Anjum Rizvi found guilty of ‘wilful disobedience of directions’
Vallabh Ozarkar and Sharmeen Hakim (MUMBAI MIRROR; May 11, 2019)

The Bombay High Court last week held Anjum Rizvi, producer of A Wednesday and several other hit Bollywood films, in contempt of court and sentenced him to four months in prison. Justice Gautam Patel jailed Rizvi following innumerable excuses, “lying about his assets” and making false assurances over paying dues to a company called Y T Capital Pvt Ltd. Rizvi was arrested earlier this week and is currently in Arthur Road Prison. “The respondent (Rizvi) continues to believe that he can lie to courts and constantly get away with it…” Justice Patel said in his order, calling Rizvi’s final excuse for not making the payment absurd. In this case, Rizvi attributed the cheque’s bouncing to a bank holiday. He still didn’t have the money with him when he appeared in court three days later. He made this claim despite the fact that the money should have been deposited on the date mentioned on the cheque. On an earlier occasion Rizvi had cited dengue for delay in payment. “Allowing him to get away with this is to undermine the authority of the courts and the rule of law. There is no doubt that he is in civil contempt because there is wilful disobedience of directions, orders and a wilful breach of the repeated undertakings given to this court. His conduct is contemptuous,” the judge observed.

“Mr Rizvi is back in court and as usual he is empty-handed and only requests more time. He has been caught out in his falsehoods more than once… This seems to feed into his film industry mythology that courts do nothing, that matters only get adjourned, that a plaintiff is powerless against a defaulting defendant, that the law is impotent. If Mr Rizvi believes this, he is wrong. He is about to learn just how wrong he is, and he will now learn it the hard way,” Justice Patel had said in an earlier order.

In 2015 Y T Capital filed a case seeking repayment of Rs 2 crore paid to Rizvi in September 2014 for the movie Katha, which never released. The agreement with Rizvi had specified that YT Capital would have rights over his previous as well as future movies until the money is paid.

The HC passed an order in Y T Capital’s favour for recovery of Rs 2.44 crore, including interest. But Rizvi failed to pay the money, forcing YT Capital to approach the court again. In April 2017, the HC stayed the release of Rizvi’s film, Maatr, starring actress Raveena Tandon.

The court also stopped Rizvi from selling or creating any rights in negatives of seven previous films, John Day, India Metro, A Flat, Fast Forward, A Wednesday, Ahista Ahista and Charas: A Joint Effort.

The stay was lifted after he immediately coughed up Rs. 1.5 crores. However, money has only trickled in since then with the final pending amount being Rs 60 lakh.

Soon after the stay was lifted, following court orders, Rizvi filed an affidavit in May 2017, stating that he only has about Rs 17,500 in his bank account. He adding that he did not own any immovable properties.

Rizvi was then ordered to file a further affidavit disclosing his annual returns and later details of his balance sheet, which revealed he had investment in government and other securities to the tune of Rs 74,72,104. In fact advocate Kevin Gala, who was representing Rizvi, later asked to be discharged from the case. Justice Patel allowed his request saying it was “understandable”.

“Enough is enough. Rizvi must now face the consequences of this constant prevarication,” Justice Patel had said in an earlier order. 

Roshmila Bhattacharya (MUMBAI MIRROR; February 1, 2018)

There is something about her that makes you want to stroll down sun-dappled lanes towards a cinema that mirrored everyday life in a way that was engaging, enriching and entertaining. Perhaps it’s her girl-next-door charm or maybe it’s that Miss Chamko smile that scrubs away all that’s wrong with the world, leaving it sparkling. And even if that’s a delusion because the towel to test the detergent was freshly laundered, you still buy it, like Farooq Shaikh aka Siddharth Parashar in Chashme Buddoor, never mind if it left him fighting a rash the next day because he left his face lathered with shaving cream way too long.

Three decades later, point Deepti Naval towards Sai Paranjpye’s iconic 1981 romcom and breaking into peals of laughter she admits Sai was perhaps the only director who could reprimand her without so much as a peep from her. “Knowing it was my fault, I’d stare at the floor, silently listening to her. I had so much affection and regard for her,” she reminisces.

She listened to Sai when the director told her that for the Chamko scene when she comes into the bachelors’ pad selling her detergent, she should smile only as much was absolutely necessary. “Having grown up in Amritsar, I understood her middle-class morality remembering my mother telling me to look straight ahead when walking on the street and not make eye contact with anyone. With these values ingrained in me, I understood that smiling too much at a strange man could be misconstrued so the Chamko smile was bright, professional and rationed,” Deepti chuckles.

This small town wisdom came from a girl who’d just graduated from the City University in New York and was the first Indian-American actress to migrate to Mumbai and Bollywood. “I had no knowledge of the craft and went about choosing my films based primarily on instinct. Naseer (Naseeruddin Shah) told me during Katha that the best thing about me was that I wasn’t trained in acting,” she says.

Farooq was equally encouraging, telling her, “Dipps, you are capable of so much more, don’t get distracted, stay focused.” One of the best loved jodis of the ’80s, the duo went on to pair in many more films, including Ek Baar Chale Aao, Kissi Se Na Kehna, Rang Birangi and the TV serial, Hasrat Mohani. “But it was only during Listen… Amaya that released in 2013, that we actually chatted about life, writing, cinema and how it had changed since Chasme Buddoor and Katha when we made these classics without realising it. In the early days, he’d only tease me,” she recalls, adding that the one subject on which they could never come to an agreement was food. “I enjoy my salad, while he relished his wholesome meals. That’s why even though I invited him often to my place, he never visited me socially, grousing he’d only get ghaas phus.”

On February 3, Deepti will bring in her 66th birthday quietly. “I was hoping to spend it in Himachal but I have to be in Delhi for a retrospective at the Daulat Ram College but there’s nothing better than talking films with young people,” she smiles, adding Listen… Amaya, Saath Saath will be screened there.

Saath Saath… Farooq wooing Deepti with Jagjit Singh’s first Hindi film song penned by Javed Akhtar. “Tum Ko Dekha To Yeh Khayal Aaya…” The smile flashes… Brighter and unhibited.

Farooq was no longer a stranger and nor was movie town. As his equal in the film she could remind him of the integrity and values he was fast losing in the struggle to make a better living, bring him back on track… Ah if only we could hold on to that world, those ideals too… “Hum Jisse Gungunaa Nahi Sakte, Waqt Ne Aisa Geet Kyun Gaaya…”

CINTAA objects to producer promoting his film despite non-payment of past dues; approaches actress for help
Sonil Dedhia (MID-DAY; April 11, 2017)

An impending request from the Cine and TV Artists Association [CINTAA] might find Raveena Tandon torn on moral grounds. The actress, who is in the midst of promoting her comeback film, the Anjum Rizvi production 'Maatr', has been asked to halt promotional work over allegations that the producer hasn't paid artistes involved in his previous project – a remake of Sai Paranjpye's 1980s cult comedy, 'Katha'.

The film, which has been in the making for long, is being helmed by Khalid Mohamed, and features Maniesh Paul, Mohammed Zeeshan Ayub and debutante Sharmiela Mandre. As per a complaint registered with CINTAA by actor Chiranjeet Chhabria, the producer, it is alleged, hasn't cleared the dues of the film's cast and crew. Chiranjeet and his son, child-actor Krissh Chhabria, who was the lead actor in this year's National Award-winning Best Children's Film, 'Dhanak', play supporting roles in the film.

Amit Behl, joint secretary of CINTAA, tells mid-day, "Khalidji had told me about the issue around six months ago. At that time, I also found out that a complaint was made by Chiranjeet with our association. A non-co-operation notice was issued by CINTAA against Anjum, who responded with the promise of clearing dues as soon as his next project would kick-off."

Chiranjeet, who filed the complaint in December 2015, argues that he had been assured by the association that Anjum wouldn't be able to make another film till his dues were cleared. "Jointly, my son and I have to be paid Rs 75,000. But till today, we've received no update [on the payment]. Rizvi is promoting his new film in full swing, but he is not bothered about us at all," he says.

Amit decided to approach Raveena after reports of Anjum promoting 'Maatr' were brought to his notice. "On Saturday, Khalidji told me that Rizvi was promoting 'Maatr' on 'The Kapil Sharma Show'. We sent a letter to Raveenaji, who is also our member, and a social activist, asking her to avoid promoting the film as their fellow-actors from the industry are yet to be paid. We have also approached the Indian Motion Pictures Producers' Association [IMPAA], Indian Film and TV Producers Council [IFTPC] and The Film & Television Producers Guild to look into the matter."

Complaints of non-payment of dues have also been received by supporting artistes Simran Gangwani and Bharti Kumaria. It is suggested that Mohamed, veteran Paranjpye and the three lead actors, who have also not been paid in full, have decided to go ahead with their respective projects and not peruse the matter further.

When mid-day reached out to Anjum, he said, "The film hasn't been completed. There is post production work left, so how can the artistes complain of non-payment? If the film had been released and I hadn't cleared their dues, then I would be wrong. I don't want to comment."

Roshmila Bhattacharya (MUMBAI MIRROR; November 11, 2015)

She's still remembered as Suneil Shetty's bride in Border, who he left behind after their suhaag raat to serve the country. Even after 18 years, the film plays on TV every Independence Day and Republic Day. But Sharbani Mukherji seems to have disappeared from Bollywood. She attributes the 'break' to the fact that she was really young when she did the film, had a contract with J P Dutta and was still studying. After that was lured away by some interesting offers from down South. Her latest Malayalam film, Namukkore Aakasam, released only last month to rave reviews. Soon Sharbani will be seen in a Hindi film, Khalid Mohamed's contemporary remake of the 1983 Sai Paranjpya cult-classic, Katha. She has been roped in for a peppy Lavani number, "Main Apne Mann Ki Rani."

"I'm a dancer, I've trained in Bharatanatyam, Manipuri and have even done a ballet with Bhushan Lakandri. I've always wanted to do a Lavani," says the actress, quick to point out that the Longinus Fernandes choreography isn't entirely traditional, but leans more towards Bollywood.

Filmed over two nights in Film City, it was a strenuous dance with its kamar movements, intricate footwork and expressions. It had to look massy and sensuous without being vulgar. Sharbani didn't just rely on her training as a dancer but did her own research too. She interacted with Lavani parformers and learnt little details like the specific jewellery and the distinctive choli they wear. "It was different but not really difficult and I did it for friends," she says.

Her cousin Kajol is also in the news for her upcoming film Dilwale. Sharbani points out that Kajol has a fullfledged role as the leading lady, while her's is a special appearance in Anjum Rizvi's film, and isn't a big career move. "But I'm open to offers from Hindi films. I'd love to do a comedy, a typical masala movie. Dilwale, with Rohit Shetty as the director, promises plenty of entertainment. Shah Rukh and Kajol are the blockbuster jodi. Then there's also Varun (Dhawan) and Kriti (Sanon). Of course I'm partial to Kajli, she's brilliant. And given that she's super selective about her films, I'm looking forward to this one," Sharbani signs off.

Chaya Unnikrishnan (DNA; April 9, 2015)


Ironically, it was after Farooq’s demise that Manish got the offer to play the actor’s role in the Katha remake. “It was uncanny, but I felt I had his blessings to play this role,” says the actor. He, however, is clear that he cannot really step into the latter’s shoes and is not even trying to. “Initially, I did ask myself if I should be like him, but I knew it was not possible. Also, we have changed a few things to keep up with the times and I am playing the role to the best of my ability,” says Manish.

Ankur Pathak (MUMBAI MIRROR; January 2, 2015)

Roshmilla Bhattacharya (MUMBAI MIRROR; December 31, 2014)

Ankur Pathak (MUMBAI MIRROR; December 23, 2014)

Mirror was the first to report that Sai Paranjpye's 1983 classic Katha is being remade by Khalid Mohamed. Subsequently, it was learnt that Sohum Shah of Ship of Theseus fame would essay Farooque Shaikh's role while Mohd Zeeshan Ayyub of Raanjhanaa would step into Naseeurddin Shah's shoes.

Now, we have learnt that after months of auditions the makers have finalised newcomer Sharmila Mandre to play the part enacted by Deepti Naval in the original. While Sharmila has done several films in the South, the Katha remake will mark her Bollywood debut.

Confirming the same, Khalid told Mirror, "We wanted to introduce a new girl in the film. It was always the plan. But I didn't know it would be such a huge challenge! We auditioned so many girls that I perhaps ended up meeting more women than I ever have in my whole life," he laughed, adding, "After two months of extensive search, we finally found Sharmila!"

Khalid reveals that it was veteran filmmaker Shyam Benegal's advice that helped him while finalising the girl. "He always told me that when you are launching a new actor, always identify a USP. Sharmila has the right balance of natural beauty, glamour and acting talent," he said.

Anjum Rizvi, who's putting together the project with Khalid, added, "With the trio in place, I think we are ready to tell our Katha."

The film will go on floors in January and while the original was shot in a chawl in Churchgate, the remake will be shot in a similar locality in Andheri.

"There are several chawls which are still present in south Mumbai, but shooting in an uncontrolled environment can be quite a task. We've found a nice place in Andheri which lends itself very well to the film's setting," Khalid said.

Roshmilla Bhattacharya (MUMBAI MIRROR; November 25, 2014)

Mirror (October 16) had earlier announced that an official remake of Sai Paranjpye's cult classic Katha is on the cards. The film is being directed by critic-filmmaker-author Khalid Mohamed, with Sai playing his mentor.

Now, Mirror has learnt that Mohd Zeeshan Ayyub has been finalised for the role of Rajaram P Joshi, the clerk who is too shy to express his feelings for his neighbour. The actor has been applauded for his role as Dhanush's friend in Raanjhanaa but for Khalid it was a scene in Shahid that convinced him that Zeeshan could pull off the role played by Naseeruddin Shah.

"In many families I've seen the elder brother helping out a younger sibling financially without it seeming like a sacrifice. Zeeshan got the reaction abslutely right in Shahid," remembers Khalid, who later texted Sonam Kapoor asking her about her Raanjhanaa co-star. "She replied saying he was the best actor in the world."

Zeeshan turned out to be a serious introvert. Since Khalid didn't want a grouchy Rajaram, he tickled him during a photo shoot. Then, noticing he had problems emoting for the still camera, pulled some funny faces to loosen him up.

"Sohum Shah, who steps into the shoes of the late Farooq Shaikh to play the flamboyant Bashudev, who leaves Sandhya pregnant, is an extrovert. I needed someone to balance him, without coming across as a lesser actor. I hope Zeeshan will be able to pull off his first lead role," says Khalid, who has yet to find his Sandhya. "I want an actress with an element of glamour, someone worth fighting over."

Anjum Rizvi who's putting together the project is upbeat about Zeeshan. "You can't compare him with Naseer saab but he's a good actor who suits the character. Katha needs a fresh casting, not stars" he reasons.

But won't the lack of big names affect its commercial viability? He retorts, "No, Katha's content and brand is its biggest USP."

Hiren Kotwani (BOMBAY TIMES; October 27, 2014)

Roshmilla Bhattacharya (MUMBAI MIRROR; October 16, 2014)

In April 2013, David Dhawan came up with a contemporary take on Sai Paranjpye's 1981 classic, Chashme Buddoor. The remake had little in common with the earlier film, except for the premise of three bachelors living under the same roof and trying to woo the same girl. The film was a commercial success but couldn't win the critical acclaim achieved by the original, a restored print of which was released by PVR in the same week.

Now, Mirror has learnt that an official remake of Katha, another cult favourite directed by Sai in 1983, is on the cards. The film is being directed by critic-filmmaker-author Khalid Mohamed with Sai as his mentor.

Anjum Rizvi, who is putting together the project, asserts that though this Katha will be upgraded to fit into a 2015 setting, it will remain true to Sai's original vision. "We don't intend to play around with the story or commercialise it. It will be true to its tortoise and hare story line," he asserts.

The tortoise, in this case is Rajaram P Joshi, a clerk living in a Mumbai chawl. He loses his heart to his comely neighbour, Sandhya Sabnis, but is too shy to express his feelings.

One fine day, his friend Bashudev, drops by for a visit and stays on to impress everyone, including Sandhya, with his 'success' stories. He then joins Joshi's company and simultaneously starts to woo the owner's wife Anuradha and his daughter Jojo. Unaware of this, Sandhya's family decides to get her married to Bashudev. But on the day of the engagement he disappears and is later caught by Jojo with her mother in a compromising position.

Sandhya is devastated by his duplicity and confesses to Rajaram that she is pregnant. He is still willing to make her his life partner and ends up beating the hare in this race for the girl-next-door.

Khalid and Anjum were working on another film when the idea of contemporising Katha took shape. "Sai is Khalid's friend and when he sounded her out she was very keen, though she made it clear that she would not direct the film. The story, screenplay and dialogue are by Sai and updated by Khalid," he says.

The film is expected to roll in December and the casting is on. The original Katha featured Naseeruddin as the staid and solid Rajaram, Farooq Shaikh as the glib-talking Casanova Bashudev, and Deepti Naval as the Maharashtrian mulgi Sandhya. The actors were praised for their excellent performances. "This time too the focus is on getting good actors on board rather than stars," maintains Anjum.

One of the distinctive features of Katha was the fact that it was set in a Mumbai chawl and shot on location at Salunke Chawl near Churchgate. Anjum insists that the setting will not change. "Chawls still exist in Mumbai but the people living there have changed in the last three decades," says Anjum. "Their lifestyle and attitudes are very different today and the modern Katha will reflect this."