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My films are about complications in love-Luv Ranjan

February 22, 2018, 6:29 pm
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Clik here to view. Luv Ranjan
Hiren Kotwani (DNA; February 23, 2018)

Luv Ranjan hit it off with cinegoers with his directorial debut, Pyaar Ka Punchnama (PKP). Though his second film, Akaash Vani, didn’t repeat the success of his first, he bounced back with Pyaar Ka Punchnama 2. As his fourth directorial venture, Sonu Ke Titu Ki Sweety (SKTKS), starring Kartik Aaryan, Nushrat Bharucha and Sunny Singh opens in cinemas today, the filmmaker looks back at his cinematic journey.

Luv, who began as an assistant to Suneel Darshan (on Barsaat and Dosti), realised that writing was his true calling after his third-year exams. He concedes, “My parents were supportive. I came from Ghaziabad to Mumbai to find a house and look for work. And the next day, I had a job. By God’s grace, I didn’t have to struggle.” Excerpts from a chat with the producer-director...

After the success of PKP 2, many were expecting you to continue the franchise with a third film.
I had not made the sequel immediately after PKP. I can’t keep on doing the same thing as it becomes boring. I had the idea about exploring a new relationship angle and felt it was relevant now. So, I decided to make SKTKS.

Bromance plays an important part in your films as the protagonists realise the problems of love. SKTKS revolves around the war between bromance and romance. Do you think in real life, these two aspects are always at loggerheads?
When a new person comes in the life of a girl/boy, their friends are anxious and have their own share of insecurities. Also, most people are impatient when it comes to relationships, so conflict is common. Earlier, when people got married, it was expected that the family gets time and priority. Today, ‘me time’ is relevant. Be it a man or a woman, everyone needs time and space for himself/herself. Personally, I don’t understand how old relationships become irrelevant because of a new entrant.

Were Kartik, Nushrat and Sunny the first choices for the roles?
I didn’t have a reason to not cast them. When I’ve written something, I always ask myself whether they will be able to do justice to the roles and script. Kartik has a certain naughtiness. Earlier, he and Nushrat have starred opposite each other. So, it was interesting to see them locking horns. Sunny has that real-life madness to him, and is a naive, simple guy at heart. So, he’s close to his character.

You seem to be following the trend of using recreated music in films by incorporating Yo Yo Honey Singh’s two songs in Sonu Ke Titu Ki Sweety (SKTKS).
In Hollywood films, you will notice that most of the songs are not originally created for them. Music credit is given for background score. That concept is slowly coming into movies here as well. An established composition is easier to convey as people have understood and loved it. If I want to show two people in love, I can create a new song. But when I use something that has been done before, I know people are tuned how to respond towards it. When a trend starts, it’s for a reason; it gets overdone and finally, achieves balance. Right now, we’re in the state of overdoing it.

With Pyaar Ka Punchnama and SKTKS, you seem to be becoming a director of films that are anti-love and look at the problems in relationships.
My films are about complications in love and relationships. Akaash Vani, too, dealt with the same subject but it had a serious tone, while PKP was humorous. The PKP series isn’t anti-love; people have coined the term and made it generic. It’s more about what happens on finding the wrong woman. The audience is more accepting of things when they are said in a lighter vein. SKTKS deals with a fun subject. I can’t make a serious drama on bromance v/s romance as the subject will lose its charm.

Your next venture, as a producer, stars Ajay Devgn, Tabu and Rakul Preet Singh. It seems to be a break from your films so far?
Yes, it will be a break. When you cast actors like them, you know it’s not about young love, it’s a romcom. I want to be someone who makes one movie at a time or thinks in terms of being able to make them for the next 40 years. I want to tell different stories. So, it’s a conscious decision to back this kind of a film before moving on to the next phase.

Was it easy to convince Ajay Devgn to come on board?
I don’t think it has been easy. Maybe I just got lucky. I had a story and he liked it. He is a simple man and he says what he means. I’ve not seen him procrastinate on anything.

What are your future plans? Are you keen to make PKP 3 or you want to attempt different subjects?
I’m not someone who plans ahead. Right now, the film with Ajay and Tabu will keep me busy till July. As for PKP 3, I made the second one about four years after the first. So maybe, I start working on it next year. I’m a writer at heart, and I’ve several stories. I’m in no hurry and I don’t want to overburden myself. With me, it’s not the case of making hay while the sun shines.

Sonu Ke Titu Ki Sweety is written and directed by Luv Ranjan. Produced by T-Series’ Bhushan Kumar and Krishan Kumar and Luv Films’ Luv Ranjan and Ankur Garg, it releases today.
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Emraan Hashmi's Captain Nawab faces a roadblock

February 22, 2018, 6:29 pm
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Nayandeep Rakshit (DNA; February 23, 2018)

Emraan Hashmi has evidently been having a rough time at the box office. In the last six years, the actor has had 11 releases, none of which have managed to make money at the cash registers. Despite the string of flops, he has three films in his kitty — Captain Nawab, Cheat India, and Jeetu Joseph’s horror thriller.

However, Captain Nawab has already run into troubled waters. Says a source, “Emraan had booked his dates for the spy thriller and even begun shooting for it. But now, the shoot has been temporarily stalled. That’s why his other films have been announced in quick succession.”

When asked  about the reason, the source reveals, “Director Tony D’Souza and the entire team is awaiting a clearance from the Indian military to resume the shoot. In the movie, Emraan plays a double agent who represents India and Pakistan and lands in trouble when both countries find out about his betrayal. Given that he plays a man in uniform and it highlights the sensitive Indo-Pakistan relationship, the armed forces are wary of how it will be shot. They have raised a few questions and unless a clearance is received, work on the film cannot resume.”

Confirming the news, Tony says, “Yes, we have sent the script to the Ministry of Defence. We are awaiting their clearance to proceed with the shoot.” He quickly clarifies, “Anyone who makes a film on the army doesn’t do it with an intention to hurt anyone’s sentiment. We have a lot of respect for the Indian Armed Forces.”

Tony adds that the clearance is expected soon. “We had finished our first schedule, but we will shoot portions of the film featuring the Indian Army now. So, we needed the Ministry to give us a No Objection Certificate. It should come either by the end of this month or in the first week of March. Then, we would be good to go,” he says.
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I don’t think I am limiting myself as an actor-Tiger Shroff

February 22, 2018, 6:30 pm
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Sonil Dedhia (MID-DAY; February 23, 2018)

While young actors refrain from green-lighting similar roles in fear of being typecast, Tiger Shroff says he’s happy to be labelled an action hero. “I am blessed to be given this identity so early in my career. It’s an achievement. Right now, I am playing to my strengths,” Shroff told midday.

The actor’s admiration for action icons, like Sylvester Stallone, has been evident in his interviews, and his fitness prowess. “I had started preparing to be an action hero since childhood. It was always a dream. Executing the stunts that I did in Baaghi 2 was challenging. But I was passionate about it. I have Master Shifu to thank. He was instrumental in giving me the training I needed.”

Yet, Shroff promises that his fans will also witness his acting prowess when he is seen in different avatars. “There have been offers for different roles. But I don’t want to reveal anything now. I don’t think I am limiting myself as an actor.”
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Hrithik Roshan's niece Suranika Soni will whip up healthy meals for you

February 22, 2018, 6:32 pm
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Clik here to view. Suranika Soni
Upala KBR (MID-DAY; February 23, 2018)

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Clik here to view. Taking the Roshan family's love for fitness to a new level, Hrithik's niece Suranika Soni has launched a food delivery service, offering healthy meals on order. Rakesh Roshan's granddaughter has been creating home-cooked meals under the banner Suranika's Healthy Kitchen, which hopes to offer those watching their weight "all the flavours, without the guilt".

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Clik here to view. The meals on offer
She is daughter to Sunaina Roshan, who recently came under the spotlight for shedding oodles of weight. Her line has burgers, grilled foods and even desserts. Sunarika, 21, a student of Whistling Woods International, tells mid-day, "I cook the meals after returning from college, I come from classes. As of today, I cook meals from a set menu, which I keep adding to. Most people feel healthy food is boring and bland. I want to break that notion. Dieting need not be boring, restricting and tasteless. You can enjoy healthy food too."

Sunarika has tied up with select food delivery services to deliver her meals. Hrithik, evidently proud of his niece's endeavours, says, "Fitness enthusiasts are constantly searching for healthy, but tasty options. I had no idea that Suranika was working so hard. I am proud of her."
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Sonakshi Sinha joins the cast of Navdeep Singh's next?

February 22, 2018, 6:34 pm
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The actress joins Saif Ali Khan and R Madhavan near Desuri village where they are filming Navdeep Singh’s historical
Natasha Coutinho (MUMBAI MIRROR; February 23, 2018)

Mirror had recently reported (January 23) that Saif Ali Khan and R Madhavan will be reuniting for a historical, 17 years after they teamed up for Gautham Menon’s romantic-drama Rehnaa Hai Terre Dil Mein in 2001. Zoya Hussain who made her debut in Anurag Kashyap’s sports drama Mukkabaaz plays the leading lady. Now, Mirror has learnt that the Aanand L Rai production, being directed by NH10 director Navdeep Singh, has a new addition to the cast. Sonakshi Sinha has now been roped in and has already begun filming in Rajasthan where a major portion the film will be shot.

A source close to the development says, “Sonakshi will be playing an interesting cameo in the yet untitled film. She is the surprise element which is why the makers are keeping her part and look tightly under wraps for now.”

The actress plays the lead in another Aanand L Rai production, Happy Phirr Bhag Jaayegi, where she joins Diana Penty, who featured in the original, and Punjabi actor Jassi Gill who is making his Hindi debut with the romcom. The first part of the franchise with Ali Fazal, Abhay Deol, Diana and Jimmy Shergill released in August 2016.

The source informs that Saif, along with other actors, was in Rajasthan last week to kick off the shoot. “It is being shot near Desuri village presently and will move to other parts of the state. Deepak Dobriyal will also be joining the cast in an important role. This will be followed by long schedules in Mumbai and Uttar Pradesh in the coming months,” adds the source, reminding that Sonakshi and Saif had earlier teamed up for Tigmanshu Dhulia’s 2013 action drama Bullett Raja.

Saif and Madhavan have trained in sword-fighting and horse-riding as part of their prep for the period drama. They will require a lot of prosthetics and the team has been working on heir look for a long time. Navdeep was earlier supposed to direct Kaneda, a gangster drama for Anushka Sharma’s production house, featuring the actress, Arjun Kapoor and Diljit Dosanjh. After several delays, he opted out of that project to concentrate on this film.

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Filmmakers like Farah Khan play by patriarchal rules to be successful-Aparna Sen

February 22, 2018, 6:37 pm
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MID-DAY (February 23, 2018)

National Award-winning filmmaker Aparna Sen yesterday said that though there are several women directors now, some of them like Farah Khan play by patriarchal rules to become successful.

Sen believes women directors are “confident enough in their own skin to critique their woman characters” but there are some who play by the rules. “You have women filmmakers who have a male gaze. They play according to the rules of the patriarchal system and make a success of it. For instance, Farah Khan, who makes predominantly mainstream films, has a distinct male gaze, except that she has a tongue firmly planted in her cheek while playing the macho game,” Sen said while delivering the keynote address at the fourth edition of the Gateway LitFest in Mumbai.

Sen, who made her acting debut with Satyajit Ray’s Teen Kanya (1961), went on to establish herself as a successful director with acclaimed films such as Paroma (1984), Paromitar Ek Din (2000), Mr and Mrs Iyer (2002), 15 Park Avenue (2006) and Iti Mrinalini (2011). The veteran said the question is not really about gender as all true artistes are androgynous by nature. “Male filmmakers only need to tap their female selves in order to develop their female gaze as many great filmmakers have done. But why is it important to do so? Because the world has been run by aggressive males and landed itself in a fine mess. It is time that the female gaze made its presence felt both in cinema and in a world that’s been driven by intolerance, greed, hate and lust.”

She said gentler and more inclusive films should be made where multiple voices can be heard. Sen also said that sex is still a taboo and “patriarchy is so deeply entrenched” that even today the audience has a problem with a woman exercising her sexual choice or expressing her sexual desires. “If we look at the depiction of sex, the male filmmakers will usually have the man in the role of an aggressor while the woman will remain passive. It will take an Alankrita Srivastava (Lipstick Under My Burkha, 2017) to show women’s sexual desires in a way every woman can identify with. A filmmaker can have a female gaze while having a male protagonist,” Sen said.

“That’s the thing about today’s female filmmakers. They are confident enough in their own skin to critique their woman characters. They are perfectly comfortable in empathising with their male characters when need be,” she added.

Recalling her own experience of turning director with her National Award-winning 36 Chowringhee Lane (1981), the director said there were not many women directors when she started off. “I had little to go by when I embarked on my lonely journey in 1980, except for films made by some exceptionally talented men like Satyajit Ray, Ritwik Ghatak and Mrinal Sen from my own native Bengal, G Arvindam and Adoor Gopalakrishnan from Kerala and Girish Kasaravalli in Karnataka to name a few. Filmmakers that I had worked with as an actor during my stint in mainstream Bengali cinema were far from encouraging. One of them asked me, ‘I hear you’re planning to direct a film’? ‘Yes dada,’ I said. ‘Story by?’ ‘Me dada,’ I replied. ‘And screenplay?’ ‘Also by me,’ I said. ‘Very brave’, he said, which was meant to be sarcastic,” she said without naming the director.
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Kshanam director Ravikanth Perepu miffed with Baaghi 2 makers for not crediting him in the trailer

February 22, 2018, 6:40 pm
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Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; February 23, 2018)

Launched on Wednesday, the trailer of Tiger Shroff-starrer Baaghi 2 gave fans of action films more than one reason to rejoice. While Shroff carried a promise of lavish high-octane action sequences with this glimpse, social media users were quick to point out a glaring flaw in the teaser. That director Ahmed Khan failed to credit the Telugu film, Kshanam, on which this actioner is based, did not go unnoticed.

Disappointed, director of the acclaimed outing, Ravikanth Perepu, tells midday that he wishes “the makers had at least given the writers their due credit”. “I have a neutral stance on the issue at this moment. The film released two years ago. The makers of Baaghi 2 had purchased the official rights of the film. But giving the writers [of Kshanam] credit is essential, especially since their movie is being made on a national scale,” Perepu says.

The director acknowledges that the Hindi outing has been adapted to suit the sensibilities of the audience turning up to watch a Bollywood film. “But the source material is the same. I hope they credit us in the film at least. They should do so for the sake of the writers.”

Perepu’s 2016 outing, starring Adivi Sesh and Adah Sharma, revolved around an NRI who returns to India to help his ex-lover find her kidnapped daughter. The Tamil film, Sathya, is also adapted from this venture. While the original had lesser action sequences than that promised in fitness buff Shroff’s venture, at first glance, it appears to trace a similar plotline.

A source tells mid-day that though Kshanam has been credited in the film, the recent development can already hamper relationships. “If the makers of Baaghi 2 release another trailer which includes the credits, the matter should be resolved. While there’s no scope of a legal implication, relations may needlessly be strained. Kshanam’s production house has already put in a word to the producer of Baaghi 2.”

Social media users too did not take kindly to the filmmakers overlooking the credit. One user wrote: “When you were willing to buy the remake rights of a Telugu film, you will set a good precedent when you acknowledge it in the credits. No one is going to value your product any less.”
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Salman Khan to produce TV show on cops?

February 22, 2018, 6:41 pm
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On the lives of the city’s police force, it is expected to air towards year-end
Natasha Coutinho (MUMBAI MIRROR; February 23, 2018)

Last year buzz was Salman Khan will bring the life of one of the greatest wrestlers of all time Ghulam Mohammad Baksh, popularly known as ‘The Great Gama’ or Gama Pahlawan, to the television screen. While there is no update on that except for the fact that his younger brother, actor-producer Sohail Khan, may play the Gama who remained undefeated in a career spanning over 50 years with leading TV stars joining him in the ring, Mirror has learnt that the actor is also in talks to produce a show about the lives of Mumbai’s police force. The protagonist himself is a tough cop. Salman himself has played a cop in Garv: Pride And Honour in 2004 and more recently, was seen in a Robin Hood-like avatar in the popular Dabangg franchise.

A source close to the project informs, “Salman is already on board for season three of Dus Ka Dum which is expected to go on air in June. Talks have been on for a fiction show with Sony for some time now. Casting is expected to begin soon and if everything works out as planned, it will go on air by the year end.”

The game show, Dus Ka Dum, makes a comeback after eight years and the actor shot for promos and teasers before leaving for the Race 3 shoot. “The team has been having long meetings with Salman and working on making the upcoming season more interactive, unlike the previous ones so viewers get to play along with the contestants while watching the episodes,” added the source.

Salman returned to the city on Thursday after a 10 day schedule in Thailand for his action-thriller. Next, the team will be heading to Dubai and Abu Dhabi in the first week of March where hi-octane stunts will be canned. The local stunt team has also begun prepping for some dramatic car stunts and trucks being driven off bridges.

Next up, the actor takes off to Nepal for the Da-Bangg The Tour in March with Sonakshi Sinha, Kriti Sanon, Daisy Shah, Prabhudheva and Manish Paul. He will be filming Dabangg 3 and Bharat simultaneously around June.
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Movie Review: SONU KE TITU KI SWEETY by FENIL SETA

February 23, 2018, 7:23 am
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It’s not uncommon for a person to be jealous of the best friend’s partner or even have an inherent dislike for him/her. In the past, Dil Chahta Hai and even De Taali tackled on this issue but both the films weren’t based on this idea as such. Sonu Ke Titu Ki Sweety however is a 140-minute-long film centered on this bromance vs romance conflict. What’s more, it’s directed by Luv Ranjan, who entertained the youth with Pyaar Ka Punchnama series. Thankfully, Luv Ranjan yet again succeeds in entertaining viewers. Sonu Ke Titu Ki Sweety is a film that should create a craze amongst the youngsters!

The story of the movie: Sonu (Kartik Aaryan) and Titu (Sunny Singh) are childhood buddies and are very close. Sonu is very protective of Titu and forces him to take certain decisions in life, which the latter is unable to take. After going through a break up, Titu agrees to arrange marriage. He meets Sweety (Nushrat Bharucha) and both fall for each other. Sonu however realizes that something is fishy and that Sweety is not as sweet as she presents herself to be. Sonu tries to expose her but all her efforts are foiled by Sweety.

Sonu Ke Titu Ki Sweety gets on a high from the first scene itself. Sonu’s intro scene might remind one of his famous monologues. The characters and the setting are neatly and entertainingly established followed by the opening credits. The entry of Sweety takes the film to another level. It’s really amusing to see the bond that Sonu and Titu share and what all Sonu has to do to ‘foil’ Sweety’s plans. But that’s not all – there are many other characters in the movie that add to the fun, especially Ghasite (Alok Nath) and Lalu Kaka (Virendra Saxena). The film comes at a decisive point during the intermission. In the second half, the film takes unpredictable turns that keep the interest going. The film gets quite moving in the second half and thankfully, director Luv Ranjan has executed it very well. The film ends on an unusual but fair note.

Sadly, Sonu Ke Titu Ki Sweety is without its share of blemishes. The plotline is entertaining but can get quite unconvincing at places. The manner in which Sonu, Sweety and even the other characters in the film are playing games gets a bit too much after a point. It takes a while to get a hang of how Ghasite, Lalu and others are related to Sonu and Titu. Another issue with the film is that some very nice dialogues don’t make the desired impact as the abuses get beeped. And there are far too many beeps in the film! It’s bewildering why the makers keep inserting abusive language in their films when they know it’s going to get beeped by the ‘sanskaari’ Censor Board!

Kartik Aaryan delivers a powerpacked performance. Sonu Ke Titu Ki Sweety is nothing without him and he proves yet again what an amazing talent he is. Not just in funny scenes, but even in the emotional sequences, he shines! Nushrat Bharucha looks like a million bucks and delivers a confident and able performance. The manner in which she oozes evil through her eyes is seen to be believed! Sunny Singh gets a bit dominated by these two actors but he gets to prove his worth and he does it effortlessly. In short, all three have done an incredible job and it’s a crime that mainstream Bollywood makers haven’t signed them yet!

Alok Nath and Virendra Saxena are quite endearing and raise laughs. Ishita Raj (Pihu) is super-hot and does a very good job. She has a very crucial part to play in the film. Ayesha Raza (Titu’s mother) and Madhumalti Kapoor (Dadi) are fair. Pritam Jaiswal (Babu) brings the house down. Sonnalli Seygall is wasted.

Music is peppy and compliments the narrative very well. Bom Diggy Diggy could have been better but makes an impact. Dil Chori is the best of the lot. Subah Subah and Kaun Nachdi leave a mark thanks to the visuals. Tera Yaar Hoon Main is quite touching. Hitesh Sonik’s background score is exhilarating and dramatic. Sudhir K Chaudhary’s cinematography is neat. Akiv Ali’s editing is slow at places but it works. Niharika Jolly’s costumes are quite appealing and rich, especially the ones worn by Nushrat Bharucha and Ishita Raj.

Luv Ranjan’s story is highly entertaining and also very relatable. Luv Ranjan and Rahul Mody’s screenplay is correct in many ways – it doesn’t get over the top, it’s not clichéd and at the same time, it doesn’t get too urban. But the situations and the premise on the whole are such that one can digest the goings-on only till a certain extent. Luv Ranjan and Rahul Mody’s dialogues are hilarious, sharp and one of the best parts of the enterprise. Luv Ranjan’s direction is apt and despite the glitches here and there, he manages to handle the whole quite well

Some of the best scenes:
1. Sonu and Titu’s entry
2. The songs ‘Bom Diggy Diggy’, ‘Dil Chori’ and ‘Tera Yaar Hoon Main’
3. Titu meets Sweety for the first time
4. The entire track of Babu
5. Drama during Mata Ka Jagrata
6. The intermission point
7. The Amsterdam sequence
8. Sonu and Titu return from Delhi
9. The climax

On the whole, Sonu Ke Titu Ki Sweety is a hilarious and a paisa-vasool entertainer that would surely be lapped up by the youngsters. Despite its theme, it’s more or a less a clean film and hence, can be enjoyed by the whole family. It’s highly relatable by moviegoers across the country and is peppered with some fine music, funny and even touching moments and great performances. Surely a film that deserves to be seen!

My rating - *** ½ out of 5!
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Hansal Mehta to make film adaptation of The Sialkot Saga

February 23, 2018, 6:29 pm
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Sonil Dedhia (MID-DAY; February 24, 2018)

Days after it was reported that writer Ashwin Sanghi’s celebrated book, The Krishna Key, had been acquired by a production house for a visual adaptation, it is learnt that work on his other novel, The Sialkot Saga, is underway.

Sanghi is happy that filmmaker Hansal Mehta is helming the venture. “I am happy to work with Hansal. He has an eye for detail and is currently working on the storyboard. We plan to make a web series,” says the writer.

Sanghi doesn’t intend to interfere with the scripting process. “An audio-visual storytelling is different from novel writing. I have made myself clear, I don’t want to be the scriptwriter. I have told the filmmaker that I will be available if they need clarity on anything, or if the film encounters trouble.”

The Sialkot Saga is a thriller involving two protagonists. The makers are yet to decide which digital platform will see the release. It is being helmed by production company, FilmKaravan.
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Know the couple that inspired Blackmail, courtesy writer Parveez Shaikh

February 23, 2018, 6:30 pm
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Clik here to view. Irrfan Khan
Blackmail writer Parveez Shaikh says script of his twisted Irrfan Khan-starrer is based on real-life incidents
Upala KBR (MID-DAY; February 24, 2018)

The recently launched trailer of Irrfan Khan's Blackmail garnered attention for its quirky storyline. Social media was abuzz, praising Khan for his portrayal of the "perfect middle-class married man" who loses his sanity to get back at his cheating wife. Interestingly, the plot, writer Parveez Shaikh tells mid-day, is inspired by a real-life couple, known to him.

"The story is based on a couple I know. They live outside Mumbai. I decided to place these characters in a city I know best and see how the story progresses from there," says Shaikh, stating that a keen eye can take note of several interesting stories in this "stranger-than-fiction life". "It took me three months to finish the first draft of the story. I had written it six years ago."

The film sees a man blackmail his wife's lover, only to eventually find himself paying for the ransom. He, in turn, gets blackmailed for extorting money. Says a source from the creative team, "Parveez and director Abhinay Deo have worked on the script. Permissions from the couple that inspired the film were procured well in advance. The man, however, requested that his name be kept under wraps." The filmmakers have taken the liberty to dramatise events for the cinematic outing.

The venture marks the first-ever collaboration of Deo and the award-winning team of Hindi Medium — Khan and producer. It also features Kirti Kulhari, Divya Dutta, Arunoday Singh, Omi Vaidya, Anuja Sathe, Pradhuman Singh Mall and Gajraj Rao, among many others.
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My body of work helped me win his trust-Raj Kumar Gupta on convincing the IT officer on whom Raid is based

February 23, 2018, 6:33 pm
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Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; February 24, 2018)

Ajay Devgn’s Raid is reportedly based on an incident that unfolded on July 16, 1981, when income tax officers raided the house of businessman Sardar Inder Singh in Kanpur. IT Commissioner of Lucknow, Sharda Prashad Pandey, led the search that recovered assets worth Rs. 1.6 crores in cash and gold.

The makers of the movie, who have loosely based their film on this incident, are careful never to name the man. “It is an unsaid code amongst IT officers that they never spill the details of the searches they’ve conducted,” says a source close to the film’s production.

This is probably why director Raj Kumar Gupta is measured in what he says about the “enigmatic man” on whom he has based his story. “Everyone wants their story to be real. He was clear that we should not fictionalise it so much that the reality gets buried beneath,” said Gupta, before adding, “Anybody who is parting with an episode of his life would want to see it being told in a responsible way. My body of work helped me win his trust.”

Gupta says he was fascinated when he learnt of the 1981 raid that reportedly went on for 18 hours and had 45 people present only for the counting of notes. “The press wasn’t as widespread back then, so the information in the public domain was limited.”

While carrying out his research, Gupta discovered how the officers abided by a code of secrecy. “Officers never told their family members where they were going. A lot of heroic stories have got lost from those times. I hope to highlight them.”
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My dream of being on the big screen will never die-Vicky Kaushal

February 23, 2018, 6:35 pm
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Clik here to view. Vicky Kaushal
Harshada Rege (DNA; February 24, 2018)

Vicky Kaushal’s work in movies like Masaan and Raman Raghav 2.0 won a lot of praise. This year, the actor stepped into a new zone by being part of the first Indian film made for a digital streaming platform. The actor was seen in Love Per Square Foot, the quirky romantic comedy that premiered on Netflix recently. His future projects — Raazi and the Sanjay Dutt biopic — will see him sharing screen space with Alia Bhatt and Ranbir Kapoor, respectively. We caught up with the actor to talk about his digital film debut, future plans, and love for the big screen.

This is India’s first film that was screened directly on a digital platform. Are you happy with the response that it has got?
It’s special because it’s a new thought that you conceive and try to execute. You are working every day for 16-17 hours over two months. Eventually, when it reaches the audience in around 190 countries, it’s a great feeling. Getting messages from people of countries with whom you have never interacted before is amazing. They don’t know much about Indian cinema, but when they watch your film and tell you that they have liked it, that means a lot.

Has it been any different from how you would shoot a film meant for the big screen?
Not really. Every film has its own challenges. With a film like Raman Raghav 2.0, the space is so intense that playing that character is tiresome. Then there are movies like Masaan, where you are so restricted by the budget and there’s so much to shoot, that it’s a challenge to make it. With a movie like Love Per Square Foot, the content is light and breezy, but when you have to cover a city like Mumbai, which is almost like an important character here, you have to face different kinds of difficulties. However, these are also the things that you enjoy. When a team takes up the task of making a movie, it can be difficult and tiresome, but you are happy to get a chance to tell the story that you want to. As artistes, we are always up for such a challenge.

Unlike your earlier films — Masaan and Raman Raghav 2.0 — which were intense, this is a light-hearted movie. Was that the reason you took it up?
It definitely was. This was a genre that I hadn’t explored as an actor. Also, when I heard the narration from director Anand Tiwari, everything worked. The story, the character, the humour...I was smiling throughout the narration. The story is so relatable. It’s one of those stories, which we see around us all the time, but nobody has narrated it. The dream of finding a house in Mumbai is something that people are talking about constantly or it’s on their minds. Here we managed to convey that struggle in a fun and humourous manner.

Do you see yourself doing more work on digital platforms?
A film has to suit the medium. It’s about getting a chance to be a part of a good story. The point is to reach the audience. The trend is changing... you never know, eventually a majority of films might be made for digital platforms. But I dreamt of being part of cinema because I have seen actors on the big screen. That’s the reason I wanted to be an actor. So. my dream of being on the big screen will never die.

Considering you are new in Bollywood, wasn’t it a risk to invest your time in a film that would be seen on a streaming channel?
When we shot the film, it was meant to have a theatrical release. Yeh decided nahi tha ke iska final release kis medium pe hone wala hai. Eventually, when I got to know that it would release on a digital platform, obviously, we asked questions. But producer Ronnie (Screwvala) sir has an extraordinary vision. He understands the trends well. He explained it all to us, and now we are reaping its benefits.

Weren’t you apprehensive that you are investing your time into a film, which won’t have a theatrical release?
By the time the decision was taken to stream it on a digital platform, we had made the film. Whenever a new trend sets in, you do have a lot of questions. You are trying to understand the trend as an audience yourself. Almost all of us are subscribing to digital platforms and are hooked on to their content. When you know that you are the first Indian film to come out on this platform, it’s a huge honour. Its reach is immense, not just in India, but across the globe. That people around the world are going to judge Indian cinema on the basis of this film is a huge responsibility. We are happy that people are reacting in a positive manner.

How did Ranbir Kapoor’s cameo happen?
That was the time when I was just locked for the Dutt biopic. We used to sit for workshops when I was finishing this film. Ronnie sir and a few other people from the crew had worked with Ranbir before. They made a call and he was sweet enough to agree to come on board.

You are working with Ranbir in the Dutt biopic and Alia Bhatt in Raazi...
It’s been wonderful working with both of them. They are great to work with and really secure as actors and human beings. Working with them is easy as they don’t have starry airs... They don’t carry any extra baggage. They just come on the sets and do their job like the rest of the crew. When your co-actors are amazing, your work shines. So, it’s wonderful to act with them.

Are you playing Gulshan Grover’s character in the Dutt biopic?
No, I’m not playing Gulshan Grover. I play a very close friend of Sanjay Dutt. I can’t divulge much about my role.
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Varun Dhawan slashes his fees by more than 50% for October?

February 23, 2018, 6:37 pm
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Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; February 24, 2018)

Having delivered two hits — Badrinath Ki Dulhania and Judwaa 2 (both 2017) — in a year that otherwise witnessed a drought at the box office, it was reported that Varun Dhawan had hiked his fee. But in an interesting development, midday has learnt that the actor apparently slashed his remuneration for Shoojit Sircar’s October.

A source close to Dhawan says, “When Shoojit approached him with the script, he made it clear that it would be another small-budget film, along the lines of what he is known to make. Varun was quite taken by the story and knew that he had to be a part of the project. He readily agreed to cut down his fee for the director.”

While many actors opt for a lower remuneration and hold a stake in the film’s profits, the source adds that Dhawan decided to forego the option.

Another trade insider reveals that although Dhawan had indeed hiked his fee to a whopping Rs 25 crore after the success of Judwaa 2, he did not want to burden the Banita Sandhu-starrer with his market price. The trade insider says, “If you see his filmography, he has consciously mixed the masala fare with films like Badlapur (2015) and now, October. Varun understood that October needs to be made on the right budget to be viable and recover its cost. Since the film was envisioned on a budget of Rs 20 crore, he slashed his fee by more than 50 per cent.”
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Everything is out there-Ileana DCruz when asked if she's married

February 23, 2018, 6:39 pm
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Ileana D’Cruz will not admit that she has married long time beau Andrew Kneebone; says she’d love to bring Uzma Ahmed’s story to the screen
Shravan Shah (MUMBAI MIRROR; February 24, 2018)

What are you doing in a film on an income tax raid with Ajay Devgn in the lead?
Even though the film is about the raid with Ajay (Devgn) as an income tax officer, I do have a pivotal role. I admit, in terms of footage, it’s not large, but it’s an interesting part of the film. My character is not a demure biwi from the ’80s, she is sensible, speaks her mind and is the quite a force behind him. The equation between them comes out in the songs and in the emotional scenes where you realise she is worried for him yet tries to put up a brave front.

Buzz is, after Baadshaho and Raid, another Ileana-Ajay collaboration is on the cards?
There’s no plan as of now, but I’d love to work with Ajay again because he’s been doing a lot of content-driven films and is a nice, positive person to hang out with. On the sets, he was always chatting with his daughter (Nysa) or son (Yug) and since I was invariably listening in, I now feel I know his whole family.

Talking of family, what was your photographer beau Andrew Kneebone’s reaction to the Raid trailer?
(Laughs) He hasn’t seen it yet.

A lot has been written about your relationship and now it’s being said you are married. On Christmas you posted a picture of yourself and mentioned that it was taken by ‘hubby’.
It’s exactly what you see. What’s great about the social media is that I can let people in to an extent but I don’t like talking about my past… How the relationship started and where… in interviews. It’s too personal. I won’t hide it and I won’t deny it. Everything is out there for everyone to see, don’t ask me too many questions about it. I’ll tell you what I want to tell you. Period.

So is Ileana D’Cruz married?
(Laughs) Like I said, everything is out there, I don’t need to answer your question.

Any chances of Andrew becoming a Bollywood cinematographer or a glamour photographer?
I don’t know, I’ve never asked him. That would be a really big move but I also know that he is someone who would love to do something like that. He’s taken some really cool pictures of Varun (Dhawan) and Alia (Bhatt) on a flight, Ranveer (Singh) and Salman (Khan) during a show I did with them. He’s great with photos but him moving here and making a career in Bollywood is something only Andrew can answer. I think he’ll totally be up for it!

Does he watch your films and give you feedback?
He does and is amazingly honest. He spoils me with his compliments. He’s like, “You’re such an amazing actor, you’re really good!” and I’m like, “You don’t have to say that just because you love me.” But I think he really means it and it means a lot to me because I know he is someone who will never lie even to me. Sometimes, I’m really upset if a film hasn’t done well and he’ll watch it and tell me what he felt was wrong. It matters to me what he thinks.

Your Bollywood debut with Barfi! got you nationwide recognition but after that your career has seen a series of highs and lows. Do you ever sit down and analyse it?
Of course I do, I go a little cuckoo in the head because I over-analyse. At times, I go through all the films that I said “no” to and if they have done well; I ask myself if I should have done them. But later, I’m happy with what I have done. It is a nice mix of different films that I’m proud of and always wanted to do. Very rarely do you get what you actually want in the film industry.

Are you getting what you really want to do?
Not right now and that is why I haven’t signed a film in a while and am waiting for the right offers. In all these years, in Bollywood and down South, I’ve done so many different kinds of films that now I don’t want to do just anything anymore. I’m looking for a content driven script that will really push me and take me into an unexplored territory. Possibly something heroine-centric, something that people wouldn’t expect me to do.

Like a biopic?
If it challenges me as an actor, I’d like that.

Buzz is, you’ve been approached to play Uzma Ahmed? The Indian National who was forced to marry a Pakistani with four children at gunpoint and sexually assualted before she fled to the Indian high commission in Pakistan and after appealing to Union External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and a brief but traumatic legal battle, she was brought back to India.
Yes, I’ve been approached for that. I wasn’t going to say anything about the offer because I am very superstitious but the director spoke about it. I had a lovely meeting with them, it is a brilliant story but I think it will take a while for it to take off and it would be unethical of me to talk about it when nothing has been finalised. So all I want to say is that Uzma is an unbelievable woman, her story needs to be told and I’d love to do that film.

Any films down South?
Thanks to some rubbish that came out recently, people believe I don’t like the South Indian industry, which is untrue. I was quoted saying that I was working only for the money which is just a fraction of what I said. I was 18 when I did my first film and it was all about earning a lot of money then. But later, I realised that I wasn’t giving the job my 100 per cent and slowly started giving my inputs and that’s when I fell in love with my work. The industry down South had a lot of faith in me and if I go back, it will have to be a really good film. There have been some offers, but nothing great.

Any Hollywood offers?
I did get a few actually. One was quite interesting and even I met with the casting director but things didn’t work out. In retrospect, I’m glad I didn’t do it because although it had a great cast, the film didn’t do well. But I would like to do a Hollywood film someday.
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Aditya Chopra is who he is and that suits me-Rani Mukerji

February 23, 2018, 6:40 pm
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Clik here to view. Rani Mukerji
Nayandeep Rakshit (DNA; February 24, 2018)

As I meet Rani Mukerji on a balmy evening, I realise that despite staying away from the arclights for four years, her passion for cinema and zest for life remains the same. Tell her about it and she says, “Thank God, people feel that I haven’t changed at all. I can breathe now,” she chuckles as we start our conversation. In a candid chat, the actress talks about her comeback film Hichki, being drawn towards strong female characters and why she is always going to be Aditya Chopra’s real heroine, even if not on-screen. Excerpts...

In your earlier interview to this paper, you had said that when Hichki was offered, you were wondering if you had forgotten to act. Why did you feel that way?
Adira was a premature baby, so the doctors and nurses had advised me to do certain things. As a mother, I was like a tigress trying to protect her cub. Nothing really interested me except spending time with my daughter. Adi (Aditya Chopra), who is my husband and friend, saw that I was getting obsessed with motherhood. He constantly told me that I should get back to films as that’s where I belong.

Around the same time, director Siddharth P Malhotra and producer Maneesh Sharma approached me for Hichki. There was something unique about its script. I asked them, ‘What if I come on set and don’t know what is happening around?’ After that, I was working with the team on the scripting stage when Adira was just nine months old. By the time I went on shoot, she was over a year already. It took me that much time to prep and get back to the sets, so it was valid for me to think that I had forgotten how to act (smiles).

What did you like about the script?
After having my daughter, I always wanted to do something special in order to stay relevant. I felt the script should have something worthwhile which would let me go away from her. I liked the fact that I was getting to play a character with Tourette’s Syndrome. The story has many layers as we are speaking about how the society treats a person with a condition, the education system and the discrimination that underprivileged kids face.

How was the first day of the shoot?
When I was heading to the sets, I was howling in the car. I didn’t know I had become so vulnerable. I had the fear that I was leaving Adira and going to work. It was strange because I was getting back to doing what I always loved — acting. I still felt that I love something else more than my work. However, once the camera started rolling, everything fell into place and I told myself, ‘This is who I am’.

When you play such a character, is there a pressure to not make it look caricaturish?
The idea is to create awareness about the condition. When you have those motor ticks during Tourette’s Syndrome, people who are not aware of the person suffering from it, might misunderstand you. Especially in schools, teachers may think that a student is doing it on purpose as he/she’s a mischievous child. It would be tougher if parents don’t accept their children’s condition. People need to be aware of all this. In the US, there are stand-up comedians who have Tourette’s. They feel, ‘You want to laugh at me, come pay money and laugh’. They have turned their disadvantage into advantage. That’s what we are celebrating in the film. My character’s story is inspired by American motivational speaker and author Brad Cohen, who is a principal now and married with two children. You make such films in an entertaining format, so you let go.

Why haven’t we ever seen you in Aditya’s directorial venture yet?
You should ask him that question. I don’t know why he’s not making a film with me. I keep telling him to do so. But that’s his prerogative.

But don’t you discuss this at home?
Of course, we do. I keep telling him, ‘You’re the biggest loser as you don’t have me in your movie (laughs).’ But jokes apart, he’s always been the director who has maintained that he chooses actors according to his script. The first time we met was for his movie. Incidentally, it was called Dulhan. That film never happened, but I became his dulhan (smiles).

In a partnership, both the individuals imbibe each other’s qualities. Have you turned more reclusive like Adi or has he become more extroverted like you?
We fell in love with each other knowing who we exactly are. In my case, I’ve always been very lazy. If I had my way, I would be in my room, watching television and films the whole day. Adi is who he is and that suits me. He doesn’t like going anywhere. I’ve married a person who isn’t outgoing, so in a way, he’s just like me.
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Aiyaary disaster; Black Panther semi hit; Pad Man drops; Padmaavat rock steady

February 23, 2018, 6:47 pm
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Clik here to view. Image result for aiyaary black panther pad man padmaavat
Box Office India Trade Network

AIYAARY is a box office disaster as it grossed around 16.25 crore nett in its first week. The film started poorly and could not do much over the weekend and then collections came down very fast over the weekdays. The occupancy was very low over the weekdays which has led to limited shows in week two with multiplexes giving it just one or two shows and that too in metros. In the rest of the country it is practically out and the film will not reach the 20 crore nett mark.

The Hollywood release BLACK PANTHER has done pretty well with first week business of 31 crore nett apprx. The film started very well and even held well on Monday but the falls were likely as the collections were better than the appreciation of the film as far as India goes.

The film will probably see a drop over the second week but it has still done well enough in the opening week  to emerge a success and is a Semi Hit/Average fare

PAD MAN saw a drop of 78% in its second week. The film has done pretty well in places like Mumbai, Pune, Bangalore and Kolkata where collections match a 100 crore nett plus film like JOLLY LLB 2 released at the same time as PAD MAN last year but its the core Hindi markets which have not really performed for the film.

In the Mumbai city/Thane belt PAD MAN has collected 11.25 crore nett in two weeks while JOLLY  LLB 2 had grossed 11.50 crore nett in two weeks but In Delhi city its a huge gap with JOLLY LLB 2 at 9.50 crore and PAD MAN at 6.50 crore nett. The first two week collections of PAD MAN are as follows
First Week - 62,00,00,000 apprx
Second Week - 13,50,00,000 apprx
TOTAL - 75,50,00,000 

PADMAAVAT did very well in week four with collections of 13.25 crore nett which is the fourth highest week four ever after BAAHUBALI 2: THE CONCLUSION, 3 IDIOTS and DANGAL though on fair value its higher than 3 IDIOTS and DANGAL because if it was screened all over India, it would have collected 16.25 crore nett. BAAHUBALI 2: THE CONCLUSION is another different level with 29.11 crore nett. The films was rock steady in the Tue - Thu period. The collections of PADMAAVAT till date are as follows
First Week - 1,59,47,00,000
Second Week - 66,93,00,000
Third Week - 30,09,00,000
Fourth Week - 13,25,00,000 apprx
TOTAL - 2,69,74,00,000 apprx
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Judwaa 2 puts up record numbers even in its fourth screening on television

February 23, 2018, 6:50 pm
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Clik here to view. Judwaa 2 Box Office Collection Day 6: Varun Dhawan's Film Races Towards 100 Crore Bounty
Box Office India Trade Network

JUDWAA 2 is proving to be an insane blockbuster on television as its fourth screening sees better figures than many of the big releases. Even big blockbusters like BAJRANGI BHAIJAAN and DANGAL were at half the rate in their respective screenings though BAJRANGI BHAIJAAN was far stronger in first two screenings and had set records.

The film is proving to be the second biggest blockbuster on television in the post 2016 period after BAAHUBALI 2: THE CONCLUSION. It is bigger than SULTAN and DANGAL with the only film that can provide a challenge is GOLMAAL AGAIN and that will depend how it rates on the next few showings. the first two have been huge.

The ratings of JUDWAA 2 on its first four screenings are as follows. The numbers are impressions which are the number of television sets viewing the film.
First - 1,52,66,00,000
Second - 92,78,000
Third - 63,78,000
Fourth - 64,53,000
TOTAL - 3,73,75,00,000

The ratings of first screenings of some big films of last year were as follows and JUDWAA 2 is still beating them despite being on its fourth screening. The ratings were the below films were not great but they were not bad also.
Shivaay - 62,92,000
Raees - 52,56,000
Baadshaho - 52,03,000
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Kareena and Taimur join Saif Ali Khan, who's shooting for Navdeep Singh's next in Rajasthan?

February 24, 2018, 6:37 pm
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Nayandeep Rakshit (DNA; February 25, 2018)

Kareena Kapoor Khan has wrapped up work on her first film post motherhood, Veere Di Wedding, which releases in June this year. But she hasn’t signed any other project yet. Last time we spoke to Bebo, she had told us that she wanted to rest for three months till March to spend time with her son Taimur. The actress has already taken the first step in that direction. We have learnt that the mother-son duo left for Udaipur yesterday to be with Saif Ali Khan.

A source confirms the news, “Saif has been shooting in a village called Desuri in Rajasthan (that is two hours away from Udaipur) for the yet-untitled Navdeep Singh film, which also stars R Madhavan and Sonakshi Sinha in key roles. As he is stationed in Udaipur, Bebo decided to pay him a visit with Taimur in tow. They will zoom off to different places as they love to travel.”

Kareena and Taimur will stay there for a short duration. “Bebo will come back to Mumbai with Taimur in about three to four days as she has to finish her brand commitments. She has an ad shoot lined up next week in the city, which she’ll finish after returning from Udaipur.”
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Mira Rajput will always be my Padmavati-Shahid Kapoor

February 24, 2018, 6:38 pm
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Meena Iyer (DNA; February 25, 2018)

Today is Shahid Kapoor’s birthday. The Bollywood star, who turns 37, is attending a satsang in Beas, Punjab, along with his family. When he flies back to Mumbai tomorrow, he has other celebrations planned. With his latest release, Padmaavat, crossing the Rs 285 crore mark in the domestic market, Sasha (as he’s popularly known) has a lot to smile about. At this joyous juncture, the people who matter the most to him — his wife Mira and daughter Misha — are on the top of his mind. Excerpts from a chat...

You are looking really young for a 37-year-old. Your looks belie your age...
(Smiles) I have a young wife, so I must keep fit. I have to keep up with Mira.

Do you feel you played a married man better in Padmaavat because you are settled in real life, too?
It’s strange, but true. Padmaavat is the first time where I played a married man who is in a complex relationship. I don’t think I would have been able to play the character of Rawal Ratan Singh if I didn’t enjoy marital bliss. Our marriage has been a huge journey for Mira and me. The two of us come from very different backgrounds. And we went through our own struggle because she had a complicated pregnancy. It was then that we formed a bond and fell completely in love because we only had each other. Misha was our first big project together. Somewhere, subliminally all that I was facing in real life has played its part in Padmaavat.

I do not think I would have been able to understand my on screen relationship with my queen and the dynamic of that equation if I hadn’t been married for those one-and-a-half years. For me, Mira will always be my Padmavati.

Is it true that filmmaker Sanjay Leela Bhansali showed Mira the rushes of Padmaavat long before he shared them with others?
I don’t know who else Sanjay sir showed the rushes to. However, it was really sweet of him to show Mira the rushes. He called her and said, ‘Mira, come and see why I have kept your husband away from you for so many days.’

Tell us about Misha. Isn’t she your most-favourite person?
Please don’t make me choose between Misha and Mira, I have to go back home (laughs uncontrollably). I can’t see beyond my daughter and I think my wife is slightly jealous. I keep teasing her that it’s karma, everything is coming full circle because that’s exactly how it is in her house. My mother-in-law keeps telling me how Mira is her daddy’s girl and she is the third spoke in the wheel. She is the apple of her dad’s eye; just the way Misha is mine. So, my wife has to live with it.

Mira seems to have come into her own after becoming Mrs Shahid Kapoor. Your young bride has become quite a woman. What are your thoughts on this?
Taking charge without being in your face is Mira’s natural personality. When I met Mira for the first time, one of the things that struck me about her is that she has a certain aura. She is individualistic and holds her own. When we had get-togethers and met huge stars from the fraternity, neither did she get intimidated nor was she awkward. Even at our wedding reception, there were so many big people. Just the way she conducted herself made me proud. She is so self-assured and graceful. She is humble yet confident. When I entered the industry, it took me years to get used to the ‘larger-than-lifeness’ of my surroundings. But Mira was different from the start.

You know, I also think it was tough for her. She had barely finished college in Delhi when we tied the knot. She came to Mumbai by virtue of our marriage. It was a whole new world for her and she didn’t have her parents or two older sisters with her. She did everything on her own. I give her full credit for the way she has conducted herself.

She seems to be more outgoing than you?
The popular verdict on Mira is that she is confident and has her own personality. She is honest and straight-forward. I’m not so socially-inclined. Or let’s put it this way — I’m shy. But she is outgoing. She loves meeting people and talking to them regardless of who they are. She is so unassuming.

Now, you are depending on her to read your scripts…
Why not? Mira is a Literature student who scored 95 per cent. She knows things that I don’t. Also, she represents the aam junta with evolved sensibilities. She always has something different and new to say. In fact, she was the one who convinced me to do Batti Gul Meter Chalu. I was shooting for Padmaavat, so Mira read the script before I did. She has strong opinions, which is good because sometimes an actor can just miss a great story. But if a person around him/her is involved, it helps. Actually, when the script first came, it didn’t even have a director. No one knew that Shree Narayan Singh (of Toilet: Ek Prem Katha) was going to helm it. However, when Mira read it, she told me that it dealt with electricity theft. She was the one who explained to me, ‘You guys living in Mumbai may not understand it, but it’s a huge problem all over the country.’ She insisted that I must do the film. So, I respect her opinion.

But you delayed Batti Gul by almost a month…
Yes, I did. I was supposed to start shooting for it before Padmaavat’s release but I was so invested and passionate about the period drama that I requested my team to give me some time to ‘recover’ before moving on to my next. After Batti Gul..., I will start work on Imtiaz Ali’s film, so it’s going to be a busy time.

What is your takeaway from Padmaavat?
For me, the character of Rawal Ratan Singh is a tribute to the honour and valour of Rajput community and dynasty. You know there are characters like Tommy Singh (Udta Punjab) that you play and want them to get out of your system. However, when it comes to Rawal Ratan Singh I want to hold on to everything that he stood for. He was spectacular. When I did this film, I realised the kind of respect that he had for his wife, queen Padmavati. The best part about playing this character was that he was a king, who was sensitive towards the feelings of his wife and was noble enough to allow her to take decisions. We are living in such times today when women have come into their own but here was a man in the 13th century who encouraged his wife to do so. That was something special.

Coming back to Mira, would you call her your best friend?
I have other friends. But you can call her my best friend. Actually, we end up spending so much time together that every decision — whether it is which school or which play gym should we send Misha to, is discussed. How many layers of woollens should Misha wear, if she has a cold, how often should one medicate her — we end up making joint-decisions on everything. She is our first born, so everything is new to us. Also, I’m a bit of a homebody. I’m either working or at home. And, Mira is my favourite companion. I’ve other friends who I also enjoy spending time with and discuss about life in general. Mira is the not the only one I listen to because that would be stupid. However, I admit, she is my spine and my rock. I depend on her largely.
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