Posts tagged priyadarshan

Rangrezz: Jackky Bhagnani’s tale of true friendship

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2 months ago
by Fenil Seta in

Parag Maniar (BOMBAY TIMES; March 21, 2013)

 

After a long gap, director Priyadarshan and cinematographer Santosh Sivan have come together for Rangrezz, a film that depicts the strong bond between true friends. Producer Vashu Bhagnani says, “20 years ago, they had worked together on a film with Jackie Shroff. And now, they are working with another Jackky (Bhagnani), my son.”

He adds, “Rangrezz talks about friendship and the extent one would go for a friend. No matter what it takes, you stand by that person through thick and thin. We are living in a world of competition and indifference where genuine friendships are rare. The film also explores the fact that friendship is not age-dependent. It has been shown in such a manner that the common man will relate to it. The story is the highlight of the film and Priyan has captured it beautifully. Priyan, Santosh, Mushtaq Sheikh (scriptwriter) and Sabu Cyril (art director) were a delight to work with.”

Jackky plays Rishi Deshpande, who never falters when it comes to his friendships. The actor says, “Rishi believes in living up to his relationships and making others’ lives colourful.” For Jackky, it was challenging to play a middle-class college student, who wears street clothes and travels by buses and trains. To lend authenticity to the role, he spent many days in the slums and shanties of Mumbai. He says, “It was an eye-opening experience. I spent about 40 days there, interacting with people of all age groups and I got to see a More >

I have not seen Aamir Khan for the last 10 years-Priyadarshan

1
2 months ago
by Fenil Seta in

Priyadarshan on his recent bad run at the box office while rubbishing the claim of Aamir Khan rejecting his script

Kunal M Shah (MID-DAY; March 21, 2013)

 

Ever since his last two Bollywood films bit the dust, Priyadarshan had been patiently waiting in the sidelines, prepping for his next. The film has a cast that comprises newbies and the director explains why he decided to helm this project. Priyan minces no words as he admits that his recent bad luck at the box office makes this film Rangrezz starring Jackky Bhagnani and Priya Anand all the more special. An excerpt:

Your recent films have not done well at the box office. Does that worry you? It is extremely important for me that this film works. However, it has happened to me a couple of times in the past as well and I have always survived. This is my 87th film and I have a positive feeling about it. I am just worried about the initial, as there are no stars. Though I know that word-of-mouth will help the film to pick up.

There was buzz that Aamir Khan rejected your script… I have not seen Aamir for the last 10 years. I had met him long back to discuss a script and he wanted to see it. But I never had the time to send it across. In fact, I have met Aamir only thrice till date and I don’t know which script his production house is talking about.

After working with big stars, what made you cast newcomers in Rangrezz? Except Jackky, everyone else is a newcomer. The film is close to my heart because I too faced a similar More >

Rangrezz team visits the Golden Temple

0
2 months ago
by Fenil Seta in

Parag Maniar (BOMBAY TIMES; March 20, 2013)

 

The cast and crew of Rangrezz — Vashu and Jackky Bhagnani, Priya Anand, Priyadarshan and Wajid Ali — recently visited the Golden Temple in Amritsar to seek blessings for their film that is releasing this week. As is customary, all the men wore turbans while entering the Gurudwara.

For Priyadarshan, who hails from the South, visiting the Golden Temple was a novel experience. Producer Vashu says, “We were made to feel welcome by the temple priests and were allowed to offer our prayers up close. It was a divine moment. The temple is an epitome of peace and love. Jackky held the palki and prayed at the temple and we particularly enjoyed the langar. The prasad — dal and chawal –– was scrumptious. We also relished the piping hot, crispy jalebis.”

Vashu feels that the best thing about Rangrezz is that it made Jackky a responsible producer too. “I had promised that I would monitor the set everyday, but could not do so because of my other commitments. So, Jackky had to shoulder all the responsibilities. As they say, whatever happens, happens for good. Jackky has been very clear-cut about everything from day one and looked into all the details of this film. As a father I am pretty impressed and proud of my son” he says.

Jackky says, “There is something about these powerful places that makes you feel pure and peaceful. Though I follow a strict diet regimen, I could not resist the tasty prasad they served. Overall, it was an experience More >

Aamir Khan prodcutions rejects 200 scripts in a year?

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2 months ago
by Fenil Seta in

His production house has reportedly rejected 200 scripts in 12 months, including those from Vishal Bhardwaj, Pradeep Sarkar and Priyadarshan. So what’s cooking?

Soumyadipta Banerjee (MUMBAI MIRROR; March 18, 2013)

 

At a time when most other production houses are lining up their projects for 2015 (their schedule for 2014 is already full) and busy putting together their “slate” for the year, employees of Aamir Khan’s production house are twiddling their thumbs. Aamir, who takes the final call on all projects, has not green-lighted any project since Talaash, which was announced in 2010. This makes it the only A-list production house with no film on the floors. It is also unlikely that any film will go on the floors this year.

According to reports, Aamir’s team has carefully evaluated around 200 scripts in the last 12 months. There are 15 submissions every month, and Aamir has declined to put his money into any one of them.

An insider at Aamir’s production house explained that the apparent tardiness is because of the lengthy process that has been put into place for evaluation of scripts. “We receive anything between 10 to 15 scripts a month. Now, we have set up a system to evaluate them. First, the script is subjected to a round of initial scrutiny to see if it should move to round two. If we accept the script, we give the filmmaker a signed letter from Aamir saying that he has accepted the script and that if he finds it good enough, he will get back to the filmmaker,” More >

Rangrezz boasts of a winners’ team

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2 months ago
by Fenil Seta in

Parag Maniar (BOMBAY TIMES; March 15, 2013)

 

Some of the best talents in the country have come together for Rangrezz. Director Priyadarshan, cinematographer Santosh Sivan and art director Sabu Cyril are all National Award winners and the film reflects their distinct style. Sivan says, “I’ve always enjoyed working with Priyan sir. So, when he asked me to shoot Rangrezz, I was excited to work with him again. More so, as our last film together was Kaala Paani (1996). The freshness in the script of Rangrezz, the locations we were shooting at and a young star cast were added incentives.”

The film has Jackky Bhagnani and Priya Anand in the lead and the ace cinematographer is happy with the way it has shaped up.

Rangrezz, produced by Pooja Entertainment, releases on March 21.

Jackky Bhagnani, director Priyadarshan, production designer Sabu Cyril and cinematographer Santosh Sivan

No raahat for Rahat Fateh Ali Khan

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2 months ago
by Fenil Seta in

Subhash K Jha (DNA; March 7, 2013)

 

In spite of his constant pleas of unconditional amity with India and the Indian entertainment industry, Pakistani singer Rahat Fateh Ali Khan remains out of bounds here. Bollywood composers who wish to record their numbers with the maestro (who happens to be the late legendary singer Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan’s nephew) have to proceed to Dubai for the recording.

The latest Bollywood song to be recorded with Rahat in absentia is the number Dil ko aaya sukoon for Priyadarshan’s Rangrezz written by Sameer Anjaan and composed by Sajid-Wajid. This love ballad also marks the debut of singer Hiral Brahmbhatt, who is a very well-known singer in Gujarati cinema. While she recorded her part of the song in Mumbai, Sajid-Wajid flew to Dubai to record Rahat’s part of the duet.

Apparently producer Vashu Bhagnani tried every trick in the book to get Rahat to India for the recording, but to no avail. Hiral says, “Unfortunately I couldn’t record the duet with Rahat saab. Sajid and Wajid recorded with him in Dubai. No one would be able to tell that the two singers were apart when they sang this song. But I would love to sing with him at some point.”

As for the inability to bring Rahat into India, sources say the status quo is unlikely to change in the near future. “Relations between the two countries have worsened. And then Rahat is a special case. He was alleged to have been involved in FERA violations in India and would therefore be even more wary of coming More >

Salman Khan bowled out by Priyadarshan’s googly

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3 months ago
by Fenil Seta in

The actor and his team locked horns with the director during the Celebrity Cricket League when it emerged that he had inducted a professional cricketer

Vickey Lalwani (MUMBAI MIRROR; February 11, 2013)

 

Salman Khan, who enjoys the rather fancy title of ‘Icon Player’ in brother Sohail Khan’s celebrity cricket team, was in for a not-so-pleasant experience in Kochi on Saturday. And it had nothing to do with the drubbing received by the Mumbaikars in the hands of the southern stars in the first match of the Celebrity Cricket League.

The Mumbai and Kerala celebrity cricket teams were evenly poised for a cracker of an inaugural game. But things turned ugly when it emerged that filmmaker Priyadarshan, whose team Kerala Strikers features stalwarts of Malayalam cinema, may have bended a few rules.

According to reports, the Celebrity Cricket League, now it n its third season, is limited to only hobby cricketers associated with the film fraternity. But Priyan has been accused of introducing a professional cricketer in his team in a bid to add some muscle.

The Mumbai Heroes team, led by the likes of Suniel Shetty, took serious exception to the fact that Madan Mohan had been inducted in the team after being cast him in a film only recently.

“The Malayalam film tilted Nakhangal was made and released in a tearing hurry. It was only to put on record that Madan Mohan is also an actor, and hence qualified for the match,” said a source.

Before the first ball was bowled, Salman, Sohail and More >

Did Katrina, Deepika fund Boom, Om Shanti Om?-Ameesha Patel

1
6 months ago
by Fenil Seta in

Ameesha Patel talks about the ‘special’ qualities she brings to a brand, Sanjay Dutt and equation with Kunal Goomer

Vickey Lalwani and Prachi Kadam (MUMBAI MIRROR; November 9, 2012)

 

Suddenly we see you in hoardings and newspaper advertisements all over. What sunglasses are these that you are promoting? An unexploited territory! (smiles) People have been foolish not to have me as a brand ambassador so far. Shah Rukh Khan, Katrina Kaif and many others look amazing in what they are doing but there is also an Ameesha who has certain qualities, which she brings to a brand that others cannot.

Such as? People have often complimented me on my flawless skin and lovely hair. Glamstar had the guts to come to me. Perhaps they had seen me wearing different sunglasses and they look good on me. I knew they would go all out with the propaganda. (pauses)

Go on… You need to pump in a lot of money if you really want a brand to register. It wouldn’t have happened if I were the brand ambassador for a soap.

But where are these glares available? People hardly find them…only a shop in Bandra had a few pairs… Soon they would be available in malls and bigger stores. They will take time to break into every shop.

Some say that these sunglasses don’t exist… Itna paisa kisike paas nahin ki pagal jaise bahata jaye. Try to understand. There are few exclusive outlets right now. After gauging the response, the availability will be increased. Our target audience is school and college kids. Glamstar More >

Santosh Sivan all praise for Jackky Bhagnani

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7 months ago
by Fenil Seta in

Parag Maniar (BOMBAY TIMES; October 9, 2012)

 

Ace cinematographer-director Santosh Sivan is all praise for actor Jackky Bhagnani. The duo has come together for the first time in Priyadarshan’s next Rangrezz.

Says Sivan, “Over the years, I’ve worked with so many people, but never have I come across somebody as grounded as Jackky. He is totally down-to-earth and hardworking. His biggest asset is his ability to adapt to any situation and building a comfort level with the crew. He is willing to change and try something new all the time. He is a very eager and quick learner, which is a rare quality, more so because he is a producer’s son. But he has never let that come across while shooting the film.”

The promos of Ajab Gazabb Love made Sivan sure about Jackky’s talent. “I watched the promos and I realised how different Jackky had styled himself in the film. His physique and six-packs took me by surprise. Also what he essayed was enough to grab my attention. Interestingly, his roles in Ajab Gazabb Love and Rangrezz are as different as chalk and cheese. And it is a good thing that he is getting to play such diverse characters so early in his career. If the character in Ajab… called for him to pump and chisel his body, in Rangrezz, he is playing a college-going simpleton, lean and normal. Both the roles have been balanced well by Jackky,” he adds.

Don’t need to work to pay my bills-Nana Patekar

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7 months ago
by Fenil Seta in

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.

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