Even though actress Gauahar Khan has denied wedding rumours, sources say that she will be tying the knot with composer Ismail Darbar’s son, Zaid Darbar, on November 22 in Mumbai. Recently, Ismail Darbar hinted that a wedding is on the cards. While talking to ETimes TV, the Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam composer had said, “If Zaid wants to marry her, why would I object? He is nearly 29, and knows what he’s doing.”

Sources close to the couple also informed us that Gauahar’s sister Nigaar Z Khan and other siblings will be flying down to India next month for the wedding, which will be a two-day affair with close friends and family members in attendance.

Earlier, there were rumours that the couple would be getting married next year. However, Zaid laughingly told us, “Yes, but I’ve heard most probably she is getting married this year.” He had also added that his family adores Gauahar, who shares a great equation with his sister. “Gauahar has a very strong bond with my family. My younger sister adores her and always says she wants to be like her,” he said. 

Ankur Pathak (MUMBAI MIRROR; September 24, 2014)

For Ismail Darbar's yet-to-be-titled upcoming film, the composer turned-director hired production designer Shyam Bhatia to design the sets. An architect by profession, Bhatia had previously designed flamboyant, colourful sets for TV shows like Masterchef India and Bigg Boss among others. Darbar's film is a musical, on the lines of Moulin Rouge! "It's about a model who faces sexual exploitation and her journey through overwhelming odds," Darbar says.

While production designer Shyam Bhatia adds, "The brief was to make an ethnic Moulin Rouge and create sets two notches above the Hollywood production... and that too within nine days." Over the course of a week, his team sourced 25 chandeliers and 10 pedestal lamps from every nook and cranny of Mumbai. "Frantic calls were made to reclusive collectors and order placed through online retailers," he recalls.

A black mirror floor resembling a kaleidoscope was created to reflect the golds, reds and purples of the set. "We shot the first musical number composed by Mr. Darbar on the set and the results are stunning," asserts Bhatia.

Around 18 designers then started work on a 25-feet champagne glass "Before we constructed the sets, a 3D replica was shown to the director. According to the scene's requirements, he suggested changes The champagne glass was Mr Darbar's idea, he wanted to place a woman inside it for an elaborate dance number," informs Bhatia.

His next challenge was to design a bar counter with 500 coloured wine glasses. "We had to meticulously hand-paint them to get the tinted look we had conceptualised on paper," points out the designer. "The film is Mr Darbar's vision and he is leaving no stone unturned to ensure its a grand spectacle."

Ismail Darbar retorts to comment made by Karan Johar against Sanjay Leela Bhansali
Upala KBR (DNA; August 16, 2014)


Karan recently said that Bhansali has gone into a space of negativity and darkness. Do you agree?
Reacting to KJo’s statement on the TV show Look Who’s Talking Darbar says, “Every one has a dark side. Karan should look within himself before pointing fingers at others! For the record, I have never met a better person in the industry than Sanjay. He is my godfather and I am where I am because of him, that is all that matters to me. I have always taken the good from him and that’s all that stays with me. I always consult him about work and he always gives me the right advice. I consulted him when I decided to turn director and make this film.”

Why did you decide to turn director?
I wanted to keep my music alive. I am a fifth generation musician in my family and turning director seemed the logical next step in preserving my legacy. I stopped composing music for films because nobody approaches me and I don’t go asking for work. But now, I will also be composing the music of my film. My film is the story of a model who faces sexual harassment and her journey to stand up for herself and fight overwhelming odds.

Why did it take so long? You had announced it a couple of years ago...
That was another film that I started work on back then. It was a love story on the lines of Romeo and Juliet and I even recorded 12 songs for it. However, the financer had personal issues and the film got postponed. After that, Sanjay made Ram-Leela. I didn’t want to make a film on the same plot and hence, shelved that project.

Who is starring in the film?
I always wanted a powerful actor and Ashutosh Rana fits the bill perfectly. However, I didn’t know whether prominent actresses, who are ever ready to work with actors like Irrfan Khan and Nawazuddin Siddiqui, would be willing to star opposite an equally brilliant, genuine performer like Ashutosh, so I decided to go with a new face as the female lead. Fortunately, it worked for me as I have finally gotten an actress who will stand her own opposite Ashutosh in terms of acting. I will make a formal announcement on this front soon. Ashutosh plays four different characters which are along the lines of what Eddie Murphy played in the Nutty Professor series where he played half a dozen characters by himself.

Asira Tarannum (MID-DAY; July 3, 2014)

Music director Ismail Darbar is apparently finding it difficult to cast a leading actress in his maiden home production that will also see him turn director.

A source from the industry says that even though several actresses have been interested in the role and wish to work with Ismail Darbar, all of them are opposed to the idea of acting opposite Darbar’s unconventional choice for a hero, Ashutosh Rana. “Over the past few months, a slew of actresses have visited the music composer’s office showing an eagerness to do the film, provided the lead actor is not Ashutosh. Some even offered to get other popular actors on board,” says a source.

However, Darbar has declined all such offers and made it clear that only Ashutosh Rana can do justice to the his film. “In fact, the film’s script was written with Ashutosh in mind. The director has now put a notice outside his office, which says that the lead actor will not change, so only actresses who are fine with his choice should audition for a role,” says the source.

When contacted, Darbar confirmed the story. “From actresses and their managers to casting agents — they all want a change of actor but I won’t budge under any circumstances. I have put up a notice outside my office in order to make my stance clear,” he said.

Priya Gupta (BOMBAY TIMES; December 25, 2013)

Shreya Ghoshal, 29, is most attached to her father. She is emotional and expressive, but is her own emotional anchor. She is simple and sorted and will not hesitate or regret saying no to a song with bad lyrics. She has sung a whole range of songs this year from the romantic Sun Raha Hai from Aashiqui 2 to Nagada Sangh Dhol from Ram-Leela to the most recent Drama Queen from Hasee Toh Phasee. In an hour-long conversation over a Rajasthani lunch in her house, she talks to Bombay Times about her relentless father, the musical Bhatts and why she would not date a musician. Excerpts:
 
How did you get your first break in Devdas? I was born in Murshidabad at my nani’s house, but lived the first 13 years of my life in Rajasthan, where my father worked as an engineer with the Nuclear Power Corporation. Every family had a scientist or engineer and our township was a little cut off, where our source of entertainment was what we ourselves created. It was a little paradise with lots of greenery and the Chambal river passing through it. My parents being Bengali, we always had music in our house. My nani was a trained classical singer, who taught my mum, who, in turn, was my first teacher. Later I would travel almost 70 kms to the nearest town Kota to learn music from my guru Mahesh Sharmaji, who was also the principal of the music college there. Even now, I dream of my old home, which had a big garden, lots of time to play with a regimented time for riyaz. When I was eight, I participated in a local competition with the Sangam Kala group (that also gave Sonuji and Sunidhi). I won and from there participated at the state and finally national level. That was the first time I had gone out of my own circle and sung in front of Rajan Sajan Mishraji and Anandji bhai. It gave my dad a lot of confidence and, despite the fact that all my friends were pursuing studies to become engineers and doctors, my dad unconventionally supported my talent and made me participate in Sa Re Ga Ma Pa. It went like a dream and I got a lot of applause. It paved my path ahead and I did Sa Re Ga Ma Pa till I won the mega final at the age of 14. I met Kalyanji bhai and with his encouragement, papa took a transfer to Mumbai in 1997. I regularly went to Kalyanji bhai’s place and learnt music there. I started singing cover versions of Marathi and Bengali songs that became quite popular. Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s mother saw me singing on Sa Re Ga Ma Pa and asked Sanjay to hear my voice. He was shooting Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam at that time. He remembered my voice and when he was making Devdas, he called me to sing Dola Re. He has given a chance to so many musicians including Ismail Darbarji. I adore Sanjayji. He is amongst the few who have always had bharosa in music. His music in Ram-Leela is commercial, but is so beautiful.
 
Post Devdas, did your career take off? In your formative years, there are few people who have trust in your work. Vishesh Films was my support system in my struggling days. Whenever I meet Bhatt sahab, I feel like sitting down and spending more time with him. He loves Urdu poetry and ghazals, which he makes me sing whenever he meets me. It’s beautiful to have successful filmmakers who, at the same time, inherently have a musicality in them. Despite Devdas, due to the existing panel of singers and composers, I did not get to sing for a year till MM Kreem gave me Jism. That also broke the ice as I had got stereotyped as a classical singer.
 
Let’s talk about your dad? My dad is the reason why music played in our house and our house was the hub for all cultural activities as he appreciated all forms of art. I owe everything I am to my dad. He never gave up and never got scared despite all the advice he was given. He is a brilliant person, but left his ambition to be with me to help me pursue my career. He is extremely logical when it comes to solving day-to-day problems and is always right and honest along with being efficient at the same time. He is 60 and yet he learns everyday by reading and from others and passes it on to me. He wants me to be proactive about my own business and life as he feels I leave everything on him. He does not like the fact that I get disturbed with paper work. In reality, it’s not that I don’t understand it, but I like to take my mind off that and be just a singer. I know that my dad likes taking care of it and I let him. I like his involvement in my life and I don’t want to take it away. I like him being the boss. With his vision and wisdom, I have never had any trouble in my life. He never judges any person. I have had silly stuff happening in my life and he would get angry inside, but remain silent about it. Next day he would come to me and just give me such beautiful advice. A child can easily become a rebel, but the way he preaches is what touches me the most. Every parent can learn from him.
 
Do you have friends in the industry? I am very good friends with Shantanu Moitra. If I am low, he is just a call away. I hang out at least once every week with him, his wife and son. He is a musician, but I feel envious in the way he is so detached and can do things that he wants. I am detached from success, but saying ‘no’ to a song is a difficult thing for me, but I am extremely ethical. A bad composition cannot be called unethical, but bad lyrics can be said no to. I have said no to singing many super hit songs which had bad lyrics and have never regretted that.
 
Do you see a change in the music of Bollywood? It is changing all the time. The good thing is that there is a constant need for innovation, which is important in the evolution of music and sound. But that is also bad as it has become a factory and there is a pressure of churning out commercially successful products which also kills innovation.
 
Do you see yourself getting married? Yes, I have always wanted to get married since I was 20. I am a very romantic person and have fallen in love plenty of times. I adore people and get smitten by some people and have made my mistakes. I like men who have their own voice, are opinionated but are not rude. I don’t like very serious people as I believe that there must be a fun element to life. I get bored very easily and have a very short attention span and I am restless. Thankfully, as artistes, we travel a lot to perform in different places and that is a relief in life. I have experienced everything. I have been obsessed, passionately in love, hurt, been deceived and have deceived. I don’t like to be taken too much for granted. Everything should be in balance. I may have also taken my relationships for granted and suffered. It has helped my music. Probably, I have sung my best item songs when I have been the saddest in my life. I have never dated a singer or a music director. People that I have dated have been from the world of technology or entrepreneurs. I want to experience the other world through the other person.
 
What are you like? It’s very difficult for me to appreciate my own songs as I criticise them a lot. Every time I am on TV today, I rush to my room and don’t watch it. Devdas was a big turning point in my life and when the premiere happened at Sterling and Silsila Yeh Chahat Ka where Aishwarya was introduced came on, I was not looking at the screen but was only looking at my parents thinking what they must be thinking. I cherish that first excitement in my life. I cannot go back in time, but I can recreate that time by doing something more special. I am simple and sorted and know what I need in life. To me, it’s important to be with my family, come back home on time and stay connected to my middle- classness. I know that people who have done anything in their lives and who have lived for decades, not the short lived people, are actually very simple people. And that is the mantra. Be sure that you are here because of certain people. It’s easy to disintegrate and get swayed by the audience in a concert. I know that I must have done good deeds in my past life that I have got this. Barring the small mistakes, I have made, I feel even more sure about my principles and ethics. Fortunately for me, my dad was always there to not allow me to make mistakes. There is a very big forgiving side in me that keeps me very light in my heart and happy. It’s easy to burn out in the industry as there is a lot changing all the time. What stays with you is your foundation. To me, music is oxygen and I know that someday even if I can’t sing, I can always continue listening to it.