Showing posts with label Utkarsh Sharma. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Utkarsh Sharma. Show all posts
Anil Sharma to begin Nana Patekar-starrer Journey’s final schedule with a nautanki song
8:35 AM
Following up Gadar 2 with Patekar-led Journey, director Anil to begin film’s final schedule with a nautanki song
Upala KBR (MID-DAY; March 9, 2024)
Only months after the stupendous success of Gadar 2: The Katha Continues (2023), Anil Sharma had started shooting his next, Journey, and hoped to wrap it up by March-end. Sure enough, the Nana Patekar-led film is now gearing up for its final schedule that will take place in Mumbai. Considering the father-son relationship drama is largely set in Uttar Pradesh, we hear the team will film a nautanki song—a folk art that has its origins in north India—during this leg. Besides Patekar, it will feature Kushboo Sundar and Utkarsh Sharma, who play his on-screen wife and son respectively.
Currently, a set reflecting the vibrant mood of Varanasi is being built in a north Mumbai studio for the dance number.
A source from the film’s creative team shares, “The final schedule will begin on March 20. Over those 15 days, Anil sir wants to shoot some talkie portions featuring the primary cast, and the nautanki song. Mithoon has composed a foot-tapping track, keeping the sounds of the folk art in mind, while production designer Muneesh Sappel is designing the set. Since the folk song relies heavily on dance, Anil sir’s brief to choreographer Shabina Khan was to imagine it as a bright and colourful number, capturing the spirit of Varanasi.”
Journey’s narrative spans three cities—Varanasi, Shimla and Mumbai. While the first schedule was shot in real locations of the Uttar Pradesh city, the unit then had a 25-day leg in Shimla in January. After the Mumbai stint is complete, the filmmaker will dive into post-production in order to ready the movie for the last quarter of 2024. The source adds, “The aim is to release the movie on a festival weekend in October or November.”
For Anil, his first collaboration with Patekar is the highlight. The filmmaker says, “All I can say is that he is an extraordinary actor who is completely involved in the film. For six months, he has only been thinking about Journey and nothing else. He loves to discuss everything [about the scene in question] before, but on set, there is no discussion about the movie.”
Nana Patekar will sit with the director, write down each dialogue, and take notes in a book-Anil Sharma
8:50 AM
Having wrapped up first leg of Journey in Varanasi, Gadar 2 director Anil impressed by leading man Patekar’s student-like approach to work
Upala KBR (MID-DAY; December 19, 2023)
Even before the year has come to a close, Anil Sharma—the director behind the blockbuster, Gadar 2: The Katha Continues—has made his way back to a movie set. He recently wrapped up the first schedule of Journey, which is led by Nana Patekar. If Gadar 2 saw Sunny Deol’s protagonist cross the border to rescue his son, the upcoming father-son drama is understated and realistic. Sources say that Journey is along the lines of Amitabh Bachchan and Hema Malini’s Baghban (2003).
A source from the creative team reveals, “Journey spans three cities and revolves around elderly parents and their child, played by Utkarsh Sharma. It will remind viewers of Baghban, and Rajesh Khanna and Shabana Azmi-starrer, Avtaar [1983]. South actor Kushboo Sundar plays Nana’s wife.”
While the cast kicked off the shoot in the first week of November in Varanasi, the second schedule will be conducted in Shimla in January. The source adds, “Beginning January 15, a 40-day schedule has been lined up. The final leg will be in Mumbai, with Anil planning to complete the shoot by March-end.”
For the director, it is a pleasure to work with an actor of Patekar’s calibre. Anil says, “Once he gets the script, he is like a student. Nana-ji will sit with the director, write down each dialogue, and take notes in a book. He tells us, ‘When I come on the set, I should be fully comfortable with my lines so that I can focus on my performance.’ That’s why his dialogues and performances look so real.”
The filmmaker, who is riding the wave of success after Gadar 2, says he doesn’t feel pressured to deliver another hit. “After Gadar 2, the expectations have naturally increased, but I don’t let them affect me. If Journey manages to win people’s hearts, I will be happy.”
People said Sunny Deol and I were finished-Anil Sharma
8:38 AM
Though naysayers said Sharma would ruin the charm of Gadar, director says he was certain tale showcasing India-Pakistan love held promise
Priyanka Sharma (MID-DAY; September 4, 2023)
Seated in his palatial Andheri office, Anil Sharma smiles from ear to ear. Congratulatory messages from mediapersons have been greeting him since a few hours now as his latest film, Gadar 2, crossed the coveted Rs 500-crore mark.
The Sunny Deol-starrer is now only the second film to achieve this feat, with its predecessor, Pathaan, also hitting the mark, this year itself. Drawing parallels between the two films is hence, only inevitable.
But, Sharma doesn’t entertain questions on the comparisons. “The industry must walk together,” he says, adding, “When the makers of Barbie and Oppenheimer praised each other, why shouldn’t we do the same? I was happy to hear that Shah Rukh [Khan] loved our film. He has a massy taste. Similarly, I knew that Pathaan would be a hit as soon as I saw the trailer.”
Sharma evidently has his finger on the pulse of cinemagoers—while he had anticipated Pathaan’s success, he was also certain that his drama would “be a blockbuster”, even though few believed that a 22-year old story could be successfully revived.
“Nobody said it to my face, but I learnt of people’s opinions from newspapers, and YouTubers. They’d say, ‘Anil has nothing left to him, except for Gadar’. Or, ‘Sunny Deol is failing, and Anil Sharma is finished. They have aged’. Some also felt that we were tarnishing the image of the first film. But I wanted my work to speak for itself.”
While the first instalment was set in the post-Partition period, and narrated the love story of an Indian Sikh man and a Pakistani Muslim woman, the second part sheds light on the man’s visit to Pakistan to save his child, played by Sharma’s son Utkarsh. The director was certain that people would lap up the father-son relationship drama.
“This story is similar to a chapter from the Mahabharata, where Abhimanyu is trapped in the Chakravyuh. But, in our film, Abhimanyu is rescued by his father. We didn’t design the story contemplating [how much screen time] we should give Utkarsh. We simply went with the flow,” he says, adding that reports of him favouring his son by giving him significant screen time, bothered him.
While the narrative was the actual hero of the film, Sharma says that his decision to showcase the love between India and Pakistan, served him well.
“We neither showed any hatred towards Pakistan, nor indulged in the narrative of the Hindu-Muslim [divide]. We only spoke of love. We haven’t shown unnecessary violence, but chose to depict positive Pakistani characters.”
Aamir Khan acknowledged that Gadar was at least three times bigger than Lagaan-Anil Sharma
7:58 AM
Renuka Vyavahare (BOMBAY TIMES; August 12, 2023)
It’s the season of sequels in Bollywood and Hollywood. Twenty-two years after Gadar: Ek Prem Katha, the original cast – Sunny Deol, Ameesha Patel and Utkarsh Sharma – reunite in Gadar 2. Filmmaker Anil Sharma talks about why he decided to make the film after over two decades and the huge expectations from Gadar 2. Excerpts:
‘Gadar was a huge brand, but I didn’t want to cash in on it’
Anil says, “It’s the season of sequels. Everyone is making one, and Gadar was a huge brand to cash in on commercially, but that was never my objective. I didn’t want to simply resurrect a brand just for commercial purposes, unless I had a genuine story to tell that warranted a sequel. I was intrigued by the future of Tara Singh’s family. ‘Uske parivaar ka aage kya hua?’, this question hounded me. Writer Shaktimaan Talwar, who wrote the previous film, came back to me with a story that deserved to be made. That’s how Gadar 2 happened.”
Despite the immense success of the first film, the director has released himself from the clutches of expectations. “I am not the kind to put myself under this pressure. Both these films are people’s films; they will decide Gadar 2’s fate.”
‘Aamir acknowledged that Gadar was at least three times bigger than Lagaan’
Speaking of comparison, who can forget Gadar’s epic clash with Aamir Khan-starrer Lagaan: Once Upon A Time In India when it was released on the same day in 2001. Lagaan went on to win an Oscar nomination, and Gadar set new box-office records.
On his film’s 20th anniversary, Aamir had said, “If Lagaan was even one per cent less of a film, we would not have stood a chance.” Sharma reminisced, “Aamir was kind enough to say and acknowledge that Gadar was at least three times bigger than Lagaan.”
‘Gadar was a story about love transcending borders’
Along with the success, Gadar also met with its share of criticism. The director says, “I don’t remember my film getting great reviews from critics. Logon ne meri picture ko chalaya hai because they could emotionally connect with it. It was a story about a family and love transcending borders. I hope the audience is able to feel for the characters and their story once again. Sunny Deol is one of our finest actors. I have closely worked with him and the Deol family, they are nice people and that reflects in their performances as well. It was also nice to have Ameesha (as Sakeena) and my son Utkarsh back.”
‘We wanted Udit Narayan to reprise Udd jaa Kaale Kaava in Gadar 2’
Gadar’s music continues to be a roaring success. Uttam Singh’s iconic composition Udd jaa Kaale Kaava has been recreated and sung by Udit Narayan. Sharma says, “We have retained two songs from the original and Mithoon has done a brilliant job on the new album and reprising the old melodies. We wanted Udit to reprise the song. Film industry sabko bahut jaldi bhool jaati hai. I know that’s how new talent gets a chance and that’s fine. I am not averse to new people, but I don’t believe in overlooking someone only because he has been around for 40 years. He was the perfect choice.”
South films did well in Hindi heartland as no Bollywood star has brought that cinema to them-Utkarsh Sharma
8:39 AM
Utkarsh Sharma, who plays Sunny Deol’s son in Gadar 2, on how the senior actor is more an idol than a co-star to him
Priyanka Sharma (MID-DAY; August 12, 2023)
Utkarsh Sharma was all of five when he played the adorable son Jeete to Sunny Deol’s Tara Singh in Gadar: Ek Prem Katha (2001). As Gadar 2: The Katha Continues hits the screens after 22 years, Sharma reprises his role—only this time, he is flexing his arms alongside Deol. Off the camera, Sharma says he remains a wide-eyed fan of his co-star.
“I was clapping when he was performing action scenes. I was also the first one to whistle at his entry on the set. So, I react to him the way the audience does,” grins the actor. He notes that Deol’s real-life persona is poles apart from his on-screen image.
“He has this raw, hard image, but on the set, he is shy, introverted and kind. So, though you are in awe of his image, you feel connected to him on a personal level.”
Yesterday, the Deol and Ameesha Patel-starrer opened on a strong note at the box office. The buzz around the film has taken many by surprise, but Sharma attributes it to the recent lack of full-blown actioners in Hindi cinema.
“As an audience, we have been starved of hardcore action on screen. The reason why south films have been doing well in the Hindi heartland is that no other star [from Bollywood] has brought that cinema to them.”
Gadar 2 marks his fifth collaboration with director-father Anil Sharma. Admiring his filmmaker-father’s professional approach towards him on set, the actor says, “During the making of Gadar, we didn’t sleep for three nights in a row as we had to shoot. For a five-year-old, it’s too much, and I’d get cranky. So, in between shots, if my eyes would shut, my father used to say, ‘Wake up! We are in the middle of an important shoot.’ Even on the set of Gadar 2, our relationship was of an actor-director. There was no question of favouritism.”
Gadar had set a certain benchmark that we have to match-Utkarsh Sharma
3:17 PM
The actor talks about his upcoming release Gadar 2, which has him sharing screen space with Sunny Deol 22 years after Gadar: Ek Prem Katha
Onkar Kulkarni (BOMBAY TIMES; August 10, 2023)
Utkarsh Sharma was just five years old when he shared screen space with Sunny Deol and Ameesha Patel in Gadar: Ek Prem Katha. Cut to 22 years later, he’s back inGadar 2 as Jeete, once again sharing the screen space with his on-screen parents. The film, directed by his father, filmmaker Anil Sharma, releases tomorrow. Excerpts from a conversation with the actor:
‘It felt like I had travelled back in time when we shot Gadar 2’
“I had that feeling of déjà vu when I stepped into the set,” says Utkarsh. “It felt like I had travelled back in time. It was great to team up with Sunny sir and the whole team again. Gadar has set a certain benchmark that we have to match. So, it took us some time to crack a story that will move people like the first one did,” he adds.
Recounting the response to the film in 2001, he shares, “My mom and I had gone to watch the first day, first show of the film at Shaan Theatre to see the audience’s reaction. The theatre was packed, so we sat on the stairs. I remember people from all walks of life were under one roof to see the film. Whenever Sunny sir delivered his dialogues or performed a stunt, everybody would stand on the seats, clap and whistle. I hope Gadar 2 also receives a similar response.”
‘Sunny sir uplifts his co-stars and helps them do well’
Ask him if he felt nervous facing the camera with Sunny after 22 years, and he says, “You are nervous until the time you are in front of the camera because the camera is a great leveller. No one is senior or junior, younger or older. I am always a little in awe of Sunny sir when he is on set, but in front of the camera, we are actors and have to perform. There is no scope for nervousness, especially when you are motivated by the fact that you are working with an actor of his stature.”
Utkarsh shares that Sunny has influenced him a lot, especially because his father (Anil Sharma) has worked extensively with him. He says, “I have seen Sunny sir on multiple sets, including Gadar, Apne (2007), Singh Saab The Great (2013) and now Gadar 2. He has this big action star, larger-than-life image, but when you do an emotional scene with him, you realize that he is so much more than just an action star. And all that is translated into box-office success. I am a big Sunny Deol fan. As a kid, I got to work with him, and it was a dream come true when I got to work with him again. I discovered a lot about him this time around. I was surprised to know that he is a tech freak and that he played football in school. As an actor, he uplifts his co-stars and helps you do well.”
‘Gadar 2 helped me to be a little more free-spirited’
Utkarsh, who starred in Genius (2018), says that working on an intense film like Gadar 2 helped him grow as an actor. He shares, “Gadar 2 helped me be a little more free-spirited, because Jeete ka character waisa hai. When Jeete was a kid, he had certain characteristics – woh thoda ziddi tha, he would go to any limits for his parents and was very protective about his mother. I knew that I could not deviate from that and create a whole new character. So, I had to keep that behaviour, but at the same time introduce some newness to the character.”
Images: Pakistan recreated in a boys college of Lucknow for Gadar 2
8:53 AM
Iti Shree Misra (BOMBAY TIMES; March 13, 2022)
The La Martiniere College in Lucknow has been transformed into a battle ground for Sunny Deol’s Gadar 2. The film’s shooting is going on at a steady pace in the city with Sunny and Utkarsh Sharma filming the climax scenes of the film.
The main building Constantia of the college is being depicted as the headquarters of the Pakistan Army in the film with a Pakistani flag hoisted on one of the columns. Military jeeps have been painted khaki and junior artistes can be seen dressed in kurta-pyjama and caps to give the location a feel of Lahore, where the climax takes place.
The scene being shot these days is of Utkarsh Sharma – Jeete in the film, going to rescue his sweetheart from Pakistan and the neighbouring army capturing him. He is then punished and tied in front of a cannon to be killed. A huge crowd has gathered to watch the sentence being carried out and the area is surrounded by armed soldiers. Then someone from the crowd demands the prisoner’s last wish to be granted and Jeete says he wants to meet his father. That’s when Sunny Deol, alias Tara Singh, enters the scene and rescues his son from Manish Wadhwa, a Pakistani army general in the film and the main villain too.
“Sunny sir will be enacting a similar scene like that of pulling out the handpump in the previous one, in this film too,” informs a source from the set. “It is also going to be a very powerful scene in the sequel,” the source adds.
Meanwhile, the crew also celebrated director Anil Sharma’s birthday on Monday. A huge three-tiered cake was made for Sharma with his and his film’s pictures on it. Present for the cake cutting were Sharma’s wife. Sunny Deol, Rana Bhatia, the executive producer, and Yogesh Tripathi the local line producer, among other cast and crew of the film.
I can make Gadar without any changes today, and it will be a bigger success-Anil Sharma
8:19 AM
With Sunny Deol’s Gadar clocking 20 years, director says movie was inspired by Indian epic, making it relevant even today
Uma Ramasubramanian (MID-DAY; June 14, 2021)
From the song, Main nikla gaddi leke to the scene where Sunny Deol uproots a hand-pump in a fit of rage, viewers couldn’t get enough of 'Gadar: Ek Prem Katha' on its release in 2001. Some may argue that the Hindi film industry’s creative sensibilities have changed dramatically since then. But as the Deol and Ameesha Patel-starrer clocks 20 years on June 15, director Anil Sharma believes the film is relevant in this age. “I can make the film without any changes today, and it will be a bigger success. It’s a realistic film, and the youth will connect with it. If you ask me, 'Gadar' has elements of the Ramayana. [In the epic], Lord Ram went to Lanka to get Sita; we have followed a similar plot in our film, which is why we identify with the story even after all these years.”
At the box-office, the drama had clashed with Aamir Khan’s ambitious 'Lagaan' (2001), which went on to be nominated at the Oscars for the Best Foreign Language Film. Despite locking horns, the two films had held their own, becoming the year’s biggest blockbusters. “So many people watched Lagaan and Gadar the same day, one after the other,” remembers Sharma, whose film will air on Zee Bollywood.
Over the past few years, there has been chatter about a sequel to 'Gadar'. The director says they are trying to develop a fitting plot. “The day I crack the right plot that will offer a combination of drama and realism, I will start working on the sequel. My son Utkarsh, who played Sunny’s son Jeeta in the film, has grown up, so there is scope for a second instalment.”
Sunny Deol, Ameesha Patel, Utkarsh Sharma to return in Gadar sequel
8:11 AM
Director Anil Sharma in talks to helm sequel to 2001 blockbuster Gadar; actor-son Utkarsh Sharma to join original stars Sunny Deol and Ameesha Patel
Uma Ramasubramanian (MID-DAY; March 16, 2021)
Think Gadar: Ek Prem Katha (2001), and you instantly remember Sunny Deol uprooting a hand pump in a fit of rage as he takes on the bad guys single-handedly. Not to mention that the romantic drama had released on the same day as Aamir Khan’s game-changing Lagaan (2001), and went on to become one of the biggest blockbusters of the year. Two decades on, it is heard that director Anil Sharma is developing a sequel to the period drama.
A source reveals, “The makers of Gadar have figured out the plot points and are working on a script. While Sunny and Ameesha Patel will be a part of the story, the director’s son Utkarsh, who essayed the role of their son Jeeta in the original, will play a pivotal part. The young actor had forayed into Bollywood in 2018 with Genius.”
When mid-day reached out to Sharma, the director said, “Talks about a sequel are on, but I will officially confirm at the right time. At the moment, things are at a nascent stage.”
Meanwhile, the director is busy with the pre-production of Apne 2 that will roll in London by June.
In this industry, your success and failure are in the public eye. So, you have to be strong-Utkarsh Sharma
4:08 PM
Pallabi Purkayastha (BOMBAY TIMES; August 22, 2018)
He first got noticed as the child artiste in his father Anil Sharma’s smash hit Gadar: Ek Prem Katha (2001), in which he played Sunny Deol and Ameesha Patel’s son. And now, Utkarsh Sharma is all set for his second launch — this time, as the male lead — with Genius, directed by his dad. In an interview with BT, the young actor talks about his layered role in the upcoming film, the acting lessons that he learnt from his co-actor Nawazuddin Siddiqui, and how his father is a taskmaster on the set. Excerpts…
Considering the fact that every actor chooses his/her debut carefully, what made you say ‘yes’ to Genius? Also, how was the film conceptualized?
Well, the idea came to dad when I was still studying in the US, and he had narrated it to me when I was in Mumbai during my vacations. Originally, the character was 45 years old, and I felt that the story was uni-dimensional. Dad then kept this script aside and started working on Singh Saab The Great (2013). When I decided to join the industry, I wanted to work outside, but dad told me that he required an actor in my age bracket. He also told me that he had tweaked the age of the character and reworked the film accordingly. His idea was to comment on the youth of India, who often seem Western in their ways, but deep down, are rooted in their culture. I got interested in the film, because mine is a layered character. He not only ages in the film, but also comes from a very different background — Vrindavan. He is smarter than I am and he is always three steps ahead of everyone else. He knows the Bhagavad Gita and also has knowledge of modern science, and has his own philosophy in life. This guy is so brilliant that RAW picks him up at the age of 21. He is a prodigy and since it is a thriller, it has sub-texts where a lot is going on in the character’s head, but it’s shown very subtly.
The film will see you sharing screen space with Nawazuddin Siddiqui. How was it working with such an experienced and acclaimed actor in your first film?
Nawaz sir had seen my rushes before he signed the film, and he liked it. I was thrilled, as he is one of my favourite actors, and being complimented by him was a huge boost to my confidence. I was extremely excited when I learnt that he had signed the project. When I met him for the first time on the set, there was definitely a hint of nervousness. I thought, ‘How am I going to perform in front of him?’ However, he doesn’t behave like he is such an accomplished actor. He becomes the character that he is playing. He is constantly working on his nuances, body language and dialogues. You can see him pushing his limits, and it’s very inspiring because he makes you do the same.
What kind of conversation did you have with Nawaz on the set? Did he tell you about his journey as an actor and how he prepares for a role?
Usually, he is busy working on his own scenes, but occasionally, we would chat and I would ask him about his upcoming film Thakeray (biopic on Bal Thackeray) and how he is preparing for the role. When I told him that he was a born actor, he turned around and told me thar it’s not his inborn talent that made him a fine artiste, but his training at the National School of Drama that helped him get here. Even at this stage of his career, he gives credit to his training. The reason he has been able to make such a mark is not just because he has done some great work, but because of the person that he is, and that is very important to survive in this industry.
In an earlier interview, you had said that you don’t like to hog the limelight. But now that you are going to make your debut, are you ready for the public scrutiny?
Unfortunately, this is an industry where your success and failure are in the public eye. So, you have to be very tough; the biggest of actors have seen failures and the smallest of actors have tasted mammoth success. Anything can happen here; Friday se Friday aapki zindagi badal jaati hain. I am not media shy, but I would like to keep my life as private as possible. Today, even going to the gym is not private, and I find it a bit ridiculous. But it is all because people love actors and they want to know every little thing that they do. It is both good and bad, but kya kar sakte hain… that’s the way it is.
Did Anil Sharma give you any advice before the commencement of the shoot, not as a father but as an experienced filmmaker? Also, what kind of a director was he on the set? Was he lenient or a taskmaster?
Even at home, my dad is a director. He never takes off that hat. He told me that as an actor, if you are honest, it will reflect in your eyes and overall body language. He said to be a good actor, you have to learn not to act. Talking about the kind of director he is, he let me be, and and I also prefer it that way. He never put any pressure on me; in fact, he was always open to my improvisations, and if he thought that I needed to change anything about my performance, he would frankly tell me so. Our emotions never came in between, and on the set, he treated me like any other actor. There were times when I was not even provided with a vanity van. He is a taskmaster and he had made me work crazy hours, but ultimately, we have one common objective, ki film achhi bane.
Nepotism is that tiny black stain on this industry that we have blown out of proportion-Anil Sharma
7:30 AM
Pallabi Purkayastha (BOMBAY TIMES; August 21, 2018)
Almost two decades later, he’s still identified as the director of the iconic Gadar: Ek Prem Katha. Anil Sharma is now set to launch his son Utkarsh, who played Sunny Deol’s son in Gadar, in the action thriller Genius. In an interview with BT, Sharma stresses upon the importance of telling stories that are raw and real. He also explains why his movies are a reflection of his personality and why he loathes people who tarnish the reputation of this industry with debates like nepotism. Excerpts...
How did you zero in on a concept like Genius to launch your son Utkarsh in Bollywood?
I did not write this film for Utkarsh. I was in the US, holidaying for months and then I thought it’s high time I made a film. I decided to make something that would revolve around the youth. Somehow, the word ‘genius’ came to my mind and I thought let’s go and register the title first. Usually, we think of a genius as someone who is a little offbeat, like someone who has long hair, at least that’s the picture that Hollywood has painted for us. But genius is not essentially someone who has invented something. Genius toh woh hai joh life ki har ladai ladta hai. Any individual, and there are millions of them, who fights for his survival and emerges victorious is a genius and my story is about that. Whenever I make films, I keep my country in mind. I don’t try to inculcate that in me; it is innate and that’s what (a sense of patriotism) reflects in my films. Jaisa hoon, waise hi filmein banaunga.
And my biggest problem is that I have never remade films because I just cannot do that. I have never lifted any story, not even a single song, because I have come to this industry not to copy others but to narrate my own stories. People adapt great stories; nothing wrong with that, but I cannot bring myself to do the same. In fact, Godfather (1972) was an adaptation and so were 3 Idiots (2009) and Mother India (1957). But, when I try to do that, my heart doesn’t permit it. I tell myself, ‘Nahin yaar… main apni kuchh kahaani banauga’. Achhi hai, buri hai, jaisi bhi hai, meri hai.
Since you mentioned adaptations, what’s your take on sequels? Have you ever contemplated making a sequel to Gadar: Ek Prem Katha (2001)?
I have no issues with sequels. In fact, if things go fine, I will make a sequel of Genius, as I have already thought about making a trilogy out of this. But whenever I think of making a sequel to Gadar, I think about stories but end up getting stuck in the creative process. When a film becomes a mega hit, the story of its sequel has to be just as hard-hitting. There’s a reason why iconic hits like Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge (1995) don’t have sequels. If you have already finished the story in the first movie, then the second part looks fake and forced.
When did you decide that you would launch Utkarsh in Bollywood?
As a father, it was my responsibility to launch my son and when I went to his university in the US and saw him bag an award for his short film I thought about giving him his first break. He assured me that he was ready for it and that’s when I thought I would make Genius for him, once he comes back to India.
How did you cast Nawazuddin Siddiqui?
This story is about two geniuses. One is played by Utkarsh and the other by Nawaz. In the film, there is a five to six minute monologue, which is a brilliant scene where the character tells the story of his entire life with the help of just his facial expressions. Whenever I thought about that scene, I could only imagine Nawazuddin Siddiqui doing justice to it.
Although Gadar is cult classic, some people have accused you of having a jingoistic approach towards writing your films. What do you have to say about that?
(Laughs!) See, even Krishna and Lord Rama were not spared and I am just a human being. Trolling people has become a common occurrence these days and a daily habit. Internet pe baitho aur kuch bhi ulta seedha bolo, purane zamane main bhi yahin hota tha.
A few days back you commented on the nepotism debate, where you said something to the effect of, ‘we’ll ask this question to Kangana Ranaut, when she has her own kids’. You went on to add that she got work in this industry despite being an outsider. What is your opinion on this entire discussion?
I wasn’t upset, I was asked a question and so I answered. Maine mazaak main bol diya tha. Nepotism is that tiny black stain on this industry that we have blown out of proportion. When I started making films, do you think I did not struggle? Those who talk about nepotism, came from small towns and villages and still made it big in showbiz, right? Ours is the only industry that gives you a chance solely on the basis of your talent. Actors have to face the camera and filmmakers have to run a thousand errands behind it. You have to do it all, by yourself. Acting is a profession where you cannot survive without talent. There are so many filmmakers whose kids have not been able to make it in the industry, because they had no or very little talent. Likewise, there are so many kids from outside who have made it big in the industry by virtue of their talent alone.
When an established filmmaker like you launches their son in a big production, does that fan the nepotism debate even more?
In Genius, I have given 18-year-old Ishita Chauhan a break. She has no godfather in the industry but she still got work right? How did she get it? Agar koi ladki bolti hain ki nepotism ke wajah se role milta hain, toh yahaan kahaan nepotism hain? I have launched seven to eight actresses – from Priyanka Chopra to Urvashi Rautela and Divya Khosla ji too. They had no one in the industry but they still got to work because they had the talent. If you have it in you, you will rise and shine. Faltu log jinke paas time hain, yah joh log bematlab ki publicity chahte hain, woh iss tarah ki baatein karte hain.
I haven’t cracked story for Gadar 2 but Apne 2 is on-Anil Sharma
8:09 AM
Anil Sharma on reuniting with the Deols and launching son Utkarsh in his next directorial
Avinash Lohana (MUMBAI MIRROR; August 17, 2018)
In a recent interview to Mirror (August 15), Dharmendra had revealed that Anil Sharma has found an interesting subject for the sequel of their 2007 sports drama Apne. The filmmaker confirms this, saying Apne 2 with the veteran actor and his sons, Sunny and Bobby, is on track, with Dharmendra having liked the script.
“I will concentrate on it fully after the release of (son Utkarsh’s acting debut) Genius. Everyone tells me to make Gadar 2 and Apne 2 but making sequels of highly appreciated films is challenging. I haven’t cracked the story of Gadar 2 yet but Apne 2 is on,” Anil informs, happy about the revival of sports dramas in Bollywood. “Apne was the first-of-its-kind at the time and many discouraged me from making a film on boxing. I’m happy that times have changed now.”
In the run-up to his son’s big day, the filmmaker harks back to when he’d discovered Utkarsh’s inclination towards filmmaking. “He acted in Gadar as a child and would contribute to my script but I wanted him to get an engineering degree first, as cinema is a fickle profession,” he reasons.
But, seeing his dogged pursuit of the medium, Anil sent his son to the US to learn filmmaking. “On his last day of college, I watched the short film that he had directed and I knew he was ready to be launched,” the filmmaker recounts, adding that he had a similar conflict with his parents, who’d wanted him to become a doctor.
He goes on to reveal that he hadn’t started writing Genius with Utkarsh in mind. “My protagonist grows from a teenager to becoming a RAW agent and I had a few names in mind. Later, I wondered how to justify the age span with a 30-something actor, everyone is not Aamir Khan, who can pass off as a student in 3 Idiots, so then I decided on a new face. By the time I was ready with the script, I knew it had to be Utkarsh,” he says.
He’s all praise for the film’s other leads, Nawazuddin Siddiqui and Mithun Chakraborty. “There is no hero or a villain in my film, only two geniuses, one played by Utkarsh, the other super genius by Nawaz, and the story revolves around their conflict. Nawaz being a great actor himself has only enhanced Utkarsh’s performance. Mithun da only wanted to know the story to make sure that I was giving Utkarsh the best launch. He is like family,” adds Anil.
He isn’t too worried about Genius clashing with the Sonakshi Sinha and Jassie Gill-starrer Happy Phirr Bhag Jayegi. “The audience has always given us a lot of love and I’m sure they will do so this time as well. Competition has always been around, Gadar clashed with Aamir’s Lagaan on June 15, 2001, while my first film, Shradhanjali, was released alongside seven other films on November 6, 1981. I wish everyone does well,” he says.
Nawazuddin Siddiqui plays a businessman with grey shades in Anil Sharma's Genius
8:01 AM
The actor plays a genius entrepreneur in Anil Sharma’s comeback film also featuring the director’s son in his acting debut
Shravan Shah (MUMBAI MIRROR; April 3, 2018)
Mirror had earlier reported (October 11, 2017) that Nawazuddin Siddiqui
had joined the ensemble cast of Gadar: Ek Prem Katha filmmaker Anil
Sharma’s next, Genius. Now, we have learnt that the actor will be
essaying the role of a businessman in the romance-thriller that also
marks the acting debut of Sharma’s son, Utkarsh.Sharma, who is back to direction after five years — his last film was the Sunny Deol-starrer Singh Saab The Great in 2013 — informed Mirror, “Nawaz plays MRS, a successful businessman who has come up the hard way. The story revolves around two geniuses, Nawaz and Utkarsh, both characters with grey shades.”
The filmmaker also reveals that he was keen to cast the 43-year-old actor even as he worked on the script. “I wanted somebody who could play the character brilliantly so I approached Nawaz. While shooting, he added nuances and portrayed the character with finesse. We had been in talks to cast Nawaz for a long time. After several telephonic conversations, we met and he liked the script,” Sharma revealed, adding that he and the actor met when the film was being shot in October 2017. “I had wrapped up the 30-day first schedule in Mathura and Vrindavan when we met. He came on board and we were shooting his portions by November-end, wrapping up the film in February after shooting with Nawaz in Mumbai, Indore, Maheshwar and Mauritius.”
When asked about his choice of script, the filmmaker said that he wanted to make something that was relevant to the recent times and that it took him two years to develop the script. “I wanted to make a film with young actors as I am now focused on films that are a bit different from the kind I have made before. This one is a complete entertainer,” Sharma says.
Nawazuddin Siddiqui joins the cast of Anil Sharma's Genius
7:43 AM
Sanyukta Iyer (MUMBAI MIRROR; October 11, 2017)
Nawazuddin Siddiqui has joined the ensemble cast of Gadar - Ek Prem Katha filmmaker Anil Sharma’s upcoming sci-fi romance, Genius. Anil revealed that when he’d narrated the script to Nawaz a few months ago, the actor was fascinated with the multi-layered character. “Nawaz plays a genius with an IQ of over 180. The way his character understands people, science and the world at large, is completely different,” Anil told Mirror, adding that he is presently on a 40-day schedule of the film in North India.
This week, the unit shot for a Holi song sequence in Vrindavan and around the Ganga Ghat with Anil’s son Utkarsh, who makes his Bollywood debut with Genius.
The debutant had played Sunny Deol and Ameesha Patel’s son, Charanjeet, in dad Anil’s blockbuster 2001 partitiondrama before going on to pursue acting and filmmaking at the Lee Strasburg Theatre and Film Institute in the US. Next up, the unit will be travelling to Dehradun and Delhi since the story follows its characters through several North Indian cities. The third schedule will take place at IIT Roorkee by November-end. “Utkarsh’s character studies there and is identified as a genius in the course of the film. Nawaz’s character encounters him only later. We will be filming with Nawaz towards the year-end in Mumbai,” Anil added.
The first schedule of the 2018 summer release saw Mithun Chakraborty as a National Security Advisor for which art director Bijon Dasgupta had created a grand set of the RAW office on the fourth floor of a Juhu hotel, while another set, of a high-tech war analytics room, was erected at a Mumbai studio. “A fresh face is being launched as the leading lady,” Anil says.
Actor mehnat se star banta hai, Utkarsh will earn his stardom-Anil Sharma
7:58 AM
BOMBAY TIMES (May 23, 2017)
Yet another industry kid is
gearing up to enter Bollywood. Filmmaker Anil Sharma's son Utkarsh Sharma
will make his debut with the romantic entertainer, Genius. The movie,
launched yesterday on Utkarsh's birthday , is directed by Anil, who
has earlier helmed films like Hukumat (1987), Gadar Ek Prem Katha
(2001) and Hero - Love Story Of A Spy (2003). In an exclusive chat t
with BT, the film maker said, “Utkarsh was loved
as Jeete (Sunny Deol and Ameesha Patel's son in Gadar). When the film
plays on satellite TV today, people praise him. He's grown up now, has
trained in a film school and I'm proud to present him as a new actor to
the world.“ Here are excerpts from the conversation...It's been a while since you announced your son's launch...
Yes, I started scripting it in 2015. Genius is an entertaining and intelligent love story and so, we didn't want any buffoonery in it. 'Dil ki ladaai dimaag se' is the tagline of the movie. I hope people who loved Utkarsh as Jeete in Gadar will love him in Genius as well.
It takes a lot of training to make a debut. Utkarsh, we are sure, has prepped hard...
Utkarsh trained in a reputed film school in the US, where he did a three-year course. In his final year, all 40 students were asked to showcase their films, and he was the 40th. When his 10-minute film played on screen, it was a very proud moment for me.
Having studied abroad, will it be tough for him to adapt to Bollywood style of acting?
Acting acting hoti hai, there is no different style. While watching Ganga Jumna (1961) the other day, Utkarsh spoke about how Dilip Kumar saab didn't seem out of character for even one bit. Hamare actors hamesha se badiya rahe hain; like Dilip saab, Raj Kapoor saab, Balraj Sahni, Motilal, Dev Anand saab, Dharmendra, Amitabh Bachchan and Aamir Khan. Performance is living the character.
You are known for helming patriotic films, but your son's debut will see you attempting a new genre..
I don't think I have become any different as a director. Kya likhega aadmi, kya dum hai uski syahi mein, haalaat ne jo chotein di, shabdon mein ubhar aayi hain. Jo aadmi jaisa hai, waisa cinema banayega. I'm from Mathura, so dharti, desh, log, all these emotions will reflect in my films. My movies are for family audiences. Talking about Genius, Utkarsh also gave his inputs, but insisted I handle the writing part. Mithun Chakraborty plays a pivotal role in the film.
With many industry kids making their debuts, are you stressed about the competition?
The only pressure was to come up with a good script. I had announced the film, but the script was not ready. But once that was completed, we were confident. If you have a strong script, actors, production, distribution etc will automatically fall in place.
DoesUtkarsh's role see him as a romantic actor? Or, do you want him to establish him self in one genre before exploring others?
Utkarsh's character in this film portrays a lot of variations. It's not often that a new actor gets to do everything. Pita ke launch karne se koi star nahin banta, bahut dekhein hain. Actor apni mehnat se star banta hai, Utkarsh too will earn his stardom. He is dedicated, focused, hard-working and humble. Dekhte hain Gadar ka Jeete Genius ban ke kya karta hai. Aasmaan toh bahut aage hai, abhi to panchhi ne sirf par khole hain.
Mithun Chakraborty back in action with Anil Sharma's Genius
7:49 AM
Actor plays national security advisor in Anil Sharma’s next which kicks off on May 22
Avinash Lohana (MUMBAI MIRROR; May 13, 2017)
Mirror (April 11) had earlier reported that after the 2015 biographical drama Hawaizaada, Mithun Chakraborty who’d been laid low with a bad back is back in action with Ram Gopal Varma’s horror film, Geher, in which he plays a psychiatrist. Now, we hear that the 66-year-old actor will also be seen in Anil Sharma’s Genius.
Anil confirms this, saying, “Yes, he’s a National Security Advisor who shares a rapport with my son Utkarsh’s character, who is an IIT topper and a genius. The film is a battle of the heart, fought with the mind,” says the director. The film kicks off on May 22.
Utkarsh had played Charanjeet, Sunny Deol’s son in the 2001 grosser Gadar: Ek Prem Katha. Art director Bijon Dasgupta is creating a set of a government office on the fourth floor of a Juhu hotel. “Another set of a high-tech war room is also being crafted,” adds the director-producer. The film will be shot in Mumbai, Delhi, Vrindavan and Bangkok.
I'm excited to launch my son Utkarsh in Genius-Anil Sharma
7:57 AM
Hiren Kotwani (BOMBAY TIMES; July 14, 2016)
Why were you keen that your son's film career begins on July 14?
This date is important because many years ago, my father, KC Sharma, launched me as a director on this day. My daughter, Kairvina, was also born on the same day. When I decided to launch Utkarsh, my family suggested that we should start shooting on July 14. However, there wasn't enough time to prepare as he returned to Mumbai after completing his training only in April, so we thought of announcing the film today. I'm planning to start shooting in November.
Having worked with big stars in the past, what makes you confident about Utkarsh?I noticed his potential when I had screen-tested him for Gadar and was impressed with the way he enacted the scene. In fact, I wasn't even considering him till the crew and Ameesha suggested that I cast him. Initially, I was reluctant but when I offered Utkarsh the part after discussing it with my wife, Suman, he refused. Finally, when she asked him if he would help me as I wasn't getting the right child actor for the role, he agreed. He was good in studies and later, he enrolled in an institute in US to study filmmaking. He also trained at The Lee Strasberg Theatre & Film Institute for about a year. His strength lies in his sincerity and originality with which he thinks of enacting his scenes.
Since you've made a number of action films, will this also belong to the same genre?
Genius is different from all that I've made before. It's a story of a guy with high IQ. Dil ki ladaai, dimaag se is how I'd sum up the story for now. I'm looking at casting a fresh face opposite him in this movie.
What is the secret of your long innings in the industry?
I've never considered filmmaking as work. I'm excited about it as each day is a new day for me and I have a different story to tell. At the same time, I want people to enjoy my movies. I want them to feel that each film is worth the price of the ticket; I don't want them to feel cheated.
Gadar - Ek Prem Katha is your biggest hit till date. How do you look back at the journey?
Every aspect about it made it a wonderful experience. From the writers to the actors, producers and various crew members, all of them were affectionate. I'm grateful to God for making it such a huge success.
You're one of the few directors to launch seven new actresses. You must be feeling proud to see Priyanka Chopra, who debuted in The Hero: Love Story of a Spy, make it so big internationally?
Priyanka was extremely dedicated while shooting for Hero... I'm fortunate that I got the opportunity to direct her in her Hindi debut. I won't say I launched seven actresses, but yes, I did enjoy working with them.
Lastly, what have you learnt from your father that you wish your son imbibes from you?
I was in my early 20s and was excited to get Raakheeji on board for my directorial debut, Shradhanjali. I told my father that I was planning to start shooting on July 14. When he came from Mathura to Mumbai with some savings, he didn't have too much, yet he backed my plans and raised Rs 10-20 lakh for my film. Having worked with superstars, I tell my son that initial success is temporary and one hit won't make him a star. He has to deliver 10 hits to earn stardom. My family is here today only because of my father's strength, willpower and determination. I hope Utkarsh has the determination to become more successful than me.
Couldn't see the train scene in Gadar as Sunny was holding my son-Anil Sharma
7:44 AM
Roshmilla Bhattacharya (MUMBAI MIRROR; March 25, 2014)
Anil Sharma was working on a script on the Indo-Pak border dispute titled Kashmir when his writer Shaktimaan narrated a love story to him. Fascinated by it, he put Kashmir on hold to start working on Gadar: Ek Prem Katha.
Some believe the story of a Sikh truck driver Tara Singh and Sakina had its genesis in ex-World War II soldier Boota Singh’s tragic romance with a Muslim girl, Zainab, whom he had rescued from communal riots in 1947. Later, when she was deported to Pakistan, Boota illegally crossed the border to bring his wife back. But under familial pressure, she refused to return, and he jumped in front of a train near Shahdara with their daughter. The daughter survived, Boota didn't.
The director insists Gadar had inputs from Shaktimaan’s family in Pakistan too, as also those in India who’d lived through the Partition. And, though a train plays a significant part in the film's climax, it carries Tara and Sakina back home to Punjab.
“These scenes had to be shot in a station with just one track because another train chugging along during the shoot would set us back by a few hours. After visiting several stations, including those in Rampur and Jabalpur, and checking out innumerable maps, I finally stumbled on a station near Bikaner where only one train with 30-40 passengers stopped twice a day,” recalls the director.
Sunny Deol, a child in his arms, Ameesha Patel and Vivek Shauq, clamber on to this running train, then jump from bogey to bogey, in a desperate attempt to evade the Pak army. “I couldn't watch the scene being filmed because Sunny was holding my five-year-old son Utkarsh," recounts Sharma.
He'd refused to use a duplicate thinking that if the other actors could take the risk, then why sheild his son. But when he realised that he'd put Utkarsh in a life-threatening situation, Sharma stood transfixed, praying that Sunny wouldn’t stumble and let his boy slip under the wheels. “My assistant okayed the shot and before the train had come to a halt, I was rushing towards it. I almost died when Sunny momentraily lost his grip but he managed to break the fall by sitting down. After making sure my stars were safe I turned to my son standing quietly and smiling proudly because he'd got the job done. I scooped him up in my arms, grateful that he was safe and his mother wasn't on the sets that day,” Sharma reminisces.
The train knocked off six jeeps on its way. “Most of what you see on screen was for real. We only used CG effects to set the train on fire. Even here six bogeys actually burnt down," says Sharma, recalling how when General Pervez Musharraf was in India, he pointed out that it was ludicrous for a lone Indian hero to defeat the mighty Pak army in the blockbuster. “I argued that cinema is a world of make-believe where love triumphs against all odds.”
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