Showing posts with label Tanya Maniktala. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Tanya Maniktala. Show all posts
Saswata Chatterjee to play Sourav Ganguly’s father in biopic
4:29 PM
Ruman Ganguly (BOMBAY TIMES; May 21, 2026)
Saswata Chatterjee has started shooting for Sourav Ganguly biopic Dada: The Sourav Ganguly Story (tentative title) in Mumbai and is portraying his father Chandi Ganguly. Also part of the shoot are Aparajita Auddy, who’s playing Sourav’s mother Nirupa, and Rahul Dev Bose, who’s playing his brother, Snehasish.
“All three actors are currently shooting in Mumbai. Dada was present on set during the shoot on Sunday. The production team will shoot in Kolkata from the end of this month,” a source close to the unit told us.
According to the source, the Vikramaditya Motwane directorial has an exciting ensemble cast, with Tanya Maniktala essaying the role of Dona Ganguly, while, as we reported earlier, Rajkummar Rao portraying Sourav.
Before Tanya was finalized, several prominent Bengali actresses were rumoured to be in contention for the role, including Mimi Chakraborty, Ishaa Saha, and Amrita Chattopadhyay.
The biopic is expected to chronicle Sourav Ganguly’s journey – right from his formative cricketing years to becoming one of India’s most influential and fearless captains – while delving into his personal life and enduring relationship with Dona.
Tanya Maniktala shifts from Delhi to Mumbai
10:07 AM
Actor Tanya Maniktala talks about the thrill of living independently for the first time after her recent move from Delhi
Akash Bhatnagar (HINDUSTAN TIMES; November 6, 2025)
akash.bhatnagar@partner.hindustantimes.com
Tanya Maniktala has been working in the industry for seven years, but she had been living in Delhi all this while and commuting back-and-forth for work. Now, just before Diwali, she finally moved to Mumbai and is currently busy settling in.
“I just thought that it’s time to get out of my comfort zone. Delhi is home but Mumbai has also given me so much warmth and welcomed me with open arms, so I thought it’s time to embrace it now and make the move,” she says.
While the actor admits that being in Delhi never hampered her work much, she did miss out on some last minute events and appearances: “Being in Delhi in the comfort of my home, I was getting a little more passive to these things, and I would let things slide. Now I am actively a part of everything that’s happening. I feel I am a lot more hands-on now.”
Getting to live on her own for the first time, makes Tanya feel ecstatic yet nervous. She says, “There are a lot of firsts happening and I’m so excited. They come with a lot of joy, and also some nervous moments. But I think I am in the company of good people and I’ve kind of got my foot in the door now,” adding, “I like having to look after myself because it also gives me a purpose, but I also miss being taken care of. Things like food were always ready for me, so learning everything from scratch has been fun, I’m enjoying the independence but missing the convenience.”
On the work front, Tanya is rumoured to be pairing up with actor Rajkummar Rao for a film, and talking to us, she confirms it, “Even though the project with Raj sir is not announced, the news is already out. It’s currently in the works. It’s not surreal, but I think I did not allow myself to imagine these kind of things could happen to me. Now that it’s working out, I am thankful to my lucky stars, although I also worked pretty hard for it. One day, it had to happen and I’m just glad I’m prepared for this opportunity that’s come my way.”
She also addressed reports of her replacing actor Ananya Panday in the Amrita Sher-Gil biopic, saying, “I have no idea where this piece of information has come from. We have no idea about the Amrita Shergil project, so, I don’t think I can comment on that.”
Tanya Maniktala to play a pivotal role in Rajkummar Rao’s second production; shoot begins in November
8:54 AM
Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; October 28, 2025)
In May, mid-day reported that Rajkummar Rao was set to begin work on his second production, a yet-untitled film that revolves around the Indian education system (School opens in June, May 12). Now, we’ve learnt that Tanya Maniktala, who broke out with Mira Nair’s A Suitable Boy (2020), has been roped in for the drama, led by Rao and Keerthy Suresh.
Aditya Nimbalkar, who made his directorial debut with Sector 36 (2024), aims to take a hard look at India’s education system — its pressures, paradoxes, and the profit-driven approach — through his second feature. According to sources, Maniktala plays a woman who questions the rigidity of the academic system, its focus on minting money rather than shaping young minds, and the norms that define success and failure.
An insider reveals, “This character is the trigger to the story. Tanya was Aditya’s first choice for the role. He was impressed by her ability to portray vulnerability and strength, the qualities that are central to this story.”
While leads Rao and Suresh had begun shooting their parts in June, Maniktala is expected to join the unit in November. Another source shares, “Tanya has been reading and researching extensively for this role. She has a 30-day shoot lined up.”
Rajkummar Rao and Patralekhaa’s maiden production, ‘Toaster’, a comedy helmed by Vivek Das Chaudhary, is set to premiere on Netflix.
The film is directed by Aditya Nimbalkar, who previously helmed the gritty ‘Sector 36’ (2024), inspired by the 2006 Nithari killings.
Not Ananya Panday; Tanya Maniktala to play Amrita Sher-Gil in Mira Nair’s Amri
3:08 PM
Upala KBR (MID-DAY; October 20, 2025)
For the past four years, Mira Nair has been living with the life story of Hungarian-Indian painter Amrita Sher-Gil, eager to bring it to the screen. Now, it looks like the acclaimed filmmaker has found her leading lady. While rumours were rife that Ananya Panday was approached for the biopic titled Amri, mid-day has exclusively learnt that Tanya Maniktala has been roped in to play the renowned painter. This will mark Nair’s reunion with the actor, who played the lead in her BBC television drama series A Suitable Boy (2020).
Nair had announced Amri soon after the première of the series. Through the biopic, the filmmaker wants to spotlight the painter, who is counted among the greatest avant-garde women artistes of the early 20th century. In her career that was tragically cut short by her demise in 1941, Sher-Gil captured the everyday life of people in her paintings. While they have influenced generations of Indian artistes, not much about her art is known in the West — something that Nair hopes to change with her period drama.
A source shares, “Considering the painter was born to a Hungarian mother and an Indian father, Amri will be shot in India and Hungary, and a chunk in France. Last month, the filmmaker met Tanya in Delhi and finalised her. Besides Amrita’s rise as a painter, the film will focus on how her father Umrao Singh Sher-Gil Majithia, her husband Viktor Egan, her fiancé Yusuf Ali Khan, and friend Jawaharlal Nehru influenced her life. In 2023, Mira had approached Naseeruddin Shah, Vicky Kaushal, and Jim Sarbh to play pivotal roles.”
If things go as planned, Nair will take the biopic on floors by the year-end.
Priyanshu Painyuli reveals that he turned down Kill: "After watching Raghav Juyal, I did feel I missed out"
8:28 AM
Vishakha Pandit (HINDUSTAN TIMES; July 2, 2025)
Actor Priyanshu Painyuli regrets missing out the chance to be a part of Kill (2024). “I was approached for the antagonist role, but since I was doing another project, the dates clashed,” says Priyanshu, who recently shot for the series Paan Parda Zarda.
He adds, “The director (Nikhil Nagesh Bhat) had seen my previous work and he had offered me a few roles in the past as well, but things didn’t materialize. When he came to me with this one, we had even started talking and doing readings. But the timing just didn’t work out.” Actor-dancer Raghav Juyal eventually played the part in Kill and was lauded for his performance.
Sharing why he couldn’t make time for it, Priyanshu adds, “The film required a lot of physical training. I was shooting for Pippa (2023), and as the schedule clashed, I had to let it go.”
The 36-year-old admits that it wasn’t an easy decision and the sense of missing out became more palpable when he watched the film on the big screen.
“I was shooting with Tanya Maniktala (actor), who played the lead in Kill. She told me, ‘Go watch it’. I wrapped up the shoot and went straight to the theatre that night. Raghav did a fantastic job. He owned the character and brought something very raw and unpredictable to it. Watching him, I did feel I missed out. When you see someone else doing it well, you don’t feel bad in a bitter way, but it’s like you wanted a toy really badly and you see someone else playing with it,” he ends.
Mirzapur director Gurmmeet Singh joins hands with Fukrey director Mrigdeep Singh Lamba for Paan Parda Zarda
8:04 AM
Mirzapur director Singh teams up with Fukrey maker Lamba for Paan Parda Zarda, a gangster drama about opium smuggling
Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; October 3, 2023)
There is something about gangster dramas that fascinates Gurmmeet Singh. It led him to helm Mirzapur, a gory tale of gang wars, greed and power. Now, the director has another gangster story up his sleeve, Paan Parda Zarda.
The series sees him team up with Mrighdeep Singh Lamba of Fukrey fame, and Shilpi Dasgupta as they tell the story of opium smuggling in central India. Mona Singh, Tanve Azmi, Rajesh Tailang, Priyanshu Painyuli and Tanya Maniktala star in the crime drama that rolled on September 27.
Singh, who serves as the showrunner and co-director, says that the Jio Studios’ production goes beyond guns and gore to explore family dynamics. “It has elements of love, action and family drama. Developed from an original story created by Shilpi Dasgupta, the interwoven relationships are key to this series,” he says.
Paan Parda Zarda is worlds apart from Lamba’s comedy franchise, Fukrey. The director is eager to try his hand at this genre as he says, “It’s a labour of love that has been created after years of research.” Writer Suparn S Varma adds that creating the show’s “romantic and violent world” was liberating.
I do keep visiting Mumbai often so that I give the city no time to miss me-Tanya Maniktala
8:23 AM
Satish Sunderesan (HINDUSTAN TIMES; May 20, 2023)
She made her presence felt with the web show Flames, but actor Tanya Maniktala marked a turning point in her career with filmmaker Mira Nair-directed miniseries, A Suitable Boy.
And recently, the 25-year-old starred in the fantasy-thriller series Tooth Pari: When Love Bites, an unusual love story between a dentist and a vampire, co-starring Shantanu Maheshwari.
Maniktala shares she was blown away by the script. She says playing the role of a vampire was quite unlike any other role or project she had done.
Talking about her preparation for the role, she reveals, “I didn’t want to go through old films for reference. I just wanted to do my own thing... my own original stuff. It’s difficult to put yourself in the shoes of a vampire, but I did my homework and was able to pull it off. Those who saw the series and liked my character in it, complimented me for doing a good job, meaning my hard work has paid off.”
The title of the series is based on the fantasy figure the tooth fairy. Ask her if as a child, she believed in it, and she says, “Absolutely, I did. I actually grew up in a joint family. When we were kids and whenever we would lose a tooth, we would place it under our pillow. I’ve done all of those things with the hope of getting some money in return.”
The actor stays in Delhi and works in Mumbai and admits she wouldn’t “completely shift to Mumbai”.
She adds, “I go back and forth because I don’t want the people or the place to be saturated by me. I do keep visiting (Mumbai) often so that I give the city no time to miss me.”
I still have a set of fangs with me as a souvenir from the sets of Tooth Pari-Tanya Maniktala
8:53 AM
Tanya Maniktala, who plays a vampire in Tooth Pari, says the series is a unique blend of romance, thriller and satire
Letty Mariam Abraham (MID-DAY; April 25, 2023)
What’s your first instinct when you read a quirky script about a vampire falling in love with a dentist? If you’re Tanya Maniktala, you queue up for the screen test, determined to be a part of this imaginative world. After Flames, Mira Nair’s A Suitable Boy, and Chutzpah, Netflix’s Tooth Pari: When Love Bites promised to be a whimsical ride. Collaborating with director Pratim Dasgupta and veteran actors was the cherry on top. In a chat with mid-day, Maniktala talks about being blown away by the script, and adding her own quirks to the role.
Edited excerpts from the interview.
What was your reaction to the concept?
I got a call from Shruti Mahajan [casting director], who told me there is a cool and quirky character, and that I would be perfect for it. She asked me to test for it. When I read the script, [I wondered], who are these characters? I called up Shruti to ask what was going on in the script, and she just kept laughing. I wanted to get on board immediately, and was over the moon when I was short-listed. When I got on a call with Pratim sir to understand the world of Rumi [her character], it set the ball rolling. The plot of a vampire falling in love with a dentist seemed so funny that I was rooting for the couple.
At what point did you feel the concept was bizarre?
That was a constant thought. I was drinking blood, which was a lot of beetroot juice in reality. When I got a denture made for the prosthetics, I was intrigued. I still have a set of fangs with me as a souvenir.
Which genre would you bracket this series into?
Boxing Tooth Pari into any one genre would be unfair because there are so many themes going on simultaneously. It is a fantasy, romance, thriller and satire.
How was it working with Shantanu Maheshwari?
We both were playing characters that were opposite to us, and that was fun. He is one of the funniest people I have met. Shantanu is always open to trying new things out; he’d always give me suggestions when I asked for them. He would also be respectful of my space.
What did you learn from working with veterans like Revathy and Adil Hussain?
It was an ensemble cast that I never dreamt [I would work with]. Often, it was difficult to stay in character because Rumi is straight-faced and composed, while the other characters are hilarious. The energy on set was always great because we knew we were creating something wonderful. I was in awe of Revathy most of the time when the camera wasn’t switched on. I wanted to learn about their experiences. They are talented actors, but they are also such fantastic human beings. It was a great opportunity to see their human side, without any façade.
How was your interaction with the director?
After I was signed on for the project, I went back, watched some of his earlier works and realised that he has a lot to say. On set, he gives you free rein to do whatever you want. He is collaborative and interested in listening to what you think the character should do. I was like an eager kid who kept asking him if we could [add] this or that [nuance].
What was the one quirk you added to your character?
Some traits are written on paper, but when you are living the character, you bring in your own [flavour]. While processing the character, I found that she has a tender [heart]. When we started talking about Rumi, we came to the conclusion that she was hurt. She was still nursing a wound, which is why she puts on a hard exterior.
Ishaan Khatter, Tabu bag Mira Nair’s adaptation of Vikram Seth’s A Suitable Boy
8:12 AM
The actors are scheduled to begin shooting for the international director’s adaptation of Vikram Seth’s A Suitable Boy next month; Tanya Maniktala plays protagonist Lata; the project goes on the floors next month
Hiren Kotwani (MUMBAI MIRROR; August 12, 2019)
For someone who began his acting innings with Iranian legend Majid Majidi’s Beyond The Clouds, making his Bollywood debut with Karan Johar’s Dhadak, Ishaan’s next move is keenly anticipated. “I hope I can satisfy Mira’s vision and give the global audience the character they deserve in Maan Kapoor (his character),” he says.
Ishaan will be joined by another powerhouse performer, Tabu. “Having worked with Mira previously in The Namesake, I am looking forward to another creatively challenged experience,” exults the National Award-winning actress. Interestingly, Ishaan’s brother Shahid Kapoor has worked with Tabu in Haider (2014), Vishal’s adaptation of William Shakespeare’s Hamlet.
The novel tells the story of a spirited university student Lata (played by Tanya Maniktala, earlier seen in the TV series Flames), coming of age in North India in 1951, at the time when the country is going to the polls for its first democratic general elections. While her mother is determined to find her a husband, Lata embarks on her own journey of love and self-discovery. Connected to her through their siblings’ marriage, the wayward Maan Kapoor (played by Ishaan) is determined to enjoy life to the fullest whatever be the consequences, much to the concern of his politician father. He is infatuated by the beautiful courtesan Saaeda Bai (played by Tabu) and the trio’s stories play out during a tumultuous period in India’s history, reflect the wider conflict between tradition and modernity.Mira points out that Vikram tells the story of a free India and our people with wit, clarity and love. “I’m deeply honoured to be the one bringing this intimate, epic tale of an unseen India to the world,” she asserts, adding the novel is more relevant today. “We’ll keep the history and dream of an alternate India alive,” promises the director of The Reluctant Fundamentalist and Queen Of Katwe.
Newbie Tanya is in a daze and admits it all “still surreal” to work with Mira. “I’m still understanding Lata and the complexities of her reality. I hope I can deliver. But, for now, I’m focusing on enjoying the process and just taking it one day at a time,” she smiles.
The shoot will begin next month. The team will be filming entirely on location, in palaces, streets and villages across northern India, in places like Lucknow and Maheshwar.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)