Posts tagged Subhash Ghai
I missed a close chance to work with Michael Jackson-A R Rahman
0Priya Gupta (BOMBAY TIMES; June 15, 2013)
AR Rahman, 46, is most attached to his music. He cries with sound and gets excited with tools. He has learnt to make his choices and then stand by them. He uses most of his money to build his school and equipment and is truly excited talking about being the principal of his music school. He may have just missed a close chance to work with Michael Jackson, but is working towards his dream of presenting an Indian Broadway with his students. His latest music from Raanjhanaa is extremely soulful and has entered the Mirchi Top 20 charts. He speaks to Bombay Times about the musical instincts of his mother, his pre-marital pact with his wife and what he shares with Rajinikanth. Excerpts:
How early did you know that you would be related to music? My mother (Kasturi Shekhar) realised it, not me. My father was an arranger for composers and a Man Friday for many of them. Those days, composers were Carnatic musicians, who would write the tunes, and my father would arrange the music and, so, he would be working with eight composers at the same time, working night and day. He died when I was just nine years old. Till five years after my father died, she would rent out his musical instruments to run the house after which she was advised to sell the equipment and live with the interest, but she refused saying, ‘No, I have my son. He will take care.’ She has music instincts. Spiritually she is much higher than me in the way she thinks and takes More >
Check out Mithun Chakraborty, Rishi Kapoor shooting for Kaanchi
0Mehul S Thakkar (MUMBAI MIRROR; June 6, 2013)
After a five-year hiatus, the Showman is back with a new film, Kaanchi, which also launches a new face, Mishti. Mirror lensman Sachin Haralkar was present at Film City, Goregaon, where a fresh schedule of the movie was being shot by Subhash Ghai.
Seen in the photograph are Mithun Chakraborty and Rishi Kapoor hugging each other and looking rather animated as if having a fun conversation.
An eyewitness said: “The two of them get busy talking to each other in between shots. Ghai too joins them and sometimes, gets nostalgic, taking a trip down memory lane. However, once it is time to shoot, they all become rather focussed and concentrate on what they are supposed to do.”
According to the eyewitness, as Ghai has worked with Rishi and Mithun previously, the trio share a great equation and the atmosphere on the sets is always charged. Apparently, at some point during the shoot, Ghai even remarked: “Magic is created by two things, the characters written in the script and the characters played by the actors. And I only work with people I have a rapport with.”
Actors-filmmakers go down memory lane as they talk about Rituparno Ghosh
0MID-DAY (May 31, 2013)
A frontrunner of social change, Rituparno Ghosh was unarguably one of the best film directors that Bengali cinema has produced. In fact, the auteur not just represented Bengali cinema but also films at the national level, working on English and Hindi films with élan. It was just three months short of his fiftieth birthday that Ghosh departed for heavenly abode.
Son of a documentary filmmaker, Rituparno grew up in a house where cinema was part of the staple diet. After pursuing Economics from Jadavpur University, Ghosh made the leap to films, making his directorial debut with Hirer Angti in 1994.
The same year, he made Unishe April that at once brought him critical acclaim and commercial success. It almost seemed Ghosh weaved his own magic into every project he worked upon, almost naturally winning a National Award for the efforts of his team and him.
The turn of the century had already seen Ghosh’s name firmly etched on the list of film stalwarts from Bengal. He not just cast Bengali actors and actresses, the director even looked beyond the immediate availability to rope in Bollywood stars as well. His The Last Lear is still often hailed as Amitabh Bachchan’s career- best performance.
Though controversy never stopped to tail Ghosh — a man exploring his sexuality ( he has even told another Bengali filmmaker Buddhadeb Dasgupta that he was looking forward to a sex change surgery) — the most remarkable aspect about the auteur was that he was always More >
Rituparno Ghosh was jubilant about every moment in life-Gulzar
0BOMBAY TIMES (May 31, 2013)
With Rituparno Ghosh, an era of sensitive, brave and internationally relevant cinema comes to an end. The National Awardwinning Bengali director died yesterday of a massive cardiac arrest at 7.30 am. The industry mourns his loss…
HE WAS FULL OF POSITIVITY GULZAR: Forty-nine is so young to die. This is a deep shock and disturbing news for me. I remember him as a very young and enthusiastic boy when Aparna Sen had sent him to me. I realised that he was full of positivity and never seen him dull. I also wrote the lyrics for his first documentary film Vande Matram. He won two National Awards for Unishe April, but I really liked his Noukadubi and felt that he deserved an award for it. Over the years, he met with success in work, but has always been in touch. It is a deep loss. He was jubilant about every moment in life and always smiling.
HIS WAY OF LOOKING AT THINGS WAS SO DIFFERENT AJAY DEVGN: I’m shocked and saddened to hear of his demise. It was great working with him in Raincoat. His way of looking at things was so different and that’s probably what made him a good director. He has made some great films and through them he will always be remembered.
HE’D HELP ME WITH MY BENGALI GRAMMAR KONKONA SEN SHARMA: It is such a shock. He was a brave, sensitive and an inspirational filmmaker. He was really educated in films; not just Bengali cinema. He was deeply aware of his own cultural heritage, yet he made films that were relevant and More >
Subhash Ghai ventures into fashion
0Renuka Vyavahare (BOMBAY TIMES; May 21, 2013)
Filmmaker Subhash Ghai and fashion designer Neeta Lulla have joined hands to offer India a fashion institute. The Whistling Woods — Neeta Lulla School of Fashion (WWNL) was launched last week.
About the joint venture, Ghai states, “The fashion business has emerged as a multi-billion dollar industry in India with the business of fashion rapidly gaining visibility and credibility. A profession that was once considered niché, is today open to aspirants from all walks of life. Further, through the efforts of Indian designers, models, make-up artists and photographers, India has started to take steps in the global fashion domain.”
Neeta added, “Through our fashion school, we wish to provide the students with a holistic view and understanding of the fashion industry. Apart from designing, there are numerous other career options that students can explore — pattern making, quality control, visual merchandising, marketing, illustration, styling fashion photography and fashion journalism, being some of them.” The institute starts its first intake in August 2013. It will be based out of the present campus.
Aditya Pancholi’s son, Suniel Shetty’s daughter in the remake of Hero?
0Vickey Lalwani (MUMBAI MIRROR; May 15, 2013)
In the never-ending turf war between kids from film families and rank outsiders, there are fresh reinforcements for the former every day. Joining the ranks of Alia Bhatts and Arjun Kapoors of the industry are two new faces – Sooraj –Aditya-Pancholi and Athiya-Suniel-Shetty. The two kids will make their debut in the official remake of Jackie Shroff’s 1983 blockbuster, Hero. Director Subhash Ghai has sold the remake rights to Salman Khan and the development marks an end to the speculation over 18-year-old Athiya’s launch vehicle. While it is not clear who will direct the project, Mirror has learnt that Ghai, who has an ear for music, has been requested to score for the film. If that works out, it will be a milestone in the filmmaker’s long and eventful career.
According to a source close to the developments, “Salman has requested Subhashji to help with the music. He has always been a fan of his musical hits Karz, Karma and Khalnayak.” As for the kids, Athiya was in New York last year where she studied filmmaking and liberal arts at the New York Film Academy. Reportedly, she was even one of the hot contenders for Sajid Nadiadwala’s Heropanti, starring Jackie Shroff’s son Tiger.
Sooraj has been training in dance and martial arts. He assisted Sanjay Leela Bhansali in Hrithik-Aishwarya starrer Guzaarish and Kabir Khan in Salman-Katrina starrer Ek Tha Tiger. According to reports, that is where he caught Salman’s attention. The film More >
Khalnayak to be revisited, with or without Sanjay Dutt
0Agencies (MUMBAI MIRROR; May 10, 2013)
Actor Sanjay Dutt’s super-hit film Khalnayak is likely to be made again.
The 1993 blockbuster, starring Sanjay and Madhuri Dixit was produced and directed by Subhash Ghai. The action thriller film is likely to return either in form of a sequel or a remake.
“We are planning something on Khalynayak. We are working on that. We have few directors on board and we will make the announcement soon. We don’t want to reveal much now,” Ghai told a news agency.
The film revolved around the escape and capture of a criminal Ballu (Sanjay) by Inspector Ram (Jackie Shroff) and his girlfriend officer Ganga (Madhuri).
“We are looking to present the story in a contemporary way,” Ghai said.
Dutt, who was riding high on the success of his movie Khalnayak, was in for shock when he was arrested for his alleged involvement in the 1993 serial bomb blasts case.
The actor’s conviction for possession of arms was upheld by the Supreme Court this year and he was sentenced to five years in jail.
Dutt who has already undergone one and a half year in prison has been given time till May 17 by the apex court to surrender.
Bollywood goes Yamla Pagla Deewana
0BOMBAY TIMES (May 9, 2013)
The starry attendance at the music launch of Yamla Pagla Deewana 2 was proof of the goodwill the Deols — especially Dharmendra — have in the industry. Aamir Khan, Akshay Kumar, Shah Rukh Khan and Hrithik Roshan came to wish Dharamji, Sunny and Bobby the best for their upcoming film. Singer Toshi and composer Sharib started the event with a song from the film and were later joined by Sunidhi Chauhan. Next, dancers performed to Changli, Kurta Tera Lal Rang Da and the title track. The Deols also invited Aamir, SRK, Hrithik and Rakesh Roshan, Juhi Chawla, Subhash Ghai, Anil Sharma, Rahul Rawail, Rajkumar Santoshi, director Sangeeth Sivan, co-stars Neha Sharma, Kristina (sporting jewellery from Anmol Jewellers) and crew to launch the film’s soundtrack. Dharamji said that he’s the number one dancer in India. “My son Sunny has conceptualised a song for me in the film,” he said.
The movie releases June 7.
Akshay Kumar
Bobby Deol
Rakesh Roshan
Subhash Ghai and Anupam Kher
Genelia and Riteish Deshmukh
Toshi and Sharib
Sangeeth Sivan
Neha Sharma
Kristina Akheeva
Mishti hurts her knees on sets of Kaanchi
0Asira Tarannum (MID-DAY; May 7, 2013)
Mishti, who is making her debut in Bollywood in Subhash Ghai’s Kaanchi, got injured while doing a stunt for the movie
In a particular sequence the newcomer was required to jump from a height of 40 feet.
Her body double was supposed to do the stunt but when the final shot was being taken Mishti told the action director that she would want to do it herself.
Says Ghai, “The body double was supposed to do the stunt but Mishti felt she could do it. She gave the shot and we all clapped but then we realised her knees were bleeding.”
He adds, “But hats off to her spirit, she came for the shoot the next day though she was in pain and had fever.”
I’m as excited about Kaanchi as I was about Hero-Subhash Ghai
0By Subhash Ghai (BOMBAY TIMES; May 5, 2013)
Last week, while I was shooting my film Kaanchi in Uttaranchal, I experienced one of the most magical moments of my life — the mystic mountains, mesmerising music, colourful dancers and a passionate young crew. But what thrilled me the most was the performance of my heroine Mishti, who is playing the title role. It reminded me how excited I was while working with newcomers Jackie Shroff and Meenakshi Sheshadri in Hero in the 80s. I realised that I’m at my best when I work with young talent as it’s a challenge for me. When they give good performances and the audience goes gaga, making them overnight stars, I feel like I’m on a high. They move on in life and I look forward to more fresh talent. At such times, I feel I’m a filmmaker in the truest sense. The real test for any good filmmaker is when he makes a film with newcomers in lead roles and turns it into a blockbuster. I am an actor’s director. I first write the characters and then rewrite again after casting the actors, keeping their positive and negative points in consideration.
This is an aggressive and progressive film. Kaanchi is an interesting and a unique character. She represents today’s youth and carves the guidelines for GenNext. The villains, Mithun Chakraborty and Rishi Kapoor, provide a lot of entertainment. However, the most surprising elements of the movie are the three leading men — Kartik Tiwari, who plays the charistmatic lover, Rishabh Sinha, who plays an More >