Posts tagged Vijay

Telegu cinema respects women more than Tamil cinema-Kajal Aggarwal

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3 months ago
by Fenil Seta in

Priya Gupta (BOMBAY TIMES; February 6, 2013)

 

Kajal Aggarwal, 26, is destiny’s child. In just six years of her career, she has featured in 26 films in Telugu, Tamil and Hindi. She was always pampered, wealthy and lucky. Being an actress has made her more patient. Ahead of her latest film Special 26, she talks to Bombay Times about the frenzy around ‘the hero’ in Tamil films, her favourite co-stars Junior NTR and Vijay and why she is considered lucky for a film. Excerpts:

You are a Mumbai Punjabi girl. How did you come about doing 26 South films? We are Punjabi’s from Amritsar, though I was born and brought up in Mumbai and did my Bachelors in Mass Media, specialising in advertising and marketing. In my final year of college, I was interning with Loreal, when during one of the photoshoots, a photographer suggested I become a model. I was working under Smira Bakshi, who was this really cool chick as she was loaded, had her fun and was successful. I basically aspired to be her. In the meantime, my photographs got distributed through the photographer and I was offered a South Indian film with Nana Patekar that was to be made in three languages. While the Hindi version of the film Cinema did not get released, it was released in Telugu and Tamil. My father is conservative and authoritative and the most important figure in my life, but he said to me, ‘Kajal if films are being offered to you, there must be a purpose to it and you should do it. Few people get opportunities like More >

Check out Kajal Aggarwal in Mary Kom-inspired film

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6 months ago
by Fenil Seta in

South actress alters her girl-next-door image by playing a boxer a la Mary Kom in A R Murugadoss’ Tamil thriller ‘Thuppakki’

Shaheen Parkar (MID-DAY; November 5, 2012)

 

After Mary Kom’s win at the London Olympics, the boxing champ inspired several filmmakers to make movies based on a female pugilist. Sanjay Leela Bhansali announced that he is making a biopic based on the Manipur-based champion. But Ghajini director A R Murugadoss’ soon-to-release Tamil thriller Thuppakki is ready for the bout. His film starring Vijay has the female protagonist essayed by Singham actress Kajal Aggarwal as a boxer.

Kajal, who has featured in several South flicks, has mostly played the role of the sweet-girl-next-door. So getting into the ring was a singularly unique experience. She says, “As boxer Nisha, I am this strong willed, impulsive girl. I watched a lot of Mary Kom’s matches. Initially I started watching her matches to just understand and learn her body language. Later I was totally gripped and I was following her bouts during the Olympics as well.”

A source from the sets adds, “The role of Nisha was quite challenging for Kajal but she managed to pull it off. It helped her explore the athlete in her that she thought was non-existent!” Kajal’s has been styled and designed by Komal Shahani for the film. A lot of references were taken by how Kom dressed up for her bouts. Apart from her South film commitments, Kajal will also be seen with Akshay Kumar in Neeraj Pandey’s Special Chabbis More >

Akshay Kumar to finally work with Murugadoss?

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11 months ago
by Fenil Seta in

The South filmmaker’s remake of ‘Thupaki’ to star Akshay Kumar in the lead

Kunal M Shah (MID-DAY; June 25, 2012)

 

After much speculation, Akshay Kumar and A R Murugadoss will finally be working together in the official remake of his film Thupaki. The original is currently being shot with Tamil star Vijay and Kajal Aggarwal.

Akshay’s close friend Vipul Shah will produce the film. This will be Akki’s second remake of a South film as an actor after Rowdy Rathore. Our source informs, “This will be Murugadoss’s first film after Ghajini. Akshay and he have been planning this film from a long time but they were not able to zero down on any subject.

They have now finalised on this film that was earlier scheduled to be made in Hindi. However, due to Akki’s packed schedule, the making got delayed. Now, the remake is scheduled to start in December. The lead actress is yet to be finalised.” Murugadoss and Akshay remained unavailable for comment.

Kajal Aggarwal opp Akshay Kumar in Special Chabbis

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1 year ago
by Fenil Seta in

The actor will share screen space with Khiladi Kumar in her second B-town outing

V Lakshmi (BOMBAY TIMES; March 2, 2012)

 

After making her Bollywood debut opposite Ajay Devgn with Singham, Kajal Aggarwal is all set to work with Akshay Kumar in her next. Kajal will be seen romancing Khiladi Kumar in a film directed by Neeraj Pandey.

Tentatively titled Special Chabbis, the story revolves around the 1987 jewellery heist that took place in Mumbai. We hear that Akki was keen on roping in Kajal for this film, and had her character specially written. Kajal confirms this development, “I will start shooting for my portions from March 9. I was approached by Neeraj’s office, and when I heard my role, I loved it. Though it’s based on a real-life incident, Neeraj has partly fictionalised it. I liked the director’s previous flick A Wednesday!”

Meanwhile, Kajal is shooting for her two Tamil films — Maattrraan and Thuppaki — with Suriya and Vijay respectively. Her last release, The Business Man opposite Mahesh Babu also fared well at the box office.

Genelia’s a journo!

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2 years ago
by Fenil Seta in

Anjali Muthanna (BOMBAY TIMES; May 1, 2011) She’s the bubbly girl of B-town. However, in the eight years that she’s been in the film industry, Genelia D’Souza has played various characters — a stern and demanding wife (Masti), and a warrior princess (Urumi). But despite all this, she’s still considered the girl-next-door. Is that why she’s playing a journalist in her next Tamil film, the Vijay-starrer Velayudham, and Force, the Hindi remake of the Tamil hit, Kaakha Kaakha? “I don’t think I’m typecast because I don’t think two bubbly girls are ever the same. But yes, there is the bubbly girl image and that’s why I don’t restrict myself to one industry,” says Genelia, who was in the city yesterday.

Ask her how she juggles all her projects in Bollywood and the south and she laughs and says, “I don’t know how I manage. I’m lucky to be able to manage five industries and sometimes do five films a year.”

She may have made her film debut with a Hindi film (Tujhe Meri Kasam) in 2003, but Genelia was always considered a south actress before her Bollywood breakthrough with Jaane Tu… Ya Jaane Na. Does she feel threatened that other actresses like Asin and now Kajal Aggarwal have followed suit? “I’m glad I started it all,” she says and adds, “The south is a great industry to learn in. Girls who haven’t taken it seriously have missed the opportunity to learn.”

While she’s busy shooting and promoting her various films, Genelia also has to deal More >

Yash Chopra Honoured by Swiss Government

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2 years ago
by Fenil Seta in

Mumbai, 11 April, 2011:

Yash Raj Films takes immense pleasure in announcing that at a glittering ceremony, our Chairman, Mr. Yash Chopra was honoured with the title of ‘Ambassador of Interlaken’, in Interlaken last weekend, making him the first recipient of this prestigious award. A silver plaque was also dedicated to him which will be placed in Interlaken along the Hoheweg – Interlaken’s famous main street. Hosted by the Mayor of Interlaken, Urs Graf, the impressive function took place at the Victoria Jungfrau Grand Hotel & Spa amidst leading Swiss politicians and industrialists along with selected Indian and Swiss media. This honour for Yash Chopra had been announced on October 25, 2010 in New Delhi by the Swiss Embassy during which Mr. Chopra was also bestowed the ‘Swiss Ambassador’s Award.’

A majestic ‘Yash Chopra Suite’ was also inaugurated at the Victoria Jungfrau Grand Hotel & Spa, Interlaken’s most luxurious hotel. The CEO of Victoria Jungfrau Grand Hotel & Spa, Mr.  Hans – Rudolf Rütti, handed the keys to Mr. and Mrs. Chopra, to what will likely become the most famous suite in the hotel. While other famous celebrities have stayed at the hotel, Mr. Chopra is perhaps the only one to have the honour of a suite being named after him, other than King Louis XVI!

A further honour was the ‘Yash Chopra Train’ which was launched as part of the Jungfrau Railways, Switzerland, possibly the first of its kind tribute. The ceremony was held at the picturesque Kleine More >

Sophie to flaunt her latka-jhatkas down South

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2 years ago
by Fenil Seta in

V Lakshmi (BOMBAY TIMES; March 26, 2011) Sophie Choudry is all set to do an item number in Kollywood. Yes, the sassy actress will now be doing a number in Prabhu Deva’s untitled film with Vishal, which also has Sameera Reddy in the lead.

“It’s a dream come true and an honour to work with a legend like Prabhu Sir. This is a very prestigious project indeed and I will make sure that I give nothing less than 200 per cent to set the screen on fire!” says Sophie.

The girl is all praise for Prabhu and Vishal. “As someone who is so passionate about movies and dance, I feel so lucky and blessed right now. I truly believe that all good things come to those who wait, and look at what happened in my case! When you have the spectacular combination of Prabhu sir and a fantastic performer like Vishal, nothing can go wrong,” she states with confidence.

Not willing to reveal any details on the song or the setting, she, however, says, “I can’t give details, but I can tell you that one of my closest friends, designer Manish Malhotra, is leaving no stone unturned to give me a look that will make everyone sit up and take notice.”

Sophie might start her stint in Kollywood with a song, but she says she’d love to do a full-fledged role in Tamil cinema. “I think some of the best stories are written in the south. Directors like Mani sir, Shankar sir and Murugadoss are on every actress’s wishlist! I’ve been a fan of Kamal sir since I was a kid. Surya and More >

Celebrity Cricket League to begin on March 5

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2 years ago
by Fenil Seta in

The inaugural match of the Celebrity Cricket League will have Salman Khan’s team Mumbai Heroes play the rest of India

Kunal M Shah (MUMBAI MIRROR; March 02, 2011)

The recently formed Celebrity Cricket League, comprised of five teams, will hold its first match on March 5, 2011.

The inaugural match will have Mumbai Heroes facing the Rest of India team (a combination of the other teams).

Suniel Shetty will captain Mumbai Heroes, a team owned by Salim Khan, Salman Khan’s father. Kicha Sudeep will captain the Rest of India team.

Our source said, “CCL beings together all the actors from various industries. There are five teams in the league and Mumbai Heroes has Bollywood actors and filmmakers.

Some of the players in the match will be Suniel Shetty, Salman Khan, Shabbir Aluwalia, Ritesh Deshmukh, Aftab Shivdasani, Dino Morea, Kabir Sadanand, Kunal Khemu and Mahesh Manjrekar among others.

The South team will have Chiranjeevi, Venkatesh, Madhvan, Sarathkumar, Suriya, and Vijay etc.” It would be interesting to see all the biggest stars of the country sweating it out on the playground in Vizag.

Movie Review: ALLAH KE BANDAY by TARAN ADARSH

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2 years ago
by Fenil Seta in

By Taran Adarsh, November 26, 2010 – 08:55 IST

“ALLAH KE BANDAY pays homage to all the kids exposed to offense, misdeeds and crime,” debutant director Faruk Kabir announced to me when he screened for me the first promo of his film. In times when senseless comedies, rom-coms and thrillers are being lapped up at the box-office, here comes a director telling a realistic story of a bunch of bad young men taking up guns when they are preordained to take up education, taking up abhorrence when they are meant to take up love. The consequences are drastic, with these kids turning into negative forces, taking up crime as their mission as grownups as well.

Now this is a parable most directors would fear to make in their debut film, but Faruk seems on a mission to make ALLAH KE BANDAY watchable not only for its genre. The question is, does his statement that ALLAH KE BANDAY isn’t a film about crime, but our society in general come across effectively? Does ALLAH KE BANDAY have the power to magnetize the viewers all across or does it cater to a miniscule audience? Let’s analyze…

BY BOLLYWOOD HUNGAMA.COM

The Indian social order is evolving and so is Indian cinema. More and more directors are coming up with fresher ideas to tell tales that highlight and also influence changes in the fabric of our society. Faruk Kabir also seems like a youngster brimming with ideas, having a lot to tell in his own individualistic style. However, ALLAH KE BANDAY is not without its More >

Faruk, an accidental actor

0
2 years ago
by Fenil Seta in

Faruk Kabir says it was a practical decision for him to step into the role as he knew the character really well

Prithwish Ganguly (BOMBAY TIMES; September 30, 2010)

Film-maker Faruk Kabir, who has also tried his hands at acting in his gritty underbelly movie Allah Ke Banday, that explores how children take to violence and the state of jail houses that hold child convicts in India, says acting happened to him by chance. “I had no one to act alongside my lead Vijay, played by Sharman Joshi, right up to the point when we were just days away from starting to shoot and we desperately needed someone. I had auditioned some known actors but they all wanted Sharman’s role. Since I was the only person who knew the character of Yakub really well, having researched extensively by meeting two children whose life experiences have greatly inspired the plot of the movie, my team and I thought that it was practical for me to step into the act as we couldn’t have delayed the shoot as we were walking on a really tight rope,” Faruk tells us.

The actor/director, who also boasts of having veteran actor Naseeruddin Shah in his movie, adds, “Sharman and Naseerji really helped me a lot during my process of being an actor. It’s good to work alongside great actors as you get inspired to give your best, too.”

Faruk adds that it was TOI’s constant coverage on child convicts and the state of their prisons that inspired him to take up the subject as his premise for More >

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