Stardust - June 2021 by magnapublishing

Throwback: Veteran actress’s explosive interview!

JUNE

2021

India ₹ 75.00 UK/Europe € 3.99 USA/Canada $ 2.99

A MAGNA PUBLICATION

From well-known romances to painful losses:

Kabir Bedi reveals all! Has

Brahmāstra

“

If Ayushmann Khurana had not done Dream Girl, I would have not made the film!

”

- Raaj Shaandilyaa

been hit badly by the pandemic?

Remembering Sushant Singh Rajput:

The Man Who Could Have Ruled Bollywood! 1

Publisher Editor Head of Business Development Graphics Designer

: Nari M. Hira : Sumita Chakraborty : Prashant Rane : Sayad Zaid Inamdar

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Cover Story: Sushant Singh Rajput - The Man Who Could Have Ruled Bollywood! .......................................12 My Choice: Poonam Khubani’s Pick Of The Month ............................................................................................ 26 Snapshot: Aditya Roy Kapoor, Kriti Sanon & Kareena Kapoor ................................................................ 20 Stardust Special: Has the Ranbir Kapoor-Alia Bhatt starrer Brahmāstra been the worst hit by the pandemic? .......................................................................... 28 Stardust Exclusive: “Stories I Must Tell: The Emotional Life of an Actor” is self-explanatory title. It’s the experience of a multi-dimensional life.” - Kabir Bedi .......................................... 40 In Focus: “I make a fun world - and I believe that the world definitely needs the best of oxygen… that’s comedy!” - Raaj Shaandilyaa ......................................................................... 48 Blast From The Past: Kalpana Iyer’s explosive interview reproduced ....................................................... 64

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““To have my voice in the title track of an iconic film like Coolie No. 1 was a big deal for me personally!” – Raj Pandit .............................................................................. 56 Sanjana Sanghvi ......................................................................................................................... 44 Priyanka Chopra ......................................................................................................................... 46 Janhvi Kapoor ............................................................................................................................. 05

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Neeta’s Natter ....................................................................................................................................................... 05 Starry Sashay ........................................................................................................................................................ 06 List Show .............................................................................................................................................................. 34 Web Star ............................................................................................................................................................... 54 Star Trek ................................................................................................................................................................ 74 Starry Dazzle ........................................................................................................................................................ 72 STARDUST is published monthly by the proprietors MAGNA PUBLISHING CO. LTD., Magna House, 100/E Old Prabhadevi Road. Mumbai 400025, India. Tel No: 91-22-67091234. Editorial texts and illustrations are the copyright of the publishers of this magazine. No one may reproduce any material before permission is obtained in writing. All disputes are subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of competent courts and forums in Mumbai (India) only 2020 Copyright Magna Publishing Co Ltd. Volume No 51 (No. 6) Please address all your advertising, subscriptions and trade enquiries for to: Magna Publishing Inc, 125 Central Park North, PH4, New York NY 10026. T: 212-725-7833 F: 212-889-3250 E: stardustmagazine@aol.com

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Star Page

My Must-Haves

The gorgeous Janhvi Kapoor shares her beauty must-haves. What are Janhvi’s fave must-haves? Lip Tip: Nykaa Macaron Lip balm which “I’ve been obsessed with it since the past 2-3 years of my life!” Glow Show: The Skin Secrets Sheet Mask from Nykaa its super hydrating and “gives my glow back to me in an instant after a long flight or if I have not slept too well.” Lash Out: The Nykaa Mascara (LashTalk) as it makes “my eyelashes look super thin and fluttery.” Lip Pip: Nykaa So Creme Lipsticks that are “super multifunctional and very hydrating and I love ALL of the shades that they come in.”

Never Ever Leave Home With: Definitely, my Macaron Lip Balm, as my lips have the tendency to get dry really often and a nice kajal like the Nykaa Kajal is a super smooth, easy to wear and doesn’t smudge and I basically use the Nykaa So Creme lipstick as a tint on my cheek and on my lips as well and its super multifunctional it’s all you need actually on some days” 5

Harshvardhan Kapoor, the dapper son of Anil Kapoor, has at last confirmed that one rumour in Bollywood that is absolutely true is that of Katrina Kaif and Vicky Kaushal being in love. ‘They are together,’ says Harshvardhan. Yawnnn… we know that! What we want to know is why are the two love birds Katrina and Vicky playing aankh micholi with the pap’s? It’s so outdated this cat ‘n’ mouse chase, na?

Another pair of love birds who also managed to escape our radar are Yami Gautam and our fave Uri director Aditya Dhar. Well, Yami tied the knot with Aditya Dhar in a private ceremony and this caught everybody by surprise. Yami Gautam shared pictures of the wedding ceremony and of her dressed in traditional pahadi jewellery and a mangalsutra with the caption, ‘Let’s welcome the Spring season.’ Congrats Yami and Aditya! 6

Strangely enough Yami’s marriage pictures garnered a lot of interest, Vikrant Massey commented on Yami’s social media handle, ‘Pure and Pious like Radhe Maa’. …And guess who was rattled the most with that? Our Kang Kong (Kangana Ranaut) who replied, ‘Kahaan se Nikla yeh cockroach… lao meri chappal…’. Well, being banned on social media has sure not zipped up Ms Ranaut’s motormouth, has it?

Ayushmann Khurana too took to instagram to comment on Yami’s wedding: ‘Simple therefore real’. But Ms Ranaut hijacked that too. She cryptically commented, “As a matter of fact made up and artificial is most simple because it is so basic and easy to read that kind of show off but ancient and traditional especially when our history is older than the time itself makes it most layered and complex so what is organic isn’t necessary simple if you got perception to know the complexity of subtlety.” Huh! What on earth does this mean… forget Tharoorism, it’s time to start a new lexicon called ‘Kangana’ism.

Another Bolly wedding too had the men clutching their hearts in agony. The sexy Evelyn Sharma known for her itsy bitsy bikinis tied the knot with an Australian based doctor Tushaan Bhindi in Australia. They put up a picture with the caption ‘Forever’ of Evelyn wearing a white gown while Tushaan wore a tux. How cute! 7

Let’s steer clear of weddings… and talk about Parineeti Chopra who has won a lot of accolades for her fabulous performance in Sandeep Aur Pinky Faraar. Tell Parineeti that: and she says she’s glad for she was very unhappy with her work in the past five years. …So all the bouquets for her performance in the film with Arjun Kapoor has got her adrenalin pumping to do better films. Act with Arjun, we say, you’ll stand out Parineeti… if you know what we mean!

Talking about Arjun, sis Janhvi Kapoor visited Arjun and her sister Anshula Kapoor in the hospital. Anshula was hospitalized to get her blood pressure and sugar levels checked, according to the Kapoors. Supposedly, it did give everyone a bit of a scare but now, all’s well. …So no worries.

When we say Janhvi, sis Khushi is gearing up supposedly for a Bolly entry too. The big daddy of Bollywood, KJo, supposedly is super excited to launch this lissome girl but of course the lockdown has played spoilsport. So for now, Khushi is busy sharing glowing, sun-kissed selfies of herself on her social media showing off her three new tattoos.

Waiting in the wings is also Shanaya Kapoor, Sanjay Kapoor’s lovely daughter. She’s already done a cameo in the reality webshow Fabulous Lives Of Bollywood Wives produced by Dharma and aired on Netflix - and now she’s all grown up and ready to join films. Yes, Karan Johar is also launching her too. …Looks like one Ms Ranaut is going to go ballistic screaming ‘nepotism’ soon 8

Sara Ali Khan’s crazy penchant for bad rhymes and ‘knock knock’ jokes has become the flavor of the memes. Recently, she tried out her ‘knock knock’ pj on Varun Dhawan and it was so bad that poor Varun looked as if he wanted to run far, far away from Sara. Don’t know about Varun, but we love this nawabzaadi’s nutty sense of humour.

Actor Dilip Kumar was recently rushed to the hospital as he had been diagnosed with bilateral pleural iffusion. The 98-year-old actor as per going to the press is currently on oxygen support. Dharmendra was the first one to urge his fans to pray for his speedy recovery. We wish Dilip Sahab a speedy recovery too.

Salman Khan has done the unthinkable… slapped a defamation suit on a reviewer for a bad review of his film Radhe: Your Most Wanted Bhai. Of course, the reviewer was none-other than the pesky KRK who has irked many an actor for his irreverent reviews. But this time, the Sultan refuses to forgive and forget and has got his legal team to send KRK a defamation suit.

KRK in the meantime insists Arjun Kapoor is the only real mard in the industry as Arjun supposedly called up KRK and had a lengthy chat with him. KRK was so grateful that he insists he will never give a bad review to any of Arjun’s films. That will indeed be a feat by itself, right? 9

Diana Penty, the Cocktail actress, says it is heartbreaking to hear stories of Covid and people suffering from the second wave. She constantly gets herself updated about the situation by checking social media. Now she is all set to chip in and do her bit too. Looks like Sonu Sood has inspired a lot of actors too.

Actor Juhi Chawla filed a lawsuit challenging the setting up of 5g wireless network in the country. The Delhi High court dismissed the lawsuit stating that the lawsuit was filed for gaining publicity. In the meantime, Pooja Bedi jumped into the fray by starting a poll asking if it is fair that the court dismissed Juhi’s case on grounds of seeking publicity. This sure gets more interesting by the minute.

Ekta Kapoor too jumped into the fray in support of TV actor Pearl V Puri who was accused of raping a five-year-old girl in 2019. In fact, she called up the victim’s mom and recorded her entire conversation only to leak it on the social media.

Divya Khosla too turned vociferous in her support for Pearl V Puri. She went one up on Ekta and revealed the names of the couple whose daughter was allegedly sexually assaulted. In fact, she demanded that Pearl too should get a fair trial instead of being trolled or damned by the facts leaked to the media. Perhaps these ladies should just calm down and let the judiciary and the police do their work. 10

Huma Qureshi insists that she would like to see Sonu Sood as the next Prime Minister. Sonu’s reaction to this statement was sheer epic. He drolled, ‘Yeh thoda zyaada ho gaya. It’s very kind of her to say this. If she thinks I deserve this honor, I must say I must have done something good. However I don’t agree with her. I think we have a very capable Prime Minister’. From Modi to Sonu!

Tiger Shroff and Disha Patani who have been rumoured to be dating – ask Tiger, he just smiles; ask Disha, she completely denies it but of course, the world sees them walking hand-in-hand everywhere. Anyway, they were pulled up by Mumbai Police for breaking lockdown norms as they were seen driving around at Bandstand. Mumbai police, in fact, shared it on their social media in a very witty post. Amchi Mumbai police sure is getting hip.

Cat’s Crown

This month goes to... Shahid Kapoor Mira recently posted a picture on Instagram of some lovely flowers and her caption said it all: ‘This is how you melt my heart @shahidkapoor I love you’. Shahid promptly dropped a comment saying, ‘No amount of flowers will ever match up to your fragrance my love’. So cute…cheers to love! 11

Cover Story

Sushant Singh Rajput - The Man Who Could Have Ruled Bollywood! Gone Too Soon... Indeed, the man who won billions of hearts with his honest performances could have been the king of Bollywood. Sumita Chakraborty remembers the fabulously talented Sushant Singh Rajput and traces his journey into the acting world. He had it all – good looks, charisma and loads of talent. Said to be one of the most intelligent actors in the film industry, Sushant Singh Rajput was not just an actor, he was also a philosopher, an astronomy enthusiasts and a science buff, besides so many other things. Perhaps that’s why it’s more shocking today that this superstar who could have ruled Bollywood is no more and it’s been exactly a year that we are left with nothing but his memories. 12

Born Performer He was born to be a performer and despite the fact that his family like every other middle-class one, insisted on education being the first priority, Sushant always took the unconventional route to follow his dreams of acting. In a throwback interview to Stardust, Sushant averred, “As a teenager, I was told that there is no other way and I had to become an engineer. So, I knew where I was heading, although I used to love dancing. Be it at anybody’s wedding, I was the one dancing even when I didn’t know the person. Imagine, me, an introverted guy, who couldn’t even talk to strangers, was dancing in front of them and I never used to care what people were thinking! The second thing was that I was very good at studies because that’s how I thought I could get recognition in my class, since I never used to talk.”

He was born to be a performer and despite the fact that his family like every other middle-class family, insisted on education being the first priority, Sushant always took the unconventional route to follow his dreams of acting.

And he was a brilliant student… “I topped both the 10th and 12th standards. I gave the All India Engineering Entrance Exam and cleared all of them and then went to the Delhi College of Engineering, which was one of the good colleges. But that was something that I never enjoyed doing for some odd reason. I was very good at maths, physics and chemistry but I never enjoyed them. I didn’t know that something else could be my driving force,” he said. …Indeed, Sushant was born to be a performer and had a calling that the celluloid world would be his stage. Sushant, however, jokingly insists, “The first reason was because I had slogged for so many years and then I went to this fabulous college and found out that there were no girls! So I felt cheated (laughs), like… really?! For four years I

“I was making it obvious: Don’t judge me because I am in the character. So I could hide behind all those interesting characters.” was subjected to this place where there were no girls. Somebody advised me to join a dance school since there were hot girls coming there. And also that was something I could connect to. So I joined Shiamak Davar. For the first time when I

The heady feel of super success could have gone to his head, but he wore the mantle of success very well and seemed very focused, cool headed and charming. A Man So Confident, He Took Risks

performed on stage, I was standing in the front and dancing. It was happening at an auditorium in Delhi. I could feel this power, I was not saying anything, but at the same time I was communicating with all the strangers who were sitting in the audience. The second and third time remained the same. Then I thought of trying this out with words and see if it was the same feeling.” So Sushant joined Barry John’s Acting Academy and started doing theatre. He agreed, “It was a similar feeling and I was confident on stage. I said things that I wanted to and at the same time, I was making it obvious: Don’t judge me because I am in the character. So I could hide behind all those interesting characters and by the end of my first year, I realised that this was something I wanted to do for the rest of my life. It took me another two years to get the hang of it and in the third year, I dropped out.” 16

Dropped out of college? …Pretty adventurous of him? Sushant said instead, “I am the most boring person on earth. The only thing (adventurous) I can think of is that I was in a premier Delhi college and I slogged to get into it, gave an all-India exam, went there and studied for three years. I was just one year away from graduating and I dropped out to become an actor. That is something I can call ‘adventurous’. And also when I came here, I did theatre for five years. After that I got into television serials and when I was just heading to the peak, which I had not seen in my life, I again decided to quit because I was getting bored. After that I enrolled for a filmmaking course in New Zealand, but I got Kai Po Che. These two things I would consider as the most adventurous things I have done.”

Glittery World Of Films Though TV and his serial Pavitra Rishta made him a household name, films were indeed the most natural transition and so this adventurous lad who believed in his dreams headed to Tinsel Town – he had no contacts but was confident. His immense talent was his armour. But in an industry which believed in nepotism and had an indelible rule segregating outsiders and insiders, would an actor coming from a TV background be able to fit? Sushant however, did not enter Bollywood to blend in. His philosophy was different. “At the end of the day even if you win the

“I love acting and can express myself very easily.” rat race, you are still a rat. So, I am not in that rat race,” Sushant had said in one of the Stardust interviews. True, this man walked alone and forged a path of his own rather than blend in with a crowd. His brilliant innings in films started with the eclectic Kai Po Che and it continued to his last film - Mukesh Chhabra’s debut film Dil Bechara. Effortless and seamless,

his performance in every film told a tale of a thinking actor who believed in getting into the skin of the character. Perhaps that’s why it seemed a little unfair of Yashraj Production to have allegedly kept him shackled to a watertight contract which supposedly did not allow him to explore himself fully as an actor in more films.

Pretty unfair, we thought! So was the film industry a cut-throat business- an industry that made it mandatory for all to fit in? Sushant had said then, “Is it..? I don’t think that our film industry is a bad world. Yes, it’s cut-throat competitive. I knew that, but I always harboured acting dreams. I wanted to learn and grow.” …And so he did, and he coped with the intangible rules of Tinsel Town which were at times unreasonable too, but that didn’t bother Sushant, for all he wanted to do was to act. I had met Sushant at a press conference for a brand he was endorsing and I could see how charismatic he was. Girls of all ages were drooling over him and he was charming the media with his 18

“Sushant Singh Rajput A boy who never failed in any auditions, touched millions of hearts with his talent on screen and decided to stay forever in our hearts...” – Mukesh Chhabra quick witty answers. There were people who dubbed him as a man with attitude. But I didn’t see any signs of it. Instead, I saw a charming young man, very downto-earth and focused – this, mind you, was after the phenomenal success of his film MS Dhoni – The Untold Story that made him the most desirable actor at that point. The heady feel of super success could have gone to his head, but he wore the mantle of success very well and seemed very focused, cool headed and charming. Who Was The Real SSR? In a throwback interview with Stardust, when asked who the real Sushant Singh Rajput was, away from the arc lights,

Sushant had laughed and said, “I don’t know, I’m still figuring that out. One thing I am very sure of is that I don’t have many opinions. It’s very easy to borrow opinions, be confident and come across as somebody who knows his shit. That is something I can do, but there is no fun in that. Also I cannot articulate my thoughts very easily. …Most of the time I fail because every time there is some inherent loss of meaning. I think it’s probably because I was the youngest in my family and was pampered a lot, so I don’t know how to deal with people. When I stepped out of my house, I was very quiet for the first 19 years of my life. I didn’t know how to talk. I didn’t know how to make my existence felt, so I decided to be good at studies. I was always one of the top three students in my school. This is precisely the reason why I became an actor… because I love acting and can express myself very easily.”

“At the end of the day even if you win the rat race, you are still a rat. So, I am not in that rat race.” And express himself very well, he did! In fact, director and casting director Mukesh Chhabra shared a video of Sushant - the caption of the clip read, ‘Sushant Singh Rajput A boy who never failed in any auditions, touched millions of hearts with his talent on screen and decided to stay forever in our hearts...’ …Indeed, his every film left an indelible mark of SSR as a performer. Sushant Singh Rajput could have seriously been a contender to be the number 1 hero in Bollywood but like he said, he didn’t believe in the rat race… so he followed his heart and instincts and left an indelible mark in billions of hearts. …Sushant Singh Rajput – Gone to soon… but he will always be remembered through his performances and his films.

Snapshot

Dost Ho Toh Aisa! …As the Aditya Roy Kapur starrer ‘Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani’ clocks 8 years of its release, we look back at his character with nostalgia. Currently making a lot of noise for highly anticipated actioner ‘OM’, Aditya Roy Kapur is rightly known to be one of the most versatile actors in the industry today. Over the years, Aditya has entertained the audiences with several hits but his 2013 film ‘Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani’ continues to be one of his best. 20

Portraying the character of ‘Avinash’ also called ‘Avi’, Aditya truly wins the audiences in the film. Being the most relatable character which came with his own share of weaknesses and shortcomings, ‘Avi’ is that perfect friend, who will always have your back. Also shown as a happy-golucky guy who is a massive flirt at heart, it was friendship that mattered the most to him. What’s incredible is the honesty with which Aditya Roy Kapur played this character and made us all fall in love with it. One of his dialogues which became really popular was, “Saale, apne dollar se mujhe kharid raha hai. Itni sasti nhi hai meri dosti. Mujhe tere paise nhi chaiye bunny. Daaru pee mere saath.” As this superhit film competes eight years of its release today, fans have also been sending out major love to the actor. On the work front, Aditya Roy Kapur will he next seen in ‘OM’. Helmed by Kapil Verma and co-produced by Ahmed Khan, Shaira Khan and Zee Studios, the is slated to hit the screens this year. 21

Kriti Sanon steals the show! Kriti Sanon bags some big projects. Read on… Within no time Kriti Sanon has managed to charm the audience as well as the critics with her performances. Regarded as the powerhouse of talent, the actress embarked on her acting journey with ‘Heropanti’ and went on to deliver many blockbusters in her career. 22

Carving her own path, Kriti Sanon has always taken up parts that challenged her as an artist. From playing Bitti in ‘Bareilly Ki Barfi’ to essaying the role of a fearless journalist in ‘Luka Chuppi’ to portraying Parvati Bai in ‘Panipat’, the actress has not only given some of the strong characters but has also showcased the diverse range as an actor. Touted as one of the most commercially bankable actresses, Kriti is on a spree of signing major budgeted films of the year. Being a part of the industry’s biggest projects with the leading heroes, the actress has finally arrived! A source revealed, “Kriti Sanon is being offered various cream projects by the top filmmakers of the industry as she has delivered back-to-back successful films. She is very excited to be a part of such major and diverse projects. The actress is looking forward to working with the most celebrated actors of the country and is having the year of her life!” Kriti has already finished the shooting of Akshay Kumar starrer ‘Bachchan Pandey’ and the much-awaited film, ‘Mimi’. She is currently occupied with the shoot of horror comedy ‘Bhediya’ and has started prepping for her next action-thriller, ‘Ganapath’. The stunner also has highly-anticipated mythological drama, ‘Adipurush’ in her kitty. Having a jam-packed calendar, the actress indeed is one of the busiest star on the block! 23

Three Years of Veere Di Wedding: Looking back why Kareena Kapoor Khan’s character ‘Kalindi’ resonates with each one of us.

Kareena Rocks! Rightly hailed as the biggest female superstar in the country today, Kareena Kapoor Khan is the OG Bollywood diva, who has never failed to charm us with her talent and to-die for looks. The versatile movie star has delivered various hits throughout her two decade long career and been at every top filmmaker’s wishlist. A thorough multi-tasker, Kareena worked throughout both her pregnancies and soon after delivering her boys too. Post7 her first pregnancy, Bebo had immediately gone back to the sets and shot for her critically acclaimed film ‘Veere Di Wedding’, which also turned out to be one of her finest performances till date. 24

Portraying the role of Kalindi Puri, Bebo is shown as a strong, independent woman who majorly confides in her three best friends for all things in her life. Shown to be committed phobic in the film, Kareena’s character is honest about the issues, but still tries to come around since she has genuine feelings for the love of her life (Rishabh played by Sumit Vyas). Quite a special film for the actress, Kareena has time and again mentioned how she had a blast shooting for ‘Veere Di Wedding’ with the amazing cast and crew, and how much she reminisces the good old days. Interestingly, as the film completes three years of its release today, fans have been sending out major love to the stunner and have also been sharing their favourite ‘Kalindi’ moments from the hit buddy comedy on social media. Directed by Shashanka Ghosh and produced by Rhea Kapoor, the film co-stars Sonam Kapoor Ahuja, Swara Bhaskar and Shikha Talsania in important roles. Meanwhile, other than this, Kareena Kapoor Khan will be next seen in the highly anticipated Advait Chandan directorial ‘Laal Singh Chaddha’ opposite Aamir Khan. She also has Karan Johar’s period drama ‘Takht’ lined up. 25

My Choice

Poonam Khubani’s Pick Of The Month

It’s a rollercoaster ride on the OTT wave. From inspiring tales, super-natural stories to thrillers and spillers, the OTT platform is flourishing with interesting shows. The multi-talented Poonam Khubani, producer and melodious singer picks 5 of the best web-series that are worth watching. Read on…

Skater Girl, Netflix, Hindi Directed by Manjari Makijany, it stars Amy Maghera, Waheeda Rehman and others. It’s an inspiring tale of a teen in rural India who nurses the ambition of becoming a skater. Mocked and ridiculed for her lofty dreams, she fights against all odds to follow her dreams of becoming a skater and competing in the national championship. This film is very inspiring and engrossing.

Tragic Jungle, Netflix, English Tragic Jungle is an adventure packed journey of a woman who flees into the dark Mayan jungles to escape an arranged marriage. Her action packed trail unveils many surprises - good and bad - to unfold a surreal drama where untamed nature merges the human and the supernatural. It is racy and replete with adventure. 26

The Family Man Season 2, Amazon Prime, Hindi It’s time to meet Shrikant Tiwari aka Manoj Bajpayee again. And this time, he’s done with the TASC force and is doing the typical 9-5 corporate job just so that he can be with his wife and children. But his heart still lies with the force while his family doesn’t seem to care that he’s around all the time. In the meantime, a new problem from Sri Lanka storms his world. Raaji, a militant, is out on a suicide mission to wreak havoc on India. Indeed, this Season is far superior to the first one as it focuses on the power struggle of politics, militant strategies and of course, Shrikant Tiwari and his TASC force. Not to mention Chelam sir who has become the loved one of all memes. Dom S1, Amazon Prime, Portuguese with English, Hindi, Tamil, and Telugu dubbed This Brazilian series is an engrossing action-packed crime drama inspired by the true story of a Brazilian cop Victor who dedicated his life to fight narcotrafficking. But his biggest challenge is his son Pedro, a drug addict who is one of the most wanted criminals of Rio de Janeiro. The battle between the father and son forms the crux of this engrossing series. Touted as the first original Brazilian drama that has been launched in more than 240 countries, this epic series holds your interest.

Sherni, Amazon Prime, Hindi Watch out for Vidya Balan in this engrossing film as she plays an upright forest officer who strives for balance in a world of mananimal conflict. The jungle is a world away from the real world and can she cope with it? Vidya Balan is spectacular playing a character who tries to seek her true calling in a hostile environment. Definitely, a must watch! 27

Stardust Special

“STORIES I MUST TELL: THE EMOTIONAL LIFE OF AN ACTOR” IS SELF-EXPLANATORY TITLE. IT’S THE EXPERIENCE OF A MULTI-DIMENSIONAL LIFE. - KABIR BEDI

One of the best looking actors in Indian cinema and perhaps world cinema too, his baritone voice can make anybody go weak in the knees. Yes, we are talking about the legendary Kabir Bedi who has actually pioneered the bridge between Hollywood and Bollywood, and his repertoire of work includes some of the biggest and best names in cinema across the world. He has lived his life to the fullest and has an exquisite treasure trove of colourful experiences. So no wonder his book Stories I Must Tell: The Emotional Life of an Actor which tells the tale of his multi-hued escapades are laden with rich anecdotes told honestly and sensitively. Read on as the charismatic Kabir Bedi reveals more about his book, life and more. 28

Mr. Bedi, you’ve had such an eventful, colourful life. If we had to ask you to describe your journey in a few lines, how would you do it?

my journey is the desire to seek new horizons at every turn in my life. And now, I’ve become an author too.

My life has been a fantastic rollercoaster.Triumphs and tragedies, lyrical remembrances to deep regrets, professional milestones and painful mistakes. A life-full of dramatic turning points. What defines

Your autobiography Stories I Must Tell was a wonderful engrossing read, what made you tell the world your story? I’ve wanted to write my story for over a decade now. I had made many attempts over the years but they all ended up in the trash can. When the national lockdown hit us in India, I knew that if I didn’t do it now I never would. The routine and discipline of writing everyday helped me get through the lockdown. I wrote non-stop with a laser focus and finished my manuscript in nine months. The title Stories I Must Tell of the book is eye-catching, what made you decide on this title? My story was bursting to come out. I had many stories I had to tell that needed to be written. From my break-through interview with The Beatles in Delhi, to my advertising days in Mumbai, from my start in Bollywood to triumphs in Europe, to my turbulent days in Hollywood. ...From well-known romances

to painful losses. ...From my parents transformation from revolutionaries to religious figures, to my spiritual journey, to the tragedy of my son’s suicide. “Stories I Must Tell: The Emotional Life of an Actor” is self-explanatory title. It’s the experience of a multi-dimensional life.

than me. As I say in my book: “These are stories I must tell. Most are told, perhaps unusually through the prism of people and places I have known and loved. I tell them as truthfully as I can, fallible as I am…” You have beautifully penned and described your bond with your wives Protima Bedi, Ixchel (Susan), Nikki and Parveen Dusanj. One did feel that your relationship with Parveen Babi was perhaps the most volatile and romantic. Why didn’t this relationship lead to marriage? Let me begin by saying that my best and longest relationship is with my wife Parveen Dusanj.We’ve been together for fifteen years. She is the best thing that happened to me. In my book, there’s a whole chapter on my relationship with Parveen Babi titled, ‘Days of Love and Glory – Sandokan and

What were the challenges that you faced writing this book? The biggest challenge I faced before I started writing the book was the form it was going to take. I found the linear form of memoirs boring, it wasn’t for me. One early morning, drinking my tea and gazing into the palms of Juhu I had an epiphany of how I’d tell it. And I decided to tell it honestly. From that moment, I never stopped writing. It was a creative force that was greater 30

Is there anything exclusive that you left out in the book that you could share with us? I’ve shared everything that was relevant to the stories I tell. I didn’t bang on my awards and accolades. I focused on the human journey. My autobiography is an exploration of the beautiful, heart-breaking, wondrous journey of what it means to be human.

Priyanka Chopra and Salman Khan were there at the virtual launch… could you tell us something about the launch? Parveen Babi’. It was mostly during the peak of my stardom in Europe.For all her wellknown problems, what people don’t realise is that she was an intelligent, bright and caring human being.I was totally in love with her. In an old Stardust magazine, in a section called My Favourite Things, I named Parveen as my favourite in all the things. Marrying Parveen wasn’t possible because she was technically married to someone else. Read all about in my book.

Salman joined me digitally from his home in Bandra to reveal the cover of my book on the GQ India platform. He’s a wonderful man and a good friend. He’s got the biggest heart in Bollywood. The launch was done by Priyanka, who joined me from London. She thoroughly enjoyed my book and endorsed it very strongly. She talked of my trail-blazing career opening doors for other Indian actors in the West. You can see it on my YouTube channel.

How has the response been? Any review that you feel is worth mentioning?

You’ve done it all – Hollywood, Bollywood, international TV series to the theatre to live hosting, what do you prefer most?

The reviews have been fantastic! I’m so grateful. As a debut author, I am thrilled at the outpouring of the positive reviews. Here’s some, pick what you like:

My first love was theatre, nothing beats the intimacy of a live audience.My greatest successes have been in television in Europe and America. But films like Khoon Bhari Maang and the Bond film Octopussy have a special place in my life.

“Best memoir by an Indian celebrity that I have read.” - Vir Sanghvi “This book is quite the read…. Filled with stories that take you an emotional rollercoaster. (Kabir) paved the way so many decades ago for India actors to explore their talent globally and he has fully experienced what life has to offer.” - Priyanka Chopra Jonas “Without a doubt, Kabir Bedi’s autobiography is the uncontested champ of the film star memoirs.” - The Daily Guardian When you look back at your journey, are there any regrets? Of course, there are always regrets in life. Don’t let them run your life.There’s a time and place for everything.

What’s left on your bucket list? Writing my autobiography was on that list, and I am glad this dream was fulfilled. Now I just want everyone to read my book and share my experience. What’s next after this book? ...Another sequel? Let’s just say I have many more stories to tell. ...And many ways to share them. What are your other projects – in terms of films or theatre? Have you also stepped into the OTT world? I am thoroughly enjoying the explosion of the new OTT streaming sites. They have given a new energy and vibrancy to film and television. It’s a new hybrid, a mix of television and film. I’d certainly love to explore this space if the project is right. I always believe the best is yet to come! 33

List Show

Race Of The

Heroes Seven Bollywood actors who have got us super excited for their upcoming releases

2021 seems to be a good year for movies as we have some exciting and big projects lined up from some of our favourite stars. Right from Aditya Roy Kapur’s ‘OM’ to Ranbir Kapoor’s ‘Brahmastra’ and Ranveer Singh’s ‘83’ - we have upcoming films which feature these actors in a never seen before avatar. Even though the current coronavirus situation has led to the theatres shutting down, it’s said that towards the end of the year, one can expect the theatres to reopen. Not just this, with the rise of digital, there’s a comfort of watching great performances at the comfort of our homes. Let’s take a look at seven actors who are racing to the frontline on the OTT domains. Ranbir Kapoor Last seen in Sanju (2018) for which he even earned himself a Filmfare Award, critics and audiences favourite Ranbir Kapoor is all set to make his comeback on the big screen with ‘Brahmastra’ and ‘Shamshera’. While ‘Shamshera’ is a period drama set in the 1800s and is helmed by Karan Malhotra, ‘Brahmastra’ is touted to be one of the biggest Bollywood, the film will be a trilogy and co-stars megastar Amitabh Bachchan, Alia Bhatt, Mouni Roy, and Nagarjuna Akkineni. Cinelovers can barely contain their excitement to watch RK take over the big screen like never before this year. 34

Vicky Kaushal Over the years, Vicky Kaushal has not only climbed up the ladder of success but also managed to make a solid place for himself in the industry. The good looking actor now seems to be ready to surprise the audiences with his upcoming projects which include ‘Sardar Udham Singh’, ‘The Immortal Ashwatthama’ and ‘Takht’. The star who was last seen in ‘Bhoot-Part one: The Haunted Ship’ has also been working on Meghna Gulzar’s upcoming biopic on India’s first Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw.

Ranveer Singh Rightly called Bollywood’s power bank, Ranveer Singh is known for taking up interesting and challenging roles from time to time. The talented actor is currently gearing up for his three big upcoming releases including Kabir Khan’s ‘83’, Rohit Shetty’s ‘Cirkus’ and Yash Raj Films’ ‘Jayeshbhai Jordaar’. Apart from this, he will also be seen in ‘Sooryavanshi’, a part of Rohit Shetty’s copuniverse. He will be seen alongside Khiladi Akshay Kumar.

Tiger Shroff Popularly known for his high octane action sequences and impressive dancing skills, Tiger Shroff has been busy with ‘Heropanti 2’. He will be seen playing the lead in this sequel of his debut film ‘Heropanti’. Directed by Ahmed Khan and produced by Sajid Nadiadwala, the film also stars Kriti Sanon, Rakesh Krushna Joshi. In addition to this, Tiger Shroff will also feature in Vikas Bahl’s next ‘Ganpath’ and Rohit Dhawan & Siddharth Anand’s ‘Rambo’.

John Abraham Known for his action packed cinema, Bollywood heartthrob John Abraham leaves no stones unturned to get into the skin of his characters. The actor is known for his solid preps and rather more impactful performances. Here to win hearts of the audiences once again, John will be next seen in action thriller ‘Ek Villain 2’ and ‘Satyameva Jayate 2’. Last seen in the Sanjay Gupta directorial ‘Mumbai Saga’ and the Netflix film ‘Sardar Ka Grandson’ which premiered on May 18, we are excited for his upcoming projects.

Varun Dhawan Last seen in Amazon Prime Video’s ‘Coolie No. 1’, Bollywood’s very own Varun Dhawan had been busy shooting for ‘Jug Jugg Jeeyo’ until the nationwide lockdown happened. The romantic drama co-stars Neetu Kapoor, Anil Kapoor and Kiara Advani in the lead alongwith Prajakta Koli and Maniesh Paul. Other than this, Varun also has horror comedy ‘Bhediya’ lined up with Kriti Sanon.

Aditya Roy Kapur Hailed as one of the most bankable, talented and versatile actors in the country today, Aditya Roy Kapur is all set to shatter all box-office records with his highly anticipated next ‘OM’. Touted to be an out-and-out actioner, the film will present Aditya in a fierce, never seen before avatar, where he will be seen performing some deadly high octane action sequences. ‘OM’ is directed by Kapil Verma and co-produced by Ahmed Khan, Shaira Khan and Zee Studios. The film is slated to hit the screens this year.

Star Trek AlUlA is the newest ‘shooting’ location for Bollywood! Melanie deSouza, Executive Director Destination Marketing for the Royal Commission for AlUlA insists AlUlA provides the ultimate filming destination. Bollywood is always on the lookout for new locations, which locations would you suggest from here? AlUla is a unique destination with endless possibilities, it is only now being discovered by filmmakers and the world at large. It is a region of outstanding natural and cultural significance featuring some of the world’s most sensational scenery and yet undiscovered historical monuments across an area the size of Belgium. The extraordinary sweeping vistas are the perfect backdrop for a wide genre of films such as historical epics, fantasy adventures, extra-terrestrial worlds, and dramatic war movies and stand in for an array of different locations, countries, and cities, or even another period in time. It is home to the ancient city of Hegra, the country’s first UNESCO World Heritage Site and 200,000 years of history untouched wilderness, several microclimates, fascinating wildlife, and desert oases. The extraordinary diverse landscapes feature breath-taking rock formations, volcanic craters, luscious oasis and vast sandstone canyons. The soaring red-rock canyon area of Sharaan is a designated Nature Reserve committed to preserving the natural environment and re-establishing the rich diversity of plant life and wildlife including acacia woodland, Nubian Ibex, Red-Necked Ostrich, and Idmi Gazelles as well as the elusive Arabian Leopard. Would it be feasible for Bollywood producers to shoot in AlUla? Are there any sops or rebates being given especially for them? AlUla is now in a position to offer the ultimate filming destination and welcomes Bollywood productions offering financial incentives, location diversity, production resources, and professional support for international and local feature film, TV drama, commercial, and documentary film production. Production companies are encouraged to get in contact with the Saudi Film Council and Film AlUla team directly to discuss the competitive financial incentives. Interested producers can get in touch with the team: filming@rcu.gov.sa Production companies can also benefit from a range of incentives such as free bespoke production support; location scouting; expert knowledge of filming in Saudi; assistance in sourcing equipment and professional crew locally and regionally and, of course, year-round sunshine. With a temperate climate nine months of the year, Saudi presents filmmakers with an uninterrupted extended period of time during which to shoot their productions. Producers can expect a production-friendly setup location, a range of accommodation options with a skilled English-speaking team of experienced and established production experts to guide and support them every step of the way.Production companies can access the Film Production and Location guides on the website that provides a comprehensive overview of all the benefits of choosing AlUla as your next production destination

Has there been any film shooting there? Yes, both local and international productions have already shot in AlUla. They include: Cherry directed by the Russo Brothers, Piaget commercial, AlUla brand campaign commercial directed by Bruno Aveillan, Discovery Channel documentary on AlUla narrated by Jeremy Irons, National Geographic about two shoot 2 programmes on AlUla, Extreme E in AlUla coverage, Andrea Boccelli concert coverage, Travel programmes for MBC and SBC and Exhibition with Steve Backshall.

AlUla looks beautiful, why haven’t we heard more about this beautiful place in terms of tourism promotions - before? AlUla, a region in northwest Saudi Arabia, is a place of extraordinary human and natural heritage. AlUla is certainly a new and interesting destination for Indian travellers. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia opened its doors to tourism and launched the tourist visa in September 2019. The Royal Commission for AlUla has opened offices for tourism across the world in the USA, Asia, EU and Australia with a sole focus on developing AlUla as a holiday destination. Beautiful Planet Destination Marketing has received the mandate to promote AlUla in India from September 2020. And since then, we havebeen promoting AlUla through trade and consumer activities.We expect as soon as the borders open, AlUla will be an interesting destination to explore due to the vast open spaces, outstanding landscape, natural beauty and highest standard of visitor experience. The Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz has a vision to turn AlUla county into a living museum, creating memories that visitors will share with the world. We are bullish about AlUla and see a great potential to promote tourism to AlUla from India. KSA has great flight connections from Indian cities. Pre-pandemic Saudia Airlines operated 68 flights a week from India. Besides Saudia, Air India, Spice Jet and Indigo were also well connected to Saudia Arabia.

Starry Sashay Super cool or fabulously hot, white is indeed the most perfect brunch-to-night look. No wonder, most of our super stylish stars love to slay in the hues of white. So though the skies are grim, white is the perfect elixir to lift up the spirits for the fashion conscious, which is why so many stars choose white as their OOTD. In fact, wearing white in this grey weather just makes the stars shine a lot brighter. …That’s why perhaps it looks like white is a fan favourite at the moment. It adds that extra touch of sophistication that one expects a star to have and still makes the person look delectably cool. Here are some of our top snaps of celebrities wearing white. Rate and tell us who wore white better?

Stardust Exclusive

Has the

Ranbir Kapoor-Alia Bhatt starrer Brahmāstra been the worst hit by the pandemic

Director Ayan Mukerji and producer Karan Johar’s ambitious venture Brahmāstra has been plodding on for more than three years due to production and post-production delays. And now with coronavirus restrictions, the film has been indefinitely stuck. Sumita Chakraborty investigates why this ambitious venture – the part one of a trilogy has been stuck for so long. Read on… Announced with a lot of fanfare – the title logo of the film was revealed on March 4, 2019 and on the same evening; the logo of the film was launched on Maha Shivratri at the Kumbh Mela. In first of its kind, 150 drones were used to light up the skies to form the logo. Furthermore, a video of the launch of the logo at Kumbh Mela 2019 was released by Fox Star Hindi the very next day.

On March 6, 2019, the official logo of the film was released in Telugu and Tamil by Baahubali director SS Rajamouli and Tamil actor Dhanush. Indeed, it was a spectacular and expensively sensational launch which no film in the history of Bollywood has ever had or seen. And, why not? Said to be a part of an ambitious trilogy, the launch of this fantasy meets mythology and adventure film was sheer magic. No wonder, this film was touted as one of the biggest and most expensive ever in the film industry. So obviously, an ambitious venture with an amazing ensemble cast like this would indeed be a treat for the audience. Fantasy Meets Adventure Yes, we are talking about Ayan Mukerji’s super ambitious action-adventure Brahmāstra, pro-

duced by Dharma Production and Fox Star Studio, which included an exciting multi-starrer cast with Amitabh Bachchan, Ranbir Kapoor, Alia Bhatt, Nagarjuna Akkineni, Mouni Roy and Shahrukh Khan in an extended cameo - all part of the first part of the trilogy. The film would release in several languages that is Hindi, Telugu, Kannada, Tamil and Malayalam. It was initially announced for an August 15 2019 release but then supposedly according to sources, the hightech VFX work delayed things and KJo’s Dharma Production decided to push it for a Christmas release. But after that, the film’s release has been changed several times. A Grand Venture An excited Karan Johar tweeted about the film way back in 2017. The preparation of the film started in January 2018 and supposedly according to Ranbir Kapoor, director Ayan Mukerji “spent six years of his life working really hard to make an original story.” It would be something like a “romantic-fairytale in a supernatural format” and “the film is not something which doesn’t have truth to it, or which is unbelievable,” said Ranbir. He further revealed the entire trilogy would be made within the span of 10 years.

power.” However, he insisted that it would be a “contemporary film with ancient elements.” Ranbir’s character in the film at first supposedly, was inspired by eminent philosopher and Islamic scholar Rumi’s work but later they scrapped the idea, and Ranbir Kapoor got a hair cut instead. So It Started It all sounded rather spectacular and the audience waited with bated breath for the film’s release but that was just not forthcoming. News filtered in about the shooting in Bulgaria, New York, Manali and so many other places and pictures of the lead pair Ranbir and Alia flooded the social media thereby accelerating the excitement for the fans. The principal photography began in Bulgaria in February 2018 and then the shoot started in full force to make it for the August 15, 2019 deadline. However, the complicated VFX scenes delayed matters and

Groundwork At first, the film’s title was rumoured to be Dragon but was later confirmed as Brahmāstra. Director Ayan Mukerji explained that the title Brahmāstra “resonates with the ancient wisdom, energies and 41

the producer and director delayed the release further till December, 2019 citing that the shooting was incomplete. In fact, Alia Bhatt at a press conference was asked why the movie was delayed so much and she said at that point that “good things take time”. Fair enough! Coronovirus Attack! 2020, the horrific pandemic hit the entire world but obviously, all the film shootings were stalled – Brahmāstra too was part of the films stalled. However, this time the film was delayed because of unexpect-

ed circumstances and not because of any production woes. Supposedly, Ayan Mukerji and Ranbir Kapoor decided to make Covid safety norms as their priority. So in the wake of increasing cases in the country, they do not want to put the team at any risk and so postponed the remaining shoot. When the government lifted the lockdown, unfortunately Ranbir Kapoor tested positive and was quarantined in his home. The shoot was delayed even further. Alai Bhatt too tested positive for the virus so again the shoot was postponed for a later date. Just when everything was fine with both the lead actors well and ready for shooting, the second wave of the pandemic grabbed the world by its throat. It was fiercer and had more fatalities so obviously all film shootings stopped yet again – a directive given by the State government.

Result! With the lockdown easing recently, the business of entertainment slowly got back to its feet. However, the first part of the Brahmāstra trilogy had now been delayed for three years. According to a source, the shoot this time was however almost complete and so was most of the post production done. In fact, South actor Nagarjuna recently even took to his social media handle to say his part in the film was now complete. But the theatres were still shut and we heard rumours that producer Karan Johar was not very keen on releasing the film on the OTT platform. Supposedly Disney+Hotstar had even asked the other producer for the film Fox Star Studios if they could drop the film on their streaming platform thereby bypassing theatrical release. But unfortunately, there’s no confirmation of this from any of the sources.

What Now? Will Brahmāstra release this year? Again there’s no confirmation from any of the producers but that too is understandable because of the uncertainty of things right now. Ayan, Ranbir and Alia too are now mum on the subject so everybody is still at sea on what is happening to Brahmāstra’s release. …Brahmāstra sounds absolutely spectacular and very different from the Bollywood films we are used to, so we hope and pray this film gets released and we all get a chance to watch this fantasy-adventure, action packed drama, the first part of this ambitious trilogy.

Starry Look

Star Glow

Actress Sanjana Sanghi

Are you the type who wakes up every morning, worried and wanting to do so much for your skin? Do you have guilt pangs gnawing away at you every time you look in the mirror? For most of us, life begins and ends with planning our skincare routine, adding and eliminating products in our cart till the sun stops shining. Fret not, your skincare regime doesn’t have to be an impassable labyrinth, it can be simplified to make it more manageable and consistent. 44

Dr Aparna Santhanam, Skin Expert - ITC Charmis says, “Skincare routine planning is often perceived to be a daunting task, which is why it’s important to have a fair assessment of one’s requirements. First step towards getting a good skin care routine is to make an effort to understand the ingredients, decide your budget and most importantly choose well researched hero products. I recommend going for products that are all-rounders for e.g. a serum is a multi-purpose product that can easily eliminate the need for a hydrator or moisturizer, is more efficacious and budget friendly. This apart, skincare is an inside-out job, so make sure to stay hydrated and positive, your inner radiance invariably reflects on your face”.

Get Organized To begin with, make a list of skincare problems you actually have, for example you have acne or pigmentation or dark spots or just plain dry skin. It’s important to understand your skin and how it behaves. Look for products with Vitamin C in it, which is a super ingredient to remove your spots, dullness and any uneven skin tone.

Know your skin type It is very important to understand your skin type to invest in the right product. How do you determine that? Very simple, just notice how your skin feels right when you wake up. If you have oily skin, it is recommended to stick to light hydrating products which are non-sticky like Serums. People with Acne Prone skin, are recommended to use products with Salicylic Acid. For dry skin concerns, Hyaluronic Acid will save the day!

Choose Hero Products Eliminate products that serve only one purpose, instead invest in all-rounders, for example, replace Moisturizer with Serum. A serum is an all-rounder that can easily cater to your skin’s need for hydration while priming it and leaving it with a soft dewy finish. The product formulation of serum has smaller molecules that work together to penetrate the skin to a degree that facial creams or moisturizers don’t.

Budget It’s important to plan and create financial demarcations so you don’t let your skincare budget eat into other important components of your living and lifestyle. Apart from choosing products that multi-task, look for maximum value at minimum price. ITC Charmis has introduced its new Deep Radiance Range with premium and effective skincare, making best in the market skincare more accessible by offering benefit-led products at affordable price points.

Stay Positive & Hydrate Whoever said beauty is only skin deep was referring to staying connected with our intrinsic goodness and richness of character. While it’s important to take care of what we put on our skin, it’s equally important to feed our mind with the right ingredients. 45

Starry Look

e k i L t u Poriyanka P hopra C g fashion sense. in az am an s ha d an us eo rg go , She’s super-hot best import to Hollywood, the ’s od wo lly Bo cts tru ns co de e Damini Malsh opra’s beauty secrets. Ch a nk iya Pr g in nn stu y gl in amaz remedies to look good. PeeCee loves some homemade Girl’s desi glow secrets. i es D ite or fav r ou at ok lo a ke Let’s ta

Pout More One of Priyanka’s most prominent feature is her perfect pout. In order to keep her lips looking pink and pouty, she supposedly uses a homemade lip scrub made with sugar and rose water. She also adds rose petals to the scrub to make her lips look kissable pink.

Skin Show Priyanka supposedly swears by an ubtan mask to get rid of sun tans and burns. She allegedly mixes whole wheat flour, full fat yogurt, the juice of half a lime and rose water. This is one of Priyanka’s holy grails every time she gets back from having too much fun in the sun.

Massage More Coconut oil as a moisturizing make-up remover is another trick that Priyanka has up her sleeve. She warms up some coconut oil in her palm and then massages her face. Priyanka then uses a warm washcloth to wipe away all the makeup. She follows this up with a face wash and a moisturizer.

Style Sashay Priyanka has also learnt from her fashion mistakes. One lesson that she learnt and says was the most important one, was to avoid doing lips, eyes and hair all together to avoid looking like a Christmas tree. She also loves a good shoe moment and thinks it could change up an outfit drastically.

In Focus

“

I make a fun world - and I believe that the world definitely needs the best of oxygen… that’s comedy!” - Raaj Shaandilyaa

Dream Girl director Raaj Shaandilyaa tells Sumita Chakraborty why he loves working on comedy films and more. 48

is film Dream Girl starring the multi-talented Ayushmann Khurana was a laugh-a-thon and had people doubling over with laughter. Known for his witty and laughterreplete scripts, director-writer Raaj Shaandilyaa is a known name in the genre of comedy. In fact, ask him what he loves to do best, and Raaj avers: I love to make people laugh! Read on as Raaj Shaandilyaa talks about making his film Dream Girl, his bond with Ayushmann Khurana and his love affair with comedy How did you enter Bollywood? How has the journey been? I started my career as a TV writer there was a show known as Comedy Circus which I wrote for seven years - then another show - Comedy Nights With Kapil. So I have been writing for more than 7-8 years and perhaps even before that. Then I thought I had done enough of TV and I should try writing a script with a different type of comedy. When I was writing Comedy Circus in 2013, I got a call from director Anees Bazmi who offered me a film - Welcome Back which was sequel of the movie Welcome for which I wrote dialogues, and post that, I was offered movies one after the other. People loved my work and that is how I entered Bollywood. The journey has been fantastic and I enjoyed a lot and every time I got a new learning. In fact, even now I am learning and this journey has truly been fantastic. For me, success is a journey and not a destination. Your film Dream Girl was very wittily written. Where do you get the inspiration to write such witty scripts? My Dream girl idea originated much before Orkut and Facebook. One of my friends was chatting and the person whom he was chatting with was a guy - and my friend didn’t know that a guy was chatting with him as a girl. He went to meet this guy and 49

then only he came to know that the person he was chatting with for a month was not a girl but a guy. That’s when the idea came into my head, but at that time I didn’t think of making a film based on it. However, when my co-writer Nirmaan told me a similar story, I decided to make a film based on this. The story was new but was not working. Then there was this idea of a story where a guy from a small town who participate in Ramleela and could take out a pure female voice. He doesn’t get a job and being jobless, he starts working at a call centre where girls would trap guys after speaking to them on the phone sweetly. The topic was witty and we knew people would like it. And this is how it was written. And whatever I am writing now will also have wittiness, I want my hero to be smart, make people laugh because in today’s time comedy is in demand and this is why I try to write comedy and witty scripts. And I will continue to do this.

Where did you draw the inspiration to write Ayushmann’s character? When we were writing Puja’s character, we wanted a person whose body would be lean and should have knowledge of voice modulation. So Ayushman was always the first choice for this character more so because he has always done a new character in every film that he has worked in. So we thought of him doing this film because he had a lean body, he was a RJ and singer so knew voice modulation. After that of course, he practiced and did rehearsals to sound like a female. Honestly, I always had Ayushmaan in mind hence this character was written and if he would not have done the film then I would have not made this film Are there any scenes or jokes that were cut out last minute? No, in the entire film, we didn’t cut or edit any funny or witty scenes. We shot it very cut-to-cut from the finalized scripts so we didn’t face any issues later. 51

thriller and other genres. I do! If you see the webseries and films of today, you hardly see comedy in it. I want to work on my own theme and that’s comedy. I make a fun world - and I believe that the world definitely needs the best of oxygen… that’s comedy. How difficult was it to direct the film Dream Girl?

Which is your favourite dialogue in the movie that was best spoken by Ayushmann? There are many dialogues which are my favorite - I can’t be biased to just one. The one monologue Ayushmann delivered during the climax scene, however, is my favourite. The way he delivered his words was enchanting. If not Ayushmann who do you think would be able to carry out the role? If this wouldn’t have been played by Ayushmann Khurana then I wouldn’t have made this film. If I had decided to make it without him then I would’ve participated in it Have you always had a passion for writing witty scripts or did you ever engage in other genres like romance, thrillers and action? Since the beginning, I’ve been writing comedy genres but that doesn’t mean I haven’t worked on other genres too. It doesn’t mean that I don’t write action, 52

I won’t say directing Dream Girl was difficult. Of course, it was my debut in direction, so I was definitely a little nervous as I was doing the film with a huge star ‘Ayushmann Khurana’ who had already given so many hits. Also since he was working with a new director, I questioned myself: Will I be able to justify my work? Eventually I had such a great bonding with Ayushmann Bhai along with others as well and the connection was so strong that we finished 48 days schedule in 46 days. It was such a happy and fun atmosphere. We never felt that we were on the sets to shoot, it felt like we were at a picnic. Who would you like to star as the lead in your next film? My next film is also going to be with Ayushmann Khurana. I had a discussion with him during Dream Girl that every film I write, you’ll be the first one to hear the script. If he doesn’t want to do it, then only I’ll think of someone else. What does the pressure feel like just before a film gets released? I can’t really explain the pressure one day before the release. The film released on September 13, the next day was Ayushmann’ birthday (September 14) and September 16 is my birthday. So I had all the battles on around the release - also my parents were in Mumbai then for the premiere.

by my audience. I write films for the audiences and not critics. Everyone around me loved the film. I’m not a person who doesn’t want to hear critics’ out. I always research and ask opinions from people close to me whether I’m doing something right or if something’s missing. So I definitely work on the missing parts. I also want to make mistakes to stay human. (Laughs) What interests you more, dialogue writing or directing? Dialogue writing and direction are two different things. I can’t distinguish between them. Dialogue writing is my passion and delivering it to the audience is my direction. It’s as important as choosing one between a mother and a father. It’s impossible. Tell us about some of your favourite Bollywood films and why you loved them?

It felt like result time of an exam I gave. I’m really so grateful to my parents and everyone’s blessings that it successfully had one of the biggest openings of Balaji. How do you deal with negative comments people make in terms of reviews?

I loved a lot of Bollywood movies especially Sai Paranjpe’s tales where back then she narrated the famous tortoise and rabbit’s story with brilliant metaphors. I loved Hera Pheri and Andaaz Apna Apna. I feel these stories gain blessings from people entertaining them and by making them laugh. I also am a fan of Tere Naam - one of the best emotional films of Salman Khan bhai. A film which gives a strong message and which every family could sit together and watch are the movies I’m connected to. What are your other projects? The one I’m producing is ‘Janhit Mein Jari’ with Nushrat Barucha. There are few more in the pipeline. Apart from this, I’m directing a film currently.

The only reviews matters to me are 53

Web Star

stand-up comedians on the OTT platform who are so good that you will be literally laughing out loud.

There goes an old saying that laughter is the best medicine and well that saying is true. Laughing does not only release ‘happy hormones’ in your body but it also makes you feel better about life in general. Making someone laugh is an art which has to be mastered. If you’re looking to watch some of the very best in the business, here are 5 phenomenal stand-up comedians who are best at what they do and will surely leave you rolling on the floor in laughter.

Gaurav Gupta Doctor turned stand-up comedian, this man trolls his family to another level which just blows your mind away. He is a comedian who literally is down to Earth including his middle-class jokes which are so relatable. Keeping a check on our mental health, Dr. Gupta is back with one of his stand-up specials: Market Down Hai, which is all about funny incidents and tales about all the emotional blackmail lines given by mummy-papa log and other relatives. Market Down Hai is releasing on May 14, 2021, exclusively on Amazon Prime Video.

Zakir Khan The Sakht Launda urf Ronny bhaiya from Chacha Vidhayak Hai Humare from Indore, Madhya Pradesh is one of the best stand up comedians we ever had. He was just a normal guy who rose to fame because of his excellent poetry, great acting skills and mind blowing punchlines in his stand up specials which is always remembered and associated with Zakir. Rising to fame with his association with AIB, he has swept away the hearts of a lot of girls and is a sakht role model for the young boys. 54

Anubhav Singh Bassi After hearing this man, you will admit that the ‘bassi-bassi-bassi’ trend on Instagram was just for him. Born in a small town, Shivpuri in Madhya Pradesh, this guy has reached the sky when it comes to making us breathless because of continuous laughter. He is best known for his realistic and hilarious story telling skills. Whether it’s living in a boys hostel or having a roommate or giving all entrance exams (IIT, AIEEE, PMT, CAT) and then finally getting admitted into a law college in Delhi, he is a humorist which will light up anyone’s day.

Vir Das If you are looking for content which is hilarious and intellectual, look no further because Vir Das is here. He gives time to the audience because his jokes do not follow the normal trend of listening and laughing, his jokes are deep like the ocean and it needs time to sink in each and every joke to understand that he is an ideal comedian. His stand-up specials Vir Das for India, Vir Das: Inside Out and Vir Das: Outside in were massive hits that should definitely be on your watchlist.

Aditi Mittal One of the founders and co-host of AIB, Aditi is a stand-up comedian, an actor and a writer. She is one of the first female artists to do stand-up comedy in India. Her shows are full of fun and she is definitely a beauty with a brain. She has talked about some topics which were considered taboo and has beautifully portrayed it in a hilarious manner. She is very much vocal about the gender disparity women face and has subtly yet made noise to stop this inequality. We can see Aditi recently in a show called LOL: Hasse to Phasee on Amazon Prime Video which makes us fall in love with her all over again. She is truly an artist who knows how to keep all her audiences happy literally. 55

Music Room

“

To have my

voice

in the

title track of an iconic film like

Coolie No. i was a big deal for me personally! -Raj Pandit

”

Salim of Salim-Sulaiman fame calls him the backbone of Salim-Sulaiman. Meet the very talented Raj Pandit who started his career as a child prodigy and ended up becoming a music sensation in the Hindi Film Industry. 56

You were known as a child prodigy and have been singing from the age of 3. Could you describe your musical journey? Having a musical environment at home, it was very natural for me to be inclined towards music. My mother, Neerja Pandit is a folk singer from Kashmir so from a very young age, I was always around her whenever she would practice. At the age of 4, I first started learning the tabla and my musical foundation was built on Hindustani classical music and rhythm. As I grew older, I would often accompany my mom to her recordings and there I happened to meet Tauseef Akhtar (well-known Ghazal singer/ composer) on one such occasion. He rightly spotted my curiosity for music technology and recommended that I also learn piano and music production. So I did and that opened up a whole new horizon of western classical music for me. Eventually, by the age of 11, I started with the basics of music production and would often record melodies that I composed and would even put together basic tracks for them too. I ended up working on a few Kashmiri folk albums with my mom - all recorded and mixed at my music room to the best of my ability at the time. That gave me the confidence to continue exploring and trying to produce new styles and genres of music. You are fan of maestro A R Rahman, have you met him? You have also recreated his music… Who isn’t a fan of ‘A R Rahman’! He’s truly an icon of our country and I’ve been following his music since childhood, like most of us. I’ve met him a couple of times at events, but would love to work with him some day and witness his genius in real-time! Back then as part of my musical practice, I would try and recreate tracks that I liked. I would repeatedly listen to those songs and try to breakdown the musical layers, while reproducing them from scratch. His arrangements have always been pathbreaking, so I would take it up as a challenge. And not just his, I did a few Salim-Sulaiman 58

& Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy songs too. It was a fun way of improving my listening and arrangement skills!

“A R Rahman’s arrangements have always been path-breaking, so I would take it up as a challenge. And not just his, I did a few Salim-Sulaiman & Shankar-EhsaanLoy songs too.” How did you enter Bollywood? As soon as I passed out of school, I wanted to make music professionally, along with college. I got the opportunity to work with noted composer/producer Raju Singh. I used to produce background score pieces for him and he guided me through the whole process of making music for two very different mediums like Television and Films. I got to learn a lot about film scoring in those two years under him. Eventually, I landed up at Salim-Sulaiman’s studio and started interning there. One project after another, I was fortunate enough to witness the making of some of the biggest film songs and scores that they composed. Working with them in this past decade has been more than a blessing and I’ve been fortunate enough to have collaborated with the best of the film world - be it singers, lyricists or directors!

“Since I was in the studio, I sang the cue vocal for it and assumed that we would eventually have someone else sing it. But everyone liked my take so much that they decided to go with it.”

You’ve sung for ‘Coolie No. 1’ title track, how did you get this and any anecdotes with Varun Dhawan and Sara Ali Khan or any other experiences that you can share with us? I was working on the background score of the film along with Salim-Sulaiman. After the whole score was done and finalized, David Dhawanji sent us the opening title sequence, which was an animated back story of Varun’s character. The film’s writer

“I personally believe that we have a lot of talent in our country to create more original music and the massive rise in independent artists finding a much bigger audience now, is a testament to that.” Farhad Samji had written and composed a track for it which he wanted us to produce as part of the score. Since I was in the studio, I sang the cue vocal for it and assumed that we would eventually have someone else sing it. But everyone liked my take so much that they decided to go with it. I was so excited about it, as I’ve grown up on David ji and Govinda’s cinema. To have my voice in the title track of an iconic film like Coolie No. 1 was a big deal for me personally! 60

You’ve also sung for films like Poorna, Wedding Pullav, Power along with independent projects like Coke Studio and the IPL anthem (2016). Tell us about your experience of singing these songs. I believe that singing for a film is a very specialized skill as it requires you to be versatile and understand a lot more than just singing a tune right. With all these songs like Poori Qaaynaat, Oh Jaaniya and Oh Saaiyaan, I had such an amazing time as each one required a different style of singing. From semi classical to Qawwali to romance, these songs had it all! Apart from films, singing on Peer Manaawan Challiyaan with the incredible Sukhwinder Singh for Coke Studio India and being the voice of the IPL 2016 anthem was extra special as both these tracks were tied by a common thread - ‘India’. These melodies needed a lot of power and projection and it was great to explore that side of my singing too! You recently made your debut in the independent music scene with your single “Vibe”… tell us about it? Independent music has grown exponentially in the last 10 years. We’ve seen some amazing artists make their mark without being dependent on film music and that was really empowering. Having assisted multiple composers and learning so much in all these years, making a foray into independent music felt like a natural progression. That’s

how ‘Vibe’ was born! It’s an amalgamation of a lot of my musical influences and I wanted my debut to be a funky RnB dance track. I collaborated with Kunaal Vermaa who wrote the Hindi lyrics and my friend Shazeb Sheikh choreographed and directed the video. I was thrilled to see the incredible response it got! The feeling of putting your own music out there as an artist and receiving so much love for it, is unparalleled. And I hope to continue on this journey of making music that connects with people.

“Even though I haven’t personally faced the brunt of it yet, I’m quite aware of the reality of it. Politics exists in every industry and ours is no different.” Salim Merchant says you are the backbone of Salim-Sulaiman. Could you tell us about your bond with them? I’ve been a huge fan of Salim-Sulaiman and their music. I always connected very deeply with their compositions and sound and always wanted to work with them.

“I’ve worked on the music of a beautiful Netflix film ‘Skater Girl’, composed by Salim-Sulaiman and I’m also currently coproducing their next album Bhoomi 21.” Soon after I passed out of junior college, I got in touch with them and sent them some of my demo tracks that I had produced. Salim sir liked what I had done and asked me to come to the studio. I entered and felt like I was a child at Disney land! It was so surreal to be in the same room as them and experience the magic being created. My internship started and I just invested all my time and energy at the studio, working and learning. From doing a little additional production on their music to singing my first film song for them, to performing on stage as part of Salim-Sulaiman Live, to coproducing their album Bhoomi 2020 last year, it’s been such an incredible journey full of milestones in the last 10 years. The whole team is like my extended family and I hope the journey continues onwards and upwards! Any challenges you’ve faced as a singer? …Thankfully, nothing serious so far. There are days where I just don’t feel like I’m singing well enough or my voice isn’t in the 62

best shape. Or when I’m having a low day emotionally, it becomes challenging more so if I have to sing a happy, dance song. But that’s something that every singer or artist goes through. Sometimes, all it takes to get back in the zone is watching a song or a performance video of Bruno Mars! Over the years, I’ve consciously worked on listening to different artists and imbibing their approach to music. That helps me strive for versatility. How do you choose your projects? So far, I’ve been very fortunate to be a part of some great musical projects - be it as a singer or a producer. I’m very instinctive when it comes to work. If something genuinely excites me, I go ahead and do it without over-thinking it. Music is such a powerful thing that when creativity flows, I just go with it. I believe that I’m not in a position to choose my projects yet. So I’ve learnt to always give it my best and do it with the right intent, no matter what it is.

“My parents made sure I was raised very aware of the fact that in spite of this privilege, I’ll have to give it my all to make something of myself.” There are a lot of remixes happening nowadays. Do you think it adds value to the original song? Or it becomes a new song by itself? …That really depends from song to song. If done well, it can really help an iconic song connect with the newer generation of people. I personally believe that we have a lot of talent in our country to create more original music and the massive rise in independent artists finding a much bigger audience now, is a testament to that. At the end of the day remixing is just a trend like many others and it’ll pass. What are your thoughts on politics in music? I’ve been very lucky in that regard, working with not just amazing musicians but also great human beings. Even though I haven’t personally faced the brunt of it yet, I’m quite aware of the reality of it. Politics exists in every industry and ours is no different.

You come from a filmi family – your dad Ashok Pandit is a filmmaker, and your mum Neerja is an illustrious folk singer, do you think it was easy to step into the film industry because of this? Of course it was. It’s a privilege that I acknowledged way back as a child and it has only made me value it a lot more. Having access to the right people is a big advantage and I had to make sure I don’t take it for granted. Also because I saw a lot of examples around who had the same opportunities as me, but they blew it by not being committed enough. My parents made sure I was raised very aware of the fact that in spite of this privilege, I’ll have to give it my all to make something of myself. What’s next in terms of future projects? After receiving such a great response to ‘Vibe’, I’m really excited to release more singles in the coming months, including a few interesting collaborations. In terms of film releases, I’ve worked on the music of a beautiful Netflix film ‘Skater Girl’, composed by Salim-Sulaiman and I’m also currently co-producing their next album Bhoomi 21. 63

Blast from the past

STARDUST 1983

Honestly, I tell you “

I haven’t had a single affair up to this date.” – Kalpana Iyer Critics accuse her of vulgarising the cabaret; heroines dismiss her as a temporary survivor on sheer sex power; but heroes pant at and after her hip-wriggles, stripping and bad games! KALPANA IYER knows that her figure is her fortune, and flaunts it (on and off screen) to the ‘barest’ maximum to make it pay – in cash and kind! 64

Whatever happened to the tall announcements you made about switching over from dancing to acting roles, two years ago? Are you so minus talent that you couldn’t bag even the smallest of roles? Even Sheetal gets more lines to deliver (‘Satyam Shivam Sundaram’) in her films than you? You see, I happen to be a very pushy girl. I’m not in the habit of waiting, but in the habit of grabbing all that comes my way. People seem to have forgotten that I did start my career as an actress in ‘Manokamna’. But after that film, I was not very willing to wait. So as soon as Dev Anand, the lovable person that he is, offered me a dance number in “Lootmaar’ (because Simple Kapadia couldn’t dance for mailto:hudz.in15@ gmail.com nuts), I grabbed it without batting an eyelid, completely ignoring all those who tried to stop me from doing it. And now I’m glad I did it, because ever since ‘Lootmaar’, I’ve been signing film after film and am being very much appreciated and applauded for all my dance numbers. I’m sure this wouldn’t have been the case if I had waited for acting roles to come my way. And if you call Sheetal’s role in ‘Satyam…” acting, well, then I’m glad that I’m not acting! I’d rather stick to my dance-numbers. Incidentally, I do have a few very good and important roles to my credit, like ‘YehRishta Na Toote’, ‘Vardaan’, ‘Dil

Tujhko Diya’, where I am not doing any dance-numbers! Don’t you feel ashamed when you are dismissed off as a box-office filler and your dances are becoming more and more provocative to give cheap thrills to the public? Don’t you find it humiliating to be referred to as the ‘vulgar version of Helen’? Even Bindu insists that you get so many offers only because you grab the most minute and meaningless dance sequences, even if they have no connection to the film’s story!

Who says that I’m a box-office filler and that my dances are meaningless and have no connection to the story? If I was doing those two-minute sidey roles like people are insinuating, it would have been a different thing. But what I’m doing are those hit dancenumbers which draw the crowds. When the masses, the people in the villages, etc., see a movie, they don’t bother to find out the whole star cast. But if they know that Kalpana Iyer is doing a dance 65

“The masses don’t bother to find out the whole star-cast, but if they know Kalpana Iyer is doing a dance, they rush to see the film!” sequence, they rush to see it! So many of my movies have been sold because of my dance-numbers. And if at all people are comparing me with Helen, well, it’s the biggest compliment to me! She is the one lady I really admire and respect and I know that she is far better than me! I think she’s real great. Imagine doing only dance-numbers and yet surviving in the industry for more than twenty five years! And at the same time, maintaining that dignity and respect. I’m not at all ashamed, but rather proud in fact, to be anywhere near Helen, because before I became a Kalpana Iyer, I used to dance on all Helen’s numbers at my stage shows. But no one can point a finger at me and say that I’m copying her now, because Helen belonged to a different era. She never did disco dances, while I specialise in them. Why does Bindu go out of her way to pick on you? Didn’t it harm your career when she declared in print that you and she were of the same age and that you can never achieve what she has? I know statements like that are totally uncalled for and in very bad taste, made by those who have age hang-ups. But I’ve learnt to ignore them because I’m quite positive that no one believes them. After all, the public is not blind. Everyone knows that I’ve been in the 66

line only since the last three years, and Bindu has been here even before I was born! Besides, birth certificates don’t lie! But all said and done. I’m sure that Bindu won’t say anything nasty about me from now onwards, because we recently got an opportunity to meet each other and I found that basically she is a nice person and her husband Champakbhai is the most beautiful and understanding human being I’ve ever met. After capitalizing on your body (“People like me better without clothes. If I have a good body, why shouldn’t I show it,” etc.) so blatantly, wasn’t it hypocritical of you to throw a tantrum during the shooting of ‘Teri Baahon Mein’ because men were ogling at your semi-nude appearance? Wouldn’t it have been simpler for you not to wear such daring clothes? Or don’t your producers (Umesh Mehra, etc) give you any choice in the matter? I admit I did throw a tantrum on the sets of ‘Teri Baahon Mein’. I felt I had to. I couldn’t bear those men who were total strangers ogling away at me. Not only that, they were also restricting my movements. I don’t mind when there are thousands of people ogling at me on screen, but it’s different in person. Besides, I was doing the dance with Mohnish Behl who is a newcomer, who I felt was also feeling uncomfortable.

Why are you such a ZeenatAman chamchi? Your praises of her looks, talent, etc., ring absolutely false. Is it your way of hitting out at Zeenat’s rival Parveen Babi who is encroaching on your dancing territory (‘Namak Halal’ ‘Meri Awaz Suno’) and doing a better job of it?

But obviously, he didn’t make a noise about it because he couldn’t afford to. So I took it in my hands to shoo away the crowd. I had to do it. I’m sure the director Umesh Mehra would have done it himself if he hadn’t been so busy with the journalists that day. Then also, the fact that I was wearing a more revealing dress than usual, made me all the more uneasy. But it couldn’t be helped because the outfit went with the director’s concept of the film. In most of my films, my dress is already decided upon and I don’t have much choice. But there are a few directors who are ready to accept my designs, and there I try to cover my body as much as possible. I’m not saying that I turn around and tell my director ‘no leg revealing’, because after all, I’ve got good legs, but I do draw a line somewhere!

Parveen has been doing those vamp roles lately, so she’s encroaching on a vamp’s territory, not mine. You should be asking Bindu this question, not me. Anyway, those dances which Parveen has done are no threat to me. In ‘Namak Halal’, the dance looked okay purely because it was a well picturised dance sequence. Parveen certainly has no dancing talent. It was just luck that the dance clicked. Of course, she did more justice to the role than any other actress would have done in her place. But that’s that! It’s not that I’m being mean to Parveen, I’m just being frank. I do like Parveen, but I like and admire Zeenat a lot more. Because in spite of being such an open book, she has carried herself so well for so many years. As for Parveen. I feel she’s a more closed person, more within herself.

Isn’t it true that three-fourths of the film you have in hand are kind courtesy Amjad Khan? Is it because Amjad has threatened you that you keep denying your affair even though eye-witnesses swear they have seen you sneaking into five-star hotels at all odd hours (3 a.m.) with him? Don’t you feel humiliated when Amjad’s wife lambasts you as a third-rate, sub-standard starlet and not the kind Amjad goes for, to defend her marriage against the rumours? What nonsense! I haven’t got a single film because of Amjad. I have too much self-respect to accept something out of charity! If Amjad was getting me roles, wouldn’t I have been in all his films? Then how come I’ve done only three films with him – ‘Pyaara Dushman’, ‘Satte Pe Satta’ and ‘Chor Police’? And even in these films, I hardly have a single scene with him! You’ll be surprised to know that Amjad didn’t even know I was in ‘Chor Police’. The producer of the film had approached me for the role. I dont’ think Amjad has ever recommended me to any producer. Yes, at one time in 1979 when I’d taken part in some competition as a model and Amjad had been the judge (he didn’t even know me then), he’d told the person sitting next to him that I’d make it as an actress someday. Well, if that person has decided to take me in his film three years later, I don’t think it’s because of Amjad, but because I am Kalpana Iyer! Actually, it’s these frustrated actresses who spread these rumours about me and Amjad. If being terribly fond of a person means you are having an affair with that person, then I think all these people who think this way are too narrow-minded to live in this world! It’s just that both Amjad and I vibe very well, and he can converse with me freely and intelligently, which he can’t with others. Frankly, I’m not bothered about what everybody else says, but I’m hurt that Amjad’s wife has doubts about her husband after so many years of marriage, and has begun to believe these rumours to make such rude statements… 68

What’s the reason for the hostility between you and Raj Kiran? Is it true that you made a big play for him during ‘Manokamna’ but he rejected you? In fact, it was very much the other way round. When we were shooting for ‘Manokamna’ it was he who was on the go all the time and it was I who was cold because I felt, who is he to touch me! That’s why in one of his interviews, he even said something like how can anyone call Kalpana of all people a sexy actress Anyway, what is Raj Kiran who is he? One Raj Kiran doesn’t make an industry!

Whatever went wrong between you and Mithun Chakraborty? At one time you two were quite a steady number, but now he literally begs people not to connect him with you in any way! Mithun and I are very old friends. We were very friendly in those days when I was a top model and Mithun was an upcoming model, trying to make it big. At that time, he used to confide in me about a girl he was engaged to. Of course, that lady is married now, so I don’t want to elaborate but all I want to say is that if we were having an affair, he wouldn’t have confided in me about another girl he was engaged to. Mithun doesn’t want us to be linked up because he knows what a decent girl I am! I am not one of those ex-girlfriends of his who snub him in public all the time!

Rekha, have slept around to make it to the top? In fact, to this date, no one in the industry has even made a pass at me. Leave alone sleeping. I can’t think of even asking someone to take an extra close-up of mine in a film! I wouldn’t stoop so low! Honestly, I tell you I haven’t had a single affair up to this date. I think I don’t have the time to have one!

You are said to be most slept-around woman in the industry. Are you so desperate for your career that you are ready to oblige anyone who promises you even an extra close-up in a film? All rubbish! All these cheap remarks are made by third rate actresses who have perverted minds and are frustrated sitting at home. If sleeping around could get one roles, wouldn’t all the aspiring actresses have made it by now? Do you mean to say that Zeenat, Parveen,

“Mithun doesn’t want us to be linked up because he knows what a decent girl I am!”

Insiders insist that your career desperation is purely money-oriented. Having lived through abject poverty in the past, do you also feel as scared and insecure about your success as Mithun Chakraborty? I can’t understand why Mithun feels insecure. He is a star, after all! Poverty hasn’t made me scared or insecure, it has made me a lot wiser and given me guts. My days of poverty have been a thousand times worse than Mithun’s. Right from the age of eight, I used to support a family of six, with the twenty rupees I earned. Tell me, is it possible for a family of six to survive on twenty rupees? Well, we did. I know what my mother has gone through to make me what I am today and that too without any means of support.

That’s why, till I’m there in this world, I shall see that the precious smile on my mother’s face shall never be wiped off. God forbid, but even if my career goes to the dumps I shall not stop. I will go back to my modelling, that’s my world. I’ve been in it for eight long years and I’m sure I’ll be accepted back any time. Even if I don’t model, I shall work and keep the money coming in. That’s why I don’t live like a star, because I don’t take my success for granted. 69

Is it because you yourself are ashamed of what you have to do on screen, that you make it a point to be respectably dhakofied in sarees whenever you attend social parties and functions? Prema Narayan, Komilla Wirk, Padmini Kapila and your other colleagues don’t indulge in such double standards. I know a lot of people think I have double standards, but it’s not that. It’s just that I am a very, very simple girl. In fact, I’m much too simple for my own liking! The glamorous person which people see dancing away to glory on screen is not me. I hate all this glamour which is stuck down my throat. That’s why I love every single moment when I don’t have to act and behave the way I’m made to on screen. Because in reality, there are two different Kalpanas. You will be surprised to know that I’m a strict vegetarian, I don’t drink and I am a very God-fearing 70

person. The only thing which goes with my glamorous image on screen is my smoking off it. And I’m not ashamed of it. I do it in front of my own mother. I don’t believe in going to toilets, greenrooms, dressing-rooms, to have a quick smoke, like the other actresses do. What I’m trying to say is that I prefer to be the person I am. So if I’m comfortable when I’m dhakofiedin sarees, why shouldn’t I dress that way?

How long can you hope to survive in the rat-race on your sex-appeal alone? Where are the other sex symbols, Bindu and KomillaWirk, today? For heaven’s sake, please don’t compare Komilla Wirk and Bindu. Who is Komilla Wirk today, where is she? As for Bindu. I do appreciate that she has managed to survive on vamp roles for so many years in this cut-throat industry. But for me, I need time. All I’m doing is asking for time. I’ve just

been in this industry for three years and two months and have already proved myself as a dancer. Now I need time to prove myself as an actress. But like I said before, I’m not willing to put away my dance-numbers and wait for acting roles to drop in my lap. I’m sure I’ll get them on the way. My ultimate aim is to prove myself as an actress, which I’m certain I will do!

FAST FORWARD A beauty queen, Kalpana Iyer was the first runners-up in a Miss India pageant, after which she entered films She was bold, brazen and extremely sexy.. In fact a Kalpana Iyer dance number in any film supposedly added to the oomph factor and got the audience to the theatres. As a person, she didn’t hesitate to call a spade a spade and had the guts to answer any and every question even if they were hard-hitting and cutting as you can see in this throwback interview. Today, Kalpana Iyer is semi retired after a wonderful inning in films – she worked till 1995 – her role as public prosecutor in Gundaraj was much appreciated. She was also seen in various roles on TV. Supposedly, she was even managing a restaurant in Dubai. Her personal life despite her alleged linkup with Amjad Khan was very conventional despite her bold image. She never married – in fact, she said in an interview: “I was always misunderstood, you know, as the ‘it-girl’ personifying glamour and oomph. A Miss India, a model, an actress. Everyone assumed I was bold but I was actually very simple… God-fearing, always concerned about ruffling the feathers of my conservative Tam Bram family who were quiet and simple, and into Carnatic music… telling too many white lies to protect too many people.” Today, Kalpana Iyer has aged very gracefully. Her fans, however, still clamour to see this wonderful lady on the big screen or on TV.” - Sumita Chakraborty 71

Starry Dazzle

Nauheed Cyrusi’ latest onscreen project SIX has won her a lot of kudos but her social endeavour of opening her closet for the Covid Relief Fundraiser has won hearts. You have recently opened up your closet for COVID relief fundraiser, can you tell us a little about the ideology behind this and what inspired you to go ahead and do this? I’ve tried to help in every possible way I can. I’ve always tried to go the sustainable way and have started thrifting - and then I realized why not give clothes away and at the same time raise funds during these tough times. I have way too many clothes so it just seemed like the right thing to do! …So grateful and happy to be a part of the Salt Scout close sale You have been a part of Bollywood for over 18 years now, you have worked on a lot of different projects. How has the journey been? The journey so far has been pretty amazing. I got into this industry completely by chance and I’m so glad life gave me the opportunity to somehow stick on. I feel it is the most amazing industry to be a part of and I consider myself super lucky and I’m forever grateful. From doing films to now web shows like Bombay Begums and SIX, how do you feel about the transition? This is definitely the best time to be a part of the industry especially for women because the kind of scripts that are being made are so much nicer and I just can’t wait to work more. The lockdown has of course dampened the shooting schedule but I can’t wait to be back on a set super soon! Yes, SIX is out now, it’s my latest release on Hotstar and it’s a cool concept and a fun watch. And actually for the first time, I play a non-sweet girl! Who is the one Bollywood celebrity that you really look up to in terms of their social initiatives? Sonu Sood!

One of the most popular names in the UK music industry, Arzutraa has created a buzz by releasing two albums in a span of a year. You released two albums in a time span of a year, can you tell us about that? It feels incredible to say the least. I do seem to be one of the few females launching albums. I don’t know why that is but I would love to see more females out there doing the same. I have so much confidence now and I feel I can do my third, fourth and so on as easily as brushing my teeth. Of course creativity takes time but the sheer knowledge I gained from these albums has been immense. I have sat with Producers in the studio. I know the whole process of what it takes to make a song from a technical aspect as well as a creative aspect. Covid-19 and losing my father taught me never to waste time, so I guess that’s why I had the sudden urge to launch the second Album sooner than I expected to. How did you enter the music industry? I entered the music industry by chance. Incidentally when I started dating an actor who was aiming for Bollywood in 2010, I was so embarrassed when he would ask me about my life and it seemed my life was so boring in comparison to his. So I signed up for singing lessons just to impress him. I loved Bollywood music since my childhood and so decided to sign up in London with an Indian classical teacher Chiranjib Chakraborty who showed me such a beautiful part of music. I thought I was doing it for fun but soon realised it was becoming more than fun. I was following my inner calling. I took it one step further by starting to mingle with producers in London and working on my very first song - an English one called “Feel It”. Have you been inspired by Indian music? I only had a love for Hindi songs as my father used to have Bollywood films playing day and night. I never got bored although I could never understand the language and I used to love it when the songs would come on. Bollywood has been my biggest inspiration in my musical life. But UK producers would laugh at my Hindi accent and make me do English albums instead. I then got introduced to Atif Ali in Dubai and since then I never looked back. My Hindi accent was weak but I worked

really hard at correcting and fine tuning it. I gave up my whole life to sing in Hindi. It was my dream and I saw it through no matter what obstacles were in my way. How do you think your audience in the UK take your music? I don’t feel like I totally fit into the UK Music scene mainly due to the fact that the UK is heavily bhangra orientated or Punjabi Music. Many people tell me to make a bhangra style song just for the UK market but I cannot see myself singing a Bhangra style song. I may try Punjabi as my grandparents are of Indian Punjabi descent. I believe you faced challenges in your journey. Can you tell us a little about the backlash and resistance you faced from your peers ? The number one backlash I had was from people saying I could not sing in Hindi as it was not my spoken language. I used to have people laughing at me when they would hear my recorded demos. I even had to undergo counselling as I lost my confidence at one point and it really started to affect my creativity. I however stuck by my dream to sing in Hindi. So I moved on from those surroundings and surrounded myself with people who encouraged me and helped me reach out to my dreams. I remember when I started to work on my own music production, my friend told me, “Women don’t produce music.” I was so disheartened that I stopped. I started working on my Hindi accent by singing to Lata Mangeshkar’s songs every day for 10 years. I signed up for Hindi lessons too. I did whatever I could to overcome any weaknesses. Most of all I let others carry on laughing. …Any new projects in the pipeline? I have just started working on my third album. It’s going to be a totally different vibe to my first two. I am so excited to work on this as I feel it’s a reinvention of Arzutraa. I am getting new ideas every day and feel so inspired mainly by nature this time around. I feel like the third album will be more in-tune with the real me – more Bollywood inspired melodies.

Stardust - June 2021

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Sushant Singh Rajput