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Ranbir does a Rahul Gandhi
May 27th

What Rahul Gandhi did, Ranbir Kapoor perfected in Mumbai
Times News Network (BOMBAY TIMES; May 27, 2010)
Rahul Gandhi, the poster boy of Indian politics, did it for the Congress first in Mumbai… travelling by a Kalyan bound CR local between Dadar and Ghatkopar, to defy the Shiv Sena in February and establish the fact that Mumbai is for all Indians… but Ranbir Kapoor, the poster boy of Bollywood, was more at ease when he hopped into a Churchgate-bound WR local at Andheri to alight at Mahim in a promo for the Ronnie Screwvala produced and Prakash Jha-directed film Raajneeti.

Both, Rahul and Ranbir undertook their train journeys to establish a local connect with the aam aadmi… and, coincidentally, both were dressed in kurta and Kolhapuris, which is the attire of the politician… and which, coincicentally again, is what Rahul is in real life and Ranbir plays Rajneeti. The film also stars Nana Patekar, Ajay Devgn, Katrina Kaif, Manoj Bajpai, Arjun Rampal, Naseeruddin Shah and Sarah Thompson Kane and is about Indian politics, about democracy and its ugly underside, about elections, and about the few people who control the destiny of millions, their unstoppable ambition, and their bitter and violent battle to achieve it. Rahul Gandhi, by this brazen act of defiance, won the hearts of Mumbaikars and perhaps scored brownie points for the Congress to be calculated in elections to come. And Ranbir Kapoor, he sent commuters’ hearts a flutter in the ladies compartment for sure, but what his Mumbai rail yatra will do for Raajneeti we’ll only know on June 4, when the film releases…
Phased release stumped Sena
Feb 13th
Bharati Dubey | TNN (THE TIMES OF INDIA; February 13, 2010)
Mumbai: The Shiv Sena’s attempt to stop the release of ‘My Name Is Khan’ was foiled by the multiplexes’ strategy to release the film in phases. After a joint meeting on Friday morning, multiplex owners decided on a quiet release without announcements so that there was little chance to stall screenings. Initially, each multiplex chain opened one cinema hall each in Mumbai.
The first show started at Fun Republic, Andheri Link Road, at 12.10 pm, followed by PVR in Goregaon, Fame Adlabs in Malad, Big Cinema at Wadala, Cinemax at Ghatkopar and Inox at Nariman Point at 12.50 pm.
Most of the halls reported good attendance, but nobody was counting numbers on Friday. What was important was whether audiences feared the Sena, which has tried its level best to stop the screening of the film. There were stone-pelting incidents in suburban areas, but the show went on. Vishal Kapoor, chief operations officer, Fun Cinemas, said, “All shows are getting good audiences, and with the kind of response the film has received today the weekend will definitely see a good response.’’
After the big chains opened, smaller cinemas, including single-screen theatres, also braved the Sena’s resistance and opened ticket windows. Although bookings there started slow, they picked up by evening. Most of the multiplexes will screen 15 shows a day from Saturday onwards. Distributor-exhibitor Rajesh Thadani said, “Most of the cinema halls have started screening the film. Even single-screen theatres, I am told, have opened to about a 70% response, which is also good.’’
The film industry came out in full support of SRK, including his wife Gauri Khan, who visited Fun Cinema in the evening. She said, “I have come here on behalf of Shah Rukh to thank all the people who came out to watch the film and show support to us.’’
Other celebrities who watched the film first-day, first-show to express solidarity with the actor included Pooja Bedi, Kabir Bedi, Mahesh Bhatt and Hrithik Roshan.
Vikas Mohan, vice president of the Association of Motion Picture and Television Programme Producers, congratulated the Mumbai police and state government for showing courage. “It has boosted the morale of the film industry. Had the film failed to release, it would have given a wrong signal and encouraged those who were opposing the release,’’ he said.
Dinesh Chaturvedi, of the Federation of Western India Cine Employees, said, “All our members are out guarding various cinema halls. We are here to support SRK. The show will go on.’’
Trade analyst Taran Adarsh said, “The film had a very good start at practically every centre.’’ He said single screens in big centres saw 70% collections and multiplexes fared slightly better.
bharati.dubey@timesgroup.com
City shrugs off fear
Feb 13th

TIMES NEWS NETWORK (THE TIMES OF INDIA; February 13, 2010)
Mumbai: Whatever else he might have done, actor Shah Rukh Khan ensured one thing: that the city’s politicians took time off from their routine and spent a morning in a cinema hall—first-day, first-show no less. Which other actor can brag of such a fan following?

On Friday, Mumbai came out in large numbers despite the Shiv Sena’s threat to stay away from cinema halls screening ‘My Name Is Khan’. Leading the pack of cinegoers was home minister R R Patil. Others, such as MP Sanjay Nirupam and state minister Arif Nasim Khan, also watched the film, as did the likes of filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt. Khakhi freely mixed with mufti at theatres, as cops roamed conspicuously and security arrangements were tight.
SOUTH MUMBAI
“Those who want to exhibit the film will be given complete protection,’’ said Patil. The politician brushed aside all talk of the government’s failure to give confidence to exhibitors. “We have assured them protection. Now they have to decide if they want to release the film,’’ he added, before walking in to watch ‘My Name Is Khan’ at Nariman Point’s Inox theatre.
Taking complete advantage of the Mahashivratri holiday, Mumbaikars came out in numbers to cinema halls. “Initially, we were hesitant but then thought the police would do their job and we should enjoy the film,’’ said consultant Rakesh Gupta, who watched the film with his wife.
Byculla resident Mehmood Shaikh, who also watched the movie, had a different reason for showing up. “I came to see the crowds and the media coverage the movie was getting,’’ he said rather honestly.
At Sterling cinema in the Fort area, a mother-daughter duo watched the film without any fear. “The only problem was the long checking process at the entrance, but I guess they were just doing their job,’’ said the daughter. “We were asked to show photo IDs, probably to prove we were not Shiv Sainiks,’’ she said.
WESTERN SUBURBS
While only a couple of cinema halls in the western suburbs had chosen to screen the film in the morning, by afternoon nobody wanted to lose out on the business. Cops were deployed in large numbers at multiplexes in Goregaon’s Oberoi Mall and Andheri’s Fun Republic. ACP (West) Amitabh Gupta and zonal DCP (West) K M M Prasanna were both personally present at the theatres to supervise security arrangements.
MP and Congress leader Sanjay Nirupam watched the first show at Andheri’s Fun Republic. “There were many people in the theatre, including kids,’’ claimed Nirupam. “This is a clear indication that people are rejecting the Sena’s so-called movement,’’ he said. State minister Arif Nasim Khan also came to watch the film with friends.
Crowds from the western suburbs were seen carrying banners in support of the movie. IIT-ian Saurabh Jain came with friends and said they would watch the film without fear. But cinema owners played safe by only selling tickets an hour before showtime. Needless to say, ticket counters were swamped with cine-goers.

On Friday morning, Sena supporters pelted stones and bottles at Fun Republic but the cops nabbed them promptly. At Cinemax in Kandivili (East), there was an attempt to disrupt the screening. “About 30 Sainiks were picked up as soon as they began to tear posters,’’ said Ajit Patil, DCP (zone 12). All the accused were hauled to the Samta Nagar police station. In Andheri (west), two BEST buses and an auto rickshaw were damaged. “We got calls saying shops were forcefully being made to shut down and BEST buses were stopped in Jawahar Nagar in Goregaon (west),’’ informed a senor police official. “The team reached the spot immediately but the miscreants couldn’t be traced,’’ he added.
EASTERN SUBURBS
Khan lovers from Dombivli, Kalyan and Ulhasnagar turned up at the Fame multiplex in Kalyan, only to be disappointed since the booking counter was closed. “The decision not to show any films for an undefined period has come from the top,’’ said an employee.
But Mumbaikars thronged single-screen theatres in the central and eastern suburbs. Kalpana theatre at Kamani Road in Kurla (west) showed the film at 12 noon with 349 seats filled. “All tickets went in current booking and the show went off without incident,’’ said theatre manager Babu Bhai. Cops from police stations at Kurla and VB Nagar were deployed at the cinema hall. On February 9, glass windows were shattered in the theatre. The management believes their legal advisor led the agitation. “The man has gone into hiding but we are looking for him,’’ said ACP (Kurla division) Prabhakar Satam.
The Ghatkopar-based single screen Shreyas cinema sold 35 tickets for the noon show—a third of normal capacity. “We decided to go ahead with the release after the zonal DCP personally led the security charge on the premises,’’ said an employee. Meanwhile, bandobast was beefed up at the Ghatkopar-based Cinemax theatre on Ram Narayan Narkar Marg where police officials from Pant Nagar, led by senior inspector MS Suryavanshi, provided security.
—Reported by Yogesh Naik, Mateen Hafeez, Vijay V Singh, Sanjeev Shivadekar, Nitasha Natu & V Narayan
Mumbai theatres attacked; warned not to screen MNIK
Feb 10th
By Satish Sundaresan, February 10, 2010 – 12:57 IST
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They say that Promises are meant to be broken, a statement that holds immense water in the field of politics. And it is this ‘promise’ by the leading political party Shiv Sena that gave assurance to the makers of the much anticipated film My Name Is Khan, starring SRK, Kajol and others. The said party had assured the filmmakers that they will let the film run on screens without any hassles from their side.
However, the party workers yesterday attacked three theatres in Mumbai (Shreyas Theatre-Ghatkopar, Mehul Talkies-Mulund, and Metro Big Cinemas-Dhobi Talao), that will be screening the Karan Johar directed MNIK.
Bollywood Hungama has also got the oven-fresh news that Cinemax Cinemas have stopped advance bookings for the film, directed by Karan Johar which releases on Friday.
Leaves of all Mumbai policemen have been cancelled in order to ensure the smooth proceedings of the shows. The security cover at the single screen theatres as well as the multiplexes have been more than doubled, while MNIK‘s lead star Shah Rukh Khan’s security has been increased.
Even though there was stone pelting at the said theatres, the situation in Metro Big Cinemas was reported to be the worst as party workers went onto vandalize and tear one of the screens. An official with Metro Cinema, requesting anonymity, told Bollywood Hungama, “The ‘modus operandi’ adopted by the party workers was really something. They entered the theatre on the pretext of watching a film. Within a few minutes, there was some stone-throwing outside the theatre. When we went to control that, the workers in the theatre started their act of tearing the screen apart. The damages are too huge to be even spoken about.”
A certain Mr. Prakash Shah (name changed on request) from Mehul Talkies, who was present at the time of the incident, told us that at around 12.45 pm, a mob of about 14 -15 people entered through the main door and started damaging the theatre property. They started off by breaking the glass door, windows, and then attacked the canteen. If that wasn’t enough, they even entered the cinema hall where a Marathi film Shikshanacha Aaicha Gho was being screened and threatened the present audience with dire consequences if they came to watch MNIK. The overall damages are an estimated Rs. 1 lakh plus.” He further added, “What was more shocking was the fact that nobody from the said mob was carrying the party flag! And the whole incident lasted for almost 15 minutes”.
The situation was slightly different at Shreyas Theatre, Ghatkopar. When we spoke to one of the theatre staff there, he said, “I am just not going to reveal my name to you as I fear losing my job, if any of the party workers gets to know that it was me who spoke about the incident.” After repeated assurances from our end, he revealed, “Yesterday, at around 9 am, about 50 policemen arrived at the theatre stating they were here for ‘bandobast’. When we asked them what was the need for the ‘bandobast’, they said that they were anticipating some trouble. They also enquired if we had got any threatening calls from any political party to stop the screening of the forthcoming film MNIK. And since we had not received any calls from anyone, we replied in the negative. The policemen then went on with their duty of providing security to the theatre. Then, at around 12 noon, some 12-15 men from Shiv Sena armed with their party flags started shouting anti-SRK slogans. The policemen stationed outside immediately flung into action and brought the situation under control. However, four party workers managed to sneak inside the theatre and told the management to not screen MNIK.”
There were groups of the party workers who were also seen protesting and shouting slogans in the areas of Kanjurmarg, Bandra, Khar and other parts of the city. A senior official from the police department told us, “There were around 13 party workers whom we arrested from Mulund, and around 23 detained in Ghatkopar and Kanjurmarg in connection with the said protests.”
The damages also got extended upto Maratha Mandir, New Empire and also Minerva. The situation was slightly upheaval here SRK’s face in MNIK poster was blackened, stating that this was just sampler of what to expect once when the film gets released.
BOLLYWOOD HUNGAMA.COM
Cops detain 1000 Sainiks ahead of MNIK release
Feb 10th
By Agencies (MUMBAI MIRROR; February 10, 2010)
In a crackdown against Shiv Sena, over 1000 of its activists have been detained ahead of the release of Shah Rukh Khan starrer My Name is Khan after the party stepped up its protest against the film over the actor’s remarks favouring inclusion of Pakistani cricketers in IPL.

“In the last 24 hours, a total of 1,023 Sainiks have been arrested. While 955 were picked up under the preventive action, the rest were put behind bars for different cases, including for protesting outside the theatre, vandalising screens among others,” police said.
Tight security has been provided to 63 theatres across the city where the movie is scheduled to be released on February 12, they said.
Guidelines have also been issued to all police stations by the city police chief regarding security arrangements.
Cinema halls have stopped advance bookings for My Name Is Khan following violent protests by Shiv Sena activists. Multiplex chains like PVR and Cinemax withdrew their advance bookings for the film, as did single-screen theatres like Mehul in Mulund and Shreyas in Ghatkopar, their officials said. “We have shut the advance bookings for the film as of now. It may open around 4pm today but nothing is certain at present,” Girish Wankhede, deputy general manager (corporate communication) of Cinemax, said.
Pramod Madhve, an official from Mehul Theatre, said: “Nothing about the film’s release is fixed yet. We hope to receive updates by tomorrow. But the advance bookings have been shut for now.” A Shreyas Theatre official said: “Bookings have been closed as of now, we should be in a position to tell you about the release by tomorrow.”
According to TV channels, major multiplexes like PVR, Big Cinemas, Adlabs and Fun Cinemas too have closed their advance booking windows for the movie.
The Sena has renewed its threat not to allow the release of “My Name…” unless the Bollywood star retracts his statement favouring inclusion of Pakistani players in IPL-3.
“We will not allow the movie to be released. Shah Rukh should first apologise to Balasaheb (Thackeray) and then only we can talk with him,” Sena leader Manohar Joshi said yesterday.
In wake of the Sena intensifying protests against Khan, leaves of the city’s policemen have been cancelled to ensure their full presence. To further strengthen security, personnel from State Reserve Police Force and Home Guards will be deployed at the 63 theatres that will screen the film here.
Karan Johar, director and co-producer of the film, on Tuesday met police commissioner D Sivanandhan to discuss security issues ahead of the movie’s release.
Multiplexes in Mumbai stop MNIK bookings
Feb 10th
With the Shiv Sena going on the rampage against the theatres screening My Name Is Khan, the sudden and violent change of stance after indicating a truce has shocked the film industry.
Several Sena dominated pockets of the city including Mulund, Kanjurmarg, Ghatkopar and Chembur witnessed attacks on theatres planning to screen My Name Is Khan. Huma Adlabs, Shreyas, Ashish and Metro were among the theatres attacked.
Yesterday, the film’s producer Karan Johar met up with Police Commissioner D Sivanandan to discuss the situation. While the police has warned of strict action against troublemakers and over 200 arrests were made on Tuesday, the situation remains volatile. And bearing the brunt are the theatres.
“We are waiting to hear from the distributors (Fox Cinemas) to take an official stand on whether or not to go ahead with the release of My Name Is Khan. It is as much their decision as ours,” said Shunali Shroff of Fame Big Cinemas, adding, “Hopefully, by Wednesday morning, things should get resolved.”
Devang Sampat, GM Marketing, Cinemax said, “We are yet to take a call on this. I have still to speak to the operation team since this is more of an operation call.”
Meanwhile, in an interview to a television channel, Shah Rukh Khan said that while he has had a warm relationship with Bal Thackeray and Uddhav Thackeray, he didn’t feel there was anything he had said which he should apologise for. He also said that he had not sought any appointment with them to sort out the issue.
It may be recalled that the Shiv Senas had taken an objection to Shah Rukh’s comment that Pakistani cricket players should be allowed to play in the IPL.
At the time of going to press, representatives from all the multiplexes were in a meeting with Chief Minister Ashok Chavan to find a solution to the impasse.
Avatar 3D glasses of sub-standard quality?
Dec 24th
The cash registers are ringing in merry money - a good Rs 22 crore in box office receipts in India alone for the opening weekend - and Avatar is turning out to be one of those word-of-mouth monster hits. But movie-goers are complaining about the kaaniya quality of the 3D spectacles being provided at theatres.
The complaints are many: from slipping off the nose to the fingerprints of the spectator’s former avatar. Thirty-three-year-old software professional Sameer Gharat narrates his experience of watching Avatar at Imax, Wadala: “The 3D glasses offered to me ruined my movie-watching experience to say the least. They were uncomfortable to wear as they only had a one-size-fits-all.
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| A still from the movie Avatar |
Also, I was required to take off my own spectacles to wear the 3D glasses as they wouldn’t sit atop my own. Being a bit big in size, they would sit very low on the nose, while most people prefer the bridge of the specs to be at the top of the nose. Also, you generally tend to focus on the middle part of the screen. But if you look to the corner of the screen, your line of vision strays out of the frame, ruining the 3D experience.”
With the number of 3D movies that have released this year, one would expect multiplexes to be better equipped to nip such issues in the bud. But glasses slipping off and the uncomfortable experience are not the only issues.
Nandita Singh, a 26-year-old software professional who watched Avatar at the same theatre, suffered from the problem of lack of clarity. “I was forced to tilt my head to either side and this got my vision blurred and felt like I wasn’t wearing 3D glasses at all. Also, the 3D glasses weren’t hygienic and I had to clean the dirty fingerprints smeared all over its film.”
A 3D movie offers much more than an average movie with respect to overall viewing experience. But the pleasure of this experience can be hampered if the 3D glasses are of sub-standard quality or aren’t maintained regularly.
Twenty-nine-year-old training manager Mala Banerji, who saw the extravagant 3D movie at Big Cinemas at R City Mall, Ghatkopar, shares her woes, “The 3D glasses they gave were too big and were slipping off my face and I had to hold on to them throughout the movie.
Also, I could see through the gap between the glasses from either side, so it was distracting. This killed the movie for me as I couldn’t concentrate and you need to be totally engrossed in a movie like this to truly enjoy it.”
However, a source from 20th Century Fox, who did not wish to be named, rubbished the claims. “Our responsibility is restricted to delivering a clean finished product, which is what Avatar is. The 3D glasses and 3D projector is something that the exhibitors hire. It is their responsibility and they should take care to maintain them. Glasses need to be cleaned.
Defective glasses need to be replaced. If these precautions are not taken, you will have the odd complaint,” said the source.
Kashmera to break dahi handi!
Aug 11th
Come August 14, actress Kashmera Shah will break a dahi handi on the streets of Mumbai. Maybe having a boyfriend named Krishna was incentive for Kashmera to risk breaking her neck while reaching out for the handi. Either ways, we don’t think the mandals, the audience or the men she clambers up on will be complaining. An excited Kashmera says, “Yes, I am indeed going to break a handi this year… I can’t stop thinking about it.” Last week, a Marathi mandal approached Kashmera to be the one who breaks the handi. “ I asked myself, ‘Why not?’ After all, my mother is a Maharashtrian, and I have grown up in Girgaum, amidst a lot of Maharashtrians and I have even danced on the streets during the Ganpati processions. I got excited and sent feelers to a few mandals that I was interested,” Kashmera says. Kashmera adds, “The word spread very quickly with within the mandals and tomorrow, I’ll decide about which offer I’ll accept. It’ll be one among Girgaum, Lalbaug, Ghatkopar or Thane. Actually, there’s a mandal from Pune too that I am in talks with. No actress has done such a thing before, so when I’m going to do it, it has to be in the best place possible.” Kashmera knows that she is not getting into something that is child’s play. As a part of gearing up for the celebrations, she is taking lessons from a professional group. “Even though I’m rehearsing for it, I’m very scared about the whole thing too. I hope I don’t end up breaking my neck! But yes, my thrill is compounded by the fact that my boyfriend’s name is Krishna.” Is Krishna okay with her daredevilry, we ask? Kashmera laughs, “He wasn’t aware about it earlier. Now he’s worried that I’ll break my head or bum.” |




INSIDE STORY: How MNIK managed to get a release in Mumbai
Feb 13th
Posted by Fenil Seta in Bollywood News
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The State Government has claimed that My Name is Khan was screened at 13 multiplexes and single screen theatres. Sena claims its protest was successful. While Shah Rukh Khan claims he has stood his ground.
How did an impasse that did not look resolvable any time soon and threatened to throw the city out of gear, end on a truce within a day? According to sources, it took some massive backroom negotiations and a little bit of arm twisting by the government to achieve that.
It was a matter of political prestige and the Democratic Front government had to put in all its might. Multiplex chains and theatre owners were threatened that if despite all security assurances they did not screen the SRK-starrer, the tax rebates they enjoy currently would be withdrawn.
Shiv Sena was allegedly cajoled to an understanding that it had had enough time in the sun and it was in the best interest of the party that it ceded ground.
Chief Minister Ashok Chavan’s office assured that the government would provide Sena an environment to claim a successful protest. A bit of pressure in the form a threat to treat arrested Shiv Sainiks as criminals and not political workers sealed the deal.
As for Shah Rukh, he was reportedly asked to send another tweet regretting his comments that may have hurt sentiments without changing his stand.
The impasse all through was closely monitored by the Congress High Command in Delhi.
Backroom tactics
According to sources in the establishment and the theatre industry, when on Thursday evening it appeared that despite heavy force deployment theatre owners were reluctant to release the film, the government decided to take a strong step.
An exhibitor told Mumbai Mirror, “On Thursday evening a message was sent to all the exhibitors from the government that they could lose their tax benefits if the film was not released. It was reiterated on Friday.”
Similarly backroom negotiations with Sena were held. A senior functionary in the establishment said, “The Sena was told that it had had its protests and now it was a question of the government’s prestige.
If agitations were not stopped, it would take unprecedented harsh action against Sena workers. So it was in the best interest of Sena to withdraw the agitation and the government would let it claim success.”
By Friday afternoon, SRK too was instructed to subtly apologise and so the tweet of regret: “If I have said anything wittingly or unwittingly, have disturbed any sentiments, I express wholehearted regret.” Even though he later said this was meant only for his fans.
The result: kudos for CM Chavan from the Congress high command. Rajiv Shukla, Congress Rajya Sabha MP from Maharashtra said, “If at all, full credit goes to the Chief Minister who handled the situation firmly.”
Elsewhere, the Sena issued a statement, claiming a successful agitation. “We never insisted Shah Rukh to apologise to Sena. Our stand was that he should apologise to the nation. The country is bigger (than anybody). We stood up against Khan out of patriotic fervour,” said a press statement.
What happened on the ground
However, the government had to move a lot of things on the ground as well to make the backroom negotiations successful.
To ensure minimal damage to the theatres, some 48,000 policemen were on the streets as it had become a prestige issue for Chief Minister Ashok Chavan who was seen struggling with the political juggernaut coming his way in the last two-three days.
The CM, who appeared fighting his personal battle with no Congress minister except Narayan Rane and Minister of State for Home Ramesh Bagwe speaking on his side, got some respite with Home Minister R R Patil coming in for help.
Sources said, Patil asked senior police officers to speak to the theatre owners and assure them of state protection even after the release of the movie. That made a significant difference, as it is the Home Department and the police that handles issue of the cinema licences.
To restore the confidence of the theatre owners, CM Chavan, Patil and Bagwe visited a few cinema houses on Friday afternoon. MP Sanjay Nirupam went along with his supporters to watch the movie at Fun Cinemas in Andheri.
When contacted by this newspaper, the CM refused to elaborate on his plans for the release of the movie. “The government has made every effort to protect the theatres and the viewers who wanted to enjoy the movie,” he said. Though he did not speak much, he seemed a much relieved man as a non-release would have had an adverse effect on his chair.
Patil told this newspaper that the movie was released in almost 13 multiplexes and single screen theatres. “Our policemen have taken every care to stall any effort to disrupt the screening,” he said.
According to police sources, the movie released at Fun (Andheri), Inox (Nariman Point), PVR (Goregaon), Fame (Malad), Cinemax (Ghatkopar and Kandivali), Big (Wadala), Regal (Colaba), Ashish (Chembur), Kalpana (Kurla), Shreyas (Ghatkopar), Premier (Dongri and Parel).