Posts tagged saawariya

Ranbir Kapoor ready for frontal nudity?

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Seema Sinha (BOMBAY TIMES; May 16, 2013)

 

Unforgettable! Ranbir Kapoor’s butt show in his maiden venture Saawariya (2007) is still top of mind though the actor has completed six years in Bollywood and achieved more milestones than every other actor his age. Of course, what we got to see in the film was just a glimpse of him dropping the towel because the Censors put a wet blanket on the scene. However, all it seems is not lost. The actor confessed that he is now ready for a full monty, Censors be damned! “I am shameless in front of the camera. I am even willing to do frontal nudity if the director wants me to,” he says unabashedly. “There was not a moment of awkwardness when I did that scene in Saawariya. I was butt naked in front of strangers on the set and I wasn’t ashamed of myself. People started relating to me and perhaps came to theatres because of that scene,” says Ranbir. Here’s to Bollywood’s bold new age male.

OTHERS WHO HAVE DARED TO BARE

BOLLYWOOD Shashi Kapoor in Siddhartha (1972) John Abraham in New York (2009) Neil Nitin Mukesh in Jail (2009) Rajkumar Yadav in Shahid (upcoming)

HOLLYWOOD Mark Wahlberg in Boogie Nights (1997) Christian Bale in American Psycho (2000) Michael Fassbender in Shame (2011)

Actors, filmmakers talk about prostitute phenomenon in Bollywood

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As Kangna Ranaut gears up to play one, After Hrs talks to actresses and makers of films based on similar subject to find out why such roles stand out…

Aakanksha Naval-Shetye (DNA; March 23, 2013)

 

Playing a courtesan onscreen has almost always been a staple outing for our B-Town beauties. In the earlier years the actress used to be a mujrewali rather than sex worker. Vyjanthimala (Devdas), Madhubala (Mughal-e-Azam), Meena Kumari (Pakeezah) and Rekha (Muqaddar Ka Sikandar) to name a few. Only Sharmila Tagore (Mausam) Waheeda Rehman (Pyaasa) and Shabana Azmi (Mandi) were bold enough to play a full-blown street walker. The newer lot doesn’t shy away from playing a prostitute onscreen. From costumes, to dialogues and body language, they go all out to get it right. Kareena Kapoor has done two such roles (Chameli and Talaash) while others are Tabu (Chandni Bar) Sushmita Sen (Chingari) Rani Mukherji (Laaga Chunari Mein Daag, Saawariya) Neha Dhupia (Julie) and Aishwarya Rai (Umrao Jaan). The latest in line to play such a character is Kangna Ranaut in Rajjo.

Risky business? Kangna Ranaut feels that a film’s risk factor has nothing to do with the subject, but the execution, “And that applies to all films not just films based on prostitution. It is not about actresses making bold choices, but filmmakers being ready to explore such topics onscreen. That has been possible because of actresses who have shown that it can be done.” She agrees with most actresses when they say that it’s More >

Bhansali avoids collision with Chennai Express?

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To avoid a repeat of the infamous 2007 box-office clash with SRK, the filmmaker has sought a safer release date for Ram Leela

Mehul S Thakkar (MUMBAI MIRROR; January 10, 2013)

 

Bhansali, who has burnt his fingers with box office clashes, seems to be playing safe this time around. His next Ram Leela starring Ranveer Singh and Deepika Padukone that was slated for a Dussehra release, is now being postponed, in order to avoid a head-on collision with Rohit Shetty’s Chennai Express starring Shah Rukh Khan.

The filmmaker has decided his film will hit theatres not before November 29, couple of weeks after Krrish 3 releases. According to insiders, it is not as if Bhansali is not confident about Ram Leela. But, he is playing it safe — he doesn’t want history to repeat itself. Readers may recall that in 2007, his ambitious film Saawariya that introduced both Ranbir Kapoor and Sonam Kapoor, released on the same day as Farah Khan’s Shah Rukhstarrer Om Shanti Om, with the latter emerging a winner and Bhansali and SRK falling out with each other.

A source told Mirror, “Bhansali and his team are very confident about Ram Leela. His lead pair Ranveer and Deepika has put in extra effort to ensure their performance is top notch. In fact, Ranveer has worked hard on his body while Deepika has undergone vigorous training in dancing. Sometime ago, Bhansali had even told his team to gear up for the big clash.”

However, the scenario is different now. “Chennai Express is most likely to release More >

JTHJ v/s SOS: Mother of all Bollywood fights this Diwali

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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 >

Eid portrayal in Hindi films over the years

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Grandeur in the on-screen celebrations of the festival as seen in the 60s seems to be missing these days

Seema Sinha (BOMBAY TIMES; August 21, 2012)

 

Mujhe mil gaya bahana teri deed ka, kaisi khushi leke aaya chand Eid ka… the romantic composition from Barsaat Ki Raat (1960) is a befitting tribute to the festive moon while celebrating the elegance and nazaakat of the Urdu language and grandeur sets.

The grand success of K Asif’s extravagant historical Mughal-E-Azam (1960) was followed by a spate of Muslim celebrations in the sixties. While the decade saw the celluloid celebration of Islam and its grandeur shot on elaborate sets and costumes de rigueur, all of it waned in the seventies.

According to film experts, the nawabi culture, refinement and extreme romanticism gave the scope for Eid celebration in the movies in the 40s, 50s and the 60s. Purdah-nashin heroine lifting the veil of the burqa and smiling through gleaming, beautiful eyes coupled with some unforgettable lyrics and music — the festive fervour got a romantic back drop. In recent times, Farah Khan’s Tees Maar Khan saw Salman Khan, Akshay Kumar and Katrina Kaif dancing to the beats of the Eid song Wallah Wallah, which appeared more like an item number than a festive celebration. “It was a matter of fact inclusiveness of Eid celebrations those days, but now we have political, contemporary themes in urban setting where the narrative doesn’t have space to fit it in. Even a film like Jodhaa Akbar didn’t have Eid More >

Gateful that I am still around-Ashmit Patel

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Chaya Unnkrishnan (DNA; August 16, 2012)

Ashmit Patel

Ashmit Patel, whose career got a fresh lease of life with the reality show Bigg Boss, has found a new calling as a TV host. Last year, he had anchored Superstud, a reality show on how to woo a woman and now he is gearing up to host the second season called Superdude. While the concept remains the same, there will be a few changes in the format to make it interesting and intriguing informs the actor.

Incidentally, Ashmit got himself the tag of ladies man when his stint in Bigg Boss had him cosying up to Sara Khan and Veena Malik. There was even talk of Veena and he tying the knot. However, Ashmit dismisses all that with, “I am absolutely single. The fact that Sara and Veena were comfortable with me, shows that I am honest and never put on an act.” And thanks to his reputation as a charmer, he landed himself the unusual show Superstud. “Yes, it was a novel concept. In the rural parts of India, boys and girls are not allowed to interact with each other, so by the time they are in college, boys don’t know how to talk to girls. They end up being either arrogant or brash. That’s where this show helps,” says Ashmit.

Besides TV, Ashmit is also trying his luck in films again. He is curently shooting for a film called Saawariya that has him co-starring Sara Khan! Talking about his journey so far, Ashmit says that depite starring in big banner films at the start of his career, none clicked. “I did four films with the More >

I don’t let stardom go to my head-Ranbir Kapoor

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Sneha Mahadevan (DNA; July 12, 2012)

Ranbir Kapoor

Actor Ranbir Kapoor, who swept most awards this year for his intense act as an angst-ridden musician in Rockstar, seems set to earn more attention with the kind of response he’s generated in the promos of his upcoming film

The actor is not losing sleep over the fact that his Rockstar act didn’t really translate into big monies at the box-office. Ranbir believes that after having had a disastrous debut like his in Saawariya, it’s taught him to take a film’s success or failure with a pinch of salt. “Saawariya was a disaster, but I have absolutely no regrets. I am what I am because of that film. Besides, cinema is a form of art. It is meant to be criticised and complimented. I never take failure to heart or success to head. The fate of a film won’t impact me and that is something I have lived by all my life and hope to continue doing so,” the young actor had earlier said.

Word was out that Barfi will see Ranbir doing another Rockstar, but he dismisses it saying that the film is a happy, simple film about relationships. Says Ranbir, “Contrary to what is being said, Barfi is a very sweet simple film. It is very much on the lines of Mr Bean series and I play a deaf and dumb character. When I heard the script for the first time, I thought I would have a lot to prepare, but it turned out to be a breeze. The homework for Barfi was not a heavy-duty oneas I had to convey all my actions through eyes, hands and expressions. I More >

A look at Salman Khan’s ‘cameography’

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Salman Khan has acquired the title for doing several walk-on parts over the years

Jyothi Prabhakar (BOMBAY TIMES; June 29, 2012)

 

Most actors in Bollywood would probably cringe at the thought of doing a cameo — the general impression is that only an out-of-work actor does such roles. But Salman Khan, who is nothing if not a good friend, doesn’t shy away from doing them in the name of dosti!

Right now, Sallu has five cameos stacked up. He’s doing one for Ajay Devgn’s Son Of Sardaar, Preity Zinta’s Iskhq In Paris, and lent his voice for Umesh Shukla’s OMG! Oh My God. He has also promised Govinda that whenever the latter finalises a film for his daughter Narmmadaa’s debut, Salman will appear in it. That apart, he has also done a cameo for good friend Deepshikha’s directorial debut, Yeh Dooriyan. Deepshikha never tires of telling the story, “I told him that I was turning producer-director and gave him a brief outline of the story. I asked him if he’d do a special appearance, and he readily agreed.”

Filmmakers aver that Bhai’s heart is as large as the biceps he flexes, and that he never says no, never mind the fact that some of the movies don’t even ring a bell somewhere — they’ve sunk that badly! Often filmmakers get his OK for a cameo, and weave in something to suit him.

So addicted is Salman to cameos, that when he was in Cuba for the shoot of Ek Tha Tiger, a filmmaker asked him if he could pose for a few pictures for Cuban Tourism, and bhai ne phat se ek cameo kar More >

Sonakshi Sinha to star in her brother’s next?

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Sinha siblings Sonakshi, Luv and Kush team up for their first home production likely to start in 2013

Vickey Lalwani (MUMBAI MIRROR; June 22, 2012)

 

The Hindi film industry is not new to the phenomenon of families helping its weaker members make a mark. While many celebrity fathers have tried to launch and re-launch their offsprings, brothers, sisters and even brothers-in-law have tried to revive many a dwindling career through their ‘home-productions’. The latest to join the bandwagon is the Sinhas – Shatrughan’s daughter Sonakshi and her two brothers Luv and Kush. Mumbai Mirror has learnt that Sonakshi, who after a blockbuster beginning in Dabangg and an even bigger second film Rowdy Rathore is a star, has decided to star in a film to be produced and directed by her brother Kush. The film will also have a role for Luv, whose first film Sadiyaan failed to impress at the box office.

Kush had earlier assisted Sanjay Leela Bhansali in Saawariya and Abhinav Kashyap in Dabanng. “The next logical step for him was to direct his own film. And with Sonakshi’s current career graph, he couldn’t have asked for a better opportunity. She will play the lead. Luv will also play a part in the film. They are however hunting for a male lead to star opposite Sonakshi,” said a source.

The ambitious family venture will however have to wait a while before going on floors. “Sonakshi is currently busy with Son Of Sardaar and Lootera. The home production will only go on floors once her current More >

The job of an AD leading to direction is a myth-Ram Gopal Varma

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Ram Gopal Varma gets into a serious chat about cinema with Mirror reader Sanil Gosavi

MUMBAI MIRROR (May 6, 2012)

 

I’ve directed three shorts, of which two have won awards. But at 17, I don’t quite know what my next step should be. I thought of asking Mirror to help me out with a chat with Ram Gopal Varma, a man who is actually living my dream. Making films he wants to and also casting my favourite actor Amitabh Bachchan in most of them. And they did!

I’ve heard all these dramatic stories about RGV, but when I met him, he seemed nothing like how the media portrays him, or his much-talked about tweets. Considering it has been a while since RGV has had a hit, I asked, if it is possible to make a film without keeping the audience in mind. RGV replied, “I think it is convenient to think of the audience as one entity. How can you generalise about movie-goers when four people in a room will have different opinions on which curtains you should use? You can try and copy a hit, but the audience will always like different films. When Kahaani became a hit people say, ‘Oh, the audience wants new films’, and when a formula film becomes a hit, it becomes, ‘Oh, the audience will not change’. Any filmmaker will make a movie that excites him, but deludes himself that the audience will like it.”

“But don’t commercial considerations matter?” I asked. RGV replied, “As soon as you think of commercial success, the film is not art. Having said that, it is expensive to make films and a lot of More >

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