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Time of India
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
The past year was painful, but I'm now ready for a fresh start, says Chandan Shetty
Following his separation from Nivedita Gowda last year, Chandan Shetty is embracing a new phase of profound learning and personal growth. 'My journey so far has had its share of highs and lows, but right now, I see it as a phase of deep learning. To kickstart this new phase, I've moved to Mysuru — this is home now,' shares the rapper and actor. In an exclusive chat with Bangalore Times, he opens up about discovering peace after the storm and his newfound openness to love and a meaningful relationship. 'AFTER THE SEPARATION, I BEGAN TO FEEL ANXIOUS AND CLAUSTROPHOBIC IN BENGALURU' 'I moved to Bengaluru in 2010 from my hometown, Sakleshpur, with big dreams – and the city truly delivered,' Chandan shares. His career soared, particularly after his stint on Bigg Boss , which brought him immense visibility, a significant career high, and even led to love and marriage. However, the recent period following his separation brought a shift in perspective. 'It made me realise I no longer needed to be in the city to stay relevant – people know me, and I can work from wherever I am. It helped me acknowledge who I am deep down – someone who craves a simple life,' he says. 'LIFE CANNOT BE ABOUT PUBS, PARTYING AND FASHION' Despite being in the film industry, I'm someone who loves the simple things in life,' he says, before clarifying, 'That doesn't mean I'm a monk living in a cave and not partying. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like American Investor Warren Buffett Recommends: 5 Books For Turning Your Life Around Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo But partying should be part of your lifestyle; it can't become your life. As we say, Ootakke uppinkayi irbeku; uppinkayi oota aagbardu (pickle must be an accompaniment; it can't be your whole meal).' 'I WANT A PARTNER WHO IS SIMPLE AT HEART LIKE ME' 'Yes, the past year was painful. But I'm now ready for a fresh start.,' shares Chandan. 'Until now, my mind was closed to the idea of a partner; I didn't even want to get married ever again. But of late, I've been talking to single men in their late 40s and 50s, and they all tell me that they regret not having a companion. That opened my mind and I am now open to the possibility of love. And I want someone who has her own mind and is ambitious. I like girls who are independent and will wholeheartedly support her professional dreams. But she must be someone who's simple at heart like me.'
Time of India
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
A film doesn't need a known face; content should be the only draw: Raj B Shetty
Raj B Shetty When the trailer for the upcoming Kannada movie Su from So , directed by JP Thuminad, dropped, a mysterious scene sparked speculation that Raj B Shetty might be acting in it. However, the actor-director, whose production house is making the film, confirmed that he isn't. This decision was quite intentional. 'The whole point was not to rely on my face to bring audiences,' he revealed in an interview with Bangalore Times . 'In the Kannada film industry, there's this dependency on star power to draw crowds. I don't think that's a healthy trend, not for any actor, especially not for a known one. I don't call myself a star, but people do recognise me. It's hardly an achievement for recognised faces to fill theatres. I believe that real success happens when new faces can bring people in; that's when we can truly experiment. So, for this film, I wanted to take a risk and let the content be the only draw for the audience,' he said. Excerpts: Our bar for content has been raised, filtered by countless excellent productions. This shift means our perception of what's good, bad, or merely acceptable is constantly evolving. Now we expect something new and fresh whenever we go to the theatre Raj B Shetty 'This film was genuinely funny to us, and that's why we know audiences will enjoy it' Su From So is a Kannada supernatural comedy-drama centred on a comedy of errors, Raj explains, and adds, 'It's about the wrong people in the wrong situation doing what they believe is right, even though we, the audience, know it's wrong. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Even Beautiful Women Have Their 'Oops' Moments Read More Undo We've all encountered such individuals, and unfortunately, we can relate because we often do the same, making assumptions and doing things we shouldn't. From a distance, that's what makes life a comedy. The film isn't about people trying to be brave; it's about realising they're the biggest cowards.' 'The experience [of making the film] was fun. I believe if a film is genuinely funny to us, the makers, it will be genuinely funny to the audience as well,' he says. 'It's truly wonderful to see people being proud of where they come from' Set in a village near Mangaluru, the film embodies a new wave of rooted stories coming from Kannada cinema. But Raj is quick to say that this isn't a trend; it's a fundamental shift in storytelling. 'More rooted films today signify an attitude shift. People are saying, 'No, this is who we are. These are our stories.' That's the attitude we're seeing. In the past, we often felt deeply insecure about our identities. But now, we're able to showcase who we are – our flaws and our strengths – and that's being embraced, not just across Karnataka, but nationwide. That's because, deep down, everyone is the same. People have their unique cultures, ideas, and customs, but fundamentally, we're all human beings,' he remarks. 'We need to nurture mid-budget films' Despite prevailing industry pessimism about the viability of mid-budget films, Raj shares that he is a staunch advocate for nurturing diverse stories and new talent. 'When I talk to people, most aren't as hopeful as I am. They say mid-budget films are dead, and only star-driven or big-budget movies will work. The idea is that people don't want to watch films in theatres anymore. But that mindset will only lead to generic, monotonous, and repetitive films in a few years. Then what? Where will you go? Because you haven't nurtured mid-budget films, there are no native alternatives, and no new talent is coming into cinema.' 'That's why I wanted to make a film with all new people. Yes, it's a challenge, but it's not a true win for the industry if we don't try.' He believes that for Kannada cinema to thrive, it must offer a variety of films, moving beyond a single type of content. 'Content is the only reason [audiences come to theatres],' he says. 'And there should be a variety of cinema coming from the industry. It shouldn't be stagnant; it shouldn't be only one kind of content. There should be commercial films like Devil or Toxic , which actually serve wider audiences. But there should also be films like Su From So , which will attract people who want films that engage, are fun, and still have substance.' The monotonous tone of our storytelling will actually chase people away. A lot of promises with no deliverance has been our signature for a very long time. I think that needs to change, so we need to work together Raj B Shetty 'We need to create content that can be celebrated in theatres as well as on OTT' 'Our bar for content has been raised, filtered by countless excellent productions. This shift means our perception of what's good, bad, or merely acceptable is constantly evolving. Now we expect something new and fresh whenever we go to the theatre,' says Raj. Addressing a common complaint among filmmakers, Raj argues that OTT platforms aren't killing cinema, but rather are forcing the industry to elevate its craft. 'Many filmmakers believe that because of OTT, cinema is dying down or that because of theatres, we don't have OTT. But, again, it all comes down to content. The shift that people are noticing is that, before, mediocre films used to sell in cinema halls. Now the filtration is so hard. Even though a filmmaker might not recognise it as mediocre, people are recognising it as mediocre and slamming it right then and there.' 'I believe that cinema can transcend borders if quality is achieved' He addresses the 'pan-India' buzzword, asserting that true widespread appeal comes not from generic content, but from deeply rooted, high-quality storytelling. 'Kantara became pan-Indian organically – it wasn't made to be pan-India. Currently, people are watching films simply because they are good, and that's the only real 'pan-Indian' content. I really believe that cinema can transcend borders if quality is achieved. People won't watch a film if it is not good, even in your own territory – even your family won't watch a bad film. This has been the truth always. I don't focus on making generic subjects which will slowly turn out to go pan-India. I believe in making the films which are rooted, which are authentic, whether they go pan India or not,' he says.
Time of India
11-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Sudeep is the perfect choice to sing a friendship anthem: Chandan Kumar
has lent his voice to a heartfelt track in 's directorial debut, Flirt, Bangalore Times has learned. 'Sudeep sir truly embodies friendship. The warmth he radiates and the way he treats his friends is unmatched,' says Chandan, explaining why he felt no one else was better suited to sing the film's anthem, which celebrates camaraderie. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Sudeep sir's voice isn't just deep; it's expressive. There's a certain emotional depth he adds, which makes the song feel more personal Chandan Kumar, actor 'I pitched the idea to Sudeep sir during a cricket match. At the time, I only had the tune — the lyrics weren't written yet. Initially, he declined, saying the pitch was a bit too high for his comfort. But I reworked it with composer Nakul Abhyankar, to suit his voice, and once we got into the studio, he wrapped up the recording in two hours,' says Chandan, who has penned the lyrics for the track. The song is picturised on Chandan and Giri, who play childhood friends in the film. 'We're planning to release the song in the first week of August — just in time for Friendship Day,' he shares
Time of India
10-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Shooting in live locations helped me truly understand my character: Sanjana Anand
Filming in public spaces presents its own set of challenges, but for on the set of Ekka, these environments became a source of inspiration. 'Shooting in live locations helped me understand the nuances of my character,' explains the actress, who is soon going to be seen as Nandini in the upcoming Kannada film, alongside Yuva Rajkumar and Sampada Hulivana. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now 'Portraying Nandini required a lot of homework. I had to concentrate on how I emoted my expressions and adapted my body language. Since we shot in live locations, I had the opportunity to see people's natural reactions, which was invaluable for my character's authenticity,' she says. In a chat with Bangalore Times, she tells us about her character, the decline of relatable cinema, and more... 'WE NEED MORE COMPELLING STORIES WRITTEN FOR WOMEN' 'The Kannada industry has fewer women-oriented films compared to other industries, and the overall representation of female-led narratives is noticeably low,' Sanjana Anand says. 'However, I'm optimistic that this is starting to change. I think we need more compelling stories written specifically for women to truly reflect their experiences on screen,' says the actress. 'I WANT TO DO ROLES THAT PEOPLE CAN TRULY CONNECT WITH' 'Finding relatable content is rare these days,' says Sanjana. Discussing projects that she would like to be a part of, she says, 'I'm drawn to raw and real movies. I want to play characters that people can truly connect with. I haven't seen an intense love story in a long time, and I would love to be part of something like that.' Yuva has been incredible to work with; he's an extremely supportive co-actor who even helped me with my scenes on his off days Sanjana Anand 'I DON'T PLAY THE ROLE OF A CONVENTIONAL HEROINE IN EKKA' 'My character in Ekka, Nandini, is a bold, unfiltered, and raw saleswoman from a lower-middle-class background, which I truly enjoyed portraying. I've been waiting to play characters like Nandini. For me, these roles bring immense joy because they're so relatable for any girl, free from pretentiousness. I'm not a conventional heroine in Ekka; my character is a humble, ordinary girl from Siddapura in Bengaluru,' she says. Characters like Nandini in Ekka are exciting to portray because the emphasis is on performance rather than just looks, which truly builds a sense of relatability Sanjana Anand
Time of India
09-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Authentic and honest roles connect with audiences: Sampada Hulivana
Sampada Hulivana has stepped into a world that's both challenging and rewarding, with her upcoming movie, Ekka. In a chat with Bangalore Times, the actress speaks about her journey, the process of getting into a role and why she is in no hurry to slow down. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Excerpts: 'WHY I SAID YES TO EKKA...' When the story came to Sampada, she was drawn to the film instantly. 'The moment I heard the narration, I just knew I had to be a part of this. I was excited to work with and ,' she says. Her character in the film further hooked her, she explains. 'I have played lighter parts before, but this character in Ekka demanded something deeper. It felt grounded and real, which excited me,' shares Sampada. I am the kind of person who watches a take and immediately thinks, 'Could this have been better?' Even if the director is happy with my shot, I feel like I have more to give Sampada Hulivana 'HONESTY IN YOUR CRAFT MATTERS THE MOST IN THE FILM INDUSTRY' Sampada believes that being honest while playing a character is very important. 'The audience can always tell when an actor is faking it. Authenticity and honesty make a character feel real on screen and help connect with the audience, too,' believes Sampada. For my character in Ekka, I had to stop thinking like myself and fully consider how Mallika (her character) would react in each situation – Sampada Hulivana 'EVEN THOUGH COMEDY SCARES ME, IT IS A GENRE I WANT TO TRY' Sampada, who is fairly new in the industry, is already looking forward to what kind of work she wants to do. 'Comedy is something that scares me, but also it's a genre I'd love to explore. It is a challenge to make people laugh, and if you can do that, you are doing something right,' she says. 'WOMEN ARE CAPABLE OF ACTION-HEAVY ROLES' The industry tends to forget that roles for women do exist outside of love interests and family dramas. 'Women are capable of doing action-heavy roles. Undoubtedly, emotional arcs are significant in movies, but they shouldn't be the only stories women tell,' says Sampada. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now 'THE KANNADA FILM INDUSTRY HAS DEPTH, BUT WHAT WE LACK IS NATIONAL VISIBILITY' 'The Kannada Film Industry has always had powerful, historic and rooted stories, such as Ulidavaru Kandanthe, Kantara, and KGF. These films are not remakes or copies; they come from a very specific sense of identity,' says Sampada. She also feels that national visibility for Kannada films is a challenge. 'Every language has its moment, and I hope ours is coming as well. A lot is happening in the Kannada Film Industry. We just need people to look our way,' she shares.
