Where Bollywood Comes Alive
Posts tagged ra.one
Shah Rukh Khan visits Sanjay Dutt’s house at 1 am?
21 month ago
by Fenil Seta
in Rumour has it
Upala KBR (DNA; April 14, 2013)
Every actor in B-Town visited Sanjay Dutt after the news of his impending arrest became public. TV cameras and paparazzi parked outside the Dutt residence captured every actor who came to meet Sanjay. Salman Khan who wasn’t in the country too made it a point to meet Sanju baba on the same morning that he landed in Mumbai. The only actor who was not seen at the Dutt residence to was Shah Rukh Khan, who was away shooting in Wai for his home production.
Most people assumed that SRK was too busy with the IPL and his film to worry about Sanjay. But that’s far from the truth. It is learnt that SRK has been in touch with Sanju ever since he heard about the actor’s jail sentence.
An insider says, “When the news of Sanju’s sentence came out, Shah Rukh was one of the first people to call him. He had a long conversation with Sanju. Shah Rukh didn’t want to show up at his home when the media was parked outside his gate. SRK is giving Sanju all the moral and emotional support he needs. On Thursday night, SRK went to meet Sanju at around 1 am, and he stayed for a couple of hours. It was an intense and emotional conversation. SRK also talked to Manyata and played with the couple’s twins.”
It may be recalled that up until SRK’s home production Ra.One, Sanju and he hadn’t worked together. After Sanjay’s cameo in Shah Rukh’s film, they became close. While Sanju didn’t accept any fee for the role, Shah Rukh gifted him a expensive bike to thank him for being More >
Shah Rukh Khan unreachable, Charu Khandal seeks help?
11 month ago
by Fenil Seta
in Rumour has it
Shubha Shetty and Nazia Sayed (MUMBAI MIRROR; March 29, 2013)
On March 25, 2012, Charu Khandal, the 28-year-old animator working with Shah Rukh Khan’s Red Chillies Entertainment Pvt. Ltd, was out with her friends to celebrate her team’s proud moment—the National Award for special effects for RA.One. After the party, she, her sister Ritu Khandal, and friend Vikrant Goel, boarded a rickshaw when a speeding car rammed their vehicle. Charu suffered serious injuries to her head and spine and was left paralysed. She was to get engaged next month.
On March 28 last year, SRK visited Charu and promised to help her financially. One year later, Charu can just about move her neck and wrists. But the Khandal family is bogged down by the hospital bills.
Charu’s sister, who was in the rickshaw with her at the time of the accident and managed to get away with minor injuries, says: “My dad, a private tutor in Rajasthan, is the sole bread-winner of the family. He had to take a loan of Rs 12 lakh for Charu’s treatment. After Shah Rukh Khan spoke to the hospital authorities, Charu was given VIP treatment. SRK had promised to take care of the finances and his company did pay around Rs 8-10 lakh initally. But since then, we have been trying to reach him, but no one puts us through to him.” The family has even started a campaign on Facebook to raise money for Charu’s treatment. Sitting in their modest one-room-kitchen in Versova, Charu’s mother Pawan recalled: “We were even conned of around More >
I love Shah Rukh Khan-Edward Maya
03 months ago
by Fenil Seta
in Bollywood News
International singer Edward Maya could also be singing in a Bollywood film soon
Asira Tarannum (MID-DAY; February 19, 2013)
You have grooved to some of the peppy numbers from international musician Edward Maya.
Get ready to swing your hips to his next project — a music track in a Bollywood film. Sources say the singer, who was in the city for a day, is inking a deal with a filmmaker but the details about the project are strictly being guarded.
guarded. Edward says, “Shah Rukh Khan is my favourite actor from Bollywood. I love him!” The musician also tells us his mother is a big fan of Bollywood and makes it a point to catch up with Hindi films.
The singer has apparently also picked up a few Hindi words and told our reporter, “Yeh mujhe achcha lagta hai.” Edward will be following in the footsteps of international singer Akon, who also sang for SRK’s RA.One. Incidentally, Edward and Akon are great friends. He says, “Akon is my close friend and I am happy that Stereo Love has become a universal anthem.”
Out of 80 sexual harassment cases, only one or two are authentic-Arjun Rampal
03 months ago
by Fenil Seta
in Interviews
Sudhir Mishra along with actors Chitrangda Singh and Arjun Rampal visited After Hrs recently. What followed was a thought-provoking discussion on the issue of sexual harassment at the workplace
Shreya Badola (DNA; January 29, 2013)
Sudhir’s films always take a stand somewhere. How do you strike the balance between commerce and issues? Arjun: With the right budget. Of all Sudhir’s films that I have watched, Inkaar I think is the most commercial. It’s got a wider reach. I think audiences have changed considerably. In the last two-three years, you find all kinds of cinemas. They are wanting to see something new and different. I have done many commercial films and worked with different directors. There is a heroism that Sudhir has captured in my character in Inkaar — the heroism and a charisma, which is the commercial aspect.
So we finally get to see you shirtless? Arjun: You saw me shirtless in Ra.One too. What Ra.One did for me was so bizarre that my kids’ following has skyrocketed. Sudhir: It is a kids film. Ninety per cent of it was for kids. Chitrangda: My son loves Ra.One. He jumps off the table and performs antics.
Inkaar talks about something, like all Sudhir Mishra films. Arjun said audiences had changed… Arjun: There are all kinds of cinema that co-exist. We are not here to make a change. What makes a film exciting is engaging the audience. There was a time where nothing could co-exist. But this is a good time to be an actor. Sudhir: If you know how to write, nobody More >
I’m not a beefcake on sale-Arjun Rampal
04 months ago
by Fenil Seta
in Interviews
Arjun Rampal refuses to follow the frat-pack of show-it-all stars
Aakanksha Naval-Shetye (DNA; January 19, 2013)
Arjun Rampal can easily boast of having one of the best bods in showbiz. However unlike his peers, the actor is rarely seen flaunting his abs onscreen. “I don’t believe in doing something just because it is a trend. I have gone shirtless before and shown off my body, like I did in Ra.One as the character required it. I’m an actor, not a beefcake up for sale. I’d rather have people talk about my performance than my body,” says Arjun.
It’s this determination of not following trends that sees him choose an eclectic mix of roles. “I don’t want to do an action role just because the genre is in, or a romantic one because that genre is finding greater acceptance among audience. I would do it only if the role is meaty enough to sink my teeth into or challenging enough to keep me out of my comfort zone,” shares the star, even as he adds that he hopes to never find a comfort zone. “I want to keep trying different films, new roles. Each film has been a risk in more than one way. But most of all, I want people to see and relate to the character I play and not to Arjun Rampal the actor. So, I’m glad when that happens,” he explains.
The actor’s most recent release Inkaar is his first with filmmaker Sudhir Mishra. He’s a director known to make women-centric films, so wasn’t Arjun wary of Chitrangda Singh getting a better deal? “I did have my apprehensions, but they More >
Everyone watches pirated films-Shailja Gupta
05 months ago
by Fenil Seta
in Interviews
Indie filmmaker Shailja Gupta says it’s impossible to defeat piracy but it’s a battle worth fighting
Shakti Shetty (MID-DAY; December 16, 2012)
She’s 38 but looks a lot younger thanks to her bubbly nature. Shailja Gupta knows the mechanics that goes into film production and is also involved in the business side. She helmed the digital marketing and promotion for RA.One while writing her first indie film. The Kolkata-born New York-based ‘struggling filmmaker’ is currently working on her second film. We caught up with her for more…
Your first film Walkaway never released. Is that discouraging? Such things happen. After web designing, I wanted to dabble in filmmaking so I collected money from friends and made the movie the way I wanted to. Of course, it hurts not to see it release but I’m grateful to people who helped. Resul (Pookutty) worked on the sound design while Vishal-Shekhar provided the music — not to forget, Ram Sampath who gifted me two songs.
And when exactly did Shah Rukh Khan enter the picture? We two go back to the days when I was designing the logo for Phir Bhi Dil Hai Hindustani. Since my film was shot in NYC, I wanted to complete the post-production part in India. On learning that I was falling short of money, he donated some funds to the project sans paperwork.
How do you perceive indie cinema in India? The genre seems to have found a direction. Needless to mention, Anurag Kashyap has played a huge part by launching new talents. Having said that, there More >
I was there in Bodyguard, Ra.One just to look pretty-Kareena Kapoor
15 months ago
by Fenil Seta
in Interviews
Kareena Kapoor believes there’s nothing wrong with being ambitious about both professional as well as her personal life
Shakti Shetty (MID-DAY; November 26, 2012)
She has no makeup on and confesses to sleeping for barely four hours. The fatigue is evident but Kareena Kapoor somehow manages to look stunning. Excited about her first release after marriage to Saif Ali Khan, the green- eyed actress describes her Bollywood journey so far as full of risks.
During a candid chat, Kareena expresses her thoughts on love, her equation with costar Rani Mukerji and a lot more…
Has life changed post marriage? Only the questions have changed! Earlier it was ‘when are you getting married?’ and now it’s this. I don’t know why it should be any different for me. I’m very proud to be a married actress.
What are your thoughts on marriage? I can only speak for myself and I did it because I’m in love and I wanted to cement my relationship with Saif. I’m glad that our wedding was an intimate ceremony constituting of few people who truly mattered. To me, marriage is a respected institution as well as a celebration of love. I don’t see any reason why people should be so cynical about it.
Will your wedding affect your career? I’ll continue to do the films I want to and I’ll reject the films I don’t want to — like I always did! My ultimate aim is to be part of good movies. I don’t think my being married is going to change anything on my career front. My profession is not going to get overwhelmed by More >
JTHJ v/s SOS: Mother of all Bollywood fights this Diwali
06 months ago
by Fenil Seta
in Bollywood News
Meena Iyer (BOMBAY TIMES; November 13, 2012)
Diwali releases in Bollywood follow a set pattern. They often rely on noise to be heard above the din of fireworks. The film industry, that often talks of how it is one big happy family, suddenly forgets the bonhomie and fights it out — for a larger share of the box-office pie.
Films that are high on concept rough it out with those that are low on content, under the guise of family entertainers. And like in the jungle, might is always right. So, the big guy invariably takes on the smaller one. Looking back at the record of the last five years, you will see how films have used the media blitzkrieg to help them make that initial killing. When two films are released around Diwali, their makers stoop to terrible depths, just to grab more eyeballs than their rival.
Trade consultant Amod Mehra says, “There’s enough room for two movies to release comfortably on Diwali. But filmmakers coming together on the same day have resorted to controversy, hoping that they will get the lion’s share of the business on the opening weekend.”
This year, of course, we have witnessed the mother of all Diwali fights. Ajay Devgn and his Son of Sardaar has launched an attack against Aditya Chopra, Shah Rukh Khan and their film Jab Tak Hai Jaan. Ajay has made accusations of malpractice and matters have taken a legal course. The actor maintains, “It’s a producer fighting another producer for monopolistic practices. It’s nothing personal between SRK and me.” More >
No one charges Indian pilgrims a penny in Pak-Abida Parveen
18 months ago
by Fenil Seta
in Interviews
Abida Parveen and Runa Laila say that the political differences between India and Pakistan don’t affect the masses. Or the music.
Bharti Dubey (MUMBAI MIRROR; August 31, 2012)
They may have shot for the first ever India vs Pakistan singing reality show (Sur Kshetra) on neutral ground – Dubai. But to promote it, both Abida Parveen and Runa Laila came to Mumbai. Speaking to Mirror, the singers revealed that as far as music is concerned, there are no barriers and they would have happily shot for the television series in the subcontinent. Excerpts from the interview…
Both of you visit India frequently… RUNA: Yes, I mostly come here for my shows. And in all these years, have never faced any issue with visas. ABIDA: I come here once in a while as I am travelling around the world with my shows.
What were your thoughts when you were asked to judge this reality show that pitted India against Pakistan? RUNA: Music knows no border and no religion, we are here to spread love. ABIDA: Everybody is the same. We even look the same. I was a little scared because in this show there are just two ratings…0 or 10. RUNA: …and since there is no voting there is bound to be pressure on us judges. But I have been chosen to play the neutral judge in this contest. ABIDA: The reaction has been good so far as there are a lot of Pakistani musicians involved in the show; they are mentors for the kids. But a sense of competition has already creeped in. I have people asking me all the time as to who More >