Social media fans have been making comparisons between Ananya Panday’s upcoming film CTRL and beloved Hollywood films Her and Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind ever since the film’s teaser was released. Director Vikramaditya Motwane addressed the similarities and said he expected the rumors in a recent interview with News18.

Vikramaditya responds on CTRL comparison

Referring to people aligning his work with the International projects, Vikramaditya said, “The moment we wrote the film, we knew that they’re going to ask us about Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind. But we’re fine with it [the comparisons]. There’s also a little bit of Her in it.”

Her starred Scarlett Johansson and Joaquin Phoenix. In the meantime, Michel Gondry’s science fiction romantic drama film Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004) was released. Jim Carrey and Kate Winslet starred in it. The Academy Awards for Best Original Screenplay went to both movies.

Although Michel’s film has inspired him throughout his life, Vikramaditya stated in the interview that it cannot be compared to CTRL.

He continued, “I’ve been generally influenced by that film. It’s a wonderful film. There’s something about the writing of that film, which is fantastic. The direction and the acting are incredible. It’s, undoubtedly, a masterpiece of our modern times. But CTRL isn’t that”. The 47-year-old tagged CTRL’s plot as a doomsday scenario.

More about CTRL

Ananya plays a young woman in the movie who, following a horrific experience, gives artificial intelligence power over her life. But this haunts her in the future. Ananya—who plays Nella in the teaser—is seen creating an account on the CTRL site. It gives your life and pleasure over to an AI assistant. Later on, it comes to light that Nella is attempting to get away from a difficult breakup caused by her boyfriend’s infidelity. Ctrl is asked to “remove” her ex. She later finds out that he has vanished, suggesting that the AI’s interference has practical repercussions. CTRL, which also stars Vihaan Samat, will be available on Netflix on October 4.

But not many have noticed that as far as the female characters go, most of the main female characters die in the series, with the exception of Zoya, played by Elnaaz Norouzi.

So can we say, “Sab marr gaye, Elnaaz bach gayee”!! (wink, wink) The lady will have a pivotal part to play in the second season. “The response to the first season was much bigger than what I had imagined. So I’m definitely looking forward to the second season,” says an elated Elnaaz.

Inspite of hailing from Iran and having studied in Germany, Elnaaz is particularly proud of the fact that she has herself dubbed her dialogues in Sacred Games, where she features along with established stars like Saif Ali Khan, Nawazuddin Siddiqui and Radhika Apte.

In fact, Elnaaz who actually knows seven languages, has perfected her Hindi diction. Directed by Anurag Kashyap and Vikramaditya Motwane, the series is based on Vikram Chandra’s critically-acclaimed novel of the same name.

Talks have been raging about how the characters played by Karan Wahi and Elnaaz in the series, bear resemblances to real life instances from megastar Salman Khan and his ex girlfriend Katrina Kaif’s life.

And though Elnaaz has clarified that she never felt or realised any such thing during the shooting and simply followed the script, the controversy refuses to die down.

Ironically, all the hype and buzz has done good for Elnaaz. The girl has started receiving offers from Bollywood. Undeniably, her role in Sacred Games has proved that she has the looks and talent, so it seems only a matter of time before she achieves more. And this makes her an interesting person to track.

Baby steps

Elnaaz hails from Iran and is charmed by the Indian entertainment industry. The actress has worked with Salman Khan in a Thumbs Up commercial and even on the Being Human ad campaign, apart from doing two prominent commercials with another megastar Shah Rukh Khan.

Glamour girl

The newbie has perfected her Hindi diction and has dubbed all her dialogues in Sacred Games, where she features along with established stars Saif Ali Khan, Nawazuddin Siddiqui and Radhika Apte. Directed by Anurag Kashyap and Vikramaditya Motwane, the series is based on Vikram Chandra’s critically-acclaimed novel of the same name.

The series portrays Elnaaz in a bold role, and belonging to the big bad world of Bollywood with its myriad temptations. Her character of Zoya Mirza who is shown as a calculating actress, has a hidden past and a relationship with Mumbai’s powerful criminal overlord Gaitonde (played by Nawazuddin), who wants to save her from an impending catastrophe. She is the only girl who survives in the first season of the series, and will now have a pivotal part to play in the second one.

Making it in India

A month ago, she also featured opposite Punjabi heartthrob singer-composer Guru Randhawa in the super successful music video of the single Made In India released by T-Series.

The Made In India video shot in Milan and Lake Como in Italy, has the chart-topping Guru wooing Elnaaz, with the lyrics praising her “worldly” beauty and describing how she looks “as if she is made in India.”

Beauty with brains

Though with her stunning looks and a figure to match, Elnaaz has much more to her. Well-read, intelligent and intellectual, she is fluent in seven languages — English, German, French, Urdu, Farsi, Hindi and Punjabi. She has also played the lead in a Punjabi film Khido Khundi.

Destination next

With a couple of film offers coming her way, it won’t be surprising if this stunner makes a grand impression on Bollywood next.