Amitabh Bachchan

‘Epithets, accolades and glorious verbosity that come my way are undeserved’

Amitabh Bachchan

The hallmark of his 50-year career in the film industry has been his unfailing professionalism. An actor who highly values time and uses it preciously, Amitabh Bachchan is known to be the most punctual star in showbiz. And it is time that has embraced him with open arms. At 76, his commitment to his craft is unparalleled. He is unstoppable, and he’s an actor who has truly kept up with the times. And as the drill goes for every film, he engages in a conversation about his upcoming thriller Badla — helmed by Sujoy Ghosh and starring Taapsee Pannu in the other lead — only this time, it is short and sweet. But before the first question can be put forth, with characteristic elegance, he says, “Before all else, I wish to state that these interviews for the promotion of my film Badla come laden with our hearts and mind in condolence and prayers for the bravehearts we lost in Pulwama, and the bravehearts that fight and protect us each hour for our safety and security!”

He brings dignity and maturity to every project that he partakes in. Despite his aura, he doesn’t consider his stature and standing, special. An advertisement recently released by a popular dairy brand celebrated Mr Bachchan’s Golden Jubilee, and the caption read, ‘Tab Bhi B, Ab Bhi B’ (with two illustrations of the actor, one from the past and one from the present, and in both he’s shown in action — running). Bang on! Addressing the euphoria around this landmark year, he says, “Epithets, accolades and glorious verbosity that come my way are undeserved. I could not understand the ad.” Fifty years on, and he’s worked in almost every genre of film possible. His latest film, Badla, is a quintessential thriller where an old lawyer Badal Gupta (played by Mr Bachchan) comes to the aid of a young woman Naina (Taapsee), who is under suspicion for the murder of a man.



Amitabh Bachchan

‘YOUNG ACTORS GIVE YOU A DIFFERENT VIEW OF THE WORLD AND IT’S MOST EDUCATIVE’

Recently, thrillers like AndhaDhun and Tumbbad have put the spotlight on this genre, in Hindi cinema. When talking about the genre, which has a lot of potential for filmmakers, but remains quite untapped, he turns around and stresses that thrillers have always been an exciting part of the world of movies. “From time immemorial, thrillers have occupied a vital part of film history in our firmament. For someone from my generation, I can recall Mahal, Ashok Kumar and Madhubala’s 1949 film, as an outstanding production. Several others since and after have had their say and stay in Hindi cinema,” he explains.

Ask him if he has some favourites from this genre, and he replies, “There are several! Naming them would be a test for my memory at my age. Alfred Hitchcock and his films would be the choice for international thrillers.”

Speaking of Badla, it was the uniqueness of the story that caught his attention. He explains, “I liked the story; I liked the director, Sujoy Ghosh. I liked the suspense and the thriller element it contained.” Ghosh’s psychological thriller, Kahaani (2012) had redefined the narrative of thrillers in our cinema during that phase. To make a film with a solid, gripping and emotional story in this space, one needs a deep sense and understanding of the human psyche. Mr Bachchan, who has worked with Ghosh in the past (Aladin, 2009), adds, “Sujoy is an intelligent and talented mind. His directorial ventures give ample proof of his creativity. He is restless, yet most composed in his thinking and what he desires from his artistes. It’s been a joy working with him.”

Not just young filmmakers, lately, he has been collaborating with a lot of young actors like Taapsee, Ranbir Kapoor and Alia Bhatt (in Brahmastra) and many others. He is always lavish with his praise for the new breed of actors and he shows keenness and excitement to collaborate with them on a variety of subjects. “They do give you a different view of the world and it’s most educative,” he says.

Apart from acting, one of his other passions is music. For Badla, he has rapped for a track called Aukaat. In his 2018 release 102 Not Out, he sang a peppy track called Badumbaa, and he shook a leg to that, too. Even in the past, he has delightedly stepped in to lend his voice for several songs. He takes his passion seriously, and he also has a full-fledged recording studio at his home where he occasionally brushes up on his musical skills. Talking about his affection for music he says, “Who doesn’t love music? Music plucks the chords and strings of our souls… it’s divine.” Recently, acclaimed sitar player and composer Niladri Kumar presented Mr Bachchan with a zitar. Speaking about it, the acting legend says, “Yes, Niladri gifted me a zitar. I do not know how to play any instrument and I lament that.”

HARSH RAJPUT

‘If supernatural shows excite the audience, how can actors have a say on whether the genre is good or bad?’

HARSH RAJPUT

Television has seen quite a few actresses turn daayans on screen. Now, it looks like even male actors are slipping into a similar avatar. Harsh Rajput is currently seen playing Daavansh — half human-half devil — on the TV show Nazar. Ask the actor if it was lack of good content-based roles that made him opt for the supernatural genre and he replies, “I have always believed in doing something different. So, when a devil’s role was offered, I saw it as an opportunity to do some good action sequences.”

He, however, denies that the genre is clogging the GEC space. He reasons, “The audiences decide what they want to watch. If supernatural shows excite them, how can actors have a say on whether the genre is good or bad?”


Interestingly, Harsh, who has earlier been a part of shows like Dharam Veer, Hitler Didi, Dharti Ka Veer Yodha Prithviraj Chauhan, Sapne Suhane Ladakpan Ke and Janbaaz Sindbad, was at one point thinking of giving up his acting career. He says, “After Saath Nibhaana Saathiya ended, I auditioned for a few shows, but they didn’t work out. Rejection and failure almost made me give up, but I have realised that patience and self-belief are the two most important traits for anyone. Fortunately, Nazar happened sometime ago. I feel that it is important to be happy with what you get and keep doing your work instead of being choosy.”

But does he feel that male actors don’t have much to do in shows, many of which revolve around women? “Not really. Even on my show Nazar, every character is as important as the daayan. Also, I am getting an opportunity here to play different characters at the same time.”

Harsh, who relocated from Navsari to Mumbai around 12 years ago, says it wasn’t easy for him when he first came here. He says, “Since Navsari is a small town, my world turned upside down when I came to Mumbai. Probably my confidence level was not that high then. It took me a while to understand the culture in a big city. But gradually I learned how to survive here.”

Harsh sports a six-pack physique and like others he too feels that it is important to be fit specially when you are an actor. He says, “I feel nowadays many actors have to do bare-chested scenes and you need to look extremely toned for that. My six pack abs actually helped me land a role in the show as it required many action scenes.”

The actor also feels it’s important to stick to your belief system and not compromise on your values. He says, “There are some people who try to take advantage of you. But it's up to you whether you want to compromise.”

AMIT SARIN SHIFTS BASE TO THE US

The actor has quit the TV industry and India to pursue his Hollywood dreams

Dreams know no boundaries. Ask actor Amit Sarin. The Banaras-born TV actor, who has featured on several shows like Kkusum, Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi, Doli Saja Ke and Pavitra Rishta, and was last seen on Nisha Aur Uske Cousins, moved with his family — wife Vineesha and two children — to the US in May, 2018.

BT met Amit when he was recently in India on a visit. He said, “Since the past five years, I was not taking up shows here unless they were really appealing. I was busy setting up a production house with my wife and I was completely focussed on it and hence, acting took a back seat.”


His life changed when Vineesha developed a Hollywood project and happened to meet the legendary actor, Al Pacino, for it. Titled Tiger Heart, the film will have five principal actors. While four of them will be Hollywood artistes, the fifth character will be portrayed by Amit himself.

The actor added, “Meeting Al Pacino gave me the faith and vision to look beyond what I was doing. At that point, I wasn’t too happy with what I was being offered on TV, but had to do it to run my home. Things started falling in place last year, and we shifted base to the US because it’s an outand-out Hollywood project.”

The decision was not an easy one, as it required leaving behind a career of 20 years and starting from scratch in a new country. Amit recalled, “Everyone around me was shocked at my decision. Honestly, it was tough, but when the drive to succeed and excel is powerful, it takes over everything else. We tried making the film from Mumbai, but it was impossible. For such things, there are no half measures. The age of my children — my daughter was six and my son, four — was also right for us to move. Since Vineesha was raised in New York, she understands the culture there.”

Amit said that he had to say ‘no’ to a lot of offers back home in Mumbai. “My biggest challenge was to break away from the comfort zone here. In June 2018, I got a big offer, and it was heartbreaking to decline it. I keep getting offers, because most people don’t know that I have shifted base. It did take a toll on me, as I couldn’t take up the offers because I was pursuing a bigger dream. Fortunately, Vineesha coped with me. She’s my pillar of strength and was there when I needed her the most,” he signed off.

All of us have grey shades and I find that aspect in people’s personalities very interesting: Sujoy Ghosh

All of us have grey shades and I find that aspect in people’s personalities very interesting: Sujoy Ghosh

In a chat with Bombay Times, Sujoy Ghosh talks about movies, his passion for capturing intense conversations between his characters on camera, his comfort with rejection, ideas of revenge and his upcoming film, Badla.

Sujoy, you take your own sweet time to make movies. How do you keep away from the rat race which comes with the territory?


I come from an average middle class family. Mine is not a sob story, but everything in my life has been a struggle and is still a struggle. I don’t expect anything on a platter. I have had to work hard for everything in my life and I am okay with it. I am used to rejection. In fact, I am very good with rejection as I have not tasted success at every step in my life. I had to give tons of interviews before I landed my first job. I wanted to do Computer Science from Manchester University, but I got rejected. But then, I worked hard and got in.


Taapsee Pannu and Amitabh Bachchan in a still from Badla


Sujoy Ghosh

I have always been around capable and strong women, so I feel I know where they are coming from: Sujoy Ghosh

I know this process and I am cool with it so I think that helps me stay sane. I could write a script and I am aware that it may not get made into a film because it could also be a shitty script.

Your films are led by strong female characters. Vidya Balan in Kahaani for instance or Taapsee Pannu in Badla...

I have grown up around strong women. I don’t know if strong is the right adjective, but I have seen my grandmother, then mother controlling and taking charge of our family. Even now my wife takes care of us in a way. I have always been around capable and strong women so I feel I know where they are coming from. Be it Ahalya (his Bengali short film starring Radhika Apte) or Durga (Vidya Balan in Kahaani 2), I have seen such strong women who have influenced me. Even as an individual, I get to learn a lot from Taapsee or a Vidya as people.

As a filmmaker you tend to be intrigued by capturing conversations on camera.

It’s interesting. Why are we talking for the past 10 minutes? There has to be something about this conversation. How do I present this to the audience, who would then be equally interested in knowing what you and I are talking about. That’s the challenge I like. That’s making a thriller out of a normal conversation. I enjoy that and the master of this was Satyajit Ray and Rituparno Ghosh. Their films were about conversations.

Many believe that the best form of revenge is no revenge, instead you just move on. If you were to keep the film aside for a while, what’s your take on revenge?

Interesting question. I live by the Mahabharata. I am not willing to let go of anything without putting up a fight. That’s me. I don’t know if that translates into revenge or confrontation. If somebody has wronged me in life, I will fight back but it also depends on the situation. The question determines the answer. If someone punches me in the face, I will punch him back but it all differs from situation to situation.

Badla is a Hindi adaptation of Spanish film The Invisible Guest. What made you choose this film in particular for a remake?

Initially, I didn’t want to do it. It is Taapsee’s fault (smiles). She kept telling me that it’s interesting. I finally read what was written and felt that I can contribute to it. As a director, I need to know if I can contribute to a certain story. The challenge was to tell something that was already told in a fantastic manner (Spanish original), so how do you top that?

You seem to have a special connect with Mr Bachchan. Is it intimidating to tell him what you (as a director) think he needs to or doesn’t need to do for a particular shot? What’s the process like when you work with him?

I will always draw a line, but he expects you to say what you feel, else you are doing a disservice to your film. If there is anything I don’t agree with, I will always discuss it with sir. That discussion is of utmost importance. I will always voice my concerns or interests to him and sir is very clever. He does control checks to see whether we are sleeping on the set or not (laughs!). He knows exactly what you want to say even when you don’t say it. He has this process of understanding the script over and over again. Once he studies that, he does what he thinks is correct and if that’s okay with me, we go ahead. If not, I explain to him my point of view and if he agrees, we change it. It’s very organic, we discuss and improvise.

You are particularly drawn to layered thrillers, isn’t it?

It’s a coincidence but I do feel I am attracted to stories which are of this nature. Given another story or genre, I think I will be able to tell that too. I started my career with Jhankaar Beats after all. I don’t care about genres as long as it’s exciting enough for me to give nine months of my life to that film. As far as layering is concerned, when I was growing up, everything was very black and white. Hero, heroine, villain... it was all very compartmentalised but as we go through life, you see things about yourself which you didn’t know existed. The good and the bad side. You evolve. When I fight with my wife and think about it later, I feel I am a very bad person but in my head I was right in doing what I did. It all exists within us and that’s how the layering comes. We have different sides to our personality, all of us have grey shades and I find that aspect in people very interesting.

The audience will become the judge in Badla: Taapsee Pannu

Director Sujoy Ghosh, who is known for edgy thrillers like Kahaani (2012) and Kahaani 2: Durga Rani Singh (2016), is all set for his next outing, Badla. The film is a Hindi adaptation of the 2016 Spanish crime thriller, The Invisible Guest. It will bring Amitabh Bachchan and Taapsee Pannu back together in lead roles, after their last successful outing in Pink (2016). While Big B plays a high-profile lawyer, Taapsee will be seen as a powerful business woman.

Talking about the film, the actress says, “Badla is whodunit murder mystery and I think that genre hasn’t been explored much in Bollywood. Most whodunits progress in a linear fashion but here, you have two people (Taapsee and Amitabh Bachchan) sitting across a table and discussing the same incident multiple times from different perspectives. There are various versions to the same incident and it’s about discovering which one is right, especially when no one is telling complete lies. What’s true and what isn’t… how do you find that? The audience will become the judge. The story is interestingly crafted and layered. You won’t even go for a loo break for the fear of missing out on a crucial scene.”


On his part, Sujoy is happy to work with Amitabh Bachchan once again. The filmmaker says, “I love working with sir. Every time I work with him, I learn something new. Making a film is such a long and arduous task that you need to be with people who you enjoy working with. They need to make you look forward to your work. In a way, he is the youngest member on the set.”

Badla, presented by Red Chillies Entertainment, in association with Azure Entertainment, co- produced by Gaurav Verma, and produced by Gauri Khan, Sunir Kheterpal and Akshai Puri, releases on March 8.

ZAYN TWEETS ‘LOVE YOU’ TO GIGI TWO MONTHS AFTER SPLITTING

Recently, Zayn Malik tweeted to Gigi Hadid, saying, “Love you” — making fans wonder what the on-again, off-again couple’s current relationship status is. Hadid is yet to reply to her former flame’s message, but has tweeted back to a couple of fans.

A source told an American website in January that the two broke up, but not because they don’t love one another. “After trying for a long time, the couple just couldn’t make it work. Zayn has been dealing with personal things for a while and Gigi has become a comfort blanket for him,” the source explained.


“Gigi will always support him but she realised only Zayn can help Zayn.”

Making a hard-hitting film around women’s safety

Director Sunil Pathare’s long and interesting journey of exploring different creative endeavours has resulted in him making Meera, a 30-minute film on women’s safety. His passion for photography and landscape paintings, intertwined with his penchant for storytelling, holds him in good stead. Talking about his passion for filmmaking, Pathare says, “A good idea and a thought-provoking message, if executed well, will always find an audience. Once an idea makes its place in my mind, nothing deters me from seeing it through.”

The film is Pathare’s directorial debut and he chose to take a non-commercial route while making a sensitive and muchneeded film around women’s issues. He adds, “Looking at the situation not only in India, but around the world, there should be many more films like Meera. If we have a medium like cinema that can create an influence around the world, we should use it to bring about a change.”


Full of ideas, Pathare aims to venture into unexplored realms of filmmaking by experimenting with thought-provoking themes and subjects. The story of this movie depicts an alternate reality where there is no law stopping men from committing violent sexual acts against women. The narrative unfolds in a different way and puts forth lot of questions for the viewers to assess.

Meera, a Maxwell Entertainment presentation and Roopesh Rai production, produced by Kapil Pathare, creative producer Roopesh Rai Sikand, features Kimaya Bhattacharya playing the title role.

‘Glorification of trolls has added crazy pressure on entertainers’

She’s one of the most followed celebrities in the world, especially on social media. Having made an impact in both Bollywood and Hollywood, Priyanka Chopra has always marched to her own tune. In a recent conversation, the actress says glorification of trolling has added “crazy pressure” on entertainers. She feels the increasing prevalence of trolling culture will only lead to bullying and depression.

Speaking about the pressure of being a global star, the Quantico actress says, “First of all, the pressure comes from people’s opinion and how in today’s age everyone’s opinion becomes news. Most of the time, I see media writing about someone getting trolled for this or that. I have never understood how somebody’s opinion becomes news. How the media gives such credence to maybe 500, 600 or 1000 people writing behind the anonymity of the computer.” Priyanka also adds, “Those are the pressures that are not even created by us or the fans. It is just created by the one thing — which is the internet. It has has made people’s job easier... You can make a story out of anybody’s comment. Glorification of trolls has added crazy pressure on entertainers.”


The actress has come back to India for her brother Siddharth Chopra’s roka ceremony, which took place in Delhi recently. Right now she’s in Mumbai for professional commitments. And, speaking about the demanding lifestyle of a celebrity, she says, “There is something called living your life according to the social responsibility that you feel as an individual and then there is something else — living your life according to how everybody else wants to you to live. That is not the world we should live in.” Priyanka has also faced the wrath of social media for myriad subjects like her dressing style, using firecrackers at her wedding last year or even for taking her husband and singer Nick Jonas’ last name.

She points out a serious implication that comes out of the trolling culture, as she explains, “Our children should not be thought that people’s opinions are that important... When they get bullied in school or when they get bullied as teenagers because of the comments written on Instagram, it can lead them to depression or taking harsh decisions in their lives. It is being propagated by these stories where we give so much importance to the way we look on Instagram or what we talk about on Twitter or what our image is.”

Talking about her own journey, she says, “I have not lived my life according to somebody else. I have walked to the beat of my own drum, but I am very cognizant of somebody’s feelings as a public person.” 

‘I will only go to events that are taking place for peace or for protests against war’

Gurmehar Kaur says those who ridiculed her in 2017, now understand the relevance of peace between India & Pak

Gurmehar Kaur, the Delhi University student who kicked up a storm in 2017 with her post on social media, advocating stronger Indo-Pak relations, says her narrative against war is being understood now by people in the face of military escalation at the Indo-Pak border. The girl, who is now an author and student peace activist, says she still fears radical student outfits, who had threatened her when she posted a video in 2017 saying that, Pakistan didn’t kill her father, a martyred Indian Army officer, but the war did. Speaking to the team at an event, Gurmehar reitertated her stand. Excerpts.

Given the present situation between India and Pakistan, has your stance changed since the time you first started the narrative of peace between the two countries?


My stance will never change. My stance is something that I came to terms with after twenty years of walking this planet, and isn’t something that dawned on me one fine day. It’s a very strong opinion that I formed over the years. In the present situation in the country, people ask me why I haven’t made my opinions vocal now. I tell them that, I don’t need to speak about it again and again. Now that the fear of war is looming, people are like, ‘Yeah that silly girl was right’. I think now other people need to say what I was saying back in 2017. I have said enough.

In your opinion, is the present situation between India and Pakistan scary?

I am actually surprised that someone is using the word ‘scary’. Because when I had posted an anti-war narrative, people threatened me, hated me. Even now, the word they use is ‘tense’ and not scary.

Last time when you took a stand against political party, they threatened you with death and rape. You had to leave Delhi for a while too. Do you still feel fear?

Yes, I am still scared. I don’t take the metro, and I still travel by auto. I don’t take public transport anymore. I am now extra careful, and don’t go out in particular spaces or places that has radical presence. I will only go to certain events that are taking place for peace, or for protests against war. And if I am going to attend events, I don't really put out my location or whereabouts on social media. I just be a part of the protest and mingle with the crowd as one of them.

The teaser of RAW (Romeo Akbar Walter)

RAW is a tale of patriotism and valour

The teaser of RAW (Romeo Akbar Walter), which released on Republic Day, has caught the attention of every patriotic citizen. Set in the tumultuous period of 1968-71, the film is based on true events that left an impact on the future of three countries. It was one of the shortest wars in history, with the Pakistan Army eventually surrendering to the Indian Army. The story is based on a period where the subcontinent’s most decisive battle led to the birth of a new nation — Bangladesh. The country’s intelligence agencies played a crucial part in this conflict where India’s every action was precise, impactful and deadly.

Written and directed by Robbie Grewal, this espionage thriller is a salute to those who serve the nation behind enemy lines and yet remain nameless faceless and often forgotten. The trailer of the much-anticipated film is being launched today by producers Ajit Andhare, COO, Viacom18 Studios, Ajay Kapoor, Producer and Managing Director, KYTA Productions and Vanessa Walia of VA Films. John Abraham essays the role of a RAW agent, who chooses to serve his country and sacrifices everything he has... even his very existence. The film also has an ensemble star cast featuring Jackie Shroff, Mouni Roy, Suchitra Krishnamoorthi, Sikander Kherr and Raghubir Yadav.


RAW (Romeo Akbar Walter), produced by Viacom18 Motion Pictures, Dheeraj Wadhawan, Ajay Kapoor, Vanessa Walia, and Gary Grewal, releases on April 5.

Why Kartik Aaryan didn’t invite his family on set in Gwalior

Kartik Aaryan

The story of Kartik Aaryan and Kriti Sanon’s Luka Chhupi is set in Gwalior and recently, while promoting the romantic comedy, the lead man revealed that he was warmly welcomed in the city with placards with slogans like ‘Son of Gwalior’. It was during a location reccee that the director, Laxman Utekar discovered that the quaint Madhya Pradesh city is Kartik’s home town. However, Laxman admits that he was surprised to see the kind of fan-following the actor enjoys back home.

When we asked if it became a nuisance to shoot in the city, Laxman told us, “Kartik is a superstar in Gwalior. I am not joking; we had to call the police and get extra bouncers to guard him. We were shooting at the Gwalior Fort and it became so difficult to film, because there were thousands of people waiting to see him. When we cast him, I had thought yeh ubharta sitara hai, but eventually, I realised yeh already sitara hai.”


Despite being in his home town, Kartik preferred to stay with the film team. Laxman reveals, “You can’t force actors to hang out with the unit or to stay in a hotel together with everyone in the crew. In that sense, Kartik was very professional. He stayed with us throughout the schedule except for the days when we were not shooting. Those were the only days when he went to see his parents and friends, or they came to spend time with him. He used to get irritated if an acquaintance dropped by when he was shooting. He had that apologetic expression on his face. He hates being distracted at work.”

Celebrate Thackeray with a movie marathon

Carnival Cinemas is all set to celebrate Thackeray, Abhijit Panse’s biopic on late Shiv Sena supremo Balasaheb Thackeray, in a unique manner. In what is touted to be a first, starting January 25, when the movie hits theatres, a two-day-long movie marathon would be organised in Mumbai (in Hindi and Marathi) at the Carnival outlet (Wadala).

Though many films have had 24-hour screenings on the opening day, this is said to be the first time it is being done on such a large-scale. The first show will begin as early as 4 am on January 25 and the last show will go on approximately till 2 am on January 27. Early morning shows are also planned for the Carnival outlets across Maharashtra. Carnival Motion Pictures is a co-producer of the film, which will be screened in over 2,000 screens in India. Also, this is the first time a Nawazuddin Siddiqui-starrer is releasing in 16 countries, including India, simultaneously.


Dr Shrikant Bhasi, Founder and Chairman, Carnival Group, said, “Balasaheb was an iconic figure in Indian politics and people love him a lot, especially in Maharashtra. We are honoured to be associated with this charismatic personality, who served the people of Maharashtra with his blood and sweat. On public demand, Carnival Cinemas is planning to keep early morning shows across Maharashtra, much before anyone else, to showcase the real-life story of this legend. We believe in content-driven cinema and after being a part of Sachin: A Billion Dreams, we found the most suitable project in Thackeray. Carnival will serve complimentary refreshments before the early morning shows and midnight snacks to the patrons. Authentic Maharashtrian dishes will also be served at select locations on the release day.”

He added, “We are already serving Balasaheb’s favourite snack, Shiv Vada Pav at 72 locations across India. In Kerala and in GCC territory overseas, Carnival is distributing Sanjay Rautji’s most ambitious project. You will witness a feast at any of our cinemas on the release date; our staff will wear traditional Maharashtrian attire and people will also be able to enjoy Nashik dhol and taasha.”

Thackeray, presented by Sanjay Raut, has been produced by Viacom18 Motion Pictures, Carnival Motion Pictures, Raut’ers Entertainment LLP.

‘EVERYONE IS A LONE WARRIOR IN THIS INDUSTRY’

She’s the rebellious Rani of Bollywood, riding high on guts and glory, all armed with heavy-duty talent (yes, potentially explosive, too). She has been on multiple battlefields, and now, the actress, known for her fearless choice of roles and fierce spirit, is galloping towards the warpath, on the silver screen. Playing the titular role in Manikarnika – The Queen Of Jhansi, Kangana Ranaut also makes her directorial debut (she shares the direction credit with South filmmaker Radha Krishna Jagarlamudi aka Krish) with this ambitious period drama. And as the war cry fills up the air, the actress sharpens her sword to give it her best fight. Excerpts from a conversation...

Manikarnika has gone through its share of turmoil. Every time the project hit a roadblock, did it push you to go all guns blazing with more passion and conviction to make it happen?


I think adversity has a certain quality to it, though we think that it’s not a good thing. When things reach an extreme point, there is a different force working inside you that wants to make it happen. During such times, you become far more alive and alert. It’s like being in a heightened state of mind. That is what happened during the making of Manikarnika.

I would forget to eat and sleep, which is unlike me. Making this film sometimes felt like I was going into a war zone, whatever could go wrong with it, did. And then suddenly, for the first screening of your directorial debut, you land up in Rashtrapati Bhavan to show it to the President of the country, Ram Nath Kovind. It was not even something I had aspired for, it just happened. The President and Mr LK Advani really liked the film and they encouraged its spirit. After all, it is about governance and leaders, so I think it resonated with them.


Kangana in

Manikarnika – The Queen Of Jhansi

KANGANA RANAUT

‘THE PROBLEM WITH HINDI MOVIES IS THAT THE FILMS ARE BIG, BUT THE IDEAS ARE SMALL’

In the past, you have spoken about how you’ve had to struggle for everything that you’ve achieved. In your words, “I’ve never done anything in my life without obstacles.” Do you thrive in adverse situations?

Well yes, you can say that. For a 15-year-old, to try to survive on her own, without resources or her parents’ guidance, was a huge struggle. Now, I know how to deal with all this; initially, I was just trying to cope. I think there is a lot of grace in all this too, in this entire struggle. Last year was particularly difficult with my accident on the set of Manikarnika and my films not working; it could have been my end, right? No matter how talented or amazing you are, we all need second chances.

After Simran, you had said that there was a setback in your life and you were unsure about when your stint as director would take off. Back then, did you fathom that your directorial debut would be an epic drama?

After Queen (2014), I started to feel absolutely underutilised, and I had already decided that I wanted to direct. I even directed a short film. I thought Queen was just like a hobby film for everyone involved, as we all had a chilledout attitude. At that point, I had started thinking that acting is not something for me, and I must pursue direction, though I knew that I had to start from scratch. After Simran, I thought that I would get an opportunity, but that didn’t happen. When the Manikarnika challenge came upon me, I was so ready to direct that I could take it head-on. As a director, there is a certain skill set that you need to develop; you are not born with it. So, when we reached the point where I took on the reins of Manikarnika as a director, I was raring to go.

It is rare to see an epic war film directed by a woman. In fact, it is quite a challenge to shoulder a film of this scale on your own even as an actor...

People have this sense of disbelief that a woman is driving a project like this. I am tired of explaining that a woman director can make an epic film of this kind. I guess, when the audience watches it, they will decide for themselves. The general belief is that actors aren’t smart, isn’t it? They are supposed to be dim-witted; or at least, that’s the perception. In the writers and directors’ circle, they often roll their eyes when an actor gives a suggestion. On top of that, if it’s a female actor, it’s even more. Interestingly, when Kamal Jain (producer) approached me, he felt that this subject needed a woman director. They offered me this film to direct. At that time, I thought that if I were to do this, I would need one year to prep, one year to shoot and one year for post-production. They obviously didn’t buy my three-year plan (laughs!), and they said that Krish will write it in one year. I said I don’t know how that is possible. Even when I shot for the film as the director, I prepped for three-four months to shoot a 45-day schedule. I prefer to prep thoroughly, as I can’t function in chaos. I think so far, this is the biggest budget movie that’s been made with a female lead in our country. Movies with women leading the show are being made, but they are mostly small-scale films. So if it works, it’s fine, else it doesn’t hurt the producer’s pocket to a large extent. If it wasn’t for the commercial appeal of the films that I have done in the past, people wouldn’t be investing in me. So, everything fell into place for this to happen.

Krish had a different vision for this film, right?

Yes, he had a different vision for the film, which was that of an action- revenge drama. Now, it is more of a patriotic film, which is what I wanted it to be. When I came on board as director, I felt that this film could have a bigger meaning. It isn’t about a piece of land or claiming the throne, there is a larger picture. Along with the writers, we collectively tried to look for the bigger picture. We tried to bring about that spirit of patriotism in the story of the throne.

Last year, in an interview with BT, you had said, “I have no problem with the mass entertainers that we are making, but that cannot be the only kind of cinema that we want to make”. Interestingly, 2018 was exemplary in that sense, movies which offered only good content with great performances triumphed at the BO, along with some potboilers, too...

The fact that we have to make an entertaining movie is a given, but apart from that, the point is, what are you offering the audience? As an industry, we have such huge opportunities, so how are we utilising it? Even mobile phones engage people, so if engagement is the purpose of cinema, then I must say that the power of such a medium is being reduced. It is like you are using an aeroplane like a bus; you can do it, but is it the smartest thing to do? This medium is extraordinary; it should be used to expand the horizon of people’s thoughts and perspective. If we can’t do that, it’s sad.

When you are reading the script of a film that you could potentially sign up for, do you mull over whether it will appeal to the masses or the multiplex audience? Do you think of making a movie for a certain kind of audience?

A film has several layers, but there are three primary layers. One is the internal core, which is the idea and theme of the film. The other is the body of the film, and the third is the persona of the film. When you think about the core of the film, you can’t look at it as mass or class. Like Queen was a small film, but the idea was not small. When you think of the body of the film, that’s when the business aspect of the movie comes into consideration. The problem with Hindi films largely is that, the films are big, but the ideas are small. The core of the film has to work for me. Manikarnika is a large-scale film, but it’s not half the budget as some of the bigger films that released in recent times.

The fringe group, Karni Sena, has threatened protests if you don’t show them the film. They allege that the film shows Rani Laxmibai's relationship with a British officer. They also say that the queen dancing to a special number is against tradition. You in turn, warned them saying that you will “destroy each one of them” if they continue to harass you. It takes a lot of guts to retaliate the way you have...

They were threatening me, so I felt that if they were thinking of physically attacking me, I’d rather have a headline that says, ‘Kangana’s brawl with Karni Sena’ than one that says, ‘Kangana got beaten up’ (laughs!). I should at least hit back, right? So, I thought that if they slap me, I will slap them back. We have reported the matter to the cops.

You have said that in real life, you feel like a warrior, but in this industry, do you see yourself as a lone warrior fighting various wars on different territories?

I can say this is true, but the fact is, everyone is a lone warrior in this industry. The other day, I was having a discussion with a very dear friend, who is a veteran in the industry, and he said that the industry will love you, they will be pally and nice to you if you let them exploit you. If you allow that, you will become everyone’s favourite person. If I incorporate these two things in my personality right now, one, I go to anyone and say that I will not charge for a particular film or take a pay cut, and two, I let men take me for a ride and tell them I have no objection, then, I will become a darling of this industry. This is the harsh reality, and everyone is a lone warrior here. It’s a jungle hierarchy, so one needs to be smart. To become everyone’s favourite, you should not lose yourself. The core of my existence is that I do not care about being everyone’s favourite.

Rani Laxmibai was a rebel and a fearless fighter. You have the fighter spirit in you, too. Some of it is inherent, but along the way, the industry has also toughened you and pushed you to resolve your own battles and stand firmly on your feet. Do you agree?

My life has definitely turned out to be overly dramatic. Yet, I feel that there is grace in all those struggles and battles, and that’s because I could always find a silver lining. I see so many people who fail to see that silver lining, or the silver lining fails to see them. I am living on the edge all the time, I enjoy it and it is exhilarating. If I am in a comfort zone, I feel dead. Only when you push your limits, you will realise how far you can go.

Nawaz’s dialogues in biopic are taken from Bal Thackeray’s real-life speeches

One of the key features of Bal Thackeray’s political career and strong leadership, was his ability to deliver impactful speeches. Such was the allure and influence of his words that the common man in the audience, felt empowered. Bal Thackeray taught the people to stand up for what's rightfully theirs and fight against all that is not right.

Needless to say, the dialogues in his biopic are actually his own. Therefore, Bal Thackeray inadvertently, is one of the dialogue writers of the film. Producer and Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Raut says, “The biopic is real and edits no facts. The lines used by Nawazuddin Siddiqui in the film are actual dialogues of Balasaheb from his various speeches. Such was the strength of his words that we didn’t really need a dialogue writer for him in the film. We have merely reproduced his own words! This made our writers Arvind Jagtap and Manoj Yadav’s job quite easy.”


Thackeray is slated to release worldwide on January

25. Nawazuddin Siddiqui plays the Shiv Sena Supremo alongside Amrita Rao who will portray Meenatai Thackeray. Thackeray is directed by Abhijit Panse, presented by Sanjay Raut, produced by Raut’ers Entertainment LLP, Viacom18 Motion Pictures and Carnival Motion Pictures.

A MAGNUM OPUS ON THE LIFE OF A WARRIOR QUEEN

Such is the image of Rani Laxmibai that it evokes a sense of unbridled enthusiasm and patriotism in the hearts of Indians. Now, actor and director, Kangana Ranaut is all set to bring alive the extraordinary story of the fearless warrior queen in Manikarnika: The Queen Of Jhansi. Here’s all the reasons that make this period drama special...

KANGANA’S POWER-PACKED PERFORMANCE


Kangana Ranaut will be seen in a never-seenbefore avatar in the film. It will not only showcase the extraordinary life of Rani Laxmibai, but will also show her as a doting wife and mother. The actress has performed all the stunts in the film and has even directed it. Talking about playing the inspirational character, Kangana says, “Manikarnika is a national hero. Her tales of valour are something that the whole nation admires, no wonder then that so many women aspire to be like her. Her legend is the USP of our film.”

SOUL-STIRRING MUSIC

The terrific trio Shankar-Ehasaan-Loy have composed the music of the film. Shankar Mahadevan, who has also lent his voice to the album, says, “A film like Manikarnika can be considered a landmark in any musician's career. It’s truly a dream project, which is challenging and at the same time has also been a musically enriching experience. I think we have been lucky enough to be offered projects like these that are milestones in our career. Even fifty years from now, we’ll be able to look back and say that we were the proud ones to create the music for this kind of a historic, magnum opus.”

HIGH-OCTANE ACTION

The makers have roped in Hollywood action director Nick Powell to choreograph the action scenes of the film. Most of the action revolves around horse riding and sword fighting. All actors in the film will be seen performing some terrific stunts. Shariq Patel, CEO, Zee Studios says, “Manikarnika celebrates and salutes the extraordinary journey of India’s fiercest warrior queen. Rani Laxmibai, sacrificed her life fighting for freedom, and Zee Studios is proud to bring her epic journey to the screen and inspire future generations, too.”

AN ICON’S EXTRAORDINARY STORY

Rani Laxmibai was bold, strong, courageous and is considered to be India’s greatest warrior queen. She has inspired generations and showcased unparalleled courage and bravery when she fought for her motherland, Jhansi. Her name has been synonymous with honour and pride. And now, Kangana will bring this magnificent, historical icon alive on the big screen. Acclaimed poet, lyricist and writer Prasoon Joshi, who has also penned the songs and dialogues for the film, says, “The extraordinary life of Rani Laxmibai has always inspired every Indian and it was the reason for all of us to work together on this project. The entire team has worked hard and I hope that will reflect in the film, too. But, I believe for any project to be truly successful and touch people’s hearts, it needs to be blessed. I hope our project is, too.”

SENSE OF PATRIOTISM

Rani Laxmibai was one of India’s first warriors who fought selflessly for the nation. The story should fill every Indian’s heart with pride as they witness the sacrifice that Manikarnika made for her country. Producer Kamal Jain says, “I am extremely proud of the film. We have collectively put our heart, blood and sweat into making this magnum opus. I hope our movie will make every Indian proud.”

Produced by Zee Studios and Kamal Jain, Manikarnika: The Queen Of Jhansi will release this Friday.

Vaidehi Parshurami

Vaidehi Parshurami

Simmba actresses talk about safety & equality for women
One of the highlights of director Rohit Shetty’s Simmba will be the focus on women’s safety. The film, which features Ranveer Singh and Sara Ali Khan in the lead, talks about the need to respect women and ensure that they feel safe. The movie has a strong female cast and every actress contributes significantly to the story and the social cause discussed in the film.

The main ‘sheroes’ of the film discuss their roles and reveal their thoughts on respecting and protecting women’s safety and dignity. Here’s what these actresses have to say...


We must ensure that all women in the nation feel safe because that’s the only way forward to secure a bright future: Sara Ali Khan

In the film, my character Shagun manages a catering service, which is located very close to the police station, and my father used to be a police officer, too. The handful of girls that run this catering service are quite attached to the police officers. We are very well aware of what goes on in the police station, so much so that we have a very interesting dynamic with the cops. As you have seen in the trailer, Simmba, even asks the ladies for what their course of action would be in a particular case. That’s what makes our roles pivotal, because it is us women who help Simmba and the other officers in the police force.

Being a girl from contemporary India, I have strong opinions on women’s safety and gender equality. As daughters of this country it is our responsibility to ensure that India and its people give equal opportunity to both genders. But foremost, we must ensure that all women in the nation feel safe because that’s the only way forward to secure a bright future.

Including topics of women’s safety and respect in a mainstream movie should be an eye opener for a lot of people: Ashwini Kaleskar

Women safety and dignity is, was and will always be of utmost importance regardless of where you are in the world. These subjects have been presented very well in Simmba and with a lot of respect. Including these topics in a mainstream movie should be an eye opener for a lot of people and it will hit their emotions very hard.

I play a session’s court judge in the film, who is very honest and upright. Her court sees the case of Sangram Bhalerao, which leads to a lot of drama and puts the narrative into perspective.

Simmba, does well to put a perspective on women’s safety, without being preachy: Vaidehi Parshurami

I really think that a commercial film like Simmba, does well to put a perspective on women’s safety, without being preachy. We generally talk about instilling good values in our boys where they should learn to respect girls and ensure their safety, but that hasn’t quite become a part of our social fabric, yet. A lot of men still take a woman’s integrity for granted and end up disrespecting her. The day we won’t have a need to talk about these topics is the day that we will truly succeed in ensuring that women are safe and protected.

I essay the role of Aakruti Dave in the film, who is a modern girl. She’s a strong, independent woman and she cannot tolerate wrong being done to anyone. She’s very protective of the kids she teaches in the film and out of this protectiveness, she sets out on a hunt to find the people who are responsible in messing up the lives of a few kids. It’s on this mission that she teams up with Simmba, developing a bond of sibling love with him.

Men should inherently feel a responsibility towards respecting women: Suchitra Bandekar

In today’s society, it’s become important that boys are given the right upbringing. When they grow up to be men, they should know how to respect women and not take her rights for granted. It’s very important to educate young boys and adults on why women’s freedom needs to be safeguarded and respected. Also, men should inherently feel a responsibility towards respecting women, it shouldn't just be an external obligation.

My role in the film is that of a cop’s wife. She has a young daughter and it is definitely a key role in the story.

Crimes against women take place because of a lack of dialogue and education: Neha Mahajan

I play Kavya, a daring young girl who risks her life for a friend, who is murdered and raped. Problems like women’s safety will be eliminated the day men start treating women as equals. We need to understand that we are all human beings and we should treat each other with respect.

I feel, crimes against women take place because of a lack of dialogue and education. We need to strive to make a better society that supports gender equality. We can send out these messages by making films and advertisements that don't objectify women.

Our film endeavours to start a dialogue around women’s rights and respect: Ronjini Chakraborty

My role in Simmba is that of a girl working with Shagun (Sara) at the catering service. She works closely with Shagun and is always by her side. She is a strong woman who supports Simmba in standing up against the perpetrators of a rape. She gives her testimony in court and takes part in the fight against the convicts.

Our film endeavours to start a dialogue around women’s rights and respect. After years of regressive practices, it’s become hard for women and men to speak out against gender exploitation. But with more awareness and open conversations, there’s a change in the offing. Women should not be subdued, they should be encouraged.

list of female debutantes who made a winning start this year in Bollywood.

NEW KIDS ON THE BLOCK 2018

2018 has witnessed some of the most confident and talented debutante actors making a mark on the big screen. Gone are the days when actors would learn on the job. Today, actors making their first ever outing on celluloid have to be well groomed, must be trained in the craft and are required to get their dancing skills bang on. It really doesn’t matter if B-town's new crop has grown up in the lap of the industry, they could be rank outsiders, or even TV stars making a transition to cinema. There’s room for regional stars making a crossover to Hindi films, too. Here’s a list of female debutantes who made a winning start this year in Bollywood. Read on...

WARINA HUSSAIN


This gorgeous beauty graced the screen in LoveYatri, which also marked the debut of Salman Khan’s brother-in-law Aayush Sharma. While she didn't win as much praise for her acting chops, she has the glamour quotient down pat. Following her debut, she got an opportunity to showcase her dancing talent in singer Badshah’s music video.

MRUNAL THAKUR

A popular face on the television show Kumkum Bhagya, Mrunal Thakur chose an offbeat film like Love Sonia for her debut. The actress won rave reviews for her role as the girl forced into sex trade.

She now has two films coming up in 2019 including Hrithik Roshan starrer, Super 30 and John Abraham's Batla House.

JANHVI KAPOOR

The legendary Sridevi and producer Boney Kapoor’s elder daughter, Janhvi Kapoor starred as the leading lady in the Hindi adaptation of the Marathi blockbuster, Sairat. Tragedy struck just months before the release of her film, when her mother and one of the biggest superstars of Hindi cinema breathed her last. Taking it all in her stride, the actress delivered an impressive performance in Dhadak. Quiz her if she had a dream debut and she says, “I think in a way, I got more than I could have ever imagined. It’s been a learning experience, because I understood what I should do more of and what I should do less of.

The best part is that most people learn through failure, but my lessons have been thankfully through success. I don’t really have a plan.

But I know that I’m willing to give it all and work my hardest. That’s all I know. I need to keep my head down, keep doing honest work, learn and grow, because I’m in love with what I do.”

Prathamesh Bandekar

MALAVIKA MOHANAN

Cinematographer KU Mohanan’s daughter has been a part of the South film industry for close to five years. Having done films in Malayalam and Kannada; she made her Bollywood debut with the internationally acclaimed director, Majid Majidi’s film Beyond The Clouds, alongside Ishaan Khatter, who was also making his debut. The actress was appreciated for her turn as a slum-dweller who faces adversities.

ALANKRITA SAHAI

Yamaha Fascino Miss Diva Earth 2014, Alankrita Sahai made her debut in Arjun Kapoor and Parineeti Chopra starrer, Namastey England. While the actress impressed with her screen presence, confidence and looks, she should choose more meaty roles to showcase her talent.

RADHIKA MADAN

She showed promise as one of the warring sisters in Vishal Bhardwaj’s comedy-drama Pataakha and she also features in Vasan Bala’s comedy, Mard Ko Dard Nahi Hota, which is yet to hit the screens.

KRITIKA KAMRA

The star of Kitani Mohabbat Hain on television, Kritika Kamra acted in her first ever Hindi film Mitron this year. The film didn’t rake in the numbers and the actress might just have to wait for a big ticket film to come her way. The debutant shares, “I don’t want to do films just for the heck of being a film actor. I want to do films because I believe that’s where better content is today. I don’t have a game plan. I believe that my work will speak for itself.”

AISHA SHARMA

Model-turned actress Aisha Sharma made her Bollywood debut with John Abraham starrer,

Satyamev Jayate.

The masala potboiler didn’t offer the actress enough scope to showcase her acting prowess. While it’s a memorable debut, she is a looker no doubt.

SARA ALI KHAN

If there was one other debutante who was being as closely watched as Jahnvi, it was Saif Ali Khan and Amrita Singh’s daughter Sara Ali Khan. The actress’ first film Kedarnath faced its own share of hurdles. However, the tide turned in Sara’s favour, and she won rave reviews for her performance. In fact, even before the film’s release, the young actress was praised for her sheer confidence and ability to field the toughest questions from scribes. She is among the few debutantes who already has a second film, Rohit Shetty’s Simmba, with Ranveer Singh. And in the words of her co-star Ranveer, “Sara is a born star.”

BANITA SANDHU

While the nepotism debate still rages on in Bollywood, actors who have no connection with the industry also managed to find their space in the sun. Shoojit Sircar cast Banita Sandhu, a London based modelturned actress in his critically acclaimed film October opposite Varun Dhawan. Currently, she’s back in London waiting for interesting roles to bring her back to the city of dreams.

MOUNI ROY

She is undoubtedly one of the most sought after TV actresses and made her Bollywood debut in the sports drama Gold, opposite Akshay Kumar. Known for her histrionics, the role in the film didn’t do justice to her talent. The fantasy drama Brahmastra, with Ranbir Kapoor, Alia Bhatt and Amitabh Bachchan, will hopefully give her enough scope to perform.

AISHWARYA DEWAN

The actress, who represented the state of Maharashtra in fbb Colors Femina Miss India 2017, made her Bollywood debut with Sharman Joshi starrer, Kashi — In Search Of Ganga. While her first film didn't grab eyeballs, hopefully she will bag more roles and make her presence felt.

Ranveer to sport the new-age-cop look in Simmba

Costume designer and stylist Navin Shetty, who has worked in many films, including Singham (2011), Singham Returns (2014), Golmaal 3 (2010) and Golmaal Again (2017), has been part of director Rohit Shetty’s team for over a decade. And now, he has styled the Ranveer Singh for the cop drama, Simmba.

Ranveer’s look in the film is touted to be different from those sported by actors in previous cop films. His larger-than-life character — Sangram Bhalerao — required a lot of styling and experiments. Donning quirky colours, sunglasses and stylish watches, Sangram Bhalerao promises to be the newage cop, who will do fisticuffs, but in style. Navin had to keep Ranveer’s personality and his personal style in mind while creating his look in the film.


On working with Navin, Ranveer says, “To me, the one thing that stands out is his work ethic. He stays low profile and works quietly and diligently, without making a big fuss about himself and his contribution. With Simmba, I think that he’s done his best work till date. The costume designs are so authentic that one unconsciously begins to invest in the world of the film. You start believing that these characters are real because they are styled in a way that makes it all look seamless. Navin anna’s work helped me immensely in building the character as well. The minute I put on the clothes, I started walking and behaving differently. That’s testament to his attention to detail — a constant that makes his work truly stand out.”

Malaika Arora and Arjun Kapoor’s dinner date

Over the last few months, Arjun Kapoor and Malaika Arora have become increasingly visible in public places with each other. After making appearances at fashion shows and house parties, the couple was seen dining out together on Wednesday, December 26. The couple, dressed in casuals, looked pretty chilled out together and seemed comfortable even though the paparazzi continued to click. They were spotted outside a restaurant in suburban Mumbai. Prior to this, the couple was seen at Anu Dewan’s Christmas bash, Ritesh Sidhwani’s party and Anil Kapoor’s birthday celebrations earlier this week. A few weeks ago, Malaika had even shared a photo on social media where she flaunted a pendant with the letters ‘AM’. The couple don’t shy away from appearing together at public places and it won’t be too long before they make it ‘official’.

Gulki Joshi

All a protagonist does on television is apply glycerine and shed copious tears: Gulki Joshi


Actress Gulki Joshi, who was last seen on Piyaa Albela, has been signed on for a film, Nakkash. She says, “I play a supporting and loving wife to a sculptor (nakkash). The production house had previously backed a film, which was critically acclaimed, but didn’t do well commercially. That could be the case with this film as well, but I am prepared for it. I want to act, rather than behave like a star.”

Though Gulki became a household name with Phir Subah Hogi (PSH), the show’s success didn’t materialise into anything bigger. She agrees, “I didn’t get the kind of offers I had expected after PSH, but I am also very selective about work. Besides, I want a work-life balance. I like to travel, and agar poora time kaam karungi, toh life kab jeeyoongi? I may not have turned out to be the next big thing on TV, but I know that eventually, I will be there.”


Ask her if the lack of offers could have something to do with her unconventional looks and Gulki replies, “Before I bagged PSH, I would be told at auditions that a role is not for me because I am dusky and I look unconventional. Though I developed selfdoubts, I got rid of that feeling soon after. Now, I am glad that I am not doing what many fair-skinned girls are doing on TV. I don’t fight to fit that bill, I want to be offered characters that no one else can pull off. I played the protagonist on a couple of shows and was bored of it. All a protagonist does on TV is apply glycerine and shed copious tears. I am open to doing strong character roles. Sadly, in India, acting-oriented roles are labelled as character roles and actors get slotted in that category. Fortunately, the perception is changing for the better now. As opposed to my initial days, I am getting offered different roles and I am happy about it.”

Gulki says that she is confused about taking up a TV show now. She shares, “I really don’t know what to do with all these daayans, chudails, crocodiles and makdis on TV. I am confused. I was offered the role of a shape-shifting crocodile in an episode of a show, which I turned down. I will do such a show only if I am offered insane amount of money.”