The news about Shannu’s [Shravan Rathod] demise left me shattered. We have lost one of the greatest music composers of India. We started out as teenagers, almost 48 years ago. During my Elphinstone College days, our mutual friend Harish Bhopaiya introduced us, knowing Shravan and I would connect over music. Soon after, in 1973, we judged a singing contest at St Anne’s Girls’ School, and after that, started jamming together. One fine day, Shravan suggested that we team up, like Laxmikant-Pyarelalji and Kalyanji-Anandji. That’s how our journey started.

We composed over 1,200 songs together. Our first assignment was Bhojpuri movie Dangal (1977), which went on to complete a golden jubilee. Mithun Chakraborty, who was like our godfather, believed in us and helped us sign Ilaaka [1989]. The next year, we bagged Aashiqui [1990], which was a turning point in our lives. That film was God’s gift to us — I had gone to Mecca before that, and prayed for international fame. For Aashiqui, we had a sitting with Gulshan ji [Kumar] at Mithun da’s bungalow at Madh Island. The sitting went on from 11 pm to 2 am. After hearing the songs, Papa ji [Kumar] hugged us and said, ‘Let’s work together.’ 

The success of Aashiqui’s album landed us Saajan [1991], Phool Aur Kaante [1991], Sadak [1991], Deewana [1992], Hum Hain Rahi Pyar Ke [1993], Raja Hindustani [1996] and many more movies. Shravan was like my younger brother. We did everything together — from buying his first car to [scouting the city for] his first house. Unfortunately, we were hit by a tragedy [the Gulshan Kumar murder case in 1997] and suffered for no fault of ours. [The environment] was so vicious that we kept fighting, until one day, Shravan broke down. It created a rift between us till we reunited for Do Knot Disturb [2009].

In spite of our differences, our bond was unbreakable. I had spoken to him only 25 days ago. I was constantly in touch with his son Sanjeev from the day he was hospitalised. Today, it feels as if a part of my body has been taken away. In the course of our partnership, we’ve lived a lifetime, and seen the highs and lows together. I feel helpless that I couldn’t meet my friend to bid him goodbye.

On Thursday night, music composer Shravan Rathod, of the popular Nadeem-Shravan duo, passed away due to Coronavirus-related complications in a hospital in Mumbai. The 66-year-old composer reportedly was on ventilator support for the last few days. His wife Vimladevi and son Sanjeev are admitted to another medical facility, while his younger son Darshan, tested negative. The composer and his wife had attended the Kumbh Mela recently.

Nadeem-Shravan were one of the most successful composer duos in the history of film music and together they ruled the Bollywood music space all through the 90s. Their music for the film Aashiqui (1990) was a huge hit and the soundtrack went on to become one of the best-selling Bollywood albums of all time.

Shravan, son of classical singer Pt Chhaturbhuj Rathod, was first introduced to Nadeem Saifee at a college function in 1972. Impressed with each other’s musical skills, they joined hands to compose music together and began their journey with the Bhojpuri film, Dangal in 1973. They started bagging full film assignments only in the late 80s with films like Ilaka (1989), but it was Aashiqui (1990) that proved to be a game-changer in their musical career.

Nadeem-Shravan ruled the industry with one hit album after another for films like Dil Hai Ke Maanta Nahin (1991), Saajan (1991), Phool Aur Kaante (1991), Sadak (1991), Deewana (1992), Damini (1993), Hum Hain Rahi Pyar Ke (1993), Raja (1995), Jeet (1996), Raja Hindustani (1996), Pardes (1997), Sirf Tum (1999), Dhadkan (2000) and Barsaat (2005), among others.

The duo weathered the tumult caused in their musical journey when Nadeem was accused of having played a role behind the murder of music baron, Gulshan Kumar in 1997. Nadeem, who was in London at that time, never returned to India though he was acquitted of all charges by a Mumbai sessions court. He currently resides in Dubai. They continued to work and score music, but split after Dosti: Friends Forever (2005).

While Nadeem went solo, Shravan started focussing on the music career of his composer sons, Sanjeev and Darshan. He cherished his musical journey with Nadeem and rued the fact that Hindi film music, today, copies a lot of Western music. In an interview in 2018, he had said, “Nadeem and I used the bansuri, sitar and shehnai in all our compositions. The soul of India is contained within these three instruments. R D Burman always used the bansuri. That is why his songs have lasted.” Shravan’s brother’s Roopkumar Rathod and Vinod Rathod, too, made a name for themselves in the music industry as singers.

As soon the news of his demise became known, messages of condolences began pouring in from the music fraternity. Salim Merchant, Sunidhi Chauhan and Shreya Ghoshal were among those who expressed grief and shock over Sharan’s death on social media.

I still can’t believe that Shravan bhai is not with us anymore. Itna pyara insaan, itna zabardast music director... they (Nadeem-Shravan) ruled the music industry in the 90s. Mujhse unhone ek se ek gaana gawaya aur bahut saara pyaar diya. Shravan bhai loved me like an elder brother. Whenever there would be trouble or any problem, he would call me or come home and say, ‘Tumhe kya takleef hai? Mujhe batao, main tumhara bada bhai hoon.’ Aisa pyaara insaan humein chhod ke gaya. Logon ke sukh-dukh ko samajhte the woh. Such an artiste, a fankaar humare beech nahi rahe. In these dark times, he has left us. He had gone to the Kumbh Mela recently and had called me from there saying, ‘I have come to the Kumbh Mela for the holy bath.’ I told him that he should’ve told me about this earlier and that I could have also gone with him. But after he got off the phone, I thought to myself that during the pandemic, why did he go there? He already had health issues. He did not listen to others and went there, and now he is no longer with us. May his soul rest in peace.

Shravan ji was sweet, gentle, ever-smiling and such a gifted composer, who while teaching the song to the singer would show the subtle nuances of the track. This is a great loss, I will remember him forever.

I have lost my eldest brother, and it is like losing my father all over again. Shravan bhai, along with Nadeem, had made some great melodious music in that era. He will always be the torchbearer of our family.

This is terribly shocking news and I still cannot believe that Shravan ji is no longer with us. We have known each other for a long time, aur meri zindagi ka ek bahut important part the woh. When we used to record with them, he would personally give me inputs. He would teach me the little nuances of a composition, especially the classical parts. Shravan ji contributed in a big way to every song of mine that I sang for them. He would always call me Tiger, and sometimes, make me sing more than once. I will miss him a lot and feel extremely sad that he is no longer with us.

Bahubali actor will spearhead epic 3D action-drama with Bhushan Kumar and Om Raut; film takes off early next year and will release in 2022
Roshmila Bhattacharya (MUMBAI MIRROR; August 18, 2020)

At a time when the world is still in the grips of the Coronavirus-triggered pandemic which brought the entertainment industry to a halt for almost four months, Bhushan Kumar has joined hands with Prabhas and Om Raut to bring to the screen an epic 3D action-drama, Adipurush, which revolves around the triumph of good over evil. The ambitious Hindi-Telugu bilingual will be dubbed in Tamil, Malayalam, Kannada as well as several foreign languages. It will take off early next year and is eyeing a 2022 release.

Om Raut, who helmed this year’s top grosser, the period drama Tanhaji: The Unsung Warrior spearheaded by Ajay Devgn, has envisioned and will produce and direct this lavishly-mounted spectacle. “We embark on this journey with pride and passion and promise the audience an experience like never before,” vows the filmmaker.

He has found an enthusiastic production partner in Bhushan. Prod him on what gives him the confidence to back such an ambitious project at such a time and Bhushan says, “I grew up on tales rooted in our history and mythology. My father, Gulshan Kumar, was a devotee of Shiva, Ram and Mata Rani, and for me, this is a way of carrying his dream forward. That’s why, when Om narrated the script to me, I was immediately excited. Om and I, too, have pushed two of our films to a later date. This includes an action thriller with Kartik Aaryan because it needs to be shot in a particular country and it’s hard to make travel plans right now, but I can assure you that there’s no stopping Adipurush. We will start shooting by January with Prabhas leading the cast, which will include another big name playing the antagonist.”

For Prabhas it’s a step up from S S Rajamouli’s Bahubali, which released in two parts, and not only made him a pan-India phenomenon but also got him a following across the globe. “Every role and every character comes with its own challenges, but portraying a character like this from our epic in the way Om has designed it, comes with tremendous responsibility and pride,” the actor admits.

An elated Om was thrilled to get a nod from the actor as soon as he heard the narration. Bhushan, who has worked with Prabhas earlier in Saaho and his upcoming Radhe Shyam, adds that given his image and his persona for action, he’s the perfect choice to play this larger-than-life hero.

Nikita Deb (HINDUSTAN TIMES; July 3, 2020)

“In life, everything happens in its own time. I came to Mumbai in 2007, and filmmaker Sanjay Gupta gave me a break in his film Shootout At Lokhandwala,” says singer Mika Singh, who believes that the Bollywood music industry is a beautiful place and should not be disrespected.

After the recent vlog that singer Sonu Nigam released, accusing Bhushan Kumar of running a mafia in the music industry, Bollywood stands divided on this front. While some believe favouritism exists, others believe that everything works purely on merit. Singh says that in the recent years, he has seen so many new singers who have made a name for themselves.

“Sonu Nigam is saying he is not getting any songs but there are so many new singers who have gained immense popularity in the industry. There is Arijit Singh, Armaan Malik, now of course, B Praak has made a name for himself. And apart from that, our singers from Punjab are continuing to do excellent work. Ab B Praak toh industry ke kisike bua ka beta nai hai. Bohot logon ka naam ho raha hai and un mein se kaafi logon ko Bhushan Kumar ne hi break diya hai,” says Singh.

And about the constant war that Nigam and Kumar seem to be entangled in, Singh says with a laugh, “Sonu Nigam ji and Bhushan Kumar are like boyfriend girlfriend or husband and wife. Whenever they fight, you should let them be. Sonu Nigam ko banane wale bhi Gulshan Kumar the, so since then, they have a love-hate relationship and we should not get into it.”

While Singh says that Nigam is a legendary singer, he is of the opinion that Nigam is giving out a wrong message to the world about the music industry. “He shouldn’t give a wrong message to the world that Bollywood is ruled by mafias etc. We have got everything from this industry and this city, we must not diss it. Everyone needs a break, and after that, everything is based on talent. Every two years, I see a singer who becomes momentarily popular with millions of views and then disappears. But singers like Udit Narayan, Kumar Sanu and Sonu Nigam have been singing for so many years.,” says Singh.

Singer Kumar Sanu regrets not spending enough time with these music maestros; says he wishes he could have recorded more songs with them
Nikita Deb (HINDUSTAN TIMES; March 1, 2020)

One of the most popular and loved singers in Bollywood, Kumar Sanu ruled the ’90s with his music and songs. With superhits such as Yeh Kaali Kaali Aankhen (Baazigar; 1993), Tujhe Dekha Toh (Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge; 1995) and Aankh Marey (Tere Mere Sapne; 1996), to his credit, Sanu stills enjoys a sizeable fan following even though he doesn’t sing as many songs anymore. As the king of melody completes 30 years in the music industry, he says that even though there were times when things were “unpredictable”, he always had “faith in karma and music”. Excerpts from an interview:

You have completed 30 years in the industry. How has the journey been?
The journey was amazing with many ups and downs. At some points, it was quite unpredictable, but I had faith in karma and music. It always kept me together and down to earth. I never forgot my roots. My musical journey is something I can’t ask more from. It’s very satisfying as an artiste and most importantly, I’m still getting love from my fans all over the world, and that makes me feel a like complete artiste.

What are your biggest learnings and takeaways from this long period of being associated with Bollywood?
My biggest learning is to remain down to earth, no matter how successful I am. It’s natural to be thinking too much of yourself when you’re successful. But after you reach the peak of success, it’s only downhill from there. I just know that one should never get disappointed. Your time will come one day.

You have a world record for singing the most number of songs (28 tracks) in a single day. All things considered, are you content with all that you have achieved until now?
Yes of course. I’m quite happy with whatever I’ve achieved so far. God has given me much more than I asked for. Now, it’s time for me to give back to the society. That’s why I’m running free schools and doing whatever I can do on my own to give back to the less fortunate people who are part of my success. I guess, being happy is the key to success. I never let my personal grief overpower my art, and I’m the happiest person when I meet my fans. It feels like an award when I see their love for me in their eyes. What else I can ask for?

Do you have any regrets professionally?
My biggest regret is the death of Gulshan Kumar ji and Pancham da (R D Burman). I wanted to work more with them, spend time with them and it couldn’t happen. Sometimes, I miss them so much when I listen to their songs, and I feel the void that they left in the industry. I wish they were here.

You’re one of the most loved singers in the industry till date. Do you think singers today don’t enjoy the same popularity that you did?
In our time, luckily, there were limited singers because we had to sing live in one take to record the entire song, along with the musicians. One had to be very skilled to sing live at one go. That’s why there were only people who knew to sing properly. Nowadays, it’s easy to be a singer with technical tuning support and that’s the reason why there are more singers than we need in Bollywood. To put it simply, in my time, I used to sing five to six songs in one movie, now five to six singers sing one song and then one version is finalised. This experiment is good to get variations in the song, but popularity gets divided amongst all. That’s the only difference I can spot. There are many talented singers in the industry today, and they’re doing quite well.

How do you think the music industry has changed over the years?
Look, change is necessary. We can’t get stuck in time. We still hear melodious songs along with rap etc. It’s always good to accept new things. The only thing I don’t like is using abusive language in songs. It affects our young generation and it’s bad!

You still sing in movies and are also working in the independent space, what keeps you going even today?
Positivity is what still keeps me going even today. I feel happy when I’m in studio and singing live amongst my audiences. It’s their love which inspires me a lot to keep going.

What is your vision for the music industry?
There are many talented artistes in the industry and there’s a bigger scope than before. Everyone can get their chance at least once, to prove themselves which is very nice. Amazing music is being made and there are a variety of praiseworthy singers. It’s the best time for music industry today, and for all the kids out there. I hope for the best for music industry and send my love to the new talents.

MUMBAI MIRROR (August 2, 2019)

After a year-and-a-half, the cold war between Akshay Kumar and Bhushan Kumar has come to an end. The two, who had become close friends collaborating on several films like Humko Deewana Kar Gaye, Bhool Bhulaiya and Airlift, fell out when the actor opted out of Mogul, the biopic of Bhushan’s late father, Gulshan Kumar.

A few months later, The T-Series head honcho decided to release Satyameva Jayate alongside Akki’s Gold on August 15, 2018, and buzz was it was his way of getting back at the actor for leaving their pet project in the lurch. While the filmmaker denied the speculation then, it didn’t come as a surprise when his acquisition, Saaho, toplining Baahubali sensation Prabhas, was announced to open in cinemas this Independence Day weekend, along with Akshay’s Mission Mangal.

Mirror has learnt that a few weeks ago, the duo decided to let bygones be bygones. According to a source close to the development, “Akshay and Bhushan met and decided to bury the hatchet. During the meeting, there was a reference to both their films releasing together on August 15 and if it could have been avoided. But since that seemed unlikely, neither of them pursued the subject.” The source adds that Bhushan understands that Akshay won’t be doing Mogul and it’s up to him and Aamir Khan, with whom he is collaborating on his pet project, to decide on another actor.

While Bhushan Kumar remained unavailable for comment, Akshay stated, “There’s no problem between us at all. Bhushan ji had come over to my office a couple of days ago and we’re planning a film together.” When asked if he will be acting in the sequel to Bhool Bhulaiya, Akshay said evasively, “We’ll be announcing it soon.”

Avinash Lohana (MUMBAI MIRROR; October 22, 2018)

Around two weeks ago as traumatic #MeToo stories started emerging, Aamir Khan had distanced himself from Mogul, the Gulshan Kumar biopic he was co-producing with Bhushan Kumar, over alleged sexual misconduct charges against the film’s director Subhash Kapoor. “As creative people, we have been committed to foregrounding and finding solutions to social issues, and at Aamir Khan Productions we have always had a zero tolerance policy towards sexual misconduct and predatory behaviour of any kind. We strongly condemn any act of sexual harassment, and equally we condemn any and all false accusations in such cases,” stated a joint statement issued by the actor-producer and wife Kiran.

Without taking names, Aamir’s statement reasoned that since this particular case is subjudiced and the legal process is in motion, without casting aspersions on anyone involved or coming to any conclusions about the specific allegations, they had decided to step away from this film. “We do not want our action to reflect in any manner on the people involved in this case. We believe that this is an opportunity for the film industry to introspect and take concrete steps towards change. For too long, women have faced the brunt of sexual exploitation. It has to stop. In this regard, we are committed to doing any and everything to make our film industry a safe and happy one to work in,” the statement concluded.

In his defence, Subhash Kapoor stated that while he understands and respects Aamir and Kiran’s decision, he intends to prove my innocence in the court of law. However, soon after, as Mirror (October 12) had reported, T-series head honcho Bhushan too decided not to work with the director.

Now, Mirror has learnt that following Subhash’s exit, Aamir is back on board. “The script is close to Aamir and he wants to make the film. Bhushan and he have had a number of meetings since and decided to collaborate on Mogul again. The hunt is on for another director. They are also looking at finalising the cast so they can roll with the film, asap,” informs a source close to the development. Buzz is, the 53-year-old actor could play Gulshan Kumar himself.

Nayandeep Rakshit (DNA; October 19, 2018)

In the wake of the #MeToo movement, Bhushan Kumar’s Mogul (a biopic on his father Gulshan Kumar) had hit a roadblock. Aamir Khan, his co-producer, who was also set to act in the movie as the male lead, distanced himself from the project after allegations of sexual harassment against filmmaker Subhash Kapoor came to light. The Jolly LLB director was then ousted from the film. Even though the makers are yet to rope in a director to helm the project, they have zeroed in on one of the female leads.

Our source reveals, “Sonakshi Sinha has been approached for it. The film dates back to the ’70s and ’80s and the team was looking for a heroine, who could exude that retro vibe.” The Dabangg actress has given her nod verbally to the project. “It’s a small, but meaningful role. Sona will only need to shoot for a few days. When she heard the script, she liked it and told Bhushan that she would do it. But the modalities still need to be worked out,” adds the source. We reached out to T-Series that is producing the film, but they remained unavailable for comment till the time of going to press.

On the lines of Sanju
Mogul will have three female characters. The source tells us, “It will depict the entire life of the music mogul. Sonakshi will play one of his girlfriends before marriage. The film is being designed on the lines of Sanju, where several A-list actors made small appearances. But among the three girls, Sona will have the most prominent part.” The movie is likely to go on floors by the end of this year and is scheduled for a Christmas 2019 release.

Amid rumours that the Rajneesh Osho project is on hold, Aamir Khan likely to headline the T-Series founder's biopic
Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; September 8, 2018)

Though the Gulshan Kumar biopic has been through its fair share of upheavals, looks like the project is now in safe hands. While Aamir Khan had already come aboard as the co-producer of Mogul, the latest buzz in the corridors of the production house is that the superstar is likely to essay the role of the music baron too. This development comes in the wake of reports that the project based on the controversial Indian godman, Rajneesh Osho, has been put on hold.

A source close to the development reveals, "Aamir and Bhushan Kumar [producer] have constantly been brainstorming about who should play the lead. Since the two haven't been able to zero in on an actor who fits the bill, Aamir is now putting serious thought into slipping into the role himself. The film's final draft is currently being written, with him monitoring its progress and giving inputs wherever needed. But right now, his top priority is Thugs Of Hindostan. Once he wraps up the post-production work on the film, he will read the final script of Mogul and take a call."

While it was earlier suggested that Khan will train his sights on the Osho biopic after Thugs Of Hindostan, the plan seems to have undergone a change. "After undergoing several look tests, Aamir felt that he wasn't able to look the part of Osho. So, he has decided to forgo the project for the moment. Though he is also committed to the long-drawn Mahabharata series, Mogul is likely to be his next project. He will make an announcement by year-end," says the source, adding that the team is hoping to take the Subhash Kapoor-directed film on floors by January. Bhushan Kumar and Khan have booked Christmas 2019 for the release date of the saga. Khan's spokesperson as well as the production house remained unavailable for comment.

With co-producer Aamir Khan supervising Gulshan Kumar biopic, Bhushan Kumar promises a "tell-all", including references to music baron's death
Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; August 4, 2018)

Amidst discussion on who will play the lead in Mogul, the biopic based on music baron Gulshan Kumar, producer-son Bhushan Kumar insists that the film's cast will be announced by year-end. Agreeing that it is imperative to get the cast right, Bhushan points out that the script is the all-important factor when making a biopic. With Aamir Khan — who is known for his acute understanding of scripts — as a co-producer, he adds that Mogul will be a "tell-all" on his illustrious father.

"The story is almost ready. Aamir Khan is immersed in the entire scripting process. Subhash Kapoor [director] has spent the past one-and-a-half years researching every detail about my father's life. We have had multiple meetings on how to structure it. The film will start right from when he was a college student to how he sold juice in Daryaganj, Delhi, to how he became a game changer in the music industry," says Bhushan.

One of the biggest names in the Indian music industry, Gulshan's murder on August 12, 1997, sent shock waves across the country. It was suggested that Akshay Kumar, who was to play the protagonist in Mogul, backed out because of the overt references to the connection between Bollywood and the underworld then. Ask him if the sinister circumstances that led to Gulshan's death will find a place in the film and he says, "The film is a tell-all, so it will obviously be there. At the same time, one must remember that in a runtime of two-and-a-half hours, we can't possibly fit everything. We might have to omit a few things too."

The makers are hoping to roll the ambitious project early next year. Quiz him if he makes an appearance in the film and he laughs, "We'll rope someone in to play me, but it will be a small role. The spotlight is completely on my father and his awe-inspiring story."

Nayandeep Rakshit (DNA; July 31, 2018)

Over the last one year, a lot has happened as far as Gulshan Kumar’s biopic, Mogul, is concerned. The biography, which was originally meant to feature Akshay Kumar as the music mogul, came to a grinding halt when the Bollywood superstar returned the signing amount with a thank-you note indicating that he would not be available.

Recently, he even confirmed the development and reasoned there were ‘differences over the script’ with the makers. Then, Aamir Khan took over as co-producer and got writer-director Subhash Kapoor to redo the script to his satisfaction.

Bhushan Kumar, head honcho of T-Series, who’s bankrolling the movie based on his father’s life, had told us a few months ago, “We haven’t finalised the lead, but we will have a younger star in the film.” Now, After Hrs has learnt that Ranbir Kapoor is Bhushan and Aamir’s first choice.

Says a source close to the development, “Bhushan feels Ranbir will suit the character. Since he is a good actor and has a good market value as well, the makers felt he was the perfect choice to play Gulshan Kumar. They have even discussed the whole idea with him, but they haven’t arrived at a decision yet.”

Not just that, RK, who shares a warm relationship with Aamir, was even cajoled by him to star in the biopic. “Aamir met the Kapoor scion and tried to convince him to do the film,” adds the source. During his promotions for Sanju, we had asked Ranbir whether he was averse to doing too many biopics, considering the total transformation and other aspects of such roles. At that time, he had said, “On the contrary, I enjoy challenges. I’m aware that an actor’s job is not like a nine-to-five one. And I actually look forward to pushing myself to do things that are out of the ordinary because it is part of my vocation.” So, will Ranbir say yes to Mogul? Only time will tell!

Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; April 17, 2018)

As producer Bhushan Kumar works towards bringing father Gulshan Kumar’s story to the big screen, rumours are rife that Aamir Khan might collaborate with him on Mogul. In the latest development, it has been learnt that Khan — known for his discerning eye for scripts — has recommended changes to the story, subject to which he will come on board as co-producer.

An insider informs that the superstar has apparently asked writer-director Subhash Kapoor to make it an underdog story. “The screenplay is currently being tweaked to make it more about Gulshan’s rise from being a fruit juice vendor to the owner of the biggest music label in the country. Aamir is a big believer in underdog stories,” reveals the source.

With the tone of the biopic being changed to an aspirational one, Khan is said to be keen that the film have minimal references to the murky side of showbiz. “Aamir wanted the underworld details to be reduced. The alleged role of the underworld in Gulshan’s death will be eliminated. The film will just touch upon these topics,” adds the source.

Kapoor, it has been learnt, is reworking the script at a furious pace before he presents it to Khan and Kumar for a final narration. When we reached out to the writer-director, he said, “I can’t speak about it as I am under an NDA with T-Series.”

Meanwhile, speculation continues on who will play the lead. Though trade circles suggest that Akshay Kumar — who was the first choice for the role but was later said to have returned the signing amount — will be part of the biopic, names of other stars including Khan’s are doing the rounds.

T-Series and Khan remained unavailable for comment.

Meena Iyer (DNA; January 24, 2018)

It’s an AK v/s AK situation. Akshay Kumar, who had given his nod to Mogul, the biopic on the late music baron Gulshan Kumar, has reportedly exited the project. In the last few weeks, he has avoided answering a direct question on this topic. However, one hears from reliable sources that the actor has even returned the signing amount.

Director Subhash Kapoor of Jolly LLB franchise had told us that his work on the script is still on. Now, there has been a new development or like the filmis would say, ‘Kahani mein twist hai’. One hears that Aamir Khan, who says ‘no’ more often than ‘yes’ when it comes to movies, has reportedly stepped in to produce the film. After he takes over the reins, one doesn’t know what changes are due.

A source says, “Aamir will produce this biopic, which itself is an important development. Whether he will play the lead is not yet decided. No other details are known as of now.”

Aamir has shared a cordial relationship with Gulshan’s son Bhushan Kumar and his family. Some of his most memorable music has been distributed by their label and they share a successful professional relationship. Despite repeated attempts, Aamir remained unavailable for comment.

Hiren Kotwani and Rachana Dubey (BOMBAY TIMES; December 8, 2017)

Sometime ago, there was an announcement about Akshay Kumar playing the lead in a biopic called Mogul, based on music industry bigwig, the late Gulshan Kumar. Now, the buzz in industry is that Akshay will not headline the cast of this film, which is being directed by Subhash Kapoor (of Jolly LLB fame). When the news about Akshay playing the title role of this ambitious project first appeared, the actor had said, “I had the good fortune of knowing Gulshanji well and had a close association with him right from my first film, Saugandh. We both shared many things in common and come from a similar background. I am very excited to play him on screen.”

And producer Bhushan Kumar, Gulshan Kumar’s son, had added, “I always knew that one day, I would make Mogul and share my father’s amazing story with the world. I can think of no one better than Akshay to play him on screen.” In fact, Akshay and Bhushan officially entered into an agreement on the project at a 300-year-old Shiva temple in Maheshwar, Madhya Pradesh. The venue was chosen, as Gulshan Kumar was an ardent devotee of Lord Shiva and Akshay was shooting Pad Man in Indore at that time. So, it came as a shock when the news of Akshay opting out of the movie started doing the rounds.

These stories sparked when the film, which was originally scheduled for a 2018 release, was pushed to 2019 without any fixed release date. Reportedly, there were creative differences between Bhushan and Akshay. Also, apparently, that Subhash Kapoor is now expected to helm Jolly LLB 3 with Arshad Warsi and Akshay, which is expected to roll out sometime in 2018.

However, when BT reached out to Bhushan Kumar, he maintained that the movie is on track and work on the script is underway. “This is not just another film for us. Mogul is a very emotional project. This is a story, which will be narrated only once. Subhash is working on the script and the focus is on getting it right. There are so many aspects of the subject, and it’s important that the right emotional connect comes through,” he explained.

On bringing up the fact that the film’s shoot has been deferred, which has had consequences on the eventual release date, he said, “We had never locked the dates with Akshay. Once the script is finalised, we will proceed with planning and scheduling the shoot. The priority is to get the script right. It’s not easy to tell a life story in two-and-a-half hours flat. And since Mogul is based on my father’s life, we have invested emotionally in the project, especially my mother.”

When contacted, Akshay said, “Subhash is scripting the film. Only after the script is finalised will the production be scheduled, no?”

Sonil Dedhia (MID-DAY; November 17, 2017)

Musician Nadeem Saifi has suggested that he may take legal action against the media publication that alluded to his association with Dawood Ibrahim, after revelations on Monday indicated that the artiste was apparently being protected by the underworld don. “I am consulting my lawyers. If they advice me to do so, I may take action,” Saifi tells mid-day.

The musician, one half of the popular duo Nadeem-Shravan, jetted off to UK after his name cropped up in the 1997 murder case of Gulshan Kumar. The media outlet suggested that call intercepts dating to 2015 were indicative that Saifi may have been getting protection from Ibrahim on foreign turf. The developments arise in the wake of the Modi government’s pursuit of India’s extradition pleas for fugitives overseas.

Rubbishing the reports, Saifi, who is currently residing in Dubai, says, “These are baseless allegations. People are trying to defame me. The story refers to a conversation tapped in 2015 . Where were these guys for two years? Since they [Indian government] don’t have anything [development] in the Gulshan Kumar case, they are trying to frame me. I am ready to be investigated. They can check my bank accounts. I am being made a scapegoat. No one is protecting me. I have never spoken to anyone.”

The report speaks of a reference to a certain “Ustad”, a “goggled man” and a “London friend” in the intercepts, and suggests that they may be indicative of Saifi. But, the musician questions how the code names point towards him. “I don’t wear them [goggles], and I am not an ustad. Have they mentioned my name in the conversation?”

He also points out that the transcript refers to a singer, an art, he says, he isn’t associated with. “When did I sing? I am a music composer.” Finally, he says he could not be a ‘London friend’, given that he has been residing in Dubai for the last 10 years.

Saifi’s unwillingness to return to India stems from a fear of being framed. "There are no cases pending against me, but, I fear that if I come back, they will arrest me. I don’t want my family to be tortured. In fact, my parents are ailing, but, I am not able to see them.”

Saifi also says that the Indian government has been inaccurate in associating him with the case. “The UK High Court judgment said that ‘the accusation of murder and conspiracy made against this applicant is not made in good faith’. I am a free man. I have won five court cases. I have proved my innocence.”