Hello Charlie | New Comedy Movie Recommendation For Kids & Families

0:01 I feel movies bring out all our childhood memories. It's easy to resonate with all the things that we love. And I can't wait to chat with other Jain about the same. Today we're going to speak to him about his movie which is soon going to release. Hello Charlie. On 9th of April on Amazon Prime Video. We will also speak about what part of this movie takes him back to his childhood and the good old days. So Aadhar, everyone's looking forward to this movie and I'm sure you're really, really excited.

0:31 Tell me about the fun parts of the movie and what's your, you know, what's about the movie that you want to share with everyone.

0:38 So hello Charlie. First of all, thank you for the introduction and second of all, hello Charlie is a very, very special film for many, many reasons. You know, the fact that the concept is so unique. It's about a boy and a gorilla both going on this fun, crazy adventure road trip together. And you know, I've been on many road trips in my life with my friends but I've never been on a road trip with an animal that to a gorilla who's so fun and so cute and so loving.

1:02 And it's been a pleasure to work on this film. The experience has been amazing. Excel Entertainment is backing this project and we have Pankaj Saraswat who's very well versed in comedy, who's directing this film and has written the film also. So it's just been an amazing experience. I'm a big animal lover so to have worked with an animal as my co star, it couldn't have been better, right?

1:23 You know, we watched the trailer and it's funny. So for everybody who's tuning into this interview, if you guys haven't seen the trailer, go see it because it'll make you really, really want to watch the film and very, very curious to watch it. Tell us about your character because it looks really like I was laughing most of the time. Tell us about your character and you know, a few quirks about her.

1:47 So my, my character, his name is Chirag Rastogi or Charlie. He's a small town boy. He's very simple, very masoom, innocent. He's very cartoonish and goofy and he's a little clumsy also, you know, and sometimes his simplicity lands him up in problems, in trouble. And I think that's the whole crux of the entire film because wherever he goes, he goes to do the right thing but some craziness always happens around him, you know, and the situations in the Film that arise are all because of, you know, his simplicity which he goofs up in.

2:17 He's a goof up. So it was very interesting to play the character. It's someone who is quite far away from who I am as a person. But he's a very loving character. You know, you fall in love with him. He's always ready to help people. And he's here and come to Mumbai to sort of pay off his father's loan and work hard. So yeah, it was a very, very fun character to play.

2:39 Right. You mentioned you love animals and you know, it was great fun shooting with Toru. I want to know how was it like shooting with an animal and any episodes or anecdotes that you can think of?

2:52 Oh, there's so many. And like I just said, yeah, I am an animal lover. I've never had a dog before in my life. But I love dogs. I love all kinds of animals. Obviously. I think because we live in apartments, my mom never let us have one. But I've taken all that out and enjoyed this experience thoroughly by, you know, really cherishing this moment with the gorilla with. With Toto, who's so cute and so fun and so loving.

3:13 He's so well trained, you know, he's so responsive. He understands. He has so much love to give. And initially, I have to say I. I was obviously very hesitant and very scared because it's not just like. Like a dog or like a cat, you know, he's a big gorilla. You know, to. To have to stand next to him was really scary initially. But I have to say, credit to all his handlers that were there with him and Pankat sir, who, you know, had already met him, so.

3:37 So he's come from la, he's from the Planet of the Apes team and he's come from there and it was just an amazing experience. You know, we've shot this entire film on the road along with him. And I have to say one really fond memorable moment and experience that I have with him was when we both danced on this really famous song now which has become famous actually in our movies called One to One, two Dance.

3:58 And the song is so fun, it's peppy. It's great for kids because it has a very easy hook step. The lyrics are very catchy. The song is very catchy. And we both rehearsed together for two days and then we shot the entire song. So it was challenging, but it's a lot of fun as well to do.

4:13 My God, I can imagine. And for everybody who's Watching. We may just have a little surprise towards the end of this interview. So I want everybody to continue watching and stay tuned. Other I must say that in the last one year, you know, watching movies, entertainment, movies online, you know, such as Amazon, the movie experience has really changed because it's become now a very family experience. And, you know, we're looking forward to watching this movie with the kids.

4:39 Tell me what part of it you think the kids will really enjoy and is it like a family experience?

4:47 100%. So our film is a completely clean comedy. We got a youth certificate, which means kids can watch it even without their parents. Of course, like I'm saying, it's not just a kids film, but it's a family film. It's a family entertainer. You know, it is something that will make you laugh, it'll make you hopefully cry, laughing out so loud. And, you know, it put a smile on your face. And I feel like in a time like this is really important.

5:08 The Pandemic has really shaken us up. You know, we all have our own sort of worries and difficulties that we're all dealing with on a daily basis, but this is a stress buster film. And hopefully, and I pray to God that it can, it can give some relief to all the families sitting together. And definitely it brings the whole family together, you know, especially the kids, because I feel in the last year, all the kids are just sitting at home.

5:30 You know, they're not. They're doing their online classes and online schooling, they're not going out, they're not really meeting their friends. You know, parents are a little worried about them getting out of the house and I would assume that they were sort of bored also and not being entertained that much. So this is also a small gift in a sense. The timing is also right because the film got made in this time when the Pandemic is happening.

5:48 And now everyone can sit at home comfortably safe and watch the film on Amazon Prime. So it's, I think it's a win, win for all of us.

5:56 Wow. So you actually shot it during the pandemic, huh?

5:59 We shot the film actually in 2019, just before the pandemic. But we had a couple of days of shoot still remaining. We had two songs to do and we shot that during the pandemic. Actually. Hello Charlie was the first film in the, in Hindi cinema to start shooting again. And it was quite a challenge because, you know, cases were rising. But excellent entertainment and the kind of norms they followed and the precautions they took really ensure all our safety on set.

6:24 Wow. Tell me you know, kids and animals have a very, you know, a very affable. But it was amazing connection, Right?

6:32 Yeah.

6:32 And there have been many animal movies in the past where, you know, we grew up with a lot of. With animals and. And one of them had Jackie Shop as well. I think it was Teri Mehr. Vadnia.

6:45 Right?

6:45 Was that correct?

6:46 Yeah, I think so. I think so.

6:50 Correct. So we have all of these amazing movies when we were growing up as kids. Now, tell me how. How are the kids gonna. You know, what are the things that kids will love about Toto?

7:01 Just the fact that he's so fun, he's so cute, he's really loving, and, you know, he's very responsive, you know. You know, it's so funny, when I used to watch films growing up, you know, especially animal films like Dr. Dolittle or Mali and Me even, you know, you always picture yourself as that character actor talking to the dog or talking to all these animals and being consumed by that world. You know, you're so innate and you wish you were that person.

7:28 So I feel like kids are also going to sort of see themselves in Charlie and wish that they were Charlie and Toto. It's so funny that I was actually coming up the lift the other day, and in my building, there were these couple of kids who really connected with Toto, and they kept saying, oh, where's Toto? Where's Toto? So I was like, you know what? For me, that was a really special moment because the fact that they've connected with Toto, who's really, really cute, and the film and the concept is really, really special.

7:55 Right. And I'm sure, because I think we're so starved of good entertainment for children in the last one year that I'm sure this is going to be a huge, you know, candy or treat for them. They really look forward to it. But also, tell me about which are your favorite? I know you mentioned Marley and me and Dr. Doodle, but tell me about your favorite animal movies that you grew up with and kind of, you know, you can go back to it again,

8:23 you know, so it's funny, when I. When I first narrated the script, I thought of Dunstan Checkson. You see Dunstan Checkson. So Duncan Checkers, really, really famous movie, which I had seen long time ago when I was a kid and something I loved watching as a child. Of course, there's so many other films. You know, there's Dr. Dolittle, all the series of Dr. Dolittle, Mali and Me. Hati Mira Saathi I think in Pherhera Pheri, there's a part where they have a sort of gorilla, but it's only there for one scene.

8:52 There are so, so many. There's so many. You know, it's great. You know, I feel like they should be making more films with animals, you know, and. And yeah, I'm happy this kind of film is happening now, finally, and kids can really take to it.

9:06 Right. Tell me a couple of lessons that you feel you learned while working with an animal. Right. Like, I know this is typically a question that gets asked what you learned from your co stars or what was like, you know, you really admire about your co stars, but in your case, it was a unique costar. So I'd love to know, did you learn working with. With him?

9:31 I mean, just the fact that he's very patient, you know, and he's attentive and he listens, you know, I feel like the two things are similar between kids and animals is that they're not flooded with a lot of information and they're not thinking so much and we're not thinking. They're just being and living in the moment and they're present. And I feel like that is something that's just so organic and true, you know, and you can just watch and observe kids, or you can observe an animal and just learn from that, you know, because they're their true self.

10:00 There's no facade, and they're not trying to overthink any situations. They're just being so. I think that's something that I've really, really taken away.

10:08 Right. And what do you think would be the key takeaways that families will take away from. From hello, Charlie?

10:16 Well, for sure they'll be entertained. It's, you know, a one of a kind film. The concept is very unique. It's never been done before, which is, you know, a unique selling factor. Also the fact that, you know, we all, all of us have our own stresses in our own ways. This is a definitely a stress buster film. It's a light comedy, it's a clean comedy. It's meant to make you feel good, to smile, to laugh out loud.

10:39 And I think we all are looking forward to something like that. So I really, really hope that people can connect to it and just have a blast, you know, and forget about their worries, even with those two hours.

10:47 Right. You know, we asked our audiences a few questions that they wanted to ask you specifically. We have a couple of them, so I'm going to ask you that. Everybody wants to know one character Similarity between you and Charlie, for me and

11:01 Charlie just said, you know, we. We both. Of course there are similarities, and there are not some similarities. Like, he goofs up a lot, you know, so that's not similar. But similarities would be that, you know, he's. He's very loving, you know, he always wants to help people. He is innocent, you know, he doesn't have any wrong thought in his mind. He's good to people and he's always there when people need them. And I think these are two similarities that we both have.

11:29 Of course, I'm not very clumsy like Charlie. He does goof up quite a bit. He's very animated in his expressions, and he's quite cartoonish in that sense. But, yeah, we are very, very similar in that sense. And I really, really feel that this character is very close to my heart.

11:44 Tell me, as an actor, is it tougher to play roles that breed off you or that are different from you?

11:53 I feel like it's important when you're playing a character to have some form of connect with the character. You know, it could be anything, the way he speaks or the background or the characteristics or the qualities or anything. You need to find some similarity or some point of connection between both of you. Whether you're playing a negative character, someone who's a villain or dark shade, or even someone who's very light and positive and happy or like a hero or whatever it is, you know, it is important to find some connection because then it makes your character easier to believe and easier to portray on screen.

12:28 Right. And they also want to know what's the similarity between Charlie and Toto in the film?

12:33 Between Charlie and Toto? Interesting question. I think that they all. They both have clean hearts. You know, like I said earlier, animals have a very, very clean heart. And, you know, they don't think too much. They just, you know, are very responsive and giving and loving. So I think that's the similarity between Charlie and Doka.

13:01 Right. They also want to know which are your favorite, favorite, you know, favorite animals. I mean, I know you mentioned you love dog, but they want to know. I mean, they want to know if you had a pet and unfortunately, no,

13:13 you know, because I live in an apartment. My. My mom lived in a bungalow, and she had three dogs, you know, but she had a big garden, a lot of space. So she felt like, you know, if you have a dog at home, it's a bit unfair to the dog because I always wanted a lab. You know, the first dog and the breed I ever fell in love with was a lab and I always wanted one.

13:29 So my mom said that, you know, we can get one, but I feel it's a bit unfair to the dog because it needs space, it needs to walk around to, to go do whatever it likes to play. So we'd be sort of keeping trapping the dog in a confined environment. But yeah, hopefully if I move into a bigger house and I move into my own space, my mom said you can do what you want. So I'm waiting, I'm waiting.

13:47 But I, I do have my new favorite animal, which is Toto, and I've had a blast working with him and, and I love animals or in general, I love going on safaris. I've loved going on safaris and as a kid also I went to Runtham Board Masai Mara. I don't really remember it too much, but I have fond memories, a lot of photos saved. So I think after this film I'm definitely going to go on a safari again.

14:12 Yeah, tell me, tell me other. When you are working with some, like with Toto, which is a humongous size, right?

14:22 Yeah.

14:22 Intimidating. Were you like? Yes.

14:26 Honestly, I imagine your Toto had gone all the way back and I was like coming closer to him like this because I didn't know what to expect. I mean, obviously, even the first time you meet a dog or a cat or whatever, you don't know how, how they are, you know, what are their characteristics, how they are responsive to, you know, humans. So obviously I was very scared initially and I know I, I knew you. I had to like, you know, play this character throughout the film and I had to be very comfortable doing my lines and playing my character, living truly in those situations, dancing with him, so I couldn't be scared.

14:57 You know, I had to forget all those worries.

14:59 Who had to take more retakes because of the other you or him, maybe

15:06 me, because I have to say he's very well trained and very responsive as an actor

15:12 handler. If you do this, he'll get angry. Like, did people play pranks on you that don't do this or do this or he, this will upset him or

15:21 so the one thing was like, obviously we always had bananas on set because all gorillas and monkeys have bananas. So that was like his way of feed him and try and, you know, make him act and stuff like that. But obviously if you show him a banana, he won't do anything. You know, he'll just go running for the food like any animal does. So obviously we had to give him treats and give him certain Things, you know, after the scene was done.

15:42 But. But his handlers are very, very good. Like I said, he's very well trained and he's. I don't know, it was just very, very cool to work with him. I didn't expect him to be so responsive and to be so alert and attentive and patient because normally, like, it's hard to hold an animal's attention for so long. Right. Especially when you're doing scenes. So I was very impressed. He's no less than any actor.

16:05 Right. I don't know, maybe we should title this other Jenna to take more remake more retakes than the. No, but seriously, I mean, that only goes on to show that one. There was a lot of pre prep that was done. And it's.

16:23 It's a lot of what happens when you're acting, right. You. You do take so many reasons. It's not just for your performance or for what you're saying or whatever. If you fumble and stuff, you know, the camera can go wrong sometimes lighting goes wrong. Sometimes directors are not happy with the frame or the directors aren't happy of the positions of the actors and stuff like that. So retakes happen for obviously multiple reasons, not just because the performance is like, you know, are not up to the mark.

16:46 But I feel that generally we didn't take too many retakes because as a whole, comedy is something that's very spontaneous. And the more spontaneous your reactions are, the funnier they are, you know, and you have to.

16:56 When you're doing this with. With an animal, how do you. How do you, you know, how do you get the timing right, especially in a comedy. Right. Like, what if he's supposed to do something that was supposed to make you laugh and bring about that spontaneity and he does something. Did that happen? Like he did something more goofy and you were like, you kind of just rolled out more or anything like that. There's a sense of unpredictability as well.

17:21 Right, sure, yeah, of course. But see, you know, the way we designed all the scenes was the way we shot everything was. You know, we would sometimes shoot with him separately, then shoot with us, you know, and then match it all together so it looks like one scene.

17:31 So cinema work harder then you probably doubly good. Because it's hard to do this sort of comedy alone.

17:39 Right, of course. And also, ma', am, like the one thing I was going to say was it's. It's a comedic film, but the situations are very funny. It's like a comedy of Errors. It's not like we're trying to do something very physical and trying to marrow some dialogue, and then it's going to be very, very funny. You know, we're living our characters very truly to every situation that's there in the script. Living our characters to the fullest.

17:58 And the situations that are written are very, very funny. You know, like I said, it's Charlie's simplicity that lands him up into trouble sometimes. It's his clumsiness and his goofiness which makes these situations very funny in the film. I think that's what people are going to really laugh at instead of actually our dialogues or punches and stuff like that.

18:17 Right. No, I mean. I mean, I'm really, really excited to watch this one because it's almost. It's almost like I'm wondering, how did you do it? Right? Because trying to. I understand cinema, but I'm just trying to say that, you know, it's so much harder when, you know, the other part. The other actors kind of, you know, you don't know what the reaction of that actor is going to.

18:38 I think so. Sorry to interrupt you. Someone has joined us. Someone has joined us.

18:42 All right.

18:43 Toto has joined us.

18:44 Oh, amazing.

18:46 Hi. Hi, Toto. Hi.

18:50 Oh, my God. I'm. I am a little intimidated now. Oh.

18:55 Oh, no, no, no, no, no, no. Good, good.

19:01 So you've already got your equation going.

19:03 Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, for sure. Like I said, we've done this entire film over the last two years, so we have good chemistry now. More than romance, there's bromance, or should I say gomance happening, and we get each other. We have a great bond on and off. So he listens to me. Right, right, right. Yes. Yeah. Okay.

19:22 Okay. I. You know, typically, we do this at the end of the episode with everybody. So we're gonna do a fun rapid fire with you and Toto.

19:30 Okay.

19:31 Toto's, of course, gonna act it out, and you need to kind of help us with. What do you think his, you know, like. Yeah, just like, almost mime what his action would be. Right.

19:41 Okay.

19:42 Okay. Are you ready between you guys?

19:44 Are you ready? Okay, good boy. He looks very excited and ready for that.

19:50 Okay, Guru, can you show us an expression of when you get angry? What's the action?

19:57 Oh,

20:00 okay. When you're happy.

20:06 Good boy, good boy, good boy.

20:08 It's almost like a chemistry. So you have to almost duplicate his action. Let's see how you get it right. Your favorite action in the movie.

20:23 The song. The song. What you want to Dance.

20:26 Okay. Which part of the movie are kids going to love about you? Toto, can you show us an action?

20:33 You're cute. You're cute. You're cute. And the song. But when you're very, very cute. When you're very, very cute. Sure. Show us your cute expression, Toto. Oh yeah, he gets really cute like this.

20:47 Okay. Is Adar your friend? Do you love him?

20:52 Yeah.

20:54 You've been kind. You've been feeding him bananas.

20:56 I've been feeding him a lot of bananas.

20:59 Okay.

20:59 Bananas. No. Okay. No.

21:04 Okay, raise your hand. Who is better in action movies? You or other? Let's see what he says. Really modest. Modesty. He's like is. He's quite not. He's quite pompous about that.

21:23 He's very sure of himself. That's the thing, you know.

21:25 Right? But this is incredible. Wishing both of you guys lots and lots of love and luck for the 9th of April. Can't wait, can't wait to see you guys on On Child on hello Charlie on Amazon prime video on 9th of April and other I want you to give, you give everybody a final message on on, on watching the movie on Amazon Prime Videos online.

21:55 So please guys, please, please, please come watch hello Charlie on the 9th of April on Amazon Prime Video. I promise you this film will make you laugh start to finish. It'll definitely put a smile on your faces. I think we're all going through a lot right now and it's great for families just to come together and watch this film, especially with the kids. You know, you're going to get to see the star of our movie which is sitting in the right here.

22:17 Right? Am I right Toto? Yeah. Look how excited he is. Super excited to meet all you guys on the 9th of April. So please do come and enjoy this magical experience with us. Do come. I'll see you soon.

22:28 Great. Thank you so much guys. This has been an incredible experience and really, really looking forward to the night.

22:34 Thank you so much. Thank you.

22:35 Wish you guys lots of luck for the movie.

22:37 Thank you. Lovely, lovely, lovely.

22:43 Thank you. Thanks so much.

22:44 Thank you.