RJ-turned-actor Malishka Mendonsa, who essays the role of Indian political activist and poet Sarojini Naidu in the web series ‘Freedom at Midnight’, speaks exclusively to mid-day.com about embarking on a journey of prosthetics, and a mammoth amount of history lessons to ace the character of The Nightingale of India in the Nikkhil Advani directorial. Malishka Mendonsa played Sarojini Naidu as a child Malishka recalls that when she was offered this role, she went back to her notes and reminisced about playing Sarojini Naidu as a child. “I dressed up as her for a freedom fighter meet. That particular kind of hair, that bindi, the saree. I loved her anyway. I probably read a few of her poems. First of all, we haven't seen her being represented at all in any of the historicals that we've seen. And so apparently, stature-wise also, and size-wise, etc, I kind of looked like her,” she says. Malishka was told she might not get the role She went to the audition, clearly telling her casting agent that this was her, but it took the makers a long time to get back. “I was like, ‘Just let me audition’. And they were like, ‘You still may not get it because we're probably looking at someone who has a little bit of a Bengali accent’. So I was like, ‘How much time do you have? Is it a month or a week?’ I was pretty determined. I said, ‘I'll learn it’.” ‘Sarojini Naidu was not demure’ Malishka adds, “Nikkhil would keep walking me through what he thought Sarojini would be like because she's not a demure person. She was a modern feminist even back then, in the time leading up to independence, she was at the forefront of things. She was the governor of the United Provinces, and the first Indian woman to be the president of the INC. So these are large roles, and she was part of it in a largely male-dominated political scenario. So I was like, ‘I'll do this’. And then the prosthetics came into play. The excitement was important because the hard work was incredible.” When we told Malishka about not imagining her in the role of Sarojini Naidu, she explained how Nikkhil likened her to the political icon who was also a social disruptor. “I think in my past life I was her,” she concludes with a jest.
23 November,2024 07:05 AM IST | Mumbai | Oshin FernandesAmid much anticipation, Prime Video premiered the debut episode of its first-ever Telugu Original talk show, 'The Rana Daggubati Show' at the prestigious 55th International Film Festival of India (IFFI) on November 21. Kicking off the show with ‘Natural Star’ Nani, Priyanka Mohan, and Teja Sajja which will stream exclusively on Prime Video November 23 onwards. It will be available in India and over 240 countries and territories worldwide, with new episodes every Saturday. Boasting a distinctive format that redefines the conventional talk-show experience, the episode showcased a never-seen-before side of host Rana Daggubati as well as his guests Nani, Priyanka, and Teja, who indulged in candid conversations brimming with lighthearted banter, heartwarming moments, and deep reflections. During their unfiltered chat, the celebrities discussed family, love, hobbies, and their latest stint at IIFA, among other things, making the episode an exciting watch for viewers. Nani talks about his married life and convincing Anjana's parents on 'The Rana Daggubati Show' The interaction took an endearing turn when Rana curiously asked Nani about his married life with Anjana Yelavarthy. A blushing Nani revealed how his wife Anjana’s family, comprising highly qualified individuals in technical fields, was starkly different from his background. He said, “She is the granddaughter of the famous and celebrated scientist, Mr. Yelavarthy Nayudamma. Anjana has a diary—his diary. On one of its pages, he's written, “I met Mrs. Indira Gandhi today.” A few pages later, he writes, “After my breakfast with NTR Sir!” “I honestly didn’t think our wedding plans would materialize. It was back when I had just started in the film industry. As actors, we don’t know what the future has in store for us. They (Anjana’s family) were all brilliant in academics.” When Rana questioned how he convinced his wife's family of their marriage, Nani cheekily quipped, “Once you meet me, all such doubts get cleared. Those doubts stay only until you meet me.” Details about the 'The Rana Daggubati Show' Created and hosted by the charismatic Rana Daggubati and executively produced by him under the banner of Spirit Media, the unscripted Telugu Original eight-episode series features a dazzling line-up of guests, including Dulquer Salmaan, Naga Chaitanya Akkineni, Siddhu Jonnalagadda and Sreeleela, Nani, S.S. Rajamouli and Ram Gopal Varma, and many more, as they indulge in entertaining conversations peppered with intimate repartee and engaging activities that bring out a never-seen-before side of Rana’s guests. 'The Rana Daggubati Show' will stream exclusively on Prime Video from November 23, available in India and over 240 countries and territories worldwide, with new episodes every Saturday.
22 November,2024 06:37 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentGuru, the new entrant into the Purva/Vikrant/Shikha universe has been flooring fans and audiences with his action sequences in the trailer of Yeh Kaali Kaali Ankhein Season 2. Actor Gurmeet Choudhary, who is known for playing diverse roles, will now be seen as Guru, Purva’s friend who is on a mission to protect her. He will go to any lengths for it, even if that means jumping off a mountain with guns in both hands. When asked about his experience on the show and playing his namesake Guru, Gurmeet shared, "I am so excited to be doing a project with Netflix and that too on a show I loved watching when it first came out. Siddharth Sengupta thought I would fit the role of Guru well and had faith in my ability to do justice to the character." Gurmeet's Mission Impossible moment The actor says he shot daring scenes without a stunt double. "The first day when we shot the scene of me jumping off of a cliff, I was 500 feet in the air, held by a harness and had to jump off and land on my feet while holding two guns. It almost felt like my Mission Impossible moment. The stunt turned out well because I knew everyone was worried as there was no stunt double, it was just me and we had a long schedule of shoot left. But it went great and every body has been talking about that scene once they saw it in the trailer." On Instagram, he wrote, "Yes,I did the impossible stunt one that many wouldn’t even attempt. And guess what? I did it all on my own! As a long lifelong fan of Tom Cruise, this moment felt like a dream come true. Tom Cruise has always inspired me with how he performs all his stunts on his own. Taking a page out office book, iam doing the same -doing all my stunts myself! Truly inspired and always a big fan of the legend Tom Cruise .When we pulled off this impossible scenes , it was truly surreal." View this post on Instagram A post shared by Netflix India (@netflix_in) Yeh Kaali Kaali Ankhein Season 2: What to expect Following last season’s jaw-dropping cliffhanger, where Purva was kidnapped, the ransom amount became a whopping 100 crore bounty and Vikrant (Tahir) put many lives on the line, this season asks: "How pulpier can pulpy get?" Revenge, betrayal, and fatal passion take center stage, serving up nail-biting drama at every turn. Vikrant sets out to kill Purva, but now his own fate hangs in the balance — will he survive her grasp, or is he trapped in this twisted love story forever? It’s a deadly game of survival, and with Gurmeet Choudhary’s powerful entry this season, the stakes have only gotten higher. He’s vowed to bring Purva back, but no one knows who’ll make it out alive. Directed, written and showrun by Sidharth Sengupta and produced by Edgestorm Ventures Pvt Ltd, Yeh Kaali Kaali Ankhein Season 2 features a powerhouse cast including Tahir Raj Bhasin, Shweta Tripathi, Anchal Singh, Saurabh Shukla, Arunoday Singh, Varun Badola, Gurmeet Choudhary, Brijendra Kala, Anant Joshi, Surya Sharma, Shashi Verma, Anjuman Saxena, and Hetal Gada, keeping audiences at the edge of their seat with every twist and turn. With the new season, Sengupta aims to push boundaries, delivering a story that dives straight into the heart of darkness - where every look, every silence, and every betrayal leaves a mark. Season 2 is a salute to the genre we grew up loving, capturing the thrills, chills, and intensity of stories that explore just how far one will go for love... or revenge.
22 November,2024 02:11 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentIt has been two weeks since Citadel: Honey Bunny dropped online. While the Varun Dhawan and Samantha Ruth Prabhu-led spy thriller has received mixed reviews, the audience largely agrees on one thing – that Saqib Saleem is impressive as the antagonist KD. “It’s a little overwhelming when you don’t think of something too much and then that starts giving you love,” starts the actor, when we sit across from him for a chat. He continues, "This is like a proper massy binge show. Which is why we started watching OTT, right? I had the most fun with the action. The action. Because as young boys, we've all grown up wanting to be action heroes, right? So when you get to do cool stuff, you really feel cool when you come back to your vanity van after you've done a scene. You feel exhausted, of course. But also just feeling like, ‘oh, I've done something awesome’. That child in you gets very happy.” To him, joining the Prime Video series was a no-brainer as it gave him the opportunity to team up with director duo Raj-DK, who also co-wrote it with Sita Menon. “What I really enjoyed about them is that they're very collaborative people. They give actors the respect that, hey, we've cast you for a part. You exactly know what you're supposed to do. We've cast you because you're good. And they're not one of those directors who tell you how you should act. They just set the scene for you well. And whenever you give some feedback to them, they're not very reactive people. So when you give them feedback, it may just feel like, did I say the right thing or did I make sense at all? But when the material comes back to you, you see traces of your discussion. This is why they are people who've done so much quality work. It's very heartening to see that even after having such success, you're so collaborative and wanting to hear what the other person has to say. We were an eclectic bunch. Kay Kay Menon is a masterclass. You will read a line on script and you're like, okay, we'll do it like this. But he just finds this new, organic way to do it. And he would surprise you so much with his performance. Both me and Varun, in fact, we used to just keep looking at him. He is so much in sync with himself and his craft. The beauty of Varun is his excitement and the fact that he is still the same man. He still committed. He still wants to do one more take and do better. You enjoy when people really want to work. He feels like if you're taking one more shot, he could do better. And that attitude, I really love it. Because he's also had an interesting body of work behind him. And he's had his share of successes. But that thing hasn't diminished in him. That he really wants to give his best. Then we had Samantha. Who I've met for the first time she's a firecracker. I have so much love and respect for her. Because of course she was going through what she was otherwise. But at no point that became an excuse. It was like this big set is here to do this action piece and we'll pull it off. So I genuinely learned that about her and how to just keep going. I made good friends with Sikandar on this. To a point that I asked him to act in a film that I was producing. Everybody came in with that mindset: let's have fun, let’s do good.” (From left) Saqib Saleem with Raj Nidimoru, Varun Dhawan and Krishna DK We quote to him a video that’s going viral of him and Kay Kay. “I get at least 10 tags a day on social media somewhere. But I'm very happy, yaar, this is what I hear, right? Ki agar memes banne lag jaye toh somewhere the shows hit home.” Clearly, shooting the series was a creatively satisfying experience for Saleem. Yet, things took a different turn when it came to the show’s promotions. The actor was absent from all the events, beginning with the trailer launch to pre-release promotions. It got the internet talking about the 2020 episode when Disney+ Hotstar announced its seven-film slate, but did not invite two of the films’ leading heroes Kunal Kemmu and Vidyut Jammwal for the virtual event. At the time, the two actors had spoken about the lack of level-playing field in the industry. Evidently, things haven’t improved despite the discourse. Saleem explains, “If you talk about my absence from the trailer launch to the premiere, I'm a very simple guy. So when you see the trailer you see that, of course, there's a certain narrative that these guys - the makers and the creators want to take. And they feel like it's in the betterment of the show. When I saw the trailer, I'm like, okay, this is the narrative you want to take. I would like to clarify it's not like I wasn't invited for the trailer launch. I decided, okay, I'll only talk when you show the impact of my character. I can only talk there. I love myself and respect myself. And I've worked really hard to be in the position that I am. So I really respect that position. So it's okay if there's a narrative you want to follow. I don't want to come walk in there and be detrimental to that narrative. I want the show to fare well. I also don't want people to ask me, what are you doing in this? So I'm like, okay, whenever the show's out, it's better to talk then. So there's no grouse or bad blood or animosity or anything of that sort. Yeah, they took a narrative that they wanted to take. And whether I agree or don't agree, it doesn't matter because the team wanted to take it. I thought, okay, let's wait this one out. I'm very sure of what the impact of my part is. Let the show come out. And today, the show's release has been two weeks and I have been on calls since 8.30 am. Usually people disappear after the release happens, right? So I just thought, okay, let's try this route. Do I blame the world for it or I crib about it and say, oh, how unfair? Not really. I don't take things like that. I've moved on. I'm starting to do my next now. I don't try and be like, oh, the industry's such a bad place. It's unfair for the outsiders. It's unfair for everybody." We bring up the nature of the systemic disadvantage at play here. It’s widely believed that the industry has its cliques, and if you don’t belong to one of them, you get sidelined. Saleem reflects, “It's the way things work. A lot of people think about me that he's just a lazy actor. He doesn't work a lot. But to get each opportunity, you have to work really hard. So when things don't go as per plan as you thought that they would go with this opportunity. Does it feel bad? 100%. But it's just, I feel like there are two ways to look at life. One is to keep crying about how wrong I was. Like, okay, this happened to me. I tried this and this happened. Let me prepare better or do something different so that this doesn't happen to me again. I'm okay faltering. It’s not my mistake, but being in a situation. But can I avoid this going forward? Because it's going to be difficult. It's going to be very difficult with what you want to do.You want the whole country to love you. That's what you're aiming for, right? To make that happen, you'll cross several of these speed breakers. For the sake of your mental health, you say - nothing is easy in the world and see the positive side of it and start thinking about what to do next. I feel like everybody knows what they've signed up for. With the advent of OTT at least more voices are coming to the fore. Before this, when I came to Bombay in 2011, there was - either you did TV or films. And films were only options for theatrical films. Now, as an actor who's come from the outside, he's getting a chance to show his work to people, if the industry is still not wanting to see it. Do such work that the common man is saying, it's good. And if the common man is saying it's good, then somehow that will translate for more work. That's the only way. I don't wish this journey on anyone. I came here when I was 20. Right now I'm 36. It's been 16 years since I have reached this place. It's a very difficult road. On some days you feel am I doing the right thing? Because how you see yourself, a lot of people here don't see you. People always want to try to undercut you. That is the line of work we're in. They are always figuring, if he had this much last Friday, then he's worth this much right now. After a point, talent doesn't do much. No matter how good you are, it is a numbers game. So you focus on doing your bit and hoping people find you." And people have. The actor cites the example of director Sudhir Mishra, with whom he is collaborating on a series. “It was therapeutic to work with Sudhir Mishra. He knocks on some interesting doors inside of you as an actor. He takes you to places and gives you the confidence the industry erodes from you,” says Saleem. He is also producing films under the banner that he has rolled out with his actor-sister Huma Qureshi. “We’ve put together a couple of films that should release next year. I’m also developing a film for myself.”
22 November,2024 07:32 AM IST | Mumbai | Mohar BasuWrite what you know. That’s a principle writer-director Sooni Taraporevala disagrees with. “If you only write what you know, you’d be writing about a little bubble,” she points out. Instead, she believes in writing about what she doesn’t know, what excites her. From this thought is born Waack Girls. Her maiden web series tells the story of six Kolkata women, who specialise in waacking, a street-dance style that originated in the US. “I didn’t know what waacking was till I saw Mekhola [Bose, lead actor] dance. I was inspired by her dance, and then had the idea of weaving a story around waacking,” starts Taraporevala of Salaam Bombay (1988) fame. Venturing into an unfamiliar territory meant the creator-director had to dive into intense research. “When you write about what you don’t know, you owe it to the subject to explore it fully. Talking to Mekhola was a start. The writers and I tried to get Kolkata right. My cameraperson and I scouted locations, finding the big houses, and capturing the city’s flavour. The next step was to get the girls’ stories right. Having six women dancing to disco music in an old house—[that juxtaposition] excited me.” Sooni Taraporevala At the core of this female-fronted show is women’s experiences. Was it hard to get the Prime Video show, led by Mekhola Bose and Rytasha Rathore, off the ground? Thankfully not, says Taraporevala. “It wasn’t a challenge, thanks to Aparna Purohit, who greenlit the development immediately, and then the current team who have been supportive throughout. I’m lucky that I get to make the stories I want to, exactly the way I want to. The audience is ready for it because there is space for every kind of story today.” So, does she believe things have changed for the better for women? As someone who has been in the industry for almost 40 years, she is optimistic about the change she has witnessed. “Yes, things have changed in urban India; probably not in rural India. But that’s the case, not just with women, but with so many things. We made Salaam Bombay in 1988, and we still have street kids today,” she emphasises. A still from Waack Girls For now though, she is happy to be able to bring a story about women’s empowerment to a wide audience. Even happier that she did it with six young female actors at the fore. Asked whether it was daunting to manage the eclectic cast, Taraporevala says, “Mira [Nair, friend and frequent collaborator] had given me one piece of advice before my [directorial] debut, Little Zizou [2008]. She had said, just love your actors. That was such good advice. I love all my actors. Rytasha was my most experienced actor, so she held it together on set. Most of my HoDs were women, and those who weren’t, were all allies. I hope the show will have an impact in terms of showing female friendships as wholesome and warm. Also, what kind of woman you can be. All six characters are very much themselves. Having the aspiration that you can be what you want to be [is so liberating].”
21 November,2024 07:35 AM IST | Mumbai | Mohar BasuActor Babil Khan is celebrating the first anniversary of his period streaming series ‘The Railway Men’. The actor essayed the role of Imad Riaz, a young loco pilot, whose contribution to the rescue operations in the Bhopal Gas Tragedy is unparalleled. Reflecting on the journey, Babil shared, “Working on ‘The Railway Men’ was an emotional journey for me. It wasn’t just acting, but a heartfelt homage to the real heroes who stood tall in the face of tragedy. Even one year later, I still carry the lessons it taught me. Collaborating with legends like Madhavan Sir and K.K. Menon Sir was a privilege—they taught me so much during the shoot”. His character in the series goes from being a Union Carbide worker to loco pilot at Bhopal Junction. The character’s transformation from innocence to bravery amidst the aftermath of the gas tragedy struck a chord with audiences, cementing Babil’s reputation as one of the industry’s brightest young talents. His raw depiction of grief and resilience brought depth to a story that continues to resonate with viewers. To prepare for the role, Babil dedicated himself to fully understanding his character's world. Sharing the details of his preparations, the actor said, "My main preparation involved mastering the Bhopali dialect and learning about life in 1984, particularly how workers and their families lived in the factory quarters”. He added, “I visited the actual site before the shoot to witness the tragedy's impact firsthand. Walking through the factory in daylight gave me chills. It was a humbling experience that deepened my respect for their resilience”. Meanwhile, on the work front, the actor has joined forces with ace filmmaker Shoojit Sircar for ‘The Umesh Chronicles’. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
20 November,2024 08:08 AM IST | Mumbai | IANSAryan Khan’s yet-to-be-titled Bollywood series will be released in 2025. Produced by Gauri Khan, the series marks Aryan Khan’s debut as a creator and director. The series will premiere on the streaming platform Netflix. About Aaryan Khan’s directorial debut Set against the backdrop of the film industry, Aryan Khan’s debut and this multi-genre project promises an unabashed, entertaining ride through the adventures of a charming, ambitious outsider navigating the glitzy yet tricky world of Bollywood. The series blends a high-stakes narrative with self-aware humour, featuring blockbuster cameos and larger-than-life characters for an unforgettable, tongue-in-cheek take on Indian cinema. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Netflix India (@netflix_in) Aryan Khan reportedly wrapped up the shoot for his directorial project in May. His debut series, which began filming in June 2023, offers a look into the glamorous world of the Hindi film industry. The six-episode series reportedly features Lakshya and Bobby Deol in lead roles, with cameo appearances by Shah Rukh Khan, Ranbir Kapoor, and Ranveer Singh. Shah Rukh Khan reacts to the news Sharing his heartfelt thoughts on the announcement, Shah Rukh Khan says, “We are excited to present this new series with Netflix that offers a refreshing look into the glamorous cinematic world and what it takes to succeed as an outsider. It’s a unique narrative brought to life by Aryan, many passionate minds, and the team at Red Chillies Entertainment. This one’s going to be all heart, all hustle, and a whole lot of entertainment.” It’s a special day when a new story is being presented for the audience. Today is even more special as @RedChilliesEnt and Aryan Khan embark on their journey to showcase their new series on @NetflixIndia . Here’s to untamed story telling….controlled chaos…gutsy scenes and lots… pic.twitter.com/8v0eBzRZ6S — Shah Rukh Khan (@iamsrk) November 19, 2024 More about Aryan Khan Born on November 12, Aryan is the eldest son of Shah Rukh Khan and Gauri Khan. He has two siblings, sister Suhana and brother AbRam. Aryan attended Dhirubhai Ambani International School in Mumbai for his early education and later went to Sevenoaks School in the UK. In 2020, he completed his Bachelor of Fine Arts in Cinematic Arts and Television Production from the University of Southern California. Aryan Khan launched D’Yavol X in April 2023, and within a year, the luxury brand has gained impressive popularity—recently seen on Ed Sheeran, who wore one of its denim jackets. Alongside his fashion line, Aryan also manages other ventures, including his vodka brand, D’Yavol. Both brands are part of his flagship global luxury label, Slab Ventures.
19 November,2024 07:57 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentLisa Mishra and rapper Shah Rule’s podcast, Dish and That, had started off as most good things do—out of a shared passion. Two months on, the podcast is set to scale up. The singer-actor and Rule are converting Dish and That into a video series of the same name. The show, to be streamed on a leading OTT platform, will be everything that the podcast has been—two friends talking about music, food and pop culture. Mishra, who recently made her acting debut in Call Me Bae, is surprised to see how an idea that was born over a conversation with a friend has taken on a life of its own. “The idea of creating Dish and That with Shah was born on a trip to London earlier this year, where we realised that so many of our conversations are not just about music, but also about food and pop culture. These are the things that bring people together in a way nothing else can. We’re blending these worlds into one show that feels like an extension of our friendship,” she says. In each episode, they will explore unique culinary experiences, discuss trending topics, and create music on the fly. What will add to the variety show’s mood are their candid conversations. Mishra explains, “In every episode, we dive into a specific theme, kicking things off with London. People can expect a mix of segments where we chat about the latest in pop culture, dig into food that is inspired by our travels, and of course, talk about music. In future episodes, we’ll bring guests from music, food, and entertainment industries to share their stories and insight.”
19 November,2024 10:38 AM IST | Mumbai | Mohar BasuSurviving the entertainment industry is no easy feat. However, for Indian-born American actor Ankur Rathee, his three shows on Prime Video—Four More Shots Please, Made in Heaven, and Inside Edge—helped pave a path. While he hasn’t been able to use his education in dance school yet, Rathee believes that one day he will do the song and dance routine. “I started [my career] with musical theatre, which was my introduction to proper acting. Though Bollywood has migrated from that, I’m grateful for the opportunities that came my way,” shares the actor, who was once a finalist on Dance India Dance. Currently, Rathee is basking in the positive reaction to his performance in Reeta Sanyal. The Disney+ Hotstar series has him play a Haryanvi cop in the Adah Sharma-starrer. He was stumped with the casting initially, but a conversation with producer Rajeshwar Nair got him on board. “I asked him why he approached me for the role of an inspector. It is an unconventional choice. He said he wanted to work with me because I was unconventional. The common tropes of a cop have often been showcased in cinema. He thought I could bring a new flavour to the role. I was intrigued by his answer,” says the actor, as he found the character fun and challenging. Rathee, who always played characters with an urban background, was thrilled to play someone from the heartland. “Jai Vardhan [his character] has got Haryana roots like me. I actually made the mistake of preparing for my role, understanding the laws and legalities, their mannerisms, body language, and how to handle the gun. I did all that only to show up on set and realise that I prepped for the wrong genre. Reeta Sanyal is more in the fantastical and escapist space. We took liberties with the characters. It was a culture shock for me to pivot,” shares Rathee, admitting that he took time to surrender to the genre. While his journey in the industry hasn’t been easy, the actor says that “it shouldn’t be”. “It is a privilege to be here. It’s naïve to assume that just because you’re good at something, you should have an opportunity. Nepotism exists across many industries, not just in Hindi cinema. I believe along with being talented, you have to have a strong work ethic, be strategic, and have to be perseverant,” asserts Rathee.
19 November,2024 07:22 AM IST | Mumbai | Letty Mariam AbrahamPriyanka Chopra has proved yet again that she's a master of balancing work and personal life. The actress has got back to shoot after celebrating Diwali and Halloween. The actress, who is currently shooting for her series 'Citadel 2', has been keeping fans updated on her busy schedule through her Instagram Stories. The actress on Saturday gave fans a sneak peek into her "working Saturday" with a video from the 'Citadel 2' set. She also posted a selfie from her car, as she looked stylish in a black jacket. With her hair tied back and minimal makeup, she looked fresh yet fierce as she wrapped up another demanding day on set. On the professional front, Priyanka, who is currently busy filming the next season of her series 'Citadel' also has other exciting projects lined up, including 'Heads of State' alongside Idris Elba and John Cena, as well as a role as a 19th-century Caribbean pirate in 'The Bluff'. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
17 November,2024 08:34 AM IST | Mumbai | ANIActor Saqib Saleem, recently featured in the web series ‘Citadel: Honey Bunny’ speaks exclusively to mid-day.com about his role as Agent KD in the Raj and DK directorial. Saqib opens up about the love and appreciation he has received for his brief stint, bonding with co-actor Varun Dhawan, and his controversial absence from the trailer launch. How Saqib Saleem came on board to play Agent KD Saqib Saleem recalls the first time he spoke to Raj and DK when they offered him the role of Agent KD. “The only question I asked them was, ‘Why me?’. Raj sir looked at me and said, ‘Because nobody's thought of you like that’. I was given a very good written part and I just poured my heart into it.” Elaborating on his character, Saqib explained, “People call it the antagonist, the anti-hero, but I'd like to say that in my head, KD was his hero. He had reasons to do what he was doing. Why and who he was killing, and it was all motivated out of love. I'm just overwhelmed and very humbled and grateful for all the love that's coming my way. We all work for love, don't we? We all want validation from people. And I'm at that stage right now where maybe I needed this burst of energy.” Saqib Saleem on shaving his head for ‘Citadel: Honey Bunny’ While Saqib had his reservations to shave his head for the role, he went ahead with it, which eventually paid off. The actor recalled, “When I had gone and met them (Raj and DK) I had given them this idea that I think I should shave off my head and they jumped at it. I felt like they would have also wanted that though they never communicated it with me. But when it came to cutting my hair, I was very nervous because I'm the only male member in my family who has hair left now. Everybody else is bald (laughs).” Saqib Saleem on reports of a rift with the makers Saqib’s absence at the trailer led many to believe he was miffed with the makers. Sharing his stance on the same, he asserts, “There was a narrative that the makers wanted to give out and that narrative concealed the impact of my character. So, my being there would have been detrimental to that narrative.” “I always believe that it's very important for your work to come out and then you talk to people. Usually hum release se pehle prachar karte hain aur release hote hi holiday pe chale jate hain. I want to change that a little. I feel like it's better conversation post-release,” the actor concludes.
17 November,2024 08:11 AM IST | Mumbai | Oshin FernandesADVERTISEMENT
