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00:00Hello, welcome. I'm Diana Loderhose, International Features Editor here at
00:13Deadline. We are in our Red Sea studio here in Jeddah. I'm delighted to be
00:18welcomed here today with Kartik Aryan. Thank you so much for being here.
00:23Thank you Diana, it's my pleasure. When did you arrive? Today, like early
00:28morning at like 7 a.m., 6 a.m., yeah. Have you been to Jeddah before? No, this is my
00:33first time. This is my debut at Red Sea Film Festival and also my debut with
00:39Headline. We're delighted. Oh, with Deadline. Deadline. Well, we do, we're very good at
00:44Headline, so I can see how you got that wrong. Tell me a little bit then, so you
00:51are, we were just talking about this, you are in, you have a big movie coming out
00:55on Christmas Day. Yes, and you were just talking about it and you were saying the
01:00name correctly. Yes, I was not and I'm going to try to now, but I'm only going to say it
01:06once and then you have to say it three times. Who, me? You. I have to do it three times very
01:10quickly, okay? Yeah, okay, okay. To Mary, main Tara, main Tara, to Mary. Yeah, just remove the N from
01:17me. To Mary, me, Tara, met Tara, to Mary. Yeah, one more time. Can you say, how do we, how am I
01:28pronouncing that? It's the same thing. It's just, even I, no, I would pronounce it in a different
01:33manner. It's to Mary, my Tara, my Tara, to Mary, to Mary, my Tara, my Tara, to Mary, to Mary,
01:37my Tara, my Tara, to Mary. It's difficult for us as well, so trust me, it's not easy for all of us
01:44also. It's a very difficult, it's like a tongue twister for all the Indians out there also. They
01:48also keep asking me at every interview that can you repeat it like five times or three times or ten times
01:53and that's been my case. I've been repeating it every day. And you say it so well, so what does it mean
01:59exactly? I'm yours, you're mine. Oh, how wonderful. Tu, tu meri, main Tara. So I'm yours, you're mine.
02:07Okay. Yeah. Tell us a little bit about this film then. It's a romantic movie. It's been, so a lot of
02:16it has not come out, just a teaser and a few songs. We have songs in our movies, you know, in Hindi
02:23movies over there. And so a couple of songs have been released. A teaser has arrived, which is like a
02:28minute kind of a teaser. And so there's not a lot that I can say about the film, but all I can say
02:35is that it's a commercial romantic movie, but it's something which used to be made like in 90s and,
02:43you know, like 20 years back in Bollywood and when we had that glory days of Bollywood or Hindi cinema.
02:48So it's that kind of a film, but it's been promoted like a sweet romantic film, but it's got a lot of
02:55gravitas in it, a lot of family values. Technically it's a very progressive film. I must say that,
03:01which a lot of people would not expect from a film like that right now, the way it's being promoted
03:06in a way, the way it's been showcased right now, because we can only, you know, show a few things
03:13here and there right now, because we don't want to reveal a lot of it. And we want the audience to
03:18enjoy it once they come to the theaters. Um, but, but there's, there's a lot in the film,
03:24which is related to families, related to Indian culture and, uh, good people doing good things,
03:31fighting for good reasons. Yeah. That's great. Yeah. And Karan Johar is a producer on this film. Yes, he is. We were
03:38very lucky to have him in the studio a couple of years ago. Okay. And we had a great time with him.
03:42Tell us a little bit. He's everywhere. He's everywhere. He's everywhere. And what a personality
03:46as well. Um, he's, he's someone, I think, uh, a lot of people look up to and he's, he's, he's been
03:52really, really like a support to this film. Uh, he, he's technically the producer, the studio of the
04:00film, who's, who's, um, you know, you need some kind of, uh, pillar power, uh, to be attached to
04:08certain stories to, you know, uh, so that we can, we can give it our own power as well,
04:16but also make it happen in a way which is much more larger than, uh, it could have been.
04:22So I think for that Karan and, uh, Dharma, his, his production houses, it's very, very important
04:27that we were associated with them. Along with them, Nama pictures, Sharin Mantri, their, their
04:32producers who are also producing the film. So that together, uh, you know, uh, these powerhouses,
04:38they're coming together and building this whole project. And I'm really, really happy
04:42to be associated with them. Uh, I know Karan was, Karan would have been here, not this year,
04:48maybe the year before, uh, because, um, he's, as I said earlier, he's everywhere and, uh,
04:55it's hard to miss him. You know, it's, it's, uh, it's like, he's, he's like my green pass everywhere.
05:00Like, you know, Karan Jorab, you know, it's, it's easy. Like, yeah, so there's some topic, some,
05:05some kind of conversation that you can have and, uh, no, but I'm glad that he's the one who's
05:10associated with this. Also, I would like to add something like Dharma productions, uh, have always
05:14had this, uh, commercial glossy rom-coms, uh, the kind of film that I was talking about were there,
05:22uh, you know, that there's this ownership that they had, uh, like years back and they've been known
05:27to do that. Uh, I think this film has that quality, the, all those qualities of a, uh,
05:32proper Dharma film, uh, you know, and I think that is what Tu Meri Meitera, Meitera Tu Meri
05:37will bring to the table. Fantastic. Are you working on another project with, with him and
05:41their production company? Oh, yes, I am. Is it in development or is that the one that's
05:45shooting that we were? No, I'm shooting it, uh, simultaneously. Uh, oh, you're shooting
05:49two simultaneously. No, I'm shooting one. I don't shoot two films together. I can't do that.
05:54Um, but I, I'm promoting other film while shooting this, the new one, which is, should
06:02I say the name? Yeah. It's not Zilla. Not Zilla. Yeah. Oh, you know, I was waiting for
06:06you to say that's the one I was hoping you were going to say. So it's not Zilla and we're
06:10really, really excited with that film. Uh, half of the production is done. 50% of the film
06:16is already done. Uh, by the time I think this one releases that film would be 90% completed
06:22and, uh, and it's, it's, it's a different world together that we are trying to create.
06:28Mrig Lamba is the director of that film who's, uh, created, uh, amazing stuff before, uh, and
06:34amazing films. So I, I'm really happy with that collaboration with, uh, um, Mrig. And, uh,
06:40and yeah, it's, it's again a world where it's a world of, uh, snakes. Okay. In that film.
06:46Cause it sounds like Godzilla. Yeah. So Nag is snake. Okay. So it's, it's like a snake Zilla,
06:53you know, kind of a thing. And, uh, so like a fantasy kind of. Yes. Yes. Yes. It's, it's a fantasy.
06:59It's a, it's not exactly a complete fantasy film, but there is a lot of world building in it. And, uh,
07:06it's got the humor. It's got the comical elements. I'm known for doing, uh, a lot of comedy. So, uh,
07:12uh, the directors and producers, they make sure that I get to, you know, I have to deliver those
07:19lines or punches in the film, uh, which I am also very happy about. Uh, so Nagzilla has all the tropes
07:25again of a commercial film, uh, but with the world, which is never seen before in Indian cinema,
07:31at least. Yes. So I'm really looking forward to it. It's very different from what I'm doing in this
07:35one. I'm yours, you're mine, that film. Yeah. Uh, and I forgot to mention that is being directed by
07:41Samir with once who directed my other films, Satya Prem Ki Katha. So I've had a very, very
07:47good collaboration with the same director and he's known to bring out, uh, hard hitting content
07:53cinema in a very commercial manner. This is what Tu Meri Me Tera will also have. It, it will
07:58have that, uh, thought process for people to think, the audiences to think that, oh, this
08:03can happen with me as well. And, uh, and, but, but it's, you know, it's, it's, uh, it's
08:09coated or sugar coated with the rom com, uh, with a very romantic, uh, vibe to it, but
08:16it's got a lot of depth in it. So these are the directors I'm really, really happy with
08:20and working with and the producers and the production houses. So I'm really in a very, uh,
08:25good space. Uh, and I feel really blessed and lucky to be associated with all of them.
08:31Can you tell us anything about the role in Nugzilla and who you play? I'm, I'm curious
08:36cause I know it's a newer one, but what can you tell us about your role in this?
08:40And I think, uh, all I can say is that my screen name in that film is Piare, uh, which, uh, which
08:50means lovable. So I think, uh, that is one thing. And the character that I'm playing is, uh, is
08:57something I've never played before. It's, it's something very, very unique. Um, it's
09:03a space, which I always wanted to, you know, tap onto. I think the world building that I've
09:07been constantly saying, uh, is something I really wanted to be a part of. So here was
09:13this script, which Rick got to me and he had all the elements, be it the comical elements
09:18or the action. It's, it's, it's got those action moments. It's got those, uh, uh, romantic
09:24moments as well, but it's in that world, in that space. Uh, I would not compare it to
09:30a Godzilla or any other film because this is a film, which is, I don't know if it's
09:35a genre specific film. It's got too many genres involved in it, but, uh, but in India, we,
09:42we have a very, very love and hate relationship or, or affinity towards snakes. And I think that
09:49is something which not just India, uh, it's, it's outside also, you know, there are so many films
09:55which have been made on snakes and, you know, these creatures, which, uh, reptiles and, and, and they
10:01really have an audience and they have an audience because we have that, uh, we're scared of them
10:06also. We worship them also. We, so, you know, we, we are a mixed, uh, bunch when we, we love to,
10:13um, see this on screen. And I think, uh, uh, with Nagzilla, this space has not been tapped
10:21for a, quite a while, just a film on snakes and stuff like that. Um, it's not been tapped into
10:27our cinema right now. Uh, there was a film which was, which was long back, but it was a different
10:32film. But again, that was a major hit at that point of time, uh, which was again on snake and
10:37snake charmers and stuff like that. But this is again bringing back, uh, those memories and
10:43things in some way, but not exactly the same thing. Okay. Okay. And it's, it's the year
10:47of the snake still, I believe. So it's quite fitting to be shooting it, uh, in the year
10:51of the snake. But that said, um, how do you choose, how do you choose your roles? What is
10:58it that kind of has to stand out for you when you are looking to approach a project? Uh, you
11:02mentioned directors that you work with repeatedly and scripts or character. What is it then that,
11:08what is it a role needs to have for you, for you to be ordered, you know, for you to commit
11:12to it? I think it's, it's, it's mostly the script. Uh, thankfully I'm in a situation or a position now
11:21where I can choose, uh, the scripts, the kind of people I want to work with. I want to, uh, share
11:27those moments with, uh, it's the script and also people I would love to collaborate with. You know,
11:34you want to have fun on sets. When you go on set, you just don't want to, uh, be unhappy sometimes,
11:40or just be, you know, you have to have that happy set, happy environment. And that's what I look for
11:45also. Uh, sometimes it's a mix of, you have to let go of certain things, uh, because sometimes it's a
11:51very, very selfishly speaking, it's, it can be a very good script, uh, but with not the best people.
11:56But I choose and I try that it's, it's a mix of both the things where I get to collaborate with the right
12:02people. And, and I, maybe somewhere down the line, I have to have that belief that this person
12:08or this team can actually, you know, uh, bring it, uh, to life on screen with what they're saying
12:15on script right now, you know, and, and that's where the most of the things get lost, you know,
12:21sometimes the script is really good, but it's not, uh, on celluloid, it's not the same.
12:27So I think somewhere you have to find the balance and I try to have that balance in between, but it
12:33starts with the script. It starts, starts with that. And then of course, with who's directing it and
12:39who's actually, uh, the studios and what, sometimes it's just the director and the script. It's just that.
12:46I have one final question for you before we let you go. Um, Indian cinema is, is, is huge and it's
12:53its own business. It's so wild that we, we operate a lot in Hollywood. Um, Hollywood is,
12:58you know, the big news this past week is, um, been Netflix has decided to buy Warner Brothers,
13:03which is a huge, they've committed to a buyout of Warner Brothers, one of our major studios.
13:09Um, I'm curious for you operating in a completely different space, but in, but nonetheless in film,
13:15what are the challenges that you as an actor that you see in your, uh, the business you work in?
13:21Are there, are there issues with kind of streaming and you know, what are the kind of big hurdles that
13:26the Indian cinema, uh, business is facing? I think see every 10 to 15 years, there's a change
13:33which happens in every industry and, and, uh, not just Hollywood, but even Bollywood,
13:38even the South Indian films that we have as in the Indian cinema there. Every 15 years,
13:44there's a big change. The streaming platforms, uh, have come in a big way. Uh, you know,
13:49that has been a recent change. Uh, but having said that, um, I'm a, I'm a commercial actor. I'm,
13:57I, I work for a big screen. I, I love the fact when, you know, 400, 500 people gathered together and
14:04they see, and they have their experience, a cinematic experience together. It's a different
14:08feeling altogether. Uh, that feeling cannot be replaced by anything else. I have done streaming
14:14films. I've done platform films. I did those when, when, when COVID had struck and we could not go
14:20out. The theaters were closed. Um, and I, I had experienced, uh, that, uh, zone or that medium as
14:27well. Uh, but for me, I will always have that, you know, love, uh, towards, towards big screen.
14:34So I would always have that challenge. You would always face some challenge or the other,
14:39but I think it makes us even more stronger. We, we, as a community, we are even for just,
14:45not just for actors, but directors and producers also who are putting in big bucks or who are trying
14:51to, uh, make big films for, uh, for the consumption of the audiences together. I think, uh, they face
14:59these challenges every now and then, and we tend to come up with the solutions. And we, I think,
15:05uh, as a community, uh, we feel strengthened. Uh, I think these challenges make you feel even more
15:10stronger and, and we are focusing more towards our, uh, aspects towards our, maybe the content
15:17or the commercial aspect of it, mixing it together, making something unique for the celluloid,
15:23which can only be experienced over there. So I think, uh, these challenges, they come and go,
15:28but cinema, uh, or the big screen will always live. Yeah. Yeah. Thank you so much, Karthik,
15:34for being here with us today. It's such a pleasure to meet you. And that was the headline for Deadline.
15:39Thank you so much. Thank you Diana. Thank you.
15:43Thank you so much. So nice to meet you. Same here. Thank you.
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