Posts tagged student of the year

Hats Off: Karan Johar silences his detractors and how

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3 days ago
by Fenil Seta in

Sarita Tanwar (DNA; June 17, 2013)

 

Okay, before the purists begin baying for my blood, can we look at the facts please? Karan Johar is self-admittedly Yash Chopra’s biggest fan. He has watched the senior director’s films over and over and has been influenced by them, which is evident in his films and career graph.

In an interview KJo said, “Today’s Internet generation knows Yash Chopra for Chandni, Lamhe and Dil To Pagal Hai but they are not aware that he was a pioneer in so many ways.” So is Karan. At the beginning of his career, he was labelled as candy floss director but then he dared to portray the Hindi film hero like few filmmakers before him. In Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna, he gave the protagonist a limp and made him an angry, bitter, man. In My Name Is Khan, the leading man was autistic. While one film from Dharma had the hero playing a terrorist (Kurbaan), another (Gippi) had a fat girl as the lead role.

Karan has said this about Chopra, “He tackled the lost-’n’-found theme in the multi-starrer Waqt. He made a song-less thriller called Ittefaq. He made a multi-generational romance like Kabhi Kabhie and revenge dramas like Deewar and Trishul. Dharamputra, dealt with a social issue.”

Look at Karan’s track record. His multi-starrer was Kabhie Khushi Kabhie Gham is a lost-and-found drama of sorts. He produced Agneepath, a revenge drama. His banner also made Dostana, which had a social message without being preachy… But Karan’s no copycat. While Yash Chopra shied away from More >

Something’s brewing between Alia-Varun; Shraddha-Aditya?

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1 month ago
by Fenil Seta in

BOMBAY TIMES (May 20, 2013)

 

Through the highly advertised Student Of The Year one thing that the makers kept in low focus is the growing ‘friendship’ between Varun Dhawan and Alia Bhatt. According to sources, this young couple discovered each other on set and during one of the outdoor schedules, they managed to raise antennas.

There have been attempts to make Varun seem like a guy who wears his heart on his sleeve. But, the fact of the matter is that he continues to accompany Alia even to story sittings of films where he’s not the leading man.

Another set of youngsters who seem to have grown very fond of each other are the Aashiqui 2 lead pair, Shraddha Kapoor and Aditya Roy Kapoor. Not only is the film a run-away hit, the lead pair is also a run-away hit with the public and more importantly with themselves. Those who interacted with Shraddha during the making of the love saga found her constantly showing concern for Aditya. And if this isn’t proof enough, long after the film is over, they continue to remain in constant touch.

Kayoze Irani in Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa?

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1 month ago
by Fenil Seta in

Boman Irani’s son is the latest to be approached to be part of a dance reality show

Sonali Joshi Pitale (MID-DAY; April 24, 2013)

 

Boman Irani’s son Kayoze who made his debut in Karan Johar’s Student of The Year, has been offered to be part of Color’s Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa’s upcoming season. A source says, “The makers are in a process of finalising contestants and Kayoze is one of them.” Meanwhile the actor has yet to give his confirmation to the channel and the production house.

A crew member says, “The show may go on air by June and the makers are still in talks with Kayoze, and if things fall into place, he might be on board.”

Jackie Shroff’s daughter Krishna studying filmmaking

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2 months ago
by Fenil Seta in

BOMBAY TIMES (April 15, 2013)

 

Jackie Shroff’s teenage daughter Krishna will not follow in her brother Tiger’s footsteps and become an actor. Tiger is making his debut in Sajid Nadiadwala’s Heropanti. His younger sister is studying filmmaking overseas. Jackie confirmed the news.

It is said that Krishna was offered lead roles in films, including Karan Johar’s Student Of The Year. However, she prefers staying behind the camera. She is expected to join an established director as an assistant when she completes her studies.

I miss Govinda when I am working with other actors-David Dhawan

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2 months ago
by Fenil Seta in

Priya Gupta (BOMBAY TIMES; April 2, 2013)

 

David Dhawan, 60, was originally called Rajendra Dhawan. His Catholic neighbours at Agartala had nicknamed him David that became so popular that his name was changed when he was studying at Film and Television Institute of India (FTII). He became a comedy director as he was a Manmohan Desai and Hrishikesh Mukherjee fan. Even though he stays in a plush Juhu house, he remains a middle-class man at heart. After three decades in the film industry, he knows that you can rely only on yourself to fight the game of hits and flops. Ahead of his upcoming film Chashme Baddoor, he talks to Bombay Times about his natkhat son Varun, his best friend and wife Lally and why Govinda continues to be his favourite actor. Excerpts:

How did you become a director? I was born in Agartala, but brought up in Kanpur where my father, who was a manager in UCO Bank, got transferred. I studied in Christ Church College till Class XII. One of my older brothers, Anil Dhawan, joined FTII to study acting. Later, I also joined FTII. Initially I went to join acting, but seeing other actors like Satish Shah and Suresh Oberoi, I realised I can’t act. I took up editing as an option and was a classmate of Renu Saluja. Naseer was a batch senior, Om Puri was in my batch. We were a class of hit boys and girls. At FTII, they show you films daily. I saw Ritwik Ghatak’s Bengali film Meghe Dhaka Tara and it struck me that in filmmaking, you can make something out of nothing. I More >

The ‘Gay’teway To Bollywood

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2 months ago
by Fenil Seta in

Depiction of gay characters in Bollywood continues to be steeped in stereotype, even as realism’s struggling to rear its head

Aakanksha Naval-Shetye (DNA; March 28, 2013)

 

At a recent Gay and Lesbian Center gala held in LA, studio mogul (Sony Pictures) Amy Pascal, in her speech highlighted the stereotypical depiction of LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community) characters in Hollywood films. She insisted that studio bosses scrutinise and make an attempt to eliminate gay slurs. She said, “How about next time, when any of us are reading a script and it says words like fag, faggot, homo, dyke — take a pencil and just cross it out.” The studio honcho also pointed out that not every gay character on screen needed to be defined by his or her sexuality. She quipped, “Can’t we depict men and women who just so happen to be gay — perhaps a lawyer or soldier or business executive or scientist or engineer…”

While the issue was raised about the depiction of LGBT characters in Hollywood, things are as bad, if not worse in Bollywood.

No laughing matter this! Filmmakers in popular cinema here continue to use characters of alternate sexuality seeped in stereotypical images as crutches to provide comic relief. Few will forget Kantaben’s shocked expression on seeing Saif Ali Khan and Shah Rukh Khan in bed together in Kal Ho Naa Ho or Abhishek Bachchan’s effeminate act in Bol Bachchan. John Abraham’s flirty act with Boman Irani’s character in Dostana had the audience in splits, More >

I was dying to have a working birthday-Sidharth Malhotra

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5 months ago
by Fenil Seta in

Sidharth Malhotra spent his birthday yesterday prepping for his upcoming film

Aakanksha Naval-Shetye (DNA; January 17, 2013)

 

Sidharth Malhotra, who turned a year older yesterday, celebrated his first ‘working birthday’ and the actor was excited about it. “As an actor one really looks forward to saying, ‘I will be working on my birthday.’ At least I was waiting… dying to be able to say that since my past few birthdays,” says the young actor who finally had his dream come true. “This birthday was truly special for me. I got to take out all my bhadaas (frustrations) of saying that ‘it was a working birthday’ this time,” he smiles. But while Sidharth spent the day rehearsing for his performance at an awards event, as well as prepping for his upcoming film Hasee Toh Phasee with Parineeti Chopra that he will begin shooting for, by the end of March, the evening saw him get together with a bunch of close friends over dinner. But no girlfriend? “No, I really am single at the moment. Though I do wish that by my next birthday I will have her by my side. That’s actually part of my birthday wish. And now that I know that dreams do come true, I am hoping this one will also become real,” shares Siddharth.

Having made his debut alongside two starkids, does he feel that they have an advantage over non-film family kids in the industry. “Well they have options of turning to people with experience if they need to, while we may take a little longer to figure out the same thing. So, the only More >

Sidharth Malhotra’s ‘Super’ birthday wish

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5 months ago
by Fenil Seta in

Asira Tarannum (MID-DAY; January 16, 2013)

 

Sidharth Malhotra had a dream debut in Karan Johar’s Student of the Year. And as he turns 28 today, the actor says all he wishes for is to play a superhero on screen.

Another wish on his mind is to woo Kareena Kapoor in a film. Says Sid, “I want to woo Bebo. I admire her off and on screen as well. Once when I met her I asked her if we could do a movie together and she said yes!”

And he plans to take the day slow, thanks to his hectic work schedule. So much so that he even had to cancel his plans to fly home to meet his parents. “I will be having a quiet dinner, no star-studded birthday party. Now since I am working, it’s a cool line to tell my parents that I am busy!” The actor, who admits he is a singleton, also adds that he is all ready to mingle.

Like a zombie, I wake up with a song in my head-Shekhar Ravjiani

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5 months ago
by Fenil Seta in

Composer Shekhar Ravjiani on his love for music, his daughter and future assignments

Asira Tarannum (MID-DAY; December 23, 2012)

 

SHEKHAR Ravjiani (of the Vishal- Shekhar music duo) rose to prominence when they composed the score for Jhankaar Beats in 2003. Their films include Om Shanti Om, Salaam Namaste, Bachna Ae Haseeno and Dostana among others.

Shekhar is a trained classical singer and was a participant of the music reality show Sa Re Ga Ma Pa in 1997. Apart from B-Town assignments, he is also lending his voice for Marathi songs as he tells us.

How did your first Marathi single Saazni happen? I was working on a tune in my studio when director Ravi Jadhav happened to hear it and offered me his film Balak Palak. I told him that I want to sing a Marathi song. I am not too fluent in the language but I wanted to sing and that is how it happened. Actually, I always had a fascination for Marathi as I have spent four to five years of my childhood in Nashik. We have a vineyard and a farm house there and a lot of musicians used to come to my place and are still family friends. I used to attend many Marathi concerts.

Marathi compositions sound a little tough but are beautiful. It was crazy when I started working on Saazni, as if some force was driving me to do it. I finished it in three to four days. I am glad the revenue from that single went to the NGO Maniketan for a noble cause.

You were working on your second Marathi single, Saavli, also? I have already finished working on More >

Ram Kapoor on films and whether he’s quitting Bade Acche Lagte Hai

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6 months ago
by Fenil Seta in

The actor who has several films lined up next year talks about his balancing act, reveals he has another film with wife Gautami

Chaya Unnikrishnan (DNA; November 30, 2012)

 

News is that you are quitting Bade Acche Lagte Hai for films. Is that true? I have been shuffling between films and TV ever since the show started two years ago. I have shot for Agent Vinod, Ek Main Aur Ekk Tu, Student of the Year (SOTY) and haven’t had any date problems. I am very attached to Bade Acche Lagte Hai. Other than that I cannot comment anything on it. Yes, life is a little bit of a challenge for me right now, but hard work never killed anyone.

The serial started off with a bang, then went through a lull, a leap etc. What is your take on it? Nobody expected it to start off with such a bang and be received so well so quickly. We knew we are doing something good but to get this response was fantastic. A serial is not like a film with a definite beginning, middle and end. Yes, there were ups and downs but both Sakshi (Tanwar) and I are very experienced and prepared for it. I am happy that it is still the channel leader with a big margin.

You are a big name in TV but in films you are playing insignificant roles… I am very happy with the films I am getting. I am working with filmmakers every actor wants to work with. I entered films as a character actor and made a list of filmmakers I want to work with. I am climbing the ladder slowly. Take any actor Boman Irani or Irrfan Khan, they reached where More >

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