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Posts tagged Nana Patekar
Anil Kapoor, Nana Patekar refuse to work with Sunny Leone in Welcome 2?
11 month ago
by Fenil Seta
in Rumour has it
Subhash K Jha (DNA; May 9, 2013)
Sunny Leone was set to step into Mallika Sherawat’s shoes for the Welcome sequel. But now that plan has been put to rest. Director Anees Bazmi confirms, “Sunny did come to meet me and my producer Firoz Nadiadwala. But that’s about it. Sunny wasn’t signed for our film… She is not doing Welcome Back.”
What went wrong? A bit of probing reveals some uncomfortable home-truths about the prospects of the adult star in Bollywood. For all the hype and glamour, mainstream actors are still not comfortable with the idea of working with Sunny. Apparently after meeting Sunny, producer Firoz Nadiadwala and director Anees Bazmee had a closed-door meeting with the two actors who have to woo her on screen — Anil Kapoor and Nana Patekar.
Says the source, “Both Nana and Anil have family images. And Nana, in fact, is fiercely correct in his politics. Chasing Sunny would not look correct for Nana or Anil. So she was regrettably dropped from the film.” It is learnt that one of the actors explained his situation as, “I wouldn’t mind working with Sunny Leone. But my wife would mind. I don’t care where she comes from. But my wife does.” So this time wife gets her way and Sunny loses the part.
Nana Patekar donates Rs 10 lac to drought relief measures in Maharashtra
01 month ago
by Fenil Seta
in Bollywood News
Jigar Shah (MID-DAY; May 6, 2013)
Nana Patekar may be known for his exceptional acting prowess and an admirable repertoire of films but he also has an equally big heart.
The veteran actor was conferred the Raj Kapoor award recently which carries a cash prize of Rs 10 lakh. Rather than taking home the money, Patekar decided to donate it to the drought relief measures in Maharashtra. Several parts of the state’s interiors have been reeling under severe drought conditions. Moreover, farming communities across 15 districts are facing acute shortage of drinking water and are unable to grow crops or provide fodder to their livestock.
Says a source, “Nana who spends a lot of time at his farmhouse on the outskirts of Pune belt has seen the situation with his own eyes. He knows how bad it is. This is his contribution to alleviate the sufferings to some level.”
John Abraham asks for 15 cr for Welcome 2?
11 month ago
by Fenil Seta
in Rumour has it
Kunal M Shah (MID-DAY; April 22, 2013)
When Welcome released in 2007, the Anees Bazmee directorial did brisk business at the box office. And with the film’s sequel being made, the makers have apparently paid a whopping fee of Rs 15 crore to lead actor John Abraham.
After Welcome, its producer Firoz Nadiadwala’s presence in B-Town has been quite limited. While the third installment of Hera Pheri failed to take off, sources say that the sequel of Welcome is all ready to roll towards the end of this year. While from the original cast Anil Kapoor and Nana Patekar have been retained, the makers are looking for a replacement for late actor Firoz Khan. Anees will be helming the project.
Our source says, “Nadiadwala wanted to make the sequel of his film since quite some time now. However when talks with Akshay Kumar fizzled out, Firoz was looking for another option. Anees and Firoz decided to cast John and they have apparently paid him Rs 15 crore for the film. Given that John’s upcoming film with Sanjay Gupta is being much talked about, it was but obvious that the actor would be commanding a price like this.” While Nadiadwala refuses to divulge further details, all he says is, “No, nothing like that! Also, Welcome Back will be a complete family entertainer.” While the original film starred Katrina Kaif, the sequel’s leading lady is yet to be finalised.
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Sunny Leone-Nargis Fakhri in Welcome 2?Upala KBR (DNA; April 22, 2013)
Anees Bazmee’s sequel to Welcome called More >
Salaam Bombay to re-release on March 22
13 months ago
by Fenil Seta
in Bollywood News
Mira Nair’s ode to the city’s underbelly turns 25 this year with a re-release. So where is the motley crew today?
MUMBAI MIRROR (March 5, 2013)
Salaam Bombay, Mira Nair’s debut film that won many international accolades including the Caméra d’Or and the Prix Publique at the Cannes Festival, is turning 25 this year and to commemorate this, PVR is re-releasing the landmark film on March 22.
Shot in real locations and featuring non-actors, the international project chronicled the life of street children, drug-pushers, pimps and prostitutes of a redlight area of Mumbai. The narrative weaved in the murk and grime of the Mumbai underbelly while following the life of a Krishna aka Chaipau—a young boy who runs away to Bombay to earn money. In the film, Nair deploys a Kubrickesque colour scheme, and a Hitchcockian mise-en-scene but the end product is a style that is unmistakeably her own.
The film that went on to win the National Award and an Oscar nomination in the Best Foreign Film category, starred Shafiq Syed as young Krishna, and launched the career of Irrfan Khan. It also had Raghuvir Yadav and Nana Patekar in key roles.
“It’s absolutely thrilling to bring ‘Salaam Bombay!’ to a new generation of young people. The story is as alive today!” Nair said.
An elated Irrfan said: “It will be as fresh as it was back then… I am sure people will enjoy watching the movie.”
SHAFIQ SYED While many from the cast have made it big either in Bollywood or television, the child actor who won More >
I’ve taken liberties but haven’t altered facts-Ram Gopal Varma
03 months ago
by Fenil Seta
in Bollywood News
Jyothi Prabhakar (BOMBAY TIMES; March 1, 2013)
It wasn’t easy to shoot this film at all, Ram Gopal Varma recalls. There were permission issues and sets to be built, but despite all that, Varma’s proud of The Attacks of 26/11. “By the end of it, me and Nana (Patekar) had discussed it so many times, that there was nothing left for me to ask him,” says Ramu, and with a laugh, Nana says, “He is my director, I should agree with him.”
But ask him why he took on this film, and Nana says, “Mujhe laga ke iss film ke zariye main bahut kuch keh sakta hoon. I am happy I did it. This is not an entertaining film, lekin yeh film aapko zaroor sochne pe majboor karegi. And I like such hard-hitting films.”
For Ramu, the toughest part was collating all the data. “As a filmmaker, I was really attracted to this event. It was devastating. But when I went there three days after the event, I went just as an observer. I had no intention of making a film for the simple reason that at that time, I had no knowledge of what the incident was about. Two-and-half-years later, when the investigations were completed and all the information was put out in public domain, I had a chance to interact with the officers who investigated the case. Through them, I managed to get to some eyewitnesses. I went and interviewed them, and through the course of their narratives, I got an idea of how to structure the screenplay of my film.”
Did he ask any of the witnesses to act in his film? “Leopold Cafe owner, Farzad More >
Why home minister, top cops declined to watch The Attacks Of 26/11
13 months ago
by Fenil Seta
in Rumour has it
Vickey Lalwani (MUMBAI MIRROR; February 28, 2013)
Ram Gopal Varma is known for his ingenuous ways of grabbing eyeballs. And his film on 26/11 has been an example of how the filmmaker has often flirted with controversy.
Mirror has learnt that RGV’s plans to stir up a storm before the release of his film, was foiled by wary members of the State home ministry. Last week, the filmmaker had organised a screening for the Home Minister R R Patil, Commissioner of Police Satyapal Singh and other senior cops. More than take their opinion, he was perhaps hopeful of ruffling a few feathers to his advantage.
Some of his invitees, including R R Patil, turned down the offer to watch the controversial film, while others were undecided. “Ever since his infamous terror tour of the Taj with the Late Vilasrao Deshmukh, people are cautious about being associated with him. And in order to convince them all, RGV sent Nana Patekar as his emissary, to do the needful,” said a source close to the development. Nana, who enjoys considerable currency among the police department, tried his best to woo them. In fact, his charm did work to a great extent, and some of the invitees decided to watch the film.
“They agreed to come for the screening, but on one condition – Ramu would have to stay away from the venue. No one wanted to be photographed with him,” added the source. Moreover, when word reached the party high command that some senior cops and secretaries were perhaps inclined towards accepting More >
People appreciate films like Welcome more-Nana Patekar
04 months ago
by Fenil Seta
in Interviews
Nana Patekar rues that films with strong social messages are lost on today’s moviegoers
Asira Tarannum (MID-DAY; February 20, 2013)
Most actors choose to stay far away from the madding crowd while getting candid about their films and personal life. Instead Nana Patekar opted to sit in a bustling Colaba café for this tête- à- tête. In a distinctly pleasant mood, Nana chats with us about being inspired by super cop Rakesh Maria in Ram Gopal Varma’s The Attacks Of 26/11 and wanting to do something different as an actor.
How did you react to the Mumbai terror attacks? If we are sitting here and then there is an attack, how do you think that it can be handled? Look at Mumbai’s population and the cop to citizen ratio. Also people, irrespective of what religion they belong to, must share a strong bond with each other and only then can such terrorist attacks be averted.
How different was witnessing the attacks on TV and acting in a film? This was not just another film for me. It was a huge responsibility playing my character (based on Rakesh Maria) as it carried a lot of weight and responsibility to play the role of a man who had defended Mumbai from the attackers.
The film’s based on a tragedy. Was the mood on the sets too sombre? This is not an incident that we can remember and be happy about. Similarly there is nothing in the film that you will be jolly about. There are no songs and no dances that will entertain you. And that is one reason why I am part of this film.
Rakesh More >
Amitabh Bachchan sends flowers to Nana Patekar
05 months ago
by Fenil Seta
in Bollywood News
Asira Tarannum (MID-DAY; January 12, 2013)
In an industry where oneupmanship comes naturally to stars, here’s something Amitabh Bachchan did that impressed Nana Patekar beyond words. After seeing a rough cut of Ram Gopal Varma’s next on the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks, AB sent a large bouquet of flowers to Nana Patekar who stars in the film.
A source says, “Bachchan booked a big bunch of flowers for his former co-star Nana and sent it across. Nana was stunned at Big B’s gesture.” The senior actor plays a cop in the film.
Nana says, “I was very surprised and happy when I got his flowers. There were so many flowers that I was almost hidden behind them. It is like getting over a 100 awards,” adds the actor.
What Big B wrote on his blog
“RGV shows me a rough cut of his latest ‘The Attacks of 26/11′ … stunned, shocked, angered… but choked with tears. Nana Patekar is brilliant… such restraint and maturity in his performance…”
I sold my house for Ankush-N Chandra
08 months ago
by Fenil Seta
in Interviews
As told to Subhash K Jha (MUMBAI MIRROR; October 16, 2012)
Ankush changed my life. I had to struggle to make the film. I sold my house. I sold my wife and sister’s jewellery since the producer had run out of money. But once it released, it was an instant hit.
For eight weeks, the film ran to full houses non-stop. The poster that showed four angry boys running through the streets of Mumbai with chains in their hands, sent a strong message across. The anger that the characters felt was infectious. The era of plastic cinema was coming to an end.
Audiences were looking for a change. They were fed up watching a make-believe world of fancy clothes, glamorous women and faultless heroes. That’s where Ankush came in. The violence of the jobless youth caught on and the film clicked immediately. Without a single star in the cast, my film opened to packed houses.
I remember slumping to the ground on the pavement outside one of the theatres on Friday when the film opened. I was saved from financial ruin. Every major producer right from Manmohan Desai to Puranchandra Rao approached me to make a film. Manmohanji even signed me for a film and he told me I’d direct a film for his ‘MKD Films’. He told me I’d be the first outside director to make a film for his MKD . But it didn’t materialize.
Ankush changed my fortune. I had kept the film’s Mumbai distribution with myself. Ankush did a business of Rs 95 lakh when I had made it in Rs 12 lakh. It was a blockbuster in the true sense.
Nana More >
Don’t need to work to pay my bills-Nana Patekar
08 months ago
by Fenil Seta
in Interviews
The actor has made an exception for Priyadarshan]
BOMBAY TIMES (September 28, 2012)
How was it working with Priyadarshan? I have wanted to work with Priyan for more than a decade, but nothing materialised. He approached me for Kamaal Dhamaal Malamaal and gave me a narration. When I asked for the script, he said, ‘You have to eat and beat. That’s it’. I keep teasing Priyan that whenever I become a film director, I will cast him as an actor. I hope he is reading this.
And Shreyas Talpade? His theatre background gives his talent an edge. But why only Shreyas? I enjoyed working with all my co-actors like Om Puri, Paresh Rawal, Asrani, Shakti Kapoor and Razzak Khan. Irrespective of the film’s outcome at the box office, what is important are the moments we have spent together. The profit from the movies belong to the producers, but the moments are purely ours.
You are doing very few films. Is that deliberate? It is because my reason to work has changed. A man works either for money or satisfaction. I have earned enough and don’t need to work to pay my bills. As far as satisfaction is concerned, I am yet to get a role that conveys a message to the people at large. So, I have decided to do a film only when I find a reason to be part of it creatively. Otherwise, I choose to be elusive and absent.
Kamaal Dhamaal Malamaal produced by Percept Pictures releases today.