Showing posts with label Vibe. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Vibe. Show all posts
After Kya Kehna, I was told my career is over, but I’ve always done my own thing-Preity Zinta
9:48 AM
Madhureeta Mukherjee (BOMBAY TIMES; October 3, 2026)
From trusting her instincts to choosing the filmmakers she wanted to work with, Preity Zinta has rarely been one to follow the rulebook. On the Bombay Times Lounge, she looks back at the choices, lessons and experiences that have shaped her journey — from Dil Se and Veer-Zaara to the films she picks today. Here’s a glimpse into her candid reflections, some cherished memories and a little PZ wisdom.
‘After Kya Kehna, I was told my career is over, but I’ve always done my own thing’
TaIking about trusting her instincts over industry expectations, Preity says, “I was choosy from the start. Now there are so many more stories to tell, and OTT has a big role to play. I started with Kya Kehna and then I did Dil Se, where I had a 15-minute role. Everyone told me, ‘Your career is over. Pehle toh aap pregnant teenager ka role kar rahe ho and now this small part’. People will always want you to come across a certain way, hence, it’s very important that you cut the noise out and do what you want to do. I wanted to work with Mani Ratnam sir, Shah Rukh Khan and Manisha Koirala, so I did Dil Se. I’ve never followed what should be done, I have always done my own thing. I believe that if you find success, then it’s great. If you face failure, then you only learn from it.”
Preity on the lessons she learnt while working with filmmakers like Yash Chopra, Mani Ratnam and Karan Johar
If you’re really feeling something, then it translates. If you’re trying too hard to do a scene or manufacture an emotion, even that will show. In commercial Hindi movies especially, you are shooting something, and suddenly, you have to break into a song. And because I never went to a formal acting school, I wanted to understand the reason behind certain things. The directors used to tell me, ‘It’s not how you look when you do a scene, it’s how you feel when you do a scene’. If you feel it, it’s there. Film is a director’s medium, so over the years I have learned that when in doubt, just follow the director blindly.
Preity on how her priorities have evolved
Now I’m more instinctive when it comes to my career choices. I try to live in the present. They say, ‘Yesterday is gone, tomorrow is the future, today is a gift’. That’s why we call it the present. For me, it is about what I’m feeling currently. I recently did a film called Batwara 1947, which was very intense, and Vibe was a huge contrast. Also, whatever work I do, has to be worth my time. You have different expectations at different times in your life. When I started out, it was about survival. I had to earn that respect. Now, it is not about survival, but about how I am creatively feeling about a role. I have to leave my kids behind when I come to shoot here, so it has to be worth my time.
Preity on the one movie set she’d love to revisit
Veer-Zaara, any day. I remember when I first met Yash Chopra, I said, ‘Good evening, Mr. Chopra’. And he said, ‘Mr. Chopra? Where have you come from?’ He was so wonderful and he went on to treat me like his daughter. He would feed me such good food on set when we were shooting in Punjab and other locations. After that movie, he never called me Preity, he always called me Zaara.
Which of your characters would thrive on Instagram?
Madam H from Vibe.
Which of your characters would be totally cancelled?
Sonia from Armaan. She’s so politically incorrect that she’d be totally cancelled.
Who would make a better cricket commentator from Bollywood - Shah Rukh Khan or Saif Ali Khan?
That’s a tough one. Shah Rukh in the first half and Saif after the break. They both would be very good.
I spoke to Sharmila Tagore in Bengali, and she was so excited-Rick Roy
4:12 PM
Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; September 19, 2026)
For Rick Roy, styling VIBE was less about making Kunal Kemmu and the rest of the cast look fashionable and more about creating a visual language for a world that is deliberately loud, quirky and slightly offbeat. The costume designer says the film’s aesthetic immediately clicked with his own sensibilities, making the collaboration with Kunal, who directs and stars in the comedy, particularly enjoyable.
“When I first met Kunal for it and the brief that he gave me and all the stuff that he was saying is something that I really love creating because street style, strong elements, slightly loud in terms of the clothes and bigger statement things, these are things that I love in my personal style as well. So when I got a brief for that character in his film, I was like, this is so me, I really, really want to do this film,” says Roy.
The idea was to build a highly stylized comedy without making the costumes feel disconnected from the characters. “It’s a really funny film and I have done a full-on comedy for a bit and also a very high-stylized comedy, I have to say, because the way it’s shot, the way the colour schemes are and everything, basically Kunal is very high style and I absolutely love that. For me, cinema needs to always be aesthetic. Even if you’re making the world in any kind of strata of society, I feel that cinematically it just needs to be beautiful because I’m a student of cinema. When I go to watch a movie, I just want to go to a different world that the director has created, and that’s what I think Kunal had managed to create for this film. I always try to create costume and create looks. Even if it’s a simple look, I always try to add an element of my own rather than it being a purchased piece directly. You look at the characters and when you see the film you’ll know that all the characters’ clothes are clothes that that character will wear. But when you actually look into it, you will see there are so many different elements that we have put into each outfit.”
One of the most striking examples of that approach is Kunal’s now-discussed orange fur coat. In fact, Roy had made the coat himself during a trip to London and, despite the team already having another look planned for the scene, had a strong instinct that it belonged in VIBE.
“It is my personal fur coat, I have to say. So I made that when I was in London. For my London trip, I made that myself and when we were discussing the film there was a scene when, you see the film, you’ll know where he narrated the scene and in my head I don’t know why I just told him, ‘Listen, I have the perfect outfit for it.’ And we had a completely different look for that scene made, discussed and all that stuff. But I don’t know why I was very, very sure that this is the outfit for that scene. There is nobody in the world who will wear that orange fur coat and sit and do the stuff that he has done in the film. When I brought it out he was laughing, he’s like, ‘Rick, what the f**k are you doing?’ I was like, ‘Kunal, just wear it. I’m telling you this will be iconic.’ And he started laughing like, ‘Okay, I’ll try it on for you.’ Then he wore it and then he was so excited. Then he was like, ‘Okay, you know what, you’re right, this actually makes sense. Let’s put it in the scene.’”
Roy says the actor-director was willing to experiment. For a designer who likes to alter and build on clothes, that made the collaboration particularly productive.
“I have rarely worked with directors who are as open to experimenting with looks as he is, as a director as well as an actor. That combo was fantastic. I would literally give him an outfit, I will see it on him and that’s who I am. I love changing things, adding things. I’ll tell him, ‘Will you give me 10 minutes? I want to do something to it.’ And he would laugh, he’d give it to me and I will do anything to that outfit and come back and he will just wear it.”
Roy sees that character-first approach as increasingly important at a time when, according to him, film fashion can sometimes lean heavily on existing trends.
“When you are trying to make a person look good, it’s a completely different kind of a mind space from when you’re trying to create a trend via a character of that film. The designers from all these films, your Manish Malhotra, your Neeta Lulla and all, they were not referencing styles. They were trying to create style. Nowadays I think most stylists are only trying to reference style and replicate that. I still try to do the old-school way because I’m a designer and I’m trained. It needs to be specific to that film. So when people go back to the film they will be like, ‘Oh, this outfit is from that film,’ which used to happen before and now recently it’s not because everybody is wearing everything and they all look the same eventually.”
Roy had a fanboy moment while working with Sharmila Tagore, who has a cameo in ‘Vibe’. He shared, “Sharmila ji was delightful. She is so beautiful and well-spoken. I spoke to her in Bengali, and she was so excited. I truly had a fan moment.”
(Crisp) Movie Review: VIBE by FENIL SETA
3:37 PM
Vibe is a film right up the alley of director-writer-actor Kunal Kemmu. Hence, the humour is in the zone of Madgaon Express and Go Goa Gone. The first half is hilarious and most of the jokes land successfully. The twist is unexpected and keeps the interest going. The characters are well etched; the terrorism and national security angles are nicely infused, while the intermission point is a shocker. The humour continues post-interval but the jokes are fewer in this hour. Also, the film gets serious and even a bit routine and this is where the film falters. Certain aspects were not properly summed up, making us wonder why they were even introduced in the first place. Kunal Kemmu as an actor is too good. Playing such goofy roles comes naturally to him and even in Vibe, he essays it with full conviction. Preity Zinta looks stunning and performance-wise, she’s first-rate. Sparsh Srivastava ensures that he doesn't get overpowered and puts up a great act. Vanshika Dhir is a great find and has a crucial part. Dinesh Lal Yadav aka Nirahua (Bansi), Yashpal Sharma (Rawal) and Mark Bennington (Kareena's father) are fair. Rajesh Krishnan (Bug's Boss), Uorfi Javed (Chanchal Screwvala) and Aaditya Kulshreshth aka Kullu (Hardik's colleague) do well in cameos. All in all, despite the hiccups, Vibe is worth watching.
My rating - *** ½ out of 5!
My rating - *** ½ out of 5!
Fenil's Bollywood Talk # 952
10:30 PM
WILL VIBE AND DAAYRA MANAGE TO SUCCEED?
Last week’s release, Haiwaan, has emerged as a disaster of epic proportions. The trailer seemed disappointing. But due to the casting, an opening of Rs. 3-4 crores was expected. However, it had an opening of just Rs. 2.50 crores. From such a low opening, a film should ideally jump. However, Haiwaan dropped on its second day of release and earned just Rs. 2.25 crores. On Sunday, the drop was even more, as it earned a mere Rs. 1.75 crores. Hence, the three-day collections were just Rs. 6.50 crores. As a result, the lifetime will be less than Rs. 12-13 crores, which is unimaginable for a film starring Akshay Kumar. A positive word of mouth would have proven to be of great help. However, the reports were not encouraging at all.
This week will see the release of two multiplex films, albeit of diverse genres. Vibe stars Kunal Kemmu who’s also the film’s director. He’s joined by Preity Zinta and Sparsh Srivastava. The trailer has been appreciated by the target audience. But that segment is limited. Hopefully, they’ll turn up in large numbers to check out the film.
Kunal Kemmu’s last directorial, Madgaon Express, opened at Rs. 1.50 crores that too thanks to the Buy One Get One Ticket Free offer. Here, there’s no such offer thankfully and it can open at Rs. 2-2.50 crores. A growth on Saturday and Sunday is a must with the target being that the weekend should be in double digits.
Daayra stars Kareena Kapoor and Prithviraj Sukumaran and is directed by Meghna Gulzar. The trailer is intriguing and the casting is solid. However, it looks like a niche fare. Viewers will adopt a wait-and-watch scenario, that is, they’ll consider the reports before booking the ticket.
Kareena Kapoor’s last such serious film, The Buckingham Murders, opened at Rs. 1.25 crores. Daayra should do more than that and hopefully open at Rs. 2 crores.
Last week’s release, Haiwaan, has emerged as a disaster of epic proportions. The trailer seemed disappointing. But due to the casting, an opening of Rs. 3-4 crores was expected. However, it had an opening of just Rs. 2.50 crores. From such a low opening, a film should ideally jump. However, Haiwaan dropped on its second day of release and earned just Rs. 2.25 crores. On Sunday, the drop was even more, as it earned a mere Rs. 1.75 crores. Hence, the three-day collections were just Rs. 6.50 crores. As a result, the lifetime will be less than Rs. 12-13 crores, which is unimaginable for a film starring Akshay Kumar. A positive word of mouth would have proven to be of great help. However, the reports were not encouraging at all.
This week will see the release of two multiplex films, albeit of diverse genres. Vibe stars Kunal Kemmu who’s also the film’s director. He’s joined by Preity Zinta and Sparsh Srivastava. The trailer has been appreciated by the target audience. But that segment is limited. Hopefully, they’ll turn up in large numbers to check out the film.
Kunal Kemmu’s last directorial, Madgaon Express, opened at Rs. 1.50 crores that too thanks to the Buy One Get One Ticket Free offer. Here, there’s no such offer thankfully and it can open at Rs. 2-2.50 crores. A growth on Saturday and Sunday is a must with the target being that the weekend should be in double digits.
Daayra stars Kareena Kapoor and Prithviraj Sukumaran and is directed by Meghna Gulzar. The trailer is intriguing and the casting is solid. However, it looks like a niche fare. Viewers will adopt a wait-and-watch scenario, that is, they’ll consider the reports before booking the ticket.
Kareena Kapoor’s last such serious film, The Buckingham Murders, opened at Rs. 1.25 crores. Daayra should do more than that and hopefully open at Rs. 2 crores.
In school, you got bullied by 20 people. Today, you’re getting bullied by 20 million people on social media-Preity Zinta
9:41 AM
Madhureeta Mukherjee (MUMBAI MIRROR; September 12, 2026)
Eight years away from the big screen, and Preity Zinta is back — with her spark firmly intact. From the recently released Batwara 1947 to the upcoming action-comedy, Vibe directed by Kunal Kemmu, she’s stepping into this new chapter with the same warmth and infectious energy that have made her a fan favourite. When she walked onto the Bombay Times Lounge set, she brought the buzz with her — and her fans lapped it up. Here are excerpts from our chat with her. And yes, the vibe was chilled-out, chatty and very, very PZ!
You’ve said that you didn’t really miss the spotlight during the years we didn’t see you on the big screen. Tell us about that phase of your life — getting married, having kids and building a home. How did that chapter unfold?
When I was acting, everything was about me. The whole focus was me. Then I stepped into cricket (owning an IPL team) and learned that it didn’t matter what I was doing, the focus was the game. I’ve been through phases of my life where I’ve gone out, worked very hard for 18-hours a day. When you are 20, you are fine doing that. Now as a homemaker, it’s about focusing on the personal side of my life, where you are not the centre of the universe, your kids are. It’s a lot of work but a lot of joy, too.
Did stepping away from the limelight make you realise how much of your identity was tied to being Preity Zinta, the actor? And did you surprise yourself by how fully you embraced a life beyond being a top actress?
I always knew that films were a part of my life, but it wasn’t just that. Also, I think it comes from being a fauji kid. I never grew up thinking movies could be a career. I wanted to study criminal psychology and be a detective. I accidentally got into this industry, and it was more about survival, because I ran away from home and ended up here.
Kunal Kemmu made an impressive directorial debut with Madgaon Express. What did you see in his script and vision for Vibe that made you want to do the film?
Kunal is very good with comedy. It was a very tough shoot, as we were shooting for 16-17-hour days. I was okay with it because I wanted to finish all my work and go back home to my kids. My first thought when I read the script was, I wanted to do action; the film had that and it is also a funny film. It is actually quite a mad film with a fresh take on spy thrillers. Everyone’s doing these spy thrillers, and this had a little twist to it and a different vibe. So, I said, let’s give it a shot.
When you started out, female characters were often written in very clear shades of good and bad. Do you think that has changed today, with women being allowed to be more flawed, layered and ambitious on screen?
Absolutely! Earlier, whatever role you were doing, it was always in shades of white. There was no grey. The hero and heroine were only doing good things. The villain or the other character was only dark. There was nothing in between. Today, that has changed. But even then, people sometimes want to humanize the character and ask, ‘Why was this character like that?’ The hero can still jump out of the eighth floor, give five kicks, kill 10 people and come back and save you and we love that too. But there are also other kinds of films being made.
Today, it is hard to make a mistake and move on from it; people don’t let you forget…
Yes, it is like in school if you got bullied, you got bullied by 20 people. Today, you’re getting bullied by 20 million people (on social media). Everybody is saying something. So, when I’m back home in America, I post on social media during the IPL, and then I disappear. You don’t just look at the nice comments; you tend to look at the negative comments, too. I don’t want my mental health to be affected by it. There are days when you’re really happy and you’re like…nothing can come in my way. Then there are days when it hits you. Today, everything is online and they’ll never let you forget anything, which is sad, especially for the younger generation. You know, the beauty of youth is that you can make mistakes and learn from them. But this makes it so much harder for them.
If you were to look back on your career, what would you do differently?
I would make the same mistakes in the same way. I believe that life is a chain reaction. If I changed something from my past, then I wouldn’t be here. All that has happened so far had to happen for me to be here. The only thing, if I had to look back and alter, would be losing my dad when I was 14. I wouldn’t want that to happen. But again, if that wouldn’t have happened, I don’t think I would have been an actor.
Talking about your kids, Jai and Gia, have they watched any of your films and do they realise that they have a famous mom?
Well, they’ve travelled to India. I don’t like them being photographed here, and when I get photographed, my daughter gets a little upset and asks, “Why does that person want a picture with you?” A few times, when she has wanted to come with me in the picture, I told her no, and she got a little upset. Hence, I try to find a balance. They haven’t seen any of my movies, and I don’t think I would want them to, because I’m always with another actor, and I think it will be devastating for them at this point to see me with another male on screen.
Social media has created a whole new kind of pressure for actors, especially the new generation. With people quick to judge, criticise and jump to conclusions, how do you navigate that space?
It’s easy to judge people and I do feel the world has become very superficial. Today, when newcomers come, I feel bad for them because everyone is told they can buy followers and comments. The paparazzi is called and told, “I will be here”, and then there is your red-carpet look, airport look and whatever else. I’m not judging anyone. When I came here from Himachal Pradesh, I knew nothing. Yes, there were film families and their children, but at least it was a level playing ground. Today, you’re telling a new kid to buy likes, comments and followers. For those reasons, I feel really bad for the new generation that’s coming in. If I was starting off today, I think it would have been a much tougher zone.
When I started out, I was about 21 and slightly effeminate with long hair-Saif Ali Khan
9:24 AM
Madhureeta Mukherjee (BOMBAY TIMES; September 9, 2026)
It’s been three decades of Saif Ali Khan — from the charming young star of the ’90s to one of Hindi cinema’s most instinctive and versatile actors. This year, the actor has much to celebrate — Dil Chahta Hai turns 25, Omkara completes 20, and Saif reunites with Akshay Kumar after more than two decades in Priyadarshan’s Haiwaan, which releases on September 11. At 56, there’s plenty to look back on — and Saif has plenty to say. Our guest on the JBL Live Headphones presents Bombay Times Lounge brings his trademark wit, candour and perspective to a conversation spanning films, fame, family and everything in between. Excerpts from the conversation.
Saif, you arrived as a star over three decades ago. At what point in your journey did you feel that you’re becoming the kind of actor that you want to be and that you belong here?
I think I’ve always felt very comfortable here and felt that these are my people. I had a very academic kind of exposure when I was young. My parents sent me to a brilliant school, and they had a very academic career in mind for me. But I felt a little bit strangled by the idea of sitting behind the desk for so long, even though now I love it and I love reading, and I’m trying to reconnect. But deep down, I also realized I belong to a world like this and feel at home here. I don’t know exactly when I started enjoying it so much. I used to hear international actors talk about things like craft, technique and form and I had no idea about it. So, I read a few books, and they spoke to me. I understood what they were saying, and I tried to apply some of it. And some of it worked out quite well. This is such a remarkable profession; the learning is endless. Every now and then, you break a little door open and enter a room. And you’re like, wow, this is possible.
For a long time, you were the quintessential charming guy, the uber cool kind of romantic hero. Did you have to try too hard to break out of that box?
I was very young when I started out. I was about 21 and slightly effeminate with long hair. I wasn’t really an alpha male, macho kind of guy. So, it took a while for me to find a place, but the obvious place was a kind of sweet, chocolatey kind of guy. I enjoyed it very much…it’s nice to make people smile and have a happy energy around me. And you shouldn’t take that for granted, because ultimately, people talk about acting and all that, but the audience has to like you. It’s luck and their acceptance. When I see those old films of mine, I feel happy because I believe I was really honest in them. I think I became a bit grumpy later.
After over two decades, you are reuniting with Akshay Kumar for Haiwaan. Did the two of you slip back into an old rhythm, or did you discover a new one?
Well, it was great working with him again, though the intention of the movie was not to bring us back together. It was a role that Priyan sir (Priyadarshan) was finding hard to cast. He had asked a couple of people. I had confirmed my part, but they needed this dangerous villain. When he narrated it to Akshay, he asked, “Can I do it? I really want to have fun and play a bad guy.” Both Priyan sir and I couldn’t believe it. So, Haiwaan wasn’t designed for Akshay and me. It’s a bonus that we share good chemistry, but the film doesn’t rely on that. In fact, we have very few scenes together.
Earlier, when Akshay and you worked together, like in Main Khiladi Tu Anari, there was almost a neat division: he was the action hero, and you were the charming, cool, slightly irreverent one. Now that has flipped, in fact, he’s on the dark side.
Yes, I was cute and funny, and I think that worked then. Mahesh Bhatt in those days would say, “Together you two make a super person.” I think that is how different body types and different energies mix together. So, there’s a reason why Akshay and I delivered successful films together. I am kicked about finally getting a chance to play a hero in a film with him.
Interestingly, come September 11, it will be like your family film festival – Haiwaan releases on September 11, the following week, Kareena’s Daayra and Kunal Kemmu’s Vibe hits the theatres.
That’s a coincidence and quite interesting. I don’t know how honest I can be. I can give you an anodyne answer and tell you all films should do well, and everyone is so talented. But the actual truth is…everyone’s film should do well, but mine should do slightly better. You know, blood is thicker than water and films are thicker than blood (laughs). All the films are a little different, so let’s hope all of them do well. Kunal is very talented; I loved his trailer. Actually, I only want my wife’s films to run and be super successful. She’s such an amazing actress. A happy wife is the best situation for me, always (laughs). And I believe, in the past two films have run at the same time and done well.
Last year’s stabbing incident in your house, where you were severely injured must have left you and your family completely shaken up. Did you all take a while to move on from it?
We’ve dealt with it remarkably well. I think the person who got most affected was my wife, who is a very sensitive person. It was insane, and I’m still not 100% over it. Even now, if I see a knife, I react. I start thinking about the incident and then, I feel incredibly lucky to have survived it. I can’t believe how lucky I was, because the knife broke. It was the worst knife in the history of knife attacks (laughs!). We’re laughing now, but if he really had a proper Rambo knife, I’d be dead. I was cut everywhere and it didn’t kill me, which is why I can’t get over how lucky I got. But there’s another side to this, which I understand, and I’m not just saying this because I am on camera. I mean, these things happen because of inequality, right? And because someone is looking for money and looking out for himself. I would happily forgive this person also. I don’t think he knew where he was or what he was doing. And if he had known, then it wouldn’t have happened. It was a very unfortunate incident, where I got very lucky and he got unlucky because I think he’s in a lot of trouble.
Do you see life differently after that incident? You have been talking about how short life is and how you want to be present in every moment…
I remember lying in hospital thinking, what I really want to do is have a glass of very good wine with some of my good friends. And that is actually all that matters. Of course, good work matters and these things feel great. But I want to be present and enjoy my life. It would be okay if my life had ended because there was also that feeling. There’s a lot of adrenaline rush at that moment which can, in a way, make you happy. There was a feeling when I was covered in blood… that it’s been a great life and I have had a blast. I just remember thinking that.
Is that really what ran through your mind at that moment?
Yes, yes. I thought about how making Hum Tum was a blast. Travelling to America and doing those shows was the best career I could have. It’s all been great. My kids are amazing. I just want to hold someone’s hand and go. I was okay with that. But what I wasn’t okay with, I think, was to be paralysed. So yes, what has changed about my outlook is that I want to be more present.
On a lighter note, tell me…at 56 what do you care less about?
Well, I would like to say what other people think. But I think I’d say, I would like to care less about competing. I think you’re always a little bit competitive, even though you try not to be or project that you’re not, but you end up being a little of that.
Madgaon Express sequel to go on floors by March 2027
9:09 AM
Priyanka Sharma (MID-DAY; September 1, 2026)
One would think that a trip to Goa — that involves dons, drugs, and death threats — would be a once-in-a-lifetime affair. But the mad trio of Pratik Gandhi, Divyenndu, and Avinash Tiwary, who took the audience on a hilarious ride with Madgaon Express (2024), are ready for another round. Sources have told mid-day that director Kunal Kemmu will take Madgaon Express 2 on floors early next year.
A source shared, “The three actors are kicked about returning to their much-loved characters. If things go as planned, the film will go on floors around February or March 2027. The pre-production is underway.”
Kemmu, who wrote and helmed the 2024 surprise hit, has also penned the sequel. Word is that he locked the script a month ago.
According to an insider, Kemmu’s attempt is to organically create the world of Madgaon Express, with the lives of the three friends at the centre. “Kunal sees the sequel as a natural extension to the friendship and adventures of the trio,” said the source.
Kunal Kemmu’s ‘Vibe’, also starring Preity Zinta and Sparsh Shrivastava, will release on September 18. The film is led and helmed by Kemmu.
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