Showing posts with label Glasgow. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Glasgow. Show all posts
It would be unfair to say that 2020 wasn’t good to me-Vaani Kapoor
8:04 AM
Rachana Dubey (BOMBAY TIMES; February 24, 2021)
We are a little under two months into 2021, and while most industries of the country are now up and running, people are still finding ways of adapting to the new normal. Sharing her thoughts about how the last year has been and what lies ahead, Vaani says, “2020 was difficult, but it would be unfair on my part to say that the year wasn’t good to me. I shot two films during the last six months of the year. I was busy, and I had something to look forward to every single day. Professionally, it’s worked out well for me; at home, my loved ones were fine, and we sailed through it all. It’s ironic, but I have to say that 2020 wasn’t a bad year for me.”
Recalling the time when she first stepped out, Vaani says, “We had little work left for my film Shamshera with Ranbir Kapoor. And then, I started working on Bellbottom, my first film that commenced during the partial lockdown. Chandigarh Kare Aashiqui with Ayushmann Khurrana followed. In hindsight, I think it can be nerve-racking when you initially step out, but you do get over it. We all stepped out, running a bit of risk. Hats off to the production teams that set up the units and ensured that everyone is safe in every circumstance.”
Elaborating on how the producers convinced her to take a leap of faith when things were still uncertain, Vaani says, “How would it look if I called my office and said that I want to work, but I am not sure if I want to come out? The company would ask me to chill at home and appoint someone else for the job, right? The thing is, you have to take that leap of faith and start working. Otherwise, suit yourself, and sit home. I stepped out because I wanted to work. Bellbottom was shot in Glasgow entirely, where the cases were not high. It’s a spreadout place, we were quarantined and stayed in a bubble with regular health checks. It’s also an individual responsibility to keep the surroundings and yourself hygienic and safe. It’s like any other job scenario. I did what lakhs of working Indians did — took a leap of faith to get back to work.”
How did her family react to her decision? Vaani says, “My family was scared and apprehensive for my wellbeing. But they also realised that it’s not just me, the producers and my costars are also travelling and taking the same chances. Ayushmann, who was shooting in his home city, stayed at the hotel with us for the sake of his family’s safety. I think people have been brave all along. I wasn’t alone, which gave me a lot of courage.”
We had a great chef, who lives there in Glasgow, and had fun shooting for Bellbottom-Adil Hussain
8:05 AM
It is important to resume work as there are people who earn daily and work is needed for their survival!
Adil Hussain (HINDUSTAN TIMES; November 13, 2020)
I have been working in films for the last 10 years. To shoot Bellbottom, I was able to get out of the confines of my apartment, but at the same time, I felt sad to leave behind my son, Kabir, who’s all of 10, and my wife Kristen. It was a very mixed feeling. For five months, I had been at home, cooking and baking for him, dancing and playing music.
At the same time, to be able to work again, in every sense of the word, was a great thing. One is practicing what one loves a lot. But the apprehension was there in terms of travel, and what it would be like once we go to Scotland. I had also heard that 15 days of quarantine is a must. We had already gotten used to it, but for those who live with a family, quarantine in a hotel room is very different.
I reached from Delhi to Mumbai to catch our charter flight, and spent the night in a hotel. The hotels were just opening up then, and all the restrictions made it feel a bit strange. Once we arrived at the airport, everything was smooth. We all had got our Coronavirus tests done 48 hours in advance, organised by the production. All 150 crew members boarded a flight, wearing our masks and shields. We played housie in the plane, keeping social distancing absolutely intact, and food was given in packets – there was no luxury.
The implementation there at the shoot by Scottish authorities was well managed, and in time. We had a great chef, who lives there in Glasgow, and had fun shooting. I have worked with Akshay Kumar in Good Newwz earlier as well and Huma (Qureshi) is a friend. Lara (Dutta Bhupathi) and Vaani (Kapoor) I hadn’t met before. Those not shooting though were required to stay at hotel, and they were not gallivanting on set. I finished early in 20 days, and didn’t have to wait to come back as flights had resumed. I had to undergo a test again 48 hours before coming back, and then I again quarantined in Delhi after landing, for 15 days.
I absolutely feel that we should resume working. There are some people, those who are well paid like actors and directors, DOPs… A lot of people imagine that we all are paid huge amounts of money, but very few people get that.
There are people who are daily earners such as light boys and other crew members and for that I think it is extremely important for the industry to function and resume their work. If not for anything else then at least for survival and for doing some work which they love. It’s gratifying and for our mental and emotional health too, it’s very important.
Disclaimer: The views expressed here are author’s personal
Bellbottom: Akshay Kumar restricts daredevilry to screen
8:38 AM
Among first Bollywood films to kick off post-pandemic, Akshay Kumar's Bellbottom team adopts safety measures on Glasgow set; installs sanitisation tunnels, ensures local unit hands stay within premises
Sonia Lulla (MID-DAY; September 18, 2020)
The unit of Akshay Kumar-starrer Bellbottom headed to Glasgow in the first week of August, becoming among the first few teams in Bollywood to kick off work in the post-Coronavirus world. Knowing that shooting in the midst of a pandemic comes with its own risks, co-producer Jackky Bhagnani accompanied them to ensure safety measures were implemented. A source says that crew members, including the local drivers and unit hands, have been instructed to live within the premises cordoned off for the shoot, thus minimising interaction with the outside world. The production team is also ensuring that meals are prepared by specially appointed cooks to keep unit hands from ordering food from restaurants.
"The cast and crew are staying together at one location. On a daily basis, oximeter and temperature readings are being recorded by a doctor present in the premises. While the sets are sanitised after the shoot every day, sanitisation tunnels have been installed for crew members to use before reporting to work. Jackky has ensured that PPE kits and medical equipment are constantly available, and fresh masks provided to the 145-member crew," says the source.
The thriller, set in the '80s and revolving around a series of plane hijacks, features an ensemble cast of Huma Qureshi, Lara Dutta and Vaani Kapoor. The prep for each shot naturally takes longer as each actor is first attended to by the hairstyling team, followed by the make-up artistes. "The unit is maintaining a distance of six feet, as much as is possible," adds the source. Director Ranjit M Tewari is expected to wrap up the shoot in two weeks.
Akshay Kumar-starrer Bellbottom is a hijack drama
8:09 AM
Akshay Kumar plays a spy from the ’80s who’s racing against time to save 212 Indians on board an ill-fated flight in an espionage thriller currently being shot
Himesh Mankad (MUMBAI MIRROR; September 9, 2020)
On August 21, Akshay Kumar, Lara Dutta and Huma Qureshi kicked off the shoot of their espionage thriller, Bellbottom, in Glasgow, the first Bollywood unit to venture outside India, since the shoots resumed after the Coronavirus-induced lockdown. The makers have recreated the ’80s and the marathon schedule will go on till September-end. The shoot commenced with a 10-day indoor schedule, before the team stepped out. Mirror has learnt that the Ranjit M Tewari directorial is inspired by real events, set against the backdrop of a hijack. Akshay’s character, a flamboyant spy, races against time to save the 212 Indians on-board the ill-fated flight, who have been taken hostage.
Confirming the news, Jackky Bhagnani, who is producing the film with father Vashu, Deepshikha Deshmukh and Nikkhil Advani, says, “Our film is an espionage thriller revolving around a hijack. We’ll be shooting at multiple real locations across Scotland, including the airport, which is a vintage structure and blends well with the setting of our film.”
Akshay turns 53 today and it will be a working birthday for him. However, Jackky confides that they’ve planned a special surprise for the actor.
The team flew to the UK on August 6 and used the mandatory 14-day quarantine period to continue with their prep and finalise last minute details in place. “This shoot is special because it’s been a while since we were on a film set. It’s a relief to be back in action. We have a Covid officer on the set all the time and sanitisation, masks, and other SOPs are being followed strictly,” informs Jackky, adding that over the next few weeks, they will be filming on the streets of Glasgow.
While Lara has shot her scenes, Vaani Kapoor, who plays Akshay’s leading lady, joined the unit in Glasgow recently. Huma is there too. The film is scheduled to open on April 2, on the Good Friday weekend.
There’s definitely something special about a working birthday-Diana Penty
8:11 AM
Kavita Awaasthi (HINDUSTAN TIMES; November 5, 2019)
After her special appearance in Khandani Shafkhana and her glamourous avatar at the Cannes Film Festival earlier this year, Diana Penty took off to Glasgow, Scotland to shoot for her next project. We learnt that she flew a day prior to her birthday (November 2) and was in the flight for most part of her birthday.
“It was almost a working birthday for Diana, who will shoot for her next film Shiddat in Glasgow. She flew there for the first schedule of the film and felt it was the best birthday gift she could get. She is excited to kick start the whirlwind journey on her special day. Diana believes in new beginnings and starting a schedule of her next film is just that for her. The well-timed schedule of Shiddat seem like a perfect way to bring in her birthday. After rom-coms and dramas, this is her first intense love story and she is working with producer Dinesh Vijan once again after her debut in the 2012 film Cocktail.”
Diana says, “I usually spend my birthday with family and close friends, but this year I was travelling on the day. There’s definitely something special about a working birthday, it’s the perfect way to bring in the new birthday year! Shiddat is a special film and I look forward to kick-starting the first schedule in Glasgow.”
Ranveer Singh to start shooting for Kabir Khan's '83 from June 5
7:56 AM
Natasha Coutinho (MUMBAI MIRROR; May 17, 2019)
Kabir Khan’s next directorial ’83, featuring Ranveer Singh as Kapil Dev, Captain of the World Cup-winning Indian cricket team of 1983, is going on the floors in Glasgow on June 5. The film’s team will be shooting at a local cricket club in the Scottish port city for a week, followed by other popular locations like Dulwich college in London, Edinburgh cricket club, Nevill Ground at Royal Tunbridge Wells in Kent and the Oval cricket ground.
A source associated with the film informs, “The team has been having marathon meetings every day and all the actors who had been training regularly for two hours, have been putting in extra time before the shoot begins. Ranveer was recently in Delhi to spend time with Kapil Dev before getting into his shoes and the former cricketer is also expected to drop in on the sets.”
Accompanying the onscreen team that has Saqib Saleem, Adinath Kothare, Harrdy Sandhu, Ammy Virk among others on the shoot, besides Pankaj Tripathi who plays their manager Man Singh, are their coaches Rajiv Mehra and former cricketer Balvinder Singh Sandhu.
Kabir, confirmed the news, saying, “Since it’s a real-life story, this film involved a lot of training and research. Now that it’s going on the floors, starting with the Glasgow schedule, everyone’s excited to recreate a journey that made history, all thanks to our cricketing heroes of the ’83 team.” The film is being produced by Madhu Mantena, Sajid Nadiadwala, Vishnu Induri, Shibasish Sarkar and Kabir.
Mirror had earlier reported (April 15) that besides actors from across the country who play members of the winning team, West Indies fast bowler Malclom Marshall’s son Mali Marshall has also joined in to essay his father in the film. Kabir has also approached the sons of other famous West Indian players and talks with them are on, including fast bowler Carl Greenidge, son of Gordon Greenidge.
Shah Rukh Khan and Amitabh Bachchan join hands for Sujoy Ghosh's crime-thriller Badla
8:10 AM
An adaptation of a Spanish film, it also features Taapsee Pannu and is currently being shot in Glasgow
Avinash Lohana (MUMBAI MIRROR; June 18, 2018)
Mirror (April 2) had earlier reported that after Shoojit Sircar’s National Awardwinning 2016 courtroom drama, Pink, Amitabh Bachchan and Taapsee Pannu will reunite for Sujoy Ghosh’s next directorial, Badla. We have now learnt that Shah Rukh Khan has come on board the crime-thriller as the producer, along with Sunir Kheterpal. SRK and Big B last collaborated on Vivek Sharma’s 2008 horrorcomedy Bhoothnath.
“When
you get an actor like Amitabh Bachchan, half your battle is won as he’s
every director’s delight and I’m extremely excited to direct him. Also,
I have been trying to work with Taapsee for a while. This is the
perfect story to collaborate with her on. My excitement is doubled now
that the film is being produced by SRK. I couldn’t have asked for a
better team and now it is time for work,” says Sujoy from Glasgow where
shooting began last week.Big B, who joined the unit on Saturday, has earlier featured in Sujoy’s 2009 fantasy-adventure Aladin and the 2016 thriller Te3n for which he was the producer. Sujoy informs that Sunir had the adaptation rights to The Invisible Guest, the 2017 Spanish film which is reportedly being remade in Korea and Italy, but the Hindi remake should be the first to finish. “I thought it was superlative material for AB Sir and pitched it to him. Taapsee was already on board, SRK also loved the source material and the collaboration happened seamlessly,” he exults, adding with a laugh, “This is my first film with Taapsee and after the shoot finishes, I’ll get her some mental help. AB sir is cool, the coolest of them all.”
Prod him on whether SRK will make a special appearance in the film and he says, “SRK is the producer but like hell I am going to stop him from making an appearance.”
Check out Sidharth Malhotra & Katrina Kaif partying like Scots in Glasgow
7:55 AM
Sanyukta Iyer (MUMBAI MIRROR; October 9, 2015)
Sidharth Malhotra and Katrina Kaif, who have been filming Nitya Mehra's time-travel romance Baar Baar Dekho in Glasgow, spent last night partying with the unit after the debutante director called the schedule a wrap.
The unit went bar crawling through the streets of Scotland, and even insisted that Sid try on a 'Kilt', the knee-length, non-bifurcated skirt-type garment with pleats, which is a popular Scottish attire.
The film, which brings Sid and Kat together for the first time, goes back and forth in time and will see the jodi age from their 20s to their 60s.
Katrina Kaif-Ranbir Kapoor play it up in London; Sidharth Malhotra in Scotland?
8:09 AM
Bollywood's 'It' couple mix work with pleasure, putting to rest rumours of an impending split
Sanyukta Iyer (MUMBAI MIRROR; September 2, 2015)
The hashtag, 'National Award' was trending for over 12 hours on Twitter on Tuesday, after Katrina Kaif announced that she would get married only after she bags the coveted National Award for a performance in a Bollywood film. And Kat was trolled on the internet.
Of late,
the 32-year-old actress has been making more headlines for her real-life
getaways, with partner Ranbir Kapoor than her reel-life adventures. She
is currently in London, painting the town red with her beau, while
Sidharth Malhotra films Nitya Mehra's directorial debut, Baar Baar
Dekho, in Glasgow. "Ranbir left for London from Mumbai on August 29, Katrina flew out two days later. He's been shooting with Anushka Sharma and Aishwarya Rai will join them next month. They have a three-month-long shoot, while, Katrina and Sid are filming for one month, in Scotland. Kat has a week off before joining her unit. Even later, she plans to shuttle between Glasgow and her home in London, between schedules. Ranbir will be staying with her when she's in town," informed a source close to the actress.
Sidharth arrived in freezing Glasgow, on August 26 and has been shooting since.
Kat is a British national by birth and has a family home in London where her brother, Michael, currently lives. "The siblings are really close and are often spotted with Ranbir in the Queen's City. Earlier this month too, they were vacationing in London," added the source.
It was recently reported that all is not well between the two and the couple may call it quits. Rumour mills started buzzing overtime following Kat's absence from a recent fashion show, where Ranbir was the showstopper.
Putting speculations to rest, the source asserted, "Ranbir drove Katrina to the screening of her recent release, Phantom. She couldn't attend the show since, she is contractually bound to another brand. She is often spotted on the sets of Ranbir's films. And now, the couple are enjoying some quality time together."
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