Edward Norton may not have had a lot to say during the virtual interaction for The Invite, but when the conversation turned to India, the Oscar-nominated actor lit up with memories from his travels. Speaking alongside director Olivia Wilde, who also stars in the movie, Norton reflected on his visit to India and the kind of dinner party he’d love to host.

Norton revealed that he has fond memories of travelling through the country. Recalling his favourite experience, he said, “I have travelled through India and loved it. My favorite area was up in Uttaranchal (now known as Uttarakhand), way up near Nepal. I went trekking there and hiking for days and days. It was so much fun. I loved it.”

When the conversation turned to Indian movies and which film he has watched, he quickly said, “RRR.”

Discussing his ideal Hollywood house party guest, Norton said, “I don’t know who. There are quite a few people I haven’t had over for dinner yet but would love to.”

The Invite released in India last week across PVR Inox. Directed by Olivia Wilde, The Invite is a sharp relationship dramedy set over the course of a single dinner party. The film stars Seth Rogen and Wilde as a married couple whose strained relationship is tested when they invite their enigmatic upstairs neighbours, played by Penélope Cruz and Edward Norton, for an evening that quickly spirals into an emotionally charged exploration of love, desire and commitment. Written by Rashida Jones and Will McCormack, the film is inspired by Cesc Gay's acclaimed Spanish film The People Upstairs.

On July 9, as soon as Gunmaaster G9 was announced, social media went into overdrive, cheering the reunion of Emraan Hashmi and Himesh Reshammiya, who composed many of the actor’s chartbusters in the early 2000s. But the Aditya Datt-directed action thriller has hit a roadblock right at the start. While the Hashmi and Genelia Deshmukh-starrer was to roll in a village near Rishikesh in Uttarakhand by mid-July, the makers have called off the schedule in light of the heavy rains that battered North India last week.  

The call was taken to ensure the safety of the cast and crew, says Datt. “The situation in North India, especially Uttarakhand and even Delhi, has been quite serious. While our team was eager to push forward, for me, the safety of my crew comes first. We’re dealing with real [locations], not sets, and the risk factor becomes too high in such weather.”

The team has reworked the shoot dates. Now, Gunmaaster G9 will roll only in September. “We’d rather wait and shoot with full intensity once the skies clear,” states Datt.

The decision may have resulted in a six-week delay for the project, but producer Deepak Mukut is unfazed. He says, “We’ve all seen how the rains have wreaked havoc, [resulting in] road closures, flooding, and landslides. It’s not the right time to shoot. We made this decision unanimously.”

Actor Manav Kaul is set to don the director’s hat after 13 years. He exclusively tells us that he has locked locations for his untitled next in Uttarakhand and the shoot starts this November. “The movie is based on my book Sakshatkar. It did well, so I adapted it into a screenplay and set it in the Himalayas. I am acting in the film too, alongside (actors) Kumud Mishra, Manasi Bhawalkar and some theatre artistes. We have finalized a few untouched locations in Kumaon and Garhwal,” says Manav.

Speaking about his past directorial ventures, he says, “I directed Hansa in 2010 and Tathagat in 2012, which were released in 2012 and 2021, respectively. Bahut garibi main shoot ki thi dono films. So eventually, I released them on YouTube. It was an experiment and a great learning experience.”

Ask what took him over a decade to get back to directing a film, and he says other crafts kept him occupied: “After 2012, I wasn’t ready for many years. I was juggling multiple roles — acting, theatre and writing books. Filmmaking demands at least a year of dedicated time. So now, I have taken a break from everything to focus entirely on this. Since my theatre group is also involved in the film, we are all very excited.”

Will the film be a commercial one or more in the indie space? “It’s set in a fun zone, has good humour and a gripping story that will appeal to a wider audience. I am not fixated on the commercial aspect, as my priority is making a good film. If we deliver a good product, it will definitely find its audience. I believe in the script and will pour my heart and soul in it. Of course, since filmmaking is a business, we would like it to do well commercially,” he ends.

The idea of directing always lurked around in Priyanshu Painyuli’s mind. The actor, who shone in Bhavesh Joshi Superhero (2018) and went on to feature in Extraction (2020), Pippa (2023), and Mirzapur, has now stepped behind the camera for Jaagar. It’s not surprising that he has set his maiden directorial venture in Uttarakhand, his home state that shaped him.

“Uttarakhand is where I come from, and so, its mountains, stories, and traditions live within me. Jaagar is a film I’ve carried in my heart for years. I knew that if I ever made the move to directing a feature, it had to be with something this personal and rooted,” shares Painyuli.

Not many know that the actor trained in filmmaking in Bengaluru. With Jaagar, he tells the story of Deepti who travels to Uttarakhand to film the ancient ritual of Jaagar Puja. What begins as her attempt to document a sacred tradition soon transforms into a spiritual awakening. Deepti’s journey of self-realisation intersects with a local woman Geeta, who rises above the trauma of an abusive marriage. 

“Jaagar is a film born out of love, faith, and relentless commitment,” adds Painyuli, who shot the Sarika Singh-starrer in the Garhwal region between February and June.

“It’s even more special because it marks the first production from our own company, a dream Vandana [Joshi, actor and wife] and I built together.”

Actor Urvashi Rautela’s recent claim of having a temple in Uttarakhand named after her has triggered backlash from priests and locals.

According to India Today, in an interview with media personality Siddharth Kannan, the actor claimed that the Urvashi temple, located in Bamni, close to the sacred town of Badrinath, was dedicated to her. She added that many devotees, who had nicknamed her ‘Damdamamai’, visited the temple to pay respects and garland pictures of her. “I am being serious about it. It is true. There are news articles about the same too. You can read them,” she said.

However, this statement incited anger among priests and the town’s locals. Several people even called on the government to take action against the actor for allegedly hurting religious sentiments.

Local priest Bhuwan Chandra Uniyal, a former religious officer of Badrinath Dham, told India Today that he found Urvashi’s claims “misleading” and criticized her for claiming ownership over the religious site.

“It is not her temple. Such statements are unacceptable, and the government should take strict steps against anyone making such claims,” he told the media outlet.

Amit Sati, President of the Brahma Kapal Teerth Purohit Society, also criticized Urvashi’s remarks, stating that the temple was ancient and could not belong to any individual.

Prasoon Joshi, now in his third term as the chairperson of the CBFC, spoke at IFFI about the role he never imagined himself in — regulation. He shared that he never thought he’d end up in a position where he’d have to tell people to change their work. During the conversation, he discussed his role as CBFC chairperson, his approach to writing, and why he believes creative people can’t operate like machines.

Prasoon said, “I’m a creative person. I never thought that I would get into something like regulation or a role where I have to tell people (to curb creative work). If I put myself in the shoes of creative people kisi ko pasand nahi hoga ki aap kahein ki badlaav kijiye. It’s a vantage point. Life is a vantage point.”

Explaining his point, Prasoon said, “If you’ll try to look at things from someone else’s point of view, then you’ll understand things. Let’s say there is a flowing river. Now, the one who is swimming against the tide of this river – you ask that person, how is this river? He might say that the river is aggressive. Nadi aakramak hai. But you ask someone who is standing at the riverbank, how is this river? That person will say, ‘This river is very quiet, beautiful. I have been meditating looking at this river.’ The same reality is seen differently from different vantage points. The river hasn’t changed.”

He added, “Hence, I felt that when I accepted my position in the film certification board, maine kaha vivaad nahi, samvaad. Aap baat cheet kariye aur aapko point of view samajh aa jayega. And there will be a way out. We are all human beings; we are creating something.”

Talking about the process of writing a song, Prasoon said that it doesn’t matter what he approaches – whether it’s a short film, a long poem, a song, or a script – it needs to have a vision. He said, “First of all, you need to have a very clear vision, a very clear belief. Your faith and belief in what you are trying to say are important.”

Recalling how he drew from his childhood memories to write the song Maa from Taare Zameen Par, he said, “I couldn’t write the song for days. The script format mentioned ‘separation song.’ There could be various ways of writing a separation song. I was challenged by it. How do I make it unique? The tone in it, the touch. As film writers and creators, we have a platform to share something very personal. If you don’t have that tone in it, the touch of yours, then you are a machine. You can’t be a machine. I kept struggling with it and I went back to my childhood when my parents were teachers. My mother had to go for a teacher’s training programme, and I was a young boy in Uttarakhand. You act brave, like ‘You are going? Fine. We’re fine without you. There’s no problem.’ But deep down, I didn’t know how to live without my mom. I just went back to that feeling – the feeling I had at that moment. That’s exactly what I wrote: ‘Main kabhi batlata nahin, par and here se darta hoon main, maa.”

In response to a question about how aspiring filmmakers can learn from established ones at IFFI, he said, “We need to reduce and remove the mysticism around filmmaking. People often say: himmatwala makes films, talent wala nahin. Filmmaking is a process that should be transparent and accessible. Those intrigued by the idea of making films should be able to do so the process needs to be simplified. Filmmaking has to be made more accessible so storytelling doesn’t feel intimidating. The fear that your ideas might not resonate with people, that’s what we need to work on. The process must be demystified.”

Actors Siddhant Chaturvedi and Mrunal Thakur are teaming up for the first time in filmmaker Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s next production. The film is a musical romance, and we’ve exclusively learnt that it has got a title.

A source close to the development tells us, “The film is a love story and the makers have named the film Tum Hi Ho. The title resonates with love as it comes from one of the most iconic romantic tracks in Hindi (from Aashiqui 2, 2013),” adding that the next shoot schedule for the film, which went on floors in May, will take place in the hills.

“The team will be heading to Uttarakhand towards the end of September and will be stationed there till around mid-October for the next leg of the shoot. Siddhant and Mrunal will be joining the shoot there along with the rest of the team,” the source adds.

The film, which is directed by Ravi Udyawar and has both actors playing musicians, is expected to feature some soulful compositions.

Actress Kavita Kaushik is stuck in the landslide in Joshimath on the Badrinath route, Uttarakhand, for the past four days. In a span of a week this is just one of the several landslides she has encountered on this visit of hers to Badrinath. Kavita, is as of now in Joshimath, staying at an army camp with her husband Ronnit Biswas.

Speaking to us from the army camp that Kavita has taken shelter in, the FIR actress tells us, “There are more than a thousand cars stuck on the highway, so you can imagine the number of people stranded here. The police, army and Border Road Organization have been working round the clock relentlessly to clear the roads. But they clear one slide and there is another one following that. It is a harrowing time for them but they are ensuring that all the tourists remain safe and as comfortable as possible. It has been quite scary but I salute the Uttarakhand police and the Army who are ensuring that the tourists are safe and comfortable as much as possible.”

Kavita was visiting Badrinath along with husband Ronnit, her pet dog and cousin to celebrate Ronnit’s birthday on July 5. “We drove down from Dehradun to Badrinath and had a very good time there. The darshan was fantastic due to the police and the temple committee’s help,” says Kavita.

The next day Kavita visited Mana, the first Indian village from the China side. “The trip to Mana was heavenly. We bathed in waterfalls, went on treks and chased mountain streams. But that very day there was a landslide there and we were stuck in Mana for three days. Tab tak toh it was fun as Mana is a beautiful place and I love mountains as it is. On July 8 when the roads were cleared, we came down to Joshimath. And as we reached here, we were told that there were two huge landslides near where we were and the highway was completely blocked. So it’s been three days since we have been here. We are at an army camp with my husband’s friend who is an Army officer and being taken care of very well. But there are so many others who are stranded,”

She added, “You know the restaurant and hotels enroute were charging money as much as Rs. 200 from everyone who wanted to use the restroom, but the police and the army personnel went to all of them and instructed them to help all the tourists stranded. As of now there are more than a thousand cars stuck on the roads. So you can imagine just how many people there are here.”

Wanting to be back in Doon soon, Kavita says, “Being stuck here for four days is making me restless. I have an important event to attend in Kashipur. I’m so stressed about it. I am just hoping that we can get out soon now as I hate to break my commitments.”

If you’ve seen Delhi in any film or web show in the last one year, chances are that it’s not the city, but a recreated set in Lucknow or some place in Madhya Pradesh. Shooting in the Capital is expensive. Given the soaring costs, we have learnt that many films that were supposed to be shot in Delhi over long schedules are now being moved to other cities.

For instance, actor Aamir Khan’s Delhi schedule for Sitaare Zameen Par has been cut. A source says, “Instead of a month, the team will only shoot in Delhi in July for just 8 to 10 days now.”

On the other hand, actor Janhvi Kapoor’s Ulajh couldn’t make it to Delhi due to budget constraints. “Earlier, it was to be shot in Delhi for around two weeks. But the budget was overshot in London. So, the makers shifted the shoot to Bhopal. They will either recreate Delhi or will base the plot in Bhopal now,” the source adds. Even the Arshad Warsi and Akshay Kumar-starrer Jolly LLB 3 that was supposed to be shot in Delhi is now being shot in Ajmer.

Sharing a break-up of how shooting in Delhi looks like now, a source says that while shooting at the Rajiv Chowk metro station costs Rs. 2 lakh per hour, the international airport costs Rs. 12 lakh for four hours.

A production head, on condition of anonymity, adds: “If you want to shoot at Rajiv Chowk for four hours, Rs. 8 lakh go to the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation. GST ki baat agar nahin bhi karte hain, tab bhi Rs. 2.36 lakh go to the New Delhi Municipal Council and Rs. 1 lakh to the parking guys. Around Rs. 2 lakh go to the Delhi Police for security. So, you can do the math.”

The insider adds that makers now tell writers to not write a script around Delhi: “The haveli in Chandni Chowk that would earlier cost Rs. 25,000 is now given for Rs. 4 lakh a day.”

A source says, “Delhi is an expensive city. Owners of bungalows have hiked the prices due to the soaring demand. Plus, the hotel costs are high in Delhi. While a stay in a five-star hotel in Delhi would cost Rs. 10,000, in Lucknow, it might cost Rs. 5,000.”

Line producer Navmeet Singh adds, “Hotels and travel are expensive in Delhi, which results in less work here. I am planning to change my centre of work and setting things up for shoots in Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh.”

The makers of actor Ajay Devgn’s Raid 2 are recreating Delhi in Lucknow. “They shot in Delhi for four days, including India Gate, and then moved to Lucknow for 47 days. At least 20-25 films are being shot in Lucknow, thanks to the subsidies and quick permissions,” a person from the production team says. 

Filmmaker Aanand L Rai’s Nakhrewaalii also followed suit. “The team shot in Lucknow for 40 days and recreated Delhi there. That was cheaper. They wanted to shoot in a bungalow in Barakhamba Road that’d cost them Rs. 1 lakh a day. Aanand got that for Rs. 30,000 in Lucknow,” says the source.

Jubin Nautiyal may be away from his home in Dehradun, Uttarakhand, but the singer has been keeping track of the havoc caused by incessant rains in the northern states.

“It's truly heart-wrenching to see the news and witness the immense loss and suffering faced by the people there,” he says.

The Dehradun born singer who is currently abroad for a song shoot says, “Having my home in the mountains myself, the images and stories I've come across have left me feeling a sense of sadness and helplessness. Himachal Pradesh holds a special place in my heart, as I have personal connections with some of the places that have been heavily impacted by the calamity. It's truly devastating to see the beautiful landscapes, homes, and livelihoods destroyed in such a tragic manner. The impact of these natural disasters is immense, and my thoughts and prayers are with the people of mountains during this difficult time.”

Talking about the urgent need of rescue and restoration operations needed in the wake of the landslides and flash floods in Himachal, Jubin says, “The immediate focus should be on rescue operations, providing shelter, food, and medical aid to the affected communities. Additionally, it's crucial to ensure the safety and well-being of the people and restore the infrastructure as soon as possible.”

The singer who has given us Bollywood songs like Raataan Lambiyan and Manike is keen that help reaches the people affected as soon as possible.

He says, “I also urge the government and authorities to invest in long-term measures such as improving infrastructure resilience, early warning systems, and effective disaster management strategies. It's important to learn from these incidents and work towards minimizing the impact of such natural disasters in the future.”

You’d be mistaken if you thought that the last 10 minutes of the Ajay Devgn-starrer ‘Shivaay’ was actually shot in Bulgaria. It was in fact a prominent hotel in Mussoorie. And if you were fooled into believing that John Abraham’s ‘Batla House’ had shots of the Pilibhit market near the India-Nepal Border, no one would blame you.

It was filmed near the Mall Road and Library Chowk of the town that overlooks Dehradun. In fact, even ‘The Kashmir Files’ did not have actual shots of Lal Chowk in Srinagar. Those were shot at locations across Uttarakhand, which is emerging as a prime destination for filmmakers with its picturesque landscapes, speedy clearances, and low costs.

The number of projects – including for ad shoots, web series, and movies – filmed in the state rose from just 15 in 2015 to 217 in 2021, with many choosing the hill state instead of other exotic but expensive locations abroad. Just in the first half of 2022, the number was 98.

According to the Uttarakhand Film Development Council (UFDC), there are roughly 1,800 to 1,900 films, advertisements, and web series being made in the country each year. Uttarakhand now snags over a tenth of the total projects and its share is growing, the data shows. What’s more, in the last five years, Uttarakhand has on three occasions bagged the ‘Best Film Friendly State’ award at the National Film Awards.

On the other hand, neighbouring Himachal Pradesh, which is also a Himalayan state, granted permission for only 43 shoots in the 2020-21 financial year comprising 18 web series, 14 ads, and 11 movies. Uttarakhand has actively sought to attract filmmakers from across the country. In 2017, the state government stepped up its campaign to promote the film sector. The then CM Trivendra Singh Rawat personally met top production houses and assured them of assistance for their projects, highlighting how shooting in Uttarakhand would be an economical option.

“The film sector in Uttarakhand has grown to become a Rs 100-crore industry. To get there, the council first carried out a case study on the ‘Student Of The Year 2’ movie,” said Kalam Singh Chauhan, the former nodal officer of UFDC who played a key role in attracting production crews to the state.

“Their entire team was in Uttarakhand for 55 days and the estimated expense was Rs 14 crore. While locals landed employment opportunities, the crew made big savings as the costs would have been three-to-four times higher had the location been some place abroad.”

The state’s film policy was also changed to make way for faster clearances. Earlier, a filmmaker had to approach individual district magistrates for permission to shoot. Now, a single-window system is in place for clearances. Among other benefits, the government offered subsidies to filmmakers who shot over 75% of their projects in Uttarakhand. Subsidies were also provided for films made in regional languages and local dialects.

The outcome of these efforts can be seen in several ‘A-listers’ of the industry making a beeline for the state. Rajkummar Rao-starrer ‘Badhaai Do’, Shahid Kapoor’s ‘Kabir Singh’ and ‘Batti Gul Meter Chalu’, and Alia Bhatt’s ‘Sadak’ were all shot in the state.

“We don’t face hassles in obtaining permission to shoot. The state has turned into a favoured shooting destination,” said filmmaker Harshavardhan Kulkarni, who wrapped up shooting for his movie ‘Badhaai Do’ some months back.

Filmmaker Kunal Shamshere Malla said, “Be it permissions or other approvals, everything was hassle-free. The shooting scenario in Uttarakhand has improved greatly over the years.”

Happy with the hill state’s performance, the information department has mooted a proposal for a ‘Film City’ in Dehradun. A project with infrastructure and other facilities is in the pipeline and the state government is likely to make a major announcement by the end of the year.

Senior IAS officer and director general of information, Ranveer Singh Chauhan, told TOI, “At a recent meeting, we took a call to identify suitable land for the proposed film city, which will also have a ‘film training centre’. The growth has been phenomenal and this can turn out to be a major employment sector for our youth. ”

There has been much intrigue around Rohit Shetty’s Indian Police Force ever since the filmmaker announced his maiden web series. Sidharth Malhotra, Shilpa Shetty Kundra and Vivek Oberoi have been busy filming the Amazon Prime Video offering in pockets of Mumbai since mid-April. It has now been learnt that the team concluded its Mumbai schedule yesterday, following a three-day shoot at a lounge in Parel.

A source reveals, “Some high-octane combat sequences were shot over the past three days. Rohit has now called for a long break as he heads out to Cape Town to host the 12th season of Khatron Ke Khiladi.”

The filmmaker will be back by July, post which the cast and crew will resume work on the action drama. The source adds, “The production team will utilise the weeks in between to do the groundwork for the next two schedules. A long stint is being planned in north India, mostly Uttarakhand. Also, since Rohit considers Goa his good luck charm, he will conduct another schedule in the beach state, before calling it a wrap on the ambitious web series.”

After the success of The Family Man, filmmaker duo Raj Nidimoru and Krishna DK — better known as Raj-DK — have become a sought-after name in the OTT world. They opened the year by announcing a crime series with Rajkummar Rao, titled Guns & Gulaabs. Now, mid-day has learnt that senior actor Satish Kaushik has joined the cast of the Netflix offering.

A source close to the development reveals that Kaushik, having enjoyed a successful OTT outing with Scam 1992: The Harshad Mehta Story (2020), was waiting for another engrossing script. “The director duo were on Satish ji’s radar for a long time. As soon as he got the call, he said yes to the project as he is an admirer of Raj-DK’s vision,” shares the source.

The senior actor began shooting for the series in Uttarakhand in mid-January, wrapping up his portions by the month-end. The series, which is said to be a blend of crime and ’90s style romance, will see him play a criminal. The source adds, “Satish ji plays a crucial role that influences the narrative and the protagonist’s arc.”

Earlier this year, Richa Chadha was Nainital-bound for the shoot of one of her projects. Little did she know that the filming of the eight-episode series in Uttarakhand would also serve as an unplanned recce of sorts for her maiden production venture, Girls Will Be Girls. The actor was so taken with the picturesque state that she has decided to shoot the film at the location.

Ashish Sharma with director Karan Razdan on set

Karan Razdan’s Hindutva deals with youth politics, in the current scenario. The director, who wrapped up filming in Uttarakhand over 40 days, and only days before the Kumbh Mela began, says, “With this film, I am addressing the youth. The hero, [Ashish Sharma] is a pujari’s son, who showcases what Hindutva means for him, through his actions.”

Despite being a fictional tale, the film picks from the events that transpired during the abrogation of Article 370, and the establishing of the CAA. It also features singer Anup Jalota and Dipika Chikhlia Topiwala. “Anup plays the pujari’s father, and he has sung a bhajan in the film. While it’s not a lengthy role, it’s a crucial one. Dipika plays a guru maa.”

A mahurat held in the presence of Trivendra Singh Rawat, the then CM of Uttarakhand, was held in February. “We have shot the movie in Rishikesh, Dehradun, Mussoorie, Devprayag, Haridwar and Roorkee in 40 days. It was a surreal experience. I consider myself and my unit fortunate that we could complete the shoot within a short time.”

Kavita Kaushik, who is known to speak her mind, entered the Bigg Boss 14 house a couple of months ago with a lot of promise. But things didn’t seem to work out, and one day, she chose to walk out of the house never to return. The actress, who maintained silence so far, has finally opened up. In an exclusive, no-holds-barred interview with Bombay Times, Kavita spoke about all the controversies...

Indeed, it didn’t work for me! In the 14 years that I was offered the show, during each season, I believed that I was an absolute misfit for it. I knew that I would say something that I wouldn’t mean or walk out. And that’s exactly what happened.

What went wrong was that I had no strategy. I took everyone at face value and was too brash and real. I reacted to every provocation with anger, instead of being cunning and manipulative. I lacked the art of impressing the cameras with my words.

No. I am glad I left because I am not so smart with my words. I realised that I was so done with the fake fights for image building that I could raise my hand on someone in helplessness, and I do not promote violence of any kind.

In my entire journey in the BB house, I never started a fight. Each time, I was provoked to get into an argument, and yes, thereafter, I lacked the shrewdness to watch my words. In anger, I would say things that would take some other turn, leaving behind the actual reason for the fight. I felt this is not who I am, my good qualities are not coming out on the show, so it’s pointless staying inside. I was not so desperate. I was lucky that they gave me the option to leave that day and opened the door. It was like Mahadev ne khulwa diya tha darwaza mere liye. People die to stay in the house, I couldn’t wait to leave.

I did not know Rubina, but yes, I knew Abhinav and whatever happened is really sad. I don’t blame anyone. My husband Ronnit felt helpless, when he saw Aly Goni kick a box that injured my leg and arm and then he saw Abhinav telling me laafa maarunga.

When I walked out, Ronnit vented on Twitter, and in his tweets, he mentioned our conversation regarding Abhinav, where I had told him about an unpleasant experience of how our friendship had ended in the past. He later deleted it because when your anger subsides, you know it’s childish and would be embarrassing for both parties to talk about a past equation or a fight. But I also understand Ronnit’s feelings. I don’t hold those messages against Abhinav as we all have done such stupid things. I have done worse, you can make a movie on them! It’s our bad to have spoken about it, however, it’s absolutely not a lie.

I guess we will ignore each other in the building with better grace.

What happened with Eijaz is so surprising. Indeed, he wasn’t a friend, but was an acquaintance and a senior. I did not know him personally at all, he was standing next to me during that conversation that took the nation by a storm, where I was telling Salman Khan how we weren’t friends, and Eijaz asked, ‘Toh mere liye dabba bana ke kyun deti thi?’ And I replied saying that it was during the lockdown when I was checking on one and all. I thought he lived alone and made chicken because he asked me to. Since I was saying it in anger, it sounded harsh. It’s hilarious that people gave the tag of “unkind” to someone who cared compassionately for all. I don’t want to speak about the number of strangers I cared for during this lockdown. It’s highly immature of those misunderstanding this issue as I’ve been around for 20 years and my life has been about an act of giving... if they could just pause and wonder why she said what she said.

Why should I put it behind me? A bad decision doesn’t define me, but the lessons it has taught me, will. It taught me some harsh life lessons; I won’t trust easily now, I will definitely do less for strangers and speak correctly, especially when angry. I am on a road trip covering Uttarakhand and Rajasthan. Being in the mountains, jumping into the rivers, visiting my village and staying at my ancestral place has helped me introspect and heal.

When your career goes on for two decades in a field, it’s natural to feel stagnated. I’ve done most roles I aspired for. I will now do something that gives me the motivation to go on a set. Like I said on BB, I am happy and satisfied.

I see myself doing a dark action-comedy about a misunderstood woman. That will come naturally, yeah? (laughs!)

It feels like Big Bad 40 with na maan ka moh aur na apmaan ka darr!

She has always spoken her mind about different issues, not refraining from being frank. In an industry where being diplomatic seems to be the mantra for many, actor Richa Chadha prefers calling a spade a spade.

Has this ever backfired, or got in the way of her professional prospects? She says, “I don’t think there’s been any impact professionally. Personally, I do feel what happens sometimes is I am held to higher standards than others; that’s the flip side. People expect me to be that, and at times are like, ‘We didn’t expect this from you, we wanted better from you’. There is the burden of those expectations.”

Being a public figure, though, Chadha adds, has got nothing to do with it. “It’s about what they think is woke,” she says. However, there has been plenty of advice given to her to not be so vocal. She reveals, “It happens all the time. I feel what happens is, most people, they are so guarded in their own private lives, ki kuch bol diya toh kuch ho jaayega. I simply feel that if I am telling the truth, I should not be afraid. I don’t mean bad, or intend to hurt or insult anybody.”

Clearly, the actor likes to take decisions without any pressure, which also reflects in her film choices, which have ranged from a quirky comedy such as Fukrey (2013) to a poignant drama such as Masaan (2015). Recently, the 34-year-old headlined the film Madam Chief Minister.

Do tags like ‘female led’ or ‘female-centric’ bother her when it comes to films? Chadha says, “I don’t think about these labels anymore. People will use them till they need to use them. Till female-centric films are more common, and are made every now and then, I think these things will continue, I don’t really feel too much about it.”

Currently, the actor is shooting for her next project, and is “excited” to be back at work. “I am outdoors, shooting in Uttarakhand. We are all in a safe place, have been living in one hotel, working together and going on set. Everyone is taking precautions (for Coronavirus), and no one is venturing out. A bubble is automatically created,” she says.

“Music is all that I have to offer to the world,” says, singer Jubin Nautiyal. And rightly so, as the singer is using Valentine’s Day, February 14, a special day of love, for a special purpose this year. The Tumhe Kitne Chahne Lage Hum (2019) singer is doing a rooftop concert to raise funds for the families affected by the glacier burst in Uttarakhand.

Nautiyal, who belongs to Uttarakhand, says being from the region, he understands the difficulties, and is devastated with the tragedy. “I could not imagine myself not using this opportunity to raise help for the people in Uttarakhand. We announced this rooftop concert to try and raise funds, awareness and reach out to more and more people. Boond boond se sagar ban jata hain. Even if people just start donating ₹1, and lots of people do it, it will be of great help,” he says.

The singer wrote on Twitter, that he’s inspired by the clarion call of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. “His intention of working on an independent India, is one of his strong motives for India. Main isse bahut sehmat bhi hoon kyunki I am a self-dependent man. I never got into something that was easy,” he says.

At a time when physical concerts aren’t happening, Nautiyal, who has previously done a garden, and a rooftop concert amid Coronavirus, lauds the power of social media that is bringing people together virtually. “Sabki duniya khul gayi hai. Lekin entertainment walo ki duniya abhi tak khuli nahin hai. Agar shows iss waqt nahin bhi ho sakte toh hum virtually toh connect kar hi sakte hai. I will always be thankful to social media for creating this community for me,” he says.