Posts tagged Woody Allen

Hollywood’s willingness to not think of my ethnicity is refreshing-Freida Pinto

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2 months ago
by Fenil Seta in

In her case, the West is not overcompensating to appear unprejudiced, says Freida Pinto, who feels like an Indian who’s been accepted in Hollywood

Aarushi Nigam (BOMBAY TIMES; March 18, 2013)

 

If Freida Pinto feels like she’s a Hollywood star, she definitely doesn’t show it. Her crisply accented English is liberally sprinkled with words like ‘arre’ and ‘museebat’ as she’s chatting while getting her hair fixed for the photo shoot. Her line-up may include a big franchise like Planet Of The Apes or a quirky Woody Allen film, apart from a smattering of European and Arab cinema (Desert Dancer) and even a forthcoming Terence Malik film with Christian Bale, Knight Of Cups, but complain that most of her films don’t release in India and she agrees. “The two films that I’m most proud of — Trishna and Miral — haven’t released here,” she says . Excerpts:

Your life here is hugely different from Hollywood. How do you chill at home? Okay, let me just clarify, I don’t live in Hollywood. I live pretty much all over the world. So it’s a bit of UK, or when we’re shooting a film in Morocco… I live globally. When I’m home, I do everything that I can’t do in LA or London. Which is, indulge in home-cooked food. And I kind of like catching up with friends in the most chilled environments ever, like my favourite restaurant. By the time I come to India, most movies I want to watch have left the theatre, so I have to get my team to find me the DVD.

You’ve spoken about how this industry is only for More >

Would love to work with Shah Rukh Khan-Penelope Cruz

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8 months ago
by Fenil Seta in

Shreya Badola (DNA; September 5, 2012)

Shah Rukh Khan (L) and Penelope Cruz (R)

Hollywood actor Penelope Cruz has previously admitted to being fond of Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan, and the Spanish beauty who will be seen in Woody Allen’s romcom, To Rome With Love, seems determined to share screen space with him. She plans to shoot the film in India, she reveals. The excerpts:

You’ve just shot an ad with your younger sister Monica, who’s called your lookalike… Do you see her as a competition? My sister and I have been working together for years now, and it is always a great experience… She’s a very hard working actor. Yes, she does look like me and I look like her, but she definitely is not my competitor. We help each other at work a lot. For instance, she played my body double in the movie Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides, when I was visibly pregnant.

Tell us something about your role in the Woody Allen film? To Rome With Love is a comedy that follows the lives of various individuals, some of whom are American and some Italian, some residents and some visitors, all around the enchanted ancient city. My role is that of a hooker, who makes prostitution seem like a desirable career. She’s very professional, looks at her job with dignity, and wants to be the best at it. She’s convinced that she is helping people with her work, and that what she does is really necessary for society.

What was it like to work with Allen? I have been a fan of Woody More >

Mira Nair joins Woody Allen, Kasturica Cohen Brothers

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9 months ago
by Fenil Seta in

Subhash K Jha (MUMBAI MIRROR; August 15, 2012)

 

Barely has she completed post-production on her eagerly awaited The Reluctant Fundamentalist and Mira Nair is already onto her next big-ticket project.

She starts shooting Guillermo Arriaga-produced Words with God from Thursday, August 16, in and around Mumbai.

Nair confirmed the news and said, “I am making a 15-minute film for a wonderful compilation feature being produced by Arriaga called Words with God. He has got these six directors – if I may say so myself – to make films on the subject of God. Zoya Akhtar and Reema Kagti have written the script. We’ve been working on it for six months. We’ve got a wonderful lacerating script. And we’re shooting here in Mumbai from August 16 to August 21. This is my most phat-a-phat film.”

Nair’s film questions the notion of God. “A child sees God everywhere and we, who think we need a special room to house God, don’t understand the essence of God,” the director said, adding, “My film is about an upperclass Mumbai family that is going to see its new duplex apartment. The family begins to have a discussion on where to have the pooja room. Through this heated argument in the car, the family’s eight-year-old child plays an imaginary hide ‘n’ seek with Lord Ganesha. He literally imagines Ganesha in several avatars.”

The eight-year-old protagonist is played by Naman Jain, who portrayed Janghiya in Vikas Behl & Nitesh Tiwary’s Chillar Party. Also starring in Nair’s film are Ram Kapoor, Raj More >

Confused what I’ll wear at Cannes-Minissha Lamba

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2 years ago
by Fenil Seta in

By Devansh Patel, May 7, 2011 – 12:31 IST

Aishwarya Rai walked on it, so did Nandita Das, Sonam Kapoor, Freida Pinto and Mallika Sherawat too followed. But this year, the French Riviera is all set to welcome yet another Bollywood celebrity. Ask a hundred people to describe her and they’ll tell you she is sexy, ambitious, entertaining and hot, and come May 11, she’ll be hot for a different reason. Minissha Lamba will be the Bollywood face at this year’s prestigious 64th Annual Cannes Film Festival as far as female celebrities are concerned. The reason? Well, she’s specially invited to attend the world premiere of Woody Allen’s Midnight In Paris that opens the festival. So don’t be surprised if you are trying to call Miss Lamba and she doesn’t answer or even bother to reply to your text. You can bet she is shedding a few kilos on the treadmill ever since her invite has arrived. The persona she has created and the way she has seemed to process her own fame hints at an underlying element of self-preservation at work. Minissha says shocking things: courtesy Twitter. She posts sexy pictures: courtesy Facebook. She looks good on film. But she doesn’t try to pull at your heartstrings by pretending to bare her soul. She doesn’t attempt to demystify herself through over explanation. She doesn’t try to really prove anything to you. She just gives you what she thinks you want and keeps the important stuff for herself. No wonder she gave me her quick take on that More >

Why should it be easy?-Anupam Kher

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2 years ago
by Fenil Seta in

In an introspective chat with reader Ashish Srivastav, Anupam Kher reflects on the highs and lows of his career

MUMBAI MIRROR; May 01, 2011

 

There are actors who are good at playing only certain characters, and then there are kalakaars like Anupam Kher who can essay any role effortlessly. More than two decades ago, I was deeply moved by his performances in Saaransh and Daddy, and ever since I have been a huge fan.

I was over the moon when I met him recently, as I was obviously curious to learn about his journey as an actor.

Anupam said, “I was a beggar when I entered the industry. I was hungry for work. It wasn’t easy, but why should it have been easy? That apart, I always wanted to be the best. I guess it is my small town mentality.

I don’t consider myself a character actor. I feel all the characters I have portrayed so far have been the heroes of the films. This concept exists only in India.”

From his experience, he understood that there was a need for formal training in acting today. “Abroad, you cannot even do a two-minute role if you are not a trained actor. You have to learn your craft well, or else it’s like going to a quack for medicines.

What sets actors like Om Puri, Seema Biwas, Naseeruddin Shah apart is that they have been trained in their métier and it shows,” explained the National School of Drama graduate.

For the same reason, he enjoys working with new age directors such as Dibakar Banerjee, Neeraj Pandey and Ayan Mukherjee. More >

Minissha to debut at Cannes!

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2 years ago
by Fenil Seta in

BOMBAY TIMES (April 29, 2011)

Minissha Lamba is on cloud nine. The actress has been invited to the Cannes film festival to walk the red carpet on the opening night (May 11) and also attend the gala dinner and party afterwards. She will waltz into the grand premiere of Woody Allen’s film Midnight in Paris and dine with the star cast of the film at the after party. Mini reveals to BT, “It is a huge moment of pride. I always wanted to be there and represent my country. I will be there for 2-3 days and attend a whole lot of events.”

Mini is looking forward to meeting Marion Cotillard, the lead in Woody’s film. “I love her as an actress and I have always wanted to meet her and talk to her and get to know her sensibilities as an artist. I would even meet Woody and thank him for hosting me at his exclusive party,” she says. The actress is still undecided about the ensemble that she would flaunt on the red carpet that will also have the Bachchan bahu walking on it on the same night. “It’s a tough choice whether I want to go Western or Indian. My stylists are talking to all big fashion designers and stores from India and abroad to get my look perfect for the night.”

Freida’s secret shoot at Chakala for Holly biggie

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2 years ago
by Fenil Seta in

Freida Pinto is in town shooting for a Michael Winterbottom film for the past one week, completely under wraps, Mumbai Mirror brings you an exclusive behind the scenes sneek peek

Vishwas Kulkarni and Kunal Shah (MUMBAI MIRROR; April 16, 2011)

The sets were not scurrying with as many bystanders wanting a sneak peek of say Hrithik Roshan or Aamir Khan.

But fact is that internationally Freida Pinto is our biggest export, as far as acting talent goes. She’s worked with Danny Boyle, Woody Allen, and what brings her to Mumbai is again a leading role with a leading director.

Rana Chakraborty Freida Pinto with Riz Ahmed and director Michael Winterbottom shooting for Trishna at a studio in Chakala. See more pix and detailed story on page  27

And while Pinto’s sunshine smile is less of a USP today, one can see soft changes in her persona, a languid internationalism that some of our leading ladies would die for. To give Freida company was her co-star in the film, British rapper dude Riz Ahmed, who was slated to perform later in the evening at Red Ant, a pub in Bandra.

“Look, why don’t you come with me to the gig after the shoot. We can chat up in the car,” said Pinto.

Ahmed, who is also known for his roles in The Road to Guantanamo, Shifty and Four Lions seemed quite comfortable in his shirt and denim routine and would pass off as a regular guy.

You would never know that he is a high roller. But then again, the trick with people like Pinto and Ahmed More >

Prem Raj wants Freida!

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2 years ago
by Fenil Seta in

BOMBAY TIMES (January 6, 2011)

After hitting the jackpot in Danny Boyle’s Slumdog Millionaire, Freida Pinto came to be one of the biggest stars to have emerged from the country and if all goes as planned, she will soon mark her Bollywood debut in Prem Raj’s Bombay Muumbaai. Prem Raj of Main Aurr Mrs Khanna fame debuts as producer with Bombay Muumbaai –a project highly anticipated in industry circles thanks to the controversial nature of its title. Directed by Shivam Nair, Bombay Muumbaai spans the 15 year gap in the transition of Mumbai, taking audiences through the story of two people who are separated in the 90’s only to meet again a decade later in the same city. After having wowed audiences in the Oscar award winning film Slumdog Millionaire, Freida went on to work in Woody Allen’s You Will Meet a Tall Dark Stranger and has her kitty filled with meaty Hollywood projects. For now, however, the star is keen to work on the Bollywood film still in its nascent stage. Says a source “Freida wants to be really convinced about the script before she signs films here in Bollywood. Prem and Freida are in discussion over the movie and if all goes as planned she will very soon be making her Bollywood debut in Bombay Muumbaai.” Doing what few could Prem Raj convinced two of Bollywood’s biggest stars Salman Khan and Kareena Kapoor to star in his directorial debut at the peak of their careers and if that wasn’t enough he also plans to direct More >

Freida gets a thumbs down at Venice Film Festival

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2 years ago
by Fenil Seta in

Pinto’s first release post Slumdog… sees critics waking up to her lack of acting skills

Mumbai Mirror Bureau (September 06, 2010)

This is her first release since Slumdog Millionaire and Freida Pinto, playing the eponymous character in Miral, seems to have the West taking serious note of her lack of acting skills.

Miral is an adaptation of Italo-Palestinian Rula Jebreal’s book about Hind Husseini, who founded an orphanage in Jerusalem in the wake of the 1948 partition of Palestine and the creation of the state of Israel.

This Franco-Israeli Film, directed by the Oscar nominated director Julian Schnabel is competing for the Golden Lion Trophy in the ongoing Venice Film festival.

Miral will next show at Toronto Film Festival, while several of Pinto’s other prestigious films are lined up for release, among them is the Woody Allen-production You Will Meet a Tall Dark Stranger.

While some critics and film writers have given the film mixed reviews, they seem to be pretty unsparing when it comes to Pinto, who incidentally, is in India at the moment. Wise move, say critics, considering the backlash that seems to be in store.

The Film Experience: …nobody seemed to have a problem with Freida Pinto’s inexpressiveness as an actress in Slumdog Millionaire — don’t try to tell me that’s a new development. We just barely dodged that supporting actress nomination I think.

Movieweb:

Hiam Abbas was in Venice for the premiere of Julian Schnabel’s More >

Freida starring with Banderas!

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2 years ago
by Fenil Seta in

But Slumdog girl doesn’t romance Zorro star in Hollywood period film

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

Mumbai girl Freida Pinto is certainly making waves in Hollywood. The Slumdog Millionaire wonder, BT has learnt, has signed a Hollywood period film alongside Spanish hottie Antonio Banderas. Titled Black Thirst, the film is being directed by Jean-Jacques Annaud of Enemy at the Gates and Seven Years in Tibet fame and will narrate the story of how America started targeting the Gulf as early as 1920 for oil. The film has an eclectic international line up of stars comprising Tahar Rahim of A Prophet fame and Mark Strong, and is set to be shot in Tunisia. Freida and Antonio will get time to bond with each other and every cast and crew member. The director has called them in for a camp to acclimatize them with the country and each other before they start shooting. Freida, who plays an Arabian princess, has been paired opposite Tahar but has a lot of scenes with the Zorro star.

The source adds, “Jean-Jacques’s film is based on Hans R. Ruesch’s globally acclaimed work South of the Heart: A Novel of Modern Arabia that was first published in 1957. The story has its share of romance, too, brought in by Freida and Tahar. The story is set in 1929 when an affluent Arab prince falls in love with a princess but his marital bliss is short-lived as tension and duty to protect his country after oil is discovered in the Gulf befalls More >

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