Quasquicentennial - Rajeev Priyanka FC- Page 63

https://www.freepressjournal.in/entertainment/bollywood/otts-have-given-a-level-playing-field-to-all-rajeev-khandelwal

OTTs have given a level playing field to all: Rajeev Khandelwal

By Lipika Varma

Rajeev Khandelwal, who is gearing up for the release of his web series, Naxalbari, talks about why OTTs are not the ‘new’ normal; opens up about shooting in the middle of a pandemic; reveals why he refused the second season of Coldd Lassi Aur Chicken Masala, and talks about parenthood plans!

How was it shooting Naxalbaari during the pandemic?

It was not easy at all. The pandemic was at its peak and so was the monsoon, and it was an outdoor shoot! We were shooting in the middle of a jungle and there was no access to any luxury that the actors are usually used to. There was customised food prepared keeping the hygiene standards in mind. But it was great just to be able to work.

So, your web series Coldd Lassi Aur Chicken Masala is getting a season 2. How excited are you?

How was it shooting Naxalbaari during the pandemic?

It was not easy at all. The pandemic was at its peak and so was the monsoon, and it was an outdoor shoot! We were shooting in the middle of a jungle and there was no access to any luxury that the actors are usually used to. There was customised food prepared keeping the hygiene standards in mind. But it was great just to be able to work.

So, your web series Coldd Lassi Aur Chicken Masala is getting a season 2. How excited are you?

I am not doing the second season, if it is happening at all. I had told this to the makers four months back.

But it was such a hit show…

Yes, I am aware of it. I am not sure whether the second season is happening, but I am sure of the fact that I will not be part of it, even if it does. I refused to do it, as they wanted me to do Season-2 without even reading the script. They were like…. “Just say ‘yes’ to it, and we will write it”. But how can I say yes without reading it? We had not even discussed the possibility of a second season when I signed up for the first.

Web series is the new normal. How have you warmed up to the idea?

It is hardly ‘new’ anymore! It has been normal for a while now. When I was doing the first season of Haq se in 2017, people used to ask me “Rajeev, how do you see the future of the web and digital content?” and I would then say, “Future nahi hai bhaiya yeh present ho gaya hai!!” Today, we are alwatching movies also on digital platforms. I would say, there is a medium called television that you can watch, and there is a medium called digital where you watch a series, short film, film, or a documentary, all these are now part of digital content. Today, it is a level playing field for all.

What next?

I have just finished shooting for a project. The producers did not want to decide the platform before the shooting. They wanted to finish it with their own conviction. It is the first time you will see me attempting a comedy. It is actually mind blowing, I am being honest. I know modesty is not my thing! I am better off in comedy than the intense characters I am known for. I always knew that I have a good comic timing but hadn’t got the opportunity to exploit it. When I read this script, it felt as if it was tailor-made for me!

But how was the lockdown otherwise?

I have been shooting from March till July. I was in Goa. I have a house there. This time we got to spend five whole months there my wife, Manjiri, our dog, we all were together and it was pure bliss!

During the lockdown many couples decided to become parents. What about you guys?

Not yet ready for fatherhood/ parenthood… I would say. But you never know! It is not my call to take, but that to be taken along with Manj (wife Manjiri). Whenever that happens, we will surely let you know! Till now we have not had enough of each other, we are enjoying life and trying to make the most of the time we get to spend together.

https://twitter.com/i/status/1330498888206344192

Jaanbaaz Officer

Shaatir strategist

Khatarnak Enemy

Loyal Dost

Nidar Leader

Bharosemand Sathi

.....takes thok ke badla

in 8 episodes

In how many mins each...we'll know on November 28th

The trailer tells he has done what he wanted... effortlessly balance sophistication with the right intensity.

Every project must be special, but this one,,,, the rejig, the regrouping, the altered plans, the execution must all make it a little more special.

A real fightback.

thok ke badla

Wishing him all the very very best😊.

Rajeev Khandelwal


@RK1610IsMe

·

An honest confession! @ZEE5Premium

@Gseamsak

Rajeev Khandelwal: I Built My Career Without PR Machinery

When he exited Kahiin To Hoga at its peak in 2005, it was telling of how Rajeev Khandelwal had little regard for formulaic shows. In the years since, the actor has headlined unusual subjects like Aamir (2008), Shaitan (2011), Table No 21 (2013), constantly choosing to swim against the tide. "I have never followed the norms; in fact, I have done the opposite of what I was advised. People stopped me from making my debut with Aamir, but I threw all ideas [of a conventional launchpad] out the window. I have never fallen prey to the star system. I have built my 16-year career without a PR machinery. I have no regrets so far," says Khandelwal.

His pursuit of inspiring subjects has led him to headline the latest ZEE5 show, Naxalbari. Directed by Partho Mitra, the series offers the different perspectives of those involved in the Naxal movement. The actor doesn't mince his words as he says that the script has been significantly "toned down" from what was initially offered to him. "When I signed the series last year, the material was different. Now, it has been toned down. I had worked hard on my look and attitude based on the character from the original script. However, when the script changed, I decided to retain the moustache for the role." Khandelwal plays a Special Task Force (STF) officer in the series. "[The show traces how] he gets entangled in the Naxal web. Since few projects have been made on this topic, it appealed to me. The show gives a deeper insight into the war between Naxalites and the government, each side fighting for its own reasons."

Naxalbari was shot in Goa in July amid the pandemic. "We were among the first ones to shoot outdoors. Even as there was a sense of fear, it was no less than an adventure. It was thrilling to shoot action scenes in the jungles."

Here's What Makes Rajeev Khandelwal Such A Hot Property Even After So Many Years

Sharing his experience of working during a global health crisis, he said, "Due to Covid, we had to compromise on a lot of things as shooting on a bigger scale was not possible. When you are filming outdoors, people usually get together after pack-up and they become friends. During our shoot, no one befriended anyone. The unit did not even get together for mealtime. It was a very different environment, but we dealt with it."

Since coronavirus has brought people's attention towards healthy living and hygiene, Rajeev shared his fitness mantra. "Consume healthy foods. Don't just eat for the sake of stomach. I personally do a lot of outdoor activities like running and cycling, if not much of gymming. Yoga interests me. It brings a lot of flexibility in your body. In longer term, yoga is a healthier way of living your life. It not just focusses on muscles but does a lot of good internally and externally."

During the conversation, Rajeev also touched upon the recent developments that have rocked the entertainment industry like the alleged drugs racket and nepotism debate.

"It is all a result of certain debates on social media by some ill-informed people who have got no business with the film industry. They are just sitting on the fence and passing judgments. I think they are all losers. If you want to weed out drugs menace, go in every direction. People who are talking about nepotism are themselves product of it. If such people were not supported by their families in the first place, they would not have been in the position they are in," asserted Khandelwal.

He went down the memory lane and said, "When I came to Mumbai, I was very scared of giving auditions after looking at the long queues of 500-700 people. I felt that they are fooling everyone and I should be knowing somebody like a director or someone at a production house to get work. I used to think that auditions were fake. At one point in time, I confronted myself with the question 'you are scared of it and that is why you have convinced yourself that it is all fake?' Then I started giving auditions with a different perspective. I used to visit every screen test with the thought 'Am I looking good in front of the camera?' And even now when someone asks me, 'Rajeev, should we test you?’, I am always welcoming towards the idea."

"Auditions help you and not the makers. So don't be scared of them," he signed off.

Naxalbari is a well written series with great performances from Rajeev Khandelwal, Aamir Ali and team

Naxalbari is a quick web series on Zee5 and it narrates the events that took place in a small village by the same name in West Bengal back in 1967. It features an ensemble cast of Rajeev, Aamir, Tina Datta, among others.

We all tend to miss out on a couple of shows that are absolute gem amid the fanfare and hullaballoo around the bigger ones. While one might often be on a lookout for quality content and not find the right one, just sometimes, they happen to come through at the right time. And well, Naxalbari on Zee5 is that show which truly deserves a watch over the weekend if you are running out of shows to watch.

Naxalbari isn't a very long watch and it features a great cast of Rajeev Khandelwal, Tina Datta, Sreejita De, Satyadeep Mishra, Shakti Anand, and Aamir Ali. Directed by Partho Mitra, it is no secret as to the story that the show revolves around. However, it is how the characters have been written and the new perspective that has been added to it that makes the show a must-watch.

Satyadeep and Sreejita play naxal members to Anand's Binu Atram, who orchestrates a blast that takes the life of an MLA from the ruling party. Soon, we see Khandelwal as the ever so spirited Raghav, who is also the son of Mumbai's Police Commissioner. Tina plays his girlfriend, Ketki, and while things look simple on the surface, they scream excellence when it all comes together on the screens. And finally, we have Aamir's Keswani, who is the corporate guy responsible for taking care of things for an industrialist, and how it all ends as far as his character is concerned is one of the peak moments of the show.

Every single performance is nothing short of excellence, for they are characters that have been well written, and together, they have managed to create a story that we have so far, read of, and maybe even seen, but here, it adds a fresh outlook to it. With some political commentary here and there, a story of historic importance being told, and a perfect team coming together, there is little to nothing that plays against Naxalbari.

It is short, has crisp writing, always keeps you on the edge, and doesn't feel to go overboard with any single aspect. In fact, while we are now habituated to seeing various other elements play out in any thriller, including that of romance, Naxalbari too, has those flavours, but they are subtle, and not for once, do they feel like they are forced or pushed.

We feel that the show makes for a great watch and given the naxalite movement that it deals with, one might want to give it a shot, to simply know more of what hasn't been spoken about enough. Apart from constantly keeping you hooked, it also gives out certain kinds of information that you may not have knowns, and so, this can rightly be called infotainment at its best!

Ratings: **** stars (4/5)

https://www.indiaforums.com/article/naxalbari-is-a-well-written-series-with-great-performances-from-rajeev-khandelwal-aamir-ali-and-team_171465

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/news/rajeev-khandelwal-has-no-regrets-about-about-his-film-journey/articleshow/79475874.cms?from=mdr

When Rajeev Khandelwal chose to embark on a journey in films, he was at the peak of his popularity as television's most popular hero. What's more, he chose to make his film debut in an unconventional film like 'Aamir' (2008). Twelve years later, he's happy he took the risk and proved his doomsday professors wrong. In an interview with a tabloid, he says he has no regrets and is satisfied he has come this far without a PR machinery. In the years since, he has worked in films like 'Shaitan' (2011) and 'Table No 21' (2013), which did not fit the commercial parameters of a Bollywood film. The actor is currently basking in the reception to 'Naxalbari', his web series on an OTT platform.

Rajeev plays a Special Task Force (STF) officer in the series based on Naxal movement. It also sees him returning to his favourite genre of action that he had last attempted in 'Shaitan'. The series was shot during pandemic, which resulted in a little tweaking of the script. The actor was in Goa throughout the lockdown, so the team decided to shoot there. While talking of his experience of shooting during the pandemic, he said that it was not easy as they were not only dealing with a virus, but were in middle of the monsoon season. So, the basic facilities were limited and the food would arrive from some other part of the region. They had to also follow a lot of protocols on the sets.

Naxalbari: Riveting Thriller Around The Complex Topic Of Naxalism

Critique: Naxalbari makes for terrific viewing as it keeps you on the edge of your seat right up until the end.

ZEE5’s latest original Naxalbari is a powerful and hard-hitting series that tackles the complex subject of Naxalism. This 8-episode series tells you the story of an STF agent Raghav Joshi (Rajeev Khandelwal) who’s sent on a perilous mission to Gadchiroli to fight the growing menace of Naxalism. The show has been directed by Partho Mitra and produced by Arjun Singgh Baran and Kartik Nishandar.

Naxalbari makes for terrific viewing as it keeps you on the edge of your seat right up until the end.

The show begins with a ruling party MLA being killed in a bomb blast in Naxal-infested Gadchiroli. The mastermind behind this dastardly attack is Naxal leader Binu Atram (Shakti Anand). Binu has two loyal proteges - Pahaan (Satyadeep Misra) and Prakruti (Sreejita De). All of them work at the orders of Baba. We only hear Baba’s voice throughout the show until his identity is revealed at the end

Raghav is a competent cop, but his father, the Police Commissioner of Mumbai, is tired of his wayward ways. In order to teach Raghav a lesson, he transfers his son to Gadchiroli to investigate the blast and its link to Naxals. Raghav’s friend and colleague Mohit is his one true pillar of support. In the meanwhile, another top cop, who has been tracking the Naxalite movement for years, is also conducting a parallel probe into the same case.

As Raghav’s investigation in the conflict-ridden region progresses, he learns of dangerous secrets about the Naxals and their larger plans. He discovers that the arms revolution that was once restricted to jungles is now thriving in urban areas too. Raghav has a girlfriend back in the city named Ketki (Tina Datta).

This becomes a cause of further conflict as it will mean displacing adivasis from their natural habitat. Sisodia works in close consultation with his trusted aide Keswani (Aamir Ali).

Mohit is killed during the course of the investigation. This is when the fight becomes personal for Raghav and he’s now determined to get to the root of the Naxalism problem.

he thrill quotient of the show goes up several notches when Raghav gets kidnapped by Naxalites. More secrets and shocking revelations come to the fore, including some that have to do with his own past.

The action-packed season ends on an extremely intriguing note, making you hope for the second season to come faster.

Naxalism is a complex, sensitive and polarising subject and director Partho Mitra has handled it deftly. The screenplay and dialogues have been penned by Pulkit Rishi and Prakhar Vihaan.

While the series is a work of fiction, it feels raw and real, and that’s one of its biggest strengths. The portions involving the Naxals have been so well-shot that they send a chill down your spine. Much of the credit for this goes to DOPs Hari Nair and Modhura Palit and action director Aejaz Gulab. The background score by Paresh Shah further enhances the viewing experience.

His character has this air of mystery about him and Aamir has pulled it off very well. And that sudden twist in the end is nothing short of a game-changer. We hadn’t seen that coming. By far, he definitely has the best character arc on the show.

Rajeev Khandelwal is excellent as a man racing against time to uncover the truth. As Naxalites fighting an ideological war, Shakti Anand, Satyadeep Misra and Sreejita De are in solid form. Tina Datta is effective in her role.

Verdict

Naxalbari is a riveting show that lays bare uncomfortable truths about a subject that we all might have only read about or seen in the news. It’s packed with enough moments to keep you hooked throughout. We are going with 4 out of 5 stars.

Rajeev Khandelwal


@RK1610IsMe

·

Dec 25

When you spread happiness it touches you too! Wishing a world full of happiness to all of you. Merry Christmas 😊