Posts Tagged ‘produce’
By IANS (December 18, 2009)
Actor John Abraham is deeply attached to the idea of wildlife conservation. So it comes as no surprise to know that he will now produce a film on tiger preservation to be directed by internationally renowned filmmaker Mike Pandey.
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The documentary film entitled “The Return Of The Tiger” will address the alarming disappearance of the species.
“I decided to produce the film because I truly believe tigers are one of the most magnificent creatures on this planet. And if we don’t take quick and immediate action to preserve them there will be no tigers left,” John said.
Through the film, which will be screened in the documentary section of film festivals and at wildlife-preservation summits, John and Pandey hope to create a certain amount of global awareness about the urgent need to preserve the tiger.
“This film is far too important in terms of its message. I decided to produce it after I met Mike Pandey. He’s such a lovely man, so committed to capturing the essence of nature on camera. I just decided to get committed to Mike’s level of commitment,” said John who wowed everyone with his performance in “New York”.
MID-DAY
Rakhi to play Mother Mary
Posted on: September 26, 2009
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Controversy queen Rakhi Sawant is about to take her love for Christianity to another level altogether. She is turning television producer with a show based on the the Bible for a channel that she calls her maika (mother’s home). The serial is tentatively titled, The Holy Bible. And hold your breath. Rakhi will play Mother Mary in the show.
Confirming the news, Rakhi says, “I’ll start my own television production with The Holy Bible. I want it to be as comprehensive as shows that are based on the Ramayana and the Mahabharata. Jesus Christ has changed my life and I want to spread his message.”
Currently, Rakhi is busy with the research work for the forthcoming show. She plans to launch her production house along with the serial by the year end. Rakhi admits she’s down to just exchanging pleasantries with Elesh Parujanwala, to whom she was engaged for a brief while through the reality show, Rakhi Ka Swayamvar. “After our second reality show together, Pati Patni or Woh, Elesh has gone back to Canada. Now I’m only concerned about my serial on the Bible. I want it to be as passionate as the film, The Passion of the Christ. I want the world to know that Jesus belongs to not just one community. He’s for everyone. He died on the Cross so that we could have a life. My reality show, Rakhi Ka Swayamvar boosted the channel’s TRPs. My forthcoming show on the Bible will take them to the No 1 slot.” The channel was unavailable for comment. |
While Rakhi is casting herself as Jesus’s mother Mary, she already has a wish list of actors who she would want to play Jesus. “Mother Mary has always been my idol. Ideally, I want Salman or Hrithik to play Jesus. But they won’t do it. Kunal Kapoor has the intensity to play Jesus. If I don’t get any of them, I’ll cast a newcomer. I want this serial to give me the respectability and sanctity that I crave. Whatever I do in life now is in the name of Jesus. The day I embraced Jesus, I swore to never harm anyone,” says Rakhi.
Bollywood tends to have this fixation with certain character artistes and they tend to get recast in similar roles endlessly. The doting, loud and aggressive Punjabi mother which has been played oh-so-well by Kirron Kher has been accepted and applauded by Indian audiences. She has gone on to become a favourite in films like Hum Tum, Rang de Basanti, Om Shanti Om, Kabhi Alvida Na Kehna and in Dostana.
Fans have loved the spirited, loud, over-the-top at times, yet ever-affectionate and loving mother played by Kirron Kher. We have actually come to a point when we can only think of her when it comes to the Bollywood Punjabi mother. However, Kirron is not very happy with this. “I’m really fed up of the Punjabi mother roles I have been playing,” says this National Award winning actress who would love to do something more, something different. Her screen sons have included the likes of Saif Ali Khan, Aamir Khan, Shah Rukh Khan, Abhishek Bachchan, and even a Sunny Deol. Ask her who among them is her favourite son and she promptly replies, “I do not have any favourites. Everyone is a professional, and they are all good colleagues. I have even played mother to actors who are just a few years younger to me, but then that is how the Hindi film industry works.” While she may reserve her comments on playing ‘mommy’ to heroes in her age group, Kirron does have her wish list of heroes that she would like to play mom to. “I don’t mind playing to mom to the younger lot. Like Ranbir, whom I’ve seen as a child,” she says. Kirron’s favourite roles have been the ones she played in Bariwali and Khamosh Paani – which won National and International awards, and received critical acclaim across the world. But she has her favourites in popular cinema too. “My role in Devdas and Rang De Basanti are amongst my favourites in commercial cinema,” says the gifted actress. Her son Sikandar’s career has still to take off as he’s yet to get a hit to his credit. But his talented parents are making sure to leave no stone unturned to make sure he makes a niche for himself in the industry. “We (Anupam and I) are planning to produce a film with him in the lead,” she shares. She’s also excited about a film she’s doing with Homi Adjania (who directed Being Cyrus). Her eyes sparkle when she gushes, “I have high hopes from the film. I have always wanted to do films laced with black humour.No one has offered something like this to me before.” Her other forthcoming releases include much-talked-about films like Kurbaan with Dharma Productions and Action Replay with Vipul Shah. |
Neeraj Pandey’s next with Ekta Kapoor, his assistant will make Wednesday prequel
Posted on: July 29, 2009
By Subhash K. Jha, July 27, 2009 – 17:00 IST
Rightfully, A Wednesday director Neeraj Pandey has reached the land of plenty. From the time when he had to struggle to put together his first political thriller a year back to now, when Neeraj is spoilt by choices…the director has indeed come a long way in no time.
Just when Neeraj was ready to direct a film for Ekta Kapoor’s Balaji Films, his dispute with UTV over the prequel has been resolved.
UTV and Neeraj Pandey had gone into legal recourse after UTV sold off the Tamil rights of Pandey’s A Wednesday. UTV apparently, also questioned Pandey’s right to make a prequel to A Wednesday which he was planning.
But now the matter is now settled. “I’m free to make the prequel. But I can’t have the title A Wednesday. I agree the branding goes a long way in getting the audience. But I’ll have the same cast and hopefully audiences will know they are looking in the same range of vision as the earlier film.”
Now that the matter has been cleared, the Wednesday team is solidly behind Pandey to start the prequel. However there’s a hitch. Pandey has committed himself to a film to be produced by Ekta Kapoor’s Balaji Films. It’s the story of a scamster based on a true-life character. And Pandey starts shooting next month. The Wednesday team is getting mighty anxious to start the prequel. They have in fact, collectively issued an ultimatum to Pandey to get the prequel on the road.
The director is caught in a dilemma. Ekta Kapoor’s project is ready to take off and there’s no way Pandey can wriggle out of the commitment. Laughs Pandey, “I don’t want to wriggle out of it. I’ve enjoyed writing the film for Ekta, as much as I’ve enjoyed putting together the Wednesday prequel. But since I can personally direct only one of the two projects I’m handing over the Wednesday prequel to one of my assistants. I’ll produce and stand solidly behind the project to make sure nothing is missing in the prequel.”
BOLLYWOOD HUNGAMA.COM
Fenil and Bollywood 