Filmfare-ME-April-2025 by FilmFare Middle East

Empowering Change

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Rasha Thadani hits the bullseye

Empowering Change

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Sunny Side Up!

Summer is officially here, as if you needed any more proof of that! The mercury is climbing like it’s training for the Everest and stepping outside literally feels like opening the oven to check on your cookies — except you are the cookie. Leathers and jackets have been traded for cottons and linens, and trust me, SPF is less a suggestion here and more a survival strategy which should be a non-negotiable part of your daily routine if it isn’t already. While tourists soak in the sun and marvel the cityscapes with wide eyes and wider sunhats, locals know the drill! Hydration, shade, and the eternal hunt for covered parking to avoid car-seats turning into what feels like lava beds. As the city sizzles under a sun that seems to have signed a gym membership flexing its hotbod, gear up for the heat folks, summer has only just begun.

Giving tough competition to this Dubai heat is the sizzling hot cover of our April issue that has Bollywood’s young sweetheart Rasha Thadani as the Cover Star! The gorgeous actor showcased her tremendous potential with her very first film Azaad and her ‘Uyi Amma’ getting a blockbuster response has catapulted her in the league where one would expect her to climb the success ladder to the top rather swiftly. All eyes are certainly on this prodigal daughter who displays her mum, Raveena Tandon’s effortless charm and talent! Check out the exclusive cover story as we get her to bare her heart about her dreams, her confident debut and having the time of her life at the movies, in a freewheeling tête-à-tête!

Also, a hot topic across the social media, this past month has been the OTT show Adolescence directed by Philip Barantini! The poignant 4-part series explores a family whose world is turned upside down and the parents face their worst nightmare when the 13-year-old son is arrested for the murder of a teenage girl. Besides the technical brilliance of having shot it in one take, the acting par excellence by the entire cast especially rank newcomer actor Owen Cooper, as well as the highly-nuanced performance by Stephen Graham that peaks in a heartbreaking moment when he grieves for his son as the truth sinks in, the show raises many relevant questions and addresses teen issues at multiple levels. Right from grappling with social media exposure sub-consciously introducing and encouraging ideas of toxic masculinity to exploring teenage male insecurities, self-image, perception of women, all of these, somewhat fanned by the unsupervised and unguided journey through the teen years, the show subtly stirs the pot of societal conditioning. The fact that the show and more-essentially the topics it addresses have become a conversationstarter with many institutes now aiming to focus on healthy relationship building, as well as educating young children about developing healthy self-image and make them aware of the dangers lurking online, clearly shows how a series can transcend the entertainment factor to become something more impactful and be a tool for change.

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Another much-awaited OTT release that has lived up to the hype and been worth the wait is Black Mirror Season 7. As for the big screen outing, we totally recommend Ryan Cooglers’ period horror-drama Sinners as well as Akshay Kumar-starrer Kesari 2! Do watch these if you haven’t already!

While OTT is packed with some great content, so is our Summer Issue! Flip on the pages to get the best tips on beating the heat in style and getting your summer swag right with our summer essentials. Also check out the best perfume buys to keep you fresh all day through.

Glam, goss and substance await too, so dive into our interviews with the most hot and happening names from the entertainment world – from Kartik Aaryan to Richa Chadha and Ali Fazal to Will Ferrell and Reese Witherspoon – check out excerpts of some candid conversations with these industry heavyweights! And on that note, happy reading folks and don’t forget to stay hydrated and beat the heat with the best summer swag!

SRK – DEEPIKA TO REUNITE FOR PATHAAN 2?

JANHVI KAPOOR TO STAR OPPOSITE ALLU ARJUN!

IMTIAZ ALI’S NEXT PRODUCTION IS TITLED O SAATHI RE

RANVEER SINGH DENIES STARTING OWN PRODUCTION HOUSE

12 13 22

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COVER STORY

RASHA THADANI OPENS HER HEART OUT TO SUMAN SHARMA IN A CANDID CHAT AS SHE TALKS ABOUT HER RECENTLY RELEASED DEBUT AZAAD, HER MUM RAVEENA TANDON, AND HAVING THE TIME OF HER LIFE AT THE MOVIES

CHECK OUT THESE ‘HAUTE’ PERFUMES TO STAY BREEZY COOL

TAKE A LOOK AT THE HIGHLIGHTS OF THE DANUBE PROPERTIES PRESENTS PINKVILLA SCREEN & STYLE ICONS AWARDS 2025

KARTIK AARYAN TALKS TO JITESH PILLAAI ABOUT FINDING HIMSELF THROUGH THE MOVIES

PHOTOGRAPHS: ROHAN SHRESTHA

STYLIST: MOHIT RAI

HAIR: ASHISH BOGI

MAKE-UP: POMPY HANS

Outfit: July Issue

ALI FAZAL AND RICHA CHADHA GET CANDID ABOUT LOVE, LIFE AND CINEMA

FARDEEN KHAN IN CONVERSATION WITH JITESH PILLAAI TALKS ABOUT HIS IMPACTFUL COMEBACK

FOUNDER AND CEO OF THE GIVING BACK FOUNDATION AND GLOBALLY-ACCLAIMED AUTHOR MEERA GANDHI, IN AN EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH AAKANKSHA NAVALSHETYE, TALKS ABOUT HER GLOBAL MENTAL WELLNESS INITIATIVES AND MAKING AN IMPACT WITH HER NEW BOOK 3 TIPS: THE ESSENTIALS TO PEACE, JOY, AND SUCCESS THAT’S RISEN TO NUMBER THREE ON THE BESTSELLER LIST IN INDIA!

SOME OF THE MOST EXCITING PAIRS TO WATCH OUT FOR ON THE BIG SCREEN AS NORTH MEETS SOUTH!

ON THE GRAM

READERS WRITE AND BITE BACK... WITH LOVE AND AFFECTION

a bird’s-eye view of show town’s happenings

SALMAN KHAN SHOOTING FOR RODRIGO GUERRERO’S SEVEN DOGS REMAKE

Salman Khan is currently shooting a special role for a remake of a 2021 Argentinian lm called Seven Dogs. According to sources, Salman was shooting for director Rodrigo Guerrero’s remake of his own Spanish lm Siete perros (Seven Dogs). The team recreated a set in Dubai that mimics the locations of Mumbai’s Dharavi area. Siete perros had an interesting premise. A man hosts 7 dogs in his home and his neighbours object to his canine guests. This original lm is now being remade in English and it’s great that Salman Khan has been cast in such a unique project.

SHAH RUKH KHAN AND DEEPIKA PADUKONE TO REUNITE FOR PATHAAN 2

2?

Shah Rukh Khan and Deepika Padukone are all set to reunite for 2, the highly anticipated sequel to their 2023 blockbuster. The lm will see SRK returning as the charismatic RAW agent, while Deepika will reprise her role as Rubina. Ashutosh Rana, who played Colonel Sunil Luthra, might be back for the sequel. At the moment, Shah Rukh is busy shooting for where he shares screen space with his daughter, Suhana Khan Deepika has been on a maternity break after welcoming her daughter, last September. This means her return to the big screen with Pathaan 2 will be even more special for fans.

Pathaan King, . Meanwhile, Dua,

JANHVI KAPOOR TO STAR OPPOSITE ALLU ARJUN

KIARA ADVANI AND SIDHARTH MALHOTRA ARE PREGGERS

are

Kiara Advani and Sidharth Malhotra expecting their rst child. In a joint post, Kiara and Sidharth shared that the former is pregnant. They captioned the post, “The greatest gift of our lives. Coming soon,” with a baby, evil eye and heart emoji. Needless to say, industry insiders and fans are elated with the news.

Rule’

After Devara with Jr NTR, Janhvi Kapoor is all set to collaborate with another South star. If reports are to be believed, the actress will be seen with Pushpa star Allu Arjun for Atlee’s next lm. Reports also suggest that he was supposed to start working with director Trivikram Srinivas after Pushpa 2: The Rule’s success but he will now start working on Atlee’s project owing to some delays. Janhvi has apparently been locked as the leading lady of the lm. Meanwhile, the actress is also going to star in Ram Charan’s lm directed by Buchi Babu Sana.

Malhotra

Rajkummar Rao con rmed to play Sourav Ganguly

Sourav Ganguly is hopeful about his biopic. During a recent interaction with the media, the former Indian cricket team captain con rmed that he will be portrayed by Rajkummar Rao. He said, “From what I’ve heard, Rajkummar Rao will play the role, but there are issues of dates...so it will take more than a year to hit the screens.” While the makers haven’t con rmed the same, Ganguly seemed to be sure of the developments. The production of the biopic was announced in 2021. Earlier, Ayushmann Khurrana and Ranbir Kapoor were also approached for this biopic.

GAME OF THRONES ACTOR JEROME FLYNN TO STAR ALONGSIDE MOHANLAL

The makers of Mohanlal starrer L2 Empuraan have been releasing the names of characters to take center-stage in the lm. Introducing character number 7, Boris Oliver from the lm, actor-director Prithviraj Sukumaran revealed that it will be helmed by English actor Jerome Flynn. He is popular for his role Bronn in Game of Thrones. Prithviraj shared a brand new poster, revealing Boris Oliver’s look. In the introductory video, Jerome said,“I play the part of Boris in Empuraan or L2:E. I can’t quite remember how I got roped into this job but I’m so glad I did because it was a completely different experience from what I’m used to having over in the UK or the US. To be part of the Mollywood culture of things and to get a taste of that was really special.”

IMTIAZ ALI’S NEXT PRODUCTION TITLED O SAATHI RE

The makers have of cially announced Imtiaz Ali’s much-anticipated project with Arjun Rampal, Aditi Rao Hydari and Avinash Tiwary. The project has been of cially titled O Saathi Re. Sharing glimpses on social media, the makers noted, “Imtiaz Ali’s ‘O Saathi Re’…an ode to the vintage feeling of love in contemporary times. Starring Aditi Rao Hydari, Avinash Tiwary & Arjun Rampal. Directed by @arifali154.” The project is being directed by Imtiaz Ali’s brother Arif Ali. Imtiaz shared, “O Saathi Re is a modern story with a vintage heart, an enchanted fairy tale set in the asco of Metropolitan life. I feel both relieved and excited at having Arif direct the stellar cast of Avinash, thanks Aditi and Arjun…”

Telugu megastar Chiranjeevi had recently shared that he would be collaborating with Dasara director Srikanth Odela on a project tentatively titled Mega157. Fans are excitedly anticipating updates on Chiranjeevi’s new lm. According to recent reports, Rani Mukerji is being considered to play a pivotal role in the project. However, neither the makers, nor Rani have opened up about it.

RANVEER SINGH DENIES STARTING A PRODUCTION HOUSE

Reports were surfacing that Ranveer Singh was planning to launch his own production house, joining the list of Bollywood actors who have turned producers. However, a clari cation has now come stating that he is not currently looking to venture into production and will continue to focus on his acting commitments. Ranveer Singh’s spokesperson said, “This news is absolutely untrue, and there is no development like this so far. He is currently shooting and focusing on his upcoming projects.” Ranveer is presently lming Aditya Dhar’s Dhurandhar. The lm boasts a stellar star cast, including R. Madhavan, Sanjay Dutt, Akshaye Khanna, and Arjun Rampal.

Feelslike teenspirit

Newcomer

Rasha Thadani opens her heart out to

Suman Sharma

Photographer:RohanShrestha|Stylist:MohitRai Hair:AshishBogi|Make-Up:PompyHans Outfit:Top:Huemn|Skirt:DhruvKapoor

Rasha Thadani

isnotjusthermother’sdaughter.

There’s more to her than being Raveena Tandon’s child. She made a confident debut in the recently released period actioner Azaad. She didn’t opt for a soft contemporary romance as her debut vehicle but decided to go for a dacoit film set during the British Raj instead. And emerged as the jewel in the film’s crown. Her chemistry with Aaman Devgan, Ajay Devgn’s nephew too got appreciated. Talking to her, the youngster comes across as a polished figure rather than someone who is new to the interview game. She’s enthusiastic about every aspect of filmmaking and keen to learn it all. She’s bursting with the joy of having the time of her life at the movies. Rasha has only just started and is raring to go…

Ever since I was a child, I’ve loved Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s films. I also love animals. I got to work with horses. I played a 17-year-old girl at the time and I was actually 17, so it just felt like the perfect fit

Youíre only 19, and yet youíre already on magazine covers and playing lead roles in films. It sounds like a fairytale existence... It feels nothing short of amazing. At the same time, it’s scary. There’s so much I’m still processing. I feel like I don’t quite understand what’s happening. It’s a whirlwind of emotions.

How do you handle the pressure?

I have a really strong and solid support system in my mom. I’m open with her, to her. I can talk about anything. Just talking to her helps me feel better, especially when I’m feeling overwhelmed.

Do you remember your first day on the set?

I remember I had just recovered from a 102-103 fever. The day before, I had gotten an injection. I tried to get better as quickly as I could. We were shooting in the peak of summer, and it was incredibly hot. I remember trying to survive on ORS as much as I could. That day was the most nervous I’ve ever been in my life. First of all, I didn’t know what I was doing and even when I tried to focus, I kept forgetting my lines because I was so sick. That was the first day of my shoot.

As a newcomer, what were some of the challenges you faced during the making of Azaad?

Every day brought a new challenge. There were a lot of things I didn’t understand and to be completely honest, I was learning on the go. Every day, I was jumping from one task to another because

it was all so new to me. There was nothing I knew from before. I remember my first day on the set, I was completely blank. I was so scared. I honestly don’t know how I managed to do my scene or deliver my lines. It took me time to get past that nervousness. I feel like it’s still there, even now. Sometimes, it still takes me a while to warm up to the camera. I think that nervousness will always be a part of me.

Can you share a memorable behind-thescenes moment from the sets of Azaad? Every day was memorable for me. Something or the other was always happening, whether it was Aaman (Devgan) or Gattu sir (Abhishek Kapoor) playing pranks. There was always something funny or memorable going on. It was complete chaos.

Did you and Aaman help each other grow as actors?

Honestly, we had the best film course we could have attended doing this project together. Aaman and I were both learning

side by side, holding each other’s hands through it all. Whether it was workshops, horse riding lessons… we worked through it together. We even went to a village and stayed there for a while to pick up the mannerisms of the people then. It felt like we were learning everything together, whether it was about the camera or dialogue delivery. We had each other to rely on. He was, and will always be, my best friend in that sense.

What was your reaction when you first saw yourself on the big screen?

I was so critical of myself. I filmed it when I was still in school, and now it’s been about two and a half to three years. I remember watching myself on screen and thinking, ‘Oh my God, look at the baby fat on my face. Why did I do it like this? I should have done it this way. What was I thinking?’ I was just constantly criticising myself. Sometimes, my mom

Outfit: Oceanus Shoes: Carla Braga

would tell me, ‘Rasha, stop, it’s okay.’ But I can’t help being so hard on myself.

Azaad has received mixed reviews from critics. How do you feel about that feedback?

I’m really grateful to everyone who appreciated my performance. As for the negative feedback, I see it as a chance to improve. It’s valuable input that helps me grow and become better. I don’t take it negatively because it’s just something the audience feels I can work on. I’ll take that into account and hopefully improve for my next film.

You chose a period action film as your debut. Why didnít you opt for a story set in modern times?

I’ve honestly always wanted to do a period film. Ever since I was a child, I’ve loved Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s films. I also love animals. I got to work with horses. I played a 17-yearold girl at the time and I was actually 17, so it just felt like the perfect fit. I fell in love with everything

about it, especially the purity and magic of the script. It was a win-win situation for me.

Do you feel like you could have started your career a little later on?

No, I believe it’s destiny. Whatever is meant to happen, happens at the right time. Even this film felt like a leap of faith. I was just finishing year 11 when I got signed. I fell in love with the script and said yes.

Uyi amma song has become a rage. You reminded people a lot of your mom Raveena. Did she practise the steps with you?

Not at all. We shot this song just two months before the release. It was so last minute. Everyone was rushing to get everything right. When we filmed the song, I didn’t even realise how great it turned out. When people come up to congratulate me, I’m freaking out on the inside but I just pretend to be confident.

You must have heard stories from your mother about her debut. Is your experience comparable to hers?

Mom was two years younger than me when she debuted. I remember her telling me that back then things were different than what they are now. Like she says, back then they didn’t even have vanity vans. So she keeps saying, ‘Oh my God, you’ll have it so much easier.’

She must have told you about her struggles My mother has worked extremely hard to put

I remember my first day on the set, I was completely blank. I was so scared. I honestly don’t know how I managed to do my scene or deliver my lines

herself where she is today. Not only does her journey as an actor inspire me, but she also inspires me as a person. She always handles herself with such grace and elegance, wherever or whatever the situation might be. And the best part is she is always herself.

Did you visit your mother on the sets as a child?

Yes, I used to visit her on the sets quite often, although I don’t have many vivid memories of those times.

But I loved the chaos and the commotion. There are a few moments I remember, like her getting glammed up and laughing with her team. In more recent times, when

having coffee. I went to the Welcome To The Jungle set recently and met everyone. It was fun.

Who was the most fun to hang out with?

Ajay sir, for sure. Ajay sir and mom worked together for so long. Now he is working with me in my debut film, I think it must have been a nice feeling for him as well. He used to mentor us, was always there for us if we needed anything. He used to make sure that we were comfortable. He was so considerate and sensitive and he made sure that everyone was doing okay on the sets.

Ajay sir

and mom

worked

together for so long.

He used to mentor us, was always there for us if we needed anything. He used to make sure that we

were comfortable

she shot for Aranyak, I was about 14. That was pretty memorable. We were in Manali, which was absolutely beautiful. We had our pets with us, along with a few of mom’s friends. It was definitely an adventure.

What are some of your favourite films of your mother and have you ever imagined yourself in any of them?

No, I can’t touch that and I won’t be able to. I love Aks, Mohra, Dulhe Raja and Andaz Apna Apna

And her favourite dance number? Ankhiyon se goli maare.

Growing up, did you get a chance to interact with any of your motherís co-stars on the sets?

I’m sure I must have but now I don’t remember. I remember eating with her during breaks and

Did Ajay share any acting advice with you? Whenever we were on set together, whether we were shooting his scenes or ours, he would sit with Aaman and me and explain the thought or idea behind each scene. He’d guide us on how to approach it, what expression we should have, or what our mindset should be when entering the scene. He really took the time to plan everything out. He was incredibly helpful throughout the entire process.

Did your mom offer any advice?

She has always encouraged me to be myself, explore and make my own mistakes. She

Outfit: Itrh Shoes: Christian Louboutin

Mom and I have much to talk about every day. She’s my emotional anchor. As for Dad, he guides me with his business mindset. He’s always told me to ay grounded

wants me to experience both success and failure. She believes in letting me make mistakes so I can learn from them.

Raveena said in one interview that she comes to you for advice on how to conduct herself or what to say on social media. I also go to her often, even for the smallest things. If there’s drama with my school friends, I’ll go to her. Even though we share a mother-daughter bond, we’ve really found a friendship in that. I talk to her about everything and she shares everything with me. I’ve honestly found a best friend in her.

Your father, Anil Thadani, is a reputed film distributor. Did his perspective on the business side of cinema influence your understanding of the industry? I would love to know more about the business side of showbiz. He supports me in whatever way he can and he’s always there for me. But, I don’t think he influences my decisions as of now.

Whom are you more close to –your father or your mother? They say daughters are closer to their fathers I’m equally close to both of them. I go to each for different kinds of advice. Mom and I have so much to talk about every day. She’s my emotional anchor. As for Dad, he guides me with his business mindset. He’s always told me to stay grounded: ‘If you work hard, you’ll see the results. If you’re not getting the results, it’s because you’re not working hard enough. And if things don’t go your way, you can’t blame anyone else.’

Are you close to your sisters Pooja and Chhaya (Raveena’s adopted children)? And what’s the equation with your brother Ranbir?

Chhaya didi has moved back to Mumbai and Pooja didi lives in South Africa. But whenever they are at home, it is absolute madness. This December, we all stayed together in the same house. My mom was ready to leave because we really drove her mad. The four of us can practically break a house down. So, we have our teams: Pooja didi and I are one team, and Chhaya didi and Ranbir are

the other. Pooja didi and I are mischievous while Chhaya didi and Ranbir are bilkul seedha sadha. So, Pooja didi and I end up bullying them all the time.

Were you always inclined towards acting or did you have other career aspirations?

Ever since I watched my mom on camera, I knew this is what I wanted to do. I’ve always loved the performing arts. In school, I was always inclined towards the creative arts. I used to stand in front of the mirror and look at myself and dance and sing. I’d pretend to sing and play the piano. But at some point, I also wanted to be a vet.

Did you grow up among other industry kids? Do you have a close friend whoís in the industry or are your friends all from outside the industry?

I knew Ananya (Panday), Shanaya (Kapoor) and Suhana (Khan) when we were kids. There were a few instances where we would travel together if our parents were shooting like London, Germany. I also knew them through school and socially.

You share a unique bond with

Mom was two years younger than me when she debuted. I remember her telling me that back then things were different than what they are now. Like she says, back then they didn’t even have vanity vans

Tamannaah Bhatia...

This is actually a very funny story. We were at someone’s birthday and there was a live performance by a singer. I was dancing to his songs near the stage and so was she. We saw each other, started dancing together and literally that’s all it took. We bonded so fast and now I don’t know what I’d do without her. Currently, Tamannaah and Vijay (Varma) are the closest to me, they are like my godparents.

Did you receive media training before entering the industry?

When I first dealt with paparazzi and the media, it was intimidating. They’d often appear out of nowhere with cameras, and I’d think, “What do I do now?” It was scary at first but you can only learn to handle it through experience, whether on social media, with

paparazzi or in interviews. In the beginning, I’d worry about giving the wrong answer or saying something wrong but over time, I’ve learnt the most important thing: just be true to yourself. Being honest and authentic works best in every situation.

What are your thoughts on social media usage?

I love social media, especially Instagram, because it lets me connect with my audience and fans. However, I believe in setting boundaries, too much of anything can be harmful. To reach true stardom like Allu Arjun sir or Prabhas sir, there’s a certain mystery in how the audience only sees them in theatres. They can’t easily access their personal lives on Instagram, which adds to their allure. On the other hand, social media lets fans see a more personal side of you, offering a chance

to connect on a deeper level. Take Shraddha Kapoor, for example, she’s loved because she’s raw and natural on Instagram. People resonate with her authenticity and that makes a big difference. It’s a balance between both worlds.

Do you feel pressure to portray a perfect life on social media?

Not at all. I strive to be as raw and authentic as possible. I love sharing my day and true feelings. Just a few days ago, I posted about how this week I’ve been feeling a bit more in my head, not my usual happy self. I’ve been reflecting on life and dealing with some overthinking, which I sometimes struggle with. Everyone goes through ups and downs and I think it’s important to voice that.

How would you define your

Aaman and I were both learning side by side, holding each other’s hands through it all. Whether it was workshops, horse riding lessons... we worked through it together

personality?

I’m bubbly. I ask a lot of questions. My father, when I was young, used to call me Prashna because I used to ask so many questions. And I talk a lot. Sometimes I tell my friends, tell me when I’m talking too much, I’ll keep quiet. I’m also sensitive and I tend to overthink.

Are you an impulsive person or are you always in control?

I think I can be a bit of both. Sometimes I try to calm myself down when a situation gets heated but sometimes I can be impulsive also. It depends on the situation

How would you define love in the most Gen Z way?

I don’t think I’ve experienced love yet. The idea of love today revolves around social media, texts and dating apps. It’s become different from the purity and the innocence that love probably had back then before any of this existed. There’s advantages to both but I definitely am old school like that.

What do you love besides acting?

I love animals. I love photographing animals.

What does your work-life balance look like?

Sundays are the days where we actually call it family day in our house. We try to spend the entire day together. Mom doesn’t take up any work on Sundays. She makes it a point to sit with us on Sundays and spend time, eat a meal together. And we all eat dinners together every day. We unwind, talk about our

day and relax around each

other.

Which is your favourite travel memory?

We travel a lot. When we were young, we all went to Sri Lanka and that was my favourite. Also, our trip to South Africa’s Kruger National Park was a memorable one.

Are you a spiritual person? When we were younger, my brother, our friends and I would attend Ramayana classes at home every Sunday. A teacher would come over for about an hour to teach us stories from the Ramayana, bhajans and shlokas like the Hanuman Chalisa, the Gayatri Mantra and Ayagiri Nandini. It was something we looked forward to each week. Those lessons stayed with us. We also started visiting the Jyotirlingas and in the past year and a half, we’ve been to places like Kedarnath, Somnath and Rameswaram, completing all 12. It’s been an amazing journey. I don’t visit to ask for anything but simply to thank God for all he’s given me. I’m truly grateful for his constant presence in my life.

How do you view competition?

I don’t think competition is always about insecurities or trying to outdo others. I believe it’s necessary to keep everyone motivated, to push yourself harder and to help you reach your full potential. Healthy competition is important because it encourages continuous improvement and growth. n

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FLORALS MEET WARM SPICE AND RICH EARTH FLASHY FRAGRANCES WITH RICH, SPICY NOTES

Life’s too short to overthink your choices. The new generation of stars are up on the take and know how to sort their lives. They know what rules their world and aren’t shy about naming their choices. Their machine gun replies to our questions made it a fun banter. Excerpts:

You start your day with? Nimbu paani

Your favourite cuisine? Kashmiri

Your favourite homecooked dish? The chicken curry made at my home is fantastic.

VedangRaina QUICK BYTES

Jeans or Shorts? Jeans

Shirt or T-shirt? Shirts

One thing you cook the best. I can’t cook. I even struggle to make Maggi.

Your favourite restaurant in Mumbai?

As a kid it used to be Mahesh Lunch Home, you get amazing fish there.

What’s your favourite dessert?

Choco-lava cake with vanilla ice cream

One thing which is healthy as well as tasty? Oats and Whey protein. They’re tasty and healthy.

Sneakers or loafers? Loafers

Prints or monotone. Monotone

Neutral or bright? Neutral

One piece of clothing you can spend the rest of your life in. Pyjamas

Your go-to look for a red-carpet event? A sharp suit

Your go-to look for a date night? Shirt, trousers and boots.

Your go-to look for a night in? Pyjamas

Glamour, style, star-power!

Presenting the highlights of the Danube Properties presents Pinkvilla Screen & Style Icons Awards 2025, where style icons were honored for their trendsetting flair!

Mr Rizwan Sajan - Founder and Chairman of Danube Group with Akshay Kumar

Mr Rizwan Sajan presents an award to Rajkummar Rao

Mr Rizwan Sajan presents an award to Sonu Nigam

Mr Rizwan Sajan with Karan Johar, (R)Sharvari, Arjun Kapoor and Disha Patani

One Page at a Time Empowering Change

IMeera Gandhi

FOUNDER AND CEO OF THE GIVING BACK FOUNDATION AND GLOBALLY-ACCLAIMED AUTHOR MEERA GANDHI , IN AN EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH AAKANKSHA NAVAL-SHETYE , TALKS ABOUT HER GLOBAL MENTAL WELLNESS INITIATIVES AND MAKING AN IMPACT WITH HER NEW BOOK 3 TIPS: THE ESSENTIALS TO PEACE, JOY, AND SUCCESS THAT’S RISEN TO NUMBER THREE ON THE BESTSELLER LIST IN INDIA!

nternational philanthropist, Founder and CEO of The Giving Back Foundation, and an acclaimed best-selling author, Meera Gandhi, was recently felicitated with the Filmfare Middle East Most Inﬂuential Women Award for Philanthropy! As a former volunteer at Mother Teresa’s Ashadaan, she learnt the joy of giving from Mother herself. Since then she has traveled extensively in service of the underprivileged.

3 Tips: The Essentials for Peace, Joy and Success; 3 Tips by Meera Gandhi Podcast and The Meera Gandhi Show on B4U TV Network are all projects launched by Meera to push the subject of mental health on the planet. Meera ﬁrmly believes ‘we are all part of the universal spirit and must live in harmony with the ether that guides and propels us on our life journey’’.

As a mother, she raised her three children while successfully managing her philanthropic work, business and social engagements. A woman of many facets, Meera has throughout her life embraced many roles — philanthropist, mother, businesswoman, television show host, author, and spiritual yogi – and juggled them all with great élan!

In recognition of her work, Meera was awarded the 2024 Woman of Grace and Substance proclamation by the Mayor of New York City at Gracie Mansion in September 2024. She has also received numerous accolades, including the Ellis Island Gold Medal in 2015 with Tim Cook, CEO of Apple; and the Maestro Cares Humanitarian Award. Most recently, the Indian Prime Minister’s Office for Scientiﬁc and Social Advancement met with Meera to discuss removing the stigma around mental illness in India to facilitate the successful rollout of mental health programs across India.

Focusing extensively on mental wellness, Meera Gandhi’s most recent project is a large-scale collaboration with the city of New York’s Department of Health and Mental Hygiene and the Mayor himself. Launching an all-day program on June 21st 2025, the Giving Back Foundation aims to impact the lives of 2 to 5 million New Yorkers across all boroughs brought together by this initiative.

INTERVIEW

Hearty congratulations on your recent felicitation at our Filmfare Middle East Most Influential Women 2025 where you were awarded for Philanthropy, it was truly welldeserved. What does a recognition like this mean to you?

A big thank you to the Filmfare Middle East team and especially to the Judges for this award. The award means a lot to me because it focuses on mental wellness projects we are working on all over the world to alleviate stress and despair. Many people today are stressed and need tools and inspirational suggestions to help them cope with various issues at times.

Tell us more about your philanthropic work…

The Giving Back Foundation is based in New York, but we are partnering with organisations in the mental wellness and longevity space in various countries including India, Turkey, USA, UK and the UAE, to name a few. We want everyone to benefit from these tools so that they can be shifted into finding solutions and living their best productive lives!

Could you share more about your most recent project which is a collaboration of The Giving Back Foundation with the City of New York’s Department of Health and Mental Hygiene aiming to launch a program in June 2025 that is touted to impact the lives of millions of New Yorkers across all boroughs.

Yes, The Giving Back Foundation is working on an excellent project with the NYC Department of

Health and Mental Hygiene, Department of Sports and Recreation, the Parks Services and the Mayor of New York himself to bring together people on June 21st, 2025. On this day, people will come together and participate in yoga and meditate together. We hope to also bring in wellknown speakers like Sadhguru to help people find answers. The amazing Madame Gandhi will perform as well as other

rock bands from Hollywood. Tickets will be given out for free and a complimentary vegetarian boxed lunch will be provided. It will hopefully be a transformative day for many people!

Having won so many international recognitions, you are a celebrated name globally! What lies behind this power-woman who has been making waves with her

As a woman, or even justasahumanbeing, Ithinkmystrongest attributesaremy senseofintegrity,a trueempathyfor others and a drive to complete what I start!

philanthropic works, podcast, book, a TV show and so much more… Tell us more about Meera Gandhi, the person behind the name!

My name simply means LOVE. Meera means unconditional love, Teresa is my grandmother’s name and coincidentally, I ended up working with Mother Teresa at Ashadan in Byculla, Mumbai as a student volunteer in my last two years of

Your works – be it your book, podcast or your philanthropic work through your Foundation - focus highly on mental wellbeing. What prompted your journey in this direction?

In 2008 we moved from NY to Hong Kong as Vikram, my exhusband, was posted as head of Asia Pacific Bank for Credit Suisse there. While in Hong Kong, I began to feel a need to reach out and help people in a more direct way. Hence, in 2010 The Giving Back Foundation was created.

high school. Gandhi is my married name, again just a coincidence as I share many values that Mahatma Gandhi promoted such as wanting to be of service to my fellow humans. I do this in my own way through my podcasts 3 Tips each Sunday and my book 3 Tips: The Essentials to Peace, Joy and Success. This book is now in the process of being translated into several languages.

There’s such a stigma attached to mental illness, what are the biggest obstacles you face in addressing this issue and what do you think is the solution to creating an awareness about it?

Yes, I think even today there is a stigma attached to mental unwellness especially in India. In the past, mental health was not taken seriously.

“Yeh toh bas pagalpan

hai, dimag lagao aur aage badho!”

So mental health was never taken seriously even when people were actually paralysed by their fears and truly needed tools to heal their mental distress. One of the biggest obstacle in India is a lack of free mental Counseling Centers to bring about awareness to address it. However, things are changing all over the world and mental health is being spoken about openly and many gurus and inspirational teachers are guiding people. Various apps, vibrational music, calming lectures and talks are now more freely available to people. I also very firmly believe that awareness is the first step to creating solutions. The Giving Back Foundation recognised this issue a few years ago and I have been amongst the first to talk about this and start creating solutions such as the 3 Tips podcast available free to all and also the free 3 Tips App available in the App Store. My book, 3 Tips: The Essentials for Peace, Joy and Success, provides practical solutions for most matters in life and attempts to shift a person’s thinking back into balance!

Your self-help book has been such a best-seller, tell us more about it? Yes, the book 3 Tips: The Essentials for Peace, Joy and Success has remained at the top of the Indian Bestsellers list for the last few years

and has been endorsed by leaders from all walks of life who believe in this book. From Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev on the cover to Shabana Azmi (India), Cherie Blair (UK), Kimberly and Steven Rockefeller (USA), Maharaja Babji (Jodhpur) and Emre Erturk (Turkey) to name a few people who have endorsed the book. I am so delighted that so many people are behind this project because for a healthy planet we absolutely need healthy and sound minds.

We heard that the book is being translated in different languages for global access… Yes, this is true. It will be translated into Hindi, Marathi, Bengali and Arabic this month and into Turkish next month and into Russian by the end of this year! It’s very exciting for me, as I think more people will be able to benefit from the simple but practical wisdom of the book.

What has been your motto, your philosophy of life, through your own journey and what has made you power through all the challenges that you faced along the way?

My motto is ‘We are to the universe only as much as we give back to it’!

But another motto I love is from one of my heroes Eleanor Roosevelt. She says, “Sometimes, you must do the things you think you cannot do!”

You recently

addressed the Longevity and Mental Wellness Conference in Turkey, would love to know more about your experience there! Yes, I was in Istanbul a few weeks ago as the keynote speaker at the Longevity and Mental Wellness Conference. There is a lot of interest in this area as over-stimulation and stress is now affecting all our lives. Bloomberg TV and Hurriyet newspaper, Alem magazine, Hello Turkey magazine and several media houses were covering the conference which again showed the great interest in this area. Today, generally a lot of people are practicing slowing

down, meditating and sleeping early. Many people are not inviting strife into their daily lives. All this is very important to a peaceful and happy life on our planet. It’s great to see things moving in this positive direction.

Going forward, what’s the vision and what’s coming up next?

We have a huge mental wellness event coming up in Central Park on June 21, 2025 that will be free to the public. It will provide fantastic mental wellness tools to all who attend. I think that NYC will be the leader and all mayors in all cities will be partners to disseminate these wellness tools to anyone who might need them. A free vegetarian boxedlunch will also

3 Tips: The Essentials to Peace, Joy and Success is arriving in Arabic and other languages this year!

be provided to all attendees. I hope this will be followed by all cities in the world so that everyone on the planet can live stress free!

You are juggling multiple roles with such grace and elan – personally and professionally - what would be your advice to women out there who are on a similar path and look up to you as a role model? My advice would be to do everything well in every moment. If we do everything well in the moment then the result and outcome will definitely be positive. I think it’s good to practice aparigraha (non-greed) and vairagya (discernment). Staying a little detached from worrying about the outcome of our actions makes life a little less stressed. In general, my advice is to follow your heart as you march forward on this journey of life!

As a woman, what would you say is your strongest attribute? I think my strongest attributes are:

• My sense of integrity,

• A true empathy for others and

• A drive to complete what I start!

3 Tips that you could give to our readers for a more wholesome life?

The best three tips for a more wholesome life are:

• Listen to your inner compass. Listen to your own intuition that is constantly telling us right from wrong

• Work hard and give everything your very best.

• Truly believe in yourself. We are all part of the divine!

“Toomanypeoplearestressedandunabletoenjoytheirlivesonthis planetaswasintendedbyGod.

WeatTheGivingBackFoundationarehostinga5000personyogaand meditationandmusiceventonJune21st,2025atRumseyPlayfieldin CentralParkcalledUpliftNY25toupliftlives,reducestressandinspire positivethinking!”

COMING FROM NOTHING TO WHERE I AM TODAY MAKES ME PROUD.

IF I HAD TO START OVER, I’D DO IT THE SAME WAY

KARTIK AARYAN TALKS ABOUT FINDING HIMSELF THROUGH THE MOVIES IN AN INTIMATE TETE-A-TETE WITH JITESH PILLAAI

PATHS TO GLORY

Kartik Aaryan is the great new hope of the industry today, what with top banners vying to get his signature on the dotted line. His signing amount has reached astronomical figures, though he neither confirms not denies this news, saying that he isn’t defined by his fees. But in an industry where nothing succeeds like excess, you have to flaunt your achievements because no one else will. Kartik looks like a sure bet right now and he insists he’s no one-trick pony. He has trained himself for the long course and loves the challenge. Behind all his street smarts and the hunger of an outsider, he still remains the Gwalior lad who came to Mumbai with big dreams. He’s still in awe of cinema, of making people fall in love with stories. And that’s good because magic needs a certain belief for it to work. Excerpts from a freewheeling interview:

You earned your degree after 10 years. Do you want to recall what college was like? What kind of student were you?

AS AN OUTSIDER, GETTING RECOGNISED IS A CHALLENGE — UNLIKE THOSE WITH ESTABLISHED BACKGROUNDS, I HAD TO EARN EVERYTHING

Choosing D.Y. Patil college was my way of staying close to Mumbai and pursuing auditions while studying. Coming from Gwalior, I wouldn’t have had a reason to move here otherwise. My parents might not have allowed it. But I did study and enjoy

my time here. Though mostly, I was going for auditions.

Since you are a star, they held a special convocation ceremony for you. What happened was that Vijay Patil sir, the owner of D.Y. Patil College, said, “My students will be so inspired by the kind of hard work you’ve done. It’s not just about being in the field of medicine, biotechnology, or engineering. It’s about inspiring people. So, I want you to be here. I

want this to happen so that they work towards their dreams and goals.” I was really happy with that idea.

Both your parents were doctors. What was life in Gwalior like back then?

My younger sister is also pursuing a career in medicine. Growing up, my parents hoped I would become a doctor or an engineer. I used to prepare for exams like PMT and AIEEE. Our family faced financial struggles because my parents were working to set up their clinic while dealing with debt. Being a doctor in a small city doesn’t bring the wealth people often associate with the profession.

Despite the challenges, we were happy, and I’m really proud of my parents’ journey and how they gradually built their practice.

How did you convince your parents to let you move to Mumbai?

When I first moved to Mumbai, my parents thought I was just studying B.Tech in Navi Mumbai, unaware that I was secretly auditioning. For over two years, I searched for casting calls on Facebook, as there were no WhatsApp groups or easy access to auditions back then. Rejections were common, especially without industry connections.

One day, I came across a post from the Pyaar Ka Punchnama team, sent them a portfolio made from cropped group photos and boldly wrote, “I’m the guy you’re looking for.” That got their attention. Though initially rejected, they saw potential

and called me back, marking the start of my journey.

What would you call your breakthrough moment as an actor?

Pyaar Ka Punchnama was my debut, but Sonu Ke Titu Ki Sweety was the real gamechanger. Before that, I was just “the guy with the long monologues,” but after Sonu Ke Titu Ki Sweety, people started recognizing ‘Kartik.’ Another major breakthrough was Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2. When it was announced, there was scepticism but I believed in the script. It connected with the audience and proved how unpredictable the industry can be. Along with Pyaar Ka Punchnama and Sonu Ke Titu Ki Sweety, it became one of the biggest milestones of my career.

What would you tell your younger self today if you were given the chance? I used to be impatient, constantly questioning why things weren’t working out. After my first film, setbacks with my second and third made me feel stuck. I overthought a lot but looking back, I have no regrets. Coming from nothing to where I am today makes me proud.

If I had to start over, I’d do it the same way. I once stood outside Mannat, hoping to see Shah Rukh sir and admired Amitabh sir from a distance. Now, being part of the same industry is a journey I’ll always cherish.

You mentioned Amitabh Bachchan and Shah Rukh Khan. What kind of conversations do you have with them when you meet personally? Have they given you any advice?

Shah Rukh Khan is incredibly warm and kind. Whenever I meet him, he always discusses my films that he has watched. For instance, after the release of Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2, when we met during an event, he personally called me over to compliment the film, mentioning how much he enjoyed it. His willingness to genuinely congratulate and appreciate others is truly admirable and reflects his gracious nature.

Shah Rukh told me that you have to be a good human being to be a good actor. Do you agree with that? To excel in acting, you must fully experience and express your emotions, as it is an emotive art. Without truly feeling emotions, it becomes challenging to authentically portray them on camera.

I DON’T HAVE A FAMILY HERE. I DON’T HAVE MY UNCLE, OR MY DAD, OR MY SISTER, OR MY GIRLFRIEND SPREADING POSITIVITY ABOUT ME IN THE ARTICLES OR IN THE INDUSTRY

I believe being an emotional person is essential to becoming a good actor. Moreover, embracing these emotions not only enhances your craft but also makes you a better human being.

Do you congratulate your colleagues when

Chandu Champion

IN THE INDUSTRY, IT’S COMMON FOR PEOPLE TO SHARE THEIR THOUGHTS ON EACH OTHER’S WORK, AND I THINK THAT’S A POSITIVE PRACTICE

you like their work? I do but I am a little shy when it comes to messaging, especially when I don’t have a personal connection with them. But I always try to do it when I meet them in person.

Is there anything in the past that you’ve seen and reached out to a colleague about? Recently, I had the opportunity to meet Vijay Sethupathi. I wouldn’t call him a colleague, but we crossed paths. For instance, during my visit to Chennai, I really enjoyed his film Maharaja and couldn’t help but praise his work when I met him. This is just one example. In the industry, it’s common for people to share their thoughts on each other’s work. I think that’s a positive practice. I reciprocate this whenever I can, though I’m mindful not to overstep or intrude into someone’s personal space.

Have any of your current colleagues reached out to you when they liked a performance of yours? Ranbir (Kapoor) congratulated me on Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2. I find it a bit odd to mention who congratulated me. I’ve also congratulated Ranbir on his films, like Rockstar, whenever we’ve met. At the time, he was working on a film with Luv Ranjan sir, so we had those conversations. It feels unfair to name who congratulated me, as those moments feel more private and personal. That said, I do reciprocate such gestures.

You also entered the industry at a time when the nepotism debate was at its peak. What is your personal take on it? Nepotism exists across many industries,

including the film industry. I acknowledge its presence without wanting to singleout anyone or assign blame. Everyone has their own journey and if I had been born into an industry family, I might have benefited from such connections too. It’s not their fault. However, I’ve missed out on opportunities, especially the chance to work with top-tier directors and big names who come from massive, high-budget projects. This uneven playing field makes it difficult to fairly judge an actor’s trajectory. But I’ve made my peace with it.

What kind of mistakes do you feel you’ve made?

As an actor, I often reflect on my performances and feel I could have done better in certain scenes or films. However, when it comes to saying no to projects, I’ve never regretted those decisions. I believe my “no’s” have shaped my career more than my “yes’s.” By turning down roles that didn’t feel right, I avoided situations where I might not have done justice to the character or the film.

We live in the world of social media, where actors often wear many masks. So, who is the real Kartik Aaryan?

There’s always a filter, but in my journey, I’ve mostly stayed true to who I am. The way I speak to you is how I speak in real life. I strive to be authentic. I’m not perfect; I have flaws. I overthink, which often stresses me out and when I’m stressed, I tend to eat a lot. Overthinking is a big part of who I am and it affects me deeply.

You’ve worked with many fine actors. Is there someone who’s left an impact on you, and something they said? Vidya Balan had a profound impact on

SONU KE TITU KI SWEETY WAS THE REAL GAME-CHANGER.

BEFORE THAT, I WAS JUST “THE GUY WITH THE LONG MONOLOGUES,” BUT AFTER SONU KE TITU KI SWEETY, PEOPLE STARTED RECOGNIZING ‘KARTIK’

me, not just through her acting but also through her real-life persona. Her ability to create a warm, joyful atmosphere on set was remarkable. Everyone felt at ease around her. Working with her on Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 was an incredible experience; it felt like we were college friends, sharing a carefree and fun connection. She truly left a lasting impression on me.

Recently, there was a story that you’re charging 50 crores for a film. These stories give a sense that the PR game is on point… Am I the only actor

who has received such a price? Nobody writes about others. Everyone writes about me…

...So, your PR doesn’t have anything to do with such stories?

The thing is, I don’t have a spokesperson. I don’t have a family here. I don’t have my uncle, or my dad or my sister or my girlfriend spreading positivity about me in the articles or in the industry. This news is coming from somewhere else. It’s not necessary that this is needed. I don’t need this to prove anything. There are some who get irked by the fact that people make it on their own. And they try to make stories about that person a lot more.

Could you give me an example of the battles you’ve had to face?

My biggest achievement

has been establishing my name in the audience’s hearts. As an outsider, getting recognised is a challenge — unlike those with established backgrounds, I had to earn everything. It took me 7–8 years to land a proper endorsement after Sonu Ke Titu Ki Sweety. Success isn’t instant. From Pyaar Ka Punchnama to Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2 and Chandu Champion, my journey has been built on merit, not privilege. When Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2 was announced, there was doubt, but it

I’m currently single and not dating. In the past, there was a lot of speculation about my dating life, some true, some not. At the time, I was new to the idea of people linking me romantically with others and didn’t pay much attention to it. The media would often spin stories from a single photo, even if I’d just met someone. It felt surreal and I’d even get updates about my own dating life. Over time, I realised I needed to be more careful in

on the move, and relationships can be unpredictable, with partners potentially ending up in different parts of the world. Mutual respect... for each other and our careers is essential, as is carving out time together and offering support in such a demanding field.

Would you be insecure if your partner were more successful?

If my partner were more successful, I’d genuinely be happy for them, even if I felt a bit disappointed

NEPOTISM EXISTS ACROSS MANY INDUSTRIES,

INCLUDING THE FILM INDUSTRY. I ACKNOWLEDGE ITS PRESENCE WITHOUT WANTING TO SINGLE ANYONE OUT OR ASSIGN BLAME

became a franchise, yet no one talks about the ones that fail. Standalone hits like Sonu Ke Titu Ki Sweety, Luka Chuppi and Pati Patni Aur Woh worked because of the efforts involved. If I don’t protect my hard-earned success, no one else will. I know my journey and I’ll keep building on it.

You were linked with Janhvi Kapoor. You were linked with Sara Ali Khan. And then suddenly everything went quiet. Are you dating or not?

how I handled such situations.

What are the do’s and don’ts in a relationship? Like, what have you learnt from your previous experiences? Would you date an actor?

I would consider dating an actor because they understand the profession. It’s crucial to prioritise time for each other despite busy schedules. Actors are often

in myself for not being as successful. My happiness for them would outweigh any personal doubts, and I’d wholeheartedly support them. Growing up, my family celebrated each other’s achievements. My mom and sister, both hardworking role models, taught me to value and uplift success. I’d naturally celebrate my partner’s accomplishments, sharing their joy and success.

How much say do you have in the choice of the heroine in a film?

The decision is ultimately made by the director and the producer. My approach is guided by my instincts regarding the script. I’m not influenced by who else might be cast. From what I understand, they see me fitting a specific role, and I’m here to fulfil that role. I’m the one being hired, not the one doing the hiring. It’s not really an actor’s decision to make. 

Sonu Ti Titu Ki Sweety

Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2

He said,she said...

ALI FAZAL AND RICHA CHADHA MAKE FOR A DELIGHTFUL COUPLE WHO HAVE A KNACK FOR FINISHING EACH OTHER’S SENTENCES, FINDS JITESH PILLAAI

PHOTOGRAPHS: SAHIL BEHAL / FEMINA

I recently had the pleasure of sitting down with the incredibly talented actors Richa Chadha and Ali Fazal. Fresh off the joy of welcoming their beautiful baby, Zuneyra Ida Fazal, they took a break from their busy schedules, balancing parenting duties and promoting their latest film, Girls Will Be Girls, to have a long-pending conversation with me. It was a delightful chat that I had been eagerly anticipating. Richa has been a model and a theatre actor before venturing into films. Ali too was a theatre actor before breaking into films. Their love blossomed on the sets of Fukrey (2013). After nearly a decade of togetherness, they finally tied the knot in 2022. Their interfaith marriage goes in tandem with their political views. It’s a brave move, especially in the times of Love Jihad. The couple has learnt to ignore all that and is busy being the best versions of themselves for each other and for their daughter. Excerpts…

GIRLS WILL BE GIRLS IS ABOUT THE COMING-OF-AGE JOURNEY OF A WOMAN AND HER DAUGHTER. WHAT MADE YOU TAKE UP A PROJECT LIKE THAT?

Richa: Director Shuchi Talati and I are college classmates. We’d been in talks for a long time that we should do something together. Later she went to film school in the States and I went on to become an actor here. It just sort of worked out. If she had written something else, I would have 100 percent backed it too. Besides being my closest friend, another factor that also mattered was her script, which was so amazing. It went to so many script labs, on its own with no input from me. So she’s a really talented person. And I’m so glad this is our first.

Ali: We got nominated at the Indie Spirit Awards. We got two nominations, one for Best Supporting Performance for Kani Kusruti and the other one is the John Cassavetes Award, which is a prestigious one.

COMING TO BEING HANDSON PARENTS. HOW MANY SLEEPLESS NIGHTS HAVE YOU GUYS FACED? DO YOU TAKE TURNS HANDLING THE BABY?

Ali: Richa has been the master manipulator in this, in a beautiful way. Around two months ago, she

edible. What do you do with it?

BUT YOU HAVE SUPPORT AT HOME.

Richa: Yes, I do. Hats off to the traditional wisdom of the Bais in India. They know so much about massage and baby care. Ali: It’s also a process of teaching us how to take care of the baby.

TELL ME ABOUT YOUR LOVE STORY. HOW DID YOU MEET? WAS IT ON THE SETS OF FUKREY?

Richa: No, it wasn’t on the sets of Fukrey. We met on another set. Ali: But for me, it started during the readings for Fukrey. I felt

banged-up car while Ali had a cycle. When you grow from there, it’s really precious.

HOW LONG DID YOU DATE BEFORE DECIDING TO MARRY? WHAT ARE THE UPS AND THE DOWNS? WHAT DID YOU LEARN ABOUT EACH OTHER?

Richa: It’s like a documentary. Ali: I still don’t like that you worry too much.

IS SHE AN OVERTHINKER?

Ali: That’s an understatement. Richa: Massive overthinker. Ali: She takes care of everything. Richa: It’s an elder sister syndrome.

I found a home here with Richa, and I think that was the most beautiful thing. I’ve lived out of suitcases most of my life. So for me to have my own cupboard was a big trigger point – ALI FAZAL

managed to train our baby to sleep nicely. Now, she sleeps from 10 pm to 8 am.

Richa: Yesterday, she slept at 8:30 pm and woke up at 7:30 am.

SO NO MORE SLEEPLESS NIGHTS FOR YOU?

Richa: The change is so profound that you’re sleepless for other reasons. In the first month, you’re confused and still calibrating. Your body is adjusting, and you’re tuned to survival needs. Anxiety levels are high initially but it decreases over time.

Ali: We were figuring things out. We went as two people and came back as three. At home, it was just us and the baby, unlike the hospital where we had support.

Richa: There’s a pink little thing lying, wrapped like a burrito. It’s so cute and

He’s super shorttempered. But also quick to cool down. A WhatsApp meme can make him giggle and forget his anger. He doesn’t hold grudges

– RICHA CHADHA

a need to be close to her, to know her. I didn’t know it was love but I had to be near her. I was amazed by her performance in Gangs Of Wasseypur.

Richa: That performance earned me a Filmfare Award, despite tough competition.

HOW HAS YOUR RELATIONSHIP CHANGED AFTER MARRAIGE?

Richa: I don’t think much has changed from our dating days. We’ve relaxed in each other’s company a little bit. We’re no longer putting our best foot forward. Which is a great space to be in.

Ali: But I’ve found an anchor. For me that was really important. Yeah, I found a home here with Richa. I think that was the most beautiful thing. I’ve lived out of suitcases most of my life. So for me to have my own cupboard is a big trigger point.

SO SHE’S YOUR SAFE SPACE. Ali: Actually just space. Richa: I love the life we’ve created together. When we met, I had a really tiny,

BUT THAT’S A GOOD THING, RIGHT?

Richa: Yes, but sometimes it’s good to be selfish, especially after giving birth.

WHAT DO YOU LIKE THE MOST ABOUT HIM AS A HUSBAND?

Richa: He really is lovely. I have said it multiple times.

IS THERE A QUIRKY, ECCENTRIC QUALITY ABOUT HIM THAT IS ENDEARING?

Richa: I think he thinks I get pissed off but I no longer get pissed off about it. He dozes off easily. Like he can doze off mid-conversation while eating...

Ali: Because of the fact that I am relaxed around her.

Richa: So now I take it as a compliment. He is so easy to be around and I love that. You are just sitting, and when you suddenly look, he’s dozed off. I want to say what I dislike. Small things can trigger him, like a nonfunctioning light. He’s super short-tempered. But also quick to cool down. A WhatsApp meme can make him giggle and forget his anger. He doesn’t hold grudges and often needs reminders about past incidents.

SO THE LEAST YOU LIKE ABOUT HER IS HER OVERTHINKING?

Ali: Yes, she worries too much. Richa: He loves everything about me, right, Ali?

Ali: (Playfully) Yes.

DO YOU FEAR HER? IS SHE INTIMIDATING?

Ali: She can be but she’s a softy inside.

A LOT OF MEN GET INTIMIDATED BY STRONG WOMEN.

Richa: I wouldn’t know if I

intimidate directors and co-stars because they only tell me retrospectively. In past relationships, before Ali, I wasn’t as mature. I often hid my true self, like in Runaway Bride, where the character says, “I’ll have whatever eggs he’s having.” Many women suppress their true selves, and it takes time to understand who you are. With Ali, I don’t have to fight for my agency. He’s not questioning it, which has allowed me to soften into my presence. It’s like a small animal trying to appear big and ferocious due to past hurt or bullying.

CAN YOU TALK ABOUT THE HURT AND BULLYING WITHOUT NAMING PEOPLE?

Richa: I’ve observed that softer people often get bullied. I was a bully myself as a child, especially with my four brothers. Growing up in a joint family and being raised in Delhi toughened me. Delhi makes women develop an armour. Realising that I was also a bully changed me. Now, I instinctively assess people and situations, like noting who took a lunch break when we were late. This instinct is useful as a mother because it brings a sense of peace.

I TALKED ABOUT BULLYING BECAUSE WE WORK IN A BRUTAL FIELD WITH A LOT OF BODY SHAMING AND UNSAFE SPACES FOR WOMEN. HAVE YOU EXPERIENCED SOMETHING LIKE THAT?

Richa: Definitely, as a 22-year-old woman on a set, or during Gangs Of Wasseypur... it was a heavy testosterone set with no luxury or comfort, just guerrilla-style shooting. Coming from St. Stephen’s College, I suddenly interacted with actors from different backgrounds, which was challenging.

AS OUTSIDERS, HOW DO YOU HACK THE MOVIE BUSINESS?

Richa: Have we hacked it? Winning the Filmfare was a fair decision, without lobbying.

SO, WERE YOU SEEING OTHER PEOPLE? WHEN DID YOU REALISE YOU WANTED TO KNOW

EACH OTHER BETTER?

Richa: It was after the film, during the promotions. I noticed Ali dancing goofily, and that sparked something. He was unaware and struggling with the moves, which felt genuine to me. I texted him to get coffee and we gradually got to know each other through theatre friends.

I don’t think much has changed from our dating days. We’ve relaxed in each other’s company a little bit. We’re no longer putting our best foot forward. Which is a great space to be in

– RICHA CHADHA

HAS YOUR INTER-RELIGIOUS MARRIAGE EVER BEEN A PROBLEM WITH YOUR FAMILIES? AN ACTOR MENTIONED GETTING TROLLED FOR ‘LOVE JIHAD’ BECAUSE HER HUSBAND IS MUSLIM. DO YOU TAKE TROLLING SERIOUSLY?

Richa: You can’t take it seriously. Many trolls might be bots or people projecting their own issues. We shouldn’t worry about it.

Ali: Chaplin’s speech about unloved men, machine men, machine hearts, and machine minds is relevant even today. Sometimes, I troll people too but it’s important to distance yourself from it.

ARE YOU STILL COMING TO TERMS WITH THE MOVIE BUSINESS?

Richa: When I entered the industry in 2008, the recession hit and my film’s release clashed with 26/11. It taught me patience and resilience. It’s not a sprint but a marathon. You learn to be detached, focus on your lane, and not compare yourself to others. Ali: You have to drive on your own and do it.

ALI, YOU’RE A FINE ACTOR BUT HAVEN’T HAD A BREAKTHROUGH.

Ali: I don’t have box office hits. I worked in Hollywood with Dame Judith Dench in Victoria & Abdul. But I haven’t received due recognition. Seeking validation changed for me after working abroad.

DID YOU AUDITION FOR HOLLYWOOD ROLES?

Ali: Yes, I auditioned. For Victoria & Abdul. I got called to London and met Judy Dench. She was sweet and did her homework. And she knew I had worked in Fukrey, though she called it F**kRay.

DID YOU FACE ANY KIND OF SEXISM?

Richa: Oh, 100 percent. From both men and women. It’s like a default setting.

ALI, DID YOU FACE THE SAME?

Ali: I used to get insecure because I didn’t know the right way. My first big film, Always Kabhi Kabhi, produced by Shah Rukh Khan, bombed at the box office. On the sets, I was made aware of my position. It’s a status game and you slowly start understanding it. Over the years, I’ve seen

how it changes. Entitlement is killing it; it creates a feeling of superiority that’s really wrong. Cinema is about compassion but we’re conditioned otherwise. Richa: It has to be a team effort.

Ali: Entitlement makes it cringe and shuts people off. For example, a senior makeup artist wanted to read a script to design a look, which would have benefitted the film. Respect for technicians is lacking. We need to celebrate with one another. I’ve seen that change in Malayalam cinema, where actors support each other. Because they don’t feel threatened by one another.

SO YOU’RE SAYING THAT MANAGEMENT LAYS OUT PROFILES OF FIVE ACTORS AND ASKS PRODUCERS TO CHOOSE FROM?

Ali: Yeah!

Richa: All actors are constantly saying that my agent needs to do more, whether it’s here or in Hollywood. But I feel when you go abroad, someone who really believes in you will sign you and then

tailor-make a pitch for you where they do justice to your craft. Here everyone is like, who has how many followers, and who can sell coffee or detergent powder?

Ali: But Richa, it’s skewed on both sides at some level. I also feel we are finding our footing here, so it’s wrong to just blame the management. And maybe it’s not about blame.

Richa: Not to blame if you look at it from the management’s point of view. Their business model is flawed. Because they need to have X number of artistes to make the rent for a posh office in Bandra and X number of managers need to be paid, so they can’t put all the eggs in one basket. A lot of rethinking needs to happen with the business model of our chaotic industry. The minute a wise old guy or girl does it, that’ll be it.

Ali: I think we should go back to the drawing table and focus on art, and the rest will fall into place, including the finance models of cinema.

IS THERE A PROJECT OF YOURS THAT YOU WISHED COULD HAVE BEEN DONE BETTER OR YOU WOULD HAVE DONE IT DIFFERENTLY?

Richa: Certainly, I wish I didn’t do at least like five films.

WHY? BECAUSE THEY WERE NOT RELEASED OR MARKETED WELL?

Richa: I believed in a promising script and the execution didn’t match up. And that can happen to the best of us. But what does an actor do on day three, when they start to figure things aren’t going as expected? And you have already completed two days of shooting. What do you

I felt a need to be close to her, to know her. I didn’t know it was love but I had to be near her. I was amazed by her performance in Gangs Of Wasseypur – ALI FAZAL

do then? Do you lose interest or do you still do your best? You got to do your best, man. Your face is there. Even if you hear gentle snores while doing your monologue, you have to do it.

HAS IT HAPPENED TO YOU?

Ali: Yeah. Many times. I was thinking about Milan Talkies by Tigmanshu Dhulia. That was a flop. I think I couldn’t present it well.

Richa: It’s also hard.

Ali: It’s a beautiful love story. Richa: Now thinking about it from a producer’s point of view, the fact that you’re not able to promote a film is because the cost of production and the cost of marketing are equal. It’s going to kill the small producer. That’s why you see fewer and smaller films today. What do you do in this noise of ubiquity?

WHAT’S THE MEANEST AND NICEST THING SAID TO YOU?

Richa: The meanest was an article titled ‘10 things we hate about Richa Chadha,’ which was hurtful. The nicest was being told, “You are very beautiful, but that’s the least interesting thing about you.”

Ali: The kindest thing was being told that my mother raised me well. The meanest was comments about my Hollywood roles being ‘blink and miss.’

WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE YOUR 20-YEAR-OLD SELVES?

Richa: I was a bully in my 20s but I’d tell myself to hang in there and keep going. I moved to Mumbai with determination and passion. Ali: Just believe in yourself and stick to what you’re doing.

THE FIRST FILM PREMIERE I ATTENDED WAS FOR QURBANI IN DELHI. IT WAS CHAOTIC. QURBANI WAS THE BIGGEST HIT OF THE YEAR. THAT WAS WHEN MY FATHER’S LIFE CHANGED AND HE BECAME A SUPERSTAR

THE PRODIGAL RETURNS

WHAT HAS CHANGED IN YOUR SECOND INNINGS, ACCORDING TO YOU?

What hasn’t changed? A lot changes in 12 years. You can start with me. I’ve changed.

WHAT ARE THE GOOD AND THE BAD CHANGES?

You could call me wiser or less foolish. Life, if you choose to learn from it, teaches you a lot. I have more life experience now and I understand myself on a much deeper level. I’m no longer the quintessential party boy; I’ve left that behind me. I’m a father now, with two beautiful children. And for all practical purposes, I’m still a newcomer in the industry. That’s the mindset with which I came back after 12 years. So yes, a lot has changed. But I’m fortunate that some of the relationships I built, particularly with friends in the industry. have remained strong. These friendships have lasted.

LIKE WHOM? GIVE ME AN EXAMPLE OF SOMEONE, THEN AND NOW. Someone I’ve stayed in touch with consistently is Riteish Deshmukh. He’s someone who became really close to me, even though I was away. That’s one example of a lasting friendship. I’ve also kept in touch with Ramesh Taurani and Sajid Nadiadwala over

FARDEEN KHAN HAS HAD QUITE A COMEBACK THANKS TO KHEL KHEL MEIN AND HEERAMANDI. JITESH PILLAAI SOUNDS HIM OUT

I’ve had numerous conversations with Fardeen Khan ever since he started out with Prem Aggan (1998).

And I’ve teased him about his accent, which hasn’t changed in all these years. There’s an old school charm about him which is appealing. He has seen several ups and downs in life but talking to him now, I realise he has taken everything on the chin like a man and not let that get to him. There’s a quiet dignity to him, the grace of a man who has learnt from life and has managed to put the bitterness behind him. He moved to London for a while, and in due course got a grip on himself. He’s back to his best-looking self and his acting sure has matured with years. He’s raring to go as I question:

the years. Even though I was travelling a lot, particularly in London, the fondness and respect for them remained. Sajid Khan is someone else I’ve stayed connected with. Currently, I’m working on a project where three actors I’ve worked with before are involved. And of course, there’s Housefull 5. There’s Akshay (Kumar), with whom I’ve done one film. I’ve just finished another movie with him, Khel Khel Mein. There’s also Abhishek (Bachchan), who I worked with on Om Jai Jagdish and now we’re doing Housefull 5 together. We share a few years between us. I’m older, of course. We grew up together, and we connected during Om Jai Jagdish. Over time, life took us in different directions. He got married, settled down and we both got busy. But reconnecting now is wonderful. I’m extremely fond of him and it’s great to reconnect. I’m really enjoying this experience.

LET’S TAKE YOU BACK TO YOUR CHILDHOOD. YOU WERE BORN INTO AN EXTREMELY FLAMBOYANT, NOTORIOUS KHAN FAMILY.

To be honest, it was a conscious decision on the part of my parents to shield us as much as possible. No film magazines were allowed in the house. We were in bed by eight, we were never allowed to stay up late. God knows what they were up to, what was happening, all the drama... which we only heard about much later. We’d meet a few close friends of theirs when they came over early, of course. But we were always packed off after introductions. My parents were conscious of wanting us to have as normal an upbringing as possible. Being born into a family where one parent is famous, people tend to feel entitled to the privileges that come with it. My parents were protective of us, especially me and my sister. They made sure it was as normal as possible.

I’M NO LONGER THE QUINTESSENTIAL PARTY BOY; I’VE LEFT THAT BEHIND ME. I’M A FATHER NOW, WITH TWO BEAUTIFUL CHILDREN. AND, FOR ALL PRACTICAL PURPOSES, I’M AGAIN A NEWCOMER IN THE INDUSTRY

I FIND IT HARD TO BUY INTO THAT ‘PRETTY NORMAL’ RHETORIC. FEROZ KHAN’S SON LIFESTYLE CANNOT BE NORMAL. My father’s lifestyle wasn’t normal. But he had a tough upbringing himself. He lost his father at the age of 13 and was the eldest of five brothers and one sister. His mother ran a taxi in the 1940s to make ends meet. He started earning money by hustling as a snooker player. He was ranked in the top five in the Karnataka championship. His dream was always to become an actor. He came to Mumbai at a young age. After years of struggle, he was eventually able to bring his family down to the city, including his mother. They lived in a rented flat. He helped his brothers get their first jobs. Abbas Chacha and Sanjay Uncle got their first jobs through him. He got his brother Shah Rukh settled and even sent him to Canada for an MBA, which was a big deal at the time. He’d seen both the best and the worst of life. Whatever he did, he earned it. My father understood the value of sacrifice and hard work. He made sure we understood that too. He was a no-nonsense dad. He wouldn’t indulge us. We sometimes had to clean our plates and put them back in the kitchen. We had

tasks and responsibilities around the house.

SO YOU DIDN’T GROW UP ENTITLED OR PRIVILEGED LIKE MANY STAR KIDS?

There is an inherent entitlement and privilege just by virtue of being born into such a family. But we were never made to feel that we were entitled to anything. We were never given privileges, none at all. We went to a normal school, our friends were mostly from outside the film industry. We were consciously shielded from that world. So when I say normal, I mean absolutely normal. Once a year, we’d have birthday parties, and our family holiday would be a trip to Srinagar, where my father’s sister lived. That was it. Back then, you went on holiday with your parents. And when he was filming, we’d accompany him if we had holidays. That’s when you got a sense of what it meant to be famous.

YOU NEVER SAW YOUR FATHER DO A ROMANTIC SCENE?

In those days, what was a ‘romantic scene’? It was usually a song. My first memory of a song was Laila o Laila. It was my birthday and my father couldn’t make it home for the celebration. After the party, I took a cake to the set, where he cut it with me. That’s my first memory of a film song. I saw him giving Zeenat Khan these looks and I thought, “What’s going on here?” She was so stunning. I remember thinking, “She’s beautiful.” But of course, I was young. Still, you couldn’t help but be in awe of beauty, whether it’s human or otherwise. It was an interesting experience, orienting myself to the profession and everything that came with it.

WHAT WAS YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH YOUR MOTHER LIKE? SHE WAS A FLIGHT ATTENDANT, RIGHT?

She flew with Air India for eight years. She was an independent woman who looked after her parents and worked hard during Air India’s glory days, when it was run by JRD Tata. She was part of that era. My father, on the other hand, was a formidable personality. He brought that energy home. He was a man who’d seen life for what it was, and he was tough. He showed love in his own way.

WAS THAT A GOOD THING FOR A CHILD?

My father was protective but he wasn’t expressive. Once in a while, on my birthday, there’d be moments. He had his own way of

IT WAS A CONSCIOUS DECISION ON THE PART OF MY PARENTS TO SHIELD US AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE. NO FILM MAGAZINES WERE ALLOWED IN THE HOUSE. WE WERE IN BED BY EIGHT, WE WERE NEVER ALLOWED TO STAY UP LATE

WHEN I DECIDED TO MARRY, I WAS FEELING A HUGE VOID. I WAS SEEKING COMPANIONSHIP. BEING FAMOUS MADE ME QUESTION WHETHER PEOPLE WERE ATTRACTED TO ME OR JUST TO THE IMAGE OF ME

showing affection. But in everyday life, there was a certain formality. I always felt quite intimidated by him. I don’t know anyone who wasn’t. In a family, you see both the best and the worst of people. And it’s a different kind of relationship. You don’t just see what the world sees. That’s true for all of us. I was a mama’s boy. She was my foundation. I was also very close to my nanny, who was like my second mother. My mother, of course, was very close to my dad. I was a quiet, sensitive and introverted child. I didn’t express myself much. I knew where I needed to go to feel safe, it was a comfort thing. It was important to me, the dynamic between my father and me.

THE STORY I’VE HEARD IS

THAT ONE DAY YOUR FATHER TURNED UP AT SCHOOL ON A HORSE. No, that was me. My father loved horses. He had one named Rizal, which was stabled a few kilometres from the house. On weekends, the horse would come to our place and he would ride it on the beach. Horse riding was big back then. My father started riding on the beach and wanted me to learn riding too. I was a bit big for the horse, also I was scared of it. I still remember riding it but I was terrified. He’d take the horse down the stairs to the beach. He wouldn’t walk it down; he’d ride it down with me on it. It was quite a sight, the horse and I both freaking out. One day, my father said, “Today, we’re going to school on the horse.” I thought it was ridiculous but I did it. The school and our house were owned by the same man, so there was a gate connecting the two. When I arrived at school, the other kids saw me on the horse and they were all excited. For them, it was a big deal. But I was embarrassed. They cheered. It was quite

a moment for them. YOU BLOSSOMED INTO THIS BEAUTIFUL YOUNG MAN AND DECIDED TO GO TO UNIVERSITY. It was important to my father to send me to university. He felt insecure about not having a formal education. So he wanted me to complete my degree. He was self-taught, a well-read man with a curious mind. His friends were industrialists and he had a passion for philosophy and poetry. He believed education was crucial for being a thinking man. He was keen for me to go abroad, to find my independence and discover myself. After partying in places like LA and New York, I ended up at the University of Massachusetts, where I did a business degree. It wasn’t my first choice but it was his. Looking back, those were some of the best years of my life.

DID YOU REALISE YOUR FATHER WAS SUCH A SIGNIFICANT FILMMAKER IN THE ’70S, WHETHER IT WAS DHARMATMA (1975) OR QURBANI (1980)?

The first film premiere I attended was for Qurbani in Delhi. It was chaotic. Qurbani was the biggest hit of the year. That was when my father’s life changed and he became a superstar. The crowds at the premiere were overwhelming, and I was scared. People were reaching out to touch him. I have a picture of him holding onto me, looking scared too. After Qurbani, I began to understand his significance in the industry. I’d visited him on the sets before but it was after that film that I truly appreciated his contribution to cinema. I started to understand how much respect he received

for his work. I was around six or seven and that was when I began to realise his place in the world of filmmaking.

THAT’S HOW YOU DECIDED TO BECOME AN ACTOR AFTER SEEING THE HUGE PREMIERE?

I didn’t decide to become an actor immediately. In the ’80s and the ’90s, acting wasn’t exactly considered ‘cool’. People would mock our films, English films were deemed much cooler. Hindi films just didn’t have that ‘cool factor’. But after I returned from university, there was a buzz around me. Bobby (Deol) had just become a big star, I was the next one in line. People kept saying, “What are you doing, Khan saab? You should be a hero!” And that’s how it all began –people saw an opportunity for me.

WHEN YOU MARRIED NATASHA MADHWANI, WAS THAT REAL LOVE? WHEN DID YOU REALISE YOU LIKED HER?

I grew up in a dysfunctional home and didn’t really believe in marriage. I always thought the only reason to marry was to have a child. For me, it’s about responsibility, backed by law, with both parents equally involved. When I decided to marry, I was feeling a huge void. I was seeking companionship. Being famous made me question whether people were attracted to me or just to the image of me. It was never easy to meet someone beyond the person I was married to.

DID THE FAILURE OF YOUR FILMS AND YOUR CAREER IMPACT YOU?

When I look back, I realise I didn’t give the respect my opportunities deserved. I didn’t fully utilise them. While I had plenty of opportunities, I wasn’t invested in them. I have to take responsibility for that. I didn’t approach my work with the seriousness it required. The films felt superficial and I didn’t take them seriously

Khel Khel Mein

LIPS SHOOTING FROM THE

Gulshan Devaiah is a font of deadpan humour, finds Suman Sharma

Gulshan Devaiah has always been prompt and enthusiastic when it comes to giving interviews, making him a delight to engage with. Known for his sharp wit and humor, which often shines through his social media posts, Gulshan brought the same energy to our conversation. He was more than willing to break away from the norm and dive into something unconventional. His readiness to embrace the quirky and his ability to craft clever, offbeat responses made the interaction truly memorable. Excerpts:

1

WHICH IS THE ONE MOVIE YOU WISH YOU COULD HAVE BEEN A PART OF?

There’s more than one… I’ll choose Andhadhun.

2. IS THERE A ROLE FOR WHICH YOU’D GIVE UP ANYTHING?

Nope… Nothing in life should be that important.

3. ONE BOLLYWOOD STAR YOU ARE DYING TO WORK WITH.

Manoj Bajpayee and Sai Pallavi (she’s technically not Bollywood as yet).

4. WHICH WAS THE LAST FILM THAT MADE YOU CRY? ANY SPECIFIC SCENES?

Sonic 3. I saw the Greek dubbed version in Athens. There’s a scene when they show the night sky... I cried. It made me remember someone very dear.

5. A FILM YOU SAW RECENTLY THAT YOU THOUGHT IS OVERRATED...

Not recent but Joker, the first one. The movie was average, in my opinion. But Joaquin’s

performance made it seem like a genius film.

6IF YOUR LIFE WAS A MOVIE, WHICH ONE WOULD IT BE?

No film can depict my life or for that matter, anybody’s life as a whole.

7. A GREY MALE ONSCREEN CHARACTER THAT YOU WISH YOU WERE IN REAL LIFE... No one in particular. We’re all grey for that matter.

8. WHAT’S THE FUNNIEST THING THAT HAS HAPPENED TO YOU ON A FILM SET?

I showed up on the set one day and was ushered into the dressing room. After wondering for a while, I realised I was on the wrong set. It was a cooking show set… I wouldn’t have minded being there if I didn’t have to be somewhere

else.

9. PROFESSIONAL MISTAKES THAT YOU WILL NEVER MAKE... Be a reality show participant.

10. THREE THINGS YOU DO ON THE SET...

1. Show up on time. 2. Nap in the afternoon. 3. Hum songs.

11IF YOU HAD TO ROMANCE A MAN ON SCREEN, WHO WOULD IT BE? Maybe Irrfan… if that’s possible somehow.

12. ONE ACTRESS YOU WANT TO ROMANCE ON SCREEN Maybe Smita Patil… if that’s possible somehow.

13. THE STAR KID YOU ENVY THE MOST... Taimur… why is he so cute?

14. THE BOLLYWOOD CELEB YOU’D WANT AS A NEIGHBOUR?

PEOPLE

MISUNDERSTAND

ABOUT MY HEIGHT. I’M TALLER THAN WHAT GOOGLE SAYS AND SHORTER THAN WHAT YOU THINK

Johnny Lever, of course.

15. HAVE YOU EVER HAD A CRUSH ON A CO-STAR BUT NEVER TOLD HER?

I used to have a crush on Sagarika Ghatge during her Chak De. I think I told her that when I worked with her in Foot Fairy.

16. IF YOU WERE JOURNALIST, WHAT IS THE ONE THING THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO ASK SHAH RUKH KHAN, AKSHAY KUMAR, SALMAN KHAN AND AJAY DEVGN

I’d ask them to give me money. I don’t have a specific amount yet but whatever it is, it’s going to be back pocket change for them. The compounding interest on the money they’ll give me will empower me and my ambition of a simple life in Monaco.

17. WHO’S THE FIRST ACTOR YOU WOULD LIKE TO INTERVIEW? AND WHY

Myself, of course. Who can be more interesting to me than myself? No one.

18. IF YOU WERE TO LOSE YOUR MEMORY, WHAT IS THE ONE THING OR ONE PERSON YOU WILL HAPPILY FORGET?

Myself. Like a proper “Method Actor”

19. IF YOU COULD DO ONE CRIME WITHOUT BEING CAUGHT WHAT WOULD IT BE

If I tell you then I’m stupidly leaving behind a clue.

20WHAT DO YOU THINK PEOPLE MISUNDERSTAND ABOUT YOU?

My height. I’m taller than what Google says and shorter than what you think.

21. ONE THING YOU WOULD LOVE TO CHANGE ABOUT YOURSELF...

My height

22. ONE FLAW ABOUT YOURSELF THAT MAKES YOU AN IMPERFECTLY PERFECT MAN?

My oddly bent right

elbow, perhaps.

I SAW A GOOGLE SUGGESTION ON MY BROWSER: “GULSHAN DEVAIAH NET WORTH.” I CLICKED ON IT AND ENJOYED READING THE PROPAGANDA LIES

23. ONE HABIT YOU HAVE BEEN TRYING TO BREAK FOR A LONG TIME?

Being humble… damn it’s the hardest thing for me to quit. I’ve almost given up

24. HOW DO YOU WANT LOVED ONES TO REMEMBER YOU?

It’s totally up to them. What people remember me for after my death is none of my concern. What they remember

me as while I’m alive is beyond my control.

25. WHAT IS THE ONE THING YOU KNOW NOW THAT YOU WISH YOU KNEW WHEN YOU WERE YOUNGER?

Merit in the arts is a subjective opinion.

26. IF YOU COULD GO BACK IN TIME, WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU LIKE TO SAY TO YOUR TEENAGE SELF?

I’d just observe him from a distance.. I’m telling him nothing.. he’ll have to figure it out himself.

WHAT PEOPLE REMEMBER ME FOR AFTER MY DEATH IS NONE OF MY CONCERN. WHAT THEY REMEMBER ME AS WHILE I’M ALIVE IS BEYOND MY CONTROL

27YOUR FAVOURITE CHILDHOOD MEMORY WOULD BE...

Wearing my new Hawai chappals called Trot from Bata. I must’ve been 4-5 years old. I can remember running up and down with them.

28. WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR WORST DATE?

This one time I can remember is that I was trying too hard. I was

SLEEP, WHAT WOULD YOU SAY? Talk? No, I’d sing songs from the ’50s and the ’60s.

31. WHAT’S THE WEIRDEST THING YOU’VE EVER GOOGLED?

To my surprise, I saw a Google suggestion on my browser: “Gulshan Devaiah Net Worth.” I clicked on it and enjoyed reading the propaganda lies.

32. IF YOU WERE GIVEN A CHANCE TO DO ANYTHING YOU CAN FOR A DAY, WHAT WOULD YOU DO?

Take a nice, uninterrupted nap. What else can be better than a nice nap? Nothing.

32. WHAT DOES YOUR CAR NUMBER SAY ABOUT YOU? It’s about a great loss.

33. HAVE YOU EVER BROKEN TRAFFIC RULES?

What sort of a question is this… Of course. I’m from India. It’s part of our collective culture.

34. WHAT’S THE MOST USELESS TALENT YOU HAVE?

Nothing that’s worth calling a talent is useless.

35. WHO HAS FULL CONTROL OF GULSHAN DEVAIAH? Maybe my cats, Ginger Singh and Einstein.

36. IF YOU COULD SWAP LIVES WITH ANY CARTOON CHARACTER, WHO WOULD IT BE AND WHY? Genie from Aladdin… because I’ll be a freaking Genie.

TRANSFORMED INTO ONE ANIMAL, WHICH ONE WOULD YOU CHOOSE? Myxozoa.

41. ONE MISTAKE YOU WOULD NEVER REPEAT IN A RELATIONSHIP? Lack of patience.

42. ONE EMBARRASSING MOMENT IN YOUR LIFE THAT STILL MAKES YOU CRINGE... Nothing really because I’m working on getting over such things. I suffer in my imagination, unnecessarily. I don’t want to.

43. WHAT’S THE MOST EMBARRASSING THING YOU’VE DONE IN PUBLIC?

Peed in my chaddis in middle school.. or it was primary school.

44. IF YOU HAD A WARNING LABEL, WHAT WOULD IT SAY? Warning: He’s a winding mountain road and will take his time to make the point but also often gets lost in his dreams.

45 WHAT IF A PERSON OF THE SAME SEX HITS ON YOU? It’s not a problem. I’m straight and I’ll always find a way to let them know.

46. WHAT IS MORE IMPORTANT FOR YOU - MONEY OR FAME? AND WHY?

I need time to think. I’ll get my IT cell to forward my answer on WhatsApp when I figure it out. Great question.

low on confidence and none of my jokes landed. She said no. I don’t blame her… and I don’t blame myself either. It was a bit embarrassing, but we all have bad days.

29. IF YOU COULD HOST A PARTY WITH THREE PEOPLE, DEAD OR ALIVE, WHO WOULD YOU INVITE?

Just my darling cat, who passed away in 2024… I don’t want to invite anyone else. Just me and her.

30. IF YOU COULD TALK IN YOUR

37. IF YOU COULD TALK TO PRIME MINISTER NARENDRA MODI, WHAT WOULD YOU TALK ABOUT?

I’d just like to observe and listen to whatever he has to say.

38WHAT’S YOUR ONE ANNOYING HABIT?

I think... damn it’s very annoying.

39. WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST FEAR?

Of getting duped/ scammed both online and offline

40. IF YOU COULD BE

47. WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU BOUGHT VEGETABLES FOR YOUR HOUSE? Every day. And fruit too.

48. ONE THING YOU BELIEVE ONLY MEN CAN DO Have XY chromosomes.

49. ONE REGRET YOU DON’T WANT TO HAVE WHEN YOU GROW OLDER? That I’m older.

50. IF YOU WERE TO WRITE A BOOK,WHAT WOULD IT BE ABOUT?

Recipes that I’ve completely made up in my kitchen. n

KEN ABLE &

VARUN SOOD LOVES ALL THE ATTENTION HE’S GETTING, FINDS TANZIM PARDIWALLA

Has anyone ever told you that you look like Flynn Rider from Tangled?” I ask Varun Sood on a candid phone call. He laughs, “Yes, I get that a lot. I take that as a compliment.” Clearly, it’s a popular opinion the young actor has garnered for his good looks and undeniable charm. Sood instantly made waves in the weeks after the release of Call Me Bae on OTT. The series saw him play Prince, a gym trainer who falls for an heiress (Ananya Panday). He played the character with a Ken-like endearing quality that feels like an extension of his real-life persona. Varun reflects on how his roles often mirror his own personality, saying, “All the characters I’ve played have a reflection of me. In acting, you’re taught to empathise with your character and find similarities to make it your own.”

He relates to his character Prince from Call Me Bae, who loves making people happy and is helpful—traits he has in real life. Opening up about playing a green flag man in a world of films that celebrate hypermasculinity, Varun shares, “All kinds of men exist in this world. You’ll find green flags, red flags, grey flags. Every colour of flag in today’s day and age.” According to him, the reason the

three male characters in Call Me Bae received appreciation was because, despite being masculine, they were still able to maintain their softness and gentleness. Men written by women are indeed having a moment. He says, “I think Ranveer Singh did a fabulous job in Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani. My character was a slightly more refined version of Rocky. He was a lot more Delhi.”

Opening up about how Call Me Bae resonates with millennials and Gen Z, he shares, “If you notice, the show is all about social media. Every doubt that somebody has, they go on social media to figure it out. If you want to send out an important message, you go on social media to reach a larger audience.”

The actor says he shares a great camaraderie with his ‘Bae’, Ananya Panday, and waxes eloquent about her journey. “I think her last three projects, Gehraiyaan, Kho Gaye Hum Kahan, and Call Me Bae have been fantastic. To make a character like Bae convincing is a hard thing.”

A rewind of his Roadies audition tape will tell you how far Varun has come. He feels his acting journey began with JugJugg Jeeyo, a Dharma project, and

ALL KINDS OF MEN EXIST IN THIS WORLD. YOU’LL FIND GREEN FLAGS, RED FLAGS, GREY FLAGS. EVERY COLOUR OF FLAG IN TODAY’S DAY AND AGE

then he got his first big OTT break in Karmma Calling. He worked with Raveena Tandon in the series. Recalling the gold mine of knowledge that working with the veteran was, he says, “Raveena ma’am is a person who’s been around since the ’90s and has so much experience to share. Working with her was like attending a masterclass. It was a treat. The best thing I learnt from her was that no matter where you are in life, no matter what you have achieved in life and how big you are, hunger should never die.”

He is very happy that people are now noticing him as an actor after Bae. When asked about the Dharma films that left an impression on him, Sood shares, “In my first year of college, I saw Ranbir Kapoor in Ae Dil Hai Mushkil and it blew my mind. I was mind-blown. How can somebody portray a character so complex with such ease? We

have all grown up to like Dharma movies. Kal Ho Naa Ho and Kuch Kuch Hota Hai are stuck in my brain like a core memory. So now to be associated with that company and the production house feels like a dream come true.”

It’s easy to get stereotyped in our industry. He was getting variations of goodlooking rich-guy roles, and Naam Namak Nishan, set in Officers’ Training Academy, broke that stereotype. “I played an army cadet. I had the same haircut as everybody else and the same uniform. I kind of looked like everybody else. That changed the stereotype. I hope I get more roles in the future where I can experiment with my character,” he asserts. Ask him to offer advice to young actors, and he says he can only offer what he has observed, experienced, and applied in his own life. “You don’t have a plan B. You will never have a plan B. So don’t be scared about things not happening. Keep working hard on yourself. Keep going through the same process of auditioning, getting rejected, because there will be one day when somebody will have that trust in you and it’ll all begin again. Don’t worry. Everything will be okay.” n

CORDIAL COMFORT

Reese Witherspoon and Will Ferrell talk about their camaraderie, and also spill the tea to Tanzim Pardiwalla about their latest venture together, You’re Cordially Invited

“IT WAS SO MUCH FRUM”… From? “It was so much ‘fun’ filming for this film,” says Will Ferrell appearing on my laptop screen with a robotic countenance. It takes me a while to realise he’s doing a funny bit. Meanwhile, Reese Witherspoon, seated beside him cracks up, appearing quite used to his shenanigans. My comedy-loving brain is unable to comprehend I’m casually talking to Elle Woods and Buddy the Elf on a regular Wednesday night. The nerves kick in as I calculate their collective cultural impact on the world of entertainment. Of course, it’s been a long time since the two played the aforementioned characters. Over the years, Reese went on to impress in intense dramas like the all-female-led mystery thriller Big Little Lies and The Morning Show in which she delivered a standout performance alongside Jennifer Aniston. Will went from voicing animated characters in The Lego Movie to playing Mattel’s evil CEO in Greta Gerwig’s Barbie. And now, they’ve combined their forces to star in and executive produce You’re Cordially Invited, a comedy about a double-booked wedding venue. “Will is just too good,” raves Witherspoon while Ferrell reverts, “For me, it was the same with Reese.”

FRIENDS FROM WORK

Opening up about having Will Ferrell as her screen partner and serving as executive producers together behind the scenes, Reese Witherspoon says, “It was so much fun. We had a great time. Will is just so on it and quick. For me, coming in to watch this guy work made me think about how lucky I am every day that I get to go to work and witness his work.” Heaping praise on the diverse ensemble cast of You’re Cordially Invited, Reese adds, “We had this amazing cast. We had Lillian Morgan, Rory Scovel and Jack McBrayer. We have all these great new comedians who are getting this opportunity to reallyshine. So that was really fun.” Their chemistry, a mix of

FOR ME, COMING IN TO WATCH THIS GUY WORK MADE ME THINK ABOUT HOW LUCKY I AM EVERY DAY THAT I GET TO GO TO WORK AND WITNESS HIS WORK -–Reese Witherspoon

I KIND OF GREW UP AROUND ENTERTAINMENT WITH A MUSICIAN FATHER. SO I SAW HOW TOUGH IT WAS AS A BUSINESS

-–Will Ferrell

other becomes the front for their eventual fondness for each other.

PARENTING LESSONS

You’re Cordially Invited has its fair share of generational clashes. From breakups documented on TikTok to 2000s songs that have aged like milk, the film plays on the divide between parents and their children. Ask Reese about dealing with the gap when it comes to her own kids, Ava Elizabeth Phillipe, Deacon Reese Phillipe, and Tenessee James Toth, and the actress is nothing but candid. “I think my kids think I’m embarrassing,” she admits. As I find myself interjecting with an “aww”, Reese assures me, “No, no, I live for it. I think it’s really fun. If you’re not embarrassing your children, you’re probably not spending enough time with them.” Will, a father to three sons, Magnus, Mattias and Axel doesn’t shy away from sharing his experience as a parent either.

You’re Cordially Invited

banter and enemiesto-lovers vibes shines through. Reese’s Margot, a Los Angeles-based TV producer and Will’s Jim, an over-involved widowed father, fight to keep the remote wedding venue for their sister and daughter respectively. It’s easy to root for them as their frustration with each

“Without a doubt, I embarrass them often. So my kids are 20, 18 and 15. I’m always messing up. Using the wrong term in the wrong way. And it’s to their endless satisfaction and joy. They love it. And then I’ll purposely say things wrong, just to mess with them. That’s a part of what being a parent is. Messing things up,” he claims. Reese adds, “I enjoy embarrassing my children. I lean into it. I love doing silly dances at the wrong time, especially since

they’re pubescent. Like my son’s 12 and I’ll just dance in front of a bunch of girls and he is mortified.”

ON BOLLYWOOD AND DESI WEDDINGS

Over the years, the sheer volume of Indian cast and crew members on a film’s credit list has increased exponentially. The diverse cast of You’re Cordially Invited includes a half-Indian character, Jim’s daughter Jenni, played by Geraldine Viswanathan. Indian wedding customs also get a nod in the form of marigold garlands at the wedding. For Will, it wasn’t the first time experiencing a desi marriage. In fact, he was invited to one. He recalls, “I was at a hotel once in the PhoenixScottsdale area and there was an Indian wedding going on. It took place for three days. There were hundreds of people there and we got invited. They were like, ‘Just come. No one will know that you’re here. There’s already so many people.’ But I couldn’t because they’re super large weddings. There’s typically around 500 people right?”

Curious to know if the two ever considered starring in a desi flick, I ask them about the possibility of crossing over to Bollywood. My question instantly meets with an enthusiastic, “Hire me!” from Reese. “I would be desperate to star in a Bollywood movie. Desperate. Whoever’s there listening, please hire me,” says the actress looking quite serious about it. “Hire both of us,” Will chimes in for good measure. “I will do it. He’s so musical and he’s such a great dancer. We dance really well together. In fact, we choreographed the Islands in the Stream music number at the end of the movie by

ourselves,” Reese adds convincingly. Bollywood filmmakers, are you listening?

COMEDY LEGENDS

The impact Reese and Will have on comedy as a genre is undeniable. Their filmography will forever be a defining moment in movie history. “I’ve always wanted to do comedy since I was a kid,” says Will. “I kind of grew up around entertainment with a musician father. So I saw how tough it was as a business. And that’s why I didn’t necessarily think I could do what I get to do now. It was a little bit delayed. But this is all I’ve ever wanted to do, starting with being on a show like Saturday Night Live and then to have that propel into the movies I’ve gotten to do. And to work with extraordinary people like Reese. I’m so lucky. Reese is so lucky to get to work with me.”

“That’s what I was going to say. I’m lucky to work with Will. He’s extending my career a little bit. There was no work. And I was waiting by the phone thinking ‘I guess it’s over.’ But just then ring ring. Ferrell,” Reese goes into doing a bit matching her co-star’s energy. As we break into a hearty laugh, it’s easy to see how these two legends got together for a movie like this. Noticing my high-pitched laugh as I say my goodbyes to wrap up our conversation, Reese reacts, “Oh honey, you’re the cutest.” Before I can process it, the video call abruptly disconnects and just like that, Elle Woods and Buddy the Elf leave me beaming for the rest of the evening.

HAIR TO STAY

CELEBRITY HAIRSTYLIST FLORIAN HUREL, WHO HAILS FROM PARIS, SHARES HIS LOVE FOR INDIA AND INDIAN CELEBRITIES WITH SRIJITA SEN

Florian Hurel travelled to India after his mentor in France encouraged him to broaden his horizons.

Since then, there has been no looking back. Today, Florian is one of the most sought-after stylists in Bollywood, having created iconic looks for stars such as Priyanka Chopra Jonas, Deepika Padukone, Tamannaah Bhatia and Shraddha Kapoor, to name just a few. In this candid conversation with Filmfare, he opens up about his journey from the streets of Paris to the fashion capital of India, Mumbai. He sheds light on his creative process, the challenges of constantly reinventing his looks and even debunks a few popular Indian hair care myths.

Did you always want to be a hairstylist?

Yes, I knew from the age of 13 that I wanted to be a hairstylist. My mother's uncle was a hairstylist, and I always admired his style and the way he dressed. There was something charming about the profession as well.

From Paris to India – tell us about your journey. It’s been quite a long journey, nearly 20 years now. I started at a young age and went through various stages of learning, growing and assisting some of the best hairstylists in the world, working with top brands. After travelling, I returned to France and opened my salon at 21. It was a franchise, which I eventually sold before deciding to move abroad again. My mentor in France suggested that I go to India, believing it would be beneficial for my personal and professional growth. I came to India

to explore the market, work and train people. That’s essentially how my career unfolded here. Whether it's Bollywood, TV commercials, or working with different celebrities, I made a name for myself by working closely with them. Then, I opened my beauty salon. It’s been 11 years now and it feels like I landed just yesterday.

Who was the first big celebrity client you worked with, and what look did you create? I worked with Yami Gautam for a Unilever TV commercial many years ago. After that, I worked with Shraddha Kapoor, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and then the work just kept coming. I prefer working with people who are ultraprofessional and organised. Because I share the same traits. I particularly enjoy working with Priyanka Chopra Jonas and Deepika Padukone because both are strong, professional

With Deepika Padukone

Kiara Advani

With Anushka Sharma

I PREFER WORKING WITH PEOPLE WHO ARE ULTRAPROFESSIONAL AND ORGANISED. BECAUSE I SHARE THE SAME TRAITS. I PARTICULARLY ENJOY WORKING WITH PRIYANKA CHOPRA JONAS AND DEEPIKA PADUKONE BECAUSE BOTH ARE STRONG, PROFESSIONAL INDIVIDUALS

individuals.

Tell us about one of your favourite looks and what went into creating it.

One of my favourite looks was the one I created for Priyanka Chopra Jonas at the Red Sea Film Festival. Mickey Contractor did the makeup and I worked on her hair. I’m particularly proud of that look because it was a challenging one. It gained a lot of attention. People were eager to write about it because she appeared with a very natural wave in her hair. People know we often use extensions but they always wonder how we make it look natural. The secret is blending everything and styling the hair together. Preparing the hair is a crucial step in achieving a great hairstyle. It takes skill, knowledge and years of experience to master this.

Tell us about the recent looks you did for actresses such as Kiara Advani or Deepika Padukone.

The looks vary depending on the assignment, whether it’s a commercial, magazine shoot or something else. I garnered a lot of attention when I did Aishwarya Rai Bachchan’s look for Grazia. She appeared with a natural, effortless style that looked as though she had just woken up, no blow-dry or curls. And people loved it. That was a defining moment for me in the industry. Then, there have been other looks for Deepika that

went viral after she attended various events. What works is studying the details and paying attention. I like to analyse and focus on every aspect.

How do you differentiate between a look for a magazine shoot, a promotional event and a red carpet appearance like Cannes? Magazine editorials are about showcasing trends. A celebrity attending a red carpet event wants to be seen as the most glamorous person there, so the look is more polished and worked on. Magazine looks are often more effortless and edgy.

Has it ever happened that you had a particular look in mind, but the celebrity wasn’t on the same page?

That happens all the time. It’s a common occurrence. You may have a vision but sometimes the client wants something different. And that’s perfectly fine. It’s part of the job to ensure you deliver the best look for the moment. Most of the time, celebrities trust us and listen to our suggestions. There’s never been any conflict over this.

Are stylists today taking enough risks to create new looks?

Yes, they are. The industry has seen almost everything, so it’s not that we can’t create something new. Take Uorfi Javed, for example. She’s known for being bold and extravagant with her outfits. On the other hand, Deepika Padukone is ultra-chic and elegant, attending high-profile

With Fatima Sana Shaikh

Shraddha Kapoor

Priyanka Chopra Jonas

With Tamannaah Bhatia

events

Gala. Both are exceptional in their own ways. I’ve worked with both and respect both. Uorfi experiments with outfits, which is her signature, while Deepika embraces classic elegance. It’s important for a stylist to make their client look good, but experimentation should be reserved for test shoots or photoshoots. That’s where experimentation belongs, not necessarily on the red carpet.

What’s the most challenging look you’ve created so far?

When it comes to working with celebrities, there isn’t much that’s truly challenging. They hire you because they believe in your skills, they can afford to work with the best. The difficulty isn’t in creating looks, it’s in staying consistent and always coming up with fresh ideas to stay at the top. The real challenge lies in maintaining that level of creativity and innovation in an ever-changing industry.

Who is your celebrity muse?

I don’t have a specific muse at the moment. I don’t stick to working with one celebrity for too long. I like to work with various people and go

HAIR CARE MYTHS BUSTED

MYTH: Oiling your hair is good for it I believe that oiling too much can sometimes suffocate the scalp, leading to hair fall. That said, Indians have some of the most beautiful hair in the world. Many people worldwide buy extensions made from Indian hair.

MYTH: Brushing wet hair causes more breakage This is not true at all.

MYTH: Tie your hair when you go to sleep I would advise against tying your hair when sleeping. It’s better to let your hair breathe or keep it loose. Tying your hair too tightly can put stress on the scalp and cause damage.

I GARNERED A LOT OF ATTENTION WHEN I DID AISHWARYA RAI BACHCHAN’S LOOK FOR GRAZIA. SHE APPEARED WITH A NATURAL, EFFORTLESS STYLE THAT LOOKED AS THOUGH SHE HAD JUST WOKEN UP, NO BLOW-DRY OR CURLS. AND PEOPLE LOVED IT

wherever my bookings take me. My wife, however, is my muse.

A celebrity you can never say no to?

I don’t say no to anyone who is kind and respectful. All my clients are lovely but some are more demanding than others. I would never say no to Deepika if she called, I would go immediately.

In the last few years, were there any major hairstyles that became trends?

The ‘Coiffé décoiffé’ look became quite popular. It’s essentially a blow-dry that looks effortlessly natural. People started loving this style because it appears casual but achieving that effortless look actually requires a lot of work – that’s the secret.

With many Y2K trends returning in fashion, are any old hairstyles coming back into style?

Yes, retro and vintage styles are making a comeback. I even wear vintage pants I found in a Parisian recycling shop.

Why do you think people are drawn to the old-school aesthetic?

People are gravitating towards a more authentic, real style. Back in the day, there was less media presence and no social media. Today, life feels more genuine, and people are embracing that simplicity.

What’s one trend you think should never come back?

Backcombing – it’s been overdone and should remain in the past.

Mumbai is a polluted city. What’s one tip you would give to people to keep their hair healthy?

Wash and condition regularly. A good shampoo and conditioner can make all the difference. n

With Tamannaah Bhatia

Priyanka Chopra Jonas

Shraddha Kapoor

like Louis Vuitton shows or the Met

EVERYTHING WAS INTIMIDATING, NOT KNOWING ANYONE OR HOW THINGS WORKED. BUT EVENTUALLY, IT BECAME ROUTINE. WHAT I WAS INITIALLY SCARED OF, I WARMED UP TO, AND IT EVENTUALLY FELT LIKE A NORMAL PART OF LIFE –VEDANG RAINA

THE YOUNG GUNS

PRATIBHA RANTA, LAKSHYA, VEDANG RAINA AND SPARSH SHRIVASTAVA CAUGHT IN A CANDID CONVERSATION WITH FILMFARE’S EDITOR JITESH PILLAAI

It always feels nice to interview young actors, they’re so full of josh and zest and their illusions are yet to be busted. It’s nice to know their perspectives about the industry. And to hear how they deal with social media, heartbreaks, loneliness and more. I must say that the current crop, be it the star kids or the outsiders are more sorted than I ever was at their age. They know what they want and are going about it full steam ahead.

And unlike the stars of yesteryears who were always caught up in ego hassles, they have learnt to take competition in their stride and are more or less appreciative of each other’s efforts. Excerpts from an interaction with the wonderkinds.

WHICH FILM BESIDES YOUR OWN, WORKED BEST FOR YOU IN 2024?

Lakshya: Laapataa Ladies. When I saw it after Kill’s Toronto premiere, I was genuinely impressed and wanted to be part of it.

Sparsh: Manjummel Boys. The concept was fresh. In Bollywood, it’s Kill. I haven’t seen it yet, but I’ve heard great things.

Pratibha: Girls Will Be Girls and It Ends With Us. I really connected with both, especially how they handled female sexuality.

Vedang: Girls Will Be Girls too.

Laapataa Ladies and Kill were the standout films for me this year. I haven’t seen Manjummel Boys yet, but I’ve heard great things. Malayalam cinema is doing amazing work, and I’m eager to watch All We Imagine Is Light soon.

WAS THERE A BREAKTHROUGH MOMENT FOR YOUR FILMS?

Vedang: For me, it was during the shoot of Archies. It was my first time on camera in a professional setting. That scene with Dilton was a turning point. I finally felt comfortable with a large crew and focused solely on the scene. I told Yuvraj (Menda) about it. It felt like the camera truly captured it, with people connecting to that moment.

VEDANG, WERE YOU EVER INTIMIDATED BY ZOYA AKHTAR OR ALIA BHATT?

Vedang: Definitely. It felt like joining

a new school. Everything was intimidating, not knowing anyone or how things worked. But eventually, it became routine. What I was initially scared of, I warmed up to and it eventually felt like a normal part of life.

PRATIBHA, WAS THERE LIKE A MOMENT WHEN YOU SAID, “OH YEAH, I’VE CRACKED MY CHARACTER”?

Pratibha: For me, it was more about unlearning before learning. I had done TV before, but with Laapataa Ladies, I learnt a

WHAT’S THE ONE SPECIFIC THING THAT EACH OF YOU PICKED FROM YOUR RESPECTIVE CHARACTERS

Pratibha: I picked up Jaya’s habit of appreciating people around her, no matter what. You never know how much a simple appreciation can change someone’s life.

Sparsh: For me, it was the honesty my character, Deepak, showed when proposing to his wife. It made me realise the importance of being

lot about acting, especially with Kiran ma’am and Aamir sir. Aamir sir always says, “Do it only if it comes from the heart.” Jaya was such a wellwritten character that I connected with her in many ways. The first two days on the set were challenging as I had never experienced such a world before. However, by day three, I found my flow. By the end of the film, I realised how much I had changed as a person, adopting the good qualities of my character.

I LOVE BEING IN FRONT OF THE CAMERA. EVEN ON BAD DAYS, KNOWING I’LL BE ON SET TOMORROW HELPS ME PUSH THROUGH – PRATIBHA RANTA

present and honest in every moment of life. I’m trying to carry that forward.

Lakshya: For me, it’s the honesty too. But there was also an incident on the set that impacted me. After 70 days of intense shooting, everyone was absorbed in the dark, serious atmosphere. Then one day, someone played a romantic song on the set, and it was a huge shift. When we wrapped, the whole set erupted in applause for my character, Amrit, and that moment of closure really stayed with me. It was a reminder of the hard work and dedication we put in.

Jigra

Laapataa Ladies

ALL OF YOU HAVE HAD SOME SORT OF TV BACKGROUND. DID THAT EVER FEEL LIKE BAGGAGE WHILE MAKING YOUR MOVIES?

Pratibha: The craft was different and I feel lucky to have worked with Kiran Rao. She helped me unlearn things to learn anew, which is crucial for growth. During auditions, Kiran ma’am and Aamir sir told me to focus on my expressive eyes, which was a new approach for me. In TV, it’s all fast-paced, but in Laapataa Ladies, I learnt to pay attention to the small details.

Lakshya: TV gave

I’VE LEARNT

TO CELEBRATE REJECTIONS. ONCE, I AUDITIONED FOR A SHOW BEFORE THE LOCKDOWN AND GOT REJECTED. I WAS NERVOUS BECAUSE I REALLY WANTED THE PROJECT BUT INSTEAD OF FEELING DOWN, I TREATED MYSELF

me technical training that you can’t get anywhere else, making you aware of the camera and lighting.

Acting for TV is exaggerated, while films require more internal emotions.

Shanu, the casting director, mentored me through this transition, explaining that in films, you sell emotions not just your acting.

Sparsh: I was lucky to learn from great directors in TV, like Siddharth Sengupta. In Balika Vadhu, I had a tough moment when I gave a bad take and cried, but that emotional take ended up being praised. TV really

helped polish my craft in its own way.

BUT PEOPLE SAY TV KIND OF BRUTALISES ACTORS. IS THAT TRUE?

Sparsh: I think it depends. Lead actors often shoot 25-28 days a month for 14-15 hours a day, which can be intense. Since I wasn’t a lead, I was a bit safe.

Pratibha: I remember coming to the set in the morning, barely awake and my first scene would require me to cry. I’d have to use glycerin to get the tears flowing right out of bed.

HAS THERE BEEN ANY KIND OF INTENSE EXPERIENCE THAT YOU HAVE FACED? IT

TO A SIZZLER – SPARSH SHRIVASTAVA

COULD BE ON OR OFF THE SET.

Pratibha: While shooting Laapataa Ladies, there was a long wait until the film was released. I was used to the constant pace of TV. During the wait, I realised I was part of something hopeful. But it was tough being away from family and friends. That period became one of deep introspection for me. Looking back, I’m glad it happened. Sometimes, a downfall teaches you more than success. It helped me focus on self-improvement and refining my craft.

Vedang: During Jigra, I had a scene where I was supposed to be lashed with a

cane, but due to the angle, I actually got hit a few times. By the third hit, I felt it deeply, but I kept going because of the adrenaline. After the scene, I found three bleeding marks on my back. I still have the scars.

Sparsh: In Jamtara season one, there’s a scene where Gudiya (Monika Panwar) slaps me in the fields. We decided not to fake it because the camera was so close. I told her to hit me as hard as she could. The first hit caused my cheek to swell. By the time of the closeup, I could barely see her but she still hit me. It was intense but it looked great on screen. I’m glad

we finished it in three takes. Any more and it would’ve been brutal.

CAN YOU SHARE A CRAZY OR WEIRD AUDITION EXPERIENCE?

Sparsh: One of my craziest audition experiences was for Laapata Ladies during the lockdown. I didn’t have a tripod, so I stuck a stick in a rice box, balanced my phone on it, and used the daylight from the window to film my self-test. That’s how I recorded it.

Lakshya: I had a hilarious audition experience when I was new to Mumbai. I got a script labelled “Ranveer and Boy,” so I memorised all of Ranveer’s lines, thinking I was playing him. When I walked in, I gave a big performance, only to be stopped by the casting director who said, “You’re the Boy, not Ranveer.” Turns out, it was an ad for shampoo, and I was the guy with dandruff on his shoulder. I was so disappointed that I left thinking, “I didn’t come to Mumbai for this.”

Pratibha: Auditioning in Mumbai was intimidating for me at first, especially coming from Shimla and not knowing anyone. Once, I got a call for a South Indian film audition in Mira Road, which felt strange. I went anyway and found myself in a tiny room with a few men. They asked me to show my self-test and then randomly told me to dance. I immediately ran out. I was 18 and cried on my way home but I told myself, “One day, I’ll talk about this in an interview.” And here we are!

WERE THERE AUDITIONS WHERE YOU GOT REJECTED? OR WHERE SOMEONE JUST OUTRIGHT TOLD YOU THAT YOU WERE TERRIBLE?

Vedang: “Not fit” is the typical rejection I’ve encountered. They’ll say, “You’re not fit,” but thankfully, no one’s ever told me outright that I’m

THE NIGHT BEFORE AN INTENSE SCENE, I LEARNED A CLOSE FRIEND HAD PASSED AWAY. I CRIED, BUT THE NEXT MORNING,I HAD TO SHOOT. IT DIDN’T HIT ME UNTIL LATER – LAKSHYA

terrible. Have you guys had that experience?

Lakshya: Not exactly. But you can sense when they’re not interested. The worst is when you walk in and they’ve already decided you’re not right for the role. You can feel it, because they’re not even paying attention. It’s usually the casting assistants not the director, who are running the auditions.

Vedang: Exactly. The director is never there. It’s

PERSONAL HEARTBREAK WITH BEING COOL FOR SOCIAL MEDIA, POSTING YOUR BEST INSTAGRAM PHOTO? IS IT ALMOST BIPOLAR?

Vedang: It’s not always heartbreak but everyone has tough phases. As an actor, you need to look the part on camera, even when you’re sick or in a bad mood. It’s about switching it on and off. You can’t let personal struggles affect your work—it’s something actors have to learn.

Pratibha: I love being in front of the camera and everything happening now is what I’ve always hoped for. Even on bad days, knowing I’ll be on the set tomorrow helps me push through. Switching off is crucial. Sometimes, emotions stay with you, but you need to disconnect from them after work.

Sparsh: What happens in real life doesn’t affect my on-camera work much but my characters stay with me. For example, Sunny in Jamtara lingered. Disconnecting from characters takes time and affects me more than real-life events. Once, a family member passed away during filming but it didn’t impact me as much as the character I was playing.

Sparsh: I’ve learnt to celebrate rejections. Once I auditioned for a show before the lockdown and got rejected. I was nervous because I really wanted the project. However, instead of feeling down, I treated myself to a sizzler and made a little celebration out of it.

SO, HOW DO YOU BALANCE

Lakshya: I had a similar experience while shooting Porus. The night before an intense scene, I learnt a close friend had passed away. I cried but the next morning, I had to shoot. It didn’t hit me until later. As actors, detachment is important because things happen around us, social media, criticism. However learning to detach is key when switching between roles. Security, I don’t see it as the real world. Recently, I posted a photo in a bodysuit and although there were mixed reactions, my friends supported me, showing me how important it is to have a strong support system. That makes negativity less impactful.

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Rooted in culture and elevated with modern flair, Alish Apparel is redefining ethnic fashion for today’s woman. From breezy kaftans to contemporary co-ords, each design combines timeless elegance with effortless comfort. With bold colors, fluid fabrics, and striking silhouettes, the collection speaks to women who want to look graceful without compromising on style.

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Most exciting screen pairs to watch out for in 2025!

The Indian film industry is seeing an exciting trend of cross-regional collaborations, with Bollywood and South Indian cinema stars joining forces for some of the most anticipated films of 2025. These pairings bring fresh chemistry, cultural diversity, and a broader appeal to pan-Indian audiences. Anushka Gaikwad takes a closer look at these dynamic duos and their films

Dhanush - Kriti Sanon in Tere Ishq Mein

After the massive success of Raanjhanaa (2013), director Aanand L Rai is set to expand its universe with Tere Ishq Mein, bringing Dhanush back in a romantic drama. Kriti Sanon joins him in this highly anticipated project, portraying the female lead, Mukti. All eyes are naturally on this fresh pair! Also the film promises to be an emotional

rollercoaster, filled with passion, intense drama, and soulstirring music composed by A.R. Rahman. The teaser has already generated buzz, hinting at a love story that will tug at the audience’s heartstrings. With Rai’s expertise in storytelling and the effortless charm of the leading duo, Tere Ishq Mein is poised to be a cinematic treat.

Adivi Sesh - Mrunal Thakur in Dacoit: A Love Story

Adivi Sesh, known for his compelling performances in Goodachari and Major, is set to star opposite Bollywood actress Mrunal Thakur in Dacoit: A Love Story. Directed by Shaneil Deo, the film blends romance with action, telling the story of estranged lovers who are forced to reunite for a

daring series of heists. Mrunal Thakur, fresh off her success in Hi Nanna and Sita Ramam, has been making waves in the South Indian industry, and her first time pairing with Adivi Sesh is generating excitement among cinephiles.

Adivi Sesh and Wamiqa Gabbi in G2

The spy-thriller Goodachari (2018) was a sleeper hit, and its sequel, G2, promises to be even bigger. Adivi Sesh reprises his role, this time paired with Wamiqa Gabbi, an actress known for her versatility in Bollywood, Punjabi, and South Indian films.

While details about G2 are under wraps, it is expected to be a high-octane espionage thriller featuring intense action sequences, international locations, and a gripping storyline. The film is set to elevate Adivi Sesh’s character, Arjun, as he takes on a new mission.

Ayushmann Khurrana - Rashmika Mandanna in Thama

Ayushmann Khurrana, known for his unique script choices, joins hands with Rashmika Mandanna for Thama, a romantic horror-comedy that is part of the Maddock Horror Comedy Universe. This marks Rashmika’s foray into the horror-comedy genre, adding another feather to her cap as she continues to balance Bollywood and South Indian cinema.

With the success of horror-comedy films like Stree and Bhediya, expectations are high for Thama. Given Ayushmann’s knack for choosing quirky yet impactful films and Rashmika’s growing popularity, this film is expected to be a delightful blend of scares and laughs.

Kareena Kapoor Khan – Prithviraj Sukumaran in Daayra

Bollywood’s leading star Kareena Kapoor Khan and Malayalam cinema’s powerhouse performer form a formidable duo. And the talented two are coming

together on the screen for the first time for Meghna Gulzar’s crime thriller Daayra.