Showing posts with label Manish Kishore. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Manish Kishore. Show all posts
Check out Sharib Hashmi, Daisy Shah shooting for The Ghost Of Gandhi
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Sharib to play a social activist in The Ghost Of Gandhi, which revolves around the Mahatma’s spirit visiting the corrupt
Upala KBR (MID-DAY; August 14, 2023)
Sharib Hashmi continues his pursuit for different roles. Only a month after playing a supportive husband in Tarla, the actor will now be seen as a social activist in the upcoming web series, The Ghost Of Gandhi. The drama, helmed by Manish Kishore, will mark the OTT debut of Jai Ho (2014) actor Daisy Shah. The director says that through the web series, he wants to remind viewers of the teachings of Mahatma Gandhi.
“In the show, we are bringing back Mahatma Gandhi’s philosophies and how they can [be applied] to make India a better nation. While in Lage Raho Munna Bhai [2006], Gandhiji was visible only to Munna Bhai, here his ghost is visible to every corrupt human being. I cast Sharib and Daisy as they connected to the script immediately. People who cannot resonate with the show’s ideology may not be able to deliver what I want,” says Kishore.
The series went on floors last month in Mumbai. Before that, the director conducted 14-day workshops with Hashmi and Shah, who plays a journalist. What drew Hashmi to the project, he says, are the premise and his character. “How my character collates all the stories about Gandhi-ji’s ghost [and takes them] to the media are elements that I found attractive about the series. It’s an interesting take on today’s times,” explains the actor.
Mrs Falani director reveals that Swara Bhasker reported to the shoot within days of her wedding
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Mrs Falani director on how Swara reported to the shoot within days of her March wedding to ensure that the anthology isn’t delayed
Upala KBR (MID-DAY; May 25, 2023)
Mrs Falani will remain a special project to Swara Bhasker for two reasons. First off, the anthology sees her play eight distinct roles, a rare opportunity for an actor. More importantly, it was during its shoot in March that she tied the knot with politician Fahad Ahmad.
Asked how married life is treating her, Bhasker quips, “I couldn’t cook before marriage, and I still cannot. I am the same person, it’s just that I am in a safe and comfortable place. There’s another person to think of in every small decision. One is no longer a solo rider.”
Directed by Manish Kishore and Madhukar Verma, Mrs Falani sees Bhasker play eight homemakers, each character depicting a distinct facet of women’s aspirations. Though it was originally envisioned as an anthology of nine stories, Kishore says they cut it down to eight. “We realized that each [story] was running longer than the 15-minute screen time we had originally allotted,” he states.
The director adds that his leading lady did not take a break after her March wedding, thus ensuring that the shoot went on as scheduled. “Swara had informed us in advance about her wedding. We shot the film in February and early March. We had lined up patchwork shoot in April. After her wedding receptions in Delhi and Bareilly, she returned to Mumbai to resume the shoot. I was surprised, as I assumed she’d go for her honeymoon.”
With the actor currently dubbing for the project, Kishore says that they are readying it for a direct-to-web release. “Soon, we’ll approach digital platforms. We are not pursuing a theatrical release because eight different, unrelated stories may not [translate] well on the big screen.”
Swara Bhasker to play nine different characters in Mrs Falani; says "I will sport distinct makeup, costumes and accents"
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Bhasker, who feels playing multiple roles may be a dream opportunity for actors, has kick-started the shoot of the upcoming anthology in Chhattisgarh
Upala KBR (MID-DAY; January 16, 2023)
In August, mid-day had reported that Swara Bhasker would play nine characters in Mrs Falani (Swara has nine lives, Aug 17). The actor, and director duo Manish Kishore and Madhukar Verma took the anthology on floors in Chhattisgarh last week. While the nine short stories were originally to be shot across India, the unit will now shoot a large chunk of the project in Chhattisgarh.
In an interesting development, the makers have imagined Bhasker’s characters — varying from the ages of 30 to 42 — as hailing from nine different states, including West Bengal, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Punjab, Rajasthan and more.
“We are creating a distinct back-story for each part, and I will sport distinct makeup, costumes and accents,” begins the actor, last seen in Jahaan Chaar Yaar (2022).
With a homemaker at its centre, each story studies a different facet of women’s aspirations. Playing multiple roles may be a dream opportunity, but it comes with the responsibility of making each part well-defined.
Bhasker says, “The best way to approach them is to identify one or two defining personality traits of each role. So, one character can be innocent or vulnerable, another is flamboyant yet repressed, while [the third] could be a bit absent-minded. That’s how we have differentiated them emotionally.”
Having found their emotional graph, the next step entailed making them disparate in terms of looks. The actor turned to prosthetics to achieve it.
“We have used prosthetics where we needed a significant difference [visually]. Making the mould was the scariest experience of my life. I felt as if I was being mummified,” she laughs, before adding, “The nine characters come from different contexts. I am mindful of the accents — for instance, the dialects used in eastern and western Uttar Pradesh are different. Mrs Falani is one of the most challenging movies I have done. I am scared whether I’ll be able to pull it off.”
For one of the roles, the actor had to get her nose pierced. “A nose piercing is [common] among Indian housewives, especially in the world that we are depicting. I didn’t have the time to do it in Mumbai. So, we had a local jeweller in Raipur come on set and do it.”
Swara Bhasker gears up to play nine characters in Mrs Falani, an anthology focusing on women’s aspirations
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Upala KBR (MID-DAY; August 17, 2022)
Many will tell you that the biggest joy of being an actor is being able to experience myriad lives through the different characters they play. Imagine Swara Bhasker’s joy then as the anthology, Mrs Falani, came her way. The film, to be directed by Manish Kishore and Madhukar Verma, is a compilation of nine short stories that sees the actor essay a distinct character in each.
For Bhasker, it is a matter of pride and happiness. “I never imagined that I would work in a film where I would essay nine interesting characters. I am sure people will love each of my parts,” she beams. Doing multiple roles is a rare feat in Hindi cinema. The late Sanjeev Kumar had famously played nine characters in Naya Din Nai Raat (1974), while Priyanka Chopra essayed 12 roles in the 2009 offering, What’s Your Rashee?
Through the short stories, the director duo aim to focus on women’s aspirations that often remain unfulfilled. “The movie is not about social issues; we are not talking about dowry or domestic violence. Instead, we are focusing on women’s struggles to fulfil their suppressed dreams. For instance, one story revolves around a woman who doesn’t have a bathroom, and how it impacts her when she sees an ad where another woman is enjoying the comforts of a luxurious bathroom,” says Kishore.
Another story revolves around a small-town college girl who hopes to buy a blouse similar to what Jaya Prada wears in a hit song.
Kishore adds, “It’s about women realizing their dreams because they have a right to them. Initially, we thought of taking nine different actresses. But while writing it, we could only think of Swara in each story.”
While the short stories have been written by Shweta Ruby, Kishore and Verma have developed the screenplay. Kishore — who previously wrote Sharman Joshi-starrer Kaashi: In Search Of Ganga (2018) — intends to take the film on floors by October. It will be shot across Bihar, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh. “Swara will have to look different in each role. The team is working on her distinct looks.”
First Look: Isabelle Kaif to romance Pulkit Samrat in Suswagatam Khushaamadeed
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Onkar Kulkarni (BOMBAY TIMES; January 21, 2021)
The makers of Suswagatam Khushaamadeed have signed Isabelle Kaif to play the female lead opposite Pulkit Samrat in the film. The entertainer, which also conveys the message of social harmony, stars Pulkit as Delhi-boy Aman, while Isabelle plays Noor who is from Agra. Talking about his costar Isabelle, who is Katrina Kaif ’s sister, Pulkit says, “Isabelle has brought fresh energy on the set. She’s extremely hardworking and has impressed everyone on the set. She is stunning and brings a streak of innocence to her character. She has left me mesmerized.”
The duo began the project with a contemporary dandiya raas dance number choreographed by Ganesh Acharya. “To match up to Masterji’s choreography is not an easy task, but Isabelle is picking up steps really well,” Pulkit says. Titled Ban Piya, the song features Pulkit and Isabelle in black and gold desi costumes with 400 background dancers in traditional outfits. “It is one of my biggest songs. It looks so colourful. The way it is shot it will leave people stunned while watching it on the big screen. Masterji has introduced some interesting steps, and the hook step is quite catchy.” Suswagatam Khushaamadeed is helmed by Dhiraj Kumar and written by Manish Kishore.
Ask him about their on-screen chemistry and Pulkit says, “I must say that our chemistry is quite dhamakedaar. People on the set say that we look like a patakha together (laughs!).”
Speaking about the song and the jodi, Ganesh tells BT, “The song is a mix of a Jagrata and dandiya dance and the leading couple has done justice to it. I know Pulkit is a fantastic dancer, but Isabelle surprised me as she is new, but she learned the steps with ease. The two rehearsed for several days, and the romance and the chemistry that comes across on the screen is perfect!”
Suswagatam Khushaamadeed is produced by Insite India and Endemol Shine India in association with Yellow Ant Productions.
Pulkit Samrat bags Suswagatam Khushamadeed
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BOMBAY TIMES (June 9, 2020)
In today’s world, which is grappling with the Coronavirus pandemic, social distancing has become the norm. However, it doesn’t mean growing distant from those around us. It is this message that actor Pulkit Samrat’s upcoming film, Suswagatam Khushamadeed, aims to spread. It highlights the importance of love, friendship and compassion — elements that glue a society together.Suswagatam Khushamadeed is the first of the two movies that Meta4films and Insite India have signed Pulkit for. Written by Manish Kishore and to be directed by Dhiraj Kumar, the film, co-produced by Yellow Ant Productions, will be extensively shot in Delhi and Lucknow. Confirming the news, the actor said, “The film has all the elements to both entertain viewers with humour and engage them emotionally.”
Director Dhiraj Kumar added, “It’s going to be a wholesome entertainer with an underlying message of social harmony and how love triumphs over all man-made disparities. My challenge will be to assimilate the cultures of Delhi and Lucknow and extract humour from it. Manish has written a beautiful script and it’s my responsibility to translate it on screen as effectively. Having Pulkit as the lead is an additional advantage as he hails from Delhi and is well versed with its distinct lingo and culture.”
Who comes and narrates the script without the money to back it up?-Sharman Joshi
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Manish Kishore, Dhiraj Kumar and Sharman Joshi on the sets of the film
MUMBAI MIRROR (October 17, 2018)
“We don’t have a penny between the two of us, but we want to make this film,” director-writer duo Dhiraj Kumar and Manish Kishore had admitted to Sharman Joshi when the actor first inquired about their project, Kaashi in Search of Ganga.
“Who are these two blithering idiots,” Sharman had thought initially. “Who comes and narrates the script without the money to back it up?” However, the two idiots had come with conviction and Joshi realised that this conviction was infectious. The inhibition somewhat lessened when he read the script and liked it from the word go. But filmmaking is not just about a great script and individuals full of conviction and courage, where’s the money? Where’s the fuel to run this obviously promising-looking car?
Sharman says, “I learnt a lesson from my film 3 idiots, ‘Bachcha kaabil bano, kamyabi jhak maarke piche aayegi.’ I connected with the script instantly and was sure that Dhiraj and Manish will make this happen, come what may,” he added in good measure.
“I knew in my heart that if a good actor says yes to the project, I will manage to arrange the sum through my contacts and well-wishers. This was easier said than done. Sleep eluded me, and I was on the verge of a nervous breakdown. It was only after Sharman came into this equation that we heaved a sigh of relief,” Dhiraj says.
Manish Kishore is a different cookie. Starting out as a journalist in Delhi, he had seen the grind and deliberately took the plunge into films. “I generally call Dhiraj ji ‘Baba’. He used to be worried most of the time. So was I, but at least I used to mask it better,” Dhiraj points out, adding, “When the going got tough, and finances were particularly tight, I said, ‘Baba’ Trust Mahadev, maybe this is the last hurdle before we break through. And sure enough, we did break through.”
After one and half years of effort on Kaashi in Search of Ganga, the film is releasing on October 26, where Sharman Joshi features in a never-seen-before avatar. “I am very happy with the output of the film, and I am proud to be associated with such an impossible project which became possible with great efforts. I must say, I joined hands with the two idiots and made it three and we proved that we are not idiots in real life,” Sharman adds.
Check out Sharman Joshi's first look in Kaashi In Search Of Ganga
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BOMBAY TIMES (September 19, 2018)
Actor Sharman Joshi’s next, Kaashi In Search Of Ganga, is set in Varanasi, one of India’s most ancient cities. While it’s known as a centre for spiritual cleansing across the world, the city holds different meanings for different people.
The film, directed by Dhiraj Kumar, is a thriller that revolves around Kaashi (played by Sharman), who earns his livelihood by helping burn pyres at the Manikarnika Ghats. His simple, uneventful life faces a sudden upheaval when his young, college going sister, Ganga, goes missing. Distraught but determined, he joins hands with a journalist (played by Aishwarya Devan) to find her. The search, which takes him from Varanasi to Mumbai and then to Mussoorie, leads him to unexpected findings, revealing many secrets of his own life. The trailer of the movie will be out today.
Sharman, known for impressive performances on stage and in films, including 3 Idiots, Golmaal and Rang De Basanti, is excited about the film. He says, “I met Dhiraj and Manish Kishore (writer) for the story-reading session, and my connect with Kaashi was almost immediate. I thoroughly enjoyed shooting in Varanasi, and I believe that I have put in extra effort to portray my character with conviction. I am really happy with the way the film has turned out.”
Debutant director Dhiraj, adds, “This film has been my dream project, and I am grateful to Sharman for making me realise it. He is a cerebral actor, who adds a fresh perspective to the creative process. His inputs have been extremely helpful. Kaashi will go a long way in proving why Sharman is one of the finest actors in this industry. It has truly been a collaborative project, with everyone giving their best.”
Apart from Sharman and Aishwarya the film, which releases on October 26, also stars Manoj Joshi, Manoj Pahwa, Akhilendra Mishra, Govind Namdev, Priyanka Singh, Mehul Surana, Mugdha Meharia, Kranti Prakash Jha, Paritosh Tripathi and Pushkar Tiwari.
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