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All That’s Glitz, Glam, and Glorious!
What a buzzing month July is turning out to be! From the most spectacularly extravagant and lavish Ambani wedding in Mumbai to our very own celebration of the social media stars, the month spells glamour and glitz at its best.
The 3rd edition of Filmfare Middle East Social Nightpresented by Flormar and co-powered by Silicon Central - honours the region’s biggest influencers. The month-long campaign, voting, anticipation and buzz, all culminate into this one glamorous evening of excitement and celebration where the social media stars shine the brightest! Our special thanks to the esteemed panel of judges – Mr Rizwan Sajan (Founder and Chairman of Danube Group), Mr Saeed Al Janahi (Director of Operations - Dubai Film and TV Commission) and Ms Zenofar Fathima (Filmmaker / Producer - Zen Film Productions) – who handled the most challenging responsibility of choosing the winners from amongst hundreds of the super-talented participants. No easy task I must admit, but they did it with gusto and passion to make sure that we honour the best of the best!
Also adding that dash of unbridled charm to the event is the OTT heartthrob and our July Cover Star Taha Shah Badussha, who unanimously won hearts as Tajdar in Heeramandi. Born and raised in UAE, the handsome actor’s journey hasn’t been without its share of struggles, and highs and lows in Bollywood and we spoke to the star about never giving up, and riding the new wave of success, handling all the female adulation and also got him to spill the beans on love, romance and marriage! Read my exclusive Cover Story with the man du-jour to find out more.
Well, for a long time to come, marriage is going to be synonymous with the Big Fat Indian Wedding hosted by the Ambanis! Anant Ambani tied the knot with Radhika Merchant and needless to say the celebrations were absolute opulent and lavish affairs, that grabbed eyeballs globally and even domintaed the social media feeds. From the pre-wedding celebrations in Jamnagar that had Rihanna perform, to the four-day cruise party in Mediterranean waters, more celebrations in Italy, finally followed by the much-awaited wedding in Mumbai on 12th July. The three-day extravaganza had world leaders, politicians, global business tycoons, heads of states, and even Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in attendance to bless the newly-weds!
The glamour quotient hit an all-time high too with the Kardashian sisters - Kim and Khloedolling up in lehengas and saris for the celebrations, Justin Bieber adding his own touch of pop style, performances by international and Indian artistes, stars, cricketers and the whole of B-Town and the South film industry turning up in full glory. From Rajinikanth to the Khans and the Bachchans… they were all there. Priyanka Chopra, Madhuri Dixit, Ranveer Singh, and many more, were seen shaking a leg and enjoying this power- packed shaadi! Nita and Mukesh Ambani played the perfect hosts and both were seen personally attending to all their guests. To be honest, this humble and warm approach to all present really won our hearts!
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We too were privy to the stunning 3-day celebrations in Mumbai, and our very own young power-couple of Dubai, the Danube scion Adel Sajan (MD, Danube Group) with his gorgeous wife Dr Sana Sajan were quite the head-turners and popular with the paps there, as they caught up with their Bollywood friends. Looking stunning in all their looks, the two absolutely nailed the glam-o-meter! Interestingly, their own cruise wedding in 2017 was a much-talked about lavish affair that went on for days and was high on Bollywood presence. Well, flip the pages to check out more from the Ambani Wedding Diaries!
Also in the pages ahead, we have interviews with director Nag Ashwin who transformed his ambitious vision on the big screen with the cinematic treat Kalki 2898 AD; we also spoke to Mirzapur star Ali Fazal, as well as his co-stars and director; then we have an interview with Pakistani stunner Sanam Saeed as she reunites with Fawad Khan after 12 years for the OTT series Barzakh! There’s all this and so much more in this issue, so happy reading!
CHECK OUT THE HOT AND HAPPENING STARS DAZZLE AT THE POWERPACKED AMBANI WEDDING
CREATIVE DIRECTION: MIRZA MIAH
ASSISTANT: ADITYA GOKRAL
STYLIST: ANUSHKA MAKHIJA & MADHULIKA
KUNDALIA
TAKE A BOW LIKE THESE BOLLYWOOD BEAUTIES
PINK IS THE NEW BLACK FOR OUR B-TOWN DIVAS
interviews
SARA ALI KHAN ON NAVIGATING DIVERSE FILM GENRES ACROSS MOVIES AND THE OTT
SANJAY DUTT GETS CANDID WITH AAKANKSHA NAVALSHETYE ABOUT BEING THE INDUSTRY FAVOURITE ‘BABA’
12
COVER STORY
HE CAME, HE ACTED, HE CONQUERED! THE CHARMING AND HANDSOME TAHA SHAH BADUSSHA HAS BEEN WINNING HEARTS WITH HIS LATEST SCREEN OUTING AS TAJDAR IN SANJAY LEELA BHANSALI’S HEERAMANDI. IN A CANDID CONVERSATION WITH AAKANKSHA NAVAL-SHETYE, THE OTT HEARTTHROB TALKS ABOUT HIS JOURNEY, LIFE AND LOVE
ALI FAZAL IN CONVERSATION WITH AAKANKSHA NAVALSHETYE ABOUT REPRISING HIS ROLE AS GUDDU BHAIYA IN MIRZAPUR SEASON 3
NAG ASHWIN BARES HIS HEART TO AAKANKSHA NAVAL-SHETYE AS HE TALKS ABOUT HIS CINEMATIC GEMKALKI 2898 AD
DESIGNER: DHRUV SEHGAL
MAKEUP & HAIR: FATIN H
PHOTOGRAPHY: OMG PHOTOGRAPHY
MENA PR AGENCY: POSHLABEL PR (SHEFALI
MUNSHI & SHRADDHA BAROT)
GLOBAL BRAND MANAGER: SHEFALI MUNSHI
TALENT TEAM: UTKARSH KOTHAVADE
CHITRANGDA SINGH IS RAISING THE HEAT AS SHE SHOOTS FOR MILANO
CHECK OUT THE CELEBS VISITING DUBAI
GET YOUR DOSE OF THE BEST ON SCREEN THIS JULY
The wait is ov !
ON THE GRAM
READERS WRITE AND BITE BACK... WITH LOVE AND AFFECTION
Check out the super liked posts on our instagram......
a bird’s-eye view of show town’s happenings
THE GRAND INDIAN WEDDING
CHECK OUT THE HOT AND HAPPENING STARS DAZZLE AT THE POWER-PACKED AMBANI WEDDING
The Ambani Parivaar
Newly-weds Anant Ambani and Radhika Ambani
Shah Rukh Khan and Gauri
Adel Sajan and Dr Sana Sajan Salman Khan
Adel Sajan and Dr Sana Sajan with Mukesh Ambani AR Rahman with wife Amitabh Bachchan and Family
Adel Sajan and Dr Sana Sajan with Mukesh Ambani, Anant and Radhika
Vicky Kaushal and Katrina Kaif
Dr Sana Sajan and Adel Sajan with Akash Ambani, Ranveer Singh and Deepika Padukone
Ranbir Kapoor and Alia Bhatt
Ram Charan and wife Upasana Kamineni
John Cena Priyanka Chopra and Nick Jonas
MS Dhoni with Family
Rajinikanth with Family
Mahesh Babu and Namrata Shirodkar with daughter
Dr Sana Sajan and Adel Sajan with Shloka Ambani
Atlee with his wife Anil Kapoor
Varun Dhawan
Rekha
Aishwarya Rai Bachchan with Aaradhya Janhvi Kapoor
Hrithik Roshan
Suniel Shetty and Family
Sanjay Dutt and Family
Karan Johar Ajay Devgn with son Yug
Disha Patani
Asha Bhosle with grand daughter
Rana Daggubati with wife Miheeka
Sidharth Malhotra and Kiara Advani
Dr Sana Sajan and Adel Sajan with, Priyanka Chopra and Nick Jonas Suriya and Jyothika
DERMAL FILLERS
V/S ANTI-WRINKLE INJECTIONS
MANY PATIENTS ARE STILL CONFUSED ABOUT VARIOUS TERMS LIKE INJECTABLES, ANTI-WRINKLE INJECTIONS, DERMAL FILLERS, SKIN BOOSTERS AND COLLAGEN STIMULATORS. THE FOLLOWING IS A BRIEF OVERVIEW.
COSMETIC INJECTABLES
These fall into 3 main categories. -Anti-wrinkle injections restrict muscle movement. They smoothen lines by stopping excessive muscle movement.
- Dermal fillers work by filling in and replacing lost volume in the skin that has occurred over time, enhancing features, or correcting asymmetry.
Skin boosters or skin hydrators improve skin quality through superficial injections.
- Collagen stimulators stimulate the body to produce more natural collagen.
ANTI-WRINKLE INJECTIONS
The treatment is very safe and relatively simple but the key is having an experienced practitioner who can achieve natural looking results. A procedure repeated every 4-6 months.
DERMAL FILLERS
Not without potential side effects, this is a medical procedure that should be performed in a medical clinic environment. High movement areas around the mouth may need follow up in 6 months but areas like cheeks and tear troughs can have results for 1-2 years.
SKIN BOOSTERS
They are superficial and add hydration to the surface of the skin for a natural glow and radiance Also called ‘skin conditioning’ to distinguish it from dermal fillers. A popular procedure on the neck, décolletage, and the back of the hands.
DERMAL FILLERS
The product restores facial volume by activating fibroblast cells in the skin to produce new collagen. Unlike dermal fillers there is less chance of bruising or downtime and the results are gradual with improvements lasting around 2 years before a top up treatment is needed.
Suhana Khan with Aryan Khan
Javed Akhtar and Shabana Azmi
Ananya Panday
Manushi Chhillar Patralekha and Rajkummar Rao
AP Dhillon
Sara Ali Khan and Ibrahim Ali Khan
Shahid Kapoor with Mira
Shanaya Kapoor
Jacqueline Fernandez and Karan Singh Chhabra
Adel Sajan and Dr Sana Sajan with Nita Ambani
Taha Shah Badussha TajHearts of
OTT HEARTTHROB AND OUR JULY COVER STAR TAHA SHAH BADUSSHA IN CONVERSATION WITH AAKANKSHA NAVAL-SHETYE TALKS ABOUT THE GAME-CHANGER ROLE AS TAJDAR IN HEERAMANDI AND BASKING IN ALL THE ADULATION POURING IN FOR IT, WHILE DECODING HIS LOVE LANGUAGE AND THE SECRET OF THE TAHA CHARM!
Taha Shah Badussha is all hearts, both on screen and off it! Humble, polite and down-toearth, the handsome actor as Tajdar in the Sanjay Leela Bhansali magnum opus Heeramandi, has had everyone bedazzled with his impactful performace, charming smile and eyes that speak volumes! The web-series was a spectacular visual treat – an avalanche of beauty, grace, poise, grandeur, opulence - and all things that spelt Bhansali! But between all the enchanting and splendid women on the Netflix series, Tajdar played with painstaking perfection by Taha stood out and had our hearts. The actor brought in so much dignity to the character, that there couldn’t have been a better casting there. From grabbing your attention in the first scene, to gripping it tighter right till the end, he has since got viewers hooked onto that Taha charm, especially women who can’t seem to get enough of this Prince of Hearts! And while it’s not been a journey without struggles for the actor who grew up in the UAE and made his debut with Luv Ka The End in 2011, he’s taken it all in his stride and says that it’s been worth the wait. “That phase has taught me to value these things, not take them for granted, but most of all not let success get to the head or failure to the heart!” he tells us as we catch up with the OTT heartthrob for a candid chat. Excerpts
FOR PEOPLE TO LIKE TRACE YOU DOWN AND SHOUT YOUR NAME OUT IN CANNES, IT’S SO HUMBLING. I USED TO THINK THAT WHEN IT’LL HAPPEN TO ME, I’LL NOT BE ARROGANT, BUT I’M GOING TO HAVE A HIGH HEAD, AND I’M GOING TO BE ALL COOL AND I WANTED THIS AND IT WILL ALL BE LIKE ‘YEAH OF COURSE YOU LIKE ME!’ BUT IT’S NOT LIKE THAT AT ALL. I’M JUST SO RESPECTFUL BECAUSE INTERNALLY I VALUE THIS SO MUCH.
STYLIST - ANUSHKA MAKHIJA & MADHULIKA KUNDALIA DESIGNER - S&N BY SHANTANU NIKHIL PHOTOGRAPHY - BOBBY SAHOTRA
Tajdar in Heeramandi has been a massive game-changer for you. Does this colossal success, love and adulation feel like redemption after all the struggle?
Redemption is an interesting word, but I would have to say that it was not like the aim to begin with. With every role, you always do try your best but it’s still always aiming in the dark, because ultimately the outcome or the success, that’s never in your hands. But, finally when something like this happens, you get this kind of recognition and adulation, it cements your trust in your beliefs that had kept you going when the going was tough. You finally understand that during all the dejection that you’ve gotten in all those 15 years, and when you heard all those positive stories, motivational
that acknowledgement of your beliefs and faith and knowing them to be true is a nice feeling.
We have rarely seen such a strong collective emotional connect for one single character on the OTT, also because Heeramandi is essentially also about the women!
Yeah! Right… neither have I. It’s just really phenomenonal that this has happened because nobody becomes… like you’ve literally been put in the A-category, from to be very honest, not a film… this has never happened. And yes, Heeramandi is supposed to be about women, it’s only about them, I mean jaisa maine kaha tha, meri simple khwahish ye thi ki log mujhe accha actor mane aur mujhe aur kaam miley. Everything which is going on, trending all over Middle East on Tiktok, trending
kissing his car, and they talk about that craze for Shah Rukh Sir – Shah Rukh Sir is my idoland all that. Then we understand, we see that, and that’s crazy right? But right now, even for people to like trace you down and shout your name out in Cannes, it’s so humbling. I used to think that when it’ll happen to me, I’ll not be arrogant, but I’m going to have a high head, and I’m going to be all cool and I wanted this and it will all be like ‘yeah of course you like me!’ But it’s not like that at all. I’m just so respectful because internally I value this so much. Aur jitni bhi mujhe khushi ho rahi hai, utni main vaapas dena chahta hu. I want to contribute more. This was one project, but I hope to just make you laugh, make you cry, in the cinema, in the OTT. Nowadays people have these barriers, they don’t
Single or Dating?
chahiye, is scene ko chhodd do!”
What is the one dating advise you would give as Taha and one as Tajdar? Oh, I think they are both very close to each other, but okay.
Tell us more about that similarity… I think we’re very similar. Except the ‘mucchi’ but we’re both similar. The one dating advice that I would like to give as Taha would be that it always has to be equal. I understand you might have a lot more feeling sometimes towards the other person but when you see that the other person is breadcrumbing you then you need to be wise enough and mature enough to take a step back. I didn’t know how to do it. I really didn’t. I learnt it from hard experiences. But you put a hand forward and then let that person also
WELL, I’M SINGLE. I DATED SOMEBODY LAST YEAR THEN NOTHING REALLY HAPPENED. I NEVER KNEW THIS WAS GOING TO HAPPEN WITH HEERAMANDI… SO, RIGHT NOW THERE IS NO TIME FOR DATING, THERE’S NO TIME TO BREATHE. SO, I DON’T WANT TO DO WRONG TO THE PERSON THAT I’M DATING. I JUST PREFER RIGHT NOW KI BE SINGLE, NEXT TIME WHEN I DO DATE, I THINK IT SHOULD BE FOR MARRIAGE. I THINK IT’S TIME SOON, ABOUT A COUPLE OF YEARS THEN WE GET MARRIED.
videos ‘ki never give up’, ‘keep trying’, ‘keep knocking’, those were just words initially but you kept imbibing them and accepting them and believing in them and when this happens, now for sure aapke paas saboot hai ki those things work. It might take you sometime, but at the end of the day, the universe is kind. So
on Instagram and trending till now. I mean for a person who had 400-500 likes on Instagram on their post, now it’s in lakhs!
How are you handling all the female adulation? Getting Tajdar shoutouts? I have. In Cannes I have, when I’m travelling, I have. You know we used to hear about Rajesh Khanna Sahab and you know stories of girls
cry, hum rote nahin hain, we don’t want to express our emotions…
But you made them cry… That’s what I wanted… There’s no dubbing, no music in that one scene and there’s nothing added to it and I believe that’s the beauty of that scene. Only Mr. Bhansali could have said, ‘Iss scene ko kuch nahi
put their hand forward. You just can’t keep trying to grab them because it’s never going to work. It has to be equal. That person needs to want you and you need to want that person and you can’t force anybody so always make sure that ek step aap aage jao, unko ek step aage aane do. Aur jab aisa hota hai na to phir theek hai verna
phir aapki zindagi tabah ho jayegi. Really (laughs). And as far as Tajdar is concerned, screw the rules, date the person you love, run away from home! Just make sure that you’re a one-woman man. That’s it!
Your co-star Sharmin Segal has come under much scanner and there’s been much trolling… I think trolling is bad, it’s something that should not happen to anybody. I know because I’ve been on that side like ‘kaun hai ye, kaha se aaya hua hai’ ‘isko bolna nahi aata’ so many things. Maybe not at this level but definitely from the industry, I have gotten. And I’ve always been that I am trying to do my best, but at least give me a chance. So, I think that they should see her as a newcomer that she truly is. Give her some time. Mr. Bhansali would never really put his trust in anybody, especially in such a huge project, if he didn’t really think that they were capable enough, because there are big risks. So, I have seen her put her best foot forward, she has always been very loving and caring on set at least, and I know from my personal experience that every day she has come on set, sometimes before me, she has given her best, and at the end of the day, that’s what matters. If you’re complacent, you don’t give your best then that’s a problem. But for me, if I see somebody giving their best, then that’s all you can do. That’s all in your hands. And the rest of it is over time you… like me… I think I’ve become a better actor over the years. You know, I’ve become more educated actor over the years, more composed actor.
What has changed in Taha over the years?
Lots of things have changed… I mean, me as a person, I think I have overcome so many challenges that now I’ve become immune to rejections. I’m completely okay with failures, I’m completely okay with successes. I think for me
everything has become ‘like this’ straight line. Main naa aise upar jaata hu, na mujhe bad feel hota hai. Accha theek hai, yeh ho gaya to theek hai, voh ho gaya theek hai. Accha hua very good, bura hua very good. And I feel that consistency to reach, as any human should reach, it makes you very balanced as a person, and it doesn’t let success go to your head or failure to your heart. And I think that’s growth. You know pehle main rota tha, agar reject ho jaata to main rota tha, and if I got a little bit of success I would be like ‘Yeah! Let’s move on, I’m so happy!’ but then again you just come down to normal. So, I believe that the growth or the maturity is to understand that good or bad, this too shall pass. And to understand that even now with all the success, maybe 20 years, 30 years down the line, there might be nothing. And you should accept the fact that everybody can’t be successful forever, so many things are going to happen. But every day if you’re going to put in your best, and you’re doing what you love, I think that is the most crucial thing in life. It’s not about today or tomorrow. These are all high points right now. What about three months from now? When I’m working on something else and I’m back to the grind! I believe that every day when you’re working the grind, following that boring routine, that should make you happy. Because rest all these things come to pass, but jab aap uthte ho subah, you have that routine ki mujhe ye sab training karna hai, inse milna hai, narration karna hai, kitabein padhni hain, ye skill sikhna hai, those things are consistent. Like they say you know... it’s not the end destination, but it’s about the journey. When you’re younger you don’t understand that. But right now, you understand the journey and all the things in between!
You’ve worked with Yash Raj, Dharma, you’ve always been associated with the best. Yeah, I’ve been associated with the veterans, the legends, and that’s why I think that God has given you those to understand that just because you work with the best doesn’t mean that you’re going to be something. It’s a learning process and you have to accept that. Anybody who’s trying to follow the dreams, ek saal, do saal, teen saal, and then they feel like kitne saal ho gaye, bohot time de diya bhai! Aisa bilkul nahi hota. It’s a lifelong journey. Some people get it after 20 years... But 20 years of waking up in the morning and believing that maybe tomorrow is my day, that is the hardest part. Constantly believe and have faith in yourself, in your craft, in the universe, that is the most difficult thing.
What kind of a role is there on your wish-list, like would you go for a grey character?
Yes, all kinds! I would like to explore the romance genre a bit more, but a grey, why not! Like do a double role in a film, or something where the character is like a bipolar, has an inner personality and an outside personality.
WITH
EVERY ROLE, YOU ALWAYS DO TRY YOUR BEST BUT IT’S STILL ALWAYS AIMING IN THE DARK, BECAUSE ULTIMATELY THE OUTCOME OR THE SUCCESS, THAT’S NEVER IN YOUR HANDS. BUT, FINALLY WHEN SOMETHING LIKE THIS HAPPENS, YOU GET THIS KIND OF RECOGNITION AND ADULATION, IT CEMENTS YOUR TRUST IN YOUR BELIEFS THAT HAD KEPT YOU GOING WHEN THE GOING WAS TOUGH.
QUICK TAKE
One person you wish you could date… Catherine Zeta Jones. She’s been my lifelong crush.
The way to win your heart…
For me it’s always about family. And a girl needs to not try to divide, but bring people closer to each other.
If you were to create a dating app, what unique feature would you add to it?
I personally hate dating apps, because I think they have become something where it’s very temporary. All they want is physical intimacy, and not emotional intimacy. So, I would not create a dating app. But if I did, I would create an app where if you really want to date somebody, then you should not see their face. Now talk. And as you progress with the conversation, then maybe you see… okay now you see their lips, then you have to play a game, a conversation, when you pass that round, of getting to know each other, then you see another part of them.
One guilty pleasure? Brownies!
Your favorite love story? Movies, books, real life?
I think my favorite love story would have to be the one between my brother and his wife. They fell in love, they belong to different religions, they eloped, proper DDLJ type!
OUR HOT PICKS
Bollywood Bow-tique
Both Big and dainty bows are a hit
Bow fashion is on the rise in Bollywood, and there is no incorrect way to wear this trend. Actresses like Priyanka Chopra Jonas, Deepika Padukone, and Ananya Panday are effortlessly adorning dresses, tops, and pants with bows to add a whimsical touch to their ensembles. From oversized statement bows to subtle accents, the versatility of bow outfits allows for unlimited creativity in styling, and Bollywood’s best dressed are taking full advantage of it. The celebrities are effortlessly showcasing this trend of bow fashion on red carpets and promotional events.
Make it dramatic this season with the dreamy bow trend that's hot off the runway
PRIYANKA CHOPRA JONAS
DEEPIKA PADUKONE
Giambattsta Valli
Maison Margiela
Atu Body Couture
Alberta Ferretti
TOP TRENDS
JANHVI KAPOOR
SHRADDHA KAPOOR
ANANYA PANDAY
Haute pink
Pink is the new black, alright
The hot pink saree trend rightly celebrates individuality and style and has become a symbol of charisma in Bollywood. It’s become a signature statement on red carpets and in movies. These sarees often feature a plain base or one with sleek embroidery, like tiny floral motifs. If elegantly draped, they display glamour and command attention. Celebrities like Deepika Padukone, Kiara Advani, and Samantha Ruth Prabhu are making waves with their styling of these attractive pink sarees. These actresses complete the look with matching or contrasting jewelry, including golden or emerald green pieces.
Bold and beautiful has been the mantra with the hot pink colour trend topping the list
PRETTY IN PINK
LADY GAGA
ZENDAYA
LIZZO
DEEPIKA PADUKONE
KIARA ADVANI
RAKUL PREET SINGH
SAMANTHA RUTH PRABHU
ANNE HATHAWAY
JENNIFER LOPEZ
MAKEUP MARVEL
ACE MAKEUP ARTIST ADRIAN JACOBS SURE KNOWS HOW TO UP THE GLAM QUOTIENT, FINDS TANISHA BHATTACHARYA
Adrian Jacobs is a renowned makeup artist whose exceptional talent has made him a sought-after name in the Indian film industry. With nearly a decade of experience working with top actresses like Kriti Sanon, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Sara Ali Khan, and Tamannaah Bhatia, Adrian’s artistry extends beyond films to include advertisements and high-profile events. Known for his ability to enhance natural features and his versatility in adapting to different personalities and styles, Adrian’s work reflects his deep understanding of beauty and his commitment to his craft. From the demanding sets of Baahubali to the glamour of editorial shoots, Adrian continues to inspire with his innovative techniques and passion for makeup artistry.
You’ve been Kriti Sanon’s go-to makeup artist - how did the journey begin?
I met Kriti at a time when I had just come back from filming Baahubali and had been busy for a long time.wI remember I got a call to fill in for someone for Kriti, and that’s when we got offered Bareilly Ki Barfi. We didn’t know each other at all, and one thing led
to another. We were very quiet during the first half of the film’s schedule. It was on the 15th or 16th day that we broke the ice, and the rest is history. We’ve just connected and become best friends. Even after the film, we continued working together. Then we started doing work on other formats, be it advertisements or events. It’s been almost a decade of us working together now.
There are a lot of peachy and pink colour palettes seen in Kriti’s makeup looks - what are her preferences like when it comes to her glam beauty looks? Kriti loves pink, and sometimes I get agitated with it because she loves putting a lot of pink undertones and
Kriti Sanon in Panipat
overtones. Even though I don’t agree every time, it does look lovely on her. Peach is also a favourite. You’re right about that. Her face always has a pink tone with less foundation.I use a half pump, half squeeze of foundation on a dayto-day basis, and that’s been our thing for the longest time now.
Tell us a little about what you’ve learnt about how to play with different glam looks based on the personality of the star you’re working with.
I’ve learned that if you’re a makeup artist in the Indian film industry, you cater to different personalities, moods, and faces and you can’t be restricted. There are many people with many opinions around you. When you’re working your magic on a star, you need to have your focus right. Once you’re good at something, you slowly start building that up with your artist and creating a vibe
I’VE LEARNED THAT IF YOU’RE A MAKEUP ARTIST IN THE INDIAN FILM INDUSTRY, YOU CATER TO DIFFERENT PERSONALITIES, MOODS, AND FACES AND YOU CAN’T BE RESTRICTED
between the two of you. That’s happened to me with Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Kriti Sanon, Sara Ali Khan, Parineeti Chopra back in the day, and Amy Jackson. The artist has to believe in you.
To have worked with Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, who’s called the most beautiful woman in the world, what was the experience of Fanney Khan like?
Aishwarya Rai truly is the most beautiful woman in the world. Fanney Khan came to me at a tender time, but I had already worked with her before. I’ve been with her for 10-12 years now. She gives a lot of comfort when she likes you and believes in your craft. She’s open to listening, and that gives you a lot of confidence.
What’s your process like to curate a beauty look for the celebrity you’re working with?
My idea of my work is to enhance the features that the person already has. I want to know the mood of the day, what we are shooting, and the story behind it. I take inputs from editors, directors, technicians, cameramen, and all the artists. Every artist comes with a different mood, mind space, and ideology of makeup. I do very different work between Aishwarya, Kriti, and Sara. I’ve done Baahubali with Tamannaah. They are so different from each other. That’s how I work in general, comforting them with my craft but also understanding their requirements.
Is there a connection between how you curate a makeup look for promotions based on the onscreen character that the
star is portraying? What happens is that the mood of the film, rather than the character, sometimes takes precedence during promotions. One wants the character to be fully revealed. We do take a big part of the character into promotions because we’re trying to sell the film itself. For example, in Panipat, Kriti is an Indian historical character. So obviously her promotional looks were very traditional. While you won’t go too modern, you will be true to the character. But having said that, it’s always a change because there’s always a designer on set who’s very different. It’s a different person, and when you’re promoting, there is a different stylist. There has to be a balance between all the ideas.
Take us back to the Baahubali journey - a fictional historical saga. How’s the research and prep for something so big and different from commercial cinema?
Aishwarya Rai Bachchan
Kriti Sanon in Crew
Tamannaah Bhatia in Baahubali The Beginning
Sara Ali Khan in Coolie No. 1
Baahubali has been one of the most fulfilling but tiring experiences. SS Rajamouli is sharp, particular, and very kind. He challenges and intimidates you because he’s trying to get the best out of you. But he’s also trying to get the best out of what is good for the film and the character. He gets so deep into the character that he wants you to do the same. We shot in all kinds of weather, and we were shooting for 16 hours in a day for the main song. Tamannaah’s face was eventually looking oily, and there was nothing you could do; they were tricky times. Tamannaah is extremely fair, and he was clear about making her look like a certain tribe. She lives in the forest, and that was difficult for me because she’s so fair that eventually, after every 30 minutes, the dark tone would turn fair again. Her natural colour would take over because of the heat, the rain, or just sweat. It was difficult but very fulfilling.
Are there any films or genres that inspired you to get more experimental with your makeup game?
I’m not someone who gets easily inspired. Maybe one person, rather than a film, Mickey Contractor, is someone who set the bar. I feel inspired by his work because nobody does clean makeup better than him. His work in Cocktail with Deepika is unparalleled. I usually don’t like looking at someone else’s work and replicating it. I may just look at it, but I always have a mindset of my own and want to create my own.
Do celebs like Sara Ali Khan or Kriti offer suggestions for the kind of makeup looks you’re planning for them?
They want to know what’s going on before we start. We’ll have a little chat for 10-15 minutes before we begin the makeup. When Kriti’s hair is getting done, and there is a different colour palette for that day,
Quick take with Adrian Jacobs
ONE MAKEUP TREND YOU WISH NEVER COMES BACK Baking. Absolutely not for me. I don’t get the logic behind it.
ONE MAKEUP TREND YOU WISH ALWAYS STAYS TRENDY
The dewy makeup trend is everlasting and an all-time favourite.
YOUR FAVOURITE MAKEUP PRODUCT
Terry for Mac, great lipstick. L’Oréal Mascara Black Magic, Blacktrack by Mac, and the Armani Foundation.
ONE MAKEUP PRODUCT YOU’RE CURRENTLY OBSESSED WITH
Mac is coming with the Teddy 2 Lip Shade and Hyphen’s lip balm.
YOUR FAVOURITE EYE MAKEUP LOOK OF ALL TIME Semi-smokey eyes leading from brown to black is an alltime killer.
I LOVE FILMS BECAUSE YOU SET YOUR PLACE IN THE BEGINNING, AND THEN YOU’RE SET FOR 40-50 DAYS. OUTDOORS EXCITE ME BECAUSE I’M MEETING SO MANY PEOPLE. EDITORIAL FOR ME IS ABOUT COMING ON BOARD TO CREATE SOMETHING THAT YOU DON’T EVEN THINK EXISTS
KRITI LOVES PINK, AND SOMETIMES I GET AGITATED WITH IT BECAUSE SHE LOVES PUTTING A LOT OF PINK UNDERTONES AND OVERTONES. EVEN THOUGH I DON’T AGREE EVERY TIME, IT DOES LOOK LOVELY ON HER
she will discuss what’s going on. Kriti is never overbearing. She makes you believe that you’re great, but she’ll give inputs and be particular at the same time. I get along well with Sara’s mother. So there are times when we’ll click a picture, and if I think it’s good work, I’ll send it to Sara’s mum. I get a lot of satisfaction from talking to her mum and her approval more than Sara’s. Sometimes Sara can get edgy, and we do mad work together.
Which format do you enjoy
the most - films, editorial, or promotions? All three are so different. Promotions are super hectic; you don’t even know which city you’re in. There are so many looks, sometimes three in a day. There’s so much happening on the day the film releases because it’s from two weeks ago. Actors are so stressed about how the film is going to do. They want to look good because that’s the only time they’re getting away from the film character. I love films because you set your place in
the beginning, and then you’re set for 40-50 days. Outdoors excite me because I’m meeting so many people. Editorial for me is about coming on board to create something that you don’t even think exists. And for me, it is particularly because it takes the other side, which is very deeply rooted. Here’s your opportunity to get away from beauty and go all out and do things that are different. I love soft makeup. Editorial is all about being experimental. n
Janhvi Kapoor Sara Ali Khan
With Kriti Sanon
burn Feeling the
SARA ALI KHAN TALKS ABOUT CARRYING FORWARD HER LEGACY AND STRADDLING MULTI-STARRERS IN A CHAT WITH TANISHA BHATTACHARYA
In a conversation with your grandmother, Sharmila Tagore, she spoke about how you go to her for advice. Tell us about your bond
My grandmother is my only living grandparent. She is the voice of reason for all of us. And I think that when things get hard, which they did in my life in 2020, a period of time that was not very good for me, my daddy was there for me, all guns blazing. And she’s there for my mom and brother. Of course, she’s there for my father as well. She connects me to my traditional roots. She is also the voice of modernity. She also gives me good advice when it comes to boys, films, and social life. She’s a champion.
You come from a family of powerful actors. What is the conversation like about cinema when you all get together?
The most intriguing aspect is that we all come from different
periods of time. As a result, each of our approaches differs. But, most importantly, we all take the time to express our gratitude to the universe and to one another for the opportunity to work in a profession we enjoy. This is not some 9-5 job. It helps you stay fit, active, expressive, creative, and alive.
Sara Ali Khan is in a lot of pain during our interview as she had inadvertently spilled some hot coffee on herself and has to get ice pack treatment at regular intervals. She’s wearing a saree, and gamely shows you the burn mark, while laughing at her clumsiness. You marvel at her tenacity, at her ability to make light of her situation. Mention it to her and she blushes and says she’s been brought up to face life with fortitude. With a lineage steeped in Bollywood royalty, Sara brings a refreshing blend of tradition and modernity to the silver screen. From seeking wisdom from her iconic grandmother, Sharmila Tagore, to navigating the complexities of diverse film genres,Sara’s journey is as dynamic as it is captivating.
What do you think is the perfect movie title to have your entire family in it?
(Laughs) To be honest, nothing beats Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham. It just sums up everything, and it suits us perfectly well.
Ae Watan Mere Watan
She (grandmother Sharmila Tagore) connects me to my traditional roots. She is also the voice of modernity. She also gives me good advice when it comes to boys, films, and social life
How was it like to dabble in two such diverse genres as Murder Mubarak and Ae Watan Mere Watan?
It’s moments like this that force you to unlearn everything that you think you know, be totally present in that moment, and surrender to the director’s vision. Both Kannan Iyer and Homi Adjania are so astute that they know exactly what they want. They subscribe to different schools of filmmaking. Hence, there’s no real scope of overlap or confusion, like even the sound design is different. On the other end, we used to have a running joke because from wearing a white khaki saree in Ae Watan Mere Watan, I went to wearing bikinis in Murder Mubarak. And Homi was like, where do I set the mike, because it’s so easy in a saree. Jokes aside, there was no moment where I had to ask which set I was on. In Ae Watan Mere Watan, the world is so different. It’s preindependence, death penalty, advent of radio, celibacy, struggle, strife, protests, Quit India Movement, Ram Manohar Lohia, Gandhiji—these are all larger than life. You can’t imagine it, so I think you need to be fully present in that moment. Surrender totally to the director and everything you thought you
knew. And just delve in and try to do justice to the sacrifices made not just by Usha Mehta but to the thousands of unknown and unsung freedom fighters. It’s because of them that we can sit here and enjoy the privileges of democracy. You have to respect that to bring that sort of gravitas in your performance, as you’re representing something crucial, something bigger than yourself. Was there any particular scene from Ae Watan Mere Watan that you found emotionally taxing? It was emotionally draining at times. The kind of character that I’m playing in this film is so distinct from anything that I have played before. She embodies so much confidence and self-pride. There’s a sense of self-awareness. Usha Mehta was someone else indeed. To have so much courage and conviction at such a young age is so empowering. In the midst of finding her, I found myself. She felt totally relatable. Her inner resolve, her confidence was to be admired and as the film progressed, I began to appreciate what she has done, what her sacrifice stood for. We could only mimic her actions and her circumstances and hope that we were getting everything right.
Usha Mehta was someone else indeed. To have so much courage and conviction at such a young age is so empowering. In the midst of finding her, I found myself
One could only imagine the stress the freedom fighters worked under as even doing it for the camera was exhausting and preyed on our nerves.
Tell us a little more about that common thread you felt between Usha Mehta and you. There’s a font of strength, conviction and courage within us that we seldom draw upon. That’s what I learnt
while essaying her. That you have to look within you and seek fortitude. Of course, I’m a mere actress and have been brought up in privilege. She was a freedom fighter who lived through the turbulent era of the Quit India Movement and did service for her country. So there’s no comparison between us per se. What I can relate to is her do or die spirit. What I’ve learnt so far in my career is that
you have to raise the bar every time you feel low. You have to give your best every time and be a better actor, a better person, with every offering. Her inner resilience was something I could relate to. And did my utmost to uphold her ideals while essaying her on screen.
Actors find it hard to adapt to a multi-star setup but you did it seamlessly in Murder
With father Saif Ali Khan and brother Ibrahim Ali Khan
With Ibrahim and mother Amrita Singh
What I’ve learnt so far in my career is that you have to raise the bar every time you feel low. You have to give your best every time and be a better actor, a better person, with every offering
Mubarak. How do the dynamics work?
If you’re confident about your craft and you are doing the film for the right reason, then there’s not much to worry about regarding your screen time or other stars taking away the limelight. I did Murder Mubarak because it’s an extremely new, fresh murder mystery. It goes beyond the generic whodunit films. Homi has created an
interesting and exciting world that is different from anything you’ve seen before. And I’ve always believed that an actor’s real competition is with herself. So, I didn’t feel insecure at all doing the film. And as I said before, I trusted my director’s vision completely. It all went smoothly and I had a whale of a time on the sets.
You’ve always had
social media constantly questioning everything you do. There have been a few box office failures too. What have these five years taught you about how to deal with them?
I think you have to have an inner conviction because everybody is going to try to drag you down, especially if you give them the opportunity to. First, just be grateful. Practising gratitude helps because it could always be worse
than it is. Like I just scalded my stomach the day before yesterday. And it could have been my face. So it’s always about the way you look at things. Even if I’m being trolled, for instance, I tell myself that at least they’re talking about me. Imagine being irrelevant. For an actor, that’s death. So always look at it in such a way that you can tell yourself it could have been worse. And
always remind yourself that, ultimately, you are in charge of your life. So if you want to do better, you just have to be there and try harder. One word of advice for Sara of Kedarnath? You’re the purest you’ll ever be. Retain it and never lose out on it. It will take you further than anything that you try, and the journey is worth it. n
Supreme! REIGNING
Sanjay Du
WHILE REIGNING HEARTS, SANJAY DUTT IS FAST EARNING STRIPES AS A BUSINESSMAN TOO. HAVING LAUNCHED A NEW BRAND IN DUBAI, THE BOLLYWOOD SUPERSTAR TALKS TO AAKANKSHA NAVAL-SHETYE ABOUT IT AND ALSO SHARES WHAT MAKES SANJAY DUTT THE INDUSTRY’S FAVOURITE ‘ BABA ’
Meeting Sanjay Dutt is always special. And this time was no different. The room is charged up and the rushed buzz is a sureshot giveaway that the superstar has arrived much before he actually enters the room in that unmistakable swag. Personally, he is in a happier space than ever before and that calm and peace reflects in his demeanor. Professionally too he’s on a roll! Having gone Pan-India with KGF, he’s much in demand down South too, while Munna Bhai’s 3rd installment is still as awaited years on. He greets with a warm hug, before we settle in for our quick chat where we talk life and movies, but also his new role as an entrepreneur! Diversifying roles of an actor and a producer, he has successfully stepped into the seat of a businessman and most recently have announced his newest venture in the beverages industry. Though pressed for time since he is expected to go on stage soon, Sanju Baba does not rush us at all as we get candid with him and among other things ask about the muchawaited Munna Bhai sequel!
Whenever a star associates with a brand or launches their own, it is often looked upon to be an extension of their personality, so how would you describe your brand?
Well, I think classy, yet fun and massy! So, main actor hu, I am for the masses, but there has to be some kind of class, some dignity, and respect too. And that’s what my brand is also like.
We are increasingly seeing your entrepreneur side. So, actor, producer, businessman… What would you say is your forte? Definitely, films and acting and production. And I’m a creative guy so creativity is my forte.
If you were given an opportunity to have a relaxed evening with any one person, maybe from history or any one person you like, who would it be?
I think my wife is the right person. I love having dinner with her outside, we sit, we talk. She likes great food and she is a great cook herself, so it’s great fun to be with her.
You have evolved so much over the years from the time that you started as an actor, also as a businessman today, what is the one big thing that has changed about you?
Nothing has changed about me. It’s just that I’ve become more mature, and I mean as the person gets older, I think the person matures and gets more understanding and it’s different than what it was 20 years ago. Experiences make you wiser too in a lot of ways, it teaches you so much, so you grow with that.
You have always stayed so relevant across generations, and whether older generations or the younger ones, all relate to you as much! What is the secret?
I really don’t know. I think it’s the fitness, or maybe just the way you are, I really don’t know kya hai. I don’t purposely do it, but this is just the way I am.
You’re called baba, you’re called the sexiest man… What is that one tag that has held onto you? Sexy wala to khatam ho gaya hai, I’m past that age now (laughs). But you know they say ki baba hai, dil ka hai and accha insaan hai. That is always special for me.
So many movies are getting remade, and rebooted! What is that one sequel that you are looking forward to now?
Sexy wala to khatam ho gaya hai, I’m past that age now (laughs). But you know they say ki baba hai, dil ka hai and accha insaan hai. That is always special for me.
Nothing has changed about me. It’s just that I’ve become more mature, and I mean as the person gets older, I think the person matures and gets more understanding and it’s different than what it was 20 years ago
Definitely Munna Bhai. And many others too, but yes Munna Bhai for sure! And also Khalnayak, and you know there are couple of them. Like KGF is there, many we can make sequels.
With KGF you took the South by storm, so what’s next there? Yes, many films happening there. There’s KD which will come, then iSmart Shankar is another film with Puri Jagannath sir.
Now that you are in Dubai, what are your favorite places here?
I just love Dubai. I go to so many places, I go everywhere, go to all the restaurants and it’s amazing.
Here the COMES BRIDE
INTERVIEW
After dating for seven years, Sonakshi Sinha got married to long-time beau Zaheer Iqbal on June 23. They exchanged vows under the Special Marriage Actand later hosted a lavish reception for the film industry. In all their wedding photos, the duo look like they are made for each other. Along with her personal life, Sonakshi’s professional life is also going peach. She’s currently basking in the tremendous success of Heeramandi, where her portrayal of the deliciously devilish Fardeedan wounded the viewers with wonder. Despite embodying such a dark character on screen, Sonakshi is quite the opposite in real life, exuding positivity and warmth. This stark contrast made the role both challenging and rewarding, pushing her to expand her acting prowess under Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s expert guidance. Excerpts from a chat with the vivacious star.
Tell us your pre-and-post-release state-of-mind for Heeramandi. I think that this pre-release buzz was extremely huge. This was something that people were looking forward to. We were doing promotions and constantly talking about them. Some of the journalists had seen screeners, and we had not seen anything. So the excitement was super high. And post-release, the love that has been pouring in has been tremendous and overwhelming. So. It’s been a whirlwind of a journey this year. It’s always motivating to see that people have loved it the way that they have, and all our hard work is paying off. I’m ecstatic.
Did you empathise with the ruthlessness that Fareedan showcased in the name of avenging her mother?
The beauty of Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s portrayal of women onscreen is something else. Fareedan is an extremely negative person, and she is governed by equally negative emotions and feelings. Whether it’s anger or rage, hatred, jealousy, or lust, all these things are so-called bad emotions. But they’re all such human emotions, right? And that’s the beauty of how Sanjay Sir justifies it. She’s not bad for the sake of being bad. She has her reasons. She’s gone through a lot in her life. That has made her the way she is today, so somewhere you do end up finding a little bit of empathy for her. And when she does have a change of heart, when something is completely against her principles, she takes a stand. She’s a very strong woman. She’s out to t revenge. That’s her one main agenda. And she’s
going to go to any lengths to get it done. That’s the quality of a super-strong woman. For me to play something like this is the first time I’m doing it in my career. I played a negative character, and I thoroughly enjoyed it because sometimes it’s just good to be bad.
How opposite are you to Fareedan in real life?
Completely, I don’t have a bone in my body that’s negative. That’s what I had to do on set as well. Forget who I was and completely become this crazy person who was out for blood and revenge. And I enjoyed it because, as an actor, it just challenged me in ways that made me think in ways that I would never in real life.
How has Sanjay Leela Bhansali helped you to better your craft? He taught me a lot. He’s an encyclopedia. It’s such a learning experience. I just watch him work when he’s on set. I’m much more patient, resilient, and stronger as an actor than I was before.
This shift from commercial space to content-driven titles like Dahaad and Heeramandi. Has this brought you stability as an actor?
I love the fact that I’m getting to play such diverse roles and characters, and they are so different from each other. I think as an actor, that just keeps me so excited about what I’m doing. I don’t know who I’m going to be on set for tomorrow, and that’s the most exciting bit for me. It’s been a conscious decision for a while now to choose roles that show
me in a different light. It started with a film called Akira Then I kept picking roles that were different from each other, whether it was a Double XL or a grey character in Heeramandi. I think that’s what keeps me going.
So it was an organic shift to this space, then?
Yes, exactly; it happened organically. The socalled commercial films gave me that strength and the encouragement to go on and take a film and shoulder it on my own. In the middle of a Rowdy Rathore and a Son of Sardar, I ended up doing a Lootera because that was early on in my career. Since then, I’ve always wanted to keep trying different things. I’ve always wanted to be that actor that a filmmaker can cast in any project or genre, and it’s been a consistent effort. But I think people are only just getting to take notice.
In one of his interviews, your father, Shatrugan Sinha, expressed his pride in seeing you do the kind of work he never did. He is very proud, and he makes sure that I know about every opportunity that he gets, and I think that’s incredibly sweet. I think that’s a very beautiful form of encouragement that comes from your parents, especially
because sometimes it can be that fathers are not very expressive. I love the fact that my father is so expressive with me. I can take on the world because I know that I have my father in my corner, and he’s always by my side, and he’s my biggest cheerleader.
Did you ever have fear creeping in when you started getting choosy and taking your time?
Never. I’ve always kept to my lane. I’ve done only the work that I want to do and let my work speak for itself. I enjoy that, andI’m a content person.I enjoy what I’m doing. And I think that’s what’s kept me going for so long as well.
Lootera is considered to be your best work. Would you say the same?
The best is yet to come. Let’s just say that, but it is one of my favourite performances of my own. Akira even more. For that matter, Double XL and Heeramandi are characters that have stayed with me.
Which one of your movies were you most disheartened about when it did not work?
I think Lootera is for sure, but I think it was a film that was way ahead of its time. At that point, I think if it were released now, it would have been a different story. It would have been much more appreciated. But the appreciation is there. Every time I meet someone, the first film they tell me about is Lootera. And I tell them, ‘Why didn’t you go to the theatres at that point?’ But I have to admit that it was disheartening when Lootera didn’t work.
Kalank, too, did not perform as expected I don’t know. I’ve never really analysed a film when it hasn’t worked. If an audience resonates with it, if they’re able to connect with the film and like it, it will work. If they won’t, it won’t, so you can’t pinpoint one thing. I mean, it’s all about acceptance at the end of the day.
What does validation mean to you in such a cutthroat profession?
Your validation is what matters most, and honestly, I’ve always operated from the viewpoint that it’s always my family’s validation that comes first. Now I’ve reached a point where, if you’re not happy with the work that you’re doing, then how will others be happy with the work that you’re doing? So it’s about satisfying myself as an actor and doing the kind of work that I want to do. If it’s good work, people will appreciate it. When you do operate from that standpoint, it takes off a lot of pressure. And without that pressure, you can do better work. So I think I will operate from there.
What’s the worst advice a colleague has given you, especially when the going gets tough?
The worst advice a colleague has given me is that if your films are not doing well, stop doing films. Sitting at home, waiting for the right project, doesn’t work. That’s the worst advice I’ve ever gotten. I did not follow it. As you can very well see.
What are you most proud of in the journey so far — a rule you’ve stuck by?
I would say don’t listen to the noise. Concentrate on your work. That’s actually what I did, so maybe my future self did come and tell me that at some point. Keep your head down and do good work, and you’ll make it. n
I CAN TAKE ON THE WORLD BECAUSE I KNOW THAT I HAVE MY FATHER IN MY CORNER, AND HE’S ALWAYS BY MY SIDE,AND HE’S MY BIGGEST CHEERLEADER
IN THE
MIDDLE OF A ROWDY RATHORE AND A SON OF SARDAR, I ENDED UP DOING A LOOTERA BECAUSE THAT WAS EARLY ON IN MY CAREER. SINCE THEN,
I’VE ALWAYS WANTED TO KEEP TRYING DIFFERENT THINGS
With father Shatrughan Sinha
THE WHAT, WHERE, WHO IN THE CITY
DUBAI SCOPE
OSN hosted a special screening of House of the Dragon Season 2, featuring an official real-life replica of the Iron Throne with Steve Toussaint (Lord Corlys Velaryon) in attendance. Pyramid of Djoser of Egypt was illuminated with a dramatic light installation celebrating the show’s return.
Munawar Faruqui at his stand-up show in Dubai
Singer Nikita Gandhi was seen raising the heat in Dubai
Gorgeous Bollywood star Chitrangda Singh shot for a new Milano commercial in Dubai. Seen here with Mr Anis Sajan, Mrs Rubina Sajan, Mr Azhar Sajan and Sahil Sajan
WHAT: WHO:
RIZWAN SAJAN, TAHA SHAH
POPULAR TV ACTORS AND MUCH-LOVED COUPLE NEIL BHATT AND AISHWARYA SHARMA, SHIV THAKARE AND MANNARA CHOPRA MET MR RIZWAN SAJAN – FOUNDER AND CHAIRMAN OF DANUBE GROUP – AS THEY VISITED THE DANUBE PROPERTIES OFFICE.
BADUSSHA, MANNARA CHOPRA, ADEL SAJAN
Taha Shah Badussha with Mr Rizwan Sajan and Mrs Sameera Sajan
Taha Shah Badussha with Mr Adel Sajan and Dr Sana Sajan
Taha Shah Badussha with Ms Shabnam Kassam
Mr. Anis Sajan
Mr. Anis Sajan, Mrs.Sameera Sajan and Mr. Rizwan Sajan
Mr. Azhar Sajan
Mr. Sahil Sajan and Mrs Rubina Sajan
Mr. Madhusudhan Rao, Mr. Shams and Mr. Azhar Sajan
Mr. Anis Sajan and Mrs Rubina Sajan
APackin’
STRADDLING HOLLYWOOD, BOLLYWOOD AND THE OTT WITH HIS POWER-PACKED PERFORMANCES, ACTOR-PRODUCER AND NEW DAD ALI FAZAL IS ON A ROLL LIKE NEVER BEFORE, FINDS AAKANKSHA NAVAL-SHETYE
Ali Fazal is buzzing with super-excitement on several levels. While on the personal front, he and wife Richa Chadha have recently welcomed their first child, professionally too the actor’s been soaring great heights! His maiden production with Richa - Girls Will be Girls won the Grand Jury Prize at the Indian Film Festival of Los Angeles recently, after being much celebrated across several international festivals, and on the domestic-front, one of the most-awaited and anticipated Prime Video hit series Mirzapur Season 3 sees him reprise his role of Guddu Pandit! A violent character that Ali admits is nothing like him in real life, but that has clearly not kept him from delivering power-packed knock-out performances in all the seasons. We caught up with the Mirzapur actor days before he went on his paternity leave and in a candid chat Ali talks about the excitement, the rush and even Mirzapur 4!
There’s so much excitement on the personal and professional front. What’s the headspace like?
Well, good! A little dazed with so much happening, but good. It’s all in the right direction, so very excited.
The paternity leave starts right after Mirzapur Season 3!
Yes. I finished all my shoots, and promotions well on time for this.
So, your character Guddu Bhaiya, his USP is violence, what would you say is your USP? Pacifying. Calming down the situations. I just hold people together!
When you return to playing a character after a break and having essayed several other roles in the meantime, how easy or difficult it is to get in the same character again? I wouldn’t say it’s easy, and woh sur pakadna does take some time. But once you start, memories start taking over of having done it already. So, I don’t have to dive into something new and sometimes that is enough. You don’t have to rewatch and naturally, our instinct is to pick from muscle memory too with body language. I think the writers and the director are already building this world for us and doing our job for us. So, I have to step in, and just sort of bounce about. Of course, sometimes we all bring our flavors, and that’s exciting.
People who know you say that you’re nothing like Guddu Bhaiya at all! Thank God!
But is there any similarity between you and Guddu?
Yeah, like maybe when my anger escalates, it’s very similar. Now I’ve become better in life, like I consciously stop myself in time but earlier I used to just not realise that and it keeps compounding if I’m angry.
Any characteristic of Guddu Bhaiya that
you wish you could imbibe in your personality for real?
Decision making! Guddu is extremely impulsive and instinctive in his decisionmaking, whereas I’m a thinker. Like I’ll think 10 times, I’m very mindful and aware at all times of all people in the room, I’ll read the room, I even know my exits, main udhar chala jaata hu. That I would have loved to have, just to be able to make decisions at will.
So, when you’re playing a character which is so diametrically different from what you are, are there more apprehensions too? No, but these are collaborative choices. It’s not like mujhe koi gun rakhke karwa raha hai. So, these are choices that are being created by me in that context. And in that context, I have to justify it as that person. I don’t judge that person. Like Ali can’t be the one sitting outside judging, kyunki apni life mein har koi hero hai, correct banda hai. Aapki life me aap bilkul sahi ho. From where we are right now sitting, they’re very odd, but there is a world like that. There are people like that. Mujhe to kaha gaya ki bahut kam violence dikhaya gaya hai. Matlab ek dafa kisi ne bola, and I was like ki yaar ab isse zyada kya hoga (laughs). But as an actor you do the best being that person.
Where do you channelize all that angst from?
It’s the loneliness actually. It’s very lonely. And you have to have maybe experienced it or maybe imagined it I suppose. That is where I found that.
If there was a choice to play any other character, who would you choose to play?
Wow! That’s a tough call! I mean I love my character, but I would have liked to play Vijay’s role. Usmein double role hai. I would want to do that. It’s just so much fun doing that. I know its hectic but yes, that would be the choice.
What’s been the biggest takeaway from Mirzapur 3?
I don’t know! That’s a very
good question. I mean I try not to bring all of that home. That’s been my biggest takeaway. And as an actor, I’ve tried to pack too many things. It’s not really a takeaway, it’s almost a risk that I’ve taken. I’ve brought back that little fear that will people be able to see that effort of all that I have packed in the character. Amongst the madness of Mirzapur, the largeness of Mirzapur, it’s the tiny things that sometimes go unnoticed.
What’s the best thing about being Guddu Pandit?
I actually get to play the mindset of so many people out there watching… the real fans of Mirzapur. There’s a strong mentality that we love championing the underdog. Jo aam logon se uth ke aata hai na, woh ajeeb si kuch ek mohobbat si ho jaati hai aapko, thoda lagav ho jaata hai, ki yaar main tumhari kahani jaanna chahta hu, tumhare dimag mein ghusna chahta hu. I think Guddu represents that in many ways. And there’re so many moods that come and go in his life. So, you can pick and choose. There are all kinds of people, but we also have all kinds of people in us. We just choose to be the one we think most likely fits the society we know, the context we live in. But essentially, we’re all hiding. It was interesting playing him.
How do you look back at your journey and these amazing characters you have played in your movies like Fukrey, Khufiya and even in Hollywood films like Victoria & Abdul, Kandahar, Death on the Nile, the Fast & Furious 7, and now in a series like Mirzapur… This one is almost like a separate pillar. It’s just there now. It’s been constructed. I’m really proud of it. I used to not be… I used to try and ignore. I was like okay yeh to ek phase hai, like ek season hai. Logon ko aajkal action pasand aa raha hai... theek hai. But I think it’s really given me a lot. I’m pretty grateful.
Season 4 talks already on?
I do hope… I’m very excited.
From the anticipation of its release date to all the buzz happening now, what’s the headspace?
Anjumm: Yes, for the longest period of time, it has been all about when is the Season 3 coming and now it’s just the excitement of knowing and seeing what happens in the Mirzapur this time around.
Shweta: All that I can think of is hoping that we were in Dubai right now and talking about it (laughs).
That would be great since the series has such a global following! What are you most looking forward to and what twist and turns can people expect this time around?
Gurmmeet: This is probably the most relentless season. Season 1 was raw power, Season 2 was revenge, and Season 3 is now about young people in power and not being able to handle it. So, it’s going into their madness and this season deals will that. You can expect a very fast-paced story this time. A lot of madness, adrenaline and of course, drama bharpoor - guns and dialogues.
AS AS IT GETS DARK
MIRZAPUR ACTORS ANJUMM SHHARMA, SHWETA TRIPATHI AND DIRECTOR GURMMEET SINGH IN CONVERSATION WITH AAKANKSHA NAVAL-SHETYE SHARE THE EXCITEMENT OF THE MUCH-AWAITED SEASON 3 AND MAKE SOME INTERESTING REVELATIONS
The excitement for Mirzapur Season 3 is astounding! The 10-part series on Prime Video has been all the buzz since the Season 1 first streamed in 2018. Six years on, the madness of Mirzapur continues and the craze has only heightened as the most popular characters come to life onscreen in this modern-day rural action-drama set in the hinterlands. With an ensemble cast comprising Pankaj Tripathi, Vijay Varma, Ali Fazal, Anjumm Shharma, Shweta Tripathi, Rasika Dugal, Rajesh Tailang, Isha Talwar, Sheeba Chaddha, Harshita Gaur, Meghna Malik, amongst several others, reprising their roles, the action and drama is bigger and better, says director Gurmmeet Singh. Alongwith the ace director, we also spoke to Shweta and Anjumm about the series and in a candid chat the trio spill the beans on their intricate characters in one of the most-awaited shows on the OTT!
…EVERY DAY FOR US IS LIKE GOING TO THE MELA KI AAJ HUM EK AUR AISE STAR PERFORMER KO DEKHNE WALE HAIN JO AAJ HUMARE TOTE UDA DEGA. IT’S LIKE HAVING A FREE RUN IN A CANDY SHOP. WE ARE LUCKY TO BE ABLE TO WATCH SO MUCH TALENT LIKE THIS. - GURMMEET SINGH
Anjumm tell us about your character graph as Sharad Shukla!
The progression has been like leaps and bounds from Season 1 to 2 and now to 3, and the major outline has been given to me by Guru (Gurmmeet) about what kind of a character he is going to turn out as. During Season 2 when we were creating the character there were 3 - 4 options and choices that we made that he’s not a protagonist, he’s not an antagonist, he’s somewhere in between. With him what you see is one thing, but what he’s thinking is what you try to know. He is unpredictable in thoughts and his actions are also unexpected. So that’s what Sharad Shukla’s been.
Yes it’s hard to like him or hate or empathize…
Anjumm: Actually, in any content, in any story which has a lot of drama, a lot of things which are unsaid actually create lots of hawa Because then so many things are left for interpretation.
people have really liked that and now in Season 3, there is a lot more. The whole expansion of the character has gone to a next level in Season 3 and there are so many good pointers
how the character’s journey unravels in this one and also with Golu Tripathi. Shweta, your
IF YOU KEEP ON DOING THE SAME KINDS OF VANILLA ROLES, TOH PHIR MAZAA BHI VOH VANILLA WALA HI AATA HAI. BUT WHEN YOU TRY DIFFERENT FLAVOURS – THERE’S BLACK CURRANT AND THERE’S STRAWBERRY… THEN IT BECOMES ALL THE MORE FUN WITH YOUR ONSCREEN PERSONA!
That one element of interpretation really triggers and accentuates the whole genre of drama and I think with Sharad Shukla, this has been done to the T. I think
which were made later into the scenes which are great dramatic beats of the character. I was very excited when I did it and I’m really excited to know
transformation in Season 2 had shocked so much. How dark does it get in Season 3? 50 Shades of Shweta happening here! Nice! I’m going to use that (laughs). But ‘Oh my
God’, yes, it gets darker! Also… when you are in those dark spaces, you understand a lot more about yourself, because once you understand ki kya chal raha hai, kyun chal raha hai, then I think it helps you as a person as well. Because if you keep on doing the same kinds of vanilla roles, toh phir mazaa bhi voh vanilla wala hi aata hai. But when you try different flavours – there’s black currant and there’s strawberry… then it becomes all the more fun with your onscreen persona! So, I have never felt like this in my life with any of the other characters that I have been, I have not seen anybody like Golu before. And that makes me very happy because as actor we always want to try something new, something different that would excite us, not just like doing regular roles as an actor. And with Mirzapur it’s given us a different experience altogether. With Mirzapur, everyone says it’s a lot about violence, but I think there are also a lot of emotions. I know I won’t be allowed to call it a family show, but it’s still an 18+ family show! There are so many things, so many relationships you understand. One of my favorite characters is Sharad’s mom. She’s a real mastermind. To see how relations influence each
what people think and how they receive it.
Everyone’s definitely excited to see
other whether love or power is interesting. Also the Guddu – Golu equation we explore more, because they are a team. So, like our characters, we also learn and grow.
Gurmmeet how do you deal with the expectations and the pressure of the success of the previous seasons and also working with such an accomplished cast of actors! I think the fact that we have such a good roster of actors, actually helps deal with those expectations. Because like our DOP Baba says that once we have it down on paper and it’s looking good there, and the script has worked out, then the only people that can get it wrong is us - the technicians. Because our actors will definitely nail it! So, it is such a blessing to have all of them, they’re brilliant. You know they are going to kill it and we are actually riding on them that they will sail through it. They are one better than the next and the other one better than the one before. So, it’s literally, the scene switches and you feel you’ve just seen a great performance, a great scene and you go to the next scene and oh my God, then you have another set of actors, and they are doing an equally good job. So, every day for us is like going to the mela ki aaj hum ek aur aise star performer ko dekhne wale hain jo aaj humare tote uda dega. It’s like having a free run in a candy shop. We are lucky to be able to watch so much talent like this.
THAT ONE ELEMENT OF INTERPRETATION REALLY TRIGGERS AND ACCENTUATES THE WHOLE GENRE OF DRAMA AND I THINK WITH SHARAD SHUKLA, THIS HAS BEEN DONE TO THE T. I THINK PEOPLE HAVE REALLY LIKED THAT AND NOW IN SEASON 3, THERE IS A LOT MORE.
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ANJUMM SHHARMA
Can you imagine any of them playing a different character based on the kind of people they are?
Gurmmeet: It’s almost impossible for us to now even imagine anyone else playing their characters. Even we don’t know it as makers is that whether now the characters are taking cues from the real life cast or is it the other way around, so, it’s become that blurry, the lines. They have actually embodied them so beautifully. But I think because these guys are such good actors, you could actually put them in varied roles and have them come up with such beautiful interpretations of them. So, you can literally throw Shweta to play a Madhuri or you could take Anjumm and you could throw him to be a Bablu and it would still be fantastic! So, all these actors have so many facets and they could nail any character
that they put their heart out to. So, it’s amazing to just have and learn from these guys, to be able to collaborate with them. They are gems.
What do you both have to say about it? Shweta and Anjumm, if you both had a chance to play any other character, which ones would it be?
Shweta: I think mine would be Beena because it’s very far away from who I am as a person, so I would like to explore that. And I think every actor dreams of playing a double role, so that’s why Bharat and Shatrughan Tyagi would also interest me. Besides that, I would say Munna. See again, the list will be endless, because as an actor the greed is always there to try more (laughs)!
Anjumm: Well, it’s actually difficult, but for the sake of imagining… I would pick the Tyagi brothers, a double role, that is something very interesting if one gets to
play and there are a lot of shades and lot of things one can do with both. The other character I really like is Ramakant Pandit - a very righteous man all through the season, and he is one of my favorite characters in Mirzapur. A righteous man has these kinds of sons!
Gurmmeet: Yes, to imagine… What a great switch would it be… What if Kaleen Bhaiya was Rajesh Tailang, and Pankaj Tripathi was Ramakant Pandit. They would nail those too. What a show that would be!
Anjumm: Yes, that would have been something to watch out for too… I mean Ramakant is one character which really appeals to me at many levels. In Season 2 the kind of conflict he has with his own son, even now in Season 3 the way it spans out. But the ultimate character which I’ve always loved and I don’t know, maybe it’s an extension to what I also play Sharad as, would be Akhandanand Tripathi! n
HISTORY! CREATING
Nag Ashwin
NATIONAL AWARD-WINNING DIRECTOR NAG ASWHIN IN CONVERSATION WITH AAKANKSHA NAVAL-SHETYE TALKS ABOUT THE VISION AND THE SUCCESS OF HIS MAGNUM OPUS KALKI 2898 AD THAT HAS CREATED A NEW BENCHMARK FOR INDIAN CINEMA GLOBALLY
YYou’ve created one of the most epic cinematic experiences for audiences with Kalki 2898 AD. What’s the headspace like? It’s just a lot of gratitude at this point because when we were all making this film, we all knew how important it was not just for us, but also the industry, the upcoming writers, directors… When you try a genre or you try a new kind of a film and if it doesn’t work, it puts everybody back a few years. So, the fact that everyone’s loved it, just gives us a lot of peace and gratitude.
And is this peace coming after a lot of sleepless nights or were you confident with the kind of film that you have made before its release?
Yeah, the sleepless nights are definitely a part of it. It’s a big
undertaking. Though we took almost three – three and a half years making it, the final stretch is always the hardest. So, we’re all like last-minute guys, so many VFX shots, five languages, and all that, but we pulled it all off. So, I think actually we didn’t have so much time to be tensed or worry about it because we were just working till the last minute trying to make sure everything is good.
It was also a very huge risk that you were taking, star-wise, budget-wise… After your previous movies, to suddenly take this big leap into making one of the biggest films of India. How did it all start about for you?
We never started off thinking that it will be the biggest film either
Kalki 2898 AD has easily been one of the most highly-anticipated films ever since it was first announced. With a stellar super-star cast to boast of, a concept both unique and challenging, VFX e ects of epic proportionshelming this magnum opus was undoubtedly a Herculean task – but director Nag Ashwin has done it with aplomb, delivering an extravagant spectacle and a cinematic gem at the Box O ce! Interestingly enough, the critically-acclaimed director is only a few films old and though he had proven his mettle with his last film Mahanati (2018) that won him a National Award as well as a Filmfare trophy, setting out to bringing this ambitious cinematic masterpiece on the big screen was no less than a leap of faith for Nag! From fleshing out iconic characters of mythology and marrying them to a futuristic sci-fi realm and from creating stunning action sequences to surprising with largerthan-life cameos, the movie infused with emotion-rousing sentiments and a neverseen-before gargantuan action-avatar of Amitabh Bachchan, has been a visual treat and a satiating cinematic experience for the audience globally! While most filmmakers would be expected to be jumping with joy, ecstatic with the success of his ‘Project K’ and the acclaim it has been garnering worldwide, Nag is the face of cool, calm confidence and collected composure as we catch up with him for our exclusive interview. “We never started o thinking that it will be the biggest film either collection-wise or budget-wise. We just started o because we really loved the story and what it could do, like just the mythology and science fiction aspect of it,” the director tells me as I ask him about his headspace ahead of creating this masterpiece that took almost four years in the making due to Covid-related delays. And as we plunge into a candid conversation, I also ask him about the biggest casting coup of sorts bringing together the cinema giants Amitabh Bachchan, Kamal Haasan, Deepika Padukone and Prabhas, the surprising cameos, his own vision, apprehensions and fears and ultimately giving Indian cinema it’s very own gem to cherish with Kalki 2898 AD! Excerpts
collection-wise or budget-wise. We just started off because we really loved the story and what it could do, like just the mythology and science fiction aspect of it. We loved it and I loved it and the producers were equally excited and just like Mahanati, like when we started, there was no benchmark of what a biopic of a female actress is like. You don’t know. You don’t know how much budget you can spend on it; you don’t know what its market is, we just made it because we loved it. The same thing was with this one. The only difference here is we have the might of these actors behind us. Like whether it’s Bachchan Sir or Prabhas or Kamal Sir or Deepika, we have these big names that give us a little bit more sleep at night because we know that they are pillars that can uphold this dream.
But having said that, the pressure also doubles up because when you bring together a casting of this caliber, then it’s equally important to justify and present each actor responsibly, that also becomes an added pressure and a responsibility as a director…
To an extent yes, but not so much with this lot because I feel they were all so secure with themselves. Like nobody… I don’t think anybody ever asked me anything like ‘how much is my duration’, or ‘how much is their duration’ or like ‘what is my importance’. I don’t think that kind of conversation ever happened, or I don’t think any of them are at that stage who have to think of that kind of things. They were very happy with their role, with their purpose in the story and they left larger picture to me after listening to the whole story the first time of course.
They left the larger picture to me, so I didn’t have that kind of a problem of trying to balance them.
What is the kind of cinema you have grown up with. There’s some cinematic skimming reminiscent of films like Mad Max, Transformers, Dune, Atlas, Avatar, Star Wars, Guardians of the Galaxy even… I feel my inspirations mainly were like the early… at least in Telugu, the black and white mythological films like Paatal Bhairavi or Mayabazar or so many Krishna Arjun Yuddham, where there would be these bow and arrow battles, they would throw this bow and this arrow will become fire and that arrow will become water. I grew up with these a lot and I feel that more than Mad Max or anything else, these were my reference points. This was what always excited me as a kid. Of course, like anybody else, probably Star Wars, was a big inspiration for me for sure. And we all have grown up in this Marvel era also so just maybe marrying these two things together was something that happened organically. And for me it was always… mythology was anyway the biggest inspiration. I think I didn’t know till I was in my teens that Hanuman was supposed to be immortal and he’s still somewhere around. Then later on I realized that there are supposed to be so many immortals and each of them have an unfinished story and I felt that ‘wow!’, it feels like this story is not finished. These people are still roaming around somewhere. That means that there is this chapter that is still left that we don’t know about. You know the Mahabharata is not over yet. So that was the real inspiration I would say.
The cameos were such a surprise! Can we expect something like that in the second as well?
I mean we haven’t really gotten down to shooting much of it, but yeah, that’s a whole different animal, so
we’ll figure out when we reach there.
There have been some very big budget movies that did not do as well as expected across India in recent times. Did it make you apprehensive knowing the huge monies that were riding on it and this one being touted as the most expensive film budget-wise, the time invested, the superstars involved… What then was the biggest challenge for you to pull across a movie of this magnitude?
Apprehensions… Well, there was a huge responsibility no doubt. But I feel the biggest challenge is the time. I feel very rarely the filmmakers have to battle this duration of production. Like for example, our actors came on board, I think Prabhas came on board just before COVID, Bachchan Sir, probably I had narrated before COVID, Deepika, during covid she came on board. So, this was all like four years ago. And we started production also close to three years ago with the shots schedule. Like both my previous movies were about nine months to one year start to finish. That’s how usually movies are. At the most the delay may be of about two years on the higher side. So, I feel like very rarely do we have to be on a film for this long a duration of four years. So, it’s just about keeping that perspective and keeping that energy at the same level for this duration of time, that was the challenge. Something I wasn’t used to. Something very few directors have to keep that for 4 years. So that was a new learning for me for sure.
About the casting, were these actors your first choices and did they have any apprehensions when you first approached them?
Yes, they were actually my first choices. Bachchan Sir was somebody who I couldn’t see anybody else for the role. Prabhas, like a very early version of this script, like almost 15 years ago, it wasn’t even this script. But it was just somebody I really wanted to work with. So, he was again the first choice. I didn’t think he would actually take it seriously because I was coming from a very sort of a non-commercial space with Mahanati. Like I haven’t shot a proper action sequence in my life. And he was coming from full action space, so I just wanted to pitch. But they all were very interested obviously by the concept. They had a couple of narrations and once they were clear, they were all on board. I don’t think there was any confusion there.
Which is the character closest to your heart? I really like Bhairava’s character, like Prabhas and Bujji’s characters. Maybe not the intrigue, but just the ease with which I was writing their scenes. Whenever you write or whenever they perform the scene, it just felt so much fun. So, I think Prabhas’ character definitely felt like a lot of fun. Bachchan
Sir’s stuff was always great because you know whatever I wrote, he’ll just make it 10x more, so I could just write ‘silence’ and he’ll make it more.
The expectation for sequel is going to be that much higher, so when are you diving into it? It’ll take some time I think, just to get everything sorted and finish up a few older commitments and then get down to it.
Give me your top three reasons to watch Kalki?
I think it’s a perfect marriage of the Mahabharata with sci-fi, past and the future. I think nobody has married Star Wars to Marvel or Mahabharata before so, it’s a very beautiful marriage. So, that’s one.
I’d say to watch Bachchan Sir in his full glory, that’s two. Like I don’t think we’ve seen him in this avatar in a very, very, long time. And I think three is because, I mean I’d like to treat my 10-year-old self to this movie, and I think we all should treat our 10-year-old selves to this film because it just opens up one’s imagination. Because you know, a non-judgmental, non-critical 10-year-old just watching this movie will just be like ‘what did I just see’ and the brain would just have… my brain would have had so much material to think about. So, for that, yeah.
Kamal Sir, Bachchan Sir, Prabhas, Deepika, you’ve already had your fill of the best, so, for you, who is next on your wish list? Pretty much, yes. I’m pretty satisfied and satiated, I think. Very happy. Right now, just to do justice to the people that I have right now (laughs).
As a filmmaker you have been pretty unpredictable with your choice of concepts, and scripts… Like Mahanati is completely the other end of the spectrum from Kalki… So, going ahead what are the kind of projects that we can expect and look forward to? Yeah, there is one thing that I’m working on which is again very different, and you’ll get to know about that soon, but yes, it’s different again!
How comfortable are you with all the eyes and expectations on you especially now every move will be watched that much more! I think it’s okay now. I’m a little unaware to a certain extent also, so that’s good. People accepting Kalki, has me relieved. I mean this was the hardest thing to prove I feel because the first step is always the toughest. When you go through the door, you don’t know what’s on the other side of that door, so the first time is always the hardest. After that it is okay. There will be comparison, there’ll be criticism, but it’s not the first time any more so it’s okay.
BEST THING ABOUT WORKING WITH… PRABHAS
He is essentially the biggest actor or the biggest star in our country at this particular point and yet he is so down-to-earth and makes everyone feel at home like even if it’s an assistant director or a costume assistant or just a light guy. He has absolutely no airs about himself. He makes sure he’s sitting somewhere out of the way so that he doesn’t disturb people. Like the big stuff we can talk about, but I just think that these small things make him what he is. He knows what he is, but he doesn’t want to rub it onto other people, and he just wants to make people comfortable. I think that’s great about him.other side of that door, so the first time is always the hardest. After that it is okay. There will be comparison, there’ll be criticism, but it’s not the first time any more so it’s okay.
DEEPIKA PADUKONE
She just lights up the screen. I don’t know if she knows or doesn’t know how effortlessly talented she is. Like you don’t know till the cameral rolls whether she has fully understood it or what she’s going to give, but once the camera rolls, it’s like 110 per cent lit!
AMITABH BACHCHAN & KAMAL HAASAN
One thing I have to say about both Bachchan Sir and Haasan Sir… It almost felt funny when I thought how somebody with as less an experience as me would give them advise on acting or tell them how to act in a particular scene. But they were so generous, and they actually wanted to be directed, they didn’t want to bring any of their image into this thing. They were like ‘yeah, we have this, we have our knowledge or notions or whatever but that’s not why we are here. We want to be a part of Kalki and your world, so, please tell us what to do’. And that was beautiful and that was great.
Mama Mia
ILEANA D’CRUZ, RENOWNED FOR HER COMPELLING PERFORMANCES, OPENS UP ABOUT HER TRANSFORMATIVE JOURNEY INTO MOTHERHOOD, HER BATTLE WITH POSTPARTUM DEPRESSION, AND THE UNWAVERING SUPPORT FROM HER HUSBAND, MICHAEL DOLAN. IN THIS CANDID INTERVIEW, SHE REFLECTS ON THE EVOLVING DEFINITION OF LOVE, THE IMPACT OF HER BLOCKBUSTER DEBUT IN BARFI!, AND THE HIGHS AND LOWS OF HER CAREER. WITH DEEP INSIGHTS INTO PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL LIFE, ILEANA SHARES WHAT KEEPS HER GROUNDED, THE IMPORTANCE OF RESPECTING TIME, AND WHAT TRULY MAKES A PERSON ATTRACTIVE BEYOND APPEARANCES.
ILEANA D’CRUZ NAVIGATES MOTHERHOOD, MENTAL HEALTH AND HER CAREER IN A CHAT WITH SUMAN SHARMA
MOTHERHOOD IS A MILESTONE. HOW HAS IT CHANGED YOU?
Yes, I am pretty busy with the baby. I am a completely different person in many ways. I have become calmer now. Everything changes after becoming a mother.
HOW DID YOU DEAL WITH POSTPARTUM DEPRESSION?
One thing that has helped me is being able to talk about it. Secondly, whenever I am going for my baby’s appointment, the doctors also check on the mother. They give you a questionnaire to assess how you are doing mentally. They ask if you need help. So, there is always that communication, which helps immensely. If you can talk about it and share how you’re feeling with somebody, there’s always a way around it. But postpartum depression is alienating, and you don’t talk about it enough. At least I didn’t share enough about it when I was in India, so it was something I just wanted to discuss a little. Many women go through it quietly and don’t understand why. For me, what helped first was to start talking about it. My husband is amazing. He’s been really great, so every time I have had a low phase and am not feeling my best, he comes in, gives me some time off, and talks to me about it. He reassures me that I have dealt with it really well. Sometimes, that’s all it takes.
TELL US MORE ABOUT YOUR BOND WITH YOUR LIFE PARTNER, MICHAEL DOLAN.
I have been fortunate to have a really lovely partner. It’s made me feel almost like fairy-tale love, where sometimes you don’t believe that someone can love even the worst parts of you. But yes, Mike has seen the worst parts of me as well, and he still loves me a lot. He still looks at me, and sometimes I look like crap, but he’s just like that. It’s all these little things. I can be really horrible, mean, and moody sometimes, but he’s still really kind, sweet, and calm. That’s what love is, you know—there are no conditions. It’s like, I take
Ileana D’Cruz with her husband Michael Dolan and their son Koa Phoenix Dolan
my husband to help me be nice to myself. Being with him and having him love me the way he has, because he has seen so many different phases, has kind of made me love
“HAVING SOMEBODY LOVE ME THE WAY MY HUSBAND DOES GETS ME TO LOVE MYSELF MORE. MY PERSPECTIVE ON LOVE HAS DEFINITELY CHANGED. ON DAYS WHEN I AM NOT KIND TO MYSELF, I LOOK TO MY HUSBAND TO HELP ME BE NICE TO MYSELF”
you for good days and bad days.
HOW HAS THE DEFINITION OF LOVE CHANGED FOR YOU OVER THE YEARS?
It has definitely changed immensely for me. I have read about love where many people say things like, “If you can’t love yourself, how do you expect somebody to love you?” I used to believe that for a while, but I feel I am still working on selflove myself. Having somebody love me the way my husband does gets me to love myself more. My perspective on love has definitely changed. On days when I am not kind to myself, I look to
myself a little more. It helps me be kinder to myself.
WHAT ATTRACTED YOU TO DO AUR DO PYAAR ?
The story was very sweet, unusual, and quirky. It was also the pairing of all these amazing actors. We had Vidya, obviously, and getting to work with her was a really big bonus. Prateik Gandhi is such an unusual character actor himself. For me, most of the films that I do, I go with a gut feeling. If something in my gut says this feels like a good story to be a part of, I just do it.
FOR SOMEONE AS TALENTED AS YOU, WAS IT EVEN MORE EXCITING WORKING WITH VIDYA BALAN, A SUPERB ACTOR?
Yes, I adore Vidya. I think she’s a fabulous actor. I first met Vidya after I did Barfi!. I remember she sent me an email after Barfi! released, saying how much she liked my performance in the film. I met her at award shows after that, along with Sid, who was producing Barfi!. So, there was an instant bond with her right from the beginning. When I met her for the film, it was like no time had passed. We just hung out in each other’s van, and she has such lovely energy around her. I still remember the first day we shot together. I was not feeling great and had
a weird anxiety attack. She came over
MOTHERHOOD IS A MILESTONE. HOW HAS IT CHANGED YOU?
Yes, I am pretty busy with the baby. I am a completely different person in many ways. I have become calmer now. Everything changes after becoming a mother.
HOW DID YOU DEAL WITH POSTPARTUM DEPRESSION?
One thing that has helped me is being able to talk about it. Secondly, whenever I am going for my baby’s appointment, the doctors also check on the mother. They give you a questionnaire to assess how you are doing mentally. They ask if you need help. So, there is always that communication, which helps immensely. If you can talk about it and share how you’re feeling with somebody, there’s always a way around it. But postpartum depression is alienating, and you don’t talk about it enough. At least I didn’t share enough about it when I was in India, so it was something I just wanted to discuss a little. Many women go through it quietly and don’t understand why. For me, what helped first was to start talking about it. My husband is amazing. He’s been really great, so every time I have had a low phase and am not feeling my best, he comes in, gives me some time off, and talks to me about it. He reassures me that I have dealt with it really well. Sometimes, that’s all it takes.
TELL US MORE ABOUT YOUR BOND WITH YOUR LIFE PARTNER, MICHAEL DOLAN.
I have been fortunate to have a really lovely partner. It’s made me feel almost like fairy-tale love, where sometimes you don’t
believe that someone can love even the worst parts of you. But yes, Mike has seen the worst parts of me as well, and he still loves me a lot. He still looks at me, and sometimes I look like crap, but he’s just like that. It’s all these little things. I can be really horrible, mean, and moody sometimes, but he’s still really kind, sweet, and calm. That’s what love is, you know—there are no conditions. It’s like, I take you for good days and bad days.
HOW HAS THE DEFINITION OF LOVE CHANGED FOR YOU OVER THE YEARS?
It has definitely changed immensely for me. I have read about love where many people say things like, “If you can’t love yourself, how do you expect somebody to love you?” I used to believe that for a while, but I feel I am still working on self-love myself. Having somebody love me the way my husband does gets me to love myself more. My perspective on love has definitely changed. On days when I am not kind to myself, I look to my husband to help me be nice to myself. Being with him and having him love me the way he has, because he has seen so many different phases, has kind of made me love myself a little more. It helps me be kinder to myself.
WHAT ATTRACTED YOU TO DO AUR DO PYAAR?
The story was very sweet, unusual, and quirky. It was also the pairing of all these amazing actors. We had Vidya, obviously, and getting to work with her was a really big bonus. Prateik Gandhi is such an unusual character actor himself. For me, most of the films that I do, I go with a gut feeling. If something in my gut says this feels like a good story to be a part of, I just do it.
FOR SOMEONE AS TALENTED AS YOU, WAS IT EVEN MORE EXCITING WORKING WITH VIDYA BALAN,A
SUPERB ACTOR?
Yes, I adore Vidya. I think she’s a fabulous actor. I first met Vidya after I did Barfi!. I remember she sent me an email after Barfi! released, saying how much she liked my performance in the film. I met her at award shows after that, along with Sid, who was producing Barfi!. So, there was an instant bond with her right from the beginning. When I met her for the film, it was like no time had passed. We just hung out in each other’s van, and she has such lovely energy around her. I still remember the first day we shot together. I was not feeling great and had a weird anxiety attack. She came over to see me, and we just sat and talked about random stuff. After 15-20 minutes, I felt amazing. She has such beautiful energy and is a gifted actress. She’s great to watch and perform with.
WHAT ARE YOUR VIEWS ON INFIDELITY?
THEN THERE WERE UPS AND DOWNS IN YOUR CAREER. HOW DID YOU DEAL WITH IT?
It is a part of my profession. You have to go up and down. I feel doubt comes in when you have certain convictions about a film and it goes completely the opposite way. That doubt starts creeping in. Most of the films that I did, I had an idea of how they would do. I don’t feel like there were many downs— probably one or two low phases. At that time, I wasn’t happy with the offers coming my way. But as far as the movies are concerned, I still stand by the decision that I did a good job. Sometimes, it turns out to be a great film; sometimes, it doesn’t. I am like, it is what it is, and such is life.
ARE YOU IN TOUCH WITH YOUR COACTORS FROM BARFI!?
an international level was another defining moment because it changed my life entirely. These moments helped me change who I am as a person and moulded me into the person that I am today.
WHAT ARE THE MISTAKES YOU’LL NEVER COMMIT AS A PROFESSIONAL?
It’s a completely unrelated thing to say. I think infidelity is very subjective. Many people consider infidelity to be either physical or emotional. I feel like infidelity is very subjective. Personally, I don’t feel a relationship can continue if there is infidelity. It is very hard to go back to a relationship if you know you have been unfaithful. It’s a very grey zone.
IT’S HARD TO FORGIVE YOUR PARTNER IN THAT CASE. It’s definitely hard. I feel there are reasons people do what they do. I would like to know the reason why it happened. I am not somebody who just cuts off someone immediately. I would like to know the why and the what, and because of what, why it happened.
YOUR FIRST HINDI FILM, BARFI!, WAS A BLOCKBUSTER MOVIE, AND
Friendship doesn’t happen with everyone. They have all been my coactors, my colleagues, my acquaintances—people I have worked with. Every time I meet Ranbir Kapoor, there’s always warmth and genuine fondness. We are very cordial because we have a great working relationship. I have very few friends in the industry, and those people have remained my friends. Arshad Warsi, Maria, and I are still friends and call each other every now and then. I have actually made more friends with the people I worked with, not the actors.
WHAT WAS THE DEFINING
MOMENT OF YOUR LIFE?
Experiencing success for the first time in life and not really understanding it. Probably doing Barfi! was another very big defining moment. Going to an international film festival to see the film on
Disrespecting anybody’s time. That’s one thing I realised very early on in my life: time is money. There was probably a time in my career when I was young and had no idea what I was doing. I didn’t understand any of it and was still like a kid. I didn’t understand the seriousness of my job, but once I realised how serious our work is, I developed a respect for it immediately. I will never take it for granted.
WHAT KEEPS YOU GOING AS AN ACTOR?
The love for my job. I just love being an actor. It’s the thing that makes me feel most alive. I can be as tired as anybody, but if I am on a set and in front of a camera, doing what I love, playing a character, breathing life into something that a person has taken hours and days to write, it’s a beautiful, powerful moment.
WHAT MAKES A WOMAN HIGHLY ATTRACTIVE BESIDES HER LOOKS?
What makes you attractive has nothing to do with how you look. It’s purely energy more than anything. I believe it’s a person’s energy, how you are as a person, how you treat other people, and how you come across to everybody. A kind person is incredibly attractive for sure.
Do Aur Do Pyaar
Sur‘real’! Keeping it Sanam Saeed
Gorgeous Pakistani star Sanam Saeed talks to Aakanksha Naval-Shetye about delving into the fantasy realm with Barzakh and reuniting with Fawad Khan on screen after 12 years
The famed and much-loved Zindagi Gulzar Hai pair Sanam Saeed and Fawad Khan are reuniting onscreen after almost 12 years! But unlike their previous romantic drama, the upcoming ZEE5 Global series Barzakh delves into the fantasy and spiritual realism with supernatural elements. A genre that the stunning Pakistani star reveals, had her intrigued too! What’s more, the six part series also has her team up once again with her acclaimed Cake director Asim Abbasi! We caught up with Sanam ahead of the release of her new OTT show and in a candid conversation, the gorgeous actress talks about her new series, her versatile choice of roles and reuniting on screen with Fawad Khan
Barzakh’s trailer took us by surprise. Did it surprise you when the script first came to you? It did. Asim (director Asim Abbasi) has done a family drama like Cake, then he did a super-cool all out female-driven show like Churails and then suddenly he did this really layered, complex, family drama, a malecentric story that delves into spiritual realism with supernatural elements. We were really not expecting this but it was great fun to read it and that excited me to be a part of it.
What made you say a yes immediately – was it the script or the director with whom you are working again or Fawad Khan who you are coming back on screen 12 years after Zindagi Gulzar Hai? Actually, Fawad joined at the last minute so I had no idea that Fawad was going to be a part of it. I was going through the script and with Asim it’s a no-brainer that I would love to be a part of it.
The entire concept is so unique and different, what was your takeaway from it?
To remember to be patient. I enjoyed being the driving force between all the characters. I enjoyed being the uniting factor, the one who really had to control her emotions, her desires, her agenda and instead selflessly make sure that everyone around her, because they were all family, were happy and at peace. And her main goal was to make sure that Salman Shahid’s character gets to the top of that mountain and meets the love of his life. So, I thought it is really sweet that everything happens because of her. The lesson learned is you can really control the situation from the sideline when you have the purest of intentions, things kind of pan out as you want.
The trailer speaks so much about love and being fearless in its pursuit. What is your own take on love? Do you believe in the practicality of it or being larger than life?
There are so many facets of love. The word love, it’s such a huge word. It’s such a powerful word. It’s all encompassing of everything that feels right, feels good, feels honest and that feels like home. Something that can melt away fear, anger and sadness. Love is like a warm-cozy blanket that
it out. I’m just someone who really goes against the grain. I have gotten into trouble also because of it but I know that my heart and my intentions are always in the right place. It’s just the way I have been raised to care for the people around me and to respect other people around me. So, my intention has always been for the good and benefit of myself and everyone around me. And I think that is something that has carried through all the characters. Some were fears, some were
IT WAS IMPORTANT FOR FAWAD TO PLAY THIS ROLE BECAUSE HE LIKES DOING THESE COMPLEX AND LAYERED CHARACTERS. HE JUST HAPPENS TO FALL INTO THE CHARACTER OF A HERO WHICH HE DOES REALLY WELL AND ENJOYS. BUT HE ALSO LOVES DOING THESE CHARACTERS THAT HAVE A DARKER SIDE.
can protect you, can lift your spirits up. I mean it’s such a small four-letter word but it’s really all encompassing. So yeah, I believe in all kinds of love, love for people, love for objects, love for relatives, love for friends, love for your lover, it’s a really powerful force and emotion.
You have portrayed such versatile roles, but what are you really like? I like to do characters that are level-headed, and I think that I too am levelheaded, I’m pragmatic. I like to stand up for things that are wrong, to share my voice, stand up for the people who do not have a voice - like being a voice for the voiceless. I don’t like to go with the flow just because it’s the done thing! If it doesn’t make sense to me then I have to question it, if something is wrong, I have to point
romantic and some spoke out about things that they think shouldn’t be forced on anyone especially women just because of tradition and culture. So, there are pieces of me here and there. The real me is actually much quieter. My characters are more expressive but you will find that common thing among most of the actors. I know in real life we are quiet and we enjoy acting and playing these characters as we get to emote those emotions through these characters which we usually don’t express in real life as ourselves.
You and Fawad have come a long way since you first worked together. How was it reconnecting?
Well, there is definitely a lot of growth in both of us. We were much younger, now we have 10-11 years of life experience that has matured
us. I think there has been a mutual respect for the work we have done in the past 10-11 years. Kapoor and Sons had me salute to him and Cake was what he really liked from Asim and my work. The fact that we both accepted to do Barzakh in itself speaks that it was a pleasure to work with each other because it’s also a very different script. I wouldn’t say it’s a risk, but it’s not the usual script that you get so the fact that I chose to do this role and for him, he was like wow you are doing Scheherezade and I was like wow, I had no idea you were doing Shehryar, so that was really cool. It was important for Fawad to play this role because he likes doing these complex and layered characters. He just happens to fall into the character of a hero which he does really well and enjoys. But he also loves doing these characters that have a darker side. I know this from our conversations from before but it’s nice for the audience to see this different side of Fawad. It’s just another feather in his cap.
Barzakh has a lot of symbolism, even the titling is done with the ouroboros and the tree of life! Do you also believe there is much more to life that just what our daily living is… Yes, the circle of life and the tree and like everything does have a lot of symbolism. I have to believe in that because it would be really depressing to imagine that this was it. This is the card that we have been dealt in this life and this is it. I definitely like to believe that there is life after death in whatever form, in whatever way and every religion and culture does in some way or the other believes in
life after death. Whether it’s reincarnation or ending up in heaven or hell so there is another destination. We can interpret that however we want but the point being it doesn’t end here. What matters is our amaal and our actions in this time frame that we have will definitely have an impact on our existence in the other realm. I think Barzakh doesn’t judge on that so much. But the question was what happens to us after we die, will we ever connect with people who have passed on, what is the transition like, is there a special night when we meet the souls or is there not. These are the questions which arise in people’s mind generally also. In Barzakh there are characters who are in their 70’s, characters who are in their 20’s, 30’s and then there is a 10-year-old. So, it’s multi-generational and you get to experience emotions among different age-groups and both the sexes so it makes for a very universal story.
What’s the headspace like ahead of the release of this six-part series on ZEE5 Global?
I’m not nervous at all, but I’m dying for this to come out already. I saw the first two episodes at the Series Mania Festival that we went to with ZEE5 Global in Lille, in France. And the European audience’s reaction was really quite heartening to see. They really picked up on all the nuances and every undertone message, every subtle message that Asim had incorporated into the script. And Barzakh needs a much larger audience, because it can cater to so many people. It may or may not click with all of them, but it needs to be accessible
IF IT DOESN’T MAKE SENSE TO ME THEN I HAVE TO QUESTION IT, IF SOMETHING IS WRONG, I HAVE TO POINT IT OUT. I’M JUST SOMEONE WHO REALLY GOES AGAINST THE GRAIN. I HAVE GOTTEN INTO TROUBLE ALSO BECAUSE OF IT BUT I KNOW THAT MY HEART AND MY INTENTIONS ARE ALWAYS IN THE RIGHT PLACE.
to all people. So, I am excited… The locations are beautiful, the art direction is stunning, the color palette is different. It’s on the darker side but I think, because people haven’t seen something like this out of Pakistan and with actors like Fawad, Salman Shahid and myself in it, the intrigue is definitely there.
If you were given a super-power, what would you want it
to be?
At the moment how the world is doing, the way people are behaving, I would like to zap some sympathy, kindness and common sense in a lot of people but superpower changes from time to time. Depending on what situation I’m in, I think the superpower would be to zap education in everyone’s mind so that they are enabled to do something in rational situations as opposed to being stuck.
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Bringing on the AGame
Aayush Sharma has been growing as an actor with every movie and the evolution is quite evident too. From a debut with a romantic Loveyatri to a performance-packed Antim and most recently shouldering an actioner like Ruslaan, the star believes in pushing the envelope with each screen outing. And while it’s not easy being overshadowed by the ‘Salman Khan’ tag due to his association with the family, Aayush is keen on working towards making the family proud of his work on his own merit. In a candid conversation the actor talks about earning his own stripes, his passion for photography with plans for a coffee table book and reveals why doing a comedy is high on his wishlist!
YOU HAVE BEEN PROGRESSING AND EVOLVING AS AN ACTOR WITH EVERY SCREEN OUTING AND WITH RUSLAAN YOU HAVE TAKEN IT NOTCHES HIGHER…
Aayush Sharma
Thank you so much. It’s been a very exciting journey and I’m blessed to have played three completely different characters in all of my three films so far. It’s exciting to know that there is something new you get to do. So, Ruslaan was one of those journeys with fullfledged action, dancing,
drama and everything. I had a great time playing this part, you know the stylish guy, the hero who can do all the action and everything. Antim was a very performance heavy film, but in a real and a very raw space. With Ruslaan, it was a step up because the idea was of this larger-than-life portrayal of a character who can do anything. So I would say that Antim was kind of a warm up for me in the space of action for Ruslaan to happen. And Antim gave me a lot of confidence with action. I recall people whistling and cheering in theatres
YOU HAVE BEEN PROGRESSING AND EVOLVING AS AN ACTOR WITH EVERY SCREEN OUTING AND WITH RUSLAAN YOU HAVE TAKEN IT NOTCHES HIGHER…
Thank you so much. It’s been a very exciting journey and I’m blessed to have played three completely different characters in all of my three films so far. It’s exciting to know that there is something new you get to do. So, Ruslaan was one of those journeys with fullfledged action, dancing, drama and everything. I had a great time playing this part, you know the stylish guy, the hero who can do all the action and everything. Antim was a very performance heavy film, but in a real and a very raw space. With Ruslaan, it was a step up because the idea was of this larger-than-life portrayal of a character who can do anything. So I would say that Antim was kind of a warm up for me in the space of action for Ruslaan to happen. And Antim gave me a lot of confidence with
action. I recall people whistling and cheering in theatres during the fight sequences in Antim and that crowd reaction is what pushed me to try and take it higher with Ruslaan. So I would say Antim was more challenging as an actor, Ruslaan was more burdening as an actor.
DO YOU THINK THAT BECAUSE OF YOUR FAMILY ASSOCIATION WITH SALMAN KHAN, THE ACTOR FACET OF YOU GETS OVERSHADOWED AND THE FOCUS DOESN’T SHIFT FROM THAT RELATIONSHIP?
You know, at times it does. I am part of a very beautiful family. It’s a very big family in the film industry, there is curiosity, there is media attention. So I know that the family is always going to be a part of me and I’m proud of it and very blessed. But I think somewhere down the line, the conversation does distract people from talking or noticing the work. Personally I don’t mind it, but it does affect me professionally at times because when you are really out there trying to make a mark for yourself, you’re constantly being moved aside to another conversation regarding the family. It’s funny that sometimes even today, after doing three films, there’re articles that say ‘Salman Khan’s brother in law, Aayush Sharma’. Sometimes I feel like okay, but sometimes I feel like ‘I have a name, you can call me Aayush Sharma, you can call me actor Aayush Sharma’ but then I also joke about it at times, saying that why don’t you call it ‘Salman Khan’s brother in law,
It’s funny that sometimes even today, after doing three films, there’re articles that say ‘Salman Khan’s brother in law, Aayush Sharma’… It’s weird because I don’t see other actors who also have film connections being written like that. Their family tree is never described. Every time it’s reiterated as if he has forgotten that he is part of the family, we’ll remind him…
Arpita Khan’s husband, Ahil’s father, Ayat’s father and then Aayush Sharma.’ It’s weird because I don’t see other actors who also have film connections being written like that. Their family tree is never described. Every time it’s reiterated as if he has forgotten that he is part of the family, we’ll remind him (laughs).
BUT WITH RUSLAAN IT WAS LARGELY YOUR PERFORMANCE BEING SPOKEN ABOUT!
I think it’s a beginning of it. I would say this is the first opportunity, and I have to go way ahead in life, do a lot of films, a lot of merit I have to earn, play a lot of characters, lot of audiences to win… so I believe this is the first stardom, and I’m very happy that it happened not from a point of view that you know that I have problem with the family, but from the point of view that I want the family to also be proud. Like he’s working on his own, he’s earning a name for himself. And that’s something that’s very dear to me that everybody is proud, that work is coming from outside, there are other opportunities that are coming from outside. It’s always, you know they say that , as a family they always believe in you but when others believe in you, that’s when family is proud of you.
YOU LOOK LIKE YOU ARE DRAWN TO ACTION-ORIENTED FILMS, AND YOU SEEM TO BE QUITE A NATURAL IN THAT ZONE TOO!
I love action. So, thank you for saying that it comes naturally to me. It is definitely something that interests me a great deal. When I’m shooting, the adrenaline is quite real but I don’t think that’s the only thing that I am headed to. Like I really wanted to debut in an action film, which I did not. I got an opportunity to do a ‘dance’ film then. Then I signed Antim, where I did a little bit of raw, rugged action. Then I wanted to do a larger-than-
life actioner, and that’s what Ruslaan was. But I think action is one of my genres, and I would really like to explore other genres also, espescially comedy.
HOW DO YOU HANDLE ALL THAT PRESSURE – ESPECIALLY WITH TROLLS AND CRITICS?
First of all, turn off the heat! I believe that if you did feel bad about something, you should channelise that energy on your work. Criticism is very important, so when it comes from healthy quarters, I don’t take it as a negative. I take it in my stride like ‘okay I’m a student of filmmaking, I’m learning acting, and if there is a critical point of view, critics have said something which they don’t like, I take it as a point to work on’. I’m all for constructive criticism, but when that criticism comes from a space of trolling just for the heck of it, I call it noise and ignore it… These noises don’t need to be addressed. So, I think the best way is to put your phone off, don’t pay attention to it. On social media, you get talked for a few hours and then people move on to the next person. Things will move on, life goes on. So even if there is a lot of love that comes from social media, I don’t take it very seriously. Don’t take the love of social media to your head, and don’t take hatred to your heart, that’s my funda I follow. I’m anyway a very antisocial person on social media, like very non-friendly. My team has to push me to post a picture, post something, do something, because I’m just aversive to social media in general. Sometimes there are some fun videos, even I laugh at them. If I do get bothered about something I feel is uncalled for, or I did feel bad, then I write
a journal, I express all my thoughts over there. I don’t engage online, because that would only fuel the fire. Instead I write it down, I use that energy, I use those comments, I keep them as fire because next time when I’m going on set and I’m performing, sometimes you reach out for that fire to fuel you.
YOUR WORK-OUT SESSIONS ARE QUITE TALKED ABOUT? ARE YOU OBSESSED ABOUT FITNESS OR IT’S A PART OF DISCIPLINE AS AN ACTOR?
I would not say I’m obsessed, but yes I’m in love with the workouts. It started off because I wanted to be an actor so I got to be in shape. But then I started enjoying it and it became therapeutic - of just being healthy, going to the gym, working out, feeling strong, giving yourself an hour. So irrespective of a film or not, I go to the gym. If I’m on a vacation, I go to the gym. I like to just train for myself. It’s no longer a thing that I want to do for a project or I have to maintain a six-pack. I like to do rock climbing, swimming, playing squash, enjoying ghar ka khana and having a good time.
TELL US MORE ABOUT YOUR PASSION FOR PHOTOGRAPHY?
It’s been a decade since I’m into it. I’m not formally trained in photography. I picked up photography when I was an assistant director on Bajrangi Bhaijaan. I bought myself a pretty high-end camera and learnt it on my own. We were shooting in Kashmir and I started photographing a lot of local people. I started uploading those on my Instagram, I had a photography page on Instagram. And the reactions were very nice because people didn’t know that I was clicking the pictures. It was a great experience! At some point of time, I remember National Geographic had
this thing going, like just send us your picture. And I did this whole thing about Kashmir. They didn’t publish it, but they sent a very sweet message saying that there’s a different perspective to my pics. That really inspired me to take it up as a hobby. Whenever I go to any place, like when I’m shooting also, I have my camera all the time. I like to take BTS, I like to take pictures, I like to create memories and I like to shoot more of street photography. I’ve done it in Deira also, in UAE.
ANY EXHIBITION PLANNED?
Actually I’m planning a coffee table book this year. It’s been 10 years I’ve been taking pictures, so by the end of this year, I’m planning to make a coffee table book of the best pictures according to me and I’m going to release that.
ON A ROMANTIC DATE WITH ARPITA, YOU WOULD...
Sing a very horrible song which will irritate her (laughs). I think we’re married for 10 year now, so our romance has gone to the dogs. For us it’s all about irritating. My thing is I’ll irritate her, she’ll irritate me. That’s what our romance is now a days. That’s how we express love for each other. We are at a point when even on birthdays or anniversaries, it’s not like I have to do something. We’re happy with it and she also knows my nature. I’m very lucky like that! Also, with her I don’t have to plan anything. She likes to plan the dinner, decide the menu, the flowers, everything. All I have to do is just show up. So I’m lucky and God has been kind. Even if I try to indulge her, she says “please, don’t try to… just give me the cheque, I will figure it out. Just chill…” and she enjoys that, so I think I lucked out like that.
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On social media, you get talked for a few hours and then people move on to the next person. Things will move on, life goes on. So even if there is a lot of love that comes from social media, I don’t take it very seriously. Don’t take the love of social media to your head, and don’t take hatred to your heart, that’s my funda I follow
As a teenager, whose posters did you have in your bedroom?
David Beckham. I wanted to be a footballer so David Beckham, Jersey 7. No actress?
Nah. At that time my crushes used to change every week. So I was like let’s not put a poster. They were all in my heart.
Guilty pleasure?
One guilty pleasure that I can’t control and I know I’m wasting money on are gadgets. I love buying gadgets even if I don’t need it and I like to buy it on the first day. I’m a big apple fanboy. One role you wish you could do?
Peaky Blinders - Tommy Shelby. I would love to do a Pushpa, I would love to do this South Indian film called Uppena, very beautiful film.
Quick Roll
That happy
RICHA CHADHA SHONE BRIGHT IN HER ROLE AS LAJJO IN HEERAMANDI. TANISHA BHATTACHARYA CHATS WITH
THE
MOTHER-TO-BE ABOUT WORKING WITH SANJAY LEELA BHANSALI AND MORE…
Richa Chadha is going to be a mother soon, and that special motherhood glow shines on her face. The actress, who has always managed to leave a mark with her performances, recently made her presence felt in her small but significant role as Lajjo in Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s OTT series, Heeramandi. Beyond her acting prowess, Richa is also known for her unwavering political activism, standing by her beliefs and using her platform to advocate for various causes. During our interview, Richa juggles between answering concerned calls from her husband, actor Ali Fazal, who frequently checks in to see how she’s doing, and voicing her myriad food cravings that come with pregnancy. Despite these interruptions, she opens up about her career choices, her journey in the entertainment industry, and the causes close to her heart. Here are some excerpts from our candid conversation with the talented and passionate Richa Chadda.
If not Lajjo, which role would you have loved to play in Heeramandi?
I think I would have loved to; of course, if I were older, I’d have loved to do the mercurial character of Mallika Jaan, played by Manisha Koirala so beautifully. But right now, even Fareedan, played by Sonakshi Sinha, is a very nice character, according to me.
Lajjo is all about love, loss, heartbreaks, and a staggering strength through it all. Can you tell us about your biggest heartbreak in love?
My biggest heartbreak? I don’t think it has to do with love. My biggest heartbreak sometimes is to see a forest being cut down or a democracy dying, because those are the things that impact everyone.
Would you describe yourself as a method actor? You’ve mentioned in an interview how you drank to get a scene right in Heeramandi.
No, I don’t think I’m a method actor. It was just the day that 99 takes happened, and I still wasn’t getting the right shot. So for that, I thought maybe I could use alcohol for a little
bit, but honestly, it didn’t help. It only made things worse.
What was your husband, Ali Fazal’s reaction to your role? He felt very proud of me, and he said he was. He was quite happy because he was sitting next to me at the screening. He’s very happy to see me like that on screen, and I think he had a great time at the screening too. Ali’s always been my biggest cheerleader in the fan club. We both know that. He’s also boastful whenever he sees me performing on screen or achieving something great on stage. It’s good to have a partner who can be your champion.
Would you say Sanjay Leela Bhansali has been that one director who has truly understood your strengths
Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar
My biggest heartbreak? I don’t think it has to do with love. My biggest heartbreak sometimes is to see a forest being cut down or a democracy dying
with
Ali Fazal and weaknesses as an actor?
I would definitely think that. My work with Bhansali sir has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my entire career. It’s always such that people on the independent side tend to think that it’s easy to do commercial work, but the grammar, the sheer physical effort—it takes the amount of hard work you need to put into the number of things you need to manage. Your desire to sell that genre to yourself and to the audience is so immense that I hope people can see that it’s not easy. Not today. Not before today. This is just not an easy thing.
Go on…
Also, I’d like to add that SLB is not simply happy with telling a story. Like in my case for Heeramandi, he’s not simply happy with a good dance sequence. He wants there to be a breakdown in real time that is layered with the dance he wants it to be. Work on the pain in the voice, along with acting well and remembering their lines and character. So I personally enjoy working with him. It’s rewarding for me, and I’ve never done a character that receives so much unanimous love.
Can you recall a moment in the initial phase, say in Goliyon Ki Raasleela RamLeela, where SLB was hard on you?
I don’t think he’s ever scolded me. He always guided me patiently through the difficult portions. Like the scene in Ram-Leela, where my character Raseela goes into the enemy territory and gets almost molested
and sexually assaulted, that was quite challenging. Of course, it’s challenging for any woman to experience that, even in a fictional landscape. And it was tough on the boys for that scene because, on the one hand, they had to appear brutal, but on the contrary, they had to take care of me and not physically hurt me because they had to lift me and put me down.
How would you define your emotional strength off camera?
I would say I’m emotionally strong. Most women are, and I think that’s why God puts us through the things he puts us through because of our ability to have patience. Women often endure a variety of challenges and hardships that require immense emotional resilience. This strength enables us to navigate life’s ups and downs with grace and fortitude. Additionally, we have a high pain threshold, not just physically but emotionally as well. This capacity for enduring pain and remaining patient through trials is a testament to our inner strength and resilience. Whether it’s dealing with personal struggles, supporting loved ones, or facing societal pressures, women consistently demonstrate a remarkable ability to persevere. This emotional strength is a fundamental aspect of who we are and how we manage to overcome the obstacles life throws our way.
How do you weigh critical and commercial success since you’ve dabbled in both?
I think both have their own place. Speaking of Vicky Kaushal today, he’s a big commercial star, but he started with a film like Masaan, which was an independent film that won all these awards at Cannes. It depends. When you get critical praise for a character, it’s very different because you’ve established yourself as a good actor. But commercial success is also important because if you don’t have
that, then people don’t think you’re viable commercially. I don’t think I would have been here if Gangs of Wasseypur was not a commercial success along with being a critical success.
When you look back at your journey so far—more than the milestones—which was your lowest phase that you are grateful for today?
I think my lowest phase was when I was replaced for a film at pretty much the last minute. It made me realise that there are lots of very duplicitous people in the film industry, and if you are one of them, especially if you’re an outsider, then you have to watch out for yourself and, you know, not have blind faith or blind trust in people. And this happened to me after I won a Filmfare Award for Best Actress Critics’ for Gangs of Wasseypur. So I think I’m grateful for that lesson, and I can safely say today that what happened to me at that point has made me evolve and grow tremendously as an actor.
How excited are you for your new role as a mother? I’m incredibly excited about my new role as a mother. Right now, I don’t have any fears because it’s still early, and I haven’t had time to develop any anxieties. I’m filled with happiness at the thought of bringing a new life into this world with my partner. This is a joyous and significant phase for us, and I’m embracing it with a lot of enthusiasm and anticipation. While I know challenges may come later, at this moment, I’m focused on the excitement and joy that this new chapter brings.
Will you take the route taken by most Bollywood couples with their kids and not expose them to the
I would say I’m emotionally strong. Most women are, and I think that’s why God puts us through the things he puts us through because of our ability to have patience
media in the first few years?
I don’t know the exact right time for someone to become a parent, as it varies for each individual. I believe that people make the decision to become parents based on their own circumstances and readiness. When it comes to raising a child, our focus will always be on what is best for them. We will strive to do whatever is necessary to ensure their well-being and development, tailoring our approach to what we believe works best for them. n
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WATCH LIST
CHECK OUT SOME OF THE MOST-AWAITED MOVIES AND OTT SERIES TO HIT THE SCREENS THIS JULY
INDIAN 2
Director: S Shankar
Cast: Kamal Haasan, Siddharth, Rakul Preet Singh, SJ Suryah, Gulshan Grover, Bobby Simha
A sequel to the 1996 vigilante action film Indian, this one has Kamal Haasan reprise his role as Senapathy, an ageing freedom fighter turned vigilante who fights against corruption. This one sees him return to India to fight corrupt politicians by exposing them through the internet after joining hands with another online vigilante. The teaming up of actor-director duo of Shankar and the legendary Haasan is reason enough to watch this one.
DEADPOOL & WOLVERINE
Director: Shawn Levy
Cast: Ryan Reynolds, Hugh Jackman, Rhett Reese, Paul Wernick, Zeb Wells, Emma Corrin, Matthew Macfadyen
The superhero film is the 34th film in the MCU (Marvel Cinematic Universe) and a sequel to Deadpool (2016) and Deadpool 2 (2018). The film sees Deadpool being pulled out from his quiet life to be set on a mission with Wolverine that will change the history of the MCU. The film has been one of the most anticipated by Marvel fans. Both the characters are among the most-loved ones in MCU alongwith the actors reprising their roles. Deadpool humour with Wolverine action - this one is a must-watch and one we highly recommend!
MIRZAPUR SEASON 3
Director: Gurmmeet Singh & Anand Iyer
Cast: Pankaj Tripathi, Ali Fazal, Vijay Varma, Rasika Dugal, Anjum Sharma, Shweta Tripathi, Isha Talwar
Easily one of the most-awaited series on the OTT is this crime drama set in the rugged world ruled by Kaleen Bhaiyya. But now with new players wielding their brains and brawns to stake their claim on the throne of Mirzapur, the power games between Guddu Bhaiyya, Shatrughan Tyagi, Golu, Beena Tripathi, Sharad Shukla get more dangerous in this one. All eyes will be glued to this series premiering on Prime Video.
AURON MEIN KAHAN DUM THA
Director: Neeraj Pandey
Cast: Ajay Devgn, Tabu, Jimmy Shergill, Saiee Manjrekar, Shantanu Maheshwari
A musical love story revolves around a young couple in love that spans across 22 years and is set between 2000 and 2023. Ajay plays Krishna, a convict who allegedly committed two murders in his youth, and is about to complete his 22-year-long jail term. Tabu was in love with Ajay in her youth, but is now married to Jimmy’s character. Shantanu and Saiee play the young Ajay and Tabu. On completing his jail term, Krishna wants to meets Tabu as he still loves her. They trace back the fateful night of the murders as Tabu and her husband meet him. The film sees the two power-performers Tabu and Ajay reunite after having done films like Drishyam, De De Pyaar De, amongst others. Their natural chemistry is always a highlight and this one, promises to be even more exciting as they are pitted together in a romantic space.
*Disclaimer: The release dates mentioned in the article are subject to change
BAD NEWZ
Director: Anand Tiwari
Cast: Vicky Kaushal, Ammy Virk, Triptii Dimri
A spiritual sequel of Good Newwz (2019) this one revolves around Saloni who gets pregnant after having a one-night stand with two men. The comedy explores the condition in which twin children are born to the same mother, but from different biological fathers. This leads to the two men – played by Vicky and Ammy engage in an upmanship of wooing the one woman who is the mother of each of their children. This one’s promising to be a laughter riot.
Director: Chris Renaud, Patrick Delage Cast (Voices of): Steve Carell, Kristen Wiig, Pierre Coffin, Joey King, Miranda Cosgrove, Steve Coogan, Sofía Vergara, Renaud, Madison Polan, Dana Gaier, Chloe Fineman, with Stephen Colbert, and Will Ferrell
This is the sequel to the hit Despicable Me 3 and the 6th installment of the much-loved animated franchisee. Gru and his AVL – Anti-Villain League are on to their next adventure. Maxime Le Mal, who Gru had helped in getting arrested, escapes from prison and he and his girlfriend Valentina, with their army of rats and cockroaches, seek revenge on Gru and his family, including his baby son, Gru Jr. The AVL puts the whole family into relocation for their protection, under new identities, with only three Minions.
SARFIRA
Director: Sudha Kongara
Cast: Akshay Kumar, Paresh Rawal, Seema Biswas, Radhika Madan
The Akshay starrer is a remake of Kongara’s Tamil film Soorarai Pottru (2020) that starred Suriya, and which itself is an adaptation of GR Gopinath’s memoir Simply Fly: A Deccan Odyssey. The film follows a common man Veer Mhatre’s inspiring journey as he overcomes all obstacles in his quest to make affordable airlines for low-income people. The film is touted to be one of Akshay’s best performances and sees him reunite with Paresh Rawal on screen after several years. This is one not to be missed.
FLY ME TO THE MOON
Director: Greg Berlanti
Cast: Scarlett Johansson, Channing Tatum, Nick Dillenburg, Anna Garcia, Jim Rash, Noah Robbins, Colin Woodell, Christian Zuber, Donald Elise Watkins, Ray Romano, Woody Harrelson
TThe romantic comedy-drama follows the relationship between a marketing specialist and a NASA director in charge of the Apollo 11 launch during the 1960s Space Race between the United States and the Soviet Union
BARZAKH
Director: Asim Abbasi
Cast: Fawad Khan, Sanam Saeed
Barzakh follows the poignant journey of a 76-year-old reclusive man who invites his estranged children and grandchildren to his remote valley resort to celebrate an extraordinary and unconventional event—his wedding with the ghost of his first true love. This emotionally profound narrative makes viewers think about life’s mysteries, what happens after death, and the deep feeling of love that ties us together. The ZEE5 Global series blends magical realism and supernatural fantasy within a family reunion setting.
Experience the
