<p>Babil Khan understood the assignment when he made his debut in Hindi cinema with <em>Qala.</em> It&rsquo;s not easy being the son of a truly masterful actor like Irrfan Khan, but he had to do the job, now that he had volunteered for it. With his latest OTT movie&nbsp;<em>Logout </em>streaming on ZEE5, Babil Khan plays a character who is in stark contrast to his offscreen personality but when you mention that to him, he agrees and disagrees both.&nbsp;</p>
<p>In <em>Logout,</em> Babil plays a digital influencer named Pratyush who is obsessed with social media and can&rsquo;t get enough of his phone in Logout. His life takes a turn when a stalker gets hold of his phone and his life.&nbsp;</p>
<p>In an exclusive interview, Babil Khan spoke about playing Pratyush, tapping into his inner darkness to play different roles, even the ones that might seem very different from his &lsquo;real&rsquo; personality, on his father Irrfan Khan, his favourite films of the legendary actor and whether he&rsquo;d be open to play him in a biopic in the future.&nbsp;</p>
<p><em><strong>Here are the edited excerpts of our long and fun chat:</strong></em></p>
<p><strong>Q: </strong>You come across as a private person in real life. Whereas Pratyush is someone who is outgoing and always on social media. How did you get to play that character?&nbsp;</p>
<p><strong>Babil: </strong>I genuinely believe that we, when we define ourselves, and we give ourselves an identity, we're just creating another image. Do you know of Carl Jung. He was a pioneer in psychology. He spoke about this idea of a darkness within us, which we deny because we need our identity to be good, because of our moral relativism, right? We want to label everything as black and white or good or bad or right or wrong. But the truth is that we are all in the middle. From there, we can choose to go anywhere.&nbsp;</p>
<p>We all have a serial killer inside us, but we choose not to be that. So, to play a character, all you have to do is look inside. You have to look inside and be aware of your demons.&nbsp;</p>
<p><strong>Q: </strong>What&rsquo;s the one advice you&rsquo;d give Pratyush if you happened to meet him in real life?&nbsp;</p>
<p><strong>Babil:</strong> I think I wouldn't be able to reach his heart if I met him in the first half of the film. But I hope I would meet him in the second half because there&rsquo;s a kind of redeeming arc of his soul, of his spirit and empathy. &nbsp;I wouldn't give him any advice. The film and the journey&hellip;.his life taught him enough. I would just like to see that transition in him.</p>
<p>Wow, it&rsquo;s so ironic and strange. It&rsquo;s me, but it&rsquo;s not me (sic).</p>
<p><img src="https://img-cdn.publive.online/fit-in/580x0/filters:format(webp)/wion/media/post_attachments/61e7eede-662.jpg" alt="Babil" style="width: 580px;"></p>
<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/web-stories/entertainment/bollywood/6-inspirational-quotes-by-late-actor-irrfan-khan-1727516918905">6 Inspirational Quotes By Late Actor Irrfan Khan</a></p>
<p><strong>Q: </strong>In the film, Pratyush loses his phone to a stalker. How would you react if you lost your phone to a fan in real life?</p>
<p><strong>Babil:</strong> I don't keep my phone anywhere near me.I hate my phone. It gives me a lot of anxiety. So, I would be very grateful to that fan. I would send her a letter saying, &lsquo;thank you for my freedom&rsquo;.&nbsp;</p>
<p>All my secrets are in my heart and not on phone.&nbsp;</p>
<p><strong>Q: </strong>Are you someone who keeps a diary?&nbsp;</p>
<p><strong>Babil:</strong> I write notes, but it&rsquo;s not something serious. It&rsquo;s mostly bad poetry. It&rsquo;s mostly brain farts that I don&rsquo;t want to share with the world. I don&rsquo;t want to share, not because I am afraid of sharing something but because it&rsquo;s for me to keep. These are ideas that I would rather let grow than expose and let opinions filter it or dilute the intensity of that thought.</p>
<p><strong>Watch Logout trailer here:</strong></p>
<p><iframe width="1280" height="554" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/GOKaA2H2PgA" title="Logout | Official Trailer | A ZEE5 Original Film | Babil Khan | Watch Now on ZEE5" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p>
<p><strong>Q:</strong> Babil, I have to mention that I am a huge fan of your father. His death felt like a personal loss. He was magical on the screen. I can watch his films on repeat. What&rsquo;s your favourite film of his?</p>
<p><strong>Babil:</strong> Giving a favourite would be too tough, but I can give you a top five if you want. <em>Paan Singh Tomar, Lunchbox, Madaari,</em> this HBO series<em> In Treatment, Life of Pi</em>&hellip;.these are just five and not the top five. &nbsp;If I am in a bad mood, I can pick up <em>Qarib Qarib Single</em> any day and watch it. It was my debut film and not <em>Qala.</em> I have one shot in that film because I was an assistant cinematographer. While I was an intern for the cinematography department, one day the extras didn&rsquo;t show up. I pitched in. I don't think my PR team would be okay with this, but I told you anyway.&nbsp;</p>
<p><img src="https://img-cdn.publive.online/fit-in/580x0/filters:format(webp)/wion/media/post_attachments/9eb285b5-089.png" alt="Babil Khan" style="width: 580px;"></p>
<p><strong>Q: </strong>Babil, how do you like the idea of starring in a biopic on your father Irrfan Khan&rsquo;s life?&nbsp;</p>
<p><strong>Babil:</strong> I would actually and it would be an honour but the thought is too scary for me right now. My dada was someone who lived that darkness I was talking about. He actually lived that life. I am just talking about them at the age of 26. He dedicated his entire life to these ideas.&nbsp;</p>
<p>This is why he could play all these characters without ever ageing on screen. You could never say how old he was. He could be a hundred years old or 20 years old. He never needed VFX. Hence, he could play a serial killer and a hopeless romantic with such ease.</p>
<p>Babil Khan starrer <em>Logout</em> is currently streaming on OTT platform ZEE5.&nbsp;</p>

Exclusive| Entertainment Bollywood In this interview, Babil Khan speaks about the secret behind Irrfan Khan looking ageless on screen, his recent ZEE5 show Logout & more.

Babil Khan understood the assignment when he made his debut in Hindi cinema with Qala. It’s not easy being the son of a truly masterful actor like Irrfan Khan, but he had to do the job, now that he had volunteered for it. With his latest OTT movie Logout streaming on ZEE5, Babil Khan plays a character who is in stark contrast to his offscreen personality but when you mention that to him, he agrees and disagrees both. In Logout, Babil plays a digital influencer named Pratyush who is obsessed with social media and can’t get enough of his phone in Logout. His life takes a turn when a stalker gets hold of his phone and his life. In an exclusive interview, Babil Khan spoke about playing Pratyush, tapping into his inner darkness to play different roles, even the ones that might seem very different from his ‘real’ personality, on his father Irrfan Khan, his favourite films of the legendary actor and whether he’d be open to play him in a biopic in the future. Here are the edited excerpts of our long and fun chat: Q: You come across as a private person in real life. Whereas Pratyush is someone who is outgoing and always on social media. How did you get to play that character? Babil: I genuinely believe that we, when we define ourselves, and we give ourselves an identity, we're just creating another image. Do you know of Carl Jung. He was a pioneer in psychology. He spoke about this idea of a darkness within us, which we deny because we need our identity to be good, because of our moral relativism, right? We want to label everything as black and white or good or bad or right or wrong. But the truth is that we are all in the middle. From there, we can choose to go anywhere. We all have a serial killer inside us, but we choose not to be that. So, to play a character, all you have to do is look inside. You have to look inside and be aware of your demons. Q: What’s the one advice you’d give Pratyush if you happened to meet him in real life? Babil: I think I wouldn't be able to reach his heart if I met him in the first half of the film. But I hope I would meet him in the second half because there’s a kind of redeeming arc of his soul, of his spirit and empathy. I wouldn't give him any advice. The film and the journey….his life taught him enough. I would just like to see that transition in him. Wow, it’s so ironic and strange. It’s me, but it’s not me (sic). 6 Inspirational Quotes By Late Actor Irrfan Khan Q: In the film, Pratyush loses his phone to a stalker. How would you react if you lost your phone to a fan in real life? Babil: I don't keep my phone anywhere near me.I hate my phone. It gives me a lot of anxiety. So, I would be very grateful to that fan. I would send her a letter saying, ‘thank you for my freedom’. All my secrets are in my heart and not on phone. Q: Are you someone who keeps a diary? Babil: I write notes, but it’s not something serious. It’s mostly bad poetry. It’s mostly brain farts that I don’t want to share with the world. I don’t want to share, not because I am afraid of sharing something but because it’s for me to keep. These are ideas that I would rather let grow than expose and let opinions filter it or dilute the intensity of that thought. Watch Logout trailer here: Q: Babil, I have to mention that I am a huge fan of your father. His death felt like a personal loss. He was magical on the screen. I can watch his films on repeat. What’s your favourite film of his? Babil: Giving a favourite would be too tough, but I can give you a top five if you want. Paan Singh Tomar, Lunchbox, Madaari, this HBO series In Treatment, Life of Pi….these are just five and not the top five. If I am in a bad mood, I can pick up Qarib Qarib Single any day and watch it. It was my debut film and not Qala. I have one shot in that film because I was an assistant cinematographer. While I was an intern for the cinematography department, one day the extras didn’t show up. I pitched in. I don't think my PR team would be okay with this, but I told you anyway. Q: Babil, how do you like the idea of starring in a biopic on your father Irrfan Khan’s life? Babil: I would actually and it would be an honour but the thought is too scary for me right now. My dada was someone who lived that darkness I was talking about. He actually lived that life. I am just talking about them at the age of 26. He dedicated his entire life to these ideas. This is why he could play all these characters without ever ageing on screen. You could never say how old he was. He could be a hundred years old or 20 years old. He never needed VFX. Hence, he could play a serial killer and a hopeless romantic with such ease. Babil Khan starrer Logout is currently streaming on OTT platform ZEE5.

Babil Khan Interview: Qala was not my debut film. I debuted in dad Irrfan Khan's........

<p>When filmmaker Arati Kadav was approached to remake the critically acclaimed Malayalam film <em>The Great Indian Kitchen </em>in Hindi as<em> Mrs, </em>she wasn&rsquo;t entirely convinced. &ldquo;I told my producer also. Why do we have to remake a cult classic? There is no way to win this. We will only get a lot of flak for it, &ldquo; revealed Kadav, who made <em>Mrs, </em>starring Sanya Malhotra.&nbsp;</p>
<p>A Hindi remake of a Malayalam film, <em>Mrs,</em> deftly talks about misogyny prevalent in Indian households. The film, released in February, has opened up conversations about gender roles and has been loved by fans and critics alike. In a candid conversation with WION, filmmaker Arati Kadav opened up about making the film and how, despite initial apprehension of helming the film, she realized the importance of a remake.</p>
<p>&ldquo;See, for us, we watched <em>Great Indian Kitchen</em>. But there is a lot of North Indian audience for which that film is not that accessible. So it was very important to make this film for them because it is their story also. It happens in every household of India.So I thought it was important to recontextualize it in the North Indian setting.&rdquo;</p>
<p>Kadav revealed that <em>Mrs</em> producer Harman Baweja met around 9 directors for the remake of Great Indian Kitchen before she came on board.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Kadav felt she got the opportunity to direct because she had shown apprehension. &ldquo;I think the only reason I got the job was because I was the one who was saying that the original is perfect. Any other director was pointing flaws,&rdquo; Kadav said jokingly and added, &ldquo;Getting a film like Great Indian Kitchen is a magic in itself when everything is right.&rdquo;</p>
<p><img alt="Mrs" src="https://img-cdn.thepublive.com/fit-in/1280x720/filters:format(webp)/wion/media/media_files/2025/04/09/mrs-3-477785.png" style="width: 1280px;"></p>
<p>Written and directed by Jeo Baby, the Malayalam film <em>The Great Indian Kitchen </em>was released in 2021. The film talked of a middle-class family in Kerala, highlighting the deep-seated misogyny in the household where the woman toiled through the day and the men ate, gave orders and forbade the women to work outside of the home professionally. Kadav said it was important to &lsquo;recontextualize the original story to the North Indian setting.&rsquo;&nbsp;</p>
<p>Kadav mentioned that the <em>Mrs</em> was treatment-based and hence was tough to get it right.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/exclusive-sanya-malhotra-on-mrs-i-wont-change-anything-about-richa-8777210">Exclusive Interview | Sanya Malhotra on Mrs: 'I won't change anything about Richa....'</a></p>
<h2>Directing someone else's vision</h2>
<p>&ldquo;A director usually cannot copy a treatment. The director has to come up with his treatment. That is a tough thing to crack because you want the film to be realistic also,&rdquo; pointed the filmmaker. Kadav pointed out that writers Anu Singh Choudhury and Baweja agreed with her that the film will be set in the middle class to make it relatable.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Kadav also mentioned that directing a film that was not written by her was a challenge. &ldquo;The script is not by you. It's by some other person. It's their vision. For me, I was not able to bring myself to it. So I had to do a part of the script where I could make the script my own. There were things that I brought in like the portion about <em>Shikanji</em>. I brought out the dance part a lot more in the script. Because I have never directed anything that I have not written. So this was the first time I was directing that someone else had written and was their vision. But I had to give it a pass, and I had to make it slightly my own to make it work.&rdquo;&nbsp;</p>
<p><img alt="Mrs" src="https://img-cdn.thepublive.com/fit-in/1280x720/filters:format(webp)/wion/media/media_files/2025/04/09/mrs-119951.png" style="width: 1280px;"></p>
<p>Kadav said she had to re-look the entire film from her perspective. &ldquo;I think every director does. Whether they are a writer or not. You just have to re-orient the scene from your point of view. Because you have a chain of thoughts of how you are seeing the film. And you have to make it consistent.</p>
<p><strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/mrs-review-sanya-malhotras-film-is-deeply-impactful-much-like-the-malayalam-original-8697804">Mrs. review: Sanya Malhotra's film is deeply impactful, much like the Malayalam original</a></strong></p>
<h2>Favourite moment of Mrs</h2>
<p>When asked if she like a particular moment in the film the most, Kadav said the portion where Richa and her husband visit her friend&rsquo;s house and they are having a chat over dinner. &nbsp;</p>
<p>&ldquo;The part where she laughs when she is at her friend&rsquo;s house. When she is laughing away at her problems,&rdquo; points out Kadav and adds, &ldquo;She is slightly drunk and laughing away. I thought that was a unique thing. And that laughing away came while directing only. Earlier, it was a very serious scene. And I thought, let her be so fed up with it and just laugh. It was a very fun scene. It was a very tough scene for Sanya.</p>
<p>&ldquo;Because it has a very good graph for her as an actor- where she is finally a little bit free post marriage for the first time. Where she is eating something she likes. Because she keeps saying that she likes Casata ice cream. But by the time it comes to her to eat it, she is in a very sad state and simply gulps it down. &ldquo;&nbsp;</p>
<p><img alt="Mrs" src="https://img-cdn.thepublive.com/fit-in/1280x720/filters:format(webp)/wion/media/media_files/2025/04/09/mrs-2-862821.png" style="width: 1280px;"></p>
<h2>Audience reception</h2>
<p><em>Mrs</em> screened at various International film festivals before it was released on ZEE5 in India. Kadav recalled the positive reaction the film had received at international festival circuits as well. The film&rsquo;s narrative has opened up conversations about gender role, and Kadav feels the purpose of the film has been served well.&nbsp;</p>
<p>&ldquo;I have genuinely connected with the people. Especially the people for whom the film was made, because that had become my mission.&rdquo;&nbsp;</p>
<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/web-stories/entertainment/loved-mrs-here-are-sanya-malhotras-other-movies-that-you-cant-miss-8747409">Loved Mrs? Here Are Sanya Malhotra's Other Movies That You Can't-Miss</a></p>
<h2>The subtle messaging</h2>
<p><em>Mrs</em> is also credited for driving home the message in the most subtle way possible. At no point does the film give out jargons on gender equaluity. &ldquo; The idea of it is always was to keep it subtle. Films are such that. Sometimes you have to spell out a lot of things. But sometimes it should be left for interpretation, said Kadav.&nbsp;</p>
<p>In <em>Mrs</em> there is nothing that is given to us yet it is all there. You create a perspective. Kadav revealed that she omitted a monologue in the end because then that would mean to spell out what was being told throughout the film.&nbsp;</p>
<p>&ldquo;Towards the end of the film, there was a big monologue that was written for Sanya character. I didn't even shoot. I thought if she was giving a monologue, what is the point of making a film? I was clear about this. Let people gather it from the scene itself, let them understand.&rdquo;&nbsp;</p>
<p>&ldquo;When you show and you don't tell. It stays longer in people's minds. That was my idea.&rdquo;&nbsp;</p>
<h2>Nobody is a villain in Mrs</h2>
<p>Kadav stated that while the film talked about the plight of women at home, the team was careful not to show the men as villains. &ldquo;Men are simply ignorant,&rdquo; pointed the director and praised actors Varun Badola, Nishant Dahiya and Kuwaljeet Singh &ndash; who play the male characters in the film.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Kadav, who has made the sci-fi film <em>Cargo</em> in the past, said <em>Mrs </em>was her first character-driven film and she had a ball while making it. &ldquo;We did lot of readings. We did a lot of rehearsals, which helped,&rdquo; said Kadav who shot the film like a stage play- shooting the whole scene in a go without takes.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Kadav said Sanya Malhotra surrendered to her vision completely. " Sanya was so good. She surrendered to so many takes. I wanted improvement in performance and she was always ready to improvise and do better with each take.&rdquo;&nbsp;</p>
<p>The film involved a lot of scenes in the kitchen with Sanya&rsquo;s character making delectable items to impress her father-in-law and husband. Kadav revealed that the food was made on set and about 60-70 dishes were made during the filming of&nbsp;<em>Mrs.&nbsp;</em></p>
<p>&ldquo;I spoke to food bloggers. I spoke to a lot of women. I thought we should use. Traditional grandmother recipes from Uttar Pradesh. We used those recipes. We had a food stylist who was making the food look slightly good. We all gained at least 10 kilos, we would eat all that was made while shooting.&rdquo;&nbsp;</p>
<p><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/GuS6fqL_HfQ?si=JwnWDtZQxDshgFZj" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p>
<h2>'Sanya is a great cook'&nbsp;</h2>
<p>Kadav also revealed that Sanya Malhotra is a good cook. &ldquo;We did not have any hand double, she was actually making the dishes. Even the messy parts had Sanya using her hands. From cleaning the bones and throwing them in the bin, to cleaning the blocked drain, Sanya did it herself. So kudos to her for that.&rdquo;</p>
<p>Arati Kadav said she was out of her comfort zone while making<em> Mrs</em>. The director has worked mostly on the sci-fi genre, and the family drama made her work hard on all the characters.&nbsp;</p>
<p>&ldquo; It was a challenging job. I just wanted to do it. The story was speaking to me. I tried to bring in a lot of my sci-fi sensibilities while making Mrs and a as a director, I grew a lot.&rdquo;&nbsp;</p>
<p>Watch: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/mrs-actor-sanya-malhotra-its-time-to-recognise-womens-aspirations-e-club-8752025">Mrs actor Sanya Malhotra: It's Time to Recognise Women's Aspirations | E-Club</a></p>

Bollywood | Entertainment In a candid conversation with WION, filmmaker Arati Kadav opened up about making the film and how, despite initial apprehension of helming the film, she realized the importance of a remake.

When filmmaker Arati Kadav was approached to remake the critically acclaimed Malayalam film The Great Indian Kitchen in Hindi as Mrs, she wasn’t entirely convinced. “I told my producer also. Why do we have to remake a cult classic? There is no way to win this. We will only get a lot of flak for it, “ revealed Kadav, who made Mrs, starring Sanya Malhotra. A Hindi remake of a Malayalam film, Mrs, deftly talks about misogyny prevalent in Indian households. The film, released in February, has opened up conversations about gender roles and has been loved by fans and critics alike. In a candid conversation with WION, filmmaker Arati Kadav opened up about making the film and how, despite initial apprehension of helming the film, she realized the importance of a remake. “See, for us, we watched Great Indian Kitchen. But there is a lot of North Indian audience for which that film is not that accessible. So it was very important to make this film for them because it is their story also. It happens in every household of India.So I thought it was important to recontextualize it in the North Indian setting.” Kadav revealed that Mrs producer Harman Baweja met around 9 directors for the remake of Great Indian Kitchen before she came on board. Kadav felt she got the opportunity to direct because she had shown apprehension. “I think the only reason I got the job was because I was the one who was saying that the original is perfect. Any other director was pointing flaws,” Kadav said jokingly and added, “Getting a film like Great Indian Kitchen is a magic in itself when everything is right.” Written and directed by Jeo Baby, the Malayalam film The Great Indian Kitchen was released in 2021. The film talked of a middle-class family in Kerala, highlighting the deep-seated misogyny in the household where the woman toiled through the day and the men ate, gave orders and forbade the women to work outside of the home professionally. Kadav said it was important to ‘recontextualize the original story to the North Indian setting.’ Kadav mentioned that the Mrs was treatment-based and hence was tough to get it right. Exclusive Interview | Sanya Malhotra on Mrs: 'I won't change anything about Richa....' Directing someone else's vision “A director usually cannot copy a treatment. The director has to come up with his treatment. That is a tough thing to crack because you want the film to be realistic also,” pointed the filmmaker. Kadav pointed out that writers Anu Singh Choudhury and Baweja agreed with her that the film will be set in the middle class to make it relatable. Kadav also mentioned that directing a film that was not written by her was a challenge. “The script is not by you. It's by some other person. It's their vision. For me, I was not able to bring myself to it. So I had to do a part of the script where I could make the script my own. There were things that I brought in like the portion about Shikanji. I brought out the dance part a lot more in the script. Because I have never directed anything that I have not written. So this was the first time I was directing that someone else had written and was their vision. But I had to give it a pass, and I had to make it slightly my own to make it work.” Kadav said she had to re-look the entire film from her perspective. “I think every director does. Whether they are a writer or not. You just have to re-orient the scene from your point of view. Because you have a chain of thoughts of how you are seeing the film. And you have to make it consistent. Mrs. review: Sanya Malhotra's film is deeply impactful, much like the Malayalam original Favourite moment of Mrs When asked if she like a particular moment in the film the most, Kadav said the portion where Richa and her husband visit her friend’s house and they are having a chat over dinner. “The part where she laughs when she is at her friend’s house. When she is laughing away at her problems,” points out Kadav and adds, “She is slightly drunk and laughing away. I thought that was a unique thing. And that laughing away came while directing only. Earlier, it was a very serious scene. And I thought, let her be so fed up with it and just laugh. It was a very fun scene. It was a very tough scene for Sanya. “Because it has a very good graph for her as an actor- where she is finally a little bit free post marriage for the first time. Where she is eating something she likes. Because she keeps saying that she likes Casata ice cream. But by the time it comes to her to eat it, she is in a very sad state and simply gulps it down. “ Audience reception Mrs screened at various International film festivals before it was released on ZEE5 in India. Kadav recalled the positive reaction the film had received at international festival circuits as well. The film’s narrative has opened up conversations about gender role, and Kadav feels the purpose of the film has been served well. “I have genuinely connected with the people. Especially the people for whom the film was made, because that had become my mission.” Loved Mrs? Here Are Sanya Malhotra's Other Movies That You Can't-Miss The subtle messaging Mrs is also credited for driving home the message in the most subtle way possible. At no point does the film give out jargons on gender equaluity. “ The idea of it is always was to keep it subtle. Films are such that. Sometimes you have to spell out a lot of things. But sometimes it should be left for interpretation, said Kadav. In Mrs there is nothing that is given to us yet it is all there. You create a perspective. Kadav revealed that she omitted a monologue in the end because then that would mean to spell out what was being told throughout the film. “Towards the end of the film, there was a big monologue that was written for Sanya character. I didn't even shoot. I thought if she was giving a monologue, what is the point of making a film? I was clear about this. Let people gather it from the scene itself, let them understand.” “When you show and you don't tell. It stays longer in people's minds. That was my idea.” Nobody is a villain in Mrs Kadav stated that while the film talked about the plight of women at home, the team was careful not to show the men as villains. “Men are simply ignorant,” pointed the director and praised actors Varun Badola, Nishant Dahiya and Kuwaljeet Singh – who play the male characters in the film. Kadav, who has made the sci-fi film Cargo in the past, said Mrs was her first character-driven film and she had a ball while making it. “We did lot of readings. We did a lot of rehearsals, which helped,” said Kadav who shot the film like a stage play- shooting the whole scene in a go without takes. Kadav said Sanya Malhotra surrendered to her vision completely. " Sanya was so good. She surrendered to so many takes. I wanted improvement in performance and she was always ready to improvise and do better with each take.” The film involved a lot of scenes in the kitchen with Sanya’s character making delectable items to impress her father-in-law and husband. Kadav revealed that the food was made on set and about 60-70 dishes were made during the filming of Mrs. “I spoke to food bloggers. I spoke to a lot of women. I thought we should use. Traditional grandmother recipes from Uttar Pradesh. We used those recipes. We had a food stylist who was making the food look slightly good. We all gained at least 10 kilos, we would eat all that was made while shooting.” 'Sanya is a great cook' Kadav also revealed that Sanya Malhotra is a good cook. “We did not have any hand double, she was actually making the dishes. Even the messy parts had Sanya using her hands. From cleaning the bones and throwing them in the bin, to cleaning the blocked drain, Sanya did it herself. So kudos to her for that.” Arati Kadav said she was out of her comfort zone while making Mrs. The director has worked mostly on the sci-fi genre, and the family drama made her work hard on all the characters. “ It was a challenging job. I just wanted to do it. The story was speaking to me. I tried to bring in a lot of my sci-fi sensibilities while making Mrs and a as a director, I grew a lot.” Watch: Mrs actor Sanya Malhotra: It's Time to Recognise Women's Aspirations | E-Club

Mrs director Arati Kadav reveals why she did not want to remake The Great Indian Kitchen initially | Exclusive

<p>Actors Adarsh Gourav and Shashank Arora- lead actors in Reema Kagti&rsquo;s recently released film <em>Superboys of Malegaon</em>- admitted that they had a lot to resonate with the characters they played on screen. The film is based on filmmaker Nasir Shaikh and his friends who in the late 1990s and early 2000s established a full-fledged film industry - making films with limited means and budget. The poignant film not only is an ode to films but also a commentary on the struggles of making films and a heartfelt story of brotherhood.&nbsp;</p>
<p>"It&rsquo;s magic, what we have created is rare,&rdquo; said Arora as he and Adarsh Gourav chatted with WION about the film, their favourite scenes from it and lessons they learned while making the movie.&nbsp;</p>
<p><em>Superboys of Malegaon</em> is written by Varun Grover and is inspired by the 2008 documentary <em>Supermen of Malegaon</em> which highlights the journey of a bunch of amateur filmmakers from the small town of Malegaon in Maharashtra. The documentary had made quite a lot of noise in the festival circuit back when it was released. Both Arora and Gourav admitted that they had seen the documentary and knew of Malegaon&rsquo;s film industry much before they came on board for the film.&nbsp;</p>
<p><strong>Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/superboys-of-malegaon-review-adarsh-gaurav-vineet-kumar-singh-reema-kahgti-zoya-akhtar-superboys-of-malegaon-release-date-8757911">Superboys of Malegaon review: A charming ode to cinema, brotherhood and big dreams</a></strong></p>
<p>&ldquo;Varun Grover sent me the script in 2021, and I read it, and I was like, &lsquo;It's the same story!&rsquo; But it focuses on a different chapter of Nasir Shaikh&rsquo;s life.&rdquo; Arora chimed in that it was inspiring to know that Nasir and his friends made films with limited resources.&nbsp;</p>
<p>&ldquo;I would love editing videos of my friends on my laptop back in college,&rdquo; recalled the <em>Titli</em> actor and added, &ldquo;And here we have Nasir Sheikh in Malegaon who perhaps didn't get that laptop. He didn't have the privilege of that house. He didn't have the privilege of that education, and they got together, and they made a feature film!&rdquo;&nbsp;</p>
<p>Nasir and his gang of men did odd jobs. They used to work in shops and power looms in the day and at night make films. &ldquo;It's magic what they did. This is the purest form of cinema that we will ever see in our country. It's amazing. It's unfiltered,&rdquo; added Arora.&nbsp;</p>
<p>In Kagti&rsquo;s <em>Superboys of Malegaon,</em> Adarsh Gourav plays filmmaker Nasir Shaikh while Shashank Arora plays his loyal friend Shafique. The film also stars Vineet Kumar who plays Farogh- a struggling writer who weaves stories for Nasir&rsquo;s films.&nbsp;</p>
<h2>&lsquo;Like Nasir, did not fit into anything&rsquo;</h2>
<p>Adarsh Gourav said he could relate to his onscreen character Nasir in many aspects. Just like him, the actor struggled to fit in. &ldquo;I understood Nasir's struggle about not fitting into anything. I feel I've had a similar journey. Like Nasir, I've also been fortunate in my life. You know where things have worked out for me.&rdquo;&nbsp;</p>
<p><strong>Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/adarsh-gouravs-hollywood-project-alien-earth-series-gets-2025-release-768287">Adarsh Gourav&rsquo;s Hollywood project, Alien: Earth series gets 2025 release</a></strong></p>
<p>Arora said that he could relate to each of the characters in some way or the other. &ldquo;I don't think we'd have taken the jobs if we hadn't resonated with something in the film. I find myself in all of them. And of course, I love playing the part of Shafique. But all these boys they're parts of me, and they're different shades of us.&rdquo;&nbsp;</p>
<p>&ldquo;I'm all these boys, and so is our country, and the moment they see this film they'll know that they are these boys and these girls&rdquo; said Arora who has previously collaborated with Zoya Akhtar and Reema Kagti in the hugely successful web series <em>Made In Heaven.</em></p>
<p><em><iframe width="600" height="auto" style="width: 100%; aspect-ratio: 4/3;" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" class="external-video publive-iframes-block" src="https://cdn.thepublive.com/wion/static/kaltura_player/wion_video_player_iframe.html?thumbnail=wion/media/post_attachments/screenshot/1703_INTERVIEW_SUPER_BOYS_OF_MALEGAON_WEB/00000002.jpg&amp;videourl=https://vodakm.zeenews.com/vod/WION/1703_INTERVIEW_SUPER_BOYS_OF_MALEGAON_WEB.mp4/index.m3u8&amp;duration=518&amp;tags=superboys of malegaon, interview, bollywood, ott, adarsh gaurav, shashank arora, entertainment new" title="Superboys of Malegaon stars Adarsh Gaurav and Shashank Arora discuss their favourite scene, their biggest learning and magic of cinema" id="PL_iframe_block-m8ectjbb-ebry4hrv-6i5ssf3y"></iframe></em></p>
<h2>Their favourite moment in Superboys of Malegaon</h2>
<p>The two actors chose their favourite moments from the film. While Adarsh Gourav listed the audition scene as his favorite, Shashank Arora highlighted the poignant reunion of the warring friends as his favorite.&nbsp;</p>
<p>&ldquo;I really enjoy the casting scenes in the 1st half, where different people keep walking into it and doing different things. The scene lands really well in the film, said the<em>&nbsp;White Tiger</em> actor and added, &ldquo; I've seen it a few times now in the film, but every time that montage starts playing. I always keep chuckling to myself. All the characters, and even Farogh going and trying out, and then Shafique coming and being Amitabh, I feel so bad for him at that moment where he's like, you know, put his scarf and he's gotten ready, and he's just about to say his line but just then Raju comes in and steals the show. It just makes you feel so much- that scene. It's beautiful.&rdquo;&nbsp;</p>
<p>Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/kajol-suriya-reema-kagti-and-others-invited-to-join-the-academy-492781">Kajol, Suriya, Reema Kagti and others invited to join the Oscars committee</a></p>
<p>Arora chose a sentimental moment from the movie. &ldquo;The Farogh-Nasir scene towards the end is special. When Farogh comes back, and they speak to each other. And then, you see, years have passed, and they look at each other, and their love is there, that's just magic&rdquo;&nbsp;</p>
<h2>On lessons learnt while making the film</h2>
<p>For Adarsh Gourav the film taught him not to overthink and to have room to make mistakes. &ldquo;I'm a chronic overthinker a lot of times. I'm just like I completely mess things up because I think too much, and about it, and sometimes that loses that makes it lose the essence of things,&rdquo; admitted the actor.&nbsp;</p>
<p>&ldquo;Nasir completely turned his life around. All his friends lives around. And now there's like a full movie industry that mushrooms in Malegaon. And it's gone up to YouTube channels. And you know, it's a multi-million dollar business right now, with multiple channels, having more than millions of subscribers, and it all down boils down to these band of men in the mid-nineties, who had nothing but passion and conviction that they'll be able to do something. It's just so inspiring,&rdquo; said the actor.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Shashank Arora agreed to his co-actor stance and added, &ldquo;Let yourself crumble and remake yourself and let yourself break and find the love and do it with everybody around you because that's the only way in this life to do things. We can't do things alone. We can't make films alone. We can't do anything alone in this world. We can do it with the people around us, our community. And I think that's my take from this film. &ldquo;&nbsp;</p>
<p><strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/adarsh-gourav-calls-superboys-of-malegaon-most-special-film-before-its-tiff-premiere-758305">Adarsh Gourav calls Superboys of Malegaon most special film before its TIFF premiere</a></strong></p>

Bollywood | Entertainment In a candid chat with WION, actors Shashank Arora and Adarsh Gourav- the leads of the film Superboys of Malegaon- talk about the film, the booming film industry in Malegaon and their favourite moments from the film.

Actors Adarsh Gourav and Shashank Arora- lead actors in Reema Kagti’s recently released film Superboys of Malegaon- admitted that they had a lot to resonate with the characters they played on screen. The film is based on filmmaker Nasir Shaikh and his friends who in the late 1990s and early 2000s established a full-fledged film industry - making films with limited means and budget. The poignant film not only is an ode to films but also a commentary on the struggles of making films and a heartfelt story of brotherhood. "It’s magic, what we have created is rare,” said Arora as he and Adarsh Gourav chatted with WION about the film, their favourite scenes from it and lessons they learned while making the movie. Superboys of Malegaon is written by Varun Grover and is inspired by the 2008 documentary Supermen of Malegaon which highlights the journey of a bunch of amateur filmmakers from the small town of Malegaon in Maharashtra. The documentary had made quite a lot of noise in the festival circuit back when it was released. Both Arora and Gourav admitted that they had seen the documentary and knew of Malegaon’s film industry much before they came on board for the film. Also read: Superboys of Malegaon review: A charming ode to cinema, brotherhood and big dreams “Varun Grover sent me the script in 2021, and I read it, and I was like, ‘It's the same story!’ But it focuses on a different chapter of Nasir Shaikh’s life.” Arora chimed in that it was inspiring to know that Nasir and his friends made films with limited resources. “I would love editing videos of my friends on my laptop back in college,” recalled the Titli actor and added, “And here we have Nasir Sheikh in Malegaon who perhaps didn't get that laptop. He didn't have the privilege of that house. He didn't have the privilege of that education, and they got together, and they made a feature film!” Nasir and his gang of men did odd jobs. They used to work in shops and power looms in the day and at night make films. “It's magic what they did. This is the purest form of cinema that we will ever see in our country. It's amazing. It's unfiltered,” added Arora. In Kagti’s Superboys of Malegaon, Adarsh Gourav plays filmmaker Nasir Shaikh while Shashank Arora plays his loyal friend Shafique. The film also stars Vineet Kumar who plays Farogh- a struggling writer who weaves stories for Nasir’s films. ‘Like Nasir, did not fit into anything’ Adarsh Gourav said he could relate to his onscreen character Nasir in many aspects. Just like him, the actor struggled to fit in. “I understood Nasir's struggle about not fitting into anything. I feel I've had a similar journey. Like Nasir, I've also been fortunate in my life. You know where things have worked out for me.” Also read: Adarsh Gourav’s Hollywood project, Alien: Earth series gets 2025 release Arora said that he could relate to each of the characters in some way or the other. “I don't think we'd have taken the jobs if we hadn't resonated with something in the film. I find myself in all of them. And of course, I love playing the part of Shafique. But all these boys they're parts of me, and they're different shades of us.” “I'm all these boys, and so is our country, and the moment they see this film they'll know that they are these boys and these girls” said Arora who has previously collaborated with Zoya Akhtar and Reema Kagti in the hugely successful web series Made In Heaven. Their favourite moment in Superboys of Malegaon The two actors chose their favourite moments from the film. While Adarsh Gourav listed the audition scene as his favorite, Shashank Arora highlighted the poignant reunion of the warring friends as his favorite. “I really enjoy the casting scenes in the 1st half, where different people keep walking into it and doing different things. The scene lands really well in the film, said the White Tiger actor and added, “ I've seen it a few times now in the film, but every time that montage starts playing. I always keep chuckling to myself. All the characters, and even Farogh going and trying out, and then Shafique coming and being Amitabh, I feel so bad for him at that moment where he's like, you know, put his scarf and he's gotten ready, and he's just about to say his line but just then Raju comes in and steals the show. It just makes you feel so much- that scene. It's beautiful.” Read: Kajol, Suriya, Reema Kagti and others invited to join the Oscars committee Arora chose a sentimental moment from the movie. “The Farogh-Nasir scene towards the end is special. When Farogh comes back, and they speak to each other. And then, you see, years have passed, and they look at each other, and their love is there, that's just magic” On lessons learnt while making the film For Adarsh Gourav the film taught him not to overthink and to have room to make mistakes. “I'm a chronic overthinker a lot of times. I'm just like I completely mess things up because I think too much, and about it, and sometimes that loses that makes it lose the essence of things,” admitted the actor. “Nasir completely turned his life around. All his friends lives around. And now there's like a full movie industry that mushrooms in Malegaon. And it's gone up to YouTube channels. And you know, it's a multi-million dollar business right now, with multiple channels, having more than millions of subscribers, and it all down boils down to these band of men in the mid-nineties, who had nothing but passion and conviction that they'll be able to do something. It's just so inspiring,” said the actor. Shashank Arora agreed to his co-actor stance and added, “Let yourself crumble and remake yourself and let yourself break and find the love and do it with everybody around you because that's the only way in this life to do things. We can't do things alone. We can't make films alone. We can't do anything alone in this world. We can do it with the people around us, our community. And I think that's my take from this film. “ Adarsh Gourav calls Superboys of Malegaon most special film before its TIFF premiere

Adarsh Gourav and Shashank Arora on Superboys of Malegaon: 'This is the purest form of cinema' | Exclusive

<p>For filmmaker Rakesh Roshan, the idea of the Netflix documentary <em>The Roshans </em>came as a tribute to his late father, veteran composer Roshan. What started as a discussion with filmmaker Shashi Ranjan on what he could do to make the newer generation aware of Roshan's musical legacy, the docu-series eventually became more than just about the late composer's work and more about the Roshan family and its contribution to Hindi cinema. "I thought that if we make only on my father, we won't reach a wider audience. I told Shashi that let's make on three generations of Roshans," said Rakesh Roshan while speaking to WION recently.&nbsp;<br><br>"About 8-10 years ago, there was a transistor that came out, it had 5000-10,000 songs in it. It had every music director's name, singer's name, and filmmaker's name. I used to hear these songs. One day, I tried to look up for my father's songs. I couldn't find his name, felt very bad about it. While his songs were there, my father's name wasn't there. It disturbed me," recalled Rakesh Roshan.&nbsp;<br><br>The filmmaker-actor's father, Roshan, had created iconic songs like <em>"Jo Wada Kiya Hai", "Rahe Na Rahe Hum,"</em> and <em>"Laga Chunari Mein Daag"</em> among others. Many of his songs became cult classics, yet his son felt that not many knew about it. <em>The Roshans</em> not only highlights the late composer's work but also talks of Rakesh Roshan's acting career, his foray into filmmaking, his younger brother Rajesh Roshan's journey as a successful composer, and Hrithik Roshan's superstardom.&nbsp;</p>
<h2>Timing was perfect</h2>
<p>Both Shashi Ranjan, the director of the series, as well as Rakesh Roshan felt that the timing for the documentary was perfect. Admitting that the feedback on the series has been extremely heartening, Rakesh said, "The idea was good. Everything fell at the right time and right place, Shashi worked hard on this. Didn't know what Hrithik and my brother spoke about me. Didn't know what others said about the film. But Shashi weaved the whole thing into a beautiful series."<br><br>For Ranjan, it was a project of a 'lifetime'. "This documentary has been a lifetime thing for me. Having so many stars&mdash;Asha Bhosle, Shah Rukh Khan, Hrithik in the series&mdash;one can only dream of such an ensemble. It is a great feather in my cap&mdash;if I can say so&mdash;that I got so many people together in one go for a project. I am thankful that people have liked it; otherwise, I would have gotten brickbats that I have assembled so many stars and yet not been able to deliver. The idea was that the greats who have been forgotten should be known to the newer generation. The younger lot should know what kind of contribution they have made, what legacy they have created in Bollywood."&nbsp;</p>
<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/rakesh-roshan-on-sussanne-and-hrithiks-divorce-they-had-a-misunderstanding-she-is-still-a-member-8675431">Rakesh Roshan on Sussanne and Hrithik's divorce: They had a misunderstanding, she is still a family member'</a></p>
<h2>On Hrithik being pitted against Shah Rukh Khan post-Kaho Naa..Pyaar Hai</h2>
<p>Hrithik Roshan catapulted to superstardom when he made his debut in <em>Kaho Na..Pyaar Hai</em> in 2000. Soon after his debut and the success of the film, most were quick to write off reigning star Shah Rukh Khan and called Hrithik the next big thing. Rakesh Roshan, who had worked with SRK very early in his career and made blockbuster films like <em>Karan Arjun</em> and <em>Koyla,</em> said that the two families (Roshans and Khans) dealt with the media comparison in a mature way. Did they ever address it in person with SRK, we asked, to which Roshan responded, "No we never spoke about this. Both families are very mature, we didn't have these conversations about others trying to compare two actors. Shah Rukh is par excellence, and Hrithik is still a kid in front of him. But they are both good actors."&nbsp;</p>
<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/hrithik-roshans-son-hridhaan-steals-the-spotlight-at-the-roshans-success-party-8729722">Hrithik Roshan&rsquo;s son Hridhaan steals the spotlight at The Roshans success party</a><br><br>Khan remains close to the Roshan family and even appears on <em>The Roshans</em> recalling his working with Rakesh Roshan in three films.&nbsp;</p>
<h2>On finding success as a filmmaker</h2>
<p>In the series, Roshan recalled an incident where he and his wife were asked to step aside at a party by the media as they wanted to click photos of Jeetendra and Rishi Kapoor. Roshan, Jeetendra, and Rishi Kapoor were known to be close friends, but unlike them, Rakesh was not a successful actor.<br>&nbsp;<br>Did the incident affect him in any way, we asked. "That incident gave me further confidence, that I must prove myself, said Roshan, adding, "When you are at the top, everyone admires and loves you, not so much when you are not that successful- it happens everywhere. It was my fault that I couldn't prove myself. But these things pushed me to work hard and prove myself.&nbsp;</p>
<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/ranbir-kapoor-and-hrithik-roshan-could-be-rakesh-roshans-new-age-karan-arjun-776880">Ranbir Kapoor and Hrithik Roshan could be Rakesh Roshan&rsquo;s new age Karan Arjun</a></p>
<h2>'Always knew Hrithik was a good actor'</h2>
<p>Rakesh Roshan admitted that he couldn't have predicted the huge success of <em>Kaho Naa Pyaar Hai</em> when he started making it. Although he knew that his son, Hrithik Roshan had a lot of potential in him. "I always knew Hrithik was a good actor. When he was training for acting, he would make videos and show it to my wife. Pinky would show it to me and I could see he had a lot of material in him."&nbsp;<br><br>"No one could imagine <em>Kaho Na..Pyaar Hai</em> would become this huge. It was magical," the director noted.&nbsp;</p>
<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/hrithik-roshans-debut-film-kaho-naa-pyaar-hai-to-re-release-on-its-25th-anniversary-8599392">Hrithik Roshan's debut film Kaho Naa Pyaar Hai to re-release on its 25th anniversary</a><br><br>Having dabbled in acting, producing, and filmmaking, Roshan admitted that he enjoyed direction the most. "Naturally, where you get success, you enjoy that part more. I wasn't a successful actor but I see that success through my son- I feel I am there whenever he is acting."<br><br>Both Shashi Ranjan and Rakesh Roshan felt that <em>The Roshans</em> worked with the audience because everyone spoke with honesty and because many could resonate with the struggles that the family went through. "Many could connect to Roshans. The way they candidly spoke about their failures as well as successes, that connected with many. There was an emotional connection with the show."&nbsp;</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>

Entertainment | Bollywood: Rakesh Roshan and filmmaker Shashi Ranjan spoke to WION on what led to them collaborating on the Netflix docu-series The Roshans, Hrithik Roshan's success as an actor and why the viewers could connect to the series.

For filmmaker Rakesh Roshan, the idea of the Netflix documentary The Roshans came as a tribute to his late father, veteran composer Roshan. What started as a discussion with filmmaker Shashi Ranjan on what he could do to make the newer generation aware of Roshan's musical legacy, the docu-series eventually became more than just about the late composer's work and more about the Roshan family and its contribution to Hindi cinema. "I thought that if we make only on my father, we won't reach a wider audience. I told Shashi that let's make on three generations of Roshans," said Rakesh Roshan while speaking to WION recently. "About 8-10 years ago, there was a transistor that came out, it had 5000-10,000 songs in it. It had every music director's name, singer's name, and filmmaker's name. I used to hear these songs. One day, I tried to look up for my father's songs. I couldn't find his name, felt very bad about it. While his songs were there, my father's name wasn't there. It disturbed me," recalled Rakesh Roshan. The filmmaker-actor's father, Roshan, had created iconic songs like "Jo Wada Kiya Hai", "Rahe Na Rahe Hum," and "Laga Chunari Mein Daag" among others. Many of his songs became cult classics, yet his son felt that not many knew about it. The Roshans not only highlights the late composer's work but also talks of Rakesh Roshan's acting career, his foray into filmmaking, his younger brother Rajesh Roshan's journey as a successful composer, and Hrithik Roshan's superstardom. Timing was perfect Both Shashi Ranjan, the director of the series, as well as Rakesh Roshan felt that the timing for the documentary was perfect. Admitting that the feedback on the series has been extremely heartening, Rakesh said, "The idea was good. Everything fell at the right time and right place, Shashi worked hard on this. Didn't know what Hrithik and my brother spoke about me. Didn't know what others said about the film. But Shashi weaved the whole thing into a beautiful series." For Ranjan, it was a project of a 'lifetime'. "This documentary has been a lifetime thing for me. Having so many stars—Asha Bhosle, Shah Rukh Khan, Hrithik in the series—one can only dream of such an ensemble. It is a great feather in my cap—if I can say so—that I got so many people together in one go for a project. I am thankful that people have liked it; otherwise, I would have gotten brickbats that I have assembled so many stars and yet not been able to deliver. The idea was that the greats who have been forgotten should be known to the newer generation. The younger lot should know what kind of contribution they have made, what legacy they have created in Bollywood." Rakesh Roshan on Sussanne and Hrithik's divorce: They had a misunderstanding, she is still a family member' On Hrithik being pitted against Shah Rukh Khan post-Kaho Naa..Pyaar Hai Hrithik Roshan catapulted to superstardom when he made his debut in Kaho Na..Pyaar Hai in 2000. Soon after his debut and the success of the film, most were quick to write off reigning star Shah Rukh Khan and called Hrithik the next big thing. Rakesh Roshan, who had worked with SRK very early in his career and made blockbuster films like Karan Arjun and Koyla, said that the two families (Roshans and Khans) dealt with the media comparison in a mature way. Did they ever address it in person with SRK, we asked, to which Roshan responded, "No we never spoke about this. Both families are very mature, we didn't have these conversations about others trying to compare two actors. Shah Rukh is par excellence, and Hrithik is still a kid in front of him. But they are both good actors." Hrithik Roshan’s son Hridhaan steals the spotlight at The Roshans success party Khan remains close to the Roshan family and even appears on The Roshans recalling his working with Rakesh Roshan in three films. On finding success as a filmmaker In the series, Roshan recalled an incident where he and his wife were asked to step aside at a party by the media as they wanted to click photos of Jeetendra and Rishi Kapoor. Roshan, Jeetendra, and Rishi Kapoor were known to be close friends, but unlike them, Rakesh was not a successful actor. Did the incident affect him in any way, we asked. "That incident gave me further confidence, that I must prove myself, said Roshan, adding, "When you are at the top, everyone admires and loves you, not so much when you are not that successful- it happens everywhere. It was my fault that I couldn't prove myself. But these things pushed me to work hard and prove myself. Ranbir Kapoor and Hrithik Roshan could be Rakesh Roshan’s new age Karan Arjun 'Always knew Hrithik was a good actor' Rakesh Roshan admitted that he couldn't have predicted the huge success of Kaho Naa Pyaar Hai when he started making it. Although he knew that his son, Hrithik Roshan had a lot of potential in him. "I always knew Hrithik was a good actor. When he was training for acting, he would make videos and show it to my wife. Pinky would show it to me and I could see he had a lot of material in him." "No one could imagine Kaho Na..Pyaar Hai would become this huge. It was magical," the director noted. Hrithik Roshan's debut film Kaho Naa Pyaar Hai to re-release on its 25th anniversary Having dabbled in acting, producing, and filmmaking, Roshan admitted that he enjoyed direction the most. "Naturally, where you get success, you enjoy that part more. I wasn't a successful actor but I see that success through my son- I feel I am there whenever he is acting." Both Shashi Ranjan and Rakesh Roshan felt that The Roshans worked with the audience because everyone spoke with honesty and because many could resonate with the struggles that the family went through. "Many could connect to Roshans. The way they candidly spoke about their failures as well as successes, that connected with many. There was an emotional connection with the show."

Rakesh Roshan on the success of Netflix's The Roshans, SRK-Hrithik rivalry and more | Exclusive

<p><span class="region">New Delhi</span>
<p>Indian actor Arrchita Agarwaal, who has made her feature film debut with<em> Despatch</em>, says she felt more intimidated by director Kanu Behl, than actor Manoj Bajpayee. </p></p>
<p>"I was so intimidated. But you know what the funny part is? I was more intimidated by Kanu sir, my director, than Manoj sir. He has this aura that he will just make you comfortable within seconds. He's like this child one second and an old old soul talking about all sorts of<em> saadhanas</em> the next moment. While he made me feel very comfortable, it was Kanu sir who was pushing me against my edges to get the best out of me," she said in an exclusive interview with WION.</p>
<p>Currently streaming on Zee5, the film revolves around the life of a veteran crime journalist Joy (played by Bajpayee), who is simultaneously seeking major scoop and personal redemption. Agarwaal, who essays the role of Prerna Prakash, a newspaper editor in the film, shared it was an 'emotionally and mentally' draining journey, particularly because of the terrain the film delves into. </p>
<p>Explaining what it's like to be on a Kanu Behl set, Agarwaal said, "I don't know why if I meet any actor who has worked in a Kanu Behl film, I feel like I just know them. I feel it's the same school, it's the same school of thought. It's very intimidating because he is not interested in anything that is not important for the film. So, the vanity that actors come with, he strips you down of that completely. So, I think that way when realize how serious he's at his work, you have to meet him at that level."</p>
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<p>Detailing the dichotomy of the shoot schedule, Agarwaal quipped it was like therapy she never signed up for. "You suddenly had a person asking you such serious questions and it's all professional. But it's also a personal dive into my life," she said, adding, "So, it was challenging for me to see the mirror and to realize, 'Oh, I'm not good.'"</p>
<p>Half Assamese and half Marwari, Agarwaal grew up in Assam and spent her formative years in Mussoorie. After doing theatre for a few years, Agarwaal auditioned for <em>Despatch</em> in 2020. Notably, she was first rejected and later, she received a call back confirming the role.</p>
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<p>"I was back in Assam, I couldn't afford Bombay at the time. And suddenly I got a call for this film - I didn't know about my part or that Manoj Bajpayee is in the film. I didn't know the director. I just gave a plain audition," she said, adding the team informed her about the rejection a little later. Twenty days on, she received another call saying she was selected. Surprised at first, Agarwaal is grateful that things worked in her favour.</p>
<p>Agarwaal hopes that her performance in <em>Despatch </em>lands her auditions for more interesting parts. "I wish I could say there are so many films coming my way but nothing is...  I just wish after this film, auditions bhi ache mil jaaye. I've been waiting all this while. Everyone I speak to, including Manoj sir, they tell me work begets work and I hope it does," shared Agarwaal, adding she doesn't shy away from reaching out to filmmakers for work prospects. </p>
<p>The actor, who is now working on an Assamese film, believes there's promise and potential in the regional film industries and hopes for crossovers in the future.</p>


In an interview with WION, Indian actor Arrchita Agarwaal, who has made her feature film debut with Despatch, says she felt more intimidated by director Kanu Behl, than actor Manoj Bajpayee. 



New Delhi Indian actor Arrchita Agarwaal, who has made her feature film debut with Despatch, says she felt more intimidated by director Kanu Behl, than actor Manoj Bajpayee. "I was so intimidated. But you know what the funny part is? I was more intimidated by Kanu sir, my director, than Manoj sir. He has this aura that he will just make you comfortable within seconds. He's like this child one second and an old old soul talking about all sorts of saadhanas the next moment. While he made me feel very comfortable, it was Kanu sir who was pushing me against my edges to get the best out of me," she said in an exclusive interview with WION. Currently streaming on Zee5, the film revolves around the life of a veteran crime journalist Joy (played by Bajpayee), who is simultaneously seeking major scoop and personal redemption. Agarwaal, who essays the role of Prerna Prakash, a newspaper editor in the film, shared it was an 'emotionally and mentally' draining journey, particularly because of the terrain the film delves into. Explaining what it's like to be on a Kanu Behl set, Agarwaal said, "I don't know why if I meet any actor who has worked in a Kanu Behl film, I feel like I just know them. I feel it's the same school, it's the same school of thought. It's very intimidating because he is not interested in anything that is not important for the film. So, the vanity that actors come with, he strips you down of that completely. So, I think that way when realize how serious he's at his work, you have to meet him at that level." View this post on Instagram A post shared by Arrchita (@arrchita_) × Detailing the dichotomy of the shoot schedule, Agarwaal quipped it was like therapy she never signed up for. "You suddenly had a person asking you such serious questions and it's all professional. But it's also a personal dive into my life," she said, adding, "So, it was challenging for me to see the mirror and to realize, 'Oh, I'm not good.'" Half Assamese and half Marwari, Agarwaal grew up in Assam and spent her formative years in Mussoorie. After doing theatre for a few years, Agarwaal auditioned for Despatch in 2020. Notably, she was first rejected and later, she received a call back confirming the role. View this post on Instagram A post shared by ZEE5 (@zee5) × "I was back in Assam, I couldn't afford Bombay at the time. And suddenly I got a call for this film - I didn't know about my part or that Manoj Bajpayee is in the film. I didn't know the director. I just gave a plain audition," she said, adding the team informed her about the rejection a little later. Twenty days on, she received another call saying she was selected. Surprised at first, Agarwaal is grateful that things worked in her favour. Agarwaal hopes that her performance in Despatch lands her auditions for more interesting parts. "I wish I could say there are so many films coming my way but nothing is... I just wish after this film, auditions bhi ache mil jaaye. I've been waiting all this while. Everyone I speak to, including Manoj sir, they tell me work begets work and I hope it does," shared Agarwaal, adding she doesn't shy away from reaching out to filmmakers for work prospects. The actor, who is now working on an Assamese film, believes there's promise and potential in the regional film industries and hopes for crossovers in the future.

Arrchita Agarwaal on Despatch, working with Manoj Bajpayee and Kanu Behl | EXCLUSIVE 

<p><span class="region">New Delhi</span>
<p>Theatre, TV and films personality Atul Kumar is excited to kick off the new year with a play that is close to his heart. He is kicking things off with an adaptation of Mark Haddon’s popular novel, <em>The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time</em>, adapted by Simon Stephens—a production that’s won both Olivier and Tony Awards.</p></p>
<p>Director Atul Kumar recently revived this literary piece on stage alongwith fellow cast members Jaimini Pathak, Dheer Hir, Dilnaz Irani, Shivani Tanksale, Salone Mehta, Harssh Singh, Vidushi Chadha and Abhay Kaul. </p>
<p>From London to Mumbai in December and to New Delhi in January 2025, Atul promises to woo audiences with his vision. Here is the edited excerpts of our chat in which we discuss why he picked this story for stage:</p>
<p><strong>Q: </strong>This is your third production with Aadyam Theatre after <em>Detective 9-2-11</em> and <em>Baaghi Albele</em>. What made you choose <em>The Curious Incident</em> for this season.</p>
<p><strong>A:</strong> I had the book with me much before I read the play. My 17-year-old daughter gave it to me but I got a chance to read it after I came across the play first. I fell in love with the play the first time I got to know Christopher’s story. Before that I had very little knowledge about Asperger's Syndrome and Autism Spectrum and other kinds of neurodivergence but the story is not just about that. It is really about human resolve and achievement against all odds. That is what actually drew me towards doing it and we didn't really want to do it in Hindi.</p>
<p><img alt="The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time to come to Delhi" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="15d3b5ff-2e72-49ca-954b-11fac30b8cb4" src="https://img-cdn.thepublive.com/filters:format(webp)/wion/media/post_attachments/sites/default/files/inline-images/HORIZONS - 2024-12-23T170646.532.jpg"/></p>
<p>We wanted to maintain it in English and it made complete sense to base it either in South Bombay or in Bandra. We didn't really have to change names either, they just completely fitted with the people who live in our Bandra community. So there you are.</p>
<p><strong>Q: </strong>Theatre in India has such rich traditions, yet we rarely see stories about neurodivergent characters. What convinced you and Aadyam to back this particular story, and what discoveries did you make while working on such sensitive material?</p>
<p><strong>A: </strong>I don't know about Aadyam but I can talk about how important this subject is to me. I've had people in my family, friends, and neighborhood where any sort of neurodivergence was either hidden, was shamed or it was ignored. Often parents and teachers used to be in denial that a child growing up is discovered to have any kind of divergence from what our understanding of normalcy is. To the extent that some of these children grew up to become complete misfits and none of their issues were ever addressed, accepted or understood. </p>
<p><img alt="The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time to come to Delhi" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="0379b01c-698e-411e-89bc-44c2d5ff92aa" src="https://img-cdn.thepublive.com/filters:format(webp)/wion/media/post_attachments/sites/default/files/inline-images/HORIZONS - 2024-12-23T170716.608.jpg"/></p>
<p>This is something I grew up with and to tell you the truth, I also slowly grew up to become a part of not recognising these differences and not valuing these differences. Things have changed thankfully with psychotherapy coming in and education systems getting an overhaul. So this was very personal for me. I felt like I wanted to address the idea of difference and how one person is different from the other and why there is no space in our society for those differences and those differences could be on any level. </p>
<p>I really hope that this and many other subjects are picked up in theater. I know that a lot of this is addressed through literature, poetry, even through visual arts and in some sense by cinema too but it’s not so much in theater.</p>
<p>Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/hollywood/news-taylor-swift-surprises-fan-with-5000-miu-miu-outfit-after-she-complimented-her-look-786135">Taylor Swift plays Santa, surprises fan with $5000 Miu Miu outfit after she complimented her look</a></p>
<p><strong>Q: </strong>I notice you've chosen to keep all eight actors on stage throughout, switching between various characters. What was the thought behind that?</p>
<p><strong>A:</strong> Actually, the script is written in such a way that all the actors are on stage. It's only eight people and they take on more than 26 to 30 characters and there are quick changes – like just putting on a hat and somebody becomes a cop, removing the hat and putting on a wig and you become someone else – because there are quick changes and quick entries and exits of different characters. So, there was no way that the writer could have justified actors going out. </p>
<p><em>The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time will premiere in Delhi in January 2025 on dates, January 11 and 12 at the Kamani auditorium. </em></p>


Based on Mark Haddon’s popular novel of the same name, Atul Kumar directed play, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time will premiere in Delhi in January 2025.



New Delhi Theatre, TV and films personality Atul Kumar is excited to kick off the new year with a play that is close to his heart. He is kicking things off with an adaptation of Mark Haddon’s popular novel, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, adapted by Simon Stephens—a production that’s won both Olivier and Tony Awards. Director Atul Kumar recently revived this literary piece on stage alongwith fellow cast members Jaimini Pathak, Dheer Hir, Dilnaz Irani, Shivani Tanksale, Salone Mehta, Harssh Singh, Vidushi Chadha and Abhay Kaul. From London to Mumbai in December and to New Delhi in January 2025, Atul promises to woo audiences with his vision. Here is the edited excerpts of our chat in which we discuss why he picked this story for stage: Q: This is your third production with Aadyam Theatre after Detective 9-2-11 and Baaghi Albele. What made you choose The Curious Incident for this season. A: I had the book with me much before I read the play. My 17-year-old daughter gave it to me but I got a chance to read it after I came across the play first. I fell in love with the play the first time I got to know Christopher’s story. Before that I had very little knowledge about Asperger's Syndrome and Autism Spectrum and other kinds of neurodivergence but the story is not just about that. It is really about human resolve and achievement against all odds. That is what actually drew me towards doing it and we didn't really want to do it in Hindi. We wanted to maintain it in English and it made complete sense to base it either in South Bombay or in Bandra. We didn't really have to change names either, they just completely fitted with the people who live in our Bandra community. So there you are. Q: Theatre in India has such rich traditions, yet we rarely see stories about neurodivergent characters. What convinced you and Aadyam to back this particular story, and what discoveries did you make while working on such sensitive material? A: I don't know about Aadyam but I can talk about how important this subject is to me. I've had people in my family, friends, and neighborhood where any sort of neurodivergence was either hidden, was shamed or it was ignored. Often parents and teachers used to be in denial that a child growing up is discovered to have any kind of divergence from what our understanding of normalcy is. To the extent that some of these children grew up to become complete misfits and none of their issues were ever addressed, accepted or understood. This is something I grew up with and to tell you the truth, I also slowly grew up to become a part of not recognising these differences and not valuing these differences. Things have changed thankfully with psychotherapy coming in and education systems getting an overhaul. So this was very personal for me. I felt like I wanted to address the idea of difference and how one person is different from the other and why there is no space in our society for those differences and those differences could be on any level. I really hope that this and many other subjects are picked up in theater. I know that a lot of this is addressed through literature, poetry, even through visual arts and in some sense by cinema too but it’s not so much in theater. Also read: Taylor Swift plays Santa, surprises fan with $5000 Miu Miu outfit after she complimented her look Q: I notice you've chosen to keep all eight actors on stage throughout, switching between various characters. What was the thought behind that? A: Actually, the script is written in such a way that all the actors are on stage. It's only eight people and they take on more than 26 to 30 characters and there are quick changes – like just putting on a hat and somebody becomes a cop, removing the hat and putting on a wig and you become someone else – because there are quick changes and quick entries and exits of different characters. So, there was no way that the writer could have justified actors going out. The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time will premiere in Delhi in January 2025 on dates, January 11 and 12 at the Kamani auditorium.

Breaking down how Atul Kumar re-imagined Mark Haddon’s classic novel for Indian audience

<p><span class="region">New Delhi</span>
<p>Come new year and award-winning Indian flautist Ronu Majumdar is gearing for his highly awaited international album. A flute artist of the Hindustani classical music tradition, Ronu has never shied from experimenting with different styles of music. Trained in classical, Ronu has worked in Bollywood films, has jammed with international artists and wants to do many more collaborations that are different from anything he’s done before. </p></p>
<p>In conversation with WION, flautist Ronu Majumdar opened up about all good things that he hopes for in 2025:</p>
<p><strong>Q: Can you tell us more about your highly awaited international album? </strong></p>
<p>A: My international album is currently in progress and is a collaboration with the Indian musical composer and three-time Grammy winner, Ricky Kej. We have already recorded two tracks, and I am eagerly waiting for the final cut. Besides this, I am working on a folk-based album, which will be completed soon. I am eagerly waiting to complete both albums and share the release dates with my audience soon.</p>
<p><strong>Q: Your performances and collaborations have left an indelible mark on the music world. Which of your jugalbandis holds a special place in your heart?</strong></p>
<p>A: One of my most memorable jugalbandis was with the renowned American musician and songwriter Ry Cooder, who is hailed as the father of world music. Our collaborations on several albums, including <em>Fascinoma </em>and <em>Hollow Bamboo</em>, as well as the <em>Hollywood film Primary Colours, </em>have been enriching. </p>
<p>My collaboration with the legendary late Dr. Balamurali Krishna also holds a special place in my heart. My collaborations with him introduced me to the South Indian instrument, Saraswati Veena, more closely. Initially, I was fond of the instrument, but over time it has become more special to me and has influenced my musical journey.</p>
<p><strong>Q: You have never shied from Bollywood too. Which of your Bollywood compositions holds the most meaning to you?</strong></p>
<p>A: Bollywood has been an integral part of my life and career, and throughout this musical journey, several compositions have touched my heart. For example, the song "Kuch Na Kaho" from <em>1942: A Love Story,</em> which I played with RD Burman, holds an emotional significance as it was the last film before we lost Pancham Da. Other songs that are special to me include "Yaad Aarahi Hai" from Kumar Gaurav’s first movie <em>Love Story</em>, and various collaborations with Kishore Kumar. </p>
<p>The song "Khali Haath Shaam Aayi Hai" featuring Asha Bhosle was also a memorable experience. Discussing these musical gems brings to mind the beautiful composition “Yeh Kya Hua” from the movie <em>Amar Prem</em>. Though I was not a part of the song, I really enjoy its melody.</p>
<p>Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/breaking-down-how-atul-kumar-re-imagined-mark-haddons-classic-novel-for-indian-audience-786202">Breaking down how Atul Kumar re-imagined Mark Haddon’s classic novel for Indian audience</a></p>
<p><strong>Q: As a disciple of the revered Pandit Ravi Shankar, you have carried forward his incredible legacy. How do you ensure that this rich tradition of music reaches the aspiring musicians?</strong></p>
<p>A: Pandit Ravi Shankar was a Bharat Ratna, but we affectionately refer to him as Vishwaratna. I am dedicated to carrying forward his Beenkari style and popularizing the richness of his music. I also have even designed a Shankh Bansuri, a 3 and ⅕ -ft long flute to propagate his teachings and connect with the new generation of musicians. </p>
<p>Today’s young musicians are keen to learn about our roots and cultural heritage, and it is really inspiring to see their enthusiasm. I intend to keep them motivated and help preserve the richness of our guru’s legacy through music.</p>


Indian flute artist Ronu Majumdar is gearing up for a new international album in the new year. Ronu spoke to WION about his musical journey, collaborations with Bollywood legends and more. 



New Delhi Come new year and award-winning Indian flautist Ronu Majumdar is gearing for his highly awaited international album. A flute artist of the Hindustani classical music tradition, Ronu has never shied from experimenting with different styles of music. Trained in classical, Ronu has worked in Bollywood films, has jammed with international artists and wants to do many more collaborations that are different from anything he’s done before. In conversation with WION, flautist Ronu Majumdar opened up about all good things that he hopes for in 2025: Q: Can you tell us more about your highly awaited international album? A: My international album is currently in progress and is a collaboration with the Indian musical composer and three-time Grammy winner, Ricky Kej. We have already recorded two tracks, and I am eagerly waiting for the final cut. Besides this, I am working on a folk-based album, which will be completed soon. I am eagerly waiting to complete both albums and share the release dates with my audience soon. Q: Your performances and collaborations have left an indelible mark on the music world. Which of your jugalbandis holds a special place in your heart? A: One of my most memorable jugalbandis was with the renowned American musician and songwriter Ry Cooder, who is hailed as the father of world music. Our collaborations on several albums, including Fascinoma and Hollow Bamboo, as well as the Hollywood film Primary Colours, have been enriching. My collaboration with the legendary late Dr. Balamurali Krishna also holds a special place in my heart. My collaborations with him introduced me to the South Indian instrument, Saraswati Veena, more closely. Initially, I was fond of the instrument, but over time it has become more special to me and has influenced my musical journey. Q: You have never shied from Bollywood too. Which of your Bollywood compositions holds the most meaning to you? A: Bollywood has been an integral part of my life and career, and throughout this musical journey, several compositions have touched my heart. For example, the song "Kuch Na Kaho" from 1942: A Love Story, which I played with RD Burman, holds an emotional significance as it was the last film before we lost Pancham Da. Other songs that are special to me include "Yaad Aarahi Hai" from Kumar Gaurav’s first movie Love Story, and various collaborations with Kishore Kumar. The song "Khali Haath Shaam Aayi Hai" featuring Asha Bhosle was also a memorable experience. Discussing these musical gems brings to mind the beautiful composition “Yeh Kya Hua” from the movie Amar Prem. Though I was not a part of the song, I really enjoy its melody. Also read: Breaking down how Atul Kumar re-imagined Mark Haddon’s classic novel for Indian audience Q: As a disciple of the revered Pandit Ravi Shankar, you have carried forward his incredible legacy. How do you ensure that this rich tradition of music reaches the aspiring musicians? A: Pandit Ravi Shankar was a Bharat Ratna, but we affectionately refer to him as Vishwaratna. I am dedicated to carrying forward his Beenkari style and popularizing the richness of his music. I also have even designed a Shankh Bansuri, a 3 and ⅕ -ft long flute to propagate his teachings and connect with the new generation of musicians. Today’s young musicians are keen to learn about our roots and cultural heritage, and it is really inspiring to see their enthusiasm. I intend to keep them motivated and help preserve the richness of our guru’s legacy through music.

From collabs with RD Burman to Kishore Kumar, Ronu Majumdar revisits his musical journey

<p>Nawazuddin Siddiqui has a special knack for making every character deeper than it was written to be. He is impossibly grounded, convincingly original and immensely talented. He knows how to make you laugh in the most serious scenes and to make you cry with a smile on his face. With an enviable filmography and an equally reputable career on OTT, Nawazuddin Siddiqui likes living on the edge – both in his characters on screen and in real life. With a life motto “There’s no fun without a little drama”, Nawazuddin reveals he would have been a monk if not an actor.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>Excerpts from my chat with the compulsively reticent actor who we can’t stop adoring enough:&nbsp;</em></p>

<p><strong>Q: Even after so many years of selecting massively distinctive roles, how do you pick scripts?</strong></p>

<p><strong>Nawaz:</strong> &nbsp;It depends on a lot of things. I could do a project for money but I should have an interesting role in the film. I won’t do just about anything. I like doing simple films but with characters that are weird and absurd. I don't like to play linear roles.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Heroes usually get one-dimensional roles. A film usually portrays a hero that is too good to be true. I like those roles but they don’t excite me. I like playing characters that are ‘real’, that are closer to humanity, and that have flaws. Human beings are usually flawed. They have their good and bad. I like playing those roles.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Q: With the level of fame you’ve achieved and the career you have built, do you think the 20-year-old Nawaz who was dreaming of all this, would be happy and proud?</strong></p>

<p><strong>Nawaz:</strong> Yes, of course, but I have never been sad. Even when I was struggling and looking for work, doing comparatively smaller roles, I was happy. It’s not in my nature to get sad if I get less in life or to go over the top with excitement on getting more from life. I have always been a balanced person in life. I have always had a mild reaction to things in life.</p>

<p>People have their ups and downs. We’re all dealing with good and bad in life. And that is life. What would life be without some drama? If you are happy all the time, that would also become boring.</p>

<p><strong>Q: How do you like to unwind when you’re not acting?</strong></p>

<p><strong>Nawaz:</strong> I am busier when I am not acting. You have to listen to a lot of narration and stories. There is a lot of commotion during that period in my house. I have more time at hand when I am shooting outdoors. Like when we were shooting for <em>Rautu Ka Raaz</em>, there were times when other actors had to film and I had some free time at hand. So I would enjoy nature and just be in the moment. I love that free time when I am on shoots.&nbsp;</p>

<p>This is why I love being on shoots all the more so that I can enjoy my free time. That’s not to say that I don’t love filming. I love that too but I enjoy doing things I can’t do otherwise, in that free time.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Q: What is your idea of enjoyment?</strong></p>

<p><strong>Nawaz:</strong> (Laughs…) If I tell you, you will think I am a very boring person but I love sitting idly, being with myself and doing nothing. I love to listen to nature, wind, birds, those things that we can't enjoy in cities. If you leave me in a desert island alone and tell me you’ll give me minimal food to survive with, I can happily live there. I am that kind of a person. That’s how I am.</p>

<p>If I didn't act, I would have been a monk somewhere. I tried becoming a monk once. I went to the Dalai Lama’s ashram in Dharamshala for 15 days. I am a person who can be happy with very few&nbsp;things in life.</p>

<p><strong>Watch The Full Interview Here:</strong></p>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/nawazuddin-siddiqui-loves-drama-in-his-characters-and-his-life-interview-wion-exclusive-762636/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo">&nbsp;</div>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><strong>Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/bollywood/news-shah-rukh-khan-says-its-good-to-be-back-as-he-wins-iifa-award-for-jawan-763216">Shah Rukh Khan says ‘it’s good to be back’ as he wins IIFA award for Jawan&nbsp;</a></strong></div>


Nawazuddin Siddiqui has a special knack for making every character deeper than it was written to be. He is impossibly grounded, convincingly original and immensely talented.

Nawazuddin Siddiqui has a special knack for making every character deeper than it was written to be. He is impossibly grounded, convincingly original and immensely talented. He knows how to make you laugh in the most serious scenes and to make you cry with a smile on his face. With an enviable filmography and an equally reputable career on OTT, Nawazuddin Siddiqui likes living on the edge – both in his characters on screen and in real life. With a life motto “There’s no fun without a little drama”, Nawazuddin reveals he would have been a monk if not an actor. Excerpts from my chat with the compulsively reticent actor who we can’t stop adoring enough: Q: Even after so many years of selecting massively distinctive roles, how do you pick scripts? Nawaz: It depends on a lot of things. I could do a project for money but I should have an interesting role in the film. I won’t do just about anything. I like doing simple films but with characters that are weird and absurd. I don't like to play linear roles. Heroes usually get one-dimensional roles. A film usually portrays a hero that is too good to be true. I like those roles but they don’t excite me. I like playing characters that are ‘real’, that are closer to humanity, and that have flaws. Human beings are usually flawed. They have their good and bad. I like playing those roles. Q: With the level of fame you’ve achieved and the career you have built, do you think the 20-year-old Nawaz who was dreaming of all this, would be happy and proud? Nawaz: Yes, of course, but I have never been sad. Even when I was struggling and looking for work, doing comparatively smaller roles, I was happy. It’s not in my nature to get sad if I get less in life or to go over the top with excitement on getting more from life. I have always been a balanced person in life. I have always had a mild reaction to things in life. People have their ups and downs. We’re all dealing with good and bad in life. And that is life. What would life be without some drama? If you are happy all the time, that would also become boring. Q: How do you like to unwind when you’re not acting? Nawaz: I am busier when I am not acting. You have to listen to a lot of narration and stories. There is a lot of commotion during that period in my house. I have more time at hand when I am shooting outdoors. Like when we were shooting for Rautu Ka Raaz, there were times when other actors had to film and I had some free time at hand. So I would enjoy nature and just be in the moment. I love that free time when I am on shoots. This is why I love being on shoots all the more so that I can enjoy my free time. That’s not to say that I don’t love filming. I love that too but I enjoy doing things I can’t do otherwise, in that free time. Q: What is your idea of enjoyment? Nawaz: (Laughs…) If I tell you, you will think I am a very boring person but I love sitting idly, being with myself and doing nothing. I love to listen to nature, wind, birds, those things that we can't enjoy in cities. If you leave me in a desert island alone and tell me you’ll give me minimal food to survive with, I can happily live there. I am that kind of a person. That’s how I am. If I didn't act, I would have been a monk somewhere. I tried becoming a monk once. I went to the Dalai Lama’s ashram in Dharamshala for 15 days. I am a person who can be happy with very few things in life. Watch The Full Interview Here: Also read: Shah Rukh Khan says ‘it’s good to be back’ as he wins IIFA award for Jawan

Nawazuddin Siddiqui Exclusive Interview: 'It's boring being happy all the time'

We saw him in one of the most talked-about Indian shows of 2020, ‘Bandish Bandits’, as a classical Indian singer and fell in love with the way he romanced music.

We saw him in one of the most talked-about Indian shows of 2020, ‘Bandish Bandits’, as a classical Indian singer and fell in love with the way he romanced music. Actor Ritwik Bhowmik is back but with something different this time, a medical education drama titled ‘Whistleblower’ that focuses on a scam that rocked the nation years ago. From overnight fame to attempting very different genres in his first two projects, Ritwik Bhowmik believes he has a long way to go to achieve his dreams. In a tete-a-tete with Ritwik Bhowmik aka Dr Sanket of Whitleblower for WION. Excerpts below: WION: What should the audience be expecting from you in Whistleblower especially after you stunned us with your maiden performance in Bandish Bandits and shot to fame overnight? Also since the two shows are starkly in contrast to one another, one is pure fiction while another takes reference from a scam that happened in real life. Ritwik Bhowmik: I think the audience should walk towards this show with absolutely no expectations because no matter, what expectations they make, either by comparing my previous work or by watching the present show, they will be going in for a surprise. When they start watching it, because of the number of layers that the show has, whether it's the drama, action, politics or simply the relationships in it – they're all so well-edged out, that no matter how many expectations or how many checkboxes you come up with of trying to see what the show is going to be about, there's always going be something that's going to be new. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Ritwik Bhowmik (@ritwikbhowmik) × Also read: Exclusive! From Alex Rider to Bridgerton, Charithra Chandran on doing what she loves, acting WION: And what can you tell me about your character on the Whistleblower? Ritwik Bhowmik: So, the character that I'm playing is Dr. Sanket. Let's say he is a guy who’s born with a golden spoon in his mouth and he comes from a background of comfort and luxury, and that make him complacent. He's always been good academically. He's been a fantastic doctor. He is good at everything that he does. He's a high-end achiever. But many times, in life, if you're good at everything, there is no excitement left. And in the pursuit of that excitement, sometimes you may take a path that has its consequences. The show for Dr Sanket is about those consequences. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Ritwik Bhowmik (@ritwikbhowmik) × Also read: Exclusive: Deepak Reddy to WION on his film qualifying for Oscars 2022 WION: Is Dr Sanket a fictional character or is it inspired from someone in real life? Ritwik Bhowmik: It’s completely fictionalised or let’s say he’s going to exist on the 16th of December. There have been no direct references for the character but yes it has been inspired by multiple figures. Infact all characters come out of the imagination of the creators of the show. I'm as excited as I am scared for the way they understand human beings and the way they understand situations, the way they understand issues of the society. It’s all so intriguing, that I hope most people see the reflection of that, of their thought. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Ritwik Bhowmik (@ritwikbhowmik) × WION: What can you tell me about the prep that you've put to get into the skin of the character? Ritwik Bhowmik: I had to understand not just the thought process, the body language, just the state of being a doctor and a medical student. I also had to pick up the skill, of feeling like a doctor in two months of tests. After having done this, if I walk into a hospital today, and see a doctor passing by, I probably will understand by the body language or by what they say, the situation that doctor is in at the moment. Kudos to the script, which was a thoroughly detailed five hundred-pages in length and was well written, detailed, intricate. WION: Another project of SonyLIV, Scam 1992 made lead actor Harshad Mehta’s career as he admits. Do you speculate something of the same will happen to you after this scam-inspired series? Ritwik Bhowmik: I don't know. I mean, it would be great. Of course, I would lie if I said that it would not be right. It would be fantastic if that happened. Yeah, but I have so much love and respect for that guy (Pratik Gandhi), I don't think I could have logically compared and said that maybe it'll happen to me because I can't see myself in the same light as him. I think I've got a long way to go to get there but I do pray and hope that people watch the show, ‘The Whistleblower’. I have no idea what the audience’s reaction will be but I can only hope for the best. Also read: Oscars: India's official entry 'Koozhangal' out, 'Writing With Fire' makes it WION: In Bandish Bandits as well as The Whistleblower, we see you in a leading role. You’ve started on a great foot, how do you feel about that? Ritwik Bhowmik: I've said this before and I repeat myself that I think I'm a very lucky man. I think I'm very lucky in terms of being an actor or just in life, because no matter what has happened to me so far, the kind of work that has come my way, has happened by chance. And none of it is strategically placed where it's supposed to be. So, I, really think that destiny is part of my life and I would not like to challenge it by putting any logical decision in it. And I would just let life happen to me and my career happen to me. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Ritwik Bhowmik (@ritwikbhowmik) × WION: Apart from acting, what do you enjoy? Ritwik Bhowmik: When I'm not spending time in front of the camera, I'm prepping to spend time in front of the camera. I also love listening to music. I play music, I read, I watch movies and shows. I think I am a better audience than an actor. I obsessively consume content and I actually love doing that. Also read: '83' review: Ranveer Singh and his men smash it out of the park! WION: Anything you’d like to mention that you loved watching in the recent? Ritwik Bhowmik: I have actually taken a nice break from watching because I have been prepping up to watch a fantastic show coming up on 16th December on SonyLIV. It will be a great watch….(he laughs) WION: Lastly, is Bollywood an eventuality as your next career move? Ritwik Bhowmik: Yes.

WION Exclusive: 'Bandish Bandits' actor Ritwik Bhowmik on his new show 'Whistleblower', a scam drama

When she walked into the room for our virtual interview, the first thing we noticed about breakout star Kubbra Sait is her energy—free, easygoing and no-drama plastered all over her face.

When she walked into the room for our virtual interview, the first thing we noticed about breakout star Kubbra Sait is her energy—free, easygoing and no-drama plastered all over her face. “When you are on stage, there are no retakes,” she tells WION, when asked about the difference in approach in West and at home. Kubbra, who became a household name in India for her marvellous character Kuckoo in Emmy-nominated ‘Sacred Games’, has now gone global. In Apple TV’s recently released project ‘Foundation’, the actor plays a crucial role—that of Phara Keaen. Ask her about the back story behind bagging such a grand project and she shares it with the enthusiasm of a child. “I was doing my sales pitch left, right and centre,” she joked, or maybe not. Kubbra Sait has been many people in her brief yet impactful career and she will tell you she’s massively proud of each one of them. In a tete-a-tete with WION, the actor shed light on the topic of age-appropriate roles for women in cinema, the boom of OTT and what it meant for the masses, and why one should not hanker after inclusivity if that doesn’t happen organically. Edited excerpts (for clarity) from our conversation with the actor: WION: Okay, so first of all, tell me how does it feel to be called a global star? KB: Am I a global star yet? If you insist, I'll take it with a pinch of salt. Thank you so much (grins!) WION: So tell us everything about Apple TV's ‘Foundation’. How did it happen? What prompted you to take it up? Tell us everything related to your first global project. KB: It started off in 2019. I was called in for an audition by Tess Joseph and her casting company. I auditioned, and after a couple of attempts, I got the tape, which we nailed. And then I was called to Ireland for a screen test. I think the first time I really felt that I had got this part was when they put me in a silicone meld, and they took my facial, like size and dimensions. But after my test, I was very sweetly told that, you don't have it yet, so you have to wait to hear from us. (I said) I've come (with) this vibe; please don't do this to me just yet. I was, like, you know, my show sacred games was nominated the Emmys, I'm a very good actor, I was doing my sales pitch left, right and centre. All they said is, please focus on your lines and just do this well, and we'll come back to you. I think that was literally the journey, and on the 11th of Jan, I got that proverbial call. I was making my coffee, it was still night in LA. I got a call from my agent saying, well, congratulations, you are Phara Keaen in Foundation. So literally, that was the journey from its inception to me finally going there. And yeah, then the pandemic happened. I shot one scene which is the action scene that you'll see in episode five. That was the first scene we shot, and the next day I got a call saying so we're suspending the production for 15 days. (By) the fifth day of suspension, (it) became an indefinite suspension of the show, and then you're like, oh my god, is this even going to happen? What's going to be the fate of this show? Because you've already built so many mountains and so many castles in the air, you're like, oh my god; this is going to be the greatest thing that I've ever done. And now it's like, nothing's going to happen. Just sit at home and wait. (But) I'm so happy to report back after a year that now the show is successfully complete. The show is successfully doing well. It's on Apple TV plus, and I'm so excited. So that's our journey. WION: Like you mentioned, you joined the cast again after a year. So how did you get back into the skin of your character? Well, that must've required a lot of learning and un-learning on your part? KB: I came back in March, and we were back (to shooting) in September, so six months later, we went back to shoot. But when I went back, I was literally doing lines for the first time because up until this point (it) was just action that we had shot. So the genesis of my character happened during the second schedule, when I went back. And it was just incredible to build from the script and mouth these lines, and make her come alive and make her the fierce. It's just such a juicy character love it. WION: So you have worked in a Bollywood movie, you are a big name in the OTT space (featured in Emmy nominated ‘Sacred Games’), of course, and you have also done an international project. So, what, in your opinion, is the basic difference between these three platforms in terms of the work culture? What did you observe? KB: Eventually, we all are actors, and that is something that we need to first understand before anything else. But what particularly blew my mind is that time is an important factor for everybody there. Time is valued and people are valued. There are no excuses for being late, or not learning your lines, or you will not have an assistant director standing in to like give lines for somebody else. Everybody is there, and everybody is sincerely performing, even if the camera's not on them. Because most of these actors belong to a theatre background, they studied acting, they've done this for a long time. When you are on stage, there are no retakes. We all are in this together, and I thought that, for me it was an incredible learning experience. I say this a lot. And I'm going to say this again, as if I really have no other words. But to be honest, me this was like going to school and getting paid to go to school. WION: In ‘Jawani Jaaneman’, you play a mature character, right? So there was a time in Indian cinema when actresses did not get to play central characters after a certain point in their careers. But I feel that has changed with time. Vidya Balan doing ‘Sherni’ was a classic example of that. So what do you think about the advancement in the depiction of women in cinema? KB: I think it's changed drastically. I think it's been changing over years. You are playing age appropriate roles. Maturity is a state of mind. It's how much you've travelled, how much you've eaten, how much you've seen, and how much you live, and how much you failed. That's what reach reaches maturity, even in that film. So I'm saying that maturity is something that comes to you with experience, and that doesn't mean you need to be old or not. I think, for me it's a very cool character, because (it was) for the first (time) I've ever played a pretty person on screen. So I'm very grateful. It was angst-y, and I wasn't like that loud and bubbly person that I am, I was just like a very, like, simple, grounded, very self assured person. I thought that was just the greatest experience of playing Ria in ‘Jawani Jaaneman’. When you come to Mumbai, you think that I am going to be that quintessential heroine but then you need to have the quintessential hero, and then you need to have that antagonist. So I think that being said, just the scope of stories, you're telling is changing. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Kubbra Sait (@kubbrasait) × We just have got so many stories to tell, like today a film like, ‘Pagglait’ gets made, and it’s about a young widow, right? This really, really touched me, like really close to my heart, because my help who lives with me, lost her husband, she's one year older than I. Who talks about these stories, who talks about people like them who can be characters on screen. And for that kind of a story to be told is fantastic. It means we are evolving, because these are real people, somewhere in the real world. So I remember Ruthie and I watched that film together. It's such a beautiful film. It was pretty good. WION: ‘Shang Chi’ released recently. And we are awaiting the release of another diversified movie, ‘Eternals’. With the changing time—now more than ever—there's a lot of conversation around inclusion, especially of Asian actors in Hollywood. So do you think that Indian actors—with so many of you having made it to global cinema—are slowly but surely becoming a part of the whole inclusion narrative? KB: I think it's not to make a statement, but as I said, everybody is evolving, and you need to give that room for evolution. Allow stories to be told. But we are like also in a rush. I'm like, what's the rush? The question is, are people opening their eyes? And are they ready to embrace your individuality? And when you are there on that stage in that room? Do you deliver? And if you do, then you will receive the validation and the gratification, but I don't think we are necessarily waiting for XYZ to come in and say, ‘You are a part of my show, because I want to address inclusivity’. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Kubbra Sait (@kubbrasait) × Because let's take Phara Keaen (my character) for example, right? She could have been from anywhere in the world, she just happened to be me, because of my audition. And the makers believed that this character could be authentically from Southeast Asia. So that had nothing to do with me, except for the fact that I worked hard and gave my audition and delivered. But everything else depended on the vision of the makers. And they stood by their vision. And they stood by the fact that this choice is right. It's as simple as that. And I really, really wish that more stories are written and more crossovers happen. I wish that we stopped typecasting a white person to be somebody who is British, and a tyrant. Now they are getting better roles, we are getting better roles, the world has become smaller. OTT has allowed all of us to see the world in a different light. Today you've got Eternals being directed by a female director. So instead of harping on all the things that aren't happening, try to speed up the process towards things that are happening. As you know, a journey that needs to happen is that arc that needs to be explored. Then I think we'll get there together. It's not about throwing in inclusivity for the sake of it, right? It needs to have a narrative; it needs to have a story to be told. And I'm so grateful that my story as Farah in foundation is worth a story being told. That's all that matters to me. And I think if I do something that allows people to see more Indians in that space, very well. At the end of the day, we all are doing great work, and the least we can do is sit in our respective living rooms, have a cup of chai, watch the show, watch the work and celebrate each other. I think if that's what we are doing as a community, we are excelling. As a race, we are excelling, and that's what we should do. Watch the trailer of 'Foundation' here:

WION exclusive: Kubbra Sait: We are rushing representation; it needs to have a narrative