In 2022, Twinkle Khanna embarked on an exciting new chapter of her life when she went back to being a student in her 50s. Accompanied by her daughter Nitara, the former actor-turned-author moved to the UK to pursue a Masters program in fiction writing at the Goldsmiths, University of London. After completing her degree last year, Twinkle returned to Mumbai.

When asked whether her back-to-classroom experience helped her understand her kids better, she replied, “No, it didn’t! I think education is wasted on the young because they take it for granted. They complain about homework and assignments, while I look forward to every assignment I get. At this stage in life, I’m eager to learn, but it’s just a task for them. So, we weren’t really on the same page.”

Reflecting on her experience as a student, speaking to us at the the Crossword Book Awards 2024, Twinkle said, “When I was a child, I was very studious. My sister and I were both driven, and I actually enjoyed studying. Math and science were my best subjects, not English. I’ve always loved learning. Going back to school was a life-changing experience for me. It wasn’t just about the lessons I learned at the university, but also about what I learned about life while being a student. It was like living a parallel life. I was there in London for two years. You can’t choose the life you want to live, but you can choose the compromise you want to make. Just because I’ve finished my Masters, doesn’t mean I’ll stop learning. I keep taking courses, like philosophy or short online ones, because I feel there’s so much more to know. It’s amazing to be surrounded by like-minded people, and I never thought I’d have a college gang at 50, but here I am.”

When it comes to encouraging her children, Nitara and Aarav, to read and write in today’s digital age, Twinkle believes in leading by example.

“Kids pick up habits from their parents. You can’t just tell them to read. With my daughter, we read a book together. She reads 10 pages, I read 10 pages, and we leave notes for each other in the margins. I might underline a metaphor and ask her if she noticed it, and she does the same for me. As for Aarav, he’s 22 now, so my job as a parent is mostly done,” she said, adding, “Aarav likes some of the books I read, but I think my daughter enjoys reading more.”

Twinkle has been writing for over 10 years now and has gained popularity with her satirical columns. When asked if writing with wit and humour can be tricky, she replied, “I guess humour is basically about looking at the intrinsic truth but from a slanted perspective. That’s how I see life. I try to lighten the mood, even in tough situations, and that’s how I want to portray the world. Is it difficult? No. Once I’ve done my research, made notes and thought of a few one-liners, putting the piece together isn’t hard. It might take me four-five hours, but the hard part is thinking of ideas. That usually happens when I’m walking my dog or when I am in the shower. Sometimes, I have to jump out and quickly put it down before it evaporates with the steam.”

In a world where AI is increasingly used to generate creative content, Twinkle admitted feeling nervous. She shared, “Right now, it makes me uneasy because I worry that anything I feed into AI could be replicated in my style, and I don’t want that. However, I believe that in the future, we’ll have to embrace AI in a way that helps us become more prolific. AI lacks memory and emotion. It might have an image library, but it doesn’t have the emotional connection that I do. That’s why I believe humans can never be replaced by AI.”

Onkar Kulkarni (BOMBAY TIMES; September 13, 2020)

He made his Bollywood debut with Barsaat (1995), and since then, Bobby Deol has played varied roles across genres. The actor hit a rough patch in his career a few years ago, before coming back with a makeover in Race 3 (2018). Raring to go, he is now exploring new avenues and mediums. As he celebrates 25 years in Bollywood this year, Bobby looks back at his journey so far. Excerpts from a chat...

You have been a part of about 45 films in 25 years. Tell us about some of your most unforgettable experiences?
I have been working for many years, and every film has left me with pleasant memories. However, the one memory I cherish the most is of the day I faced the camera for the first time. It was for a film by Shekhar Kapur also starring Twinkle Khanna (he had appeared as a child artiste in the 1977 film, Dharam Veer). It was a simple shot where I was walking down the stairs, leading to an arena where I was supposed to have a fight. The first day on a film set felt like a dream come true. I shot for that film for 27 days, but it never got made. Shekhar got an opportunity to direct Bandit Queen (1994), and he had to choose between that film and ours. Since the former was a gateway to Hollywood, my dad (Dharmendra, who was the producer of that film) didn’t push him to do it.

You faced a lull in your career before coming back with a makeover in Race 3 (2018). Looking back, do you regret not reinventing yourself a little earlier on?
As an actor, you think of becoming secure and fearless at the same time. There have been times when I tried to do something different, but it didn’t work. That’s when you think of taking a safer path. After seeing the ups and downs, and then making a comeback, I felt that I needed to take chances in life. I became fearless and took chances. With Race 3, I was trying to get noticed and get more work. I am really happy with the opportunities that came my way post that. The OTT projects feel like a great start to a new life. Now, I believe in myself more than I ever did. I feel that even if I fail today, I have the capacity to bounce back. I am in a much happier space in life. I am always going to be persistent.

Was there a particular moment that prompted you to get your act together?
One day, I heard my sons asking their mom, ‘Why is dad at home? Doesn’t he go to work like you do?’ That was the trigger point.

You have ventured into the digital space this year.In fact,your web show, Aashram on MX Player, has won a lot of appreciation. How has your experience been exploring a new medium in the 25th year of your career?
Shooting for a web show is just like shooting for a movie, just that in the former, you are shooting for a five-hour-long movie (laughs!). I feel that web shows are a great platform for new actors to showcase their talent.

You are known as one of the most shy and reserved actors in Bollywood. But, is there someone who you have opened up to and connected well with, in the industry over the years?
I have done many films with Abbas-Mustan (Ajnabee, Humraaz, Naqaab), and they treat me like a younger brother. I have fond memories of working with them. That apart, I am very fond of Preity Zinta. I call her Pritam Singh. I knew her from even before she became an actor. She used to be a part of my friends’ group. I remember she was studying Criminal Psychology and asked me to be her case study. I turned her offer down (laughs!). I had suggested her name to Abbas-Mustan bhai for Soldier (1998) and that’s how we got cast.

Over the past few months, there have been debates about favouritism and nepotism in Bollywood. While you were never a part of any film circles or camps, the fact remains that you come from a starry family?
I don’t believe in being a part of any camp, and that’s the way I have been brought up. Chaplusi karna aadat nahi hai hamari. My family has been away from all this. My dad struggled his way into the film industry. He is the biggest example of an outsider making it big in Bollywood. I am blessed that I am his son and part of this profession. If the nepotism bit was true, toh mere paas kaam aate rehna chahiye tha.

You followed your father and elder brother’s (Sunny Deol) footsteps into the industry. Are your sons gearing up for a career in movies as well?
My sons are just 18 (Aryaman) and 15 (Dharam) years old. My older son is academically inclined; he is a class topper and has got selected by one of the top universities in the US. He is studying Business Management. He still has a few years to decide his career choice. The younger one is in 9th grade. I have seen how the industry has become competitive over the years. It is not easy for everyone to make a mark. At this point, I just want them to be well-educated, so that they can explore various career options.

Actor Akshay Kumar vows to donate ₹25 crore for the needy at this time of Coronavirus crisis, says that he is nobody to do charity
Monika Rawal Kukreja (HINDUSTAN TIMES; March 30, 2020)

Trust Akshay Kumar to be the first one to stand up for a cause and lead by example. Whether it’s working relentlessly for Bharat Ke Veer or contributing for Assam floods, Chennai floods, and Pulwama martyrs, the actor has always wholeheartedly extended financial support for these causes. And now, taking it a notch higher, Kumar has vowed to contribute a whopping sum of ₹25 crore to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s PM-CARES fund to help the government in its fight against the Coronavirus pandemic.

When we reach out to Kumar to know more about this significant contribution, he tells us, “You can call it my weakness or whatever, but I am never able to express my feelings or thoughts behind gestures of contributing to a cause.”

On Saturday, PM Modi announced the creation of this fund that “accepts micro-donations, too” to strengthen disaster management capacities and encourage research on protecting citizens. Soon after, Kumar tweeted to pledge his contribution and wrote, “...all that matters is the lives of our people”.

Mention to the actor how he has set the bar high with this generous amount, and Kumar says with the utmost modesty, “Pehli baat toh yeh ki main kaun hota hoon ‘charity’ ya ‘donate’ karne waala? (who am I to donate or make any charity?)”. Doosri baat ki hum apni country ko Bharat Maa kehte hain. Mera yeh contribution actually mera nahi hai. Yeh meri maa ki taraf se Bharat Maa ko hai. (We address our country as Bharat Maa. So, this contribution is not from me. It is from my mother to my motherland.)”

Known for films such as Airlift (2016), Mission Mangal, and Kesari (both 2019), among others, that uplift the patriotic spirit, the actor says that he will always stand up for the safety of his motherland. “It’s important that I refer to my mother here because poori duniya mein ek fear hai that senior citizens will be ignored and left to themselves during this coronavirus crisis. Hum yeh soch bhi kaise sakte hain. Meri maa ki jaan important hai, aapke maa baap ki jaan important hai. (How can we even think like that. My mother’s life is important and so are the lives of your parents.) No matter who we are, trying to save every single life is critical right now. Maine sirf iski taraf apna ek chhotta sa farz ada kiya hai (I have only done my small bit towards this cause),” says the 52-year-old actor.

Acknowledging Kumar’s actions, PM Modi replied to him and wrote, “Great gesture @AkshayKumar. Let’s keep donating for a healthier India.”

Not just that, even his “proud” wife, Twinkle Khanna, lauded his gesture and tweeted in her signature witty style. “The man makes me proud. When I asked him if he was sure as it was such a massive amount and we needed to liquidate funds, he just said, ‘I had nothing when I started and now that I am in this position, how can I hold back from doing whatever I can for those who have nothing’,” she wrote.

Among others who appreciated Kumar’s gesture calling him a “true hero”, and an “inspiration” are actors R Madhavan, Kriti Sanon, Paresh Rawal, Rahul Dev, filmmaker Milap Zaveri, music composer Salim Merchant, and cricketer Hardik Pandya besides millions of his fans.

Actor Akshay Kumar on movies and criticism...
Ashwini Deshmukh (HINDUSTAN TIMES; February 23, 2020)

You’ve just given your 11th consecutive hit. Certain sections of your audiences still question you though...
I don’t know about that. I just know that I’ve signed my next four films. Having a job matters. Your company is running. That matters. I have another three films lined-up, which I have to give a go ahead to. (Smiles) So according to me, I’m doing pretty well.

Your films are critic-proof. No matter what, they rake in the numbers…
I respect critics. It’s important to have critics for an honest feedback. Also, comedy is subjective. What you like, the other person may not. My kind of humour is different from that of my wife’s (Twinkle Khanna). Opinions vary. Similarly, one critic’s take may vary from that of the other. Especially, when it comes to comedy.

What was Twinkle’s reaction to Housefull 4?
She didn’t watch it.

Why was there so much negativity around the film?
Those who’ve written the negative stuff would be able to tell why. Main toh unke ghar gaya nahi kabhi. People can say what they want. People can keep talking. It doesn’t matter. What matters are the box-office figures. They alone talk.

A character in Housefull 4 faking pregnancy says, main abla hoon tabla nahin. This was dissed by some sections…
Yes, you’re right. It may not have gone down well. The writer has to take care of such things. I may not be around when some scenes are shot. So I may not know about them.

How difficult is it to pull off a comedy?
It’s difficult to pull off humour when you have to rely solely on physical comedy and keep logic away. Only Charlie Chaplin could do that.

Without dialogue, he could make people laugh. Or even Laurel And Hardy. We’ve grown up watching them. An actor can churn out dialogue and make people laugh. But to make people laugh without words is the toughest.

Do you feel comedy as a genre has been ignored?
I’ve been trying to find the answer to this since the last 30 years. I still don’t have one. Everyone believes comedy’s easy. Ask anyone in Hollywood and they will tell you comedy is the most difficult genre.

Your transformation from action films to the comedy genre… was it a planned process?
It’s not some thought out method. I just go with the flow. I didn’t go to any acting school. I just add what I’ve gained through my own experiences. I tend to hold the director’s hand because he knows the film a thousand times better than me. He leads me and that’s why he’s called the captain of the ship. You can only pray that that ship doesn’t turn out to be a Titanic.

Are you always confident of the choices you make as an actor?
No, I’m not confident ya. My team knows how scared I am before a release. You work hard for months. You have to consider whether the audience/critics will like your film. Gharwalon ka alag tension hota hai... whether they’ll like it or not. You’ve got to handle the PR stress, the studio’s tension...

Which have been your path-defining movies?
Sangharsh (Tanuja Chandra, 2000), Jaanwar (Suneel Darshan, 1999) and Hera Pheri (Priyadarshan, 2000). Priyadarshan saab, Rajkumar Santoshi ji (Khakee, 2004) the late Neeraj Vora (Phir Hera Pheri, 2006) are three people who contributed greatly in making me realise that I could attempt different genres, and mould myself as an actor.

Twinkle Khanna says the author in her, with all its quirky humour, will always show resilience in the face of fear irrespective of who she’s up against
Navneet Vyasan (HINDUSTAN TIMES; February 13, 2020)

"I read across genres, a lot of it as purely research into structure, style and narrative. Alice Munro, Rohinton Mistry are some of my heroes," says author Twinkle Khanna. And why not, her humour, that has made her a bestselling author, can be found across genres irrespective of the theme. Mistry, whose novels are laden with realism, and Nobel Prize-winner Munro, who revolutionised short stories, have inspired generations. Khanna, who penned Mrs Funnybones, The Legend Of Lakshmi Prasad and, most recently, Pyjamas Are Forgiving, has slowly but steadily built a strong fan base.

When did your inclination towards reading begin?
My mother (Dimple Kapadia) claims that I could read by the time I was three, which seems hard to believe but I use this apocryphal tale around my childhood to tease my sister mercilessly because apparently she was all of five when she started reading. Today, I think she reads even more than me, though we prefer different genres. I honestly don’t remember a specific time when I discovered the joy of books so to speak, but my boarding school friends claim that I would even skip meals because I was reading. Considering I was the roundest girl in my class, I find it unlikely, though I suppose I do have hazy memories of eating with one hand, while holding my book with another and invariably dropping some food on the pages. Yes, I am one of those sinners, who folds down corners, drops things and writes in the margins. My relationship with books is probably like my relationship with God, I am grateful to have both in my life but my devotion is strictly devoid of any rituals. After all, Saraswati does not come to visit you if you worship books, she drops in occasionally when you turn the pages.

Who were your favourite authors growing up? And who do you enjoy reading now?
I have always read a lot of science fiction, Asimov, Philip K Dick, and I used to read a lot of horror as well — all the Stephen Kings and Dean Koontzs I could find. Now, I have stopped reading about demons but am sticking to my beloved aliens. I read a lot of contemporary sci-fi authors now, N K Jemisin, and Paolo Bacigalupi along with the masters like Atwood and Gaiman. Science fiction is my version of the calorie laden dessert. But I have a tendency of sounding like a boring fart when it comes to talking about the authors I love.

Granted, that we’ve had numerous Booker and Pulitzer Prize winners, what do you make of the fanfare reading had when you were young compared to now?
In the history of mankind, there has never been a time like this with so many things competing for an individual’s attention. We also don’t allow ourselves to be bored anymore. Taking out the time to read, to be still in a world that is always whirling may be more challenging but I don’t think books are anywhere close to being extinct because there really is no replacement for a medium where you are building worlds completely within your head. Like Douglas Adams once told Gaiman ‘Books are sharks. There were sharks before there were dinosaurs, and the reason sharks are still in the ocean is that nothing is better at being a shark than a shark’.

Sharing the stage with Sudha Murthy must have been quite an experience...
Mrs Murthy is someone I admire the most for her sheer lack of pretentiousness. I do know her on a personal level but got to know her further when I interviewed her for my website, and her books are exactly like her — honest and relatable.

What do you make of your contemporaries like Madhuri Vijay?
I have been meaning to get my hands on her book, The Far Field, as I have heard so much about it but I haven’t had a chance yet. I did read Milk Teeth by Amrita Mahale, Meena Kandasamy’s When I Hit You, Eating Wasps by Anita Nair, and they all made it to multiple lists of book recommendations that I jot down regularly for my readers. Contrary to popular belief, I think it’s a wonderful time to be a writer today, only because the best work is never created in a stable environment but always in the midst of uncertainty.

An author’s words might just offend someone. Does that make him/her turn towards self-censorship? Is it an unfortunate solution?
I have been writing for over eight years now and in the last few years, I feel that you can sense an increasing amount of pressure, especially when you write about politics. Each creative person is an individual and has the agency to decide to succumb, temporarily or permanently. Or, even to be subversive or not to adapt at all. I don’t see a demarcation between filmmakers and writers as much as I see it as individual decisions. Personally, I feel that with the platform that I have been given, I do have the responsibility to present a narrative that does not transform or get skewed because of fear.