Showing posts with label Azerbaijan. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Azerbaijan. Show all posts
Azerbaijan was pleasant, but the recent political developments have left me with a sense of betrayal-Madhur Bhandarkar
8:36 AM
Vinay MR Mishra (BOMBAY TIMES; May 18, 2025)
Filmmaker Madhur Bhandarkar, who had visited Azerbaijan in 2023, has weighed in on the calls to cancel travel plans and shoots in Turkey and Azerbaijan. The two countries supported Pakistan after India’s Operation Sindoor.
The filmmaker says, “In the current situation, Turkey and Azerbaijan’s support to the enemies calls for an understanding of the larger picture. Right now, people should refrain from going to these countries. We are giving them the revenue to supply weapons that are used against our jawans. I’m not speaking for the film industry or anybody. I am sharing my opinion as an independent filmmaker.”
Talking about the calls for cancellation of shoots in Turkey and Azerbaijan, Madhur adds, “As an individual, I believe that art and politics shouldn’t be intertwined, but when so many people are killed, you need to draw the line. When Indian soldiers are at risk and lives are being lost, emotions run high. We must respect the sentiments of the people of India, who have faced considerable pain due to actions taken by these countries. Nothing is bigger than our country and our Armed Forces. We should put the nation’s sentiments above all else.”
‘It is hard not to feel a sense of betrayal’
When asked about his trip to Azerbaijan in 2023, he shares, “My trip to Azerbaijan was pleasant, but the recent political developments have left me with a sense of betrayal. Any country that harms my countrymen or soldiers, it pains me. It is hard not to feel a sense of betrayal. In these testing times, we should support our Armed Forces and our nation. Films and entertainment will always be there, but the safety of our soldiers and the unity of our country should come first.”
I felt a certain kind of animosity, an anti-India stance in Turkey-Palash Sen
2:55 PM
Palash Sen visited Turkey in 2019 and travelled to Azerbaijan in 2023
Riya Sharma (BOMBAY TIMES; May 17, 2025)
Following Turkey and Azerbaijan’s support for Pakistan after Operation Sindoor, there is a growing sentiment in the country to boycott these nations altogether – be it for travel, film shoots, weddings, or the import of their products. Celebs like Atul Kasbekar, Rupali Ganguly, and Vishal Mishra have also taken to social media to urge their followers not to visit these countries. Palash Sen, frontman of the band Euphoria, who shot a short film in Turkey in 2019 and travelled to Azerbaijan in 2023 for a corporate gig, tells us he doesn’t see himself visiting either country again unless they change their stance.
‘Turkey is a beautiful country but saare jahan se achha Hindustan hamara’
Talking about his visit to Turkey in 2019, Palash says, “I went to Turkey in 2019 and shot a film there. There’s no two ways about the fact that it is a beautiful country. I was only in Istanbul and Cappadocia though, but even then, their internal issues were pretty obvious in 2019. While most people (in the team) were Indian, some Turkish people were also involved – the heroine was Turkish. We had a good time but there was an underlying tension in the air – a lot of strife within Turkey. And they didn’t have a very good attitude towards people from anywhere else. The Turkish have a little attitude. I felt a certain kind of animosity, an anti-India stance in Turkey. So when I hear about them helping Pakistan with drones, whatever their political understanding is, Bharat ka dushman matlab mera dushman. We all should take this stand that we should not be supporting Turkey and I don’t think I see myself going back to Turkey ever. There is no point unless they make amends. I am not saying that everybody is like that – but that’s true for every country. Establishment hi hota hai jiske apne views hote hain. If you are anti-India, you are anti-me and why will I support you? It is a beautiful country but saare jahan se achha Hindustan hamara. Aise koi cheez wahan nahi hai jo yahan nahi hai. Haan gaye thay wahan shoot karne – so thanks, but no thanks, Turkey.”
‘India has everything, I fully support domestic Indian tourism’
Talking about his Azerbaijan trip, Palash adds that he went there for a corporate gig. “It is popular for corporate gigs and destination weddings. Wahan pe there is not much population and our travellers keep looking for newer places to go to. Travel and stay is cheaper, but I have no attachment. However, unlike Turkey, people in Azerbaijan are sweet and very welcoming. This is my honest opinion. But what I want to say is that India has everything, we don’t need to go anywhere. I fully support the (domestic) tourism industry of India. I would never want to go to these countries unless they make their stance clear against the wrong elements in the world.”
He adds, “These problems are establishment-based, not people-based. Can we differentiate? That is the bigger question. I have been to Pakistan in 2008 or 2009 and people were supportive, (they were) so welcoming in Karachi but then 2008 is different from 2025. The people of Pakistan also say that the problem is with the government, they have their own issues. But I don’t think people anywhere have hatred towards people. That is my stand on the two countries.”
For Ruslaan, there was no body double, neither were there any harnesses; I had to do the stunts all by myself-Aayush Sharma
10:20 AM
Set to showcase seven styles of action in Ruslaan, Aayush on enduring rigorous training to shoot without body double
Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; September 12, 2023)
Soon after the onset of his Bollywood career in 2018, Aayush Sharma followed in his brother-in-law Salman Khan’s footsteps and diligently took to body-building. Having often flaunted his physical gains on social media over the years, the actor is now ready to showcase his athletic levels on the big screen with Ruslaan, which will see him pull off different styles of action.
Shot in picturesque locations in Azerbaijan, the film, we are told, will see the actor showcase seven different styles of action. “A lot of the sequences are larger than life,” the actor says, adding, “some are fast-paced, while others have a comic effect, akin to Jackie Chan’s style of [action]. There are some close-range combat fights that were filmed in one shot, and some involved close-range bullet fights as well that were filmed without any cuts,” says the actor, who underwent rigorous training in each style to deliver the required impact.
Even though advancements have enabled filmmakers to create environments conducive to the filming of stunts, Sharma endured a fair share of challenges. “This film has raw and gritty action. There was no body double [appointed], and neither were there any harnesses, so I had to do the stunts all by myself. I shot the lifts, throws, and punches without any safety mats. It was physically taxing, and I was dehydrated due to extreme weather conditions. There were a lot of body shots involved as well. But, when there is so much work that one puts in and things proceed smoothly, one feels gratified.”
Local as well as international action directors, we are told, created the choreography. “We had a local stunt coordinator from Azerbaijan who worked with us, and then there was Vikram [Dahiya], the lead action director of Indian descent, who served on the film. In a short span of time, he executed [sequences that were] unparalleled. When it comes to making action sequences, the Indian crew understands the palette of the audience.”
Aayush Sharma talks about shooting action scenes for Ruslaan in Baku in sub-zero temperature
8:18 AM
Aayush Sharma with director Katyayan Shivpuri during the shoot
Aayush on how he shot elaborate action set-pieces of his next, Ruslaan, in sub-zero temperature in Azerbaijan capital
Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; August 2, 2023)
In April, Aayush Sharma had unveiled the teaser of his next, Ruslaan, an actioner helmed by Katyayan Shivpuri. The actor, who dabbled in a love story with Love Yatri (2018) and an action drama in Antim (2021), believes his third offering is the right mix of action and romance. What makes it novel is its location—Sharma says Ruslaan is the among few mainstream Hindi films to be shot in Azerbaijan.
The director charted out a two-week schedule in the Eurasian country. “While locking the foreign locale, Azerbaijan seemed to be the perfect location that has not been explored [much] in Hindi movies,” says the leading man.
The unit of the film—which also stars leading lady Sushrii Mishraa, Vidya Malvade and Jagapathi Babu—headed to Azerbaijan in November 2022. Sharma, who shot in the capital city of Baku, is all praise for it.
“Baku is a perfect blend of European infrastructure with Asian ethos. It was surprising to see that Indian movies are popular there. We were allowed to shoot in the [landmarks] of Baku, including Town Hall and Highland Park.”
However, the schedule wasn’t a cakewalk. Sharma says filming some action set-pieces, which included a chase sequence, was particularly demanding in the biting cold of November. “The temperature was minus three degrees. We had planned a chase sequence and another hand-to-hand combat scene. There was a constant fear among unit members that it will start snowing while filming these outdoor sequences, [but we pulled it off].”
Our films have often romanticized stalking and that is problematic-Malavika Mohanan
8:15 AM
The actress opens up about a recent experience with a fan that had her thinking about the way consent is portrayed in films
Renuka Vyavahare (BOMBAY TIMES; September 13, 2022)
Actress Malavika Mohanan had a tough time trying to ward off the attention of an incessant admirer recently. The experience was awkward and unpleasant for her. She said, “I have never really experienced something like this before. It’s something we have grown up seeing in movies, albeit in a more romantic way, but this was far from that. This was pure stalking. I met this person first in Chennai, when I had gone for my movie Master (2021). It was the first time I met him, and assuming he’s a fan, I thought he was really sweet. Then we moved to Baku (Azerbaijan). We were uploading stories on Instagram, and I had not shared my hotel location. He reached out to one of my team members, saying he wanted to meet me. At that point, I didn’t think he was the same person I had met in Chennai. He showed up, but I had left the hotel. Then, he came to Chennai after that again.”
She added, “He knew that Tiramisu is my favourite dessert. I had moved houses, so he sent it to my earlier address and that had his name too. It was a bit unnerving because he was geographically everywhere. Of course, there are people who keep meeting you at shoots, but this person was tracking me at different places, and that is not nice. Thoughtful gestures are sweet, but showing up everywhere is weird. It doesn’t feel safe.”
Though the Beyond The Clouds actress hasn’t taken any legal action yet, she has informed her core team, which always travels with her, and has asked them to be vigilant.
Addressing a bigger issue, she reflected, “Stalking has often been romanticized in films for years. This was my first experience with it. I have seen films where if a guy likes a girl, he stalks her and that is problematic. It’s not romantic. Consent hasn’t been given enough importance. It also comes down to feeling unsafe. If a person is doing this, you don’t know what he might do next! It’s worse when you are alone. This is not admiration, it’s just creepy behavior.”
Salman Khan and Disha Patani to shoot for remaining portions of Radhe?
8:50 AM
The actor duo’s upcoming film together has 10-12 days of shooting left
Hiren Kotwani (MUMBAI MIRROR; July 11, 2020)
It has been over 100 days since all film shoots came to a halt in the wake of the Coronavirus pandemic. While TV shows resumed work on June 25 in keeping with the SOPs (Standard Operating Procedures) prescribed by the state government (vide GR dated May 30), the film fraternity is still trying to figure out how to get back into action, even as the number of cases in Maharashtra continues to rise. Salman Khan’s Radhe —Your Most Wanted Bhai was scheduled to release on May 22 on Eid, but work on the Prabhudheva directorial came to a standstill on March 19. Since then, the makers have been brainstorming on how to wrap up the remaining portions as soon as possible. With Disha Patani as female lead, the film also features Megha Akash, Randeep Hooda, Bharath and Jackie Shroff.
A source informs Mirror that at the time of shutdown, an action sequence and a song for the action-thriller, which is produced by Salman with brother Sohail Khan and brother-in-law Atul Agnihotri, remained to be shot. Back then, the plan was to head to Azerbaijan to film the song on Salman and his leading lady Disha Patani. “But with the new travel restrictions, flying abroad for the shoot is ruled out and the team is contemplating shooting it against a green screen now with visual effects making it appear like it’s been shot abroad. The action sequence will also be shot in a city studio. There’s 10-12 days of work left on the film,” shares the source, adding that the first look could be out by August-end.
Meanwhile, the makers are contemplating a viable release plan, too. While theatres are still shut, the fraternity hopes they will open soon. “If the cinemas open by October-November and draw an audience, Radhe could arrive during Diwali. For several years now, Salman’s films have released during festivals,” says the source. The Akshay Kumar cop drama, Sooryavanshi, has already announced a Diwali release while Ranveer Singh’s sports drama, ’83, has booked a date with Christmas.
Ajay Devgn to start filming for Chanakya in Dubai
7:44 AM
Upala KBR (MID-DAY; August 17, 2019)
mid-day has learnt that Ajay Devgn is planning to take Chanakya on floors by October. The Neeraj Pandey-directed venture, which will be a modern adaptation of the teachings of Chanakya, will begin with a long schedule in Dubai.
Says a trade source, "Ajay will begin Chanakya after he completes the first schedule of the Amit Sharma-directed movie that rolls on August 19. Currently, Neeraj is adding the finishing touches to his script. The plan is to begin the shoot in Dubai, followed by a stint in Azerbaijan. Said to be inspired by current affairs, the socio-political drama sees Ajay as a shrewd strategist who is the brain behind a leading political party. The movie will draw parallels between his administrative style and that of the 4th century master tactician."
Devgn, and producers Neeraj Pandey, Shital Bhatia and Reliance Entertainment remained unavailable for comment.
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