Tisca Chopra connected with personal history through 'Qissa'

October 24, 2013

Tisca_ChopraMumbai, Oct 24: Actress Tisca Chopra, whose grandparents were victims of Partition, found acting in Anup Singh's Punjabi film 'Qissa', a post-colonial story about a family uprooted by the events of 1947, an emotionally cathartic experience.

The 39-year-old actress plays the long-suffering wife of Umber Singh (Irrfan), who is trying to build a life for his family all over again in the post-colonial India in the film.

'Qissa' is competing in the India Gold section at the ongoing Mumbai International Film Festival and drew a great response from the audiences here.

"'Qissa' came to me four years back. He was trying to make the film for two years but it did not work out and eventually when it did, we were so happy. We have been speaking about the film so much that there was a great familiarity with the subject. Anup is a great craftsman. He is my teacher as he taught me about silence and not decorating my performance too much," Tisca told PTI in an interview.

The actress said she had a sense of deja vu as she was acting out the stories that had actually happened to her paternal and maternal grandparents, who both were victims of 1947 Partition.

"I was shooting near Wagah border and that was the exact spot where my grandparents landed in the newly formed India. I remember my father called and when I told him that I was shooting in this place, he was silent for a moment. He then told me the story of how his father had landed with six children and Rs 1000 thousand in his pocket that got picked," Tisca said.

"So, it was a cathartic film to do because I have heard so many stories about Partition. While making this film I was living with hundreds of stories which connected me to my own personal history," she added.

Apart from 'Qissa', Tisca has a film called 'Rahasya' and a comedy. She is also playing Anil Kapoor's wife in TV series '24'.

Tisca is also writing a book that would be like a handbook on cinema for both fans and aspiring actors as it covers a number of subjects.

The book was earlier titled 'Get Your Act Together' but Tisca says they might change the title.

"I am editing the book now. It has everything to do with cinema other than acting. It will tell the fans about behind the scenes about a film and will also cover topics that aspiring actors need to know including casting couch," she said.

Tisca is currently on the jury of Dimensions Mumbai, a short film competition by aspiring filmmakers about Mumbai. The jury is headed by Shoojit Sircar and also has names like Rajkumar Yadav, Ravi Jadhav and Niranjan Iyengar.

The actress said watching all the short films about Mumbai made her realise that there were places in the city that even she did not know.

"I have been in Mumbai for a long time but I did not know about many facets of the city. There was a film on crab catchers, about zero miles and in one film- weather played a character. It was fascinating as an actor to see all this inspiring work," Tisca said.

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News Network
January 9,2020

Los Angeles, Jan 9: Actors Salma Hayek and Tiffany Haddish are hopeful about the future for women in Hollywood and now cinema is making films about women because the audience was "neglected".

The duo along with Rose Byrne star in Like a Boss, a comedy directed by Miguel Arteta, which follows best friends Mia and Mel (Haddish and Byrne) who join forces to run their own boutique cosmetics company.

When the prospect of a big buyout offer from a notorious titan of the beauty industry (Hayek) tempts them, their lifelong bond - and their business - is put in jeopardy.

Hayek said she is happy with the increase in female-driven films in Hollywood.

"We're on the right path. And we're not going to stop," the actor told Variety.

"What I can tell you is that a lot more women are directing and acting and writing and producing. And there are a lot more movies made about women and for women because the audience was neglected, she said.

She was speaking at the premiere of the film in New York.

Haddish added that the mantle for change shouldn't be left to the traditional decision-makers.

To get things, one has to sometimes make noise, the actor-author said.

"It's about us putting in the work and creating the projects and creating the opportunities in order to do those things to make it better. I sit back and I listen to people talk sometimes, saying, 'They're not letting us; they're not giving it to us.' Why do we have to ask permission? Why can't we just start putting it together? If they want to come on board with it, come on board. And if not, oh well," Haddish said.

"I'm about creating an opportunity. People say I'm loud and obnoxious, but sometimes it’s the squeaky wheel that gets the oil and gets things done," she added.

The comedy comes on the heels of a year gone by in cinema that featured female protagonists in films like Little Women and Captain Marvel.

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News Network
June 30,2020

Mumbai, Jun 30: Actor Aamir Khan on Tuesday issued a statement and confirmed that some of his staff members have tested positive for COVID-19, while the rest of his family members have tested negative.

Khan also announced that he was taking his mother for a COVID-19 test and urged his fans to pray for her test to come out as negative.

The '3 Idiots' star put out the statement on Instagram and said, "This is to inform you that some of my staff have tested positive. They were immediately quarantined, and BMC officials were very prompt and efficient in taking them to a medical facility."

Thanking the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) for their precautionary steps, he added, "I would like to thank the BMC for taking such good care of them, and for fumigating and sterilising the entire society."

Informing about the health of his family members, the 'Thugs of Hindostan' actor added, "The rest of us have all been tested and found negative," and informed that, "Right now I am taking my mother to get her tested. She is the last person in the loop. Please pray that she is negative."

Thanking the BMC, and hospital authorities for their swift prompt, he added, "I would, once again, like to thank the BMC for the prompt, professional and caring manner in which they helped us. And a big thank you to Kokilaben Hospital and the doctors, nurses and staff there. They were very caring and professional with the testing process."

Aamir also urged his fans to be safe amid the coronavirus outbreak.

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Agencies
August 1,2020

Mumbai, Aug 1: Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray has said that Sushant Singh Rajput case should not be politicised or used to create friction between Maharashtra and Bihar.

Amid the ongoing criticism faced by the Mumbai Police following an investigation into Rajput's death case, the Chief Minister stressed that Mumbai Police is not "inefficient" while appealing those who have any evidence in regard to the case to step forward.

"Mumbai Police is not inefficient. If anyone has any evidence they can bring it to us and we will interrogate and punish the guilty. Please do not use this case (Sushant Singh Rajput death case) as an excuse to create friction between Maharashtra and Bihar," Thackeray said on Friday.

"Bringing politics in the case is the most deplorable thing to do," he added.

Maharashtra government has filed a caveat before the Supreme Court in the Rajput's death case.

Earlier, Bihar government and Rajput's family have filed caveats in the top court seeking to challenge actor Rhea Chakraborty's petition that sought transfer of the FIR registered in Patna to Mumbai in the actor's death case.

"After Bihar government and Rajput's family filed a caveat in the Supreme Court, Maharashtra government has filed a caveat before the SC today to ensure that no order is passed in Rhea Chakraborty's petition case without hearing its (Maharashtra) side," said Sachin Patil, standing counsel for Maharashtra Government.

A caveat is a legal process, in which the party which had filed it before the concerned court, shall have to be heard definitely before the concerned court passes any order in future.

Bihar Police has sought the assistance of Mumbai police to probe the Sushant Singh Rajput case, Mumbai police Crime Branch officials told ANI. However, the Police are still considering their request.

Bihar Police team reached after an FIR was filed by late actor's father KK Singh against Chakraborty in Bihar under several sections including abetment of suicide.

Rajput was found dead in his Mumbai residence on June 14.

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