Stardust - December 2020

Throwback: Wild child Pooja Bhatt on love, life and papa Mahesh Bhatt

DECEMBER 2020 India ₹ 75.00 UK/Europe € 3.99 USA/Canada $ 2.99

A MAGNA PUBLICATION

“Yes, I did have suicidal thoughts!”

- Amit Sadh

No, I don’t think of the ‘insiders versus outsiders’ topic!

- Jim Sarbh “A few idiots have glamourised the word ‘nepotism’ and used it for their own personal gains.”

- Aditya Seal

REVEALED!

Will Varun Dhawan’s Coolie No 1 manage to wipe the kalank off his career?

1

2

3

Publisher Editor Head of Business Development Graphics Designer

: Nari M. Hira : Sumita Chakraborty : Prashant Rane : Sayad Zaid Inamdar

CANADA For Advertising contact : Ms.Anki Khanna

Tel : 647-964-1802 Email : :stardustmaganki@gmail.com

Please write to stardustindiamagazine@gmail.com and give us your comments, suggestions, opinions, criticism and feedback.

We have several new exciting things – from great articles, interviews, candid pictures and interactive competitions with great prizes in the offing, so watch this space for more…

COVER STORY

Can Varun Dhawan get back his winning streak with Coolie No 1? ...................................................................16 Court Martial: Amit Sadh .....................................................................................................................................24 In Conversation: A fine actor indeed! .................................................................................................................30 Close Up: “A few idiots have glamourised the word nepotism

and become advocates of it for their personal gains.” - Aditya Seal ..............................................42 In The Spotlight: I did get some flak for being a part of Bad Boy Billionaires,

but I brushed it aside.”- Parveen Dusanj Bedi .....................................................................36 Blast From The Past: Wild child Pooja Bhatt’s throwback interview ..............................................................68

FEATURES Music Room: Baiju Mangeshkar ..........................................................................................................................54 Starry Look: Dazzle like Disha ..............................................................................................................................64

COLUMNS Neeta’s Natter ........................................................................................................................................................06 Wild Encounter: Digangana Suryavanshi ...........................................................................................................51 Starry Sashay .........................................................................................................................................................41 Stardust On The Go ..............................................................................................................................................60

STARDUST is published monthly by the proprietors MAGNA PUBLISHING CO. LTD., Magna House, 100/E Old Prabhadevi Road. Mumbai 400025, India. Tel No: 91-22-67091234. Editorial texts and illustrations are the copyright of the publishers of this magazine. No one may reproduce any material before permission is obtained in writing.

All disputes are subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of competent courts and forums in Mumbai (India) only 2020 Copyright Magna Publishing Co Ltd. Volume No 50 (No. 12) Please address all your advertising, subscriptions and trade enquiries for to: Magna Publishing Inc, 125 Central Park North, PH4, New York NY 10026. T: 212-725-7833 F: 212-889-3250 E: stardustmagazine@aol.com

STARDUST IS NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY CLAIM MADE BY THE ADVERTISER

4

5

What was our fave gummy bear Akshay Kumar thinking of when he agreed to star in Laxmmi? Agreed, he had done a swell job in Padman but that film had a fabulous script and was wonderfully told. Laxmmi was complete hotchpotch – neither scary enough to be a horror film nor funny enough to be a comedy. Poor Akshay was caught up in a horror story which not only traumatised the audience, but we are sure him too! What has wifey Twinkle to say about this one, we wonder?

6

Kjo’s series The Fabulous Lives Of Bollywood Wives for Netflix was all gloss but no soul. Of course, Karan Jo being an astute businessman packaged it with a liberal sprinkling of his rich ‘n’ famous friends - from Shah Rukh Khan, Gauri Khan, Arjun Kapoor, Malaika Arora, Ananya Pandey to Raveena Tandon… so no wonder, the world and it’s neighbours are still gasping in ecstasy at the Indian luxe version of the Real Housewives.

But this series did open up a can of worms. We did hear of some high duty ruckus between Sohail Khan and his wife Seema over the very sexy nymphet Huma Qureshi. According to the goss machines, Sohail had bought her a car and a flat but we thought it was just a passing rumour. But guess what Seema Khan has openly acknowledged that Sohail and she were living apart and they had an unconventional marriage. Hmm… in Bollywood always believe the rumours floating your way, there’s always a grain of truth in it!

Talking about the series, we loved Bollywood’s Aakhri Pasta Chunky Pandey’s fetish of putting 100 cameras all over his house so that he’d know who is diluting his whiskeys with water.

Chunky are you sure the whiskeys were genuine malts in the first place?

7

Uff… we are getting too hooked to KJo’s gloss factory… Moving on from the lives of the rich ‘n’ famous, lets talk about the selftitled Jhansi Ki Rani Kangana Ranaut. What’s wrong with her? Honestly, she did seem like a rebel without a cause at first but now, she’s just lost it. What was the need to talk about the farmer’s plight when she had absolutely no idea what she was talking about? But we guess, Kangana just loves grabbing the spotlight. A leopard just can’t change her spots overnight, can she?

Well Diljeet Dosanjh too thinks that. Recently he got into an ugly fracas with the lady Rambo (Kangana Ranaut) on twitter. And soon there was a volley of some nasty, some hilarious tweets arrowing at each other. Kangana put a hashtag ‘Dijeet kithe aa (where are you Dijeet?). Everybody is looking for you on twitter’. To which Diljeet had a tongue in cheek response in Punjabi of his schedule which broadly translated to ‘In the morning I went to the gym, in the night I’m going to sleep…’

Looks like this twitter slugfest is not going to end in a hurry.

Anurag Basu’s Ludo was truly amazing.

We are in the love with ‘oh betaji’ Pankaj Tripathi… that guy is truly an amazing actor. An ensemble cast with big names yet this man stood head and shoulders over the rest with his nuanced performance.

Thank God, web-series happened to India and we discovered such an amazing actor.

8

9

Talking about amazing actors, Rajkummar Rao is truly outstanding too. That man is a chameleon and can easily fit into any character. His impersonation of Mithun Chakraborty was hilariously perfect. Bollywood, take a bow… here’s another “outsider” whose managed to show everyone what acting is all about.

We owe Aditya Roy Kapoor an apology.

We always felt his acting was too “wooden” and his last film Fitoor didn’t exactly change our opinion. But we loved his laid-back, easy going act in Ludo. …Perhaps Anurag Basu recognised this actor’s mettle when nobody did and gave him a role that suited him to a ‘T’.

We wish he would have done the same with Abhishek Bachchan. Though his character was fleshed out well, Abhishek somehow did not manage to get the nuances right. His expressions were a hangover of his earlier webseries Breathe: Into The Shadows and somehow Aby Baby looked a little uncomfortable. That’s a pity really because we do think Abhishek is a good actor and perhaps if he could get out of the overwhelming larger than life Bachchan shadow and find his natural rhythm, we are sure we would get to watch a phenomenal actor.

The OTT era is working out well for the Dangal girls, Sania Malhotra seems to have find her groove while the surprise packet Fatima Shaikh has seriously found her mojo, and it’s webseries all the way. Good for you gals!

10

11

So while a whole crop of new age actors have popped up thanks to the OTT platform, what’s happening with the older lot? Jacqueline Fernandez has gracefully moved to the web-series club while Katrina Kaif and Deepika Padukone still ponder whether the OTT world is for Lady superstars or would they be jumping into the deep end of the ocean if they dabble in it.

Well, girls, wake up and smell the coffee… the digital era is here! Dive in or sink!

Perhaps it’s the hangover of KJo’s ‘The Fabulous Lives of Bollywood Wives’ but we just can’t get over the fact that international sensation Kylie Jenner actually wished Jahnvi Kapoor for her birthday. What? Our Bollywood stars have seriously arrived! Haven’t they?

Well along with all the gloss, we have some bad news too. Director-choreographer Remo D’Souza suffered a heart attack and was rushed to the hospital. Supposedly, he has a clogged artery.

Currently, he is in the ICU but he’s stable. We wish him a speedy recovery.

12

13

Oh dear… another one bites the dust. Well, after Neetu Kapoor and Varun Dhawan tested COVID positive, the very svelte Kriti Sanon has announced that she too has got the infection and is in isolation. Agreed at shoots there are proper precautions taken but still one can never be too careful.

Get well soon Kriti, Neetuji and Varun!

We read a very cute anecdote about the late Sushant Singh Rajput. Supposedly he was seated in the front row at a popular awards event and in walked Shamita Shetty and her mother Sunanda. They looked high and low for a chair but couldn’t find one. However, Sushant, ever the gentleman, proved to be the knight in shining armour and gave his chair to mama Shetty while he spent the entire night seated on the steps watching the show.

Salman Khan’s favourite Sana Khan has left Bollywood, showbiz and a number of broken hearts behind to get married to Mufti Anas Sayed, a businessman from Surat. The lady says she’s very happy and has put on her social media that her husband is the best ‘shohar’ as they honeymoon in Gulmarg, Kashmir. All that glitters wasn’t gold, was it Sana?

14

Sara Ali Khan has thanked her Badi Ammi (Sharmila Tagore) for being her pillar of support always. Well, La Tagore as she was dubbed by the Stardust of yore is a feisty firebrand herself. Don’t forget she was the first heroine to don a bikini on screen? So Sara has indeed got a very able mentor to look up to.

Talking about Sara, let’s talk about papa Saif Ali Khan and stepmom Kareena Kapoor Khan.

The very pregnant Kareena is due in January but ask her if she’s thought of a name for her baby, and pat comes her reply.

“After the heavy controversy over Taimur’s name, we are not even thinking of any names.”

That’s right! The nation was embroiled in a fiery debate at that point on whether Saif should name his son Taimur or not so this time, he’s obviously playing Saif oops safe.

Cat’s Crown

This month goes to...

Shefali Shah. A spectacular actor, she has shown her prowess as an actor in Dil Dhadakne Do but her portrayal of a tough cop in the webseries Delhi Crime which has won the prestigious Emmy, was truly amazing. Kudos to this awesome actor!

15

Varun Dhawan

Cover Story

16

Can Varun Dhawan Get Back His Winning Streak with Coolie No1?

Varun Dhawan was on a dream run in his film career as a hero with eight back-to-back superhits. Until the flop of Sui Dhaaga: Made in India and Kalank jinxed his success rate. Will Coolie No 1 be the winning goal that will pip him back to the winning post? Sumita Chakraborty analyses…

He was touted to be the “next superstar” after the Khans who would rule Tinsel Town. And why, not! He was Bollywood’s chocolate boy who had eight back-toback hits from the time he debuted in KJo’s Student Of The Year (SOTY). In fact, after his debut, Alia Bhatt and he were the only ones who flew soaring high and were pegged to be the next big things in the Hindi Film Industry. And for that matter, he did live up to all the flowery prophesies as his next eight films after SOTY – Main Tera Hero, Humpy Sharma Ki Dulhania, Badlapur, ABCD2, Dilwale, Dishoom, Badrinath Ke Dulhania and Judwa 2 - became huge blockbusters at the Box office. Indeed, it was a home run for him with 100 percent success rate and he soon became one of the highest paid actors in Bollywood. Along with it, came name, fame and success, so of course, he had an enviable fan following and soon became the poster boy of the nation.

17

18

Yes, we are talking about the charismatic Varun Dhawan who in a short span of time had placed himself in an enviable position in the film industry. Of course, the naysayers kept nattering about ‘nepotism’ and that Varun being the son of popular director David Dhawan, had got everything on a platter.

Agreed, getting instant success with a debut film marketed and packaged to perfection like Varun’s SOTY was no big deal but keeping that successful streak running through eight back-to-back films was definitely a stellar feat for the young lad to celebrate.

In an interview given to Stardust January 2018, Varun when asked what his success mantra was, had told me, “I am passionate about my work and I give it my all.” He further elaborated in another interview, “Having contacts in the industry does not guarantee a movie.

I agree it was much easier for me because I had a platform but you may know many people in the industry and they will ask you to come to their office, offer coffee, but not a movie. So if Karan didn’t see anything in me he wouldn’t have cast me. Being a star son only doesn’t help.”

But what did put Varun in a winning position was that he was a producer and a director-friendly actor who didn’t have airs or an attitude, and more importantly, the audience loved him. Perhaps that’s what helped him coast his way through so many milestones until the law of averages caught up with him.

At this point, we must add that this young man despite the heady success hovering around him, refused to confine himself only to his comfort zone despite it being extremely successful. Instead he met directors who believed in good content rather than successful cinema and asked them if he could work with them. Shoojit Sarkar, the director of October, averred, “Varun walked into my office for the first time and within 10-15 minutes, I knew he was right for my character.

He is a simple, down to earth, humble actor who is hungry to do stimulating work.”

October garnered a lot of critical acclaim; however, it wasn’t a blockbuster hit like Varun Dhawan’s other films. But since Varun was appreciated in this film, it didn’t create too much of a dent on his flawless record.

Agreed, getting instant success with a debut film marketed and packaged to perfection like Varun’s SOTY was no big deal but keeping that successful streak running through eight back-to-back films was definitely a stellar feat.

19

“

I am passionate about my work and I give it my all.

– Varun Dhawan

”

But what did irreparable damage to the young Dhawan’s unbreakable record was Sui Dhaaga: Made in India and the baap of all flops Kalank. Sui Dhaaga: Made in India was another film that Varun dared to star in despite it being completely opposite of a typical commercial masala film that Varun normally did. It spoke volumes about this young lad’s commitment to good cinema. However, the experiment didn’t work despite Sui Dhaaga: Made in India being acclaimed as a good film.

20

In fact, Varun himself insists that his father David Dhawan had tears of joy watching the film. Varun recalls, “Aditya Chopra, Virat Kohli and dad loved the film. I did Sui Dhaaga for my parents. Growing up as a kid, I had loved films like Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikandar and Kabhi Haan Kabhi Naa.” However, the audience rejected the film outright maybe because it was not ready to accept Varun in a different avatar or maybe the reason was simple, Sui Dhaaga was extremely slow and dragged in parts. Also, perhaps Varun changing gears confused the audience and that’s why Sui Dhaaga: Made in India had a bit of a hesitant response.

Varun conceded in an interview, “I do mass entertainers to please my audience. But I also love my films Badlapur, October and Sui Dhaaga: Made In India. They taught me a lot. They helped me get in touch with things I feared I’d lose.”

But still the so-called dubbed Hero No 1 managed to dust the failure off his magical coat and move ahead. Even at that point, Varun had not really come face to face with the dark face of failure as the audience still loved their Hero No 1.

“

“He is a simple, down to earth, humble actor who is hungry to do stimulating work.

– Shoojit Sarkar

”

…Until the colossal flop Kalank became the kalank of his career. This was the first time Varun actually came face to face with the dreaded sooty blackness of failure and it really demoralised him. He openly conceded that he had failed and said honestly, “Kalank was not accepted by the audience because it was a bad film. Somewhere we all collectively failed.”

When asked if it affected him, Varun said in an interview, “Yes, it affected me. The film wasn’t liked by the audience and it deserved not to do well. It is very clear if the audience likes a film it should do well and they did not like Kalank. It is a learning for me. I have processed it and learnt what I had to from it and I am taking it in stride.” He further added, “Sometimes something doesn’t work and then overall things go wrong.

It is for the first time I went through a failure and it had to affect me. If it did not affect me, it would mean I don’t love my films. I love my films to death. I am glad it affected me.”

However, before the young actor could get bogged by the failure of Kalank, his friends and family whisked him away to Thailand to rejuvenate and replenish and move on.

Leaving the kalank of Kalank behind, the actor insisted that he was in a good space and was looking forward to his next releases Street Dance 3D and Coolie No 1.

Perhaps it was the onset of the lockdown but Street Dance 3D did not get all that great a response from the audience and that got the young actor perhaps a little worried.

21

“

“Kalank was not accepted by the audience because it was a bad film.

Somewhere we all collectively failed.”

– Varun Dhawan

”

He then put all his eggs in one basket and decided Coolie No 1 was going to be the film that would break the jinx. After a spate of flops, Varun desperately needed a hit and he pegged Coolie No1 to be that comeback film that would get his success streak back again.

Coolie No 1 is produced by Vasu Bhagnani, Jackky Bhagnani and Deepika Bhagnani Deshmukh and directed by Varun’s father

22

David Dhawan, the director with the Midas touch for masala films. This film was a typical masala film that Varun was famous for. It had the time-tested winning formula that had proved to be successful for Varun before. So there was no reason for it not to be successful this time.

However, Varun was not leaving things to chance or the time tested winning formula alone. The entire crew worked double hard on the look and the feel of the film. Songs with super energy and zing were added and released with a lot of fanfare.

Varun pegged Coolie No1 to be that comeback film that would get his success streak back again.

Already Teri Bhabhi Khadi hain and Husnn Hain Suhana have gone on to be super hits.

Varun too started the promotions rather aggressively until corona, the great leveller, caught him unaware and he had to go into isolation after testing Covid positive. However, even in isolation, Varun made sure his social media team were working double hard to promote Coolie Number 1. And the response seems to be catching on like wildfire. Tips officially announced that the most viewed song of 2020 in 24 hours was Husnn Hai Suhana from Coolie No 1.

Indeed, the response to Coolie No 1 from the critics and the audience has been positive.

So it does look as if Varun can get back to his winning position.

So will Coolie No 1 finally break the jinx for Varun Dhawan? Perhaps yes! But then again as so many filmmakers have realised to their own folly that there’s many a slip ‘twixt the cup and lip. So until the film finally releases on Amazon Prime on December 25, 2020 and the audience gives it a thumbs up, Varun will have to be on tenterhooks. Our fingers are crossed too after all we too love the energy, attitude and humility of the Dhawan boy. So go for it Varun! We are rooting for you too!

Tips officially announced that the most viewed song of 2020 in 24 hours was Husnn Hai Suhana from Coolie No 1.

23

Court Martial “Bollywood has become a term of ‘ownership’ for some people.”

– Amit Sadh From running away from home at the age of 16 and even doing jhadu pocha at people’s homes to having suicidal thoughts; Amit Sadh’s journey has had insane twists and turns.

Yet he’s been ziddi and has triumphed over all adversities. Today, he’s one of the most bankable actors in the industry and is in a league of his own. In a candid interview, the charismatic Amit Sadh talks to Sumita Chakraborty about his Zee5 webseries Ziddi, his tumultuous journey, his passion for acting and more. Read on.

There’s a huge buzz about Zidd… what made you pick this Zee5 webseries?

Zidd is a gift from the Universe and the Gods to me. I remember I was locked up in a room giving interviews – it was a super busy day and I was busy with

24

promotions of Avrodh and Breathe. And then I received a call from Boney Kapoor – I first thought somebody was playing a prank on me, and I said, Ya Bro’. But when I realised it was Boney Kapoor himself, I started stammering… Sir Sir (Ha Ha). He

told me my team will call you… I have something nice for you. However, I told him I had just played a soldiers’ character but anyways, let’s talk in 20 minutes. The guys Akash and Joy who spoke to me were very nice and when they narrated just two-three lines of the film to me. I instantly knew it was a gift from the Gods, and I had to become this character - I had to do this film. …And the great thing is that the whole team from the core group of writers, director producer resonated with the same beautiful energy and enthusiasm from that day till today - yes, Zidd is beyond special.

You are excellent in these inspirational characters, do you consciously pick them? What is the process?

It’s not a conscious effort because the only thing I live by design is life. To be honest, to be authentic and work on my character is by design - that is a lifelong effort. You have to wake up every day and be conscious about it. But otherwise picking up such characters has never been a conscious decision. But it is so

strange that everybody’s asking me the same thing. …Maybe it’s the Universe but it makes me more conscious of the fact that people are putting responsibility and their hope in me and I just hope I can live up to it. I am willing to work hard to live up to it. I just don’t want to disappoint anyone because the people, universe, you, everyone... are putting so much love and faith in me. And I hope I keep delivering and fulfilling my promise to stay connected. For me, the meaning of cinema is being redefined. Generally, we just become actors to buy our cars, our homes, our holidays, our luxury living… of course, there’s nothing wrong with that. If you work hard, you do whatever you want to do whether you take a plane and skydive or throw the money out of the bags in the Caribbean. It’s totally up to you. But I just think I’m finding a new meaning to cinema and also finding an amazing connect with humankind and my country with my work. It’s very healing for me and I hope for everyone else too.

That is so gratifying and that is just the biggest joy of my life.

25

Amit, you’re slowly getting into a different league by itself… a league of fabulous performing actors.

I have nothing to say really. I just have one fear in life and that is kaam milna band ho jaye. So my only wish is that kaam milna kabhi bandh na ho. Sometimes I do a movie for free or less money but I depend on movies and becoming characters, and through this I have formed a bond with people and I hope that doesn’t stop. I don’t know which league I’m in but I love my work with passion, and I hope I keep getting work that will be remembered and loved.

You’re one of the finest actors but you quietly do your work and then shy away from the spotlight… go off trekking or to the mountains. We hear of you only when the producer pushes you to do some media interactions. Why is that?

Isn’t the spotlight what actors crave for?

Ha Ha… yes, I keep getting calls from producers… put on your phone… come back! As for your question… Do actors crave for spotlight? I don’t know, ma’am. I’m not that person. I don’t want the spotlight I’m just a normal, ordinary boy who just wants 26

to do my job, live like a normal person, stand in line, behave like a normal person and live a normal person’s life. That’s the truth. The spotlight you get for five minutes and then instead of chasing life, you chase the spotlight. And in that your entire life goes chasing something so fleeting. I don’t want to do this. I want to chase life and enjoy every aspect of it. I don’t give a damn about the spotlight!

“Zidd is a gift from the Universe and the Gods to me.”

You’ve become so philosophical. Is it because of the insane struggle you went through? I believe at the age of 16, you ran away from home and even worked at a house doing jhadu pocha… from that to now being considered as one of the most bankable actors in Bollywood.

The journey must have had some very insane twists and turns but you continued despite having no God father, no money, no contacts yet you managed to achieve

so much? Was it your zidd that you didn’t give up? What made you go on?

It was my Zidd that made me continue. Also I think I just started becoming very sorted.

Of course, when I was younger, I wasn’t at all sorted. We just complicate things - we decide in which dimension, which quantity, which color… package we want. I didn’t want that.

I just prayed every night that God please make me an actor. Someone sent me to Ajmer Sharif, I prayed to God to make me an actor. Again, someone sent me to the Golden Temple and I prayed make me an actor. I never asked for anything else. It wasn’t even about badi acting karni hain, choti acting karni hain… it was just acting. I just think that I was very lucky in life that I didn’t go for how people go for a package in life. I didn’t want that… I wanted happiness. I wanted to be able to act, I wanted to be able to enjoy life. And now I feel that God is giving me all that in abundance because he’s giving me work, he is giving me health, he is giving me good thoughts, he is giving me human connect. I didn’t even pray for this. I didn’t even know that I could build or have such a beautiful human connection.

For me, that is a beautiful, beautiful gift from the universe. But yes, Zidd thi ki jeena hain aur struggle mein bhi I had the determination to succeed. Kabhi galti hui, usko theekh kiya. I worked on myself. And here I am!

I believe you even thought of giving up your life… there are so many ppl today who are perhaps in your shoes today… what message do you have for them?

Yes, I was very small… I was 16 and struggling.

I’m talking about 25 years back… A lot of people go through these thoughts. But these days it’s better that people are talking about it. There’s some awareness about it. There’s no stigma to it. That’s why, when somebody talks to me it, I’m okay talking about that topic because I feel if I can be a case study that people say it’s okay Amit ko bhi iss tarah ke thoughts aate hain but he turned his life around. So if I can be that example or that strong motivator who from my experience, my story or my sharing something about my past can heal or make people strong. I am more than okay about it.

27

Somebody had told me mat bataya karo. But then I said that it would make me very selfish agar mein logo ko bataunga nahin ki jahan mein pahucha hun, aap bhi pahuch sakte hain.

I feel that people who have such experiences should share, because that gives them hope and strength to others. Life is amazing. Life is beautiful and life should not be ended.

I feel we need to be there for each other.

India has a population of over a billion and for a better society, we need – not trolling, not pulling people down, not making a mockery of each other – but conversation and support to help us all heal and grow.

“Do actors crave for the spotlight?

I don’t know, ma’am.

I’m not that person.

I don’t want the spotlight I’m just a normal, ordinary boy who just wants to do my job, live like a normal person.”

28

Sultan was the turning point in your life, how was it working in Sultan and with Salman Khan?

Sultan’s credit will always go to Ali (Ali Abbas Zafar) as he casted me in the film. When it comes to Salman sir, I’ve never shied away from saying that I’m his eternal lover. He’s a great man and I tell you, what is the greatness of a person… the greatness of a person is not that the person is always right. It’s about a person who lives his good and bad with pride.

And he’s the epitome of that. I just love the way he takes care of people. And more than anything, he was so nice and warm to me and I think I’ll remember the experience all my life Amit, you call a spade a spade. You don’t mince words. You don’t butter anybody.

You just do your work and go your way. How are you managing to stay in Bollywood?

Ma’am, main kabhi Bollywood mein aaya nahin. Na tha, na rahuga. I’m an actor who is part of the Indian film industry. Bollywood has become a term of ‘ownership’ for some people. But they should remember nobody can ever have ownership on Art. I’m not going to look back and think about what happened in the past. I don’t do that! I want to look at the present, I want to look at the future. I want

to be a great example for young boys, girls, actors and actresses and artists in India. I want them to know that there is hope. There is a right passage of training and opportunities ahead for them. In terms of acting, I feel that the Indian film industry can be stronger than what it is. If we forget our ownership and our stakes… and if we collaborate collectively and work towards solutions on how we can make things better... How we can tell better stories?

How our movies can be watched by the world? …Then why can’t eight billion people watch our films? Why can’t we make such stories?

So yes, these are my thoughts.

nice manner so that actually people get to know about them. And I just feel the West knows us from their point of view. I want us to know ourselves from our point of view.

I want to watch our stories which are not deglamorized or which shows that we live in shit because we don’t! They don’t need to be fake representation of us as well. But yes, there is hope as we are making good content now. We are working hard, we are pushing our imagination, we are improving the work scenario. Our communication is much better than it used to be. I think we need to be united. That’s it!

What about global cinema?

The world is becoming a small place. But I’m going to talk as an Indian. I just feel that India is one of the most diverse, beautiful countries in the world. This is the only country when you go 40 or 50 miles in any direction; color, caste, creed, language, religion, the way of looking, talking, food, spices, vegetation and afforestation… everything changes. So imagine how many stories we have. I just feel we should tell more stories and tell our stories in a dignified and

Lastly, how do you see yourself in the future - from being an actor -you’re a fabulous storyteller – would you move to other dimensions?

I have a lot of ideas in life. But yes, cinema definitely is a very, very big aspect of my life and will always be.

I just want to stay connected to art and use art to connect with humankind.

29

In Conversation

A Fine Actor, Indeed!

30

…That’s right, Jim Sarbh can easily qualify to be one of the finest actors in the industry. His performances are smooth as premium Scotch, sensuous as dark chocolate and subtle as fine wine. Indeed, he is a man of many talents. Here in his inimitable way, Jim Sarbh responds to Sumita Chakraborty’s many questions with amazing wit and candour. Read on…

You are a powerhouse performer and one of the finest actors in the Hindi Film Industry, could you tell us about your journey – what made you decide to be an actor?

I don’t know if there was ever much of a choice. Nothing else holds my interest for too long. I love stories: telling them, hearing them, getting

inside them, being surprised by them, reminding myself and others that, oh no love, you’re not alone, you’re watching yourself but you’re too unfair, you got your head all tangled up, but if I could only make you care, oh no, love, you’re not alone, no matter who or what you’ve been, no matter when or where you’ve seen.

31

You started out in Neerja as the menacing Khalil in the Hindi film Industry, how did you get this film?

I auditioned. After about 4 years of acting in theatre, the wonderful Kanika Berry auditioned me, the wonderful Vinod Rawat second round auditioned and workshopped me, and the wonderful Ram Madhvani finally cast me as Khalil.

You’re a fantastic performer…

And I personally loved you in Taish, tell us a bit about your character? I think it was almost like a romantic action lead, right… so for the audience, it showed a new dimension of you.

I think Rohan is a very interesting character, one we don’t get to see very often. He does not believe that revenge is justified, 32

he does not believe that making someone pay for what they have done to you will soothe any pain, or bring any real justice, in fact, he believes it would be hollow and meaningless. He does not believe in the punitive system of justice that is forced down our throats by the hoarse screams of an angry, angry society. Real change comes from daily incremental changes, from understanding and education, from self-reliance, and the forging of strong relationships.

But if the chips are down, if all other attempts have failed, if he can change neither his friend nor his enemy’s mind, he will fight. He’s a good guy.

There is this raging decision about ‘insiders versus outsiders’ and nepotism? What do you think of it?

I don’t think about it.

33

You are an award winning actor yet we hear so less about you? Is that a conscious decision to stay away from the media and let your work do the talking?

Yes. You don’t fawn over people… does that put you on a back footing in the industry?

I really don’t know.

2020 may not be happening for many people but for you, it’s really going good. Taish has got you very good accolades, what have you done during the lockdown period?

In no particular order: Took care of Mimi (this cat that adopted me on the second day of the lockdown,) fallen in love (this lady that adopted me through the lockdown), connected with friends, singing lessons, movies, beer, web series’, sunsets, foot surgery, loneliness, music, cleaning, watered plants, read scripts 34

How was it working with Ranveer Singh, Shahid, Deepika and of course Sanjay Leela Bhansali in Padmaavat?

I didn’t really work with Shahid or Deepika, I didn’t have any scenes with them. Ranveer is a fun, alive, committed co actor. In this film, we fell into a kind of feline relationship: a lion and a panther. He was all snarls and strength, and Kafur was all slinky, sexy danger. My first day on set, I was fairly overwhelmed.

New lines, very precise blocking, very precise acting, a very focused search for the rhythm of the scene, the character, our relationship, etc etc. Despite my repeated fuck ups, Ranveer was unspeakably patient, never even glanced in my direction if I made a mistake, just reset for the next take, and gave it his all, again. At the end of the day he took me aside, put his arm around me, and made sure I understood what the day was all about. I’ll never forget it.

and seeing the command he has over his craft. He understands film making in a profound sense and seems perfectly at home on a film set.

Who is the real Jim Sarbh?

Who knows?

Sanjay Leela Bhansali has an eye for detail that makes acting for him an incredibly fulfilling and frustrating experience. It is frustrating because, as he searches, things change, beats change, lines change, blocking changes. He wants it as good as the accidental- discovery-take every single time, but also with a little spice there, a little restraint here, a thrown away line here, an incredibly pointed line here, two shakes of cinnamon, some narrowed eyes here, a pinch of inexplicable magic, and, obviously, deep longing. Just do that every take. And surprise him. And be true.

Fulfilling? Same reasons.

You’ve worked in Sanju, what was the experience like?

Hahaha the ‘greatest hits’ questions.

Sanju was also enjoyable, but the scope to explore with my character was a bit more limited. Rajkumar Hirani’s searching period is perhaps more focused to the writing and conceptualizing stage of the film.

By the time he is on set, he knows exactly what he wants, and directs you clearly to achieve it. It was smooth sailing.

I enjoyed getting to know Ranbir,

What’s next for you?

I’m currently near the end of my stint on a fairly big project, but it’s a secret.

I am working on absolutely heartbreakingly gorgeous play called Sea Wall, which we plan on shooting a version of on the 17th of December.

It should be out on BookMyShow eventually.

I am voicing the lead character of an animated film, that I am very excited to see. The filmmaker’s style is extremely striking and chaotic: he recently sent me a virtual tour of the bus my character alights half way through the film, and I was so excited to see the weird and wonderful detailing pouring out of his mind.

In January I am about to start an extremely interesting web series, based around two very exciting historical personalities.

Made in Heaven season 2? Probably soon. Very soonly. Soonish.

How do you balance your personal and professional life?

With two legs and some core strength.

35

In The Spotlight

“I did get some flak for being a part of Bad Boy Billionaires, but I brushed it aside.�

- Parveen Dusanj Bedi 36

She’s much more than just Mrs Kabir Bedi. A producer with 10 years’ experience, she has produced, directed, written, developed stories and content for the OTT platform. Meet the very gorgeous Parveen Dusanj Bedi who tells Sumita Chakraborty why her passion lies with content development, her husband Kabir Bedi and much more…

37

You were the Vice President at Contentflow Studios and a producer with 10 years’ experience of working in the entertainment industry, how did you start in the industry?

I really began my career by working for international clients coming into India for short-form content who needed a point person, a sane voice and a solutions person.

From there things just grew. I directed a nonfiction episode for a L.A team and produced the rest of their episodes. I knew I was good at what I did. Foreign clients were always comfortable working with me. They can see my work ethic, the transparency with which I work and my ability to get things done. I think being a Brit in Mumbai has helped me immensely.

How did Contentflow happen?

I was head-hunted to lead the Mumbai offices of Contentflow Studios set-up by Bobby Bedi.

We had a 10 stories development deal with the Times Group and shows in development with Zee5 and Applause. A pitch with Hotstar too. I was at the heart of the digital boom. It was an exciting time.

38

“Kabir is a creative soul and a deeply thoughtful man, he is my husband, my best friend and my biggest supporter.”

What’s changed in the television and OTT space since you joined?

Ten years ago, I was told by commissioners that audiences in India are single TV set family viewers, not people like us. But with heavy internet penetration and the boom in

digital platforms, the scene has completely changed and so has programming. Finally there is a space for someone like me to be producing content that I develop.

Where are you now?

I have my own company, CreativeNation. I have optioned two fascinating stories, both deeply human narratives.

Both take viewers into a world they wouldn’t normally have access to and yet the themes and characters are highly relatable. My vision is to build a slate of content that I will produce over the next

10 years. Time is a limited resource and I am only optioning stories or concepts that I’m willing to give 110%.

At present, my company is consulting producer for a UK and US team producing 11 short films on social impact heroes across India.

Were there any challenges that you faced in your journey?

In India, I think it was getting commissioners to see me beyond the tag of ‘Mrs Kabir Bedi’, that re-positioning has taken time. With all the clients I’ve worked with from abroad none of that mattered. In fact, the UK team of Bad Boy Billionaires knew me from London, before I met Kabir.

You worked on Bad Boys Billionaires too… what was your role in this Netflix’ webseries?

The UK Producers of Bad Boy Billionaires first contacted me to discuss ideas and pitches based on India for Netflix.

“After the success of Bad Boy Billionaires, I think more people would be willing to speak on camera in the future - they can see how balanced the narrative is.”

39

“Both my shows that I’m developing are real crackers!”

Could you share any problems while filming?

At times, the challenge was getting people to agree to come on camera, there was a natural hesitation. I also think it’s a deeply ingrained thought process of: ‘don’t get involved’ and ‘stay out of trouble’ to avoid vindictive outcomes. It’s easy to be vindictive in this country – legally, criminally etc. I salute everyone who came on camera. After the success of the series I think more people would be willing to speak on camera in the future - they can see how balanced the narrative is.

I was involved in the early stages and development, looking at narratives, stories and contributors. It was a lot of fun working on something that I knew would be a hit.

Presenting all the pieces of the puzzle in a factual manner with no bias was the aim of each documentary – the viewers were left to decide for themselves. The best part was to work alongside a team that was deeply committed to journalism ethics and incredibly strict about protocol – very refreshing. The success of Bad Boy Billionaires shows the incredible appetite for true life stories. I did get some flak for being a part of it, but I brushed it aside – that’s not my problem and neither will I apologise for being good at what I do. I’m proud of my Netflix producer credit!

40

Now with the OTT platforms gaining such prominence in India… do you think in terms of content, India is now on par with the world?

Indian content is made primarily for Indian audiences and that’s great, with the addition of OTT we have the whole world who can tune in and watch our shows too – dubbed or subtitled. I know I’ve loved watching Scandinavian noir series and even Italian, Turkish and Spanish shows. Some of my favourite shows in India have been Patal Lok (Amazon Prime) adapted from Tarun Tejpal’s book, Story of my Assassins, Serious Men (Netflix) adapted from Manu Joseph’s novel, Delhi Crime (Netflix) another true life tragedy, Churails (ZEE5), Aarya (Hotstar - adapted from a Dutch show), Scam 1992 (Sony Liv) adapted from Sucheta Dalal and Debashish Basu’s book The Scam: Who Won, who Lost, who Got Away.

What would you say is one of your best concepts?

Pity I can’t talk about it publicly. Both my shows that I’m developing are real crackers!

“As a producer it’s an exciting time with the OTT platforms welcoming new forms of story-telling and different narratives and new talent.”

One of them will probably be controversial but I feel all compelling stories must be told. It’s entertaining and very funny with shades of darkness. I have an innate ability to know what is going to be a super success and what will not work. I think it’s my superpower!

You’re married to Kabir Bedi… how is it being married to a legend and an International hero.

Kabir is a creative soul and a deeply thoughtful man, he is my husband, my best friend and my biggest supporter. Those are the things he is to me first and foremost. The rest is a bonus! Being married to him is incredibly fulfilling, it’s hard to explain but that’s the best way I can describe it.

As if it was always this way.

When I was freelancing and picking and choosing my projects, it gave me the freedom to travel and be with Kabir when he went to film festivals abroad or back to Italy for work. Now, with the pandemic we aren’t travelling like we did and with my new projects, my days are full.

How do balance your personal and professional life?

I find I balance personal and professional life with ease. When I’m deep into a project I cut down on my social commitments and all my friends know that. They are understanding because they enjoy seeing me so passionate and they celebrate my successes. I’m lucky. At home, I manage a good ship, occasionally things may slip but so be it, I don’t agonise over it. I do take time out for a Sunday, it’s my favourite day of the week.

Lastly, what would your advice be for somebody who aspires to be a producer?

As a producer it’s an exciting time with the OTT platforms welcoming new forms of story-telling and different narratives and new talent. My advice – work hard, earn your stripes, learn the ropes, get your credits and above all be sure you have the knack of picking a good story and managing teams.

41

Close up

Aditya Seal

“A few idiots have glamourised the word ‘nepotism’ and become advocates of it for their personal gains...”

- Aditya Seal

42

From Student of The Year 2 to Indoo Ki Jawani, the charismatic Aditya Seal is indeed going places. Here in a very candid conversation with Sumita Chakraborty, Aditya speaks from his heart about his turbulent journey, nepotism and of course, the ‘riot’-a-thon Indoo Ki Jawani.

His journey has been chequered… with a lot of serpentine ups and downs. But he’s been determined and has persisted despite the many thorns strewn in his path. Meet the gorgeous Aditya Seal whose newest project Indoo Ki Jawani is garnering a lot of praise. Read on as he frankly talks about the good, bad and ugly times he faced, his take on nepotism and more… got only a little audience… though my work has been appreciated but only by a very few who actually saw it. But yes, it’s a journey I take absolute pride in because I walked it on my own. I have met so many people along the way - some of them are names that you hear every day but most of them have been people that you probably would never even heard of.

You’ve been around for some time in the Hindi film industry, how has the journey been?

Quite frankly, it’s been an absolute rollercoaster… a lot of ups and downs… I have been working since I was 14 - so it’s definitely been a long time. To be honest, I have done quite a bit of work but sadly, most of them

43

I started at the absolute rock bottom with no idea how to go about things but somehow, I kept on. If there were two forward steps, there were four backwards ones too but honestly, it feels good because now I have a story to tell. Nothing came easy so I know that I can’t take it for granted and that keeps me going.

Tell us about Indoo KI Jawani?

Indoo Ki Jawani is an absolute riot. It’s a story that a lot of people would relate to because I am sure most of us have had at least one bad date. This film is about that one date… one fateful night when two strangers meet through a dating app and the madness that follows. It’s a comedy of errors that take place when two people with opposite personalities meet but there’s a beautiful underlying message that the film has which is absolutely non preachy. I feel that in the times we are living in and the time already spent, this film is a refreshing change. I am just wanting for people to forget about their worries and problems for those two hours because I definitely did.

44

Tell us about your character?

Samar is a global citizen. He has roamed around the world, seen a lot of places, met a lot of people so his life views are not defined by his nationality or his religion. He is a living example of the phrase ‘dont judge a book by its cover’. He believes in giving everyone a fair chance to express who they are. He won’t form judgments depending on what a person wears or which car he drives or where he comes from. He is a person the world needs right now.

Aditya, we heard you lost your dad recently due to Covid. Please accept our condolences… Is there any message you have regarding the pandemic?

I don’t know if I have anything to say about the pandemic but I definitely have lessons that I have learnt. First that life is too short so make sure you have no regrets… you may not get another chance I think as humans we are losing empathy.

We have forgotten how to love. God definitely didn’t design life to be this way. Humans messed it up.

They did it for their individual gains and I know they still aren’t happy and that says a lot about how hollow life has become. My only message is - remind yourself how it is to love.. we have definitely forgotten it.

Any more projects in the pipeline?

I am starting my next film called Rocket Gang in the next few days, Its Bosco Martis’ directorial debut… the film is an interesting mix of dancehorror-comedy… the first of its kind!

45

Since it’s the raging topic, what is your opinion about this “insiders versus outsiders” debate?

Oh, it’s a topic I have a lot to say about...

A few idiots have glamourised the word ‘nepotism’ and become advocates of it for their personal gains. If I am investing in a business, I would definitely put money on a product where I can see more returns… that’s correct business. What is wrong with that? Having said that, the audience is not concerned about who you’re friends with or whose daughter/son you are… They want their money’s worth. That’s why talent is here to stay. The audience is the king. Let them decide who they want to watch. It doesn’t matter what their last names are.

46

Also, I wouldn’t be answering your questions here had an outsider not gotten a chance.

Lastly, when you look back at your journey, is there anything you want to change?

Not a single thing... not a single day! Of late, I have been made to realise that I have come a long way from where I started and I have been made to realise that I should take pride in my journey and I do! I walked it on my own and nobody can take that away from me. Like I said, I now have a story to say and believe me it’s a far more interesting story than a lot of them that you will hear!

47

Wild Encounter

48

“I am very instinctive like that. If I feel a particular situation will lead me into that spot, I just take two steps back from it beforehand.”

– Digangana Suryavanshi

D

You became an actor because…? …Because I was insanely driven towards it at an age where I didn’t even know what it meant. And I wanted to be on TV from the age of four to five …and that became the rest of my life.

Your dream film…?

Wow! It would be something in which I am playing somebody with whom I have lived an entire life. And that would give me an immense amount of satiation.

She’s absolutely gorgeous… not only in the way she looks but also as a person.

No wonder, she’s been a hot favourite on TV from an early age and now as a filmstar, a pin-up gal for her many fans. Meet the beautiful Digangana Suryavanshi who confides in Sumita Chakraborty about her likes, dislikes, fantasises and pet peeves.

The film you enjoyed working in…

All my films! (laughs) It is really hard to choose one, but the debut is always special and the one I am doing in Telugu is also special. I think every film takes you to a place as it is an entire journey. I can write a different story on all my films and I feel that is one section of my life… every single film of mine. And I cannot sit back and see my film as an audience, it takes me back to so many memories. I feel I really can’t pick one.

49

S a n a g gi an

i h s n a v ru ya

D

50

The character you think will suit you perfectly to the ‘T’: People have seen me play sweet roles and quirky stuff. I want to do something that’s just not goodie-goodie, I want to play a baddie on screen as well. As that is something on my wishlist. I won’t say that it completely suits me in the way I am as I am a bit laidback. So I don’t see myself playing the person I am. I want to play all that I am not in real life.

The most wonderful thing about being an actor is?

Well, for me it is the privilege of me playing what I have dreamt of all my life. Something, I wake up to... Something I can’t stop thinking about.

What are the three most essential things you carry along with you all the time?

My phone, my purse and sometimes, my wallet and my watch.

How would you describe yourself?

Quirky, creative, mysterious.

What do you prefer- a sunrise in the mountains or a sunset in the beach?

Sunrise in the mountains.

What’s the mantra to impress the audience according to you?

To give real joy to yourself while you do it, which will touch their heart.

A situation you felt awkward in?

There have been quite a few but then I get really embarrassed and then I don’t want people to focus on it.

What’s the most awful situation you faced in Bollywood?

Nothing as such. I am very instinctive like that. If I feel a particular situation

will lead me into that spot, I just take two steps back from it beforehand.

You have so many fans, what attracts them to you? Your personality, looks or charm?

I don’t know, but I really would want to figure that out someday. But I just hope that they keep loving me the way they do.

What do you think is your most attractive feature?

I really don’t look at myself that way.

But I think the way that I think and process information and execute it. In my head, I prioritize it more.

As an actor, what are your three most valuable strengths…

I have always been very, very personal about my friendships and my equations with people. I think it cuts off a lot of other drama.

As a person, what are your three biggest weaknesses?

Every project tells me that Oh! I need to figure this thing out and that particular thing ends up becoming my strength. For example, doing a Telugu film would have been a weakness as I don’t know the language, but in the end, that became my strength as I really worked on it. But I love to do projects where I need to knock myself and tell ‘Hey! You need to get better’ and I may be able to work on it to be on that level.

If marooned on an island, which actor would you want to be with?

Ryan Gosling, without a doubt.

If marooned on an island… what is the first thing you’d do?

Sit in peace and just observe nature.

51

52

Which person and actor inspires you?

It has to be Madhubala ji and Sridevi. I have heard so many old stories. I mean being the leading lady with so much class and grace when the industry just took off and people were completely gaga over her. And Sreedevi, ofcourse, the way she has been a dignified person all her life is just mesmerizing.

And she has done some phenomenal work.

Which destination would you love to visit and why?

I want to go to Greece, I hope something turns up there.

I am fascinated by how white the city is.

If you had two days holiday from shooting, what would you do?

Right now I am not looking forward to a holiday. As the COVID has given us too many holidays (laughs). I am in a space where I want to work every single day.

A film you would like to watch over and over again?

Home Alone, I have watched that movie so many times. And I watch Kuch Kuch Hota Hai too whenever it comes on TV. You’ve done TV, films and I believe a lot of webseries are being offered to you… which medium do you love the most?

I love them all. And I hope I reach onto a place where I could be able to balance being on each platform equally.

What would you like to be known as… a star, sex symbol or an actor?

An actress!

53

m o o R c i s

Mu

“I’ve never knocked on doors using my surname to yield assignments or push myself.” – Baiju Mangeshkar

He belongs to one of the most legendary “singing” families in India.

That’s right… Lata Mangeshkar and Asha Bhosle are his aunts and his father is music maestro Hridyanath Mangeshkar. Meet the very talented Baiju Mangeshkar who in a conversation with Sumita Chakraborty talks about his family legacy, his music album Within You, advantages and disadvantages of belonging to an illustrious family 54

I believe you recorded your first song at the age of 10. Could you describe your musical journey… how did your musical journey start?

Yes, I cut a disc at the age of 10. It was a children’s album that was in an opera style with a story that included songs and dialogues for the music company HMV and it was composed by my aunt Meena Mangeshkar.

I started learning music formally from my first guru Pt. Tulsidas Sharma ji from the Patiala gharana at the age of 9. Unfortunately after three years of training, he passed away and then there was a bit of a gap as one was immersed in studies at school. I later started training in light classical music when I was in college with Pt. Ramesh Jule ji and Pt. Ajay Pohankar ji. It was during my college years that I had the honour and privilege to accompany Lata ji on a concert tour abroad where she introduced me on stage as an adult singer. A few years later after I graduated through friends I got offers to sing for a few films in Marathi, Hindi and Bhojpuri most of which that didn’t see the light of the day and during the same period, I sang a theme song for a Marathi film under my father’s music direction which was released and received some modest recognition. Thus that became my debut into the world of recorded music and film as an adult.

of styles such as meditative trance, soft jazz, soft rock and light Hindustani classical. The ‘kalaam’ (lyrics) are by three revered Sufi saints of 16th century India: Hazrat Shah Hussain, Baba Bulley Shah and Khwaja Ghulam Farid. Also featured are two modern lyrics that are typically ‘sufiyana’ in thought written by Amruta, an emerging and gifted young poetess. The songs have been arranged by Jatin Sharma, with a host of highly talented Indian musicians contributing to the soundscape, including musicians from the west; Susan Mazer (jazz harp virtuosa) and Dallas Smith (master of woodwinds and saxophone), both of whom have worked with legends such as Frank Sinatra, Ahmed Jamal, Johnny Mathis, and our very own R.D.Burman. Songs and lyrics in the album, which may on first hearing appear as romantic ballads, are subtly disguised plays on the Sufi concepts of ‘Ishq-eMajaazi and Ishq-eHaqeeqi’. ‘Ishq-e-Majaazi’ is the transitory love felt for another human being born out of emotional or physical desire, and ‘Ishq-e-Haqeeqi’ is a higher love felt for the Creator. This love and romance of a higher intensity is the theme in this album. ‘Within you’ is a musical inner journey within one’s being, transporting the listener into the realm of love, devotion and peace!

Your music album Within You is out…

Could you tell us about it?

‘Within You’ is my first solo album, which has been released on Times Music. It is a soulful bouquet of six Sufi songs presented in a contemporary style with influences of world music and Indian classical traditions. Each song is different from each other in its stylistic approach thus one can hear a gamut

You’re lineage is truly amazing. Could you tell us about your bond with Ashaji, Lataji, your father Hridyanathji and your family?

Lata ji, is the head of our family. She holds a unique position for us all as a family head, sometimes undertaking the role of a father, a mother, an aunt and a guiding spirit who is an ideal role model and a source of constant 55

“Yes, I cut a disc at the age of 10.”

inspiration for me personally. Needless to say it’s a relationship of utmost reverence and tremendous respect for the artist and the person she is. Musically too she has been my greatest influence and continues to be so. She and I share a great bond discussing the history of music whether it’s her own music or music in general.

Given her knowledge, achievements, accomplishments, position and age, she is very attentive and respectful towards my opinions even if she disagrees. She allows me to speak my mind freely never once putting me down. It’s an incredible quality and it speaks volumes of her unparalleled position in the history of music! I’m very privileged to be privy to many wonderful moments, memories, anecdotes, and experiences of her glorious career, which she has candidly and generously shared with me in particular over the years.

With Asha ji most of us are very relaxed. She is a fantastic cook and she’s often sharing recipes with me. She has always motivated me to keep working at my music and is very encouraging.

You also recorded a song with Lataji titled Ya Rabba, could you tell us about this experience?

‘Ya Rabba’ was my first album that comprised four songs composed by me with two duets sung with Lata ji. It was a dream come true. Every singer, composer or poet in the subcontinent has expressed a desire or aspires to share 56

musical space with her. I too harboured this wish secretly within me! I realised no one was going to offer this to me on a platter and I had to make it possible all by myself! Thus when I composed this Kalaam – ‘Rabba Mere Haal Da Mehram Tu’, I instantly knew this composition was worthy enough for her to consider singing.

I also realised given the nature of my relationship with her, it couldn’t be a romantic song.

The spiritual and universal message in this song was the most ideal choice as a duet for us to sing together. I made a scratch recording and presented it to her, she liked it and agreed to sing! Since I had witnessed her record in the studios before, I was aware of how she conducted herself so it wasn’t a very daunting experience but yes, I must admit I was nervous of the fact that would I gather the courage to give her a suggestion or two when she faced the mic. She absolutely put me at ease and gave me the respect as a composer of the song as though I was a veteran or her contemporary.

I knew this quality about her but when I experienced it personally, I was overwhelmed by her greatness and humility! This experience of sharing musical space with her would easily be one of the highlights of my existence so far and I doubt if anything can ever top this in the future!

“Lataji absolutely put me at ease and gave me the respect as a composer of the song as though I was a veteran or her contemporary.”

“With Asha ji most of us are very relaxed. She is a fantastic cook and she’s often sharing recipes with me.”

before anyone else. I’m always striving to better myself, my art and craft with every project. I have my own exacting standards and aspirations to live up to.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of being from such an illustrious family?

In any field someone who hails from a privileged background faces advantages as well as disadvantages. They are two sides of the same coin. I’ve had a fair share of experiencing both. Disadvantages such as people and their expectations, pre-conceived assumptions, intolerance towards mistakes etc. I personally detach myself from such things and give my all to my work. I judge myself harshly and so it’s important as an artiste for me to please myself first

“In any field someone who hails from a privileged background faces advantages as well as disadvantages.”

You have always said that you’ve never used your surname to get work…

Could you elaborate on that?

Yes, I’ve never knocked on doors using my surname to yield assignments or push myself. In all earnestness I wish to achieve recognition through letting my work speak for me. That would give me more joy! I’m also a firm believer in destiny and what is meant to come

57

one’s way will make its way! I’m aware I have big shoes to fill which is not possible in ones lifetime but id rather develop my own distinct individuality in my work whether its my voice or the sound and let my sensibilities surface in my music.

Everyone has the right to make a place in the sun and one can only try ones best by giving it ones all and with the purest intention.

“I’m hoping to get some videos made of the remaining songs from my latest album Within You.” What are your favourite songs from the ones you’ve sung?

All my songs are my babies and each one is special to me in its own way. ‘Rabba Mere Haal Da Mehram Tu’ sung with Lata ji will always hold a very special place in my heart.

Similarly one of my Marathi non film Ghazal 58

‘Ya Nadichya Paar’ sung under my fathers music direction and my recent composition ‘Mere Sahiba’ from my latest album are very close to my heart especially for the immense appreciation I received from many stalwarts in the music world in India as well as across the border such as Begum Abida Parveen ji, Begum Farida Khanum ji, Runa Laila ji, Ustad Tafo saab.

You’re also a composer… Could you tell us about this journey?

Composing a song or setting a lyric or poem to a tune is a very gratifying and exhilarating feeling to say the least. It is such a special moment when one is struck by “Aamad” the inspiration, which I think, is divine and one almost feels like a mere medium and channel expressing that creation that comes from a divine source. So far I have only composed non-film music but Id love to compose a song or two for a film someday given the opportunity.

How about Bollywood… Would you want to work in the film industry?

I’m open to working anywhere whether it is films, non-films, documentaries or television.

As I mentioned earlier it’s interesting to note that my beginnings as an adult singer began with film songs! So yes, I’m open to films!

Which are your all-time favorite songs and artistes?

I have very eclectic tastes in music and I grew up listening to world music. There are many singers and composers I absolutely adore, who are like my gurus that have inspired me and continue to do so. From the Indian subcontinent other than my family, my favourite singers are Madame Noor Jehan, Ustad Mehdi Hassan, Ustad Bade Ghulam Ali Khan, Begum Farida Khanum composers like Jaidev ji, Madan Mohan ji, Shankar Jaikishan ji and R D Burman ji. From the middle east its Fairuz, Um Khulthum and The Rahbani brothers. From the west it’s the The Beatles, Harry Nilsson, Aretha Franklin, Marvin Gaye, Burt Bacharach and Dinah Washington. These are some of my all-time favourite artistes’.

What about the digital platform – do you plan to straddle this platform too?

Digital platform? Do you mean music streaming platforms such as Gaana etc. or do you mean Netflix, Amazon etc? As I mentioned earlier I’m open to showcasing my creativity and work in any medium

“No, there is no thought of any collaboration with either of the aunts at the moment.

Hopefully, something might transpire!” provided I get the opportunities. It would be indeed very interesting to sing or compose for the kind of cinema that’s shown on Netflix, Amazon and also the new age sort of parallel cinema of the recent times that are inclusive of music of very diverse styles, genres and sounds.

Any artiste with whom you would want to collaborate in the near future?

India is a country blessed with so much talent. I’d love to collaborate with the supremely talented instrumentalists of our country on my compositions and of course, would love to sing under composers such as A R Rehman, Vishal Shekhar to name a few who’s work I have admired.

Any collaboration with Lataji and Ashaji in the pipeline?

No, there is no thought of any collaboration with either of the aunts at the moment. Hopefully, something might transpire!

What are your upcoming projects?

I’m hoping to get some videos made of the remaining songs from my latest album Within You. It of course requires funding, sponsorship so fingers crossed. Meanwhile, I’m trying to work on a few singles in Hindi and Marathi.

59

Stardust on the go In The Sunset: Sidhant Chaturvedi with Deepika Padukone

Not Too Well: Poor Varun Dhawan takes a selfie despite being in isolation after testing Covid +

60

Are actors outside their shooting world as glamorous as they look on the silver screen? Can female actors in Tinsel Town be good friends?

Who are the new lovebirds in B-town? Team Stardust brings you a bird eye’s view into the private lives of Tinsel Town eye candies.

Wat-a-scene: Water baby Sonakshi Sinha in the middle of the sea

Flashback: Shreyas Talpade in a nostalgic mode as he visits his school

Is It Very Cold? Katrina Kaif flaunting her fur fancies

Introspection Mode: Sidharth Malhotra in a thoughtful mood

Walled! Vickey Kaushal takes in the ambience

Looking Cool: Toger Shroff strikes a pose

Picture Perfect: Anil Kapoor poses with his gorgeous daughters Sonam Kapoor Ahuja and Rhea

Odd Couple: Sara Ali Khan and Akshay Kumar in Atrangi

Upside Down: Hubby Virat Kohli helps mommyto-be Anushka Sharma do a yoga pose

HOT! Disha Patani shows off her sensuous side

61

6

6

6

0

Starry Sashay

6

‘Tis the time to raise a cheer to the joyous spirit of Christmas. …So the fashion trend ramping the global world are… indeed, the hues red and green - that’s right the amazing colours of Christmas. No wonder our Bollywood divas have raided their closets to pick out sensuous, sexy and sassy creations in the bold colours of festivities.

6

Who looked divine? Who owned the look like never before? Who looked trashy? Did super-hot reds raise the temps soaring high or was it soothing greens that pushed the fashion envelope to a new high? … Well what are you waiting for…? Rate and grade our sexy divas on their fashion sense and be the first and last word in fashion.

62

6

Priyanka Chopra

Shradha Kapoor

6

6

6 Aishwarya Rai Bachchan

Bhumi Pednekar

Deepika Padukone

6 6

Disha Patani

Vidya Balan

Kiara Advani

6 6

Sunny Leone

Sara Ali Khan

Yami Gautam

63

Starry Look

Dazzle Like Disha!

64

She’s sexy, sensuous and stunningly beautiful. No wonder, she’s the fantasy gal of so many drooling fans. That’s right we are talking about Tiger’s tigress … the amazingly striking Disha Patani. Ever wondered, how she always manages to look so svelte at all times? Well beside her battery of stylists, makeup and hair artistes, Disha too has her secret rituals to look good. We sniffed around and dug them out… So, here’s presenting Disha’s magical beauty secrets.

Skin Sense Disha believes in the simple cleansing, toning and hydrating routine and for that a soft cleanser and a moisturiser works well for her. Ask her about her radiant look and she insists, its because she drinks a lot of water which hydrates and cleanses her system.

A peel-off replenish skin mask once a week makes her face glow.

When she’s not shooting or she’s doing her workouts, she keeps a no makeup look so that her skin doesn’t get clogged. The basics she swears by are: daubing rose water on her skin, washing her face with a good face wash and then putting on cold cream to keep her skin moisturised. A good sun block and Disha is sorted.

Makeup Essentials An eyeliner, face mist, Prep +Prime Fix Plus and nude lip gloss.

Makeup Essentials Disha uses almond oil to keep her locks lustrous. She also swears by conditioning her hair after shampooing it.

65

66

Mane Look

Natasha Naegamvala from Nalini Of Nalini & Yasmin Salon gives Sumita Chakraborty the style and hair trends for the festive season.

You’re are one of the topmost hairstylists in Mumbai. What according to you are the hair trends for the Christmas party season this year keeping the current scenario in mind?

A lot of people are doing a lot of home styling these days. Yes, the use of the dye stain and the Dashne are all very easy tools for people to use at Home. A lot of youngsters are also working a lot with their natural hair and texture, which has certainly become the order of the day. They are realizing that a little bit of styling products is essential but it’s mostly working with the natural textures. Back in the day, even maybe a year or two years back - a lot of people who would go into salons to get their hair blow dried or styled are now learning how to do it at home. Whether it be with the use of equipment like the Dashne and the Dyson air wrap, they are learning the layering of products to work with their own natural hair and their own natural textures.

Which haircuts and colors are going to be trending huge in the next few months?

Bobs are still very in and the versatility of it is the clincher. A lot of people want that very stylized, structured look while some others want a lot of softness and waves or curly Bobs. in my opinion, bobs are one of the most versatile haircuts there is and you can

find the right Bob for most faces and personalities. The trick is to know which bob is going to work on which personality and the quality of the hair. So Bobs is definitely one of the more popular haircuts now. But ironically, the trend for bobs is that it is the opposite ends of the spectrum - it’s either very curly or very straight which is called glass hair. Glass hair has become a new sort of trend, which is to say that it’s highly straightened, very structured and disciplined.

Do I love it? No, I don’t like it. I find it is what I call sheet hair as it looks like a sheet. But it’s coming back in vogue.

One of the trends for hair colors have become subtler than what they were last year where ashen tones - people were bleaching their hair to whites to almost make it gray.

Now it’s become more subtle and subdued.

However, there’s another trend of very big, chunky jarring colors that’s in. Earlier it was like weaves that were very displaced and interspersed with each other but now it’s become very funky. I don’t love that trend. I don’t like my weaves or my highlights to be in chunky weaves but it’s come back into vogue.

As a stylist, who do you find are the sexiest actors in the film industry?

Arjun Kapoor. Amongst the females, Deepika Padukone and Sonam Kapoor. Sonam is stunning- she’s the ultimate beauty in my eyes.

What according to you is style?

Style is holding your own. It’s about knowing who you are. if you can’t afford to go the designer route. Wear what you wear and wear it with conviction and confidence. Don’t let your style be based on somebody else’s opinion of how you should style yourself.

Just be who you are!

67

t s a p e h t m o r st f

Bla

ild W e h f T ons i s O s a d l i P h C nd A s n i a tt’s P a h B a j Poo ar m u K h s --Hari

STARDUST DECEMBER 1989

It’s not easy being Mahesh Bhatt’s daughter! And who would know this better than a pretty young girl called Pooja Bhatt. Her childhood (not that she’s any grown up now) she spent in a whirlpool of trauma. While papa Bhatt went around making statements like “I am a bastard…!”

It was his little baby doll who had large accusing eyes glaring at her. Then again, she was a silent spectator to the raging fights at home between her two strong but conflicting, parents. The final straw was when Mahesh Bhatt deserted his wife Kiran, Pooja and younger son Sunny for another woman – Soni Razdan! Who he expected them to accept as a new part of their family. As coolly as if he was adding a new wing to his happy home!

Amidst all this the daughter grew up! At first confused and unstable, trapped in a cocoon of lavish love and attention. But trapped all the same. Then, like a new sunrise on the horizon, maturity dawned in Pooja’s bright young mind. A kind of precocious learn-by-trial-and-error instinct that she blossomed in.

Still, the need for a strong emotional anchor in Pooja’s young, sensitive life persisted. But maybe she went about it the wrong way. For I was quite taken aback to hear of her jump in and out of var68

ious relationships, perhaps to find a man who would make order out of her disorderly life.

The more I heard about Ms. Pooja Bhatt the more I wanted to meet her. After all who goes through so much in life and then comes to terms with it as if it’s all part and parcel of living? Grandmas of ninety, maybe, but not a slip of a girl who reached the peak of her experiences at fourteen and has now settled down to a calm lifestyle at seventeen! Whew!

Only today all those experiences have made Pooja a stronger person. Ready to take on any challenges that life might throw at her. She stands proud. At the threshold of her new filmi career (with her debut in her papa’s film ‘Daddy’) This li’l nymphet is happiest at her parents’ reconciliation. Also she has found in a dashing young twenty-one-year old, a life partner. A ship-pie by profession and Shiraz by name (she prefers calling him Shilu) this lover boy has been a major ‘stabilizer’ in Pooja’s life.

I met the pretty teenager at her house where she sat cross-legged comfortably clad in skin tight black denims and a loose black T-shirt.

Now I do consider myself a man about town who isn’t easily impressed. But even I gasped

for air when I saw the gorgeous seventeen year old seated nonchalantly across me. Innocent sensuality at its best. Pooja reminded me of a walking, talking-living-doll (with courtesy to Mr. Cliff Richards). An almost perfectly chiselled face, rosy red cheeks, intelligent sparkling eyes and a mane of black hair all added up to a product guaranteed to make any guy (from nine to ninety) go weak in the knees. Even the chipped tooth behind the ruby lips added to her charm.

But behind the child-woman visage lay a keen and mature mind. Always watching, always critical.

I began by teasing her about being a snob and a spoilt brat. And Pooja, playing with her hair, retaliated, “I’m not a brat at all. I know people say I’m a snob, but I’m not. It’s just that I don’t talk to anybody and everybody. So maybe that’s why the general impression has been formed. And as for being spoilt,” she blushed. “Yes, I’m cute spoilt! Right na?” she asked seeking my approval. Nodding in reply to her big, expectant grin, I asked her of her traumatic childhood.

Without so much as batting an eyelid she dreamily reminisced, “I’ve been very lucky 69

“I’m not a brat at all.

I know people say I’m a snob, but I’m not.

It’s just that I don’t talk to anybody and everybody.”

Dad or my mom for that matter for their split.

Both are equally to blame for their soured relationship. For it takes two hands to clap.

“Sometimes when I look around and see marriages breaking up I get very disillusioned by this whole institution. But then I think it is up to the individuals to make a marriage work,” she reasoned.

She obviously would have minded sharing her father with a woman other than her mother.

that I’ve not had a really traumatic childhood.

Okay, Mom and Dad used to fight and there would be utter chaos at times at home, but I would only be a silent spectator to all this.

I was too young to do anything about it. Of course, it did have some psychological effect on me, but then I guess I was growing up and learnt to accept it as part of my life. My parents never hid anything from me. They saw to it that I didn’t suffer because of their differences and I got the best of both the worlds.

So where’s the trauma?” asked Ms. Bhatt.

Before I could even answer, Pooja began talking in a torrent and there was no stopping her. The only interruptions were the occasional telephone bells which the Bhatt babe ran to answer expectantly (she was expecting a call from dear Shilu from Italy) only to hop back disappointed.

“You know,” she continued, “What spoils a marriage or a relationship is permanence!

When one starts seeking permanence in a relationship then that’s the end of it. Nothing ever remains the same! One has to adjust to the changing times. I do not blame only my 70

Didn’t she hate her father for deserting her mother and her for Soni? Immediately Pooja went on the defensive, “Why, my father didn’t desert us. It’s just that my parents parted ways because they thought they couldn’t live together. They are still the best of friends. My father still comes over to our house and supports us financially too. Initially, I did resent my dad for leaving my mother for another woman. I also used to hate Soni for snatching away dad from us. In fact, there used to be times when I used to flare-up at the very mention of her name. It was my mother who made me understand and think practically.

She would tell me not to resent or hate my father for anything for basically he is a good man at heart. And who should know this better than her who has spent the best years of her life with him? She would say, ‘Just because things didn’t work out between us doesn’t mean he is a bad man. He’s a terrific person and an intelligent, wonderful being’. Now that I’ve come to terms I realise that I love my dad a lot and I don’t know what I’d do without him.

“Now I know that he is the man in my life. We were great pals right from my childhood. In fact, even before my parents separated he used to confide a lot in me. He never hid anything from me.

“Once I was fast asleep and at around one-thirty in the morning he woke me up from my deep slumber and told me, ‘Pooja I’m seeing another woman. I’m having an af-

“As a father, he is the most loving and understanding dad one could have, I remember, once we were all sitting and joking when dad jokingly asked me, ‘Baby, would you marry me?’ I said no.” fair with her and I want you to know first’. This was even before my mom knew of it. So that shows how open and honest he is with me.

“As a father he is the most loving and understanding dad one could have, I remember, once we were all sitting and joking when dad jokingly asked me, ‘Baby, would you marry me?’ I said no. I’d rather be his daughter than his wife. For, Mahesh Bhatt makes a lousy husband and a terrific fa71

ther. I wish that I could always have him as my father in all my future lives,” she prayed.

She sure had taken after her father, hadn’t she? I queried. And Pooja nodded, “Yes, I think I have. My father has been a big influence on me. He has taught me so many good things in life. The realities of everyday living and the fruitlessness of certain things we hold dear.

People even say I talk like him and am intelligent. I like it when people say such things because I’m proud of being his daughter. Frankly, I wouldn’t have done this film ‘Daddy’ if it wasn’t for daddy himself. Only he could convince

me to do the film,” revealed the newcomer.

Talking of ‘Daddy’, had the daughter bagged any other offers? “Nope,” she shrugged, “I only want to do films with my dad. And if I get a good offer I might do an outside film. But I’m not rushing myself. I don’t want to sign films by the dozen. I won’t deny the fact that like the other actresses in our industry I’m here for the money. I definitely want to make my share of it, but not by deceiving anyone, nor by signing any and every film that comes my way without doing justice to it. I think I will do one, maybe two films a year with dad, that’s if he takes me in his

“My mom is a very attractive woman and a lot of men call her up and ask her out.” films. Otherwise, besides money, what is there in this industry? Glamour? Gosh! Where is it?

They say there are gorgeous men here in Bollywood; where are they? Are these men (pointing out to a copy of ‘Stardust’ and the stars in it) really dashing? Oh! Where are the Tom Cruises and Patrick Swayzes?” she questioned. Hollywood, I replied, and we both burst out laughing.

Coming back to Mahesh Bhatt I couldn’t help but enquire that had been formed between his 72

“In the beginning, like I said, we (Soni and I) were total strangers and she was my enemy. But they say na, that time heals all wounds.” two ‘families’. How did Pooja reconcile herself to this peculiar bond of friendship? With a logical look in her eyes the intense young lady replied, “In the beginning, like I said, we (Soni and I) were total strangers and she was my enemy.

But they say na, that time heals all wounds. It healed my heartaches as well. We began by saying hi, hello and then onto making small talk. It took off from there and now we are good friends. It’s just of late but mom too has started speaking to Soni. Dad and I didn’t try to make them friends. It was on their own that they did so. Done mutually on their own. Now they get along fine,” smiled the perky young actress.

But being friends was one thing and posing as one big happy family was quite another.

Didn’t she herself find it weird and unusual?

“True, it is unusual and may sound weird,” quipped the bubbly young girl. “But then you also forget that we are really very happy

with the situation. Today people might call it funny but don’t you think that it is better to be happy like this than have tension and bad blood like in other relationships? I don’t think that being one big happy family is abnormal at all, if the end result is happiness and normalcy,” was her logical explanation.

I would have loved to believe that but a Mahesh Bhatt wasn’t an average man by any yardstick. Normally? Who makes statements like ‘I’m a bastard…!’ in print and shrugs off the repercussions. How did she react to that? Pooja went red and then choked with laughter, “My dad does this all the time, most of the time for effect. He loves shocking people. I was also quite shocked and embarrassed by his statement, but I didn’t pay much attention to it. I did ask him very casually about it and he said that he hadn’t said it so many words. He was asked,

73

“The less said about him (Arshad) the better. Yes, I did go around with Deepak (Malhotra) for a month. But then I decided to break up with him. I dated him only to spite my boyfriend Shilu.” whether he was a b - - - - - - and all dad said was ‘yes’. That’s it. But then it was as good as saying it all. Anyway, I prefer to think he never said it at all for I love him too much to believe people.

“As for my friends, no one ridiculed me. They were very understanding. They never poked fun, they never teased me about my family problems. Of course, they knew that I would scratch their eyes out if they said anything about my dad or mom,” she laughed.

Which brought me to her mother Kiran? After all she was a woman and an attractive one at that. Didn’t she seek companionship elsewhere? Hadn’t she ever considered remarrying?

At first Pooja didn’t like the question very much 74

but being the intelligent young girl she is, she reasoned, “My mom is a very attractive woman and a lot of men call her up and ask her out. She does go out at times to parties and dinner, but that’s it! No emotional attachments for her. She is quite happy the way she is and doesn’t want to mess with marriage once again. Also I personally wouldn’t want her to marry again,” she averred.

My, my, I joked. That certainly was possessiveness. But that didn’t mean that little Ms. Bhatt had the liberty to have a chain of boyfriends herself. And that too at the tender age of thirteen onwards.

“You make it sound like I have hundred boyfriends!” she chirped. “I’ve never had any serious affairs except for the one I’m having now with Shilu.” To jog her memory I reminded her of dancer Arshad and model Deepak Malhotra. Two of her ex-steady dates. She made a face, frowned a little and then refused to talk about the former. “The less said about him the better.” About the latter she confessed. “Yes, I did go around with Deepak for a month. But then I decided to break up with him. I dated him only to spite my boyfriend Shilu from whom I had separated for a while.

Anyway, Deepak is too unimportant for me to talk about now. I’ll talk about Shilu instead!”

And boy was she ready! “Oh, he’s a shippie, we met when I was twelve years old. But then we were just acquaintances. We met again after a few years and really hit it off. Today our relationship is one and a half year old. Touch wood!

I had never thought of marriage with any of my

ex-boyfriends. But the day I met Shilu I thought of settling down with him immediately. He’s a cadet. I really miss him. It’s so rough for me when he’s not around. Whenever he is in town it is only for a few hours. And in that short span I just can’t have enough of him. I wish time would come to a standstill then,” she said wistfully.

Talking of her dear boyfriend was like unplugging a pressure cooker for Pooja went on for one full hour about Shilu, weighing his pros and cons. Giving me little details of their relationship and telling me of her plans to settle down with him, but after giving it a lot of thought.

At the end of this in-depth insight into Shiraz (Shilu to her) I felt I’d known him for a lifetime.

“Oh, no one does except me!” gushed Pooja, “And no girl dare! I’ll kill any girl who gets or tries to get close to him. I hate the way the little bitches crown him. I’ll murder them!”

I was sure glad I wasn’t a girl then. But her well-wisher I certainly was and I wished her all the very best and she smiled a dimpled smile. Looking at her then I saw her more as a woman than the seventeen year-old-child she was. But her mind and maturity far belied her age. Maybe it had something to do with the experience she had undergone.

Maybe it was the trauma. Or maybe she was just being her Daddy’s darling daughter!

FAST FORWARD She was 17 then but now she’s in her late forties. But the very articulate Pooja Bhatt has not lost any of her exuberance. She still talks non-stop without pausing for a breath and has an opinion on any and every subject you bring up.

Thirty years ago, she starred in several films including Daddy, Dil Hain Ki Manta Nahin, Zakhm, Sadak, Border etc. and was considered a powerhouse performer. But there was so much more to Pooja than just being an actor. Soon enough she followed in her daddy dearest Mahesh Bhatt’s footsteps and moved on to direction and production. Her debut directorial venture Paap won her a coveted award and she went on to make Jism 2. Recently she was seen in Sadak 2 - a film that starred her stepsister Alia Bhatt and Sanjay Dutt. The film, however, got a thumbs down from the audience and flopped at the box office.

In her personal life, like her dad, Pooja in her salad days too enjoyed shocking the ‘industrywallahs’ and was an interviewer’s delight with her scandalous quotes…. A welcome relief from the actors of those times. In fact, her most controversial cover was for Stardust - of her and her father snapped in a lip-lock with a titillating headline which quoted Mahesh Bhatt saying: “If Pooja wasn’t my daughter, I’d love to marry her.” But that was then… years after that Pooja Bhatt went into hibernation for many years focusing on her home and hearth.

However, after a divorce and some serious issues with alcoholism, Pooja surfaced back with a cameo in Sadak 2. Here’s to seeing more of the wild child Pooja Bhatt again!

- Sumita Chakraborty 75

76

77