Posts tagged aanand rai

Why the localts of Benares bylane cheered, clapped for Dhanush

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3 months ago
by Fenil Seta in

Jigar Shah (MID-DAY; February 14, 2013)

 

After doing several hit films down South, Dhanush is all set to make his Bollywood debut opposite Sonam Kapoor in Aanand Rai’s Raanjhnaa. While it could be expected that Dhanush’s name may not be too familiar with the Hindi- speaking audience up North, Rai tells of an incident that could change perceptions.

Says Rai, “On the first day of our shoot in the bylanes of Benares, there were almost 200 people watching the shoot from top of their buildings or even neighbourhood trees.” Dhanush apparently wanted to improvise on the scene given to him. And as soon as Rai called cut, the entire audience broke into an applause.

Rai adds, “I really couldn’t believe it as I didn’t expect people there to know Dhanush.”

Dhanush to produce bilingual

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4 months ago
by Fenil Seta in

Mehul S Thakkar (MUMBAI MIRROR; January 24, 2013)

 

Director Aanand Rai (right) of Tanu Weds Manu fame, who is currently filming Raanjhnaa with Dhanush and Sonam Kapoor in Delhi, has already chalked out plans for his next project. The director will be teaming up with Dhanush again who will co-produce the film apart from acting in it. The shooting of the bilingual film and will start post the release of Raanjhnaa.

A source told Mumbai Mirror: “Aanand Rai and Dhanush are getting along very well on the sets. Their visions of filmmaking match a lot and they are constantly bouncing off story ideas.”

Dhanush, who has produced few movies down south, already has enough experience up his sleeve to understand the nuances of filmmaking.

A source added: “They have finally zeroed in on a subject. It is a love story. They will co-produce the film. Dhanush will be acting in the film as well. However, the female lead opposite Dhanush is yet to be finalised.”

Despite repeated attempts, Aanand Rai remained unavailable for comment.

I’m happy to have launched Dhanush in Bollywood-Krishika Lulla

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4 months ago
by Fenil Seta in

Renuka Vyavahare (BOMBAY TIMES; January 17, 2013)

 

Producer Krishika Lulla is confident about her forthcoming film Raanjhanaa, starring Sonam Kapoor, the Kolaveri Di sensation Dhanush and Abhay Deol. She states, “Raanjhanaa is a love story and I loved the script. I am very passionate about what I do. I do offer creative inputs when needed and discuss ideas with director Aanand Rai. Filmmaking is team work. I am very happy to have launched Dhanush in Bollywood. He rarely needs retakes. The story needed a guy who looks simple, someone people can identity with and Dhanush fit the bill. Sonam plays a simple girl from Banaras. Abhay has a good role, too. The film has been shot in Delhi and Banaras. This movie will give a new meaning to love stories in Hindi cinema.”

Raanjhanaa, produced by Eros International, releases June 28, 2013

Sonam to shoot during X’Mas, New Year

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5 months ago
by Fenil Seta in

Subhash K Jha (MID-DAY; December 21, 202)

 

The world and its favourite deejay can go ahead and celebrate Christmas and New Year. But Sonam Kapoor will have to drop all such plans and head for Varanasi to shoot a song with Dhanush for Aanand Rai’s Raanjhnaa.

Apparently, the original plan was to shoot a five-day introductory song featuring Dhanush. However, enchanted by Varanasi’s ghats, Rai later thought of capturing his lead pair in the mellow morning mist.

Probed about Sonam not relishing the idea of working when everyone else would be busy partying, Rai said nonchalantly, “But I always shoot through festivals and celebrations. To me, my work is my biggest celebration. And I am sure Dhanush and Sonam would agree. I shot for Tanu Weds Manu with Kangna Ranaut and Madhavan even on Diwali day. My aim is to give my film all that I can. I don’t want to look back at the experience and feel I could’ve done better.”

Sonam will join the unit in Varanasi next week. 

I am done with doing cameos-Jimmy Shergill

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5 months ago
by Fenil Seta in

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’m not seeing Arunoday-Aditi Rao Hydari

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7 months ago
by Fenil Seta in

Aditi Rao Hydari talks about her rumoured romance with Arunoday Singh and her definitions of being sexy

Deepali Dhingra (MID-DAY; October 1, 2012)

 

Dressed in a floral print shirt and jeans, Aditi Rao Hydari settles down for a tete-e-tete in her Versova home. She may be just a few-films-old, but Aditi has more or less been already tagged in the ‘girl next door’ category. The actress is now part of the third installment of Bhatt’s erotic-thriller franchise, which she insists is not an image makeover for her but simply a chance to explore the sensuous side of her personality.

Do you see yourself fitting in the erotic-thriller category? When you think of the film like Murder 3, you don’t think of me. And that’s why I have a lot of respect for the Bhatts. For them sensuous or sexy doesn’t mean that your cleavage has to be till your stomach! You can look innocent but you can have a sensuous side as well. I do have different sides to my personality and as an actor it’s important to explore them.

Your earlier films too had a lot of skin show. If I trust the person, I’m with him all the way. With this film, I had no such qualms. With Yeh Saali Zindagi, people made so much hoo-haa. But when they saw it, they realised it was completely innocent. People in a relationship do make out. They don’t play cricket!

Recently, there was talk of Swara Bhaskar replacing you in Aanand Rai’s Raanjhnaa… They were talking to me about the film but how can there be any talk about a replacement More >

Why Aditi Rao Hydari opted out of Raanjhnaa

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8 months ago
by Fenil Seta in

Aanand Rai states that Aditi Rao Hydari’s date problems led to her being replaced in his upcoming film

Kunal M Shah (MUMBAI MIRROR; September 26, 2012)

 

The rumours over Aditi Rao Hydari’s controversial exit from Aanand Rai’s upcoming film Raanjhnaa now takes an interesting turn. Contrary to popular buzz that Aditi was acting pricey, Rai informs that there were genuine date problems and that Swara Bhaskar (of Tanu Weds Manu) has replaced Aditi in the Sonam Kapoor-Dhanush starrer.

Aanand Rai, who is the co-producer and director of the film, says, “There is no controversy here. There is no denying the fact that I wanted her for the film and I was always aware that she was committed to another film. We had spoken about it but the dates were becoming a problem. We discussed it and mutually decided to do some other film together in the future.”

Regarding Aditi’s replacement, Aanand Rai points out, “Swara Bhaskar who had worked with me in Tanu Weds Manu is now doing the film. Swara plays a very vital character in the film and essays Dhanush’s childhood friend.”

Sonam Kapoor-Dhanush turn 17 again for Raanjhana

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8 months ago
by Fenil Seta in

Subhash K Jha (MUMBAI MIRROR; September 7, 2012)

 

Playing a 17-year-old school student has its advantages. And Sonam Kapoor (27) and Dhanush (29), who are currently filming Aanand Rai’s Ranjhanaa, in Varanasi will surely agree. The crowd in the holy city, notorious for descending on any film set like a avalanche left this film shoot alone. Primarily because, they couldn’t recognize fashionista Sonam and Kolaveri Dhanush in their school uniforms.

From Varanasi, director Rai told Mirror, “The first few days of the shoot have been like a blessing. Sonam and Dhanush are so much into their character that the crowd can’t even recognise them.”

In fact, we heard that the actors don’t just dress and behave like school kids but have also been reading books suitable for 17-year-olds.

Thanks to their new wardrobe, Sonam and Dhanush have been roaming around freely in the famous ‘gallis’ of Varanasi enjoying the local food. And Sonam has become quite a fan of the ‘Paan Banaras wala’. Perhaps, that’s the only thing incongruous with her 17-year-old avatar.

Sonam Kapoor gets street smart

0
1 year ago
by Fenil Seta in

The actor went to JNU in Delhi and learnt all about street plays to play a Varanasi-born girl in her next film Raanjhanaa

By Subhash K Jha (MID-DAY; April 15, 2012)

 

As Dhanush, Sonam’s leading man in their next film Raanjhanaa, recently left for a flash visit to Namibia before the shoot, but the actress did not wait for her hero to resume the schedule. She put the time to good use by flying to Delhi with Raanjhanaa director Aanand Rai and learning more about street plays.

Sonam Kapoor with the participants of a street play in Delhi

The actress, primarily known for her exaggerated fashion sense, is all set to perform in street plays as part of her preparation for her role of a Varanasi-born girl in the film. Last week, Sonam visited the campus of Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) as part of the research for the film. The actress and director spent several hours everyday meeting students and teachers of various faculties.

A source close to Sonam says, “At JNU, Sonam became familiar with the world of street theatre and got to know about the different courses in JNU that caught her fancy.” Rai says he doesn’t know about or care about Sonam’s current image in people’s minds “I only see the Varanasi-born girl in her. We spent a lot of time in Delhi at the JNU campus. I think she will join a couple of courses there, as I will after Raanjhanaa.”

Sonam fell in love with the street plays in Delhi. Sonam also plans to perform in these open-air plays at some point. Says Rai, “Nukkad More >

Tanu Weds Manu now in German

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2 years ago
by Fenil Seta in

By Subhash K. Jha, March 15, 2011 – 12:54 IST

You may think that the hardcore desi small-town ambience of this season’s surprise hit Tanu Weds Manu is unlikely to go down well with foreign audiences. But hang on. Wonders never cease, especially when it comes to the world of cinematic make believe.

We now hear that there will be a dubbed German version of Tanu Weds Manu.

Why German? The songs dances, colours, gaiety, drama and melodrama of a typical North Indian wedding would hardly seem to connect with people in Germany. However, a delegation from Germany landed in Mumbai last week with the express purpose of seeing the new festive hit of Bollywood.

So bowled over were the Germans by the unabashed celebration of colour and gaiety in Tanu Weds Manu that now, a German version of the film is being prepared.

Still disbelieving about the turn of fortune that his little-big film has taken, the Tanu Weds Manu director Aanand Rai elaborates, “It was a group of students of Comparative Cinema from the University of Regensburg in Bavaria, Germany. My colleague fellow-filmmaker Hansal Mehta sent these students to me. I was surprised that they wanted to see Tanu Weds Manu, and even more surprised at the way they responded to the film.”

Apparently, the German students were keenly curious about the minutest nuances in the film.

Says Aanand, “They asked questions about the wedding proceedings that even I had never asked myself. It was just so reassuring to know that my film about More >

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