Showing posts with label Deewana Mastana. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Deewana Mastana. Show all posts
Satish Kaushik arranged for my wife to fly to Bhopal and organised a surprise birthday party for her-Rumy Jafry
9:23 AM
Bollywood scriptwriter and filmmaker Rumy Jafry recalls how he and Kaushik became close friends
As told to Hiren Kotwani (MID-DAY; March 10, 2023)
I was quite young then and wanted to see a film shoot. A common friend introduced me to Satish ji, through whom I got to visit the Versova set of Mr India. We became close friends after working together.
We collaborated on all his hit characters, like Mutthu Swamy (Saajan Chale Sasural) and Pappu Pager (Deewana Mastana). Even if you gave him two scenes, he would make them memorable. He would inspire you to do better work.
Over the years of working together on so many films, we became a family. Once, we were shooting in Bhopal, and I couldn’t rush back to Mumbai for my wife’s birthday. So, Satish ji arranged for her to fly to Bhopal and organised a surprise party for her. He also sang her a beautiful song.
Satish ji was such a lajawab person. He is one of those few people whose name brings a smile to the face. When you talk about him, you remember him fondly with a smile because he was such a positive person.
The world has lost its Calendar: Govinda remembers Satish Kaushik
8:27 AM
Satish Kaushik came to Bombay in August 1979 to become an actor. Pic/Twitter
Govinda, who starred with Kaushik in seven films, remembers him as the actor who matched Big B and him, punchline for punchline, in comedy
As told to Upala KBR (MID-DAY; March 10, 2023)
We did seven films together, and it’s astounding that each character he played is remembered even today. From my friend Happy bhaiyya in Pardesi Babu (1998) to the contract killer Pappu Pager in Deewana Mastana (1997), and tabla player Mutthuswamy in Saajan Chale Sasural (1996) — whatever roles he played, he displayed great comic timing.
The last movie we did together, Bade Miyan Chote Miyan (1998), had my favourite Satish Kaushik character. He played Sharafat Ali, a famous dealer in Chor Bazaar. Nobody can compete with Mr [Amitabh] Bachchan when it comes to acting. But, in Bade Miyan, Satish ji’s comic timing with Bachchan ji and me was so on point, it almost seemed as if he was toying with us. His performance [and the way he wrote] the role was unparalleled.
Besides being a powerful actor, he was a very good writer, and wrote all his roles. He never interfered in other actors’ parts. I remember during the shoot of Deewana Mastana (1997), he had written his own scenes and dialogues for Pappu Pager [his character], even before I had arrived on the set. When I joined them on the set, I said, ‘This will not do, I will also add my lines [to my character].’ He was surprised on seeing the dialogues I wrote.
Satish ji respected that I wasn’t just an ordinary actor, that I could go beyond acting to [elevate the scene with my dialogues]. There are very few actors like him, who have the power to make each role unforgettable.
Satish ji was also a director, and he wanted to focus more on direction in recent times. He had come to meet me, and asked what kind of [roles] I would like to play in his directorial ventures. Over the last few years, we lost touch, but our connection — that was born from the warmth and camaraderie that we shared on and off the sets — remained. I was heartbroken to hear about his passing away. I am still unable to process the fact that he is no more.
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The actor recounts the time he spent with Satish Kaushik, who starred with him in a string of hits in the ’90s like Saajan Chale Sasural and Deewana Mastana
Renuka Vyavahare (BOMBAY TIMES; March 11, 2023)
Actor and filmmaker Satish Kaushik passed on Thursday in Delhi. Kaushik, 66, who had essayed many memorable parts like Calendar in Mr India and Pappu Pager in Deewana Mastana, was known for his brilliant comic timing. In the ’90s, his pairing with Govinda worked its magic on the big screen in David Dhawan’s films like Swarg, Saajan Chale Sasural, Deewana Mastana, Bade Miyan Chote Miyan and Haseena Maan Jayegi.
Grieving the loss of his friend and fondly remembering his favourite co-star, Govinda said, “I have known him for the last 25 years. We worked together several times, and every film was a super hit. His comic timing and the efforts he took to write his lines were admirable. Even at a sad time like this, the characters he essayed bring a smile to your face. That was his achievement as an actor.”
The two actors had last shared screen space in Bade Miyan Chote Miyan. Govinda said, “The last film we did together was Bade Miyan Chote Miyan. He played a character called Sharafat Ali in it. He would come home to work on his lines. Even for Pappu Pager (Deewana Mastana), after I heard his lines, I said I need to rewrite mine. I introduced the ‘na’ after every line in Nagpada style. That was the way we worked. There was a healthy give and take. We complemented each other. Sabko saath leke chalnewala actor tha woh.”
On an emotional note, he shared, “Satish was extremely thoughtful and kind. He was passionate about his craft. He worked in several films for free. He played a character in Aunty No 1 and didn’t want to charge a penny. We had to convince him to take the money. Dildaar insaan tha. I pray for his family.”
A still from Bade Miyan Chote Miyan
On the day of Deewana Mastana's shoot, Satish Kaushik said mazaa nahin aa raha hai-David Dhawan
8:25 AM
Filmmaker-friend David Dhawan recollects how the veteran made his Deewana Mastana character iconic by reworking the lines
As told to Hiren Kotwani (MID-DAY; March 10, 2023)
My friendship with Satish (Kaushik) began on the set of Swarg (1990), our first film together. Since then, I cast him in practically all my films. It became a habit. He felt a [sense of] ownership over me. If I started a film and he wasn’t starring in it, he would ask me, ‘Why isn’t my name included in this film? Are you not casting me?’
We enjoyed such a comfort level that he would call and say, ‘Tu ghar bulata nahin hai.’ I would immediately tell him, ‘Chal, aaja ghar pe.’ He would frequently visit my house. He was a very jovial person, and would crack jokes. With him, time passed by in a flash — eating and drinking together, and talking about movies.
Having written Jaane Bhi Do Yaaro (1983) with Sudhir Mishra, he was an expert in [writing comedy]. He would write the dialogues of his characters, and narrate them to me. His dialogues inevitably took the characters a few notches higher.
Pappu Pager [in Deewana Mastana, 1997] is one of Satish’s most iconic roles. He was present in barely a few scenes, but he worked on the character, ensuring that it became memorable. I remember on the day we were to shoot his scenes in Hyderabad, he said, ‘David yaar, mazaa nahin aa raha hai.’ So, I cancelled that day’s shoot. He promised, ‘Dekh main kya karta hoon’, [and reworked the lines]. Govinda also added his own lines with Satish.
When we finally filmed those scenes in Mumbai, they created wonders together, and Pappu Pager’s scenes became among the highlights of the film. When Anil Kapoor saw the scenes, he told Satish to write his dialogues too.
Whenever Satish came on the set, I was confident that the scenes would turn out fantastic. Govinda and he would rock it every time they faced the camera together. When Rohit [Dhawan, director-son] made his debut with Desi Boyz (2011), he cast Satish for the role of Mr Dhillon. Though he had only one scene with Akshay Kumar and John Abraham, he knocked it out of the park
Later, I suggested that Rohit use Satish, even if only as the voice of Qureshi in Dishoom (2016). I knew that he was so outstanding an actor that even with his voice, he would add value to the role. Satish was underrated as an actor, and deserved a lot more.
Satish Kaushik passes away, leaving behind a legacy of great films and iconic characters
8:21 AM
Avijit Ghosh (THE TIMES OF INDIA; March 10, 2023)
Actor-director Satish Kaushik, whose impeccable comic timing created the endearing onscreen character, Calendar in ‘Mr India’ (1987), and who earned accolades for his powerhouse performance of ‘Salesman Ramlal’, a Hindi adaptation of Arthur Miller’s play, Death Of A Salesman, passed away Thursday. He was 66.
The actor complained of breathlessness late Wednesday night and was taken to Fortis Hospital in Gurugram, his manager Santosh Rai told ANI. Sources told TOI he was brought to the hospital around 12:30 am and declared dead on arrival. Postmortem report mentioned “cardiac arrest” as the cause of death, ANI said.
Just on Tuesday, he had posted smiling photographs of himself celebrating Holi with writer Javed Akhtar and newly wed actor-couple Richa Chadha and Ali Fazal.
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Director Sudhir Mishra, in his social media post, described actordirector Satish Kaushik as a “Brilliant actor. Brilliant mind. A sense of humour like very few others. A life well lived but there was still a lot ahead.” Watching the actor in the desert thriller 'Thar' (2022), where he played a weary but wise cop with aplomb, few would disagree.
Kaushik’s most remembered comic roles came in David Dhawan films whe re his uproarious exchanges with Govinda brought the house down. The contract killer Pappu Pager in ‘Deewana Mastana’; the garrulous Bhopali who sells stolen goods, and says “Kasam udaan jhalle ki” at the drop of a hat in ‘Bade Miya Chhote Miyan’; and the tabla player in ‘Saajan Chale Sasural’ - were all boisterously funny.
Saajan…fetched him his first full-fledged Filmfare Award for best actor in a comic role; he had shared the earlier one with Anupam Kher for Ram Lakhan. But it was Calendar, the genial cook who sang the parody ‘Mera naam hai Calendar, main chal a kitchen ke andar’ in the blockbuster ‘Mr India’ that prompts the fastest recall. Even today kids shouting “Calendar, khana lao” are uploaded on YouTube.
Kaushik also acted in ‘Jaane Bhi Do Yaaro’, co-writing the dialogues with Ranjit Kapoor. In a 2018 interview to TOI, Kaushik recalled how the writers were stuck for a suitable climax when he saw dozens of secondhand Amar Chitra Kathas based on characters from ‘Mahabharat’, ‘Ramayan’, the Mughal Empire, even English classics, in a pavement stall. “An idea instantly clicked in my mind – why not make a potpourri of all these tales?”, he recalled. Calls and sessions followed. The scene was written. A classic was born.
He wasn’t shy of playing negative characters. Most notably, the actor played an obnoxious husband in ‘Brick Lane’ (2007), a film based on Monica Ali's award-winning novel about a young Bangladeshi woman in 1980s' London.
But such roles were rare in films. Theatre gave him more cerebral parts. Kaushik played Ramlal, a local version of Willy Loman, the unsteady protagonist who vacillates between memories and imagination in Miller’s unforgettable play.
“I have seen many versions of the play. But whenever I think of Death Of A Salesman, Satish Kaushik’s performance is the first thing that comes to mind. He lived the character and made it his own,” said well known theatre director Arvind Gaur. The play was directed by noted theatre director Feroz Abbas Khan.
Kaushik was born in Mahendragarh (then in East Punjab, now in Haryana) and grew up in New Delhi’s bustling Karol Bagh. The actor later named his film production company after the locality. His father, according to film critic Mayank Shekhar, sold Harrison locks, a well-known brand in 1970s' north India. Kaushik went to Delhi’s Kirorimal College, where he took early steps in acting. Later he joined NSD. Kaushik retained his ties with his alma mater, and reports s ay he was keen to restore the college’s auditorium.
In Mumbai, Kaushik initially struggled to make an impact in commercial films. ‘Mr India’ changed that. Kaushik was also the associate director of the film, which was produced by Surinder and Boney Kapoor. As a director, he was to forge a long collaborative relationship with Boney, directing big-budget crime caper ‘Roop Ki Rani Choron Ka Raja’, and the young-love story ‘Prem’, where a very young Tabu and Sanjay Kapoor were lead actors. Both films flopped. But Kaushik, the director, wasn’t to be denied heady box-office success, courtesy Salman Khan’s ‘Tere Naam’ (2003), the remake of a Tamil film.
The actor’s death was widely mourned. PM Narendra Modi, Haryana CM Manohar Lal Khattar, UP CM Yogi Adityanath and Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot condoled his death. Those who worked with him in the film industry spoke of his humility, warmth and generosity of spirit. Among others, Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Salman Khan, Manoj Bajpayee, Raj Babbar, Anupam Kher and Kangana Ranaut (who directed him in the forthcoming, 'Emergency') offered their condolences. Actor Yashpal Sharma wrote how Kaushik wanted to promote Haryanvi cinema throughout the state.
'Mr India’s' director, Shekhar Kapur, said on Twitter, “Like a part of my life story is gone. A bit of me wrenched away. Leaving a huge gap. Thank God for your stories, our stories together Satish. They will keep you alive in my heart forever. ” His fans would hold a similar view.
(With inputs from Ipsita Pati, Gurugram)
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The veteran actor-filmmaker died on Thursday morning, leaving behind a legacy of great films and iconic characters
HINDUSTAN TIMES (March 10, 2023)
Veteran actor, filmmaker and screenwriter, Satish Kaushik died at the age of 66 after suffering a heart attack in the wee hours of Thursday.
His close friend, actor Anupam Kher, shared the news on Twitter and later confirmed that Kaushik was at a friend’s place in Delhi when this happened. The actor complained of uneasiness and told his driver to take him to the hospital. On the way, he suffered a heart attack around 1am on Wednesday night. The cremation took place in Mumbai last evening.
An alumnus of the National School of Drama and the Film and Television Institute of India, Kaushik directed films such as Roop Ki Rani Choron Ka Raja (1993), Hum Aapke Dil Mein Rehte Hain (1999), Milenge Milenge, Mujhe Kucch Kehna Hai (both, 2001), Badhaai Ho Badhaai (2002), Tere Naam (2003) and Kaagaz (2021).
Among his best known acting roles, Kaushik, who was famous for his comic timing, has been a part of films including Jaane Bhi Do Yaaro (1983), Mr India (1987), Ram Lakhan (1989), Deewana Mastana (1997), Hadh Kar Di Aapne (2000), Udta Punjab (2016) and several others. He was last seen in the web film Chhatriwali and has acted in upcoming film such as Emergency and web show Pop Kaun. Kaushik is the producer for Kaagaz 2, shoot for which was wrapped in January 2023 and the release date is yet to be announced.
Kaushik, who would have turned 67 next month (April 13), is survived by his wife Shashi Kaushik and 10-year-old daughter, Vanshika.
I’ve always been a people’s person. I reach out to my co stars before they do-Anil Kapoor
8:08 AM
Onkar Kulkarni (BOMBAY TIMES; November 20, 2019)
Anil Kapoor is a bundle of energy at work — if he is not busy charming his Pagalpanti co-stars Pulkit Samrat and Kriti Kharbanda with gifts, he is seen giving a demo to Ileana D’Cruz about his latest gadget or teasing Arshad Warsi for his all-black attire. In a candid chat with BT, Anil also opens up about his equation with director Anees Bazmee, the risks he has taken in his career and the path his children Sonam and Harshvardhan are following in the film industry. Read on…
You have done nearly a dozen films with Anees Bazmee. While speaking about the comfort you two share at work, he mentioned that he knows you since the time he would give claps on the sets of Raj Kapoor movies. What are your early memories of working with Anees?
The first incident that comes to my mind is when Anees was writing a film for Pahlaj Nihalani. He was the one who narrated the scenes to me. The film was to be directed by someone else, but the director fell ill. So, Pahlaj called me and asked if he could send Anees to direct a part of the film. I was okay with it. So, the first actor Anees ever said an ‘action’ and a ‘cut’ to as a director, was me.
Our first full-fledged film as an actor-director was No Entry (2005). We were supposed to do Pyar To Hona Hi Tha (1998) and wanted Kajol for the film, but we could not get her on board at that time. It was heroine-oriented, so the leading lady had to be strong. Later, Ajay came on board and then Kajol also came in. Anees called me and asked if he could do this film with them (Ajay and Kajol), and I gave a goahead. The idea of the film was given by Boney (Kapoor), who had seen this Hollywood film French Kiss (1995) and worked on it. I remember this incident very well, I don’t think Anees remembers it.
You are extremely friendly with the new bunch of actors who you work with. Unlike other senior actors, you have no qualms of opening up to a Pulkit Samrat or a Kriti Kharbanda or have friendly chats with Ileana D’Cruz. They also seem extremely comfortable with you.
I have always been a people’s person. I want positivity on the set. When you are happy, the atmosphere on the set is good, and the film turns out well. I, therefore, make an effort to be friendly. I reach out to people (co-stars), rather than wait for them to reach out to me. I make the first move. The thing is that an actor can be ‘I, me, myself’ and focus on himself, but then, what happens is that he ends up looking good in the film, but the rest of it does not come together as well. Thus, the film suffers. I don’t let this happen. Whenever I feel that the energy of the actors on the set is low, or a co-actor is tired or has not slept well, then I try to create good atmosphere. Iss sab mein meri energy jaati hai and I forget my lines sometimes. By saying this, I am not trying to be sacrificial here. My only aim has been ki overall film achchi banni chahiye.
On the personal front, we see you enjoyed Diwali with daughter Sonam and son-in-law Anand Ahuja this year. It’s been a year-and-a-half since she tied the knot, how much have you adjusted to her not being around in the house?
This Diwali was great. Last year, we were in London and brought in the festival at her new house there. We had a quiet Diwali, as Sriji (Sridevi) had left us that year, so we had a small puja at home. This time, fortunately, Anand and Sonam were here in India, so we had a great party. It was hosted by Sonam and Rhea, so all their friends were there. My wife (Sunita Kapoor) is a great hostess and I feel Sonam and Rhea have taken it from their mother. Sunita and I were there too, but only to see to it that they don’t destroy the house (laughs!). When it comes to missing Sonam, yes, we do miss her, especially when she is away in London.
As a father, do you see any changes in Sonam post marriage? And how has your relationship with Anand grown over the last year?
Oh, let me tell you, she’s started cooking in London. I haven’t tried any of her dishes yet, but I have heard she cooks well. What I like about my relationship with Anand is that we are like friends. I am also friendly with Rhea's boyfriend Karan (Boolani).
There was a buzz about you teaming up with Govinda for the sequel to Deewana Mastana (1997). Have you been in touch with him over the years?
I keep meeting his children in the gym. Whenever I see his son (Yashvardhan Ahuja), I tell him, “Arre, baap ko leke aao yaar idhar (in the gym)”. Jokes apart, let me tell you that Govinda has lost weight and he is looking good.
There was also news sometime back that one of your iconic films, Ram Lakhan (1989),will be remade. In today’s times, it is challenging to get two heroes of that stature together for a project. Do you think this reason will be a deterrent, if the remake actually happens?
I wonder why? At that time, Jackie (Shroff) and I did 12 to 13 films together. In the current times, John (Abraham) and I have done many films together. In fact, Pagalpanti is my fifth film with him. And all the films that we have done together have done well, except for Salaam-E-Ishq. I think that’s because we didn’t have any scenes together (laughs!). I think that John Abraham-Anil Kapoor is the new lucky pair of Bollywood.
You started your journey in Bollywood four decades ago and charted an illustrious career in the film industry. As a father and an actor, do you think that your son Harsh Varrdhan’s journey in Bollywood has been tougher than Sonam’s journey?Both of them (Sonam and Harsh Varrdhan) have done it on their own. While Sonam got films like Saawariya (2007) and Delhi-6 (2009), Harsh did movies like Mirzya (2016) and Bhavesh Joshi Superhero (2018). These films are still fresh in the memories of the people. Maybe, Harsh’s films didn’t do well commercially, but they laid a fantastic foundation, especially, Bhavesh Joshi Superhero. Sometimes for an actor, or an actress, building this kind of a foundation is very important. Doing such kind of cinema is much better than taking up something that is commercial and regressive.
Arre inki (Harsh Varrdhan) toh bas do hi filmay nahi chali na. Meri toh kitni saari nahi chali thi in the initial days. Be it the MS Sathyu’s Kahan Se Kahan Guzar Gaya (1981), or Vamsa Vruksham (Telugu, 1980). My film, Pallavi Anu Pallavi (Kannada, 1983) with Mani Ratnam also didn’t do well. These were my first few films, but it laid a foundation in terms of the kind of films I wanted to do.
Log Harsh ko bolte hai ki he has to do the typical masala entertainers. They used to tell me the same thing. It’s like déjà vu. People have forgotten that Harsh ka baap bhi toh aisa hi tha, in fact, his baap was even worse. In my initial days, actors like Rishi Kapoor and Jeetendra would pull my leg and call me a ‘thailawala’ actor, which means someone who plays a character looking for work, with a bag on his shoulders and an overgrown beard. They all considered me the serious kind of an actor. Everybody used to make fun of me and say, ‘Arre yaar tu Kapoor hai’, you should do more commercial films. Kuch masala picture kar, kya yeh sab kar raha hai? I always knew what I wanted. No pain, no gain.
Harsh Varrdhan will follow his own path. At the moment, he has three films in hand. He is in the prep mode for all of them simultaneously. One film is a biopic of the Olympic gold medallist shooter Abhinav Bindra. It is an ambitious project and we are looking forward to it.
Sometime ago, your reply to a fan on social media asking you to become the CM of Maharashtra, like you did in the film Nayak (2001), went viral. At a time when films are being made on socially relevant subjects, don't you think it's the right time for a film like Nayak 2?
Arre bohot hai aise subjects hamare paas. Everybody, including the directors, politicians, have been approaching me since years, asking me to do something on those lines. People are offering me big money to do films like that. However, jab tak kahani correct nahi hai, tab tak I won’t do it. I don’t want to do a sequel just for the heck of it. It has to fit in correctly. I have got something in mind now, hopefully that should work out. Fingers crossed.
Deewana Mastana 2 is not on the cards-John Abraham
8:34 AM
Harshada Rege (BOMBAY TIMES; November 8, 2019)
Ever since Anil Kapoor announced the sequel to Deewana Mastana (1997) on the sets of Nach Baliye, film buffs kicked up a storm on social media. The actor had also said that John Abraham, with whom he shares screen space in Pagalpanti, will also be a part of the cast this time around. In an interview with Bombay Times, Anil said, “We have spread the word and put it out in the universe. Let’s see who comes up with an interesting story, and which director comes on board. The stars have already committed. Unless John backs out at the last moment (laughs!). In fact, Raveena (Tandon Thadani) has also shown interest. She had a guest appearance in the film. So, she has to be there!”When we met John recently, we asked him whether the film is on the cards, and he denied it. “Not at all. I think Mr Kapoor was happy to meet Govinda and he said, ‘Hey, let’s make Deewana Mastana part two, and let’s get John on board’. So, I was a force fit in that (laughs!); there’s no truth to it. It’s something they said out of love and in that moment because they were really happy to see each other,” he concluded.
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