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Bhatts ask for compensation for humiliation by Aus authorities
Jun 23rd
Despite a work permit and a line producer, Bhatt’s unit of Crook wasn’t allowed an easy passage in Australia. The producers have officially filed for damages
Vickey Lalwani (MUMBAI MIRROR; June 23, 2010)
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| Emraan Hashmi and Neha Sharma in a still from Crook |
Director Mohit Suri has returned to India very disappointed. His film Crook for Vishesh Films met with a big roadblock in Australia. Despite having taken all permissions, Mohit was not allowed to shoot at public places there. Naturally, Mohit, Mahesh and Mukesh Bhatt are livid.
Mohit said, “I was appalled at the treatment meted out to us. We are not fools to go to Australia without having every legal thing in place. We had appointed a line producer, Anupam Sharma. And we had a work permit. Yet, we weren’t allowed shoot in public places.”
Mohit and his team reached Australia on May 21. “I was told that we needed to give them a seven-day prior notice before starting work. So, we started shooting only at private places and mostly indoors,” added the director.
An angry Mahesh Bhatt added, “This increased the cost of the film many fold. This is not done. I am very hurt that my crew has been subjected to such humiliation.”
Frustrated for not having completed the desired plan of shooting, Mohit and his team returned to India on June 2. When asked if the team of Crook was denied permission to shoot because the film is based on racial discrimination of Indians in Australia, Mahesh Bhatt, in his usual frank manner replied, “These are institutional biases and they can be covert, hidden and dangerous.”
The Bhatts have decided not to take it lying down. They have written to Anita Nayyar, the Indian Council General in Australia, demanding compensation and an apology.
On contacting Melbourne City Council yesterday, we were put on to a lady, Pack Angel, the officer in charge, who confirmed that Vishesh Films was denied permission to shoot Crook in Melbourne. “Yes, I am aware of that,” she said, adding, “This happened, but simply because Vishesh Films kept changing their choice of locations, which in turn would require a fresh seven-day prior notice. Moreover, they wanted to shoot during peak hours when the traffic is at its maximum.”
In response to this, Mukesh Bhatt said, “This is a blatant lie. We were very clear where we wanted to shoot. A point was reached when we threw up our hands in despair and asked them to identify some public places where we could shoot unhindered.
We even visited the Melbourne Film Office to resolve the matter and found out that there were 15 projects being freely filmed in their country, which implies that only we were boycotted for reasons that were never explained to us. According to our line producer, an official from the Melbourne City Council, Patricia, was asking other authorities to deny us shooting permissions even when it was beyond their jurisdiction.”
When contacted, Anita Nayyar simply said, “No comments.”
I m searching for something deep within-Kangna Ranaut
Jan 30th
CITY OF DREAMS: Kangna Ranaut
Kangna Ranaut, the small town girl is taking big strides in showbiz
MEENA IYER Times News Network (BOMBAY TIMES; January 29, 2010)
Kangna Ranaut doesn’t have the measurements to make you sit up and take notice of her. But if she were to make a clean breast of things, she would still have a lot to say. The 22-year-old from Manali made several mistakes (personal and professional) in her first year in Bollywood. But she’s used those very same mistakes as stepping stones on her journey to stardom.
With multiple releases lined up in 2010 including Kites, Once Upon A Time in Mumbai, Tanu Weds Manu, Knockout, No Problem and The Actor, life is throwing a rainbow of roles for her.
She recently bagged the National Award as Best Supporting Actress for Madhur Bhandarkar’s Fashion. Elated with her new honour, Kangna says, “I didn’t know how significant the National Award was till I got deluged with messages from within and outside the film industry.’’ Confessing that she is super-ambitious, she adds, “Till mid-2008, it seemed like nothing was moving in my life. I got good films from Mahesh and Mukesh Bhatt. But things were still moving slow. Then all of a sudden I found my career gathering steam. After Gangster and Woh Lamhe, the accolades poured in for Fashion. Makers like Rakesh Roshan, Anees Bazmee and Mani Shankar Aiyar signed me for their projects. And, clichéd as it may seem, there has been no looking back.’’
Showbiz apart, Kangna is one of those introspective girls who are constantly looking for the true meaning of life. “Okay, the movies are my focal point. But, then I’m also looking for something beyond movies. I know I want to direct one some day. I have bought myself a fancy new car. I’m buying a home in Manali. Fame and fortune apart, I’m also searching for something deep within. I keep telling myself that if life is over at 50, I should have accomplished something substantial before that.’’
Drawing a deep breath, the curly-haired temptress adds, “There is a random energy that I draw strength from. And somehow I know, I’m not going to be satisfied with routine stuff. My life is special… and I’m going to treat it that way.’’
Men, she says, can wait…
Bitterness over IPL aside, Pak audience laps up Indian films
Jan 26th
Bharati Dubey| TNN (THE TIMES OF INDIA; January 26, 2010)
Mumbai: Sporting ties between India and Pakistan may have been weakened because of the IPL auction, in which each Pakistan player up for bids was rejected, but our neighbours continue to import Indian cinema to run the film business in Pakistan. There were apprehensions that Salman Khan-starrer Veer would not find takers after the Pakistan government threatened to break bilateral ties with India . However, the film has got a good initial at the box office and Aamir Khan’s 3 Idiots, even after two months, is being shown in three screens of one cineplex. The average earning from Indian movies is about Rs 2 crore a film.
Satish Anand, a distributor from Pakistan, said, Veer had an outstanding initial. The deal for My Name is Khan is already sealed. There is no interference from the government on the release of imported films. But the cricket controversy has hurt sentiments and affected goodwill in Pakistan. According to him, Bollywood films continue to have uninterrupted screenings. One reason for the demand for Indian films in Pakistan is the lack of good local cinema . Most distributors and exhibitors are happy because Indian films are keeping them in business. I dont see the situation changing soon; that too in the absence of good local films. Indian films have been playing in Pakistan households for the past two decades. The only change has been their recent introduction on the national cinema circuit, said MD of Plaza Cinema in Lahore, Jahanzaib Baig. He believes that competitive local films will force local produce to be brought up to speed with the publics demand for quality content. Anand said there is a shortage of multiplex screens in Pakistan. When there is a good flow of films, distributors face difficulties in continuing with the screenings. At times, out of five possible shows, a new release gets only one and a print has to be committed exclusively for it. In most cases, distributors lose money.
Call For Broadcast Ban
A writ petition demanding a ban on the broadcast of IPL matches has been submitted to the Lahore high court. The writ also demands a ban on the screening of Indian films in Pakistan and is making a plea to the government of Pakistan for a parallel T-20 league. Notices have been sent to the Pakistan ministry of sports and Culture and Film Association of Pakistan, a reply to which has to be given by February 9.
Big Boss 3 issued notice by I&B ministry
Oct 27th
Ministry says that the programme seems to be unsuitable for unrestricted public exhibition
By TNN (October 27, 2009)
| Frowning upon the reality show `Big Boss 3′, the I&B ministry on Monday issued a showcause notice to Colors entertainment channel objecting to certain visuals broadcast by it. The channel has been asked to reply in five days. This is the fourth showcause notice issued to the channel for its various programmes.
In its notice, the ministry said the show had broadcast content offending good taste and decency that was unsuitable for unrestricted public exhibition. Colors has been asked not to carry any content that constituted a violation of the programme code that is part of the Cable TV Networks (Regulation) Act 1995. “It has also been observed that the language used by some participants is vulgar and abusive and the show contains visuals which appear to be obscene and violative of the programme code. Recently, in one of the visuals, a participant has been shown pulling down the shorts of another participant,” the notice said, adding this had offended the sensibilities of many viewers. Since the programme was being telecast on prime time and was watched by families including children, it could also have a negative impact on young impressionable minds and did not appear to be suitable for unrestricted public exhibition, the notice said. |
Bandra Muslims to defend SRK, Mannat from Sena
Feb 6th
Posted by Fenil Seta in Bollywood News
No comments
By KETAN RANGA (Mid-Day; February 4, 2010)
Muslims from Bandra have come out in Shahrukh Khan’s support after the actor drew flak from the Shiv Sena for his comment on the non-inclusion of Pakistani players in the IPL.
The 700-member strong Bandra Muslim association, whose membership includes maulanas, political leaders and Muslim youth from Bandra, held a meeting last night and decided to express their support for the star and oppose the Sena’s stand. They have also decided to guard the actor’s residence, Mannat.
‘Stern action required’
Farooq Ghosi, president of the association, said, “Shahrukh and Aamir belong to the Bandra area and they are being targeted because they are Muslim actors. We have been noticing the statements made by the Sena leaders in the last few days and we won’t allow this to continue. The government should take stern action and arrest Uddhav or we will come out on the streets. We will guard the homes of these actors and if Sena protestors come to their residence, our youth will protest. We will answer the Sena people using their own methods.”
When asked whether this would create further law and order problems, he said, “Shiv Sena has already created the controversy. We are just trying to help the actors as saving the people of Bandra is our responsibility. We are not the actors’ followers but we won’t allow the Sena to target them unfairly.” The association will hold a press conference at the Press Club this afternoon.
Shah Rukh Khan, who is in New York for My Name is Khan’s promotion, said he did not regret any of his comments — be it about the Pakistani cricketers or about Mumbai belonging to all Indians. He said that he was proud to be an Indian and described the Sena’s attitude as ‘unhealthy’ and ‘undemocratic’.