Showing posts with label Tisca Chopra. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Tisca Chopra. Show all posts
Sanjay Chopra and I almost got divorced writing Saali Mohabbat-Tisca Chopra
9:44 AM
Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; December 17, 2025)
When Saali Mohabbat was shaping up, Tisca Chopra wanted to act in the film as well as direct it. Producer Manish Malhotra, however, urged her to choose only one role. After she committed to directing, she understood why he had advised so.
“Directing is a mother-of-God hard job. It just never ends,” laughs Chopra, who turned feature film director with the Zee5 movie.
“You start your day with a volley of questions. What should be the size of the car’s number plate? Should the actor shave his chest or not? If you don’t answer, they’ll think that you don’t know your mind. So, you just have to make a decision, even if it’s wrong. And then you make it the right decision.”
What helped was that Chopra knew the world of the Radhika Apte and Divyenndu-led murder mystery intimately. She had written the howdunnit with her husband Sanjay Chopra, a pilot.
Ask her the experience of co-writing with her husband, and she quips, “We almost got divorced writing it. His sense of writing is robust, mine is more subtle. So the yin and yang came together nicely in the script.”
Days after its release, the first-time feature director has only one grouse with Saali Mohabbat — that a word in one of its songs had to be dropped at the insistence of the internal legal team.
“We were told in the beginning [to drop it], but we still went ahead and recorded it. Then we had to dub it to something else,” says Chopra, unconvinced by the idea of censorship.
“I’m not a big fan of censorship. If at 18 years, you can choose a government, why can’t you choose what you want to watch?”
I and my husband once boarded same Air India aircraft that later crashed at Ahmedabad-Tisca Chopra
9:39 AM
S Farah Rizvi (HINDUSTAN TIMES; June 23, 2025)
“This was long awaited,” says actor Tisca Chopra, who is marking her directorial debut with the film Saali Mohabbat that hits the screens later this year. She shares, “It has been on my bucket list as I enjoyed directing when I worked on a short film, Rubaru. Now, it’s been so satisfying to write and direct a story that is close to my heart.”
Speaking about the film, she says the scripting was finished just before the pandemic hit in 2020. “I wrote Saali Mohabbat back then, and I remember every time I narrated the script to a potential producer, I was told, ‘You have to direct this; you know it inside out’. This sentiment was echoed by Manish Malhotra (fashion designer) when I narrated the script to him. So here I am, a director, but my love for acting stays in place.”
While she is enjoying the new role, the last few days have been tough for Tisca, who had a close connect with the unfortunate Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad recently. “Some incidents leave an indelible mark,” she says, explaining how her husband, Captain Sanjay Chopra, a former pilot for Air India, had flown with the airline for many years.
She adds, “We both are still recovering from the shock. AI is dear to us. In fact, we once boarded the same aircraft that crashed. We and all our pilot friends are dealing with the loss and coping with the tragedy. Our hearts are heavy and we are praying for all those who lost their lives in the fatal accident.”
Anurag Kashyap has never directed me and that’s a big grouse I have with him-Tisca Chopra
3:37 PM
Tisca Chopra discusses societal perceptions of women’s strength through her directorial debut Saali Mohabbat which stars Radhika Apte, Divyenndu, and Anurag Kashyap
Priyanka Sharma (MID-DAY; December 8, 2024)
As Saali Mohabbat premièred at the 55th International Film Festival of India (IFFI) last month, director Tisca Chopra felt two contradictory emotions. On the one hand, she felt validated as her maiden directorial feature received praise; on the other hand, she remembers being harsh to her own work throughout the screening.
“I am hyper critical. Even as an actor, while going back home after a shoot, I am redoing everything in my head. I think, ‘I should’ve done this or that.’ I’m trying to be less compulsive about things now,” she smiles.
In Saali Mohabbat, Chopra has brought an eclectic cast of Radhika Apte, Divyenndu and Anurag Kashyap. Considering Kashyap is a prolific filmmaker, did she take any advice from him? “Anurag would give suggestions as an actor, not as a director. For instance, he told me to stage a shot a certain way to save time. And we did,” she says, adding that she and Kashyap go back a long way.
“He has never directed me and that’s a big grouse I have with him. He is a no-filter human being and that makes a quality performer because he is receptive. He was on board even before Manish [Malhotra, producer] was attached to it. On my first day as a feature film director, I was directing Anurag Kashyap!”
The other joy she experienced was directing Apte, who was her first choice for the protagonist. Chopra shares, “I had two people in mind. Radhika was number one, and there was another actor. But Radhika said yes, so we didn’t go to the other person. Radhika is an actor extraordinaire.”
For the film, Chopra has crafted a thriller in which Apte’s protagonist narrates a story of infidelity to a group of guests at her home. Was bringing a female gaze to the theme of infidelity important to her? The director views it differently.
“Infidelity isn’t the centre of the story. It was more about taking certain roles for granted, like the doormat, the wallflower, the simple person, and so on. But when pushed against the wall, how far will a person go? Society perceives women as being weak. But I want to question it in this film.”
For many female actors across Bollywood and Hollywood, the decision to turn filmmaker stems from a lack of characters. But Chopra’s reason is simple. “A story needs to be told in its own way, not as per the market. The idea is to make a story best for itself and to make sure it’s cocooned without it becoming a bastard child. I will act in some films, and write, direct and produce others.”
Manish Malhotra's maiden production Saali Mohabbat to premiere at IFFI
3:05 PM
Couturier-turned-producer Manish Malhotra’s maiden movie, Saali Mohabbat, is to premiere at the International Film Festival of India in Goa this month
Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; November 11, 2024)
As the year is nearing its end, it’s a new start for Manish Malhotra. The fashion designer is taking his maiden production, Saali Mohabbat, to the 55th International Film Festival of India (IFFI) in Goa. The Radhika Apte, Divyenndu and Anurag Kashyap-led suspense drama, which marks actor Tisca Chopra’s foray into direction, will premiere at the film festival on November 22. Malhotra was scouting for a powerful story to venture into filmmaking, when Saali Mohabbat came his way.
“The moment I read its script, I was drawn to its intense and thrilling narrative. At Stage5 Production, we work closely with directors to bring their vision onto the screen with artistry and care. Tisca Chopra’s commitment to crafting this story with such complexity made it all the more compelling,” says the designer-turned-producer.
Jyoti Deshpande, President of Media and Content Business at Reliance Industries, shared her happiness on the news, “We are thrilled to collaborate with Manish Malhotra, who is bringing his creative brilliance from the world of fashion to film—a natural progression for a visionary who has always made impactful statements. With Saali Mohabbat, Manish extends his legacy of creativity, now crafting stories that captivate just as his designs have. Saali Mohabbat is a thrilling and layered story that aligns with our mission to present unique stories from India. We’re honored to debut this film at IFFI and reinforce our dedication to meaningful storytelling.”
In Saali Mohabbat, Apte plays a homemaker who is telling a story of infidelity, deceit and murder to a group of people. While her listeners are riveted, one of them gets the message she intended. First-time director Chopra is thrilled that her ‘howdunit’ is premiering at the prestigious film gala.
She says, “Saali Mohabbat is a story close to my heart, and I’m grateful to Manish Malhotra and Jio Studios for trusting in my vision and supporting my journey as a director. I couldn’t be more excited to present it at IFFI, which celebrates diverse and bold voices in cinema.”
Ibrahim watched Murder Mubarak and said, ‘Aapa jaan, I think you’re looking extremely hot’-Sara Ali Khan
3:54 PM
The cast of the upcoming film entertained fans with juicy tidbits at Mumbai’s first-ever HT City Stars In The City
Compiled by Rishabh Suri (HINDUSTAN TIMES; March 14, 2024)
You’ve heard shaadi mubarak, janamdin mubarak and saal mubarak, but hearing chants of murder mubarak ringing out in a room? That’s what happened when the cast of Netflix’s Murder Mubarak, starring Sara Ali Khan, Pankaj Tripathi, Vijay Varma, Karisma Kapoor, Tisca Chopra, Sanjay Kapoor, Suhail Nayyar and director Homi Adajania met the winners of the first-ever Mumbai edition of HT City Stars In The City contest.
In conversation with Sonal Kalra, Chief Managing Editor (Entertainment and Lifestyle), Hindustan Times, Homi kicked things off by sharing how he got this “whacky” cast together. “These guys are all a bunch of nuts. It was quite difficult to control them,” he joked and added, “We didn’t even do a table reading, I just chucked them together. For directors, it’s pretty boring to keep watching the same film, but I’ve watched it 30 times and there was always a different character for me to watch.”
‘IBRAHIM CALLED ME HOT’
Excited about her character, Sara said, “It’s been a while since I played an urban, glam girl. My brother, Ibrahim (Ali Khan), watched the film and said, ‘Aapa jaan, I think you’re looking extremely hot’. I have a difficult family to impress.”
Tisca can’t wait for audiences’ feedback: ”I don’t think they’ve seen me play a character like this that’s semi-comical.”
Vijay had the audience in splits. He pointed out that he’s been on a spree of working with the ‘Kapoor khandaan’: “My last few outings were hectic for the audience, I played twisted men. But I got to act with Bebo (Kareena Kapoor Khan) in Jaane Jaan (2023), now Lolo (Karisma’s nickname), of course Alia (Bhatt, actor) in Darlings (2022). I am doing tambola with the Kapoor family!”
Glad to be a part of a multi-starrer after many years, Karisma said, “The way of working has changed. We didn’t have table reads or bound scripts. Here everybody knows exactly what they are doing. The last multi-starrer I acted in was Hum Saath-Saath Hain (1999).”
A game to reveal secrets
A round of ‘True or False’ left their fans clutching their sides, while the cast also revealed some juicy secrets — Tisca grew up in Kabul, Afghanistan; Homi is a trained diving instructor, but the most shocking information was Pankaj having spent time in jail. “Main ek hafta jail mein tha. Criminal nahin, student leader tha, aur politics mein jail jaana achhi baat hai,” he responded, cheekily.
FANS ASK, STARS ANSWER
The fans got an opportunity to ask a few questions to their favourite actors. As a part of the filmy parivaar, Sanjay was asked if they talk films at home as well, to which he responded, “Filmwale film ki hi baat nahi karte. I talk about education with my children, health, too. But like any normal family, our conversations are about normal things too.” Suhail feels like a kid in a carnival as he gets to work with his on-screen heroes. “When I saw Sanjay sir, I recited his dialogues from Luck by Chance (2009) and when I saw Dimple Kapadia ma’am, I said, ‘Ma’am aapne jo film mein frustrated kutti bola na...’”
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It’s been a while that I played an urban and glam girl. It’s not something I associate myself with. I’m the kind of person who would rather leave her hair jhalla and go out in a salwar kameez.
- Sara Ali Khan
My last few outings were hectic for the audience, I played twisted men. But I got to act with Bebo (Kareena Kapoor Khan) in Jaane Jaan (2023), now Lolo (Karisma’s nickname), of course Alia (Bhatt, actor) in Darlings (2022). I am doing tambola with the Kapoor family!
- Vijay Varma
Your child not only carries your DNA, but also carries your sense of your spirituality and life state with them-Tisca Chopra
9:48 AM
No matter how busy actor-writer-filmmaker Tisca Chopra is, her calendar always has ample space for her daughter. “The secret sauce is time spent together,” wrote Chopra when she posted photos of herself tucking into sushi and ramen with 11-year-old Tara at a restaurant. The Kasauli-born actor whose earnest performance as mommy to a boy with dyslexia made her one of the most adored reel moms, has penned two books and is now directing her first feature film. She spoke to Neha Bhayana about her childhood in Kabul, and her idea of discipline
Neha Bhayana (THE TIMES OF INDIA; February 11, 2024)
You’re an actor, director, author and a mommy. Which, according to you, is the toughest role?
Mommy, hands down. There is no Sunday off for a mommy. In fact, Sunday is more mommy than most other jobs. Besides, I think your child not only carries your DNA, but also carries your sense of your spirituality and life state with them. So, if your child is being a little cranky or not getting along with people, you can see a direct reflection of how you have been behaving and how you’re getting on with people and what you’re doing with your own life. A child is a mirror of a very, very high magnification in your face. So, one has to face up to that and understand that one needs to see where one is messing up. I see it like that. At the same time, there is no more satisfying feeling than your child curled up in your lap, looking up at you, adoring you and saying, “Mamma, story.” One would not swap that for anything.
Your second book ‘What’s up with me?’ talks about pimples, periods and other problems related to puberty. What made you want to write a book for adolescent girls?
Several years ago, I went to a chemist to buy a pack of sanitary napkins. The man at the counter told me, “Idhar aayiye, side mein.” Then he wrapped the packet in a newspaper and put that newspaper in a black polythene. Out of the corner of my eye, I could see a guy going to a paan-beedi dukaan next door and openly buying a pack of cigarettes and some gutka. It struck me that you can openly buy something which is going to cause damage to your health, but something that happens to half the planet or is going to happen to half the planet has to be concealed and covered as if it’s an object of shame. That got me thinking about this whole conversation and the strange behaviour that we have towards menstruation. And this is in Mumbai, not a small town. All of these thoughts started a conversation in my head and then came the idea of a book about navigating the phase of puberty which is extremely hard for most girls. The moment a girl gets her period, society starts treating her differently. A lot of the common notions are very cultural — don’t touch the achaar, don’t go near the temple and so on. I wanted to instil a sense of pride in girls with regard to the miracle that the female body is, instead of shame and guilt.
Has Tara read it?
She was my first reader. When I gave her a copy, she disappeared for about an hour. And she came back and said, “I like it. It’s nice.” That meant a lot to me because I wanted to book to talk to little girls.
Very few people know that you are the grandniece of Khushwant Singh. Are you too drawn to writing?
I think I’m essentially an introvert. I have always relied on reading and writing as being the mainstays of my life. Now, of course, there’s also screenwriting, movie watching and storytelling via the movies that we make. It comes from having a very rich inner life. I was a single child for a very long time. My brother was born when I was six. And then he wasn’t good company till he was at least five or six years old himself. By then I was 12. So, I had to rely a lot on my own resources. And we lived in Kabul. It would be a biting cold night. And then you wake up the next morning and there is a white sheet spread over everything. It felt like a blank canvas to draw your own fairy tales upon. My parents would go away for parties and I’d be left thinking of stories, reading, doing stuff myself. So, I think that kind of aided my imagination.
Boredom inspires creativity, doesn't it?
It does, provided there is no device. If you have a tablet or a phone, then free time is all going into YouTube videos and all of that. So, one has to navigate that space a little bit more carefully in the current time.
Are you strict about screen time?
I try to be. But she’s a dodgy little creature, my child. She does her own thing often enough. But so long as she’s aware that there is a certain limit. She’s a good kid.
You seem to have fond memories of your years in Kabul (her father was principal of India International School there). What do you feel when you read about the situation there today?
I remember when the Bamiyan Buddhas were blown up, I was howling. My father had taken us there. There was a metal staircase going up to the head of the Buddha and from the top one could see two beautiful, azure lakes that looked like little pieces of heaven. It was the most magnificent sight. Of all the great men who walked on the earth, the one who wanted peace for every single person was the Buddha. It is still unfathomable to me that they destroyed the statues. The country seems to attract war, war-mongering and conflict. It bothers me because when we stayed there, it was some of the most joyful, beautiful years of my life.
How did your upbringing influence your choices as a parent?
We had a lot of interface with nature when we were growing up, so I feel a bit sad that my daughter is being brought up in Mumbai. I remember always being outdoors. The only time we were stuck indoors was when it was snowing. Later, we used to go make snowmen and roll in the snow and go skiing and do all sorts of fun things. I can’t offer my daughter that because of our jobs. I think that’s a gap. We try to do safaris whenever possible but it’s not the same thing.
Do you believe in being a friend to your child?
I haven’t encouraged the friend concept because friendship necessarily entails equality. And I make it a point for her to know that she and I are not equal. We’re equal in God’s eyes and we’re equal human beings. But there are some rules that she will have to follow. It’s not that I am not friendly with her. It’s not that she can’t talk to me. I tell her: “Friends may come and go, but mothers aren’t going anywhere. Whether you like me, don’t like me, agree with me or disagree with me, I’m here. You’re likely to only have one mother and that’s me. And let’s get on from there. I’m your mattress. I’m your rock. I have your back, no matter what.” (pauses) I am a slightly tough parent. But sometimes when I see her face and she goes like (curls her lips downward to demonstrate), I just melt.
She has her way with you?
Sometimes she does, but not all the time.
What’s your take on the new wave of gentle parenting and positive discipline these days?
My father is an educationist, so I have an in-house counsellor in him. One day, my daughter forgot her tiffin at home. I was planning to send my driver to drop her tiffin to school. My dad was around and he said: “Well, that’s good parenting but that’s not effective parenting.” I asked him what he meant. He said that if she doesn’t get her tiffin, three things will happen. One, she will never forget her tiffin again. Two, she will find a way to cope in school. She will either speak to her teachers or her friends. She will have to develop people skills because she would need to eat. And three, I will learn to let my kid be in difficult situations without letting it bother me. I understood what he meant so I didn’t drop the tiffin to school. And she did find a way. She actually had a better time because she ate from a lot of her friends’ tiffins and it was really fun. But she also realized that she can’t do this every day. So, she hasn’t forgotten her tiffin since.
I feel that my job is to get out of the way and be there to just sort of gently guide the flow of her life. I don’t want her to look at me as being the center of her universe. I need to help her find the center of her own universe and to make her the center of her own universe. I don’t want parenting to be an ego trip where I am like, “You listen to me. Me. I am the one who is saying it.”
You have openly spoken about your casting couch experience and how you managed to escape. How are you preparing your daughter to deal with such unpleasant situations?
I think there’s a while before she needs to be told about any sort of couch situation because she’s quite protected. However, they’ve been taught about good and bad touch very well in school. And, I have seen her and all her friends. They are very, very hyper aware kids. They know what is ok and what isn’t. I’m happy about that. I do tell her that there are people who will make you uncomfortable. There are people who will say things that you don’t want to hear... so long as it’s not dangerous to your physical self or your mental health. But if it is, bring it up to me or your teachers or whoever’s around. Do not keep quiet. Don’t take stuff lying down. But don’t become a bully either.
Indian parents tend to be obsessed with marks. What, according to you, are the important life lessons they should focus on instead?
I always tell my daughter that a valuable life is a life that contributes something to the world. You're here to bring joy to the world through your talents, whatever those might be. She’s a fantastic keyboard player and a singer. So, I think she understands this at a fundamental level. I don’t know if she’s done anything about it so far. But she’s a bit of an agony aunt for her friends so it’s started off good. I feel that every skill at the end of the day, whether it’s banking or acting or driving a truck is a human skill. You’re only trying to make the lives of human beings better through whatever it is that you’re doing. If that sense of ego is dropped from the job that you're doing, and you’re not looking at it as self-aggrandizement and self-propulsion, then you’re actually creating something. Like in the case of art, you’re creating it for the sake of art because you believe in that story. You have something to say, you have a point of view that you want others to know and you want to give them joy through that. And that’s where one sees maximum fulfilment.
You have become a director. Do you find it difficult to go for outdoor shoots, leaving your daughter behind?
Tara has been travelling with me since the beginning. She was just a year old when we were shooting in the interiors of Maharashtra in Chiplun. She used to hang around on set, admiring the turkeys that would wander around. I remember there was a little kitten that would come to our room to eat our leftovers. Things got tougher when she started school. My husband is a pilot so he was on flights. But now it’s a lot easier because she’s older and my parents have moved to Mumbai from Delhi. They live in the same building. So nanu and nani are there to take care of her. I don’t have so much stress. But it does break my heart a little bit because every time I come back, she’s grown a little bit and I’ve missed out on some experiences.
Jyoti Kapur Das issues a public notice claiming that she has the sole copyright to Tisca Chopra’s Chutney
3:16 PM
Director-writer Jyoti Kapur Das lays claim to the script rights to Tisca Chopra’s short, Chutney, which is rumoured to be made into a feature
Upala KBR (MID-DAY; July 30, 2023)
Almost seven years after Tisca Chopra-starrer Chutney went viral, the short film is back in the news. Last Sunday, writer-director Jyoti Kapur Das issued a public notice through her lawyers in the trade magazine—Complete Cinema—claiming that she has the sole copyright to the short film. The notice was issued following rumours about Chopra remaking the short, also starring Adil Hussain and Rasika Dugal.
“We went our separate ways after the film [was released]. Somebody informed me that Tisca was planning to make Chutney into a feature film, but she never told me about it. I wouldn’t believe it unless I heard it from her. My lawyers felt that it was important to cover all bases and squash any conceptions from anybody about Chutney,” says Das, adding that the film was a short story (Saag Meat) written by Bhisham Sahni.
“We got permission from his daughter to adapt it into a short movie. There was no paperwork between Tisca’s production company, Royal Stag which commissioned the film, and me. It was a labour of love for us all, [with no remuneration]. If anybody wants to make Chutney into a feature film, they will have to contact me, since I registered the script.”
Asked if the short has any scope to be adapted into a full-length film, Das claims that while she doesn’t wish to rework the script, if someone hopes to remake it, they will have to go into backstories and make it a thriller.
“I think Chutney is done. Although it has lots of back and future stories for all the characters, I would come to a commercial understanding if somebody wanted to make it. I will not block someone from making it, but they need to do it ethically. Tisca is not unprofessional,” says the writer.
When contacted, Chopra, who is all set to make her directorial debut with A Train from Chaprola—produced by Manish Malhotra and starring Radhika Apte—said she is currently busy working on another film. “Chutney is a lovely short film. We have all received so much love for it. There are no plans to make anything of it currently; maybe later, as I am busy with another [project] right now.”
Tisca Chopra hopes to cast Kareena Kapoor for her debut directorial feature
8:17 AM
Upala KBR (MID-DAY; August 7, 2022)
She is a storyteller at heart and the evidence lies in her short films—Chutney (2016), and Chhuri (2017)—that not only saw her as an actor but also the producer and writer. Tisca Chopra made her debut as a director with the short Rubaru (2020). Now, the actor-director wants to take a crack at a feature film with Kareena Kapoor Khan in the lead.
“The character is a modern woman who is strong, relatable, has underlying complex layers, is light-hearted and [someone] who fights with spunk and confidence. Tisca has spoken to Kareena, who is currently filming a thriller with Hansal Mehta,” informs a source.
While it is too early to divulge details on the script, Chopra confirms that plans to work on a story with Kareena is underway. “I have a story in mind for Kareena that I would like to direct, but we have not yet narrated the script to her. The project is with the producers [for now]. I hope something materialises as it is a script for which she will be suitable. Fingers crossed.”
I remember leaving Kabul overnight as a child due to the escalating violence-Tisca Chopra
8:27 AM
The actress, who lived in Kabul for ten years, says her “whole childhood is connected to that land” and that the pictures and videos of people attempting to flee the country have left her heartbroken
Divya Kaushik (BOMBAY TIMES; August 19, 2021)
For Tisca Chopra, who spent 10 years of her childhood in Kabul, the photos and videos of Afghanis attempting to flee the country as Taliban took over the capital city of Afghanistan, were “disturbing and heartbreaking”.
“I worry for the women and children of Afghanistan under the Taliban regime because the freedom to work, education... all that might no longer exist. So many women fought so hard for years for progress, for their basic rights, and all that might just disappear, which is heartbreaking. From what we all have been seeing on the Internet, and whatever I have been reading and watching about Afghanistan, everything is disturbing. My whole childhood is connected to that land. I can understand the sense of betrayal that the Afghanis might be feeling. What are they going to do? The images of people hanging to the wheels of the aircraft that was leaving, falling to their death, were heartbreaking. For them, death was better than living in that country. To see such images, to think about what those people must be going through is disturbing,” says Tisca.
Tisca, who recently shared a picture of her as a child in Kabul on social media, says that Afghanistan “is the land of utmost beauty and utmost turmoil.”. “It is very tragic that the beauty and splendour of something so beautiful has to be cursed by something like this. It’s a strange dichotomy that the land faces. It’s constantly been in turmoil over years. I have so many Afghan filmmaker friends, now settled in different parts of the world. I have been talking to them and they all are so heartbroken. It is going to be the worst for women and children. I just hope something could prevent what we all could see is now going to happen in Afghanistan,” she says.
Reminiscing about her growing up years in Kabul, Tisca says that even that was a time of war for the country. “I don’t think Afghanistan has never not been at war. In my childhood I have seen some very violent incidents, like a tank burning in the middle of the street, just two streets away from my house. We went to somebody’s house on Christmas and had to stay there for three days because curfew was declared in Kabul. These were just some of the things that we saw while growing up in Kabul. My dad was the principal of India International School and we were very good friends with the entire Indian community that was staying in Kabul at that time. It was a close-knit community and those friendships exist even now. I remember we had to leave Kabul overnight as it was getting very violent and the Indian embassy asked all the Indians to evacuate. Leaving overnight was very similar to what is happening now, but at least we had a chance to leave. I never had the chance to visit Afghanistan again and it looks like I am not going to get it for a long time now,” says Tisca.
Tisca Chopra, Gautam Thakker, Akshaye Rathi kick off ration donation drive for 1,000 cinema employees
7:57 AM
Tisca Chopra joins hands with media entrepreneur, exhibitor, to kick off ration donation drive for 1,000 cinema employees
Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; July 2, 2021)
With theatres having downed their shutters for the better part of 2020 as well as this year, those employed at cinemas have faced acute financial strain. Tisca Chopra is lending a helping hand to the community by hosting a ration donation drive — which will cater to 1,000 workers who have been rendered jobless amid the pandemic — at PVR Citi Mall in Andheri today. “I always think of Cinema Paradiso [1988] when I think of theatre workers. In small towns, cinemas are perhaps the only source of entertainment, and the workers are a part of the lives of the locals. They have been out of work all this while. So, I felt we must reach out in whatever way we can,” says Chopra, adding that the basmati rice brand, India Gate, has collaborated with her to distribute essentials among those in need. Over the next few weeks, the drive will be conducted in different parts of Maharashtra, thus reaching out to a wider section of people.
While she had initially started Tisca’s Table with chef Vikas Khanna to facilitate conversations between bright minds, Chopra has of late used the platform to extend support to the marginalised communities. “If each one of us does our bit, we may not have too much suffering in terms of food and essentials. [Media entrepreneur] Gautam Thakker has helped us set up this initiative with the theatre workers’ association, and exhibitor Akshaye Rathi has ensured that food reaches all over Maharashtra, including the Vidarbha region. We want to expand Tisca’s Table to welcome international funding, thus enabling relief work.”
Last year, I realised that I have a voice on social media-Tisca Chopra
7:58 AM
Harshada Rege (BOMBAY TIMES; May 27, 2021)
Last month, Tisca Chopra was in Jaipur shooting for a web show when Coronavirus cases started increasing across the country. When filming was halted, the actress decided to head to her family home in Delhi. She says, “I was in the middle of a shoot. We had finished 30 solid days of work and were about to move from Jaipur to Nawalgarh to continue filming when the second wave hit, and we stopped shooting. Luckily, nobody fell sick. I reached my home on April 13, and within a few days, someone in the family tested positive for Coronavirus.”
‘I HAD ALL THE SYMPTOMS OF COVID, BUT TESTED NEGATIVE FOR IT’
While Tisca’s father-in-law and daughter were among the family members who tested positive for the virus, her reports were negative. The actress says, “Though I didn’t test positive, I had all the symptoms… I had lost my sense of taste and smell, had a fever, body ache, etc. It felt strange that on a set where there were more people, I didn’t have any health issues, and within a few days at my home in Delhi, I was unwell. So, it doesn’t matter where you are, you can’t predict what’s going to happen, and that’s the reason you should never let your guard down. I am glad I got my first jab of the vaccine before I left for my shoot.”
Tisca and her family isolated at their home in the capital. “My way to deal with any illness is to be combative. When I was in isolation, I would sleep a lot because I would feel exhausted. But after a few days, I ensured that I would do my yoga, wash my clothes, sweep and swab the room, so that I wasn’t sedentary,” she shares.
‘THE LAST FEW MONTHS HAVE BEEN LIKE A ROLLER-COASTER RIDE’
Tisca says she wasn’t surprised with the second wave hitting the country. “Looking at the way the second wave was affecting people across the world, it seemed like something drastic was going to happen. Of course, nobody expected something of this magnitude. I knew it wouldn’t be as easy as thinking that we have managed to beat the virus so soon,” she says, adding, “Last year, I realised that I have a voice on social media.”
Tisca recalls, “Back then, I had opened my social media to give a shout-out to smaller businesses because I knew they would be suffering the most. So, it was natural that I would do the same to help people this time around, too. Besides amplifying people’s requests, I used all the contacts I had from the times I shot at different places. The last few months have been an emotional roller-coaster ride as sometimes you are able to help someone, and then you get some bad news.”
‘PEOPLE HAVE ORGANISED THEMSELVES IN A BETTER WAY TODAY TO HELP THOSE IN NEED’
Tisca says that while earlier there was a bit of chaos, now, helping people seems to have become more streamlined. She says, “At first, one would reach out to whoever one could, but today, people and social media are far more organised when it comes to helping people. Now, there are city-specific and need-specific groups. Also, there are these young kids who work 20 hours a day to help people, and when they aren’t able to meet a requirement, they reach out for help on social media.”
‘IT IS IMPORTANT TO REACH OUT TO PEOPLE WHO NEED TO TALK’
Tisca believes that conversations around mental health are very important. She further adds, “Personally, I believe that happiness is a choice. I have made it a practice to tell myself that my time on this planet is limited, so anything that robs my happiness is my worst enemy. Yes, we are probably in the middle of the worst time that we are going to see in our lives, but dwelling on it won’t help. We should reach out to people who we think need to talk and follow the same rule ourselves.”
‘USING THIS TIME TO RELOOK AT THE SCRIPT OF MY DIRECTORIAL FILM’
As for work, while shootings may have come to a halt, she is spending her time constructively. Tisca says, “Work is very much on my mind. I am going to direct a film soon, so I am relooking at my script. I have a narration coming up for it. I have series that I am producing, and I am also reading a few scripts. I often divide my time between amplifying people’s messages on social media and my work. Sometimes, I feel it is actually more hectic than before.”
It is just the shameful neglect of governance and I think all of us feel that very strongly-Tisca Chopra
7:56 AM
Juhi Chakraborty (HINDUSTAN TIMES; May 13, 2021)
In these testing times when the second wave of Coronavirus has wreaked havoc in the country, actor Tisca Chopra has stepped up in a big way and is working round the clock to help people in need via social media.
She has been amplifying thousands of requests of people asking for oxygen, plasma, medicines and hospital beds. “We understand that it is [about] a life, one cry for help is [to save] one life. I don’t think I’d be able to sleep at night if I wasn't doing anything to help people at this time, my conscience would kill me,” she says, adding “It is just the shameful neglect of governance and I think all of us feel that very strongly. Despite that, if every single person steps up and helps two-three others around them, the problem can be mitigated. Last year was the trailer, this year is the main film — and it’s a horror.”
She recalls getting the first request for help around mid-April, after which there have been only more and more of them. “I took to social media to say if anybody needs anything they’d let me know... Lots of people who needed oxygen, plasma started to reach out and we began to amplify,” she says.
In order to help maximum people, Chopra, 47, reveals that an informal group has been formed — consisting of a bunch of like-minded individuals – categorizing, filtering and forwarding requests. “There’s a group for plasma, there’s a group for Delhi, and Mumbai. We’re reaching out to whoever we know. If I know somebody in the south (of India), an actor or someone prominent, I reach out to them also. We are using whatever we have, personal contacts, even cold calling or sending a direct message to who one doesn’t know personally, that’s how we’re working,” the actor concludes.
Irrfan Khan would find the whisperings of the universe in the mundane-Tisca Chopra
7:58 AM
Tisca Chopra, who knew Irrfan for 20 years, talks about the banter she shared with him and remembers him for his ability to see something special even in the ordinary
By Tisca Chopra (BOMBAY TIMES; April 27, 2021)
Firstly, when I hear anyone say ‘he was’, it doesn’t stop shocking me. Irrfan was one of those people with whom it became hard to come to terms with (his death) because I knew him for almost 20 years. I did one of my works with him, called Ek Shaam Ki Mulaquat, which was part of a series called Star Bestsellers (1999). When we started shooting for it, I was in a space where I was considering giving up movies because I thought it wasn’t the place for me. He figured out my personality quickly and realised that if he tells me mat chhor, I won’t buy into that narrative. So instead, he goaded me into staying, saying, ‘Chhor de, kya hai. Tere mein guts toh hai nahi’, ‘Tere se hoga nahi, tu chhor de’, ‘Mujhe pata hai tu chhor degi’, and that kind of made sure that I didn’t quit.
‘HE SAW MANY STRANGE THINGS IN THE ORDINARY’
Years later, we worked together in Qissa (2015). The wonderful thing about Irrfan was that he created an atmosphere on the set and in the scene, particularly in that moment, when everything seemed alive, and be the reality of that moment. He sought and saw many strange things, which I don’t think many other people notice in the ordinary... he’d notice the light switch in the frame not working, and he’d use that in the scene. He would switch it on and off to show that the place is crumbling.
‘HE DIDN’T WORRY TOO MUCH ABOUT LINES & DIALOGUES’
In a particular scene (in Qissa), I was rubbing my forefinger on my thumb to show that my character was stressed. During the shot, he put his finger between my forefinger and thumb and pulled them apart, like a husband would, to say ‘don’t get stressed’. It communicated just that in such an intimate and fragile way... that’s what made him Irrfan. He didn’t worry much about lines and dialogues, and he would make others feel comfortable about it too.
‘IRRFAN BECAME A FRIEND, PHILOSOPHER AND GUIDE’
He would send me films such as Once Upon a Time In America and would say, ‘Dekhi toh hogi nahi tune.’ When I’d tell him that I have watched it, we would talk about it. In many ways, he became a friend, philosopher and guide.
‘THERE WAS CONSTANT BANTER BETWEEN US’
I had a sort of bantering relationship with him, like people who go back a long way do. We travelled a lot with Qissa – to Abu Dhabi, Rotterdam, Toronto – and whenever we’d spend time talking, he would reveal something that would stay with you forever. He would find the whisperings of the universe in the mundane.
‘IRRFAN’S AFFECTION WAS FOR WHAT HE BELIEVED WAS THE AUTHENTICITY OF THE PERSON’
I remember I’d be dressing up for the Toronto International Film Festival or in Abu Dhabi, he would say, ‘Kar le fashion, kar le. Iss se kya hoga?’ He would pull my leg, and I’d keep telling him, ‘Farak padta hai. Aap bhi dress up karo thoda sa. Aise thodi na aata hai koi.’ He would say, “Nahi, aisi baat nahi hai, maine Cannes mein pehna tha tuxedo...’ His expression and affection were for what he believed was the authenticity of the person, and he wouldn’t take a moment to call out something or someone. His passing shattered me to the point where I couldn’t collect myself for days, and I still can’t.
— As told to Harshada Rege
The fact that you have your periods is great-Tisca Chopra
7:58 AM
Actor-writer-mum Tisca Chopra hopes to instill period pride and self-confidence in teenage girls with her latest book, a lockdown project
Jane Borges (MID-DAY; April 4, 2021)
As a teen, the four Ps (puberty, periods, pimples and people) hung like an albatross around our neck. What made it tough was the stigma that came with some. Add to that, the lack of access to good information. It didn’t help my 14-year-old self, who was a bundle of nerves, back then.
Actor-writer Tisca Chopra shares our sentiment, when we connect with her to discuss her new book What’s Up With Me? (Red Panda, Westland). The just released title is a handy guide for young girls, offering practical suggestions for coping with the roller-coaster that growing up is, especially tackling the four Ps.
The idea came from Vidhi Bhargava, editor at Westland and Chopra’s schoolmate. “Because I am quite invested in my daughter’s life, as all mums are, I started looking at her, and her friends more carefully, trying to understand their level of curiosity about things, and how trusting they are about our generation,” says Chopra.
Edited excerpts from the interview.
Most of the issues you discuss in the book are still considered taboo here. How did you negotiate them?
I have had some issues with this when I was growing up as well. I always talk very directly about things, and find it puzzling, when this happens with [conversations around] periods. The fact that you have your periods is great. What should be a concern is when we don’t get it. Historically, in many cultures, there used to be celebrations when girls got their periods, because it was a biological necessity for survival of the species. I wonder when this narrative changed, and when we started making cloaked or veiled references to it. At home, I have taken a lead in this matter. I call a vagina, vagina, and the penis, penis. If you can talk about your hands and feet, why won’t you talk about the rest of the body? I feel this is also a way of putting women on the back-foot. It angers me. [Through this book] I wanted to give girls the power to change and control their own narrative. Subtly, I wanted to put a scaffolding around their spine, and make them stand upright, and say, ‘You know what? We are the reason why the human race is procreating.’ We need to instill period pride in our girls.
What kind of research did you have to do for the book?
Apart from Vidhi, I had three other wonderful women holding my hand through the process. There is Dr Mala Arora, a leading gynaecologist from Delhi, and Malvika Varma, counselling psychologist and therapist, who discussed teen angst, hormonal issues, and mood swings, among other things with me. Akanksha Angnihotri did the lovely illustrations for the book. We have tried to keep the book as inclusive as possible, not just talking about the equations between girls and boys, but between girls as well. Though I am a mother, I chose to write this book from the perspective of an informed friend.
You also have a chapter dedicated to the boys. Why?
The fact is that having your period, at some point, does involve procreation, and there is a curiosity attached to it. I wanted to satisfy this curiosity in a very matter of fact way. Like women, men are biological entities too. They have their own issues and it’s not easy for them either. We need to have empathy for the other gender. I wanted to demystify this whole idea of boy-ness. I hope this book becomes a conversation starter of sorts, and that both, mothers as well as fathers become part of it. Why are fathers being kept out of period talk? It needs to be normalised, and that’s the narrative I want to push for.
What: What’s Up With Me?
Price: Rs 350
To buy: amazon.in
51st IFFI takes off with safety checks in place
8:10 AM
After being postponed from November 2020 to January 2021, the IFFI red carpet finally rolled out on Saturday
Flexcia Dsouza (BOMBAY TIMES; January 18, 2021)
Information and Broadcasting minister Prakash Javadekar struck a hopeful note in his speech at the inauguration, saying, “The COVID vaccine has been launched today and we are sure that when the 52nd IFFI happens in November this year, things will be back to normal.”
Several actors such as Anupam Kher, Madhuri Dixit-Nene, Ranveer Singh, Vidya Balan, Mohanlal, Siddhant Chaturvedi, Aparshakti Khurana, and others joined virtually. Other guests present included Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant and actor Manoj Joshi.
The event was big on performances, with singer Sonia Shirsat opening the show with the popular Hanv Saiba Poltodi Vetam which was adapted by Raj Kapoor as Na Maangoon Sona Chandi in his movie Bobby (1973). There were traditional dance performances by Goan artistes too.
Actors have privileges as well as pressure-Tisca Chopra
8:14 AM
Tisca Chopra on underlining the demanding nature of showbiz, highs and lows of artistes' lives with her directorial debut Rubaru
Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; December 6, 2020)
After Tisca Chopra wrote and produced Chutney, she had a nagging feeling that she needed to stretch herself. That's where Rubaru, her directorial debut, emerged from. Initially conceptualised as a full-length feature film, the Arjun Mathur and Chopra-starrer eventually became a short film. "As actors, we are always servicing the vision of the director and writer. But it's not our story. With Rubaru, I wanted to explore if I had it in me to direct. This was a natural progression after having worked with wonderful filmmakers and learnt a great deal," begins the first-time director.
Always inclined towards writing, Chopra teamed up with husband Sanjay, and Namrata Shenoy to develop Rubaru, which draws from her personal experiences. The short film explores the fragilities of stardom, complete with its highs and lows. "We've all seen how magazines and aam junta talk about actors. Artistes constantly have a mask on, with manicured nails, lashes and mascara on point. But when the garb comes off, what does it feel like? At their most vulnerable, they are regular people. Actors have privileges as well as pressure. Here, we've shown how our lives could be crumbling, but the show must go on. I hope it evokes empathy for the performer."
She emphasises that the pressure of stardom affects the mental health of actors. "You are chosen from billions to be the star. Then suddenly, for no reason known to you, you aren't the flavour of the month anymore. The adulation and social media following drops," she says, alluding that living in the public glare is far from easy.
Ever since the tragic demise of Sushant Singh Rajput, the dialogue about Bollywood's cliques and the pressure of the profession has only intensified. "The [discussion about] Sushant, narcotics, nepotism were not on the radar when we made this film in February. But this subject has been relevant for a few years. The idea of being kinder to performers needs to be the focus, because when the world was falling apart, artistes kept everyone in good cheer."
Dono Rhea aur Kangana mein kaafi galtiyan hai and acchhe points bhi hai, why do we have to choose sides?-Tisca Chopra
8:17 AM
Juhi Chakraborty (HINDUSTAN TIMES; September 21, 2020)
The chatter around Bollywood being a toxic workplace gets louder and louder with each passing day, but actor Tisca Chopra wants to maintain a middle ground.
“The whole government vs government, channel vs channel, actress vs actress situation has been created, and the common sense point of view has no place in it. Amid the whole discussion, understanding and sensibility has been lost,” shares the actor.
The 46-year-old says she is appalled to see how divisive things have become. “I am neither here nor there. The destruction of Kangana’s (Ranaut) house is a terrible thing but Rhea’s (Chakraborty) manhandling is also terrible. Neither is good, but moderate thinking has no place. Dono mein kaafi galtiyan hai and acchhe points bhi hai, why do we have to choose sides?” she further asks.
Chopra says there is no chance of having a sane discussion, anymore. “Free speech and tolerance are getting off track. Aise kyu bewakoof ban rahe hai ki koi kucch bhi bol raha hai. If there is a conspiracy surrounding Sushant (Singh Rajput) and Disha Salian’s death, it should come out. And if there are consumers and dealers (of drugs), filter them out. But, you can’t say that everyone is like that,” she concludes.
Celebs change their social media display pictures to the Maharashtra Police logo to show gratitude
8:21 AM
Rachana Dubey (BOMBAY TIMES; May 12, 2020)
Besides changing their DP, many actors, including Shah Rukh Khan, Akshay Kumar, Ajay Devgn, Riteish Deshmukh and Varun Dhawan, have been tweeting words of praise for the police force. Nimrat Kaur says, “The police officers are risking everything when they step out to do their duty. For the safety of their loved ones, they’re often unable to go home. This was just a small gesture to show our love and gratitude.”
Talking about their selfless service, Tisca Chopra says, “Tough times are a test of character and what has been shown by the Maharashtra Police, the BMC and healthcare workers, is true grit. We won’t forget the courage they have shown.” Rohit Roy adds, “Our police personnel are putting their lives on the line to protect us. The least we can do is appreciate them and let them know that we are grateful.”
The Coronavirus caller tune is not at all effective-Tisca Chopra
8:17 AM
Tisca Chopra finds the automated voice before a phone call ‘highly annoying’, urges better measures
Sangeeta Yadav (HINDUSTAN TIMES; March 18, 2020)
The Coronavirus outbreak has become a sort of a conversation starter with most people these days. And as we talk to actor Tisca Chopra, the automated advisory on the pandemic that plays out before a phone call sets the tone of the conversation. The actor finds it to be “highly annoying” and rues that though the intent is to create awareness, “it’s not at all effective”.
The need of the hour, Chopra says, is stricter measures by the government. “For instance, they should ensue a steady supply of medicines, masks and other essentials. They need to bring the army to create quarantine camps and assist hospitals with support staff. Also, give healthcare workers as much support and funds as they need,” she says.
The Indian Film and Television Directors’ Association (IFTDA) has issued an advisory calling for a complete shutdown in the shooting of ongoing films, TV shows and web content from March 19 till March 31. Hailing this decision, the 46-year-old feels “it’s only for a good reason because a film unit is a tight group of people that come in close contact. So, it’s better to be safe than sorry”.
Ask how her work has been affected and the actor says, “Most public events and film shoots planned for March have been cancelled. I was to shoot for a project in May, that has also been indefinitely pushed.”
Staying optimistic in these trying times, the actor says, “I’m not unhappy about this shutdown as it’s been a hectic few months directing my short film. So, I’m looking forward to spend time with family and friends.”
Chopra shares that her daughter, Tara, hasn’t been going to school either and “frequent hand-washing and gargles have become mandatory at home. We aren’t stepping out for meals at all.”
Shaukat Kaifi’s family and friends celebrate her life with music and memories
2:22 PM
Shabana Azmi, Javed Akhtar, Tanvi and Baba Azmi with family and friends ‘celebrate’ Shaukat Kaifi’s life
Akash Bhatnagar (MUMBAI MIRROR; November 27, 2019)
On Friday, at 5 pm, Shaukat Kaifi passed away at the age of 91. Four days later, family and friends met to celebrate her life rather than mourn her loss. Hosted by the Azmi family, including her children Shabana and Baba Azmi, daughter-in-law Tanve and son-in-law Javed Akhtar, the gathering drew many from the film fraternity, from actors like Aamir Khan, Anil Kapoor, Kajol, Tabu and sister Farah Naaz to filmmakers Ashutosh Gowarikar and David Dhawan. Zarina Wahab, Neena Gupta, Poonam Dhillon, Tisca Chopra, Divya Dutta and Aditi Rao Hydari were also spotted at Jalaram Hall in Juhu which was decorated with white flowers. A slideshow chronicled Shaukat Kaifi’s life, with pictures from her early days, theatre and films, as also her achievements and moments with the family.
The evening started with a classical music programme as the late actress had loved classical music, specially the violin, and had been obsessed with saris. Shabana recalled how at Ankur’s premiere, she was sitting beside her mother in the front row, and midway through the film, Shaukat Kaifi started praising her performance at the top of her voice. “A month later, at another film’s premiere, she did not like my performance and yelled at me with the same tone and loud voice, saying she would have got me married if she’d known I’ll perform so bad, not caring who was listening,” she recounted.
The family agreed that Shaukat Kaifi had advocated empowerment of women in her small ways when it wasn’t fashionable. So much so, that when Baba and Tanve married, he jokingly told her not to spend too much time in the company of his mother and sister, as he didn’t want them to convert her to their way of thinking, Tanvi shared with a laugh.
Shabana then recalled that when Nobel Laureate Amartya Sen praised her book, Kaifi and I, her mother bought 16 saris to celebrate. When Shabana reprimanded her, saying she had never purchased so many saris together, her mother shot back, “That’s because you were never appreciated by Amartya Sen.” She was very particular about dressing up, and even when she was in hospital, she wanted visitors to come dressed well. A video also had her singing from the hospital bed.
Javed Akhtar concluded by narrating how she had once forgotten his name, even though he was her only son-in-law, while introducing him to her sis-in-law. As the hall reverberated with music and laughs, one knew that somewhere far away, Shaukat Kaifi was smiling approvingly.
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