 | « Back to article | Print this article |
Meet Farhan Akhtar's Fukrey
Farhan Akhtar and Ritesh Sidhwani's latest offering Fukrey -- a youthful comedy featuring four protagonists -- has stumped many of us with its unusual title.
For the uninitiated, Fukrey or fukra is a popular colloquial term used for good-for-nothing young men who manage to scrape through school and go to college with the sole intention of having fun.
Releasing on June 14 and directed by Mrighdeep Singh Lamba, Fukrey -- the film -- is the story of four such friends trying to make easy money.
Pulkit Samrat, Ali Fazal, Manjot Singh and Varun Sharma (who makes his acting debut with this film) play the four lead characters in the film, which also stars Richa Chadda, Vishakha Singh and Priya Anand.
Read on to find out more about the four young actors!
Pulkit: I was a big Fukra in school
Pulkit Samrat made his acting debut with Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi on TV.
After a sabbatical of four years, the 29-year-old-actor made his debut in films with last year's release Bittoo Boss. It didn't fare well at the box office.
"A lot of people say it didn't work, but I take it in a positive way. I feel it actually worked for me in terms of experience and the technicalities of working on a movie," Pulkit says.
Moreover, he says, he got Fukrey because of Bittoo Boss. "Farhan and Ritiesh had seen the film and felt I was ideal for Fukrey."
His character in the film, Hunny, is a "high class fukra" he says. "He is a guy who has failed five times. He is desperate to go to college for its canteen ka khana, and to ogle at all the girls in sexy clothes."
Pulkit mentions that despite being born and brought up in Delhi, it wasn't easy for him to play the character, "A lot of people thought that it was easy for me to do the film. But my character is a typical East Delhi guy and I am not." The difference is known to those who live in that area as every locality in Delhi is different from the other, he explains.
The actor also reveals that he has picked up his character's mannerisms from director Mrighdeep Singh Lamba.
"My character's body language and the way he speaks is similar to Mrigh Sir in real life. He is a fantastic director. He has taken the film to a whole new level."
Varun: I am lucky to debut in a film produced by Farhan Akhtar
Varun Sharma is from Jalandhar, Punjab, and is confident about his debut film.
"I am lucky to have gotten a chance to work in a Farhan Akhtar and Ritesh Sidhwani film. I have grown up watching their films."
Varun had a lot of fun during his college days as well. "I studied in Chandigarh and have done all the fukrapanti that guys in Chandigarh do. We would just sit in the car and show off to the girls, bunk lectures the whole day and spoend all our time in the college canteens," he giggles.
Unlike many newcomers, this 23-year-old didn't have to struggle much to get into the industry.
"I was very active with plays and drama during my college days so my parents encouraged me to try my luck at acting. As soon as I finished college, I came to Mumbai and within a few months I got a lot of commercials."
The casting director of Fukrey saw him in a commercial and called him for an audition.
Varun sarcastically mentions that he had a tough time shooting for the film. "My director is the biggest fukra in the world. He made me wear a colourful skirt and got me chased down by dogs in a dark alley when he knew I'm terrified of dogs!"
Varun Sharma also appears in Anubhav Sinha's Warning which releases in September this year.
Manjot Singh: I am always scared of girls
Manjot Singh had a dream start to his career. At 16, he was awarded the Filmfare Award for the Best Actor (Critics) for his stellar performance in Dibakar Banerjee's Oye Lucky! Lucky Oye!
Manjot went on to work in Vikramaditya Motwane's Udaan and Karan Johar's Student Of The Year.
A Delhi lad, 21-year-old Manjot says that he is really excited to play a parallel lead in Fukrey. "I started off with a small role but things have gotten better. I am in a film where I am one of the leads, so it feels great. I have worked hard and I will continue to do so."
Interestingly, Manjot had never thought of acting as a career option.
"I am a very shy and innocent guy in real life, just like the character that I play in Fukrey. When I told my mom about the auditions for Oye Lucky, she said, 'Have you seen your face? You go hide in a room when relatives come over, and you will give an audition?' And I was like, 'So what! These are open auditions and anyone can go!' Luckily, I got selected."
Manjot's character in the film is shy of girls and so is he in real life.
"I don't know why, but I am always scared of girls. In school, I couldn't talk to any girls."
But he has a girlfriend. "After Oye Lucky! Lucky Oye! a girl came and proposed to me. She is my girlfriend now."
The actor, who currently resides in New Delhi, is planning to shift base to Mumbai. "I am in talks with some filmmakers and hopefully things are looking positive," he signs off with a big smile.
Ali Fazal: It would be a dream come true to work with Salman Khan
Ali Fazal got noticed in the small but significant role of Joy Lobo in 3 Idiots.
His next film was Shah Rukh Khan-produced Always Kabhi Kabhi. Although the film didn't do well at the box office, Fazal's performance was noticed.
The hunky actor plays a singer in Fukrey. "I play a singer in the film who has a lot of secrets. My character in the film is in a very erratic relationship. And when he breaks up with his girlfriend, his music is affected by it. So he is facing a crisis and when he sees this opportunity to make a quick buck, he helps his friends."
Fazal says that if he had to sum up his character in Fukrey-style, he would say, "I am the jugaadoo banda of the group. And somewhere in real life too I have done a lot of similar stuff."
The 26-year-old actor studied at Doon School in Dehradun and says he was very naughty in school. "Once, some girls had come from London for a theatre competition in our school. I managed to impress one girl and would stick around with her the whole day to make my friends jealous."
Although Fazal hasn't had the greatest start to his career, he is happy with his work.
"I have worked with gods like Aamir and Shah Rukh Khan and have learnt a lot from them."
"Today a lot of young talent is able to showcase their skills in the industry. I hope Fukrey hits the right note."
He laughs when I point out that he will complete a Khan hat-trick if he manages to bag a film with Salman Khan. "That would be like a dream come true," he agrees.