Showing posts with label Johannesburg. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Johannesburg. Show all posts
When Anurag Kashyap is around, I don't have to worry about anything-Nawazuddin Siddiqui
8:23 AM
As fans welcome his Sacred Games 2 look, Nawazuddin Siddiqui on how Anurag Kashyap has made Gaitonde 'bigger and better'
Sonil Dedhia (MID-DAY; July 15, 2019)
He may have traded his psychedelic print shirts for subdued suits, but Ganesh Gaitonde has retained his menacing streak, warns Nawazuddin Siddiqui at the onset of the chat. In the week since the trailer of the second season of Sacred Games dropped online, the Internet has been abuzz about Gaitonde's new look."Now, he is an international gangster who goes to Johannesburg, Cape Town, Mombasa and Nairobi. So we had to style the character accordingly. I didn't have any reference point, but the look is along the lines of international mafia that we see in movies," says Siddiqui of his new avatar.
While the first season of the Saif Ali Khan starrer ended on a cliffhanger, Siddiqui promises that the upcoming instalment of the Netflix series has been designed to shock and awe. He refuses to divulge details about the cat-and-mouse game that will ensue between Khan's and his characters, sticking to a pithy reply: "My character is complex because of his past, and there are many layers that will be unravelled in the second season. Ganesh Gaitonde is going to be bigger and better. I had read the book [Vikram Chandra's novel by the same name] at the start of the first season. It has helped me understand my character better."
If his part of a crime overlord in the thriller has quickly gained cult status, he says the credit rests with frequent collaborator and the show's co-director Anurag Kashyap. "When Anurag is around, I don't have to worry about anything. The biggest advantage is that he knows me personally, so the role was created in such a way that I would be able to relate to it. He is always able to bring out the best in me."
Sacred Games next edition will be the baap of first season-Nawazuddin Siddiqui
8:16 AM
Having wrapped up Africa schedule, Nawazuddin says Gaitonde’s arc set for unexpected turn in Sacred Games 2
Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; January 28, 2019)
“I have left no stone unturned to absorb the nuances of Ganesh Gaitonde,” begins Nawazuddin Siddiqui, aware that his crime lord character from Sacred Games has become an icon in its own right. With the first season of the homegrown Netflix original having won much applause, the onus is on the makers — directors Anurag Kashyap and Neeraj Ghaywan, and showrunner Vikramaditya Motwane — to present a worthy second instalment.
Fresh off the Africa schedule, Siddiqui says, “This season will be the baap of the first one. Even if people know Ganesh Gaitonde, they won’t know what to expect from him. We shot extensively across Mombasa [Kenya], Cape Town and Johannesburg.”
Point out how the new season — slated to drop online mid-2019 — comes with its set of expectations, and he says, “I realised the impact of the show when I was shooting in Rome, a week after its release. People came up to me to click pictures. My team would show me the memes that were doing the rounds on the Internet.”
Before starting their final week-long schedule in Mumbai tomorrow, Siddiqui says that like most collaborations with Kashyap, this too has been “worthwhile”. “When Anurag is working with me, he is constantly pushing me to break my own boundaries. It comes from familiarity and my ability to go on a rollercoaster with him. as an actor, I am someone who enjoys twirling myself up.”
Post success of Inside Edge, Richa Chadha bags South African digital show revolving around cricket
7:42 AM
Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; November 7, 2017)
After Inside Edge opened to positive reviews in July, Richa Chadha is feeling confident about her position in the web series space. Her next is a South African series, which is along the lines of Inside Edge, and based on a story surrounding cricket.
A source tells mid-day, “It’s an American-South African production that will be shot in March next year. The show is about the unlikely situation of a woman, who is forced to run a sports management company in the early 2000s.” The makers are yet to zero in on the show’s name. The source adds that Chadha will travel to Johannesburg for the first narration soon.
When contacted, the actor confirmed the news, and said, “After receiving positive reviews for Inside Edge, I’m encouraged to explore the digital space. There are some prospects that have come my way. I am discussing the show [the South African series] with my team. We will start working on it after completing other commitments.”
Check out the world's largest casino that serves as the place of heist in Aankhen 2
7:57 AM
Gaurang Doshi’s multi-starrer Aankhen sequel is gearing up to storm South Africa in April
Natasha Coutinho (MUMBAI MIRROR; December 27, 2016)
The Amitabh Bachchan, Anil Kapoor, Arjun Rampal, Arshad Warsi, Vidyut Jammwal and Regina Cassandra-starrer Aankhen 2 is set to go on the floors in February. The first schedule, in Mumbai, will be followed by South Africa in April and Europe. Producer Gaurang Doshi, who recently returned from a recce in South Africa, reveals that the sequel considerably ups the sartorial ante.
“We have designer Asa Kazingmei onboard to style the cast’s looks. Anil plays the antagonist, the owner of a casino, which we will film at the Emperors Palace in Johannesburg. He will don a vintage-Italian look with a modern touch. For Mr Bachchan, who plays the sutradhar, we are reviving the angry young man avatar but to suit his age; it will include a completely new hairdo. His character is shown coming out of jail after 13 years so his look required being radically different from the original… also because the sequel goes on a different tangent from there. Same goes for the rest of the cast, with Arjun, Arshad and Vidyut playing the three blind men,” Gaurang informed Mirror.
About the film’s mainstay, the heist that occurs in the Johannesburg casino, the filmmaker says, “The entire heist portion in the film will be shot there. It’s the world’s largest casino in our film so the location had to be really grand. We are the first to have successfully sought permission to shoot there although it wasn’t easy. We’ve got permissions to shoot daily between 9am to 6pm,” he signs off.
Aankhen 2 is a sequel with a promising story-Gaurang Doshi
7:57 AM
Renuka Vyavahare (BOMBAY TIMES; December 23, 2016)
After over a decade, having
overcome personal and professional hiccups, producer Gaurang Doshi is
all set to make a filmi comeback with the sequel of his 2002 hit,
Aankhen. He speaks to Bombay Times about the much-talked-about ensemble
film and what makes it a cut above the rest.
Aankhen 2 seems to be on track. We hear you've finalised the locations as well?
We will start the shoot in February in Mumbai, followed by a month-long schedule in Johannesburg and finally London. The film will be shot in real locations. The boutique casino hotel in Johannesburg took our breath away. Director Anees Bazmee loved it so much that he wanted to shoot the entire film there (smiles). Anil Kapoor plays a wealthy casino owner, so it fit the bill.
Barring Amitabh Bachchan and Arjun Rampal, the rest of the cast is new...
Amitji ke bina sequel banana mumkin hi nahin tha. Through my tough times, he stood by me like a rock. The new ensemble cast will lend some freshness to the film. We have Anil (in a negative role), Vidyut Jammval and Arshad Warsi joining the cast. Vidyut, Arjun and Arshad are the three blind men in the film.There are two more big names too, which I shall reveal soon.
While Aankhen was based on a Gujarati play, it must have been a challenge to take the story forward with no reference point...
It revolves around a casino heist and has a lot of humour. I started my career with Aankhen and now, I am making a comeback as a producer with its sequel. I've written the story and Neeraj Pathak, Anees and me have penned the screenplay. It took us over a year to zero in on the script. Aankhen 2 is a sequel with a promising story.
Most sequels failed to make an impression at the box office this year. Does that make you anxious?
My sequel is a continuation of the first film, but it has its own story. Of course, it revolves around three blind men, but it has several twists and turns. Amitji plays the sutradhar. As for the other sequels not working, I feel people are not paying attention to the story; they are just trying to cash in on the brand. Most sequels end up being remakes. You have to give something new to the audience. How can your sequels run if they look just like the previous film, in fact an inferior version of it?
Making a comeback after such a long time mustn't be easy.
I may be making a film after over a decade, but filmmaking is in my genes. Three generations of my family have been making films and I missed doing that. I took a break because I didn't want to make films for the heck of it. Paise ke liye mujhe films nahin banani thi. I was shuttling between Los Angeles and Mumbai. I was busy writing scripts and battling personal setbacks (divorce case with wife). Films are my passion and I hope I am able to deliver.
You've produced a critically acclaimed film, Bawandar. Will we see you supporting more indie films?
It was an award-winning film, but I like masala entertainers; I am a commercial filmmaker. I'm not interested in walking the red carpet at Cannes. I'll be happier if people whistle during my film at a single screen theater.
We will start the shoot in February in Mumbai, followed by a month-long schedule in Johannesburg and finally London. The film will be shot in real locations. The boutique casino hotel in Johannesburg took our breath away. Director Anees Bazmee loved it so much that he wanted to shoot the entire film there (smiles). Anil Kapoor plays a wealthy casino owner, so it fit the bill.
Barring Amitabh Bachchan and Arjun Rampal, the rest of the cast is new...
Amitji ke bina sequel banana mumkin hi nahin tha. Through my tough times, he stood by me like a rock. The new ensemble cast will lend some freshness to the film. We have Anil (in a negative role), Vidyut Jammval and Arshad Warsi joining the cast. Vidyut, Arjun and Arshad are the three blind men in the film.There are two more big names too, which I shall reveal soon.
While Aankhen was based on a Gujarati play, it must have been a challenge to take the story forward with no reference point...
It revolves around a casino heist and has a lot of humour. I started my career with Aankhen and now, I am making a comeback as a producer with its sequel. I've written the story and Neeraj Pathak, Anees and me have penned the screenplay. It took us over a year to zero in on the script. Aankhen 2 is a sequel with a promising story.
Most sequels failed to make an impression at the box office this year. Does that make you anxious?
My sequel is a continuation of the first film, but it has its own story. Of course, it revolves around three blind men, but it has several twists and turns. Amitji plays the sutradhar. As for the other sequels not working, I feel people are not paying attention to the story; they are just trying to cash in on the brand. Most sequels end up being remakes. You have to give something new to the audience. How can your sequels run if they look just like the previous film, in fact an inferior version of it?
Making a comeback after such a long time mustn't be easy.
I may be making a film after over a decade, but filmmaking is in my genes. Three generations of my family have been making films and I missed doing that. I took a break because I didn't want to make films for the heck of it. Paise ke liye mujhe films nahin banani thi. I was shuttling between Los Angeles and Mumbai. I was busy writing scripts and battling personal setbacks (divorce case with wife). Films are my passion and I hope I am able to deliver.
You've produced a critically acclaimed film, Bawandar. Will we see you supporting more indie films?
It was an award-winning film, but I like masala entertainers; I am a commercial filmmaker. I'm not interested in walking the red carpet at Cannes. I'll be happier if people whistle during my film at a single screen theater.
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