Posts tagged challenge

Rani Mukerji turns director

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2 years ago
by Fenil Seta in

She will make commercial films, and says that she understands the nuances of filmmaking

Prithwish Ganguly (BOMBAY TIMES; April 13, 2011) She has always maintained that she wants to act and filmmaking was something she hadn’t even thought about. Until now. For the first time in her career, Rani Mukerji admits she has been thinking about directing a film. The actress, who has constantly pushed herself with challenging roles, wants to attempt another avenue of her profession and see if she can shine there as well. Obviously, it is the Aditya Chopra effect. She won’t even have to go looking for a production house. Aditya’s production house would be more than happy to produce it, but knowing her independent streak, don’t be surprised if she decides to produce it herself.

Says the actress, “Directing is something that I will surely do. It really fascinates me. It is a challenge that I want to take up. I want to make commercial movies that hopefully people will like, close to the kind of films that I have done in my career. The thought of being behind the camera has been coming and going out of my head, but now I have set my mind on it. Let’s see when I can get that script that pushes me to switch sides. I’m sure it will come soon.”

Rani adds that she wants to dabble with various genres. “I want to make films that entertain. I’m not someone who will make films for just myself. I want people to come into the theatres, get transported into More >

We’re more transparent than Americans-Sharmila Tagore

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2 years ago
by Fenil Seta in

Sharmila Tagore is only the second person to chair the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) for two full terms. A three-month extension enabled the I&B ministry to find a successor, giving Tagore the distinction of the longest tenure in that office. The legendary actress, who debuted 52 years ago in Satyajit Ray’s “Apur Sansar”, continues her film career with the just released “Life Goes On”. She spoke to Ratnottama Sengupta on her last day in office at the CBFC. Excerpts:

Ratnottama Sengupta (THE TIMES OF INDIA; April 3, 2011) What do you think you achieved as CBFC chief and what have you learnt? • I realized that we’re far more transparent than the Americans. We speak to the press whenever they want to discuss a decision; we’re not “all white”’ nor all of “a certain age”. Their debate is about “why X, not A”; ours is about “why UA, not U”. Except for “Ghajini” which fell through the net, we give ‘UA’ if there’s violence, item songs, expletives… Tell me honestly, is “Kaminey” watchable by a 12-year-old?

Sometimes a single dialogue tarnishes the dignity of women. One character in “Raajneeti” gave the impression that every woman sleeps around to get a ticket (in elections). Sometimes friendly relations with a country can’t be jeopardized. As an insider, I understand the compulsions of both the industry and the audience. I also know that some people take advantage of our openness and go to the press for publicity. Still, and More >

Preity signs Manjrekar’s next

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2 years ago
by Fenil Seta in

Preity Zinta will return to cinema and this time instead of portraying the usual bubbly character she will play a more nuanced role in Mahesh Manjrekar’s hard-hitting drama, White

Subhash K Jha (MUMBAI MIRROR; February 19, 2011)

“I can’t be doing the bubbly dimpled babe all my life,” said Preity Zinta on making her long-awaited comeback to the silver screen and this time she is venturing out of her comfort zone.

The actress is all geared up to star in Mahesh Manjrekar’s film, White, which is a hard-hitting drama about a woman, who goes through several shades of dark and light experiences, right from her 20s to her 60s.

Apparently when Preity read the script she was ecstatic. She teased Manjrekar and asked, “Why me? Why not Tabu who is your favourite actress?”

Reportedly, Manjrekar, who cast Tabu in Astitva (2000), believes the role in White would be too easy for her and so, he is setting himself a challenge casting an actress with a bubbly, rom-com image in an edgy, dramatic role.

Zinta refrained from commenting on Manjrekar’s offer and simply said, “At this stage of my career I need new challenges. Luckily, directors can see beyond my chirpy I’m-so-happy image.”

The last we saw Zinta in a not-so bubbly role was in 2008, when she played a battered wife, in Deepa Mehta’s Heaven on Earth.

Manjrekar, who had not directed a Hindi film for five years, made a comeback last year with the gritty City Of Gold. He is currently shooting for More >

Hrithik’s Mission SRK!

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2 years ago
by Fenil Seta in

The actor wants his close friend to quit smoking

Prithwish Ganguly (BOMBAY TIMES; December 26, 2010)

After kicking his smoking habit for his children and wife, Bollywood superstar Hrithik Roshan has set his eyes on making sure that his friends too, chuck the butt. BT has already learned that his pal Arjun Rampal isn’t lighting up his cigarettes anymore thanks to Hrithik and Duggu now wants to achieve the impossible – make Shah Rukh Khan, who is addicted to the cigarette and always seen puffing away almost more than a pack of it every single day, leave the habit. When contacted Hrithik says, “Arjun Rampal has teamed up with me and given up. SRK is next!” A close friend of Duggu informs that Hrithik has kept his promise that he would quit smoking the day his last film Guzaarish released. And he has stuck on to the plan. He almost became addicted to it during filming the movie as he had to smoke to get into the skin of his character. At present whenever someone offers him cigarettes, he takes them and crushes them before throwing them away. A close friend of the star says, “Now that he is living a healthy life and can feel it, he wants to tell his friends about the change that he is actually feeling. Hrithik has been able to make one chain smoker, Arjun Rampal to leave the habit. Let’s see if SRK would give in to his friend’s request. Hrithik is very motivated to see SRK quit cigarettes but understands that it will be a difficult More >

Introducing Monikangana Dutta

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2 years ago
by Fenil Seta in

By Chandni Dev, November 16, 2010 – 17:03 IST

Almost everyone has seen her confident walk on the ramp and those stunning pictures that take everyone’s breathe away in Kingfisher calendar. After being selected as one of the six Victoria’s Secret angels for their upcoming line, Monikangana Dutta is now all set to make her entry into the Bollywood with Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s upcoming film Guzaarish starring Hrithik Roshan and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan. In conversation with Chandni Dev, Monikangana speaks about her past, present and reveals how future is something that she never plans for.

Monikangana, what does it mean? (Laughs) Everyone’s so curious to know that, my name Mon means “moti” pearl in Assamese and Kangana is kangan so it means a pearl bracelet.

Interesting, so a lot is happening for you, considering a Bollywood debut and you also have been selected as one of the six Victoria secret angels. How does it feel with so much buzz about you going around? I have been in this buzz two years back, it’s like a de ja vu, it’s like wow it’s happening again but trust me I have worked my a$$ off to be here and I have a long way to go. I am still not satisfied but for the moment my plate is full.

For the role that you play in Guzaarish, Sanjay Leela Bhansali did ask you to act out something on your whim; kind of an audition wasn’t it? There was no audition; I don’t know why everyone is asking me this. There was no camera with people and audition. It was just that More >

Amisha Patel to romance Leander Paes

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2 years ago
by Fenil Seta in

She will be seen opposite the tennis player in Rajdhani Express. Paes, for his part, is learning to act

Kunal M Shah (MUMBAI MIRROR; October 25, 2010)

Finally all the speculations about who will star opposite Leander Paes in his debut film Rajdhani Express can come to a rest.

The coveted role of the leading lady has been bagged by Amisha Patel. Patel will be seen romancing Paes in the film, which is scheduled to go on the floors next month.

Our source informs, “Paes signed the film directed by Ashok Kohli sometime back and ever since the film was announced, there has been curiosity over who the leading lady will be.

Paes has been offered films for the last 15 years but he finally agreed to sign the film when he liked the script by Kohli where he will be playing the role of a common man.

Incidentally there were many girls in contention for the title role of the leading lady but it seems Amisha has bagged the coveted role. Apparently Paes has also joined Anupam Kher’s acting academy to brush up his acting skills.”

The source further said, “This is Amisha’s second film after her break-up with Kanav Puri. The couple broke off as Amisha wanted to concentrate on her career and did not want to settle down. Amisha first signed Rajkumar Santoshi’s film Power and has now signed on Rajdhani Express last week.”

When contacted Ashok Kohli, the director of the film said, “We’ve signed her for the film. However we will reveal the details at the right More >

Akshay cooks it up

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2 years ago
by Fenil Seta in

Akshay Kumar set to judge new reality show starting in October

Roshni K Olivera | TNN (BOMBAY TIMES; September 10, 2010)

From whipping up recipes to giving nuskas, cookery shows have done it all. But there’s something different cooking here! Star Plus is set to take cooking beyond the four walls of the kitchen with MasterChef India, a show that will be judged by none other than Bollywood star Akshay Kumar along with two other chefs, Kunal Kapoor and Ajay Chopra. After breaking rating records in UK and Australia, MasterChef is coming to Indian television for the first time.

The show, slated to begin on October 16 at 9 pm, will see 12 contestants from all walks of life with a flair for cooking being subjected to intense pressure and real life challenges. From cooking for huge crowds with minimum equipment to whipping up recipes at a moment’s notice, the show will pose every cooking challenge within your imagination! Akshay’s all set for television once again, ready to reach viewers through their stomachs this time. At a press conference held to announce the show, he regaled everyone with an Indian adaptation of the internationally-acclaimed group Storm’s performance. “I am very happy to be returning to my roots after so many years,” he smiled. “My two favourites — cooking and camera/entertainment are coming together and I’m excited to be a part of it. I have been following the international version of this show regularly and I’m glad More >

I’m a sexy producer-Malaika Arora Khan

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2 years ago
by Fenil Seta in

Prithwish Ganguly I TNN (BOMBAY TIMES; September 8, 2010)

Malaika Arora Khan has donned two hats for the Salman Khan-starrer Dabangg. The sassy actress has not only made men drool over her curves and latka jhatkas in the hit special song Munni Badnaam, but she has also played the role of a co-producer with equal ease.

“It is my most special film to date. It was like delivering a baby. I got so attached to the film. There were arguments, moments of joy, tears in our eyes due to overwhelming emotions and everything that goes into filmmaking. Arbaaz was leading from the front and I was just giving him all the support that I could. It was a challenge. I feel Arbaaz has done an excellent job. It is a debut production venture and we can never forget the journey,” Malaika tells us.

Production might have been a challenge for Malaika, but looking sexy was a piece of cake for the oomph queen. Her sizzling dance number, in which she is looking a million bucks, has made it to the top of the music charts and she is thrilled about it.

“I had a discussion with Arbaaz on whether we should take someone else to do the song. But Arbaaz told me that he has Munni Badnaam and he can’t think of anyone else to do the song but me. People close to us also told me that it would be a surprise if in my film I’m not doing a song. So, I have to say that I succumbed to pressure. Lot went into styling me. I had fun and, well, if I’m a sexy producer, so be it,” she More >

A R Rahman-Lost to the world

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2 years ago
by Fenil Seta in

Has India’s favourite music composer moved on to a bigger, global platform?

Chandrima Pal (MUMBAI MIRROR; September 05, 2010)

From Internet blogs to the denizens of Delhi’s South Block, everyone is splitting hair over his compositions. But the man behind it all is ensconced in his Chennai studio, unfazed by the furore around him. Like the proverbial eye of the storm.

For A R Rahman, these are the best of times, the worst of times. His art is at its most eclectic, garnering international acclaim heralding him as one of the world’s best. In his own country detractors are declaring that he has lost his touch. He is buying a five-acre plot in Los Angeles to set up his production facility with sound engineer Resul Pookutty. He is also being accused of being indifferent, aloof to his Bollywood projects, delaying them and churning out music that often stumps listeners. With every milestone in the West, Rahman seems to move a step away from home.

His fiercest critics are ironically in the industry that has given him his biggest successes — until of course Slumdog. The Hindi film fraternity has always had an uneasy relationship with Rahman, who is still god down south. Many in Bollywood find it hard to accept his artistic ways — he remains in Chennai, works mostly at night, has his own creative yardsticks for choosing projects and delivers only when he is ready.  Some feel his best is behind him, others feel he is constantly breaking new More >

Kajol’s mothering heights

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2 years ago
by Fenil Seta in

About to have her second child, Kajol says the highs and lows of being a mum have made her a patient person

Kunal Guha (MUMBAI MIRROR; August 29, 2010)

Embracing motherhood usually means braving experiences and challenges. But before a woman takes on her new role as a parent, it is the pregnancy that transforms her in more ways than she can explain. Kajol, who is pregnant the second time round, agrees completely.

“When I first found out I was pregnant, I was very scared and nervous and I wasn’t sure whether it would go through or not. It altered my self-perception completely. You become the centre of your own world and  everything else around you becomes a blur,” Kajol says.

One always has an image of a mother, based on the social and cultural definitions. While it seems like an overwhelming role, it’s difficult to associate with it initially. Kajol faced a similar dilemma, “I’ve always thought that pregnant women were like goddesses. And in that perspective,  I couldn’t picture myself as a goddess.”

The Emotional Rollercoster

Eventually you begin to accept the role, but it’s just the beginning of the journey. One that is packed with insecurities, anxieties and uncertainties. “You think twice about everything. Even with simple things like taking a walk, I would wonder if it would harm my baby or hurt me in any way. Every third day I’d call the doctor to check if I’m doing it right. You’re frightened to do anything and I learnt how to deal More >

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