Showing posts with label Yudhra. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Yudhra. Show all posts
Aryan Khan is the son of the biggest outsider in the industry-Raghav Juyal
9:46 AM
Priyanka Sharma (MID-DAY; September 21, 2025)
Raghav Juyal’s experience in movies spans over a decade, but it is only the last two years that have marked his rise to prominence, thanks to his breakout performance in Kill (2023), his vulnerable and sensitive cop act in Gyaarah Gyaarah (2024), and later, a negative turn in Yudhra (2024). With The B***ds Of Bollywood, the excitement around him has only grown bigger. Days before the show’s première, the actor opened up to mid-day about the frustration he battled while waiting for his work to be released.
“On television, I was a king. I had a house, a car, and I was famous. In some ways, I was a star. But in movies, it was like the struggle of a new job had begun. When I left TV, I knew that I had to be patient to work in films because sometimes it takes years for a film to get made. And then it takes time for the release. I had shot for many projects — Yudhra, Kill, The Ba***ds Of Bollywood — but they were not releasing. I kept giving auditions, but there was a time when I was a little frustrated, thinking what would happen,” he said.
The Ba***ds Of Bollywood, which marks superstar Shah Rukh Khan’s son Aryan Khan’s directorial debut, features Juyal in a prominent role. Much of the primary cast, including Lakshya, Anya Singh, and Sahher Bambba, is young and relatively new to the industry. Working with new energy is naturally comforting for young actors because it makes it easier for them to dissent. But what happens when they know he is a superstar’s son and it is his home production? Did Juyal ever hesitate in disagreeing with Aryan?
“No. I don’t think Aryan ever gave us such a vibe. He has a habit of asking questions. He would ask our point of view. In my opinion, that’s the best way of working because filmmaking is a collaborative process. He has learnt this at home. He has the same etiquette of respecting other artistes that Shah Rukh sir displays. He knows that [everyone] comes with their struggles and experiences,” the actor explained.
Juyal praised Aryan’s vision to make the show both critical about the industry and mass-appealing. Having an extended family outside of Bollywood, Aryan understood the Indian audience, which exists beyond metropolitan cities, the actor said.
“There’s a very homely environment within his family. His diction of Hindi and Urdu is clear. He speaks in English only when needed. That’s why he was able to make a very rooted show with a self-critical lens. We as actors have made a fool of ourselves and poked fun at our own profession. The satire and criticism that Aryan has shown is beautiful. He is the son of the biggest outsider in the industry. He doesn’t have the vibe of a nepo kid. He has made a show for the whole of India, not for the Bandra or South Bombay crowd. Bina khaaye, bina soye, bas kaam karne ka keeda ghar se mila hai,” he said.
I don’t opt for narratives in which women are treated in a misogynistic way-Malavika Mohanan
8:08 AM
Masumi Shah (BANGALORE TIMES; October 19, 2024)
After establishing herself in the Tamil and Malayalam film industries, giving Bollywood a shot felt “natural and right,” Malavika Mohanan tells us during a recent interaction. From Majid Majidi’s Beyond The Clouds and the Tamil hit Master to her Bollywood debut Yudhra, Malavika says she’s all for diversifying her portfolio, whether in terms of language or genre.
‘OTT, SOCIAL MEDIA HAVE MADE REGIONAL CONTENT ACCESSIBLE’
“I have worked in some big films in the south, but I was waiting for the right offer to enter Bollywood. Working with Siddhant (Chaturvedi), Farhan Akhtar (producer), and Ravi Udyawar (director) was an opportunity I didn’t want to miss,” Malavika says, that being established in one industry makes it easier to receive good offers in another.
“The boundaries between languages and industries have blurred significantly. If you’ve done a good job in a Tamil or Telugu film, it’s reaching audiences everywhere. So, you can now collaborate with great filmmakers across the board. Thanks to OTT platforms and social media, well-made films are no longer confined to the regions they originate from.”
‘LOVE ACTION PACKED ROLES’
Malavika’s filmography includes several action films, one of her favourite genres. “I love doing action. Initially, it is very challenging to get the technical aspects right, but once you learn the nuances, it is fun. I’ve done my fair share of action, so now my friends call me the ‘female Bruce Lee’ (laughs). I prefer this over standing delicately next to a hero while he’s beating everyone up. Why should boys have all the fun, right?”
On exploring OTT
While opting to do OTT projects has become a rite of passage for actors today, Malavika hasn’t made the switch yet, though she’s open to the idea. “Exploring OTT depends on the project, who’s directing it, what the role is like, etc. For the last couple of years, I’ve been so busy with feature films that I haven’t had time to explore other mediums, but it might happen if the right opportunity comes along.”
‘I stay away from misogynistic scripts’
The actress says, “I don’t opt for narratives in which women are treated in a misogynistic way. I’m mindful of the characters I choose and prefer roles where women have agency, and are portrayed in a positive light.”
‘My parents let me figure things out on my own’
Malavika’s father is a renowned cinematographer (K U Mohanan), but she says he doesn’t interfere with her choices. “My parents come from a school of thought where they tell me, ‘You do you.’ They never pull me away from what I do want to do. They’re very liberal, and let me figure things out on my own.”
When Khesari Lal Yadav and Pawan Singh's Bhojpuri songs are played at home, my thumkas come out-Siddhant Chaturvedi
8:37 AM
Shourya Jha (BOMBAY TIMES; October 20, 2024)
From playing a rapper Gully Boy, to charming the audiences as Zain in Gehraiyaan and recently turning on his action avatar in Yudhra, Siddhant Chaturvedi has dabbled in a variety of genres in a short span since his debut. In the city for an event a while ago, the actor spoke to us about doing action sequences, trying different roles and more. Excerpts from a chat:
'Want to surprise the audience with whatever I do’
Siddhant says he’s on the lookout for a variety of roles. He has stuck to that thought and will continue to, through his upcoming films. “I just keep trying to do different things,” says the actor, adding, “There’s a risk of failure as well because people might not like or accept you in a certain role. But sometimes you have to fail when you're trying to go into unknown territory. I'm young, I want to understand failure. I don't want to reach a height and then fail because that would be too big of a fall. I am fine taking a step in a new direction, failing, getting up and trying again.”
Siddhant believes that trying different things also helps him evolve as an actor. “I want to surprise the audience with whatever I do. Acting is like being a magician. The audience should not know what you're going to pull out of the hat. That’s the feeling I want to give the audience,” he shares.
'I’d get restless while shooting action scenes’
Siddhant recently did a lot of action in Yudhra and got to work with international stunt director Nick Powell, who has projects like Gladiator, The Bourne Identity, RRR and Kalki to his credit.
Speaking about getting into the action mode, Siddhant says, “If you're doing long sequences without cuts, it's highly important to understand each moment, along with the breathing pattern. When you start doing action, you are pumped but Nick asked me to slow down and do it all at a 20% speed. I would get restless but then he told me how he trained other actors, including Tom Cruise, like that.”
Recalling the climax shoot Siddhant adds, “When we finally shot the scene, I could see all that Nick had told me coming together automatically. It felt like a magical process. I think I'll follow this every time I do an action scene.”
On wanting to do roles that reflect his upbringing…
Originally from Ballia in Uttar Pradesh, Siddhant has fond memories of being raised in a small town. However, He is yet to get a chance to portray such a character on screen. “I have an urban image because of the films I've done. Barring Dhadak 2, I never got a role which was rooted in a smaller town. My roles have been very aspirational. I want to be aspirational, but I also feel sad about not getting to play roles that reflect my background. When Khesari Lal Yadav and Pawan Singh's Bhojpuri songs are played at home, my thumkas come out. No one has seen me like that and I’m waiting for something like this to come my way.”
Logon ko nahin pasand aayi, nahin dekhi, says Raghav Juyal on Yudhra's box office failure
9:47 AM
Akash Bhatnagar (HINDUSTAN TIMES; October 8, 2024)
Actor Raghav Juyal was on a roll with the success of Kill and Gyaarah Gyaarah this year, but his third release — Yudhra — failed to make a mark at the box office.
“Nahin pasand aayi hogi logon ko to nahin gaye honge dekhne. It’s as simple,” the actor says, adding, “If Yudhra had come first, I might’ve been disappointed but people recognized the actor in me with the previous two projects.”
But the 33-year-old asserts that Kill “changed my life completely”. Delving into serious and villainous roles, Juyal made a conscious decision not to do comedy. He explains, “To break an image, you need to do a path-breaking character. TV had also become monotonous for me. I wasn’t getting to try different things and the risk had reduced. It feels good to see that after 14 years people have realized that I am a good actor. It’s difficult to be patient for this long.”
Talking about how patient he has been over the course of his career, he adds how Yudhra was shot during the lockdown, but released after a gap of five years. “So, that time was stressful, just waiting for your films to get released for four-five years and for people to notice that you can act... Some of my art films are still in the box, including one with Ranvir Shorey (actor), a film with Namit Das (actor-singer) and one with Sanjay Mishra (actor),” he signs off.
Any other producer would have backed out-Siddhant Chaturvedi
8:46 AM
Siddhant praises Yudhra producers Farhan and Ritesh’s gumption for backing a relative newcomer like him despite the post-pandemic volatility
Priyanka Sharma (MID-DAY; September 20, 2024)
Yudhra might be Siddhant Chaturvedi’s sixth film in his eight-year career, but it was the first one he signed after his big-screen debut with Gully Boy (2019). Producers Farhan Akhtar and Ritesh Sidhwani had zeroed in on him for Ravi Udyawar’s directorial venture, but with the development taking long, the actor made a request to the makers.
“They were still working on the script. Meanwhile, I was offered Bunty Aur Babli 2 [2021] and Gehraiyaan [2022]. So, I told Ritesh sir, ‘You need some time to prep. For an action film, the actor needs equity. Since the responsibility on me is huge, let me go out and get some equity,’” he recalls.
By the time the actor was ready to face the camera for Yudhra, which also stars Malavika Mohanan, the pandemic delayed the project. It, however, didn’t stop Chaturvedi’s prep.
“I knew the weight of responsibility on me. I was also scared. Because of the pandemic, the industry’s commerce went upside down. In such a scenario, any other producer would’ve backed out because it’s all about the returns. But Farhan sir, Ritesh sir and Ravi sir had immense faith in me and the script.”
For this, he remains grateful to the makers. Akhtar and Sidhwani showed gumption as they backed a relatively new actor like him, just as they had in Inside Edge, Gully Boy and Kho Gaye Hum Kahan (2023).
“When the market is so volatile, they could think, ‘We are making this film with this new boy. What if it doesn’t open [well] at the box office?’ It takes guts [to bet on new talent]. That’s why Farhan sir and Ritesh sir are game changers.”
While he made his debut with a supporting role in Gully Boy, Chaturvedi has quickly graduated to lead roles. In the pipeline, he has Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s yet-untitled production, and a Karan Johar film co-starring Triptii Dimri.
“My dreams were always big, to be a Hindi film hero. At the same time, I am attached to my craft and won’t do things for the heck of it. There were films that I could have done, but I always need gravitas in the story.”
In that pursuit, the actor has turned down some movies, including Brahmāstra: Part One—Shiva (2022). His criteria while choosing projects are simple. He explains, “There should be substance. I need to control my craft, the rest is not in my control.”
(Crisp) Movie Review: YUDHRA by FENIL SETA
2:13 PM
Yudhra's story is very routine. One can also see a few twists coming from a mile away. Some scenes and dialogues are childish and you wonder how it got approved in the first place. A character, for instance, says that it'll be easier to kill a character in Portugal than in Mumbai as if the European country is a lawless land like Mirzapur. But what saves the film are a couple of action and chase scenes. Director Ravi Udyawar (who earlier made Mom) uses his technical brilliance and he also uses style and novelty in many of the scenes. He also handles the scale ably. Siddhant Chaturvedi seems apt for the part. He looks like someone who can take on a lot of baddies single-handedly. Malavika Mohanan looks stunning and delivers a confident performance. Raghav Juyal plays a baddie yet again after Kill and excels, as expected. Ram Kapoor leaves a mark while Gajraj Rao is dependable. Raj Arjun has got a great look but suddenly starts hamming in the end. Shilpa Shukla is wasted. The songs are very bad. All in all, Yudhra is an average film and can be a good choice to watch on National Cinema Day at just Rs. 99.
My rating - ** ½ out of 5!
My rating - ** ½ out of 5!
Fenil's Bollywood Talk # 848
11:07 AM
SIDDHANT CHATURVEDI-STARRER, MUCH-AWAITED MARATHI SEQUEL TO GET BENEFIT OF NATIONAL CINEMA DAY
Tomorrow, most theatres across the country will sell tickets for just Rs. 99 as part of the National Cinema Day. This offer will be valid only on regular seats while the tickets of IMAX, 3D, 4DX and recliner class will be available between Rs. 130 and Rs. 199. As it has happened in the past, the audience, this time too, is going to come in hordes to cinemas due to the offer.
The biggest beneficiary of the offer will be the big Hindi release of the week, Yudhra. It stars Siddhant Chaturvedi, Malavika Mohanan and Raghav Juyal and is produced by Ritesh Sidhwani and Farhan Akhtar's Excel Entertainment. Ravi Udyawar of Mom (2017) is the director. The film was launched way back in 2021 and got stuck due to pandemic challenges. Also, a small part of the film was reshot to enhance its scale.
The film’s buzz is limited but has a youthful appeal. Thanks to the National Cinema Day offer, its shows are fast-filling. The film will open around Rs. 2-3 crores and it might even go higher if the demand increases as the day passes. If the reports are positive, Yudhra will be in a good position to score at the box office on Saturday and Sunday.
The other big film that will have an advantage is Navra Maza Navsacha 2. It is the sequel to the cult Marathi film Navra Maza Navsacha and stars Sachin Pilgaonkar, Ashok Saraf, Supriya Pilgaonkar and Swwapnil Joshi. The demand for the film is tremendous. Many shows across Maharashtra are already sold out and theatres are increasing the film's shows to cope up with the demand. It will surely have a huge opening and it won’t be a surprise if it opens better than Yudhra.
The other Hindi release of the week is Kahan Shuru Kahan Khatam, which marks the debut of Dhvani Bhanushali. Transformers One and Never Let Go are the Hollywood releases. All these films will also get an audience due to the offer of National Cinema Day.
The holdover releases like Tumbbad and Stree 2 will have an added advantage thanks to National Cinema Day. Even the shows of The Buckingham Murders are going full and hence, its eighth day might be around Rs. 90 lakhs-Rs. 1 crore, which will be a good sign.
Tomorrow, most theatres across the country will sell tickets for just Rs. 99 as part of the National Cinema Day. This offer will be valid only on regular seats while the tickets of IMAX, 3D, 4DX and recliner class will be available between Rs. 130 and Rs. 199. As it has happened in the past, the audience, this time too, is going to come in hordes to cinemas due to the offer.
The biggest beneficiary of the offer will be the big Hindi release of the week, Yudhra. It stars Siddhant Chaturvedi, Malavika Mohanan and Raghav Juyal and is produced by Ritesh Sidhwani and Farhan Akhtar's Excel Entertainment. Ravi Udyawar of Mom (2017) is the director. The film was launched way back in 2021 and got stuck due to pandemic challenges. Also, a small part of the film was reshot to enhance its scale.
The film’s buzz is limited but has a youthful appeal. Thanks to the National Cinema Day offer, its shows are fast-filling. The film will open around Rs. 2-3 crores and it might even go higher if the demand increases as the day passes. If the reports are positive, Yudhra will be in a good position to score at the box office on Saturday and Sunday.
The other big film that will have an advantage is Navra Maza Navsacha 2. It is the sequel to the cult Marathi film Navra Maza Navsacha and stars Sachin Pilgaonkar, Ashok Saraf, Supriya Pilgaonkar and Swwapnil Joshi. The demand for the film is tremendous. Many shows across Maharashtra are already sold out and theatres are increasing the film's shows to cope up with the demand. It will surely have a huge opening and it won’t be a surprise if it opens better than Yudhra.
The other Hindi release of the week is Kahan Shuru Kahan Khatam, which marks the debut of Dhvani Bhanushali. Transformers One and Never Let Go are the Hollywood releases. All these films will also get an audience due to the offer of National Cinema Day.
The holdover releases like Tumbbad and Stree 2 will have an added advantage thanks to National Cinema Day. Even the shows of The Buckingham Murders are going full and hence, its eighth day might be around Rs. 90 lakhs-Rs. 1 crore, which will be a good sign.
I created the whole world and characters of Ramayana-Ravi Udyawar
8:30 AM
Ravi, who has designed Ramayana’s world, says audience wants to see more of India’s mythological stories on screen
Priyanka Sharma (MID-DAY; September 16, 2024)
Straddling a modern-day actioner and a mythological drama comes easy to Ravi Udyawar. While he is gearing up for his directorial venture Yudhra’s release, he is equally excited about Ramayana, on which he serves as the visual artist. Before Nitesh Tiwari’s magnum opus, starring Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Ram and Sai Pallavi as Sita, went on floors in April, Udyawar spent years creating and designing the on-screen world.
“I have designed the film. I am an artist, and the makers wanted someone who could design it. So, I created the whole world and characters of Ramayana. But I can’t divulge more details. I would love to make more of such films because I love creating that world,” he says. Envisioned as a trilogy, the mythological drama also stars Yash as Ravana and Sunny Deol as Hanuman.
Udyawar, who previously helmed Sridevi-starrer Mom (2017), believes the Indian audience deserves to see the country’s rich mythological stories play out on screen.
“People of the country are waiting for us to tell our stories. I am a geek of mythologies. All my films will have an undertone of that. The kids should be watching our fables and Panchatantra. The land that we come from has many more stories to offer.”
Siddhant Chaturvedi on how to make women feel safe on set: Listen to what makes her uncomfortable
8:28 AM
With Hema Committee report showing rampant exploitation of women, Yudhra actor Siddhant says creating safe working environment for female actors is entire unit’s responsibility
Priyanka Sharma (MID-DAY; September 13, 2024)
With Yudhra, Siddhant Chaturvedi is excited to show his action avatar on screen. But there is something else that has him even more thrilled about Ravi Udyawar’s directorial venture—co-star Malavika Mohanan’s character. “She is not a damsel in distress, she is as strong as I am in the film. Yudhra will break the stereotypes [of a female character in action films],” he says proudly.
When reading scripts, one of the things Chaturvedi keeps an eye out for is the presentation of female characters. “I’ve been raised by women. There is mom, and in the film industry, it was Zoya [Akhtar]. I feel proud when women are presented in a raw and strong way. I like women being shown stronger than me and the protagonist in a film.”
A dialogue about women’s safety has been reignited after the Hema Committee report shed light on the exploitation of women in the Malayalam film industry. As the male lead, Chaturvedi sits at the top of a film’s hierarchy structure. How does he ensure that women working with him feel safe? By listening to them, says the actor.
“It’s about the environment you create to make a woman feel safe. When you’re approaching any scene, you have to make sure that the person is feeling comfortable; if that’s not the case, you flag it to your first AD, director and producer. Listen carefully to what makes her uncomfortable. Listening is the most powerful tool that people don’t use. Listen, process and go to the root of the problem—why is it happening and how did we, as a responsible crew, let it happen? It’s the responsibility of every man and woman on the set to look out for each other. If it happens to someone, it needs to be addressed then and there.”
Maharashtra govt lifts all COVID restrictions, but masks, rapid antigen tests, staggered breaks to continue on sets
8:40 AM
As Maharashtra govt lifts all COVID restrictions, studios tread with caution; masks, rapid antigen tests, staggered breaks to continue on sets
Mohar Basu, Uma Ramasubramanian (MID-DAY; April 2, 2022)
On Thursday, the Maharashtra government announced that all pandemic-related restrictions, including the mandatory wearing of masks, were being lifted from April 2 that marks Gudi Padwa. This comes after over two years of stringent adherence with safety norms as the world underwent several waves of the pandemic. However, with Shanghai witnessing its largest virus outbreak since March 2020, the need to have our guard up cannot be emphasized enough — a school of thought that most Bollywood productions are aligning with. Despite the lifting of curbs, many movie sets are retaining the Coronavirus protocols that were put in place after the second lockdown.
The team of Kiran Rao’s upcoming comedy-drama, backed by Aamir Khan, recently completed a 10-day schedule in Madh Island. Sources from the team inform that no-mask-no-entry will be a non-negotiable rule going forward as well.
A unit hand reveals, “Working with masks has become a norm, and we have been told that masking up will be necessary while on the set. Temperature monitoring too will continue to ensure everyone’s safety.”
The team at the production house is apparently contemplating whether they should do away with rapid antigen testing in light of the dwindling cases in the city.
Streaming giants, including Netflix, Amazon Prime Video and Disney+ Hotstar, have taken a tough stand on that front. Rapid antigen testing will be compulsory on the sets of their productions. A prime example is a Netflix non-fiction show that is currently being filmed in north India.
Most Bollywood productions had done away with bio-bubble shoots since late last year. Studios, however, remain steadfast in their efforts to minimise the risk of exposure. The team of Tiger Shroff and Kriti Sanon’s Ganapath, for instance, has prohibited the use of public transport.
A source from the unit reveals, “The unit’s safety is the producer’s top priority. As the team of 80 will shoot in and around Mumbai over the next few weeks, the makers are ensuring that everyone has access to production vehicles.”
Measures such as hair and make-up teams using gloves, and staggered lunch breaks to avoid crowding will remain firmly in place, as seen on the Mira Road set of Siddhant Chaturvedi’s Yudhra. Most producers are also retaining COVID insurances in case of hospitalisation, depending on each case and severity.
Bollywood resumes shoot; Ajay Devgn kicks off Bholaa, YRF resumes The Railway Men
8:40 AM
As cases dip in the city, B-Town back in action with YRF resuming shoot of The Railway Men; Ajay kicks off work on Bholaa
Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; January 24, 2022)
With Coronavirus cases in the city dropping to 3,500 a day, filmmakers have heaved a sigh of relief. Work has resumed on major productions, which had been stalled in the wake of the rising cases. mid-day has learnt that Ajay Devgn kicked off the shoot of Bholaa, the official adaptation of the Tamil actioner, Kaithi (2019).
A source reveals, “The shoot began late last week. Meanwhile, filming of Excel Entertainment’s Yudhra, starring Siddhant Chaturvedi and Malavika Mohanan, is continuing in Marol. Yash Raj Films had called off the shoot of their maiden web series, The Railway Men, in December when the cases started showing an uptick. Now, the team feels confident to pick up where they had left off. Stricter protocols have been put in place to protect the cast and crew, including regular testing.”
Some filmmakers, however, have decided to wait out the wave before they return to the sets. The source adds, “Most big-ticket ventures, including director Nitesh Tiwari’s project with Varun Dhawan and Janhvi Kapoor, and Kartik Aaryan’s next with director Sameer Vidwans will roll in March. Vicky Kaushal-starrer Sam Bahadur too is slated to kick off then.”
Bollywood put on a pedestal over other industries-Malavika Mohanan
8:18 AM
Rishabh Suri (HINDUSTAN TIMES; February 28, 2021)
Actor Malavika Mohanan is finally set to be seen in a Hindi masala potboiler, Yudhra opposite actor Sidhant Chaturvedi. After Majid Majidi’s Beyond The Clouds in 2017, she preferred to do two Tamil and one Malayalam film, instead of taking up just about any Bollywood film that came her way.
She tells us why, “In the last two years, I have got so many Hindi projects, even some big ones with A-listers. But they were characters I didn’t really see myself doing. For me, I have always picked my films intuitively. I see my contemporaries picking films just to keep the ball rolling. Their idea is to sign as many films, even if they are half decent, to keep having constant announcements. While that sounds good for other people, it’s never been something that I want to do.”
Which is why this 27-year-old decided to wait it out, and Yudhra happened. Having done films such as Petta opposite Rajinikanth and Master with Vijay, Mohanan feels that people still tend to overlook other industries.
“Bollywood is an amazing industry. I have grown up watching Hindi films, but unfortunately, I do see people putting Bollywood on a pedestal,” she says.
The actor adds, “For me, Hindi, Telugu, Malayalam, Tamil, all are on the same level. Obviously, Bollywood has a national reach. Master was a film which the whole of south India watched. Vijay sir has so many fans comprising almost half the country, but if it was a Bollywood film, the whole country would have watched it. For me, Tamil cinema is at par with Bollywood. Therefore, I personally find the difference annoying.”
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