A Star Is Born
The trailer of Mirzya suggests that Harshvardhan Kapoor will break the dry spell of male debutant actors and might just be that talented new star the film industry is looking for
Anil Kapoor ruled the box office back in the 80s and 90s, and has had a very successful career of over three and a half decades. The actor also forayed into television with the Indianised version of the hit series 24 and this year with the start of the second season of his series, he once again garnered much appreciation from the audience.nil Kapoor is a name to reckon with in the Hindi film industry. Globally, too, Kapoor is one of the most recognised Indian actors, thanks to his appearance in Hollywood films like Slumdog Millionaire and Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol and the very popular TV series, 24.
While senior Kapoor has been there, his elder daughter Sonam Kapoor too forayed into films with her much-talked-about debut back in 2008 with Saawariya, which was also a launch pad for Ranbir Kapoor.
While this Sanjay Leela Bhansali-directed, larger-than-life film failed to impress at the box office, Sonam made her presence felt and her name was added to the list of the most promising actresses of her time. While Sonam was part of several big-budget films, she finally tasted huge success with this year's release, Neerja, which had her playing the title role. The solo-heroine oriented film not only charmed the audience but the trade too.
With the Kapoor father-daughter duo flourishing in their respective films, this year we will see another member of this family, Harshvardhan Kapoor, Anil Kapoor's son, making his much-anticipated acting debut with Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra's magnum opus, Mirzya releasing on October 7. The trade and audience are eagerly awaiting this film, especially after its trailer impressed everyone with its marvelous visuals, music and presence of this young Kapoor boy.
Given that the film industry needs a new star to make his mark since the past two years haven't seen any promising male newcomers other than Tiger Shroff, this week, we asked trade experts what they think about and expect from this star kid of 2016. Here's what they had to say:
Anees Bazmee, Director
I love Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra's films and I believe he has made a brilliant piece of art with Mirzya. Harshvardhan Kapoor looks very promising in the very first trailer. Usually, people wait to watch a film and then comment but the trailer promises a super lead star cast. The industry is definitely poised to get one more actor. Moreover, newcomers are the need of the hour. Harshvardhan has already started working on his second film and his choice of films looks different.
Kamlesh Pandey , Writer
We do need new faces, new stars that's the need of the industry. I don't think after Ranveer Singh we have got a star. Talking about Harshvardhan Kapoor of what I saw in the trailer I see huge potential in him, though a trailer is not the right thing to judge by because as filmmakers we put the best scenes in the trailer. But what I heard from Rakeysh (Omprakash Mehra) about Harshvardhan, is he is very hard working and focused. I totally hope he does well and we get a superstar. But remaining a superstar is the most challenging aspect. A film star's life is very limited, in five years' time you are replaced by young faces, there is no in-between way. If you are an actor you can get work but being a star sometimes has its own disadvantages as much as you have advantages. I hope Harshvardhan is the next big superstar. The best thing about today's audience is that they give you time, even if you are average in your first film they accept you. If you are not good enough even after doing 10 films then they reject you. Ranbir Kapoor and Sonam Kapoor debuted in Saawariya and the film didn't do great business but today both actors have made their own mark. Rakeysh is a great director and he has an eye for actors so definitely he must have seen a spark in Harsh.
Shoojit Sircar, Filmmaker
Anil Kapoor was and is one of the finest actors in our industry, the kind of command he has onscreen is something not many actors have. Mirzya the film as a whole has huge expectations attached to it, being a Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra production and the kind of subject he presents with his auteur makes the film one of the most prominent launchpads one can ever ask for. Harshvardhan is a promising actor who in a few scenes in the trailer captivates you with his intensity.
Himanshu Sharma, Writer
Harshvardhan Kapoor has a lot of talent. From the trailer, he looks very promising and intense. The film has action, romance and a lot of intensity. There are very few actors who speak through their eyes and that one scene speaks for Harshvardhan Kapoor as an actor. He is extremely talented and I am totally looking forward to watching Mirzya. What more could you want in your debut film when you have a behtareen shaayar like Gulzar saab writing the dialogue and the film's story.
Remo D'Souza, Director
It's wrong to judge someone on the basis of just one trailer. But what we have seen in the Mirzya trailer so far, Harshvardhan looks very promising. We need stars and somehow through his eyes it looks like he is going to make his own mark. The actor has bagged his second film already and has started shooting even when his first film is not out yet. That just shows that he has immense potential and a bright future ahead.
Abhinay Deo, Director
The trailer of Mirzya was very intriguing. I have always been a Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra fan and knowing him, the film will be grand. Harshvardhan looks very intense; he seems to have a lot of potential. The trailer shows you two different times, and in both, he looks very intense. There is not much dialogue in the trailer, which is exactly how a newcomer's trailer has to be done - you get a few glimpses and are tempted to watch more of the newcomer. Such intensity in an actor, that too at such a young age, is very rare to find. In the coming years, Harshvardhan will definitely rise in his career.
Ashwini Chaudhary, Director
I loved the trailer of Mirzya, and Harshvardhan Kapoor looks very intense. Even though it is his first trailer, he doesn't look like a newcomer, his eyes speak volumes. The trailer is cut in a way where his presence has been made quite obvious. He has a bright future, that's for sure. I believe he bagged his second film, for which he has already started shooting, even before this trailer released. So the actor has a lot of potential and we (industry and audience) are totally looking forward to watching him.
Ronnie Lahiri, Producer
Harshvardhan Kapoor in Mirzya's trailer looks very powerful and he has very intense eyes. The promo doesn't have much dialogue delivery from him but you feel the film's grand essence through his eyes. This is something you rarely spot in a newcomer, that too in the first trailer. Harshvardhan definitely has a lot of potential as an actor. Sometimes, talent is in one's genes and Anil Kapoor has been a tremendous actor over the years. From comedy, to serious films, to masala entertainers, he has done
it all.
Ashish R Mohan, Director
This young lad has been talk of the town ever since Mirzya was announced. Anil sir is an epitome of finesse when it comes to the art of cinema. Harshvardhan gave a sense of dj vu as he looks exactly like how Anil sir looked in his younger days. Mirzya's trailer sparked huge expectations as it is such a cinematic experience and any actor would be lucky to be part of a film like that. Gulzar sir has written the script for Harshvardhan's debut film and Rakeysh sir is directing it, what more can a debutant actor ask for. Also Harshvardhan's preparation for the role is evident and his hard work is visible in the trailer. I wish him the best of luck.
Rajesh Makhija, AVP Sales and Marketing, Carnival Cinemas
I was amazed after watching the teaser and when the trailer came, it was like he is the next big thing! Harshvardhan could have never expected a better launchpad than Mirzya as the team led by director Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra looks invincible. There is a Chinese proverb - Tiger father begets tiger son; and most certainly he seems tremendously talented just like his evergreen young and talented father.
Rajesh Thadani, Distributor Mumbai
When a newcomer marks his or her debut and is successful in creating a fan following with his very first film, it is a sure sign of a star in the making. We have seen this with Student Of The Year, where the three new kids (Alia Bhatt, Sidharth Malhotra, Varun Dhawan) created a huge buzz prior to the release and had a humongous fan following. Today, they are the top three stars of our industry. Even Sushant Singh Rajput, who made a mark with his first film Kai Po Che, had the potential to charm the audience and look where he has reached now.
We haven't seen that kind of response from the audience in the last year, and this year saw many new faces come and go. One of the most promising debuts this year is that of Harshvardhan Kapoor. In the trailer, we saw just a glimpse of what a firecracker of a performer he is, and if he follows in his father's footsteps, he has a long and promising future.
The young actor has fabulous screen presence, and the audience is eagerly waiting for Mirzya to hit cinemas. He reminds us of the young Anil Kapoor, who had a fire in him to do better than the best and I must say the fire is still burning after so many years.
Jaspal Dhingra, Distributor, East Punjab
Only actors who have the talent to hook the audience with their screen presence have the potential to make it big in the film industry. This year, we have not seen any promising stars. When the trailer of Mirzya released, it generated so much curiosity, especially in our region as the Mirza-Sahiba story is an ancient Punjabi fable. The trailer impressed and we spotted a performer in Anil Kapoor's son.
What we saw in the trailer hints at the talent this young man has. With Neerja becoming such a path-breaking film, I am sure Anil Kapoor will have one proud year as a father, as both his children will have done well. Mirzya is not only a dream platform for any actor but to have a director/producer like Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra vouching for him is a big support too. Also, Harshvardhan has an innocent yet intense charm, which shows on screen.
Jeetu Khandelwal, Distributor, Orissa
It is unfortunate that we have not seen any new actors up until now, this year. The industry requires new talent all the time as this makes us less dependent on top stars, who we can now count on our fingertips. Harshvarshan Kapoor looks very promising. His trailer is already the talk of the trade and the film is hot property. I believe he has the potential to be a big star, just like his father.
Vijay Kher, Distributor, CP
The new type of cinema and content we are making calls for new faces but most of them are one-film wonders as it takes a lot of effort to succeed. Actors like Alia Bhatt, Varun Dhawan and Sushant Singh Rajput made the right choices and did the right kind of films. But after Tiger Shroff, we haven't seen a star' kind of debut in the truest sense.
With Mirzya, we will see an actor who is destined for a bright future. Anil Kapoor's son has done his homework and that is evident in the trailer of the film. Apart from the music and the visuals, it is his presence that is mesmerising. He has the aura of a star and the right screen presence as well. We've seen many newcomers in recent times but none had the charm they needed. Now this dry spell will be broken by Kapoor junior.
Rakesh Singh, Distributor, Bihar
Anil Kapoor had and still has a charismatic presence on screen. He is one of the youngest senior actors we have. His son has huge expectations attached to him only because he is Anil Kapoor's son. Mirzya's trailer only showcased a small hint of his capabilities and he already has a fan following thanks to social media. We expect great things from the young debutant. He has a long way to go and is a welcome addition to the young brigade of actors in our industry.
http://boxofficeindia.co.in/a-star-is-born/2/
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