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Check out Anupam Kher in Anil Kapoor’s 24
02 months ago
by Fenil Seta
in Bollywood News
Roshni K Olivera (BOMBAY TIMES; March 7, 2013)
They have worked together in a number of hit films like Karma (1986), Ram Lakhan (1989), Lamhe (1991) among others. And now, Anil Kapoor and Anupam Kher will come together again after a decade; this time on TV. Anupam will play a very important cameo in Anil’s TV series 24, to be aired on Colors.
Says Anil, “We have been close friends for over 20 years and now we are neighbours too. But I didn’t want to take advantage of our friendship. So, I was hesitating to ask Anupam to be a part of the show. But my team kept coaxing me to because it was a role that needed an actor of stature. One day I just asked him and he said, ‘Of course, I’ll do it. Even if I have to just stand in a scene, I would do it for your sake’. And guess what? The day he returned to India after attending the Oscars, he came straight for the shoot in the evening that went on till morning.” Anupam, who plays a RAW officer in the show, is happy to see his friend make a magnum opus like 24. He says, “Anil asked me and I said yes. I always believe in doing things that are closest to my heart. And, I enjoyed doing this show very much.”
Anupam has hosted a show on the small screen before, but this is the first time he will be seen in a TV series after his telefilm Daddy (1991). So what does he think about television vis-a-vis Bollywood? “For me, it’s the work which is important, the medium doesn’t matter. Television is an interesting medium where the remote is in More >
Anil’s desi 24 too Hollywood for TV channel?
010 months ago
by Fenil Seta
in Rumour has it
Neha Maheshwri Bhagat (BOMBAY TIMES; July 26, 2012)
Anil Kapoor’s ambitious television project – the Indian remake of cult American series 24 – has hit a major roadblock. It was earlier reported that Star India had bought the rights to make the Indian version from Kapoor for a staggering 85 crore. Now we hear that the channel has called off the deal.
With this development, the actor and the channel’s otherwise active PR machinery — which was busy circulating various stories about the show — is now lying low. BT has been informed by reliable sources that the channel in question felt it would be difficult to Indianise the show and water down its Hollywood essence. Informs our source, “They were of the opinion that Anil’s adaptation of 24 would not complement the channel’s image, known for its family dramas. So the deal has been called off, which might prompt Anil to touch base with other channels.”
However, director Abhinay Deo, who was roped in to helm the show, refutes this development saying, “The show was never meant for the channel mentioned in news reports. Those were speculative stories, so we chose not to respond. The show is definitely happening, but I can’t give you a time frame within which it will launch.”
Anil adds that he is simultaneously in talks with a few channels, and no channel was ever finalised. “Even the casting is yet to be locked. I am planning to recruit newcomers for the show, with me in the lead. 24 is special, and its adaptation has turned out More >
Rensil D’Silva joins the crew of 24?
01 year ago
by Fenil Seta
in Rumour has it
The Kurbaan director will pen Anil Kapoor’s desi version of the Emmy award winning American series
Vickey Lalwani (MUMBAI MIRROR; May 16, 2012)
It was Mirror that told you how Abhinay Deo of Delhi Belly fame rejected film offers from three leading production houses to concentrate on directing Anil Kapoor’s desi version of the cult American TV series 24. We’d also told you how Kapoor bailed out his long-standing friend Rajkumar Santoshi from the adversities that currently engulf him by offering him the responsibility to look after the scripting of the series.
The latest addition to Kapoor’s growing pack, we can tell you, is adman-turned-writer cum filmmaker Rensil D’Silva, who has been roped in to write the screenplay of the Indian version 24.
Explaining how Rensil, who has written the screenplay of Rang De Basanti, Luck and Kurbaan, was brought on board the team, a source close to Kapoor said, “Anil loved his work in Rang De Basanti. Ever since, they have been good friends.”
Kapoor is pulling out all stops to make a larger-than-life desi 24. He is totally involved with the creative and technical aspects of the series. It is learnt Patrick Harbinger, who not only wrote the screenplay of the original 24 but was its executive producer as well, flew down to Mumbai for a close-door meeting with Rensil, Abhinay and Anil at a suburban five star. He offered his guidance on how to go about the desi version, keeping in mind an Indian audience. Reportedly, the meeting lasted for More >
Rajkumar Santoshi associated with Anil Kapoor’s 24
01 year ago
by Fenil Seta
in Bollywood News
Good friend Anil Kapoor has bailed the filmmaker out from his hard times and asked him to work on his desi adaptation of the American television series 24
Kunal M Shah (BOMBAY TIMES; April 11, 2012)
His dream project Ladies and Gentlemen failed to take off. Later, he was accused of selling the same script to various producers in the Hindi cinema fraternity. Then, a legal complaint was filed against him when a cheque issued by him bounced due to insufficient funds. When adversities engulfed Rajkumar Santoshi, who had given several blockbusters like Ghayal, Damini and Andaz Apna Apna to the Indian audiences, it had been stark. But now, his friend Anil Kapoor had presented a silver lining. Mirror has learnt that the filmmaker will be setting up a team of writers for Kapoor’s desi adaptation of the International television series 24.
Santoshi, who has a long-standing friendship with with Anil Kapoor and has worked with the actor in Pukaar and Lajja, has undertaken the responsibility to look after the scripting of the series. Delhi Belly maker Abhinay Deo will be directing it.
When contacted, Anil Kapoor confirmed the news and said, “Rajji is helping us as a well wisher. This is not a professional commitment for him and he is a very dear friend.”
Excited about his new project at hand, Rajkumar Santoshi told Mirror, “I am helping Anil get a team of writers for 24. Within a week, we will be ready. The idea is to get the adaptation correct. I am impressed with Anil’s sincerity More >
Anil Kapoor aims for Rs 100-crore pie for 24?
01 year ago
by Fenil Seta
in Rumour has it
The actor splits the deal for ‘24’ wide open.
Vickey Lalwani (MUMBAI MIRROR; April 7, 2012)
For a while, it looked like Anil Kapoor’s frantic search for a producer for the Indian remake of the cult American series 24 had ended with STAR Plus almost buying the rights for a staggering Rs 85 crore. However, Mirror can now reveal, the deal did not get inked. The bone of contention was the moolah.
A source from the television industry revealed that Kapoor felt STAR Plus’ offer wasn’t meaty enough for him to sink his teeth into. When contacted, Kapoor said, “The broadcast rights of 24 are still up for grabs. I haven’t finalised any channel yet. At this point, several channels are talking to me.”
So impressed is the actor with the larger-than-life counter-terrorism franchise that he intends keeping a major part of this year free of commitments to be able to shoot for it. “I am totally involved with the creative and technical aspects of the desi version,” he said.
Explaining why Kapoor wasn’t satisfied with the STAR Plus offer, a source close to the project said, “Anil is making desi 24 on a jaw-dropping scale. Keeping in mind the quality of the content he is planning to deliver, the actor feels he deserves a lot more.”
Meanwhile, we can also tell you that Kapoor is now in advanced talks with a rival channel from the Viacom stable. However, that does not mean STAR is no more in the race. Kapoor’s production company is expected to take a call soon, as our source from the More >
Anil wants to remake 24 in Hindi
02 years ago
by Fenil Seta
in Bollywood News
Anil Kapoor is getting ready to bring the Hindi version of the 24 series to India
Vickey Lalwani (MUMBAI MIRROR; March 04, 2011)
Just yesterday, we brought you the inside scoop on how Mallika Sherawat is on the make in LA-land. Another brethren from Bollywood is scoring a far more decisive innings in Hollywood.
From the ‘ullu ka pattha’ of Woh 7 Din to the Hindi version of the blockbuster TV series, 24, apna thespian Anil Kapoor has certainly made his mark globally, using Danny Boyle’s Oscar-winning Slumdog Millionaire as his launchpad.
Not only has Anil garnered acclaim from the American press for his role in the drama series, but is also planning to produce the series for the Indian market.
Each episode of the series, produced by Fox, narrates in real time the 24 hours of the life of the counter terrorist unit agent, Jack Bauer.
His latest check-mate move is to bring this compelling series to Indian television, in Hindi.
For the past few days, Kapoor has been in talks with a few channels. A source tells us, “Every channel who he has spoken to has shown very keen interest in this project. 24 in Hindi would be a winning ticket for any broadcaster.” The Fox Network too has expressed immense interest to bring 24 to India. The source adds, “Frankly speaking, it was a mutual decision.” The spadework has begun.
When asked about the cast, the source says, “A call is yet to be taken on which actors will be cast for the Hindi format.”
Kapoor will play the More >
I’ve gone from big to bigger- Anil Kapoor
02 years ago
by Fenil Seta
in Bollywood News
Anil Kapoor is riding high on his role in smash hit TV series ’24′, which will be premiering on Indian television soon
Robit Bansal | TNN (MUMBAI MIRROR; August 24, 2010)
Anil Kapoor is going great guns. After the international acclaim following Slumdog Millionaire, he is all set to make his debut on the Indian television scenario with the final season of American series 24. He describes the action drama as “bigger than the biggest” he has done in India.
“This small screen (24) was bigger than the big screen that I have done in India. It was bigger than the biggest that I’ve ever done,” says Anil. And how’s that? “For example, the scale of every episode was bigger than any of the films I’ve done in the past. The entire series is worth $125-150 million. I’ve never done such a big show in my career. It was very special,” adds the 50-year-old.
Based in New York (shot in Los Angeles), the around-$150 million 24 is an action-drama series starring Kiefer Sutherland in the lead as special agent Jack Bauer. The show is presented in the semblance of real time, with each 24-episode season covering 24 hours in the life of Bauer. This is the eighth and final season of the show. Anil plays Omar Hassan, president of a fictional Islamic Republic of Kamistan (IRK), who visits USA on a peace mission to meet the president of the Unites States.
“I am definitely the first mainstream star from India to have this kind of job opportunity on television there,” he More >