In a bid to give back to society, Badshah has decided to mentor underprivileged musicians from Mumbai’s Dharavi slum. “It’s been my long-pending goal to associate with the hip-hop talents in the slum,” says the rapper.  

Talking about his recent interaction with the musicians from the slum, the 37-year-old says, “I look forward to training them in all possible areas, extending beyond the art of music making.” The Issa Vibe (Bloody Daddy) composer plans to offer opportunities to these musicians: “I’d also love for them to collaborate with every top-ranking artiste in and outside the country.”

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Opening up about his beef with singer-composer Honey Singh in a recent interview with podcaster Raj Shamani, Badshah revealed that Singh used to ignore his calls many times and was “self-centred”. 

Recalling the days when they were a part of the same band, Mafia Mundeer, the rapper-singer, said, “In 2009, there was a break between me and Honey. I was very scared. When I tried calling him, he dodged my calls. Till the time we were in the band, we never met.”

He also shared that the two made several songs, but they were not released. Revealing more, Badshah said, “[Singh] should not [have been] so self-centred. He made us sign blank papers; what about those contracts? It was a tough phase.” 

Ahmed Ali (THE TIMES OF INDIA; August 28, 2020)

Mumbai: Forced to shut down his tea stall in Dharavi and return to his hometown in Khed post Coronavirus lockdown, a 34-year-old graduate landed up behind bars for allegedly impersonating as a henchman of convicted gangster Abu Salem and demanding Rs 34 crore from filmmaker-actor Mahesh Manjrekar.

On Thursday, the anti-extortion cell (AEC) of Mumbai Police arrested Milind Tulsankar from his village and booked him under the relevant IPC sections for impersonation, issuing threats and extortion bid. He was produced in court which sent him in police custody till September 2.

Revealing his plan to the cops, Tulsankar said that he knew that he would not get Rs 34 crore, but was hopeful to get a few lakhs that would help his support his family of seven for some time. He also said that he had planned to use hawala channels to receive the extortion money.

Manjrekar, on Wednesday, lodged a complaint with Dadar police that he has been getting threat messages on his phone since a week. “The sender claimed that he was a member of the Abu Salem gang, demanded Rs 34 crore from Manjrekar and threatened him with dire consequences if he did not pay up,” said investigating officer Sachin Kadam of AEC. Salem is currently serving life sentence in Taloja jail after being convicted in the 1993 serial blasts case as well as builder Pradeep Jain murder case.

As it was an extortion case with suspected underworld links, it was transferred to the AEC. The police officers, with the help of a mobile service provider, traced the sender of the messages to Khed and nabbed Tulsankar.

“During interrogation, Tulsankar said he decided to take to crime as he had run out of his savings,” said senior inspector Ajay Sawant. “The accused said that during an online search, he stumbled upon a news report on how Salem would issue extortion threats to his victims in the late 90s. He decided to use the same modus operandi and selected Manjrekar as his victim. He said that he got the filmmaker’s phone number from a web portal that provides criminal and financial background information on candidates contesting elections and sent him four to five threat messages demanding Rs 34 crore.”

Manjrekar, who has directed critically acclaimed films like Vaastav: The Reality, Astitva and Viruddh and even acted in films, had contested the 2014 Lok Sabha election from North Mumbai on an MNS ticket. He, however, lost to Shiv Sena’s Gajanand Kirtikar.

Built in 15 days, Dharavi field hospital to open today
Chaitanya Marpakwar (MUMBAI MIRROR; June 1, 2020)

Action hero Ajay Devgn is not looking to pull any stunt in Dharavi. The BMC will on Monday open a 200-bed Coronavirus field hospital it built in 15 days, thanks to the actor’s help. Devgn has paid for all the oxygen cylinders and portable ventilators—the authorities refused to disclose the cost—at the new centre. The contribution has been made through his production house, Ajay Devgn Films Foundation (ADFF). BMC officials said ADFF had earlier provided ration kits for 700 families in Dharavi. Located in the heart of Dharavi, the hospital has been constructed on an unused 4,000-sqm plot belonging to the MMRDA that was reserved for a parking lot for Maharashtra Nature Park. It will serve as a dedicated Covid-19 health centre and will treat all patients, except those who are very critical.

Kiran Dighavkar, assistant municipal commissioner of G-North ward, said with Covid-19 barrelling through Dharavi, the need for a field hospital with oxygen supply arose.

As work began, Devgn quietly approached civic officials and offered help. “We told him we needed oxygen cylinders for all 200 beds and two portable ventilators. He readily agreed to pay for them,” said Dighavkar.

Four doctors, 12 nurses and 20 ward attendants will monitor the centre in two shifts. According to officials, the field hospital has a separate room for doctors. “There are toilets and separate cubicles for each patient. We have an institutional quarantine centre at Maharashtra Nature Park across the road. We also have an isolation centre at Rajiv Gandhi Sports Complex nearby. With this hospital, we will now have an end-to-end solution for Dharavi,” said Dighavkar, adding that the new centre will operate for the next three months.

The BMC has also acquired four private hospitals in Dharavi.

The slum area is the civic body’s biggest challenge in the battle against Covid-19. More than 2,400 healthcare workers are posted there, including 27 private doctors, 29 nurses, 68 ward attendants, 11 coordinators and two pharmacists. As on Sunday, it recorded 1,771 and 71 deaths in total. Over the last few weeks, however, a glimmer of hope has emerged—the doubling rate of cases in the area has jumped from three days to19 days. If this pattern continues, Dharavi could see a recovery similar to that of D ward (Worli-Lower Parel), which reported 812 cases as on May 21, of which 410 have recovered. Dharavi’s doubling rate is, in fact, higher than the city’s average of 12 days.

Devgn joins actors Shah Rukh Khan and Sonu Sood in helping the city out during the pandemic. While Khan handed over his personal office in Khar on April 24 to be turned into a quarantine facility, Sood has won hearts by arranging for private buses and even an aircraft for hundreds of migrants struggling to get home across the country.

Roshmila Bhattacharya (MUMBAI MIRROR; May 9, 2020)

“Do you know Irrfan’s (Khan) character in Life In A…Metro was originally a Bengali by the name of Debu? In the film’s first photo shoot, he was wearing a dhoti and a topor. But while we were shooting his first scene, I could visualise Irrfan in the climax, entering the station on a horse. Since Bengali grooms don’t come to their wedding on a ghoda, I told him we’d have to take the shot again and this time he should introduce himself to Konkana’s (Sen Sharma) Shruti as Monty. Irrfan being Irrfan, just laughed and went along,” narrates the film’s writer-director Anurag Basu, whose musical drama, revolving around the lives of nine Mumbaikars, opened 13 years ago, on May 11.

That wasn’t the only impromptu decision Anurag took. While driving from his home in Goregaon to Koperkhairane station in Navi Mumbai where the last scenes were shot, he was mulling over Shilpa Shetty and Shiney Ahuja’s track. In the original script, she was to leave the city with him. But plagued by second thoughts, he texted all his female colleagues, and even his wife Tani, asking for their opinion. “They all insisted that she should give her marriage with Kay Kay Menon a second chance for the sake of their daughter. When men write female characters, they tend to make them more feminist than they really are,” Anurag offers by way of explanation. The last-minute change, he admits, left Shilpa bemused, and she still hasn’t forgotten this twist in the tale.

In the film, Shilpa and Kay Kay’s marriage had turned into a union of two indifferent strangers, with the latter involved in a clandestine affair with his sister-in-law’s roommate and his office colleague, Neha, played by Kangana Ranaut, whom Anurag describes as “ghar ki ladki”. He informs that his Gangster leads, Kangana and Shiney, were the first to come on board. Irrfan was a little miffed that despite their long TV association, Anurag had not cast him in Gangster. “I made up with a role in Metro which showcased his lighter side, which I was acquainted with from our TV shows. As Monty, Irrfan was a riot,” asserts the director, admitting that the idea of a Metro sequel came from the actor who passed away last week. “I had approached him to play Ranbir’s (Kapoor) accident-prone, adoptive father in Jagga Jasoos. He was busy with other films then, and since Jagga Jasoos’s dates were all over the place, we couldn’t collaborate on that project. But he told me, ‘Chal, Metro sequel banate hain.’”

When Irrfan repeated this to him, during the Qareeb Qareeb Singlle promotions, Anurag sat down to take the story further. “Metro 2 mujhe Irrfan ke saath hi karni thi,” he sighs, heartbroken over the loss. Will it happen now, you wonder, and he says, “I don’t know… I really don’t know.”

He repeats the “I don’t know” phrase when you wonder how this anthology of stories connected through characters whose lives were entwined, came together. After a reflective pause, he points out that Murder and Gangster, which came in quick succession, were in the same space, with the Bhatt stamp, so, he wanted to try something very different. “Films like Metro were common in the West, but we had not experimented with the narrative here,” he points out.

He used a unique narrative device, with a rock band popping up at crucial plot points to take the story forward through songs which otherwise did not fit into the screenplay. The Metro band was headed by the film’s composer and Anurag’s dear friend, Pritam, and included Suhail Kaul, Soham Chakraborty and Bangladeshi singer James. Was it easy getting them to face a movie camera? “Pritam wanted to lose some weight. I told him to grow a beard instead, to look like a rock star. He used to be clean shaven before Metro, but hasn’t lost his beard since. I wouldn’t even let him shave off his beard or cut his hair to get married because we were still shooting the film,” laughs Anurag.

He goes on to confide that Shiney’s character, Akash, a struggling theatre artiste, whom Shilpa’s Shikha is drawn to, grew out of his own experiences on stage. “The play he performs was one of mine, I called it Collage when we brought it to Mumbai. Akash was very close to me,” Anurag acknowledges emotionally.

His biggest fanboy moment was directing his idol Dharmendra. “I remember when we were shooting at Sion station, it was as if all of Dharavi had descended there that day. I was amazed by Dharam ji’s fan following,” he says, the awe still evident in his voice. And how did he persuade the senior actor to kiss Nafisa Ali? “I told Dharam ji that it was Nafisa ji’s suggestion and vice versa. They both agreed and I got away,” he signs off with a laugh.

Sources say Chris Hemsworth to fly down to Mumbai on October 20 for Netflix film Dhaka's week-long patchwork shoot
MID-DAY (October 11, 2019)

Late last year, Chris Hemsworth had taken India by storm when he shot for the Netflix film, Dhaka, across Mumbai and Ahmedabad. Now, mid-day has learnt that come October 20, the Thor star will return to Mumbai for the patchwork shoot of the movie, which also stars Randeep Hooda, Manoj Bajpayee and Pankaj Tripathi.

A source reveals, "The unit has planned a week-long schedule across Mumbai and Ahmedabad. The film's cast, comprising Indian and Hollywood actors, has been called upon to allot their dates. With Hemsworth expected in the city by October 20, the ensemble cast has been asked to dedicate the last two weeks of October to the Sam Hargrave-directed project. The team will shoot at the places they had covered the first time around, including Dharavi and Byculla in the city, and a few pockets of Ahmedabad. They may also have a brief two-day stint in Indonesia. If all goes as planned, it will be a wrap before October 30." The kidnap extraction drama is produced by the Russo Brothers.

mid-day lays its hands on an exclusive picture of Chris Hemsworth shooting action sequence with Randeep Hooda in Ahmedabad; superstar arrives in Mumbai today
Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; November 17, 2018)

The shoot of the Netflix offering, Dhaka, in Ahmedabad has been the subject of much interest, courtesy its lead actor Chris Hemsworth (Avengers: Infinity War, Star Trek). With the unit filming an action sequence featuring Hemsworth and Randeep Hooda over the past few days, mid-day stumbled upon a picture from the set.

A unit hand reveals, "While Chris plays a mercenary who has been hired to rescue a kidnapped child, Randeep essays the role of a gangster. The action sequence comes at a crucial point in the narrative. Chris and Randeep practised for the scene extensively before filming it. To ensure that the crowd didn't encroach the set, the area was cordoned off. Since the film is set in Dhaka, a makeshift set was created with signages in Bengali." With Hooda having recently joined the unit, the source adds that he has struck up a friendship with Hemsworth over their common passion - fitness.

Meanwhile, Hemsworth's fans in Mumbai can brace themselves as the Thor star landed in the city in the wee hours of the morning. Intense security arrangements have been deployed to ensure a smooth stay. "Since the unit is expected to shoot in Dharavi and Byculla, his stay will be spread across two hotels, thus ensuring that he has an easy commute to and from the sets. The team will be staying at a sea-facing hotel in Nariman Point during their Byculla schedule. They are yet to zero in on the other hotel. The security detail is taking extra precautions after a fan broke into the gym to meet the star in Ahmedabad."

Hemsworth is also expected to interact with the local media next week after the producers make the film's official announcement.

Nayandeep Rakshit (DNA; May 31, 2018)

After making her debut in Malayalam films opposite Mammootty two years ago, Huma Qureshi is now sharing screen space with megastar Rajinikanth in Kaala. The trailer of the movie released recently, and the actress, who has sported different looks throughout the film, spoke to us about her role, her equation with Rajinikanth, and the stereotype attached to actors who start their career with an unconventional movie. Excerpts...

When you get an offer to star opposite someone like Rajinikanth, do you even see what the role is or you just say an instant yes?
What happened is that Dhanush called me for Kaala. He, in my opinion, is a fabulous actor and in the past, we have discussed doing a film together. So, I assumed the call was for a movie with him. But then he told me, the project is with Rajini sir, which he’s producing. To be honest, any role in a Rajinikanth film is a big deal. What moved me is the script. It’s such a powerful script and has amazing characters.

You age through the film from 20 to 50...
My character (Zarina) and Kaala’s character transition from 20 to 50 years. How that happens, is something I can’t talk about because it will give away a lot of the story.

There’s a huge age gap between you and Rajinikanth...
There’s a lot of effort and energy put into these characters. The team has done the styling correctly. My character has travelled the world but she comes to Dharavi. She is independent, headstrong and well read. She’s the stark opposite of Rajini sir’s character. People like different pairings now. Today, people like to see an Alia (Bhatt) with a Shah Rukh Khan or me with an Akshay Kumar. It just makes the film more interesting and gets more eyeballs.

Was it difficult to shoot confrontational scenes with Rajinikanth?
See, he is a mega star and I’ve to admit that I was very intimidated. I was not on my home ground — I was acting in a language I didn’t understand. The first two-three days were difficult, but then, thanks to the team, it all worked out well. I did a lot of improvisations and the team would sit with me for an hour every day. Once I got comfortable, it was a blast. Anyway, it was a difficult film to shoot. We were shooting in Dharavi and other parts of Mumbai and then, they constructed this mega set a little outside Chennai, which is a replica of Dharavi. It was hot, dusty and plus you are working with Rajini sir, so my brain was in death mode (laughs).

How did you break the ice with your co-star?
There was no ice to break actually. The first time we met, he was quiet, but eventually, we ended up talking so much. We did a photoshoot together before we began filming. He was very sweet. He is one of the most humble people I have met. He’s spiritual and fond of books; so we connected on that.

Do you think that because of your choices so far, filmmakers haven’t approached you for masala cinema?
I feel blessed that directors come to me with strong roles. But meaningless scripts bhi bahut milte hain (laughs). I want to do fun stuff, especially a comedy. I have grown up watching mass entertainers and I love comedy movies. When you debut with a film like Gangs Of Wasseypur, you get a certain image. That also happened because of the independent films that I have done. I’m conscious about doing the right kind of commercial entertainers. Which is why a movie like Jolly LLB 2 comes along. When a commercial actor does a meaningful film, people applaud him. But when a person, who has debuted with an unconventional film, tries to do the opposite, he’s called a sellout. Why should it be that way? I’m an actor and I will do everything.

Asserting that the "kindhearted" superstar prioritises his co-actors' comfort on set, Huma Qureshi chronicles experience of working on actioner Kaala
Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; May 30, 2018)

Her English language film, Viceroy's House, behind her, Huma Qureshi has her attention turned towards her upcoming release, the South venture, Kaala. The Tamil action drama is certainly a prominent addition to her repertoire of films, given that it sees her feature alongside superstar Rajinikanth. While collaborations with veterans can be daunting, Qureshi credits the Thalaiva for ensuring that the ambience on the set is comforting.

"He is such a simple human being! He doesn't take stardom seriously, is disciplined and kindhearted. He made me so comfortable around him. He is a spiritual man, and has a calming effect on everyone around him. Once you meet him, there is no question of being intimidated by him. I can't begin to quantify what I've learnt from him. It's an experience that will reflect in my work long after the movie is out," Huma Qureshi says.

Rajinikanth's arrival in Mumbai to shoot for portions of the film in Dharavi last year had attracted sufficient attention, and Qureshi says the experience of filming in the slums was a first for her too. "It was the first time that I had been inside Dharavi. I live in Bandra, but got a taste of a parallel universe, a life so starkly diverse [than mine]. We shot there for a few days last year during Ramzan. The chaos and bustling energy is charming. It is a complex place, where cultures converge; people from different walks live together. There are Tamil theatres inside, and the sign boards in specific South Indian languages," says the actor, who slips into the role of an aide of Rajinikanth's character.

A day after it was revealed that her character will be shown ageing from 20 to 50 years, Qureshi adds, "The beauty of my character, Zareena, is that it's layered and nuanced. I have never done anything like this before. I took it up as a challenge, and followed my director's instructions." She is viewing this outing as a venture that will make her "reach the masses". "It's a movie that will reach places where people haven't seen me."

Karnataka film distributors have decided not to screen Kaala in theatres across the state to protest the superstar's stand on the Cauvery river water row with Tamil Nadu, said an industry official on Tuesday. "In view of the public outrage over Rajinikanth's remarks on the setting up of a Cauvery Management Board, distributors have decided not to screen any version his movie in any theatre in the state; we welcome it," Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce president Sa Ra Govindu said.

Mohar Basu and Benita Fernando (MID-DAY; February 8, 2018)

His intense rendition of Alauddin Khilji behind him, Ranveer Singh has already transformed into a rapper from the slums of Mumbai for Gully Boy. The actor, sporting a skinny frame, shot for the first song of the Zoya Akhtar-directed film in Dharavi over the last five days. Considering the drama is loosely based on the rise of rappers Divine and Naezy, Akhtar decided to include their popular song, Mere Gully Mein, in the narrative.

Choreographed by Bosco Martis, the fast-paced track sees Singh attempting B-boying for the first time. A unit hand reveals that the actor underwent rigorous rehearsals over the past two weeks to pick up the dance form. “Ranveer has always been a smooth dancer. But Zoya was certain that he needed to be well-versed with B- boying as he would be matching steps with professional dancers in the number.”

The source further adds that Martis handpicked 15 dancers from four different B- boying crews for the shoot. “The song was shot in Anna Nagar, a bunch of shanties behind Dharavi’s Kamarajar School. Aged between 12 to 20, the boys were thrilled by Ranveer’s enthusiasm for B-boying and aced the cypher (forming a circle) sequence.”

While the shoot resumes on Sunday, the unit was clocking in close to 12 hours on the set over the last few days. “Ranveer used the opportunity to study the locals of Dharavi and pick up their lingo. The locals are over the moon that a film is being shot in their area.”

Sanyukta Iyer (MUMBAI MIRROR; December 14, 2017)

Over 25 rappers from across India came together for a music workshop with Zoya Akhtar and her Gully Boy hero, Ranveer Singh.

There was a lot of beat-boxing and foot-tapping, B-buoying and rap battles for the musicians, and the 32-year-old actor who has been flaunting his new look, complete with cowboy hats and colour-coordinated glares.

Besides Divine and Naezy, the Mumbai-based rappers who rose to fame from the chawls and inspired the title of Zoya’s directorial, the mash-up included Dog’z, David Klyton aka Mr Scam, Bull-X, Maharaya Music, Dharmesh Parman, Emiway Bantai, Kunal Pandagle and Brodha V. There was also Haryanvi sensation Addy, Rahul Piske, Paul Shizu, Krishna Pandey, Shaikhspeare Aamir and Altaf Shaikh, along with a group of hip-hoppers from Dharavi. Every artist in the room was mesmerised by Ranveer’s swag and down-to-earth attitude. He obliged everyone with selfies and spent time jamming with each one of them. He was lauded for his powerhouse of a rapper turn and for throwing light on their underdog journeys.

A video of Ranveer rapping the “Mere Gully Ka Tareeka” track instantly went viral as fans began sharing it on the social media. “While many of the artists didn’t know the lyrics, Ranveer rapped from start-to-end without missing a single word or beat,” a rapper said from the gathering. While leaving, the actor gave some rappers a lift in his car and the happy bunch blasted the speakers with some music.

The superstar, currently shooting a 40-day schedule in Mumbai with Huma Qureshi, plays a criminal from Dharavi in Pa Ranjith’s bilingual thriller
Sanyukta Iyer (MUMBAI MIRROR; May 31, 2017)

Superstar Rajinikanth landed in Mumbai last weekend to kick off the first schedule of his Tamil-Telugu thriller, the Pa Ranjith-directed, Kaala Karikaalan. Fans of the 66-year-old actor flocked to the film’s set in Grant Road, where the team canned an outdoor sequence. While the crew starts off with the set-up at 7 am every day, the cast’s call time is at 11 am. Shooting continues till evening.

Now, Mirror has learnt that the Thalaiva plays a man from Dharavi in the film that traces his rise as a criminal. Huma Qureshi joins him as his love interest for the extensive, 40-day Mumbai schedule. “Since the lead characters fall in love in Dharavi, those portions are presently being filmed in Mumbai. Huma is wearing cotton sarees with salt-and-pepper hair as the story cuts across different stages in the protagonists’ lives,” reveals a source close, adding that Nana Patekar is on-board for a prominent part and shares screen space with both Rajini and Huma. The film also features South actors Samuthirakani and Anjali Patil in pivotal roles.

The film, which will also be dubbed in English and Hindi, marks Huma’s Tamil-Telugu debut. The actress, who made her Malayalam debut opposite Mammootty in the 2016 drama, White, is training with a language and dialect coach to guide her through her scenes with Rajini. “She was the first choice for the part and gave her nod immediately despite having many other offers from the South. The opportunity to work with Rajini lured her,” the source adds.

Pictures of Rajini shooting with over 200 background artistes near a Masjid in Wadala for a two-hour sequence led to speculations that the film draws extensively from the life of Indian smuggler-financier and real estate magnate, Mastan Haider Mirza aka Haji Mastan, who was fluent in Tamil, and became Mumbai’s first celebrity gangster. He’d be seen rubbing shoulders with politicians, celebrities and businessmen at social dos. Rajini’s look in the film draws from Mastan’s signature style, including pastel clothes and white shoes. But earlier this month, the makers had received a letter from Sundar Shekar Mishra, the late gangster’s foster son, threatening them to “not depict his father in a negative light” and “be ready to face consequences if they did”. It was followed by a clarification by Rajini’s actor son-in-law Dhanush, who is producing the project under his banner Wunderbar Films, in which he stated that Kaala Karikaalan is not a biopic on Haji Mastan. “The film is based on fictional events. Rajini’s character escapes from his hometown Tirunelveli and comes to Mumbai. He is a shrewd dealmaker who acquires a strangle-hold on the Mumbai slums,” the source reveals.

Last August, Dhanush had announced that Pa Ranjith, who had directed Rajini in Kabali, will collaborate with the superstar again for his banner’s next. The film was tentatively titled, Kaala, and was rumoured to be a sequel to Kabali, but Dhanush confirmed that the two projects had nothing in common.

“Shooting in Grant Road and Kala Ghoda has wrapped up. After the ongoing shoot in Dharavi, the unit will kick off the second schedule in Chennai in July,” informs the source.

WANTED: RAJINI’S THRONE

On Monday, Rajini’s look in Kaala Karikaalan was unveiled with him sitting atop a Maharastra-registered SUV and with Dharavi as the backdrop. This piqued the interest of Anand Mahindra, whose company manufactures the SUV. “Whoever knows the whereabouts of the Thar (the SUV) used for this shoot, please let us know. I’d like to acquire it for our company’s auto museum. When the legend uses a car as a throne, it becomes a legend.” Quick on the uptake, Dhanush responded, “The vehicle is being used by the superstar for the shoot currently. Once completed, we will ensure it reaches you!”

The South superstar will be filming mostly in pockets where large number of Tamilians reside
Lakshmi V (BOMBAY TIMES; May 30, 2017)

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Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; May 30, 2017)

South superstar Rajinikanth started shooting for his next, Kaala Karikaalan, in the city on Sunday afternoon in a crowded alley of Grant Road. After a late night wrap-up, the team moved to Dharavi and Wadala yesterday to can crucial scenes. Aware of Rajini’s massive following, a thick blanket of security was thrown around the set.

A unit hand said, “The story cuts across several years and the look of characters changes accordingly. It is a challenge for the stylist to maintain costumes, make-up and hairstyles. Director Pa Ranjith wanted actors whose performance could add layers to the film. Casting Nana [Patekar] and Huma [Qureshi] alongside Rajini was apt.”

The shoot will take place at several locations, including South Bombay (Kala Ghoda, Marine Lines), Wadala and Dharavi. “It’s a story about a boy who makes it big in the world of crime. He operates from Dharavi, which is why the place plays a pivotal part in the narrative. The team will shoot in Mumbai for the next 40 days and then leave for an extensive schedule in Chennai,” reveals the unit member.

Day one ended with a little party on set with cakes and snacks on the menu. Huma is also planning a small bash for the team next week, we hear.

Lasyapriya Sundaram (BOMBAY TIMES; April 1, 2017)

Sanyukta Iyer (MUMBAI MIRROR; December 22, 2015)

On November 1, Salman Khan started his own cleanliness drive along the lines of Narendra Modi's Swachh Bharat Abhiyan. The actor, while gearing up for his Diwali release, Prem Ratan Dhan Payo, had urged his fans to start sprucing up their neighbourhood, asking them to send him pictures and videos as they went about their task, which he would share on the social media. He promised them goodies from his charitable trust in return.

A lot of sweeping started immediately as Salman announced the nominees and prodded his fans to "be good, do good". After he was acquitted of all charges by the Bombay High Court in the 13-year-old hit-and-run case, the actor took his campaign a notch higher.

Salman, who turns 50 on December 27, plans to bring in his birthday quietly with close friends and family at home. But on the day, he will also kick-start a cleanup drive, nominating over 500 volunteers on the social media to join him as the de-facto mascot for the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan.

"This is not a sudden decision following the acquittal. Both Salim and Salman have been working in the areas of education and healthcare for the underprivileged in Mumbai for a while now. The foundation already supports Akshara High School and the NGO Aseema, providing schooling to 500 students. Next year this number will quadruple," a spokesperson from the foundation informed Mirror, adding that it is also associated with Maharashtra Prabodhan Seva Mandal's arithmetic project which provides skills in basic mathematics to 4000 children from tribal communities in hilly, remote areas of rural Maharashtra, between the ages of five and 12 years.

Next year, Salman plans to move to the slums of Mumbai, starting with Dharavi. A corpus fund of Rs 1 crore has already been created for the slum rehabilitation programme which involves not only cleaning up the vicinity but also providing books, healthcare and hygiene facilities amongst those living in the slum, street children, orphans and homeless pavements dwellers. The campaign is currently being planned at Khan's Bandra residence, every decision is being closely monitored by his father, Salim Khan.

Ananya Ghosh (MUMBAI MIRROR; March 12, 2014)

From making realistic poop samples for English August and shooting against cardboard miniatures for Jajantaram Mamantaram to creating the gritty reality of Black Friday, No Smoking, Gulaal, and Gangs of Wasseypur, and erecting the rusticity-tinged baroque sets for Goliyon ki Raasleela Ram-leela, it seems production designer Wasiq Khan has done it all. Not quite. He has now recreated the largest slum in Asia, Dharavi, for a ghost! Yes, for Nitesh Tiwari's Bhoothnath Returns, he has done just that.


In the film, Amitabh Bachchan plays the ghost and they had to shoot in Dharavi. "We knew that we would not get permission to shoot with Mr Bachchan in such a crowded area due to security concerns. So, we recreated parts of the slum inside a studio,” he says nonchalantly.

But before that the team shot in Dharavi for three days with a Bachchan lookalike.

“We mostly took wide angle shots so his face is not visible. The rest of the scenes were shot on the sets with Mr Bachchan in a manner that it all flowed seamlessly. You will not be able to tell the real from the artificial, given the attention to detail," says the man who specialises in imbuing a lived-in feel and texture to the sets he creates.

A film with a ghost is bound to have special effects, so before preparing for a shot, they had to keep in mind camera angles, the computer graphics (CG) and the post-production in general. Suppose we have put up a window, we need to have a clear idea of what the CG team will create behind it. Many scenes were shot on a chroma background.

“While working on such projects, we have to be 100 per cent sure about how the final shot will look like and work backwards from there. Every step has to be calculated well in advance. There is no margin for error. It is maths meets arts,” explains Wasiq.

The friendly ghost is not confined only to the streets of Dharavi. He also travels to Hell and Heaven.

"Hell was the first set to go up. Sixty per cent of what you will see on screen is the set, and the rest is special effects,” he adds.

But, for Big B, more than the phantasmagoria of the computer generated graphics, it was Wasiq’s meticulously designed set that surprised him.

“On the first day of the shoot he took a good half-an-hour to inspect the set," recalls Wasiq.

"Later, he even tweeted about it saying that such a detailed set enhances an artiste’s performance,” he quipped.