Posts tagged mahesh bhatt

Emraan Hashmi is kanjoos-Vishesh Bhatt

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3 months ago
by Fenil Seta in

Priya Gupta (BOMBAY TIMES; February 15, 2013)

 

Vishesh Bhatt, 28, has inherited the argumentative genes from his uncle Mahesh and his obsession for perfection from his father Mukesh. He is a true blood Bhatt, ready to stick out his neck for his success and failure. Over an hour-long conversation with Bombay Times, he talks about his friends and cousins Mohit Suri and Emraan Hashmi, his fights with his mentors — the Bhatt brothers — and his decision to get married post the release of his debut film Murder 3. Excerpts:

Are you in films because you were born a Bhatt? My grandfather had made a film called X based on an invisible man and other fantasy-oriented films that dazzled me. From my childhood, I have had a natural curiosity and the process of creating something from start to see it come alive excites me. At 16, I started by assisting Vikram Bhatt on Raaz along with my cousin and friend Mohit Suri, who was senior to me. But I wanted to find my own voice and realised that I would not be able to do it living under these stalwarts, Mahesh and Mukesh Bhatt, and wanted to get away from their shadow. My father was ruled by the insecurity that I would drift off and would not return to India. He knew that I was a different person and thought I would stay back in the US and make English films if he allowed me to go. Bhatt sahab always felt that while institutions polish the pebbles, they dim the diamonds. He felt that I was a distinct individual and going there would dim me and More >

Fenil’s Bollywood Talk # 243

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3 months ago
by Fenil Seta in

WILL MURDER 3 REDEFINE VISHESH FILMS?

The promotions of Murder 3 commenced more than a month and a half ago. But somehow, the film hasn’t quite created a buzz. Maybe, because Emraan Hashmi isn’t the lead. Maybe the sizzling quotient that one expected in a film of Murder franchise is missing in enormous proportions. However, Mahesh Bhatt’s recent statements have caught the eye. He explains how Vishesh Bhatt, director of Murder 3 and son of Mahesh’s bro Mukesh, told the Bhatt seniors that their banner Vishesh Films is ‘succeeding backwards’! Meaning that although collections have touched the sky, the quality is degrading and many viewers would surely agree to this fact. After all, the kind of dialogues that Raaz 3, Blood Money and even Jannat 2 had at places was unintentionally hilarious. Hence, Vishesh, who has studied filmmaking in New York, wants to break away and come up with a film that has the crowd pulling factors but at the same time doesn’t compromise in terms of script, thrill and dialogues.

Murder 3 stars Randeep Hooda, Aditi Rao Hydari and Sara Loren and as per the reports, it is indeed adapted from a Spanish film (but not a rip-off). Randeep looks bit odd in his new look but performance-wise, he seems to have done great. Music is decent but not of chartbuster variety. Opening won’t be huge and only good reports can help and save the film and nothing else. Will Vishesh Bhatt redefine Vishesh Films with Murder 3? Or is all these talks of backward succeeding a sham 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 >

Mohit Suri gets married to Udita Goswami

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3 months ago
by Fenil Seta in

Vickey Lalwani (MUMBAI MIRROR; January 30, 2013)

 

Filmmaker Mohit Suri (of Woh Lamhe and Murder 2 fame) finally tied the knot with his long-time girlfriend, actress Udita Goswami at Juhu’s ISKCON temple on Tuesday.

The duo fell in love at the launch party of the film Zeher in Goa way back in 2005 and has survived many break-ups.

While Udita’s parents came from Nepal to attend the wedding, Mohit’s uncles Mahesh Bhatt, Mukesh Bhatt , sister Smiley Suri and cousins Vishesh Bhatt, Emran Hashmi were also there to bless the couple.

The guest list included Dia Mirza, Jacqueline Fernandez, Tanushree Dutta, Kangna Ranaut, Ken Ghosh, Shaad Randhawa, Suneel Darshan, Ramesh Taurani, Tanuj Garg, Rohit Roy, Anurag Basu, Shraddha Kapoor, Kunal Deshmukh and Vishal Mahadkar among others.

It was a traditional Indian wedding with the blushing bride dressed in a red lehenga and the groom looking dapper in a white kurta-pyjama with a black jacket. However, Mohit was heard complaining about the ‘uncomfortable’ pink turban and wished the grooms were saved from such ‘tortures’, but all in good humour. The platter was an elaborate but vegetarian one. After the rituals, the guests moved to a popular subarban night club. Earlier the Mehendi ceremony was held at Mohit’s sister Smiley’s residence on Monday. The reception will be held at the Mahalakshmi Race Course on January 31.

Mahesh Bhatt compares Aditi Rao Hydari with Nutan

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3 months ago
by Fenil Seta in

Shakti Shetty (MID-DAY; January 28, 2013)

 

Mahesh Bhatt is not the one to mince words. But at the same time he gives praise where it’s due. The latest person to earn his admiration is Aditi Rao Hydari. In fact, the veteran filmmaker has gone to the extent of calling her a modern- day Nutan! Bhattsaab has only good words to shower on the Bollywood newbie and her acting skills. Aditi, who was last seen in London Paris New York, is all set for the release of Murder 3. So far, the actress has played only girl- next- door characters.

“She is seen as someone who can pull of a bubbly role but this film will alter her girl- nextdoor image,” says a source.

Says the filmmaker, “After a very long time, I’ve seen someone on the Indian screen with a feminine mystique similar to that of Nutan’s. When you’ll watch the movie, you’ll understand why I’ve stated what I’ve stated over here.”

Aditi’s handiwork

During the shoot of Bhatt’s film, Aditi ended up injuring her hand. A source says, “Aditi was to be filmed as being banged against a door. She was rehearsing the scene for quite some time and then decided to give the final take. She got so involved in the act that she banged hard on the glass door resulting in a swollen hand.” Apparently the actress’ hand became twice its regular size. Says Aditi, “I rested my hand in a mug of ice in between shots. In fact, at one point my director even asked me if I wanted to postpone the shoot. I refused, thinking my already red hand would look More >

10 sequels to release this year

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4 months ago
by Fenil Seta in

Meena Iyer and Renuka Vyavahare (BOMBAY TIMES; January 23, 2013)

 

It’s pouring sequels in Bollywood’s backyard. In a bid to cash in on franchises that have brought in box office numbers, production houses continue to play the sequel game. Picture this: Salman Khan’s Dabangg 2 did better business than the first part; Shah Rukh Khan’s Don 2 managed an improvement in numbers over its earlier version. Ajay Devgn’s Golmaal 3 is a bigger hit than Golmaal and Golmaal Returns; Hrithik Roshan’s Krrish grew in stature; Abhishek Bachchan is a Dhoom regular and Emraan Hashmi’s Jannat 2 put him in the super star league.

In a bid to emulate the success formula perfected by makers like Mahesh Bhatt, Farhan Akhtar and Rohit Shetty, others too are engaging in the sequel game. A trade source brought to our notice that this year alone, Bollywood will see 10 sequels being released.

Mahesh Bhatt says, “Blockbuster mentality has taken over, where numbers are everything. The market compels you to deliver hits. We (Vishesh Films) have created franchises like Raaz, Murder, Jannat which have thrill, erotica and great music. It is difficult to create a brand and once you do it, you are ensured a minimum return on judgment day. The cow that gives you milk is the dearest of the flock.”

Rohit Shetty, whose Golmaal series is a huge craze, plans to keep the franchise alive. He is also working on the script of Singham 2. Says the filmmaker, “You can never have enough of a good thing. Wherever I go, I’m More >

Man who immortalised Rekha rescued from streets

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4 months ago
by Fenil Seta in

Veteran photographer Jagdish Mali found wandering in rags; emotional fraternity offers help

Vickey Lalwani (MUMBAI MIRROR; January 16, 2013)

 

Senior photographer Jagdish Mali, who is credited for immortalising Rekha in his flattering frames, was found wandering the lanes of Versova on Monday afternoon in a deplorable state. Mali, who was considered filmdom’s go-to guy for clutter-breaker portfolios, was dressed in a tattered t-shirt and nothing else.

“He was covered with faeces and looked as though he had not eaten in a while,” says actress Mink Brar, who happened to spot him when she was distributing blanket to beggars. Mink, who is one of the many glamour aspirants to have worked with him, recognised him despite his decrepit state.

Outside a fast food joint on Yari Road, the actress and her brother tried to talk to him. “But he would not answer,” says Mink. “He seemed very disturbed and completely disconnected.” Despite plying him with food and getting hold of a pair of shorts to cover him up, Mali remained unresponsive. “We asked him where he wanted to go. He said: ‘My studio.’ He did not remember that he had sold off his studio where some of the biggest names of the film industry have been photographed. It broke our heart.”

For those who came in late, Jagdish Mali, who started off in the 80s, was the first port of call for both newcomers and stars who wanted a new portfolio or feature on a magazine cover. In the 90s, he peaked with both his film and feature work More >

My dad wasn’t the demon I imagined him to be-Mahesh Bhatt

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4 months ago
by Fenil Seta in

Priya Gupta (BOMBAY TIMES; January 14, 2013)

 

Mahesh Bhatt, 64, learnt his lessons of life from his mother who was the only person he pitched his films to. He stopped directing when she died. While he got married a second time to Soni Razdan, he continues to be responsible for his first wife Lorraine Bright, whose hand he had held when she was 17. He opens up to Bombay Times. Excerpts:

Do you respect women? Yes, I have great reverence for women. I was perhaps lucky to be born in a single-parent home, where my mother, Shirin Mohammed Ali, was the sole figure I revered. My father’s absence in my life in my formative years exposed me to only one person, who was my source of learning the lessons of life. So to me, listening to a woman and her worldly view is almost automatic. While the male wants to conquer the world, the woman has a take on her immediate world that is so sparklingly refreshing that the male cannot even think of it. Most of my learning was by shutting up and not talking and what I was listening to was what my mother was talking, be it interpreting mythological stories or interpreting the world or teaching me the basics of survival.

Your mother was a big influence in your life? Tell us about her? There was a time upto when I was totally dependent on my mother psychologically and emotionally, till I had to be weaned away from her. It took me a lot of time to grow out of the mother influence. Her life was unusual. She was a single parent, closet Muslim, living More >

Man who made threat calls to Pooja Bhatt held

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4 months ago
by Fenil Seta in

Nitasha Natu & Bharati Dubey | TNN (THE TIMES OF INDIA; January 13, 2012)

 

Mumbai: A 28-year-old man was arrested by the Bandra police on Saturday for having made obscene and threatening phone calls to Bollywood producer and actor Pooja Bhatt.

The accused, Ashish Swarnakar, resides in Pune and is employed with the cellphone service provider outlet of Vodafone. He claims to have procured the phone numbers of Pooja and her father, filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt, from a friend, Dhruv, who is a music composer. A metropolitan court released Swarnakar on a cash bail of Rs 15,000 on Saturday.

Pooja had approached the Bandra police with a complaint on January 9 after having received three phone calls from an unknown number on the evening of January 8. Her father, too, received a call from the same number but did not answer it as his cellphone was on silent mode.

“The motive is yet to be ascertained, but prima facie it appears that Swarnakar wanted to harass Pooja and Mahesh Bhatt. He doesn’t have a criminal record,” said zonal DCP Pratap Dighavkar. Swarnakar admitted that he made the phone calls to Pooja Bhatt in a drunken state. The police traced Swarnakar on the basis of his cellphone location. He kept moving places for the past two days and also switched off his handset at times making it hard to trace him, police said.

When TOI contacted Pooja she said she couldn’t believe that Swarnakar got the numbers from a music composer. “It’s possible that he got my number from the organization More >

Pooja Bhatt files FIR against caller

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4 months ago
by Fenil Seta in

Vickey Lalwani (MUMBAI MIRROR; January 10, 2013)

 

Sometimes, being a celebrity can be tough as Pooja Bhatt, the latest victim of threat calls, would vouch for.

The filmmaker-actress has been continuously receiving abusive calls since midnight on Tuesday. The caller, who identifies himself as one ‘Ashish’ has been extremely unpleasant, threatening her and using the choicest of expletives. So much so Pooja has been forced to lodge an FIR at the Bandra Police Station as of yesterday. Reliving her nightmarish experience, Pooja told Mirror, “At around 12.50am, I finally picked up the call. When I asked, ‘Tumhare ghar mein maa nahin hai kya?’, the person started hurling abuses at me. I hung up but he continued calling.”

Dialling 100 wasn’t helpful either. “Both my husband Munna and dad Mahesh Bhatt were out of town. Dad too received a missed call from the same number, 8308984911, at around 12.35am,“ said Pooja and added that the cops at Bandra police station, where she filed the FIR, were very helpful.

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