Showing posts with label Tejas. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Tejas. Show all posts
We did not know about Fighter or Tejas; by then, we were making Operation Valentine-Varun Tej
8:58 AM
Unfazed about Balakot air strike being depicted on screen by Fighter, Operation Valentine actor Varun on how his action thriller was greenlit by MoD
Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; February 29, 2024)
When a guy, who almost became a fighter pilot, offers you a film on the Indian Air Force (IAF), you don’t say no. That’s what Telugu actor Varun Tej believes. It is this belief that has birthed Operation Valentine, directed by Shakti Pratap Singh.
“Shakti had applied [to the IAF], but didn’t get through because of his [compromised] eyesight. He has done a lot of research for this film. He’d constantly say one thing—that he wanted Operation Valentine to be technical. We knew we had to tone down the film for the masses, but it’s not a dumb film,” states the actor.
The action thriller, also starring Manushi Chhillar, traces the Balakot air strike conducted by the IAF in 2019. He isn’t worried about the subject being over-exploited, the latest example being Hrithik Roshan’s Fighter.
“Our script was submitted to the Ministry of Defence [MoD] for approval. We were told that nine to 12 scripts, based on the same events, were awaiting clearance. We did not know about Fighter or Tejas [2023] until their [promos] came out, and by then, we were making our film. The MoD made changes to the script because they technically don’t function the way we had written the story. Initially, it was planned as a Telugu film. But I wanted it to resonate with everyone, so [we made it in Hindi as well]. [Making such films] is about inspiring a generation of men and women to be heroic. There is so much happening at the border; it’s important to bring that to the big screen.”
A jawan’s duty is to protect his country, not to hate his adversary. Are today’s movies truly reflecting the spirit of the armed forces, without adopting a jingoistic tone? Tej explains, “We are mindful of the jingoism, but there is always a threat from another country. China, Bangladesh and Pakistan are threats that we must keep in check. That’s the only extent to which we take this film, keeping it close to the incident it is based on. Our idea was to show how a pilot sitting in the cockpit makes the decision to go 2,000 kilometres into a neighbouring country.”
That Fighter didn’t fare well at the box office could be a worrisome precursor. The actor says, “There are people who have passionately spent on this project, and I want them to make a buck. [It can] pave the way for more passionate projects.”
Ranbir Kapoor was there on sets for more than 12 hours a day to give cues-Anshul Chauhan
8:31 AM
After earning praise for her sister act in Animal, Anshul, whose significant role in her last film went unnoticed, on comprehending the nature of the industry
Priyanka Sharma (MID-DAY; December 11, 2023)
When Anshul Chauhan signed Animal, she was certain that Sandeep Reddy Vanga’s directorial venture would be an experience to cherish, but, little did she know that her performance would bring her as much attention as it did. Earning praise as Ranbir Kapoor’s younger sister in the film, Chauhan acknowledges that the film is “doing the most for me because the project worked”.
“I featured in Tejas, which released last month. I played a substantial part in it but the film didn’t do well. I had more expectations as an actor from Tejas, but [I am coming to realize that] a project has to work for an actor to get noticed,” she says. She believes her collaboration with Kapoor is a result of manifestation.
Heaping praise on the actor, she says, “He was always there to give the cues, even when the camera wasn’t on him. That’s beneficial for actors like us. [Usually], lead actors work for eight hours, have their [shots] filmed, and leave. As for their co-actors, it is the assistant directors who give cues. But, being cued by the co-actor always enhances one’s performance because reciprocating emotions becomes easier. Ranbir was there on sets for more than 12 hours a day to do that.”
Up next for her is the Anushka Sharma-led sports biopic, Chakda ’Xpress. The actor, who plays a cricketer in the film, refers to Sharma as her role model. “Anushka is my favourite co-actor, and the best human being I have met in the industry. She is a secure actor, with pure, and clear intentions. Working on Chakda was a fantastic experience. I learned cricket for six months. Rarely do female actors get roles that are so emotive. It has an element of heroism attached with it,” she says, adding that she plays a grey character in it.
Fenil's Bollywood Talk # 802
10:17 AM
12TH FAIL IS A SLEEPER HIT; NEW RELEASES TO FACE A TOUGH TIME
The last week was bittersweet for the industry. Tejas tanked horribly and it’ll be a miracle if it manages to collect around Rs. 8 crores at the box office. Sajini Shinde Ka Viral Video was a bigger disaster as it collected just Rs. 7 lakhs on the first day. The film will struggle to reach even Rs. 60 lakhs in its lifetime.
However, 12th Fail has emerged as one of the biggest surprises of 2023. Not much was expected from it but on the first day, it collected Rs. 1 crore. It saw an insane jump as it collected Rs. 2.40 crores on Saturday and Rs. 2.85 crores on Sunday. Monday was better than Friday when the film collected Rs. 1.10 crores. On Tuesday, collections increased to Rs. 1.25 crore instead of dropping. If all goes well, it’ll end up collecting nearly Rs. 25 crores. Pre-Diwali is a very dry period for films and 12th Fail and Vijay’s Tamil film Leo have proved to be good fillers in cinemas before the big festival.
Tomorrow will see the release of Aankh Micholi. It stars Paresh Rawal, Abhimanyu, Mrunal Thakur, Sharman Joshi, Divya Dutta, Vijay Raaz, Abhishek Banerjee, Grusha Kapoor and Darshan Jariwala and is directed by Umesh Shukla of OMG Oh My God and 102 Not Out fame. The shoot of this comic caper was completed in March 2020, just before the lockdown. The film took a long time to release and is one of the most delayed films after Brahmastra and Maidaan. It was going to be released on October 27 but was pushed by a week as the previous Friday was crowded.
Aankh Micholi seems like a fun, old-school entertainer but the awareness is near-zero. Hence, it’ll struggle to open just like last week's films. With just 9 days left for Diwali, the aam junta will be busy with pre-Diwali chores, shopping etc than watching a film. Hence, the lean period coupled with negligible buzz will prove detrimental. However, the film will find takers on television later on.
The other Hindi release of the week is The Lady Killer. It is directed by Ajay Bahl of BA Pass and Section 375 fame and stars Arjun Kapoor and Bhumi Pednekar. The film will be released in hardly 3-4 theatres in Mumbai and a few more cities. It is a token release since the makers have recovered the amount from the sale of digital and TV rights. But as per the conditions, they need to give it a theatrical release. As a result, it’s a case of releasing it on the big screen for the heck of it. The makers aren’t promoting it at all and have simply uploaded the trailer of the film. Arjun and Bhumi reportedly are upset with such a release and have not posted about the film on their social media handles.
Lastly, Shastry Virudh Shastry will also arrive in cinemas. It has got a better release than The Lady Killer but it won’t matter much.
The last week was bittersweet for the industry. Tejas tanked horribly and it’ll be a miracle if it manages to collect around Rs. 8 crores at the box office. Sajini Shinde Ka Viral Video was a bigger disaster as it collected just Rs. 7 lakhs on the first day. The film will struggle to reach even Rs. 60 lakhs in its lifetime.
However, 12th Fail has emerged as one of the biggest surprises of 2023. Not much was expected from it but on the first day, it collected Rs. 1 crore. It saw an insane jump as it collected Rs. 2.40 crores on Saturday and Rs. 2.85 crores on Sunday. Monday was better than Friday when the film collected Rs. 1.10 crores. On Tuesday, collections increased to Rs. 1.25 crore instead of dropping. If all goes well, it’ll end up collecting nearly Rs. 25 crores. Pre-Diwali is a very dry period for films and 12th Fail and Vijay’s Tamil film Leo have proved to be good fillers in cinemas before the big festival.
Tomorrow will see the release of Aankh Micholi. It stars Paresh Rawal, Abhimanyu, Mrunal Thakur, Sharman Joshi, Divya Dutta, Vijay Raaz, Abhishek Banerjee, Grusha Kapoor and Darshan Jariwala and is directed by Umesh Shukla of OMG Oh My God and 102 Not Out fame. The shoot of this comic caper was completed in March 2020, just before the lockdown. The film took a long time to release and is one of the most delayed films after Brahmastra and Maidaan. It was going to be released on October 27 but was pushed by a week as the previous Friday was crowded.
Aankh Micholi seems like a fun, old-school entertainer but the awareness is near-zero. Hence, it’ll struggle to open just like last week's films. With just 9 days left for Diwali, the aam junta will be busy with pre-Diwali chores, shopping etc than watching a film. Hence, the lean period coupled with negligible buzz will prove detrimental. However, the film will find takers on television later on.
The other Hindi release of the week is The Lady Killer. It is directed by Ajay Bahl of BA Pass and Section 375 fame and stars Arjun Kapoor and Bhumi Pednekar. The film will be released in hardly 3-4 theatres in Mumbai and a few more cities. It is a token release since the makers have recovered the amount from the sale of digital and TV rights. But as per the conditions, they need to give it a theatrical release. As a result, it’s a case of releasing it on the big screen for the heck of it. The makers aren’t promoting it at all and have simply uploaded the trailer of the film. Arjun and Bhumi reportedly are upset with such a release and have not posted about the film on their social media handles.
Lastly, Shastry Virudh Shastry will also arrive in cinemas. It has got a better release than The Lady Killer but it won’t matter much.
Studios fail to take up movies; theatres pay the price
8:27 AM
14 Hindi titles released in Oct not backed by adequate marketing, impacting multiplex cos
Rajesh Naidu (THE ECONOMIC TIMES; November 2, 2023)
ET Intelligence Group: After an exceptionally good September quarter, the Hindi film industry has begun the December quarter on a sombre note.
Each of the 14 movies released in October has failed to generate sufficient footfalls at theatres. What’s unique about this is not the failure, but the fact that big studios and distributors backing these movies hardly invested in their pre-release marketing and promotion leaving moviegoers largely unaware of titles such as Dono, Mission Raniganj, Dhak Dhak, Ganapath, 12th Fail, Yaariyan 2, and Tejas among others.
The failure of these films also means the third quarter financial performance of the multiplex companies now depends heavily on the success of big titles including Dunki, Animal, Salaar, Tiger 3, Sam Bahadur and Merry Christmas which will be released later in the current quarter.
Some of the movies released in October are by well-known distributors and studios such as Pen Marudhar Entertainment (a distributor of Jawan), Viacom18 Studios, PVR Inox Pictures, AA Films, and Zee Studios.
Shaminder Malik, a trade analyst, expressed astonishment over the fact that so many movies were released in a single month yet the audience was unaware of them. “One cannot rely merely on word-of-mouth publicity as for it to work the audience at least should know about the release of a film,” he said, adding that a big studio can invest close to Rs. 200 crore on a film but follows a conscious strategy of not investing adequately in marketing the film.
On average, it is estimated that distributors spend Rs. 5 crores to Rs. 20 crores in marketing and promotion of a Hindi release.
“I was not even aware that 12th Fail was made by veteran director Vidhu Vinod Chopra. Distributors seem to be dumping content in theatres rather than having to compete with big titles in the coming months,” said Ameya Naik, founder of Fantasy Events, an event management company.
Through the sheer strength of word-of-mouth publicity, the film 12th Fail is gathering a gradual momentum in metro cities. The film has collected close to Rs. 8 crores on the budget of Rs, 10 crore-11 crore, cite analysts. According to them, after an encouraging response over the first weekend of release, distributors have undertaken the promotion of the film.
According to Girish Johar, a producer and a trade analyst, when a distributor refrains from investing adequately in the marketing of a film, it shows a lack of confidence in its success. “There has been no buzz for these films which is reflected in their fate at the box office. It is clear that these distributors knew these films did not shape up well.”
Atul Mohan, another trade analyst, hints at the possibility that distributors may have recovered money through the sale of digital and satellite rights before the theatrical release. “Given the lack of clarity about the success of these films, they did not want to invest incremental money in marketing.”
While the cricket World Cup is likely to have a bearing on the footfalls at theatres, Mohan believes that content plays a crucial role. “Biwi No. 1 was a super hit during the 1999 Cricket World Cup,” he added.
Investors will be closely tracking the industry developments to know whether multiplex companies are able to repeat their robust September quarter performance in the current quarter.
(Crisp) Movie Review: TEJAS by FENIL SETA
12:03 PM
Tejas rests on a very interesting story. In the right hands, it could have been an impressive action thriller. Sadly, it turns out to be an unintentionally funny film. Things happen at convenience which will puzzle the audience. Tejas coolly says that she wants to infiltrate into Pakistan. One expects her senior to hesitate at least for a second. Instead, the senior immediately agrees to the plan, as if she wants to go to Pali Hill and not Pakistan. The way the character also hoodwinks Pakistani officers seems silly. The intro scene, however, is damn good and one expects the film to get better. But the opposite happens. The tacky VFX also causes problems. Kangana Ranaut is fine but appears too stiff. Anshul Chauhan (Arfa) leaves a mark. Ashish Vidyarthi is fair. Varun Mitra is lovely in a cameo. Kashyap Shangari (Vivek) and Vishak Nair (Prashant) get no scope. Mushtaq Kak (Khatooni) hams. All in all, Tejas defies logic and is avoidable.
My rating - ** out of 5!
My rating - ** out of 5!
Fenil's Bollywood Talk # 801
9:01 AM
TOUGH 2 FRIDAYS AHEAD BEFORE THE BIG DIWALI WEEKEND
The pre-Diwali period has kicked in. Several films will try their luck tomorrow and the week after in theatres. Sadly, none of the films seem exciting to the audience and only a positive word of mouth can save them.
The big release of the week is Tejas. It stars Kangana Ranaut as an Air force officer and is Ronnie Screwvala’s first theatrical release after 4 years. The trailer is interesting and the awareness about the film is there but the curiosity is limited. Moreover, Kangana’s track record has suffered a beating due to back-to-back debacles. As a result, the film will open in the range of Rs. 1-2 crores. There can be a 100% jump in earnings on Saturday if the public accepts the film. Once that happens, it’ll have a smooth run till Diwali.
The next major release is 12th Fail. It is directed by Vidhu Vinod Chopra and stars Vikrant Massey in the lead. It is based on the real-life story of a man who grew up in a backward area and aspired to clear the tough IPS exam. The film has received acclaim from all quarters, including the media. But the awareness is quite limited. Zee Studios has backed the film and they have given it an extensive release. The opening is expected to be around Rs. 40-50 lakhs. This film, too, can show an increase in collections if word of mouth can spread fast.
Lastly, Sajini Shinde Ka Viral Video stars Nimrat Kaur and Radhika Madan. Until a few weeks back, it was named Happy Teachers’ Day. Radhika in an interview stated that acclaimed director Sriram Raghavan suggested that the film be renamed Sajini Shinde Ka Viral Video for a better impact. The trailer is quite intriguing. Sadly, many are not even aware that a film of this name exists, though the makers have tried their best to make noise. The screen count seems limited and it remains to be seen which one opens better - Sajini Shinde Ka Viral Video or 12th Fail.
Lastly, the big Hollywood release is Killers Of The Flower Moon, directed by globally renowned filmmaker Martin Scorsese. It stars Leonardo DiCaprio and Robert De Niro. Due to the casting and Scorsese’s association, the film will definitely find a tiny section of the audience. Expect near-sold-out or even housefull shows in certain theatres at least in the weekend. The only minus point is that it’s too long with a run time of 3 hours 26 minutes.
Jalebi's debacle was devastating; that is when my anxiety about film releases kicked in-Varun Mitra
8:37 AM
Making peace with his trajectory, Varun Mitra discusses being hungry for more interesting roles after Saas Bahu Aur Flamingo
Priyanka Sharma (MID-DAY; May 27, 2023)
After playing powerful characters in two outings, Guilty Minds (2022) and Saas Bahu Aur Flamingo, Varun Mitra seems to “have tasted blood”. The actor claims it would be difficult for him to settle for anything that is not on par with his recent projects.
“Life has become harder after Guilty Minds and Saas Bahu Aur Flamingo. I also have Tejas [with Kangana Ranaut] coming up next. I have tasted blood working with good directors on good scripts. Now, I want more,” says the actor.
Mitra, who plays one of Dimple Kapadia’s sons in the Disney+ Hotstar series, feels grateful that despite a shaky start to his career, his journey lately has been fruitful.
“When Jalebi [2018] didn’t do well, it was devastating. That is when my anxiety about film releases kicked in. The good thing about a web series is that you are not dependent on a Friday. I questioned a lot of things about myself and worked harder [to get where I am today]. [When things get overwhelming], I do travel-based shows to keep me sane. When Guilty Minds happened, things fit into [the right] perspective, that this is how it was supposed to be,” he shares.
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Arundhuti Banerjee (HINDUSTAN TIMES; May 27, 2023)
Varun Mitra made his foray into films in 2018 with the Rhea Chakraborty-starrer, Jalebi. He has since gone on to do a host of web projects, including Bombers and Guilty Minds.
Looking back at his career so far, he says, “We all have to work to get rid of our own limitations. I worked on myself to do that as an actor and a performer. Also, I believe in being at the right place at the right time to grab the right opportunity. When I was not working, I was hosting travel shows, that kept me alive. [But] I feel that big break, which I can call the golden opportunity, is yet to come.”
Mitra, who will be seen in Kangana Ranaut-starrer Tejas, adds, “I want to be part of that one big film, for which my face will be seen on big posters. A film that everyone will talk about in every corner of the country, making audiences feel for the story and the characters.”
Mitra’s last outing, Saas, Bahu Aur Flamingo co-starring Dimple Kapadia, Radhika Madan, Isha Talwar, Angira Dhar and Deepak Dobriyal, has been receiving rave reviews. It was initially titled Saas, Bahu Aur Cocaine, but the makers later decided against it to avoid courting controversy.
The actor believes it is a good time for the entertainment industry, with an evolution in the kind of content being churned out. “If five years ago, someone would have told me about a show like Guilty Minds or Saas, Bahu Aur Flamingo, it would have been unimaginable. But a lot has changed in the last couple of years, content has evolved drastically. It is a good time, as we are making films and series with interesting content,” he says.
Tejas team builds mock fighter jets in Mumbai for Lucknow schedule
8:19 AM
Makers of Kangana Ranaut’s drama Tejas building mock fighter jets in Mumbai studio that will be transported to Lucknow ahead of second schedule
Uma Ramasubramanian (MID-DAY; March 13, 2021)
Following weeks of prep and look tests in Mumbai, Kangana Ranaut proudly donned the Indian Air Force uniform as she began shooting for Tejas in Delhi over the past week. While the actor faces the camera in the capital for the Sarvesh Mewara-directed project, a team of art designers is working dedicatedly in Mumbai, building mock fighter jets for the next schedule.
A source reveals, “Several fighter jet planes are being built at Vrundavan Studio in Malad. Since studios in other cities don’t have the necessary equipment and the know-how to build the planes, the makers decided to have them made in Mumbai. On completion, they will be flown to Lucknow where Sarvesh has charted out an extensive schedule from the month-end.”
As soon as the planes have been deployed, the production design team will begin constructing a set at the Malad studio. The source adds, “Come mid-April, the team will move back to Mumbai for the final schedule of the drama that sees Kangana as a fighter pilot.” The actor has been sharing regular updates about the film on her social media accounts.
I don’t see theatres opening till October-Ronnie Screwvala
8:48 AM
Ronnie Screwvala, who has 12 films in pipeline, predicts cinema halls won’t run to full capacity till there’s a vaccine; says industry looking at tough 18 months ahead
Himesh Mankad (MUMBAI MIRROR; June 19, 2020)
Do you think the appetite for films will change in the post-Coronavirus era, with a clear demarcation between the big screen and small screen cinema?I think it’s all about the storytelling and not screen size. At the moment, we’re battling the virus and 18 months away from the post-Covid era. For the next year or year-and-a-half, people will be wary of risking their health for a cinematic experience. But films will not go away and neither will theatres. It’s a strong window, but things will change and we will have to work 10 times harder on the creative content, storytelling and scale to bring the audience into the cinema halls again.
Does that mean smaller films will find it difficult to get screens?
No, if you have a gem of a story, it’s a big film already. People go to theatres because they don’t want to wait eight weeks. It has never been cinema v/s OTT as each one augments a market and grows.
When do you expect cinema halls to open and a constant flow of big releases?
Mumbai and Delhi, which account for 65 per cent of the box-office, are the worst-hit cities right now. Until they open up, nobody will want a release in only Pune, Nagpur and Kanpur. Makers of big films will wait to see if people are coming back to the cinemas. I don’t see some of them arriving this year. I don’t see theatres opening till October and even when they do, they won’t run to full capacity until the vaccine arrives. Entertainment will be the last priority for people. Next year, one will feel the pinch because there will be a drought of releases as few new films will roll for the next six-seven months, so there won’t be any more fights for the weekends. There aren’t too many films in the waiting, and you will see the gap over the next 18 months.
Do you think this is the right time to renegotiate on ticket rates, VPF (Virtual Print Fee) and other issues with theatre owners?
I have strong views on this, that’s why I got into the Competition Commission. Unfortunately, there is no unanimity.
You have backed films like Rang De Basanti, Khosla Ka Ghosla, A Wednesday and Aamir which were way ahead of their time. What gave you the courage and conviction?Rang De Basanti was one of the first films we made, it could have been before its time, but it was not. Jodhaa Akbar was an expensive film, but again it broke the mould. People thought Aamir, A Wednesday and Khosla Ka Ghosla were small, but they worked big time. Anurag Basu narrated just 40 lines of the Barfi! script to me, look how the film turned out to be. Of all our films, only Swades was before its time, but it was a gem of a film.
Next up: The Immortal Ashwatthama with Vicky Kaushal, a fantasy trilogy based on the Mahabharata. Tell us about that…
The way forward for the millennial audience is not in retelling history, but in the way it is told. You need to romanticise history, let imagination take flight and put it in the context of the future. Our problem is that we don’t think big. I am sick and tired of everyone saying this film earned Rs 100-Rs 200 crore over the last 10 years. They should now cross Rs 500 crore, otherwise there’s no reason to make films. Baahubali showed us the potential of our market. It was a scaled-up film, but at heart, it had a strong story.
The Immortal Ashwatthama will reunite you with Uri: The Surgical Strike director Aditya Dhar and lead Vicky Kaushal. Any pressure?We will have a blast. Aditya has such clarity of vision and Vicky is a stupendous, versatile actor. And I have the ability to look at things three years from now. The film is in prep now and will roll next year.
You also team up with Kangana Ranaut on Tejas, set against the backdrop of the Indian Air Force.
We wanted to make a film on the army so Uri happened. Tejas is not a sequel to Uri, because that was a true story and this isn’t. But it is on the same lines and on the same scale.
Will Taapsee Pannu’s sports drama, Rashmi Rocket, lose money due to the delay in production?
Prep cost is never a waste, we will be more ready when we start. Safety is the priority now.
Abhishek Chaubey is writing the biopic on hockey legend Dhyan Chand…
(Cuts in) We have 12 films in planning right now, we’ll discuss them at the right time.
Any change in your outlook as a producer in the post-Covid era?
I will be more aggressive now.
Check out Kangana Ranaut's rocking first look from Tejas
8:32 AM
After commemorating the Indian Army with Uri: The Surgical Strike, producer Ronnie Screwvala’s next is an ode to the Air Force
MUMBAI MIRROR (February 17, 2020)
Holding a mirror to today’s times, where women continue to explore their immense and untapped potential, RSVP’s next military film, Tejas is the story of a daring fighter pilot, essayed by Kangana Ranaut. The Indian Air Force was the first of the country’s defence forces to induct women into combat roles in 2016. The movie takes inspiration from this landmark event.
Written to evoke pride in our forces and our country, the story of Tejas reinforces the argument that when it comes to serving the nation, both men and women are equally capable of doing so with utmost fervour. And all they need is the right opportunity and a determined spirit.
Integrity, courage and honour are the three pillars on which the story of Tejas is based. The script is crafted to make audiences feel the adrenaline rush that India’s brave soldiers experience on a daily basis, without even once thinking of personal gain or needs. Following one of its core themes, the film brings an exhilarating account of what women can achieve when given a chance. Written and to be directed by Sarvesh Mewara, this is RSVP’s second film after Uri: The Surgical Strike that salutes the forces and aims to inspire the country at large.
“We made an army-based film with Uri: The Surgical Strike. Tejas is our dedication to the brave fighter pilots of the Indian Air Force, who always put the country first,” beams Ronnie Screwvala, adding, “We are excited and honoured to share this brave story with viewers and hope it inspires many more women to join the Air Force.” Kangana, who plays the protagonist of the movie, states, “Very often, the sacrifices made by our brave women in uniform go unnoticed by the nation. Tejas is a film where I have the honour of playing the role of one such Air Force pilot who puts country before self. I hope we instill a sense of patriotism and pride in the youth of today with this movie. I’m looking forward to the journey with Sarvesh and Ronnie on this one.”
Sarvesh sums it up saying, “When your debut film has Ronnie Screwvala as the producer and Kangana Ranaut as the lead actor, going all out to chase your dreams feels worth it.” Tejas is set to go on floors this summer and release in April 2021.
Kangana Ranaut to play Air Force pilot in Tejas
2:19 PM
Actress to fly with a Ronnie Screwvala production in July; is delighted to be getting into uniform
Hiren Kotwani (MUMBAI MIRROR; January 24, 2020)
Kangana Ranaut, who has never shied away from backing feminist causes and is always open to heroine-centric subjects, has now signed up to play an Air Force Pilot in Tejas. It is being produced by Ronnie Screwvala with Sarvesh Mewara as the director.Kangana confirmed the news, saying, “I’ve always wanted to play a soldier and have been fascinated with the Armed Forces since childhood. I’ve never held back my emotions for our jawans and spoken openly about how strongly I feel about their heroism. They keep our country secure and our people safe. So, I’m very happy to be doing this film.”
Before she begins filming in July, the actress will require extensive prep. “I will undergo intense training before the shoot starts. My director has decided to get professional trainers on board,” says Kangana, who signed the film just two weeks ago. “Right now, I’m too deep into Thalaivi (the biopic of former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa). After that, we’ll get to Tejas, which we will start this year itself,” she added.
Having been a part of a period battle in her last Republic Day release, Manikarnika - The Queen Of Jhansi, the actress is keen to get on to a battlefield in contemporary times. Describing herself as a “born fighter at heart”, Kangana, when prodded on her inspiration for the part, replied, “Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman. I followed his story closely—from the time we got the news of his capture to his release and return home. He’s a true hero in the way he handled the situation.”
For someone who has always stood for women’s empowerment, as reflected in her screen avatars, Kangana asserted that it is high time people acknowledge the significant contribution of women in the armed forces. “I’m thankful to Ronnie sir and Sarvesh who have come to me with this extraordinary script that celebrates the heroism of our soldiers,” said the actress, admitting that she “was dying to get in a uniform”. “Being in uniform will be one of the biggest highlights of my life,” Kangana says.
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