CHALLENGE ACCEPTED: BHUMI

She stole everyone’s hearts in her debut lm Dum Laga Ke Haisha where she played bride to Ayushmann Khurrana’s character, who’s embarrassed to be hitched to a ‘chubby’ girl. In an industry that is, more often than not, obsessed with size zero gures, it was heartening to see a new actress make a mark in such an unusual role.

Clearly, Bhumi Pednekar loves a good challenge. In fact, it’s the reason we don’t see her on the big screen as often as we’d like. The actor says she chooses to stay away from projects that don’t test her abilities. Bhumi added that perhaps that’s the reason she isn’t seen in too many lms.

Bhumi was most recently seen in the Lust Stories anthology. “I have been a huge fan of Zoya Akhtar and working with her was a big opportunity. When I heard the script of that segment in Lust Stories I realised that it is a challenging role and I really like to take up challenging roles,” she said.

Interestingly, she would like to see her “really pretty” twin sister Samiksha Pednekar in Bollywood. Well, so would we, but apparently she’s a hotshot lawyer so unless someone is threatening legal action against internet trolls… ahem ahem… we don’t see that happening.

SINGING PRAISES: ALIA

Forget Priyanka Chopra and Nick Jonas for a while, okay? Let’s focus on the other celebrity couple that, for some reason, few people are talking about: Ranbir Kapoor and Alia Bhatt.

We all know that Ranbir is getting a lot of good feedback on his superlative performance in the ho-hum Sanjay Dutt biopic, Sanju. But it’s not just the general public oohing and aahing over his histrionics. Even rumoured girlfriend Alia can’t stop gushing over his performance (and rightly so).

“I really liked it. It is a fantastic, fabulous and an outstanding lm. I think in my top 10 best lm list, Sanju is high up there. Ranbir is outstanding in it. Vicky Kaushal and Paresh ji (Rawal) also did a fantastic job. Everyone including Anushka (Sharma) and Sonam (Kapoor) did a really good job. It’s a full package,” she said.

Ok, so she gushed over just about everyone, but we are being selective here. She even went on to say that Sanju is “one of the best lms in the past couple of years”. Hmm, don’t know about that Alia, but we know where you’re coming from. Wink wink!

AN IDOL: PRIYANKA CHOPRA

Priyanka Chopra isn’t just a “favourite actress” – she’s a role model. Recently, Alyssa Raghunandan, an Indian-origin singer on the popular singing reality show American Idol says she “wants to be just like Priyanka Chopra”.

The 15-year-old didn’t win, but she left the Grammy nominee and judge Katy Perry mightily impressed when she said she would like girls everywhere to know that they don’t have to “show skin” to get ahead in life.

“I want to be like Priyanka Chopra. I feel she is an incredible role model,” said Alyssa, adding that she singing with the actor would be like a dream come true for her. “That is my dream. If I ever had that opportunity, I think my life would be set. I will be the happiest girl in the world,” she said.

Sweet, don’t you think!

PROUD DAD: ANIL KAPOOR

We like Sonam Kapoor, love her even. Is she a designer’s dream come true? Yes. Is she a fashionista making India proud on the blingy red carpets of the world? Definitely. Is she fun to follow on Instagram. Yessiree. Has she given eight hit films in a row? Huh? Say what?

Dad Anil Kapoor tweeted recently about how proud he was about how his daughter had made some “pretty damn good” choices in her lm career. We almost choked on our coffee (whether it was from laughter or shock, we won’t say).

Parents will be proud of their children, no matter how far they go in life. It’s what parents do. But surely this statement was a little… out there?

“The choices we make shape our lives. Sonam, you have made some pretty damn good ones when it comes to scripts, directors and content... Your hard work, commitment and conviction have resulted in 8 hits in a row! So happy and proud of you!”

Anil shared snapshots of Neerja, Raanjhana, Bhaag Milkha Bhaag, PadMan, Khoobsurat, Prem Ratan Dhan Payo, Veere Di Wedding and the latest, Sanju.

No one can deny that Sonam gave her best in Neerja and Raanjhana. Maybe even PadMan and Veere Di Wedding. We won’t deny that she seems to be making an honestto-god effort to better herself. But Khoobsurat? No. Bhaag Milkha Bhaag? Where she came on screen for 10 minutes tops. No.

We’re all for father-daughter love, but let’s not stretch it.

SECRET OF SATYA: RGV

It’s been 20 years since one of Bollywood’s most iconic lms was released: Satya. Ram Gopal Varma may have amassed a lot of hatred and criticism for his catastrophes like Ram Gopal Varma ki Aag and Department, and acclaim for Sarkar, but before all of that happened, Satya happened.

The lm has achieved something of a cult status for its realistic depiction of the Indian underworld. Two decades later, Varma has revealed that the success was totally accidental.

“Tomorrow is the 20th birthday of ‘Satya’. It was an accident,” Varma tweeted.

The lmmaker said the secret to its success was that he stopped telling his actors what to do. “I went half by instinct and half by Anurag’s (Kashyap) manic way of writing highly realistic dialogue. Actors were instructed to say whatever they felt like. So they kept improvising and I edited the rest,” he said.

Fancy that. If only more lmmakers took such risks with their lms, might we get better lms? Who knows!

WANT TO MAKE A MARK: ALI ZAFAR

Although he created quite the buzz with his debut lm Tere Bin Laden and a few others, in India, Ali Zafar is now looking to impress Indian cinegoers with his maiden lm in Pakistan, Teefa in Trouble, which releases on 20 July. Knowing the tense state of relationship between the two countries, however, the question is whether the lm will even come to India. But Zafar is hopeful. “We have made the effort, given our best. It is all about giving respect and getting respect back. It is a lm, it is entertainment. I hope that it gets screened over there (in India) and makes a mark and more stuff like this should happen. My job is to try. I don’t think about the negative side at all,” he said.

“As an artiste, I feel that our work should be heard and viewed by as many people as possible in the world. I think we want that there should be peace... peace, having a cordial relationship and love are what we all want to prevail.”

Here’s hoping the politicos (you know who we’re talking about) stay away from this one and we see your lm in India soon, Ali.

SHE’S A CLASSIC: MADHURI

If there’s one actor who was known for her acting as much as for her dancing, it’s Madhuri Dixit. She brought zing into any number she performed on the big screen, and why wouldn’t she? She’s a trained classical dancer herself. The actor says her secret to being a great dancer is the foundation of her talent.

“I stress on the importance of learning classical dancing because it gives you a sense of discipline, rhythm and expression. So, your foundation as a dancer gets set strong. Then, you can do any form of dance.”

She added, “For eight years as a kid, I only learnt kathak and practised for hours. After that, when I started trying out different styles of dancing, my body movements owed in a certain manner, making the dance look graceful, effortless and everything that people talk about.”

But aren’t youngsters (and Bollywood in general) leaning more towards western dance these days? After all, when was the last time anyone saw a proper, “non-western” dance in a Bollywood lm? “I think one of the reasons why western dance is getting more popular than our traditional Indian dance among masses is that you have to learn kathak and Bharatanatyam under the guidance of a Guru, whereas in western dance, you can copy from the video. There is a difference.”

Er, are you sure about that, Madhuri? Ever watched So You Think You Can Dance?

BUSTING STEREOTYPES:

RICHA

Why is it that the minute a non-Indian starts talking about “Bollywood” the rst (and sometimes, the only) thing that comes up is Slumdog Millionaire? Or how “Indian lms” are all about song and dancing around the trees? Stereotypes like these really need to be busted, says Richa Chadha.

The actor, who was honoured at the Bagri London Indian Film Festival (LIFF) with an Outstanding Achievement Award recently, said that festivals like LIFF are instrumental in promoting lms other than the usual commercial cinema.

Richa is not one to preach and not practise. The actor is known for her offbeat characters in lms like Fukrey, Goliyon ki Rasleela: Ram Leela and Masaan. She stars in Love, Sonia, which was the festival’s opening night movie.

“When you say Indian lms, people assume it’s just Bollywood and that’s untrue,” she said. “We have independent lms… Festivals like LIFF help us in making the right noise back home, so these lms stand a chance against the mainstream expensive (movies).”

Other winners at LIFF included Irrfan Khan and Manoj Bajpayee, both of whom an Icon Award.

On Twitter This Week

Match the following stars to their tweets: Alia Bhatt, Huma Qureshi, Rajkummar Rao, Uday Chopra.

The rst time I encountered @ TheFarahKhan was at a Diwali party. I was sleepy and wanted to go to bed and when I went to my room she was sleeping there. I ran downstairs and said there’s a girl in my bed and everyone said ya that’s Farah.

Happy birthday my favourite #MerylStreep. Am sure these two people, @karanjohar & @Patralekhaa9 are very happy that this “Iron Lady” was born today. I know you both love her the most.

I have never been to #Disneyland It’s just sad.

Shaheen you are brilliant! My sister has battled and lived with depression since she was 12. She speaks her heart out and without any hesitation addresses the giant elephant in the room

Anuskha: “Beta, raste pe kachra nai karte!”

SATISH JOSHI, NSW

Congratulations, Satish! You win a movie ticket!

Another good one: Anushka: “Since you are away most of the time, this will keep me company.”

RAJ SANEJA