Vicky Kaushal has always been unassuming despite his many successes portraying emotionally complex characters on the silver screen. When you watch a movie starring him, you can expect a masterclass performance. It’s almost become second nature to him. From the devastatingly beautiful portrayal of a man face to face with grief in the 2015 sleeper hit Masaan to his stoic turn as India’s first field marshal, Sam Manekshaw in Sam Bahadur—Kaushal always delivers. And then there’s the sneakily softboy Kaushal with a hard edge in arguably one of his more, er, smooth performances in the song everyone can’t seem to get enough of, Tauba Tauba, where he slithers and motions for you to take him as he is—thirst trap and all. The song is from his upcoming film Bad Newz, co-starring Triptii Dimri and Ammy Virk.
Bad Newz, directed by Anand Tiwari, may be packaged as a comedy. Yet, it spotlights a rare condition, referred to as heteropaternal superfecundation, where two eggs are fertilised by sperm from different fathers. According to a 2020 paper published in Animal Genetics, this phenomenon is relatively common in sheep and rams but rare in humans, with only 19 reported cases to date globally.
In the film, Kaushal portrays Akhil Chaddha, a West Delhi guy who manages his family’s business and lives carefree. He’s cheerful, spontaneous, and full of energy, with modest aspirations. Akhil deeply loves Saloni, played by Dimri, who is strong-willed and practical in her approach to life.
“When you’re dealing with a film that carries a strong social message, it’s crucial for it to not come off as preachy. Comedy, in a way, serves as the perfect vehicle for such stories,” says Kaushal, who has previously starred in comedies like The Great Indian Family (2023) with Manushi Chhillar, Zara Hatke Zara Bachke (2023) with Sara Ali Khan, and Govinda Naam Mera (2022) alongside Bhumi Pednekar and Kiara Advani.
Bad Newz also marks Dimri’s debut in the comedy genre, adding a new dimension to her acting career. “This is my first time trying out a comedy film, and honestly, it was tough at first. I’ve mostly done drama before this, which I was comfortable with. When I received this script and learnt about the role, I thought, ‘This character will be a challenge.’ But that’s what intrigued me and convinced me to accept the film. I like taking on roles that push me out of my comfort zone and make me a bit nervous. Working closely with Anand was crucial. We had several reading sessions and workshops where we worked on different scenes together to help me prepare for the character,” says the actor, who impressed audiences with Netflix’s Bulbbul (2020) and Qala (2022) but shot to national fame with Animal (2023).
Dimri admits that she naturally leans towards drama. “It’s my favourite genre. But getting too comfortable with one kind of film can limit your growth as an actor. It’s important to break free and explore different roles. This keeps things fresh both for me and the audience,” she says, adding that she’s also keen to venture into action and thrillers. “Then, perhaps I’ll return to drama,” she says with a smile.
Kaushal, too, finds that the comedy genre allows him to explore various facets of his personality as an actor. On some days, comedy can feel challenging because it’s tricky for him to get the humour right. “When a joke doesn’t land perfectly, it can be tough. But on other days, it comes easily. The key is to stay relaxed and go with the flow,” he says.
Kaushal also believes that comedic timing is a lot about riffing off your co-stars. He admits to feeding off the energy that Dimri and Ammy Virk brought to the set each day. “Triptii is a fantastic actor; she brings a subtle vulnerability that’s so effective, especially in comedy where vulnerability can still resonate deeply. And Ammy is just intuitive and natural. He doesn’t overthink it; he reacts authentically to the moment, which makes his performances very genuine. His comic timing is spot-on, absolutely fantastic,” says Kaushal.
Dimri feels that with comedy, some people say that you have to think about what you’re saying and be serious. “You can’t try to be funny; you have to be serious; only then will the audience find it amusing. Understanding that took a little while for me. Every day was a learning experience, and I’m still learning,” she says.
No matter what the box office has in store for Bad Newz, Dimri is grateful to be on the ride and wants to stay on it for a while. “I’ve been around for six years now and learned that patience is key in this profession. If you remain passionate and committed to your craft, you can achieve your goals in life. This advice from one of my early mentors has stuck with me and reminded me to stay focussed and resilient despite any setbacks,” she says, adding that she’s received more than her fair share of good fortune with her roles. “Audiences vary, and they appreciate different aspects of your work, but the love and support are consistently heartwarming. Good storytelling resonates regardless of the platform it’s on—whether it’s OTT or theatres,” she says.
For Kaushal, too, cinema is like home—it’s where he thrives and feels most alive. “Being on a film set feels like breathing in the best oxygen. I’m certain that filmmaking will be a part of my life forever. Whether I continue as an actor or explore other aspects of filmmaking, I’ll always be learning and evolving with cinema. There’s no concrete plan yet, just a deep commitment to follow where cinema leads me,” he says, admitting that for him, longevity does matter. “I’m in it for the long haul, not for short-term popularity. Creating a meaningful body of work that I can be proud of and that resonates with people over time is what drives me. Building a legacy is my focus,” he says. Up next for Kaushal: his first historical drama, titled Chhava, based on the life of Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj, son of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.
Dimri, too, is hard at work, building a body of work that she can be proud of. She has Vicky aur Vidya Ka Woh Wala Video with Rajkummar Rao, which she says “was a lot of fun to shoot.” Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 is also on its way and has Dimri exploring another new genre. Then there’s Dhadak 2, which will see her returning to her favourite genre, drama. Despite the many work commitments, Dimri is careful to balance her personal life and her profession. “I make sure not to let work overshadow everything else. Acting is a significant part of my life, but so are my friends, family, personal time, and fitness. I am mindful of taking breaks and disconnecting to focus on other aspects of life. This approach guides how I manage both my career and personal life,” she says.
ELLE India Editor: Ainee Nizami Ahmedi; Photographer: The House Of Pixels; Videographer: Shubham Mandhyan; Jr. Fashion Editor: Shaeroy Chinoy; Fashion Assistant: Komal Shetty (styling); Asst. Art Director: Sanjana Suvarna; Bookings Coordinator: Anushka Patil, Assisted by: Vaishnavi Misra, Idris Nidham, Siya Manuja (styling); Hair: Sourav Roy (Tripti), Shuaib Salmani from Hakim Aalim (Vicky); Make up: Riviera Lynn represented by TAP (Tripti), Anil Sable (Vicky); Creative Production: Office Hours by Aangi Nahta; Production: Cutloose Productions; Artists PR Agency: Hype PR; Luxury Automobile Partner: Audi India
