Uday Jain, owner of Dhoomimal Art Gallery, has spent his childhood with artist Francis Newton Souza. On the occasion of the artist’s 100th birthday celebrations, Jain showcased a collection of Souza's artworks as a tribute, and shared how he bonded with uncle Souza. Dhoomimal Gallery of Art recently showcased a collection of artist Francis Newton Souza (aka FN Souza) as part of the artist’s 100th birth anniversary celebrations. The artworks were a part of the gallery’s private collection and featured nudes, still life, landscapes and portrait artworks. The showcased pieces included artworks made in ink, charcoal as well as oils and also showcased chemical paintings (a style where portraits are made behind magazine pages), some dating back to 1940s and 1950s. Souza’s style included creating distorted facial features. Yashodhra Dalmia, the show’s curator, explained that this style enabled Souza to show humans’ inner personality and emotions. “The way he made men and women made me realise that this is what real art is all about – it reflects reality and creates forms, which further lead to more forms in art. Sometimes his works showcased eyes on forehead. The nose flickering up and down. It is these forms that showed us the psyche of a person,” she said. A major part of Souza’s collection feature nudes. Though Souza was fond of showcasing nudity in art, it was not well received by critiques. Udit claims that he was made an easy target of negative reviews. “I feel nudes is where he expressed himself the most in terms of the colours. People criticised Souza because they felt that he did disrespectful towards women. But I feel that he made his women powerful through his nudes. Though they looked distorted, but they were given the authority and power by making them larger than life,” he clarified. Jain also explains that Souza’s inspiration also came from miniature and temple art of India. “Though people say Souza broke tradition by painting nudes, he also used tradition in a positive way to influence art. There is openness in nudity that India taught to the world but due to the colonisation, we have become regressive instead of becoming progressive. We have become shy of our heritage, which was very forward looking at one time. That’s why these pieces are relevant even in today’s times,” he explains. Friendship with uncle Souza Though Uday is now behind the show as the owner of Dhoomimal Art Gallery, while growing up he knew the legendary artist as uncle Souza. Jain claims that Souza was the one who introduced him to the world of art. He recalls, “As a child, I learnt a lot about art from Souza. He told me about Kala Mela, which was something similar to the India Art Fair. The only disparity being that the mela was a platform for younger artists and senior artists were reluctant to showcase as they felt it was too casual. However, Souza, being the sport he was, was not shy to exhibit at the mela. He had a stall where he painted live.” Since Jain was also present in the stall, he asked uncle Souza to add different colours to the painting, oblivious of the latter’s acclaim. Souza willingly accepted Jain’s requests and used the suggested colours in the painting. Souza later gifted the 6X10 painting to Jain, which became one of the first collections of the gallery. As years went by, their friendship strengthened. Jain recalled uncle Souza’s love for actress Kajol. “He was at our home one day and I was a teenager then and he opened up to me about his fascination for Kajol (Kajol Devgn). He wanted to see some of her films as he found her pretty. I was not a fan of the actress then and I abruptly told him that. But he instantly said: wait till you reach my age,” shares Jain, says with a smile. Souza had exhibitions at the gallery from 1960 to late 1990s. As a founding member of the progressive artists group in Bombay, the Modern Indian Art artist broke traditional art boundaries and embraced a new style of thinking and painting, inspiring generations to embrace art as an important medium of expression. His self-portraits, depicting his scars and emotions, and his struggle between ego and acceptance were quite evident in his work.

Theatre director Gouri Nilakantan Mehta spills the beans on her recent play ‘Inside Out’ and how raunchy humour is confused with satire these days. Tired of watching raunchy comedies, director Gouri Nilakanthan Mehta was clear that whenever she would direct a satirical play, she would evade from demeaning people. Instead she promised to focus on narrating a story inspired by real-life instances to diminish the gap between real and dramatical world. Her recent play ‘Inside Out’ is a slice of life of Gurugram that she has presented as a satire. Through her work, Gouri has attempted to figure out who Gurugram belongs to. The play surrounds around the people, who come from different parts of the country to Gurugram to dream big, and is set against the backdrop of accommodation, family background, finances and lifestyle issues faced by them. Gouri took inspiration from her life and those around her to tell a tale. Being a Gurgaon resident for the last three decades, she has heard several stories of people who have met a similar fate while moving to the city. It is her observational skills and listening ears that helped her shape the script and characters of the play. “I have heard stories where someone was asked if he will be able to afford the rent, just because he came from a small town. Then some people also say: don’t say that you are from an X town as you won’t get a house in Gurugram. These are the stories that helped me in giving background to the characters,” she explains. But was satire always on her mind? Gouri states that she had decided that a play on Gurugram deserves to be funny. “I always wanted the play to be funny and comical. The idea was to find out as to who this city belongs to – is it the real estate developer that has shaped the city or the traditional agricultural community. I think the last laugh is with the Gurugram boy who is making money and giving the property,” she adds. Despite being in the theatre industry for several years, Gouri experiments with this genre seldom. She points out at the lack of takers that makes this genre a risky business. “It is impossible to work on satire as nobody gets it these days,” she says. She also expressed her concern over the satire that is available now, which led her to explore this genre. “Stand-up comedy is all about making fun of people or getting raunchy. That’s not what satire is all about. It’s the writing that keeps this genre alive. In Hindi, political satire is ruling. But satire lacks in contemporary life,” she adds.

The Art Hub's recent group show displays works of different artists in a range of medium: pen, water colours, acrylic, charcoal, digital and oil, among others. Imagine gazing into an artwork and becoming a part it. That’s the kind of experience The Art Hub’s commune exhibition has in store for art lovers in Delhi. This group art show features works of some of the students learning art under the guidance of the gallery’s director, Bhawna Minocha. The showcase includes artworks in a range of mediums, including pen, water colours, acrylic, charcoal, digital and oil, among others. Some of them appear to be as realistic as looking at the scene happening in front of the eyes. This includes paintings such as 'Embroideries of India', 'Comfort', 'Windows' and 'Shades of Europe', to name a few. The show displayed a collection of paintings titled 'The Journey Continues...' by artist Gauri Minocha, as well as works by TAH Spotlight Artist Saurabh Sukhwani, and 'Voices on a Canvas', which features original artworks made by emerging artists being trained at the gallery. Saurabh Sukhwani’s works, for instance, blend luxury with architectural beauty of different countries that he visited as a traveller. “I am attracted to European architecture. I have tried to showcase the fusion of European architecture with luxury brands to give it a grandeur feelings. One of the paintings show a Dior store in a street in Paris. This is a reflection of how an actual luxury store looks in the French capital,” he said. Sukhwani, who was initially associated with his family’s fashion business, swerved his way into the field of art out of passion. He loves painting European architecture, Persian architecture and Sufi whirling (the whirling dance form of Turkey) in his paintings. Artist Gauri Minocha has also showcased her travel experiences but refrains from sticking to only one medium. In fact, this mixed media artist loves experimenting with textured as well as digital art. While sharing details about the materials and the stories behind them, she said, “I have experimented with different materials, such as cement, PoP, mixed media, cotton, etc. I create abstracts and less of realistic works. I believe that ideas reflect creativity instead of the medium. I observe things while travelling and try keeping the works as real as possible. I prefer darker colours and monochromes in my paintings.” Minocha is showcasing abstract as well as figurative pieces. She follows a specific technique while working on figurative pieces. "The focus is on the eyes. I let the eyes do the talking as I feel that they reflect true emotions,” she explains. The show also features works of Alpa Shrivastav. This artist has shown the idea of happiness through a range of varied bright colours. Besides this, 'Voices on a Canvas' is an interpretation of John Lennon's song 'Imagine' in a variety of ways. There are also works of other artists, such as Ashima Sehgal, Gaurika Gaind and Vaneesha Khandelwal, among others, on display. Art enthusiasts can visit the exhibition at The Art Hub Gallery in South Extension-1 from 11 am to 5 pm till March 15.

What happens when a robot falls in love with a human? Actors Shahid Kapoor and Kriti Sanon reveal details about their upcoming film that explores this concept and what made them say yes to it, besides other things. With Artificial Intelligence and robotics engineering penetrating their roots in every facet of life, these concept have now charmed Bollywood as well. So much so that Shahid Kapoor and Kriti Sanon’s upcoming film ‘Teri Baaton Mein Aise Uljha Jiya’ revolves around them. In its one-of-a-kind innovation, Kapoor will be seen romancing a robot (played by Sanon). But unlike other robots seen in the bygone era, who were devoid of emotions, the trailer shows Sanon endowed with them. At a press conference in Delhi, the actors divulged details about their upcoming film. On playing a robot Sanon revealed that when was narrated with the story, an excitement engulfed her. Besides the fact that the role has been an unchartered territory for her, it is something that is completely different from the real her. “This role is very away from me. I am completely opposite to a robot. I am extremely clumsy as a person. I can fall on a flat surface wearing flats. I am also messy. However a robot is smarter than humans and away from clumsiness. So it was interesting to play this character that was close to be a human being but yet cannot be called a human in real sense,” she added. On the concept of the film While the idea of a human falling in love with a robot may sound unrealistic in real life, Kapoor stated that the film in no way is trying to show reality. He instead said that that idea is to give a reason for people to experience things that may not be true. “Years ago when Mr India was released, no one questioned how if ever a bracelet can lead people to go invisible from the face of the earth. Everyone loved the film’s concept and storyline. Stories shown in films should look convincing and sometimes makers show unrealitic things in films so that people do not get bored seeing only the reality,” he shared. On returning to romantic films Teri Baaton Mein Aise Uljha Jiya marks a comeback for Kapoor in the romantic films. Though the actor has shot back to back film every year, he kept away from doing romantic films, something that he said was not 'out of choice'. When asked what kept him away for so long, he said that he was not getting enough opportunities in this category of films. “Sometimes actors get similar kinds of roles. But I wanted to do something different. The word ‘different’ defines this film in every sense. I had never imagined that such a role would be ever offered to me. Neither did I knew that I would like such a script. So, it’s the concept that led me say yes to the film,” he stated. Teri Baaton Mein Aisa Uljha Jiya is set to hit the cinemas on February 9. Helmed by Amit Joshi and Aradhana Sah, the film also stars Dimple Kapadia and Dharmendra in prominent roles.

The contestants of Indian Idol 14 got the opportunity to perform on Fighter's song 'Vande Mataram'. The contestants of Indian Idol 14 were offered an opportunity to lend their unique voices to the iconic song, ‘Vande Mataram’ (The Fighter Anthem) from the newly-released film, Fighter. Composed by Vishal – Shekhar, contestants namely, Vaibhav Gupta from Kanpur, Subhadeep Das Chowdhury and Dipan Mitra from Kolkata, Obom Tangu from Tuting, Utkarsh Wankhede from Nagpur, and Piyush Panwar from Balotra, Rajasthan, were given the chance to sing this evocative track, marking the beginning of their journey in the Hindi music industry. Speaking about the contestants and the song, composer Vishal Dadlani says, "Seeing the Indian Idol contestants lend their voices to the Fighter Anthem, 'Vande Mataram,' fills me with immense pride. These talented individuals have not only showcased their vocal prowess on the stage but have now stepped into the realm of playback singing for a blockbuster movie like Fighter. We (Vishal – Shekhar) believe that their passion, dedication, and raw talent were evident throughout the competition, and now, they have what it takes to captivate audiences on the big screen." He also praised the makers of the film for giving contestants the opportunity. "This opportunity not only validates their hard work but also signifies a remarkable milestone in their musical journey. Thanks to Hrithik Roshan (whose idea this was) and Siddharth Anand being so encouraging of new and genuine talent, our upcoming Idols have taken the first steps towards leaving a mark with their rendition of 'Vande Mataram' in the album of Fighter," he added. Vaibhav Gupta, the contestant from Kanpur, thanked composers Vishal and Shekhar for having a trust in him. “I am hugely grateful to receive such an opportunity from Vishal – Shekhar sir, for having faith in us and allowing us to be a part of Vande Mataram, The Fighter Anthem. It all started when we performed ‘Sujalam Sufalam’ for the grand entry of Hrithik Roshan Sir, who graced our show to promote the film. He liked the performance and expressed his wish as a request to Vishal Sir to get us to perform in the film. This is how we landed our biggest project to sing for Vishal – Shekhar Sir, who called us to the studio to record the most anticipated song of 2024," he said. Piyush Panwar, the contestant from Rajasthan, also thanked the composers. "I am very grateful to composers Vishal-Shekhar sir for their utmost trust and belief in us. And secondly, I would like to thank Hrithik Sir, who helped me transform my appearance, which has immensely helped me build my confidence and subsequently landed us with this opportunity to perform on such a big scale. This chance that we have received during the ongoing phase of the competition brings us all new hope, to dream big, and shine in the imminent future,” he expressed. Indian Idol 14 airs every Saturday and Sunday at 9.30 PM on Sony Entertainment Television.

From using the music of 1960s to taking suggestions from the playwriter Gurcharan Das, Gouri Nilakantan Mehta left no stone unturned as she brought nostalgia to the stage for Delhi theatre lovers in the form of the play titled 'Nine Jhakoo Hills'. Theatre lovers in Delhi witnessed a unique showcase recently when playwriter Gurcharan Das’s play ‘9 Jhakhoo Hills’ was showcased at the Shri Ram Centre, Delhi. Gouri Nilakantan Mehta directed the production. Inspired by the changing India, the play themed around the incestuous obsessions of an ageing uncle, the hold of Indian mothers on their sons, and the eventual betrayal of sexual love at the backdrop of a changing social order. Originally written in 1966, Das was inspired by the domination middle class had in those times. “The most striking feature of contemporary India is the rise of a confident new middle class, which is displacing the old middle class. So, this play is even more relevant to the India of the 21st century. The new middle class is full of energy, drive and is making things happen. That it goes about it in an uninhibited and amoral fashion is also true. It is different from the older middle class, which was leisurely, tolerant, and ambiguous,” explains Das. A2zoftrends spoke to Gouri Nilakantan Mehta and learnt about the production, her love for nostalgia and the relevance of the play in today’s times. Excerpts… 1. Why did you choose this play and any speed specific reason for showcasing it now? I am a Tamil native English speaker, and when I returned back to India after my masters in theatre, I realised that I had to learn Hindi, not only to speak but also write and direct in it, to be accepted here! Hence for 15 years, I did only Hindi plays to be accepted back to Delhi theatre circles. After I paid my tribute to the Hindi theatre, I chose to look into Indian playwrights who write in English. Indian playwrights such as Manjula Padmanabhan, Mahesh Dattani and Gurcharan Das have always been a centre and focus of attention. The specific need today is to showcase good English theatre written by Indians as well as others. Hindi theatre and regional theatre are vital. However, it is important that good contemporary playwrights of English, like Gurcharan Das, Manjula Padmanban, Mahesh Dattani (Indians) and Rajeev Joseph, Tennessee Williams, Marsha Norman, from the western world, to name a few, must be shown to audiences here. Theatre is theatre, Hindi, English, Marathi Tamil or even dialects like Dogri or Haranyi. In the coming years, I will be looking at English scripts and will try to produce regional scripts by other directors as there is a huge need for the same. 2. What challenges (if any) did you face while directing the play? Did you take any inputs from Gurucharan sir as soon as you started working on this project? The challenges I faced were difficult but I also overcame it, I first saw a grave challenge in the budgets of this play (as most directors in Delhi find them too). As I wanted to make the set design and lighting design aesthetic it was going to be costly. I must say here that my initial play was totally crowd funded!!!! Yes, I collected one lakh just by crowd funding and I accepted both small (Rs 50) to gigantic (Rs 50,000). The second major challenge was in casting as I wanted actors to fit the part perfectly. I had to keep trying new actors to find different layers to make it much more contemporary and yet be authentic to the play no matter. This time the play is even fresher as it has new faces who suit the part to the T. I was extremely lucky to have met Gurucharan Sir, through a very kind and passionate art supporter friend Amit Kapoor. From that introduction and initial meeting Gurcharan sir has given me his full focus and time to this project. He is more than willing to not only give his feedback but also take my own suggestions. He has been very involved in the play and is always willing to see and watch the rehearsals. I am extremely lucky to have a not only a playwright, but philosopher and writer like Gurcharan Das with me throughout this project. 3. Since the play tells a tale about the partition of India, can people expect to get teary-eyed or is there more to the play? The nostalgia created by the partition is only in the background of the play. The audiences will get teary-eyed because they will be able to relate to loss of individuality in complex family dynamics, the loss of pride and prestige, the inner feelings of a young woman wanting to make a mark for herself. The audience hence will get moved by the contemporary themes that is highlighted. as partition is an important reference used only for character building that is fresh and relevant to India today. 4. How long did it take you to complete the play? Any play takes me a lot of time, a huge amount of time to say the least. My next play Diary of Anne Frank will be finally done, in May to Delhi audiences, after 18 years of intense readings on the subject of the holocaust, and three years of trying to get performance licence from the agents abroad! Similarly this play took me over 10 months to put up! I had to take a lot of time with each individual actor, paid detailed attention to expression movement and style as it had to become relevant to the viewer. I must thank my team who also gave me hours of their time towards this project. I take a lot of time to do any play and this one is an example and Diary of Anne Frank that will be done after 18 years is a classic example!!! 5. Tell us about the actors who were a part of the play? The most interesting thing about this play like others is more than 90% of the cast is new to the stage or have done very little stage work. And yet, they have taken to the stage most beautifully and their acting skills are outstanding! I am totally in the favour of giving the stage to fresh faces. One can’t keep on showcasing the old and seen actors again and again, like we often might see in other theatre productions. Nepotism or favourite actors is also is a part of theatre. All who have come on the stage through my plays come due to their own merit and strict auditions! Manuj Sharma (Mamu), Nisha Tuteja (Chitra), Sanya Bagga (Anusuya), Ansh Malhotra (Deepak) and Mini Om Saurabh (Amrita) are all new and Deepak Adar (PN Rai) is in this [play] due to his hard work and his merit in acting. Here after I auditioned, I closely observed the actors, and then only cast them. Again these actors also gave me their total focus, time and effort hence it is fresh and appealing. 6. Since the play is all about nostalgia, how easy or difficult was it to create the magic of the bygone era (in terms of the era, costumes, vocabulary, set designing, etc.) on the stage? A very good question. I created nostalgia in characters by using the music of 1960s, their popular hit songs ‘Kiska rasta dekhe’ and ‘Hum apki ankon main’ of archetypical heroes and heroines, like Dev Anand, Nutan, Raj Kapoor, Waheeda Rehman and Guru Dutt. I also decided to put large posters on the background to see themes of memory so that the stage feels ‘lost, lonely and yet to belong someone’. The cool shaded tones blue, pinks and mauve used in the costumes and lights give the sense of love and a ‘winter frost of Shimla’. Also, I have used a lot of props such as glasses, radio transistor, even mere pipe for Rai saheb, or a comb on the dressing table to enhance the feeling of the character and add to details. I would not call the process difficult or easy but exciting and totally loved every minute of this. 7. What do you expect people to take away from the play? There are many take-aways: I want people to think about ‘the over protective Indian mother’ does it work in their own inner lives. Also I want people to look at the hard work of their parents, in particular the Punjabis who migrated at the hard work they put in, should we throw it away or preserve it? I want people to reconsider ‘new money’ what is new money and why can’t the middle class grow, now is growing leaps and bounds. why should nee money be attacked? The play will raise many complex issues and Gurcharan Das here only wants these questions to be raised and seen, also the play uses and speaks in English like the way we do today so it is very relevant.

The actor not only transitioned his looks physically but also studied hard to get into the skin of his character for the show. Actors always put their best foot forward to prep for their role but sometimes living up their on-screen character becomes a challenge. Nishant Malkani, who is set to play Niraj Bodi in 'Johri', faced a similar situation. The roadblock for him was to let go off his fit body. “The biggest challenge I faced was gaining weight. I’ve always been a fitness freak and had a good physique. I had to stay away from the daily routine of  fitness to gain weight and look like the character,” he pointed out. The actor's reel character is based on a real-life personality. To live up to the expectations, Malkani worked tirelessly for this role. He said, “Since my character is based on a real-life personality, a lot of research has gone into preparing for my character in the show. I've done everything from watching videos multiple times to spending time with people who have known him.” 'Johri’ traces the journey of a common man who transforms into a diamond mogul under the guidance of his uncle. The drama becomes more gripping when the narrative delves into the world of bank scams and fraud, portraying the rise and fall of a businessman. The series starts with Niraj's humble beginnings and evolves into a stylish thriller that encapsulates the essence of the '90s. Nishant Malkani steps into the role of Niraj and Charu Asopa essays the enigmatic Mani, whose influence motivates Niraj to the forefront of the diamond business. ‘Johri’ will stream on MX Player and Atrangii TV.

The actress will be seen in MX Player and Atrangii TV series 'Johri'. After winning the hearts of audiences in the television industry with a career spanning over a decade, actress Charu Asopa has made her OTT debut. She will be seen on MX Player and Atrangii TV series titled, ‘Johri’. Talking about the role, the actress said, “When I read the script for the first time, I knew that this is the script I was waiting for. This show was a comeback for me, and I wanted to play a different role that I hadn’t played in the past. I have always done TV and have portrayed similar kinds of roles. I found Tani’s character interesting and apt for my OTT debut.” Asopa essays the enigmatic Tani, whose influence motivates Niraj to be at the forefront of the diamond business. She was the one who changed his life upside down. While Niraj was the brain, she was the social face that drew all the attention from the who’s who of the country. 'Johri’ traces the journey of a common man who transforms into a diamond mogul under the guidance of his uncle. The drama becomes more gripping when the narrative delves into the world of bank scams and fraud, portraying the rise and fall of a businessman. The series starts with Niraj's humble beginnings and evolves into a stylish thriller that encapsulates the essence of the '90s. Nishant Malkani steps into the role of Niraj. ‘Johri’ will drop five new episodes every Friday.

This mixed media artist gives tar, the thick dark liquid obtained from coal, an artsy makeover. He combines it with other discarded materials and uses it to create different artworks. The anagram of ‘tar’ becomes art. Did you recognise it? Imagine using the anagram as is. This is what artist Simran KS Lamba dares to do. He transform tar into art literally, giving it a new lease of life. He constantly pushes the boundaries of coal tar and uses it in newer forms to create paintings. He has been quite adept at it as tar has been his muse since 2006. He uses tar not only in its raw form, but has also been experiments with it and creatively treats it with chemicals and combines it with heat. At his exhibition titled ‘Tar – Art: An Anagram of my Life’ at the Visual Art Gallery at the India Habitat Centre, Lamba’s artworks demonstrate his skill through several large and small artworks. The show also features discarded materials that the artist found easily on the roads, which were given a new lease of life along with tar artistically. The paintings features a range of materials, such as threads, nuts, nails, bolts, encaustic wax, metal washers, sand, adhesive and wires, which are an important components in his artworks. Technique Lamba’s technique is all about juxtaposing the materials together. He has juxtaposed the beauty of tar with the content that he has explored in these works. Sometimes he uses tar with wax to get a unique amber combination and other time, he dilutes the former to obtain a residual liquid, which is then used it in the paintings. Nature of work Lamba’s works are abstract in nature. Lamba neither believes in giving any structure and form to his art, nor in sticking to a colour palette. Instead, he allows the movement to direct his composition. Explaining his art, he says, “These works are free-flowing in nature. I don’t humour any category.” So, what does he want people to take away from these artworks? Apt comes the reply, “This exhibition is a road to self-discovery. A lot of these compositions reflect how deeply I think about the subject.” For instance, ‘Assembly line existence’ (one of his works) is his take on how the consumerist society works. “It’s a character that has been stung up to assembly line as if it’s a living meat and all the figures at the bottom of the painting represent the industry that is being critiqued. My commentary reflects how my protagonist is trapped in that cycle of consumerism,” he shares. Another work titled ‘Witness’ depicts two characters in conversation with the third character as an observer. “I have tried to show that every conversation is being heard. Just like you and I are talking, there is a cosmos that is listening to us. So it’s important to be aware about our intentions because someone always knows what your true intentions are,” he adds. Themes featured in the show Lamba’s works range from depicting pain, isolation, joy and reflective themes. Some paintings feature dark colours and in some, diversity is added through a range of colours. Each colour in his works carry a significance. “The bright colours indicate a thematic motive. They depict a range of emotions. There are also darker pieces since life is not always about happiness. There is also a lot of pain that all living beings witness in their lives and that is shown through the use of dark shades,” he says. Though tar has been the artist's muse for years, he stumbled upon the material accidentally. It was in 2006, while waterproofing his house's terrace, he recognised the beauty in tar. Calling it a 'happy accident', he says that the material’s latent potential led him to explore the material in his artworks. Lamba often visits local scrap shops and industrial junkyards in search of discarded materials to source his supplies for his artworks.

The actor unveiled the trailer of ‘Animal’ in New Delhi, and revealed that he went speechless after hearing the script. Actors always get excited when they hear a new script. Seldom do they get speechless and think of it as uncharted waters. Actor Ranbir Kapoor resonated with this thought after director Sandeep Vanga Reddy narrated the script of ‘Animal’ to him. The actor revealed that he got nervous and introspected his abilities after he heard the story. “I went straight to the bathroom and gazed into the mirror. My first thought was if I will ever be able to do a film like this. Its story is such that I had never heard of it before. I am a fan of Sandeep, and loved Arjun Reddy and Kabir Singh. I am grateful to him to have chosen me for this film because people can never think of me in such a role,” he shared. Due to the complex character, Ranbir started preparing for his role two years ago. In fact, he also prepared his body and flexed in the gym. “I have been working out in the gym with my trainer in London for the last one year. I understood that the climax is a fight sequence with Bobby sir, and I had to show my body. So I ensured that I better look good,” he said. When asked if the film is too dark since it carries violenet scenes, the actor shared that he won’t call it dark. Instead he described it as ‘adult Kabhie Khushi Kabhie Gham’. Animal stars Ranbir Kapoor, Bobby Deol, Anil Kapoor and Rashmika Mandanna. Directed by Sandeep Vanga Reddy and produced by Bhushan Kumar, the trailer packs a perfect punch of emotions, drama and violence. It portrays a father-son relationship, with Ranbir playing a man committed to safeguarding his family. The film is set to release in theatres on December 1.