Showing posts with label Ghoomer. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Ghoomer. Show all posts
I told Akshay Kumar that though he was the hero of Pad Man, the actual hero was a sanitary pad-R Balki
9:47 PM
Renuka Vyavahare (BOMBAY TIMES; March 5, 2024)
The Fifth anniversary of the National Museum of Indian Cinema (NMIC) in Mumbai was graced by the presence of notable dignitaries, including the Consul General of the Republic of Belarus, Aliksandr Matsukou, and Consul of Belarus, Anton Pashkov. The day saw an array of events including a guided tour for visually impaired students from The Happy Home & School for the Blind as well an enriching masterclass by acclaimed director R Balki, in conversation with D Ramakrishnan (GM NFDC).
Following the insightful conversation, cinema enthusiasts enjoyed the screening of R Balki's 'Ghoomer’. The highlight of the event was Balki’s unabashed take on content clutter, not undermining one’s talent and his penchant for addressing social issues without resorting to social messaging. Over the course of the two-hour session the Cheeni Kum director shared some wonderful insights, funny anecdotes and inspiring words for aspiring actors and filmmakers. Excerpts…
‘You can’t learn the art of scripting’
I don’t think there is a better film school than going to the set and working with several filmmakers. You learn about life. I was fortunate that I was able to get these experiences, so I didn’t feel the need to do a film school. It’s not that I did it without knowledge, I gained the knowledge. If you can go to a film school, you might probably learn things faster than I did but what you can’t learn is the art of scripting. Scripting doesn’t happen by going to a scripting school because there are a hundredth ways in which you can communicate a story.
‘If you are confident about yourself, you will celebrate your enemy’
Cinema is a tool to express a thought or a story that you have. Nobody is going to see the scale or grandeur of your movie if your story doesn’t touch them, isn’t relatable or doesn’t make them think. I prefer the term engaged, over entertained. There has to be an emotional connect. I don’t want people to be bored or switched off or be distracted while watching a film. Entertainment can be mistaken for laughing, dancing, jumping. People want to be engaged while watching a film.
When I did the Surf Excel commercial, people told me, ‘Everyone’s preaching hygiene and you are saying get dirty (daag acche hai)’! I feel if you are confident about yourself, you will celebrate your enemy. If you have the ability to defend yourself and remove the stains, why would you curse the stains? I am confident enough to celebrate my enemy which is dirt here so come get dirty. I believe cinema is also like that.
Thought behind the role reversal in Paa
I remember I had gone to Amitabh Bachchan ji’s house during Cheeni Kum. Abhishek was there with him, and he was saying some extremely wise things, which is rare (smiles). He is usually the one who cracks jokes. Amit ji was pulling his leg by saying ridiculous things. They were completely opposite to their (father-son) character. I looked at them and said, “who is whose dad!” That thought stayed with me. I knew I wanted to make a film where I will reverse their roles. That’s how Paa happened.
I don’t have a single social cause bone in my body
Terms like ‘meaningful messaging’ scare me. If you want to look for meaning in life, go to a meditation app. Why watch a film? You need to be clear about your ambition from the beginning. My thoughts in cinema have been far more frivolous than my thoughts in ads. I always think cinema is serious so why not start with a frivolous thought? Even in Pad Man, my thought was not to convey a social cause. I don’t have a single social cause bone in my body. The film did a lot for menstrual hygiene and awareness, but I didn’t make it for that. I got to make a commercial feature film where the hero of the film was a sanitary napkin. I told Akshay Kumar that though he was the hero of the film, the actual hero was a sanitary pad.
A filmmaker needs to be honest. I am not here to change the world. I am here to explore an idea that doesn’t destroy the world and gives me happiness. Even a Ghoomer wasn’t about showcasing the infallible spirit of a woman who loses her right hand in an accident and learns to bowl with her left. That’s a cinematic given. People tend to glorify anything that’s social as inspirational. It is an inspiring film; yes, but what’s the speciality in this inspiration? What new can you bring to the table is the trick. I believe when you are down and out you tend to be most creative. The biggest joy in Ghoomer was discovering that new bowling delivery in cricket.
‘I love the arrogance of artists who have faith in their abilities’
I don’t agree with this notion that everyone must work for the film and no individual should want his/her talent to stand out because filmmaking is a group work. I like working with a cinematographer like P C Sreeram because he is a rebel who likes to show off. How can you be a craftsman if you don’t want to show your craft off? How can you hire the best man for the job and tell him to listen to you and expect him to curb his instincts for the sake of the story? The story is not driving him. It’s driving the film. I love the arrogance of artists who have faith in their abilities and put their craft first. As long as your craft doesn’t destroy me, please show off your craft. As a director if I ask you to not show off your talent then I am the devil. I am killing your abilities. I love people who are determined to show their abilities. I want people to notice a cinematographer, music director, choreographer, sound-production designer for the right reasons. If people remember you for the wrong reason, then you are doing a shoddy job. You can’t expect the artists to be submerged in the film. If you look at The Godfather, it works because everybody is showing off and delivers their best. That’s why I like working with P C Sreeram sir and Ilaiyaraaja sir. They are gifted with originality, and they know it. Cinema is all about 'look at me'. When anyone says we need to work as a team and the cause is bigger than individuality, that’s the biggest bull s***. Only when all eleven players try to play their best, will a cricket team succeed.
OTT has lovely stories about common people
The presentation is a bit understated and subtle but OTT has some lovely stories about common people. I want these films to cut the walk though. I see content where people just keep walking endlessly long after the scene is over. Cut the walk! Someone is standing on a terrace and watching people aimlessly, thinking. Some filmmakers believe this creates an atmosphere. I get it and it’s their presentation but cut it faster.
I never thought I’d get such diverse roles in the 50th year of my career-Shabana Azmi
2:34 PM
Niharika Lal (BOMBAY TIMES; February 25, 2024)
During a recent discussion with a student collective, Shabana Azmi spoke about her days at St. Xavier's, her experience at FTII, her first roles, and the lasting impressions her teachers left on her. Shabana shared how in the 50th year of her career, she is once again getting the kind of roles she had never expected: from Steven Spielberg's Halo and Shekhar Kapur's What's Love Got To Do With It to Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani and Ghoomer.
"Meri energy wahan se aati hai ki mujhe zindagi se bahut dilchaspi hai. Mere 50th saal mein ek naya silsila shuru hua hai mere career mein - do saal ke dauran mujhe itne mukhtalif (diverse) roles mile. Pehle main yeh kabhi nahi soch sakti thi ki mujhe itne mukhtalif role milenge. I feel I'm so lucky. I am at that stage in life where I don't need to do any roles, so when I find a role challenging, if I feel if the role is saying something that I believe in, then I do it. Mujhe ek mauka milta hai apne films ke zariye unn subjects ko chhune ka jo aam taur par log nahin discuss karte."
Talking about her co-stars, Shabana remembered Farooq Sheikh. Shabana shared that when she enrolled at St. Xavier's College, she found that there was no Hindi theatre program in the college. So Shabana and Farooq Shaikh decided to form the Hindi Natya Manch. Talking about her friendship with Farooq Shaikh, she said, "Farooq se meri behad dosti thi. Woh St. Xavier's College mein mere saath thay."
Later in their careers, they worked together in the play Tumhari Amrita, directed by Feroze Khan, which they performed across various countries. She recalled, "Jab aakhri show hua Tumhari Amrita ka, toh humne usey Taj Mahal ke backdrop mein kiya. Maine kaha ye play hum 22 saal se kar rahe hain, ab humein iss play par parda gira dena chahiye. Farooq ne poocha, kyun? Hum 22 saal se kar rahe hain, agle 22 saal tak aur karenge isey."
She added how just 14 days after this, Farooq passed away. “Ye baat mere sar mein constantly ghoomti hai. Woh itni young age mein guzar gaye ki mujhe aaj tak ajeeb lagta hai ki itni jaldi zindagi ne use kyun chheen liya humse? It's a huge pity."
Shabana also shared other anecdotes from her career. When Shyam Benegal offered her two roles together for the first time, she told her mother 'koi fraud director hai'. And when Satyajit Ray offered her a role, “main khushi se pagla gayi.” She told the students how these directors appreciated her craft and the nuances of acting that she learned from them.
Ghoomer came at a time when Gadar 2 and Jawan were running in theatres and we didn’t get enough screens-Saiyami Kher
8:24 AM
Divya Kaushik (BOMBAY TIMES; September 30, 2023)
Spotting Saiyami Kher shopping in a narrow lane in Janpath, which is known for its silver jewellery and ethnic clothes, was a surprise for many visitors and sellers. “Ye toh woh hi hain na jo abhi cricket wali movie mein aayi hain?” was their reaction as they approached her for selfies. The actress, who was in the capital recently, took some time to take a round of Janpath and reminisce about the time she spent in Delhi before making her acting debut.
‘I share a special bond with Delhi’
Saiyami says that Delhi is the place where she fell in love with acting and that is why the city will always remain close to her heart.
“I have very fond memories of Delhi. Before starting to shoot for Mirzya, I was living here for four months. I was staying in an apartment in Greater Kailash and doing an acting workshop. I came here at a time when I was still an aspiring actor and used to hear all kinds of toxic things. At that time I came to Delhi and met Dilip Shankar and Adil Hussain, who are my acting gurus. They guided me in the right direction. So Delhi was my acting school, I stayed here for months, learning acting and horse riding. I still come here every year to do workshop with my gurus,” says Saiyami.
‘I have shopped a lot from Dilli Haat’
Saiyami says that she did all touristy things when she came to Delhi before making her acting debut. “I visited India Gate, Qutub Minar, went to Old Delhi and many restaurants in Khan Market. At that time Shabana maasi (Shabana Azmi) was an MP and had a home here. We used to go to Lodhi Garden and I find that part of Delhi very beautiful. I used to shop a lot from Dilli Haat. My mom would come here and we would shop for mojaris and bags and my sister is very fond of handloom stoles and I used to take her entire stock from Delhi. I explored Delhi in those four months I was here. After that I have mostly been coming here for shoots. I shot for Breathe here and some parts of Special OPS. I will be coming here in mid-October for another shoot,” she says.
‘I am overwhelmed with the love I have got for Ghoomer’
Saiyami has been getting a lot of appreciation for her last release Ghoomer and she says that it is overwhelming that so many women are loving the movie, where she plays a paraplegic bowler.
“Ghoomer is closest to my heart. It has been a life altering film for me. I haven’t received this kind of love ever. It is surreal. Everyone who has watched it has loved it. Unfortunately, it came at a time when Gadar 2 and Jawan were running in theatres and we didn’t get enough screens but we still survived. It is surprising how much love we are getting from women, some 80-year-old women, some mothers of teens. They tell me they want their children to watch the film. A lot of schools are doing screenings of the film and it feels special,” says Saiyami.
‘Looking forward top spending time with family in festive season’
For Saiyami, celebrations started before the festive season kicked off as her movie Ghoomer received appreciation from the audience. She says that now she is looking forward to spending some time with family during the festive season.
She says, “Be it Diwali or New Year’s, the festive season for me is all about spending time with family. Honestly, festivals are the only time we get to be at home, eat ghar ka khaana. I don’t even feel like dressing up a lot on festivals when I am home, as that is something I do all the time as part of my profession.”
Race begins to select India’s official Oscar entry; The Kerala Story, Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani, Dasara in the list
8:15 AM
Sugandha Rawal (HINDUSTAN TIMES; September 21, 2023)
The pursuit to determine India’s official entry for Oscars 2024 has kicked off, with a slew of films vying for the coveted spot. Notable contenders include Balagam (Telugu), The Kerala Story (Hindi), Zwigato (Hindi) and Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani (Hindi).
“The Oscar committee has embarked on its meticulous selection process, involving multiple screenings, which commenced yesterday in Chennai, and the eagerly anticipated final announcement is to be unveiled next week,” says a source close to the selection process.
The decision regarding the official entry will rest in the hands of a 17-member jury, presided over by filmmaker Girish Kasaravalli.
Reports indicate that the committee has received an array of submissions, tallying over 22 entries. Among the noteworthy names forwarded to “the Film Federation of India for Oscar consideration are The Storyteller (Hindi), Music School (Hindi), Mrs Chatterjee Vs Norway (Hindi), 12th Fail (Hindi), Viduthalai Part 1 (Tamil), Ghoomer (Hindi) and Dasara (Telugu)”, adds the source.
India triumphed at Oscars 2023, clinching two Academy Awards thanks to S S Rajamouli’s RRR and Guneet Monga’s The Elephant Whisperers, and Pan Nalin’s Gujarati masterpiece Chhello Show was chosen as India’s official entry for the Best International Feature Film category.
The source also said, “The list might have additions such as Vaalvi (Marathi), Gadar 2 (Hindi), Ab Toh Sab Bhagwan Bharose (Hindi), and Baap Lyok (Marathi). We have received their application, but are waiting for the fees.”
Shah Rukh Khan, Amitabh Bachchan were like two kids in Disneyland during this shoot-R Balki
8:08 AM
Bringing Bollywood’s top two stars together for a commercial, R Balki says their friendship remains untouched by media scrutiny
Priyanka Sharma (MID-DAY; September 13, 2023)
It may have been over 15 years since “superstar” Shah Rukh Khan, and “superstar se bhi upar star” Amitabh Bachchan shared screen space. But, even today, brought together on the screen, the duo can get the entire nation to drop whatever they are doing, and pin their eyes on them. The titles that we used above were evidently stolen from a recent commercial that they featured in, with none other than R Balki at the helm.
For Balki, it is the camaraderie that the two share that makes their screen appearances seem so heart-warming. “I wish we could invite you to the shoot,” he says, adding, “they both had a blast while filming.”
Stating that the actors’ personal equation remains unaffected despite the comparisons that have been repeatedly made between them, he shares, “They are past any competition that people keep talking about. They are in a different zone. They adore each other and were like two kids in Disneyland during this shoot. Few people know that I have spent a lot of time with Shah Rukh and have an easy working relationship with him,” he says, fondly recalling an advertisement he shot with Khan a decade ago.
“It was an ad in which he had tackled questions on feminism when he was asked why an actor’s name precedes that of the actress on a film’s credit roll. He had responded, stating that would no longer happen. And till today, he ensures that his name comes later,” Balki says.
If the director has joined hands with Khan for several commercials, he has had the privilege of directing the megastar on several films, including his industry debut Cheeni Kum (2007), and the recently released, Ghoomer. “I often say that every actor should be like Amit ji. Shah Rukh also teases me about this. For me, Amit ji is Hindi cinema. I look at him as someone who can pull off anything. While shooting Ghoomer, Abhishek [Bachchan] told me, ‘I will perform this scene in a manner that is the opposite of the way dad does, but you will not like it, because you want everything to be done like ‘Bachchan’,” he laughs.
Evidently then, we’re eager to know if Balki intends to bring Khan and Bachchan together for a cinematic offering. “That’s not how I think. If I come across an idea that will justify their pairing, I will go to them. Then, they will decide if it is worth working on or not.”
Actors are neurotic, says Shabana Azmi; focus has shifted to PR machinery than acting, believes Saiyami Kher
10:17 AM
Renuka Vyavahare (BOMBAY TIMES; September 12, 2023)
Saiyami Kher, granddaughter of acclaimed Hindi and Marathi film actress Usha Kiran, addresses Shabana Azmi as maushi (aunt in Marathi) as they are family, but listen to their banter and you’ll know they are more like friends. There’s a bit of an age reversal here in terms of demeanour. Saiyami is an old soul, while Shabana has the spirit of a youngster. Those trying to figure out the Saiyami-Shabana connect, here’s a little trivia. Saiyami’s aatya (father’s sister) Tanvi Azmi is married to Shabana’s brother Baba Azmi. The aunt-niece pair who shared screen space for the first time in R Balki's 'Ghoomer' recently, took a trip down memory lane through this exclusive interaction with us. The two exchanged thoughts on a variety of subjects like...
Family ties and talent
Shabana: Saiyami took a few acting lessons from my mother, (the late Shaukat Kaifi, acclaimed theatre and film actress). My mother was someone who never minced her words. She said, ‘Yeh ladki ki andar se machine chalti hai’, which was a way of saying that Saiyami connects emotionally. She isn’t superficial. When my mother said that about her, I took it seriously because she wasn’t the one to say these things easily.
Saiyami: Daadi ma (Shaukat Kaifi) was kind enough to help me out with my Hindi improvement and acting. I was very fond of her, and she loved me, too. She was an extremely strict teacher. When Shabana maushi and I shot together, she reminded me so much of her mother that I accidentally called her daadi ma several times. I remember Shabana maushi telling me to work on my voice. “Don’t speak so nasal,” she would say.
Social media and making of a star
Shabana: I am not the kind of person who likes indulging in nostalgia and say, “Humare zamane mein yeh tha, woh tha.” How many followers you have on social media is now a reason for casting an upcoming actor. Earlier, you had to carry a portfolio, then reels of your work and now it’s about isko cast karte hai, iskay itnay followers hai. You get endorsements based on it, so for the younger generation it is important. For the senior generation, it’s a question of choice — whether we want to be out there or not. Zeenat Aman and Saira Banu are on Instagram now. Zeenat has made such a dignified entry on the platform. People are not going to cast us because we have a certain number of followers but because of our body of work.
Saiyami: I am from this generation, but I feel like I am 85. Given a choice, I would rather spend an evening with Gulzar sahab or Javed (Akhtar) uncle than go out and party with 25 or 30-year-olds. We will have more things to talk about. I have never been a fan of social media. I feel the focus has shifted to PR machinery and the Instagram algorithm today, as opposed to what you are supposed to do on camera, which is act. I hope we can revert to how the older generation functioned; the work was purer. But we can’t keep living in nostalgia. We must live in the present and strike a better balance between virtual and real.
Overcoming career battles
Shabana: Saiyami is a very passionate and committed person. There was a time when she went through a dark phase, and yet, kept going. She didn’t give up because she had faith in her abilities. She never let down the parts she played, but she needed something where her work would be recognised. I feel Ghoomer (the film directed by R Balki in which Shabana and Saiyami shared screen space) has done that for her. It was physically and mentally gruelling for her.
Saiyami: I was not getting work after my debut film (Mirzya, 2016). A wise man’s writing kept me going and his name is Javed Akhtar. I remember he wrote, “Zindagi mein kyu dare kya hoga? Kuch na hua toh tajurba hoga.” That line is etched on my mind.
Actors are neurotic: Shabana
Shabana says, “Acting is an interesting profession. You can come to a set feeling low after having had a nasty argument at home or show up elated if the day has been good. You can be expected to do a happy scene when you are feeling sad or vice versa. You must keep your personal feelings away and do what a scene requires of you. Which is why I say actors are neurotic. A civilised society says that you have to keep your emotions under control. Acting demands the opposite. You have to constantly keep yourself in a state of emotional preparedness.”
I won’t do a film I can’t show my daughter-Abhishek Bachchan
9:11 AM
Trying to balance commercial success and his hunger for diverse roles, Ghoomer actor Abhishek on how fatherhood influences his choices
Priyanka Sharma (MID-DAY; August 21, 2023)
In a scene in Ghoomer, Abhishek Bachchan’s character says, ‘This life is not a game of logic, but magic.’ In his 23-year career, it’s the magic of movies that has kept the actor going despite failures.
“You have to remind yourself every day that there is magic. It’s the hope that ruins you. You hear these stories that so-and-so actor came off a spate of unsuccessful films and that one film turned things around for him. Or that films were declared flops in the opening weekend, but took off Monday onwards. So, if your film doesn’t open well, you think, ‘Let’s wait for Monday.’ That hope is a dangerous thing,” says the actor.
Where exactly does the magic lie then? In the freedom to tell powerful stories, in the ability to become different characters. In his second innings, Bachchan has chosen wisely—from Manmarziyaan (2018) to Bob Biswas (2021) and now, Ghoomer, in which he plays an acerbic cricket coach. R Balki’s sports drama aligns with the kind of projects he wants to be part of. The actor is equally certain about the kind of films he doesn’t see himself doing.
“Now, more so as a parent, I won’t be comfortable doing a film I can’t show my daughter [Aaradhya]. I understand everybody’s artistic integrity and freedom. I am all for it, but this is a personal [stand]. I never want to do anything that I can’t sit with my family and watch.”
But even as he chases stories that resonate with him, Bachchan is clear that at the end of the day, commercial success is crucial. It’s important to keep the audience’s desires in mind.
“In India, heroes mean a lot [more] to us than just actors. So, there is a Bachchan-ism, or [the audience] wants Shah Rukh Khan to open his arms and do his signature pose. But then, the artiste within wants to break the mould and try something new. I firmly believe that in our industry, you can’t [say], ‘I am an actor, I want the freedom to do what I want to do.’ You are selling tickets. So, you’ve got to do what they want you to do. You will never find that balance. Also, if you find it, you get stagnated creatively because then you aren’t pushing the boundaries.”
(Crisp) Movie Review: GHOOMER by FENIL SETA
11:56 AM
Ghoomer is a sports-based drama about a cricketer who has lost her right arm. It is written and directed by R Balki and his trademark stamp is evident all over the film. The character of Abhishek Bachchan has a dry and dark sense of humour and the bond shared by the mentor and protégé is unusual and yet intriguing. This is also not a usual sports film as the character is trying to get back on her feet after a horrible accident. The second half is longer but doesn’t seem like it at all. On the flipside, a few developments are convenient. The narrative is also too quick in some sequences. And the biggest problem is that the trailer gives out a very important plot point. There’s a proper build-up done before that scene. But it doesn’t have the desired impact since one already knows what’s coming. Speaking of performances, Abhishek Bachchan delivers one of the finest performances of his career and it ranks next to Guru and Yuva. It’s also good to see him on the big screen after nearly 5 years. Saiyami Kher plays a difficult character with ease. Shabana Azmi is adorable. Angad Bedi is decent. Piyush Raina and Akshay Joshi (Saiyami’s brothers) are wasted. Shivendra Singh Dungarpur (Saiyami’s father) gets limited scope. Ivanka Das (Rasika) leaves a mark. Amitabh Bachchan is likeable in a special appearance. But some of his dialogues are not audible. All in all, Ghoomer is a fine effort and worth watching once.
My rating - *** out of 5!
My rating - *** out of 5!
Fenil's Bollywood Talk # 791
10:40 AM
GADAR 2 IS A BLOCKBUSTER; OMG 2 IS A SURPRISE SUPER-HIT; WILL GHOOMER GET AFFECTED?
A lot was said post-pandemic that the business in cinemas would get affected and that the pre-pandemic phase will never be back again. All the cynics had to eat their words this week. Not just Gadar 2 and OMG 2 but even the old films did exceptional business over the weekend.
Gadar 2 took a smashing opening, as expected. In our last week’s edition, we had predicted that it has an outside chance of collecting Rs. 40 crores on day 1. The Sunny Deol-starrer opened at Rs. 39 crores. Usually, when films open beyond expectations, they tend to drop on Saturday. In the case of Gadar 2, it jumped to Rs. 41.50 crores. Sunday was extraordinary at Rs. 52 crores.
Monday, August 14, was like a part-holiday of sorts as Tuesday, August 15 was a National Holiday. Hence, collections were expected to be huge after 5:00 pm. But the occupancy was encouraging even for the morning and noon shows. It ended up collecting Rs. 38.50 crores, which was just Rs. 50 lakhs less than Friday! And on Independence Day, the film went on an overdrive, collecting Rs. 55.50 crores. The film faced capacity issues as almost every show in the country was sold out. It had to share shows with OMG 2 and holdover movies. Or else, it could have collected Rs. 70 crores in a day. The demand was so huge that some exhibitors were forced to run shows 24 hours a day. This happened for the first time in many theatres in small towns.
And that’s not all. Wednesday was a Holiday only in Mumbai and a select few centres. Yet, it held strongly, collecting Rs. 35 crores. As a result, its first-week collections are expected to be around Rs. 280-285 crores. If it jumps yet again in the second weekend, it has chance of breaking Pathaan’s record of Rs. 512.76 crores.
OMG 2, meanwhile, faced several challenges. It got an ‘A’ certificate and came in front of the monstrous blockbuster, Gadar 2. It also seemed a bit of an urban film. The expectation was that it’ll open at Rs. 7-8 crores. However, the film’s first-day earnings were Rs. 9.25 crores. The collections jumped to Rs. 13.25 crores and Rs. 16 crores on Saturday and Sunday respectively. On Monday, it collected Rs. 11 crores, which was more than Friday's earnings. And on Independence Day, the film earned as much as Rs. 16.75 crores. On Wednesday, the collections were around Rs. 7 crores. Its first week collections will be around Rs. 78 crores. If all goes well, it’ll enter the Rs. 100 crore club by the second weekend or by Monday.
And that’s not all. Jailer’s Hindi version was released in very limited prints. The film’s response was mixed. Yet, it managed to hold very well. There was no space to screen additional shows and some theatres had to play post-midnight and early morning shows of the Rajinikanth starrer as well. It’s also a rare South dubbed film to work in Hindi in 2023, after Kantara. The Tamil version has done more than Rs. 200 crores of business (gross) and brings back Rajinikanth to the top league.
On the other hand, Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani continued to get audiences. It collected Rs. 9.50 crores in its third weekend. Its lifetime earnings will be in the range of Rs. 140-150 crores. Also, audiences continued to come for holdover films like Mission Impossible: Dead Reckoning - Part One, Oppenheimer, Barbie and Meg 2: The Trench. After a long time, almost all films were running house full in theatres. Many patrons had to return disappointed when they failed to get a ticket for any film on Sunday.
This week will see the release of Ghoomer, starring Abhishek Bachchan and Saiyami Kher. Directed by R Balki, it looks like a nice, inspirational sports film. But the buzz is limited and it has gotten fewer screens than expected since Gadar 2, OMG 2 and other films are doing exceptional business. It can open around Rs. 1 crore and has an outside chance of earning Rs. 2 crores as well. If word of mouth is positive, it can see a huge jump on Saturday.
A lot was said post-pandemic that the business in cinemas would get affected and that the pre-pandemic phase will never be back again. All the cynics had to eat their words this week. Not just Gadar 2 and OMG 2 but even the old films did exceptional business over the weekend.
Gadar 2 took a smashing opening, as expected. In our last week’s edition, we had predicted that it has an outside chance of collecting Rs. 40 crores on day 1. The Sunny Deol-starrer opened at Rs. 39 crores. Usually, when films open beyond expectations, they tend to drop on Saturday. In the case of Gadar 2, it jumped to Rs. 41.50 crores. Sunday was extraordinary at Rs. 52 crores.
Monday, August 14, was like a part-holiday of sorts as Tuesday, August 15 was a National Holiday. Hence, collections were expected to be huge after 5:00 pm. But the occupancy was encouraging even for the morning and noon shows. It ended up collecting Rs. 38.50 crores, which was just Rs. 50 lakhs less than Friday! And on Independence Day, the film went on an overdrive, collecting Rs. 55.50 crores. The film faced capacity issues as almost every show in the country was sold out. It had to share shows with OMG 2 and holdover movies. Or else, it could have collected Rs. 70 crores in a day. The demand was so huge that some exhibitors were forced to run shows 24 hours a day. This happened for the first time in many theatres in small towns.
And that’s not all. Wednesday was a Holiday only in Mumbai and a select few centres. Yet, it held strongly, collecting Rs. 35 crores. As a result, its first-week collections are expected to be around Rs. 280-285 crores. If it jumps yet again in the second weekend, it has chance of breaking Pathaan’s record of Rs. 512.76 crores.
OMG 2, meanwhile, faced several challenges. It got an ‘A’ certificate and came in front of the monstrous blockbuster, Gadar 2. It also seemed a bit of an urban film. The expectation was that it’ll open at Rs. 7-8 crores. However, the film’s first-day earnings were Rs. 9.25 crores. The collections jumped to Rs. 13.25 crores and Rs. 16 crores on Saturday and Sunday respectively. On Monday, it collected Rs. 11 crores, which was more than Friday's earnings. And on Independence Day, the film earned as much as Rs. 16.75 crores. On Wednesday, the collections were around Rs. 7 crores. Its first week collections will be around Rs. 78 crores. If all goes well, it’ll enter the Rs. 100 crore club by the second weekend or by Monday.
And that’s not all. Jailer’s Hindi version was released in very limited prints. The film’s response was mixed. Yet, it managed to hold very well. There was no space to screen additional shows and some theatres had to play post-midnight and early morning shows of the Rajinikanth starrer as well. It’s also a rare South dubbed film to work in Hindi in 2023, after Kantara. The Tamil version has done more than Rs. 200 crores of business (gross) and brings back Rajinikanth to the top league.
On the other hand, Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani continued to get audiences. It collected Rs. 9.50 crores in its third weekend. Its lifetime earnings will be in the range of Rs. 140-150 crores. Also, audiences continued to come for holdover films like Mission Impossible: Dead Reckoning - Part One, Oppenheimer, Barbie and Meg 2: The Trench. After a long time, almost all films were running house full in theatres. Many patrons had to return disappointed when they failed to get a ticket for any film on Sunday.
This week will see the release of Ghoomer, starring Abhishek Bachchan and Saiyami Kher. Directed by R Balki, it looks like a nice, inspirational sports film. But the buzz is limited and it has gotten fewer screens than expected since Gadar 2, OMG 2 and other films are doing exceptional business. It can open around Rs. 1 crore and has an outside chance of earning Rs. 2 crores as well. If word of mouth is positive, it can see a huge jump on Saturday.
Angad Bedi credits Dear Zindagi cameo for bagging role in Balki's Ghoomer
8:20 AM
Priyanka Sharma (MID-DAY; August 15, 2023)
Sometimes, an unspoken heartfelt wish finds its way to realisation. To Angad Bedi, Ghoomer is that realisation. The actor, who plays a supportive partner to Saiyami Kher in the sports drama, recalls how he did a cameo in Gauri Shinde’s Dear Zindagi (2016), hoping it would catch the attention of her filmmaker-husband R Balki.
“Gauri Shinde said I should do Dear Zindagi because people would see me in a different light from how they saw me in Pink [2016]. I said yes because somewhere I thought that Balki sir might notice me. In 2022, when he offered me Ghoomer, I asked him if he wanted to test me for the role. He refused, saying, ‘I don’t need to because I remember that scene you did in Dear Zindagi.’ My one scene stayed with him for six years,” the actor beams.
Balki’s upcoming directorial venture also stars Shabana Azmi and Abhishek Bachchan. What makes Ghoomer even more special is that it gave Bedi a chance to explore the genre of romance.
“In romance, less is more. Your eyes, body language and actions [convey] a lot more than dialogues. Balki sir said, ‘You are in that phase of life where you are selfless, as you have a family now. I want that selfless energy for this character.’”
That the project united him with his friend Kher was a delight. “Saiyami was my first friend in the film industry. We started our careers together. We feel happy for each other on the signing of a new film, and look out for one another. We also bond over cricket.”
This is a good time for actors because the stock stereotypes have been rejected-Shabana Azmi
8:03 AM
Following up Rocky Aur Rani with the sports drama Ghoomer, Azmi says she is lucky to bag diverse roles
Upala KBR (MID-DAY; August 13, 2023)
Ghoomer is her “revenge” against her cricket-fanatic family, laughs Shabana Azmi. In the upcoming R Balki-directed movie, she plays a cricket-obsessed woman who is a source of support to her cricketer-granddaughter, essayed by Saiyami Kher. This, when she isn’t fond of the sport in real-life.
“I’m considered panvati; I only have to look at the TV and somebody from the Indian team gets clean bowled. My family and staff boycott me [when a match is on]. If I enter the room, I am made to sit with my back to the TV. So when Balki offered me this role, I felt this was my revenge on the lot. Javed [Akhtar, writer-husband] is a sports buff and has tried to explain the intricacies of cricket to me often,” she smiles.
In her first collaboration with Balki, the veteran actor is deeply impressed by the director’s working style. “He is relaxed on the sets, but he will make you do the shot again and again till he gets what he wants. He adores cricket and Abhishek says this is his most emotional film.”
With Ghoomer, she comes full circle with the Bachchans. Having worked with Amitabh Bachchan earlier and more recently with Jaya Bachchan in Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani (RARKPK), she is delighted to team up with Abhishek.
“I had done Umrao Jaan [2006] with Abhishek earlier. He is a prankster, but also courteous and well-behaved with seniors. His role in Ghoomer is unlike anything he has done before and he has risen to the challenge impressively.”
Her last release, RARKPK, has been loved by audiences, with her character of Jamini Chatterjee being particularly appreciated. Had she expected such a warm response?
“It has been overwhelming. The credit goes to Karan [Johar, director] and Manish Malhotra in how they styled me. Anurag Kashyap said that seeing me in the soft, romantic role made him realise how important it is for directors to break the stereotypes in their heads, when it comes to casting. I’m lucky to do different roles, like the ones in Rocky Aur Rani...and Ghoomer, on the heels of one another. I’d be happy to do more of such roles in the future. This is a good time for actors because the stock stereotypes have been rejected.”
I am almost 47, but I will always be Amitabh Bachchan's boy-Abhishek Bachchan
3:23 PM
Initially uncomfortable with Big B’s praise, Ghoomer actor Abhishek says parenthood has made him realise his megastar-father’s desire to celebrate him
Priyanka Sharma (MID-DAY; August 10, 2023)
Amitabh Bachchan is an acting legend. But beneath the glitz of superstardom, he is also like any other parent, proud of his children’s achievements. Who understands this better than his actor-son Abhishek Bachchan? Since the trailer of Ghoomer dropped online last week, senior Bachchan’s Twitter timeline is filled with posts praising Abhishek’s work in the R Balki-directed sports drama.
“I see him become comfortable with talking about me publicly. He says, ‘What the hell! I’m your father!’ I tell him [to go easy on the praise], saying, ‘Don’t do this, people will jump on!’ But then, I feel that even though he is a great icon, he is also a father. I’m almost 47, but I will always be his boy. I understand that today because I have a daughter [Aaradhya]. If she does something, I want to show off to the world,” smiles Abhishek.
In his second innings, he has been cherry-picking projects—from a romantic drama in Manmarziyaan (2018) to a thriller in Bob Biswas (2021). And senior Bachchan, like a doting dad, has cheered his eclectic choices, showering him with praise in an otherwise cut-throat line of work. Abhishek asserts that people should be mindful that artistes also have vulnerabilities.
“Early on in my career, when things weren’t going [my way], I used to say to myself, ‘Can you imagine what your parents are going through?’ They see their child publicly getting lambasted, and are powerless to do anything. At times, I find it insensitive when people criticise [him for praising me] because they forget that he is also a parent. Can you imagine after so many years, he finally mustered the courage to say what he feels as a father!”
Even before his father’s applause came his way, Abhishek knew that the sports drama—which sees him as an eccentric coach helping Saiyami Kher’s differently-abled cricketer realise her dream—had potential. The actor says Balki comes up with ideas that are hard to ignore.
“What piqued my interest in Ghoomer is that my character, Paddy, is the opposite of what a coach should be. He is ill-mannered, insensitive, and drunk, but by the end of the film, you realize he is a good coach. That conflict is so much fun to work with.”
Ghoomer makers get Murali Kartik on board to train Saiyami Kher
8:19 AM
Saiyami on how she trained with bowler Murali Kartik to convincingly play a left-handed cricketer in Ghoomer
Hiren Kotwani (MID-DAY; July 27, 2023)
Saiyami Kher has been passionate about cricket since childhood. But playing a cricketer on screen is a different ball game altogether. In R Balki’s Ghoomer, the actor essays a cricket prodigy who, after an injury, is determined to chase her dream and learns to play the sport with her left hand.
The makers roped in former cricketer and left-arm spinner Murali Kartik to train her. “I had to learn how to become a left-arm spinner,” says the right-handed actor. “Murali Kartik’s bowling is as beautiful as it gets. He is a wonderful spinner with an orthodox style—loopy trajectory with good spin and bounce.”
Before the unit took the Kher, Abhishek Bachchan and Shabana Azmi-starrer on floors, the leading lady did a few practice sessions with Kartik in early 2022, in Mumbai.
“We trained together for a few days. After that, I’d keep sending him videos, and he used to guide me on the areas that needed improvement. Since I know the basics of the game, he’d guide me about technical changes, like backfoot movement or how the landing foot should be placed,” says Kher.
R Balki's Abhishek Bachchan-Saiyami Kher starrer Ghoomer to open Indian Film Festival of Melbourne
8:00 AM
Upala KBR (MID-DAY; July 10, 2023)
R Balki probably couldn’t have asked for a more apt place for the première of his next, Ghoomer. The sports drama—starring Shabana Azmi, Abhishek Bachchan, Saiyami Kher and Angad Bedi—will be premièred in Melbourne, considered the sports capital of Australia. It has been selected as the opening film of the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne (IFFM) that kicks off on August 11.
Ghoomer tells the story of a paraplegic sportsperson, portrayed by Kher, who excels as a cricketer under the guidance of her coach, essayed by Bachchan. For Kher, it’s a matter of pride that her movie will be screened in the country of the late Shane Warne, of whom she remains an avid fan.
“I couldn’t have asked for anything better than going to the land of the great Shane Warne to showcase our film. Playing a sport on screen was always my dream, I have been manifesting it since I started acting. I’m glad it has finally come true,” she says.
The première will be attended by Azmi, who had been keen to collaborate with Balki. When he offered her the part of Kher’s cricket-obsessed grandmother who encourages the protagonist to follow her dreams against her family’s wishes, the senior actor said yes in a heartbeat.
“Ghoomer has a delicious part for me. I haven’t watched the final cut yet, but it’s exciting to do such a variety of roles at this point in my career,” says Azmi.
Through the movie, director Balki wanted to go beyond a sports drama to show how people can turn an adversity into an advantage. He shares, “The movie is a tribute to sports and the reservoir of human resilience.”
Saiyami Khar and Abhishek Bachchan's Ghoomer inspired by Hungarian right-hand shooter Károly Takács
8:39 AM
R Balki’s next film Ghoomer, starring Saiyami Kher and Abhishek Bachchan, is inspired by late Hungarian right-hand shooter Károly Takács
Renuka Vyavahare (BOMBAY TIMES; February 27, 2023)
Abhishek Bachchan will be seen playing Saiyami Kher’s cricket coach in R Balki’s next, Ghoomer. This will be the second time that Abhishek and Saiyami will share screen space; the two were earlier seen in the second season of the web series Breathe 2.
Saiyami’s character in the film is inspired by the story of Károly Takács, the late Hungarian righthand shooter who won two Olympic gold medals with his left hand after his other hand was seriously injured. In an exclusive chat with Bombay Times, Saiyami and director R Balki opened up about their film and more.
Balki said, “Ghoomer is neither a traditional cricket film, nor meant to be a women’s cricket story or about women empowerment or gender dynamics. We wrote this about four years ago. It’s about an individual’s resilience who refuses to wallow in self-pity. This character happens to be a woman. What Saiyami has done with this role is incredible. Abhishek also plays a complex character. How do you help a person without pitying their circumstances? He essays a man who has not had a great life but wants to help fulfil someone else’s dream.”
Saiyami revealed, “Cricket has always been my first love and I have played the sport right from my school days. To be able to play a cricketer on screen was thrilling, but the real challenge here was different. I play a differently-abled cricketer in Ghoomer. She has only one arm and she bowls with it. I am a right-handed player, but I had to bowl with my left arm here. We had to invent a new delivery, bowling action and norms of how the sport is played. I had to field, bat, and bowl with one arm. Despite knowing the game and having the body language of a sportsman, the training took me three months. We take so many things for granted in life. Essaying this character gave me a different perspective on life. Abhishek plays the man who inspires this physically challenged cricketer to become a champion. It is not just another film on cricket. It’s about the triumph of the human spirit.”
The actress was guided by cricketers like Yuvraj Singh and Ajinkya Rahane through this journey. “Most of my cricketer friends get bored talking to me about cricket, but various conversations with them helped. Cricket commentator and former left-arm spinner Murali Kartik was of great help in particular.”
Abhishek Bachchan has learnt to relax for the camera, without losing the punch in his performance-R Balki
8:33 AM
Decade after their last collaboration, R Balki says Ghoomer leading man Abhishek has better understanding of his craft now
Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; October 4, 2022)
With the success of their 2009 offering, Paa, establishing that their collaborative efforts have many takers, it was only a matter of time before R Balki and Abhishek Bachchan joined hands again. In the filmmaker’s Ghoomer, Bachchan plays a cricket coach to Saiyami Kher, thereby tackling a subject that is dear to the Indian masses.
Bachchan junior’s acting abilities, he says, has undergone drastic change in the decade gone by. “He is no longer weighed down by the pressures of the project, or his character. He has learnt to relax for the camera, without losing the punch in his performance. He is an understated actor — intense, but with a certain casualness behind his simmering intensity. When actors showcase the character’s depth with ease, [the performance] sparkles. I love how secure he is, and this comes from tremendous understanding of his craft,” he says.
If Bachchan banks on his demeanour to grab attention, Kher lights up the screen with her dramatic portrayals. Considering her athletic capabilities, she would arguably be a top contender for any sports-related film. Balki agrees.
“Saiyami is possibly the only real sports person in the industry. She is a real athlete, so the film’s intricacies have been absorbed beautifully by her. There were days when she’d surprise me with her performance. Once, I went up to her and asked, what is so [upsetting] in your life that you can cry the way you do, in a second? She can emote at the snap of a finger. She is a reservoir of talent.”
Meanwhile, Balki has his attention trained on his upcoming Netflix’s anthology series, Lust Stories. The film reportedly stars Mrunal Thakur and Neena Gupta. “I hope people will be surprised to see that we’ve made a film on this theme, sans any lust. We have made a U-Rated film on lust,” he signs off.
Meet Shabana Azmi as Saiyami Kher’s cricket-obsessed grandmother in Ghoomer
8:10 AM
Shabana on how her first collaboration with Balki was a dream as she wraps up Ghoomer
Upala KBR (MID-DAY; June 9, 2022)
“It went by so quickly. I feel we had started just now,” laughs Shabana Azmi, who wrapped up her portions of Ghoomer yesterday. R Balki’s cricket drama, also starring Abhishek Bachchan and Saiyami Kher, is almost complete, save for a day’s shoot with Amitabh Bachchan who makes a cameo appearance. Her first collaboration with the director was everything she had hoped for.
Azmi says, “Balki and I wanted to work together for long. When I read Ghoomer’s script, I knew this was it. I play Saiyami’s cricket-obsessed, stoic grandmother. Balki is cool to work with, and consumed by cricket.”
The film sees Kher essay the role of a cricketer, with Abhishek playing her coach. Being a part of the cricket drama was a novel experience for Azmi, who watched the recent Indian Premier League as part of her homework.
“In real life, when a cricket match is going on, the entire house turns its back on me, including the staff. They are glued to their TVs, while I sit with my back to the screen. I have this fear that the minute I look at the screen, India will lose a wicket,” she laughs, before adding, “Hopefully, doing Ghoomer will break the superstition.”
With the film wrapped up, Azmi and Javed Akhtar will head to London to watch the Wimbledon next month, after which she will begin shooting for the second season of Halo.
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