Shikha Talsania joins cast of David Dhawan’s Coolie No 1 remake, 25 years after father Tiku starred in the original
Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; September 7, 2019)

“I did a lot of research for the role and followed it up with few workshops,” says Shikha Talsania — the latest to join the cast of Coolie No 1 — with a poker face. Before we can do a double-take, she bursts out laughing, “I’m kidding! The only training I did was flex my comedy muscles. Being on set of this film is an extended workshop of how to have fun with what you have and the only research I did was willingly watch all the David Dhawan entertainers again.”

Shikha’s father and one of Bollywood’s favourite comedians, Tiku Talsania has been a constant fixture in David Dhawan’s films. She is glad to take the association forward by joining Varun Dhawan in the remake of the 1995 hit. “As an actor who devours comedy, being in a David Dhawan film was on my bucket list. With Coolie No 1, I am glad to tick that off. Dad was thrilled that I was going to be part of a film that he starred in, originally, and that I was going to be directed by his friend and long-time collaborator.”

While Shikha — last seen in Veere Di Wedding (2018) — clams up when prodded about her role, she is happy to rattle off how she had a “blast” during the film’s first schedule in Bangkok. “It’s been a month since we started shooting but feels like it was yesterday.”

Ask her if her father shared precious words of wisdom before she reported to Dhawan’s set, and she says, “The only advice my father gave me was — go, have fun!”

Himesh Mankad (MUMBAI MIRROR; July 20, 2019)

The Dhawans with Vashu Bhagnani are reviving David Dhawan’s No. 1 franchise with the official adaptation of his 1995 Govinda-Karisma Kapoor starrer-Coolie No 1. The film features Varun and Sara Ali Khan in the lead with Paresh Rawal stepping into Kader Khan’s shoes to play the heroine’s father. Now, we have learnt that David, who is directing this film too, has roped in veteran comedian Johny Lever. He will be reprising Tiku Talsania’s role of an inspector from the original.

Raring to start shooting, Johny says, “I’ve worked with David in many films, including Deewana Mastana, Dulhan Hum Le Jayenge and Judwaa 2. It’s great to team up with him again, he has a good understanding of comedy and we have been in sync since the ’90s. It’s a wonderful role.” He adds that he is also looking forward to working with “super actor” Varun.

The film will roll in Bangkok on August 5 and is slated for a May 1 release.

Tanvi Trivedi (BOMBAY TIMES; July 7, 2018)

There is much more to actress Shikha Talsania than playing the distressed Meera Sood, who is bogged down by household responsibilities after having a baby in Veere Di Wedding. She has to her credit not only interesting films like Wake Up Sid (2009), Midnight’s Children (2012) and Dil Toh Baccha Hai Ji (2011), but has made a place for herself in theatre and recently made her debut as a co-director in the play Dekh Behen.

Shikha says, “I have grown up with theatre around me. My parents (Tiku Talsania and Dipti) are still doing plays after so many years. I always knew I wanted to be on stage. The feeling is exquisite. There is a different high in performing live and the audience is breathing with you.”

The actress finds the theatre scene in Mumbai to be a vibrant one. She dismisses the notion that people here spend more money on watching a film than a play. “Theatre has always been running to full houses for years now. All those who feel that people in Mumbai don’t have the sensibility for theatre are ill-informed,” she says.

Shikha says, “Mumbai has a vibrant theatre culture, especially for youngsters. Gujarati and Marathi theatre are flourishing. From childhood, I’ve been seeing people flock to watch Gujarati plays in Mumbai, so I wonder why people think that the crowds here only watch films. All those who love theatre go and watch plays, but they also watch films. It is not vice versa. I have acted in so many plays with varied content — One On One, Internal Affairs, The Ugly One and they are happening at different venues around the city. In fact, John Steinbeck (US author) once said, ‘Theatre is the only institution in the world which has been dying for 4,000 years and has never succumbed’. That can be applied to Mumbai as well.”

Ask the actress about the theatres she loves to frequent in the city — be it on stage or off it as an audience — and she has many interesting things to share. “As someone who likes watching plays, I have some great memories associated with Tejpal Auditorium and Bhaidas Hall, as I grew up watching my parents perform at these places. In fact, I have some wonderful backstage memories at Bhaidas Hall. I also love the YB Chavan Auditorium,” she says, adding, “Having said that, my favourite venue is Prithvi Theatre anyday. It has been a dream to perform there. I have also loved performing at the NCPA and Jamshed Bhabha Theatre at Nariman Point. I have had the privilege of performing at most of the popular theatre spots in Mumbai — whether it is the new places like the Cuckoo Club in Bandra or eateries, I have performed at numerous places in the city and each time the experience was unique.”

Shikha gets to watch plays from other cities when she is travelling for plays. She says, “We travel like crazy for our plays in the country. What is common to all the cities — Mumbai, Chennai and Bangalore is that if the content is good, there’ll be no dearth of people coming to watch it.”

Actor Shikha Talsania on inspiring people through her Veere Di Wedding character Meera, and exploring every opportunity to perform
Anuka Roy (MUMBAI MIRROR; July 1, 2018)

Not many people remember that actor Shikha Talsania made her debut in 2009 with Wake Up Sid, as Ranbir Kapoor’s chubby friend, Laxmi. It was her turn as Meera, in the recent grosser Veere Di Wedding (VDW), that made people finally take note of Talsania. “Even though my role (as Laxmi) was appreciated and I got a lot of offers, they were all one-dimensional ‘fat girl’ roles — the character was either hungry or horny. And that didn’t interest me at all,” says Talsania, 32. After Sid, Talsania acted in Madhur Bhandarkar’s Dil Toh Baccha Hai Ji and Deepa Mehta’s Midnight’s Children, but it was 2016 that proved to be a turning point in her career.

That was when she was offered VDW. “Rhea [Kapoor, one of the producers of VDW] and I have known each other since Wake Up Sid. She was an assistant director while Karan Boolani was Chief AD on that film,” says Talsania. “Boolani suggested my name for Veere Di and casting director Mukesh Chhabra called me in for a screen test. Then I read the script, fell in love with it and met Shashanka [Ghosh, the director] and Rhea. That’s how it all began.”

When her ‘bold’ Meera stepped out in a swimsuit in VDW it inspired many full-bodied women. But that wasn’t Talsania’s intention. “It’s lovely that people find it inspiring. However, for me, I was just playing my character and trying to stay true to it,” she says, matter-of-factly. “If I go to a beach, I would wear a swimming costume. But that’s my confidence and my acceptance of my body.” Talsania believes one needs to be fit to feel happy from within, and well-being is not necessarily related to losing weight. Talsania has embarked on a fitness journey herself after her first film, by eating right and exercising. But she did it for herself, and not as a result of any pressure.

Although Talsania has a strong film connect — her father is veteran actor Tiku Talsania, who is known for his comic timing and wide variety of roles — she has never used her father’s connections to land work. “I’m extremely proud of what my father has achieved, but that is his journey. I believe that my journey will always be my own,” she says. But she hopes to emulate the energy and excitement her father brings to each of his roles, during her journey. When Talsania expressed her desire to become an actor, however, her parents were concerned. As entertainment industry veterans themselves, they sat her down and talked about the ‘erratic’ nature of the profession and gently suggested she explore other things.

And she did give other careers a go. At different times, Talsania has worked as a line producer, celebrity manager and post-poduction for reality shows such as Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa and Indian Idol. But the acting bug had already bitten her.

Talsania’s tryst with acting began in college. “I was in Jai Hind. And, I was offered these two plays — The Graduate, directed by Divya Palat, and a Gujarati play — and it was a great experience,” says Shikha. Her first professional acting gig was Silly Point Production’s Four Square and, since then, she has worked with various theatre groups like Rage Productions and The Patchworks Ensemble. But the production company she has been associated with for the longest is Akvarious Productions. Talsania was a part of the company’s popular play, Internal Affairs. “They have played a huge part in my life. I was introduced to the world of theatre by them and got to meet and collaborate with so many fantastic people,” she says animatedly. This year, Talsania co-directed an Akvarious production called Dekh Behen, with an all-female cast and crew. Set against the backdrop of a big fat Delhi wedding — much like VDW — the play received rave reviews and has completed over 25 shows in less than five months. Asked to pick between films and theatre, Talsania says: “They are very different. For a performer, I don’t think it matters. Both platforms give you a different high. It’s like asking a mother to choose between two of her children.”

Now that she’s found her groove in entertainment, Talsania wants to try it all. “Actor for life. TV, theatre, web series, movies — bring it on. If tomorrow someone says put on prosthetics and play an old lady or become a man, I will happily do it,” she says. “That’s the fun of being an actor.”

She will star with Sonam Kapoor in her next, and he just completed a romantic film with Aruna Irani. Veteran comedian Tiku Talsania and daughter Shikha talk about taking life, and Bollywood, one laugh at a time
Aastha Atray Banan (MID-DAY; July 3, 2016)

Actors, also father and daughter, Tiku and Shikha Talsania, joke as they pose for the mid- day photographer at their Malad East residence. “Make me look good, okay? She has make-up on, I don’t,” Tiku delivers a wisecrack, when Shikha suggests they show off their tattoos. “No, no,” he brushes her off with a hint of embarrassment. “He was the first to get one — it’s of Shiva. We all just followed,” Shika continues.

Soon, the two are tired of posing. “But this is the nature of showbiz,” Tiku, 60, says. He would know. The veteran gained fame as the blustering editor in Dil Hai Ki Manta Nahin (1991) and followed it up with stellar performances in Andaz Apna Apna, Raja Hindustani and more recently, Devdas and Once Upon A Time in Mumbai Dobaara. But it was in 1986 that he first faced the Hindi film camera. It was for Govinda-starrer Duty. Since then, he has acted in over 200 films and television shows. When he is missing from Bollywood, he is going strong on the Gujarati film and theatre circuit. Tiku shares that he has just wrapped up shooting for a romantic film with another Hindi cinema veteran, Aruna Irani. The film is called Kai Karne Yaar (Do something, yaar).

Shikha, 30, made her first appearance as Ranbir Kapoor’s friend in Wake Up Sid (2009). Next came Meera Nair’s Midnight’s Children and My Friend Pinto. In between, she kept herself busy with theatre, and was recently seen on stage in Ladies Sangeet. Her next, Veere Di Wedding, holds promise to earn her mileage, since it stars Sonam Kapoor.

For Tiku, acting was a natural choice. He couldn’t study to save his life. From a family of doctors from Mumbai Central, he saw his “sisters suffer with all the studying”. Shikha quickly adds, “But even though they are all doctors, they are also actors. It’s one big nautanki.” Pursuing theatre in college gradually led him to the professional stage. And it’s here that Tiku met his wife Dipti, also an actress. “Did you know that I have also played serious roles, including that of a villian?” he suddenly asks. “But the comic thing worked best…” The man is full of stories, and our favourite is about Aamir Khan, the perfectionist.

“So in Dil Hai Ki Manta Nahin, there is a scene when Aamir comes to my office and talks of the story he is doing on Pooja Bhatt’s character. I give him a wad of notes and say, ‘we will meet soon’. A few days before the release of the film, I was summoned by Mahesh Bhatt [the director], and something told me they wanted to cut the scene. There, Aamir sat me down and said, ‘I don’t take money from anyone during the movie, not even from Anupam Kher’s character for saving his daughter. So I can’t take it from you, right? It doesn’t fit the character’. We then shot the scene all over again because Aamir was making sense,” he remembers.

The industry was different then than the one Shikha and her generation work in. “In our times, the life of the character artiste was different. We didn’t get paid on time. All the money went to the leads! And everything followed a formula. The hero does this, the villain does that. In a way, it let character artistes do roles that leads wouldn’t imagine doing. Now that Shikha is acting, I see that things are changing. The script is the hero, right?” he says looking at her. Shikha smiles, “Getting paid is still a problem. But yes, now, there are more roles for actors like me. After Wake Up Sid, I got offered only ‘fat girl’ roles. There were scripts that had me as the ‘she will even eat dog biscuits’ character. Rejection is an everyday thing, whatever size you are, but I think it’s now more about, do you fit the role?”

Unlike her father, who chose acting to escape academics, Shikha knew early that she wanted to perform. She had spent her childhood backstage. “Watching my parents has been educational — I have picked up the technique of timing from them. When dad does an emotional scene, his face scrunches in a particular way. I have practised that in front of the mirror for hours. And mom has a way of raising her eyebrows to portray a myriad emotions.” Tiku smiles as he listens to her, and then says, “I have always asked her not to take anything seriously, and always remember to have fun. If you enjoy what you are doing, everything will be fine. That’s the way to deal with any sort of professional situation.”

Ask him if he was hesitant when Shikha decided to work in Bollywood, especially with the premium it puts on the way a person looks, and he laughs, “Not at all. I think you need to find your place. I have worked here for a few decades and have never dealt with the conniving filmy type.” Shikha chimes in, “I think people here are as good or bad as anywhere else. My parents have taught me to keep my head down and keep moving.” They are back to posing now; him hugging her as he calls her “badmash”, and her mock-acting while she takes his blessings.

Serious — what’s that?