Where Bollywood Comes Alive
Posts tagged romantic film
Mallika signs film with Amitabh?
Aug 10th
The actress is ecstatic that her dream of sharing screen space with Amitabh Bachchan will finally come true, in PNC’s next romantic film
Sonal Chawla (MUMBAI MIRROR; August 10, 2010)
Mallika will surely make hissstory this year. After signing several Hollywood projects, the actress will finally realise her long-pending dream of acting with Amitabh Bachchan. Mallika, who was once content just with the idea of sharing screen space with Big B, is obviously ecstatic at being offered a script that will pair her opposite him.
Mallika’s statement on a chat show, a few years ago, on being a huge fan of Amitabh Bachchan’s, was talk of the town for very long. And she has harboured interests of working with Big B for the longest time now.
A source reveals, “Mallika is currently in the US and has been receiving a lot of Bollwood scripts. Many of them have interested her. But the one she is most excited about is PNC’s script with Amitabh Bachchan. It is a love story where Mallika and Amitabh will be paired opposite each other. After bagging roles in Hollywood, Mallika’s ultimate dream is to work with her favourite Indian superstar.”
Hence, Mallika, who has been away from Bollywood for a very long time, will now return to the industry that gave her a break. And what an incentive for doing that!
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She has apparently signed Inder Kumar’s multistarrer Dhamaal 2 in the meantime. Though she is reading various different scripts at the moment, she has already liked the one with Amitabh Bachchan a lot.”
Mallika says, “PNC has sent me the script and I have really liked it. I will be taking the narration once I am back in India end of this month.”
When asked if Bachchan is the main reason for her to like the script so much, Mallika quips, “Who wouldn’t want to work with the superstar and run with him on screen?”
If she is referring to running around trees, Bollywood style, Mallika obviously has no qualms in being paired romantically with Big B. Wonder what Mr Bachchan has to say about that?
Salman’s a chhata badmaash!-Vidya Balan
Jul 27th
Vidya Balan answers 10 questions to BT
Garima Sharma | TNN (BOMBAY TIMES; July 27, 2010)
Vidya Balan has a lot happening in her life right now. She’s the latest muse of M F Husain and has also been voted as the most appropriate bride for Rahul Gandhi. But it’s the romantic SRK and lover boy Salman Khan, Vidya hopes will woo her someday…
Last year’s been a joyride professionally. How was it personally?
I can’t draw a line between my personal and professional lives. My profession gives me great joy in my personal life.
Is it time now for a break?
I’ve been on a break past few weeks, since I came back from Delhi after the shoot of No One Killed Jessica. I’ve been helping decorate my new house, reading, watching films, meeting friends and going on dates.
Dates?
No, I’m kidding. I just wish, I just said aise hi. Honestly, there’s nothing.
Okay, so how many boys do you reject every day?
I wish I had such good fortune. But, where are the boys, really?
A recent survey said that you are the most appropriate bride for Rahul Gandhi, provided he buys you a lifetime’s supply of Sabyasachi sarees…
If that happens, I won’t wave at people. I’ll just raise The Hand. But I’m not thinking of marriage right now. It’s not even on the agenda because I haven’t met anyone who has inspired that in me. First, I need to be with someone for a while and have to romance without the bindings of marriage.
What kind of romance?
Long drives with music that I enjoy in the rains, and maybe buy ourselves cups of chai from a thela.
You don’t discuss your relationships…
A relationship is between two people and should remain like that. The problem is that today, everyone is discussing relationships so openly. Anyway, I think I should become a writer besides being an actor. A romantic novel, perhaps, or actually a romantic film. Maybe I’ll start the film in five years when I have more experience with romance in my life.
And the hero would be?
Salman Khan. He’s a chhata badmaash, he’s the quintessential lover. Perhaps, Shah Rukh. He’s the ultimate romantic. Ufff ! I’m a clichéd romantic!
How?
I’d love for him to look into the mirror when I ask him, ‘Chand dekha?’ and he’d say, ‘Haan, aaine mein dekho….’ I know, it’s corny!
You’ve got an ardent fan in MF Husain…
I know that Husainsaab wants to narrate a script to me, but it depends on when we meet. I’ve spoken to him on the phone, though. He was extremely generous. I was very flattered. He’s probably the best judge of sensuality.
Ekta Kapoor, Vishal Bharadwaj to make a love story?
Jul 12th
Ekta Kapoor has finally got Vishal Bhardwaj to work with her for the first time, on a romantic film
Vickey Lalwani (MUMBAI MIRROR; July 12, 2010)
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| Ekta Kapoor |
On April 10 this year, at the success party of Ekta Kapoor’s Love Sex Aur Dhokha, all heads turned when Vishal Bhardwaj entered. Why? Because Ekta’s parties mostly have their regulars: biggies from the television industry, actors who have worked in her films and those who are currently working in them.
So, amongst the guests who come to most of Ekta’s parties, you would spot Kangna Ranaut (because now she’s working in Ekta’s Once Upon A Time In Mumbaai), Isha Koppikar and Neha Dhupia (because they have worked with Ekta in Kya Kool Hain Hum), Govinda (he worked with Ekta in Kyonki Main Jhooth Nahin Bolta) and Abhishek Kapoor a.k.a Gattu (well because he’s Ekta’s cousin; give him a break!).
Ever since that night when Ekta’s guests at her Juhu bungalow were surprised to see Vishal Bhardwaj enter with his wife Rekha Bhardwaj, there have been whispers doing the round in the film industry.
All of May and June, people wondered what was cooking between the two. An obvious guess was that Ekta and Vishal would work together soon but no one had even a whiff of what was going on.
Finally it’s all out in the open. Last week, Ekta and Vishal finalised the film, which they will produce jointly. A source says, “Bharadwaj, who will also direct the film is finalising the cast because the script is ready. An official announcement will be made soon.”
The film has been titled Dreams. “The story will be a love-triangle between two girls and one boy. All the three actors cast in the film will be big names,” reveals the source.
Apparently, Ekta had been toying with the idea of working with the talented director for long. The source says, “Ekta loves Vishal’s work. She has been appreciative about all his films, especially Maqbool, Omkara and Kaminey. Ever since Kaminey released, she was thinking of approaching him to direct a film that would be produced by her company Balaji Telefilms. The deal was finalised only recently.”
Dreams will be shot outside Mumbai. We guess, after Once Upon A Time In Mumbaai, a change of taste would be welcome. And Vishal will start work on this Balaji project as soon as he completes Saat Khoon Maaf.
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| Vishal and Rekha Bhardwaj |
I’d like to work with Salman-Deepika Padukone
Jan 23rd
RED HOT: Deepika Padukone
Deepika Padukone is on the prowl…
MEENA IYER Times News Network (BOMBAY TIMES; January 23, 2010)
When you’re super confident, gorgeous and as successful as Deepika Padukone, then you don’t waste time crying over split relationships. You hold your head on your tall frame high and just glide like a diva. That is exactly what Deepika is doing. She refutes talk that she has immersed herself neck-deep in work because she wants no time to think. Laughing aloud she says, “Love Aaj Kal is the second most successful film of 2009 after 3 Idiots. Saif Ali Khan, Imtiaz Ali, Dinesh Vijjan and I didn’t feel the need to put out advertisements in newspapers saying ours is one of the biggest hits simply because it is a huge hit. And, it so happens that by virtue of this super-hit, I’ve bagged some super duper assignments.” This year will have Deepika in Ashutosh Gowarikar’s Khelein Hum Jee Jaan Se, Pradeep Sarkar’s next with Neil Nitin Mukesh, Farhan Akhtar’s Kartik Calling Kartik and Sajid Khan’s Houseful. Besides these she also starts work on a romantic film with Imran Khan produced by Kunal Kohli. “With so much happening, I’ve no time to even breathe,” says the actress, who in two years since her debut is knocking on the doors of Bollywood’s czarinas. “I’m so glad that I got this opporutnity to work with Ashutosh,” she says. “He is awesome.” She is fortunate that her roles are also varied. If she will prance in a bikini around Akshay Kumar in Houseful, then she’ll probably walk away with top acting honours for her role as a revolutionary in Khelein Hum Jee Jaan Se with Abhishek. In the midst of this packed action, is there anything more she’d like? “Well, I’d like to do a movie with Salman Khan,” she smiles. “And Aamir Khan too.” Ok, and now please don’t put her wish under a scanner and think she’s sending out coded messages to anyone out there. After working with the top bracket — Shah Rukh Khan, Saif Ali Khan, Akshay Kumar and Abhishek Bachchan, Deepika would but naturally veer in the direction of Salman or perhaps even Aamir.
YRF purposefully not focusing on Uday's nerdy acts in Pyaar Impossible?
Dec 18th
The Pyaar Impossible promos will focus on Priyanka Chopra’s campus bomb avatar rather than Uday Chopra’s nerdy act, after the box-office failure of Rocket Singh…
By Subhash K Jha (MUMBAI MIRROR; December 18, 2009)
The failure of Rocket Singh – Salesman of the Year is making producers YRF rethink the strategy of their next release, Pyaar Impossible. With Ranbir Kapoor’s nerd act in Rocket Singh… not going down well with the audience, there is a huge question mark regarding the success of Pyaar Impossible.
The film has Yash Raj scion Uday Chopra playing the consummate geek who adores the campus beauty, Priyanka Chopra from far.
With the release just a few weeks away (January 8), there’s an air of panic at the production house. One of their regular actors says, “Pyaar Impossible was designed as a vehicle for Uday. However, with nerdy heroes not doing well, everyone feels that the timid act needs to be toned down, but now it’s too late.”
Yash Raj, who had earlier thought of weaving the promos around Uday’s nerd act, has decided that it is safer to play up Priyanka’s sexy avatar instead. They are now deflecting the marketing attention from his nerd act to focus on Priyanka’s campus bomb act. Even then there’s a problem because What’s Your Raashee? proved Priyanka can’t carry a film on her shoulders.”
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| Pyaar Impossible |
Incidentally, last year, Yash Raj’s Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi, where Shah Rukh Khan played a nerd was a huge box-office success. Aditya Chopra was so inspired by the film’s success that the brief he gave at Yash Raj for 2009 was to go full-throttle with the saga of the underdog.
A source adds, “Pyaar Impossible is a litmus test for YRF. It was designed as a comeback vehicle for Uday. But then Rani Mukerji’s nerdy act in men’s clothes in Dil Bole Hadippa bombed. However, it was the box-office outcome of Rocket Singh where Ranbir plays the nerd with relish that has stunned YRF the most.”
When questioned about the non-viability of the underdog, Pyaar Impossible director Jugal Hansraj says that he is sure that the failure of nerdy heroes in 2009 will not adversely affect his film. “We have approached the character of the nerd in Pyaar Impossible realistically. Uday’s character has been depicted as a brilliant student at University who is socially challenged and has no friends. He plays a nerd in a subtle manner even though this is a light-hearted romantic film.”
I do my best work when Shah Rukh is on the sets-Karan Johar
Dec 16th
The music of My Name is Khan releases today. Karan Johar tells us five things that everyone wants to know about the film
By Kunal M Shah (MUMBAI MIRROR; December 16, 2009)
• How long do you plan to work only with Shah Rukh Khan considering that actors have a limited shelf life, unlike directors?
I have never worked without him and I have no clue what the experience will be like. I do my best work when Shah Rukh is on the sets as there is this tremendous sense of comfort when he is around and I feel that everything will be fine and fun on the sets. I think I will be working with him for the rest of my life as we have this special connection not only personally but also professionally. We understand each other very well, he is a member of my family and vice versa.
• Don’t you think that right now the audience wants to watch entertaining films while yours is a serious film?
Well, I don’t know as I never calculate anything as far as creativity goes. I know that I have made a film with my heart, soul and a lot of passion. My entire team- SRK, Kajol, Ravi Chandran, Shibani, Deepa, Sharmistha and everybody else- has really toiled to make it a soulful venture. I firmly believe that emotions are universal and I know that when they connect with the audience, it works. There is no such thing as an entertaining or a serious film; there are good films and bad films. Good films will always find a vast audience.
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• Your last film Kurbaan had a terrorism backdrop and was promoted as a love story, which clearly did not work. Do you plan to have a different strategy for the promotion of My Name is Khan?
There is nothing about terrorism in Khan. It is a soulful emotional journey about a man who is all for love and that’s exactly how we are promoting the film. I certainly have no idea why the rumours about terrorism in Khan are doing the rounds.
• My Name is Khan releases on February 12. Do you think it’s the ideal release date considering its Valentine’s Day week and youngsters would want to see a romantic film?
Absolutely! Khan’s core content is a love story. The entire journey is the love story between Rizwan and Mandira, my protagonists. What better time than the Valentine’s Day week for the release of this love story about two people who go through so much in life for love.
• My Name is Khan will have the biggest release till date, even overseas. Do you think it’s the right strategy?
We have a great partnership with Fox Searchlight and it is their strategy to have a platform release, which is what they call such a release. They believe that My Name is Khan has a market way beyond what’s expected and it is their strategy to break certain boundaries of exhibition for this film. They have full faith in the film and I hope their faith pays off. The real work for any filmmaker stars after he finishes directing a film. I spent two years making the film but most of my efforts for the next two months will go in the promotion, marketing and connecting with the audience.
Premiere league
My Name is Khan will premiere at the Berlin Film Festival on February 12. It is expected to be screened at one of Berlin’s most important locations, Potsdamer Platz. Incidentally, it is the first Indian film to be premiered in Berlin.
I have learnt not to take anything for granted-Vivek Oberoi
Nov 27th
Vivek Oberoi on love, life and a fresh innings in Bollywood
By Kunal M Shah (MUMBAI MIRROR; November 27, 2009)
• You have got some good reviews for your role in Kurbaan.
Yes. I have not stopped smiling since the film’s release. At one of the trials, Bebo (Kareena Kapoor) and Saif (Ali Khan) did tell me that I was good in the film. Then Karan (Johar) and Rensil (D’Silva)also told me the same thing. I had not seen the film till then as I was shooting in Hyderabad. It was a nice feeling when Karan told me ‘finally you make me proud.’ I saw the film just a day before its release and I had knots in my stomach. I was very nervous but I was with people who have always been kind to me. There were Shah Rukh and Gauri, Imran and his fiancée Avantika, Yash uncle, Davidji (Dhawan). They all hugged me and said I was good.
• Why have you not done a romantic film after Saathiya?
Honestly, I really don’t know. Kurbaan has got a romantic track but Mission Istanbul and Shootout At Lokhandwala had zero romance. I have not done an out-and-out romantic film and I am really looking forward to doing one.
• People are saying that you have changed and that you want to leave the controversies behind and concentrate only on your work.
I wanted this for a really long time. However, after Shootout… things did not fall in place. Almost four years ago, when I did Omkara, I saw Saif getting under the skin of the character Langda Tyagi. I loved the work ethics. That’s when I thought that I should stop doing what I was doing, but I had a backlog to finish. Then my close friend Amit Chandra sat me down and helped me streamline my life so that I could practically achieve what I was trying to. Now, I have learnt not to take anything for granted.
• How did Ramu and you patch up?
I don’t think patch up is the right word as we were never at loggerheads. I will never have the audacity to say anything against Ramu and as an artiste, I will always be indebted to him for giving me Company. But when he called me and told me ‘I will never work with you again’, I was shocked. Now, when he called me and said that he had something for me, I was so happy. When I met him, he said that he could see the same passion in my eyes again and gave me Rakta Charitra. I felt exactly the same on the first day of Rakta Charitra that I felt on the first day on the sets of Company. Ramu made me feel so comfortable.
• You have done some amazing stunts in Prince, something which you are not known for.
Yes. Kookie Gulati is quite a whiz kid. I did so many things that I cannot possibly explain — right from learning how to skateboard, doing parkour, learning cable work, to action training. I had to put so many things into my system that after the training session, things became easier.
• You have said that you are done with apologising to people.
I made a mistake and it is human to make mistakes. Personally, I think it’s humbling and it’s also building character to stand up and say I made a mistake and please forgive me. It is always an ego-based thing to say that why should I apologise. It is a real man who can say ‘I am sorry’ and that too in public. I have said sorry to the assistant director whom I was rude to, I have said sorry to the movie star whom I had a fight with and I even said sorry to the director I snapped at.
"Katz is a bully!"
Oct 22nd
ADORABLE: Ranbir Kapoor with Katrina Kaif. For more pictures of the stars, log on to http://photogallery.indiatimes.com
…complains Ranbir Kapoor who only ‘complimented’ her in their first film
HARSHADA REGE Times News Network (BOMBAY TIMES; October 21, 2009)
He’s ‘fun loving’ and she’s ‘a person loving fun’ — that’s how Ranbir Kapoor and Katrina Kaif describe each other. The two come together for the very first time in Ajab Prem Ki Ghazab Kahani that’s produced by Ramesh Taurani for Tips Films , directed by Rajkumar Santoshi and releases on November 6. The crackling chemistry between the two is for everyone to see as they get talking about the film.
Katz takes the lead, saying, “It’s an ordinary love story about ordinary people leading ordinary lives, but told in a very unusual way.” Ranbir adds, “That’s the perfect way to describe it.” The two are on a roll pulling each others’ legs, but at the same time, they seem pretty much in sync. So what’s the secret behind the chemistry? “Chemistry is not something that two individuals have, it’s what two characters have in a film. And it’s great that people are seeing this chemistry because this is a romantic film. I am happy that people can see it even in the promos of the film,” says Ranbir. Katz agrees with him, “If you want the same thing and if your vision is the same, then you are working as a team. That’s something that leads to great chemistry.” Obviously, they had a great time shooting together. “Katrina was constantly bullying me and I was constantly complimenting her,” says Ranbir, tongue firmly-in-cheek.
The two actors also bonded well because of their working styles. “Rajji is very specific as a director. He knows exactly what he wants and he gets his actors to do that,” Katz says. “But that doesn’t mean he’s a dictator. If we thought a scene could be done some other way, he would hear us out. We did get bound script and dialogues, but there were improvisations on the sets too,” adds Ranbir. Like Santoshi’s earlier comic caper Andaz Apna Apna, this one too looks like a mad comedy. Speaking about the film, they say that its USP is that it will appeal to a much wider audience. “It’s a blast, really. A complete entertainer,” says Ranbir. “It’s a meant for everyone. The appeal is, definitely, wider and it’s something that people across all sections will be able to relate to,” feels Katz. But both feel that it’s not just another runof-the-mill comedy. It has a lovely story, it’s not just a bunch of jokes put together,” says Ranbir of this ghazab kahani by Tips on which they had fun working with Ramesh Taurani.
harshada.rege@timesgroup.
Bhattsaab wants to change Tum Mile's title?
Oct 15th
Producer Mahesh Bhatt has suggested that director Kunal Deshmukh change the title of Tum Mile just a month before its release
By Ruhail Amin (MUMBAI MIRROR; October 15, 2009)
Tum Mile is just a month away from its release date, November 13, but that has not stopped producer Mahesh Bhatt from wanting to change the title of his film. Bhatt feels that the current title makes it sound like a romantic film, which it is not. The film has Mumbai’s July 2005 deluge as its backdrop. He has suggested Aandhi, Toofan or Rain as the possible options. However, director Kunal Deshmukh is keen on the original title and is trying his best to retain it.
Mahesh Bhatt says, “I made a suggestion to Kunal to change the title of the film. The new title should have mass appeal so that more people can relate to the film. Kunal has his own arguments about Tum Mile being apt, but we will sort out the issue soon.” The film stars Emraan Hashmi and Soha Ali Khan. |
Akki to sign a love story?
Sep 15th
Akshay Kumar to star in a romantic film after three years
By Kunal M Shah (MUMBAI MIRROR; September 14, 2009)
 Action star Akshay Kumar will be seen in a romantic film after three years. He has recently agreed to star in a film to be directed by Kunal Kohli. The out-and-out romantic film’s lead actress is yet to be finalised. Kunal Kohli too will be making a romantic film five years after his Saif Ali Khan-Rani Mukerji starrer Hum Tum.
Kunal Kohli said, “It’s too early for me to comment as I am working on the film.” Giving us more details, a source said, “Kunal has been working on this romantic film for some time now and Akshay was his first choice. He met Akshay in London where he was shooting for Houseful. Akshay loved the script and Kunal and he have been meeting regularly so that the film can go on the floors soon. Last week, Kunal even met Akshay at his Juhu residence where they locked the deal.” Commenting on the film’s subject, the source added, “It’s a modern romantic film, just like Kunal’s Hum Tum five years ago. This too will be today’s film with a fresh script. They are still looking for a lead actress. Akshay has not starred in a hardcore romantic film after Humko Deewana Kar Gaye, which released in 2006.” Despite repeated attempts, Akshay Kumar remained unavailable for comment. Meanwhile, Akshay’s love for death-defying stunts continues. He will jump from 35 feet during a press conference today for his forthcoming reality show. |
