Showing posts with label KGF 2. Show all posts
Showing posts with label KGF 2. Show all posts
My KGF 2 character comes as across as white but she's actually doing the worst possible thing-Raveena Tandon
10:19 PM
Set to play a grey role in KGF: Chapter 2, Raveena discusses being drawn to complex parts over glamorous roles at this point in career
Upala KBR (MID-DAY; February 6, 2022)
In her 30-year career, Raveena Tandon Thadani has had her share of glamorous roles, but there is a distinct shift towards complex roles in the past few years. She proved that her acting hasn’t lost its sheen as she ably took on the part of the tough-talking cop in Aranyak (2021). Now, Tandon is gearing up to play one of the antagonists in KGF: Chapter 2—as the shrewd political leader Ramika Sen, she will influence the narrative of the period drama that also stars Kannada star Yash and Sanjay Dutt.
Tandon acknowledges that it wasn’t easy to essay Ramika, a character that director Prashanth Neel describes as “the gavel of brutality”. Offering her interpretation of the role, Tandon says, “Ramika is dark, but she is not ruthless. Her character [initially comes across] as white because she is perceived to be doing the right thing, but in the larger scheme of things, she is doing the worst possible thing.” She had to dig deep to do justice to a part that has evil motivations.
“I believe there’s a bit of evil in all of us; there is a bit of Ram and Raavan in all of us. Raavan was an intelligent man, but he let the wrong take over his life. Likewise, when I get a character like Ramika Sen, [I] bring out that evil at the time and then say goodbye to it once my role is over. In fact, I am waiting to play an out-and-out dark and evil character; it’s all the more exciting because there are so many layers to explore.”
If embracing an intense character is tough, most actors say that shaking it off after the shoot is even tougher. Tandon, however, is lucky in that aspect. “Playing such characters doesn’t take a toll on me because I don’t carry my work back with me. I switch off the moment I am in my car, heading home. The only time [I felt disturbed] was after completing Maatr [2017]. I could identify with the mother’s pain as I have three daughters.”
Fenil's Bollywood Talk # 711
11:21 PM
RESTRICTIONS EASE; RELEASE DATES OF NUMEROUS FILMS ANNOUNCED
Last week, we informed readers that Badhaai Do would release on February 11, 2022. It is the first Hindi film to hit cinemas since December 24, 2021. Thanks to the third wave of the pandemic, all the films scheduled for release in January got pushed ahead. Soon, it became clear that the cases dropped as quickly as it increased and that the numerous states would ease restrictions and allow cinemas to reopen or function till late at night in February. With this assumption, the makers of Gangubai Kathiawadi announced on Friday, January 28, that their film would release on February 25.
The Akshay Kumar-starrer Bachchan Pandey was already announced for a March 18 release two weeks back. In no time, all the rest of the Fridays in March were taken over as Mumbai lifted night curfew and other states also gave or are expected to give relaxations in the next 10 days. The Amitabh Bachchan-starrer Jhund would be the first release in March, and will arrive on the 4th. On March 11, Prabhas-Pooja Hegde starrer Radhe Shyam would hit the theatres. The much-awaited period saga, RRR, would release on March 25. And that’s not all. Ajith’s Tamil film, Valimai, would release widely in Hindi on February 24, that is, a day before Gangubai Kathiawadi.
The historic clash is about to take place on April 14 when the Aamir Khan-starrer Laal Singh Chaddha and the Kannada film dubbed in Hindi, KGF 2, would arrive in theatres. The release dates of both films were announced long back. Unlike other films, these two films have not been pushed. The month of May, too, would see the release of films like Anek, Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2, etc with a couple of more films expected to release. All eyes are also on Jersey, the film that was supposed to release in theatres on December 31, 2021. It is said that it might make it to cinemas either in February or March.
In short, the industry would come back to life this month and in March, the box office would be on fire.
Sanjay Dutt refuses to use a body double for heavy-duty action sequences in KGF 2
8:21 AM
Rachana Dubey (BOMBAY TIMES; January 13, 2022)
Sanjay Dutt, who has a number of memorable action films to his credit, is all set to up the ante for his next. The actor will make his debut in Kannada movies with KGF Chapter 2, playing the supervillain Adheera. After training for months for the role, Sanjay gave strict guidelines to the film’s unit that he would be shooting his own sequences sans a body double.
A source from the unit informs, “There are elaborate action sequences in the film. The movie’s first part starring Kannada superstar Yash set a certain tone and the brief was to make the sequel grander. When Sanjay said he would shoot sans a body double, the production team had tried to dissuade him, citing safety reasons. But he held his ground because he felt Adheera’s menacing quality will lose touch if he doesn’t do the action scenes himself.”
Adhering to his orders, the stunt coordinators would walk the actor through each stunt, keeping a special set of safety protocols in place. The source adds, “The stunts were storyboarded and broken down before being filmed. Apparently, the action sequences have this haunting quality, which was executed skillfully by Sanjay.”
Sanjay Dutt turns stylist for his villainous character Adheera in KGF 2
8:02 AM
Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; January 12, 2022)
Four decades into his acting career, Sanjay Dutt is ready to give a go at Telugu cinema with KGF 2. As the antagonist Adheera, whose look is inspired by the 11th century warriors, the Vikings, Dutt will lock horns with Yash’s Rocky. In a bid to create the look of his character, the actor decided to take matters into his own hands.
A source tells mid-day, “When the script came to Dutt sa’ab, he sat down with the director to etch out the character’s back-story, and discussed details like what his motivations could be. Adheera has swag. While he wears snazzy shades, he carries a sword. Clearly, the villain is slightly eccentric. Along with his stylist, the star carefully curated every element of Adheera’s look. He raided his personal wardrobe to bring out accessories from his ’90s films to give the character the desired X-factor.”
This isn’t the first time that Dutt will play the antagonist. He has previously earned acclaim for his menacing acts in movies like Agneepath, and recently, in Panipat.
Shamshera, KGF 2 and Prithiviraj can only be enjoyed when Covid-19 is under control-Sanjay Dutt
8:32 AM
Sanjay Dutt hopes fans can soon get back to enjoying the big screen experience
Juhi Chakraborty (HINDUSTAN TIMES; January 9, 2022)
Sanjay Dutt hasn’t had a big screen release in a long time; the last one was Panipat in 2019. But this year, the actor has three film releases scheduled, and he says he is looking forward to the year and hoping for the best amid the rising Coronavirus concern in the country.
“My projects, Shamshera, KGF 2 and Prithiviraj, are magnum opuses and are made for the big screen experience, and I was extremely excited and looking forward to their release. But these can only be enjoyed when the Covid-19 situation in the country is under control. Right now, I only hope that things get better for us and that people continue to take precautions and mask up,” he says.
The 62-year-old adds that, while he “misses being on the big screen”, he is grateful for the OTTs. He has had three web releases in the last two years, including Sadak 2, Torbaaz and Bhuj: The Pride Of India. “The big screen has its own charm, and it allows audiences to enjoy a film in all of its glory and spectrum. But there’s no denying that cinema is evolving, and with the rise of the OTT platform, audiences now have access to a wealth of content that caters to every taste. So, in my opinion, both are equally important and can coexist beautifully,” he explains.
In the midst of the pandemic, the actor also battled cancer. But he says he is fine now. Dutt says, “By God’s grace and with the support of my family, doctors, and well-wishers, I’m back on my feet and raring to go. I’m glad that’s in the past and I was able to recover fully from that difficult phase. It all comes down to willpower and keeping the faith.”
Sooryavanshi should release on Holi and kickstart the season of biggies
8:46 AM
Box Office India Trade Network
The audience is back in the South with MASTER and KRACK and obviously
the calls will be there now for major Hindi films to come back. The
dynamics of the Hindi film industry are slightly different but
SOORYAVANSHI on Holi can be a start as long as the Coronavirus pandemic does not see
another wave.
The Hindi film industry still needs a little time as it would be catastrophe if a film releases in the next month or so but the public does not come in numbers. The big film in the South is being led by Vijay who is a bonafide superstar in Tamil Nadu. Now we have bigger superstars in Hindi cinema as our cinema has a reach across most of the country but our superstars do not have the level of superstardom that Vijay has in Tamil Nadu in any area.
The Hindi film industry still needs a little time as it would be catastrophe if a film releases in the next month or so but the public does not come in numbers. The big film in the South is being led by Vijay who is a bonafide superstar in Tamil Nadu. Now we have bigger superstars in Hindi cinema as our cinema has a reach across most of the country but our superstars do not have the level of superstardom that Vijay has in Tamil Nadu in any area.
Salman Khan has strongest following in Rajasthan and CI but its not at the level of Vijay in Tamil Nadu. Shah Rukh Khan is best in Kolkatta but again not at the level of Vijay in Tamil Nadu. Also these areas where there is a certain amount of blind following for a certain star are nowhere near as big as Tamil Nadu in terms of collections.
This is not just the case today but earlier also as Amitabh Bachchan is probably the biggest superstar that India has seen but the level of stardom in his strongest area of Mumbai city was not at the level of a Rajnikant in Tamil Nadu.
In our industry, the dynamics are different with different regions and tastes differ where the superstar plays a part but other factors also come in. If a superstar had the pull Vijay has in Tamil Nadu across the Hindi markets from North to East to Maharashtra, you could release that film next week and it will be at allowed capacity houses across the board even in a pandemic. But this has never happened and probably never will as its much easier to hold that sort of stardom in one state but not across 10 or 12 states.
The films released in South including MASTER are being driven by the youth mass audience and with family audiences in much lower numbers compared to 2019. This is the case in multiplexes in Bengaluru, Hyderabad and Chennai which have seen good turnouts and our collections are heavily multiplex lopsided and a big film needs that neutral family audience to get big numbers. At the moment there is a reluctance for this audience to come out and the 50% cap does not help as it shows something is not quite right.
So despite MASTER, bringing back the audience in the South there will still be fear in the Hindi film industry as major studios will be aware of the dynamics but a start has to be made somewhere and Holi looks best bet. This gives a little time for things to improve and on top its a mass holiday and this audience will be more eager to return back to the theatres. Also there could be a change in the capacity rule by then which would be a huge help and Rajasthan and Jharkhand will be allowed to open cinemas. Obviously it has to be a mass film and SOORYAVANSHI is the one which is ready and waiting.
The Friday release could give jitters but then the film can release on Sunday 28th March which is a holiday and then next day is the Holi holiday with the week having mini holidays in many states which will no doubt aid collections. Also there are around 10-12 major films which have a chance of releasing in the rest of the year ('83, SATYAMEVA JAYATE 2, RADHE, SHAMSHERA, BELLBOTTOM, PRITHVIRAJ, ATRANGI RE, JERSEY, JAYESHBHAI JORDAAR, LAAL SINGH CHADDHA and BACHCHAN PANDEY) and these films can take care of business from May onward.
These film releases with a gap between them will keep the flow and cinemas occupied for most of the year. Then there is KGF 2 which is the white horse and is sure to do huge numbers in Mumbai circuit and if its huge satellite craze plays out in other circuits then its going to be a huge bonus for the Hindi markets. After all, it is the top 10 films amount for around 65-70% of the yearly business.
Obviously most of these films are a year late and the biggest of them SOORYAVANSHI had a trailer release last year and now has to start again which is not easy. It basically means no real event film but those will come next year with PATHAN, TIGER franchise and FIGHTER, maybe another one or two. The long in making and hugely budgeted BRAHMASTRA may also have to wait till next year although has outside chance of coming this year depending on when the film can get finished.
It is SOORYAVANSHI which will have to make the start and Holi would be the best bet at the moment and that is assuming there is not another Coronavirus wave. But its going to be a studio call and remains to be seen what happens.
Sanjay Dutt shooting for an action-packed KGF sequel without a body double
9:12 AM
Actor has been quietly shooting for the action-packed climax of the KGF sequel, featuring Yash in the lead and him as the antagonist
Himesh Mankad (MUMBAI MIRROR; December 11, 2020)
Towards the end of November, Sanjay Dutt flew down to Hyderabad to complete the shoot of Bhuj: The Pride of India, which features him in the key role of a villager who helps the IAF reconstruct the Bhuj airstrip—bombed by enemy attack—overnight, with the help of women residing in a nearby village. The actor shot for over a week. Mirror has now learnt that right after that, Sanjay quietly started shooting for KGF: Chapter 2. He plays the antagonist, Adheera, and is pitted against Yash in the role of Rocky in this Prashanth Neel directorial.
“The entire climax of the film is being shot on a large scale with plenty of action centered around a coal mine. Since Sanjay has just recovered from cancer, the producers had suggested that they get a body double for some of the scenes. But Sanjay insisted on doing all the stunts himself,” revealed a source close to the development, adding that the actor is in good shape and was excited to perform stunts under the supervision of National Award-winning action director duo of Anbu-Arivu.
In August, Sanjay had revealed that he is taking a break from his professional commitments on medical grounds. Following multiple rounds of medical treatment, he took to the social media to inform that he had emerged victorious in the battle against cancer. Since then, he has completed the shooting of Shamshera, featuring Ranbir Kapoor, before moving on to Bhuj and KGF 2.
The KGF 2 schedule will continue till the month-end, and with that it will be a wrap for the film. “The team has upped the scale of action as compared to the original and it’s one of the USPs of the sequel,” added the source, sharing that on January 8, Yash’s 35th birthday, the first teaser will be unveiled and the film will open in theatres later in the year.
Sanjay Dutt reveals that he has emerged victorious in his battle against cancer
8:07 AM
MUMBAI MIRROR (October 22, 2020)
On Wednesday, Sanjay Dutt took to the social media to inform that, though the last few weeks had been very difficult for him and his family, he had finally emerged victorious in his battle against the Big C. “Like they say, God gives the hardest battles to his strongest soldiers,” he mused, adding, “On the occasion of my kids’ birthday, I am happy to come out victorious from this battle and be able to give them the best gift I can—the health and well-being of our family”.
Besides thanking friends, family and fans for standing by him, the 61-year-old was full of gratitude for the doctors that came to his rescue. “I am especially grateful to Dr Sewanti (Limaye) and her team of doctors, nurses, and the medical staff at Kokilaben hospital, who have taken such good care of me in the last few weeks,” he said.
The announcement comes soon after Sanjay flew down to Dubai with wife Maanayata to spend some quality time with his kids who are studying there. On returning, he got himself a buzz cut, showing off the cancer scar like a badge of honour on the social media, sounding confident of fighting off the disease.
Now that he has overcome the health roadblock, the actor is raring to resume work. He will be flying down to Hyderabad within a fortnight to get into the shoes of Adheera and fight against Yash’s Rocky in KGF 2. He is expected to shoot some dramatic and action scenes for the film’s climax.
On August 11, following a brief hospitalisation over a weekend, Sanjay had announced that he would be taking a break from work for “some medical treatment”. Soon after, he was spotted making the rounds of city hospitals with sister Priya. While speculations were rife that the actor would dash off to the US for treatment, Mirror was the first to report (August 28) that he will undergo treatment in city hospitals despite getting a five-year visa to the US.
Even while undergoing chemotherapy, Sanju shot for patchwork scenes for Shamshera, a period drama that pits him in a battle royale against reel-life Sanju, Ranbir Kapoor.
Yash back on KGF 2 set, gears up for an action-packed finale
7:55 AM
Sanjay Dutt expected to join team to complete his two-day work in the first week of November
Himesh Mankad (MUMBAI MIRROR; October 9, 2020)
On August 26, the KGF sequel resumed shoot after a fivemonth break brought on by the Coronavirus-triggered lockdown. Yash, who plays Rocky, however, wasn’t a part of this brief schedule, and only joined the unit on Wednesday, along with his leading lady, Srinidhi Shetty.
“After canning some important scenes with them in Bengaluru, the team will fly down to Hyderabad for another 20-day shoot on the set of the Kolar Gold Fields. They will be shooting some lavishly-mounted action scenes, including the climax,” revealed a source close to the development, adding that Yash has been training hard for it since the last few months. “He has a certain look in the film for which he has to be fighting fit. He has also grown a heavy beard to maintain continuity.”
The film also features Sanjay Dutt as the antagonist, Adheera, and the story of KGF: Chapter 2 chronicles a battle royale between Rocky and Adheera. “Sanjay has shot for most of his scenes with just a couple of days’ work pending. He will mostly join the team in the first week of November,” shared the source.
Director Prashanth Neel is hoping to wrap up the shoot by early November and then move into post-production. “Even during the lockdown, the team was remotely working on post-production through video calls,” said the source. KGF: Chapter 1 released during the Christmas 2018 weekend, alongside Shah Rukh Khan’s Zero, and was a surprise hit in the Hindi belts despite the clash. It also won two National Awards for Best Action and Best Special Effects.
Chapter 1 revolves around Raja Krishnappa Bairya aka Rocky who arrives in Bombay (now Mumbai) in the 1960s, on a quest for power and wealth as desired by his dying mother. The sequel takes off from where part one ended and was targeting an October 23, 2020 release, before the pandemic struck. Now, it will open next year.
Revealed: Sanjay Dutt had four films on floors, many more to go
8:57 AM
A look at what had been keeping Sanjay Dutt busy and the plans hit for a six by his medical break
Himesh Mankad (MUMBAI MIRROR; August 15, 2020)
Last Tuesday, following rumours that he has been diagnosed with lung cancer, Sanjay Dutt announced that he was taking a short break from work for some medical treatment. “With your love and good wishes, I will be back soon! (sic),” he promised.
The 61-year-old actor has been among the busiest in B-Town in the last two years, with releases like Bhoomi, Saheb Biwi Aur Gangster 3, Kalank, Prassthanam and Panipat. He has two films releasing on OTT soon. Films like Bhuj: The Pride of India, KGF Chapter 2: Kolar Gold Fields, Shamshera and Prithviraj are work-in-progress. Mirror checks their status.
K.G.F. : Chapter 2: Kolar Gold Fields
Sanjay Dutt plays the bad man, Adheera, who takes on Yash’s Rocky in the sequel to the 2018 Kannada action film. He has some shooting left for the film which was to wrap up by April 2020 before the Coronavirus-triggered lockdown hit all plans for a six. Karthik Gowda, executive producer of KGF 2, says, “Though we’re 20 days away from completion, we have only two to three days of shoot left with him (Sanjay Dutt). It’s not a very important scene and manageable for us. But the dubbing still remains and we will do it soon. I spoke to him the other day and he is keeping well, there is nothing to worry.”
Bhuj: The Pride Of India
The true-life period drama, set against the backdrop of 1971 Indo-Pak war, Bhuj features Sanjay Dutt as Ranchordas Savabhai Rabari aka Pagi, who helps Sonakshi Sinha’s Sunderben lead a team of 300 Gujarati village women, rebuild the Bhuj airstrip overnight after it’s bombed by the enemy. This act of grit and courage helped the Indian Air Force counter the enemy attack. Ajay Devgn plays Squadron Leader Vijay Karnik, who was given the charge of getting the airstrip operational during the war. The film is almost complete, with just around 10 days of patchwork and some dubbing remaining. Sanju has completed shooting but is yet to dub for it.
Shamshera
Real life Sanju teams up with reel life Sanju, Ranbir Kapoor, in another period film, Shamshera. Set in the 19th century, it has Ranbir as a dacoit who takes on the British Raj with Sanjay in a negative role again, as Shudh Singh. The Karan Malhotra directorial has been wrapped up with only a week-long patchwork shoot remaining with Ranbir. However, while Sanju has finished shooting for this period-drama, his dubbing for the same is pending.
Prithviraj
This period drama has Akshay Kumar in the titular role, with Sanjay, too, playing a pivotal part. While some reports suggest that he plays the character of Prithviraj’s uncle, some others claim that he plays the role of Jaichand, the father of his lady love Sanyukta. The actor has shot for 10-14 days with Akshay in Jaisalmer. The shoot was halted mid-way in March in the wake of the ongoing Coronavirus pandemic. The team is expected to resume work by November in Mumbai. The film also marks the acting debut of Manushi Chhillar.
Projects yet to take off
In an interview with Mirror last year (September 10, 2019) Sanjay and wife Maanayata had revealed some home productions, including a Sanjay Puran Singh directorial, titled Pandit Galli Ka Ali. He was to team up with Rishi Kapoor with whom he had worked in many films. The veteran actor passed away this year on April 30. He was diagnosed with leukemia in 2018.
There’s also a horror comedy, Virgin Tree, directed by ad-filmmaker Siddhant. “It has Sanju play a virgin baba,” Maanayata had informed.
The actor was also supposed to reunite with his Circuit, Arshad Warsi. The film in question was not Munnabhai 3 which has been in the news for years now, but a comedy revolving around a blind don and his eyes. There’s no clarity on when the Munna Bhai franchise will get going again, though the script is supposed to be locked.
He is also said to be doing a film titled Doghouse with Samir Karnik. It’s a comedy set in Punjab.
Sanjay Dutt announces break from work due to medical emergency; has four projects in pipeline
9:15 AM
With Sanjay Dutt announcing a break from work to seek medical treatment, here's what is up with Bhuj, Shamshera, Torbaaz, and KGF: Chapter 2
Uma Ramasubramanian (MID-DAY; August 13, 2020)
As the trailer of Sadak 2 dropped online yesterday, Pooja Bhatt dedicated it to co-star and dear friend Sanjay Dutt. While the sequel to 1991 hit Sadak is poised for release on August 28, Dutt has as many as four films in the pipeline. Dutt announced on Tuesday that he is taking a break from his professional commitments to seek medical treatment.Among the movies he was working on was Yash Raj Films' Shamshera, which has him team up with Ranbir Kapoor. An industry insider says, "Sanjay has only three days' patchwork shoot remaining. Right now, the makers are only concerned about his health and praying for his speedy recovery." The actor has another big-ticket venture in Ajay Devgn's Bhuj: The Pride of India. It is heard that he had completed filming most of his portions of the war drama before the lockdown was announced. Co-producer Bhushan Kumar remained unavailable for comment.
Raring to go at 61, Sanjay Dutt was to foray into regional cinema with KGF: Chapter 2. The makers had shared his first look from the film on his birthday on July 29. Karthik Gowda, creative executive producer, reveals that the unit is slated to resume work on August 20. "Of the 25-day shoot, Sanjay has only two days' work remaining. It is an extension shoot, so [his unavailability] shouldn't be a problem. I have spoken to him and wish he comes back as soon as possible," he says.Meanwhile, the actor's long-in-the-making Torbaaz is set to enjoy a digital premiere on Netflix. Producer Rahul Mittra, who has developed a deep bond with him while collaborating on the drama, says his best wishes are with Dutt. "Torbaaz is a project that Sanju is very proud of, but I am not thinking about the film at this point. This is the time to pray for his good health. As a friend, it pains me to see so much speculation surrounding his health. I urge everyone to exercise restraint."
Sanjay Dutt has always been a fighter, says Maanayata after speculation over his health
9:11 AM
Rachana Dubey (BOMBAY TIMES; August 13, 2020)
A day after Sanjay Dutt announced a break from films for medical treatment, his wife, producer Maanayata Dutt said the actor is a “fighter” who has always emerged winner amid adverse conditions, while urging fans to not fall prey to speculations. The 61-year-old actor was hospitalised at Lilavati Hospital over the weekend after complaining of breathlessness. He was discharged on August 10, and released a statement on Tuesday, announcing he would be taking a “short break” from work to focus on medical treatment. “I am taking a short break from work for some medical treatment. My family and friends are with me and I urge my well wishers not to worry or unnecessarily speculate. With your love and good wishes, I will be back soon!” he shared.
In her statement Maanayata said, “There is a lot that the family has gone through in the past years but I am confident, this too shall pass.However, it is my heartfelt request to Sanju’s fans to not fall prey to speculations and unwarranted rumours, but to just help us with their ongoing love, warmth and support. Sanju has always been a fighter, and so has our family. God has yet again chosen to test us to overcome the challenges ahead. All we seek is your prayers and blessings, and we know we will emerge as winners on the other side, as we always have. Let us use this opportunity to spread light and positivity.”
On the work front, three of his films — Sadak 2, Bhuj: The Pride of India and Torbaaz — will soon be released on OTT platforms. His upcoming projects include Shamshera, Prithviraj and KGF Chapter 2, which are in various stages of completion. The actor was also expected to team up with Arshad Warsi and Sajid Samji for a comedy later this year.
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Wife Maanayata back home; confident this shall pass
MUMBAI MIRROR (August 13, 2020)
On Saturday, Sanjay Dutt was admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at Lilavati Hospital after he complained of breathlessness. He tested negative for Coronavirus and was discharged on Monday. But rumours have since been rife that the 61-year-old actor is suffering from lung cancer, more so after he posted on social media on Tuesday that he was taking a short break from work for some medical treatment.
A source from the Lilavati hospital informed that when Sanjay was taken to the hospital, he was low on oxygen saturation. “Fluid had accumulated in his lungs and because of that he was having breathing trouble,” said the source, adding that the fluid samples were sent for testing. “Doctors said it could be tuberculosis or cancer. The reports on Wednesday confirmed that Sanjay is suffering from stage 4 lung cancer.” Dr Jalil Parkar senior pulmonologist, who is treating the actor refused to comment on his condition.
Meanwhile, wife Maanayata and twins, Shahraan and Iqra, who were stuck in Dubai following the lockdown, returned to Mumbai on Wednesday, around 1.30 am. Later in the day, she released an official statement asking his fans and well-wishers to pray for the actor. “There is a lot that the family has gone through in the past years but I am confident, this too shall pass. Sanju has always been a fighter, and so has our family. God has yet again chosen to test us to overcome the challenges ahead. All we seek is your prayers and blessings, and we know we will emerge as winners on the other side, as we always have. Let us use this opportunity to spread light and positivity,” she asserted.
Buzz is, Sanjay has applied for permission to travel to the US for treatment. He could also fly to Singapore. But according to sources close to the actor, all decisions will depend on further test reports.
As Bollywood opts for OTT releases, cinema hall owners look South to replace Hindi films
8:23 AM
With many B-Town makers taking the OTT route, peeved exhibitors are in talks for dubbed versions of upcoming Tamil, Telugu, Kannada and Malayalam releases
Himesh Mankad (MUMBAI MIRROR; July 28, 2020)
Cinema halls across the country have been shut since March owing to the Coronavirus pandemic. Even though shoots have commenced, there is no official communication yet from any of the state governments on when theatres can open their doors. Meanwhile, several Bollywood producers have decided to release their films directly on digital platforms. Exhibitors across the country have protested this move, saying this will leave them with little content to screen when they reopen.
Now, Mirror has learnt that these cinema owners have found a way to fight back. They are in talks with producers of Tamil, Telugu, Kannada and Malayalam films for dubbed Hindi versions of upcoming releases featuring popular stars and having a pan-India appeal.“With tent-pole films like Bhuj: The Pride of India and Laxmmi Bomb going off our radar, we’re exploring the possibility of demolishing the language barrier,” informs Akshaye Rathi, a Nagpur-based exhibitor, adding that this will also give South producers an access to thousands of screens across the country.
According to the exhibitor, Hollywood films, too, are bringing in numbers, on par with top Bollywood stars. “Collections of South films, too, will spike with every passing year. Wait for KGF 2, it will explode!” he promises, adding that if the Hindi versions of these films do well, it will push South actors to dub for themselves. “This will make them huge pan-India stars.” Gurmeet shares that in the Delhi-UP territory, the rights of some dubbed films sell for as little as Rs 2.5 lakh, but the recovery is very high.
Vishek Chauhan, an exhibitor from Purnia, Bihar, endorses this, saying dubbed films like Bahubali 2, 2.0 and Saaho have been the biggest hits in his theaters in the last few years. “Imagine a three-film old Prabhas opening on par with Salman Khan in Bihar; it’s possible. KGF released alongside Shah Rukh Khan’s Zero with zero hopes and surprised all the exhibitors,” he avers.
He adds that some films like Mahesh Babu’s 2017 thriller, Spyder, would’ve opened big in Hindi belts too. “I got at least 500 enquiries for the film, but the makers didn’t dub it. However, with social media at its peak, good content is travelling by word of mouth,” he says, confident that cinema halls will survive the virus, but isn’t too sure about the future of Bollywood. “I fear soon most Hollywood and South films will perform better than those in Hindi. Bollywood will be shocked when 10 to 12 South films clash with them at the box-office. The day is not far because now it’s all about entertainment.”My character in KGF is the hero as well as the villain-Raveena Tandon
8:05 AM
Raveena Tandon on her part in KGF sequel, writing four shows that she’ll produce and bonding with family over video calls
Akash Bhatnagar (MUMBAI MIRROR; June 29, 2020)
Last year, Raveena Tandon returned to mainstream Bollywood with an appearance in the recreated version of “Sheher Ki Ladki” for Khandaani Shafakhana. The ’90s chartbuster, featuring the actress alongside Suniel Shetty, had originally appeared in the 1996 action-thriller, Rakshak. But according to her, it was a one-off thing. “I love dancing, but I want to do more age-appropriate stuff now, something I can do with dignity and grace,” Raveena asserts.
Moving on to future endeavours, the actress informs that shooting of her upcoming project, the Yash-starrer KGF 2, is complete and only dubbing remains. “I am playing a politician, a strong character. She is the hero as well as the villain of the film, with a very interesting story arc,” Raveena informs, adding that she is also exploring writing. “I have completed four shows that have all been greenlit. I will be producing them as well.”
The actress is also kicked about her time on a reality show’s judges panel with Nach Baliye 9, in which she worked with director-friend Ahmed Khan and loved it. “You get to do a critic’s job and get paid well for it. Otherwise, it’s always us being judged. You also get to wear the best clothes,” she laughs, adding that incidentally, it’s where another one of her upcoming projects developed. “Ahmed discussed his next directorial, a comedy, with me during the show. He is an old friend and we share a comfort zone, so I didn’t ask many questions before saying ‘yes’. It was to go on the floors in June-July, but now, there is no clarity,” reveals Raveena, alluding to the Coronavirus-led uncertainty.
At home, she is happy to have got ample bonding time with family during the lockdown. “We work out and do yoga together on the terrace and play board games every night after dinner. I do miss seeing my parents, though,” she says. Speaking of family, Raveena became a naani again last year, when daughter Chhaya gave birth to a boy. And thanks to technology, she has been able to witness some memorable milestones. “I haven’t missed even one crucial moment, from him learning to crawl to his first tooth coming out. One of my daughters is in Goa, while one in South Africa, but we stay in touch through video calls,” beams the actress.
Ask her if younger daughter Rasha has shown any interest in an acting career and Raveena says, “Her main love is singing and she hasn’t shown any interest in acting yet. But the day she does, I’ll be there to guide her and help her stand on her own feet.”
My inheritance is not a burden, it’s a gift-Sanjay Dutt
8:01 AM
After 38 years in Bollywood and five films in the pipeline, actor Sanjay Dutt is only getting hungry for more meaty roles
Shreya Mukherjee (HINDUSTAN TIMES; November 19, 2019)
Every performer adopts a certain methodology while choosing a project. For an actor, it is sometimes the role, sometimes the script, or sometimes the team, which draws him towards the film. For Sanjay Dutt, it’s the balance of all these elements.
“Character and story go hand-in-hand. If the character is amazing but the story isn’t, then it’s a futile endeavour and vice versa. For me, both of them are equally important. However, if I strongly feel for a character, I might do it, irrespective of the length of the role in that film. As actors, our hunger for playing challenging role increases with every character that we portray on screen,” says Sanjay.
Having spent 38 years in the industry, Dutt is still going strong with five upcoming releases — KGF 2, Panipat, Sadak 2, Shamshera and Torbaaz. And the actor says that the length of a role has never really bothered him. “It really doesn’t matter, but the gravity of the role does. I’ve done double-hero films at the peak of my career, so I don’t have any insecurity. I get attracted to strong characters backed by powerful stories,” adds Dutt.
Well, that explains why the 60-year-old actor is still offered meaty roles and filmmakers are keen on collaborating with him. Dutt’s talent and amiable nature, many contemporaries feel, is a legacy that he carries forward well from his parents — two legendary actors, late Sunil Dutt and late Nargis Dutt. So, does he still feel the burden of expectations every time his film hits the theatres? “Though expectations have ridden high on me because of my family, I’m grateful for it. I don’t see my inheritance as a burden, but as a gift. I cherish this gift by giving my best in all the films I do,” says Dutt, humbly.
The actor has had a chequered life and feels grateful for the constant support received from his fans. Expressing gratitude, he says, “I feel blessed when audiences start expecting so much more from their favourite actors. It makes us push our envelope and raise the bar. It throws you out of your comfort zone and helps you deliver something new, every time.”
Revealed: Yash recommended Sanjay Dutt for KGF Chapter 2
7:49 AM
Kavita Awaasthi (HINDUSTAN TIMES; October 20, 2019)
Kannada star Yash’s period action film K.G.F: Chapter 1, worked at the box office and was widely appreciated by the masses. While fans were impressed with the film, the makers announced that they have begun shooting for K.G.F Chapter 2 and have cast Sanjay Dutt in the role of the antagonist. The producers recently unveiled a poster of Dutt in an intense, daredevil avatar, and revealed that his character is called Adheera. Now, we have learnt that in fact, Yash had suggested Sanjay Dutt’s name to the team and he was their first choice.“Yash has grown up watching Sanjay Dutt’s films and loved his performances. He is a huge fan of the senior actor. While K.G.F: Chapter 1 didn’t have a lead antagonist in particular, when the script for Chapter 2 was locked, Yash was keen on Dutt playing the role as he was the apt choice for the part. He was the one who suggested Dutt’s name to the makers and was hoping that the senior actor accepts the offer. He was thrilled when Dutt came on board,” says a source, adding, “Moreover, their first day of shoot turned out to be comfortable and smooth as Dutt was warm and approachable. The two actors have discussed scenes in the film and Yash has also taken tips to work on certain scenes from Dutt.”
I hope my act in KGF 2 is more menacing than Kancha Cheena-Sanjay Dutt
8:34 AM
Sanjay Dutt on gearing up for his villain act in sequel of Kannada blockbuster KGF
Sonil Dedhia (MID-DAY; September 18, 2019)
At 60, Sanjay Dutt is not afraid of new beginnings. The actor, who has spent the better part of his life in front of the camera, is readying to foray into regional cinema with KGF: Chapter 2. With the first instalment becoming a smashing success, the upcoming edition of the Kannada film franchise will see leading man Yash find a formidable rival in Dutt's character Adheera, who seeks to avenge his brother's death.
"I last did a negative role in Agneepath [2012] and have been wanting to play a villain again. When this opportunity came my way, I thought it was perfect. It's an action-oriented film, and is right up my alley," says Dutt. Any reservation he might have had about the Prashanth Neel-directed venture was quelled, he reveals, when the script earned wife Maanayata's approval. He hopes to top his Kancha Cheena act in Agneepath with this role. "I hope it is more menacing [than Kancha Cheena], only then will it be fun."
Before he joins the shoot later this year, his to-do list entails "pumping hard in the gym to get the right physique" for the actioner. What about Kannada lessons, we enquire. "I am not sure if I will be required to learn Kannada. I will definitely want to do the dialogue delivery unless the makers decide to [have it dubbed by someone else]."
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