Shweta Tripathi defends Jitendra Kumar replacing Vikrant Massey in Mirzapur: ‘What Jeetu has done is not easy’
Here's the latest update from the Bollywood world:
When it was first opened up that Jitendra Kumar would replace Vikrant Massey as Bablu in Mirzapur : The Movie, many people did not approve of the choice. However, after the movie’s rollout and its subsequent success at the ticket-window, that narrative has changed. In a recent interaction, Shweta Tripathi spoke about Jitendra replacing Vikrant’s character in the movie.
Adding to this, Jitendra Kumar replaced Vikrant Massey in Mirzapur The Movie. ‘What Jeetu has done is not easy’ In conversation with NDTV, she shared, “What Jeetu has done is not easy. On Mirzapur, we are a family. We could be intimidating, we all have been together for nine years. But he made a full Bablu-type entry. We didn't come to know how he managed to pull it off. But now he's a part of our core group. Be it work or party, he has to be there. And he makes fantastic mutton! He has done full justice to a different version of Bablu and not taking away anything from (Vikrant) Massey. He is a fantastic star which all of us know.”
Meanwhile, Shweta previously starred with Jitendra in the 2019 movie Gone Kesh. She admitted that the comfort level they already shared after working together added to their chemistry in the movie.
Notably, “Our chemistry was very loved in Gone Kesh and I wanted to work with him again after that movie. It was my birthday when we were finishing the shoot of Gone Kesh and he sent me a plant as a gift in a very cute pot. We still have that plant. He is one of those people with whom you just connect. Jeetu is one of those people. It's not just me, the entire cast welcomed him with open arms,” she shared.
As per the latest buzz, Director Gurmmeet Singh has now shared his side of the story. He explained that bringing in a new star was part of taking the story in a different direction. For him, the creative process could not be tied to what had already been done in the series.
In further updates, In a recent interaction with Zoom, the movie’s director Gurmmeet Singh revealed the reason behind replacing Vikrant. He shared, “The best thing about the creative process is that it never binds us. There is often an expectation that everything will remain the same, but that isn't possible—and that shouldn't bother anyone. When we decided to recast Bablu, we were approaching the movie in a new way, and this opened up new doors for us.”
On top of that, Mirzapur: The Movie is based on the Amazon Prime Video series Mirzapur (2018). It stars Pankaj Tripathi, Ali Fazal, Divyenndu, Jitendra Kumar and Ravi Kishan in lead roles.
Vibha Maru is an Assistant Editor with Hindustan Times Entertainment, based in Delhi. With a decade of experience across digital and print media, she covers Bollywood, Hollywood and web shows. A self-confessed cinephile who breathes Hindi cinema, Vibha can often be found sacrificing sleep after binge-watching films and web series. Though she holds a Commerce degree, she discovered her true calling in journalism after enrolling at the Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC). She began her career covering Delhi's cultural scene, food, nightlife, concerts, and city life at The Times of India, before moving into full-time entertainment journalism with India Today. At India Today, Vibha interviewed some of the biggest names in Bollywood and television while carving a niche for herself through movie reviews, opinion pieces, nostalgic features, star interviews, and trend-driven stories. She later brought her storytelling and editorial expertise to The Indian Express, where she continued to deepen her understanding of cinema through long-form entertainment explainers, retrospectives and feature writing. Now, as Assistant Editor at Hindustan Times Entertainment, Vibha continues to chronicle the world of movies and pop culture. Her work spans breaking entertainment news, exclusive interviews, star features, and stories that capture the conversations shaping Indian cinema. Read More
Source: Hindustan Times