In Bollywood, it is always an unsaid rule that 'There is nothing a Khan can't'. This 'rule' explains the reason why the Khans (Aamir, Saif, Salman, and SRK- in random order) always rule the silver screen. Well, here's presenting one more Khan who is definitely different, in the sense, while all others flirt with the camera, he chose to be behind the camera and make others say 'Cheese'. Simply put, he is a director, who has to his credit, Kuch Meetha Ho Jaaye, a film that was so sugary sweet, that it can put even the world's best tasting chocolate to shame! Even though the film didn't light up the Box Office, Samar Khan's efforts stood out like an oasis in the desert.
Bollywood Hungama proudly presents an interview with the man who is all set to take the Box Office by storm with his latest offering Shaurya, through his never-dying grit, determination and of course 'Courage'!
What is Shaurya all about?
The film revolves around an issue which largely affects almost every one of us today. It deals with an issue of prejudice towards certain race, culture and sections of people, with the military backdrop. It also highlights the very fact that whether we have courage to stand up for such wrong doings. However, despite the serious issues the film deals with, Shaurya promises to be an entertainer.
Despite the serious issues the film deals with, Shaurya promises to be an entertainer.
What are the respective characters of Rahul Bose, Javed Jaffrey, Kay Kay Menon and Minishaa Lamba?
Rahul Bose plays a defence lawyer in army who comes across a case which tests his conviction and ideology. Similar phase comes in Javed Jaffrey's life as he is a public prosecutor in the same case. Minishaa Lamba plays a journalist and Kay Kay, the brigadier in the army. The film deals with the incidents that affect these characters and their own ideologies.
What do you have to say about Rozza Catalano in the sizzling item number?
Rozza is a wonderful girl to work with and a good friend of mine. She has been picturized in the song which is a part of the story so, I would not like to call it as an item number. It wasn't that we developed or devised a song just because we wanted Rozza in the film. She is very much part of the film. Rozza is a great human being and a dancer and looks amazingly stunning in the film.
Rozza is a great human being and a dancer and looks amazingly stunning in the film.
Are you satisfied with the way the film has shaped up?
I am more than happy and feel that if a film deserves 100 percent, I have given 99.9 percent to this film. We have worked very hard as a team on the film. I personally believe that if you have good actors performing, half the battle is won. It has shaped up well and hope the audience feels the same way.
I personally believe that if you have good actors performing half the battle is won.
Hmmmâ¦good performers mean half the battle won, then, why haven't you opted for big stars for your films? Wouldn't that mean the absolute victory in the battle? Even in your last film, you had Arshad Warsi who though had Munnabhai on his back, wasn't really a big commercial star. Anything against big starsâ¦.
I choose actors who suit the best for the roles. If Rahul Bose fits in very well in the character of lawyer in Shaurya, why would I even think of some other actor? Yes, star power does work wonder for the film. But today stars like SRK do four films under big banners a year, out of 15 offered by other producers. So I feel it's very difficult to sign the actors rather stars you want to work with at least in the initial stages of your career although Shah Rukh was generous enough to do a cameo in my film.
SRK has recited a poem in Shaurya. Tell us about your association with him?
Shah Rukh is a wonderful human being, someone who respects talent and goes out of his way to bring him / her it into the limelight. He has been a great support throughout my career. And, I think the word 'thanks' is too small a word to express my gratitude for his contribution to this film. Jaideep Sarkar has written the poem but its real essence lies in the recitation by Shah Rukh Khan.
Coming back to Shaurya how is the music of the film?
Well, Adnan Sami has come up with some wonderful melodies which is one of the USP's of the film. Javed Akhtar has penned down some fabulous lyrics like 'Dosti Kya Hai' and 'Dheere Dheere'. I am very happy with the end results.
What do you think went wrong with Kuch Meetha Ho Jaye?
I believe 'Commitment' is the key word to success. And, if this word is missing during the making of the film, nothing can stop it from going into doldrums. So, I feel I somewhere did not give my best to it despite good performers and writers. Thus, I take the responsibility of the debacle of the film. However, life does not end and one has to learn from his/her mistakes to move on in life, which I did by giving 100% to Shaurya.
Today, directors are recognized with a particular genre they master in. What do you think which genre will become your forte?
Honestly, Shaurya is a crucial test for me to evaluate whether I have understood the craft of filmmaking or not. Things will eventually fall in place as I make more films. I think it's too early to decide on my forte as far as the genre is concerned as a filmmaker. I will be able to figure that out in due course of time.
Some of the recent films that dealt with military cases like Tarkieb or say even Pukar for that matter, Agni Pankh, all of them bombed at the box office. So why did u decide to play with this theme again.
Military is just a backdrop in the film. As I mentioned earlier, Shaurya deals with certain issues that are very much prevalent in our society. These issues could have been showcased with a different backdrop. I have spent three years in the National Defence Academy as a trainer but could not continue due to some reasons. My fascination for army has grown since then. I completely admire the way they conduct and uphold their moral values and fight for the country. So, I decided why not make a film on army forces.
Since you have also been a movie critic, what's your take on the films that are made in Bollywood these days? Where is our cinema heading?
Filmmaking has undergone a sea-change. I would not just give credit to the new technology but the wide-range of cinema our filmmakers are offering nowadays, where on one hand there is a sensible film like Chak De! India and on the hand we have an entertainer like Om Shanti Om. Today, the thin line between off-beat and main stream cinema has become invisible due to multiplexes which are unbiased when it comes to screening of films. A new term called 'Independent cinema' has emerged and films like Bheja Fry are welcomed by the audience with the same zeal as they have for films like Welcome.
But being a film critic you definitely must be having an inclination towards certain kind of films?
I feel every film is unique and it's unfair to compare films like Chak De! India which is full of drama and Om Shanti Om which is a complete masala film. Every filmmaker has a certain vision with which he /she makes a film. And if today's audience is willing to
take a risk of watching a film without preconditions, it gives a fair chance to the filmmaker to bring their vision in picture. At the same time, not every film is accepted by audience, one which is not good definitely faces a bad time at the box-office.
If today's audience is willing to take a risk of watching a film without preconditions, it gives a fair chance to the filmmaker to bring their vision in picture.
What is the USP of Shaurya?
I think, combination of good script and some outstanding performances by the actors is the USP of the film.
What are your expectations with the film?
Well, I can't predict about the box-office fate. However, one thing is for sure that if 40 people will come to see the film, 39 will come out praising it. That's all I am expecting as of now.
One thing is for sure that if 40 people will come to see the film, 39 will come out praising it.
Some other films like Bhram, Khuda Ke Liye and Sirf- Life looks greener on the other side, which also stars Kay Kay, are releasing with Shaurya. How do you think the business of your film will be affected?
I have no idea and think it's hypothetical because no one can predict what will affect the other film in what way. There are around three to four releases every Friday. So, there would be certain section of audience wiling to watch my film and others to watch Bhram. At the end of the day, it's the word of mouth which decides the fate of the film.
Share some special moments which you still cherish during the shoot of the film?
Javed has got a wicked good sense of humour so, he would pull everyone's leg on the sets. He would make fun of Rahul Bose on his eating etiquettes and Minishaa Lamba
on behalf of all the actresses who would put loads of neat make-up. At times, I would be his target as I would come in shorts or bermudas while shooting. It was great fun shooting Rozza as I would interpret the conversation between the choreographer and her. And, Rahul not comfortable with dancing would make his own steps during the shoot. We had a gala time during the shoot of that song. He is an intelligent and well-read guy and healthy group discussions had become an everyday affair. However, the most memorable moment was the last day of the shoot which I feel is very memorable for every director as it's the end of one chapter in his/her life. It comes with certain satisfaction that he/she has accomplished the job which he/she had set out to do. Source: BollywoodHungama.com Features | 28 Mar 2008 | 1:46 pm
The moment someone mentions of the famous politician L.K. Advani, the first thing that comes to mind is that of nothing but a shrewd politician. However, if you mention the same name before Bollywood's Big B, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and other 'powerful names', then, chances are very bright that the first thing that will recall of L K Advani is that of a heartfelt writer and an author.
That also explains the reason as to why Amitabh Bachchan, his beautifully dutiful daughter-in-law Aishwarya, ace art director Nitin Desai and Manoj 'Bharat' Kumar were in full attendance at the grand launch of Advani's book 'My Country My Life'.
It's too early to even speak about the book review, but looking at the crème de la crème who had come for the launch, this book does promise to make a good read. After all, there can be exceptions to the saying 'Do not judge a book by its cover'. Source: BollywoodHungama.com Features | 28 Mar 2008 | 12:47 pm
That Aamir getting (read 'championing') social causes and eventually getting embroiled into controversies is nothing new. However, this time, it has stretched a bit too far. It was just recently, that it was announced that Aamir 'The Perfectionist' Khan would be one of the Olympic torchbearers, something that the Tibetan community in India has raised objection to.
They have told Aamir to simply distance himself from the Olympic torch relay that is to be held in China in 2008, so much so that a young protestor went to the extent of threatening self-immolation, if Aamir did not yield to the protests.
The reason cited for this protest is to express solidarity with the Tibetan struggle for freedom from China. Wonder what Aamir will have to say about it! Source: BollywoodHungama.com News | 28 Mar 2008 | 12:42 pm
Grammy-nominated rapper Remy Ma was convicted of assault, weapons possession and coercion on Thursday for shooting a woman in the abdomen in a dispute about money in New York. Source: Zee News : Entertainment | 28 Mar 2008 | 12:34 pm
The Raj Thackeray`s-Amitabh Bachchan saga seems to be getting murkier, as to the two have once again plunged into a war of words. Source: Zee News : Entertainment | 28 Mar 2008 | 12:34 pm
Romancing younger men on screen seems to be in vogue in Bollywood. The latest to join the bandwagon is Bipasha Basu who pairs up with Ranbir Kapoor and Neil Nitin Mukesh in two of her forthcoming films. Source: Zee News : Entertainment | 28 Mar 2008 | 12:34 pm
After a three-year struggle, things are finally looking up for Minissha Lamba who has finally bagged her first big banner with Yash Raj Films` `Bachna Ae Haseenon`, where she stars with Deepika Padukone and Ranbir Kapoor, and also has a meaty role in Samar Khan`s `Shaurya`. Source: Zee News : Entertainment | 28 Mar 2008 | 12:34 pm
A lawyer for Sean "Diddy" Combs lashed out at the Los Angeles Times on Thursday over the "defamatory nature" of a story the paper published that sought to link the rap music mogul to an assault on Tupac Shakur. Source: Zee News : Entertainment | 28 Mar 2008 | 12:34 pm
Self-help manual "If You Want Closure in Your Relationship, Start With Your Legs" won this year`s oddest book title competition, The Bookseller trade magazine said on Friday. Source: Zee News : Entertainment | 28 Mar 2008 | 12:34 pm
Paris Hilton, the celebrity and hotel heiress who spent a stint in jail last year, said on Thursday she sees herself as a role model for young women as she prepared to judge a contest to crown Miss Turkey. Source: Zee News : Entertainment | 28 Mar 2008 | 12:34 pm
Abby Mann, writer of socially conscious scripts for movies and television and winner of the 1961 Academy Award for adapted screenplay for "Judgment at Nuremberg," has died at 80. Source: Zee News : Entertainment | 28 Mar 2008 | 12:34 pm
The writing is clear on the wall. Race is en route to super hit status after it's great run extending from it's opening weekend to even weekdays. With the film doing super strong business from Monday to Thursday as well after a record breaking Fri-Sat-Sun, Race has turned out to be a huge success.
So impressed are the makers of Race by the film's great run that they have decided to increase the number of prints in the second week, hence looking at raking in moolah for a continued period of time.
Confirms Ramesh Taurani of TIPS which has produced Race, "There has been a phenomenal demand for the film all over. The collections are there for everyone to see. It is not everyday that a film takes such an earth shattering opening all over and then manages to sustain exceedingly well too. The best part is that the film is not superb only in major cities but is also showing good response in small centers. With such a heartening response, it is imperative that we increase the number of prints."
This week also sees the release of laugh riot One Two Three, second consecutive multi starrer in a single fortnight. Doesn't he feel that Race would be threatened by competition? After all comedies have been doing roaring business off late and One Two Three too seems to be carrying good buzz.
"Word of mouth for Race is terrific all over and from compulsive first week moviegoers, the film would now find audience in that segment which walks into a theater based on what they hear from other people", rightly says Taurani.
Talking about the response Race has garnered, Taurani adds, "The appreciation has been humongous and considering the fact that it is a suspense thriller and so many people are already aware about the numerous twists in the film as well as the film's climax, it is amazing to see patrons already going for a repeat viewing. We would now also bring the film in those centers where it hadn't originally released. " Source: BollywoodHungama.com News | 28 Mar 2008 | 12:20 pm
It's raining Reality Shows on Television and the latest addition to this, is Gajendrra Singh's mega song and dance reality show on 9X, Gini & Jony Chak De Bachche which will see a challenge between kids of Big City and Small Town for the very first time on Television. Source: Oneindia - Entertainment | 28 Mar 2008 | 10:59 am
Sundar C, the director known for his commercial success with low budget mass masala flicks, has now established himself as a successful commercial hero too. In his earlier two movies as hero, he has acted in sensible roles. Now in Sandai, Sundar becomes takes on a role of a full - ... Source: Oneindia - Entertainment | 28 Mar 2008 | 10:57 am
Actress Tanushree Dutta was supposed to do an item number in the film Horn Ok Please. But the latest we hear is that she is kicked out of the film. Now, controversial item girl Rakhi Sawant has taken over the hot spot. Source: Oneindia - Entertainment | 28 Mar 2008 | 10:57 am
Race is fetching mind blowing reaction with classes, masses, old and young audience, A, B as well as C centers giving it a Thumbs Up. A universal success, this Abbas Mustan film is having a dream run and given its producers, TIPS, a shot in the arm after not-so-heartening show of Naqaab. However, this isn't quite giving sleepless nights to Tusshar Kapoor, the lead actor of One Two Three which releases this Friday.
Doesn't the mass hysteria being evidenced for Race bother him?
"Not really", says Tusshar, "Yes, Race is a good success and no one would negate that. However, One Two Three was always planned to come during this season when school/college exams get over. The film has children and youth as its target audience and I am sure they would be visiting theaters to have some good time."
With the first week of Race turning out to be exceptionally good, it is expected that substantial crowds would continue to spill over even in the second week. Would One Two Three be able to survive the onslaught?
Says Tusshar categorically, "It should, I don't see any reason why One Two Three should be overtly worried? At the end of the day, a good film is a good film and it would run if it has substance. Though we are coming solo, I myself understand that if a film doesn't have any substance, then even a solo week or a solo month doesn't matter."
He adds, "See, two films can comfortably survive together in a single week. While Race is doing well, we should be doing well too. The film's buzz is good and the promos have always been appreciated for the laughter quotient the film promises to bring along. In any case, I am superbly confident of One Two Three and I am sure it would click with the audience." Source: BollywoodHungama.com Features | 28 Mar 2008 | 10:48 am
There have been occasions when stardom has got into celebrities and made them forget their past. The latest addition to this infamous club is none other than the Bachchan bahu Aishwarya Bachchan. The former Miss World ignored her former roommate Shweta Menon when she came to meet her in a ... Source: Oneindia - Entertainment | 28 Mar 2008 | 10:42 am
Last week's release Race is slowly and steadily racing along to the top of the box-office charts. The film's fast cars, handsome hunks, hot babes and rocking soundtrack are the current topic of discussion among the young and the old. So, it comes as no wonder that Amul has decided to use the film poster in its new hoarding.
For those who came in late, Amul is known for covering the most topical events through its hoardings for years now. So, all you folks who enjoyed Race, take a dekko at this cute image which shows caricatures of Anil Kapoor, Saif Ali Khan, Akshaye Khanna, Bipasha Basu and Katrina Kaif, all munching on their favorite bread butter. It does bring a smile to your face and makes you long for a bite of bread-butter too. Source: BollywoodHungama.com Features | 28 Mar 2008 | 10:05 am
London (ANI): Leeches might have proven to be the beauty secret for Demi Moore, but they were certainly traumatising for Pamela Anderson, who was attacked by the blood-sucking organisms while swimming in a lake as a child. Showing of her scars, the Baywatch hottie spoke up after Demi Moore revealed on ... Source: Oneindia - Entertainment | 28 Mar 2008 | 10:03 am
London (ANI): Paris Hilton wowed people in Turkey by showing off her belly dancing skills on the country's national television. Paris accepted the offer from a well-known local dancer to perform on stage at the Miss Turkey beauty pageant, where Hilton was a judge. The Simple Life star was unable master ... Source: Oneindia - Entertainment | 28 Mar 2008 | 9:56 am
Bollywood actress Rani Mukherjee is the news again, not for her reported relationship with Aditya Chopra but because of the land she bought a couple of years ago. The Government of Maharashtra has taken over the 11,000 sq ft land on Friday that she had bought near Shirdi in 2005. ... Source: Oneindia - Entertainment | 28 Mar 2008 | 9:52 am
The posh Theatre du Chatelet which is currently hosting Sanjay Leela Bhansali's opera Padmavati, wants the director back for an encore. Speaking exclusively from Paris, the director of the Theatre Du Chatelet Jean-luc Choplin said, "I think we could not have Padmavati without the help of the original ballet. The incredible success of Sanjay Leela Bhansali lies in the fact that he has been able to at the same time use the ballet to tell the story, to use the singers, to let them act like theatre actors and create a big spectacle on stage with a great luxury of effects. So yes, it would be great if Mr Bhansali could spend a little bit more time in Europe and do another opera at the Chatelet or in another place. He is always welcome to do whatever he wants now."
Choplin stresses the Indian antecedents of the opera. "Padmavati is a French opera but it is inspired by an Indian story and it is an opera ballet which means that it is an opera and a ballet. It is a very famous form in France, created by Lully and Rameau in the 17th and the 18th century and I think it is very important to do something spectacular."
He states, "I was very impressed when I saw in 2002 the film, Devdas. I thought that the choreography and all the art of Mr Bhansali of creating great choreography, movements⦠those things are very close to the opera direction. After, I saw the film Black I again thought it was very theatrical. So when I was looking for a director for this French opera ballet of Albert Roussel with an Indian story, I immediately thought that it would be a great chance if we could interest this great Indian film director to do an opera. I knew that he was not very familiar with the opera world but sometimes when we are dealing with great artists, there is no barrier between categories and I think it could not be too difficult for him so that is how and why we ask him to take up this challenge in Paris."
Choplin was sure that Bhansali's discipline as a filmmaker would be ideal for the opera. "I was more interested in the idea of having a real dialogue between Indian and European culture rather than just looking at filmmaking. I think Mr Bhansali was apt to tell us about the India of today, to tell us about ourselves and tell us about a very old Indian story even if that story was brought to us at the beginning of the 20th century .What interested me was the dialogue between the two cultures, the two civilizations."
Choplin can't stop praising Bhansali. "I think what is great with what Sanjay Leela Bhansali has done is his capacity of story- telling. He works with music and music is dictating the dance, is dictating everything in an opera. The singers have to sing at the same time that they have to act, so it is a real challenge and Mr Bhansali has been able to deal with this incredible world and to show the singer-actors how to do beautiful movements and to behave on stage. Moreover, the singers and the ballet are together on stage and the work of Tanushree Shankar, the choreographer that she has done with her ballet coming from Calcutta has been a fantastic help."
The music conductor of Padmavati, Lawrence Foster adds, "Padmavati is a real masterpiece of the French opera, full of tragedy and colours that fits very well with the work of Sanjay Leela Bhansali. He gets a huge sensibility, perfect for the moments the most colourful, as for the moments the most intimates. The thing that astonished me the most was his will to fully respect the music score, and to marry very well the Indian influences. I have a deep respect for him so⦠we should work together again! Both Mr Bhansali and I can feel the nuances in the music of Roussel. I am only a messenger in order to transcribe exactly the music that is written on the score, which fits well with that Indian story, the brutality, the sensibility⦠of the story." Source: BollywoodHungama.com Features | 28 Mar 2008 | 9:48 am
London (ANI): If there's one thing that 007 Daniel Craig doesn't like, it would be being stared at. The actor, in an interview with Empire magazine, revealed that he has come to identify with his Flashbacks of a Fool character Joe Scott who drives himself into a corner. Source: Oneindia - Entertainment | 28 Mar 2008 | 9:38 am
Of late, the trend is to make entertainers that don't tax the viewers' brains. The mantra is simple: Plonk yourself on the cushy seat, munch popcorn, sip cola and enjoy the on-screen antics. Just don't ask questions. Just don't look for logic. No-brainer comedies are what the doctor ordered to ... Source: Oneindia - Entertainment | 28 Mar 2008 | 9:36 am
New York (ANI): If Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt want it, they could get a whopping 10 million dollars for pictures of their baby or babies when the actress gives birth, says a magazine editor. Leading magazines have started dishing out the cash in millions for the first pictures of celebs' ... Source: Oneindia - Entertainment | 28 Mar 2008 | 9:27 am
Actor Mithun Chakroborty may have bought the Kolkata Indian Cricket League (ICL) team, but football remains his prime passion. Source: IndiaeNews.com: Bollywood News | 28 Mar 2008 | 8:33 am
Indian entertainment major Pyramid Saimira Group is planning to open a total of 2,000 movie screens, a mix of multiplex and individual ones, across India by 2010. It has also made a foray into the Chinese entertainment industry, the fastest growing in the world. Source: IndiaeNews.com: Bollywood News | 28 Mar 2008 | 5:01 am
The Indian animation industry will get a boost after the release of animation films from big banners like Yashraj and UTV studios, feels Ram Mohan, the doyen of the Indian animation industry. Source: IndiaeNews.com: Bollywood News | 28 Mar 2008 | 4:31 am
It's an ironical situation. At a time when the Malayalam movie industry is churning out more and more youth-oriented films, its young brigade of actors is not finding any work and some have started working in Tamil films. Source: IndiaeNews.com: Bollywood News | 28 Mar 2008 | 4:31 am
MUMBAI (Reuters) - Despite the success of issue-based films like "Taare Zameen Par", producers in Bollywood feel popcorn romances, slapstick comedies and multi-starrer thrillers continue to hold an edge at the box-office.
After a three-year struggle, things are finally looking up for Minissha Lamba who has finally bagged her first big banner with Yash Raj Films' 'Bachna Ae Haseenon', where she stars with Deepika Padukone and Ranbir Kapoor, and also has a meaty role in Samar Khan's 'Shaurya'. Source: IndiaeNews.com: Bollywood News | 28 Mar 2008 | 3:31 am
Actor-director Satish Kaushik is so taken in by singer-actor Himesh Reshammiya that he has asked him to compose a promotional song for his forthcoming teen romance 'Tere Sang'. Source: IndiaeNews.com: Bollywood News | 28 Mar 2008 | 3:30 am
Romancing younger men on screen seems to be in vogue in Bollywood. The latest to join the bandwagon is Bipasha Basu who pairs up with Ranbir Kapoor and Neil Nitin Mukesh in two of her forthcoming films. Source: IndiaeNews.com: Bollywood News | 28 Mar 2008 | 1:30 am
IIFA brand ambassador Amitabh Bachchan casts the first vote at the IDEA IIFA 2008 voting weekend where members of the Indian Film Industry come together to vote for the nominations of the IDEA IIFA awards 2008. Source: IndiaGlitz.com - News | 28 Mar 2008 | 12:00 am
There are some messages doing the rounds in media:- FIR against Ram Gopal Varma given by Bhushan Kumar in Noida is stayed by Allahabad HC till 1st July. FIR will be quashed subsequently. Source: IndiaGlitz.com - News | 28 Mar 2008 | 12:00 am
Murli Sharma, who is reputed for donning the bad roles on big screen, is to be seen in a comic role for the first time in the movie One, Two, Three. Murli will be seen a man crazily in love with Esha Deol. Source: IndiaGlitz.com - News | 28 Mar 2008 | 12:00 am
Shah Rukh Khans Billoo Barber team is soon getting ready the cast for the filming of the movie. The film has King Khan in the role of Krishna and Irrfan Khan in the role of Sudama. Reports suggest that actress Tabu was approached for a role in this film, which she promptly refused. Source: IndiaGlitz.com - News | 28 Mar 2008 | 12:00 am
You just hit the bulls eye! We are talking about Hrithiks dance in daddy Roshans upcoming film Krazzy 4. With his contained and sober portrayal of Akbar in Jodha Akbar to the dude-with-a-cool attitude in this item number, Hrithik has proved time and again that he can do any role with equal grace and elegance. Source: IndiaGlitz.com - News | 28 Mar 2008 | 12:00 am
Actor Mithun Chakroborty Thursday promised to take his Indian Cricket League (ICL) team, Royal Bengal Tigers, to various districts of West Bengal for charity matches and convert the side into a 'winning machine'. Source: IndiaeNews.com: Bollywood News | 27 Mar 2008 | 5:30 pm
As they say, 'It is only few things in life that commands a repeat value, the remaining others demand it'. Likewise, one such 'commanding' pair is that of the versatile Boman Irani and the mega talented Shabana Azmi, who, after having created sheer magic with their screen presence in the blockbuster Honeymoon Travels Pvt. Ltd., will be now be seen as husband-wife combination in Onir's Sorry Bhai. The film's shooting will be done is Mauritius.
For the uninitiated, the on-screen kiss between Boman and Shabana in their last film did raise many an eyebrows. Onir, who was on a lookout for actors who can do full justice to the ole of 'perfect parents' zeroed down on this pair as he felt that its this pair that fits the role to a 'T'.
The other cast of the film include Chitrangdha, Sharman Joshi, and Sanjay Suri. Source: BollywoodHungama.com Features | 27 Mar 2008 | 4:49 pm
A bouquet of nine contemporary Chinese films will be showcased at the Chinese Film Festival 2008 starting here Friday, the Directorate of Film Festival (DFF) announced Thursday. Source: IndiaeNews.com: Bollywood News | 27 Mar 2008 | 3:01 pm
Nandita Das, the queen of unconventional cinema, has gone one step ahead by signing a film titled Ramchand Pakistani which is directed by a young Pakistani filmmaker Mehreen Jabar. The film also stars some famous television actors from Pakistan.
Throwing some light on the story of the film Nandita says, "The story is inspired by a real life incident and revolves around a small seven year old boy (Ramchand) who along with his father (Hindu Dalit settled in Pakistan) accidentally crosses the border. The story moves parallel between the father-son in Kutch jail and the mother left in a small village in Pakistan, unaware about the whereabouts of her family." Talking about director Mehreen, she says, "I met Mehreen at Kara Film Festival where Bawandar was to be screened. Later on, we became friends and she narrated me this story which I found very powerful. She is a very intelligent and a sensitive director."
On asking about her character in the film, Nandita informs, "I play the mother of Ramachand, a Hindu dalit who is a Pakistani by Nationality named Champa. There are lot of Hindu Dalit families who were left behind during the partition in the Sindh area. In fact, their language and their ways of dressing is very similar to that of people living in Rajasthan and Gujarat border area." She further says, "The film also brings in the limelight the complexities of being a Hindu dalit and Pakistani at the same time, in an Indian jail."
Ramachand Pakistani will be showcased at the Tribeca Film Festival in New York. Source: BollywoodHungama.com News | 27 Mar 2008 | 1:53 pm
