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Producer and former chairperson of the Central Board Of Film Certification Pahlaj Nihalani feels there is nothing like original cinema. He lashes at netizens who have been criticizing Sunny Deol’s son Karan’s debut film Pal Pal Dil Ke Paas as outdated.
“What is outdated?” Nihalani demands to know. “What was unfashionable yesterday is trending today. And what is considered outdated today would be in vogue tomorrow. It’s a cycle. And all Indian cinema is based on just a handful of ideas. The style of putting across those ideas keeps changing, but the ideas remain the same.”
Nihalani points out the example of the recently released Ayushmann Khurrana starrer Dream Girl which, he says, bears a resemblance to an earlier film. “This whole idea of a man seducing men by impersonating a woman’s voice on the phone was done in my film Shola Aur Shabnam 29 years ago. In that film Govinda cons Anupam Kher by speaking in a woman’s voice.”
Nihalani hastens to point out that he isn’t accusing the makers of Dream Girl of copying his film. “All I’m saying is, ideas and trends tend to be cyclic. They keep coming back after a break. So please don’t jump to conclusions about Karan Deol’s debut film Pal Pal Di Ke Paas.”
The veteran film producer rightly feels that the Deol scion deserves a chance. “Writing him off even before his film just because he is from a film family is wrong. Let the boy try to prove himself. Then react as you like.”
Also Read: Pahlaj Nihalani denies allegations that he made Kangana Ranaut do a photoshoot without undergarments
Here is news about everyone’s favourite Alia Bhatt and her eagerly-awaited role in S S Rajamouli’s RRR. What is Alia playing in RRR? Well we can tell you with certainty that she is cast opposite Ram Charan and not the film’s other leading man NTR Jr.
Says an informed source, “Alia is cast opposite Ram Charan. It is a small role with just a handful of scenes.”
What about NTR Jr?
“Oh, his character falls in love with a British woman. So his heroine would be a firangi,” informs the source.
Rajamouli is now looking at casting the foreigner actresses in Bollywood. “He is looking at talented actresses in Britain. They’ve so far not been able to zero in on the correct actress. Or rather, no known British actress is willing to fly down to Hyderabad. They might have heard of Rajamouli after Baahubali. But they certainly don’t know who the others in RRR are,” says the source.
As the clock ticks by, the desperation to find the right British actress grows. Maybe Aamir Khan who worked with British actress Rachel Shelley in Lagaan can help Rajamouli.
Also Read: Will Alia Bhatt be billed as a ‘Guest Star’ in RRR? Alia speaks
Here is news about everyone’s favourite Alia Bhatt and her eagerly-awaited role in S S Rajamouli’s RRR. What is Alia playing in RRR? Well we can tell you with certainty that she is cast opposite Ram Charan and not the film’s other leading man NTR Jr.
Says an informed source, “Alia is cast opposite Ram Charan. It is a small role with just a handful of scenes.”
What about NTR Jr?
“Oh, his character falls in love with a British woman. So his heroine would be a firangi,” informs the source.
Rajamouli is now looking at casting the foreigner actresses in Bollywood. “He is looking at talented actresses in Britain. They’ve so far not been able to zero in on the correct actress. Or rather, no known British actress is willing to fly down to Hyderabad. They might have heard of Rajamouli after Baahubali. But they certainly don’t know who the others in RRR are,” says the source.
As the clock ticks by, the desperation to find the right British actress grows. Maybe Aamir Khan who worked with British actress Rachel Shelley in Lagaan can help Rajamouli.
Also Read: Will Alia Bhatt be billed as a ‘Guest Star’ in RRR? Alia speaks
The Arjun Reddy/ Kabir Singh director Sandeep Vanga has moved on to a dark crime thriller entitled Devil. And this time it’s going to be a Hindi film for Vanga who was flooded with offers from Bollywood and Telugu cinema after the twin super-successes of the Telugu film Arjun Reddy and its Hindi remake Kabir Singh.
Every major actor in Hindi and Telugu cinema wants to work with Vanga. But the director has zeroed in on whom he wants to work with. This time it’s none other than Ranbir Kapoor who has agreed to be part of Vanga’s cinema.
The director has narrated the suspense thriller to Ranbir who apparently loved the dark character with negative shades. Interestingly Devil is the same film and character that Vanga offered to Telugu superstar Mahesh Babu.
Says a source close to the development, “Sandeep Vanga was very keen to work with Mahesh Babu and Mahesh too was interested in working with Vanga. They met and Vanga narrated Devil to Mahesh Babu who found the subject too dark for his taste and for his audience’s taste.”
Mahesh apparently asked Vanga to come up with another idea. But Sandeep preferred to take Devil to Ranbir instead. Sources say Devil is the darkest character Ranbir has ever taken up.
Also Read: Ex flames Ranbir Kapoor and Katrina Kaif come together once again to share screen space
The young Ali Fazal is rapidly acquiring an international stature in Great Britain where he co-starred with, ahem, Dame Judi Dench in the well-received pseudo-historical Victoria & Abdul in 2017. Ali, who will next be seen in the Sanjay Dutt project Prasthanam, is now a pivotal part of the new Agatha Christie adaptation Death On The Nile. “I don’t know how these wonderful things are happening to me and my career. But they are. I leave for shooting in a few days. After that I will be in England for the next 75 days,” says Ali excitedly and tad nervously.
He can’t believe he will be working with some of the most distinguished names in the British and American film industry. “The director Kenneth Branagh is a legend. His Shakespearean adaptations are a testimony to his greatness. And now he’s directing an Agatha Christie adaptation. My mother and I have been Agatha Christie aficionados for as long as I can remember.”
Ali is dazzled by the array of his co-stars in the film. “There is the very happening Armie Hammer, Gal Gadot and Latitia Wright. And now I just heard the amazing Annette Bening has joined the cast. I can see myself having a blast. There’s so much to learn from these actors and technicians. I feel blessed.”
The best part of doing A Death On The Nile for Ali is his character’s colour blindness. “I’m not playing an Indian character. That for me is a big victory. To be an Indian actor and not being pigeon-holed….wow!”
Back home Ali has the Sanjay Dutt starrer Prasthanam and the web series Mirzapur’s second season on hand. “Prasthanam gave me a chance to work with Sanjay Dutt and Manisha Koirala, actors I’ve grown up watching and admiring. As for the second season of Mirzapur, I’ve already completed my work. But there’s time yet before it streams. Mirzapur got me a lot of attention.”
Ali has also quietly finished work on another OTT film. “It’s called House Arrest and it’s a dark comedy about a man who refuses to step out of his home for nine months. It’s not a thriller and it’s not a comedy in the normal sense. It’s hard to define. Shashanka Ghosh is the director, and I am curious to see how audiences react to it.”
As Ali prepares to fly out to London, he mulls over his lengthy separation from girlfriend Richa Chadda. “After a long time I met her at the screening of her film Article 375. She is busy with her career. I with mine. We don’t get to spend as much time together as we’d like.”
Also Read: Ali Fazal to star alongside Wonder Woman star Gal Gadot in Agatha Christie’s Death On The Nile adaptation
While many of her contemporaries from the 1990s are struggling to re-invent themselves Raveena Tandon is very comfortable balancing out the various roles in her life. Her latest passion is to play judge on the dance competition Star Plus’ Nach Baliye
And Raveena is having a ball. “It’s great fun to see all these talented couples giving so much of themselves to the dance floor. It’s very inspiring,” She has always enjoyed dancing, “My favourite dance partner in the movies was Govinda. We’ve done blockbuster songs like ‘Kisi Disco Mein Jaayen’ (Bade Miyan Chote Miyan) and ‘Ankhiyon Se Goli Mare’ (Dulhe Raja).”
Raveena feels dancing is therapeutic for her. “It is the best stressbuster and I enjoy dancing with my children at home.” According to sources at Star Plus Nach Baliye this season has registered tremendous TRPs, much higher than other seasons. They attribute this escalation to Raveena’s presence. “I don’t know about this. But I do know that taking on Nach Baliye has been the right decision for me, Raveena says.
She’s also all set to be part of Kannada’s superstar Yash’s KGF franchise. “It’s something I’ve never played before. At this juncture in my life I only want to do something that challenges me. I have too much happening in my life to run after roles. I’ve four demanding kids.”
For the uninitiated, Raveena is mom to two biological and two adopted children. “But to me all four are equally precious. I love all of them.”
Also Read: Raveena Tandon is all set to become a grandmother!
While many of her contemporaries from the 1990s are struggling to re-invent themselves Raveena Tandon is very comfortable balancing out the various roles in her life. Her latest passion is to play judge on the dance competition Star Plus’ Nach Baliye
And Raveena is having a ball. “It’s great fun to see all these talented couples giving so much of themselves to the dance floor. It’s very inspiring,” She has always enjoyed dancing, “My favourite dance partner in the movies was Govinda. We’ve done blockbuster songs like ‘Kisi Disco Mein Jaayen’ (Bade Miyan Chote Miyan) and ‘Ankhiyon Se Goli Mare’ (Dulhe Raja).”
Raveena feels dancing is therapeutic for her. “It is the best stressbuster and I enjoy dancing with my children at home.” According to sources at Star Plus Nach Baliye this season has registered tremendous TRPs, much higher than other seasons. They attribute this escalation to Raveena’s presence. “I don’t know about this. But I do know that taking on Nach Baliye has been the right decision for me, Raveena says.
She’s also all set to be part of Kannada’s superstar Yash’s KGF franchise. “It’s something I’ve never played before. At this juncture in my life I only want to do something that challenges me. I have too much happening in my life to run after roles. I’ve four demanding kids.”
For the uninitiated, Raveena is mom to two biological and two adopted children. “But to me all four are equally precious. I love all of them.”
Also Read: Raveena Tandon is all set to become a grandmother!
The raging fire that destroyed the set of David Dhawan’s Coolie No 1 at Filmistan studios (Mumbai) has put a brake Varun Dhawan and his co-star Sara Ali Khan’s remake. Sources say the shooting for Coolie No 1 stands postponed because of the setback. “It will take at least a fortnight for the set to be rebuilt, if not more.
A big loss of time for Varun and Sara who are extremely busy actors and can ill-afford such unscheduled holidays.” Apparently both Varun and Sara intend to make the best of this unscheduled holiday. “They will be taking off for a holiday, that’s for sure,” says a source.
In the meanwhile David Dhawan has taken the accident in his stride. “Hota hai. These things happen. There’s no guarantee in life about anything. We are not sitting around moping over the incident. We are all going to make the best of this free time that has been granted to us.”
Also Read: Varun Dhawan, Kartik Aaryan, Aparshakti Khurrana enjoy the Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations with Bhushan Kumar
It is a sign of Indian cinema’s maturation that leading men are no longer apprehensive about playing gay characters. While the taboo broke long back in the West, Indian cinema took a while to grow up in matters regarding sexual orientation.
Kartik Aryan may well be the mainstream star of Bollywood to play a full-fledged gay character in a Hindi film. If sources are to be believed, Kartik and newcomer Lakshya play gay characters in the sequel to Karan Johar’s 2008 hit Dostana.
Says a source, “In Dostana, Abhishek Bachchan and John Abraham were only pretending to be gay. In Dostana 2, Kartik and debutant Lakshya play gay character.”
It remains to be seen how much maturity Dostana 2 will display in dealing with a theme that’s still raw new and relatively forbidden for Indian cinema.
Also Read: Kartik Aaryan and Ananya Panday celebrate as they wrap the shoot for Pati Patni Aur Woh
After all the changes, delays and second thoughts Nagraj Manjule’s Hindi directorial debut Jhund is finally ready for release. Jhund, which tells the story of the much-revered Nagpur-based football coach Vijay Barse who did for underprivileged footballers what Anand Kumar does for maths students, has finally got a release date.
And it is December 13. Though not official as yet, the decision to finally release Jhund in December has been taken by the film’s producers who feel the subject has the potential to become another Super 30.
Jhund will have to share screens on December 13 with Mardaani 2, the sequel to the 2014 film which featured Rani Mukerji as a cop busting a child trafficking gang. Despite a botched up climax, the film did well enough to merit a sequel 5 years later.
Of course, the fact that the leading lady is the producer’s wife did not influence the decision at all. However, with a big Bachchan starrer coming into the picture, Mardaani 2 may not find the going easy on December 13.
Also Read: Jhund makers to celebrate Amitabh Bachchan’s birthday by releasing the trailer or music album
Producer and former chairperson of the Central Board Of Film Certification Pahlaj Nihalani feels there is nothing like original cinema. He lashes at netizens who have been criticizing Sunny Deol’s son Karan’s debut film Pal Pal Dil Ke Paas as outdated.
“What is outdated?” Nihalani demands to know. “What was unfashionable yesterday is trending today. And what is considered outdated today would be in vogue tomorrow. It’s a cycle. And all Indian cinema is based on just a handful of ideas. The style of putting across those ideas keeps changing, but the ideas remain the same.”
Nihalani points out the example of the recently released Ayushmann Khurrana starrer Dream Girl which, he says, bears a resemblance to an earlier film. “This whole idea of a man seducing men by impersonating a woman’s voice on the phone was done in my film Shola Aur Shabnam 29 years ago. In that film Govinda cons Anupam Kher by speaking in a woman’s voice.”
Nihalani hastens to point out that he isn’t accusing the makers of Dream Girl of copying his film. “All I’m saying is, ideas and trends tend to be cyclic. They keep coming back after a break. So please don’t jump to conclusions about Karan Deol’s debut film Pal Pal Di Ke Paas.”
The veteran film producer rightly feels that the Deol scion deserves a chance. “Writing him off even before his film just because he is from a film family is wrong. Let the boy try to prove himself. Then react as you like.”
Also Read: Pahlaj Nihalani denies allegations that he made Kangana Ranaut do a photoshoot without undergarments
Here is news about everyone’s favourite Alia Bhatt and her eagerly-awaited role in S S Rajamouli’s RRR. What is Alia playing in RRR? Well we can tell you with certainty that she is cast opposite Ram Charan and not the film’s other leading man NTR Jr.
Says an informed source, “Alia is cast opposite Ram Charan. It is a small role with just a handful of scenes.”
What about NTR Jr?
“Oh, his character falls in love with a British woman. So his heroine would be a firangi,” informs the source.
Rajamouli is now looking at casting the foreigner actresses in Bollywood. “He is looking at talented actresses in Britain. They’ve so far not been able to zero in on the correct actress. Or rather, no known British actress is willing to fly down to Hyderabad. They might have heard of Rajamouli after Baahubali. But they certainly don’t know who the others in RRR are,” says the source.
As the clock ticks by, the desperation to find the right British actress grows. Maybe Aamir Khan who worked with British actress Rachel Shelley in Lagaan can help Rajamouli.
Also Read: Will Alia Bhatt be billed as a ‘Guest Star’ in RRR? Alia speaks
Here is news about everyone’s favourite Alia Bhatt and her eagerly-awaited role in S S Rajamouli’s RRR. What is Alia playing in RRR? Well we can tell you with certainty that she is cast opposite Ram Charan and not the film’s other leading man NTR Jr.
Says an informed source, “Alia is cast opposite Ram Charan. It is a small role with just a handful of scenes.”
What about NTR Jr?
“Oh, his character falls in love with a British woman. So his heroine would be a firangi,” informs the source.
Rajamouli is now looking at casting the foreigner actresses in Bollywood. “He is looking at talented actresses in Britain. They’ve so far not been able to zero in on the correct actress. Or rather, no known British actress is willing to fly down to Hyderabad. They might have heard of Rajamouli after Baahubali. But they certainly don’t know who the others in RRR are,” says the source.
As the clock ticks by, the desperation to find the right British actress grows. Maybe Aamir Khan who worked with British actress Rachel Shelley in Lagaan can help Rajamouli.
Also Read: Will Alia Bhatt be billed as a ‘Guest Star’ in RRR? Alia speaks
The Arjun Reddy/ Kabir Singh director Sandeep Vanga has moved on to a dark crime thriller entitled Devil. And this time it’s going to be a Hindi film for Vanga who was flooded with offers from Bollywood and Telugu cinema after the twin super-successes of the Telugu film Arjun Reddy and its Hindi remake Kabir Singh.
Every major actor in Hindi and Telugu cinema wants to work with Vanga. But the director has zeroed in on whom he wants to work with. This time it’s none other than Ranbir Kapoor who has agreed to be part of Vanga’s cinema.
The director has narrated the suspense thriller to Ranbir who apparently loved the dark character with negative shades. Interestingly Devil is the same film and character that Vanga offered to Telugu superstar Mahesh Babu.
Says a source close to the development, “Sandeep Vanga was very keen to work with Mahesh Babu and Mahesh too was interested in working with Vanga. They met and Vanga narrated Devil to Mahesh Babu who found the subject too dark for his taste and for his audience’s taste.”
Mahesh apparently asked Vanga to come up with another idea. But Sandeep preferred to take Devil to Ranbir instead. Sources say Devil is the darkest character Ranbir has ever taken up.
Also Read: Ex flames Ranbir Kapoor and Katrina Kaif come together once again to share screen space
The young Ali Fazal is rapidly acquiring an international stature in Great Britain where he co-starred with, ahem, Dame Judi Dench in the well-received pseudo-historical Victoria & Abdul in 2017. Ali, who will next be seen in the Sanjay Dutt project Prasthanam, is now a pivotal part of the new Agatha Christie adaptation Death On The Nile. “I don’t know how these wonderful things are happening to me and my career. But they are. I leave for shooting in a few days. After that I will be in England for the next 75 days,” says Ali excitedly and tad nervously.
He can’t believe he will be working with some of the most distinguished names in the British and American film industry. “The director Kenneth Branagh is a legend. His Shakespearean adaptations are a testimony to his greatness. And now he’s directing an Agatha Christie adaptation. My mother and I have been Agatha Christie aficionados for as long as I can remember.”
Ali is dazzled by the array of his co-stars in the film. “There is the very happening Armie Hammer, Gal Gadot and Latitia Wright. And now I just heard the amazing Annette Bening has joined the cast. I can see myself having a blast. There’s so much to learn from these actors and technicians. I feel blessed.”
The best part of doing A Death On The Nile for Ali is his character’s colour blindness. “I’m not playing an Indian character. That for me is a big victory. To be an Indian actor and not being pigeon-holed….wow!”
Back home Ali has the Sanjay Dutt starrer Prasthanam and the web series Mirzapur’s second season on hand. “Prasthanam gave me a chance to work with Sanjay Dutt and Manisha Koirala, actors I’ve grown up watching and admiring. As for the second season of Mirzapur, I’ve already completed my work. But there’s time yet before it streams. Mirzapur got me a lot of attention.”
Ali has also quietly finished work on another OTT film. “It’s called House Arrest and it’s a dark comedy about a man who refuses to step out of his home for nine months. It’s not a thriller and it’s not a comedy in the normal sense. It’s hard to define. Shashanka Ghosh is the director, and I am curious to see how audiences react to it.”
As Ali prepares to fly out to London, he mulls over his lengthy separation from girlfriend Richa Chadda. “After a long time I met her at the screening of her film Article 375. She is busy with her career. I with mine. We don’t get to spend as much time together as we’d like.”
Also Read: Ali Fazal to star alongside Wonder Woman star Gal Gadot in Agatha Christie’s Death On The Nile adaptation
While many of her contemporaries from the 1990s are struggling to re-invent themselves Raveena Tandon is very comfortable balancing out the various roles in her life. Her latest passion is to play judge on the dance competition Star Plus’ Nach Baliye
And Raveena is having a ball. “It’s great fun to see all these talented couples giving so much of themselves to the dance floor. It’s very inspiring,” She has always enjoyed dancing, “My favourite dance partner in the movies was Govinda. We’ve done blockbuster songs like ‘Kisi Disco Mein Jaayen’ (Bade Miyan Chote Miyan) and ‘Ankhiyon Se Goli Mare’ (Dulhe Raja).”
Raveena feels dancing is therapeutic for her. “It is the best stressbuster and I enjoy dancing with my children at home.” According to sources at Star Plus Nach Baliye this season has registered tremendous TRPs, much higher than other seasons. They attribute this escalation to Raveena’s presence. “I don’t know about this. But I do know that taking on Nach Baliye has been the right decision for me, Raveena says.
She’s also all set to be part of Kannada’s superstar Yash’s KGF franchise. “It’s something I’ve never played before. At this juncture in my life I only want to do something that challenges me. I have too much happening in my life to run after roles. I’ve four demanding kids.”
For the uninitiated, Raveena is mom to two biological and two adopted children. “But to me all four are equally precious. I love all of them.”
Also Read: Raveena Tandon is all set to become a grandmother!
While many of her contemporaries from the 1990s are struggling to re-invent themselves Raveena Tandon is very comfortable balancing out the various roles in her life. Her latest passion is to play judge on the dance competition Star Plus’ Nach Baliye
And Raveena is having a ball. “It’s great fun to see all these talented couples giving so much of themselves to the dance floor. It’s very inspiring,” She has always enjoyed dancing, “My favourite dance partner in the movies was Govinda. We’ve done blockbuster songs like ‘Kisi Disco Mein Jaayen’ (Bade Miyan Chote Miyan) and ‘Ankhiyon Se Goli Mare’ (Dulhe Raja).”
Raveena feels dancing is therapeutic for her. “It is the best stressbuster and I enjoy dancing with my children at home.” According to sources at Star Plus Nach Baliye this season has registered tremendous TRPs, much higher than other seasons. They attribute this escalation to Raveena’s presence. “I don’t know about this. But I do know that taking on Nach Baliye has been the right decision for me, Raveena says.
She’s also all set to be part of Kannada’s superstar Yash’s KGF franchise. “It’s something I’ve never played before. At this juncture in my life I only want to do something that challenges me. I have too much happening in my life to run after roles. I’ve four demanding kids.”
For the uninitiated, Raveena is mom to two biological and two adopted children. “But to me all four are equally precious. I love all of them.”
Also Read: Raveena Tandon is all set to become a grandmother!
The raging fire that destroyed the set of David Dhawan’s Coolie No 1 at Filmistan studios (Mumbai) has put a brake Varun Dhawan and his co-star Sara Ali Khan’s remake. Sources say the shooting for Coolie No 1 stands postponed because of the setback. “It will take at least a fortnight for the set to be rebuilt, if not more.
A big loss of time for Varun and Sara who are extremely busy actors and can ill-afford such unscheduled holidays.” Apparently both Varun and Sara intend to make the best of this unscheduled holiday. “They will be taking off for a holiday, that’s for sure,” says a source.
In the meanwhile David Dhawan has taken the accident in his stride. “Hota hai. These things happen. There’s no guarantee in life about anything. We are not sitting around moping over the incident. We are all going to make the best of this free time that has been granted to us.”
Also Read: Varun Dhawan, Kartik Aaryan, Aparshakti Khurrana enjoy the Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations with Bhushan Kumar
It is a sign of Indian cinema’s maturation that leading men are no longer apprehensive about playing gay characters. While the taboo broke long back in the West, Indian cinema took a while to grow up in matters regarding sexual orientation.
Kartik Aryan may well be the mainstream star of Bollywood to play a full-fledged gay character in a Hindi film. If sources are to be believed, Kartik and newcomer Lakshya play gay characters in the sequel to Karan Johar’s 2008 hit Dostana.
Says a source, “In Dostana, Abhishek Bachchan and John Abraham were only pretending to be gay. In Dostana 2, Kartik and debutant Lakshya play gay character.”
It remains to be seen how much maturity Dostana 2 will display in dealing with a theme that’s still raw new and relatively forbidden for Indian cinema.
Also Read: Kartik Aaryan and Ananya Panday celebrate as they wrap the shoot for Pati Patni Aur Woh
After all the changes, delays and second thoughts Nagraj Manjule’s Hindi directorial debut Jhund is finally ready for release. Jhund, which tells the story of the much-revered Nagpur-based football coach Vijay Barse who did for underprivileged footballers what Anand Kumar does for maths students, has finally got a release date.
And it is December 13. Though not official as yet, the decision to finally release Jhund in December has been taken by the film’s producers who feel the subject has the potential to become another Super 30.
Jhund will have to share screens on December 13 with Mardaani 2, the sequel to the 2014 film which featured Rani Mukerji as a cop busting a child trafficking gang. Despite a botched up climax, the film did well enough to merit a sequel 5 years later.
Of course, the fact that the leading lady is the producer’s wife did not influence the decision at all. However, with a big Bachchan starrer coming into the picture, Mardaani 2 may not find the going easy on December 13.
Also Read: Jhund makers to celebrate Amitabh Bachchan’s birthday by releasing the trailer or music album