Posts tagged kahaani

How govt officials, BMC employees create nuisance during film shoots

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1 month ago
by Fenil Seta in

Filmmakers reveal how often government officials, by sheer dint of position, demand to be humoured on film shoots

Soumyadipta Banerjee (MUMBAI MIRROR; March 29, 2013)

 

Call it a professional hazard but if you are a filmmaker who has to avail a public utility for his film, you just can’t afford to offend the government official (s) in charge, overzealous or interfering as they might be.

Sujoy Ghosh is a case in point. While shooting at the Kolkata Metro for Kahaani, the director was forced to lend his ear to the official in charge, who insisted on composing the lyrics for the filmmaker’s next. Recalls Sujoy: “The man came to me with the lyrics he had written while I was shooting. I listened to all his poems and even praised him. He was eager to compose the lyrics for my next project and I told him I would definitely consider him. I had to continue with my shoot then. I didn’t want to give anyone false hopes but there is no plan to rope him as the script of my next is still not in place.”

Like Sujoy, Sudhir Mishra too was left with little option but to humour a ‘budding poet’, who also happened to be a railway employee based in Lucknow.

Says Mishra: “He was reciting his poems while my shots were on. Imagine the situation: my eye was in the viewfinder, I was waving to my DOP to continue the shot and there, he was reciting his intense poem. Had I offended him at the time, my shooting would have stopped.”

In another such instance, “an entire family landed up on the sets simply More >

Nawazuddin to celebrate his National Award win with Sujoy Ghosh in Kolkata

0
1 month ago
by Fenil Seta in

Urmimala Banerjee (MID-DAY; March 29, 2013)

 

Looks like Nawaz is in the mood to spread around the cheer that comes from his National Award win. The actor, who is currently shooting for Buddhadeb Dasgupta’s Anwar Ka Ajab Kissa film in Shimultala, a seven-hour drive from Kolkata, wants to share his joy with Kahaani director Sujoy Ghosh.

He says, “I am really glad to be back in Kolkata. I feel that this city has given me a lot. Kahaani was shot here and it got me recognition. I was here once after the film’s release and I got a very warm reception.” And no wonder he misses Sujoy. “I hope to take out some time to catch up with Sujoy. I am very happy for him and vice versa. I remember Sujoy showing me around the city when we were shooting. We also ate at some fabulous places. A nice dinner will be the perfect celebration for all our efforts and hard work.”

Don’t get much time to spend with my daughter-Nawazuddin Siddiqui

0
1 month ago
by Fenil Seta in

Asira Tarannum (MID-DAY; March 29, 2013)

 

When Nawazuddin Siddiqui got intimation over the phone that he had won the National Award, he was busy listening to a script narration. And soon after, his Yari Road residence was flooded with well-wishers and his phone didn’t stop ringing.

Says Nawaz, “I am glad that I won the Special Jury award. People started recognising me after Kahaani and I shot to fame with Gangs of Wasseypur. My award is for my performances in four films, out of which one is still yet to release.”

The actor says he was not expecting to win the award at all. In fact he feels that his first ever film, Sarfarosh was much more difficult than the others.

But thanks to the “herd mentality” in Bollywood, the actor says he is now flooded with offers.

While Nawaz’s timetable is crammed with projects right now, the actor has one regret, and that is he hardly has time to spend with his two- year- old daughter.

“I am shooting back-to-back for films and I don’t get much time to spend with my little one. I make the most of my free time by playing with her.”

Kahaani’s story is far from complete-Sujoy Ghosh

0
1 month ago
by Fenil Seta in

Soumyadipta Banerjee (MUMBAI MIRROR; March 25, 2013)

 

Ironically, while the sequel to the National award winning Kahaani was announced in the film itself, part two hasn’t progressed beyond the writer’s desk.

Apparently, director Sujoy Ghosh, who is under immense pressure to meet the kind of expectations spawned by the original, has been unable to complete the script for the past one year, despite his best efforts.

In January this year, the filmmaker took refuge in the same Kolkata lodge that inspired Kahaani, just to be able to write the script of part two. According to reports, he completed the script before returning to Mumbai in time for the awards season.

However, even after a flurry of awards, the filmmaker admits he is still working on the script. “My script is not locked. Unless that happens, I won’t be able to say anything about the sequel. Let me finish my script first,” he says.

During his stay in Kolkata, Sujoy met up with many of his friends. At least three of them said he was finally feeling the pressure the original was bringing upon him.

“He stayed locked up in the guest house and only worked on the script. He met some journalists but his visit was only about writing the script. Then, he had to return to Mumbai for the awards season but he told me while leaving that there’s a lot of pressure on him to deliver a good story and he is still not satisfied with the script. He said he would not announce the sequel till the script is finalised,” said one of Sujoy’s More >

No breaks for Bollywood between exams and IPL

0
2 months ago
by Fenil Seta in

Bollywood isn’t scared of the exam fever nor the IPL, as films line up for release at the box-office in March and April

Iti Shree Misra (BOMBAY TIMES; March 11, 2013)

 

While the clamour for an Eid release in Bollywood refuses to die down, there’s never a dull moment at the Indian Box Office (BO) anymore. So much so that even the ongoing board exams and the upcoming IPL are not a deterrent for producers to release films. Take for instance the line-up at the BO this year. While films like Saheb Biwi Aur Gangster Returns and Jolly LLB are braving the exam fever, Himmatwala, Chashme Baddoor, Ek Thi Daayan, Shootout at Wadala, Aashiqui 2 and Aurangzeb, are all releasing during the IPL, which begins from April 4.

Producer Rahul Mittra, who has produced films like Saheb Biwi Aur Gangster Returns, says that now filmmakers don’t bother about such issues. “As long as people know that my film is releasing on a particular date, and I’m confident that my audience will come and watch it, time of the release doesn’t matter. The market is great and demand has increased for all types of cinema. Plus the satellite rights fetch us good revenue, so the time of release is not much of an issue. People who like to watch good films, will come to watch one, whenever it is released. Also if you remember, Kahaani also released around this time last year and it did fabulously,” avers Rahul.

Meanwhile, Vinod Bachchan, producer of Zila Ghaziabad, which released a couple of weeks ago, explains, More >

TV actors are finally making it big in Bollywood

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2 months ago
by Fenil Seta in

More and more television actors are being roped in by producers to star in Bollywood films. And it’s not just moolah that matters

Kunal M Shah (MID-DAY; March 1, 2013)

 

The industry is going through a period of transition where concept- driven films are doing well at the box office. These films not only get critical acclaim but are also proving to be winners at the cash registers. The latest examples being Vicky Donor, Kahaani, Gangs of Wasseypur and Kai Po Che. However, the most interesting part of all these films are its actors. Most of the actors are newcomers and are being launched with these films. A vital part of the making is to keep the budgets of these films as minimum as possible.

With budgets being kept under check, the requirement to cast new boys in lead roles has increased manifolds. No wonder that filmmakers today are looking to cast popular boys from the TV industry.

Better than the rest?

In the past too, some actors have made the successful leap from the small screen to celluloid. While some became superstars, the others carved their niche in the industry, the most successful examples being Shah Rukh Khan, R Madhavan and Irrfan Khan. But they have been very few and far in between. However in the last few years, several faces from TV have made a successful transition, with the likes of Rajeev Khandelwal, Ayushmann Khurrana and Sushant Singh Rajput. Even a flop like Bittoo Boss gave Pulkit Samrat the options to go out and sign some interesting films. More >

Why hasn’t Sridevi won a single award for English Vinglish?

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3 months ago
by Fenil Seta in

Shaheen Parkar (MID-DAY; February 14, 2013)

 

When Kareena Kapoor Khan was asked at a recent awards event who deserved the Best Actress trophy, Bebo had replied Sridevi.

Both she and her elder sister Karisma have always been huge fans of Sri. But Sridevi has so far not bagged a single honour at the various awards events this season even though her heartwarming performance in her comeback vehicle English Vinglish fetched her accolades. Labelled as the first female superstar of Indian cinema, Sri seems to have lost out in BTown’s awards scramble.

So far Vidya Balan has emerged the clear winner at most awards events with her pregnant Kahaani act. Priyanka Chopra managed to grab one trophy for Barfi at an awards event she hosted with Shah Rukh Khan.

Says a source, “When her film released, the general perception was that Sridevi would be carrying home the best actress trophies. Considering that the comebacks of Karisma (Dangerous Ishhq) and Madhuri Dixit (Aaja Nach Le) were disasters, Sri stole the show choosing the right project for her return. But with several of the awards galas over, Sridevi has been returning empty-handed. Though the star did manage to garner nominations, she did not make it to the winners list.” Adds the source, “It appears that Sridevi has fallen a victim to the machinations of the awards event. In the industry everyone knows how these awards are given. There are those who are favoured and some who are definitely not. A lot of conditions apply to make it More >

Siddharth lets you be the way you are-Vidya Balan

0
3 months ago
by Fenil Seta in

Priya Gupta (BOMBAY TIMES; January 31, 2013)

 

Vidya Balan, 34, may have been termed the ‘jinx factor’ at the start of her career, but today she has won the award for the best actress back-to-back four times, a feat achieved by none other. In an hour long conversation, she opens up to Bombay Times about her reasons for falling in love with Siddharth, her sister Priya, who is her hero, and the men who changed her life. Excerpts:

The obvious question first. Tell us about your love journey with your husband Siddharth Roy Kapur? We met for the first time at the Filmfare awards. I had won an award for Paa after which I got introduced to him for the first time. I had started shooting a day before for UTV’s No One Killed Jessica and knew of him, but had not met him till then. But we didn’t meet during the film. We met again much later and we started seeing each other even later. A live-in relationship is not for me. I did not see myself living in with Siddharth till we were married. He is my first serious relationship. Marriage was the most natural progression for us and it has happened and I am happy to be married. I don’t think marriage has changed me in any way, except that it allows me to wear the sindoor that I really enjoy wearing.

What attracted you to Siddharth? Apart from his looks… just the person he is. He is non-judgemental, which is rare. He lets people be. He is self-assured and is accepting of people the way they are. He is very easy to be around. He likes to have a More >

Filmfare Award: Sweet 7 for Barfi!, Kahaani scripts 5

0
4 months ago
by Fenil Seta in

Bella Jaisinghani & Bharati Dubey | TNN (THE TIMES OF INDIA; January 21, 2013)

 

In a milestone year that marks the centenary of Indian cinema, Barfi! walked away with seven honours at the most awaited ceremony of the awards season. At the 58th Idea Filmfare Awards, organized at YRF Studio, Andheri, on Sunday evening, Ranbir Kapoor won the prized Black Lady for best actor for his performance as a deaf-mute person in the film

!! CHECK OUT THE COMPLETE RESULTS OF THE ’58TH IDEA FILMFARE AWARDS’ HERE !!

Vidya Balan was adjudged best actress for her performance in Kahaani. This was her fourth Filmfare award. In a black-and-white checked Sabyasachi sari and mangalsutra, with husband Siddharth Roy Kapur by her side, Vidya said her role in Kahaani was the couple’s favourite. Earlier in the evening, as she stepped onto the red carpet, she said she was optimistic about her chances, but also lavished praised on fellow nominee Priyanka Chopra, whose performance in Barfi!, Vidya said, left her spellbound. Both films featured prominently in the top categories: if Barfi! was declared best film, Kahaani’s maker Sujoy Ghosh got to wear the mantle of best director. Long the darling of the international circuit, Irrfan emerged as the new Khan on the block, bagging the critics’ award for best actor for Paan Singh Tomar. “I have always believed in choosing subjects that appeal to my intellect and any recognition or awards I win are incidental to the creative process,” he said, adding, “If More >

Thinking Outside The Box Office

0
4 months ago
by Fenil Seta in

Three stars redefined Bollywood 2012 – narration, location, women

Srijana Mitra Das (THE TIMES OF INDIA; December 31, 2012)

 

In the silk and tinsel that is Bollywood, three new stars emerged in 2012. These were not three Khans but three cinematic ingredients – location, narration and women. This is a major break from the past – and an excellent portent for the future.

In a remarkable reflection of current political culture, women took centre stage in pop culture too. Painted, dented or tormented, strong female characters occupied the heart of hits, from the enigmatic Vidya of Kahaani to the shy Shashi of English Vinglish and the satiny Simran of Talaash. Each protagonist came to life through extraordinary performances, Vidya Balan leaving viewers breathless following her twisting turns through Kolkata’s lanes, Sridevi feelingly balancing female dignity against family peace and Kareena Kapoor whose Talaash was a triumph, every sparkle in Simran’s eye, every pout of her lips, every arch of her eyebrows a coquettish twist to the tale.

But the women didn’t stop there. Off-screen too, Bollywood had its most remarkable year of female power, reflected in the emergence of successful women directors. From Zoya Akhtar – capturing the idiosyncrasies of three undecided men, calling themselves ‘bwoyz’ in Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara (ZNMD) – to Gauri Shinde who took Shashi to Central Square and Reema Kagti who dived deep into murky Mumbai, Bollywood never before saw a time when the More >

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