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Anupama Chopra

Anupama Chopra is the editor and founder of Film Companion.

Articles by Anupama Chopra

Ayushmann Khurrana is an actor who is pushing the boundaries, says Anupama Chopra

Ayushmann Khurrana actively sought out the film Article 15. The actor saw Mulk, a powerful and persuasive plea for religious unity, and called the film’s director, Anubhav Sinha. Anubhav offered him a rom-com. Ayushmann asked instead for something gritty and hard-hitting.

Ayushmann Khurrana in a gritty role. He plays a cop in Article 15, inspired by a real-life story

columns

Updated on Jun 29, 2019 08:43 AM IST

Hindustan Times | ByAnupama Chopra

It takes courage to be a star student, says Anupama Chopra

In an industry that allows mediocrity to survive and even thrive, successful actors are setting aside time to hone their craft. I wish more actors would do this.

Since Zero, where she was applauded for making her character come alive, Katrina Kaif says her approach has changed radically. ‘Regardless of how the director works, there’s certain work which I now make sure I do for myself. [I ask], how do I up my game; how do I better myself?’ Kaif says.(IANS)

entertainment

Published on Jun 15, 2019 05:52 PM IST

Hindustan Times | ByAnupama Chopra

Can’t we have both fashion and film at Cannes, asks Anupama Chopra

HT introduces a fortnightly column by Anupama Chopra. Up first, a peek beyond the Cannes red carpet to ask why it’s been 25 years since India had a film in the main competition section.

Deepika Padukone poses at Cannes in a lime green Giambattista Valli. The dress was hailed as bold, and inspired memes around the world. But if the only conversation around India is about fashion, we will be reduced to lightweights.(REUTERS)

entertainment

Updated on Jun 02, 2019 09:53 AM IST

Hindustan Times | ByAnupama Chopra

Watching Quentin Tarantino’s Once Upon a Time in Hollywood at Cannes

Anupama Chopra puts her experience at Cannes Film Festival in numbers - nine days, 13 films, 20 interviews and two parties.

Actors Margot Robbie from left, Leonardo DiCaprio and Brad Pitt poses for photographers upon arrival at the premiere of the film Once Upon a Time in Hollywood at the 72nd international film festival, Cannes.(AP)

entertainment

Published on May 22, 2019 11:21 AM IST

ByAnupama Chopra, Cannes

Cannes diary: Aishwarya Rai confirms doing Mani Ratnam’s next, says she keeps it real with Aaradhya

Anupama Chopra interviewed Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Asif Kapadia, Werner Herzog and Sonam Kapoor at Cannes. Here is an interesting sneak peek.

Aishwarya Rai is accompanied with daughter Aaradhya.

entertainment

Updated on May 21, 2019 02:36 PM IST

Hindustan Times | ByAnupama Chopra, Cannes

A day at Cannes: rubbing shoulders with Alfonso Cuaron, Alejandro Gonzalez Innaritu

Anupama Chopra writes about interviewing actor Andie Macdowell at Cannes Film Festival and meeting director Alfonso Cuaron.

US actress Andie MacDowell arrives for the screening of the film The Best Years of a Life at the 72nd edition of the Cannes Film Festival.(AFP)

entertainment

Updated on May 20, 2019 12:01 PM IST

ByAnupama Chopra

Deepika Padukone on Cannes: You either come here with a film or you slay on the red carpet

At Cannes Film Festival, Anupama Chopra talks to Deepika Padukone about her red carpet style, and why she doesn’t bring Ranveer Singh there.

Deepika Padukone walks the red carpet at 72nd Cannes Film Festival.(REUTERS)

entertainment

Updated on May 14, 2020 11:58 PM IST

Cannes | ByAnupama Chopra

Mira Nair discusses absence of Indian films at Cannes Film Festival

Mira Nair who is in Cannes as a mentor for the 11th edition of La Fabrique Cinema. She said that the tastes and agendas of the selection committee and that of Indian cinema don’t necessarily align.

Mira Nair attend the AT&T Presents: Untold Stories luncheon, in conjunction with the Tribeca Film Festival, at Thalassa on Monday, April 22, 2019, in New York.(Charles Sykes/Invision/AP)

entertainment

Updated on May 18, 2019 11:27 AM IST

Cannes | ByAnupama Chopra

Hina Khan chooses to be positive at Cannes as Priyanka Chopra shares her red carpet rule

Anupama Chopra chats up Priyanka Chopra and Hina Khan at Cannes Film Festival as they make their red carpet appearances.

Priyanka Chopra poses for photographers upon arrival at the premiere of the film Rocketman at the 72nd international film festival, Cannes, southern France, Thursday, May 16, 2019.(AP)

entertainment

Updated on May 14, 2020 02:38 PM IST

Cannes | ByAnupama Chopra

After a Jean Dujardin repast, a taste of India at Cannes 2019

Village Rockstars drector Rima Das participated in the inauguration of the India Pavilion, which becomes a home away from home for the many Indians at Cannes.

Director Quentin Dupieux and cast members Jean Dujardin and Adele Haenel pose during a photocall before the screening of the film Le Daim (Deerskin).(REUTERS)

entertainment

Published on May 16, 2019 11:17 AM IST

ByAnupama Chopra, Cannes

At Cannes 2019, Indian films missing from official selection, no Indian talent on juries

At Cannes Film Festival this year, 1845 feature films were submitted for the official selection but no Indian films made the cut. There are no Indian artists on any of the juries either.

Director Jim Jarmusch and his partner, US director Sara Driver, actors Tilda Swinton, Luka Sabbat and Adam Driver arrive for the screening of The Dead Don't Die.(AFP)

entertainment

Updated on May 16, 2019 11:55 AM IST

ByAnupama Chopra, Cannes

All the buzz from Cannes as one of the greatest cinema events of the year is set to begin

There’s a lot to look forward to at the Cannes Film Festival, starting with the opening film - Jim Jarmusch’s star-studded zombie horror The Dead Don’t Die.

Jury members Pawel Pawlikowski, Enki Bilal and Yorgos Lanthimos pose with Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu, Jury President of the 72nd Cannes Film Festival.(REUTERS)

entertainment

Updated on May 15, 2019 05:10 PM IST

Cannes | ByAnupama Chopra

Too much of an obstacle race: Running Shaadi review by Anupama Chopra

The film begins with the ingenious idea of a website for lovers who want to elope, but it’s all pretty much downhill from there.

Director Amit Roy gets the small-town milieu right. He mines the inherent humour of small town India negotiating the new digital landscape. But the fun soon leaches out and, in the second half, Running Shaadi derails.

entertainment

Published on Feb 17, 2017 05:53 PM IST

Hindustan Times | ByAnupama Chopra

A mangled mess: Kung Fu Yoga review by Anupama Chopra

Even Jackie Chan’s charisma cannot save this odd, disjointed, cross-border debacle.

Director Stanley Tong strains to create a souped-up, multicultural Indiana Jones adventure, but he seems to have forgotten to actually write it.

entertainment

Updated on Feb 03, 2017 04:44 PM IST

Hindustan Times | ByAnupama Chopra

A rollercoaster ride: Review of Raees by Anupama Chopra

The best way to enjoy Raees is to manage expectations first. This is an uneven film.

Shah Rukh gives the character of Gujarati bootlegger Raees a flamboyance and an inherent decency; Mahira, in the role of his wife, is vapid.

entertainment

Updated on Jan 26, 2017 07:54 PM IST

Hindustan Times | ByAnupama Chopra

A hero saves the day: Review of Kaabil by Anupama Chopra

A B-grade genre film is elevated by the blazing talent of Hrithik Roshan.

Hrithik Roshan and Yami Gautam are refreshing as a blind couple very much in love.

entertainment

Published on Jan 25, 2017 04:03 PM IST

Hindustan Times | ByAnupama Chopra

An inexact replica: OK Jaanu review by Anupama Chopra

This is just a pointless film, because an exact frame-for-frame version already exists in Tamil.

As with most millennial romances, OK Jaanu is light on plot and drama. Sadly, it offers little in their stead.

entertainment

Updated on Jan 13, 2017 11:27 PM IST

Hindustan Times | ByAnupama Chopra

Beauty in the beast: Haraamkhor review by Anupama Chopra

The story of a desperately lonely teenager and her predatory teacher makes for compelling viewing.

Nawazuddin Siddiqui humanises his beastly character. He becomes pitiable rather than villainous. Shweta Tripathi is heartbreaking as the girl transitioning into adulthood.

entertainment

Published on Jan 13, 2017 06:07 PM IST

Hindustan Times | ByAnupama Chopra

Wins, hands-down: Dangal review by Anupama Chopra

This is a moving tale of unlikely champions, a father who refused to bend and the daughters he moulded into steel.

How did a wrestler from an obscure village in Haryana dare to dream that his daughters could bring home gold? Dangal is the tale of a father’s belief, and the innate strength of women, whether in the akhada or outside it.

entertainment

Updated on Jan 17, 2017 05:28 PM IST

Hindustan Times | ByAnupama Chopra

Trial and error: Shor Se Shuruaat review by Anupama Chopra

This omnibus of seven films is a wonderful idea, but more a film lab than a film, so I prefer not to rate it. I’m eager to see what these directors do next.

Satish Raj Kasireddi’s Mia I’m is about a young girl who becomes a viral rap sensation.

entertainment

Published on Dec 16, 2016 05:29 PM IST

Hindustan Times | ByAnupama Chopra

Singh is king: Befikre review by Anupama Chopra

Aditya Chopra reinvents himself with Befikre, and it couldn’t have happened without Ranveer Singh.

The story is a delightful take on modern love, as Dharam and Shyra slowly discover that the essential ingredient in a relationship isn’t love at all. It’s friendship.

entertainment

Published on Dec 09, 2016 06:39 PM IST

Hindustan Times | ByAnupama Chopra

The brilliance of Vidya Balan: Kahaani 2 review by Anupama Chopra

The first thing you should know about Kahaani 2: Durga Rani Singh is that the film has nothing to do with Kahaani, the movie that came out four years ago. The story and characters are unrelated. So why is this one called Kahaani 2? Sujoy Ghosh, who wrote and directed both films, described Kahaani as a genre, a genre about strong women-oriented narratives.

Vidya Balan emerges as an unlikely superhero once again in Kahaani 2.

entertainment

Updated on May 05, 2017 02:58 PM IST

Hindustan Times | ByAnupama Chopra

The brilliance of Balan: Kahaani 2 review by Anupama Chopra

The thriller has a superbly constructed first half but post interval the storytelling gets clumsy. However, Vidya Balan makes even the most illogical scenes seem convincing.

Vidya plays an overworked single mother who dotes on her physically challenged teenage daughter.

entertainment

Updated on Dec 09, 2016 07:00 PM IST

Hindustan Times | ByAnupama Chopra

A bumpy ride: Dear Zindagi review by Anupama Chopra

It may not have an authentic core, but this is still a journey worth taking — especially for the pleasure of watching Alia soar.

Props to writer-director Gauri Shinde for creating a Hindi film heroine who is stubbornly difficult. And an even bigger round of applause to Alia Bhatt for her knockout performance.

entertainment

Updated on Nov 26, 2016 10:04 AM IST

Hindustan Times | ByAnupama Chopra

Blunt force trauma: Force 2 review by Anupama Chopra

This is the kind of film in which the villain plays the harmonica as bodies are flung about. Go in preparing for mindless fun and you’ll still be disappointed.

Tahir Raj Bhasin, who plays the villain Shiv, is a compelling actor but even he can’t do much with a character so generic and underwritten.

entertainment

Published on Nov 18, 2016 06:33 PM IST

Hindustan Times | ByAnupama Chopra

Stuck in a loop: Tum Bin II review by Anupama Chopra

I laughed and cried — in all the wrong places, for all the wrong reasons.

Everyone’s dressed for the summer, even though this is Edinburgh and it’s snowing a lot of the time. Sadly, the inappropriate styling is the least of this film’s problems.

entertainment

Published on Nov 18, 2016 04:34 PM IST

Hindustan Times | ByAnupama Chopra

Rock On 2 review by Anupama Chopra: Missing a few chords

So there are elements that you will enjoy, but the film is let down by undercooked writing.

The performances are uniformally strong. Purab Kohli oozes warmth. Farhan Akhtar is sincere and effortlessly cool. And Arjun Rampal reminds us that, when he chooses to, he really can deliver.

entertainment

Updated on Nov 11, 2016 06:22 PM IST

Hindustan Times | ByAnupama Chopra

MS Dhoni, The Untold Story: Well fielded, but long winded

Neeraj Pandey’s telling of Dhoni’s life is in equal parts, thrilling, moving and utterly exhausting

Sushant Singh Rajput is wonderful in these scenes of the early life – frustrated but steady, ambitious and unhappy – all at once.

entertainment

Published on Sep 30, 2016 05:35 PM IST

Hindustan Times | ByAnupama Chopra, Mumbai:

Banjo review by Anupama Chopra: Missing a beat

An over-stuffed storyline, excessive razzmatazz and uneven soundtrack hold this film back.

The protagonist is Taraat, played by Riteish Deshmukh, who valiantly struggles to hold the plot together.

entertainment

Published on Sep 23, 2016 08:23 PM IST

Hindustan Times | ByAnupama Chopra

Parched review by Anupama Chopra: Women on top

The larger narrative of the film is inert and clunky but the spirited female characters will stay with you.

The actresses playing the lead — Tannishtha Chatterjee, Radhika Apte and Surveen Chawla — deliver heartfelt performances. They are defiantly strong and desperately sad.

entertainment

Published on Sep 23, 2016 07:53 PM IST

Hindustan Times | ByAnupama Chopra

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Anupama Chopra

Anupama Chopra is the editor and founder of Film Companion.

Ayushmann Khurrana actively sought out the film Article 15. The actor saw Mulk, a powerful and persuasive plea for religious unity, and called the film’s director, Anubhav Sinha. Anubhav offered him a rom-com. Ayushmann asked instead for something gritty and hard-hitting.

In an industry that allows mediocrity to survive and even thrive, successful actors are setting aside time to hone their craft. I wish more actors would do this.

HT introduces a fortnightly column by Anupama Chopra. Up first, a peek beyond the Cannes red carpet to ask why it’s been 25 years since India had a film in the main competition section.

Anupama Chopra puts her experience at Cannes Film Festival in numbers - nine days, 13 films, 20 interviews and two parties.

Anupama Chopra interviewed Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Asif Kapadia, Werner Herzog and Sonam Kapoor at Cannes. Here is an interesting sneak peek.

Anupama Chopra writes about interviewing actor Andie Macdowell at Cannes Film Festival and meeting director Alfonso Cuaron.

At Cannes Film Festival, Anupama Chopra talks to Deepika Padukone about her red carpet style, and why she doesn’t bring Ranveer Singh there.

Mira Nair who is in Cannes as a mentor for the 11th edition of La Fabrique Cinema. She said that the tastes and agendas of the selection committee and that of Indian cinema don’t necessarily align.

Anupama Chopra chats up Priyanka Chopra and Hina Khan at Cannes Film Festival as they make their red carpet appearances.

Village Rockstars drector Rima Das participated in the inauguration of the India Pavilion, which becomes a home away from home for the many Indians at Cannes.

At Cannes Film Festival this year, 1845 feature films were submitted for the official selection but no Indian films made the cut. There are no Indian artists on any of the juries either.

There’s a lot to look forward to at the Cannes Film Festival, starting with the opening film - Jim Jarmusch’s star-studded zombie horror The Dead Don’t Die.

The film begins with the ingenious idea of a website for lovers who want to elope, but it’s all pretty much downhill from there.

Even Jackie Chan’s charisma cannot save this odd, disjointed, cross-border debacle.

The best way to enjoy Raees is to manage expectations first. This is an uneven film.

A B-grade genre film is elevated by the blazing talent of Hrithik Roshan.

This is just a pointless film, because an exact frame-for-frame version already exists in Tamil.

The story of a desperately lonely teenager and her predatory teacher makes for compelling viewing.

This is a moving tale of unlikely champions, a father who refused to bend and the daughters he moulded into steel.

This omnibus of seven films is a wonderful idea, but more a film lab than a film, so I prefer not to rate it. I’m eager to see what these directors do next.

Aditya Chopra reinvents himself with Befikre, and it couldn’t have happened without Ranveer Singh.

The thriller has a superbly constructed first half but post interval the storytelling gets clumsy. However, Vidya Balan makes even the most illogical scenes seem convincing.

It may not have an authentic core, but this is still a journey worth taking — especially for the pleasure of watching Alia soar.

This is the kind of film in which the villain plays the harmonica as bodies are flung about. Go in preparing for mindless fun and you’ll still be disappointed.

I laughed and cried — in all the wrong places, for all the wrong reasons.

So there are elements that you will enjoy, but the film is let down by undercooked writing.

Neeraj Pandey’s telling of Dhoni’s life is in equal parts, thrilling, moving and utterly exhausting

An over-stuffed storyline, excessive razzmatazz and uneven soundtrack hold this film back.

The larger narrative of the film is inert and clunky but the spirited female characters will stay with you.

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