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Home , Agyaat, Ankita Lokhande, Aparshakti Khurana, Ayan Mukerji, Bada Din, Basu Chatterjee

July, 2020

1986–2020

GONE Diva No 1 MADHURI TOO DIXIT–NENE SOON ZINGER A TRIBUTE TO THE ACTOR AYUSHMANN WHO’LL LIVE IN OUR KHURRANA HEARTS FOREVER AHUJA’S MARRIAGE MANTRAS

68-sushantfin-final-STAN.indd 1 26-06-2020 19:42:20 Volume 69 # July 2020 / ISSN NUMBER 0971-7277

July, 2020

1986–2020 SUSHANT SINGH RAJPUT

GONE Diva No 1 MADHURI TOO DIXIT–NENE SOON ZINGER A TRIBUTE TO THE ACTOR AYUSHMANN WHO’LL LIVE IN OUR KHURRANA HEARTS FOREVER SONAM KAPOOR AHUJA’S MARRIAGE MANTRAS

68-sushantfin-final-STAN.indd 1 26-06-2020 19:42:20 PHOTOGRAPH: SURESH NATARAJAN 22 50

Editor’s Choice The ed remembers 04 Sushant Singh Rajput Mental health needs 70 attention

56

Goodbye, 44 42 Wajid Khan Sonam Kapoor tells it Masala fix Exclusives 44 like it is The magic of Madhuri SRK on the big Farewell, Sushant 50 Dixit-Nene 08 screen soon, Bhuj: 22 Singh Rajput The Pride Of to The best of 56 on life during release on OTT, 26 Sushant Singh Rajput quarantine and more shoots His own words: Looking back with for Bigg Boss 14 30 Quotes from Sushant 60 affection at Shakeel 10 promo and more from Singh’s Rajput’s Badayuni the rumour mills… interviews Remembering Basu Your say Fashion and 34 Chatterjee lifestyle Top films of Basu Readers send in their 36 Chatterjee 66 rants Interview with stylist Farewell, lyricist ’s 18 Tanya Ghavri 40 Yogesh 68 wacky witticisms 16

Letter from the Editor A fulfilled life... Those whom the gods love, die young. Or so we tell ourselves to stave off the flood of sorrow waiting to engulf us. Sushant Singh Rajput’s untimely death came as a shock to the system. For some time, l was too numb to think, to speak. kept thinking it was a hoax. That any minute a disclaimer would appear saying that it was a goof-up. Even the gory photos of his mortal remains didn’t help. As they were too gruesome for the mind to comprehend. Slowly, as I read message after message on social media and attended call after call asking me about the incident, the news sank in. Sushant really was dead. Subconsciously, memories of our meetings began to play in the theatre of my mind. I remembered our first meeting, when he had come over to the Filmfare office. He was full of energy, excited over his first project. We chatted nineteen to the dozen about everything on earth. I realised he was vastly well- read. That his only interest wasn’t just films or acting. That he believed in a world beyond filmmaking. Not that he was disinterested in films. On the contrary, he displayed a childlike curiosity about the subject. He wanted to know everything. And pumped me for some anecdotes regarding legends. We developed a friendship of sorts over the phone and over social media. He would message me enthusiastically about the various things that were happening in life. Likewise, I was astonished to learn he had invested in a high-quality telescope. He reportedly even carted it to the outdoor shoot IN MEMORIAM of Sonchiriya as the remote area would give him better access SUDDEN to the stars. I have yet to meet an actor, who had such diverse

ENDINGSUSHANT SINGH RAJPUT WAS AN OUTSIDER WHO MADE IT BIG. interests as him. DEVESH SHARMA PROFILES THE ACTOR, WHO PASSED AWAY RECENTLY (JANUARY 21, 1986 – JUNE 14, 2020)

howbiz survives . He was a studious on dreams, and child and was, in fact, a dreamers. On national Olympiad winner He was said to be crazily excited about Chanda Mama men and women in Physics. He studied Swho come to the city with engineering at the Delhi nothing but a burning College of Engineering but desire to shine on the didn’t complete the course. big screen. Not all realise During college, he joined their dreams. But the ’s dance Door Ke, where he was to play an astronaut. It was to take class and found his calling ones who do, inspire a thousand more. Sushant as a performer. He was Singh Rajput was one considered one of the best such person, who came to students of Shiamak and and gave more was a background dancer him closer to NASA. He reportedly sponsored the trip of two than his 100 per cent to in one of the Filmfare reach the top. But after Awards. He had reminisced achieving the unattainable, about the experience in there remained a void. a Filmfare interview, “I That perhaps explains the remember watching Hrithik emotional anguish he was Roshan rehearse. He would school children to NASA to help them realise their dream. execute these perfect steps reportedly going through in the last few months of for 10 minutes and then his life. turn back and ask us if Sushant was born in he was doing alright. It Patna to Kumar was a kind of a high that That project sadly couldn’t lift off. ’s ambitious Singh, a government he had looked at you and His flm career began with employee and Usha Singh was asking your opinion. Another high was watching directed on January 21, 1986. He had four elder sisters. One perform Kai Po Che! (2013). It was of his sisters, Mitu Singh, at close quarters.” Theatre beckoned and based on ’s is a state-level cricketer. project, Paani, failed to materialise either. He took all these he joined Barry John’s novel The 3 Mistakes Of Being the youngest he was much pampered. The classes in Delhi. Doing My Life... Set against the family reportedly moved plays gave him a high. He backdrop of the riots, to Delhi after his mother’s loved enacting different death in 2002. He studied personalities in front of the the flm was a critical and audience, leading different setbacks in his stride, counting them as learning experiences. commercial success both in Patna and in

PHOTOGRAPHS: SURESH NATARAJAN There has been enough speculation about why he took his IN MEMORIAM own life. There’s no point in going there as we would never ...AND THE know. The mind is a complex thing. One doesn’t know what WORDS ECHO! triggers people to take extreme steps. I always saw him as a AS A TRIBUTE TO THE LATE SUSHANT SINGH RAJPUT, FILMFARE REPLAYS HIS QUOTES FROM EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEWS

Like a shooting star he dashed into the orbit of the earth stunning all with his brilliance. Sushant Singh Rajput was not confned to or defned by his identity as an actor. His life spread beyond sweet, positive, full of life person. Always, cheerful, always the 70mm and celebrated the mystery of life. His ‘bucket list’ had 50 dreams lined-up, which included dabbling with Quantum Physics, visiting the Moon, learning to fy a plane, train for Iron Man Triathlon, play tennis with a champ, space training at NASA and even discussing policies with the PM of India… He devoured the philosophy of Sartre and Nietzsche, wove tears into poems, strummed the guitar, was ambidextrous and could mirror write as well – a feat Leonardo da Vinci was known to possess. Perhaps, inquisitive. And that’s how I’ll remember him. unconversant with the guile of glamour, he cut short his star trek to move onto a better world. As we mourn

{ his demise, we rerun his quotes from his Filmfare interviews…

NOVEMBER 18, 2015

“As we grow we { “We crib about the start confusing discrimination we faced things. I call under the British rule. But THE FIRST we Indians are the biggest TIME I DID THEATRE “SOME SAID WOW! it analysis hypocrites in the world. The SOME SAID WHAT! by paralysis. discrimination we show WAS IN COLLEGE. towards our fellow Indians I REALISED WHEN WE PUT We analyse is something else.” OURSELVES IN THIS too much HOW POWERFUL SITUATION WHERE WE and paralyse THIS FORM OF CAN GENERATE THIS ourselves. He (Mahendra COMMUNICATION Singh Dhoni) likes COULD BE. AT 18, KIND OF POLARISED We worry too winning; it doesn’t WE ARE FEELING, WE EVOLVE much about the mean that he’s I COULD MAKE A CONDITIONED AS ARTISTES.” fate of the film.” obsessed with it. CROWD OF 500 ABOUT CONCEPTS Even if he has a STRANGERS LAUGH OF RIGHT AND “If you draw the line match two days AND CRY. THAT WRONG. ACTUALLY, between what people “I've also learnt down the line, he’ll WAS A LIBERATING THERE’S NOTHING that one should be at ease chatting want and what you want FEELING. BUT RIGHT OR WRONG. to do, then nothing can not dwell in the with you. He lives in past or in the the now. And more STILL, I CANNOT OUR DEFINITION OF stop you.” future. The now is than being a good COMMUNICATE MORALITY HAS BEEN what matters.” cricketer he’s a good WITH PEOPLE I'M CREATED OVER THE human being.” NOT COMFORTABLE YEARS TO CREATE A WITH.” BALANCE IN SOCIETY. WE BELIEVE WHAT For more on tinseltown’s news and updates WE WANT TO BELIEVE ABOUT OURSELVES find me on Twitter @jiteshpillaai AND OTHERS.” PHOTOGRAPHS: ROHAN SHRESTHA Chief Executive Officer Deepak Lamba SUBSCRIPTIONS MANAGER, MARKETING Chief Community Officer & Editor Jitesh Pillaai Asha Kulkarni [email protected] Executive Editor Anuradha Choudhary TIMESGROUP (RMD) Managing Editors Farhana Farook ASSOCIATE GENERAL MANAGER Devesh Sharma Suparna Sheth [email protected] Senior Assistant Editor & Digital Editor Rahul Gangwani TO SUBSCRIBE Senior Assistant Editors Ashwini Deshmukh Online: mags.timesgroup.com Raghuvendra Singh SMS: FFSUB to 58888 Junior Assistant Editor Suman Sharma Mail: [email protected] Call: 18001210005 Content Strategist Poonam Jain (All India toll Free Number)

Deputy Production Manager Ashwini S Pote BRAND SOLUTIONS BUSINESS DIRECTOR Senior Creative Director Meetesh Taneja Sunil Wuthoo

Design Director Sujitha Pai WEST VICE PRESIDENT & BUSINESS HEAD-FEMINA Associate Art Director Nikesh Gopale SALON & SPA Gautam Chopra Assistant Art Director Sanjay Kanavje [email protected] Chief Marketing Manager Manvi Sehgal MUMBAI ASSISTANT VICE PRESIDENT Senior Marketing Manager Sabina Gomes Reena C Dave [email protected] Brand Manager Faarah Sarkari Leena Bhandari [email protected] Chief Financial Officer S.Subramaniam Sriram Krishnan [email protected] Head-Human Resources Meghna Puthawala PUNE Ekta Dang Head-Experiential Marketing Aakash Mishra [email protected] Vidyut Patra Content Studio Vice President Kamal Rajput [email protected] Publisher Joji Varghese NORTH Head Digital Revenue and Marketing Priyadarshi Banerjee VICE PRESIDENT & SALES HEAD - LONG FORM CONTENT Anjali Rathor [email protected] DELHI NCR Sachin Saxena [email protected] JAIPUR RNI No. 1619/1957. Price Rs 60. Printed and published by Joji Varghese for and on behalf Pushpesh Sood [email protected] of owners Worldwide Media Pvt. Ltd, (CIN: U22120MH2003PTC142239), Building, Dr D N Road, Fort, Mumbai 400 001 and printed at Rajhans Enterprises No: 134, SOUTH 4th Main Road, Industrial Town, Rajajinagar, 560044, India. VP-SOUTH & BUSINESS HEAD-FEMINA TAMIL Processed by BCCL Production Prepress and published at Worldwide Media Pvt. Ltd, Pravin Menon The Times of India Building, Dr D N Road, Fort, Mumbai 400 001. Editor: Jitesh Pillaai [email protected] Filmfare takes no responsibility for unsolicited photographs or material ON Rajesh ALL PHOTOGRAPHS, UNLESS OTHERWISE INDICATED, ARE USED FOR ILLUSTRATIVE PURPOSES ONLY [email protected] HYDERABAD THE NATIONAL/REGIONAL EDITION OF FILMFARE IS NOT FOR SALE OUTSIDE INDIA Sen Thomas [email protected] DISCLAIMER FOR PROTECTION OF PRIVACY AND INFORMATION EAST Any information received by us through responses by Users/ Subscribers to the Short Messaging Services (SMS) Key Codes or such other subscription service of ours will be used in whole or part, in our publications (other than contact information), for our research, individual marketing, strategic client analysis and for other internal purposes and all ASSISTANT VICE PRESIDENT copyrights in such information will vest with us. Your contact information shall not be sold, traded, rented or in any Alka Kakar way divulged to anythird party unless we are legally bound to do the same. [email protected] DOWNLOAD YOUR FAVOURITE MAGAZINES FOR FREE!

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GOOD DESIGN CHANGES EVERYTHING A Times of India Publication @goodhomesmagazine NO 2 VOLUME 13 ISSUE 03 JUNE 2020 @goodhomesmagazineindia @goodhomesindia

VOLUME 8 WE WELCOME The Designers' THE NEW BREED A Times of India publication Europe’s No. 1 Style Magazine OF URBAN State of MindNORWAY l NEW BOOKS l PUDUCHERRY l CHITRADURGA NATURALISTS A TIMES OF INDIA PUBLICATION EVOCATIVE 13HOMES ANAND MENON Garima Singh IN SYNC WITH ANNKUR KHOSLA Tejas Sidnal APARNA KAUSHIK THEIR NATURAL Easy Chic Shashank Gautam HABITATS IRAM SULTAN Vaishali Shadangule MANGESH LUNGARE ZARIR MULLAN DECOR FIXES JUNE 2020 Future-ready INDIA TO MAKE products and Volume 13 Issue 4 MEALTIMES street art in July 2020 MORE times of Covid JUNE, 2020 60 A Times of India publication ENTICING July, 2020 INSPIRATION Support HAS NO Advocate EXPIRY DATE! Collaborate Pure THE INDIA CHECK DESIGN FUND OUT Escapism MONEY & OUR Design Therapy RECOMMENDATIONS THE MILLENNIAL FOR GUILT-FREE Aesthetic Durability ed to know a Dream now, travel later! ne bou Your Guide To The UnstoppableSHOPPING New Virtuality ou t INSIDE Raising y 1986–2020 g PRESENTS IN THIS ISSUE: Save Smart in OUT the bar Before and After h YOUR HAPPY PLACES! MILIND t Pay closer y SUSHANT r #LPMIMadeWithYou JACQUELINE MAKE THE SHIFT NOW! Covid-19 e attention to v E DESIGN SINGH SOMAN Eco-conscious is the new way to be with BIENNALE those skincare FERNANDEZ On Fearlessness, INDIA’S FIRST CURATED RAJPUT SUSTAINABLE SOLUTIONS FOR CITY HOMES VIRTUAL ART AND DESIGN FESTIVAL ingredients

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Fitness and

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On Fearlessness,

MANGESH LUNGARE

BREATHE OUT

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DECISIVENESS,

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A Times of India publication JUNE, 2020 60 BEBO’S BACK SRK’s big screen Khan has been the muse of the paparazzi – given her gym trips, red-carpet treks or surprise pg 08 even her downtime with baby Taimur Ali Khan. But Ajay Devgn’s Bhuj to due to the lockdown, her fans missed seeing the release on OTT pg 12 Queen Bee in her everyday glory. So when Unlock 1.0 unfolded, Bebo went for a jog in , giving the PHOTOGRAPH: YOGEN SHAH paparazzi a literal ‘run for their money’… MASALA FIX Rumours&More CHIRANJEEVI SARJA WILL BE MISSED star Chiranjeevi Sarja’s untimely demise left his fans and friends in shock. The star suffered a massive heart attack. He’s survived by wife Meghana Raj, who’s three months pregnant. Close friend/ actor Prajwal Devaraj shared a WhatsApp conversation with him, which revealed his unfulflled desire. The screenshot shows Chiranjeevi planning his next trip out with friends. His message read, “We don’t know what’s in store for us tom...” Our deepest condolences for his family and loved ones. Akshay to begin shooting As the government has granted permission to start shooting, will resume flming SRK’S BIG SCREEN his two biggies, Prithviraj and Bell Bottom. The sets of YRF’s ambitious RETURN Prithviraj were dismantled during Shah Rukh Khan’s fans can rejoice. Sources suggest that SRK is the lockdown. Now a similar set will all set to return to the big screen. He reportedly has special roles be built indoors. They hope to wrap in R. Madhavan’s directorial debut Rocketry: The Nambi Effect up the flm by July. Akshay plans and Ayan Mukerji’s fantasy adventure Brahmastra, which stars to begin flming Nikkhil Advani’s , and . In Rocketry, Bell Bottom in August in London. SRK reportedly plays a journalist, who interviews scientist Nambi They’re awaiting a clearance on the Narayanan and takes us through the protagonist’s journey. Rocketry travel. Bell Bottom is inspired by is based on the life of Padma Bhushan recipient ISRO true events and is touted to be an scientist and aerospace engineer Nambi Narayanan. espionage thriller. Recently, the superstar produced the espionage drama Bard Of Blood and the horror series Betaal for the OTT platform. A SPECIAL DANCE NUMBER FOR SAIF ALI MEANWHILE... KHAN- STARRER, BUNTY AUR In an old interview, Shah Rukh Khan reportedly had said BABLI 2, WILL BE SHOT his son AbRam Khan and Aaradhya Bachchan could IN THE YRF PREMISES replicate his iconic pairing with in future. When asked about it recently, Amitabh Bachchan, happy WITH MINIMAL CREW. with the idea reportedly reacted saying, “Unke mooh THE FILM’S DIRECTED mein ghee shakkar aur doodh malai...” BY VARUN. V. SHARMA

MASALA FIX

quoted saying, “I will not go out SALMAN PROTECTIVE DAD SHAKTI for work, nor will I allow Shraddha He may have played a cold-blooded to resume work. The threat hasn’t GEARS UP FOR villain on screen. But in real-life gone. The worst is yet to come… ’s a soft-hearted and It’s better to wait than pay hospital BIGG BOSS 14 caring dad. He’s particular about bills.” Shraddha was last seen in Sources reveal that just as Amitabh adhering to the lockdown rules and 3, co-starring . Bachchan shot a video for KBC’s not stepping out for work. He won’t She will now reportedly star with upcoming season from home, allow his star daughter, Shraddha Ranbir Kapoor in Luv Ranjan’s Salman Khan might shoot the Bigg Kapoor, to do so either. Shakti was upcoming flm. Boss 14 (BB14) announcement from his Panvel farmhouse. Apparently, Bigg Boss 14 will premiere in October. Sources add Mahesh Babu teams up that Salman has asked the makers to add ‘social distancing’ as a key with Kiara feature of this season. Zaan Khan Mahesh Babu’s next project, the of Hamari Bahu Silk, Shubhangi Parasuram directorial flm, Sarakaru Vaari Atre of Bhabiji Ghar Par Hain Paata, may see him with Kiara Advani. and Tujhse Hai Raabta and actor The actress had made her Telugu debut Shagun Pandey have reportedly opposite Mahesh Babu in the political been approached for this season. drama Bharat Ane Nenu in 2018. Given Kiara’s pan-India appeal, the makers believe this is a good choice. Sarakaru Vaari Paata is expected to go on the foors as soon as the lockdown is lifted. This flm is an action drama and revolves around a banking scam. ALIA’S SWEET GESTURE SINGER MONALI In an admirable act of affection, Alia Bhatt and her THAKUR RECENTLY sister Shaheen Bhatt, surprised their house help, REVEALED THAT Rashida, with a birthday celebration during the SHE HAD TIED THE lockdown. Rashida shared a video on Instagram in KNOT WITH SWISS which the actress was seen cutting the cake with RESTAURATEUR MAIK her and called it her ‘dream birthday’. Alia desisted from having a piece as she was on a ‘diet’. But the RICHTER THREE YEARS sweetness she spread by her thoughtful gesture is BACK. SHE MANAGED immense. TO KEEP IT A SECRET FOR A LONG TIME. A COUPLE OF TIMES WHEN HER RING WAS VISIBLE IN HER INSTAGRAM PHOTOS, FANS AND FRIENDS HAD ASKED WHETHER IT WAS HER WEDDING RING. NOW THEY KNOW… PRESENTS

DESIGN BIENNALE JAIPUR EDITION CURATED BY SHANTANU GARG

TO PARTICIPATE, COLLABORATE AND KNOW MORE...

DM US OR WRITE TO US AT [email protected] MASALA FIX RANVEER’S Ajay Devgn’s Bhuj on OTT Given the lockdown and the A’90S KID theatres being shut, many says he’s a kid flmmakers are opting to of the ’90s. And that he’s been release their flms on the digital shaped by the movies, music, pop platform. But Ajay Devgn’s fans culture and fashion of that era. believe his much-awaited flm, While kids played outdoors, he was Bhuj: The Pride Of India, should stuck to the ‘idiot box’ watching release on the big screen. They shows like Zabaan Sambhalke, made the slogan ‘Boycott Bhuj Dekh Bhai Dekh and Chhaya on OTT’ trend on Twitter. Given Geet and re-runs of Ramayan and the patriotic theme, they even Mahabharat. Ranveer’s awaiting the want it to be tax-free. However, release of his flm 83. The sports the flm has been reportedly drama narrates the story of India’s sold for a digital release for a frst-ever World Cup victory AFTER whopping 180 crores. Abhishek in 1983. Directed by Kabir Khan, AND THE UPCOMING Dudhaiya’s flm based on the flm has him essaying ex-Indian FILM JERSEY, SHAHID the 1971 Indo-Pak war, also captain . KAPOOR MAY DO THE features , Nora REMAKE OF Fatehi and . SOORARAI POTTRU, A TAMIL FILM. TO BE PRODUCED BY GUNEET MONGA, IT’S ABOUT COVID – 19 IN COOLIE NO 1? THE PIONEER OF Will ’s Coolie No 1 talk LOW-COST AVIATION IN about the COVID-19 pandemic? The INDIA, GR GOPINATH. question started doing the rounds when the actor shared a poster of his forthcoming movie, where he could be seen wearing a mask. It’s not clear if he Priyanka’s used the poster to spread awareness or the comedy will be tweaked to bedroom include a reference to the pandemic. Directed by , Coolie No secret 1, is a remake of the -Karisma Kapoor 1995 original. In the remake, Jonas and Nick Varun and Sara Ali Khan reprise the Jonas, are making lead roles. The flm was slated to hit the the most of their theatres on May 1 but the lockdown together time during staggered the plan. the lockdown in Los Angeles. Recently, MEANWHILE... Priyanka revealed a bedroom secret. Varun Dhawan took to She said that hubby social media to share Nick enjoys looking at a glimpse of mother her face after she has Karuna (Lali) Dhawan’s just woken up. When midnight birthday she says she’ll freshen celebrations at their home up and apply some amidst the lockdown. In the mascara and moisturiser video, dad David Dhawan and he doesn’t allow her mom Karuna can be seen cutting to do that. He simply the cake. “Happy birthday ma. loves her sleepy face. Praying for happiness for all,” Well, dreams are made Varun captioned the video. of this. MALAIKA’S BUILDING SEALED What gives ’s plush building in Bandra has been sealed after one Janhvi ‘khushi’ of her neighbours tested positive recently revealed for COVID-19. It’s now turned into what gives her ‘khushi’ during a containment zone. Her building lockdown. While she enjoys has been sterilised. But all the making sugar-free Nutella, sister residents have been placed under Khushi Kapoor disapproves of the mandatory quarantine. Earlier desserts she prepares. However, and Vicky annoying Khushi, is the ultimate joy Kaushal’s buildings were marked these days for Janhvi. The doting as quarantine zones due to sister also revealed that their fun coronavirus cases as were Karan skirmishes aside, she ‘worships’ Johar and Janhvi Kapoor’s homes. her younger sibling. Janhvi will now be seen in the biopic titled Gunjan Saxena: The Kargil Girl. To ARJUN’S MAD be released on the OTT platform, ABOUT MATRIX it’s the story of the frst woman While is mad about Indian Air Force offcer to enter the ladylove Malaika Arora, he’s as war zone. Gunjan Saxena few a crazy about the American science Cheetah helicopter in the Kargil war fction action series Matrix. Now and helped rescue several soldiers. that Matrix 4 has been announced, he’s super excited about it. The flm, which will reprise Keanu Reeves in his iconic role as Neo, is set to release on May 21, 2021. Taking to his Instagram story, Arjun Kapoor wrote, “This one is going to be a cracker.” He also added #ArjunReccommends on the side of the picture. We get you Arjun. RANBIR-SANJAY TO SHOOT SHAMSHERA Ranbir Kapoor and Sanjay Dutt have teamed up for ’ Shamshera. The flm also stars . The shooting of the flm is mostly complete. Director Karan Malhotra and his team utilised the stay-at- home period by beginning the post-production work. Producer and Karan have decided to flm the remaining portions at YRF Studios with limited crew, keeping the safety precautions in mind.

SUSHMITA SEN AND MODEL BOYFRIEND, ROHMAN SHAWL, OWE THEIR LOVE STORY TO SOCIAL MEDIA. THE EX-BEAUTY QUEEN RECENTLY REVEALED THAT THEY CONNECTED ON INSTAGRAM DMS WHEN SHE ACCIDENTALLY HAPPENED TO OPEN HIS CHAT. THOUGH AGE IS IRRELEVANT IN LOVE, THE TWO HAVE A 15-YEAR AGE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THEM. SUSHMITA IS 44 TO HIS 29. KAT’S BEAUTIFUL HEART has pledged support for daily wage workers through her brand SHAHID REACHES - Kay Beauty. She wrote on Instagram, OUT TO DANCERS “We have lent our support to the In keeping with the spirit of daily-wage earning families living in compassion amidst the lockdown, the villages around the Bhandara around 20 dancers from district in , with food and choreographer Ahmed Khan’s basic sanitary materials.” She even team and 20 dancers from urged her fans to contribute towards choreographer Bosco’s team are the cause. She mentioned that she being helped by . SAVIOUR SONU has been inspired by colleague The actor has transferred money to As we know, is on a mission to help displaced Indians reach their Salman Khan, who does exhaustive the bank accounts of the dancers homes during the lockdown. The actor has helped transport migrants via bus, social work. with whom he’s worked in the past. train and air services. Sonu has also been distributing meals to underprivileged For the uninitiated, Shahid was part families across Mumbai. The actor recently launched his helpline number of Shiamak Davar’s dance group through which he can be contacted. Sonu has pledged to help until every single before he joined flms. He also individual gets reunited with his loved ones. What started as an initiative of featured as a background dancer in sending migrants to their homes, beginning from 200 people from Mumbai, has ’s Taal. now turned into a nationwide initiative #GharBhejo.

BIG B ORGANISES FLIGHTS FOR MIGRANTS In a bid to help stranded migrants reach their villages, Amitabh Bachchan arranged for four special fights to send about 700 people to their homes in . Sources close to Bachchan said he wanted to book a train for the migrants but the logistics did not work out. The Big B didn’t want to disappoint the migrants. Hence, he reportedly arranged for the fights that took off from Mumbai for Allahabad, Gorakhpur and . He also arranged 10 buses for several migrants to reach their villages in , Allahabad, Bhadohi and other places in Uttar Pradesh.

LATEST REPORTS SUGGEST THAT AMITABH BACHCHAN HAS BEEN APPROACHED BY GOOGLE MAPS TO LEND HIS VOICE TO NAVIGATE THE PUBLIC. CURRENTLY, NEW YORK-BASED ENTERTAINER KAREN JACOBSEN’S VOICE IS USED FOR NAVIGATION. APPARENTLY, THE BIG B HAS BEEN APPROACHED FOR THE SAME. WAITING FOR AN OFFICIAL CONFIRMATION

TIGER WISHES RAKUL TRAVELS IN PPE GEAR LADYLOVE Actor took turned a year older a fight to Delhi wearing the full in June. While there were wishes Personal Protective Equipment galore from fans and friends, the (PPE) gear. The De De Pyaar De one that grabbed attention was the actor took to Instagram and shared NAOMI post shared by Disha’s rumoured boyfriend Tiger Shroff. Tiger shared MISTAKEN a throwback video and wished FOR DEEPIKA his ‘’. Disha can be seen Naomi Scott, who played the role faunting her moves to the music of Princess Jasmine in Disney’s being played in the background. “3 2019 flm Aladdin, was in the waffes and 3 pancakes later… happy news recently. In her interview to a birthday rockstar @dishapatani,” channel she shared that a member wrote Tiger. His mother Ayesha Shroff of her flm’s crew once thought also took to her social media handle that she’d starred in the Ram-Leela to wish ‘Deeeeeshu!’ Disha shares a song baje, close bond with Tiger’s sister Krishna which features . Shroff too. She’s reportedly staying Naomi loves the track and was with Tiger and his family during the playing it on the set. Naomi said lockdown. Disha will next be seen in she was fattered to be mistaken 2 with . with someone as ‘beautiful’ as Deepika. In fact, the vibe of Aladdin, she shared, was inspired by the favours of . TAAPSEE’S POIGNANT POEM has always been pictures of herself from the airport socially aware and vocal about issues wearing masks, gloves and shoe that plague the underprivileged. The cover as a precautionary measure Thappad actor recently narrated a against COVID-19. The actor posted heart-wrenching poem on migrants, another video from the fight, titled Pravasi (migrants), on social wearing a face shield and said she media. The poem begins and ends felt like she was ‘going to space’. with the same question: Hum to bas Rakul’s upcoming movies include pravaasi hain, kya iss desh ke vaasi Attack, co-starring John Abraham hain? It was accompanied by a series and and a of images - visuals of migrant workers family dramedy with Arjun Kapoor. walking, cycling… for thousands of kilometres. She added that the images would ‘never leave our minds’. In April, Taapsee had also featured in a morale- boosting video titled Muskurayega India, which encouraged people to support each other during the coronavirus crisis.

DAYS AFTER A PREGNANT ELEPHANT DIED OF EATING CRACKER-STUFFED PINEAPPLE, ACTOR STARTED A DIGITAL CAMPAIGN #JUSTICEFORANIMALS, DEMANDING AMENDMENT OF THE PREVENTION OF CRUELTY TO ANIMALS ACT, 1960, TO METE OUT STRICTER PUNISHMENTS FOR OFFENDERS. They are hot, they are cool. Meet our trend makers and breakers

Alaya Furniturewala

Ananya Panday DRAPE DIVA “Understand your body type frst. Educate yourself on that frst and foremost. If you have an hour-glass body, enjoy your curves and own them. If you’re someone with a small waist Stylist always accentuate that. Be Tanvya Ghavri proud of the tiny waist and the curvy top and bottom. I love an hour-glass body. Look at Marilyn Monroe for some style inspiration, if you will.”

Tanya Ghavri on how style is as much about trends as about Kareena self-love… Kapoor Khan Katrina Kaif

Sonam Kapoor Ahuja

Malaika Arora INTERVIEW ‘‘ENJOY YOUR CURVES’’ From Kareena Kapoor Khan to Freida Pinto, stylist Tanya Ghavri has a cross-continent presence. Analita Seth converses with the fashion royalty Daughter of former Indian cricketer, Karsan Ghavri, Tanya Ghavri’s scoring in another feld – style and glamour. After a stint at the Parsons School of Design in New York in 2003, she began her on-the-job training, assisting stylist Pernia Qureshi on the hi-glam flm Aisha (2009). Even as she continues styling for flms, she’s a personal stylist for several celebrities including Sonam Kapoor Ahuja, Kareena Kapoor Khan, , Katrina Kaif and Freida Pinto. To their stunning silhouettes, Tanya adds her style. To their beauty, she lends soul. The co-founder of The Dhoom Dhaam Weddings, a fashion event company, for Tanya creating drama out of drapes is a 24-hour job… Excerpts Kareena WHEN DID YOU REALISE YOU WANTED Kapoor Khan TO GET INTO THE FASHION BUSINESS? I went to study at Parsons ALL-SEASON School of Design in New York WARDROBE when I was 17. A year into ESSENTIALS the course, I realised that the fashion industry is where I belong. I was passionate about  learning more about it and 5Nude shoes working in this industry.  A great LBD Katrina HOW HAS IT BEEN SO FAR?  Kaif It’s been an exciting, enriching A pair of Spanx and a huge learning curve for  me. I’ve met amazing teachers Boyfriend and people along the way. I’ve  travelled the world intensely, Black or thanks to my work. I’m glad tan blazer I’ve found my calling so early in life. I’m excited about what I want to accomplish ‘‘You can create a story and a specifc mood in the future, personally and in editorial styling. It’s like a dream or a professionally. make-believe world. What you are creating is HOW DIFFERENT IS EDITORIAL STYLING imaginary. But for red carpets and promotions, Malaika Arora FROM RED CARPET AND PARTY ATTIRE? you have to stay true to the celebrity’’ It’s as different as a gown from a short dress. Editorial styling has Runway styling is always an hourglass body, enjoy your a completely different language, outrageous in terms of curves and own them. If you’re location and concept when accessories - be it headgears, someone with a small waist compared to styling for red shoes, collars, bags and always accentuate that. Be carpets and promotions. You jewellery. But I’d love the idea proud of the tiny waist and can create a story and a specific of using outrageous collars the curvy top and bottom. mood in editorial styling. It’s in an everyday look. Maybe, I love an hourglass body. Look Janhvi Kapoor like a dream or a make-believe I’d keep the rest of the look at Marilyn Monroe for some world. What you are creating is simple and let the collar do style inspiration, if you will. imaginary. But for red carpets all the talking. It would be the A pear-shaped body is one that and promotions, you have to statement piece in my look. is big at the bottom, which is stay true to the celebrity you’re like a lot of Indian women. So styling for. SHARE SOME STYLE HACKS TO FLATTER accentuate the top half of your DIFFERENT BODY TYPES… body with wide necks and WHICH OUTRAGEOUS RUNWAY LOOK Understand your body type beautiful blouses. Maybe, even WOULD YOU LIKE TO INCORPORATE IN first. Educate yourself on that with a plunging neckline. Don’t EVERYDAY WEAR? first and foremost. If you have experiment too much with the INTERVIEW

STYLE HACKS A CELEBRITY EASIEST TO WORK WITH… PICKED UP Kareena Kapoor Khan. ON THE JOB  THE MOST EXPERIMENTAL CELEBRITY… Silicon stick- Sonam Kapoor. ies or stick on TRENDS YOU LOVE TO WORK WITH bras are life- saviours. It can As a stylist, I’m always dabbling help you wear in trends but one that I truly anything you love is the androgynous. want.  TRENDS YOU DON’T LIKE… Heel support Dungarees. I’ll always avoid cushions can them no matter what. get you through any party or HOW OFTEN DO YOU USE YOUR shoot. PERSONAL STYLE WHILE PUTTING  TOGETHER A LOOK FOR SOMEONE? A white shirt It’s always part of all my looks can be worn in in some way or the other. innumerable ways. PICK A LOOK DONE BY SOME OTHER  STYLIST, WHICH YOU LIKE... Match vintage God that’s such a tough one. jewels from It would be the looks styled your mother or by Elizabeth Stewart over the grandmother’s years. So many iconic looks, collection with especially those done on Cate the trendiest Blanchett at the Oscars and the look. Cannes Film Festival. ‘‘I’d love the idea of using SOME FAVOURITE LOOKS FROM YOUR STYLE FILES… outrageous collars in an It would be Kareena Kapoor everyday look. Maybe, Khan at a media event when I’d keep the rest of the I styled her in a Dev R Nil saree look simple and let the with a Christian Lacroix vintage jacket and Amrapali silver collar do all the talking. neckpiece. Also, the two times It would be the statement I styled Freida Pinto for the piece in my look’’ Vanity Fair post-Oscar party. And Katrina Kaif in theJean bottom half. Do not wear light Paul Gaultier gown for Filmfare colours at the bottom. Always Glamour & Style Award, which stick with darker tones. Tara Sutaria she wore for an award function. A straight body, which most teenage girls have, is one that Kareena Kapoor A LOOK THAT YOU REGRET DOING… has no curves. It’s more athletic Khan in Dev R Nil A long time ago when I first or just rectangular. It’s then styled Parineeti Chopra, I guess important to enjoy prints and I didn’t do justice to her. I do stripes. They make you look regret that look. fuller. So learn to experiment and don’t be afraid to try trends. IF YOU WERE TO STYLE A GLOBAL Last but not the least is the CELEBRITY, DEAD OR ALIVE, WHO apple-shaped body. For them WOULD IT BE? polo or high necks is a big no- Freida Jennifer Lawrence, Julia Roberts Pinto at no. Also, big prints on top will Katrina Kaif in Vanity Fair and Olivia Palermo and the late only make you look bigger. Jean Paul Gaultier party Audrey Hepburn. n what’s on their mind?

A STAR FOREVER

Acting was just one facet of his vibrant personality. Sushant Singh Rajput’s obsessions went beyond the arc-lights. A National Physics Olympiad winner and seventh rank holder in the All India Engineering Entrance Examination (AIEEE), Sushant loved to track the twinkling galaxies above. While the world slept, he partied with the ‘real’ stars, watching their shenanigans through his top-of-the-line telescope. While mortals crave for a place under the sun, the space enthusiast had reportedly even bought a piece of land on the moon in the Sea of Muscovy. Perhaps, he was preparing for a rendezvous with the stars. His passing away on 14 June, marked that transition. A celestial homecoming for the avid star gazer.

Filmfare pays a heartfelt tribute to the talented actor… PHOTOGRAPH: SURESH NATARAJAN IN MEMORIAM

PHOTOGRAPHS: SURESH NATARAJAN SUDDEN

ENDINGSUSHANT SINGH RAJPUT WAS AN OUTSIDER WHO MADE IT BIG. DEVESH SHARMA PROFILES THE ACTOR, WHO PASSED AWAY RECENTLY (JANUARY 21, 1986 – JUNE 14, 2020)

howbiz survives Delhi. He was a studious on dreams, and child and was, in fact, a dreamers. On national Olympiad winner men and women in Physics. He studied whoS come to the city with engineering at the Delhi nothing but a burning College of Engineering but desire to shine on the didn’t complete the course. big screen. Not all realise During college, he joined their dreams. But the Shiamak Davar’s dance ones who do, inspire a class and found his calling thousand more. Sushant as a performer. He was Singh Rajput was one considered one of the best such person, who came to students of Shiamak and Mumbai and gave more was a background dancer than his 100 per cent to in one of the Filmfare reach the top. But after Awards. He had reminisced achieving the unattainable, about the experience in there remained a void. a Filmfare interview, “I That perhaps explains the remember watching Hrithik emotional anguish he was Roshan rehearse. He would reportedly going through execute these perfect steps in the last few months of for 10 minutes and then his life. turn back and ask us if Sushant was born in he was doing alright. It Patna to Krishna Kumar was a kind of a high that His flm career began with Singh, a government he had looked at you and employee and Usha Singh was asking your opinion. Abhishek Kapoor directed on January 21, 1986. He Another high was watching Kai Po Che! (2013). It was had four elder sisters. One Shah Rukh Khan perform based on Chetan Bhagat’s of his sisters, Mitu Singh, at close quarters.” is a state-level cricketer. Theatre beckoned and novel The 3 Mistakes Of Being the youngest he he joined Barry John’s My Life... Set against the was much pampered. The classes in Delhi. Doing backdrop of the Gujarat riots, family reportedly moved plays gave him a high. He to Delhi after his mother’s loved enacting different the flm was a critical and death in 2002. He studied personalities in front of the commercial success both in Patna and in audience, leading different IN MEMORIAM lives. He joined Babbar’s troupe Ekjute when he came to Mumbai and loved doing theatre in the city as well. He broke into the ad-circuit and began doing commercials. Soon, he was getting TV offers. His first stint came with Balaji’s Kis Desh Mein Hai Meraa Dil. His popularity in the show, won him a lead role in Balaji’s in 2009. The show became a gamechanger of sorts. Ankita Lokhande’s and Balaji’s Pavitra his popularity knew no Rishta in 2009 bounds. The two leads of became a the show were said to be in a relationship from 2010 gamechanger. onwards. It kept strong Ankita Lokhande even when he left the show in 2011 to pursue a career and Sushant’s in films. Their break-up popularity knew was reported by the papers no bounds. The in 2016. This is what he said about his break-up two leads of in one of his interviews the show were to Filmfare, “Everything said to be in a you know changes one morning… two people who relationship from are close sometimes grow 2010 onwards apart. It’s sad but there’s nothing you can do about it...” He was later linked to and was currently said to be dating Rhea Chakraborty.

e also participated in the dance reality show Zara Nachke Dikha 2 inH 2010. He was extremely The 3 Mistakes Of My success. Shuddh Desi (2014), where he played a close to his mother, who Life. It had Sushant play Romance, which came young Pakistani national in had passed away in 2002. a cricket crazy youngster, the same year, had love with Indian culture. His team dedicated their who along with his friends, Sushant in a different The role, though short, performance to his mother played by Amit Sadh and avatar. He played a young won him notice by the in the Mother’s Day Special Rajkummar Rao, opens a commitment-phobic man critics. Dibakar Banerjee’s show. He also appeared in sports goods shop and a caught between two lovers, wartime thriller, Detective another dance reality show, cricket academy. He goes played by Parineeti Chopra Bakshy! 4. on to mentor a young and Vaani Kapoor. His (2015), had him play His film career began Muslim cricketer. The natural ease in front of the one of India’s well-loved with Abhishek Kapoor film was set against the camera was noted by the fictional detectives. It directed Kai Po Che! backdrop of the Gujarat audience. He got a chance was a period film praised (2013). The film was based riots and proved to be a to work with Rajkumar for its detailing. Sushant on the Chetan Bhagat novel critical and commercial Hirani in his next, PK rued the fact that the Sushant was a diehard fan of Mahendra Singh Dhoni. He was delighted to get a chance to play one of the greatest cricketing captains in the world in ’s M.S. Dhoni: The Untold Story 

 With Rhea Chakraborty  With M.S. Dhoni and his daughter Ziva  With Sara Ali Khan and Abhishek Kapoor  With Shekhar Kapur  With Ankita  Lokhande  With Kriti  Sanon audience didn’t take to it. Paani and spent some 10 “Byomkesh deserved to months preparing for it. be seen by a much bigger Though nothing came of audience. It was way ahead it, he did find a friend in   of its time. But I guess Kapur and chalked off the audience has been the experience as a huge played a concerned dad as conditioned into seeing a learning module. well as a carefree collegian. certain kind of film.” Chanda Mama Door Ke, The Fault In Our Stars The biggest fillip to his a science-fiction film where remake titled , film career came with the he was supposed to play directed by close friend Mahendra Singh Dhoni an astronaut too never got , was biopic, M.S. Dhoni: The made. As did the musical supposed to release in May Untold Story (2016), Takadum, which was 2020. Given the COVID-19 directed by Neeraj Pandey. supposed to be directed by pandemic, the film will Sushant was a diehard fan Homi Adajania and co-star have an OTT release now. of Dhoni and was delighted the late . Sushant was an to get a chance to play one What got him excited entrepreneur too. In of the greatest cricketing was ’s  2018, he launched captains in the world. reincarnation thriller Innsaei Ventures, an Sushant was coached Raabta, co-starring Kriti to . Abhishek endeavour which hoped to by former -keeper Sanon. The big-budget Chaubey’s Sonchiriya maximise the potential of and batsman Kiran More film however bombed. He (2019), a period dacoit film, technological innovations both in the art of keeping appeared next in Abhishek was a poetic journey into for a wider set of the stumps and batting. He Kapoor’s Kedarnath (2018), the hearts and minds of populace. He was signed watched around 500 hours set against the backdrop the baaghis - as dacoits are by NITI Aayog, a think- of footage on MS Dhoni to of the Uttarakhand floods. called in Chambal. Though tank belonging to the get the mannerisms right. Here, he played a Muslim it won a lot of awards government of India, He grew close to Dhoni porter in love with a Hindu and Sushant was lavishly to promote the Women over the making of the film. girl, played by Sara Ali praised for his intense Entrepreneurship Platform It was a commercial and Khan. The film didn’t meet portrayal, the film didn’t (WEP). The actor was critical success. Sushant with the kind of success work at the box-office. said to be suffering from was praised not only for his that was projected, though Thankfully, his depression for some physical transformation but Sushant’s acting did come (2019). directed by Nitesh months and was reportedly for his effortless portrayal for praise. Drive (2019), Tiwari and starring getting treated for it. He of Dhoni. produced by Dharma Shraddha Kapoor, released allegedly died by suicide He was reportedly going Productions and Tarun the same year was a on June 14, 2020 leaving to star in Shekhar Kapur’s Mansukhani, went straight commercial success. He his fans heartbroken. n INTERVIEW BEST OF THE

DEVESH SHARMA LOOKS BESTBACK AT SOME REMARKABLE PERFORMANCES OF THE LATE SUSHANT SINGH RAJPUT

PHOTOGRAPH: SURESH NATARAJAN Sushant Singh Rajput was an actor to look out for. His dedication and sincerity were appealing. Kai Po Che underlined the fact that TV face or not, he could hit the ball out of the park when it came to believable performances. A cricket fan himself, he went on to play one of India’s best cricket captains, MS Dhoni, on the big screen. His last performance in Chhichhore saw him playing a concerned father, troubled with the fact that his son had tried to commit suicide due to exam pressure. The news of his untimely demise, on 14 June, has come as a shock to us all. In his remembrance, we present a list of some of the best flms of his career, tragically cut short by his death.

DIRECTOR: Abhishek Kapoor CAST: Sushant Singh Rajput, Rajkummar Rao, SHUDDH Amit Sadh and Amrita Puri DESI Ishaan (Sushant Singh Rajput), Govind (Rajkummar ROMANCE Rao) and Omi (Amit Sadh) are friends who, like all young (2013) people, want to do something different. Ishaan is a talented cricketer and hence the trio decide to open a cricket coaching academy plus a sports shop. The seed money is provided by Omi’s uncle, who is a political henchman in a Hindu right-wing party. They discover a talented Muslim youngster, who has all the trappings of a cricket star. Ishaan becomes obsessed with mentoring him. Govind is only interested in expanding his business. While Omi gets embroiled in the political schemes of his uncle. Whether their friendship stands the test of time forms the crux of the story. Sushant Singh’s character, Ishaan, is the catalyst in the flm. SSR brings in sensitivity as well as sincerity in the portrayal and made you root for his Ishaan.

KAI PO CHE! (2013) DIRECTOR: CAST: Sushant Singh Rajput, Parineeti Chopra, Vaani Kapoor and Raghu (Sushant Singh Rajput), who’s not sure about set- tling down, is about to get married to Tara (Vaani Kapoor). He abruptly leaves her at the altar and falls for English teacher Gayatri (Parineeti Chopra). She attends weddings as a baraati for subsidiary income. They both are com- mitment-phobic and yet live happily as a couple without getting married. Things change when Raghu’s path crosses with Tara again. He falls in love with her as well. The flm portrays a true picture of a confused generation, who has yet to understand the intricacies of love and commitment. They’re game for hook-ups and baulk at marriage. Sushant plays a clueless youngster with natural ease and won a lot of admirers for his performance. INTERVIEW

DIRECTOR: CAST: , Anushka Sharma, and Sushant Singh Rajput PK is a unique never-before-seen flm to have come out of Indian cinema. It stars Aamir Khan as an alien called PK, who gets stranded on earth. He ends up being fasci- nated by everything around him. PK takes a keen interest in Indian customs and religions. His observations make people confront absurdities that lie within our common beliefs and practices. Anushka Sharma, who plays a journalist called Jagat Janani, is shown to be in love with the like-minded Pakistani national played by PK Sushant Singh Rajput. Jagat Janani helps (2014) PK come into the limelight. She helps him fnd his remote so he can contact people from his planet and get back home. SSR didn’t have much to do in the flm. But he foors you with the natural ease with which he portrays his character – that of someone obsessed with Indian flms and culture despite being a Pakistani.

DIRECTOR: Dibakar Banerjee CAST: Sushant Singh Rajput, Anand Tiwari DETECTIVE and Swastika BYOMKESH BAKSHY! Based on the fctional detective Byomkesh Bakshi, (2014) created by Bengali writer Sharadindu Bandyo- padhyay, Detective Byomkesh Bakshy! is a blast indeed. Set in Kolkata during the WWII era, it pits Byomkesh against an evil genius, out to destroy the world. The art direction is excellent and the costume department too outdid itself. Sushant submerges himself in his character and gives a credible performance as Byomkesh. Strangely, the flm didn’t do well as expected at the box-offce despite everything going for it. MS DHONI: THE UNTOLD STORY DIRECTOR: Neeraj Pandey (2016) CAST: Sushant Singh Rajput, Disha Patani, Kiara Advani and This one is surely the pinnacle of Sushant’s career. MS Dhoni is one of our most successful cricketers. He’s known for his prowess with the bat and also admired for his lightning fast wicket-keeping abilities. He’s the only captain in the history of cricket to win all ICC trophies. His biopic, M.S. Dhoni: The Untold Story, chronicles his life and cricketing career up to the Indian team’s win at the 2011 Cricket World Cup. Former wicketkeeper Kiran More coached Sushant, for 13 months, in both wicket-keeping and batting before the flming began. Sushant does a brilliant job of being Dhoni - both physically and in spirit. It became diffcult to separate one from the other. DIRECTOR: Abhishek Kapoor DIRECTOR: Abhishek Chaubey CAST: Sushant Singh Rajput, Sara Ali Khan and Nitish Bharadwaj CAST: Sushant Singh Rajput, Bhumi KEDARNATH (2018) Kedarnath is a slow burner, where love germinates over many a ride up Pednekar, Manoj Bajpayee, Ranvir and down a mountain. Mukku (Sara Ali Khan) is the younger daughter of a Shorey and Ashutosh Rana priest, who also runs a shop and a guest house and needs a pithoo – Sonchiriya offers a potent blend of porter – to cart her up and down. Mansoor (Sushant Singh Rajput) dacoit drama, karmic lessons and caste happens to be a Muslim but has faith in Lord Shiva. It’s thanks to the politics with some realistic action thrown Shiv temple at Kedarnath that he’s able to earn his livelihood. He’s an in for good measure. Set in the ’70s affable man prone to giving discounts to his clients and posing for selfes during the Emergency era, Sonchiriya with them. Their common love for cricket leads to a chance meeting. A is a story based in Chambal, which smitten Mukku later hires him for the whole month. She bares her heart has long been the favourite playing to him and he amusedly listens. Gradually, they fall in love. But there are feld of directors wanting to channel complications. Mukku is betrothed to someone else. She’s emotionally their inner Sergio Leone and whip up blackmailed into marrying the guy but nature intervenes before the a curry Western. Maan Singh (Manoj marriage is consummated. A huge food, coupled with cloudburst Bajpayee), is the leader of a merry band envelopes the valley. Mukku and her father take refuge in the temple, which of dacoits, only they call themselves is the only structure left standing. Mansoor comes to their rescue. Their baaghi (rebel). Their rebellion exists at love and faith get tested again. Sushant’s chemistry with Sara works in the an existential level, as more often than flm’s favour. He acquired the body language of a porter beautifully. not they are men running away from

SONCHIRIYA (2019)

DIRECTOR: themselves. Lakhna (Sushant Singh CAST: Sushant Singh Rajput, Shraddha Kapoor, Rajput) and Vakil () , & Naveen Polishetty are his trusted lieutenants. Virender It’s a campus romcom at one level but tackles student Gujjar (Ashutosh Rana), a policeman suicide on the other. Anirudh (Sushant) and Maya has a personal vendetta against (Shraddha Kapoor) are a divorced couple. They’re them and has vowed to kill them. traumatised when their young son Raghav tries to Their lives take a turn when they help commit suicide. Anirudh believes that narrating stories a woman (), who from his college days might help his son recover. During stumbles into Chambal carrying a college he’d formed life-long friendships with Sexa sick girl. Nothing is what it seems (Varun Sharma), Derek (Tahir Raj Bhasin), Acid (Naveen as the narrative goes back and Polishetty), Mummy (Tushar Pandey), Bevda (Saharsh forth in time. It was a huge gamble CHHICHHORE Kumar Shukla) and others. Sushant plays a caring dad for Sushant to play a dacoit in this (2019) in his older avatar and a happy-go-lucky student in his period flm. The flm won lots of younger avatar. He won plaudits for both. critical acclaim and awards. n IN MEMORIAM ...AND THE WORDS ECHO! AS A TRIBUTE TO THE LATE SUSHANT SINGH RAJPUT, FILMFARE REPLAYS HIS QUOTES FROM EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEWS

Like a shooting star he dashed into the orbit of the earth stunning all with his brilliance. Sushant Singh Rajput was not confned to or defned by his identity as an actor. His life spread beyond the 70mm and celebrated the mystery of life. His ‘bucket list’ had 50 dreams lined-up, which included dabbling with Quantum Physics, visiting the Moon, learning to fy a plane, train for Iron Man Triathlon, play tennis with a champ, space training at NASA and even discussing policies with the PM of India… He devoured the philosophy of Sartre and Nietzsche, wove tears into poems, strummed the guitar, was ambidextrous and could mirror write as well – a feat Leonardo da Vinci was known to possess. Perhaps, unconversant with the guile of glamour, he cut short his star trek to move onto a better world. As we mourn { his demise, we rerun his quotes from his Filmfare interviews… { NOVEMBER 18, 2015 “We crib about the THE FIRST “As we grow we discrimination we faced under the British rule. But TIME I DID THEATRE start confusing we Indians are the biggest WAS IN COLLEGE. things. I call hypocrites in the world. The I REALISED it analysis discrimination we show towards our fellow Indians HOW POWERFUL “SOME SAID WOW! by paralysis. is something else.” THIS FORM OF SOME SAID WHAT! We analyse COMMUNICATION WHEN WE PUT too much He (Mahendra COULD BE. AT 18, OURSELVES IN THIS and paralyse Singh Dhoni) likes I COULD MAKE A SITUATION WHERE WE ourselves. winning; it doesn’t CROWD OF 500 CAN GENERATE THIS We worry too mean that he’s STRANGERS LAUGH much about the obsessed with it. KIND OF POLARISED AND CRY. THAT fate of the film.” Even if he has a FEELING, WE EVOLVE match two days WAS A LIBERATING AS ARTISTES.” down the line, he’ll FEELING. BUT “I've also learnt be at ease chatting STILL, I CANNOT “If you draw the line that one should with you. He lives in COMMUNICATE between what people not dwell in the the now. And more want and what you want past or in the than being a good WITH PEOPLE I'M to do, then nothing can future. The now is cricketer he’s a good NOT COMFORTABLE stop you.” what matters.” human being.” WITH.” WE ARE CONDITIONED ABOUT CONCEPTS OF RIGHT AND WRONG. ACTUALLY, THERE’S NOTHING RIGHT OR WRONG. OUR DEFINITION OF MORALITY HAS BEEN CREATED OVER THE YEARS TO CREATE A BALANCE IN SOCIETY. WE BELIEVE WHAT WE WANT TO BELIEVE ABOUT OURSELVES AND OTHERS.” PHOTOGRAPHS: ROHAN SHRESTHA IN MEMORIAM

“I don’t think much “I love failure. about the future because I don’t live there.” THE LOSS It might sound OF MY MOTHER... unreal but I I’d try to be damn (IN 2002) NO enjoy it. I crave excited about living, MATTER WHAT I it. But if there is setting goals and “TODAY, EVEN one thing that I DO OR ACHIEVE... THOUGH I LOVE having fun. It would THIS SENSE don't want is to be addictive and MY PENTHOUSE, be mediocre.” OF LOSS WILL MY RANGE seductive but without meaning.” NEVER GO AWAY. ROVER, I CHERISH IT TAUGHT ME THOSE DAYS “From performing as a background dancer “I have reached a neutral NOT TO GET WHEN I LIVED at the Filmfare space in my life where I WITH SIX GUYS Awards to featuring neither go ecstatic with ATTACHED on the cover... who joy nor depressed with EATING said dreams don't sadness. I don’t go through TO MATERIAL EVERYDAY.” come true?” those extreme states.” ACHIEVEMENTS.” OCTOBER 19, 2016

My thoughts tend to run away from “I DON’T NEED TO “I want to freewheel, to fly me. I realised quite early that by the time without a compass, not to PROVE ANYTHING prove a point to anyone else I articulate my thoughts into words, I’m but for my own fulfilment.” onto another thought. And what comes TO OTHERS. out isn’t what I thought of exactly.” NOR DO I WANT TO HAVE THE We’re BIGGEST BANK reaching out to the aspirations of BALANCE IN millions of dreamers, SHOWBIZ. WHAT telling them that I WANT TO KEEP no matter what ON DOING IS your social status TO FOLLOW MY in life is, no matter where you come PASSION. from, all you need I WANT EVERYONE is to believe in TO BE RICH AND your dreams day SUCCESSFUL TO in and day out. And somehow, UNDERSTAND miraculously, they'll THAT THERE IS all come true.” SOMETHING ELSE BEYOND THAT.” “FOR ME THE OPPOSITE OF HAPPINESS ISN’T There’s this SADNESS BUT prejudice that TV actors are way saturated. That kind of BOREDOM. IF YOU’RE affected my choices and set EXCITED ABOUT me towards films, towards roles, which weren’t totally DOING SOMETHING mainstream.” THEN YOU’RE HAPPY.” JUNE 8, 2017

Love is the most illogical thing in the whole f**^^% world. Falling in love is something for which you may want to find a reason, it’s because of this, it’s because of that. But nothing makes sense. Either you’re in love or you’re not in love. And it can happen for no apparent reason. It’s the most illogical thing, yet it’s the most real. You realise it only after you’ve fallen in love.”

“If I’m with people, I enjoy it. But if I'm alone I also Looking back, when we were enjoy that. I'm not kids, we would lonely. There’s no always finish vacuum in my life. our tiffin in like I do share things five minutes with my sisters. My because we elder sister is like wanted to play my mother.” through the rest of the recess. “Any kind of positive That’s what feedback, validation I want to do. and acknowledgement I want to finish is always good. So doing everyday if I get an award, I’ll stuff and rush naturally feel good. But at the same back to the time you have to shooting floor. understand that it’s It has to be as as true as it’s not. For exciting for me instance, I may not be as playtime. thinking of chocolates. But if you offer them, Otherwise I’ll take it saying where’s the thank you because I fun?” love chocolates. But OCTOBER 19, 2016 if you don’t do that, I’ll probably not miss having a chocolate.”

Shekhar Kapur’s Paani took 10 months of “Everything you know I’VE ALWAYS my life. I was totally dedicated towards the project. I’d changes one morning; BEEN CONFIDENT have extensive discussions about the film, about the role ABOUT MY WORK. with Shekhar. I was internalising his vision. It didn’t take that two people who off is another matter but that doesn’t mean I was sitting are close sometimes BUT NOW WHEN I idle. And I know that nothing goes waste. I count it as grow apart. It’s sad but SOUND CONFIDENT learning experience. He has an extraordinary sense of cinema so interacting with him was like doing a four-year there’s nothing you can IT COMES ACROSS AS acting course at Lee Strasberg.” do about it.” ARROGANCE.” OBITUARY FAREWELL VETERAN FILMMAKER BASU CHATTERJEE PASSES AWAY (10 January 1930 - 4 June 2020)

ilmmaker Basu Chatterjee, best known for films like Chhoti Si F Baat, , Baaton Baaton Mein, Swami, and passed away on June 4, 2020 in Mumbai, following age- related ailments. He was 90 years old. Basuda was born on January 10, 1930, in Ajmer. He started his career as an illustrator in a reputed newspaper before turning to films. He assisted his namesake in (1966), starring and . His first film as director was Sara Akash (1969), based on the eponymous novel Sara Akash by . The film, starring Rakesh Pandey, Madhu Chakravarty and Jalal was about the incompatibility Basu Chatterjee between a married couple. Apparently, it Basuda’s future films, based on ’s was a more serious was shot at Rajendra as most of his offerings Marathi film Mumbaicha film revolving around a Yadav’s own house in revolved around the lives Jawai. It talked about woman, who pines for Agra. Cinematographer of common people and space crunch and the lack her lover even as she’s K K Mahajan won the their problems. of privacy in Mumbai married off to someone National Film Award for In fact, most of his films experienced through the else. (1977), Best Cinematography revolved around marriage. eyes of a young couple. starring , Neetu for his black-and-white (1972), Swami (1977), starring Singh, camera work in the film. starring Jaya Bhaduri , Girish and was about The film set the tone for and Anil Dhawan, was Karnad and Vikram, how reality kills romance Basuda’s films revolved around the lives of common people. Even in his rom-coms the milieu was middle- class. Rajnigandha (1974) was based on a short story by Mannu Bhandari, starring , and . It was about a woman’s dilemma in picking a life partner Rajnigandha

the misadventures of three be a rich man in order to old men, who want to impress Moushumi. Jeena have a good time in Goa. Yahan (1979), starring Chameli Ki Shaadi (1986), Shabana Azmi, Amol starring and Palekar and , , was about was a film about women an ex-wrestler trying to empowerment. Ek Ruka marry a rather feisty girl. Hua Faisla (1986) was a Caste politics played the gritty courtroom drama villain of the piece. based on the American hit 12 Angry Men (1957). asuda touched Kamla Ki Maut (1989), upon thrillers as starring , well. Tumhare and Roopa Liye (1978), Ganguly, was a hard- On the set of Ratandeep with Bstarring , hitting drama about the Vidya Sinha and Neelam suicide of an unmarried in a marriage. Khatta (1976), Mehra, was about pregnant girl. It forces her Meeta (1978) was about starring Amol Palekar, reincarnation. Ratandeep neighbours to re-examine a middle-aged widower , and (1979), starring Girish their own lives. (Ashok Kumar) marrying Vidya Sinha, had Palekar Karnad and Hema Malini, Basuda had the knack another middle-aged playing a man with low had Karnad masquerading of casting big stars in widow (Pearl Padamsee). self-confidence. He then as the dead husband of small-budget films. He Both have children from hires a life coach to teach Malini in a bid to loot worked with Mithun their former marriages and him how to propose to her riches. Chakravyuha Chakraborty in , the youngsters find it hard a girl. (1978), starring Rajesh with in Us to adjust to each other. (1979) had a Christian Khanna, Vinod Mehra, Paar, Jeetendra and Neetu He made pure rom- setting and was all about and , was a Singh in Priyatama, Dev coms as well but here too the courtship between James Bond kind of an Anand and Tina Munim his milieu was middle- Amol Palekar and Tina espionage whodunnit. in , Rajesh class. Rajnigandha (1974), Munim, assisted by her Sheesha (1986) was Khanna and Neetu Singh based on a short story uncle, played by David. a thriller around in Chakravyuha and by Mannu Bhandari, Man Pasand (1980), rape starring Mithun and Hema starring Amol Palekar, starring , Tina Chakraborty, Moon Moon Malini in Dillagi and Vidya Sinha and Dinesh Munim, Sen and . Amitabh Bachchan in Thakur, was about a and Mehmood, was based There was a serious Manzil. He directed the woman’s dilemma in on ’s streak to his filmmaking TV Series Byomkesh picking a life partner. . Shaukeen as well. Manzil (1979), Bakshi and Rajani for (1976), starring (1982) was perhaps his starring Amitabh , both of Amol Palekar, Zarina boldest comedy. Starring Bachchan and Moushumi which were hugely Wahab and Vijayendra Ashok Kumar, Utpal Chatterjee, was based on successful. He’s survived Ghatge, was a romantic Dutt, A.K. Hangal, Rati the hit Bengali film Akash by his daughter Rupali comedy involving Agnihotri and Mithun Kusum (1965). It had Guha, who’s also a film mistaken identities. Chakraborty, it was about Amitabh pretending to director. n IN MEMORIAM

GOD of DEVESH SHARMASMALL RECOMMENDS THE BEST FILMS FILMS OF THE LATE BASU CHATTERJEE

asu Chatterjee, comedies. He made with commercial stars pioneers of the middle-of- who passed away films, which depicted - having worked with the-road cinema between on June 4, 2020, the life of common Dharmendra, Hema the ’70s -’80s. Along with was a prolific people. Their problems, Malini and even Amitabh , filmmaker. He their heartaches, their Bachchan - actors like he had a large hand in Bwas a versatile director, victories and small Amol Palekar, Vidya making the genre popular. able to do justice to joys were the heroes in Sinha and Shabana Azmi Presenting a list of some many genres, though his stories. Though he were seen more in his of his best films down his forte was romantic didn’t shy from working films. He was one of the the years... CHITCHOR (1976) all equations as he too starts liking her. CAST: Amol Palekar, Zarina The film was shot in Wahab and Vijayendra the picturesque locales Ghatge of Mahabaleshwar and It was a romantic comedy Panchgani. It had lovely involving mistaken music by Ravindra Jain, identities. Geeta’s (Zarina comprising songs like Jab Wahab) elder sister Meera deep jale aana, Gori tera PIYA KA GHAR (1972) writes to her family about gaon bada pyara and Tu jo an eligible bachelor Sunil mere sur mein. It was later CAST: Jaya Bhaduri, Anil Dhawan and Agha (Vijayendra Ghatage), an remade by Rajshri as Main The film was a remake of the hit Marathi movie engineer, who’s set to visit Prem Ki Deewani Hoon. Mumbaicha Jawai (1970). It spotlights how congested the village for construction homes in Mumbai deny privacy to married couples, work. Pitamber Chaudhri which can sometimes dent a marriage. Malti (Jaya) is a (A.K. Hangal) and his wife good-natured girl living in a village. Her marriage is fixed () are happy with Ram (Anil Dhawan). Initially, Malti is all excited with the news. When with the thought of living in a big city with her husband. overseer Vinod (Amol But her happiness is shattered when she finds she has to Palekar) lands up in the share space with his parents, brothers, sister-in-law and village, he’s mistaken for uncles, all crammed together in a two-room tenement in Sunil. The parents take a chawl. The young couple has to sleep in the kitchen. A a liking to him and so disillusioned Malti wants to go back to her father’s house. does Geeta. He even Eventually, she realises the worth of her caring in-laws. starts teaching her music. The hit song, Yeh hai sung by , They fall in love. But sums up the bitter-sweet nuances of life. Sunil’s arrival changes

RAJNIGANDHA WAS BASED ON A SHORT STORY, YAHI SACH HAI, BY NOTED WRITER MANNU BHANDARI... DEVOID OF MELODRAMA, IT BROUGHT THE LIVES OF THREE ORDINARY, MIDDLE-CLASS PEOPLE IN SHARP FOCUS

candy heroines of that CHHOTI SI BAAT (1976) era, she plays a city girl, caught between two Cast: Amol Palekar, Asrani, Ashok Kumar and Vidya Sinha suitors. She takes a while The film had Amol Palekar playing a man low in self- to make up her mind about confidence. He hires a life coach to teach him how to whom to marry. Devoid approach a girl. Palekar plays a mousy introvert in the of melodrama, it brought film while Vidya plays a woman waiting for him to make the lives of three ordinary, the first move. Again, the middle-class milieu of the film middle-class people in helped it make a home in the hearts of the masses. The sharp focus. Vidya’s plaited film boasted of great music by . Fans of hair and simple sarees had Hindi film music got a taste of South maestro Yesudas’ RAJNIGANDHA an earthy appeal. genius in his duet with , Jaaneman jaaneman (1974) The film, which also tere do nayan. Incidentally, it was filmed on Dharmendra marked the debut of and Hema Malini. CAST: Vidya Sinha, Amol Amol Palekar, had two Palekar and Dinesh Thakur wonderful Salil Chowdhary Rajnigandha was based compositions - Rajnigandha on a short story, Yahi phool tumhare sung by Sach Hai, by noted writer and Kai Mannu Bhandari. It baar yunhi dekha hai sung catapulted Vidya Sinha to by Mukesh. The latter won instant fame. Refreshingly Mukesh the National Award different from the arm- for Best Playback Singer. IN MEMORIAM

KHATTA MEETHA (1978) CAST: Ashok Kumar, Rakesh Roshan, , Pearl Padamsee, , Preeti Ganguly and Pradeep Kumar It was loosely based on the 1968 American movie Yours, Mine and Ours. The story revolved around a middle-aged widower, SWAMI (1977) mind, she has become a (Ashok Kumar) marrying prisoner in her husband’s another middle-aged CAST: Shabana Azmi, Vikram, house and wants to break widow (Pearl Padamsee). Goswami), a daughter of a Girish Karnad and Utpal Dutt free. But it’s only when she Both have children from rich businessman (Pradeep The film was adapted from takes the actual step does their former marriages. Kumar). The businessman Sarat Chandra’s novel of she realise her foolishness. The youngsters find it hard tries to harass the family, the same name. Saudamini She begins to appreciate to adjust to each other. which then comes together ‘Mini’ (Shabana Azmi) has her husband’s strength of There are several spats as one and the matter is grown up idolising her character. The last scene, between them with the solved. The film ends with liberal uncle (Utpal Dutt). where he asks her to parents trying to patch up everyone learning to live Like him, she loves to read return home, completes things and keep the family in harmony. Thoda hai Western literature, likes her transformation from united. Nargis’ son Feroze thode ki zaroorat hai sums Western philosophers and a rebellious girl to a (Rakesh Roshan) falls in up the film’s theme of is an atheist at heart. The dignified wife. love with Zarine (Bindiya living and loving. neighbourhood boy Naren The film belonged (Vikram) is smitten by her to Shabana Azmi. Her beauty and intellect. Sadly, quicksilver expressions KHATTA MEETHA WAS LOOSELY BASED he takes a long time to carried the day. The film ON THE 1968 AMERICAN MOVIE YOURS, make his intentions clear. had great music by MINE AND OURS... THE SONG THODA HAI Mini gets married off to a with songs wealthy trader Ghanshyam like Ka karoon sajni, Pal THODE KI ZAROORAT HAI SUMS UP THE (Girish Karnad). He’s the bhar mein and Yaadon FILM’S THEME OF LIVINIG AND LOVING epitome of patience. In her mein woh.

BATON BATON MEIN (1979) CAST: Amol Palekar, Tina Munim, Pearl Padamsee and David The film had a Christian setting. It traced the courtship of Amol Palekar and Tina Munim, assisted by Uncle Tom (David). Rosie Perreira (Pearl Padamsee) is a widow living with her violinist son, Shabi (Ranjit Chowdhry) and daughter Nancy (Tina Munim). She wants her daughter to get married soon. Nancy and her uncle meet Tony Braganza (Amol Palekar) daily in the Bandra local train. Tony and Nancy soon start seeing each other. But Tony is unduly shy and that irks Rosie. She starts looking for a match elsewhere. However, timely intervention by Tom sets things right. The film had some lovely songs like Suniye kahiye kahiye suniye, Na bole tum na maine kuch kaha and Uthe sabke kadam tuned by Rajesh Roshan. SHAUKEEN (1982) plan to get lucky with her but the encounters CAST: Ashok Kumar, Utpal end in fiascos. Of course, Dutt, A.K. Hangal, Mithun being men, they don’t Chakraborty & Rati Agnihotri admit to it and spice up The film is loosely the narratives. In the end, based on the American they feel guilty about not comedy Boys’ Night behaving like gentlemen. Out (1962). Om Prakash They redeem themselves Chaudhary (Ashok trip where they hope to by uniting Ravi and Anita. Kumar), Jagdishbhai get lucky with women. They also help Ravi (Utpal Dutt) and Inder The driver Ravi (Mithun tide over his financial Sen (A K Hangal) are Chakraborty) takes them difficulties. Though a sex (1980) three men in their 60s, to Goa as he wants to meet comedy, never once does who love cigarettes, wine his girlfriend Anita (Rati the film cross the bounds CAST: Shabana Azmi, and women. While they Agnihotri) residing there. of decency. Ashok Kumar, Amol Palekar, Girish secretly indulge in the first Anita is easygoing and Utpal Dutt and AK Hangal Karnad and Utpal Dutt two vices, the third eludes bohemian. All three get were superb as lecherous The film is based on them. They plan a getaway bitten by her charms. They old men. Sarat Chandra’s novel Nishkriti. Utpal Dutt, a senior advocate SHAUKEEN IS BASED ON THE AMERICAN COMEDY BOYS’ NIGHT based in Kolkata, OUT. ASHOK KUMAR, UTPAL DUTT AND A K HANGAL PLAY OLD dotes on his younger MEN, WHO LOVE WINE AND WOMEN... THOUGH A SEX COMEDY, cousin, Chander (Amol NEVER ONCE DOES THE FILM CROSS THE BOUNDS OF DECENCY Palekar). Chander is a bit of a slacker and is only interested in The duo falls in love music. His wife, Sheela and decides to get married. (Shabana Azmi), Their parents are against runs the household the match as they belong with authority. The to different castes. They advocate’s wife take the help of advocate Siddheswari (Ashalata) Harish (Amjad Khan) to is fond of them both. resolve the dilemma. He One day, Utpal Dutt’s advises them to elope younger brother, and get married. He Haish (Girish Karnad), later convinces both the lands up with his girl’s father and the boy’s wife Naintara (Bharti brother how the alliance Achrekar). Naintara’s could be politically gets jealous of Sheela’s beneficial to them. hold on the household Amrita Singh is pure and plots against her. gold as an overgrown She gets Sheela and schoolgirl, who has failed Chander thrown out class eight four times. She of the house. Harish bashes up her relatives files a suit against CHAMELI KI is under the influence of like a freestyle wrestler them. Suddenly, life is SHAADI (1986) Mastram Pahelwan (Om when she overhears their on a downward spiral Prakash) and wants to plans of bumping off her for them. It’s only on CAST: Anil Kapoor, Amrita dedicate his life to being boyfriend. Anil Kapoor lets the intervention of Singh, Amjad Khan, Pankaj a wrestler. All his vows her take centre-stage and the elder brother that Kapur and Om Prakash of celibacy go for a toss is good as an ex-pahelwan. things get back on The film takes a stand when he espies Chameli Amjad Khan gets the best track. The rivalries of a against casteism. It also (Amrita Singh), the lines as the street-smart joint family are amply has a feminist heroine, daughter of the local coal lawyer, who plays upon brought out in the film. a novelty in those days. trader Kallumal (Pankaj the weaknesses of people Charandas (Anil Kapoor), Kapur). for his advantage. n OBITUARY Aaye tum yaad mujhe… DEVESH SHARMA PROFILES LYRICIST YOGESH, WHO PASSED AWAY RECENTLY (March 19, 1943 - May 29, 2020)

e had been writing poetry ever since he was in school. H If the class happened to be punished, the teacher would only let them off the hook if Yogesh Gaur agreed to recite one of his poems. The young boy had no idea back then that he would become a lyricist one day. After his father passed away, Yogesh left Lucknow to try his luck in Mumbai. He landed here with his childhood friend Satyaprakash Tiwari,

Anand

Sattu in short. They then. Yogesh hoped his found his calling when rented a room in cousin would set him he started penning down a chawl for Rs 11, up somewhere. But his thoughts in a diary. a big sum those that wasn’t to be. Those took the shape of days, and set about Thankfully, Sattu got poems. Yogesh realised he finding work. a job. As promised, he could try to be a lyricist. Yogesh’s cousin, supported Yogesh till he Composer Robin Banerjee, Vrajendra Gaur, found his feet. who used to work mainly was a celebrated After knocking on in action films, taught writer in Mumbai every door, Yogesh finally him how to set words

The late lyricist Yogesh Rimjhim gire saawan from Manzil was picturised on Amitabh Bachchan and amidst the real rain in Mumbai. The appeal of this Yogesh-R.D. Burman number hasn’t faded away even today

kaisi yeh paheli haye, gems like Na jane kyun, Annadata sung by . The sung by Lata and the songs became extremely Yesudas-Asha Bhosle duet YOGESH’S popular. Then came Jaaneman jaaneman. Annadata (1972), where Yogesh then on became HIT SONGS Salilda made him write a regular in Basuda’s Kahin door jab din the whole album. It had films. Priyatama (1977) – ANAND the philosophical Nain had the happy Koi roko Rajnigandha phool tumhare hamaare saanjh sakaare na deewane ko, composed – RAJNIGANDHA sung by Mukesh on one by Rajesh Roshan and the hand and the frothy Guzar sad Tere bin kaise din. Na jaane kyun jaaye din sung by Kishore For Baton Baton Mein – CHHOTI SI BAAT Kumar. Nis din nis din (1979), composed by Manzil Aaye tum yaad mujhe and Raaton ke saaye Rajesh Roshan, he wrote – MILI ghane were both sung by the poignant Kahan tak to music. He gave him a Tere bin kaise din Lata Mangeshkar. yeh mann ko among other break in the film Sakhi - PRIYATAMA songs. In Manzil (1979), Robin (1962). The song Rimjhim gire saawan alil Chowdhary he wrote the evergreen was Tum jo aao, sung by – MANZIL asked him to ode to Mumbai rains, Manna Dey and Suman write for Basu Rimjhim gire saawan. The Kahan tak yeh mann ko Kalyanpur. Chatterjee’s song had two versions, The song got him – BAATON BAATON MEIN S Rajnigandha (1974) as one sung by Kishore noticed. But Yogesh was well. Yogesh wrote the Kumar and the other slotted as a ‘B’ movie he used to visit composer pensive Kai baar yun hi by Lata. Picturised on lyricist. He wrote for Salil Chowdhary’s house dekha hai, which won Amitabh Bachchan and action films starring Dara to listen to the tracks. a National Award for Moushumi Chatterjee Singh and Randhawa, Slowly, an association Mukesh but no awards amidst real rain, the which were targeted at developed, which resulted came Yogesh’s way. The appeal of this Yogesh-R.D. the mass audience. His in him getting to write title song Rajnigandha Burman number hasn’t films had exotic titles two songs in Anand phool tumhare, sung by faded till date. like Tarzan And Delilah (1971). The film was of Lata, too was admired. Sadly, even after and Flying Circus. These great importance to him He worked with the writing memorable songs, may not have won him because the other lyricist illustrious SD Burman in the unassuming Yogesh recognition. But they was . The film Mili (1975). While it had never got his due. His did help him survive in was being directed by the lively Maine kaha last film was Angrezi Mumbai. Also, he had Hrishikesh Mukherjee phoolon se, sung by Lata, Mein Kehte Hain (2018), this knack of writing a and starred superstar it also had the seeped in where he wrote two song from the female . He was sadness Badi sooni sooni songs. His health was fast perspective. So he was apprehensive at first but and Aaye tum yaad mujhe deteriorating. During his saddled with songs Salilda backed him up. sung by Kishore Kumar. last days, he was cared describing the hero’s He wrote two gems for Chhoti Si Baat (1976) for by Satyendra Tripathi, manly attributes. It’s said, the film – Kahin door was another Basuda- who had sung Piya mose he didn’t have a record jab din dhal jaaye, sung Salil Chowdhury film, rooth gaye from Angrezi..., player back then. Hence, by Mukesh and Zindagi for which Yogesh wrote Yogesh’s last film song. n OBITUARY GOODBYE DEVESH SHARMA PROFILES WAJID KHAN OF SAJID-WAJID FAME, WHO PASSED AWAY RECENTLY WAJID (1973 - 2020) ajid Khan belonged to the Kirana Gharana. His Wfather Sharafat Ali Khan was a tabla maestro. While his elder brother, Sajid, is an ace tabla player like their father. Wajid learnt to play Hindustani classical on guitar. The duo used to jam on their favourite instruments, while composing tunes. Sajid-Wajid’s first film as was the Salman Khan starrer Pyaar Kiya To Darna Kya (1988). Salman Khan gave a break to two music composers in the film. One was Himesh Reshammiya, who composed the title song. The others were brothers Sajid-Wajid, who composed an intricate qawwali Teri jawaani badi mast mast hai. It was sung by Iqbal Sabri, Afzal Sabri and Anupama Deshpande. Earthy, and rooted in folk tradition, it became the calling card for the musical duo. Making massy, melody-based music became their mantra for life. The main music composers of the film were Jatin-Lalit. Life is a circle, as they say. Years later, Lalit Pandit was the guest composer for (2010), while Sajid-Wajid were the main composers. TIMESCONTENT Karogi (2004), Shaadi WAJID KHAN’S Karke Phas Gaya Yaar HIT SONGS AS A (2006), Partner (2007), SINGER Hello (2008), God Tussi Great Ho (2008), Wanted Soni de nakhre (2009), Main Aur Mrs (PARTNER 2008) Khanna, (2009), Veer Love me (2010), Dabangg (2010), No (WANTED 2009) Problem (2010). Mashallah Tere bina lagta nahi was their only song in (KAL KISSNE DEKHA 2009) (2012). No problem They often mentioned (NO PROBLEM 2010) that Salman had a great ear for music and took Humka peeni hai (DABANGG 2010) the final call when it came to picking tunes. Right now They reiterated that his ( 2012) suggestions worked for Mukhtasar other music directors too. ( KAHAANI 2012) No Problem Fevicol se heir non-Salman (DABANGG 2) hits included films such as Kya Yehi Pyaar Hai Idol star Rahul Vaidya. (2002),T Gunaah (2002), As a singer, Wajid Khan (2003), Kal began his career with Kissne Dekha (2009), Partner in 2008, singing Chashme Buddoor (2013), tracks like Soni de nakhre Main Tera Hero (2014), and Do you wanna partner. (2014) and He has sung popular tracks Freaky Ali (2016). The like Hud hud dabangg, craze for multi-composer Partner Jalwa, Fevicol se among albums ate into their others. Sajid-Wajid had repertoire. But battling the Sajid-Wajid’s name would forever also composed IPL 4 odds, they continued to theme song Dhoom Dhoom bet on melody. Dagabaaz be linked to Salman Khan. Their Dhoom Dhadaka with re (Dabangg 2), Sureeli most fruitful partnership was with Wajid singing the title ankhiyon wale (Veer), track. They were mentors the actor. They composed music on the reality shows like (Dabangg) and Anarkali for several films starring Salman, Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Singing disco chali in Housefull Superstar, Sa Re Ga Ma Pa 2, are examples of what including the Dabangg series 2012 and composed the they were able to achieve title track for Bigg Boss 4 despite the constraints. Wajid was initially tera, Ab mujhe raat din and Bigg Boss 6. Wajid passed away on inclined to be a singer. and Iss kadar pyaar hai RD Burman is linked to June 1. Sajid shared a ’s hit non-film are still popular. One can Rajesh Khanna. Likewise, statement on Instagram album Deewana (1999), only guess the heights Sajid-Wajid’s name that read, “Our dearest which was composed Wajid would have touched would forever be linked Wajid passed away at by Sajid-Wajid, was also as a singer if things had to Salman Khan. Their the age of 47 due to a supposed to be Wajid’s worked out. most fruitful partnership cardiac arrest... He had launchpad as a singer. But In 2001, they composed was with the actor. They a successful kidney Wajid was an unknown another non-film album composed music for transplant last year and he entity then, while Sonu Khoya Khoya Chand, several films starring was undergoing treatment was a household name. featuring Alka Yagnik and Salman Khan, like Tumko for a throat infection.” Naturally, Sonu got Babul Supriyo. In 2005, Na Bhool Paayenge (2002), He’s survived by his wife precedence. The songs they came out with Tera Tere Naam (2003), Garv Maryam and two children, of the album, Deewana Intezar, featuring Indian (2004), Mujhse Shaadi a son and a daughter. n INTERVIEW

Eat play

SONAM KAPOOR AHUJA COUNTS HER BLESSINGS DURING THE LOCKDOWN - ONE OF THEM BEING HUSBAND ANAND AHUJA. AN EXCLUSIVE CHAT WITH JITESH PILLAAI lovePHOTOGRAPHS: HOUSE OF PIXELS Her style shenanigans fnd huge cheerleaders at home and beyond. As an actor, she’s in sync with her sensibilities – , Neerja, PadMan, , Ek Ko Dekha Toh Aisa… scale her spectrum. As a wife, she’s enjoying the universe that’s hers for keeps. While as a woman hers is an ongoing conversation with the self. Sonam Kapoor Ahuja is a celebration – of every phase, every curve. Whether it’s whipping up Sindhi cuisine for her family in lockdown or jogging in her sun-kissed garden in Delhi, it’s all about gratitude for Sonam. The girl born with the silver spoon also has a heart of gold, which beats for those not in the same ‘boat’ as hers. Excerpts…

WHAT’S YOUR turai, spinach and because my Nani ROUTINE DURING chawal khichadi. did that. Sindhi THE LOCKDOWN? My mother and kadi, aloo tuk and I follow the same mother-in-law both also South Indian routine every day didn’t cook because curry… since I love because it keeps me they didn’t have South Indian food. sane. My husband to. The only reason wakes up at 5:30 I know cooking is DO YOU LIKE am. I wake up because I went to LONDON OR PREFER between 6:30 – 8 boarding school. LIVING IN INDIA? am. I have jeera My Nani (maternal Honestly, I like With husband Anand Ahuja pani and two glasses grandma) was a India, be it Mumbai of hot with good cook. or Delhi. I like a lot like Mumbai in WHAT ARE lemon. Then I wanted to be like Delhi because I’ve that sense. THE OTHER I make coffee for her. You tend to shot most of my REALISATIONS THAT myself. I walk on want to do things films here. I like SO YOU DON’T COOK QUARANTINE HAS the treadmill or your mother didn’t London because of IN LONDON? BROUGHT ABOUT? around the house do. Thank God! the freedom I enjoy I prepare dinner You realise how like a crazy person Otherwise we’d be there. It’s difficult sometimes - mostly privileged you are, for 40 minutes. It eating bread and for me to step salads. To call for how good a life you makes me feel good. butter every day outside for a walk food from outside lead as compared Then I do some because our chef in Delhi. every day is a pain. to others. I’ve only suryanamaskars. doesn’t stay with In India we have been grateful this The fact that I have us. One of our staff, WHAT’S YOUR the privilege of staff whole time as the space to do that who lives with us, AVERAGE DAY IN and house help. opposed to being is amazing. Then helps me with the LONDON LIKE? But in London it’s frustrated stuck at I go to the kitchen cooking. In the morning, not like that. So if home. Everyone’s and begin cooking I walk to the gym it wasn’t for these going through this. for the family. WHAT DO YOU COOK and walk back two years of training We’re all in the BEST? home. Then I visit in London or my same storm but WHAT ALL HAVE YOU Unfortunately, I can the office, do some stay in a boarding in different boats. BEEN COOKING? only cook vegetarian work and come school, I’d have I’m grateful that Regular khana. Like food. I cook Sindhi back. We order in all been a mess during I’m in a boat that’s today I made Sindhi food the best the time. London is quarantine. comfortable, nice

YOU REALISE HOW PRIVILEGED YOU ARE, HOW GOOD A LIFE YOU LEAD AS COMPARED TO OTHERS. I’VE ONLY BEEN GRATEFUL THIS WHOLE TIME. EVERYONE’S GOING THROUGH THIS. WE’RE ALL IN THE SAME STORM BUT IN DIFFERENT BOATS. I’M GRATEFUL THAT I’M IN A BOAT THAT’S COMFORTABLE, NICE AND WARM INTERVIEW

THE ONLY REASON I HAVE SUCH A HEALTHY RELATIONSHIP WITH ANAND IS BECAUSE I CAME TO TERMS WITH WHO I WAS BEFORE I MET HIM. I REALISED THAT A MAN OR MY WORK CAN’T COMPLETE ME. I HAVE TO BE COMPLETE WITHIN MYSELF and warm and we businesses or reduce because so many DELHI AIRPORT… someone least have enough food the scale and let people’s jobs are on I wouldn’t do that. competitive and for ourselves. I go of people. I’m the line… it requires My husband too ambitious. He said count my blessings anxious for my someone with great would never do I cannot understand every day. husband, my father- moral fibre to realise that. He said if that being in the film in-law and brother- that. I’m not saying they ask us to be in industry you’re not MANY ARE in-law because they this because Anand’s quarantine, we will ambitious. I was like ANXIOUS ABOUT run a corporation, my husband but go through that. I being ambitious is THE ECONOMIC which is human because of the person said. ‘Yeah I’m okay not a bad thing. But CONSEQUENCES resource heavy. he is. I call him with it’. We agree I’m not ambitious to OF THE PANDEMIC I’m not anxious for Gautam Buddha. on the same things. be No. 1. I’m more INCLUDING THOSE IN their business but I tell him if you That’s why I married ambitious to do good THE FILM INDUSTRY. for the people who hadn’t met me, you him. Otherwise, work and work with Everyone goes work with them. would have left I’d have married the right people. through different They’re like family everything and gone some movie star, When you work in levels of anxiety. I’ll to them. I’m anxious off to the forest. He’s who’d want to take a the film industry be the wrong person for journalists and extremely idealistic. private plane up and your world becomes to give advice media persons, (Laughs) I’m like down. small. I didn’t want because I come from who’re my friends. one of those apsaras that to happen. I’ve a place of privilege. I’m anxious for pulling the sadhu WHAT WAS THE had the same friends I can’t even begin all my near and out of his tapasya! MOMENT, WHICH in the industry from to understand what dear ones. I’m not I’m lucky to have PROMPTED YOU TO the beginning. I’ve so many are going anxious for myself married such a good MARRY ANAND? had the same friends through. I don’t as I’m in a different human being. He’s He loved me even through ups and have to put a roof boat. I wish we were so black and white though I was nuts. downs. Not fair- over my head or all in the same boat. that to an extent it’s He knows exactly weather friends. bring food on the annoying. Like we who I am. I say table. So I cannot YOU ONCE SAID THAT cannot do this and whatever comes to HAS MARRIAGE answer that question ANAND AHUJA CAN we cannot cut the my mind with no SET TO REST THE without sounding ONLY SEE THINGS queue… and things filter. He saw the ANXIETIES YOU HAD condescending. IN BLACK OR WHITE, like that. person in me and ABOUT YOURSELF? Yes, I am anxious NOT IN SHADES OF not some glamorous I put out a post a for my friends. GREY. DOES THAT ON YOUR RETURN heroine. He saw me few days ago saying A lot of them are IDEALISM STILL HOLD FROM LONDON, YOU as Sonam, someone the only reason entrepreneurs, TRUE FOR HIM? DIDN’T JUMP THE who’s extremely I met Anand and who might have Yes. His is a huge QUEUE BUT STOOD naïve and moohfat have had such a to shut down their responsibility PATIENTLY AT THE (frank). And also, healthy relationship

With husband Anand Ahuja

I CALL HIM GAUTAM BUDDHA. I TELL ANAND IF YOU HADN’T MET ME, YOU WOULD HAVE LEFT EVERYTHING AND GONE OFF TO THE FOREST. HE’S EXTREMELY IDEALISTIC. I’M LIKE ONE OF THOSE APSARAS PULLING THE SADHU OUT OF HIS TAPASYA. I’M LUCKY TO HAVE MARRIED SUCH A GOOD HUMAN BEING INTERVIEW

I’M THE MOST BORING HUMAN BEING YOU’LL EVER MEET. I’VE NOT HAD WILD AFFAIRS NOR AM I ONE OF THOSE HEROINES, WHO’S HAVING PILLS WITH HER WINE. I DON’T EVEN DRINK. I’M SO BORING. I’M ROLLING AROUND WITH MY BOOK AND NOT WITH ANY MAN IN BED with him is because having pills with her sit there and write In fact, they’re the song Masakali I came to terms wine. I don’t even dirt about you even shown to be the made me famous. with who I was drink. I’m so boring. if it’s not true - nicest, kindest and I remember, once before I met him. (Laughs) I’m rolling without research coolest people in we were shooting I realised that a around with my book and thought. That’s the show. They’re for Aisha (2010) man or my work and not with any such a sad existence exactly how my near Humayun can’t complete me. I man in bed. and a sad life. I don’t friends are. I’ve Tomb. Abhay Deol have to be complete feel bad for myself cried watching it. and I were shooting within myself. I’m WHAT HAVE YOU anymore. I feel bad I’m not watching a scene near a the only one, who DISCOVERED ABOUT for them because anything intense golawala. There can complete me. As YOUR PARENTS AFTER it’s bad karma for because this is not was no one around. soon as I figured that YOUR MARRIAGE? them. They’ll be the time to watch After the shot, when I met Anand. That they have the going to hell for negative, intense or I turned back, I saw healthiest and the sure. Secondly, their dramatic content. a sea of people had HOW LONG DID YOU best marriage ever. whole existence I’m watching gathered. That was TWO DATE? (Laughs) And that depends on trolling fun stuff. my first brush with We knew each other my dad is so scared someone. They’re hysteria. People for two and a half of my mother. That being paid for that THE MASAKALI 2.0 were shouting, years. We dated for fear comes from love job. So I can’t take it REMIX WAS A HIT ‘Masakali!’ So two years. In May, and respect. personally. TOO. YOUR MEMORY the journey from we’ll complete two OF THE ORIGINAL... Delhi-6 to Aisha years of marriage. HOW DO YOU WHAT ARE YOU When I was was about being So it’s almost four HANDLE ONLINE WATCHING ONLINE shooting in Chandni a nobody to a and a half years of somebody. knowing each other. A RETRO FAVOURITE DO YOU FEEL SONG… DOMESTICATED Lag jaa gale (Woh NOW? Kaun Thi? 1964) is I don’t believe my favourite. And I’ll ever feel that’s the one thing domesticated. that we all want to do. Hug people, right? I’m not sureeli at all. I’m the most besura

Neerja Delhi- 6

ANYONE AND EVERYONE IS GETTING SLAMMED ON SOCIAL MEDIA FOR NO FAULT OF THEIRS. THERE ARE ACTUALLY PROFESSIONALS, WHO SIT THERE AND WRITE DIRT ABOUT YOU. THAT’S SUCH A SAD EXISTENCE. IT’S BAD KARMA FOR THEM. THEY’LL BE GOING TO HELL FOR SURE With family

BUT YOU WERE TROLLING FOR YOUR THESE DAYS? Chowk for Delhi 6 person ever. I’m NEVER A WILD CHILD. PERFORMANCES OR I’ve been watching (2009), I could go not like Alia What wild! The only VIEWS? Michael Jordan’s to the Parathewali (Bhatt), Parineeti thing I do is speak It’s not only me. documentary The Gali and have Chopra or Priyanka too much. Otherwise, Anyone and Last Dance. I’m also chaat. Sawariyaa Chopra, who I’m the most boring everyone is getting watching Queer (2007) hadn’t made sing well. Even human being you’ll slammed on Eye. It’s insane, I me world famous. Shraddha (Kapoor) ever meet. I’ve not social media for love it because it’s But after Delhi-6 sings well because had wild affairs nor no fault of theirs. positive. It’s not the released, even it’s in her genes… am I one of those There are actually stereotype of gay though the film Anyway, I love the heroines, who’s professionals, who men being bitchy. didn’t do so well, beautiful song. n INTERVIEW The

MADHURI DIXIT-NENE RETRACES HER STEPS TO RECALL HER ICONIC DANCES AND danceMORE… WITH JITESH PILLAAI

Rhythm is her hallmark. In every phase of her career and life, -Nene has waltzed to her own beat. She’sof just celebrated her 53rdlife birthday. And just like her dazzling smile, her charisma is timeless. Her talent is in perpetual pursuit of newer platforms of expression. The lockdown, in fact, has helped her tap new reserves. Organised by her academy, Dance With Madhuri (DWM), she recently hosted an online dance festival to help people beat the blues and learn new dance forms. She cut her frst single Candle, where she sings of hope and happiness. The virtual auditions of her dance show, , have kicked off from home… For Madhuri Dixit- Nene the show never stops. Excerpts from an intimate conversation with the diva…

WHAT’S YOUR ROUTINE to plan everything DURING LOCKDOWN? for themselves. But Initially, it was I’m proud of them. Madhuri Dixit- hard to get into a Initially, it was hard Nene shares snapshots of her routine. You try for me too. We don’t time at home to understand the know how long during the new situation from it will go on. So I lockdown every angle. The started my riyaz. harm the virus has I practise singing caused, the economy with my mother being flattened, lives in the evening. disrupted… Kids We’re trying to keep have also got onto ourselves occupied virtual learning. It’s doing something not a bad thing but constructive. On the the kids (referring brighter side, you to sons Arin and have more time with Ryan) suddenly have your family now. There’s immense discipline in the industry today. Today there’s no waiting for anyone. You shoot, you fnish your work and you leave. That’s great. But earlier there was a kind of spontaneity. We’d be sitting on the set with make-up while the dialogue was being written INTERVIEW

Earlier, one often My kids are a mix bag. In temperament, outlook and complained about behaviour, the older one, Arin, is more like my husband not being able to do so many things. Ram. He’s gregarious. Arin’s interests lie in drama, math, (Smiles) After a long physics… The younger one, Ryan, loves music. He’s more time, I read a book like me. He’s quieter. Whereas, Arin is a mini Ram - Born A Crime (by Trevor Noah). Madhuri cut the single titled Candle during YOU HAVE A TALENT FOR lockdown SINGING AS WELL… I won’t say I’m a professional singer. But I do sing. It’s because of my mother. She used to sing classical music. She did her masters in vocal Hindustani Arin, Dr Sriram Nene, Ryan an d classical music. Madhuri She’d urge me to learn from her. But for me, kathak was school work. They Dancing for the the ultimate thing. spend time with camera is different I’d sing with her friends on Skype and from the way you sometimes. I enjoyed Zoom. They play would normally once told me, “In CHOREOGRAPH being on stage in games online. dance. Initially, the Ek do teen A NORMAL SONG? school. Being a while I’d be song you’re like a It would depend convent, I’d sing HOW MUCH ARE THEY engrossed in my squirrel moving from on what kind of English songs. Of LIKE RAM AND YOU? dance, they’d ask one expression to song it was. If it course, I love Hindi They are a mix bag. me to stop if I went another.” was a simple song music. Actually, In temperament, beyond ‘the mark’. like Palki mein I love all kinds outlook and Even if you go a little A SEQUENCE WHERE hoke savar chali re of music. behaviour, the older to the other side, YOU HAD TO GIVE THE (Khalnayak 1993), one is more like you’re not in frame. MAXIMUM TAKES? it would be done in WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO Ram. But Arin’s It would irritate me. We (Sanjay Dutt two-three days. If BE A MOTHER OF TWO interests also lie During Tezaab and Madhuri) gave it was an elaborate TEENAGE BOYS? in drama, music, (1988), Sarojji (Khan) maximum takes song like Ek do teen, When you have math, physics… The told me, “Tum toh with the chair for Choli ke peeche teenagers at home, younger one (Ryan) Indian dancing Tamma tamma (Khalnayak), or it’s a different world loves music. But he’s karti ho. This is a (Thanedar 1990), Dola re ( altogether. They’re also interested in Bollywood-kind choreographed by 2002), then it would also going through science, engineering of dance. You’ll Sarojji. We did like take around 12 so many changes. and math. He’s more have to rehearse.” 40 retakes. Even if days. These had In their bodies, like me. He’s quieter. I agreed. I wanted one of us made a so many dancers, in their thinking, Ram is gregarious. to get my steps right. slight mistake. we the frames had to everything… so it’s a Arin is outgoing and So that when I’m had to do it again. be perfect, the sets challenge as a parent. gregarious too. Arin performing, I only Finally, we did an were huge. Ashok But I’m enjoying it. is a mini Ram. If have to concentrate entire shot perfectly. Mehta was doing I want to be as close you see photographs on my expressions In the end the cap the photography for to them as possible. of Ram at 17, the not where the had to fall on my foot Choli ke peeche. Another year and the similarity with Arin mark is. Tezaab and stay there. But The way he lit up older one (Arin) will is uncanny. was a lesson in it fell and rolled off. everything was be in college. I want Bollywood dance. So we had to do it all magical. There were to spend as much YOUR DANCES HAVE I had to change so over again. so many props on time as I can with BEEN ICONIC. WHEN WAS many expressions the set. One day, them. Right now, THE FIRST TIME YOU DID in seconds. It was HOW MANY DAYS Subhashji (Ghai, they’re busy with A COMPLICATED DANCE? fun. WOULD IT TAKE TO director) exclaimed, For Maar dala (Devdas) we used to shoot from 6.30 pm to 6.30 am… Hothon pe aisi baat (Jewel Thief) was the inspiration behind . Sarojji (Khan) and did a fab job. Even Kaahe chhed chhed mohe…from the same flm is wonderful INTERVIEW

Humko aaj kal hai intezar (Sailaab) was an alhad (innocent) song. Sarojji said, ‘Let your hair remain loose. Just tie the pallu around your waist. That way you’ll look like a girl waiting for love.’ The mogras thrown in the air, the hair fying looked beautiful

“Main dekhoon with whether I’d to TELL US ABOUT THE He said, “Ma’am line. The chorus was kahan se. I can’t even give a profile shot KAY SERA SERA DANCE you can do it.” He singing the entire see my hero and or a long shot. We IN PUKAR… pushed me to do song. Sarojji said yeh heroine!” rehearsed for it. When I was told that it. He has so much kaisa gana hai. But Thankfully, it got Prabhudheva would rhythm, a sense she said that we had ANY OTHER MEMORY? okayed in one take. be choreographing of timing and also a great opportunity There was another Shah Rukh, being on it, I was a bit scared humour in his dance. with it. She said, sweet song Tere bin the wheelchair, had for the first time in It was fun. I had a “Let the girls sing nahin guzre din in just to watch me. my life. I told him great time working but you express each Anjaam (1994). I guess, he must you have a different on that song. line with your facial I try to seduce a have been on style and I have a expressions.” I came wheelchair-bound tenterhooks wanting different one. He said AND HUMKO AAJKAL on the set thinking Shah Rukh (Khan). us to finish the don’t worry and that HAI INTEZAAR FROM it was a koli dance. Sarojji wanted to shot soon. (Laughs) he’d take small shots. SAILAAB… My hair was tied in do the song in one Imagine, when We rehearsed for the It just took around a bun. We even took take. Three-four you’re dancing in song. Next day, when three-four days to a shot. But Sarojji cameras were placed the moment, and we started shooting, shoot it. When we was not happy. She in different angles. someone is just he began dancing at first heard the song, felt something was I had to remember, watching you, a stretch. I reminded Sarojji and I realised amiss. It was an which camera was fearing kahin ye him about the that the main lead alhad (innocent) song where in keeping mistake na kar de! chhota chhota takes. was just singing a about a young girl is planned and When I was told that Prabhudheva calculated. Earlier would be choreographing Kay Sera Sera a project was just (Pukar), I was a little scared… He said, ruled by passion. But every era has its ‘Ma’am you can do it’. He pushed me to do ups and downs, pros it. He has so much rhythm, a sense of timing and cons. There and also humour in his dance. It was fun would be continuity jerks. The shooting waiting for love. She was a cute song. At would halt for Achchaji main said, “Untie the bun. first Rahulji (Rawail) haari – some reason. Then Let your hair remain had a different song Kala Pani (1958) after a year or so, loose. Don’t drape to be picturised. it would suddenly Jab pyaar kiya the pallu over your Sarojji and I didn’t toh darna kya – resume. In between shoulders. Just tie it find any fun in the Mughal-E-Azam the jewellery would around your waist. song. Rahulji had (1960) be misplaced. That way you’ll look a strict image. But Lag jaa gale ke Then we’d wear like a young girl we went up to him phir – Woh Kaun something similar. waiting for love.” and said the song Thi? (1964) So you enter a room The cameraman was wasn’t good enough. Aaja aaja main wearing a different also inspired by the He asked the music hun pyar tera pair of earrings and – Teesri Manzil song. The way he has directors to work (1966) leave the room with taken the shot, the out something else. something else. angles… the mogras That’s how Chane Inhi logon ne – But all that was Pakeezah (1972) thrown in the air, ke khet mein came forgiven. People just the hair flying, it all about. We had liked Thare rahiyo – loved cinema. looked beautiful. the song then. But Pakeezah (1972) I didn’t know it AS A JUDGE IN DANCE IT’S SAID MAAR DAALA would grow to be REALITY SHOWS, HOW FOR DEVDAS WAS SHOT so popular. People DO YOU FEEL WHEN THROUGH THE NIGHT… perform it in reality CONTESTANTS DANCE Yes, we used to shoot shows even today. ON YOUR NUMBERS? from 6.30 pm to 6.30 I go with the am. The set was all WHAT DO YOU MISS emotions behind lit up in Filmcity. ABOUT THE ’90S AS it. Either they love The words Maar COMPARED TO TODAY? me or the song dala were said in There’s immense or they love the four different ways. discipline today. choreography, that’s We played with Today there’s no why they are doing the expressions… waiting for anyone. it. It makes me happy and sad. You come, you shoot, happy to inspire Hothon pe aisi baat you finish your work someone. There’s (Jewel Thief) was the and leave. That’s so much talent in inspiration behind great. But earlier the remote corners Dola re dola. It was there was a kind of of India. These shot in long shots. spontaneity. We’d platforms give them Sarojji and Sanjay be sitting on the set MADHURI’S a chance to showcase Leela Bhansali did a with make-up while the talent. Some of fab job. Even Kaahe the dialogue was DREAM them are self-taught. chhed chhed mohe… being written on the SONGS They have gone from the same film is other side. When on YouTube and wonderfully shot. we’d ask for it, we websites and picked were told, “Two up dance. That A DANCE NUMBER minutes, we’re just justifies why WHICH EXCEEDED YOUR completing it.” Ek I am online to teach EXPECTATIONS… spontaneity thi dance. It will enable Chane ke khet mein usmein. Today people to perform, from Anjaam (1994) everything work and earn money. n INTERVIEW

I’ve been such a lazy lump of protoplasm during this lockdown. Samajh mein nahin aata hai ki thak kar sona hai yaa so kar thakna hai… I feel redundant. I wonder if I’ll be able to work after the lockdown. I’ve become used to just lazing around PHOTOGRAPHS: ARJUN PHOTOGRAPHS: MARK I’ve been an absolute pain to

AYUSHMANN TahiraKHURRANA SHATTERS ALL MYTHS ABOUT HIMSELF IN AN INTIMATE CHAT WITH JITESH PILLAAI

e’s truly an ‘outsider’. Someone who’s part of simultaneously. Being a consummate artiste – he sees showbiz and yet not of it. Someone who’s as the poetry in it all. In the seduction of stardom and Hfamiliar with the dazzle as with the dust. In his the reality beyond it. An avid believer in the Buddhist eight-year career, Ayushmann Khurrana has acquired a philosophy, it helps him fnd equilibrium in a world of lifetime of learning. Thanks to both success and failure, extremes. Understanding the mind and the method of pleasure and pain, which have kept him engaged the monk, who’s at home with the movies…

WHAT ARE YOU DOING DURING THE LOCKDOWN? After Vicky I’ve been such a lazy lump Donor, I turned of protoplasm during this lockdown. (Laughs) Forgive obnoxious with my the biology. Actually, family… When your I was a student of biology. frst flm becomes Samajh mein nahin aata super successful hai ki thak kar sona hai yaa you start believing so kar thakna hai. So I’m you’re invincible. confused. I sleep for seven and half hours during the You gain this false night. The afternoon siesta sense of confdence is for an hour and a half. that whatever you That makes it around 9 touch, will turn into to 10 hours of sleep. I feel gold. Mera dimaag redundant. I wonder if I’ll be able to work after the kharab ho gaya tha lockdown. I’ve become With wife Tahira Kashyap used to just lazing around. INTERVIEW

I surface around 4.30 pm. I feel energetic after that. Before that I’m cranky. (Smiles) I may even strike someone with something.

AREN’T YOU COOKING ANYTHING LIKE THE OTHERS? Khana khane se fursat milti hi nahi. I can’t cook. When I first came to Mumbai, I’d brought my cook along. I was living in a 1BHK flat. My cook used to share it with me. I can live without a girlfriend or wife. But I can’t live without a cook.

ARE YOU BEING A PAIN TO YOUR WIFE TAHIRA (KASHYAP)? I’ve been an absolute pain to Tahira. She wonders

I’m my own person. I like to do my own things. I’m like let me live my life. I don’t bother you. You don’t

With brother bother me… Generally, this doesn’t happen when you Aparshakti Khurana have a family. Thoda mushkil hai mere saath what I’m doing. The last NOW THAT YOU HAVE THE TIME becoming an actor. I’ve I was going through a time we spent so much DO YOU REVISIT YOUR FILMS? bought tickets in black to low phase with Tahira time together must have Two things can happen watch films. Cut to when after Vicky Donor. When been 10 years back. She while watching your own you watch yourself on a your first film becomes considers me as her third films. Either you get self- 70mm screen. It becomes super successful you start child. She’s always known obsessed or you become too overwhelming. believing you’re invincible. me as a lazy guy, who tries over-critical. I have both You gain this false sense of not to be lazy. these tendencies. So I don’t DID YOU IMAGINE THAT confidence that whatever watch my films. I watch YOU WOULD BECOME SO you touch, will turn into WHAT HAVE YOU DISCOVERED my films in the edit and SUCCESSFUL? gold. Mera dimaag kharab ABOUT YOUR KIDS? ARE YOU probably once with the We all dream about it. ho gaya tha. Then I went A GOOD FATHER? cast and crew. I remember I imagined it too. I won’t through a learning curve I try to be a good father watching Dum Laga Ke deny it. But what you after some flops. to my kids (son Virajveer Haisha with the audience. dream about doesn’t turn and daughter Varushka). It was overwhelming into reality always. I’m HOW EASY OR DIFFICULT A I can still do better. I’ve because the film was so fortunate to find success. PERSON ARE YOU TO LIVE WITH? discovered that they’re special. It was a kind of I’m full of gratitude. (Smiles) You’ll have to ask truly my kids because comeback for me. After Tahira about that. I’m my they’re terrible in that I decided not to DID YOU BECOME OBNOXIOUS own person. I like to do my mathematics. I go crazy watch my films with the AFTER TASTING SUCCESS? own things. I’m like let me explaining math to my son. audience in the theatre. After Vicky Donor, I turned live my life. Don’t hinder He’s good with the piano I came from obnoxious probably with it. If I’m reading a book in a and art. He’s an artiste. with huge aspirations of my family. Maybe, because corner of my house – let me With family In singing mode

As a star, you’re pampered… own, where no one knows I want in life. Also, the goal So you feel empty when you. There is no spot boy of this practice is peace, you’re on a foreign trip on your or manager to take care of something we need in this your ticketing or talk to the day and age. own… Being anonymous and person at the reception. having to stand in a queue, It’s difficult to get out of GULABO SITABO HAS RELEASED without a security guard makes the glamour world and ON THE OTT PLATFORM. HOW DO you realise there’s something make yourself ready for YOU VIEW THIS DETOUR? beyond your stardom… You the real world. Entertainment is a luxury may be somebody in a certain item, not a basic necessity. DO YOU GET TO KNOW YOURSELF Now, in times of job cuts, sphere. But when you step out BETTER WHEN YOU TRAVEL? people will think twice of that, you’re a nobody Of course! I went to before spending 1000 Bahamas for New Year. bucks at a multiplex. We were staying at a great People will try to save AYUSHMANN seven-star property. Being now. The economy has KHURRANA’S anonymous and having to taken a huge dip. But at stand in a queue, without the same time art will be. I don’t bother you. You POEM AGYAAT a security guard, spot boy survive. You need art to don’t bother me. That’s my (UNKNOWN) and manager to take care of maintain sanity. You need way of thinking. Generally, Agyaat se sawaal ka you, makes you realise that to consume entertainment. this doesn’t happen when Agyaat sa jawab hai, there’s something beyond People have grown used to you have a family. I try Agyaat si meri neend mein your stardom. You’re watching films on the OTT to be responsible. Thoda Agyaat sa ikk khwaab hai, shown the truth. You may platforms. They may think mushkil hai mere saath. Agyaat se mahasagar be somebody in a certain twice before going to the mein agyaat sa hi aab hai, sphere. But when you theatres now. Meri haisiyat kuchh IS THERE SOMETHING YOU WANT step out of that, you’re a I guess concerts or bhi nahin, TO CHANGE ABOUT YOURSELF? Koi agyaat hi nobody. That reality check even the big Punjabi Lot of things. I’m lajawaab hai. is not easy. weddings will not happen imperfect. I should soon. It will be difficult be less lazy and more HAS YOUR SLANT TOWARDS to get married in the first involved with the people He can forge and nurture BUDDHISM HELPED YOU STAY place. Now people won’t around me. There’s this relationships. He’s the best REAL? match horoscopes. perception that I’m brother in the world and Buddhism has been a life- They’ll get corona tests super ambitious because also the best husband. In altering experience. It’s done of prospective I do three films a year. fact, he’s the best human been miraculous. I started couples. Life will turn But that’s not true. In being I know. the practice of reciting that crazy. Having said reality, I’m extremely chants before the release that, the fun of watching lazy and laidback. WHAT DO YOU LIKE AND NOT LIKE of cinema in the theatres is ABOUT STARDOM? (2017). I chant for at least exciting. Whenever that ARE YOU A GOOD BROTHER TO As a star, you’re pampered. 40 minutes a day. Though happens, say after six APARSHAKTI KHURANA? There are 10 people around the film didn’t do well months or whenever, it He’s a better sibling than you, who take care of I remained self-assured. will be a huge celebration me for sure. He’s more everything in your life. You By nature, I get confused for cinema. We’re going responsible, more loving. feel empty when you’re easily. But this practice has through a tough time. But He’s a people’s person. on a foreign trip on your given me clarity about what we will survive. n NOSTALGIA

( 1916-1970) LOVE IS ALL THERE IS WHILE HIS CONTEMPORARIES WROTE ABOUT REBELLION, SHAKEEL BADAYUNI CHOSE TO WRITE ABOUT ROMANCE, WRITES FARHANA FAROOK “Mujhe fakhr hai meri shayri Meri zindagi se judaa nahi.” Shakeel Badayuni He belonged to neo-India; a nation just woken to freedom. songs captured the delirium and the disenchantment of love In that mood of revolutionary ideas and progressive poetry, against the backdrop of palace intrigue. Shakeel Badayuni stayed true to his romantic predilection. Shakeel’s the only lyricist to have won three consecutive He preferred being a crusader of love than a cheerleader of (1960, 1961, 1962) under composers Ravi rebellion. Along with maestro , he went on to celebrate and . His paeans to a woman’s celestial beauty romance in all its sensual and lyrical glory. in Chaudvin ka chaand, won him the Black Lady and Waheeda He’s also remembered for being an advocate of the Ganga- Rehman an epithet forever. He won the Filmfare trophy twice Jamuni tehzeeb, the womb of secularism. Shakeel, Naushad again for the deferential Husnwale tera jawab nahin and the and came together to create the iconic bhajan melancholic Kahin deep jale kahin dil. While his lyrics for films Hari Om… man tadpat Hari darshan ko aaj for Baiju Bawra thrived on corporal metaphors, outside it, his poetry was marked based on raag malkauns. Story goes that Naushad asked his by the intricacies of love and life. No wonder it found patronage team to attend the recording only after ablutions as a bhajan in renowned ghazal exponents. Begum Akhtar’s rendition of his was to be recorded… such was the sanctity of their art. Mughal- ghazal, Mere humnafas mere humnawa, has exalted Shakeel E-Azam remains another monumental collaboration where their into the gallery of the greats…

STAR POET Shakeel Badayuni THE ICONIC PYAR was born in 1916 KIYA TOH DARNA KYA, in Badaun in Uttar THE BHAJAN MOHE Pradesh, known for PANGHAT PE, THE its ethos steeped in Sufism and poetry. QAWWALI TERI MEHFIL Hailing from a MEIN KISMET, THE literary family, his SPIRITUAL BEKAS PE father was keen KARAM KIJIYE AND THE he master Arabic, CLASSICAL SHUBH , Persian and DIN AAYO SUNG BY Hindi. Shakeel’s BADE GHULAM ALI early inspiration was KHAN… MUGHAL- his relative Zia-ul- E-AZAM REMAINS Qasiri Badayuni, a NAUSHAD AND religious poet. Young SHAKEEL BADAYUNI’S Shakeel attended MASTERPIECE Aligarh University in Mughal-E-Azam the 1930s. There he NOSTALGIA

SHAKEEL BADAYUNI’S FILMFARE AWARDS

 Sanghursh CHAUDHVIN KA CHAND HO  CHAUDHVIN KA CHAND  KAHIN DEEP JALE (1961) HUSNWALE TERA BEES SAAL BAAD The first line, Chaudhvin GHARANA (1962) ka chand ho ya aftab ho, (1961) Lata Mangeshkar won her came from Ravi to which SS Vasan’s family drama second Filmfare Award for Shakeel’s retort was… starred and Best Playback (Female) Jo bhi ho tum khuda . Vasan for the haunting solo. ki qasam lajawab ho! is said to have watched The song became her Between the two Waheeda the song whenever he felt comeback as she recorded Rehman’s beauty was restless, given its dream- it after a long bout of immortalised forever. like soothing quality. sinusitis and asthma. Dil Diya Dard Liya came in contact with a mushaira in 1946. poets Neeraj and There Naushad Jigar Muradabadi. asked Shakeel to The latter had a express his skill in a strong influence couplet. “Hum dard on Shakeel’s poetic ka afsana duniya ko sensibilities. suna denge / Har dil Given his flair for mein mohabbat ki verse, Shakeel made ek aag lagaa denge,” a name for himself replied Shakeel. in mehfils and This interaction mushairas. Romance paved the way for being his forte, a musical odyssey Sahib Bibi Aur Ghulam he grew popular. between the two, After a short stint which spread across Naushad were hits e-Azam (1960), and Shakeel excelled of working with the two decades and 22 especially Uma Kohinoor (1960) in celebrating the government’s supply films. Interestingly, Devi’s (Tun Tun) Gunga Jumna (1961), lyricism of love. He department in Delhi, Shakeel could Afsana likh rahi hun. could weave pain as Shakeel found his sing and Naushad Their memorable (1963), Leader (1964) poignantly. Na milta reckoning as a poet wrote poetry, songs include those and Dil Diya Dard gham to barbadi in in 1944. which explains the in films like Dulari Liya (1966). ke afsane kahan symbiosis between (1949), Babul (1950), Shakeel’s fluency jate in Amar, urged NAUSHAD the two musical Deedar (1951), Baiju with language made Sahir Ludhianvi to & SHAKEEL soulmates. Shakeel’s Bawra (1952), Amar him switch dialects compliment Shakeel Shakeel first met lyrics for Kardar’s (1954), with ease. The as the best ghazal maestro Naushad at Dard (1947) for (1957), Mughal- utterly romantic writer in Hindi Suhani raat dhal cinema. THE PLAYFUL PIYA AISE JIYA MEIN, THE BESEECHING NA JAO chuki from Dulari, On the behest of SAIYAN AND THE HAUNTING CHALE AAO FROM SAHIB BIBI AUR or the mounting Naushad, filmmaker GHULAM ARE A MASTERCLASS IN SITUATIONAL WRITING. THE strains of Mere Vijay Bhatt signed FILM OWES AS MUCH TO MEENA KUMARI’S POIGNANT ACT AS mehboob from Mere Shakeel to write TO SHAKEEL’S LYRICS THAT SPELT OUT HER TURMOIL Mehboob, Naushad the lyrics for Baiju  YEH ZINDAGI KE MELE – Mela (1948)  BACHPAN KE DIN – Deedar (1951)  HUE HAM JINKE LIYE BARBAD - Deedar (1951)  INSAAF KA MANDIR HAI YEH - Amar (1954) Baiju Bawra  MOHABBAT KI RAHON MEIN - Uran Khatola (1955)  DUNIYE MEIN HUM AAYEIN HAI – Mother India (1957) Mother India  Kohinoor DO SITARON SHAKEEL PROVED TO BE LUCKY FOR RAVI, AS THE COMPOSER KA ZAMEEN maestro almost GOT HIS BIG BREAK WITH DUTT WITH CHAUDVIN KA – Kohinoor (1960) never worked with CHAND. WHILE SHAKEEL GOT THE FILMFARE AWARD FOR  any other lyricist BEST LYRICS FOR CHAUDVIN KA CHAND, RAVI GOT HIS FIRST APNI AZAADI till Shakeel’s death FILMFARE AWARD FOR BEST MUSIC FOR GHARANA LATER KO HUM in 1970. – Leader (1964)  Bawra, based on the to suit the situation. ke and Shubh din GUZARE SHAKEEL AND legendary musician. In Gunga Jumna, he aayo sung by Bade HAIN AAJ OTHERS Man tarpat Hari used Bhojpuri words Ghulam Ali Khan… ISHQ MEIN Shakeel also teamed darshan ko aaj sung in Nain lad jai hain proved Shakeel’s – Dil Diya up with composer by Mohammed Rafi, toh manwa ma to competence in Dard Liya Ravi for 15 films Ustad Amir Khan reflect the setting of writing in all genres. (1966) including Gharana and DV Paluskar’s the film. Mughal-E-Azam  (1961), Ghungat, Aaj gawat man mero The album of remains the duo’s MERE Grahasti, Nartkai PAIRON MEIN (raag desh) and Mughal-E-Azam was masterpiece. GHUNGROO (all in 1963), Phool the evergreen Tu a bouquet of ragas In the late - Sunghursh Aur Patthar and Do ganga ki mauj (raag and romance. The ’60s, Shakeel was (1968) Badan (both in 1966). bhairavi), sung by iconic Pyar kiya to rendered indisposed Shakeel proved to Rafi… established darna kya in Mughal- by tuberculosis. He be lucky for Ravi, as Shakeel’s prowess E-Azam was based was admitted to a the composer got his over Hindi as on the homegrown sanatorium. In a bid big break with Guru well. Naushad and folk song Pyaar to buoy his sagging Dutt (Chaudvin Ka Shakeel created some kiya hai, kya chori spirits and finances, Chand in 1960). Ravi songs in the Khari ki hai. The bhajan Naushad got him got his first Filmfare Boli dialect as well. Mohe panghat three projects, Ram Award for Best Holi aaye re kanhai pe, the qawwali Aur Shyam (1967), Music for Gharana, (Mother India), Mohe Teri mehfil mein Aadmi (1968) and while Shakeel got panghat pe (Mughal- kismet aazma ke, Sunghursh (1968). it for Best Lyrics for E-Azam) or Dhoondo the spiritual Bekas It’s said Shakeel was Chaudvin Ka Chand. dhoondo re saajana pe karam kijiye paid 10 times more Their other popular (Gunga Jumna) were and the classical than his normal songs include Mori folk songs adapted Prem jogan ban fees for these. The chham chham baje NOSTALGIA

Mela Mere Mehboob THE POETRY AND PAIN IN SHAKEEL’S GHAZALS MADE THEM POPULAR. BEGUM AKHTAR, AT EVERY CONCERT OR RADIO AND TV SHOW, SANG HIS GHAZALS. THESE INCLUDED THE ICONIC MERE HAMNAFAS, MERE HAMNAWA AND AYE MOHABBAT TERE ANJAM PE RONA AAYA

his personality. The friends Naushad, poetry and pain in Rafi and Johny his ghazals made Walker. them popular with and writer Wajahat exponents of the Mirza were also art form such as amongst his close Begum Akhtar and friends. Talat Mehmood. Amar Begum Akhtar, at THE FAREWELL every concert and Shakeel Badayuni payaliya (Ghunghat), the haunting Chale Shakeel’s work TV show, sang succumbed Zindagi ke safar mein aao from Sahib Bibi with him remained his ghazals. These to diabetes (Nartaki) and Lo aa Aur Ghulam are underrated. Their included the iconic complications at gayi unki yaad (Do a masterclass in songs include Yeh Mere hamnafas, mere the age of 53, on Badan). The latter situational writing. duniya hai (Shair hamnawa and Aye April 20, 1970, earned the Filmfare The film owes as 1949) and Shikayat mohabbat tere anjam leaving behind his Award for Shakeel much to Meena kya karoon (Kundan pe rona aaya. Talat’s wife, two sons and yet again. His song Kumari’s poignant 1955). His repertoire favourites remained two daughters. His Wo aurat hai jo act as to Shakeel’s earned him the title Hangama-e-gham daughter Najma, insano ki from Ghar lyrics that spelt out of Geetkar-E-Azam and Gham-e-ashiqi passed away soon Grihasthi is revered her turmoil. from the Government se keh do. after his demise, for the dignity Some of Shakeel’s Of India. Shakeel’s non- while still in college. it accords to films with S.D. film poetry His friends formed a woman. Burman include GHAZAL KING collections include a trust called Yaad- Shakeel was also Kaise Kahoon and Unlike his peers, Rangeeniyan, e-Shakeel after his associated with Benazir (both in Shakeel had little Ranaaiyan and death, which became Hemant Kumar 1964). With C. interest in political Shabistan. He a source of support during Bees Saal Ramachandra he ideology. He also published for his family. Baad (1962). They wrote the lyrics for didn’t align with a collection of Today, his created beautiful Zindagi Aur Maut progressive poets devotional poetry lyrics continue songs like the (1965) and Wahan like Faiz Ahmed called Naghma-e- to play on retro Filmfare Award- Ke Log (1967). While Faiz, Majrooh Firdous. Though his channels, defying winning Kahin he collaborated Sultanpuri, Kaifi poetry reflected love the vocabulary of deep jale kahin dil with Roshan on Azmi, Sardar Jafri and estrangement, the times. And in a and Sapne suhane Bedaag (1965) and and others. Doyen there was a fun- non-descript lane of ladakpan ke. The Noorjahan (1967). He Jigar Moradabadi loving side to Badaun, a family- pair reached its peak also came together described Shakeel the poet. Shakeel maintained library with Sahib Bibi Aur with Naushad’s ex- as ‘Shair-e-fitrat’ or enjoyed playing under his name… Ghulam (1962). The assistant, Ghulam an instinctive poet badminton, going stands as a quiet playful Piya aise jiya Mohammed. But as his poetry was for picnics and reminder of the poet mein, the beseeching Ghulam never got not a play of words hunting trips and who walked this Na jao saiyan and his due and so but an extension of flying kites with way but once… n reader’s reviews, box-offce, celebrity column & more

@neetu54 “Wish me luck as you wave me goodbye Cheerio, here I go on my way INSTA LIKE With a cheer, not a Medley of moments Check out what your favourites are upto on Instagram... tear, in your eye Give me a smile, I can keep for a while In my heart while I’m away Neetu Kapoor posts the sentimental song remembering Rishi Kapoor.

@priyankachoprajonas A cherry lip and sunshine...❤ ...maybe even a earring...I’m @deepikapadukone: To the greatest off-screen feeling adventurous hero I could have ever had! Thank You for Looking beautiful showing us that being a true champion is not needs no reason or only about one’s professional achievements, season. Priyanka but also about being a good human being! Chopra is a thing Happy 65th Birthday, Pappa! of beauty and a joy We love you! #pappa #padukone forever. Deepika Padukone wishes her hero - dad Prakash Padukone on his birthday. @saraalikhan 19th May 2016 Sometimes this feels like a minute ago, and sometimes it feels like another lifetime Sara Ali Khan posts her @varundvn: graduation picture happybday from Columbia Niece Niara is University. the apple of Varun Dhawan’s eyes. A cute moment Readers send in their feedback pg 66 with the b’day girl. Shatrughan Sinha’s racy rejoinders pg 68 LETTERS

June 2020

Rishi Kapoor 1952— 2020

...REMEMBERING RISHI KAPOOR AND IRRFAN KHAN FarewellA FILMFARE SPECIAL Irrfan Khan 1967— 2020 INREADERS WRITE THE AND BITE BACK... WITHMAIL LOVE AND AFFECTION

st GOODBYE LEGENDS GENEROUS to help people in the SUPERHERO The Filmfare e-issue, which covered IRRFAN fight against coronavirus. SONU 1Prize the life and times of the late Irrfan Khan always kept His only condition was Sonu Sood has received 1500 Rishi Kapoor and Irrfan Khan, is a low-profile. A month that nobody should know massive praise for his a collector’s issue. It was heart- after his demise, his about his contribution. efforts in helping migrant warming to go through their movie milestones and neighbour and close A global star, Irrfan workers reach their memories shared by their colleagues. Both passed friend from Jaipur, remained a humanist at home states during the away within a span of 24 hours. Irrfan Khan died on reportedly revealed that heart. coronavirus lockdown. 29 April and Rishi Kapoor passed away on the 30 April. Irrfan was raising funds Asha Diwekar, The actor has been Both were suffering from cancer. Both went abroad for personally sending off treatment. Both had seemingly recovered. Both began shooting. Irrfan finished Angrezi Medium that co-starred Radhika Madan while Rishi was working on Sharmaji Namkeen, directed by Hitesh Bhatia. Both left abruptly leaving behind devastated fans. Momin Khan, Mahim

had left on September 29, couldn’t return for his mother’s last rites. nd Raj Kapoor’s daughter, Late Rishi Kapoor with Ranbir Kapoor Ritu , succumbed 2Prize to cancer on January 1000 CANDID RISHI Krishna Raj Kapoor 14, 2020. Her husband, The late Rishi Kapoor was not industrialist Rajan Nanda, known to mince words. In a past Filmfare interview TOUGH TIMES had passed away on he candidly decoded his relationship with son Ranbir Krishna Raj Kapoor, wife August 6, 2019. Rishi Kapoor. “We’re not friends. There is a glass wall of Raj Kapoor, breathed Kapoor passed away between us. We can see each other but we can’t reach Sonu Sood her last on October 1, a few months after his out… I can’t be on backslapping terms with my son. 2018, just three days sister Ritu – on April 30. We have a drink together sometimes, sort out our thousands of migrants to after son Rishi Kapoor left Hoping the Kapoors leave issues. But he definitely has aankhon ki sharam, baap Bihar and Uttar Pradesh. for the US for his cancer the sad phase behind. ki sharam,” he said with stark simplicity. He’s even arranged meal treatment. Rishi, who Zainab Seth, Pune Vivek Raheja, Goa kits and sanitisers for the travellers. He reportedly said, “I’ve pledged to BOBBY TRUTHS not stop until the last Story goes that when Raj Kapoor was planning Bobby migrant reaches home.” (1973), he had the debacle of Mera Naam Joker (1970) In fact, a man, who behind him. He’s known to have asked son Rishi (Kapoor) united with his family whether he’d care to work with a ‘flop filmmaker’ and an tweeted, “The one who ‘extremely demanding director’. , daughter helps another meet his of businessman Chunnibhai Kapadia, was zeroed in for mother is a God. Sonu the female lead. Raj Kapoor, they said, saw a reflection of Sood, I believe you’re no Nargis in Dimple’s demeanour. Rest is history. less than a God.” Bobby Ramola Pais, Delhi Viraj Singh, Lucknow

head of an ad agency. PHIR MILENGE one Salman Khan may have She meets Rohit (Salman Just given many masala Khan) at an outdoor Point blockbusters. But there’s meeting organised by one lesser-known film her alma mater. Old of his that lies forgotten friendships are rekindled. in the archives of time. The two get intimate. Revathy’s Phir Milenge Soon, Tamanna discovers (2004), apparently based she’s HIV positive, while on the Tom Hanks-Denzel Rohit succumbs to AIDS. Washington starrer Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy and Philadelphia, showed Bhavatha Raja composed Salman at his sensitive gems like Kuch pal and best. Tamanna (Shilpa Jeene ke ishaare. Anushka Sharma Shetty) is the creative Jolan Mathias, Mumbai

POWER GIRL ANUSHKA Noted Marathi author/ As the producer of the breakout show Paatal Lok, it’s ZINDAGI KAISI HAI PAHELI... journalist Lalita just the beginning for Anushka Sharma on the OTT The late Yogesh Gaur worked with realistic directors like Tamhane, who wrote platform. The show, starring Jaideep Ahlawat, Abhishek Hrishikesh Mukherjee and Basu Chatterjee between the the book on the Banerjee, Neeraj Kabi, Gul Panag, Ishwak Singh and ’70s -’80s. His earthy lyrics suited the themes of their legendary Nutan titled Swastika Mukherjee has won praise for exploring caste, films. He famous songs include Kahin door jab din dhal Nutan - Asen Mee.. religion and politics in India. In the past she produced jaaye (Anand), Zindagi kaisi hai paheli (Anand), Rimjhim Nasen Mee and Smita the road thriller NH10, the horror film Pari and the gire saawan (Manzil Manzil), Rajnigandha phool Patil, titled Smita, ghost comedy Phillauri. Her upcoming film is Bulbbul tumhare (Rajnigandha), Aaye tum yaad mujhe (Mili) Smit Ani Mi, passed with Netflix. Anushka perhaps believes in the adage no and Na bole tum (Baaton Baaton Mein). Yogesh died in away in June. risk, no gain. Mumbai on May 29. He will be missed. Maansi Pednekar, Dadar Deepti Vyas, Mumbai Prerna Joshi, Mumbai Sajid-Wajid won the Filmfare Award Kiya To Darna Kya in for Best Music for 1998. Sajid-Wajid gave Dabangg (2011). Tere music to several Salman mast mast do nain Khan films. These was a chartbuster. included Hello Brother, Rohan Sippy, Delhi Partner, Hello, Wanted, Wajid Khan Veer, Tere Naam and The Academy of Ek Tha Tiger. Their most Motion Pictures Arts WAJID WILL BE popular association with and Sciences (Oscars) MISSED Salman was the Dabangg remembered Irrfan Musician Wajid Khan, of franchise. was Khan and tweeted, “A Sajid-Wajid fame, passed Sajid-Wajid’s last work REENA ROY – A RARE STAR mainstay of Bollywood away at the age of 42 together. They recently Reena Roy began her career in the ’70s with B.R. cinema and incredible on May 31. He was two composed Salman’s Ishara’s Zaroorat. Jaise Ko Taisa is considered as the talent in films like years younger to his Bhai Bhai single. Wajid turning point of her career. Reena’s rain dance on , music partner and brother Khan was also a singer. the film song Ab ke saawan mein jee dare became Life Of Pi and The Sajid Khan. Their father He sang hits like Do you her identity. In the cult film Nagin, where she played Namesake, Irrfan was tabla player Ustad wanna partner, Soni a serpent, her sensuality was at play. J.Om Prakash’s Khan left his imprint Sharafat Ali Khan. Their de nakhre, Hud Hud Aasha was the biggest hit of the year. Her Sheesha ho on global cinema...” first Bollywood project Dabangg and Fevicol se. ya dil ho number remains popular even today. Rahila Seth, Agra was Salman Khan’s Pyaar Tanveer Ahmed, Bandra Anwar Patel, Surat

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Legends: Rishi Kapoor and Irrfan khan

A Japanese proverb says, needed. Women need to and survive the storm “If two people constantly be made more aware of together. Your comments? agree with each other,one their rights. More hotline Abhijit Ghosh, of them is useless. But numbers should be made Sharing is indeed caring. if two people constantly available for their safety Wish the rest of the world disagree with each other, and easy reach. would follow this. then both of them are I appreciate your thought. useless.” Judging by What according to you PHOTOGRAPH: PHOTOGRAPH: MEETESH TANEJA these criteria, how will has been the biggest What has Nature tried to you grade our present-day impact of COVID-19? teach us in the form of politicians? Jaideep , Kolkata coronavirus? Tulika Nabar, Mumbai COVID-19 itself! Besides Dibyasha Mishra, Bhubaneshwar Well, whatever the proverb the most talked about Don’t mess with it and be, politicians generally and feared expressions of don’t take Nature for agree to disagree and seem negativity that we have granted. Look at the to be totally confused. been hearing these days. damage we’ve already done to the earth. It’s high time Salma Hayek has launched In this lockdown of we put things in order. a campaign to combat COVID-19 ‘immunity’ is increasing violence needed to make oneself Most of us do not even against women during the strong and ‘humanity’ is know how to stand in a lockdown. What are your needed to make every queue. How will physical views on it? citizen strong. Your distancing be maintained Nisha Gupta, Gurugram comments. after lockdown is over? Kudos to her for this great Atul Tankha, Ratlam Nisha Gupta, Gurugram initiative, which was much One must not take Well, to begin with, we COVID-19 lightly or for should take inspiration granted. Those who do from nations such as Japan, The death of great actors like Rishi Kapoor must be warned about who began wearing masks and Irrfan Khan brought us to tears. What their stupidity. in public and maintaining could be the reason? social distancing some Vibha, via email No relationship is all years ago - much before Because both, the late Rishi Kapoor and Irrfan Khan sunshine but two people the coronavirus pandemic. were loved by all. What else could be the reason? can share an umbrella That was because of the 1st Prize The attitude towards ‘negative’ and ‘positive’ has changed in this present scenario of COVID-19 lockdown. Your comments please. Atul Tankha, Ratlam Yes, you’re right. It has given us a time to reflect on both the negative and the positive aspects of the pandemic. With an attitude of gratitude, I hope that all the COVID warriors – doctors, policemen, nurses, technicians, municipal authorities and workers and everyone, who made our lives easier during these days of turmoil, stay safe and coronavirus free. The frontline warriors are the people, who’re at most risk. 2nd Prize Don’t you think the coronavirus has made nations redefne their health policies? In India at least that’s never been a priority. Ashish Verma, Bhawarna In India health was never a priority. But now people Superman: Sonu Sood are redefining health policies. Better late than never. Right now everything is in confusion but hopefully, rising pollution. Such a their villages. On foot, it’ll clear soon. practice has become a habit bicycle and other means. there. It should become a So the Supreme Court’s habit with us as well. We observation/judgement Rukh Khan, Salman Khan The best way to adjust need to stay positive and can be respectfully and many other known and to this new life is to continue to lead our lives titled as, ‘Badi der kar unknown COVID warriors handle with care and taking every available di meherbaan aate aate’. have done their bit. Down deal with the precaution. However, I must admit South too, superstars like circumstances dealt by that every human being Rajinikanth, Chiranjeevi, Nature patiently. I’m sure What’s your take on the has a social responsibility Khushboo and many others with modern methods to plight of migrant labour? towards migrants. Some have been doing their bit. A fight it, we’ll surely come Jaideep Sarkar, Kolkata of them have fulfilled big salute to them for their out with some solution. Their plight has been tragic that and some of them are good work. and heart-breaking. With continuing to do so. Like (Feature co-ordinated by due respect, the highest our own Sonu Sood – a What’s the future DEVESH SHARMA) court of the land issued fine human being and a of Bollywood if the Please note: The column doesn’t a verdict in favour of real hero. Besides him, coronavirus continues for refect Shatrughan Sinha’s political the migrants by the time of course, national icon one year? or personal views. His answers are they had already reached Amitabh Bachchan, Shah Syed Nisar Mehdi, Hyderabad given in jest and humour.

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MIND

Genius filmmaker Guru Dutt

MATTERSo be or not to be?” suicide, as some sections talking about mental Shakespeare asked alleged, then what health. While it’s true this question so compelled a cinematic that depression is indeed many centuries genius, seemingly at the a silent killer, pop Tago. We still haven’t top of his game, to take psychology isn’t going to come up with an answer. such a drastic step? help us. What’s needed What makes people draw Celebrity deaths is acceptance about it boundaries as to how always stir strong being as much a disease as much they can take? emotions, they being diabetes or heart trouble. What makes them believe idols. There was a huge People visit specialists this much and no more? outpouring of grief when for consultation when it What propels them to Guru Dutt died. The comes to these ailments. take their own lives? whole industry mourned Likewise, we need to Our minds are strange as one. Recently, one saw reach out to experts when things indeed. Some can how saddened everyone it comes to mental health slumber blissfully even was when Irrfan Khan and as well and take proper after committing the most then Rishi Kapoor passed medication. The taboo hideous crimes. While away. However, the anger and the fear associated some contemplate suicide rampant after Sushant with approaching a for something as trivial as Singh Rajput’s untimely mental health counsellor failing an exam. death is something else. needs to go away. And it’s I remember reading Never have we witnessed not just celebrities, who’re various accounts of the such mass angst before. at risk here. Everyone is. legendary Guru Dutt’s His passing away seems So let’s treat depression demise. We would never like a personal blow. before it eats us. know whether it was by One thing his death [email protected] choice or chance. If it was has done is to get us Twitter: @jiteshpillaai