Latest news with #MadhurBhandarkar
Time of India
23-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Acting is what I do for work; it's not my identity: Regena Cassandrra
The actress, who has now been roped in to play one of the leads in Madhur Bhandarkar's new film, The Wives, talks to us about her evolution as an actress over the years, the need for PR, being part of Mookuthi Amman 2 and why she's changed the way she spells her name. Regena Cassandrra, who made her feature film debut with the 2005 film Kanda Naal Mudhal, completes 20 years in cinema this year. Talking to us about it, she says, 'I see why people would look at it as a milestone, but I'm not very over the top when it comes to these things. Although, over the years, you may feel like you've not been so consistent with your work, but looking back, 20 years is a pretty long time. So, while I don't consider it a milestone, it makes me feel nice that I have been able to do this for as long as I have, and I still get to do work that people find commendable.' The actress, who has now been roped in to play one of the leads in Madhur Bhandarkar 's new film, The Wives, talks to us about her evolution as an actress over the years, the need for PR, being part of Mookuthi Amman 2 and why she's changed the way she spells her name. Excerpts: 'Most of my great work has been from 2018 onwards' Describing her career as quite a roller coaster ride, Regena states, 'Around 2015-16, I didn't feel like working anymore. But I sailed through it. In fact, I feel like most of my great work has been from 2018 onwards. I've understood that I shouldn't fall into any mould and restrict myself. When I was predominantly working in the Telugu industry in the early 2010s, we'd get our dialogues at 6.30am in the morning when I reached the set to do hair and makeup. Telugu was an alien language to me back then, and I can't do prompting. So, I used to by heart my dialogues, understand the emotion, and put in enough energy into learning my lines so much so that I learnt the language. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Why Crypto CFDs May Suit Your Portfolio IC Markets Learn More Undo It was my way of picking up the language.' 'When I thought that acting could be a career option, I didn't know what it entailed' Taking us through how she has evolved over the years, she states, 'I don't come from a film background, and neither did I have anyone around who's been in the industry. So, when I thought that acting could be a career option, I didn't know what it entailed. I thought I had to just go to shoot, act, and come back. As the years went by, I understood what PR and social media, etc., are. And I've grown, too. I was initially very against all of it. I was like, 'This can't be what gives me more opportunities than the others. My skill should be what speaks for me.' I learnt very early, but I accepted very late that I also need to get on the bandwagon and do all of it. I like my job, and I want to be given more offers where I can showcase why I like doing what I'm doing. To get those opportunities, I need to put my best foot forward. I need to be networking and have a social media team so that my social media is more aesthetic and managed well. I guess it's been a wonderful learning of a lot of things, and especially of myself.' 'My roles in Mookuthi Amman 2 and The Wives are worlds apart' Referring to Mookuthi Amman 2 as a 'crazy fantasy film', Regena shares, 'It's going to be amazing. I love my look in it. This is the first time I'm doing something like this. I like that even after being in this industry for 20 years, I can still say, 'Oh my god, I've not done this before'. After Vidaamuyarchi, I wanted to pick and choose my movies because I don't want to be typecast, and I got a call from Sundar C sir's office at that point. Now, I know I won't be typecast because I'm currently doing Mookuthi Amman 2 in Tamil and The Wives in Hindi. My roles in both these films are worlds apart, and that's also what excites me. It's been quite a juggle because I finished four days of shooting over here for Mookuthi Amman 2, and I'm off to Bombay for The Wives. Then, I'm back here in Chennai to shoot for Mookuthi Amman 2.' 'I didn't want to write an open letter that said, 'Hey, now my spelling is Regena'' The actress now spells her name differently — from Regina Cassandra to Regena Cassandrra. She admits it's "numerology" that's the basic reason. "Just like how we say Om has a vibration, I believe every word and letter has a vibration. It's not like I believed in numerology before. I probably believed in the person who was trying to help me in the form of numerology. I went to a numerologist and he gave me an understanding of what is what, and I pretty much related to it. I have no hard and fast rules. And, if something needs to be done, I don't mind doing it. I didn't want to write an open letter or share on my social media that said, 'Hey, now my spelling is Regena.' I wanted it to be organic, just like everything else in my life,' she says. 'Madhur Bhandarkar knows when to be a friend and when to be a director' Talking about her experience working with Madhur Bhandarkar, Regena says, 'It's fun working with him. He knows when to be a friend and when to be a director. He doesn't cram in three or four scenes in a day. He plans the scenes perfectly, so much so that as an actor, you don't feel tired by the end of the day.' On playing a negative character in Vidaamuyarchi Regena says, "Magizh (Thirumeni) sir is a perfectionist and is frank about what he thinks. I really like his way of working. I loved the character he wrote for me in Vidaamuyarchi. Throughout my career, I've wanted to play someone with a psychological issue, and Deepika in Vidaamuyarchi was so well written that it gave me the confidence to perform.'
Time of India
19-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
I don't judge a film by its budget: Madhur Bhandarkar
Madhur Bhandarkar, known for his realistic films, reflects on the film industry's evolution, emphasizing the importance of compelling narratives over budget. He appreciates documentaries and classics, judging films by their execution. Bhandarkar critiques the current trend of multiple music composers diluting emotional connection, advocating for memorable film scores that resonate with audiences, unlike today's fleeting musical experiences. Madhur Bhandarkar who is known for his real-world narratives like Page 3, Fashion, Chandni Bar, in a conversation with Mumbai Mirror, talks about the changing face of the film industry . 'I look for real stories, that's what draws me in. Not all OTT releases are good, just like not all films are good,' he says. The filmmaker said that he likes to watch documentaries and real-life stories. 'I also like going back to older classics by Shyam Benegal, Govind Nihalani, Manmohan Desai, and Satyajit Ray. I watch different genres. For me, a film's budget or scale doesn't matter. What matters is how it's made. That's how I judge a film and that is what attracts me to watch it,' he shares. The filmmaker has strong views on how music in films has changed over time. 'I always gave a lot of importance to music in my films, because I'm a music lover'. Criticising the current practice of roping in multiple composers for one movie, he says, 'Too many music directors in one album isn't good. I feel it just clutters the project with tracks that fail to build a strong emotional connection with the audience. Also, today the audience's attention span has dropped to 30 seconds — like a reel. Back then, music gave you nostalgia, and emotion. Today, it's just another element in the mix. That's why I ensure my films always have music that people can remember.'
News18
18-07-2025
- Entertainment
- News18
Saiyaara Shatters Myths About Newcomers, Says Madhur Bhandarkar: ‘No PR, Just Raw Talent'
Last Updated: Madhur Bhandarkar praises Mohit Suri's Saiyaara, calling it a bold film that proves talent matters more than big names or PR. Ahaan Panday and Aneet Padda shine in debut. Mohit Suri's Saiyaara, starring debutants Ahaan Panday and Aneet Padda, hit theatres on July 18, and the early reactions have been overwhelmingly positive. This romantic drama marks Ahaan's Bollywood debut and Aneet's first leading role, and it's already making waves for its heartfelt storytelling and fresh performances. Amid the rising buzz, filmmaker Madhur Bhandarkar shared high praise for the film. Taking to X (formerly Twitter), he wrote, '#Saiyyara has shattered every myth about launching newcomers. No big names, no big PR, just raw talent and fearless storytelling. In an industry obsessed with stars, Saiyaara proved that audiences are ready for the unpredictable. A bold reminder: It's not about who you know. It's about what you bring." #Saiyyara has shattered every myth about launching big names, no big PR just raw talent and fearless an industry obsessed with stars, Saiyyara proved that audiences are ready for the unpredictable.🙏 A bold reminder: It's not about who you know.… — Madhur Bhandarkar (@imbhandarkar) July 18, 2025 He added, 'Exciting times for Hindi cinema. Congratulations to @mohit11481 and team!! Kudos to @yrf for backing this!!" The film follows Krish Kapoor (Ahaan Panday), an ambitious young singer, and Vaani Batra (Aneet Padda), a former singer who now works as a lyricist. Their creative paths cross when Vaani begins writing songs for Krish, and soon a romantic connection develops. But just as their relationship deepens, a major obstacle emerges, testing their bond. Director Mohit Suri revealed that the concept for Saiyaara came from YRF producer Akshaye Widhani and Aditya Chopra. Interestingly, the decision to keep both actors out of media attention until the film's release was intentional. Suri shared that it was a conscious effort to avoid clichéd promotional chatter. In an interview with Just Too Filmy, Suri explained, 'Until the two actors don't have anything behind them to talk about, the conversation will be filled with questions like 'Who is the prankster on the set?' or 'How is it to work with Mohit Suri?' It's all redundant stuff, and I don't think anyone has any interest in listening to all that." With Saiyaara, the makers have steered away from conventional marketing tropes, choosing instead to let the film—and its newcomers—speak for themselves. And judging by the reactions, it's a refreshing change that audiences are welcoming with open arms. First Published: July 18, 2025, 17:15 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Time of India
10-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Mouni Roy Joins Madhur Bhandarkar's New Film ‘The Wives'; Shares BTS On Instagram
IANS / Jul 10, 2025, 04:10PM IST Mouni Roy has officially kickstarted filming for her next project, The Wives, directed by Madhur Bhandarkar. Taking to Instagram, the actress shared a behind-the-scenes photo with the filmmaker, both holding clapboards to mark the start of production. Fans flooded the comments, excited to see Mouni in a new role under Bhandarkar's direction, as the much-anticipated film enters its first schedule.
New Indian Express
09-07-2025
- Entertainment
- New Indian Express
Madhur Bhandarkar's The Wives goes on floors
Director Madhur Bhandarkar, known for films like Chandni Bar, Page 3, Fashion, Heroine, Traffic Signal and others, has started the production on his upcoming film The Wives in Mumbai on Tuesday. The film was announced earlier this year, and stars Sonali Kulkarni, Mouni Roy, Regina Cassandra, Rahul Bhatt, Saurabh Sachdeva, Arjan Bajwa and Freddy Daruvala.
