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Posts tagged Anurag Basu
Madhubala’s family may stall Kishore Kumar biopic?
01 day ago
by Fenil Seta
in Rumour has it
Seema Sinha (BOMBAY TIMES; May 20, 2013)
While director Anurag Basu has been attributing the delay of Kishore Kumar’s biopic to the non-availability of Ranbir Kapoor’s dates, the reason could also be getting clearance from yesteryear actress Madhubala’s family. Madhubala was one of Kishore Kumar’s four wives. When asked about the Kishore Kumar biopic, Ranbir, who will essay the role of the legendary singer, said, “We want to sort out certain things with Madhubala’s family and then we will roll.”
The biopic may run into rough weather if Madhubala’s sister Madhur Bhushan finds anything objectionable in it. She says, “I will drag them to court if they defame my sister and father. I will stop the release of the film if I find anything offending. I won’t let them do anything without my permission. They will have to substantiate their claims. Yes, they can show that Madhubala was a great actor, had an affair with Dilip Kumar and they can talk about her romance and marriage to Kishore Kumar, her heart ailment… but I won’t tolerate anything beyond this.”
Madhur continues, “I will strongly object if they show her affairs or the fight between Kishore Kumar and her. Which couple doesn’t have misunderstandings and fights? Only my sister, Kishore and I know the truth. I just want them to tell the truth and not sensationalise to make a masala entertainer.” she further says.
So far, Madhur says, the makers haven’t approached her. “But I won’t wait, I will soon write a letter to both, More >
I am living the male fantasy-Emraan Hashmi
01 week ago
by Fenil Seta
in Interviews
Emraan Hashmi reveals the secret of his success
Sarita Tanwar (DNA; May 13, 2013)
Emraan Hashmi would come off as arrogant to most people. There is a lot of arrogance there, but it’s not an aftereffect of stardom, not that he cares how you interpret it. He is defiant, dead against chamchagiri and indifferent about everything but his career. He does what he wants to, always has. From his professional choices (doing heroine-oriented films, wooing the classes after winning over the masses, turning down a KJo film!) to his personal life (not attending film parties, not befriending his colleagues, and not bowing to people who matter). It’s not a facade or a carefully cultivated image. It is all him. He has always been that guy. Even when he was an assistant director on his uncle Mahesh Bhatt’s set to now being the leading man in big banner, big budget films. His attitude doesn’t change according to the amount on the pay cheque, or the stature of the person in front of him. He is real, unapologetic and that’s refreshing. Here Emraan talks about what he hates most about acting, why he leads a double life and why he doesn’t watch Hindi films. Read on…
Are you content with your success? Never, one can’t ever be content. If there’s no higher place to get to, then you…(trails off). I am very ambitious. But I don’t show it. I might even come across as someone who is mildly disinterested. It’s part of my personality. But my career graph is very important to me. It wasn’t always the More >
Kangna Ranaut’s brilliant hat-trick as gangster’s moll
02 weeks ago
by Fenil Seta
in Bollywood News
Hiren Kotwani (BOMBAY TIMES; May 6, 2013)
Kangna Ranaut, who plays Mumbai gang-lord Manya Surve’s love interest in Shootout At Wadala (SAW), seems to be the all-time-favourite moll of gangster films. After earning acclaim for her performances in Anurag Basu’s Gangster and Milan Luthria’s Once Upon A Time In Mumbaai — she played a gangster’s girlfriend in both films — Kangna has scored a hat-trick with her latest portrayal in a similar genre, with critics and audience lauding her performance alike.
SAW director Sanjay Gupta especially chalked out the character of Vidya, Manya Surve’s love interest, after he learnt about her existence during his interaction with the police while researching on the subject.
Though her character was kept under wraps, Kangna ensured Vidya stood out with her portrayal and her on-screen chemistry with John Abraham. Bringing a certain tenderness to the raw machismo in the film, the actress essayed Vidya in a heart-wrenching, true-to-life manner that the National Award winner (Fashion) is known for.
All praise for his heroine, Gupta says, “Kangna is the tender soul of a very dangerous and violent world depicted in SAW. And it’s amazing how she has portrayed the character of Vidya minus any star trappings. She completely surrendered to the role and made it all her own.”
Besides being a powerhouse actress and eccentric style diva, Kangna is also among the most sought after leading ladies, proof of which lies in her line-up of films this More >
100 years of Indian Cinema: Mahesh Bhatt on 18 great filmmakers
02 weeks ago
by Fenil Seta
in Interviews
BOMBAY TIMES (May 4, 2013)
In 1951, the Hollywood Moghul David Selznick was strolling through an empty, ghostly movie studio when he was struck by an uncomfortable thought. The maker of such giant classics like Gone With The Wind was in heavy debt. Television was beginning to be a threat to the movie business. Pointing to the empty stages, he said to his writer friend Ben Hecht ‘Hollywood is like Egypt… full of crumbled pyramids. It will just keep crumbling until finally the wind blows the last studio props across the sands.’
Thankfully, Selznick’s prophecy did not come true. The global movie business today is a multi-billion dollar industry. No wonder then that India, the film family’s most hyperactive child, is celebrating its 100th birthday party this year.
If I was given the chance to invite filmmakers for this bash, who would be on my list? Undoubtedly, the first person would be Dhundiraj Govind Phalke (Dadasaheb Phalke), who is the Brahma of Indian Cinema and whose 40-minute film Raja Harishchandra set the cinematic ball rolling in India. It was this brave son of India who understood that it is mythology that motivates cultures, not reason, race, or ideology. Next to him would sit Satyajit Ray, the only genuine auteur Indian cinema has ever had. Ray not only wrote his scripts and dialogues and songs, but also designed the sets, costumes, posters, operated the camera, edited the film and composed the music. He is the only Indian who has got a lifetime award at the More >
Onir will direct Life In A Metro sequel-Anurag Basu
02 weeks ago
by Fenil Seta
in Bollywood News
Swasti Chatterjee (BOMBAY TIMES; May 2, 2013)
Contrary to recent reports that Onir won’t be directing the sequel of Life In A Metro, Anurag Basu has confirmed that he indeed will helm the project. Basu, the director of the first film, says, “I was not that excited to direct the sequel myself as it will have a similar subject as the first one. Both Onir and I are working on this one. The film will be based on urban relationships. We haven’t finalised on the actors.” The filmmaker, who will be producing the sequel, adds, “He had loved the idea of the film. When we started discussing it, Onir was more than happy to give his inputs.”
Why are singers left out in the opening credits of our films?
14 weeks ago
by Fenil Seta
in Bollywood News
In an industry that is so dependent on song-and-dance, we find out why our producers and directors choose to avoid naming our singers in the opening credits of the film. Bombay Times speaks to people in the business:
Priya Gupta and Hiren Kotwani (BOMBAY TIMES; April 22, 2013)
ARBAAZ KHAN, DIRECTOR AND PRODUCER I know we used to have playback singing credits earlier. It’s not a conscious thing, but we are now following a set pattern of credits. I personally feel singers should be named. If we can have lyricists, composers and choreographers named, then there’s no reason why the singers should be omitted.
ANURAG BASU, DIRECTOR These days, the opening titles are not as long as in the earlier films, where all names featured before the movie began. These days, People have become restless. So we put the names of only the heads of important departments in the beginning. Names of many other important people like the assistant director and the character artists are also not featured in the start. Earlier, when we had singers of the stature of Kishore Kumar, Lata Mangeshkar and Asha Bhosle, no one could dare to put their names in the end titles. One has to earn one’s place in the opening titles. Only senior singers like Sonu Nigam, Alka Yagnik, Sundhi Chauhan and Shreya Ghoshal should be given front credits.
SONU NIGAM, COMPOSER AND SINGER No one can force the filmmakers to name singers in the opening credits. Though music is an important part of our cinema, there are More >
Anurag Basu to produce sequel to Life In A Metro?
01 month ago
by Fenil Seta
in Rumour has it
Jigar Shah (MID-DAY; April 16, 2013)
While Anurag Basu has already begun work on his next project on legendary singer Kishore Kumar, the unavailability of his lead actor Ranbir Kapoor has left the filmmaker with some time in hand. Apparently, he has decided to venture into production. And one of the projects that have caught his eye is apparently the sequel to his earlier film Life In A Metro.
A source says, “Anurag has almost 10 months to go before Ranbir gives him dates for the Kishore Kumar biopic. Till then he has decided to produce films.” Insiders say unlike for Life In A Metro, Anurag will not be directing the project.
For all my confidence, I am a big phattu-Konkona Sen Sharma
01 month ago
by Fenil Seta
in Interviews
Priya Gupta (BOMBAY TIMES; March 30, 2013)
Konkona Sen Sharma would like to remain old-fashioned in believing that a woman’s age is mysterious and should be kept that way. She is confident and comfortable being the person she is. Looking stunning in her mother’s sari, sounding every bit like Jaya Bachchan in the way she speaks, she talks to Bombay Times about her unconventional childhood, her memories of daayans and why Anurag Basu is her favourite director. Excerpts:
Did you always know that you would become an actress? I never wanted to become an actress. I have the coolest and the most awesome parents, who are well-educated. My mom is well-read in English and Bengali and my dad is a humourist, science writer and a futurist. In fact, for many years, he wrote the ‘Mind Sport’ column for the edit page in the Times of India. He is funny, intelligent, plays the guitar has a great perspective and looks at life from the world of humour. My mom is this fabulous, strong woman who lives life on her own terms. I had a liberal upbringing with unconventional parents and both my parents are my inspiration. My parents (Aparna Sen and Mukul Sharma), were divorced when I was six. I was lucky as both of them married wonderful people. So while I lived with my mother, I had parents who were amicable and I actually landed with up two sets of wonderful parents. My mother always said, ‘it’s better for a child to have happy parents apart rather than unhappy parents together’. I have always More >
Vivek Oberoi is the biggest dramebaaz-Sonali Bendre & Anurag Basu
02 months ago
by Fenil Seta
in Bollywood News
Seema Sinha (BOMBAY TIMES; February 23, 2013)
After music and dance reality shows for children, now here’s one where they can showcase their acting talent. Titled India’s Best Dramebaaz, the show will have children in the 5-12 age group performing a series of tasks to test their creativity, spontaneity and acting capabilities. Vivek Oberoi, Anurag Basu and Sonali Bendre will judge the show.
Vivek, who according to the other two judges is the ‘biggest dramebaaz’, recalls his ‘dramebaazi’ during school days, “Once, I stole my teachers’ lunch boxes, wiped off the food, filled the boxes with dead cockroaches and kept them back in their bags. I was a good student, but when I used the same intelligence to play mischief, it would be a disaster.”
Sonali, who has already judged a number of shows that had kids, says, “It is very difficult to judge children and I don’t think we should judge them either. Instead, we are having so much fun. It is the naughtiness… there are so many little nuggets of information and amazing stories that come out. The kids talk so much, especially when they speak about their parents.”
Adds Anurag, “I am selfish as I only do things that I can take something back from. I have learnt a lot from these talented kids. I have got to know the younger India, our future audience, through these kids.”
And what do the judges do when they have to reject a kid? Anurag and Vivek reveal that they pass the ‘dirty’ job to the ‘seasoned’ judge Sonali, who handles the More >