Where Bollywood Comes Alive
Posts tagged 1993
Anupama Chopra talks about her new book
02 years ago
by Fenil Seta
in Bollywood News
Anupama Chopra walks the tightrope as she continues her love affair with the film industry even as she gives it the objective eye
Namrata Bhawnani (MUMBAI MIRROR; May 08, 2011)
Pre-1993, when Bollywood was being bankrolled by the underworld, the industry was almost blasé about its murky associations, says author Anupama Chopra.
In her new book, First Day First Show, she quotes a producer-director, “What is the problem if people are taking money from these people? Their money is not contaminated. It doesn’t matter as long as you make the film and repay them.”
Anupama laughs, “Back then, I was naïve enough to ask producers ‘Are you the mafia?’ People visited Dubai to pay homage to Dawood.
The money was generous, paid on time and there were bankrolled shopping sprees. When the industry became a target with the shootings, it was a dark, weird time. Now I don’t hear of them funding the industry.”
The petite writer is chatty even though she is in a rush to prepare for her trip to Cannes. Three years ago, when she was on the jury, she nearly collapsed while chasing Hollywood stars for interviews and trying to catch all the films. “I had to shoot in a wheelchair,” she says, bursting into peals of laughter.
Her book chronicles the evolution of what was essentially a chaotic cottage industry into its current more sanitized avatar.
Twenty years ago, Anupama returned with a master’s degree from a top journalism school in the US, to become a film journalist when More >
A K Hangal: Sunset boulevard
02 years ago
by Fenil Seta
in Bollywood News
A K Hangal, iconic character artiste who has appeared in nearly 200 films, is ill and impecunious
Vickey Lalwani (MUMBAI MIRROR; January 20, 2011)
For decades he made cinephiles weep with him, at him as he battled bereavement, exploitation and misery on screen. At 95, Avtar Kishan Hangal, aka A K Hangal, remembered for some of the most heart-rending roles in Hindi cinema, battles a fading memory, illness and acute penury.
Saraswati Mansion in Santacruz (East), where the veteran actor lives with his 74-year-old son, Vijay, looks run down, and in crying need for repairs. But neither Hangal, who is confined to the bed, or his son, who suffers from a debilitating back problem, are in any position to bring about cosmetic changes to their modest dwelling, struggling as they are to pay for medication.
A friend of the Hangal family told Mumbai Mirror, “Hangal saab was an active participant in the Indian freedom struggle and he acted in nearly 200 films. It is sad to see him reduced to such a state where he has to depend on benefactors for survival.”
A K Hangal with his son Vijay (Rana Chakraborty)Hangal and his son have depleted their savings. Vijay was a Bollywood photographer. “But I am 74 years old now and can’t be running around clicking pictures on the field. Besides, there is the back problem,” he tells us.
Despite his contribution to the film industry, the city has not been kind to the actor. In 1993 Hangal had applied for a More >
Fans believe I can beat up 100 people-Sunny Deol
02 years ago
by Fenil Seta
in Bollywood News
Sunny Deol returns to action in his family drama with Dharmendra and Bobby Deol
Mark Manuel | TNN (BOMBAY TIMES; January 5, 2011)
Sunny Deol is excited. Yamla Pagla Deewana, his film with father Dharmendra and brother Bobby Deol, releases on January 14. It is their second film together after Apne in 2007. But this one is different, the promos are promising, the Deols have been getting favourable reports from friends, fans and the industry. Sunny unloaded some of his excitement onto me. “The audience will see us like never before,” he said, “the film is wholesome entertainment, like a Manmohan Desai lost-and-found story, but our approach has been more logical. It is a neat and clean film, a good package that ladies, children, grown-ups will enjoy, the story revolves around us nicely, there are no gags for the sake of gags, there’s action — my image of a man who can beat up 100 people is there, but it’s not bloodlust, there’s no vendetta and wanting to hurt, we’ve made fun of ourselves… Yamla Pagla Deewana has got it all.”
He has reason to look forward to the film. Sunny has spent 27 years in Bollywood. But since 2004, it’s been a struggle for the proud and rugged Jat. “I don’t know why,” he admitted ruefully. “Things didn’t fall they way they ought to have.” And he’s not had a release since Right Yaaa Wrong in March last year. This has to be his comeback vehicle. With Pa Dharmendra driving. Naturally, Sunny has reason enough to be More >
Mrs Dutt is on a roll
02 years ago
by Fenil Seta
in Bollywood News
From a small-time actress not so long ago, to the owner of a Rolls Royce, there’s more to Manyata Dutt’s evolution to a lady of the manor than what the eye can see
Vickey Lalwani (MUMBAI MIRROR; December 05, 2010)
When Sanjay Dutt gifted his wife Manyata a Rolls Royce earlier this week, all the world was there to hoot for the couple.
Manyata, visibly a new mom of twins, her white and yellow dress stretched over her post-pregnancy belly made a striking picture - the picture of a woman caught in the middle of transformation.
Gone was the shapeless salwar kameez and in its place a cool dress, appropriate shoes, bag and sun glasses. The hair - loose and wavy - continues to hark back in time, although it will be just a while until the lady seeks out a suitable hairdresser.
Manyata Dutt is evolving, even as she has affected much change in her husband Sanjay Dutt’s life. There is reason why much noise was made about Mrs Dutt’s new gift. “Manyata publicity ke liye kuch bhi karegi,” says an insider. “It was her idea that the media be called and that Sanjay should speak about the new swanky car.
So Sanjay cooked up a tale that the car was a post-delivery gift to Manyata.” Fact is, the actor has been dying to buy a Rolls Royce for the last eight years. He is very fond of fast cars. He is known to have gone into depression when Vidhu Vinod Chopra gifted a Phantom to Amitabh Bachchan, after the release of Eklavya.
A few months ago he was heard More >
Devgns sells their 4 flats for 17 crs
02 years ago
by Fenil Seta
in Bollywood News
Alka Shukla, Kunal M Shah (MUMBAI MIRROR; November 06, 2010)
The Devgn family is in the process of selling all four flats in Varsha Apartment in Juhu. Sources say the deal is being cracked with only one buyer and is fetching them around Rs 17 crore.
The Devgans Viru and Veena along with sons Ajay and Anil moved into Varsha in 1993. Ajay continued living here even after marrying Kajol.
However, the entire family shifted to a bungalow in Juhu around three and a half years ago.
Since then all four flats were lying vacant.
According to sources, the apartments on sixth and seventh floors of the building are around 1,100 sq feet each.
Chunky, David Dhawan to work after 17 yrs
02 years ago
by Fenil Seta
in Bollywood News
Sonal Chawla (MUMBAI MIRROR; October 20, 2010)
Chunky Pandey is re-uniting with director David Dhawan after almost two decades. Chunky will be seen working with David in his next, Rascals.
Chunky worked last with David in Aankhen in 1993. It is after 17 years that they are working together. Chunky said, “Can you believe this. We worked in a blockbuster, Aankhen, and never worked after that.
Davidji did a lot of films with Govinda, but unfortunately we never ended up working together. And this time finally he got a character in his script for me.”
He adds, “Davidji really liked me in my comic role in Sajid Khan’s Housefull. He was in splits, especially with my character get-up.
This role in Rascals too seems tailor-made for me. Davidji is an amazing director and has a lovely comic sense. Moreover, this movie has a lot of fun people like Ajay Devgn and Sanjay Dutt.”
You must be the rascal, Chunks!
Munni Badnaam lifted from a Pak movie song
02 years ago
by Fenil Seta
in Bollywood News
India’s disco anthem is a straight lift from a little-known film from across the border
Vickey Lalwani, Sonal Chawla (MUMBAI MIRROR; October 09, 2010) Malaika in Munni… and (right) Lalit Pandit
While Munni sang and danced (and made disrepute sound desirable) it would be interesting to see how the producer and music director of Dabangg themselves deal with some ‘badnami’ now.
Dabangg’s original soundtrack may be flying off the shelves, as confirmed by leading music shops in the city, but here is a screechy footnote: the album’s chartbuster — Munni Badnaam Hui — is a straight lift from the soundtrack of a Pakistani film.
The movie is Mr Charlie and the song ‘Ladka badnaam hua haseena tere liye’ (CHECK SONG BELOW). The Pakistani song, which has been copied note for note by Lalit Pandit (of Jatin-Lalit fame) for Dabangg, was recorded back in 1993.
That year, to put things in perspective, two films of Salman’s released — Chandra Mukhi and Dil Tera Aashiq. Both bombed at the box office.
‘Ladka badnaam hua haseena tere liye’ was picturised on Pakistani stand-up comedian-actor-producer-director Umer Sharif.
The song’s lyrics are the only original element in its copy in Dabangg. When we contacted Sharif in Pakistan, he sounded both amused and angry. “Yeh chori nahin, seena zori hein,” he said, and added that he had heard about the plagiarisation a couple of days back. “I am more surprised than angry.
Comedian Umer Sharif, of Bakra More >Indian origin actress wins first Emmy
02 years ago
by Fenil Seta
in Bollywood News
PTI (MUMBAI MIRROR; August 31, 2010)
British actress Archie Panjabi has done India proud by winning her first Emmy award. She has won a Best Supporting Actress trophy for her portrayal of Kalinda Sharma, a bisexual private investigator in the drama series The Good Wife.
Dressed in a black off-shoulder Tadashi Shoji gown, the 38-year-old actress of Indian origin, described the win as a “dream come true” at the 62nd Emmy Awards ceremony.
“When I started in the business in England, just getting a job was a dream. And to receive an Emmy now is just beyond my wildest dreams. Working on The Good Wife for me is like a dream come true,” she said.
Panjabi beat off competition from Christina Hendricks (Mad Men), Elisabeth Moss and Rose Byrne (Damages) and Sharon Gless (Burn Notice) to win the top award in the category.
The actress, who was born to Sikh parents in West London, began her career with the Om-Puri starrer East is East and went on to star in films like Bend It Like Beckham and Academy Award-nominated The Constant Gardener.
Panjabi is one of the few performers of Asian origin to have won an Emmy, and is the first visible minority to win the category since Mary Alice won for I’ll Fly Away in 1993.
The actress, who is married to fellow British actor Raj Nihlipandi, had appeared alongside Angelina Jolie in A Mighty Heart where she played the role of a former Wall Street Journal reporter Asra Nomani. Archie’s performance earned her The Chopard Trophy More >
SRK’s biwi on TV
02 years ago
Shah Rukh will act with his wife Gauri in a TV commercial
Sonal Chawla (MUMBAI MIRROR; July 22, 2010)
Now that Shah Rukh is taking time off from shooting for his various endorsements to concentrate on RA.One, wife Gauri Khan is exploring unchartered territory. She has bagged her first brand endorsement with her husband.
Very soon, the couple will be seen in a television commercial. The buzz in the industry is that they will endorse a very popular furnishing house. The shoot for the commercial is likely to take place in Mumbai.
Gauri and Shah Rukh KhanAd filmmaker, Sunhil Sippy, (who directed Snip) will be directing King Khan and his wife in this commercial. And in this stint, Sunhil seems to have got by with a little help from his friends Makarand Deshpande and Saurabh Shukla actively helping him out wherever possible.
Gauri, who has always maintained a very low profile in the industry, is known to have designed costumes for her husband during his Baazigar (1993) days. She turned producer with Main Hoon Na (2004) and Om Shanti Om (2007). According to the source Gauri is finally letting go of her shell.
“Gauri has been approached for commercials earlier but somehow things never worked out. This commercial with Shah Rukh will be her first full-fledged assignment in front of the camera,” added the source.
Be it Saif Ali khan and Kareena Kapoor, Abhishek Bachchan and Aishwarya Rai or Akshay Kumar and Twinkle Khanna, star couples More >