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Posts tagged A wednesday
If I need to join politics to make a difference, I will-Neeraj Pandey
03 months ago
by Fenil Seta
in Interviews
Priya Gupta (BOMBAY TIMES; February 3, 2013)
Neeraj Pandey, 40, made his directorial debut with A Wednesday, a film that was cathartic and echoed the common man’s feeling. He is reserved and emotionally restrained and is certain that some day he would like to make a difference in the way our country is being run. But he would prefer to talk about it only when he can actually make a difference. In a conversation with Bombay Times, Neeraj talks about his desire to set things right politically, the incorrectly perceived Naseeruddin Shah and how he is amazed at Kajal Aggarwal’s speed of doing films. Excerpts:
How did you get into films? I am a Bihari, born and brought up in Kolkata. I moved to Delhi at the age of 19. I flunked in Class 9, but was always fond of reading and writing. I was not good at anything apart from writing and had few career choices, so I did Literature Honours from Aurobindo College. I wrote a play in college and got interested in direction and realised that I wanted to make films. I started working as an assistant director for making television software and worked with the Dalmias for some time. Delhi had little work and there was a time in my life when things were not working out.
In 2000, I decided that if I did not leave then I wouldn’t leave. So I went to the railway station and found there was no direct train at that time. So I boarded a train to Surat without a ticket, completely clueless how far Mumbai was from Surat. From Surat, I boarded a More >
100 crore club is very amusing-Neeraj Pandey
04 months ago
by Fenil Seta
in Interviews
Neeraj Pandey slams the Rs 100 crore club and states the audience is hungry for new content
Shakti Shetty (MID-DAY; January 14, 2013)
We remember him for directing A Wednesday, a small-budget project that went on to attain a cult status. But it’s been more than four years since Neeraj Pandey delivered a Hindi film. However, the wait is finally over as the Mumbai-based filmmaker’s second directorial venture, Special 26, is about to release. In a candid conversation with us, Neeraj shares his thoughts…
Don’t you think the four-year wait is quite a long gap? I got myself busy producing Kiran Yadnyopavit’s Marathi film Taryanche Bait right after A Wednesday. Thankfully, it was worth the effort because it’s a terrific film for a first-time director and (pointing to himself) a first-time producer.
What are your thoughts on regional cinema? You can take risk in vernacular medium — something mainstream films don’t allow you. That’s the beauty of regional cinema. You can never imagine telling such hard-hitting stories in the Hindi language.
Who all inspire you the most in terms of your craft? I like a director’s body of work more than the director himself. Having said that I’m a huge fan of Vijay Anand, Billy Wilder and Frank Capra. It’s a fantastic time to be a filmmaker. In 2012, we had varied films like Kahaani and Vicky Donor working at the box- office, which proves that the audience is hungry for new content.
As a filmmaker, what’s your greatest fear? Should I have one? More >
Neeraj Pandey’s next is remake of Spanish film
05 months ago
by Fenil Seta
in Bollywood News
A Wednesday director will adapt the Jewish-Palestinian love story to an Indo-Pak setting
Subhash K Jha (MUMBAI MIRROR; December 20, 2012)
His first film A Wednesday (2008) was a winner, both critically and commercially. And while Neeraj Pandey is busy wrapping up his second project Special Chabbis, the director is already on to his third outing.
This time round, it will be the remake of a 2004 Spanish film Seres Queridos (Only Human), a comic love story of a Jewish girl and a Palestinian boy, albeit adapted to an Indo-Pak setting. Pandey’s remake will be a cross-border romance between an Indian girl named Asha and a Pakistani boy called Aman, to be played by Vicky Donor actress Yaami Gautam and Pakistani actor Ali Zafar, respectively.
The film, aptly titled Aman Ki Asha, will be written and produced by Pandey and directed by E Niwas. Both Pandey and Zafar confirmed their participation in the project but declined from elaborate comment until such time a formal announcement is made.
Meanwhile, a source told Mirror, “Pandey feels strongly on the Indo-Pak issue. We’ve had earlier films showing a cross-border romance but his film will be a hilarious take on the issue.“
Apparently, Aman Ki Asha will be released simultaneously in India and Pakistan at a time when there is an ongoing campaign in the Pakistani film industry to ban 90 per cent of Indian films on their side of the border. A Wednesday was remade in English. The remake is Pandey’s way of returning the More >
I am done with doing cameos-Jimmy Shergill
05 months ago
by Fenil Seta
in Interviews
Jimmy Shergill states why he won’t do films for friendship any more
Kunal M Shah (MID-DAY; December 15, 2012)
It has been almost two decade for Jimmy Shergill in the industry. The last two years have been exceptionally busy for the actor and Jimmy intends to maintain his run well into the next year too. The actor is looking forward to his upcoming film Rajdhani Express with tennis star Leander Paes and chats with us from Chambal where he is currently shooting for a film.
You are playing a cop again after A Wednesday… I won’t deny that I was skeptical at the beginning. I knew that there would be comparisons. But the major difference is that in A Wednesday I blindly followed orders while this present character also speaks and knows how to control and manipulate. He has a mind of his own.
People say you only work in camps? Aisa kuch nahi hai. This is complete nonsense. I agree that I am always available for my friends like Tigmanshu Dhulia, Aanand Rai and Shoojit Sircar but I am not part of any camp.
!! CHECK OUT THE PROMO OF “RAJDHANI EXPRESS” HERE !!
You proved yourself as an actor with your initial films like Macchis and Mohabbatein but do you think you have got your due over the years? I always believe in experimenting. After Mohabbatein, I did many films like Dil Hai Tumhara, Dil Vil Pyaar Vyar, etc but at the same time I also did a Haasil as I never wanted to be stuck with the chocolate boy image. I never said no to roles irrespective of its length. I even did a cameo More >
I never had any illusions of grandeur-Naseeruddin Shah
010 months ago
by Fenil Seta
in Interviews
Aakansha Naval-Shetye (DNA; June 28, 2012)
Naseeruddin ShahSwinging between offbeat cinema and hardcore commercial masala fare with absolute ease, actor Naseeruddin Shah’s choices have been rather unpredictable. “That’s the whole idea. I think people should give up trying to figure it out. I have never been able to do it myself and gave it up a long time ago,” laughs Naseer, who will now be seen playing a power-hungry cop in Maximum. As we settle down for a tete-a-tete, the actor talks about his career graph; and also reveals why he resented being called the ‘Amitabh Bachchan of art cinema’!
How would you describe your career graph? A lot of consistent highs, but dips too during many failures, bad decisions and wrong choices, but to be honest I’ve never looked at my life as a career. Instead I treated it as a joyride, so I can do what I please, and that’s what I have done. In the beginning it was by chance that it happened because I didn’t get too many offers that I could refuse and by the second film I was entrenched in art cinema and working with the best filmmakers there. So, I’ve just gone with the flow.
Do you surprise yourself with your own choices? Yes, particularly when they turn out to be bad ones (laughs). So I look back and wonder why I did them, but there are no regrets. See, it’s always the fall of the dice! A Wednesday, Ishqiya, The Dirty Picture were all films that I took chances with and were all a shot in the dark, but they worked, while there More >
Naseeruddin Shah turns 30 again
01 year ago
by Fenil Seta
in Bollywood News
61-yr-old Naseer will play a 30-yr-old in upcoming film John Day
Amrapali Sharma (MUMBAI MIRROR; April 27, 2012)
If Amitabh Bachchan at 66 years of age could play a twelve-year-old in Paa and Aamir Khan at 44 could play a college going youth, Nasseruddin Shah, playing a 30-year-old at 61 isn’t surprising. What however, is striking is his transformation.
Anjum Rizvi, who had produced the Naseer starrer A Wednesday earlier, will now be making John Day along with co-producer K Asif. And to fit the role of a common man seeking revenge, Naseer will have to look slimmer, fitter and younger for the film. For Naseer’s young avatar, he will not only lose weight, but also use prosthetics. The makers also claim that through special effects, they will add to the thirty-year look.
However, director Solomon Ahishore is not too keen on special effects. He wants his hero to shed the extra kilos. About his project, he said, “There is a portion in the film where Naseer saab will have to look 30. Being a thorough professional, he wanted to know how real he could look. And after a few intensive discussions, he was convinced. For a look test, we ordered a special wig. With makeup and some special effects, we were able to achieve what we wanted. Naseer saab too is busy losing weight.”
Ready to be a desi Benjamin Button?
Singham actress upsets biggies
01 year ago
by Fenil Seta
in Bollywood News
Despite Singham’s success, the actress turned down Ajay Devgn’s next film
By Subhash K Jha (MID-DAY; March 18, 2012)
South actress Kajal Aggarwal, who made a successful debut in 2011 hit Singham has reportedly upset a number of top heroes and filmmakers in Bollywood by turning down offers.
Apparently, one of them is opposite Ajay Devgn, whose upcoming film Son Of Sardar was turned down by the actress. It seems she was offered the role immediately after Singham. According to sources, she also turned down a Yashraj Films’ untitled project opposite Shahid Kapoor that will be directed by Maneesh Sharma, to agree to star opposite Akshay Kumar in Special Chabbis.
She is currently in Delhi shooting Special Chabbis and will soon move to Mumbai to focus on her career in Bollywood. When contacted, Aggarwal said, “I am not a great planner. But yes, I have decided to be in Mumbai for a while.” She revealed that she received a number of offers after Singham, but turned most of them down.
“The roles were not substantial or to my liking. By God’s grace I have a successful career down south. I don’t need to do Hindi films unless they’re worth my while. If I’ve offended anyone it is unintentional.” According to the actress, she agreed to Special Chabbis because it is being directed by Neeraj Pandey, whose A Wednesday she loved.
Paan Singh Tomar set for Gulf release on popular demand
11 year ago
by Fenil Seta
in Bollywood News
By MID-DAY (March 13, 2012)
After doing successful business at the home box office, "Paan Singh Tomar" is set for screening in the Gulf region Thursday and that too on popular demand. In fact, the film was first premiered at the fourth edition of Abu Dhabi Film Festival and had got an overwhelming response.
"Demand for 'Paan Singh Tomar' has now reached a peak and it is just the right time for us to do an extensive release in the Gulf," said Amrita Pandey, senior vice president, international distribution and syndication, UTV Motion Pictures.
Director Tigmanshu Dhulia shot the film on location in Chambal Valley with Irrfan Khan in the lead role, and their hard work paid off rich dividends when it hit the screens March 2 after much dilly-dallying. Made at a mediocre budget of Rs.4.5 crore, the saga of the former national steeplechase champion-turned-bandit Paan Singh Tomar struck the right chord with the audiences and earned over Rs.10 crore in one week.
Pandey says they rely on word of mouth when it comes to the promotion of movies without star cast. "For high concept movies that are not traditionally released overseas due to lack of a big star cast or content that is different from the mainstream, our strategy is to allow for word of mouth from India to spread and for audience demand to build up, so that it becomes impossible for distributors and exhibitors to ignore our content," Pandey said in a statement.
"It helps us get better distribution and showcasing for these More >
Movie Review: MONICA by TARAN ADARSH
02 years ago
by Fenil Seta
in External Reviews
By Taran Adarsh, March 25, 2011 – 11:23 IST
Some stories intrigue you. And if they happen to borrow from real life, the curiosity to watch the screen adaptation only enhances considerably. More so if the story talks of the stormy and tumultuous relationship between a scheming politician, who aspires to be the Chief Minister of a North India state and a political journalist, who aspires to achieve the star status in her field of work. Now add love, lust, conspiracy, scams, deception and murder to the plotline and what emerges is a piece of work that stands apart from stories that we are habituated to watching on the Hindi screen.
Come to think of it, the trend of female actors essaying the part of a journo on the Hindi screen isn’t new. Right from Sridevi [MR INDIA] to Dimple Kapadia [KRANTIVEER] to Juhi Chawla [PHIR BHI DIL HAI HINDUSTANI] to Preity Zinta [LAKSHYA] to Konkona Sen Sharma [PAGE 3] to Deepal Shaw [A WEDNESDAY] to Kangna Ranaut [KNOCK OUT] to Rani Mukerji recently [NO ONE KILLED JESSICA], the fearless media person has been witnessed in varied avtaars. But the part Divya Dutta portrays in MONICA is a tad different from the ones mentioned above.
BY BOLLYWOOD HUNGAMA.COMMONICA is not just about a media person, but also looks at the various roles that she portrayed in her life – wife of an alcoholic, mother of an illegitimate child, a go-getter, ambitious woman who “has the access to the pants of a powerful politician” [that's a dialogue More >