Where Bollywood Comes Alive
Posts tagged ramayan
What brought Ajay Devgn back on Television
07 months ago
by Fenil Seta
in Bollywood News
Aakansha Naval-Shetye (DNA; October 20, 2012)
Ajay DevgnDespite a hectic schedule of shooting back-to-back for his films Son of Sardaar and Himmatwala in Bollywood, actor Ajay Devgn did not hesitate in taking up a show on TV. And the reason, reveal sources, is his family. The Bollywood star who will be returning to TV after a longish gap will be playing a sutradhar (narrator) in the new show Ram Leela. The show on Life OK is said to be a musical version of Ramayan with a mix of dance and drama.
“When the channel approached Ajay to play the sutradhar — as they feel that his voice suits the tone of the show — he agreed despite the fact that he is really busy with four films in hand. We learnt that it was because his family is very fond of Ramayan especially his daughter Nysa,” says an insider. “Keeping Ajay’s personality and the flavour of the epic in mind, we had designer Ana Singh create a special look for the actor and she has given him a very ethnic look that is perfect for the show,” adds the source.
When Ajay was earlier asked about his innings on TV, he had said that he would love to take up a show only if it was something really interesting. “The draw has to be doing something that is exciting and I haven’t really done before. I would love to do TV for sure if I get the right offer. I feel that TV has a bigger and a more direct connect with the audience,” the Bolly star had said. And now seems like the actor has finally found that draw in the show, which is More >
Divyanka Tripathi to play apsara in Ramayan
07 months ago
by Fenil Seta
in TV News
The actor will be seen playing an apsara in the upcoming episode of Ramayan
Aakansha Naval-Shetye (DNA; October 12, 2012)
Actor Divyanka Tripathi is maha-excited these days. And the reason, says she, is the fact that she will soon be seen making a dance cameo on Zee TV’s Ramayan. A source reveals that the actor will be seen playing an apsara in the show. Confirming it, Divyanka says, “While I have played many roles on other shows, this is the first time that anyone has thought that I could play a heavenly being. It is extremely flattering to say the least!”
But what’s making the show all the more special is the relation she shares with the channel. The actor had made her debut playing the coy and demure bride in Zee’s Banoo Main Teri Dulhan. Just recently, she was also a part of the celebrations held to mark the channel completing 20 successful years. “After having started my career with Zee TV, I am extremely happy that I had not only been given the opportunity to be a part of the 20 years celebration, but also the dance cameo on an epic show like Ramayan,” adds Divyanka.
Talking about her cameo, an insider reveals that she plays an apsara who had been sent to cause a delay in Lord Ram and Sita’s wedding ceremony. “According to Ramayan, if the wedding of Lord Ram and Sita had happened as per the pre-determined mahurat, the ‘Sita haran’ would not have taken place. Ram, Sita and Lakshman would not have been sent on the 14 year vanvaas and the ultimate objective of Lord Ram More >
Indians toughest crowd for the first 2 minutes-Vir Das
011 months ago
by Fenil Seta
in Interviews
Reader Shraddha Jhaveri, who is a regular at Vir Das’s shows, gets him to tell her a joke or two off stage
Ankit Ajmera (MUMBAI MIRROR; June 17, 2012)
On one occasion after watching History of India – VIRitten, Sharaddha Jhaveri wanted to barge into Vir’s room backstage. “My friends told me you are not embarrassing us like that,” she says. “I had the ticket with me and I badly wanted to get your autograph on it,” she tells Vir. “I would have been more embarrassed than you,” Vir replies (laughing).
Mirror got Shraddha, a graduate from Sophia Polytechnic who celebrates her birthday today, to meet her favourite celebrity, Vir Das, somewhere at Madh Island in the middle of a film shoot. She has watched almost all of his shows and totally adores his role in Delhi Belly and Badmaash Company.
After watching him say his lines on the sets of Amit Sahni Ki List, she can’t wait to ask him why he chose comedy as a profession. Vir says he didn’t actually opt for it. “I was studying theatre at the Knox College, Illinois,” he says. “After four years of serious and intensive acting and training (involving many Shakespearean plays), I kind of said – okay, I don’t like this. I wanted to do something that is a little more organic and improvised. A few blocks down they used to have amateur stand-up acts. I though of giving it a shot and wrote a show when I was 22. I had performed in front of my friends and they seemed to like it. I felt like the king of the world. But when I went to More >
Why did Rajkumar Santoshi’s train get derailed?
01 year ago
by Fenil Seta
in Bollywood News
With debts running into crores of rupees and five non-starter projects in his kitty, how did the hitmaker who gave us films like Ghayal and Damini suddenly turn into an industry pariah
Vickey Lalwani (MUMBAI MIRROR; May 15, 2012)
The man who gave us hits like Ghayal, Damini and more recently Ajab Prem Ki Ghazab Kahani has suddenly become a pariah of sorts in the industry, what with debts running into crores of rupees. One wonders what went wrong? Rajkumar Santoshi has announced five films in less than three years. Firoz Nadiadwala’s Power starring Amitabh Bachchan, Sanjay Dutt, Ajay Devgn and Anil Kapoor. Ramayan starring Ajay Devgn and Kajol, Ashtavinayak’s Ladies and Gentleman, a film starring Abhay Deol-Sonam Kapoor, and a film for Vashu Bhagnani. However, till date, none of these films have gone on floors save for Power which too got shelved after eight days of shooting. Has Santoshi lost his midas touch? The director has allegedly taken big signing amounts from several producers and not only been unable to put the projects on the runway but also not returned the monies. A source from Ashtavinayak told Mirror Santoshi owes them nearly Rs 4 crore but has been ignoring their calls and messages. “We were supposed to make Ladies and Gentlemen but the film did not happen for some reason and we shelved it. Santoshi should return the signing amount we gave him.”
In fact, basis conversations Mirror has had with producers Santoshi has signed deals with, he owes them as much as More >
‘My wife… my hero’
02 years ago
by Fenil Seta
in Bollywood News
Aishwarya and Abhishek Bachchan drop their guard…
Meena Iyer | TNN (BOMBAY TIMES; July 18, 2010)
It would take the genius of Mani Ratnam to pick an epic like the Ramayan, turn it on its head, and still create a curiosity for it like he has with Raavan that releases worldwide today. This Aishwarya-Abhishek Bachchan-Vikram film, marketed and distributed by Reliance BIG Pictures, takes the lead pair’s screen equation to the next level after the success of Guru and Sarkar Raj. Both Bollywood superstars believe this will be one of their career-defining films.
Indulging each other like a normal lead pair would at its promotion, Abhishek says, “The film has three heroes — Vikram, me and Ash. Her role is definitely on par. And Vikram and I feel proud to share the honour with her.’’ Ash pays him back in the same coin, “Working with Abhishek is a rewarding experience, he is a wonderful actor.’’ She adds, “People asked Mani why he wasn’t calling the film ‘Raavayan’ because it is assumed that Raavan draws a parallel to Ramayan. But simply put, it is a beautiful film about inter-personal relationships.”
The Bachchans admit they are partial to Mani and would go to any lengths to indulge the filmmaker. For Abhishek, this is his third outing with Mani after Yuva and Guru. Says the actor, “With each film, my respect and love for Mani keeps increasing. I will do almost anything for him. In Raavan I have climbed mountains, jumped off cliffs, hung on More >
I love mindless entertainers… making them is an art-Mani Ratnam
02 years ago
by Fenil Seta
in Interviews
Indu Mirani (MUMBAI MIRROR; June 13, 2010)
Interview by Indu Mirani
As I wait outside the sound mixing suite in AR Rahman’s studio in Chennai for Mani Ratnam (55), who is busy putting last minute mixing touches to his Hindi-Tamil film Raavan, I get into a conversation with one of his assistants Shalini. She is frenetically busy too, juggling between downloading files and uploading others, all the while co-ordinating with designers and title writers. Later, she tells me that she waited seven years after finishing her mass media degree, rejecting every other job offer, for a chance to assist Mani Ratnam.
Mani RatnamShaad Ali Sehgal, who has himself directed three films, is a close associate of Mani Ratnam, assisting him on all his films since Dil Se. He has not even thought of his next film for over two years because he has been busy with Raavan.
That is the sort of reverence Mani Ratnam inspires in those who work with him and the audience follows suit. They may make his films hits or flops but rarely will anyone say he doesn’t want to watch a Mani Ratnam film, which comes with an in-built guarantee of exquisite cinematography, scintillating screenplay, amazing music, off-beat locations and mainstream actors in challenging roles.
His only son, Nandan (19) though, is not in any way involved with films. He is in Edinburgh, studying philosophy and Mani Ratnam has no problem with that at all. “His interests are in books, politics and More >
SRK explains meaning of the title Ra.One
13 years ago
by Fenil Seta
in Bollywood News
By Nikhil Ramsubramaniam, April 28, 2010 – 13:41 IST
This year is likely to see the release of two big films with similar sounding titles. Yes…we are indeed referring to Mani Ratnam’s Raavan and Shah Rukh Khan’s home production Ra.One. However, the two similar sounding films are as different as chalk and cheese when it comes to their plotlines. While Mani’s Abhi-Ash starrer is a modern-day adaptation of the mythological epic Ramayan, SRK’s flick is a highly stylized film with a lot of gizmos and gadgets.
Coming to Ra.One, while it is known that SRK plays a super-hero kind of character in the film, what is not known is the fact that the title Ra.One is the acronym for ‘Random Access-Version One’. This fact has been confirmed by the Superstar himself on Twitter. Says SRK, “Ra.One means Random Access- Version One, u will understand when u see the film. The Superhero is called G.One. Ra.One site will be up soon.”
Meanwhile with his close friend and CEO of Red Chillies Entertainment- Bobby Chawla still admitted in the hospital, SRK has to even manage all the work related to production of Ra.One. SRK tweets, “Yes…wish Bobby my friend gets well sooner than soon. He is still in the hospital & the film is soo difficult in terms of production.”
Looks like Ra.One is indeed taking a toll on SRK as he not only has to perform some heavy duty action sequences but also has to manage all aspects related to production.
BOLLYWOOD More >