Showing posts with label Vikas Bahl. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Vikas Bahl. Show all posts
Ikaai is one of the boldest choices I’ve made so far-Saiee Manjrekar
3:00 PM
Renuka Vyavahare (MUMBAI MIRROR; June 23, 2026)
Saiee Manjrekar says she is currently going through one of the most experimental phases of her career, taking on roles that push her beyond familiar territory and challenge her as a performer. The actress recently opened up about playing what she describes as her most demanding character to date in Ikaai, a film produced by filmmaker Vikas Bahl and directed by Raj Singh Chaudhary.
Speaking about the experience, Saiee said, “I think every actor reaches a point where they want to challenge themselves beyond what feels familiar or comfortable, and for me, Ikaai became that project. This film pushed me emotionally and mentally in ways I didn’t expect. I had to unlearn certain instincts as an actor and approach scenes from a far more instinctive and raw place.”
The film also stars Raghav Juyal, whose presence, according to Saiee, added a unique dynamic to the creative process.
She further added, “Working with Raj has been an incredible experience because, as a filmmaker, he constantly encourages you to take risks and surrender completely to the atmosphere of the film. And sharing screen space with Raghav, who brings such unpredictability and intensity to his performances, added so much energy to the process. I genuinely feel this is one of the boldest choices I’ve made so far, and I’m excited for audiences to see me in a space that is so different from anything I’ve done before.”
Queen 2 wrap countdown begins as Kangana Ranaut shoots climax in Naigaon
9:53 AM
Upala KBR (MID-DAY; June 27, 2026)
On the set of Queen 2, the countdown has begun. Kangana Ranaut’s coming-of-age movie, a thematic extension of the actor’s career-defining offering Queen (2013), is only six days away from being wrapped up. mid-day has learnt that the unit is currently shooting the last leg in Naigaon.
That’s brisk progress for the Vikas Bahl-directed film, which went on floors in late March. Ranaut shot the climax in May in Mumbai before heading to a Naigaon studio, where the set of a chawl was constructed, for the final stint.
A source revealed, “First, they filmed a song that sees Kangana’s character Rani and other women taking part in dandiya celebrations. Now they are shooting some emotional scenes set in the protagonist’s home. Principal photography will be wrapped up in the first week of July.”
Like Queen, the much loved film that earned Ranaut the National Award for Best Actress, the sequel will focus on the protagonist’s journey to discovering herself.
The source added, “While that film saw her head to Paris and Amsterdam after being jilted by her fiancé, here the character finds her independent streak when she moves to a big city in India.”
I want to die with dignity. Please let me have that. I have even taken care of the finances-Bharti Achrekar
10:25 AM
As her Marathi sleeper hit Tighee garners praise, veteran Bharti Achrekar on finally having her moment in the sun
Kshama Rao (MUMBAI MIRROR; April 27, 2026)
Debutant director Jeejivisha Kale’s Marathi film Tighee released on March 6. Two weeks later, a colossal Hindi film was out. There was nothing common between the two films except that both had two seasoned actors who kind of ‘broke’ out! There was Rakesh Bedi, who after several years of being a ‘comic’ face in the industry had captured everyone’s imagination with his character of Jameel Jamali, and there was Bharati Achrekar, also known for her ‘comic’ turn in the Doordarshan gem Wagle Ki Duniya, who had struck gold as Hemlata Ranade in Tighee.
Interestingly, Achrekar has been in the industry for the past 57 years and has done tons of films and plays, yet calls Tighee as her first “big central part”. The film completed 50 days on Friday (April 24) and is a ‘superhit’. Riding on a positive word of mouth wave, it is the closing film at The New York Indian Film Festival to be held in June and Achrekar has been nominated in the Best Actress category.
When we meet Achrekar at a studio in Malvani, Malad, where she is shooting her “first Marathi serial”, she is happy and dancing. But it’s not because she is nominated, it’s for a wedding haldi scene. Shot over, Achrekar is Zen-like about the praise Tighee is receiving.
“I like to underplay things. I don’t get over-excited. I am just happy my character and the film has touched hearts. Even the non-Marathi-speaking audience is praising it. I am told the film feels like a story unfolding in your neighbour’s house. It is so relatable. The praise, the love feels unbelievable. The nomination has not sunk in yet,” she smiles.
Hemlata is a single mother of two daughters. A steely upright woman, she is forced to stand up for her girls at the cost of leaving her husband, even if it means living a lonely, hard life. “I have been a single mother myself. I was widowed at 34. My son was just nine. Playing Hemlata came naturally to me,” says Achrekar.
In the film, in her dying days, Hemlata announces her decision to her two daughters to let her spend her last days in a hospice rather than a sterile hospital. Her reason: “I want to die with dignity. Please let me have that. I have even taken care of the finances.” It is a tough yet tender role and speaks a lot about the woman Hemlata is.
Achrekar is no different. “I have been working all my life, always been financially independent. Acting is all I knew. I could have pursued classical singing because I am Manik Varma’s (classical singer) daughter but since I had to bring up my son I chose acting. It paid me,” she says simply.
Achrekar is largely known for her light-hearted roles, be it the films Chameli Ki Shaadi and Beta or Wagle Ki Duniya. So how did she get Hemlata? “I still don’t know why JeeJi (writer-director) cast me. But I am happy she and Nikhil (Mahajan, co-producer) came to me. I had worked with Nikhil, who had directed Pune 52. With Tighee, I feel I came a full circle. It doesn’t matter now if I get another role to play. I am content,” she says, adding the last time she felt “satisfied was during Vijaya Mehta’s Marathi play Hamidabaichi Kothi”. That was 33 years ago.
After 57 years in the industry, her consummate performance in Tighee seems perfect. “It was liberating. No make up, no costumes… just coming to the set every day and performing. All those years of acting led to this.” At 77, Achrekar did scenes that had lengthy monologues. “The theatre background really helped. The scene where I am telling my daughters to let me live in a hospice was a tough one. It was a one shot but gave me immense room to move about, emote, hold myself, pause, cry everything. I can cry at the drop of a hat,” she smiles.
She credits her two onscreen daughters Neha Pendse Bayas and Sonalee Kulkarni “for being great co-actors. Without their reactions my performance would be incomplete”.
Ask her what her three sisters (Vandana Gupte, Rani Varma and Aruna Jaiprakash) thought of her performance and she laughs, “They loved it. They have told me that if I don’t get a National Award, they will do an andolan.”
Her only son, who lives in the United States, is yet to see the film. “He said he will watch it with me when I go there next.”
Right now, it’s only work for the next few months. Achrekar will be touring with the Tighee team to Pune to meet people. “It is a 15-day tour around Maharashtra but I am only going to Pune because I am shooting. I will also be re-joining Ekta Kapoor’s Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhie Bahu Thi. There is also a small role in director Vikas Bahl’s next. The next few months are busy after which I hope to take a break, rest for a while,” she says. It will be a well-deserved break for Achrekar. She has earned every bit of it.
Kangana Ranaut begins Queen 2 while handling Parliament schedule
11:09 PM
Upala KBR (MID-DAY; May 1, 2026)
The Queen era has begun! In early April, mid-day told you that Kangana Ranaut is set to commence work on the sequel to her career-defining 2013 movie, Queen (Kangy in her Queen era, April 1). Sure enough, the actor kicked off the Vikas Bahl-directed movie in South Mumbai last week.
April was a hectic month for Ranaut, who dived into the prep for Queen 2 after wrapping up Bharat Bhagya Vidhata. A source revealed, “The team had just 20 days to prep. Now, they are shooting in and around Mumbai. The unit is currently filming in Grant Road, where a set depicting the protagonist’s home has been built.”
Bahl — on triple duty as the writer, director, and co-producer — has apparently charted out a three-month start-to-finish schedule. With the shoot, Ranaut will juggle her political duties as a Member of Parliament from Mandi, Himachal Pradesh.
The source added, “In the last 10 days, Kangana has been flying in and out of the city to attend the Parliament sessions. There have been times when she went to Delhi for the day, came back in the night, and shot till the next morning.”
Hectic schedule or not, Ranaut has slipped seamlessly into the character of Rani. While the second part won’t be a continuation of the original, it will share the themes of self-discovery and self-reliance. “This time too, Rani is a small-town woman from North India, but her look is entirely different. The story traces how she comes into her own after a situation brings her to Mumbai.”
Kangana Ranaut to start filming Queen 2 by end of April, protagonist to travel across India in the sequel
3:54 PM
Upala KBR (MID-DAY; April 1, 2026)
Any takers for a sequel to Queen (2014)? Countless, we imagine. After all, Kangana Ranaut’s coming-of-age film, which saw her character Rani take off on a solo honeymoon after being dumped by her fiancé, became a roaring success. Well, we’ll meet Rani again soon! mid-day has found out that leading lady Ranaut and filmmaker Vikas Bahl are set to take Queen 2 on floors by April-end.
So, where will Rani take us this time around? From what we’ve heard, the sequel won’t be a continuation of the 2014 hit, but will carry forward the themes of self-discovery and self-reliance.
A source revealed, “In Queen 2, Kangana’s Rani will be a city girl unlike the small-town girl in the original. She will be smart, strong, and quirky, but a plot point will send her on the road of self-discovery. It will show how she conquers life through her individuality, self-realization, and courage. While the first one saw her travelling to Paris and Amsterdam alone, this journey will take her across cities in India.”
Besides Ranaut, we won’t see any familiar faces from the original. The director has apparently zeroed in on several theatre actors for supporting roles in the second instalment.
The source added, “The unit will kick off the project in a Mumbai studio, where a set reflecting a North Indian city and another depicting the protagonist’s home will be built. After the Mumbai leg, they will move to other metro cities. The film will be completed in a start-to-finish schedule of three months.”
‘Queen’ (2014) was produced by Phantom Films and Viacom18 Motion Pictures. With Phantom Films — founded by Vikramaditya Motwane, Anurag Kashyap, Madhu Mantena, and Vikas Bahl — having been dissolved in 2018, the sequel is being backed by Bahl under his banner. He also serves as the film’s writer.
Fake account cites Vikas Bahl, lures women for auditions, FIR filed
9:58 AM
V Narayan (THE TIMES OF INDIA; December 4, 2025)
Mumbai: Khar police on Wednesday registered a case of impersonation and identity theft against an unknown person who created a fake Instagram account of film director Vikas Bahl, used it lure many women with the promise of work in films, misbehaved with them and pushed them into sharing their photos under the pretext of auditions.
Police are tracking the internet protocol address used to create the account. "The accused also claimed to be the CEO of an OTT platform," said a Khar police officer.
In his police complaint, Bahl said he had raised a complaint with Instagram about another fake account in October 2024 that was being used to call people for auditions for a web series on an OTT platform. That account was later taken down. In September this year, he was alerted to another such account by a friend in Delhi.
As per Bahl's complaint, he got a call on November 15 from a woman who said she had received multiple messages for an audition for a web series film from a man who claimed to be the filmmaker. "She said she got suspicious after she met him at a Ghatkopar mall on November 12. Later, the man asked her to share a photo of herself in a bikini. She then realised that it was an imposter," said the complaint.
The officer said on November 28, Bahl learnt that another woman had been called for an audition through the Instagram account. She told him that she met the accused on November 19 at a restaurant in Dadar and assumed that it was someone who was part of the industry network.
"However, the accused asked her to meet him on November 26 in Powai with her bank account details to sign an agreement for a web series. While travelling in a cab, he touched her inappropriately. She reprimanded him, grew suspicious of his identity and eventually got in touch with Bahl's personal assistant," said the officer. He then approached police.
Sita Ramam and Hi Nanna have set high expectations and benchmarks for me-Mrunal Thakur
8:14 AM
Onkar Kulkarni (BOMBAY TIMES; November 13, 2024)
Mrunal Thakur has featured in prominent Bollywood films like Super 30, Batla House, Gumraah, Pippa, but her recent experience with Telugu films Sita Ramam and Hi Nanna changed the lens through which she views her career ahead.
The actress says, “There are a lot of scripts that I have been hearing lately, but Sita Ramam and Hi Nanna have set some really high expectations and benchmarks for me. It has added on to my responsibility. I am not going to disappoint my Telugu audience. They are literally the ones who have accepted me as a Telugu ammayi and I can’t wait to do a crazy, mind-blowing entertainer, and at the same time, a cult film that will strike a chord with the audience.”
‘I keep climbing one step at a time’
Ask Mrunal if she feels that makers from the Telugu film industry have been able to tap into her talent more than Hindi filmmakers, and she explains, “I think my journey has been like climbing a ladder. I keep climbing one step at a time. I am thankful to director Tabrez Noorani, who saw me, identified me in the crowd of girls and gave me an opportunity to be Sonia, in Love Sonia. Also, to director Vikas Bahl who gave me an opportunity to play Supriya in Super 30. I think if you get success in a blink of an eye, you don’t appreciate it as much.”
‘I hope my career goes beyond Hindi, Tamil and Telugu films’
The actress has stepped up slowly, but she believes that she’s now at a point where she’s being offered strong parts. “I feel happy when filmmakers meet me and say, ‘We want to make a movie with you, but Sita Ramam and Hi Nanna set the benchmark so high that we are going to wait and make sure we write a character for you and then reach out’. It gives me some kind of satisfaction knowing that finally there are roles which are written for me. So, one step at a time, one film at a time. Khaane ke thaali mein ek ek niwala aaram aaram se, zindagi lambi hai. I have a long way to go, and I hope my career is not restricted to just Hindi, Tamil and Telugu but also different languages including Malayalam, Punjabi or even French and Spanish for that matter.”
It’s still a man’s world, feels Sona Mohapatra amid Hema Committee report
8:17 AM
Rishabh Suri (HINDUSTAN TIMES; September 1, 2024)
Singer Sona Mohapatra has always viewed herself as a warrior against sexual harassment in the music industry, having been among the first to accuse composer Anu Malik of misconduct. Although the #MeToo movement lost momentum, the recent Hema Committee report on power dynamics and casting couch culture in Malayalam cinema has renewed the discussion on these critical issues.
“This report is a validation of what many of us have been fighting for — safer workplaces and fair opportunities based on merit,” she says.
Reflecting on her career struggles, Mohapatra recounts being “thrown out” as a judge from a music reality show, which led to financial difficulties and the loss of her team.
“I couldn’t pay my team that year and even lost a USA tour. I was labelled a troublemaker, and no TV channel has approached me since to make amends. Meanwhile, the perverts, who were named by me and multiple other women, are happily back on national TV with youngsters around them. All of them, including Anu Malik, Kailash Kher (singer), Sajid Khan (director), Vikas Bahl (filmmaker) and several others, found space in the public domain to gloat over the fact that it is very much a man’s world.”
She adds, “Public memory is short, it often forgives these perverts quickly... Some, like Sonu Nigam (singer), expressed sympathy for Anu Malik losing work but demanded hard proof from survivors.”
Despite facing setbacks for speaking out, Mohapatra remains steadfast: “I’m back with a new show, Lal Pari Mastani, winning awards across the world.”
We attempted to contact Anu Malik, Kailash Kher, Sonu Nigam and Vikas Bahl for comments, but received no response.
After The Kerala Story, people have become very protective of me on social media-Adah Sharma
8:26 AM
Soumitra Das (BOMBAY TIMES; April 19, 2024)
Adah Sharma, who was in Ahmedabad recently, says that she feels “a special connection with the city.” Adah, whose recent releases include the film Bastar: The Naxal Story and the OTT project Sunflower 2, tells us, “A few months back, I shot with Jubin Nautiyal for Raabta, a music video, at a few lovely locations of Ahmedabad’s walled city and I have some very fond memories from the shoot.”
Adah adds, “I was in Vadodara in January for a marathon and it’s always a pleasure to come to Gujarat because the people are so warm. I love Gujarati food and no Ahmedabad trip of mine feels complete till I have undhiyu, which is my favourite. I also love Gujarati dal.”
‘I still don’t know too many people in the film industry’
Adah, who made her Bollywood debut with 1920 in 2008, has completed 15 years in showbiz. Looking back at her journey, Adah says, “I still don’t know too many people in the industry but feel fortunate and grateful that despite being an outsider, big filmmakers have always trusted my talent. Vikram Bhatt could have chosen anyone for 1920, but he loved my audition and offered me the role. In Telugu, I made my debut with Heart Attack, which was directed by an ace filmmaker like Puri Jagannadh. In Kannada, I have done films with big stars like Puneeth Rajkumar. Sunflower 2 gave me the opportunity to work with Vikas Bahl. So, I have no complaints and it has been a fantastic journey. Having just done an OTT project, I can confidently say that good content is watched irrespective of the medium.”
Adah adds, “I am fortunate that I have not been typecast as an actress, which is one of the biggest fears that an actor has. Be it fiction, films based on real life incidents or interesting OTT content, I have always got to do exciting and different types of projects. Even in my upcoming projects, I am getting to do different stuff and I couldn’t have asked for more. I don’t really understand terms like ‘women-centric films’ because for a film to do well, every character has to be etched well. But we are having these discussions probably because there still isn’t enough representation of women in different aspects of filmmaking. But stronger roles are being written for women now.”
‘The Kerala Story was a big game changer for me’
The Kerala Story, which became the highest grossing female-led Hindi film, was a big game changer for me. Although I have done successful films like 1920 and Commando 2, this movie became a phenomenon and I don’t think there is any movie buff who doesn’t know about it. Also, after this film, people have become very protective of me on social media and I feel lucky. I don’t pay any attention to the negativity on social media because for every negative comment, there are so many positive comments to counter it! It’s overwhelming. People have the right to watch or not watch a film. I have realised that many people who criticize movies and use terms like ‘propaganda film’ on social media have not seen the movies. So, why should I bother about these comments?
‘I am playing a female superhero in an upcoming international project’
It’s true that I am playing a female superhero in an upcoming international project, but I don’t want to reveal too much about it. I am a little superstitious and don’t like talking about projects too much in advance. I want to do projects in different languages, even if it’s just a music video. I had done a music video in Punjabi with Akhil and a lot of Punjabis loved it.
Ajay Devgn let go of his family holiday and filmed Shaitaan in a start-to-finish schedule
8:22 PM
Upala KBR (MID-DAY; March 7, 2024)
Certain stories spark so much interest that you’ll do all it takes to translate them on the big screen. Shaitaan was one such movie for Ajay Devgn. The superstar, who hasn’t explored horror often on screen, was so impressed by the script that he decided to not only front it but also come on board as a producer. The dates, however, posed a problem. So what did the leading man do? He cut short his annual family holiday to London to shoot for the R Madhavan and Jyothika-starrer.
After filming Auron Mein Kahan Dum Tha, Devgn was contemplating his next when producer Kumar Mangat and Abhishek Pathak narrated the story of Shaitaan to him last April. An adaptation of the Gujarati hit, Vash (2023), the supernatural thriller revolves around how a man protects his family when a sorcerer—played by Madhavan—casts a spell on his daughter.
A source from the creative team reveals, “Following the narration, Ajay immediately agreed to play the protagonist. The actor then approached Vikas Bahl to helm it. Though the director was initially hesitant about being able to do justice to the genre, Ajay was confident Vikas was the right man for the job.”
With the cast, script and director locked, next came the question of dates. Like every year, Devgn had blocked July for his month-long London vacation with actor-wife Kajol and his kids Nysa and Yug. The actor was slated to begin filming for Rohit Shetty’s Singham Again on his return.
The source adds, “It was getting difficult to find a window for Shaitaan. Ajay, being a producer-actor, understood the financials of shooting. So, he let go of his family holiday and filmed Shaitaan in a start-to-finish schedule, running from July to August, in and around London, including Bedford and Windsor. While Yug was with him throughout the UK schedule, the rest of his family joined him in the last week of August.”
Releasing tomorrow, Shaitaan marks the first of the superstar’s five releases in 2024. Producer Mangat says, “It was kind of Ajay to cut short his holiday and give us his dates immediately for the shoot. His cooperation helped us complete the film in a short span.”
In a thriller, there isn’t enough place for songs, as background score becomes the hero-Devi Sri Prasad
8:32 AM
Set to compose for Devgn’s thriller, DSP on making the background score his canvas as genre offers little space for traditional songs
Sonia Lulla (MID-DAY; December 18, 2023)
Speaking to mid-day on the sidelines of the Bollywood Music Project, composer Devi Sri Prasad—fondly referred to as DSP—chronicled how his journey as a live performer enhanced his understanding of creating music for cinema. DSP, who has films like Ajay Devgn’s upcoming supernatural thriller, and Pushpa 2: The Rule in his kitty, breaks down his working process, and the place of visualisation in it. Edited excerpts from the interview.
You’re working on Ajay Devgn and R Madhavan’s supernatural thriller. What are the challenges of composing for that genre?
I’ve never attempted a thriller, so I’m excited. In a thriller, there isn’t enough place for songs, because the background score becomes the hero. I am trying to make the background score catchy so that it seems like a song has been woven into the score. The idea is to make the music addictive so that the score can keep playing in the viewer’s mind. The day that Vikas Bahl narrated it to me, I created three musical pieces immediately. In certain instances, I suggested we create some musical bits for scenes, and then they subsequently shot the portions on that [musical motif]. Now, you can’t even differentiate whether a piece is a song or a background score.
Many films that you’ve composed for, including Pushpa: The Rise, have bridged the gap between films from Bollywood and the South industries. How has this change affected you?
Those who [come across my work] due to my Hindi numbers are now also listening to my Tamil and Telugu songs. I have built a new relationship, and connect directly with my fans from North India, and I am enjoying it. It has been my dream to create music that crosses borders. And with my upcoming singles, I aim to do that.
What has been your biggest learning experience after spending years as a performer, and how has that influenced your work as a composer?
To understand the reception of a song, you need to consider not only the audience, but also the atmosphere and timing. For example, if my show has been announced for 7 pm, it may start with a different song set. But, if the same show is delayed, and begins at 8 pm, you need to revisit the set because the audience will not have patience at that time. Only when you present a song at the right time will you be able to gauge the appropriate response to it. Being a performer has been of great help to me as a composer. As you understand the kind of music that people are grooving to, and that which gets them emotional, you can translate that learning from the stage to the screen. Being imaginative has its own benefits.
Visual power is immense. When I compose a song for my film, I close my eyes and imagine performing it for a lakh listeners at a concert. I try to decipher how many of them would actually vibe to it. More often than not, I am able to predict things accurately, even before a song releases. I can analyze the elements of the song that will move the listener, and determine the place at which the hook step must be placed. Because I have that understanding, directors leave the film to me. Sometimes, I suggest that a musical piece be added in a situation, or a fight scene, or that a song be removed at another instance where a prominent background score may suffice. Trust is the most important and toughest thing to build in our career, and I’ve built that with my directors and producers.
Final schedule of Ajay Devgn, R Madhavan, Jyotika's supernatural thriller begins
8:50 AM
Ajay Devgn's upcoming supernatural thriller also starring Madhavan moves to Andheri to film crucial scenes over the final 15-day leg
Upala KBR (MID-DAY; September 8, 2023)
Ajay Devgn’s upcoming supernatural horror thriller, also starring R Madhavan, has entered its last shooting leg in Andheri. A source close to the development tells mid-day that the duo, along with actor Jyotika are filming “songs and dramatic portions” in this ongoing 15-day leg.
“It’s been a hectic time for Ajay as he has been [shooting] several movies back-to-back. For this leg, they have about four days’ worth of work left. Prior to this, the cast and crew were shooting in and around London, including Bedford and Windsor. The two-month schedule in July and August saw them film important scenes, including some action. More than 90 per cent of the film was shot then, and after their return, they resumed shooting in Mumbai immediately,” says the source.
While a title is yet to be arrived at for the Vikas Bahl-directed venture, the source reveals that the film is an adaptation of the hit Gujarati offering, Vash, directed by Krishnadev Yagnik. It also featured Janki Bodiwala, who also stars in this edition that marks her Hindi film debut. While Hitu Kanodia played the role of her father in the original, Devgn slipped into the part in this version.
“In stark contrast to his previous roles, Madhavan sports a new look in this edition as a crafty and ruthless antagonist. The good versus evil psycho-thriller is full of twists and turns and sheds light on black magic as well. Just like Devgn’s last film Drishyam 2 was altered to suit a new audience, this film too will have a pan-India appeal. It follows a family man who fights to protect his family when they head on a vacation.”
Devgn has previously dabbled in the genre with films like Ram Gopal Varma’s Bhoot (2002) and Soham Shah’s Kaal (2005). Devgn is expected to kickstart Rohit Shetty’s cop franchise, Singham 3 in mid-September, while this offering is expected to hit the screens on March 8, 2024.
Bhediya was one of the first few films that I was not nervous about; I'm extremely proud of Adipurush-Kriti Sanon
7:52 PM
Onkar Kulkarni (BOMBAY TIMES; January 31, 2023)
In her showbiz journey over the last nine years, Kriti Sanon has been a part of films of diverse genres. After making her debut with Heropanti in 2014, she made a mark as the quintessential Bollywood heroine in several big-ticket films. But she didn’t stop at that. She went on to pick roles that gave her a chance to push the envelope and showcase her range as an actor. In 2021, Kriti won immense appreciation for her role as a surrogate mother in Mimi and the Filmfare Award for the Best Actress, which was followed by the creature comedy Bhediya last year, a genre that hasn’t been explored in Bollywood much. In a conversation with BT, the actress talks about how she’s constantly changing gears in her career and the surprises she has up her sleeve for the audience this year. Read on...
2022 was a year of surprises and shocks for the Hindi film industry, but amidst that, there were some movies that left an impact, one of which was the creature comedy Bhediya, which won much appreciation. How confident were you to be a part of a film which was an attempt at a genre that’s rarely explored in Bollywood?
Success at any time is what we all are looking for, especially in times like these where films are struggling a bit to do what they should do or would have done in another time. So, when Bhediya got the reactions it did and performed well, it gave me a little more confidence in my own choices.
It was one of those films that I was extremely sure of when it came to content. Also, I knew we had done something unique in terms of its VFX. When you are absolutely sure of something and that doesn’t end up working then you start questioning your thought process, your choices and decisions. You start wondering if your choices are still resonating with the audience and that is a scary feeling. Bhediya was, in fact, one of the first few films that I was not nervous about. Sometimes you are aware that the part that you are playing in a film isn’t long in terms of screen time, but it is relevant and there is meat in it. I also did the film for that one twist (in the climax). I am glad Bhediya got the love it deserved.
2022 ended on a positive note for you. What’s in store this year?
The audience can probably look forward to far more versions of me. It starts with a very glamorous one which is a family entertainer, followed by probably my biggest film, Adipurush, which I am extremely proud of. Then there is a lot of action coming in with Ganapath, something I have done for the first time. You will see me ride a dirt bike, throw kicks and punches and also use a weapon. I am also doing a quirky love story with Shahid Kapoor. We are teaming up on screen for the first time, so you will see fresh chemistry. Then there is The Crew, which has three women (Tabu, Kareena Kapoor Khan and me) coming together, having a lot of fun and creating something amazing.
After observing the pattern at the box office last year and the beginning of 2023, has your thought process on choosing films and subjects changed?
No. I don’t think we can make our future choices in retrospect. It isn’t a good way to move ahead. We can’t say... ‘Achcha this has worked, so let me do this’. Because that film has worked at that time. I believe that every film and genre have the right timing. Timing is important in terms of when the film is releasing and what the audience is craving for. I go by my gut feeling and instinct. When I hear a script, I try to see if it gets me excited as an actor, as an audience or both. I don’t want the audience to put me in a box where they say if it is a Kriti Sanon film toh aisi hi hogi. I want to give them a variety of content and characters. After Bareilly Ki Barfi, I was getting small-town roles one after the other. So, I did the war epic drama Panipat. Then I took up a strong and meaty role in Mimi and moved on to the next level. I want to shift the gear constantly and not stay in one particular zone. You have to move on and think what’s next, otherwise you will stagnate.
Today, you are in the top league, and are being offered the kind of roles that you want and deserve. But the road up to here has not been easy. When you look back, what has kept you going?
I have been here for nine years and I am glad that finally people are seeing the actor in me. Having said that, I don’t think I have reached even 50 per cent of what I can do. There is a lot more I can offer. Sometimes the opportunity you get gives you a lot to do and you shine. Sometimes it is limited in terms of what the role is or what the screenplay is. There is only so much for you to perform and do. Then there is a film like Mimi, which gives you the range and kind of scenes where you can go all out and shine. So, it is a matter of getting the right opportunity at the right time. I am just glad that people are seeing me in different zones. I am glad Om Raut saw me as Janaki for Adipurush, Vikas Bahl saw me kicking ass as Jassi in Ganapath, Rohit Dhawan saw me as this glamorous urban girl for my upcoming film, Shehzada. I feel excited and blessed in this phase, which probably is the best of my career. It took a lot of consistency, passion, hard work and belief in myself to get here. It is only when you believe in yourself that someone else will believe in you. I’m happy with where I am today, but I still feel that I am not even close to exploring half of my potential. I want to do more. So, you just believe in yourself and hold on closely to the people who are with you when you are not doing well! I think that is very important, too.
Hindustan mein jo sabse soft target ho sakta hai woh film industry hai-Anees Bazmee
8:28 AM
(L-R) Komal Nahta, Abhishek Sharma, Anees Bazmee, Mahaveer Jain and Vikas Bahl
HINDUSTAN TIMES (November 28, 2022)
The 53rd International Film Festival of India (IFFI), which ends today, saw a lot of topics being discussed in various sessions, workshops and masterclasses. One of the issues that was spoken about was the corporate culture in the film industry. The session, that had filmmakers Anees Bazmee, Vikas Bahl, Abhishek Sharma, Mahaveer Jain and trade analyst Komal Nahta as the guest speakers, also saw questions about whether the film industry truly had a mafia culture being addressed.
When a member from the audience member asked if the reason behind the industry being divided was a certain ‘heroine’ who recently raised the issue of ‘mafia culture’ in Bollywood, Bazmee answered, “Mujhe aisa lagta hai, Hindustan mein jo sabse soft target ho sakta hai woh film industry hai. You abuse it, say that nobody works here the entire day, and heroes and heroines do drugs. [If that is true] Then who are those actors who report to a film set at five in the morning, and keep working till three at night?”
The 60-year-old added, “Jitne ilzaam hain, aap saare laga dijiye. I have been in this industry for many years now, and there’s no workplace with as many beautiful people as this one.”
As for the narrative that drugs are prevalent among actors, Bazmee said, “Mujhe lagta hai jaan boojh kar kayi logon ke beech aisa bola gaya, taaki iss line ko badnaam kar do.”
He said, that people want to defame people in showbiz and make the profession look dangerous. “I am from the film line, and I am proud that I am not in any other line of work,” he added.
The filmmaker also mentioned that he feels it’s his duty to help new people in the industry in whatever way possible and so he always tries his best to guide them.
Should we be part of the culture of silence?-Sona Mohapatra
8:48 AM
Sugandha Rawal (HINDUSTAN TIMES; October 15, 2022)
Of late, there’s been a lot of uproar around #MeToo accused Sajid Khan getting a national platform and singer Sona Mohapatra is disappointed to see the #MeToo movement getting diluted in India. With the filmmaker making it to national television with a reality show, she wonders if one should be a part of the “culture of silence”.
Mohapatra questions, “If we speak up, we lose. If we don’t, we lose. That is the Hobson’s choice for women who spoke up about #MeToo in India. Should we provide free publicity to such TV shows’ diabolical marketing teams and channels giving a hero’s welcome to sex offenders like Sajid Khan, Anu Malik (composer), Vikas Bahl (filmmaker) and more? Should we avoid bathing in the troll mud bath that follows making our identity that of controversial trouble-makers and liars, or should we be part of the culture of silence and normalize this?”
The 46-year-old, who shared her #MeToo story in 2018 and accused musicians Kailash Kher and Malik of sexual misconduct, knows that systematic changes take time. “But the least we can expect is an apology from some of these men. I expect the good people, who care about the good fight, to be in our corner,” she says, adding, “I reached out to the National Commission for Women with several testimonies of women who had spoken up about facing abuse in the hands of Anu Malik, including some minors, but unfortunately, they are merely a toothless organization on paper with no real powers.”
#MeToo: Bollywood vs Hollywood
8:15 AM
In light of #MeToo accused Sajid Khan’s reality show stint, we explore the contrasting nature of how sexual misconduct allegations are dealt with in India and the West
Samarth Goyal (HINDUSTAN TIMES; October 12, 2022)
The #MeToo movement became a watershed moment in history by bringing to light accounts of sexual harassment and misconduct at the workplace. However, five years after it first gained prominence, consequences faced by the accused remain remarkably different between the Indian film industry and Hollywood.
While reports by American media speak of how men accused of #MeToo struggle to find work, closer home, things haven’t changed much for celebs accused of harassment. Latest case in point being filmmaker Sajid Khan’s participation in the reality show Bigg Boss 16. Ever since the news first emerged, social media has been abuzz with people calling the makers out for their disregard towards the survivors, who had shared their #MeToo accounts against Khan in 2018.
Actor Tanushree Dutta, who became the torchbearer of the movement in India after speaking up against actor Nana Patekar and filmmaker Vivek Agnihotri, calls Khan’s entry into the show a “cheap publicity stunt” and a “desperate attempt” by makers to revive interest in the show.
Among the several women who accused Khan, was actor Mandana Karimi, who claimed that he had asked her to remove her clothes during a meeting for his film Humshakals (2014). In a recent interview with us, Karimi said she is not shocked that he is back in the limelight without any repercussions. “For people, life has become like, ‘If it is going to benefit me and I can make money, who cares?’ That shows why #MeToo movement in India and many other countries didn’t really reach anywhere,” Karimi, who has decided to bid adieu to Bollywood as a result, said.
But, this is not the first instance that such an uproar has been created over an accused facing no repercussions. National Award-winning singer Chinmayi Sripaada, who was among several women who named Tamil lyricist and poet Vairamuthu of sexual harassment. feels that such incidents make the process of coping with the trauma of abuse, tougher. “It does further the trauma. But, what can you do? My molester is the favourite nationalist Tamil boy. He continues to get a platform. So many women, who call themselves feminists, get clicked with him,” she says.
Sripaada, however, expresses hope that things will change. “I know when I came out, it was incredibly freeing... Change doesn’t happen instantly. I see men who have taken a step back after this movement, and looked inwards, trying to unlearn things. I think things will change, but they will take time,” she says.
Singer Neha Bhasin, who had spoken up against singer-composer Anu Malik in 2019, says such incidents do not undermine the accusations. “Why should I care about the verdict of a society that is okay with people accused of harassment getting important projects, as if nothing ever happened? It is their shame; those who decide to work with them and continue to be seen with them. They, in no way, undermine whatever any of the victims have said about the accused before,” she says.
#MeToo in the US
The movement first originated in the US in 2006, when the phrase “Me Too” was used in this context by sexual assault survivor and activist Tarana Burke. It gained prominence, however, when The New York Times came out with an article in 2017, accusing the then movie baron, Harvey Weinstein, of sexually harassing multiple women and actors at the workplace.
The same year, actor Alyssa Milano posted on Twitter: “If you’ve been sexually harassed or assaulted write ‘me too’ as a reply to this tweet.” Within hours, her post generated several responses, including from actors Gwyneth Paltrow, Jennifer Lawrence and Uma Thurman, among others.
In 2018, an NYT article revealed that 201 high profile accused names were out of work. Five years later, another report in The Hollywood Reporter said that majority of these names still remain out of work, which is “one of #MeToo’s greatest victories at the practical level”.
Kevin Spacey
In an interview in 2017, actor Anthony Rapp accused actor Kevin Spacey of making a sexual advance towards him when he was 14 and Spacey was in his twenties. Since then, many others have come forward with their accounts of harassment against Spacey. Following this, Spacey was suspended from House of Cards and dropped from several projects. At present, the Oscar-winning actor has gone on trial in New York (USA) over the lawsuit by Rapp.
Steven Seagal
More than a dozen women have accused the actor of sexual harassment and assault, including actors Julianna Margulies, Portia de Rossi, Jenny McCarthy, Lisa Guerrero, and Rachel Grant. Seagal had also previously been sued for sexual assault. By January 2018, at least two women had filed police reports against him. The same year in August, news broke that Russia had named Seagal a “special representative” for US-Russia humanitarian ties.
Louis CK
Five women accused comedian-actor Louis CK in 2017 of sexual misconduct, detailing alleged incidents in which CK exposed himself and masturbated in front of them. In a statement released later, CK confessed that these accounts were true. Soon after, channels and streaming platforms HBO, Netflix and FX cut ties with him, and the distributor of his next film, I Love You, Daddy, cancelled its release. TBS, too, said it had suspended production on CK’s animated comedy, The Cops, before scrapping the project entirely. However, CK continues to make his way back to the stand-up circuit.
Dustin Hoffman
Writer Anna Graham Hunter, who was 17 when she interned at the set of 1985’s Death of a Salesman, told The Hollywood Reporter that on set, actor Dustin Hoffman “was openly flirtatious, he grabbed my ass, he talked about sex to me and in front of me”. Later, two more women accused him of sexual assault, and a third said he exposed himself to her when she was a teenager. In a statement, the actor apologised and said he “felt terrible”. On the show Last Week Tonight with John Oliver recently, the host grilled him during a panel he was moderating, in an effort to get him to self-reflect.
Bryan Singer
Director Bryan Singer faced accusations of sexual misconduct involving minors. Model Michael Egan sued him for sexual assault of a minor in 2014 (the case was withdrawn), and an anonymous plaintiff sued him for sexual assault in 2014. In 2017, actor Cesar Sanchez-Guzman filed a lawsuit in Washington and alleged that Singer had raped him when he was a teenager. Allegations against Singer gained more attention after he was fired from directing the film Bohemian Rhapsody. He still remains listed as the director of the Freddie Mercury (singer) biopic and the remake of Red Sonja (1985).
#MeToo in India
Although the #MeToo wave first reached India in 2017, as it did in many other countries following the high profile cases in Hollywood, it became prominent only a year later in 2018, after actor Tanushree Dutta opened up about her account, accusing actor Nana Patekar of sexual harassment.
That interview served as the prompt for multiple others, who spoke out against high profile names in the industry. Some of those accused included filmmakers Rajkumar Hirani, Vikas Bahl, Subhash Kapoor and Sajid Khan, singers Anu Malik and Kailash Kher, and actors Alok Nath and Rajat Kapoor.
However, nearly all of those who have been accused, continue to get work in their respective fields. Social media outbursts from several pro feminist and #MeToo handles, and countless online petitions, have all fallen on deaf ears as makers continue to offer projects and positions of respect and importance to the accused.
Anu Malik
Allegations against the composer first emerged when singer Sona Mohapatra accused him of referring to her as “maal”. Shortly after, singer Shweta Pandit opened up about being sexually harassed by him when she was 15. The alleged incident took place in 2001, when Pandit visited Empire Studio in Mumbai’s Andheri for an audition. Malik denied the allegations. While Indian Idol removed him as a judge after an uproar in 2019, he got back to the seat, a season later.
Sajid Khan
A journalist accused the filmmaker of assaulting her and exposing his genitals while she was interviewing him in the early 2000s. Another woman alleged that he harassed her in 2011 when she was working as his assistant director. Several others, including actor Mandana Karimi recounted being assaulted by the filmmaker. While he stepped down as the director of Housefull 4 (2019), Khan is back as a contestant on a reality show.
Vikas Bahl
A crew member accused filmmaker Vikas Bahl of assaulting her during the filming of Bombay Velvet in Goa in 2015. Actor Kangana Ranaut, too, has accused him of sexual misconduct. Bahl sent legal notices to his former business partners, filmmakers Anurag Kashyap and Vikramaditya Motwane for making “defamatory allegations” against him. Following this, he worked with actor Hrithik Roshan in the film Super 30 (2019) and more recently, directed Goodbye, starring Amitabh Bachchan and Rashmika Mandanna.
Alok Nath
Writer and director Vinta Nanda accused actor Alok Nath in 2018 of raping her in the 1990s. Subsequently, actors Renuka Shahane, Himani Shivpuri, Sandhya Mridul, Deepika Amin and an anonymous Hum Saath-Saath Hain crew member have either admitted to knowing about Nath’s predatory behaviour or written about their own experiences. Nath has denied the allegations and filed a defamation case against Nanda, with his wife’s support. He featured in two films Sonu Ke Teetu Ki Sweety (2018) and De De Pyaar de (2019) after the incident.
Nana Patekar
Actor Nana Patekar was accused by actor Tanushree Dutta, making him the first prominent name to be highlighted in the #MeToo movement in the Indian film industry. He denied the allegations and tried to drag her to court as well. Two years later, he starred in the film It’s My Life, alongside Harman Baweja and Genelia Deshmukh. Patekar is reportedly gearing up for his next release, The Confession.
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Tanushree Dutta
“The law and order in the US is strong. So, the people have that support. We need to strengthen our system like that. Everyone needs to come together in solidarity in India to eliminate such crimes. Industry veterans, production houses and seniors need to be more responsible not to send such a horrible message to society.”
Neha Bhasin
“Incidents like these are a glaring reflection of the deep-rooted patriarchy. People might get richer and buy expensive cars, but the mindset remains the same. Women are held accountable on the basis of morality, while men are not held accountable to the same standards. Everyone is out to character assassinate a woman. And that’s why the consequences will be different here. The fact that it is acceptable, that someone can get to work after such incidents, just cements my thoughts about India being a patriarchal society.”
Mandana Karimi
“There are people who agree to compromise and keep their mouths shut, or not talk about the things happening around, thinking what difference will one person make? That is the main problem... It was just a few women, they came, they spoke and that was it. Where is the action? Who is boycotting these people? Nothing is going to happen. The industry is a place were someone is someone’s mum, boyfriend, girlfriend or husband. It’s like, you scratch my back, and I will scratch yours.”
Chinmayi Sripaada
“There are not many Harvey Weinsteins (disgraced producer) in the world, who get what the deserve. Even to women in the West, their system tells them that they do it (speak up) for cheap publicity, fame or money. In India, things are even difficult because it happens on a very deep rooted cultural level, which has gone on for generations. Even in regular households, women who suffer abuse are told to adjust and keep shut or not talk about it, while the people who do the deeds, are invited to family functions and what not. But all is not bad, I do see things changing and men wanting to unlearn things. That’s the most important step, I believe.”
Action girl Kriti Sanon to head to Ladakh for Ganapath's final schedule
8:28 AM
Kriti, who will be seen in action avatar in Ganapath, to head to Ladakh today for film’s final schedule
Uma Ramasubramanian (MID-DAY; May 7, 2022)
Kriti Sanon has no time for a breather. The actor, who recently returned from the Shehzada shoot in Mauritius, will head to Ladakh today for the final stint of Ganapath.
A source says that director Vikas Bahl has saved the best for the last — leads Tiger Shroff and Sanon will film some gruelling action sequences against the majestic backdrop of Ladakh. “The team has planned a 15-day long schedule. Kriti is looking forward to it as it will be her first visit to the union territory,” says the source.
It will, however, be all work and little play for Sanon, who will be seen in an action avatar in the movie. Before the project went on floors, she prepped intensely with trainer Harsh Verma, learning the basics of Krav Maga and Muay Thai. The source adds, “Being athletic in nature, Kriti grasped the basics quickly. She will film some martial arts sequences in this leg.”
After being in the industry for 40 years, I am finally working with Amitabh Bachchan-Neena Gupta
8:26 AM
The actress is thrilled about sharing screen space with the actor for the first time in her career
Onkar Kulkarni (BOMBAY TIMES; June 27, 2021)
Neena Gupta, who spent around two months at her home in Mukteshwar, Uttarakhand, is now back in Mumbai and has started shooting for her film Goodbye. The film’s shoot was halted after a lockdown was imposed due to the surge in Coronavirus cases. This is a special project for Neena, who completes four decades in the industry next year, as she gets to share screen space with Amitabh Bachchan for the first time. “Everybody is surprised that this is my first film with him, but that’s the truth! Chalo, at least now I get to work with him,” says Neena, who was in talks for a film starring Bachchan many years ago. “Yes, there was one project that we were in discussion for, but in the end, it didn’t materialise... I don’t know why.”
In Goodbye, directed by Vikas Bahl, Neena plays the actor’s wife. Though this is their first professional collaboration, she has been good friends with his family. “Jaya ji (Jaya Bachchan) invites me for their Diwali party every year. And Mr Bachchan, you know, is such a good host.” Back in 2018, he had appreciated Neena’s work in Badhaai Ho! The actress fondly remembers that she was pleasantly surprised to receive a bouquet of flowers with a handwritten note praising her performance in the film.
Though she shares a good rapport with the Piku actor, when it comes to performing with him, Neena gets nervous. She says, “Initially, I used to be very nervous on the set. Honestly, I was a little in awe of him. However, as time went by, we chatted a lot on the set, and I became normal.”
The actress points out that as they get back to work post the second wave of COVID, crew members are extremely cautious and follow the protocols more stringently. Now that she is in Mumbai, does she miss spending time in the mountains? “I was there for around two months with my husband. Even my daughter Masaba visited us for a few days. But I have had enough of rest, now I want to be busy with work,” she signs off.
Amitabh Bachchan is booked for a year
8:15 AM
With a TV show, two complete films, three upcoming shoots and one project to be announced, Amitabh Bachchan is booked for a year
Himesh Mankad (MUMBAI MIRROR; October 12, 2020)
While most actors half his age are still wondering about when to get back into action, Amitabh Bachchan brought in his 78th birthday on Sunday on a set, but took a break to be with the family for a rather quiet celebration later in the day. After battling the Coronavirus for almost three weeks, the actor has resumed work on the ongoing season of his reality show, Kaun Banega Crorepati. He shoots from 9 am to 9 pm, and then puts in a stint at the recording studio, rationalising his hectic schedule with something his father, poet Harivansh Rai Bachchan, would always say, “Jab tak jeevan hai, tab tak sangharsh hai (Till the time one lives, the struggle continues).”
From November, the actor will commence shoot on his action fantasy adventure, Brahmastra, fronted by Ranbir Kapoor and Alia Bhatt. “It’s just patchwork so he should be done in less than a week,” revealed a source close to the actor.
After Brahmastra, there’s a yet-to-be-announced project, before he moves to Nag Ashwin’s futuristic sci-fi, also featuring Prabhas and Deepika Padukone, which is expected to roll in the summer of 2021. Bachchan plays one of the central characters, who is at the core of the conflict. Contrary to speculations, it’s not a cameo, but a full-fledged role and he has already allotted bulk dates for it.
After wrapping it up, Big B will commence Vikas Bahl’s coming-of-age comedy, Deadly, which revolves around a funeral. “He has been in contact with the filmmaker all through the lockdown and has had multiple script reading sessions with Vikas,” informs the source. He will be joined by an A-list actress.
Over the last few months, Bachchan has also been busy dubbing for two films which are complete, Nagraj Popatrao Manjule’s Jhund, in which he plays football coach to a team of slum kids, and Rumy Jafry’s Chehre where he puts a stranger — who has sought refuge at his outhouse for the night after his car breaks down on the dock in his mock courtroom telling him, “Behind every successful man is a crime.”
Tiger Shroff to play a boxer in Vikas Bahl’s two-part sports drama Ganpat?
8:25 AM
Actor to play a boxer in Vikas Bahl’s two-part sports drama, a quintessential tale of an underdog set in Mumbai
Himesh Mankad (MUMBAI MIRROR; September 8, 2020)
Mirror was the first to report that the Hindi remake of Sylvester Stallone’s Rambo, which was to be Tiger Shroff’s next release after Baaghi 3, has been pushed forward to the last quarter of 2021, with a new director, Rohit Dhawan, on board. Now, we have learnt that the actor has given the go-ahead to Vikas Bahl’s next directorial, Ganpat, and this could be one of the first films Tiger will shoot for, once he gets back into action.
“Ganpat is essentially a sports drama set in Mumbai with Tiger playing a boxer for the first time. Vikas has been working on the script for a while now and Tiger, who loves MMA, wrestling and boxing was looking to do a film in this space. When Vikas narrated the script to him, it was an instant ‘yes’ from Tiger,” informs a source close to the development.
The actor started prepping for the character during the Coronavirus-triggered lockdown and is also working on his physique to look the part of a sportsman, which is different than his appearance in his action films. Tiger has also been working on his boxing skills since the script features many matches in the ring. Boxers of international repute will be a part of the cast. As the title suggests, he is named Ganpat and is an ardent Ganpati bhakt.
This will be Vikas’s first foray into the action genre. He had co-directed the National Award-winning family comedy, Chillar Party, with Nitesh Tiwari in 2011, followed by another National Award-winning Queen in 2013, then Shahid Kapoor-Alia Bhatt’s romcom, Shaandaar, the following year and mathematician Anand Kumar’s biopic, Super 30, with Hrithik Roshan last year. “Ganpat will be a two-film franchise, tracing the journey of Ganpat from a Mumbai boy to a world class boxer. Though it’s an action-packed film, at its core it’s an underdog story like Super 30, with an emotional father-son subplot. The search is on for a senior actor to play Tiger’s onscreen father,” the source shares.
Apart from Ganpat, Vikas is also working on another script, Deadly, which is a coming-of-age comedy centered around a funeral. “The script is almost locked. However, it has been put on the backburner for now and will take off only after he finishes with his boxing franchise,” the source adds.
Tiger has the sequel to his debut film, Heropanti, which marks his reunion with his Baaghi 3 producer Sajid Nadiadwala and director Ahmed Khan. These two films will finally be followed by the Rambo remake.
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