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Posts tagged dabangg
Not without my crew: Abhinav wants a new deal
09 months ago
by Fenil Seta
in Bollywood News
The inside story why the Dabangg director hasn’t yet finalised a production house for his next, Besharam that stars Ranbir Kapoor in the lead
Vickey Lalwani (MUMBAI MIRROR; August 21, 2012)
His directorial debut Dabangg set the cash registers ringing. However, Abhinav Kashyap seems to have hit a roadblock with his second project Besharam.
Abhinav has succeeded in getting Ranbir Kapoor to star in his film. However, he hasn’t been as lucky in terms of a production house. Viacom18 Motion Pictures were willing to produce the film however reportedly, they decided to withdraw support. Undaunted, Abhinav has taken his project to Reliance and is believed to be in discussions with Fox Studios, UTV and Eros International as well. However, none of them have signed on the dotted line. So, what gives?
A source close to Viacom 18 told Mirror last night, “Viacom18 is still keen to do Besharam with Abhinav. But his style of functioning is a problem. We have no issues with him and would love to renegotiate with him if he decreases our burden.”
Apparently, Abhinav not only wants profit sharing benefits for himself, as this newspaper had earlier reported, but also for his entire set of writers, music directors and technicians.
“This happens, if at all, only in Hollywood. Bollywood mein aisa kabhi nahi hua. Sharing profits with his crew would completely upset the applecart,” the source said and added, “No doubt Abhinav has a big hero like Ranbir in his fold. One can understand he wants More >
All is not well between Salman and Sonakshi?
09 months ago
by Fenil Seta
in Rumour has it
Sonakshi Sinha was conspicuous by her absence from the several screenings of Salman Khan’s latest film ‘Ek Tha Tiger’, sparking speculations about personal equations between the two
Shaheen Parkar (MID-DAY; August 20, 2012)
B-Town has been buzzing about Sonakshi Sinha being missing at the screenings that Salman Khan held for his recent release, Ek Tha Tiger. Considering that the star held a plethora of previews as well as showings on the day of the film’s release as well for his family, friends and several industry folk, Sona was conspicuous by her absence. The no-show of Dabangg Sallu’s Rajjo has been duly noted by industry folk and again raised speculation about the Sallu-Sona equation of late.
No luck needed Interestingly, when Sonakshi, who is promoting her forthcoming film Joker, was asked about Salman’s film at a recent event in Mumbai she had quipped, “He doesn’t need any good luck wishes, his luck is already running very strong.”
Quiet on the blog Shotgun Junior, who is normally on an overdrive mode on her micro-blogging site, has also preferred to keep mum about Sallu’s film in the virtual world. But Sonakshi did not forget to tweet about Ekta Kapoor’s comic caper Kyaa Super Kool Hai Hum. She stated on her site, “Pls rename to Kya super duper funny hai hum… I’m still going mad laughing.” Interestingly she is part of Ekta’s upcoming film Once Upon A Time In Mumbaai 2 starring Akshay Kumar.
Spreading gossip Says an insider, “Ever since Salman realised that More >
Ek Tha Tiger tickets sold in black for record Rs 750
19 months ago
by Fenil Seta
in Bollywood News
Prachi Kadam (MUMBAI MIRROR; August 16, 2012)
Early morning, on August 15, Salman Khan’s sister had tweeted: “The TIGER has arrived! Congratulation & all the best to the whole team of Ek Tha Tiger! You’ll have to break all records!” The day was barely over and the team seemed to be well on their way to live up to her wishes. Mass hysteria, perhaps only witnessed during Rajinikanth’s films, ensued since 9.30 am on Independence Day. Letting go of the age-old Indian tradition of watching the Prime Minister speak from the Red Fort, people lined up in front of the ticket counters at various theatres across the country. Some, we heard, were even monitored by cops, just in case the multitudes decided to break into a song and dance sequence. When we tried to gain access to a suburban single screen theatre, we were told that a ticket that usually costs around Rs 90 is being sold for as much as Rs 750. “Abhi abhi madam Rs 800 mein le ke gayi ticket,” our arguments about ‘high pricing’ were easily dismissed. Incidentally, the last time black marketers had a ball was during Dabangg when each ticket sold for as much as Rs 450.
Manoj Desai, owner of the G7 multiplex in Mumbai termed it ‘crazy’. “People have been whistling every time Salman is on screen. It is fabulous. We are sold out till next Wednesday. This film will surely break all records. Even the black ticket rates are the highest in the history of cinema,” Desai told Mirror.
Salman’s hard work seems to have paid off. Anand More >
Despite a superhit, Abhinav Kashyap in a fix
09 months ago
by Fenil Seta
in Bollywood News
The producers of his next, Besharm, starring Ranbir Kapoor pull out of the project citing commercial considerations
Mehul S Thakkar (MUMBAI MIRROR; August 14, 2012)
Despite his debut venture Dabangg being a blockbuster, Abhinav Kashyap seems to have hit a roadblock with his second project Besharm. Having managed to rope in Ranbir Kapoor as the lead actor, the filmmaker is now stuck because the production house, Viacom18 Motion Pictures has suddenly decided to withdraw support.
Undaunted, Abhinav has now taken his project to another production house, Reliance.
A source disclosed that Viacom and Abhinav did not quite agree on the film’s look and feel. “Besharm is a very gritty movie. Viacom was in love with the concept and they tried hard to convince the director to give it a more commercial feel,” said the source.
According to the source, even during the making of Dabangg, it was only after Salman Khan’s inclusion that Abhinav made the necessary changes to his script.
Reportedly, Abhinav and Viacom 18 even had a dispute over the profit sharing of the film. The director, who wanted a bigger share, took his project to Reliance later. In fact, an insider revealed that Abhinav approached several producers.
A source close to Reliance maintained, “Yes they did come to us and the discussion did take place. However, it will take some time for the official announcement.”
Meanwhile, Besharm, the project that was supposed to go on floors by the end of this year, may now have to More >
I can make any film at 20% of its cost-Anurag Kashyap
09 months ago
by Fenil Seta
in Interviews
Priya Gupta (BOMBAY TIMES; August 14, 2012)
In a remarkably short span, Anurag Kashyap, 39, has created his own school of filmmaking. With the acclaimed Gangs Of Wasseypur, the writer and director has also emerged as the finest exponent of noir in Bollywood. In this freewheeling interview, he talks about his early years, his battle with alcoholism and why Mahesh Bhatt will always hold a special place in his life.
To start at the beginning, how did Satya come about? Ram Gopal Varma was looking for a new writer, and Manoj (Bajpayee) introduced me to him. I learnt everything to do with films while working with him on that movie and I still reflect in my movies what I learnt during the making of Satya.
I was always this happily available writer who would do anything for anyone. I was thus given opportunities which others were not. Post Satya, I’ve ghostwritten many blockbusters where my name is not there.
As a director how would you rate Ramu’s films these days? I don’t see them.
For someone who watches movies almost indiscriminately, surely that can’t be the case. I see the trailers of his movies and tell him what I feel about them. I fear that if I see his movies and don’t like them, I might walk up to him and tell him things he may not want to hear. Personally, I still care for him.
You and your siblings Abhinav and Anubhuti, are very creative and all of you are in filmmaking. How did that happen? My mother was rather shaukeen about films but in the small town where we More >
I work well under pressure-Sonakshi Sinha
010 months ago
by Fenil Seta
in Interviews
Sneha Mahadevan (DNA; July 11, 2012)
Sonakshi SinhaActress Sonakshi Sinha who has been busy shooting for her films back-to-back, recently spent some time at home with family, when her father, senior actor Shatrughan Sinha was admitted to the hospital. Setting the record straight Sonakshi reveals, “He is doing fine. What really happened was that since we’ve shifted into our new place, the paint and the dust caused an allergy. It was an allergic reaction that got blown out of proportion. He is absolutely fine now.”
Shifting the focus to films, for someone who hadn’t even dreamt of becoming an actor, Sonakshi has got more than her share of success. The actor, who made her high-profile debut with actor Salman Khan in Dabangg, got appreciation and criticism in equal measure, but she wouldn’t have had it any other way, says the young actor. “I don’t care what people said about the film. It couldn’t have been a better debut. People, who liked the film, loved it. Even in the role that I had, I got appreciated and the film did very well, so I am fortunate to have started my career with a film like that. Besides, who knows what my debut would have been if not Dabangg?” she states.
Her next release is Joker, a sci-fi film with actor Akshay Kumar, slightly different from her commercial potboilers she has been part of. “It’s got aliens and stuff like that. I love sci-fi books and English films. This was the second film I signed and at that point of time, I thought it was More >
I was craving for respect-Sonu Sood
010 months ago
by Fenil Seta
in Interviews
Actor on completing a decade in the industry and being constantly compared with Amitabh Bachchan
Kunal M Shah (MID-DAY; July 10, 2012)
Sonu Sood seems to be a content man today. After all, he has just completed 10 years in the industry, with several Bollywood and South films next to his name.
The actor has apparently even purchased a Rs 20 crore duplex property in South Mumbai, a move that clearly confirms his sound financial standing. From his debut with Shaheed-E-Azam in 2002 to his recent role as a tough cop in Maximum, Sonu speaks to us about his decade-long career…
Do you think Maximum was the next best logical step after Dabangg? I would say that an actor needs at least one Maximum once in their career. I am glad that critics have loved my work and I think that while Dabangg gave me the stardom, Maximum has given me the respect that I was craving for.
The critics have compared you to a younger Amitabh Bachchan. Are you flattered? I think he is too big a legend to be compared. If I even achieve 10 per cent of what he has achieved that I would say that my life is made.
You are said to be the only north Indian actor to establish yourself in the South… I received the Nandi Award in 2009 for my film Arundhati and I feel that it has been my best performance in South till date. Thankfully, my track record in South comprises 95 per cent hits and it feels good when people say, ‘you are our lucky mascot and you are the only North Indian to establish himself in South’. I have More >
I am not walking around in a burkha-Sonakshi Sinha
010 months ago
by Fenil Seta
in Interviews
While Sonakshi Sinha’s sticking to principles which come with her surname, she says it doesn’t mean that she’s too rigid
Garima Sharma (BOMBAY TIMES; July 9, 2012)
Of all that’s keeping Bollywood actresses in vogue, item numbers seem to be the flavour of the season, and joining the long list is Sonakshi Sinha. The actress shot a special dahi handi number for Akshay Kumar’s upcoming film OMG Oh My God! this weekend, and BT has exclusive pictures of the filming. Choreographed by Prabhu Dheva, the number Go Govinda features Sonakshi and him dancing to this Himesh Reshammiya song. Dressed in denims and a short white top, an outfit chosen by her fans through a contest on timesofindia.indiatimes.com, the actress chatted with us about dancing with Prabhu, even as he told us, “Sonakshi is a superb dancer and has her own distinct style. This is her third film, and look at her perform. By her tenth film, she’ll be in a league of her own.” Excerpts from an interview:
Why is every actress — you included —doing an item number these days? What’s the catch? Every song is also being called an item number irrespective of what it is, but this is a special Gokulashtami song. Having Prabhu Dheva in the same frame as me was the biggest catch; plus Akshay asked me to do it. He made me hear it and I immediately started dancing to it, so I knew it was a good one… I’ve been approached before for similar appearances and I’ve not done it because it has to be something which really clicks with me. More >
Bol Bachchan gets record advance booking?
010 months ago
by Fenil Seta
in Rumour has it
Kritika Kapoor (BOMBAY TIMES; July 6, 2012)
Advance booking’ is a phrase we don’t hear too often in the multiplex era, since most of the plexes have a policy of opening bookings only on a Wednesday. But, with the revival of the single screens, the term is making a comeback. The latest example of this is Bol Bachchan. The advance booking for the movie shot through the roof almost a week before its release — an unheard of phenomenon in the multiplex-dominated cinescape.
Chote Sheheron mein bade sales Some of the most astonishing sales have been in cities like Nagpur, where the film is already sold out before its release. Meanwhile, single-screen theatres in Indore and Bhopal had also sold 70 per cent of their tickets by Wednesday evening. Bol Bachchan is unabashedly marketed towards single screens (or theatres of the masses), which are the default in tier-II cities. Besides, the film is set to make about Rs 5 lakh, even before its release in single screen theatres, in metropolitan cities as well. This isn’t unprecedented, but it’s rare. In recent times, only 3 Idiots, Dabangg and Bodyguard saw this kind of a pre-opening windfall.
Multiplexes? Just the icing on the cake The multiplexes are the primary factor in the diminishing of the ‘advance booking’ system. Usually, they don’t sell tickets of Friday releases before Wednesday. Despite that, by Thursday morning itself, 25 per cent of the total tickets of each cinema in all the big cities were booked out (the average was More >