Stardust - May 2021 Issue by magnapublishing

Throwback: The late Rishi Kapoor’s most popular interview reprinted!

M AY

2021

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

A MAGNA PUBLICATION

Ousted from Dharma, Unfollowed by KJo, Is Kartik Aryaan’s reign of success over?

Exposed:

Has Netflix muzzled the hiss of The Serpent?

Shocking!

Why is Priyanka Chopra Jonas’ career in Hollywood going nowhere?

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

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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: Why is Priyanka Chopra Jonas’s career in Hollywood going nowhere? ..................................14 My Choice: Poonam Khubani’s Pick Of The Month ............................................................................................ 20 Get Snappy: Arjun Kapoor .................................................................................................................................. 22 Get Snappy: Heena Dsouza .............................................................................................................................. 26 Stardust Special: Ousted from Dharma Production, Unfollowed by KJo:

Is Kartik Aryaan’s reign of success over? ................................................................................ 34

Melody Alert: Rockstar - C Aishvarrya Suresh .................................................................................................. 30 Stardust Excusive: Has Netflix Muffled The Hiss Of the Serpent? ............................................................ 42 In Focus: “Not every star kid is a star and not every outsider is a struggler.” – Abhishek Banerjee ............... 60 Blast From The Past: On Rishi Kapoor’s first death anniversary, his interview reprinted ................ 68

FEATURES Music Room: ““I found that I was bestowed with 5 songs in

A R Rahman’s 99 Songs album.” – Shashwat Singh .................................................................. 48

Starry Look: Sara Ali Khan ...................................................................................................................................... 57

COLUMNS Neeta’s Natter ....................................................................................................................................................... 05 Starry Sashay ........................................................................................................................................................ 40 Web Star ............................................................................................................................................................... 11 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 51 (No. 5) 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

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Salman Khan’s Radhe: Your Most Wanted Bhai released on Zee5 and the verdict? Hmm… It’s even been rated lower than Race 3 which was Salman Khan’s least liked film till date. Bhaijaan should realise by now that a star status can bring in the number of viewers but it’s only good content that can sustain a film’s progress and earn audiences’ praise. Today, the OTT bingers, unlike the seetimaar theatre goers, want good content and not meaningless masala. Radhe…seriously didn’t make the grade here. But one fun element that Radhe… did bring to the table are some hilarious memes that are floating ‘round the net. Those are sure shot super hit if not for Bhaijaan’s latest film.

However, his song from Radhe… seetimaar is sure popular with the doctors. For these warriors decided to groove to the pulsating beat of seetimaar in their scrubs to lighten up the grimness of the ambience. And who should they impress? None other than the svelte Disha Patani who posted the video on her social media captioning it as ‘real heroes’.

Talking about Disha Patani, many reviewers hated the fact that Radhe… had objectified her character and they thought that was in bad taste. But did that bother Ms Patani? Naah… she just didn’t care. Instead, Disha was super stoked that she was starring in a film with Salman Khan, a hero she had been watching and admiring as a child.

True that… has anybody realised that the age gap between Salman and his heroines is widening more than the gap between the rich and the poor in India? Well, this time ‘round supposedly there were rumours that Salman had even broken his ‘no kiss’ policy. Not true, says Salman who says they put a duct tape on Disha’s lips and he kissed her through the duct tape. Hmm… must have been a painful kiss for poor Disha.

While we are on Radhe… Salman Khan has taken his Big brother status of Bigg Boss’s contestants rather seriously. The entire film is peppered with several ex-Bigg Boss contestants walking in and out like zombies. The only one who got a role to talk about was Gautam Gulati. Unfortunately, he decided to ham his way through this entire caper until the exasperated audience felt like shooing him off screaming Radhe Radhe. 6

Taking about films, Abhishek Bachchan’s The Big Bull may not have done as well as he wanted it to do but Aby Baby has done a great job in it as a Gujarati stock market wheeler dealer. ‘Tis a pity that one film in which both the critics and the audience have praised Abhishek’s performance to the skies, did poorly simply because of some loose editing and poor direction.

Ask Abhishek, if he’s nervous before an OTT release? …And he admits on a scale of one to hundred, if a theatrical release goes for a 100, films releasing on streaming platforms involve a nervousness level of around 98. According to Aby Baby, however, unlike theatrical releases, in OTT releases, there’s no such pressure of a first-day, first show excitement, so he’s in a semi-chilled out mood!

Arjun Kapoor too is super chilled out. Simply because he loved working in his new film Sardar Ka Grandson and according to him, what happens at the Box office doesn’t really bother him ‘cos he feels this film transcends the box office. But of course, he does care about the ‘views’ as it has released on Netflix thanks to the pandemic. But it’s a cute film really so Arjun shouldn’t have much to worry about.

…More so as his super sexy girlfriend Malaika Arora has taken to walking her pet dog Casper dressed in the sexiest athleisure ensembles. And each time, she appears in sexy shorts or figure-hugging tracks, the paps on the hunt, suddenly appear in flocks outside her building. No wonder, the most snapped celebs these days are Malaika and Casper. 7

…60 and sexy! Yes, we are talking about our bhidu Jackie dada who by the way refuses to give you the time of the day if you call him Mr Shroff. Call him Jackie and he showers you with darlings and sweethearts and gives you a paisa vasool interview. Anyways, Jackie has signed an international film in which he is playing a musician. Supposedly, the producers were so impressed by Jackie’s swag that they signed him on the spot.

Hrithik Roshan is celebrating. And why not? Not only is he getting to spend quality time with his sons during the pandemic, he’s doing what he loves best, focussing on his body and reading good scripts. Oh… and he’s super happy ‘cos the social media too is doing what he wanted them to do for a long time – ban his long-time nemesis Ms Kangana Ranaut!

Vicky Kaushal’s celebrating his 33rd birthday amidst the pandemic, and obviously, there was no party sharty, only family time. So Vicky cut his cake and had it too, while his brother Sunny made it memorable by capturing the moment. Happy birthday Vicky… we bet all the social media congratulatory messages that poured in got you so overwhelmed that… the Kat got your tongue! Did we say ‘Kat’ oops we mean cat, of course! 8

Kat was of course at her place. She had tested positive for Covid and had isolated herself. Now of course, she’s hale and heart and ready to rock… all alone at home. Vicky couldn’t do much because he too had tested positive and was in isolation for quite some time. The pandemic sure as hell tests the patience of lovers oops alleged lovers.

Well, Twitter has finally permanently suspended Kangana Ranaut’s account. She did make a hasty switch to Instagram but there too when they censored her post on covid, our Manikarnika Queen threw a typical Ranaut like tantrum and put up a post that she was sure her voice was being muffled by the social media in India. Anyways, she insisted she was waiting to be banned by Instagram as it would be like a “badge of honour.”

Ram Gopal Varma recently lashed out at Kangana Ranaut for calling his muse Urmila Matondkar a “soft porn” star. He said using the social media was fine as it is a way to freely air one’s opinion. But that comment was distasteful, and it bothered him especially in terms of his personal feelings regarding Urmila and her performance. Didn’t Ramu always have a soft spot for Urmila?

Amit Sadh, who is off social media, is not in India but in LA for his knee surgery. That guy is indeed very dedicated – one didn’t hear a peep out of him about his leg problems during the promotions of his net series but in pain he was, and that’s why he zipped off to the US to get it treated. Get well soon, Amit! 9

Remember the lissom Ileana D’cruz who starred in so many Ajay Devgn films. Well, she seemed to have disappeared into oblivion during the pandemic. Well, she’s resurfaced again only to pooh-pooh weird rumours about her being pregnant, getting an abortion to even attempting suicide. “These rumours were truly bizarre!” Ileana said.

Here’s a bit of a throwback. Supposedly, there were rumours that Priyanka Chopra Jonas wanted to do Deepika Padukone’s role in Bajirao Mastani. But that’s not true, says PeeCee! Adding, “You should have seen the congratulatory messages and bouquets I got. My home was like a garden. People have insisted that only I could do Kashi, and I agree! We agree too!”

Cat’s Crown

This month goes to... Kabir Bedi. For the super honest way, he poured his life into his book Stories I must Tell. He bared it all, not sensationalising or dramatizing but told it as it was – whether it was his “open” marriage with the bohemian Protima Bedi or his love for Parveen Babi and his frustration at not knowing how to handle her changing moods. But most of all because of how he revealed the raw pain he felt and perhaps still feels, on his son Sidharth’s suicide. The book was indeed Kabir Bedi unplugged! 10

Web Star

Is the pandemic making you miss going to college? ...Here are five shows to help you relive those glorious days. No matter how much time passes by, college memories will always be very dear to everyone. After all, that’s the time when we experience most of our ‘firsts’ - crushes, heartbreaks, fights, silly mistakes that turn into life lessons, and countless memorable experiences you can’t forget! The pandemic has changed a lot for college-goers today, but recalling how your college days were years ago is sure to bring back some good memories and a smile to your face. Here is a list of entertaining web shows that will take you on a trip down memory lane, of your own time in college. 11

1. Operation MBBS Season 1 & 2 Dice Media’s “Operation MBBS” was an instant hit in its first season which highlighted the journey of three medical aspirants. In its second season, the show brings to light the sacrifices made by the medical community when the pandemic hit the world. The series also covers the intense 2nd year of MBBS, along with new twists in the lives of its protagonists, played by Ayush Mehra, Sarah Hashmi, and Anshul Chauhan as well as Geetanjali Kulkarni.

2. College Romance College is nothing short of a roller coaster ride and College Romance captures this perfectly. The series takes viewers along the journey of 3 best friends- Trippy, Naira, and Karan as their friendship is tested, romance blossoms, and the trio tackle college drama together.

3. Mismatched The series follows the journey of a group of college students as they navigate through love, life, and friendship. After a disastrous first meeting, leads Prajakta Koli as Dimple Ahuja and Rohit Saraf as Rishi find friendship and companionship in each other. Over the course of the series, the two go on a journey of fun, adventure, and learnings, which make for great entertainment. 12

4. Flames by TVFPlay

This series takes you back in time, bringing up fond memories of the time you had a crush on someone, the first time you attempted to be friends with your crush, or the first time you spoke to him/her. To relive these innocent days, Flames by TVFPlay is a show you must add to your watch list! The show is a perfect love story between a young teenage couple Rajat and Ishita who juggle their relationship along with dealing with their families and with their career goals! Throughout the series, the rush of a teenage relationship, innocent crushes and more is what will keep you hooked to your screens!

5. Laakhon Mein Ek The story is about the young aspiring Dr. Shreya Pathare, played by Shweta Tripathi. Each episode unfolds her journey as a medical student along with her colleague practitioner, who are posted at a cataract camp in a rural district. The series captures the challenges they face in this journey including distrust, sexism, dealing with quacks, and lack of medical supplies for patients. 13

Cover Story

Why is Priyanka Chopra Jonas’ career in Hollywood going nowhere?

She’s a global icon and has got all the doors opening in Hollywood. However, her career is still going nowhere. Sumita Chakraborty wonders why Priyanka Chopra Jonas despite having it all, has still not managed to be a big name in Hollywood?

he was and is still counted as one of the biggest actresses in Tinsel Town. Name, fame and money were at her feet, and “Pinky” was ruling Bollywood, yet she was not happy. She didn’t want to just limit herself dancing around trees or do the mandatory jhatka matka masala films of Bollywood so she started producing good content films for her own production house Purple Pebble Pictures. However, her dreams were too big to span only the kaleidoscopic celluloid of the Hindi film industry. She had got all the awards, rewards, acclaim and bouquets in India, now she hankered to conquer a bigger audience. Known for her grit, determination and gogetting spirit, the girl from a small town called Bareilly, Priyanka Chopra Jonas has always been super ambitious. So, when she left the shores of India to move into the glitzy world of Hollywood, everybody in India heralded her bold move and predicted big things for her. People in the know believed that her marriage to poster boy singer Nick Jonas would open bigger doors for her in Hollywood and the Quantico star would soon be counted amongst the top actresses including Salma Hayek, Catherine Zeta Jones, Selene Gomes and others. 15

Of course, many actors in India had dreamt the glitzy Hollywood dream before - and some like Irrfan Khan, Kabir Bedi, Amitabh Bachchan and so many others - even made a mark but only as important cameos. However, the larger-than-life lead roles proved to be rather elusive. Agreed, Deepika Padukone had also stepped into the realm of Hollywood as one of the leads in Vin Diesel’s xXx: Return of Xander but unfortunately, that film didn’t do too well, and she returned to base – back to Bollywood. So, could Priyanka do what the others couldn’t? Right in the beginning, Priyanka had categorically stated that she only wanted to do mainstream films in Hollywood more so as she was one of the topmost heroines in Bollywood doing mainstream films since the beginning of her career. She had stated rather firmly in an interview, “I know my value and I don’t want to work in stereotypical movies, nor do I want to be a sidekick in any movie.” 16

So off she went to prove herself and achieve her dreams in her ‘go-get-it’ manner. At first, it sure looked as if Priyanka could manage to realise all her big picture dreams. She debuted as the sexy baddie in Baywatch starring the super sensational hunk Rock – however, both the film and her role were not anything to write about. She made her mark with the TV series Quantico which went on for a few seasons, but the critics were still not very convinced. A Kid Like Jake and Isn’t It Romantic?, her following films, were unfortunately written off. Luckily for her, both The Sky Is Pink and White Tiger were appreciated and acclaimed. So much so that hubby Nick Jonas’s chest puffed up with pride as he said, “Perhaps Priyanka is the only Jonas who can bring the Oscars into the Jonas home.” She didn’t win the Oscar of course - in fact, she didn’t even attend it citing the pandemic and being in London as the reason though Priyanka and Nick hosted the nominations event for the Oscars a month before the actual event. But she did manage to bag a super important film with Oscar winner Barry Lewinsky. In the film, Priyanka Chopra Jonas is playing Ma Anand Sheela, the former personal secretary of Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh / Osho, who was sentenced to 20 years —

but paroled after 39 months — for her role in the 1984 Rajneesh bioterror attack. This is a movie for Amazon Studios and is simply called Sheela. Oscar-winner Barry Levinson (Rain Man) is directing Sheela, off a script by newcomer Nick Yarborough. Priyanka is producing Sheela through her Purple Pebble America banner, in addition to Levinson via his Baltimore Pictures along with Jason Sosnoff, and David Permut of Permut Presentations. An ambitious venture indeed. But that too seems a bit shaky what with Ma Sheela sending her a legal notice citing that she hadn’t chosen Priyanka to play her and instead, preferred Alia Bhatt. But then hits and misses are an integral part of every actor’s life, right? Priyanka in fact, loved challenges. In her book Unfinished, Priyanka said that when she was a newcomer in Bollywood, she had struggled to make her mark in an industry that seemingly gave preference to those already with a film family background. She averred, “Over and over again I had to prove to the studios, which were mostly family-owned, that I deserved a seat at their table – which was not easy when I overheard comments at parties like, ‘I got her cast in this movie and I can take it away from her as well.’”

Is there trouble in Priyanka and Nick’s Paradise? Well, Priyanka Chopra Jonas and hubby Nick Jonas are madly in love and look perfect together. In fact, Priyanka in her chat with Oprah Winfry sadi, “Nothing surprised me more than him. He’s such a self-assured man. So sensible. So excited about my achievements. My dreams. [It’s] such a true partnership that he offers me in everything that we do together.” She goes on to reveal that she didn’t pay much heed to Nick during their initial text conversations as she assumed they wanted different things because of their vast age gap. But then they discovered it was really the same thing they both wanted – love. Priyanka goes on to gush, “I truly believe that my mom manifested him.” However, after the BAFTAS, there were these odd rumours that perhaps things weren’t all that great between Nick Jonas and his Missus more so when Nick was missing at many of the events that Priyanka attended. Furthermore, people whispered that Priyanka was staying in the UK more with her mom than in the US with Nick. …Whatever the rumours be, we love Priyanka and Nick and we hope that these are just rumours without any basis and Priyanka and Nick are still madly in love and happy with each other. 18

Not only that, she was also called “Plastic Chopra” because of the plastic surgeries that she had done. But Priyanka persevered and ended up becoming one of the topmost heroines in Bollywood, so what was stopping her doing the same in Hollywood? After all, she was doing everything right – being seen impeccably dressed to the nines in all the right places – from the BAFTAS to the nomination event of the Oscars, from being invited to some of the richest and most famous people’s homes in Hollywood to being invited at her besties’ wedding – Meghan Markel to Prince Harry – one of the most publicised events of the decade. She had it all – contacts, being seen and heard - so what was stopping her from bagging top notch films with top stars from Hollywood? In her book Unfinished, Priyanka claimed that she had to shed her Indian-ness in order to establish herself in Hollywood. Well that she did! But the top banners seemed still rather hesitant to welcome her into their fold. It couldn’t be the age factor for unlike India, a 60 plus Meryl Streep or an 80 plus Anthony Hopkins are still in the running, so 38-year-old Priyanka still has a long way to go.

So what was the reason that though Priyanka Chopra Jonas is considered a high flyer and a true-blue Hollywood citizen, her acting career is floundering around, going nowhere? Is it that after her huge tenuous struggle in Bollywood to make it to the top despite facing ridicule, nepotism and mean comments, PeeCee doesn’t want

to go the same route in Hollywood - and so perhaps is not going the extra mile to make things happen. Whatever it may be, it’s time Hollywood takes PeeCee seriously and offers her a role worthy of her acting chops. After all, Priyanka Chopra Jonas is a global icon, and she deserves to be right there at the top. 19

My Choice

Poonam Khubani’s Pick Of The Month

With the pandemic on, what better way to spend your time than to binge on some excellent digi content… From action, spinechilling thrillers to comedy and romance, the OTT platform is flourishing with some great stuff. The multi-talented Poonam Khubani, producer and melodious singer picks 5 of the best webseries that she thought was worth watching. Read on…

Sardar Ka Grandson, Netflix, Hindi This Arjun Kapoor, Neena Gupta and Rakulpreet starrer touches a chord. The story is simple and sweet. It’s about a devoted grandson’s mission to reunite his ailing grandmother with her ancestral home. But things aren’t as simple as it seems. Soon the entire quest turns into a complicated, comic cross-border affair. Must watch! Who Killed Sara?: Season 2, (Netflix), English Did you watch the first season? Well, if you did, this time ‘round… Sara is back and in a more menacing avatar. Alex, her brother who was beaten in the first season, now wants to exact his revenge. And how better to do it than bring to light his sister’s darker side – and come to terms with the fact that he never knew the real Sara. Welcome to the dark side of Sara this season - it thrills and shocks. This psychological suspense thriller is worth a watch. 20

Bombay Begum, Netflix, Hindi It’s bold, smartly written and of course, has its share of controversies. Starring the rebel with a cause, Pooja Bhatt with Plabita Borthakur, Shahana Goswami, Amruta Subhash and others, it navigates a tale of five women who walk the tough path of life. They come from varied stratas - from boardrooms to society margins – and these women defy conventions and learn over time to enjoy their tryst with life. Directed by Lipstick Under My Burkha fame Alankrita Shrivastava, this is a must watch. Special: Season 2, Netflix, English An emotional drama, Special: Season 2 draws further on human emotions and knits a complex tale of love, betrayal and jealousy. This series focus on Ryan again and this time, he’s semi-estranged from his mother, and is on his own. No wonder, the onus rests completely on Ryan’s frail shoulders to fight all his personal battles alone, as he continues to explore the world on his own, with all the complex ups and downs life and love have to offer. This is a sweet poignant drama that touches a chord. Wonder Woman 1984, Amazon Prime, English, Hindi, Tamil, Telugu It’s time to meet wonder woman. And this time, wonder woman or Amazonian warrior Diana is caught up in a power struggle with a man whose lust for power can wreak havoc to the world. Wonder woman has a tall feat ahead where she must contend with a work colleague and businessman, whose desire for extreme wealth sends the world down a path of destruction, after an ancient artifact that grants wishes goes missing. An adventureaction thriller, this film is racy and filled with thrills. Host, Amazon Prime, English, Hindi, Tamil, Telugu Welcome to the spooky world of evil spirits and the supernatural. This film starts with six friends who hire a medium to hold a seance via Zoom during the lockdown. It starts out as just a fun way to pass time but they get far more than they bargained for as things quickly go wrong, more so when an evil spirit starts invading their homes. Thus starts their dangerous ordeal where the friends suddenly realise to their horror that they might not survive the night. If you’re into spooks and ghosts, this is for you! The Last Hour S1, Amazon Prime, Hindi Set up in a small Himalayan town, the series goes on to explore the story of a Shaman (Healer), who joins a newly transferred cop to track down a mysterious killer. Directed by Amit Kumar and produced by Asif Kapadia, the series features Sanjay Kapoor, Shahana Goswami, Karma Takapa, Shaylee Krishen, Robin Tamang and Raima Sen in prominent roles. This series is slick and smart. 21

Get Snappy

Arjun Kapoor cooks up a storm! Laid-back, easy and the very likeable Arjun Kapoor has a wonderful line of films and projects that are sure to win hearts. However, the pandemic put a spoke on all the plans. So it’s no point talking films with Arjun keeping the dismal scenario in mind. However, we can do the next best thing – talk about food and Arjun Kapoor more so as he joins the star-studded line-up for the third episode of the celebrity cooking show, ‘Star vs Food’ on Discovery+.

After having famous Bollywood personalities like Kareena Kapoor Khan and Karan Johar grace the show, the amusing and quick-witted Arjun enters the kitchen for the first time to try his hand at cooking a very flavorful menu including Laal Maas and Chapli Kabab to surprise his uncle and aunt, Sanjay and Maheep Kapoor. Under the mentorship of Gulaam Gouse Deewani, Head Chef at The Butler & The Bayleaf, Arjun Kapoor whips up a royal Mughlai flavoursome menu. Here, Arjun talks about food, his woes with obesity and more…

So is there a challenge in cooking? Arjun avers, “The trickiest thing about today’s cooking is the fact that I have to enjoy myself while still learning something new and that’s not always easy.” Arjun has had a problem with obesity, so how did the great transformation from P.H.A.T. (Pretty, hot and tempting) to fit happen? Arjun reminisces how his indulgence in food was uncontrollable as he weighed 150kgs by the time he was sixteen years old. Talking about his parents’ separation, he said, “I 24

looked at food for comfort. I got caught up in the way I felt emotionally… so I started eating and then I really enjoyed eating, and then the fast food culture came into India at that point of time and fast food is ‘fast food’, so you can go after school and keep eating. It is very difficult to let go because eventually, there is nobody to stop you beyond a point. Your mother loves you; she will reprimand you, but you are still a kid, and they give you benefit of the doubt ki yeh umar hai khaane ki, theek hai.” But there were complications from overeating, right? Arjun agrees. With time, he developed asthma and other injuries because of his obesity.

So how did the great transformation happen? Talking about the transformation phase, he avers, “I literally, one Diwali just ate biryani and had a tub of ice cream, and then I said Bas! Is Zindagi ke liye bohot kha liya, ab apni agli zindagi ke liye nahi kahunga! And that’s where the new phase of my life started, where I learnt how to let go.” So any food memories from his ‘good old days’? Arjun mentions how with the turntable or the ‘Lazy Suzy’ as the family called it, he was always the first one to hoard on the chicken legs especially when they were homemade. 25

Get Snappy

“

Due to the uncertainty and safety concern, we wanted to finish shooting and the delivery of the project as soon as possible. – Heena D souza

”

Director- writer Heena D souza has worked during the pandemic to complete her comedy thriller Mukesh Jasoos. In a candid interview with Sumita Chakraborty, Heena talks about working on her show Mukesh Jasoos, working with known names and more. Heena, tells us a bit about your show Mukesh Jasoos - which is written and directed by you. Mukesh Jasoos is a comedy thrillerdetective series that is very different from the conventional content we have in the space so far. The common understanding or perception of a detective is that he will be a suave, sophisticated, super-human, sexy kind of a man. Mukesh, on the other hand, is someone we encounter every day in a bus or train. He is unremarkable in looks, skills and style. The thing that works for him is the grit and some luck here and there. I wanted 26

to break the James Bond stereotypes for a detective of style, or Byomkesh Bakshi style of intellectual capability. He is not just everyone's detective; he is literally everyone. Ordinary and average! The only thing negatively extraordinary about him is his problems. He is a law failed bogus lawyer whose wife has eloped with his cousin and left behind her mother to live with him. Now he lives in a congested oneroom kitchen house in a Basti along with his alcoholic mother-in-law. To top it, his wife still comes to visit her mother at his home along with her lover!

Tell us a little about Humaramovie production house. What kind of art do they encourage, how do they drive talent?

content to build a loyal audience base. That’s not the case with Humaramovie. It has never limited itself to a genre or a positioning.

Humaramovie is owned by Vinay Mishra, Preeti Ali and Pallavi Rohatgi. It started as a short film platform to support and nurture new talent. Over the years Humaramovie has made several award-winning shorts and feature length films with many new and upcoming directors and writers. Most platforms in the digital space these days target a particular “format” or “flavor” of

The only criteria based on which they fund a project is good content. All the artists, be it actors, cinematographers, writers, directors, musicians, know that it’s the most approachable place. As their in-house writer, director and content curator, I can say that it’s one of the rare production houses that is purely driven by talent and creativity.

You’re a writer and film maker who has made short films, long format feature films. You are known for making Neena Gupta starrer Shuruwat ka twist, Adi Sonal and short films like Pressure Cooker starring Pallavi Joshi. Please share some anecdotes you got while making these movies. Working with veteran actors like Pallavi Joshi, Neena Gupta, Lalit Bahl ji and now Rajeshwari Sachdeva and Poonam Dhillon, has made me realize that they are comparatively more disciplined and sincere towards their craft as compared to the newer lot and hence, it’s easier to work with them. They have an approach where they trust and surrender to the director and see the film as a whole rather than just being concerned about their part. 28

I have learnt is that what makes your storytelling stand apart is detailing. I felt such a loss when Lalit ji recently passed away due to Covid. He was such a gifted actor and a wonderful human being. I still remember our interactions on the script when he used to diligently make notes during these briefings.

Another thing that I have learnt is that what makes your storytelling stand apart is detailing. It is the nuances that add a flavor to your style of storytelling. Hence as a director I never compromise on details whether it is the character’s appearance or his environment. For me, if it doesn’t feel real, it’s not immersive.

wear a mask all through a 12 hour shift.

How difficult was it working during the pandemic and what did the lockdown teach you?

What’s next in the pipeline?

Due to the uncertainty and safety concern, we wanted to finish shooting and delivery of the project as soon as possible. Hence, we had a very steep deadline to execute the project. We shot 20 episodes in the span of 20 days. It was very hectic and tiring for the crew especially when you have to

I was lucky to have a team where everyone was so dedicated and equally passionate about the project. A special mention to my DOP Ershad Shiekh who tirelessly handled such a hectic schedule without compromising on the quality of the product.

After the release of Mukesh Jasoos, I am currently working on a web series and pitching two feature length films, hoping for them to get funded soon.

Melody Alert

Rock Star! She’s got talent, and how! C Aishvarrya Suresh has dazzled the audience with her amazing voice quality and impressive personality. Here, she talks to Sumita Chakraborty about her journey, her brilliant resume and more… 30

Meet the multi-faceted C Aishvarrya Suresh who has impressed one and all – audience, judges and her fellow contestants - in the cutting-edge singing show Rockstar aired on Zee Tamil. Mind you, s h e ’ s no ordinary contestant, this girl has participated in top-notch concerts including the London Olympics 2012 and the United Basketball Alliance, was a part of some fabulous theatre productions and even been a recording artiste in some films. Read on as this gorgeous girl spills the beans on her eventful yet magical journey. Aishvarrya, you are a model, actor, singer – you started at a very early age - how has the journey been? Well, I have been a working artiste my entire adult life and yet I can say that I haven’t worked a day in my life (that is if work implies drudgery). It’s truly a blessing that I get to do all that I adore for a living. But that being said - I have always been a girl with soaring ambitions and what I believe is that all that I have learnt in my career thus far is preparation for my big fat fast approaching destination. Your resume is brilliant – you’ve been a part of topnotch concerts including the London Olympics 2012 and United Basket Ball Alliance, you’ve done theatre and been a recording artiste according to you which was the most exciting and can you share any anecdote – funny or otherwise about anything that is memorable Thank you :) I have had the fortune of being

a part of some extremely illustrious projects which have been both honours and challenges. I think out of them all, the one project where I really had to push myself to take a leap of faith was that of my first Musical theatre production Chicago.

Not only had I never acted before, I happened to be a full blown introvert who had a fear of public speaking. Between playing the lead, singing live Broadway songs while dancing, performing to the tunes of Illayraja’s son - Yuvan Shankar Raja and having to cough up multi page monologues. I think that theatre stage has been the place where I really surprised myself.

I remember during our first show, I was being flipped upside down by the dancers and my dress got tangled with one of their cuffs upon dismount and I had a big dance sequence coming up while 31

I had to untangle myself and continue singing. I could hear the audience gasp when that happened and while I continued my performance, I later heard that the audience thought that my song was pre-recorded as they didn’t think that that could be pulled off so flawlessly - well it wasn’t and I went ahead and took that as a compliment :)

Have you sung for films too?

Another defining moment was the surprise telecast of my Halftime show performance at the UBA by 8 time Emmy award winning producer Stephan Graham for 47 million people to view on Ten Sports. I was informed merely minutes before the performance that it was about to be aired and I really had to pull my socks up as it is almost impossible to perform on arena speakers with no monitors. It was definitely an adrenaline raising incident.

I have yes, many times. I have recorded for some of the leading music directors down south. The thing with my voice is that while it is widely appreciated, it is also recognized as rather unique. So I get to say that every song I have sung in the movies have been different and one of a kind each. Whether it was me singing Vairamuthu’s lyrics in a ‘Glitch’ song with Kamal Hassan himself for his movie Thoongavanam or lending my voice to the theme song of the latest blockbuster Nenjam Maraparillai or writing and singing the theme song in English for Sony Music’s – Gorilla - each of my songs have been rather special.

You are an exceptional singer – how did your journey as a singer begin?

Tell us about your show Rockstar? What made you take part in it?

I might actually be able to confidently say that I had one of the best debuts in musical history in our country. It happened when I set foot on the beautiful cove shaped stage overlooking the majestic Olympic tracks in London, 2012. For that performance, I was singled out and given a spotlight mention as a singer with a special voice in Spain’s leading newspaper El Mundo. That experience lit a fire in me and led me to train tirelessly in Western Classical music for six years to become the musician I am now. Music is truly my soul’s most fulfilling passion.

Rockstar is a first of its kind reality TV show on Zee Tamil, where professional playback singers are pitted against each other. The tag line of ‘Star to Rockstar’ is rather self-explanatory. I just loved the concept as soon as I was approached. I have always been inclined to taking up challenges and this has definitely been one of the most fun ones I’ve done in a while. My fellow contestants are not only brilliant musicians but are also some of the nicest people I have met.

Any memorable incident that stands out? How is it interacting with the show’s illustrious judges? The judges of these show are all legends in their own right. It has been nothing short of an honour performing for them and hearing their constructive feedback. Their little tips and tricks are going to up my singing game significantly. There is one particular comment that I got at the end of one of my performances which was that of Mr. Srinivas saying that I had what it took for me to become an “International Rockstar”. My aim and sights as a musician have always been that of becoming exactly that and the fact that a veteran like him was able to see that in me was not only encouraging but also reassuring given how we have all had to keep ourselves motivated for the last year-and-a-half. I believe AR Rahman had come to the show, how was it performing in front of the maestro. Oh, Mr. Rahman brings magic when he sets foot in a place. I remember vividly the energy of the set changing completely when he walked into the set on the red carpet. We were all conscious of every note we were hitting, and it almost felt like we were appearing for a viva exam. (Laughs) He was in great spirits, sharing anecdotes of every song we performed. It wasn’t my first time meeting him and what I am amazed by is the fact that his humility hasn’t even been touched by the hundreds of feathers on his cap, in all these years. Lastly, what are your aims aspirations for the future?

and

Oh well, I just want to be the biggest international singing star this country has produced. …Told you I have big dreams. Our country is full of music and arts and it is so surprising to know that we have so few musicians representing us on a global scale. Music in India is synonymous with film music. There is no concept of ‘music stars’ like there is around the world. A

O song is better known by the actor who has acted in the song than by its singers. Kind of feels like they’ve taken the term play’back’ music too seriously and pushed all the singers to the background. A singer’s worth is measured by the number of songs they have sung in movies - whom they have sung for before being judged for their talent itself. So much so that no Indian independent singer has won a Grammy from a country that comprises of 18% of the world’s population. It is my dream to change that someday. 33

Stardust Special

Ousted from Dharma Production, Unfollowed by KJo: Is Kartik Aryaan’s reign of success over? Kartik Aryaan is embroiled in a huge controversy with Karan Johar and has been ousted out of Dostana 2. Is Janhvi Kapoor the reason? Sumita Chakraborty wonders if Kartik Aryaan can wriggle out of this huge setback and steer his career back into the winning path.

e really was the poster boy for all outsiders… for he had smashed the walls of intolerance and nepotism in Bollywood to barge with swagger, storming unceremoniously into the elite league earlier just reserved for star kids. As when kissed by the Bollywood devi of luck, the aftermath is indeed glorious. Producers started queuing up outside his home as he leafed through umpteen number of scripts with tailor made roles. Endorsements piled up and soon, he was earning mega bucks. Surfing the pyaar ka punchnama of success, he was now the changeling star who blew all the tainted Bollywood bigoted unwritten rules about ‘no berth for outsiders’ into smithereens. He is Kartik Aaryan, the actor who changed the game plan of Bollywood.

After struggling for three years in Bollywood facing rejection and closed doors during which he completed his engineering degree too, Kartik finally nailed it in his debut film Pyaar Ka Punchnama and the reason was his monologue dialogue that went on for minutes raving about the fickleness of girls. …Perhaps this dialogue would haunt him in these given trying circumstances? Anyway, Pyaar ka Punchnama 2 and Sonu Ke Titu Ki Sweety sealed his position in Bollywood, Luka Chupi and Pati Patni Aur Woh 2 became superlative hits and were the cherries on his cake, and he was hailed as the new muqaddar ka sikandar in Tinsel Town. Big banner films from Dharma Production to Eros Now started courting him relentlessly until he gave his nod to their films.

Soon Kartik Aryaan was riding on many multi-dollar projects – from Dostana 2 with Janhvi Kapoor to signing a three-film deal with Eros Now worth Rs 75 crores to many others. And of course, he was admitted into the golden club of the Bollywood elite and soon became one of their own. We often spotted Kartik driving his swanky car into KJo’s hip ‘n’ happening parties, rubbing shoulders with the likes of Alia Bhatt, Ranbir Kapoor, Deepika Padukone, Ranveer Singh and others. His love story with Sara Ali Khan, the blue-blooded nawabzaadi of Bollywood, got him plumb into the Bollywood elite circle. She had shouted it out on top of her voice on Koffee with Karan, Kjo’s show that she wanted to date Kartik Aaryan, and with KJo allegedly

playing Cupid, the two gorgeous young actors fell madly-in-love and ventured into a rosy dalliance – sometimes he would fly to Thailand in between his shoots to where Sara was shooting to celebrate her birthday or rush to the airport to fetch her, and she, him. The madly-inlove youngsters were everywhere wearing their hearts on their sleeves and they didn’t care who knew it! Things changed with every passing success. Kartik, who earlier was extremely affable and level-headed, reportedly became a tad arrogant. We felt the change in him too as earlier he would call us and chat with us to profile him on the cover but after his rise up the ranks, he refused to acknowledge any requests for

interviews himself, instead his PR would deftly deflect the requests. But the power of overnight success is indeed heady, so we did overlook that thinking that this young actor had worked really hard and so earned every right to be swayed by his grand victory over B-Clubs pompous ‘no outsiders, only star babas and baby’s’ rule. But perhaps the grandiose success story of Kartik Aryaan was a bit pre-emted. Imtiaz Ali’s Love Aaj Kal 2 with Kartik and Sara proved to be a dud at the Box office and so did his love affair with Sara, who supposedly was advised by mamma Amrita to focus on her career and greener pastures, and so Kartik was dropped from the nawabzaadi’s life like a hot potato. A desolate Kartik supposedly consoled himself in Pati Patni Aur Woh co-star Ananya Pandey’s arms who had 38

confessed earlier that she had a crush on Kartik Aryan. But it was the curvaceous Janhvi Kapoor who knocked him for a six on the sets of Dostana 2 and Kartik fell for Sridevi’s first born, hook, line and sinker. And so they were seen heading to idyllic Goa for a holiday accompanied by Janhvi’s sister Khushi. Everything seems great in paradise and Dostana 2 was shot almost 60 percent. Suddenly, things changed overnight. One not so nice morning, we were shocked to get the news that Kartik Aryaan was ousted form Dostana 2 even though the film had shot major parts with him. Not only that, he lost another film with Shashank Khaitan, a key director from Dharma’s stable. But to top that, the ultimate in the social media world – Karan Johar unfollowed Kartik Aryaan. Kartik Aryaan had fallen, and how! Soon, Dharma Production came out with an official statement that Kartik Aryaan was ousted from Dostana 2 because of his “unprofessional behaviour”. …An official statement worded so drastically that it could break a young actor’s career especially one that still hadn’t reached the top. Shocking! So what went so wrong that Dharma Productions had to take this drastic step against Kartik? Rumours were abuzz that Kartik’s affair with Janhvi had gone for a toss and the fall out was pretty bitter. Kartik just couldn’t handle it well and soon the shoot of Dostana 2 became uncomfortable and almost a cold war zone. Kartik started to stall and cited

excuses not to come to the shoots. The schedule of Dostana 2 went totally awry. The pandemic had already created a delay and with Kartik acting up, things had become very difficult for the makers. In an effort to salvage the problem, the makers called Kartik who supposedly spoke to the director of Dostana 2 and instead of promising to resolve the issue, asked him to shelve the film instead. He asked him to do that or …either continue the film by dropping Janhvi. He allegedly also suggested that he would collate with the makers on another film and for that would even compromise on his fees. Karan Johar, who was the producer of the project, supposedly sat Kartik down to get to the bottom of the problem. But Kartik refused to budge and a livid KJo took the drastic decision to toss Kartik out of his film even though it was already shot 60 percent and he would incur major losses. The social media had a field of a day tossing around words like “nepotism” and bias. Some even went as far as saying that Kartik Aryaan was going the Sushant Singh Rajput way and that the bearers of nepotism would never let an outsider

reign. Kangana Ranaut, the flagbearer of anti-nepotism, even tweeted her support for Kartik. However, both Kartik and KJo did not speak about it further or offer any official statement, Janhvi Kapoor of course, stayed in the background and offered no statement either. Whatever the truth is, Kartik should now buckle his belt tighter. Success like some of the heroines of Bollywood is rather fickle and lasts rather fleetingly. And in these days of OTT, success is now being relegated to good content instead of stars. Love Aaj Kal 2, Kartik’s last release was a flop, and his luck is riding on his other projects Bhool Bhulaiya 2 and Dhamaka. So Kartik better salvage his sinking career instead of getting embroiled into controversies and fights with producers. Perhaps he should recite the famous monologue of Pyaar Ka Punchnama – his rant against girls and stay away from heroines and focus on his career instead. Losing a Dharma Production film is said to be the death knell of any actor, but Kartik had stormed the bastions of nepotism before, perhaps he can do it again! 39

STARRY SASHAY Ask Janhvi Kapoor what’s her fave outfit at the moment and she’s sure to say: Athleisure shorts. And sure enough, she can be spotted wearing this everywhere! Of course, it is so ‘in’ right now... be it monochromatic, pastels, or neon, Jahnvi loves to stride with pride sporting athleisure shorts.

Indeed, athleisure has become a wardrobe essential for Jahnvi this pandemic year. We hand-pick some of the finest athleisure looks donned by her this season. So, what are you waiting for? Grab a rating card and start ranking them now! Was her fashion choice on fleek or just about okay?

Stardust Exclusive

Has Netflix Muffled The Hiss Of the Serpent?

The Netflix Original film Charles: The Serpent covers the notorious life of heinous murders across Thailand, Nepal and India. Sumita Chakrabo pertaining to India and Nepal was omitted or changed in this Netflix O 42

e of the infamous cold blooded killer Charles Sobhraj who left a trail orty wonders why key details of Charles Sobhraj’s life especially Original? 43

He was called the bikini killer and his trail of crime included the murder of 24 hitchhikers across India, Nepal and Thailand. Nicknamed as the ‘Serpent because he always evaded being captured, he was the infamous serial killer Charles Sobhraj whose trail of crimes spanned South East Asia.

Filmed!

Recently, OTT platform Netflix released a film on this man called Charles Sobhraj, The Serpent, which was an eight-part limited series starring the dynamic Tahar Rahim as the sinister Charles and Jenna Coleman as his accomplice Marie-Andrèe Leclerc. Indeed, it was extremely engrossing, well-made and slick, however to the disappointment of people in the know, supposedly, there were quite a few key details left out of the show more so pertaining to India and Nepal. 44

For instance, many in India recall a famous anecdote of how Charles Sobhraj was apprehended at the O Coqueiro restaurant in Goa - a popular hangout frequented by both foreigners and Indians - by the famous Inspector Madhukar Zende, Supposedly, Zende who had arrested Charles Sobhraj once before in 1971 was given the task to capture him again after Sobhraj broke out of the high security Tihar Jail where he was serving a 12-year sentence for allegedly poisoning and robbing a group of French tourists.

Tale Sale It was a story much told. Supposedly, the dashing Inspector Zende lay in wait for Charles Sobhraj at O Coqueiro restaurant and immediately accosted him when he spotted him there. In an interview to The Daily Mail, Zende avers, “We spent days looking for him all over Goa but at night I would go to the O’Coquerio restaurant, a popular hippie hangout. I was convinced that if I sat there long enough, he would eventually appear because Charles loved being around hippies, drink and women. I was posing as a tourist and would sit at a table, ordering food and drinks just pretending that I was on holiday.”

Hello Charles! …And at 10.30pm, Inspector Zende noticed a car with two men pulling up. The men were wearing sun hats which was rather suspicious in the cool weather of Goa. Zende recognised one of them as Sobhraj even though he had a beard and looked quite different from the last time he had met him. Zende recalls, “It was his chilling, piercing eyes that convinced me it was Charles Sobhraj. I got so excited that I was trembling, but I managed to compose myself and slowly walked up to him, grabbed him from behind, turned him around and said: ‘Hello Charles. How are you?” Zende then 45

reminded Sobhraj that he was the same policeman who arrested him in 1971 and then he tied Sobhraj’s hands with a rope, put him in the back of a jeep, and made two constables sit on him for the entire 11-hour journey back to Mumbai so that he wouldn’t escape. However, this fact unfortunately was totally glossed over in the Netflix film. Married AT 76 & Behind Bars Another very interesting aspect left out totally in the show was the 76-year-old Charles Sobhraj’s marriage to 24-year-old Nihita Biswas, his lawyer’s daughter, even when in Kathmandu jail. Nihita, who even appeared in the reality show Bigg Boss and spoke about her relationship with him. Lamentably, the Netflix show preferred to spotlight his French wife and French-Canadian lover Marie-Andrèe Leclerc aka Monique only. The Himalayan Times Cries Foul Another aspect that has annoyed some quarters more so in Nepal was the alleged false depiction of Charles Sobhraj’s arrest in Kathmandu. According to Nepal’s The Himalayan Times, it was they who had published a scoop on Charles Sobhraj which led to his arrest in Kathmandu. According to The Himalayan Times: ‘Charles Sobhraj, who has been cooling his heels in a Kathmandu prison since September 2003, was arrested af46

ter The Himalayan Times published a scoop on his presence in Kathmandu. However, the Netflix docudrama, which has filmed other events on the notorious serial killer’s life as they happened and has not claimed it is a work of fiction, has got wrong a vital piece of information on his arrest that eventually led to his conviction for murders of a Canadian backpacker (Laurent Carriere) and his American friend (Connie Jo Bronzich) that he committed in Nepal in 1975.’

It further added, ‘The eighth episode of the eight-part Netflix series shows Sobhraj landing at Tribhuwan International Airport and getting himself photographed outside the airport the very day he landed. It aims to give the impression that Sobhraj planted the story himself in a fictitious newspaper, Rashmi Report, and got himself arrested. However, facts are different from what has been picturised in the Netflix series. It was The Himalayan Times journalist who spotted Sobhraj gambling on a Baccarat table in Casino Royale in Hotel Yak and Yeti. After recognising Sobhraj, the journalist got Sobhraj dropped off in the casino’s vehicle to get to know where he was staying. Thereafter, the guest relations manager of the casino gave the journalist the name of the hotel where he was staying. The Himalayan Times then stationed a photographer outside that hotel in Thamel. It was after a wait of about a week that the photographer was able to follow Sobhraj and take

his pictures while he was making a phone call from a PCO in New Road. On September 17, The Himalayan Times carried a front-page scoop headlined ‘The Serpent living incognito in Thamel’. A day after that, Sobhraj was arrested from Casino Royale.’ Unfortunately, the Netflix Original film on Charles Sobhraj showed this quite differently. Netflix”s Disclaimer We tried to get a comment from Netflix but unfortunately, there was no comment forthcoming. But they did point out that their disclaimer right in the beginning of the film said it all… which was: ‘This Drama is inspired by real events. Some names and circumstances have been changed for dramatic purposes and out of respect for the victim’s and their families. All Dialogue is imagined.’ Okay! But it still doesn’t explain why important incidents in India and Nepal were omitted or changed. 47

Music Room

“I found that I was bestowed with 5 songs in A R Rahman’s 99 Songs album.” – Shashwat Singh Shashwat Singh talks to Sumita Chakraborty about A R Rahman, 99 Songs and more… There’s something really very endearing about Shashwat Singh. …And it’s not just his magical voice or his sense of bomhomie. Perhaps it’s the richness of his heritage - the way his mom imbibed him into the musical world, his dad encouraged him to join the great A R Rahman music school or maybe it’s the A R Rahman Midas touch that has touched him and moulded him into a very talented musician and singer and more importantly, a wonderful human being. Read on as Shashwat lovingly gives you a tour into his eventful journey as a singer. 48

Shashwat, you have been in this industry for more than five years now. Could you describe your music journey? I was still in my mother’s tummy when I first reacted to sound. According to my mother, I bounced and kicked inside, matching the rhythm of the marching beat of the theme song of a television show called, ‘The Sword Of Tipu Sultan’. My very first memory of hearing musical notes or someone singing was my mother’s sweet voice in our beautiful house in Allahabad. It’s safe to say, I consider my mother as my first guru ever. She never trained me in music, but I felt her expressions and emotions. Many years later, one day my elder brother, Rishabh, got a brown acoustic guitar from mom and dad. He would teach me and my elder sister, Nidhi (who is now a film star) how to sing harmonies while he beautifully sang the lead part. I got the basic sa ga pa (1,3,5) sonic concept from there and started building a thing for harmonies without really knowing how they were written on a piece of paper. I would imitate opera singers and Indian classical maestros and their gamakaas. My mother told me I should train

because my imitations sounded legit but I was too hyper a child to sit and learn anything from anyone. As I grew up living in the cantonment area, my dream was to join the Indian army. It didn’t work out because of some injuries that I had. After finishing my 12th standard in school, I was clueless and was only focused on recovering from my injuries. Sometime around 2009, I moved to Pune with my brother, sis-in-law and my little nephew where I focused on my rehab for the injury. My brother and I started writing and composing our own music. We called ourselves ‘Plasmafaith’. We made 4-5 beautiful songs but things slowly fizzled out and we could never do anything about the music we loved so dearly. I was in a bit of a depression as I was going through a bad break up and a directionless life. One day I was talking to my sister over the phone and she told me about this music school that AR Rahman had started in Chennai. “FINALLY”! I thought to myself. This was my chance to formally train in music and it felt like the right direction to take.

h g n i S t a w h hS as 50

My father took an off from the hospital he worked at as a doctor and came to Chennai with me to look at this music school I spoke of. I entered the building of KM Music Conservatory and it changed my life. I saw so many instruments and amazing rehearsal rooms and such happy smiling kids. There were rows of tiny rehearsal rooms with pianos in them. I was drawn to the overlapping sounds of those pianos like a magnet. I gave a vocal audition to enter the school and cracked it. I joined a preparatory course in western classical vocals (the opera I imitated as a kid came in handy). I grew up as a musician in Chennai. I worked and learned new things every day. Musical theatre, Piano, Music theory, Music production. I pursued all these for a good 2-3 years. Joined a band that AR sir started called ‘Nafs’. I learnt the most complex form of harmony writing from my coach. One day I was in a recording session for a chorus portion inside Sir’s music studio called Panchatan. It was for the Tamil movie ‘24’ for the song ‘Kaalam yen kadhali’. Luckily, AR Sir was taking that session and after we got done, he asked me to sing some solo lines as he had not heard me sing before. I

decided to sing ‘sawan beeto jaye piharwa’ but I got nervous and spoilt it. He chuckled a bit and was sweet enough to give me another chance. Then I gathered myself and sang ‘You raise me up’. Around a month later, I got a call from the studio to sing my first Bollywood release. Could you tell us about AR Rahman’s 99 Songs and what was the experience like singing for him? 99 Songs is AR Sir’s baby. He has written the story and co-produced the film and composed the music for the movie. It’s probably one of the most special projects he has done. It definitely is the most special for me. I was auditioned for the voice of Jay (Lead) somewhere around late 2017. Somewhere around March 2020, while chatting with the director of the movie, Mr.Vishwesh Krishnamoorthy on Instagram, he said, “You really played Jay before any actor even did a test scene”. The whole process was spread across a period of three years for me. It was in and out of the studio till we got each song right according to Sir’s vision. 51

Each song has a different emotion to it and required complete honesty in the voice. The lyricist, Navneet Virk and the vocal supervisor, Dilshaad Shabbir Shaikh and I would sit all night and crack songs till it used to get bright and sunny outside the studio. I am grateful to the music producers and the mixing and mastering engineers who gave the album such a life. One thing, however, we were not sure of was when the project was going to release. That made me impatient. Then I dug a little and found out that Sir wrote the movie in 2011. So, for him the wait must have been monumental. From that day onward, I calmed down and started practicing patience. I focused on my skills and artform and got back to making singles and directing videos and just creating what I could for my sweet little fanbase. Around 26th February, 2020, the BOMB, Jwalamukhi female version dropped and there was a little part that I had in the song. I was relieved that there was a little momentum. I was in awe of what I had just heard. Poorvi Koutish sounded like a dream. On 13th March, 2020, Teri Nazar came out as a single and I felt a little better again. A full song had come out in my voice and it 52

was gathering the attention of Sirs’ amazing loyal fans. A few congratulation messages started coming in. I was happy but I kept my head down and staying busy with other things I had started working on. On 20th March, 2020, my sleep broke to a notification from AR Sir’s twitter that definitely had the words ‘99 Songs’, ‘full album’. I was not sure what it was, so I went back to sleep. Finally when I woke up, I saw that the whole album had released. I found that I was bestowed with 5 songs in the album. AR had just released the entire album for the world to listen; during the frenzy of the first lockdown that was imposed for Covid-19. He wanted the world to listen to it and heal. That was his gift to all of us. I was shocked for this sudden music release but also relieved that this album was going to serve the fans and make them feel better during such crazy times. I was part of something bigger than I had imagined. It was AR Rahman’s vision. The album had its spiritual reach and its healing nature. I am truly honoured to be a significant part of it. It made my Papa proud of me. It made my Ma proud of me. They are my life - and It was a personal win to put a smile on their faces.

You are very close to the maestro A R Rahman, could you tell us something about the bond you share with him? Every singer who has worked with AR Sir has probably been given some anecdote at some point that changed their perspective and put them on a certain path. Mine was during the recording session for ’99 Songs’. He asked me “What do you think about when you go inside the recording room?” I told him - the lyrics, melody and expressions. He smiled and said, ‘You should always think about how the listener are going to feel healed by your voice. So become that medium and then approach a song’. Our bond is of guru and shishya. I have seen him compose melody lines within few minutes. There would be times when he would get up and leave to his prayer room, come back and then finish the whole song in a flow. His grasp on the DAW (recording software) is so amazing. It’s his space. You got to let him do his thing. Put your phones on silent mode and just sit back and enjoy the magic taking place in front of your eyes. There are times when he involves you in the process and will ask you to improvise

and then he would cut portions of it and you will hear all of it in a new light after 10 minutes. Somethings that we should all learn from him is the consistency and the sincerity he has towards his artform and how the child in him still lives and explores newer things. Always with 100% effort. One time as I was going inside the recording room, He was having a chat with someone in the meeting room and casually stopped me and asked me regarding acting. I got so confused and I think I ended up muttering something on the lines of how my cheek had this birth mark and my friends told me it gave me a ‘daaku’ look. He laughed and responded, “Those people are jealous!” And he carried on with his meeting. I still do not know what that was about, but can someone please go tell him now that I am not under confident anymore and I own it now! (Laughs) How did you enter Bollywood? I was working in Chennai and recording for studio owners in and around Kodambakkam area and also performing with other KM friends in a sufi band I started. It was called ‘Noor’. 53

It is still my favourite band and I hope I can revive it one day. On one evening after a rehearsal of Noor, I got a call from this Telugu composer, Sunny M.R, he wanted me to sing two songs for him in his movie project, ‘Bhale manchi roju’. I am always game to work with composers around me and I went and met him and to my surprise, he was a Hindi speaking guy from Bihar, who worked in Mumbai with multiple composers as a music arranger. One of my best vocal recordings have been with Sunny. He explored the grunge in my voice and “haste gaate” we finished another track which was a romantic melody. It was a mind-blowing day because it turned out Sunny and Arijit were best friends and he made me talk to Arijit over the phone. We then went out for dinner and I told Sunny about my failed attempt at shifting base to Mumbai in 2013 only to return to Chennai as I was directionless. Sunny told me that if I ever decide to move to Mumbai again, he would help me out. That night he gave me a lot of courage. I continued working in Chennai for another couple of years. My first song in Bollywood released on 54

my birthday on October 16th, 2016. It was called “Wat Wat Wat”. It was a duet with the biggest star singer of Bollywood, Arijit Singh. It still took me another one year to make that move to Mumbai. Once I was there, I joined Arijit Singh’s band as a backing vocalist and also got introduced to the king, Pritam Chakraborty. I sang a lot of songs in the studio and started working with composers around me. After what felt like an eternity, my first song in Mumbai was for this amazing movie ‘Ae dil hae mushkil’. The song was called ‘Alizeh’. I got a call from Jonita Gandhi and she broke the news to me and congratulated me. The song was just beautiful. It had Arijit Singh, Ash King and I on the track. I had just one line in the whole song. The uneasy feeling was suddenly back. But I gathered myself and kept doing my job. My father told me to stay on the path with a smile. So, I did. It was tough but I did. There was no other way. Slowly and gradually, things started moving forward. I tasted many blows on the way like everyone else does in Mumbai, and now I was sure I had entered Bollywood.

You’ve sung a chartbuster like, “Haan Main Galat” from “Love Aaj Kal 2”, alongside Arijit Singh. How was it singing alongside him? I have had the honour of sharing so many songs with Arijit Singh. The very first song I sang in Bollywood was a duet with Arijit. His voice adds magic to any song he decides to sing. We are like brothers and I learn so much from him. He has a downto-earth gentle soul - so much knowledge yet so humble. I have had the privilege of traveling with him for his shows where he would tell me how singing on stage is so different from the playback technique. It’s always a matter of pride to share a song with him. ‘Haan Main Galat ’ is one of the most fun songs I have recorded inside the studio. Every single time the drop would come, the vocal supervisor and I would dance listening to the whole thing. It was a bit of a “Harlem Shake” scenario going on inside the studio. Haha! Pritam da’s vision with the composition was so amazing and fresh. With his constant monitoring we managed to crack the right feel for the song and then you all received it with so much love and enthusiasm. You are famous for “Wat Wat Wat” in “Tamasha… any anecdotes you remember while singing this song or when you got the song? I was called to Panchathan studio in Chennai to sing a song. Little did I know it was going to be my first playback ever. I went inside and the vocal supervisor gave me the gibberish melody that AR Sir had sung over the phone. We had just received fresh lyrics from Irshad Kamil. We scanned the entire melody to the lyrics and tried recording what we thought was right. After a few days I was asked to come to the studio for a skype session with someone. I didn’t know who and once I reached, I was told Imtiaz Ali sir wanted to give me a brief before I went. He asked me, “Shashwat how are you and where are you from.” I told him I was from Allahabad and I saw a bit of a relief on his face. He then went on and told me how the language of the song

was so important. It was very character driven and had to be done with the right attitude in the voice. He asked me if I would be able to manage the diction and the expression and I assured him that it will be absolutely fine. I told him That I had grown up in Allahabad and I could speak the dialect without any trouble. It was a “Represent” moment for me. My first song took me back to my roots. Any challenges you’ve faced as a singer? The real challenge is: singers need to secure their futures. Times are changing and I feel a thriving industry like Bollywood should secure its people. I think there are bodies that are being formed to structure the industry for singers as well but as of now, there is no proper implementation of such rules and a way for us to earn money from our songs. Our only source of survival is live shows. A lot of my friends who were actively working on projects in the industry and are fabulous musicians and singers themselves had to leave Mumbai during the lockdown last year and this year because they could not even make rent. This is not the only kind of uncertainty that we face as singers or musicians. There is the ever-lingering question of what is next. I hope the fans start giving as much love to our independent music as film music and we find more ways to be empowered. How do you choose your projects? I’m not picky when it comes to projects. I love collaborations and I hope I can do the best for the that project. My end goal is to do justice to whatever I am pursuing. Also, mostly it’s the project that chooses you. There are a lot of remixes happening nowadays. Supposedly directors/ producers are forcing music composers to opt for remixes, what do you think of this? To be very honest, it is the people who decide what will work and what wont. 55

What are your thoughts on politics in music? Nothing that I know of. Maybe my colleagues will tell me when we are old and retired. But I am not the right person to ask this question. I stay away from the politics. I am here to serve my artform. I have no intentions to play politics. Do you think you missed any chances because you don’t come from a filmi family? If I came from Elon Musk’s family I would definitely travel to Mars. But right now, I’ll have to strive hard to buy that ticket. I guess the same analogy applies. But influence only helps ease the path. The path remains the same. Are there any regrets in your musical journey? I wish I started earlier.

We live in the age of internet. Everything is available if you search. Back in the days, people would buy cassettes and check what tracks were on it and then buy it. If they made a cassette mix, they would write down the names that have been put on the tape. There was a certain respect that was given to what was being consumed. Now it’s all out there and unfortunately, we lazy beings leave it onto the algorithm to give us what we should listen to. If someone wants to stop consuming remixes - Change your Playlist! Please add songs like Mawaali Dil, Khud ko Hi Paake,Yun Kyun, Riha, Lifafe etc. to your playlist. Explore the independent music of your own country and other countries. The day people stop hogging on remixes the directors/producers will stop asking for them because it won’t be good for their business. It’s in the hands of people to bring the change. The only victims here would be artists. So come save us. 56

What’s next in terms of future projects? I have some new songs in the pipeline that I will be releasing soon. I have been very thrilled since I started making my own music. Yun Kyun and Mawaali Dil are very close to my heart and I loved sharing them with my tribe. I have a lullaby coming out next. Come join me on my pages, follow me on YouTube and you’ll know when the next one drops.

Starry Look

Sara Ali Khan Beats Stress & Moody Blues By following a fun and rejuvenating regime. Read on to know more…

An actor has so much to stress about especially during this pandemic more so about the uncertainties of life that get the anxiety pangs ringing in tension, stress and mood changes. Ask Sara Ali Khan, what does she do to beat the blues? Sara says, “I have a bath. My bath is my time to indulge, unwind and de-stress. I think ‘Fiama Gel Bar’ brightens up my mood and my bath.” Indeed, being in a state of constant stress has become a lifestyle for many of us. The pressures of modern living and the incessant hustle are taking a toll on our emotional and mental wellbeing. While we all know that stress impacts the mind and body, but did you know that constant anxiety can also affect your skin? Yes, you read that right – stress has a direct impact on not just how you feel but also how you look. And stress could turn skin dull and dry. Doctor Sachin Verma, leading Dermatologist says, “In this fast-paced life, we are constantly hustling and are in a perpetual state of anxiety. This

constant stress is not just detrimental to our health but has disastrous effects on our physical appearance, especially our skin. While it may not always be easy to control stress, there is a framework that I follow to keep stress at bay. I recommend having a good work-life balance, taking regular breaks to relax and rejuvenate, deep cleansing, focusing on nourishment and staying active. As far as skin health is concerned, it is important to follow a cleansing ritual by using a cleanser or a soap bar that helps rejuvenate the skin and mind, a sure-shot, easy and cost-effective way to rid the skin of all the stress and toxins.”

Here’s a quick guide on how to alleviate stress-levels and go back to your soft, glowing and happy skin: Work-life balance - This one is easier said than done. Try to strive for a work-life balance by planning your day better and accomplishing your key tasks first. The idea is to enjoy the work and make it a stress-free experience. Afterall, you’re practically spending 1/3rd of your life doing it so might as well enjoy the process. Relax & Rejuvenate - The most obvious, yet the most under-rated activity. Make it a point to invest in yourself by taking time off to replenish your lost energy. It’s important to focus on holistic relaxation, physical, mental and emotional. Take breaks, travel, indulge in your favorite hobbies, don’t let stress be an impediment to happiness 58

Bath & Skin Care - The easiest way to de-stress is through a refreshing bathing ritual that will have you buzzing with vitality and joy in no time. The most effective way to treat you and your stressed skin is to take a long, relaxing bath with Fiama Gel Bathing Bars or Shower Gels that are enriched with nature’s goodness. They moisturize and nourish the skin, making it feel soft and happy. This quick, pick me up will invigorate the mind and body Replenish - Someone rightly said, you are what you eat. Make a conscious effort to replenish yourself with nutrient dense food that will help boost your immune system and improve your overall vitality. Also, satiate your mind with happy thoughts and positive affirmations to knock out that every inch of self-doubt and worry. Exercise - Staying fit is the key to a happy, wholesome life. Make a conscious effort to stretch, move around and stay active. Go for a jog, enroll in a laughter club or join a cycling gang, go for nature trails, do everything to give your body the push it needs. Regular exercise helps produce endorphins (the happiness hormone), so next time you feel bummed out, you know you got to move.

Don’t let the stress of everyday conundrums get to you, keep this five-point agenda handy to keep your life and skin both happy and stressfree! 59

In Focus

“Not every star kid is a star and not every outsider is a struggler.” - Abhishek Banerjee

He was brilliant in his portrayal of Hathoda Tyaagi in Pataal Lok, the istree man in Ajeeb Dastaans or as Jana in Stree. Meet the understated casting director and actor Abhishek Banerjee who is wowing the OTT audience with his superlative nuanced performances. In a noholds bar interview with Sumita Chakraborty, Abhishek talks about how the OTT discovered his brilliance as an actor, his stint as casting director and more. Abhishek, you are a brilliant actor… where have you been hiding your immense talent all these years? How come we haven’t seen more of you in films? I was scouting around finding talents for filmmakers as a casting director 60

hoping that one day, they will see my talent and believe in me as an actor. Initially, when I got rejected for parts, it broke my heart not because I didn’t get the part but because I felt I was not good enough! Then there were many characters which came my way but I didn’t find them

important or exciting enough. I don’t remember any character which I really wanted to do myself while casting apart from Idris in Ghanchakkar. Then somewhere down the line, I lost hope in my craft and decided that I needed to renew my skills, so I started doing short films just to brush up my acting and learn in front of the camera. This worked! Dev Makhija, an independent director saw one of my shorts and decided to cast me in Ajji! That film gave me a lot of confidence and once again I started believing in me. Then when I heard that Amar Kaushik (who I knew since No One Killed Jessica) is directing Stree, I didn’t hesitate to call him and ask him to give me a chance to audition which was quite in contrast to my low confident self. I went to give the audition of Bittu but Amar sir thought that I would be a better Jana! He was right and I was wrong about my own casting! Jana was the role which changed everything! I can never thank Amar Kaushik enough for introducing me to mainstream cinema. He is like my guardian angel in the industry! If I slip, he always corrects me and that’s what you need - someone to guide you when you are starting off as an actor!

director for Dev D - I was in college at that time and used to help him with finding actors and also give cues to actors who would come for audition. So automatically, casting became my first choice as first of all I got an amazing mentor in Gautam and then I thought by giving cues to the actors I would be able to keep practising my acting skills... it’s very important to practice your craft - many forget that after coming to the city. So I continued it hoping that I too would get get cast someday... that someday came after eight years of casting. I thought it would be easy but nothing good in life comes easy so I have no complaints. I think because of casting, I grew as an actor too so everything happened for a reason.

You are an actor as well as a casting director… how did the journey start? So of course like any other actor, I came to Mumbai to be an actor and not anything else. But I come from a humble background - my father is an ex-paramilitary officer and mother is a housewife. I couldn’t depend on them for survival in this expensive city. So I thought I have to earn my living and I have to work in the industry to keep myself associated to filmmakers. I had two options – one was to be an Assistant director or to be a casting assistant. I had interned with Gautam Kishanchandani who was the casting 61

You were absolutely superb as Hathoda Tyaagi in Pataal Lok, how did you get that role? Stree released in August 2018 and I started casting for Pataal Lok in September 2018. Earlier I would be too shy to tell anybody that I was an actor too as I thought they would judge me or they wouldn’t take me seriously as a casting director - and one thing I learnt from my dad is that one should finish the job in hand first and then look for another so I really didn’t mix the two as I wanted to be a thorough professional when it comes to casting. But after Stree everything changed. Everyone knew I am an actor and Clean Slate Productions is like family. I love working with them they have been very supportive of young fresh talent. So from the very beginning of the casting process, Karnesh sir and Sudip sir would ask me if I wanted to play any part in the show as they were 62

aware of my acting capabilities - in fact, I did a small part in Phillauri too. When I read Pataal Lok, I knew this was a great show and honestly I had my eyes on Ansari! I suggested that to them - but they laughed it off saying that I won’t look that innocent. That’s the thing with friends, they never see the innocent side of you. (Hahaha) So I thought maybe I shouldn’t push for it if they are not convinced so I continued my casting for the show. Incidentally, Sudip sir went to watch Stree in the theatres one day and he called me the next day saying that he wanted me to try for Hathoda Tyagi!! It was a shocker! I didn’t expect that. Initially, I didn’t even find the role interesting. He didn’t have much dialogues and also the presence was less in comparison to other characters! In fact, I was looking for other actors who I thought would do a great job, to play the role. But the team did not like

any of the auditions. So when I was asked to give the audition for the part it was scary, I didn’t want to come across as an average actor - I didn’t want to fail in the audition. I read the script again this time as Hathoda’s story and not Hathiram. The second reading helped me understand the grandeur of the Tyagi. I gave it all in the audition and feel it’s still one of my best audition till date. I still remember it was at night that I sent them my audition - imagine how awkward it was for me – the casting director sending his own audition and would have to hear it himself if he is rejected. It was a tough night but next morning, I got a call from Karnesh sir that they liked my test and I’m on for the role! It was one of my happiest days as an actor! It was a challenge - and I was successful! It gave me a lot of confidence and I started preparing for the part more internally than physically!

You were in Rang De Basanti and Stree, any anecdotes you can share with us about this -with the stars or while shooting? In Rang de Basanti, I only shot for one day and the only star I got to see was Soha Ali khan!! All of us boys had such a huge crush on her. She was very nice to everyone on set is what I remember from that day. But honestly for me, the biggest moment was when I saw Rakesh Om Prakash Mehra! He is still one of my favourite directors. I had watched Aks by then and thought it was a great achievement to be acting his film. Stree starred Rajkummar Rao and Shraddha Kapoor. I was nervous the first day I had to meet Raj though I knew him from his early days. As an actor, I was still unsure of how he would be with me and whether I would be able to get comfortable with him. But I think he is a genuine artist. He was always there 63

to help ‘n’ guide me - he was always focused on the scenes and it became a cake walk on set acting alongside him and of course, Apar. We three hit it off really well on and off-set. It was Raj who gave me the idea of using my big smile for Jana! Honestly, the dedication of Raj is something which has rubbed off me - I want to be as involved in every scene as he is! Hats off to that guy - he doesn’t only act well but also helps others to enhance their performances. This is rare, trust me. Shraddha – well, what can I say? We used to hear ki heroines have tantrums - they are moody etc but all these notions were thrown out of the window by Shraddha Kapoor. She is one of the nicest human beings I know. She was very nice to me - in fact she even fed me snacks when my hands were tied to the window in a scene. Also, her love for animals and nature is something common which I share with her. I feel I’m lucky that I was in such great company. 64

You are an outsider, so in this nepotism hit Bollywood, was it a challenge to start out? Every industry is hit by nepotism. There’s not a single business where they play fair to outsiders. I never expected someone to take quick notice of me. There were warning signs from friends and family that it’s a tough and cut-throat industry. But there’s one thing I always believed in - that every industry needs talent. Sometimes your kids or family might not have the talent to succeed in a business which you have set up. What do you do then? Shut shop? Or do you hire someone who can run the show for you? Not every star kid is a star and not every outsider is a struggler. My passion to work hard on my weaknesses and make myself stronger and better with time, worked. One might feel bad sometimes that some get more opportunities than you but that’s their privilege. Such is life! One can’t fight that. But even with that privilege,

they have to prove themselves. They need to have something to entice or keep the audience entertained, if not with acting then dancing or action or style - you can put it in as many brackets as you want. And if they are able to entertain the audience with whatever

talent they have, they will be accepted. If not, they will have a tougher life than any outsider as they will be dealing with a lot of expectations from their respective families and friend circle. Humara actually easier ho jaata hai. Even a small success of an outsider is celebrated within the family and friends because no one really expected that of you - every time I would be on screen even for one scene, my friends would call me a star. Can you believe being called a star by doing one odd scene if one belonged to a filmy family? I never saw nepotism as an obstacle. I only saw ‘me’ as an obstacle. If I didn’t work hard, I wouldn’t be able to reach where they are but if I do, no one can stop me from reaching wherever I want to! See, at the end of the day you need good actors to run films. The audience does not come to the theatres to see anyone’s son or daughter or niece. They come to watch a good film - to get entertained. As long as one can do that whether insider or outsider, you have a bright future in the movie business. 65

Has the OTT platform changed the name of the game more so as now talented actors like you are finally getting their dues? Of course, the OTT has changed the game but you have to give the credit to the audience as well! We have to understand this that the OTT audience is very different from the movie going audience. The OTT is the new gen of audience we are dealing with - the college kids, the working professionals who are young and bored with the kind of stuff they have been watching in theatres or tv and hence they have subscribed to these platforms hoping that they will get to see something new. The same OTT platforms would go and make shows with the bigger stars if they showed interest in their projects but because it is a new medium, the platforms earlier could not really win the trust of the big stars. So, they turned to creators! They got in the best creators in the country to make the shows for them. The creators started experimenting with casting! Casting directors were told to fetch fresh raw talent ! Talented actors started getting the opportunity because the stars didn’t show any interest! When TVF became successful, they didn’t have a single name to put on posters but those actors who started as nobody became household names in a matter of months. The audience made them the stars they are today. The young generation of audience lauded their performances and wrote about it on social media, created memes made artworks and showered praises! Today, one can call the entire cast of Mirzapur as stars - even the Chacha who was in the series for a total of two scenes. Now that’s the power of the OTT audience. You can go from being no one to a viral star in a matter of hours. Now many stars from the Hindi film industry and 66

other regional industries are doing stuff for OTT - because one can clearly see the reach OTT commands and it will only grow further from here. The OTT platform is a welcome change in this average content industry. These platforms have actually improved the quality of writing in our country and it’s only looking brighter from here on. Thank God for OTT, better characters are being written. And thank God for the OTT audience, artists like me are becoming bolder day by day and are experimenting with ourselves, because now we know that there is an audience hungry for good content and not only the masala content which we have been fed for years! How was it working in Pataal Lok and now Ajeeb Dastaans? It was brilliant! Pataal Lok was definitely a more tiring and grilling experience as the character was dark and I had to stay in a certain headspace as the shoot went on for a good six months with schedule breaks. The difference in a series and film is that you go the extra mile for a series as your character is detailed and nuanced - and you have to find your way amidst other such interesting characters. All thanks to the directors Avinash Arun and Prosit Roy, and of course the creator and my masterji Sudip Sharma for helping me in this journey.

and there’s a sense of unity about providing help to each other! These are tough times but if we stay united, we will sail through these times! This too shall pass!

Ajeeb Dastaans was a shorter stint we shot for a week and it was over. I never thought that short films would be a part of mainstream format but then look at the times today, there are so many of them. I had a great time on set as Nushrat is a friend - I know her since casting days so it was easy to act with her. Inayat is a star she is the purest form of co-actor one can get and Raj Mehta I feel is one of the most intelligent directors I have worked with. Also, this is my first film with Dharma! Hopefully, there will be many more to come. In these Covid times, shootings have been stalled, how difficult is it for the industry? It is difficult for everyone. We know the current scenario and how many people are losing their jobs and their livelihoods. More than the producers, directors and actors, my heart goes out for those who are the support and technical staff of the industry. They are having a real tough time. I know everyone is trying to help them

Lastly, what’s next in the pipeline for you? I have Rashmi Rocket, Helmet, Ankh Micholi, an untitled anthology for Ashwini Iyer Tiwari and of course, Bhediya. There’s a mix of characters I have played hopefully more filmmakers will take notice of my work. As per as the audience is concerned, I hope and pray that the love never stops!

m o r f t s a l B t s a p e h t 199 4 STA RD UST AP RIL

It’s been a year and we all miss the charismatic Rishi Kapoor a lot. As a remembrance, we reprint one of his most talked about interview to Stardust.

A soul-stirring session with Rishi Kapoor - Sarita Tanwar 68

Here is what interests me about Rishi Kapoor. He wants to be famous. He wants people to talk about him. He wants people to notice him. He wants people to ask him for photographs and he wants people to invade his privacy. He is one man who really seems to be enjoying the flavour of fame. Of stardom. Of being a Kapoor. Look how merrily he floats in his Kapoordom; look how brightly he wallows in his Kapoorness. You can’t imagine him whining or complaining about any of it; you can’t imagine him wanting to be treated as a normal person. That’s the glory of being a Kapoor. That’s why you never see him behaving like other stars do. He has no pretensions. He does not make excuses for being arrogant. You don’t see him whining and complaining about it, you will never see him wanting to be treated as if he were a normal person; or trying to convince you that he isn’t any different from the other guy. Because he knows he is different. He knows he’s a star. And he has all the trimmings of being a star. He luxuriates in his moodiness, in his crankiness, and his grumpy disposition. And I can say with conviction that it isn’t a cultivated act. He is a natural. So when he declared to me, “I am difficult. Very very difficult”, it was no news to me. Almost three years of knowing the man had the chance to do an interview with him. Although I devoured every article written about the man, somehow all his interviews ended up sounding the same. He never let any journalist come close to him. They were always kept at a distance and Chintu only made them believe what he wanted them to. “I have been in the industry for twenty-one years. How different can I get? There is nothing that I haven’t spoken about before,” was his feeble justification. But there was a lot more to the man. A lot that was to be dissected, understood, explained. Where was the real Rishi Kapoor? The man who could feel, who could cry, who was insecure and who could experience pain? Was he prepared to go on a voyage to discover himself? “Call me at home tomorrow. I shall think about it,” he replied.

In answer to my call the next morning, I was invited to his tastefully done-up Pali Hill sprawling residence. “People only wanted to know about Rishi Kapoor, the star. That’s how the poor Rishi Kapoor, the person got sidelined. It’s time I brought him back to life. I owe him that much.” That’s when I realized that the time had come. For the unbuckled hero to lay open his heart. To evaluate his soul. To respect his identity. Later that afternoon, I left 56, Pali Hill a much happier person. Happy, more for him than for me. Because I knew that in just a few hours, Rishi Kapoor had emerged a more enlightened person. His search for self-analysis had paid off. He knew himself better than ever before. And that was his triumph.

central role in the first chapter of the film. He asked my mother if she would allow me to do it. I waited all day long hoping that she would say yes. She saw me being so impatient. Later in the day, she came towards me and said, ‘it’s okay. As long as it doesn’t interfere with your studies.’ I was like so thrilled. I ran to one of the studio rooms with my school-bag in my hands. Took out a notebook and started practicing my autograph there itself. Today, when I look back, I laugh at the incident. But come to think of it, my action said so much. Even when I was that young, I knew that signing autographs was the first step to being famous. And in my childlike innocence, I said here comes stardom. You know, Shashi uncle still tells me that every time my mom used to spank me, I would

“I have seen my mother suffer. I don’t want my children to go through what I went through.”

run and stand in front of the mirror to see how I looked when I cried. Like I said, that was in the Kapoor blood. So guess my reaction was just normal.

Sitting comfortably in his glass enclosed outhouse with enchanting view of green lawns in front with a array of wooden furniture and strategically placed mud pots we discussed what made him to private. And so famous. “Famous I knew I was going to be some day. It’s in my blood. You have to revel in your fame to enjoy it to the full. I remember, when Dad was making ‘Mera Naam Joker’, he needed a young boy to play the

“To be a Kapoor. I’m not indulging in self-glory but I honestly feel that it is a great honour to be born in our celebrated family. You cannot deny that. Being born in a family that has served people for generations. In any medium of entertainment right from theatre to films, I think we’ve been the pioneers. Frankly, I didn’t know the importance of being a Kapoor till I grew up. It was then that I realized that I could never behave in a manner that others adopted without thinking twice. One always had to think how it would reflect on someone from the Kapoor clan. People wanted us to be discreet. Have a little more grace, a little more sophistication, I may not be very well educated but I certainly do think I’m cultured. As

“Both Rajesh Khanna and Sharmila Tagore were dying to work with my father. They were literally eating out of his hands. But he took two bloody nincompoops and mad a hit film.” a Kapoor we were answerable socially. People expected us to behave very well. Sometimes, you do feel suffocated trying to live up to people’s expectations of you. But then, that’s the price you have to pay. Being a part of the third generation of the family had its pros and cons. The good thing was that I had a secure background. I didn’t have to do bad films to survive. I was financially sound. The bad thing was that people actually believed that I was successful only because I was a Kapoor. That was frustrating at times. It is not necessary that anyone who is a Kapoor has to be an actor and a successful actor at that. Today, if I have survived in this industry, it’s not because I’m a Kapoor. I have slogged to reach this position. I’ve fought for my achievements.

matured person because I have grown up evaluating the things that took place when I was a child. Maybe that is why I keep away from relationships outside marriage. I don’t want my children to go through what I went through. I’m sincere to my work and to my family because I’ve experienced a lot from the lifestyles of my grandfather, my father, my uncles, my brothers. I’ve deliberately stayed away from things that could possibly affect my family life. The only thing that I haven’t been able to stay away from is alcohol. I don’t know how that has happened. Maybe because my father too was a big drinker, I guess.

“People often ask me what institute have I been to. And I always tell them that I’ve graduated from the university of the Kapoors. I’ve learnt everything in this school. It is here that I learnt to overcome failure, hurt, pain. My experiences have taught me a lot. Why only this, I have even lived with the trauma of seeing my father have affairs outside. It traumatised me a great deal. Throughout that period, I have seen my mother suffer. I’ve even seen that part of life. And if today, I’ve emerged a stronger person emotionally, it’s only because of the patience that my family imbibed in me. I’m a

“Anil Kapoor went around saying that my father wanted to make a film with him. I asked my mom about it and she said that it wasn’t true. People here just love to drop Raj Kapoor’s name for effect.” “You know I’ve learnt a lot from dad, I’ve developed my fighting spirit only from him. After the debacle of ‘Mera Naam Joker’, he had the guts to take two bloody raw newcomers to make ‘Bobby’. The required guts. That is what makes a great filmmaker. At that time, he could have taken Rajesh Khanna and Sharmila Tagore, the hottest pair in those days and made the film. It would have been easier for him. Both of them were literally eating out of his hands. They were dying to work with him but no, he took two bloody nincompoops and made a hit film out of it, at a time when any other man would never have dared to take such a risk. He always did what he wanted to do. Raj Kapoor would offer a film to anyone at any time but he always made films like he wanted to make them. At one time, Mr. Rajesh Khanna went around telling people that papa wanted to take him in ‘Satyam Shivam Sundaram’. He even distributed press-releases to the effect that I was responsible for him not doing the film. That I had told dad, not to take him in ‘Satyam’. Do you think Raj Kapoor was a kind of person who would listen to anyone? It is a bloody myth created by the Khanna. The truth is that he was fielding day and night for the role and went Shashi uncle got the role, his ego was hurt. So he spread these rumours saying that I was responsible. Even Anil Kapoor went around saying that Dad wanted to make ‘Paramveer’, with him. I asked mom about it and she said it wasn’t true at all. If there was any truth to it, she would know. The thing is that people just love to drop Raj Kapoor’s name for effect. “Like I said earlier, Dad was a fighter. How many people know that after ‘Joker’ flopped, we were on the roads. Everything that belonged to us was mortgaged. And in that state of mind, he made ‘Bobby’. Only Raj Kapoor could have done it. He was the genuine showman. It is that quality to fight to the bitter end that I have picked up from him. Like Subhash Ghai says, ‘Rishi Kapoor is the only solider in the industry’. That’s because I’ve always struggled throughout my career. People say that Dharmendra and Mithun have struggled.

I say that their struggle is nothing compared to mine. They had to struggle to become actors but once they became actors, they never looked back. But with me, every time a film of mine became a hit, a new star came along. And when my kind of romantic films were being made, the action era came along. “People say that I was born with a golden spoon in my mouth. I say that is rubbish. The golden spoon does not work in this industry. It does not buy you time. You can be a Kapoor till your first film. After that, you are on your own. Take my case. After ‘Bobby’, what happened? I failed. I flopped. I faltered, ‘Zeharela Insaan’, ‘Zindadil’, all those films came and went. After that I did not get work because I was a Kapoor. I was on my own. Where was the golden spoon then? “Then there was a low phase in my life again. Once again there came a time when I didn’t have any films. Earlier too I used to have two-three films a year. But that was out of choice. Then came a time when I didn’t have even a film or two and that was not put of choice. Then too I fought. I remember the ‘Saagar’ days. I had only ‘Saagar’ and ‘Nazeeb Apna Apna’ at that time. I didn’t have any other film. No offer. No films. Then ‘Saagar’ didn’t do too well and the other film did. That’s why I say, I’ve survived purely on my goodwill. The blessings of my well-wishers, my makers, my heroines and my music directors. It is the joint combination of all these factors that has borne fruit and that is responsible for me being where I am today.

“The credit for reaching the shore safely after the ebb in my career goes to Neetu too. She has been my source of inspiration and my strength in my days of despair. Dabboo says Neetu deserves a noble prize for putting up with me for so many years. I agree with him. I’m not the easiest person to live with. I’m very short tempered. I get angry very fast. I hate it if things are not done the way I want them to be. I fight a lot. I have a lot of whims and fancies. That’s why I say that Neetu has been very understanding and patient. Had it not been for her, maybe I wouldn’t have been here today. Even physically, although even today I’m slightly

on the obese side, I would’ve been in a worse state had it not been for Neetu. I mean I am not looking to become a Sunjay Dutt, to have a body like him. Or to have Salman Khan’s jaw-bone but I would have really let myself go had it not been for my wife. And she knows me for what I am.

“People say that Dharmendra and Mithun have struggled. I say that their struggle is nothing compared to mine.” Like compatibility and how we get together. But in the industry, well … Anyway, all my heroines call me a true and bound professional and that is what I am.

“Neetu knows that I don’t have a roving eye. She has an edge over other star-wives because she is from the industry and therefore she knows the score. And if there have been rumours, Neetu has taken them with a pinch of salt. Actually it is not her reaction that bothers me. It is my children’s reaction that I am more worried about. Rumours and affairs have rarely been pinned on me and when they have been we’ve laughed them off. I think affairs don’t shock people any more. Everyone does everything openly as it is. Gone are the days when one needed to have affairs or to have link-ups to give him the Casanova image. In our field, a lot of good-looking men and women are working together in close proximity. So affairs, marriages, relationships are bound to happen. The situation, I’m sure exists in every line of work. I’m sure it happens in offices too. But it does happen a lot in the industry. I won’t say it is an occupational hazard, I would say it is a welcome hazard. See, it can happen to anyone. It depends on the chemistry between two people and then it is up to them how they understand and compromise. I am not of the train of thought that one needs to have a lot of affairs to say in news. I mean, if it happens it should happen as a genuine case of love. “Anyway I can’t see it happening to me because the cells responsible have been dead for many years now. So the question never arose of ‘what if Neetu finds out?’ or ‘will she accept me back?’ Like I said, Neetu knows I don’t have a roving eye. Period. I admire beauty like everyone else but it ends there. But for me to get attracted to a woman she has be exceptional. I don’t think beauty lies only skin-deep. It is the entire persona of a woman that matters. Only if I find the woman appealing then I’ll probe for all the other things.

“My only regret is that I haven’t really been able to spend as much time with my children as I should be. I try my best but it’s still not enough. Otherwise, I think I make a great dad. Whenever we get the time, we go out together; they have late nights with me. But they are not spoilt. Unfortunately, this year they won’t get a holiday because I’m shooting for my home production. But they’ll understand. I also know that they are much more close to my Neetu. But that is understandable. Even I was more close to my mother. I think that’s because the big daddies are out working most of the time.

“Work. That’s my only obsession. Today, after being in the industry for so long, I’m still successful. Of course, I’m loving every bit of it. It gives me such a high even thinking that I don’t have dates to spare till the end of of ’95. What more can an actor who’s been in the industry for over two decades ask for? I have always been recognized as a good actor. But I have never received an award for my talent. I often wonder why. But that has never bogged me down. I’m happy thinking that even after so many years, the audience still likes me. Actors are basically an insecure breed. They need to be convinced about the fact that people still want them. I would’ve probably thought that I was over the hill. I would have thought that people would not want to see anymore of me. I’m very conscious of the fact that I’m working with new girls. I’m very conscious of the fact that I’m probably over staying my time in the film industry. But the fact that I’m still wanted rejuvenates me and fills me with confidence. It gives me that feeling that yes. I can still do it.

“How many people know that after ‘Mera Naam Joker’ flopped, we were on the roads? Everything that belonged to us was mortgaged.” “Even my dad was a thorough professional, and I’m proud that I and my brothers have had the chance to learn from him. From his experiences from his work, from the kind of films he made. We are all proud of the film that we made for his banner. Dabboo proved it to the world that we are the worthy sons of a worthy father. Today, the industry is proud that Raj Kapoor’s sons are keeping the R.K. flag flying high. I expect the same from my son as well. You know, I’ll be the happiest man if my son wants to become an actor because then it will be our fourth generation in this line. But I know that this line is a very dicey place. There is no guarantee for success. That’s why I’m stressing on his education. At least, he should have something to back on. I don’t want my son to keep struggling year after year. Those days are gone when if one film of yours flopped, you had ten other films to rely on. Now if a film of yours flops then all other films that you have are shelved immediately. These days we have instant stars. And that is one reason that I want them to complete their education. I want my children to have a very sound academic background because both Neetu and I didn’t have it. I have told them one thing. They may enter whichever field they want to. Only they have to excel in whatever they do.

“My father was of the belief that put the child in the water. If he swims, well and good. If he doesn’t then he will drift ashore by holding on to something. He always maintained that if you are not successful in whatever you’re doing,

find another form of livelihood. I knew from the beginning that whatever I would do, I was going to excel in it. Even if I had been a cobbler, I would have made a damn good shoe. And what has kept me going is the growing competition. It has kept me on my toes. Competition is healthy as long as it doesn’t turn ugly. At one time, Dad, Shashi uncle and Shammi uncle were contemporaries. But they were never jealous of each other. They never manipulated to grab each other’s roles. “Even I have never believed in manipulating circumstances. I don’t understand why people do it. Why don’t they just accept things as they come? That’s how I have managed to stay out of controversies for so long. They only recent controversy I was involved in was the misunderstanding with the other Kapoors. And even in that, I reacted only because it concerned my family. Anyway, that’s a thing of the past. We’ve made up now. Actually, to tell you the truth, I never had a problem with Anil to begin with. My problem was with Boney. Basically, it was stupid things like ‘you didn’t come for my premiere and you didn’t do this’ that instigated the whole drama. It was very childish. We realized later that there were people who were fueling fire from both the sides. People would come and tell me something that they were supposed to have said about me. Then they would go to them and say that I had said something. And because we never bothered to clear out the mess, things became worse. It would’ve have mattered with anyone else but I was really close to these guys at one time. So it hurt when I heard the kind of things people came back and repeated to me. I am very kaan ka kachcha. I readily believed whatever they told me. But there is no animosity now. Boney that if we joined hands we could bugger the world. Can you imagine the combination of two such lethal Kapoor minds? We can devastate the world, believe me. “A lot of people say that I’m arrogant. But tell me, what is arrogance? It is just a way of saying that you know your job well. Your confidence says that you are a cut above the rest. Anyone who is arrogant has to be talented and

successful. I may not be extremely successful but I know that I am a cut above everyone else. And that is why I am arrogant. Arrogance is a virtue in today’s times. But I don’t use my arrogance to displease anybody. I don’t hurt anyone with it. This is me. This is Rishi Kapoor. It is not a put-on stand. I’ve been like this ever since the beginning. Yeh mere tevar hain. I’m a true Virgo by nature. I am very meticulous. I need everything to be proper. I get very finicky if things are not like what I want them to be, or to my requirements; which adds on to my characteristic which show in my relationships with people. I’m very short-tempered. I’m like a live-wire. Impatient. I can go into moods of depression without any reason. I’m want things to happen fast. I’m very impulsive. I can get into a rage immediately and become cool the next minute. But I’m not a bad guy. I’m a very emotional and sensitive. But I think that any actor, who is a actor is so. “I always feel that somewhere deep inside, the pathan in me still lives. If I know that someone is genuinely trying to harm my career, my children or my wife then I’ll get back to the person immediately. I won’t leave him. I’m

“I told Boney that if we joined hands, we could devastate the world. Can you imagine the combination of two lethal Kapoor minds?” a bloody Kapoor that way. But I can’t have a aim in life to be vindictive to anyone. I’m a very social person. And I expect people to be nice to me because I’m nice to them. I don’t meddle around with anyone unnecessarily. I could get a little nasty when I’m drinking but not otherwise. That is why I go out very rarely. Although my attitude is that whatever I do, I do in my own house. But criticism is welcome from near and dear ones. Otherwise you can’t grow. You can’t correct yourself if you don’t know that you’re wrong. But I know I’ve changed a lot over the years. I’ve watered down my feelings. I’ve changed with times. I have adapted myself to the workings of the new world. That’s the secret of Rishi Kapoor.”

FAST FORWARD It’s been a year since we lost Rishi Kapoor and though he’s gone, he will always live on in our hearts thanks to his amazing performances. After a long bout of ilness, one of the film industry’s biggest talents Rishi Kapoor passed away leaving his gorgeous wife Neetu Kapoor and son Ranbir and Riddhima grieving. Not only them, but the entire nation was also bereaved. Rishi Kapoor was an effortless actor who aced in all his performances. He had always played the chocolate lover. But in his second innings as an actor, he got many challenging roles including the fabulous Agneepath where he played an out and out negative role which won him many awards. On the personal front, he was the toast of the twitterati as his every tweet was witty, cutting and brutally honest. Indeed, Bollywood and the entire nation will miss this multi-faceted actor. Goodbye Chintuji though you will always live on in our hearts and on celluloid.

- Sumita Chakraborty

Stardust - May 2021 Issue

Articles inside

- Abhishek Banerjee