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SPLITSVILLE: Kriti Sanon And Sushant Singh Rajput Break Up!
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INTERNATIONAL EDITION Managing Editor : NARI M. HIRA Editor : SUMITA CHAKRABORTY COVER STORY Shocking! Priyanka Chopra Gives New York Magazine A Black Eye................................................................................... 16 INTERVIEW Swara Bhaskar: “Censorship Is An Outdated Concept, It Should Be Boycotted In A Free And Democratic Society.” ........... 54 ARTICLES Is Imran Khan responsible for ruining Kurt & Goldie’s love life? ........................................................................................ 36 Sniff Sniff: Can We Smell Something Brewing Between Sonakshi Sinha And Aditya Roy Kapoor? .................................... 38 Stop Press: Kriti Sanon and Sushant Singh Rajput break up! ........................................................................................... 42 John Abraham V/S Akshay Kumar? ................................................................................................................................. 50 Are Shraddha Kapoor And Rohan Shrestha Dating Each Other? ........................................................................................ 46 Bollywood’s Wedding Fantasy League ............................................................................................................................. 58 Get Snappy: Sushant Singh Rajput & Sara Ali Khan ........................................................................................................ 26 Court Martial: Sonu Sood ............................................................................................................................................... 30 Wild Encounter: Zarine Khan........................................................................................................................................... 64 Music Room: Priya Saraiya ............................................................................................................................................ 68 Favourite Things: Tanushree Dutta .................................................................................................................................. 74 COLUMNS Neeta’s Natter ................................................................................................................................................................. 04 Starry Sashay ................................................................................................................................................................. 76 Stardust On The Go ......................................................................................................................................................... 78 Rumours & Rejoinders ................................................................................................................................................... 82 International Mail Call ..................................................................................................................................................... 80 Blast From The Past: Rishi Kapoor: “Had It Not Been For My Ego I Would Have Been The Topmost Actor Here.” .............. 84
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Varun Dhawan is on the warpath, he is not on speaking terms with Ranbir Kapoor. Strict instructions have been given to all and sundry, including Karan Johar that he will not attend any event if Ranbir Kapoor is present. Now Alia Bhatt is the common factor between the two. She is Ranbir Kapoor’s love interest and a great pal and co-star of Varun. Will she be caught in the crossfire or is she the cause?
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Speaking of Kedarnath, the movie’s leading lady Sara Ali Khan might already have another role in her hands – opposite Tiger Shroff in Baaghi 3. Considering Sara was earlier tapped to debut opposite Tiger in Student of the Year 2, this is Sara coming full circle. Now all we want to hear is what Disha Patani, in all her feisty glory, has to say about that!
OOOOO Now here’s a killer! Deepika Padukone – actress, model, newly-wed – was apparently not Imtiaz Ali’s first choice for Tamasha. No, that honour goes to Anushka Sharma, who rejected the part because she felt that this wasn’t the best film for her to make her debut with Imtiaz. It’s fun to imagine what could’ve been, but Tamasha was at least a time for all the ‘Deepbir’ (couldn’t think of much better) super fans to see their fave Jodi on screen indulge in smokin’ hot romance, jhoota sahi!
Unfortunately, when one conflict dies, another one arises. And this involved Ranbir Kapoor who didn’t actually make it to the reception. Deepika wasn’t exactly fazed and she nonchalantly stated in an interview, “That’s him. I’m not surprised at all.” She then went on to call her current relationship with him ‘beautiful’. But we’re not exactly sure where the two stand and her being married now just makes things a whole lot more complicated!
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Speaking of Bollywood being frosty, Vishal Bhardwaj recently opened up in an interview on a film he considers to be a big failure, Rangoon. While he attributed that he was trying to do something too ambitious with the project, it’s probably because ‘the actors that were in the film (Shahid Kapoor, Saif Ali Khan, Kangana Ranaut) were completely at loggerheads with each other.’ He may not have given us much knowledge on what exactly went down, but all we can say is winter is here.
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And speaking of churning, what’s not ‘rallying’ is the Saina Nehwal biopic. And that apparently has director Amole Gupte a bit irked because Shraddha Kapoor’s dates are ‘a bit of a mess’ considering she’s working on this and for Chichhore opposite Sushant. Gupte isn’t happy with the ‘second hand treatment’ his film is receiving, according to a little ‘birdie’. But we think Shraddha, with a little bit of juggling, can ‘smash’ it.
One of 2017’s biggest sleeper hits was Hindi Medium, the Irrfan Khan and Saba Qamar flick that is now generating a sequel buzz. Although everyone expects to see Irrfan back for it, fans were left shooketh when reports emerged that Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol would feature as the lead duo. Apparently, Irrfan’s ill health made it tough for him to star and it’d be interesting to see how Raj and Simran translate this content-driven film.
OOOOO Good news! Rohit Shetty announced that the next in the Golmaal franchise, Golmaal 5, is confirmed! The director himself mentioned that the cameos of the Golmaal boys in Simmba song Aankh marey was a hint about the next movie. An ordinary moviegoer would think, “Hasn’t this franchise run its course?” Well, folks, as long as the people are buyin’, Rohit will keep on churnin’!
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OOOOO Our cover boy last month, Ali Fazal, seems to be living up to his ‘sexiest man’ title by being one super lovey-dovey boyfriend to Richa Chadha. The actor whisked her away for her birthday – to the Maldives! Apparently it all came as a surprise to Richa and we’re sure it must’ve fetched him major brownie points. And this came mere days after he confirmed his relationship with her and admitted to her being pretty ‘special’. Did we hear some one say , “another wedding?”
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that same vein, that he had no intention of leaving the country. This was a response to when Kohli asked one of his fans to ‘leave the country’. Oh dear, Anushka must be irked now!
Imran Khan, the actor who disappeared into the thin air, is all set to make a comeback as a director with his mamu Aamir Khan producing his film. Apparently, bhanja Khan and mamu Khan are planning on an expensive big budget project together. Aakhir, actor nahi toh director hi sahi! As long as ‘big budget’ doesn’t translate into Thugs of Hindostan, let’s see what he’s got in store for us with this comeback!
OOOOO Madhur Bhandarkar, the director famous for ‘exposing’ the industry in his films, is working on a film about Taimur! You read it right! Seems like the entire Pataudi family has a habit of getting into show biz at a pretty young age. This li’l Khan seems to be bigger than all the other Khans.
OOOOO The wedding bells do not plan to stop ringing with the year coming to an end. Buzz is the Slumdog Millionaire star Freida Pinto is set to take her relationship with Cory Tran to the next level in 2019. Don’t cue the groans, though, since a big fat wedding (which we are still nursing hangovers for) is not on her cards, they’re planning to keep it simple, intimate and small.
OOOOO Naseeruddin Shah got the mills running and the fire ablaze after he tweeted that Virat Kohli is not only the world’s best batsman but also the worst behaved player. Ouch and then some! He also mentioned, in
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Sonu Nigam has won our hearts, made us fall in love and dance to the tunes of his songs countless times. The Kal Ho Na Ho singer, however, doesn’t fray from controversy, especially this time when he said that he would have got more work in India if he were a Pakistani and that Indian singers these days have to pay music companies to do shows. Sonu, stop lighting the fire yet again.
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Tapsee Pannu slammed a ‘fan’ who commented “I love your body parts” with a rather interesting reply, making womankind beam with pride. She responded, “Wow! I like them too. BTW which is your favorite? Mine is Cerebrum.” In fact, ‘cerebrum’ became one of the most searched words on the internet after her response. Good going, girl!
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On the most recent Koffee with Karan, Manmarziyaan actor Vicky Kaushal admitted that he is dating someone ‘special’. He said, “it’s a new relationship but very serious”, with a bit of a blush. Vicky Kaushal had been rumoured to be dating Harleen Sethi for whom he sang a song on Neha Dhupia’s show. Now that’s called ‘romance’!
OOOOO Talking about whether the #Metoo movement will bring about a change in content in the Hindi film industry, Karan Johar apologized for having item songs in movies, especially where women are objectified and said he won’t be doing that anymore, not in Dharma at least. Katrina Kaif chimed in, however, saying that she never felt objectified with Chikni chameli. Embrace your woman, Kat!
OOOOO Ayushmann opened up on how he wasn’t born ‘Ayushmann’ but, in fact, Nishant. Somehow, ‘Nishant bhava’ doesn’t have the same ring to it. But what really left us reeling was the revelation that Karan was named Rahul and kept that name for 12 days! Even his birth certificate says ‘Rahul Kumar
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Ayushmann Khurrana has already made a name for himself with his movies taking more ‘touchy-feely’ subjects, but who knew it’d translate off-screen as well! His wife, Tahira Kashyap, revealed on Koffee with Karan that years ago when they were dating, the young lovers wanted an evening to themselves (so to speak) at Tahira’s place. But in the middle of it all, Tahira’s dad dropped by and caught them in the act. The two hurriedly tidied themselves up and laid out their books, pretending to study. Interesting!
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Johar’. It was a dream (literally) that made his mother change it to Karan. Anyone for “Welcome to Rum & Coke with Rahul”?
CAT’S CROWN
This month goes to...
It wasn’t that long ago when Deepika said she wouldn’t invite Katrina Kaif to her reception that too on National TV. But it seems like they’ve decided to let bygones be bygones and Katrina was very much a part of their reception. Kat gushed, “And I ate half the chocolate and might not be invited to any of their functions again but we had a really wonderful time.” Looks like Kat has made her peace with Dippy and let the hostility subside.
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From one cat to another, Meeeoow till next month!
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SHOCKING! 16 STARDUST INTERNATIONAL JANUARY 2019
Priyanka Chopra Gives New York Magazine A Black Eye. New York Magazine is probably the most respected weekly in the world, read not only by New Yorkers but circulated all over America – in fact, it even reaches world leaders. So it was no wonder a huge shock when its digital magazine The Cut very pompously denounced and maligned Bollywood’s biggest global success, PRIYANKA CHOPRA as a “scamster” who had conned Nick Jonas into marrying her - that too just before her wedding. This, of course, caused a huge uproar all across the globe resulting in The Cut deleting the article. But still, wasn’t it too late to make amends? How did this maligning article make the grade in the first place? Sumita Chakraborty reports.
W
ell-respected, point on and quite balanced… New York Magazine has a huge reputation. But what made everybody gasp in shock recently was when its web page called The Cut made a savage attack on Priyanka Chopra, by calling her a “scamster”. The writer Mariah Smith, in fact, denounced, “Priyanka Chopra is a superstar. She is stunning, talented and recently took on the Jonas surname. It seems that she has it all - well if “it all” includes marrying someone related to Kevin Jonas. But there is
18 STARDUST INTERNATIONAL JANUARY 2019
something that not many people know, or choose to accept about the global sensation that is Priyanka: She is a modern day scam artist, in my opinion. That’s right: Nicholas Jonas married into a fraudulent relationship against his will on December the 1st and I will tell you why I think so. Adding, “But who is Priyanka Chopra, former star of Quantico and pride of India? Even before she crossed over from Bollywood superstardom into the Hollywood arena, she was on the edge of making history. Just a few years ago (around 2015) Priyanka
Chopra had her big break in America, starring in an ABC drama series, now-cancelled Quantico. It may seem somewhat minor, but this success made Priyanka the first major Indian crossover star in America.” Mariah further goes on to spew, “This series lead role led to endorsement deals, major film roles, and important Hollywood invitations, like the Met Ball. Hollywood had seen nothing like her. And neither had Nick Jonas.” Whew! Such venom… No wonder, this naturally caused an uproar not only in India but also
with Judi Dench
with Priyanka Chopra’s many fans throughout the world who attacked Mariah Smith for her uncalled for, mean and malicious words. Not happy with attacking Priyanka Chopra so viciously, Mariah Smith smugly goes on to say, “If you are unfamiliar, Nick Jonas is the youngest member of the now-defunct Jonas Brothers. Formed in 2005, the Jonas brothers gained extreme popularity during their frequent appearances on the Disney Channel and their relationships with other teeny-bop-pop royalty, like Miley Cyrus, Selena Gomez
Priyanka is a modern day scam artist, in my opinion.” — Mariah Smith and Demi Lovato. In 2013, Nick Jonas and his brothers, Kevin & Joe, decided to no longer be connected professionally. Three years later in 2016, Nick admitted that he was the one to broach the topic of splitting up. He said the change left the entire family “shaken,” but that they all eventually found their way. Kevin by building a home with his wife who rarely speaks above
a whisper, Danielle Jonas, and their two daughters, and Joe by fronting his new band, DNCE. Between then and now, Nick has tried his hand at acting, even starring in television shows (who can forget Scream Queens?). He’s also continued to use that buttery voice of his to get songs like “Jealous” stuck in your head.” Mariah Smith vents her armchair so-called analysis further, “But how did Priyanka and Nick come together? Well: as Nick Jonas explains in the duo’s recent Vogue profile, he reached out to one of Priyanka’s Quantico co-stars Graham Rogers, with the text
JANUARY 2019 STARDUST INTERNATIONAL 19
message that read, ”Priyanka. Is. Wow.” That was around September 2016, when Nick was 24 - not exactly the time you’d imagine a bachelor like Nick Jonas to think about settling down. But it was around the time you’d think someone like Priyanka, then 34, would. Following this text, Nick Jonas DM’d Priyanka on Twitter, and their exchange launched the very beginning of Priyanka’s plan to make this Nick Jonas opportunity her forever bitch. Next was a direct message from Jonas to Chopra’s Twitter, “I am hearing from a few mutual friends that we should meet.” I ask for the
20 STARDUST INTERNATIONAL JANUARY 2019
date. “September 8, 2016,” Jonas says. “We checked this morning.” He goes on: “She responded day of with a message that said, ‘My team can read this, Why don’t you just text me”. “Aside from the offensive Hollywoodness of Priyanka telling another celebrity that her team reads her direct messages, what she was really doing here was quite possibly dropping a hint to Nick that she was going to break his heart. Or, at the very least: she was indicating that he’d been added to the short list of Hollywood men that she and her team would
test out for a possible romance. This same month, Priyanka was rumoured to be getting hot and heavy with Tom Hiddleston at an Emmys after-party. Tom was a prime item then, as this was shortly after he’d been washed, rinsed, and repeated in the news cycle following his embarrassing relationship with Taylor Swift. “September 2016 is quite possibly the month when dating became a job for Priyanka. She told an Indian publication. “I have ended up getting into relationships with the people I meet and I usually meet people
on movie sets.... romantically my relationships have always been with people who I meet at work,” and adding, “Who says I don’t have a partner? I might not be with him because I am travelling. All my life I have never commented on the fact whether I am in a relationship of not.” “Which bring us back to Priyanka’s team. In early 2017, she told people that in addition to having a hand in her socialmedia correspondence, her team also does all of her “necessary shopping”. Which includes anything pertaining to her career, since she is too busy
What Nick & Pri have is Beautiful Love. Thank u, Next.” — Joe Jonas spoiling herself with leather weights, titanium headphones and splurging on yachts, homes or the other luxuries in life. As she put it, she’s “always been a little indulgent. I work very hard to spoil myself: I am not someone who is stingy at all when it comes to money. I like the high life and I work for it.” “This may not seem important, but I assure you it is. Priyanka’s
indulgences and what she views as necessities speak volumes to her personality and what she’ll do, or think she needs to do for her career. In a 2017 tour of her Manhattan home, she told the cameras that she has a home theatre because she’s an actress and needs one. “This I need. Because I’m an actress I need a private theatre in my home... I just need it, cause it’s my job. I should have a private theatre!” She also has a private theatre in her home in India, but just like the one in New York, she told the interviewer, it’s never been used.”
JANUARY 2019 STARDUST INTERNATIONAL 21
Mariah continues her lengthy caustic spiel further, “While Priyanka shops around for the finer things in life, her team seems to be shopping around for the finer men. During the 2017 Vanity Fair, her manager was standing next to Priyanka when Nick Jonas got on one knee and asked the actress, “Where have you been all my life?” This young man had enough interest in Priyanka to DM her and publicly proclaim his lust. So as far as Priyanka’s team must have seen it: He’d landed the role.” Unstoppable, Mariah further maligns, “…Priyanka and Nick
22 STARDUST INTERNATIONAL JANUARY 2019
are finding ways for their “love” make them money circumventing the methods used by the celebrities of yore, who stuck to selling their wedding or baby photos to magazines. Priyanka’s commitment to monetizing this life milestone should have been a huge red flag for Nick, but poor thing seems to be blinded by love.” Quite a pity that a journalist and a writer should forget that even celebrities like Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie had sold their wedding photos to magazines and newspapers
who in turn syndicated to others thereby benefitting not only themselves but the entire news media. Incidentally, it is also rumoured that Priyanka Chopra and Nick Jonas planned to donate the 18 crores that they received to various charities. However, this does not seem to faze Mariah Smith a whit bit who brazenly takes another malevolent swipe, “Nick doesn’t suffer from the same affliction as his wife (being and thriving on being Extra As All Fuck). For Priyanka, going overboard with all things in
her life is more important than oxygen. Take this incident, for example: Back in April, before Priyanka reunited with Nick, she was photographed with a new bracelet - and some fans thought that her evil eye bracelet was a mangalsutra, a necklace that is tied around a bride’s neck by her groom in a Hindu wedding and worn until the groom’s death. Priyanka, then single, put rumors that she was secretly married to a mystery man to bed, tweeting, ”Hahahaha! Heights of speculations! This is an evil eye guys! Calm down! I’ll tell you
The article on @ priyankachopra was sexist, racist and disgusting.” — Sonam Kapoor Ahuja when I get married and it won’t be a secret! Lol.” But there was no stopping Mariah’s motor-mouth and acerbic words. She viciously emphasises, “Nicholas Jonas married into a fraudulent relationship against his will this past Saturday,” adding, “All Nick wanted was a possible fling with Hollywood’s latest It Woman, but instead he wound up
staring straight at a life sentence with a global scam artist.” And ends her malicious piece rather flippantly, “Nick, if you’re reading this, find that horse and gallop away as fast as you can!” Such a venomous and vitriolic spiel indeed… One that had the world up in arms in outrage at the mean words spewed. Who is Mariah Smith and why does she have such a hatred towards Priyanka Chopra? Is she a jealous lover or was this article planted by a scorned ex? The world demanded to know. Well, it seems the lady is nothing of that sort. She calls herself a Black activist
JANUARY 2019 STARDUST INTERNATIONAL 23
and her Twitter description wonders why people aren’t as nice as her in the world. Well, Ms Smith, we’ll tell you why… because there are journalists like you who spew out venom in the name of information and has no qualms of maligning or tarnishing a celebrity’s image just to grab eyeballs. Thankfully, New York Magazine, slapped by immense public outrage, immediately deleted this article from their website. So serious was the backlash that the writer Mariah Smith, obviously under pressure, too apologized: “I want to sincerely apologize to
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Priyanka Chopra and Nick Jonas, and to the readers I offended and hurt with my words. I do not condone racism, xenophobia or sexism. I take full responsibility for what I wrote, and I was wrong. I am truly sorry.” Hmm… quite an apology though rather late in day as the harm was already done. Ms Smith’s vicious piece had gravely offended everyone more so the Jonas family who saw red and were ready to send a legal notice. Nick’s brother Joe and his fiancée Sophie Turner slammed this damning article publicly. Sophie tweeted, “This is wildly
inappropriate and totally disgusting. Very disappointed that The Cut would give anyone a platform to spew such bullshit.” While Joe angrily said, “This is disgusting. @TheCut should be ashamed to have someone write such evil words. What Nick & Pri have is Beautiful Love. Thank u, Next.” Actress Sonam Kapoor Ahuja stood up for colleague Priyanka by sending a stinker. She said, “For a publication that “shows women what they are made of” @TheCut has a lot to answer for. The article on @priyankachopra was sexist, racist and disgusting.
Also it’s written by a woman which is so sad. It reeks of envy and bitterness. @mRiah shame on you!” Though New York Magazine’s The Cut first amended to remove some of the more gratuitous descriptions of Chopra, thanks to the global outcry, they then deleted it altogether. They also publicly apologised, “Last night, the Cut published a post about Nick Jonas and Priyanka Chopra’s relationship that shouldn’t have gone up,” read a note posted in its place. “We’ve received dozens of messages from readers expressing their anger. We want you to know
This was a mistake, and we apologise to our readers and to Priyanka and Nick.” — The Cut that we hear you and we’re sorry. The whole piece missed the mark. “There is no good explanation for this other than human error and poor judgment. This was a mistake, and we apologise to our readers and to Priyanka and Nick.” Damning, vitriolic and truly uncalled for… This article tarnishes the image of good
journalism and The Cut should indeed bow down their heads in shame. Lucky for them, Priyanka Chopra has decided not to sue the magazine because she believes in keeping good relations with the media and instead, decided just to ignore the ridiculous article. All in all, it was indeed an example of poor judgement on the part of New York Magazine’s The Cut to even consider uploading this venomous piece by a woman writer who just wanted to make herself famous at the cost of tarnishing the image of a big celebrity like Priyanka Chopra.
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“Of Course, There Is Pressure Belonging To A Renowned Family.” — SARA ALI KHAN
She’s effervescent, calls a spade a spade and is quite muh phat like her mum Amrita Singh. Meet SARA ALI KHAN, the newest ‘It’ girl of B’Town, in conversation with Pooja Kesavan! This is your first media appearance and with Kedarnath right behind you, are you excited or nervous? What do you feel? Even before Kedarnath, everyone has always been extremely warm to me and I am moved by the welcome I had received. They have only showed me love and compassion throughout, and now with Kedarnath I really hope it was all worth it and you all keep pouring in more love. Your father Saif Ali Khan told us two years back that you were still studying and are not looking to act in films anytime soon, how did Saif and Amrita react to your decision of taking up Kedarnath? I was finishing off my studies two to three years back. My father was adamant about the fact that I had to finish off my studies before entering movies, and then I could dedicate my entire time to films if I wished to. But he was with me throughout, supporting my decision into entering Bollywood. But after reading the script of Kedarnath, I was so
sure of doing it that main kisi ki nahi sunne wali thi, dil aagya tha. How was it working with Sushant Singh Rajput? How much did he help you, considering you are new to this world of cinema? I am so glad I have been asked this! I really don’t know how I have done in the film. I have tried my best to justify the character and story. But I wouldn’t have been able to do any of that without Sushant by my side. There were days when I felt lost and scared because I was facing the camera for the first time, but he was always hands on ready to teach me and help me in the journey. He also taught me Hindi. Jo bhi tooti-taati Hindi bolti hu, inhone hi sikhaayi hai. And of course, acting too!
This is your debut in 2018 and there is one more debut that happened this year, of Janhvi Kapoor. And every year one debutant is awarded the ‘Debut of the Year’ award. Will there be a face off in the boxing ring between the two of you? Not at all! All of us are here to do our job and we are no one to decide. She has done a great job. I saw Dhadak and thought she was fantastic, everybody has loved her work.
When you want any kind of suggestions in your acting career, who do you go to in your family? I stay with my mom, so I do ask her if at all anything. But when you have a co-actor like Sushant and Abhishek directing you, asking family members needn’t matter. So it was pretty easy for me in that way on the set. What was your mother’s reaction seeing the movie? It is very difficult for mothers to be unbiased. I’m her baby and does not even look much different from her. So, it’s difficult for her to be unbiased and wishes me the best.
You come from a renowned family who has made their mark in the Hindi film industry. The legacy is now upon you, do you feel the pressure to make it up to that standard? Of course there is pressure. But irony is a lot of people think it is easy for me, and say I have already got two films. But there is always two sides. There is pressure on one hand and I also gain a lot of benefit as two amazing people like Abhishek and Rohit has approached me without seeing my work and I will always be grateful to that. JANUARY 2019 STARDUST INTERNATIONAL 29
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“One Of The Factors That Ronnie Screwvala And Abhishek Kapoor Like About Each Other Is… Me!” — SUSHANT SINGH RAJPUT While SUSHANT SINGH RAJPUT has already created a mark in cinema, regarding his latest film Kedarnath, he says Sara Ali Khan definitely kept him on his toes in conversation with Pooja Kesavan. There is a great history between you and Abhishek Kapoor. He said that you have changed and evolved since Kai Po Che, how much has hishek changed since that film As an actor it’s very comfortable working with a person like Abhishek. He always gives the nudge to work but never tells me what to do. And that creates more room for improvisation as an actor. I’m so thankful to him for that. The intensity of working with him has only increased.
The common factor about Ronnie Screwvala and Abhishek Kapoor has been you. What do you ant to comment on that That’s very much true, one of the factors that they like about each other has been me. I hope they realize it’ll be great if this pattern continues. (laughs)
As an actor it’s very comfortable working with a person like Abhishek.
We follow you on social media, and you are a man of science, you always talk a lot about science This film is a out aith hat do you ha e to say a out that I would like to add a nuance to it, not in every context they both go in dramatically opposite ways. They are different ways of investigation of the truth. One of which I’m very precise with, which is science. Another thing that could come very handy is faith. I follow both in different manner. JANUARY 2019 STARDUST INTERNATIONAL 27
I WAS REALLY HURT WHEN THE WHOLE MANIKARNIKA EPISODE HAPPENED. Bollywood hunk with the heart of gold, that’s how most of the industry recognises SONU SOOD. But there’s a lot more than just a string of hits and a ripped physique to the man usually one of B-town’s most calm and collected. See what the actor has to say to Ahad Sanwari about his experience with Simmba, the Kangana-Manikarnika tiff and being a quiet man in a loud world.
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PHOTOGRAPHS: MUNNA S
Let’s talk about your latest, Simmba. We hear and see that there’s a little bit of a bromance that’s developing between you and Ranveer Singh. Could you tell us a little bit more about that? Working with Ranveer was a special experience. We had lots in common. We used to work out together in Hyderabad, we’d talk about fitness. He’s a very positive guy. When you work on a film with Rohit Shetty as a director, things become very easy. We used to rehearse our scenes well and spent 4-5 months together in Hyderabad. That made a lot of difference in the chemistry we all shared. Even with Rohit, when we weren’t shooting, he’d still hang around the sets and chat. The whole chemistry for us was very important to portray on screen and I think when people will see Simmba, they’ll experience that magic.
What was it like working with newcomer Sara Ali Khan considering what she did with Kedarnath? Sara is a great girl and a very fast learner. I remember when I first met her a couple years ago with Saif, who I used to work out with. At that time she was a little girl who was trying to use the treadmill. Then I meet her again one day on the sets as a co-star. That was very special and I’m really happy with the way she has moulded her career and programmed her life. She’s a very hardworking girl and I want to wish her all the best. I’m sure Simmba will be another feather in her cap. You’re usually pretty quiet and contemplative, but in your reel life, your characters can be pretty loud and boisterous. Why do you think there’s such a drastic difference in your dominant on-screen persona and your offscreen one? Off-screen I am a little quiet and on-screen I have to play those loud and explosive roles. But that’s the magic of cinema. When the camera gets switched on, suddenly you get into your character and portray the best. During these 20 years in the industry, doing movies in 11-12 languages, I’ve learnt a lot. Now I feel that all the magic comes automatically as soon as the camera is turned on me and you get transformed and your entire world is now different. That’s what an actor’s life is. It’s something I’ve learned all these years and has helped me survive, since I’ve been shooting for multiple films at the same time. Switching on and off isn’t difficult for me anymore. And you’ve mentioned before that you’re not the kind of guy who goes out a lot and parties.
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Off-screen I am a little quiet and on-screen I have to play those loud and explosive roles.” Considering the entertainment culture of our industry and the stars in it, do you think that could be a negative thing? I remember when I first came to the industry, people used to say that it’s very important to party and socialise. Actually staying in the limelight to meet these people and make the moves to plan your career. It was difficult for me since I’m not the kind of guy who likes to go for these parties. I don’t drink, I don’t smoke, I can’t party, I go to bed very early and I’m an early riser. It was very tough for me to
actually get into that party groove. I knew that hard work would actually help me reach my goals faster. That was the plan I kept in my mind and that was the reason I could reach the goals I wanted to. But I’m not a party person and I just believe in hard work. You walked out of Kangana’s Rani Lakhsmi biopic Manikarnika. What was the reason behind that? Walking out of Manikarnika was very, very tough. I’d already given 40-45 days of my life to a script
I really loved. I thoroughly enjoyed spending those sleepless nights on the sets. But when I had to walk out, it wasn’t easy for me. But one thing was clear for me that I came on board to work with a director who I really admire. I’ve worked down South and I know how brilliant Krish is. And when he was not on board and wasn’t allowed to shoot the movie and the actor wanted to shoot as the director, I couldn’t accept that. I think that’s when I knew that this wasn’t the film or role I wanted to do. So I just stepped aside and let them do their thing, and I wish them the best.
I go to the gym like I brush my teeth.”
Do you think your latest Manikarnika development will affect your relationship with Kangana, considering you’ve mentioned in the past that the two of you are extremely close? Kangana is a very dear friend. I knew her even before she entered the industry. We’ve worked down South and done films together. I know her family so well. That’s what made it so disturbing, that the move came from a friend (Kangana). Yes, I was really hurt when the whole Manikarnika episode happened. I think that would be very disturbing for any individual, especially an emotional person like me. Sometimes you don’t have the words to express what you feel when a friend comes in the picture and all these things happen. You’ve been in hit after hit after hit films, but we’ve rarely ever seen you shine in a leading role. Is this something that doesn’t work out your way or are you happy playing strong supporting characters? I’ve been lucky enough to be a part of a lot of hits. Sometimes there have been leading roles that I did that were critically appreciated but didn’t bring those box office numbers. Maybe that wasn’t destined to happen. I’m still giving my best shot. When I came to the industry, I didn’t know a single soul in the city and I had a lot of goals to achieve and make my parents proud. I followed that path and knew that one day it would happen. I was lucky enough to work with the best directors. And some of my supporting roles were accepted well and got lots of acclaim. But yes, doing the leading role is very special for me. Somewhere, someone must be writing a role that could change the dynamics of my career, but we have miles to go.
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Paltan was a film so close to your heart. Did it deter you in any way when the film didn’t do as well as expected? Paltan was really special for me and we all worked very hard on that film, it wasn’t easy shooting in Ladakh in those conditions. I wish the film had done well. But I’m sure people who’ve seen the movie loved it and now that it’s on a digital platform, more people are watching it and loving it. I’ve got messages about it from lots of people. As an actor, we have to be convinced when we come on-board and give our hundred percent. And the rest is left to the people. Working with JP Dutta sahab was a dream come true and I wish the film would’ve done the way we expected. But that’s not in our hands and we’ll keep on trying to give our best. Maybe another war film with the same director will change a lot of things for all of us. And there were rumours that you and Arjun Rampal apparently didn’t get along. What’s your take on that? What’s your relationship with him like now? Working with Arjun was very good, I share a great rapport with him. We got along very well, we used to work out together, travel together and even eat together. He’s a great guy and we still are in touch. He’s a very calm and chilled out guy and we have a lot of things in common like fitness, love for movies, love for music. And it was great working with Arjun for Paltan, there’s no bad blood. Has there ever been a film you’ve regretted doing or that you feel wasn’t the right choice for you at the time? Yeah, sometimes you land up on a set and realise that it’s probably not the film you wanted to do. But that rarely happens, I always follow
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People used to say that it’s very important to party and socialise.” my instincts when I do a movie. Still, when you’re part of the film industry for 20 years and you’ve done 90-95 movies, there will be a film that you’ll think that you should’ve avoided. But it’s okay because I think that’s a learning experience for any actor. As an actor with some of the most and the biggest hits in the current Bollywood industry, what do you think are some of the challenges you face that maybe your peers don’t? I feel like when you’re a part of huge films like Dabangg or work with directors like Ashutosh Gowariker and Rohit Shetty, the biggest challenges when you work with these directors in these production houses is that it makes it very tough to choose what to do next. The exposure that you get and the production value that you experience make it difficult to decide what movie to do next. But I think, as an actor, that’s what matters. The kind of roles you choose, the way you decide to move forward. That determines how long you can stay and survive. There’s no formula to it, I wish there was one. You just follow your instincts to give your best and leave the rest up to God. One of the things that rocked the Bollywood world recently was the #MeToo movement, which shed a light on the casting couch problem that’s been going on for a long time. You even spoke of Tanushree Dutta at one point after she made her allegations about Nana Patekar. What do you think of the movement’s progress
since then? Have you reached out to Tanushree at all since this happened? I think the whole #MeToo movement was very important for our industry. We always used to hear those stories of people trying to exploit newcomers and people always said that this industry isn’t a safe place to start your career. I think with #MeToo, there will be a lot of security with newcomers and people will feel safe. People can approach new producers and directors with more confidence and those who abuse their power will be a lot more careful. I think the movement has changed a lot of things in the industry. It’s not just our industry, the corporate world and other film industries are also experiencing it. But I believe a lot of changes for the good will come about. You’ve worked in films in Hindi, Tamil, Telugu and Kannada, to name a few! Is it difficult having to adapt to so many different languages and dialects when you’re constantly working? I started my film with a Tamil movie. Then I did Telugu, Kannada, Hindi, English, Chinese. I never thought that I’ll be working in all these languages when I came to Mumbai, it just happened. I enjoy working with these directors on different languages and trying to learn them while interacting with the ADs. All these experiences really kept me on my toes. And I enjoyed acting in these different languages and they helped me grow as an actor. Working in these different schools gave me experiences which I never planned on but ended up happening. Speaking in Marathi for Simmba was a new experience for me which I really enjoyed.
One thing I want to ask about is you and your fitness. You’re probably the fittest actor in the biz right now. And no one could even imagine that you’re 43. How do you manage to stay healthy while consistently filming or promoting? I feel like fitness is a very important thing in everyone’s career. I started working out during my college days when everyone talked about ‘sixpacks’. I remember having those six-packs even before I thought of becoming an actor. But when I came to Mumbai to do films, that’s when I realised how important fitness is. I made sure that I worked out regularly throughout the year. You have to promise yourself that you have to take care of yourself. It’s about patience and it’s something that comes automatically for me. I go to the gym like I brush my teeth. I don’t have a cheat day, I work out almost seven days a week. I only missed it during my travel time and I really miss working out. In fact, I also insist to my co-stars and directors that they get into fitness because that’s how they’ll survive in this industry for longer. It’s like a religion for me and I thoroughly enjoy it.
That’s what made it so disturbing, that the move came from a friend (Kangana).”
What can we expect from you post-Simmba? Post-Simmba I have three releases down South, one in Telugu and two in Kannada. I have Kurukshetra where I’m playing the role of Arjun. There’s a film with the director Teja that I’m doing with Kajal Aggarwal, it’s a Telugu film called Sita which will come in February or March. There are two films in Hindi that I’m in talks for. And there are a couple of Netflix things I’m considering. I’ll probably take those calls later and right now, I’m just looking forward to Simmba and seeing how people react to it and hope that the amount of fun we had working on it translates to the screen.
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Goldie Hawn and Kurt Russell have been together over 35 years. An insider claims that after the dramatic blowout between Goldie, 72, and Kurt, 67, the Private Benjamin star dramatically told her live-in lover that she’d fallen out of love with him after more than three decades of living together.
Is IMRAN KHAN KURT & GOLDIE’s
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Responsible For Ruining
Love Life? A
ccording to Star, the American magazine, ‘there are whispers that things between them came to a head and Goldie left after their worst fight yet’; says the insider, who adds she said something she didn’t mean and regretted later. The source adds that contrary to their lovedup couple goals persona, Kurt and Goldie have been living separate lives for some time now and while they have always enjoyed their independence, their arrangement may have finally taken its toll. But behind closed doors, says the confidante, Kurt and Goldie have been dealing with residual tension following rumours of past cheating and the hurt feelings have finally bubbled over. ‘They have had huge rows over his affairs, claims a source. But the most shocking incident that broke up the marriage was when Goldie took off for India and struck up a flaming romance with cricket player and now Prime Minister of Pakistan, Imran Khan. This obviously happened when she visited India. She used to stay at the Godrej House in Juhu. Imran Khan was also a regular visitor
there, so their liaison was no secret. They had set up their own rules for monogamy and about feeling free but the affair with Imran Khan seems to have been the breaking point in their relationship. Though the bubbly blonde has implied that she and Kurt write their own rules when it comes to monogamy-‘[there’s] an elasticity to the relationship’, she insisted. They have fallen prey to jealous rages and even temporarily split in 2015. “Kurt walked out and was living in Malibu,” says a source, “Goldie stayed in Pacific Palisades.” And though their indiscretions are firmly in the past, Kurt and
Goldie are still struggling to move past their mutual hurt feelings. They have tried to put everything behind them, but things haven’t been the same since [Goldie’s affair with Imran]. Though the tension is still swirling following their fight, a source insists that Goldie and Kurt, who just welcomed their new granddaughter Rani to the family, have the potential to turn the ship around. ‘They have dealt with a lot over the past few decades but they have always managed to get back on track, and the hope is that they can do it again,’ says the source, ‘No one wants to see them say goodbye to each other for good.’
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Sniff Sniff… Can We Smell SONAKSHI SINHA And
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?
Something Brewing Between ADITYA ROY KAPOOR Supposedly, there’s love in the air and SONAKSHI SINHA and Aditya Roy Kapoor are seeing each other, that too pretty seriously… Sumita Chakraborty reports.
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W
hat’s with the air in Bollywood? Supposedly the rarefied atmosphere overhead Tinsel Town seems to pierced by Cupid’s love arrows. And why do we say that? ‘cos every nook and cranny seems to have an overdose of love, romance and marriage. That’s right… everybody who is anybody in Bollywood seems to be either falling in love or getting married. Well, another one to supposedly join the bandwagon is our Sona. This chirpy actress who had taken
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Varun Dhawan, Bollywood’s best ‘breaking news’ machine, took to twitter to call Sonakshi ‘bhabhi’.” a backseat after her break-up with alleged boyfriend Bunty Sachdev, has thankfully bounced back again in her personal life albeit rather secretly. However, our Badri Varun Dhawan, Bollywood’s best ‘breaking news’ machine, took to twitter to call Sonakshi ‘bhabhi’ leaving the pap’s completely in
a tizzy. What was brewing with Sonakshi? The excitement further accelerated when Sona answered rather coquettishly ‘Uff oh”. The actress who was quiet throughout 2018 suddenly seemed to be back in the thick of things. And that’s because, according to our source, she’s been quietly dating the very handsome Aditya Roy Kapoor. Aditya if you recall had taken a backseat after his relationship with Shraddha Kapoor broke up aeons ago. And after that, Aditya seemed to enjoy his singleton-hood and there was no stray gossip linking him with any other person. .
It was on the sets of KJo’s Kalank, that Sona and he actually found themselves on the same page.” But then Sona and Aditya met some time this year and sparks flew furiously all around. Supposedly, it was on the sets of KJo’s Kalank that they actually found themselves on the same page. Call us seers but if you recall, some years back Stardust had put these two gorgeous actors together on the cover. At that time too, their chemistry was visible to all. But at that point of time, both were in a relationship with other people so obviously, there was smoke but alas, no fire. Cut to 2018: Supposedly, these two gorgeous people decided to mend their broken hearts by spending some quality time together. And the more they met, the more they liked each other. And now, according to our source, “It is apparent that Sonakshi Sinha and Aditya have become pretty serious about each other. Perhaps now they plan to take it to the next level,” By the way, Aditya and Varun are very close, hence the bhabhi comment for Sonakshi. But as we go to press, Sonakshi and Aditya both refused to comment about their relationship status. Watch this page for more…
STOP PRESS
KRITI SANON AND SUSHANT SINGH RAJPUT AJPUT
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! P U K A
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Romance
may be in the air in Bollywood but it’s splitsville for Kriti Sanon and Sushant Singh Rajput. Supposedly, recently the duo called off their relationship and have gone their own ways. The two supposedly fell head over heels in love with each other on the sets of their film Raabta. At that point of time, Sushant was in a nine-year-old relationship with the Manikarnika actress Ankita Lokhande. They had fallen in love while doing a TV serial Pavitra Rishta. And Sushant had even proposed to Ankita on national TV. But on the sets of Raabta, Sushant found himself drawn to the gorgeous Kriti, and though they had never commented on their relationship status, it was a fact that the two Raabta stars were in love. A distraught Ankita broke up with Sushant on those grounds and went on to carve her own destiny in films. Everything seems hunky dory and Sushant and Kriti seemed to be in a good space. They even did a lot of endorsements together, again proving that they were indeed serious about each other. But just when strong rumours insisted that they were marching rather briskly to the aisle to be bonded in marital bliss, came the unnerving news that Sushant and Kriti had broken up. Though the stars themselves said nothing – they never confirmed their relationship, so confirming their break up was a bit too far-fetched but Sushant who had had a very nasty fall-out with his ex-girlfriend Ankita did something rather out of the way. Supposedly, he praised Ankita’s look in Manikarnika and wished her well to which surprisingly, Ankita replied rather gracefully. So is Sushant trying to woo back Ankita after his break up with Kriti. Or was this just a cursory ‘good wish’ tweet? Let’s wait ‘n’ watch!
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A MAGNA PUBLICATION
NOW ON THE STANDS
www.societymag.co.in
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Are Shraddha Kapoor And Rohan Shrestha
Dating Each Other? The grapevine insists that the Stree powerhouse performer is dating celebrity photographer Rohan Shrestha. Is there some truth in this…? Sumita Chakraborty finds out
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M
any moons ago, rumours were rife that Shakti Kapoor’s darling daughter Shraddha Kapoor was dating producer, director and actor Farhan Akhtar in earnest. In fact, supposedly the two Rock On costars were allegedly so close that they spent every waking (and sleeping) hour together. But of course, every love story has a villain, and if you already have a villain in the family (read Shakti Kapoor known for his evil and mean characters in films), it sure becomes a lot easier to break a love story. And alas, Shraddha and Farhan’s fragile romantic story too blew up into smithereens in the face of an overkill of the spotlight and Shraddha with Rohan of course, daddy’s wrath. However, the universe has a way of soothing broken hearts. reception – Breaking news: Many months later, Farhan Farhan and Shibani were officially took to his Instagram account baptised as a couple. to officially announce his new Shraddha, in the meantime, took love, and it was none-other than a little more time to bounce back. the beautiful Veejay Shibani After all, all those months allegedly Dandekar. Of course, the couple being head over heels in love with have been teasing the media Farhan took a little time for her for long by tantalisingly posting broken heart to heal. But in walked shadowy images of each other her knight in shining armour who on their social media keeping the rumouredly not only whisked rumourmongers on an overdrive. Shraddha off her feet but also made But their relationship at last got a her believe in love again. And name when the super hot couple it was none-other than veteran did the mandatory ‘joined in the photographer Rakesh Shrestha’s hips’ pose for the shutterbugs at very talented son (he’s also a Deepika and Ranveer’s wedding photographer) Rohan Shrestha.
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Sharaddha and Rohan have been seen very often going on dates and looking totally into each other. In fact, they were also at the grand ‘DeepVeer’ wedding, again, looking totally in love each other. Supposedly, Farhan and Shibani did at one point bump into Shraddha and Rohan at the grandiose event, but the two couples pointedly ignored each other. Broken hearts and promises, you see, take time to mend. But the relationship between Farhan and Shraddha is now truly old hat and both have finally completely moved on. Shraddha
Farhan with Shivani
supposedly in completely in love with Rohan and doesn’t give a damn if the world knows it. As for papa Shakti, he too supposedly is happy – any man is better than a divorced Farhan - father of two kids. However, when asked by the pap’s about her relationship status with Rohan, Shraddha refused to comment saying she never talks about her personal life in public and instead prefers to focus on her career. Okay Shraddha, we got that! You said that even during the time you were dating Farhan and were spotted at his
home by the shutterbugs at all odd times. …As the war of the weddings hot up, and every couple in Tinselville who are seen dating each other seem to be following the ‘I Do’ trail. Let’s wait and watch how the Shraddha and Rohan love story unfolds. Will they too succumb to the wedding march or will they insist that they are “just good friends” and be a part of the dusty history of Bollywood couples who refused to acknowledge publicly that kuch kuch hota hain?
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John Abraham V/S 50 STARDUST INTERNATIONAL JANUARY 2019
JOHN ABRAHAM and AKSHAY KUMAR’S films are clashing again at the Box office this year. Sumita Chakraborty unravels the thought behind this move.
Akshay Kumar ?
In
Bollywood they say there are no permanent friends or enemies. But it is a fact that Akshay Kumar and John Abraham have already spoken volumes about how deep their friendship is and how long they have been friends for. In fact, from the time, they did Desi Boyz together, supposedly, there was an indelible bro code forged between these two mega stars. Both John and Akshay had a lot in common. Both were masterminds in marketing their films. Both shunned Bollywood parties and were rarely seen attending any. Both lived a disciplined quiet life and both were considered the fittest actors in Bollywood. So no wonder, both these actors bonded so well. But perhaps John stirred the hornet’s nest a wee bit during the time his film Satyamev Jayate released. In Bollywood, there is an unwritten code followed by most
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actors that two mega films of big actors should not release together. For they say, the viewership gets affected of both the films. But John thumbed his nose at this unwritten Bollywood commandment and decided to release his film on August 15, 2018. But the catch here was that Akshay Kumar’s long awaited film Gold too was releasing on this date. Rumours were rife that Akshay was furious with John and had supposedly said that he would beat John up. At a press conference, John of course, laughed off this rumour by saying, “Of course, Akshay can beat me up.” But further added that in his opinion two big films can release together and both would get the viewership it deserved. Akshay in the meantime, was asked about the same during the press conference of Gold, and he pooh-poohed the very idea that he was irate with John. In fact, he said that he wished John well.
Akshay stated that he too would release his film along with a big film But there was one thing, he very emphatically stated, and that was – the next time, he too would release his film along with a big film – after all, if everybody was doing that, why not him? And that’s just what he did! Satyamev Jayate did remarkably well at the Box Office while Akshay Kumar’s film Gold got a bit of a mixed response. But of course, that didn’t matter ‘cos Akshay’s
John and Akshay are very confident that their films will work at the Box Office as both these films are rich in content film 2.0 with the great Rajnikanth did stupendously well, and Akshay’s performance as a villain too was heralded. However, they do say Akshay Kumar has the memory of an elephant and never let go of a slight. So it really wasn’t surprising when Akshay Kumar announced that his film Mission Mangal loosely based on the Mars Mission boasted of a stellar cast of Vidya Balan, Taapsee Pannu, Sonakshi Sinha and of course, himself, was going to be released on August 15, 2019 – the date August 15, according to Akshay was lucky for him. Fair enough… But the catch in this story of one-upmanship is that John Abraham too was releasing his special operation based film Batla House on the same day and he had announced the same way back. So this year, Akshay and John would once again clash at the BO on Independence day. Though both the actors seem to be rather unperturbed at the turn of events and have even wished each other the very best and have poohpoohed any bad blood between the two, it is a fact that two films at the Box office on the same day tends to divide the viewers and the films too get affected in their collections. But both John and Akshay are very confident that their films will work at the Box office as both these films are rich in content. Will it benefit the actors or not is to be seen but for now, let’s just see how this game of chessmate between these two smart, likeminded marketing genius actors unfold.
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“Censorship Is An OUTDATED Concept, It Should Be BOYCOTTED In A Free And Democratic Society.” The bold and beautiful SWARA BHASKER, who calls herself ‘straightforward’, gets candid with Pooja Kesavan about her presence on the web space, censorship and her love for current affairs. From Payal in Tanu Weds Manu to Sakshi Soni in Veere Di Wedding and now Meera. How have you evolved as a performer? My first film was actually Madholal Keep Walking in 2009, my character was called Sudha. But nobody watched it. (laughs) But that was considered as my first break. Though people recognize me more as Payal from Tanu Weds Manu. I hope I have evolved. I really don’t know. It’ll be a pity if I didn’t. I have become more aware of the medium. I understand the technical elements better now, like facing the light and
all that. Because I believe this medium is highly technical, it’s not an actor’s medium. I don’t have control of which take of mine will get selected on the edit. But now I can tailor my performances accordingly. So if it’s a close-up shot, I know how my gesture should be to fit the frame. I would like to believe I have evolved in terms of finding new ways to express the same emotions. Sometimes I look at my performances and realise I talk at a certain speed, so I work on that like with voice exercises. I also feel I have a stock of three facial expressions, in all my films when I cry, I look exactly the same. So I
analyze if my face is falling into a rut or template. How comfortable are you exploring the web space? Did you require some extra prep for Meera, the newly divorced working mother who is trying to find love again? What I like about the web space is that I don’t prep for these shows. She is so real and close to home. I usually do work on body language and accent, but for Meera, I didn’t. I always take a detailed brief from my director because ultimately, it’s his vision that I’m servicing. And I love working with Danish (Aslam), and he’s clear about how to shape my character. There were so many times in season one and two that I was judging Meera. He is the one who told me not to, saying Meera is as flawed as anyone else.
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You have a very strong presence on Twitter and are known to be candid and fearless about your opinions. Are there any repercussions? I follow current affairs, news handles and television news channels a lot. I do not actually follow many Bollywood actors. You’ll find more of reporters, journalists and activists on my follow list. Twitter is like an aquarium, what you follow is what you see. So I happen to see a lot of news about India. And I want to emphasize that a lot of things that happen around here, unfortunately, is so wrong. Whether it’s lynching, farmer distress or Dalit oppression. I’m very interested in society and politics and
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I have an opinion on it. My mother is a professor and my dad is from the navy. I come from an academic and not a filmy background, and I did my Masters in Sociology from JNU in Delhi. So maybe that could also be the reason and I didn’t realize I’m creating a personality out of it on Twitter. Most of the times, even if you ask me an uncomfortable question, I’m just going to give an honest answer. That’s how I am, straightforward and to the point. But now I’m slowly getting conscious about what I put out there. Usually my producers are worried that it may turn into some kind of target. People are vindictive and they tend to target my films. That’s not fair right? That is the producers’
People are vindictive and they tend to target my films. That’s not fair right?” money. And I do not want to harm my producers. So before my film’s release, I start being noncontroversial and do not comment on politics. I just start posting about what I wore to promotions, cute puppies and kittens. (laughs) You experienced some flak for your bold scene in Veere Di Wedding. How did you respond to your detractors and how comfortable are you doing such scenes? My primary responsibility is to service a script. I have been given the job of bringing the director’s vision to reality. I will not do something I don’t believe in. So if I’m uncomfortable doing a bold scene, which I don’t like to call ‘bold’ in the first place. I don’t know what that’s supposed to mean. Before I start shooting I ensure I discuss it in great detail with the director and how important that scene is for the script. So I tell them, if at all, what I’m going to do and what I’m not. I do not want to do too much nakhra and be like main yeh nahi karungi, woh nahi karungi. I make it clear in the very beginning itself what I’m comfortable with doing. Considering responding to such flak, I try not to get into anything that bothers me. I go on social media and read what I want to and leave. The Veere issues I found very funny though, because I only got slammed by certain kind of men. These were the people who started slamming Veere on Twitter and many started reposting and retweeting the same. It’s all paid content. These aren’t genuine reactions, so I just put them behind me and move forward.
You joined the Lipstick Rebellion for Lipstick Under My Burkha which created quite a stir among your fans. What is your take on censorship in India? I personally feel censorship is an outdated concept. And I think it should be boycotted in a free and democratic society. There should be regulations and certifications. And these regulations should be put in place for the kind of content that people should watch. Just because your child is extra smart and knows the password to your computer to access adult content doesn’t mean we put a barrier to the kind of content we create. It’s important to put in a mark for viewer’s discretion, telling people whether the show has adult content, like intimate scenes or strong language and one should know what they’re getting into. It’s their right. Also, on the other hand I think we should focus on the bigger issues happening in the country right now. We are more bothered about vulgar lyrics and bold scenes rather than protests, farmers’ deaths, mob lynching and so on. It’s time we focus on the latter.
feel a need to be a part of it. But I took many years to find myself in the space I’m in right now. Initially, I did not know how to choose. Like you said in an interview before, when a popular actor like Priyanka Chopra tells the story of Mary Kom, it gets a better mileage of 100 crores. Do you think a change is gradually happening with actors like you who are now choosing bold roles that spread social awareness too? I do not mean that. I meant you cannot blame producers for casting them, the stars are used to giving big openings and the audience likes that. That system is obviously going to create a certain kind of casting choices. And of course, that’s changing big time. Now the audience is ready to watch nonstars for good content. That’s all you need to give them. Women like Meera from your Voot series do exist in real life and there
I get so bored playing the same kind of role over and over again.” weren’t many scripts like that in the past. Do you sense a freedom of expression today, as an actor? Very much! That’s what the web space offers. It offers you potential and igniting stories. Stories that are different from the commercial films, more real and relatable. Even for that matter, I’m sure you are living a life that is very interesting to create a web series of its own. This is where we’ve opened up niche content to. Not to forget the main reason it’s working is that the audience is watching it. And because of the social media, they can get in touch with the makers directly. There are more ways to recognize what the audience wants, so word of mouth is a huge factor in our content creation. Producers have no choice but to listen to the audience.
An item girl in Anarkali of Aarah, a mother of a fifteen year old in Nil Battey Sannata or a postmodern divorcee in Veere Di Wedding. Is playing a variety of characters that don’t fit your image, a challenge for you? Honestly, these are my conscious choices. I get so bored playing the same kind of role over and over again. I’m always fulfilled by the process of doing it and if you do not choose a variety of characters you are not learning. Do you follow any particular norm while choosing a script? How do you figure out what you want? It’s not at all a planned process. It’s called organic. I read a script and
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Bollywood’s Wedding Fantasy League Now that the wedding season is in full-swing, can we expect 2019 to be just as over-the-top? Are we ready for more mehndis, sangeets, shaadis and receptions in the next year? Ahad Sanwari takes a look at who could be the next figurines on top of the cake.
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2018 was a year
of the big Bollywood wedding bashes. You had the grandness of Ranveer Singh weds Deepika Padukone, the opulence of Priyanka Chopra marrying Nick Jonas and the plain scent of money that wafted through Isha Ambani and Anand Piramal’s festivities. And that’s just over the last two months! Who can forget the other weddings that took place this year – Sonam Kapoor with Anand Ahuja and Neha Dhupia with Angad Bedi. It got us into thinking about who could we see taking a stroll down the aisle come 2019. And it’s pretty much a guarantee that
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Ranbir Kapoor and Alia Bhatt may be the biggest chance we have for another big fat Indian wedding. the same splendor is going to carry into the new year, trust and believe. So let’s take a leap into the rabbit hole of all the Bollywood relationships and ‘relationships’ and see who might be saying ‘I do’ sometime soon. The ‘For Sure, Probably’ Couples These are the B-town couplings that we pretty much all know exist and we’re just waiting for them to take that next big step. The biggest suspects on that list are Alia Bhatt and Ranbir Kapoor, currently the industry’s unmarried power couple. They’ve already spoken heaps about their relationship and if pictures (mostly clicked by Ranbir) are to be believed, these two could have a good ‘happily ever after’ storyline…as long as Ranbir – the Playboy doesn’t come out to play. We also have Arbaaz Khan’s teeter-tottering with Giorgia Andriani and, in response, Malaika Arora’s romance with Arjun Kapoor to dissect since, in a bid to one-up each other, we might be hearing wedding bells as soon as March. Let’s not forget another Arjun, Arjun Rampal, who could just pop the question to lady love Gabriella Demetriades, since the two have been seen vacationing together and on luxe cruise liners. Then there are the more under the radar couples that have, nevertheless, been doing well and could just yield greater results in 2019. These include Varun Dhawan and Natasha
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Dalal and Farhan Akhtar and Shibani Dandekar. And then we have two notable couples who have been at it for a little longer and slaying the relationship game, ala Rajkummar Rao and Patralekha and Ali Fazal and Richa Chadha, who admitted that Richa was a ‘tender part of his life’ recently. The ‘Are they? Aren’t they?’ couples Now these are the particular pairs that we’re not yet sure are actually…well, together. But our spidey senses are tingling and we’re picking up some major sparks and hidden romances. The biggest examples of the more longer-lasting versions of these is Tiger Shroff and Disha Patani and let’s be real, despite their reluctance to actually say anything, we think this couple is as real as they get and we’re putting our money on them. And there’s also Sidharth Malhotra and Kiara Advani, one of the newly minted unions that even Alia Bhatt couldn’t help but ship on Koffee with Karan (where a lot of this intel actually comes from, mind you) and that we’re thinking is cute. It’s not ‘long haul’ but it’s cute. But then there are the even more speculative rumours about Vicky Kaushal and Harleen Sethi and Ishaan Khatter and Janhvi Kapoor, the latter fresh off of the Dhadak trail and showing some good ol’ fashioned love on Instagram. The odd ones There are a few Bollywood romance whisperings that aren’t necessary the most sound or the most cohesive but that we have to address lest we all burst into flames. First and foremost is the rumour about Sushmita Sen and boyfriend, model Rohman
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Shawl. What fuels the fire is the fact that Sush never denied the rumours, which have gone so far as to say that the two are already married, and the two have just been mushy-mushy on Instagram and are showing the world how loving relationships are done. And then we have the perennial question of Salman Khan. Will he ever marry? Evidence to date suggests that it doesn’t seem likely to happen for a while. However (and this is a big ‘however), 2018 has seen the strongest surge in rumours of the long-awaited Salman shaadi since his relationship with Aishwarya Rai Bachchan. And while most of it seems to surround Iulia Vantur, more ardent fans (probably more reliable ones in our books) are
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Will Salman Khan ever get married? That’s a question for the history books!” still holding out on hope that Salman and Katrina Kaif could go back to being a thing and make them the ultimate on-screen and off-screen Bollywood jodi. Also, just imagine how pretty the babies would be. The film industry has always been about its big romances and well-kept secrets. There have been many couples that we’ve seen in the past that seemed to come out on top against all odds and then just collapse right before we could begin to expect celebrations, like Salman and Aishwarya, Abhishek Bachchan and Rani Mukerji and Kareena Kapoor Khan and Shahid Kapoor/ All we can really do right now is wonder and hope and probably dream. Because this winter, love might be in the air. But so is the flu. So just be careful what you catch!
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“
I LIKE A
MAN WITH A GOOD BUTT BECAUSE NOT MANY HAVE THAT. The vivacious ZARINE KHAN is capturing hearts everywhere, whether as an item diva in Character dheela or the new scream queen in Hate Story 3 and 1921. Read on as Zarine opens up on her love life, fantasies and being marooned on an island with Ranveer Singh. You became an actor because…? I had no plans of becoming an actor, but I guess destiny had its own plans for me. The film you absolutely loved working on… I have been lucky to work with some very good people in the industry who make the working
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”
atmosphere super fun, so I can’t chose a particular film. The character you thought suited you to the ‘T’: I still haven’t been offered that role. The most wonderful thing about being an actor is…. I get to explore and emote so many different characters.
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What is the worst possible thing about being an actor? The fact that people forget at the end of the day, you too are human just like them. What are the three most essential things you carry along with you all the time? My wallet, my mobile phone and my house keys. I’d never go anywhere without them. What in a man/woman turns you on? A good sense of humour, definitely. What in a man/woman turns you off? Being a show off, lies and bad odour, I can’t stand those. What’s the mantra to impress the opposite sex according to you? I have no mantra, really. I just believe in being myself. Have you ever been hit on by the same sex? What was your reaction? Yes, a few times. And I was honestly quite flattered.
“
I’m a ‘love-my-ownspace’ kind of lover.”
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When was the last time a guy or a girl chased you? Or you chased someone? I don’t chase anyone and, unfortunately, I haven’t been chased either. Have you ever drunk dialled anyone? No, never done that. Bollywood’s dreaded casting couch has reared its ugly face many-a-times. Have you faced it? If yes, what was your reaction? If no, what would you do if some slimy person makes a pass at you in the guise of giving you a role? I’m a no-nonsense person. And that comes across really strongly.
So no one has really dared so far to mess with me and whoever tried, I put straight right then and there.
kind of energy he has, I’m sure there will never be a dull moment even on a deserted island.
If marooned on an island, which actor would you want to be with? And why? Ranveer Singh. I know he’s married now to the most beautiful girl. But come on, I just really want to be friends with him because I think he’s super fun and with the
In a relationship would you be a daunting or chilled out partner? I would be a very chilled out person, definitely. Have you ever been cheated on and at what age? What was your reaction?
“
I support every kind of relationship as long as I’m not involved.” No. I’ve been lucky so far. Or so I would like to believe. What kind of a lover are you? I’m a ‘love-my-own-space’ kind of lover. What is the first thing you notice in the opposite sex? I like a man with a good butt because not many have that. So I guess that’s the first thing I notice. Have you ever taken advantage of your celebrity status? Yes, mostly while standing in lines and queues. What’s your take on open relationships? I support every kind of relationship as long as I’m not involved. Which is the strangest place you’ve made out in? I don’t think I want to reveal that, because I might get caught next time! What would you want to be known as? A good human and so far, I guess I’ve succeeded at it. A film you saw only for the sex in it? Well, in that case I’d rather just watch porn. What’s your perfect date like? A road trip with endless adventures. If you had to describe yourself, what would it be? I am a spontaneous, adventurous hippie.
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“My Agenda Has Never Been To Break Into Mainstream Bollywood.” Amid the sea of Bollywood playback superstars stands PRIYA SARAIYA, a little more underrated but a whole lot talented singer! Not only has she voiced current Bollywood staples like ABCD 2’s Sun saathiya, but she’s penned many more for major flicks like Meri Pyaari Bindu, A Gentleman, Bhoomi and Badlapur. Never one to toot her own horn, read on as she tells Ahad Sanwari about her musical beginnings, her take on actors as singers and her relationship with one half of Sachin-Jigar. Could you tell us a bit about your musical journey? Your early beginning, basically an encapsulation of your journey for someone who doesn’t know you. I started learning Hindustani classical music at the age of five and started participating in many inter-school competitions. Padmashree awardees Kalyanji-Anandji were judging a school competition once and appreciated my singing. They asked me to join their group called ‘Little Stars’ and that’s how my professional singing career started. At the age of six, I was already travelling
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the world and did lots of live shows with them. I got my first ever break as a writer and singer through the popular celebrity musical duo Sachin-Jigar. I met them in 2010 via social media when they were working on their second film F.A.L.T.U which was Remo D’Souza’s directorial debut. Sachin and Jigar were looking for somebody who could assist them with writing and singing scratches of their songs. Writing was my hobby and I grabbed the opportunity to learn and experience something new. My first song Gale laga le was a duet with Vijay Prakash which I wrote and sang. Immediately after that followed Saibo and Karma is a bitch from Shor in the City. Saibo got me a lot of recognition and I was nominated for several awards that season and I had become a popular lyricist. This was a major high in my career.
I think producers don’t want to take the risk of trying something new.”
Which songs do you think majorly define your career? The opportunity to write and sing Sun saathiya for ABCD 2, which was beautifully performed onscreen by Shraddha Kapoor, was the turning point for me. I got more recognition as a singer here and more opportunities as well. We had actually made this song for the background score of ABCD and because the audio of the album was already released we couldn’t include this song in the audio CD. Remo sir promised us that he would create a special situation in the sequel and include this song in the film. He kept his promise and I feel this song has been the biggest accomplishment for me.
You and your husband, Jigar, both make an extremely musical duo. Do you ever get competitive with each other when you’re working on music? I feel we are lucky to not just share
a marital bond but we share a musical bonding too. And wherever there’s music, there’s life. Even at home, we discuss music, we learn together, we make songs and we fight on the lyrics and tunes. Both of us accept criticism very well and I feel that really helps us maintain a strong bonding. We don’t hesitate to tell each other if we don’t like something. We do fight a lot on the lyrics, though, but it’s all for the betterment of the song. What do you feel about the music being released in the current Bollywood age? If you are asking about remakes here then I’ll be honest, I love to
dance to them! But one should also not lose the originality. We need to find a balance here. Whenever somebody comes up with a melodious song with good lyrics, it has always been appreciated by the audience, be it Channa mereya, Jeena jeena or Tum hi ho. I think producers don’t want to take the risk of trying something new. They want super-hit and sure-shot songs for the promotion of the films and there is nothing wrong to think that way. But, as an artiste, I definitely feel a little sad. Do you feel like you’ve truly broken into the mainstream as a singer and lyricist?
I am not a very opportunistic person, so my agenda has never been to break into mainstream Bollywood. I like to explore more music, be it by writing, by singing or just by playing some instrument. I want to learn more and be satisfied with whatever work I do. It’s very important for me to be satisfied with my work as an artiste.
I have had problems convincing people that a female can also write party songs…”
What have been some of the major challenges you’ve faced in the industry? We do suffer from writer’s block sometimes and it becomes very challenging when you have to deliver a song and no single thought is coming into your head. That’s really tough. Also, I have had problems convincing people that a female can also write party songs and isn’t limited to writing just inspirational or romantic music.
What are your views on actors singing playback for their movies and sometimes even independently? This is an issue that’s been debated quite a bit over the last couple of years. We have had Kishore Kumar, Noor Jehan and many other veteran actors singing their own songs in the past. Why is there so much fuss about it now, I don’t understand? If singers like Himesh Reshammiya and Sonu Nigam can act in the movies then why can’t actors sing their own songs? I feel there is nothing wrong in it. This is a digital world and if you have talent you should definitely showcase it and leave it to the audience to decide whether they like it or not. Trust me, the audience is very smart. They know what’s good and what’s not up to the mark. Which musicians do you majorly listen to and have inspired you as an artiste? I listen to all kinds of music, from Sufi, classical to western, I like it
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all. The Wadali brothers, Rekha Bhardwaj and Ustad Salamat Ali Khan sahib are my all time favourites. I’ve grown up listening to Noor Jehan and Shamshad Begum songs. I’m also a big fan of Adele. My husband is a huge fan of John Mayer and he has made me one, too. He keeps playing Mayer songs in his car and it has grown so much on me that I’ve also really started enjoying them. There’s so much to learn from him. Do you think there is still an imbalance in the way males are progressing in the industry as compared to females? Yes definitely, there is an imbalance. But I feel that it’s not because of the dominance of the male but it’s the ignorance of the females. I feel like a lot of females have made up their mind that because it’s a male dominated industry, they will not be able to survive which is actually not true. I’ve had the pleasure of working with wonderful people like SachinJigar, Jaideep Sahni, Mayur Puri who are constantly motivating females to come forward and be a prominent part of this industry.
Most of my songs I’ve actually written while travelling by auto rickshaw.”
Not only do you sing, but you also write and compose music. Which of the three do you enjoy more and why? Singing on stage for the audience is a different high altogether. I enjoy when I am on stage performing for my fans and love it when they sing along and even remember the lyrics word for word. So I would say I enjoy singing more. Writing is actually a huge stress buster for me. It feels great to express whatever I feel in words and turn it into a song. And I also get paid for it (laughs)! Do you have a signature process when you’re working on new music?
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Not really, but I do love to write while travelling. Most of my songs I’ve actually written while travelling by auto rickshaw. Most of the time, the songs are written on the melody or sometimes we find one hook line and build a song around it. Basically, there is no fixed pattern. Do you consider yourself to be a ‘versatile singer’? Are there any other genres you’re intent on exploring? I’ve had the opportunity to sing a romantic song like Sun saathiya, an item number like Sone ka paani, even quirky songs like Johnny Johnny and Khooni Monday. So definitely, I consider myself a
versatile singer. I would love to sing a ghazal or a folk song. Looking forward to a lot more opportunities. A lot of young hopefuls looking for their chance in the industry read the magazine as well. What is one thing you’d warn them about the industry and what advice would you give with it? There is nothing to warn about the industry. It’s a beautiful place with amazing people who are waiting to give a chance to emerging and unique talent. You just need to be immensely talented and hardworking. Just don’t get carried away by short term success. Keep your passion alive and don’t get impatient with the struggle.
Just don’t get carried away by short term success.”
How do you balance your personal and professional life? It’s actually very simple. When you know your priorities then life becomes easier. I have a wonderful partner in Jigar and a family who understands and respects my work and I give them priority over everything else. So it’s all amazing on my front! What’s the dream project or performance that you’re still waiting for? It’s been a dream of mine to work with A.R. Rahman, ShankarEhsaan-Loy and Vishal Bhardwaj. I would love to sing and write for them. Or at least be part of their team and learn from them.
What are you currently working on? I’ve always wanted to explore the independent music space. So I recently started my own YouTube channel and just released my first ever composed Gujarati song called Birdaadi. I’m now working on my next single. I’m also caught up with some Bollywood projects like Arjun Patiala.
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Placed at the top 10 for Miss Universe or starring in Chocolate and Aashiq Banaya Aapne did her good. But becoming the face of the #MeToo movement due to her industry-rocking allegations against famous names is what made TANUSHREE DUTTA the name on everyone’s lips. I love: I hate: I’m afraid of: I’m superstitious about: I like it when: My biggest fear: My strength: My weakness: My sex-appeal: My fantasy: My hero: My spice: My favourite bedroom line: My biggest assets: My passion: My greatest necessity: My favourite possession: What tires me most: What touches me most: ‘Stardust’ to me is: My birthday:
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Starry Sashay There is nothing more beautiful than shimmer, glitter, bling and everything that sparkles. Our stars are widely known for being major fashion influencers and they insist that this season, bling is in. Who do you think slayed it to the fullest?
Kareena Kapoor Khan Anushka Sharma Malaika Arora Janhvi Kapoor
Alia Bhatt
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Jacqueline Fernandez Sara Ali Khan
Khushi Kapoor
LOOK LIKE A STAR! Recreate one of the above looks – high end or street style. If you create a look that’s exactly similar to the ones above, you’ll win exciting hampers. Send us your pics at stardustindiamagazine@gmail.com and begin your style game. Now! Aaliyah Kashyap
Ananya Pandey
Tara Sutaria
Priyanka Chopra
NYKAA MATTE TO LAST My City. My Colour
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STAR DUST
Are actors as glamorous as they look on the silver screen? Can female actors in Tinsel Town be good friends? Who are the new love-birds in B-town? Team Stardust brings you a bird eye’s view into the lives of Tinsel Town eye candies.
Jacqueline Fernandez’s airport style is on point
Kareena Kapoor Khan flaunts those flared pants
Newly married Nick Jonas and Priyanka Chopra Jonas out and about in the city
Alia Bhatt looks uber chic in a floral maxi
Bollywood’s blue-eyed babe Janhvi Kapoor
Sidharth Roy Kapur and wife Vidya Balan spotted holding hands
Golden couple Anil Kapoor and Sunita Kapoor spotted at the airport
On The Go Karan Johar in a matrix vibe
Family day out for Priyanka Vohra and Rannvijay Singh
BE THE PAPARAZZI! A re you one of those craz y fans who loves to stalk your fave stars on Instagram? Is S nap chat your best friend to keep yourself abreast on the going ons of your sup erstars? yes it s no time to get set n go show some of your p ap skills, click or p ick the best candid shots of your fave star from Instagram and get lucky. T hree candid entries ill in a racti e hampers. Send your pics at stardustindiamagazine@gmail.com.
Amrita Arora in a super chic ensemble
Karisma Kapoor and Babita Kapoor head to Taimur’s house
Disha Patani is all smiles for the paparazzi
Peek-a-boo couple alert at the airport, John Abraham and Priya Runchal
Int rnational m@il call More than just mails…
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Govinda Chichi’s back! After so many ups and downs and weirdly timed controversies, he’s back to doing movies the way he should be. Rangeela Raja may not necessarily be the best thing he’s ever done, but I think he’s
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BE OF TST LET T HE MONER TH
All the ladies are surely pumped about getting Ali Fazal on the
@StardustIndia
STARDUST cover as sexiest man of the year. He’s not just a good looker but such a great actor and person and that’s truly what makes him sexy in my book. I’m looking forward to him getting even bigger (even though he isn’t single)! — Anushka Lodhi, Toronto happy now and I’m glad STARDUST is trying to shine a light on a once great superstar. — Roy Mendes, New York Arbaaz-Malaika I think all four of them are rushing their relationships. They’re just trying magazine now available in digital editions. Just hit....
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to one-up each other and aren’t really taking much time to grow as a couple and whichever one is getting married first is just trying to win a race. Well, if that’s the case, may the best couple win! — Pareena Sethi, Ontario Rohan Mehra A Mombasa boy like Rohan Mehra was the last person I expected to make any sort of waves in Bollywood. But he really surprised me and did a pretty good job with Baazaar and I’m actually interested to see what he does with the skills he has. As long as
STARDUST has its eye on him. — Alifiya Mohammad, London Sohum Shah All of Sohum’s films are so good and Tumbbad was particularly amazing. He’s slowly becoming a master of Indian
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cinema and he’s telling the kind of stories that audience all around the world deserve to get from India. Kudos to Sohum and STARDUST for bringing about this change! — Balraj Shahane, Los Angeles
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Mention Stardust for a quicker reply when you write to your favourite stars!
Aayush Sharma I don’t blame Aayush Sharma for floundering with such a terrible script for a movie. I don’t know if he’s ready yet to go from being ‘Arpita’s husband’ to ‘movie star’ just yet. He needs to work a little more on his acting and he might just be able to make something of himself. — Razia Parkar, London Sara Ali Khan Kedarnath was one of my favourite movies of 2018 and I was extremely surprised by just how talented Sara Ali Khan is. If she keeps working this way, we’ll probably see her get just as big as Saif, Amrita and Kareena, if not bigger and STARDUST will have even more to say about her. — Shrikant Dashwant, Boston
Arjun Kapoor I find Arjun Kapoor to be a smart guy and an actor with a good amount of talent but he doesn’t exactly have the best selection of roles. If he probably would just wrap his head a little more about what roles to take up and stop focusing so much on Malaika, we’d have a bonafide superstar on our hands. — Prakhar Chawla, Dubai Amit Mishra Amit is such a talented musician and his songs are some of my favourites. STARDUST did it right by featuring him this month and hopefully, more people learn about the man behind the voice of all their emotions. — Juhi Dashora, Sharjah
SANCHITA PANDEY Ali Fazal as Bollywood’s Sexiest Man of the year! Oh my God, I cannot handle this cover! ALPA BHAGAT I’m so happy that an actor as good as Ali is finally getting his due! KALPESH MUDRA Ali Fazal really is a talent and I’m glad that he got an honour like this. MILAN FERDINAND Is Ali Fazal sexy? I never thought of it before, but that might change. MADHAVI SCINDIA I live for Ali Fazal and his dapper good looks! He’s so very polished and I think that’s what makes him sexiest.
hot!
SURBHI MANKANI The picture for the cover with Ali is so
rumours & Dear
GOVINDA
Dear SOHUM
I was and still am a really huge fan of your films and I’m excited about your new roles. Would you ever do films that aren’t necessarily comedies? — Shailendra Garhwal, Pune
I find Tumbbad to be a masterpiece of Indian cinema and I heard how hard it was to make. Do you think that got you down at some point? — Hridansh Walia, Mumbai
I’m thankful to fans like you and that’s the reason why I do films. I have done other roles that aren’t necessarily comic, I’ve done some suspense, crime, romance, all of it. But I’ve always thought of what my mother told me, about making people laugh since it is in my name! So my first love will always be any sort of movie that makes people happy and if that’s comedy, I’m open to comedy.
I’m really glad you liked my film, which wasn’t an easy feat. Six years to make a film is no joke and, of course, I was really down at a lot of points. I felt defeated and really just wanted to give up whenever things didn’t work out. But I always pushed through because I knew this was a story that hadn’t been told before and I wanted to give something truly unique, and it worked out pretty well in the end.
Dear PARINEETI
You and Arjun Kapoor have such great chemistry on-screen. Does that translate off-screen? Do you ever look at him romantically? — Mimi Nagpal, Kolkata Arjun and I are great buddies and nothing more, really. It’s a product of the industry being paired up with your co-star like that. But even when you look at us in real life, all you see is two really good friends who have fun working together. Even when we were shooting Sandeep Aur Pinky Faraar, we had to maintain no contact with each other which honestly did not work out since we constantly just keep talking!
82 STARDUST INTERNATIONAL JANUARY 2019
Dear AMIT
Dear
You’ve sang some of my favourite Bollywood songs and I was really excited to read about your AMP project. What can we expect to hear from it? — Priya Gupta, Bengaluru
ALI
I think it’s really great that actors like you are slowly becoming a part of the mainstream. Do you think that just having talent gets you far in the industry? — Misbah Nabi, New Delhi Hey, so, I do think that talent is something really important to have to be able to sustain yourself in Bollywood. But getting recognised for it early on isn’t as easy as it seems. It took me quite a few years of plays and commercials and small roles to get some form of recognition, and I’m not saying I’m the most talented of the bunch! Look at actors like Irrfan Khan and Nawazuddin Siddiqui, extremely skilled actors who have just started coming into their own.
We already released the first single from our project, Vacation, which has done pretty well for itself. We’re excited to take it further since we’ll be collaborating with a lot of new talents and I’m working with some of my favourite band mates, Nishith and Ashwin. We’re working on the second single right now and are looking forward to having you guys hear it!
Dear GULSHAN
It was really interesting reading about your work in Smoke and your character was too good! What do you think of web series in general? — Niharika Singhania, Chennai Working on Smoke was such a thrilling experience for me and I can say the same about working on web series. These kinds of shows for me are essentially like films itself but just on a different platform, which ultimately helps get a new audience. I’m a hardcore film buff, so I love the traditional movie-watching experience. But I’m pretty open to new ways to tell stories and I’m already working on another web series so I think you can see my interest there.
Dear readers,
Stardust provides you a platform to ask any one question to your favourite celebrity. We will act as your messenger, and make sure that you get a response from your favourite star. Kindly post your questions at @StardustIndia on . You can also email us at stardusteditor@gmail.com
SEPTEMBER 1991
Words Nilufer Quershi
H
e’s been playing the lover boy for aeons now, yet producers snigger that there are ‘two heroines’ in whichever film he stars. He’s unanimously acclaimed as a ‘good actor’, only he isn’t considered ‘good enough’ when it comes to the meaty roles. Considered the most boring person ever by the media and co-stars alike. Yet Rishi Kapoor has to his credit link-ups and affairs (Juhi, Tina, etc.) which make other heroes turn green with envy. Cranky, arrogant and irritable, Chintu has still managed to fool everyone with his ‘happy-family’ eyewash. In our Court Martial, he takes on all these allegations and more in a surprisingly witty way. You have no career to speak of. In film after film you have tortured your audience with the same boring portrayals. The poor box-office collections are a clear indication of your failing popularity. Why don’t you take the hint and retire gracefully? True. You have hit the nail on the head. I agree that under these prevailing circumstances I should be totally barred from acting. I’m
“Had It Not Been For My Ego I Would Have Been The Topmost Actor Here.” finished, I am down and out and very much on the streets. I have been doing nothing but unnerving audiences for the past so many years. I admit that my films don’t get an opening but that’s because I believe in a free and fair market. I do not believe in monopoly. That’s why I make sure my films run for a short period so that they don’t tie up the theatres for a long period. If my films
click then what will happen to the other heroes? Their films will never get released. Anyway, why should I retire? The producers still come to me and I get paid well to irritate people. You claim to be a good actor, but the fact remains that for the past twenty years you have been playing only one role – that of the
eternal teenager. In your case it is only practise that has made you perfect. Now with the onslaught of younger, more realistic heroes like Aamir and Salman, don’t you think you’ve lost your niche? Fortunately or unfortunately, I am a good actor and by all modest measures I am forced to admit this. I’ve been in this industry for a very long time. I’ve survived even in the period of action films and this achievement has been possible only because of me. Every time a new hero came on the scene, people would say ‘bechara Rishi his career is over; but ironically it was the other hero who disappeared while Rishi Kapoor is still around and going quite strong by the grace of God. Tell me, has anybody bothered to think how difficult and boring it must be for me to keep doing the same kind of roles over and over again? Nobody bothers to think about poor old me. I wish some producer would come forward to cast me in a different role. I am game for anything because unlike others I’ve never aspired to be a star. I’ve always wanted to be a good actor. And I’ve achieved what I wanted. I defy any other hero to do a heroine-oriented film and still be applauded. You have ruined your career with your starry nakhras and tantrums. That’s why directors like Ramesh Sippy, Subhash Ghai, J.P. Dutta, have turned away after working with you in just one film. Why
don’t you realise that your behaviour has only cost you your career? Why only these three? I can add to the list. There is B.R. Chopra, N.N. Sippy, even Raj Kapoor did not repeat me after ‘Prem Rog’. I have got used to people not repeating me. Waqt waqt ki baat hai. I’ve taken it in my stride. Of course, I fail to understand why this happens only to me. I am a very down to earth person with absolutely no starry airs or tantrums. The only reason I can think of is that I am not an easy actor, in the sense I cannot be fitted into every role. I’ve got a particular image and I cannot stray from that. Producers not repeating me does not really prove anything either. I don’t know whose loss or gain it is if I am not repeated. The all is well picture that you try to portray with your brother Randhir is nothing but an act. The unit members of ‘Henna’ swear that Randhir and you never got along, that you were constantly having heated arguments, and that the atmosphere on the sets was always tense. All because you wanted to have your way on the sets. Now how could you be so sadistic towards your own brother at a time when he needed all your support! ‘Henna’ was a do-or-die film for us. It was an acid test; we brothers had to prove ourselves with this film. In the beginning, Dabboo was not sure of himself since he was working after
What great thing is Bhagyashree doing now, romancing the stones – Himalay I mean.” a span of nearly fourteen years. However, as the film progressed Dabboo gained confidence. We brothers have slogged to make this film and God has been very kind to us. And fights with Randhir? All us Kapoors are hypersensitive and paranoid all the time. That’s the reason why Dabboo and myself would keep having these arguments. Actually, they were just discussions. It’s our way of interacting with each other and besides, I have this habit of discussing everything very loudly. Fights and tiffs are welcome on our sets because we are all spontaneous people. None of us work in a pre-planned method. Honestly, whatever our differences of opinion I have never overruled any of Dabboo’s orders. Dabboo has done an excellent job. I hope his detractors will shut up now at least. You have all along treated Chimpoo as a step-brother and now the bechara cannot get over the way you snatched the role in ‘Henna’ right from under his nose. How could you be so inhuman to your own brother? ‘Henna’ was launched a month after my father passed away. At that time it was a joint family decisions that I should play the male lead in
After losing her clothes Moon Moon Sen has lost her eyesight also. I think she should shift back to Calcutta and into some clothes.” the film. I don’t think that Chimpoo wanted to do the film either. After my father’s demise, Chimpoo was in no state to work, he was really very upset. And I don’t have any preconceived notion that only I should be the hero in all R. K. Films. We get actors to suit our scripts and not scripts to suit the actors. Chimpoo is a very talented and competent boy and will be making his directorial debut soon. He is welcome to take anyone else as the hero. I am sure he will do a very good job too. I am the happiest brother now for both my brothers are doing well for themselves. What more can I ask for? First you treated family friend Dilip Dhawan like dirt at the outdoor of ‘Henna’ in Kullu Manali. When he objected you publicly humiliated him. Then you had his role slashed. No wonder he didn’t turn up for the premiere of the film. How could you do this to a man who trusted you all his life? I have known Buntu (Dilip Dhawan) right from the time he walked around in half chaadis. He treats me like an older brother. What happened in Kulu Manali was rather unfortunate. Kulu Manali is a small place. As there were other shootings going on there, we had a shortage of rooms, which led to a misunderstanding between Buntu and me. I fired him when he threatened to walk out of the film mid-way. He even left for the airport the next day, but returned. He regretted his behaviour and I, mine. I don’t know why he didn’t come for any of the premieres. It is very seldom that you get a chance to represent your film to the President
of India. I was told he was busy shooting, I will check up on this. Anyway, he was there in our hearts. Zeba Bakhtiar’s harassment during the making of ‘Henna’ almost turned you and Randhir into nervous wrecks. So it’s not surprising that you’ve washed your hands off her. But what nobody understands is why did you suffer her silently for so long? Let me make it clear that Zeba never harassed us. In fact, Saira (Zeba’s sister) has been very kind and co-operative. Yeah, there was a thing about her remuneration. They said that BBC paid her a particular amount for working for a particular number of days so they wanted her to be paid accordingly for ‘Henna’too. When Dabboo told me this. I asked him to go right ahead because what they were asking for was totally justifiable. Since Zeba was not a citizen of India and she was getting paid here, she had to pay her income-tax here. We were totally ignorant about these economic constraints; even they were oblivious of such rules. I couldn’t possibly pay her income-tax for her. But the matter was solved. About her walking off the sets, I don’t know anything, for even if she went off, our shootings did not get cancelled. The flow of work was never disrupted. And tell me, why would Zeba hassle us when she was a newcomer not a star? She has been very nice and co-operative. Even after Manmohan Desai threw you out in an undignified manner from ‘Ganga Jamuna Saraswati’, you went back to him asking him to direct a film for you. Are you really that desperate? I’ve an ego which is much bigger
than me. Had it not been for my ego I would have been the topmost actor here. In my life I’ve never gone to anybody asking for work. Agreed, I was replaced in ‘Ganga Jamuna Saraswati’ but I will accept their version that they changed their script. These years in the industry have taught me how to accept a lot of things in life. Recently, I approached Manji because there was a producer who wanted to make a film with Sridevi, Zeba and me and he wanted Manji to direct it. He asked me to speak to Manji, so I did. Unfortunately, Manji could not do the film because of his back problem. He explained the situation to me and I understood. There were no hard feelings. The ‘Anmol’ came about. I must say I am very happy to be back with the ‘MKD’ unit. I’ve really enjoyed working with Manji in the earlier films even though Amitabh Bachchan called the shots then. You’ve always thought that any girl would give her right arm to work in an R. K. banner. So your Kapoor ego went phut when Bhagyashree refused ‘Henna’. Now that she has made a comeback, you keep making fun of her. Why don’t you leave her alone? Yes, we had approached Bhagyashree for Chandni’s role in ‘Henna’, but not for any other project as she claims. Nor did we force her to do the film. The R.K. banner does not need stars to continue. It creates stars. Anyway, what great
Deepak Parasher is a frustrated arsehole.” thing is she doing now, romancing the stones – Himalay I mean. Still, if she’s happy let her be. Let us not make mountains out of molehills. You were absolutely furious with Juhi Chawla when she turned down the ‘Henna’ role. You took it for granted that she would do the film because you had promoted her. Now you keep calling her ungrateful and have stopped signing films with her. Why can’t you be mature and forget the whole episode? Why only Juhi Chawla? Meenakshi, Neelam, Raveena Tandon had also refused to do the role. At one given point of time Juhi had agreed to do the film. Then I believe some guy called Kirti Kumar landed up at her house with a bouquet and dissuaded her from doing ‘Henna’ as she was playing the title role in his film. I still can’t figure out what was wrong with the role. What do heroines have to do in other films? Also I cannot understand how the role in ‘Henna’ would have affected his film, for his film has yet to be released. I have never promoted anybody. I need to promote myself right now. Please, I am not a petty man. I have just signed a film with Juhi. You go blue in the face denying your affair with Juhi Chawla. However, Moon Moon Sen (a onceupon-a-time neighbour of Juhi) has spilled the beans. She says she has spotted you an umpteen number of times visiting Juhi at her home. Instead of being a darpok, why can’t you be man enough to admit your soft spot for the girl? Yes, what Moon Moon Sen has to say is the gospel truth. What more can I say now? I am dumbfounded. Jokes aside. I think Moon Moon Sen is a very stupid woman. After
losing her clothes, she has lost her eyesight also. Does she wear blinkers and roam around? Instead of spreading rumours, why doesn’t she concentrate on her career? But poor woman, she does not have much acting work these days. I think Moon Moon should shift back to Calcutta and into some clothes. If I was having an affair with any girl then I would be man enough to admit it. In my case right now it is rukawat mein khed hai. I’m a very happily married man, the only woman in my life is my wife. This happily married man, devoted husband and loving father image is just a facade. In reality it is said that you chase anything in skirts. How can you be so crude? I wish every word that you said
was nothing but the gospel truth. Every person has a certain outlook to life and I’ve my own. Right now I choose to live my life as a devoted family man. If I wanted to have an affair then nothing would have stopped me, especially since in this kind of work atmosphere anything can happen. If my past is any indication then I should have been a sure shot for a broken home. My priorities in life are different. I am a family man and I don’t have to prove this to anybody. Deepak Parasher had once questioned your sexuality in print. After that you made sure he had no career left. Why didn’t you just ignore him? Deepak Parsher is a frustrated arsehole. That’s it. I don’t want to say anything more. Period.
FAST FORWARD It’s about 28 years later and Rishi Kapoor is just the firebrand as he was before, although now with just slightly more grey hair. As an actor, he continues to light up the screen with heavy hitting performances in 102 Not Out, Mulk and Rajma Chawal and has more projects lined up still! All may not be as rosy on the personal front however, because the star is currently in New York recuperating from an illness. While the entire family has banded together in support during his mystery ‘medical treatment’, we’re not quite sure yet what it’s for and it doesn’t seem like he’s homeward bound any time soon. Although none of that has dampened his flame, and apparently not his thoughts either since he still continues to call out whoever he thinks is worthy of it. It does land him in the occasional bit of trouble but then he just makes it all better with another stellar performance. But it seems like he’s taking a bit of a retreat from the spotlight and allowing his son, Ranbir Kapoor, to be the center of everyone’s attention in the film and relationship world. Still, Chintu doesn’t need to call for attention to actually grab it and as long as he’s alive and kicking, and speaking his mind, he won’t be getting knocked out in the near future, that’s for sure! Words: Ahad Sanwari
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