Posts tagged walt disney

Kamal Haasan goes the Hollywood way

0
11 months ago
by Fenil Seta in

The south star will direct and act in ‘The Lord of the Rings’ producer Barrie Osborne’s next project

Janhavi Samant (MID-DAY; June 9, 2012)

 

Looks like Kamal Haasan is ready to make his Hollywood debut. Sources at the on-going IIFA event in Singapore claim that the actor is ready to make an announcement about a production he is soon to start with Barrie M Osborne, the producer of blockbusters like The Matrix and The Lord of the Rings.

It is known that Osborne wanted to make a film with Kamal for a year or so. He’s been quite impressed with the actor’s films and after his involvement with Vishwaroopam (Osborne is co-producer on the film), he has been wanting to start a project with Kamal as actor and director as well. Some three-four years ago, Kamal was supposed to have started a Hollywood production, an epic big budget film with Walt Disney. However, the recession sort of put a dampener on those plans. Well, it looks like the time has come now.

Barrie Osborne

Sources at IIFA say that Kamal is about to make an announcement in a day or two. In fact Kamal has said some thing to the effect himself at the Vishwaroopam press conference. When somebody asked him about his Hollywood plans and if there was something definite in the offing, the actor laughed and answered, “Sure, I hope so. Once Barrie Osborne is here, we could divulge some more of our plans.” Known for his big budget blockbusters, this production could well be Kamal’s most expensive film so far — although right More >

Aamir uncle’s blessings are always there-Darsheel Safary

0
2 years ago
by Fenil Seta in

By Bollywood Hungama News Network, May 2, 2011 – 16:44 IST

The wonder-kid Darsheel Safary was recently live on Bollywood Hungama‘s video chat talking about his action-adventure film Zokkomon. For all those who missed this fun-filled session, here are the excerpts:

Ajay : hi darsheel how are you? Darsheel Safary : Ajay…i am good

~zEUs~ : tell us about zokomon? Darsheel Safary : zeus….its an action adventure film

Darsheel Safary : zeus….its an action adventure film

Niraj : please tell us how did you get your break in taare zameen par Darsheel Safary : Niraj…through Shiamak Davar

Ibrahim Dam : All the best for Zokkomon Darsheel…. Darsheel Safary : Thanks Ibrahim

madhatter : what was it like shooting for the film Darsheel Safary : madhatter….It was an amazing experience becos I got to learn 2 things- one was the action by William Ong (the stunt director of JackieChan) and secondly the visual effects by Prana Studios ( IRON MAN and Tron Legacy)

Darsheel Safary : madhatter….It was an amazing experience becos I got to learn 2 things- one was the action by William Ong (the stunt director of JackieChan) and secondly the visual effects by Prana Studios ( IRON MAN and Tron Legacy)

Ajay : is it a kid film? Darsheel Safary : no Ajay…its a complete family entertainer

Niraj : did you always wished to work in films? Darsheel Safary : Niraj….its my passion

madhatter : the papers have quoted that u charge a large fee… is that u or ur parents who decide? Darsheel Safary : More >

Disney might release international version of Zokkomon

0
2 years ago
by Fenil Seta in

By Subhash K. Jha, April 25, 2011 – 12:31 IST

Regardless of its performance at the Indian box office, Darsheel Safary’s super-hero act in Zokkomon was a big hit at the Indian Film Festival Of Los Angeles which Darsheel’s co-star Anupam Kher attended.

Anupam has returned to India with jaw-dropping stories about audiences’ response to Darsheel. “The boy was a unanimous winner. Everyone at the screening in Los Angeles ‘oohed’ and ‘aahed’ over his innocence vulnerability and the confidence with which he held himself in front of the camera. As a super-hero he will be a cult figure among kids.”

Now plans are afoot to release an English-language version of Zokkomon for the international market.

Darsheel’s father Mitesh confirms these plans. “We never expected such a response to Darsheel and the film abroad. The reviewers in the US have praised my boy and the producers Walt Disney might prepare an international version of Zokkomon.”

This of course would depend on how the film performs at the Indian Box Office. The opening has not been too encouraging. But an international version of Zokkomon is nonetheless being put together with Darsheel being projected as the youngest super-hero in the world.

Aamir Khan’s clout in global cinema is expected to give Darsheel and Zokkomom a big boost internationally.

Darsheel seems to have wriggled back into Aamir Khan’s attention. When asked how he feels about his new film the boy quickly answers, “It should do well, with the blessings More >

I love doing action-Darsheel Safari

0
2 years ago
by Fenil Seta in

BOMBAY TIMES (March 29, 2011)

Child actor Darsheel Safari, who made his debut with his mentor Aamir and went on to win the Filmfare Critics Award for best actor will soon be seen in Walt Disney’s first Hindi local production — Zokkomon. This summer release is an action packed family extravaganza that showcases a unique adventure of a brave ordinary boy who meets unexpected challenges and rises as a super hero. With a backdrop of bravery and courage, the film is packed with exciting action sequences and strong family values to take home. Directed by Satyajit Batkal, Darsheel is the main lead along with veteran stalwart Anupam Kher and actress Manjari Fadnis.

Darsheel, who turned 15 last month, is particularly excited about his role as he gets to play a super hero in the film. He says, “I am thrilled to see myself as Zokkomon, all the special effects and action sequences are something I haven’t done before. I can’t wait to watch the movie with my friends and family.” Bhatkal calls Darsheel one of India’s best actors. He says, “Darsheel has performed brilliantly. He has done incredible stunts with the utmost finesse and ease. Darsheel trained for months to perfect his moves with international stunt director William Ong, who has worked with the legendary Jackie Chan.”

Sonam is Shashank Ghosh’s new muse

0
2 years ago
by Fenil Seta in
Subhash K Jha (MUMBAI MIRROR; October 14, 2010)

Shashank Ghosh had planned a sequel to Quickgun Murugun but that did not materialise. Ghosh will now be making a film for Anil Kapoor’s daughter, Rhea, who recently produced Aisha with her sister Sonam in the lead.

The buzz is that Shashank would be working on an Indianised version of Alice In Wonderland. Wonder if he’ll play the Mad Hatter, because Sonam’s certainly Alice.

Says Shashank, “I’d like to do my version of Alice In Wonderland with Sonam. But for now I’m doing something else for her home production. I can’t talk about it since it’s a foreign tie-up with Walt Disney. And they have their own ideas on how a film should be projected.

All I can say is that my film with Sonam will go into a completely different space from Aisha. It will certainly not be elitist in tone. I don’t know that world at all.”

Adds Ghosh, “Rhea Kapoor came to me with the idea. I loved it. So there was no scope of giving her my idea on what to make. But I do intend to throw Alice In Wonderland in Rhea’s realm very soon.”

Strangely Shashank has not met Sonam yet. Nor has he watched any of her films. But he plans to start shooting the film in March 2011. Hope Sonam’s reading this…

Book tickets for Do Dooni Chaar on Facebook

0
2 years ago
by Fenil Seta in

Prithwish Ganguly | TNN (BOMBAY TIMES; October 5, 2010)

The Walt Disney Company (India) is on an ambitious plan of building a family entertainment brand in the country. Disney continues to touch more Indian kids and families each day through its best-in-class entertainment. Its stories and characters are universal and resonate well with Indian audiences just the way they do with the fans world over. Its movies are all about story telling with family values that evoke friendship, optimism, fun, and a sense of oneness. They inspire and remain timeless for generations. The company continues to remain focused on technology, creativity and innovation in content while reaching out to newer platforms. Starting with Do Dooni Chaar (starring husbandwife duo Rishi and Neetu Kapoor), Disney’s first live action Hindi movie, fans will now be able to buy all future Disney movie tickets, local and Hollywood, on Facebook. This new application reaches out to its audience wherever they are and provides them a convenience to enjoy the movies while connecting with friends on social networks. They can book their tickets on the portal while ‘poking’ a friend and also invite their buddies and family to watch the much-awaited Disney movies with them.

What’s fun is that they can inform all their friends with just a click that they will be watching the company’s movies each time they book tickets on the site. It’s the next level of social interaction More >

Neelima Azmi gets legal notice from producer

0
2 years ago
by Fenil Seta in

A legal notice sent by the producer of Neelima Azim’s directorial debut alleges that she promised her son, Shahid Kapoor, would act in it. Azim, in turn, is calling the producer an imposter

Vickey Lalwani (MUMBAI MIRROR; October 01, 2010)

Shahid Kapoor’s mother, Neelima Azim, has been planning her directorial debut, Nawab Nautanki, for some time now. But the film at present is in hot water.

Azim and the producer of the film, Lord Mukul Paul Taneja (yes, that’s what he calls himself!), have had a fallout. Taneja has sent a legal notice to Azim (a copy of which is with Mumbai Mirror) alleging that Azim has been unable to put the film together.

A furious Azim, who insists Taneja is a con man, admitted to this paper that she received the notice from him. Azim says, “I met the wrong person in Taneja. And kaunsa Lord? Kahan ka Lord? He is a complete fraud. He is simply maligning me.”

Some of the main points stated in the legal notice sent by Taneja are:

• At the time of signing the MOU of Rs 1 lakh, Azim assured Taneja that her son Shahid would be acting in the film.

• Taneja has so far spent Rs 20 lakh on promoting the film.

• Azim was very aggressive with Taneja’s wife.

• Taneja is seeking a compensation of Rs 9 crore for the consequent damages to his personal and professional life.

Conversely, Azim says that some top stars were ready to work with her on Nawab Nautanki, but they didn’t approve of the producer. “Those stars were convinced about my More >

No more comedies for Priyadarshan

1
2 years ago
by Fenil Seta in

By Subhash K. Jha, September 13, 2010 – 11:32 IST

The prolific Priyadarshan who in many ways spawned the entire culture of modern-day comedies in Bollywood has decided to take a sabbatical from the funny stuff. No more comedies, says Priyan. And he makes a barbed comment on the new breed of comic filmmakers. “Let the others dabble in comedy. I’ve had my fill for a while.”

So adamant is he on staying away from comedies that he has told Subhash Ghai whose banner needs immediate revival that he won’t be able to do a funny film for the producer. Ghai had gone to Priyadarshan in the hope of his production house securing a De Dana Dan, if not a Hera Pheri.

Priyan made it clear that he won’t indulge in any funny business. Says the director, “Subhashji came to me to sign me for a film. I made it very clear that I won’t be making a comedy. I’m working on a few scripts. He has left it to me to decide what to make.”

In fact Priyan has put aside the desi version of the Walt Disney film Freaky Friday for this very reason. The idea of making a funny mother-daughter film doesn’t enthuse the director at this point of time. Freaky Friday is being adapted into Hindi by Devika Bhagat who wrote Aisha for Sonam Kapoor and Anil Kapoor Productions, in that order.

Says Priyadarshan, “I’ve committed myself to doing a film with Anil Kapoor Productions. But it needn’t be Freaky Friday. It could be something else. I have told them to finish the scripting then come to me.”

Priyan means More >

Anil kicks out Priyan from Freaky Friday remake?

0
2 years ago
by Fenil Seta in ,

Did Anil Kapoor backtrack on having Priyarshan direct the Indian remake of Freaky Friday ?

Sonal Chawla (MUMBAI MIRROR; August 17, 2010)

Anil Kapoor knows what is best for his daughter Sonam Kapoor. Despite his latest production Aisha having not set the cash registers ringing, Anil is already headlong into his next production, a remake of Hollywood movie Freaky Friday. And freaky it is!

The concerned father has decided to replace the ace director Priyadarshan, who he had initially planned to get onboard to direct this Hollywood remake. Having bought the remake rights of Walt Disney Productions’ Jamie Lee Curtis-Lindsay Lohan starrer Freaky Friday, Anil was all charged up to go with Priyadarshan.

Explaining what led to Anil’s decision, our source said, “Anil is very close to Priyan sir and had spoken to him regarding this Hollywood remake. He wanted Priyadarshan to direct this flick for his daughter and wanted to have Kirron Kher in the role of the mother. But Anil changed his mind because he suddenly felt that Priyan Sir wouldn’t be the best choice for Freaky Friday. Anil is looking out for another director to direct Freaky Friday.

Now, Kapoor wants Priyadarshan to direct an action film for his production house instead, a genre that he feels the director will be better at.”

When contacted, Priyadarshan said, “Walt Disney has the rights of Freaky Friday and Anil has bought it from them. It was Disney who came up to me with the script More >

Anupam Kher and Darsheel Safary in Walt Disney's Zokkomon

0
3 years ago
by Fenil Seta in

By Subhash K. Jha, December 29, 2009 – 12:57 IST

He has the singular honour of directing the only documentary on the making of a yet to be released feature film. And now, after making Chale Chalo on the making of Lagaan, the reticent (not by choice) young director Satyajit Bhatkal is ready with Zokkomon, the first Indian feature film to be produced by Walt Disney Pictures.

Satyajit has been strictly forbidden from talking about Zokkomon. All he’ll say reluctantly is that it will be a film unlike any other. “The script was one of many that I wrote. To my luck, it was almost immediately approved by Disney. But before that I did a number of one-hour series entitled Bombay Lawyers for NDTV. These were based on my own experiences as a lawyer.”

Bhatkal was a practising lawyer before movie-making beckoned. “When I made Chale Chalo based on behind-the-scenes experiences of those involved with Lagaan, I made sure there wasn’t a single shot of Lagaan in my documentary.”

But that docu-film did not get Bhatkal the chance to direct a film for Disney.

“They liked the script, I think,” says the directly shyly. Zokkomon stars Anupam Kher and Darsheel Safary. This would be Darsheel’s first release since Taare Zameen Par.As for Anupam, Satyajit has become the actor’s life-long fan after he made his dream come true.

Recalls Satyajit, “When Anupam told me he was going to Israel this month and might meet Topol, I requested him to get me Topol’s autograph since I’m a life-long fan. To my More >

Go to Top