Posts Tagged ‘Aitraaz’
Okay, Bollywood’s first big rumour of 2010 is that Priyanka Chopra and Akshay Kumar are going to reunite on screen in Farah Khan’s Tees Maar Khan. The buzz is that Priyanka, riding high on the success of Kaminey, is keen on being cast opposite the Khiladi again. Akshay, you remember, was the hero who galvanized her into the big league at the start of her career with Andaaz, Aitraaz and Mujhse Shaadi Karogi before the two decided not to work together. The buzz is that Priyanka has sent feelers to Farah for the female lead role in her film. The choreographer-director is herself said to be game for this hot-and saleable pairing. And Akshay, who was recently asked if he had any problems working with Priyanka again, had replied, “I’d love to work with her… provided the right script comes along.”
While none of the three involved parties are willing to comment on the Akshay-Priyanka pairing in Tees Maar Khan, Farah did reluctantly say, “By mid-January we have to decide. It will either be an absolutely new girl or a very established actress… go do your math!”
Let’s talk about Sex baby!
Posted on: September 30, 2009
BOLD AND BEAUTIFUL: (From top) Stills from Luck By Chance, Kaminey, Love Aaj Kal
DEEPALI DHINGRA Times News Network (BOMBAY TIMES; September 29, 2009)
Did you cringe with discomfort when a seemingly innocent child woman Isha Sherwani seduced Farhan Akhtar into bed in Luck By Chance? Or, more recently, when a salwar kameez-clad Priyanka Chopra managed to convince a reluctant Shahid Kapoor to have sex with her in Kaminey, by telling him that she knows ‘homescience’ and that it’s ‘safe to do it’? More likely than not, you smiled at their boldness and prepared for more to come. Seduction was a game played by vamps in Bollywood in the 70s and 80s. Much later, lead actresses like Bipasha Basu and Priyanka Chopra were sexually charged in Jism and Aitraaz respectively. But even then, they were the ‘bad girls’. Well, times have changed — even the ‘good’ girls are taking a turn for the ‘bad’ and the audiences are lapping it up!
Watch newcomer Mahie Gill throwing herself in full abandon at Abhay Deol in a mustard field in Dev. D and you’ll know what we’re talking about. Trade analyst Komal Nahta says he isn’t surprised at this change. “Films, after all, are a reflection of today. Girls are proposing to guys, they are using seduction as a tool even in real life. The major composition of the audience comprises youth, so they have to show what the young generation identifies with,” he says. So Kareena Kapoor playfully hands Akshay Kumar her bra in Tashan and Konkona SenSharma suggests a quick bout of love-making to Rahul Bose in Dil Kabaddi before they turn in for the night and Deepika Padukone has no qualms with Saif Ali Khan kissing her full on the mouth in the car in Love Aaj Kal. Agrees Mahie, “Reel life follows real life. Women today are more vocal about their sexual desires than what they were about a decade back. The audience today wants to see characters they can identify with. That’s why the boldness depicted by the newer lot of actresses has been accepted.”
According to film director Onir, a growing section of audiences in urban centres are accepting this change. “Independent working women watch these films with their male friends and colleagues who treat them as equals and therefore, accept their portrayal on screen as well,” he says. Also, the younger generation of filmmakers who have grown up seeing women as friends and colleagues, are showing female characters as they are, says Onir.
deepali.dhingra@timesgroup.com
18 Jun 2009, 0514 hrs IST, Bharati Dubey, TNN
UNITED WE STAND: Shiney Ahuja’s wife Anupam (R) with some of her neighbours who had come to express support at the press conference on Wednesday
The media is after her husband’s life. And rape, after all can be committed by a woman too (remember Disclosure’s Demi Moore or closer home,
Aitraaz’s Priyanka Chopra?) That was what Anupam Ahuja had to tell the world on Wednesday. At a press conference in Juhu to defend her `soulmate’ and the doting father to their daughter, the wounded wife reiterated what she had been saying from day one-that Shiney was innocent and was being framed. “Rape is a very heinous crime and in today’s time it can be committed not just by a man. Even a woman can do it and we all know,” an aggressive Anupam stated, adding, “I know there will soon be a law that will be formed to protect both the genders in rape cases. I really don’t know why he is being framed. It is also possible since he is a celebrity and all celebrities are soft targets.”
Reminded that the medical reports indicate injury marks on the victim, Anupam turned her ire towards the media: “Who has seen the medical report and where is that medical report? Have you seen it? There are contradictory reports in the media. The case has to be fought in court and not the media.”
Asked who could possibly want to frame her husband and why, she retorted, “Why does a robber rob a bank? I can speak for my man and I am not a girl madly in love with her man, but we have been together for 15 years. There were reports that Shiney and I am divorcing, but here I am in defence of my husband. He is my soulmate and I know he is not capable of doing it.” Quizzed further on what could be the maid’s motive in trying to frame Shiney and if money could be one of the reasons, she added: “It could be anything but I don’t want to speculate at this point.”
Did Anupam think that those trying to frame Shiney would try to influence the medical report and does she want the tests to be conducted in some laboratory outside Mumbai? “I cannot say anything other than the medical reports and examination will be conducted in a lab where it has to be done. Besides, my lawyer will take decisions regarding the case. All I can say is I have complete faith in the judiciary,” Anupam said.
Probed on what she thought about the role of the police, she was calm: “Someone went to the cops and complained and they are only doing what they have to do.” But told that Shiney has made a confession, Anupam shot back, “It is all rubbish. I repeat, Shiney is innocent and not capable of this.”
Anupam, who last met her husband on Monday in court, refused to divulge any information about where she was on the day of the incident. “I cannot reveal anything as I don’t want to influence the case in any way. I respect the law of the land,” she reiterated.
Supporting the `wife on the warpath’ were at least 20 neighbours, who vouched for Shiney’s good character. There were reports that the Ahujas’ next-door neighbour had heard some screams from the actor’s house on Sunday afternoon, but Ruchika Marwah, the actor’s neighbour who was present at the conference said, “I have not given any such statement to anyone in the media.” Asked if she knew the maid in question and if her maid and Ahuja’s maid were known to each other, she simply looked at Anupam and said, “I will not say anything, adding, “The incident came as a shock.” She parroted what Anupam had to say about Shiney: “I know Shiney as a loving father and loving husband, those are the roles I have seen him in.”
Satish Kapoor, treasurer of the society said, “I have been hearing and reading reports about Shiney’s character. But all I have to say is that he is a gentleman and was often seen in the compound taking his daughter around in a pram.”
But there was no visible support from the film industry
. Anupam brushed that aside saying, “The film industry is on our side. I have proof in the form of SMSes from people like Sudhir Mishra and Anurag Basu saying that they are with us.”
With American studios keeping a hawk-eyed gaze over copyright infringement by Bollywood filmmakers, the latter are getting increasingly copyright-savvy. Directors Abbas Mustan claim their forthcoming film, which is inspired by the 2003 con caper The Italian Job, directed by F Gary Gray, will be a “mix-and-match” version of the 2003 film and Peter Collinson’s 1969 film from which the 2003 film was remade. Abbas said, “Our producer, Studio 18, has bought rights of both versions of The Italian Job. We will pick whichever elements we like from both the Hollywood films and put it together in our own way.”
Earlier, Abbas Mustan have outright lifted Hollywood films. For instance, their popular 2004 film Aitraaz was a copy of the Michael Douglas, Demi Moore-starrer Disclosure (1994) while Ajnabee was a copy of Consenting Adults. “But we aren’t doing that this time. We are looking at turning The Italian Job into a total desi film,” added Abbas, who is currently scripting the film. Although the star cast of the film is yet to be decided, it is reliably learnt that Saif Ali Khan, Ranbir Kapoor, Imran Khan, Shahid Kapur, Neil Nitin Mukesh and a few others are being considered for roles. |
Fenil and Bollywood 
Fenil’s Bollywood Talk # 71
Posted by: fenilseta on: October 22, 2009
DDLJ ENTERS ITS 15 YEAR; STILL RUNNING SUCCESSFULLY IN MUMBAI!
One of the best Bollywood films of all time, Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge (DDLJ) has been running since its release in 1995 at the Maratha Mandir theatre in Mumbai! Very surprisingly, the solo 11:30 am show of DDLJ still gets viewers and during weekends, it is easily 70-100% full! It was released on October 20, 1995 and this Tuesday, it entered into its 15th year!
However, a lot of doubts have been raised as to how such an old film still manages to get audience. Some say that Yash Raj Films, the producers of DDLJ, are forcefully running the movie at Maratha Mandir to create a record. But none of this is true and I can vouch for that as I myself have gone to see DDLJ couple of time there. Some of the reasons for DDLJ’s successful running:
1. OUTSTANDING ENTERTAINER: DDLJ is a sweet well-made feel good film that has its heart at the right place. It was a cult film at that time as it managed to place something interesting before the audience and at the same time, didn’t trudge a different path. And SRK’s mind-blowing performance created frenzy among the females. You can find many (males too) who have seen the film more than 30/40/50/100 times and are ready to watch it again! Thus, it’s a film which almost any moviegoer can watch it anytime!
2. SHAH RUKH KHAN’S CRAZE: Shah Rukh Khan has one of the biggest fans following. So many fans from other cities/countries that are on a visit to Mumbai make it a point to watch DDLJ at Maratha Mandir!
3. TICKET PRICING: The rates of DDLJ’s show are damn cheap. Balcony tickets cost Rs 22, Dress Circle tickets are priced at Rs 20 while stall tickets are available for Rs 18. With such low rates, it becomes damn affordable for anyone, even for the poorer sections living nearby, to watch DDLJ many times!
4. LOCATION OF MARATHA MANDIR: The theatre is situated opposite Mumbai Central Railway Station, the southernmost terminus in Mumbai on Western Railway. Many travelers who reach the station in the morning but have a late afternoon train to catch decide to watch the film in order to pass their time! Even though Apsara, Novelty, Minerva theatres aren’t very far from the station, travelers still prefer watching DDLJ. Also, the hawkers, vendors and other poor people working/dwelling near Maratha Mandir go for it as for them it’s the ultimate entertainment. Other single screens nearby have closed and they can’t afford multiplex tickets. So they prefer watching DDLJ due to cheap ticket rates and also because the film never bores!
5. CURIOSITY: I know many who stay far away in the suburbs of Mumbai but have gone to watch DDLJ out of curiosity and amusement that the film is still running!
Some 6-7 years back, even I found it difficult to believe that the film managed to get audience in each show. But then, DDLJ is a magical film. Also, when I had gone to see DDLJ in its 500th week, I was surprised to see that people who were there in the show (it was housefull) were so engrossingly watching the film. They knew the film perfectly as they had seen it many times and they could have cracked jokes and passed stupid comments in emotional scenes, as masses generally do. But they didn’t and were shanti se seeing it! DDLJ, indeed, is much more than magical, I guess! Whatever it is, it rocks and I hope it keeps running forever!
ACCEPT THAT YOU GUYS MADE A BAD FILM!
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Blue and All The Best have done a great job at the BO but the 3rd Diwali release, Main Aurr Mrs Khanna (MAMK) have failed miserably. The film could neither impress the critics nor the audiences. Director Prem Soni gave two reasons for film’s debacle-first, the producers made a mistake for going easy on the film’s publicity and second, there was a general resentment against the film and attempt was made to sabotage it! Producer Sohail Khan, on the other hand, blames the co-producer of the film, UTV, for releasing the film during Diwali with Blue and All The Best. According to him, MAMK wasn’t perfect Diwali stuff and that people want to watch comic films in the festive time (Ironically, Prem Soni a month ago was heard saying that Diwali is the perfect time for MAMK!). He wanted the film to release next year during Valentine’s Day.
Both Sohail and Prem are giving different and contradictory reasons but none of them are ready to accept that they made a bad film. Even if the publicity was low-key, the film had made its presence felt. And regarding the point that attempt was made to flop the film; I don’t buy it at all. Go and ask viewers who saw the film-they all were disappointed. So, the word-of-mouth wasn’t good and that’s why the film failed. Sohail’s reasoning also isn’t justified. A bad film is going to flop whether it’s released in Diwali or on Valentine’s Day or during any other fest. Also, during 2004 Diwali, Veer-Zaara and Aitraaz had occupied almost all shows in theatres and also the headlines. Yet, Mughal-E-Azam, released simultaneously with these two films with very less prints, managed to grow and do a great job at the BO.
At such times, my respect for Ram Gopal Verma increases! He’s the only one who accepts that his film wasn’t upto the mark. He went to the point to say that those who liked his Sholay-remake Aag are mental patients! Kudos to RGV!