THE SILVER LINING IN SURAJ PE MANGAL BHARI BOX OFFICE PERFORMANCE

This Sunday, November 15, the first big Hindi film of the season, Suraj Pe Mangal Bhari, finally released in cinemas. Starring Manoj Bajpayee, Diljit Dosanjh and Fatima Sana Shaikh, the period comedy flick seemed interesting from the promos. As reviews poured in, it became clear that it’s a clean family entertainer. It is also released during the Diwali festival when families usually throng to watch cinemas. Suraj Pe Mangal Bhari, hence, seemed like an apt flick. It was not a big-budgeted film, after all. Also, it’s produced by Zee Studios who own not just Zee5 OTT platform but also Zee TV channels. Hence, they had the option to cash in on the film through these sources, and not just theatres.

Because of the fear over going to cinemas in this pandemic, no one expected a record opening. Also, the buzz for Suraj Pe Mangal Bhari was limited. The opening was expected to be in the Rs. 75 lakhs-1 crore range. And that’s what happened. The film opened at Rs. 75 lakhs. The next day was the day of New Year and Bhaidooj. Ideally, the film should have held at Rs. 75 lakhs range or the earnings should have increased. Sadly, it fell down at Rs. 55 lakhs. The two-day collections stand at Rs. 1.30 crore. The first week collections, comprising five days, is expected to be in the Rs. 2.25-2.50 crore range and the lifetime around Rs. 5 crore.

These might seem very poor collections. However, one needs to see things in the correct perspective. Suraj Pe Mangal Bhari had so many challenges. Firstly, all theatres are operating at 50% occupancy. Secondly, the Covid fear looms large with a chunk of moviegoers scared to go to cinemas. Thirdly, theatres in some states like Rajasthan, Orissa etc are still shut. Yet, for Suraj Pe Mangal Bhari to collect Rs. 75 lakhs on day 1 is an achievement. So many so-called experts had predicted that the film would open at 0% occupancy. However, that hasn’t happened.

Interestingly, Suraj Pe Mangal Bhari is directed by Abhishek Sharma. His last film, The Zoya Factor, released in the pre-pandemic times. And yet it had a dismal opening of Rs. 64 lakhs! Suraj Pe Mangal Bhari meanwhile opened better than the Sonam Kapoor-starrer despite the challenges. Not just that, one of Diljit Dosanjh’s last films, Arjun Patiala, which also released last year, opened at Rs. 1.19 crore. The real value of Suraj Pe Mangal Bhari’s opening is better as the film would have had an opening of Rs. 2-3 crore if it had released in normal times.

Ideally, the industry should be overjoyed that a small film with limited buzz will reach the Rs. 5 crore mark. Imagine if a film with more buzz and more exciting star cast release, then it can easily reach till the Rs. 35 crore or even Rs. 40 crore mark. Bunty Aur Babli 2 is one such film, starring Saif Ali Khan, Rani Mukerji, Siddhant Chaturvedi and Sharwari Wagh. It’s producer Aditya Chopra is thinking of releasing it on Christmas. As per reports, the producers are unsure. Here’s hoping that they look at the performance of Suraj Pe Mangal Bhari in the correct manner and release their much awaited film as soon as possible.

In September 2013, actor Rajkummar Rao (then Raj Kumar Yadav) came to our office, along with Hansal Mehta, for the promotions of his film Shahid. The same year, he had delivered an acclaimed film in the form of Kai Po Che and had proved his worth with films like Love Sex Aur Dhokha, Shaitan, Gangs Of Wasseypur, Ragini MMS and Talaash. Yet, he was not as popular as he is right now. I had not seen Shahid then as it had not released but was impressed by his talent. I hence clicked a picture with him and uploaded on my Facebook account. I remember an acquaintance of mine telling me that he found it amusing that I clicked a snap with Rajkummar and even wrote so highly about the actor’s work in the caption. I reasoned that he is talented, humble and has a bright future; but it didn’t cut ice with the acquaintance. Today, now that Rajkummar is loved by one and all, this acquaintance is seen too doing the same – raving about Rajkummar at every given opportunity. I soon realized that there are many actors who are doing a good job but we don’t celebrate them if it’s not trendy enough to do so. It’s only when he or she becomes the next big thing is when most people want to jump on to the bandwagon.

As I finished the acclaimed web series Aarya a couple of weeks ago, I was reminded of this Rajkummar Rao episode, especially after witnessing Sikandar Kher’s riveting performance. Here’s an actor who has not done many films in his 12-year-career but has given some many memorable performances. And it’s sad that we are still not celebrating his talent yet.

I saw Aarya mainly for Sushmita Sen and Chandrachur Singh’s comeback and also to see what Ram Madhvani (of Neerja fame) has to deliver this time. I finished the show in awe and also surprise. After all, the web series boasted of some amazing performances but after Sushmita, it was Sikandar Kher who took the cake! Aarya deals with a rich Rajasthani family involved in drug business. Sikandar plays Daulat, the most trusted and dangerous servant of the patriarch Zorawar (Jayant Kripalani). He hardly speaks but is highly dependable. Give him a job and you can be assured it’ll be done. He also tags along Zorawar’s daughter Aarya (Sushmita Sen) when she faces acute crisis in her life and even motivates her to become the ‘sherni’ to fight off her detractors. While helping her, he also balances by taking care of Zorawar and keeping his secrets intact. His life is tough but he has a loving side, as seen in one seen when he plays with the puppy, Mango! And yes, he’ll never lie. Despite the twist in his tale in the last part of the season, you’d still yearn for a Daulat in your life, who’ll protect you, guide you and ensure that no harm comes your way. Sikandar’s stubble look, moreover, suited him perfectly and he did total justice to the character with his performance.

Sikandar Kher debuted in 2008 with Woodstock Villa followed by Summer 2007, released within a gap of two weeks. I have still not seen both the films and saw him for the first time in Khelein Hum Jee Jaan Sey. He was a surprise for me as I had zero expectations from him. And he suited the part of Nirmal Sen well.

After not-so-memorable performances in Players, Aurangzeb and Milan Talkies, he amazed me in Tere Bin Laden: Dead Or Alive. The first part is seen by many but sadly, the sequel sank without a trace. And with, very few got to see how Sikandar gave, believe it or not, the most unique performance ever in Bollywood. In this film, he plays a white CIA official named David DoSomething! His make-up and prosthetics comprising of protruding teeth made him completely unrecognizable. And he made the performance even better with his American accent. He totally nailed it and many couldn’t even realize that it’s Sikandar. And that’s not all. David DoSomething disguises himself as a loud Indian producer called David Chaddha. And for this role, he had a funny, Punjabi accent. Both roles were done splendidly by the actor and you have to see it to believe!


Sadly, the film failed to create buzz and didn’t get positive reactions from critics and audiences. Still, one hoped that Sikandar Kher would be noticed for his wonderful performance. Alas, that just didn’t happen. Today, no one remembers this film and here’s hoping that after Aarya, people might go back and revisit this film to see the brilliance that Sikandar got on screen.

After Tere Bin Laden: Dead Or Alive, Sikandar Kher left a mark in Romeo Akbar Walter as well. Here, he mastered the Pakistani-Punjabi accent and once again proved his worth. In The Zoya Factor, he again was brilliant especially in the finale where he provides tea to the very irate mob who had come to vandalize his house! It was one of the most novel and unconventional scenes in Hindi cinema. But look at the bad luck of Sikandar. The Zoya Factor, despite being worth watching, had terrible collections. In fact, none of his film has worked till now and were mostly ignored.



Even off-screen, Sikandar is hugely entertaining. Just check his rapid fire in the video below and it’s guaranteed to leave you in splits, especially the way he gets the Russian accent just right. Not many have this talent and Bollywood should make good use of it. Also, he’s an actor who can take a joke on himself and even crack that joke. His dig on his own film Aurangzeb is howlarious. Also, at one point, Maniesh Paul is asked “A rumour about you that you wish was true”. To which, Maniesh says, “That I am doing Dharma films”. Sikandar, at this, quickly retorts, “At least you had that rumour”! That unexpected jibe does make you laugh but also hits you that how the industry has been unfair to him.

Sikandar has recounted his struggles in several interviews in detail. To prep for Tere Bin Laden: Dead Or Alive, the actor shaved off his hair and also gained 16 kgs. In an interview to DNA, he said, "I used to go on 3 am binges. People would look at me with pity thinking here’s this actor who’s become bald and fat out of sheer frustration of not getting roles… (Laughs)." In his recent interviews, he has remarked how Aarya is his first project that worked and that he doesn’t expect anything as expectations lead to disappointments. It is heartbreaking that an actor of his calibre has to make such statements.

To all those who loved Sikandar Kher in Aarya, I request you to watch Tere Bin Laden: Dead Or Alive to see for yourself what this guy is capable of. Let’s spread the word on social media so that more and more people come to know. As for Bollywood, please give him more and more interesting and challenging roles in well-written films. Please ensure that he has a fabulous career from now on because he truly deserves it! Fortunately, he’ll be seen in Rohit Shetty’s Sooryavanshi, a highly awaited film that is expected to set the box office on fire. Will Aarya and Sooryavanshi prove to be a turning point in his career? Let’s hope for the best!

Director Abhishek Sharma says John Abraham-starrer Ray delayed, not dropped; discusses how pandemic affects the production
Uma Ramasubramanian (MID-DAY; July 24, 2020)

After their last collaborative effort, Parmanu, delivered appreciable results at the box-office, John Abraham and Abhishek Sharma are set to reunite for Ray, which the director describes as a "film set in a different space". "I had a great experience while working with John. Ray is a special film and is an attempt at exploring a new genre. It is a contemporary [movie] that is not set in Mumbai," Sharma tells mid-day of the film that is currently being scripted.

Like it has with several Bollywood ventures, the pandemic has played mischief with their plan to kick off the shoot in January 2021. Sharma reveals that the offering will now roll after Abraham wraps up his prior commitments that have been affected due to the lockdown. "He is yet to work on Mumbai Saga and Satyameva Jayate 2. Hence, we are taking baby steps. Also, now we face a fresh challenge. There are guidelines that must be followed. We are figuring out how we can make a film in a world with Coronavirus, without making the film too expensive. Making a film in the stipulated budget while following guidelines is a task."

His last film, the Dulquer Salmaan and Sonam K Ahuja offering based on the sport of cricket, was hit-wicket at the box office. Lamenting the fact that The Zoya Factor failed to perform well despite its fresh pairing, he says, "We didn't get the kind of response that Chhichhore and Dream Girl did at the box office. These films released around the same time. We also didn't procure enough screens, which played a big role [in contributing towards its lacklustre performance]."

Tanvi Trivedi (BOMBAY TIMES; March 16, 2020)

Actress Pooja Bhamrrah, who recently started her Bollywood journey, is happy that her hard work and talent are being noticed. The actress, who was seen in the Sonam Kapoor and Dulquer Salmaan-starrer The Zoya Factor, also featured in Fanney Khan. In the romantic web series Broken But Beautiful, she essayed the role of Porno, a fearless young woman.

A Mumbai girl, Pooja started her career as a model and moved on to anchoring shows. The actress, who studied biotechnology before she joined the industry, also hosted the Pro Kabaddi League on television. Ask her if it has been tougher for her to land good roles in Bollywood because she doesn’t hail from a film family, and she says, “Yes, it is definitely tougher for an actor who comes from a non-filmi background to get a break in the industry. But, I also feel that talent never goes unnoticed. One needs to be aware of the fact that it’s a business and many factors play a part in an individual getting a role. I feel that this is the best time to be an actor owing to the number of avenues that have opened up. Short films, web shows, independent directors making interesting content… there is no dearth of work if you are good at your craft.”

Talking about the kind of work that’s coming her way, Pooja says, “I am neither a Kapoor nor a Khan, so I can’t really be choosy about my work. I need to make the most of the opportunities that come my way. It is important to be careful about the kind of roles you add to your resume. Over the past few years, I have evolved as an actor.”

Pooja wants to do interesting roles that will make a difference to the project that she is a part of. She says, “I am still finding my feet in the industry and am extremely excited to see how my journey, as an actor, pans out. Being an anchor instilled a lot of confidence in me and helped me be comfortable in front of the camera.”

Dhaval Mehta (DNA; September 28, 2019)

Angad Bedi’s most recent release was The Zoya Factor starring Sonam K Ahuja. His next big-screen outing will be opposite her cousin, Janhvi, in Gunjan Saxena: The Kargil Girl. But before that, he will be seen in the web series The Verdict — State Vs Nanavati, which will stream on September 30. The actor talks about working with the two actresses, career, struggling period and how marriage and fatherhood have changed him.

Tell us about your character in The Verdict: State v/s Nanavati.
I play the role of Karl Jamshedji Khandalvala, a Parsi by birth who doesn’t think he’s a lawyer despite being the best one in India and never losing a case in his life. He considers himself a connoisseur of art and music and has been an ex-Air Force Pilot. He then takes the most controversial case that 15 top lawyers have refused and wins it.

How is the show different from Rustom (2016), which was on the same subject?
In Rustom, you only had one perspective and in The Verdict, you see it from three different perspectives through late Ram Jethmalani, Chandu Trivedi and  Karl Jamshedji Khandalvala. It is a completely different take on it. We have 600 minutes of edited footage and 10 episodes have been made out of it.

After working with Sonam Kapoor aka Sonam K Ahuja in The Zoya Factor, you are also working with her cousin Janhvi Kapoor in Gunjan Saxena: The Kargil Girl. Did you find any similarities between them?
They (Sonam and Janhvi) are poles apart as individuals. Sonam has won a National Award for Neerja and played the part in Ek Ladki Ko Dekha Toh Aisa Laga really well. Zoya Solanki was a tailor-made role for her. Janhvi is extremely spontaneous and hardworking. A lot of times when she is performing, you see glimpses of Sridevi ji in her acting and she has the same twinkle in her eyes. She is dedicated and still in the zone of trying to prove herself.

You have three back-to-back projects. Would you say you are reaping the benefits of hard work and perseverance now?
It all depends on timing. When you are going through a sound phase, you get quality work and you also start working hard. I was and still passionate about my work. I was just waiting for the right break and filmmakers to put their faith in me.

What did the period of struggle teach you?
You have to persevere and keep being sane. No role is big or small; every character does its magic and brings its own connect with the audience. Every actor goes through a patch, where everything seems to work and all my roles have different roles, looks and people will see me in characters that are poles apart from each other.

Has content superseded star power? How do you see the balance between these two factors?
It is a blurred line. Star power will always remain relevant but content has become the king. A star can pull in the crowd on Friday, Saturday and Sunday but Monday onwards, the collection of the film gets decided by the content and performances. Beyond a point, a star also needs a good script for him/her to shine.

And how much does the length of the role matter?
In today’s time, nobody waits for the perfect character. If you are part of good projects and working with good filmmakers, you will automatically get good roles. I have never really stressed about the length of the character. I would love to do a slice-of-life comedy, and make sure that my characters don’t get repetitive.

How much have marriage and fatherhood changed your life?
Since my marriage with Neha (Dhupia) and the birth of my daughter Mehr, everything is going pretty smooth. Both (Neha and Mehr) have brought good luck into my life and I am really appreciative of that fact.

SEPTEMBER TO END ON AN UNPREDICTABLE NOTE!

This Friday will see the release of no significant Hindi film as the much hyped War releases on Wednesday October 2. The three weeks of September have all been quite unexpected, in positive and negative ways.

The first Friday, September 6, saw the release of Chhichhore. The buzz was very limited and yet, it opened at a decent Rs. 7 crore. Saturday and Sunday saw huge jumps. But then came the weekdays and the film had the most extraordinary hold in a long time. Usually, Monday collections of a film are 50% or less than that of Friday. But in case of Chhichhore, the film collected more than on Friday on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday. Of course, the Muharram and Ganesh holidays played a major part. But one can’t deny that the content struck a tremendous chord with the viewers. The collections of the film till Sunday were Rs. 120.28 crore and the film is expected to have a lifetime earnings of Rs. 128-130 crore approx. Chhichhore stars Sushant Singh Rajput whose last film Sonchiriya shockingly had collected just Rs. 5.58 crore. As a result, Chhichhore’s super hit success was all the more a surprise.

The next week saw the release of Dream Girl, another super-hit film of the month. It’s success was in a way expected as the trailers and songs seemed highly entertaining. This was reflected in its opening of Rs. 9 crore. However, the film went beyond expectations and was an ideal laugh-a-minute riot after ages. On Tuesday, it crossed the Rs. 100 crore mark and it’ll have a lifetime of around Rs. 120-125 crore. Its collections hence will be less than that of Chhichhore. If it had an empty fourth week like Chhichhore, Dream Girl would have gone beyond the Sushant Singh Rajput starrer.

And then came September 3rd week. 3 films released on September 20 – Pal Pal Dil Ke Paas, Prassthanam and The Zoya Factor. All three had dismal opening as the excitement was just not there. Pal Pal Dil Ke Paas, Prassthanam’s poor performances were expected. However, trade and industry have been left shocked by how The Zoya Factor performed. Starring Sonam Kapoor and Dulquer Salmaan, it seemed like the first choice of moviegoers, at least in major multiplexes. But it had the worst opening, at Rs. 70 lakhs. Saturday and Sunday were flat at Rs. 80 lakhs each. The hope was that it’ll remain in the Rs. 60-70 lakhs on Monday at least. But Monday was horrible as it earned just Rs. 15 lakhs! The film won’t even cross the Rs. 3 crore mark! A bonafide A-grade film have not seen such disastrous collections ever as far as I can recall. Even outright rejected films with some sort of star presence and decent promotions like Helicopter Eela (Rs. 4.29 crore), Why Cheat India (Rs. 8.58 crore), Game Over (Rs. 4.69 crore approx) did better than The Zoya Factor.

So what went wrong when it comes to The Zoya Factor? Watching the film made me realize that the film’s major chunk is a sports drama, with the Indian Cricket Team trying to win the World Cup. But the marketing of the film focused more on Sonam Kapoor followed by her romance with Dulquer Salmaan. These promos however were strictly average. Sonam is no Alia Bhatt or Deepika Padukone who could pull of a film despite not-so-great trailers. Songs didn’t work much either. Sonam’s 5-year-old film Khoobsurat opened at Rs. 2.34 crore and it had far better promos and songs and perhaps, the makers tried to adopt the same kind of marketing tactics for this film too. Had The Zoya Factor capitalized more on the cricket bit, then perhaps the opening would have been at least more than Rs. 1 crore. The film would have still flopped but that would had happened with some respectable collections.

The other significant movie of the month was Section 375, which released on September 13, alongside Dream Girl. The film got noticed a bit thanks to its excellent word of mouth. The lifetime collections are expected to be around Rs. 12-13 crore, which is not much but for a film that has no songs and niche appeal, it’s a decent result.

Chaya Unnikrishnan (DNA; September 21, 2019)

With a lifetime of sports behind him, Angad Bedi is one of the fittest actors in B-Town. And yet, while working on The Zoya Factor, he learnt another dimension of fitness from his co-star, Sonam K Ahuja. While a big believer in working out, the Pink actor, a Punjabi like Sonam, loves his desi food. His staple diet often includes dishes that are part of the Indian cuisine like parathas with ghee and natural butter, which he gorges on because he is always able to burn them off with his workout.

However, the Veere Di Wedding star introduced him to a healthy form of eating that he hadn’t tried before. Sonam follows a balanced diet chart that mixes and matches everything she relishes eating by making it in healthier ways. Angad was surprised to know how well-versed she is with nutrition, diet, its different forms and benefits. She even charted out a special diet plan for him by increasing the number of meals, giving him smaller portions and balancing out the nutrients evenly throughout the day keeping in mind his fitness regime.

Angad says, “Sonam gave me in-depth advice on what to eat, how it’s good to take a break and not constantly feed our gut. She knows so much about nutrition and the myths around various diets; she helped me put things into perspective. I had to shoot certain scenes where my fitness was key and it clearly helped onscreen.”

The Zoya Factor is the biggest surprise of the season! The trailer seemed average due to which my expectations were very low. But the film is laced with a great script, concept and dialogues. The animation sequence in the beginning sets the mood very nicely. The manner in which Zoya becomes a sensation is a treat to watch while the romantic track also has its moments. The second half does slip but the interest gets revived in the climax which is quite nice and exciting. The other problem is that it’s too fast at times and hence, the impact at places is affected. Talking of performances, Sonam Kapoor nails the part. She is apt for this role and is quite adorable. But she is not just behaving clumsily and going gaga over Dulquer. The role has many shades and she shines overall. Dulquer Salmaan is quite dashing and proves why he’s one of the most popular actor of our times. His performance is spot on and he seems convincing as the captain. Angad Bedi gets a lot of screen time and is fine as the baddie. Sikandar Kher is a surprise of the film and gets to be a part of some wonderful scenes. Sanjay Kapoor is decent while Koel Purie is strictly okay. Other actors who leave a mark are Manu Rishi Chadha, Pooja Bhamrrah (Sonali), Abhilash Chaudhary (Shivi) and Gandharv Dewan (Harry). All in all, The Zoya Factor is a nice, timepass entertainer that delivers entertainment in adequate doses. Watching this flick surely would be no harm!

My rating - *** ½ out of 5!

THREE NOT-SO-EXCITING FILMS TO TRY THEIR LUCK AT THE BOX OFFICE!

The release of one of the biggest films of Bollywood, War, is less than two weeks away. There’ll be no major release next Friday and taking advantage of this 12-day gap are three films. These release tomorrow and the buzz for each movie is very low. In fact, it’s even difficult to say which one will open better. My analysis:

THE ZOYA FACTOR: It stars Sonam Kapoor, Dulquer Salmaan, Sanjay Kapoor and Angad Bedi and is based on Anuja Chauhan’s bestseller by the same name. The premise is interesting – a girl, born on June 25, 1983, that is, on the day India won the World Cup, emerges as a lucky charm for the Indian cricket team, leading to madness and fun. The film is directed by Abhishek Sharma, who impressed last year with Parmanu and earlier with Tere Bin Laden. Sadly, the trailer is not that interesting and funny. The novel was set in 2008 and hence, Zoya is around 24 or 25 years of age. If the movie is present-day era, Zoya’s age would be around 35 or 36 and that would make it unconvincing as Sonam doesn’t look that old. Songs too have failed to make a mark. 5 years ago, a similar Sonam Kapoor starrer with more hype, Khoobsurat, opened at Rs. 2.34 crore. The Zoya Factor however will open in the Rs. 1.50 or 2 crore range.

PRASSTHANAM: This flick bring together 90s stalwarts together like Sanjay Dutt, Jackie Shroff, Manisha Koirala and Chunky Panday. The other actors in this political action film are Ali Fazal, Amyra Dastur and Satyajeet Dubey. It is the remake of the classic 2010 Telugu flick of the same name and also directed by the original film’s director, Deva Katta. The trailer has promise while songs have failed to even get noticed. Prassthanam is produced by Sanjay Dutt and his team is wrongly spreading the information that this is his first production. However, Sanjay had also produced Rascals and another film, Hasmukh Pighal Gaya, is also ready but never released. The film misses a popular face that can pull audiences to cinemas. Sanjay is not credible especially after delivering films like Bhoomi and Saheb Biwi Aur Gangster 3. Due to the massy feel, the opening will be around Rs. 1.75-2 crore and can even go higher. If it’s as well-made as the original, then it has a big chance of growing with each passing day.

PAL PAL DIL KE PAAS: It marks the debut of Sunny Deol’s elder son Karan and is directed by Sunny himself. Sahher Bambba, also a newcomer, is the female lead. The teaser seemed interesting as the film is shot in some of the beautiful and remote locations of Himachal Pradesh. But the trailer made it clear the film rests on a very weak and outdated storyline. The songs have worked a bit. Also, Sunny is promoting this film all over due to which this film has got noticed a lot. But it’s unlikely how many will be excited to venture out to see it. The opening will be poor, around Rs. 1.25 or 1.50 crore. It can be even less, as it happened recently with Notebook. This film was similarly backed by a veteran star (Salman Khan) and had two newcomers but had a shocking opening of Rs. 61 lakhs. Hence, a less-than-a-crore-opening can’t be ruled out too!

WHICH FILM WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE AND WHY? DO LET ME KNOW!

One of the few stars to have a dedicated women fan association, Malayalam sensation and The Zoya Factor hero Dulquer Salmaan underplays his popularity among the ladies
Shaheen Parkar (MID-DAY; September 18, 2019)

One would assume that adulation rests easy on Dulquer Salmaan's shoulders — after all, he has witnessed it up-close since childhood, courtesy superstar father Mammootty, and gone on to amass a legion of fans of his own. But broach the subject of his immense popularity among women — he is one of the few stars to have a women's fan association, All Kerala Dulquer Salmaan Fans And Welfare Association — and he sheepishly grins, "The fans are sweet. They are there on the set, at events and even follow me to my car. But I do not think too much about it."

In the seven years since he burst on the scene, his love for acting has seen him dabble in Malayalam, Tamil and Telugu cinema. After a tepid start in Bollywood with Karwaan (2018) last year, Salmaan is ready to follow it up with a mainstream offering, The Zoya Factor, opposite Sonam K Ahuja. "Sonam loves fashion, so she always has something to say about my outfits and how I should rock them, especially now, during promotions. Her comments are motivating and positive," he says, aware that he has to make a sartorial statement when around B-Town's resident fashionista.

Though the movie — based on Anuja Chauhan's book — is set in the world of cricket and sees him play the skipper, Salmaan admits he is not an avid follower of the sport. "But I catch up on the Indian Premier League. I am a Chennai Super Kings fan." Juggling thriving careers across four industries means he is left with little time for personal life. The actor, a father to two-and-a-half-year-old Maryam, says, "I will balance my South commitments with my Bollywood outings, but I want to work at my own pace. Dad always used to be busy with his commitments. So, I am actively trying to find that balance between work and home. Of late, I haven't been able to spend enough time with Maryam, who has just learnt to talk."

Chaya Unnikrishnan (DNA; September 17, 2019)

After the socially-relevant movie, Ek Ladki Ko Dekha Toh Aisa Laga, in which she became the first mainstream actress to play a lesbian, Sonam Kapoor aka Sonam K Ahuja is ready to charm the audiences with her next, The Zoya Factor. Based on Anuja Chauhan’s book by the same name, it’s about a girl who is considered lucky for the Indian cricket team. The captain, however, rubbishes the theory. Sparks fly between the two, ending in a romance. “It’s a lighthearted film. There’s no special message and it’s not trying to say anything. After an intense film like Ek Ladki... I wanted to do a fun film,” Sonam smiles. While she reveals that she’s been lucky for her father Anil Kapoor, as after her birth, he got a spate of hits, she feels that hard-work goes hand-in-hand with luck and destiny. Excerpts from a freewheeling chat...

Had you read the book before doing the film? Whose idea was it to adapt it for screen?
I’ve read a lot of Anuja’s books. I already own the rights to her Battle For Bittora, and we’re trying to produce it. The script is ready and we may make it next year. I had read The Zoya Factor, which is a great book. I was offered the film when it was with other production houses like Saregama and Red Chillies. There was always talk about me doing the film, but it was never made. Then, Aarrti Shetty and Pooja Shetty acquired the book’s rights, and called me up. They felt only I, and nobody else, could play the role. I thought the same, and was glad they offered it to me. Also, after doing an intense film like Ek Ladki Ko, I thought in this day and age, especially because of all the horrible stuff that’s going on in the world, when you go to the theatre, you want to see a fun film and The Zoya Factor is that.

Was it fun shooting for the film, too?
Yes. The weird thing was this film is all about luck, but everything just kept going wrong every day. For example, I had to put on weight and perm my hair. In the book, the character is a little plump and has frizzy hair. Since I’m not chubby and have poker-straight hair, I decided to perm them because it would have been difficult to curl them to that extent every day. So, I went to one of the best salons in the city. They forgot to put a protector on my head so that my hair is not damaged by the perming product, and my hair got burnt. Nobody knows about this, but that’s what happened. I also gained 10 kilos for the role, and it was hard to lose the weight. I’ve had mean things said to me, like ‘you’re looking so fat’. Some people asked if I was pregnant! Thankfully, I’ve lost that weight. I love doing comedy and I was working with my chacha (Sanjay Kapoor) and Dulquer Salmaan for the first time. It was a lot of fun.

Your uncle Sanjay Kapoor plays your father in the film. How was it working with him?
I worked with my dad in Ek Ladki Ko Dekha Toh Aisa Laga and now my chacha plays my father in The Zoya Factor. Our family is entrenched in films. We eat, breathe and live movies. It was great to work with my uncle because I realised he has absolutely no ego. You’re working with your niece, who’s the lead of the film, but you have no qualms about it, and you’re happy to be a part of it. I’ve always been respectful of my chacha. Actually, I don’t even think of him as my uncle, he’s like a friend since he’s the youngest (brother) in the family and I’m close to Maheep (Sanjay’s wife).

How much do you believe in luck and destiny?
I believe a lot in destiny and that luck has to be on your side. But I also believe it has to be a combination with hard work. Just because everything is written, you can’t just sit on your bum and expect it to happen. Whatever I’ve learnt about work is from my dad and I haven’t seen a more hard-working man than him. He’s extremely talented and possibly the best actor in India; at the same time, he’s been in the right place at the right time.

To what extent has your career been about luck and how much has destiny played a part in it?
I’m born into a certain family, right? That’s destiny. I come from a film family and I decided to assist Sanjay Leela Bhansali on a movie. Ranbir (Kapoor) was already on it and I knew him since I was a child. When I applied for the job, SLB didn’t know I was Anil Kapoor’s daughter because nobody had ever seen me at events, as I hadn’t been photographed before. Ranbir told him, ‘My friend is coming for the job of an intern’. He was making Bajirao Mastani with Salman Khan and Kareena Kapoor Khan then, not Black. When I met SLB, he said, ‘I want to cast you in my film’. That, I guess, is destiny because without even knowing I’m Anil Kapoor’s daughter, he told me that. Of course, I had to audition after that.

Please continue...
At that time, Shraddha (Kapoor), Katrina (Kaif), Deepika (Padukone) — we were all auditioning together. Even for Delhi-6, I had to audition first. So, I think it was a combination of luck, destiny and hard work. Because I’m sure there are lots of girls who are prettier, more talented or more hardworking than me but it’s always about being in the right place at the right time. At the same time, if you don’t work hard, and if you don’t have talent, you cannot survive.

Was it Neerja that changed your career’s trajectory and the kind of roles you wanted to do?
I would say that it was after Raanjhanaa. Out of the 18 films that I have done, three have been unsuccessful. If I had to look back at my career, I would say Delhi-6 and Saawariya were great for me. Aisha was also amazing and so was I Hate Luv Stories. Then I did three films — Mausam, Thank You and Players — which didn’t work. Straight after that, I did Raanjahnaa, Bhaag Milkha Bhaag, Khoobsurat and Neerja. There was a period of two years when my films didn’t work. After that, I haven’t had films that did not work. When I did Raanjhanaa, I was 26, now I am 34 — so in eight years, I have done pretty much okay.  I don’t think I’m doing that badly.

Do you choose your scripts by gut feeling?
I don’t believe in gut feeling. I believe in doing stories that I feel attached to. Also, I like to work with good people. It has to be a combination of the two. I’ve been offered big films by some directors with whom I didn’t want to work either because I didn’t like them as people, the way they spoke to me or how they portrayed women. But I’ve worked with filmmakers like Ram Madhvani (Neerja director) who had helmed only one film Let’s Talk, 10 years before that. I have worked with a Shelly Chopra Dhar in Ek Ladki, Shashanka Ghosh in Khoobsurat — he had done just one film Quick Gun Murugun. I’ve worked with filmmakers like Rajkumar Hirani, R Balki,  Sanjay Leela Bhansali, and Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra. I believe in collaborating with people who are like-minded, progressive, and who want to make good cinema. It doesn’t matter what the length of the role is, as long as my character is of importance.

From doing a cameo to being a part of an ensemble cast and playing lead roles, you have done everything in your recent releases...
Yes, even Bhaag Milkha Bhaag (BMB), I did because I was working with Rakeysh and his team after Delhi-6. Also, I thought if I have to do two songs and four scenes, I would rather do that in a film like BMB than any other typical commercial film. In a movie like Pad Man, I am there throughout the second half and it’s a film that says something amazing. In Neerja and Khoobsurat, I am there from the beginning till the end. I know that I have to be a part of scripts that mean something, that challenge me; stories that are entertaining, or have a message.

Karan Johar offers his outfits to Angad Bedi for his fashion-forward act in The Zoya Factor
Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; September 16, 2019)

After Inside Edge, Angad Bedi will be seen playing a cricketer once again in Sonam K Ahuja and Dulquer Salmaan starrer The Zoya Factor. To stay true to his flamboyant character, Bedi's stylist Abhilasha Devnani had to design looks that were high on the style quotient. Thankfully, they didn't have to look too far for inspiration. Turns out, Karan Johar played the perfect style guru and threw open his wardrobe for Bedi.

A source says, "When he learnt from the film's producer and his long-time friend Pooja Shetty that Angad's character was to be styled as a fashion-forward sports star, KJo graciously offered his outfits to him. Karan has an enviable collection of high-end brand outfits and he was more than happy to have Angad sport them on screen. So in the scenes where Angad is off the field, he will be seen wearing the filmmaker's clothes, including jumpers from Gucci, Balenciaga and other brands."

Confirming the news, Bedi adds, "We sourced every kind of attire — from athleisure to semi-formal — from his collection. I will sport a mix of designer wear from Valentino, Gucci, Alexander McQueen and Calvin Klein."

They look different, they think different. But when it comes to work ethics, producers Pooja Shetty Deora and Aarrti Shetty jam like no other. Giving it our all is how they describe work on the soon-to-release The Zoya Factor
Aastha Atray Banan (MID-DAY; September 15, 2019)

Pooja Shetty Deora and sister Aarrti request that we meet at Juhu's chic members-only club, Soho House. They are going to be at a song location recce prior. The two are producers on Sonam Kapoor's upcoming film, The Zoya Factor, based on Anuja Chauhan's bestseller. "Pooja is so out of place at these recces," Aarti says. "It's dirty, it's hot, it's dusty, she thinks. The choreographer told her, 'please, leave. You are too posh for these surroundings'." Pooja has a rebuttal. She thinks the younger sister is equally awkward during financial discussions. "I tell her, please stay quiet. She can't talk money to save her life!"

They are daughters carrying forward the legacy of Manmohan Shetty, the man who founded Adlabs Films Ltd., a films processing studio that at one point was handling 90 per cent of Bollywood's business. He eventually expanded to film distribution and is remembered for setting up the city first IMAX dome screen. Shetty was instrumental in kickstarting Mumbai's multiplex culture, and later went on to produce hits like Munnabhai MBBS. It's at his firm, Walkwater Media Ltd. that Pooja holds the post of managing director and Aarti heads the creative division.

As students of Maneckji Cooper and Jamnabai Narsee schools, Pooja and Aarrti would head to the lab every Saturday in a bid to spend time with their father, who kept odd hours. "He'd buy us classics like Raj Kumar's movies and The Sound of Music. So, movies were always a part of our lives," says Aarrti, who went on to assist Ram Gopal Verma, Shimit Amin and Karan Johar on their productions. "I think the movies we want to make should have some twist, offer a glimpse into a world that the audience may have never seen before. For example, with Zoya, it's the world of cricket but like never before. I don't think we can make total commercial or masala films. You need a skill for that, and we are aware of our limitations. We are still very young in the journey," Pooja admits.

The duo bagged the rights to Chauhan's 2008 novel from Shah Rukh Khan's production firm Red Chillies Entertainment, where it had been lying locked for three years. The film, scheduled to release this month, stars Dulquer Salmaan, Malayalam superstar Mammootty's son. He plays a cricketer while Kapoor is a successful advertising executive who turns into a good luck charm for India's cricket team during the World Cup.

After their first release via Walkwater, Tere Bin Laden (2010), the Shetty sisters say they realised the importance of being hands-on. They apply this philosophy to the movies and Imagica, the 130-acre theme park in Khopoli, they run. "If you are not there for every stage [of the business], the results are not [in line with] your vision. When the park was being set up, we were there all day, coming home slathered in mud. We didn't have a life, but that's how we work," says Pooja. Aarrti has learnt from the sister. "I once had a problem with a script and let it go. Later, I told myself, I will never let that happen again. Sometimes, Pooja joins me at creative meetings, and says, we have been talking about one scene for two hours. We have to, because it's not resolved."

When they are not collaborating on movies, they are Netflixing. But that's only when Pooja is not busy playing a mother. She and husband, politician-entrepreneur Milind Deora became parents last year to a daughter through surrogacy. "Sleep has reduced," she laments, "and so has socialising. I see my friends once in three months. I slot film meetings only after lunch. My mother helps out a lot. There is a room in fact, at my maternal home in Juhu, that's done up exactly like the room I have for my daughter at our Worli residence. I can't take on any more work, because I love my sleep, and don't get enough. But, I want to do both, be a parent and a professional." Aarrti calls this fiction, arguing, "But you are always sleeping! I sleep half of what she sleeps."

And Pooja isn't afraid to bring work home. Milind is around when she wishes to discuss films, and she has an opinion on his political career. "It's a crisis for sure," she says candidly about the Congress party's future following the Lok Sabha election debacle and its leader Rahul Gandhi's resignation. "It's been a hard couple of years. We often talk about what we can do next."

What next, in the immediate short term revolves around The Zoya Factor, which she calls a hatke comedy. And you know it matters to the both of them when Pooja says, "Not all movies work. But you have to put in your best, and be invested in every way possible. Otherwise, what's the point?"

Chaya Unnikrishnan (DNA; September 10, 2019)

He made his Bollywood debut with Karwaan alongside Irrfan last year. While the movie was critically acclaimed, it did not exactly fare well at the box office. Now, Malayalam superstar Dulquer Salmaan, who got rave reviews for his maiden Hindi outing, is gearing up for his next, The Zoya Factor. Based on Anuja Chauhan’s book by the same name, the movie will see him play a cricket captain. The day we met the actor, he had come straight from the airport, having flown in from Kerala. The 33-year-old opened up about his role in the film, how the market since the time his superstar father Mammootty did Hindi movies has changed for South actors, and why he has no qualms being part of a project that revolves around the female lead.

You made your Bollywood debut with Karwaan, which was not a mainstream commercial film...
(Cuts in) Yes, but, I have done stuff like that in other languages, too. When I hear different ideas, I gauge how much I like the script and the concept. I don’t particularly think how big or commercially viable the film is. If there is honesty in an idea, I like to do it. I wasn’t planning on entering any industry in that sense. Even OK Kanmani (2015) for Mani Ratnam was a small Tamil film. I look at content. The Zoya Factor has great content, which is also commercial. Even in Malayalam, some films are small and not mainstream, while the others are. I try to balance it out. I go by gut instinct. I don’t think too much about a debut film. If it’s good and people like it, they will like you. If they don’t like the movie, they won’t like the performance either.

Was it disappointing when Karwaan didn’t work at the box office?
No, we were not pitching it like a big film. It was a small sweet idea and we never expected it to do commercial film numbers. But, it was received well, and critically liked. It did decent numbers, we were all happy — not shocked or surprised. It has got a lot more love now when it released on a digital platform recently.

In The Zoya Factor, you are opposite Sonam Kapoor aka Sonam K Ahuja, who is a big name in Bollywood. Didn’t you have apprehensions that the film would be more about her than you?
No, I don’t mind. I did Mahanati (Telugu) with Keerthy Suresh, which is the biopic of South actress Savitri. The film is only about the girl, but I loved that my character had so much to do. He was kind of grey, almost negative in some scenes. Sometimes, I look at how good the project, as well as my role, are. Finally, the movie is the hero. If it does well, viewers will watch it and in turn, I will be seen. Sonam has a bigger fan base, so more people will watch the movie and I will be introduced to more audiences. So, I don’t take it negatively. I think it’s a plus.

What prompted you to sign the movie, to begin with?
I liked my character. I felt there was lot of scope for me to perform. I’ve never done a sports film before, it’s the first time I’m playing an athlete of any kind, so that was interesting. There’s a nice graph to it. Sonam’s and my character are opposites — she believes in luck and he believes in hard work. I liked all that. I felt it’s different from what I’ve done.

Did you read the book before signing the film?
No, I hadn’t, though I had it in my bookshelf. When they signed me, they said if you haven’t read the book, don’t. Because we want you to hear the screen adaptation. So, I read it after hearing the script initially. It is more detailed. It’s good that I didn’t read it before.

How interested are you in cricket?
You can’t ignore it in India. I have grown up around it. Street cricket is happening everywhere. I shifted from Kochi to Chennai when I was seven and the first thing I saw was kids playing cricket all the time. I made a lot of friends in the neighbourhood like that. And even in school, the sport was big. I went to college in America and there were a lot of Indians, Pakistanis and Bangladeshis. It was nice to get together, watch cricket and support different teams.

Is your role fashioned on any cricketer?
No, we have not based it on any cricketer, but in Anuja’s writing there are some glimpses of MS Dhoni and Virat Kohli. My character’s got qualities of the best captains. The production got me a lovely coach and I would train with him when I was in Mumbai. Even when I would go to Kochi for my Malayalam film’s shoot, the coach would come down there and we would practise.

Several South superstars, including your father Mammotty, have forayed into Bollywood, but they haven’t been able to sustain. What do you think is the reason?
What happens with us is all of us come from a core market — I am established in Malayalam and somewhat in Tamil. So, it’s about how you weigh your options. If you have better scripts there, you do them. It all depends on what comes your way.

And sometimes, it’s difficult to say no to the progress you’ve made there. You can’t ignore that. Even now, if I take a long gap from Malayalam films, that can affect the progress I’ve made for so many years. So, that priority has to be there. When I do a film from another language, I try to find a movie that can be shot in two months. I don’t know who to compare myself with because I don’t know other actors who are juggling many industries.

Besides, the market has changed a bit now. It has become bigger, the number of screens has increased, there is OTT platform, worldwide markets, so it has helped us grow in terms of size, budget and viewership. You can push the film around the country even if it’s subtitled. We released Bangalore Days (his superhit Malayalam film) with subtitles across South and some stations in Mumbai and Delhi. It got that viewership. That is possible now. There are a lot of Malayalis everywhere, which was not the case earlier.

Prabhas has just made his Bollywood debut with Saaho...
Yeah, but that’s a bilingual movie, so, he’s not losing his focus there. It’s when you completely step away that it gets tricky. But I am trying to balance it.

After romancing hottie Fawad Khan in Khoobsurat, Sonam Kapoor on working with South sensation Salmaan in The Zoya Factor
Shaheen Parkar (MID-DAY; September 7, 2019)

The jury is still out on whether Zoya Solanki — her character in The Zoya Factor — is a good luck charm for Team India, but Sonam Kapoor aka Sonam K Ahuja appears to be lucky as far as co-stars are concerned. Only five years after she had girls going green with envy as she romanced Fawad Khan on screen in Khoobsurat (2014), Kapoor will now be seen wooing South star Dulquer Salmaan in the screen adaptation of Anuja Chauhan’s book by the same name.

The Malayalam actor, who forayed into Bollywood with Karwaan (2018), enjoys a huge female fan following. Talking about her first collaboration with Salmaan, Kapoor says, "Dulquer is so good-looking and a thorough gentleman. Working with him was a delight, especially romancing him while shooting the track, Kaash. We have different vibes as individuals, but together we had a great time on the set as many comedy of errors kept happening throughout the shoot."

Fronting The Zoya Factor that deals with superstitions, Sonam K Ahuja explains why she will sport only red outfits at movie promotions
Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; August 29, 2019)

In keeping with the premise of The Zoya Factor that deals with superstitions, Sonam Kapoor aka Sonam K Ahuja is following a quirk of her own — starting with the trailer launch today, the actor will be seen sporting only red outfits at the promotions. "It was my idea to wear red at the promotions," smiles Kapoor, happy to imbibe the spirit of her character Zoya Solanki off-screen as well.

"I wanted to do full justice to the story and my role. I thought this was the best way to introduce the eccentricities of Zoya to the audience. The Zoya Factor is about the titular character being considered a good luck charm for India's cricket team at the World Cup. So why not go about the promotions the Zoya way? Also, red is considered an auspicious colour. We're going the extra mile to make sure that luck is on our side, too."

The Abhishek Sharma-directed film, based on Anuja Chauhan's bestseller by the same name, promises to be one of those rare, feel-good chick flicks that Bollywood is surprisingly starved of. It won't even be wrong to credit Kapoor for bringing the genre into the mainstream with her 2010 outing, Aisha. With Khoobsurat (2014) and Veere Di Wedding (2018) becoming box-office successes, she has become the unofficial champion of the genre.

"Such films make you laugh, feel and empathise with the characters. They also enjoy maximum repeat audiences. With its massive commercial prospects, the genre cannot be under-appreciated for too long," reasons the actor, adding that the category helps female actors in being heard. "It provides women with prominent roles and a platform to showcase their perspective, which is sometimes not understood too well."

Sharing his avatar from The Zoya Factor, Angad Bedi on how his style has been modelled on former England cricketer Kevin Pietersen
Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; August 27, 2019)

His role of a sportsperson in Inside Edge, coupled with his lineage, has ensured that Angad Bedi is all too familiar with the world of cricket. Now, the actor will be seen as a cricketer again in the Sonam K Ahuja and Dulquer Salmaan starrer The Zoya Factor. While Anuja Chauhan's book by the same name — on which the film is based — had Robin Rawal as the quintessential superstar of the team, Bedi says the cinematic adaptation has delved deeper into the character.

"On the surface, Robin is an alpha male. He is scoring runs and winning matches, and by extension, has all the players looking up to him. But when there's a switch in the captaincy, he feels cornered, and this insecurity makes him human and real. Abhishek [Sharma, director] has given a complex behaviour pattern to the part," says Bedi of his character that is at loggerheads with protagonist Nikhil Khoda in the narrative. "I love the graph of the character — it starts with glory and success, and moves to dejection and failure. The high and lows resonated with me."

In keeping with the flamboyant act, the makers gave him a vibrant look, replete with a prominent tattoo, mohawk hairstyle and ear piercings. Bedi says his look will remind fans of former England batsman Kevin Pietersen. "It is a cool look that millennials will relate to. If you see sports stars today like [Cristiano] Ronaldo, Virat [Kohli] or if you go back in time, Kevin Pietersen, they [sport a similar look]. Robin wears expensive fashionable clothes, likes flashy cars and knows that he is the cynosure of all eyes. He is aware of his stardom."