Posts tagged journalists

I won’t play Laxman to SRK-Ranbir Kapoor

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3 years ago
by Fenil Seta in

Aren’t these the exact words Ranbir Kapoor uttered when he diplomatically turned down a Shah Rukh Khan project?

MEENA IYER Times News Network (BOMBAY TIMES; May 12, 2010)

Karan Johar’s lie-o-meter — the one the filmmaker uses on his television show to beep out actors who lie with a straight face — is a terrific invention. Today, it is something all scribes must carry. Why? ‘Coz stars lie and they do so without blinking an eyelid.

Take the latest lie, for example. Ranbir Kapoor was offered a film with Shah Rukh Khan by Karan. Says who? Ranbir’s dad — Rishi Kapoor. Who confirms this story? Many people from the same group. Will any of them go on record? No. But does that mean that the story is incorrect? Certainly not.

What Ranbir said to Karan went something like this, “Listen Karan, I’m still a newbie. SRK is a huge star. I admire him. He is a phenomenon. But I don’t wish to do a two-hero movie with SRK as yet. As it is, I’m not doing twohero films currently. Later, perhaps, not now… I don’t want to play a Laxman to SRK’s Ram, blah.. blah…’’

This story appears in a nice dignified way. The source is kept confidential. All parties’ interests are protected. And then what happens? Ranbir denies it. He talks of wanting to work with SRK (who he admires). Of course, he does. But can we bring that lie-o-meter on? Someone is telling a lie. Which Kapoor is it? Junior or senior? Why would a paper dream up a story on just Ranbir and SRK? And More >

Nana loses it again?

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3 years ago
by Fenil Seta in ,

A whimsical Nana Patekar showed up for interviews, greeted the media and… er, simply waltzed out of the office

By Vickey Lalwani (MUMBAI MIRROR; April 28, 2010)

// // //

On Sunday, Prakash Jha was hoping that Nana Patekar would charm the journalists who were to interview him for Raajneeti. Of course, Nana is an unpredictable man and one can’t put it past him to do something that might derail all plans for the day.

Several journalists were waiting and Nana showed up on time. He went into one room with Jha, who may have been briefing him.

Nana emerged five minutes later, meanwhile Jha went into another room to look after some editing.

What happened next came out of the blue.

Nana breezily greeted the journalist with uncharacteristic warmth and then breezed right out of the office! There’s one star who wasn’t coming back.

Jha emerged from his room to find the star attraction of the room missing. He was just as shocked as the waiting journalists. He couldn’t explain Nana’s erratic behaviour.

The director said, “I don’t know what exactly happened. I haven’t spoken to Nana about this. I think he must be annoyed with something. Or he must have had a prior commitment.”

Ajay Devgan, who was luckily around, saved the day. He spoke to the journalists to save face.

Nana remained unavailable for comment.

Fenil’s Bollywood Talk # 95

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3 years ago
by Fenil Seta in

PRINCE V/S JKSAH! I am waiting for Prince since a long time chiefly because of Vivek Oberoi, an actor whom I really appreciate a lot. I was also the one who was invited for promo launch of the film which took place way back in November. The producers of the film, Tips, had their flick Ajab Prem Ki Ghazab Kahani releasing just 4 days later and we were tempted with the offer of getting free audio CDs of it if we attend! Assuming that the star cast of the film and many journalists and media persons will be present, I went for it. Also just a week before this, 3 Idiots promo launch had happened which was star studded and I expected something similar here too!

I reached at the scheduled time with a friend at Pixion Studios (Bandra, Mumbai). The only known face there was of producer Kumar Taurani. Star cast was missing and even the media guys due to some reason skipped the event! Then I realized that only aam aadmis were invited! We were taken in a small preview theatre and shown the promo. Then we were given a questionnaire as to what we liked or disliked the promo. A guy then approached and video shot our reactions (CHECK THE CLIP HERE! I m the 2nd guy, the one with specks!). That’s it! We then left. No one got Ajab Prem CDs as promised; the only thing provided was water!

But still it was a great experience. The promo was rocking and the preview audi had awesome reclining seats, very superior picture quality and sound system which no multiplex offers! In More >

Where’s the money honey?

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3 years ago
by Fenil Seta in
Top Bollywood actresses hike up their market prices every time they hiccup!

MEENA IYER Times News Network (BOMBAY TIMES; March 20, 2010)

The over-imaginative PR machinery of actresses uses one weapon at regular intervals. Every time they feel that they need to get their heroine’s stock up, they brainwash journalists into believing that X actress has been paid an X amount. So you’re sipping your cuppa one morning and you almost fall off your couch, when you read that Priyanka Chopra got paid Rs 6 crore for Pyaar Impossible, or Kangna Ranaut will be paid Rs 5 crore for a film with a minister’s son, and Kareena Kapoor got paid Rs 10 crore for Golmaal 3 (later brought down to Rs 7 crore), while Katrina Kaif is offered Rs 7 crore by Abbas-Mustan for The Italian Job. When this round of blitzkrieg is done, you’ll have a final rumour on how Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, who is actually still in demand, is being offered a sum that totals the price of the current lot of divas.

“Circulating rumours on prices is the easiest thing,” says trade consultant Amod Mehra. “The truth is often very far away from the actuality. And, the market right now is certainly not ready to pay the heroines the prices they or their kith often claim.” Mehra explains that the reason for this is simple logic. You don’t have to be Einstein to know that Bollywood heroines still don’t sell a film. Therefore, any producer who pays a heroine a price, has to pay a price for it! More >

Filmfare awards to be announced in 10 days

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3 years ago
by Fenil Seta in

LADY WITH THE LAMP: Actor Katrina Kaif lights the ceremonial diya as WorldWide Media CEO Tarun Rai (left) and Idea Cellular MD Sanjeev Aga look on

THE TIMES OF INDIA (February 18, 2010)

Mumbai: The sets are being hammered out and performance rehearsals will get under way shortly. With just ten days to go before the 55th Idea Filmfare Awards 2009 are announced, the excitement is building up within the industry as well as several crore Hindi film fans across India.

The ceremony will take place on February 27 at Yash Raj Studios in Andheri. This announcement was made at a suburban five-star hotel on Wednesday. Actor Katrina Kaif, one of this year’s star performers and contender for best actor (female), was guest of honour at the event.

The Filmfare Awards have traversed three generations, starting from a basic four slots at the time of inception to a bouquet of 37 categories. While no new categories have been added, the organisers promise a surprise element in the anchoring segment. Over the past two or three seasons, the “male bonding’’ between the hosts has become a big draw, which is perhaps the reason why a rival award appropriated the concept earlier this year.

“Meena Kumari was one of the first nominees for best actress and now we are in the company of Katrina who is one of the new generation nominees, perhaps even a winner,’’ said Tarun Rai, CEO of WorldWide Media which owns the Filmfare brand. “In the 1950s, India did not even have television to relay the ceremony More >

When I’m angry, it shows on the canvas-Salman Khan

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3 years ago
by Fenil Seta in

MOST WANTED: Salman Khan Salman Khan, playing Guest Editor to BT, gives the media a lesson in journalism MARK MANUEL Times News Network (BOMBAY TIMES; September 26, 2009)

Sometimes, just sometimes, a pair of fists can be as mighty as the pen. Especially in Salman Khan’s case. Bollywood’s most ‘Wanted’ actor handsomely proved this to BT when he slipped into the editorial meeting one afternoon last week to play Guest Editor for this issue. ‘Slipped in’ — actually, is doing injustice to the rumbustious and starry entry the macho star of the new box office hit made at the Times of India building. Dressed in torn jeans and a figure-hugging Be Human tee, an American gangster-style Fedora tilted rakishly on the head… Salman looked a cocky combo of Rocky Balboa and Indiana Jones as he muscled his way in. And he alternatively exhibited the brawn and compassion of Rocky with the sarcasm and wit of Indiana. While really, he was simply being in character… of himself, then of Radhe — the hitman from Wanted.

He has no jhagda with the press, but — yes, he has an issue with biased and incorrect reporting. “Controversies, bad pictures, poor headlines… I see too much of this,” the Guest Editor admitted, sipping on black coffee, the aforementioned fists thumping the table. “But I am like an undertaker… he sees dead bodies every day, they don’t make a difference to him. But the effect on other people… that’s there. People may not believe what’s written, but they read anyway. What More >

Father of Slumdog Millionaire star dies

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3 years ago
by Fenil Seta in
Mohammed Ismail, left, holds the hand of his son, Azhar, 10 – a star of Slumdog Millionaire – and his wife Shamim in the flat bought for them by the filmmakers. The picture was taken the day before his death Photograph: Gethin Chamberlain

The father of Slumdog Millionaire child star Azhar Ismail has died of tuberculosis at the family’s home in Mumbai.

Mohammed Ismail’s premature death will inevitably fuel the controversy surrounding the fate of the slum children who appeared in the movie, which has grossed more than £86m worldwide since its release.

He died today in the new flat bought for the family by the trust set up by director Danny Boyle. Azhar, 10, was at school at the time and did not learn of the death until he returned home in the early evening.

In the movie Azhar played the part of Salim, the brother of the film’s lead character. In February he travelled to Los Angeles for the Oscars ceremony, where the film picked up eight awards, and on his return to the slum with co-star Rubina Ali he was greeted by cheering crowds.

But the failure of the children to subsequently escape the slum life has been the subject of controversy both within India and abroad.

Ismail found himself at the centre of a media storm after he was photographed slapping Azhar for refusing to talk to journalists shortly after the Oscar ceremony.

Azhar later said that the image portrayed of his father was undeserved. “I was being naughty and he slapped me like any father would. I was the one who More >

Actors making journos health-conscious!

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3 years ago
by Fenil Seta in
Actors today are not only conscious of their own health but also of the journalists who they interact with By Meena Iyer (MUMBAI MIRROR; July 13, 2009)

Akshay Kumar and Kareena Kapoor

In a long career as a film scribe one has eaten one too many meals with the stars.

Yesteryear actors took feeding the film scribe part a tad too seriously and many of them often believed that the way to a journalist’s article was through the meal they served.

Now it’s a different ball game. If you visit Kareena Kapoor, of the size-zero craze for an interview, she will feed you slimming cheese and cappuccino with a sugar free supplement.

Her closest contender Katrina Kaif offers you just green tea at her home. Katrina, who can go without a meal for six to eight hours, is fitness conscious and wants her guests to be the same.

Ajay Devgan smirks if he spots you with a packet of potato chips and will insist you have a baked continental dish with him.

Imran Khan is happy to give you water because that is his poison.

Deepika Padukone loves her rasam-rice but doesn’t insist that the interviewer warm up to it. “You can have coffee and cookies,” she says with a warm smile.

Asin will offer you walnuts, cashews, chocolates, lime water and if you beg to differ, her maid will give you amazing South Indian coffee.

Akshay Kumar, who eats lunch at 12 noon (come hell or high water) welcomes you to join him for palak paneer, an oil-free sabzi and rotis. No parathas for this Punjab ka More >

While bad boys like Sallu and Sanjay Dutt had the industry rooting for them, an outsider like Shiney doesn't stand a chance

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3 years ago
by Fenil Seta in
While bad boys like Salman Khan and Sanjay Dutt had the industry rooting for them, an outsider like Shiney doesn’t stand a chance By Indu Mirani (MUMBAI MIRROR; June 17, 2009) Even as the film industry makes appropriate noises over the Shiney Ahuja rape incident and closes ranks against any outsider who dares to breach their gates, cocktail conversations reveal very little sympathy for the man. In private conversations, once the mikes and cameras have been switched off, antagonism against the actor rears its ugly head as co-stars and directors recall how the upstart actor often rubbed them the wrong way with unsought for suggestions.

Which is really strange when you consider the amount of sustained goodwill for the industry’s notorious bad boys Salman Khan (charged with poaching and culpable homicide not amounting to murder) and Sanjay Dutt (charged with illegal possession of arms and terrorism) when they were taken in for questioning. Even Fardeen Khan, who was arrested for drug possession, came out smelling of roses.

I still remember when Sanjay was released on bail for the first time after many months in jail and he was brought straight to a very well attended press conference which had been so publicised before it happened that hundreds of people lined the roads near the venue to look at him. Fans flocked to him like a born-again messiah and hardened journalists had tears in their eyes when he spoke of the love he felt for us and all his countrymen and how he More >

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