Showing posts with label Madhoo. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Madhoo. Show all posts
Kannappa makers wondered, ‘How will this delicate woman look like a strong warrior?’-Madhoo
8:14 AM
Madhoo, who plays a warrior queen in Kannappa, says she is being offered stronger characters in her second innings
Upala KBR (MID-DAY; February 25, 2025)
Playing a warrior queen in a big-budget action extravaganza is an opportunity that rarely comes in an actor’s life. Naturally then, Madhoo is delighted to be part of Kannappa that sees Vishnu Manchu play the titular role, and has cameos by Mohanlal, Prabhas and Akshay Kumar. Madhoo essays the role of Queen Pannaga, a fierce warrior queen. “My character leads her [all-women] army in their fight against the other clans. I had to do war scenes for the first time,” says the senior actor.
Director Mukesh Kumar Singh’s multi-lingual offering is based on the legend of Kannappa, a devotee of Lord Shiva. Shooting for the war sequences was a demanding experience, says Madhoo.
“Since I am slender, on the first day, the [makers] wondered, ‘How will this delicate woman look like a strong warrior?’ I didn’t have a fight master to train me nor did I have any workshops, so I trained myself. The stunts were like choreographed dance steps shown to me 10 minutes before my scene, and I could pull them off because I work out every day.”
Madhoo, who forayed into Bollywood with Phool Aur Kaante (1991), is enjoying the current phase of her career more than ever. Reason? She explains, “In my new innings, producers don’t come to me with soft roles. My characters are strong. In the old days, be it Roja [1992] or Pehchaan [1993], my roles had a softness in the beginning, but became strong eventually. Now, people are seeing me in a different light.”
Dharmendra is family to me. It’s like a father and daughter working together-Madhoo
8:19 AM
Over two decades after Return Of Jewel Thief, Madhoo reunites with Dharmendra to play ghostbusters in horror comedy Khalli Balli
Upala KBR (MID-DAY; August 10, 2022)
It’s a privilege for most actors to work with Dharmendra. For Madhoo, niece to Hema Malini, the joy stems from a personal place. “Dharam uncle is family to me. It’s like a father-daughter working together,” she smiles, as she teams up with him for Khalli Balli. Director Manoj Sharma’s horror comedy sees Madhoo play a ghostbuster who is tasked with driving away a spirit haunting a Lucknow palace. She adds, “Dharam uncle plays my mentor, while Vijay Raaz plays a cop.”
This isn’t the first time Madhoo has shared the frame with the senior actor. Having worked with him almost 26 years ago in Return Of Jewel Thief (1996), she says that his enthusiasm for his craft remains unchanged.
“Even now, Dharam uncle wants to understand a scene before he performs it. The director often told me how Dharam uncle would invite him home to discuss every scene before they shot it. Regardless of how many movies you have done in the past, the interest and enthusiasm to understand the script, to do better, and treat every film like your first — these traits make you a legendary actor. I learned it from Dharam uncle.”
Trying her hand at a horror comedy was a novel experience for Madhoo. She says, “I am enjoying doing an out-and-out comedy. It is tougher [than other genres] as the writing and timing have to be amazing.”
Khalli Balli also stars Raaz, Rajpal Yadav and Rajniesh Duggall.
Say hello to the new-age OTT and cine-maa
8:22 AM
The ever-sacrificing, predictably perfect & always one-dimensional template of the on-screen mother has undergone a dramatic change in recent times. Today’s on-screen moms are layered, flawed and sometimes downright chaotic!
Fathima Ashraf (BOMBAY TIMES; May 8, 2022)
Cinema’s moms are stepping down from their pedestals of perfection to get more real, raw and honest, with shades of grey. Sometimes, they are even messy, flawed, or plain chaotic. Recent times have seen several new shades to the filmy and OTT maa– from complicated (Tanve Azmi and Kajol in Tribhanga) to reluctant (Sheeba Chadha in Badhaai Do), to empowered-yet-flawed (Vidya Balan in Jalsa). Here’s more:
MOVIES & SERIES EMBRACE ‘HUMAN MOMS’
In the past, moms were either relegated to the sidelines of cinema, or put up on a pedestal and in either case, their whole identity centred around their kids. Often, their only flaw was that they loved their kids a tad much.
But, as Renuka Shahane – who wrote and directed Tribhanga (2021), a film about a dysfunctional and unconventional family of three women – puts it, “Ultimately, mothers are human. That is what is reflected in new-age films. Directors are also realising that mothers too have shades to their characters. In Tribhanga, while one of the mothers has had many affairs after her divorce, Kajol’s character had a daughter born out of wedlock. I think these scenarios are very real, relatable, and most people are accepting these changes.”
National Award winning actress Urvashi, who has won acclaim for playing Suriya’s mother in Soorarai Pottru (2020) and RJ Balaji’s mother in Mookuthi Amman (2020), shares, “For one to see the flaws and imperfection in mothers, they have to be looked at as human beings. If you look at mothers in older films, you’ll see they were never the lead actors. They were the hero’s or heroine’s mothers and past a certain age. They don’t have any other priorities, feelings, or thoughts. For them, it’s all about raising their kids and grandkids. That was the concept back then. As an actor, I don’t always want to play the soft and kind mother who doesn’t do much else.”
Madhoo Shah, who’s acted in films across Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, and Kannada, adds, “I was an actor in the ’90s and now, in 2022, I’m playing a lot of mother roles. And most of the characters I play are that of women who have left their unhappy marriages, single mothers raising kids alone, or women who start their careers or find their partners late in life. The characters these days reflect the current generation of mothers. I’m a mother, and my children are very important to me, but my focus is also on myself – my life, wellbeing, appearance, and all that. The attitude was different among the older generation. Their life was all about their husband and children. They went through a very sacrificial, martyrdom kind of motherhood. Whereas right now, there’s a lot of emphasis on self-care.”
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ADDING A NEW LAYER TO THE FILMI MAA
Recently, the film Badhaai Do featured two mother characters, who were a rare departure from the stereoptypical Bollywood moms. Sheeba Chadha – who played Rajkummar Rao’s mother in the film – said she enjoyed playing the role oft he unconventional, and rather ‘reluctant’ mother, who rarely participates in her family’s discussions.
Sheeba says, “Her non participation was the most interesting thing for me because that is really different from those conservative mom roles that one gets offered. I love her desire to not participate at all. She has a great degree of reluctance – she’s not just a reluctant mom, she is a reluctant human being (laughs). It is an interesting quality to explore as it is totally contradictory to what usually mothers are – mothers want to be present and to be contributing,” she said.
Loveleen Mishra, who played Bhumi Pednekar’s ‘hyper’ mom, told us, “My character is so hyper all the time, forget inner, most of her contemplations are outer. Uski life ke funde hi yehi hai. Usko aata nahi isse zyada sochna. There is a situation in the film, when Sumi (Bhumi) comes out to her family, and she is not just horrible, but extremely horrible in this situation. I could not get myself to believe – aisi chandalika maa bhi hoti hai.”
— with inputs from Dharitri Ganguly
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FLAWED TO FRIGHTENING: MOMS IN OSCAR-NOMINATED FILMS THIS YEAR
Several of the Oscar nominated films in 2022, featured chaotic and messy moms. While Olivia Colman was a complicated, cruel and distant mother in The Lost Daughter, Meryl Streep was seen feeding her on-screen son to the climate apocalypse in Don’t Look Up. At the same time, Parallel Mothers showed how maternal devotion can skew one’s sense of right and wrong. The Oscar eventually went to Jessica Chastain for her role in The Eyes Of Tammy Faye – in which she plays a character that feels frequently sidelined from her job due to her maternal duties.
My actor friend Ramya Krishnan is still my best friend. I call her my soulmate-Madhoo
8:29 AM
The actor talks her foray into the web space and the opportunities it has opened up for actors today
Titas Chowdhury (HINDUSTAN TIMES; April 5, 2022)
After dabbling in the Hindi and the south film industries and television, actor Madhoo Shah is now all set to mark her foray into the web space with an anthology film and a web series for which she has already signed up three seasons.
Happy that she is now able to play the parts that she couldn’t during her prime days in the film industry, she says, “With the onset of OTT today, I feel liberated. I took a hiatus of 15 years and then returned to the industry. Everything changes so quickly here. Now, I’m busy doing some amazing characters.”
Lack of restrictions pertaining to a woman’s marital status and age is what excites Shah today. She shares, “You can be of any age or shape but if you’re a good actor, you’ve a place here. Web shows have allowed me that space. You don’t have to be single or in your 20s to be a part of them, and you’ve the freedom to just be an actor.”
Quiz her if she wished that the digital invasion had happened back in the 90s when she had started her career, and the Thalaivi (2021) actor says, “There’s nothing about the 90s that I want to change or do differently. It was the golden period. I’m happy that the influx of OTT has happened today because this is the right time for me to jump into it.”
Shah continues, “I got to work with (actors) Akshay Kumar, Suniel Shetty, Ajay Devgn, Saif Ali Khan and my friends like Shilpa Shetty, Urmila Matondkar, Shilpa Shirodkar, Tabu, Manisha Koirala and Raveena Tandon in different capacities. I made some good friends, even in the south. My actor friend Ramya Krishnan is still my best friend. I call her my soulmate. Those were beautiful days!”
I'm just getting warmed up for the next 30 years-Ajay Devgn
8:17 AM
Ajay Devgn looks back at his journey of three decades and shares how debuting with Phool Aur Kaante turned things around for him
Rishabh Suri (HINDUSTAN TIMES; November 22, 2021)
In 1991, actor Ajay Devgn entered everyone’s hearts, riding on top of two motorcycles in the film Phool Aur Kaante. Today, as the 52-year-old completes 30 years as an actor, he says he is all “warmed up for the next 30”. Excerpts...
Sustaining in showbiz for three decades wouldn’t have been easy. Correct?
You are right, it is herculean. Sustaining in any field for three decades needs constant evolving, and a certain level of maturity — not just in age, but also in craft. It needs constant experimenting, and learning closely from the colleagues and filmmakers you work with. It’s a never-ending process. I look back at the last three decades as one terrific journey, in which I’ve made countless mistakes and struck innumerable home runs. Either way, I am happy.
When you started out, were you sure about making it big, as an actor?
Frankly, it was my father’s (late Veeru Devgan) dream to launch me as an actor. I was just required to focus on realizing his dream. Whether I’d be successful or not is a thought I didn’t toy with at that stage. No one can enter the films planning stardom. You have to work hard and pray your destiny carries you forward. When Phool Aur Kaante became the craze it did, I was catapulted to stardom. I was immature, young, unprepared for stardom.
How was it working in the film?
Kuku Kohli, my director, set out to make a volatile love story with two newcomers — Madhoo Shah and me. He picked up the best music directors of that time, Nadeem-Shravan, brought in my father for action choreography and had a stalwart like (actor) Amrish Puri, who played my father and the antagonist. So, I had to just play my part. I was raw and consumed by delivering the kind of action my father wanted.
Your entry on top of two motorcycles became a rage. How did that go?
I can’t recall the exact feeling I experienced when I stood astride those two motorcycles. However, I know it was a moment of complete madness. Three decades ago, we didn’t use body doubles and safety nets. We just went for it. It was a leap of faith.
People recognized me at the traffic signals. That’s when I knew Phool Aur Kaante hit its mark-Madhoo Shah
8:04 AM
Titas Chowdhury (HINDUSTAN TIMES; November 22, 2021)
Actor Madhoo Shah made her Bollywood debut with Phool Aur Kaante (1991). The film, which completes 30 years of its release today, happened to her without audition. “They had another girl signed up initially. When Kuku Kohli (director) reached out to me, the film was already halfway through. I was playing carrom board with my brother when the phone rang. The next thing I knew, I had already accepted the film,” she shares.
While the film may have set the ticket counters ringing upon release , the 52-year-old actor feels it didn’t make her “an overnight sensation”. She explains, “I was appreciated, but I didn’t become a super success. Yes, I was put in the A-listers bracket, but my reputation as a good actor was built gradually.”
Shah reveals not being “completely happy” with herself after watching the film: “I was very critical about myself. Phool Aur Kaante was the first of its kind. It had a lot of action and I was unsure about it. I thought the critics would have a field day with me. I didn’t want to read the news or meet anybody.”
What followed three days after release changed everything for Shah: “People recognized me at the traffic signals. That’s when I knew the film hit its mark.”
She did Roja (1992) the next year, which earned love from critics and audiences alike. Looking back at her journey, Shah says, “I’m happy with the things that came my way. I define success as a progressive improvement. I’m so blessed to have this life.”
The destiny of a film is not in our hands, but a good film deserves to be watched by everyone-Madhoo
8:07 AM
Actress Madhoo shares how it was a good decision to postpone the release of Thalaiviand tells us about her last film,College Kumar,which fared badly due to the pandemic
Tanvi Trivedi (BOMBAY TIMES; July 12, 2021)
In 2020, actress Madhoo featured in a Tamil-Telugu film College Kumar in a leading role after almost 20 years, but unfortunately, it was a washout at the BO, as the film hit the theatres at the start of the Coronavirus pandemic. This year again, the Jayalalithaa biopic Thalaivi, where she will be seen playing the role of V N Janki Ramachandran, was earlier slated to hit theatres on April 23, but was pushed ahead due to the second wave of the pandemic. But this time, the actress who is reuniting with her Roja co-star Arvind Swamy in Thalaivi after almost two decades, was relieved by the makers’ decision.
Talking about her film College Kumar getting affected badly last year, she said, “I was playing the lead role opposite Prabhu Ganesan. It was a full-fledged, subject-oriented role. I have been my own biggest critic, so when I saw the film, I was pleased with my work and all my hopes were pinned on it. When the film was ready for release in February 2020, initial talks of how COVID-19 had started infecting people and how cine-goers were not frequenting cinema halls, had started. The entire seriousness of Coronavirus came much later, but people had stopped going to cinema halls. In the midst of the pandemic, the film was released, and it was a huge flop from Day 1. I felt so disheartened. I was personally waiting for the release of the film, it had great performances, a good script and we had given it our best. I remember asking the producer if he was contemplating on re-releasing the film at a better time. But then we all realised that once a film releases, it loses its charm and we all saw the producer’s point.”
Madhoo is now looking forward to her next, Thailavi. She said, “It has shaped out so well and we were super excited about its release. Unfortunately, again in March, the second wave of the Coronavirus hit us, and we all felt the film shouldn’t be released. Thankfully, the makers postponed it. I feel that a film which has been shot so well, deserves a full chance for viewing. The destiny of a film is not in our hands, but a good film deserves to be watched by everyone.”
Bhagyashree, Raveena Tandon, Madhoo Shah share their fitness regime
8:18 AM
At a time when maintaining weight has become increasingly difficult, three ’90s actresses on successfully doing so across several decades
Sonia Lulla (MID-DAY; May 12, 2021)
Bhagyashree credits her ability to have maintained a svelte frame during her prime to her healthy eating habits. “We didn’t use the term intermittent fasting then, but I remember my first meal would inadvertently be lunch, followed by a cup of coffee in the evening, and then dinner. So, I was following the IF eating pattern back then too. Also, I would not consume rice and roti at the same time. Back then, if you could dance, and shoot for 12 hours a day without fainting, that was enough. Most of the actresses got their dose of exercise from dancing,” says the actor, now a nutritionist, whose interest in wellness stemmed from a desire to heal herself when she was told an arm injury would require surgery.
Instead of opting for the treatment, she decided to study about wellness, and tended herself back to health. Having once been unable to practice yoga — given that it puts the muscles of the arms under stress — Bhagyashree can now pull off inversions with enviable ease. “I realised that most of our diseases are psychosomatic. When you study about health, you realise that there is a lot that you are not doing correctly. People talk about a diet as something that requires you to cut things out of your meal plan. I see it as all that [you should add] to it.”
The actor admits that at home, abundant attention was paid to eating habits. With her mother being plagued with a bunch of health issues following her diabetes diagnosis at the age of 22, Bhagyashree recalls how she was “slapped so hard” for consuming a cola, one day. “I realised that if we attend to our health early on, and consume everything in moderation, weight can be maintained. I don’t subscribe to calorie counting, and consider it important to eat a variety of foods because they all contribute to one’s health.”
Bhagyashree kicked off her routine with calisthenics and pilates, before graduating to other forms of body-weight training. She paid attention to muscle movement, and focused on rectifying imbalances by being attentive of her form, instead of the number of repetitions she could pull off.
‘Filmmakers would cast actresses even if they were not skinny’
Raveena Tandon is among the few actors who have admitted to abiding to a less favourable culture in the ’90s. “There was a wave [of starvation] that led to bulimia and anorexia, and I saw many suffer because of it. I tell women that if they want to have a family, such practices can affect their ability to conceive,” says the actor, now a proponent of healthy habits like consuming steamed food, and juices. “Now, my family and I derive benefits from consuming grains like jowar, bajra, and ragi, which are extremely underrated. We have swapped oil for ghee.”
Tandon agrees that filmmakers in the ’90s were not apprehensive about casting actresses who had heavy frames. “Actresses were comfortable in their skin, even though there was a lot of body-shaming from journalists who now call themselves feminists. Activities like yoga and aerobics were popular then. The tendency was to be self-reliant, instead of depend on a trainer. Weight-lifting was unfortunately not a concept promoted among actresses, but, male actors took to it diligently. Actresses were [consumed] by the concept of toning their bodies. Today, health ambassadors have created an awareness about fitness. That is a good thing.”
‘Fitness isn’t about an hour in the gym’
Like Bhagyashree, Madhoo Shah attributes the healthy practices that she unwittingly took to in childhood, for keeping her in good stead during her prime. “I would spend five hours outdoors, playing cricket, running, or taking to other sports. I’d return home hungry, and eat like a beast. We were never told to eat limited rotis, or avoid carbs at night. Due to the muscle memory that was developed early on, my body was conditioned to burn calories at a faster rate, and [even though I didn’t exercise] as a working actress, I never lost shape,” says the actor, adding that making her debut in the “era of action heroes” implied that attention was paid to the fitness of the male actors alone. Actors like Akshay Kumar, she says, encouraged outdoor training, only considering the benefits of hitting the gym in recent times. “Of course, actresses wanted to look good, but there was no defined figure that an actress should have had. Even if one was heavy, it was okay.”
Having indulged uninhibitedly during her first pregnancy, Madhoo found herself 30-kilos heavier, even after delivery. The weight came as a rude shock for the actor, who has been considering her humble indulgences as “pregnancy cravings”. Having turned her attention to learning about wellness, she paints a realistic picture of establishing a lifestyle around appropriate habits. “Everything begins by understanding that the mind, soul and heart need to be on the same page. Fitness is not about the one hour that you spend in the gym. Of course, you need to spend that hour, but everything else that you do in the day must contribute to your health. Stay active, walk the dog, sit less, and don’t stuff yourself.” While she is mindful of what she consumes, she makes light of the tendency of waiting for a Sunday for a cheat meal, should one crave for it on a Wednesday. “If I want to have a cheat meal today, I will have it today. When your soul wants something, your mind and body should agree. Similarly, if your mind has decided that you want to look a certain way, so that you can enjoy a promising life, your soul should willingly partake in enabling that. If salads are good for you, you should not crave tandoori chicken. If your mind and body are aligned in this manner, you can nourish yourself into good health, instead of beat yourself into it.”
Today, leading actresses like Deepika Padukone or Anushka Sharma do not have to choose between marriage & career-Madhoo
8:04 AM
Tanvi Trivedi (BOMBAY TIMES; November 25, 2020)
Popular as the Roja (1992) girl, after a great run in the movie industry (Bollywood and south films) for nearly a decade, actress Madhoo quit films for marriage in the 1990s. However, after two daughters and a happy married life, in retrospect, she feels it was a mistake to have left behind a full-fledged acting career. In an exclusive interview, the actress opens up about reuniting with her Roja co-actor, Arvind Swamy, the changes in the film industry and why ‘nepotism’ is not a bad word. Excerpts...
You have reunited with your Roja co-actor Arvind Swamy for the Jayalalithaa biopic Thalaivi after nearly 30 years. Did that make you nostalgic?
Arvind Swamy is playing MGR and I am playing his first wife, Janaki Amma’s role in Thalaivi. I joked with him about how he was a newcomer when Mani Ratnam cast him in Roja. He was not keen to do films then, but Mani Ratnam, who was his friend, convinced him. And we all know how the film fared at the box office; it’s history.
Now, he is a professional actor, who has done more than 20-30 films. He suits the role of MGR’s character so well. I may have done 60 films in the past, but I still get the jitters when I am on a film set. I was at ease when I came to know that I was working with Arvind. People will hopefully like our chemistry as much as they did in Roja.
You have done several films in the South film industry and in Bollywood before and after Roja, but people still remember you as the Roja girl...
Before Roja, I did many films in the South with stars like Mammootty, Mohanlal, Ravi Chandran and Hindi films with stars like Akshay Kumar, Ajay Devgn, Mithun Chakraborty, Govinda and Suniel Shetty, but Roja put me in the big league and brought me fame and adulation. However, every time I started promoting a new film, people would tell me how they loved me in Roja. I’d get slightly irritated when my other films got ignored. On the other hand, I am happy that people remember me for Roja. There were so many good actresses who did good work around that time, but no one remembers them today. Moreover, I can’t complain much because I worked for 10 years and gave it up all to get married. I was adamant to just settle down and not pursue films further, even though my family and husband were supportive. Now, when I look at it in retrospect, I feel it was a mistake because I missed doing films.
Actors like your first Bollywood hero Ajay Devgn, are doing interesting roles today. Even actresses, across age groups, have a variety of roles to choose from. Do you feel that today you have so many more opportunities presented in front of you?
There were many restrictions for actresses in the past. Now with so many alternative platforms and even films being made for different audiences, an actress does not have to hide her age. She is also under no pressure to look a certain way. Even if she puts on a bit of weight, you will find her doing interesting roles. Today, top leading actresses like Deepika Padukone or Anushka Sharma do not have to choose between marriage and career. Actors are finding themselves in a good, liberating space. Look at my co-actor Ajay Devgn, he is doing such content-rich films. He is doing roles that suit his age in films like De De Pyaar De. I am also a mother of two daughters, so I am okay playing one in a film.
Your daughters have expressed a desire to be in films…
Yes, both my daughters had expressed their wish to be part of the film business, but currently they are busy with their exams. They returned from London during the lockdown. I will surely support them if they want to become actors.
‘Nepotism’ and ‘favouritism’ have been the two buzzwords in the past few months in Bollywood. What do you have to say about them?
People talk from their experience and my experience is different. I got cast in my films on merit. I remember being told by my secretary to show my face at certain filmmakers’ parties for five minutes as that would get me a chance to be in their films. And I refused to be part of parties, because I believed that filmmakers would cast me if they liked my work. However, I don’t see a problem when a person likes you and wants to work with you. The film does well, and you begin an association, I don’t see that as camp politics. Nepotism is not a bad word; sabotage is! Tomorrow, even if my best friend’s daughter or son wants to join films, I will help them out. What is wrong in that? What is not right is when you try to take away someone else’s work or ruin their career.
29 years of Phool Aur Kaante: When Ajay Devgn straddled two bikes to a blockbuster
8:10 AM
Roshmila Bhattacharya (MUMBAI MIRROR; November 20, 2020)
Twenty-nine years later, one still remembers Ajay Devgn’s explosive entry straddling two bikes and Kuku ji applauds the tireless, fearless actor who pulled off not just the most daredevil stunts without duplicates, cables or VFX, but also faced a seasoned performer like Amrish Puri, who played his father, an ageing don, in the film, in the emotionally dramatic scenes without missing a beat. “I knew then itself that he was destined for glory,” asserts the director.
However, since Ajay was still a newcomer then, finding a leading lady proved to be difficult. Undeterred by the many excuses and no-nos, Kuku ji put out an advertisement announcing Phool Aur Kaante with Ajay holding a girl whose face was not visible. “Soon after, Hema ji’s (Malini) niece, Madhoo, sent her photographs across to the office. She looked good and we signed her opposite Ajay. She turned out to be a good actress too,” he smiles.
While they were shooting Ajay’s entry on the bikes, a couple of big producers, friends of Dinesh Patel, had dropped by for a dekko. They would watch Kuku ji run, from left to right, and back, and wonder aloud what he was doing. But despite their misgivings, the film shaped up to everyone’s satisfaction and the response from the aam janta to the trailer also was phenomenal. Encouraged, a confident Kuku ji took another gamble, announcing that they would be releasing it on November 22, 1991, coming up against Yash Chopra’s Lamhe which featured Sridevi in a double role and Anil Kapoor, whom Kuku ji knew from his RK days. “Yash ji was a big filmmaker, Anil and Sridevi were superstars and Lamhe was an eagerly awaited film. Our film had only debutants and everyone laughed at our audacity, calling us mad,” narrates Kuku ji.
He admits that they were equally sure that Lamhe would run to full houses and were only hoping that the audience overflow would come to them. “No one had ever imagined that the reverse would happen. Phool Aur Kaante packed in the crowds for 74 straight weeks and would have easily celebrated a platinum jubilee had it not been pulled out to save on doling out bonuses. However, in its 76th week, it returned to the theatres and continued its triumphant run till the 81st week,” Kuku ji guffaws.
What’s more, despite all the maar-dhaad and rona-dhona, Nadeem-Shravan’s music was a rage, with romantic songs like “Tumse Milne Ko Dil Karta Hai”, “Dheere Dheere Pyaar Ko Badhana Hai” and “Maine Pyaar Tumhi Se Kiya Hai,” continuing to resonate even after almost three decades. So, is a sequel on the way? “I have a beautiful script ready with me. I have still to narrate it to him but if Ajay is interested and has the dates, I would love to return to Phool Aur Kaante,” Kuku ji signs off on an ebullient note.
Madhoo to play Janaki in Jayalalithaa biopic, Thalaivi
8:09 AM
Sharanya C R (BOMBAY TIMES; February 26, 2020)
While there were reports that South actress Priyamani would essay the role of Sasikala in the film, now, another South actress Shamna Kasim has been roped in for the part. A L Vijay says, “We had some date issues with Priyamani. Our immediate choice was Shamna. I have seen her work and she’s a phenomenal performer. We did a make-up test and she was perfect for the role. Both, Shamna and Madhoo, have begun shooting. Casting is crucial for any film, and even more so when it’s a biopic. I am happy to have such good performers on board.” The team is presently shooting in Chennai. “It will be a long schedule and will go on until March,” says Vijay.
It was a surprise for me to hear Shah Rukh Khan say that he is a huge fan of my work-Madhoo
8:42 PM
Senior actor Madhoo recounts an encounter with SRK, and his compliment; adds filmmakers should look at talent and not the age of the actor
Kavita Awaasthi (HINDUSTAN TIMES; December 9, 2019)
The Roja (1992) actor, Madhoo wants to work with Shah Rukh Khan as she shares she is a huge fan. “I met him a few years ago and told him, ‘I was a big fan’ as I love his movies and the way he romances on screen. But, it was a surprise for me to hear Shah Rukh say that he is a huge fan of my work. That was when I felt that I have done some good movies in life. I told him that I would love to work with someday. It feels awesome when great people remember my films that released years ago. I feel grateful for all the love I have got in the industry,” she says.
The actor was busy with her family and kids and now that her kids are grown-up, she has returned to acting. Apart from two Tamil films and a Hindi one, she has recently signed a bi-lingual film with her Roja co-star Arvind Swamy. Madhoo has not only featured in Kannada, Malayalam, Tamil and Telugu films but also numerous hit films in Bollywood, including Phool Aur Kaante (1991) and Gentleman (1993). “I was lucky that I got some amazing films and awesome filmmakers to work with. I never thought about taking my career to a certain level or planning which movie to take on next. I never expected anything from my films. Even the hits that came my way, I never knew they would be hits or even the flops that came my way, I never knew they would turn out so,” she states.
The senior actor is looking forward to taking on more work. Ask her about the recent controversy regarding young actors being cast for older parts, and she says, talent should the priority. “I don’t agree that only older actors should be cast for older roles as today we have prosthetics, which can make any actor look convincing. So, filmmakers should look at talent first, age later. Aamir Khan played a college boy’s role in 3 Idiots (2009) convincingly and Shraddha Kapoor played a mother to a teenager in Chhichhore very well. In fact, today, advanced technology helps us and we are not limited as actors due to our looks,” she signs off.
I didn’t know I was a star when I was working in movies-Madhoo
7:50 AM
Kavita Awaasthi (HINDUSTAN TIMES; October 21, 2019)
She is the leading lady of Roja (1992), the film that went on to win three National awards. Whoever was associated with that film became a star. Yet, for a long time after, the female lead, actor Madhoo, didn’t register that she had become a name.
“I didn’t know I was a star when I was working in movies. It was only after I took a break that I realised how successful I was,” says Madhoo, who did films intermittently, as she got busy raising kids. She slowed down after 1998, did no films at all between 2001 to 2008, took up few projects afterwards. But she has had no film these past three years. Now she is reuniting with her Roja co-star Arvind Swamy.
Besides two Tamil films and a Hindi one, she has signed a bi-lingual film with Arvind. “Everything has its own time. I wasn’t actively working all these years. Now, that the word has spread that I am back, I’ve bagged these films. I was overjoyed to work with Arvind again. He is a friend and we’ve kept in touch over the years,” she says.
The Phool Aur Kaante (1991) actor adds, “I am an artiste, I realised that when I was on a break. In 2019, I’ve already paired up with actors I worked with in the past, including Prabhu Ganesan ji and Sarathkumar ji. My movies with them will release soon. I’d love to team up with new and young actors, and senior actors like Shah Rukh Khan and Rajinikanth sir, who are my favourites. But what excites me is that my former co-stars such as Arvind and Ajay Devgn are still working, teaming up with them will be fabulous.”
Recalling the success of Roja, Madhoo says, “When I was doing Roja, I never thought it would be an epic film or make my career or that it was an awesome role in a great film that would be remembered for years. I followed Mani (Ratnam; director) sir and he made a film that he did. I was childish, naïve and innocent back then. Only after I quit the industry is when I understood how huge the movie became. Even today, people call me the Roja girl. I am glad to have been part of a movie which will remembered in history,” she concludes.
I saw myself in Karan Deol even though he was more subdued-Dharmendra
8:07 AM
Dharmendra on what he shares in common with his “darling grandson” and why he is in no hurry to reunite with sons Sunny and Bobby
Avinash Lohana (MUMBAI MIRROR; September 19, 2019)
Dharmendra’s social media account usually gives us a peek into his daily life with anecdotes from his farmhouse in Lonavala and sometimes pictures from his younger days. However, since the last few days, Darling D, as he likes to be called, has gone all out to promote his family’s third-generation actor, Karan Deol, who is gearing up for his Bollywood debut, Pal Pal Dil Ke Paas, directed by son Sunny.What was his reaction when his “darling grandson” expressed a desire to follow in his footsteps? “I saw myself in him,” Dharam ji smiles, recalling when he’d first expressed the wish to become an actor. “Though Karan was more subdued, as his grandfather, I could feel his emotions, relate to the passion. Acting is a big dream, it grows with time. Being an actor allows you to live many lives, I’ve played so many characters over the years so I could empathise with him.”
The 83-year-old veteran highlights another quality the Deols have in common besides being men who think with their hearts. “Karan is shy and that’s a plus. Shyness vapas nahin aati, besharmi toh kabhi bhi aa jayegi,” he philosophises, admitting that he was shy initially and so also was Sunny. “It’s a blessing as it teaches you to respect others, be protective and never hurt anyone.”
Prod him on the film, and Dharam ji informs, that he saw it for the first time on Monday night and was impressed, once again taking to the social media to urge his fans to go, watch it. “It didn’t seem like a film, but reality as it is today. And for a director to achieve this, is commendable. Karan has done all the action himself, but more than that it’s the way he has depicted emotions. He made me cry in a few scenes.” Dharam ji then goes on to add that for a grandfather, his grandson is always more precious than even his son, and Karan’s success will make him feel younger than his 83 years.
He spends most of his time now, in the lap of mother nature. “Since I come from a farmer’s family, I really enjoy being there,” Dharam ji points out. “When I wake up early, specially during the monsoon, I can hear the cuckoo sing. It’s beautiful! Then, I go for a walk and do my yoga, visit my animals and the farm. We are growing avocado and mango which has started bearing fruit now. Seeing a fruit or a vegetable grow gives me more happiness than winning an award.”
What are the chances of him collaborating with Karan on a film? “Nothing is impossible in our industry,” he quips with a smile. Meanwhile, a sequel to the 2007 film Apne, also featuring sons Sunny and Bobby, is in the works, but he is quick to add that nothing has been finalised yet. “The second and the third parts of Yamla Pagla Deewana (YPD) didn’t work. We rushed through with them and didn’t even give ourselves time to listen to the story. After making people cry in Apne, we wanted to make them laugh with YPD, which it did. But then, we chased after the trend of sequels without even bothering to select the right scripts. So, for now, there is no immediate plan of the three of us reuniting,” he clarifies.
Dharam ji will be seen next in a special appearance in Khalli Balli which he did on the request of actress Madhoo. Any plans of writing an autobiography? “I haven’t thought about it because I’m an open book. I might narrate some sequences of my life in the form of poems, beginning with my days in the village,” he muses, slipping into a flashback.
People seem to believe that I’m not working-Madhoo
7:52 AM
Madhoo, who is making a comeback to Hindi films after eight years with a horror-comedy, explains the reason behind the hiatus from Bollywood
Avinash Lohana (MUMBAI MIRROR; May 15, 2019)
Madhoo, who made her acting debut alongside Ajay Devgn in Kuku Kohli’s 1991 actionromance Phool Aur Kaante and followed it up with Mani Ratnam’s National award-winning romantic-thriller Roja opposite Arvind Swamy, was last seen in a Hindi film eight years ago with Love U... Mr. Kalakaar. Now, Mirror has learnt that the actress is making her comeback to Hindi films with a horror-comedy titled Khalli Balli. Directed by Manoj Sharma, the film rolls on Friday.
Explaining how the new project came her way, Madhoo says, “Before Love U...Mr Kalakaar, I had taken a sabbatical as my children were young and I wanted to focus on them. But after that film, I had hoped that I would be working constantly. But that didn’t happen for a few more years. Then, Goldie (Behl) came to me with his TV show Aarambh. That really boosted my confidence. I shared a great rapport with my co-star Rajniesh (Duggall) and after it ended we were hoping to work together again. When Khalli Balli came his way, he suggested my name too.”
The actress will begin shooting for the film in Mumbai, from where the story goes to Lucknow through a road trip. “The horror part is treated very beautifully, and my character is not doing anything senseless or slapstick. The story is inherently funny, so much so, that I agreed to be a part of it on the day it was narrated to me. It’s an interesting script and since the genre is horror I can’t reveal much about the story, but I can tell you one thing… main bhoot nai hoon,” she laughs.
Madhoo admits it was the TV show that gave her the push she needed but Hindi projects were few and far between. “After Aarambh, I never stopped working and have done several South films, three of which have released in the first few months of this year. However, to tell you the truth, apart from Goldie and some other TV shows, nobody really came to me with offers and I didn’t want to do the latter because it would mean working every day of the month, which I wasn’t comfortable with,” she asserts.
When asked about the reason behind it, she explains that it could be because “people seem to believe that I am not working, I have settled abroad or down South, or I am not interested in working at all. That’s not true. I have always been living in Mumbai, I love working in films… and I love working in Hindi films,” she signs off.
If you make me Ranveer Singh’s mother & he calls me ‘mummy’, the audience won’t be convinced-Madhoo
7:42 AM
The actor and socialite on staying relevant and what it’s like for a Juhu girl to be labeled a townie
Anukra Roy (MUMBAI MIRROR; July 23, 2017)
Actress Madhoo Shah welcomes us into her tastefully done-up living room at her home in Malabar Hill with a warm smile. “My husband and mother-in-law are huge art collectors. Whatever I know about art is because of them. Every now and then my husband keeps changing the interiors of this place,” she says. Among the art decorations, the room was adorned with some balloons as well. Shah excitedly shares, “This is the decoration from the surprise party which my children organised for me because they saw the promo of my television show.”
The actress has made a comeback to television with Goldie Behl’s show Aarambh. “Earlier I used to be very unhappy with the word comeback. It meant that I had gone away somewhere and I am coming back. By right now, it feels nice. Now, to me, it means you are making a fresh beginning,” she says. Shah plays a queen in the tele-show and she’s hoping the audience would accept her in her recent role.
Bollywood, on the other hand, is known to typecast actresses as mothers after a certain age. Shah agrees that the audience won’t accept her in a role of a leading heroine. “The industry isn’t unfair, sexist or ageist; it’s just the way it is. I don’t have a problem in playing a hero or a heroine’s mother. But if the hero doesn’t look like my son and looks like my age, then it doesn’t make sense. It’s about looking the part,” she says. “If you make me Ranveer Singh’s mother and he calls me ‘mummy’, the audience won’t be convinced.”
The 48-year-old who made her debut with Ajay Devgn in Phool Aur Kaante in 1991 and had worked extensively in both Hindi and South film industry, is still known for her role in National Award winning movie Roja. “The fact that my work and I are still remembered in an industry where memories are fickle and people forget very easily, I feel blessed and grateful,” she says.
Brought up in Juhu, Shah moved to tony Malabar Hill after her marriage to businessman Anand Shah in 1999. Like many other fellow suburbanites, she too had her own preconceived notions about “townies”. “We had a perception that these (south Mumbai) people are snooty, vain and shallow. They are all about expensive clothes and handbags. I used to think they don’t have to struggle at all. Initially, the people here did not accept me and nor did I accept them. The belief system clashed,” she says. “But with time I met some people, the so-called townies, who were lovely people with beautiful stories to share. So what if they got it easy in life, we all are human beings on different journeys. The moment I changed this perception in my head, I made some amazing friends.”
And the fact that she herself became a “townie” helped Shah blend into the social circle. “I started travelling and carrying expensive bags. My husband loves to gift me pretty things. This kind of lifestyle doesn’t make anyone less or more; it’s just how things are. It made a huge difference and helped me to adjust here,” she says. During her sabbatical, Shah was mostly seen at parties and art shows which earned her the tag of a ‘socialite’. “We tend to tag everybody. ‘Oh! These are kitty ladies or kitty lunches’. I have attended these events and those have earned me some fantastic friends. It’s a way of connecting with other human beings,” she says with a smile.
Today, Shah counts Rajyalakshmi Rao, Chhaya Momaya and Queenie Singh as her inner circle of friends. “I am very close to all of them,” she says. “Queenie, in fact, is like my soul sister. She in a way helped me change my perception about people in this part of the city. When I got to know her, I realised she’s not just a socialite but she’s a super intelligent woman who has a beautiful story to narrate. I realised wearing make-up, looking good and going to parties does not make anyone vain.”
Apart from her television show, Shah has worked in two short films this year. Pocket Mummy, which released on Mother’s Day, with former child artiste Parzaan Dastur and Raja Mukherji’s Sab Theek Hai, which will be releasing at the end of this month.
She says, “I feel no matter how much good work you have done in the past, the only way to stay relevant is associating yourself with relevant minds. I know everything about the latest music as I’m aware what my children are listening to. There are so many new things that have come out. And, only if you associate with young minds, you can stay relevant.”
Actress Madhoo Shah welcomes us into her tastefully done-up living room at her home in Malabar Hill with a warm smile. “My husband and mother-in-law are huge art collectors. Whatever I know about art is because of them. Every now and then my husband keeps changing the interiors of this place,” she says. Among the art decorations, the room was adorned with some balloons as well. Shah excitedly shares, “This is the decoration from the surprise party which my children organised for me because they saw the promo of my television show.”
The actress has made a comeback to television with Goldie Behl’s show Aarambh. “Earlier I used to be very unhappy with the word comeback. It meant that I had gone away somewhere and I am coming back. By right now, it feels nice. Now, to me, it means you are making a fresh beginning,” she says. Shah plays a queen in the tele-show and she’s hoping the audience would accept her in her recent role.
Bollywood, on the other hand, is known to typecast actresses as mothers after a certain age. Shah agrees that the audience won’t accept her in a role of a leading heroine. “The industry isn’t unfair, sexist or ageist; it’s just the way it is. I don’t have a problem in playing a hero or a heroine’s mother. But if the hero doesn’t look like my son and looks like my age, then it doesn’t make sense. It’s about looking the part,” she says. “If you make me Ranveer Singh’s mother and he calls me ‘mummy’, the audience won’t be convinced.”
The 48-year-old who made her debut with Ajay Devgn in Phool Aur Kaante in 1991 and had worked extensively in both Hindi and South film industry, is still known for her role in National Award winning movie Roja. “The fact that my work and I are still remembered in an industry where memories are fickle and people forget very easily, I feel blessed and grateful,” she says.
Brought up in Juhu, Shah moved to tony Malabar Hill after her marriage to businessman Anand Shah in 1999. Like many other fellow suburbanites, she too had her own preconceived notions about “townies”. “We had a perception that these (south Mumbai) people are snooty, vain and shallow. They are all about expensive clothes and handbags. I used to think they don’t have to struggle at all. Initially, the people here did not accept me and nor did I accept them. The belief system clashed,” she says. “But with time I met some people, the so-called townies, who were lovely people with beautiful stories to share. So what if they got it easy in life, we all are human beings on different journeys. The moment I changed this perception in my head, I made some amazing friends.”
And the fact that she herself became a “townie” helped Shah blend into the social circle. “I started travelling and carrying expensive bags. My husband loves to gift me pretty things. This kind of lifestyle doesn’t make anyone less or more; it’s just how things are. It made a huge difference and helped me to adjust here,” she says. During her sabbatical, Shah was mostly seen at parties and art shows which earned her the tag of a ‘socialite’. “We tend to tag everybody. ‘Oh! These are kitty ladies or kitty lunches’. I have attended these events and those have earned me some fantastic friends. It’s a way of connecting with other human beings,” she says with a smile.
Today, Shah counts Rajyalakshmi Rao, Chhaya Momaya and Queenie Singh as her inner circle of friends. “I am very close to all of them,” she says. “Queenie, in fact, is like my soul sister. She in a way helped me change my perception about people in this part of the city. When I got to know her, I realised she’s not just a socialite but she’s a super intelligent woman who has a beautiful story to narrate. I realised wearing make-up, looking good and going to parties does not make anyone vain.”
Apart from her television show, Shah has worked in two short films this year. Pocket Mummy, which released on Mother’s Day, with former child artiste Parzaan Dastur and Raja Mukherji’s Sab Theek Hai, which will be releasing at the end of this month.
She says, “I feel no matter how much good work you have done in the past, the only way to stay relevant is associating yourself with relevant minds. I know everything about the latest music as I’m aware what my children are listening to. There are so many new things that have come out. And, only if you associate with young minds, you can stay relevant.”
Early leading ladies talk why Shah Rukh, Salman, Aamir, Akshay, Ajay, Hrithik are still superstars
8:13 AM
Early leading ladies talk about Shah Rukh Khan, Salman Khan, Aamir Khan, Akshay Kumar, Ajay Devgn and Hrithik Roshan
Deepali Singh (DNA; February 3, 2017)
Bollywood’s biggest leading men wooed young actresses in the 1990s early in their careers. It’s 2017 now, and while the actors remain heroes (despite some being 50 years old) and are paired opposite younger heroines even today, their female counterparts didn’t quite share their successful streak for several reasons.
AFTERhrs reached out to the early leading ladies of today’s superstars — Shah Rukh Khan, Akshay Kumar, Salman Khan, Aamir Khan, Ajay Devgn and Hrithik Roshan — to ask them why they believed their ‘heroes’ are still successful today and what it would take actresses to get to that level of success, among other things...
Suchitra Krishnamoorthi on Shah Rukh Khan
By the time SRK’s Sunil got around to wooing Suchitra’s Anna in 1994’s Kabhi Haan Kabhi Naa, the actor was already a few films old. The first thing Suchitra noticed about him was his fire and drive. “It was like he had blinkers on when it came to his ambition and he’s sustained that over the years,” she says. And although they haven’t kept in touch over the years, she does watch his movies and is happy to see that he’s had an interesting mix of films over the years. “I really liked Fan. I feel he needs good directors and good stories because he can deliver in any scenario,” she says. Suchitra feels that SRK is still at the top of his game after all these years because he produces movies and creates opportunities for himself. “I’m sure if a woman showed that kind of enterprise and drive, she would be able to create opportunities for herself as well.” Would the audience be willing to accept an older heroine? “Didn’t Aishwarya just do that in Ae Dil Hai Mushkil? It all depends on how confident you are and how apt you are for a role,” she adds.
Ashwini Bhave on Akshay Kumar
He remains one of her fav co-stars, but Ashwini admits she never thought that this prankster would emerge as one of the top actors of Bollywood. “He never tried to compete with the macho stars of those days, be it Sunny Deol or Salman Khan. He created his own identity,” says Ashwini, Akshay’s co-star in films like Sainik, Zakhmi Dil, Kaayda Kanoon and Ashant. And while she moved to the US after her marriage, she continues to keep in touch with the Khiladi. “He was in the US recently for a show and we spoke over the phone,” she says. Her Marathi film Dhyanimani is due for release. The reason she says she continues doing Marathi films is because they offer her roles that Bollywood does not. “Our industry has always been male-dominated. In the West, a Meryl Streep might get the main role, but here, a Shabana Azmi wouldn’t get a role like that,” she feels. However, given the kind of films being made these days, she is hopeful of powerful roles coming her way, too.
Bhagyashree on Salman Khan
They debuted together in the 1989 superhit Maine Pyar Kiya. But while Salman went on to become one of the country’s biggest superstars, Bhagyashree settled for marital bliss. “We didn’t interact much after that, but I hold Salman very fondly in my heart. We had had some really fun times on the sets and in fact, Salman was the first to know about Himalaya (her husband) and me,” she recalls. And while she watches most of Salman’s films, she also admits she couldn’t sit through Bodyguard and Ek Tha Tiger. “But when I saw the promos of Bajrangi Bhaijaan, I texted him saying, ‘Welcome to real cinema’. On a personal level, I’m happy to see him do movies that touch a chord with the audience,” she adds. The former actress recently got herself a degree in nutrition and plans to start a blog on health and fitness. She believes that actors like Salman are successful because they’re focussed about work and that’s their priority. “I guess unlike their international counterparts, Indian women are brought up differently and so are the expectations from them. Priorities change after marriage, whether they like it or not and therein lies the difference.”
Madhoo on Ajay Devgn
Madhoo remembers the sets of Phool Aur Kaante, in which she starred opposite Ajay, as being one big party. Since they were both newcomers, there was an instant bonding. “He was always self-assured. Although he looks serious and intense, he was always a prankster,” she recalls. Madhoo says she is not surprised at the way Ajay has charted his filmi career, since she always knew that he was a good actor. “He has only become better and tried different roles and diversified,” she says. The two haven’t really kept in touch and only bump into each other on social occasions. Madhoo is of the opinion that actors can carry on with their profession, no matter what stage of life they are at, but a woman has to change her priorities when she gets married or has kids. “Having said that, it makes me feel good that actresses like Kajol, Aishwarya and now Kareena are pushing boundaries and paving the way for others. I feel that even I can expect some good roles to come my way,” says Madhoo, who has been busy down South with movies for the last two years.
Juhi Chawla on Aamir Khan
Juhi was already one-film-old and had some South film projects at hand when she starred opposite Aamir in the 1988 film Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak. “Having Aamir as my co-star was like having a buddy on the sets,” recalls Juhi, who went on to do a number of films with him. And while she reveals that his ‘perfectionist’ image is pretty accurate, he also had a prankster side to him. “When we were shooting for Tum Mere Ho, he has practically chased me all over Filmistan with a baby snake in his hands!” she laughs. The actress respects Aamir for being brave enough to focus on one film at a time when his contemporaries were acting in a number of films simultaneously. “It was a huge gamble, but look at how it paid off. The audience looks forward to every single movie of his, because they know it would be worth waiting for,” she says, adding that she has loved all his last few films. “We do occasionally keep in touch, messaging each other on birthdays and anniversaries,” says Juhi, whose last film was Chalk & Duster.
Ameesha Patel on Hrithik Roshan
Even before the release of their debut film Kaho Naa Pyar Hai, Ameesha recalls telling her co-star Hrithik that whether or not the film worked, he would be a superstar. Of course, the film was hugely successful and Hrithik became an overnight sensation. “I’ve known him since childhood and have seen him grow from a shy teenager to this gorgeous hunk. For me, if there is any star who can make the transition from Bollywood to Hollywood and become a megastar there, it’s Hrithik,” she exclaims. His humility, the actress tells us, is his biggest plus point. “And it’s not just about his good looks or his dancing or action. Look at Guzaarish, where he played a disabled person. That’s why I say he’s a real actor,” she states, adding that they have consistently kept in touch. Ameesha launched her own production company in 2011 and is looking forward to the release of her first production Desi Magic. “It would be my honour to work with Hrithik if he chose to work for my home production. His production house made me feel like family when I was working with them. I would love to reciprocate the feeling,” she adds.
Madhoo in Sab Theek Hain, a short film, by Rani Mukerji’s brother, Raja
7:43 AM
Bharati Dubey (MID-DAY; January 5, 2017)
Madhoo, who is best known for her 1992 film Roja, has been doing films down South. Now, hitlist has learnt that she will soon be seen in a short film, Sab Theek Hain, which is directed by Rani Mukerji’s brother, Raja Mukerji.
“The story is about progressive women, and stars Madhoo and Waqar Shaikh. It revolves around a mother and daughter. Madhoo plays the daughter and Praveena Deshpande essays the role of her mother. The film is about sacrifice and patience, and also the fact that once a woman is pushed to her limits, she roars,” says a source.
Apparently, Madhoo had watched one of Raja’s short films, and when she was approached by him, she agreed immediately. Raja has only directed the movie. "It has been produced by my friends Rana and Sheekha Chatterji, who live in Canada,” says Raja, who is taking the movie to 45 film festivals.
Madhoo to debut on TV in a show opp Parmeet Sethi
7:46 AM
Neha Maheshwri Bhagat (BOMBAY TIMES; March 20, 2015)
Bollywood actress
Madhoo who debuted in the super-hit Phool Aur Kaante
(1991) opposite Ajay Devgn and who went on to become a star after Roja
(1992), will soon make her television debut with a daily soap. She will
be paired opposite Parmeet Sethi in the show, which is expected to go on
floors next month.
Says a source, “Several Bollywood actresses were approached for the role, but the production house finalised Madhoo. The story line of the show spans three generations. Madhoo and Parmeet meet at a juncture when they are both contemplating suicide. But then, they fall in love and decide to give life another chance.“
Madhoo confirmed the news. The actress' last Bollywood outings were her aunt Hema Malini's production, Tell Me O Kkhuda (2011) and Love U...Mr . Kalakaar! (2011).
Says a source, “Several Bollywood actresses were approached for the role, but the production house finalised Madhoo. The story line of the show spans three generations. Madhoo and Parmeet meet at a juncture when they are both contemplating suicide. But then, they fall in love and decide to give life another chance.“
Madhoo confirmed the news. The actress' last Bollywood outings were her aunt Hema Malini's production, Tell Me O Kkhuda (2011) and Love U...Mr . Kalakaar! (2011).
Madhoo says family jewellers of several decades stole diamonds worth 5 cr
8:00 AM
Roja star says jeweller cheated her after promising to exchange five of her old diamonds for a new 22-carat stone. Jeweller denies taking stones from her
Yogesh Sadhwani (MUMBAI MIRROR; October 6, 2014)
Roja star Madhoo's husband
Anand Shah has filed an FIR with the Malabar Hill police station
alleging that their family jeweller of over six decades has swindled
them of diamonds worth Rs 5 crore.
They said in their complaint that jeweller Rajendra Jhaveri had promised to give them a new 22-carat diamond worth Rs 6 crore in exchange of five of their old 5-carat diamonds valued at Rs 5 crore. The Shahs agreed to pay the difference.
But three years after the deal was struck, the Shahs have alleged that despite handing over the old diamonds and paying Rs 68 lakh, the Jhaveris have not given them the promised new stone.
The police have registered an FIR for alleged cheating and criminal breach of trust under Sections 420 and 406 of the Indian Penal Code against four members of Jhaveri family Rajendra, his wife Usha, son Hemang and Hemang's wife Rima.
The Jhaveris denied the allegations, saying the Shahs never gave them any diamonds and had paid them Rs 68 lakh for travel expenses to source a rare diamond they wanted.
In his statement given to Malabar Hill police on September 15, Shah said, “Since ancestral time it is the practice of our family to invest towards our daughters' future and thus we keep accumulating jewellery comprising of gold and diamonds. We keep on appreciating the assets portfolio with frequent upgrades with infusion of our hard earned monies.“
The Shahs have two daughters. Shah said the family decided in 2009 to “upgrade“ some of the old diamonds and approached the Jhaveris, who have been their jewellers since the “pre-Independence era“. Hemang allegedly valued their diamonds at Rs 5 crore and showed them a 22.02 carat diamond worth Rs 6 crore.
“Usha Jhaveri (who allegedly handles Shah's jewellery portfolio) told us we need to invest an additional Rs 1 crore towards the exchange,“ Shah's complaint said. “Since at that point of time I was going through a major financial crunch I inquired if I can make the payment in instalments. The Jhaveris confirmed in chorus. No documents were exchanged at that moment, but I had noted the GIA certificate number of the 22.02 carat stone shown to us.“
Shah said he paid Rs 68 lakhs to the Jhaveris over the next four years and kept inquiring about the sale of old diamonds. Shah alleged that initially the Jhaveris stalled him and eventually said that while on a trip to the US, the FBI apprehended Hemang and seized the diamonds. “It was difficult for me to digest their story but I had no option other than reposing faith and trust as they were the custodians of my diamonds and I had already made additional payments,“ said Shah.
He added that for over a year the matter has been dragging on. “From that day, I was made to feel like a beggar for my own jewels,“ he said in the complaint. “They kept stalling for a year.They seem to have disposed of the entrusted jewels.“
Inspector Prakash Kamble, who is investigating the case, said the FIR has been registered and investigations are on. On Sunday, sev eral people including Anand's uncle Atulya Mafatlal turned up at the police station as witnesses. When Mumbai Mirror contacted Hemang Jhaveri, he denied the allegations. “The Shahs never gave us any diamonds,“ he said. “Are they implying that they gave us expensive diamonds without any paperwork? Who does that? We are innocent and are being victimised. The FBI story in the FIR is also concocted and falsely attributed to us. The money Anand Shah gave me was for sourcing a rare 3540 carat diamond for which I travelled to several countries. I came back with several options but the Shahs did not like any of them. The money Shah gave me was towards stay and travel to these countries. Anand Shah himself has several cases of financial fraud against him which are being investigated by the police. We have been cooperating with investigating agency all along,“ said Hemang Jhaveri.
Anand Shah refused to comment. Vishal Manghnani from MZM Legal, which is representing him, said, “It is a personal and confidential matter and we would not like to comment at this juncture.“
They said in their complaint that jeweller Rajendra Jhaveri had promised to give them a new 22-carat diamond worth Rs 6 crore in exchange of five of their old 5-carat diamonds valued at Rs 5 crore. The Shahs agreed to pay the difference.
But three years after the deal was struck, the Shahs have alleged that despite handing over the old diamonds and paying Rs 68 lakh, the Jhaveris have not given them the promised new stone.
The police have registered an FIR for alleged cheating and criminal breach of trust under Sections 420 and 406 of the Indian Penal Code against four members of Jhaveri family Rajendra, his wife Usha, son Hemang and Hemang's wife Rima.
The Jhaveris denied the allegations, saying the Shahs never gave them any diamonds and had paid them Rs 68 lakh for travel expenses to source a rare diamond they wanted.
In his statement given to Malabar Hill police on September 15, Shah said, “Since ancestral time it is the practice of our family to invest towards our daughters' future and thus we keep accumulating jewellery comprising of gold and diamonds. We keep on appreciating the assets portfolio with frequent upgrades with infusion of our hard earned monies.“
The Shahs have two daughters. Shah said the family decided in 2009 to “upgrade“ some of the old diamonds and approached the Jhaveris, who have been their jewellers since the “pre-Independence era“. Hemang allegedly valued their diamonds at Rs 5 crore and showed them a 22.02 carat diamond worth Rs 6 crore.
“Usha Jhaveri (who allegedly handles Shah's jewellery portfolio) told us we need to invest an additional Rs 1 crore towards the exchange,“ Shah's complaint said. “Since at that point of time I was going through a major financial crunch I inquired if I can make the payment in instalments. The Jhaveris confirmed in chorus. No documents were exchanged at that moment, but I had noted the GIA certificate number of the 22.02 carat stone shown to us.“
Shah said he paid Rs 68 lakhs to the Jhaveris over the next four years and kept inquiring about the sale of old diamonds. Shah alleged that initially the Jhaveris stalled him and eventually said that while on a trip to the US, the FBI apprehended Hemang and seized the diamonds. “It was difficult for me to digest their story but I had no option other than reposing faith and trust as they were the custodians of my diamonds and I had already made additional payments,“ said Shah.
He added that for over a year the matter has been dragging on. “From that day, I was made to feel like a beggar for my own jewels,“ he said in the complaint. “They kept stalling for a year.They seem to have disposed of the entrusted jewels.“
Inspector Prakash Kamble, who is investigating the case, said the FIR has been registered and investigations are on. On Sunday, sev eral people including Anand's uncle Atulya Mafatlal turned up at the police station as witnesses. When Mumbai Mirror contacted Hemang Jhaveri, he denied the allegations. “The Shahs never gave us any diamonds,“ he said. “Are they implying that they gave us expensive diamonds without any paperwork? Who does that? We are innocent and are being victimised. The FBI story in the FIR is also concocted and falsely attributed to us. The money Anand Shah gave me was for sourcing a rare 3540 carat diamond for which I travelled to several countries. I came back with several options but the Shahs did not like any of them. The money Shah gave me was towards stay and travel to these countries. Anand Shah himself has several cases of financial fraud against him which are being investigated by the police. We have been cooperating with investigating agency all along,“ said Hemang Jhaveri.
Anand Shah refused to comment. Vishal Manghnani from MZM Legal, which is representing him, said, “It is a personal and confidential matter and we would not like to comment at this juncture.“
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