Ranbir Kapoor

Imtiaz Ali is all set to kick-start Tamasha (earlier titled Window Seat) with Ranbir Kapoor and Deepika Padukone. For someone who has worked with both actors before in Rockstar and Love Aaj Kal respectively, one waits to see what the director has up his sleeve for Tamasha where he is collaborating with Sajid Nadiadwala (Highway) again.

What lies ahead with you directing Ranbir?

When I work with Ranbir, I don't see him getting into a star mode at all. He approaches a film purely as an actor. He enjoys what he does in front of the camera and I feel that his entire approach towards acting is the most unadulterated. We saw that in Rockstar and the premise of Tamasha encourages that too.

You are starting the film quicker than any of you earlier films, considering the fact that you take time between movies.

In fact I may always want to make a movie quickly but then sometimes it takes time. You can never have a heart of pushing a child out before it is ready to be delivered. This is the reason why I don't carry any regret that my films have arrived after gaps. The only thing that I think about before bringing a film on floors is that when people watch it in theaters, they should like it.

From Love Aaj Kal to Rockstar and Highway, you have changed gears frequently in terms of presentation. Still, a film of yours is termed 'quintessentially Imtiaz Ali'. Is that going to be the same for Tamasha?

See, people keep saying or assuming things but I just go ahead and make a movie by telling a story I want to. Honestly, I am not trying to repeat myself or feel stressed about reinventing myself. I can see the work of other directors and still say that his style is the same or has changed. However, for my own work it is very difficult to comment on it. 

Why?

That's because I don't do anything deliberately. Now if I ask you to do an interview or write an article by being “quintessentially you,” can you do that? Nahi naa! You will do what comes naturally to you or you feel like doing at that point in time. Yes, others can of course tell you whether your style is coming in your write-up or not!

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ARJUN KAPOOR: Not Worried About Typecasting

Arjun Kapoor and Alia Bhatt in "2 States."

The movie 2 States is a huge hit at the box office and Arjun Kapoor is all set to break his own record, and that too as a solo lead, of Gunday which had accumulated 78 crores at the box office. With the film, he has also moved out of the “angry young man” image that he had soon started developing, courtesy Ishaqzaade, Aurangzeb and Gunday.

So can he say that with 2 States to his name, he has escaped from being typecast in only a particular kind of role?

“See, har picture ki ek alag duniya hoti hai. A relatively new entrant like me is just 3-4-films-old and I am sure that audience doesn't typecast an actor so early. I am not worried about any slotting happening for me per se as yet," says Arjun in a composed tone.

As for conscious effort being put into an image changer exercise, Arjun reveals, in a matter of fact tone, that he had first signed 2 States and then Gunday.

“This shows that I am not shying away from the action zone,” says Arjun, “I love playing different characters and then there are also layers in different characters. A lot also depends on the setting of a film. Like, Ishaqzaade was set in a small town which exists in reality. On the other hand Gunday was about a world which doesn't exist. As for 2 States, it was as real a setting that one can expect and moreover the film's treatment wasn't stylized either. I am glad that the film has managed such a heartwarming and overwhelming response from all over.”

Now one looks forward to what Arjun has to offer in Finding Fanny and Tevar, his next two releases, which would be releasing before close of year.

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SONAKSHI SINHA: Inspired by Akshay's Work Ethics

Akshay Kumar and Sonakshi Sinha in “Once Upon A Time In Mumbaai Dobaara.”

Based on the terror created by sleeper cells, Holiday has Akshay Kumar playing an army officer who is off duty on a holiday before a sinister plan forces him to abandon his leisure trip and get back to business. In this tussle between good versus bad, how does leading lady Sonakshi Sinha fit into the scheme of things?

“Well, if there is a hero and a villain then there has to be a heroine too naa,” giggles Sonakshi, “In fact I am the reason why there are so many light moments as well in the film. Also, the love story is woven very nicely and sweetly into the film's plot; there is nothing forced about it.”

In the film, Sonakshi and Akshay play a couple where their parents want them to get married. After some initial tu tu main main and an-ban, all is eventually well with a few song and dance numbers thrown in as well.

As for the real life equation between her and Akshay, it is as good as ever, with a great off-screen camaraderie the duo share. Since they have done quite a few films with each other, right from Rowdy Rathore to Joker to Once Upon A Time In Mumbaai Dobaara and now Holiday, they can be assumed to share a very comfortable relationship as co-stars.

“Absolutely,” gleams Sonakshi, “This is my fourth film with Akshay and he is a kind of person who is good with just about everyone on the sets. He is extremely professional and doesn't make people around him feel that he is such a big star. It is always good when your co-star comes for the shoot on time and respects the schedule. Such strong work ethics are always an inspiration.”

No wonder, other than the four films where they have come together as an on-screen couple, Sonakshi has featured in song and dance numbers for Akshay's OMG - Oh My God! (Govinda Govinda) and Boss (Har Kisi Ko).

Smiles Sonakshi, “See, I thoroughly respect Akshay. All he has to do is pick up the phone and call me for a film; that's the kind of rapport that we enjoy.”

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RAJINIKANTH: “Kochadaiiyaan” Arrives Amidst Mad Rush

Rajinikanth

More than three years after his last release Endhiran [Robot], Rajinikanth is arriving on the big screen again with Kochadaiiyaan. However that would be amidst a mad rush, what with as many as half a dozen other Hindi films releasing the same day. That's not counting other Tamil, Telugu and Hollywood films that would be hitting the screen.

“While it is a given that Eros would be giving the widest ever release for a Rajinikanth starrer on May 9, there are many other films in the radar as well. While the most notable of them all are Koyelaanchal [Vinod Khanna, Suniel Shetty] and Hawa Hawaai [Saqib Saleem], there are Mastram, Manjunath, Ye Hai Bakrapur' and Khwaabb in the fray as well," informs our source.

This is quite unprecedented since the norm is for other films to reschedule their arrival in case a biggie fixes its release date.

“Koyelaanchal as well as Hawa Hawaai had confirmed their plans long ago so they can't be expected to make any changes. Now that Kochadaiiyaan is also releasing on the same date, it is too late for anyone to re-look at the release calendar. In fact a much smaller film like Mastram too has intensified its promotion. As for Manjunath, Ye Hai Bakrapur and Khwaabb, they could well re-evaluate their choice, considering the fact that their promotion so far has been minimal,” a trade guru adds.

That may seem unlikely too, considering the fact that the Friday after this is the day when election results would be declared. Though Bollywood in general has stayed away from May 16, Himesh Reshammiya has taken the step of bringing his The Xpose on this date.

“It is an exception and Himesh could well reap in benefits of a solo release. However it is pretty much a wait and watch scenario for the other films,” the trade guru adds.

As for Eros [Kochadaiiyaan], Asshu Trikha [Koyelaanchal] and Fox [Hawa Hawaai], the confirmation stays for May 9 being the D-Day. With Deepika Padukone, who enjoyed four 100 crore superhits last year, one waits to see the kick-start that she gains with Kochadaaiyaan being her first release of the year with none other than superstar Rajinikanth for company.

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TIGER SHROFF: Newcomer Emotional About Hair Cut

Tiger Shroff at the music launch of "Heropanti." [IANS]

If you search for Tiger Shroff's earlier pictures on the Internet, he would be unrecognizable when compared to the look he is carrying in his debut film Heropanti. Boasting of long hair and a beefy body, for many years Tiger was every bit a stud with his hair adding a different touch to his personality.

No wonder, it wasn't an easy decision for him to take when his director Sabbir Khan and producer Sajid Nadiadwala suggested that he would have to let go of it if he had to look like the character he was playing in Heropanti.

“Tiger had nurtured his hair for so many years and was very emotionally attached to it. In fact he never shied away from hiding it when his pictures were in circulation earlier on and was rather proud of it. One can well imagine how he would have felt when most of it had to be mercifully chopped off while bringing it to a ‘regular’ cut,” says a close associate of the actor.

Sabbir and Sajid understood his predicament though and didn't take any drastic steps in a jiffy.

Smiles Sabbir, who has spent close to a couple of years with the actor on Heropanti, “Yes, Tiger was emotional about his hair so we went with the process of cutting it step by step. To his credit though, even if felt sad about his hair being chopped off, he didn't require convincing as he is someone who would do anything to get the character right. I realized that during our workshops and readings itself that he was visualizing the character right through and was making mental notes. Perhaps he could see it coming and was eventually game for anything.”

Meanwhile Tiger got his body, built over the years, to perfect use in Heropanti.

Says Sabbir, “Tiger is a topmost gymnast and has an international body. Amongst Bollywood newcomers, he perhaps has the fittest body. He is so flexible. Guess a body like this with the hair cut short works perfectly right for him on screen.”

We would like to explore it for ourselves once the film hits the screens.

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