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Posts tagged Ajab Prem Ki Ghazab Kahani
Santoshi owes 1.10 cr to K Sera Sera?
Jul 17th
Mauli Singh (MUMBAI MIRROR; July 15, 2010)
Despite his latest hit Ajab Prem Ki Ghazab Kahani, director Raj Kumar Santoshi owes more than a crore to K Sera Sera and has been making excuses for not returning the money to them, for three years now.
Threatening to take the matter to court soon, Sanjay Lai, MD, K Sera Sera, informs, “We had signed Santoshi for a film in 2007 and paid him Rs 1.10 crore but since the film didn’t take off we requested him to return the money.
After dilly-dallying for a while he flatly told us that he doesn’t have the money to pay us.
He gave us a very strange argument saying that if he pays us the money he will not be able to run his kitchen.”
A strange excuse indeed. Mr Santoshi does seem to live up to one of his titles, Andaz Apna Apna.
I’ve fought my share of battles-Katrina Kaif
Jul 17th
TIME TO CELEBRATE: Katrina Kaif
On her birthday, Katrina Kaif tells Sharin Wader Butani that she wishes for smooth-sailing ahead
BOMBAY TIMES (July 16, 2010)
The gorgeous Katrina Kaif is turning 26 today and guess what she’s doing on her special day — baby sitting. She’s away in Spain shooting for Zoya Akhtar’s Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara, so there won’t be any party for the actress in Mumbai but she’s not missing out on any of that. In fact, the actress admits that she’s happy to get away from the rains in Mumbai. “My sisters have flown down from London to be with me and so has my three-year-old niece. I have not been able to spend time with her, so today that’s what I’m going to do,” she said on a long distance call from Spain.
The Cancerian might not have grand plans to celebrate her birthday, but she does have three wishes she wants to see fulfiled. “I want happiness, peace of mind and a lot of good film offers. I want to work in a film directed by Yashji someday,” said Katrina, who being in the top league of Bollywood actresses, won’t find it to too difficult to make her wishes come true. “I have had my share of battles. Life’s been tough. But now I want a smooth sailing,” she said.
Kat believes she’s a destiny’s child. “I came from nowhere and within six years, I’ve managed to make a place for myself in Bollywood. I think that’s because I live by my principles and one of them is not doing films for the sake of money. If people thought my debut film Boom was for monetary reasons then I would say it was due to sheer ignorance that I got myself in that film. But now I’m happy, even though I only work and have no life other than that,” she laughed. But for her, that’s the beauty of her job, it takes her places and allows her to meet different people. “In Zoya’s film, I’ve been zipping around on bikes, I did some deep sea diving too and it’s been fun. It’s not that I learned bike riding because of this film, I’ve always known how to ride bikes,” said the actress, revealing her sporty side. “I enjoyed watching the Spain-Germany football match here. Football mania had really gripped Spain. But unfortunately, I couldn’t catch all the matches because I was busy shooting,” she said.
There have been talks of how all work and no play has taken a toll on her health. She has been fainting on the sets due to low haemoglobin levels. “They are all Chinese whispers. I’m not sick as I’m made out to be. I was weak last December but that’s about it. I work out, eat well and take good care of myself. My trainer can vouch for that,” she said and added, “Actually I’m not accessible to people all the time, that’s why they cook up stories about me.”
But all that doesn’t affect the actress who has her faith keeping her afloat. “I’m a very spiritual person. I pray a lot. I feel God has his hand over me. I’m being looked after so I do my bit helping my mother with her charity. It gives me peace.” And when the time comes for her to call it quits in the film industry, Kat says she’ll happily hang up her boots. “I have not planned what I’ll do later on, but I’ll definitely move on in life,” she said.
Kat’s on Zoom tonight! Catch Katrina Kaif in an exclusive interview with Omar Qureshi on Planet Bollywood, ZOOM, 7.30 pm tonight. A teaser of the interview…
Raajneeti proves that Ranbir Kapoor and you have the perfect chemistry. This is your second success together…
• Though the audience loved us in Ajab Prem Ki Ghazab Kahani, I was really nervous about this one, simply because it wasn’t a typical love story. It wasn’t a man chasing a girl kind of role, it was more realistic. I feel wonderful that even this has been so well accepted.
In love, are you a realist or a romantic?
• Hmm… I love romance and I completely believe in romance. I think that is eventually what is going to get you through life. Your companion and the person who you love is the only thing that will remain with you forever.
Some sections of the media claimed that Kareena would be just a wee bit possessive if Saif and you were paired up. Your reaction…
• I don’t think Kareena can ever be insecure, she is a very confident person. I am sure that the story is entirely made up. Secondly, after Race, I haven’t signed any movie with Saif, though I think he is amazing actor and I would love to work with him again.
I know I m famous-Imran Khan
Jul 9th
… admits Imran Khan, flush with the success of Karan Johar’s rom-com
Mark Manuel | TNN (BOMBAY TIMES; July 9, 2010)
I am glad for Imran Khan. I Hate Luv Storys is a hit. It had a bigger opening last Friday than Ajab Prem Ki Ghazab Kahani did in November 2009. Pitchforking Imran right beside Ranbir Kapoor in the rom-com stakes. And, God bless, making him the hottest thing in Bollywood currently. The trade has liked the film, the critics have appreciated it, producer Karan Johar is beaming, and Imran’s become the new poster boy of the media. It must be a nice feeling after the duds he had in Kidnap and Luck, and after Ranbir’s last three hits. But more than the girls going crazy over him, more than the awareness that his price will go up, his next film will have a big opening, that endorsements will fall into his lap, what is pleasing Imran most is that Bollywood will now look at him and say, ‘He’s a good bet, this kid can handle himself.’ That’s what he told me at home over tea. Home is 24, Pali Hill, an old bungalow now under renovation. Huge cement mixers rolled noisily outside. Workmen spilled all over the place. Inside, the young actor sat cross-legged and sighed in satisfaction, “They ordered more prints, increased the number of shows, all this is an added bonus for Dharma Productions and UTV Motion Pictures… because I Hate Luv Storys made its money on satellite, music and digital sales even before its release. Karan kept the budget tight, and from last Friday onwards, every rupee has been a profit. This is a good business model. I’m glad to be part of it, because everybody can only make money when actors take responsibility for their work. And, I can tell you, this is the first time I knew what I was doing. Jaane Tu… Ya Jaane Na was a fluke. In Kidnap and Luck, I wasn’t powerful enough to influence the films. But in I Hate Luv Storys, I was in control of my performance.” For that, he raises his hands in grateful thanks to producer Karan and director Punit Malhotra. “They brought out the romantic hero in me… and I’ve realised, it’s fun to explore, but if something works — you do that, and this comes easy,” he said in reference to his failure with action roles. He admits to being depressed over his earlier flops. “My films were trashed, I was trashed, I was like, shit, how do I salvage the situation,” said Imran. And he supplied the answer, “By working as though I wasn’t feeling that way.” That was what maamu Aamir Khan wanted for him. “To fail, to fall down, to figure out for myself,” added Imran. Which is why, perhaps, he is realistic about his current hot status. Or maybe it hasn’t sunk in yet. “I’m going to be hot until something goes wrong,” he said matter of factly, “I know I’ve reached from there to here… but it’s easy to go back. And I want to go ahead.” Life outside 24, Pali Hill has changed for Imran Khan since I Hate Luv Storys. “The way people treat me, I know I’m famous,” he accepted, “a gay icon, a sex symbol, but my friends think I’m an idiot. When we travel together and stay in small hotels, it’s two people to a bed, so where’s the celebrity status then? I still have to fight for the bathroom!”
Despite Raavan, Jr B offered Rs 7 cr?
Jun 28th
Abhishek Bachchan is being offered an enormous sum to act in a film directed by Rajkumar Santoshi
TNN (MUMBAI MIRROR.COM; June 28, 2010)
So Raavan is reportedly dead meat. So what? There are many Bollywood superstars out there who have given more than two flops in the last two years and who are still getting big money from producers.
The same goes for Abhishek Bachchan. Rumours (no one in Bollywood ever talks money, they only drop huge hints) have it that Junior B has just reportedly been offered Rs.7 crores for a film with Raj Kumar Santoshi to be bankrolled by a film corporation.
Actually, the full rumour goes like this: Raj Santoshi will make a film with the Bachchan family — Amitabh, Abhishek and Aishwarya.
And the fee earmarked for Abhi alone is Rs.7 crores. Incidentally, Raj Santoshi is also making another film with his current favourite Katrina Kaif with whom he gave that hit Ajab Prem Ki Ghazab Kahani.
Raajneeti success to benefit Ranbir’s next?
Jun 12th
By Joginder Tuteja, June 12, 2010 – 12:11 IST
What does a hit film do to you? Well, it ends up benefiting not just everyone associated with that film but also the next one which is in the pipeline. A certain Ranbir Kapoor will certainly vouch for that as the blockbuster success of Raajneeti has ensured that his very next release, Anjaana Anjaani (with Priyanka Chopra), hugely benefits from it.
Reasons are aplenty:
a) Raajneeti has made a statement loud and clear that Ranbir isn’t made just for candyfloss cinema. He has the range and if Wake Up Sid and Rocket Singh – Salesman of the Year were the starting points, Raajneeti has been a definite milestone in his career as far as working in offbeat cinema (if looked at from the perspective of what is expected from a young actor of his age) is concerned.
b) The entire balancing act is certainly going in his favour. Just after Wake Up Sid, Ranbir Kapoor returned with a major money spinner in the form of Ajab Prem Ki Ghazab Kahani. While it was always meant to be a so called ‘safe film’ (in Bollywood parlance), the fact remains that it was Ranbir’s charm (amongst some genuine comic moments, super hit music and Katrina Kaif’s continued luck) which helped it enjoy a long run at the box office.
c) With good critical acclaim as well as commercial success coming his way, Ranbir is pretty much being looked at as a package deal, something which has been nurtured to the fullest in Raajneeti. While his restrained performance has made everyone sit up and take notice of his inherent talent, the roaring box office success has proved that audience are willing to accept him even in those roles where he is not just a chocolate hero.
These are the factors that make Anjaana Anjaani an interesting case study on what to expect from Ranbir. He got an initial jolt after Saawariya, only to get a shot in the arm courtesy Bachna Ae Haseeno which had turned out to be a decent success. With Siddharth Anand as the filmmaker who gave Ranbir his first success, Anjaana Anjaani could well be life coming full circle for the director-actor ‘jodi’. Add to that the fact that the film comes from the house of Nadiadwala Grandsons which has been known for its successful record over the years and it can be confidently said that the hit run of Ranbir Kapoor is pretty much safeguarded.
Says a veteran industry follower, “The going couldn’t have been better for Ranbir as he seems to have planned it all quite well. Soon after a rather serious Raajneeti, he is looking at a young entertainer like Anjaana Anjaani. Sajid Nadiadwala is known for making big films which are family entertainers and feelers within the industry are already quite positive about Anjaana Anjaani. Then there are films with directors like Imtiaz Ali (Rockstar) and Anurag Basu (Silence). Though it is a common saying that one can’t plan things to perfection, especially in the unpredictable world of Bollywood, this is pretty much the case if one looks at the way Ranbir has gone about picking and choosing his projects.”
BOLLYWOOD HUNGAMA.COM
‘Raajneeti’ is after ’3 Idiots’, ‘Ghajini’
Jun 12th
-By Taran Adarsh, June 12, 2010 – 09:35 IST
RAAJNEETI is the third biggest opener of all times, after 3 IDIOTS and GHAJINI. The film collected approx. Rs. 56 cr. nett in Week 1, which is very close to the 7-day business of GHAJINI [this film had an 8-day weekend]. The following are the Top 10 biggest openers, as per industry sources:-
| FILM | WEEK 1 NETT – Rs. |
| 3 Idiots | 80 cr. |
| Ghajini | 64 cr. – 8 days; 57 cr. – 7 days |
| Raajneeti | 56 cr. |
| My Name Is Khan | 47 cr. |
| House Full | 47 cr. |
| Love Aaj Kal | 42 cr. |
| Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi | 42 cr. |
| Singh Is Kinng | 40 cr. |
| Kites | 40 cr. |
| Ajab Prem Ki Ghazab Kahani | 37.5 cr. |
BOLLYWOOD HUNGAMA.COM
Katrina realizes Alisha’s voice suits her best
Jun 12th
Katrina Kaif thinks that Alisha Chinai’s voice suits her; recommends the singer for her future projects
Sonal Chawla (MUMBAI MIRROR; June 12, 2010)
Some combinations just click naturally. Whenever Katrina Kaif has featured in a song, it has usually been a tough call on getting the right playback voice for her, given her accent.
Now she has found the right fit in Alisha Chinai, whose vocals have struck a chord.
Alisha sang the hit Tera hone laga hoon for Katrina in Ajab Prem Ki Ghazab Kahani, which received rave reviews and topped the charts for a respectable amount of time. A source reveals, “Katrina really loved Alisha’s voice. She received lots of compliments and many suggested that Alisha’s voice best suits her.”
Now that she has figured what works for her, the actress is not wasting time putting the knowledge to use. The source continues, “Katrina has liked Alisha’s voice so much that she has requested her producers to redub her songs in her voice.
She also had a word with her next film Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara’s director Zoya Akhtar to rope in Alisha for the songs.
Apparently, the title track will be now sung by her.”
If only all other partnerships in her life were so easy to sort out.
I have an accent but that doesn’t make me a foreigner-Katrina Kaif
Jun 6th
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 influenced by it. But now I will definitely watch it.
With “Raajneeti” you seem to have shed the “NRI girl” tag. What roles do you intend to take up now?
• I have been getting wonderful offers in the last two years. I’ve liked some roles, but was not confident if they would work at the box office. Yes, I do take into consideration the commercial viability of a film; that’s important for me. After “Raajneeti”, I don’t plan to do something radically different. I will take up roles that I feel passionate about, but will also do some fun films like “Ajab Prem Ki Ghazab Kahani”. I am still young and would like to do films that suit my age as well.
How do you react when people say that you are a foreigner?
• I take offence! Just because I have an accent does not mean that. Lakshmi Mittal resides in London and has an accent; that doesn’t mean that you will take his citizenship away from him. I am not an alien. I don’t mind being called an angel as there’s no parentage involved, but certainly not a foreigner or an outsider.
Do you recall the resistance you faced when you entered the industry?
• Yes, there was resistance, and rightly so as it helped me learn to perform in front of the camera, work with my language handicap, etc. But a lot of people also had faith in me and gave me a chance. But my career is not entirely made of chance. I was very attentive on the sets and learnt a lot. If people give you an opportunity, you have to deliver too. I used to dissect my work in every film and improve upon it in the next.
What was Salman Khan’s contribution to your career?
• Undoubtedly, it’s been immense. There is no shame or secret about it. It is in Salman’s nature to help people he believes in. He had confidence and belief in me, but he always stressed hard work and dedication. His advice and guidance have been invaluable as at that time I had no films.
You are constantly compared to Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and Kareena Kapoor, especially when you replace them in films or ads.
• Ash is an icon and has achieved huge success. The point I am trying to make is that one has to keep moving on in life. For instance, I don’t intend to get stuck in the “Ajab” kind of role, wearing hair bands forever. Ash too has always moved ahead and is now taking a different journey. I really don’t like the word replacement. Even I have parted ways from some brands — may be they are looking for something different; may be I want to do something different. As for Kareena, she has been in the industry longer than me and has done more films. We share the same manager, and she has been very supportive. It’s very kind of her.
You represent the Barbie doll brand in India. What do you think of a brand creating false notions of beauty?
• I understand people’s concerns, but Barbie is an iconic brand. Four out of five kids in India, who come to me for autographs, wear a Barbie T-shirt or shoes. They are part of my audience, and I don’t see anything wrong in cementing that association further through Barbie.
You choose to avoid discussing your relationships.
• Life is transient. The happiness and contentment I get by doing what is right for me outweighs the stuff that appears in the newspapers about me. It does not sit well with me to discuss my personal life — if and when the time comes, I will speak, and that time is not now. I have a strong sense of responsibility when it comes to my public image, but I will not discuss or explain things to people at the cost of my personal life.
There was some talk about your sister joining films and your mother coming to stay with you in Mumbai?
• My mom lives in Chennai as she runs an orphanage there, but I meet her often. My sister is completing her studies. It’s for her to decide what she wants to do in life.
Do you plan to get married by 2012?
• I did say that I will get married in 2012 and it was not for effect, but now I don’t know…
Will you be able to give up cinema for marriage?
• Cinema, for me, is a passion, not an addiction. But I am sure that when I hit the right note with the person I love, I will make the transition without any hitch.
Kites’ satellite rights sold for 20 crs
May 31st
Bharati Dubey | TNN (THE TIMES OF INDIA; May 30, 2010)
Mumbai: Missed Kites? Don’t worry. Hrithik and Barbara will soon burn up the small screen in the TV premier of the film.
The satellite rights for Kites were sold to an entertainment channel for Rs 20 crore even before the movie released. It’s probably the first time that a big ticket film will be premiered on television within a month of its release in cinema halls. Kites will be telecast in early June. Confirms Reliance Big Pictures CEO Sanjeev Lamba, “We have sold the satellite rights of Kites and will soon decide the telecast date. However, we cannot confirm or deny the selling price of the film.’’
Going by the prices of films’ satellite rights, they are the biggest eyeball-grabber on TV too. Bollywood blockbuster 3 Idiots has proved to be a master blaster on telly as well. Rights of the movie were sold for Rs 38 crore—the highest for any film in the history of Hindi cinema. Sajid Nadiadwala’s Housefull has been sold to TV for Rs 16 crore. “About 8-10% of the TRP for channels comes from films, so most of them are on a buying spree,’’ says a trade source. The last film to premier on TV was Ajab Prem Ki Ghazab Kahani, which was screened after three months of its release.
This resurrection of the satellite business has brought relief to the recession-affected industry, though some argue that this is a temporary spurt caused by aggressive buying by a few players.
Lamba believes all the signs are positive. “There are about six-seven channels buying TV rights of films. Besides, there is a significant growth in DTH and cable households. Also, the advertising market has recovered and big ticket films have always been viable for broadcasters,’’ he says.
Jayantilal Gada, who is incharge of acquisition for Zee Network, has just the opposite view. “These prices are not real and will crash soon,’’ he says. “That is the reason we are not doing any buying. We will start buying once we begin to get the right price.’’
A trade source countered Gada, saying, “Most films have already been sold, there’s nothing left for anyone to buy.’’
With business in multiplexes being restricted to two weeks, the holdback period for other rights of films have been shrinking. Time was when satellite rights of films were sold six months after their release. Now, most satellite rights deals are cut before the film is released. Farah Khan’s Tees Maar Khan has sold for 18 crore. Prakash Jha’s Raajneeti and Hrithik-Aishwarya starrer Guzaarish have already been lapped up by TV channels for Rs 20 crore. Imran-Sonam romance I Hate Luv Storys has made Rs 12 crore in satellite rights.
How does pre-selling work? “We get to see part of the film and sit down with the producers before we buy it,’’ explains Sameer Rao, GM of Star Gold. “We buy a film only after evaluation.’’
Industry insiders insist that there is a huge risk involved in buying films before release. “Had the channel bought the rights of Kites after release, I don’t think the producers would’ve got the price they have made on it,’’ says a source. Siddharth Roy Kapur, CEO of UTV Motion pictures, feels the deal can go either way.
Satellite TV rates
3 Idiots: Rs 38 crore
Kites: Rs 20 crore
Guzaarish: Rs 20 crore
Raajneeti: Rs 20 crore
Tees Maar Khan: Rs 18 crore
Housefull: Rs 16 crore
*approx figures
Meet ‘Raat Kumar Santoshi’!
May 20th
Rajkumar Santoshi’s habit of working at night has earned him a new nickname
Mauli Singh (MUMBAI MIRROR; May 20, 2010)
 |
| Rajkumar Santoshi |
The breed of nocturnal workers in the film industry just seems to grow. It isn’t just AR Rahman, even Rajkumar Santoshi does almost all of his creative work in the dead of the night. These days he’s busy scripting an action film that will star Amitabh Bachchan, Ajay Devgan and Sanjay Dutt.
His penchant to work at night has now earned him the nickname of ‘Raat Kumar Santoshi’.
A source close to the veteran director reveals, “Rajji is currently working on three scripts. After the success of Ajab Prem Ki Ghazab Kahani, he’s become a firm believer in working on scripts only at night, because of the peace and quiet it offers. And he doesn’t work alone. A couple of his assistants are always by his side all through the night. His assistants now refer to him Raat Kumar Santoshi – but not in front of him.”
When we contacted the filmmaker he said, “I have been working late into the night for many years, so it’s not a recent development. I normally work till around 4am. It’s more convenient because there are fewer phone calls.”
When asked about his reaction to his new nickname, Rajkumar Santoshi laughed it off sportingly. “I am aware of this. They call me Raat Kumar Santoshi because it rhymes with my name.”
