While ‘Animal’ came across as a breakthrough performance, his performances on the OTT platforms with the web series ‘Aashram’ and the two movies ‘Love Hostel’ and ‘Class of 83’, also showcased his acting finesse.
Starting with the 1995 movie Barsaat, Bobby Deol has acted in more than 50 movies, including thrillers, action movies, and love stories.
From a boy next door in the likes of Barsaat the actor has transformed into a gritty actor with a diverse portfolio of characters. He has been a leading man, a supporting actor and has now transformed into a wonderful character artiste.
In the 1990s and 2000s Bobby Deol was a popular leading man primarily known for his stylish looks. However, as the years have gone by he has also proved his acting talent. While Animal came across as a breakthrough performance, his performances on the OTT platforms with the web series Aashram and the two movies Love Hostel and Class of 83, also showcased his acting finesse.
Standout performances in late 90s
In the late 90s and early 2000s too, the actor had a slew of fine performances to his credit. Among Bobby Deol’s earlier performances, his act in Abbas Mustan’s Humraaz (2002) deserves special mention. Bobby Deol’s character in Humraaz goes through many emotions, particularly in the second half. There is a palpable sense of distraught when Bobby’s Raj Singhania finds out that his wife has double-crossed him.
Another impactful character in Bobby Deol’s early career includes the romantic thriller Gupt (1997). In this movie, Bobby plays a young man wrongfully accused of murder. He portrayed the different nuances of the role in an impactful manner. Talking about comedy roles, Bobby’s act in Jhoom Barabar Jhoom (2007) as a mama’s boy was endearing to watch.
At one point Bobby’s career saw a dead end with no solid work coming. There were sporadic appearances but nothing substantial.
However, he rose to fame with the Sandeep Reddy Vanga’s Animal, in which he plays a non-speaking person. The film released in 2023 December, opened many avenues for the actor— he is now the most sought-after villain.
In 2024, he once again played an antagonist in Suriya’s Kanguva. While the movie didn’t work as expected, Bobby Deol’s performance earned praise.
Now let’s get into a little more detail about Bobby Deol’s reinvention by expanding on the recent films and the web series mentioned above.
Animal
Bobby Deol in ‘Animal’. (X)
In Sandeep Reddy Vanga’s Animal, Bobby Deol makes a late entry in the second half but leaves a lasting impact. His introduction scene captures two contrasting emotions. In the song “Jamal Kudu,” he dances joyfully with an alcohol glass on his head, celebrating. This is immediately followed by a moment of intense rage upon hearing of his brother’s death.
With his chilling eyes, Bobby’s character becomes a formidable opponent to Ranbir. In the climax, his emotional intensity shines through as he battles Ranbir.
Despite having no dialogue, his fiery eyes and body language convey murderous rage, making him an intimidating and deadly presence.
Class of 83
Bobby Deol in ‘Class of 83’. (X)
Class of 83, directed by Atul Sabharwal, is based on the novel by acclaimed crime journalist Hussain Zaidi. The film follows a cop, Vijay Singh, who is demoted to the dean of a police academy as punishment. At the academy, Singh selects a group of rookies to restore justice through unethical means. His plan works for a while, but things eventually fall apart.
Bobby Deol’s portrayal of Vijay Singh is far from the traditional larger-than-life cops like Salman Khan in Dabangg or Ajay Devgn in Singham. Instead, he plays a brooding mentor, conveying much through silence and his intense eyes. Deol effectively captures Vijay Singh’s inner turmoil with a powerful, internalized performance.
Aashram (Web series)
Bobby Deol in ‘Aashram’. (X)
In his web series debut, Bobby Deol played a charismatic godman in Aashram, directed by Prakash Jha. His character, Baba Nirala, is revered as a messiah for the downtrodden, but in reality, he harbours a dark past. The three seasons of Aashram tackle various social issues, such as the caste system and reservation, in typical Prakash Jha style.
As the cunning yet charming Baba Nirala, Bobby Deol brought immense charisma to the role. He skillfully portrayed the contrast between the god-loving persona he presents to his devotees and the darker side revealed once the curtain falls. Deol perfectly balanced the revered godman with subtle hints of his evil nature.
Love Hostel
Bobby Deol in ‘Love Hostel’. (X)
In Love Hostel, Bobby Deol played a hitman named Dagar, who believes he is doing society a favour by killing young couples who try to break societal norms by marrying outside their caste or religion.
Deol portrayed the mostly emotionless Dagar with the perfect attitude, outstandingly capturing his self-righteousness. He also nailed the hinterland accent.
This is an overview of Bobby Deol’s resurgence. This list is by no means complete, as the actor’s second innings includes many more exciting projects.
These include Yash Raj Banner’s first female-led spy film, starring Alia Bhatt and promising new talent Sharvari Wagh. There is also Anurag Kashyap’s untitled thriller with Sanya Malhotra. In addition, Bobby Deol has Telugu films Daaku Maharaj and Hari Hara Veera Mallu, as well as the Tamil film Thalapathy 69. Here’s hoping Bobby continues to deliver solid work.
While horror films ruled the box office, there were other films that made an impact irrespective of their box office numbers like ‘Laapataa Ladies’, ‘Srikanth’, ‘Chandu Champion’, ‘CTRL’, ‘Kill’, ‘Amar Singh Chamkila’, ‘Crew’ and ‘Jigra’.
The year 2024 has seen a significant shift in terms of viewer choice. Tenth-pole action movies with macho men at the centre predominantly dominated 2023.
This year though there has been a clear fatigue towards the action genre. The horror space has given exciting storylines with sufficient thrills and a good dose of humour.
One of the major production houses Maddock Films scored a double whammy this year with Stree 2 and Munjya. Both these movies featured grotesque demons representing sinister thoughts.
In Stree 2 the headless demon kidnaps women with a modern outlook representing our sexist leaders. In the case of Munjya a young Brahmin boy resorts to black magic to win over a girl but this only results in self-destruction. Stree 2 and Munjya had impactful social commentary apart from the folklore touch.
Another film of the same genre is Anees Bazmee’s Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3, a horror thriller/comedy with an important message on inclusivity and acceptance. A poignant flashback connected to homosexuality made Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 a notch above the second part.
Queen director Vikas Bahl also made a strong comeback this year with Shaitaan, a home invasion thriller with elements of horror.
While horror films ruled the box office, there were other films that made an impact irrespective of their box office numbers like Laapataa Ladies, Srikanth, Chandu Champion, CTRL, Kill, Amar Singh Chamkila, Crew and Jigra.
Following are some of the most impactful movies of this year.
Laapataa Ladies
A still from the film ‘Laapataa Ladies’. (X)
Kiran Rao’s second directorial venture, Laapataa Ladies, is a well-crafted feminist tale that effectively uses humour to address serious issues. The absurd scenarios arising from the confusion surrounding the same ghoonghat have a Shakespearean touch.
The film tackles important themes such as the necessity of education, the burdensome customs imposed on women, and the need for self-reliance. The latter is explored through the character of Manju Maai, a feisty and independent older woman played delightfully by Chhaya Kadam.
A major highlight of Laapataa Ladies is Ravi Kishan’s incredible comic timing. As a bribe-loving cop with a conscience, he left a strong impact with his performance. Newcomers Nitanshi Goel, Pratibha Rana, and Sparsh Srivastava were also a joy to watch.
Stree 2
A poster of the film ‘Stree 2’. (X)
Aamir Kaushik’s follow-up to Stree (2018) was a rollicking sequel filled with equal parts scares and laughs. The film also featured impactful social commentary through the character of Sarkate, a headless demon. This grotesque creature kidnaps women with a modern outlook, such as those with big dreams or who marry outside their caste. Sarkate had previously burned Stree and her lover alive.
A key moment in the movie shows all the men in Chanderi becoming alpha males due to Sarkate’s spell. In the pre-climax, the women of Chanderi break out in unison, fully aware of the dangers.
What also made Stree 2 a blockbuster sequel was the camaraderie between Rajkummar Rao, Abhishek Banerjee, Aaparshakti Khurrana, and Pankaj Tripathi. Their comic timing and chemistry added depth to the film.
Apart from Stree 2, Rajkummar Rao had a remarkable year, showcasing his versatility in various roles. In Srikanth Bolla, he portrayed the visually impaired businessman with an exceptional performance, perfectly capturing the character’s mannerisms and insecurities.
In Mr and Mrs Mahi, he played Mahendra, a failed cricketer who manipulates his wife for fame. Despite Mahendra being selfish and unlikeable, Rajkummar’s layered performance made him impossible to fully hate. The film performed moderately at the box office.
Chandu Champion
Kartik Aaryan in ‘Chandu Champion’. (X)
Kabir Khan’s Chandu Champion took viewers on an emotional rollercoaster. Based on an incredible real-life story, the film is a must-watch tale of grit and determination.
Beyond being an underdog story, the movie addressed important themes, such as how people with disabilities seek empathy, not sympathy. It critiqued the “Bechara syndrome” and highlighted how their efforts often go unrecognized.
In the title role, Kartik Aaryan delivered a career-defining performance. Along with his impressive physical transformation, he shone in scenes portraying helplessness, frustration, resilience, and grit.
Despite sharing screen space with a strong actor like Vijay Raaz, Kartik held his own. Vijay Raaz, playing the coach and father figure, added significant emotional depth to the film.
Kartik also impressed in Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3, where he entertained as the fake Baba Rooh Baba, leaving viewers in fits of laughter. He also delivered a heartfelt performance in a small double role.
Kill
A still from the film ‘Kill’. (X)
Nikhil Nagesh Bhatt’s Kill was a thrilling ride in spite of its visceral action. He elevated a standard action plot by merging the issue of class divide and blurring the lines between what we consider a hero and an anti-hero.
The humanization of dacoits particularly in the second half was very well done. On more than one occasion the armed robbers are seen venting out their vulnerabilities and fears.
The action sequences by nature are very violent with the titular character Amrit (a mighty impressive Lakshya) coming across as a bigger monster than the real armed robbers.
However, stunt directors Parvez Sheikh and Se-Yeong came up with very innovative combat sequences in confined spaces. Raghav Juyal best known for his dancing skills surprised one and all with his act of a cold-blooded villain.
CTRL (Netflix)
Ananya Pandey in ‘CRTL’. (X)
Vikramaditya Motwane’s CTRL, streaming on Netflix, is an engaging thriller/drama that explores the dangers of AI, including deepfakes and personal data breaches. The film raises important questions about how Gen Z increasingly relies on internet bots for genuine advice rather than consulting real people.
Ananya Panday plays the central role of Nella, a social media influencer. She and her husband, Joy (Vihaan Samrat), run a YouTube channel called NJoy. Their seemingly perfect relationship unravels, leading to a disturbing chain of events.
A key aspect of CTRL is how Motwane makes viewers reflect on the desire for validation through social media and the fine line between sharing and oversharing. These questions are raised in a thoughtful, non-preachy manner.
Ananya Panday delivers a stellar performance as Nella, perfectly capturing the character’s various shades. Special mention must also be made of Aaparshakti Khurrana, who voices the AI, adding depth to the story.
Do Patti (Netflix)
Kriti Sanon in ‘Do Patti’. (X)
Shashanka Chaturvedi’s Do Patti shares some similarities with Jasmeet K Rheen’s Darlings, as both films depict women taking control of their lives when everything seems to have hit a dead end. However, Do Patti is very much its own story.
In addition to tackling domestic abuse, this Netflix film also explores sibling rivalry, post-traumatic stress, and childhood trauma. Kudos to Kriti Sanon for choosing to back such a project for her first production venture.
Kriti is outstanding, particularly in her role as the jealous twin, who eventually becomes a strong ally to her demure sister. Shaheer Sheikh, as the unpredictable husband, also gave a strong performance.
Jigra
Alia Bhatt in ‘Jigra’. (X)
Vasan Bala’s Jigra is a perfect blend of emotional drama and a prison break story. The film combines two distinct elements: on one hand, it tells the gritty tale of a young woman shaped by the emotional turmoil of witnessing her father jump from the roof. On the other, it explores themes of class divide and the brutalities faced by the common man in a police state.
The class divide is starkly portrayed through the way Satya’s wealthy relatives make her brother a scapegoat to protect their son, despite him being a habitual drug offender. Jigra is, for the most part, an engrossing film, and it was further enhanced by Alia Bhatt’s perfect portrayal of Satya’s tigress-like nature.
Vedang Raina, as the naïve young man caught in a complex web, also gave a strong performance. In supporting roles, both Manoj Pahwa and Rahul Ravindran made their presence strongly felt. The film features many memorable scenes, including one where Alia Bhatt’s Satya devours a large amount of food to calm her nerves.
Another impactful scene occurs when a helpless Satya asks a prison security guard if she looks sad. When he says yes, she tries to smile and asks the same question again. The sorrow in her eyes, as she struggles to stay mentally strong for her brother, was beautifully written and enacted.
The Buckingham Murders
Kareena Kapoor in ‘The Buckingham Murders’. (X)
Hansal Mehta’s The Buckingham Murders is a perfect example of a slow-burn investigative drama. While it may appear to be a police procedural on the surface, the film also delves into the lives of immigrants, communal hatred, and the struggles faced by the Queer community, among other themes.
Kareena Kapoor delivers an outstanding performance as a detective sergeant, grappling with deep emotional turmoil while investigating the case of a missing child.
In addition to these themes, Hansal Mehta also did an excellent job of addressing the changes brought about by the pandemic., both positive and negative. The film offers valuable psychological insight into the shortcomings of society. While the narrative occasionally digresses from the investigation, the conclusion more than makes up for these moments.
Apart from The Buckingham Murders, Kareena also played a hustler who is unapologetically greedy in Crew.
In the age of pan India Films, and reducing screenspace for women, it has become even more necessary for the actresses to take charge of the stories they are part of.
In the last few years, many Bollywood actresses have turned producers. They have produced films either starring themselves in lead roles or having new talents in prominent parts.
This trend of actresses turning producers proved to be a healthy change, giving them greater control over their roles, and allowing them to explore more challenging roles which mainstream cinema doesn’t always provide. While the box office figures for these movies aren’t massive, there is creative satisfaction.
It is a well-known fact that in today’s age of pan-Indian cinema, actresses are getting reduced to mere dolls with very little to do. Even the romantic track with heroes has become all about the male gaze.
In the recent big-budget film Devara (2024)—Janhvi Kapoor’s Tollywood debut, the actress makes her appearance only in the second half that too for a brief while. She is reduced to a person lusting after the hero and dancing to the sensuous “Chuttamalle”.
In this scenario, it becomes even more necessary for the actresses to take charge of the stories they are part of. Here is a list of actresses turning producers and the projects they undertook.
Anushka Sharma
One of the actresses who turned a producer early on was Anushka Sharma. She launched her own production company Clean Slate Filmz in the year 2013.
The first movie produced under her banner was NH 10 (2015), a gripping thriller. The film is about honour killings, in which a city couple find themselves witness to a brutal incident of honour killing leaving deep scars. In the film, Anushka Sharma portrays a wide range of emotions, from confidence to despair, to finally rage.
Anushka Sharma in ‘Phillauri’. (X)
After the intense NH10, the actress did a complete U-Turn with her next production Phillauri (2017). In 2018, she produced and acted in yet another milestone film in her career— Pari.
While Philauri dealt primarily with superstitions in a comic tone, it also spoke about long-lost love and the culture of music and poetry in Punjab.
In this movie, she played a strong-willed woman with a flair for writing poetry. Later in the movie, she plays the role of a friendly spirit giving Anushka ample scope to demonstrate both her comic and dramatic chops.
Post Phillauri there was the horror movie Pari in the backdrop of satanic cults. Pari was a challenging part both physically and emotionally for Anushka. She was in equal parts scary and also emotionally vulnerable delivering a knock-out act.
All these movies are not major grossers at the box office but they showcased Anushka’s versatility in taking on challenging roles.
Roping in new talents
Tripti Dimri in ‘Bulbbul’. (X)
Apart from the above-mentioned ones Anushka has also backed movies featuring young talents, a case in point being Bulbbul (2020) and Qala (2022).
Both these movies featured young actress Tripti Dimri in author-backed roles. They opened to great reviews marking Tripti as a promising young talent which unfortunately the actress has not been able to capitalize on. Bulbbul also had another upcoming actor Avinash Tiwary making a strong impression.
Anushka also produced the critically acclaimed Amazon show Paatal Lok (2020).
Paatal Lok had the Raazi actor Jaideep Ahlawat in a breakthrough performance. The show gave Jaideep space to display his talent and he didn’t disappoint.
The show was also a breakthrough for Abhishek Banerjee, generally known for comic roles in the Stree franchise, the actor was extremely convincing as the deadly assassin.
Priyanka Chopra
Priyanka Chopra in ‘Sky Is Pink’. (X)
Another prominent actress Priyanka Chopra has also backed hatke movies under Purple Pebble Pictures. Apart from the likes of Sky Is Pink (2019) and The White Tiger (2021) Priyanka has produced movies in Marathi as well.
Ventilator (2016) had director Ashutosh Gowariker in a major role. The movie opened to rave reviews apart from being a commercial success. Director Rajesh Mapuskar who also wrote the screenplay won awards for best screenplay and best debut director.
Speaking about her Hindi film, Sky Is Pink featured the actress in a multi-layered character. Her role as a determined parent spans from a young mother to an older woman. As a strong mother who wants to make sure that her child lives life to the fullest amidst a life-threatening disease, Priyanka‘s performance touched a huge chord with the audience.
The grief along with her inner strength is palpable in every scene.
In the English/Hindi movie The White Tiger Priyanka’s role was more of a supporting one, nevertheless, the actress made a striking impression.
The White Tiger had Adarsh Gaurav in the lead role, who got into the skin of his character. The movie opened new doors for the young talent.
Alia Bhatt
A poster of the film ‘Darlings’. (X)
The national award-winning actress Alia started her own production house with the movie Darlings (2022).
The film is a dark thriller/comedy about two domestic abuse survivors, with her character Badru representing the numerous housewives who put up with their husband’s abusive behaviour in the hope that they would change one day. This doesn’t happen and eventually, Badru is forced to take things into her own hands.
The transition of Alia’s Badru from a battered housewife to a stronger woman was exciting to watch though the process could have been better etched. It was brave of Alia to choose a subject like Darlings for her debut venture and by playing a domestic abuse survivor she represented numerous Indian women whose patience is mistaken for submissiveness.
Darlings was followed by presenting the Malayalam web series Poacher(2024). Poacher was a crime drama based on the real-life incidents of Elephant poaching. The series had Nimisha Sajayan in an intense performance giving her new fame.
After Poacher came Jigra (2024) which she produced along with Karan Johar.
Jigra is a story about a fiercely protective elder sister, who would do whatever it takes to save her brother from the death sentence. There are intense combat sequences with an ally turned foe in a jungle.
Keeping aside the box office numbers, Alia showcased a different side to her in this movie proving that she can pull off action as well. Apart from being an emotional drama Jigra also touched upon the consequences of a delayed justice system where innocent prisoners are forced to take extreme measures in order to find freedom.
Deepika Padukone
Deepika Padukone in ‘Chhappak’. (X)
In the year 2020 Deepika produced and starred in the flawed yet gutsy Chhappak movie under her banner Ka Productions.
Deepika took a huge risk with her stardom to play an acid attack survivor. In spite of falling short in a couple of sequences, Deepika was mostly competent in making the viewers feel the agony of Malati Agarwal based on the real-life Lakshmi Agarwal.
Taapsee Pannu
Pink (2014) actress Taapsee Pannu turned producer with the female buddy film Dhak Dhak (2023) under the banner Outsider Films. The movie focused on four women of different age groups and their journey of self-discovery on a long bike trip. It was a well-made feel good movie.
Kareena Kapoor Khan
Kareena Kapoor Khan also turned into a producer with a Hansal Mehta directorial The Buckingham Murders (2024). The name of her production house is Mahana Films.
Unlike her general glamorous roles, Kareena was seen in a very different avatar, a detective going through huge emotional turmoil while investigating a case. Kareena delivered a stunning performance, showcasing her versatility.
Kriti Sanon
Kriti Sanon in ‘Do Patti’. (X)
The last in this list is Kriti Sanon who co-produced the recently released Do Patti (2024) under her banner Blue Butterfly Films. The core concept of domestic abuse and the character graph of Kriti’s Saumya in this is similar to what Jasmeet K Reen already explored in Darlings.
Having said that it has to be mentioned that director Shashanka Chaturvedi brought his aspects too like post-traumatic stress and a jealous identical twin who undergoes a transformation. Playing two vastly different characters Kriti pushed herself as an actress coming up with a good performance.
Through the double act, Kriti showed that she can easily play a grey-shaded or a completely negative role.
Becoming decision-makers
In a way, this is a good trend as actresses are becoming decision-makers in showcasing women’s talent and pushing boundaries.
On the other hand, it is also a sad commentary on the film industry that actresses had to bankroll movies to display their talent, something which mainstream cinema is not giving them enough.
A common factor binding Do Patti and Alia Bhatt’s debut production Darlings is women taking control of their lives when everything seems to have hit a dead end. Kudos to Kriti Sanon for choosing a sensitive subject like domestic abuse for her maiden production venture.
Starcast: Kriti Sanon, Shaheer Sheik, Kajol, Tanvi Azmi, Brijendra Kala and others
Director: Shashanka Chaturvedi
Writer: Kanika Dhillon
Producers: Kanika Dhillon and Kriti Sanon
Production Companies: Kathha Pictures, Blue Butterfly Films and Vipin Agnihotri Films
Songs: Sachet- Parampara and Taniskh Bagchi
Streaming site: Netflix
Running time: 2 hours and 7 minutes
In the last few years numerous Bollywood actresses have turned producers pushing the envelope with interesting stories and strong female characters. Irrespective of the box office numbers these characters have created a solid impact. Case in point being the films produced under Anuskha Sharma’s Clean Slate Filmz. A particular mention must be made of her turn in the horror movie Pari. She played a battered young woman with a haunting past. Priyanka Chopra is another actress who has produced good movies like Sky Is Pink and The White Tiger. Her heart wrenching portrayal of a determined mother in the former was nothing less than extraordinary. One of our major commercial stars Deepika Padukone also entered into production with the flawed yet gusty Chhapaak. The biggest star of this generation Alia has produced two movies and presented one Malayalam web series Poacher under Eternal Sunshine Productions. Both Darlings and Jigra dealt with contrastingly different subjects. Darlings focused on a domestic abuse survivor, Jigra on the other hand dealt with the delayed justice system through a morally complex elder sister. Kriti Sanon’s Do Patti is a good addition to the above-mentioned films.
Do Patti is a good additionto the above-mentioned films
The story of Do Patti is set in the fictional hill station of Devaipur. It focuses on a pair of identical twins Saumya and Shelle, they are as different as chalk and cheese. Their relationship has always been strained. Out of the two Saumya needs more care given her constant paranoia. Shelle on the other is the wilder one. From an early age itself Shelle has harbored jealousy towards Saumya. Her feeling is that Saumya gets way more love from the family, according to her Saumya puts up the act of being paranoid to get more love. A good example of Shelle’s animosity is the scene where she cuts a small portion of her sister’s hair as a child. Years later this animosity takes a hugely dangerous turn with the arrival of Dhruv (fantastic Shaheer Sheikh). Dhruv gets quickly attracted to Shelle as her wild nature is more appealing to him over Saumya’s demureness. But in a major turn of events, his marriage takes place with Saumya leading to further friction among the siblings. Initially Dhruv appears to be a good husband but soon his short temperedness comes to the fore. Kajol plays police inspector Vidya Jyothi. This is the story in brief.
Kriti Sanon in a double role
A strong aspect of Do Patti is the depiction of sibling rivalry particularly the characterization of Shelle. Writer Kanika Dhillon is known for writing unorthodox women. The best example being Taapsee Pannu in the Haseen Dil Ruba movies and Manmarziyaan. Here too the writer has given interesting character traits adding to the thrill quotient of the movie. Both Saumya and Shelle carry a deep emotional baggage of their own, it is just that they have chosen different methods. In case of Saumya it is about internalizing, for Shelle escapism is the defense. This has come out well both in terms of writing and the stellar acting performance of Kriti.
The unraveling of Shaheer Sheikh’s Dhruv, how the role starts off and the eventual revelation of his true colors is also a delight to watch. Shaheer Sheikh plays the unpredictable husband with aplomb making a striking impact.
Shaheer Sheikh plays the unpredictable husband with aplomb
Through Do Patti director Shashanka Chaturvedi and Kanika Dhillon have focused on pertinent topics. The portrayal of post-traumatic stress and childhood trauma have been dealt in a poignant manner.
The depiction of domestic abuse is raw in nature, a scene which needs to be mentioned here is a disturbing altercation between Dhruv and Saumya. It is a very upsetting moment which many domestic abuse survivors will relate with.
Do Patti also plays out like an Agatha Christie Thriller. The twists and turns are fairly engrossing. A big twist leading to a poignant flashback deserves a special mention. Through the flashback there is an important message on reporting domestic violence.
Performances wise Do Patti is very much a Kriti Sanon showreel. She aces both the parts with equal ease whether it is grey shades and the eventual remorse of Shelle or the demure Saumya who will tug at your heartstrings. Kajol as police inspector Vidya Jyothi fits the part of a no- nonsense police officer, she does a fine job in portraying the tough attitude, but the Haryanvi accent feels jarring. The moral dilemmas of Vidya Jyothi at one point also needed better etching. Tanvi Azmi as the supportive caretaker brings in a lot of warmth in her small yet significant part.
Sachet Parampara and Tanishk Bagchi’s songs are just above average. The CGI and the camerawork though are of a high order more so in the portions which have two Kriti’s.
A brief note on the twelve years of impactful characters that have resonated with audiences of different age groups. Looking forward to many more memorable acts and movies
Alia, you stormed into the viewers hearts with your abundant cuteness on October 19th, year 2012. There was little indication of the powerhouse actress who would capture the viewers hearts in the coming times. Excluding the special appearances, you have done 20 movies so far leaving a significant impact.
Through your characters you have represented different facets of a modern woman. For example, in Dear Zindagi you played an ambitious cinematographer going through a midlife crisis. The turbulent nature of Kiara and the anxieties that she goes through is something that numerous modern women can relate with. The final triumph of Kiara when she finally makes her short movie feels personal.
In Badrinath Ki Dulhania you played a small-town girl Vaidehi with dreams of being an air hostess. The persistence of Vaidehi in achieving her goal and how she doesn’t give a damn about the society’s thinking was brilliant to watch. Also, the line where Vaidehi talks about self-respect being more important than love and eventually marrying Badri only after he changes completely was well written and enacted.
Apart from representing the different facets of a modern woman your characters have also covered different societal issues. For example, Darlings was flawed yet an important movie on the topic of domestic abuse. Your character of Badru represented all the housewives who put up with their husband’s abusive behavior hoping they would change one day. How Badru undergoes a transformation taking things into her own hands was exciting to watch even though the transition was a little abrupt. Kudos to you for backing this movie as a debutant producer.
In the latest production Jigra you pushed the envelope further by playing the role of a very protective sister. The grey shades along with emotional intensity of Satyabhama aka Satya was a treat to watch. Apart from the prison break aspect Jigra also talked about the delayed justice system that force innocent prisoners to take things into their own hands. How sometimes anarchy is the best solution to fight against the system came out wonderfully in the brilliantly shot prison riot. After Darlings and the Malayalam web series Poacher you once again showed your penchant for backing up interesting subjects.
This short note wouldn’t be complete without mentioning the national award-winning turn in Gangubai. In Gangubai your character Ganga aka Gangu represents those girls duped by their lovers and have no option other than to become a sex worker. Your empathetic act represented all those sex workers who like us are also humans with normal feelings and desires.
The concoction of thrills and emotions make it a riveting read
Former Indian diplomat Vikas Swarup has had a fantastic start to his writing career. Both of his novels, Q&A, which was adapted into the movie Slumdog Millionaire, and Six Suspects, have been showered with praise. Six Suspects was made into a web series by Paan Singh Tomar director Tigmanshu Dhulia. A major reason for Vikas Swarup’s success is his ability in choosing plots that reflect different aspects of Indian society. The stories are thoroughly rooted in the Indian milieu making it relatable for the readers.
With his latest The Girl With the Seven Lives the writer has again picked up a subject that effortlessly blends edge of seat thrills with a solid emotional graph. The central character of this novel Devi is a morally complex protagonist. She isn’t always likeable, some of her actions don’t fit the traditional compass of morality. However, we do not completely despise her because Vikas Swarup gives a psychological insight into her wretched past. The novel begins with a young woman Devi being held hostage by a dangerous man. He threatens to shoot her if she doesn’t talk about the 25 years of her life so far. Adding to Devi’s horror is an online auction, in this auction the person who bids the highest will determine her fate. Thus begins a long odyssey taking the readers on a rollercoaster ride. There are some shocking revelations keeping the readers thoroughly engrossed.
The Girl With the Seven Lives wastes no time in setting up the story. The very first chapter begins with the gruesome kidnap. The readers go through a lot of tension on the reasons behind the kidnap and her eventual fate.
The plot thickens further with various attention-grabbing developments. Vikas Swarup’s writing of the various cities like Mumbai and Goa became a character in themselves. The dark underbelly beneath the shining glitter covers some important societal aspects. Whether it is the horrendous treatment of girls in observation homes, racket of fake degrees etc.
The bond between Devi and her dog Sheru also adds an emotional touch even if you aren’t a pet lover. As mentioned above Devi doesn’t fit into the traditional compass of morality but the readers also understand where she is coming from. Her childhood and teenage years are anything but happy. For example, her younger brother Sonu faces a brutal death due to a speedy BMW. A private hospital refused to treat him and a crooked cop showed zero empathy. Additionally, the elder brother is also unlawfully detained and the readers are given the impression of him being dead too. At one point a wealthy woman Devika takes an interest in Devi for her own selfish needs. She offers the comforts of a home pretending to be a kind person, but in actuality Devika just wants to use Devi as a subject to write an authentic novel about the poor. All these experiences shape up the person Devi grows up to be.
The readers root for Devi to come out safe from this ordeal. her journey through multiple identities and overcoming many obstacles give an important message on resilience.
(PS: Recently Vikas Swarup has talked about wanting Alia Bhatt to play central role of Devi if the book was made into a movie. Here’s hoping that his wish comes true.)
Richie Mehta makes a scathing commentary on the human ambition of wanting to dominate every aspect of the world and its repercussions.
Poacher (Malayalam)
Main Cast: Nimisha Sajayan, Roshan Mathew, Dibyendu Bhattacharya, and Ankith Madhav
Director: Richie Mehta
Producer: Alia Bhatt and Prerna Singh
Music Director: Andrew Lockington
Cinematography: Johan Huerlin Aidt
Genre: Action Thriller
Episodes: 8
Rating: 4/5
First Published in: Southfirst
Richie Mehta’s Delhi Crime (2019 and 2022) is easily one of the best web series that has come out in the last decade. Both seasons were gripping, not just as an investigative thriller, but the human drama is equally powerful.
Not surprisingly, Shefali Shah got a lot of acclaim for her brilliant performance. The senior actor got a new lease of life with that show.
Now, the director is back with another binge-worthy show. This time around, Richie Mehta focused his lens on the burning issue of poaching (hunting animals illegally) — in this case, the ivory of elephants being smuggled.
The story of Poacher is based on real-life incidents that took place in Kerala.
Through the eight episodes, Richie Mehta makes a scathing commentary on the human ambition of wanting to dominate every aspect of the world and the repercussions of that on wildlife.
Synopsis
At the heart of its story are some determined forest officers led by Mala (Nimisha Sajayan). Mala’s life mission is to ensure that the poachers are apprehended and paid for their crimes.
A still from the series ‘Poacher’. (X)
She has a deep bond with the forest and the wildlife. She is emotionally driven for a reason, which is better understood by watching the web show rather than saying it.
And then, there are Alan (Roshan Mathew) and Neel (Dibyendu Bhattacharya).
These three officers and a few more people lead an extensive investigation from Kerala to Delhi.
The human–animal conflict and the need for wildlife conversation is a critical socio-political issue that concerns the lives of not just animals but also human beings.
Richie Mehta does an amazing job of making the viewers feel empathetic towards the plight of these majestic creatures.
Running parallel to the investigative drama is a much-needed perspective from the animal kingdom. Some scenes showcase the retaliation of animals.
Through these portions, the director makes the viewers contemplate deeply—even those not passionately interested in wildlife about the potential consequences, if the roles were to be reversed.
Many important questions have been raised about the dynamics between humans and animals.
Analysis
Though primarily a Malayalam web series, there are also segments where the actors speak in Hindi, English and a bit of Bengali. But this switch does not hamper the flow thanks to the captivating narration and the brilliant performances.
Nimisha Sajayan in ‘Poacher’. (X)
This is the second web series of this year after Abhishek Chaubey’s Killer Soup, where the characters alternate between different languages. This is indeed a good trend.
Coming back to Poacher, Richie Mehta also does a wonderful job of exploring the intricate world of poaching.
He talks about how poachers are just pawns in the bigger scheme of things and how the bigger evils are the wealthy dealers and the monstrous human beings who want to dominate the food chain.
Poacher is also technically solid, with particular mention of the cinematography of Johan Huerlin. He does a swell job of capturing both the beauty and the terror of the events happening in the forests of Kerala.
Although Poacher is mostly gripping, some of the climatic scenes could have been done with a tighter edit.
The performances across the board are simply fantastic.
Nimisha Sajayan delivers a spectacular performance by effortlessly conveying the grit and turmoil of Mala.
After The Great Indian Kitchen (2021) and Chithha(2023), this is another powerhouse performance from this brilliant actor.
Roshan Mathew works a perfect foil by bringing in some much-needed lightness. He is very effective in bringing out the humour and sensitivity of Alan.
Dibyendu Bhattacharya’s performance is also top-notch. He brings out the hot-headedness of Neel without any hiccups.
The other supportive characters also shine in their respective parts.
Final take
Poacher is a must-watch on many counts. It is easily one of the best web shows you will find this year.
Richie Mehta did it again with a thought-provoking show, and Alia Bhatt consolidated her position as a quality producer.
2023 has definitely been a far better year for Bollywood in more ways than one. Films like Pathaan, Jawan, Animal, and Gadar 2 have become major blockbusters.
In addition to being blockbusters, both Pathaan and Jawan opened to good reviews.
On the other hand, Animal had mixed reviews. Despite severe criticism about the toxic masculinity promoted in the movie, Animal broke many box office records majorly due to the performances of Ranbir Kapoor, Anil Kapoor, and Bobby Deol.
Gadar 2, as a film, has no emotional impact like its prequel, but there was enough for the hardcore masses to enjoy. Sunny Deol proved he still has the charisma to play a mass hero by pulling off the gravity-defying action sequences.
Apart from these blockbusters, other films that attained hit status include Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani and OMG 2.
2023 has also been a year where not-so-mainstream actors Pankaj Tripathi and Vikrant Massey successfully carried their films on their shoulders. Well, I’m talking about OMG 2 and 12th Fail.
Now, let us get into more details about the best of 2023 Bollywood films, not necessarily the blockbusters.
Pathaan
Siddarth Anand’s globetrotter was an eagerly-awaited movie since it marked Shah Rukh Khan’s comeback to the silver screen as a leading man after a long gap of five years.
Shah Rukh in a still from ‘Pathaan’. (X)
Siddarth Anand had a huge responsibility on his shoulders, and the director more than succeeded in delivering a popcorn entertainer with the aid of a fast-paced screenplay by Shridhar Raghavan.
What also made Pathaan the perfect mass entertainer was the strong antagonist in the form of John Abraham.
The combat sequences between Shah Rukh Khan and John were well-executed. John Abraham’s Jim was not just menacing, but he carried an angst. Jim had a solid back story explaining why he did what he did.
Another strong aspect of Pathaan is the backstory of how this spy gets this name. The scenes of Shah Rukh Khan with the locals of Afghanistan have so much warmth in them.
Shah Rukh had a blast playing a full-fledged action hero. He was in equal parts charming and rugged. However, after delivering a series of subpar outings, John Abraham surprised everyone in this action entertainer.
Dimple Kapadia, as the boss lady, was also in fine form.
There were some things in Pathaan which did not quite work. One was the simplistic way the topic of patriotism and the Pakistani angle were dealt with.
Also, the love story between Shah Rukh Khan and Deepika practically jumped out of nowhere.
However, in the final tally, Pathaan was the ideal mass comeback for Shah Rukh Khan.
Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani
Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani and Satyaprem Ki Katha were easily the best romantic films Bollywood produced this year.
A poster of ‘Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani’. (X)
Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani had all the staple elements that one expects from a Karan Johar entertainer.
There were larger-than-life sets and some exquisite costumes, particularly gorgeous saris worn by the women. However, there was more to the film than just mere gloss.
Karan Johar subverted some of his own themes from his previous films — like how fear is camouflaged as respect in our culture. He also made some pertinent points on the side effects of toxic masculinity.
Most importantly, Through the role of Ranveer’s Rocky Randhawa, Karan Johar presented a protagonist willing to change and evolve into a better human being.
Just like Ranbir Kapoor’s Ranvijay Singh in Animal, Rocky does not share the best relationship with his father. But he never uses it as an excuse to become a wild “animal”.
In Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani, many scenes could be watched on repeat mode. The sequences of Rocky flirting with Alia’s Rani Chatterjee in his broken English and her amusement bring a smile to the viewers’ faces.
The decency of Ranveer backing off when Rani clarifies that nothing more can happen between them was refreshing.
The scene where Rani proposed to Rocky in the middle of a road was definitely filmy but adorable, given how Karan switched the gender roles.
A major highlight of Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani was the recreation of the song “Dola Re Dola” from Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Devdas (2002).
Ranveer’s Rocky Randhawa performing Kathak with his prospective father-in-law (Tota Roy Chowdhury) was a pleasant surprise.
The different emotions that Rani Chatterjee went through — from shock, wonder, and finally extreme happiness — were portrayed brilliantly by Alia.
In the second half, the messaging got heavy. Nevertheless, it was not a deterrent.
The performances of the principal cast were brilliant all through, with particular mention of Tota Roy Chowdhury as the Kathak-loving man.
Satyaprem Ki Katha
A still from ‘Satyaprem Ki Katha’. (X)
Just like Rocky Randhawa in Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani, Kartik Aryan’s Sattu in Satyaprem Ki Katha was also a protagonist willing to evolve and change.
Sattu was initially shown as an underdog well out of Katha’s (Kiara Advani) range.
But circumstances not only bring them together but also get them married.
Katha had a haunting past that was initially assumed to be the result of a bad break-up with her ex-boyfriend. But later, it turned out to be something more sinister.
The film was essentially a relationship drama while dealing with an important social issue like date rape.
Director Sameer Vidwans did a good job of depicting the issue of consent in relationships.
At times, Sattu came across as too patient with Katha, but he was never presented as some social reformer. The change in Sattu happened gradually.
Both Kartik and Kiara delivered brilliant performances.
The supporting cast, led by Gajraj Rao, was also in fine form.
OMG 2
A poster of ‘OMG 2’. (X)
This spiritual sequel to the 2012-released film Oh My God was a compelling social drama that looked at the taboo yet important subject of sex education.
The best part of Amit Rai’s direction was how he normalised the discussions around physical intimacy without making it look awkward or uncomfortable.
One of the standout scenes in OMG 2 was Pankaj Tripathi’s Kanti Sharan Mudgal explaining how the body parts of males and females should be taught in school. Pankaj Tripathi did complete justice to the arc of his role.
Akshay Kumar had an extended cameo as Lord Shiva’s messenger in human form.
In Oh My God, Akshay played Lord Krishna. Much like that film, here too, he played the part with the right amount of divinity.
The scenes of Akshay imparting wisdom to Kanti Sharan were good to watch.
Jawan
Jawan was a film that can ideally be described as a Khichdi of Shankar’s brand of vigilante cinema and Shah Rukh’s Chak De India.
At its core, Jawan was a father-and-son drama with 50 shades of Shah Rukh Khan as both father and son.
Shah Rukh Khan in ‘Jawan’. (X)
Atlee absolutely nailed these father-son moments besides addressing various grassroots problems like underdeveloped government facilities.
One of the women in Shah Rukh Khan’s vigilante gang was played by Sanya Malhotra. Her backstory was based on a real-life person named Dr Kafeel Khan.
Dr Kafeel Khan was falsely accused of the death of several kids at a hospital where the real issue was a lack of proper facilities along with corruption. Dr Kafeel Khan tried to procure oxygen, but his best efforts failed to save the children.
Yes, the presentation of these grassroots issues was simplistic, but still, it hit the viewers hard.
Jawan also benefitted immensely from Shah Rukh Khan submitting totally to the director’s script and giving it his all.
Nayanthara also made a solid Bollywood debut in her dual-shaded role as a determined NSG commander and a single mother.
On the other hand, Vijay Sethupati made for a good opponent, particularly in the second half.
The same cannot be said about Deepika Padukone and Sanjay Dutt.
The energy dipped during the brief flashback scenes of Shah Rukh Khan and Deepika.
Sanjay Dutt’s extended cameo did not add great value to the proceedings.
Nevertheless, Jawan, on the whole, proved to be “paisa vasool” entertainment.
Jaane Jaan (Netflix)
A poster of Bollywood film ‘Jaane Jaan’ . (X)
For those who are not aware, Sujoy Ghosh’s Jaane Jaan was based on the best-selling Japanese novel “Devotion of Suspect X“, which already has many onscreen adaptations.
Jaane Jaan was primarily about a single mother named Maya D’Souza (Kareena Kapoor), who runs a local café.
Maya has a dark past related to her ex-husband (Saurabh Sachdeva). Jaideep Ahlawat, Maya’s neighbour and a Mathematics teacher, secretly loves her but is socially awkward. Every day, he visits the café, leading to some amusing moments.
Maya’s life turns upside down after the re-entry of her ex-husband. From here, the movie goes into the zone of the Drishyam series.
Jaane Jaan was a survival thriller about a determined single mother. In this story, she gets the help of a neighbour who would go to any lengths to save her.
The soul of Jaane Jaan was the relationship dynamics between Kareena Kapoor’s Maya and Jaideep Ahlawat’s Naren. Sujay Ghosh did not miss a single beat in depicting this complex love. He also did complete justice to the novel “Devotion of Suspect X“.
The hill station of Kalimpong also became a character in itself, thanks to Avik Mukhopadhyay’s cinematography.
The scenes between Kareena and Vijay Varma, playing a charming cop for a change, were good to watch.
Both Kareena and Jaideep got into the skin of their characters.
Vijay Varma brought a lot of charm to his scenes.
12th Fail
A poster of the film ’12th Fail’. (X)
12th Fail, directed by Vidhu Vinod Chopra, was a classic underdog drama about a real-life IPS officer — Manoj Kumar Sharma.
The DNA of 12th Fail was quite similar to the underdog stories that Rajkumar Hirani directed — 3 Idiots (2009) and Munna Bhai (2003, 2006) films.
It was meant to give the viewers a warm hug and make them leave the theatres with a happy feeling.
Vidhu Vinod Chopra mostly succeeded in his endeavour. The director, along with his leading man Vikrant Massey, did a wonderful job of showcasing the numerous challenges that Manoj faces.
There were places in the first half where the pace dipped, but having said that, there was also a lot to enjoy, especially if you are a fan of inspirational films based on real life.
Apart from the overall strong performances by technicians, 12th Fail scored distinction marks.
The cinematography of Hemant Wagh, in particular, stood out — whether it was the initial scenes in Chambal or the later ones in Delhi Streets.
Dunki
A still from Rajkumar Hirani’s ‘Dunki’. (X)
Rajkumar Hirani’s Dunki will not do the business of Shah Rukh Khan’s last two films — Pathaan and Jawan, but there is no denying that this is an important film in terms of how it addresses an important social issue.
The issue is about borders existing only for the underprivileged. It presents a hard-hitting tale of immigrants in this case Punjabi migrating to England through illegal means for different reasons.
The first half of Dunki is mostly a breezy watch, but things take a serious turn just before the interval. Vicky Kaushal has an extended special appearance and is at his usual best.
The comic portions in this film don’t have the brilliance of the Munnabhai MBBS (2003), Three Idiots (2009), and PK (2014), but it recovers ground, particularly in the second half when the proceedings get serious.
The second half shows the many dangers Shah Rukh’s Hardy, Taapsee Pannu’s Manu and others go through to reach London. Here, their utopia comes crashing down. The viewers get a short but powerful glimpse of the menial jobs that these immigrants have to do even after securing citizenship.
One of these immigrants is Vikram Kocchar’s Buggu. Buggu passes the IELTS exam and goes to London legally before Hardy and Manu, but he is still not living a happy life.
Rajkumar Hirani’s directorial skills come out in the second half the way he handles the drama.
One of the things that work for Dunki is the love story between Shah Rukh Khan and Taapsee. Both the actors share a good chemistry in both light and emotional scenes.
Anil Grover and Vikram Kocchar also bring a certain gravitas to their respective parts.
Overall, Dunki is a well-made social film. It is not flawless but there is a lot to take away.
If we observe Vijay Varma’s filmography, we predominantly notice two types of roles – negative/grey roles and cop characters.
Vijay Varma started his acting career in 2008 with a short film titled Shor. But his big screen debut started with Chittagong in 2012. It was followed by late Satish Kaushik’s Gang of Ghosts (2014) and Priyadarshan’s Rangrezz (2013).
However, none of these movies gave a significant push to his career until Pink (2016) came along. Since then, as the saying goes, there is no looking back for the Bollywood actor. Vijay Varma is an FTII student, and this clearly shows how the actor has adapted to different roles. If we observe his filmography, we notice that two types of roles majorly stand out – negative/grey characters and cop roles. Let’s check them out here:
Ankit Malhotra
Pink was a breakthrough film for Vijay Varma where he played a deeply misogynistic person -Ankit Malhotra. He was the one who eggs on Rajveer Singh (Angad Bedi) to take revenge on Taapsee Pannu’s character, Minal. Ankit Malhotra just doesn’t stop there, he also molests her in a moving jeep and throws her on the road. He really looks menacing in that scene. We hate him as much as Angad Bedi.
Moen
Zoya Akhtar’s Gully Boy (2019) saw Vijay Varma as a neighbourhood crook Moen who was also a friend of Ranveer Singh’s Murad. He was not a psycho but had his own grey shades. Throughout the film, viewers couldn’t make out if he was good or bad. The Bollywood actor owned the part with a brilliant performance.
Sasya
In Imtiaz Ali’s web series She (2020), Vijay Varma played a drug peddler named Sasya. In spite of not having a lot of screen time, he owned every frame that he was in. What also added to the performance was how he spoke Hyderabadi Deccani – a language spoken in Hyderabad where he grew up. Vijay also got the body language of the drug peddler spot-on.
Hamza
In Darlings(2022), Vijay Varma played an alcoholic, abusive husband named Hamza to Alia Bhatt’s Badru. He was someone who was extremely cruel and at the same time, lovey-dovey depending on the situation. Vijay looked like a truly scary psychopath. The actor received a lot of positive hate for his portrayal of Hamza. By Vijay’s own admission, it was not an easy task to be an abusive husband to the “heartthrob of the nation.” The Bollywood actor also said that he was very scared of unintentionally hurting Alia in the scenes involving physical abuse. Those scenes were so real that every time he appeared on the screen, we were as terrified as Alia. Coincidentally, their first feature films (Chittagong and Student of the Year) were released in the same month (October) in 2012.
Anand Swarnakar
Initially, the viewers have a positive impression of Vijay’s character Anand Swarnakar in Dahaad (2023). Apart from being an excellent Hindi professor, Anand also runs a mobile library for the underprivileged. But soon, this bubble breaks as the real face of Anand is revealed. Vijay Varma was absolutely terrific – both as a middle-class married man struggling to make ends meet and as a serial killer who has severe unresolved issues with his father.
Adi
Monsoon Shootout is an early film by Vijay Varma shot in 2013. It had its premiere at the Cannes Film Festival, but theatrically, it was released four years later in 2017. In the movie, Vijay Varma played a cop who was deeply influenced by his father’s principles. His father told him that all life’s choices were not black and white, and there was a middle path too. In spite of sharing screen space with a heavyweight like Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Vijay Varma more than held his own. He did a swell job of showcasing the different nuances of his character.
Ravi Shankar Tripathi
In the web series Kaalkoot (2023), Vijay Varma’s Ravi Shankar Tripathi was vastly different from the mainstream cops that the audiences are used to. For example, Dabbang (2010) and Singham (2011). He was a soft-spoken cop who considered himself a misfit in the police department. There was a constant desire in him to resign. But as the show progressed, his character underwent a transformation. This show had come right after Dahaad where he played a serial killer. He made the audience forget that this was the same man who appeared as a serial killer.
Karan Anand
In Sujoy Ghosh’s Jaane Jaan (2023), an OTT film, Vijay Varma appeared as a charming cop. It was the closest he came to doing romance. The scenes where he flirts with Kareena Kapoor’s Maya D’Souza were so adorable to watch. He gave the film some much-needed lighter moments in an otherwise tense atmosphere.
Vijay Varma is now 37. He has already done 24 films, including web series. Here’s hoping that our filmmakers will tap his potential – much more in future – which goes beyond the above-mentioned characters!
