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After her breakthrough performance as a police officer in the 2018 crime drama Soni, actor Geetika Vidya Ohlyan let go of several projects which offered her the same role. However, things changed when she was offered ‘Tera Kya Hoga Lovely’, which co-stars Randeep Hooda and Ileana D’cruz. Geetika knew this was an exciting opportunity as she would get to do something she had never done before.
In an interview with ETimes, Geetika Vidya Ohlyan talks about how ‘Tera Kya Hoga Lovely’ is different from what she has done before, the challenges of comic timings and the unforgettable experience of working with Randeep Hooda.
How was it playing a cop in the film?
This is the second time I play a cop after Soni, which was a very realistic project with an almost docu-drama vibe to it . My character had a nuanced seriousness to her, which is nowhere to be seen in Chandrawal, the character I play in ‘Tera Kya Hoga Lovely’.
Comedy is such a refreshing zone to see you in, especially because Soni is a landmark project in your career, and so different from this..
After Soni, I was offered serious cop parts repeatedly but I kept saying no, till this film came to me because the script is hilarious and has its heart in the right place. The narration with Balli Paaji (director Balwinder Janjua) had me jumping with delight! The film is a wholesome happy watch for families and communities.
What truly worked for you when the film came your way?
Balli Paaji, Anil Rodhan and Kunal Mandekar have written a gleeful tale. My experience of delivering the quirky funny punch lines written by them was exhilarating. It was also quite tough for me because this is the first time I have been cast in an out and out comedy.
Can you describe how was it to have Randeep as a co-star?
Experiences are not always easy to encompass in words completely. We work with seasoned actors, learn things and discover changes and growth in our own self across the years, through the projects we work on. For this one, we hadn’t had any workshops before going on set, so, while I had to ride pillion with him, he gently said “hold the shoulder!, which would have been my first instinct as well, had we developed a bonding in the workshops. On set, he would sometimes gather everyone from the next scene and suggest we all took line runs or gabbles. It was wonderful to discover the nuances, the joy and the youthfulness he has brought to his character Sombir while he was consolidating everyone else’s performance on the set.
If my hat would be tilted even slightly, he would adjust and correct it and that’s where comradery births. It wasn’t just on set, but even on his wedding day, he introduced me to the media as“Inki photo zaroor lena bhai ye humari chandrawal ji hai!” His comradery doesn’t fade away. It was an enriching experience to get to work with him, Ileana D’cruz, Pawan Malhotra and Meghna Malik.
Describe the direction process of Balwinder Singh Janjua, how was it collaborating with him?
Balli Paaji is an eternally romantic laughter riot. His vision is intertwined with exceptional comic timing that bowled me over in the first narration itself. As a director he knows what he wants and would relentlessly ensure he gets the same or something better from the actors. I still remember the day we had to shoot my take 19 times to get it right as per his vision! His intensity of hard work is directly proportional to the intensity with which he would play badminton at the end of each day, no matter the length of shoot day or how early the call times were. I found that particular form of self love very impressive .
Can you tell us more about your future projects?
Talking about future projects reminds me of recent experiences of working with powerhouses of talent like Jaideep Ahlawat, Suvinder Vicky, Diljit Dosanjh, Arjun Rampal, Suchitra Pillai, Manu Rishi Chadda. The idea of my fans and their fans seeing us together fills me with a sense of invincible glee. This year I joined the terrific cast of The Broken News in season two, followed by a project I can’t speak much about, Punjab 95, where I am paired with the GOAT Diljit Dosanjh, the masterclass in acting Suvinder Vicky and the ever so handsome Arjun Rampal.
Also, I am hoping for the release of Dilli Dark, Dibakar Das Roy’s directorial debut which has won hearts at Tallinn International Film Festival and MAMI which co-stars Samuel Ibiola Robinson. I wish for Barah by Barah to reach the audience, which is a nostalgic and poignant tale set in Varanasi along the banks of The Ganges. My heart is with my ongoing feature with the charismatic Haryanvi man winning all hearts currently, the unstoppable and immensely talented Jaideep Ahlawat.
In an interview with ETimes, Geetika Vidya Ohlyan talks about how ‘Tera Kya Hoga Lovely’ is different from what she has done before, the challenges of comic timings and the unforgettable experience of working with Randeep Hooda.
How was it playing a cop in the film?
This is the second time I play a cop after Soni, which was a very realistic project with an almost docu-drama vibe to it . My character had a nuanced seriousness to her, which is nowhere to be seen in Chandrawal, the character I play in ‘Tera Kya Hoga Lovely’.
Comedy is such a refreshing zone to see you in, especially because Soni is a landmark project in your career, and so different from this..
After Soni, I was offered serious cop parts repeatedly but I kept saying no, till this film came to me because the script is hilarious and has its heart in the right place. The narration with Balli Paaji (director Balwinder Janjua) had me jumping with delight! The film is a wholesome happy watch for families and communities.
What truly worked for you when the film came your way?
Balli Paaji, Anil Rodhan and Kunal Mandekar have written a gleeful tale. My experience of delivering the quirky funny punch lines written by them was exhilarating. It was also quite tough for me because this is the first time I have been cast in an out and out comedy.
Can you describe how was it to have Randeep as a co-star?
Experiences are not always easy to encompass in words completely. We work with seasoned actors, learn things and discover changes and growth in our own self across the years, through the projects we work on. For this one, we hadn’t had any workshops before going on set, so, while I had to ride pillion with him, he gently said “hold the shoulder!, which would have been my first instinct as well, had we developed a bonding in the workshops. On set, he would sometimes gather everyone from the next scene and suggest we all took line runs or gabbles. It was wonderful to discover the nuances, the joy and the youthfulness he has brought to his character Sombir while he was consolidating everyone else’s performance on the set.
If my hat would be tilted even slightly, he would adjust and correct it and that’s where comradery births. It wasn’t just on set, but even on his wedding day, he introduced me to the media as“Inki photo zaroor lena bhai ye humari chandrawal ji hai!” His comradery doesn’t fade away. It was an enriching experience to get to work with him, Ileana D’cruz, Pawan Malhotra and Meghna Malik.
Describe the direction process of Balwinder Singh Janjua, how was it collaborating with him?
Balli Paaji is an eternally romantic laughter riot. His vision is intertwined with exceptional comic timing that bowled me over in the first narration itself. As a director he knows what he wants and would relentlessly ensure he gets the same or something better from the actors. I still remember the day we had to shoot my take 19 times to get it right as per his vision! His intensity of hard work is directly proportional to the intensity with which he would play badminton at the end of each day, no matter the length of shoot day or how early the call times were. I found that particular form of self love very impressive .
Can you tell us more about your future projects?
Talking about future projects reminds me of recent experiences of working with powerhouses of talent like Jaideep Ahlawat, Suvinder Vicky, Diljit Dosanjh, Arjun Rampal, Suchitra Pillai, Manu Rishi Chadda. The idea of my fans and their fans seeing us together fills me with a sense of invincible glee. This year I joined the terrific cast of The Broken News in season two, followed by a project I can’t speak much about, Punjab 95, where I am paired with the GOAT Diljit Dosanjh, the masterclass in acting Suvinder Vicky and the ever so handsome Arjun Rampal.
Also, I am hoping for the release of Dilli Dark, Dibakar Das Roy’s directorial debut which has won hearts at Tallinn International Film Festival and MAMI which co-stars Samuel Ibiola Robinson. I wish for Barah by Barah to reach the audience, which is a nostalgic and poignant tale set in Varanasi along the banks of The Ganges. My heart is with my ongoing feature with the charismatic Haryanvi man winning all hearts currently, the unstoppable and immensely talented Jaideep Ahlawat.
Tera Kya Hoga Lovely | Song – Mann Lovely