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Posts tagged Ayushmann Khurrana
I can’t handle screaming and shouting-Sonam Kapoor
04 days ago
by Fenil Seta
in Interviews
We ask Sonam Kapoor who seems to be extraordinarily focussed on her new slate of films that could finally earn her the elusive actor stripes
Vickey Lalwani (MUMBAI MIRROR; May 21, 2013)
Sonam Kapoor is growing up. And the signs are all there – she is learning from her mistakes and is admitting to them. The actress, who had started off with Saawariya, has had better luck with her brand endorsements and fashion appearances than at the box office. Though she does not mind the fashionista tag which is taking her places (read Cannes, Paris), the 27-year-old claims she is serious about getting it right with her new slate of films, starting with Raanjhanaa.
“Even before Thank You, and Players hit the theatres, I realised my life was not going the way I wanted,” she says, looking mint-fresh in a blue and white denim-jacket combo. We forget it’s barely been hours after she returned from Cannes to shoot for her next with Ayushmann Khurrana. “I was working on big projects, but I wasn’t comfortable. I realised I had not earned my right to be there. I needed to be a better actor. Was I being hard on myself? Maybe, but that’s the truth,” she says with surprising candour. Apparently, that is when Sonam decided to swap big-ticket projects for scripts and directors. “There was no point no point trying to be something that I was not. I needed to switch off. I needed a break,” she says.
After Players bit the dust, Sonam decided hang her boots, temporarily. Till both Anil Kapoor and Aditya More >
My hero in Madras Café is all black with shades of grey-Shoojit Sircar
03 weeks ago
by Fenil Seta
in Interviews
Shoojit Sircar tells us why there will not be any conventional ‘herogiri’ in Madras Cafe
Soumyadipta Banerjee (MUMBAI MIRROR; May 4, 2013)
Shoojit Sircar has just finished shooting for Madras Café. When we called him on Thursday, the director, whose previous film Vicky Donor has won three National Awards this year, including one for the best popular film, was getting all suited up to attend the ceremony. After much persuasion he agreed for a short interview.
“We wrapped up shooting for Madras Café two weeks ago. But as you know, the real filmmaking process starts after this, when we sit down to edit it. Considering that we have already fixed the release date as August 30, I am racing against time,” he says.
Although Vicky Donor missed a shot at the Oscars because the producers failed to send it for nominations, Shoojit is planning to take his next film to international film festivals. “Frankly, I don’t know what kind of films work well at festivals. But I am surely going to take this film around (in festivals).” He says hoping Madras Cafe will garner favourable response from the jury members. Nargis Fakhri, who was picked over Sheetal Mallar, his original choice for the female lead, in Madras Café is hardly known for her acting skills. When asked about this curious choice, Shoojit explains: “Nargis may have faced much criticism, I always knew she would be able to deliver. You will see a completely new Nargis in this film. Not many know, but I was the first person to More >
How stars prepare for their crucial scenes before the camera
03 weeks ago
by Fenil Seta
in Bollywood News
Mehul S Thakkar (MUMBAI MIRROR; April 30, 2013)
People often lament that they don’t make them like that anymore. Well they do. The present breed of actors is showing the same kind of dedication to their craft, as the previous lot. How Aamir Khan went without a bath for two weeks to get that street-worn look for the climax of Ghulam is now part of filmlore. And Farhan Akhtar has set a new benchmark with his rigorous training sessions for Bhaag Milkha Bhaag. We look at how some of your favourite stars have their unique way of preparing for that crucial make or break scene.
SAD BUT TRUE One would not really associate the chirpy Sonam Kapoor battle with emotions that are not all bright and cheerful. But the actress, who has recently started shooting for a film with Ayushmann Khurrana, had to summon her unhappiest thoughts for a scene, and here’s how she went about it. The film opens with an intense tragic scene, and Sonam had to look her dejected worst. To get into the right frame of mind, she instructed the crew to spare her a few moments of solitude. She then put on her ear plugs, and switched on some music. The playlist, that ran for an hour or so, had melancholic tracks, and Sonam played them in a loop, till she was in command of the right emotions before the camera.
AT YOUR SERVICE Before shooting for the famous Kun Faya Kun song in Rockstar, Ranbir Kapoor and his director Imtiaz Ali stayed at the Nizamuddin Dargah in Delhi for three days. Ranbir perfomed all the daily More >
My wife is my first and last girlfriend-Ayushmann Khurrana
01 month ago
by Fenil Seta
in Interviews
Priya Gupta (BOMBAY TIMES; April 14, 2013)
Ayushmann Khurrana, 28, may not be the conventional good-looking star, but he has come a long way from being the skinny, short boy with braces from Chandigarh. His role in Vicky Donor made him a youth icon for both, his acting and singing. He is more content than ambitious and is beginning to adjust to his new 24×7 schedule. Post the release of his latest film Nautanki Saala, he speaks to Bombay Times about the predictions of his astrologer father, his girlfriend-turned-wife Tahira and why he believes his looks will improve with age. Excerpts:
Let’s talk about your childhood? I was born and brought up in Chandigarh. My dad is a well-known astrologer there and my mom had done an MA in Hindi, so I had an inclination towards Hindi. I studied in an all-boys school, St John’s Boys School, where I did English theatre. We were in a Catholic school and can you imagine we were Sikhs and Punjabis singing carols in school! My dad, P Khurana is an astrologer. He changed the spelling of my name when I was in class VI. That’s where the double ‘n’ and ‘r’ in my name come from. I again went to an all-boys college at Punjab University, where I studied English Literature and Journalism. In my first year of college, I found a theatre group with my seniors and started doing Hindi theatre. Right from the age of five, I have wanted to become an actor even though I was extremely shy initially. My dad always pushed me to be on stage. I am a laidback More >
Rufy Khan on playing Gujju dramebaaz in Nautanki Saala
01 month ago
by Fenil Seta
in Bollywood News
Parag Maniar (BOMBAY TIMES; April 12, 2013)
Actor Rufy Khan is kicked about Rohan Sippy’s Nautanki Saala that has him playing a typical Gujarati dramebaaz, who also speaks with a strong Gujju accent.
He says, “My character is called Lokesh Limaye. But when I introduce myself to Ayushmann Khurrana, I call myself Loli. My English is not up to the mark and I pronounce the words with a Gujarati accent. For instance, I pronounce cool dude as ‘kuel dueed’, chill as ‘cheel’ and gulkand as ‘gulkandh’. I even call my fiancée Nandini ‘Nalli’. She, in turn, tells me to look up the right pronunciation on the internet.” Thanks to the role, the crew members would often pull Khan’s leg. “There is a dialogue in the film, which goes, ‘Loli zara slowly’. They used to tease me with that line. For example, If I were about to step into the van, Rohan would say, ‘Loli zara slowly’. And everybody would start laughing,” he says.
Nauntaki Saala team talk about the Nautanki behind the scenes..
01 month ago
by Fenil Seta
in Bollywood News
Sneha Mahadevan (BOMBAY TIMES; April 12, 2013)
Rohan Sippy’s Nautanki Saala is a quirky comedy about two friends, Ram Parmar (Ayushmann Khurrana) and Mandar Lele (Kunaal Roy Kapur), against the backdrop of a theatre. The actors and the makers recount some real-life drama.
AYUSHMANN: The best nautanki on the set was when I was applying an ointment on Kunaal’s posterior in one of the scenes. His wife was sitting right behind the monitor, watching us. It was quite hilarious because I think I am probably the only person, apart from his wife and mother, who’s ever touched that part of his body.
KUNAAL: One night, when we were shooting at Horniman Circle, it started pouring cats and dogs. We all sat under a tent, eating dal, fish and roti. It was lovely because we were in Mumbai and eating in the middle of the road. I don’t think we will get to experience this in any other line of work.
ROHAN: Once, a political party came and smashed our cars on the set, and then realised that they were after the wrong people. That was probably the ultimate nautanki that happened with the unit.
PRODUCER BHUSHAN KUMAR: My experience with the word nautanki goes back a long way. When I was five, I got dramatic and threw a tantrum for a children’s car that was available in the market then. Finally, I compelled my parents to buy me one. It wasn’t manufactured in India, so my uncle and I flew to Hong Kong to buy it. My dad addressed me as a nautanki after this episode.”
Nautanki Saala, produced by More >
Ayushmann shoots for ice-cream ad; then opts out
01 month ago
by Fenil Seta
in Bollywood News
Ayushmann Khurrana clears the air about why his ad deal for an ice-cream brand did not work out
Asira Tarannum (MID-DAY; April 12, 2013)
Looks like one man’s loss is another man’s gain. Recently when Sidharth Malhotra’s new ice-cream ad went on air, there was buzz how the young actor had replaced Ayushmann Khurrana to bag the deal.
However, we hear that Ayushmann had initially even shot for the ad but later had to opt out after the makers wanted to re-shoot it.
A source says, “It was due to date problems that Ayushmann had to step out. He was never replaced.”
The actor and his Vicky Donor co- star Yaami Gautam initially shot for the ad in Bangkok in February. Says Ayushmann, “We both shot for the ice-cream ad but later were told the makers were not happy with the creative. They wanted us to re- shoot the ad.” According to the actor, it was only after he couldn’t readjust his dates for a reshoot that the brand roped in Sid.
Ayushmann adds, “I had already given those dates for Nupur Asthana’s film and I couldn’t re-adjust. They then went ahead and shot the ad with Siddharth.”
I haven’t thought about acting yet-Neeti Mohan
01 month ago
by Fenil Seta
in Interviews
Neeti Mohan sings, composes music, writes lyrics and has a pretty face to go with all those musical talents. For now, it’s only music on her mind
Neha Maheshwri Bhagat (BOMBAY TIMES; April 5, 2013)
A learner at heart, the young and pretty Neeti Mohan comes across as quite the humble sort. It’s been a rewarding year for her, professionally and her latest track Saadi Gali is also as relevant to her musical journey in Bollywood as her previous hits, Jiya Re and Ishq Wala Love. But this girl is no newcomer to music (she was a part of the pop band Aasma) and what most people don’t know is that apart from having a melodious and likeable voice, she also composes and writes lyrics. For this and more on the cheery, bubbly Ms Mohan, read on…
How did Saadi Gali (from Nautanki Saala) come to you? The song’s music directors, Ayushmann Khurrana and Rochak Kohli wanted a female voice. So, we met and jammed together and the song happened. It’s a great feeling to be part of a song with friends. We had a lot of fun while recording.
You guys are friends? Not many people remember this but Ayushmann was one of the top eight finalists on Popstars, back in 2003. I was one of the last four finalists who went on to become the band, Aasma. I always felt he would win the show, because he is a great performer — he writes and sings well. He felt the same about me. We have kept in touch since then. We share many common interests. He is an actor and I have done theatre in college. Though we don’t More >
Pooja Salvi-Rohan Sippy on the lengthy kiss scene in Nautanki Saala
01 month ago
by Fenil Seta
in Bollywood News
Sonali Joshi Pitale (MID-DAY; March 28, 2013)
Looks like Ayushmann Khurrana can safely take over the tag of sharing the longest on- screen kiss from Aamir Khan. The actor smooched his co- star Pooja Salvi for a full two minute.
The sequence has not been aired in the promos yet but the actress is already anxious for feedback.
“The liplock is not to raise the glamour quotient, the script demanded it. Both Ayushmann and I are introverts by nature, so it was not an easy task. Since I share most of the screen time with him, it eventually became easy to shoot the sequence,” says Pooja.
According to the director Rohan Sippy, the scene comes at a crucial part of the film. Says Rohan, “We kept that scene at the end of schedule as it was the turning point in the film. Another significant aspect is that it’s for the first time that a woman initiates the smooch in a film. I think it will serve as a good message for the men.”