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‘NO TIME FOR NONSENSICAL BICKERING’
Hitting out at the perception that female actors indulge in catfights, Anushka Sharma says this notion exists only because ‘some people feel we can’t be professionals’
ipstick under the burkha’ and ‘Turning 30’ fame director Alankrita Srivastava wants to make a film in Lucknow and has also written a script for it.
“I have a script ready and hope I end up making the film soon. It’s a small film. The story is very city specific,” she said during her recent visit to the state capital.
“There is some magic about the city. I love the atmosphere out here. I am actually dying to shoot a film here. The city has a lot of flavour and colour that I want to explore and showcase. But, then every film has its own journey and it will also happen in its own time,” she said.
The filmmaker adds that since hers is a very small film so the subsidy given by Uttar Pradesh government will be very beneficial for her film.
The Delhi-girl has a strong Uttar Pradesh connection. She was born in Allahabad. “My grandfather was posted in the city when I was born but I did not stay there. Soon after my birth I was back but then I have studied in Uttar Pradesh. I am a product of Welham Girls’ School, Dehradun (then UP). In fact, my mother lives in Noida and I am very much an UPite and my visa too has been issued from here, she added.
She was in Lucknow for a session at IIM-L. “My mother is an IIM Ahemdabad product and I have never been to an IIM before and so I was very curious to visit the campus,” she said.
Talking about her visit and her talks with the management students she said, “What I emphasised is the fact that film making is not a cake walk as it looks from outside. If you want to take it up as a profession then you need to build on your craft. Also, one
At a time when celebrities are coming out and criticising lack of diversity, and whitewashing in showbiz, a host of international celebrities and popular designer labels have, of late, been accused of being racist.
A few days ago, several African-American celebrities such as director Spike Lee and rapper 50 Cent, among others slammed the Italian designer label Gucci for designing a black balaclava jumper, which resembled the racist “blackface”. The brand’s apology didn’t placate many, and Spike Lee, even went on to say that he will boycott products of certain international design labels, till they hire “black designers”.
Rapper 50 Cent, too, burned a pile of Gucci clothes, and said that he will no longer be supporting the brand. “I gotta get rid of all the Gucci I have at home. I’m not supporting their brand anymore, (sic)” he instagrammed a video of himself burning a pile of clothes.
More recently, Katy Perry came under fire, after her designer brand released two pairs of shoes, which resembled blackface. “Ok Katy Perry explain these shoes SMH #blackface #KatyPerry #gucci #gucciblackface #boycott,” a should have conviction in the story they want to tell.”
She has wrapped up the shoot for her next film ‘Dolly Kitty Aur Chamakte Sitare’ and she plans to release it in the second half of 2019.
“I hope that it will be a smooth process this time (Lipstick… was held back for long due to censorship controversy). I have some wonderful actors in this film —Konkona (Sen Sharma), Bhoomi (Pednekar) and other (Vikrant Massey, Kubbra Sait and Karan Kundra) and Balaji Films as our partners.
The story is about two very interesting girls. Right now we can’t talk more about the film,” she said.
I have co-written and Twitter user wrote. Following the outrage, the shoes were pulled out from the online store, and Katy apologised for the same. “I was saddened when it was brought to my attention that it was being compared to blackface. Our intention was never to inflict any pain,” she said in a statement to Entertainment Tonight.
Another popular international star, who was slammed for his “racist” ideas was actor Liam Neeson. The veteran actor, during an interview, recalling an incident that took place 40 years ago, said that he roamed in the streets of Ireland for a number of days, looking for a “black man” so that he could kill him, after one of Neeson’s friend confided in him that she was raped by a man of colour. Following the interview, the actor was criticised, more for his racist intentions rather than the bloodthirsty views. directed two episodes of web content ‘Made in Heaven’ which will be aired on March 8. “It has been created by Zoya Akhtar and Reema Kagti. It has Arjun Mathur, Sobhita Dhulipala, Kalki Koechlin and Jim Sarbh as actors,” she said. It is based on a big fat Indian wedding.
Alankrita feels that it’s a great time for making film. “The young actors are fantastic and they are open to interesting material. Lines between mainstream cinema and small films are blurring. Earlier, a film that won’t be made with certain (mainstream) actor will now be made with one. So, it’s a good time to make film,” she said. Despite clarifying, that he is “not a racist” and he would have done the same thing if the man in question was from any other race, Neeson, has been accused of “white toxic masculinity” on social media.
Veteran celebrity, Joanna Lumley, who hosted the recently concluded Bafta
What does a catfight mean? According to the Oxford Dictionary, the simple meaning is ‘a fight between women’. But thanks to incessant stories of catfights between female Bollywood actors, the term has gone on to become famous or rather infamous at a different level. However, actor Anushka Sharma, who has shared screen space with other female actors in multiple films, Awards was criticised for joking about the White extremist faction — Klu Klux Klan. While talking about Spike Lee’s film at the ceremony, Joanna said, “I’m surprised Blackkklansman did so well at the Klan Film Festival.” doesn’t see logic to it.
“I don’t think such stories come out anymore. Mujhe lagta hai log expect bhi nahi karte. I feel it’s only the media that — sometimes — talks about such things because unfortunately, some people feel that we [female actors] aren’t professionals. The misconception is that, ‘arrey, ladkiyan hai, so they will just come in and start fighting with each other’,” she says.
Anushka, who has worked in several multi-starrers and two-heroine projects, has no qualms in calling it a “redundant” thought. “We [female actors] have a lot of work and various things to do. All of us are busy, handling our lives as well as careers. We really don’t have the time to do such nonsensical bickering. We are not [standing] on the streets. Like mature people, we have a lot of responsibility towards ourselves,” she says.
WIN-WIN SITUATION
After Zero (2018), Anushka is yet to announce her new film, but she doesn’t seem to be in a
Having done just two films in her six-year long career in Bollywood so far, actor Vaani Kapoor is clearly not rushing into things. She made her debut in 2013 with Shuddh Desi Romance and three years later, she did Befikre,which tanked at the box office. And now, the actor seems to have changed her approach towards work.
Asked how she wants to see herself on-screen, Vaani says, “I want to show my versatility in my upcoming films. Whether it is Shamshera or the one with Hrithik Roshan hurry to sign on the dotted line. Known for making unconventional choices — as an actor and producer — she has a clear idea about what’s her kind of film. “The best situation for me to be in — as an actor and the audience — would be to watch a film which is entertaining but it must also leave some subtle thoughts in your mind to ponder over,” she says.
Calling it the “best kind of cinema”, Anushka feels one “can also find a wider audience with such films.” She explains: “I feel movies have to do something — elicit some kind of a reaction, emotion or stir some kind of a thought pattern in people. That’s the strength of cinema. When a film does that in an entertaining fashion, then you are in a win-win situation.”
THE REAL IMAGE
Happy to work and “live life” in her own way, Anushka says thanks to her personality, she has no option but to be candid and truthful. “Those who know me well, will vouch for the fact that I’m not dishonest at all about who
I am. I don’t aim to create a perfect and rosy image for myself. I can’t always have a smile on my face and talk to someone or behave according to the image that he/she may have of me,” she says. and Tiger Shroff, both are very different roles and the world of both stories are different.”
Vaani adds that as an actor, she wants to “live many lives on-screen. So, I hope people can see me in a different avatar.”
More than her acting prowess, Vaani’s fashion statements have often been talked about. And she doesn’t mind being called a style diva.
“I strongly believe that my style is an extension of my personality.
What I believe, how I’m feeling, what occasion I’m attending, everything reflects
At the same time, the Ae Dil Hai Mushkil (2016) actor is clear that she can’t “work hard on faking things”. “I can’t do that because it’s too taxing for my mental health, emotional health as well as spiritual health. So for me, it’s very important that I stay normal, real and true to myself. I personally don’t want to fake anything because it requires a lot of hard work to fake things,” she says.
Fitness has nothing to do with being plus size or skinny, being fat or thin. Body shaming is so negative. It makes people feel horrible.
ACTOR
on what I am wearing on that day, at that moment. But, an outfit looks good when I feel good from within.”
Also, Vaani promotes the idea of being physically and mentally fit. “Fitness has nothing to do with being plus size or skinny, being fat or thin. Body shaming is so negative. It makes people feel horrible; affects their mind and confidence, so, obviously it’s not good for anything. It should not be encouraged at all.