Posts Tagged ‘film city’
Producer Ahmed Khan and lead actor Shahid Kapoor have donated school utilities used for their film to three schools that needed them
Although choreographer-turned-producer Ahmed Khan’s Paathshala’s shooting is over, the props used for the film’s shooting are still in use. Ahmed and Shahid Kapoor, the film’s lead actor, donated the props used for the film – school bags, notebooks, benches and stationery to three needy schools teaching underprivileged children. The film is directed by Milind Ukey.
Paathshala deals with contemporary and socially relevant issues regarding children’s education. Ahmed had erected a massive set of a school at Film City where classrooms, dormitories, the principal’s cabin, staff rooms, huge corridors, a basket ball court, garden, assembly hall, music room and canteen were recreated.
Ahmed says, “We had several benches, school uniforms, school bags, notebooks and stationery that we used for the film. After the shooting, we decided to donate all these basic school utility items to the underprivileged kids studying in schools.”
The items have been donated to two schools in Mumbai, one in Malad and the other in Malvani and a third school (a nursery), on the outskirts of Pune.
“We had several children acting in our film. Some were child actors who auditioned for the part, while others were underprivileged kids from the slums. It was because of the latter that we decided to help the needy schools. Apart from the benches that we made for the film, we made some more benches at our cost and donated them as well. Why not help them out in our small way by providing basic infrastructure?” adds Ahmed. The film also stars Ayesha Takia and Nana Patekar.
 |
 |
| Paathshala |
Remember the song, Mile sur mera tumhara – the song on national integration that used to be aired on television in 1988?
Ad filmmaker Kailash Surendranath and his wife Aarti had produced the video, featuring stalwarts from the world of acting, singing and sports. Now, an updated version of the song with new artistes is being shot by the same producers in different parts of India.
Interestingly, Ranbir was chosen to participate in the freshly conceived, designed and executed version of the music video as the new youth icon. Ranbir shot for the video at Film City and Yash Raj Studios on Sunday. And, Amitabh Bachchan is the only artiste from the earlier music video to feature in the new version.
 |
||
| Shilpa Shetty, Ranbir Kapoor & Deepika Padukone |
When we asked Bachchan about the honour of being the only artiste to feature in both the versions of the song, he replied, “I have not only participated in the new Mile sur mera tumhara, but have also sung a part of the original composition (composed by Louis Banks and P Vaidyanathan). We shot my portion of the song at the Taj hotel.”
Abhishek and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan have also shot for the song.
Shilpa Shetty and Deepika Padukone are the other celebrities from the entertainment sector to be featured. Commenting about the song, Deepika said, “My dad was part of the first one. Now I am in the second.”
Talking about the project, Aarti said, “At the moment we want to keep it really quiet until we finish the project.”
Nikhil to replicate Southall
Posted on: October 27, 2009
|
Southall, a locality in London, monopolised by Asians, will be recreated to the last detail in Mumbai for Nikhil Advani’s forthcoming film, Patiala House. Confirming the news, Nikhil says, “It’s a cross-cultural film about a generation gap. It’s set in 2010 but will go back to the infamous Southall racial riots in 1979. Since the Southall of 1979 was impossible to replicate in London, my art director Priya Raghunath is recreating it in Mumbai for me at Film City.” Patiala House is a rare, non-comic outing for Akshay. “I had put in some lighter moments and comic interludes for Akshay but he firmly asked me to take them out. Patiala House will be unlike anything Akshay has done so far,” says Advani.
The film’s shooting will take place between December 18 and January 31. It is produced by Mukesh Talreja and also stars Anushka Sharma. |
Aamir-Kareena do the Zoobi doobi!
Posted on: October 4, 2009
Now that Aamir Khan and Kareena Kapoor are starring together in Raju Hirani’s 3 Idiots, after two misses (Mani Ratnam’s Lajjo and Vishal Bhardwaj’s Mr Singh & Mrs Mehta) there is a considerable amount of curiosity about this never-seen-before jodi. We dropped in on the sets at Film City on Thursday to watch the two sizzle in the only romantic song, Zoobi doobi, in the film. Entering the sets wasn’t an easy task because of the tight security. This despite the fact that we had taken the requisite permission on Wednesday to visit the sets. Thankfully, Aamir Khan spotted us after which going on the sets was a cakewalk. Sung by Sonu Nigam and Shreya Ghoshal, the rain song has been composed by Shantanu Moitra. Aamir Khan, dressed in a burnt orange shirt and white trousers, was completely wet and gladly showed off his super flat abs. Kareena too wore a similar coloured sari and looked effortlessly stunning. The two actors dancing in the (artificial) rain reminded one of the Raj Kapoor-Nargis Awara song, Pyaar hua ikraar hua. Choreographer Bosco was busy instructing all the dancers in the background. Aamir and Kareena were explained a shot, which was being filmed from a high angle. Raju Hirani sat by the monitor, closely watching the visuals. As soon as the shot was okayed, Aamir and Kareena rushed to check the scene in the monitor after which Aamir got busy with his Rubik cube. He told us that when he was in college, he could solve it in 27 seconds flat, but now he takes a minute to get it right. Surprisingly, he claimed that he could solve the Rubik cube without even seeing it, which he did, in exactly one minute. Aamir also said that he has quit smoking for over six months as he wanted to look fresh and young in the film. |
A picture speaks a thousand words. Going by these, which were clicked yesterday, superstars Akshay Kumar and Shah Rukh Khan have forgotten all their differences about who is the No 1 star in Bollywood. Yesterday, they were seen together at Film City where Akshay was shooting for Blue while SRK was shooting an ad film.
Interestingly, it was SRK who took the initiative to meet Akshay by suddenly landing up on the sets of Blue. Akshay, of course, was pleasantly surprised by this unexpected visit from SRK. A source present on the sets of the film said, “SRK walked in on the sets of Blue yesterday afternoon to meet Akshay. SRK was shooting nearby on floor no 12 for an ad film when he heard that Akshay was shooting on floor no 1 for Blue. There were some media persons who were present on the sets of Blue. They were surprised to suddenly see SRK on the sets of Akshay’s film. As soon as he heard about SRK’s visit, Akshay came out of his vanity van to greet him. Their body language was very friendly. The two stars chatted inside the vanity van for 20 minutes. They have been discussing the possibility of a joint venture. Earlier too they had discussed the possibility of doing a film together at Preity Zinta’s birthday party. Now they have taken their discussion a step ahead. The film will be jointly produced by SRK’s production company Red Chillies and Akshay’s Hari Om Productions.”
|
According to the source, both are keen to make a film together and they will be meeting again soon to take things further. “Akshay and SRK know that it will be nothing short of a dream cast if they are seen together in a film made by them,” said the source.By Kunal M Shah (MUMBAI MIRROR; September 02, 2009)
| Karan Johar is leaving no stone unturned to give his film My Name Is Khan a unique look. He has recreated New York at Film City and now a flood sequence is being shot there. Apparently, Karan has ordered for thousands of litres of water in tankers to depict the flood.
Our source from the sets said, “The entire set will be under water for the next few days. It is going to be a difficult shoot and Karan is tensed about it. This is one of the most important sequences in the film and all precautions are being taken. Many tankers have been called to fill the set with water and Karan is very particular that he wants everything to be right. However, he is also very concerned about the health risks of staying in water for hours. That’s why he has asked his designer friend Shiraz Siddiqui to make special waterproof costumes for himself as well as his entire unit. However, the actors SRK and Kajol will not have the costumes as they have to be seen in their look for the film.” Karan Johar didn’t want to talk about the scenes to maintain the ambiguity that he has been projecting regarding the film. But he did say that it was a difficult and elaborate scene that he was shooting. |
However, being the ever thoughtful producer, he also did not want the unit to fall sick shooting the entire day in waist-high water, so he got designer Shiraj Siddiqui to make special waterproof costumes.By Taran Adarsh, July 1, 2009 – 12:01 IST
 |
| K A M B A K K H T I S H Q |
The first screening of the much-awaited biggie KAMBAKKHT ISHQ was held last night [30th June] at Adlabs, Film City. It was an exclusive screening, with the cast and crew of the film watching it for the first time. Present on the occasion were Kareena Kapoor and Saif Ali Khan [who arrived with his kids], Babita Kapoor, Dinesh Vijan [Saif's producer-partner in LOVE AAJ KAL], Viki Rajani of Eros and those associated with the film. Producer Sajid Nadiadwala and his wife Wardha played perfect hosts.
Meanwhile, lead man Akshay Kumar flew from London last night and is expected to watch the film tonight.
BOLLYWOOD HUNGAMA.COM
LAMHAA director faints on the sets
Posted on: May 21, 2009
Health is the price filmmaker Rahul Dholakia paid for wanting to do everything on the sets. Last week, Dholakia was shooting for Lamhaa at Khandala ghat, when he collapsed on the sets. Doctors have advised him complete bed rest for a month. Our source from the sets said, “The unit was shooting at Khandala ghat, which is the highest point at Film City. We can’t take a vehicle or a van there and it was extremely hot on last Thursday. It was Anupam Kher’s last day, so his scenes had to be wrapped up. Rahul had earlier collapsed on the sets in December and was admitted to hospital but at Khandala ghat, he had to go to and fro at least 3-4 times and also it was a 12-hour shift. Although he felt he was fit, his body could not take the physical strain.” Rahul Dholakia confirmed, “Parzania gave me diabetes and Lamhaa has given me blood pressure. This has been a stressful film in all respects. My doctors have advised me bed rest till I recover completely. I am worried as we had Kunal Kapoor’s dates from Friday onwards and now the shooting has gone for a toss. I will be meeting my doctors on the 24th and then I will know if I will be able to shoot from 25th as scheduled.” |
