Archive for November 2009
MEENA IYER Times News Network (BOMBAY TIMES; November 29, 2009)
By Subhash K. Jha, November 27, 2009 – 11:34 IST
It looks like it will be another year at least after 3 Idiots and his own home productions Dhobi Ghat and Delhi Belly before Aamir Khan will sign another new film.
Since the release of Ghajini in December 2008, Aamir has not signed on the dotted line for any project. In fact Aamir had decided to take one full year off after Ghajini to rejuvenate himself. After the tough physical and emotional preparation for Ghajini, Aamir just wanted to relax and spend time with his wife and children.
That’s precisely what he has done for the last one year. But now Aamir would be taking one more year off. This next one year would be devoted to putting his three home productions in order.
Says a source, “Aamir had earlier decided to take one year off. But now he has decided to extend his sabbatical by one more year. Filmmakers who have approached him with projects have been told that Aamir intends to take approximately one more year to supervise the post-production and final look of the three films that he has produced in 2009, namely Abhinay Deo’s Delhi Belly, Anushka Rizvi’s The Falling and Aamir’s wife Kiran Rao’s Dhobi Ghat.”
Aamir feels, all three projects need serious fine-tuning and have been delayed because he has been busy finishing and promoting 3 Idiots.
Says the source, “The only way Aamir feels his three productions can be completed and released in 2010 is if he sets aside all his own acting assignments to look into them. So he isn’t signing any films in 2010 either.”
Says the source, “It requires guts to say no to the best roles going around in Bollywood, and at a reported fee of approximately Rs 30 crores per film. But Aamir suffers no security pangs about not signing films. He told a friend he will work at his own pace, no matter what the temptation or provocation to take on extra work may be.”
BOLLYWOOD HUNGAMA.COM
Saturday 28th November 2008 09.00 IST
Boxofficeindia.Com Trade Network
De Dana Dan opened to a good response of around 70-80% on day one. The collections were not a huge 90% plus as some of the trade had expected. Also business in circuits like West Bengal and Mysore was on the lower side. Multiplexes in North India saw collections in the evening and late shows at 95-100% but collections were not as strong in the rest of the country. The film will score over the weekend as Saturday is a holiday but it will have to sustain on Monday to recover big costs.
Kurbaan was below the mark in week one with collections around 19 crore nett. The 8th day is very poor and the film is a losing fare. FLOP
Ajab Prem Ki Ghazab Kahani added around 6 crore nett to take its total in three weeks to 61.50 crore nett. SUPER HIT
BOXOFFICEINDIA.COM
Aamir Khan has done a Danny Boyle. He has signed on three kids who sing in Mumbai local trains to earn money, to lend their voice for his production, tentatively titled The Falling. The kids, Durga (12), Nagarjuna (17), Bramendra (18) have recorded for the film which is about farmers’ suicide.
They have sung under the guidance of Mathias Duplessy, who has given the background score to the film, directed by Anusha Rizvi. A source from the film revealed, “Mathias discovered the talented kids. He learnt that they earn their daily bread and butter by singing in local trains. He found it interesting, got in touch with the kids and things quickly fell in place. Aamir was really happy with the trio’s talent and immediately agreed to record with them. In fact, Mathias is now making a film with a foreign production house where these kids will sing about six-seven songs.” Last weekend, Aamir and Vidhu Vinod Chopra, who is the producer of 3 Idiots, had a small get-together at Vidhu’s house to check out the kids’ talent. Aamir’s wife Kiran Rao, and Vidhu’s wife Anupama were also present.
Mathias accompanied the kids to Vidhu’s house. “The kids gave a zabardast performance. Aamir was very impressed. Aamir and Vidhu may do something for the kids in future,” the source added. Confirming the news, Mathias said, “I met the three kids two years ago through the director of The Fakir of Venice, Anand Surapur. They had played for me then. In fact, I have even traveled in trains to check out their talent. They have the energy and talent of gypsies. They’re great singers. Durga is the little princess of the group and Nagarjuna is the lead singer. Bramendra too has a very good voice.” “The trio has already recorded for the film and their voice blended wonderfully with the harmonium. I have used their voice for two songs in The Falling,” Mathias added.
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| Vidhu Vinod Chopra |
It is common knowledge that Aamir Khan and Salman Khan are bonding big time these days. Aamir too admits to his close friendship with Salman and says, “Yes, I am very fond of Salman. I also spend time with him whenever we can match our schedules.”
What is more interesting about the Khans apart from their friendship is the buzz about their nocturnal adventures. Rumour has it that when Aamir’s wife Kiran Rao is away at their weekend bungalow in Panchgani, the actor packs off the rest of his staff such as his personal assistant by around 9pm but retains his security staff.
A source says that when Aamir retains his security staff beyond midnight, it is a dead giveaway that he is going to be visiting his best friend Salman.
So what do these two forty plus actors do on their boys’ night out?
A common friend says that Aamir drives to Salman’s home in Bandra; where he parks his vehicle. Then Salman gets his red motorcycle out and the two go for a spin. Both their security staff follow them in their respective vehicles. After their nocturnal spin, they invariably land up either at Salman’s bachelor pad and have a round of drinks; or if Kiran is out of town, they land up at Aamir’s home.
And that’s not all. It is said that Aamir, who is currently on a diet, is known to break his resolve on nights that he is with Salman.
The Aamir-Salman friendship also extends to having special previews of their films for each other. Aamir had a sneak preview of Ghajini for Salman and Sachin Tendulkar. After the trial, Salman had given Aamir some suggestions on ‘changes’ to be made; which Aamir incorporated into the film.
Anyway, this time around too, Aamir who is currently in Delhi will hold a special screening of 3 Idiots only for Salman. Of course the trial is likely to happen only after December 3, because Salman, Katrina Kaif, Sridevi, Celina Jaitley and Neha Dhupia are expected to perform for a show in Dubai on December 2.
Guess, sooner or later, even Salman will hold a special screening of Veer, which is slated for a January 22 release next year, for Aamir too.
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| Aamir Khan | Salman Khan |
Katrina Kaif’s varying style creates continuity issues on the sets of Prakash Jha’s Rajneeti
On the sets of Rajneeti, Prakash Jha has had to deal with much more than temper tantrums. It took Jha a lot of time to explain the concept of continuity to the film’s lead actress Katrina Kaif.
It is said that Katrina’s role is fashioned after Sonia Gandhi. Thus, a lot of effort and styling has gone into deglamourising the usually sensual actress. She has to maintain a sari-clad look sans make up, which is far from the way she has been portrayed in her past films.
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| Katrina Kaif & Rajneeti |
Our source said, “Katrina did not seem to understand the importance of continuity. Every other day, she would turn up on the sets looking completely different. Often, Jha would be surprised to see Katrina looking like a different person altogether. He had to summon her make-up man to get her look redone; to make it match the look in the last scene on the previous day.”
The funny bit is the fact that Katrina never seemed to realise this. She would simply say, “Main to waisi hi lag rahi hoon, different nahin.”
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| Prakash Jha |
Naturally, a lot of time was wasted while the make-up man worked on Katrina’s look.
Jha denied the story saying, “What rubbish! Katrina’s character undergoes a metamorphosis in the film but I never had a continuity problem with her and didn’t lose any time either. She was perfect.”
Katrina, of course, echoed Prakash Jha’s statement.
MEENA IYER Times News Network (BOMBAY TIMES; November 28, 2009)
Pratik says, “My filmmakers be it Sanjay Leela or Rohan will do all the talking about their films. I’m under a contract and unable to say much.”
The star son, however, clears the air about a controversy that said he kept Bollywood superstar Aamir Khan waiting on the sets of Kiran Rao’s Dhobi Ghat because he was holidaying in Goa. “I haven’t been to Goa in five years,” says Pratik. “I may be young, restless and even stupid but I would never keep a senior actor like Aamir waiting.” Brickbats be damned, then. It will rain bouquets in Pratik’s backyard on his birthday, today!
MEENA IYER Times News Network (BOMBAY TIMES; November 28, 2009)
Dharma Productions’ Kurbaan with Saif Ali Khan and Kareena Kapoor in the lead definitely got people across the globe to sit up and take notice of it. Rensil D’Silva’s cross-genre flick that is a love story set against the backdrop of terrorism came in for a mixed view from its audience. However, Karan Johar is not shaken. “I know exactly what I’m doing,” says Bollywood’s prolific and progressive producer. He admits that his banner has in the past been associated with candy floss cinema. But from the start of 2009, Dharma is emerging as a formidable force, and has been making dramatic departures from its safe zone. Says Karan, “With Kurbaan, we did make a complete departure from what we have earlier been doing. Whether it was Dostana or Wake Up Sid, we’ve been dabbling in different genres.” He says that even those films were closer in texture to what he has been doing in the past — like a Kabhie Khushie Kabhi Gham or a Kal Ho Na Ho. “But,” adds Karan, “in the case of Kurbaan, we moved away completely to address a serious issue. And, when we did that, we were well aware that we were treading on a new path. Reactions to the film may be mixed. However, it is my endeavour to raise the bar with each film that I undertake. And, to also make globally relevant cinema.” Of the firm view that the West is watching not only our economic progress but also taking interest in our cinema, Karan feels that, “Sometimes such cinema may not exactly get the box office that one hopes for, but that certainly doesn’t shake my faith in this genre of film.” KJo also feels that the synergy between him and UTV Movies with whom he associated for Wake Up Sid and Kurbaan is truly gratifying in that both production houses are invading a similar cinema space. And have a similar thought process. “UTV produced some of the most amazing films in the last couple of years,” says Karan. “From a Mumbai Meri Jaan, Aamir, A Wednesday, Jodhaa Akbar, Wake Up Sid, Oye Lucky Lucky Oye and now Kurbaan — it has consistently backed progressive and meaningful cinema.” And while he will delve into relevant issues like terrorism and autism next (in My Name Is Khan), Karan will keep up the quintessential date movie like I Hate Luv Stories, a fun caper like Dostana-2 and the remake of the Hollywood flick Step Mom. No matter what, Dharma is a banner on a mission. They will never veer away from good cinematic content — be it realistic or pure fantasy. meena.iyer@timesgroup.com
Promo: PRINCE-ITS SHOWTIME
Posted on: November 27, 2009
Cast: VIVEK OBEROI, NEERU SINGH, NANDANA SEN, ARUNA SHIELDS
Producer: RENU TAURANI, KUMAR TAURANI
Director: KOOKIE GULATI
