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Indian Express
12-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
Jaat: Bollywood stars are incapable of laughing at themselves; if Himesh Reshammiya can do it, why can't Sunny Deol?
The smartest thing that Himesh Reshammiya has probably done in his professional life, besides transitioning from composer to singer, is to embrace the inherent ridiculousness of his stage persona. For the longest time, he seemed entirely unaware. He'd perform bicep curls to his own love songs on Instagram, seemingly oblivious to how meme pages were responding. But something changed after Janhvi Kapoor went on Koffee with Karan and essentially pulled the curtain on what was maybe the greatest inside-joke of our times. Two years down the line, Reshammiya is starring in a movie called Badass Ravikumar and going on a 'Cap Tour' of sold-out live shows. It's genius. If only Sunny Deol had the same self-awareness in Jaat. Bollywood, and, for that matter, India's other regional industries, are consumed by a seriousness that borders on devotion. How can Salman Khan poke fun at himself in Sikandar when people literally make pilgrimages to his house on religious occasions? Laughing at some of Rajinikanth's antics would probably get you stabbed. Anirudh Ravichander would have to leap off the stage and diffuse the tension. It would be a whole thing. But one thing's clear: half of our country's most terrible movies would instantly become 20% better if they simply realised that they are comedies first, and revenge epics second. For roughly an hour, shockingly, Jaat seems to get away with it. Also read – Marco: Unni Mukundan's reprehensible film ruins Malayalam cinema's reputation singlehandedly; Bollywood isn't the only industry learning all the wrong lessons Directed by Gopichand Malineni in his Hindi-language debut, Jaat inevitably falls into the same trap that has consumed so many of Bollywood's Jawan clones in the recent past; movies such as Baby John, Bhaiyya Ji, and, yes, Sikandar. The second half is overwhelmingly straight-faced, despite Deol's typical brand of high-decibel drama. This transition feels more jarring because the first half is genuinely enjoyable; it's nimble on its feet, playful, and miraculously, in on the joke. For over an hour, the only thing motivating Sunny Deol's stock character is a stubborn, egotistical desire to score an apology. Not because someone insulted his mother or something — we learn nada about his family — but because a bunch of goons bumped into him at a roadside eatery, and sent his nice idli breakfast tumbling to the ground. The head goon refuses to apologise, which activates the animal inside of Sunny Deol. Punches are thrown, heads are smashed into walls, a radiator explodes. Sunny Deol stops an SUV from driving away by tugging at it with his 'dhai kilo ka haath'. The kind old woman who'd served him the hot idlis is never heard from again; her unassuming establishment lies in rubble. The head goon threatens Sunny by name-dropping his boss, a local politician. The next thing we know, our hero is demanding an apology from him. The politician laughs in his face and promptly gets beaten up as well. He name-drops his own boss, a man gangster named Somulu, played by Vineet Kumar Singh. Somulu has a thing that he does where he howls like a wolf for no reason. 'Aaaooo,' he goes, at random moments. It's all very funny. Sunny Deol shows up at Somulu's doorstep and asks for an apology again. 'Main idli kha raha tha…' he begins. Somulu scoffs in his face, only to get smacked senseless by a ceiling fan that Sunny Deol rips from its socket and waves around like a broom. He stops howling for a second and tells Sunny Deol that his elder brother is the dreaded mob boss Ranatunga. 'Woh tera khoon pi jayega,' he screams. Someone put this man and Chhaava's poet person in a room together and give them some ginger lemon honey tea, please. Played by Randeep Hooda, Ranatunga is next in line to be hit with Sunny Deol's spiel (among other things). 'Main idli kha raha tha…' To his surprise, Ranatunga apologises. Sunny Deol is stunned. It's like he no longer has a purpose, because it seems like he was prepared to take his grievances all the way up to God Himself. He blows a kiss at Ranatunga and says, 'Love you, sir,' and leaves. We're over an hour into the movie at this point, and all we've seen is one man get an apology after beating up at least three dozen goons. If only Jaat had chosen this exact moment to end. Five stars, no notes. Sunny Deol's character doesn't so much drive the plot of Jaat as he stumbles into it. You'd think that there would be a grand reveal at the end, confirming our suspicions about his character being some kind of secret agent sent to bring Ranatunga to justice. But no, the movie relies entirely on a series of coincidences. Had Sunny Deol not gone on his apology quest, he'd have never even set eyes on Ranatunga. Had he not felt like breakfast, he'd have never set foot in the old lady's eatery. Heck, had his train not been delayed, he'd have been in Ayodhya. We have to have a sense of humour about all this; what are we even doing with our lives if we're not pointing at the screen and chuckling at the sight of Sunny Deol addressing the two years younger Zarina Wahab as 'Amma'? The big reveal that Jaat actually delivers is completely pointless. They tell us that his name is Baldev Pratap Singh, as if that's supposed to mean anything to us. Had his name been Kuldip Singh from the movie Border, the reveal would've actually worked. It's a clear sign that whatever playfulness that Jaat had in the first half was definitely too good to be true, and possibly even a fluke. It's possible, considering how hesitant movie stars here are to have a laugh at their own expense. Sunny Deol's own brother has convinced himself that inspiring Lord Bobby memes is the same thing as being venerated with an Indian Idol tribute episode. It's difficult to imagine an Indian movie star poking fun at themselves like Leonardo DiCaprio did in Once Upon a Time in Hollywood; in fact, Brad Pitt is at his best when he's playing absolute morons. Remember Burn After Reading? Read more – Deva: Dreadful, dull, and degrading to minorities, Shahid Kapoor's remake is a mess of megalomaniacal proportions When Rohit Shetty complains that audiences question the logic in his films but praise their Hollywood counterparts, he fails to recognise one key point. There is a difference between logic and internal logic. Cars will flip in both Singham Again and Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning, but not in the same way. Were Ethan Hunt to hop into a Bolero and send it somersaulting down an empty highway in slow motion, people would most definitely complain, because it wouldn't be consistent with the internal logic of the Mission: Impossible movies. Jaat establishes its internal logic early on, when it shows us that the ground literally trembles beneath Sunny Deol's feet. For it to turn into a soapy social drama towards the end, one in which several women are seemingly gang-raped by villains, is abhorrent. It would take a genius to reconcile such gaping tonal dissonance, and despite what Sunny Deol told BeerBiceps about his IQ being over 160, he ain't it. Post Credits Scene is a column in which we dissect new releases every week, with particular focus on context, craft, and characters. Because there's always something to fixate about once the dust has settled.
Hindustan Times
03-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
Ananya Panday knows she's privileged, doesn't want to ‘waste' it: ‘There are people more talented, better looking…'
Actor Ananya Panday, who made her debut with the 2019 film Student of the Year 2, has agreed that she knows she's privileged and doesn't want to waste the opportunity. Speaking with Times of India, she also said that there are "probably people out there who are more talented, better looking and more hardworking than I am". (Also Read | Kartik Aaryan, Ananya Panday steal a kiss in Tu Meri Main Tera Main Tera Tu Meri first look; fans love their chemistry) Ananya was asked how the chats about her coming from a place of privilege make her feel. She said, "I've always been the kind of person to acknowledge my privilege. Even when I went on Koffee with Karan for the first time, I said that I know that I'm privileged. I know that there are probably people out there who are more talented, better looking and more hardworking than I am. But now I've got this opportunity, and I don't want to waste it, as this has also been my dream since I was a child." She spoke about her father, actor Chunky Panday, adding that she is proud to be his daughter. "I've taken the shame out of being privileged, and I look at it with a sense of pride. My father was a child of two doctors, and his dream was to become an actor; he became one. He worked for 40-plus years, and if I can carry forward his legacy and make him proud, it will be a very big achievement for me. I don't want to not be known as Chunky Panday's daughter. I'm so proud that he's my father. I don't want to look at it as a negative thing anymore because people will always have something to say," she added. Fans will see Ananya with Kartik Aaryan in Tu Meri Main Tera, Main Tera Tu Meri. Directed by Sameer Vidwans, the film is produced by Karan Johar's Dharma Productions. It is slated to release in theatres on February 13, 2026. Ananya also has the upcoming romantic drama Chand Mera Dil, in which she stars alongside Lakshya. Directed by Vivek Soni, the film is scheduled for release in 2025. She was last seen in Karan Singh Tyagi's Kesari Chapter 2 alongside Akshay Kumar and R Madhavan.
Time of India
03-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Ananya Panday: I am not scared of judgement anymore
has navigated fame, criticism, and personal evolution in the public eye. Starting out at 18, today, she's no longer just the industry's young entrant — she's a voice for Gen Z battling the complexities of stardom, social media, and self-worth. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now In this honest, light-hearted, yet meaningful conversation on Bombay Times Lounge, Ananya talks about the weight and pride of legacy, the nuances of modern relationships and why she's finally free of the fear of being judged. Over to her... Ananya Panday You started your career at 18, now at 26 with a growing filmography and success to boast of, are you less scared of judgment and scrutiny now? At the start, I was very eager to please everyone. Even now I am, and I hope that people like me, but I don't feel the pressure. Earlier, I would take a lot of effort to make everyone happy at the risk of not being myself. I am not scared of judgment anymore, because too much has happened for me to be scared of that. I think I am a lot more comfortable in my skin now. With fame and stardom comes a sudden power, right? And you have seen success at a fairly early age. How do you stay centered and continue to focus on the bigger picture? The people around me keep me grounded. In the beginning, I used to think that if I said something, for instance, in an interview, then things would change. But I realised it doesn't function like that, and only your work really speaks for everything. People will only come and pay their hard-earned money to watch you if they like your work and if they like you as a person. Ananya with her parents Bhavna and Chunky Panday Having seen your father Chunky Panday experience highs and lows in his career, did that shape your perspective? Honestly, by the time I was born, my dad wasn't acting that much, and he wasn't getting too much work. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now It wasn't like my parents were discussing it or aisa kuch chal raha tha ki ghar mein kuch problems hai, because my dad always kept doing something, even if he wasn't on a film set. But while growing up, I sensed the way people reacted to my friends' parents who were actors versus my dad. So, I would be like, 'Oh, maybe there's something different. ' Maybe in my subconscious, it was there. I learned to appreciate and value what I have in the moment and to also give it my best because you're not going to keep getting chances. You have only one shot at it really. Ananya Panday You have won appreciation for your recent work, like Call Me Bae, Kho Gaye Hum Kahan and Kesari 2, however, conversations around you coming from a place of privilege continue. How do you feel about that? I've always been the kind of person to acknowledge my privilege. Even when I went on Koffee with Karan for the first time, I said that I know that I'm privileged. I know that there are probably people out there who are more talented, better looking and more hardworking than I am. But now I've got this opportunity, and I don't want to waste it, as this has also been my dream since I was a child. So, I've taken the shame out of being privileged and I look at it with a sense of pride. My father was a child of two doctors, and his dream was to become an actor, and he became one. He's worked for 40-plus years, and if I can carry forward his legacy and make him proud, it will be a very big achievement for me. I don't want to not be known as 's daughter. I'm so proud that he's my father. I don't want to look at it as a negative thing anymore because people will always have something to say. Gen Z, like every generation, is battling its own set of problems – like social media pressure, body image issues, a sense of loneliness despite being in a crowd, just to point out a few. As someone living in the spotlight, how do you navigate this, and what's your advice to young people on this? There are days when I feel bogged down, when I read some comment or thread online that's untrue, I kind of spiral. At the start, I would get really emotional and want to come out and say something. Over time, I think I have developed a thick skin, but at the end of the day, I'm human and I do feel bad. So, I would just say: feel whatever you're feeling. If someone tells you not to cry, don't listen to them. It's okay to have days where you're crying and you are angry and want to let it out. Bottling it up only makes it worse. Ananya Panday on Bombay Times Lounge Talking about relationships, what according to you are the red flags in a man? Have you ever overlooked those because you have been deeply in love? Yes, it happens. I think you make excuses for people, and you think that things will change. That happens with me where I change myself a lot for the person I am with – like I start watching the films he likes or if he dresses a certain way, I start dressing like that, which is not good. Again, it comes from that people-pleasing personality trait that I have. You should actually be yourself, and your partner should accept you for who you are. For me, the biggest red flags are the obvious ones – like cheating, lying, disrespecting you in public and all of that. I think someone who can't be happy for you when you are doing well is a big red flag, especially for successful women. I also feel bad for men because they are often put under this societal pressure that they need to be a certain way. So, given this societal construct, a lot of people can't fully be what they want to be and who they want to be. Ananya with Shah Rukh Khan 'There is no one like Shah Rukh Khan' Ask her about the kind influence Shah Rukh Khan has had in her life, as she's seen him closely since her childhood days, and she says, 'I think the way Shah Rukh Khan handles his personal and professional life -- there's no one like him. While growing up, I saw first-hand what an amazing father he is to Aryan, Suhana and AbRam and the way he's been with all of us. He would train us all for our sports day and taekwondo competitions. He was very, very present in what was happening in our lives. Even now, he wants to know what we're doing and is very involved. Also, when he is talking to you, he has this quality of making you feel that you are the only person in the world. There is no one like him! Watch the full interview on the Bombay Times YouTube channel: Unfiltered & Full of Surprises ft. #AnanyaPanday | Bombay Times Lounge Ep 03 | Exclusive Interview
Indian Express
26-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
Raveena Tandon confronts Farah Khan for talking about her fight with Karisma Kapoor, denies involvement: ‘It was classroom politics'
In her latest vlog, Farah Khan visited Raveena Tandon's farmhouse along with her cook, Dilip. During an interaction between the two, Raveena confronted Farah for talking about her infamous fight with Karisma Kapoor. Raveena and Karisma reportedly had a spat during the shooting of the 1994 films Andaz Apna Apna and Aatish. Raveena questioned Farah and said, 'You went everywhere and said that fights were happening on set. When did we fight?' Farah maintained her stance and responded that it was 'true.' When Raveena asked about her own involvement in the fight, Farah clarified that the actor 'didn't do anything' to anyone. Raveena further added, 'What did I do? I was sitting with dancers who were my friends and they were sharing non-veg jokes.' Farah quickly changed the subject and said, 'Now everyone's kids are going in the same school and we keep meeting on annual days.' Raveena agreed, saying, 'We were also kids at that time. We were 20-21 years old. It was classroom politics and we had to face that.' They then talked about the current generation of actors and whether they have conflicts among themselves, Farah refused the notion and said, 'These days they are all sterile.' Raveena disagreed, saying, 'No, these things still happen, not that frequently, but they do happen.' She also pointed out that like today's actors are constantly surrounded by paparazzi and need to maintain a good public image, actors from the previous generation also faced intense media scrutiny that often led to sensational headlines. She also noted that since actors back then didn't have social media, they lacked the platform to share their side of the story directly with fans, a benefit that today's actors have. Earlier, during her appearance on Koffee with Karan in 2007, Farah had addressed the fight between Karisma and Raveena and said, 'I was once doing a song with Karisma Kapoor and Raveena Tandon, long ago, in a film called Aatish. They were both having some kind of teenage spat. They were hitting each other with their wigs.' She continued, 'They were wearing these wigs with plaits and beads in them. One was hitting, the other was stamping her foot with her heel. It was quite childish. I am sure they will laugh about it now.' In a 2012 interview, Raveena had shared that things between her and Karisma eventually normalised, especially since their daughters — Rasha Thadani and Samaira Kapoor — attended the same school. 'Since our girls go to the same school, we end up bumping into each other and have bonded well. It's easier to hang out and discuss our kids,' she had said.
Time of India
18-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
When Aishwarya Rai and Abhishek Bachchan got candid about their fights after marriage
Aishwarya Rai and Abhishek Bachchan have always been one of Bollywood 's most loved couples. They often share sweet and relatable moments from their married life that many couples can connect with. Like all couples, they've had their share of fights too—but they also have their own fun way of handling them. Once, during their joint appearance on the chat show, the host asked them about their fights, and both Aishwarya and Abhishek gave funny and light-hearted answers that left everyone laughing out loud. In an old clip from a 2010 episode of Koffee With Karan, where Abhishek and Ash appeared together on the famous Koffee couch, the doting hubby humorously explained how he and Aishwarya used to sort out their fights. With a playful and sarcastic tone, he joked that like many husbands, it's always him who says sorry first. He laughed and said that he's the one who usually breaks the ice between them after an argument. "I'm the one who has to break the ice all the time, and any man who's ever married will know that I'm telling the truth. And no wife ever makes the attempt to break the ice and to say sorry for the first time because every married man knows that the wife is always right. It's always... just say sorry and move on." by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Trade Bitcoin & Ethereum – No Wallet Needed! IC Markets Start Now Undo Aishwarya's Sassy Comeback While Abhishek was sharing his views about how husbands are usually the ones to apologise first in a marriage, Aishwarya couldn't help but make some funny faces and smile and admit that his claims weren't far from the truth. Once Abhishek finished speaking, she quickly jumped in with a cheeky response, offering her own take on how wives handle problems in a marriage. Aishwarya said, "Silence is so golden in a married woman's life." She's the First to Say Sorry Contrary to what Abhishek jokingly said on Koffee With Karan, Aishwarya had a different story to share during her appearance on The Kapil Sharma Show. She revealed a fun and light-hearted anecdote about their fights and mentioned that it's actually her who usually apologises first. The former Miss World shared that she often says sorry just to end the argument and move on. In her words: 'No. I am the one who apologises first and finishes the topic." Aishwarya Rai cried in public!
