Preparing Farhan Akhtar to seamlessly 'disappear' from before the opponent on the set of Toofan, Darrell Foster on making him a convincing boxer
Sonia Lulla (MID-DAY; January 22, 2020)

At one point during our conversation with Darrell Foster, the world-class fighter and fitness maverick abruptly flings a few coins on the wooden floor of his vanity van, a few feet away from a suburban venue, where the shooting of a boxing scene for Farhan Akhtar's Toofan is set to commence. The clamorous interruption evidently has us startled, and it is at this point that Foster would deliver upon us his winning blow, had we been in a physical bout with him. Hollywood's go-to person when the sport of boxing needs to be replicated for reel, Foster is responding to our questions pertaining to his E2: Enlightenment and Exercise program, which focuses on training the brain, just as much as one does the body, for boxing. It's also the method he employed to build Akhtar into the physical genius he seems to have become if his Instagram posts are anything to go by.

Gone with the wind
Trainer to Will Smith for the Muhammad Ali (2001) biopic, and to Miles Teller for Bleed for This (2016), Foster asserts "most of the boxing [occurs] between the ears". In a bid to establish his point on the importance of mental agility, he reiterates that exhausting an opponent mentally is just as crucial as getting him physically depleted. "You have to understand the human mindset. If you get cut, hit, or hear a loud noise, [I can] get a reaction from you. That's when I'll hit you. You make your opponent do that, and in that split second, [the game is yours]. The analogy of a train coming down the track [is employed here]. The train can only operate on the track. It's [a boxer's] job to derail the opponent, get him tired, and keep him looking for you. I'm going to teach you to make your opponent feel like there's something buzzing [in his ear]; he must turn instinctively instead of strategically, and you must be able to disappear."

Making a runner box
Having ascertained Akhtar's dedication to become the boxer he was set to play in Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra's film, Foster was willing to take up the boxing drama. But even though Akhtar had spent a fair amount of time learning to box, before his arrival, Foster says he initially "wasn't impressed". "I was impressed with his physicality, and his dedication. But, I've dealt with boxers for 50 years on a world-class level. What I spotted [in Akhtar] initially were things I knew I was going to have to undo. After my initial consultation via Skype, [his team] told me of the track movie [Bhaag Milkha Bhaag] that he had done. Since that involved a lot of leg work, I decided to start there, in terms of setting his speed, and teaching him how to shift his weight. We went back to basics, [learning] balance and ring work; [I taught him the] same way I would a five-year old, by starting from scratch. He was an open vessel. I used analogies," he says, going on to highlight an example when further prodded. "I would ask him to walk and fetch the gloves [at a small distance]. When he'd return, I'd ask him if he thought about how he walked, and bent down to fetch the gloves. He'd say, 'No'. And I'd say that's where we need to get you as far as fighting skills are concerned. [It must feel so natural that] you strike your opponent, your hand is back, and you haven't thought about it. We have to get to a point where you eliminate the thinking process and operate on natural instincts. We all have two arms and two legs, and most boxers go: right-left-right [with their punches]. I had to teach him to double and triple up with one arm."

Setting goals, and meeting them
When Foster's kids decide to hop aboard a treadmill, he instructs them to set their goal up front. "Before you step on, you have the choice to decide how much you want to run. But once that's set, you will not stop. If you pass out, I'll pick you up, and [get you] medical attention. But, you won't stop because you've decided to quit." His attitude with Akhtar, he alludes, was no different. "[I told him], we've got one holy grail —the script. We're serving the movie, and that's a tall task. I can't act like him, he can't fight like me; so, we've got to blend. Failure is not an option. We have to get to the finish line together."

With abundant Hollywood projects on his resume, he admits that he has also developed a fine understanding of lenses and camera-work, a knowledge that afforded him immense control on the set of Toofan. "Rakeysh has relinquished his authority with nothing but humility. He'd announce [to the crew] that [they must follow] my instructions. If I think we must cut, we'll cut. [We'd do whatever is needed to] get the required performance."

Kavita Awaasthi (HINDUSTAN TIMES; December 1, 2019)

Mrunal Thakur is basking in the success of two hit films — Super 30 opposite Hrithik Roshan, and Batla House co-starring John Abraham. But other than box office success, she has also been overwhelmed with the love that she has been receiving from the audience. “I have got so many marriage proposals on social media post Super 30 and Batla House. Messages that say, ‘Can I marry you?’, ‘You are the perfect wife material’, ‘I am crushing on you’. Such messages are so sweet and I have never heard or received reactions like this before. It is wonderful. I remember, once I was returning home after pack up of my film, this teenager met me and literally jumped on me. She gave me a tight hug and kept calling me Bulbul, the name of my character from my last TV show. When people show such unadulterated love, personally or via messages, I don’t know how to respond,” says the Love Sonia (2018) actor.

Talking about her personal love life, she says, “Love is important and I am waiting for it. I really want to fall in love. I want a man who can cook and sing for me (laughs). I want him to travel with me as I love to travel and he has to make me laugh.”

Mrunal has a number of films in her kitty. She is shooting for Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra’s Toofan, co-starring Farhan Akhtar, a horror anthology film called Ghost Stories and the Telugu remake of Jersey, starring Shahid Kapoor. She points out that she has a long way to go, “but one actor who is on my wish list is Ranveer Singh. He is a fabulous actor and bagging a film with him would be mind blowing”.

Farhan Akhtar says he only concerns himself with giving the best performance he can in a film
Rishabh Suri (HINDUSTAN TIMES; November 29, 2019)

He’s proved his finesse in all departments of filmmaking, be it directing a film like Dil Chahta Hai (2001) which brought in the ‘cool’ factor in modern cinema, acting in Bhaag Milkha Bhaag (2013) and hitting the bullseye, or even singing in Rock On!! (2008). Clearly, Farhan Akhtar is yet to find something he can’t do.

Currently working on his next, Toofan, with filmmaker Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra, we ask Farhan if shouldering a film makes things tough for him, and he says, “I don’t see it as any kind of additional pressure. My job is to give the best performance I can in the film. And that is something I think about every single day. I don’t want to wake up in the morning and start thinking about ‘Friday ka box office’! (laughs)”

Toofan will see Farhan step into the shoes of a boxer. And the actor recently revealed on social media that he suffered a hairline fracture during the shoot. How is the experience turning out for him so far? “There’s still some way to go before we complete the shoot. I had a great time working with Rakeysh on Bhaag Milkha Bhaag, and I feel happy and fortunate to be able to collaborate with him on another special script which is equally demanding. The demands of a sports film are completely different. You need discipline for a film like that. I have never boxed before in my life, until I got into this film,” admits the 45-year-old.

He adds that there was a lot of prep that went into this role. “We started prep in March this year, and here we are. Boxing is a very demanding sport — to develop a mindset of a boxer, and the body language athletes have, which you cannot just pretend to have. If you compare a good dancer to a bad one, there’s no way the latter can pretend to be good. Similarly, with boxing, you can’t pretend to be a good boxer, you have to be able to do it,” shares Farhan.

The actor was recently seen in The Sky is Pink, which might have not been able to rock the box office, but did garner him some good reviews. He is happy with whatever the film did, apart from how it gave him a chance to reunite with Priyanka Chopra Jonas. 2019 had another surprise in store for him — his production, Gully Boy, was selected as India’s official entry for the Oscars. Excitement is palpable in his voice as he tells us, “It was an absolutely joy when it was announced. I’m extremely thankful to the film federation that they chose Gully Boy. I’m so happy for Zoya (Akhtar; director and his sister) and everybody associated with that film. We have our work cutout now. The final nominations will be announced in January 2020. Between now and then, we have a lot of work to do. We have to try and get as many people from the Academy to come and watch the film. Only then will we realise how far it is going to go, that’s very crucial.”

Kavita Awaasthi (HINDUSTAN TIMES; November 2, 2019)

This year’s Diwali was a smashing one for actor Mrunal Thakur. She not only celebrated the festival with her friends and family but also basked in the success of two of her hit films — Super 30, opposite Hrithik Roshan and Batla House, co-starring John Abraham.

“The fact that I am shooting for Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra’s Toofan, co-starring Farhan Akhtar, is quite exciting too. The enthusiasm on set is unbelievable,” says the actor, adding, what drew her to the project was the chance to work with Mehra and Farhan. “They are both so talented. The combination is deadly. I am learning so much just by being on the sets and observing them. I remember watching the inspiring Bhaag Milkha Bhaag (2013). I have been a huge fan of Farhan’s work and it is amazing to see the conviction he brings into his performances. I believe when you wish for something, it comes true and I had wished to work with them and here I am,” gushes Mrunal.

She refutes rumours that she is working out to get an athletic body for the role. “I have chopped my hair for the role and it felt good to experiment with my looks. My job allows me to sink into characters, changing my mental makeup and physical appearance. Playing different roles gives one a lot of perspective about our real lives and that’s why I feel every film of mine is a chapter in my life,” she says.

After the success of the Super 30 and Batla House, “few things have changed and few others haven’t”, but Mrunal is focused on looking forward to a bunch of new projects including Toofan and a horror anthology film called Ghost Stories. “What has changed for me is that I am getting the opportunity to work with filmmakers and actors who I wish to work with. It still feels unbelievable. When they share their experiences on set. I get to learn a lot. I am glad that I am getting the chance to play varied characters in my future projects. Ekta Kapoor and Karan Johar have always been there for me. I have known Karan since 2016 and it is a dream come true moment for me to be working with Karan. I was in Switzerland when I heard that I am doing Ghost Stories and on my return to India, we began shooting. When he narrates a story, he whisks you into the world of his creation. He is a true filmmaker. The experience of shooting with Karan turned out to be way better. To be able to work with such different filmmakers is a huge deal for me,” she signs off.

Having learnt the ropes of boxing for Toofan since March, Farhan on how Hollywood action-choreographer fine-tuned the film's sequences
Sonia Lulla (MID-DAY; October 7, 2019)

A quick glance at his repertoire reveals that Farhan Akhtar's choice of films have been anything but frivolous. If his upcoming film, The Sky Is Pink, hinges on an intriguing script, Akhtar says his boxing drama Toofan also offered the kind of solid storyline that he was seeking, so as to return to acting after his hiatus last year, to create music.

Akhtar's Instagram feed reeks of the toil he has been putting in to slip into the part of a boxer in Rakesh Omprakash Mehra's next, the prep of which, he tells us, commenced in March with professional boxer, Drew Neal. Leaving no stone unturned to ensure his punches hit viewers in their gut, he also employed action choreographer Darrell Foster, credited for training a long list of heavyweights, including Will Smith and Jada Pinkett-Smith, Antonio Banderas and Eddie Murphy.

"Darrell has been boxing since the age of 10. Now at 61, he is fitter than most teenagers I've seen," says Akhtar, crediting the athlete — with films like Ali and Bleed For This to his credit — for lending the film's stunt sequences an incredible finesse.

"With Drew, I learnt authentic boxing. But Darrell altered that to make sure I'm ready for the camera. For instance, while shooting, if I'd cover my face completely in a boxing stance, the audience will not be able to see me. At the same time, I can't lower my arms such that I look like I'm waiting to get hit. That's the kind of gap that Darrell bridged. He also designed most of the choreography. He's a taskmaster, but he also looks out for you, as well as the rest of the boxers on set; constantly ensuring they're all doing okay," says Akhtar, who will kick off the second shooting leg in November.

One might assume that the physical exertion he endured to ace his act as a runner in Bhaag Milkha Bhaag could be a deterrent to give his nod to yet another sports drama, but Akhtar suggests otherwise. "Running is not an alien concept. Everyone can run, some faster than the others, but you always have the general knowledge. Boxing is something I had to learn from scratch because I had never done it before. I am loving every bit of it."

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Rachana Dubey (BOMBAY TIMES; September 16, 2019)

After playing strong parts in films like Sarbjit, Mary Kom, NH10 and Baaghi 2, actor Darshan Kuumar will be seen playing the antagonist in Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra’s Toofan. The film, featuring Farhan Akhtar, revolves around boxing. The actors have spent a considerable amount of time preparing for their roles. Darshan, who plays Maharashtrian boxer Dharmesh Patil in the drama, has been training in the sport for the last two months.

The film’s team had set up a technically-sound boxing facility at a factory, off the Western Express Highway in Mumbai. That’s where Darshan and a couple of other actors would train with the coaches for seven-eight hours every day.

Darshan, on his part, made it a point to watch Mike Tyson’s videos on his way to the training ring and back home, to understand a boxer’s mannerisms and his hand and foot movements inside the ring while defending and attacking. The principal shooting of the film has already begun.

Himesh Mankad (MUMBAI MIRROR; July 30, 2019)

Mirror was the first to report (January 16) that after the 2013 National Award-winning film, Bhaag Milkha Bhaag, Farhan Akhtar and Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra are reuniting for another sports-drama. Titled Toofan, the film will see the actor play a boxer for the first time in his career.

Now, we have learnt that the filmmaker has got Paresh Rawal on board to play boxing coach to Farhan’s protagonist, who comes from a lower middle-class family. “The formalities were locked in April and Paresh has been training with Farhan in Mumbai for over a month now,” revealed a source close to the development.

Produced by Ritesh Sidhwani, Farhan and Rakeysh, the fictional story is scripted by Anjum Rajabali. “Every director has a bucket list of actors and Paresh bhai was on the top of mine. I am absolutely thrilled to have him entering the Toofan family. Both Paresh and Farhan are great actors and both their characters are author-backed and well sketched out. There is a huge offering in store for the audience,” promises Mehra.

Like with Bhaag Milkha Bhaag, Farhan is in the process of undergoing a body metamorphosis and as part of his prep, he’s been training extensively with former world kickboxing champion, Drew Neal. “Rakeysh wants to keep the sport as authentic as possible. Farhan will be seen fighting real boxers in the film,” the source added. Toofan is slated to go on floors by August-end, and is gearing up for a 2020 release.

Upala KBR (MID-DAY; July 6, 2019)

Even as Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra gears up to shoot Toofan, a sports drama that will have Farhan Akhtar playing a boxer, the filmmaker has pencilled in the subject for his next project.

Fascinated by the journey of Putlibai, a dancer who took to dacoity to avenge her partner's murder, the director has decided to bring her story to the big screen. mid-day has learnt that Mehra has already registered the eponymous title with the Indian Motion Picture Producers Association.

A trade source reveals, "Putlibai was born to a poor family in Chambal, in the early 20th century. She turned dancer to feed her family, and met Sultana Daku while performing at one of his ceremonies. They fell in love, but he was soon killed by the cops. Shocked by her lover's murder, she took up guns and vowed to kill the informer who had tipped off the cops about Sultana Daku's whereabouts. Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra was intrigued by the character and her motive behind turning a dacoit, and has begun work on the script."

Confirming the news, Mehra said, "I am working on it. Currently, we are developing three scripts. I will be directing the movie." Quiz him if he has approached any actor for the author-backed role, and he says, "It's too early to discuss the film. But yes, it's the role of a lifetime."

Dhaval Roy (DNA; April 13, 2019)

Music has always been an integral part of Farhan Akhtar’s repertoire, whether as a filmmaker or an actor — right from his directorial debut Dil Chahta Hai (2001) to his last outing as a singer, Rock On 2 (2016). Over the years, he has lent his voice to tracks in Rock On!! (2008), Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara (2011), Dil Dhadakne Do (2015) and more. While all those have been in Hindi, the actor-filmmaker-musician’s first solo English album Echoes released yesterday. The musician, who performs with Farhan Live Band, says that he has chosen to release the 11-track record in English because that’s the language in which he can best articulate his feelings.

A MEDIUM TO EXPRESS EMOTIONS
Four singles of the album — Rearview Mirror, Seagull, Why Couldn’t It Be Me and Pain or Pleasure — were released earlier. Farhan tells us that they are acoustic and intimate. The subjects are as varied as the Peshawar School Massacre in 2014 (Why Couldn’t It Be Me) to falling out of love and more. “I’m really excited about this album,” says the 45-year-old. He continues, “I’ve been performing as an artiste for six-odd years, and having a lot of fun doing music for films. But, I realised that it would be nice to share with my fans who I am and what my feelings are about things, instead of what a character thinks in a film. I’ve been writing poems for decades now and in the last couple of years, I started feeling a strong urge to put it all down and release it.”

Farhan tells us, “Music is a great outlet and has given me immense comfort. There’s so much love in creating something and it’s great when you are able to share it with people,” he states, adding that he cannot wait to play these tunes for a live audience.

MORE MATERIAL READY
The award-winning filmmaker tells us that he has more stuff ready to enter the studio again. The next record is likely to have collaborations. “Also, I need to focus on my film work. Currently, I’m in serious prep for the movie (Toofan) that I’m doing with Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra and need to see that through,” he explains. Farhan took a year-and-a-half off his film career to work on the album. “I didn’t shoot for anything between Lucknow Central (2017) and The Sky Is Pink, and only focussed on music. I’m trying to be as single-minded about each task as possible,” he elaborates.

NO COMPOSITIONS FOR FILMS
Since Farhan has also created these tracks, we ask him if he has given composing for his own movies a thought. “Making music for Hindi movies is a completely different ball game. Also, I have been extremely fortunate to be working with the best in the business for the past 20-odd years. And like it’s said, if something is not broken, why fix it?” he reasons, “We have a great collaborative relationship with Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy. It has worked so well over the years and I choose to keep it that way.”

The trio was also among the first people whom Farhan played the album for, when the songs were just scratches. “They loved the writing. They had tips in terms of music production and direction and I took the advice. They care a lot about me not only as a friend but also as an artiste, so the feedback was important,” he says.

FEEDBACK FROM THE FAMILY
Needless to say, lyricist-poet father Javed Akhtar and director-screenwriter sister Zoya Akhtar form the inner circle that will always hear everything he creates. “For dad, what each number said, the word, as well as the story, was important. It’s not just tracks put together without any thought that impressed him the most. It’s easy-listening stuff, so he liked that as well,” Farhan signs off.

Ritesh Sidhwani on the franchises he wants to spearhead, what binds Farhan Akhtar and him together and that one genre he wants to explore
Himesh Mankad (MUMBAI MIRROR; March 11, 2019)

Was Gully Boy a gamble?
Since our first film, Dil Chahta Hai, I’ve never advertised box-office collections. It’s not about how much a film has earned but about whether the viewer believes it was money well spent, about how many have seen and liked it. Gully Boy brought rap into the mainstream and that makes me feel I’m on the right track.

Buzz is, your MC Sher, Siddhant Chaturvedi, is your talent management agency’s first client?
It’s not a talent management agency, we are nurturing actors with potential and Siddhant is a versatile artiste with great screen presence. We’re helping him focus on his strength. He’s clear he wants to only play protagonist and we’re developing a script with him as lead. He’s getting many offers independently as well.

What’s happening with Don 3?
We are still working on it and don’t know when it will happen. It’s a keenly awaited franchise and we can’t disappoint the fans.

Any plans to produce an out-and-out massy entertainer?
We have catered to the masses in the past with films like Don, Raees and KGF. And while everyone is waking up to the power of content now, we have always believed that without a writer, nobody in this industry would have a job. We believe Spiderman exists and that’s primarily because of the writer. We are here to tell stories, collaborate with writers with a similar vision. I want to do one kickass underworld action film. The hunt for a script is on. There was Raees, but what I am looking for belongs to a different world.

And the Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara sequel?
Hrithik and I have been talking to Zoya (Akhtar, director) and Reema (Kagti, writer) about this as everyone wants to know what happens to the friends (played by Hrithik Roshan, Farhan Akhtar and Abhay Deol) after that life-changing trip. But, I can’t force my team to write it, the germ of an idea has to come organically. We’d, however, love to work with Hrithik again and are looking at scripts to take to him. We may soon have one.

Meanwhile, Farhan teams up with Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra for a film on a boxer. What can we expect from Toofan?
It’s too early to talk about the script, but I can promise that Toofan will be at par with, if not better than, Bhaag Milkha Bhaag. Both Mehra and Farhan know the expectations they have to live up to and are working towards surpassing them. It’s a bigger film in terms of reach. We start shooting in July-August.

There’s Deepa Malik’s biopic…
That’s an incredible story about struggle and triumph. We will soon start on the casting.

Last year, you announced a film on fire-fighters, to be directed by Rahul Dholakia...
We’re working on the dialogue draft. Rahul was in LA for research as there aren’t many films in this space here. It’s a two-hero fictional story and we are in talks with some actors.

Gold underperformed and Rock On 2 was a disaster…
(Cuts in) But no one lost money on Gold nor was it panned by the critics. A certain segment didn’t watch the film in the theatres but it got good ratings on TV. People didn’t connect with the story of Rock On 2. It released around demonetisation when footfalls at cinemas were nil, but again, the TV feedback was good. We will be mindful and approach films better. Rock On!! remains an iconic film and if we come up with something that warrants a sequel we will go ahead.

Over the years, so many partnerships have fallen apart, what has kept Farhan and you together for almost two decades?
We have similar sensibilities and since we see this partnership as a collaboration, we chat about every aspect of filmmaking. We may not agree on certain things but we haven’t blamed each other for any failures. Sail or sink, filmmaking for us is all about ‘we’ and not ‘I’. 

Himesh Mankad (MUMBAI MIRROR; February 21, 2019)

Farhan Akhtar, who wrapped up the third schedule of The Sky is Pink in late November last year, is reuniting with co-star Priyanka Chopra for the film’s last schedule. The duo had last shot for the Shonali Bose directorial in Delhi and London, right before PeeCee went on a break for her December wedding with Nick Jonas.

Farhan kicks off the last schedule of the film on March 1 with an eight-day shoot in Mumbai, after which the team moves on to the Andaman and Nicobar Islands for seven days. “Priyanka and Zaira Wasim, who plays their daughter in the film, will join him. They will film a wedding sequence in the Andamans, while the Mumbai portions are set on the streets,” said a source close to the development.

Shonali is aiming to wrap up the film by March-end, which will be followed by work on the final edit. The film is produced by Ronnie Screwvala and Siddharth Roy Kapur along with the Golden Globe-nominated Ivanhoe Pictures. It is inspired by the late motivational speaker Aisha Chaudhary, who was born with an immune deficiency disorder and was diagnosed with pulmonary fibrosis at 13.

After finishing his work on the slice-oflife film, Farhan will jump into prep for Rakyesh Omprakash Mehra’s upcoming sports film, Toofan, which sees him in the role of a boxer. Currently in the pre-production stage, the sports-drama will go on the floors by the year-end. “It entails a prolonged training session for the actor for over six months, as the role demands him to be authentic with his moves. Apart from boxing, Farhan will hit the gym for rigorous training to acquire a body type like a real-life boxer,” the source concludes. 

Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra admits to talks with actor, says film with Farhan Akhtar rolls in August and reveals why he lived in slums for a fortnight
Natasha Coutinho (MUMBAI MIRROR; February 9, 2019)

Six years after collaborating on the Milkha Singh biopic, Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra and Farhan Akhtar are reuniting for Toofan, a love story with boxing being a part of it. “The film happened organically. Farhan and I had a wonderful partnership while making Bhaag Milkha Bhaag so, part two had to happen sometime,” he smiles. “It rolls in August and releases next year.”

Not just that, the director has already planned his next after Toofan. “Over the last couple of years, I’ve been really intrigued by the Generation Z which succeeds the millennials. My daughter has just turned 19 and son is 17 years, so I have started looking at the world through their eyes. Their approach to life and the kind of pressures they deal with is fascinating. I love connecting with the youth as it keeps me young,” asserts Mehra who often visits schools and colleges to give motivational talks. “But I’m the one who gains the most from hanging out with these kids and I am looking forward to this film which will kick off immediately after Toofan. It doesn’t have a title or cast yet, but the script is 90 per cent complete,” he says.

Meanwhile another film, Mere Pyare Prime Minister, is gearing up for release next month. He recounts that he was shooting one night at Film City for Bhaag Milkha Bhaag and at around 4am while leaving the studio, he saw groups of women pulling their saris up and pulling down their salwars and walking out to defecate with dabbas in their hands. “That image stayed in my subconscious and when UNICEF figures revealed that 50 per cent of rapes happen when women go out to relieve themselves, it became the basic thrust of the film,” he adds.

Point out that the theme of open defecation is similar to Akshay Kumar’s Toilet - Ek Prem Katha and he smiles, “When I was making Rang De Basanti everyone told me it’s about Bhagat Singh and five films had already been made on him. But while RDB had the spirit of the martyr, it was a different story. During Bhaag Milkha Bhaag too everyone jumped to the conclusion that I was making a film about an athlete, but I knew I was making one about the Partition and how Milkha and his sister among others suffered through it. Similarly, while this film is set in the slums of Mumbai, it’s about the human spirit.”

The filmmaker lived in a kholi for a fortnight to better understand life in a slum and says that except for civic amenities that they can’t do much about, there’s a lot of camaraderie there and despite getting water for just half an hour a day, the place was spotless. “We got almost 2000 people from the slums to act in our film,” he adds.

The director also confirms the buzz that he is in talks with Shahid Kapoor for a future collaboration. “Shahid and I really want to do a film together. He’s such a fabulous actor and someone I feel I would have so much fun working with. With him it’s like finding a DNA match. Conversations are on and I think we will be able to reach common point if things work out,” he says.

While things are looking positive on the work front, his last production, Fanney Khan, didn’t meet up to expectations despite the presence of big names like Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Anil Kapoor and Rajkummar Rao. “It was a beautiful story about body shaming and well told. A new director, Atul Manjrekar, and a new actress, Pihu Sand, were born with the film. I loved the music too. It may not have set the box-office on fire but I’m sure it will grow on other mediums like digital and satellite,” he asserts.

Mehra goes on to say that anything to do with women empowerment or rather human empowerment is dear to him. "Body shaming is an issue that needed to be addressed in our country. There is no law to curb it so there can only be a social consciousness,” he says.

Speaking about the kind of films he wants to experiment with in the future, he reveals, “I want to make a film on the farmers in our country, an action caper around Indian mythology and I also want to get into the costume drama space.”

Sources say Shah Rukh Khan to kick off Don 3 by year-end, makers procuring permission to shoot in South-east Asian country
Upala KBR (MID-DAY; January 26, 2019)

Amidst speculation that Shah Rukh Khan has opted out of the Rakesh Sharma biopic, mid-day has learnt that the makers of Don - director Farhan Akhtar and producer Ritesh Sidhwani - have quietly begun work on the third instalment. It has been heard that the film will roll in Malaysia by year-end.

Says a trade source, "Farhan and Shah Rukh had been looking for a suitable story to take the franchise forward, and now, they have zeroed in on one. The developing of the script will take a few months. In the meantime, Farhan will shoot for his sports drama, Toofan, while SRK will be busy with the Indian Premier League.

So, they are planning to take the film on floors by year-end or early 2020. Like Don 2 (2011), a chunk of the third edition will be shot in Malaysia, and the team has already applied for a subsidy for the shoot." When mid-day asked Akhtar if he plans to start the film this year, he responded saying, "I am working on Toofan this year." Sidhwani remained unavailable for comment.