Showing posts with label Manav Vij. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Manav Vij. Show all posts
I was out of work despite winning awards-Meher Vij
8:27 AM
Manas Mishra and Amina Ashraf (BOMBAY TIMES; January 5, 2025)
Meher Vij, known for her roles in films like Secret Superstar, Bajrangi Bhaijaan and Ardaas, visited Lucknow sometime back. While talking to us, the actress shared about her experiences in the city, reflected on her journey in the film industry, discussed the dynamics of her relationship with her husband Manav Vij being in the same industry, and more.
Talking about her visit to the city she shared, “It’s amazing! It’s a city of royalty, the city of Nawabs. People here are very warm, kind, and humble. The food is outstanding. The buildings and architecture are beautifully designed; there’s a unique vibe here. And there’s a special kind of peace in Lucknow. It’s refreshing to disconnect from Mumbai for a while.”
The journey in the film industry hasn’t been that difficult for Meher, she feels. “Actually, for me, it wasn’t too difficult. When I auditioned for Bajrangi Bhaijaan, they called me back the next day, and I was finalized right away. But I know that many TV actors don’t get the same opportunities in films. Maybe I was lucky. It’s a preconceived notion that TV actors are overexposed – they’ve been seen so much on television that filmmakers wonder how they can ‘launch’ them in films. I think that level of exposure might make it hard for them to fit in films.”
Having an actor husband, Manav Vij, comes with a lot of benefits for Meher. “We talk about our characters and discuss our scripts. There’s a friendship between us, a camaraderie, and we have no hesitation in telling each other the truth. If I think he went overboard in a scene, I’ll tell him, and he does the same for me. There’s no veil of formality between us, and I think this clear communication helps us grow. We want the best for each other, so there’s honesty in our feedback. He’s my best critic,” she said.
OTT has changed the scene for actresses opines Meher. “It is OTT where actresses can play strong, confident characters. But in mainstream cinema, there’s still a typical image of heroines – glamour, specific kinds of clothes, body expectations. Mainstream cinema still portrays women in the old, hackneyed way. It’s still there, but there’s also a parallel track where strong female characters are gaining ground. It will take time, but I think we’re slowly moving forward,” she said.
--------------------------------------
‘It’s challenging for outsiders in the film industry’
Meher said, “It’s challenging for outsiders to get work in the film industry, but the better you perform, the more you stand out. Even though I won several awards for Secret Superstar, I was still out of work for a long time. Somehow, I managed, but it can be tough. I wait for work that I truly believe in because I don’t want to regret doing something I don’t connect with.”
Many apologized to me, saying they didn’t watch Laal Singh Chaddha in theatres due to boycott trend-Manav Vij
2:47 PM
With Laal Singh Chaddha winning love on OTT, Manav Vij says many apologised to him on social media for boycotting Aamir Khan-starrer on release
Priyanka Sharma (MID-DAY; November 12, 2022)
Manav Vij may be in the midst of promoting his latest offering, Tanaav, but his association with Laal Singh Chaddha is not quite over. Aamir Khan’s heart-warming adaptation of Forrest Gump (1994) had tanked at the box office on its release in August, after being targeted by certain sections of the audience who called for its boycott. Three months down the line, the tide has turned. Advait Chandan’s directorial venture is winning praise and love after it dropped on Netflix last month.
Vij remembers the negativity that surrounded the film, also starring Kareena Kapoor Khan, in the weeks leading up to its release. “It [the boycott trend] confuses you, hurts you,” he says. But a cinematic gem is one for the eons, bound to outlive spurts of vitriol. The actor — seen in the role of a Pakistani soldier, who goes on to become among the protagonist’s trusted friends — says that people have walked up to him to praise Laal Singh Chaddha since it dropped on the OTT platform.
“Many people also apologized to me on Twitter, saying they didn’t watch Laal Singh Chaddha in theatres following the boycott trend. But they loved it when they watched it on Netflix. I said, ‘If you were so apologetic, you should have transferred Rs. 500 to Aamir Khan Productions’ account. The producers are at a loss because of your stupidity.’”
Despite the roller-coaster ride that the movie went through, the actor has no regrets about being a part of it. “It’s a big deal that one of the greatest actors in the world admired my work. Aamir had so much faith in me.”
Tanaav promises to be a thrilling watch; check out the exciting star cast
8:07 AM
Applause Entertainment reimagines Fauda as Tanaav for a larger Indian and global audience; series to stream on Sony LIV
BOMBAY TIMES (June 14, 2022)
Applause Entertainment, the content studio of the Aditya Birla Group, is all set to reimagine and retell a story of conflict and struggle, with the Indian adaptation of the globally acclaimed Israeli drama series Fauda. Hailed as one of the best Israeli shows, the Indian version of the show, produced by the content studio in association with Applause Productions, is titled Tanaav (which means tension, chaos or stress). The series will be helmed by National Award-winning director Sudhir Mishra and co-directed by Sachin Mamta Krishn.
Set against the idyllic backdrop of Kashmir in the year 2017, the series tells the story of a Special Covert Ops Unit, their bravery and courage. Delving into the human drama behind the ideologies, dealing with complex emotions and flawed characters, all of whom share the same feelings of love, loss, betrayal and revenge, the series is a socio-political action drama with family at its core.
Shot extensively in real locations in Kashmir over 100 days, this fast-paced drama is told over 12 episodes. The cast is an eclectic ensemble of talented actors and performers cast by Mukesh Chhabra. The show features Manav Vij, Sumit Kaul, Rajat Kapoor, Shashank Arora, Arbaaz Khan, Zarina Wahab, Ekta Kaul, Waluscha Dsouza, Danish Hussain, Satyadeep Mishra, Sukhmani Sadana, Sahiba Bali, Amit Gaur, Arslan Goni, Rockey Raina, M K Raina, Sheen Dass and Aryaman Seth, amongst others, in prominent roles.
Created by Avi Issacharoff and Lior Raz and distributed by yes Studios, Fauda has received praise internationally. While staying true to the original format, its Indian adaptation has been reimagined for a larger Indian and global audience.
Sameer Nair, CEO, Applause Entertainment, said, “A global sensation, Fauda was always a story waiting to cross borders and be adapted in a new setting. We find it immensely gratifying to bring an edge-of-the-seat drama of this calibre to Indian audiences, offering a new perspective to the human stories depicting all sides of the conflict. With filmmakers like Sudhir Mishra and Sachin Krishn at the helm, backed by a stellar cast and talented writing, creative and production teams, we are excited to partner with Sony LIV to bring this show to the world. This partnership only strengthens our already strong relationship after successful collaborations on Scam 1992, Avrodh, Undekhi and Your Honor.”
Sudhir Mishra said, “Applause Entertainment discovers some of the best international stories to be reimagined and adapted for the Indian audience. As a filmmaker, Tanaav allowed me to explore a variety of characters and delve deep into their psyche. It is a true Indian story weaved into a tightly-knit action drama that highlights human emotions and the dilemmas they face. I cannot wait for the audience to binge-watch Tanaav, soon to launch on Sony LIV. ”
Badhaai Ho, it’s a thriller for Neena Gupta next
8:08 AM
Himesh Mankad (MUMBAI MIRROR; April 19, 2019)
After the 2018 social-comedy, Badhaai Ho, for which Neena Gupta won a Filmfare Best Actress (Critics) award, the actress will be seen in a thriller titled Gwalior. Also featuring Sanjay Mishra, the film is currently being shot in its namesake city in a marathon schedule. The team is targeting wrap-up by next month.
“It is an interesting concept. I play Manju Mishra, a housewife, and the story narrates how an uneducated woman who is perceived as weak handles a situation involving cash crunch,” Neena told Mirror, adding that Sanjay plays her retired teacher husband, Sambhu Nath Mishra.
According to Sanjay, in a way, he is playing his real father, from whom his character borrows his name. Ask him about working with Neena, and he says, “I am grateful for the chance to work with her on this film. She is my senior from National School of Drama, and since I have the utmost respect for her in real life, it wasn’t difficult to forge the husband-wife bond on screen.” The film also features Manav Vij and Sumit Gulati in pivotal roles.
The film is written and directed by filmmaker-duo Jaspal Singh Sandhu and Rajeev Barnwal. “It’s a thriller with an element of drama and revolves around an old, married couple, and how their lives take an unexpected turn,” Jaspal shares, adding that the film explores the old flavour of the city. “We are shooting inside a 150-year-old house. After Gwalior, we will move to Varanasi for a threeday shoot,” he signs off.
I am drawn towards darker, edgier scripts-Saif Ali Khan
8:07 AM
Nayandeep Rakshit (DNA; July 24, 2018)
These days, Saif Ali Khan is sporting a bushy beard and a man bun, which is a far cry from his erstwhile clean-shaven and cropped hair. This is the actor’s look for his forthcoming film Hunter, which is helmed by Navdeep Singh. In a candid chat, the National Award winner, who hasn’t had a good run at the box office in the recent past, reveals why he hopes this film will bring him back in the game.
A REVENGE SAGA
Saif says Hunter is not just a period war saga, but a revenge drama at its heart. Explaining what prompted him to take it up, he says, “When Navdeep came to me with the script, I immediately was drawn towards the subject. It’s a difficult and challenging role. Also, it’s my most-ambitious project till date. I don’t think I have been part of a film that has been made on this scale. It’s about a fight between two brothers and my character, who’s almost like an animal, fights for his rights.”
THE LOOK AND DESIGN
The Nawab is also sporting a look that he has never donned in any of his movies earlier. “I play a naga sadhu, so I’ve been growing my hair and beard. As the story is set against a war backdrop, I had to learn sword fighting and different forms of action. There’s a lot of post-production and VFX work involved in this project as it will have many war sequences,” he elaborates.
VEERING TOWARDS EDGIER SCRIPTS
The actor confesses that rather than playing it safe, he is keen to experiment. “Sometimes, there’s a lot of pressure on me because my films haven’t fared well at the box office, and that makes me rethink my calculations. There have been times when I felt that the audience might not want to watch me anymore. But as an actor, I don’t like to do similar-looking roles or films; I’m drawn towards darker, edgier scripts,” Saif avers.
CASTING CHANGE
The 47-year-old states that he was eager to shoot with R Madhavan but the actor had to be replaced at the last minute. “It would have been great if both of us starred in the film, but he injured himself two days before the shoot. So, we had to finalise Manav Vij. He’s fantastic in the movie.”
Manav Vij replaces R Madhavan in Navdeep Singh's Saif Ali Khan-starrer?
8:03 AM
Natasha Coutinho (MUMBAI MIRROR; March 26, 2018)
According to a source close to the development, Madhavan was scheduled to join the unit during the Rajasthan schedule in March. The rest of the cast had already started shooting in Desuri in February. As part of his prep, he started taking horse-riding lessons and training in action when he hurt his shoulder and had to undergo surgery followed by two months bed rest. Now, Manav will be undergoing the same training. Right now, he is working on his get-up.
“Meanwhile, leading lady Zoya Hussain, who made her debut with Anurag
Kashyap’s Mukkabaaz, is being coached in sidesaddle-riding and is
already a pro. The first schedule of the yet-untitled film was wrapped
up in Pali. They will be returning to Rajasthan and are expected to be
shooting in Bhilwara and Udaipur, followed by long schedules in Uttar
Pradesh and Mumbai. Deepak Dobriyal will also be joining the cast in an
important role,” adds the source.The Saif and Madhavan onscreen reunion had created a lot of buzz as they were coming together 17 years after Rehnaa Hai Terre Dil Mein.
Madhavan was also forced to step out of Rohit Shetty’s Simmba due to his injury. The actor recently tweeted, “Hey folks. So I am a huge crazy fan of Rohit Shetty and his films. As is my son. It breaks both our hearts that I’m not able to be a part of this film because of my injury. I’m well on my way to recovery but this is a huge opportunity and excitement lost.”
Images: How the prison set of Lucknow Central looks from inside
8:01 AM
Nikkhil Advani’s next is being shot in a replica of Lucknow Central Jail
Avinash Lohana (MUMBAI MIRROR; January 31, 2017)
After a glimpse of the Lucknow Central jail that has been recreated in Film City for Ranjit Tiwari’s eponymous Farhan Akhtar-starrer (January 23) from the outside, Mirror has now got its hands on some pictures of what the jail looks from inside.
“Eighty percent of the film is set in this jail so it was important to make it look convincing. The team is currently shooting the cast’s introductory sequences and smaller portions of gang wars that happen inside the jail. In the midst of all that, Farhan’s character is in the process of scouting for mates for his music band. The schedule kicked off from January 10,” informs a source close to the development.
Farhan and his co-stars recently filmed a rain sequence amidst tight security, for which water tankers had been hired for the most part of the day. Diana Penty, who has stepped in for Kriti Sanon as the leading lady after the latter walked out citing scheduling conflicts, has begun shooting as well.
While speaking to Mirror (November 28) earlier, producer Nikkhil Advani had revealed that the film is inspired by a true story of convicts sentenced to life imprisonment in the Lucknow Central jail. “They start a band and discover pride, self-confidence, a reason to wake up every morning,” he had said.
Punjabi actor-singer Gippy Grewal, who had made his Bollywood debut alongside Tina Ahuja in Second Hand Husband, Deepak Dobriyal and Rajesh Sharma (of Tanu Weds Manu Returns fame) and Inaamulhaq (Filmistaan) play Farhan’s prison mates. Manav Vij, who was last seen in Abhishek Chaubey’s Udta Punjab, will feature in a pivotal role.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)