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Posts tagged My Name Is Khan
I always thought Balasaheb would recover-Shah Rukh Khan
05 months ago
by Fenil Seta
in Interviews
Shah Rukh Khan reminisces about the evenings spent with the late Bal Thackeray over fish fingers
Kunal M Shah (MID-DAY; November 23, 2012)
Shah Rukh Khan regrets not meeting Bal Thackeray who passed away last week. The star could not meet the Shiv Sena supremo and sort out the differences that occurred during the IPL matches (over the inclusion of Pakistani cricketers) and during the release of his film, My Name is Khan.
SRK says, “When the My Name Is Khan issue happened, I felt that woh mujhse umra mein bade the and it could have been different. However, I should have made an effort but… I guess… there was some fear in me which prevented me from meeting him at that time.”
The star adds, “I always thought that woh theek ho jayenge and we will chat. But unfortunately he never recovered.”
King Khan informs that earlier every month or two he used to visit the Sena supremo and would have conversations over fish fingers. “I love meeting old people and hear the things they have to share. He was extremely sensible. Our ideologies might differ but we really had some great evenings together. I had last met him when he was ailing and sat for about an hour. We had a personal relationship and I told Uddhavji that I will come back when he is better. I also spoke to Raj as I have known them for years.”
Sidharth Malhotra’s on a spin
07 months ago
by Fenil Seta
in Interviews
Priya Sugathan (DNA; October 14, 2012)
Sidharth Malhotra DNA Research N Archives“No, I am not related to (designer) Manish Malhotra or (filmmaker) Punit Malhotra,” clarifies easy-on-the-eye Sidharth Malhotra, whose surname often leads people to assume that he’s from Bollywood. But his co-star, Varun Dhawan in the upcoming Student of the Year, is however convinced that Sid could just turn out to be the proverbial ‘outsider’ to make it big in filmdom.
Ask Sidharth, if he feels he’s going to be eclipsed by his co-stars, who have strong filmi backgrounds —Varun is filmmaker David Dhawan’s son, while Alia is Mahesh Bhatt’s daughter — and he smiles. “It is natural for people to be more interested in them as they come with a certain history. But in the final reckoning, it’s what you put out there on the big screen that’s going to be noticed,” says the newbie, who started off as a model in Delhi. He later auditioned for a film that Anubhav Sinha planned to make with newcomers. “I just auditioned for a lark, acting was nowhere on the horizon,” recalls Sidharth. “The film got shelved when Anubhav got an offer to work with Shah Rukh Khan. By then, I’d been bitten by the acting bug,” he adds.
Sidharth is amused at the coincidence of the events that unfolded later for him. “I landed in Mumbai, looking for work and ended up being the assistant director on Karan Johar’s My Name is Khan (MNIK). Come to think of it, Anubhav and me coincidentally ended up working with SRK,” he More >
Explosive dialogues integral part of Madhur’s grammar-Niranjan Iyengar
08 months ago
by Fenil Seta
in Interviews
Dialogue writer-turned-lyricist Niranjan Iyengar on his rabble-rousing dialogues for Kareena Kapoor’s next ‘Heroine’ and writing for a teenage romance in his 40s
Jigar Shah (MID-DAY; September 13, 2012)
Screenplay writer Niranjan Iyengar’s Bandra house is currently under renovations. But sitting amidst the cacophony created by the heavy equipments around him, Niranjan’s mind is in a far-off place. Recently having written dialogues for Madhur Bhandarkar and Karan Johar’s respective upcoming films, the writer-lyricists talks about his journey in Bollywood and more…
Is it true that your career in Bollywood happened by chance? I started working as a journalist post, which my friend Manish Malhotra offered me a position in his design studio. I designed wedding dresses as well as costumes for stage shows. After writing a book on Karan Johar’s Kabhi Khushie Kabhi Gham, Nikhil Advani asked me to write the dialogues for Kal Ho Naa Ho. Then Jism happened, post which I ended up writing the lyrics for My Name Is Khan.
You have also written for some rather rabble-rousing dialogues for Kareena Kapoor in Heroine. Explosive dialogues are integral part of Madhur’s grammar. Because the film industry is under constant scrutiny, our ‘flaws’ are written about. But when the same things happen outside, no one bothers! The dialogues are a part of the character’s journey and were necessary for the storyline.
How was it working with your friend Karan for Student Of The Year? Karan and I have a More >
Karan Johar has tweaked my film character-Sidharth Malhotra
08 months ago
by Fenil Seta
in Interviews
KJo’s discovery Sidharth Malhotra is enjoying every bit of the sudden attention he is getting
Meena Iyer (BOMBAY TIMES; September 5, 2012)
New kid on the block Sidharth Malhotra, Sid to friends, is 27 (looks around 24), handsome, and has an intense quality that sets him apart from others his age. Compliment him for his looks and he jokes, “Yeah, the camera doesn’t do me justice, haan?”
The Delhi model, who’s making his debut in Karan Johar’s Student of the Year (SOTY), admits that the journey from the capital to Karan’s office has been a whirlwind one. “One day, I was assisting Karan on My Name Is Khan and now I’m the leading man of SOTY. I have to pinch myself to believe this is for real,’’ he smiles.
The boy, who did a stint in modelling in Delhi, says his Bollywood trek has just begun. But he can already feel people’s changing attitude and quizzical looks. “Relatives who haven’t bothered about me for years have now started discovering me,’’ he laughs. “I’m enjoying every bit of attention, though.’’
Any nervousness while he waits for the release of his first film? “Yes and no,’’ he replies. “Sometimes, I’m a bit nervous. But at most times, I’m confident. I have landed a dream debut. Karan, according to me, has the safest pair of hands in the film business.” Sid actually wants to emulate SRK, who is also a Delhi boy, who rules the roost today. But he knows his own personal journey has only just begun.
What is he like in real life? The intense sort? Or a More >
Varun Dhawan: From Manchester to Mumbai
09 months ago
by Fenil Seta
in Bollywood News
David Dhawan’s younger son Varun gave up management to debut in KJo’s Student Of The Year
Meena Iyer (BOMBAY TIMES; August 1, 2012)
Varun Dhawan is to the manor born. The younger son of yesteryear commercial pasha David Dhawan; this youngster grew up on a regular feed of mainstream cinema. Having watched him and his older brother Rohit (he directed Desi Boyz) since childhood, we knew that Varun had an opinion on cinema even when he was knee-high.
In all fairness, his parents David and Lali didn’t want him to join showbiz until he had a sound education and packed him off to Manchester to enrol for a course in business management.
But like they say when your heart beats for the movies; then seeing your face on the marquee is all you really care about.
So he took that flight from Manchester to Mumbai; or should be we say, straight from Manchester to Karan Johar’s office and impressed upon the filmmaker how he’d like to assist him on My Name Is Khan.
!! CHECK OUT THE NEW POSTER OF “STUDENT OF THE YEAR” HERE !!
And one day when he was standing in for Shah Rukh Khan, Karan looked through the lens and realised that Varun had the “cinema-face’’ that could well make it to the silver screen. Karan recalls how Farah Khan had walked in on the MNIK sets, saw Varun and Sidharth Malhotra and said to Kjo, “God! Such nice-looking assistants you have.’’
But Varun isn’t all about good looks alone. He had also done a few acting workshops and when it was time to audition for Student Of The More >
Sidharth Malhotra: From assistant director to hero
09 months ago
by Fenil Seta
in Bollywood News
Sidharth Malhotra’s short journey to stardom involved a rickshaw ride that led him to Karan Johar’s office
Meena Iyer (BOMBAY TIMES; July 30, 2012)
It was one rickshaw ride that changed Sidharth Malhotra’s life. He had come to Mumbai for a film that never took off, but he was managing well with modelling assignments coming his way. He was on the verge of signing an offer with a top brand when the clear blue skies and a bumpy ride gave him an idea he could not get out his head. He wanted to learn basic acting and filmmaking skills. Once the idea consumed him, he literally jumped out of the rickshaw and went to Karan Johar’s office. Says Johar, “He somehow met someone at Dharma Productions and got the job of a trainee assistant director (AD) on My Name Is Khan (MNIK). “MNIK was an expansive shoot but he lasted all through and was actually one of the finest ADs of the film.”
A high school campus romance was what Johar always had in mind, but he’d earlier thought he would produce the film. He changed his mind later. “I wanted to visit the kind of space I hadn’t for a while — the world of music, song and dance and romance. And I found my leads,” says Johar.
Sidharth’s father was in the Merchant Navy, and he grew up in Defence Colony, Delhi. Johar still remembers the day he told Sidharth he would be directing Student Of The Year. “He was zapped! He kept on saying, ‘No you are lying’”. Johar remembers calling Sidharth’s father and mother, Sunil and Rimma (Malhotra). They were More >
Cousin Armaan follows Ranbir to Bollywood
09 months ago
by Fenil Seta
in Bollywood News
Mehul S Thakkar (MUMBAI MIRROR; July 26, 2012)
Randhir, Rishi and Rajeev Kapoor’s sister Reema Jain may have managed to stay away from Bollywood, but her youngest son Armaan, true to his Kapoor genes, is making his way to the spotlight. Though not ready to face the camera yet, Armaan is following his cousin Ranbir’s footsteps and learning the tricks of filmmaking by assisting Karan Johar in Student Of The Year.
A source from the sets of the Dharma Productions venture revealed, “Initially he had no idea about filmmaking. He handled a small part of My Name Is Khan. But he has surely grown since then. In Student Of The Year, he has helped with a major part of the shoot.”
As for KJo, it is all about loving his film fraternity. While filming Kabhi Alvida Na Kehna, he opened the doors of his production house to Rani Mukerji’s cousin Ayan. Later, he even helped him launch his first directorial venture Wake Up Sid with Dharma.
So, is this a sort of initiation ceremony for Armaan as well? “He is too young right now to decide whether he wants to direct or act. He wants to be in front of the camera eventually. However, he is currently studying in New York and comes to India during summer vacations. He has been utilizing the time to learn as much as he can about filmmaking,” said the source.
Karan remained unavailable for comment.
Finally ‘2 States’ gets its hero-Arjun Kapoor
010 months ago
by Fenil Seta
in Bollywood News
Sajid Nadiadwala and Karan Johar officially announce first co-production with Arjun Kapoor as the Punjabi munda
Meena Iyer (BOMBAY TIMES; June 28, 2012)
Rajkumar Hirani’s 3 Idiots, which is ‘loosely adapted’ from Chetan Bhagat’s Five Point Someone is the highest-grossing Bollywood film of all time. Now, B-Town has woken up to another of this author’s works. In a time when films based on best-selling novels are fast becoming a trend, market-savvy producer Sajid Nadiadwala who has in his long career, been responsible for many blockbusters including the recent Housefull 2; purchased the rights of Bhagat’s 2 States at an exorbitant sum. From that point onwards, 2 States has been making headlines continuously. Every top actor’s publicity machinery has leaked out fake stories on how it was their client who was being considered for the role of the Punjabi college lad. Now the speculation has come to an end.
Sajid has joined hands with Karan Johar for 2 States. And the hero is Arjun Kapoor. Debutant Abhishek Varman, who worked with K Jo on My Name is Khan and is also the creative director on Student of the Year, will direct 2 States.
Sajid, on vacation in Europe, called us to explain how his association with Karan is an emotional one. Said he, “I looked up to Karan’s father Yash Johar when I started out. Yashji was my friend, philosopher and guide. Whenever I needed advice, I’d drive to his Mahalaxmi office. So you see, my association with Karan is not new. For some time now, More >
Kavin Dave gets lead part
01 year ago
by Fenil Seta
in Bollywood News
BOMBAY TIMES (March 11, 2012)
After playing Imran Khan’s sidekick in I Hate Luv Storys and making his presence felt in films like Mumbai Meri Jaan, Bedhundh (Marathi), My Name Is Khan and Crook, model and actor Kavin Dave, is stepping into the world every actor dreams of – yes, he is all set to take centre stage!
Producer-director Jagdish Rajpurohit ‘s Bumboo has Dave in the lead part. “I am excited and am looking forward to Bumboo’s release,” he smiles. Kavin’s brush with the camera began when he was barely seven. “My first ad was a candy commercial followed by a number of television serials that had me as a child artiste.”
Kavin continues, “After graduation, I began pursuing theatre and mastered the art of acting under the guidance of eminent theatre personality Satyadev Dubey. It was here that I met Jagdish Rajpurohit, and over a period of time our meeting culminated into a thick friendship. Because of our common interest in cinema we landed up writing the adaptation of L’emmerduer for India.”
He adds, “Forget the lead, I was not even considered for any role in Bumboo! Rajpurohit wanted someone who would look slightly older than me. But I convinced him otherwise. Well, that’s where I stand apart I guess!”
Evolution of Maa to Mom in Bollywood
02 years ago
by Fenil Seta
in Bollywood News
BOMBAY TIMES (May 8, 2011)
Mere Paas maa hain… Javed Akhtar’s famous dialogue had Indians hooked since Deewar released way back in 1975. More than three decades after this scene became a part of Bollywood folklore, things have changed manifold as far as the role of mothers go. Maa ke haath ka banaya hua kheer isn’t staple in this age of Brand Bollywood. But that does not mean this industry has forgotten maa totally.
The avatar of maa has undergone mammoth changes. Today’s sexy, bold and confident single moms — as played by Vidya Balan in Paa, Priyanka Chopra in Pyaar Impossible, Kajol in My Name is Khan and We Are Family, Lara Dutta in Partner and Preity Zinta in Jaan-E-Mann — has shifted the spotlight completely from a Nirupa Roy in a crumpled cotton saree shedding tears over her morally corrupt son on the wrong side of law. The cool moms, as played by these actresses, are all fiercely independent characters who are in complete control of their lives without their man. In an industry often accused of misogyny, this is possibly the most positive change that’s slowly gaining ground.
The increasingly discerning audiences are looking for variety in scripts and maturity in characters as much as the directors are writing roles keeping this wider horizon of New Age India in mind.
The biggest affirmation of this change is the fact that mainstream actresses like Kajol, Priyanka Chopra, Vidya Balan, Preity Zinta aren’t shying away from More >