Vijay wants to escape red flag box
Actor Vijay Varma is ready to leave his familiar “red flag” image behind, admitting that he is tired of being repeatedly associated with morally grey and complicated characters on screen. Known for performances in films and shows such as Darlings, Dahaad and Pink, Varma has often found himself playing characters whose intentions and actions are far from straightforward. The actor recently reacted to being introduced as the “biggest red flag on screen” at an event hosted by content creator Dolly Singh. While the tag has become closely associated with his screen persona, Varma made it clear that he would like audiences to see him in different shades. “I just want a different colour, man. I’m sick of this red flag green flag,” he said, expressing his desire to explore roles that offer something beyond his established image. His latest appearance in Lust Stories 3 gave him an opportunity to do exactly that. Varma plays a character who is surprisingly oblivious to the signals around him, a departure from the perceptive and intense personalities he has portrayed before. “I like the guy because he just doesn’t get any hint,” Varma said, adding that playing someone who misses obvious cues felt refreshing after portraying characters who “get too many hints.” With a willingness to experiment, Varma appears keen to add new colours to his evolving filmography.
Disha refuses to be boxed in
A decade into her Bollywood journey, Disha Patani is looking beyond the image that audiences have come to associate with her. As she steps into the next phase of her career, the actor wants to move away from being defined by a particular kind of role and explore characters that demand more from her as a performer. Patani, who made her Bollywood debut with M.S. Dhoni: The Untold Story, says her journey has been one of constant learning. From understanding how a film set works and facing the camera for the first time to becoming more confident in her craft, she believes the biggest transformation has happened within herself. Now, she wants that growth to reflect in her choices. Patani is particularly interested in characters where glamour or physicality takes a back seat and the personality of the character drives the story. Psychological dramas, character driven thrillers and challenging action roles are among the genres she hopes to explore. “I don’t want to be defined by one particular kind of role or image,” she says. For Patani, staying curious is equally important. She does not want confidence to become complacency and believes every new character should bring a fresh challenge. As she begins her second decade in films, the actor appears determined to take greater risks and let her performances, rather than a fixed image, define her.
Shehnaaz’s career lesson
Shehnaaz Gill is looking at her Bollywood journey with a more critical eye, admitting that some of her early career choices were made in haste. The popularity she gained with Bigg Boss 13 opened doors to Hindi cinema, but she now feels that the roles she chose did not always allow her to show what she could do as an actor. “You can say that I picked up projects in haste initially. I didn’t do impactful roles. If I had done that, people would see me with a different perspective,” Shehnaaz says, acknowledging that she was too quick while choosing scripts. She believes the experience has taught her an important lesson about being selective. For Shehnaaz, a film should offer an actor something meaningful to perform. “There should be something for you to do in a film. If there is nothing, then it’s pointless,” she says, adding that audiences should not feel disappointed after buying a ticket to watch her. Her debut Hindi film, Kisi Ka Bhai Kisi Ki Jaan, remains a project she does not regret. She recalls Salman Khan advising her to take up more impactful roles afterwards. Now, Shehnaaz says she has become more mature and less easily available, choosing quality and substance over simply being seen on screen.
Vedika finds her feet in industry
Vedika Pinto is entering a new phase in her acting journey, one where recognition is gradually giving way to something she has long wanted: the freedom to choose the stories she wants to tell. Her portrayal of Sudha in Musafir Cafe has earned appreciation for its warmth, vulnerability and emotional depth, giving the actress a stronger sense of belonging in the industry. For Vedika, that feeling is deeply personal. Reflecting on her journey, she revealed that she once told her parents she would feel she had truly found a place in the industry when she had scripts to choose from. Today, that moment has arrived. “There are very exciting things on the table and I don’t want to jinx them by mentioning them now! I am proud to state that I would always tell my parents, ‘I will feel I have a place in the industry as soon as I have scripts to read!’ The bachpanwali Vedika is very happy now because every day there is a new story, and I have to decide which one is right for me,” she said. Vedika will reprise Sudha in Musafir Cafe Season 2 and is also part of Dharma Productions’ upcoming film with Lakshya. With multiple stories coming her way, she is now embracing the opportunity to choose with greater confidence.
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Big B’s height hurdle
Abhishek Bachchan has expressed his interest in returning to one of his most remembered songs, ‘Kajra Re’, nearly two decades after its release. The actor recently recalled the experience of shooting the song from Bunty Aur Babli and said he would “love” to be part of a 2.0 version, although he jokingly noted that Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and his father, Amitabh Bachchan, would also need to be convinced. In a conversation with BBC Asian Network, Abhishek was asked whether he would be interested in revisiting ‘Kajra Re’ with a new version. The actor responded positively, saying, “I’m down for that. I’d love it. You have got to convince Aishwarya and my dad, though.” Reflecting on the original song, Abhishek recalled the shoot as one of the most enjoyable experiences of his career. He said the atmosphere on the sets was more like a celebration, with the cast and crew having a great time while filming the track. “I don’t know if I have had more fun shooting a song than shooting ‘Kajra Re’. It was just one big happy party. We enjoyed it so much. I still remember we were filming and it was my birthday, and they celebrated,” he said. Abhishek also shared an interesting detail about how some of the song’s candid moments came together. According to the actor, director Shaad Ali played the track for several hours on the sets, turning the shoot into an impromptu dance session. The footage captured during those moments was later incorporated into the final song.