Where Bollywood Comes Alive
Posts tagged success
One line of Game caught my fancy-Abhishek Bachchan
02 years ago
by Fenil Seta
in Interviews
By Devansh Patel, March 19, 2011 – 10:46 IST
The actor is in an upbeat mood in Filmistan Studios in Goregaon. His film Game, a twisted thriller, is just a few days away from the big screen release. Add to that, this is the same Studio where he shot his first scene with his wife Aishwarya Rai Bachchan twelve years ago when they were mere acquaintances. That explains why the actor greets me in his vanity van with a special chai ordered for me on the sets of Abbas Mustan’s Players being shot in the same studio. He sits tall and with his brewed coffee arriving just in time in his extremely special ‘Chelsea’ mug, you can make out that Abhishek Bachchan the man likes to hold things close to his heart, be it his first shot with wife at Filmistan, his forthcoming film Game or his ‘Chelsea’ coffee mug. Where’s my ‘Liverpool’ mug? Anyway…he doesn’t talk much but he talks precise. His words are sharp and his answers make absolute sense. He said something that is still engraved in my head, as I write this interview, “Failures shake your confidence, shake your belief but it won’t shake your love and passion for what you do.” But the strange thing about Abhi’s selective reticence is that it’s accompanied by a broad smile, as if to say he knows what game he’s being asked to play, and he’s just not interested. For a change, he has no option today but to play the ‘Game’ with me. UK’s Harrow Observer columnist and Bollywood Hungama‘s London correspondent is all More >
Only those with vested interests are challenging TMK success-UTV
02 years ago
by Fenil Seta
in Bollywood News
By Joginder Tuteja, December 31, 2010 – 14:16 IST
UTV Motion Pictures has confirmed that they are in the profit making zone for their recent release Tees Maar Khan. Though certain sections of industry as well as trade didn’t quite acknowledge the terrific start of the film and were only way too pleased to label the film as a ‘barely coverage’ affair or even a ‘flop’ as weekdays progressed, an official confirmation from UTV with facts and figures intact pretty much tell a different tale.
Though the film didn’t quite turn out to be the festive extravaganza that it was touted to be, it is way beyond the claims of being a loosing preposition and has actually turned out to be a profitable venture for its investors.
“Well, all I can say is that only those with some vested interests could be challenging the success of Tees Maar Khan“, says Siddharth Roy Kapur, CEO UTV Motion Pictures, “The film has been a profitable venture for us.”
There are different stories floating around in the trade though with murmurs of the production house actually loosing money here.
“Okay, let’s do the maths here”, Siddharth explains the equation, “The entire cost of acquisition for Tees Maar Khan was 50 crores. We further spent 10 crores the print and publicity worldwide. This makes the total cost as 60 crores. Now we have already recovered 30 crores from satellite and music rights. Balance 30 crores has to be recovered from India box office collections, overseas collections, home video More >
Preity Zinta to address the Oxford Union
02 years ago
by Fenil Seta
in Bollywood News
By Devansh Patel, October 7, 2010 – 14:02 IST
The best of East and West will meet in the UK by the end of this month as one of India’s hottest talents addresses the Oxford Union, the world’s most prestigious debating society.
One of Indian cinema’s leading ladies and the star of over 30 films, Preity Zinta will answer questions from Oxford students on her experience of being a part of the world’s largest film industry and an iconic figure in a male-dominated business.
Preity Zinta is considered as a role model to many who aspire to achieve success through hard work and honesty. Zinta is the latest in a long list of prominent speakers to have visited the Oxford Union, which has also hosted former Prime Minister Winston Churchill, as well as current Prime Minister David Cameron, US Presidents Reagan and Nixon, the Dalai Lama, Stephen Hawking and Mother Teresa. The Union is no stranger to the world of entertainment either, claiming Michael Jackson, Natalie Portman, Pierce Brosnan, Clint Eastwood and Martin Sheen as past speakers.
When asked about the upcoming visit, Zinta said that she is very excited at the prospect of speaking at such a prestigious debating society.
Ash Sangha, Vice President of the Oxford Union, who was responsible for inviting Preity Zinta, commented, “I am very excited to be welcoming Preity Zinta to speak here at the Oxford Union Society this coming October. She is quite simply a global superstar. Throughout nearly 200 years of More >
Arbaaz gifts SUV to Abhinav
02 years ago
by Fenil Seta
in Bollywood News
BOMBAY TIMES (October 4, 2010)
If there’s one man who’s flying high on the roaring box office success of his debut venture Dabangg, it’s producer Arbaaz Khan. And what’s success if it isn’t shared, right? Echoing this sentiment, Arbaaz recently gifted the film’s writer and director, Abhinav Kashyap with a top of the line, swanky white SUV.
“It’s a small way of saying thanks to Abhinav for being a part of this amazing journey. It’s as much his success as it’s mine. He’s been there right from the inception of the film to it’s going on floor and the entire shooting process. It was but natural that I shared it’s eventual success, too, with him. Also, we both started our careers with this film, he as director and me as producer so it’s an even more memorable success,” says a visibly elated Arbaaz.
Talking about their experience of making Dabangg, Arbaaz says it was a learning experience for both. “We both had plenty of ideas and an all consuming passion to make the film. That apart, both of us also had elder brothers who are already big names in the industry and we knew that we had to carve a niche for ourselves. Thankfully, our film sensibilities were perfectly in sync and the results are there for all to see,” he says.
So how did Abhinav react to this surprise gift? “He’s definitely overjoyed. It’s not something that he desired or expected. But it’s something from the Khan family, especially from my side, apart from his More >
Deepika in Kunder’s Joker?
12 years ago
by Fenil Seta
in Bollywood News
Shirish Kunder is in advanced talks with the actress for the heroine’s role in Joker. It’s clear that Farah is on good terms with her
Sonal Chawla (MUMBAI MIRROR; September 24, 2010)
That Farah Khan’s hubby Shirish Kunder may have finally cast a heroine for his next Joker is interesting. But what’s even better is that it’s going to be Deepika Padukone. So, if all goes well, Akshay Kumar will be seen romancing Deepika Padukone in Joker. Clearly, Deepika and Farah have mended their differences.
It may be recalled that soon after Deepika’s debut release Om Shanti Om, the actress did not bother to keep in touch with the woman who gave her the first big break in Bollywood, Farah Khan.
After the success of her debut film, Deepika moved on with her newfound fame. She started getting projects with big banners and got so busy working on each of them that she was not left with any time to keep in touch with Farah. This had upset Farah tremendously.
But now the two have buried the hatchet.
A source close to Joker revealed, “Deepika and Shirish are in advanced talks. She is the prime contender to fill the heroine’s slot in the film.”
Apparently, on reading the script of the film, Deepika loved the character she is supposed to play. The source added, “Deepika is very excited to be backing Farah Khan’s fold. After all, it was Farah who gave her her first super hit film Om Shanti Om.”
On being asked about signing Deepika, Shirish was a bit evasive. He More >
Success makes the journey more enjoyable-Ajay Devgn
02 years ago
by Fenil Seta
in Bollywood News
Ajay Devgn’s had three back-to-back-hits
Meena Iyer | TNN (BOMBAY TIMES; September 21, 2010)
He’s Bollywood’s proverbial dark horse, winning bets placed on him more often than most others. And though he had slipped off the radar last year with London Dreams, Bollywood superstar Ajay Devgn has since then managed to regain a lot of his lost ground. In 2010, the actor has had a dream run with three backto-back hits — the slice of life comedy Atithi Tum Kab Jaoge, the political drama Raajneeti, and the 70s underworld saga Once Upon A Time In Mumbaai.
The trade estimates that his last three films, that cut across genres, had around Rs 130 crores riding on them and Ajay super-safely delivered. A trade analyst says, “2010 has seen two superstars return to form, one is Salman Khan, the other is Ajay Devgn. One had Dabangg and the other came back with a bang.”
The Aakrosh producer, Kumar Mangat Pathak, says, “Ajay is a very sound box office proposition. I’m particularly happy because in Aakrosh he returns to his original form as an action hero. Though the story deals with the topic of honour killings, Priyadarshan has formatted Aakrosh like a fast-paced thriller. When it comes to action, Ajay has always delivered.”
Ajay himself has virtually had no time to access his professional victories. Says he, “I have been shooting continuously for two years now. After Golmaal Returns (Diwali 2008) I got into my home production All The Best (Diwali More >
I have gone through sexual innuendo in Bollywood-Eesha Koppikhar
02 years ago
by Fenil Seta
in Bollywood News
By Devansh Patel, August 23, 2010 – 12:14 IST
Download image as wallpaperIt’s a lucky day. Eesha Narang invites me to her residence in Bandra’s Pali Hill. I arrive on time expecting a superb, well managed modern decor with half a dozen maids running up and down. But the first glance makes you forget your expectations. It just doubles it up. From the outside, it looks like a colossal palace. More like the Buckingham Palace. It’s retro in style. It’s traditionally white and it’s got about a dozen chefs cooking some special courses for the day. BMWs, Mercedes and Toyotas are seen entering the spacious parking lot to attend the obvious function. I enter the reception area and ask for Eesha. But to no avail. I call her and she calls back and guides me to come on the first floor where she is busy eating her hot served lunch. She offers me some but I insist on ‘no thanks’. Next up, “Will you have Tang?” I reply in affirmative. And then the best part, “Will you have it with soda or water?” the maid asks. Eesha can’t stop laughing when I reply, “Isn’t Tang suppose to be had with water?”
What followed next was unimaginable. Eesha reveals one of her darkest secrets. Yes, it was tough but the time was so right for her as Hello Darling is just around the corner of seeing itself on the big screen. My jaws drop down when Koppikhar turned Narang throws up, “I want to tell you something that’s a shocker. During my early days in Bollywood, I’ve been hinted by an More >
Kundan Shah speaks about Ravi Baswani
02 years ago
by Fenil Seta
in Bollywood News
Kundan Shah (MUMBAI MIRROR; July 28, 2010)
Ravi Baswani was a rare talent. I remember being in the pre-production stage of Jaane Bhi Do Yaaro, scouting for actors. That’s when I saw a play called Vallabhpur Ki Roopkatha at Prithvi in 1982, in which Ravi acted. I had already watched Chashme Buddoor and was hugely impressed by Ravi’s performance. But the play reconfirmed my belief that Ravi would be lucky for Jaane Bhi Do Yaaro.
Then he was living in an apartment called Tudor in Santacruz East, which had developed a cult status for struggling talent in Bollywood: Alok Nath, Rakesh Bedi, David Dhawan were all residing there. I went over to that apartment. I wasn’t expecting Ravi to accept the film but I knew that he was struggling despite the success of Chashme Buddoor.
Working with Ravi and Naseer was like magic. Ravi brought to life a theory I had conjured about directing comedy. I called it the ‘comic cement’. If one actor has it in him, the other will follow. In this case, I always believe that it was Ravi Baswani whose stellar performance goaded Naseer to shine as well, for Naseer I never thought of as an out-and-out comic actor. Ravi though was.
At a pre-release screening of Jaane Bhi Do Yaaro, famed playwright Vijay Tendulkar told me that it was Ravi’s stupendous performance that stood out. And it was true. But there was no denying the hard work Naseer and Ravi had put in as a team. During the making of the film, the two of them would More >
Money, money Maddy!
02 years ago
by Fenil Seta
in Bollywood News
R Madhavan is back on TV with a new game show
Roshni K Olivera | TNN (BOMBAY TIMES; July 1, 2010)
He was this sweet, cool, ever-smiling anchor on TV hosting Tol Mol Ke Bol years ago. Not much has changed, except that he’s more popular today with the masses. R Madhavan, after his recent Hindi films 13B and 3 Idiots, has an altogether different connect with people as we saw on the sets of Imagine’s new game show Big Money, produced by Big Synergy, starting July 10, every Saturday and Sunday at 9 pm. It’s a show featuring questions about all things on TV right from popular soaps to reality shows, from advertisements to cartoons, cricket and news! And Madhavan’s not surprised to see the level of telly knowledge among people. “TV is huge and people are absolutely well-versed with everything,” he says. As a host, is he more confident today compared to 15 years ago? “No, in fact I was more relaxed then because there was no pressure on me. I had nothing at stake at that time. With success comes pressure because the expectations are higher,” he says, ready for the big game. His USP as an anchor, he believes, is being himself with no pretences. “That helps me connect better with the contestants and audiences. After a point I believe in letting the intensity of the game take over,” says Maddy, as he’s fondly known in the industry and on the sets here too. The show doesn’t have questions that test one’s general knowledge, mathematical More >