Showing posts with label Trial Period. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Trial Period. Show all posts
Earlier, the perception was that Bollywood dropouts make it big in the South-Genelia Deshmukh
7:55 AM
Onkar Kulkarni (BOMBAY TIMES; August 2, 2025)
After over a decade of consciously stepping back from the spotlight following the 2012 release of Tere Naal Love Ho Gaya to focus on family life, Genelia Deshmukh is embracing a new chapter — one shaped by motherhood, maturity, and a rekindled love for cinema. In a conversation with BT, the actress, who was recently seen in Sitaare Zameen Par, opens up about evolving with time, the role of South cinema in shaping her career, and why mature roles need more screen time.
‘Riteish and I continue to do things that we always enjoyed doing together’
Genelia, who has been married to Riteish Deshmukh for 13 years, says marriage evolves with time.
She shares, “A lot changes post marriage. People forget that you’re going to change at 30, 40 and 50. You’re not going to be 20 all your life, and I think that’s the issue in most relationships. You expect the person to stay the way they were at 16. Riteish and I know we aren’t in our 20s, but we continue to do things that we always enjoyed doing together. We liked going out for dinners a lot, but with children around, it gets tough. So, once a week, we go to a coffee shop, hold hands and talk. That’s our idea of romance.”
‘Earlier, the perception was that Bollywood dropouts make it big in the South’
Today, pan-India films are seeing actors from Bollywood being cast alongside South actors. Genelia, who made her film debut in 2003 with Tujhe Meri Kasam, did South films from the early days of her career.
About the current pan-India trend, she says, “I don’t know why it took so long. I did it very early in my career, and I did it with pride. I just wanted to do good films; it was never about pitching one above the other. Earlier, the perception was that Bollywood dropouts make it big in the South. I’ve done some of my best work there. I thought my first film would be my last, and then I would take up a 9-5 job. But then I got a lot of work in the South and started falling in love with acting because of South cinema.”
Talking about her break from movies, she says, “During the last 10 years, I did special appearances whenever my friends asked me to. I also did Trial Period, which was an OTT project and Mister Mummy. I am happy that a film like Sitaare Zameen Par came my way.”
‘I’m a different person now, but I still have that madness in me’
Genelia admits that this phase of her career feels different from her early years in the industry. “I’m a different person now, but I still have that madness in me. I’ll always want to keep the child in me alive. At the start of your career, you have to make sure you do things that really work. Now, I want to do a horror film. I want to do action. It all depends on what filmmakers are writing and what you are being offered,” she says.
‘Love stories aren’t just for the young’
The actress is hopeful the industry keeps pace with changing narratives and embraces more mature female characters.
She says, “I wish we would write more stories about women who are in their 30s, 40s or 50s. There are so many dynamics to that, which is interesting. Love stories aren’t just for the young. Why isn’t there a love story of a 30-year-old girl or a single mother? Love doesn’t happen only when you are in college. I don’t think I could play a good mom on screen if I weren’t a mom in real life. I think you bring nuances to the screen when you actually live it. Which is why I say that actors should be cast as per the demand of the role and not because of their Instagram following or because they are number one, two or three.”
Now that he is a director, I see a totally different side to Riteish-Genelia Deshmukh
8:48 AM
Praising actor-husband Riteish’s judgment of scripts, Genelia says he nudged her to front Trial Period
Upala KBR (MID-DAY; July 29, 2023)
Sometimes, we all require a nudge before we follow our heart. Genelia Deshmukh remembers being fairly certain that she wanted to be a part of Trial Period when she finished reading the script. But that nudge to follow her instinct and make her digital debut with the film came from actor-husband Riteish Deshmukh. “Riteish played a big role in my signing the project,” shares the actor.
“We often discuss our scripts, and are each other’s bouncing boards. After I read Trial Period, the next person I gave the script to was Riteish. He has a better sense of scripts than I do. Now that he is a director, I see a totally different side to him. We both saw Trial Period as a sweet family film.”
Aleya Sen’s directorial venture has Genelia playing a single mother who gives in to her son’s demand and brings him a father, essayed by Manav Kaul, on a 30-day trial period. One of the reasons the Jio Cinema offering is special to her is that her sons, Riaan and Rahyl, loved it.
“My boys hardly see any of our films. But since Trial Period was an OTT release, it was a nice experience watching it at home with my family,” she smiles.
Last year, Genelia returned to the movies after a decade-long break with the Marathi blockbuster, Ved. Now, the actor is looking forward to doing more projects. To her, the medium is secondary; what matters is the story.
“Having played bubbly, girl-next-door roles, now I am keen to do something darker and stronger, like Gone Girl [2014]. When I was on a break, one of the series I loved was Delhi Crime. It made me want to come back to acting because it had an amazing character [leading it], and Shefali Shah carried it on her shoulders.”
Is another collaboration with Riteish on the cards, after Ved? The two are quite popular on Instagram, thanks to their quirky reels. Genelia reveals that they have been offered quite a few projects, owing to their reels.
“Many [filmmakers and creators] have been offering us rom-coms, situational comedies and the chance to host our own shows. If something has to shape up, we’d be happy to be part of it.”
(Crisp) Movie Review: TRIAL PERIOD by FENIL SETA
11:05 AM
Trial Period, which has released today on Jio Cinema, boasts of an interesting idea but is not handled well. On the positive side, some scenes are funny and moving. The performances are lovely and the film makes an important comment on single parenting. But on the flipside, the first 30 minutes are not upto the mark. A crucial scene is a poor imitation of a similar scene in Kuch Kuch Hota Hai. The conflict and the ending are predictable and the film doesn't end on a high. Performances save the day to some extent. Genelia Deshmukh looks very pretty and gives a genuine, sincere performance. Manav Kaul is the best performer in the film. It's good to see him in such a light-hearted role. Zidane Braz (Romi) is cute but his dialogues are not easy to comprehend. Shakti Kapoor, Sheeba Chadha, Barun Chandra (Ana’s father) and Swaroopa Ghosh (Ana’s mother) lend able support. Gajraj Rao, as always, is dependable. All in all, Trial Period is an average fare.
My rating - ** ½ out of 5!
Bengali folk anthem Golemale gets a touch of contemporary rap in Trial Period
8:28 AM
Director Aleya Sen shares why she chose Golemale for her upcoming film, Trial Period, featuring Genelia and Manav
Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; July 15, 2023)
When director Aleya Sen set out to make Trial Period, she was certain that not only the songs needed to be in sync with the storyline but also convey the emotions of the principal characters in those situations. The Jio Cinema offering revolves around a single mother Ana, essayed by Genelia Deshmukh, living in Delhi with her six-year-old son Romi. Her world turns upside down when Romi demands a father on a month-long trial basis.
For the critical sequence when Prajapati Dwivedi’s (Manav Kaul) trial period as Romi’s father is coming to an end just before Diwali, Sen opted for Golemale, a famous Bengali Baul folklore song. It is significant as Kaul’s character wrestles with his emotions, realizing it is his last chance to express his feelings to his ladylove. What adds to the impact of the track is that the director has also brought in elements of rap, to make it an interesting dance number.
“Golemale Pirit Koro Na is a Baul song that is like an anthem in Bengal that almost every Bengali has grown up with. It evokes a feeling of love, joy and longing,” Sen says, sharing that when the scene was drafted, the song came naturally to her and fits into the narrative seamlessly.
She elaborates, “The core of the song says that one should not go ahead and fall head over heels in love. There are dire consequences. It was an important call to take as I wanted the lyrics as they are. When [composer duo] Kaushik-Guddu came on board, they instantly got the pulse.”
Conceding that it is a challenge to create a rendition of a folk song that generations have been listening to since childhood, she says, “One of my reasons for using an authentic Bengali song is that music holds the power to connect with people in a profound sense. Golemale does exactly that while also adding a cultural layer to it. The song is beautifully composed by Kaushik Guddu and Shreya Ghoshal has added her magical touch to it! Choreography by Vijay Ganguly is nuanced and Genelia Deshmukh has done a fine job at performing it.”
Sharing their view of incorporating the folk number, composer duo Kaushik-Guddu say, “The story hit to a point where we needed a song that would speak on behalf of the characters. That’s where Golemale happened.”
Asserting that it is not an out-and-out romantic number, but a very old Baul Bengali folk song with a unique rhythm, the composer duo adds, “Even if you don’t understand the lyrics, you will move to it. When we were briefed about the song, we were certain that we didn’t want to disturb the melody because it has the biggest acceptance ever among the Bengalis. For generations and generations, this song is living through us and yet sounds new. We have added a rap part to add some colour to the song and also to add a visual break, and apart from this heavy groove and bass line, merging with a dotara riff is sounding bang on!”
Often in our quest for looking glamorous, we forget our characters-Genelia Deshmukh
8:14 AM
Genelia, who plays a Bengali mother in Trial Period, on how the styling helped her in perfecting her part
Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; July 11, 2023)
Last year, Genelia Deshmukh returned to the movies after a decade-long break and tasted success with the Marathi blockbuster, Ved. In her second innings, she is happy to note that novel stories are being written, making it a fulfilling experience for actors to slip into their roles. A perfect example, she says, is Trial Period. The upcoming Jio Cinema offering sees her as a Delhi-based single mother who gives in to her son’s demand and brings him a father, essayed by Manav Kaul, on a 30-day trial period.
To understand the nuances of her character, Deshmukh primarily relied on director Aleya Sen. The actor credits her for building the protagonist down to the last detail. “I’ve never played a Bengali woman before. Aleya was clear about how she wanted each expression and the body language. I also spoke to many single mothers to understand the complexities of [their lives],” says Deshmukh.
Next came creating the look. Costume designer Karishma Gulati put together a look that reflected the character’s individualistic streak, while keeping the outfits’ functionality in mind. The actor elaborates, “We went in for a lot of cotton clothes. Aleya and Karishma worked for many months to come up with something they felt was perfect for the role. When [it comes] to styling, you have to look the part. Often in our quest for looking glamorous, we forget our characters.”
Although Sen usually doesn’t keep an actor in mind while writing a story, she admits that Deshmukh was her first choice for the lead. “Genelia was open to everything, be it the look test or the reading sessions, and got into the skin of the character. The fact that she is also a mother in real life only added to her warmth, both on and off screen.”
One day, my children Siddhant and Shraddha told me I should stop doing bad films just for the money-Shakti Kapoor
8:22 AM
Shakti Kapoor in Anari Is Back with Anita Raaj
With OTT giving him a new lease of life, Shakti Kapoor on getting positive roles after playing the loud villain in films
Upala KBR (MID-DAY; June 12, 2022)
He is often monikered as Crime Master Gogo or Balma, but the real Shakti Kapoor is far removed from the loud villainous characters he has essayed over the last four decades. However, the tide is changing in his favour as he is now being offered character-oriented and positive roles. The actor credits this new lease of life to the OTT boom. “Directors are offering me completely different characters today,” says the actor who was last seen in Parchhayee: Ghost Stories by Ruskin Bond, Bravehearts—The Untold Stories of Heroes, and Netflix’s Guilty Minds.
Changing his image in the minds of the audience, who assumed that Kapoor was like the roles he played on screen, was not an easy journey. “Earlier, I had the controversial image attached to me. I wasn’t happy with it, but kept quiet and let my work do the talking. One day, my children—Siddhant and Shraddha—told me that I should stop doing bad films just for the money. They believed it was better that I sat at home and watched movies instead. [Now, I get to] play a father, husband, and family-oriented roles, that’s the real me,” reflects the FTII Pune graduate, who accepts that the antagonist roles he portrayed on screen were his “bread and butter”.
“Though I was appreciated for my role in Shyam Benegal’s Zubeidaa [2001], I didn’t get similar offers after that.”
Up next, Kapoor has Aleya Sen’s Trial Period. “It’s a beautiful, positive, and quirky character which will make you laugh and cry,” says the actor, and adds, “I also have a Hollywood series shooting for which begins in August. Post that, I am doing a thriller with Bejoy Nambiar.”
Kapoor has completed the shooting of Pahlaj Nihalani’s Anari Is Back also, featuring Mithun Chakraborty and Anita Raaj.
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