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Posts tagged meerut
Dialogue is the star in Jolly LLB
02 months ago
by Fenil Seta
in Bollywood News
Sneha Mahadevan (BOMBAY TIMES; March 9, 2013)
Jolly LLB, featuring Arshad Warsi, Boman Irani and Amrita Rao, brings to light the functioning of the Indian judiciary. So naturally, most portions of the film have been shot in courts.
While the movie seems to be dealing with a serious subject, it is actually a comedy drama, a social satire on the legal system of the country.
Explains writer and director Subhash Kapoor, “Except for the court scenes, the characters will talk in typical Meerut style. Arshad’s character Jolly hails from Meerut and they have a particular style of talking, not to forget a great sense of humour. Some of Arshad’s dialogues have become very popular with the audience. One of them being, ‘Kanoon ke haath lambe hote hai. Ghanta lambe hote hai’.”
Amrita and Arshad play a couple, where Amrita plays a feisty and hot-headed school teacher who rattles off dialogues that match Arshad’s tone. They do not play the quintessential couple and their relationship is more friendly than mushy. A couple of dialogues between Amrita and Arshad have also caught on with the audience. Especially the one where Amrita tells Arshad, ‘Kiss nahi karne doongi, baap ka maal hai kya?’ There are also a couple of funny dialogues when Boman, who also plays a lawyer, says, ‘Yeh court hai, yahaan jaldi kuchh nahin hota.’
Subhash says none of the dialogues have been added in the film deliberately. “We haven’t added any comic element to make the film less serious. The dialogues are More >
Aamir Khan visits ‘crime writing hub’ Meerut
15 months ago
by Fenil Seta
in Bollywood News
Jyothi Prabhakar (BOMBAY TIMES; November 28, 2012)
On Monday afternoon, as he headed out of Delhi aiport, on arrival from Jaipur and made his way to Meerut, Aamir Khan explained why he was heading there. “What I have learnt about Meerut, fascinated me. That place is apparently a hotbed of crime. And I don’t know whether as an offshoot of that, or because good writers originated from there, it is also the pulp fiction centre of our country. It is the city that used to publish the maximum number of crime thriller books in Hindi at one point in time, and was the hub of crime writing. I want to see if that is so even today,” he said.
Halfway through, Aamir was given police protection — and a UP police jeep led our cars. News of Abdul Hakim’s death had begun to spread and on our return, we were chased by youngsters on bikes till the outskirts of Meerut We also learnt that Aamir was also going to take time out from his packed schedule to meet the SSP of Meerut and have a word with him regarding the case. When we reached our destination the crowd was already waiting. Also waiting were some of Meerut’s famous pulp fiction writers. One of the most prominent of them, Ved Prakash Sharma, whose novels have also been adapted into movies (like Sabse Bada Khiladi), was immediately recognised by Aamir — who recollected meeting Ved way back in 1995-96. “Meerut ko crime capital kaha jaata hai. Way back, when I was the editor of a magazine based on real incidents in the city, I realised More >
Kareena to replace Rani in Tigmanshu Dhulia’s next?
01 year ago
by Fenil Seta
in Rumour has it
She may replace Rani Mukerji in Tigmanshu Dhulia’s next periodic film on Begum Samru
By Vickey Lalwani (MUMBAI MIRROR; May 5, 2012)
Tigmanshu Dhulia struck gold with his 2012 release Paan Singh Tomar. The Irrfan Khan starrer not only got the filmmaker critical acclaim but also set the cash registers ringing. And now, Dhulia has decided to move on to his next project – a periodic film based on the life of Begum Joanna Nobilis Sombre aka Begum Samru. And though it was reported that Rani Mukerji was all set to play the protagonist in the venture, Mirror has learnt that Kareena Kapoor may replace her.
Begam Samru was a nautch girl of 18th century India. She later became an influential figure on the political canvas of 18th and 19th century India. A strong and powerful woman, Begum Samru married a European and became the ruler of a principality near Meerut. According to a source close to Kareena, Rani was taking her own sweet time to get back on Dhulia’s offer. And thus, the filmmaker chose to move on to Kareena. We have learnt that Dhulia has even made a few changes for the character to suit Kareena.
The source revealed, “Tigmanshu met Kareena. She was quite excited about being a part of this film.” The modalities are fast being worked out. The film is expected to go on floors by September or October this year.
Rani Mukherji in Tigmanshu Dhulia’s next?
01 year ago
by Fenil Seta
in Rumour has it
Still in a mood for biopics, director Tigmanshu Dhulia has zeroed down on Rani Mukerji for his next , a period film based on the life of Begum Samru
Vickey Lalwani (MUMBAI MIRROR; March 29, 2012)
The success of Paan Singh Tomar hasn’t satiated director Tigmanshu Dhulia’s appetite for biopics. This time around, he will tackle a biopic set in medieval times on Begum Joanna Nobilis Sombre (1753-1836), popularly known as Begum Samru, who started off as a nautch girl in 18th century India, eventually becoming the ruler of Sardhana, a principality near Meerut.
Importantly, Rani Mukherji has been pencilled in for the role.
A source close to the project revealed to Mirror, “Last week, Tigmanshu had a long meeting with Rani at her office in Juhu. She loved the role and agreed in principle.”
Asked why Tigmanshu selected Rani, the source said, “The role is tailor made for Rani. Tigmanshu wanted someone who can hold the film on her own.”
The modalities are being worked out. “Rani loves Tigmanshu’s style of filmmaking. He is soon going to go for a recce,” added the source.
So, if all goes well, Rani will start working on Tigmanshu’s next sometime later this year.
ABOUT BEGUM SAMRU: Begum Samru, who started her career as a Nautch girl in 18th Century India, eventually became the ruler of Sardhana, a principality near Meerut. She played a critical role in the political struggle in 18th and 19th century India. She was the head of a professionally trained mercenary army, inherited More >
Naseer greeted by ‘Ooh La La’ in Pakistan
01 year ago
by Fenil Seta
in Bollywood News
Subhash K Jha (MUMBAI MIRROR; March 10, 2012)
Actor Naseeruddin Shah was recently in Pakistan to shoot for a film by debutant Indo-Pak director couple Minoo Gauhar and Mazhar Zaidi. While Naseer tried to keep it a hush-hush visit, he was followed by chants of ‘Ooh la la’ wherever he went. “That sound follows me everywhere. It’s a curse, I tell you,” he laughed.
Naseer plays a despicably negative character in the film which is about illegal immigrants. “I was very moved by the script and Minoo and Mazhar’s sincerity,” the actor said. He is really kicked about the fact that apart from being an Indian acting in a Pakistani film, the film itself is being made by Minoo, a Hindu from Meerut and her husband Mazhar, a Muslim from Pakistan.
This isn’t Naseer’s first Pakistani film either. He played a pivotal role in Shoaib Mansoor’s highly lauded film Khuda Kay Liye and was to be part of the director’s next, Bol. Unfortunately, he could not do it, a fact he regrets.
Meanwhile, Naseer will return to Pakistan on the 17th of this month to continue shooting. This would be his fifth visit beyond borders.
Sudhir Mishra is not obsessed with me-Chitrangada Singh
02 years ago
by Fenil Seta
in Interviews
Chitrangada Singh clears the air on her marriage to ace golfer Jyoti Randhawa and why Sudhir Mishra is not obsessed with her as rumoured
Vickey Lalwani (MUMBAI MIRROR; October 25, 2010)
Excited about your next film Yeh Saali Zindagi, directed by Sudhir Mishra? Which others films have you signed?
Yeah. I play a girl who is blindly in love with a guy without thinking if he loves me back or not. Then I go on to Rohit Dhawan’s Desi Boyz. And I have just signed a commercial film, which I cannot disclose. Also, Prakash Jha has offered me a film.
There are wolves in the industry and you stay alone in Mumbai…
I know what you mean. Casting couch, right?
Are you doing fewer films because you haven’t resorted to the casting couch?
No. I have never been in such a situation. I haven’t got a vibe that someone wanted something out of me to make him happy (pauses). Or maybe I have been too dumb to understand it.
Were you right in getting married so soon after Hazaaron Khwaishein Aisi?
I know my career is not charted like others. But I feel very good that I am settled. It’s very safe that way. I will remain involved with cinema as much as I can. I get a big kick seeing myself on screen. There was a concern amongst filmmakers if I was back for good or not. Guess, that’s the reason why I get so many ads, they know they don’t need me for a long time.
There are rumours that your marriage with Jyoti Randhawa is over.
I have heard that. It’s not over. And I don’t More >
Neha Dhupia turns singer
02 years ago
by Fenil Seta
in Bollywood News
Kunal M Shah (MUMBAI MIRROR; October 12, 2010)
Neha Dhupia has turned singer. She will be seen in a role of a female dacoit in Subhash Kapoor’s Phas Gaye Re Obama.
There is an entire song by Kailash Kher about her and director Kapoor was hell bent that Neha herself sing the song. The song was recorded on Saturday at a suburban studio.
When contacted, Subhash Kapoor, the director of the film, said, “Neha plays a female gangster called Munni Madam from Meerut (how original). It’s a very strong character and in the song, there is a bit about her character. I was keen that she herself sings the song, so that it would add more authenticity to the film.
However she flatly refused saying that she is not a singer. I had to convince her and she finally agreed to a couple of music sittings.
After three music sittings, she was confident enough and we went ahead and recorded the song along with Kailash Kher.”
Rajini flick’s first-week collections- Rs 117 cr
02 years ago
by Fenil Seta
in Bollywood News
Bharati Dubey | TNN (THE TIMES OF INDIA; October 9, 2010)
Mumbai: Rajnikanth-starrer Endhiran has netted a collection of Rs 117 crore, surpassing the first-week collection of Bollywood’s highest firstweek grosser, Dabangg (Rs 82 crore).
Distributor and trade analyst Suniel Wadhwa said, “The film’s net collection is Rs 60 crore in Tamil Nadu, Rs 30 crore in Andhra Pradesh, Rs 8 crore in Karnataka and Rs 4 crore in Kerala. The Hindi version (Robot) has managed to collect Rs 15 crore. As the numbers suggest, the film has already crossed Dabangg’s two weeks’ net collection in just the first week of its release.’’
Incidentally, the entertainment tax structure and ticket-pricing formula are not uniform in India. “Ticket prices in south India are much lower as compared to other states in the country. This is the reason why boxoffice collection in the south pales as against the collection in northern states. Despite all this, the film’s BO collections prove the film has done remarkably well,’’ Wadhwa said.
Moreover, considering the fact that an additional 7% had to be paid as as entertainment tax to the government for being a dubbed movie, the collections are even more significant, an expert said. According to Wadhwa, the contribution of director Shankar too needs to be factored in . “Shankar is one director who has more brand value than Rajinikanth in AP. His films with Arjun, Prabhudeva and Vikram did wonders in the past. His last movie with Rajini did well at More >
Vishal Bharadwaj, Chitrangada’s small town connection
03 years ago
by Fenil Seta
in Bollywood News
Guess who is playing behind-the-scenes mentor to Chitrangada Singh in Bollywood?
By Sonal Chawla (MUMBAI MIRROR; March 20, 2010)
// // //
Every actor relies on someone for guidance. Not many know that the tall, dusky actress Chitrangada Singh, who comes from an Army background, banks on director Vishal Bhardwaj for career advice.
Both Vishal and Chitrangada hail from Meerut. Chitrangada says, “I didn’t know him in Meerut. But there was a bit of a connection when we met at the premiere of my debut film Hazaaron Khwaishein Aisi. He was very happy with my performance.
We just got along and have been in touch since then.”
Not being from the industry, she sometimes requires a reliable sounding board. She says, “I haven’t been around long enough to actually judge how a script will translate on screen.
Sometimes you’re stuck or thinking twice about a story and want to call up someone for advice. It is good to have a director to guide you. I can blindly call Vishal sir and I know he’ll give me the best advice.”
So, will we be seeing her in a Vishal Bhardwaj film soon? “He has been promising me a film for a long time,” she laughs.
Does she have other industry friends? She says, “I haven’t been around long enough, but I know Sanjay Suri, Onir, Ketan Mehta and Sudhir Mishra, of course.”