Old Delhi’s narrow lanes, old buildings, shops and traffic have often been used to add character to films and shows. While there are many places to shoot in the Walled City – if the crew can handle the crowd – there are some spots, particularly certain havelis, that have become a favourite with filmmakers and showrunners. One such haveli is the Mohsin House.

Recently, Kartik Aaryan shared a selfie from the haveli, where he is shooting, with the Jama Masjid visible in the background. It is also the same place where Priyanka Chopra Jonas and Farhan Akhtar shot The Sky Is Pink. Line producers tell us why old havelis of Chandni Chowk, especially Mohsin House, are so sought-after by film and TV crews.

The owner of the haveli, Mohsin Babur Baghwala, tells us that a couple of films were shot there when he was a kid, but then the family stopped giving the haveli for film shoots. However, he knew Shonali Bose, the director of The Sky Is Pink, through a common friend and when she expressed an interest to shoot in his haveli, he decided to restart shoots there.

He says, “We are quite selective in giving permission to film shoots as we have to ensure that the haveli is taken care of. However, the teams that come from Mumbai are quite professional and they ensure that there is no damage to the haveli. When we have shoot dates, my family shifts to our other house. Sometimes, production houses offer hotel accommodation for those days too. Recently, Vishal Bhardwaj shot his film Khufiya at our haveli too.”

Most films and shows that are shot in Delhi have a couple of scenes from Old Delhi too, either to give background to the characters or to create a sense of nostalgia. A line producer says, “If you want to show Delhi of ’70s and ’80s where will you shoot if not in Old Delhi? The USP of these havelis is that time seems stand still there. Shooting on the terraces of these old havelis helps filmmakers capture rich scenes that can’t be replicated.”

Line producers say that Mohsin House particularly has become popular because of its location in front of Jama Masjid. A line producer says, “From its terrace, you can see Jama Masjid and that is perfect for the Dilliwali feeling. But the most important reason for its popularity is that it is on the main road and not in an alley.”

Javed, another line producer, adds, “To take actors and crew to havelis in alleys becomes a task in itself. We also face difficulty in transporting large equipment, hence being on the main road gives this haveli an advantage.”

A crew member who recently shot at Mohsin House says, “We had no restrictions. The crew was able to do whatever they wanted to create the set without any interference from the occupants of the haveli. Some haveli owners give a long list of ‘what not to do’, but here we didn’t face any issue.”

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- The Sky Is Pink

- Khufiya

- Shehzada

- Made In Heaven 2

- Paatal Lok

Apart from these many ads and untitled projects have also been shot here. There are many more films lined up for shoot, including a film starring Saif Ali Khan in January.

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- Rajiv House, where Queen, Jannat and PK were shot

- Jain House, where Bajrangi Bhaijaan and PK were filmed

- Kenamal Ki Haveli, the location for Dilli 6 and Julie

- Masjid Khajoor, where Rajma Chawal and several web series were shot

- Some other popular havelis are Chiku ki Haveli, Tipu House and Lachu Ram Ki Haveli.

Priyanka Chopra Jonas is happy to see the industry come a long way from the time when male actors enjoyed an unhealthy clout
Rishabh Suri (HINDUSTAN TIMES; January 16, 2020)

She has always taken the road less travelled in a career spanning 17 years. From starring in a film that exposed the behind-the-scenes controversies of the fashion world (Fashion; 2008) to playing a character with grey shades in 7 Khoon Maaf (2011) or stepping into the shoes of boxer Mary Kom (2014) in her biopic, Priyanka Chopra Jonas has always earned applause for her acting chops.

Currently, Bollywood is focussing firmly on films with female protagonists, and Priyanka feels the industry has come a long way from the time she started off in films. “When I first started working, we were told, ‘Heroes will decide who the heroine is going to be.’ This was 2002 or 2003; it was on the beck and call of main actors. I’m sure it still happens with a lot of films, but what has changed is the audience, and the acceptance of watching films with content instead of the gender of the lead actor. That’s one big change we’ve seen,” says the 37-year-old, who was last seen in The Sky is Pink (2019).

Priyanka’s all set to star with Richard Madden in an international event series Citadel, developed by Russo Brothers, who are known for directing Avengers: Infinity War (2018) and End Game (2019).

She also adds that there were a lot of naysayers who dissuaded her from taking up roles that eventually turned out to be her career milestones. “When I did Fashion, everyone told me, ‘Women do female-oriented films — I hate that word — when they want to win awards at the end of their careers.’ And, when I did Aitraaz (2004), I was told, ‘People will consider me a ‘vamp’, and my ‘pure’ image will get tarnished.’ I didn’t know any better, so I ended up doing them. There was no one to teach me. Now, we’ve actors like Deepika (Padukone), Alia (Bhatt), Kangana (Ranaut), Vidya (Balan) come out there and say, ‘These are the stories we want to tell, and we will do it so well we will compel you to come in and watch them.’ When I started doing it, very few people were doing it.”

Not just acting, female actors are even producing films that narrate stories that they want to share. “Yes! You start producing films when you want to tell stories no one else is making,” Priyanka continues, “You think, ‘If you’re not going to give me the kind of films I want to do, I’ll just make it myself.’ In America, that’s what I’m doing. It’s a testament not just to the actor but also the audience who are becoming gender blind. My life’s dream is that we stop referring to films as ‘female centric’, actors as ‘female actors’, directors as ‘female directors’, or athletes as ‘female athletes’. It’s just athlete, director, actor!”

Married to singer Nick Jonas, one can’t miss how much the two adore each other as it’s evident from their regular social media posts. Does Nick watch her films? “He loved Mary Kom,” she smiles, “and started asking me boxing-related questions. He cried through The Sky Is Pink, and video called Shonali (Bose), the director.” She says, “These are the kind of films artistes look for. He was invested in that film because we met during the shoot of this film, started dating and got married. He was on the sets while we were filming it!”

Priyanka Chopra Jonas and Nick Jonas tied the knot in December 2018 PHOTOS: RAAJESSH KASHYAP/ HT

Priyanka Chopra Jonas says that she is happy to be married to someone who has the ‘ability to calm’ her
Rishabh Suri (HINDUSTAN TIMES; October 31, 2019)

If there’s one Bollywood celebrity who has truly showed the world what talent Indian actors possess, it has to be Priyanka Chopra Jonas. Be it Hindi films, Hollywood projects or her singing career, she has managed to strike that perfect balance. But this has obviously made her life hectic.

Ask Priyanka how tough managing everything along with her personal life gets, and she exclaims, “It’s tough, but I’m glad I’m married to someone who understands my ambition and drive,” referring to her husband, singer Nick Jonas. The couple got married on December 1 last year. Priyanka continues, “He says this is why he fell in love with me. For both of us, our professional lives are very,very important. We both come from a non-entitled background; our careers were not given to us. We both have worked hard to be where we are, and have had a two-decade long career each. We know what it takes to do what we do, and support each other.”

For a couple, spending time with each other is integral to the relationship, more so when the people belong to two different parts of the world. How are Nick and Priyanka managing so far? “We have a rule,” Priyanka spills the beans, “Nick and I don’t go beyond two-three weeks without seeing each other. Wherever in the world we are, we keep in touch, and video call all the time! It’s important to make the effort to have the other person involved in your life. We do that.”

The actor asserts that “having a work life-personal life balance is very important” for both men and women. “You see more and more working couples today. We put too much pressure on ourselves and our relationships. (People tend to think) ‘It won’t work out if I take on too much work’ — and that’s unfair. It will work out if you want to make it work.”

The 37-year old has her hands full currently. Priyanka will be seen next with Rajkummar Rao in the adaptation of the novel The White Tiger, and We Can Be Heroes. She was also seen recently in the critically-acclaimed The Sky Is Pink with Farhan Akhtar, a Bollywood film she did after a gap of three years. People called it her ‘comeback’. Ask Priyanka whether it bothers her that her Hindi projects are called a ‘comeback’ just because she was busy with other projects, and she says, “I don’t care what people say. ‘Comeback’ ‘Go back’ ‘Here’ ‘There ’, people’s opinions don’t matter. I don’t even think about that. To some people it might be a ‘comeback’, to some it might not!”

Clearly, nothing bothers Priyanka. So, then how’s married life treating her? Her face lights up as she says, “Damn, it’s the best thing that has ever happened to me! We complete a year this December. I wish I knew it was so amazing, I would have done it before (laughs). It’s great to be married to someone who’s my rock, and has the ability to calm me. It’s given me wings in such a beautiful way!”

The Sky Is Pink tells a beautiful, moving, and true story of the Chaudharys, and how they survived through thick and thin when their daughter is diagnosed with a terminal illness. Shonali Bose has handled some of the moments beautifully and you can’t help but get moved by the goings-on. On the flipside, the film jumps across timelines too much. The makers didn’t want to make the goings-on heavy and wanted to keep the mood light. Hence, a few dialogues are designed to induce laughs. But it doesn’t work all the time. Also, to use a funny and peppy background score during tragic and sad scenes makes for an awkward watch. The life of Aisha Chaudhary is fascinating but it’s shocking the makers didn’t explore some of the important moments of her life and they instead simply touched upon it for a few seconds. Performances however are exemplary. Priyanka Chopra dominates the film and it’s a pleasure to see her in a Hindi film after ages. She has a very difficult part and excels. Zaira Wasim too has a challenging character and she effortlessly slips into the character. Farhan Akhtar too gives his best and is quite endearing. Rohit Saraf is a surprise and is a part of two of the best scenes of the film. All in all, The Sky Is Pink is a decent, one-time watch although it had the potential to be the most touching film of the year. Nevertheless, watch it for the performances, the concept and some moving scenes!

My rating - *** out of 5!

Collaborating with Shonali Bose for the second time, Mikey McCleary on creating the score for Priyanka Chopra-starrer The Sky Is Pink
Sonia Lulla (MID-DAY; October 11, 2019)

Having associated with Shonali Bose for the second time after Margarita With A Straw (2014), Mikey Mccleary says it is owing to the similar aesthetic taste that they share, that the director appointed him for The Sky Is Pink.

"Once you’ve got the main theme of the score in place, you weave the rest of the music around that. For this film, it was the hymn of a five-year-old girl that made for the crux of the score, which both Shonali and the producers liked," says the musician, adding that he was delighted to get Priyanka Chopra Jonas’s nod for his work. "She had a lot to say about it and was encouraging. She understood the place of the right background score in this film, and how it would keep it uplifting, [despite the subject]. The positive reaction at the Toronto International Film Festival was also an impetus," says McCleary, who currently has the second season of the acclaimed web show, Four More Shots Please, and another Netflix original, in his kitty.

Even though score and music composition go hand-in-hand, McCleary says, in this case, he had little interaction with Pritam Chakraborty, who weaved magic into the tracks of the Zaira Wasim and Farhan Akhtar starrer. "When you compose for both, you can often use the melody from the songs for the score too, so as to have an interaction between them. That treatment is fairly common in Bollywood. But in this case, we treated them differently," he signs off.

WILL THE SKY IS PINK SUCCEED DESPITE CHALLENGES?

Last week saw the release of 3 significant films that took away almost all the screens in most parts of the country. This week, 2 films were scheduled to release and one of them, Lootcase, has been indefinitely postponed. In between, the makers toyed with the idea of having a digital release but then they changed their mind. Hence, The Sky Is Pink is the solo release of the week. Funnily, next week, as many as 9 films are going to hit screens! Most of them are too small and they should have ideally made it to cinemas tomorrow, especially after Lootcase got out of the rat race.

Coming back to The Sky Is Pink, the film looks niche but has potential to excel in metros. It stars Priyanka Chopra and hence this is her first Hindi film in 3 ½ years, after Jai Gangaajal. The other actors in the film are Farhan Akhtar, Zaira Wasim and Rohit Saraf. It’s directed by Shonali Bose, whose previous films, Amu and Margarita With A Straw, have been critically acclaimed. The film is based on the true story of Aisha Chaudhary, a motivational speaker who was diagnosed with a Pulmonary fibrosis, and who died in 2015 at the age of 19. The various interviews of Shonali and Priyanka have added to the buzz among its target audience. In Priyanka’s words, “The whole thought behind the story is, why not celebrate the life that a person lived, instead of living through the sorrow attached to him or her not being there.” Moreover, it also came to light that Shonali Bose too have faced a similar tragedy as Chaudharys since she lost her son Ishan in a freak accident in 2010. With such a beautiful story and terrific star cast, The Sky Is Pink can work big time if handled well.

Sadly, the film is facing many challenges. It was premiered at the prestigious Toronto International Film Festival and the reviews have been mixed. A section of viewers and critics raved about the film’s plot and the work of the actors while the rest have slammed the film heavily. On IMDb, it has a rating of 5.1 out of 10. The music of the film is composed by Pritam Chakraborty, and he has collaborated with lyricist Gulzar. Sadly, the songs haven’t worked at all. Moreover, as aforementioned, the subject is too niche and as a result, the film has a chance in urban multiplexes.

Due to these factors, a huge opening is not possible for The Sky Is Pink. The opening will be around Rs. 3 crore and might be a little higher if word of mouth is very positive. A weekend of Rs. 14-15 crore will be ideal and it can have a lifetime of Rs. 40 crore since the next week’s release don’t seem exciting due to which it can have a clean run till Diwali. However, if public reports are bad, the film is bound to have a very tough time at the box office.

WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE THE SKY IS PINK AND WHY? DO LET ME KNOW!

Madhureeta Mukherjee (BOMBAY TIMES; October 8, 2019)

Yes, she’s an international actor, she hobnobs with crème de la crème in the West, sashays on the red carpets of Hollywood with the glitterati and all that jazz, but deep down, she’s every bit the cool desi girl. Someone who dared to dream big, while unnerving a few, and inspiring most. And behind all that success and glory is years of sweat and toil. Priyanka Chopra Jonas — always high on confidence, spunk and unbeatable willpower — tells us, “I have never been a sharer of my life. I share a lot of trivial things, but the other side of it, I have never spoken about it”. In a conversation with BT, the actress talks about how her upcoming film, The Sky Is Pink, helped her heal, the lessons she learnt from her dad, living in two homes (across continents) and her dream life with hubby, Nick Jonas. Read on...

You are constantly shuttling back and forth between the US and India. While Mumbai will always be your home ground, does America also feel like home now?
Well, my apartment in New York feels like home, as I have been living there for over two-and-a-half years. I love going back there. Now, Nick and I are looking for a place in Los Angeles, and that will be the first home that we will build together, so I am really excited about it.

What is the first thing you do as soon as you land in Mumbai?
There are two flights that I usually take. One, where I land at around 3 am, and the other, at 1 pm. When I take the latter, the first thing I do is have an elaborate lunch at home. My mom gives instructions to the staff at home to start readying the food as soon as I head out of the airport. I miss my comfort food and ghar ka khana in the US. We get Indian food almost everywhere in America, and even my chef in New York knows how to make some Indian dishes, but my home food in Mumbai tastes different. Yahan ke ghee mein hi farak hai.

Coming from Bareilly to Mumbai and winning the Miss India and Miss World titles, then following your Bollywood dreams, stardom, fame, et al. Then, gradually making a transition to the West with American shows and Hollywood movies, and of course, marrying a pop star. Your life seems to be what dreams are made of, at least from the outside...
I can’t begin telling you what all it took to get there. As a person, I have never been a sharer of my life. I share a lot of trivial things, as I like doing that, but the other side of it, which is all about my trials, tribulations and strife, and things that emotionally hurt or affect me… I have never spoken about it. I don’t want to play victim, I don’t need sympathy and I don’t want people to say, ‘Hai, kitni mushkil life thi, dekho achha hua ki acchi cheezein mil gayi usko’. You don’t need that. Everyone’s life is tough, and everyone has their own struggle. I am really glad that my life looks like a fairy tale, as that was the intention (smiles). I am really blessed, and even though the journey has been arduous, and tough at every step, the end game has always been good and positive. I feel that someone is looking out for me.

After your 2016 release Jai Gangaajal, this week, we will be seeing you in Shonali Bose’s The Sky Is Pink. We believe that your journey with her started long ago, even before you met Nick, and the two of you developed a great bond...
Shonali came to my New York home early last year and finalised the film. At that point, Nick was nowhere in the scene. Cut to June, we start dating and by August, we were engaged, and that is when we began filming. By then, Shonali knew that we would be getting married at some point during the year. It (marriage) was right in the middle of the schedule of a massively difficult movie. In retrospect, it was quite ironic; it was such a joyous moment in my life, and here we were, shooting this film where we are talking about difficult things like death.

Shonali said that nothing distracts you from what you are doing. So, you could be shooting a tough scene, and cut to a few hours later, you could be pouring over wedding details….
This will be a slightly long-winded answer… when I first started acting in movies back in 2003, I didn’t know what acting was all about. I thought that it was a glamorous profession where you wear lovely clothes, dance and look beautiful. In the course of the next few years, I realised that it was such an amazing craft and what I bring to it, is what it will be. Whatever happens between ‘action’ and ‘cut’ is my job and that space is my playing field. The moment I realised that, I had to figure out how to do it. I also realised that if I stay in my character, I get bored. It works for other actors and I tried that, too, but it does not work for me. I prep before I come on set, I do workshops and I know my lines pat. But on set, I do chichorapan, laugh and enjoy myself. When the camera and lights turn on, I switch to my character. It is also because I know my character really well before I start the movie, so much that my character becomes my best friend. If you ask me how my character will react in a particular situation, I can exactly tell you that. I prefer it this way, as it keeps my performance spontaneous and alive.

Is there any character that was hard to come out of after the shoot ended?
This one (The Sky Is Pink). Not the role, really, but it’s about the way you get attached to a film. This movie has impacted me a lot in a positive way. It helped me deal with emotions, which I hadn’t dealt with before. I had a lot of dark emotions regarding my father’s death and for a long time I didn’t know how to process it. I always looked up to my dad and he was my friend. We used to call each other twins as we were the same people. I didn’t process that loss after he passed away, I was angry, and I took it out on myself. I was self-destructive in a way and I emotionally went through all that. But through the course of this movie, that changed. The whole thought behind the story is, why not celebrate the life that a person lived, instead of living through the sorrow attached to him or her not being there. There was such a lightness to that thought, that I think I healed with this film. I had to open up my heart and go to deep places for this movie. It is special, as it is inspired by real-life people who thrive in extraordinary circumstances.

In the past, you have spoken a lot about confidence being that one key element, which has helped you get this far. Does all that willpower and confidence stem from the fact that you didn’t have it easy, and you had to have that fighting spirit to sail through and survive — in two different entertainment industries across the globe?
I taught myself to be confident, you are not born with it. It is an exercise that we all can teach ourselves. I learnt it when I went to boarding school in Class III. I was this brat, as I was my parents’ only child for a while, and then my brother came along, and I got brattier as he was getting all the attention. I was sent to boarding school and the environment was so different there. My dad sat me down and told me that the beauty of going to a new place is that you can be whoever you choose to be and no one else will know the difference. Every time I entered a new environment, I told myself… who do I want to be now, I can be that person. That’s why I say that confidence is important; that is the easiest thing you can teach yourself and the best thing you can learn.

Would you say that you are fiercely ambitious? And did you ever have people around tell you, ‘Oh, she is too ambitious’?
Yes, I am fiercely ambitious, though I think that the word ambition has a really bad connotation, when it comes to women. When it comes to men, it is considered sexy and hot, and people say, ‘Wow, he’s so ambitious’. But while referring to ambitious women, they will say, ‘Badi ambitious hai!’ You get the difference? I chose to defy that. I have always chosen to defy that. I am fiercely ambitious, and I am proudly ambitious. I will always be! I feel girls have been denied opportunities for such a long time that if you allow ambition to become a bad word, women will not get or seek opportunities. Today, we are in an environment where we are surrounded by some amazing men who stand by us and want us to thrive. They are listening to us. Yes, all of them out there are not like that, but I choose to focus on the positive. So, at this stage, you can’t let social norms or stereotypes dictate your behaviour, because then, we will never evolve.

You are part of two massive movie industries, and you have also featured on Forbes 100 Most Powerful Women List (in 2017 and 2018). What are your thoughts on the pay parity issue, which has been a raging discussion in the West, too? In India, do you see a significant change?
Look at how amazing it is that the conversation has started, and it is so loud. Pehle koi sochta bhi nahi tha. I was told by a filmmaker many years ago that if I don’t settle for the price I was being paid, which was about two per cent of my male co-actor’s remuneration, I would be replaced by another actress. I was also relatively established by that time. It affected me and at that point, I told myself that I will be irreplaceable, and that there will be a day when you will only want a Priyanka Chopra in your film. I strove to work towards that. The pay parity debate reflects how women have been devalued in society in every aspect. A woman has to work twice as hard to make the same amount of money as a man, in most cases. This conversation must turn into action, and it will take people to get woke and the industry to get woke. It is happening slowly. Pay parity is still looked upon as… zaroorat kya hai? Today, in our industry, we have so many female actors and filmmakers whose films open well, and the audience go to watch them because they are good. With this change, even the remuneration for women needs to change. We have also worked just as hard. I believe that we are going in the right direction, but yes, a lot of work still needs to be done.

On another note, it will be a year of being married. So, is Nick catching up on Bollywood movies? Which are his PeeCee favourites?
Hmnn…not really. He watched Mary Kom by himself one day. I was traveling and he called me and said, ‘Babe, I am missing you, so I am watching your movie’. I thought that was really sweet. Right now, we are both discovering each other’s professional lives. Before I met him, I didn’t know much about the Jonas brothers and their music. He is discovering my work, too. We share things like…. this is my first video, this is the movie I am embarrassed about and stuff like that.

We believe you have said that having a baby is your priority right now...
Well, it is not like it is priority; what I said has been misconstrued, as usual. I said that I hope we are blessed with it, whenever it happens. Yes, it is something I would want for us as the next step… like making a family and building a home together.

Juggling a sports film, a superhero fantasy and a drama can be daunting. But The Sky Is Pink composer Pritam tells us it’s the only way he can work
Sonia Lulla (MID-DAY; October 7, 2019)

Even though it is the story — inspired by actual events — that’s the biggest draw of The Sky Is Pink, composer Pritam Chakraborty has managed to keep cinephiles further invested in the film owing to his score. In an interview with mid-day, he discusses what went behind composing for the Priyanka Chopra and Farhan Aktar-starrer, and juggling multiple films.

When you have the biggest production houses wanting you on board, what are the parameters you consider before taking up a project?
Generally, I have two ways to decide whether I want to take it up. The first is if I want to collaborate again with friends whom I have associated with in the past. The other is the script. If the script is exciting, [I] look forward to working on it.

In the case of The Sky Is Pink, I had heard very little of the story, initially. When Shonali [Bose, director] approached me, I turned her down because [my diary was] choc-a-block. But, when I heard the story of Aisha [Chaudhary], and saw the way Shonali spoke of the film, I felt for the family. Doing this was an emotional [decision].

While Gulabi Sky and Dil Hi Toh Hai have released, can you take us through the other songs in the film and the genres you’ve explored?
[Much like viewers] I also thought that the film would offer many opportunities to create emotional songs. But there aren’t many. There’s one song called Zindagi, which is my favourite. The others are feel-good [songs]. Dil Hi Toh Hai is a celebration of love. Gulabi Sky is [a play on] the film’s title. Nadaniya celebrates Aisha’s emotions. I thought there would be more emotional numbers, but Shonali wanted to cut through the heavy emotions with [a] brighter [palette]. Also, collaborating with Gulzar sa’ab [was fantastic]. Every moment is a fan moment when working with him. I’m always in awe.

You have mammoth projects like Brahmastra, ’83, Aaj Kal and Gulabo Sitabo, in the pipeline. Do you work on them simultaneously?
I don’t like to work on one project at a time because I can’t sit on one thing constantly. I have a [limited span of] attention, which helps me, in a way, because I can take up multiple projects. I can easily move in and out of the sound zones that I allot to different scripts. If I don’t juggle projects, I get bored. I usually devote no longer than two days for one song. After I finish one track, I’ll move on to another, from another film. Also, I am very moody. I won’t do something if I’m not enjoying it in that moment. The job is difficult. The projects I do are varied and I must keep each soundtrack [suited] to the script. Even if two films that I’m simultaneously working on release together, they should sound different, like it was in the case of Jagga [Jasoos] and Jab Harry Met Sejal, or Barfi and Cocktail.

Is there a soundtrack from your recent releases that has stayed with you?
Jagga Jasoos. I don’t think I’ve worked as much on any project as I did on it. Generally, projects that do well don’t remain a favourite. See, you are likely to focus your attention on a person who is talented, but still under-performs [laughs]. I wish it [Jagga Jasoos] had done better. Then, there are songs from [well-performing] films, that [go unnoticed]. There’s Ghar, from Harry Met Sejal. It’s close to my heart, but didn’t do very well. It was also not promoted.

Priyanka Chopra on her comeback Hindi film, The Sky Is Pink, her production plans and making her long-distance marriage with Nick Jonas work
Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; October 6, 2019)

From becoming the face for desi talent in the US by headlining the ABC show, Quantico, to her marriage to pop star Nick Jonas, Priyanka Chopra Jonas is evidently in a content space. And yet, for anyone who knows her well enough, she is always hungry for more.

We catch up with her at Mehboob Studios, Bandra, and chat about why film sets need to go plastic-free given the alarming state of the environment, but soon enough, we nosedive into a conversation about what made her choose a fairly non-commercial filmmaker Shonali Bose's The Sky Is Pink even when industry bigwigs were lining up at her doorstep.

"I have never picked up conventional or mainstream films. To me, a good story matters the most. I am a movie buff and this was a story that sucked me in. Be it a Bajirao Mastani or a Mary Kom or Barfi! they aren't conventional. Of course, I do tentpole films but that's not the only thing I depend on. Now, the audience is different. A few years ago, when we were marketing our films we would say, 'leave your brains at home and watch the movie'. People don't want to leave their brains behind at home anymore. I understand that people want to shaken, stirred and moved while watching a film," starts off Chopra.

She admits that she has not watched Bose's films. "She keeps telling me, 'How did you say yes to me without seeing my work?'" Chopra says that the story moved her to bits. The Sky Is Pink, in Shonali's words, is the love story of Niren and Aditi Chaudhury, the parents of Aisha, an author and motivational speaker who died of pulmonary fibrosis.

"This story is profound and funny. It hits your heart. I have been acting for 16 years. I have worked with many new filmmakers. When I talk to a filmmaker, I can sense how much they know a subject. The script spoke to me. When I met her in New York, I knew instinctively that I wanted to be directed by her. There are filmmakers I have worked with and have not been able to trust. I wanted an immersive experience and Shonali had clarity. She told me how she lost her child. There is a certain lightness about death. She told me that people go when their work on Earth is done. You shouldn't mourn their death but celebrate their life. I hadn't dealt with my father's death as well. But she made me realise that I didn't need to mourn him. People who love us don't want us to grieve. This film discusses a heavy subject but is told by Aisha who is light-hearted. Her parents decided to give her every kind of adventure and love that they could think of. I was amazed that these real-life people who created an extraordinary life for their daughter. It was incredibly inspiring for me as an actor. I went through a roller-coaster of emotions, laughing my guts out and crying a little through it. The film made me call up those I love and tell them how much I cherish them."

Chopra was attracted to the story of enduring love of Niren and Aditi who met as high school sweethearts. Now, at 55 they still hold hands, give each other a peck and survived the loss of two children. "Their chemistry is overpowering, 70 per cent of couples separate after the death of their children. To be happy and have compassion is hard in such scenarios. Life is not a pursuit of rage but happiness. When my dad was suffering, I remember the toll it took on mom [Madhu]."

She derived the character from her mother as much as she did from Aditi and Shonali. "My mother is similar to Aditi, fiercely protective and her own person. We are taught as girls to have that kind of independence, have opinions and have a voice. I want the world to see that a free-spirited family can be well-knit and doesn't take away from sanskars."

Though Chopra is back with a Bollywood film after a gap, she says, "I always had films coming my way. But during Quantico, I had to give 11 months of my year to them. This is why I did Baywatch, A Kid Like Jake and Isn't It Romantic because one month is not enough to finish a feature. Post-Quantico, I knew what kind of film I was looking for. I knew Alex Parish so well that I needed a role to scare me. I wanted to be on my toes, get sleepless nights. I knew I wanted to be fed as an artiste. It's a responsibility to play a real-life person. I had to play a mother which I am not yet. I remember a scene required me to go so deep into me that once cameras stopped, I held Shonali and cried. I was getting married when I was shooting, so there was no time to plan the wedding in between the film."

With The Sky Is Pink, Chopra also turns a Hindi film producer too. "I want to do web series and features across languages. I am an EP on the Netflix film, The White Tiger. I am producing the Mindy Kaling film as well as web shows. I like taking chance on new talent because I never had that."

'We Inform Each Other Of Every Tiny Detail'
Priyanka Chopra Jonas and husband Nick Jonas lead hectic lives thanks to their professional commitments. PeeCee says, "We have rules. We don't go two weeks without meeting each other, no matter where we are in the world. We have to stay in touch. We have to inform each other of every tiny detail. Our schedules are opposite when we are in different time zones, but we FaceTime our way through this. It's a modern-day long distance relationship, which is hinged on how much we want to make it work. We love each other's company and we are each other's best friends. Sometimes, I wake him in the middle of the night and shriek out something that happened with me and he's there. We get how important our work is to us. We are ambitious and driven and in love in equal parts."

The Sky Is Pink director talks about how she brought her characters to life on screen
BOMBAY TIMES (October 5, 2019)

A film is an amalgamation of many factors, but its core lies in the idea that stems from one person. And in the case of The Sky Is Pink, it is director Shonali Bose. The film is about a family celebrating the beauty of life as well as death, and it resonated with Shonali on a personal and emotional level. Bringing together the feelings of happiness, loss and peace, she worked towards making the big screen come live with these characters.

To begin with, the National Award-winning filmmaker, who has written the film with Nilesh Maniyar, decided to forge a bond with all her actors. Recalling her first meeting with Priyanka Chopra Jonas, she said, “It’s important for me to form a close, emotional bond with my cast. Great performances are also about the exchange of energy between actors and director, and among themselves. Priyanka and I bonded fast, as we spoke about the death of my son and her father. These conversations are a core part of the work that went into her brilliant performance.”

Speaking about Farhan Akhtar, she adds, “I was very intimidated with him, as he is not only a brilliant actor, but also an excellent director. But when Sid (Siddharth Roy Kapur, producer) and I met him to discuss the film, he just looked into my eyes and said that he will do it, but that he is terrified. And that he was going to place himself in my hands. The trust, power and confidence he gave me was amazing. We had a beautiful relationship from that moment.”

Shonali shares how crucial the young actors, Zaira Wasim and Rohit Saraf, too, are to the story. She says, “Zaira plays the role of Aisha and that is a huge responsibility. Though it’s based on a real person, I didn’t want the character to be a carbon copy. And, the best way to avoid that was to cast somebody who does not look like Aisha. I did not want her to lose weight either, because I don’t believe in it. What I wanted for this character is a beautiful spark in the eyes, and Zaira has that. She has the spirit and spunk that Aisha had. She is the heart and soul of this film and is spectacular in it. Aditi (Chaudhary, Aisha’s mother) said at the world premiere in Toronto International Film Festival that she feels as if Aisha was reborn on this day.”

Shonali adds, “As for Rohit (Saraf), he has a very special place in my heart as he is playing Ishaan, Aisha’s brother. He was the only one who had to audition for the role. He was one of the hundred actors who auditioned to play Ishaan Chaudhary, and he stole my heart right away. His vulnerability was beautiful even in the audition and I absolutely loved him. He was also easy to work with.” .

As a true captain of the ship, Shonali became the support system for all her actors in challenging situations. During Aisha’s death scene, all the actors (and some crew members) broke down at different points, and looked to her for strength. Having dealt with grief multiple times in her own life, Shonali effortlessly transformed into a pillar of strength for her team. The filmmaker says, “I was in a place of light, peace and strength on that day, as that has now become my relationship with death. I was able to hold them in my arms and give them the love and support they needed to be able to perform. Each of them surpassed themselves, giving me goosebumps.”

The Sky Is Pink, produced by RSVP and Roy Kapur Films, in association with S K Global and Purple Pebble Pictures, releases on October 11.

The actor talks about his co-stars Zaira Wasim and Priyanka Chopra Jonas, his upcoming film The Sky Is Pink and more...
Onkar Kulkarni (BOMBAY TIMES; October 1, 2019)

In his upcoming film The Sky Is Pink, Farhan Akhtar will be seen romancing his Dil Dhadakne Do co-star Priyanka Chopra Jonas once again. Here he talks about his offscreen equation with the actress, plans to crash in Nick Jonas’ music concert and why he hopes Zaira Wasim will return to movies. Excerpts from the conversation:

From directing Priyanka in Don (2006) and Don 2 (2011) to teaming up with her in Dil Dhadakne Do (2015) as an actor and rekindling the chemistry on the screen once again in The Sky Is Pink, the two of you have come a long way.
The equation that we shared in the past and the friendship that we built over the years helped us to enhance our portrayal as Aditi and Niren on screen. As creative collaborators, we share a lot of trust amongst us and all this only led to enhancing our performance in the film.

She began her journey in Bollywood as an outsider; she became a star in Bollywood and now is enjoying fame in Hollywood, too. What do you have to say about her journey so far?
I am really happy for her. I am proud of her and the way her career is shaping up. I wish more power to her. I have seen her series Quantico in bits and pieces, and from what I have seen I’ve liked it.

Tell us a bit more about your equation. How was it on the sets of The Sky Is Pink?
Priyanka and I bond really well. When we were not shooting, we were just faffing around. We talk a lot about many things. Also, Priyanka loves to talk about food. The other day, she got a craving for samosas and she was like, ‘Mujhe samosay chahiye.’ She also knows that often, I am on one diet or another, and so she keeps torturing me by tempting me with all kinds of food. She is always fun to be with.

You know her for a long time, has marriage brought about any change in her or her personality?
I don’t think marriage is something that tends to change you as a person. It’s not like you get married and you become a different person. I am sure she has discovered certain things about herself emotionally. I think she is still the same, as far as our interaction goes.

Nick Jonas had dropped in on the sets of The Sky Is Pink. Have you ever seen him perform?
We met him in New Delhi. He is an extremely sweet guy. Next year they (Nick and his team) are doing some kind of a world tour (music concert). I am hoping to crash in (laughs).

This is the first time you are working with director Shonali Bose. As a filmmaker, what do you have to say about her body of work?
Shonali has worked with very talented people in the past. She has worked with Kalki (Koechlin in Margarita With A Straw) and Konkona (Sen Sharma in Amu), who are good at what they do. We (Priyanka and I) just happened to be the right people at the right place. I am really thankful that the script landed up at my doorstep. Interestingly, Shonali’s life has taken her through a similar path (as the story of the film), where she lost her child. So, she could relate to that and be very sensitive to the script. That’s the reason the Chaudharys (Aisha’s family on whose life the film is based) could also relate to her as a director.

Hypothetically, if you realised that your life is going to be cut short, what are the three things you would do right away?
Firstly, I would make a list of people who I need to call up and say thank you. Secondly, there are a lot of places in the world that I still want to visit, so I will travel to those destinations. Lastly, I would spend the last few hours or minutes of my life with my kids so that we can share some happy stories together.

Talking about kids, you play father to Zaira Wasim. What do you think of her as an actress? Did she have reservations during the shooting of the film, because it is during this project that she announced her exit from the movies?
She was as good in Dangal as she was in Secret Superstar. She is amazing in this film, too. Zaira is a supremely gifted and talented actor. I am thankful that I got to do a film with her. It’s a tough role to play. As far as the second part of your question is concerned, the thing is that what people feel and how they behave professionally are two completely different things. All of us have terrible days, but still, we go to work and perform. I had no idea what was going on inside her mind. The fact is that she was extremely professional. Whenever she was on set, it looked like she is happy being on set. When she was doing a scene, she was committed to it. That is what professional actors do. What is going on behind-the-scenes and in someone’s mind or heart is extremely difficult to tell. I don’t have a relationship with Zaira to be able to ask her these questions. If she wants to share it, it is up to her. She has consciously made a decision, and I think we should respect that. Seeing her act on screen, all I can hope for is that she changes her mind in the near future.

Did your daughters Shakya and Akira see the trailer of the film? Which of your films have they enjoyed watching?
They saw the trailer of The Sky Is Pink and liked it. They enjoyed watching Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara (2011), Bhaag Milkha Bhaag (2013) and Dil Dhadakne Do (2015).

Onkar Kulkarni (BOMBAY TIMES; September 28, 2019)

After making films like Amu (2005) and Margarita With A Straw (2014), Shonali Bose is all set to present another heart-wrenching tale with The Sky Is Pink. The film stars Farhan Akhtar, Priyanka Chopra Jonas and Zaira Wasim, and is based on the life of Aisha Chaudhary, who was diagnosed with pulmonary fibrosis, and her family. In a conversation with Bombay Times, Shonali spoke about her late son Ishan, narrating an emotional tale on the big screen, shooting the film amidst Priyanka’s wedding preparations and a lot more.

The film sees Priyanka and Farhan share screen space four years after Dil Dhadakne Do (2015).What prompted you to get them on board as Aditi and Niren for The Sky Is Pink? Did it require some convincing on your part or were they on board right away?
Priyanka and Farhan were my first choice and so getting them on board was a dream come true. When I say first choice, it’s not in terms of the stardom, but purely as actors. Frankly, I was terrified and even intimidated with Farhan stepping in as an actor, because he is a director himself and he has even directed Priyanka before (Don and Don 2). I was thinking that I was going to be watched (laughs!) Also, Priyanka has done so many things (as an actress in her past films), so I was really nervous about teaming up with her.

I got a text (from Priyanka) on my son (late) Ishan’s birthday, in which she said that she wanted to meet me. I went to New York to meet her and discussed the film. The plot revolves around the death of a child, and I have been through that grief in my personal life as I had lost my nine-year-old son. She got teary-eyed and she even talked about her (late) father. It was interesting to see that for the first time I was meeting this big star and we immediately connected heart-to-heart.

As far as Farhan is concerned, we had asked him to read the script, post which he was going to meet us to tell us his decision. When I met him, he just stood up, looked deep into my eyes and said that he was terrified of doing this film because he thought it was a raw, emotional and honest script. He knew that I would demand an honest performance from him as a father. Giving such a real performance is much tougher than doing it in the typical Bollywood way. He told me that he was just going to put himself in my hands. I felt happy that he trusted me as a person because that’s what you want from your actors, right?

The film is based on the life of Aisha Chaudhary, what were your interactions with her family like?
Aisha’s parents told me that her brother, Ishaan Chaudhary, didn’t want this film to be made because he was very nervous about a Bollywood film being made on his sister. However, his mother said that she had no problems with the project and that we could go ahead with it. I told her that I wouldn’t make the film if her son didn’t want that. So, when I had the screening of Margarita With A Straw in New York, I invited him for it. He came for the screening. Later, we met at a coffee shop and he wept in my arms. His mother, who was surprised, told me that he had never wept in her arms even when his sister passed away. He cried and talked about his sister with me, and I talked about my son. I asked Ishaan, who is also a music composer, for an original song from him at the end of this film. Thus, the film ends with a song composed by Ishaan for his sister.

It was amidst the shooting of the film that Priyanka got married to Nick Jonas. How was that phase of filmmaking?
I have seen Priyanka’s journey from the time when Nick was not on her horizon, to the time when he became her husband. At the time, I felt like her mother as she would talk to me and tell me that Nick was going to propose to her and whether she should marry him. We have laughed, cried, talked for hours deeply about many subjects. This bond helped me direct her with ease just the way I directed Kalki (Koechlin in Margarita with a Straw) or Konkona (Sen Sharma in Amu).

Talking about the shooting phase, I feel that Priyanka has this ability not to get distracted by anything. That’s her forte as an actor. Once we got to know that she was going to get married and was hosting two big ceremonies in India and overseas, we just supported her. There was a separate room made on the sets where she held her wedding-related meetings. In between the scenes, she would go there, have a meeting about her wedding plans and then come back and give a shot. Initially, I was worried about how she would be able to do it, but, I could see that she did it with ease and that gave me confidence. It didn’t affect her performance at all. Once we were shooting in Chandni Chowk, post which she had to catch a flight, as they needed her to come to Paris to try the wedding gown. The next day she flew back, came to the set and continued shooting. In Delhi, we shot for five days right before her wedding. During Thanksgiving, it was Nick who came to Mumbai to be with her as she was busy shooting for the film. He even visited the sets. As a surprise, Priyanka arranged for a turkey from somewhere. After wrapping up, we had a party with him where we all danced together.

On the last day, we had decided to do a bidaai ceremony for Priyanka. We had called for a cake and champagne. That day, Priyanka had an intense scene, and suddenly, I heard some sniffs on set, I was surprised to see Nick standing next to me and crying seeing Priyanka give the shot.

This subject is close to your heart, was it tough, especially when you were shooting the emotional scenes?
I remember that when I was shooting Margarita With A Straw, there was a scene at the hospital where the mother is dying of cancer. We were shooting at a real hospital and the smell reminded me of being with my son at the time as he was admitted in the hospital during his last days. I started wailing and broke into pieces during the shoot. I was the director and producer of the film, I had 100 people around me and they wouldn’t know what to do when you are the leader and are supposed to be strong, but instead, you break down. As a filmmaker, I could have wrapped up the shoot for that day, but I decided not to give up and continued shooting. I went around hugging everybody on the set. Seeing me, a lot of people on the set opened up and shared stories about losing their near and dear ones. It’s been nine years since Ishan’s death. Shooting for The Sky is Pink was a joyride, and I was just laughing throughout the film. I must say that I have done a lot of grief work in order to process his death in terms of my feelings, pain and loss. I have reached that place where I can feel that he is always with me and I am not disconnected from him.

The day when we shot the death scene, I had called all the ADs (assistant directors) to my room and I did a light meditation where we all held hands. They all were feeling nervous. On that particular day, Zaira, Farhan and Priyanka cried as they had to perform an emotionally tough scene.

The film premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival. What was that experience like?
I felt so blessed that the project which began on Ishan’s birthday premiered on his death anniversary (September 13). On that day, we walked the red carpet, where there were over 1,000 fans. There was Farhan, Priyanka and the rest of the team with me, and I was surprised to see that people were screaming my name, too. They even took my autographs. Later, we went inside the auditorium, which was a three-tier space with seating for 2,000 people. The size made me extremely nervous, and my heart was beating faster. I told the audience that we were watching the film with them. We all could hear people laugh and even cry loudly. In fact, Farhan was crying, too. After the film ended and the credits rolled, I could see everyone standing up and applauding us. Later, at an after-party Aisha’s family joined us. They said that they felt as if Aisha has been reborn. Now, my terror is about the reaction in India. With The Sky Is Pink, I feel I have done a trilogy. The focus has been on the mother-child relation in all my three films. In Amu and Margarita With A Straw, the mother dies, while in the third one, the child dies. Though I did not set out to do this subject as a trilogy, I feel that I have explored the subject thoroughly. It just happened… Subconsciously, there was continuity in my work.

Farhan Akhtar on how footage shot by the Chaudharys of daughter Aisha helped him prep for The Sky Is Pink
Sonia Lulla (MID-DAY; September 30, 2019)

Until the trailer of The Sky Is Pink dropped online, many movie-goers assumed that the film would be a poignant chronicle of how a set of parents deals with their daughter's death. Leading man Farhan Akhtar too held similar perceptions before reading the script. "Death is scary, but we treat it with a degree of moroseness. When I read about how, instead of mourning the impending passing of someone they loved, the family focused on making her [remaining] life as beautiful as they could, I was blown away," says Akhtar.

The Shonali Bose-directed biographical venture sees Akhtar and Priyanka Chopra Jonas play Niren and Aditi Chaudhary, parents to Aisha Chaudhary, who was born with an immune deficiency disorder. While movies inspired by real-life events take cinematic liberties to draw viewers to theatres, he credits Bose for staying true to the material. "Everything shown here is what was told to Shonali [by Aisha's parents]. As a father, I could relate to the love the parents felt. Ever since the child was aged one, this family lived with the knowledge that anything could happen to her, anytime."

While he had watched Aisha's TED Talk, he has yet to read her book, My Little Epiphanies, which was published a day before she passed away at 18. "As soon as Niren and Aditi knew Aisha's time with them was limited, they shot her [every waking moment]. They had plenty of footage featuring Aisha and themselves. Those videos gave me an insight into their relationship. Aisha treated them like friends, and would constantly make fun of them. We've also read passages of her book because they've been included in the film."

When we had last connected with Akhtar in April, he was overwhelmed with the all-consuming journey of creating his debut album, Echoes. "After Echoes, I needed a film of this calibre to pull me back to acting. It rekindled the flame of my search for good stories."

Farhan Akhtar on Gully Boy’s Oscar race, why he couldn’t meet Niren Chaudhary and how life has changed as seen on social media
Himesh Mankad (MUMBAI MIRROR; September 28, 2019)

Two years after Lucknow Central, Farhan Akhtar returns to the screen with The Sky Is Pink, the love story of real-life couple Aditi and Niren Chaudhary spanning a quarter of a century, told through the lens of their terminally ill daughter, Aisha Chaudhary, diagnosed with Pulmonary Fibrosis. This story of courage, dignity and grace under immense pressure engaged him instantly.

“Coincidentally, Shonali (Bose, director) came to me just 10 days after I’d watched her last film, Margarita With A Straw,” reminisces the actor who as a parent to daughters Shakya and Akira could relate even more with the script and his character. “Dealing with or having to deal with the impending loss of a child is unimaginable for a parent as it is against the natural order. You don’t want anyone to be in such a situation, least of all yourself. But Shonali’s story is a celebration of life. The family was not living with the fact that Aisha was going away soon, but that she was with them now. A small change in the mindset can make an amazing difference,” he points out.

The film’s philosophy to make each day count reminds one of Rajesh Khanna’s iconic dialogue in Anand, “Zindagi badi honi chahiye, lambi nahin” and Farhan agrees that it resounds strongly in their film, but that apart, the stories are completely different.

Interestingly, he did not meet Niren Chaudhary on whom his character is modelled before starting the shoot, relying on Shonali and writer Nilesh Maniyar’s research and behind-the-scene footage with the family to formulate his thoughts on how to play him. “Shonali didn’t want the character to become a caricature or impersonation, rather she wanted me to imbibe Niren’s qualities and create my own character,” he explains.

Zaira Wasim who plays his screen daughter, has since quit acting on religious grounds and for Farhan that’s a huge loss to the film industry. “But every individual has the right to decide what they want to do with their life and it’s not for us to say if that’s right or wrong. But purely as someone who’s worked with her, I hope Zaira changes her mind,” he states, admitting that he hasn’t spoken to her after she announced her decision.

Priyanka Chopra whom he’s directed in Don and its sequel, and worked with as an actor in Dil Dhadakne Do, plays his better half in this one. “Our friendship has grown as has our trust in each other as creative people. I’m proud of everything she’s achieved and happy that I’ve been with her in this journey,” he smiles. Quiz him on Don 3 and he sighs, “There’s nothing happening on that front at the moment. We keep running around the same tree.”

The Fukrey franchise is also not going forward as of now, with his production company now focusing on the sequel of the Kannada franchise KGF, the original having released last Christmas. Farhan also confides that five years ago, he’d toyed with the idea of a Dil Chahta Hai reboot with three female characters. “I need to sit down and put it together.”

Meanwhile Gully Boy, directed by sister Zoya Akhtar, is also on its way to the Oscars as Indian’s official entry in the Best Foreign Language category. “It feels good, but there’s still a long way to go. We have to figure out how to make it to the last five or six. We’re pooling our resources, it’s a great opportunity from the film federation,” he admits.

After the 2013 National Awardwinning Bhaag Milkha Bhaag, Farhan has reunited with Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra for a boxing drama, Toofan. “The journey so far has been really educational, I started as a rank beginner,” he says. Paresh Rawal play his coach. “It’s amazing to work with someone who is constantly lifting and challenging you.”

The latest trend of content scoring over big names at the box-office has enthused the actor-filmmaker who reasons that while stars can get you a big opening, eventually it’s the story that sells. “The star system is here to stay because as a society we idolise heroes. But it can’t only be about star power, you want good films to work regardless of who is acting in them,” explains Farhan, adding that the way we consume entertainment is changing and that could change the kind of stars we look up to.

Of late, Farhan has been pretty open about his lady love, Shibani Dandekar, with the couple posting lovedup pictures from vacations on Instagram. But face-to-face, he is reluctant to discuss his personal life. “You can see on the social media how my life has changed. Life moves on in the way life moves on, and I share things that I’m comfortable sharing,” he concludes.

Priyanka Chopra on married life, films she wants to make and finally accepting her father’s loss
Avinash Lohana (MUMBAI MIRROR; September 25, 2019)

Early in the afternoon, Priyanka Chopra glides into Film City studio like a beam of sunshine and straightaway gets down to business. Excerpts from an interview:

Three years after Prakash Jha’s cop-drama Jai Gangaajal, you have another Hindi film coming up with The Sky Is Pink. How does it feel to be back to your first love, Bollywood?
It’s still my love. I couldn’t do a Hindi film earlier because three seasons of Quantico took up 11 months of a year and I just didn’t have the time or bandwidth. I love the new-wave films being made and how people are reacting to them. As a filmmaker and an actor who likes to do different things, I have a choice and was able to pick a film like The Sky Is Pink.

The film deals with the subject of loss. What drew you to it?
What moved me about this film was its take on family, relationships and loss. Indian culture teaches us to stay together as a family through all trials and this film underlines this even through the loss of a child. Instead of mourning death, Shonali (Bose, director) chooses to celebrate life. My mother, brother and I also agreed not to remember the last few moments before my dad passed away. We remember the man, his spirit and laughter, how he brought families together. Death is inevitable, yet we are afraid of it. Shonali changed my perspective through this film, healed me.

Shonali said recently that during a scene, you couldn’t stop crying even after she called “Cut”. Did it remind you of someone who is long gone?
In that particular scene Zaira’s (Wasim) character Aisha (Chaudhary) decides she’s not going to go in for surgery to extend her life because she doesn’t want to be bed-ridden for the rest of her life. My character Aditi agrees with the decision, but as Aisha’s mother during the scene, I kept thinking about what it must be like to lose a child. So, I just held Shonali and kept saying I was sorry she had to go through this, I couldn’t stop crying. You can empathise with the loss, but won’t really understand the feeling unless you have a child of your own. As a director’s actor, I spoke a lot to Shonali; I also spent a lot of time with Aditi Chaudhary (Aisha’s real mother) in London. The beauty of this film is that every family can relate to it because it’s about normal people with normal problems but extraordinary will.

Tell us about one such conversation with Shonali?
It was during a shoot in Delhi… We sat on a park bench and spoke for an hour. I was about to get married and was missing my dad. We had to shoot a difficult scene as well but we didn’t touch on it, just processed the loss. My dad had been ill and I knew it would happen but it was still painful. We spoke about the inevitability of loss and by the time we went back to the shoot, she didn’t even need to direct me.

Your on-screen daughter Zaira recently announced her retirement from acting, stating that her career was coming in the way of her religion. What do you think of her decision?
It’s a personal choice. Who are we to dictate what someone should and shouldn’t do? She is an amazing actor who has done incredible work. We will always wish her the best.

She has not been a part of the promotions, have you connected with her since her announcement?
I’ve spoken to her many times, but not about her decision to quit films. That’s none of my business. She’s an amazing artiste but maybe it was time for her…

In a recent interview, you spoke about wanting to have a baby. What is the one thing you really want to experience as a mother in real life?
The only thing I pray and wish for is a healthy child who can live life to the fullest.

What kind of a father will Nick Jonas make?
We will find out. It’s a hypothetical question about a hypothetical future.

Okay, what’s Nick like as a husband?
I can only relate to what I saw with my parents’ marriage. That was a marriage of equals, there was a lot of mutual respect and admiration. Nick and I have that too. He is the most considerate man I’ve ever met. In everything he does, Nick puts me first. It’s wonderful to wake up every day and know that there is this person who thinks about you even before you think about yourself. That’s eventually what you want, someone who loves you like a hug.

Did you see your dad in him?
The more I get to know him, yes. I feel I have married someone who is my dad’s chhavi. Not just the music, they are both very stable, solid, rooted and dependable.

Has Priyanka, as a person, changed much after the wedding?
(Laughs) I’ve become nicer and happier. This is the most content I’ve been in a really long time and full credit to my husband who is a calming presence while I run a million miles a minute. We are like each other’s Yin and Yang, that’s what you want to find in your partner.

What is your usual day in Los Angeles like?
We don’t have one as both of us travel a lot. Right now, we are based in New York a lot more than LA. When we have a day off, we don’t access our phones, just grab lunch, chat for hours, watch a movie, take Diana (their pet) for a walk… Nick loves walking in NY and I’m trying to learn how to do that since I’m not much of a walker. But there is something romantic about it, apparently.

What’s happening on the work front in the US?
I’ve just wrapped up a kiddie superhero movie with (director) Robert Rodriguez. It also has Pedro Pascal, Christian Slater and a bunch of other actors and 11 kids. Then, there’s the adapation of the book, The White Tiger and a romcom with Mindy Kaling inspired by my own wedding which I’m producing. I’m a huge fan and when I met her for lunch, we started talking about my wedding, her relationship with India and the story just came out from there. It’s a buddy comedy between two girls and travels from the US to India for an enormous wedding like mine. We are still writing that one. I’m also in talks for an American TV show but can’t divulge details. I’m producing two other TV shows in the US too but won’t be acting in them.

What’s happening with the show on Madhuri Dixit’s life in Denver?
We were developing that, but I don’t know what’s the status on it. It was a sitcom inspired from MD’s life, an Indian actor who moves to the US and what happens next.

Madhuri’s back in the Bay. Do you miss Mumbai?
Of course, I do, but I come back every two-three months because I have a home and work here. So, it’s not like I’m really gone. But I miss the city when I am away. Today I had fresh idlis after three months and it was a great start to my morning.

You are house-hunting in Los Angeles, we’re told...
Yup, we sold our house and are looking for another one. My work dictates my life in both countries so it’s important to have a base in India and the US. It will be Nick and my first home together and that makes it exciting.

Your brother Siddharth has reportedly found love again in South Indian actress Neelam Upadhyay…
Like I said with Zaira, I don’t speak about other people’s life because it’s not my business. You should ask him when you meet him next.

After you stepped out of Bharat, buzz was Salman Khan got upset and took jibes at you while promoting the film. Have you spoken to him since?
The only thing I’d say is that if there was a reaction required you’d have had it by now. Salman is amazing. I’ve always admired him. He came for Nick and my reception, we went to his house, I’m really close to his sister (Arpita Khan). So, there’s never an issue with him.

After Dil Dhadakne Do you’ve reunited with Farhan Akhtar for The Sky Is Pink. Can we hope to see you return with Don 3?
You will have to ask the producers that. No one has spoken to me about it, it’s been almost 10 years.

With this film you’ve made your debut as a Hindi film producer. Any plans to revive the Kalpana Chawla biopic?
I don’t believe in projects, I believe in stories. We are working on the script, when it’s ready, we will green-light it.

Meanwhile you’re playing Ma Anand Sheela in a film adaptation of a 2018 documentary on the Rajneesh cult…
That’s another script we are developing. I am doing it with Barry Levinson who directed Rain Man. I will be producing it.

Buzz is, another favourite director of yours, Sanjay Leela Bhansali, has approached you for his dream project, Gangubai, one of the mafia queens of Mumbai. Simultaneously, it’s also been reported that Alia Bhatt is doing the film.
I have no idea. I haven’t signed a Hindi film yet because the two I’m doing in the US and the one I’m starting next year, are taking up my time. Now, it’s time to go shopping for the next film I’d want to do. I wanted to finish The Sky Is Pink first. I’m a fan of Sanjay Bhansali in whatever he makes, I’ll always be his fan.

Rohit Saraf on joining Farhan-PeeCee at The Sky Is Pink premiere at Toronto film festival
Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; September 20, 2019)

“It was surreal to see people screaming my name and waiting to take a photo with me,” beams Rohit Saraf, who has just returned from the world premiere of The Sky Is Pink at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF). Only 22, Saraf is the perfect example of how talent has little to do with age. After grabbing eyeballs with his roles in Dear Zindagi (2016) and Hichki (2018), Saraf is seen standing shoulder-to-shoulder with Priyanka Chopra Jonas and Farhan Akhtar in the family drama. “I believe that whoever watches the movie, will find something that they identify with,” says the youngster about the film that traces the love story of a couple — Aditi and Niren Chaudhary — told through the lens of their daughter, Aisha Chaudhary, who is diagnosed with a terminal illness.

Happy to share screen space with brilliant artistes such as Chopra and Akhtar so early on in his career, he heaps praises on the duo. “On the first few days, I was shy, even intimidated. But when you work with actors like Farhan and PeeCee, you learn the craft by simply watching them.”

So attached was Saraf to the material that he convinced director Shonali Bose to reinstate an emotional scene — featuring his on-screen father Akhtar and him — in the narrative. “I chased Shonali and him, convincing them to shoot the scene. Finally, when we filmed the scene, I gave my all to it.”