Showing posts with label Faisal Farooqui. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Faisal Farooqui. Show all posts
Another landmark in danger: Land housing Mehboob Studios to get 'residential' status
8:28 AM
Govt has overruled BMC and proposed change in land use for the landmark property – which houses the famed studio – to give it a ‘residential’ status
Nauzer K Bharucha (MUMBAI MIRROR; September 5, 2021)
The iconic Mehboob Studios in Bandra, where some of the biggest Bollywood blockbusters of the last century were filmed, has been marked as a 'residential zone’ in the city’s new development plan’s excluded portion.
Though final sanction has not been granted for the conversion, the state government, while sanctioning Development Plan 2034, had already proposed a change from its status as a site for a ‘film/ TV studio’.
The roughly four-acre plot is in a prime locality in the western suburbs, close to Mount Mary and a couple of hundred metres from the popular Bandra Bandstand seafront. Property market sources said its development potential could be in the region of Rs 6,000 crore if the reservation is changed to ‘residential’. “The substantial modification for deletion of the studio was proposed on May 8, 2018, and objections and suggestions were called for to keep the plot only in ‘R’ (residential) zone with Mehboob Studios mentioned therein. The urban development department has not cleared it so far,” said property market sources.
In an email response to Mumbai Mirror’s query, a director of Mehboob Productions, which owns the facility, said, “Our property is owned by a private limited company governed by its Articles of Association and the provisions of Company Law. Whether to develop the property or not, is the exclusive prerogative of its shareholders. Over the years we have been targets of many motivated and unfounded reports concerning our studio property, which we do not intend to comment on nor dignify the many rumours, gossip and hearsay concerning it.’’
BJP MLA from Bandra West, Ashish Shelar said, “Mehboob Studios is one of Mumbai's and Bandra's last heritage links to Bollywood film history, where iconic films like Mother India, Guide, Kaagaz Ke Phool were shot. Over the past decade, it has been turned into a vibrant arts and culture place hosting shows like the Mahindra Blues Music Festival and Times Mumbai Festival. Surrendering this iconic space to the builder lobby is an open invite for disaster at an over-congested traffic roundabout. I fully oppose this.”
Interestingly, when the BMC proposed the draft of the new development plan to the state some years ago, it had retained the plot’s reservation for ‘Film/TV studios’. However, the state overruled it and modified the status to allow land use for residential purposes.
The studio property was bought in the early 1950s by well-known producer and director, the late Mehboob Khan. Entrepreneur Faisal Farooqui, who was close to Bollywood legend Dilip Kumar, who passed away recently, recollects a discussion he had with the star some years ago. “Dilip Saheb told me that Mehboob Khan had approached him to raise money to buy the land and invest in the studio. He wanted Rs 11,000, but Saheb politely refused,” said Farooqui.
The studio was preferred by stars and directors alike because of its convenient location. But after some of Khan’s films flopped and the focus of the industry shifted to outdoor settings, the studio hit bad times. After his death in 1964, the property came to his sons, Ayub, Iqbal and Shaukat.
In the early 90s, the family of the late film maker were in talks to sell it to builder Karim Maredia. A family member was then quoted as saying the shareholders were receiving “ridiculously low” dividends – just Rs 75 in 1994. Since then, a makeover has taken place due to a growing demand from event managers to host concerts and cultural shows.
Dilip Kumar laid to rest with full state honours
7:57 AM
Bella Jaisinghani (THE TIMES OF INDIA; July 8, 2021)
Mumbai: Dilip Kumar, the Aakhri Mughal of Hindi cinema, was laid to rest at Santacruz Kabrastan Wednesday evening. The North Star that guided the ships of generations of actors that followed, was eclipsed as dawn broke.
India’s senior most artiste’s death at age 98 may not have been unexpected given the age-related ailments and recent frequent visits to hospital. Still, fans were sad and disappointed that the beloved thespian did not live to cross the age of 100.
Friend Faisal Farooqui, who runs the actor’s official Twitter handle, said, “Sahab’s lungs had become very weak and he suffered multiple age-related ailments. On Tuesday night, his blood pressure dropped and it then became difficult for doctors to remove the excess fluid from his lungs. He passed away shortly after 7 am.”
Dilip Kumar was awarded a state funeral. Police draped his remains in the tricolour and the marching band performed at his Pali Hill residence in Bandra before the coffin was led to Santacruz. The bier was lifted by nephews Rehan, actor Ayub Khan, Imran and Saqib, and Farooqui. The last rites were completed at 5pm.
Santacruz Kabrastan is where the family graves are located. It is also the resting place for most of Hindi cinema’s yesteryear celebrities. Saira Banu’s mother, veteran actress Naseem Bano, her grandmother and other family elders are buried here along with Madhubala, Mohammed Rafi, Sahir Ludhianvi, Naushad, Ali Sardar Jafri, Talat Mahmood, K A Abbas, Parveen Babi and Tahir Hussain. In fact, Dilip Kumar and Saira Banu had requested the government to grant the trust a neighbouring plot to accommodate more graves.
On Wednesday a stream of dignitaries from chief minister Uddhav Thackeray, his son Aaditya, film celebrities Dharmendra, Shabana Azmi, Shah Rukh Khan, Vidya Balan, Siddharth Roy Kapur, Ranbir Kapoor and Subhash Ghai went to offer condolence to the family at the bungalow. Amitabh Bachchan and son Abhishek visited the gravesite and stood with heads bowed in respect.
A sea of blue ticks offered tribute on Twitter, from President Ram Nath Kovind and Prime Minister Narendra Modi to West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee and South superstars Mammooty and Chiranjeevi.
Only 20 people may have been permitted inside the cemetery owing to Covid protocol, but it was tough to prevent hundreds of fans from lining the roads to catch a glimpse of the artiste who symbolised an era of grace and dignity.
Much praise went to Saira Banu, Dilip Kumar’s wife of 55 years. “She was inconsolable when PM Modi rang to offer condolences early in the morning,” Farooqui said. “If ever a chronicle is written about devoted wives in the modern era, Saira Banu will figure in that list for the next century. She scarcely left his bedside in hospital even to eat her meals.”
Abhishek Bachchan at Santacruz Kabrastan; fans pay their last respects to the legendary actor
Dilip Kumar turns 96; close ones gather to celebrate
8:18 AM
MID-DAY (December 11, 2018)
His movement is limited, diet is restricted and he recognises only a few close ones. But, as he turns 96 today, Dilip Kumar continues to get the love of his fans. Kumar will be surrounded by his family members and friends on his special day.
His friend Faisal Farooqui said, “Saab has never wanted to celebrate birthdays. The last birthday we celebrated as a big event was his 89th. Even when saab was socially and personally active, he was not fond of big celebrations. So, doing justice to that tradition, Saira ji [Banu, Kumar’s wife] has not planned anything big.”
Although Kumar, who has been ailing for a while, is recuperating and does not need hospitalisation, he says the veteran’s diet is restricted. “He has not fully recovered, but is making progress. Saab is resting at home, having his meals and interacting, but, obviously, one of the things that the doctor has advised us about is to be cautious of infections. So, we curb the access of many who wish to meet him.”
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