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I DON’T THINK A LOT BEFORE TAKING UP A FILM, IT’S INTUITIVE
Actor Sayani Gupta looks for roles that challenge her
Almost all of Sayani Gupta’s film roles are starkly different from one another, not just in terms of characters, but even her looks on screen. She played a rural woman in Parched (2015), a superstar’s stylish manager in Fan (2015), an urban girl in Baar Baar Dekho (2016), a Dalit girl in Article 15 and an emotionally disturbed killer in Posham Pa. It only goes on to show how her choices have been offbeat and versatile.
But Sayani says there is no rocket science behind her choices. “I don’t think a lot before taking up a film. It is very intuitive. It just reflects
Shreya Mukherjee
Along his nearly two decade-long journey in Bollywood, Viineet Kumar has been trying to create a niche for himself. He had tenacity and hard work in his favour, but, most importantly, he did not lose hope. Things started changing with the Gangs of Wasseypur series, Ugly (2013), and Mukkabaaz (2018), and with Saand Ki Aankh, Viineet is enjoying the best phase in his career. Doubling the joy is the abundance of work in his kitty.
“I don’t know about the future, but clearly, the current phase is the best phase in my life till now. As an actor, I’ve been given so many opportunities to play different characters and it the kind of person that I am. I never plan my life. I totally believe that I say yes to stuff that challenges me as a performer, and what
I have not done before. That’s the only reason why you only see me in different roles every time.”
The actor also feels she is fortunate to get those parts. “That kind of work also has to come. A lot of times, you get offered stuff which is similar to what you have done before, and I don’t like doing that at all. It just makes me very complacent and that way, I will get bored of the job. I have to be constantly stimulated as a performer. I like collaborating with newer ideas,” she opines.
The 34-year-old says there feels great. Currently, I’m in that phase where four to five of my projects are about to release. I’m also in talks with directors and producers for other projects,” says Viineet, whose upcoming projects include the Hindi remake of the Tamil film Thiruttu Payale 2, the Gunjan Saxena biopic, Betaal, Aadhaar and Twist with Destiny.
Elated at the response his character, Shravan, in Mukkabaaz received, Viineet reveals that the film “turned things” for him.
“I’ve always been saying that Mukkabaaz has given back years of my struggle in the industry and now, I am at this stage where I can select projects and experiment more. After Mukkabaaz, essaying the role of Dr Yashpal in Saand Ki Aankh was an experiment for me
VIJAY VARMA have been a lot of instances where she liked the story but did not feel that she could do justice to it, and hence, turned them down.
“I am like ‘It is nice but I don’t want to tell it.’ A lot of times, when I audition for parts and I don’t take them up, I recommend other people. I believe that if it is meant to happen for you, it will. I don’t want to do a part which somebody else could have also done. I feel that you have to be the only person to bring a particular character to life. That sense is important to me,” shares Sayani, who is currently seen in the second season of the web series Inside Edge. which I did willingly. Unlike Shravan, Dr Yashpal is someone who is very calm and supportive towards the Shooter Dadis (Chandro Tomar; 87 and Prakashi Tomar ; 82). He is very assertive of his goals and for me, essaying such a character was a great achievement. I am glad that the audience liked my performance and for an actor, that is the biggest achievement,” he adds.
It is known that Viineet cowrote the story of Mukkabaaz. When asked if he is writing anything now and plans to go behind the camera sometime, the actor responds, “Right now, it is difficult for me to find time to write, but yes, my sister is actively writing. After Mukkabaaz, my sister and I have a great understanding and whenever I have time in between shoots, we write together. Currently, I want to focus more on acting and I would love to be in front of the camera.”
Shreya Mukherjee
Touchwood is the first word Vijay Varma exclaims while reflecting on how the success of Gully Boy has been a game changer for him.
“Life has been really kind to me post Gully Boy. I feel blessed the way things are
The concept of casting couch is rampant in showbiz, and is something a number of celebrities have addressed. Actor Tinaa Datta, too, doesn’t shy away from accepting that it exists, and says that in a career spanning 14 years, she has come across people who have approached her with this mindset under the garb of offering a project.
“You face a lot of things when you enter the industry. People do approach you with a wrong notion, text you and call you with a wrong intention. But, you need to be sorted in your head and say ‘If I am not getting work for more than a year, two years or five years, I am not going to do what I don’t wish to’. A lot of people approached me with the same mindset, but you just need to give it back to them,” she says.
Not divulging what exactly she faced, the 33-year-old actor adds, “It is not just me. Many actors experience something like this along their journey.”
On how she deals with such situations, Tinaa shares, “It is all about the choice that you make consciously. I’m certain that if you don’t wish to be a part of it and don’t want to do it, nobody is going to force you and make you do things.”
She asserts that one has to be determined to not get caught in the casting couch web. “That even if I’m not working, I’m not going to compromise at any cost. If your mindset is that, then I don’t think it is really very difficult to deal with,” Tinaa adds. falling in place for me. With work coming, I hardly have any breathing space, and that’s the best part. Currently with the shoot of Baaghi 3 in Serbia, followed with the shoot of my other upcoming project, I’m enjoying each and every moment of this journey,” says Vijay.
In the Ranveer Singh-Alia Bhatt starrer, which is India’s official entry for the Best International Feature Film category in the 92nd Academy Awards, Vijay effectively portrayed drug peddler Moeen, a role which grabbed the audience’s attention.
The actor’s date diary is chock-a-block at the moment, and he’s loving it. He admits it’s ‘overwhelming’ for an actor to have shoots lined up back-to-back. “I feel really blessed. Yes, I will be having a super busy time ahead, but the idea of doing something I absolutely love and playing some amazing characters is what keeps me going. I love the fact that I have so much to offer to my fans and it’s a great feeling,” adds the actor, whose upcoming projects include Nikhil Nagesh Bhatt’s romantic drama Hurdang and Mira Nair’s A Suitable Boy, apart from Baaghi 3. He is also in talks for a web series.
A bunch of film offers have come his way, and having bagged an opportunity like the adaptation of A Suitable Boy, Vijay is happily transcending boundaries. “It’s been a great experience working with Mira Nair. I’ve been an ardent follower of her work. Also, the shoot is coming out really well. I look forward to returning to the sets to finish my work,” says Vijay, who is contract bound and can’t reveal anything more right now on the project.
Life has been really kind to me post Gully Boy. I feel blessed the way things are falling in place for me.
ACTOR