Showing posts with label Jamai Raja. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Jamai Raja. Show all posts
I never stopped doing theatre even when I was shooting for two TV shows simultaneously-Apara Mehta
8:24 AM
Soumitra Das (BOMBAY TIMES; March 28, 2025)
Apara Mehta, who is in the USA currently for the Gujarati play Partner Mast Toh Life Jabardast, shares, “We are here for seven weeks and performing almost every day. It’s a meaningful comedy with a good message. Performing here involves travelling by road for long hours but it’s totally worth it. Every two years, I tour the US with a Gujarati play. Sometimes, we perform for approximately 1,500 people, while it can be a small auditorium with 50 people on other occasions. It’s great fun.” Excerpts from a chat:
‘Even now, theatre teaches me something new every day’
I have been acting on stage since 1981 but even now, theatre teaches me something new every day. It is my training ground and every show is challenging, as there is a new audience and there are no retakes. We rehearse for more than a month before staging a new play. I have done 35 long-running TV shows, but I never stopped doing theatre even when I was shooting for two-three TV shows simultaneously. While doing shows like Ek Mahal Ho Sapno Ka, Kyunki…Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi, Sajan Re Jhoot Mat Bolo and Jamai Raja, I was extremely busy but still, I did theatre regularly. I would have shows in Ahmedabad also and so, I would fly between Ahmedabad and Mumbai for 20 days in a month. God has been kind and all my plays have done well. On an average, I do about 250 shows of a play in a calendar year. U Turn, a two-character play, remains one of the most challenging but satisfying plays of my career. When there are just two actors in a two-and-a-half-hour long play, you need to be perfect on stage. The kind of effort you put in for such a play equals the efforts required for 12 hours of shooting. While it can be tiring, it’s creatively satisfying.
‘The audience needs to encourage theatre artistes more’
After COVID, theatre has to compete with OTT also and it’s not easy. While there is an audience for Gujarati theatre, people need to encourage theatre artistes more to ensure that this live art form stays relevant. As an actor, theatre presents some unique challenges and it’s not easy to understand and become a character every day. Sometimes, people ask me if I don’t get tired of playing the same character for so long. But there is a new audience every time and we keep experimenting too, which keeps us going. Theatre may not give you as much fame or money as TV, but it teaches you a lot and makes you a better actor. Surprisingly, the main market for Gujarati plays is in Mumbai. I have been lucky to be a part of the golden period of Gujarati theatre.
Saroj Khan made me look like a dancer on screen-Anil Kapoor
8:48 AM
As told to Roshmila Bhattacharya (MUMBAI MIRROR; July 4, 2020)
My association with Saroj ji started in the late ’80s, on the sets of Karma. Subhash ji (producer-director Subhash Ghai) and she shared a great tuning, which was evident when she choreographed songs like “De Daru”. We were simultaneously working on the Mr India songs, like “Karte Hain Hum Pyaar Mr India Se”, “Zindagi Ki Yahi Reet Hai” and the unforgettable “Kaate Nahin Kat Te”. In the ’70s and the ’80s, our songs were overshadowed by the action; Saroj ji, a fan of yesteryear actresses like Vyjayanthimala ji and Madhubala ji, brought old-world charm and grace back into filmi naach-gaana. In “Kaate Nahin Kat Te”, we tried to recreate Kishore Kumar and Madhubala’s chemistry.
A year after Mr India, Tezaab released. Madhuri (Dixit) was still a relative newcomer when we handed her over to Saroj ji. After two weeks of rehearsal, she called Chandra (director N Chandra) and me to Satyam Hall and Madhuri performed to “Ek Do Teen” for us. I was blown over by the moves and the energy. We shot the song in Mehboob Studio and watching it, I was like, “Oh God, what do I do!” I got them to shoot a male version with me which was not there in the script in front of where Shah Rukh’s (Khan) bungalow stands today.
Subsequently, Saroj ji directed me in several other chartbusters, including Ram Lakhan’s “My Name is Lakhan” and “O Ramji”, “Dhak Dhak Karne Laga” in Beta and Taal’s “Ramta Jogi” to name a few. They were all a team effort, with huge contributions from the directors, the composers, the lyricists, and of course, the cinematographers. Ashok Mehta and Baba Azmi lit up the screen beautifully in the close-ups and framed the long shots beautifully, thereby enhancing Saroj ji’s choreography.
My leading ladies, including Sridevi, Madhuri, or Aishwarya (Rai) were fabulous dancers while I’m technically not a dancer-dancer. So, I’m grateful to Saroj ji that on screen I did not come across as any less. She was aware that my style came from within and knew what I was capable of. She played to my strengths and presented me in a way that I looked both romantic and macho.
When I was in acting school, I’d learned that in Bollywood choreography, we have pure dance and playback choreography. She excelled in both, her mastery over the latter helping me tremendously. Thank God for Saroj ji, who made me look like a dancer on screen. Her contribution to my career was immense. She was a genius and couldn’t work with anyone mediocre. She had great leadership qualities, evident in the way she dealt with the dancers, filmmakers, and artistes. I will always remember her beautiful smile.
----------------------------
Despite having two left feet, Anil Kapoor says Saroj Khan made him feel like a dancer
As told to Upala KBR (MID-DAY; July 4, 2020)
Saroj ji [Khan] was meant to give several more years to Bollywood. Her contribution to cinema is something no choreographer can match in one lifetime. She changed the craft by bringing back the old-world charm.
Subhash Ghai and Saroj ji were magical and often chose to work together. We were introduced during the filming of Mr India with Sri [Sridevi] and Tezaab [with Madhuri Dixit-Nene]. Madhuri was just starting her career when she recorded the song Ek do teen by Laxmikant-Pyarelal. Saroj ji had choreographed [the number]; N Chandra [director-producer] and I had gone to Satyanarayan hall to catch a glimpse of it. Like a proud guru, Saroj ji asked Madhuri to perform the entire song in front of us. Considering Madhuri had rehearsed extensively, she aced the entire number in one shot. I gained tremendously from her as these songs [have now] become iconic, which invariably lead to the success of the film. [There were times], when I'd be on set to watch, admire and appreciate them even if I was not required for the shoot.
Cinematographer Baba Azmi and Saroj ji were a lethal combination. Once they took over, the directors had to take a backseat. Kaate nahin kat te from Mr India and Dhak dhak from Beta were the fruits of their effort. While shooting for [the song] Dhak dhak, our aim was to make it as appealing and passionate as the song Kaate nahin kat te, which is one of my favourite numbers.
Saroj ji always maintained a beautiful element in her choreography; she would ensure to produce sensual numbers with dignity and aesthetics. [There was a notion] that make male actors required a male choreographer, but she gave me some iconic numbers like Ae ji o ji [Ram Lakhan], Ramta jogi [Taal], Karte hum pyar Mr India se [Mr India], which was originally inspired from Kishore Kumar and Madhubala's film [Chalti Ka Naam Gaadi, 1958]. After Kaate nahin kat te, my favourite choreography includes Hawa hawai, Ek do teen, Ae ji O ji, Humko aaj kal hai [Sailaab]. During a song shoot, when the original choreographer couldn't make it, Saroj ji promptly responded, came on set, choreographed the number by morning and we were ready to shoot by afternoon.
I remember shooting a song for Jamai Raja [1990] on the train in Ooty and Sunita [wife] had accompanied us. When I expressed my desire to give Saroj ji gurudakshina, Sunita explored all the vintage shops and bought a beautiful necklace for her. It was such a simple gesture, but Saroj ji was so emotional and moved by it. That was her innocence. She would translate her beautiful smile and twinkle in the eyes through us on screen.
I never felt short-changed when I was paired opposite Madhuri or Aishwarya [Rai Bachchan]. Saroj ji brought out the masculinity with the gait and dance. She knew me and where my capabilities lay. She was aware that I was not a dancer, but brought out the best in me despite my two left feet. I am eternally grateful to her.
I don't want to play another saree clad character-Sumona Chakravarti
7:46 AM
Neha Maheshwri Bhagat (BOMBAY TIMES; June 3, 2015)
Sumona Chakravarti, better
known as Manju - Kapil Sharma's wife in Comedy Nights With Kapil,
is returning to the fiction genre after almost a year. Last seen in the
daily soap Bade Achhe Laggte Hain as Ram Kapoor's sister, the actress
will soon enter Jamai Raja. She will play Siddharth's (Ravi Dubey)
childhood friend Misha Grewal. Her proximity with Siddharth will not go
down well with Roshni. Sumona says, “I hadn't gone anywhere, so there is
no question of a comeback. I was associated with Bade... for over three
years and I wanted a break after it
ended. Then, I got busy shooting films and travelling. I decided to
return to daily soaps starting this year, but people assumed that I
won't have time to devote since I am busy with Comedy Nights. But the
fact was that I was busy travelling, faffing and wasting money. I
wanted to get back to the grind. After doing a good show, you become
choosy about the projects you take up. I don't want to do another
character draped in a saree, wearing mangalsutra and sindoor in a fiction
show. My role in the new show is interesting and different.“
Akshay Kumar turns TV producer with Jamai Raja?
8:29 AM
Neha Maheshwri Bhagat (BOMBAY TIMES; July 12, 2014)
After producing films like OMG Oh My God! and F*UGLY, Bollywood actor Akshay Kumar has now turned his attention on the small screen. Akshay's production house, which is co-owned by a former programming head of a channel, will soon launch the show, Jamai Raja. Featuring Achint Kaur, Nia Sharma and Ravi Dubey, it's said to be a family drama.
After 2 States, Achint Kaur back on TV
7:50 AM
Chaya Unnikrishnan (DNA; May 21, 2014)
Anyone who’s seen 2 States will remember Shipra masi, Amrita Singh’s loud but loving sister. Achint Kaur, who has played the Punjabi character, has been getting an overwhelming response for her small but substantial role. “My phone hasn’t stopped ringing. It’s amazing the kind of feedback this role has got. I have done quite a few films earlier but Shipra masi has registered. I got lucky as the casting director thought of me in a different look, not the typical sari-clad one,” gushes Achint. For the actress who is a Punjabi, playing the role was cakewalk, yet she had her apprehensions. “I was scared of going overboard. I had to be loud but natural and the director helped me along the way,” she says modestly.
For an actress, who started out with bold serials like Banegi Apni Baat and Swabhimaan, it must have been a step down to play conventional roles in serials like Kahaani Ghar Ghar Kii, Karam Apna Apna among others. “I had to change my mindset. I had played hep contemporary characters, so essaying traditional ones needed a bit of getting used to. However, I could relate to them because I am a small-town girl from Meerut. Also, earlier we used to cater to niche audience but when middle-class boomed, the viewership changed and we had to cater to that. I think we should be able to do everything,” says Achint happy that characters are no longer black and white on TV, but grey.
Ask her what kept her away from the small-screen (she was last seen in Jhansi Ki Rani) and Achint says after working for over 15 years she just wanted a break. “I got busy with two plays Dinner With Friends and Two To Tango, Three To Jive, which took all my time. I am doing another play Big Fat City. I was also doing films. It was only a few months ago that I felt the urge to go back to TV but it took a while because once you are away you take time to reconnect,” says Achint who will be back on TV with Jamai Raja, a serial based on the Anil Kapoor-Madhuri Dixit-Hema Malini starrer. “I have given an experimental look test but I can’t tell you anything more about the role or the serial because we are yet to start shooting,” says the actress.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)