Showing posts with label Trapped. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Trapped. Show all posts
Rajkummar Rao breaks silence on viral look that left fans concerned
10:52 AM
Amid online chatter, Rajkummar Rao sets the record straight on his recent physical transformation
Renuka Vyavahare (BOMBAY TIMES; February 17, 2026)
Rajkummar Rao’s recent appearance at the Bolti Khidkiyaan film fest set social media abuzz. The actor looked noticeably different from his usual self – a few kilos heavier, with thinner hair and a slightly haggard appearance – sparking widespread concern online. Fans on social media were quick to jump to conclusions, with unverified claims and chatter about his health and career doing the rounds.
When we reached out to Rajkummar, the actor told us, “It’s strange how people can jump to conclusions and get judgemental without even checking the facts. I gained around 10 kg for the upcoming biopic Nikam (based on Ujjwal Nikam, the special public prosecutor and politician, known for handling high-profile cases), for which I had to look older. I am also in the transition phase where I am preparing for Sourav Ganguly’s biopic. For that part, I need to lose weight, so I am between certain look tests and that’s how I showed up for the event. There is nothing to worry about. I am simply navigating two demanding biographical roles and hence, the change in my appearance is striking.”
The actor added, “For Bose, I went half bald. During Srikanth, I became the character even when cameras weren’t rolling. My focus is always on fully embodying the character I am playing.”
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HINDUSTAN TIMES (February 17, 2026)
On Monday morning, Rajkummar Rao put speculation to rest after his recent appearance sparked concern online. Taking to Instagram, the 41-year-old actor explained that the noticeable weight gain and altered hairline were part of his preparation for his upcoming biopic on Rajya Sabha MP Ujjwal Nikam.
“It has demanded me to change physically, which I love doing. I’m not a believer in prosthetics as long as I can achieve the look through my hard work, be it gaining weight, looking old (to play a certain age) or to make my hair thin,” he wrote.
Rajkummar gained around 10 kg for the role: “I was eating two pizzas, a lot of sweets and my favourite aloo parathas, biryani, and not using anything glam to look like the part.”
The actor added that he is currently in the “transition phase”, losing the extra weight for a biopic on “our very own Dada”, former Indian cricket team skipper Sourav Ganguly.
Notably, this is not the first time Rajkummar has undergone an extreme physical transformation for his role. “Everyone told me not to go half bald for Bose: Dead Or Alive (2017), or not to stop eating and lose so much weight for Trapped (2017), or not to behave like a visually impaired person even when cameras weren’t rolling during Srikanth (2024),” he wrote, adding, “Hopefully, when you see Nikam, you will be able to see all that hard work... Will always work the hardest to engage you, entertain you through my work.”
Until Bareilly Ki Barfi released, people would see me as a ‘serious, dramatic actor’-Rajkummar Rao
7:55 AM
Rajkummar Rao says people love to put Hindi film actors in boxes, adds that ‘some kind of a shift’ happened in his career with the 2017 film
Prashant Singh (HINDUSTAN TIMES; October 20, 2020)
Be it his “serious” parts in films such as Shahid (2013) and Newton (2017) or lighter outings in hits such as Kai Po Che! (2013), Bareilly Ki Barfi (BKB; 2017) and Stree (2018), actor Rajkummar Rao has successfully straddled all kinds of roles through his decade-long Bollywood journey. But Rao admits that he was considered a “serious and dramatic” actor till BKB came along.
“People love to put actors in boxes, and are like, ‘If they have done a particular kind of work, then let’s give them more such parts’. Until BKB released, people would see me as a ‘serious, dramatic actor’. But I, as an artiste, never thought, ‘Oh, I am going to do something very different’. I knew that it was a great role for any actor — to portray a dual personality in a beautiful script,” says Rao, whose character Pritam Vidrohi and his humorous undertones became a major talking point for the film.
The actor says it “never occurred” to him that he was “dabbling in comedy space” with the Ashwiny Iyer Tiwari directorial. “But the end result was amazing. The kind of response I got from people was overwhelming, and I really enjoyed that space. Films such as Newton, Trapped (2017) and Shahid take a toll on you, as a person as well as an artiste, but when you have a fun part in a film like BKB, you enjoy those great moments... Comedy-laden parts are all about having fun with your lines on the sets. You have to let it flow, and enjoy,” says the 36-year-old actor.
Like trade pundits, Rao also feels that BKB gave a new twist to his career path. “In a way, some kind of a shift happened in my career with BKB. Then, Stree (2018) came along and lot of things changed... I have constantly learned and grown. As an actor, that’s exactly what you want to do — play completely diverse parts in all your movies,” he says.
I am yet to find my comfort zone-Rajkummar Rao
9:12 AM
Rajkummar Rao, who has over seven films in the pipeline, says he is open to all kinds of roles and won't settle for any one genre
Shaheen Parkar (MID-DAY; August 5, 2018)
Rajkummar Rao has no time to breathe. He had Hansal Mehta's Omerta release in May this year and recently, Atul Manjrekar's Fanney Khan. Later this month, he has Amar Kaushik's Stree, followed by two international productions, Namrata Singh Gujral's 5 Weddings and Tabrez Noorani's Love Sonia. And if that is not enough, Rao also has Mental Hai Kya with Kangana Ranaut and Ek Ladki Ko Dekha Toh Aisa Laga with Sonam Kapoor.
If you wonder why we are rattling off his filmography, there is a reason. Rao has back-to-back releases. He just wrapped up the promotions of Fanney Khan and is already into his next, Stree, which has Shraddha Kapoor as co-actor. There's more — he begins shooting for Made In China next month with Mouni Roy as co-star.
Click happy
We are at a suburban hotel with Rao where he shakes a leg with Fanney Khan co-star Anil Kapoor. Mr Jhakaas' enthusiasm can be infectious. AK does not leave any opportunity to say, 'My name is Lakhan'. as the shutterbugs go clicking.
So how is Rao balancing his busy date diary? "It's simple," he says, "I am doing what I love. I always wanted to be an actor." There are no complaints or exhaustion tales. "I enjoy the promotions. It's actually quite fun interacting with so many people. It's part of an actor's job," he says. Considered one of the finest actors of the generation, Rao is nonchalant about his success. "Things are just happening. I am playing my part and doing what I love to do. The release of films is not in my hands; it's the producers who decide. Last year, I had five releases. I just shot for Stree and it's ready to release."
Fine balance
Rao has been able to balance both real and commercial cinema. He is as comfortable being part of Shahid (2013) as Bareilly Ki Barfi (2017). "The lines are blurring," he says. "It is about choosing the stories I want to be part of. It is not that I am comfortable with a particular genre of films. I still have to find my comfort zone. What matters to me is that both kind of films do well. I want to do all kinds of roles. Whether it is Trapped or a Fanney Khan. I am open to all."
He also desires to work with different actors in multi-hero projects. "I am not the casting director," he says, "to pick and choose who I want to work with. That is the director and producers' call." He has shared screen space with Anil Kapoor, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan as well as with Sonam Kapoor, Shraddha Kapoor, Kangana Ranaut and Kriti Sanon. "There are so many actors I would like to work with... Amit ji [Amitabh Bachchan], Ranveer [Singh], Ranbir [Kapoor]. It is a long list. At the same time, I have no qualms working with new faces."
Nor does he consider himself one-up as he is a trained actor, unlike most of the current lot. "That is such a narcissistic thing to say. But yes, I owe everything to FTII, Pune. I am what I am because of what I was taught there. It is the finest acting school in the country. It gave me a window to world cinema."
As part of the course, he was taught the basics of writing, editing, camera work, direction, but he prefers being an actor. "I never had a Plan B. Writing requires a lot of patience; it is a lengthy process. For now, let me enjoy doing what I like doing. It was only pure love for it. I didn't get into films to make money."
'Patralekhaa is a fine actor'
Rajkummar Rao has always been open about his relationship with Patralekhaa. Marriage is not on the cards anytime soon. The two teamed up in Hansal Mehta's CityLights (2014). She was later seen in Love Games (2016) and Nanu Ki Jaanu, besides the web series Bose: Dead/Alive this year. Rao says, "Patralekhaa is a fine actor. She's doing good work. We will be teaming up again in Hansal Mehta's Swagat Hai." Rao says he does not recommend her to filmmakers and casting agents. "She is capable of doing things herself. She will prove herself."
Why are only songs considered to be music, and not background scores?-Alokananda Dasgupta
8:18 AM
She may have disappointed her father, who wished to see his classical pianist daughter receive a standing ovation at the Albert Hall, but she currently has half a million people, including A R Rahman, cheering her score for the new mob drama Sacred Games. Meet Alokananda Dasgupta, one of a handful of female music directors in Bollywood, who tells Mohua Das about going it alone in a man’s world, conjuring music from noise, and the need to bring background scores to the foreground
Mohua Das (THE TIMES OF INDIA; July 21, 2018)
The apocalyptic chorus in the opening credits of Sacred Games is turning out to be as intriguing as the Laurel-Yanny audio illusion! From kahwa and waah waah to Wadala and Wai Wai, speculation is rife. Please solve this puzzle.
It’s aah waa anne yawa tyu aai — absolute gibberish. I wanted to create a chant with a religious aspect, but at the same time I did not want it to be associated with any religion or country. I wanted it to sound pagan but not witchcrafty. So, I mouthed some nonsensical words on the soundtrack and it fit. A very anti-climactic mystery, actually!
Rahman graciously welcomed you into the “scoring club” on Twitter. But why do you think background scores are still overlooked?
I’ve wondered too. Despite Ilaiyaraja, Satyajit Ray and A R Rahman having set the bar high, it’s only songs that are considered to be music. Even at award shows, it belongs in the technical category. What part of the creativity do they not see? In the West, soundtracks are available in isolation. It’s like the bassline in a rock song. You don’t need to hear it but without it, the song would fall apart. But I think that’s changing now. I’ve never received so much praise for a soundtrack.
You tend to use unconventional sounds — trap rap, water drops, clanging metal, creaks, drones, thuds — alongside classical strings, winds and keys. What guides your musical instincts?
The classical bit comes from my background in piano. Secondly, I’ve been suffering from a noise problem. It started some years ago and it ate me up to an extent that I was hearing noise all the time, be it construction, traffic and motor sounds or the elevator announcement: ‘Please close the door.’ I got my ears tested, checked for Vitamin B deficiency, went to a shrink until I couldn’t deal with it anymore and decided that instead of dreading it, I would look forward to it. I started recording noises and recreating them as musical rhythms. Some of the steel and rubble sounds in Trapped are actual noises from the construction below my floor. It was a personal trip to see if dissonance can attract people and it worked.
How do you define your creative idiom?
I can never let go of my roots in Western classical, Indian folk and attention to melody. Above that bedrock are the ups and downs I’m facing in life, new music and films, people I meet, and the indigenous instruments I discover. To me the sound of the cello is as fascinating as the instrument used for beating cotton mattresses. I think my forte lies in my strong sense of cinema. I really understand narrative and like to defamiliarise the familiar. Anything that you’ve listened to in the past, I want to morph differently.
That sense probably stems from growing up with a famous filmmaker father (Buddhadeb Dasgupta). How did you take to music?
There were many other influences at play. My mother’s grandfather was Rajanikanta Sen (Bengali renaissance poet and composer) and my sister and I were naturally into dance. I was going to take up Odishi as a career but Baba introduced us to piano. We did it as a chore because we weren’t good performers. Then Fauzia Mariker, a music teacher in Kolkata inspired me to study music, for which I went to York University in Toronto. Over time, I realised my happy zone was in the compositional part. I landed in Mumbai to work, assisted Amit Trivedi and then two Marathi films Shala and Fandry came my way. Having grown up on foreign films, a different language or culture didn’t pose a problem. Instead, it opened doors.
We’re seeing women directors, cinematographers, editors; why not more music directors?
I don’t understand why it has been so male dominated for generations although there shouldn’t be anything holding women back. There might be aspects considered easier for men, like handling long and late hours though in a city like Mumbai it isn’t really a problem. There’s also this intimidation of technology. But that’s not imperative to producing good music. I started by writing notations on paper and gradually moved to computing and programming. It can easily be learnt on the job. The craft has nothing to do with gender.
But does it get more difficult when you belong to a minority in an industry within the industry?
Oh yes, there’s definitely an inequality that you know exists but once you get into it, you can change things for yourself. I’ve never faced gender discrimination in terms of wages or work respect. I was always like Matangini Hazra (freedom fighter), expressing myself if I felt something was unfair.
Eventually, my final plan would be to do one film in two years-Rajkummar Rao
8:04 AM
Nayandeep Rakshit (DNA; November 6, 2017)
Every year, there’s that one actor who shines at the cinemas brighter in a galaxy full of stars and superstars. In 2017, it’s Rajkummar Rao, who has had a dream run at the movies. He managed to clock in four releases with one more movie — Shaadi Mein Zaroor Aana — awaiting its turn at the box office. He also squeezed in a special appearance in Raabta. With Trapped, Bareilly Ki Barfi, and Newton, he sure has an enviable record this year. The actor is also ready to take his first step in the digital world with Bose: Dead/Alive.
2017 is being called Rajkummar Rao’s year....
I think it’s good cinema’s year. I am very happy about that. I feel fortunate that I got to be a part of some really wonderful films this year. And I really hope it continues. I don’t want to stop here.
How have you managed to pack in five movies and a cameo (Raabta)?
It’s manageable. That’s what I realised. In 2016, Aligarh was the only movie that released. I was shooting non-stop the whole of 2016 and 2017 and it’s mere coincidence that my producers decided to release the movies in 2017 itself. But no complaints as long as I get time to promote all of them. I do one film at a time — I can’t do two movies at a once — so I have to finish one, take some time off and then start shooting the next one. But I think one can manage it.
Is this the pace you want to work at?
No, eventually, my final plan would be to do one film in two years. But I know, as an actor I will have to create that kind of demand for me from my audience. For that, I will have to keep doing such films that people wait for my releases, and they say that if Raj is in it, it will be a good movie, so let’s watch it. For that, I will have to keep being part of some wonderful films.
What’s your take on biopics? Are they easier because you have the material or is it difficult to portray someone else?
They are not easy for sure. I feel biopics are a huge responsibility on our shoulders because people know that person. There will definitely be comparisons. It’s a big challenge when you pick a real-life character to portray.
The perception is that movies have become real. Who would you give the credit to — the audience, the writers, or the filmmakers?
Everyone. The audience, of course, they make or break a film. They have accepted these films. They are investing their time and money in them, so the credit goes to them. Also, to the writers and filmmakers, who’re telling these stories, and in a different way. They are trying to bring realism into our cinema. That is probably the reason people are connecting to it so well.
While there is a lot of emphasis on a film’s publicity, many of the movies that did well actually took off due to word-of-mouth publicity. Which of the two do you think is more effective?
Word-of-mouth publicity is definitely stronger than just promotions. There’s a formula now that everyone is just following to promote their film, but eventually, it’s your film that speaks for itself. I am a strong believer of that. Of course, we promoted Newton, too, but not in a really big, fancy way, but then the film spoke for itself and it did amazing numbers. That’s a great change. Our audiences have definitely evolved and they know the difference between a good film and a bad film. And they are very smart. It’s their hard-earned money, so they will want to spend it on the right film.
In Bareilly as well as Shaadi, your characters go through major change. It’s almost like playing two characters in the same movie. Is that fun?
It’s definitely more fun when you get to play lot of shades in one film itself. Like in Shaadi, the first and second halves are two different personalities, but at heart, they are the same people. His heart still beats the same way. But the fun is in the way I can still add variation to it and make it different. They have to sound different, look different, their thought process has changed so they are going to respond to situations differently.
What’s the balance you try to strike when it comes to becoming a character by living like him as opposed to finding something within you to shape him?
There’s no rule or formula to approach a character. Whatever helps you, you can take that route. I feel that as an actor if there are certain physical demands then you should certainly try and achieve. It depends on that character. For a film like Omerta, Trapped, or Shahid, it’s a different process. You really have to understand the psyche of the character and internally you have to get that character. When you do lighthearted films like Bareilly or Shaadi Mein..., the mental pressure is not that much which you face otherwise in other films. It would depend on the film that you are doing at that point in time.
National Award-winning actor Rajkummar Rao on his six career-defining roles
7:51 AM
Roshmila Bhattacharya (MUMBAI MIRROR; August 1, 2017)
BAREILLY KI BARFI (2017)
The challenge of this upcoming romcom is that even though it is not a double role, I have to play two distinctly different personalities. While Pritam is shy, submissive and measured with his words, Vidrohi is loud and larger-than-life, full of swag and full of himself. I grew up in Gurgaon and have seen guys like the street-smart Vidrohi all my life, right from the seniors in school who would rag us minions. I also have a friend who’s a lot like Pritam so my muses are borrowed from real life. And since Pritam is a sari salesman, I even visited a showroom in Juhu for a couple of days to observe the salesmen there and learnt how to drape the sari from them.
Vidrohi was the ‘risk’ since I’m nothing like him in real life and I had never experimented with a character like him in reel life. The idea was to make him entertaining yet believable, comic but not a caricature. I hope I have made him ‘human’ and one of us. That’s is always the aim. No aliens for me.
To differentiate between the two characters, I worked on my voice, gave them different pitches. Sweet, scared Pritam is so soft-spoken, you have to strain to catch what he’s saying while loud Vidrohi makes sure everyone around hears him. Both have pronounced UP accents but that wasn’t difficult because I’ve grown up in the North and have an ear for accents. Since I was a child, I’ve been mimicking people’s accents and that came in handy. The language coach and director Ashwiny Iyer Tiwari helped too.
TRAPPED (2017)
Physically, Trapped was my most taxing film as I lived on a carrot for lunch, two cups of coffee and few sips of water for the rest of the day. It lead to intense frustration and even blackouts, but there was no other way I could have done this film without it looking fake. We shot it in a linear manner so the emotional and physical graph would come naturally. And after the first five days, as the hunger pangs got unbearable, I was counting time for the torture to end. I am a big fan of survival dramas so I didn’t think twice before grabbing this role, but today, I wouldn’t wish a Trapped on anyone. Thank God for my director Vikramaditya Motwane and his mother, Deepa ma’am, who took care of me, made sure I ate or drank something sometimes.
Prep included trying out 200 pairs of spectacles and ended with me modelling my character, Shaurya, on Vikramaditya who knew he was my reference point. If Shaurya was a director, he’d be a shy, reserved Vikram.
CITYLIGHTS (2014)
Before the film rolled, I worked on losing around eight kilos through diet and exercise. We went to Rajasthan 10 days prior to the shoot. I interacted with the locals to get the diction right, grew a moustache and got my ears pierced for the first time to blend in. By the time we went on the floors, I began to feel like Deepak Singh. Now, the onus was on conveying his emotional struggle so the audience would root for him even when he failed his family. I had Hansal sir (director Hansal Mehta) for guidance. Almost 90 per cent of my characters are strugglers. That doesn’t set them apart but helps them become one with the crowd because I believe we are all strugglers at different levels. What’s important is to set a goal and work towards it.
My favourite scene is the one where Deepak comes home drunk. I don’t drink but for this one, I downed a bottle of vodka and was out of control. We were shooting on the 10th floor of an under-construction building and everyone was petrified I would slip and fall. But once the camera rolled, I was fine. (Co-star) Patralekhaa and my energies combined to leave the camera guy teary-eyed and a few frames out of focus.
SHAHID (2013)
The film came at a time when I was a hungry actor wanting to do something worthwhile. And though it was a biopic, there wasn’t much material available on the slain activist-lawyer, Shahid Azmi, apart from two pictures. It was through his younger brother Khalid that I got to know him — his upbringing, relationship with the family and goals. I also studied Islam, starting with the Quran, because Shahid was a true Muslim boy. I also visited a court for the first time and realised how different the real kachehri is. That’s when Hansal sir and I decided we wouldn’t dramatise this film. After the prep, I kept things organic. I don’t plan or rehearse, I just gather everything and start shooting.
We didn’t have money but there was a fire inside to tell Shahid’s story. While filming the last case he is working on, I improvised and interrupted my closing speech to ask for a glass of water. Later, I saw a video in which Shahid does the same. It was so surreal and yet made me feel even closer to him.
KAI PO CHE! (2013)
This is one of the most important films of my career. I had read Chetan Bhagat’s The 3 Mistakes Of My Life even before I landed the role of Govind Patel. Then too, I had connected with Govind of the three boys as I identified with his passion and drive to achieve something. In my mind, I worked out a backstory for him about his father abandoning his mother and him for a rich woman. That’s the reason his mission in life is to make money. That, along with my determination to give Govind an authetic Gujarati accent is what worked for the film and him.
LSD: LOVE, SEX, DHOKA (2010)
My first film is really close to my heart but it was a difficult, almost voyeuristic role, with scenes being shot in one take as Dibakar (director Dibakar Banerjee) didn’t want to interrupt us with ‘cuts’. There were lots of workshops but once we rolled, it was my job to make Adarsh appealing.
He’s a 20-something, good-for-nothing supermarket supervisor who plans to make a sex tape with one of the employees, catching her in a vulnerable moment, and sell it to settle his debts. I’d seen guys like him in Delhi, and the challenge was making people feel for Adarsh despite what he is doing to the girl. I did that by playing up his feelings for Rashmi and his conflicting character traits. I loved the moment just before the climax when she is crying and he has to decide whether to switch off the camera. The scene fulfilled me as an actor because people have come up to me and said that despite everything, they didn’t come away hating Adarsh. That was heartening!
The challenge of this upcoming romcom is that even though it is not a double role, I have to play two distinctly different personalities. While Pritam is shy, submissive and measured with his words, Vidrohi is loud and larger-than-life, full of swag and full of himself. I grew up in Gurgaon and have seen guys like the street-smart Vidrohi all my life, right from the seniors in school who would rag us minions. I also have a friend who’s a lot like Pritam so my muses are borrowed from real life. And since Pritam is a sari salesman, I even visited a showroom in Juhu for a couple of days to observe the salesmen there and learnt how to drape the sari from them.
Vidrohi was the ‘risk’ since I’m nothing like him in real life and I had never experimented with a character like him in reel life. The idea was to make him entertaining yet believable, comic but not a caricature. I hope I have made him ‘human’ and one of us. That’s is always the aim. No aliens for me.
To differentiate between the two characters, I worked on my voice, gave them different pitches. Sweet, scared Pritam is so soft-spoken, you have to strain to catch what he’s saying while loud Vidrohi makes sure everyone around hears him. Both have pronounced UP accents but that wasn’t difficult because I’ve grown up in the North and have an ear for accents. Since I was a child, I’ve been mimicking people’s accents and that came in handy. The language coach and director Ashwiny Iyer Tiwari helped too.
TRAPPED (2017)
Physically, Trapped was my most taxing film as I lived on a carrot for lunch, two cups of coffee and few sips of water for the rest of the day. It lead to intense frustration and even blackouts, but there was no other way I could have done this film without it looking fake. We shot it in a linear manner so the emotional and physical graph would come naturally. And after the first five days, as the hunger pangs got unbearable, I was counting time for the torture to end. I am a big fan of survival dramas so I didn’t think twice before grabbing this role, but today, I wouldn’t wish a Trapped on anyone. Thank God for my director Vikramaditya Motwane and his mother, Deepa ma’am, who took care of me, made sure I ate or drank something sometimes.
Prep included trying out 200 pairs of spectacles and ended with me modelling my character, Shaurya, on Vikramaditya who knew he was my reference point. If Shaurya was a director, he’d be a shy, reserved Vikram.
CITYLIGHTS (2014)
Before the film rolled, I worked on losing around eight kilos through diet and exercise. We went to Rajasthan 10 days prior to the shoot. I interacted with the locals to get the diction right, grew a moustache and got my ears pierced for the first time to blend in. By the time we went on the floors, I began to feel like Deepak Singh. Now, the onus was on conveying his emotional struggle so the audience would root for him even when he failed his family. I had Hansal sir (director Hansal Mehta) for guidance. Almost 90 per cent of my characters are strugglers. That doesn’t set them apart but helps them become one with the crowd because I believe we are all strugglers at different levels. What’s important is to set a goal and work towards it.
My favourite scene is the one where Deepak comes home drunk. I don’t drink but for this one, I downed a bottle of vodka and was out of control. We were shooting on the 10th floor of an under-construction building and everyone was petrified I would slip and fall. But once the camera rolled, I was fine. (Co-star) Patralekhaa and my energies combined to leave the camera guy teary-eyed and a few frames out of focus.
SHAHID (2013)
The film came at a time when I was a hungry actor wanting to do something worthwhile. And though it was a biopic, there wasn’t much material available on the slain activist-lawyer, Shahid Azmi, apart from two pictures. It was through his younger brother Khalid that I got to know him — his upbringing, relationship with the family and goals. I also studied Islam, starting with the Quran, because Shahid was a true Muslim boy. I also visited a court for the first time and realised how different the real kachehri is. That’s when Hansal sir and I decided we wouldn’t dramatise this film. After the prep, I kept things organic. I don’t plan or rehearse, I just gather everything and start shooting.
We didn’t have money but there was a fire inside to tell Shahid’s story. While filming the last case he is working on, I improvised and interrupted my closing speech to ask for a glass of water. Later, I saw a video in which Shahid does the same. It was so surreal and yet made me feel even closer to him.
KAI PO CHE! (2013)
This is one of the most important films of my career. I had read Chetan Bhagat’s The 3 Mistakes Of My Life even before I landed the role of Govind Patel. Then too, I had connected with Govind of the three boys as I identified with his passion and drive to achieve something. In my mind, I worked out a backstory for him about his father abandoning his mother and him for a rich woman. That’s the reason his mission in life is to make money. That, along with my determination to give Govind an authetic Gujarati accent is what worked for the film and him.
LSD: LOVE, SEX, DHOKA (2010)
My first film is really close to my heart but it was a difficult, almost voyeuristic role, with scenes being shot in one take as Dibakar (director Dibakar Banerjee) didn’t want to interrupt us with ‘cuts’. There were lots of workshops but once we rolled, it was my job to make Adarsh appealing.
He’s a 20-something, good-for-nothing supermarket supervisor who plans to make a sex tape with one of the employees, catching her in a vulnerable moment, and sell it to settle his debts. I’d seen guys like him in Delhi, and the challenge was making people feel for Adarsh despite what he is doing to the girl. I did that by playing up his feelings for Rashmi and his conflicting character traits. I loved the moment just before the climax when she is crying and he has to decide whether to switch off the camera. The scene fulfilled me as an actor because people have come up to me and said that despite everything, they didn’t come away hating Adarsh. That was heartening!
Shahid Kapoor and I will revisit our film AK v/s SK in the near future-Vikramaditya Motwane
7:50 AM
Filmmaker Vikramaditya Motwane on his upcoming films
Sanyukta Iyer (MUMBAI MIRROR; July 29, 2017)
Vikramaditya Motwane would be happy to shoot for 100 days a year, every
year for the rest of his life. Right now, he’s busy filming his
vigilante-drama, Bhavesh Joshi, with Harshvardhan Kapoor in the titular
role and Nishikant Kamath as the baddie. The film, which was stalled
three times, before the filmmaker got rolling last year, will launch
debutante Shreyah Sabharwal as the leading lady.“Over the years, I’ve learnt that there are actors like Rajkummar Rao, whom I recently directed in Trapped, who give the best shot only in the first take. If you ask for a retake, it loses its effect. But if you ask him to do the same scene with a completely different emotion, he’ll surprise you. Then there’s Sonakshi Sinha, my Lootera heroine, who aces the second shot, using the first take as a prep,” he informs.
So, is Harsh a first or a second-take actor? “He has a lot of magic!” exclaims Vikramaditya. “You don’t know when it’s going to come and I just keep throwing Harsh against a wall. Once he sticks, he’s brilliant!”
Next up, he plans to revive another project. “I want to revisit AK v/s SK with Shahid Kapoor too. The two of us have decided to work on it in the near future, just don’t know when,” he reveals. The film is an urban-thriller set in Mumbai and features Anurag Kashyap as ‘AK’. The two had even shot for it for a few days in September 2015.
Phantom is working on a horror slate right now-Vikramaditya Motwane
7:46 AM
Director Vikramaditya Motwane on Phantom’s upcoming films and revisiting his debut drama
Sanyukta Iyer (MUMBAI MIRROR; July 20, 2017)
After Mirror ran a story on April 6 about a young woman working at Phantom Films, alleging that she was supposedly molested by Vikas Bahl, director of the highly acclaimed Kangana Ranaut-starrer Queen, the events at Bollywood’s hipster film production company revealed a sordid murkiness. And even though Vikas denied the reports, rumours had been rife that it is only a matter of time before the Phantom quartet — Vikas along with filmmakers Madhu Mantena, Vikramaditya Motwane and Anurag Kashyap — which co-founded their banner in 2011, disbands.
However, Udaan and Lootera director Vikramaditya says that Phantom is very much in the business of making movies, and is looking ahead at multiple upcoming films. “Phantom is working on a horror-specific slate with Blumhouse Productions and Ivanhoe Pictures this year and we have already gone into production with the films. It’s something we are producing at the moment for sure,” he says.
Looking at India’s growing craze for the genre, the multiyear partnership had been struck with Jason Blum, the producer of acclaimed Hollywood horrors, Paranormal Activity, The Purge, Insidious and Sinister, in September 2014, which included at least 10 films over the next five years in local languages. “I’m producing these films for now, and I would love to direct a horror under the banner too. I love horror films because they’re a great challenge with the casting. It’s all about the timing and how to get the scares,” the writer-director says.
This week also marks seven years since the release of Vikram’s debut drama, Udaan, which picked up a whopping seven awards at the 56th Filmfare Awards. Prod him on whether there’s a sequel in the pipeline and Vikram says that he has an idea and will revisit it with a script soon. “It will be a continuation, 10-12 years after the original ended. I always thought I had so much time to start writing Udaan 2, and now I realise that seven years have flown by and I’ll have to get to it,” he smiles.
On July 22, his last release, the critically-acclaimed and box-office success, Trapped, featuring Rajkummar Rao as the claustrophobic hero of the survival-drama, is having its world television premiere on &Pictures. And Vikram, who didn’t have to make any TV friendly cuts to his U/A release, is excited about the responses the film could receive. “At a cinema hall, there’s a claustrophobic vibe but when you’re watching Trapped in your own house, I hope the viewer is able to tap into the familiarity of the situation, looking at the door constantly and checking if it’s got locked. That would be pretty damn scary!” he says, adding that the film has great potential for a franchise and he is eager to receive scripts to develop the film into a series. “Trapped was a challenging project and there’s no extravagance anybody can bring to it. But with more dream sequences, and taking it outside a flat and into an airport or a jungle can take the whole scale of the film to a completely different level. An urban Cast Away-like franchise,” he says.
After losing weight for Trapped, Rajkummar Rao puts on 11 kg for his Subhas Chandra Bose turn
7:41 AM
The actor has been enjoying the ‘golden period’ of his life as he binges on junk food and discontinues working out for his next
Sanyukta Iyer (MUMBAI MIRROR; July 5, 2017)
Known to slip into his onscreen avatars seamlessly, National Award-winning actor Rajkummar Rao had locked himself in a house for three weeks, living on a diet of carrots and black coffee, to lose eight kg for his turn as Shaurya in Vikramaditya Motwane’s survival-drama, Trapped. For Behen Hogi Teri, which followed Trapped, the 32-year-old actor tipped the scales on his normal weight with a scheduled workout plan and a diet rich in proteins and fibre.
Now, Mirror has learnt that he has put on another 11 kg for his pot-bellied, balding look for his portrayal as Subhash Chandra Bose in a series directed by Hansal Mehta.
Speaking to Mirror between shots, Rajkumar said, “For all my previous films — Citylights, Aligarh and of course Trapped— I’ve been asked to lose weight. So I was delighted when I was asked to gain weight. I have been binging on pizzas, Bengali sweets and junk food for the last one month and a half and will continue this routine till August. I stopped working out two months ago.” Hailing the prep as the “golden period” of his life, the actor says that he’s been eating everything he has craved but couldn’t because his directors wanted him in a certain look.
For his Netaji avatar, the makers tried to make the look work with prosthetics for the hairline and the waistline but it wasn’t what the actor wanted. Rajkummar then decided to work through an internal and external process for the part. “I decided that I wanted to see the character whenever I looked in a mirror and not Rajkummar. I even listened to Rabindrasangeet on the loop and read Bose’s unfinished autobiography to connect with the era. These helped me the most,” he says, adding that the series portrays him in several looks from Bose’s college days to when the freedom fighter founded the Indian National Army.
Rajkummar Rao beats Govinda at the box office
9:08 AM
Govinda is considered one of the best entertainers in cinema but since many years, he hasn’t had a great run at the ticket window. Even if his films flopped, it managed to have some respectable opening. But with Aa Gaya Hero, he has touched a new low. The veteran actor’s comeback film never seemed exciting and looked extremely dated and unappealing. A very poor opening was always on the cards. But the trade is shocked to see that the film netted just Rs 20 lakhs on the first day. With reports being extremely negative, it will be a challenge for the film to even hit the 1.50 crore mark.
What’s shocking is that a highly unconventional film, Trapped, starring Rajkummar Rao, has opened better than Aa Gaya Hero, a massy film. Trapped earned Rs 25 lakhs on Day 1 and it release in lesser number of screens than Aa Gaya Hero. Moreover, Rajkummar Rao doesn’t primarily enjoy star power since he has done offbeat films mainly. Govinda on the other hand is a star of the masses and not to forget, Aa Gaya Hero too is a type of film that would be enjoyed by the audiences on the whole. Considering these factors, it is astonishing that Aa Gaya Hero had such a disastrous opening!
Trapped also enjoys positive reviews and will surely sustain well at the box office. As for Govinda, it’s high time he gets a reality check with regards to audiences’ tastes.
Fenil's Bollywood Talk # 456
10:04 AM
MIX OF FILMS THIS WEEK BUT NONE SEEM EXCITING
Last week’s Badrinath Ki Dulhania rocked the show and in the 2nd week too, it is all set to have a great run as the new releases don’t seem to be very exciting commercially. My analysis on these films:
AA GAYA HERO: This is the comeback film of Govinda but the buzz is hardly there. It’s been ready since 2014 when it was then called Abhinay Chakra. The film was then rechristened to Aa Gaya Hero to perhaps make it saleable. But it looks very outdated. The release date of the film was changed multiple times. 10 days ago, the trade was not even sure if it will make it on 17th as there were reports that it was not getting a buyer. Govinda is a great entertainer but sadly, this film is going to suffer.
MACHINE: It is directed by Abbas-Mustan and marks the debut of Abbas’s son Mustafa Burmawala. The film also stars Kiara Advani and has a rich look. Story-wise, it seems ordinary and even juvenile. But the makers assure that it has loads of twists Abbas-Mustan style and will make for a great watch. The film consists of the reworked version of Tu Cheez Badi Hai Mast that got thumbs down. But it helped spread the awareness about the film. The opening of the film will not be great but it most probably will earn more than Aa Gaya Hero on Day 1.
TRAPPED: It stars Rajkummar Rao as the leading actor. The whole film revolves around him as he gets trapped in a flat in a highrise and how he tries to survive and get out of it. The film generated near unanimous appreciation at the 17th Jio MAMI Mumbai Film Festival. The trailer has been loved and there has been a curiosity as to how exactly Rajkummar gets trapped and why is he not able to contact anyone. This is a very niche film but it has loads of entertainment. Hence, the opening might be poor but the word of mouth can ensure it can do better from Day 2 onwards. The costs are limited and hence, the film doesn’t have to earn much to turn out to be a profitable venture.
WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE ANY OF THESE FILMS AND WHY? DO LET ME KNOW!
I'd love to gatecrash Leonardo DiCaprio’s New Year’s party-Rajkummar Rao
8:01 AM
Rajkummar Rao knows how to have fun and let loose, too. Like he does in his upcoming film
Karan Shah (DNA; December 28, 2016)
Most of his roles have been intense affairs, the last one being in Aligarh. Rajkummar Rao’s next, Behen Hogi Teri, is markedly different — it’s a light-hearted masala entertainer. We visited the sets in Lucknow and saw him in action. Excerpts from our chat...
What made you say yes to Behen Hogi Teri?
The script. I found BHT funny and relatable. The characters are real and human. I met director Ajay Pannalal and found him to be a great guy. Before BHT and Bareily Ki Barfi, I finished three films that were quite taxing for me as an actor — Trap, Omerta and Newton. I thought of trying something light. That’s why I chose this film.
A photo of you dressed up as Lord Shiva went viral. What is your character like in the film?
My character’s name is Shiv Nautiyal, but people call him Gattu. He is in love with this girl, Binny, who is played by Shruti (Haasan). They’ve been neighbours since childhood. And as it happens in North India, you can’t really fall in love with your neighbour. I don’t know why the practice exists, but it is kind of strange. So the film shows us, how since childhood he is trying to woo her, but he cannot as it is not allowed. Then he joins her jagran mandali, which is owned by Shruti’s family. He starts working there and starts performing like Lord Shiva. He is also studying. So there is a lot of drama that follows, a lot of confusion.
You posted a few selfies, showing off your six-pack abs. Will you be doing that in the film, too? Do we see you taking off your shirt?
No, I doubt if people will be able to see that in Behen Hogi Teri. That was only for Instagram. I’ve always been a sports enthusiast, but never got the opportunity. So I like working out. I like to shoot, then work out, eat and sleep — that’s my life.
You don’t talk much about your relationship with Patralekhaa...
It’s as boring as it gets, it’s just a relationship like every other relationship. We have spoken a lot about it during Citylights and now we are focusing on our respective careers now. It’s there, that’s about it.
Reports about your break-up with her made headlines earlier this year. Do such rumours bother you?
No, not really. As long as you know the truth, nothing else matters.
Any plans to get married soon?
No, not anytime soon. I am still a kid.
Coming back to movies, tell us a little bit about more about your upcoming projects.
I think Trapped will be the first one to come out. I am really looking forward to that. It’s just a one-character story, so that way it is very special. Then there is Hansal Mehta’s Omerta, which I feel is one of the most explosive films till date. Then I have Newton, a satire, a black comedy and a slice-of-life film, all rolled into one. Then there is Bareilly Ki Barfi. In the movie, I play two drastically different personalities, which was fun. And then there is Behen Hogi Teri.
What has been your favourite movie of 2016?
This Kannada film called Thithi and Udta Punjab.
What’s been the song of the year for you?
It changes every month because there is so much good music coming out. But Ikk Kudi from Udta Punjab.
The actor and actress of the year, according to you?
I think Manoj Bajpayee in Aligarh was really fabulous. From the actresses, a lot of them did great work this year. I haven’t seen Kahaani 2 yet, but Alia in Udta Punjab was amazing.
Three biggest events of the year for you...
Donald Trump winning the presidential elections in America. Demonetization, for sure, has affected everyone. I remember, we were shooting for Bareily Ki Barfi in Lucknow and somebody called me to say that it had happened and I retorted that it didn’t. But people on the sets confirmed that it did. At the time, I had around Rs 4,000-5,000 rupees in my wallet. But it suddenly changes your perception towards life. The currency I had was just paper by then. There’s really no point taking anything seriously as anything can change anytime.
Any New Year plans?
I am planning to go to Amsterdam.
One person’s New Year party you would like to gatecrash?
Leonardo DiCaprio’s. I think his party will be a lot of fun. He is one of the best actors we have, so his parties will be great, too.
Shooting for Trapped was physical and mental torture-Rajkummar Rao
8:03 AM
Subhash K Jha (DNA; November 11, 2016)
Dedicated method actor Rajkummar Rao has been starving himself to play a trauma survivor in Vikramaditya Motwane’s Trapped, a film that Motwane quietly completed while working on his vigilante film Bhavesh Joshi with Harshvardhan Kapoor.
Rajkummar’s film directed by Motwane has only one character, who is trapped in a building. Says the actor, “It’s just the story of one guy who’s stuck in a high-rise. We shot for it last year.”
He undertook an intense dietary preparation to look like a man trapped in the high-rise. “It was very organic and a gradual preparation. I was living in extreme circumstances while we were filming where there was no food or water for days. How will one survive? What happens to our body if not given food or water for days? It was physical and mental torture but I thoroughly enjoyed the process and I’m overwhelmed by the kind of response we’ve got for our film at the MAMI.”
Movie Review: TRAPPED by FENIL SETA
8:06 AM
Mumbai is considered to be the city that never sleeps. It is one of the most overcrowded places in the world. Even the density of population is the one of the highest. Yet, imagine a character getting trapped in a house situated right in the heart of the city. He can see people around but he is just not able to call for help! Trapped is based on such a scary idea and director Vikramaditya Motwane treats it beautifully. The result: Trapped is one of the best films to have come out in recent times! The mighty performance of Rajkummar Rao adds to the impact!
The story and best scenes won’t be listed in this review to provide a spoiler-free experience to the readers!
Trapped is just 105 minutes long and there’s no waste of time. The story begins from the first scene itself. Vikramaditya Motwane manages to hold attention right from the start and doesn’t let till the very end. Obviously, the real thrill begins once Shaurya (played by Rajkummar Rao) gets trapped. He’s the only actor in 90% of the film! Almost 45-50% of the film has no dialogues. Yet, one can’t take one’s eyes off the screen. One gets involved with Shaurya’s struggles as he tries various ways to come out of the flat. There are some stomach-churning scenes in the film but these were crucial to the narrative. In the midst, the makers add humour as well. One of the best scenes is when Shaurya dreams happily about going to the overcrowded local train – it is brilliant! The climax is the most exciting and the film ends on a justified note.
However, Trapped is not without its share of blemishes. The manner in which Shaurya gets hold of the flat and manages to get trapped in it with no one knowing his whereabouts is very unconvincing. It’s a major cinematic liberty taken by the makers. Hence, there are portions in the beginning where one might not be able to digest the goings-on.
Trapped is Rajkummar Rao’s best work – no doubt about that! The actor has given many outstanding performances but nothing that can match Trapped! He gets into his character and his struggle, look, body language etc look completely authentic. Watching Trapped made me for once detest the star system in Bollywood. Rajkummar Rao is highly talented with great screen presence and deserves to be celebrated like the Khans and Kapoors! Here’s hoping that happens soon one day – he deserves it! Geetanjali Thapa (Noorie) too makes a huge impact, albeit in a small role. This actor (who also featured in India’s 2012 Oscar entry Liar’s Dice) deserves to be seen more. Yogendra Vikram Singh (broker) is fairly nice.
Alokananda Dasgupta’s music is okay but the background score is exhilarating! Siddharth Diwan is another person that comes out with flying colours with this film. His cinematography enhances the tension and mood of the film. There are no trolleys, jimmy jibs etc used in the film and that makes for a great impact. Special mention should be of the make-up guy – he/she has done a fine job of making look Rajkummar like a hungry, tired trapped guy. Amit Joshi and Hardik Mehta’s story is great while the screenplay has few unconvincing moments in the beginning. But the script is great once Shaurya gets locked in the house. Vikramaditya Motwane’s direction is topnotch as always. In fact, his earlier films (Udaan, Lootera) were quite long but Trapped finishes in just 105 minutes. He manages to hold attention so well despite that there’s only one actor. Yes, there are repetitive scenes at places but it’s all done very nicely. Vikramaditya certainly is one of the finest directors we have!
On the whole, Trapped is a highly engrossing thriller-drama that holds attention despite the fact that 90% of the film involves just one actor (Rajkummar Rao) and that 40-45% of the film has no dialogues. It’s not a dry or so-called art film – it is mainstream and has lot of entertaining moments. Rajkummar Rao delivers the greatest performance of his career – one has to see it to understand the brilliant job that this actor has done! Kudos to director Vikramaditya Motwane for managing to keep the viewers hooked from start to finish. It has some unconvincing moments in the beginning but nevertheless, Trapped makes an impact and will be loved when it releases in theatres, hopefully in early 2017!
My rating - **** out of 5!
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