Showing posts with label Bobby Singh. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Bobby Singh. Show all posts

Tickets costlier at PVR chains despite GST relief


Movie-goers also miffed with other multiplex chains across the country; exhibitor insists that prices have reduced but are dependent on ‘movie categories’
Himesh Mankad (MUMBAI MIRROR; January 12, 2019)

The reduction in Goods and Services Tax (GST) - 18 per cent from the original 28 per cent for movie tickets costing more than Rs 100, and from 18 per cent to 12 per cent for those up to Rs 100 - was expected to bring a smile on the face of movie-goers. However, Mumbaikars are miffed because the national multiplex chain, PVR, have yet to pass down the tax relief to the audience.

“Till last year, the morning shows at PVR Juhu were priced at Rs 150- Rs 170. On Friday morning, I was shocked that tickets for both Uri: The Surgical Strike and The Accidental Prime Minister were priced as high as Rs 185 and as a mark of protest, I decided not to watch either of the two films,” says trade analyst Amod Mehra, adding that the industry should look into the matter so viewers are not cheated.

He was justified in feeling shortcharged because the Anushka Sharma-Varun Dhawan-starrer, Sui Dhaaga, which had opened on September 29, 2018, had been priced Rs 15 lower than Uri. When this was pointed out to Kamal Gianchandani, CEO, PVR, he explained the reason for the discrepancy in the pricing, saying, “We follow variable ticket pricing in Mumbai. Depending on the curiosity and excitement around a film, we categorise them as ‘blockbuster’, ‘popular’ and ‘ordinary’. Uri is carrying fantastic reports due to its topical subject, so we have placed it in the popular category whereas Sui Dhaaga was in the ordinary category. One shouldn’t compare the rates of the two films.” He argued that it is not “fair to compare two films that released in different periods”. “The best way to see the GST benefit is by comparing the ticket prices of Simmba on December 31 and January 1, as that would show a clearer picture. The benefit has been passed on to the patrons across the country and there is absolutely no ambiguity on this,” he maintained and also shared the reduced ticket price chart of Simmba.

The chart above shows that there is reason for viewers like Mehra to be upset given that tickets for the same film at various multiplexes differ. “Though the tax benefit is huge, there doesn’t seem to be a decline in ticket prices across the spectrum. The distributor association should sit down with the multiplexes and fix the rates for big and small films and this should be done at the earliest,” he states.

Despite the tax slabs coming down from 45 percent in 2014 to 18 per cent in 2019, there has been a surge in the average ticket rates across national multiplex chains. Ticket prices have gone up from Rs 280 to Rs 400 for evening shows at key city multiplexes which, according to industry experts, is one of the reasons for the audience to stay away from theatres.

Bobby Singh, a cine goer in Delhi groused on Twitter, that Cinepolis (West Delhi) is yet to pass on the benefit of GST reduction. “Cinepolis (West Delhi) charged Rs 190 for morning shows before Jan 1, and they are still charging the same for morning shows of Uri,” he complained.



After working with actors who run down other actresses Imran Khan is a welcome relief-Kangana Ranaut


Kangana Ranaut on getting awards in absentia, her hellish early years with ungentlemanly co-stars and the challenge of doing unexpected roles
Roshmilla Bhattacharya (MUMBAI MIRROR; February 23, 2015)

Earlier this month Kangana Ranaut picked up her first Best Actress Award for her Queen act. It was home-delivered by Rekha since she wasn't at the Filmfare soiree. Having announced that she didn't believe in awards, she'd opted to attend a party for Padma awardees Rajat Sharma and Prasoon Joshi where she was clicked with Aamir Khan “enjoying poetry instead of banging my head to music I don't understand“. She admits she wasn't expecting to win in absentia and recalls being promised an award for Krrish 3 if she “showed up“. Kangana who was in school in New York at the time, chose not to show up.

After bagging the black lady will she attend the next few award functions now? “You're awarding a performance not a person so it's disrespectful to make attendance a pre-condition. My Queen cinematographer, Bobby Singh, is no longer in this world, but his work deserves to be acknowledged posthumously,“ she asserts, pointing out that she could be shooting or unwell on that day. “But that shouldn't stop anyone from recognising my performance.“

Queen told the story of Rani, ditched on the eve of her wedding by her fiancé. A trip to Europe turns into a journey of self-discovery and emancipation. The journey continues with Nikhil Advani's Katti Batti. The challenge then was to play a character who is so introverted she couldn't look anyone in the eye. The upcoming film too has thrown her a curveball with its non-linear narrative.

Having finished a course in screenplay writing in New York, she explains that Payal's character doesn't follow the regular graph: “In one scene you see her in her late 20s, in the next she's back in her teens followed by a song in her early 20s. For most films I decide in one narration if I want to do it. In this case I had a narration every other day because every scene is like a mini-film.“

On the surface, the film is a love story between a middle-class boy and a rich, bohemian girl. “But as the story unfolds, Payal throws you off. You wonder if she really loves Maddy or is taking him on a ride. The journey of these two starts off on a lighter note but gets deeper emotionally,“ she says.

Quiz her on co-star Imran Khan and she breaks into raptures over the Mumbai boy, born in the US and brought up in UK. “In many ways he's like me... Naïve, straightforward and sometimes a little unsure during a scene. After working with actors who scream on the sets, can't mind their language and run down other actresses in front of me, making me wonder if they do the same behind my back, gentlemanly Imran is a welcome relief,“ she smiles.

A complete contrast to Reema Kagti's Mr Chaalu. What's happening to the film after Saif Ali Khan's exit? “I'm not the right person to answer that,“ she retorts, adding that she'll use the time to learn editing in New York, the last of the courses that will help her work with her technicians when she makes her directorial debut, instead of shouting incomprehensible orders on the sets.

In 2011, she directed a nine-minute short, The Touch. It revolved around a five-year-old with healing powers and Kangana admits it was a revelation to work with a disciplined crew which respected not just adult actors but also the child, maybe more so. “We had to make allowances for his travel, sleep and mealtimes. Which meant we got him for only three hours in an eight-hour shift. And then if he didn't want to shoot, we had to let him go,“ she reminisces.

In contrast, Bollywood was full of actors reporting late, with scant respect for their craft or co-stars. “I started at 17 and I've gone through hell. That's why people matter more than scripts today. I'd rather work with Aanandji (Aanand L Rai, director of Tanu Weds Manu 2) and Nikhil who pampers me silly. I enjoy the attention. I've told them that if they're directing I have to be in the film,“ she laughs.

And what about Sujoy Ghosh, who's returned to her with the cinematic adaptation of The Devotion of Suspect X after she walked out of his Durga Rani Singh over creative differences? “Yes, Suspect X is one of the films I'm considering. Sujoy and I never had any differences. He texted me asking why I wasn't going for the Filmfare Awards given that it was my year. I told him every year is my year. Queen is just the beginning,“ she beams.

She admits she's had flops after Queen and projects that failed to take off. “Yet, I continue to be get offers. People are actually praying to work with me. And I continue to win awards even in absentia so Sujoy can do a celebratory jig,“ she says. “People like him, Anandji and Nikhil who love and respect me and have made this journey memorable.“

Would you like to see me in Dabangg?-Kangana Ranaut


Vickey Lalwani (MUMBAI MIRROR; July 31, 2014)

How was the experience of being a film student in New York?
Actually, I had finished one part of the course before Queen. As a creative person, I felt that I had reached a point where I needed to do some thing new. Besides, I have wanted to experience campus life in a big institute since childhood. The experience was lovely. I was not escorted by nannies, unlike others (read actors) who take their entourage along even for holidays. The first few days of staying alone in a new coun try were difficult. But slowly I got used to it.

Has life changed after Queen?
I was written off. People had given up on me. I was not getting opportunities, until Krrish 3 happened.

But you had cut off ties with the Roshans after Kites...
Intitally, I had refused Krrish 3. Still the Roshans kept inviting me to their parties. They explained to me that I couldn't hold the grudge for too long because Kites was a learning experience for every one. I am a very emotional person. I get hurt easily and behave like a kid. But I understood they valued me as a person. Slowly, I am changing.

How did the change begin?
Bobby Singh's (Queen cinematographer and friend) death hit me hard. He died on the spot in 10 minutes. I understood our time here is limited and it was time I started behaving like a woman.

Aren't filmmakers going to get intimidated because you want to write dialogues for your films?
Says who? Sirf Queen mein kiya tha. Vikas Bahl (director) told me that he needs a girl's perspective. I am not going to write for every film, just for the heck of it.

And you have jacked up your acting fee...
Yes, I have hiked my fee by 50 per cent.

So, why don't we see you in big films like a Dabangg?
That's rude. Wasn't Krrish 3 a biggie? And pray, would you like to see me in Dabangg? Why should I get into a space where everybody else is? Working with big heroes, big films and doing as many mov ies as possible, is not on my agenda. I don't want to live a superficial life where I am unhappy from within.

Post Queen, it was believed that Revolver Rani would do well...
Yes, mujhe bhi laga tha. But it's okay. I didn't let it affect me. That film got polarised reactions.

You haven't fallen in love after your breakup with Nicholas Lafferty. It's been a long time...
I have someone I am emotionally connected to, but we are not physically involved yet.

You opted out of Sujoy Ghosh's film? You can do it now that it's delayed...
I am starting Katti Batti with Imran Khan very soon. Then Tanu Weds Manu 2, followed by Reema Kagti's film with Saif (Ali Khan). I also have Sai Kabir's Divine Lovers.

Imran got a fair amount of criticism for his last film Gori Tere Pyar Mein...
That is very mean. Was the film riding on his shoulders alone? I was tagged as the biggest failure. How can I be judgmental? I am sure he is going to bounce back.

Are you in touch with Anurag Basu?
Off and on, our relationship has healed a lot. It was my fault too that we drifted apart.
I was living under the notion that he wasn't there for me when some of my films failed. I am ready to be friends with him like before, I don't know if he is. When people treated me badly, he and his wife let me stay with them. Maybe some day, we can go back to our old days.

You lost other friends too in the last few years. Salman for one...
(Cuts in) No, Salman is very much around. In fact, he called me to say that Nikhil Advani has a lovely script for me in Katti Batti. He even introduced me to Nikhil. 

It takes 3 days to get over a break-up - Kangana Ranaut


Sunanya Suresh & Kasmin Fernandes (BOMBAY TIMES; March 5, 2014)

Kangana Ranaut tackled a volley of questions, eloquently and candidly, when she visited the Bombay Times office. From talking about how spending time thinking about clothes is a waste of life to accepting how she doesn’t care about working opposite the three Khans, here are excerpts from her conversation...
 

In Queen, in the song Hungama Ho Gaya,you look stress-free in your dancing. Tell us about that.
Hungama dancing, you know, the promo is a little misleading. It’s not really a dance situation. It’s a certain point in the film where the character goes through a burst of emotions. But she’s not really dancing, she’s going completely crazy on the floor. And she’s not a good dancer, so she looks a bit carefree.
 

What did you discover about yourself when you did Queen, since it is about a woman’s journey to discover herself? 
I’d say this girl is very different from me. Queen is someone who was very hard to identify with, since she has low self-esteem and is not strong at all. It takes me three days to get over a breakup. People find it difficult, but I am a very strong person. I’ve been on my own without my parents since the age of 15. I’ve literally lived on my own as a kid. Queen, on the contrary, has self-acceptance issues. What I learnt from my character is to be sensitive to these people. Like I was very harsh earlier and would go, ‘Why would you make someone responsible for your own happiness?’ I thought of them as losers. Being this person has changed my perspective.
 

Do you wear your heart on your sleeve in relationships? 
No. I think at some point in my life, I was naïve and I learnt it the hard way, but I did finally realise that you cannot let others treat you badly. And torture doesn’t always have to be physical, it can come in any form. It can come even in the sweetest package. But torture is torture and one has to recognise it and has to be able to say no.
 

Do you think de-glam can be sexy?
I don’t think de-glam is the word for Queen. Our efforts were not to go deglam. In clichèd Hindi films, a behenji sits at home and wonders, ‘Why cannot I go out?’ It’s not the way we are, right? But in reality, they think they’re cool and are doing much better than those who are doing unnecessary masti and wearing short skirts and all of that. And that’s what Queen is. She thinks what she is doing is right and she is saving herself for this man who will commit to her. When all of that crashes, she still remains herself. She thinks she is very, very cool.
 

What’s the coolest factor about you? 
I don’t think I’m cool. My friends think I’m 80 years old. They think I don’t talk my age. I don’t behave my age, I only have gyaan to give. My friends run away from me when they know I have to sit and talk. I’m apparently this very boring person. I cannot even pretend to be someone else. I’m just myself.
 

How do you think a woman can be the ‘queen’ of her life?
I’m totally the queen of my life. I’m not trying to be a feminist, but women by nature are giving, sensitive, gentle and all of that. But if you see Queen, it gives a beautiful message about being yourself.
 

You’ve stayed away from candyfloss cinema. Do you see yourself playing the sacrificing heroine anytime?
I think in the beginning of my career, I really hoped that I’d get films like that with big heroes and I’d do songs where my hair flies. But it didn’t happen for the longest time. Then, I got Queen and other films. And now, I think it’s too late. I get so much importance on the set. Who’d want to go back? I wouldn’t want to be the second most important person on the set.
 

How has your journey been from an outsider to being considered a film and fashion icon...
Honestly, in the beginning, more than others, I was being harsh on myself. I was too young. I couldn’t handle many things. It has been a bit of a disappointment in every way. I didn’t land the kind of roles I thought I would after Gangster. Though I did give good films in between, until Queen, I never really thought I had gone beyond Gangster. At the age of 17, I’d done a film that I could have possibly done at the age of 30. There was no growth as such and as a creative person, I felt a bit dissatisfied. I think with time, it changed. Now I am in a much better place. With Queen, I hope I get better opportunities. It took me seven years to get a Queen, but I won’t give another seven years of my life just sitting around and waiting for an opportunity like that. I would do better things. I would probably go into writing or into cooking, maybe.
 

Which has been your favourite among the characters you’ve played?
Apart from Queen, another is Revolver Rani. It’s a very nice character.
 

You studied screenplay writing at the New York Film Academy and made a short film. Do you see yourself directing or writing at some point? 
I love to be prepared for challenges in life. If something comes along, I would love to write and direct. Why not? Versus just doing things that I am not happy with, or for money; I am over that phase now.
 

You say you are not satisfied and want to do something better. Do you have something in mind?  
No, I just hope I get good opportunities. I have Tanu Weds Manu 2. They have a good role for me. Also, when someone gives important years of his or her life to something — like Queen has taken two years of my life, when I look back I feel good. But I wouldn’t want to give my years to things that aren’t good. Because at some point, we know we all have limited time. We should not waste that time, right? My friend Bobby (Singh, cinematographer) died when he ate a crab. I was in depression for six months. His son was surfing and he was playing on the beach. He ate a crab and died in 10 minutes! So, life is like an illusion. He shot 98% of Queen and you never get your friend back when he’s gone for just four days. I am not a fool to think I am any different from Bobby or any of us are, we aren’t. And what happened to Bobby is nothing bad, it’s something so natural. Everyone is going to die. To cut a long story short, I am trying to say that I understand we have limitations. Even if you don’t die, we don’t want to make movies all our lives, right? We want to retire at least. Let’s settle it at that. This is what I think success would be to me: if I get to give my time to things that I want to do and they are significant to me, I would consider myself successful.
 

You have done many unconventional lead roles. Was it because of your choices or because they were offered to you?
The directors offered them to me. It’s not that I chose to be in Queen. Vikas somewhere was convinced. When I read the script, I said to him, ‘I can’t do this, I don’t know this girl’. I was a bit confused. If it wasn’t for Vikas’s conviction, I would never have really wanted to be in a film like that. A more obvious thing for me, as an actor, was to do a Tomb Raider sort of role, which I did get to do in Krrish 3. As a girl, you want to do kickass films, right? You wouldn’t want to be a loser; like Queen is such a loser! You want to save the world and do things like that.
 

You are distancing yourself in a way from the film industry. Is there something about it you don’t like? 
I don’t like many things about it. First of all, it’s so disorganised. Vikas is one of these contemporary makers, a bit more methodical, but others are so disorganised. I remember when from the Krrish 3 set, I used to go to the Queen set, I’d be so much under stress. Vikas used to freak out. He’d say, ‘You don’t even walk like the same person, your walk has changed and my continuity won’t match’. I’d be like, ‘I can’t shoot’. It used to take me months to get into Queen’s character. He’d say, ‘Okay fine, then we won’t shoot today. Tell me when you’re ready’. How many people are ready to do that? They don’t respect you. They don’t respect your craft. You give interviews and they tell you to dance or sing a song. How stupid is that? Is this what actors are reduced to? Are we like monkeys? I think this is a bit disrespectful. In this industry, everyone works like that. If you don’t want to work on Sundays, other girls would. And they’re like, you’re very different. You write in your contracts that you want one day free in a week. We can’t function like that. But, you’re like, I have upper lips to do!
 

Did that cost you a couple of roles? 
Not yet. When people don’t want to give me a day free, I don’t say I want one. You do feel bad about it but everyone works like that. Sometimes I really have to stand up for my staff. It’s one-and-a-half shifts — they are going on for 16 hours. This whole raw way of working, when people were gareeb and all that, I would understand. But now that we are doing so well... As an industry, we are better than many in the world. So, we should at least have some organised system, some sort of infrastructure. Not behave like we know nothing.
 

What is it that you have that your contemporaries don’t?
I am a bit detached. I don’t want to do the same stuff as other actresses. Everyone I guess wants to work with the Khans. I am sort of over that phase. We definitely aren’t hoping to get the same projects.
 

Do you miss being in a relationship? 
Not at all. I don’t think I am a relationship person. It’s so hard to maintain a relationship. When you are in a relationship, your views do change. You really love someone and you can’t imagine talking like this. But when you are not in a relationship, you do like your freedom. You love the fact that you’re on your own and you can be in a relationship with literally anyone you’d like. But when you’re in a relationship, you have to cheat to do that.
 

You didn’t get enough due for some of your performances?
Jo bhi I have done, I got due for that. I just think that many films — I won’t name them because I don’t want to disrespect people — bombed because of wrong casting. I think if I were given the opportunity, they would not have bombed. We all feel why can’t I get that opportunity. We do feel that about contemporaries; they are all useless, they don’t deserve what they get. So, I do feel that sometimes, why did this person get this opportunity, why can’t I? I can do better, maybe.
 

Any roles you wanted to play?
This is a different example I am giving, but I am giving you this one to tell you the kind of roles I would love to do. Sonakshi (Sinha) in Lootera. This girl has actually done so much better than anyone else could have done. She was so beautiful in that film. She’s so talented, she should get more roles like that. I would love to do a period film like that. In fact, I am hoping two things come my way — a good biopic about not maybe an iconic woman, but a real person and a period drama; that will be great. I’ll be pretty much done.
 

How was your experience at London Fashion Week? 
It was very good. It was the first time that I went to an international fashion week. Also, I was sitting opposite Bradley Cooper, the American Hustle star.
 

Did you meet him?
I didn’t. He was there for his girlfriend. Apparently, he’s dating Suki Waterhouse, who is a model. She was walking in the show. No one was expecting him, it was very surprising.