Showing posts with label Alankrita Sahai. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Alankrita Sahai. Show all posts
Casting couch: Reality or misuse?
8:30 AM
Some say sexual favours are the harsh truth of showbiz, others argue there are ulterior motives to such allegations as one can always ‘walk away’. So, what’s the truth?
Juhi Chakraborty and Rishabh Suri (HINDUSTAN TIMES; July 18, 2021)
The case filed against producer Bhushan Kumar, by a 30-year-old woman, accusing him of raping her under the pretext of giving her a job, has again highlighted Bollywood’s casting couch. A statement from T-Series, his production house, dismissed the allegations as “false and malicious”. On a complaint by T-Series, Mumbai Police has registered an FIR against a local politician and a model for extortion.
But the incident brought back haunting memories of many previous instances where female actors have called out the casting couch culture in Bollywood. It has also made many wonder what has changed in Bollywood after the #MeToo movement. Has it scared the perpetrators or is it business as usual? Or, are women misusing their voice instead?
CASTING COUCH EXISTS
ALANKRITA SAHAI
It is extremely horrendous. I know a lot of women who have been through embarrassing situations. Even though women draw a boundary, people just don’t get it. Men always misinterpret a woman’s psychology in the industry. I think they are so deprived sexually that they behave this way and also because of greed and weird fantasies in their head. I never go alone for auditions or for work meetings.
BIDITA BAG
There are people who emotionally manipulate girls. They sense how vulnerable a girl is and how much she needs a job. There are many casting directors who have flirted with me and I took a call that I am not going to work with them in future. I trusted an upcoming director and he knew I was from Kolkata so my Hindi was weak. He said he would help me, he became a friend and started misbehaving. It was a shocker. I am not a big actor but I am in a position where in if a director says he wants to work with me, a producer or casting director cannot misbehave with me.
MEERA CHOPRA
Casting couch prevails in the industry even today. Just pouncing on somebody is not what I call casting couch. Talking inappropriately, giving indirect hints, even these are a part of the casting couch. Every girl in her career has gone through this. If someone says they haven’t faced it, they are lying. But then, I feel nobody can do anything forcibly. When someone says ‘this guy raped me’ I don’t understand that. It always is mutual, at least in the industry
HOW IT IS ABUSED
FLORA SAINI
There are good and bad people everywhere. I think #MeToo movement gave girls a right to speak. But I think there are people who use it not in the way it was intended. We are living in a different time and in the age of social media, so whenever such instances happen to any female actor, they must immediately share their story. There are also some women who wait for an “opportune” moment, that also happens. Good people make sure women who work with them are safe.
RENEE DHYANI
In the time I have worked in the industry, I never had to go through the casting couch. I understand jispe beeti hogi, but I don’t know whether it is right or wrong. We all have a sixth sense, so when you know the other person’s intentions are not correct, you should go away from there. Kya kar liya #MeToo ne? You are getting followers on social media… what’s next? People used the #MeToo movement. A girl speaks up after two years. I have friends and family working in various fields, they all say one should speak up when it happened.
MANDANA KARIMI
When some people are talking about a cause, others start getting aware of a situation. Let’s say if I was stealing money, I would become more cautious about it. But the fact is in a country like India, many production houses don’t give you the job until you have an equation or are friends with them. A lot of people say ‘let’s set a trap for a producer or a director’. They say, ‘He said this’, when they are the ones who are messaging that person.
CASTING DIRECTORS SPEAK
RAM RAWAT (WITH A CASTING COMPANY)
I have been here for 10 years, nothing of this sort happened with us. However, some new casting directors have affairs with girls and say they will get them work. This is why these new casting people are scared ki kal kuchh ho na jaaye. And new actors are scared. But you only need acting skills. Post the #MeToo movement there has been a change in the casting process. Due to Covid-19, there are also online auditions now.
A CASTING DIRECTOR, ON THE CONDITION OF ANONYMITY
I know that the casting couch does exist, but I think that more than casting directors, the producers and directors are the people who misuse their power to exploit female actors. Also, there are various people involved in the casting process, so pinning the entire blame (for the casting couch phenomenon in showbiz) just on the casting directors is not right.
Alankrita Sahai opts out of Punjabi film after lewd comments, harassment by producer
8:11 AM
Juhi Chakraborty (HINDUSTAN TIMES; June 28, 2021)
Actor Alankrita Sahai has decided to walk out of a Punjabi film after one of the producers allegedly misbehaved with her and made lewd comments. Sahai admits she was eager to be a part of Fuffad Ji, which would’ve marked her Punjabi film debut, but circumstances turned out to be bad.
“The rest of the team was good, but one of the producers was unprofessional, unethical and immoral. I’ve worked with so many producers and till date, they have all been amazing. I have never experienced this before,” she tells us.
It all started with professional differences, and there came a point when Sahai and the producer couldn’t get along because “he crossed the line”. “Nobody should cross the boundary, even verbally. If you make snarky, inappropriate and lewd comments about me, why would I tolerate it? My self-respect is everything to me, and I will protect it no matter what. That man is crude and morally callous,” asserts the 27-year-old.
The Love Per Square Foot (2018) actor adds, “You can’t misuse the money and power you have and cross boundaries with me. He made my life miserable, it was harassment and I had to put my foot down.”
Ask if she filed a complaint on the matter, and Sahai says it didn’t reach that level, because there were no physical meetings involved. “There were weird messages, inappropriate behaviour on texts and phone calls. I didn’t want it to reach a case of #MeToo. This is not that case, it was one of misconduct,” she clarifies, hoping that her decision to walk out of the film will be a lesson to the producer, to mend his ways.
Warina Hussain's next, The Incomplete Man, questions Indian judiciary's leniency towards juvenile criminals
8:12 AM
Uma Ramasubramanian (MID-DAY; November 12, 2020)
Post the debacle of her debut film, Loveyatri opposite Aayush Sharma, Warina Hussain has chosen a psychological thriller for her next. The Incomplete Man, which focuses on the heinous crimes committed by juveniles, sees the actor play a doctor.
Set to go on floors by November 20 in Goa, The Incomplete Man revolves around three female doctors, who lament on social media about the inadequacies in the men around them. Irked by their brazen opinions, a deviant man, with a history of juvenile crimes, decides to teach them a lesson. "The film questions the existing juvenile laws in the country," says director Dhiraj Devendra Kotkar, adding that it is trying to create a dialogue on the importance of an offender's age limit for crimes that usually warrant a death penalty.
"Warina Hussain essays the role of a paediatrician for which she will shed her glamorous look," says Kotkar of the film that also features Freddy Daruwala, Alankrita Sahai, Tina Singh and Sharib Hashmi in pivotal roles. Written by Naireeta Dasgupta, the film is a work of fiction, asserts the director. "Juvenile criminals have always received a leeway from the law. The movie throws light on the inability of the judicial system to punish underage criminals for monstrous acts. If you are old enough to rape, are you not old enough to be hanged?" questions the director.
Meet Alankrita Sahai, the 3rd angle in the love triangle of Arjun Kapoor-Parineeti Chopra in Namaste England
7:52 AM
DNA (October 16, 2018)
Vipul Amrutlal Shah’s Namaste England has piqued the curiosity of cinegoers with the adorable love story of Param (Arjun Kapoor) and Jasmeet (Parineeti Chopra). While the film’s first trailer showcased a varied range of emotions, right from drama to romance and heartbreak, the latest promo has left the audience intrigued. It shows an interesting twist in the storyline with Alankrita Sahai, aka Alisha’s entry in the lead couple’s life.
She has a pertinent role in the romantic drama. Alankrita plays the third angle in the love triangle, who changes the equation between the lead characters — Jasmeet and Param — when they are in London. It all begins when Arjun, who migrates to the UK capital illegally to get Parineeti back in his life, meets Alisha. Things go topsy-turvy when he decides to settle down with her and starts the wedding planning with Parineeti’s help. This will leave viewers wondering as to who will Arjun’s character eventually marry, and how far can one go for love?
Namaste England is a young and refreshing story that traces Jasmeet and Param’s journey from Punjab to Dhaka, Paris followed by Brussels and London. It brings together Arjun and Parineeti on screen six years after Ishaqzaade (2012).
Namaste England, presented by Jayantilal Gada (pen) & Reliance Entertainment in Association with BlockBuster Movie Entertainers, releases on October 18.
As women, let’s empower each other instead of being judgemental-Alankrita Sahai
8:19 AM
Renuka Vyavahare (BOMBAY TIMES; October 13, 2018)
Actress Alankrita Sahai attributes her foray into cinema to the Miss Diva platform. In a chat with Bombay Times, the Delhi girl, who now calls Mumbai her home, talks about why she is perhaps the most unlikely beauty queen and spills the beans on her upcoming film Namaste England, starring Arjun Kapoor and Parineeti Chopra. Excerpts...
You made a successful film debut this year with a web film, Love Per Square Foot, co-starring Vicky Kaushal and you have another big release lined up, Namaste England. You must be thrilled...
I am happy for Vicky. When you see an actor you’ve worked with doing so well, it makes you happy. Everyone deserves their due. I enjoy being on a film set and I am thrilled that I have two film releases in the same year. I’ve also done a few commercials.
Your full-fledged Bollywood outing, Namaste England, seems interesting. Tell us a bit about the film and your role in it.
It’s a romcom, but not exactly a sequel to Namastey London (2007), as the story is different, but it does revolve around relationships. Love has no boundaries. When you love someone, you just love them without expecting anything in return. I play Alisha, the third angle in a love triangle. She is a Punjabi kudi in London, who’s warm, happy-go-lucky and independent. It’s a significant role, as it changes the equation between characters in the film. Arjun and Parineeti are established actors, and they are so good to work with. I am also thrilled and grateful to have bagged a three-film deal with Vipul Shah, who has allowed me to work on other films simultaneously.
Did winning the Miss Diva Earth 2014 title help you pave the way for films?
Miss Diva gave me a platform to showcase my talent and my name. I definitely wanted to do films and the pageant was a step towards that goal. My parents always told me, ‘Naam kamaa, paisa khud aayega.’ The pageant gave me an identity. It opened several doors for me. If you are not from the film industry, you need to work a lot more than the others. You have to go step by step, as it’s unlikely that you will get a film directly.
Representing your country at Miss Earth 2014 in Philippines must have been a valuable experience...
When I was a kid, my mom gave me a diary and told me to write what I wanted to become when I grew up. I wanted to be an IAS officer back then and hoped to serve the country and make India proud. As luck would have it, I got to represent my nation at Miss Earth. My mom reminded me, ‘You wanted to do something for the country and you are now doing it in a different way.’
From the girl-next-door to a beauty queen, what was your biggest challenge?
I was into dramatics and extracurricular activities from the beginning, so stage fright never bothered me. I wasn’t worried about being in shape either as I am a health freak and was always into sports. What made me nervous was the hair, makeup and dressing part. I was a total tomboy in school, as I grew up with the boys. Till date, I don’t know how to paint my nails.
What has been your life’s biggest learning so far?
Rejection. I have learned a lot more from rejection than from success. It changes your attitude and for good, sometimes. You have to be patient and be a people’s person. Also, be yourself and love yourself. As women, let’s empower each other instead of being judgemental. Let’s not make it easier for men to pull us down.
Check out Justin Trudeau's memorable meet with prominent Bollywood celebrities
8:10 AM
The
Canadian Prime Minister met Aamir Khan, Shah Rukh Khan and Farhan Akhtar
among others at a gala in Mumbai and left everyone bedazzled
Sanyukta Iyer (MUMBAI MIRROR; February 22, 2018)
While everybody was thinking it, Kasoor and Water actress Lisa Ray, was the only one who dared to say it out loud. “Wearing a kurta is great but why so bedazzled?” she questioned, continuing, “Justin Trudeau met Bollywood celebs dressed like a Bollywood dulha!” But brushing off the 45-yearold Ontario-born, model-actress’s comments about the Canadian Prime Minister’s choice of apparel for the evening — a gold and maroon sequinned sherwani — Shah Rukh Khan called Trudeau “handsome” and “the coolest Prime Minister in the world”.
SRK went on to discuss economic and cultural ties, as well as co-productions between the two countries over a 30-minute chat with Trudeau at the dinner gala on Tuesday. “I have always been a big supporter of shooting films in Canada and I told the Prime Minister that I want to be a part of some good projects coming up in Canada, especially with respect to visual effects,” SRK said.
Trudeau was accompanied by wife Sophie Gregoire (who kept it subtle in an off-white sari), son Xavier Jamaes (his other son Hadrien wasn’t present in the pics) and nine-year-old daughter Ella-Grace, who coyly admitted that she’d watched one of SRK’s films but couldn’t recall its name. The actor told her that he too had a daughter who often couldn’t recall the names of his films, which left the Trudeaus’ in splits. While SRK’s appearance was all work and some laughs, the other superstar Khan — Aamir Khan — arrived with wife Kiran Rao and dined with Canadian ambassador Nadir Patel and his wife. “The delegation agreed that they couldn’t have asked for anyone better than Shah Rukh and Aamir to spend the evening with. Two charming conversationalists under one roof,” a guest informed Mirror.
The Trudeaus’ landed in Delhi last Saturday and visited the Taj Mahal and Sabarmati Ashram before arriving for the Bollywood bash. Among the guests was Crown Prince Manvendra Singh Gohil of Rajpipla and actors Farhan Akhhtar, R Madhavan, Anupam Kher and Alankrita Sahai. Farhan lauded Trudeau for “his unparallel leadership in the discourse for ending gender discrimination, which serves as constant inspiration to everybody”. And when Farhan posed for the cameras with Trudeau, his producer-partner, Ritesh Sidhwani accidentally photo bombed the pic.
While everybody was thinking it, Kasoor and Water actress Lisa Ray, was the only one who dared to say it out loud. “Wearing a kurta is great but why so bedazzled?” she questioned, continuing, “Justin Trudeau met Bollywood celebs dressed like a Bollywood dulha!” But brushing off the 45-yearold Ontario-born, model-actress’s comments about the Canadian Prime Minister’s choice of apparel for the evening — a gold and maroon sequinned sherwani — Shah Rukh Khan called Trudeau “handsome” and “the coolest Prime Minister in the world”.
SRK went on to discuss economic and cultural ties, as well as co-productions between the two countries over a 30-minute chat with Trudeau at the dinner gala on Tuesday. “I have always been a big supporter of shooting films in Canada and I told the Prime Minister that I want to be a part of some good projects coming up in Canada, especially with respect to visual effects,” SRK said.
Trudeau was accompanied by wife Sophie Gregoire (who kept it subtle in an off-white sari), son Xavier Jamaes (his other son Hadrien wasn’t present in the pics) and nine-year-old daughter Ella-Grace, who coyly admitted that she’d watched one of SRK’s films but couldn’t recall its name. The actor told her that he too had a daughter who often couldn’t recall the names of his films, which left the Trudeaus’ in splits. While SRK’s appearance was all work and some laughs, the other superstar Khan — Aamir Khan — arrived with wife Kiran Rao and dined with Canadian ambassador Nadir Patel and his wife. “The delegation agreed that they couldn’t have asked for anyone better than Shah Rukh and Aamir to spend the evening with. Two charming conversationalists under one roof,” a guest informed Mirror.
The Trudeaus’ landed in Delhi last Saturday and visited the Taj Mahal and Sabarmati Ashram before arriving for the Bollywood bash. Among the guests was Crown Prince Manvendra Singh Gohil of Rajpipla and actors Farhan Akhhtar, R Madhavan, Anupam Kher and Alankrita Sahai. Farhan lauded Trudeau for “his unparallel leadership in the discourse for ending gender discrimination, which serves as constant inspiration to everybody”. And when Farhan posed for the cameras with Trudeau, his producer-partner, Ritesh Sidhwani accidentally photo bombed the pic.
--------------------------
Sonil Dedhia (MID-DAY; February 22, 2018)
A prominent room in Colaba’s The Taj Mahal Palace Hotel bustled with happy faces that
had collected to meet Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Tuesday
evening. Even though the gathering — that saw the presence of top
business leaders too — was limited in its star power, the presence of
Shah Rukh Khan was enough. The ever-so-charming Khan, we hear, was
humbled by Trudeau’s warmth, as the two discussed how cinematic ties
between the two countries could be improved.
A sherwani-clad Trudeau, accompanied by wife Sophie Gregoire and kids, Xavier James and Ella-Grace, was also greeted by Aamir Khan, Anupam Kher and Farhan Akhtar. A guest present at the bash tells mid-day, “Trudeau seemed curious about the Hindi film industry, and had some knowledge about it. He conversed with SRK and Aamir, and enquired how Canada could become a favourable hub for shooting Bollywood films.”
A lavish offering of food from across the globe — comprising sushi, pastas and risottos — supplemented a desi spread. But fitness-freak Trudeau and Sophia were apparently apprehensive of digging in. “His kids enjoyed the spread, especially the Indian desserts, with the rabdi being an instant hit. But, the PM and his wife were selective with what they tried.”
Model Alankrita Sahai, who was also present at the do, says, “I am glad that I met Trudeau. Having followed his campaigns since 2015, I was happy to notice that, in real life, he is exactly how he showcases himself to be.”
A sherwani-clad Trudeau, accompanied by wife Sophie Gregoire and kids, Xavier James and Ella-Grace, was also greeted by Aamir Khan, Anupam Kher and Farhan Akhtar. A guest present at the bash tells mid-day, “Trudeau seemed curious about the Hindi film industry, and had some knowledge about it. He conversed with SRK and Aamir, and enquired how Canada could become a favourable hub for shooting Bollywood films.”
A lavish offering of food from across the globe — comprising sushi, pastas and risottos — supplemented a desi spread. But fitness-freak Trudeau and Sophia were apparently apprehensive of digging in. “His kids enjoyed the spread, especially the Indian desserts, with the rabdi being an instant hit. But, the PM and his wife were selective with what they tried.”
Model Alankrita Sahai, who was also present at the do, says, “I am glad that I met Trudeau. Having followed his campaigns since 2015, I was happy to notice that, in real life, he is exactly how he showcases himself to be.”
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