Rachit Gupta (BOMBAY TIMES; April 15, 2018)

Sudhir Mishra and Rahul Bhat are perfect examples of a filmmaker and an actor being distinctly different, yet seamlessly compatible. While Mishra made his foray into filmmaking during the onset of parallel movies in the ’80s, Rahul burst onto the scene in the new millennium. Yet, the two share a unique rapport. Both love politics and view cinema as a medium of art and not just mart. No surprises then, that they have joined hands to make DaasDev. The film, they say, is a “reverse engineered version” of Devdas. In an exclusive chat with BT, the two mercurial artistes trash out their ideals of cinema. Excerpts…

Sudhir Mishra calls you a chameleon. How do you react to that, Rahul?
Sudhir Mishra: Once you get to know him, you’ll find it hard to believe that he played a loser in Ugly, because he is very different in real life. I think his character in DaasDev is closer to his real self — a slightly arrogant person with a devil-may-care attitude.
Rahul Bhat: Achcha, chameleon ke saath saath, arrogant bhi bol diya (laughs!).
SM: Isse toh aata hi nahi sahi baat bolna. Ye kucch bhi, kahin bhi bol deta hai. We’ll be at a party together, aur yeh kisi bhi bade aadmi ko kuchh bhi bol dega. He can only interact with people like us, people who don’t strut around thinking they are Gods. Unfortunately, chaar filmein chal jaati hai toh, most people in the industry think that they are Gods.
RB: I’ve been like this since childhood. I can’t change myself in real life, but I am more than willing to do so for a film. That’s my job as an actor. My eccentricities as a person may result in me losing out on work, but then, I get to work with acclaimed filmmakers like Sudhir sir, Anurag Kashyap and Prakash Jha sir. They don’t give two hoots about my behaviour, and appreciate me as an actor. What more can I ask for?

Which quality of Rahul as an actor has impressed you the most?
SM: He just gives himself to the part. The best actors are the most transparent ones, they don’t obstruct the storytelling process. In our industry, we like people who do drama. So, the film takes a pause and you admire the actor’s histrionics on the screen. The hallmark of good actors is that you realise that they did a fabulous job only after the film is over. Rahul has that ability, he’s an actor who can work selflessly for the film. Another common scenario in our films is the hero saying, ‘Maine heroine ko bachaya, maine gaadi chalayi, main pahad pe chadha, main bura aadmi nahin ban sakta’... The moment an actor says these things, he ceases to be an actor.

Rahul, you’ve already worked with acclaimed filmmakers like Anurag Kashyap, Prakash Jha and Abhishek Kapoor. How different was Sudhir’s approach towards filmmaking?
RB: Just before Ugly went on floors, I was talking to Anurag and praising him to the skies. He then told me, ‘I would like to see you work with Sudhir Mishra’. He then added that there are directors who help liberate actors. ‘Har actor ka ek dhakkan hota hai. And some filmmakers have the knack of uncorking and setting him free,’ he said. At that point, I couldn’t grasp what he said. But after working with Sudhir sir for about 10 days, Anurag’s words started making sense to me. Now, I’ve learnt to use my craft to its full potential.

Were the two of you apprehensive about comparisons with Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Devdas and Bimal Roy’s 1955 classic with Dilip Kumar playing the title role? Even Anurag Kashyap did a spin on Devdas with Dev.D...
SM: I have taken the essence of the original novel, i.e. the relationship between Dev and Paro as well as the one between him and Chandramukhi, to a certain extent. However, I have placed them in a totally different context. My film should not be seen as another version of Devdas, it should be treated like a film loosely inspired by Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay’s novel. I loved Anurag’s version, too. For me, this story is about addiction to power. How Dev becomes obsessed with power and then he liberates himself, encompassing the journey of daas to dev. Similarly, a modern woman like Paro fights injustice, but she too gets addicted to power. Chandni (Chandramukhi) is manipulative and wants to extract something for herself. It’s essentially a story of our times. It’s an observation of the lust for power. In that way, it’s also slightly Shakespearean.

Your films always have a strong undertone of politics and reality. Are they your perennial inspirations?
SM: I’d like to think that all my films talk about something new. I feel Chameli is different from Yeh Saali Zindagi, which is different from Inkaar. I try and put myself in a new situation every time, and make every film like it’s my debut. My attempt is to evoke new reactions and emotions, and in the process, perhaps discover something new about myself. Even I don’t know the kind of film I’ll end up with when I start making it. There’s a reason why I’m not making Hazaron Khwaishein 2 or 3. That’s what most modern filmmakers do — they make the same film over and over again, and just keep camouflaging it.

What were the conversations on the sets of DaasDev about? Love or politics?
SM: Love has a lot to do with politics.
RB: Yeah, love is political.
SM: A lot of things were said, a lot of things that we can’t reveal (laughs!).
RB: A lot of things we shouldn’t reveal (laughs!).
SM: Rahul has suffered politically, as he comes from Kashmir. Given the circumstances they come from, most Kashmiri have strong political views.
RB: Yeah, Kashmiri pandits are sometimes more political than they should be. (laughs!) But I have never wanted to play the card that I am a Kashmiri pandit and that I am a victim of a situation. I am an actor and I belong to Mumbai. I’m more of a Mumbaikar than a Kashmiri pandit.

DaasDev has an ensemble cast of acclaimed actors. Rahul, as an actor, do you view it as a situation of fierce competition? Also, how does a filmmaker control so many actors?
RB: With established and talented actors is always a challenge. You’ve to be on your toes and that’s quite an interesting experience. Ensemble cast ke saath kaam karne mein maza toh bahut aata hai.
SM: Acting is not a wrestling match, all actors share the dais in a film. A good actor will always raise the bar for others and make his co-stars perform better. I believe that it’s a fantastic environment to work in. It can be an enriching experience.
RB: No actor is perfect, be it Naseeruddin Shah, who is my favourite actor, or even Robert De Niro. There’s no actor who was perfect in all the films he did. They are great in some movies and not so good in others. That’s how an actor’s career pans out. Which is why, when people ask me what I look for in a film before signing it, I don’t talk about my co-stars or the script. All I say is that the director should be good. If the director is good, the story will be good, the choice of actors will be good and eventually, the film will also be good.

Who makes or breaks a film? The actors or the director?
RB: Cinema is a director’s medium. No actor can make or break a film. Yes if you’re a star, you have a stronger influence, but that’s because you keep making the same kind of films over and over again.
SM: From the director’s perspective, an actor is very important. Even the smallest actor contributes to a film immensely. In DaasDev, the characters of journalists are played by real journalists, because that’s the only way to ensure authenticity. No actor will be able to fill that space. So, I always keep a mix of actors and non-actors in my films.
RB: There’s a journalist in DaasDev who says, ‘Aisi kaun si davai khayi thi bees saal pehle, jo aapko bees saal purani ghatna yaad aa gayi’. No actor on this planet could say that line the way that guy has said it in the film. He says the line with such nonchalance that only a real journalist can pull it off. Anybody else will just make a fool of themselves.

Do actors and directors share a love-hate relationship?
SM: I love working with good actors, because I can trust them blindly. That’s the reason why I cast Saurabh Shukla in all my films. I know that I can just put him in a scene and he’ll handle it well. At times, I would give the other actors the exact lines that they have to speak. But with Saurabh, I just give him the gist of the scene and let him fill in the gaps. Such actors are the biggest asset for any filmmaker.
RB: What better compliment for an actor than to have the filmmaker say that he can be trusted blindly. But having said that, it’s not easy to work with filmmakers like Anurag and Sudhir sir, because you have no idea what could happen on the set. One day, they’ll just show up with random ideas plucked out of thin air. You’ll have no inkling as to how to react to their demands.
SM: Sometimes, we’re not the nicest people on the set (laughs). Filmmakers are like Jekyll and Hyde. We can suddenly turn into monsters on the sets.
RB: The good thing about working with mercurial filmmakers is that they’re always on the lookout for something new. Filmmakers like Sudhir sir and Anurag are always looking to create magic. They are not the kind of people who will simply shoot a scene, they will keep pushing the envelope till they create something wonderful and magical.

Swasti Chatterjee and Mohar Basu (BOMBAY TIMES; August 1, 2016)

Films made on dreary subjects tend to do less than stellar business. Should revenge drama Badlapur be worried?
Subhash K Jha (DNA; February 19, 2015)


But how do you sell this ‘realism’ to the masses, fed on a regular diet of fantasy, farce and skin? Anurag Kashyap’s Ugly tried — it was called his best work to date by critics and viewers alike — but was a box-office failure.

Then came Neeraj Pandey’s Baby, a slick thriller on global terrorism, starring Akshay Kumar. The film did well, critics loved it, but trade experts felt it should have done much, much better.

R Balki teamed up a third time with Big B for Shamitabh. It left the audiences cold. Admits Balki, “Especially the last 20 minutes where the film turned into a tragedy... that killed the film. The audience doesn’t want to emerge from the theatre heavy-hearted. They want to feel good about life. The response I got from the audiences when I visited the theatre was, ‘Heavy hai’. The audience doesn’t want anything heavy.”

A few months after Badlapur, Anushka Sharma’s gritty NH10 follows. If the trailer is any indication, it will be a fast-paced, nail-biting escape thriller, and in equal doses ‘dark’ and ‘heavy’.

Will Badlapur buck the trend, though? While he admits dark isn’t the flavour of the season at the B-O, critic Raja Sen adds, “While such films have always been a hardsell, this one seems to be both dark and sexy.
There is a visceral appeal to this hard actioner. We all hope that Sriram can deliver.”

THE BIG QUESTION
Varun Dhawan ’s the quintessential chocolate-boy hero. Will he successfully trade in the grin for the grim?

Roshmilla Bhattacharya (MUMBAI MIRROR; January 31, 2015)

Tejaswini Kolhapure and husband Pankaj Saraswat have welcomed a baby girl. She was born at Lilavati Hospital yesterday afternoon.

"We've been married for almost eight years now and were really looking forward to this child. A daughter is all the more precious. Sons go away but daughters never leave you. It was a C-section but both mother and daughter are doing fine," says Pankaj.

The whole family have come by to see the baby. "Shraddha (aunt Shraddha Kapoor) was crying with joy. She wants to be the godmother," he laughs. "And her grandfather, Pandharinath Kolhapure, wants to make her a singer. He's a classical singer who's trained actresses like Juhi Chawla. He is the cousin of Lata Mangeshkar and Asha Bhosle. I'm being told that because she was born today she will be a singer too. I'll be happy if she is."

Tejaswani's first film, Ugly, released last month and the now with the baby, the family is calling it a "double release" for the new mamma. Have they named her yet? "We've been toying with fusion names but haven't decided on one yet. There's plenty of time," says papa.

Roshmilla Bhattacharya (MUMBAI MIRROR; December 29, 2014)

Anurag Kashyap on his struggle with the Censors and more
Gaurav Dubey (MID-DAY; December 28, 2014)

You have always been a non-conformist. You are vocal about everything.
I am really not a rebel. I have always been truthful as I can’t be diplomatic. In fact, I recently watched PK and enjoyed it. I envy Rajkumar Hirani, Imtiaz Ali, Vishalji (Bhardwaj) as they make outstanding cinema. I have always been honest to myself. I fight to exist and that keeps me grounded.

You also took on the Censor Board.
Yes, that fight is not over. My film Ugly has released, but the fight will continue on a larger scale. I want to continue fighting because I don’t agree with their diktats. It’s not even the law that is passed by the judiciary. It’s just somebody puts out something and we have to follow it. Mahesh Bhatt sahab has already filed a petition in the Supreme Court which is still pending. I feel now the time has come for all of us to take a stand.

You have a fixed audience for your films. Don’t you want to expand your territory?
The audience increases over a period of time. Recently, I went on YouTube and saw one of my films. There were five lakh views; it’s a big thing. My films get downloaded and more people watch it online. Someday this audience will be the paying audience. We just need to figure out a way to get them to the theatres.

Why do you dig dark cinema? Don’t you want to tread other genres?
I think dark is a relative term. Who are the filmmakers we admire in the world? What cinema do they make? What is Gone Girl? What is Birdman? It’s funny but they are all dark films. Why don’t we refer to them as dark cinema? Just because they are from Hollywood? In India, we love to make feel good films. I’m going to make what I like. I like the real and the raw; and this will always be in my films.

Do you want to be a part of the Rs 100-crore club?
I am not saying that I don’t believe in it. Everybody should make money, but I can’t let this govern me and my filmmaking.

How’s your equation with Rajkumar Hirani now?
I’m a huge fan of his work. In fact I am his air-conditioner. My anger lasted for only a week. Who can get angry with Rajkumar Hirani? He’s a good friend.

Buzz is that you are planning to shift your base to Cannes.
I just want to travel a lot right now. I want to cut down the pace of work. I have been working for 22 years and I think I need a break, but I will continue to make films here.

How do you react to the constant buzz about your film, Bombay Velvet?
Recently, I met Rishiji (Kapoor) and I asked him, “Sir, you watched Bombay Velvet and you didn’t like the film. Where did you watch it?” Rishiji replied, “Yaar, tu toh film dikhata hi nahin hain.” He has not even seen the film yet there’s so much talk about him not liking the film. In fact Rishiji asked me, “What have you done? Why is there so much of negativity around you?” I had no answer for him.

When a director like Anurag Kashyap comes up with a film, one can’t help but take notice and get curious by it. Though he has faltered with films like No Smoking and That Girl In Yellow Boots, he’s also delivered some brilliant films like Black Friday, Gulaal and of course Gangs Of Wasseypur series. Hence, when the promo of Ugly was unveiled last year, it immediately generated interest despite lacking star power and grandeur. And it was very saddening to see that the film was indefinitely delayed after Kashyap moved court to protest the Censor’s diktat of inserting anti-smoking disclaimers. And it was even more unfortunate that he lost the case despite being totally justified. He then got busy with his ambitious venture Bombay Velvet but 2 weeks back, he suddenly revealed that he’s releasing Ugly in the next 14 days, on December 26, and that too a week after PK! But alas! Ugly is average – yes, it has its moments but overall, one expected much better from Kashyap!

The story of the movie: Rahul (Rahul Bhat) is a struggling actor who has got divorced from Shalini (Tejaswini Kolhapure). Shalini now lives with their child Kali (Anshika Shrivastava) and is married to the tough cop, ACP Shoumik Bose (Ronit Roy). Story begins on a Saturday which is when Rahul is allowed to meet Kali. He takes her out with her in his car and at one point, when he steps out of the vehicle to meet his casting director friend Chaitanya (Vineet Singh), Kali suddenly goes missing. Naturally, ACP Bose gets involved and this becomes a high priority case for the policemen. Rahul, Shalini and Shoumik don’t have a fine relationship with each other and Kali’s missing incident brings out the worst or rather the most ‘ugly’ side of theirs and also of others who get involved.

As the name of the film suggests, Ugly is quite ‘ugly’ – dark, disturbing and depressing. Nothing is happy-go-lucky or hunky dory out here, which is completely fine. The film begins with a bang and immediately sucks the viewers into the dark world of its principle characters. The chase sequence is terrific and the following scene at the police station is just out of this world – definitely, one of the most memorable sequences in years! It’ll surely be uploaded by some fan later on on YouTube with ‘Ugly – scene in the police station’ title and would be seen by lakhs of people! The twist in the tale comes across in the first 30 minutes which definitely is quite startling. The flashback portions help viewers better understand the dynamics of the relationship. In short, everything is fine till the intermission point. It’s in the second half when the film goes downhill. Inexplicable developments take place and what’s worse is that it fails to look convincing after a point. Hence, the charm that was created in the first half loses its sheen later on. The film’s ending should have been shocking but instead, it gives an underwhelming feeling.

However, no complaints when it comes to performances though. Rahul Bhat who rose to fame with the TV show Heena is a powerhouse of talent and effectively plays the victim and villain. Especially his vulnerable side comes out very nicely. Hope he gets more and better roles after Ugly! Ronit Roy is bound to send a chill down the spine. If you thought he was scary in Udaan and Boss, then you are in for a lot of shock and scare in Ugly! Without doubt, he’s one of the finest actors that we have who knows how to play a horrifying negative lead! Tejaswini Kolhapure proves that she’s a very fine actor and leaves a very huge mark in some scenes. Vineet Singh has a very important part to essay and he gets the nuances totally right which was very crucial for the film. Another actor that saves the day to an extent is Girish Kulkarni (Inspector Jadhav). He looked every inch a policeman and is responsible for the success of the police station scene! An actor to watch out for! Siddhant Kapoor (Siddhant) is fine in his supporting role. Surveen Chawla (Rakhee) looks sizzling and gives a superb performance. Anshika Shrivastava is quite decent.

Brian McOmber’s background score goes well with the film. Nikos Andritsakis’s cinematography is raw and quite novel in few sequences that makes for a great watch. Editing could have been better. Story (inspired from true events) is definitely quite interesting and made for a great film story. But Anurag Kashyap the writer is let down by Anurag Kashyap the director. He keeps viewers hooked with the ‘what-will-happen-next’ feeling but after a point, the plot goes haywire. And when the whole picture is unveiled in the end, the impact generated is thanda which shouldn’t have been the case. Here’s hoping Anurag Kashyap’s next Bombay Velvet makes for a great entertaining fare!

On the whole, Ugly boasts of a great plot, performances and terrific first half. But things go downhill in the second half. The direction plays spoilsport which is when the desired impact is not generated, despite the very shocking climax. Sadly, an average fare!

P.S.: Watch out for Alia Bhatt in a blink-and-you-miss-scene!

My rating - ** ½ out of 5!

ANURAG KASHYAP’S UGLY FINALLY RELEASING TOMORROW!

Anurag Kashyap surprised everyone when he announced 2 weeks back that he’s releasing his delayed film Ugly in the next 14 days, on December 26. The film was to originally release on October 11, 2013. But that couldn’t happen as the Censors asked Kashyap to insert the anti-smoking disclaimer in all the smoking scenes, which he felt was unjustified. He moved court and hence, the film got indefinitely delayed. What’s sad is that he lost the case. He then got busy with his ambitious film Bombay Velvet and many wondered if Ugly will release at all and that will it face a fate like Paanch, Kashyap’s first film that never got released. Obviously, his fans now are a relieved lot.

The reason why Ugly is keenly awaited is that it looks great and that’s evident from the trailer. The movie seems to be a roller-coaster ride with lots of thrills and boasting of a gripping narrative. Also, the black humour at places should make for a great watch. The makers also unveiled the song ‘Nichod Le’ and it’s not just another item number – watch out for yourself! As for the release, it’ll naturally be small and a smart one. Also, with PK running successfully, it can’t desire for a wide release. And the makers are not even asking for it. Also, many are wondering if it’s justified for this film to release sans promotion? But then, why spend 6 crore on a film’s marketing that cost to make 4.5 crore and which is not a typical mainstream film? The film has been smartly marketed in these 14 days and its core audience is excited for the film. If response is fine, it can definitely work.

WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE UGLY AND WHY? DO LET ME KNOW!
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PK IS A BLOCKBUSTER!

The Aamir Khan starrer PK has spread cheer everywhere! The film has been loved by audiences (although some have found it similar to OMG Oh My God, rightfully). At the box office, the film is performing brilliantly with collections remain steady in the weekdays as well. Since today is a holiday (Christmas), the occupancy witnessed a jump in the evening shows yesterday and hence Wednesday’s collections were better than Tuesday! And today, the film is expected to perform better than Day 1! What’s important to note is that the film is collecting so much because the word of mouth is extremely positive. Even films like Bang Bang and Happy New Year had the advantage of festive holidays but those films didn’t perform the same way as response is mixed. PK on the other hand is winning hearts everywhere!

PK in my opinion is the best film of 2014 despite OMG similarities and few loopholes. It provided entertainment and also gave a very nice message and it’s heartening to see that the film has got such a huge response. Here’s hoping PK continues to run successfully and creates new records!

MUMBAI MIRROR (December 24, 2014)

Anurag Kashyap has always taken an unconventional and daring path when it comes to his films or their promotions. In what is definitely a first for Indian cinema, the filmmaker is releasing a 5-minute prologue to his keenly anticipated new film Ugly, online today.

The short film Kali-Katha, specially crafted from the deleted scenes of the film is not a mere teaser, but aims to give audiences an emotional backdrop to the story and characters of Ugly, which is about the harrowing search for Kali-a young girl who is kidnapped under mysterious circumstances.

Says Anurag, "It's a very dark prologue to the film that talks about the circumstances around the conception of Kali. It explores the uncomfortable truth below the surface of relationships, which we often ignore and refuse to accept".

The short film shows the past relationship between Kali's parents -- Rahul who is a struggling actor and Shalini who is a housewife, though not by choice, and the disturbing conditions under which she was born.

Rahul Bhat and Tejaswini Kolhapure who play the parents of Kali, were also taken aback a bit when Anurag decided to put the short film out. But Anurag is confident that the short film sets up the viewer in the right way to get a better understanding of the characters before they go and watch Ugly.

Ugly releases across Indian cinemas this Friday, 26th December 2014.

BOMBAY TIMES (December 23, 2014)

BOMBAY TIMES (December 20, 2014)

Anurag Kashyap has won a long-standing battle with the Censor Board - his next film Ugly will release this Christmas.

Coming as it is after some of the director's accomplished works like Black Friday, Dev.D and Gangs Of Wasseypur 1 and 2, Ugly is yet another of those realistic films that has made Anurag the brand he is. A source says, “In this emotional story, he explores some harsh truths in the garb of a thriller. The film is very close to the director, as it is inspired from a dark period in his own life.'' It is the last release of 2014 and the sudden announcement of the release date took everyone by surprise. But Anurag is confident about the film that has garnered positive reviews and critical acclaim at international film festivals. It was even screened at the Directors' Fortnight Section at the 2013 Cannes Film Festival.

Anurag excitedly says, “It is my most brutally honest film and I did it exactly the way I wanted to. It's a dark, emotional roller coaster and there is no way it won't work!“

Ugly, produced by DAR Motion Pictures and Phantom Films, releases December 26.

Chaya Unnikrishnan (DNA; December 19, 2014)


You have been away from the scene for a long time...
Yes, I am back after eight years. I stopped acting because of the kind of films that were offered to people like me who were relatively new and had no guidance. I quit the profession in anger.

What stopped you from doing TV?
As I said I just stopped acting, so TV was also out of question. Instead, I decided to produce TV shows, but still didn’t act in them.

How did Ugly happen?
Anurag Kashyap and I know each other from the time we were strugglers. We used to stay in the same locality and he would say ‘you should be doing movies’. However, it was when he met me two years ago that he said he has a script for me. It was a challenging role and I immediately said yes. Sudhir Mishra saw me in the film and offered the title role in Aur Devdas. And I am back! At least for the next one year I am booked (smiles).

What made Ugly challenging?
It is a layered film. The basic story is about a girl who goes missing. However, the movie brings out several inter-personal relationships and how each of us is busy in our personal lives and selfish. To really bring out that emotion, I had to go deep into my inner self. I remember, for a scene that was shot in a Colaba’s Irani Cafe, I had to break down. Even after Anurag said ‘cut’, I couldn’t stop crying. Anurag tried to comfort me but in the end he also started weeping. The scene had really shaken us up. Besides, it was a demanding shoot. We shot on real locations in Mumbai. Both Anurag and I decided to leave the comfort our homes and stayed outside a hotel, exactly the way we lived during out struggling days. We had a terrible time revisiting those days.

Why did Anurag keep you away from the media glare during the filming?
(Laughs) That was because he had told me to go without sleep throughout the shoot. Trust me, I used to hardly sleep for two to two-and-a-half hours. Also, since I was shown to be a drunkard, I used to actually drink on the sets. I had a wired look, which was the requirement of the film.

Now that it’s releasing what are your expectations?
The film has been acclaimed at international film festivals. I was even nominated at the New York Film Festival. We’ve shot a kick-ass film. Now it’s up to the audience, who are always complaining about watching the run-of-the mill fare, to make this successful. We are offering them something different.

Tell us about Aur Devdas. This must be the fourth Devdas now...
Yes. But this is different from what you have seen so far. It is set against a political backdrop in Lucknow. I play the role of a rich guy, who just parties, is into drugs, generally a wastrel. He is from a political family and one day he goes back to his roots to claim his rightful place. Let me tell you, I did not drink to play the role of Devdas. I told Sudhir that since I had done a lot of drinking in Ugly I had enough experience to play a drunkard!

What next?
I have several interesting offers, but am yet to take a call.

Roshmilla Bhattacharya (MUMBAI MIRROR; December 17, 2014)

Fourteen years ago, while filming Anurag Kashyap's directorial debut Paanch, Tejaswini Kolhapure would return home physically drained but creatively satiated. And one day, she announced that she wouldn't mind retiring after this.

Tejaswini believes that God took her words to heart. Paanch was banned for three years following the CBFC's objection to the depiction of violence, drug abuse and use of abusive language. By the time it was cleared in 2001, Tutu Sharma, her brother-in-law and the film's producer, was grappling with problems of his own. It was leaked online in 2010 but never got a home video or theatrical release.

Padmini Kolhapure's talented younger sister, after turning down a stream of producers who encouraged by her "bold image" wanted her to wear a bikini or do an intimate scene, returned to modelling and theatre. There were stray films, like Happi and Mani Ratnam's Raavan, where her role was cut down to a fleeting scene, but Tejaswini remained out of the spotlight.

Her 14 saal ka vanvaas will end on December 26 with another Anurag Kashyap film. In Ugly she plays a woman whose second marriage is a disaster, with a stalker for a husband. She turns suicidal, seeking oblivion in alcohol and sleeping pills. Then her daughter, from her previous marriage, is kidnapped and the guilt puts her back on track.

Like Paanch, Ugly too was a draining experience, including an hour-long crying session for a sequence. "It was cut down to 30 seconds to fit into the film's non-linear narrative. Fortunately, that was the only cut," says a relieved Tejaswini.

She went into the project blind. "But I've known Anurag for years and trust him implicitly. I'm glad he thought about me for another film. I can't say if Ugly will change my destiny but I'm happy a film of mine is finally releasing," she says.

The film was screened at the Cannes Film Festival in 2013 and released in France three months ago. But in India it was delayed when Anurag moved court protesting against the Censor Board's anti-smoking disclaimer. "I asked myself why he had to launch the protest with this film. I had my fingers crossed and finally the jinx will break," she says fervently.

Today, her niece, Shraddha Kapoor, and nephew, Siddhant Kapoor, too are experimenting with different roles. "But not all makers find funds and buyers," she says. "Would Ugly have got a release if it had been made by someone other than Anurag?"

Has Anurag approached her for another film? "No, he seems to have gone underground," she laughs. "And there are no other offers. I'm hoping something beautiful will come along after Ugly."

Ankur Pathak (MUMBAI MIRROR; December 13, 2014)

With the fifth Jagran Film Festival starting next week in the city, film lovers can rejoice
Gaurav Dubey (MID-DAY; September 20, 2014)

The year 2014 marks the centenary of the outbreak of the First World War (1914-1918) — a watershed event of the 20th century. Looking back at the depictions of the horrors, triumphs, and humanity of the War, the fifth Jagran Film Festival-2014, India’s only touring film festival that is scheduled to take place in Mumbai from September 22-28, will present a special section of classic and contemporary cinema depicting the essence of the Great War. The idea is to propagate the principle of global peace in today’s conflict-ridden scenario.

The films that will be screened include Grand Illusion (La Grande Illusion) directed by Jean Renoir; La France, directed by Serge Bozon; and Jules and Jim (Jules et Jim) directed by François Truffaut. Along with the screening of First World War cinema, the festival also has an exciting line-up of films in diverse genres drawn from every corner of the world.

The festival will feature films under several sections starting with Cinema of the Uprising, International Competition, Indian Showcase and Country Focus (Cyprus).

In the Indian Showcase category, more than 20 feature films, made in different Indian regional languages, including Hindi blockbusters, will compete with each other. The festival will also host a Bimal Roy retrospective. His films, Sujata (left), Do Bigha Zameen, Madhumati, Devdas and Bandini, will be screened at the week-long event.

Curtains on this edition of the festival will go up with the screening of The Woods Are Still Green (right), an Austrian feature film written and directed by Marko Nabersnik, that has won several International Best Film awards. The film is an anti- war drama set against the backdrop of the World War I. The Indian section of the festival will see the screening of films such as Highway, Katiyabaaz, Mary Kom, Mardaani, Shahid, Queen and Ugly (below). The festival will also host workshops and masterclasses on cinematography, film festivals, making short films and casting, among other things.

The Mumbai edition marks the final leg of the fifth Jagran Film Festival that has travelled across 16 cities. These films will be screened at PVR Andheri and Cinemax Versova.

Conceptualised to bring world class cinema to a wide audience, Jagran Film Festival, Mumbai 2014 promises to be bigger and better this year.

Hi @fenil_seta . Ugly has been postponed. We shall announce new release date soon!
— Dar Motion Pictures (@DarMovies) September 17, 2014

Sonali Joshi Pitale (MID-DAY; August 27, 2014)

The latest buzz has it that Anurag Kashyap will be moving out of the country for some time. A source says, “Anurag has been working nonstop on Bombay Velvet since the past few months and he is now contemplating fly down to Paris and living there for a while. Of course, he will be working there and so he’ll continue to be a part of Bollywood. But he will spend more time out of the country as he wishes to move base to France and try and operate from there. This will happen sometime next year after the release of his ambitious project, Bombay Velvet.”

Apart from this film, Kashyap is apparently also keen to see Ugly release in India after it was screened at Cannes last year. “Ugly has been stuck for a long time now, and he is keen to see it release in theatres as soon as possible. It is a project that he holds close to his heart and he’s said to be looking forward to its release on September 19, though it’s a tentative date at this stage,” says the source.

When contacted, Anurag said, “The only thing true is my moving out but it’s not going to happen in the immediate future. I have a lot to finish here. And I only have stories that I want to turn into films in India. So even if I move, it will be a temporary and partial move.”

Bharati Dubey (MID-DAY; May 24, 2014)

Anurag Kashyap’s Ugly may finally release in cinema halls. The filmmaker has decided to continue with his fight against inserting disclaimers in smoking scenes of the film but he wants the producers of the film to release the film.

Anurag says, "The film’s producers have stood by me throughout but I don’t want to delay the film any more because so much is at stake. I will soon make a presentation for the new government to consider as the court has given me such an option". It maybe recalled here that Kashyap had challenged the notification that made it mandatory for filmmakers to put anti-smoking disclaimers during smoking scenes in a film. In his petition, the filmmaker pleaded for the rule to be set aside.

In response to this, the Central Board of Film Certification restrained the filmmaker from releasing the film Ugly after which he moved court in December. But the court did not give him any interim relief and instead asked him to make a presentation before the central government.

Vivek Rangachari of Dar Motion Pictures, which is co-producing Ugly, says, “ We are in the process of finalising the film’s release date. Our fight will go on but we will comply with the board’s directives and insert the no smoking disclaimer as we don’t want to delay the film’s release." Ugly, earlier slated to release on October 11 last year, is also releasing in France sometime in June.

Rangachari says, “Internationally, the film will see a limited release; we plan to release the film a little later in India.’’

Priya Gupta (BOMBAY TIMES; May 6, 2014)

Woody Allen’s Oscar nominated Blue Jasmine did not see an India release as, reportedly, Woody Allen refused to accommodate the Ministry of Health’s mandatory anti-smoking message required to be inserted on scenes showing characters smoking in the film. Anurag Kashyap’s Ugly debuted at the Cannes Film Festival in 2013 and has been ready for release for a while, but the film has still not been released in India due to the Censor Board insisting on the super of ‘Smoking Kills’ which the Ugly team has challenged, owing to creative reasons as they feel that if smoking is to be really stopped, then it needs to be banned.

To come to think of it, what is so special about smoking? Is it more harmful than drugs, consuming alcohol or violence shown in our films? And what about consuming the colas, chips and all kinds of junk food considered unhealthy by all health organisations? For the sake of argument, at least smoking is not illegal, but our films show violence, rape, gangsters, riots which in fact are illegal. If watching films impacts our behavior and that is what the Ministry of Health or the Censor Board wants to control, then they must choose to put ‘Supers’ on each of the above. Why isolate smoking?

If the Government of India feels that smoking is bad, then it should ban smoking. But if they can’t do that for revenue reasons or for any other, why expect filmmakers to do what the government themselves are unable to do. Putting a super of ‘Smoking Kills’ not only takes away the creativity from filmmaking, but also reduces the viewing pleasure of an audience. If we want people to stop smoking in our country, the real solution lies in banning smoking as against putting creative breaks. On a lighter note, in case the Censor Board has a ‘Super’ fixation, they should put supers every time there are scenes showing consumption of alcohol or drugs, rape, violence or even people eating junk food because otherwise it seems that the government themselves are addicted to smoking.

OUR SUGGESTIONS FOR OTHER SUPERS FOR THE GOVERNMENT: Committing rape will send you to jail
Consuming drugs will lead to prosecution
Alcohol is injurious to health
Theft or fraud will send you to jail
Eating junk food will make you obese