Manoj Bajpayee turns a year older today. On his birthday, filmmaker Raj and DK who created 'The Family Man' which has Bajpayee play the lead dropped an interesting video featuring their lead star. Raj and DK took to social media to share a video edit featuring fun moments of Manoj Bajpayee as Srikanth Tiwari on the sets of the show. The team has come up with two seasons so far and will soon start season 3. The film makers also hinted at Season 3 starting soon. Along with the video, the filmmaker duo wrote, "One thing we can all agree,It’s time to gear up for 3!!Together, let’s make history…Happy happy Birthday Srikant Tiwari!" One thing we can all agree,It’s time to gear up for 3!!Together, let’s make history…Happy happy Birthday Srikant Tiwari!@BajpayeeManoj pic.twitter.com/DttbjNyJZL — Raj & DK (@rajndk) April 23, 2024 About The Family Man: Manoj Bajpayee was introduced as Srikant Tiwari in Raj and DK's universe. He plays a middle-class man secretly working as an intelligence officer for the Threat Analysis and Surveillance Cell (TASC), a fictitious branch of the National Investigation Agency. He has a wife and two kids as well and puts his life on the line for his country. While he seems to be an ordinary man frustrated with the day-to-day rut of life, he is also the best-skilled man at his job. The series balances the storyline between his demanding job and his unsettled family life. It also stars Priyamani, Sharad Kelkar, Neeraj Madhav, Sharib Hashmi, Dalip Tahil, Sunny Hinduja and Shreya Dhanwanthary. After a gripping season 1, Bajpayee returned to season 2 as a suspended TASC officer who gets a taste of the corporate desk job life. However, he is unwilling to be a part of it and finds his way back into the team. The second season's storyline focuses on a Tamil Tigers-esque military resistance from Sri Lanka and their plans for a freedom fight. Update on The Family Man 3: Earlier this month, while talking to Mid-day, Manoj Bajpayee had said that he will start shooting for the series in 20 days. "One has to keep in mind that when you are getting into it again, it’s new ground and you can’t take it for granted. You have to find a new process. You have to involve yourself in the preparation. My preparation is immense, it’s never linear," he said. He states, “The Family Man has now become a kind of a cult series. Fans want to see more of it. If the response is massive, go with the audience and think of a great script for the next one. But without a [good] script in place, don’t start the next instalment. The learning is don’t try to rush it. Write a great script, go through it again and again, and when you are truly satisfied, only then think of making the next part.”
23 April,2024 01:14 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentIn the heart of India’s lush forests, resides a young tigress Ambar, who raised four cubs. While teaching them skills to survive in the jungle, she protected them from other wild predators, including pythons, bears and male tigers. Navigating the lives of this ambush of tigers are director Mark Linfield, and co-directors Vanessa Berlowitz and Rob Sullivan in Tiger. The Disney+ Hotstar documentary, narrated by Priyanka Chopra Jonas, is the result of 1,500 days of filming. Was it an instant yes when the project came their way? Hardly. Lin remembers the journey started almost 15 years ago. “At that time, Disney had just started doing feature-length wildlife programmes, and one of the earliest films we were asked to make was about tigers. Vanessa and I had filmed a number of shows on tigers, [so] we said, ‘No way, it’s too hard.’ It’s difficult to capture 75 minutes of tiger behaviour with lots of action, drama and story. So, we parked it and we went on to make films about monkeys, elephants, chimpanzees, bears and what have you,” says Linfield. The crew of Tiger filming Six years later, the husband-wife duo was contacted by Indian forest conservationists to consider making a film on tigers again. The stars aligned as they had a perfect story in a fantastic tigress and her cubs. So, Linfield and Berlowitz contacted the channel to check whether it was still interested in a film on the big cats. It was a big yes. With that began the six-year journey to shoot the documentary—produced by Linfield, Berlowitz and Roy Conli—amid the two waves of COVID. Berlowitz chimes in, echoing the excitement and challenges they faced during the show’s making. “The documentary took over six years, with 1,500 filming days spread across nearly five years. It was a labour of love amidst formidable obstacles,” she says. Shooting big cats is challenging given their elusive nature. Linfield and Berlowitz credit the local guides who helped them capture the beasts in all their glory. “Tigers are incredibly hard because they regularly spend two-thirds of the day sleeping. When they’re not asleep, they’re often hidden behind foliage. They’re often very far from the road, [deep in] the forest. If we hadn’t had such fantastic local Indian guides and experts, we would have been nowhere. We were totally reliant on our guides; they had an antenna for the majestic creatures. We also had the assistance of the forest department.” Berlowitz explains that while the tigers are secretive and elusive, there was no danger to human life. “We observed all the forest rules. Of course, they are fierce predators; that’s why you stay in your vehicle.” Mark Linfield and Vanessa Berlowitz. Pic/Getty Images; (right) Priyanka Chopra Jonas Linfield notes that a lot of it wouldn’t have been possible without high magnification telephoto lenses that are gyro-stabilised. “We used them from a vehicle, [which could capture animals] even a thousand millimeters away. We could film a tiger while driving and as the tiger is walking. The roads aren’t good in those [areas]. These gyro-stable cameras with high lenses give us incredibly smooth shots. You’ll see a lot of the track shots that are slowly tracking tigers that are very far away. Technology really helped us. When we first filmed tigers [decades ago], we didn’t have that. We used to be on a truck or the back of a jeep. We’d get a glimpse of a tiger from one angle, and then it would be gone [in a second].” Tiger not only showcases the captivating lives of these endangered animals, but also highlights how India has had remarkable success in its conservation efforts. “Their numbers have gone up from one-and-a-half thousand in 2006 to over three-and-a-half thousand. So, there is a sense of pride among the forest department,” says Berlowitz. At present, India has 55 protected areas designated as tiger reserves. As of 2023, there were 3,682 wild tigers in India, which is almost 75 per cent of the world’s wild tiger population. Tigers on the Rise, a companion show, sheds light on India’s conservation efforts. “It specifically celebrates what an amazing job India is doing concerning its tigers. There aren’t many good conservation success stories in the world at the moment, but your tigers are absolutely one of them,” adds Linfield.
23 April,2024 05:25 AM IST | Mumbai | Letty Mariam AbrahamOne would think that the big screen is the perfect medium for JP Dutta and his ambitious war dramas. But at a time when most are jumping on the OTT bandwagon, it looks like the veteran filmmaker too is ready to adapt to the times. mid-day has learnt that the director— known for Border (1997), Refugee (2000), and LOC: Kargil (2003)—is set to foray into digital entertainment with a war drama. “The series’ script has been locked. It will be a big-scale patriotic drama based on a real war. Disney+ Hotstar is keen to begin the shooting as soon as possible,” says a source close to the development. The offering will be produced by his daughter, Nidhi Dutta, under their banner. It turns out Nidhi’s director-husband Binoy Gandhi was keen to direct the show. But since he is busy with Sanjay Dutt and Raveena Tandon-starrer Ghudchadi, the veteran filmmaker decided to take things ahead. The source adds, “It’s an ambitious project for the streamer, and the top brass didn’t want to wait too long to kick-start it.” The makers are expected to begin casting soon. This makes it the Duttas’ second project lined up this year alongside Border 2. Last year, it was reported that the sequel to the 1997 blockbuster would roll in 2024 with Sunny Deol and Ayushmann Khurrana in the lead. Border 2 has been designed to explore the backdrop of the 1971 India-Pakistan war, with personal stories of the war heroes.
23 April,2024 05:23 AM IST | Mumbai | Priyanka SharmaLast year, the second season of Made in Heaven starred transgender actor Trinetra Haldar in a pivotal role, making a strong case for diversity on screen. Following its global mandate of inclusivity, Amazon Prime Video has now cast queer designer Rick Roy in its upcoming young adult series, Dil Dosti Dilemma. Initially roped in as a stylist on the Anushka Sen and Tanvi Azmi-starrer, Roy remembers walking into the pre-production meeting with the streamer to discuss the show’s visual palette. “I had gone to the meeting dressed to the nines. It started as a joke that I should be cast for the role of a big, [eccentric] designer in the show. Everyone said I would be perfect for the part, and we all laughed about it,” he recalls. While he passed it off as a joke, he soon received a call from the series’ executive producer. “She said they wanted to cast me. It felt real to me only when they reached out to my manager to discuss the details. The director [Debbie Rao] gave me the confidence to do it. This show is close to my heart for many reasons, the most important being that it’s a joy to work with good people. As a stylist, I see that the show has been size-inclusive and doesn’t fall for stereotypes.” Dil Dosti Dilemma is an adaptation of the book, Asmara’s Summer Roy has spent two decades in the industry, having worked as a costume designer on Desi Boyz (2011), Tumhari Sulu (2017) and Shiddat (2021). For his maiden acting gig, he landed a role that was an extension of him. “Everything that I am is what the role had. I had six pages of scenes,” he says. The acting break also taught him a few things. “I realised that being an actor requires a lot of patience. But the perks are that you get paid well and sit in a lovely vanity van. As an actor, you get taken care of far better than the technicians. We are not equal on set, and I realised that in the four-day acting gig.” Will he pursue acting seriously and make a second career of it like designer Masaba Gupta did? “If I ever pursue acting, the only inspiration will be Bebo [Kareena Kapoor Khan]. She is great fun, a superstar, and yet she is nice. She keeps it real, and I respect that in a person.”
23 April,2024 05:20 AM IST | Mumbai | Mohar BasuIt would not be wrong to term actor Manoj Bajpayee as the king of OTT. He is one of the first mainstream stars to jump onto the OTT bandwagon during the pandemic and has had a good run on streaming platforms so far. Having started with 'The Family Man' where he played an intelligence officer, the actor has experimented on the OTT platforms with different kinds of roles. Here's looking at his work on OTT through some of the series and movies that were directly released on digital platforms: The Family Man: Manoj Bajpayee was introduced as Srikant Tiwari in Raj and DK's universe. He plays a middle-class man secretly working as an intelligence officer for the Threat Analysis and Surveillance Cell (TASC), a fictitious branch of the National Investigation Agency. He has a wife and two kids as well and puts his life on the line for his country. While he seems to be an ordinary man frustrated with the day-to-day rut of life, he is also the best-skilled man at his job. The series balances the storyline between his demanding job and his unsettled family life. It also stars Priyamani, Sharad Kelkar, Neeraj Madhav, Sharib Hashmi, Dalip Tahil, Sunny Hinduja and Shreya Dhanwanthary. The Family Man 2: After a gripping season 1, Bajpayee returned to season 2 as a suspended TASC officer who gets a taste of the corporate desk job life. However, he is unwilling to be a part of it and finds his way back into the team. The second season's storyline focuses on a Tamil Tigers-esque military resistance from Sri Lanka and their plans for a freedom fight. The Killer Soup: Manoj Bajpayee plays a double role in this intriguing thriller series created by Abhishek Chaubey. It is a clever and witty crime and investigative comedy. Manoj plays a businessman married to Konkona SenSharma. He isn't the best human being in the town and has a looming debt in his name as well. He also essays the role of Umesh Pillai, Konkona Sensharma's character's lover. Silence...Can You Hear It? Released in 2021, this mystery investigative film, sees Manoj Bajpayee play the role of ACP Avinash. The story of the film revolves around the mysterious disappearance of a woman. Silence 2- The Night Owl Bar Shootout: A sequel to the above film was released on ZEE5 in April, 2024 with the same cast. Bajpayee reprised the role of ACP Avinash Varma. The cop and his team are assigned a case of a mass shootout that happened at a club named Night Owl Bar in Mumbai. As the team works on the case they realise there is something much bigger and darker at play. Sirf Ek Bandaa Hai: This is probably a first for Manoj Bajpayee where his film was released in theatres after its OTT release. Owing to critical acclaim, the makers dropped the film in select theatres even after making it available on OTT platforms. Helmed by Apoorv Singh Karki, 'Sirf Ek Bandaa Kaafi Hai' is a courtroom drama that narrates the story of a sessions court lawyer who is fighting against a godman, accused of exploiting a minor girl. The film explores the themes of corruption, power, and abuse. Ray: Ray is an Indian anthology drama streaming series on Netflix created by Sayantan Mukherjee, based on the works of Satyajit Ray. The series is directed by Srijit Mukherji, Vasan Bala, and Abhishek Chaubey. Manoj Bajpayee played a musician in the short directed by Chaubey. Bajpayee's character meets a sports journalist during a train journey and it focuses on their conversation.
22 April,2024 03:57 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentAs his birthday is around the corner, actor Tahir Raj Bhasin took a moment to reflect on his journey and the love that he has received through the years. He also expressed excitement about 'Yeh Kaali Kaali Ankhein' sequel. "It will be my biggest year in the industry with the sequel of Yeh Kaali Kaali Ankhein! So, I'm feeling extremely happy and grateful for this birthday. To have a huge project like this under my belt that is a sequel to my super hit series makes this birthday really thrilling for me," he said. "I have been shooting for Yeh Kaali Kaali Ankhein and I'm feeling creatively very satiated. I'm an actor who wants to constantly reinvent myself on screen and I'm blessed that those reinventions have been loved and appreciated by the industry, by the media as well as by audiences. Yeh Kaali Kaali Ankhein is a project that keeps giving me love even now. I'm constantly bombarded on my social media with questions about the series. The love and the anticipation is palpable," Tahir added. Set in the fictional north Indian town of Onkara, 'Yeh Kaali Kaali Ankhein' revolves around a romantic simpleton, Vikrant, who becomes an object of desire for Purva, who will go to any lengths to get him. In order to escape Purva's clutches and reclaim his life with his true love, Shikha, he goes down a dark path only to regret it later. The show's first season premiered on the streamer on January 14. The eight-episode series draws its title from the famous Shah Rukh Khan-Kajol song from the hit 1993 film 'Baazigar'. 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 April,2024 06:14 AM IST | Mumbai | ANILittle can match the learning that one has on the job. Naila Grrewal, who turned to acting with Tamasha (2015), agrees. While she has picked up learnings from her past works, the actor believes Maamla Legal Hai has been integral in enriching her as an artiste. That is why she is eagerly looking forward to joining the recently announced second season. Surrounded by a talented cast of veteran actors including Ravi Kishan, Tanvi Azmi, Yashpal Sharma, and Brijendra Kala during the first edition, Grrewal says her co-stars shared insight and tricks that helped her hone her craft. “Being in the presence of such seasoned actors was akin to attending an acting school. Their guidance has had a profound impact on my approach to acting,” she reflects. Whenever she faces the camera now, the actor remembers Azmi and Kishan’s teachings. “I learnt dialogue control from Tanvi Azmi. From Ravi sir, I understood the power of dialogues, and the importance of diction,” says the actor, who portrayed a US-returned lawyer who is shocked at the ground reality of the Indian judicial system, in the Netflix comedy. Next, she will be seen in Ishq Vishk Rebound.
20 April,2024 05:34 AM IST | Mumbai | Mohar BasuAmong recent releases, Hrithik Roshan’s Fighter, and Operation Valentine revolved around the Balakot air strike. But while they focused on the aerial strike conducted by India in February 2019, Jimmy Shergill’s upcoming web series, Ranneeti: Balakot & Beyond, draws from the capture and subsequent release of Group Captain Abhinandan Varthaman. On February 27, 2019, the fighter pilot was captured by the Pakistan Army, held captive for 60 hours before being released on March 1. Ranneeti offers a fictionalised version of the events, with Shergill playing an Indian intelligence official who strategises his release. The actor shares, “It’s a war-room-focused web series inspired from real-life events; [it depicts] the race against time to bring back the captured pilot while also battling Pakistan’s lies in global media. We always read or hear about what happens on ground during a war, but Ranneeti allowed me to witness the strategy, risk-taking, and the emotional trajectory of those who call the shots from inside the war-room.” The actor credits director Santosh Singh and his team of writers for developing a script that has its foundation in intense research. “The research had been done thoroughly by the writers and the director. The facts and figures had to be absolutely correct. The script was passed by top officials from the MoD [Ministry of Defence].” The JioCinema series—also starring Lara Dutta, Ashutosh Rana and Ashish Vidyarthi— was shot in Kashmir, Leh, Ladakh, Delhi, Punjab and Mumbai. Asked if such braveheart roles leave a deeper impact on him, Shergill says, “[I realised] these [intelligence officers] are probably as much a part of the battle as any other soldier. They strategise and do everything to win the war, after which they get lost in the crowd.”
20 April,2024 05:31 AM IST | Mumbai | Upala KBRThe Family Man 3, the name itself is enough to make web series lovers happy. It has been quite a while since we all have been eagerly waiting for the update on the new season. It feels like it has been forever since we have been waiting for updates about the Manoj Bajpayee starrer. But it looks like we have some happy news for you all. Suparn Verma, the writer of the first season of the thriller drama, has exclusively given us an update about the series. Suparn, who wrote the very first season of the crime thriller, told us that the team of The Family Man is planning to kick-start the shoot for the much-awaited series this year. "Raj and DK are the best people to talk about it but I think they are starting filming this year," shared Suparn. Manoj Bajpayee is already pumped to kick-start the shoot and deliver the much-loved thriller as soon as possible. It's easy to be swept away by the frenzy around the much-loved spy thriller. But Bajpayee and the creators stick to the golden rule: take an edition on floors only when you have a powerful script in place. Earlier in a conversation with mid-day.com, Bajpayee stated, "The Family Man has now become a kind of a cult series. Fans want to see more of it. If the response is massive, go with the audience and think of a great script for the next one. Write a great script, go through it again and again, and when you are truly satisfied, only then think of making the next part." For those unversed, ‘The Family Man’ is an action thriller web series that revolves around Srikant Tiwari, a middle-class man who works as a spy for the Threat Analysis and Surveillance Cell (TASC), a fictional branch of the National Investigation Agency. While dealing with the pressures of his secretive job, Srikant struggles to balance his professional life with his duties as a husband and father. The series explores themes of terrorism, espionage, and family dynamics, offering a gripping storyline with twists and turns. It's known for its intense action sequences, complex characters, and realistic portrayal of espionage operations in India.
18 April,2024 09:12 AM IST | Mumbai | Shachi ChaturvediThe Great Indian Kapil Show, which launched on March 30, has been the talk of the town since the first announcement dropped by Netflix last year. Three weeks in a row, the show has been trending in the Global Top 10 List- Netflix’s weekly Top 10 lists of the most-watched TV and films. And what better way to celebrate this success than to personally thank the fans who have been at the core of it all! For the first time ever, Netflix in partnership with ACT Fibernet, has done something unique and clutter-breaking, delighting fans across the country. Through this partnership, Kapil Sharma, Sunil Grover and Krushna Abhishek surprised fans by travelling all the way to their respective cities, knocking on their doors and waltzing into their homes & hearts leaving their neighbours green with envy. The emotions went from surprise to delight to kya lenge aap in a matter of seconds as Kapil, Sunil and Krushna went knocking on people’s doors. From squeals of “Oh My God, I can't believe it” to “Agli baar bhabhi aur bacchon ko lekar aana' there was a whole lot of love and ‘apnapan’ showered on Kapil & the team. Elderly couples to young adults and kids, all queued up and patiently waited for a glimpse of their favourite artists from balconies and windows- cheering for them, as they walked around the neighbourhood soaking in all the smiles with only and only gratitude in their hearts. Kapil Sharma shared, “When I first heard this idea from Netflix, I absolutely loved it. No further questions asked. I have always talked about the deepest gratitude and regard I hold for my fans and to be able to meet them in person, in their homes, and share a moment with them, is a priceless experience for me. It almost felt like meeting my extended family. I am glad we could do this. It feels surreal when you get treated so warmly by fans and you are privy to their genuine feelings so up close and personal.” Sunil Grover further added, “The expression on people’s faces- the surprise, delight and warmth just touched my heart. I am falling short of words to express myself. I am touched by the amount of love people showered on us. This whole experience has engraved itself in my core memory. I can't stop smiling as I say this.” Krushna Abhishek shared, “Getting an opportunity to be treated not like a guest but like family in the homes of our amazing fans was deeply moving. It has reinstated that we are on the right track and it only motivates us to keep working harder. It absolutely felt great to personally visit societies and homes where people knew so much about us. They asked us so caringly about our family and kids. To know that people are enjoying the episodes with family saying they have a reason to watch something so wholesome together is reassuring and I would like to congratulate Netflix for bringing us together."
17 April,2024 06:01 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentRewind to the golden age of Hindi cinema, where Shekhar Suman stole hearts and lit up the screen with his magnetic performance in 'Utsav.' Fuelled by passion and determination, Shekhar Suman soared to new heights, leaving a trail of stardust in his wake. With each role, he captured the imagination of audiences worldwide, earning accolades and admiration aplenty. Fast forward to the present, where Shekhar Suman is all set to conquer new horizons with his stellar presence in Sanjay Leela Bhansali's magnum opus, 'Heeramandi'. Set against the opulent backdrop of the British-India era, this epic promises to be a visual feast, with Shekhar Suman adding his trademark charm and charisma to the mix. In 'Heeramandi', Shekhar Suman steps into the shoes of Zulfikar, the head of a princely state who staunchly affirms his monarchy's supremacy, remaining oblivious to the winds of change. Netflix recently released a character promo wherein the veteran actor can be seen affirming, "Zulfikar kanoon maanta hai toh bas apne khudke," leaving us intrigued! View this post on Instagram A post shared by Netflix India (@netflix_in) Talking about 'Heeramandi,' Shekhar Suman shared, "If you work with the best, you give your best and the best happens. Mr.Bhansali is a phenomenon, an auteur, a virtuoso. It's an experience of a lifetime working with him. An accomplished filmmaker with an illustrious career, he is at par with directors like K. Asif, Kamal Amrohi, Guru Dutt and Mehboob Khan. As an actor, I'm overwhelmed and exhilarated to be a part of this colossus magnum opus." As the curtains draw to a close on Shekhar Suman's illustrious journey from 'Utsav' to 'Heeramandi', one cannot help but marvel at the depth and richness of his contributions to Indian cinema. With each role, he has not only entertained but also challenged societal norms, provoking thought and reflection in equal measure. Netflix recently unveiled the trailer of this year’s most anticipated series from India - visionary director Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar. Offering a spectacular glimpse into the world, every frame is steeped in intrigue, passion, and drama, set to captivate audiences from May 1 only on Netflix. The trailer is packed with impactful dialogues that add power to the fight against the British in the pre-Independence era.
17 April,2024 02:09 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentADVERTISEMENT
