Latest news with #TheLunchbox
Time of India
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Nimrat Kaur recalls facing financial hardship before 'The Lunchbox': 'I would get worried where my next pay cheque would come from'
Nimrat Kaur recently shared her journey and past financial struggles She spoke openly about the anxieties of an uncertain income and the emotional toll of not knowing when her next paycheck would arrive. Nimrat also admitted that she is not a "thick-skinned" actor and often finds herself affected by public judgment. The unending nature of struggle During her appearance on SCREEN's Dear Me Season 2, Nimrat spoke about the ongoing nature of struggles in an actor's life. She recalled her early days in Mumbai, marked by uncertainty about whether she would succeed or even manage to earn a living through acting. The fear of not knowing if her dreams would take shape was a constant challenge in the beginning of her journey. The actress further shared that while she quickly secured music videos and numerous ad films, and performed in theater for 4-5 years, it was The Lunchbox that eventually became a turning point. She acknowledged that different phases of her life presented different struggles, emphasizing the continuous nature of challenges in her profession. Navigating financial precarity and self-doubt She also reflected on a difficult phase in her life when she was financially unstable and plagued with self-doubt. She questioned her abilities, whether audiences appreciated her work, and even considered returning home. This period of deep uncertainty, she shared, came just before her breakthrough with The Lunchbox, a time when her future in the industry felt especially unclear. During her theatre days, Nimrat faced a severe financial crunch that left her deeply anxious. With her bank balance running dangerously low, she struggled to see where the next source of income would come from. The fear of failure and the thought of returning home under such circumstances felt humiliating. Despite feeling sad, lonely, and overwhelmed at times, she drew strength from within. Through it all, an inner voice kept encouraging her to hold on and not give up. Choosing battles: vulnerability and public scrutiny When asked about being strong-headed, the actress explained that although she doesn't openly show her struggles, it doesn't mean she hasn't faced difficult times. She emphasized that sharing one's vulnerability is a privilege and not something everyone should or can access. Nimrat acknowledged that her profession naturally puts her in the public eye, often exposing her in ways she'd rather avoid. She described her careful, measured responses as a 'self-defense mechanism,' especially in today's internet age where words can be twisted or misinterpreted easily. While she accepts that audiences have every right to express opinions about her work, she admits that personal judgments do affect her deeply. Far from being thick-skinned, Nimrat confessed she is quite sensitive—a trait rooted in her childhood. Over time, she has learned to pick her battles wisely, choosing not to engage with things beyond her control. Check out our list of the latest Hindi , English , Tamil , Telugu , Malayalam , and Kannada movies . Don't miss our picks for the best Hindi movies , best Tamil movies, and best Telugu films .
News18
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- News18
Nimrat Kaur Was Close To Giving Up Before The Lunchbox: 'I Would Cry, Feel Lonely'
Last Updated: Before The Lunchbox changed her life, Nimrat Kaur struggled with self-doubt and low funds. She opens up about the fear, loneliness, and voice that told her not to give up. Before she became a familiar face in films and international shows, Nimrat Kaur was just another hopeful artist in Mumbai, unsure of when her next paycheck would come in—or if it ever would. In a candid conversation with The Indian Express, the actor opened up about the emotionally and financially challenging years she endured before her big break in The Lunchbox. Recalling the uncertainty of those early days, Nimrat said, 'Sometimes I would get worried—where will my next paycheck come from? Am I good enough? Should I go back? Do people like seeing me in what I do?" She added, 'Before The Lunchbox, there was a point where I didn't know what I would do ahead." After moving to Mumbai, Nimrat spent two to three months working in music videos and was frequently cast in advertisement films. Alongside that, she spent four to five years immersed in theater. But even that wasn't enough to sustain her. 'While doing theater, there was a time when my bank balance had fallen very low. It was very difficult to understand where money would come from," she shared. 'There was a lot of fear, and returning home in a situation like that is a different kind of humiliation. There were days when I was very sad, low, things were very difficult, challenging. I would cry, feel lonely, but there was a voice inside me that said, don't give up." Nimrat's perseverance paid off when she landed her breakthrough role in The Lunchbox (2013), opposite Irrfan Khan and Nawazuddin Siddiqui. Directed by Ritesh Batra and produced by Guneet Monga, Anurag Kashyap, and Arun Rangachari, the film went on to win the Grand Rail d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival and changed the course of her career. Before The Lunchbox, Nimrat had small roles in Yahaan, Luv Shuv Tey Chicken Khurana, and the English-language film One Night with the King. Since her breakout success, she has starred in critically acclaimed projects like Airlift and Dasvi, and earned recognition abroad with roles in Homeland, Wayward Pines, and Foundation. Most recently seen in Kull: The Legacy of the Raisingghs and Sky Force, Nimrat Kaur is gearing up for her next release, Section 84. From near breakdowns to global breakthroughs, her journey is a testament to resilience—and the quiet voice that kept telling her not to give up. First Published:
Hindustan Times
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
Nimrat Kaur recalls low bank balance, facing uncertainty before The Lunchbox: ‘There was a lot of fear'
Actor Nimrat Kaur might be a household name now, but there was a time when she worked in theater and acted in advertisements while struggling to get a break in Bollywood. In an interview with Indian Express, she spoke about how she would be worried about her next paycheck before she landed her role in The Lunchbox. (Also Read: Nimrat Kaur reveals this assumption about her led to fewer work opportunities in films: 'Many believed that I…') Nimrat recalled starring in music videos for 2-3 months after coming to Mumbai and acting in a lot of ad films. She also recalled doing theater for 4-5 years. 'Sometimes I would get worried where my next pay cheque would come from? Am I good enough? Should I go back? Do people like seeing me in what I do? Before The Lunchbox, there was a point where I didn't know what I would do ahead.' She also recalled when her bank balance was so low she wondered if she could sustain in the city. 'While doing theater, there was a time when my bank balance had fallen very low. It was very difficult to understand where money would come from. There was a lot of fear, and returning home in a situation like that is a different kind of humiliation. There were days when I was very sad, low, things were very difficult, challenging. I would cry, feel lonely, but there was a voice inside me that said, don't give up,' said Nimrat. Nimrat acted in the English film One Night with the King and played cameos in Yahaan and Luv Shuv Tey Chicken Khurana before debuting as a lead with The Lunchbox in 2013. The film, which also starred Irrfan Khan and Nawazuddin Siddiqui, was directed by Ritesh Batra and produced by Guneet Monga, Anurag Kashyap, and Arun Rangachari. It won the Grand Rail d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival. Since then, Nimrat has acted in films like Airlift and Dasvi, apart from American shows like Homeland, Wayward Pines, and Foundation. She was most recently seen in Kull: The Legacy of the Raisingghs and Sky Force. She will soon star in Section 84.
India.com
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- India.com
Meet actor, who worked with all three Khans, became acting coach of Ranveer Singh for…
In the glamorous world of Bollywood, few stories can become an inspiration for an actor's journey. There can be various examples from the industry, including cinema stalwarts like Manoj Bajpai, Irrfan Khan, Kay Kay Menon, Pankaj Tripathi, Rajkummar Rao, Sanjay Mishra, and many others who came from a non-family background, but because of their impeccable acting skills, they created a personal space for themselves. However, there is this one actor who started his journey as a watchman, but his hard work and passion for cinema proved that true talent eventually finds its place under the spotlight. We are sure that you cinema enthusiasts would have guessed who this person is. If not, let us unravel the name for you. The Exceptionally Talented Actor Is… Here we are talking about none other than Nawazuddin Siddiqui, who is considered one of the most respected actors in Indian cinema, known for his powerful performances and versatility. When Nawazuddin moved to Delhi, he worked as a chemist after receiving his degree. The actor took various odd jobs, he also worked as a watchman at a toy factory and began to watch plays. He then became interested in theatre and participated in Sakshi Theatre Group, where he collaborated with several actors, including Saurabh Shukla, Piyush Mishra, and Manoj Bajpayee. He gained recognition with films like Gangs of Wasseypur, The Lunchbox, Badlapur, Sacred Games, and Manto. His choice of unique and meaningful roles has broken stereotypes and brought a new wave of storytelling to mainstream cinema. Later, the actor's talent reached its initial height as he started featuring with big names of Bollywood that includes Aamir Khan, Salman Khan, Shah Rukh Khan, Amitabh Bachchan, Akshay Kumar, and many others. When Nawazuddin Became Acting Coach For…. During the start of his career, Nawazuddin also used to give acting classes to new-age upcoming actors, which helped them land big roles, including Bollywood star Ranveer Singh. In a recent conversation with Pinkvilla, Nawazuddin shared his experience about training Ranveer for his debut film Band Baaja Baaraat. He said, 'I had trained Ranveer Singh for Band Baaja Baaraat, in a way I had become a workshop for him, all I had to say was that whoever wants to become an actor and whoever is about to be launched, I am standing here for him, but I understand that you have not come to learn acting. I taught Ranveer to use his talent, because then a person has to do everything himself. Gradually, his passion for learning acting increased.' More About Nawazuddin Siddiqui The actor recently featured in crime drama Costao, inspired by the life of bold customs officer Tony da Costa Fernandes who fought against a gold smuggling racket in the 1990s. The film has been appreciated by audiences and critics for its power-packed storytelling and remarkable performances. The film is helmed by Sejal Shah, which also stars Priya Bapat, Kishore Kumar, Gagan Dev Riar, and Hussain Dalal. It is currently available for streaming on Zee5.
Time of India
28-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Guneet Monga: When the stats of the O Womaniya report came out, we realised that less than 3% of women are directors, less than 8% HODs
Guneet Monga Guneet Monga launched Women in Film India (WIF India) with a fully sponsored fellowship to the Independent Filmmaker Project (IFP), a New York-based initiative for indie filmmakers. 'I wanted to begin WIF India with a programme that supported me and sponsored me to commence The Independent Filmmaker Project (IFP), a New York-based independent filmmakers project,' she says. 'Attending producers' network was a career high for me' As part of the IFP's Producers' Network in 2011, Guneet learned the mechanics of co-productions. She says,'This was in 2011, and that informed me on how to structure films and learn about co-productions, only to realise that India had signed a co-production treaty with France in 1985,' she recalls. That knowledge proved crucial when she used the treaty to produce The Lunchbox in 2012. 'The producers' network propelled me and accelerated my exposure, knowledge, and know-how to be able to step in, construct them, and build a corporation. It was definitely a career high for me, and The Lunchbox did change our lives. It also put India on the map. We were nominated with The Lunchbox, and it was selected in Cannes in 2013 and was globally loved and represented,' Guneet says. It was like an eye-opener about the power of access - what happens when you're allowed to step outside the conventional system and acquire practical know-how. 'That's what led me to think that there should be more people learning this and having more access to the knowledge,' Guneet says. And honestly, I also miss a peer group The numbers from the O Womaniya! report revealed a staggering gender gap. She says, 'And honestly, I also miss a peer group. Less than 3% of women are directors, and across all the sectors, we are less than 8% of all heads of departments.' She adds, 'I thought it was time to do something about this, and there was a lack of structure to even build equity or have something that one can do individually. It needs to be an institutional eye. It needs to be institutionalised and be our organisational approach.' The goal, she says, is to build a foundation. 'With the setting up of Women in Film, the idea is to build a structure and a structured way of building knowledge, know-how in skill development, and exposure that is otherwise easily available to filmmakers around the world. It's time to bring that to Indian filmmaking.' How Tillotama Shome, Rucha Pathak, and Dimpy Agrawal who were selected to attend the festival's Producers' Network WIF India's debut at Cannes 2025 includes three producers - Tillotama Shome, Rucha Pathak, and Dimpy Agrawal who were selected to attend the festival's Producers' Network, each on a full scholarship. The selection was made through a nomination process led by WIF India's advisory board. Guneet explains,'Women in Film India has an incredible board. All the board members came together to nominate women producers as part of our selection process. We reached out to approximately 10 women producers who met the criteria and produced films. The producers' networking can is a mid-career program. There is an eligibility criterion that anybody applying for this needs to have produced films before at least one or two films before as a producer or a co-producer credit. ' Each shortlisted candidate was required to fill out a questionnaire outlining their goals for the program. What made the three selected producers stand out was that they had real, in-progress projects that would benefit from the support available at Cannes. She says,'All three of them had active projects that they could bring to the plan and had projects that they needed hands-on support with in terms of sales agent, in terms of sales.' It was during this process that Women in Film LA came onboard to formalise a tie-up with the India chapter. 'That is where Women in Film LA supported us and reached out to us to forge an official tie-up for Women in Film India.' This partnership resulted in three fully funded seats at the seven-day Producers' Network at Cannes. 'It was a 100% scholarship for these three women to come here and attend the 7-day producers' network at Cannes,' Guneet says. WIF India also awarded an accreditation grant to producer Shefali Bhushan, the creative force behind the acclaimed film Sthal. WIF India is new, raw, and small, but with a very large ambition At its core, WIF India is still in its taking baby steps, but Guneet believes the stakes couldn't be higher. 'It's just born, new, raw, and small, but with a very large ambition,' she says. 'I hope the future is bright. I hope we can run several skill development labs with the support of the industry and a lot of international programs. We are constantly learning from the kind of programs available around the world, and the idea is to bring them to India to enable easy access to knowledge, resources, and opportunities here that are otherwise available only to international filmmakers. ' Check out our list of the latest Hindi , English , Tamil , Telugu , Malayalam , and Kannada movies . Don't miss our picks for the best Hindi movies , best Tamil movies, and best Telugu films .
