Dussehra is a celebration of the triumph of good over evil, a theme that resonates as much in our epics as it does on screen. This year, Vijay Varma celebrated the festival exclusively with Bombay Times, bringing a touch of tradition to the occasion as he arrived dressed in traditional attire. In a conversation with us, he recounted childhood memories of Dussehra, reflected on the timeless significance of the festival, and shared his thoughts on what it takes to be the new-age leading man.

Sharing his memories from Hyderabad and Rajasthan, Vijay says, “I have two distinct memories of Dussehra, each rooted in a different place. One is from Hyderabad, where I was born and raised. We would go to a mela held on a massive ground near the Old City, where they would burn the effigy of Ravana. It used to be incredibly crowded, and I remember sitting on my father’s shoulders to get a better view of the ceremony. That image has stayed with me. My second memory is from Rajasthan, where I lived with my grandmother for a few years. The Ramleela performances there were beautiful.”

Reflecting on Dussehra’s age-old theme of good triumphing over evil, the actor believes that human nature cannot always be separated as black and white. He says, “I find humanity in everything. You may disagree with a lot of things about people, and some people may be terribly wrong, but as an artiste, my job is to investigate those who are seemingly discarded as bad people. If there is no representation of different kinds of personalities, our collective understanding of them remains limited.”

The actor, who headlined the series Matka King this year, one of the highlights of his career, adds, “Great drama lies in conflict, and conflict cannot exist only in white; it has to have shades of grey. My understanding of grey helps me understand both white and black. I don’t see white and black as complete in themselves. Any flaw in a character becomes an opportunity for me to understand him. I cannot understand a flawless person. My job is to shed light on these complexities and portray them truthfully so that the story works.”

He adds that every role pushes him to confront his own inhibitions and prejudices. Citing Matka King, he says the character’s honesty in a corrupt system made him particularly fascinating to explore. He says, “Every new character pushes me to break my inhibitions and set aside my personal biases and prejudices. In Matka King, I found a fascinating character in a man whose superpower is his honesty. In a system where people can be bought and manipulated, an honest person becomes dangerous.”

The burning of Ravana’s effigy represents the destruction of negativity. Reflecting on the personal and professional obstacles he has overcome, the actor says learning to rise above failures and self-doubt has been an important part of his journey.

“As artistes, we have to go deeper, overcome our inhibitions, biases and prejudices, and work on the obstacles that hold us back. I spent years with no recognition, success, work or money, and no certainty about tomorrow. The biggest challenge was to keep going with hope, without letting my spirit break. Failures can bring you to rock bottom, but they also help you rediscover your strength and improve yourself. Ultimately, the pursuit is to become a better version of yourself.”

From playing Moeen, the drug peddler in Gully Boy, Hamza, the abusive husband in Darlings, to Anand Swarnakar, the serial killer hiding behind the facade of an ordinary family man in Dahaad, the characters he portrays are flawed, morally complex and far removed from the traditional leading man. Does he believe he is part of a new generation redefining what it means to be a hero?

He explains, “I feel like I’m the face of a new kind of Bollywood, because the traditional kind of films that used to be made are not being made now. In fact, they are not making those films even with younger stars. Where is Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na? Where is a film like that? Where are the films that Shahid Kapoor starred in during his earlier days? That switch has happened. I am just fortunate to be in this place where stories that I like are being made. There are actors who are very good at bringing people to the theatres, but I think I am an actor that will make sure that people will not leave the theatre. An actor’s job is to capture them and give them an immersive experience where they don’t even want to look at their phones.”

Talking about being a part of Ramleela on stage, he shares, “I have been part of a Ramleela during my time at FTII. Jaideep Ahlawat played Ravana, another friend played Ram, Sunny Hinduja was Hanuman, and I played Jatayu. Later, I even played Sita in one of the short films we made as students. I have never played Ravana on screen, but I have portrayed my own versions of the character in different ways.”

(Location Courtesy: The Tanjore Tiffin Room, Versova)

Following the recent horrific incidents against women in Delhi and Bihar, women across the country have been raising their voices against concerns of their safety. Vijay Varma, who recently starred in Lust Stories 3, feels men need to get out of the way of women for them to be able to feel comfortable voicing their opinions and choices.

Vijay Varma says, "Men just need to get out of the way. That's been the problem, for them to think that they have a say in it. They should let women express what they want without judging them, mocking them, or making them feel inferior. I feel like the best service you can do as a man is to let women express themselves and learn from them and hear them out actually more than anything else."

The actor admits that the lack of teaching given to men on how to be more sensitive and less assertive, leads to this gap. “With men, usually nobody's really coaching or telling them what to do. The simple thing is that it starts at home, but there they are ‘my raja beta’ and that is a problem. So, say a girl is online talking about her period pain or whatever, you'll see a lot of boys comment on it. But you don't need to. Just get out of the way. It's not your world. It's not your issue and you don't understand it,” he says, reiterating, “I feel like the best service you can do as a man is to let women express themselves and learn from them and hear them out actually more than anything else.”

Meanwhile, at a recent event, Vijay was called the 'biggest red flag on screen' by the host, content creator Dolly Singh, as she referred to his grey shade roles in projects like Darlings, Dahaad, Pink, among others. The clip of the same incident surfaced on social media, with many pointing out that the actor appeared bothered by it.

Mention the label to him, and he says, "I just want a different colour, man. I'm sick of this red flag green flag." The actor adds that is the reason his character in Lust Stories 3 connected to him. "I like the guy because he just doesn't get any hint. I've played so many characters who get too many hints, so to play this guy who gets no hint was refreshing."

Known for her work in the Shah Rukh Khan-starrer Jawan, actress Aaliyah Qureishi has lately been inundated with pap attention. Her recent photos with Vijay Varma evoked curiosity and led to speculation that the two are dating.

In an exclusive chat with Bombay Times, Aaliyah says, “There is someone special in my life right now and I’m very happy. Not that there’s anything to hide, but I think it’s lovely to have something that is yours and a relationship that you can nurture and enjoy, without having to constantly define or explain it.”

Soon to launch her music album as a singer, Aaliyah, who goes by the music alias Jhalli, acknowledges that Vijay has also been a great support in her musical journey.

She says, “I’ve been working on this album and through it all, Vijay has been a great creative and emotional support. I’d just like to keep that part of my life a little private. I’ve always felt that some relationships are more meaningful when you’re able to experience them away from the public gaze and simply allow them to grow and be enjoyed for what they are.”

She explains that their connection is rooted deeply in the way they relate to creativity and the artistic process.

“We both have very individual creative journeys, but there’s a shared understanding of what it means to follow an instinct, to be curious about something, and sometimes, to pursue an idea simply because it feels meaningful to you, even if it doesn’t fit neatly into what is expected. I think we encourage that instinct in each other. There’s a certain freedom in having someone who understands the heart of creativity, and I think that allows us to challenge and inspire each other in ways that are soulful and creatively enriching,” she shares.

The Mumbai girl also revealed that her passion for music and movies came like it does for every child who wants to grow up and be a performer.

“I used to sing and would be forced to perform for guests whenever we had people over. I have always loved music. The first song I wrote was when I was in fifth standard,” she says, adding, “I just want to give both my babies (acting and music) equal attention. One thing I really love about my music is that I get to tell my own stories, unlike acting, where I get to tell other people’s stories.”

Sure, Sunny Deol’s cop thriller, Antony, promises action galore. But there’s more to director Balaji Ganesh’s film than that. Think a powerful antagonist who is also something of a twinkletoes. mid-day has learnt that Vijay Varma, who plays Deol’s arch rival in Antony, shot a dance number set against the backdrop of a circus.

Apparently, the idea behind the song is to establish his character’s backstory. A source revealed, “The dance track is part of Vijay’s act as a circus artiste. Composed by Salim-Sulaiman, it has been designed by National Award-winning choreographer Vijay Ganguly. The track is a slow reveal; by the end of it, the audience will be shown more about Vijay’s character, where he is from, and his ill-intentions.”

A huge set depicting a circus was constructed in Marol, Andheri East, for the shoot.

With a chunk of the shoot wrapped up, now only a montage song featuring Deol and Jyotika is remaining.

Sunny Deol is in no mood to slow down after the strong start to 2026 with Border 2. In the first week of March, the senior actor kicked off his yet-untitled next, an action thriller produced by Farhan Akhtar and Ritesh Sidhwani, at Film City. Sources have told us that director Balaji Ganesh has almost wrapped the first schedule of the project, which also stars Jyotika and Vijay Varma.

Designed as an out-and-out action entertainer, it sees Deol play a cop. Apparently, the actor sports a distinct look — think a moustache and beard.

A source told mid-day, “Over the past three weeks, the unit has been shooting all across Mumbai. They began with an action sequence, featuring Sunny and Vijay, in Film City, where a huge set depicting a carnival was erected. Over the past fortnight, they shot at a bungalow in Bandra, then in a college near Churchgate, followed by a stint at Marol Police Camp in Andheri East.”

As soon as the director calls it a wrap on the first leg on March 30, filmmaker Nitesh Tiwari will come calling for Ramayana: Part 2. The source added, “Sunny wants to complete his portions of Hanuman by April-end. In May, he will resume his cop role in Goa.”

The film will reach the finish line by July.

In June 2024, Vijay Varma announced that he had begun shooting for filmmaker Nagraj Manjule’s web series, Matka King. The crime drama was included in Prime Video’s slate of projects for 2025, but was a no-show throughout the year. So, where does Manjule’s series stand over a year-and-a-half since it went on floors?

mid-day has learnt that the drama — which is set in the 1960s and tells the story of a cotton trader in Mumbai, who invented a form of gambling called ‘Matka’ — will première in April 2026.

A source revealed, “Matka King’s shoot was wrapped in 2025, and the top bosses at the streamer were keen to release it the same year. But a show of this scale needed time to get the best result. It will present Bombay of the 1960s authentically, and marks Nagraj’s first attempt at a period drama. The director doesn’t believe in rushing things to fit a deadline. The show is now ready and set to drop online in April.”

From staying in rooms that cost just Rs. 50 a night during his early visits to the International Film Festival of India (IFFI) to returning to Goa years later for the premiere of his own film, actor Vijay Varma says his journey has come full circle. Speaking to us, Vijay recalls attending IFFI between 2005 and 2008 as part of the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII) tour.

“We used to stay in rooms that cost Rs. 50 per night and watch around four films a day. This is where I learnt about cinema,” he says, adding, “Going back to Goa for the premiere of my own film, Gustaakh Ishq, where I play the lead, truly feels like a full circle.”

Known for his intense roles in films and series, the actor also shared his thoughts on the growing OTT space.

“OTT is a win-win situation for both viewers and makers. When a new avenue opens up, it creates more opportunities, especially with streaming, which offers the freedom to tell stories that may not traditionally make it to the screen due to budget, subject or star power.”

He added that OTT platforms have ushered in a new wave of storytelling and audiences. “It has created a strong fandom and opened doors for actors, writers, directors and technicians alike. It’s truly beneficial for everyone involved,” said Vijay, who was recently seen in Gustaakh Ishq with Fatima Sana Shaikh.

The intrusive pap culture has been a hot topic of discussion, especially after actor-MP Jaya Bachchan’s recent remarks. Actor Vijay Varma, who returned with Gustaakh Ishq after a 14-month break, says the gap feels bigger because he once had frequent releases — and the pap culture is one reason behind the break.

Ask him if he took the gap deliberately avoid to the media overexposure, Vijay agrees: “The work wasn’t coming out, so the conversation was about everything else.” His relationship with actor Tamannaah Bhatia had also dominated headlines.

He says, “I would have liked complete silence but that’s not possible… I have not spoken to the press since IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack (2024), not given a single interview, yet the presence is all over and it’s beyond my control.”

Calling it a generational issue, he adds, “Your lives are being scrutinized every single day… I did need a gap, I needed more silence. But that’s something I didn’t have any control over.”

The actor—who started off his career with minor and antagonistic roles before becoming a leading man, and now is a romantic hero with Gustaakh Ishq — laughs when told he’s in his “lover boy” era. He says, “It was a by-product of being in the spotlight for being in a public relationship. People saw me in a certain way.”

Reflecting on his journey, Vijay says, “I never worried about being in any box... even when supporting or negative parts were what people were remembering me by, I knew I would grow out of it. I have a lot more to offer. I spent a few years without work or doing minor parts. Because of my sincerity and the relentless pursuit I have for the craft, I knew I deserved to be a leading actor and I worked towards it.”

Enough of embracing dark and intense characters — be it in Darlings (2022), Jaane Jaan (2023), or Dahaad (2023). Now, Vijay Varma is in the mood for love. The actor attempts his first love story with director Vibhu Puri’s Gustaakh Ishq, opposite Fatima Sana Shaikh. To the audience, his switch from brooding characters to a lover boy may seem like an aberration. But to Varma, it feels natural.

“I wasn’t surprised that Vibhu offered me this part. I came from a stage background, the memories [of being part of romantic dramas] are living within me. When the announcement happened, it looked like an anti-casting because Mirzapur, Dahaad, and Darlings came back-to-back and [gave me] the intense tag. That tag won’t be dropped even with this film,” he says.

Gustaakh Ishq isn’t the first romantic script to have been offered to the actor. A lot of nos were said before he lost his heart to the period love story. “Many romantic films came to me all these years, but I didn’t see myself in them. I don’t want to dance a lot in movies. I don’t want to sing and dance because they are not my forte. So, I needed to pick the script that works for me.” 

There was another reason to say yes to the movie — Naseeruddin Shah. Varma starred with the veteran actor in IC 814 (2024), but they didn’t share screen space. To finally face the camera with Shah is a moment of pride in Varma’s 17-year career. “He was my teacher [at Film and Television Institute of India]. I have worked backstage in his theatre productions. Ever since I came to Mumbai, I haven’t missed a single play that he has done. I’ve idolized him. I feel like patting my own back because as a boy in Hyderabad, I wished to meet him. And here I spent two months with him in the winter of Amritsar, enjoying delicacies together,” he marvels.

Starring in a romantic drama? Check. Sharing screen space with your hero? Check. Does Varma have any more wishes? “I have to do a comedy, not because I want to break an image, but because I want to do every kind of film. It’s just a matter of time with the right script,” he smiles.

A jilted husband-turned-gigolo is a role that Viineet Kumar Siingh had never been offered before. Naturally then, given his pursuit of novelty, the actor was immediately drawn to Rangeen. “I love to experiment. Just reading three episodes of Rangeen, I was sure I wanted to do it,” he smiles.

But before he said yes, the actor wanted to ensure he could trust the makers. The series, which also stars Rajshri Deshpande and Taaruk Raina, is created and written by debutants Amardeep Galsin and Amir Rizvi. “The subject is so sensitive that I needed to consider the people associated with it. I saw that Kabir Khan sir [producer] was there, as was Amazon Prime Video,” he says.

Rangeen tells the story of a woman who is stuck in an unfulfilled marriage and gets involved with a gigolo, which in turn makes her husband reevaluate his life. With the show examining the loneliness of the three prime characters, we ask Siingh whether he experienced loneliness over his two-decade career. “When you come to a city like Mumbai, your beginning itself is with loneliness,” he candidly shares. But to him, it’s not a disadvantage. If anything, he believes the sense of isolation can become an armour for an artiste.

“That emotion remains alive inside you and gives you strength. Your spirit will break, and so will your trust every day. This field shines from the outside, but there is emptiness, loneliness, and unemployment, until you create an identity as an artiste. You have to fight that fight alone. There are times when a role that you could do passes you by, but you have to be happy and headstrong.”

Evidently the actor speaks from his personal experience. Having started with smaller roles and finally landing a leading part in Mukkabaaz (2018), he enjoys a stronger position in the industry today with mainstream entertainers like Jaat and Chhaava behind him. He credits the actors before him, who made their craft their singular focus and rose to prominence, for making his path easier.

“It’s a long list — Irrfan [Khan] saab, Naseeruddin [Shah] saab, Nawazuddin [Siddiqui], Manoj [Bajpayee] bhai, Rajkummar [Rao], Vicky [Kaushal], and Vijay [Varma]. Ten people placed their trust in me because these actors [paved the way]. If such actors — whom the audience trusts and finds relatable — have gone ahead in their careers, they’ve helped me knowingly or unknowingly.”

What’s Hansal Mehta’s next after Gandhi, said to be his most ambitious work to date? Murmurs over the past few months suggested that in a departure from his penchant for real-life stories, the filmmaker was set to explore a business drama (New show on the cards, Feb 21). Now, mid-day has learnt that Mehta is ready to take the web series on floors in Sri Lanka this month. The Netflix offering, starring Anil Kapoor and Vijay Varma, tells the story of power, money, and morals through two business rivals whose ugly clash sends shockwaves in the financial world.

Last month, Mehta apparently headed to Sri Lanka for a recce for the big-budget drama that is produced by Vikram Malhotra.

A source reveals, “Hansal and Vikram are keeping everything under wraps. With Anil and Vijay playing high-flying business magnates, the series will be shot across Mumbai, Sri Lanka, Serbia, and Georgia. The series — written by Niren Bhatt, Ankur Pathak, and Nikhil Nair — is an incisive look at the cut-throat nature of today’s financial world, where money, manipulation, and greed are part of the game. Anil and Vijay’s characters, though ruthless in their individual pursuit of power and wealth, are shown to have contrasting ideologies and work ethics. That sets the stage for a showdown, and the story follows how they take on each other. If things go as planned, it will be shot in a straight schedule from June to September.”

Joining the male leads in the drama are Neha Dhupia and Raima Sen. “Hansal is bringing together an eclectic ensemble cast. Neha and Raima portray strong women who wield power in their own way and exert influence in the big boys’ club,” adds the source.

From Shahid (2012) to Aligarh (2015), from Scam 1992: The Harshad Mehta Story (2020) to Scoop (2023), Mehta has created an enviable filmography based on true stories. However, the source says that this time, the creator-director has built a fictional world, one set in a field rarely seen on Indian screens. 

“While the West has had sterling business dramas, Indian OTT entertainment hasn’t quite explored the genre. Hansal and Vikram wanted to tap into the genre by weaving a tale of ambition and betrayal.” 

mid-day reached out to Malhotra and Mehta. Both remained unavailable for comment.

We didn’t see this coming! The latest development in actors Vijay Varma and Tamannaah Bhatia’s relationship is surely going to leave their fans heartbroken. As per reports, the couple has decided to end their relationship and move forward as just friends.

While they are yet to comment on the rumoured split, a source confirms that the news is indeed true.

Until recently, the rumour mill had been hinting at a possible wedding, which makes news of their breakup even more shocking.

Another source had earlier told us that the former couple had been scouting for hotels for a destination wedding, but that’s no longer the case.

Vijay and Tamannaah started dating in 2023 and quickly became pap and fan favourites. They came close during the shoot of their episode of web show Lust Stories 2, and fans hailed their chemistry when they finally confirmed their relationship. “Our relationship began after Lust Stories. First, we met as co-actors, very professional, then I asked her out,” Vijay had told Mashable India in June 2023.

On Monday, Netflix India unveiled its star-studded slate for 2025 that includes Aryan Khan’s directorial debut The Ba***ds Of Bollywood, Dining With The Kapoors, and many anticipated offerings. But Triptii Dimri and Vijay Varma’s Afghan Snow was conspicuously missing from its roster. The spy thriller, produced by Karnesh Ssharma’s Clean Slate Filmz, was reportedly delivered to the OTT giant in December 2023. So, why is it nowhere close to reaching the audience yet?

According to multiple industry insiders, Netflix has assumed control of the project from Sharma and is now considering making some changes to the thriller that has been directed by Anshai Lal, who previously helmed Phillauri (2017) and Mai (2022).

An actor from the show, on the condition of anonymity, said, “Afghan Snow has been given to Netflix, and the team is contemplating re-editing the show and even shooting additional parts as they deem fit. I’m told it will release later this year. Many titles will be added to the streamer’s slate beyond the ones announced on Monday.”

After its successful collaborations with Netflix on Bulbbul (2020) and Qala (2022), Sharma’s production house had greenlit Afghan Snow for the OTT platform. Sources say that after the series was completed in December 2023, there were some creative differences between the makers and the streamer. With the project in limbo over the past year, crew members apparently also struggled with delayed payments.

A unit hand revealed, “Our payments took very long to get cleared. While some got the full payment eventually, for many of us, the final tranche will come upon release. We were expecting the show to be announced on Monday evening.”

With this series stuck and Sudip Sharma—who had made Kohrra (2023) with Clean Slate Filmz—announcing its second season independently, rumours about the production house undergoing major changes have gained credence. An insider said, “The production house has been practically defunct for the past year. It will be re-launched soon with a new name.”

Mid-day reached out to Netflix and Clean Slate Filmz for a comment on Afghan Snow’s fate. Both didn’t respond till press time.

Acting is about teamwork, and Jaideep Ahlawat strongly believes in that. “As Naseerbhai (Naseeruddin Shah) rightly says, acting is about reacting. It’s teamwork. Selfish hona bahut kharab cheej hoti hai ek actor ke liye. It’s not about overpowering a scene or hogging all the lines for yourself because that shows. The greatest actors are not selfcentric. Look at Irrfan sir, he always stayed true to his character.”

Recalling his meeting with Irrfan, he said, “I met Irrfan sir at the FTII (Film and Television Institute of India) briefly. I never got a chance to work with him, nor did he teach us at the institute, but his work taught us everything. He was so connected to his characters that no matter what he did, it always felt isse better koi kar hi nahi sakta. He made every role believable because he loved his craft so much. If you look at any of his films, what stands out is that he never had this thought of overpowering a scene. There was no selfishness, he was just true to his character and the story is what mattered the most to him. Chota muh badi baat, but I felt like I was his Eklavya. He never taught me, but I learned a lot just by watching him. Vijay (Varma) and I would scream his movie dialogues while bathing from across the common bathrooms of our respective dormitory wings that faced each other at the FTII. Hum unke Haasil ke dialogues chhilate thhe.”

Jaideep added, “I remember when I met Irrfan sahab at FTII and we were going to click a picture, we were told lambe ladke peeche khade ho jao. But I fought to sit close to him in that group photo.”

Actor-comedian Rajiv Thakur left viewers surprised with his recent role of the antagonist, named Chief, in filmmaker Anubhav Sinha’s IC-814: The Kandahar Hijack. While the web series gave him a chance to break out of his image as a comic, the raging controversy might just overshadow it all.

The series has been hit with allegations of distortion of facts about the real identities of the hijackers and has drawn criticism for naming the two terrorists Bhola and Shankar, instead of using their real names, while the other three are referred to as Chief, Doctor and Burger.

Thakur admits that he didn’t get much time to prepare for his role and doesn’t “have much knowledge about the controversy”: “It was such a big show and I should have done some prep. When I met the other actors who played the hijackers, they had read books. I am thankful that Anubhav Sinha sir, the associate director and the writers explained my character to me. In the series, I was only associated with Vijay Varma (actor) and (the character) Doctor.”

Thakur, 40, who played the mastermind behind the 1999 hijacking, is certain that his work will be noticed: “When someone does good work, it can’t be buried. I’ve got such good reactions for my role. My friends and Insta followers are sending me messages. Some said I was unrecognizable.”

After a meeting with the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, the streaming platform issued a statement. “For the benefit of audiences unfamiliar with the 1999 hijacking of Indian Airlines Flight 814, the opening disclaimer has been updated to include the real and code names of the hijackers. The code names in the series reflect those used during the actual event. India has a rich culture of storytelling — and we are committed to showcasing these stories and their authentic representation,” said Monika Shergill, Vice President, Content at Netflix India.

It doesn’t happen every day that a project ticks every box. But IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack proved to be exactly that for Vijay Varma. The Netflix thriller, created by Anubhav Sinha, offers a retelling of the 1999 hijack of Indian Airlines Flight 814, which was carrying 173 passengers from Kathmandu to Delhi. To bring this chapter of Indian aviation alive, the creator-co-director roped in some of Hindi cinema’s finest actors, including Naseeruddin Shah, Pankaj Kapur, Kumud Mishra, Manoj Pahwa and Dibyendu Bhattacharya.

“Even if I tried, I didn’t have a reason to not do the show. The fact that I would get a chance to work with him and this royal rumble of a cast was tempting enough,” smiles Varma.

That the subject is a part of India’s modern history became another motivation for Varma to say yes. “The script is a page turner. I knocked out 200 pages so quickly. It’s based on an incident that is modern history for us. It changed the way the aviation industry works.”

The actor plays the pilot in the six-part series. To embody his character and the delicate nature of events that transpired inside the aircraft, he spent a lot of time with the real-life captain, Devi Sharan. 

Recalling a moment that became his biggest reward for working on the series, Varma shares, “We were in Delhi with the real-life captain. A lady showed up and said that she was in that flight. At that time, she was 24 or 25; now, she has two kids. She was deeply emotional when she expressed her gratitude to the captain, saying, ‘You saved our lives and both my kids are pilots today.’ I thought that was something—to choose to make your kids into somebody, who was in such a difficult situation. The kids were beaming with happiness as they met the captain who saved their mother’s life. I can never forget this.”

At the recently concluded St Xavier’s College’s annual event, the Malhar Festival, Vijay Varma opened up about his skin condition, vitiligo (which causes patches of skin to lose their colour). In a chat with us, he elaborated on how he has dealt with it, given that he is part of an industry where physical appearance is a crucial factor, and actors often face scrutiny for it.

“See, I didn’t make a big deal out of it,” says the Dahaad actor, adding, “It is just a cosmetic thing, and it is not really anything that can change the course of your life. We make it a big deal because it is something which is out there, but I have never really made a big deal out of it.”

Ask Vijay whether, over the last 12 years in the industry, he has faced any setbacks because of his skin condition, and he replies, “It used to worry me when I was an out-of-work actor. I would wonder if this would become an obstacle. But ever since I have been working and seeing a lot of success, it hasn’t bothered me.”

The actor says that he covers it up only when he faces the camera. “I have covered it up for my movies because it just distracts, and I don’t want my audience to look at anything else except for what I want to show them, so that is the reason I hide it. But for all my public appearances, for all these years, I have never bothered to cover it up. People these days are very intelligent, and I feel that today’s generation has an innate sense of responsibility. I have never been spoken about loosely for my skin condition. Maybe if it was some other time, then this could have possibly become a topic of discussion.”

Getting acting heavyweights like Pankaj Kapur, Naseeruddin Shah, Arvind Swami, Manoj Pahwa and Kumud Mishra in one room can be an uphill task. Anubhav Sinha is surprised that the stellar cast — which includes Vijay Varma, Dia Mirza and Patralekhaa — has come together for his maiden series, IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack. The upcoming thriller traces the 1999 hijacking of the Indian Airlines Flight 814, in which a group of militants hijacked the Delhi-bound aircraft carrying 173 passengers and flew to several locations before landing in Kandahar.

Sinha knew his working relationship with Kapur, developed on Dus (2005) and Bheed (2023), would give him an advantage. “Pankaj bhai said, ‘Main nahin karunga,’ but I knew he would,” says the filmmaker, who has co-created, co-written and directed the thriller. Despite his faith in the material, Sinha was skeptical about getting the nod from Shah and Swami. He was pleasantly surprised on both occasions.

“I had thought it would be difficult to cast Naseer bhai because he does less work and is more interested in doing theatre. I was halfway into proposing the role to him, and he said yes. As for Arvind, we got on a conference call, and he said, ‘Okay.’ But I was [still unsure] whether he was doing it. But how do you ask [again] if the person has said okay?” he laughs.

Varma, who plays the pilot flying the ill-fated aircraft, also said yes more easily than Sinha had assumed. The director recalls, “When he left [the meeting], I thought we’d send him the script, he would read it and tell us if he wanted to do it. But two hours later, they were already talking dates. I wasn’t on such terms with him that I could call and say, ‘Script toh bheji nahin maine!’”

When Netflix approached Sinha to retell the story of the Kandahar hijack, he realized he was unaware of many details of the chapter. That motivated the director to probe further.

“The plane landed in Kandahar on the morning of December 25, the Indian negotiation team reached on December 26. On a conversation level, you’d say, ‘Why did it take them [so long] to reach?’ But there was so much going on at home. [They] had to know what they could offer. There were moral, ethical and political questions that the government was dealing with.”

The series shows the attack could have been averted. So, have we learned from history? “The human mind doesn’t learn from history; we make it worse. Nine months after this, 9/11 happened. So, that was the time when militants were toying with the idea of using an aircraft as a weapon. So, one has to think ahead of them and make sure this doesn’t happen again. But [such events] are still happening.”

You’ve heard shaadi mubarak, janamdin mubarak and saal mubarak, but hearing chants of murder mubarak ringing out in a room? That’s what happened when the cast of Netflix’s Murder Mubarak, starring Sara Ali Khan, Pankaj Tripathi, Vijay Varma, Karisma Kapoor, Tisca Chopra, Sanjay Kapoor, Suhail Nayyar and director Homi Adajania met the winners of the first-ever Mumbai edition of HT City Stars In The City contest.

In conversation with Sonal Kalra, Chief Managing Editor (Entertainment and Lifestyle), Hindustan Times, Homi kicked things off by sharing how he got this “whacky” cast together. “These guys are all a bunch of nuts. It was quite difficult to control them,” he joked and added, “We didn’t even do a table reading, I just chucked them together. For directors, it’s pretty boring to keep watching the same film, but I’ve watched it 30 times and there was always a different character for me to watch.”

Excited about her character, Sara said, “It’s been a while since I played an urban, glam girl. My brother, Ibrahim (Ali Khan), watched the film and said, ‘Aapa jaan, I think you’re looking extremely hot’. I have a difficult family to impress.”

Tisca can’t wait for audiences’ feedback: ”I don’t think they’ve seen me play a character like this that’s semi-comical.”

Vijay had the audience in splits. He pointed out that he’s been on a spree of working with the ‘Kapoor khandaan’: “My last few outings were hectic for the audience, I played twisted men. But I got to act with Bebo (Kareena Kapoor Khan) in Jaane Jaan (2023), now Lolo (Karisma’s nickname), of course Alia (Bhatt, actor) in Darlings (2022). I am doing tambola with the Kapoor family!”

Glad to be a part of a multi-starrer after many years, Karisma said, “The way of working has changed. We didn’t have table reads or bound scripts. Here everybody knows exactly what they are doing. The last multi-starrer I acted in was Hum Saath-Saath Hain (1999).”

A round of ‘True or False’ left their fans clutching their sides, while the cast also revealed some juicy secrets — Tisca grew up in Kabul, Afghanistan; Homi is a trained diving instructor, but the most shocking information was Pankaj having spent time in jail. “Main ek hafta jail mein tha. Criminal nahin, student leader tha, aur politics mein jail jaana achhi baat hai,” he responded, cheekily.

The fans got an opportunity to ask a few questions to their favourite actors. As a part of the filmy parivaar, Sanjay was asked if they talk films at home as well, to which he responded, “Filmwale film ki hi baat nahi karte. I talk about education with my children, health, too. But like any normal family, our conversations are about normal things too.” Suhail feels like a kid in a carnival as he gets to work with his on-screen heroes. “When I saw Sanjay sir, I recited his dialogues from Luck by Chance (2009) and when I saw Dimple Kapadia ma’am, I said, ‘Ma’am aapne jo film mein frustrated kutti bola na...’”

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It’s been a while that I played an urban and glam girl. It’s not something I associate myself with. I’m the kind of person who would rather leave her hair jhalla and go out in a salwar kameez.

- Sara Ali Khan

My last few outings were hectic for the audience, I played twisted men. But I got to act with Bebo (Kareena Kapoor Khan) in Jaane Jaan (2023), now Lolo (Karisma’s nickname), of course Alia (Bhatt, actor) in Darlings (2022). I am doing tambola with the Kapoor family!

- Vijay Varma