Showing posts with label Dance Basanti. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Dance Basanti. Show all posts
Sachin-Jigar & I would always bond over food-Anushka Manchanda
7:46 AM
Anushka Manchanda talks about how she channelled the Punjabi-meets-rock attitude in the club-friendly Dance Basanti
Debarati Sen (BOMBAY TIMES; January 16, 2015)
How did Dance Basanti happen?
I
have a (working) relationship with (composers) Jigar and Sachin since
the time they started working for films. In fact, I used to meet them at
Pritam's studio. That's where I first met Jigar. He used to work with
Pritam earlier. They first called me for Piya Kesariyo (Hum Tum Aur
Shabana). They are amazing with their work and are fun people. We ended
up hanging out and would always bond over food. They called me for the
English rap parts of Dance Basanti (Ungli) and then they were like, 'Kya
khayegi? Chal yeh khate, woh khate hain...' And
then, I ask, 'Gana kya hai?' Vishal (Dadlani) had already sung his bit.
He had done a lot of 'Ba ba Basanti...' and a lot of cuts like that.
Jigar, Sachin and I bounced off our ideas. I was also looking at doing
something interesting with the rhythm... tadadada... which is not
exactly on count. I wrote the rap section. Of course, Amitabh
Bhattacharya has written the song, but the English part was by me.
What was it like to sing a duet with Vishal Dadlani?
Duets these days are not really like that. The singers are never really in the studio together 90% of the time. He had done his part and I did mine later. I think he is really cool. I have always admired and respected him because he is someone who speaks his mind. He has a 'no bullsh*t' attitude. You don't have many people like that. I used to look up to Vishal and think, 'What a killer guy - he is from a rock band, he is doing indie music and he is doing Bollywood, and all really well.
What was brief given to you by Sachin-Jigar?
They told me that she (Shraddha Kapoor) was doing something really different for the first time. The guy is singing a song for a hot girl. The girl has the 'I know I am cool' and 'I know I am all that' kind of attitude. It is a cool space for a girl to be in. It was an easy brief. I pitched my voice and sung it almost from the back of my throat, really light. Originally, my voice is quite heavy, when I sing from my stomach. But we wanted to make it really girly and feminine and sexy. So, even the singing was like that. I enjoyed it. The thing is that if you have a relationship with people, working with them is smooth.
You've been around in playback singing for over a decade now. How has the journey been?
Yes, in 2004, I did the first Tamil playback and two years later, my first Hindi playback.I used to get a lot of work down South but then got busy. When I started singing, it was interesting because there weren't too many people doing what I was doing. People used to ask, 'Kya aap westernised gaa sakte hain?' The accent actually came naturally to me and it's one of the reasons I got a lot of work at that time, because there weren't too many people in the scene.
Over the years, I have had the opportunity to work with everyone. Now, I feel like I want more. These days, I often have this conversation with my mom... how things have changed so much. Now, there are a hundred new singers and they all are very good. They are driven. They are new and they want it and they will work hard for it.
Do you prefer recording in the studio or performing live?
I just love to sing on stage, I love to perform but when it comes to recording in a studio, I am still nervous. Even now. Recently, Salim (Merchant) called me to do something, and I was nervous. On stage, I am never nervous. I feel like I am home and this is where I belong. I don't have to think about anything. Just like on stage where I know my strengths as a singer, at a recording studio, I know my drawbacks. Since I am not classically trained, it is harder for me to do particular modulations. Kuch harkat karni hoti hai gaano mein and it does not come naturally. When Salim sang a certain way, I could copy him and do it but on my own, it wouldn't come.
What was it like to sing a duet with Vishal Dadlani?
Duets these days are not really like that. The singers are never really in the studio together 90% of the time. He had done his part and I did mine later. I think he is really cool. I have always admired and respected him because he is someone who speaks his mind. He has a 'no bullsh*t' attitude. You don't have many people like that. I used to look up to Vishal and think, 'What a killer guy - he is from a rock band, he is doing indie music and he is doing Bollywood, and all really well.
What was brief given to you by Sachin-Jigar?
They told me that she (Shraddha Kapoor) was doing something really different for the first time. The guy is singing a song for a hot girl. The girl has the 'I know I am cool' and 'I know I am all that' kind of attitude. It is a cool space for a girl to be in. It was an easy brief. I pitched my voice and sung it almost from the back of my throat, really light. Originally, my voice is quite heavy, when I sing from my stomach. But we wanted to make it really girly and feminine and sexy. So, even the singing was like that. I enjoyed it. The thing is that if you have a relationship with people, working with them is smooth.
You've been around in playback singing for over a decade now. How has the journey been?
Yes, in 2004, I did the first Tamil playback and two years later, my first Hindi playback.I used to get a lot of work down South but then got busy. When I started singing, it was interesting because there weren't too many people doing what I was doing. People used to ask, 'Kya aap westernised gaa sakte hain?' The accent actually came naturally to me and it's one of the reasons I got a lot of work at that time, because there weren't too many people in the scene.
Over the years, I have had the opportunity to work with everyone. Now, I feel like I want more. These days, I often have this conversation with my mom... how things have changed so much. Now, there are a hundred new singers and they all are very good. They are driven. They are new and they want it and they will work hard for it.
Do you prefer recording in the studio or performing live?
I just love to sing on stage, I love to perform but when it comes to recording in a studio, I am still nervous. Even now. Recently, Salim (Merchant) called me to do something, and I was nervous. On stage, I am never nervous. I feel like I am home and this is where I belong. I don't have to think about anything. Just like on stage where I know my strengths as a singer, at a recording studio, I know my drawbacks. Since I am not classically trained, it is harder for me to do particular modulations. Kuch harkat karni hoti hai gaano mein and it does not come naturally. When Salim sang a certain way, I could copy him and do it but on my own, it wouldn't come.
Everybody in Bollywood does ungli-Emraan Hashmi
8:04 AM
Emraan Hashmi talks about his upcoming release, equation with Bhatts and more..
Namrata Thakker (DNA; November 27, 2014)
Emraan Hashmi has come a long way in Bollywood. He may not have started with a big production house or big budget films, but today he has bagged a Karan Johar production Ungli. He has a loyal fan following, which is mostly massy and largely men. With Ungli up for release, After Hrs caught up with the actor for a tete-a-tete...
Tell us about the item song Dance Basanti with Shraddha Kapoor?
It was fun. I think most of the songs in the film are such that they have recall value. Be it Dance Basanti or Pakeezah. As for working with Shraddha, it was really good. She is a fantastic actress and a very good dancer. And yeah, the makers even managed to convince me to dance.
You are teaming up with Kangana Ranaut after a long time. Has your equation changed?
You know, Kangana made her acting debut with me in Gangster which I think was around eight years ago. Since then she has come a long way and is an amazing actress. In this film, her role is more sporty and the story is about five friends fighting the system. So the love story is a sub plot. Gangster was more of love story. Raaz had horror and a love story as a part of it. So I think Kangana and I have done our best to enhance whatever was expected from us. As far as the chemistry goes, we have achieved quite a bit but then you can’t do more than what is on paper.
There are reports that your co-star Randeep Hooda is not promoting the film as much as others? Is there a problem?
That you’ll have to ask Randeep. As an actor, I allot certain amount of time to act, perform and promote my films. And I don’t look behind my shoulder and see what the other is doing. Every actor has a certain way of working. I share a fantastic relationship with Randeep otherwise. There is no bad blood. We have done films earlier as well and even Kangana has worked with him in a few films.
The film is being sold on your name. You have even shot a promotional video. Do you feel the pressure is more on you?
I don’t think about all these things. If you succumb to pressure, then you won’t enjoy your work. It will take away the fun element from your work. I have worked in the film and given my best shot so I am happy to lend my name.
Will you ever do a typical bollywood masala film to gain that Rs 100 crore or Rs 200 crore box-office status?
I just can’t. I would rather do a film which I believe in than do a trashy film which will make a lot of money at the box office. That’s how it is for me.
Everybody wants to see you and Alia Bhatt together onscreen. When will that happen?
She will have to play my sister in the film otherwise it will be twisted. And the thing is so far in none of my films I have had a sister. That’s the rule. Emraan Hashmi can’t have a sister in a film (laughs). So far, nobody has offered us a script. We’ll do a film if it justifies our coming together.
What is your equation with the Bhatts because every now and then negative stories keep floating?
The kind of relationship we share is hard to understand (laughs). And, I don’t mind the negative
stories either!
According to you, who is the one person in Bollywood who has a habit of doing ungli?
Everybody in Bollywood does ungli (grins). That’s how things work!
Has anyone ever done ungli to you from the film industry?
No.
How do you tackle a person who does ungli?
Either you show them your hand or get back by doing ungli… (smiles).
Dance Basanti is a chhota teaser of dancing before ABCD 2-Shraddha Kapoor
8:06 AM
Nayandeep Rakshit (DNA; October 31, 2014)
Shraddha Kapoor is visibly excited. She hasn’t done a
dance film before. She says her appearance in Ungli’s just released item
song Dance Basanti is a mere lull before the ‘storm’ coming next
February: ABCD 2.
She’s currently on a streak of back-to-back hits. Ask her if there’s any pressure for her upcoming films? She says, “I don’t do films thinking it could become a hit. If it has a good script, a good director and I get to surprise myself, I do it.”
The actress says ABCD 2 is a departure from her previous films, but maintains that all her roles have been different from each other. She lists her reasons for doing the film: “I wanted to do a dance film for the longest time and the films I have been part of so far, didn’t have a lot of dancing.” It has the same flavour as the first film and dance is still the main angle. The original cast is still in the sequel, she shares, adding, “Varun and I are the only additions”.
Ask her about the kind of films she’d want to be part of now and she promptly replies that she has a long list of directors she’d like to work with and that she would also love to do an action film now. “But it should not be a useless role. It should be a proper role where I get to do a lot of stunts and stuff!” she shares.
She has finally done an item number in Ungli. She takes umbrage to calling it that, or even a dance number, but says she doesn’t mind what people want to call it. For her, “it was a good feeling to be portrayed in a different way. I was waiting to do something different on these lines for a long time and finally, I got to do it! When I heard the song, I fell in love with it. I did the song just because I wanted to dance! Dance Basanti is
a chhota teaser of dancing before ABCD 2.”
Shraddha admits that Varun helped her get the role and that at his insistence she met the director Remo D’Souza and “it just happened”. Was training for the role difficult? “More than difficult, it has been liberating. I actually feel connected with myself when I am dancing”, she insists.
“Varun and I are just two faces in the film. The stars of the sequel are still the same who were in the original. But by the end of the film, we’ll be able to convince you that we’re part of that group and are also dancers. The onus is on us to match up to them, be half as good as them and really look like a team,” she says confidently, adding, “ABCD 2 has new script with new set up and new characters as well. As for me, I play Vinni, a hair stylist who loves to dance.”
Ask her who she thinks the best dancers in the industry are and pat comes the reply: “Hrithik, Shahid and Varun are amazing. I am a crazy Hrithik fan. Priyanka Chopra is a fantastic dancer, Katrina Kaif is great at it as well. I feel even Tiger Shroff and Ranveer Singh are very good dancers. Alia and Parineeti have not done proper dances so far, but I think both of them are good dancers.”
What’s next? “As of now, I am only doing ABCD 2. There is nothing confirmed after that.”
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