events, and looks like this time she is giving her an image changeover. Just like Nimrat Kaur got after The Lunchbox. In the film, Swara will be styled by Rhea Kapoor. Swara confirms, “I have never sported such a look before so I’m super excited. I joke with Rhea and Shashank (Ghosh, director) that for me the acting in this film is going to be about sporting all these glam outfits!”

Gaurav Dubey (MID-DAY; August 23, 2016)

Swara Bhaskar to star in novelist Aditya Kripalani's directorial debut based on his book, 'Tikli And Laxmi Bomb'

Last seen as an illiterate domestic help in 'Nil Battey Sannata', Swara Bhaskar is set to go bold for her next. She will feature in the adaptation of Aditya Kripalani's 'Tikli and Laxmi Bomb' centered on two sex workers. The project will be helmed by the novelist himself.

Last seen as an illiterate domestic help in 'Nil Battey Sannata', Swara Bhaskar is set to go bold for her next. She will feature in the adaptation of Aditya Kripalani's 'Tikli And Laxmi Bomb' centered on two sex workers. The project will be helmed by the novelist himself.

From playing a jilted lover to a mother, Swara Bhaskar has happily taken the road less preferred to make a mark
Ritambhara Dixit (BOMBAY TIMES; August 19, 2016)

Avinash Lohana (MUMBAI MIRROR; June 30, 2016)