Showing posts with label Thank You For Coming. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Thank You For Coming. Show all posts
Influencers are ‘used’ in tiny roles to promote films, while actors lose parts-Dolly Singh
8:46 AM
Abhimanyu Mathur (HINDUSTAN TIMES; October 7, 2025)
Of late, several actors have opened up about losing parts to content creators with a large social media following. Now, creator-actor Dolly Singh says she feels the current casting model is “unfair to all performers”.
Speaking to us, the 32-year-old muses, “It’s a double-edged sword. Actors are not content creators, so it’s absurd that they are losing roles because of their Instagram numbers.” Dolly, who currently stars in her own microseries Best Worst Date, shares, “Nobody is happy; neither the content creators who want to become actors nor the actors who are struggling.”
She also feels that this model is exploitative, “Most content creators started making videos because we wanted to act. However, if the offers are based on your following, you get a a blink-and-you-miss-it role, and are called for promotions. You are used.”
The actor, who featured in Double XL (2022) and Thank You For Coming (2023), adds, “Content creators aren’t taken seriously. What we do online is different and lacks finesse. But when a director makes us work, there is improvement. With Thank You For Coming, I did three rounds of auditions and a workshop. That felt like I got something on my acting merit.”
When women do glamorous parts, that work is not taken seriously-Bhumi Pednekar
11:12 AM
Actor Bhumi Pednekar responds to the criticism she has received for her casting and performance in web show The Royals
Akash Bhatnagar (HINDUSTAN TIMES; May 25, 2025)
Actor Bhumi Pednekar’s latest outing — web show The Royals — has seen a mixed response, while she has received some criticism for her appearance. But she does not feel bogged down by it.
“When women do parts where they have to look glamorous and good, that work is not taken seriously,” the 35-year-old opines, adding, “There’s a standard feeling: ‘Yeh toh heroine hai, isko bas achcha dikhna hai’. But uske bhi aage cheezein hoti hain!’”
The actor’s goal is to break this preconceived notion with her body of work: “(I do) parts where you’re not just purely objectified but have an opportunity to dig deep and explore various layers.”
The show, alongside her film Thank You For Coming (2023), was a stark departure from her previous roles rooted in rural stories. Sharing that she did feel pigeonholed, Bhumi shares, “Even though I’ve done romcoms, they were like more in the B and C centre character space. But I’ve evolved as an actor and as a person. It’s not like I was seeking these parts; they’ve come to me organically.”
With the web show, Bhumi believes she has balanced the blend of vanity and performance. “You need a certain level of performance for romance, which I delivered in the show... If my character doesn’t have agency, I won’t do the part. And I can proudly say that my character had that,” she concludes.
If it wasn’t for Thank You For Coming, it would’ve taken me more time to come out of Bhakshak-Bhumi Pednekar
8:06 PM
Navya Kharbanda (HINDUSTAN TIMES; March 4, 2024)
Basking in the success of her latest OTT release Bhakshak, actor Bhumi Pednekar is overwhelmed to see the film getting a “thrilling” response. She says, “It’s been an amazing experience as it travelled globally, too.”
Recalling the response to her debut, Dum Laga Ke Haisha (2015), which recently completed nine years, the 34-year-old adds that she’s feeling the same frenzy she experienced with her first film: “Both films had a different impact, [but I’ve received] universal love. That’s the beauty of art.”
Having done several socially relevant films such as Toilet: Ek Prem Katha, Shubh Mangal Saavdhaan (both 2017) and Badhai Do (2022), Pednekar believes this is “not a bad box (doing films with a message) to be in”. “I enjoy doing social dramas. It’s about the choices I make and not only what comes my way. I like my work having an impact. Even if my film doesn’t have a strong social message, my character will be empowered,” she says.
The Thank You For Coming (2023) actor recently starred in back-to-back releases that were poles apart. She shares an interesting anecdote: “The funny thing is that I immediately started shooting for Thank You... after finishing Bhakshak and it healed my state of mind, as it (the latter) was a heavy and dark experience. If it wasn’t for the comedy chick flick, it would’ve taken me more time to come out of it.”
Pednekar has been making a “conscious choice” to strike a balance between her OTT and theatrical releases. “For me, both the mediums are extremely important. There are certain films that need a digital release, where it can be released with care, and judged on how good the content is,” she wraps up.
Fenil's Bollywood Talk # 799
9:58 AM
NATIONAL CINEMA DAY 2023 TO BE HELD TOMORROW; YET, NEW RELEASES WILL STRUGGLE
The National Cinema Day 2023 will be celebrated tomorrow in cinemas across the country. On Friday, October 13, the tickets will be sold for just Rs. 99 for all shows and in all theatres. Last year, the tickets were priced at just Rs. 75 and the response was maddening, to say the least.
This year, too, tickets have been fast filling. Surprisingly, Shah Rukh Khan’s Jawan, which will enter its sixth week tomorrow, continues to be a preferred choice for moviegoers. Many of its shows are almost sold out, prompting exhibitors to increase its shows from tomorrow. The film is already an all-time blockbuster, collecting more than Rs. 550 crores. Yet, it continues to get an audience. Mission Raniganj, starring Akshay Kumar, didn’t work at the box office. But on National Cinema Day, it’ll have great collections, as evidenced by the sold-out shows. Fukrey 3 and The Exorcist: Believer, too, have an encouraging response. Thank You For Coming’s ticket sales have been gradually increasing too.
Shockingly, three films are releasing tomorrow and the ticket sales till now are poor. The biggest release is Dhak Dhak, produced by Taapsee Pannu and starring Fatima Sana Shaikh, Ratna Pathak Shah, Dia Mirza and Sanjana Sanghi. It is about four women bikers on a trip to Khardung La Pass. The idea is interesting and the trailer is also decent. Sadly, the studio partner, Viacom18 Studios, has barely promoted the film. The trailer was out just four days before release and the actors haven’t done any promotion. Taapsee, in fact, deleted posts related to the film as she’s reportedly miffed with Viacom18 for meting out stepmotherly treatment to her movie. It is said that the banner has recovered the investment by selling the rights to Netflix and hence, is giving it a token release in cinemas. The screen count is too low for a film of this scale.
It is believed that Dhak Dhak will also get an audience once the other preferred films sell out. Yet, due to limited release, the first-day collections would be less than Rs. 50 lakhs. The collections will further drop on Saturday due to the crucial India vs Pakistan match. The only hope is that the film turns out to be extraordinary so that it can see a huge jump in collections on Sunday. That can lead to higher collections on Monday than on Friday.
Two Hollywood films up for release are Dumb Money and Paw Patrol: The Mighty Movie. However, due to negligible awareness and hype, it will get some collections only on Friday due to the offer.
The National Cinema Day 2023 will be celebrated tomorrow in cinemas across the country. On Friday, October 13, the tickets will be sold for just Rs. 99 for all shows and in all theatres. Last year, the tickets were priced at just Rs. 75 and the response was maddening, to say the least.
This year, too, tickets have been fast filling. Surprisingly, Shah Rukh Khan’s Jawan, which will enter its sixth week tomorrow, continues to be a preferred choice for moviegoers. Many of its shows are almost sold out, prompting exhibitors to increase its shows from tomorrow. The film is already an all-time blockbuster, collecting more than Rs. 550 crores. Yet, it continues to get an audience. Mission Raniganj, starring Akshay Kumar, didn’t work at the box office. But on National Cinema Day, it’ll have great collections, as evidenced by the sold-out shows. Fukrey 3 and The Exorcist: Believer, too, have an encouraging response. Thank You For Coming’s ticket sales have been gradually increasing too.
Shockingly, three films are releasing tomorrow and the ticket sales till now are poor. The biggest release is Dhak Dhak, produced by Taapsee Pannu and starring Fatima Sana Shaikh, Ratna Pathak Shah, Dia Mirza and Sanjana Sanghi. It is about four women bikers on a trip to Khardung La Pass. The idea is interesting and the trailer is also decent. Sadly, the studio partner, Viacom18 Studios, has barely promoted the film. The trailer was out just four days before release and the actors haven’t done any promotion. Taapsee, in fact, deleted posts related to the film as she’s reportedly miffed with Viacom18 for meting out stepmotherly treatment to her movie. It is said that the banner has recovered the investment by selling the rights to Netflix and hence, is giving it a token release in cinemas. The screen count is too low for a film of this scale.
It is believed that Dhak Dhak will also get an audience once the other preferred films sell out. Yet, due to limited release, the first-day collections would be less than Rs. 50 lakhs. The collections will further drop on Saturday due to the crucial India vs Pakistan match. The only hope is that the film turns out to be extraordinary so that it can see a huge jump in collections on Sunday. That can lead to higher collections on Monday than on Friday.
Two Hollywood films up for release are Dumb Money and Paw Patrol: The Mighty Movie. However, due to negligible awareness and hype, it will get some collections only on Friday due to the offer.
Dolly Singh and I went through six rounds of audition, and two chemistry tests with Bhumi Pednekar-Shibani Bedi
8:21 AM
Shibani, who bagged Thank You For Coming after six rounds of auditions, insists content creators don’t have easy inroad into movies
Priyanka Sharma (MID-DAY; October 11, 2023)
Thank You For Coming is the plot twist that Shibani Bedi didn’t see coming. The actor-content creator was on the verge of making peace with her unfruitful acting journey when she got an audition call for Rhea Kapoor’s production, starring Bhumi Pednekar. “At that time, I was giving auditions five times a week, and barely one or two projects would work out. I thought I should accept that I failed at it,” she recalls.
Today, she is winning praise for her performance as an independent single mother in the dramedy that also stars Shehnaaz Gill, and content creators Dolly Singh and Kusha Kapila. Even as content creators and influencers are segueing into movies, Bedi rubbishes the notion that they have it easy.
“People presume getting roles in movies is easy [for us]. Sometimes it may be so, when the stakes are low, but getting primary roles is a tough nut to crack. I gave two rounds of auditions for Thank You, but didn’t hear back for 25 days. Then, actor-comedian Sumukhi Suresh shared my number with Rhea, who was looking for Delhi-based actors with good comic timing. In half an hour, I was on a call with Rhea. She didn’t know I had already auditioned for the film, so I sent her [my audition tape]. Then more [audition] rounds followed. Dolly and I went through six rounds of audition, and two chemistry tests with Bhumi.”
Besides the creatively enriching experience that the film was for her, Bedi will remember it for Pednekar’s warmth and rare humility.
“I haven’t met someone who approaches people with so much empathy. Bhumi is a star, she could’ve cut our scenes off or got our close-ups cut off. But she is the most secure person I’ve worked with. She was so warm from day one—she would initiate conversations, invite us to her room and have coffee with us.”
Battle For Bittora will 100 per cent happen-Rhea Kapoor
8:19 AM
Seven years since announcing Battle For Bittora with Sonam, producer Rhea says she won’t give up on the ‘most romantic script’ she has worked on
Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; October 10, 2023)
With Thank You for Coming in theatres and The Crew wrapped up, it might just be the time for producer Rhea Kapoor to go back to the love story that had won her heart years ago. In 2016, she had announced Battle For Bittora, a romantic comedy featuring actor-sister Sonam Kapoor and Fawad Khan. Seven years on, she still has the rights to Anuja Chauhan’s popular novel.
“Honestly, it’s one of my favourite scripts. It just hasn’t been the right time to start making the film. It’s definitely on the cards,” says Rhea.
Recently, Sonam revealed that Battle For Bittora will be among the films she will front next year, adding that the team is currently looking for the male lead and a director. Chauhan’s novel tells the story of childhood friends-turned-sweethearts, Sarojini and Zain, who battle it out at elections, putting their love to the test. Does the fact that the story is set against the backdrop of a political battle make it a tricky project to pull off? Rhea says that in such subjects, authenticity is the aim.
“I want the story to be told as authentically as possible, and ensure we do full justice to the palette. Right actors are integral to the film. The script is the most romantic one we have worked on. We don’t want to compromise on any aspect.”
It is hard to put together a rom-com in an industry that is obsessed with crime thrillers and actioners. But Rhea has always pushed films she believed in—be it Khoobsurat (2014) or Veere Di Wedding (2018)—and it will be the same for Battle For Bittora.
“Many scripts take a while to get off the ground. Veere Di Wedding was developed over three years. [Work on] The Crew started right after Veere, and it’s done only now. Bittora, too, has been in development for a while. My father Anil Kapoor has a principle: push yourself to make the content better. We work as a boutique production house where development is serious business. I’ll never give up on the movie; it’s my favourite. It will 100 per cent happen. But I want all the pieces to come together.”
Rhea Kapoor; (right) Fawad Khan was the original choice for the male lead
Thank You For Coming is like the Hangover, but for orgasms-Rhea Kapoor
8:37 AM
That’s how Rhea Kapoor describes Thank You For Coming. We catch up with her, director Karan Boolani and writer Radhika Anand, who all believe that it’s high time women claimed their raunchy side
Aastha Atray Banan (MID-DAY; October 8, 2023)
“When I was wondering who to go with my three-page pitch, I could only think of Rhea [Kapoor],” says screenwriter Radhika Anand, “My idea was so ridiculous that I didn’t think any other producer [other] than her would have the ba**s to even hear it out. It was love at first sight.” That pitch manifested into Thank You For Coming, which released this Friday.
Starring Bhumi Pednekar and a host of social media creators such as Kusha Kapila and Dolly Alhuwalia, the film directed by Karan Boolani and produced by Rhea Kapoor is about women and their search for the elusive orgasm. “You were so happy last night [at the premiere],” Kapoor squeals excitedly at Anand, who has also written 2023’s Shilpa Shetty Kundra-starrer Sukhee.
“I was going through a moment after Veere Di Wedding. I don’t even do that much press… you know me, you guys have seen me grow up since Aisha. I can’t make movies as projects or to make money,” says Kapoor.
“I want my audiences to have fun, but the movies always have to have some intent. I can’t change my wiring; the only thing that keeps me sane is knowing I am being true to my heart. Radhika’s idea made me feel excitement and fear. I thought ‘OMG, this is the next step’.”
“We needed to speak about this conflict between knowing better and your conditioning—[between] what you are supposed to do, ought to do, and want to do. This movie is like the Hangover, but for orgasms. And Radhika came from a very honest space.”
Kapoor, who has produced Aisha (2010), Khoobsurat (2014) and Veere Di Wedding (2018) has a knack for making it flamboyant yet keeping it real. This is also the first film that doesn’t star her sister, Sonam; but it is the directorial debut of her husband, Boolani who comes from advertising. He has directed ads for Pepsi and Google, and also made the documentary, The Healing Feeling. When we ask Boolani how he prepared himself to direct a female sex comedy written by two women, produced by a woman, and about the female orgasm, he laughs, “I know less about women now!”
But quickly adds, “It was like directing any other movie. In the end, it’s filmmaking. It’s storytelling, and it’s a script. You always look to empathise with the characters. That’s what I did. It’s my first film so I was discovering myself and the tools available to me. And I leaned on my writers and producers for their expertise.”
He admits to have been party to a lot of girl talk, thanks to hanging out with the Kapoor sisters, and their gal pals, which include designer-actor Masaba Gupta and food entrepreneur Pooja Dhingra. Kapoor confesses that the conversations she had with her single friends during the pandemic added to the core of the movie.
“The movie is about connections and relationships—with others and yourself—and sex is a big part of that. This is the story of every girl; this is how we feel. It’s about looking in, and following your voice.”
For Anand, the process of writing with women and for women was, “the most enriching part. Here was a female producer, and my co-writer was [stand-up comedienne] Prashasti Singh. We became a gang. A lot of it does come from personal experience… strange anecdotes from all our lives. For the first time, I didn’t feel even a bit of hesitation for what I was saying in a scene because I knew they would understand.”
This is where Kapoor chimes in with a laugh, “Writing it was such a safe experience. It has been a masterclass in what it feels like to be a woman.”
She is right.
We have gotten used to making male-centric sex comedies, usually starring even the same actors. Remember Tushar Kapoor and Riteish Deshmukh in Kyaa Kool Hai Hum? Anand’s case in point: “We were very candid and raw. And yes, this is how women speak, no matter what you think!”
It also doesn’t stoop to male-bashing. “All the men who may have treated the main character badly, also have an arc. There is a reason why they are how they are,” she says.
The ultimate vote of confidence for Boolani came when his mother, who is a cinema buff and watches a movie every Friday, liked it. “She sounded nervous, and I could feel that. But when we organized a screening for her and her friends, she said, ‘OK, this is great. I can ask everyone to see it.’ That’s when I smiled. Phew!”
Radhika Anand, writer, Karan Boolani and Rhea Kapoor
(Crisp) Movie Review: THANK YOU FOR COMING by FENIL SETA
10:43 AM
Thank You For Coming rests on an interesting idea. The film soon turns into a mystery flick and it keeps the interest going. A few scenes stand out for being amusing and emotional. The makers also raise some important topics that deserve discussion. On the flipside, the humour is limited. The writers have written gems but such dialogues are few and far between. We never come to know what the female characters do for a living. On top of it, the climax is quite silly. Bhumi Pednekar, however, pulls off the role convincingly. Dolly Singh and Shibani Bedi are decent. Pradhuman Singh (Jeevan Anand) is the surprise of the film. Natasha Rastogi (Bhumi's mother) and Dolly Ahluwalia (Kishori) are dependable. Shehnaaz Gill is entertaining but is hardly there. Kusha Kapila is wasted. Gautmik (Karan; Pallavi's husband) and Saloni Daini (Rania Das; Tina's daughter) leave a mark. Gautmik (Karan; Pallavi's husband), Saloni Daini (Rania Das; Tina's daughter) and Sushant Divgikar leave a mark. Anil Kapoor is too good in a cameo. All in all, Thank You For Coming is an average film.
My rating - ** ½ out of 5!
My rating - ** ½ out of 5!
Fenil's Bollywood Talk # 798
2:51 PM
WILL THE EXORCIST: BELIEVER COLLECT MORE THAN THE HINDI RELEASES?
The month of October is going to see multiple releases almost every week. Tomorrow, 3 major Hindi films and 1 Hollywood flick will try their luck in cinemas. Sadly, the Hindi releases might face a tough time.
The biggest release is Mission Raniganj. It stars Akshay Kumar in the lead and is inspired by the real story of Jaswant Singh Gill, who rescued 65 miners from a trapped mine. The trailer is decent but shockingly, the makers have barely promoted the film. Lead actor Akshay Kumar hasn’t given any interviews or attended events or TV shows for promotional purposes. As a result, many are not even aware that an Akshay Kumar film is up for release. Earlier this year, Akshay’s reputation took a beating as Selfiee opened at just Rs. 2.54 crores. It seems like Mission Raniganj might open in the same range though there’s a hope that it’ll have a good occupancy in the evening. If that happens, the collections can be around Rs. 3-4 crores. Even then, it’s a low opening and the film will have to have a very strong word of mouth to get a 100% + jump on Saturday and Sunday.
Then comes Thank You For Coming. It’s a sex comedy starring Bhumi Pednekar, Shehnaaz Gill, Shibani Bedi, Dolly Singh and Kusha Kapila. There’s a market for such women-centric adult films. The makers have tried their best to make noise. The film even premiered at the 48th Toronto International Film Festival. However, the excitement among the target audience is limited. It’ll open in the range of Rs. 1-2 crores and like Mission Raniganj, the film might score if it jumps in the evening.
Lastly, Dono marks the directorial debut of Sooraj Barjatya’s son Avnish and the acting debut of Sunny Deol’s son Rajveer and Poonam Dhillon’s daughter Paloma. It is backed by Rajshri Productions and hence, it seems like a complete family entertainer. The film has paid previews from tonight and a restricted release from tomorrow. Due to negligible buzz and awareness, the collections will be very poor. The makers probably realized it and implemented the buy-one-get-one ticket offer.
Lastly, The Exorcist: Believer will have a wide release from tomorrow. Horror is the flavour of the season. The Exorcist brand is huge and it won’t be surprising if it opens better than Mission Raniganj.
The month of October is going to see multiple releases almost every week. Tomorrow, 3 major Hindi films and 1 Hollywood flick will try their luck in cinemas. Sadly, the Hindi releases might face a tough time.
The biggest release is Mission Raniganj. It stars Akshay Kumar in the lead and is inspired by the real story of Jaswant Singh Gill, who rescued 65 miners from a trapped mine. The trailer is decent but shockingly, the makers have barely promoted the film. Lead actor Akshay Kumar hasn’t given any interviews or attended events or TV shows for promotional purposes. As a result, many are not even aware that an Akshay Kumar film is up for release. Earlier this year, Akshay’s reputation took a beating as Selfiee opened at just Rs. 2.54 crores. It seems like Mission Raniganj might open in the same range though there’s a hope that it’ll have a good occupancy in the evening. If that happens, the collections can be around Rs. 3-4 crores. Even then, it’s a low opening and the film will have to have a very strong word of mouth to get a 100% + jump on Saturday and Sunday.
Then comes Thank You For Coming. It’s a sex comedy starring Bhumi Pednekar, Shehnaaz Gill, Shibani Bedi, Dolly Singh and Kusha Kapila. There’s a market for such women-centric adult films. The makers have tried their best to make noise. The film even premiered at the 48th Toronto International Film Festival. However, the excitement among the target audience is limited. It’ll open in the range of Rs. 1-2 crores and like Mission Raniganj, the film might score if it jumps in the evening.
Lastly, Dono marks the directorial debut of Sooraj Barjatya’s son Avnish and the acting debut of Sunny Deol’s son Rajveer and Poonam Dhillon’s daughter Paloma. It is backed by Rajshri Productions and hence, it seems like a complete family entertainer. The film has paid previews from tonight and a restricted release from tomorrow. Due to negligible buzz and awareness, the collections will be very poor. The makers probably realized it and implemented the buy-one-get-one ticket offer.
Lastly, The Exorcist: Believer will have a wide release from tomorrow. Horror is the flavour of the season. The Exorcist brand is huge and it won’t be surprising if it opens better than Mission Raniganj.
Thank You For Coming’s starting point was what if Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge’s Raj-Simran were sexually incompatible
8:06 AM
Writers Radhika and comic Prashasti on how Thank You For Coming’s starting point was what if Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge’s Raj-Simran were sexually incompatible
Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; October 3, 2023)
Like most of us, producer Rhea Kapoor, writer Radhika Anand and comic-turned-writer Prashasti Singh grew up adoring Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge (1995). But in their first meeting, the writers were posed with a simple question by Kapoor: “Simran and Raj live happily ever after. Why has no one asked Simran if he could please her in bed?”
That question resulted in Thank You For Coming. The Bhumi Pednekar-starrer revolves around a woman who has never experienced an orgasm. Anand says the film stems from her and her friends’ experiences.
“Every relationship leaves an impact on you, and every time something doesn’t work out, you go into self-doubt. We delve into these subjects,” says Anand.
After exploring these themes in her stand-up sets, Singh brought her unique flavour to her maiden film. The idea behind the female buddy comedy, she says, was to open a dialogue about women’s desires in the modern dating world.
“We spoke to a lot of women, and it [came to light] that men make us feel that the flaws lie in us. Men feel no shame, but women have been wired to feel bad if they demand pleasure. The ‘good girls don’t do this’ belief is a problem. While writing the film, we realised that no matter which social strata we belong to, all women feel this inadequacy,” she rues.
Thank You For Coming also sheds light on the pressures of patriarchy on men. Anand explains, “The film has more to do with men. They are conditioned into behaving a certain way—be it not showing their vulnerabilities, or being macho. Because of our conditioning, how we see ourselves in relationships has a lot to do with how men make us feel. Films like these are important in changing the lens and reassessing our life choices.”
Radhika Anand and Prashasti Singh
The idea of a woman in gorgeous clothes and having a good time is rubbished-Rhea Kapoor
8:38 AM
As she backs Thank You For Coming, Rhea on the difficulties of making a chick flick in Bollywood and changing perception of women-led cinema
Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; September 27, 2023)
What’s the point of making movies as a female producer in this industry if you can’t pull off the impossible,” asks Rhea Kapoor. She is referring to going against the flow and making chick flicks in an industry that is quick to label them frivolous. But her next, Thank You For Coming, addresses a pertinent subject—the Bhumi Pednekar-starrer tells the story of a woman who has never experienced an orgasm.
She elaborates, “People think that female-led rom-coms are frivolous and meaningless. Rom-coms are hard to crack because the genre is constantly reinventing itself. I’ve grown up with this genre, but all my references were American. Why can’t we give young girls Indian references?”
It wasn’t easy for Rhea and co-producer Ektaa Kapoor to get the movie—also starring Kusha Kapila, Shehnaaz Gill, Dolly Singh and Shibani Bedi— off the ground. Their faith was rewarded as Karan Boolani’s directorial venture premièred at the recent Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF).
“When we make such movies, we are told, ‘Oh, this is floozy.’ But this film went to TIFF, and it’s so validating. Such movies are hard to get off the ground. I have privilege; my father [Anil Kapoor] is a powerful man. I started making movies when I was 21, I am 36 today, and this is my fourth film. So, you do the math!”
Barbie’s mammoth success has taught the filmmaking world that movies can’t be designed only for the male half of the population. It’s a lesson Rhea knew early on, which made her back Aisha (2010), Khoobsurat (2014), and team up with Ektaa on Veere Di Wedding (2018). Together, they want to change the perception of women-led cinema.
“Taylor Swift is affecting economies, Beyoncé is a star. I’ve always been confident about chick flicks. Ektaa’s mom [Shobha Kapoor] loved Veere Di Wedding. When Sex And The City returned [as a movie], we queued up to watch it. I know I have a tribe and people are ignorant to dismiss that audience,” she states, before adding, “My biggest fear is women’s stories being seen as valid only if they are sacrificial. No one calls action films, where men have guns and shiny cars, frivolous. But [the idea of] a woman in gorgeous clothes and having a good time is rubbished. On the contrary, it needs to be celebrated.”
I surround myself with women who are in touch with their emotions-Karan Boolani
7:34 AM
Dolly Singh, Kusha Kapila, Bhumi Pednekar, Shibani Bedi, and Shehnaaz Gill
Set to showcase a tale on female orgasms, Karan Boolani says surrounding himself with women enabled him to present an authentic film, Thank You For Coming
Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; September 15, 2023)
At the first instance, the thought of a male director helming a film about female orgasms may raise eyebrows. However, the situation doesn’t seem so baffling when one considers that director Karan Boolani was the only man in the all-women film.
“I surround myself with women who are in touch with their emotions,” says Boolani of Thank You For Coming, which was screened at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) this week. “As a director, it was my job to create a safe space where they could be vulnerable, and show their vulnerability on screen. I had to make sure that I was not interfering in their process, but instead, protecting it,” he says.
The writers of the Bhumi Pednekar-starrer, comic Prashasti Singh and screenwriter Radhika Anand say Boolani helped them gain other people’s perspectives as well, which helped them pen a balanced story.
“The endeavour was to find the truth in each scene. I know a little more about women now than I did before I made this film. A lot of situations that you’ll see in the film were inspired by real experiences, and the characters, by real people. During the casting process, [our aim was to find] actors who seemed familiar, and made us feel like they were like the people we know [in our personal lives]. Also, we needed them to have a sense of humour.”
Producer Rhea Kapoor had previously acknowledged that the film was an unlikely selection for the TIFF, but Boolani believes the “catchy” narrative opened doors for them. “It’s entertaining, funny, and is the story of every woman. We have kept it as real and relatable as possible. This story plays with a lot of emotions, and highlights important issues with a pinch of humour.”
While the film has an ensemble cast, including Kusha Kapila, and Shehnaaz Gill, Boolani would have had to particularly choose his leading lady with scrutiny. “Bhumi is a great actor. Before the shoot, we did a lot of readings with the actors so they could understand their characters. Bhumi truly understood Kanika’s character, and that’s what translated on screen.”
I designate hours of the day to cry-Kusha Kapila
8:46 AM
Shifting gears to be an actor with Sukhee, Internet star Kusha Kapila on dealing with brutal trolling
Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; September 6, 2023)
“If you’ve ever sat down with your girlfriends to discuss life, age, career, politics, and dating, among other things, without the fear of judgement, then you know what sisterhood feels like. But we don’t have enough stories about female friendship,” says Internet star Kusha Kapila, who presents the theme in her upcoming films Sukhee and Thank You For Coming.
Taking baby steps into Bollywood, Kapila, who has previously been part of Masaba Masaba, Plan A Plan B, and Selfiee, will share screen space with Shilpa Shetty Kundra in Sukhee. She says that the story and “cracking the chemistry” with director Sonal Joshi drew her towards the film.
“And Shilpa is a woman’s woman. She is a technically sound actor who lets you shine in scenes. From telling me when to dab my face and do touch-ups to [instructing] me on the kind of lighting that would make me look better. It is inspiring to be around someone who has been in the industry for three decades.”
While she is relatively new in Hindi cinema, Kapila is a star in the Internet universe, with millions following her every reel. She says that the people around her exist to ground her. “They, in fact, treat me poorly. When I go back home, I have to get an appointment to meet my friends. Recently, my friend was complaining how I am not there for her because I have been busy,” jokes the actor, adding that it is endearing to see her close friends still treat her the same after she became popular.
“They troll me on pap videos. Friends give you a reality check and remind you of who you are and used to be. Their interventions have saved my life.”
Although on home ground nothing seemed to have changed, her private life has been split wide open for comment. Especially after she announced her separation from husband, Zorawar Singh Ahluwalia, Kapila endured unnecessary hate online. It became worse when reports of her dating Arjun Kapoor went public, which she denied on social media with a long post.
A week later, we asked her how she dealt with the negativity, she said, “I designate hours of the day to cry. Love on the internet comes with its fair share of criticism, from slut shaming to body shaming. I am easily affected. This year has been a lesson in silence and going to work with blinders on. I don’t want to trivialize it by saying, ‘Farak nahi padta hai [It doesn’t matter]’. Everyone is affected by it, but how you navigate it shows who you are.”
Does success put a balm on it? “Success offers the privilege to distract yourself. It also gives you perspective on how to move on with life and protect oneself from pain,” she concluded.
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