Tanvi Trivedi (BOMBAY TIMES; April 30, 2019)

It took Behzad Khambata, who has assisted on films like Boss and OMG – Oh My God!, 14 years to bag his first directorial venture. His movie, Blank, which features Sunny Deol and newcomer Karan Kapadia in lead roles, revolves around a suicide bomber, who loses his memory and has a bomb attached to his heart. The anti-terrorist squad has to prevent the bomb from exploding. The director spoke to Bombay Times about working with Sunny Deol in his maiden project, and the pressure of making commercial films. Excerpts:

Why did you choose a topic like terrorism for your debut as a director?
Two years ago, when we thought of this subject, a film on Uri attacks had not been made. In the last few months, there have been many movies based on patriotism and dealing with the topic of terrorism. It does get unnerving because my film also has terrorism as its backdrop. I liked the subject and the uncertainty that surrounded a guy, who has a bomb in his heart. My film is commercial, but if you are waiting for someone to break into a song, that won’t happen. It has a runtime of 100 minutes, and it goes from one scene to another and keeps you on the edge of your seat. I learnt a lot while shooting with a senior actor like Sunny Deol because some people on my team, Karan Kapadia, my assistant director and writer, were all first-timers.

Considering the fact that this is your first film, was it intimidating to direct a senior actor like Sunny?
I had many inhibitions before I started working with him, but once the shoot began everything went smoothly. He insisted that I should correct him or let him know if something goes wrong so that we don’t repent while editing the film. The role of an antiterrorist squad chief suits him. I am thankful that he agreed to do it.

You have shot the film in Mumbai. What kind of an experience did you have?
I remember we had to shoot two scenes in Mira Road. It was a crowded area and was perfect for the shot. On one particular day, after I finished filming with Karan, it was time to shoot with Ishita (Dutta). At around 1.30 pm, when we went on the location, surprisingly, the streets were completely empty. Perhaps it was Eid that day, so people had closed their shops and gone home to celebrate. I was worried as I needed a crowd for my shot. There weren’t any junior artists either. So, we had to cheat and shoot with four-five people behind Ishita. You learn to handle such situations if you have worked as an assistant director. We also shot the movie in Vasai, Dongri and on the sets.

Your first film often paves the way for you in the industry. Are you feeling the pressure?
We have stayed true to the script and given it our best shot. Now, the audiences will give its verdict. It is very tough to make a film and even tougher to release it. With this movie, I have learnt many things about filmmaking, which will be useful when I direct my next project. This is not a big bonanza movie; it revolves around a great script and performances. I am happy that two years ago, when Karan heard the script, he agreed to do it as it is a rather unconventional choice.

Do you think that today it has become easier for new directors to get a break?
Yes, I think there is a huge influx of actors and directors in the industry, and everyone has work now. I had a difficult time finding projects as an AD, but when I call people now, they seem to get work relatively easily. This motivates me. I respect makers, who make a film with all the commercial trappings because the pressure to release such a movie is very high. They have more to lose as their money and reputation are at a higher risk. When a big producer fails, it becomes public news. If my movie does not work, I will be washed away because people are skeptical about working with someone whose film has not worked, even if it had good reviews. Luckily, I had Anthony D’souza (director) who guided me. I learnt a lot from him. At the end of the day, this was a great team to work with.

Emraan Hashmi’s innings as a producer is guided by his concerns as a father as he takes on the education system and child kidnappings
Roshmila Bhattacharya (MUMBAI MIRROR; August 13, 2018)

Every actor, at a certain age, turns the corner and it seems that this rebellious lover too is getting into a more mature groove now with films like Cheat India and Father’s Day.
(Chuckles) I don’t know if I’d call it maturity because I can still be quite immature at times, but with a certain amount of experience, your concerns and priorities change, as does your outlook of the world and cinema. And this reflects in the films you do. What you did 10 years ago, maybe even five years ago, seems like a been there, done that now and you want to move to something new. With different platforms offering interesting content, the audience too is evolving. You have to keep up with the times if you don’t want to be left behind. I’m lucky these scripts are coming my way.

Would you say the turning point in your journey were films like Raja Natwarlal, Hamari Adhuri Kahani and Raaz Reboot that didn’t work?
I wouldn’t want to take names but I admit I did feel like I was sleepwalking through some films, and the time and effort was not worth all the money in the world. I needed to challenge myself as an actor. Since I’m producing my next two films, it will give me a chance to nurture them from their inception to their fate.

You have been talking about getting into production for a while. One wondered what kind of cinema you’d invest in when you took the plunge.
(Smiles) My sensibilities are very different from the kind of films I’ve chosen to do in the past. When people see me in person, they often find me to be a total mismatch from what they were expecting. A decade ago, films like Cheat India and Father’s Day would have been dismissed as ahead of their time by the industry, but today with the language of cinema changing and the audience too, I can afford to experiment.

I want my films not just to be entertaining, cinematic experiences, I also want the stories to stay with people for days, months, hopefully years. They shouldn’t be like that box of popcorn you toss into the bin as you leave the auditorium.

You’d have been thinking of your son Ayaan’s future when you set up your company...
I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t. When Ayaan grows up, if he wants to take over the reins, the company is his. And since I’m an actor, my son would be inclined to follow me into the industry. But I don’t want him to limit his options. Sure, I’d be able to guide and protect him here since I know the territory well, but what if he has an acumen for business or wants to become a doctor? The decision has to be his. We destroy our children’s future by imposing our dreams and our fears on them. But our children come from us, not for us and Ayaan doesn’t owe me anything.

There’s also the issue of nepotism…
On the subject all I can say is you can hold your child’s hand, take him to a point, but the journey is his. It’s a double-edged sword. If Ayaan decides to become an actor, he will definitely have an easier access coming from a film family, but there’d be attempts to mould him into becoming his father’s carbon copy and he’d lose his individuality.

Cheat India deals with our education system and personally I don’t think there’s anything encouraging left there.
Yeah, the SSC and HSC paper leaks in Maharashtra and the Vyapam entrance exam, admission and recruitment scam in Madhya Pradesh in 2013 are very disturbing not only because a bunch of rich kids have the money to buy question papers and become merit holders, but they can then also pay their way into jobs which they are not qualified for and that makes all of us very vulnerable. Imagine that the doctor operating on you in a small town has no medical experience? It’s bizzare and scary. Our education system is archaic with text books being updated every five-10 years, the teacher-student ratio skewered because of over-population and the teachers themselves under-qualified for the job at times. Do you know that India’s expenditure pumped into the education system is a measly 4 per cent of the GDP, a major shortfall from the realistic target of 6 per cent and above? Cheat India will touch on all this and other concerns but the vibe is entertaining.

You have a school-going son, how does all this affect you?
I’ve made sure Ayaan is not studying in the same board that I did as it wasn’t very interesting for me to go to school and when that happens, it’s the school’s fault and not the child’s. I’m very happy with my son’s curriculum. It doesn’t encourage rote mugging but develops social skills, a sense of discipline and responsibility and is aimed at all-round development. There’s a suicide happening in our country every hour and the reason for this is that our education system does not equip us with original thinking or give us real-world knowledge. It’s all about grades and fostering a competitive streak in our kids which leads to depression and disillusionment in later years because the kids are lost when looking for a job.

What appealed to you about the story of Suryakant Bhande Patil, the Pune-based civil engineer who’s worked with cops to solve 120 child kidnapping cases for free?
Very few script narrations have left me feeling emotionally charged and satiated like this one. Maybe it was the bond between father and son.

Since the film is called Father’s Day and features two children, will we see Ayaan sharing the screen with you?
I’d love to share the screen with him because I know rather than me, Ayaan will teach me a few things about acting. He’s so spontaneous, expressive, energetic and totally unabashed but I’ll leave the ball in his court. Even if it’s a nine-year-old’s decision, I know it will be the right one because my son knows what he wants. Kids today are very smart.

What’s happening with Captain Nawab, the fim about the Kargil war?
It’s on pause right now, Tony (D’Souza, director) could fill you in on it.

And The Body?
I just finished it. It’s a horror thriller, a space I hadn’t touched for a while because the scripts I was getting were so predictable. But this stays ahead of the audience till the end. Director Jeethu Joseph is a brilliant mind. It has an interesting cast of Vedhika, Shobita (Dhulipala) and Rishi Kapor who plays the detective.

Nayandeep Rakshit (DNA; February 23, 2018)

Emraan Hashmi has evidently been having a rough time at the box office. In the last six years, the actor has had 11 releases, none of which have managed to make money at the cash registers. Despite the string of flops, he has three films in his kitty — Captain Nawab, Cheat India, and Jeetu Joseph’s horror thriller.

However, Captain Nawab has already run into troubled waters. Says a source, “Emraan had booked his dates for the spy thriller and even begun shooting for it. But now, the shoot has been temporarily stalled. That’s why his other films have been announced in quick succession.”

When asked  about the reason, the source reveals, “Director Tony D’Souza and the entire team is awaiting a clearance from the Indian military to resume the shoot. In the movie, Emraan plays a double agent who represents India and Pakistan and lands in trouble when both countries find out about his betrayal. Given that he plays a man in uniform and it highlights the sensitive Indo-Pakistan relationship, the armed forces are wary of how it will be shot. They have raised a few questions and unless a clearance is received, work on the film cannot resume.”

Confirming the news, Tony says, “Yes, we have sent the script to the Ministry of Defence. We are awaiting their clearance to proceed with the shoot.” He quickly clarifies, “Anyone who makes a film on the army doesn’t do it with an intention to hurt anyone’s sentiment. We have a lot of respect for the Indian Armed Forces.”

Tony adds that the clearance is expected soon. “We had finished our first schedule, but we will shoot portions of the film featuring the Indian Army now. So, we needed the Ministry to give us a No Objection Certificate. It should come either by the end of this month or in the first week of March. Then, we would be good to go,” he says.

Avinash Lohana (MUMBAI MIRROR; January 5, 2018)

Late actress-designer Simple Kapadia’s son Karan will be making his Bollywood debut in Behzad Khambata’s action-packed entertainer in which he plays a 26-year-old boy trying to find his way in the world. Sunny Deol will also feature in the film.

Confirming the news Tony D’Souza who is jointly producing the film with Shrikant Bhasi, Nishant Pitti and Vishal Rana says that when Behzad finished the script, he felt Sunny was apt for a particular role. “It’s very different from his current lot of films, including Poster Boys and Yamla Pagla Deewana Phir Se and takes him back to the action genre. He is in the forces and will start shooting by the end of this month,” informs Tony.

Sunny has done many films with Karan’s aunt Dimple, including David Dhawan’s Aag Ka Gola, N Chandra’s Narsimha and Rahul Rawail’s Arjun. He has also worked with the debutant’s brother-in-law Akshay Kumar in Rajkumar Kohli’s Jaani Dushman: Ek Anokhi Kahani. “Behzad is a huge fan of Mr Deol and has grown up watching his films. The first time we went to meet him, he was so nervous to meet the actor who he has worshipped all his life that he was almost speechless. He told me later that all through the meeting the dialogues of Ghayal kept playing in his head,” chuckles Tony.

Karan will start shooting for the film from today and Tony adds that while launching a new boy is a tough job, more so when he comes from a lineage of actors like Karan, they are all excited. “We are nervous but we trust Behzad. The entire film is set in Mumbai and we plan to wrap up the entire shoot by April-end,” Tony signs off.

Avinash Lohana (MUMBAI MIRROR; December 29, 2017)

Simple Kapadia’s son Karan was 14 when he confided in his actress-aunt Dimple Kapadia and cousin Twinkle Khanna that he wanted to act too. “They were initially surprised but understood that having grown up around their sets as a child, it was inevitable that I’d want to follow in their footsteps. They pointed out the risks involved and warned me I should be ready to work hard. And since then they have been very supportive and helped me get ready for the road ahead,” informs the 24-year-old actor-to-be.

He also reveals that he had earlier been obese at 112 kg but following regular gymming, he is now a fit and healthy 88. “I’ve learnt to ride a horse and the bike, I’ve been swimming and I trained in martial arts for six months in Bangkok,” informs Karan, who having learnt acting at the Jeff Goldberg Studio is now gearing up for his Bollywood debut to be directed by Behzad Khambata. It will be an action-packed entertainer, produced by Shrikant Bhasi, Nishant Pitti, Vishal Rana and Tony D’Souza. Karan had assisted Tony on the 2013 Akshay Kumar-starrer Boss.

He knew Tony was working on this film but was shocked when he approached him to play the protagonist a few months ago. “I have known Tony and his team for a while now. Working with people you’ve known for a long time is great. I play a 26-year-old boy who is trying to find his way in the world. As soon as I heard the script, I knew I wanted to be a part of it,” says Karan who starts shooting in January.

The debutant lives with his aunt Dimple who has been both a mom and a dad to him. “I lost my mom when I was 15 but I feel extremely lucky to have two moms. I can talk to my aunt-mom about my girlfriends, fights with my friends and work too,” he says.

Prod him about his mother who succumbed to cancer when she was 51 in November 2009 and Karan says emotionally, “She was amazing, the toughest person I’ve seen. To date when I’m on a film set, people come up to me and start talking about my mom. She spread love and happiness around and left an impression.”

Karan is also “super close” to his cousin Twinkle who turns 43 today. “She lives a minute away so we see each other all the time. She’s awesome and was destined to be a famous writer. She’s killing it!” he gushes, as connected with Rinke too, noting that being almost 20 years older that him, they organised his birthday parties, took him for meals, swimming and movies.

Twinkle is in Cape Town with actor-husband Akshay Kumar to ring in the New Year. “I couldn’t join them as I am busy with prep but I will Skype to wish her,” he smiles, admitting the best tip came from Akshay who told him that no work is big or small. “Work is work.”

As Simple’s son gears up for B-Town debut, aunt, brother-in-law set to make cameo appearances in his launchpad
Upala KBR (MID-DAY; September 18, 2017)

Last week, mid-day broke the news about Dimple Kapadia’s nephew and Simple Kapadia’s son Karan making his acting debut in a Tony D’Souza production. Karan had told mid-day how his aunt as well as his brother-in-law Akshay Kumar rallied behind him in his Bollywood dreams. He had said, “They were extremely supportive [of his decision to join the movies]. They both warned me that it won’t be an easy journey ahead.”

Now, we hear both Kapadia and Kumar will be seen making cameo appearances in the film. A romance drama, the movie will be produced by Ranjeet Sharma and D’Souza will serve as the creative director. While the director is yet to be finalised, debutant Ashima Sharma has been roped in to play the female lead.

A source close to the project says, “Akshay and the whole family are supporting the film in every way possible. In fact, it was Akshay who had introduced Karan to Tony at his party. Tony knows how much this film means to the superstar, so, he is going the extra mile to ensure Karan makes a promising start in Bollywood.”

Well-versed with the ways of the industry, Kumar is lending his star support to make sure his brother-in-law’s launchpad generates buzz among the audience. “Akshay will announce the film on his social media handle, so that it grabs maximum eyeballs,” adds the source. The project is slated to go on floors in October. “The first schedule will last for 15 days. The team has decided to kickstart the film after Navratri, as it is an auspicious period.”

D’Souza says, “I am producing a film with Karan, the modalities are still being worked out. I will focus on it only after my directorial, Captain Nawab, is completed.”

The film is expected to release sometime in May-June next year.

Upala KBR (DNA; September 11, 2017)

Their love for acting runs in the family. Dimple Kapadia has proved her acting prowess time and again — much like her late husband Rajesh Khanna, who was the original superstar of Hindi cinema. While Kapadia’s daughter Twinkle too had her brush with Bollywood, her son-in-law Akshay Kumar has sealed his place as one of the biggest stars of B-Town today. Kapadia’s late sister Simple dabbled in acting as well as designing.

Now, the youngest kid of the Kapadia family is set to take the lineage ahead. Simple’s son Karan Kapadia, 24, is set to foray into Bollywood with Tony D’Souza’s production next year. Kumar shares a close association with D’Souza — the two worked together in Blue (2009) and Boss (2013). It was at one of his dos that the actor introduced the filmmaker to his brother-in-law, a chance meeting that set the ball rolling.

Having harboured acting ambitions since his childhood, Karan says that both Kumar and his aunt Dimple Kapadia were surprised when he, only 14 then, told them about his aspirations. “They didn’t see it coming because I have always been an introvert. But, once I told them, they were extremely supportive. They both warned me that it won’t be an easy journey ahead. At the time, I was this chubby kid who thought I only had to lose weight and bagging films thereafter won’t be too tough,” he says with a sardonic smile.

Their words of wisdom rang in his ears as he started his Bollywood journey, a few years later. Having studied acting at the Jeff Goldberg Studio in Mumbai, Karan landed screen tests for films. “I have gone out there for auditions, I have been rejected and been told already by a few people that they don’t see any spark in me,” he laughs before adding, “However, most said that I do have potential. So, it’s good that I have been exposed to rejection early in my career.”

At a time when nepotism is a raging debate in the industry, Karan agrees that as a star kid, he does enjoy certain advantages, but adds that his family “never had to make a phone call to any producer” for him. “When you come from the kind of family that I do, you obviously have access to certain people that you wouldn’t have otherwise. But, I do as much as I can on my own.”

The youngster is currently working on his physique for his debut project with D’Souza. About launching Karan, D'Souza confirms, “Yes, we will make a film with Karan, but it is too early to say anything. I intend to produce films, but that will happen only after I have wrapped up my directorial Captain Nawab.”

Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; July 5, 2017)

The first poster of Captain Nawab was trolled for its similarity with the video game, Call Of Duty: Black Ops’s poster. But it seems that co-producers Tony D’Souza and Emraan Hashmi have put the debacle behind them. They have been working on the script over the last few months. “The film is about a spy, who lands in the Pakistani army. It’s an action film, but at the core, it’s an anti-war movie. It falls in the spy thriller genre, but we are trying to make a film that appeals to a wide audience. Since it is Emraan’s first production, he is involved in most aspects, including costing and scripting,” says D’Souza.

This will be the first time Hashmi will play a military officer. “He is to train with members of the Indian Army to get the mannerisms and use of arms right. He will also be taking lessons in Urdu to come across convincingly as a character from Pakistan.” The film will go on floors on Gandhi Jayanti.

“Gandhiji’s principles are more relevant now than ever, since the concept of an eye for an eye is dangerously propagated. Our film reiterates the futility of war,” he adds.

Upala KBR (DNA; June 9, 2017)

Shruti Haasan reminds one of her father Kamal Haasan — opinioniated, candid and forthright. The actress keeps shuttling between Mumbai and Chennai, as she is working in both the industries. Her Behen Hogi Teri releases today. Here, Shruti opens up about the film, her father, quitting Sanghamitra and marriage plans.

What made you sign a film with such a quirky title?
When I heard the story I was like — I hope it isn’t one of those titles that’s there just for the sake of it. But, it pretty much fits the film. I loved the story and my character Binny Arora. One of the deciding factors for me is — would I watch this film and enjoy it? And, I could genuinely see myself watching this film. That’s what allows me the opportunity to not box myself and try as many things as possible.

Are you similar to Binny?
Very rarely is any character is completely similar or different from you. If you are an empath, you can find similarities with most characters... unless it is a serial killer. Binny and her socio-geographic-economic background are nothing like mine, but she is a real life character, based on producer Tony D’Souza’s sister.

Did you meet his sister?
I didn’t want to meet her, as I didn’t want my perception to get influenced. But I did see videos of her and mostly it was lovely to look at, as it was from her brother’s and family’s point of view. The references were so strong. As the character is real, the writing is not one-dimensional. If you were writing about your brother it would be different from a fictional character as you would be able to take the character through the journeys that you have seen, which is why I loved playing this part. She’s tough and like a tomboy, but equally romantic, vulnerable, feminine and naïve at times, but super smart and sensible otherwise. I think all women are like that — it’s not just one particular thing, and I love that.

Ever faced a situation where you thought of a guy who was in love with you as a brother?
I find it very difficult to think of someone just as my brother. I have a friend who I have known since we were three years old, I don’t look at him as my brother but as my best friend. Because I never had a brother, it’s hard for me to imagine what that is like. It’s not as if I feel that men and women can’t be friends. My best friend is like my brother for all intents and purposes without a doubt. I just don’t feel the need to call him that.

Did you feel daunted before working with Rajkummar Rao hearing about his body of work?
(Laughs) I am Kamal Haasan’s daughter so other actors don’t get me nervous! I have gotten over that. I grew up with my father and still decided to be an actor, so I think I am over that being nervous. I could act with Al Pacino now and not be nervous. Coming to Rajkummar it was wonderful to work with someone who gives a lot to their character and is very committed to his work. It just makes the film and your role better, especially if it’s a romantic comedy. Rajkummar is a lot of fun and brings a lot of positivity to his work. Our chemistry was important, our camaraderie had to translate well on screen and I think that worked because we both are so committed to our work. As an actor I had heard a lot about him and seen his work.

One liners

Beyonce or Rihanna
I like Beyonce for her music and Rihanna for her attitude.

My song of the moment
I am addicted to the song Flute by Hot Chip.

Flirty or intense romance?
Intense romance any day.

A quality that draws you to a man?
The ability to introspect and intelligence.

A quality in a man that puts you off
A weak man who has denial issues.

Is there a Mr Perfect?
No, there is no such thing.

Live in relationships are…
A good testing ground to see if you are compatible.

Subhash K Jha (DNA; May 30, 2017)

Tony D’Souza, producer of Behen Hogi Teri, is still coming to terms with his sudden arrest and being held in police custody for over 48 hours in Jalandhar, Punjab, for “hurting religious sentiments.”

Says Tony, “I was suddenly taken away. It took me a while to understand why I was being arrested. I wasn’t even aware of the objectionable scene.”

Shiva destroys
But his troubles are far from over. Not only does he have to prepare for the film’s release, he also is prepping himself for a legal battle. Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) chairperson Pahlaj Nihalani says, “We found the scene (where Rajkummar Rao is dressed as Lord Shiva, riding a two-wheeler) objectionable. We knew it would cause trouble. We removed it before granting the film a censor certificate. But the promos carried the scene and the damage was done.”

Pehle bhi
Point out that Akshay Kumar as Lord Krishna rode a motorbike in Umesh Shukla’s OMG O My God and that PK features an actor in a Lord Shiva getup in a long chase sequenc.? Pahlaj adds, “We are very careful about not hurting religious sentiments. I am proud to say there have been no protest morchas by religious organisations in front of the CBFC office in recent times.”

The FIR was filed post a picture of lead actor Rajkummar Rao dressed as Lord Shiva, riding a two-wheeler went viral.

Avinash Lohana (MUMBAI MIRROR; May 26, 2017)

In April, Amul Mohan, a co-producer on the Rajkummar Rao and Shruti Haasan-starrer Behen Hogi Teri, tweeted a teaser poster of the film which had Rao as a dejected Lord Shiva sitting atop a motorcycle. While it was hailed as “oddly cool” by some, others wondered if it would unwittingly invite outrage from devotees of the Hindu deity.

Over a month later, Mirror has learnt that Jalandhar resident Ishan Sharma, taking offence at the poster, has filed a private criminal complaint against the makers of the romcom at Jalandhar Magistrate Court. Following this a warrant was issued against the makers and co-producer Tony D'Souza, who appeared at Versova police station on Thursday.

“Since a warrant was issued, Tony had been called to the police station. We have moved the Andheri Magistrate Court and have applied for bail. During festivals many artists dress up as gods, but that doesn’t mean they are demeaning them in any way. Even Akshay Kumar had played Lord Krishna in OMG: Oh My God! and was seen riding a bike, no one had raised an objection then. Why now?” argues the film’s lawyer Bhushan Mahadik, who is currently in London, adding that the complainant is trying to get publicity out of the episode. “There is a Censor Board that advises cuts if necessary. We will examine the complaint in detail and will take strict action against the complainant if he's in fact trying to get publicity”.

Kiran Kale, in-charge of the Versova police station where D’Souza had appeared, says, “The primary complaint was moved by a section of Vishwa Hindu Parishad functionaries (based out of Jalandhar) who objected to Lord Shiva being mounted atop a motorcycle as the film posters evinced. We have, however, come across nothing irregular in the matter and offered and facilitated whatever assistance they needed.”

At the time of going to press, despite their best efforts, D’Souza and Co. had failed to post bail, while Amul Mohan, who has since deleted the ill-fated post from his Twitter account, remained unavailable for comment.