Showing posts with label The Buckingham Murders. Show all posts
Showing posts with label The Buckingham Murders. Show all posts
Kareena Kapoor, Ananya Panday back Deepika Padukone’s eight-hour shift demand
10:33 AM
HINDUSTAN TIMES (March 8, 2026)
Actor Deepika Padukone sparked debate last year over eight-hour work shifts after reportedly exiting films like Spirit and the sequel to Kalki 2898 AD (2024). Now, actors Kareena Kapoor Khan and Ananya Panday have defended her stance, saying such conversations with producers are necessary.
Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter India, Kareena said clear communication and planning are key, especially for working mothers. Recalling her time shooting The Buckingham Murders (2024), she shared that she informed producers in advance about returning to her children while her husband, Saif Ali Khan, looked after them. She further spoke about Deepika’s eight-hour shift demand and added that if actors are married, they need a partner who understands, as they cannot both work and leave the children alone.
“I feel like if you are married and have children… You should be able to say this is what I want. I can work this number of hours. I think it’s completely fine to say that way before a film starts,” Kareena said.
Ananya, on the other hand, said, “I have worked with Deepika (in the 2022 film Gehraiyaan), and before she became a mother, there was no such thing like that. She was working, coming to workshops, no complaints and no asking for anything. Now she’s a mother… she needs to be present with her child in the first two years. I think it’s okay to have a conversation with your producer to find a balance.”
Saif Ali Khan and I are working on a film. It’s an adaptation of a book-Hansal Mehta
8:34 AM
Filmmaker Hansal Mehta is adapting a book for his first collaboration with Saif Ali Khan; plans another project with The Buckingham Murders star Kareena Kapoor Khan
Priyanka Sharma (MID-DAY; March 26, 2025)
With his last big-screen offering, The Buckingham Murders (2024), Hansal Mehta teamed up with Kareena Kapoor Khan for the first time. Now, another maiden collaboration is on the anvil for the filmmaker—this time with Saif Ali Khan, actor and Kapoor’s husband.
“Saif and I are working on a film. I am directing it. It’s an adaptation of a book,” Mehta revealed to mid-day, on the sidelines of the Cinevesture International Film Festival that was held in Chandigarh.
Khan, who has beautifully straddled mainstream films, middle-of-the-road cinema and web series, has been on the director’s wish-list of collaborators. But if there’s someone who tops the list, it’s Kapoor. Mehta’s fondness for the superstar is evident as he wishes for another outing with her. In fact, he is actively planning one.
“We have sent a script to Kareena. Every time I look at a script, I ask, ‘Can we do something with Kareena?’ You want to work with her over and over again; she is a different beast altogether. Kareena is one of the most prepared persons on set, a thorough professional, and always happy. She is a big star, but it was a privilege. It was as if I was working with Pratik [Gandhi] or Rajkummar [Rao].”
A lot is happening on Mehta’s work front. Besides his next with Khan, he has his ambitious web series, Gandhi, and an actioner. While mid-day had reported that he was keen to cast Lakshya in the film (Hansal Mehta’s next to be an actioner with Lakshya, Jan 4), the filmmaker confirmed the project, but remained mum on its cast.
There’s more for Mehta, who launched his production house this January and has set several projects into motion. He shared, “We are producing an outrageous comedy, and a slasher film. We’re also looking at co-producing a zombie film. There is also an unusual love story in the pipeline.”
Every five years, I ask myself, what new can I do now?-Kareena Kapoor
8:03 AM
Renuka Vyavahare (BOMBAY TIMES; October 9, 2024)
Kareena Kapoor Khan will complete 25 years in the movie business next year. Her filmography boasts of an eclectic mix of memorable characters and no-nonsense, courageous leads. From Refugee (2000) to Crew and The Buckingham Murders this year, Bebo has had quite a journey. However, despite delivering some fine performances over the years, she is often in the focus for her trendsetting style and glamorous avatars.
The actress talks about her longevity in the industry and how she believes she has a long way to go.
‘It took many films for people to take me seriously as an actor’
When we asked her about glamour overshadowing acting talent at a recent event, the actress said, “People tend to overlook an actor’s gravitas if you are glamourous. If you see my choice of films, it proves this perception wrong. I have had a glamorous image, but I’ve never looked at myself like that. I prefer to keep my ear to the ground because it’s important for an actor to know the reality of a situation. I am focused on my performance. It took many films for people to take me seriously as an actor.”
She further added, “Today, when a film like Buckingham Murders releases, people take notice because I have constantly been at it, proving myself. That’s also one of the reasons behind the longevity I have been able to achieve as an actor. I have constantly tried to prove myself as an actor for the past 25 years. And I don’t want people to say you have done it all, now what? I have a long way to go.”
‘Perhaps, people like to see me in roles like Geet or Poo because the masses can connect to it more’
While Poo and Geet often walk away with all the glory, Kareena’s comic timing in films like 3 Idiots, Good Newwz and Crew have won a lot of appreciation, along with much critical acclaim for films like Omkara, Udta Punjab, Talaash, Jaane Jaan and The Buckingham Murders.
She elaborated, “In the last 25 years, the first decade went in people assuming that I was Poo, and the other went in people thinking I am Bhatinda ki sikhni Geet. Maybe I am a mix of both. I want people to know that I am an actor who is very passionate about her job.”
Talking about staying connected to the audience, she said, “People like to see me in roles like Geet or Poo more, perhaps because they are more connected to the masses. In the next 25 years, I will try to play more different roles. While I have done films with superstars, which have been hits, I have also had a career that I have simultaneously built to prove myself as an actor. The X factor combined with talent and, of course, 30 per cent of luck is what takes you places.”
‘Sustaining yourself in the industry is tougher, so I like to make varied choices’
Speaking of longevity in her career, the actress reminisced, “At 17-18, it was all about wanting to be in every film. If you sustain for a decade, it’s about reinvention, which is scary in an industry which is male-dominated. Over the years, apart from me, there have been other brave actresses too who have taken big strides. Every five years, I ask myself, what new can I do now? It’s not just about being a part of successful films but leaving behind a legacy. I come from a family (the Kapoors) where I have been challenged because they all are such amazing actors, but I want to leave my mark somewhere. Every 10 years, there is someone new, so how am I going to last? Sustaining yourself is tougher, so I like to make varied choices, be it The Buckingham Murders, Singham Again, Crew or Jaane Jaan, which dropped on a streaming platform. I feel it would have done great on the big screen, too.”
I already have a prequel in mind for Jasmeet of The Buckingham Murders. It’s an origin story-Hansal Mehta
8:35 AM
Impressed by Kareena’s ability to bring a lightness of touch to her roles, director Hansal hopes to reunite with her on The Buckingham Murders’ origin story
Upala KBR (MID-DAY; September 17, 2024)
From the time Kareena Kapoor Khan and Hansal Mehta announced their collaboration, one wondered what the marriage of the two cinematic sensibilities would look like—she, the face of blockbusters, and he, the voice behind hard-hitting stories. Now, the result is for all to see. The Buckingham Murders (TBM) is a moody thriller that is as much a story of a mother’s loss as it is a whodunit.
We begin our conversation with the director, asking if he has thought of a sequel to TBM. A story where Kareena’s detective Jasmeet Bhamra takes on another case, perhaps? “The reports of TBM are encouraging. So, maybe we can come together again. I already have a prequel in mind for Jasmeet. It’s an origin story of how she became who she is today,” says Mehta.
So, will it see the trio of Mehta, Kareena and Ektaa R Kapoor reunite? “Of course. They own the IP.”
IP or not, the director would love to team up with the actor-producer duo again. Shooting the gritty thriller with them was a deeply satisfying affair, he says.
One would think that convincing Kareena for the film was tough, but Mehta says, “Ektaa introduced me to Kareena. She was on board the moment she read the film’s treatment. It was a delight to work with her. Kareena is an instinctive actor, who doesn’t take her talent too seriously. That’s why there is a lightness of touch when she performs. It’s a complicated part, but she did it with sensitivity.”
Making it a Hinglish affair was a leap of faith on the makers’ part. While they ran the risk of alienating a section of the audience, on the upside, they remained true to its UK setting.
“The original story that Aseem Arora had written was set in the UK. I was clear that if the story is set there, it has to be truthful to its world. Often, we make Hindi movies in the UK where all the characters are speaking in Hindi. It feels fake to me. I wanted the experience to be authentic and Ektaa agreed with me.”
From Shahid (2012) to Aligarh (2015), from Scam 1992: The Harshad Mehta Story (2020) to Scoop (2023), Mehta’s filmography is built on a foundation of brave stories. But the director admits there is something missing from his résumé. “I keep telling my writers to give me a love story. It’s an unfulfilled desire to make an epic love story—something like Doctor Zhivago [1965].”
(Crisp) Movie Review: THE BUCKINGHAM MURDERS by FENIL SETA
2:00 PM
The Buckingham Murders marks Kareena Kapoor's first film as a producer. The title gives a clear idea what the film is about and where its set. The initial scenes are engaging and one does look forward to what happens next. But the film goes downhill in the second half. Things happen at convenience. The behaviour of the UP Police is also bewildering. While watching the film, when you start finding holes in the investigation and you feel you could have done better, there's a big problem with the film. Thankfully, the suspense comes as a shocker but it's too little and too late in the day. Kareena Kapoor, as always, does very well. She doesn't get to show a range of emotions due to the mood of the film and her role. However, she performs as per the requirement. Ash Tandon (DI Hardy Patel) lends able support. Ranveer Brar (Daljeet Kohli), Prabhleen Sandhu (Daljeet's wife) and Kapil Redekar (Saqib) perform difficult roles with panache. Sartaaj Kakkar (Ishpreet), Keith Allen (Miller; Jaspreet's senior) and Adwoa Akoto (DC Sharon Marks) are lovely. All in all, The Buckingham Murders is a disappointing film.
My rating - ** out of 5!
My rating - ** out of 5!
Fenil's Bollywood Talk # 847
4:26 PM
RE-RELEASE SEASON CONTINUES; TUMBBAD EXPECTED TO GIVE NEW RELEASES TOUGH COMPETITION
Finally, after nearly a month, a mainstream Hindi film would be up for release – The Buckingham Murders. It stars Kareena Kapoor in the lead and it also marks her first film as a producer. It is directed by Hansal Mehta and is the story of a cop with a tragic past trying to solve a murder case. Kareena looks apt for the role and with Hansal as its director, it can be a film to watch out for. Interestingly, it is releasing in the original Hinglish version as well as the dubbed Hindi version.
Sadly, the buzz for The Buckingham Murders is very low. There’s hardly even any awareness about the film. Hence, the opening will be poor and hopefully, with good word of mouth, it’ll pick up considerably.
The film that would make the most noise this week is Tumbbad. It was released in 2018 and did a business of just Rs. 12.14 crores. Over the years, it achieved a cult following. Interestingly, the film has vanished from the internet and now, the only way to watch it is in cinemas when it re-releases tomorrow. In 2018, it had an opening of Rs. 51 lakhs. This time, it seems like it’ll have double the opening as the advances are encouraging and many shows are fast-filling. A theatre like Cinepolis, Viviana Mall, Thane is playing as many as 14 shows of the film, which is unheard of for a re-released film!
The other surprise re-release is Tujhe Meri Kasam. It was the debut of Riteish Deshmukh and Genelia Deshmukh. Many are not aware that it never got a release on OTT, TV or DVD and has a cult following in certain towns of Maharashtra. It has got limited shows and there’s curiosity among a tiny section of the audience for this film as they want to know why this film is watched 4, 5 and even 6 times by some people.
Veer-Zaara’s re-release caught attention and it now remains to be seen how it fares. Finally, the Hollywood film Speak No Evil has a limited release and will need positive reports to sustain.
On OTT, Sector 36 would drop on Netflix. It stars Vikrant Massey and Deepak Dobriyal and is produced by Dinesh Vijan's Maddock Films and Jio Studios. The awareness is limited but it got a great response at a film festival recently. Hence, it can be expected to get huge viewership.
Finally, after nearly a month, a mainstream Hindi film would be up for release – The Buckingham Murders. It stars Kareena Kapoor in the lead and it also marks her first film as a producer. It is directed by Hansal Mehta and is the story of a cop with a tragic past trying to solve a murder case. Kareena looks apt for the role and with Hansal as its director, it can be a film to watch out for. Interestingly, it is releasing in the original Hinglish version as well as the dubbed Hindi version.
Sadly, the buzz for The Buckingham Murders is very low. There’s hardly even any awareness about the film. Hence, the opening will be poor and hopefully, with good word of mouth, it’ll pick up considerably.
The film that would make the most noise this week is Tumbbad. It was released in 2018 and did a business of just Rs. 12.14 crores. Over the years, it achieved a cult following. Interestingly, the film has vanished from the internet and now, the only way to watch it is in cinemas when it re-releases tomorrow. In 2018, it had an opening of Rs. 51 lakhs. This time, it seems like it’ll have double the opening as the advances are encouraging and many shows are fast-filling. A theatre like Cinepolis, Viviana Mall, Thane is playing as many as 14 shows of the film, which is unheard of for a re-released film!
The other surprise re-release is Tujhe Meri Kasam. It was the debut of Riteish Deshmukh and Genelia Deshmukh. Many are not aware that it never got a release on OTT, TV or DVD and has a cult following in certain towns of Maharashtra. It has got limited shows and there’s curiosity among a tiny section of the audience for this film as they want to know why this film is watched 4, 5 and even 6 times by some people.
Veer-Zaara’s re-release caught attention and it now remains to be seen how it fares. Finally, the Hollywood film Speak No Evil has a limited release and will need positive reports to sustain.
On OTT, Sector 36 would drop on Netflix. It stars Vikrant Massey and Deepak Dobriyal and is produced by Dinesh Vijan's Maddock Films and Jio Studios. The awareness is limited but it got a great response at a film festival recently. Hence, it can be expected to get huge viewership.
Kareena Kapoor’s eyes have a sadness that haunts you after the film is done-Hansal Mehta
8:50 AM
Director Mehta says The Buckingham Murders taps into Kapoor’s true potential as an instinctive actor, as thriller wins praise at London film fest and MAMI
Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; November 10, 2023)
In October, Kareena Kapoor Khan’s The Buckingham Murders premièred at the BFI London Film Festival, and was the opening film at the Jio MAMI Mumbai Film Festival. Praise poured in as many from the industry watched the noir thriller, with Anurag Kashyap calling it the actor’s best performance to date. For director Hansal Mehta, the most memorable reaction came from his daughter Kimaya. “She came out distressed as she wanted to cry, but did not want her mascara to smudge. She was moved by it,” smiles the filmmaker.
“Saif [Ali Khan] liked it a lot, and we’ve decided to make a film together. The biggest purpose of a film is to enable your next one. That happened with Saif, who I’ve been trying to work with for nearly 20 years.”
Mehta’s hard-hitting movies are far removed from the glitzy, mainstream offerings that Kapoor usually favours. However, in an earlier interview, the director had mentioned how a scene from Dev (2004) had told him about her immense potential as an artiste. In their first collaboration, he found her to be exactly the actor he believed she was.
“There are some moments where her character releases pent-up rage, followed by immediate silence. I find that so moving. Kareena’s eyes have a sadness that haunts you after the film is done. I’m glad to have tapped into the reservoir of an actor, who is much celebrated, but whose potential we don’t know enough of yet.”
He says that Kapoor seamlessly stepped into the grim world of The Buckingham Murders, playing a troubled cop who has to crack a murder case. “Kareena spent a few days reading with the writers [Raghav Raj Kakkar, Kashyap Kapoor and Aseem Arora] and me. She had a few questions that we addressed. I tried to create an environment where she could tap into a deeper internal conflict.”
By her own admission, the leading lady saw the movie as spiritually close to Kate Winslet’s acclaimed series, Mare Of Easttown (2021). What does Mehta think of the comparison? “I like to go unreferenced into a film, both visually and performatively. Filmmaking is a response to a moment, to the interactions with oneself and the characters around. Kareena is quick to grasp a director’s process and adapt herself to it. She does not over-intellectualize or overthink scenes to the point that they become mechanical. I work in a similar manner. That’s what makes working with her special.”
Kareena Kapoor has given a defining performance in The Buckingham Murders-Hansal Mehta
8:23 AM
Set to take The Buckingham Murders to BFI London Film Festival, Hansal on what makes him an actor’s director
Priyanka Sharma (MID-DAY; September 25, 2023)
Within nine months of 2023, Hansal Mehta has rolled out a hostage drama in Faraaz, the acclaimed Scoop, and five episodes of Scam 2003: The Telgi Story. And he is in no mood to stop. The filmmaker is gearing up for the 67th BFI London Film Festival where his noir thriller, The Buckingham Murders, will be premièred next month.
The Kareena Kapoor Khan-led cop drama is among the three Indian films to be screened at the coveted festival, and Mehta couldn’t be prouder.
“The festival has an amazing line-up, including David Fincher’s [The Killer] and Martin Scorsese’s [Killers Of The Flower Moon]. I am looking forward to showing my film to the audience there. The festival programmers have loved it,” he beams.
The Buckingham Murders marks his first collaboration with Kapoor, who also turns producer with the project.
Mehta is full of praise for his leading lady, as he says, “Kareena has given a defining performance.”
That’s not hard to believe. After all, the director has displayed a knack for extracting career-best performances from his actors—be it Rajkummar Rao in Shahid (2013), or Pratik Gandhi in his breakout series, Scam 1992: The Harshad Mehta Story (2020). What makes him an actor’s director? For Mehta, who is now deep in prep for Gandhi, it boils down to a simple answer—love.
“I don’t analyze [the reason]. In London, when I was meeting a lot of actors for Gandhi, the only thing I told them was that I love actors. Maybe that’s what builds the relationship between me and them.”
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