Skip to content
Search

Latest Stories

I don’t want to be in a box and just flow: Kriti Sanon

Sanon next stars in Shehzada alongside Kartik Aaryan.

I don’t want to be in a box and just flow: Kriti Sanon

Playing a diva, a woman who has a mind of her own or performing "messy" action sequences, Kriti Sanon says as an actor she wants to do it all without limiting herself to one genre.

The actor, best known for her work in films such as "Bareilly Ki Barfi" and "Mimi", is thrilled about her diverse slate of film releases this year. In 2023, she will be seen in the masala entertainer “Shehzada”, the mythological epic “Adipurush”, and the action thriller “Ganapath”.


All these three films are different from each other, said Sanon, adding she is looking forward to seeing the audience's reaction to the releases.

"An actor should always have a mixed bag of films. I don’t want to limit myself to only doing films that are on my shoulders or choose films because it has got a strong part. I don’t want to be in a box and just flow.

"I want to cater to all kinds of audiences. I am an audience myself, who likes watching different films. Hence, I don’t want to keep repeating myself, I want to mould myself in different worlds," the 32-year-old actor told PTI in an interview here.

In “Shehzada”, Sanon plays a lawyer named Samara, whom she describes as a strong-headed, independent woman.

"This is closest to me as a character. I didn’t need to step into another person. This was more of a fun flowing, easy to do sort of a role. I haven’t had that glam avatar for a while as I have been doing small-town roles. It is nice and refreshing to break," she said about her role in the upcoming film.

While in "Adipurush”, she plays Janaki -- a character that is said to be loosely based on Sita from the epic "Ramayana", Sanon will do stunts in “Ganapath”.

"In ‘Adipurush’, I have a strong character and at the same time it is a period, historical film. ‘Ganapath’ is dirty, messy, and it has a ‘Mad Max’ vibe to it. There is a lot of action and something that I haven’t done before at all," she added.

Each of her roles in these three movies have been demanding in their own way, said the Delhi-born actor.

Citing the example of her 2021 critically-acclaimed drama "Mimi", Sanon said it is not necessary that only hard-hitting or serious roles pose a challenge.

"‘Adipurush’ was very challenging because of the weight of the character. There is a lot more internal prep, like how I am going to speak, the body language has to not look contemporary, etc. So, I had to keep a check on those things.

"‘Ganapath’ is challenging in a different way because I don’t know the skills. I don’t know how to ride a bike and how to do action. So, the idea is to learn all of it and be able to portray it with confidence and look like a pro,” the actor said.

Describing “Shehzada”, her first release film of 2023, Sanon said the film is a complete package of emotion, romance, and action. Starring Kartik Aaryan in the title role, the movie is the Hindi remake of the 2020 Telugu blockbuster “Ala Vaikunthapurramuloo”, which starred Allu Arjun and Pooja Hegde.

The Hindi version, helmed by Rohit Dhawan, marks Sanon's second collaboration with Aaryan after their 2019 hit “Luka Chuppi”.

"I feel there is great chemistry because of us knowing each other. We have done work before, so that happens instantly on screen. When I heard this film, I felt it was an entertaining film. It has got everything in it which the family audience will enjoy, it is a film for all age groups,” she said.

Last year two of her big-ticket theatrical releases, comedy-horror “Bhediya” co-starring Varun Dhawan and Akshay Kumar-led action comedy “Bachchan Panday”, didn't receive a warm response from viewers.

“It has a lot to do with timing and how many screens you get. If there’s another film that has come before. I don’t want to sound, I am defending but I feel in both cases, like in the case of ‘Bachchan Panday’, ‘The Kashmir Files’ was like a wave. I don’t think an Akshay Kumar film got less screens.

"Having said that, if you compare ‘Bhediya’ with the expectations because of other factors, it may feel underwhelmed but it got a lot of love. It was running for 50 days, which doesn’t happen (much today). Maybe in a different timing and scenario, it would have done (well),” she said.

"Shehzada", produced by Bhushan Kumar, Allu Arvind, Aman Gill and Aaryan, is scheduled to hit the screens Friday.

(PTI)

More For You

Saif Ali Khan’s ‘Jewel Thief: The Heist Begins’ Poster Unveiled

Saif Ali Khan, Jaideep Ahlawat, and the ensemble cast shine in the poster of Jewel Thief: The Heist

Instagram/netflix_in

Saif Ali Khan’s latest Netflix film ‘Jewel Thief: The Heist Begins’ drops an intriguing new poster

Netflix released a new poster for Jewel Thief: The Heist Begins, and it’s already got fans talking. The image shows Saif Ali Khan with a sharp, focused gaze, his eye cleverly framed by the silhouette of a diamond, hinting at the high-stakes heist at the heart of the film.

Slated for release on April 25, the movie follows a skilled thief hired by a crime boss to steal the legendary African Red Sun diamond. But as expected, things don’t go as planned. The teaser, dropped earlier this year, showed us a tense partnership between Saif and Jaideep Ahlawat, with twists, betrayals, and plenty of action in store.

Keep ReadingShow less
Empuraan Storm: Success, Censorship Debate & Political Attacks

Prithviraj Sukumaran and Mohanlal at a press meet for L2: Empuraan

Instagram/empuraanmovie

L2: Empuraan - A film that shattered records and sparked a political storm

Few films manage to be both a record-breaking success and a lightning rod for controversy at the same time. But L2: Empuraan, the much-hyped sequel to Lucifer, has done exactly that. The Prithviraj Sukumaran directorial, starring Mohanlal, has not only rewritten and shattered box office history but also sparked a nationwide debate on censorship, political narratives, and artistic freedom.

On one hand, it’s the fastest Malayalam film to gross £5.1 million (₹50 crore) in Kerala, the first Malayalam film to cross £10.2 million (₹100 crore) overseas, and a £20.4 million (₹200 crore) club entrant within just five days. On the other hand, it has been accused of pushing a political agenda, leading to 2m 8s, 24 last-minute cuts, a legal battle, and a full-blown culture war.

Keep ReadingShow less
Hayley Atwell Reveals Tom Cruise’s Advice on Social Anxiety

Atwell explained that Cruise’s advice helped her focus on identifying the sources of her anxiety

Getty

Mission Impossible star Hayley Atwell reveals Tom Cruise's advice to overcome social anxiety

Hayley Atwell has opened up about the helpful advice Tom Cruise gave her on how to cope with social anxiety, a topic that resonates with many, including those working in the intense world of Hollywood. Atwell, known for her role as Peggy Carter in Marvel films and for starring alongside Cruise in Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning (2023), revealed how Cruise's wisdom has helped her deal with nervousness in large social gatherings, something she’s not immune to despite her prominent career.

As Atwell prepares to reprise her role in what is expected to be the last chapter of the Mission: Impossible series, The Final Reckoning, due for release in May, her reflections on social anxiety offer an insightful perspective on how even the most successful stars experience self-doubt. She recently discussed this on the Reign with Josh Smith podcast, explaining how she often battles the feelings that come with being in a room full of people.

Keep ReadingShow less
Sam Mendes Unveils Cast for Beatles Biopic Four-Film Event in 2028

The Beatles - A Four-Film Cinematic Event, directed by Sam Mendes

Instagram/Sonypictures

Paul Mescal, Barry Keoghan & more: Sam Mendes’ Beatles Biopics' cast revealed for the epic four-film event in 2028

Hollywood is about to take us on a journey like never before through the lives of ‘The Beatles,’ one member at a time! Director Sam Mendes, known for films like 1917 and Skyfall, has revealed the actors who’ll step into the shoes of John, Paul, George, and Ringo in four separate biopics, all hitting theatres in April 2028.

Harris Dickinson will play John Lennon, Paul Mescal takes on Paul McCartney, Barry Keoghan becomes Ringo Starr, and Joseph Quinn transforms into George Harrison. The announcement came at CinemaCon in Las Vegas, where Mendes and the cast surprised the crowd. Instead of cramming the band’s epic story into one movie or stretching it into a series, Mendes chose a different approach: four interconnected films, each diving deep into a different Beatle’s life.

Keep ReadingShow less