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I see him at the Zee Zest Digital Cover shoot for June 2023 and he strikes a perfect 10. The piercing gaze on camera and the humility off it, the unmistakable honesty and mischievous child-like laughter; he slips in and out of moods and moments with practised ease. The man in front of the camera is a content creator, singer, songwriter, Indian classical musician, and actor Bhuvan Bam. He is the first Indian YouTube content creator to reach 10 million subscribers in 2018 for his channel BB Ki Vines, featuring comedic skits, sketches and parodies based on the everyday life of a middle-class Indian boy. Today, the channel has over 26 million subscribers, and over the years has broken countless conventional creative boundaries.  Bhuvan's soared to fame when one of his early satirical videos caught public attention in 2015 and went viral in Pakistan. It was based on a reporter’s merciless coverage of the 2014 Kashmir floods. The popularity of one single video was Bhuvan's cue to take content creation seriously and set up BB Ki Vines. The sketches are based on everyday situations that many have encountered or heard of within the six degrees of separation portrayed in an exaggerated and funny manner. Bhuvan morphs into desi characters such as Titu Mama, Sameer Fuddi, Mr Hola, and Babloo Ji that have become a mainstay of the BB Ki Vines universe. Bhuvan’s approach to situational comedy resonates with the common man because of its obviousness. He also has an eye for humour and he finds it in the most unexpected of places, people, and situations. Most importantly, since the inception of BB Ki Vines in 2015 to 2023, Bhuvan single-handedly manages all aspects of the production of his YouTube channel– scripting, acting, shooting, editing, etc. The shakey, hand-held selfie angles and perspective of the videos have added to the charm of the videos and furthered loyalties toward him. <figure class="image"><img src="https://assets.zeezest.com/images/PROD_KC_ZeexBhuvan%20May%202023%20246_1685425104900.jpg"><figcaption>Bhuvan unleashes his inner child in a blue and white crochet sweater and pants set by Péro. The outfit is paired with a Police watch with a multi-function dial in blue glass and a rivetted white strap.</figcaption></figure>Enjoying views in millions, his YouTube channel has won Bhuvan Bam several awards and recognitions such as WebTVAsia Awards 2016 and Hindustan Times Game Changer Awards. Over the years, he has earned opportunities to showcase his acting chops on OTT. In 2021, he became the first Indian creator to release a web show. Titled Dhindora, the show was an extension of the BB Ki Vines universe and was named 2021’s second-most watches series, according to IMDB. Dhindora was YouTube India's most-watched show that year with over 400 million views (and counting). Other projects of Bhuvan include Taaza Khabar, Rafta Rafta, and Plus Minus. He’s also made a name as a songwriter, singer, and composer through melodious tracks created for his own YouTube channel, movies, and web series like Safar, Ajnabee, Sang Hoon Tere, and Ban Gayi Zindagi. Soon, we may even watch him lead an action thriller, more details awaited.  In real life and off the camera, he is an antithesis of his characters, shy, reserved and composed. “I miss being a child, it was a carefree era,” Bhuvan tells me as he brings out his playful inner child posing in front of the camera at Zee Zest’s June 2023 digital cover shoot. But the moment the camera stops flashing, you witness a different Bhuvan. One who's “simple and boring”. In our conversation after the photo shoot, Bhuvan gets real about the constant conflict between self-belief and self-confidence, and the resultant chaos. Talk about being relatable! Edited excerpts:  <h2>1. What is Bhuvan Bam manifesting right now?</h2>Mera track record kharab hai, manifestation ke case mein (I have a bad track record in the case of manifestations). Manifestation is a buzzword right now, but it doesn’t work for me. Whatever I wish to manifest, I don’t get it. In fact, the opposite happens. Therefore, now I don’t try to manifest but I work towards it in the hope of fulfillment.<h2>2. BB Ki Vines completes eight years. How do you feel? </h2>I didn’t even realise that. I still feel so fresh and equally excited. I have been very lucky to have people around me who have constantly supported me through thick and thin. Most of the credit goes to my subscribers. I have been so unfair to them by creating just one or two videos a year. I feel so guilty about not creating more content. But they still show so much love towards me and my work, and that is what adds fuel to the fire within me. That is what makes me want to strive hard and do more work.I feel that no matter what your profession, if you have that drive, excitement and a little nervousness in creating/doing something, then you are heading in the right direction. The day that excitement to create content is out, I will stop doing this. <figure class="image"><img src="https://assets.zeezest.com/images/PROD_KC_ZeexBhuvan%20May%202023%20133_1685425166563.jpg"><figcaption>Here's the YouTube sensation and actor flaunting a Police watch with a multi-function dial and eyelet at 3 o'clock. He is wearing a yellow and white striped jacket with signature floral detailing by Péro; and jewellery by Sangeeta Boochra and Aquamarine Jewellery</figcaption></figure><h2>3. How have you evolved as an artiste from your content creator days to now?</h2>Over the years, I have learned to be more patient, simple and satisfied. Earlier, when I was new to YouTube, there was surely greed for followers. In that desperation for eyeballs, I’d do and say things that I knew would get views for my video and create a certain impact on my audience. But today, I think before I speak. I am much calmer and more composed.One thing I feel fortunate about is that my friend circle hasn’t changed with time. I still have the same five friends I had back when I started out, and they act like mirror and shadows. Also, I share a good bond with people who I have come across via work.<h2>4. Story or characters, what is the most important thing for you?</h2>For me, the story is primary and important, and the main reason I take up a project. One thing I understand clearly is that when a person goes to watch a show or a film, he or she is going to watch it for the story. The character is secondary. If the story is not impactful, no matter what you do, the character won’t be able to make an impact.  <figure class="image"><img src="https://assets.zeezest.com/images/PROD_KC_ZeexBhuvan%20May%202023%20539_website_1685425192205.jpg"><figcaption>In this striking photo, Bhuvan is wearing an Anamika Khanna tribal India-inspired blazer and pants and it is paired with a pair of orange shoes by Jeetinder Sandhu. On his wrist is a Police watch with a multi-function dial and a padded leather strap.</figcaption></figure><h2>5. You are used to switching characters but how easy or difficult is it to switch between genres?</h2>It is difficult. Take the example of Taaza Khabar, where I played a grey character. Once that shoot was over, a week later, I started shooting for Rafta Rafta, which is a romantic comedy. For the first two days, I couldn’t understand what was happening, I had withdrawal symptoms.I think switching between genres is tough for me right now because I am new to it, but I will learn with time. I have switched characters in minutes, I did that for Dhindhora too, but that’s easier for me since I have been doing so for a while. <h2>6. Why is it important for you to tell stories that are closer to reality and relatable?</h2>I feel that rooted stories have a universal appeal. I can relate to a story/scene better if I or someone I know has experienced it. Also, we (Indians) are so fortunate, we have stories in abundance. Every bylane, and every street corner [in India] is alive with stories.  Relatable content has longevity, and its mass appeal is unmatchable. Today, even the superhero universe features relatable stories. For me, Minnal Murali is a winner because although it is a superhero film, the setting is so rooted. It gives us aspiration and hope; it tells us that people like you and I can do great things. I think what is also important is to give hope to your audience through your story.<h2>7. Where do you stand in the long-format vs short-format debate?</h2>I am more inclined towards longer formats courtesy of the exposure I got to world cinema during the lockdown. Earlier my watchlist was limited to Hollywood movies, but during the lockdown, I watched a lot of foreign language films (I still do). I learned that the world has just seven stories, and we’re basing everything on those seven only. But the storytelling is different, they base it on their culture and traditions. That’s when I realised the importance of long-format content. I realised that if I wanted the audience to stay hooked to me, my characters and my work, then I needed to give them long-format content in addition to the snackable content that I create. That’s how Dhindora happened. When Dhindora was well-received, I knew that this is what I want to do without limiting myself to a particular genre. My long-term goal is to create series that are memorable and stay with the audience even after they are finished. <figure class="image"><img src="https://assets.zeezest.com/images/PROD_KC_ZeexBhuvan%20May%202023%20325_1685425438566.jpg"></figure><h2>8. While you focus on creating long-format content, will BB Ki Vines take a backseat?</h2>No, it won’t. I cannot let that go because that content and those followers are the ones who have made me who I am today, I can’t let that go in vain. I may not stay active on the channel but I will try to stay and give what they are expecting. It is my responsibility.Also, long-format content takes time to create – from ideation to execution and release.<h2>9. What are your aspirations as an actor?</h2>I don’t know if I will ever get to work with Manoj [Bajpayee] sir, but at least once I want to sit somewhere around him and just observe him and hear him talk.I recently got to do that with Nawaz bhaiya [Nawazzudin Siddiqui]. These artists have such a great body of work and yet they are so underrated. Their best quality is that stardom has not gone to their heads, they focus on doing good work regardless. With every project, they showcase a new skill that the audience has not seen before and that is amazing.<h2>10. How important is it to be surrounded by the right set of people? </h2>The fact of life is that at the end of the day you are alone. But what I have learned is that to progress in life, you need the right set of people around you, who will guide you and push you to do better, do right. Finding such people is difficult and I have been fortunate to have found a peer group like that.<h2>11. You said in an interview that success concerns you. Can you tell us why?</h2>Yes, I said that because in my head I know I still have a long way to go. We just spoke about completing eight years, but in my heart, I know there is so much more to do. I aspire to create more and more stories from the grassroots level but at the same time make them reach international stages. But before that, I must search for stories, and that will take time.  <figure class="image"><img src="https://assets.zeezest.com/images/PROD_KC_ZeexBhuvan%20May%202023%20513_1685425269615.jpg"></figure><h2>12. How do you keep yourself centred in the fast-paced world of social media?</h2>I remember Shah Rukh (Khan) sir once said that you must work as though you have blinders on. You focus on your work and should not look left or right. That is my mantra in life – to not peep into others’ plates but to enjoy what is on mine. There is no jealousy, just greed to do the best I can for myself.<h2>13. What are you proud of right now?</h2>My outlook towards life. I have clarity about what I don’t want to do in life, and I am proud of that. No one can force me into doing a certain thing, and this is how I have been since childhood.Then there’s self-confidence, which keeps fluctuating, and there is self-belief, which I am confident about and I take pride in. I believe in myself thoroughly but to showcase this self-belief in front of people, you need self-confidence, that is where I flounder sometimes. <hr>Credits:Editor: Sumita Bagchi  Creative Consultant: Mitrajit BhattacharyaPhotographer: Keegan CrastoWatch Partner: Police WatchesBTS Video: Gaurav TalekarVideo Edit: Media EdgeStylist: Pyu MishraHair stylist: Team Aalim HakimMakeup: Rajendra SinghLocation: Merakii StudiozArtist PR: Hardly Anonymous

The man behind the hysterics shares what makes him tick. 

Zee Zest speaks to YouTube content creator, actor and musician Bhuvan Bam on his aspirations as an actor, road to success, and more. Read on zeezest.com. 


 Zee Zest Digital Cover June 2023 | Bhuvan Bam | Interview

Bhuvan Bam Is Unstoppable

Bhuvan Bam

Digital Covers

Music

Fashion

 Culture 

 Interview

Bollywood

Celebrities

It was in March 2022 that Mrunal Thakur visited Sri Lanka for the first time — a quick getaway from a hectic shoot schedule that included the Telugu-language period love story and her biggest hit, Sita Ramam. So when presented with the opportunity to head back to the Emerald Island for an exclusive Cover photo shoot, exactly a year later, Mrunal could not refuse. And that is how the 30-year-old actor collaborated with Zee Zest to become our April Digital Cover Star serenading the sea.<h2>Owning herself and her fears </h2>A bubbly and effervescent personality, Mrunal does not come with the usual celebrity baggage or hang ups. On the pristine beaches and clear oceans of Sri Lanka, she came with a singular focus to grow as an individual and push her personal boundaries. In our conversations, throughout the cover shoot at Taj Bentota Resort & Spa, Sri Lanka, she revealed that she was hydrophobic, and it took a long time for her to overcome that. “I couldn't go to the pool when I was growing up because of my fear of water, so this shoot is going to be about owning my body and myself. I think the most beautiful thing about being here in Sri Lanka by the beach and the ocean is also to get rid of my fears,” she exclaims.<figure class="image"><img src="https://assets.zeezest.com/images/PROD_L1070687cc%20copy%203_1680597956886.jpg"><figcaption>Mrunal is wearing an orange swimsuit by Hermès and a sequinned neon green top from H&M.</figcaption></figure>She confessed to being self-conscious of her typically Indian, pear-shaped body. A lot of positive affirmation from her team and soul-searching finally led her to embrace her body. A clear sign of it was her donning swimwear for Zee Zest's vacation-themed cover shoot. Her personal style is defined by comfort and subtlety. “I feel extremely comfortable in anything that's not flashy or trying too hard to please. I like playing with colours subtly. I feel androgynous styling is something that defines my personality. And in ethnic wear, “I think you can never go wrong with a sari. I love raiding my mother’s collection," she shares with a wide toothy grin.Inevitably, self-discovery and evolution became the premise for our conversation with Mrunal for this cover story. It bodes well since Mrunal, from her fledgling years in the Indian entertainment industry, has been the embodiment of evolution and growth.<h2>You only live once</h2>It all started with Jab We Met and Kareena Kapoor Khan’s character of Geet that left a deep impact on a 16-year-old Mrunal who grew up in Jalgaon, Maharashtra. In one of the scenes from the movie, when Shahid Kapoor’s character, Aditya Kashyap, requests Geet not to run away from home, she replies: “Mujhe apni bhaison ke saath bandh denge." “When I heard these lines, I knew this is my life, and just like Geet, I did not want to live with the regret of not being able to explore and try different things,” ruminates Mrunal, adding that while she did appear for the common medical entrance tests after her Class 12, she knew this is not where she belonged. Eventually, the small-town Mrunal enrolled in a media and journalism course in KC College Mumbai, proving her conviction to her parents, who were initially shocked by her decision but they did eventually come around.<figure class="image"><img src="https://assets.zeezest.com/images/PROD_Mrunalsrilanka76776%201_1680760015007.jpg"><figcaption>Mrunal is wearing the Titan Edge Ceramic Black Women's Slim Watch. This sleek timepiece features a glossy black ceramic case in a 4.4mm slim design.</figcaption></figure>The ball started rolling for young Mrunal when she bagged her first audition. “That’s when I realised that I'm extremely comfortable in front of the camera,” she said. She was fortunate to be guided on a realistic path when a friend advised her to continuously turn up for auditions. “This egged the competitive side of me—I like taking on challenges and if someone says, ‘you can't do it’, I want to quietly show them how I can. I also realised that as long as I'm in front of the camera, I'm happy,” she said.<h2>10 years and counting</h2>Fortune favours the brave—in Mrunal Thakur’s case—it was also diligence and hard work. After cracking her first TV debut Mujhse Kuchh Kehti...Yeh Khamoshiyaan in 2012, she went on to work for the Ektaa Kapoor soap Kumkum Bhagya and parallelly debuted in Marathi cinema with Vitti Dandu. However, it was Love Sonia, a 2018 film based on human trafficking that moved the proverbial needle in Mrunal’s career graph.It's been a little over 10 years in the industry for her, which she defines as her formative or schooling years. “No acting school would have taught me what I’ve learned while working on different sets. I think I owe my career to television. That's what allowed me to dream even bigger; I knew there was a big universe waiting for me,” she shared. One of the biggest reasons she was able to succeed in her small-screen to big-screen transition was the support she received from the television fraternity; she added that Ektaa Kapoor still helps her out when it comes to selecting the right movies. She also fondly remembers actor Madhu Raja, who played her grandmother in Kumkum Bhagya. “In the time I spent with her, she was the one who told me that if you want something, work for it. Because tomorrow, it shouldn't be like you didn't try. There shouldn't be any regrets or guilt. And as a human, it's very important for you to live a guilt-free life.”<figure class="image"><img src="https://assets.zeezest.com/images/PROD_L1060699_1680764895837.jpg"><figcaption>Contemplative Mrunal in Hermes swimsuit, Studio Moonray black net gown and earrings from H&M.</figcaption></figure>“I think we are transitioning every day, not just work. If I were to compare my current self to five years ago, I am a different person. What worked for me is the vision I had for myself, and the faith I had in myself,” Mrunal continues as our conversation segued into getting stereotyped within a medium. When she started her career, success stories of transitioning from television to mainstream cinema were not so common. But with the advent and prosperity of OTT platforms in the Indian entertainment industry, the lines and distinctions have visibly blurred. “Today, I'm extremely happy when people, especially those who've just started their careers, reach out to me and say, ‘you’re the reason why we think that doors for OTT platforms, films, plays, etc, are open. It's no longer restricted.”<h2>The numbers game</h2>Quiz her about how she deals with box office hits and flops and she retorts, “What defines a hit and a flop movie is very subjective and I don't want to be defined by that.” Speaking about the importance of box office collections and commercial success, she says, “If a film is made in INR 30 crore and has collections of INR 90 crore and there's another film made in INR 100 crore with collections of INR 120 crore — which one is a bigger success?” It is a tough one and a conversation that she will have when she becomes a film producer, which is not yet.<figure class="image"><img src="https://assets.zeezest.com/images/PROD_Mrunalsrilanka76856_1680596390157.jpg"><figcaption>Mrunal frolicking in the clear seas of Sri Lanka wearing a Shivan & Narresh playsuit.</figcaption></figure>The lack of commercial success is an undoubted pinch, Mrunal acknowledges, but with the success of Sita Ramam, she has also witnessed the other extreme of a box office hit. “I’ve never had the audiences watch my films 9, 10, 11 times! They would tag me in their pictures on Twitter right after they’ve seen the film for the nth time,” she added.<figure class="image"><img src="https://assets.zeezest.com/images/PROD_L1070025_1680759494479.jpg"><figcaption>On Mrunal's wrist is the slim Edge Squircle from Titan. This elegant white timepiece boasts a unique Squircle shape (square meets circle) crafted in a 4.4 mm thin case. Her sunglasses are from John Jacobs Eyewear; model Ibisco.</figcaption></figure>But at the end of it all, she is clear, “Every character that I’ve played so far is different and versatile. And while I know my growth may not be a 360 degree, I know there has been growth. My only aim in life is to be consistent with choosing the different kinds of progressive roles.” She wants to be remembered for the characters she portrays and the story and not the commercial success.<h2>Making of an actor</h2>Every character that Mrunal Thakur takes up for her films, she hopes will help her become a better actor and evolve her craft. She looked back at her choice of taking up Love Sonia — “It was my ‘do or die’ situation, that if I can prove myself with this film, I will get work in the future,” she said.<figure class="image"><img src="https://assets.zeezest.com/images/PROD_L1070434-logo_1680759454254.jpg"><figcaption>Mrunal is wearing the Titan Edge Ceramic watch in green, which is 4.4 mm thin!</figcaption></figure>It was a series of fortunate incidents where her work in Love Sonia directly translated into her next movie Batla House and Sita Ramam. Of the latter, she mentions, “Love Sonia was screened at Melbourne Indian Film Festival and that's where Nagi sir (Nag Ashwin), who's the director of Mahanati, saw it and reached out.” The decision to take up Sita Ramam was a heavy cross to bear for Mrunal — “I did have inhibitions and I was really scared as to whether I should leave Mumbai, my base, my karma bhumi. Having said that, it was a beautiful experience and now I'm learning Telugu.”Of her craft and how she chooses her movies, she says, “It is important to know what I'm doing. I needed to be convinced first to convince the audience and the best way to learn is through someone's experience.” While she did contemplate dabbling with the infamous method acting technique, she also realised the toll it takes on one’s mental health. Eventually, Mrunal has figured out her own process that involves picking up little tips and tricks from her co-actors and has worked best for her.<figure class="table"><table><tbody><tr><td><h3>Mrunal Thakur’s acting role models</h3><ul><li>Mrunal is a huge fan of Manoj Bajpayee after watching Pinjar. “He made me realise that no matter when you get your script, every dialogue needs to be said in a very conversational way not just a dialogue.”</li><li>From Demi Moore (they shared the screen in Love Sonia), “I learned that you need to connect with your eyes.” </li><li>“Paresh Rawal sir (her co-actor in Toofan) would throw a googly at you. I would say my dialogue but he would say the same dialogue in the most unexpected way, leaving you at a loss for words. I would take these small things and add them to my scenes and use them in a way that worked for me.” </li><li>“Hrithik uses fragrances,” Mrunal said. For every character Hrithik Roshan would play, he has a different perfume that would help him get into the nuances of the portrayal. Mrunal and Hrithik worked together in Super 30.</li></ul></td></tr></tbody></table></figure><h2>Mrunal, music and characters</h2>What is Mrunal’s hack when she gets into character, you wonder? “For all the characters I've played, there has been some or the other resemblance from real life and people. Every character is dedicated to one person in my life and now I've also started assigning sun signs because I believe in them, and I think it helps differentiate a person,” she expresses.Apart from assigning character traits from real people, Mrunal heavily relies on music to further build her characters. “Every character has a song that I will listen to throughout the filming process of a project,” she explains. Since film shoots and projects are rarely linear, actors are known to jump from one project to another and back. In such a frenzied schedule, “Music helps me channel my character because it resonates with the journey of the character, which helps me to get into it in no time,” she adds. For Sita Ramam, it was all of Shah Rukh Khan's songs. She remembers her co-actor Dulquer Salmaan's reaction to this during the shoot, “Excuse me, how can you think of Shah Rukh Khan while you’re romancing me?”<figure class="image"><img src="https://assets.zeezest.com/images/PROD_L1070233_1680596529765.jpg"><figcaption>Mrunal's yellow sunglasses are from John Jacobs Eyewear; model Liege.</figcaption></figure><div class="raw-html-embed"><h2>On her new release,Gumraah</h2></div>For her upcoming release, Gumraah, a remake of the 2019 Tamil film, Thadam, Mrunal confesses listening to Indian hip-hop artist, Divine. “His music is full of attitude and sass, which I connected with the character of Inspector Shivani Mathur.” The character intimidated her, Mrunal confesses. “It was nerve-wracking to play a character who has a poker face because my USP is emotions.” She also reveals that her family has been in the police, and the character of Shivani excited her to wear the vardi. “It’s like an homage to my family. My bade kaka (uncle) is an IPS and is serving in the police department and I don't know what his reaction is going to be after watching the film,” she gushes<figure class="image"><img src="https://assets.zeezest.com/images/PROD_L1070413%201%20web_1680765027501.jpg"><figcaption>Mrunal is wearing a swimsuit by Studio Verandah and orange dress by Ituvana.</figcaption></figure>“Shivani is a more mature character — firm and strong, compared to those I have played previously,” she admits. But this is an attempt to add a different shade to her career. Mrunal was visibly excited to work in a crime thriller despite the action sequences being doled out to Aditya Roy Kapoor. “I would say Gumraah is a film only for a smart audience. Not to offend audiences, but by smart I mean the film will make you think and scratch your head,” she clarified. Mrunal is grateful for the opportunities in her career and how they’ve helped her evolve as a human being. She knows that the journey ahead is a long and arduous one, but she is always on the lookout for projects where the ‘many facets of Mrunal Thakur’ can be explored and expressed. This leads us to believe she is among the new generation of actors that you don’t have a choice but to keep an eye on—for many great things are expected of her.<hr>CreditsEditor: Sumita Bagchi  Photographer: Kaushik RoyCreative Consultant: Mitrajit BhattacharyaWatch Partner: Titan WatchesEyewear Partner: John Jacobs EyewearVideo Edit: Media EdgeStylist: ​Rahul VijayStyling Assistant: Siddhi DolasHair stylist: Deepali DeokarMakeup: Lochan ThakurLocation: Taj Bentota Resort & Spa, Sri LankaArtist PR: Hardly Anonymous

In her first swimwear shoot on the sunny shores of Sri Lanka, the Gumraah-actor finds a stepping stone to grow as a person and actor. 

Mrunal Thakur talks about her journey to becoming an actor, her transition from the small screen to the big screen and more. Read the full interview here.

 Zee Zest Digital Cover April 2023 | Mrunal Thakur | Interview

Wild And Free: Mrunal Thakur’s Search For Self

Cover Shoot

Mrunal Thakur

Bollywood Interview

Bollywood Celebrity

It’s around 10:45 am, and Tahira enters wearing a quirky bomber jacket, her hair untamed, and not a hint of makeup. Her playful attitude carries over to her wardrobe and it’s evident. Acing the art of skinimalism, she's confident in her au-naturel look.Reviewing the outfits selected for the shoot, Tahira is apprehensive. “I have never worn these clothes before,” she remarks. A minute later, radiating an infectiously positive smile, she’s up for the challenge. An hour into the shoot, she’s feeling confident. “I never had this kind of spunk and attitude with hair and makeup. I was really scared to tread this path. I am taking an analogy from this, and this is what happens in real life. It’s just a new version of me which I have not experienced before,” she says, wearing a big smile on her face.So, it was indeed a beautiful disclosure to see her come out of her shell at the Zee Zest March 2023 Digital Cover shoot. She revealed elements of herself that the public eye hasn’t seen yet — unapologetically sensual with a powerful presence.<figure class="image"><img src="https://assets.zeezest.com/images/PROD_Tahira_zeezest_19feb23_0191_1677827726834.jpg"><figcaption>Tahira Kashyap Khurrana is dressed in a Gauri and Nainika peach ruffle gown paired with statement earrings from Joolry. </figcaption></figure>She continues, “Whenever you want to broaden your horizons, you are so conscious about it. You have so many insecurities and you are doubtful. That’s what a challenge is and whoever crosses that challenge becomes a new version of themselves.” She admits that she’s a tad bit experimental but not to the extent of doing something dramatically new. “But after this photoshoot, why not?” she says.Given her impressive command of filmmaking, Tahira is a force to reckon with. She believes in creating memories everywhere (as her Instagram bio reads) and considers herself to be a compulsive storyteller. And what makes her the perfect fit for our Women’s Day special digital cover, is her deep understanding of human relationships, nuanced writing and empowering women-centric stories peppered with humour. “Humour is my coping mechanism in every situation. Even in the most tragic and saddest situations of my life, I just laugh. It’s dark humour and that’s just the way I am as a person. I think I have a funny bone or two,” explains the filmmaker, who prefers to choose humour for the earnest depiction of women in her films.“Some things are best said, and more impactful when they are not said directly but in a subliminal way. With humour as the context, that comes across more strongly,” she explains. However, she feels it’s still not enough and she’s got so much more to tell.<h2>It’s a great time for Indian cinema</h2>The critically-acclaimed author-filmmaker marked her debut in 2017 with the short film Toffee followed by Pinni, part of Netflix’s anthology series Zindagi in Short in 2020, and Quaranteen Crush, part of the anthology series Feels Like Ishq released in 2021. Inspired by directors such as Martin Scorsese, Shakun Batra, Zoya Akhtar and Hansal Mehta, Tahira, one of the most promising female directors in the Indian film industry, believes it's a great time for Indian cinema, but when it comes to theatres it has been testing.<figure class="image"><img src="https://assets.zeezest.com/images/PROD_Tahira_zeezest_19feb23_0727_1677827747404.jpg"><figcaption>Tahira exudes the ultimate boss lady vibes in a Falguni and Shane Peacock gold trench coat accessorised with statement jewellery from Golden Window, Bling Sutra and Forest Of Chintaz.</figcaption></figure>Driven by the vision she has for filmmaking, she says, “Movies have not been doing that great and earning that kind of revenue that they used to in the theatres. On the positive side, we have the advent of OTT where we are getting to see diverse content, languages and culture for which India is actually known, and it's truly coming forward and we are cherishing it more now. We are getting to see so many varied actors and people bouncing back as well. I always try to see the positive in every situation and moving forward, the world of cinema globalisation has a whole new meaning altogether with the conversions of culture not just within India but globally.”Stressing the huge democratisation in Bollywood with the advent of OTT and regional movies becoming mainstream, she continues, “You are seeing different stories from different people and cultures and that’s what the beautiful part about cinema and storytelling is. It evokes an emotion in you and when there are visuals to it, you somehow relate more to it. I think for world cinema, it’s a great time when we are getting a sneak peek into each other’s lives. Today someone sitting in India from a middle-class family is also privy to European cinema, I think that is great thanks to OTT.”<h2>A league of her own</h2><figure class="image"><img src="https://assets.zeezest.com/images/PROD_Tahira_zeezest_19feb23_0496-Recovered_1677827766281.jpg"><figcaption>Tahira is wearing an all-black Falguni and Shane Peacock co-ord set. </figcaption></figure>Tahira is bold, unfiltered, unapologetic and has created an identity of her own. But does she still feel the pressures of being married to one of the most popular stars Ayushmann Khurrana, we ask. She replies with a laugh, “Koi pressure nahi hai. I have no pressures of dressing up a certain way, looking a certain way, keeping my hair length a certain way. I have married an artist, and I perceive him as that and I am just happy that he gets all the love and attention from the world around, that just makes my heart swell with pride and happiness. I really do not take any pressure and I am not saying just for the sake of saying it. It’s not to do with anybody. You have your own set of complexes and I think that’s something that comes from within because of your situation, your internal environment rather than your external environment. If your internal environment is weak and shaky, you go down.”She confesses she did have insecurities in her 20s, but it had nothing to do with the pressures of being married to an actor and it was more about her acceptance of herself. She recalls, “And I really worked towards it. I think most of us deal with these issues and they are seldom to be blamed on any outside trigger or stimuli. It’s basically you being at peace with yourself. I don’t want to fit into any stereotypes.”But then, as a celeb couple how do Tahira and Ayushmann keep it real? Tahira, offering a glimpse behind the curtain, says, “Maybe just not being aware of this term ‘celeb couple’ is what keeps it real for us. It’s a very real household and I don’t even know if there’s any effort put behind it.”<h2>An honest take on star wives</h2><figure class="image"><img src="https://assets.zeezest.com/images/PROD_Tahira_zeezest_19feb23_0737_1678087110532.jpg"></figure>When it comes to Tahira, she’s anything but an extension of her celebrity husband Ayushmann Khurrana, and perhaps one of the most opinionated women in the fraternity. So, we were curious about her take on why there are no ‘star husbands’? To which she says, grinning, “I don’t understand ‘star wives’. I absolutely don’t know what it actually means and how to get into this, what’s the qualification behind it. How much hard work do you need to put in to get this title? I am very sure those people who are termed as such don’t like it because everybody wants to be an individual in their own right and they are. These are terms coined by people and the media.” She pauses, and continues, “I really wish everybody becomes sensitive to each other and realises there is a human being behind that, and we need to cherish and move past this.”And while she’s an author, filmmaker, women’s rights champion and her husband is a Bollywood star, we were keen on how they keep their individual personalities and growth intact. It’s a no-brainer that art is something they both consume and are attracted to, but the ways of expressing it are different. “We have been very instrumental in each other’s growth; at the same time, we don’t impose our thoughts and opinions on each other. Art drives us both but then there’s a different way to express for each of us. He’s a performer, he’s also a poet, he likes to write. I am more of a storyteller. I love to write stories and direct.”<h2>The art of practising self-love</h2><figure class="image"><img src="https://assets.zeezest.com/images/PROD_Tahira_zeezest_19feb23_0366_1677827787825.jpg"></figure>Her journey to self-acceptance can be chronicled through her battle with cancer, but the filmmaker refrains from talking about it. “I don’t want to think about my past because it’s already done. For the future, there’s no point overthinking.” She further explains that insecurities are basically how you feel about yourself and to justify that we blame it on people, outside situations, the environment, our bosses, our spouses, partners, neighbours, friends. “But the thing is coming from within, the problem is within. So, we really need to be aware and fix the thing, which is within us, the outside will correspond to that.” Of course, she’s aware of how society's perception towards women can wear them down. She suggests, “We should not be bogged down by any stereotype or a benchmark of beauty or success. We are individuals in our own right, and no one is a replica of each other, and we truly need to cherish ourselves.”We dive further into the subject of self-love and she says, “Some might call it a borderline narcissist or overrated. But if we give ourselves a little bit of self-love, it really helps us go through the day. Human beings are very complex, we really don’t need a critic to tell us what we can do and what not. We are so critical about our own selves that it just stops your creativity and yourself from expressing in the best possible way you could have.” But was she always like this? No. She confesses how she didn’t indulge in self-love for the longest time and used to look down upon herself. “For me, that was being a narcissist, but there’s a huge difference between self-love and narcissism. Self-love is truly constructive, while narcissism is very destructive.”<h2>A busy and challenging year ahead</h2>She’s a woman wearing many hats and doesn’t let her passions sleep. She’s the author of four books, with The 7 Sins Of Being A Mother and The 12 Commandments Of Being A Woman earning plaudits for her unfiltered approach to many facets of her life. At 40, she is the kind of filmmaker who is supremely talented with compelling projects ahead of her. Not only is her first feature Sharmaji Ki Beti, a female-centric comedy-drama, slated for release this year, but she’s also paired up again with Oscar-winning producer Guneet Monga for an upcoming dramedy feature.2023 for her is all about facing new challenges and overcoming them with a smile. “That could be any way in the kind of storytelling I do, the kind of genres I have written so far. I would like to push my limits and tread into the kind of stories I have always wanted to do but was doubtful. So, 2023 is all about doing stuff that I always wanted to do, somewhere in the remotest corner of my heart but perhaps never expressed. I promised myself that I won’t be scared of judgements,” she signs off. <hr>CreditsEditor: Sumita Bagchi  Photographer: Kunal GuptaCreative Consultant: Mitrajit BhattacharyaBTS video: Gaurav TalekarVideo Edit: Media EdgeStylist: ​Neelangana VasudevaAssistant stylist: ​Foram KubadiaHair stylist: Poonam SolankiMakeup: Hinal DattaniMakeup Assistant: Ali HussainLocation: Silk Route, JuhuArtist PR: Keerat Publicity

With a voice as powerful as her personality, the author-filmmaker is the ultimate go-getter. She’s bold, unfiltered, and a woman of substance. 

With a voice as powerful as her personality, the author-filmmaker is not just another star wife. She’s bold, unfiltered, and has an identity of her own. Read more on zeezest.com




Zee Zest Digital Cover March 2023 Tahira Kashyap Khurrana Interview

Tahira Kashyap Khurrana: The Power Of Being Unapologetically You

Tahira Kashyap Khurrana

Interview

Celebrity

Women Power

Digital Cover

Dare you ask Indian women, who is the finest of them all? And Milind Soman manages to be the undisputed choice! To make the celebratory month truly special, the OG heartthrob also makes a rare appearance as the Zee Zest Digital Cover Star for December 2022.   Not just for his good looks, but you can’t put Milind Soman in a box—and not because he appeared out of one when he swept all of us off our feet in Alisha Chinai’s Made in India video in 1995. As a model, runner and actor, just when you think he is settling down, he stuns you with something completely unexpected. A man who finds long-distance running easy and resting on a couch difficult, Milind believes he can take up any challenge by keeping himself in an optimal state of fitness at all times. Whether successfully completing the gruelling ‘Ironman’ at 50 and the even more difficult ‘Ultraman’ at 52 or cycling 1,000 km from Baroda to Delhi at 56 in 2021, Milind has always pushed his body and mind to achieve the next target that looks almost impossible to others. <figure class="image"><img src="https://assets.zeezest.com/images/PROD_NSP_1615_1670237322955.jpg"><figcaption>Milind Soman looks dapper in a Shahab Durazi tuxedo.</figcaption></figure>Milind has a busy December ahead of him. There are marathons to run in Singapore and other Indian cities, and a cycling expedition from Mumbai to Bengaluru, which he plans to complete in six days by December 25. As he continues to push the boundaries of physical endurance, his wife Ankita Konwar gives him company in most of his adventures. In Milind’s words, Konwar anchors him by making him aware of who he is every day. We sneaked the unconventional couple off to The Residence Dhigurah, a resort located in Gaafu Alifu Atoll, Maldives, for what turned out to be the year-end Digital Cover Shoot for ZeeZest.com.  Unlike other shoots, this shoot was packed with fitness and yoga challenges thrown at the crew before we got shooting. Not one to compromise on his daily running regime, Milind transitions from shorts to suits and sarongs in a jiffy leaving us rethinking the need for investing in hair and makeup products and realising the natural effect of a post-workout glow. Considering Milind was making a comeback to an editorial shoot after a hiatus, the mood board was sketched keeping the OG supermodel's sartorial hunger in mind. In a freewheeling chat that carried over from the Maldives to Mumbai, we got a peek into his mind, that otherwise races past our tepid imagination. <h2>Running wins</h2>When asked to choose between running, modelling and acting, he quickly picked running as his current favourite. He runs every day, whenever he finds time. “It gives me a lot of joy and helps me to connect with myself better. Maybe because it’s such a natural activity. Human beings are evolved to run. When you do things that you are meant to do, there is a connection with dharma,” says Milind. <figure class="image"><img src="https://assets.zeezest.com/images/PROD_NSP_1923_1670237336148.jpg"><figcaption>A leap of joy; Milind is wearing a monochrome suit by Rohit Gandhi and Rahul Khanna.</figcaption></figure>He finds acting and modelling fun too. He loves that they allow him to explore various opportunities and considers them as part of his creative expression. “Even though I stopped modelling in 1995 and started doing television, I never lost touch with being able to do something new or something that was exciting for myself,” he shares. “In the media, they usually label me as swimmer-turned-model-turned-actor-turned-fitness expert but for me, there is no turning. Everything exists simultaneously. Whenever I do something, I enjoy that immensely,” he clarifies.<h2>On not attending fashion shows  </h2>“I actually have no reason to attend a fashion week. Even earlier, when I was modelling, if I wasn’t a part of the fashion show, there was no reason for me to attend the event,” says Milind. “I remember attending one in Delhi where we presented the brand, Deivee, that I had started and I walked the ramp too. A lot of my friends walked too, so that was fun,” he recollects. Also, in 2009, he remembers walking alongside Naomi Campbell for a charity event in Mumbai, which he enjoyed thoroughly. He later moderated a session with her in 2017 in New Delhi. According to him, the Indian fashion industry works as a business model, and lacks the creative art and expression. He explains, “If you look at fashion in the West, starting with Coco Chanel, 70-80 years ago, fashion was an artistic expression. We haven't seen this side of fashion in India. If you look at fashion weeks, it is a business model. I think we didn't go into understanding the true meaning, the depths of creativity and imagination of fashion here.” We quiz him further about if he were to walk the runway again, who would it be for? And he replies, “I don't really look around that much but if you’re talking about a well-made suit, I will definitely name Shahab Durazi, I think he's great with cuts and designs.”  <figure class="image"><img src="https://assets.zeezest.com/images/PROD_watch%20NSP_2115_1670237356732.jpg"><figcaption>Taking smart casuals to the next level; Milind Soman is wearing  Omega Seamaster Professional Diver 300M on his wrist. A pair of Paradiso model sunglasses by John Jacobs keeps the glare away from his eyes. His jacket is by Rimzim Dadu, sarong by Varnika Sangoi and jewellery by Sangeeta Boochra and Aquamarine Jewellery. </figcaption></figure>Not one to follow fashion trends or brands, ask him about three designers who have left a mark on him over the years and he names fashion icons Karl Lagerfeld, Dolce & Gabbana and Vivienne Westwood. And supermodels that have impressed him? “Apart from Naomi Campbell, I also like yesteryear’s modelling superstars like Cindy Crawford and Linda Evangelista. Though they didn’t influence my work directly, I always admired their craft,” Milind shares.<h2>On the wellness industry’s evolution</h2>As we talk about how fitness and wellness have become trendy now, Milind shares a personal experience. “Six years ago, I remember approaching a brand that makes breakfast cereals to sponsor a sporting event. To my surprise, they said they were not a fitness brand. Imagine from that to now, more than even fitness, they have now adopted wellness as a plank and we are working together.” He also thinks mental health has taken centre stage because corporates are talking a lot about it. Commenting on celebrities talking about mental health, Milind says, “Sometimes you may have what it takes to become a celebrity, but many times you may not have what it takes to deal with it.”<figure class="image"><img src="https://assets.zeezest.com/images/PROD_watch%20NSP_1796_1670237406729.jpg"><figcaption>On Milind's wrist is the Omega Seamaster Planet Ocean 600M Master Chronometer Chronograph. His shirt is from Bloni by Akshat Bansal, sarong is by Varnika Sangoi and jewellery by Sangeeta Boochra and Aquamarine Jewellery. </figcaption></figure><h2>Coming full circle</h2>When he was a national swimming champion in his teens, no one knew him. Now he is famous as a fitness enthusiast and an influential voice in the space. The fame he earned as a model and actor may have contributed to his fitness popularity. Reflecting on his success with fitness, he comments, “Probably, it works for me, as no one else from this space I occupy, is doing what I am doing. For example, which really famous person has competed in the Ironman race or run more than 1,000 km from Delhi to Mumbai? My guess, none."<h2>Meeting the Prime Minister of India</h2>Milind participated in the Unity Run from Jhansi to New Delhi in August 2022. The Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) contacted him on Day 4 of his run, requesting if he could connect with people on the way to spread a message. He readily agreed. When he reached Delhi, the PMO had organised an event at the Red Fort. Later, he was delighted to receive a call to check if he would meet the Prime Minister the next day. “I was very impressed that our PM Narendra Modi took out time to meet someone like me without a specific agenda. That is being really organised, at least that’s how I see it,” says Milind. Recollecting the event, Milind candidly shares, “It’s kind of embarrassing as I later realised that I spoke mostly while he listened. I even asked him if he wanted me to stop and he said he was happy to listen to me. I remember speaking to him about how we can promote indigenous sports in India instead of focusing only on Olympic sports. We obviously connected on yoga and Ayurveda, topics which are close to both of us.”<figure class="image"><img src="https://assets.zeezest.com/images/PROD_539A4015-7152-4939-959A-473C24BB762F_1670296536855.jpeg"></figure><h2>On travel adventures</h2>He confesses he never used to travel earlier, except for work. He says he is not a tourist and doesn’t enjoy sightseeing. “After marriage, we started travelling as Ankita likes to travel. We still don’t do sightseeing, but now we look for places where we can do things. She has learnt diving, so we dive a lot now,” shares Milind. “Recently, we were in Egypt to dive. We went to Europe to climb Mont Blanc and to Africa to run in a sanctuary and climb Kilimanjaro,” Milind says, summing up his travel habits. As an adventurer, he likes to challenge himself, and that’s why he doesn’t like visiting places where he has nothing to do. “The reason to challenge myself is also not to fall sick. I believe the human body and mind deteriorate if you don’t challenge them,” he explains. “If you still want me to pick places on my bucket list, they would be more places from Africa and the Arctic and diving sites around the world.” Explaining his choices, he says, “I prefer places that have some amount of romanticism and ultimate romanticism for me comes with ruggedness. There is no romanticism in lying on the couch watching TV. That’s why the greatest love stories come from struggle."<figure class="table"><table><tbody><tr><td><figure class="image"><img src="https://assets.zeezest.com/images/PROD_watch%20NSP_1796_1670237633998.jpg"></figure><h2>Role model from the world of:</h2>Sports: Muhammad AliModelling: Naomi Campbell, Cindy CrawfordActing: Balraj Sahni, Amitabh Bachchan, Naseeruddin ShahSwimming: Mark Spitz, Michael Phelps</td></tr></tbody></table></figure><h2>Looking back at ‘Made In India’</h2>Reminiscing about the music video that almost gave Milind a brand identity for the rest of his life, he says, “Those were the very early days of music videos in India. MTV had just come to India and Alisha Chinai and I were already collaborating on some videos. This particular one was the second after an English music video we did together.”  Milind had also shot for Ken Ghosh directorial and forgot about it. He adds, “Those were not the days of social media, not even 24x7 in-your-face traditional media.” It was only after two months, when he accompanied a friend travelling from overseas to a club in Pune, that he realised how big a hit the song was. The loudest cheer possible greeted them the moment they entered the club. That music video made Milind’s face recognisable across the country and the title became his tagline for the rest of his life.<figure class="image"><img src="https://assets.zeezest.com/images/PROD_watchNSP_1977White_1670308121665.jpg"><figcaption>Milind is wearing Omega's latest addition to the Seamaster Professional line, the Planet Ocean 6000M – Ultradeep with a Rohit Gandhi and Rahul Khanna monochrome suit.</figcaption></figure><h2>When Milind met Ankita </h2>The couple met at Pasha, a nightclub at The Park, Chennai in February 2014. “I don’t normally go to nightclubs. It was one of those odd days when I succumbed to the hotel manager’s sudden request to drop by for a few minutes as it was a ladies’ night at the club. Even Ankita doesn’t go to nightclubs often. That day, we both were at Pasha at the same time. That was pure coincidence,” shares Milind. Recollecting the night, he says, “I was waiting for my young colleagues to finish drinking. Meanwhile, some girls came and requested me to dance. Suddenly, the dance floor was full. More people had come in by then. It was then that I saw Ankita across the room with her friends. I kept watching her. She is the one who came up to me and asked for a dance. I had no idea what to chat about, I found myself asking some random questions like what her parents did, whether she had any siblings and things like that. I don’t socialise, don’t meet people at parties and start conversations, this was rather difficult for me. I asked her for her number, she said she didn’t have a phone as she had just moved from Malaysia, with Air Asia starting operations in India then. I left my number with a friend of hers, and finally, she sent a message the day after that she had a nice time. I invited her for dinner. That’s our story in short.”<h2>The ‘age-gap’ marriage</h2>Milind feels Ankita challenges him in all the right ways. More than motivating and inspiring him, she makes him more aware of himself. And he likes that. “If I were with a person from my generation, it would probably be simpler. Here I look at something that’s almost alien to me, maintaining that equality in the relationship with someone so much younger teaches me about myself, every day. As we grow older, we develop an attitude, as we change over time. But we often don’t realise that. But I do, every day, when I speak to her. So, living with Ankita is a kind of exploration, though she may have a different view of it. It’s an opportunity to see the world of today, I just see it through her eyes,” says Milind, fondly summing up their marriage.<h2>His beautiful bond with his mother</h2>“We fight a lot. But I have learnt a lot from her, mainly, not to be judgmental,” says Milind about his relationship with his mother who is super active at 83 and does push-ups regularly.<figure class="image"><img src="https://assets.zeezest.com/images/PROD_NSP_1667_1670237510316.jpg"></figure><h2>Favourite cuisine</h2>“I love Bengali food. Basically, I like freshwater fish. Though I have lived in Mumbai almost all my life, I don’t know why I have this fascination for Bengali cuisine. I like Japanese cuisine as well, not just the sushi and the sashimi, I love the soups and the noodles too. Basically, anything that’s made well, respecting traditions, I enjoy that. In fact, I don’t like fusion as much as traditional food, which is basic, staple and sumptuous. Milind names boneless Bhapa Ilish (Hilsa) as his favourite dish. But what he eats most often is Dal Khichdi. “It’s a complete meal. I have grown up with it. It’s easy to make comfort food, easy to digest and highly nutritious.”<figure class="table"><table><tbody><tr><td><h2>Ankita’s take on Milind</h2><h3>As a husband</h3>“As a husband, he is the best partner. I don’t know what you look for in a husband as I never wanted to get married. After I met him, my perception towards marriage changed. It's been almost five years since we got married, and every day we learn new things about each other. It has been such a beautiful journey. He is such a big part of me. Our upbringing was so different, he grew up in a city while I almost grew up in the jungles but we are so alike, it is unbelievable. We have always been close to the earth and that’s one thing we can always connect on.“<h3>As a role model in fitness</h3>“I don’t know about others but I can talk about myself. I had adopted a very unhealthy lifestyle in the middle, so when I woke up, Milind would have finished running 25 km, which I saw on Facebook or Instagram. I would wonder how does he do 25 km every day so easily. I remember when I turned 25, I realised I was unhealthy I had become. So, I went to the gym, but it was shut for some reason. I didn’t come back and I went for a run instead. I have been running ever since. It has liberated and healed me, in a way, with each run I came closer to myself. All the credit goes to Milind. I remember when we were in Athens, one of our friends called us to run the marathon. Those days I was running the half marathon regularly but I wasn’t trained at all for the 42 km. Milind trained me for six days and we ran the marathon on the seventh day. He has been such an inspiration in every aspect, be it emotional, physical or spiritual. I want to be like him when I am 50.”<h3>About the age gap in marriage</h3>“I don’t feel that at all. It's only when someone asks me the question, I realise we are 26 years apart. To me, it has always been the companionship we share that is so authentic. I remember even when I told my parents about the wedding, my mother reacted that he was almost her age, while my father was not comfortable with the idea of me getting married to an actor; he had some preconceived notions about the entertainment industry. I was very clear that I wouldn’t go against their wish to get married to Milind, but I also made it clear to them that I would be with him and they should be comfortable with the idea.”</td></tr></tbody></table></figure><hr>CreditsEditor: Sumita BagchiPhotographer: Atul KasbekarCreative Consultant: Mitrajit BhattacharyaWatch Partner: OmegaEyewear Partner: John JacobsAssistant Photographer and BTS: Rahul SawantBTS Edit: Media EdgeStylists: Pyu MishraLocation: The Residence Maldives At Dhigurah

Even before Ranveer Singh bared it all, there was Milind Soman. The OG trendsetter tells us how to run the extra mile and make heads turn!

Milind Soman continues to win hearts, whether as a model or fitness influencer. Here’s an exclusive interview with Zee Zest's December 2022 Digital Cover Star.

Zee Zest Digital Cover Star December 2022 Milind Soman

Milind Soman: The OG Heartthrob Is Back!

Milind Soman

Models

 Celebrity Interview 

Travel  

Maldives

Vacation 

Just a few days after we concluded our Digital Cover shoot with Hansika Motwani, the news broke that she is slated to get married to her mystery beau, Sohail Kathuria. Whether it is fate or pure coincidence, we aren’t sure, but it was indeed good fortune that she is the cover star for our November 2022 Wedding Special. Her official comment on all the hullaballoo about her wedding was: “I am getting married soon.” She took to everyone’s favourite social media platform, Instagram, to share images from her romantic proposal that had the Eiffel Tower as the backdrop.<figure class="image"><img src="https://assets.zeezest.com/images/PROD_ZEEZEST_2910220331_1668342111332.jpg"><figcaption>Hansika Motwani is dressed in a Rudrakh Dwivedi black sequinned gown which is paired with  Hublot Big Bang One Click Steel Pave timepiece.</figcaption></figure>There is a childlike enthusiasm and earnestness about Hansika that shines through as she transforms into a resplendent diva in each of the three looks. The three high-fashion couture looks were curated to channel a different avatar of the young actor, a charismatic and glamourous diva who knows how to keep you captivated with her aura.  As a child actor who has evolved into a successful actor, the use of the word ‘child’ feels reductive. With 55 films and counting, Hansika has an enviable career graph and her starting off as a child actor is purely coincidental. “It started really young for me and I am fortunate that it started that early. Now that I look back, it all worked in my favour because it gave me ample time to work and establish myself over the years,” she says. In case you’re trying to recall Hansika’s early work, look up television shows like Shaka Laka Boom Boom, Des Mein Nikla Hoga Chand and Hrithik Roshan-starrer, India’s very own extraterrestrial film, Koi… Mil Gaya. “I have to thank my mother for ensuring that I had as normal a childhood as possible. I used to go to school, sit for my exams and then go for my shoots. She made sure I always had some playtime with children of my age,” says Hansika, as she looks back at her days as a child actor. <figure class="image"><img src="https://assets.zeezest.com/images/PROD_ZEEZEST_2910220107_1668342148894.jpg"><figcaption>Hansika is wearing a structured lilac dress by Geisha Designs with  Hublot Big Bang Sang Bleu Steel Pave.</figcaption></figure>If one were to draw a comparison, the career trajectory of Sridevi comes to mind—by the time the legendary actor was 32, she too had worked in more than 55 films in Hindi, Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu and Kannada. Undoubtedly, Hansika looks up to the late actor but stays humble about her own future. “Sridevi is a legend and she's always been an inspiration for me, but what direction my career will take is something that only time will tell. I just know that I can choose the right scripts and hopefully at the right time. Hence, it's just destiny. But I would love my career to move in the same direction too.”<h2>An impressive body of work</h2>For those who don’t know and those who follow, today, Hansika Motwani is a name to be reckoned with in Tamil and Telugu films. Her first film ever was Desamuduru in 2007, in which she was paired against Pushpa-fame’s Allu Arjun. She later starred opposite Himesh Reshammiya in Aap Kaa Surroor, but it was in the southern states where she truly built her career. She acknowledges that the south film industry presented greener pastures for her where her career flourished. But that is not to say mainstream Hindi films do not interest her; there are big projects in the offing for Hansika, which includes a multilingual blockbuster scheduled for a 2023 release. <figure class="image"><img src="https://assets.zeezest.com/images/PROD_ZEEZEST_2910220537_1668342198306.jpg"><figcaption>Hansika looks glamourous in a Bennu Sehgall couture gown paired with Hublot Square Bang Unico King Gold.</figcaption></figure>Hansika’s extensive body of work includes yet to be released Tamil horror film, Guardian, and a Disney+ Hotstar release, My3, an adaptation of a Korean series, in the pipeline. She also has a long list of co-actors that would make many industry veterans envious—the list includes Arvind Swamy, Mohanlal, Dhanush, Siddharth, Simbu, Vijay and others. She reminisces working with Mohanlal, another legend, in the 2017 Malayalam film, Villain: “My mom always said you've never attended a film school, but work in a Malayalam film and you'll feel like you've gone to film school because of the fantastic actors you’ll get to work with.” So in awe was Hansika that she remembers how Mohanlal could sense the camera was panning around both of them in a scene. “He knew the camera was there and he knew to shift slightly to accommodate a direct shot. He's just extraordinary and his experience speaks volumes. It was truly amazing to work with him,” she adds. <figure class="table"><table><tbody><tr><td><h2>Hansika Motwani On Her Co-Actors</h2>Allu Arjun: He’s a great dancer and has a really great sense of dressing. Dhanush: He’s very versatile and can get into any character effortlessly. Samantha Prabhu: I think she is a warrior and a fighter. She's a fantastic actor and I think she's so inspiring.Suriya: He is a charmer and has a great screen presence. Arvind Swamy: Everything about him is great. He’s evergreen so I really can’t pick just one thing.Rana Daggubati: Again, he has a great personality and also very charming. Genelia Deshmukh: I just have one thing that comes to mind for Genelia, it’s cute! Cute! Cute! </td></tr></tbody></table></figure><h2>South film industry in the limelight</h2>As an actor who predominantly works in the south, Hansika is aware of the sudden boom in the popularity of south Indian blockbusters. She’s always stood by the fact that regions don’t matter; these are all Indian films at the end of the day—this is the recognition that regional films deserve.<figure class="image"><img src="https://assets.zeezest.com/images/PROD_ZEEZEST_2910220290_1668342266957.jpg"></figure>“Cinema is changing and so are audiences. It's amazing how all kinds of audiences are accepting cinema in any language,” she says. She too cannot ignore the impact OTT platforms and their boom during the lockdown have had on the consumer pattern for regional content. “People want to enjoy what they are watching and for that content has to be good,” she states.It all begins with the script. “I’ve always believed that the script is where the secret to a film’s success lies,” Hansika says. People not only have more options but want to consume different and newer kinds of content. “This success is not just Tamil or Telugu films but also for other regional languages that are also producing some good stuff. Even the remakes work!” In a fast-paced digitized world, true quality content is also what will drive people to the big theatres, according to her.<h2>What drives Hansika Motwani?</h2>“I am a greedy actor and my approach to work is always, ‘why not’ rather than why. So, it often doesn’t matter where a film project comes from,” Hansika explains her philosophy towards work. It’s also the reason she has managed to rake in impressive titles under her belt. She refuses to let herself be boxed in by labels, a feat that many in the industry struggle with, just because of this alternative approach. <figure class="image"><img src="https://assets.zeezest.com/images/PROD_ZEEZEST_2910220170_1668342362371.jpg"></figure>Very aware of the fickle nature of the entertainment industry, Hansika is more than happy to keep pushing herself to prove her mettle on a loop. “I think it is my privilege that at the age of 30 I have the opportunity to build this body of work. The beauty of my work is that every day I get to be a different person, so I will never get bored of my work. I will still be acting but I can always switch genres as long as I am in front of the camera.” An exhausting task, but for her, if it’s not exhausting then she’s not doing something right. She is very clear that there is no substitute for hard work. She says, “I want to work hard because the rest of the crew can work smart—that’s the perfect balance I believe in.”<h2>On a lighter note</h2>For all her earnestness and measured answers, Hansika accepts the fact that she is a very moody person who hates eating and considers it a chore. But at the same time, she enjoys a bit of travelling. Time off from a packed and hectic schedule means daily meditation and annual vacations for Hansika. “Every year, for 10-15 days, I take off to another country for a vacation to center myself. But acting is what drives me and motivates me.” <h2>Rapid fire with Hansika Motwani</h2>Your favourite movie: Andaz Apna Apna or Hera PheriYour favourite vacation destination: New York or ParisYour favourite Indian period drama: Lagaan, because I think I was really young when I first saw the film and I was on the edge of my seat. I just enjoyed that film.<hr>CreditsEditor: Sumita BagchiPhotographer: Atul KasbekarCreative Consultant: Mitrajit BhattacharyaAssistant Photographer and BTS: Rahul SawantBTS Edit: Media EdgeStylists: Nayaab Randhawa and Shubhangini GuptaMakeup artist: Reshma MerchantHair stylist: Savita SankpalLocation: Black Frames StudioArtist Reputation Management: Think Talkies

With an incredible roster of films, Hansika Motwani is always busy with her next project. Now, with her impending nuptials to a Mumbai-based businessman, life’s set for more excitement for the actor.

Hansika Motwani is our Cover Star for November 2022. We catch up with her about her career so far and her plans for the future. Read the interview here.

Cover Story | November 2022 | Hansika Motwani A South Superstar

In The Big League: Hansika Motwani

Wedding

Hansika Motwani

South Indian

South Indian Films

Tamil Movies

Telugu Movies

In the quest to find the most suitable Digital Cover star for the Homegrown edition of September we found a name that has truly made India proud. Sonu Sood, a philanthropist, and actor, who won the hearts of millions of Indians with his boundless passion for changing lives in the last few years. He is more of a front-page personality than a page-3 one making headlines with his awe-inspiring, life-transforming journey; a reel hero, who emerged as a real-life superhero for millions of Indians in distress during the Covid-19 pandemic, and its equally painful aftermath. Sonu may have spent most of his acting career playing negative characters, but his almost single-handed effort to help migrant thousands of labourers reach their homes during the pandemic’s first wave followed by supplying oxygen and other essential medical equipment to thousands of needy patients during the second wave earned him a messiah-like status among the masses. Now that the worst of the pandemic is (hopefully) behind us, his NGO — Sood Charity Foundation — is setting up efforts to help the underprivileged with education and jobs.   <figure class="image"><img src="https://assets.zeezest.com/images/PROD__DSC7301_1664003082655.jpg"><figcaption>Sonu Sood is wearing a sherwani with a pocket square and brooch by Raghavendra Rathore. His ring and footwear are from Tribe by Amrapali and Vaibhav Mitali, respectively. Sonu is also wearing Big Bang Integrated Ceramic in sky-blue by Hublot.</figcaption></figure>For someone who is busy balancing his reel and real-life passions with equal zeal, Sonu makes a lasting first impression at the Zee Zest digital cover shoot at ITC Grand Maratha, Mumbai where his warm greetings and hugs to the entire crew establish how he connects with people instantly and with ease. My first question: How tall are you? He stood up, put his hands around my shoulder, and said 6'3.5". And with that begins a one-of-a-kind shoot where we see Sonu don three bespoke, handcrafted outfits from some of the most popular homegrown designers-- Nivedita Saboo, Karan Torani and Raghavendra Rathore. Throughout the shoot day, we saw the superhero who has starred in several movies like Yuva (2004), Jodhaa Akbar (2008), Dabangg (2010), Shootout at Wadala (2013), R… Rajkumar (2013), Happy New Year (2014), Devi (2016), Kung Fu Yoga (2017), and Simmba (2018),  address incessant calls that sought his help, during the breaks. And that leaves us imagining the power of this one-of-a-kind celebrity who is worshipped as a messiah and a deity, for helping the needy single-handedly. Though a private suite was reserved for the shoot, the occasional selfie requests from guests in the corridor or lift never went unanswered. After all, Sonu Sood belongs to the people of India.  When we finally sat down for our chat, we spoke about charity, movies and life in general. Edited Excerpts: <h2>1. How do you look back at your incredible acting career in the South Indian film industry? </h2>I always believed in films down South. I have done close to 60 movies in Telugu, Tamil and Kannada. Entertainment has no language. People spend a lot of money and time watching movies in theatres. Filmmakers still believe in fulfilling that core responsibility of entertaining the theatre-going audience. I remember when I started doing films down south, a lot of my friends used to say, “Tu Hindi speaking ho ke bhi, Bollywood chhod ke South ke movies kyun karta hain?”. I always chose films that excited me as an actor or in the content. That’s why many a time I decided to opt for South films over Bollywood films. Some of them did really well and that cemented my position in South cinema.  <h2>2. What are your thoughts on S.S Rajamouli? </h2>S. S. Rajamouli is technically brilliant, a great narrator, and believes in massy entertainers like Baahubali and RRR.  <figure class="image"><img src="https://assets.zeezest.com/images/PROD_ZEEZEST_14922_SONU_SOOD5119_1664003028251.jpg"><figcaption>Sonu looks dashing in a textured blazer with red pocket square by Nivedita Saboo. On his wrist is the Big Bang Unico Red Magic by Hublot.</figcaption></figure><h2>3. Why do you think Bollywood movies are not doing well in the theatres recently? </h2>Cinema is always larger than life. When an individual goes to a theatre to watch a film, they want to be that actor on screen. Somewhere, if we fail to create that larger-than-life image, we fail to connect with that theatre-going audience. The South Indian film industry has always catered to it, I’m sure Bollywood will also do the same.  <h2>4. Tell us about your maiden home production… </h2>The project we are starting our production house, Shakti Sagar Productions, with is called Fateh. We have already done 16 months of prep and writing. I didn’t want to roll a movie till our homework was right. Some of the best researchers and content creators have worked on the project. Now that we are set to roll, I am very excited. I am glad that the hours we spent researching the subject are helping us sail through smoothly. It’s a film based on cybercrime, a threat that the country is facing, and how a common man is sucked into the mess unknowingly. The film’s message is powerful, it can guide the audience to be careful and not get cheated. <figure class="image"><img src="https://assets.zeezest.com/images/PROD_ZEEZEST_14922_SONU_SOOD5297_1664003059791.jpg"><figcaption>Sonu sood rocks a Karan Torani ensemble paired with shoes from Escaro Royale and ring from Tribe by Amrapali. He is also sporting the Big Bang Integrated King Gold by Hublot.</figcaption></figure><h2>5. How did the cult character of Cheddi Singh in ‘Dabangg’ come about? </h2>Most of Cheddi Singh’s dialogues and other famous lines from Dabangg were written by me. All the filmmakers and actors who have worked with me know that I am very good at writing dialogues, screenplays and scenes. Even in Fateh, I have done the same. Cheddi Singh was inspired by my college days when I used to live with students from Bihar as my roommates. We created the character based on them. Even ‘Bhaiyyaji Smile’ was a real character we had in our college in Nagpur. They were always very fond of having their photographs clicked and had photographers accompany them. And they would always say ‘Bhaiyyaji smile‘. We put it in the script three days before the shoot started!  One day, while shooting in Wai near Pune, Salman took me out for dinner and suddenly said, “Sonu, tu bahut lamba hain yaar, teri taange toh gaadi mein fit ho jayegi na?” I replied, “Salman, kya hain na, kanoon ke haath aur Sonu Sood ki laath dono bahut lambi hain bhai.” He said, “Arre yeh bahut kamaal ka dialogue hain, use karte hain picture main.” The next day we were shooting when the famous dialogue was incorporated into the film. We just replaced Sonu Sood with Cheddi Singh. This is how Cheddi Singh became a cult character on screen. <h2>6. How did you decide to launch the Sood Charity Foundation?  </h2>I lost my mother in 2007 and since then I have been doing my bit to help people. But I wanted to do it on a scale that could touch a lot of lives. I realised that time had come when, during the Covid-19 pandemic, the whole country got in touch with me; someone needed medical attention, someone education or a job. I wanted to do everything. So, from that day, we thought of creating a family that would cater to every need of the needy. At Sood Foundation, if people connect with us, we try and change their lives. We get connected with new people every day and most importantly, they are usually not from wealthy families. They are also the ones who were helped during Covid-19, so there is a different emotion attached to them. <figure class="image"><img src="https://assets.zeezest.com/images/PROD_ZEEZEST_14922_SONU_SOOD4928a_1664002994867.jpg"></figure><h2>7. What is your biggest realisation from all the relief work you have undertaken during the past couple of years? </h2>Umeed aur koshish. ‘Hope’ and ‘effort’ are two of the most important words I have experienced in life. When someone has hope that someone can save a life and you put an effort towards that, there is nothing more special than that.  Every day I meet people who have come from all over the country — from Bihar, Jharkhand, UP, Odisha — I see hope in their eyes. Often, I hear them say they didn’t have money to buy train tickets to come to Mumbai, but when they told the ticket collector they were coming to meet me, he would let them travel for free. That hope keeps me on my toes always and I try to put in genuine efforts and God somehow guides you when you are changing the lives of so many people. There are miles to go, but the journey is on. <h2>8. How does it feel to have an aircraft with your image on it? </h2>It takes me down memory lane when I came to Mumbai on an unreserved ticket from Delhi. I didn’t know a single person in the city. Recently, when I travelled in that aircraft with my name and face painted on it, I missed my parents the most. They were not around to see that; I wish I could take them on the flight. But I know wherever they are, they would be happy.   <figure class="image"><img src="https://assets.zeezest.com/images/PROD__DSC7368_1664003137110.jpg"></figure><h2>9. Tell us about your new initiative to help IAS aspirants… </h2>I have a lot of friends who are in administrative services. Many of them are from environmentally challenged backgrounds like Bihar, Jharkhand and Odisha. They want to work for the country but they don’t have the resources. So, I thought why not give them a platform where they get what they deserve? IAS preparations are very costly and not easily accessible to most people. Anyone from any part of the country can connect with us and we will make sure that we help them prepare for the exams. Last year, we helped 40,000 aspirants. Over the last one and a half days, we have received close to 12,000 entries. Even if 50 can clear from this, just imagine what they can do for the country.<h2>10. How does one get a fit body like Sonu Sood? </h2>To get a body like Sonu Sood is not very difficult. You have to love yourself. When I explored fitness during my engineering college days, I was pretty excited to go to a large gym, having not experienced anything like that in a small town like Moga, where I came from. I suddenly felt this is the world I belonged to. I never thought I would be an actor; fitness kept me going. When I look back, I think fitness played a major role in my career and helped me survive the difficult times. I think fitness is not just about the body, it’s about the mind also.  Every day of mine starts with working out. Since the day I started working out till date, I have never missed a single day at the gym unless I am unwell or I don’t have access to a gym. I consider 22 hours as my day, and the other two hours are for exercising.  <h2>11. What are your thoughts on the Zee Zest cover shoot and the looks curated for you?  </h2>I thank Raghavendra Rathore for this beautiful black sherwani. It’s always essential to have a break sometimes from the casual look of denim and tees and today was the perfect occasion to wear formal. Credits: Editor: Sumita BagchiPhotographer: Atul KasbekarCreative Consultant: Mitrajit BhattacharyaAssistant Photographer and BTS: Rahul SawantBTS Edit: Media EdgeStylist: Pyu MishraHair stylist: Rajendra ChawanMake up artist: Junaid Shaikh for Hakim AalimLocation: ITC Maratha MumbaiArtist Reputation Management: Raindrop Media

Zee Zest catches up with Sonu Sood to talk about all things cinema, charity, and Cheddi Singh.

Zee Zest catches up with Bollywood actor Sonu Sood and finds out why he likes South cinema and what led him to do charity work.

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