RANVEER Runs for His Life

             Ranveer Singh has been spotted jogging along the shuttered streets of Udaipur in the early hours of the morning. The actor is in the city of lakes to shoot his upcoming film Ram Leela, Directed by Sanjay Leela Bhansall, the film is presently being shot at the Ganguar Ghat. Recently, Ranveer shot a scene where he had to dive into a freezing lake and that too only half dressed.

              A source from the sets told Mumbai Mirror: “It was not easy for Ranveer with mercury dropping pretty low during the morning and Sanjay insisting on a morning shoot. So, although Ranveer was rather exited, he spent a few sleepless nights wondering if he could pull it off. However he eventually managed to do it and it was a perfect shot. 

Yash chopra frozen in time

In an event to be held early next week wife of late Yash Chopra, Pamela Chopra and Amitabh Bachchan will unveil a statue of the late filmmaker Yash Chopra at the Bandstand Walk of Stars.

     The statue would be erected to pay tribute to the filmmaker, who gave his audience timeless classics like Silsila, Kabhie Kabhie and more recently Jab Tak Hai Jaan and is known as the King of Bollywood Romance.”

     Late Yash Chopra will join the likes of Raj Kapoor and Dev Anand on the Bandstand Promenade.

I don’t go chasing stars

Tigmanshu Dhulia talks about why he has not worked with A-listers till Bullet Raja happened

With the sequel to the 2011 crime drama Saheb Biwi Aur Gangster ready for release Mumbai Mirror caught up with Timanshu Dhulia, The creative force behind both the movies.

How did you come up with the idea of Saheb Biwi Aur Gangster?

  

        The sequel happened because the first one did well. It was low budget film but I had a felling it will do well on the BO. I was pretty sure that the women would love the film. My heroine, unlike most of her contemporaries, refuses to be a victim and fights for their rights and emerges a winner. The fact that the film actually did well gave me the confidence to build on the idea further and come up with a sequel. Had Saheb Biwi not worked so well, I would have wrapped up my career in Bollywood.

Everyone felt Paan Singh Tomar was a better choice for Oscars than Barfi?

         Well the federation decides which film should go to the Oscars. However since Paan Singh was a film close to my heart, I wished it has made the cut. Paan Singh would have got a better chance because of Irrfan khan – he is an international name.

 

Irfaan is a common face on your films. He is so selective when it comes to his roles. How do you manage to convince him every time?

            Well, the relationship we share is not just a professional one. We are friends and we know each other from our theatre days. With him, I have the liberty to insist on things. I can fight with Irrfan without the risk of him walking out from my shoot.

You have roped in Saif and Sonakshi for bullet raja. It is the first time you are working with A-listers. Your  comments.

       

              It is not that the stars were not willing to work with me. I never approached them. When I began my career, Govinda used to be the biggest star and I was keen to work with him. So much so, that I went all the way to Hyderabad in public buses, stayed at cheap hotels.....and all for one meeting with the star. I just wanted him to go through my script once. However, when i finally got a chance to meet him he told me that he would hear my script on the flight or at the airport. However, it never happened.

Go on............

              Then I started shooting a film with Sunny Deol called Ghullami in 2004, it was a period film based on 1857, the first was of independence and it was to be made in a grand scale. The way it was envisioned, it would have been of a greater magnitude that Jhodha Akbar. We wanted to release it in 2007, on the occasion of the 150years of independence. We had put up a set worth Rs 70Lakh. We shot for just three days and the producer ran out of money. So, thus my film with sunny was shelved.

              But yes because of my humiliating experiences with Govinda, I was apprehensive to approach stars. I got to know Shah Rukh during the shoot of Mani Ratnam’s Dil Se and I am sure I had approached him with a script; he would have heard me out. Weather he like the script or not is a different matter altogether.

You are working with Priyanka Chopra and Imran khan in Milan Talkies. Did you find it difficult to convince them?

             Both of Priyanka chopra and Imran had seen Saheb Biwi and Paan Singh with their respective families and although it was not an immediate yes, they eventually put their faith in me. Many times, even if the script is nice, a lot depends on how much confidence the actors have on the director. I am glad that my work is finally doing the talking.

YRF films distributed Charas, how come you never worked with Aditiya chopra?

            Yes, way back in 2004. Aditiya had a story idea about Indo-Pak relationship and asked me to develop on it. I wrote it till interval and shaped out quite well. However, in the meantime, a lot of movies on similar themes started releasing and his project was shelved. 

Crowed puller KHo’s shoot stalled for hours

Karan Johar had to leave filming of his segment of Bombay Talkies mid-way. He resumed work much later after order had been restored by the cops

There was chaos at the Sunday shoot of karan johar’s segment for Bombay Talkies starring Randees Hooda and Rani Mukarji in the lead.

             Too many people had gathered at the Bandra Railway Station Bridge to watch the going on. So much so, the situation got out of hand, and karan was forced to rush home. It was only two-and-a –half hours later that he resumed work after the cops managed to get things under control.

             Recounting what transpired, a source from the sets told Mirror. ‘Karan had obtained the required permission to shoot on Sunday afternoon. But things went completely out of hand. There was a large crowd, possibly because people were seeing Karan on an outdoor shoot in Mumbai for the first time. They got excited one of them even pulled Karan’s shirt. That’s when he decided to call the cops.”

             The cops managed to disperse a major portion of the crowd and informed khan, who then returned to complete the shoot. “Thereafter the filming progressed without incident. The shot turned out well and both Karan and Randeep were extremely satisfied with it,” said the source.

            When contacted, Karan confirmed the news and said, “Two groups got into scuffle; it got ugly. However at the end of the day, we came up trumps. It was unfortunate but we managed to save the day.”

Never too old for love

Zeenat Aman talks about her relationship with a young entrepreneur, and why no women should let her age get in the way of romance..

In 1973, when she strummed a guitar and puckered her glossy lips to serenade her crush in Yaadon Ki  Baraat, Zeenat Aman rewrote the rules of the game. Exactly 40 years later, the 61-year-old who has survived an abusive relationship, a physical attack (by Sanjay khan), a disfigurement (she lost vision in her right eye), and a bitter divorce(from Mazhar Khan) is doing things exactly the way she wants to. Zeenat has found love with a businessman, who according to reports, is nearly thirty Years her junior. Cocking a snook at the world that may sit in judgement over her unconventional choice of a partner, the glamour icon has decided to give love and marriage yet another shot.

            In a conversation that happened in parts over 24 hours, the actress spoke about her relationship with the entrepreneur whose identity she has been fiercely guarding to the extent of not giving out his.” I am a celebrity. Though i am a happy that my fans are still interested in my life, it would be irresponsible on my part to thrust him into limelight now,” she says, adding “ the relationship is not at that stage yet....when it does(come to marriage) i will let the world know.”

            In a recent interview Zeenat had told the newspaper that she had found love and she was looking to get married shortly. But the attendant publicity has since forced her into discretion. What we do know so far is that Zeenat met the latest man in her life at a film awards event in Pune in May, 2011. “ we met, we fell in love and we dated like normal people do,”  she says before going on to add: Then i spoke about marriage. That’s about it. “Falling in love with a man many years her junior did not seem extraordinary, says Zeenat. “ I think all women should do the same( give romance another shot). Age should not come in the way of love,’ she says with conviction.

            One of the biggest ironies of Zeenat’s life has been the tragic disconnect between her professional image and her personal life. At one time relentlessly by the like of Dev Anand, Raj Kapoor, a well-known married industrialist who shall remain unnamed , cricketer Imran khan among others, she turned the on-screen idea of chaste film heroine on its head, portraying flamboyant and unabashedly sexy characters. She excelled as the modern woman in control of her life and her choices. But her life away from the camera has been a tale of heartbreakers and abusive relationships,  a reason why she wants to tread cautiously with her young man.

           It’s not the decision that affects the only two of us.” She explains. “But both of our families as well.” The two of them, she said, had been in past relationships from which they have learnt several lessons. In the late 80’s her marriage with Mazhar khan hurled towards a divorce after she was physically battered. She bravely spoke about it at press conference in Mumbai where she was supported by her friend and colleague Dimple Kapadia. But after Mazhar’s death Zeenat turned into a near-recluse focussing all her energies into bringing up her two sons Azaan and Zahan, now in their twenties. Through these years her friend Zaheer Aslam, also several years younger than her, was her constant companion. “But the chapter is over, “ she says refusing to dwell on details.

             These days relationships need to be tended with care,’ she says talking about her present one.“ I cannot say nor do anything to jeopardise what i have. There are way too many loose ends to take care of.”

Apparently her boy friend’s conservative family has not taken well to their relationship. Reports suggests he ended his previous relationship bitterly. But the actress says there are others, perhaps graver concerns. “I am a mother first and I want my children to settle completely with my decisions before I start talking about it.” She says denying reports that she has moved in with him insisting that she continues to live in her Juhu apartment with her sons.” The decision to marry is every woman’s entitlement, irrespective of her age.” She says

             That part of me that thinks independently, wants to settle down with the one I love. And this decision has made my close ones very happy. I have the support I need when I eventually take the plunge again. Until then I hope the world gives me privacy I need to make this work 

Shahane’s 2nd directorial, a Hindi film

After Marathi film Rita, the Hum Aapke Hai Kaun actress will wield the megaphone once again for a film titled fame.

          

           Joining the ranks of actresses who’ve graduated from being in front of the camera to behin it is Renuka shahane, who rose to popularity as presenter of the television show Surabhi, later going on to act in films like Hum Apke Hai Kaun.

          She is all set to direct her first Hindi film titled Fame, being co-produced by shabbier Boxwalla and Ajay shah of Gupt and Mohra fame. A father-daughter story, the film will star Paresh Rawal in the lead.

          Said Boxwalla, ”Renuka is directing a film for me. I have yet to finalise the girl. It’s a difficult role and i am aiming to have an established actress on board.

          While Fame is Renuka’s first Hindi film, the actress has already wielded the megaphone for the Marathi film Rita, an adaptation of the Marathi novel Rita Welingkar, written by her mother and eminent critic Shanta Gokhale.

          Boxwalla lavished praise on Renuka’s directorial abilities saying,” I think she made a superb film Rita. I just needed two meetings to finalise her as the director.

          Actually, her sister-in-law Jabeen merchant and my wife are good friends. It was Jabeen who suggested Renuka’s name.

          Said Renuka, “ I am directing Fame. But its early days yet and i cannot elaborate on it.

          Said her friend, “She has been interested in directing since the longest time.  And now, she is very happy about directing a Hindi film.”

          Fame, being written by Girish Joshi and Gulrez Sayyed, will go on floors sometime this year.

          Rita was produced by Pooja Shetty Deora’s Walkwater media and starred Jackie Shroff, Sushasini Mulay, Mohan Agashe and Makarand Deshpande.

Konkona keeps mom, marriage away from media

Konkona Sen Sharma , who has just wrapped up her mother Aparna Sen’s film Goynar baksho, does not want her mother to promote the film in the city. Mirror has learnt that the actress, whose marriage with Ranvir Shorey is very fragile right now, is wary of facing the media, sure as she is being questioned about her personal life. “Konkona has made it clear that she will promote her film- she recently appeared for an event for EK Thi Daayan-but she will not sit for interviews,” said a source. It seems, Konkon’s condition is especially applicable to film magazines, which she fears, have been hot on her heals ever since news of her troubled marriage broke out. “ In Kolkata while shooting, her mother ensured she was insulated and well taken care of so that no one could upset her with any untoward remark. But in Mumbai, Aparna knows she will have little or no control over things. And even thought the film will be promoted across the country, the sens are avoiding any such plans for this city said the source.

Vishwaroopam to be released in TN on February 7

Actor- director kamal Haasan on Monday announced the release of his controversial film Vishwaroopam in Tamil Nadu on February 7. The announcement comes a day after the ban on the film under section 144 of CrPr was lifted by district collectors across the state following a compromise reached on Saturday between Haasan and Muslim outfits who were up in arm against it, claiming the film offended their sentiments.

          The film is to be released next Thursday February 7 crossing all hurdles,” the 58-year-old filmmaker said in a statement shortly after both he and the government withdrew their petitions before the madras high Court .

          Haasan thanked chief minister Jayalalithaa for helping him, apparently referring to government brokered talks with protesting Muslim groups despite a “delay in justice, “ that helped him to end the week long standoff.

          The compromise with Muslim group preceded an emotional outpouring by Haasan, who had spoken of having to pledge his house in the making of 100 Crore multi-lingual spy thriller that was released in other states, barring his own.

          Haasan said he was moved by the gesture of his fans that had sent money after his revelation that he could lose almost all of his property, pledged towards making the film. Haasan also thanked his colleagues from Tamil Cinema Industry and their counterpart in other languages of Indian Cinema and also the media, whom he said viewed his right as theirs

          The film made in Tamil , Telgu and Hindi, was originally slated for release on January  11, but has been lurching from one crisis to another.

          The first trouble came from theatre owners who opposed the tech-savvy actor’s move to release it first on DTH platform, forcing him to indefinitely put it on hold.

          Then came the 15 day ban by the state government, forcing Haasan to take the battle to the court. He got interim relief from a single judge who allowed its release but a division bench overturned it and reverted the matter to a single judge.

          Finally a breakthrough came after Jayalalithaa offered to facilitate a resolution to the crisis if Haasan and the Muslim outfits could arrive at an amicable agreement.

          Meanwhile, the centre set up a judicial committee on Monday to review the cinematograph Act to make it more robust and ensure that movies do not get stuck after their clearance by the Film Certification Board.

          The 8-member Committee, headed by the retired Chief Justice of Delhi high court Kukul Mudal, also include film star Sharmila Tagore and noted poet and MP Javed Aktar.

          The committee was set up by the Information and Broadcasting Ministry against the backdrop of Vishwaroopam being banned by the Jayalalithaa-Led Tamil Nadu government despite the censor board’s clearance.

          Information and broadcasting minister Manish Tewari had last week said that the act needed to be revisited to remove uncertainity with regard to movie ven after it had been cleared byt he central board of film certification.

          Tewari had said that the committee will look into whether there is need to make the “Statutory architecture or the Regulatory framework” of the act more robust to ensure that the CBFC decision is implemented by the states.

          As per the seventh schedule of the constitution, the centre has power to certify a film to be either fit or unfit for exhibition.

          “The central government exercises those powers through the central boardof film certification. Once CBFC comes to a certain conclusion, then it is expected that the state government would implement that decision as this exclusively falls under the centre’s jurisdiction “he had said.

Ekta’s Nagin has a twist in the tale

             Ekta Kapoor, who has bought the rights of the 1976 blockbuster Nagin, is remaking the Jeetendra-Reena Roy starrer, albeit with a contemporary twist.

             A source close to the project said, “The film will be set in today’s times. It will be keeping with the sensibility of today’s audience. We need three to four months to finalise the script.”

             The original Nagin starred Sunil Dutt, Feroz Khan, Rekha and Mumtaz. Both the director and cast of Ekta’s remake are yet to be finalised. “We haven’t identified the director yet. Once that is done, we will think of the actors. It is also too premature to talk about the cameo for Jeetendra-ji and Reena-ji,” said the source.

             The other eagerly awaited Balaji project is Milan Talkies that stars Priyanka Chopra opposite Imran Khan for the first time.

RANVEER Runs for His Life

             Ranveer Singh has been spotted jogging along the shuttered streets of Udaipur in the early hours of the morning. The actor is in the city of lakes to shoot his upcoming film Ram Leela, Directed by Sanjay Leela Bhansall, the film is presently being shot at the Ganguar Ghat. Recently, Ranveer shot a scene where he had to dive into a freezing lake and that too only half dressed.

              A source from the sets told Mumbai Mirror: “It was not easy for Ranveer with mercury dropping pretty low during the morning and Sanjay insisting on a morning shoot. So, although Ranveer was rather exited, he spent a few sleepless nights wondering if he could pull it off. However he eventually managed to do it and it was a perfect shot. 

Hello Harvard this is SRK speaking

The actor has been invite to the elite university to deliver a lecture in March this year

Last time Shah Rukh khan was invited to deliver a lecture in the US, it was not without his hiccups. He was detained at the New York airport for a good two hours leading to an outrage and furious debate in both countries.

          After almost a year the actor has been invited again, this time to address the students of the prestigious Harvard University.

          A source told Mumbai mirror: “representatives from Harvard University got in touch with Shah Rukh and asked him if he could spare some time from his busy schedule and deliver a lecture at their campus. However, SRK’s work calendar is a choc-a-block. He is about to restart the Chennai Express shoot. Though he delivered a pretty impressive speech at the Yale University last year (where he even got the dean to shake a leg for him), the march trip to Harvard is on a more serious note that needs better preparation.”

          The details of this lecture are yet to be finalised. The date is expected to be announced soon, as well as the content of SRK’s presentation.

          Since SRK is an economics graduate and has been in the business of making films and runs a successful VFX company as well, most likely he will speak to the students about the economics of filmmaking in the world’s largest movie-making industry,” added the source.

          Considering how US has traditionally welcomed SRK every time he visited the country, one hopes this time the reception would be somewhat different. 

Ranbir’s steal is a big deal

The actor will play Roy, a thief, in school friend Vicky Singh’s directorial debut

          From the looks of it, Ranbir Kapoor has been a good friend to his buddies. After starring buddy Ayan Mukerji’s debut film Wake Up Sid, he is now working on his second project Yeh Jawani Hai Diwani. But just when you thought RK has way too much on his plate, he’s just sprung a pleasant surprise by greenlighting another school friend’s debut flick. He will star in Vicky Singhs’s film titled, Roy, which will go on the floors later this year after Ranbir is done with his Besharm. Bhushan confirmed the story: “we are happy to come on board as producers for Roy.”

          Vicky, who quit his banking job in the US to assist Farhan Akhtar in Lakshya, has been trying to get a directorial break for a while. His first attempt to cast Ranbir and Sonam Kapoor failed to materialise after the two had a fallout. Later, when Ranbir and Deepika were dating, Vicky tried to cast them in his film. But that too did not work out, neither did their relationship. This time around, Vicky has resuscitated his project, but with plenty of caution.

           Rather than cast in on his lead pair’s off-screen romance(Ranbir and Katrina in this case), Vicky has decided to cast Jacqueline Fernandes in the film, which has room for one more heroine, yet to be cast.

           A source close to the development told Mirror .”Ranbir plays a thief, called Roy. It also stars Arjun Rampal, who along with Jacqueline, plays a filmmaker.

          
When contacted, Vicky confirmed the story, and added that his film is likely to be an unabashed crowed-pleaser with plenty of “action and drama”. A major part of the film where he excelled as the quintessential ‘under hero’ as Ranbir said in an earlier interview to his newspaper, he seems to have developed a taste for larger -than-life character.