Where Bollywood Comes Alive
Posts tagged my friend pinto
Fenil’s Bollywood Talk # 174
01 year ago
5 FILMS ON 1 DAY…AGAIN!
Just 2 weeks back, we witnessed the clash of 5 films at the box office and how all of them ate into each other’s business. Something similar will be seen this week as 5 more films will hit screens tomorrow! Moreover, all these films have big names associated with them and yet hype and excitement is considerably low! My views on these films:
AAZAAN: It marks the debut of Sachiin Joshi and also model Candice Boucher. The grandeur of the film is large and a lot of money has been pumped in. The flick has been shot in exotic locations and has mind-blowing action sequences. Songs are excellent and Salim-Sulaiman says it’s one of their best works till date! Dealing with issues of biological terror, the film’s promos indicate that the film has topnotch production values and no compromise has been done in the making. Sadly, the excitement for the film is negligible. Sachiin Joshi hasnt grabbed eyeballs. Plus, the film’s budget is skyhigh and recovery seems very remote. The film desperately needs good response or else it will sink badly.
MY FRIEND PINTO: The film was initially supposed to release in mid-June and hence promo was out as early as April. The film stands out as it’s from Sanjay Leela Bhansali production but yet doesn’t seem like one. The film promises to be quirky, hatke and extremely hilarious with Pinto supposed to be on the lines of Chaplin and Raj Kapoor. Prateik essays the main role besides actors like Divya Dutta, Arjun Mathur, Shruti Seth, More >
Ranbir’s Wake Up Sid friend speaks
01 year ago
by Fenil Seta
in Bollywood News
Actor Shikha Talsania’s taking her time to find roles that don’t centre on her physiology
Mitali Parekh (MUMBAI MIRROR; October 09, 2011)
It’s hard to recall where you’ve seen Shikha Talsania. She’s your sister’s sunny friend who easily becomes your best friend. As easily as she was Ranbir Kapoor’s in Wake Up Sid. And then you remember that dialogue that struck a note with everyone, “Main nahi samajhti [what failure is]? Just look at me… Roj subhe diet pe jaati hoon aur shaam tak fail ho jaati hoon.”
Being a “slightly overweight” woman is a shortcoming in an industry weighed down by the legacy of Tun-tun and Guddi Maruti. “Yeahhh… I don’t want to be the fat girl who licks her lips when she’s hungry or horny. I don’t want to be the girl on the treadmill, who collapses and then a thin girl gives her a tonic, saying, ‘Try this’. And then she becomes thin too,” says Shikha talking about the existing caricatures. “I am a plus-sized actor. My size is secondary. Fat girls also fall in love, yaar. They also have friends, and dress well. Luckily, there are many scripts that tell the truth - in every size, shape and form.”
That’s why she is just another girl on the bus with Abhishek Bachchan, in a telecom network ad. Or a middle-class girl who uses a tea packet to bribe a government employee.
More recently, she plays Aliya, the eldest daughter of the Aziz household in Deepa Mehta’s film adaptation of Midnight’s Children. “When I was in college, Seema Biswas, who is a More >
It’s high time multiple releases are avoided
02 years ago
by Fenil Seta
in Bollywood News
By Taran Adarsh, May 3, 2011 – 08:28 IST
Have film-makers and distributors learnt a bitter lesson? Seems like they are waking up to reality. Last Friday witnessed the release of as many as 11 films [6 Hindi + 3 English + 2 dubbed films] and the business, naturally, hit an all-time low. The repercussions were felt through all corridors of the film industry in Mumbai and seems like a number of film-makers have decided to re-schedule the release date of their films, thereby avoiding a similar scenario in the coming weeks.
To start with, Sanjay Leela Bhansali and UTV’s MY FRIEND PINTO, which was announced for 17 June release, has been postponed to a later date. The new date will be worked out keeping in mind the fact that it doesn’t clash with too many films. Similarly, Subhash Ghai has decided to push the release dates of his two films — LOVE EXPRESS and CYCLE KICK — to 10 June, “so that the films get saved from a typhoon called READY on 3 June,” he says. Meanwhile, there’s talk that Eros is also planning to shift BOL to another date, which, initially, was confirmed for 20 May.
Watch this space for the latest [re]scheduling of films!
BOLLYWOOD HUNGAMA.COM
Sanjay Leela Bhansali unplugged
02 years ago
by Fenil Seta
in Interviews
The filmmaker, in a hard-hitting interview, takes on everyone — from Sonam Kapoor to Ajay Devgn
Sarita Tanwar (BOMBAY TIMES; April 25, 2011)
Sanjay Leela Bhansali vanished after Guzaarish. The director will soon be on your TV screens as a judge on a reality dance show. Now that he has emerged from hiding, he is open to being grilled. He promised to be honest, and true to his word, he did not mince words. He cleared the air on friends, foes and his films (last and forthcoming). Read on for excerpts…
Are you going to be a mean judge on tv? No. I don’t believe in running down people. I will say what I have to, without destroying the dancers. The range is from 16 to 60. It’s pure joy to see some people who’ve never had the chance to live their dream, come on stage and let loose.
Do you watch Koffee With Karan? No.
In one episode Karan asked Sonam what she would do if she woke up one morning and realised she’d become you. She said, “Get colour in my life — apart from Blue and Black.” Any comment? I don’t think any filmmaker in India would even think of using the colours I do. Saawariya is a work of art and if Karan can’t understand that then that is his problem. It’s something I cannot worry about. If he is going to reduce Saawariya to just a blue film then it’s just childish. I don’t know why he asks people about me. Whenever he meets me, he is very kind, cordial and respectful about my work. I don’t know why Sonam answered the More >
No actress would dare to attempt Monica-Divya Dutta
02 years ago
by Fenil Seta
in Interviews
Divya Dutta on playing the controversial character
Bina Trivedi (BOMBAY TIMES; March 30, 2011) We’ve known Divya Dutta for her versatility and seen her rise as an actor in diverse roles like Delhi 6, Veer Zaara, Umrao Jaan (2006) Aaja Nachle, Welcome to Sajjanpur to name a few. The recently released Monica has further established that she is an actress of substance. Basking under the rave reviews for her performance, Divya chats about her role and her forthcoming films…
Tell us about your character Monica Jaitley… Monica is a very tough journey of a woman from 16 yr to 35 years. She goes through a gamut of emotions and experiences, right from teenage child abuse experience, to a bad marriage, to an extra marital affair upto the heights of ambition. Industry stalwarts say that it’s a toughest role any actress has played ever. Mahesh Bhattji tweeted, “Monica is a brave film, and Divya Dutta bears her soul on the screen like Shabana Azmi once did the movie Arth”.
Did you have to do any research to portray Monica? As I said it’s the toughest role I have ever played. I did not do any research, I believed completely on my writer-director Sushen Bhatnagar. He has written it fabulously. The role Monica has many layers. The film was shown to Delhi CM, Sheila Dixit too… It was really great to get a pat on the back from her.
What are your forthcoming projects? Amol Gupte’s Stanley Ka Dabba, Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s My Friend Pinto, Seema More >
SRK, SLB to clash once again
02 years ago
by Fenil Seta
in Bollywood News
Kunal M Shah (MUMBAI MIRROR; March 21, 2011)
Diwali 2007: Shah Rukh Khan’s Om Shanti Om and Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Saawariya clashed at the box office.
History is going to repeat itself this June 17, when Khan’s home production Always Kabhi Kabhi and Bhansali’s production My Friend Pinto releases on the same day.
However, this time around, SRK and Bhansali are just the producers of their respective films unlike four years back.
A source recalled for us, “SRK and Bhansali were close friends and when their films clashed in 2007, SRK had said that he would try and speak to the director.
Once the clash was inevitable, both of them started a media war. Incidentally, Farah Khan said that if Bhansali would make Om Shanti Om, he would name it Maa Shanti Maa.
This irked Bhansali no end. Hence, started a series of interviews where Bhansali showed his displeasure towards SRK and Farah. In fact, he even went on to say that he was not excited to see Om Shanti Om.
Salman Khan, who was good friends with SRK around that time, said that he would be promoting OSO and SRK replied saying, if Bhansali asks, then even he would promote Saawariya.”
This time around, Always Kabhi Kabhi will mark the directorial debut of Roshan Abbas and cast that includes Zoa Morani and other newcomers.
This will contrast with Bhansali’s My Friend Pinto having an ensemble cast, with Raghav Dar making his debut as an actor. Let’s see who wins round 2.
My Friend Pinto actors get a makeover
02 years ago
To help director Raghav Dhar with My Friend Pinto, producer Sanjay Leela Bhansali gave all the seven lead actors a makeover at a Bandra salon
Kunal M Shah (MUMBAI MIRROR; June 24, 2010)
// // // We have seen Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s expertise in direction. And with his first production venture, My Friend Pinto, he is determined to go the extra mile. Directed by Raghav Dhar, the film is believed to have seven main characters that will be played by Prateik, Kalki Koechlin, Divya Dutta, Makrand Deshpande, Shakeel Khan, Arjun Mathur and Raj Zhutshi.
Apparently, Bhansali called all the seven actors to a salon in Bandra and gave each of them a makeover. Bhansali insisted on being present for everyone’s styling and suggested changes in each of their looks based on how Dhar had visualised them.
Prateik Kalki Koechlin Sanjay Leela BhansaliOur source said, “Bhansali along with the director Raghav Dhar wanted a certain look for the film and that’s why they took all the actors to a salon in Bandra and gave them a new look. However, Bhansali being a passionate producer came to the salon himself and suggested changes to create a distinct look for each of the characters.
He sat through each styling session until every single one was finished and approved by the director Raghav. He kept on looking at the different styles and gave his creative inputs right through the makeover. Bhansali only left after Raghav was happy.”
When contacted More >
Kalki to help Kashyap & Bhansali patch up
03 years ago
by Fenil Seta
in Bollywood News
Kalki Koechlin played peacemaker between Anurag Kashyap and Sanjay Leela Bhansali
Subhash K Jha (MUMBAI MIRROR; May 22, 2010)
The pert Kalki Koechlin is doing a good job with her man Anurag Kashyap — he has mellowed almost beyond recognition.
The forever-angry Anurag who once made far from charitable remarks about Devdas and Black is now looking to reconcile with the director of the very same films, Sanjay Leela Bhansali. All thanks to Kalki, who is playing an Anglo-Indian girl in Bhansali’s production My Friend Pinto.
Kalki KoechlinIn no time at all she has endeared herself to the entire unit and production team, including the hard-to-please Bhansali. Apparently the actor gets along like a house on fire with her producer. They discuss everything from Bhansali’s Devdas to Kashyap’s Dev D.
During one tete-a-tete, the touchy topic of Anurag came up, and talk veered to how hot tempered and churlish the Dev D director used to be.
Says a source, “Kalki just laughed and brushed off her man’s irrational outbursts in the past and said it was about time Kashyap met and patched up with Bhansali – who was not averse to the idea. Kalki also pointed out that Kashyap’s Dev D was actually a homage to Bhansali’s Devdas.
Anurag had specially asked Bhansali’s assistant Vikram Motwane to write Dev D so that the ethos and flavour of Devdas would seep into Kashyap’s film.”
Bhansali was touched to hear that. The ice has already thawed between the More >