Where Bollywood Comes Alive
Posts tagged Ramesh Taurani
Buying luxury cars to celebrate film success latest fad in Bollywood?
05 days ago
by Fenil Seta
in Rumour has it
In the last two months, there have been several new swanky additions to B-Town’s luxury garage
Kunal M Shah (MID-DAY; May 16, 2013)
Success parties and holidays abroad are now passé. Bollywood seems to be on an automobile- buying spree to celebrate sweet success at the box office. And bigger the success, the luxury quotients of the cars too go up proportionately.
Close on the heels of his latest release Shootout At Wadala, we heard that John Abraham has gifted himself a spanking new Gallardo Lamborghini in black. And with Aashiqui 2 too raking in the moolah, the film’s lead Aditya Roy Kapoor has purchased a BMW 5 series. John’s set of wheels is estimated to be around Rs 3.5 crore.
An industry insider says, “Buying luxury cars to celebrate the success of films seems to be the latest fad in Bollywood. John even gifted Shootout director Sanjay Gupta a Yamaha V Max. While previously stars used to pamper themselves with international holidays or throwing lavish parties, this seems to be the new way of celebrating after a film’s release.”
It all started with director duo Abbas-Mustan’s Race 2, the biggest hit so far this year. Saif Ali Khan bought himself an Audi R-8 while its producers Ramesh and Kumar Taurani pampered themselves with A-8 Audi cars.
David Dhawan, who made a successful comeback with Chasme Buddoor, too didn’t waste much time before gifting himself an Audi Q- 7.
Shahid Kapoor completes a decade in Bollywood
01 week ago
by Fenil Seta
in Bollywood News
DNA (May 10, 2013)
Life has come full circle for Shahid Kapoor. The actor completed 10 years in B-Town yesteray on the sets of Phata Poster Nikhla Hero produced by Ramesh Taurani. Coincidentally, his debut film (Ishq Vishk) was also produced by Taurani. Currently Shahid is shooting a “doggy song” as he calls it, for the film. To celebrate his 10 years in B-Town the unit brought a cake, on the sets, that Sasha cut.
Race 2 is so far the highest box office grosser of 2013-Ramesh Taurani
01 week ago
by Fenil Seta
in Bollywood News
Producer Ramesh Taurani on Race 2 and his future projects
MID-DAY (May 8, 2013)
Race 2 producer Ramesh Taurani of Tips Films is looking forward to the television premiere of his film on May 12.
The Abbas-Mustan directed thriller starring Saif Ali Khan, John Abraham, Anil Kapoor, Deepika Padukone, Jacqueline Fernandez and Ameesha Patel released in January. It is the highest grossing film of 2013 so far. It crossed the Rs 100 crore plus mark in the country while the overseas collections were Rs 37 crore.
Says Taurani, “Race 2 has proved to be the highest grosser of 2013. It also had the highest opening for a Saif-Anil-Deepika starrer.” The filmmaker is now hoping that the film’s television premiere too fetches high TRPs.
Meanwhile his production house is busy with their next offering Ramaiya Vastavaiya, directed by Prabhudeva. The film marks the debut of Girish, son of Kumar Taurani who is Ramesh Taurani’s brother. It is slated to release on July 19.
Another film of Taurani that is on the floors is the Shahid Kapoor-Ileana D’Cruz starrer Phata Poster Nikla Hero.
Taurani’s other project which marks the directorial debut of the writer duo Sajid-Farhad goes on the floors in July. The film stars Akshay Kumar, Tamanaah Bhatia, Mithun Chakraborthy, Prakash Raj, Sonu Sood, Johnny Lever and Krushna Abhishek.
The film is slated to release on March 28, 2014.
Girish Kumar makes a dazzling entry in Ramaiya Vastavaiya
04 weeks ago
by Fenil Seta
in Bollywood News
Vickey Lalwani (MUMBAI MIRROR; April 23, 2013)
Producer Kumar Taurani is pulling out all stops to ensure his son Girish Kumar makes a dazzling entry in his debut film, Ramaiya Vastavaiya.
And so director Prabhu Dheva and DOP Kiran Deohans, came up with a novel introductory scene for Girish after days of brainstorming. He is seen riding the waves in a surfing sequence. Shot in Australia, the scene was done by Girish in two days, with help from experts like Leon Ingram and team, and Christopher Bryan from Hawaii. Said Taurani Sr: “Bryan is very good at shooting underwater scenes. Girish didn’t want a stunt double, so he underwent full-fledged training in Mangalore.“ While daddy dearest wasn’t present during the shoot, his heart was in his mouth till it was over and done with.
Why are singers left out in the opening credits of our films?
14 weeks ago
by Fenil Seta
in Bollywood News
In an industry that is so dependent on song-and-dance, we find out why our producers and directors choose to avoid naming our singers in the opening credits of the film. Bombay Times speaks to people in the business:
Priya Gupta and Hiren Kotwani (BOMBAY TIMES; April 22, 2013)
ARBAAZ KHAN, DIRECTOR AND PRODUCER I know we used to have playback singing credits earlier. It’s not a conscious thing, but we are now following a set pattern of credits. I personally feel singers should be named. If we can have lyricists, composers and choreographers named, then there’s no reason why the singers should be omitted.
ANURAG BASU, DIRECTOR These days, the opening titles are not as long as in the earlier films, where all names featured before the movie began. These days, People have become restless. So we put the names of only the heads of important departments in the beginning. Names of many other important people like the assistant director and the character artists are also not featured in the start. Earlier, when we had singers of the stature of Kishore Kumar, Lata Mangeshkar and Asha Bhosle, no one could dare to put their names in the end titles. One has to earn one’s place in the opening titles. Only senior singers like Sonu Nigam, Alka Yagnik, Sundhi Chauhan and Shreya Ghoshal should be given front credits.
SONU NIGAM, COMPOSER AND SINGER No one can force the filmmakers to name singers in the opening credits. Though music is an important part of our cinema, there are More >
I&B ministry to introduce PG-12, PG-15 ratings; industry sees red?
01 month ago
by Fenil Seta
in Rumour has it
Vickey Lalwani (MUMBAI MIRROR; April 10, 2013)
On March 29, Mirror had reported that the I&B Ministry had called for a meeting with film producers and the Censor Board of Film Certification (CBFC) between April 3 and April 5 to set the pace for necessary amendments to the Cinematograph Act 1952.
We can now tell you that the meeting which took place as scheduled had the Ministry put forth the proposal of categorising Indian films in a manner different to what has been hitherto followed. Which means if the Ministry has its way, films will no longer be certified as U, U/A, A. Instead, they will fall under any one of the following categories: Above 12 years of age (Under Parental Guidance), Above 15 years of age (Under Parental Guidance) or Above 18 years of age.
Among those present were Ritesh Sidhwani, Ramesh Sippy, President of the Producers’ Guild Mukesh Bhatt, President of the Association of Motion Pictures and TV Programme Producers (AMTPP) Sajid Nadiadwala, Indian Motion Picture Producers’ Association Chief TP Agarwal, CBFC Chief Leela Samson, CBFC CEO Pankaja Thakur, and senior members of the special panel instituted under the chairmanship of judicial expert Mukul Mudgal to review the functioning of the Board.
Filmmakers are not too happy with the proposal as they feel it will deflate their audience. CEO of the Film & Television Producers Guild of India, Kulmeet Makkar, said: “Yes, there is a proposal by the I&B Ministry but it would be very subjective in a country More >
I have more women fans than men-Tamannaah Bhatia
01 month ago
by Fenil Seta
in Interviews
Priya Gupta (BOMBAY TIMES; March 31, 2013)
Tamannaah, 23, did her first film as leading lady at the age of 14. She is a Sindhi girl who is born and brought up in Mumbai and has done 25 films, including her recent film Himmatwala.
She has learnt to speak Telugu and Tamil with as much ease as she speaks Hindi. She may have a temple named after her in Tamil Nadu, but she doesn’t take stardom seriously as she knows nothing lasts forever. She lives in the moment and prides herself in being a home bird. She talks to Bombay Times about her favourite co-star Suriya, why she has more female fans than men and how the Sajid Khan humour rubbed itself on her. Excerpts:
At the age of 23, you have completed 25 films. You must have started early, right? I always wanted to become an actress. As a child, I would stand in front of the mirror and get in to my mother’s clothes, consume all her makeup and always watch Hindi films. I would dance at my annual days, but got rejected during my acting auditions in school. When I was in Class VIII, I got a chance to act as the leading lady in my first Bollywood film Chand Sa Roshan Chehra. Surprisingly, my Class IV teacher at Maneckji Cooper had recommended me for this role. My parents saw the potential in me and were extremely supportive. I started shooting when I was 14, but it was fine as I looked mature for my age then. The film was released while I was giving my tenth board exam. At 15, I was a part of the Fair & Lovely campaign when I got More >
Tamannaah Bhatia-Akshay Kumar in Sajid-Farhad’s film
02 months ago
by Fenil Seta
in Bollywood News
Agencies (MUMBAI MIRROR; March 11, 2013)
Writer duo Sajid-Farhad, known for penning dialogues for hit comedies like the Golmaal series and Bol Bachchan, are set to direct Akshay Kumar and Tamannaah for a masala entertainer.
“We have roped in Akshay Kumar and Tamannaah as the lead pair. It will be be a fun film. It’ll be a complete masala entertainer film,” Sajid said.
To be produced by Ramesh Taurani, the yet-to-be-titled film will go on the floors in July.
“We will start rolling from July and we will widely shoot the film abroad. Akshay is known for his comic timing, I hope, both Akshay and Tamannaah to be perfect entertainers,” he said.
Single screen theatres can’t be sold, but aren’t surviving either
12 months ago
by Fenil Seta
in Bollywood News
With 10 single-screen theatres shutting down in one year, and others barely afloat, owners cry foul over the law that forbids them from selling off their sinking business
Vickey Lalwani (MUMBAI MIRROR; March 8, 2013)
At a time when even multiplex chains are struggling to remain afloat, the lot of singlescreen theatres has been worse. According to estimates, 10 single-screen theatres have shut down over the past six months, with others barely putting up a couple of shows a day. And that, say the harried owners, has laregly to do with the restrictive laws that forbid them from selling off or redeveloping thier property. Among those that were forced to shut down, are Novelty, Swastik, Naaz, Minerva, and more lately, Shreyas (Ghatkopar), Vijay (Chembur) and Ankur (Govandi). Distributor Devendra Shah, who has his office in Naaz building says, “Ëdward Talkies (Kalbadevi) is running two shows but sometimes even one show. Recently, Imperial Cinema revised ticket rates to Rs 25, yet it wears a desolate look. Lamington Road, which had 16 cinemas, is now left with three.”
According to Vice-President of Cinema Owners’ and Exhibitors’ Association, Nitin Datar, “New Shirin theatre in Mahalaxmi is on the verge of shutting. There are about 75 single screen cinemas in Mumbai and several are in bad shape. Overall, the number of cinemas operational in Maharashtra has come down to 650 from 1,200.”
Rues Datar, “Seven states have abolished entertainment tax, and they have to pay only 20 per More >