New Delhi, Friday, June 03, 2016
04 entertainment
htcity With the increase in the number of ‘outsiders’ joining Bollywood, actor Richa Chadha feels that the term should be abolished
‘Comedy has been chasing me’ Yashika Mathur n
yashika.mathur@hindustantimes.com
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PHOTO: AMLAN DUTTA/HT
hough his film line up boasts of top class comedies, actor Kunaal Roy Kapur (below) says this was not a choice but something that just kept happening. “Comedy has been chasing me, but it isn’t the only thing I am interested in. I am interested in drama, thrillers, horror and in all kinds of genres. However, comedy is something I am associated with,” says Kapur, who has been part of films such as Delhi Belly (2011), Nautanki Saala (2013), Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani (2013) and Action Jackson(2014). Making people laugh is no child’s play but Kapur has managed to do it
anyway. But he says he does not follow method acting much. “I don’t think my process follows a method. Method is very much like becoming that character. I use some of the techniques sometimes, but usually it is what comes out of a discussion. I don’t take my character back home,” he says. He’s got his share of fan following, but that’s never been a motivation for him. “I didn’t get into acting for that reason. I like acting and stardom is a byproduct and a cherry on top, but it was not the main dish,” says the actor. Kapur, who has worked in television series and satirical documentaries, is very clear about what his choice of profession would have been had acting not happened. “I would have been a photographer because I used to click pictures professionally. I wouldn’t have been a professional actor then,” he says.
Kunaal Roy Kapur, actor
ctor Richa Chadha (above) says finding your way to fame and being successful in Bollywood is tough without any connections due to the prevalent ‘star system’. But, she believes that times are changing with showbiz opening its gates to ‘outsiders’. “Only someone ignorant will claim that the star system doesn’t prevail in the industry. It’s difficult to break in because the whole system — from the producers, the press and the whole fraternity support their kith
and kin,” says Richa. The 29-year-old actor, who recently opened up about her battle with bulimia, feels that the term ‘outsiders’ should not exist in Hindi filmdom. She says, “Times are changing and I’m a testimony to that. There’s a growing acceptance of the ‘outsiders’. But, the fact that there is a term ‘outsiders’ is something we should introspect about. Are we aliens? Are we not from India, or the world? The term shouldn’t exist.” Richa carved a place for herself in Bollywood through non-conventional roles from portraying a hot-headed don
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enn Masala, the South Asian a cappella group of the University of Pennsylvania US, was in the Capital to perform live as a part of its 10-day India tour. A quick chat with all its members before their last gig on their journey so far, their love for music, and of course, India.
How did the group get it’s name? Hari Ravi: We wanted to use a cappella to bring together our diverse musical backgrounds, which has both Western and Bollywood influences and Masala is just that — a mix of diverse things. ‘Penn’ comes from the name of our university.
A LOOK AT THIS WEEK’S RELEASES
HOUSEFULL 3
Genre: Comedy-Drama Director: Sajid Samji & Farhad Samji Cast: Akshay Kumar, Abhishek Bachchan, Riteish Deshmukh, Jacqueline
Fernandez, Nargis Fakhri and Lisa Haydon Synopsis: Three men have to convince a father that they are good grooms for his daughters.
How do you choose your band members? Hari Ravi: As the members
graduate each year, more people come in.We conduct auditions and call back students, if we like them, which is followed by a more thorough screening process. We also see that the person fits into the group’s culture.
With members changing every year, how do you ensure the quality of music? Prashant Ramesh: There are
ebbs and flows in the talent every year, but we try to take care of it while recruiting new members. Most of us joined as weaker singers, percussionists and rappers, but have developed our skills during our time in the group. Our collective knowledge, our connection with the alumni, and our
Penn Masala was in the capital last Saturday to perform live as part of its 10-day India tour urge to transfer traditional ideas to our juniors ensure that we are able to raise the bar each time.
How has the India tour been? Wrik Sinha: The India tour
has been crazy. We have had fans go mad. They made poems and art for us. This doesn’t happen in the US. Hari Ravi: We sang with Shaan, Tulsi Kumar. It has been too good to be true. We
never come across these opportunities in the US. It can happen only in India.
Have any of the Penn members pursued music as a career in all these years? Prashant Ramesh: No one so far has taken up music as a career. Hari is the first one who is planning to do so. A lot of people don’t recognise that we are students. We’re at Penn to
PHOTO: YOGEN SHAH
Fever Ka Thappa CERTIFIED HITS OF THE WEEK BY FEVER 104FM Song
Chitta Ve Oye Oye Lets Talk About Love Bol Do Na Zara Nachaange Saari Raat Kar Gayi Chull Duma Dum Pyaar Ki Maa IKK Kudi Mujhko Barsaat Banalo
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ctor Aditi Rao Hydari (left) will soon be mastering Tamil. The 29-year-old has been asked to learn Tamil for her upcoming yet-untitled romantic-drama with ace filmmaker Mani Ratnam. “Director Ratnam has asked Aditi to learn Tamil before the commencement of the shoot. While it’s not known whether she will dub her own lines, Ratnam sir is very particular that she learns the language and mouths her lines perfectly,” says a source from the film’s unit. The principal shooting of the project starts from July or August. Also starring Karthi, who will be seen playing a pilot, the film will have music by AR Rahman. “Rahman has already started working on the tunes. He’s said to have already completed a song,” the source adds. Ravi Varman will crank the camera on the project, which is expected to hit the screens early next year. IANS
PHOTO: AMAL KS/HT
Film/Album
Udta Punjab Azhar Baaghi Azhar Janooniyat Kapoor & Sons Dhanak Housefull 3 Udta Punjab Janooniyat
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olitician Kapil Sibal (above, left) will be making his debut as a lyricist in the upcoming political drama starring Jimmy Shergill. After roping in Zitar player Niladri Kumar as the music composer for his song, Tere Bina, the former Union Cabinet minister has approached singer Arijit Singh (above, left) to sing the song. And Arijit, who seems to be happy with the project, says, “I’m grateful and honoured to have worked with Niladri Kumar and Kapil Sibal. Kapilji’s lyrics are full of emotions and Niladri’s music has always been
Why aren’t any girls in the group? Praveen Rajaguru: The group
started out with guys. For our musical requirements, we need guys as vocalists. Female voices having higher pitches, doesn’t blend well.
PHOTO: VIRENDRA SINGH GOSAIN//HT
magical. I’m glad I could be a part of their journey.” A source adds that Sibal wanted a humane touch to the song and opted for underprivileged girls to sing in the chorus along with Arijit. “He (Kapil) wanted every aspect of the film to give a message of humanity,” the source said. Sibal is excited about the song and is hoping that audiences likes his debut effort. “This song has been one of my most exciting projects. Niladri has done wonders after working on it. I am looking forward to its release,” he says.
TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES: OUT OF THE SHADOWS
study. For us, music is a break from our professional aspirations, an outlet to hang out with a group of guys, and jam.
ON THIS DAY IN 2003
Arijit sings to Sibal’s lyrics
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10.
Talking about the film, Om Puri says, “It’s a movie about the abandoned farmers and how they continue to feed us. While acting, I felt a part of their lives and it is heart wrenching to see their condition. We hope to create a strong impact through this film, which is the best medium to reach out to a larger audience.” Produced by Prakash Patel, Jigna Patel, and Jay Prakash Patel and co-produced by Niraj Patel, Parful Patel, Sandip Patil, Sadiva Khan, Bhavin Wadia and Eagle Eye Entertainment, the film releases on 3 June. The DOP of the film is Archit Patel and the background music is given by Sanjoy Chowdhary. HTC
Aditi’s Tamil lessons
in Fukrey (2013) to a small-town girl fighting taboos around sex in Masaan (2015). Ask her how tough it is to break into Bollywood with no connections and she says, “it’s difficult”. Richa, who forayed into Bollywood with Oye Lucky! Lucky Oye in 2008, was lauded for her performance in films like Gangs of Wasseypur (2012) and Goliyon Ki Raasleela Ram-Leela (2013). “My mentor Anurag Kashyap once told me it will take you five films to prove that you are capable, while a star kid will do it breezily in one. And we won’t get a second chance,” she adds. IANS
PHOTO: GARETH CATTERMOLE/GETTY IMAGES
sneha.bengani@hindustantimes.com
Project Marathwada. The film also stars Seema Biswas, Govind Namdeo, Dilip Tahil, Farrah Kedar, Caroll, Kunal Seth and Rahul Patel. He plays the role of a distressed farmer, who conducts his son’s last rituals. Every scene in this film highlights the helplessness of the village people.
g n i e b e r a ’ s r ‘Outside a h c i R s y a s , d e t accep
IT HAPPENS ONLY IN INDIA: PENN MASALA n
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ritten and directed by Bhavin Wadia, Veteran actor Om Puri (below) in his next portrays the character of Tukaram, a farmer in a
PHOTO: YOGEN SHAH
music
Sneha Bengani
Om Puri’s connection with farmers
PHOTO: AFP
A Comedy has been chasing me. But, I’m interested in drama, thrillers, horror and in all kinds of genres.
PHOTO: HTCS
SAMARTH GOYAL
Singer Barry Manilow suffered a broken nose after he accidentally walked into a wall at his home in Palm Springs, California and knocked himself unconscious. Although he passed out for four hours, he didn’t endure any lasting effects as doctors determined that surgery was not necessary.
GENRE: Fantasy/ Science fiction DIRECTOR: David Green CAST: Megan Fox, Stephen Amell and Will Arnett SYNOPSIS: The turtles spring into action to battle Shredder (Brian Tee), mad scientist Baxter Stockman (Tyler Perry), Bebop (Gary Anthony Williams), Rocksteady (Stephen “Sheamus” Farrelly) and the notorious Krang (Fred Armisen).
THE NICE GUYS Genre: Mystery/Crime Director: Shane Black Cast: Russell Crowe, Ryan Gosling and Matt Bomer Synopsis: Holland March (Ryan Gosling) is a down-on-his-luck private eye in 1977 Los Angeles. Jackson Healy (Russell Crowe) is a hired enforcer who hurts people for a living. Fate turns them into unlikely partners after a young woman named Amelia (Margaret Qualley) mysteriously disappears.