It was on July 23 last month that I read a report in Mid-Day which caught my attention. It mentioned that Zee5 is all set to release as many as 29 Pakistani shows on its OTT platform! It also led to the relaunch of the Zindagi channel for the Indian viewers.

This development was something that obviously shocked me. After all, the Bollywood film industry was forced to shun all its association with Pakistani actors after the Uri attack of September 2016. The episode happened 40 days before the release of Karan Johar’s film Ae Dil Hai Mushkil was to release. As luck would have it, it starred Pakistani actor Fawad Khan in a supporting role. Post the attack, a section of politicians demanded that Bollywood should boycott Pakistani artistes. Raj Thackeray-led Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) threatened Karan that they won’t let his film release unless he removes Fawad’s character from the film overnight. That, obviously, was not possible. Soon, more people joined in this ‘movement’. The ruling party at the Centre, BJP, did nothing to stop MNS from threatening Karan Johar, though KJo resides in a state which was also ruled by them (Maharashtra). The only thing they could do is ‘broker’ peace between the two parties so that Ae Dil Hai Mushkil could release without any problem. The film saw a peaceful light of the day but Karan was mercilessly trolled by self-declared nationalists for his ‘crime’.

The repercussion of this controversy was that Pakistani actors got banned from working in Bollywood. For some weird reason, Bollywood was still ‘allowed’ to have singers from the neighbouring country. Less than a year after the Uri attack, the whole nation got charmed by the recreated version of 'Mere Rashke Qamar' from Baadshaho, sung by Pakistani singer Rahat Fateh Ali Khan. A few months later, music lovers fell in love with 'Dil Diya Gallan' crooned beautifully by Atif Aslam, in Tiger Zinda Hai. It’s only after the unfortunate Pulwama attack of February 2019 that self-declared patriots realized that we need to ban singers as well for revenge. Since then, even the singers from across the border have stopped working in Bollywood.

Hence, the decision of Zee5 to launch Pakistani shows was astonishing. I read the article and was sure that soon, there would be a backlash. But nothing of that sort happened. Then on July 31, Zee5 dropped the trailer of its first Pakistani web series, called Churails. Directed by Cake director Asim Abbasi, it stars Sarwat Gillani, Mehar Bano, Nimra Bucha, and Yasra Rizvi. The show revolves around the four women who run a detective agency that exposes the cheating husbands in Karachi.

I saw the trailer and was impressed by its quirkiness and bold quotient. I was scared to scroll down and check the comments as I expected tons and tons of hate, which is the norm nowadays. Nowadays, people are already presumed to be very angry with Indian-based celebrities like Alia Bhatt, Varun Dhawan, Mahesh Bhatt and of course, Karan Johar. I can’t imagine the volley of abuses they must have spewed on the actors and team of Churails; after all, they belong to ‘enemy country’.

I gathered courage and finally began to see the comments. And I couldn’t believe my eyes. The discussions and posts made by people seemed very cordial and respectful! Was I dreaming? People can be seen appreciating Pakistani makers and writers for making such path-breaking stuff and criticized Bollywood for not learning from them! I kept scrolling and kept waiting for that one revolutionary person who would have written ‘PKMKB’ or ‘Boycott Churails’ type of comments. There was none.




I kept a tab on Twitter for a few days, next. I was sure #BoycottChurails, #UnsubscribeZee5 or #UninstallZee5 would soon start trending. That didn’t happen, either!

Of course, it didn’t take me much time to understand why the self-appointed deshbhakts have gone into hibernation this time. First, let us understand how these boycott protests actually work, especially in context of Bollywood and web series. There’s a group of influential people with millions of followers, all staunch supporters of right-wing ideology. They have their masters, usually connected with political parties, who instruct them to start these boycott campaigns. In most cases, a time is decided and the hashtag is given in advance in a Google document. Then, at the designated time, millions of followers start using the hashtag in question and hence it started trending. Now, the regular netizens notice the ‘trend’. They feel a spontaneous movement has begun against Bollywood or some actor from the film industry. These people don’t want to feel left out or sometimes they do have a soft hatred towards the industry. Hence, they too start using the hashtag and hence the ‘movement’ grows further.

The next step is to target more gullible people on WhatsApp. As is common knowledge, the messaging app is where most rumours and misinformation gets generated and spread. The same group of people who started the ‘movement’ will create several messages which are provocative and which showcase members of Bollywood fraternity as sell-outs and traitors. They’ll push you to forward the said message in ‘national interest’. There are sensible people who rubbish these forwards and even inform the sender about the lies in the message. But most of the times, people happily share. The ‘movement’ further grows! The ‘movement’ would not have begun had these professional and organized trolls not even started the ‘boycott’ mania in the first place. And most of these movements don’t really make a difference to the lives of the people. For instance, was your life seriously affected because of Pakistani artistes in Bollywood? But you were made to believe otherwise. In short, you became a puppet in the hands of these people and they shamelessly used you for your selfish agenda.

The question that has surely risen in your mind is – why isn’t the right-wing trolls boycotting Zee5 then? The answer can be found in the first 3 letters of the name of the OTT platform – Zee! Zee5 is a part of the sprawling Zee Group, founded and run by a man called Subhash Chandra. He’s known to be a staunch supporter of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and is even quite close to him. His biography was launched by the Prime Minister himself, that too from his residence, in a high-profile event. One of the channels of the Zee group is the Hindi news channel Zee News. It openly flaunts its love for the ruling government and has time and again spread lies to favour BJP and show its opponents in negative light. And believe it or not, Subhash Chandra had stopped airing Pakistani shows on Zindagi channel less than a week after the Uri attack, in national interest of course!

Hence, it’s no surprise that Churails, presented by Zee5, has been spared the abuses and boycott campaigns by the ruling party. After all, it’s the ruling party that controls most of these right-wing influencers. And since the party command didn’t instruct the influencers, these professional trolls chose to look the other way when Churails trailers was dropped and even the series got released, on August 11. In turn, you, too, are okay with the development!

I know many of you still can’t believe what I have written here and have loads of questions for me as a counter. Let me pick few ones:

“I was not aware that Churails has released on Zee5. Or else, I would have surely protested”
Yes, it’s a possibility that you didn’t realize that the said show has dropped online. But many did. As of August 15 2:15 PM IST, it’s trailer on YouTube has got nearly 42 lakh views. Moreover, it has not released on any unknown platform but on Zee5, which is one of the biggest streaming portals in India. On YouTube, it has 3.86 million subscribers. It has lakhs of followers on social media websites as well. Churails was well promoted across these websites. Lakhs of people knew about its existence, including the professional trolls and their political masters.

“There’s not much of anger against Pakistan anymore. With time, the anger has subsided”
If only that was true! In June this year, T-Series faced severe backlash (again it was generated) for uploading a song sung by Pakistani singer Atif Aslam. The ‘criticism’ was so immense that T-Series had to remove the track and even tender an apology. I refuse to believe that the ‘anger’ against Pakistan was present till June 2020 but vanished within a month’s time, when the trailer of Churails released. This also makes it clear that if Karan Johar or Bhushan Kumar (of T-Series) or Aditya Chopra had backed Chudails, it would have also become a target of the trolls.

Try as much as you want. Put up as many excuses as you can think of. But the fact remains – you have been played all along all this while by the politicians. They used you. You let them. You didn’t realize they are using you. Instead, you felt patriotic. You considered yourself a ‘warrior’ who fulfilled his duty towards the country by insulting Bollywood personalities. Today, when an Indian channel has released a Pakistani show, the same netas have changed the rules. That’s because the channel owner is their ally and hence, he is immune. And yet, you are silent. You don’t feel cheated or used. Or maybe you do but you won’t accept. Or else, you might argue, “But what can I do?” The saddest part is that if tomorrow, for some reason, a boycott campaign starts against Churails, you’ll happily join in and make it clear that you are at their service for their selfish needs at their beck and call!

Is that what you really are, dear countryman? We have the largest workforce and we are easily amongst the world’s most smartest, creative and hard-working people. The country’s situation is concerning and there’s so much we can all do together. But instead, the government diverts our attention using silly hashtags. It makes villain out of people who are merely doing their job and working day and night to entertain us. Are we still going to give in to their wishes? Or are we going to speak and reject such useless movements that do nothing to improve our lives?

I have often revisited Churails trailer just to see the comments and to see the sanity out there, which has been missing on the internet since a long time. It feels so good to read people’s thoughts at a place where the government hasn’t jumped in to divide-and-rule. But on second thoughts, that’s because the government has chosen to step away to support its founder. I am waiting for the day when the people of this country make it loud and clear that government’s interference and stupid strategies won’t work and they need to focus on the real issues at hand. That’ll be the day when art will totally flourish and where boycott and bans will be relics of the past. This Independence Day, let’s hope that day comes soon!

P.S.: This post is not against Churails or Zee5 and doesn’t support any boycott campaign against them at all. I appreciate Zee5 for taking this initiative. I haven’t seen Churails but I shall watch soon and also looking forward to their other shows. Shailja Kejriwal, chief creative officer — special projects, Zee Entertainment, has hinted that Fawad Khan and Mahira Khan might also be seen in one of their upcoming shows. Bring it on!

Aditya Dhar's first film has put him on the Bollywood map; reveals he could revisit a romcom, initially planned for Katrina Kaif and Fawad Khan, with a new cast shortly
Himesh Mankad (MUMBAI MIRROR; March 6, 2019)

After the recent air strikes on Balakot in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir, one had expected Aditya Dhar to announce a sequel to his debut directorial, Uri: The Surgical Strike, featuring Vicky Kaushal in the lead, however, the he is very sure he doesn’t want to repeat himself and would rather explore something new. “With Uri, I brought back films on the army and while I am open to doing another should I come across a story about courage in crisis, at this point, I would rather pioneer another trend,” he asserts.

Talking about the current political scenario, Aditya has full confidence in the Indian Army and the government to deal with acts of terror in the best way possible. “This menace has to be stopped once and for all. I believe in dialogue but after a point, we need to take strong action,” the filmmaker states.

The film industry recently took a collective stand, imposing a ban on Pakistani artists. Aditya points out that while as individuals, these artistes may not be against us, but when such attacks happen at regular intervals, one needs to completely isolate the country supporting terrorism. “There’s a lot of trade happening between the two countries and they also need to take this stand as this is the best way to tackle terrorism,” he avers.

When the Uri attacks took place on September 18, 2016, the director was working on the prep of a film titled Raat Baaki. It was to feature Katrina Kaif and Pakistani actor, Fawad Khan. The film was put on the backburner following the ban on the artists from across the border. “It was a romcom laced with action and while my office was trying to figure whom to cast in place of Fawad, I was fascinated by the surgical strikes that took place 11 days later on September 29 and started my research on October 1,” he reminisces, saying it was a kind of investigative journalism as the information he was trying to access was confidential.

Quiz him on whether he’d like to revisit Raat Baaki with a different cast and he says, “I haven’t figured my next film yet but it will be one of the scripts I’ve written over the last seven years. It could be Raat Baaki which is a fun film. Everybody was sad when things didn’t materialise. I don’t rule out the possibility of another film either. Uri was an exhausting film and I’m on a break right now but will soon return to one of my ideas.”

Uri is the most successful film helmed by a debutant, surpassing the previous record holder Sajid Nadiadwala’s Salman Khan-starrer Kick. While Aditya is understandably proud of the feat, he believes records are meant to be broken. “Not in our wildest dream did we think we would get so much appreciation and adulation from the audience. It was a special film as it was a tribute to the army, but the numbers we have earned are insane given it was my debut as a director and Vicky’s first commercial film as the solo lead. I hope, some other debutant breaks my record soon,” he smiles, admitting it’s overwhelming when politicians use lines from his film like “How’s The Josh?” and “Yeh Naya India Hai.”

After Uri, Vicky has become a mainstream Hindi actor and Aditya hopes to see his hero scale new heights. “He has reached this position after a lot of struggle and toil. He’s got talent so this thing was bound to happen, sooner or later. It’s just that I recognised his potential as a commercial actor before anyone else,” Aditya concludes with a twinkle. 

Filmmaker JP Dutta, who completed his war trilogy in 2018 with Paltan, speaks to BT about the attack executed by the Indian Air Force during the wee hours of yesterday morning
Rachana Dubey (BOMBAY TIMES; February 27, 2019)

I woke up with the news that 12 Mirage 2000 fighter jets from India have struck and destroyed terrorist camps across the Line of Control (LOC) in Pakistan, killing about 300 terrorists. It shook me up and it also somewhere made me feel that we’ve somewhat avenged what we lost in Pulwama. Those were some 40 jawans, who were not on the border but sitting inside a truck when they were blown away. India as a country has never been the aggressor, but it does pick up the weapon in its defence. What makes me happy and proud is that we have not taken the Pulwama or Uri attacks lying down.

Paani sar ke upar se jaa chukka hai. Retaliation in equal measure is often the only option left. It’s important to retaliate because enough is enough. You can’t turn a blind eye and keep looking the other away when someone attacks you. It’s a reality that we have lost so many soldiers to several such attacks in the past. We have lost civilians on so many occasions — train blasts, Mumbai terror attack in the 1990s, the 26/11 attack… I mean how much more should India tolerate?

I have friends and relatives in the Armed Forces. From what I understand, if you want to make a strong impact, the attack has to be from the top, something that our Air Force officials did in the wee hours today. The terrorist camps were destroyed. Increasingly, wars will be fought in this manner because everyone understands the impact an air strike can have. It will just be boots on the ground.

Birender Singh Dhanoa, our current Air Chief Marshal, was my brother, late Deepak Dutta’s colleague and friend. Today, I feel proud of what he has pulled off. He and all the other armed forces chiefs are capable people and with their experiences, they know what they’re doing. They have a very clear mind and they’re tough officers.

In recent times, it was the images of those coffins carrying the bodies of those jawans that killed something in me. It reminded me of everything I’ve experienced from close quarters. Today, we probably have avenged the deaths of some of our soldiers.

Terrorism is like cancer in an advanced stage. It only needs chemotherapy. What is sad is that we have never attacked Pakistan or tried to create hysteria on their land, among civilians but they have only done that. Twenty years ago, we foiled their attempt to infiltrate through Kargil. They don’t seem to be affected at all, not even when children on their soil are killed in a Taliban-led terror attack. They have always refused to acknowledge the fact that there are terrorist base camps operating on their soil.

My brother Deepak had fought the Longewalla battle when Pakistan’s attempt to infiltrate India was foiled. That’s how I wrote the story of Border when I was still in college. I vividly remember my mother being glued to the radio to know what was going on, praying that her son is not one of the martyrs. She spent days sitting by the radio set. I had a song in Border, ‘Mere dushman, mere bhai, mere hum saaye’. I have never understood why can’t they live in peace and let us also be.

Today, while I feel happy that the Air Force officers put out an act of bravado in the form of the air strike, I also say a silent prayer, thanking god that no family today lost a loved one. 

Deepali Singh (DNA; February 3, 2019)

If there’s one question that everyone’s been asking director Aditya Dhar post the success of Uri: The Surgical Strike, it’s this — How’s the josh? And naturally, the debutant filmmaker’s response is, ‘Really, really high!’ “And it’s going to remain high for the rest of my life,” he adds, when we speak to him over the phone.

For the 35-year-old Delhiite, it’s been a surreal experience — of seeing what was supposed to be his first movie get shelved, and then to receive so much love for what eventually became his debut film. “More than anything, I’m enjoying seeing the happiness on my parents’ faces, because they really backed me and believed in me,” says Aditya.

Between him and producer Ronnie Screwvala, they have a saying that goes, ‘all glory is fleeting’. So even as he basks in the success of the Vicky Kaushal-starrer, he’s also keeping his head down and focussing on what to do next. Excerpts from a chat with Aditya...

The war drama has been lauded by critics and masses alike. How does the validation feel? 
It feels incredible and truly overwhelming. The best validation that I got was firstly from the army officers and their families. They told us that they loved the movie and how we have represented the sacrifices made by the army men and what the families go through. Secondly, after the film, we’ve had 15 and 16-year-olds coming up to say that they want to join the army. That’s huge! We never thought this would happen but when it’s happening, it makes you feel ki kuch toh sahi kiya hai.

In a recent interview, Vicky Kaushal worded it beautifully when he said that the reason your first film didn’t get made, became your actual first film. Do you believe it’s destiny at play?
Absolutely. It’s completely surreal. In cinema as well as in life, you have to keep at it. My previous movie Raat Baaki with Fawad Khan and Katrina Kaif didn’t happen because the terrorist attacks took place and within the next few days, the surgical strike happened. Now, as filmmakers and in life, you have to turn all the disappointments into opportunities. You have to make the best of what you have in hand. While we were trying to figure out who to recast (since Pakistani actors were banned from India post the attacks), I wanted to know more about the surgical strike because suddenly that sounded like a great story. But it meant talking to a lot of journalists, retired army officers, etc. as most of it was classified information. It was almost like investigative journalism and took me six months to piece together everything, bit by bit. Then one of my colleagues called me and said somebody else is also trying to get permission from the Indian Army to make a film on the surgical strike. I panicked because pehle hi meri ek film bante bante atak gayi thi and I thought yeh bhi atak jayegi. The only way a first-time filmmaker could have convinced or can convince a producer is if he has a fantastic script. I wrote mine within 12 days and pitched it to the producers. Ronnie Screwvala was boarding a flight to Vizag and he read it on the flight. The moment he landed, he called and said we’re doing this film. So, where it was taking me years to make one movie, when it was meant to happen, it was commissioned within a few hours. That’s destiny at play.

You wanted to join the army at one point. Is the success of the film more special because of that connection?
Yes, for sure. This film was an honest tribute to our army. It’s also a tribute to their families and what they go through. As a filmmaker, this was the closest I could come to it. I could create characters that would be remembered and loved for the rest of my life.

So, what’s next? Are you taking a break or have you started work on the next project?
I’m taking a breather but the fun part begins now because everyone is asking what’s next. That’s the challenge and I’m enjoying it. The pressure keeps me on my toes. Now, I need to think of something that is better than even Uri, and that is going to be really difficult to do. I have to push myself in the right direction to create something that’s memorable and which we can all be proud of.

Lasyapriya Sundaram (BOMBAY TIMES; Janaury 6, 2019)

He was first noticed for his sensitive performance as a boy who tries to transcend casteism in Neeraj Ghaywan festival favourite, Masaan (2015).

However, 2018 established him as an actor whose versatility is unquestionable, having played diverse roles in films like Raazi, Sanju and Manmarziyaan. With the upcoming URI: The Surgical Strike, directed by Aditya Dhar, the actor will be carrying the film on his own shoulders. But he has nothing to worry about, he has heavy-duty ammo (read: talent) for support and the actor also insists that the hero of the film is no one else but the script.” In a candid chat with BT, Vicky Kaushal talks about his interactions with the men in uniform, the turning point of his career and the direction in which he is charging ahead. Read on. Excerpts…

Your upcoming film Uri is based on the 2016 surgical strikes carried out by the Indian Army in retaliation to the attack by armed militants on security forces in Uri. How much did you know about this operation before you embarked on the project?
I was in front of the television when the Uri attacks were reported. It was the first time that a military camp was attacked. They came right inside. What followed was the surgical strike. It was widely covered. Though I knew that this had happened, what I didn’t know was how it had happened. I was in the middle of the shoot for Raazi and that’s when this script came my way.

I was excited about finding out how the operation was carried out and how the team was formed. Also, the politics around it intrigued me. As an actor, I wanted to explore the action genre. The action in this film is realistic and that appealed to me. As an audience, be it Indian or international films, I get kicked about movies based on the military forces. Through the process of this film, I understood the life of our men in uniform, and a subject like this brings a change within you. Our problems seem immaterial when you look at their lives and what they do on a daily basis. We were shooting in the cantonment area in Patiala. The regiment was called Haathi Regiment and they hosted us for dinner. The party went on till about 4 in the morning. The following day was our day-off and I was planning to sleep. There was this 26-year-old Captain with us and when I asked him about his schedule for the next day, he said that they had to be on the grounds at 5 am for a 25-km run. I almost felt apologetic about hanging out with them for so long. The Captain also said that they live every day to the fullest, because the next day their photos could be in the papers. I was stumped and I couldn’t sleep after that. They have reached a state of mind where they don’t care about death. They are doing this for us. I feel honoured that I got a chance to pay a tribute to their valour and sacrifice. Also, playing a Special Forces commando is a different ballgame. They call themselves a breed apart, which they truly are. I kept telling my director that this is not a film heroes, but about superheroes.

When it came to portraying Major Vihaan Shergill, did you rely on the script and the director’s vision, or did you dig out all that was available about the surgical strike to construct the character? How much of what is shown in the film is based on what happened in reality and how much of it has been fictionalised?
After meeting top bureaucrats and defence personnel, my director had his research in place. There are certain aspects which can’t be revealed in the public domain because of security protocol, especially when it comes to a mission like the surgical strike. Firstly, when a surgical strike is carried out, the identity of the army men who are involved in it cannot be revealed. The names of the commandos in the film are fictional. Secondly, some details involving the mission, which fall under the purview of intelligence detail, also can’t be given out and therefore, those portions are fictionalised. That will be confidential no matter what happens and that was not shared with us. But at the same time, while fictionalising it, we couldn’t take many liberties. Apart from this, everything else is exactly the way it happened.

Several media reports suggested that the surgical strike was politicised for gaining mileage by political parties. What are your views on the subject?
I am not a politically aware person because I find it complicated. Also, I feel my understanding of politics is at a surface level. I do hear people discussing it. I don’t understand the language that is spoken on news channels or at rallies. Terrorism is something that should be condemned. One feels sad that there is so much hatred towards another human being. Terrorists in the past have taken over cities. Earlier, one would say that terrorists operate only in the border areas. Today, it is happening in military camps and it’s happening 5 km away from my house as well. I could have been around the Gateway Of India with my family when the 26/11 attacks happened. Our army and government shoulder a huge responsibility. They have to take some hard decisions on behalf of the entire nation. What I understand is that a call like the surgical strike was long pending, because it wasn’t a strike on Pakistani civilians or the Pakistani government. The strike was targeted at the militants who were responsible for the Uri attacks and who might have carried out further attacks. As far the views of various political parties, I don’t understand it. I believe in the army and their spirit. Retaliation like this also gives a boost to them and sends out a message that they are not sitting ducks. My conclusions are based on what I have understood of this, I could be wrong about it.

2018 has been a turning point for your career. Raazi, Sanju and Manmarziyaan gave you the opportunity to showcase your range as an actor. Do you agree?
Yes, given my short filmography so far, 2018 was the year when things changed for me. I was part of films that enabled me to reach a larger audience. The films were massy, which led to people recognising me. In 2017, I was shooting for these films and I was only hopping from one set to the other. I was keen on finding out how 2018 would pan out, given that I had many releases. I was also wondering how my performances would be received. It was something that I wanted validation for and I got it. The feedback I got for my work made me believe that I was going in the right direction. It motivated me to push boundaries in terms of the roles that I can take on.

Today, actors like Ranveer Singh, Ranbir Kapoor, Varun Dhawan, Ayushmann Khurrana and Rajkummar Rao are able to co-exist and they all bring different things to the table. You started out with content-driven films like Masaan and Raman Raghav 2.0 and eventually, made your way towards more commercial films. Are trying to avoid being straight jacketed in categories?
For me, there are only two categories. Either it’s a good film or a bad film. It could be a niche film or a commercial film, the story needs to connect with me. Whether a film is made with Rs 100 or a hundred crore is immaterial. If the role scares me in a good way, I want to play it. I don’t look at films from a surgeon’s point of view. There are no calculations. The audience has evolved in such a way that there is no formula that can be applied to make films. What has also happened is that the audience doesn’t compare you with other actors. They compare you with your earlier work. I realised this after reading comments about my work by people on social media. As an actor, one needs to be aware that there are only two destinations. One is where people will give you all the love and you will be in the limelight, but along with that comes pressure and expectations. The second destination is where they don’t care about who you are and what you do because they are not affected by you. One has to be aware of which destination they are aiming for. I am willing to embrace the pressure and the expectations which come with being in the limelight, as a result of being an actor. Everybody has realised that the hero of the film is the script. Today, you can work with non-actors, but if your script is good, the audience will flock to the theatres.

The #MeToo movement exposed many skeletons in the cupboard. What did you make of it and how do you think this movement will affect change in the future?
It’s a historic and revolutionary movement. The most beautiful thing to have happened as a result is that men have started thinking twice, as to what their behaviour could lead to. They have started monitoring their behaviour and that’s a great thing to have happened. It’s high time men realised that they can’t take anyone for granted. It’s not easy for people to reveal their identity and name people. It was messy, but it was needed. There will be collateral damage, but the foundation has been shaken. This movement will help in creating a safe and equal work environment.

DNA (December 26, 2018)

Uri: The Surgical Strike depicts the reality behind the military operation carried out by the Indian Army in 2016. The lead cast of the movie, Vicky Kaushal and Yami Gautam, recently visited Lucknow to meet families of victims of the attacks that took place before the surgical strike.

The film, which releases on January 11, 2019, showcases the operation initiated by the Indian Army in retaliation to the terrorist attack in Uri, during which 19 Indian soldiers were killed. A source reveals, “When Vicky got to know that the families of the martyrs lived in Lucknow, he requested the team of the movie to reach out to them and see if a meeting could be arranged. The families readily agreed to it.”

The two actors, who spent a considerable amount of time with the kin of the martyred soldiers, were visibly emotional post the meeting. Vicky said, “This was the first time in my life that I got to meet the family members of the bravehearts, who laid down their lives in the line of duty. I didn’t know what to say to them; all I could do was just hold their hands and bow my head in gratitude and respect. A child from one of the families, who had lost his elder brother in the Uri attack, when asked what he wants to become when he grows up replied, ‘Fauji’. I salute the spirit of not just our armed forces but also of their brave families.”

Vicky Kaushal says his film Uri, based on the surgical strikes was made after attacks spelt trouble for the director's last
Upala KBR (MID-DAY; December 7, 2018)

Dampened cultural relationships between India and Pakistan in the aftermath of the 2016 Uri attacks played havoc with Aditya Dhar's dream project, yet the writer-lyricist found in the events, an opportunity. Uri actor Vicky Kaushal tells mid-day that Dhar's inability to take forward a film that was to feature Pak actor Fawad Khan led to the creation of this offering instead.

"Uri was made due to the actual attacks," Kaushal says of the writer's directorial debut, adding, "Aditya was to direct Karan Johar's Raat Baaki. However, that did not happen due to the attacks, which was followed by the ban on Pakistani artistes. Aditya wanted to know what had transpired so that he could decipher the reason behind the ban. Eventually, the subject interested him so much that he penned a script on it."

His work was so fascinating, says Kaushal, that both, producer Ronnie Screwvala and he decided to come aboard. The actor plays the role of a commander-in-chief, who leads the operation after four heavily armed militants enter the town of Uri and attack an Indian army camp on September 18, 2016.

Dhar confirms the news to mid-day, stating, "I am a Kashmiri, one who has heard about terrorism since childhood. I was keen to get into the armed forces, so, for me, everything was falling in place with this film."

For Dhar, establishing himself as director has been a path riddled with obstacles. After being roped in to direct a film for Vishal Bhardwaj in 2010, a Johar film in 2012, and Raat Baaki in 2015 — none of which materialised — Dhar's film is finally seeing the light of day. Counting his blessings for finding support from producers, he also has the Army to thank for approving his film. "They liked it, and suggested changes too."

BOMBAY TIMES (September 28, 2018)

With noteworthy performances in films like Sanju and Raazi, Vicky Kaushal has emerged as a talent to watch out for. The actor was also appreciated in Love Per Square Foot and Lust Stories, two projects that were backed by Ronnie Screwvala’s production house. Vicky will now be seen in the upcoming film URI, produced by RSVP, which is based on the surgical strikes carried out by the Indian Army in Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK). This is the first time he will be seen as the solo lead in a big-scale mainstream movie.

Talking about Vicky, Ronnie Screwvala says, “He is the most promising young talent in our country and we are delighted to present him in URI. On the two-year anniversary of the operation that fills the heart of every Indian with pride, it gives me great pleasure to announce URI, which is my passion project.” On his part, Vicky shares, “For me, URI is more than a film. When the makers brought me the script, it evoked a strong sense of patriotism and pride within me. I hope the audience feels the same after watching the film. Ronnie is a visionary producer and I hope to continue collaborating with him on many such incredible projects.”

Aditya Dhar, who has directed the film, adds, “As a first-time filmmaker, I feel lucky to have gotten this opportunity to direct a movie on one of the most important events in Indian history and for that, I will give all the credit to Ronnie, his team and the Indian Army. To have this kind of conviction for a debutant filmmaker is phenomenal. After I finished writing the script, I could only see Vicky playing this part, as I needed an actor who could give it all. He truly is one of the best actors in the current generation.”

The subject of URI revolves around the execution of the surgical strike by the Indian Army across the LoC, which proved India’s military and intelligence might to the world. Tomorrow marks the twoyear anniversary of this military operation.

URI releases on January 11, 2019.

Avinash Lohana (MUMBAI MIRROR; September 19, 2017)

Eleven days after the Uri attacks, on September 29, 2016, the Indian army conducted surgical strikes against suspected militants in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (PoK). Mirror has now learnt that it is the subject of Ronnie Screwvala’s next production, Uri, which spans the tumultuous 11 days. It will be directed by debutante Aditya Dhar and has Vicky Kaushal as the commander-in-chief who headed the operation.

According to a source, the makers got in touch with Vicky a few weeks ago when he was shooting for Junglee Pictures’ Raazi, in Mumbai. “It’s a story that everyone should know as it’s one of the Indian army’s best operations conducted with valour and efficiency. It’s a great opportunity and a great responsibility for all of us,” asserts Vicky, who is collaborating with Ronnie for the second time after the upcoming Anand Tiwari-directed Love Per Square Foot.

At around 5:30 am on September 18, four militants attacked an Indian army headquarters in Uri, Kashmir, near the Line of Control in a pre-dawn ambush. They were said to have lobbed 17 grenades in three minutes. The ensuing gun battle lasted six hours. All four militants were killed, along with 17 army personnel. Another 19-30 soldiers were reported to have been injured. It was said to be the deadliest attack on security forces in Kashmir in two decades and the militant group Jaish-e-Mohammed is suspected of being involved in it. On September 29, the Indian Army hit back. Indian Director General of Military Operations (DGMO) Lt. Gen. Ranbir Singh announced that it had made a pre-emptive strike against “terrorist teams” who were preparing to “carry out infiltration and conduct terrorist strikes inside Jammu and Kashmir and in various metros in other states”.

“With this single military action, we changed the fabric of our border politics and that became a watershed moment in our political history. But most importantly, Uri is the incredible story of Indians coming together,” states Ronnie.

The film rolls in early 2018. Vicky informs that as part of his prep, he will undergo paramilitary training for a month. “I have to bulk up too and learn military tactics. It’s one of my toughest parts, both physically and emotionally,” the actor signs off.

In an exclusive chat with mid-day, Pak actress Saba Qamar says she was unusually comfortable shooting in India despite political rhetoric to oust cross-border talent
Sonil Dedhia (MID-DAY; May 31, 2017)

She grew to fame in India as the antagonist in the 2011 Pakistani series Maat, but it took six years for an Indian filmmaker to cast Pakistani actress Saba Qamar. Enjoying the appreciation she received for the recently released 'Hindi Medium', Qamar tells mid-day the response to her work has been unexpected.

"I am glad that my work was liked. Many fans have watched the film more than once. People from India are sending me congratulatory messages on social media, showering me with love. The film has raised people's expectations, and I hope I can live up to them in future," says Qamar in a telephonic interview.

The team of 'Hindi Medium', which paired Saba Qamar with Irrfan Khan, had evaded the backlash that resulted from cross-border tensions following the 2016 Uri attacks. Qamar was shooting in Delhi last September, when certain political groups demanded that Pak artistes leave the country within 48 hours. "I wasn't scared," she recalls. "Around the same time, my visa was also about to expire. I had applied for an extension of 15 days to complete the shoot. To my surprise, everyone was nice to me. I had to go to the police station for verification and the officers took selfies," says the 33-year-old, adding that India's secular nature was evident during her stay.

"Back home, people are conservative about religion, but India is secular. For a particular scene, we had to go to a temple, church and gurudwara, and people here were comfortable with me around."

Qamar says she prays that Indo-Pak relations improve so that she can return to India for another outing. "If I'd done a film in Hollywood, people of my country wouldn't have been as excited as they are about my Bollywood project."

Irrfan on his Pakistani co-star missing from promotions of Hindi Medium following continuing ban on artistes from across the border
Sonil Dedhia (MID-DAY; April 11, 2017)

The ban on Pakistani artistes in India in the aftermath of the Uri attacks prompted industry folk to explore alternate methods of filming with actors from across the border.

While Shah Rukh Khan flew out to Dubai to complete Raees with Pak actress Mahira Khan, Irrfan had to shoot bits of his upcoming project, Hindi Medium, in Georgia with Pakistani star, Saba Qamar. Even as cultural ties between the two countries appear to be limping back to normalcy, the ban has prevented Saba from arriving in the country to promote the Dinesh Vijan film.

Lamenting Saba’s inability to be available for he publicity campaign here, Irrfan says, “It is really unfortunate that we won’t have Saba with us, but I guess the media is intelligent and they are aware of the situation.”

Pointing out that a major chunk of the film was shot before the attacks took place in September 2016, Dinesh says the development is something the team hadn’t anticipated. “We shot the film in July 2016, but things became worse later. It’s not in our hand. But we have Irrfan [for the promotions]. He will be the hero and heroine, and will promote our film,” he chuckles.

Hindi Medium deals with the turmoil that the country’s Hindi-speaking parents encounter as they attempt to admit their children in English-medium schools. Asserting that education has become a business in the country, Irrfan says, “Education should help evolve children’s talent and improve their personality. But unfortunately, our schooling pattern only focuses on how it will help a kid find a job.”

The Uri Attack of September 2016 left a deep scar on India-Pakistan relationship and Bollywood paid a heavy price for it. Karan Johar’s Ae Dil Hai Mushkil, which was to release just 40 days later on October 28, 2016 was threatened with dire consequences by Raj Thackeray’s Maharashtra Navnirman Sena since it starred Pakistani actor Fawad Khan. The anger towards the artistes of the neighbouring country was so strong that it seemed that they’ll never be able to work together in Bollywood. T P Aggarwal, who heads the Indian Motion Picture Producers Association (IMPPA) passed a resolution banning Pakistani artistes and technicians across the film, television and theatre mediums in India until normalcy is reinstated between the restive neighbours. Aggarwal then decided to lead by example – he decided to replace the voice of Rahat Fateh Ali Khan from a song from his film Laali Ki Shaadi Mein Laaddoo Deewana. His grouse was that none of the Pakistani artistes condemned the ghastly attack and hence, he felt justified to boycott them.

It’s been 6 months since the ‘ban’ was passed. Laali Ki Shaadi Mein Laaddoo Deewana is about to release and shockingly, Rahat Fateh Ali Khan’s voice has been retained (check out the song in the YouTube video below)! According to a report, music composer Vipin Patwa managed to convince the makers. The same report carries a statement of T P Aggarwal in which he admits that he decided to replace Rahat saab’s voice because he wanted to ‘play safe’.



Replacing an actor after the film is shot is next to impossible. Hence, the entire demand to replace Fawad Khan from Ae Dil Hai Mushkil, Ali Zafar from Dear Zindagi and Mahira Khan from Raees was just not feasible since all these films were shot (except Raees) when the Uri Attack happened. But replacing a singer can be done anytime. One of the big examples of it was Arijit Singh’s voice replaced by Rahat Fateh Ali Khan himself for Jag Ghoomeya from Sultan. Therefore, it’s shocking that T P Aggarwal didn’t do so after boasting about the same in front of the media and the country. But his recent statement has made it clear – he was not being patriotic, he was being safe. He felt that the anger towards Pakistan is tremendous and it’s best to take safety precautions. Or else, he might get into trouble just like how Karan Johar did for Ae Dil Hai Mushkil. Obviously, he couldn’t admit that he’s taking the decision of replacing Rahat Fateh Ali Khan due to fear. So he gave his decision a nationalistic colour!

And that’s not all. Makers of Irrfan Khan’s May release Hindi Medium that stars Pakistani actor Saba Qamar shot for a promotional song, Hoor, sung by Pakistani singer Atif Aslam! The singer himself was present during the shoot and was seen posing with Saba and choreographer Ahmed Khan.

With time, the anger towards Pakistani artistes has subsided and hence, Bollywood is neatly taking small steps of bringing these talented people back into our movies. And this was bound to happen since the cultural bond between India and Pakistan is hard to break. The singers and actors from that country have done some great work that would be remembered for years. Also, as explained in this post, while Bollywood was pressurized to ban Pakistani artistes, the trade between the two countries went on without a single glitch. This shows that all the netas and self-confessed patriots who were spearheading the ‘Ban Pak artistes’ were doing it just for publicity and not for the love of the country.

The Pakistani artistes still aren’t allowed in India. Atif Aslam and Saba Qamar shot for the song in Georgia. Saba won’t even be present in India to promote Hindi Medium, just like Mahira wasn’t allowed to enter India to promote Raees. But that Bollywood has started taking Pak artistes back shows that slowly and gradually, we’ll soon have hopefully Fawad Khan, Ali Zafar and Mawra Hocane entertaining us in Bollywood films in future!

Neha Maheshwri (BOMBAY TIMES; January 30, 2017)

Om Puri’s first wife, Seema Kapoor, talks about working with him on her directorial venture, and the void he’s left behind
Anju Maskeri (MID-DAY; January 22, 2017)

While narrating the script of her upcoming film Kabadiwala to the cast in June last year, Seema Kapoor recalls a comment actor Om Puri made at the end of the session. “The protagonist in the film is a kabadiwala’s (junk dealer’s) son, who manages the community toilets in the village. But, he goes around telling everyone that he owns a restaurant chain. When Puri ji heard the narration, all he said was, ‘Seema, film hai toh badbu pe, par ismein se khushboo aa rahi hai (although the film is about stench, I can smell fragrance in it)’,” says Seema, actor Annu Kapoor’s sister, who married Om Puri in 1991. Their marriage lasted less than a year — Puri then married journalist Nandita Puri. But, 38 years on Seema and Om still maintained a more than cordial relationship.

Seema, in fact, was one of the last people the veteran star called before his death. On the evening of January 5, when she was in the editing studio, he called up to know where she picked up grain for the birds she fed every day. That was her last conversation with him. And, the film, which the duo was working on, was Puri’s last.

On January 6, the star was found dead at his Lokhandwala Oakland Park residence. Puri, who was believed to be in good health and had returned from work, a day prior, was reported to have died of a fatal heart attack while alone at home. Kapoor is still grieving. She pauses frequently to fight back tears. For the last seven years, she was Puri’s constant companion.

“While we were shooting in Lucknow, Puri ji personally went around making all the hotel arrangements for the crew. He even coordinated with the caterers and ordered food for all of us. He would jokingly add, ‘Put my name in the line producer credits.’ Imagine, somebody of his stature doing chores for the crew. Sometimes I wonder why he was doing so much. But that’s who he was,” she adds.

It’s this sense of humility, she feels, that endeared Puri to all. Although the duo had worked together on two documentaries earlier, this was their first feature together. Puri was supposed to play the ‘sutradhar’ or the narrator in the film. Incidentally, the Uri debacle had taken place when the actor was in Lucknow shooting for Kapoor’s film. Puri, at that point of time, was part of a televised debate about the IMPPA’s (Indian Motion Pictures Producers’ Association) indefinite ban on Pakistani artistes from working in Indian projects. The ban was in response to the killing of 19 Indian soldiers in a terror attack at Uri, Jammu and Kashmir on September 18. During the debate, Puri lost his cool and said, “Who had asked the soldiers to join the army? Who told them to pick the weapons?” This statement led to Puri being vilified for being callous. A police complaint was filed against him at the Andheri police station for being insensitive towards the soldiers who lost their lives for the country.

“When he returned, I said to him, ‘Ek sentence galat nikal gaya’, and that one line proved costly. He, of course, did not mean it. He just did not how to phrase things correctly,” she says. Puri plunged into depression after that. Kapoor recalls how that night Puri did not turn up for the shoot, but stayed back in his room. “He kept saying, that he’s done so much in his life, but that one line is all people choose to remember. He was devastated. All the channels and people on social media were vilifying him. His apologies went unheard in that,” she says.

In their 38-year-long association, Kapoor had seen several upheavals in their relationship. Towards the end of 1991, Puri confessed that another woman (Nandita Puri) had come into his life and he wanted a divorce. She silently gave her consent, but chose not to go public even after she got divorced. “Both of us maintained our dignity and respect. Neither he nor I ever badmouthed each another. We have seen the worse times, had the most bitter fights with each other, but never washed dirty linen in public,” she reveals.

She feels it’s the sense of implicit trust that made them surmount all obstacles and be other’s confidantes through the years. “When you love somebody, you love them in totality. And for me, he was my companion in good and bad times. It’s a void that will never be filled.”


Om Puri and Seema Kapoor (centre) in her hometown, Jhalawar, in 1980

Twitter users were in for a surprise and also shock when Anurag Kashyap wrote a series of tweets showing his support for Ae Dil Hai Mushkil’s peaceful release. He also criticized the government for not taking any action against troublemakers who have promised to stall the release of Karan Johar’s Diwali release. After the Uri attacks last month on September 18 in which 19 of our soldiers died, the hate for Pakistan has increased manifold. Ae Dil Hai Mushkil, that features Pakistani actor Fawad Khan, was heavily criticized. Taking advantage of the situation, Ameya Khopkar, who heads the cine wing of Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS), publicly declared that his men won’t allow the release of Ae Dil Hai Mushkil. He asked KJo to replace Fawad.

In the past, theatres have been attacked by these opportunistic elements with sufficient manpower. Most single screens don’t want a repeat of such attacks. Hence, that’s the reason probably why Cinema Owners and Exhibitors Association of India (COEAI) decided not to release films featuring Pakistani actors in their region (Maharashtra, Gujarat, Goa). This is an unfortunate move; if implemented, the collections of Ae Dil Hai Mushkil can suffer a great deal.

What’s surprising is that the government is totally silent on this entire issue. Till date, there has been no attempt made by the Government of Maharashtra to curb down Ameya Khopkar and to assure Karan and co-producers Fox Star Studios that Ae Dil Hai Mushkil will release without any issue. Has that happened till date? And is there any guarantee that it will happen in future? Ameya is issuing threats and this is an illegal offence. The government can immediately arrest him and do a crackdown on the activities of such troublemakers. There’s absolutely no fear of law among these goondas. If the government takes strictest action against such goons, they would think twice before targeting any film on Indian soil. Sadly, that hasn’t happened. Even the previous government did nothing to assure filmmakers of the safety of their films.

And that’s the reason perhaps why Anurag chose to directly question the Prime Minister. By asking him whether he apologized for going to Pakistan last year, he’s making a sarcastic taunt on all those who have questioned Karan for taking up Fawad and why he has remained silent. Karan Johar shot for this film at the same time that Mr Modi went to Pakistan to celebrate the birthday of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. It’s not like KJo casted Fawad specifically after Uri Attacks. Also, the haters of Karan are totally silent on the trade that has been going uninterrupted since a long time between the  2 countries, even after the Uri Attack and the surgical strikes

ALSO READ:  My Open Letter To Soumyadipta Banerjee, who wants Fawad Khan to go back

Maharashtra Navnirman Sena has been in the forefront of trying to thwart Ae Dil Hai Mushkil and questions are raised why he is not attacking them and instead, is questioning the PM. It is because, as said above, it’s the government’s silence that has given MNS the power to make such threatening comments.

Unfortunately, the way Anurag executed his whole idea was not justified. Just like how most people are not able to understand his films, similarly most people haven’t understood the subtle hints that he has made in his series of tweets. It is shocking to see how people have reacted to his tweets and how they have interpreted it. But then, Anurag also should have been a bit responsible in writing down his feelings. He should have realized that he is questioning those who are extremely rigid and who sadly are lot in number. Even if they understood what he’s trying to convey, they will chose to attack him and that’s what has happened.

10 days are left for Ae Dil Hai Mushkil to release. At a press conference by Mumbai Police today, it was assured that cinema theatres showing the film will be granted protection. Again, there has been no explanation as to why MNS is not being gagged. Here’s hoping Ae Dil Hai Mushkil manages to get a peaceful release. God forbid if it doesn’t, then Anurag’s words will sting those who have been opposing him.

Dharma refutes rumours that the Pakistani actor will be replaced in Ae Dil Hai Mushkil; Excel mum on Mahira in SRK starrer Raees
Sonil Dedhia (MID-DAY; October 11, 2016)

In the wake of the escalating tension within Bollywood on the fate of films starring Pakistani actors, including Karan Johar’s Fawad Khan starrer Ae Dil Hai Mushkil, and Shah Rukh Khan’s Raees featuring Mahira Khan, several rumours and reports have alleged a series of developments in the casting.

However, murmurs of Fawad being replaced by actor Saif Ali Khan in the romantic-drama through “face replacement technology” have been negated by spokesperson from Dharma Productions. “The news is utter bullshit. Nothing of that sort is happening. The film is prepping up for release the way it currently is.”

Meanwhile the Indian Motion Picture Producers’ Association (IMPPA) delegation led by its president T P
Agarwal, who had met the Maharastra Navnirman Sena (MNS) leaders seeking their co-operation to release the said films (Oct 7), have asked for another appointment with MNS. The party leaders have however refused to budge from their stand.

Talking to hitlist, MNS Chitrapat Sena leader Ameya Khopkar, said, “There is no scope for discussion about releasing any film featuring Pakistan artistes. The Uri attack happened last month but we have been telling filmmakers to avoid working with Pakistani artistes for over 10 years now. They should have thought about the repercussions earlier. I don’t care.”

Speculations have been rife that the producers of Raees have decided to replace Mahira in the film. While speaking on condition of anonymity, the production team of Raees has denied any such move. There has been no official response though, besides the director Rahul Dholakia’s cryptic tweet yesterday: “Cooker ki saat seeti baj chuki hai, aag dena bandh kar (not a line from Raees, I have better dialogues).”

Despite repeated attempts by hitlist, Dholakia, co-producer Ritesh Sidhwani and others at Excel Entertainment remained unavailable for comments. A source close to Excel informed that the team had been asked to avoid connecting with the media on the topic, “else their payments will be stopped!”

Om Puri takes stock of the situation post statements made by him
Subhash K Jha (DNA; October 11, 2016)

Following Om Puri's comments made on Indian soldiers during a television debate and the incessant cries to boycott him, the actor remains unperturbed.

He says, "Let them boycott my films. Earlier they've spoken of boycotting Shah Rukh and Salman Khan's films. But those wanting to stop films featuring me should know that's not me on screen, that's a character. A better option of showing their anger towards me would be to spit on and tear my posters. But when you try to harm films you harm a lot of other people who haven't offended you in any way."

A little baffled by the outburst, he says, "I'll never participate in a television debate again. If you want to discusss national issues with come and talk face-to-face one-on-one. They asked me a question. I was answering. In the middle of my answer, they asked me about soldiers and in irritation, I said what I did. It was wrong. Terribly wrong of me to disrespect our soldiers. I pronounce myself guilty. Just saying I am sorry, is not enough. Let the Government decide my punishment. But I'd implore them to not just put me in jail where I will sit around eating free meals. Let me do something for the betterment of society."

Om now intends to visit the Uri marytr's families. "Let the current emotions settle down. The family is currently in bereavement and shock. Let them get out of this stress situation. Then I'll not only visit the soldiers' families, I'll also give whatever I can afford for their children.I want to assume the role of the soldiers' children's uncle. I want to become a part of their family."

Following the nationwide disgust at Om's comments on soldiers, the actor is considering retirement. "Yes, I might quit altogether. At the moment I've received an offer from Canada for a three-month assignment from January 2017 onwards, which I plan to take up."

Peace, happiness and the love of my well-wishers is all that I want for my birthday, says Amitabh Bachchan as he celebrates his birthday today
Upala KBR (DNA; October 11, 2016)

Amitabh Bachchan celebrates his birthday today. For the last 35 years, the superstar has been greeting his fans every Sunday as they congregate at his Juhu bungalow. It is not easy interviewing someone, who is called a living legend; that too, on email. A questionnaire has to be submitted and certain questions struck off before it’s sent to him. It’s a daunting task and his tongue-in-cheek answers often point to his quirky sense of humour...

Over to Big B on his birthday, fitness secrets and more:

How do you celebrate your birthdays every year?
I celebrate it quietly with the family.

What’s the one thing you really want for your birthday?
Peace, happiness and the love of my well-wishers.

Is it exhausting or overwhelming sometimes to meet and greet so many people who want to wish you on your birthday?
No, it never is... Though it does get difficult to meet all of them. And that is a pity because they all come with such hope and love.

Ever felt like going away to a quiet corner of the world and celebrating your birthday with your loved ones?
My home is quiet enough.

Can you share with us you any special childhood memory of your birthday?
Childhood memories of my birthday are no different from those of any other — greetings and blessings from the elders, fresh, new clothes at times, a small gathering of friends from school, eats and sweet meats, the odd gift, and that’s it! And no, there are no rituals that are followed.

Did you know that there is a temple in Kolkata, where you are worshipped as God? Have you ever visited the place?
I have heard about it, but never visited it, and never will. I vehemently disapprove of it!

You have said you want to learn to play a musical instrument. Will you be making time for it this year?
Yes.

How do you strike a work-life balance?
I am astrologically made capable of it. I am a Libran, the balance is my astrological sign!

You have been associated with various causes, is there any cause that you want to focus on?
I wish to, and will, focus on all the causes that I am associated with.

What things motivate you and spur you on to doing such good work?
Your assessment of my good work is welcomed with great humility, but I believe that I have the capacity to judge my own work, and it is nowhere near where your assessment lies! As a professional, you are expected to deliver, to the best of your ability, what you are employed or deployed for. I make an attempt to comply.

You are an inspiration to your co-stars with your discipline, drive and energy. Comment.
I can comment on something that I can believe I possess. I do not possess any of these attributes you mention. On the contrary, I aspire to learn of the qualities you mention, from my co-stars!

You are extremely fit. What is the raaz behind your fitness?
The genes I acquired from my parents.

Did you expect Pink to be such a big hit? According to you, what was the best part of the film?
No, I did not. Though there was great optimism among the makers, and Shoojit, in particular. The essence of the film was the content and its strength. It has become a movement, and is no longer a film, if I may be permitted to say so, with all modesty.

What are your thoughts on the Uri attacks?
With folded hands, I beg you to stop asking such questions! It is not the time to seek answers about who said what to whom and where and why. The country is incensed and angry with the recent incidents that have taken place on our borders. It is time to exhibit solidarity, with our jawans and our armed forces, who are fighting for the nation and sacrificing their lives!

The bow-accented Ferragamo loafers you recently wore drew mixed reactions on social media. Some felt you pulled them off, others thought they looked rather off. Wasn’t it a quirky pick for someone like you who is known more as a conservative dresser?
They are not Ferragamo in the first place and even if they were, ask the maker the reason for making them. I wear what I feel will please me. I do not wear apparel to make a statement.

What’s your take on the evolution of Shweta’s writing?
She was always a good, intelligent writer and thinker. DNA gave her an opportunity and she delivered. You gave her a public platform and she complied with grace and effect.

When is KBC 7 starting and will it be different this year?
I have no idea about when KBC shall start, and neither do I have any knowledge of whether there will be a changed format.

Do you watch a lot of television? What are some of your favourite shows?
Yes, I do watch a lot of television and it is mostly restricted to sports and news channels.

Subhash K Jha (DNA; October 10, 2016)


Says a source in the know, “It was a very painful decision for producer Ritesh Sidhwani to take. The pressure to replace her had been building up for months. It reached a crescendo after the Uri attacks. It came to a point where it became impossible to shoot with any Pakistani. People suggested all kinds of solutions to the impasse, including shooting in Dubai. But it didn’t seem viable. Now, Mahira has unfortunately been relieved of her duties.”

The hunt is now on for a Bollywood actress for the project. “The Raees team needs to find a new girl in two weeks’ time,” says the source.

Hiren Kotwani (BOMBAY TIMES; October 10, 2016)