Posts tagged rajkumar hirani

Sanjay Dutt has 3 weeks of work left; asks for 6 months relief?

1
1 month ago
by Fenil Seta in

While the superstar had pleaded the court to keep him out of jail for half a year so he could honour his work commitments, MiD DAY discovers that he needs no more than three weeks to wrap up all his pending shoots

Jigar Shah (MID-DAY; April 18, 2013)

 

Sanjay Dutt can afford to let out a huge sigh of relief, knowing that he won’t have to breathe in the stale, confined air of a prison cell for at least another month. The Supreme Court granted the superstar a four- week reprieve yesterday, driving a hard bargain with Dutt, who had sought six months of extended freedom, citing pressing work commitments that he needed to honour. While the basis of Dutt’s plea for a reprieve was the fact that he had films worth a collective Rs 278 crore riding on him, MiD DAY did its own calculations to determine just how pressing, and time- consuming these ‘ work commitments’ are.

Four films featuring Dutt are on the floors at present — P.K. with Aamir Khan under the direction of Rajkumar Hirani, Zanjeer 2.0 with Apoorva Lakhia, Policegiri with KS Ravikumar, and Ungli, a Rensil D’Silva film. A fifth production Sher with director Soham Shah has died a slow death.

In the Zanjeer remake, Dutt reprises the iconic role of Sher Khan that was played by legendary ‘bad man’ Pran in the original.

A source close to the film’s director Apoorva Lakhia told MiD DAY, “We will require a minimum of five to six days with Sanju. Three days will be required to shoot his scenes with actors including Priyanka More >

Aamir enjoys talking to my son Rahul in Marathi-Smita Thackeray

1
1 month ago
by Fenil Seta in

Smita Thackeray talks to Bombay Times on cinema and politics

Bharati Dubey (BOMBAY TIMES; April 18, 2013)

 

Don’t you feel that Bollywood has filmmakers like Mahesh Bhatt, who play cultural ambassadors between India and Pakistan? Mahesh Bhatt always has one Pakistani element in his film — be it an actor or a singer. But I want to ask him, why he doesn’t tell those Pakistani artistes to go back to their country and put pressure on their government. We have been very accommodating; we give them work, their visas are extended. And our artistes are not welcome in their country.

You are actually endorsing what the Shiv Sena and MNS have been saying about giving opportunity to local talent? I may have differences on other issues, but I will always support them on the ‘ban’ on Pakistani artistes in films.

Do you want your brothers-in-law (Uddhav and Raj) to come together? I really would want them to come together and form one party. Votes are getting split. Both are well-intending people and they sincerely want to serve the nation.

How much did life change after you stepped out of Matoshree? I have never fully stepped out of Matoshree, my son Rahul (below, right) stays there permanently. I go there often to spend time with my son, and I am in touch with Uddhav and family too. There is a void, as we had the habit to visit Saheb. Now it’s hard to believe, that Saheb is not in his room. We still continue the practice of visiting his room and bow to his photo.

Is your son Rahul More >

Check out Sanjay Dutt’s last day on the sets of P.K.

1
1 month ago
by Fenil Seta in

MUMBAI MIRROR (April 15, 2013)

 

Aamir Khan was in a contemplative mood while shooting for Rajkumar Hirani’s PK, at CST’s platform no: 18 yesterday.

The sequence had Aamir waiting for Dutt’s train from Jaipur. The mood seemed sombre, perhaps because it was Dutt’s last day of the shoot for the film, before he goes behind bars on Thursday.

However, the mood lifted a bit as Dutt appeared in a colourful garb, his emotions hidden behind the thick dark glasses. Aamir greeted him with: “Kya bhaya?” Dutt smiled back.

With 12 days to surrender, Sanju works overtime; question mark over PK

0
1 month ago
by Fenil Seta in

Dutt decides to surrender on April 18, putting a question mark over his unfinished project PK with Raju Hirani

Vickey Lalwani (MID-DAY; April 6, 2013)

 

Sanjay Dutt has decided to surrender before the police on April 18 and with just 12 days to his incarceration, there is a rush to finish the projects the actor has been working on. “Sanjay has asked all his producers to complete shooting his scenes by April 13. He wants to finish the dubbing for these films between April 13 and April 17,” said a source close to the actor.

However, given the new deadline, the actor is now on a sticky wicket with Rajkumar Hirani’s PK. “There is ambiguity over Dutt’s portions in PK. He has a few days of work left. It remains to be seen if he can complete that by April 13,” said the source. The actor is already out of Rajkumar Gupta’s Ghanchakkar, where he was supposed to play himself in a cameo.

Dutt is at present busy finishing the shoot for TP Aggarwal’s film Policegiri. “It’s a race against time on the sets,” a source from the film unit told Mirror. The actor has already completed Apoorva Lakhia’s Zanjeer 2.0 in which he plays Sher Khan, the character epitomised by legendary actor Pran. A few days ago, he shot a song for the film. “He has done an amazing job in the song and we are sure it will become one of the highlights on the film,” a source close to the film said.

Dutt has also shot a few scenes for Karan Johar’s home production Ungli –a film that also stars Emraan Hashmi, Randeep More >

Sanjay Dutt’s Zanjeer shoot stuck thanks to Priyanka Chopra?

1
1 month ago
by Fenil Seta in

Jigar Shah (MID-DAY; March 29, 2013)

 

While Sanjay Dutt’s team of legal eagles are leaving no stone unturned to get the actor a reprieve from the Supreme Court, looks like he has another obstacle that is keeping him from wrapping up the schedule of one of his pending films.

Sources say that thanks to Priyanka Chopra, Sanjay has to wait to complete his schedule for Zanjeer 2.0. PC is currently in Miami to shoot for her second music video.

An insider says, “Sanjay is running against time. He began shooting yesterday for his cop film. In the evening he also began dubbing for Zanjeer’s remake, where he plays Sher Khan. The film still needs three to five days of shoot with Sanjay. And that can only happen once Priyanka is back.”

And industry insiders say Rajkumar Hirani, who is directing P.K., has given him a free hand to work his dates for the pending shoot.

Sanju shattered; Mahesh Bhatt-Ranbir Kapoor stand by him

0
1 month ago
by Fenil Seta in

BOMBAY TIMES (March 23, 2013)

 

Mahesh Bhatt spent a part of Thursday talking to Sanjay Dutt. Said he, “Sanju is emotionally wrought. He is shattered. I’m not judging him for whatever transpired. As an elder and as a friend of Sunil Dutt, I just want to be there for him. Dutt saab had said to me the first time around when Sanju got himself into trouble — ‘Mahesh, look after my son. Promise me you will be there with him.’”

The filmmaker says that unlike most others who have professional interests vested in Dutt, he only has emotions invested in him and wants him to come out of this tough phase.

Another well-wisher of Sanju is the young rockstar Ranbir Kapoor. The 30-year-old actor and the 53-year-old star are gymnasium buddies and discuss cars, bikes, women, movies and fitness. Ranbir is really fond of Sanju and though the two have a two-decade gap between them, they are very close.

————————-

Vickey Lalwani (MUMBAI MIRROR; March 23, 2013)

 

Sanjay Dutt’s apartment in Bandra’s Imperial Heights has seen a steady stream of visitors from the film fraternity. And according to sources, Dutt held a meeting with Rajkumar Hirani, Apoorva Lakhia and Rahul Aggarwal to chalk out the itinerary for the next 30 days—the time frame he has been granted to surrender before court.

A source told Mirror, “Sanjay has assured that he won’t leave their films- PK, Zanjeer 2.0, and Policegiri respectively, in the lurch.” Agarwal needs at least 15 days to finish his schedule, while Hirani and More >

Check out the fun at Steven Spielberg’s grand party

0
2 months ago
by Fenil Seta in

Steven Spielberg treated to all things desi – food, friends, filmstars and paparazzi

Mumbai Mirror Bureau (March 14, 2013)

 

Anil and Tina Ambani served up a lavish party for Steven Spielberg last night. The first to arrive were Kamal Haasan and Venkatesh, closely followed by Amitabh Bachchan. Aishwarya arrived much later in a separate car. Meanwhile, the unending stream of luxury sedans and SUVs drove in Parmeshwar and Adi Godrej, Shabana Azmi with Javed Akhtar, Anupam Kher, Kiran Rao, Anil Kapoor, Sridevi, Farhan and Adhuna Akhtar, Hema Malini, Suneil and Mana Shetty, Kajol with Karan Johar, Anushka Sharma, Ritesh Sidhwani, Gauri Khan, Hrithik and Sussanne Roshan, Arjun Rampal and Mehr Jessia, Rajkumar Hirani among others.

Guests were treated to a sumptuous Dum Pukht spread of tandoori items and biryani. Matriarch of the Ambani family, Kokilaben played the hostess, and Spielberg was seen spending a lot of time in the company of Kokilaben and Sr. Bachchan.

A star guest revealed, while one expected Spielberg to be tired because of the hectic schedule since his arrival in India, he actually seemed to be enjoying himself. One overheard him telling Anupam Kher that he liked his performance in Silver Linings Playbook and Kher couldn’t stop beaming after that.

Bachchan, who had interacted with the filmmaker at the earlier event, went home with more than a compliment. He was gifted a coffee table book by Spielberg. Bachchan tweeted about it as soon as he got back from the party, More >

Check out Bollywood fraternity posing with Steven Spielberg

0
2 months ago
by Fenil Seta in

BOMBAY TIMES (March 13, 2013)

 

Madhur Bhandarkar was part of a group of Indian directors who met Hollywood icon Steven Spielberg in Mumbai. Naturally, each of the directors who managed a short audience with the demi-God of global cinema had something distinct to tell him.

Madhur was overheard saying, “Sir, I’m a huge fan of your cinema. Early in my career, I ran a video library and I must thank you profusely, because the films that got me maximum reruns were all directed by you; be it Jaws or ET.” Madhur’s compliment blew Spielberg over. He stood there humbled and was happy to shake Bhandarkar’s hand once again. Talk of humility, Steven Spielberg redefined the word in his interaction with the Bollywood director fraternity. He was frank, humble and very warm through the evening. He paid rich compliments with a genuine smile on his face. Like the time when he told Rajkumar Hirani that he loved his 3 Idiots. Raju was so floored. Hirani almost lost his voice when he thanked him. And for the rest of evening, Raju admitted to being over the moon.

How Vidya Balan influenced Chetan Bhagat’s work over the years

0
2 months ago
by Fenil Seta in

Kunal M Shah (MID-DAY; March 11, 2013)

 

Any guesses why the sister in Chetan Bhagat’s The 3 Mistakes Of My Life named Vidya? After all she shares her name with an acclaimed Bollywood actress now. Well, Chetan shares a good rapport with Vidya Balan and that answers the question.

For starters, Chetan named a character Vidya in The 3 Mistakes of my Life which was later adapted for Kai Po Che. Interestingly enough, Amrita Puri’s character in the film is also called Vidya a la the character in the book.

On being asked, the bespectacled writer sheds broader light on the subject. “The fact remains that Vidya is connected with me in every book I’ve written till date. I had first gone to meet her to ask her to launch my debut book Five Point Someone which she did. That was when she also introduced me to Raju Hirani. He later took my book and made 3 Idiots. After that, I decided to give tribute to Vidya by naming a female character in the book I was writing then. Incidentally, the producer of Kai Po Che happens to be Vidya’s husband Siddharth Roy Kapur. Furthermore, the rights of my latest book Revolution 20-20 has been bought by him too so my association with Vidya continues.”

61 Indian directors to interact with Steven Spielberg

0
2 months ago
by Fenil Seta in

Jigar Shah (MID-DAY; March 11, 2013)

 

It’s almost impossible to not know who Steven Spielberg is. And for some lucky Indian directors, the dream of meeting and knowing him better is about to come true. Turns out the celebrated Hollywood filmmaker will be interacting with about 60 personalities from Indian cinema and share tips on filmmaking.

Spielberg, who is known for films like Schindler’s List, Saving Private Ryan, ET, Jaws and Jurassic Park, is making his maiden trip to India. This development is a direct result of his association with Anil Ambani. The industrialist’s entertainment production house has a tie-up with the American’s film studio. In fact they both produced the much-acclaimed Lincoln, amongst other films. Fittingly enough, a special party in his honour has been organised on the March 12 where Spielberg shall be meeting the who’s who of Indian film industry.

What’s more interesting about this event is that Spielberg would be having an interactive session with a room full of directors from the country who have already confirmed their presence. A well-placed source says, “It can easily be called as master class session wherein Steven Spielberg will be imparting knowledge to Indian directors and would be learning from them as well and the list includes the biggest of names like Rajkumar Hirani, Anurag Kashyap, Farhan Akhtar, Zoya Akhtar, Abhishek Kapoor, Habib Faisal, Ram Gopal Varma, Sanjay Leela Bhansali, Farah Khan to name a few.”

And the invitation goes More >

Go to Top