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Jolly LLB 2 collects 105 cr in 3 weeks; The Ghazi Attack 16 cr in 2 weeks

March 3, 2017, 6:40 pm
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Image result for jolly llb 2 the ghazi attack
Box Office India Trade Network

JOLLY LLB 2 grossed 8.25 crore nett in its third week taking its total business to 105 crore nett. The drop in the third week is 65% which is similar to the second week drop. The film won't be able to able hit 110 crore nett as collections came down heavily on the third Monday. The collections of JOLLY LLB 2 till date are as follows.
First Week - 72,98,00,000
Second Week - 23,77,00,000
Third Week - 8,25,00,000 apprx
TOTAL- 1,05,00,00,000  apprx
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THE GHAZI ATTACK (Hindi) had a low second week of 4.25 crore nett as it dropped 64% in the second week. This is a pretty big drop for a film whose first Monday was similar to its opening day. The business is better in Mumbaiu city, Pune and Bangalore. Overall BELOW AVERAGE. The business of THE GHAZI ATTACK till date is as follows.
First Week - 11,75,00,000
Second Week - 4,25,00,000
TOTAL - 16,00,00,000
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Sanjay Dutt’s stylist Naveen Shetty deconstructs the star’s look for the last two decades

March 4, 2017, 6:25 pm
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Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; March 5, 2017)

"He can pull off a ganji [vest] in style and make it look cool,” says Navin Shetty, who has been Sanjay Dutt’s stylist for nearly two decades. As the actor readies himself to make a comeback with Omung Kumar’s Bhoomi, there’s talk about his new look for the film. He has been seen on the set of the film in Agra in a kurta pyjama with a cropped, short mane. Dutt is one of those few actors who undergoes a metamorphosis for every one of his films. His looks have become iconic since his debut in Rocky (1981).

Navin says that there’s something unique about Dutt as he can effortlessly slip from playing a brooding gangster to a heartwarming hero. “He isn’t different in real-life either. The guy is all-heart with the DNA of a rockstar. There is an intrinsic aura to Sanju Sir. He commands awe the minute he walks on the set. You don’t need to fuss over him, you just know a superstar is in the vicinity.”

Setting a trend
The stylist says Dutt has always been a trendsetter. In the '90s, he was the first to sport long hair in films like Khalnayak (1993) and Saajan (1991) before other actors like Saif Ali Khan and Bobby Deol went on to ape it. As Navin puts it, “His long hair was a rage among the girls.”

The first glimpse of Ranbir Kapoor sporting long hair was leaked from the set of the biopic on Sanjay Dutt a few days ago. RK plays Dutt in Rajkumar Hirani’s film. It was natural to ask Navin which would be the most challenging look for the makers to crack. “Khalnayak (1993) and Kaante (2002),” he answers promptly while saying, “Sanju Sir never interferes with the work of any stylist. If he has anything specific in mind, he makes suggestions beforehand. His faith in me has always been steadfast. Once I have got him ready, he doesn’t look into the mirror. His confidence sets him apart. Not every actor can wear what he does and look good in it. One of the advantages of working with him, is that he allows you to experiment. Anything you give him becomes an extension of his personality,” Navin adds.

One of his toughest tasks was to get the right look for Dutt in PK (2014) in which he played a Rajasthani character. “Once he was in costume, he was comfortable. Even in churidar and kurta, he rocked the look.”

Though Naveen isn’t the man styling Ranbir for the biopic, he says he is keen to see the young actor replicate Sanjay’s look in Musafir (2004). “He was ultra whacko in it. He wore a blue lens in one eye and green in the other. He had spiked hair, done differently and a toned beard. That is his most loud film and everything in it was outlandish. It will be fun to see Ranbir do that and I have no doubt he will ace it,” he quips, adding, “There was a specific pair of trousers for that film that he had his heart set on. It was the only time in so many years that he’d insisted on something so strongly.”

Another look that will be an uphill task for Ranbir, according to Navin, will be from Agneepath (2012). “He looked bulky and menacing with a shaved head. I am not sure what the biopic includes, but if he has to look anything like Kancha, it will require a lot of work.”

Reference point
Since Navin has worked with Sanjay and Rajkumar Hirani in the Munnabhai franchise, he understands the preparation that goes into a regular Hirani film during pre-production. Quiz him about the film’s stylist needing help in referencing from him, and he says, “I know that for the biopic, Raju sir would’ve already decided the looks he wants to incorporate in the film. A few rounds of rehearsals would’ve already been done on them.
His style of working is methodical.”

Gangsta rap
Of all the feedback that has poured in for his work over the years, he says the gangster look has been a unanimous favourite with all. “Leather jackets, accessories and boots are his all-time favourites. That’s the one time he loves dressing up. Beads on the neck, earrings, sometimes leather wristbands. Unlike other actors, he doesn’t obsess about branded stuff. Since he can render class to anything he picks up from the street, he has a few local haunts which he frequents.”

Accessorize it
Navin, who has worked with Sanjay since Plan in 2004 says, “Sanju has a fetish for watch and sunglasses. He picks up a new one every time he likes something and has an enviable collection. Usually actors ask their stylists for suggestions on their personal collection, but he is inherently stylish, he doesn’t need it. He could be a little possessive about his stuff, but when it comes to photoshoots, he uses his own clothes and looks classically Sanjay Dutt."
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Despite technological progress, the soul of a film will always be the message-Majid Majidi

March 4, 2017, 6:31 pm
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On the sidelines of his latest project in Mumbai, one of Iran's most acclaimed directors talks about his nation's resilience, why cinematic trends don't bother him, and why his Prophet film fell prey to Saudi Arabia's needless politicking
Vishwas Kulkarni (MUMBAI MIRROR; March 5, 2017)

At the fag end of Yari Road, well past its tiny bylanes and faux-bohemian cafés, is a makeshift football field, abutting the shanties of Versova fishing village. The football field also doubles up as a garbage dump; an ecosystem of stray dogs, pigs, storks, and a murder of crows are in perfect harmony. A thin gaggle of delighted residents of all age groups have gathered to watch the shooting of Beyond The Clouds, a film by Iranian auteur Majid Majidi. Everyone likes a slice of tinsel town.

Three make-up vans together make a border between the dump and a sandpit, which, in turn, has been converted into an ersatz Dhobi Ghat. Triangles of bamboo sticks hold up undulating, defiled sheets of cloth (“a section of the original Dhobi Ghat in Mahalaxmi didn't work for us, so we are recreating it here,“ explains producer Shareen Mantri of Eyecandy Films). On arriving, we are immediately corralled in a makeup van and offered beverages. “I think it's better for you to be here, it's too hot outside,“ says the PR agent. However, the air-conditioner is not working, so we step out with some club soda.

“Mr Majidi will be ready shortly, but may not be ready for photographs, mind you,“ says the PR agent. The sun is about to set and a camera crane hovers above the post-apocalyptic terrain.“Where is Mr Majidi by the way?“ “He's in the blue tent,“ says the PR agent. “Is that Boman Irani playing cricket?“ “No, but everyone seems to think he is and everyone calls him Boman Irani! Isn't that hilarious!“ says Mantri. The Boman Irani lookalike is incidentally Mr Majidi's assistant, and someone who has taken a liking to gully cricket. “This is the first time that Majid Majidi is working with an all-Indian crew. It's a very special film,“ she adds. At some point, before our interview with Mr Majidi, we also meet Kishor Arora, coproducer of Beyond the Clouds. “How is it to work with the auteur?“ we ask him. “Hum sirf maang sangte hain. Lekin deta toh uparwaala hee hain.“ (Us mortals can merely ask, but only the Almighty can grant you your wish.)

We enter the blue tent. On the table are half a dozen boxes from what appears to be a neighbourhood bakery. “Oh, no, I'm on a diet,“ I plead. “No, it's not a cake, it's a samosa!“ says someone from the production team. Mr Majidi, 58, and his translator, Jawad Askari, 67, are delighted to meet Mumbai Mirror again; the duo has incidentally met us in 2010.

For a man who is a star in many worlds, Majidi, with his beige cap, black casual tee, military green trousers, thick moustache and a never-ending supply of Marlboro Lights, exudes a disarming air that belongs more to a 'Visit Iran' brochure than an elite film club. As part of a post-Islamic Revolution generation of filmmakers, the man heralded a new era in Persian cinema. His 1998 film, Children of Heaven, was the first Iranian film to have then been nominated for Best Foreign Picture at the Oscars. In addition, his 2002 documentary, Barefoot To Berat, dealt with the plight of Afghan refugees in the wake of America's ill-fated 2001 military offensive. His last film, Muhammad: Messenger of God (2015), was hailed as “intellectually honest, committed and poetic“ by Phil Hoad in The Guardian, but also earned him a fatwa from the Mumbai-based Raza Academy and brickbats from Sunni quarters of the Middle East. Were the more artistic virtues of his operatic oeuvre lost in the Sunniversus-Shia polemic? “My last film focuses on the childhood part of Mohammed. I made this film precisely to give a very clear picture of Islam, to erase the misconception that it is a violent religion. But to my shock, Saudi Arabia and Egypt picked up a point and tried to accuse me of making something un-Islamic. I request their knowledgeable priests to watch this film and tell me what is so objectionable about my film. Let me be very clear: their approach to this was purely political. And I am of the firm belief that Islam teaches you to respect everyone.“

Yet, for all his good intentions, does it sometimes get tiresome to come from Iran, a nation that is always threatening to emerge from the shroud of sanctions, only to slide back into isolation? How does Mr Majidi negotiate his Iranian identity in a world fraught with Islamophobia? “Our biggest crime is that we want to be independent, but we always have to face hurdles. History shows us that Iranians do not give in so easily. We hate to be governed by any other country. We are considered to be rich, based on the oil and gas that we have, but our main power lies with our own ambitions, our desire to work hard. Thirty-seven years of sanctions have not crushed us. On the contrary, such oppression has only made our resolve stronger.“ Yet, doesn't Iran also play a part in the unending, and sometimes horrific, sectarian violence that has balkanised the Middle East? Will the nightmare ever end? “Other countries do follow a formula of dividing the region. I'd love to bring forth an important point here: 10 per cent of Iranians are Sunnis and there is never a tussle between Sunnis and Shias in Iran.“

The atmosphere in the blue tent has darkened, even though Mr Majidi and his translator seem perfectly chatty; Mantri, who so far was part of the delegation that entered the tent at the beginning of our interview, is fuming and storms out. It's like a UN refugee crisis meeting that has gone wrong. “Can we steer the conversation towards the film, please?“ says a second PR agent seated to my right. Sure. How is it to be working with an all-Indian production? “I have long cherished the desire to make a film in India and the team that I have found here is excellent. Work is progressing rather well. My current film follows the same skein of thought that informed my earlier cinema; it carries the message of humanity, of love, of bringing people closer to each other.“

Coming from the second wave of Iranian cinema (post-Islamic Revolution), a movement that brought Iranian cinema to the world stage, what does he think of the metastasising influence of digital cinema. After all, a younger, brasher generation with their nano-cameras and what have you is forever threatening to take over the world. “As far as I am concerned, I am still absorbed by my own concerns as an artist. New trends do not bother me. Despite technological progress, the soul of a film will always be the message it carries, the story.“

What has been his most inspiring moment whilst shooting in Maximum City? “One day, on location [at Babulnath, we are later informed], I saw a three-to four-year-old girl. She impressed me a lot. Her name is Asha and she is playing a pivotal role in my film. I did cast some children via a child casting agent, but this chance encounter has changed my film. It's exactly the face that I require, I realised. She is at present creating some of the best moments in our film. I had an extraordinary realization that she is the one. She has a charisma that I cannot express in words. Besides, her English is as good as mine!“ he laughs. Mantri is back in the tent: “I think the girl can be a separate story altogether,“ she interjects.

The interview ends with Mr Majidi telling us that his favourite Hindi word, one that he has picked up on his Mumbai sojourn, is “chalo“. We tell him that it seems that our “chalo, chalo“ moment has indeed arrived and we all cackle as we step out of the tent into the lavender of a Versova dusk. Outside, the PR agent is huddled by the clotheslines, and visibly worried. “Look, the producers really don't want any of that Sunni-Shia stuff, yaar. We don't want any trouble. Can you please, please, please leave that bit out?“ Our larger concern though is getting a photograph of the genius. In the gloaming, there seems to be little chance of this. “There is no light, you see,“ says the PR agent. “Why don't we shoot him on the set tomorrow and email you a photograph instead? Besides, he may not want to be shot. Listen, I'm being bitten by red ants here. Can't we just do the shoot tomorrow?“ When we ask Mr Majidi, who comes from a tradition of experimental theatre, he is only too happy to strike a pose. After all, who would know better than him that all you need to put up a good show is a star and an unfurling piece of cloth.

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Asghar Farhadi’s reaction was fantastic, a matter of pride for all of us-Majid Majidi

March 4, 2017, 6:38 pm
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Mid-day goes on a Yari Road set with Iranian maestro Majid Majidi, who’s here to make his first Indian film
Mayank Shekhar (MID-DAY; March 5, 2017)

Supple belly, a thick moustache, sitting in a make-shift tent, gently caressing religious beads between his fingers, this calm, soft-spoken gentleman could pass for any other genial desi Uncleji in Versova. And since we’ve driven down serpentine, narrow gullies of Yari Road — arguably the armpit of Mumbai, but very much the heart of Bollywood — good chances are he’s a filmmaker.

Everyone on Yari Road is a filmmaker, arent they? An open space off Versova Beach has been taken over by metal roads with white cloths fluttering. It is a film set all right. But business as usual. Nobody really disturbs a film shoot in these parts. It could be for anything feature.

Except, this is slightly more historic than that. The genial man before me with a zen-like aura around him, is arguably the world’s most acclaimed filmmaker, the Iranian Majid Majidi, 58, to be making his first film in Hindi, and partly in English — both languages he doesn’t speak. I can spot a few familiar Persian words while chatting with him through his translator Jawaid. Beyond the Clouds, produced by Indian companies, Zee and Eyecandy Films, has an all-desi cast and crew.

Majidi has essentially recreated a dhobi ghat (an open- air laundromat) in Andheri to finish off remaining portions of a sequence he shot at Mahalaxmi’s Dhobi Ghat. While there isn’t much buzz on this Versova film set, the excitement in the local press, in particular, has been palpable. Only a few weeks ago, Majidi had held the ‘mahurat’ shot of this film with Ishaan Khattar (actor Shahid Kapoor’s half-brother), who makes his debut with the Persian maestro. Bollywood star Deepika Padukone had expressed an interest in the  film. She’d done a ‘look test’ for the female lead’s part, images of which had leaked online. It didn’t quite work out for Padukone. She’s already working on Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Padmavati. Majidi prefers his actors to be ideally present throughout the film’s shoot, and not for their portions before the camera.

Investigating further on Majidi’s method, I realise, he doesn’t write a script, and then recce for locations. It’s the other way round. He visits locations and hopes a script will emerge! Shareen Mantri Kedia, the producer on the set, tells me, “Majidi has been coming to India for about two and half years. We’ve taken him to various parts of the country. Eventually, he settled on Mumbai, and through places he went, he found a story to tell.”

The filmmaker, who burst onto the international scene with his phenomenal debut, Children Of Heaven — that, I reckon, unfairly lost out to Roberto Benigni’s Life Is Beautiful for the best foreign film Oscar in 1998 — is a humanist filmmaker. He represents the best of Iranian contemporary cinema, that’s rich in realism, poetry, and finely under-stated, allegorical storytelling, involving lives, mainly of the marginalised, and the under-class.

Ever since Children Of Heaven, Majidi’s films have been staple fare at top film festivals, besides living rooms of film buffs. Much in line with a full constellation of star-directors from Iran — right from Majidi’s mentor of sorts, Mohsen Makhmalbaf (Kandahar), now his daughter Samira (Blackboards); late Abbas Kiorastami (Close- Up); Jafar Panahi (Taxi); Asghar Farhadi (A Separation)… It’s an astoundingly growing list of world-class talent from a country that supposedly lives behind an iron curtain.

Majidi recalls, “Until people began to watch films from Iran, they felt it was a harsh place. Their views changed drastically once these pictures were screened.”

He ascribes the rise of the Iranian New Wave in cinema to the advent of the Iranian Revolution (1979), when the US-backed Shah of Iran was thrown out. Chronologically speaking, he may be right. But Joe-public really took notice of Iranian movies across the world only in the mid to late '90s. Majidi agrees. It’s around the same time that he and several other top directors stormed the global scene. The last time I watched a Majidi film on the big screen (The Song Of Sparrows) was at the Berlinale in 2008. The film itself, although lovely and lyrical no doubt, was very predictably Iranian: “If there’s an Iranian master’s work (like Majidi’s), it will play in the (premier) competition section. That’s a given,” I was told by those in the know.

In fact, if Majidi stepped out to coffee-shops in Versova after shoot, a common question he’s likely to face is around the film viewing culture of Iran that spawns the kind of personal, expressive, yet subtle and subversive cinema. The world’s best filmmakers would wish for such a mainstream audience. Most Versova directors bemoan the commercial pressures of the Mumbai film industry they operate in. It’s in fact no different for Iran, as I discovered at a mainstream theatre in Teheran once — hoping to catch a Majidi/ Makhmalbaf type of movie. People were laughing their heads off to a very David Dhawan kind of bawdy, slapstick comedy in there! Majidi smiles, “Well, that’s the trend everywhere. And there’s a certain group of people who enjoy (a different kind of) cinema.”

It’s hard to tell how much of our short conversation is getting lost in translation. Majidi’s films have hardly suffered as a result of that. At least one of them, Baran (2001), had had a theatrical release in Mumbai, and was widely loved.

He’s been living in this city for “four to five months now,” and what’s brought him here, he says is “the simultaneous beauty and suffering of India that grabbed my attention. Also, Iran and India, as societies, are so culturally close.” They’re, in fact, fairly close, cinema-wise as well. Hindi film, for instance, as the cliché goes, owes its origins to Parsee theatre. Parsees in turn owe their origins to Iran. Getting more factual still, few know that Ardeshir Irani, who made India’s first talkie (Alam Ara; 1931) is also credited with producing the first Persian talkie (Dokhtare Lor; 1932) — likewise a landmark moment in Iranian cinema.

Majidi is no stranger to Indian movies either. He says he’s closely followed works of, among others, Shyam Benegal, and Mira Nair. As with the Indian film he is shooting, A R Rahman had scored music for his last, Muhammad (2015), which was his way of “showing people the real side of Islam, which is nothing but a religion of peace, love, and friendship. Fanatics have nothing to do with Islam. They’re hell bent on portraying it in an ugly manner.” Fanatics from all ends, of course. Which doesn’t preclude the blanket ‘Muslim ban’ imposed by President Donald Trump in the US, the reason why Majidi’s contemporary Asghar Farhadi didn’t go to pick up his Academy Award last week: “I think Asghar’s reaction was fantastic, a matter of pride for all of us. It exceeds receiving the Oscar itself.”

In the current times then, does he see his role dually of an activist and an artiste? Isn’t it harder still to make political statements, given censorship imposed by the suppressive Islamist regime in his own country? Majidi doesn’t agree, “Governments come and go. People remain. Films, unlike newspapers, don’t get stale in a week. Cinema is made for generations. Take Children Of Heaven, for example, which deals with universal human emotions. Three generations are still watching it.” And will continue to, of course.

Sun’s down. It’s pack-up time in Versova for now. Looking ahead at his first Indian film, Majidi observes my hair, and says it resembles his lead actor’s: “Do you want to join us on our shoots?” he jokes. I knock one off my bucket list — being approached by Majidi to act in his movie. So what if it’s as a bloody body-double!
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If my family had stayed together, I think my life would have been even better-Rubina Ali

March 4, 2017, 6:42 pm
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Thanks to Danny Boyle's Jai Ho Trust, Rubina Ali has a shot at a better future, even if the past still bristles
Tariq Engineer (MUMBAI MIRROR; March 5, 2017)

Nine years after Slumdog Millionaire, Rubina Ali is just catching her breath. Since being selected from over 300 slum children and cast as the young Latika, Rubina has won an Oscar, had a biography written about her and travelled to Los Angeles, Paris and Hong Kong. Before that, she'd never left Bandra. She continued to live in a slum but then her house burned down in 2011 and she lost all her Oscar memorabilia. She moved to a new house with her father Rafiq and stepmother Munni. There were reports of another movie but nothing happened and she still doesn't know why. Her father allegedly tried to sell her. She distanced herself from him and moved to Nallasopara to live with her birth mother, Khurshid. They didn't get along and she left again. Now she lives independently and is studying Arts in her first year of junior college.

It's enough to make anyone's head spin and yet Rubina seems to have her head screwed on just fine. We met her at a McDonalds in the suburbs a few weeks after she turned 18. Dressed in a white top and blue jeans and sporting dark glasses, she looked every inch a modern young lady. The only thing that hasn't changed about her is her smile. It is still as bright and charming as it was in all the pictures in which she is clutching her Oscar. The movie business is replete with stories of child actors who have succumbed to the pressures of fame, but Rubina has escaped that fate, though there has been collateral damage.

“When they [my parents] were in my life, they did not look after me so well,“ she says. “They would fight over me and whatever I was getting. They would pull me this way and that way. I have told my family, you are happy in your lives, let me be happy in mine.“

She is able to be independent thanks to the Jai Ho Trust, which was set up by Boyle, or Danny Uncle, as Rubina calls him, to provide for her and Azharuddin Ismail, her fellow Garib Nagar slum resident. It was through the trust that Rubina was enrolled in school. “The Trust has supported us in a very good way,“ she says. “It seems like they want the best for me. They think mostly about my education because even if I don't make it in acting, education means I can do anything in life.“

The importance of education has been drilled into her by Boyle, who comes to visit the two of them about once a year. Rubina has told him she wants to act in movies and asked him to cast her in his next movie. According to her, Danny Uncle has agreed but he has told her that for now she needs to think about her education first. “From my heart, I can say Danny Uncle is like a father to me,“ Rubina says. “He has given me so much. Even my own parents have not done so much for me. Normally, once a movie is over, people forget about you. I think if it was anyone else, none of this would have happened.“

Boyle also arranged for the Trust to buy her family a flat, though her dad and stepmother currently occupy it and are refusing to leave, something that bothers Rubina. “If it is in my name and I am not living there, then you need to leave,“ she says. Danny Uncle has been an influence on her attitude here too.When he found out about her family trouble, she says he told her, “`if your family is like this, you don't become like that. You stay positive and don't think negatively. Even if someone does something bad to you, stay positive. If you start thinking negatively, it will overwhelm you and you will become negative too. You are not like that so don't become like that.'“

Rubina talks wistfully about the time immediately after Slumdog, when she drew worldwide attention to Garib Nagar. It's clear that she misses the adulation. “If Slumdog hadn't happened, nobody would be interested in me and nobody would be saying Rubina, Rubina, Rubina,“ she says. “That time there was such a big crowd. When I left the house, everyone would know. Now, of course, it has cooled off but people still recognise me and know about me. That makes me feel very good. When I know people are talking about me, it is a different kind of feeling.“

The other constant in her life has been Islam. She performs namaz five times a day, reads the Koran and fasts. “I want Islam and my lifestyle,“ she says. “It can't be that I will give up namaz to do a movie or that I give up movies for namaz. I can manage both. I don't like the idea that one should only live a particular life. Everyone should be free to lead their own lives. Why should anyone judge anyone else?“ She's also glad to be independent, even if she didn't expect it to happen so young. “It feels good because I am doing things on my own and nobody is there to judge me and tell me not to do something. I have learned a lot over the last few years about how to manage things in my life and to read people.“

Before you think she sounds too grown up, Rubina reveals she is obsessed with selfies. So much so that it is the only feature on a cellphone she cares about. In fact, she wants to upgrade to the latest model of her cellphone because it takes better photos. “My friends tease me a lot, especially when I post photos on Instagram because all I do is take selfie, selfie, selfie and upload them,“ she says with a laugh.

In hindsight, the fire that burned down her house in Garib Nagar foreshadowed her clean break with the past. She even lost all the copies of her biography, which was published in 14 languages. She thought about asking for more copies but says “I don't have that much interest in reading my own story so why get more copies?“ Now that she has turned 18, Rubina's portion of the Trust will be dissolved in a few months and the money handed over to her. When that happens, she will be completely independent for the first time in her life. Nirja Mattoo, one of the Trustees, believes Rubina is ready to take control. “We have been counselling and mentoring her all this time and now she has become very strong emotionally,“ Mattoo says. “Nobody can shake her up and take her for granted.“

While Rubina's future appears brighter than she could have imagined, and she has plenty of friends, there is still a part of her that craves what she has lost. “If I am honest, then there is a little part of my heart that feels the absence of my family,“ she says. “When I see other families who are happy, then I wish my family was like that. If my family had stayed together, I think my life would have been even better. But there is nothing I can do. I can't change my life.“
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Post Oscar goof up, organizers from Bollywood's top awards talk about their challenges

March 4, 2017, 6:47 pm
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While LA deals with the aftershock of the Oscar snafu, two organisers from the country’s top awards tell all about the real challenges behind putting up a super-hit Bollywood night
Aastha Atray Banan (MID-DAY; March 5, 2017)

Pricewaterhouse Coopers accountants Brian Cullinan and Martha Ruiz have been banned from the Oscars for handing the wrong card to Best Picture presenter Warren Beatty, leading to the biggest snafu in Academy Awards history.

Back home, award shows are no different, and as insiders from two of India’s top award shows, tell us, “All that could go wrong, goes wrong.” It usually takes six months to plan an event of this scale, which is the result of the combined prowess of an in-house team of the parent company (handling invites, jury, awards, RSVPs, performances and bookings) and an event management firm that handles logistics (venue, furniture, stage, decorations and sound). One of them says, “Stars are the least of our problems. They are paid to perform, or get an award, so they do as we tell. They are like show monkeys.” The other, shares, “They are now well behaved, but they still need to be handled sensitively. Egos are big and the box office is fickle. They fight for everything from front row seats to prime performance time and sometimes, even an invite.”

Here is the lowdown from the horse’s mouth on the five big challenges they face as they get ready to say, “And the award goes to…”

ON-GROUND MISHAPS
It’s easy to understand what happened at the Oscars. They were dealing with close to 35 awards in one night. Cards got switched for the first time in 89 years of Oscar history. This is unlikely to happen here, though, because at most shows, the winners already know they are winners.

Recently, an award show experienced a real challenge. The teleprompter conked, and the event management firm had to swing into action and handwrite cue cards for the emcees to read. Usually, the host for the evening is someone who has the gift of the gab and can continue chattering spontaneously, even if something of this sort were to spring up. They are the Gods of improvisation. Wardrobe malfunctions, too, are top concern. But, if someone’s pants rip, like they did for a back-up dancer behind Tiger Shroff swaying to Dhooom Machale at an awards show this year, there is little you can do.

INVITES AND SEATING
The lobbying for invites starts months before the show. For us, it’s simple. The nominees get front row,
which is the most wanted, of course. The rest get second, and after that, your status decides where you will be seated. Interestingly, this changes every year. Whether you are on front or second row is solely to do with how well your last movie did.

Making a fool-proof invite list is the most important of tasks. The organisers first draw up a roster of A-listers, the top stars and directors, composers, etc. A second list is kept ready in case some names on the first drop out. Sometimes, a third list has to be drawn up, if spouses of stars have to be included. So, the whole game is to get yourself on any of these lists. Actresses usually like to be seated next to the man who is behind the awards show, and they go to great lengths to sit beside him.

Favours are common.
Invites for performances throw up another problem — the math of ego. Which star will perform at what point into the show is debated, and how much stage time s/he will get. Everyone wants to perform around 9 pm, which is prime time. No one wishes to dance when the crowd is getting restless as the night wears on.

THE STAR’S LOVE LIFE
We dread the time two stars involved romantically, but secretly, are performing at the same show. They insist that their vanity vans are parked next to each other, and their rehearsal timings synced. During a lead-up rehearsal to a show, these two stars were hanging out, sharing their lunch, and more behind closed doors, guarded by their man or woman Fridays. Then, one star’s wife turned up and it looked like things were heading south. The actor, a pro at this, didn’t wince. But it threw the events team off kilter, now suddenly having to behave with the wife the way they had with the girlfriend, who left just an hour ago. Many were confused. It becomes team effort to keep the star’s marriage, and the show going.

MISCELLANEOUS TANTRUMS
If the show is being held in India, a star is almost always late for rehearsal. Overseas, we control their strings. We know what time their flights land, and by when they will be at the hotel. So, when shows are held abroad, time management is easier. But travel throws up other demons. This one star couple with a baby said the child’s baby food needed a mini mixer-grinder, which was bought and sent to their hotel room. When they left, they packed the mixie with them. The hotel staff had a laugh about it. But, things have improved. Thankfully, most stars know they have to behave like professionals, not ruffians from filmy families. There are cameras everywhere, and if you behave badly, you become a meme. So, most of them toe the line.
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Be your own hero, don't depend on government or police for help-Taapsee Pannu

March 4, 2017, 6:50 pm
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Pink actress Taapsee Pannu on why she believes in celebrating Women's Day with aplomb
Deebashree Mohanty (TIMES LIFE; March 5, 2017)

A lot of people find it a cliche to celebrate Women's Day...
Last time, I had written a longish blog for an online portal celebrating women and their success. A lot of women commented, “Every day should be women's day“. I had this one thing to say to them ­ if this day is supposed to mark a change, let's consider it. There is a lot that still needs to change in the way society looks at a woman, still a lot of issues that need to be sorted. There is no problem in dedicating a day to mark the beginning of this change. Instead of opposing or demeaning it, let's be a part of it.

Any new pledge this Women's Day?
Don't wait for the police or the government to come and save you. I know we show it in films all the time, but that is not how it happens in reality. You have to be your own hero, take your own safety in your own hands.

Is it a good time to be a woman?
Extremely. This is the perfect time to be a woman because you have got the world finally listening and paying heed to what you are saying. You should leverage this advantage and stop cribbing about circumstances. Get going and do something.

Have you always been vocal about your opinions?
I have been raising my voice in my own possible way since years. Especially, since I have acquired the status of being a celebrity, someone who people watch out for or follow in some ways.

'No means no'. How important is this campaign?
This campaign, along with other causes attached to being a woman, is very important. I don't take it just as a phrase, it is something that needs to be practised.

Is being mentally strong enough or does one have to be physically fit too?
It's not just about the mental strength of deciding that `no means no' or voicing your opinion or standing for your rights. It is also about physical safety. And when it comes to that, we are good enough to take care of ourselves. We only need to realise this potential and put it to optimal use.

Are you a feminist?
Yes. But my definition may not be in conformation with a lot of people. I am a proud feminist but I am not going to bash men, blaming them for all the woes women face. I believe half the reason why women find themselves in a condition that they do today is because they allow others to take a decision on their behalf. I don't blame men for that. I also don't demand any kind of a reservation in terms of pay or college admissions ­ all this is not feminism according to me. It is about getting equal opportunities and making the most of it.

A lot of women cringe at the term 'feminism' these days...
There was a time when feminism as a concept was a rage and fad. Declaring oneself as a feminist was considered fashionable, it drew the right attention. Nowadays, everyone has over-exploited the term and it has suddenly become cool to say, 'we aren't feminists'. The problem is that no one bothers to understand what the word actually means. Being a feminist doesn't mean you are an extremist. Nor am I. Your definition of a feminist may not be the same as mine and that's okay.

How difficult is it to hold your ground in a male-dominated industry?
I have been asked to do certain things, like act like this or say a dialogue like that because the actor wants me to do it that way. I was once told to slash my remuneration because an actor's market value had come down. Ironically, he wasn't asked to take the pay cut but my cheque bounced. I was thrown out midway from another film because the producer said his previous film bombed and he couldn't change the hero or cut his pay!

Has this general attitude in the industry changed post Pink?
I was tagged as the “unlucky charm“ in Telugu cinema because three films that I starred in failed miserably. I was a bad omen. But suddenly, those same people say they are proud of my achievements.

Do you think an actress can only bag a great role in Bollywood if she ends up producing those films, like it happens in the West?
I don't think that is the case here. There are a handful of producers willing to invest in female stars. I have been receiving offers for women-centric films every week. Sometimes, with known names backing it, sometimes with fresh faces; but the frequency of female centric offers has increased.

Any female protagonist that had a huge impact on you?
Rosamund Pike in Gone Girl. I would love to try something psychologically trippy.

Do you believe that sex is power?
Sex is a sense of power and it's also in the hands of a woman. Because it is not just the man who derives pleasure out of it. I find it weird when men talk about sex with pride and women do as if they have suffered it all. Can't a woman enjoy it as much or more than her partner? Just because we don't crack sexual jokes doesn't mean we don't think about sex and foreplay too.

A sexist comment that gets to you.
“Oh, woman driver!“ I keep hearing this and feel like taking a knife and stabbing the person who says it. Look at the stats before you speak. Very seldom is a woman behind a terrible accident.
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Karan Johar fathers twins, via surrogacy

March 4, 2017, 6:53 pm
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Vijay V Singh (THE TIMES OF INDIA; March 5, 2017)

Bollywood producer-director Karan Johar has become the single parent of twins - a girl and a boy - born through surrogacy last month. Johar wasn't in the city to confirm the news, but BMC officials said the births were registered with its public health department. “The birth registrations were done on Friday,“ BMC executive health officer Dr Padmaja Keskar said. TOI confirmed this from the central government website for birth and death registrations.

The twins were born at Masrani Hospital, Lalubhai Compound, Andheri (W), on February 7. However, Johar hasn't yet informed the BMC about the names of his children. A high-ranking BMC official stated the children have been registered in their birth record as a “baby girl“ and “baby boy“. Incidentally, Johar's close friend and actor Shah Rukh Khan's third baby, AbRam, too, was born in the same hospital to a surrogate mother.

Civic officials stated that the birth registration details list Johar as the children's father, but there is no mention of their mother's name. The BMC has taken the declaration of Dr Masrani and his infertility clinic about the birth.

In June 2016, actor Tusshar Kapoor had announced the birth of his son, Laksshya, through in-vitro fertilisation and surrogacy. However, this prompted the Central government to frame guidelines for the surrogacy segment of infertility treatment. The draft bill bans commercial surrogacy, prohibiting any payment for women taking up surrogacy. It also bans surrogacy for singles, foreigners and persons of Indian origin. Union Health Minister J P Nadda introduced the Surrogacy (Regulation) Bill in the Lok Sabha in November 2016. In January, the Rajya Sabha chairman referred the Bill to the Parliamentary Standing Committee on health and asked it to submit its report within three months.

In his recently released autobiography, 'An Unsuitable Boy,' Johar had expressed a desire to adopt a child or have a surrogate child as his old-age insurance policy. “I don't know what I'm going to do about it but I feel like I would like to be a parent. I don't know how it's going to happen but I do feel the need because I have plenty of love to offer and I'd like to take it forward. This feeling needs a release and requires a plat form. And that plat form could be by being a parent,“ he had said during the release of his book.

In June 2013, actor Shah Rukh Khan's third child was born with the help of a surrogate mother at the same hospital. At that time too, BMC officials confirmed receiving a birth report with details that a baby boy was born on May 27 to parents listed as Shah Rukh Khan and Gauri Shah Rukh Khan at Masrani Hospital for Women in Andheri. Among the first celebrities to publicly acknowledge surrogacy were actor Aamir Khan and his wife Kiran who announced the birth of their son in 2011.
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He wears many hats—director, producer, actor, talk show host, emcee and author. But Karan Johar’s latest production is the one dearest to his heart. Last month Johar, 44, became a single father via surrogacy. He now has twins —a girl and a boy — and has named them Roohi and Yash. Yash is his late father’s name, and Roohi is a rearrangement of his mother’s name Hiroo. Their names were registered on Friday at the BMC. A top BMC health officer confirmed the news on the condition of anonymity. The twins were delivered by Dr Makrand Masrani.
Namrata Zakaria and Tanvi Deshpande (MUMBAI MIRROR; March 5, 2017)

Karan is the second single father from the movie business. His friend Tusshar Kapoor sired a son, Laksshya, in June last year.

Commercial surrogacy in India has been legal since 2002. India has emerged a leader in international surrogacy and is promoted as ‘fertile tourism’. However, the legal aspects surrounding surrogacy are diverse and complex. In India, one of the parents must be a donor, all medical and insurance related expenses must be borne by the commissioning parent and such.

Karan who has often spoken of his desire to have children may well have been impelled to do so now by the prospect of upcoming surrogacy laws which will make it tougher for single people to have children through this route. The director who has been launching increasingly younger stars might well, in a few years time, be looking closer home.
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Jolly LLB 2 collects 105.25 cr in 22 days; Rangoon 19.40 cr in 8 days; The Ghazi Attack 16.25 cr in 15 days

March 4, 2017, 6:57 pm
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Image result for jolly llb 2 the ghazi attack
Box Office India Trade Network

The holdover releases JOLLY LLB 2, THE GHAZI ATTACK and RANGOON were all doing poor business with JOLLY LLB 2 which is in the fourth week being ahead of the other two films which were released later. The collections of JOLLY LLB 2 till date are as follows.
First Week - 72,98,00,000
Second Week - 23,77,00,000
Third Week - 8,25,00,000 apprx
Fourth Week (Friday) - 25,00,000
TOTAL- 1,05,25,00,000  apprx

RANGOON crashed badly on its eight day with collections going down over 95%. The business of RANGOON till date is as follows.
First Week - 19,25,00,000 apprx
Second Week (Friday) - 15,00,000 apprx
TOTAL - 19,40,00,000

THE GHAZI ATTACK (Hindi) is also coming to the end of its run though it is now collecting more than Rangoon. The business of THE GHAZI ATTACK till date is as follows.
First Week - 11,75,00,000
Second Week - 4,25,00,000
Third Week (Friday) - 25,00,000 apprx
TOTAL - 16,25,00,000
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Commando 2 and Logan collect 4 cr each on Day 1

March 4, 2017, 6:59 pm
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Box Office India Trade Network

COMMANDO 2 (Hindi) had so so collections on day one as it picked up a little at multiplexes in the evening. The film grossed 4 crore nett on the opening day which is not bad. Its actually good if compared to the 5 crore nett of RANGOON last week which was a much bigger film. The problem is the pick up in the evening was very limited and the film is probably 1 crore lower than it should have been to really give it a good chance at the box office. The film was always likely to find it tough going in the metros and the reports from mass centres don't really seem to be there. It will need to grow around 20-30% on both Saturday and Sunday to have a decent weekend but it remains to be seen if that can happen.

The best business for the film came in Nizam/Andhra, CP Berar and CI while it was poor in the Mumbai city, Delhi city and other metros. COMMANDO 2 also had a dubbed version in Tamil and Telugu but that fared very poorly with collections of just 5 lakhs nett.

LUV SHUV PYAR VYAR and JEENA ISI KA NAAM HAI had no collections to talk about though the latter fared better

The Hollywood release LOGAN is the first real surprise of the year as it grossed a healthy 4 crore nett apprx on day one which is higher than anyone would have expected. The collections are on par with COMMANDO 2 and it could go on to have a better weekend than the Hindi film.
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The amount of dedication that Alia Bhatt puts in reminds me of Naseeruddin Shah-Sahil Vaid

March 5, 2017, 6:16 pm
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He featured as Poplu as Humpty Sharma Ki Dulhania and won everyone’s hearts. Now, Sahil Vaid is back, with the second part of the franchise, Badrinath Ki Dulhania. The talented actor opens up about his experience of working on this film and with Varun Dhawan and Alia Bhatt. He explains why he calls Alia ‘baby Naseeruddin Shah’ and also reveals about his stint as a voiceover artist. Over to Sahil…

How excited are you for Badrinath Ki Dulhania? You just tweeted wherein you wrote that ‘just 8 days to go for the greatest show on earth’!
Yes, I’ve been quite excited although I am trying my best to contain my happiness. Just 8 days are left and it’s really exciting. We shot for the film for around 10 months ago and though it was quite comfortable, it was very hectic too. I myself haven’t seen the film. I’ll finally watch it on Saturday.

You were quite entertaining as Poplu in Humpty Sharma Ki Dulhania. What should we expect from you this time, apart from your new hairstyle?
To begin with, my speech. Our characters are based in Jhansi and obviously, we aren’t really speaking in authentic Jhansli waali Hindi since audiences wouldn’t have understood it fully. Also, I am 6 kgs lighter than Paplu! Moreover, this time, my character is not jobless. He runs a website. To know what exactly it is, you’ll have to see the film!



Since you are originally from the North, was it slightly easier for you than Varun to slip into your character?
Not just slightly, it was very easier than Varun. My naniji is from Agra and so, I have a knack of understanding Hindi spoken in these parts. But we had to be careful because Jhansi ki UP accent will be different from Agra ki UP accent or Kanpur and so on. It’s quite complicated actually especially in the border areas of Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh.

In a recent interview, you called Alia Bhatt ‘Baby Naseeruddin Shah’. What made you say that?
I have worked with Naseeruddin Shah when I was doing theatre and the amount of dedication that Alia puts in reminds me of him. She’ll quietly do her homework and surprise everyone with her brilliant work. She’s highly disciplined.

Was it easier with Varun this time as the ice was already broken during Humpty Sharma Ki Dulhania?
Yes and it was Shashank who helped broke the ice. He was kind enough to understand that we both don’t know each other and it will be awkward for both of us. Hence, he did the needful. Post Humpty Sharma Ki Dulhania, me and Varun Dhawan kept in touch. It’s great fun to work with him. Varun ke saath kaam karke hamesha mazaa aata hai.



Tell us about your experience of falling from the jet ski. The making video was quite hilarious.
Well, the experience of falling in the water was more fun than dangerous, despite the presence of crocodiles. My first thought after falling in the water was that, ‘I told you, Varun’! Varun however was quite apologetic and helped me get back on the jet ski. After changing and getting back on the jet ski, I fell again in the water and this time Varun too fell. The entire unit was cracking up!

Your role in Humpty Sharma Ki Dulhania was appreciated a lot along with the film as a whole. How did your life change?
Strangely, a lot of people felt that the success of the first part was a fluke and that we won’t be lucky the second time. We’ll be taken seriously only when Badrinath Ki Dulhania also emerges successful. Talking about my life, well, people started recognizing me a lot once the film was out. 4-5 months after the film, I thought I had arrived but later, I got a reality check. So it was quite a learning experience.

But at the same time, do you feel lucky that Humpty Sharma Ki Dulhania was backed by Dharma Productions because of which the film reached to a lot of people?
Absolutely and I was quite lucky. There are lots of good actors around and I could have got lost in the midst. It’s thanks to Dharma that they marketed the film well. However, it’s all thanks really to Shashank (Shashank Khaitan, director). He was my senior and we have done theatre together. He helped me get the role though he did audition me left, right and center. Later, producer Karan Johar liked my audition and that’s how I bagged the part. Interestingly, I didn’t audition for Badrinath Ki Dulhania at all. Shashank called me and said that he has written a role especially for me! But the sad part was that my father passed away 2 days after I got this role.

Which are the other films in the pipeline?
I am a part of Y-Films’ Bank Chor. It should release this year. I have also done a cameo in Maniesh Paul-starrer Baa Baa Black Sheep.

You are also a voiceover artist and you recently dubbed for the upcoming Hollywood biggie Beauty And The Beast. Comment.
Oh yes and it was a great experience. Beauty And The Beast is a superbly made film. This was the biggest dubbing project that I have been a part of. At the same time, I have also dubbed for Kong: Skull Island which co-incidentally releases on March 10, the same day as Badrinath Ki Dulhania!
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Ameesha Patel impresses with her 'body' of work

March 5, 2017, 6:17 pm
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BOMBAY TIMES (March 6, 2017)

Ameesha Patel, who burst on the movie marquee with Kaho Na...Pyaar Hai with Hrithik Roshan, is a certified fitness freak. Known for her sense of clothing, her enchanting smile and pleasant personality, she was recently seen in action on social media. The pictures she posted in her svelte avatar had her fans smiling ear-to-ear. They seemed pretty happy to see her well-toned body, which she has maintained despite living out of a suitcase. Ameesha has been travelling around the globe lately, but that hasn't stopped her from working out. Her trainer, Klinton Ribello, doesn't like her following a diet. She insists that Ameesha eats right and works out amply to stay in shape. The actress, apart from looking fit, is also happy that she has two releases lined up this year which she hopes will turn a new page in her life. 
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Sonakshi Sinha jams with Diljit Dosanjh & Badshah for a song in Noor

March 5, 2017, 6:19 pm
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The actress has teamed up with her real life buddies for a track on friendship
Natasha Coutinho (MUMBAI MIRROR; March 6, 2017)

Sonakshi Sinha who plays the titular role in Noor recorded a special song titled “MYL“ last week with Diljit Dosanjh and Badshah. The video featuring the trio will be shot over the next few days. It's a song about friendship and how it is important to have buddies who are sounding boards and will always stand by you. “The song fits well with the spirit of Noor,“ says producer Vikram Malhotra.

Noor is a slice-of-life drama based on Pakistani writer Saba Imtiaz's novel, Karachi, You're Killing Me! Sonakshi plays a journalist with Kanan Gill and Shibani Dandekar as her confidantes. But when it came to recording the song, the actress wanted her real-life buddies, Badshah and Diljit, to join her. Producer Bhushan Kumar loved the idea and brought the trio together. The vocals are by Sonakshi and Diljit with Badshah doing the rap. The video will be choreographed by Adil Sheikh who recently won the Filmfare Award for Best Choreographer for “Kar Gayi Chul“ from Kapoor & Sons.“

An excited Sonakshi told Mirror, “Badshah and I have wanted to collaborate for almost a year now. I'm so glad it's finally happening for Noor as this film is special to me in many ways. I'm also very fond of Diljit as a performer and a person, so having him on this with us is amazing. It's going to be super fun shooting with these two livewires for the video.“

Diljit added that he's really excited to collaborate with Sonakshi for the first time. “I'm looking forward to working with my friend Badshah again and Bhushan Kumar,“ he says. Diljit and Badshah have given hits like “Proper Patola“ earlier together.

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Huma Qureshi reacts to Kangana Ranaut’s comments dissing actors looking West

March 5, 2017, 6:22 pm
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In the midst of promoting her debut Hollywood project, Huma Qureshi reacts to Kangana Ranaut’s comments in mid-day dissing actors looking West
Sonia Lulla (MID-DAY; March 6, 2017)

"People say anything. Ever so often, they come out with these doomsday prophecies,” says Huma Qureshi, only minutes after claiming she won’t comment on Kangana Ranaut’s statements on the impending downfall of Hollywood studios.

In an earlier interview with mid-day, Kangana responded to questions on Hollywood outings of her contemporaries, saying, “It would be stupid for anyone to make the move to the West now. Their theatre business is crashing because of the influx of digital media. Asia, on the other hand, is where Hollywood was 15 years ago. It is a lucrative time for entertainment here.”

Huma, however, says cinema, in any country, will always be celebrated. “Cinema can be informative, educative, entertaining or inspiring. It’s not going anywhere,” says the actress, who features in Gurinder Chadha’s Viceroy’s House, which also features a line-up of other Indian artistes, including Manish Dayal and the late Om Puri.

Huma isn’t skipping a chance to paint her social media with images of her travel diaries, posing for selfies from the Brit Awards on one occasion and hosting a live chat session from the Facebook headquarters at the other. But these multiple international outings are not indicative of an imminent move abroad. Huma, in fact, doesn’t even believe that individuals can be restricted to one industry. “The world we live in is a collaborative one and travelling from one part of the globe to another is seamless. If I choose to, I can be a part of not two but three different industries. It only depends on the roles that come my way.”

She backs her statement by drawing attention to her historic-drama, which narrates the story of Lord Mountbatten as he oversees the end of the three-century long colonial rule in India in 1947. “This film has been created by a British-Indian director, written by her American screenwriter- husband, features a cast that’s English, American and Indian, and is set to narrate the story of the Partition of India to a white audience. This is the perfect example of the collaboration we are seeing in the industry.”
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Boney Kapoor’s Twitter account hacked; to register formal complaint today

March 5, 2017, 6:23 pm
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Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; March 6, 2017)

Filmmaker Boney Kapoor has pledged to take action against the imposter who hacked his Twitter account and sent messages to people demanding money.

Kapoor, who is currently shooting for his next film in Bangkok, realised his social media account had been hacked after receiving a series of calls from Mumbai. “I was shocked. My first instinct was to reach out to the most trusted people in my office and ask them to contact the cyber crime cell,” says the filmmaker, asserting that he will take charge of the situation. “I won’t let this go easy. Legal action will be taken. Impersonating is a grievous offense and it could happen to anybody. If we don’t take action, someone else could be at risk tomorrow,” says Kapoor, whose Twitter account has been inactive since September 2015.

Industry folk and mediapersons received messages from Kapoor’s Twitter handle on Friday, requesting that Rs 10,000 and Rs 5,000 be transferred to his account. When those receiving the messages enquired the reason for it, they were told it was for a show in Lucknow. The imposter even shared a contact number, which is now unavailable, to make the money transfer.

Moreover, a caller identification app revealed the number belonged to Gujarat, while the name read Boney Kapoor. Kapoor’s office will file an official complaint today.
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Check out Tiger Shroff shooting Munna Michael climax in Vasai

March 5, 2017, 6:24 pm
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Sanyukta Iyer (MUMBAI MIRROR; March 6, 2017)

For the eight-day climax sequence of his upcoming musical, Munna Michael, writer-director Sabbir Khan has built the Delhi-Agra Expressway in the distant suburb of Vasai. And for a high-voltage action sequence, Tiger was spotted running between speeding trucks and doing kicks mid-air.

“Initially no one knew we were shooting here, but on Friday, one of Tiger's fan clubs landed up at the shoot and that alerted the villagers. Crowd management has become a task and we are expecting the mobs to multiply over the last two days,“ Sabbir told Mirror from the set, saying they keep requesting the Tigerians to move back or to the side knowing they won't leave till they see their matinee idol in action.

With the sun blazing down, everyone has brought out their glares, caps and masks. But not Tiger, who wakes up before the others and is running and jumping around by the time they get to work. “The boy is tireless,“ Sabbir marvels. There's one schedule left which will be filmed in Delhi. “We had planned to go to the capital during winter but the smog creates visibility problems so we pushed the shoot from December to April and will shoot the last song in Mumbai,“ Sabbir adds.
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Raabta seeks inspiration from 300

March 5, 2017, 6:25 pm
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Rachana Dubey (BOMBAY TIMES; March 6, 2017)

Industry hearsay is that Dinesh Vijan's Raabta, that travels between two eras, is 'visually' inspired in parts by 300, a Hollywood fantasy war drama. Recently, the trailer was shown to a few industry seniors who applauded the effort with words of praise. One of the seniors who saw the trailer, on condition of anonymity, says, “It's beautifully done and looks larger-than-life. Sushant (Singh Rajput) and Kriti (Sanon) look great. The eras have been neatly etched out.“

Not so long ago, we met Sushant, who plays the hero in the romantic drama. When we asked him about the 300-like look of certain portions of Raabta, he told BT, “Ah! You already know it! Yes, there is something like that. We've tried our best to make the film look great. There is a part of the film that is set in another era. And there is no reference for that time period. There's no image. So,we've created something of our own. We just hope it resonates with the audience. We've put our heart into it.“
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Karan Johar will be an excellent father-Tusshar Kapoor

March 5, 2017, 6:28 pm
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Rachana Dubey (BOMBAY TIMES; March 6, 2017)

A mother, they say, is born when she conceives her baby in the womb. A father is born when he holds his little one for the first time in his arms. It's a joy that neither can hide. However, Karan Johar waited for an entire month before announcing to the world that he has graduated from being a father figure to a real father. Blame it on the pressures of being a celebrity. Thanks to the progress in medical science and the concept of surrogacy, the filmmaker, who had expressed a desire to adopt a few years ago, is now daddy to little Roohi and Yash Johar. On the occasion, Bombay Times spoke to Tusshar, the first single daddy of Bollywood, on what it means to be the sole parent and how it changes your life. Excerpts:

You woke up to the news of Karan becoming a father...
(Cuts in) Isn't that great news? It put a huge smile on my face. I'm very happy for him. I know what he must be feeling right now. Doubly so. It's a different kind of happiness. It fills you with confidence. Being a single parent teaches you time management and in a matter of minutes, you become so selfless because your energies are suddenly not for you, they're for your child. Karan's babies are about a month old. It's the most overwhelming feeling to have your children around you.

How different is it to become a dad via surrogacy?
Usually, as a couple, the woman experiences changes in her body and the man sees her belly grow gradually over nine months. That gradually over nine months. That prepares him, in some way, for the life-changing experience that he's about to have. But in cases like Karan's and mine, we didn't really go through that. I can speak for myself. One day, when Lakkshya came home, my life changed. The doctors sent me his pictures a few minutes after he was born. I couldn't believe what I saw. I couldn't believe that it was my child. A part of my heart was also scared because babies look swollen when they're born. And I didn't know that. When he was brought home, I saw the swelling had subsided a bit and that was a relief.

Lakkshya is now nine months old. Are you ready to step out and work?
I'm working on changing the cycle of my days, once again. I wake up earlier than usual. I try finishing as much of my chores relating to Lakkshya as soon as I can. I ensure I balance my time between him, my family and my work. I'm preparing myself to be away for longer hours. It's more mental than physical preparation. I'll be shooting Golmaal Again and probably, whenever I can, I'll take him on the set. I can only be away from my son for that long. He's the focus of my life.

Has becoming a dad changed you?
Yes. When Lakkshya came home, I just put him in his cot and sat next to it for the entire night. It was as if I was guarding my greatest treasure. Today, when I have to step out, I have to plan my day much in advance so that his timings and schedule are not disturbed. I ensure that I do as much of his work as I can on my own, though I do have a dedicated help and my family to support me. My food, sleep, work-out and professional assignments revolve around Lakkshya's routines.

Karan mentioned that his mother Hiroo Johar will play a crucial role in raising the babies. How supportive was your family when you decided to take the route?
I was apprehensive. I wasn't too sure if my parents, who I thought were pretty conservative, would accept my decision. I told my mother (Shobha) first. To my surprise, she was completely for it. She stood by me and encouraged me. When she told my dad (Jeetendra), he was just as gung-ho. So was Ekta. I had immense emotional support at home, right from the time I started the procedures for surrogacy. They held me through it and even after Lakkshya was born. That is a must for anyone who decides to go for something like this. I'm glad Karan has Hiroo aunty by his side.

Do you have a piece of advice for Karan?
He's the best multi-tasker I know. He doesn't need advice actually. He juggles so many things at once. And Karan will be an excellent father. He's a terrific son and a great pal. He's loving; he's a giver and a complete family man, which is evident even in his movies. He cherishes and values relationships. After the relationship with his parents, this will be the closest to his heart. The only thing I can tell him out of my experience is that he should go with the flow. There are no formulas for being a father. Trust your paternal instincts. They'll never misguide you.




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After Karan Johar, Gurmeet Choudhary & Debina Bonnerjee to become parents

March 5, 2017, 6:31 pm
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The couple has adopted two girls from the actor's hometown Jarampur in Bihar
Sanyukta Iyer (MUMBAI MIRROR; March 6, 2017)

On March 15, two days after Holi, Gurmeet Choudhary and wife Debina Bonnerjee will drive down to Jarampur, a small village in Bihar and Gurmeet's hometown, which is five hours from Patna, to expand their family. They will adopt two girls, aged six and nine, and small screen's Ram and Sita can't wait to bring their Pooja and Lata home.

They met the girls three years ago in 2014, when the couple were in Jarampur to attend a family wedding. Gurmeet's parents - mother Anmol, who is a Hindi school teacher and father Sitaram who is a retired army officer - are settled there and that's where Pooja, an orphan, was living with her uncle and first cousin Lata. But last year Lata's father passed away and the two girls moved in with a distant relative. Gurmeet's mother, who is close to the girls since they live in the vicinity, realised that the children would have to work in people's homes as domestic help to sustain themselves. “After hearing about their plight from my mother I discussed them with my wife. Debina agreed with me that it was time to give the kids a home, a deserving education and my last name,“ says Gurmeet, admitting that he had taken an instant liking to them and had been discussing their well-being with his mother over the last two years.

The initial plan was to support them financially but then remembering his own childhood in Jarampur, which was without electricity for months during the monsoons and where life was difficult without proper amenities, Gurmeet decided to go the full mile. “All the paperwork is done. We will be going to Jarampur for the final signatures after Holi. It is a two-day process. Everybody, including my parents, keep asking me when I'm planning a baby. Well, it's official now, I'm bringing home two daughters and we couldn't be more excited,“ exults Gurmeet.

Will the girls be moving in with Debina and him right away? Gurmeet informs that friends, family and counsellors have advised them not to uproot the girls from the small village and bring them to this bustling, fast-paced city directly because it could be a culture-shock for them and make it difficult for them to adapt to their improved but drastically changed circumstances. “I remember when I moved to Mumbai 13 years ago, life was a struggle for me till Ramayan came along in 2008 and I found my real life Sita in Debina,“ Gurmeet smiles. So his daughters will first move to Patna which is a smaller city as compared to Mumbai and be enrolled in schools there. “After one academic year, they will shift in with us in our Andheri home by 2018. My brother and his family live in Patna and they will be around to see that they are well cared for. Debina and I will travel to Patna three-four times in the year and stay there through their summer vacation too,“ Gurmeet informs.

And how have the girls reacted to the news of a new daddy and mummy and a home in Mumbai soon? Gurmeet says that while Pooja at six is too young to understand what is happening, Debina and he have discussed the adoption process with Lata and have her consent on everything. “She's begun to binge watch all my TV shows in an effort to know all about me,“ he laughs, adding that since his roots and modest upbringing have made him the grounded person he is today, the girls will continue to visit Jarampur during holidays and keep in touch with their relatives, even after they move to Mumbai. The 33-year-old actor tied the knot with Debina in February 2011 and admits that they plan to have kids of their own too. “The general belief is that you only adopt if you can't have children of your own. That's not true at all. Both Debina and I love kids and plan to have a couple of our own in the future. And when they come along they will be siblings for Pooja and Lata and all the Choudharys will happily live together under one roof,“ he signs off.
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Check out Neil Nitin Mukesh as Sanjay Gandhi in Madhur Bhandarkar's Indu Sarkar

March 5, 2017, 6:34 pm
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Shilpi Sampad (MID-DAY; March 6, 2017)

Last December, Madhur Bhandarkar unveiled the poster of his next film, Indu Sarkar, based on Indira Gandhi-imposed Emergency that set off nearly two years of widespread arrests, censorship of the press and severe curtailment of civil liberties. While he has been noncommittal about featuring characters modelled on the real Gandhis, mid-day has accessed an exclusive image from the film that puts all speculation to rest.

Supriya Vinod, who will also be seen as the late Prime Minister in the Yashwantrao Chavan biopic, plays Indira while Neil Nitin Mukesh essays her younger son, Sanjay Gandhi. The film stars Pink actress Kirti Kulhari in the lead; she plays a stammering poetess, who rebels against the system.

A source reveals it took nearly six months to get Neil’s look right — prosthetic make- up experts from abroad were flown in to work on him. “Great efforts were taken to ensure that he looks like a carbon copy of Sanjay Gandhi. Neil has also been reading up a lot on the Gandhis and the Emergency period to prep for his role,” says the source. This will be Madhur and Neil’s second collaboration after Jail (2009). Indu Sarkar went on floors three months ago and is set to release in mid-2017. Music composers Anu Malik and Bappi Lahiri are coming together for the first time to create music for the film, which was shot in Delhi, Mumbai, and Pune.
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