Showing posts with label Ali Haji. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Ali Haji. Show all posts
Actors who worked as child artistes share their experience of working with Salman Khan on his birthday
8:26 AM
Actor Salman Khan and children get along like a house on fire. On his 56th birthday today, three of the actor’s young co-stars share their experiences of working with him
HINDUSTAN TIMES (December 27, 2021)
ALI HAJI (Rohan in Partner, 2007)
I had the best experience of my life while shooting with Salman uncle for Partner. It felt more like a joyride than a shoot. He is such a positive person to be around. Every one-liner that I spoke in the film is all thanks to him. Before each take, he would tell me, ‘Yeh bolna,’ and you trust him. Months later, when people laughed at these scenes in theatres, I realised it was his touch.
Our relationship continued as he took me to his farmhouse, introduced me to his nephews and we became friends. He treated my family like he would treat his. He also gave me a ride on his bike during the film’s shoot in Mumbai, and even took me to a toy store and bought me a bike, which I also rode in the film.
HARSHAALI MALHOTRA (Munni in Bajrangi Bhaijaan, 2015)
It was so much fun working with Salman uncle. During our first meeting, I remember telling him, ‘I want to be a superstar like you.’
He used to give me lots of gifts, take me to play table tennis and on ATV rides as well. Meri ek baar tabiyat kharab ho gayi thi, so he gave me a tip, ‘Ek actor ko nahin dikhana chahiye ki unki tabiyat kharab hai.’ Now that he is busy, I don’t get to talk to him much. But mum told me that Bajrangi Bhaijaan 2 might be made and I would want to be part of it with Salman uncle. Every year, without fail, I wish him on his birthday and he asks me, ‘Padhaai kaisi chal rahi hai.’
SANA SAEED (Anjali in Kuch Kuch Hota Hai, 1998)
I remember having a lot of fun when I did my scenes with Salman in Kuch Kuch Hota Hai — me as little Anjali and he played Aman Mehra. He was always super kind and so playful on set. His energy was simply great. I did get a chance to briefly work with him again, on the set of Har Dil Jo Pyaar Karega (2000), but I haven’t met him personally since then.
To get Salman or Aamir Khan to do a cameo in my film would make me feel that I’ve arrived as a filmmaker-Ali Haji
8:21 AM
Having worked with many prominent actors as a child artiste, Ali Haji now aspires to direct them in his projects
Juhi Chakraborty (HINDUSTAN TIMES; October 24, 2021)
Blessed with an opportunity to work with some of the biggest stars of Bollywood, such as Aamir Khan, Salman Khan and Amitabh Bachchan, Ali Haji’s life as a child actor was quite memorable. No wonder, he holds that part of his childhood very close to his heart.
“It was very eventful because you are a kid and you start doing so many films. It was very exciting to work with actors that I used to see on screen. Bachchan sir, Salman sir, Aamir sir, they are all my heroes. Those moments were too good to be true. It was a busy childhood and I was constantly shooting. I did feel very special and blessed,” says Haji, who starred in Fanaa, Family (both 2006) Partner and Ta Ra Rum Pum (both 2007).
However, his parents also made sure that there was a balance between films and academics. “That balance came with time. As I started acting, during the initial years it was all very exciting. Later there came a point when my parents did turn down projects so that I could focus on my studies. They wanted me to get good grades in school. As much as the little bit of fame was nice, they always maintained that education was important. I got to do what I wanted as long as my academics didn’t get hampered,” he explains.
While acting is how his Bollywood career started, he has decided to move behind the camera to pursue his creative interests.
“Filmmaking is my love, not acting. It is one of those things that you love a lot and you can’t explain it in words. As a kid I was on set and would be intrigued by what people were doing behind-the-scenes. I was more fascinated about what was going on behind the scenes, and to know and understand how to put together the final motion picture,” he says, adding that even as an 11-year-old, he knew that filmmaking was what he wanted to do in life.
To realise his dreams, Haji, 21, has started his production house and reveals that he has a team of writers, directors and producers who are involved in developing great content.
“I made a feature Justice For Good Content, which is a satire on film industry. It should come out soon. Also, we did an anthology film, Pyaar For All Ages, in which I directed a segment and worked with another former child actor, Darsheel Safary,” he shares.
While his career as a filmmaker is in its starting phase only, it is his wish to revive memories and work with his former co-stars, in this new role too. “It is my dream to direct the co-stars that I worked with as a child actor. To even get Salman sir or Aamir sir to do a cameo in my film would make me feel that I’ve arrived as a filmmaker. I will obviously strive for that. I know it will have to be one epic story when it happens. I will keep working on my craft and hopefully that day will come,” Haji concludes.
Aamir Khan's son in Fanaa now wants Hrithik Roshan as mentor, in Super 30
8:05 AM
Avinash Lohana (MUMBAI MIRROR; May 16, 2018)
After playing Aamir Khan and Kajol’s young son Rehan in Kunal Kohli’s Fanaa and Lara Dutta’s son Rohan in David Dhawan’s Partner, 18-year-old Ali Haji who makes a comeback with the Hollywood film, The Field, also featuring The Mummy actor Brendan Fraser, has now bagged another Bollywood biggie. He will be seen in Vikas Bahl’s Super 30 alongside Hrithik Roshan, who plays math whiz, Anand Kumar.
“I’m this rich brat from an influential family in Bihar who wants to
join IIT and despite being tutored in a high end coaching academy, wants
Anand Kumar to prep him up for the entrance exam. I’ve been shooting in
Mumbai for five days now and am really excited about working with my
childhood idol Hrithik,”says Ali, recalling his first meeting with his
44-year-old co-star years ago while filming Fanaa at a Mumbai studio. “I
would go there for readings and look tests while Hrithik was rehearsing
for a Dhoom 2 song in the basement. I just went up and greeted him. He
was really nice but had no idea then that I was playing Aamir and
Kajol’s son. I recently reminded him of my fan-boy moment on the set and
he was surprised I remembered the brief meeting.”Ali has started with a song sequence and is looking forward to sharing the frame with his hero. “I took some dialect classes for about a week to get the Bihari accent right in my first mainstream Bollywood film since my return. I’m glad it’s not a potboiler but a real-life story.”
Did he ever want to join IIT, you wonder, and he admits that was never a goal though he does believe that software engineers have a cool life but the pressure they face ruled that out as a career option for him.
Ali who resumes shooting in July, recently bagged the Best Child Actor award at the New York Indian Film Festival for his performance as a 10th standard student studying at a posh boarding school in North India. Noblemen, directed by Vandana Kataria, is about bullying in boarding schools and also features Kunal Kapoor. “It is inspired by William Shakespeare’s The Merchant of Venice and I shot for it in January, 2017. It is currently doing the festival rounds,” he informs.
Working with Brendan Fraser was inspiring-Ali Haji
8:00 AM
Avinash Lohana (MUMBAI MIRROR; October 4, 2016)
After playing Aamir Khan and
Kajol's son Rehan in Kunal Kohli's Fanaa, Lara Dutta's son Rohan in
David Dhawan's Partner and a role in the Shahid Kapoor-starrer
Paathshala, six years ago, Ali Haji is set to make a comeback with the
Hollywood film, The Field, also featuring The Mummy actor, Brendan
Fraser.“My character, Suraj, is from a gangster family, the youngest of three brothers, with Ronit Roy playing the eldest and Neeraj Kabi the second one. I lost seven kg to look the part with the help of two trainers who guided me through weight-training, crossfit and aerobics in 15 days,“ says Ali who also trained under thespian Nivedita Baunthiyal in diction and body language.
Ali is 16, while Suraj is around 20 so he had
to get the posture right and speak like a Dilliwala. “I was asked to
watch films like The Godfather and Raajneeti as a part of my prep,“ he
reveals, adding that the team shot in June with Brendan in an Oshiwara
garage, a dance club in Vile Parle and at the rooftop of a Lower Parel
hotel.
“When I met Brendan for the first time he greeted me with a warm hug.
I'd seen his films but never imagined that I'd get to work with him.
He'd insist I sit with him during the readings to get the final take
right and shared his acting experiences. It was inspiring.“The team is set to start shooting for the Delhi schedule by the year-end or early 2017. The 47-year-old Hollywood star may or may not be a part of it.
Next up, Ali is set to appear for his board exams in March but admits that he didn't want to lose out on a Hollywood project. “I have been doing plays and also working on a short film titled Back Road which features four parallel stories with one social message each,“ he con cludes.
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