Showing posts with label Arunachal Pradesh. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Arunachal Pradesh. Show all posts
Prashant Tamang, 43, dies of cardiac arrest
10:24 AM
THE TIMES OF INDIA (January 12, 2026)
Darjeeling: Indian Idol 2007 edition winner Prashant Tamang (43), a singer from Darjeeling, died of cardiac arrest at his Delhi home on Sunday morning. Prashant felt unwell around 6 am on Sunday.
His family took him to a hospital, where doctors declared him dead. He had been living in Delhi with his wife and three-year-old daughter.
“He had gone to Dubai for a show and returned on Dec 27. He travelled to Arunachal Pradesh on January 7 for another show and was back in Delhi the next day. We spoke that day; it was our last conversation,” said his sister Anupama Gurung
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Natasha Coutinho (HINDUSTAN TIMES; January 12, 2026)
Singer-actor Prashant Tamang, who gained fame as the winner of Indian Idol 3, died on Sunday at his Delhi residence. He was 43 and reportedly died after suffering a stroke.
A native of Darjeeling, Tamang was born on January 4, 1983. He lost his father early in life and later joined the Kolkata Police as a constable. During his service, he nurtured his passion for music through the police orchestra. Tamang later appeared in Paatal Lok Season 2 as Daniel Lecho.
Musician Anu Malik, who was a judge on Indian Idol 3, tells us, “I was in a recording and this news has spaced me out completely. I had seen his struggle, seen him grow, take my criticism and praise. He would take my feedback, make changes in the mukhda, antra and ask me ‘How is it sounding?’ I had never seen such madness in anybody.”
Malik adds, “I would tell him to take it easy, but that guy was a workaholic and superb human being. We just lost (Assamese singer) Zubeen Garg, how do I process this news now? He had a full life ahead in terms of music and shows. I would tell him he should do more shows. My heart goes out to the family and I hope God gives them tremendous strength to bear the loss.”
You feel bad when people do theatre for just 6 months and then switch to commercial mediums-Pankaj Tripathi
8:01 AM
As the actor gets appointed as the festival ambassador for Arunachal Rang Mahotsav, he lauds the passion for dramatics in the state
Akash Bhatnagar (HINDUSTAN TIMES; December 4, 2024)
Pankaj Tripathi was recently appointed as the festival ambassador for Arunachal Rang Mahotsav 2024, an international theatre festival in Arunachal Pradesh, and the actor is in awe of the dedication for theatre in the state. “I witnessed their passion and also watched a play that was written by an MLA of the state,” he says.
Having spent time in an atmosphere that was all about dramatics, Tripathi was reminded of the role theatre has played in shaping him as an artiste. “Theatre is that part of my life that can never go away. This art form has not just made me a commercial actor, but also taught me how to be a better human being and explore myself,” he says, adding that theatre, as a medium, will shine more in the future. “With technology, things have changed. But as humans, I am sure that soon we will get over all the gadgets. I’ve already reached that stage. The charm of a live performance, which withered for some time, is now returning. It can never die,” he explains.
Impressed by the state government’s efforts in providing an impetus to theatre in Arunachal Pradesh, Tripathi says, “Their government supports the arts and the Chief Minister personally keeps a track of things. In fact, he was the one who invited me. While they thanked me, saying, ‘Aapki presence ki wajah se humare state ke theatre ki baat national level par hogi’, I thanked them for giving me a chance to see such a beautiful and nurturing environment for theatre.”
Today, many aspiring actors see theatre as a stepping stone towards commercial cinema rather than understanding the importance of the immersive medium and what it offers. Talking about it, Tripathi says, “If someone does theatre for even five years, the charm of it will never go away from their hearts. But you feel bad when people do theatre for just six to eight months and then switch to commercial mediums. They then just add in the crowd, and it becomes difficult to find genuine talent,” he says.
One day I aspire to do a film that will be shown at Cannes-Sara Ali Khan
9:37 AM
Raima Ganguly (BOMBAY TIMES; May 28, 2023)
Sara Ali Khan, who recently returned from Cannes, spoke to us about her experience, why she likes to stay true to her roots and her travel plans in the future. Excerpts:
ON BEING COMPARED TO HER DAADI AT CANNES
Sara says, “As a girl, I am modern, I have studied abroad, but my roots, my heart, and my soul is completely Indian. I think as I was representing my nation to millions of people worldwide, on a global forum at Cannes, it was crucial to bring forward what I represent. My look was a modern twist to a very traditional attire that is inherent to the Indian woman’s identity. The deconstructed saree look was the best take I could have on that. I think there was something extra special about this look, especially because many made a humbling comparison of me with my daadi.”
Sara says, “One day I aspire to do a film that will be shown at Cannes. But in the meantime, I’m a proud Indian actor and I’m a woman. I talk about the importance of women in cinema and behind the camera, and in front of the camera. If I had to describe Sara with three adjectives, they would be woman, actor and Indian. I went there to represent all these. If in the bargain anybody said it’s a statement that I’m making, it’s a compliment to me. But that was not the intention.”
ON HER TRAVEL PLANS
A self confessed travel junkie, Sara says, “I want to go backpacking around the north-east region of our country. The farthest I have been towards the east is Kolkata, and Assam only once. I really want to visit Meghalaya, Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh. That’s the next thing on my bucket list. Norway and the northern lights are also very high on my bucket list, I would love to visit soon.”
She, who recently tried puchka in Kolkata, shares, “I firmly believe in being fully present in the moment, especially when I am travelling. I like all kinds of food, to be honest. I like the idea of living like a local wherever I go be it in terms of food or aesthetics.”
Bhediya is the kind of film that was never made in the country, and was not offered to anyone-Varun Dhawan
8:43 AM
Onkar Kulkarni (BOMBAY TIMES; November 24, 2022)
Varun Dhawan has been busy connecting with his fans across India. The actor has been hopping from one city to another promoting his film Bhediya, which hits the theatres tomorrow. He feels that the film, which promises to be an epic cinematic adventure with enthralling VFX, will thoroughly entertain the audience. The actor worked hard for six months to up his fitness levels to play this shape-shifting role of a wolf, so that the man-to-bhediya transformation looks believable on screen.
Ahead of the film’s release, Varun talks about his first creature comedy, directed by Amar Kaushik, why he loves being a part of films that have comic elements in them and the calm he felt while shooting in the forests of Arunachal Pradesh. Excerpts:
In your career spanning 10 years, you have done an interesting mix of films — commercial potboilers to hatke ones — but in your wildest imagination, did you ever think that you would be a part of a creature comedy?
I didn’t, but I always wanted to. I was obsessed with being a part of such a film. So finally, when I got something like Bhediya, I was extremely thrilled. It’s the kind of film that was never made in the country, and was not offered to anyone. The fact that Amar Kaushik had this vision and wanted to make a film like this meant a lot. When he offered me the project, I was sold on his one-scene narration. The scene was — Bhaskar (Varun’s character) is sleeping. He has done something at night, and the doctor asks him, ‘Kal raat ko kya khaya tha?’ And Bhaskar says, ‘Prakash’. The doctor asks, ‘Kya?’ And he quickly responds saying, ‘Nahi, matlab kal raat ko Prakash ke saath khaana khaya tha.’ I was zapped. I knew that this film is going to be something new and wild and it would offer me an unbelievable character to play.
In an interview with us, Dinesh Vijan said he had immense faith in you. He further added that, ‘The actor you see in Bhediya is Varun 2.0.’ Do you agree with that?
I totally believe in that. It’s a very difficult character to play and I don’t think people realise that, but they will once they see the film. There’s an immense amount of work and effort that’s gone into making this film. I expect people to be blown away by the visual treat that they are in for. Physically, it was so tiring to play this character that I would return to my room beat at the end of the day. There is so much anguish and power needed to do certain scenes that it would exhaust me. I trained a lot for the role. For six months, I did animal flow workout and changed my diet… it was hard, but it became very enjoyable at the end of it. I wanted to crack this character and get it absolutely right because it is something so unbelievable — a man turning into a wolf — how do you convince people? So that was very tricky.
In your previous interviews, you have often said that we can’t let go of our Indian culture, emotions and roots in our films. With this film, you are going a step further, because apparently, the idea of Bhediya emerged from Arunachal Pradesh’s folklore. Do films like these inspire you to delve deeper into stories buried in our Indian culture and traditions?
Honestly, I did not know anything about this story until Amar narrated it to me. Well, that’s the beautiful thing about being an actor, that you don’t have to take up the onus of thinking about stories, and makers can come up with their own vision, and you can make it your own, and that’s your job in a way. I have stopped trying to find something. I am open to hearing the director’s vision and seeing how that excites me. Now, obviously, if something is connected to my traditions and culture, I will connect to it faster because there is the relatability aspect. But as an artiste, I am open to exploring every story that can leave a mark on me. Bhediya is fantastical and supernatural and is also rooted in our folklore; it excites you because it is a ‘what if’ story.
You are somebody who did comedy at the beginning of your career. In fact, you have attempted comedy more than most of your contemporaries. You understand the pulse of the genre. Bhediya blends comedy with horror, how challenging was it?
I love comedy. I love it so much that I make sure every film of mine has comedy. This film has a lot of entertainment for the audience. I am not doing much comedy in it. The situation brings out the humour and makes it more exciting. I play a very different part. Like I said, I have almost two parts in the film — one of a man and the other of a wolf. I had my hands full with that and my main job was to convince people that this transformation happens.
After seven years, you have teamed up with your Dilwale (2015) co-star Kriti Sanon. Back then, she was new to the industry. What do you think of her evolution in the last seven years as an actor?
She has had an amazing journey and has worked really hard. I think she is stepping into the best phase right now. I feel there’s a lot of good work ahead for her. Today, she’s in that position where she’s a star, and there are very few around, and she is one of them.
When you shoot a film like Bhediya, which is shot amidst nature in Arunachal, does it bring a certain sense of calm and give you a different perspective of the world around you?
I enjoyed shooting in Arunachal Pradesh. We shot 95 per cent of the film there amid all the greenery. The forest you see in the movie is real. It is such a big and important part of the film and makes the movie look authentic. When you shoot a film at a location like that, it does bring a certain sense of calm. But post the shooting, when we started promoting the film, all that calm disappeared and chaos took over (laughs). I miss that a lot! We all need to take a break, and hopefully, post Bhediya’s release, I will do that.
Virtual gigs becomes a little stressful at times, and boring too-Shibani Kashyap
8:00 AM
Rishabh Suri (HINDUSTAN TIMES; March 15, 2022)
More often than playback singing in films, Shibani Kashyap can be seen performing live all over the country. So, naturally the period of lull for concerts due to the Coronavirus pandemic was hard on the singer-composer.
Calling it an “absolutely difficult” time, the Sajna Aa Bhi Ja (Waisa Bhi Hota Hai 2; 2003) singer explains, “What happens is [when] we get a show, we, in turn, hire sound engineers, a hair and makeup team, stylist. So, if it’s difficult for one person and they don’t get work, the whole chain gets affected. It has been a very tough time for artistes.”
She performed in Delhi recently for an event and adds, “The entire month of January 2022, and before that April 2021 to September 2021, were months of complete silence. There were absolutely no shows.”
And while many resorted to virtual gigs, she wasn’t a fan of those. “I had just been singing in front of a camera, doing virtual gigs for so long. It becomes a little stressful at times, and boring too,” she confesses.
So the return of big music festivals in the country is a happy occasion for artistes like Kashyap. “A very big music festival is happening in Soma Valley. It’s two-day long, and I will close the festival. Things are opening up slowly. In fact, 10 days ago I performed in Arunachal Pradesh to celebrate their 50 golden years of statehood. 10,000 people attended it, it was spread across 10 days, and I performed on the opening day. After two years, I saw so many people there, it was like a dream,” she gushes.
Images: Chum Darang and Badhaai Do team meet Arunachal Chief Minister
8:15 AM
BOMBAY TIMES (February 21, 2022)
The Office of the Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh, Pema Khandu, recently hosted a lunch for Badhaai Do actress Chum Darang, who hails from Pasighat in the state, and the film’s team. The CM shared pics from the event on Twitter, and wrote, “Excited to meet today Sister Chum Darang, who recently made her Bollywood debut in Junglee Production’s Badhaai Do. Also a pleasure meeting acclaimed film personalities from Bollywood, who accompanied her. All the very best Chum. May God bless you with all the success! (sic).”
Chum also posted pictures from the meet-up on Instagram, with the caption, “Being lauded for something that you’ve put your heart and soul into feels amazing ya. Thank you hon’ble CM, Mr Pema Khandu for making team #badhaaido feel at home. Truly honoured. Thank you Arunachal for the immense love you all have shown. ” She added, “Happy Statehood Day Arunachal Pradesh.”
While going for Badhaai Do auditions, two boys shouted ‘corona’ at me and I started crying-Chum Darang
8:29 AM
Riya Sharma (BOMBAY TIMES; February 8, 2022)
She will be seen playing Bhumi Pednekar’s love interest in Junglee Pictures’ Badhaai Do and though Chum Darang is thrilled about this opportunity, she says that Bollywood was never the plan. “I wanted to act, but I thought people would laugh if I told them about this,” says Chum, who hails from Pasighat, Arunachal Pradesh. She originally planned to run a café in her hometown, but decided to try her hand at acting.
The actress, who is managed by Times Talent, shares that her friends and family back home are as thrilled as her about the film. “We don’t have theatres in my hometown so they are planning to go to Assam and will be travelling for three hours to see me on the big screen,” she shares. In a chat with us, Chum talks about how Badhaai Do happened and why actors from the northeast are afraid of being typecast in certain roles.
‘BOLLYWOOD WAS NEVER THE PLAN’
Chum is currently enjoying the phenomenal response that the fim’s trailer has got. “Life before Badhaai Do was normal and right now, I am getting a lot of attention and I am thrilled. It feels like my life is changing, it is going towards a beautiful journey.”
She says that though she wanted to act, she never considered it seriously. “I have taken part in a few pageants, but have not really done any modelling assignments. I come from a small town and if I had told anyone that I wanted to be an actor, they would have laughed. We watch TV and films, but we don’t think about joining the industry, especially in small towns like mine. I thought I had it in me, but I never told anyone that I wanted to act. Three years back, I also started running my café, so sticking to that was the original plan. I had thought of giving this (acting) a try and it worked,” she shares.
‘I HAVE LEARNT TO BE HARDWORKING FROM BHUMI AND RAJKUMMAR’
Sharing the screen with actors like Rajkummar Rao and Bhumi Pednekar, who have been appreciated for the kind of roles they play, has been exciting as well as a learning experience for Chum. “They both are so down to earth and work really hard. I know they are experienced, they know so much but during the shoot, they sat down, listened to the director and worked accordingly. I learnt to be hardworking and grounded from them, the respect they have for other actors on set was another thing that I learnt from them,” she says.
Chum accepts that it has been challenging to play Bhumi’s love interest in the film but says that she had no inhibitions about the character. “I saw this casting ad on FB and I randomly texted the team and went for my auditions and it just happened. The character that I am playing, she is such a fun girl and the tag of playing Bhumi’s love interest did not really bother me. It was a challenge to play a role like that but I had no inhibitions. I listened to my director (Harshavardhan Kulkarni) and understood what the team wanted. And I would like to believe that I completed this challenge well,” she adds.
‘ACTORS FROM THE NORTHEAST ARE GIVEN CERTAIN KIND OF ROLES AND THAT IS ALWAYS CONCERNING’
The actress shares that before Badhaai Do, she was also offered roles that stereotyped actors from the northeast. “I was offered such roles, like that of a spa employee, and I was scared that if I agreed to do them, I would be typecast. And this is what actors from the northeast fear. Not just in movies, but in day-to-day life as well, things are not easy. When I was called for my audition for Badhaai Do and this was in March 2020, on my way to the venue, two boys shouted ‘corona’ at me and I started crying. For my audition, I had to do a scene that required me to shout and I could actually do it really well because of that incident. Incidents like this are disheartening, but I also think that things are changing now,” she shares.
She adds that movie crews and producers should be more accepting of people from diverse backgrounds to have an inclusive system in place. “We are a diverse country, film crews, TV teams should include people from all backgrounds. Actors from different regions should be given chance, that’s how people will also become more accepting. I think Badhaai Do might be a game changer in that aspect,” says Chum.
The biggest challenge these days is to parent your parents-Varun Dhawan
8:39 AM
Rachana Dubey (BOMBAY TIMES; January 8, 2022)
As an actor, Varun Dhawan is raring to go out there and start work on his impending projects, while looking forward to the release of Bhediya and JugJugg Jeeyo. However, looking at the current scenario, he believes that maintaining health and safety at all times is a challenge, especially for people in his profession who not only have to step out of their homes, but also have to remove their masks while facing the camera.
As a dutiful son, the actor has also been watching over his mom Laali and dad, filmmaker David Dhawan, making it a point to remind them about COVID safety precautions. “My parents follow all the norms that one has to in these circumstances, but as a son, I am worried each time they decide to step out. I make it my duty to constantly check on them, if they’ve worn their masks properly and if they’ve carried sanitisers and so on. The biggest challenge these days is to parent your parents, be hawk-eyed towards them like they were when you were a child. These times are tough on us, but they’re tougher on our elders. I want to get on to a platform and tell all elderly parents that they have to listen to their children when they talk about safety measures and follow them.”
Talking about his impending projects, Varun says, “JugJugg Jeeyo and Bhediya have been crazy journeys for me. JugJugg Jeeyo was shot from Diwali to Diwali. We started in 2020 and completed it in 2021. I got Coronavirus while working on that film. The time we all spent together turned us into one massive family. I should hand it to Raj Mehta for pulling off the film while taking utmost care of every member in the team, from artistes to crew. When we shot Bhediya in Arunachal Pradesh, there was no case of COVID in the state. That experience was magical and new. We were away, cut-off from everything. I was completely disconnected from the world. We were trying to do something new when everything around the world was really falling apart.”
Tawang to get its first cinema theatre this week
8:07 AM
Surendra Singh (THE TIMES OF INDIA; November 15, 2021)
The farthest northeastern district of the country will soon be “integrated cinematically and culturally with the rest of India” as Arunachal Pradesh’s Tawang is set to get its first cinema theatre on November 20. The heavily-fortified border district, which remains in limelight for face-offs with Chinese troops, will soon get a 80-seat theatre for a population of nearly 50,000 people.
“Jadooz, which targets small and remotest cities of the country, will open its first fully-air conditioned screen with a high-end virtual reality facility in Tawang. The theatre will not only be used for screening movies but will also double up as a platform for virtual teaching classes as each seat will have a cordless microphone and a camera for interactive sessions to bridge the education gap,” Rahul Nehra, founding managing director of startup Jadooz, which plans to open seven screens in Arunachal in coming years, told TOI.
It is quite an irony that Arunachal Pradesh, which is a treasure trove of cultural diversity and traditions and famous for monasteries, currently has just 3-4 small theatres, including one in Itanagar, but none in Tawang. In fact, Arunachal movie ‘Water Burial’, whose storyline was based on a dark ritual of a local tribe, won the best film award on environment conservation at the 67th National Films Awards 2021. In India, there are less than 10,000 single movie screens.
Varun Dhawan and Kriti Sanon to kick off final schedule of Bhediya in Mira Road from June 26
8:16 AM
Uma Ramasubramanian (MID-DAY; June 14, 2021)
Varun Dhawan and Kriti Sanon got a well-deserved break in late April after wrapping up the extensive schedule of Bhediya in Arunachal Pradesh. Almost two months since, it’s back to the world of the werewolf for the duo as director Amar Kaushik of Stree (2018) fame plans to kick off the final schedule by the month-end.
“A set is being constructed in Mira Road for the upcoming leg. Amar will resume his place behind the camera by June 26 to lead the seven-to-10-day schedule. The shoot, which will include the filming of a song, will be conducted with minimal crew,” reveals a source.
While shoots were suspended in mid-April and May due to the junta curfew imposed in the state, the horror comedy did not bear its brunt. The source adds, “The director wanted the team to have a sufficient break between the two schedules, and hence, had slotted the Mumbai schedule only for June-end. The lockdown had no bearing on our plan.” The horror comedy sees Dhawan reuniting with Sanon after Dilwale (2015).
Maddock Films, the studio backing the project, remained unavailable for comment.
If authorities have given up, we must pitch in-Abhishek Banerjee
7:35 AM
Juhi Chakraborty (HINDUSTAN TIMES; May 5, 2021)
The desperation and helplessness among people seeking medical help amid the second wave of Coronavirus has made many, including celebrities, jump in to help. For actor Abhishek Banerjee, who was shooting for his film Bhediya in Arunachal Pradesh when all hell broke loose in Maharashtra and Delhi-NCR, this is a dark place to be in right now.
“I was feeling completely helpless for a few days, especially when I came back from Arunachal Pradesh, because being there was like a dream world. I was aware of what was happening [in other parts of the country], but we had no clue that it’s so serious. It’s crazy. But helping one another in these distressing times is the only way we can feel sane,” he says.
The casting director-turned-actor says this isn’t the time to dwell upon who failed us but to pitch in as much as we can. “It seems that the authorities have just given up. I don’t understand how it can function like this. They’re actually saying nothing can be done. It’s a huge failure of the infrastructure and the governments. I hope that they should own it. If the government and authorities have given up, then people in the society have to step up and pitch in. And they’re doing that,” says the Paatal Lok actor.
And with that spirit, Banerjee, who turns 36 today, is going to spend his special day helping people in need. “The only plan that I have for my birthday is helping people. Some of my childhood school friends have started this campaign for donation, and I’m going to be a part of it. That’s going to be my birthday present to myself,” he tells us.
Currently in Goa with his wife, Tina Noronha, at her family home, Banerjee shares, “There’s nothing happening in Mumbai, and Tina was here, so I also joined her from Arunachal Pradesh. I’m working from here as much as I can and fulfilling my work commitments.”
It’s no longer about finishing Dostana 2; it’s about re shooting it from scratch-Abhishek Banerjee
8:16 AM
Paatal Lok star Abhishek Banerjee, who shot for 15 days of Dostana 2, says the film’s schedule lies uncertain after Kartik Aaryan is dropped from comedy
Uma Ramasubramanian (MID-DAY; May 1, 2021)
In these trying times, director Amar Kaushik managed to shoot Bhediya, starring Varun Dhawan and Kriti Sanon, without any hiccups. Abhishek Banerjee, who plays a supporting role in the horror-comedy, wonders whether the team would have been able to pull off this feat in any state other than Arunachal Pradesh. “The state has not seen a drastic surge in Coronavirus cases. It’s one of the safest places [in the country] probably because of the way people have lent their lives to nature and have [encouraged] forestation. If the film was not shot in Arunachal Pradesh, I don’t know how safe we would have felt,” says the Paatal Lok actor, who is in Goa after having wrapped up the film.
Besides his upcoming projects, Banerjee will have to begin work anew on Dostana 2, which became a bone of contention between Karan Johar and Kartik Aaryan. Recently, the producer announced that the leading man was dropped from the comedy, amid rumours of his “unprofessional behaviour” and “creative differences”.
Banerjee, who has a pivotal role in the Janhvi Kapoor and Laksh Lalwani-starrer, says, “I had shot for about 15 days. I had no clue about [Aaryan’s exit], and got to know only after I read the reports. I don’t know when we’ll begin shooting because now, it’s no longer about finishing the film; it’s about re-shooting it [from scratch]. I am guessing the film won’t roll anytime soon. [The production house] has informed all the actors involved that it will kick off the project when the time is right.”
Fenil's Bollywood Talk # 671
10:47 PM
AND CINEMAS SHUT ONCE AGAIN
India is in the second wave of Coronavirus right now and it’s much more extreme than the first wave. A lot of states went under lockdown or introduced curbs and as part of it, theatres were asked to shut down. This is because cinema halls are believed to be venues where the Covid-19 virus can spread rapidly. That there has rarely been a case where a person got infected after a theatre outing is a different matter! But with non-essential shops, malls, restaurants etc being asked to shut shop, cinema halls obviously won’t be left out.
On April 27, Kerala government ordered theatres in the state to down shutters. Even the Gujarat government passed a similar order earlier this week. As a result, theatres are now only open in Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Telangana and West Bengal. With the cases refusing to subside in most parts of India, the fear is that in the next 10 days, even these states would ask cinemas to halt operations.
Many cinema halls in these states have already downed shutters, due to lack of content. Since April 2, no new Hindi film has been released. Godzilla vs. Kong was the last major film that worked pan-India but even that was released a month ago. And in North, West and East India, it failed to reach the desired numbers due to fear psychosis about the virus. Hence, the belief is that even if state governments don’t take the harsh decision, the exhibition themselves will stop playing films to save on the costs.
2-3 days ago, the makers of Satyameva Jayate 2 announced that their actioner stands postponed. Starring John Abraham and Divya Khosla Kumar, it was supposed to release on May 13, on Eid. The other upcoming films like Bellbottom (scheduled to release on May 28) and ’83 (scheduled to release on June 4) will soon be pushed ahead too.
The experts have predicted that the cases will reach a peak in mid-May after which there’ll be a reduction in numbers. In such a scenario, it is said that cinemas in most states will be allowed to open only after mid-June or in July.
557 trees have been planted, one in the name of each member of Sardar Ka Grandson’s cast and crew-Neena Gupta
9:00 AM
With one sapling for each member, Neena Gupta says Sardar Ka Grandson’s unit led plantation drive in Northeast state to mark film’s completion
Uma Ramasubramanian (MID-DAY; April 27, 2021)
After the shoot of Sardar Ka Grandson kicked off in Mumbai in November 2019, the story of the Arjun Kapoor, Neena Gupta and Rakul Preet Singh-starrer had led the unit to Patiala and Amritsar before the lockdown brought the filming to a halt. On resuming work on the final schedule post last year’s lockdown, first-time director Kaashvie Nair and the team decided to do their bit for the environment, considering the world was reeling under the pandemic.
Gupta, who plays the matriarch in the family drama, reveals that instead of having a wrap-up party, the cast and crew celebrated the film’s completion by having trees planted in Arunachal Pradesh. The Northeast state was chosen as it is one of the few regions in India that is home to sun bears, a rare breed of bears. “557 trees have been planted for sun bears in West Siang, Arunachal Pradesh, one in the name of each member of the cast and crew. I am overwhelmed by the commendable effort made by the unit to support such a good cause, and hope that everyone continues to do their bit in saving the environment. It is the need of the hour,” says the senior actor.
Set to have a digital premiere on Netflix next month, Sardar Ka Grandson sees Kapoor’s US-returned protagonist go to any lengths to fulfil his grandmother’s last wish of visiting her ancestral home in Lahore.
Second wave of Covid-19 pushes shoots out of Mumbai as films pile up for release
8:18 AM
The show goes on as film and TV shoots move to new locations for completion
Rishabh Suri (HINDUSTAN TIMES; April 19, 2021)
The Hindi entertainment industry primarily operates out of Maharashtra, but now, everything has come to a standstill as all kinds of shoots have been suspended till April 30.
What’s keeping hopes alive, though, is work carrying on in other states across India. The team of Mohit Suri’s Ek Villain returns, including Arjun Kapoor and Tara Sutaria, has jetted off to Goa. Varun Dhawan and Kriti Sanon starrer Bhediya has had its team stationed in Arunachal Pradesh for over a month now.
Bhushan Kumar, co-producer of Ek Villain returns, tells us, “The sudden surge in Coronavirus cases is worrisome. We stand by the decision to not shoot in Mumbai, but to meet the shoot deadlines, we’ve found the perfect location in Goa, and we’re abiding by the protocols.”
A source tells us Adipurush was being shot in Mumbai, until the shutdown. “It was anyway a shoot against the green screen, so there wasn’t any hassle,” we’re told.
Last year where when the pandemic hit, filmmaker Milap Zaveri, too, had changed the location of his film, Satyameva Jayate 2, from Mumbai to Lucknow. “We support the lockdown and are standing united in helping the state and nation overcome this crisis, but the show must go on. Many livelihoods are at stake.”
Reliance Entertainment has four projects in various stages of production on floors, but all shoots have had to be stalled. Shibasish Sarkar, Group CEO, tells us: “If there’s a producer or director who has done it (shifted location), depending upon the story, it’s a good option in this situation. But the cases are increasing. I’m not sure how long it will be possible to manage.”
Trade analyst Taran Adarsh says a lot depends on the story when it comes to shifting to a different shoot location. “The location is decided by the script. The scare is everywhere, not just Mumbai,” he says.
Several TV shows have shifted their shoot locations to various other cities. Sasural Simar Ka 2, which goes on air next week, recently shot in Agra and plan to shoot more from there only.
Producer of Chhoti Sardaarni, Ram Singh decided to shift the shoot from Mumbai to Delhi, “It is not an overall lockdown in India. It is not tough to shift the location, you have to just create a bio bubble.”
Pooja Banerjee, who stars in Kumkum Bhagya, says their shoot has been shifted to Goa. “The public has to stay at home, and wants their shows, and we are trying to fulfil that,” she says.
TV shows and their new shoot locations
- Kundali Bhagya - Goa
- Kumkum Bhagya - Goa
- Kyun Rishton Mein Katti Batti - Surat, Gujarat
- Imlie - Hyderabad’s Ramoji Film City
- Mehndi Hai Rachne Waali - Hyderabad’s Ramoji Film City
- Shaurya Aur Anokhi Ki Kahani - Goa
- Saath Nibhana Saathiya - Gujarat
- Ghum Hai Kisikey Pyaar Mein - Delhi or Hyderabad
- Anupamaa - Goa or Rajkot
- Teri Meri Ikk Jindari - Jaipur
- Hamariwali Good News - Haryana
- Choti Sardaarni - Outskirts of Delhi
- RadhaKrishn - Umbergaon
- Pratigya - Ramoji or Goa
- Prem Bandhan - Silvassa in Dadra and Nagar Haveli
- Yeh Hai Chahatein - Goa
People’s sentiments are attached to the character of Sita-Kriti Sanon
8:03 AM
As she picks up Telugu, perfects body language, Kriti Sanon admits playing iconic character of Sita in Prabhas-led Adipurush comes with pressure
Uma Ramasubramanian (MID-DAY; March 24, 2021)
With great roles, comes great responsibility. Kriti Sanon is aware that all eyes are on her as she portrays the role of Sita, one of the most revered characters of Ramayana, in the magnum opus, Adipurush. “I am overwhelmed and grateful that I am playing such an iconic character. The role comes with a lot of pressure because we don’t want to [portray] anything that is not [true to] the part. People’s sentiments are attached to the character,” she begins. The Om Raut-directed spectacle features South sensation Prabhas in the titular role with Saif Ali Khan essaying the role of Raavan.
The bilingual marks Sanon’s second period drama after Ashutosh Gowariker’s Panipat (2019). Noting that being authentic to the story is half the battle won, she says, “When you’re telling a story that is not set in today’s times, you have to keep a check on your body language and dialogue delivery. With Om, I am in safe hands. I like his clarity on the film, and he is technically sound. This is the first time I am shooting a film that demands such extensive chroma work. It is a pan-India film, so I had to work on my Telugu.”
If the film offers her a role of a lifetime, it also sees her team up with Prabhas. The Baahubali star is known to be a man of few words, so, it’s surprising when she quips that he talks nineteen to the dozen. “When I first met him, I thought he was shy, but once we started chatting, we were unstoppable. He is a foodie, and loves feeding his co-stars,” laughs Sanon, the ambassador for Breezer Vivid Shuffle.
Over the next few months, she will be time-travelling, going from the golden days of Ramayana to the universe of horror comedy Bhediya. “I have four days’ work here, post which I will head to Arunachal Pradesh for Bhediya for 15 days, and follow it up with another schedule of Adipurush. I have dedicated March, April and May to the two films.”
Pandemic after-effects: Bollywood zooms in on the North East
8:05 AM
Sugandha Rawal (HINDUSTAN TIMES; March 10, 2021)
As Bollywood walks on a long road to recovery after the Coronavirus pandemic-induced lockdown, the north east is emerging as a hot favourite shooting destination.
If director Anubhav Sinha is navigating a story of a spy with actor Ayushmann Khurrana in Assam, then Amar Kaushik is all set to trace supernatural tale of Bhediya in the wilderness of Arunachal Pradesh with actors Varun Dhawan and Kriti Sanon.
“While there can never be a positive side to a global pandemic, due to the setback the industry suffered, Bollywood has cemented the fact that India is a shining country when it comes to beautiful locations to shoot,” says producer Bhushan Kumar, who is backing Sinha’s Anek.
Bollywood’s affair with the northeast will continue with Salman Khan also expected to head to Arunachal Pradesh soon for a shoot.
“It is a beautiful unexplored land. The whole land is untouched. We plan to shoot responsibly, without affecting nature at all,” says producer Dinesh Vijan, who’s in Arunachal Pradesh for Bhediya.
Kaushik adds: “We required a background of deep forests, natural habitat and ethnic lifestyle, which Arunachal Pradesh offers in abundance.”
But, going forward will be a bumpy track as the place comes with its own set of challenges, such as lack of properly developed roads and many other logistical issues.
“That is one of the main factors why some of the projects had to be shifted to other locations,” says James Handique, a line producer from northeast.
So, what is contributing to the accelerating momentum? “The first thing is that the region was less affected by the virus, and secondly it is unexplored,” says Handique, who is currently working with Anek team. He adds, “It takes seven days, or maximum 15-20 days to get permission.”
Hopefully, the showbiz glare will also lend in changing the image of the place, and help in dispelling rumours.
“Yes, there are problems with the insurgency but they’ve never targeted tourists or film crews. The Anek team, shooting in a remote part of Assam, is astonished at how supportive the people are. So, the image will change,” he says, adding Meghna Gulzar is expected to shoot her next project in Meghalaya, Assam and Nagaland.
Whenever we shoot with Akshay Kumar, it’s always a lot of fun on and off set-Kriti Sanon
8:19 AM
Kriti Sanon says that despite restrictions, her enthusiasm as an actor remains the same
Rishabh Suri (HINDUSTAN TIMES; March 6, 2021)
She has worked in two films amid the Coronavirus pandemic, and nothing seems to be stopping Kriti Sanon from working more. Currently, she’s in Arunachal Pradesh, and will begin the shoot for Bhediya opposite Varun Dhawan.
“It’s good to be back on set. Firstly, to be fortunate enough to be working at this point. 2021 is hopefully going to be a busy year, I think I love being busy. I am in fact, looking forward to different kind of projects, which are not in any one genre. It’s very exciting as an actor,” she exclaims.
Recently, she had wrapped up a schedule for Bachchan Pandey, which reunites her with her Housefull 4 (2019) co-star Akshay Kumar.
On how’s it been for her so far, shooting at a rapid pace with all the Covid-19 restrictions in place, she says, “To be honest, once you are on set, in front of the camera, nothing matters. You have to forget everything. When the camera is rolling, as an actor, you can’t wear a mask. On set, you have a team going around to make sure people are wearing masks and are protected, giving us sanitizer time and again. That’s the only difference, nothing else. Especially in Jaisalmer, where the number of cases is lesser as compared to shooting in Mumbai.”
Sanon adds that the entire crew travelled on a charter flight, the same which they have done for Bhediya too. “On the way, we were doing our mandatory Coronavirus test. It keeps your mind away from the scare of Covid-19. I feel the enthusiasm is still the same, it has not slowed down the process,” says the actor.
Shooting with Kumar, she continues, is a ‘lot of fun’. “We were there in Jaisalmer for 45 days, and shot at the same palace as Housefull 4. Whenever we shoot with him, it’s always a lot of fun on and off set, everyone eats together. How all these days passed, we didn’t realise, it was just so much fun. The place itself is so beautiful. And in between all this and playing games, we made a film! Having said that, I am also very excited about my role and character,” she says.
Horror ka doosra naam was Ramsay Films-Amar Kaushik
7:45 AM
The filmmaker, who made last year’s horror comedy, Stree, talks about the late Shyam Ramsay and his contribution to Indian cinema
Rachana Dubey (BOMBAY TIMES; September 20, 2019)
Shyam Ramsay, who made about 30 films and a popular 90s horror series on television, passed away on Wednesday in a Mumbai hospital. The 67-year-old filmmaker was suffering from pneumonia.Shyam was one of the seven Ramsay Brothers active in Bollywood between the 1970s and 80s, making horror films. Some of his prominent films include Darwaza, Purana Mandir, Purani Haveli, Bandh Darwaza, Tahkhana and Veerana. They diverted attention to TV shows towards the end of the 1980s and early 1990s. Shyam Ramsay returned to Hindi films with Dhund: The Fog in 2003, Ghutan in 2007 and a horror comedy titled Bachao in 2010. His last film was Neighbours in 2014.
Reminiscing his contribution to Hindi cinema, filmmaker Amar Kaushik, who made the acclaimed horror-comedy Stree (2018), says, “Most Indians who grew up in the 1990s were introduced to horror with their show on TV. Ramsay Brothers were synonymous with horror films for years, they gave the genre its first formal identity. I remember I was a young boy and we were in Arunachal Pradesh at that time. I saw Bandh Darwaza in a video parlour, all alone. I was the only one who turned up and that screening turned out to be my first horror film experience. Today, you might laugh at what the Ramsay Brothers had tried to do, but Shyam Ramsay’s film actually scared me at that time. They had stiff budgets and several challenges, but they made films for their small, but loyal audience. Horror ka doosra naam was Ramsay Films. You must remember that this happened at a time when names of producers didn’t register as much. Imagine the impact of their cinema!”
Image: Vicky Kaushal turns chef for Indian Army
8:23 AM
The actor made rotis for “the first time” in his life and was glad that it was for the Indian Army
BOMBAY TIMES (August 3, 2019)
Vicky Kaushal is spending time with the Indian Army at the Indo-China border area of Tawang, Arunachal Pradesh, and has turned chef for the jawans. The actor played an army officer in his last film URI: The Surgical Strike and his next is Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw’s biopic. He shared a series of pictures on Instagram making rotis for the first time in his life. “The first-ever roti I made... glad it was for the army,” he wrote. In the pictures, an excited Vicky, donning the Indian Army uniform, is seen taking cooking lessons from the chef of the Army mess. Earlier on Wednesday, he gave a glimpse of his visit by sharing a picture with the Army personnel on his Instagram. “Elated to be getting an opportunity to spend a few days with our Indian Army posted at 14,000 ft altitude at the Indo-China border of Tawang, Arunachal Pradesh,” he captioned the picture.
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