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Posts tagged arjun rampal
Kajol-Kareena call a truce
Jul 29th
Only Karan Johar could have managed this…
Meena Iyer | TNN (BOMBAY TIMES; July 29, 2010)
Can two mothers make a home? And can two powerhouse actresses exist peacefully on the same set? Yes, if you have Karan Johar trouble-shooting. Once again Bollywood’s premiere filmmaker has managed to pull off another first. Dharma Productions’ We Are Family that will hit the screens on September 3, is an intimate, emotional film. “UTV and I decided to release it on September 3 because it’s a film meant for women and family audience, and we wanted an opposition-free clean week,” says Karan. He adds, “It’s the first official adaptation in Bollywood of a Hollywood film — Step-Mom in this case.” He points out that Dharma is fortunate to have a good equation with Hollywood giants such as Fox (My Name is Khan) and now Sony Pictures (We Are Family).
And whether it is getting the lyrics of a song — like he did with Pretty Woman for Kal Ho Na Ho or whether it is adapting the 1998 Susan Sarandon-Julia Roberts film Step-Mom, Karan believes it must be done officially. “There is just no other way to do it than in collaboration with the foreign studio or with getting the official remake rights,’’ says he. He is happy, too, that UTV Motion Pictures is also on board this project that brings together two of his favourite actresses — Kajol and Kareena Kapoor.
“These two return as a pair after they worked with me in Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham. Siddharth Malhotra, my director, has brought these two women of substance, in substantial roles, for the first time. And, as a viewer and a cinegoer, I was truly excited to see their pairing. I’m also happy that Arjun Rampal has solidly held his own despite being thrown in with these two solid performers in what I describe as an intimate family experience.’’ Karan is particularly proud of the fact that the debutante director has managed to get the desired performances from his actors. “I personally think WAF will provide the audience a happy laugh and a good cry.’’
Everybody wants a national award
Jul 20th
All the reigning stars want it by hook or by crook
Meena Iyer | TNN (BOMBAY TIMES; July 20, 2010)
The National Award has become the bone of contention in Bollywood with everyone, from truly competent actors to cardboard cut-outs, fantasising about it. Like Aamir Khan, who cold shoulders popular film awards, but made it a point to accept the National Award for Taare Zameen Par. Priyanka Chopra, who won the National Award for her role in Fashion, mentions this acting honour in every personal and professional conversation without fail. Katrina Kaif and Vidya Balan are hopeful that their names will feature in the nominations for Raajneeti and Ishqiya this year. Prakash Jha has already predicted that his lead pair, Ranbir Kapoor and Kat, will pick up National Awards for their performances. And Kareena Kapoor has only one clear objective in doing Madhur’s Heroine. A source close to the actress says, “She wants to win the National Award come hell or high water.’’ While Madhur, who has picked up the National Award for Chandni Bar, Page 3 and Traffic Signal, and calls it the Oscars of India, says, “These awards mean the world to me. I definitely feel my stock has gone up having bagged them.’’
But, of course, there is also a more interesting flip side to this new-found Bollywood obsession. A trade analyst says, “The National Award is just an ego massage for the actor/filmmaker that gets it. They have no bearings on the box office. Shah Rukh Khan hasn’t won a single one so far. He was a close contender for Swades but they overlooked him for some strange reason. Yet there is no denying that he is Bollywood’s biggest box office draw.’’
It is alleged that the National Awards are also shrouded in controversy. While the grapevine insists that some amount of wheeling-dealing in the corridors of power has helped one veteran filmmaker bag an award in some category or the other, there is also the instance of how these acting honours were deferred one year because of some mud-slinging between disgruntled jury members. Saif Ali Khan’s award for a film like Hum Tum came in for a lot of flak just the way Raveena Tandon’s award for Daman did. And when Arjun Rampal picked up his National Award for Best Supporting Actor for Rock On recently, a serious actor joked, “I have hidden my National Awards in the basement now.’’ And another actor’s cellphone status said, “Awards are like haemorrhoids, sooner or later even the undeserving get it.’’ But criticism and caustic comments apart, Bollywood continues to be obsessed with India’s highest acting honours.
We’re coming of age, out of the closet, going global-Karan Johar
Jul 13th
In the last three years, Karan Johar has made his banner a tour-de-force
Meena Iyer | TNN (BOMBAY TIMES; July 13, 2010)
If you conduct a popularity poll in Bollywood, Karan Johar will win hands down. He’s on every superstar’s wish-list. And it’s his cinematic genius that has contributed to making his banner, Dharma Productions, one of the top-five in Bollywood today. It was floated by Karan’s father — Yash Johar, three decades ago, but in the last couple of years, it has grown in stature because of Karan’s vision. Of course, he doesn’t think like that, “Movies are a passion. I know nothing else. I don’t even have a personal life anymore. But I can’t take the entire credit for taking Dharma where it has reached today. If we have made significant strides in the last three years, it’s because I’ve been supported by a very young, energetic and able team.”
Ecstatic about the success of his latest rom-com I Hate Luv Storys, Karan says while he kept a close watch on the budget, it is the young, yuppy team of director Punit Malhotra, lead pair Imran Khan and Sonam Kapoor that made this date film a rage. “When my father was around, Dharma mostly made films directed by me. But post Kabhie Alvida Na Kehna we expanded and have dabbled with a coming out of the closet film like Dostana; a coming of age film like Wake Up Sid; a terrorist drama like Kurbaan; a global film like My Name Is Khan; and, now the date flick like IHLS,” he says.
Now there’s more. On September 10, Dharma will release the social entertainer We are Family with Kareena Kapoor, Kajol and Arjun Rampal. And by the year end, KJo will start two more productions —an Imran-Kareena rom-com and Agneepath. Ayan Mukherjee is also ready with his next script and so is Karan. Though rumours abound that Hrithik will reprise Amitabh’s role in Agneepath, Karan says, “The cast is yet to be finalised. I am yet to narrate the script to the actors. The only thing confirmed is that it will be directed by Karan Malhotra.”
Dharma is also poised for Stage 2 and Karan’s plans include multiple releases for his banner. “I’m waiting to exhale. I want to take the number of releases from two this year to four next year. But I’ll never compromise on quality. I’m sure Dharma will always be a company and not a factory.” And the one other thought that he is currently preoccupied with is leveraging the mileage My Name Is Khan got internationally. “It is the first truly global film that Bollywood made. The kind of mileage it got me, Shah Rukh Khan and our respective banners worldwide, is truly amazing. I want to ensure we continue making films that find global acceptance.”
SRK’s Don 2 sells for 125 cr, RA.One for 175 cr?
Jul 8th
A whopping amount of Rs 300 crore is riding on Shah Rukh Khan’s next two films, RA.One and Don 2
Vickey Lalwani (MUMBAI MIRROR; July 08, 2010)
Agreed, Bollywood has lost crores this year because a lot of expensive films failed to retrieve their expected turnovers (Blue, of course, stands apart for its sheer wastage of money). But the biggest production companies seem to have blind belief in films that star Shah Rukh Khan. Nearly Rs 300 crore is riding on King Khan’s shoulders.
Newsflash: Reliance Big Pictures has not hit rock bottom with the poor turnover of the Abhishek Bachchan and Aishwarya Rai starrer Raavan. Neither has Hrithik Roshan and Barbara Mori’s Kites debacle at the box office obstructed their soaring fund levels.
The buzz in the trade is that Reliance Big Pictures has bought the rights of Don 2 from Excel Entertainment for Rs 125 crore, which is about Rs 25 crore more than what they purchased Kites for. The deal has taken place even before Don 2 has gone on the floors, which implies that even in today’s times when films are flopping days after their release, the buyers in the market have extreme faith in a film that has Shah Rukh playing the lead.
Added to this is, there is talk in the industry of Eros International buying Shah Rukh’s home-production RA.One for a whopping Rs 175 crore.
A leading distributor says, “Shah Rukh rocks. He is still one of the top three stars in this country. His film guarantees good returns. Yes, Reliance Big Pictures has bought Don 2 for an amount which is definitely more than Rs 100 crore. But I think that Shah Rukh’s deal with Eros International on RA.One could be a funding proposal, which implies that Shah Rukh can still sell the film to other buyers.”
Even trade analysts in the film industry seem to second this view. A leading trade-analyst says, “I am unaware of the exact figures between Red Chillies Entertainment and Eros International, but I know that Shah Rukh is asking for at least Rs 150 crore for RA.One, wherein he has used some top-notch technicians to take his project to a very high level.”
Priti Shahani, chief strategy and marketing officer of Reliance Big Pictures confirmed, “It’s true that we have Don 2 in our slate of films for next year, but there is no truth in the purchase price that is being speculated in the market.”
An official from Eros International also confirmed that their latest purchase is RA.One, while refusing to reveal the exact terms and conditions of the agreement.
Sunil Lulla (President, Eros International), Amit Khanna (CEO, Reliance Big Pictures), Ritesh Siddhwani (Excel Entertainment) and Shah Rukh Khan remained unavailable for comment.
Currently, Shah Rukh is busy shooting for RA.One. As soon as he completes it, he’ll start work on Don 2, which co-stars Priyanka Chopra and Arjun Rampal. And all this hard work does indeed pay off. And how!
Riteish to produce Marathi films
Jul 8th
… but may not act in them himself
Aakanksha Naval-Shetye | TNN (BOMBAY TIMES; July 8, 2010)
Riteish Deshmukh, who recently expressed the intention of acting in Marathi films, is tired of waiting for this to happen. So, news is that he’s decided to turn producer and make his own Marathi films. “I did read a couple of scripts but couldn’t take them up due to date hassles and other reasons,” explained Riteish, “and so I’ve decided to produce a Marathi film… talks are on.”
This is not a sudden fancy. He truly believes Marathi cinema has come a long way. “They have some amazing stories to tell, and if I can help boost our industry in my own small way, then why not,” asked Riteish. The idea, so, is not for him to act in his own productions. “No, I will take up a role only if it suits me,” he added. With this, the actor hops onto the producer bandwagon alongside good friends Shah Rukh Khan, Akshay Kumar and Arjun Rampal.
Ranbir patches up Prakash Jha, Nana Patekar
Jul 2nd
By Subhash K. Jha, July 2, 2010 – 10:40 IST
You’ve seen Ranbir Kapoor give sterling performances in film after film. But Ranbir the peace-maker is a new role he adopted to bring Prakash Jha and Nana Patekar together after their very public fall-out.
Apparently, Ranbir who got along like a house on fire with Nana during the shooting of Raajneeti in Bhopal didn’t quite relish the uneasy silence that prevailed between “two of my most favourite people”. He decided to end the cold war between Nana and Prakash when on an impulse; he dialled Nana’s number from Hong Kong when Ranbir, Arjun Rampal, Manoj Bajpai and Prakash had gone for a Raajneeti event.
When Nana answered the phone, Ranbir quickly handed over the phone to Prakash.
Says a source, “On Ranbir’s urging, Prakash and Nana spoke when Prakash was in Hong Kong. That’s how the ice thawed between the two.”
Nothing succeeds like success. After the public bickering and open display of hurt anger and resentment between the two, Nana Patekar and Prakash Jha have sorted out their differences.
And now Nana is in constant touch enjoying the heady success of Raajneeti and sharing his joy with the director.
Prakash admits the cold war with Nana is over. “We are once again connected. Nana is delighted by the success of Raajneeti and is keeping tabs on the film’s progress. He didn’t come for the Raajneeti celebration on Wednesday night. But he called to say he wouldn’t come because he never attends functions.”
BOLLYWOOD HUNGAMA.COM
Is Arjun’s Ra.One look making him look too haggard?
Jun 25th
Namrata Bhawnani (MUMBAI MIRROR; June 25, 2010)
Traditionally, actresses have contributed to the oomph factor over the decades, while the men have relied on their personality to see them through.
Arjun Rampal is one of the few men who brought in much visual relief for the women. With his chiselled good looks and lean, toned frame, he was a sight for sore eyes.
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| Arjun, three months ago |
Yet, at Wednesday’s party to celebrate the success of Raajneeti, there were signs of wear and tear. The usually dapper actor looked remarkably gaunt and haggard.
The prominent dark circles are a dead giveaway that the actor hasn’t been getting enough sleep. A case of all work and no play, Arjun?
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| Arjun Rampal at the Raajneeti party yogen Shah |
Gone is the appealing clean-shaven look and the natty dressing, replaced by a size-zero, anorexic avatar.
There is talk that Arjun’s character in Ra.One is required to be a lean, mean machine.
So maybe he is merely being professional. But sadly, in a more casual set-up, like at this party, one can’t help but notice that the emaciated frame is lending a burnt-out aura to the usually chipper dude.
Prakash Jha’s special gift for Vasundhara Raje and 70 MLAs
Jun 23rd
By Subhash K. Jha, June 23, 2010 – 11:35 IST
For those 70 MLAs and Vasundhara Raje who have got themselves into serious trouble for watching a pirated DVD of Prakash Jha’s Raajneeti in a luxury hotel in Rajasthan on Tuesday, Jha has a special gift coming up.
He will gift a legitimate DVD of the film to each of the MLAs when the DVD is officially released in two weeks’ time.
“I hope they would finally see the difference between the grainy bootleg version of the film that they allegedly saw in Jaipur and a legally manufactured DVD of Raajneeti,” says Jha a tad caustically.
However, the sizzling love-making scene between Arjun Rampal and Shruti Seth would be deleted from the DVD, since Prakash doesn’t want our politicians to get “unnecessarily worked-up when there’s so much to be done in building the nation.”
On Tuesday, June 15, over 70 MLAs of the BJP allegedly watched the film on a spurious DVD projected on to a large screen.
Says the director, “Apparently, these MLAs couldn’t tell the difference between a pirated DVD and legitimate DVD. It’s a pity a politician of Vasundhara Raje’s stature couldn’t tell the difference between being on the right or wrong side of the law.”
Jha says he would’ve happily arranged a special legitimate screening of Raajneeti for the MLAs.
Apparently, an FIR has been filed against the MLAs. But Prakash doesn’t believe the law can be effective in a case of viewing a pirated DVD. “At the most, the police will visit the hotel where the MLAs allegedly viewed the DVD. There will be no evidence of their wrongdoing. The matter will end there.”
But the director known for his socio-political exposes won’t allow the matter to due down. Prakash Jha has more constructive plans for exposing the nexus between piracy and politics. In a political thriller that he plans, he intends to incorporate a sequence showing politicians enjoying the clandestine screening of a film. To add to the irony, the film that these politicians would be watching is Raajneeti.
Says our Jha, “It is very important for politicians to set the right example, especially the ones who are taken seriously like Mrs Vasundhara Raje. And we need to create an awareness of political responsibilities through cinema.”
BOLLYWOOD HUNGAMA.COM
SRK’s friends are now Salman’s pals
Jun 23rd
Sharin Wader Butani | TNN (BOMBAY TIMES; June 23, 2010)
Is everyone, who has had some problem with Shah Rukh Khan, trying to prove a point to the Bollywood Badshah by becoming pally with his friend-turned foe, Salman Khan? Riteish Deshmukh used to be his good friend till SRK replaced him with Arjun Rampal in Ra One. The friendship turned sour and Riteish is now seen hanging around with Salman.
Even Nikhil Dwivedi, who had solid backing from SRK in his first film My Name is Anthony Gonsalves, is nowadays singing praises of Salman who gifted the struggling actor a watch. Mushtaq Shaikh, who had written a coffee-table book on SRK, and who was constantly seen in his company, now drops by on Salman’s sets just to say ‘Hello Brother’. And Farah Khan, who earlier was the mainstay of King Khan’s camp, has shifted her support to Akshay Kumar and Salman now.
These are not the only ones from SRK’s coterie who seem to have found a friend in Sallu bhai. If sources are to be believed, then Sanjay Kapoor and Chunky Pandey, too, were recently spotted hanging around with Salman in Dubai and Colombo. Hope their wives, Maheep and Bhavna, won’t change loyalties and continue sticking to Gauri Khan like magnets. sharin.wader@timesgroup.com
