Where Bollywood Comes Alive
Posts tagged Mukesh Bhatt
Soon watch films on your computer/phone/iPad one day before release
13 days ago
by Fenil Seta
in Bollywood News
Vickey Lalwani (MUMBAI MIRROR; May 17, 2013)
With giant strides in technology, telecom companies are now pitching for ‘internet rights’ to films and if all goes well, movie buffs may soon get to watch new releases on their very own computers/iPads/iPhones a day before they hit theatres. A source told Mirror, “Leading producers have had meetings with telecom officials about this.”
It is learnt the ‘One pay, One show’ proposal will not only benefit telecom companies, filmmakers too stand to get 50 per cent of the earnings. What’s more, the telecom firms will be aided by external service providers to ensure the Internet copy is not downloadable so as to avoid piracy. Not surprisingly, a majority of filmmakers are hooked.
Elaborating on the mechanics of the system, the source said: “At Rs 100-Rs 150 per log in, the entire family will be able to watch a movie on their computer screen the night of Thursday. iPads and iPhones too will have this facility. Even at a conservative estimate of 7 lakh subscribers across the country logging in, the telecom company would earn about Rs 7 crore per show. Half of the proceeds would go to the makers of the film. For any producer, earning Rs 3 to 3.5 crore is pure profit with the risk factor greatly reduced.”
When contacted, Mahesh Bhatt called it ‘a worthy proposition’. While brother Mukesh advised treading with caution. “I am aware that telecom companies are looking to bring films on the Internet. But I will not jump the gun. I cannot More >
Emraan to let go of Bhatt film to accomodate a Balaji film?
01 week ago
by Fenil Seta
in Rumour has it
Asira Tarannum (MID-DAY; May 13, 2013)
Bhatts are family for Emraan Hashmi and they are the ones who gave him a break in films. But as they say, loyality is a rare virtue in Bollywood. Emraan is currently holidaying with his family in the US and apparently is a little miffed at the reports of him going back to the Bhatt camp — the very banner that launched his career.
According to a source close to him, “He is upset with such irresponsible rumours because he has not signed any film with them as of now. He has other offers also, let’s see which one he chooses.” Apparently the actor is also being considered for another Balaji film but has still not decided which one to go forward with at the moment. He will only decide once he is back from his vacation.
Mukesh Bhatt, however, diffuses any rift between the production house and the actor. “Emraan is like a family to us. He was never out of the Bhatt camp. It’s just that there was a gap in between and he did a few movies outside our banner. He is definitely doing a movie with us for which we have signed Vikram Bhatt also.”
On being asked that Emraan has apparently not said yes to the project he says, “Emraan doesn’t have to sign a contract to work with us because we are family. When he will start shooting he will sign it. And I can clarify that he is definitely not doing a Balaji movie right now.” Vikram Bhatt says, “I am scripting the role for Emraan but if you say that he has not signed the movie then you have to get in More >
Udita Goswami had hit on me first-Mohit Suri
03 weeks ago
by Fenil Seta
in Interviews
Priya Gupta (BOMBAY TIMES; April 28, 2013)
Mohit Suri, 32, has come a long way from the time he started off at 16 as an office boy for the Bhatts, delivering cassettes to the T-Series office. He is an open book for his family and has no secrets. His films may have failed him in the past,but his music has not. Over an hour-long conversation with Bombay Times, just ahead of his release Aashiqui2, he talked about his complex relationship with his father, why he didn’t miss his mother and what makes Mahesh Bhatt special for him in his life. Excerpts:
Let’s talk about your childhood? I was born and brought up in Mumbai. My mother is the youngest sister of Mukesh and Mahesh Bhatt. My father was a non-filmi guy from Delhi and fell in love with my mother, who was an air-hostess at that time, and moved to Mumbai for her. My dad was working with Dunlop and we travelled all over till, when I was five, we moved back to Mumbai to start afresh. He started manufacturing computers and would go house-to-house selling, building a market for a business that was not established at that time. We had financial issues. When I was eight, my mother died of a cardiac arrest at 37, just before the release of the original Aashiqui that was dedicated to her. I was too young to be able to recall my mother, but I could give you a day-to-day account of my father after my mother died. He brought me up while my older sister Smilie Suri moved in with my mother’s mausie, who was also Emraan Hashmi’s More >
My father was the backbone of Aashiqui-Mithoon
03 weeks ago
by Fenil Seta
in Interviews
Music composer Mithoon on his journey in B-Town
Kunal M Shah (MID-DAY; April 25, 2013)
Mithoon is on cloud nine after his song Tum hi ho from Mohit Suri’s Aashiqui 2 is fast rising up on the popularity charts. The music composer speaks about his journey in B- Town and returning to the Bhatt camp with Aashiqui 2 …
Were you apprehensive of scoring the music of Aashiqui 2? Music comes naturally to me. My job was not to create history but to enhance the story with my music. As far as Tum Hi Ho is concerned, the attempt was not to make an anthem but just a simple song, which will touch hearts.
The Bhatt brothers are known to be quite involved in the making of the music of their films, aren’t they? The Bhatt camp gives you complete freedom. Mukeshji is the sweetest producer that I have worked with. He told me, “Mithoon you are the captain of the ship, you take it where you go.” Not many people are aware that I have also written the lyrics of Tum hi ho. Mahesh Bhattsaab told me that my poetry touched him.
Now that the music has worked in a big way, do you think the expectations from your other work will increase? I guess when I hear Tum hi ho playing everywhere; it reminds me of how I am doing it the right way. I work on my music with a lot of sincerity and truth and I cannot say something that I don’t believe myself. Bhattsaab told me that Tum hi ho is the answer to all those who say that today is not the time for slow music. I don’t have a bank of tunes, which is why I also More >
Emraan Hashmi is back in the Bhatt fold
03 weeks ago
by Fenil Seta
in Bollywood News
Emraan Hashmi to do a film with his uncles Mahesh and Mukesh, after straying outside
Upala KBR (DNA; April 24, 2013)
Emraan Hashmi had moved away from the Bhatt camp. He did three films without them — The Dirty Picture, Shanghai and Ek Thi Daayan. It was reported that after Raaz 3 he had ended his association with the Bhatts and was now looking at big banners to reposition his profile. Perhaps he felt he had moved into a bigger league, after being wooed by Ekta Kapoor and Karan Johar or he simply wanted the experience of working with other banners, whatever the reason, he has now realised that with the Bhatts he has a ‘hit’ record and wants to come back ‘home’.
According to an insider, Emi will again be working with his uncles Mukesh and Mahesh after Raaz 3. The hush-hush project will go on floor in January 2014. Vikram Bhatt directing the film was a huge deciding factor for the actor to sign on the dotted line. It is learnt that Emraan gave bulk dates for the same. This at a time when his dates diary is choc-a-bloc. He had kept aside those dates earlier for Karan Johar’s Gutkha starring Akshay Kumar. Arjun Kapoor has now been signed for the part.
Vikram, who has directed Emraan in Footpath and Raaz 3 confirms, “Yes, we will be working together again.” Mahesh adds, “We are planning to do a film with Vikram and Emraan. Emi didn’t want to be a part of the Murder franchise and we respected him for that. His love, affection and respect for me is unquestionable. I would never More >
I&B ministry to introduce PG-12, PG-15 ratings; industry sees red?
01 month ago
by Fenil Seta
in Rumour has it
Vickey Lalwani (MUMBAI MIRROR; April 10, 2013)
On March 29, Mirror had reported that the I&B Ministry had called for a meeting with film producers and the Censor Board of Film Certification (CBFC) between April 3 and April 5 to set the pace for necessary amendments to the Cinematograph Act 1952.
We can now tell you that the meeting which took place as scheduled had the Ministry put forth the proposal of categorising Indian films in a manner different to what has been hitherto followed. Which means if the Ministry has its way, films will no longer be certified as U, U/A, A. Instead, they will fall under any one of the following categories: Above 12 years of age (Under Parental Guidance), Above 15 years of age (Under Parental Guidance) or Above 18 years of age.
Among those present were Ritesh Sidhwani, Ramesh Sippy, President of the Producers’ Guild Mukesh Bhatt, President of the Association of Motion Pictures and TV Programme Producers (AMTPP) Sajid Nadiadwala, Indian Motion Picture Producers’ Association Chief TP Agarwal, CBFC Chief Leela Samson, CBFC CEO Pankaja Thakur, and senior members of the special panel instituted under the chairmanship of judicial expert Mukul Mudgal to review the functioning of the Board.
Filmmakers are not too happy with the proposal as they feel it will deflate their audience. CEO of the Film & Television Producers Guild of India, Kulmeet Makkar, said: “Yes, there is a proposal by the I&B Ministry but it would be very subjective in a country More >
I&B Ministry calls for truce between filmmakers, CBFC over censorship issues
01 month ago
by Fenil Seta
in Bollywood News
Vickey Lalwani (MUMBAI MIRROR; March 29, 2013)
At a time when Hindi films have come under criticism for disrespectful portrayal of women, and Censor Board decisions are increasingly being viewed as arbitrary, the Information & Broadcasting Ministry has stepped in to broker peace between the warring parties – the producers and the Board. The bone of contention being the Cinematograph Act 1952 that the film industry thinks is outdated. The I&B Ministry has called for a meeting with all parties concerned between April 3 and April 5, though the venue hasn’t been decided yet. Representing the film industry will be Farhan Akhtar, Ramesh Sippy, President of the Producers’ Guild Mukesh Bhatt, President of the Association of Motion Pictures and TV Programme Producers (AMTPP) Sajid Nadiadwala and Indian Motion Picture Producers’ Association Chief TP Aggarwal. Censor Board of Film Certification (CBFC) Chief Leela Samson and CBFC CEO Pankaja Thakur will represent the censors. Also present will be senior members from the special panel that was instituted under the chairmanship of judicial expert Mukul Mudgal to review the functioning of the Censor Board.
The meeting will set the pace for the necessary amendments to the Cinematograph Act 1952, after taking into consideration suggestions by all concerned. Special song and dance numbers, foul language, and scenes portraying actors and actresses smoking and drinking are likely to be discussed during the meet.
Aggarwal confirmed the More >
Digital to have an upper hand over reel in days to come?
03 months ago
by Fenil Seta
in Bollywood News
Jayoti Soor (DNA; February 17, 2013)
Hollywood leads, and Bollywood follows. After West showed the way with digitally filmed Skyfall and The Amazing Spiderman, Hindi filmmakers have started flirting with the technology. Until a few years ago, B-Town was following the old school. But after films like Amol Gupte’s Stanley Ka Dabba were well-received, it looks like the digital format is here to stay. Just as photo rolls have become redundant, it is only a matter of time before the film reel goes out of fashion.
Digital is cheaper Although many independent filmmakers were quick to adopt digital cinematography because it is cheaper, for a mainstream Bollywood directors, it’s been a question of aesthetics; to their eye, digital has not always captured the richness of film. However, with the rapid advancements in digital technology, a lot of leading filmmakers are converting. From Sudhir Mishra (Inkaar) to Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra (Bhaag Milkha Bhaag), filmmakers are increasingly adopting the digital medium. Producer Mukesh Bhatt says, “Raaz 3 was in 3D and was shot in digital. We ended up saving around Rs 30 lakh on stocks alone. In digital you shoot on tapes which is way cheaper. When you are shooting abroad lightweight digital cameras are easier to carry. All my future films will be shot in digital as it is the way forward.” Normally on a big budget film, a producer could end up saving up to Rs 2 crore per film by using the digital format.
Faster, easier and versatile Adil More >
Emraan Hashmi is kanjoos-Vishesh Bhatt
03 months ago
by Fenil Seta
in Interviews
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 >
Mohit Suri gets married to Udita Goswami
03 months ago
by Fenil Seta
in Bollywood News
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.