Showing posts with label Binoy Gandhi. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Binoy Gandhi. Show all posts
J P Dutta, Bindiya shares their excitement as daughter Nidhi Dutta welcomes baby girl Sitara
8:52 AM
(L-R) JP Dutta and wife Bindiya; (right) Nidhi Dutta
Upala KBR (MID-DAY; August 2, 2025)
July has been a memorable month for filmmaker J P Dutta and his wife Bindiya. Their daughter Nidhi Dutta, producer of the upcoming Border 2, welcomed her baby, Sitara, on July 7. Naturally, then, the first-time grandparents’ joy knows no bounds. “Our life feels complete. All I can say is that Sitara is our greatest blessing,” says the veteran filmmaker.
Bindiya reveals that the name Sitara was chosen by Nidhi and Binoy Gandhi, director and her husband. “When they revealed the name to J P and me, we had big grins on our faces because it was perfect. She is our star,” says the former actor.
Over the past few months, Nidhi has been juggling the shoot of Border 2 and her pregnancy. For Dutta, seeing his daughter mount an ambitious war drama while embracing motherhood was a proud moment. “Watching how gracefully she balanced the two most important things in her life made me realise not only my daughter’s strength, but also what women are capable of.”
Bindiya, however, admits that she used to feel anxious. “Nidhi spent the fourth and fifth month of her pregnancy in Jhansi. In her eighth month, they were shooting in Dehradun. She stopped shooting just a week before her delivery. Now, she is back at work!”
Border 2 producer Nidhi Dutta expecting her first child with husband Binoy Gandhi
10:58 AM
Border 2 producer and writer Nidhi Dutta is expecting her first child with husband Binoy Gandhi; baby due in July
Upala KBR (MID-DAY; March 7, 2025)
Border 2 has been Nidhi Dutta’s baby as she is not only producing the Sunny Deol, Varun Dhawan, Diljit Dosanjh and Ahan Shetty-starrer, but has also written it. As she shapes up her passion project based on the 1971 India-Pakistan war, she has another reason to celebrate. The producer is expecting her first child with husband Binoy Gandhi, who recently directed Ghudchadi (2024).
Sources tell us that she shared the good news with her cast and crew right when director Anurag Singh took Border 2 on floors in January.
A source from the unit reveals, “She announced her pregnancy on the set, and the unit couldn’t be happier. Her parents J P Dutta and Bindiya were over the moon! Interestingly, Bindiya was expecting their second child, Siddhi, during the making of Border [1997]. Nidhi wants to be a hands-on producer. Being a woman producer on a war film isn’t easy, but having such examples will encourage more women. She is balancing the film and her pregnancy beautifully. The baby is due in July; by then, the movie’s post-production will begin.”
When mid-day reached out to filmmaker J P Dutta, he confirmed the news, saying, “Yes, it’s true. We need everyone’s blessings as Nidhi and Binoy begin this new chapter in their lives. To see my daughter working on the film tirelessly while expecting her bundle of joy makes me so proud.”
My eyes welled up when my daughter told me the story of Border 2-J P Dutta
10:24 AM
Handing over Border 2 to the next generation, JP Dutta expresses confidence in daughter Nidhi Dutta’s writing and production
Upala KBR (MID-DAY; June 16, 2024)
Sunny Deol and Suniel Shetty’s war cries ignited the fire of patriotism with Border (1997). Almost 27 years later, the soldiers are back on the battle field with a new war story titled Border 2. While filmmaker J P Dutta helmed the 1997 film, for the sequel, he has handed the baton over to daughter Nidhi Dutta, who has written and produced the film.
“My daughter is my strength. I’m giving the responsibility of the franchise to the strongest part of me. She has written the film, so it’s her baby. I’ve never directed a film I haven’t written. My eyes welled up when she told me the story of Border 2,” says J P, adding that he will be involved in the creative process of the film because the armed forces have placed their trust in him to tell their stories.
“I will make sure that the feeling of patriotism and the heroes it’s based on are given justice,” he added, assuring that Nidhi is “conscious of her responsibility towards the armed forces. She has balanced the essence of India with all the valour of the troops.”
Directed by Anurag Singh, the film showcases a different chapter of the 1971 Indo-Pakistan war. “Border was based on the Battle of Longewala, but the 1971 war has many real-life stories of our soldiers in the armed forces that I have heard. We need to tell the stories of these brave hearts to the nation. I have met their families and loved ones, and felt their bravery and pain before I wrote the story,” says Nidhi. The film will roll out by the end of 2024 and will be shot at real-life locations across India.
Hoping to make her father proud by walking in his footsteps, Nidhi shares that Border is an emotion that she has carried with her since the age of seven. “It feels surreal to me that today I am producing Border 2 with my father. I am excited, nervous, and happy that I am part of it,” says Nidhi, who is co-producing the film with husband Binoy Gandhi, also starring Deol and Shetty.
“Ours has always been a family-run business. Dadaji [O P Dutta] wrote the dialogues, Papa would direct, and Mom [Bindiya Goswami] would handle the production. In Border 2, it’s dad, Binoy, and me now.”
Border filmmaker J P Dutta to make his web series debut with a war drama
8:56 AM
Priyanka Sharma (MID-DAY; April 23, 2024)
One would think that the big screen is the perfect medium for J P Dutta and his ambitious war dramas. But at a time when most are jumping on the OTT bandwagon, it looks like the veteran filmmaker too is ready to adapt to the times. mid-day has learnt that the director— known for Border (1997), Refugee (2000), and LOC: Kargil (2003)—is set to foray into digital entertainment with a war drama.
“The series’ script has been locked. It will be a big-scale patriotic drama based on a real war. Disney+ Hotstar is keen to begin the shooting as soon as possible,” says a source close to the development. The offering will be produced by his daughter, Nidhi Dutta, under their banner.
It turns out Nidhi’s director-husband Binoy Gandhi was keen to direct the show. But since he is busy with Sanjay Dutt and Raveena Tandon-starrer Ghudchadi, the veteran filmmaker decided to take things ahead. The source adds, “It’s an ambitious project for the streamer, and the top brass didn’t want to wait too long to kick-start it.” The makers are expected to begin casting soon.
This makes it the Duttas’ second project lined up this year alongside Border 2. Last year, it was reported that the sequel to the 1997 blockbuster would roll in 2024 with Sunny Deol and Ayushmann Khurrana in the lead. Border 2 has been designed to explore the backdrop of the 1971 India-Pakistan war, with personal stories of the war heroes.
Aruna Irani returns to acting after two years; signs Sanjay Dutt-Raveena Tandon starrer Ghudchadhi
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Having stayed away from shoots during the pandemic, Aruna Irani teams up with Dutt and Raveena after 30 years for Ghudchadhi
Upala KBR (MID-DAY; February 12, 2022)
Last month, mid-day had reported that Sanjay Dutt and Raveena Tandon — after collaborating on KGF: Chapter 2 — were set to team up for a comedy (Baba-Raveena to bring on the laughs, Jan 19). There has been an interesting addition to the cast since. Senior actor Aruna Irani, who had last worked with Dutt on Haseena Maan Jaayegi (1999), has been roped in for the family comedy, titled Ghudchadhi. Binoy Gandhi’s directorial venture will mark a happy reunion of sorts for the three actors who had worked together on Jeena Marna Tere Sang, three decades ago.
Irani is glad to retrace her steps to a Bollywood movie set after 12 years. “We’ll start shooting in Jaipur from February 17. I played Sanju’s mother Kathy D’Souza in his debut movie, Rocky [1981], and then Sakina who looks after his baby in Jai Vikraanta [1995]. It feels great to get together with Sanju again. When Binoy approached me with the bound script, I loved the story,” says the senior actor.
In the comedy, she plays mother to Dutt’s character, while Parth Samthaan essays the role of her grandson. “My role is colourful, and sees me doing everything from comedy to drama. She is a strong woman who gets angry when she doesn’t get what she wants. She is deeply attached to her son who is devoted to her.”
While she stayed away from movies since 2010, Irani was a regular in television shows, playing key roles in Dekha Ek Khwab and Parichay — Nayee Zindagi Kay Sapno Ka, among others. However, the actor stopped taking up new projects after the Coronavirus pandemic hit. “I stopped working after Yeh Un Dinon Ki Baat Hai got over in mid-2019. It feels good to be back at work after over two years.”
Ranbir Kapoor in Binoy Gandhi's next, it will be 'more intense than Badlapur'
8:03 AM
Sanyukta Iyer (MUMBAI MIRROR; October 29, 2015)
While his directorial debut Jee Bhar Ke Jee Le is on the floors, Binoy Gandhi has already rustled up two new scripts - a revenge drama featuring Neil Nitin Mukesh and a script written especially for his childhood friend Ranbir Kapoor.
"Ranbir loved the story but
suggested that it needed a few changes. I am working on it. We should
roll once all the details are finalised. Directing big actors is a tough
task; the script has to match Ranbir's rhythm," Binoy explains. His Neil Nitin Mukesh-starrer is a revenge drama, which he claims will be harsher and far more intense than Varun Dhawan's Badlapur. "Despite planning to venture into production with some films already in the pipeline, he immediately agreed to come on board," Binoy tells Mirror, adding that talks have been on with Rock On 2 star Prachi Desai to play the female lead, and the actress is keen to sign on the dotted line.
JP Dutta, whose daughter Nidhi makes her acting debut with Jee Bhar Ke Jee Le, had revealed to Mirror (March 22), how the project came about. "Nidhi is a third-generation Dutta to become a part of the film industry. She was assisting me on Umrao Jaan when I realised that she was keener on facing the camera. I heard her talking to Binoy, who was assisting Kunal Kohli on Fanaa at the time, and I learnt that she was looking at starting out with a light romance. Since I haven't made any rom-coms, I decided that Binoy, who was ready with an original script, should make this film," Dutta, who has been a mentor to Binoy throughout his debut, had said.
Armed with a filmmaking degree from Australia and years of experience as an assistant director, Binoy confesses that he is nervous about his film but has eagerly awaited this moment. "This film is a breakthrough for me," he says, adding that it is essentially a 'bromance' shot in the scenic locations of Romania and Hampi, and is inspired by his interactions with friends in real life.
"When I was assisting Kunal Kohli on Teri Meri Kahaani, the film's leads Shahid (Kapoor) and Priyanka (Chopra) told me that I had the potential to make it big in the industry," Binoy recalls, talking about his journey to his directorial debut.
At the age of 2 I was dancing to Chaiyya Chaiyya in a diaper-J P Dutta's daughter Nidhi
7:50 AM
Roshmilla Bhattacharya (MUMBAI MIRROR; October 10, 2014)
She took her papa, JP Dutta, by surprise when she informed him over lunch that after serving as his seventh assistant during the Umrao Jaan, she wanted to act. Nidhi however insists that she had been dreaming of facing the camera, like her mother Bindiya Goswami Dutta, for years.
"At the age of two I was dancing to Chaiyya Chaiyya in a diaper," she quips, settling down for her first interview ever. "I've been a drama queen all my life, the lakta jhatkas come easy."
Nidhi's debut film Jee Bhar Ke Jee Le is being produced by her father under a new youth-centric banner, JP Gene, but the director is Binoy Gandhi. "Papa took the muhurat shot which had me speaking a line from his Refugee. And he was on the sets everyday. Once, during an awkward romantic moment in front of the camera, he nudged me aside and stepped in as my proxy. Ajit ((Nafisa Ali's son Ajit Sodhi who is the film's leading man) was told to caress my cheek, the poor guy just froze," she chuckles.
After her dadaji (scriptwriter OP Dutta) passed away, Nidhi returned from Paris after wrapping up a course in filmmaking, to help her father through the tough time. That's when she convinced him to give other directors a chance to make films for him and through a common friend connected with Binoy.
"One day I was talking about the film to Ajit who I've known since we were kids, and he showed interest in it. He was signed by dad for Border 2 and when that got stalled, it was decided that he'd be launched with this film," reveals Nidhi, who entered the picture by offering to speak the girl's lines during a script reading session. "I play a travel blogger in this film about friendship and love which I can take my girlfriends to."
Before she faced the camera, she had to lose 20 kilos and was doing crunches in the gym even after she broke her leg, six days before the film started. It is a road trip through Mumbai, Goa, Hampi and Romania. Nidhi who's just returned from Romania, says it was a fairy tale shoot even though the second schedule kicked off with her passing out on the sets. "I had high fever," she explains.
The film is gearing up for a 2015 release and Nidhi is prepared for the test ahead. "Papa always tells me to do what I love and this is something I love. In the 100 years of cinema, dadaji, Dad and Mom together have been around for 62 years. It's great to take the legacy forward," she asserts, "I'm open to films from other banners too."
And what about gossip? "I'm a gossip girl, I've kept papa amused with what's happening outside the office. And I know if I really go out for a movie with someone I like, he'll sit me down for a talk," she laughs. "But till then love is only for the movies."
She’s the girl you wanna take to mom-J P Dutta on daughter Nidhi
7:43 AM
Roshmilla Bhattacharya (MUMBAI MIRROR; March 22, 2014)
J P
Dutta has been working on two projects—Border 2 and Border 3 based on
the Indo-China 1962 war and the Indo-Pak 1971 war respectively. But due
to reasons he refuses to divulge, the filmmaker has put his war epics on
hold to focus on a medium-budget film that he hopes to roll with by the
end of May. This story about friendship and love will launch his
daughter Nidhi as an actress opposite Nafisa Ali’s son, Ajit Sodhi.
Speaking
to Mirror Dutta says, “Nidhi is the third generation of Duttas to
become a part of the film industry. She had assisted me during Umrao
Jaan and I then realised that she was keener on facing the camera than
staying behind it. But after that I went to Border 2 and being a war
film, there wasn’t anything substantial for a girl.”Then, one day, he heard her speaking to Binoy Gandhi, who has assisted Kunal Kohli in two films, and understood that his daughter was interested in starting out with a light-hearted romance.
“Since I haven’t made any romcoms I decided that Binoy who was ready with an original script, should make his directorial debut with this as-yet-untitled film,” says Dutta, who had worked with Raj Kapoor, a filmmaker who never interfered when another director was at the helm and promises to give Binoy his creative space.
The film will be shot partly abroad and Dutta is toying with locations like Mauritius and Bangkok. And in India he is looking at archaeological sites down South and in Rajasthan. “I’ve visited some of these places but never shot there.They would be a perfect setting for the characters,” he reasons.
So, what sets his actors apart from the crowd of newcomers? Ajit, he says, is a “good-looking, hard-working boy” he had planned to launch in Border 2. “Since he was committed to the company, we cast him opposite Nidhi.”
Prod him on his daughter and he smiles with paternal pride, “During a recent photosession with Nidhi, her resemblance with Bindiya (wife Bindya Goswami) struck me. She has the same ende-aring quality, a girl you would want to take home to your mother.”
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