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Posts tagged quality
Ranbir recommends Nargis to Nadiadwala?
02 years ago
by Fenil Seta
in Bollywood News
Ranbir Kapoor is promoting girlfriend Nargis Fakhri; calls Sajid Nadiadwala to cast her in Heer Ranjha opposite Shahid Kapoor
Prithwish Ganguly (BOMBAY TIMES; March 11, 2011) Salman Khan helped establish Katrina Kaif ’s career in B-Town. Now Ranbir Kapoor is doing the same for his new girl Nargis Fakhri, after he has officially split from Kat (see box). Word on the B-Town street is that RK is not just recommending her name for his own films, but also talking to his producer friends to cast her in their productions with other heroes. Just like Salman who encouraged Kat to work with Akshay Kumar and even his dushman John Abraham. It is learnt that Ranbir called his Anjaana Anjaani producer Sajid Nadiadwala and asked him to consider Nargis for a role opposite Shahid Kapoor in Heer Ranjha. Later Rockstar director (and Ranbir’s pal) Imtiaz Ali also called Sajid to push his leading lady’s case. The Heer Ranjha team was on the lookout for an actress, but they hadn’t considered a newcomer till the Rockstar team made the calls. Sources in Sajid’s office confirm that Ranbir put in a word for Nargis. Later Sajid received calls from Rishi Kapoor’s secretary pushing Nargis’ name for the film. Clearly yeh ab ghar ki baat hai. Says Heer Ranjha director Sabir Khan, “When I first saw pictures of Nargis, I was blown over. I think she definitely has the beauty, features, qualities and what I hear from people in the industry, the talent to play the More >
TMK title track leaked on the net
02 years ago
by Fenil Seta
in Bollywood News
Despite taking ample precautions before shooting a promotional song for Tees maar Khan, Farah Khan was appalled to find it on the internet much before its official release
Vickey Lalwani (MUMBAI MIRROR; November 05, 2010)
A few days ago, Farah Khan created a miniature set depicting the city of New York at Film City (Goregaon), to shoot a promotional song for her film Tees Maar Khan.
The song was picturised on Akshay Kumar and Katrina Kaif and was to be released on national television on November 7. But a call from a friend on Wednesday night ruined it all for Farah. The friend informed her that the same song had already been uploaded on several websites on the Internet.
Farah had taken a lot of care to ensure that no visitor was allowed on the sets with a mobile phone or a camera. This was done to rule out any possibilities of people shooting clips of the promotional song on the set. But when Farah logged on to the Internet herself to check, she was horrified. Someone had actually uploaded the promotional song on the Internet.
To her horror, while she was trying to make damage control, the song was being uploaded on other websites on the Internet.
When contacted, Farah confirmed the news and said, “I just don’t know what to do. When will all the unethical practices in the industry end?”
Hanisha MelwaniBut it seems the choreographer-turned-filmmaker believes in silver linings. Farah added, “I think I can do little now. More >
Venus celebrates 25 years
02 years ago
by Fenil Seta
in Bollywood News
Meena Iyer | TNN (BOMBAY TIMES; September 11, 2010)
What do Shah Rukh Khan, Aamir Khan, Akshay Kumar and Ajay Devgn have in common? SRK’s first super hit Baazigar, followed by Yes Boss, Baadshah, Josh, Main Hoon Na, Akshay Kumar’s Khiladi, Dhadkan and De Dana Dan, Aamir’s eternal favourite Akele Hum Akele Tum and Ajay Devgn’s Tezz Bullet Train are bankrolled by the Jain brothers, who are known in Bollywood folklore as the ‘invincible seven’.
SRK went on to do not one but five films with Venus Worldwide Entertainment Ltd. And today, as this company celebrates its silver jubilee year, they’ve scored a victory once again. Two of the biggest names, Ajay and Anil Kapoor, are all set to act in their 25th film — Tezz Bullet Train which also stars Kangna Ranaut, Mohanlal, Zayed Khan, Boman Irani and Sameera Reddy.
Says Priyadarshan who is directing the film, the shooting of which has commenced in London, “I had a choice of producers for Tezz Bullet Train. But I chose Ganesh Jain and Ratan Jain of Venus because my experience with them on Garam Masala, De Dana Dan and other films has been very sound. They are a director’s dream because they never interfere with the creative and yet they are able to take away every obstacle while filming. This makes them ideal producers.’’ Ajay agrees, “A producer is someone an actor must trust implicitly. Venus is a good banner.”
The men in white, Abbas-Mustan, have also reposed their complete faith in this More >
Empty halls greet Marathi films
12 years ago
by Fenil Seta
in Bollywood News
Bharati Dubey, Payal Gwalani & Parvathy Gopalakrishnan | TNN (THE TIMES OF INDIA; August 28, 2010)
Mumbai: Despite all the sound and fury created by the Shiv Sena and the MNS over multiplexes failing to screen Marathi films, the first day, first-show of two films—‘Paradh’ and ‘Navra Awali Baiko Lovely’—failed to garner a response from Mumbaikars. TOI visited many multiplexes across the city on Friday only to find that even matinee and evening shows were running to near empty halls. In some cinema halls, audience count was as low as four, while the maximum attendance was 66.
PVR Juhu, for instance, ran two shows of another film ‘Sa Sasucha’—one at 9 am, the other at 4.30pm—but the morning show was cancelled as not even one ticket had been sold. And by 12.30pm, the cinema was yet to sell a ticket for ‘Baiko Lovely’. A staff member said, “Last week, we had to cancel shows of ‘Tee Ratra’ after running it for 45 minutes due to no occupancy.”
It was a similar scene at Fun Cinemas, Chembur, with the 5.45pm show of ‘Paradh’ selling only 10 tickets. The older film, ‘Aiyka Dajiba’, fared slightly better with a viewership of 30. Cinemax at Andheri had to cancel its 2.30 pm show of ‘Baiko Lovely’.
Film writer Dilip Thakur feels that the Marathi film industry needs to go the Bollywood way when it comes to promotion and marketing. “There is a need to create hype and generate curiosity so that people are willing to spend money and go to More >
Vidya out of Dhamaal 2?
02 years ago
Vidya Balan is no longer a part of Dhamaal 2. She was unhappy with her remuneration as well as the character she was playing
Vickey Lalwani (MUMBAI MIRROR; July 20, 2010)
Vidya Balan is out of Inder Kumar’s next Dhamaal 2. The buzz in the trade is that Vidya was neither too happy with the money she was being offered for her role, nor with the role per se.
A source says, “Vidya asked for a price which she deserves after she catapulted to the top bracket of actors, post the success of Paa and Ishqiya. She asked for Rs 1.5 crore (approximately). Like any other actor would in her place, she too has hiked up her market price.”
According to the film industry standards, the market prices of Kareena Kapoor and Katrina Kaif are believed to be Rs 1.5 crore (approximately) and that of Priyanka Chopra’s around Rs 1 crore. Hence, given Vidya’s career graph in Bollywood, it is surprising that neither Inder Kumar nor Ashok Thakeria, the producer of the film, objected to Vidya’s exit from the film. “Inder and Ashok failed to understand the need of the hour. Despite discussions, the makers of the film and the actress could not meet at a common consensus,” adds the source.
Meanwhile, Vidya’s friend insists the actress quit the project for qualitative reasons. She stands up for Vidya and says, “Yes, the news is true. Vidya is definitely not doing Dhamaal 2. But that’s simply because she didn’t find any meat in the portrayal of her character. More >
Atul Kulkarni-Flexing his feminine side
03 years ago
by Fenil Seta
in Interviews
By Vishwas Kulkarni (MUMBAI MIRROR; January 31, 2010)
// // // He is currently the toast of Marathi cinema for his critically-acclaimed role in Natrang, a smash Marathi indie about the trials and tribulations of a tamasha nachya.
An impoverished day labourer, who doubles up as an amateur wrestler, transforms from being the village pehelwan to a nachya, the stock effeminate comedian in a tamasha troupe.
The film chronicles the artiste’s anguished journey from prejudice to popular acclaim. The success of Natrang has suddenly created a buzz around the world of Marathi cinema. Competing with biggies such as Avatar and 3 Idiots, both monstrous blockbusters, Natrang has become a case study for a successful Marathi flick.
From one screening a day on Day One to two screenings a day on Day Two, to three screenings a day on Day Three at Eros, the film has reached a far wider audience than anticipated; in fact after almost a month’s run it is even coming out with subtitled prints. And its lead actor Atul Kulkarni has been happy to host trails for the latest feather in his cap.
Excerpts from an interview:
How did you accept this role?
I have a simple rule. I usually respond to the script. When I initially received the bound screenplay (an entire entourage starring Nikhil Sane from Zee Talkies, director Ravi Jadhav, the producer, the cinematographer, landed up at my house to convince me, something I found very touching). But I still had to get into the idea. On reading the More >
Ritesh-Farhan celebrate with Crooked & Don-2
03 years ago
by Fenil Seta
in Bollywood News
ON A ROLL: Ritesh Sidhwani and Farhan Akhtar
Ritesh Sidhwani and Farhan Akhtar have an exemplary track record
MEENA IYER Times News Network (BOMBAY TIMES; January 24, 2010)
As Excel Entertainment enters its 10th year the banner has a lot to celebrate. The banner that is constantly striving to make new age cinema; or films that cut across genres, has many aces up their sleeves.
First Ritesh Sidhwani and Farhan Akhtar’s Dil Chahta Hai has made it to the top-50 all-time favourite films from around the world. “This is no mean achievement,” says Ritesh, who is not just the moneybags behind Excel but one of the creative directors as well.
A decade ago when Ritesh and Farhan, who were primarily friends decided to join hands and become business partners as well, they floated their own production house. DCH their first offering got Ritesh the National Award for Best Producer; and from then on their banner has been on the roll. Whether it is the critically-acclaimed Lakshya, Honeymoon Travels Pvt Ltd and Luck By Chance or the box office stunners Don and Rock On, Excel has usually excelled.
“For us cinema has always been about a sound script…and a good creative mind (director),” says Ritesh.
He himself hasn’t stepped in front of the megaphone or the camera but he has been there like a rock solid pillar of support to his partner Farhan, who directed DCH, Lakshya and Don. And who acted in Rock On and Luck By Chance.
However, the trade feels that Farhan would never have been able More >
Big B returns to action roles with Budha-Don’t F…k With Him
0By Subhash K. Jha, February 4, 2010 – 12:06 IST
This would be the first Big B film to have a profanity attached to its title. But Budha Don’t F**k With Him – yup, that’s what the next Big B flick is titled-is about an aging dude with an attitude.
Koi Shaq? Well, f..k that shaq!
Telugu super-director Poori Jagannath who has to his credit the biggest hit ever Pokhiri (remade with Salman Khan as Wanted recently) in Andhra Pradesh, is all set to enter Hindi cinema with an actioner which will star Amitabh Bachchan in and as Budha.
The unusual and eyeball-grabbing tagline for this out-and-out masala film is, ‘Don’t F**k With Him’, obviously a brainwave of Ram Gopal Varma who’s going to produce the film.
Laughing at rumours that he is making a film on the life and teachings of Gautam Buddha Poori Jagannath says, “Mr. Bachchan’s character is actually quite angry and very violent. I’ve written the role especially for him. It is that of a 60-year old man who refuses to accept his age. Any time someone calls him budha (old man) he flies off the handle.”
A diehard Bachchan fan Jagannath wrote the screenplay especially for The Big B. “Budha is not a remake of any of my Telugu films. It’s an original screenplay written especially for Mr. Bachchan. The challenge was to cast him as a character he hadn’t done before. After seeing Paa, I wonder what any director can make him do that’s new! I wanted to cast him again as the Angry Young Man I grew up watching in Zanjeer and Deewaar. But the More >