Posts Tagged ‘khatta meetha’
WHERE ARE THE ROLES? Lara Dutta, Bipasha Basu, Sonam and (above) Vidya Balan
MEENA IYER Times News Network (BOMBAY TIMES; January 5, 2010)
MEENA IYER Times News Network (BOMBAY TIMES; January 1, 2010)
The last decade in Bollywood has primarily been dominated by three Khans (Shah Rukh, Aamir and Salman) and one Kumar (Akshay). And even as his brand equity is at an all-time high, Akshay Kumar’s business plan in the new year is to take his banner Hari Om Production (HOP) to greater heights.
The banner which is a late bloomer, swung into action with Waqt — The Race Against Time in 2005, but has already notched up hits like Namastey London, Singh is Kinng, the entertaining grosser De Dana Dan, and is now ready for its next three productions — Priyadarshan’s Khatta Meetha, Farah Khan’s Tees Maar Khan and Nikhil Advani’s Patiala House.
Says Priyan, a close associate of Akshay and the HOP, “Khatta Meetha is a satire on the system. It is about the road-mafia which is prevalent all over but more so in Bihar and eastern UP. The main plot line is inspired by R K Laxman’s famous common man. Based on a true incident, this film unveils the travesty of the common man. I have made this film in Malayalam earlier and it was wonderfully received. I’m sure it will be a winner in Hindi too.’’ Both Hari Om Productions and Akshay will move by leaps and bounds in 2010. While the banner will have two releases in Khatta Meetha and Tees Maar Khan, the actor will also be seen in Sajid Nadiadwala’s Houseful and Vipul Shah’s Action Replayy. Of course, it is not all work and no play for this superstar. He is currently on vacation in Goa with his family. Asked what was uppermost on his mind when the clock struck 12, he says, “I sincerely want 2010 to be a year of peace and harmony. I wish BT readers a Happy New Year.’’
Rewinding to his recent Canada trip where he represented India at the Winter Olympics, the superstar says, “I can’t tell you what a proud moment it was when I was handed the Olympic Torch in Canada. It was very moving. In my opinion films and sports are the two passions that can bind any nation.’’ Having talked about his moment of glory on foreign soil, Akki adds, “I’m proud that New Delhi is the chosen destination for the Commonwealth Games. I pray for peace because I want this sporting event to go off really smooth. I want the world to know that India is safe and capable of hosting an event of this magnitude. As a true sports lover this is something uppermost on my mind.’’
It could be atonement for his past deeds, or should it read, atonement for his past fees. Trade circles say that Bollywood superstar Akshay Kumar who attained notoriety as the actor who was reportedly signed for as high a fee as Rs 71 crore for a film, has had a change of mind.
Reliable market sources say that the entire completion cost of Akshay’s next two films -Khatta Meetha directed by Priyadarshan and Tees Maar Khan directed by Farah Khan will reportedly not exceed Rs 35 crore.
So how did this miracle happen?
According to one trade source, “The cost of making Khatta Meetha and Tees Maar Khan will not include the actor’s fee.”
The same source adds that when Akshay realised that his films Chandni Chowk to China, Kambakkht Ishq and Tasveer lost money because of his individual fee as an actor, he decided to make a market correction.
Having studied the current Bollywood trade scene, the actor in concurrence with his filmmakers has decided not to charge a single penny for his films.
However, Akki’s banner Hari Om Productions is a co-producer on Khatta Meetha and Tees Maar Khan.
The actor explains the logic behind this drastic move of not charging his market fee, saying, “My fee for both films will be zero. If both films are hits, then my production house will stand to benefit by getting a part of the profits. If the film is average, the profit margin will automatically be reduced. However, it’s important to note here that even if the film flops, no one will lose money because the budget has been controlled. By not charging my personal remuneration as an actor, I’m making sure that these films will at least romp home with no losses.”
Trade sources say that the Akshay module is being closely watched by all actors who have home productions.
Kainaat Arora, late actress Divya Bharti’s second cousin, will soon make her acting debut with Gup Chup Gup Chup. She also has an item number in Priyadarshan’s Khatta Meetha, starring Akshay Kumar.
Kainaat was born in the same town as Divya (Sarangpur). She went on to study in the same school as Divya (St Mary’s) and then shifted base to Mumbai to pursue a career in acting. “Two years ago I came to Mumbai from Delhi after completing a course from NIFT and after doing some modeling assignments. I met OP uncle (Divya’s father) as soon as I came to Mumbai. I will never forget the way their family stood by me when I decided to become an actress. OP uncle said that after Divya, it was my turn to make everyone proud. He introduced me to Sajid Nadiadwala (who Divya was married to),” said Kainaat.
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| Kainaat Arora |
Talking about her debut film, Kainaat said, “Gup Chup Gup Chup happened by chance and I am the only actress in this comic thriller. Later, I met Priyan (Priyadarshan) sir at a function in Kerala. He told me that I looked familiar; he had forgotten that I had done three ad films with him. Soon, he offered me a song in Khatta Meetha, which I immediately agreed to do. When I first met Sajid, he told me a lot of things about Divya didi.”
When asked if she remembers anything about Divya, Kainaat said, “I was very young when didi passed away. I remember her coming to Sarangpur after her film Vishwatma had released. A crowd had gathered outside our house. I hope I make it. I want didi to be proud of me. She was a fantastic actress and if I become half of what she was, I will be very happy.”
Akshay speaks on Tees Maar Khan
Posted on: November 23, 2009
Akshay Kumar clears the air about why it’s okay for Farah Khan to sign him and not her favourite actor Shah Rukh Khan for Tees Maar Khan
A lot of eyebrows have been raised as to why Akshay Kumar and not Farah Khan’s favourite actor Shah Rukh Khan has been signed for her next directorial venture, Tees Maar Khan.
Reacting to rumours of having taken over from Shah Rukh Khan in Farah’s cinema, Akshay says, “Yes, I am doing Tees Maar Khan. I have known Farah and her husband Shirish Kunder for years. I have worked with her husband in his first film, Jaan-E-Mann and with her brother Sajid Khan twice, (Heyy Babyy in 2007 and yet-to-be-released Housefull). So Farah and I are very close. There’s nothing so shocking about me doing her film. We make 180 films and there are just 10 heroes. Every hero has enough work.”
Akshay admits that he’s playing a character called Khan in Tees Maar Khan. “But you’ll have to ask Farah whether the film was written for Shah Rukh. I play a con-man, a real smart-ass. Tees Maar Khan will be an out-and-out commercial film. Shirish has written the film. He had directed me in Jaan-E-Mann, a film I liked even though it didn’t click. As soon as I complete Priyadarshan’s Khatta Meetha, I start with Tees Maar Khan,” he adds.
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| Shah Rukh Khan | Farah Khan | Akshay Kumar |
Tees Maar Khan starts in March 2010.
Everyone is talking about the passionate rain song in De Dana Dan and the erotic chemistry between Akshay and Katrina and how similar it looks to Aamir Khan and Kareena Kapoor’s rain song in 3 Idiots. “I’ve seen Aamir’s rain song. It’s beautiful. I think Aamir and Kareena make a really good pair. I had high fever when we shot the rain song. So what is being seen as passion is actually pain. Honestly, I couldn’t believe how romantic Katrina and I looked together. This isn’t a typically romantic film. We don’t sing and walk into the sunset. I am crazy about Katrina in De Dana Dan. But I don’t have the money to impress and win her. In real life, I would never take to crime to win a girl. In this film I do, but it’s a goofy crime.”
Akshay is determined to cut down on his assignments next year. “That’s okay. There are so many new promising heroes such as Ranbir Kapoor and Imran Khan. At the moment I’m producing Khatta Meetha. Hopefully that and Housefull will release next year,” he says.
Akshay injured
Posted on: October 23, 2009
Over the years, Akshay Kumar has performed some of the most daring stunts in Bollywood and has escaped unhurt. Unfortunately, he wasn’t so lucky while shooting at Madh Island for a fairly simple scene for Sajid Khan’s Houseful on Wednesday night. Akshay had to dive into the deep end of a swimming pool when his timing went awry and water entered his ears. Although Akshay immediately came out of the pool, the damage was already done as the water had reached his ear drums.
Initially, Akshay didn’t realise the impact of the injury. He suddenly complained of excruciating earache at 4am and was immediately rushed to a hospital. A specialist was called for, who asked Akshay to either rest for an entire day in the hospital or at home. Akshay chose to rest at home. A source said, “Akshay has to report to the sets of his new film Khatta Meetha at Baramati today. A special chopper has been hired to take him there as he isn’t feeling too well due to his ear injury.” Sajid Khan, director of Houseful, confirmed the news and said, “Yes, Akshay did injure his ear but there is nothing to worry about now.” |
Trisha, who is being launched in Priyadarshan’s Khatta Meetha with Akshay Kumar, will play two characters
Southern star Trisha is being launched in Bollywood with a lot more footage and hoopla than most heroines in Priyadarshan’s films. She plays two characters in the forthcoming Khatta Meetha, starring Akshay Kumar.
Priyadarshan says, “I launched her in Tamil cinema ten years ago in Leysa Leysa. Now I’m launching her in Hindi in Khatta Meetha and that too with my sure bet, Akshay. It’s responsibility. Trisha has two different avatars in the script. But it’s not a double role. Trisha would have to go into two different time zones.” This is a far cry from Priyadarshan-Akshay films in the past where heroines were mere props. No wonder Asin refused Priyadarshan’s De Dana Dan with Akshay Kumar as she did not want to have limited space. Katrina Kaif finally stepped in because of her warm rapport with the hero. The director admits that there’s more to Trisha in Khatta Meetha than meets the eye. “Unlike my other films with Akshay, Khatta Meetha is not a comedy. It’s a family film on the lines of Hrishikesh Mukherjee and Basu Chatterjee films, with lots of scope for Trisha,” adds Priyadarshan. |
Khatta Meetha altered on Akki’s insistence
Posted by: fenilseta on: November 10, 2009
The film is now based on the mysterious 2009 murder of Bihar PWD engineer Yogendra Pandey who was allegedly killed by the crime cartel controlling the road construction business in the state. His body was found on June 18, 2009.
Akshay Kumar plays the murdered engineer’s colleague who helps to bring the culprits to book. Priyan says, “My film has now become the story of Bihar’s road mafia. Makrand Deshpande plays the murdered engineer while Akshay plays his colleague.”
Initially, the film was based on Priyan’s 1988 drama Vellanakalude Nadu. “Initially, Khatta Meetha was based on the road mafia and corruption in the construction business but at that point of time, it was entirely fictional.” It was Akshay who suggested that the film be contemporised by bringing in Pandey’s notorious death. Priyan says, “We brought in the whole story of the death of the honest road engineer in Bihar who was apparently killed by the corrupt road mafia when he threatened to expose their wrongdoings. We introduced Makrand’s character based on Yogendra Pandey and Akshay as the friend and colleague who uncovers the bloody trail.”
Priyan and Akshay have hit on a new formula to counter the charge of making mindless comedies. Khatta Meetha being shot in dusty Satara at the moment blends satire with a social message. Priyan adds, “I think I’ll be doing this kind of a mixture of social comment and satire more often. In Khatta Meetha we took up a very serious and disturbing crime situation in Bihar but treated it lightly. No one wants to watch grim films anymore. We just have to find a way of letting the audience know what’s actually going on in the world while transporting them into a make-believe world at the same time.”
Akshay Kumar went out of his way to complete this film. “We did it in 90 days at a stretch. Akshay believes we’ve been able to do something important here. The message comes through the comedy,” said Priyan.