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Posts tagged Mumbai
Stephen Baldwin comes to Mumbai; signs Abhishek Kapoor
06 days ago
by Fenil Seta
in Bollywood News
Mehul S Thakkar (MUMBAI MIRROR; May 13, 2013)
After being lauded for Kai Po Che, Abhishek Kapoor aka Gattu is now onto bigger things.
According to sources, actor-director-producer Stephen Baldwin (The Usual Suspects, Born on the Fourth of July, The Flintstones in Viva Rock Vegas) was recently in Mumbai to discuss an interesting project with Gattu. Apparently, Baldwin has picked him to make movies for him and the deal has been sealed, almost.
“Abhishek is very media-shy and didn’t tell anyone that Stephen was coming to Mumbai,” said a source close to the filmmaker. Asked for details, the source said: “Abhishek has been entrusted with the job of directing at least two movies a year for Baldwin. They will be films with an Indian flavour but universal appeal and will be distributed by a Hollywood production house.” Baldwin is now on his way home but will be back soon for further discussions, said the source.
Open to any challenge that my profession has to offer-Ali Zafar
02 weeks ago
by Fenil Seta
in Bollywood News
Seema Sinha (BOMBAY TIMES; May 2, 2013)
Having received encouraging reviews for Chashme Baddoor (CB) and three of his films doing well at the box office, Ali Zafar’s career graph is on a high. After the success of his critically acclaimed debut film Tere Bin Laden, Ali followed it up with the romantic comedy Mere Brother Ki Dulhan (MBKD).
The actor attributes his success to hard work. “There are no short cuts in life. I had imagined it and it has happened. But I don’t think too much about it. I thank God for whatever he has given me,” he says.
Says his CB director David Dhawan, “I really enjoyed working with Ali. He did a superb job with perfect timing.”
Ali Abbas Zafar, who directed the actor in MBKD, says, “Ali is a natural talent. He is charismatic and has the X factor. He connects with the audience. He is on the right track.”
While Mumbai is already like a second home for the Pakistan-based actor-singer, does he plan to move here permanently? “I spend a lot of time in Mumbai. Due to the nature of my profession I am required to travel all over the world. Like right now I am touring the US. I’m open to any challenge that my profession has to offer,” Ali concludes.
My mother is my queen; I don’t want to lose her-Sonu Nigam
02 months ago
by Fenil Seta
in Interviews
Priya Gupta (BOMBAY TIMES; March 3, 2013)
Editor’s note: Sonu Nigam’s mother breathed her last in his arms on Feb 28th. This interview was conducted a few weeks before that, when his mother was seriously ailing. For Sonu, there was no bigger priority than looking after her and ever since she was seriously ill, he was always on tenterhooks accepting shows due to his insecurity of losing her in his absence.
Sonu Nigam, 39, is a combination of his talent and his father’s manifestation of his desire for his son to achieve what he was unable to. He sees the deep spiritual reflection of God in his parents whom he surrenders to. Over an hourlong conversation he talks to Bombay Times about his mother, his struggling years and why he will always miss Gulshan Kumar. Excerpts:
Let’s talk about your mother. For the last few months since she was unwell, I would just hold her hand and start crying. When I was a child, we lived on the second floor and I would get down my school bus and not go up till my mother came down and took me on her back and climbed up. She was a professional singer, but would also do all the household work and look after me. She is my queen. Recently, I made her sing with me on stage in one of the concerts in LA and I made her listen to that recording. Starting from the second half of last year, it has been a difficult period for me be it my mother’s health or complications in my personal life. I had no other escape other than my work. Before every show I would More >
Jayanta Bhai Ki Luv Story: When Love takes you by Surprise
03 months ago
by Fenil Seta
in Bollywood News
Hiren Kotwani (BOMBAY TIMES; February 13, 2013)
Love is unpredictable. You may find it under least-expected circumstances, and that too, with people you never thought you would fall in love with. This is essentially the crux of Jayanta Bhai Ki Luv Story (JBKLS).
Actor Vivek Oberoi, who plays Jayanta Bhai, says, “This bhai is different from the other bhais I’ve played. He’s lovable, jovial and entertaining. His love story is interesting since he and the girl come from two different worlds.” The lead actress, Neha Sharma, enthuses, “I’m very anxious, but also can’t control my excitement. I couldn’t have asked for a better team — an extremely supportive producer, a talented director and an amazing co-star.”
MUMBAI PLAYS A ROLE TOO
Mumbai plays an important part in the film, which has been shot across the city, from Colaba in the south to Madh Island and even Dahisar in the north.
Says director Vinnil Markan, who has grown up in Delhi, “I love the town side of Mumbai, especially its architecture. It has an old world charm, which I’m mixing with the new-world buzz. We’ve shot in places like Kotachi Wadi in Girgaum, Worli Fort, Matunga King Circle and Five Gardens in Dadar, locations not usually seen in films.”
Monsoon also marks its presence in the characters’ lives. Vinnil explains, “Most of the film was shot before and during the initial phase of the monsoon season, the remaining was completed by early July. Rain is used as leitmotif in the film. When it’s all bright More >
Ranbir to fly down to Mumbai to spend V-Day with Katrina?
03 months ago
by Fenil Seta
in Rumour has it
Mehul S Thakkar (MUMBAI MIRROR; February 12, 2013)
AIf New Year’s Eve was special, can Valentine’s Day be far behind? Ranbir Kapoor, who is now busy shooting Besharm, will be in Chandigarh for a particularly long schedule. Though he is slated to be away for the entire stretch, we hear he is planning to take a quick break on February 14 to fly down to the city. No points for guessing why. Katrina, who is also busy with her upcoming films, is planning to keep herself free from all professional commitments on that day. While we are not exactly expecting an exchange of greeting cards or heart-shaped treats, something tells us there will be more than chocolates and roses this year.
I will never work for an outside producer-Bejoy Nambiar
03 months ago
by Fenil Seta
in Interviews
Bejoy Nambiar spills the beans on how he has made it so far without any compromise
Jayoti Soor (DNA; January 29, 2013)
Bejoy Nambiar has a knack of making unconventional choices. Being a Mumbai boy, he went ahead and shifted base to Chennai when he got the chance to work with Mani Ratnam. While his directorial debut Shaitan made a mark despite having rank-newcomers, his film David has been in news due to the song controversy and for its unusual storyline.
“While Shaitan differed due to its treatment, David has a fascinating story,” says Nambiar. The bilingual film that will release both in Tamil and Hindi tells the story of three distinct individuals across three time zones sharing the same name. When quizzed about how will the ends meet, he laughs and confesses that even when he was pitching the story to producers, he would keep them guessing unless they decided to collaborate with him.
On whether his business degree has helped him negotiate his own terms in the industry, he shares, “I ideate, produce and direct my own movies. That way I shoulder full responsibility about how my product has shaped. I will never work for an outside producer. I come with a baggage, if someone is willing to accept that, then I am willing to collaborate with them.” With no formal training in film-making or having a film lineage, when asked where he gets this conviction from, “As a child I was a movie buff and had exposure to good-quality regional cinema. Winning the reality show and then More >
David: One name, three destinies
04 months ago
by Fenil Seta
in Bollywood News
Sneha Mahadevan (BOMBAY TIMES; January 16, 2013)
David, written and directed by Bejoy Nambiar, is an action thriller that revolves around the lives of three different men, all named David. While Neil Nitin Mukesh plays a UK-based retro gangster from the 70s, Vinay Virmani plays the role of a Mumbai-based musician in the 90s and South actor Vikram’s story is set in Goa in 2010. Here’s what the actors have to say about their characters:
NEIL: My look is entirely different from the ones I sported in my earlier films. I grew beard and moustache and sport a distinct hairstyle. Our roles are intricately interwoven. Vinay, Vikram and the rest of us had a fantastic time shooting for the film. Also, what’s exciting, is that the curiosity about what exactly the film could be, is intact.
VINAY: I play a Catholic musician, who’s looking for a big break. My father is a priest, but I don’t get along with him. The story is about how I’m forced to put my guitar down and pick up a gun because of a tragedy the family goes through. Playing this character that was completely different from what I had played in my debut film, was a challenge.
VIKRAM: I have done loads of Tamil films and played different roles, but this one remains my most unabashed character till date. I play a carefree, endearing fisherman from Goa, who is a complete loser. I was dressed in distressed jeans that I teamed up with a ganjee and I borrowed Bejoy’s slippers.
The film’s music was recently launched, where all the More >
No matter what headlines scream, will continue to work with Sudhir-Chitrangda Singh
04 months ago
by Fenil Seta
in Interviews
Chitrangda Singh on movies, marriage and her mentor
Seema Sinha (BOMBAY TIMES; January 13, 2012)
You play a victim of sexual harassment at workplace in your upcoming film, Inkaar. Have you faced it in the industry? I haven’t. I’m not saying that nobody looked at me lecherously or hugged me in that way. Of course they do, but that can happen even at family functions. In Bollywood, nobody forces you; it is the choice you make.
Tell us about your character Maya… She is totally grey, like all of us are in real life. She thinks it is her right as much as a man’s to be ambitious. Sometimes, she manipulates because that is what everybody around her is doing. And then, there is the sexual harassment case that she files against the man she loved.
There seems to be a lot of explicit content in the film. Any embarrassing moment? There was some awkwardness. You cannot disconnect with your self or your body completely. During intimate scenes, everybody on the set would give instructions like hand here, body there, we need to see the neck part… I would feel a bit awkward and suddenly, Arjun would crack some joke. It was very sensitive of him to lighten the moment.
How was it working with Arjun? He is a wicked guy (laughs) with a wicked sense of humour. The best thing about him is that he is so real, there is no pretence. It takes a while to understand him, but he is a wonderful guy.
You are one of the few actresses who got into movies after marriage… For me, that is the way it More >
Talaash: After three years, an Aamir Khan Friday
05 months ago
by Fenil Seta
in Bollywood News
Sneha Mahadevan (BOMBAY TIMES; November 30, 2012)
While Aamir Khan’s films have always been closely guarded and little is given away in terms of plots and storylines, Talaash, which releases today, definitely takes the cake.
What we do know is that Talaash is a suspense drama, which has been mostly shot at night on the streets of Mumbai and various other locations in the city. But what piques our curiosity most, apart from the storyline, is the fact that Aamir Khan is coming out with a film after three years and how he is going to raise the bar as far as viewers’ expectations are concerned.
“Aamir has always had an impressive track record with his films Rang De Basanti, Fanaa, Taare Zameen Par, Ghajini and 3 idiots. He comes up with something new each time he meets you in the theatres, and that is why an Aamir Khan-Friday always yields something significant,” a trade source says.
Talaash, presented by Reliance Entertainment, releases today.