Posts tagged Delhi 6

Happy times in Bollywood for sad endings?

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17 hours ago
by Fenil Seta in

Bollywood may have its inhibitions, but Indian audiences have proved time and again that they are open to films ending on a tragic note

Bharati Dubey (BOMBAY TIMES; May 22, 2013)

 

When rockstar Rahul Jaykar jumps to his death in the climax of Aashiqui 2, not many were sure if a sad ending would work for the love story. But shattering all myths about sad endings’ fate at the box office, the film became a runaway hit.

A trade source says, “Actually, such excuses (tragic ending) crop up when a movie sinks at the box office and the concerned filmmaker looks for justifications to save face.” Says Shagufta Rafique, the writer of Aashiqui 2, “We did not think of any other end. The film is about a man who ends his life so that his lover can live on; we never worried if the ending will affect BO performance. I won’t call it a risk, it was about being true to the story.”

But despite the success of tragic love stories — Ranbir Kapoor’s Rockstar (2011) is another recent example — not many filmmakers are ready to take the risk. For example, the original storyline of Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra’s Delhi 6 (2009) had Abhishek Bachchan’s character dying. But after pressure from the studio, the director changed it. Both endings were shot and there were reports that the film would be re-released with its original climax.

This trend is not new. Twenty-five years ago, Mansoor Khan had also shot two climaxes for Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak (1988). A trivia on the film states that while the older More >

Gulzar to write Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra’s Mirza

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1 month ago
by Fenil Seta in

It was a request for a Devdas script 27 years ago that started it all

Mehul S Thakkar (MUMBAI MIRROR; April 18, 2013)

 

The post-production of Bhaag Milka Bhaag is still not over, but Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra, who is known to take his own sweet time to develop a subject, is already planning his next project. Titled Mirza, it is a contemporary love story. And although Mehra prefers to write his own scripts, this time, he has entrusted the job to Gulzar. The veteran writer will also pen the lyrics for the film.

In a freewheeling chat with this newspaper in a quaint bungalow that serves as his office, Mehra tells us about how his dream to work with Gulzar is nearly three decades old.

When Mehra was just 22, he had gone to meet Gulzar with a copy of Devdas and asked the poet to write him a script for it. “He didn’t know me and I just walked up to him, kept the book on his table and said, ‘I want you to write this film for me.’ And now, 27 years later, he is actually writing a film for me!” Mehra quotes Ghalib’s Hazaron khwahishen aisi and tweaks it to: Bahut nikle mere armaan, phir bhi thode thode nikal rahe hai…

Speaking about more such magic moments, Mehra talks about the time he ventured into filmmaking with Aks in 2001. He had already done over 200 ad films, but instead of enrolling in a professional course, he learnt filmmaking by watching movies and jotting down notes.

It was his advertising background that helped him shoot Aks with Amitabh Bachchan – he had already More >

Indebted to Rahman for adding to my understanding of Sufism-Prasoon Joshi

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1 month ago
by Fenil Seta in

Prasoon Joshi credits AR Rahman for introducing him to the various facets of Sufism

Shakti Shetty (MID-DAY; April 16, 2013)

 

Of late, Sufi music has become a staple diet for Bollywood with several films carrying numbers from this particular genre.

Incidentally, Prasoon Joshi recently wrote a devotional song named Khwaja Ka Ishaara to mark the 801st anniversary of Hazrat Khwaja Gharib Nawaz Dargah.

Turns out the songwriter is grateful to AR Rahman for introducing him to unknown facets of Sufism.

Interestingly, Prasoon also wrote his first Sufi track titled Arziyan for Rahman in the Sonam Kapoor- Abhishek Bachchan starrer Delhi 6 and has words of gratitude for the musical maestro.

“Since I was born and brought in places like Lucknow and Rampur, which are centres of Sufi poetry in India, the fascination was always there. But I’ll forever be indebted to Rahman for adding new dimensions to my understanding of Sufism. He made me aware of so many Sufi saints and shrines that I didn’t even know existed,” says the lyricist.

Ameen Peer Dargah, situated in Kadapa, Andhra Pradesh is one such place of worship that was shown to Prasoon by Rahman.

“It is also known as Ajmer Dargah of the South and Rahman is a regular visitor there. I pay my respect every year now and draw inspiration for my work from these travels,” adds Prasoon.

I’ve always struggled with my relationship with my father-Aditi Rao Hydari

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2 months ago
by Fenil Seta in

Priya Gupta (BOMBAY TIMES; February 23, 2013)

 

Aditi Rao Hydari, 26, has inherited her delicate looks and dignity from her mother and her craziness from her nani, the two most important women in her life. Over an hour-long conversation, she opens up to Bombay Times about her difficult relationship with her father, her royal background and how her separated husband continues to be her best friend. Excerpts:

Tell us about your family background. I was born to an illustrious family in Hyderabad. My mother is a Chitrapur Saraswat from Mangalore and half-Telugu and my father is a Bohri Muslim. My mother’s father J Rameshwar Rao was the Raja of Wanaparthy, a principality of Hyderabad. He was influenced by the socialist movement and became the first Raja to give up his title. Nehruji was fond of him and he was elected to the Lok Sabha many times. He realised that India did not have its own publishing house and started Longman India that later became Orient Blackswan and published educational books. My nani runs a famous school in Hyderabad. My great grandfather from my father’s side, Sir Akbar Hydari was the prime minister of the Nizam of Hyderabad. He was instrumental in setting up the Osmania university. His wife set up the Hydari club for women so that they could play tennis and she also set up the first girls’ school in Hyderabad. My family was extremely progressive. My parents had a love marriage, but they separated when I was two years old. I moved to Delhi with my mom, More >

Good girls also have sex-Aditi Rao Hydari

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3 months ago
by Fenil Seta in

Aditi Rao Hydari talks about her role in Murder 3, doing intimate scenes and on ‘family member’ Aamir Khan

Itee Sharma (MID-DAY; February 10, 2013)

 

The Murder franchise did wonders to the heroines of the earlier two films — Mallika Sherawat and Jacqueline Fernandez. Do you expect something similar to happen to your career as well? My career had a weak start, but with every film, I have taken one baby step forward. I am keeping my fingers crossed for Murder 3. My instinct says that it will help me.

Mahesh Bhatt compares you to the legendary actress Nutan! Goldie Behl had said the same to me when we were shooting for his production, London Paris New York. For Mahesh Bhatt to reiterate that is like a big encouragement that I am on the right path. Nutanji was a complete actress; and I think I have already proven that I am cut out to be a heroine.

Are you getting used to compliments? I met Vaibhavi Merchant a few days ago, who had choreographed the song Sasural genda phool in my first film, Delhi 6. She said she was very proud of me. Mr Amitabh Bachchan also complimented me at an award show recently, and said, “You are becoming more and more beautiful every day and your work is becoming better and better.”

You seem to be upping the ante as regards the sex quotient in your films (you kissed Ranbir Kapoor in Rockstar, kissed Arunoday Singh 22 times in Yeh Saali Zindagi and now have intimate scenes with Randeep Hooda in Murder 3). Do you treat this as part of an actresses’ job? More >

Yet another Sonam Kapoor film to be shot in Delhi

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3 months ago
by Fenil Seta in

Sonali Joshi Pitale (MID-DAY; February 5, 2013)

 

She may be based in Mumbai, but Sonam Kapoor is a true-blue Delhi girl. Or so it seems as coincidentally several of her films are shot in Delhi. Sonam’s next film opposite Ayushmann Khurrana will also be based in the national capital.

In the past, Miss Kapoor has acted in films like Delhi- 6, Aisha, her upcoming biopic Bhaag Milkha Bhaag and Raanjhnaa, her film opposite South star Dhanush, all shot in and around the capital.

A source says, “Just a couple of weeks ago, she wrapped up shooting for the Dhanush co-starrer in Delhi. She even spent a lot of time hanging around with students from the Delhi University. Her last schedule was hectic but she can’t wait to get back to the city.” Sonam says, “ I have been shooting in Delhi for back- to- back films and now I feel that Delhi has become practically my second home.” The actress plays Rishi Kapoor’s daughter in this rom-com.

The source adds, “The makers want to release this film mid- 2013 and are trying to wrap up the shoot soon.”

Such a variety of roles in this golden age-Waheeda Rehman

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10 months ago
by Fenil Seta in

Waheeda Rehman, 76, is one of the few actors of ‘the golden era of Hindi cinema’ who is still active. A retrospective of her films is being showcased at the annual Habitat Film Festival in Delhi till July 31. She speaks to Archana Khare Ghose about the film ‘Guide’, dacoits and hair dyes

THE TIMES OF INDIA (July 22, 2012) It’s the 100th year of India cinema and you have been an actor for more than 50 years. Do you have any plans to put it all down in a book? • I’m fortunate to be living in the 100th year of Indian cinema. Come to think of it, I’ve really had a lot of experience. What I do know is that right now is a great time for Indian cinema. It has changed so much from my days, not just in terms of technology and skills but also in the way actors are getting to play a wide variety of roles. Vidya Balan doing a The Dirty Picture has been possible only now, not in my time. We had very limited scope to act. As far as acting scope is concerned, this is the golden era. For instance, when I signed Guide (1965), people told me that I was committing a mistake and that it would be my last film, because the film opened with Rosie already being married. Besides, Rosie and Raju lived together without being married to each other. Filmmakers were very conservative then and couldn’t accept those situations.

‘Guide’ seems to be pretty close to your heart. • Yes, indeed. I enjoyed working for the film because it gave me some scope to do things differently. Otherwise, there was not More >

Never been in a hurry to make a film-Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra

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10 months ago
by Fenil Seta in

Sayantan Dalal (DNA; July 9, 2012)

Rakeysh OmPrakash Mehra

He kickstarted his career with a rather dark film Aks, but since then, director Rakeysh OmPrakash Mehra has moved on to more commercial fare including the 2006 hit Rang De Basanti. But what continues to define Rakeysh’s films are the various social messages he cleverly incorporates in them…

Q: You started with Aks (2001), but you have since moved on to more commercial films like Rang De Basanti, Delhi 6… A: I feel it was always the same. I never think or see films as commercial or art. If you have a story that you want to tell, then go ahead and make the film. To me, every film is commercial in its own way. The stories may come from your personal experience or not. Like Rang De Basanti was influenced by my college days, Delhi 6 by my childhood days in Delhi, and in Bhaag Milkha Bhaag there’s a little of my sporting days. So, if you are compelled to bring these influences or stories on celluloid then just make the film, don’t think of the commercial or art value.

Q: What attracted you to do a sports film? A: It’s not a sports film. It is inspired by athelete Milkha Singh’s life. What moved me the most is his life story – not only the sporting bit, but also all the trials and tribulations he had to go through. It is his undying spirit that impressed me the most. He had nothing, at a very young age he saw the massacre of his family, but from there he grew up to achieve such glory, including breaking the More >

Is Sonam Kapoor dressing down?

0
10 months ago
by Fenil Seta in

Known for her designer threads, the actress has to try real hard to play a village girl!

Shaheen Parkar (MID-DAY; July 2, 2012)

 

Fashionista Sonam Kapoor is presently working hard on how to dress down. The actress, known more for her style statements, is preparing to go de-glam to essay a simple village girl in Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra’s Bhaag Milkha Bhaag.

Though the film rolled earlier this year, Sonam was not part of the shoot schedule. She joins the unit in August for the next shooting stint. What’s adding to her excitement is not only going sans make-up and designer label but also the fact that she will be shooting on the India-Pakistan border.

Says Sonam, “I have never been to the Indo-Pak border before and shooting there will be an experience for me. I am very excited to start shooting. I have been working hard to play the character of a village girl.” She has dressed simply in her earlier films like Delhi 6 and a bit in Mausam. And now, the star feels this will be real stark, as she has not gone so rustic and simple before on screen.

Though her co-star Farhan Akhtar has interacted with Milkha Singh as preparations for the shoot, Sonam is yet to meet him and his family members. Her character is depicted as bringing about a big change in Milkha Singh’s life.

Analyzing the Delhi-wave in Bollywood over the years

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1 year ago
by Fenil Seta in

More B-Town filmmakers are setting and shooting their flicks in the country’s capital. BT analyses the trend

Tushar Joshi (BOMBAY TIMES; May 19, 2012)

 

The Hindi film industry is in Mumbai. Actors and filmmakers live here and have offices in the city. Even the studios are all here. So why are more and more Hindi films now being set and shot in Delhi? The country’s capital is not only the newest destination to shoot films, but script writers are setting their stories in the alleys and nukkads of the city. The Delhi-friendly wave began with Dibakar Banerjee’s Khosla Ka Ghosla (2006), about a middle class man from Delhi. The film was a commercial and critical success, and its main attraction was the city. The latest in the line of shot-in-Delhi films is Vicky Donor.

 

Born in Dilli Credit for bringing Delhi in our films goes to filmmakers and writers from that city, who have made careers in B-Town. Rakyesh Omprakash Mehra (Delhi 6, Rang De Basanti) is a Delhi boy who went on to make films set in the city. Mehra says, “I am a Delhi boy and all my stories are somehow influenced by events from my youth. Rang De Basanti was set in Delhi and so was Delhi 6, which is actually a post code of a certain area in the state. My next, Bhaag Milkha Bhaag, is also set in Delhi. Since I belong to that area, I can relate to the stories and tell them to my audience.” Shoojit Sircar (director, Vicky Donor) adds, “I lived in Delhi for 15 years and I’m in love with the city and its culture. More >

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