The Mehras are off on a cruise, and little do they know all hell’s about to break lose. As one of the year’s most awaited Bollywood films, Dil Dhadakne Do, opens this week in the UAE, tabloid! spoke to the film’s ensemble cast about their characters, what it means to them and why they said yes to director Zoya Akhtar’s latest feature.
Anil Kapoor is Kamal Mehra
For his role as the patriarch of the family, Bollywood star Anil Kapoor, one of the most recognised faces internationally, says he said yes because “[the character] had a lot of meat”.
“He’s a self-made man who started from scratch and achieved a lot. But has a big heart but there are grey shades. He is an achiever, but also a manipulator. He has two children, one wife and many girlfriends,” he says. “It’s something I’ve never done before and as an actor you always want to dip your feet into something new.”
An established name in Bollywood, Kapoor came into the international spotlight with his role as quiz master in the Oscar-winning film Slumdog Millionaire. A recurring role in US TV show 24 quickly followed. Kapoor also plays the Indian version of Jack Bauer in a Hindi version of the show. He recently voiced his own character for a guest appearance on the animated series Family Guy.
“My character in DDD is not the typical cliched lead role. It is something which is slightly out of the box. And mind you, all that grey hair, it’s all real.”
Shefali Shah is Neelam Mehra
Following her career-making debut in the game-changing thriller Satya in 1998, Shefali Shah’s career has, surprisingly, been slow on the uptake, considering she’s had so many memorable roles in movies including Monsoon Wedding (2001) and Gandhi, My Father (2007).
In Dil Dhadakne Do, she’s paired opposite veteran Kapoor as his wife, Neelam, who, despite her husband’s philandering ways, stays on in the marriage.
“Shefali’s screen age is not so old and she’s got a lot going in her favour,” says Kapoor. “People have hardly seen her true ability, considering the kind of talent she has. This is just the beginning.
“Hopefully, our pairing will become like that of Anil Kapoor and Madhuri Dixit,” he adds, referring to him and Dixit’s on-screen and off-screen chemistry, which resulted in a number of hits in the ‘80s and ‘90s.
“It’s a pleasure to work with Anil-ji and I’d love to do more films considering I rarely work,” Shah added.
Priyanka Chopra is Ayesha Mehra
Stuck in an unhappy marriage, Priyanka Chopra’s character bumps into an old flame, played by Farhan Akhtar, while on a cruise in Dil Dhadakne Do.
“She has no idea what she’s doing. She’s always changing her mind. She is so confused and does not have any opinion about love. She just wants to be loved,” Chopra says of her character. “It was refreshing because after a long time I am playing a feminine, sedate character who’s not trying to beat up boys.”
Chopra played Indian Olympic boxer Mary Kom in an acclaimed biopic of the same name last year. She will soon play the lead in US TV series Quantico, about a bunch of new FBI recruits, one of whom is suspected of masterminded one of the biggest attacks on the US since 9/11.
Despite her international pop career still warming up following three singles, Chopra sings the title song of DDD along with Farhan Akhtar.
Director Zoya Akhtar says Chopra didn’t need any prodding to do the song.
“She didn’t give me a hard time. She knew my intention and she just went with it. She was a really good sport,” Zoya said.
Ranveer Singh is Kabir Mehra
Fresh off playing lovers in the thriller Gunday last year, Ranveer Singh and Priyanka Chopra, will be seen as siblings in Dil Dhadakne Do. The film also marks the reunion of Singh and Anushka Sharma, who were paired in his hit debut film Band Bajaa Baaraat in 2010.
Singh, currently one of the hottest young stars in Bollywood, plays a spoilt, suave ladies man who has very different dreams from the one his overbearing father has for him.
Speaking of he film, he says he has no qualms working in a film with a big star cast. “I always say the more the merrier. I really enjoy the ensemble experience and I hope to do more in the future,” he says. “It’s all the more interesting to work with, especially when you’re working with so many great actors. It’s creatively stimulating and a great experience to work with.”
THE OUTSIDERS
Anushka Sharma is Farah Ali
Anushka Sharma stays on familiar ground in Dil Dhadakne Do, playing a head-strong woman who knows exactly what she wants in life. And we can never have too many of them in Bollywood.
Sharma’s Farah Ali is a dancer who’s followed her dreams to get to where she is. She quickly charms Singh’s Kabir Mehra, who, unlike her, is torn between his dreams and his family’s expectations of him.
The actors, who were last seen together in Ladies vs Ricky Bahl in 2011, are known to share an electrifying chemistry.
Sharma spoke to tabloid! about what she said was the media’s obsession with comparisons.
“As a woman, it’s even more offensive,” she said matter-of-factly. “To constantly be asked what I feel about Priyanka’s role being longer than mine and whether or not it makes me insecure. The media gives such things unnecessary weightage. I took on this role because I liked it and it works for me and that’s that.”
Farhan Akhtar is Sunny Gill
If it’s a Zoya Akhtar film, can Farhan Akhtar be far behind? Farhan, who played the lead in Zoya’s debut film, Luck By Chance, was also in her follow-up, the hit Zindagi Milegi Na Dobara. In Dil Dhadakne Do, Farhan plays the smooth Sunny Gill whose charms Chopra’s character, Ayesha Mehra, can’t resist. The only problem is, she won’t admit it. And she’s married.
Farhan, who made his debut as director in the seminal Dil Chahta Hai in 2001, is a multi-hyphenate. He’s also produced the film as well as sung the title song with Chopra. No wonder he prefers to let the rest of the cast do the talking as he’s kept a very low profile throughout the promotional tour, even missing the gang’s Dubai visit last week.
Don’t miss it!
Dil Dhadakne Do releases in the UAE on June 4.
