‘Mulk’ to release on July 27

Actors Rishi Kapoor and Taapsee Pannu starrer ‘Mulk’will release on July 27. Rishi on Monday tweeted a still from the film. He is seen standing in a courtroom, and Taapsee is sporting a lawyer’s getup.

“Courtroom drama ‘Mulk’ will get its theatrical release on July 27. A Benaras Media Works presentation,the film is directed by Anubhav Sinha, produced by Deepak Mukut and Anubhav Sinha. It is presented by Kamal Mukut,” Rishi captioned the image.

In Video: ‘Mulk’ first look: Taapsee Pannu-Rishi Kapoor fight in courtroom

Debut Dhamakas!

There was a time when Bollywood was all about the stars and superstars. Ninety per cent of all popular films featured faces that were in the news or ones that would guarantee humungous box-office openings.

That started changing a few years ago when the film industry began opening its doors to new talent. Yes, the audience still revels in well-made, big-banner, big-budget, superstar-driven films but, along with that, the industry is making way for new talent.

This year, we will see 20 new faces making their debut in Bollywood. These newcomers include a healthy mix of star kids, newbies not related to the industry, TV actors and regional actors tossing their hat into the Hindi cinema ring. This week saw the entry of Banita Sandhu in Shoojit Sircar’s October and next week will see debutant Ishaan Khatter and South actress Malavika Mohanan trying to make a good first impression with Beyond The Clouds.

Apart from these newbies, we also have Janhvi Kapoor in Dhadak, Sara Ali Khan in Simmba, Dulquer Salmaan and Mithila Palkar in Karwan, Karan Deol in Pal Pal Dil Ke Paas, Tara Suataria and Ananya Pandey in Student Of The Year 2, Aayush Sharma and Warina Hussain in Loveratri, and many others.

While newcomers infuse a breath of fresh air into our films and increase the talent pool, casting a debutant is always a risk, especially if it is a big project. This week, we asked producers, directors and writers for their opinion on this change in Bollywood.

Mukesh Bhatt, Producer

Having so many fresh faces stepping into the Hindi film industry this year is a welcome change. It is very noble on the part of filmmakers to take the decision to launch and invest in new faces for their films. Fresh faces always have a tendency to draw fresh content; it encourages the makers to explore different kinds of subjects. Though the stars have their own fan base, the audience wants to concentrate more on the value of the story or the subject.

Actors, writers, directors, singers and music directors and every other professional will benefit only when they are prepared to let fresh talent make their way into the industry. And, for its very survival, it is very important to constantly infuse an element of freshness into the industry.

Debutants do not bring the baggage of their past work and come in with a new frame of mind. Since they are at an early stage in their careers, they are enthusiastic and strive to achieve excellence through their performance. This only contributes to the films they are a part of and in turn, this benefits the industry. The audience has become more intelligent; while everybody idolises their heroes, they also balance that by looking for interesting content and fresh faces.

Apoorva Mehta, CEO, Dharma Productions

Indian cinema has grown tremendously and has introduced many fresh faces over the years. Given the number of films we make, there is a great demand for quality actors but their availability is limited. This means the supply-and-demand chain is lopsided. We, as a production house, have launched different talent in the past including a pool of directors and aim to continue doing the same.

I believe, bringing in fresh talent into the film ecosystem helps us create greater value for the film business as a whole. I wouldn’t deny the risks, such as the new actors not being received well, but there is also the possibility of creating a superstar for the industry. After the debutants prove their mettle, production houses across the country can make bigger films with these new actors.

Nitesh Tiwari, Writer-Director

There have always been avenues to tell all kinds of stories and they have opened up even more in the last few years, thanks to an overwhelming audience response to content-driven cinema. In that scenario, having more talent in the industry is very heartening. It empowers creators by giving them more options to choose from.

Dinesh Vijan, Producer-Director

I think, in the new, emerging India, the youth is one of the strongest movie-going audiences. With fresh talent coming in, you can tell a lot of stories that are relevant to the youth, stories which they connect with purely because they see themselves in those characters. Obviously, we have more actors than Hollywood does but we also make more movies; we can attempt varied stories. Today, we cannot tell unconvincing stories. All the top production houses are leading the way by launching newcomers. (Sajid) Nadiadwala launched Tiger (Shroff), Karan (Johar) launched three faces which are so relevant now. I think Gen Next is the future.

Prernaa Arora, Producer

Bollywood is going to have a pool of fresh faces and I am amazed to see so many prepped to prove their mark in the film industry. Casting is an integral part of a film and everyone wants the best actor/actress possible to be associated with their film. As a producer, I think working with new faces is always a risk because you are not really sure whether the debutant can pull off their role. But, having said that, they bring energy, freshness and newness with them and are also ready to experiment and learn in the process. In the end, it’s the script that decides who fits the role as there are a variety of characters that have different layers and shades. So, if a certain actor fits the role, even if he or she is new, then I wouldn’t mind working with them.

Anil Sharma, Producer-Director

Things are changing in the film industry. With the youth becoming the largest population, young stories are being written more and more. Also, young actors are needed for certain stories and it works in their favour as they don’t come with an image or with baggage; they bring freshness and can be moulded according to the requirements of the character.

With more than 80 films releasing every year, and big actors doing only one or two films a year, we need more actors. Actors like Varun Dhawan, Sidharth Malhotra, Alia Bhatt, Shraddha Kapoor and Tiger Shroff have created a niche for themselves and have proved their mettle at the box office. From the names that are being introduced this year, all of them look promising with each one having a very different personality. They are choosing their films carefully and I am sure people are eager to watch them. I wish all of them a great innings in the industry.

Rumi Jaffery, Writer

It is really great that our industry has become so big. It is a global industry. People are making so many kinds of films, good subjects are being written but some films don’t get made because one doesn’t get the stars’ dates. And, by the time you do, the subject is no longer interesting or viable. So, it is a good thing that so many newcomers are coming into the industry.

I have written the debut films of many actors. I wrote Suniel Shetty’s first film; in Aishwarya Rai’s first film, I wrote the dialogue. I had no idea that so many newcomers would be coming this year! It is indeed good news. Tiger Shroff made an impact with his first film Heropanti. I am looking forward to Suniel’s son Ahan, Chikki Pandey’s son Ahaan and Shahid’s brother Ishaan. I believe these boys can act well and will become stars.

For a writer, it is a challenge writing for a star as well as for a newcomer. While writing for Salman Khan or Shah Rukh Khan or Akshay Kumar, it is your responsibility to maintain the USP of the star and not disappoint their fans. With a newcomer making their debut, a writer and a director are under pressure to give a hit. You need a new story, action, romance, and all the elements that will create interest and a buzz among the audience.

 Ritesh Shah, Writer

I have already seen some of the work of these debutants and I think it is phenomenal. We need more talented young people and I hope the audience also encourages them so that we can tell more stories which reach people. Writing isn’t easy but casting a new face automatically brings believability to a character, for the audience. They think the newbie is the character. A uniquely written character would work with anyone, though – Aamir Khan as an aged, overweight ex-wrestler in Dangal and Mr Bachchan in Paa, for example.

Rajat Arora, Writer

I am so glad that we have a new India where youngsters are going above and beyond to achieve their dreams. And not only in the film industry, even at the Commonwealth Games currently underway, so many young people are doing so well and making India proud. As far as Bollywood is concerned, it is great to see these new faces provide freshness to the industry with their talent. It is amazing to see that so many avenues have opened up for new actors. Not only filmmakers but the audience too is making way for them.

Today, even the stars are trying new things, which is a boon for the film industry. It is better to write a character without a specific actor in mind, like it used to be for a star. These days, not only debutants but established stars also prefer experimenting with their roles. The industry has become big enough to accommodate all kinds of actors, established names as well as newcomers, which is a great thing.

Deepak Mukut, Producer, Soham Rockstar Entertainment

Ironically, we have only a handful of actors who are saleable and can bring in a mass crowd, and movie consumption is increasing in a phenomenal way, nowadays. Hence, we need more talent. I always welcome new talent as they come with new energy and no baggage. Of course, there is always a risk when you launch new talent but big box office hits were never made without taking risks.

Leena Yadav, Director

All new talent is welcome in the movie industry. The coming of many fresh faces gives greater variety to the narratives of the films being made and also expands the casting choices for filmmakers.

Milap Zaveri, Writer-Director

It is exciting and great that so many newcomers are making their debut in the industry this year. While we love all our established stars, we must remember that they were also new at one point. Someone spotted their talent and today they are stars. Similarly, I hope these newcomers prove to be the stars of tomorrow.

I cast Aisha (Sharma) in Satyamev Jayate because when she tested for the film, she was very confident. I thought she was a very strong actress, not just someone who looks good. And we needed someone with no image for that role. That’s why we were looking for a new girl. The fact that she is Neha’s sister was not a factor in choosing her.

I hope all these newcomers make a mark. It gives more options to filmmakers and the audiences also. Certain roles need star power to pull off. What Salman sir does in his films, a newcomer will not be able to do. He already has the love of the audience, so when he does something larger than life, they applaud and clap. Similarly, certain roles need a fresh face because you want to take people by surprise. If I cast a well-known star in a role which is supposed to shock the audience, they will probably guess that there is more to this role or character in the film.

Sometimes, the script demands a fresh face, like in a young love story, like Dhadak, a remake of Sairat, which has Janhvi and Ishaan. The actors of Sairat took us by surprise as we had never seen them before. I am sure Ishaan and Janhvi will have the same effect. In my film, I already have John Abraham and Manoj Bajpayee, who are established actors. The film is already being carried on the shoulders of John and Manoj sir, so it is easier to cast a new girl; it is not too much of a risk. Your heavy lifting is being done by established stars.

For movies like Dhadak, it is a risk; it is a remake of a Marathi blockbuster; it is from Karan Johar, who launched newcomers with great success in Student of the Year. When making a film with a star, expectations are higher and with newcomers, there are no expectations. At the end of the day, it is about a good product, with a star or with a newcomer.

Anand Tiwari, Director

Cinema is one of those fields that have constantly evolved over the years. Cinema actually mirrors and sometimes even takes culture forward. Another reason for such an influx of talent is the way content is being consumed by the youth. They are definitely the target audience for studio and independent films. The youth is leading the way in terms of the content that is made. And, when you are addressing the youth, you want to get actors, even stars, who will be relatable to them; people who will inspire them to say that I could be that person too. That is why we are seeing an influx of new faces.

Since our target audience is the youth, we are giving them new faces that they aspire to be and latch on to as their stars as opposed to faces they are familiar with. That is a paradigm shift that has been happening for a while. But, 2018 is going to be a big year for fresh faces. As a content person, as a writer-director, I believe the more we move towards content being king, which determines how many people watch our films, the better we will get as an industry. So, this move will only help content. This means, you can rely not only on the 20 faces that people will come and watch your content for, but there will be 30 or 40 or 50 faces.

The dependency on specific actors and specific stars will reduce and people will watch content for what it is. Last year, for instance, all the films that were successful weren’t star-driven. There were films that did well because of their content. So, newer faces coming in will help content creators tell their stories in a way that can quickly make those films possible. Otherwise, you wait for a specific actor to be free, and you end up waiting for two to three years. New talent is definitely a good thing for the industry.

Shareen Mantri Kedia, Producer, Namah Pictures

New talent brings new energy and new perspectives. As an industry, having fresh talent means constant churn – of capabilities, of content and of commitment. I don’t believe it is a risk as much as it is an opportunity if it is moulded and directed well. Thanks to Beyond The Clouds, the industry will have wonderful talent in Ishaan Khatter and Malavika Mohanan and they are bound to grow and soar to the skies.

Rakhee Sandilya, Director

It is difficult for outsiders to just enter the industry. But, if you are talented and you really want to do something that is a little different and interesting, there is definitely a lot of opportunities for good storytellers, actors and technicians. Our industry is huge and with the advent of digital and other platforms, there are many more stories that have developed in the last couple of years.

People are looking for actors who are talented. We do categorise some as stars but we do need actors. And as an industry, right now is the best time for everyone. Working with new actors is not a risk at all. In fact, it is brilliant. When you are working with new actors, you understand their nuances and the audience doesn’t really know them, so we discover that actor.

You try to understand that actor more than an actor you have seen and know. You know how the artiste would be when they are angry or playing a romantic role on screen. I feel it is great to work with new talent, to explore with them, because they are free-spirited. They come with freshness and they themselves don’t know what to explore.

Anil Sharma: Film industry is a rife ocean, Utkarsh has just taken a plunge into it

In an exclusive interview, director Anil Sharma opens up about his journey in Bollywood, his camaraderie with the Deols and shares strong views on nepotism

Iconic director Anil Sharma is busy with his new venture ‘Genius’ in which he is launching his son Utkarsh. Sharma who hails from a small town of Morkama in Bihar has carved out a niche in Bollywood. He started his career as an assistant to BR Chopra and made his directorial debut with the movie Shardhanjali in 1981. The movie was a commercial success and it was also critically acclaimed. Gadar Ek Prem Katha, with Sunny Deol in lead, gave him a place in the industry not many directors can boast of. In an exclusive interview with Free Press Journal Sharma talks about various milestones of his journey in the industry starting from his first movie Shardhanjali to his latest upcoming venture.

How do you see your journey of 37 years in Bollywood, and how the industry has changed over the years?

I loved my journey in Bollywood.  The industry has changed a lot. The industry in which I started my career is not the same, new people have come and altogether created a new atmosphere and dimension. Every day it is exciting, every day it is thrilling and every day I am enjoying it.

You have assisted BR Chopra in many films. How did your first film happen?

After a two-and-a-half year when I was 21, I thought I should become a director. When someone new comes to the industry he wants to make a film of his own kind. What is the use of coming in the industry if you are not allowed to work on the projects which you like? When a new person comes he brings new methods and dimension in the industry. Even I gave a thought of making such kind of movie. So I made Shardhanjali and it became a blockbuster and this is how it all started.

‘Gadar- Ek Prem Katha’ is considered as one of the finest films till now. How did it help in lifting your career?

‘Gadar – EkPrem Katha’ is amongst the top five movies of Indian cinema. Almost 15-20 crore people watched the film.  It has a footfall of more than 200 million. Even some better directors than me haven’t got the opportunity to produce a movie like Gadar. I consider myself lucky and by God’s grace, I got the opportunity to produce Gadar.

Utkarsh worked as a child artiste in ‘Gadar’ and now he is working as the main lead in Genius. How has he grown as an actor all these years?

Utkarsh was a kid during Gadar. He acted naturally in that movie. He has inborn talent in him. That time he did what I instructed him to do. After growing up he studied film production for four years from the USA. After that he has matured enough and has understood cinema and film production, but still, he is a kid. He has to learn more. Film industry is a rife ocean. He has just taken a plunge into it. Utkarsh has to travel a lot now.

Was there any kind of performance pressure on him?

I had a good experience working with him.  He is a natural actor. There was no pressure on him. He used to work only after preparing well. He always lived his character. Once you start living your character you need not do anything else.

On the sets of ‘Genius’, what were you more, a father or a director?

Of course on the sets, I am always a director. I don’t remember anything else except direction.

The film has an amalgamation of experienced and new actors…

I introduced many newcomers in my movies. Ishita is the female protagonist. Working with Mithun Da is a pleasure. He is a legend. Nawazuddin is the most natural actor of today’s time. I love working with him. Nawaz acts naturally and it has lot of impact.

You have extensively worked with the Deols. How would you describe your bond with the family?

I worked with Dharam ji in Hukumat and The Burning Train. I am a big fan of him and he is my ideal hero. Definitely, his sons are very close to me. I have an extraordinary bond with all three. I love them. They are my family and I am their family.

There was news of you working with Sunny Deol for a film…

I am still working on a script. It will take some time as I am still busy with Genius only.

Do you see a glimpse of Sunny in Utkarsh?

In childhood, Utkarsh had worked with Sunny Deol. He is very focused and inquisitive just like Sunny. I also wanted to start a movie with young actors and in that case why not Utkarsh. I thought it was the right time to launch him.

We have been hearing about nepotism in Hindi film industry for quite some time now. What is your opinion on this?

These talks are all rubbish. People who are talking about it have come from small cities and made it big in this industry. If nepotism would have been there then how come they attained stardom? Stars like Shah Rukh Khan, Akshay Kumar, Dharmendra, Amitabh Bachchan have all come from small cities and are outsiders in this industry. Kangana Ranaut has also come from a small town. I myself have come from small town. The industry has embraced all of us. It is very natural you tend to get into the profession which you have seen since childhood. Just like there is no guarantee that industrialist’s son would become a successful industrialist, similarly there is no guarantee that actor’s son will become successful. This film industry is such that only talented actors will survive.

What are your expectations from this movie? Are you nervous?

I never get nervous when I make a film. I have faith in god. If you have given your best then you need not worry about the result. Everything else should be left to god. It is my job to watch movies. Latest movies which I watched were Sonu Ke  Titu ki Sweety and Raid. I liked both the movies.

Filmmaker Anil Sharma of ‘Gadar’ Fame Hosts His Film ‘Genius’ Wrap-Up Party, Sunny Deol Introduces Lead Hero

Anil ‘Gadar’ Sharma Releases First Look of Son Utkarsh in His Debut film ‘Genius’

MUMBAI—Remember the child who played Jeetey, Sunny Deol’s son in “Gadar—Ek Prem Katha?” 17 years later, Utkarsh Sharma, who is the son of filmmaker Anil Sharma, gears up for his lead debut in “Genius,” Aug. 24.

Anil Sharma introduces Ishita from ‘Genius’

On New Year’s Day, filmmaker Anil Sharma introduced newcomer Ishita, the lead actress of his upcoming film ‘Genius’. Ishita will be starring opposite Anil’s son Utkarsh in the upcoming film. Utkarsh had featured as a child actor in the 2001 film ‘Gadar: Ek Prem Katha’.

“Introducing Ishita opposite Utkarsh in ‘Genius’. May this new year brings all the happiness and your love, affection,” Anil wrote alongside a photograph of Ishita.

Actress Ayesha Jhulka, Mithun Chakraborty and Nawazuddin Siddiqui are also a part of the movie. ‘Genius’ is reportedly said to be the story of a witty youngster whose experiments can change the way we look at science and is slated to release next year.

‘Shaadi Mein Zaroor Aana’ Review: Four Stars for This Sleeper Success and Charmer

Soham Rockstar Entertainment & Soundrya Productions present “Shaadi Mein Zaroor Aana”

Produced by: Vinod Bachchan & Deepak Mukut

Directed by: Ratnaa Sinha

Music: R.D. Burman, Kaushik-Akash-Guddu for JAM8, Arko, Raees-Zain-Saim, Anand Raaj Anand & Rashid Khan

Starring: Rajkummar Rao, Kriti Kharbanda, Govind Namdeo, K.K. Raina, Manoj Pahwa, Navni Parihar, Abhijeet Singh, Vipin Sharma, Nayani Dixit, Neha D. Bhriguvanshi, Alka Amin, Ajitesh Gupta, Neha Agarwal & others

Films that pick up on word-of-mouth from second or even subsequent weeks do keep happening now and then. In 2016, we had “Happy Bhag Jayegi” and there were many earlier examples, like “Judaai” in 1997, all the way back to the classic “Albela” in 1941.

And yet, nothing comes close to this film, now in its 4th week, which got a demand of 100 additional screens in week three! Intrigued, I went to watch it, for when it released and I was not in town, I skipped it on my return thanks to poor reviews as well as bad box-office. Its co-release, “Qarib Qarib Singlle” was mediocre, but initially did slightly better and also had better reviews, besides featuring Irrfan.

“Shaadi Mein Zaroor Aana” joins the fairly long list of Uttar Pradesh-based issue-based entertainers of a light nature that have thronged 2017 with success, like “Jolly LLB,” “Badrinath Ki Dulhania,” “Toilet: Ek Prem Katha,” “Bareilly Ki Barfi” and “Shubh Mangal Saavdhan.” It has decided but accidental similarities to “Badrinath…” as it promotes gender equality, higher education and careers for girls, and an end-climax that has a slight déjà vu (again incidental rather than deliberate) to “Bareilly…,” besides the common hero of the latter, Rajkummar Rao being cast here against the other Kriti – Kharbanda, in place of Sanon.

It is in the script, watertight and gripping that the film scores, and once word-of-mouth happens, a good film will always score – to the extent of its face value. Rao has had a prolific innings this year, and he adds to his roster with his character of Sattu aka Satyendra Mishra, a clerk in a government office whose match is arranged with Aarti Shukla (Kharbanda), the daughter of a conservative, strict but affectionate father (Govind Namdeo).

Aarti is well-educated and has secretly applied for the PCS (Provincial Civil Services) exam. She passes on the day of her wedding, but sister Abha (Nayani Dixit) has come to know that Aarti’s mother-in-law (Alka Amin) will not allow her to work after marriage. This, even when Sattu has agreed to let her do a job when they have first met. Also, Aarti’s father has agreed to a 25 lakh dowry even when he cannot afford it – the demand coming more from Sattu’s mother and maternal uncle (Vipin Sharma).

Aarti’s supportive maternal uncle (Manoj Pahwa), mother and sister back her, and she runs away, helped by Abha’s husband (Abhijeet Singh). Aarti, hopelessly in love with Sattu, wants to call him desperately to explain, but is forbidden by Abha, who fears he is too much of a momma’s son. A devastated Sattu tries to contact her and cannot. The family gives Sattu’s clan the explanation that Aarti ran away because she opposed the dowry demand.

Five years later, Aarti, as an officer in Lucknow, is accused of taking a whopping bribe of Rs. 3 crore from a builder and the man examining her case is Sattu, now an IAS (Indian Administrative Officer), a higher qualification than her. Sattu uses this to avenge his and his clan’s humiliation, though Aarti swears she is innocent. However, there is a surprise dramatic development, and Sattu acquits her as he comes to know she is innocent and has also been framed.

This is where the film begins to stretch a wee bit in its 137-minute run: Sattu still hates Aarti on the rebound, but that is because he loves her intensely. Their families, hostile after the aborted wedding, have now come together and plot to reunite the former lovebirds. This last part could have been condensed to a crisp seven or eight minutes runtime or substituted by something logical and real.

Ballu Saluja’s editing is competent, even in the last 15 minutes. Like all the U.P.-based films this year, the technical side is functional and rightly does not dominate the storytelling. Director Ratnaa Sinha ensures a watertight script (Kamal Pandey) with sparkling lines, many of which are also cute. The only (and extremely) sore point is the disappointing music, especially in the overuse of Punjabi in a completely U.P.-ian milieu. When oh when will overdose end?? Otherwise, Sinha ensures a great array of performances as well. Rajkummar Rao etches another sharp small-town character, and is far better as the initially awkward, simple and besotted-by-Aarti Sattu. As the semi-villainous IAS officer, he impresses only in a scene or two. Kriti Kharbanda is as much a delight, in a far different way, than her namesake in “Bareilly…” and especially scores in the sequence where she accosts Sattu. This is her best performance to date.

Manoj Pahwa is effortlessly brilliant as her maternal uncle, and Govind Namdeo (what a pleasant shock for us!) underplays instead of his customary hamming. Nayani Dixit as Abha is a delight and carries a lot of the scenes she has, whether with Kriti (the pre-marriage scene where Aarti gets a call from Sattu) as well as with the seniors. Neha D. Bhriguvanshi makes a quick mark with her expressive eyes as Aarti’s friend who she helps, and Alka Amin and K.K. Raina as Sattu’s parents impress too, though Navni Parihar (Aarti’s mother) has nothing much to do, and Vipin Sharma overdoes his act.

Watch this endearing film for not only its virtues but also its cute quotient. In time, it should become a winner in the home-watching list. I, for one, would not mind revisiting it.

Rating: ****

By: R.M. VIJAYAKAR

Sachindi Ra Gorre to herald new era of T’wood-B’wood joint ventures

Jointly backed by Hyderabad-based production house Entertainment Studio and Mumbai’s Soham Rockstar, the upcoming crime comedy, Sachindi Ra Gorre promises to herald a new era of content driven films in Telugu cinema. NM Pasha, founder of Entertainment Studio, (and also a partner at Matinee Entertainment which has produced films such as Kshanam and Ghazi and is currently associated with Raju Gari Gadhi 2) says, “We believe that there are many new stories to be told and many boundaries to be pushed. This partnership was born from the desire to find new ways of doing high content films which entertain and enlighten.”

Slated to release in December, Sachindi Ra Gorre, jointly produced by Deepak Mukut, NM Pasha and associate producer Aparna Kitey under Soham Rockstar Entertainment, Entertainment Studio, is currently under production. “Sachindi Ra Gorre is probably the first Telugu film with indie sensibilities. Sticking to the crime-comedy genre, the film has a soul of its own with unique characters and situations set in a grungy milieu. The Telangana dialect in the film blends with the setting and the dialogues range from hilarious to laugh-out-loud moments with absolutely no space for slapstick,” says Aparna Keitey.

By: Sridhar Adivi