Parineeti Chopra was one of the few actors to have multiple releases in 2021. But that wasn’t the only highlight of the year for her. The actress spent a lot of time travelling to various scenic destinations. From diving deep in the ocean to exploring off-beat places, she did it all. In the last quarter of the year, she clocked in a decade in the industry and celebrated the occasion by being on the sets of Sooraj Barjatya’s Uunchai. In a chat with Bombay Times, the actress talks about her passion for travelling, striking a work-life balance and pushing her boundaries as an actress. Excerpts:

I will say that 2021 was the year that I finally did the work that I wanted to do for so many years. The problem is that sometimes actors are not cast in the kind of work they want to do because directors have not seen them in something like that. So, often you do certain roles because that’s what’s been offered to you. I have been doing such roles (out-of-the-box roles) for many years now, but I wasn’t really finding the right script; that’s why I am thankful to directors Ribhu Dasgupta, Dibakar Banerjee and Amole Gupte for giving me these films that I am not the obvious casting for. I had faith that I could do these roles, but you don’t get these films till the directors offer them to you.

I started my career in the best way possible for me as an actor. What I mean is that there are different kinds of journeys for an actor. Sometimes, people struggle for years and then find success, while some find success on day one and then have to struggle later.

Since I got success with my first film itself that gave me clarity about how I wanted to conduct my career. Then, of course, you make different kinds of choices — some work, some don’t, and then you start learning. If you ask me where I get the motivation from, I will honestly say that there has been a lot of hits and trials. At the beginning of my career, I got to do very different work that is not expected from a Bollywood heroine, and I got a lot of success in that. Then, I tried a different route, which I didn’t like, and those films didn’t work. Now, I am back to where I wanted to be. It’s been pretty interesting for me, I would say.

There are two aspects to this, my goal is to see the entire planet in this lifetime. If I could do only one thing in my life, I would travel and see the world. I must tell you that only 10% of it makes it to social media. I believe in living in the moment and not taking the pressure of posting it on social media. The other aspect is that because I meet so many strangers and become friends with people from all over the world, I get a lot of inspiration as an actor, and I am able to use that, especially now in the films that I recently did. There was a time when I was doing only rom-coms or a certain kind of film that didn’t require that sort of homework. I am happy that now I am living such an amazing life and getting to use these experiences. I did that in Saina, The Girl On The Train and Sandeep Aur Pinky Faraar. I am glad that people are seeing me in a different light as a person as well as an actor.

I come from a very different background. I am built like a corporate worker. In corporate life, you have a 9 to 5 job, and largely speaking, you have some kind of work-life balance. This (acting) is not that kind of a job, we often work on weekends, every day is completely different and our schedules are pretty hectic, but the kind of person I am, I will get burnt out and saturated if I don’t keep taking breaks. When I say breaks, I don’t mean a six-month-long break, it could be just a two-day break to travel, so that I can come back recharged. At the beginning of my career, I was doing so much work that I didn’t take a break for the first three years, which is actually against my nature. I realised that it was not working for me, so I forced a break on myself. In fact, I took a six-month-long break and worked on myself and made myn ew house...I realised that I have to balance it out well. At that time, I was just starting my career, so you know how it is...you just dive into it and forget about everything else, but I soon realised that it doesn’t work in the long run.

It almost overwhelms me... I feel like the last few years were, like I said, that hit and trial phase. I was trying out things, but I don’t think they were the right decisions for me, barring a few films. I was waiting for my films to do well and for critics to appreciate my performances again. And of course, you want to do big-ticket films at all times. It is 2021 that gave me both. I hope that 2021 was just a teaser for the rest of my career.

I am in the space that I always have been in. I focus on living my best life. I meet so many people and I try and build my relationships with them. I try and live as peaceful and happy a life as I can.

I don’t think I can talk about that. Whenever there is something that is final or needs to be told, I will share that with the world.

Kirti Kulhari on how her character in The Girl Ob The Train remake has been given more prominence than in the source material
Uma Ramasubramanian (MID-DAY; June 23, 2020)

Even as she continues to win praise for her performance in the second season of Four More Shots Please, Kirti Kulhari has trained her focus on her next, The Girl On The Train remake. The Parineeti Chopra-fronted psychological thriller has Kulhari play the cop investigating the murder that is at the centre of the narrative. While the source material — the Paula Hawkins novel — and the 2016 Hollywood screen adaptation dedicated little time to the character, Kulhari says director Ribhu Dasgupta has fleshed it out in the Hindi version.

"It's my second outing with Ribhu. He wanted me to be part of the film after seeing my performance in Bard Of Blood [2019]. While the scope of the character was quite limited in the original, Ribhu has developed my role further in the film. Now, it is almost a parallel track [to the protagonist]," reveals Kulhari.

With several films seeking a digital premiere due to Coronavirus lockdown, buzz suggests that the thriller too may explore the route. "We had a word with the director, but, [the decision rests with] Reliance Entertainment [producer]. Right now, everyone is gauging the market and trying to determine what the next six months [will bring]."

Kirti Kulhari on her decade-long journey in showbiz; says she’s open to working in sequel of her debut, Khichdi
Akash Bhatnagar (MUMBAI MIRROR; June 20, 2020)

Kirti Kulhari entered films with Khichdi: The Movie in 2010, but it was six years later, that she hit pay dirt with Pink. “I could have easily vanished but I am glad I didn’t submit to norms and survived,” she asserts while taking stock of a decade in showbiz.

Kirti was a known face in the ad world before acting happened and informs that she got her first two films — Khichdi and Shaitan — simultaneously. “Even their dates clashed, but fortunately, Shaitan got pushed by six-seven months,” she recalls, adding that Khichdi defied her expectations. “Playing a dumb girl was liberating. I have watched the film at least 10 times in theatres. I loved how people would go berserk over anything we did on screen.”

Actor-producer J D Majethia recently told Mirror (April 25) that he is looking at different platforms to take the Khichdi franchise forward. Will she be in it? “J D and Aatish (Kapadia, director) live in the same society as me. Whenever I bump into them, I tell them to make a sequel. They even wrote something, but it didn’t work out. It’s been 10 years, the audience has evolved with time. If it happens, I’d want to be a part of it,” she says.

Kirti has gravitated towards more intense roles with Pink, Indu Sarkar, Uri: The Surgical Strike and Mission Mangal. “I’d always wanted to do something that would make a difference and followed that instinct. Now, I want to explore. I love romcoms and I’m ready to do one,” she avers.

Kirti had a good run last year with the Vicky Kaushal-led Uri and Mission Mangal, featuring Akshay Kumar, Vidya Balan, Taapsee Pannu and Sonakshi Sinha, among others. She’s ready to do more multistarrers. “I can work with 100 actors, but they should have the right attitude towards work and not focus on who they are. I like to work in a state of equality,” she says.

Next up for Kirti is the Parineeti Chopra-starrer The Girl On The Train remake, in which she plays a cop. The film was to release on May 8 but was deferred in the wake of the Coronavirus outbreak. The actress is unfazed, choosing to talk about her character instead, which is different from the original (the 2016 Hollywood film led by Emily Blunt) and has been developed further. “It’s a parallel lead now. My look is something that has never been seen in Indian cinema. It will be a talking point,” she promises.

She is all praise for her co-star, saying, “Parineeti is a bubbly girl who enjoys what she is doing with who she is around. She was simultaneously preparing for the Saina Nehwal biopic, which pushed her out of her comfort zone. We planned to play badminton together so many times, but it never happened.”

And what is her takeaway from the three-month lockdown? “That all we need is a life of minimalism. Also, the idea of planning ahead is pointless,” she notes.

Madhureeta Mukherjee (BOMBAY TIMES; June 1, 2020)

Her talent is not unknown to movie lovers, she owns every character she plays and slips into it like she’s almost lived the part. Yes, she’s had a fair share of lows, but like the actress rightly says, “You fight every battle and come out stronger.” In a chat with BT, Parineeti Chopra talks about success, setbacks and the roles that she is now obsessed with. Read on...

So, we have all been in lockdown mode for over two months, with things gradually opening up now. But, what were you doing just before everything came to a sudden halt?
We had just started the promotions of Sandeep Aur Pinky Faraar, and I remember calling my marketing team and telling them, ‘Guys, this (Coronavirus) seems to be spreading, we should not be stepping out for promotions, as we will be interacting with so many people.’ At that point, it felt like a drastic step, but the next day, we cancelled all our plans. I saw this coming, but I didn’t realise the magnitude of it.

Tough times teach you some of life’s best lessons. There was a period (around 2016) when you took a break as you were going through a rough patch — professionally and personally. You even went through depression and came out of it stronger. What did that phase teach you about life and yourself?
Well, at the risk of sounding like a sadist, let me tell you that when something really bad or challenging happens in my life, I get a little excited. I tell myself that I’ve gone through it and come out of it feeling proud of the person that I have become. Now, I actually believe every quote that I’ve read online, which says that failure teaches you a lot more than success. I didn’t believe it till it happened in my life. I hit rock bottom in every department of my life, and I actually thought that I would not survive it. But then, you fight every battle and come out stronger. In fact, if you haven’t gone through ups and downs, you have had a very boring life.

Such phases also make you value everything you have so much more — success, fame…all of that.
I am not wishing tragedies upon anyone, but I truly believe that when you go through a setback, you appreciate life so much more. I feel that I grew up during the low phase of my life. And I definitely think that today, anything that I do, is a result of what I learned during that period.

You already had a solid body of work before the brief slump happened. Over the years, you have proven yourself as a stock of talent, so I guess that it made the process of getting back on your feet easier. Soon after, you saw huge success with Golmaal Again (2017), right?
I had two films that year, Meri Pyaari Bindu and Golmaal Again. The first one didn’t do well at the box office, but the other one did. And I said to myself…this is exactly how everything balances out. There is so much to be thankful for, so there’s no need to be depressed. Also, I’ve never wanted to be an actress in my life, I’ve always wanted to do something else. So, my heart and my brain are not completely consumed by the industry and that’s why I am able to distance myself and do more with my life.

You have said that your upcoming film, The Girl On The Train, is the toughest film that you have done...
That one and Saina (the biopic on badminton champion Saina Nehwal) are undoubtedly the toughest films I’ve done. I’ve literally given my heart and soul to them and I feel like I am more a producer of those films than an actress. The Girl On The Train sealed in my mind the kind of actress I want to be. I think all my films before The Girl On The Train were a personal experiment to find what I wanted to do, and with this film, I found it. I was obsessed with being those two characters in both the films, I was obsessed with performing. It gave me clarity on how I want to select films from now on.

THESE ARE THE BOLLYWOOD FILMS AFFECTED BY CORONAVIRUS OUTBREAK – PART 2

Last week, we threw light on the 7 films that got affected due to the lockdown as a result of Coronavirus outbreak. Here’s a list of more films whose release has been postponed:

1. HAATHI MERE SAATHI: This is a trilingual film and will be released in Tamil as Kaadan and Aranya in Telugu. It stars Rana Daggubati in the leading role and as the name suggests, it is set in jungles amidst elephants. It looks quite different and much better than the last year’s action adventure Junglee, which also dealt with elephants. The teaser is spectacular with Rana in a never before seen avatar. Even Pulkit Samrat, who features in what seems like a supporting role, looks great. The film would have released tomorrow if the situation was normal. This could be one of the first releases once the theatres open

2. COOLIE NO 1: After Judwaa 2, David Dhawan and his actor son Varun reunited for another remake of the former’s film. Also starring Sara Ali Khan, Paresh Rawal, Jaaved Jaaferi and others, there’s a lot of excitement for this one. Such films often work well pan India and also later on television. It was scheduled to release on May 1 and it’ll take a while for it to release after the lockdown ends. That’s because its promotion hadn’t start at all and it’ll need at least 3 weeks to a month to promote its trailer and songs.

3. THE GIRL ON THE TRAIN: It is a remake of the Hollywood film of the same name and stars Parineeti Chopra in the lead role. The other actors in the film are Aditi Rao Hydari, Avinash Tiwary, Kirti Kulhari and Ishita Dutta. It’s a very small film aimed at urban centres. It should release probably in a week which will have no biggie’s release. There’s no way it’ll get a solo release and it’ll clash with a film or two of similar size.

4. DIL BECHARA: This is a remake of the Hollywood classic The Fault In Our Stars and marks the directorial debut of casting director Mukesh Chhabra. It stars Sushant Singh Rajput and Sanjana Sanghi in the leading role. The film is ready since almost a year and there are reports that producers Fox Star Studios are unsure of its commercial prospects. It was also said that they are in talks with Amazon Prime for a direct OTT release but the studio has denied it. Like The Girl On The Train, this remake of a Hollywood film was to also hit screens on May 8. And just like the Parineeti Chopra starrer, it’ll have to contend with a clash on a Friday which won’t be taken over by a biggie.

5. JHUND: This was the third film that was to release on May 8. It marks the Hindi debut of director Nagraj Manjule, of Sairat fame. Amitabh Bachchan stars in the lead as a football coach who teaches the sport to a group of slum kids. The presence of Big B and Nagraj’s direction will give this film a slight boost when it finally releases.

6. SHAKUNTALA DEVI: This was the fourth and final flick that was to release on May 8. Vidya Balan plays the role of Shakuntala Devi who was a famous mental calculator and called ‘human computer’ for her talent. Sanya Malhotra plays her daughter and looks quite unrecognizable. The film has potential to strike a chord among the multiplex audience, especially of the trailer is impactful.

7. RADHE: This is supposed to be the grand Eid release of 2020. It stars Salman Khan, Disha Patani, Randeep Hooda and Jackie Shroff and is directed by Prabhudheva. Due to Salman’s presence, there’s a lot of excitement for the film. Sadly, the shoot is still pending and with Eid around 50 days away, it’s difficult to say if the film can be completed and be ready on time. Also, there’s question mark if things will get normal by Eid. Even if it does, the films that were to come in March and April like Sooryavanshi and ’83 would arrive first. But knowing how important Eid is for Salman, Radhe might end up coming up on this holy festival.

8. LAXMMI BOMB: This was to clash with Radhe on Eid and stars Akshay Kumar in the role of a transgender. It is a remake of the famous Tamil horror comedy Muni 2: Kanchana and just like the original, Laxmmi Bomb is also directed by Raghava Lawrence. Akshay’s films are working big time and hence, trade is confident that it can work big time. However, fans would have to wait longer because Akshay’s Sooryavanshi would arrive first and Laxmmi Bomb would arrive only after at least 6-7 weeks.

Titas Chowdhury (HINDUSTAN TIMES; February 11, 2020)

Avinash Tiwary, who earned rave reviews for his performance in Laila Majnu (2018), believes that filmmakers now, have a certain faith in him and the fraternity’s attitude towards him has changed. “Earlier, people would want to work with me but they didn’t have the faith. But now, people are thinking that maybe, times have changed. I hear these things but I don’t understand them. I’m the same actor with the same talent, but now they look at me differently,” he says.

However, Avinash is practical and feels that the film industry changes every few years with the influx of new talent. He explains, “Five years down the line, their perception about me will change again. It’s about how relevant I can stay and how they will look at me. I’m in an unknown territory. I don’t know how the industry functions.”

The actor, who was last seen in the digital anthology film, Ghost Stories, says that he wants to reach a place where his name is enough to pull the audience to the theatre. “People were excited for Ghost Stories because there’s a Karan Johar in it. They are excited for The Girl On The Train because of Parineeti Chopra and Aditi Rao Hydari. The same thing had happened with Yudh. Everyone thought that I was talented because I was standing next to Mr (Amitabh) Bachchan. But from here on, I want to get into a space where I can get the audience to come and watch me. That’s something that I’m striving for,” he elaborates.

Avinash shares that he’s still getting used to the ways of showbiz and often finds himself questioning his next step. “When you don’t have a film, you can urge them to give you one opportunity. Now that I have done a couple of films, I don’t know what to do next. I used to keep wondering if I’ll ever get a film. Imtiaz (Ali; filmmaker) sir had once said to me, ‘I can only do the films that I’m allowed to and you can only do the films that come to you’. And that’s the biggest truth,” he signs off.

Rachana Dubey (BOMBAY TIMES; December 18, 2019)

It was a reel-meets-real moment for actress Parineeti Chopra and badminton champ and former World No 1, Saina Nehwal. Recently, the actress visited the Nehwal residence in Hyderabad. Usha and Harvir Singh Nehwal, Saina’s parents, welcomed their reel daughter into their home and treated her to some desi ghee ke aloo parathe, before the girls could start chatting about the film based on Saina’s life and sporting journey that’s being backed by T-Series. In an exclusive interaction with Bombay Times, Parineeti and Saina, talk about how tough the sport is, the challenges of portraying it on screen, and how similar the two of them are in reality. Excerpts:

The biopic rolled out afresh a fortnight before Diwali, after a long journey and a change of actors. In fact, Shraddha Kapoor (who had briefly shot for the film) had told BT that Parineeti was the first choice for the role, and it was pure destiny that eventually, she is the one headlining it.
Parineeti: She’s right! Har film ki apni kismat hoti hai. I remember being over the moon after reading just five pages of the script. I met the director Amole Gupte. I wanted to do it, but things didn’t materialise then. Shraddha is a dear friend and we often discussed how she was doing my film. It’s sheer luck that it came back to me. The meaning of my name Parineeti is destiny. Today, I want to leave the past behind because I don’t want it to distract me. I am treating this as a brand-new film that I’ve just started shooting. What makes the road difficult is that Saina is still in action while the biopic is being made. There’s no scope for any kind of creative liberty here. I know that comparisons will be drawn, and I want to have as little to worry about that as possible. Digging up the past only convolutes the mind. This is by far one of my most difficult films.

Saina, you must be aware that Parineeti, as a part of her prep for the biopic, continued to practice badminton with Eshan Naqvi (her coach and co-actor) even while shooting for another film (The Girl On The Train). A subject like this needs far more investment emotionally and physically for an actor, as compared to many other projects. Would you agree, Parineeti?
Parineeti: I didn’t want to miss a 45-day spell of training! I am not a sportsperson, so if am portraying one on screen, I have to be convincing. That’s not an easy task. After meeting her, I’m nervous about how she will assess everything. I hope the effort makes her happy.
Saina: Playing a sportsperson on screen when you are not one must be very challenging. I know how tough it must be for her to imitate my style on the court. I just wanted to tell her that I’m there with her to motivate her and guide her wherever she needs me. This sport can be tough for someone who doesn’t know its intricacies. Today, Parineeti knows the lifts, serves and certain shots. She’s worked to get them right. She’s come a long way in just a few months. With what she’s doing, I think it will be an emotional moment for me to see my life unfurl on the big screen. During my conversation with Parineeti, I realised just how similar we are as people. The fact that she’s a little tomboyish and has the right personality to play me is so reassuring.

Amole Gupte has been working on this biopic for years. He must be relieved now, since the film has taken off on a fresh note and the two of you have also met and discussed the film in detail…
Saina: Cuts in… I am happy that he’s directing my biopic. He knows how to handle such stories and he knows everything about my life very well. He knows what I am doing, where I am and even the results of those matches that aren’t aired on TV. He also gives me regular updates about the scenes that are being shot and Parineeti’s on-going prep.
Parineeti: When I reach the set, I’m me, but when I leave my vanity van, I’m Saina Nehwal. That’s the first step. There’s so much that goes into playing someone who is so revered for her skills and achievements in a sport. I’ve never looked the way I do when I am on Saina’s set. It’s a blessing that our physical attributes match; not ticking those boxes would have made things tough. So far, we have been shooting the dialogue-driven scenes. Now, we will start shooting the historic matches. The real struggle will begin then, but I’ve never been more motivated in my life. With this new phase in my career and life, this project fits like a glove.

In a recent interview with BT, you mentioned that you’re looking at breaking out of your comfort zone. Your upcoming films substantiate exactly what you had said. Was that the reason that you were keen to pick such challenging roles?
Parineeti: The clichéd answer is yes. It’s a male-dominated industry and shouldering an entire film for any leading lady is a Herculean task. Every actress has said that a million times. I want to leave clichés behind because I am done with them. I was waiting for this. I wanted roles that make me do a lot of homework, scare me about coming on set for the shoot and pull me out of my comfort zone completely. Honestly, I didn’t want to do most of the films coming my way for this reason. I’m an academic person and a disciplinarian. I like working on a character, and I got a chance to do that with Saina and The Girl On The Train (TGOTT).

Weirdly, the thought that whether I can pull this off is the best feeling I’ve had in a long time. When you work with that thought, you go back home satisfied, feeling like you achieved something in the day or earned something valuable. In these films — TGOTT and Saina — I feel like I’m at my best. I don’t have an iota of doubt. I can’t comment on the box office of these films, but that's in no one’s control anyway.

Interestingly, the biopic will open around Olympics 2020, and the spotlight will be on Saina. So, that will further pique the audience’s curiosity around the film…
Saina: Releasing my biopic around the Olympics will pose a challenge for me. It’s a real pressure. But I’m also quite assured because it has a lot of masala in it. It will be different from a lot of other sports films. In the middle of my ups and downs, a lot happened, and it makes for great content. Having said that, I can imagine what Parineeti must be feeling about this. As professional badminton players, we, too, are scared, even after all these years, to step on to a court. It must be tough for Parineeti to make it look like she’s been playing for 20 years. I’ve been seeing her practice videos where she is trying to get her shots right. Parineeti is what this film needed. She is the perfect choice to play me on screen.
Parineeti: When people watch this film, I want them to realise that badminton is a tough sport. Getting its technique and speed right is very difficult. The common sentiment is to say that, ‘I need training for basketball, cricket or football’. But badminton toh hum sab khel sakte hain na! Gully badminton is a feature in every colony. But we play it all wrong and don’t realise it. I figured it on the first day of training that we all hold the racket in the wrong way. Shuttle se connect karna is not badminton. You have to know how to hold a racket. That’s the first challenge. I hope with this film we can clear some misconceptions about the sport.
Saina: She’s right. It takes two-three months to merely learn how to hold a racket. Even today, some top players don’t know how to do that. A few millimeters here and there can spoil your shot. Unfortunately, no one gets this, and people think what they do is right.

Saina, your parents have played a crucial role in your journey and success. Would you say that it would be impossible to come this far without them by your side?
Parineeti: Her parents played an equal role in Saina’s journey to becoming the World’s No 1 in the sport. Usha aunty is an ex-player and she’s still quite fit to play. You have to see her videos. I can say this to Saina that maybe, she would not have become a champ without her mother, who even today, can run more than her and defeat her on court. It will be so much fun emulating Saina’s chemistry with her.
Saina: (Laughs!) Mamma can be stiff competition even today. When I started playing initially, she could beat me at the game. She was strict and disciplined. She has given me the strength and direction to be where I am. I knew nothing about badminton. She knew the sport better than my father and me. However, I must say that my mother found a strong supporter in my father, who participated equally. He would take me to court for practice at 5 am, drop me to school and mamma would take over from there and manage everything else. My mother is emotionally attached to the game. My batchmates would laugh at me when my mother would scold me for silly mistakes. Today, probably they won’t laugh. Mamma hi thi jisne apna saara dedication laga ke, mujhe doodh aur ghee khila pila ke iss layak bana diya. Meri maa nahi hoti toh medal nahi hota. My family encouraged me all the time, especially when I was not performing well in the game; something that even Parineeti’s parents have done for her.

With games other than cricket gaining mainstream importance, do you feel the road ahead will be more rewarding for sportspersons (beyond cricketers)?
Saina: Maybe people are bored of cricket (laughs!). On a serious note, no other sport can catch up with cricket in terms of popularity. Yes, other sports are growing by the day and getting a lot of attention because sportspersons are showing promise and delivering results. We are recognised on flights and people are more aware about all kinds of sports and players now. A lot of credit goes to the media and social media, which has made people more aware. As the games and the results improve, people and their attitude will also change. It’s a cycle. When I see wrestlers, athletes and gymnasts getting plum endorsement deals, I feel great because that’s a promising avenue for them to earn and that’s opened up only in recent years. It’s time that we teach our children to work for a medal in sports from a very young age. We can easily defeat a country like China that has a large population like us, but far more medals in sports. That’s the mantra parents need to give to their little ones.
Parineeti: We are in transition. The world is waking up to newer things. People are no longer hung up on old choices and styles — in films, sports or otherwise. The days when hockey and badminton were considered smaller games are over. If that wasn’t the case, why would anyone invest in a film about a badminton player? The picture is so much bigger today.

Avinash Tiwary reveals that following a major accident, he feared his career would come to an end, but soon, offers started pouring in from big production houses
Titas Chowdhury (HINDUSTAN TIMES; November 27, 2019)

Laila Majnu (2018) may have had a lukewarm response at the box office but its protagonist, Avinash Tiwary’s performance received rave reviews. The actor, who has his hands full, reveals that being an outsider, he didn’t have films served to him on a silver platter post the accolades he received for Laila Majnu. “For the first four months, I was sitting at home. There were about eleven scripts that came my way which was a novelty for me, and a validation that so many people wanted to work with me but they weren’t the projects that I wanted to do,” he says.

He says that he’s “enjoying this phase a lot now”. Talking about the time when filmmaker Karan Johar approached him for digital anthology film, Ghost Stories, he shares, “I got a call and I was told that Karan wants to work with me in Ghost Stories. I couldn’t believe it because I’m not his kind of actor. I thought Karan wouldn’t even know me. He hasn’t watched Laila Majnu. He told me that he heard of me and had been wanting to work with me but he didn’t know how to reach out to me!”

Avinash reminisces about the time when he feared that his career will come to an end following a major accident. “After Laila Majnu released, I went on a trip along with a few of my friends. I met with an accident there. I fell off the bike and my face was bruised that made me think that my career is over. I was bedridden for a month and a half. With red eyes and a huge scab on my face, I had to go for the look test for ’83,” shares the actor who also reveals being offered a comic caper with a big banner “that didn’t work out”.

Commenting on landing plum projects, he says with a smile, “At the same time, I tested for Bulbul (web show). The casting guys had to put makeup on my face to hide the scar and I got the part somehow. After a while, The Girl On The Train came my way. I had worked with Ribhu (Dasgupta; filmmaker) earlier. He said that there’s not a lot of money but the part is great, and so I did that.”

After a self-imposed sabbatical, Jacqueline Fernandez reveals her game plan
Himesh Mankad (MUMBAI MIRROR; October 31, 2019)

Mirror had earlier reported (May 31) that Jacqueline Fernandez had taken a break to take acting lessons at the Ivana Chubbuck Studio in Los Angeles, from which Hollywood biggies Charlize Theron, James Franco, Brad Pitt, Halle Berry, Gal Gadot and Gerard Butler have graduated. It has been six months since and the actress is back in the race.

“We actors always want to be in the limelight, but it’s nice to take a step back, get a perspective on what’s working for you and the trends,” she reasons, admitting that while many of her frat are too scared to take a step back, it’s important for her to live without the fear. “Now, when I sign a new film, it won’t be because I’m insecure but because I’m excited about the project.”

She acknowledges that there was a phase when she was skeptical about challenging herself as an actor. “I was hesitant because I wasn’t confident I’d be able to do justice to the part. But today, having trained myself, I’m open to experimenting with different roles and genres,” she avers, quick to add that commercial Hindi films will always be a part of her filmography as they are fun and challenging in their own right. “As long as you believe in what you do, you can give it your 100 per cent.”

Jacqueline regrets having missed out on a brilliant script earlier by a really good director. “I always thought I worked better in the commercial space, so, I was hesitant. Sonam (Kapoor) encouraged me to take on the challenge, but I didn’t do the film,” she sighs.

Opening up about future projects, she informs that she will kick off an action film in January. “It will be announced with the actor soon. Then, there’s Kick 2 which rolls next year. “Nadiad (producer Sajid Nadiadwala, who made his directorial debut with Kick in 2014 and will helm Part 2) is writing the script now. The earlier film was a game-changer for me. I’m sentimental and emotional about Kick. We’ll give the sequel our 200 per cent to make it bigger and better,” she promises.

Kick 2 will mark the third collaboration for Jacqueline and Salman. She’s in awe of her co-star: “Salman’s reach is so huge. Working with him is like going to film school, you get invaluable lessons while on the job.”

A woman-centric action film, which she is producing, is also in the pipeline. “We have zeroed in on something interesting and are locking the logistics. It’s something I’ve wanted to do for a couple of years. We should have things in place by early next year,” she reveals. After Rohit Shetty’s cop-universe brought together Ajay Devgn, Ranveer Singh and Akshay Kumar to fight against a common evil, can she see a franchise led by three women? “Sonam has already set a trend with female collaborations, I hope they happen frequently. I’ve worked well with Deepika (Padukone) in Race 2, Nargis (Fakhri) and Lisa (Haydon) in Housefull 3. So, I’m open to such films,” Jacqueline beams.

She was to play the lead in the official adaptation of The Girl On The Train, but eventually stepped out, making way for Parineeti Chopra. “Her first look was brilliant and Parineeti will do an amazing job. It was not the film for me at that point. It’s important for me do films I absolutely want to do. It’s important that I don’t get insecure and sign films just for a release or two,” she signs off.

Titas Chowdhury (HINDUSTAN TIMES; October 25, 2019)

2019 has been a year of highs for Kirti Kulhari. The actor starred in two of the biggest films of the year, URI: The Surgical Strike and Mission Mangal. Her performances have been lauded but Kirti is in no mood to rest on her laurels. “I’m quite grounded and don’t get carried away with success. That comes from the maturity and the way I’ve dealt with life. I feel grateful and elated, but the last few years have taught me to move on, be it from success or failure. While I feel blessed with the way 2019 has turned out, what I’m thinking right now is what’s next,” she says.

The films created a roar at the box office and crossed the coveted ₹200 crore mark. But Kirti doesn’t believe in gauging success with box office numbers. “Thankfully, there’s a distinction between how the world views my success and how I view it. Box office success is not the only definition of success for me. But it does strengthen your position as an artiste. It also increases your market value and ultimately, bigger and better things come your way,” she grins.

So, what has really changed for the actor? “Now I’m considered one of the better actors in the industry. Nobody can deny that. People don’t offer me random things anymore. They know that if there’s anything less than good, I’ll not do it. My credibility has gone notches up. I’ve consistently proven that I’m capable,” she says.

What made 2019 even more special for Kirti were her web series, Four More Shots Please! and Bard Of Blood. Sharing her thoughts on the digital boom, she says, “I follow my heart and a little bit of my mind to do work that gets me excited. With the current wave of OTT, the content it is bringing and the way the audience is receiving it worldwide, it would be stupid of me to say that I’ll not do a web series,” she adds.

Her next, The Girl On The Train will see her in a new avatar. “I will don a look in it that people have never seen in Indian cinema. I finished shooting for it. All of it was shot in London. I’m playing a British investigative cop in it,” says an excited Kirti.