Posts tagged mentor

Mahesh Bhatt slapped me-Meera

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Pakistani actress Meera alleges that Mahesh Bhatt was possessive and physically abusive, and that it was him who made her leave Bollywood

Piyali Dasgupta (BOMBAY TIMES; April 28, 2011) Meera, who became a known face in Bollywood with films like Mahesh Bhatt’s Nazar and Rajiv Babbar’s Kasak, is making a comeback. When BT caught up with her in Karachi, the actress opened up about her hiatus from Indian cinema, saying Bhatt didn’t want her to work with anyone else, and even thwarted her visa process when she wanted to return. “Do saal ke baad main wapas Bollywood films karne wali hun. It’s been a long gap and people in Pakistan and India have been asking why. Today, I feel it’s time to share the truth. It was a heartening experience to work in Bollywood. I love the Indian audience and the appreciation I received here was unexpected. It was not an easy journey. Bahut mushkilen aayin, par maine haar nahin maani. I was new to Bollywood and Mahesh Bhatt introduced me to the industry. I respect Maheshji a lot, he has been my guru and mentor. I will always owe my success to him,” says she.

But then why did she move back to Pakistan? “I was all alone in Mumbai and didn’t know many people except Mahesh Bhatt. I felt insecure. Bahut waqt laga logon ko jaanne mein. It was not that easy. After my success in my debut film, Nazar, I started getting a lot of offers from other renowned filmmakers, about which Mahesh Bhatt felt uncomfortable. So was More >

I don’t want to be a f**k buddy!-Payal Rohatgi

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Payal Rohatgi alleges that the director of Love, Sex Aur Dhoka made an indecent proposal to her

Saadia S Dhailey (BOMBAY TIMES; March 16, 2011) Payal Rohatgi declares she is, “angry and in mood for vengeance,” She was recently discharged from a nursing home, where she was treated for depression. She’s been grappling with the decision to bare her mind about her tryst with Dibakar Banerjee. But now she has decided she wants to have her say. In a no holds barred conversation, she reveals her version of what happened between them, during their short four-month friendship.

Payal says a few months ago she sent an SMS to Dibakar, introducing herself and asking to meet him. According to her, since then they’ve been friends. “You could also call him a mentor.” She adds they’d often talk about relationships – his and hers. “I spoke about my problems (split with Rahul Mahajan), and he’d talk about his marriage not working. He advised me to see a psychiatrist from Bombay Hospital, someone whom he sees to discuss his inability to be monogamous and his need for multiple affairs.” She admits not minding being agony aunt to him.

Things changed after she auditioned for a role for his upcoming film, Shanghai. “I mentioned to him that I want to act, and asked for a role in his film. He asked me to meet Atul Mongia, his casting director. The scene required me to react to the news about my husband’s murder. I think I gave my best because I cried my heart More >

Ranveer Singh signs Shaad Ali’s next?

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Sonal Chawla (MUMBAI MIRROR; December 13, 2010)

Shahid Kapoor has been throwing his weight around and not replying to director Shaad Ali’s calls. Finally the Bunty aur Babli director has moved on and signed Ranveer Singh of Band Baaja Baraaat fame.

A source reveals, “Ranveer and Shaad’s friendship goes back almost eight years. Ranveer had been assistant director to Shaad. And the latter had introduced him to Yash Raj. Ranveer considers Shaad Ali his mentor and gives him credit for discovering the actor in him.”

Shaad Ali

The source continues, “Shaad’s script is a Gen X script and he was looking out for a young, contemporary talent. After Shahid’s pricey attitude he decided to scout for a fresh face. Apparently he always had Ranveer in mind, but wasn’t too sure.

They both always spoke about working with each other. Now that Ranveer’s latest flick Band Baaja Baaraat has really worked, Ranveer has been taken onboard for Shaad’s next.”

With this second film in his kitty so soon after his debut Ranveer might be able to put all those stories of Papa Singh investing in Band Baaja Baraat to rest.

Sudhir Mishra is not obsessed with me-Chitrangada Singh

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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 >

Sonam upset at being ignored by Bhansali

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So desperate is she about him watching her films that she has picked up the DVDs and is heading to his home, once he’s less busy with Guzaarish Subhash K Jha (MUMBAI MIRROR; October 08, 2010)

Sonam Kapoor is unhappy with her mentor and guide Sanjay Leela Bhansali who launched her in Saawariya.

Says the actress, “He hasn’t watched one of my films since Saawariya. Not Delhi 6, not I Hate Luv Storys, not even Aisha, my home production, which I’m especially proud of. I invited him for a private screening but you know how he is. He’s so consumed by his new film Guzaarish he can’t think of anything else.”

Now Sonam has resorted to taking all the DVDs of her films to his home.

“His opinion of me as an actress is important to me. Unless he says I’ve evolved I won’t fully believe it. But first, let him be done with Guzaarish,” she says as she tries to get her groove back after a nasty bout of typhoid which confined her to her bed for a good three weeks.

Also, a bout of box-office success might also just do the trick. 

Big B to play gangster-politician in RGV’s Department

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By Subhash K. Jha, September 22, 2010 – 11:14 IST

Get this. Ram Gopal Varma embarks on what he calls the most populist Bachchan film he has ever shot.

In Department, which starts shooting early next year, Amitabh Bachchan plays a gangster turned politician whose exploits are the stuff Chulbul Pandey would enjoy getting high on.

At the moment the film, said to be the ambitious Ramu’s most expensive project to date, is being feverishly scripted. Details are being kept desperately under wraps since it involves some volatile characters.

When confronted, Ramu says, “All I can tell you at the moment is that Mr. Bachchan plays a gangster turned politician in Department. Whom he’s modelled on is open to conjecture and I am certainly not telling. There’re too many misconceptions floating around about the project. Mr. Bachchan is not playing a cop in Department. It is not a sequel to Company (I wonder where that came from) nor a prequel to Ab Tak Chappan.”

Ramu wants the Big B’s character to be a kind of grass root-level super-hero. “I’ve always seen Mr. Bachchan as a hero of the masses. I want him to be cast as larger-than-life hero in Department.”

Interestingly, Ramu who has cast the father son Bachchan in their real-life roles twice will not cast them as father-son in Department.

Reveals Ramu reluctantly, “No, Mr. Bachchan and Abhishek are not father and son in Department. Abhishek and Sanjay Dutt are cops. They share a pupil-mentor relationship.”

In real-life too More >

Sonakshi wants it all

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The young starlet, who is being mentored by Salman Khan, reveals how she used to be chubby once upon a time

Jemima Margaret Eliot | TNN (MUMBAI MIRROR.COM; August 16, 2010)

Sweet and effervescent Sonakshi Sinha, the latest star kid on the B-town block, who makes her big screen splash with Dabangg, has found a surprise mentor in her hero Salman Khan.

Salman is taking a keen interest in shaping her career, is known to be monitoring her gym routine, teaching her to paint and even tutoring her on the kind of films she should pick!

All the effort has paid off as Sonakshi confirms that except for a film from Arbaaz Khan’s production house, she isn’t on a signing spree. There’s buzz that she’s teaming up again with Salman in her next film. She diplomatically says, “I know who I am going to be paired with next, but I can’t talk about it now. And if ever I am going to sign a film it should at least be as good as or better than Dabangg.

Sonakshi, who’s done a course in fashion designing, says films happened to her “by accident. I never thought about getting into films though I did have an interest in modelling. Actually, Arbaaz and Salman saw me walk the ramp and approached me for their film. Now I’m hooked to films. I enjoy acting.”

What did papa dearest have to say about her career choice? “He didn’t say much, but I know he’s proud of me.” Her father is essaying the role of NTR in Ram Gopal Varma’s Rakta Charitra. How much does she know More >

SRK’s a friend; Salman is affectionate to me-Nikhil Dwivedi

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Nikhil Dwivedi talks about his equation with the two Khans of Bollywood

Deepali Dhingra | TNN (BOMBAY TIMES; July 20, 2010)

Raavan wasn’t favourably received at the Box Office. Was that disappointing for you? Obviously, because every actor has expectations from his film. But at least I got some good reviews for my performance and that is heartening. I’ve seen the hard work put in by all, right from the director to all the actors, including Aishwarya and Abhishek. Somewhere, I don’t feel disappointed for myself but for the entire cast and crew. For me, this film was a step forward in every way.

What’s in the pipeline now? I want to concentrate on the remake of Arjun, I’m quite excited about that. We have changed the entire script and made it contemporary as unemployment is not an issue so much now. But again, it’s about the main protagonist being against the system. Then there’s a film with Shashank Shah, who made Dasvadaniya. A film with Tushar Kapoor would be releasing sometime in September. It’s a very edgy film.

What’s happening with Basra? Basra was delayed for some reasons. But I’ve been told by director Navdeep Singh that the project is on. I believe they are looking forward to shooting it sometime in October. They’ve taken my dates for it.

Recently, there have been rumours about your falling out and patching up with Shah Rukh Khan as well as your proximity with Salman Khan. What’s the true picture? I’ve known Shah More >

Shahid, Sridevi in Shiamak Davar’s film

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A host of Bollywood A-listers to mentor slum children for Shiamak Davar’s directorial debut. It’s payback time, folks

Subhash K Jha (MUMBAI MIRROR; July 10, 2010)

Shiamak Davar’s directorial debut Naach Meri Jaan Fataa Faat, on slum children appearing for a dance competition, will have an entourage of Bollywood superstars working with him.

The process of selecting the slum kids will not be fataa fat though. The ten slum children (between the age of 5 and 18 years), 5 boys and 5 girls, who would be handpicked after a series of auditions, would be handed over to ten superstar mentors for training. Only post this stage will the kids face the camera for Shiamak.

Sridevi Shiamak Davar

The hunt for these slum children will begin next month and the film team will be travelling across various slums in Mumbai including Dharavi (of course, that couldn’t be missed after Danny Boyle’s visit) and Kalyan.

The idea of selecting ten superstar mentors emerged from Shiamak’s long and illustrious career with the film industry. The film’s producer Shailendra Singh says, “We believe dance can really make a difference to the common man’s life.

Shahid Kapoor

We chose Shiamak so he could guide the destiny of ten kids from the slums. Also, Shiamak has worked closely with many stars. Now it’s time for them to do something that would benefit not just Shiamak or our film but society at large.”

Sridevi, Madhuri Dixit, Hrithik Roshan, Shahid More >

Sanjay to play Shivaji?

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His role in Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj promises to be as compelling as the historical figure was

Subhash K Jha (MUMBAI MIRROR; June 29, 2010)

Though the project is completely under wraps right now, the casting of Sanjay Dutt as the majestic Maratha warrior in Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj is certain. At the moment, no one is talking on record about it, as they feel Dutt’s current assignments and his legal hassles would need a year to be sorted out.

A source close to the project says, “We can’t see anyone except Sanjay Dutt as the brave and flamboyant Maratha warrior, galloping across the screen, sword in hand. We want someone who comes close to Russell Crowe’s character in Gladiator or Robin Hood.”

The director of the film, Soham Shah however, refuses to admit that Dutt is the first and the last choice for the role of Shivaji. “All I would say at the moment is, I can never make a film without Sanjay Dutt. He’s my mentor, guru, guide and support. If in spite of Kaal and Luck I’m still directing a project as big as Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, it’s because of the trust and support of Mr Dutt. At the moment, I’m getting ready to direct a film for Sanjay Dutt Productions. Then I’ll start work on the Shivaji project.”

Soham calls it his dream project, one that he has been working on for over a year now. “I want to make the film in a way that would appeal to viewers between the age of 8 and 80. In terms of special effects, More >

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