Posts tagged advice

Film Federation bans Javed Akhtar

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Riled by his lobbying for more royalties for singers, composers and lyricists, the Film Federation of India has slammed a ban on the famed lyricist

Kunal M Shah (MUMBAI MIRROR; December 24, 2010)

The film industry is known for being one big family. But after the copyright issue, in which famed lyricist Javed Akhtar lobbied in parliament for the rights of writers and singers, a visible crack has appeared in this façade of camaraderie.

The Film Federation of India, the mother body of all film associations, has “advised members of the film federation to not employ the services” of the iconic writer. The decision was taken yesterday morning in Chennai by its newly elected president, T.P. Agrawal.

When contacted Agrawal put it mildly, saying, “Yes, it is true. We have advised members of the film federation to ban Mr Javed Akhtar till the time that this entire copyrights issue is sorted. Our whole point is that the producer is the one who takes the entire risk.

If Javed Akhtar wants a percentage as royalty, then he should also be liable to incur a percentage of the losses, if any. If we agree to one such demand, then tomorrow the singer will come up, then the music composer, and then the actor and so on.

What will the producer do and how will he make films? The producer won’t be able to make any money. I just want to say that if you want royalty, then don’t take our money. Merely let’s work as a partnership and also share the losses, if More >

Introducing: Ranveer Singh

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By Nikhil Ramsubramaniam, November 11, 2010 – 17:11 IST

In an industry filled with strugglers, there are countless hopeful eyes which wait for that one elusive break. While not all of them manage to get that break, a few lucky ones do. The really chosen ones in fact manage to get a break with a big banner and Bollywood’s latest entrant Ranveer Singh is among those lucky few. Ranveer is all set to debut with Yash Raj Films’ Band Baaja Baaraat which releases on Dec 10. In an exclusive interview with Bollywood Hungama‘s Nikhil Ramsubramaniam, this new Punjabi munda talks about how he is literally living his dream and much more. Read on!

My Background

“I am a complete Bandra boy, born and raised in Mumbai. After doing my junior college from HR College in Mumbai, I went to the US to do my BA from Indiana University in Bloomington. Post my return from the US, I was struggling to make it as an actor for almost 3 and a half years until I got my first break.”

Childhood ambition

“I always wanted to be an actor ever since I was a little kid. I knew that I had to do something related to performing arts and I enjoyed acting the most as it incorporated so many different art forms. However, when I was in college, I realised that getting a break is not at all easy as it was mostly people with a filmy background who got the prime opportunities. I don’t have a filmy background at all so it all seemed too far-fetched for me. So for a few years I worked in advertising as a More >

Ranbir cancels all commitments to attend Do Dooni Chaar premiere

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Kunal M Shah (MUMBAI MIRROR; October 06, 2010)

It was time for cosy bonhomie. Ranbir Kapoor cancelled his out of Mumbai trip for the promotion of Anjaana Anjaani, only to stay back for the premiere of Do Dooni Char, which has his parents, Rishi and Neetu Kapoor playing the leads. And Ranbir has done this for the first time.

Our source said, “Ranbir watched the film three months ago and loved it. In fact, he told the director Habib Faisal not to change anything about the film.

He has been actively involved in everything that is happening around the film. He even gave advice to mother Neetu Singh on the film. Ranbir wanted to be by his parents’ side and that’s why he cancelled his promotional plans.”

I’m now Mrs Wright!-Anoushka Shankar

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…says the sexy Anoushka Shankar, who got married in London to filmmaker Joe Wright and is expecting his baby

Priyanka Dasgupta | TNN (BOMBAY TIMES; October 2, 2010)

What’s it about Joe Wright that made you feel that he should be the father of your first baby?

Not just my first, I want him to be the father of all my babies! It’s such a cliché, but honestly, I could see myself having children with him within the first week of our relationship. Joe is the most wonderful, extraordinary man. He makes me feel cherished and safe… It’s easy to see what a loving, imaginative father he will be.

You have lived-in with Joe for some months. Was there any particular compulsion for you to tie the knot now?

Even though we moved in together ages ago, I always wanted to get married. I’m glad we lived together first as it gave us a good taste of the realities of our relationship! I don’t think it’s essential for everyone, but to me there is something sacred about taking vows and promising to love and honour each other.

Post-marriage, will you take your husband’s surname just the way your mother has done when she married Pandit Ravi Shankar? Or does the surname issue not bother you at all?

We’ve certainly enjoyed using the phrase Mrs Wright between ourselves since the wedding! But I would probably not change my name officially.

Was there any person you really wanted to attend your wedding but who never could?

We planned very quickly. So yes, many More >

Omi in Pratik’s next

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After comic and negative roles, Vaidya plays himself in Gautham Menon’s next

Sonal Chawla (MUMBAI MIRROR; August 05, 2010)

Our 3 Idiots favourite, Chatur a.k.a Omi Vaidya has got himself a clever deal indeed.

After bagging a comic role in Madhur Bhandarkar’s Dil Toh Bacha Hai Ji and a negative role in Abbas Mustan’s remake of Italian Job, Omi will now be playing himself. Yes, Omi will play his NRI actual self in Gautham Menon’s next. Apparently, Omi has been cast as Pratik’s (Babbar) friend in this film.

Pratik Omi Vaidya

A source reveals, “Omi will be playing himself in the film. He will play Pratik’s friend. Omi is one of the most important characters in the film as Pratik always goes up to him for help and advice on everything.”

An excited Omi confirms, “I am playing myself in the film and am very happy to work with Pratik and Gautham Menon.”

Co-producer of the film Fenn says, “The character is Omi playing himself in the film. After the stupendous success of 3 Idiots, Omi was the highlight of the film and we expect to create the same magic.” The same chamatkaar you mean.

Mera time accha chal raha hai-Aamir Khan

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Says Aamir Khan in a candid chat about developing a new positive attitude, even while taking digs at himself and how it has helped him develop his career

Kunal M Shah (MUMBAI MIRROR; July 13, 2010)

Though an hour late for the interview, Aamir seems optimistic about this discussion. He enters his office with a smile, apologises and makes himself comfortable on the couch for the interview. Excerpts…

• People know you to be inapproachable, but Anusha Rizvi sent you one mail and you agreed to make a film? (Laughs). I don’t know why people have this misconception. I was shooting for Mangal Pandey – The Rising when I got this mail. Anusha had written about a script called The Falling. At first I thought she was making fun of me because I was working on The Rising. But later, she mailed me one line that I loved. I met her when I was in Delhi shooting for Rang de Basanti. She narrated the script of Peepli Live and I loved it.

(Pic): Rana Chakraborty

People say that you have a winning formula for every film you touch?

Frankly, I don’t have an answer for this. Mera time accha chal raha hai isliye meri filmein chal rahi hai.  I just do what I feel like doing at that point of time. I happened to read Anusha’s script and I made Peepli Live. There might be 20 other scripts lying here but I have not read them. I made these films the way I wanted to because they appeal to my sensibilities. I deal with every film differently, there More >

I have an accent but that doesn’t make me a foreigner-Katrina Kaif

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THE TIMES OF INDIA (June 6, 2010)

Forty-eight hours ago, “Raajneeti”, the film, opened to good reviews, fuelling talk that Katrina Kaif was here to stay as Bollywood’s reigning diva. Not so, says the actress, the real star is the movie, not the actor. She talks marriage, Salman Khan and her “foreign” accent with Bharati Dubey. Excerpts:

“Raajneeti” has given ballast to your status as Bollywood’s Queen Bee, hasn’t it?

• It is a very kind sentiment. But a lot of work has gone into the making of “Raajneeti”. I worked on getting the accent right for 25 days during the dubbing of the film. A lot of tears, heated discussions went into it till we finally got it right. It is too early to say if the film is a success but there are positive reactions. Besides, I also feel the trend is changing. Today it is the film which is the star.

Many doubts were expressed when you accepted the role. • That’s one-hundred per cent true! My accent was perennially discussed. But there was one good outcome — everybody agreed that my accent blended well in the movie. My victory was about overcoming the language hurdle.

“Raajneeti” is said to be inspired by the Mahabharata. Were you aware that another film, “Kalyug”, was on the same lines, with Rekha playing Draupadi’s role? • Yes, just a week before the release of “Raajneeti”, a friend told me that the film reminded her of “Kalyug”. It is a good thing that I didn’t see the film, otherwise I would’ve got More >

Farhan’s flying high

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SHARIN WADER BUTANI Times News Network (BOMBAY TIMES; May 3, 2010)

There are no limits to what a sister can get her brother to do… especially if she is directing a film and he is acting in it! That best explains why Farhan Akhtar, who can sing, act, direct and write scripts for Bollywood, is free-flying the skies. Sis Zoya and co-producer-friend Ritesh Sidhwani made him take up this extreme sport for their forthcoming film costarring Katrina Kaif, Hrithik Roshan, Abhay Deol and Kalki. Zoya is keen that her actors do their own stunts and will not use body doubles. Earlier, she got Abhay to learn deep sea diving. Farhan, ever the adventurer, was game. “I did an AFF (Accelerated Free Fall) eight-level course in Spain,” he said. en I jumped the first time, I didn’t know what going on in my mind. Everything was a blur, it got over quickly. After that I tried it 16 times and enjoyed every bit of it.”

Incidentally, if you want to take up this sport but don’t have the heart for it, Farhan has encouragement and advice from his instructor: “When you don’t consider sitting in a boat as swimming, why do you consider sitting in a plane as flying? So, in a real sense, go fly!” After Abhay learning deep sea diving and Farhan, sky diving, we wonder what Zoya will make Hrithik Katrina do next.

Sunny Deol, Subhash Ghai in war of words

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By Subhash K. Jha, March 17, 2010 – 12:30 IST

Sunny Deol is very upset with the way Subhash Ghai and his production house Mukta Arts have marketed Right Yaaa Wrong.

Says Sunny, “It was always a good film. Mukta Arts has not been fair to it. They’ve publicized it like a small producer would have. For a large production house they really didn’t seem to know what to do with the film. It was all talk talk talk… There were so many meetings and so many plans. But nothing happened. I’m fed up of all this empty talk. Now I only want to work on projects with a clear plan of action.”

Sunny feels Ghai was not interested in the film. “He didn’t believe in Right Yaaa Wrong. And he was surrounded by advisers who were constantly trying to bisect and dissect the film. Filmmaking may be a team effort. But you can’t have a team of people always providing inputs and advice. That only causes chaos and confusion. The film has to finally go by one man’s vision. And that man is the director.”

Apparently, Ghai didn’t allow the director Neerraj Pathak to do his work. “At the end of the day it’s his vision that determines the end-product. You’ve to let the director do his job. Fortunately or unfortunately, I’m not the kind of person who interferes beyond a point. I can’t sit and talk talk talk. I’m a man of action.”

Sunny accuses Ghai of releasing the film at the wrong time. “They kept saying they’d release the film at the right time. Finally they released it on the day the IPL More >

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