Chitrangda Singh explains why she is selective about work, admits direction is on her bucket list
Akash Bhatnagar (MUMBAI MIRROR; April 15, 2020)

For Chitrangda Singh, the lockdown, enforced to deal with the Coronavirus pandemic, is a time to bond with her son Zorawar. “His safety is most important and it feels good to be around him,” says the actress from Delhi, admitting that after initially enjoying time off from work, the self-isolation is now weighing heavy. “You start out missing the outside, then reach a stage when you enjoy being home, then… Emotions are see-sawing.”

She shares that when she was growing up, a friend of her father’s told her that it’s good to be bored sometimes because this pushes you to explore and discover new things about yourself. “I’m sure when we look back at this time in future, we will think of all the good that came out of it,” she asserts. So, what has she discovered about herself? “That I can make a very good mud brownie cake anytime,” Chitrangda laughs, admitting that she’s baking again after years and has also done some charcoal sketches, which is another hobby she has gone back to.

She will next be seen in Sujoy Ghosh’s Bob Biswas opposite Abhishek Bachchan. It’s been almost two years since her last onscreen outing, Baazaar. The actress insists she’s being selective for a reason. “I was just waiting for the right project with the right people. I didn’t want to only play the emancipated woman, one who is either a superwoman or a seductress. If I’m not happy, it is difficult for me to show up at work every day. I am in a good space right now and happy that I took the time,” she reasons.

On the subject of her next, she says she’s been wanting to work with Sujoy for a while. “I love the way he portrays women in his films. We came close to working together once before, but it didn’t work out,” she shares, going on to rave about “amazing actor” Abhishek and how he underplays his role. “Saif (Ali Khan, her Baazaar co-star) is also a subtle actor with his own nuances. Ditto Abhishek, who is also a walking encyclopedia with so much to share.”

Chitrangda was shooting for the film in Kolkata when the outbreak brought everything to a halt. “I was supposed to start another film after wrapping up Bob Biswas around this time, but now everything has been pushed indefinitely,” she sighs.

In 2018, she turned producer with the Diljit Dosanjh-starrer, Soorma, a biopic on India’s former hockey captain, Sandeep Singh. She had also announced a sequel to it. Prod her on this and she says, “I have the rights to another person’s incredible life story, who is also a real-life hero. We have a director and writer on board and the script is being developed. We were waiting for some things to fall into place when the pandemic struck. It has been in limbo since, but the film will definitely be made. Stories of underdogs rising attract me and Soorma 2 will be no different. It won’t be a sportsperson, but the story is as inspiring.”

Five years ago, Chitrangda did a special song, “Aao Raja”, in Akshay Kumar’s Gabbar Is Back. Any other song in the offing? “No. I did that for Akshay and Mr Bhansali (Sanjay Leela Bhansali, producer). I am always open to experimentation and to doing something new. That’s also why I started writing and producing,” she points out. Direction next? “No plans yet, but it’s on my bucket list, as is wakeboarding. I tried it once and was horrible at it. But some friends tried it and found it exciting, so I want to get better at it. When things get back to normal, I’d like to take a trip to Bali maybe,” she signs off.

Actress Chitrangda Singh on why we all need a passion beyond our field of work
Deebashree Mohanty (TIMES LIFE; May 27, 2018)

You are a reality show judge, an actress, a sport enthusiast, a dancer...what exactly is your forte?
I still haven’t figured that out (laughs). I haven’t done enough to know what exactly works for me. But I do believe that variety is the spice of life. I am sure of only one thing – my choices may not work but I still want to make a choice to be different.

How important is it for actors to have a hobby, a passion or something that diverts attention?
It’s extremely important for one’s mental and emotional well-being. We are so caught up in this competitive world that there is a constant need to do something to keep oneself in the limelight. I don’t mean we should be less ambitious but sometimes switching off is the need of the hour. It’s good to have a hobby you pursue only for yourself, and not to please anyone else.

How are you keeping yourself ‘alternately’ busy?
It’s been a busy year for me, work wise. Alternately, I am working on my fishing skills. It takes up a lot of my time but I am enjoying it thoroughly. We go fishing in the lake inside the forest area near Pataudi Palace, in Gurugram. With the necessary permits in place, this is a haven for people who enjoy an off-beat hobby like this. Apart from that, I am just bonding with my son, Zorawar, and my three dogs, who are my lifeline.

The last we had heard Zorawar was into golf...
He is crazy about it and can play quite well too. Whenever I can take off, we head to the golf course where he shows off his skills. Then we head to the horse training ground in the same complex.

How about holidays? Are you an adventure traveller?
I am not the take-a-spa-and-relax-in-the-resort kinda girl. I would indulge in adrenaline-pumping activities every day of my holiday.

Your next travel destination…
I’m dying to go back to Bali. I love the clean, refreshing waters out there. According to me it’s one of the best scuba diving destinations in the world. I also enjoy shopping in Bali...

Do you believe in the ‘love yourself’ philosophy?
It’s easier said than done. In this business, there is a certain stereotype that is prevalent. Whether you like it or not, it’s there. For example; every magazine wants their cover girl to look a certain way. They will photo-shop and make you look everything but you. Such is life. It’s natural that you would want to better yourself but that need should be self-created and not because someone says so. We need to appreciate who we really are. It will help if our films focused on real stories rather than fairy tales. We are getting there.

In this showbiz, do you think there is space for a woman who has a mind of her own?
When we say, make more women-centric films, we certainly don’t mean show the actress beating up a man. I am not a man, I don’t want to be one. It will be enough for me if my role is given the space it deserves and is promoted the way it should be. The good thing in the industry is that producers are wanting to make big ticket films centering around women protagonists. Vidya Balan and Kangana Ranaut have to be given credit. I admire them for that.

QUICK FIRE

What does style mean to you?
Comfort over fashion. I go for something that is classic and brings out my personality – like the 1960s and 1970s.

Your regular outfit
White T-shirt and jeans.

Make-up trick
Less is always more. Never ditch nudes.

Wardrobe essentials
A lot of black, white and grey. There will always be that white shirt or T-shirt and blue jeans I wear a lot. A black dress is a must. Killer outfit for red carpet Something sensuous and sexy. Maybe a floor-length lavish gown. What does fitness mean to you? Everything – because of my army upbringing. I’ve seen my dad waking up every morning to play some sport or other. Come rain or hail, he never misses his session.

Amit Karn (MID-DAY; May 17, 2017)

Cricketer Yuvraj Singh, who tied the knot with Bollywood starlet Hazel Keech last year, has big plans to dive into the movie-making business. What’s more, the stylish southpaw also intends to launch his younger brother, Zorawar, in films. Insiders inform Yuvi, along with mother Shabnam, has held several meetings with well known film producers and financiers in this regard.

Says a source close to one of the financiers, “He is looking at investing big bucks in his brother’s launch pad. Yuvi and Shabnam are in constant touch with the producers and have urged them to up the film’s scale.”

Last year, Zorawar found himself in the thick of a controversy after his estranged wife, Akanksha Sharma, levelled domestic abuse charges against the Singhs on an episode of Bigg Boss 10. Counter allegations followed and the matter hit headlines until eventually fading out. According to Akanksha, Zorawar “does nothing” for a living, but given his good looks, sources say, Yuvraj felt he could give a shot at acting.

“Zorawar has been asked to lose weight as soon as possible. But otherwise, the producers have agreed to all of Yuvraj’s terms and conditions. Hunt for the leading lady and rest of the cast is underway. Once the main cast is ready, an announcement will be made,” adds the insider.

Father Yograj Singh reacts to Yuvraj drug use charges
Bipin Dani (MID-DAY; November 2, 2016)

Yograj Singh, father of cricketer Yuvraj Singh, has rubbished claims of his son being a drug addict. Akanksha Sharma, the estranged wife of Yuvi’s younger brother Zorawar, who was a participant on controversial reality show Bigg Boss, had made the allegations. In a chat with hitlist (I was forced into sex, October 31), Akanksha had admitted that she used to occasionally smoke pot with Zorawar.

Yograj said over phone, “What nonsense is she talking? This is all rubbish. I am a father of four children, and none of them is a drug addict. Yuvraj and all my other three children are like lions. They don’t eat grass.”

Yuvraj and Zorawar are sons of Yograj’s first wife, Shabnam, and live with their mother. He has a son (Victor Singh) and a daughter (Amarjot Kaur) with his second wife, Meena. “The lady, who is accusing Yuvraj, should put her own house in order before making any allegations. “These claims won’t hamper the chances of my son’s comeback [ into the team],” added Yograj, who played a Test match and six ODIs for India.
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Meanwhile: Singhs to sue Akansha from Bigg Boss

Letty Mariam Abraham (MID-DAY; November 4, 2016)

he Singhs plan to file a defamation case against Akanksha for ‘stating false facts’. The family’s lawyer Daman Bir Singh Sobti said, “Right after the marriage, they [the Singhs] found out about Akansha’s substance abuse. When confronted, she denied it, but her mother, Monika, admitted to it. Both mothers accompanied the couple on their honeymoon as they feared she would have a relapse.”

He says Zorawar has filed for divorce, but not on his mom, Shabnam Singh’s insistence. “Akanksha left the house in September 2014. If Shabnam was actually harassing her, why would she give her Rs 20,000 per month till April 2015?” The lawyer claims the family didn’t rake up the issue earlier as they didn’t want to give importance to Akansha and are busy with Yuvraj’s wedding prep.

In a statement, Shabnam said, “I am outraged and deeply hurt to hear what Akansha said in her interview with mid-day. For the longest time, we, as a family, have ignored her unnecessary assaults, giving her the benefit of being immature, and above all, being family. This benefit cannot be extended forever. Lawful action will be taken against Akansha.”

Letty Mariam Abraham (MID-DAY; October 31, 2016)

When Akanksha Sharma entered the Bigg Boss house, none had an inkling that she was sister-in-law to cricketer Yuvraj Singh. She let it slip during a conversation with co-contestant Gaurav Chopra and almost instantly created ripples. Akanksha accused mom-in-law Shabnam Singh of mental torture following which estranged hubby Zorawar countered all her allegations. With Akanksha out of the house now, she bares all in no-holds-barred conversation with hitlist. Excerpts:

You revealed about your short-lived marriage to Yuvraj Singh’s brother Zorawar while in the house. What exactly went wrong?
My mother and Shabnam Singh were best friends and they decided to marry us off. I was okay with an arranged match. The wedding was solemnised within a week since their ‘babaji’ advised so. So, there was no courtship where I could get to know him. I know Zorawar wasn’t confident person, but later I realised, that was not the only issue; he had been overshadowed all his life. When one child in the house gets all the attention, the other one is bound to feel left out, right? We didn’t have a physical or emotional connect. I was married to two people — Zorawar and his mother. She wanted me to stay in the kitchen all day.

Why didn’t she allow you to work?
No clue. We had four cooks, but still, I was expected to cook. I was not allowed to go out, shop or even drive the car. She followed me everywhere, including on our honeymoon.

Zorawar has claimed you refused to have a physical relationship.
Just because you are married, you don’t have to have sex immediately. You have to build a comfort level first. But, I was forced into it. She kept saying that if I want financial freedom, I will have to have sex. I’d rather become a prostitute, right? Maybe, she wanted to tie me down by getting me impregnated.

What happened after you moved to Gurgaon?
My mother-in-law accompanied us there as well. There was no escaping her.

Zorawar said you kept late nights without informing anyone…
I never went alone anywhere; my husband was always there with me. If you meet him, you will know he doesn’t have an opinion of his own. He is his mother’s puppet. When we went out, she would drop us or send her PA. She’d even go through my cupboard and had the servants spy on me.

He also accused you of substance abuse.
I won’t deny that. I did smoke pot with my husband and his cousin. But, they are saying all this now to defame me.

Were you ever physically or sexually abused?
Not really. Yes, my mother-in-law slapped me once, but not too hard. I was mentally tortured every day. And no, Zorawar never forced himself on me. He is a kind person.

In the case filed against you, it is mentioned that you’d often come home drunk, have alcohol bottles in your room.
When someone is tortured, they would resort to drinking. I never went home carrying a bottle; I know my limits. I never drank alone. Zorawar would often say ‘let’s drink’ and I’d agree.

Did you try to extort money from them by threatening suicide?
I’m a fighter, why will I try to kill myself? I took money from my parents even after marriage. My family kept telling me to give it some more time. Without their support, I thought of running away— even stay on the streets than be tortured every day.

What did Zoravar do for a living?
He does nothing. The entire family survives on Yuvi’s money.


Zorawar Singh, Yuvraj Singh and Akansha Sharma

Chitrangda gets custody of her son Zorawar; Jyoti Randhawa gets visitation rights; two lawyer brothers represented their cases
Jyothi Prabhakar (BOMBAY TIMES; April 19, 2014)

Actress Chitrangda Singh and golfer Jyoti Randhawa have always denied there was an issue in their marriage, talk of which has been around for years. They did the same last May, when we broke the story of them filing for divorce by mutual consent at the Gurgaon Family Court, and ever since, they have been denying the divorce rumours even more strongly.

But now, it turns out that just as we had mentioned in our story last May, Randhawa and Chitrangda, who had been married for 12 years, and have a son, Zorawar, filed for divorce by mutual consent in May 2013 — the case was heard by district judge Baljit Singh, who advised that the duo sort out their differences and fixed a hearing for November 11, 2013. And on that date, as it happens with cases of divorce by mutual consent, since a period of six months had elapsed post the filing for divorce, certain issues were ironed out, and a divorce granted.

Osama Suhail, the lawyer who represented Chitrangda Singh, told us, “While I have already mentioned that I can neither deny nor confirm the divorce, it is true that I represented Chitrangda Singh in her divorce case, and Mr Randhawa’s lawyer was Mr Samama. They applied for divorce in May last year. Six months later, as it happens with such cases, they again appeared before the judge and a divorce was granted.”

When asked about the settlement, he added, “It was more of an internal thing, and client confidentiality is a term I take seriously, and so, I cannot divulge further details.” On being asked whether it was an out-of-court settlement, he replied, “Yes, it was an out-of-court settlement. There is no mention of any financial arrangement in the court papers at all. But yes, in November, certain issues were settled. Visitation rights, for one — it was decided that their son, Zorawar, will remain with the mother, with the father getting visitation rights.” Suhail also mentioned that the divorce record was in the public domain.