Showing posts with label Hong Kong. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Hong Kong. Show all posts
14 cuts in a 25 minute short film: How Hong Kong censors films in name of security
7:59 AM
SNIPPING FREEDOM: A statue by the city’s harbour commemorating the Hong Kong Film Awards
NEW YORK TIMES | THE TIMES OF INDIA (September 30, 2021)
Hong Kong: The director of “Far From Home,” a short, intimate film about a family caught in the tumult of the 2019 anti-government protests in Hong Kong, had hoped to show off her work at a local film festival in June. Then the censors stepped in. They told the director, Mok Kwan-ling, that her film’s title — which in Cantonese could carry a suggestion of cleaning up after a crime — must go. Dialogue expressing sympathy for an arrested protester had to be excised. Scenes of removing items from a room also had to be cut, apparently because they may be construed as concealing evidence.
In total, Mok was ordered to make 14 cuts from the 25-minute film. But she said that doing so would have destroyed the balance she had attempted to forge between the views of protesters and those who opposed. So she refused, and her film has thus far gone unseen by the public.
Hong Kong’s world-famous film scene, which nurtured groundbreaking directors like John Woo and Wong Kar-wai, has become the latest form of expression to be censored since Beijing imposed a tough new national security law on the former British colony last year.
In March, a local theater pulled the prize-winning protest documentary “Inside the Red Brick Wall” after a state-run newspaper said it incited hatred of China. At least two Hong Kong directors have decided to not release new films locally. When an earlier film by one of those directors was shown to a private gathering last month, the gathering was raided by the police. Directors say they fear the government will force them to cut their films — and, potentially, put them in prison— if they dismiss demands and show their work.
Beyond the national security law, the government plans to toughen its censorship policies to allow it to ban or force cuts to films deemed “contrary to the interests of national security.” Such powers would also be retroactive, meaning that authorities could bar films that were previously approved. People that show such films could face up to three years in prison.
Fenil's Bollywood Talk # 628
9:46 AM
SOUTH KOREAN FILM ALIVE EMERGES AS A HIT; GIVES HOPE TO REST OF THE WORLD!
There has been no new release across the world since 3-4 months thanks to the Coronavirus induced lockdown. The Hollywood has been itching to get back to it’s feet and as reported last week, 4 films planned to release in the month of July – Unhinged on July 10, The Broken Hearts Gallery on July 17, Mulan on July 24 and Tenet on July 31. Unfortunately, due to the rising cases in USA, all these films were shifted ahead. As per the new schedule, Unhinged now arrives on July 31 followed by The Broken Hearts Gallery on August 7, Tenet on August 12 and Mulan on August 21.
However, there’s one place where the cases have dropped considerably and where many activities have resumed, including going to cinemas. This country is South Korea and it was a surprise to know that last week, on June 24, a film called Alive released in cinemas. It was very well received and surprisingly, managed to get 5 million footfalls in just five days! It has done a business of $5,475,383 (Rs. 4.13 crore approx) till now.
Many experts had predicted that moviegoers would not go to see a film till the time a vaccine is not found. Hence, it’s interesting and even heartening to see that despite the Coronavirus scare still looming large in the world, people have thronged to cinemas in Korea. Theatres in fact never got shut in South Korea ever! What also helps is that the country got very less Coronavirus cases. As of Wednesday July 1, it had just 12,850 cases and mere 282 deaths. On an average, it gets only 40-50 cases a day. The other major markets of the world like USA, UK, India etc still suffer from a large number of new cases daily. China is another major market but it hasn’t given go-ahead for theatres to resume operations.
On the other hand, there have been several other countries that have opened up cinemas like Japan (was also kept open like South Korea, but theatres had shut down for 2-3 weeks in April), Vietnam, Hong Kong, Thailand, Australia, New Zealand, UAE, Netherlands, Denmark, Switzerland, Sweden, Norway, Finland, Iceland, Czech Republic, Croatia, Slovakia, Estonia, Hungary, Italy, Spain, Germany and Poland. In most of these regions, social distancing is heavily enforced and hence, a limited number of people are allowed per screen. And all of them are playing old films. Yet, it’s heartening to know that week by week, the footfalls are seeing a gradual increase. Hong Kong saw a 71% increase, Taiwan 35%, New Zealand 17%, Australia 17%, UAE 16% increase in footfalls as compared to last weekend. The box office income in these regions is meagre but it’s a good start. And once new films release in July end, it’s sure to earn more and also by then more markets would have opened.
It's a race against time for USA cinemas
9:05 AM
Box Office India Trade Network
The cinemas in USA were expected to open in the first and second week of July but now it seems a race against time and they will have to delay the opening. The government has given the go ahead but its unlikely that many state governments will now allow due to rising cases of Coronavirus. It is very difficult to see cinemas opening up in early July in most of California, Texas or Florida though New York could see cinemas return.
The importance of USA cinemas is due to content. There are cinemas open in many places in the world and more will open in early July but the content has to come from Hollywood and that can only happen when majority of the cinemas in USA open which is the domestic market for Hollywood. TENET was scheduled to be a 17th July release but was then pushed to 31st July and now moves to 12th August as the opening of cinemas gets delayed. MULAN is now scheduled to be the first major release but a lot depends on how many cinemas will be open by that time in USA.
The markets which are open with a healthy number of screens at present are as follows.
South Korea (did not shut down)
Japan (shutdown for 2-3 weeks in April)
Vietnam
Hong Kong
Thailand
Australia
New Zealand
UAE
Netherlands
Denmark
Switzerland
Sweden
Norway
Finland
Iceland
Czech Republic
Croatia
Slovakia
Estonia
Hungary
Italy
Spain
Germany
Poland
South Korea and Japan are seeing the best turnout and here the former country did not shut down theatres while the latter had for a very limited time. As the reopening of cinemas in US is delayed it will put the date for India further also as the content for India will also come from Hollywood as cinemas try to reopen.
My role in Love Sonia gripped me to the extent that I started despising the male touch-Mrunal Thakur
8:03 AM
Rachana Dubey (BOMBAY TIMES; September 1, 2018)
The experience of working on a hard-hitting film like Love Sonia has changed actress Mrunal Thakur’s perspective completely. She had honed her skills on Indian television and commercials, but when she opted for this unconventional debut in Bollywood, little did she know that the global setting, the phenomenal cast and director Tabrez Noorani’s film will bring her face to face with such dramatic highs and lows. In a chat with BT, the actress talks about her journey so far, about playing a character that has drained her emotionally and why she thinks prostitutes deserve respect. Excerpts…
After travelling to film festivals, Love Sonia is finally gearing up to release in India. How do you look back at the experience of working on your debut film?
We have been hearing great things about our project and I think it’s my good karma that I got a chance to work with director Tabrez Noorani in a film that has such a phenomenal cast. Not just that, the story was extensively researched, too. It was a tough part to pull off because Sonia is the voice of thousands of girls, who are being trafficked globally every minute.
Your film has been garnering praise in international markets. How do you think the audience here will react to this hard-hitting story?
One of Tabrez’s friends started an NGO after watching the film and she has rescued 15-17 girls already. I want people to know what teenage girls go through when they get trafficked. Girls need to be aware that a faceless friend on social media could actually lead them into a trap. This story of two sisters will fill you with emotions and make you more empathetic towards trafficked women.
While TV and ad films don’t give an artiste much room for research and detailing, films and theatre do. Now that you have dabbled in all three, which would you say is the most demanding medium?
Nothing is easy. TV requires you to multitask — you are given your lines at the last minute, plus there are other chores like costume, hair, make-up and microphones. You have to take care of everything without getting distracted, because if you’re not focused, the camera catches it. My co-actresses on TV have helped me clear my Hindi diction because I had a thick Marathi accent. Commercials teach you the art of speaking subtly to the audience. Theatre polishes the artistry. But with films, you get sucked into a different world — there is so much research for everything. My co-star Riya Sisodiya and I had been to Sonagachi in West Bengal to study the prostitutes there, and pick up the subtleties of their body language. It’s a sad reality that these girls are addicted to bidis and drugs. They are forced to consume drugs, so that they can go through the grind every day.
Did the experience of working on a film about prostitution and human trafficking get overwhelming?
The experience taught me to respect these women. Their stories are heartbreaking. They sleep with 40-50 men in a day and barely get 100 or 50 rupees per person. Is that life? I met a lady from Kolkata, who looks after the children of these prostitutes and ensures that they lead a life different from their mothers. It felt great to meet someone like her. I feel I can be their voice, too. This film has given me a chance to put their perspective across to the world. No one hesitates to call them whores, but no one cares about what they go through. There were scenes in the film, which I told Tabrez I can’t do. He addressed my discomfort and shot them according to my preference. When I was in Hong Kong and LA, there were two scenes that shook me completely. I was told that a girl was sold twice as a virgin with the help of surgery so that the pimp could make twice the money. Every day, 270 girls go missing. Where do they go? Sex trafficking is like a fire that could engulf any woman who is not vigilant.
How important is to detach from a character with such a stark reality, after the shoot is over ?
Portraying Sonia wasn’t easy. I had to remind myself every day that I am only playing the character, and I am not Sonia. My dad was always there to support me. He often said, ‘Beta, Smita Patil should be your inspiration. Do it the way she would have done it.’ Virginia Holmes, who did my make-up, was an emotional support for me. Even the crew made it a point to behave sensitively on the set. They’d purposely laugh and joke after an intense scene to help me shake it off. Richa Chadha and Freida Pinto helped me a lot. My role in Love Sonia gripped me to the extent that I started despising the male touch. I would stand under the shower for long spells. It just didn’t feel nice.
Often, it’s the girls from the lowest strata of society who become easy targets. While Hindi films have spoken about women’s safety and liberation of late, most of the conversations have centred on middle-class or affluent women. Your film seems to represent voices of the lower sections, too...
Women in any strata of society have to first stop conditioning their girls differently from boys. Never tell a girl to be quiet or to tolerate abuse. I am sure many girls drop hints or sometimes even tell their parents about a male relative who has been touching them wrongly, but no action is taken. Whichever section or strata of the society they belong to, girls have to call out their perpetrators and report them to the cops. We want our film to reach every nook and corner of the country, so that people understand how girls get trafficked and what can be done to help them.
I’m really enjoying being a hands on father-Shreyas Talpade
8:06 AM
Rachit Gupta (BOMBAY TIMES; July 11, 2018)
They say, parenthood is akin to seeing your heart beating outside your body for the rest of your life. Actor-producer-filmmaker Shreyas Talpade certainly subscribes to the thought. These days, he is relishing his new role as a doting dad to his two-month-old daughter, Aadya.
Shreyas and his wife Deepti welcomed their first child through surrogacy on May 4, this year. And ever since, the Talpade household has put cinema conversations on hold. Shreyas says, “Aadya had us wrapped around her little finger from the very beginning. She made us come back to India the very day we landed in Hong Kong. It was like her saying, ‘How could you go on a vacation without me? Come back!’ Deepti and I flew back in an instant.”
For now, Shreyas has decided to take each day as it comes. He says, “Deepti and I are both chilled out, we’re not worrying about every little thing.”
Shreyas says, “We also have two pets and the first thing we did was to make sure that they didn’t feel insecure with Aadya’s arrival. We want our daughter to treat Don and Knight like her elder brothers. Right now, we’re just enjoying every moment with her. Every day, we see a little change in her.”
Equal parenting has become the norm today, and the actor fully endorses it. “Gone are the days when only mothers used to tend to the children. In any situation, kids would always seek their mother. But I want my daughter to count on me, too. I want her to tell me everything — her fears, happiness and excitement. That won’t happen unless I am completely involved in her life,” he explains.
So, the actor has taken to changing nappies and getting the temperature right for the baby’s milk. He adds, “I am feeding her, I am cleaning the nappies, too. The only thing that I’m scared of is bathing her. I am enjoying all these new experiences. I’m really enjoying being a hands-on father.”
While he’s really kicked about fatherhood, Shreyas hasn’t forgotten that his career is going through a purple patch, too. His last release, Golmaal Again (2017), was a hit and he debuted as a director with Poster Boys (2017), which was a remake of his own Marathi production, Poshter Boyz (2014). And over the years, Shreyas has become a sought-after name in Marathi cinema, too. He says, “There’s new belief and passion, and a whole new spate of filmmakers who want to create exciting stuff. Marathi cinema has started competing with not just Bollywood, but Hollywood, too. We have Hollywood films earning Rs 100 crore, capturing a big part of the Indian market. If you have to compete with them, you have to make sure that your content is good enough.” About his upcoming Marathi projects, he says, “I will be shooting for that film in the US in August-September. We will also start work on the sequel to Poshter Boyz.”
Throughout his career, Shreyas has tried to balance films like Iqbal (2005) and Dor (2006) with commercial fare like Apna Sapna Money Money (2006), Om Shanti Om (2007) and the Golmaal series. He says, “When it comes to choosing films and roles, I just go with my instinct and pick up whatever I feel I’ll enjoy doing. I feel that it’s never really gone bad for my career.”
Looking back, Shreyas says that he feels fortunate to have made a career in the movies. “After I am gone, the only thing that will keep my memories alive is cinema. If you can manage to make a film that sparks off a trend or a cult following, you’ve achieved something. We all constantly try to make these moments with our films,” he notes.
Shreyas also feels that the only way to survive in showbiz is to work tirelessly. “In the long run, only the best survives. Lambi race ka ghoda banna bahut zaroori hota hai. Those who come to the film industry to earn a quick buck or become famous do their three-four films and disappear into oblivion. But if your intentions are honest and you have a penchant for trying out new things, the film industry gives you a chance to shine and make your mark. I had no connections, I came from nowhere. But the film industry embraced me and gave me a chance.”
Shreyas Talpade, wife Deepti welcome baby girl through surrogacy
10:02 AM
Shreyas and Deepti Talpade welcomed daughter through surrogacy
Natasha Coutinho (MUMBAI MIRROR; May 8, 2018)
After 14 years of marriage, Shreyas and Deepti Talpade became the proud parents of a baby girl on Friday, May 4. The couple who opted for surrogacy to extend their family, were on a holiday in Hong Kong when their daughter arrived earlier than expected.
Shreyas informed Mirror that the date given to them was between May 10 and 12 so Deepti and he flew off to Hong Kong from where they were scheduled to go on a cruise. “On the way, we learnt that the surrogate mother had gone into labour prematurely so we changed our plans and headed back to India the same night,” the actor-filmmaker reminisces.
He adds that they were still in mid-air when their daughter entered the world and they received the good news the minute they landed and headed straight to the hospital from the airport. “Seems our little girl has a stubborn streak and didn’t want us to go to Hong Kong without her,” Shreyas laughs, admitting that she already has her parents wrapped around her little finger.
Prod him on what they have decided to call her and the doting daddy admits that though they have shortlisted a few names they have yet to zero in on one. “Friends have been confusing us with multiple suggestions,” he grumbles good-naturedly.
Speaking about why they chose surrogacy, Shreyas reveals guardedly that there were certain issues and it was their doctor who told them that this was the best option. “And it’s one of the best decisions of my life,” he beams.
Gushing over the newborn, he says they now have an angel to look after and while family and friends have been giving tons of advice, the doctor wants them to take each day at a time. “During Iqbal, I remember Nagesh (director Nagesh Kukunoor) telling me, ‘This is your first success so cherish every moment.’ That’s exactly what I’m doing with the baby, living every moment with her. All these years, I would ask myself if I’m ready for a child and end up feeling apprehensive and nervous. Now, I’m loving it!” Shreyas exults.
According to the new father, friends and family have been telling him that his baby’s forehead is just like his, while the lower half of her face resembles Deepti’s. “I think she looks more like Deepti with her round face but her features are changing every day,” he smiles.
He’s on a short break from work and daddy duty is top priority with everything else taking a backseat. “I was to start shooting from May 15 but luckily for me the shoot has been pushed to June so I’ve got a month to focus on my baby. I’ve always wanted a daughter so I could buy her dolls, teddy bears and plenty of pretty dresses. I’m already planning what I can buy her when I go shooting. My wife thinks I’m more stressed out than her, but I’m just happy and want to give our daughter the best,” he asserts.
Having my statue at Madame Tussauds is a dream come true-Varun Dhawan
8:24 AM
Harshada Rege (DNA; January 31, 2018)
Varun Dhawan is the latest to join the ranks of Amitabh Bachchan, Shah Rukh Khan, Salman Khan, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, and Hrithik Roshan, whose statues are a major attraction at Madame Tussauds. The actor’s wax figure is now at Madame Tussauds, Hong Kong. He went through a five-hour long session to provide the right measurements for it. And yes, it has his trademark smile and six-pack abs, too. The actor talks about joining the exclusive club of icons around the globe who have been immortalised through these works of art...
You are the youngest Indian actor to have your statue at Madame Tussauds. How does that feel?
Getting a statue at Madame Tussauds, Hong Kong is a representation of the love and appreciation that has come my way. It’s also a massive honour to be the youngest actor from the Hindi film industry to have a wax figure. This is a dream come true for me. My parents travelled with me to see its unveiling.
How was the experience of getting your wax figure made?
The team is highly professional. The sitting took around five hours and they’ve captured every detail like my eye colour, the shade and texture of my hair. I was surprised when I saw my figure. It’s so real! It even includes my smile and six-pack abs (laughs).
Tell us a bit about it...
It has me in a signature dance move. I have also donated my jeans and a jacket for it!
This year seems to be an exciting one for you in terms of work...
I feel there’s so much that I can do, which I’m not attempting right now. There’s a lot more to explore. I’m excited as 2018 has started on a great note with this honour. Even my film October will release soon. It’s special as I’m trying to do something new in it.
Do you remember your first visit to Madame Tussauds?
I visited Madame Tussauds in London when I was six. It’s massive and has so many lifelike figures displayed under one roof. I remember seeing visitors taking photos with their favourite celebrities.
BT Exclusive: Check out Varun Dhawan getting 'measured' for his wax statue at Madame Tussauds, Hong Kong
8:12 AM
Rachana Dubey (BOMBAY TIMES; October 16, 2017)
Imitation is the best form
of flattery, they say. It fills one with pride and joy and perhaps
that's what is running across Varun Dhawan's mind at this very moment.
The actor, who is currently away in Delhi for a film commitment, is the
newest and supposedly, the youngest Indian celebrity to
have his figure at a popular wax museum.
Varun's will be the fourth Indian statue at the museum's Hong Kong outlet where his wax double will join Mahatma Gandhi, PM Narendra Modi and Amitabh Bachchan's idols in early 2018. The museum's love for Bollywood is evident in the sheer number of actors whose statues have made it to the display so far. Over the last two decades, Shah Rukh Khan, Salman Khan, Hrithik Roshan, Katrina Kaif, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Kareena Kapoor Khan and Madhuri Dixit have been 'waxed' apart from Big B. And now, it's Varun's turn to gear up for a grand red-carpet entry at the museum.
“It was a great experience. I am so excited to get my wax figure in Hong Kong,“ Varun told BT.
A group from the museum's sculpting team flew to Mumbai to meet the actor and conduct a detailed sitting process. More than 200 measurements were taken. The team also matched the actor's hair and eye colour for the statue. Varun has been working closely with them and has shared his ideas about the figure's final look.
Varun's will be the fourth Indian statue at the museum's Hong Kong outlet where his wax double will join Mahatma Gandhi, PM Narendra Modi and Amitabh Bachchan's idols in early 2018. The museum's love for Bollywood is evident in the sheer number of actors whose statues have made it to the display so far. Over the last two decades, Shah Rukh Khan, Salman Khan, Hrithik Roshan, Katrina Kaif, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Kareena Kapoor Khan and Madhuri Dixit have been 'waxed' apart from Big B. And now, it's Varun's turn to gear up for a grand red-carpet entry at the museum.
“It was a great experience. I am so excited to get my wax figure in Hong Kong,“ Varun told BT.
A group from the museum's sculpting team flew to Mumbai to meet the actor and conduct a detailed sitting process. More than 200 measurements were taken. The team also matched the actor's hair and eye colour for the statue. Varun has been working closely with them and has shared his ideas about the figure's final look.
At Disneyland I finally won a hard-fought battle with a lifelong phobia of heights-Patralekhaa
7:50 AM
Roshmila Bhattacharya (MUMBAI MIRROR; January 9, 2017)
Portuguese-influenced Macau,
with its glitzy casinos and the lure of easy money, coupled with rides
in Hong Kong's Disneyland and the blessings of the Big Buddha, is a
great way to bring in the New Year. Hong Kong, which translates to 'Fragrant Harbour' or 'Incense Harbour', is an autonomous territory on
the Pearl River Delta of East Asia. Macau lies across the delta to the
west and the Chinese province of Guangdong borders the north. Famous for
its skyline and malls as also its old-world temples and natural
harbour, Hong Kong is the perfect confluence of the East and West.
Patralekhaa on why she chose to ring in 2017 there...
Overcoming my phobia
I grew up with Mickey and Minnie cartoons and a room full of soft, cuddly toys. They were my best friends till I was sent off to boarding school. Distance only made the heart grow fonder and for years I dreamt of going to Disneyland and shaking hands with them. I finally fulfilled the dream when Raj (beau Rajkummar Rao) and I took a trip to Hong Kong towards the fag-end of 2016.
I'd have liked to make a start with the Disneyland in California. We have US visas but it was too far to travel when we had just a few days off. So, we decided to go to Hong Kong instead and the day we landed, made an internet booking.
It's only a 30-minute train ride from the Hong Kong MTR station to Penny's Bay in Lantau Island, with the last leg aboard the Hong Kong Disneyland Ticket Express. We were at the theme park by 10.30 am and among the last to leave at 8 pm. We'd been told we'd finish the tour in three hours, in 10 hours we only saw parts of the seven theme parks, including Main Street, USA, where you catch the grand parade of Disney characters, Fantasyland, Adventureland, Tomorrowland, Grizzly Gulch, Mystic Point and Toy Story Land. I have to make another trip to complete the tour, in particular explore what the jungles have to offer.
Tomorrowland offers a blueprint to the future with its Iron Man attractions and its space ships. I'm not a big superhero fan but my boyfriend had a blast. What was memorable for me was the Space Mountain, an indoor roller coaster ride aboard a train which climbs hills, zips through tunnels, goes into a dome and approaches the end in a plunging series of dizzying turns. I suffer from vertigo and after one crazy ride as a child, was terrified of them.
This time I didn't realized I had queued up for one till we were inside, and then it didn't make sense to back out after having wasted 15-20 precious minutes. And so there I was speeding along, my heart in my mouth, wondering if this was the end! I came out, shaken and stirred, but victorious because I'd finally won a hard-fought battle with a lifelong phobia of heights. I was so exhilarated I even ventured into another ride in Fantasyland. This one was less frightening till you returned backwards. Another one took us up against gravity, ending in a free fall. We also took a 4D simulator ride where you're thrown into the sea, actually feel water sprinkling on you, imagine you're drowning till the Iron Man arrives to save you.
I loved the vibe in the park - everyone is an excited child there - and walked out feeling six feet tall after all the adventures of the day. And today, I am thinking of a trip to Auckland, New Zealand, for a sky dive from 16,500 feet. That's how brave I feel having conquered a lifelong phobia!
Material to spiritual
The day after our Disneyland tour, we took a train to Lantau Island. The 34-metre Tian Tan Buddha, also known as the Big Buddha, sits in the mountains. Facing north, drawing pilgrims to the remote Po Lin Monastery at Ngong Ping. You have to climb 268 steps to reach the top for a closer view of this bronze statue opposite which is the 'Buddhist World in the South', home to devout monks.
Besides the Buddha, who has always given me positive vibes, I enjoyed the cable ride. Our cable car had a crystal bottom. As we rode over hills, we could see birds flying and when we were crossing the sea it came alive below us! We spent four days in Hong Kong. I did some shopping - the usual girly things like shoes and bags. I also picked up some fridge magnets to remind me of the visit.
Casinos calling
From Hong Kong it was a day-and-a-half in Macau, the city of casinos. It is among the world's richest regions and became the world's largest gambling centre in 2006. I was introduced to roulette around six years ago but have come to realise that gambling is not my scene despite the adrenaline rush it brings. In fact, it tires me out quickly. Still, after Disneyland, the bright lights and the glitzy Venetian casino made me feel like an adult. We stayed the night, felt like royalty and then when day dawned returned to our wonderworld with memories galore.
Overcoming my phobia
I grew up with Mickey and Minnie cartoons and a room full of soft, cuddly toys. They were my best friends till I was sent off to boarding school. Distance only made the heart grow fonder and for years I dreamt of going to Disneyland and shaking hands with them. I finally fulfilled the dream when Raj (beau Rajkummar Rao) and I took a trip to Hong Kong towards the fag-end of 2016.
I'd have liked to make a start with the Disneyland in California. We have US visas but it was too far to travel when we had just a few days off. So, we decided to go to Hong Kong instead and the day we landed, made an internet booking.
It's only a 30-minute train ride from the Hong Kong MTR station to Penny's Bay in Lantau Island, with the last leg aboard the Hong Kong Disneyland Ticket Express. We were at the theme park by 10.30 am and among the last to leave at 8 pm. We'd been told we'd finish the tour in three hours, in 10 hours we only saw parts of the seven theme parks, including Main Street, USA, where you catch the grand parade of Disney characters, Fantasyland, Adventureland, Tomorrowland, Grizzly Gulch, Mystic Point and Toy Story Land. I have to make another trip to complete the tour, in particular explore what the jungles have to offer.
Tomorrowland offers a blueprint to the future with its Iron Man attractions and its space ships. I'm not a big superhero fan but my boyfriend had a blast. What was memorable for me was the Space Mountain, an indoor roller coaster ride aboard a train which climbs hills, zips through tunnels, goes into a dome and approaches the end in a plunging series of dizzying turns. I suffer from vertigo and after one crazy ride as a child, was terrified of them.
This time I didn't realized I had queued up for one till we were inside, and then it didn't make sense to back out after having wasted 15-20 precious minutes. And so there I was speeding along, my heart in my mouth, wondering if this was the end! I came out, shaken and stirred, but victorious because I'd finally won a hard-fought battle with a lifelong phobia of heights. I was so exhilarated I even ventured into another ride in Fantasyland. This one was less frightening till you returned backwards. Another one took us up against gravity, ending in a free fall. We also took a 4D simulator ride where you're thrown into the sea, actually feel water sprinkling on you, imagine you're drowning till the Iron Man arrives to save you.
I loved the vibe in the park - everyone is an excited child there - and walked out feeling six feet tall after all the adventures of the day. And today, I am thinking of a trip to Auckland, New Zealand, for a sky dive from 16,500 feet. That's how brave I feel having conquered a lifelong phobia!
Material to spiritual
The day after our Disneyland tour, we took a train to Lantau Island. The 34-metre Tian Tan Buddha, also known as the Big Buddha, sits in the mountains. Facing north, drawing pilgrims to the remote Po Lin Monastery at Ngong Ping. You have to climb 268 steps to reach the top for a closer view of this bronze statue opposite which is the 'Buddhist World in the South', home to devout monks.
Besides the Buddha, who has always given me positive vibes, I enjoyed the cable ride. Our cable car had a crystal bottom. As we rode over hills, we could see birds flying and when we were crossing the sea it came alive below us! We spent four days in Hong Kong. I did some shopping - the usual girly things like shoes and bags. I also picked up some fridge magnets to remind me of the visit.
Casinos calling
From Hong Kong it was a day-and-a-half in Macau, the city of casinos. It is among the world's richest regions and became the world's largest gambling centre in 2006. I was introduced to roulette around six years ago but have come to realise that gambling is not my scene despite the adrenaline rush it brings. In fact, it tires me out quickly. Still, after Disneyland, the bright lights and the glitzy Venetian casino made me feel like an adult. We stayed the night, felt like royalty and then when day dawned returned to our wonderworld with memories galore.
Check out Patralekhaa ringing in the New Year at Macau & Hong Kong
9:20 AM
MUMBAI MIRROR (January 3, 2017)
Love Games actress Patralekhaa, who headed to Hong Kong, followed by Macau, with actor-beau Rajkummar Rao to ring in the New Year, took to the social media to spread good cheer.
“Welcoming #2017 with a big smile, an open heart n I look forward to an amazing year,” the 26-year-old pint-sized beauty wrote with a picture of her posing with a peace sign in the opulent lobby of a luxury hotel-cum-casino resort.
Force 2 makers to recreate parts of China in Hong Kong, Malaysia or Singapore
8:15 AM
The filmmaker is forced to think of recreating portions of the country in Hong Kong, Malaysia or Singapore.
Avinash Lohana (MUMBAI MIRROR; April 8, 2016)
After filming some high octane action sequences in Budapest last year, John Abraham, Sonakshi Sinha and Tahir Raj Bhasin were all set to fly off to China for a schedule of their upcoming actioner Force 2. However, despite trying for months, the makers could not get permission to cross the Great Wall of China. Now, producer Vipul Shah and director Abhinay Deo have decided to recreate parts of China, including certain monuments in Hong Kong.
"We were liasing with a line producer in China for a long time. But the script has to be censored before permission is granted. There is an interesting angle on Indo-Chinese politics which they objected to. It's integral to the narrative and we didn't want to compromise on the script so we've decided to shift base to Hong Kong," informs Vipul.
He admits that this will push up the budget but he doesn't want to make any changes in his plot and promises authenticity. "We have the best technicians on board," he points out, adding they start in mid May and will wrap up in June. "In case Hong Kong doesn't work out at the last minute there's always Singapore or Malaysia."
While shooting in Budapest last October, John met with an accident and ended up undergoing a surgery. Is his busted knee holding up well? "He has already shot some action sequences for Dishoom, John's a tough guy," asserts Vipul. However, he is quick to add that during this schedule, they will can more dialoguebaazi than maar dhaad.
Twinkle Khanna to bring in her birthday with Akshay Kumar in Hong Kong
8:15 AM
DNA (December 20, 2015)
It’s that time of the year when our columnist Twinkle Khanna celebrates her birthday — December 29. She along with husband Akshay, kids and extended family is heading to Hong Kong. Families that holiday together stay together! The Kumars will return only in 2016. Her second book will release next year and she has been working on it everyday, apart from her other commitments. She tells us how she is taking a complete break from writing from 10 days.
Shraddha Kapoor & family go to Disneyland & have a gala time, thanks to Siddharth Roy Kapur
7:44 AM
The actress takes off for a family vacation to Hong Kong and Macau, Siddharth Roy Kapur ensures that they have a good time
Avinash Lohana (MUMBAI MIRROR; July 6, 2015)
After 10 years, Shraddha
Kapoor is enjoying a week-long family vacation in
Hong Kong and Macau with parents Shakti and Shivangi and
brother Siddhanth. They left Mumbai for Hong Kong on June 30 and
are now in Macau.
“We had been planning this holiday for some time now but it just didn't seem to materialise. This time we were adamant that even if someone paid us Rs 200 crore, we would turn down the offer for our holiday,“ Shakti told Mirror from Macau. “We were all tired and needed this much-deserved break.“
He informed that their last family vacation was a decade ago. “We went to Canada with the kids,“ reminisced the 57-year-old actor. “Shivangi and I took a cruise a few years ago but Shraddha and Siddhanth didn't accompany us. They've been busy with their respective careers.“
Siddhanth turns 31 today and the Kapoors brought in the day with a big bash last night. “We have the best suite in the best hotel in Macau. Siddhanth thought we'd got the hotel wrong till we told him this was our birthday gift to him,“ laughed Shakti who's enjoying his break with the family.
The proud father is elated with his daughter's recent box-office hit, ABCD 2. “It's been a great year for Shraddha and we are grateful to Siddharth Roy Kapur. Thanks to him, we got VVIP treatment at Disneyland. We got special seats during the parade and no one let us spend a single penny at the park,“ he informed gleefully.
The family, which returns on July 7, has promised to plan at least one family trip each year. “But you know how it is once you're back in Mumbai, no holiday for the next two-three years. It's back to work from Wednesday,“ he sighed as he signed off.
“We had been planning this holiday for some time now but it just didn't seem to materialise. This time we were adamant that even if someone paid us Rs 200 crore, we would turn down the offer for our holiday,“ Shakti told Mirror from Macau. “We were all tired and needed this much-deserved break.“
He informed that their last family vacation was a decade ago. “We went to Canada with the kids,“ reminisced the 57-year-old actor. “Shivangi and I took a cruise a few years ago but Shraddha and Siddhanth didn't accompany us. They've been busy with their respective careers.“
Siddhanth turns 31 today and the Kapoors brought in the day with a big bash last night. “We have the best suite in the best hotel in Macau. Siddhanth thought we'd got the hotel wrong till we told him this was our birthday gift to him,“ laughed Shakti who's enjoying his break with the family.
The proud father is elated with his daughter's recent box-office hit, ABCD 2. “It's been a great year for Shraddha and we are grateful to Siddharth Roy Kapur. Thanks to him, we got VVIP treatment at Disneyland. We got special seats during the parade and no one let us spend a single penny at the park,“ he informed gleefully.
The family, which returns on July 7, has promised to plan at least one family trip each year. “But you know how it is once you're back in Mumbai, no holiday for the next two-three years. It's back to work from Wednesday,“ he sighed as he signed off.
Why should women learn martial arts to defend themselves? They should be able to walk freely-Akshay Kumar
8:40 AM
Priya Gupta (BOMBAY TIMES; April 20, 2015)
Akshay Kumar's upcoming
action drama Gabbar Is Back is a remake of the original Tamil film
Ramanaa directed by superhit director A R Murugadoss. The film is about a
common man who decides to abolish corruption in society. In our country
where we believe that corruption is inevitable, rape is no
longer rare and laws are easily broken, excerpts from a conversation
with the super disciplined Akshay Kumar on his formula of making society
crime free -'Make strict laws with severe punishment, strong
enforcement and public display of the effect of breaking it.'
Portraying a vigilante on screen is fine, but do you actually believe that in real life, there is a way to get rid of crime?
I was recently shooting in Ras Al Khaimah when I discovered to my utmost surprise that for a city that is geographically bigger than even Dubai, it had just about 30 policemen guarding it. The hotel rooms are never locked by any guest as no one ever steals. And do you know why in places like UAE and Saudi Arabia there is no crime? Because their laws are very stringent, discipline is strictly enforced by the authorities and punishment is so severe that people feel scared at even the thought of committing a crime. You try and touch a girl there and you see what happens. One Indian man narrated an incident to me. He had broken the red light signal and was happy and relieved to find that no one caught him till after sometime, he saw two policemen come up to him, made him stop the car and took him to the police station. They asked him very politely if he had broken the signal. And of course, he confessed to breaking it. All they did was that they took him to another room and made him bald all along, talking to him very politely. The kind of humiliation they put him through, no one would dare even break a signal there. In Dubai, if you drop your wallet on the ground and you walk back the next day, you will still find it lying there as they are shit scared of stealing due to the very strict laws and its enforcement. In our country, I recently heard an interview with a rapist who said, 'Kya hoga zyada se zyada? I will have to go to jail for a couple of years if I am found guilty.' We need to increase the scare amongst people who commit crimes about the punishment they will face if they are caught and they must believe that there is a good chance that they will be caught. Why should women need to learn martial arts in India to defend themselves? They should be able to walk freely. But no, they can't, so they need to be taught martial arts for self-defence. The percentage of rape in India is not higher than other countries. But the punishment needs to be severe and made public, so that it is seen and makes people scared to ever repeat that heinous crime. Recently in Juhu, there was a case where a houseboy killed an old woman and ran away. He was later found somewhere in UP. How could he think of doing it? Law should be made and enforced in such a way that he would not even dream of doing this. In Hong Kong, if you drive 20 kms above the speed limit, you pay a fine. If you drive further 20 kms faster, you pay a heavier fine and further if you drive 20 kms faster, you land up spending two days in jail. Imagine that's just for fast driving, so obviously people don't break the law. These candle light marches are just fashionable and I am totally against it. Look at our own Mumbai. Why has drinking and driving almost stopped? Only because the rules were made stricter. And if you were found drinking and driving, you have no option but to spend a few days in jail. The law has not just been formed but enforced, as a result people know that they have seen enough people getting caught and thus, the scare is enough to keep them away from drinking and driving. And that is the only solution.
Do you believe that films can make an impact on society?
Films do make a difference for sure. I know for sure that post seeing my film Oh My God!, there are people who stopped offering milk and money to idols of God.
What does the line, 'Tum mein bhi Gabbar hai' really mean?
In the film, I play a vigilante and go above the gunda raaj to find the solution, but in real life the effect of Gabbar should be that people should be scared of law, nahi toh Gabbar aa jayega. So it means that be scared of the law, otherwise Gabbar aa jayega or law aa jayega. Gabbar is thus metaphorically comparable to the law.
Portraying a vigilante on screen is fine, but do you actually believe that in real life, there is a way to get rid of crime?
I was recently shooting in Ras Al Khaimah when I discovered to my utmost surprise that for a city that is geographically bigger than even Dubai, it had just about 30 policemen guarding it. The hotel rooms are never locked by any guest as no one ever steals. And do you know why in places like UAE and Saudi Arabia there is no crime? Because their laws are very stringent, discipline is strictly enforced by the authorities and punishment is so severe that people feel scared at even the thought of committing a crime. You try and touch a girl there and you see what happens. One Indian man narrated an incident to me. He had broken the red light signal and was happy and relieved to find that no one caught him till after sometime, he saw two policemen come up to him, made him stop the car and took him to the police station. They asked him very politely if he had broken the signal. And of course, he confessed to breaking it. All they did was that they took him to another room and made him bald all along, talking to him very politely. The kind of humiliation they put him through, no one would dare even break a signal there. In Dubai, if you drop your wallet on the ground and you walk back the next day, you will still find it lying there as they are shit scared of stealing due to the very strict laws and its enforcement. In our country, I recently heard an interview with a rapist who said, 'Kya hoga zyada se zyada? I will have to go to jail for a couple of years if I am found guilty.' We need to increase the scare amongst people who commit crimes about the punishment they will face if they are caught and they must believe that there is a good chance that they will be caught. Why should women need to learn martial arts in India to defend themselves? They should be able to walk freely. But no, they can't, so they need to be taught martial arts for self-defence. The percentage of rape in India is not higher than other countries. But the punishment needs to be severe and made public, so that it is seen and makes people scared to ever repeat that heinous crime. Recently in Juhu, there was a case where a houseboy killed an old woman and ran away. He was later found somewhere in UP. How could he think of doing it? Law should be made and enforced in such a way that he would not even dream of doing this. In Hong Kong, if you drive 20 kms above the speed limit, you pay a fine. If you drive further 20 kms faster, you pay a heavier fine and further if you drive 20 kms faster, you land up spending two days in jail. Imagine that's just for fast driving, so obviously people don't break the law. These candle light marches are just fashionable and I am totally against it. Look at our own Mumbai. Why has drinking and driving almost stopped? Only because the rules were made stricter. And if you were found drinking and driving, you have no option but to spend a few days in jail. The law has not just been formed but enforced, as a result people know that they have seen enough people getting caught and thus, the scare is enough to keep them away from drinking and driving. And that is the only solution.
Do you believe that films can make an impact on society?
Films do make a difference for sure. I know for sure that post seeing my film Oh My God!, there are people who stopped offering milk and money to idols of God.
What does the line, 'Tum mein bhi Gabbar hai' really mean?
In the film, I play a vigilante and go above the gunda raaj to find the solution, but in real life the effect of Gabbar should be that people should be scared of law, nahi toh Gabbar aa jayega. So it means that be scared of the law, otherwise Gabbar aa jayega or law aa jayega. Gabbar is thus metaphorically comparable to the law.
Tiger Shroff's next Heer Ranjha to go on floors in Film City on December 21
7:51 AM
Roshmilla Bhattacharya (MUMBAI MIRROR; December 17, 2014)
Six months after his hit debut, Heropanti, Tiger Shroff is all set to kick off his second film. With the working title, Heer Ranjha, this love story rolls with a two-day schedule in Film City on December 21. It will then gather momentum in January.
"The title came from an earlier script of mine. We're going with it till we figure out something better," says director Sabbir Khan.
The story came from producer Sajid Nadiadwala who has recently penned Ritesh Deshmukh's hit Marathi film Lai Bhaari.
"The idea has been brewing in Sajid bhai's mind for the past five years. It is nothing like Heropanti," asserts Sabbir who also helmed Tiger's first film.
Sabbir adds that while the first half will be pure romance, focusing on Tiger's innocent face and love-lorn eyes, post-interval the punches will fly as the action shifts to South-East Asia with the hero flitting from Thailand to Malaysia and Hong Kong.
"The second half will be shot entirely abroad. And we are in talks with a big international name to choreograph the fights. Tiger, who has been touted as India's answer to Jackie Chan and Jet Li, has already started his training," informs Sabbir, admitting that Jackie Shroff's cub will have two distinctly different looks pre and post interval.
While the makers are set on Tiger as their modern-day Ranjha, they are equally certain that they don't want to repeat the Heropanti jodi so soon. That is why Kriti Sanon is not in the running for Heer.
"We start the film with Tiger's solo portions and don't start shooting with the girl before January-February. We have been auditioning but haven't finalised anyone yet," says Sabbir.
He had also been collaborating with composer duo Sajid-Wajid as well as Manj who gave him the Heropanti chartbuster Whistle baja, on the music score.
"We would also like to rope in a big international name," he admits. "May be someone like Justin Timberlake or Black Eyed Peas for a special track."
Robbed in Hong Kong: Manasvi Mamgai’s luggage vanishes
7:49 AM
Shaheen Parkar (MID-DAY; December 9, 2014)
Manasvi Mamgai’s Bollywood debut was marred by tragedy. The Action Jackson actress was in for a shock when she landed in Hong Kong on the day of her film’s release. As soon as she stepped out of the airport, her baggage was stolen. It contained designer outfits and jewellery for the event she was attending along with several B-Town folk including Hrithik Roshan and Bipasha Basu.
Explains Manasvi, “As the film had released, I was getting a lot of calls. While exiting the airport premises, I stopped at a store to buy phone cards. I kept my bag and went to the counter. But as soon as I turned, the bag had already disappeared.”
The actress created a scene and the the cops were summonded immediately. “They went through the CCTV footage, but once outside the airport premises, it was difficult to know where the thief took off for in Hong Kong.”
The model-turned-actress had to shop for outfits locally to wear at the events. “Everyone was telling me film release hui aur nazar lag gayi. I now also have to pay for the designer outfits that I have lost. It has affected my relations with them as well.”
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