Showing posts with label Mirziya. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Mirziya. Show all posts
During the Mirziya shoot, I rediscovered love-Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra
7:50 AM
Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra doesn’t hesitate to admit that love, of late, has taken on a whole new meaning for him
Gaurav Dubey (MID-DAY; December 10, 2015)
In your next film. Mirziya, you are attempting a romantic story for the first time. How challenging was it?
It’s an intense love story and the writing is deep. Gulzar has written the story. It looks simple, but has many layers to it. It’s a romantic drama and has high-octane action. I always wanted to do something like this. I think it is every filmmaker’s dream to get into this territory (of romance). During the shoot, I rediscovered love. The whole journey was fascinating.
‘Rediscovering love’, does it mean that the definition of love has changed for you?
Yes, most certainly, and I don’t hesitate to admit that. We have grown up with certain definitions of love and with this film, I have found a new one.
How difficult was it working with newcomers, Harshvardhan Kapoor and Saiyami Kher?
It wasn’t difficult at all. I worked with not just newcomers but a mix of actors belonging to different age groups. In any case, it’s not a question of having an easy or difficult time; the script demanded new faces. I had read about the Mirza-Sahiban folklore during my college days and I used to wonder why Sahiban broke his arrows. So, I went to Gulzar for an answer and he said, ‘Woh toh Sahiban hi jaanti hain’, but then we sat together and discussed about it. Soon, we had a script in hand and I realised that the film cannot be made with established actors.
You ran into a few hurdles during the shoot, especially when Harshvardhan fell off a horse and had to be hospitalised. How did it affect the schedule?
The film has high-octane action. He got injured and was down only for a couple of days. Even Saiyami sustained some injuries while riding a horse and was on rest for 2-3 days. But I had a fantastic crew and we completed the film in 86 days, which was incredible. Now, we are looking at a 2016 summer release, so it could be any time between May and July.
So, the promotional campaign will ideally kick off in two or three months. What will be your marketing strategy considering you have newcomers as your film’s lead pair?
I don’t believe in going over the top for anything. For me, marketing and promotions are about creating awareness about a product, but subtly. I don’t want to push a film down your throat with excess publicity but, to each his own. People should come to watch the film not on the basis of what I say, but what they feel about it.
Will we see you directing more romantic films?
I have certain scripts that I am working on, but they are not out and out romantic. Some of them do have that essence.
My daughter approved script of my next film Lafander-Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra
7:37 AM
Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra will roll with three projects next year, one of them a youth-based drama to be directed by him
Sanyukta Iyer (MUMBAI MIRROR; November 25, 2015)
Ten years after his 2006
cult film, Rang De Basanti, Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra is set to direct
another youth-based drama, titled Lafander. “My production house is
starting three movies immediately after Mirziya and I am directing one
of them. It is set in the competitive eco-system today's youngsters are
released into and left to deal with,“ Rakeysh, who was a key speaker at
NFDC's four-day Symposium on Film Tourism this week in Goa, confirmed to
Mirror, adding that the second film will be directed by Sanjay Khanduri
(Ek Chalis Ki Last Local, Kismet Love Paisa Delli), and the third will
be announced next month.
The filmmaker, who took three years to write Lafander and wanted to take it on the floors earlier this year, reveals that his wife Bharathi, his greatest critic, advised him against it. “She greenlights all my films. She always tells me when my script needs more time. When I got frustrated with this one and told her that I needed to start shooting, she said that I needed to go on a vacation, not on the sets, and ordered me to go cook instead, which I love doing. When I'm in the kitchen, I forget everything,“ Rakesyh recalls, adding that the film's script is locked.
His wife wasn't the only woman who had the last word on his new script. “I gave the Lafander script to my 16-year-old daughter to read because I wanted a youngster's opinion. It's a coming-of-age story told through a girl's point of view. She really liked the script,“ Rakeysh says, further revealing that filmmaker Shekhar Kapur is another great sounding board for him. “It's fun to talk movies with him,“ he says. His daughter, Bhairavi, wrote her first script when she was 14 and her director daddy turned it into a four-minute animated short on polio, created for the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. “She is exploring her options. I feel we put a lot of pressure on youngsters today which stops them from growing into their true selves. My parents never asked me why I left a well-paid advertising job because they did not understand what I was doing here. That was the right thing to do on their part. I intend to continue with the tradition,“ he smiles.
Did working on the Lafander script take him back to the good ol' Rang De Basanti days? “No two stories can ever be the same. Films are not homogeneous products. When you make one film and start another, you have to keep upgrading yourself. Change is the essence of existence,“ the director reasons.
The Bhaag Milkha Bhaag director is quick to point out that his Mirziya, a contemporary take on the Mirza Sahibaan folklore featuring Harshvardhan Kapoor and Saiyami Kher, features a strong woman's point of view too, thanks to writer Gulzar. The film's Rajasthan and Ladakh schedules have been completed. “Shooting has been an exhilarating process. I was learning at Gulzar's feet,“ he exults, adding that he had wanted the noted lyricist-filmmaker to write Devdas for him when he first moved to Mumbai at the age of 23. “That never happened. It has taken me 26 years to get a script out of Gulzar,“ he sighs.
And is revival on the cards for all the films he hasn't been able to complete? “Yes, I want to make all of them. I work with three-four scripts simultaneously so if I reach a roadblock on one, I can switch to the other and work back and forth, till I feel I am ready,“ he explains.
The filmmaker, who took three years to write Lafander and wanted to take it on the floors earlier this year, reveals that his wife Bharathi, his greatest critic, advised him against it. “She greenlights all my films. She always tells me when my script needs more time. When I got frustrated with this one and told her that I needed to start shooting, she said that I needed to go on a vacation, not on the sets, and ordered me to go cook instead, which I love doing. When I'm in the kitchen, I forget everything,“ Rakesyh recalls, adding that the film's script is locked.
His wife wasn't the only woman who had the last word on his new script. “I gave the Lafander script to my 16-year-old daughter to read because I wanted a youngster's opinion. It's a coming-of-age story told through a girl's point of view. She really liked the script,“ Rakeysh says, further revealing that filmmaker Shekhar Kapur is another great sounding board for him. “It's fun to talk movies with him,“ he says. His daughter, Bhairavi, wrote her first script when she was 14 and her director daddy turned it into a four-minute animated short on polio, created for the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. “She is exploring her options. I feel we put a lot of pressure on youngsters today which stops them from growing into their true selves. My parents never asked me why I left a well-paid advertising job because they did not understand what I was doing here. That was the right thing to do on their part. I intend to continue with the tradition,“ he smiles.
Did working on the Lafander script take him back to the good ol' Rang De Basanti days? “No two stories can ever be the same. Films are not homogeneous products. When you make one film and start another, you have to keep upgrading yourself. Change is the essence of existence,“ the director reasons.
The Bhaag Milkha Bhaag director is quick to point out that his Mirziya, a contemporary take on the Mirza Sahibaan folklore featuring Harshvardhan Kapoor and Saiyami Kher, features a strong woman's point of view too, thanks to writer Gulzar. The film's Rajasthan and Ladakh schedules have been completed. “Shooting has been an exhilarating process. I was learning at Gulzar's feet,“ he exults, adding that he had wanted the noted lyricist-filmmaker to write Devdas for him when he first moved to Mumbai at the age of 23. “That never happened. It has taken me 26 years to get a script out of Gulzar,“ he sighs.
And is revival on the cards for all the films he hasn't been able to complete? “Yes, I want to make all of them. I work with three-four scripts simultaneously so if I reach a roadblock on one, I can switch to the other and work back and forth, till I feel I am ready,“ he explains.
My brother Harshvardhan will be the biggest star-Sonam Kapoor
7:46 AM
A day after brother Harshvardhan’s birthday, Sonam Kapoor talks about her brother’s Bollywood debut
Nayandeep Rakshit (DNA; November 10, 2015)
Sonam Kapoor began her Bollywood journey almost eight
years ago. Cut to 2016 and it will be her baby brother Harshvardhan
Kapoor’s turn to take the leap with Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra’s Mirziya.
Here, the doting sister talks about Harsh and why she thinks he has the
potential to become the biggest star…
Harsh is all set to make is big debut next year. Your thoughts?
He’s a couple of years younger than me. He is very good looking. He listens to me, he’s scared of me (laughs). They say hard work is the only thing that can get you anywhere in life. But in Bollywood, hard work and luck — both are needed. So my brother is ridiculously hard-working. He takes it to another level. He’s mad when it comes to prepping and working for his projects. If he is lucky, he will also become the biggest star in the country. I have been working for eight years and I have never seen anyone who works as hard as Harsh. He’s very much into the craft of acting and making films that are relevant. He did the film by himself. He met Rakeysh on the sets of Delhi-6 but despite Rakeysh being a family friend, he’s managed to get Mirziya on his own. I think it will be brilliant. I am not saying because I am his sister but yes, obviously there’s a little bias.
Will you be doing a cameo in Mirziya?
No I’m not. I just went to Leh to meet him for two days. He was in Nubra and I was in Leh on a holiday. So he told me, ‘Why don’t you just drive down to see me?’ So I just drove down to see him. Rakeysh has made four films and I have been part of two. And my brother is doing his fifth film. So I went to see Mehra on the sets.
Does he discuss his films with you?
Yeah, he discusses everything with me. From what’s happening in his life to his films, we talk about it all.
Do you discuss everything with him?
Yes, my family discusses everything with each other. We have an over-sharing disease in our family. There’s nothing we don’t share with each other.
Sonam Kapoor was in Ladakh recently to shoot cameo for brother Harshvardhan’s Mirziya?
8:02 AM
Harshada Rege (DNA; July 30, 2015)
It was claimed that Sonam Kapoor went on a digital
detox backpacking for a week in Ladakh. However, the real deal is
something else. And the secret is now out. The actress was in Hunder to
shoot for Mirziya.
The movie is her brother Harshvardhan’s Bollywood debut, which is being directed by Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra. And looks like sister Sonam is doing her bit for his film. Sonam has already acted in two of Rakeysh’s films — Delhi 6 and Bhaag Milkha Bhaag. This time around it’ll be a special appearance.
Though the unit tried to keep Sonam’s presence a secret, the news leaked out. Tourists were obviously excited to catch a glimpse of the actor, who was shooting in the desert. The crew of the movie was stationed in Ladakh for almost a fortnight for the shoot that included a massive set up, which besides the film crew also included many horses required for the period drama based on the tragic love story of Mirza and Sahiban.
I’m the coolest dad ever-Anil Kapoor
8:48 AM
He might play a controlling patriarch in Dil Dhadakne Do, but in real life, Anil Kapoor’s exactly the opposite...
Nayandeep Rakshit (DNA; May 31, 2015)
Daddy ke dost
He’s 50-something, but is possibly the youngest at heart. “I am really a friendly father. I am possibly the coolest dad ever. I am not a patriarch at all. I won’t say I am a bum-chum buddy, but my children are very comfortable because I am very friendly with them.” Not just that, he discusses every film with his children. He adds, “I am basically a fun, positive person who wants to make people laugh. I am like the one who will say, ‘Kaam karo yaar, khush raho yaar.’ For that, I cannot wait for them to come to me. I go to them instead and I am like, ‘Chalo, kuch karte hain’.”
Just be happy
Anil lives by one funda, be happy and keep everyone happy. “We make fun of each other and obviously they make more fun of me. I intentionally trouble them and I tell them I am doing Majnu bhai again. And they will be, ‘No dad, no!,” he tells us as he bursts into laughter. For Anil, his children are his biggest critics too. “Fortunately they haven’t disliked any of my performances of late,” he smiles. “But Sonam was not happy that I did Race. These things happen but I was very happy. It was a huge success and masses loved me. There are times when you can’t do exactly what they tell you to do but it’s all fine,” he adds.
Proud papa
Sonam and Rhea have been instrumental in bringing success to his production house. Harsh is all set to make heads turn with his debut film Mirziya. “It’s too early to talk about Harsh. Rakeysh (Omprakash Mehra) will speak about the film and Harsh will speak about himself. He is a strong individual and a different beast. So I don’t want to take away their individuality. As for Sonam and Rhea, I feel they are doing a fabulous job. They are trying to make these girly films, chick flicks and I encourage them always,” he tells us.
“I am a proud father. Sonam and Rhea have not benefited from my company. Rather it is my company which has benefited from the presence of Sonam and Rhea. Even Harsh has got his film on his own. I had not even spoken to Rakeysh about it. I am a very proud father because like me, my children too are self made,” he signs off.
Nayandeep Rakshit (DNA; May 31, 2015)
In real-life, he’s been a father for years now, but on
screen, one has rarely seen Anil Kapoor play a father, and definitely
not to grown kids. He says, “I play a patriarch named Kamal Mehra in Dil
Dhadakne Do, a Punjabi businessman who started from scratch and became
rich. He’s a total control freak but everyone looks up to him. In real
life, I am not like that at all.”.
Daddy ke dost
He’s 50-something, but is possibly the youngest at heart. “I am really a friendly father. I am possibly the coolest dad ever. I am not a patriarch at all. I won’t say I am a bum-chum buddy, but my children are very comfortable because I am very friendly with them.” Not just that, he discusses every film with his children. He adds, “I am basically a fun, positive person who wants to make people laugh. I am like the one who will say, ‘Kaam karo yaar, khush raho yaar.’ For that, I cannot wait for them to come to me. I go to them instead and I am like, ‘Chalo, kuch karte hain’.”
Just be happy
Anil lives by one funda, be happy and keep everyone happy. “We make fun of each other and obviously they make more fun of me. I intentionally trouble them and I tell them I am doing Majnu bhai again. And they will be, ‘No dad, no!,” he tells us as he bursts into laughter. For Anil, his children are his biggest critics too. “Fortunately they haven’t disliked any of my performances of late,” he smiles. “But Sonam was not happy that I did Race. These things happen but I was very happy. It was a huge success and masses loved me. There are times when you can’t do exactly what they tell you to do but it’s all fine,” he adds.
Proud papa
Sonam and Rhea have been instrumental in bringing success to his production house. Harsh is all set to make heads turn with his debut film Mirziya. “It’s too early to talk about Harsh. Rakeysh (Omprakash Mehra) will speak about the film and Harsh will speak about himself. He is a strong individual and a different beast. So I don’t want to take away their individuality. As for Sonam and Rhea, I feel they are doing a fabulous job. They are trying to make these girly films, chick flicks and I encourage them always,” he tells us.
“I am a proud father. Sonam and Rhea have not benefited from my company. Rather it is my company which has benefited from the presence of Sonam and Rhea. Even Harsh has got his film on his own. I had not even spoken to Rakeysh about it. I am a very proud father because like me, my children too are self made,” he signs off.
Harshvardhan is the antithesis of me-Arjun Kapoor
7:48 AM
Harshada Rege (DNA; March 31, 2015)
Arjun Kapoor is the proverbial Bollywood kid. A fan of
chachu Anil Kapoor’s movies like Ram Lakhan, the actor is often asked
to enact his uncle’s mannerisms or say ‘Jhakaas’ like his uncle used to.
Now Anil’s son Harshvardhan will be making his debut in Rakyesh Omprakash Mehra’s movie Mirziya. Howver, the two brothers’ preferences are poles apart. Though Arjun is very close and fond of his cousins — Sonam, Rhea and Harshvardhan — his movie choices are radically different from those of his cousin brother.
Arjun says, “What happened with me was that I made the biggest mistake of acting out Anil chachu’s dialogues and mannerisms on Koffee With Karan. The whole world saw it. Now everywhere I go they make me act like Anil Kapoor. It’s become a staple now, ki aaye ho toh Anil chachu ke jaise acting karo, ya dance karo, ya ek dialogue bol ke dikhao. I can’t imagine what’s going to happen to Harsh when he joins the industry. He is like, ‘No bro, I can’t do any of that. Ram Lakhan and all is not my scene, bro’.”
It was Harsh, who convinced dad Anil to sign Danny Boyle’s Slumdog Millionaire. Anil was unaware of the director’s work and wasn’t too sure about signing the film. Arjun says, “Harsh is on a completely different tangent. Harsh is the antithesis of me. He is not Anil Kapoor’s son in the essence of being a typical Hindi film hero. He is more the Vikramaditya Motwane and Anurag Kashyap kind.”
Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra uses 5 trucks of marigold for a wedding sequence in Mirziya
7:56 AM
Harshada Rege (DNA; March 20, 2015)
Marigold might well be Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra’s
favourite flower. Delhi-6 had Sasural Genda Phool, while his latest
Mirziya will feature a great number of genda phool for a sequence.
Set in Rajasthan, Mirziya is a contemporary love story that is the debut vehicle for both Harshvardhan Anil Kapoor and Saiyami Kher. Currently shooting a wedding sequence in Jaipur, Mehra called for five trucks (you read that right!) of marigolds all the way from Kolkata. The scene is Saiyami’s wedding, one of the most integral sequences of the film.
It being a grand Rajasthani wedding, Mehra ensured the grandiosity reflected in the costumes and jewellery as well. The sequence lasted seven days, so more flowers were called in at regular intervals.
Mehra wants to make sure everything is executed as per his vision. His wife P S Bharathi, who heads the production, confirms the news and adds, “Keeping it traditional, simple and classy was the idea — it sounds easy, but is tough to achieve.”
Marigold men
Earlier it was Abhishek Bachchan, who shook a leg on the Genda Phool song, and even got veteran actress Waheeda Rehman to groove a bit with him. The song in Delhi 6 written by Prasoon Joshi was played at pretty much every wedding in 2009. Anil Kapoor’s son Harshwardhan is making his debut with Mirziya that has marigold in an important scene as well.
Bollywood’s marigold fascination
Before Delhi 6, a lot of marigold was used in Monsoon Wedding (2001), which focused on the dynamics of an Indian family against the backdrop of a big, fat, Delhi wedding. The colour of the poster of the film was also like that of the flower. The movie even had Vijay Raaz, who played a wedding flower seller, munching on the flower. And to profess his love, instead of using a rose, he opts for a lot of marigold.
Jewellery worth Rs 8 lakh damaged on the sets of Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra's Mirziya?
7:45 AM
Ankur Pathak (MUMBAI MIRROR; February 6, 2015)
Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra, who is making a modern-day adaptation of Mirza-Saahiban, titled Mirziya, recently had a touch of bad luck. Mirror has learnt that an ornate sarpech (a brooch worn on the turban), which was loaned to the unit for the climax, broke. The little accident happened during a shoot in Rajasthan and added to the budget by Rs 8 lakh.
Said a source close to the development, "The scene between Saiyami Kher (the film's leading lady) and Anuj (debutant actor) required him to take off his turban and throw it on the floor angrily. It all went wrong from there."
It is learnt that despite being asked to proceed with caution, Anuj was a little too rough and Mehra did not want to hinder his performance. There were several retakes and the turban was thrown down many times. Everyone was apprehensive about the antique jewellery and the inevitable happened. During a particularly passionate take, the piece snapped.
"Everybody went quiet on the set after Mehra had canned his scene. Hopefully, the accident is covered under the insurance policy Mehra has taken out and the insurance company will pay up," our source said.
Mirziya, which releases next year, will also mark the debuts of Anil Kapoor's son, Harshvardhan and Saiyami, Tanvi Azmi's neice.
Rakeysh Mehra issues ‘no late nights, no drinking’ guidelines to Harshvardhan Kapoor, Saiyami Kher?
7:48 AM
Asira Tarannum (MID-DAY; January 24, 2015)
Director Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra is living up to his reputation of being a disciplinarian. He has apparently warned the lead pair of his next film, Mirziya,
against socialising until the shoot is wrapped up. In a nutshell, it is
no drinking and no late nights for Harshvardhan Kapoor and Saiyami Kher
for the next few months.A source says, “The director has adopted a unique style for shooting his first ever love story and has laid down a few rules for the actors. They have been strictly asked to refrain from partying.” The team has been shooting 14 to 16 hours a day for the past one month in Rajasthan where the temperature often dips below the zero degree mark.
The team has also been fiercely guarding details of the shoot. So far, only an image of Saiyami riding a horse led by Harshvardhan in Udaipur has been leaked on social media.
A source says, “Rakeysh is a taskmaster and as it’s the debut for both the actors, he doesn’t want them to take it easy.” The film’s spokesperson confirms the news about the rules being imposed on the lead pair.
Harshvardhan injured on Mirziya sets, hospitalized; Anil Kapoor rushes to Jodhpur?
7:43 AM
Asira Tarannum (MID-DAY; January 8, 2015)
The shoot of Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra’s Mirziya in Jaisalmer apparently came to a standstill on Monday when lead actor Harshvardhan Kapoor collapsed on the sets, prompting his actor dad Anil Kapoor and mom Sunita to rush to Rajasthan.
According to sources, the actor completed a horse riding sequence and suddenly fell off it. But, the accident escaped the notice of the crew that was watching the shot on the monitor. “Harshvardhan, however, seemed alright and got up to re-shoot the sequence. Though he complained of giddiness, he continued shooting only to collapse soon after. He was rushed to a Jodhpur hospital,” a source says.
His CT scan revealed a minor head injury. “He has also sustained foot injuries. He is recuperating at a hotel there and will resume shooting in a day or two. When Anil Kapoor heard the news, he immediately flew down to Jodhpur along with wife Sunita,” adds the source.
Another source from the unit confirms the story, saying, “Harshvardhan suffered a foot injury but none realised that he had also hurt his skull. Instead of taking rest, he continued shooting and collapsed. Anil and Sunita are with him in Jodhpur now. We will shoot minor portions until he is fit to join us.”
Mirziya is Harshvardhan’s debut film and he has been paired opposite newcomer Saiyami Kher, niece of Tanvi Azmi. It is said that the lead pair had to undergo extensive training for horse riding before shoot began.
Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra's Mirziya to feature Ferrari 458 Spider
7:43 AM
Tushar Joshi (DNA; January 7, 2015)
Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra is directing an out-and-out love story for the first time and is pulling out all stops to make sure he gets nothing but the best for his next, Mirziya.For a pivotal scene, the production team wanted a high-end sportscar, so the entire team researched the latest editions of sport cars available.
But Rakyesh vetoed all choices given by his production team, as he did not want just any high-end sportscar. He was keen to feature a statement car in this particular event and selected a top-of-the-line Ferrari 458 Spider.
The model isn’t available in India and the team is doing their best to import it. It is the most coveted car on the Hollywood circuit and will be seen for the first time ever in a Bollywood film.
Many people will want to lay their hands on the car, but who gets to drive it in Mirziya… only time will tell!
Check out Saiyami Kher shooting for Rakyesh Omprakash Mehra's Mirziya in Udaipur
7:44 AM
Roshmilla Bhattacharya (MUMBAI MIRROR; January 5, 2014)
After winning awards and
accolades for Bhaag Milkha Bhaag, the biopic of India's
legendary athlete, 'Flying Sikh' Milkha Singh, Rakyesh Omprakash
Mehra has moved to Mirziya, a contemporary, musical retelling of the
Mirza-Sahiban folklore. He has been filming in Rajasthan since
mid-November with a team sworn to secrecy. As a result stills of the
lead pair are hard to come by.
However, Mirror has managed to get hold of this picture of debutante Saiyami Kher sitting astride a horse being lead by Anil Kapor's son Harshvardhan Kapoor, who has his back to the camera. According to a source, “Horses play an integral part in the plot. And both Harsh and Sayami have taken extensive training in horse riding before the film went on the floors.“
The film traces the familiar tale of Mirza, the archer who is killed when his beloved, Sahiban, breaks all his arrows to stop him from injuring her brothers, who are in hot pursuit of the eloping couple. Mirza is felled by a blow to his head and grief-stricken Sahiban then kills herself with his sword.
Speaking to Mirror (December 22, 2014) Mehra had said that he first read the story while in college. It stayed with him all these years. “I've been waiting to explore love on screen for a long time. As an emotion it's so illogical. You never know why you fall in love but it touches all of us at various points in life. Everybody on the sets has their own interpretation of the love story,“ the filmmaker had pointed out.
The two lovers' childhood will be set in Jodhpur while Udaipur, where this scene was shot, is the present day location. The climax will be filmed in Jaisalmer where the unit is currently based. “They are shooting at a place two hours away from Jaisalmer,“ reveals the source, adding that the cast and crew will be moving to Ladakh for the final leg of Mirza Sahiban's journey. “The film has technicians from England and Australia and a Polish cinematographer is working closely with the Indian cast and crew.“
However, Mirror has managed to get hold of this picture of debutante Saiyami Kher sitting astride a horse being lead by Anil Kapor's son Harshvardhan Kapoor, who has his back to the camera. According to a source, “Horses play an integral part in the plot. And both Harsh and Sayami have taken extensive training in horse riding before the film went on the floors.“
The film traces the familiar tale of Mirza, the archer who is killed when his beloved, Sahiban, breaks all his arrows to stop him from injuring her brothers, who are in hot pursuit of the eloping couple. Mirza is felled by a blow to his head and grief-stricken Sahiban then kills herself with his sword.
Speaking to Mirror (December 22, 2014) Mehra had said that he first read the story while in college. It stayed with him all these years. “I've been waiting to explore love on screen for a long time. As an emotion it's so illogical. You never know why you fall in love but it touches all of us at various points in life. Everybody on the sets has their own interpretation of the love story,“ the filmmaker had pointed out.
The two lovers' childhood will be set in Jodhpur while Udaipur, where this scene was shot, is the present day location. The climax will be filmed in Jaisalmer where the unit is currently based. “They are shooting at a place two hours away from Jaisalmer,“ reveals the source, adding that the cast and crew will be moving to Ladakh for the final leg of Mirza Sahiban's journey. “The film has technicians from England and Australia and a Polish cinematographer is working closely with the Indian cast and crew.“
During Delhi 6, I told Bharathi that Harshvardhan is special...his eyes, his smile-Rakeysh Mehra
7:45 AM
Rakyesh Omprakash Mehra opens up about his first reel-life love story, and why it has stayed with him down the decades
Roshmilla Bhattacharya (MUMBAI MIRROR; December 22, 2014)
When he first came to
Mumbai, Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra, a 23-year-old kid from
Delhi whom no one had heard of, remembers going to meet Gulzar with a
copy of Devdas. Even though he didn't have an appointment, Gulzar
received him graciously and smiled indulgently when told to write a
screenplay based on it so Mehra could direct the film.
Devdas didn't happen. But two decades later, Gulzar has written Mirziya for Mehra, based on the folklore of Mirza and Sahiban which he'd read when in college. “Gulzar has reinvented their story, set it in contemporary times, narrating it musically to give me my first reel-life love story. The real life one happened when I married Bharathi in 1992,“ he chuckles.
It's 1 pm in Jaisalmer. After an all night shoot,
Mehra is munching on a late brunch. Prod him on why this love story has
stayed with him for all these years and he muses, “May be for its
characters and its Sufiana vibe. Mirza is a great warrior who sacrifices
himself for love while Sahiba grows out of her vanity to grow into
love. That moment when
she breaks all Mirza's arrows while he's sleeping, trying to prevent
bloodshed, has stuck with me. We believe that we choose our subjects but
actually they choose us.“
Saiyami Kher, Tanve Azmi's niece, is his Sahiba while Anil Kapoor's son, Harshvardhan, is Mirza. Mehra remembers his first meeting with Harsh on the sets of Delhi 6. “I told Bharathi then that this boy is special....His eyes, his smile. We remained in touch. He texted me a year-and-a-half ago saying, 'Sir, I'm ready,'“ reminisces Mehra.
He himself has been living with Mirziya for three years....Working on the shooting script for the last year-and-a-half....Waiting for over a decade to explore the love on screen. “The emotion manifests itself in different ways and touches all of us at various points in our lives. In Mirziya it's about the eyes, the touch, the romance of Gulzar's poetry. They say love is in the air because while you can't see it, you can feel it. I'm trying to feel it. My daughter is just turning 16, looking at life through her eyes I feel reborn. The days are full of sunshine, I can hear the birds chirping, bahut mazaa aa raha hai,“ he says wonderingly.
But does such love have a place in a world of darkness and death? He recalls recording with A R Rahman for Delhi 6 which challenged religion and touched on the darknes within and around us. “A R Rahman told me that that we should apply balm on the open wounds,“ he says.
There have been talks of Harsh's arrogance. When we bring it up, the mood changes, and Mehra retorts, “Cinema is about storytelling and filmmaking is all a team process. On any given day, we fight as a team,“ he points out, adding that for 18 months before they rolled, Harsh, Saiyami and Anuj Garg were put through workshops with acting coaches from Delhi. “I took over in the last six months, turning my office into a rehearsal room. By the time we started filming Mirza and Sahiba's childhood in Jaipur, Harsh and Saiyami had grown into their characters. But together we're still discovering new facets about them.“
This year was all about picking awards and accolades for Bhaag Milkha Bhaag. The next year will be devoted to finishing Mirziya. “I also plan to go deep-sea diving with my kids. Last time we went trekking in Ladakh. This year I missed out so I have to make it up to them,“ he says.
Meanwhile, he's juggling three scripts--Casual Kamasutra which he's been living with for the last four years, the bilingual Raja which will be larger-than-life world cinema, and a film about college life with newcomers. “Any of them can take off next. Funding is the bottomline and it's decided not on the basis of your last film, but on excel sheets which tell you how much profit a film will make even before its made,“ he laughs, admitting that most likely it'll be the college film for which he is yet to find a name.“Rahman calls it Why Do We Cry?“
There were talks of a sequel to Bhaag Milkha Bhaag too? Mehra rubbishes that, saying that Milkha was the story of a 12-year-old boy, who saw his parents massacred before his eyes, lost the most important race of his life but won over the world. “The first scene I wrote was of him preparing for that race in the Rome Olympics,“ he says. “The last 20 minutes were the last to be scripted. Now what's left to say? I can't bring his parents back or wish away the Partition. So it's better to move on to another story.“
Devdas didn't happen. But two decades later, Gulzar has written Mirziya for Mehra, based on the folklore of Mirza and Sahiban which he'd read when in college. “Gulzar has reinvented their story, set it in contemporary times, narrating it musically to give me my first reel-life love story. The real life one happened when I married Bharathi in 1992,“ he chuckles.
It's 1 pm in Jaisalmer. After an all night shoot,
Mehra is munching on a late brunch. Prod him on why this love story has
stayed with him for all these years and he muses, “May be for its
characters and its Sufiana vibe. Mirza is a great warrior who sacrifices
himself for love while Sahiba grows out of her vanity to grow into
love. That moment when
she breaks all Mirza's arrows while he's sleeping, trying to prevent
bloodshed, has stuck with me. We believe that we choose our subjects but
actually they choose us.“Saiyami Kher, Tanve Azmi's niece, is his Sahiba while Anil Kapoor's son, Harshvardhan, is Mirza. Mehra remembers his first meeting with Harsh on the sets of Delhi 6. “I told Bharathi then that this boy is special....His eyes, his smile. We remained in touch. He texted me a year-and-a-half ago saying, 'Sir, I'm ready,'“ reminisces Mehra.
He himself has been living with Mirziya for three years....Working on the shooting script for the last year-and-a-half....Waiting for over a decade to explore the love on screen. “The emotion manifests itself in different ways and touches all of us at various points in our lives. In Mirziya it's about the eyes, the touch, the romance of Gulzar's poetry. They say love is in the air because while you can't see it, you can feel it. I'm trying to feel it. My daughter is just turning 16, looking at life through her eyes I feel reborn. The days are full of sunshine, I can hear the birds chirping, bahut mazaa aa raha hai,“ he says wonderingly.
But does such love have a place in a world of darkness and death? He recalls recording with A R Rahman for Delhi 6 which challenged religion and touched on the darknes within and around us. “A R Rahman told me that that we should apply balm on the open wounds,“ he says.
There have been talks of Harsh's arrogance. When we bring it up, the mood changes, and Mehra retorts, “Cinema is about storytelling and filmmaking is all a team process. On any given day, we fight as a team,“ he points out, adding that for 18 months before they rolled, Harsh, Saiyami and Anuj Garg were put through workshops with acting coaches from Delhi. “I took over in the last six months, turning my office into a rehearsal room. By the time we started filming Mirza and Sahiba's childhood in Jaipur, Harsh and Saiyami had grown into their characters. But together we're still discovering new facets about them.“
This year was all about picking awards and accolades for Bhaag Milkha Bhaag. The next year will be devoted to finishing Mirziya. “I also plan to go deep-sea diving with my kids. Last time we went trekking in Ladakh. This year I missed out so I have to make it up to them,“ he says.
Meanwhile, he's juggling three scripts--Casual Kamasutra which he's been living with for the last four years, the bilingual Raja which will be larger-than-life world cinema, and a film about college life with newcomers. “Any of them can take off next. Funding is the bottomline and it's decided not on the basis of your last film, but on excel sheets which tell you how much profit a film will make even before its made,“ he laughs, admitting that most likely it'll be the college film for which he is yet to find a name.“Rahman calls it Why Do We Cry?“
There were talks of a sequel to Bhaag Milkha Bhaag too? Mehra rubbishes that, saying that Milkha was the story of a 12-year-old boy, who saw his parents massacred before his eyes, lost the most important race of his life but won over the world. “The first scene I wrote was of him preparing for that race in the Rome Olympics,“ he says. “The last 20 minutes were the last to be scripted. Now what's left to say? I can't bring his parents back or wish away the Partition. So it's better to move on to another story.“
Harshvardhan Kapoor & Saiyami Kher told to keep a distance post pack-up?
7:38 AM
Meena Iyer (BOMBAY TIMES; December 15, 2014)
Filmmakers have a strange
influence on their protégés. Sanjay Leela Bhansali had expressed his
displeasure when he heard that Ranbir Kapoor whom he was launching in
Saawariya was getting close to Deepika Padukone. Trouble was that
Deepika was making her debut in Om Shanti Om, which was being released
on the same day as Saawariya.
Likewise, it was SLB who encouraged Deepika and Ranveer Singh to get to know one another better when he was making Ram-Leela. What followed was those movie and dinner dates between Ram and Leela. As we said earlier, filmmakers strongly control the behaviour patterns of their actors on and off the set.
Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra seems to be following suit. One hears that he has asked the actors of his under production film Mirziya - Harshvardhan Kapoor and Saiyami Kher to keep their distance from one another after pack-up. According to a source, “Both these debutants, who are working on a romantic venture, have been asked to strictly stay away from each other after pack-up because the filmmaker wants them to retain their freshness. He feels that familiarity off the set may just take away the element of magic and wants them to keep that mystical quality alive all through the filming.“
While Rakeysh Mehra remained unavailable for comment, a unit hand confirmed, “Though it is an outdoor shoot and the stars are staying in the same hotel, Harsh and Saiyami do not meet for a meal or even sit together for a chat.“
Likewise, it was SLB who encouraged Deepika and Ranveer Singh to get to know one another better when he was making Ram-Leela. What followed was those movie and dinner dates between Ram and Leela. As we said earlier, filmmakers strongly control the behaviour patterns of their actors on and off the set.
Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra seems to be following suit. One hears that he has asked the actors of his under production film Mirziya - Harshvardhan Kapoor and Saiyami Kher to keep their distance from one another after pack-up. According to a source, “Both these debutants, who are working on a romantic venture, have been asked to strictly stay away from each other after pack-up because the filmmaker wants them to retain their freshness. He feels that familiarity off the set may just take away the element of magic and wants them to keep that mystical quality alive all through the filming.“
While Rakeysh Mehra remained unavailable for comment, a unit hand confirmed, “Though it is an outdoor shoot and the stars are staying in the same hotel, Harsh and Saiyami do not meet for a meal or even sit together for a chat.“
Aki Narula walks out of Rakeysh Mehra's Mirziya over creative differences?
7:34 AM
Ankur Pathak (MUMBAI MIRROR; November 28, 2014)
Rakeysh Mehra's ambitious love story, Mirziya, which will mark the debut of Anil Kapoor's son, Harshwardhan, ran into trouble just days before it was supposed to go on floors.
Mirror has learnt that acclaimed designer Aki Narula, who has done the costumes for films like Bunty aur Babli, Agent Vinod and more recently, Highway, was supposed to work on the wardrobe of Harshwardhan and the film's female lead, Saiyami Kher.
However, Aki's commitments to his fashion label became a hindrance which kept delaying the project. "Still, he spent months prepping for the costumes as Mehra was very specific about his actors' looks," said a source close to the development.
But when the designer came up with a presentation, the director wasn't impressed. "Aki realised their association wouldn't work out well as the two weren't on the same page as far as this film was concerned. Moreover, a lot of money had already been spent and there was no sight of the film going in to production," the source added.
Unable to resolve his differences with Mehra, Aki decided to leave the project and Mehra's struggle to find a new designer began.
"The film would have started in September if things had gone smoothly with Aki. However, he has now moved on to Imtiaz Ali's Tamaasha, the shooting of which is currently underway in Shimla. Meanwhile, the shooting of Mirziya has commenced in Jodhpur with a new designer."
We contacted both Aki and Mehra, but they chose not to comment.
Dynastic rule in politics and cinema is over-Anil Kapoor
9:30 AM
The actor's son Harshvardhan will start shooting for his debut film this weekend.
Roshmilla Bhattacharya (MUMBAI MIRROR; November 8, 2014)
On Thursday, Anil Kapoor and wife Sunita were spotted at the Siddhivinayak temple. Following the quiet mahurat of their son, Harshvardhan's debut film, Mirziya, the couple had gone there to seek the blessings of Lord Ganesha.
"It has been a special year so far, not just for me but also for my daughters--Rhea as a producer and Sonam as an actress. And now my son Harsh's film has also taken off. It was time to pay my respects for all the good that has happened," the proud papa told Mirror.
He admitted that he was "nervous and anxious" about his son's debut. Would he have been more at peace had he launched Harsh under his banner instead of handing him over to Rakyesh Omprakash Mehra who is giving a contemporary cinematic twist to the tragic love story of Mirza and Sahiban? "We are a family of strong, independent individuals who will only go for what they believe is best for them. We are always there to support each other, but we don't let others influence our decisions. We don't owe anything to anyone. It's not important that I'm his father or he's my son. Harsh is an individual with a mind of his own and he probably felt that what came from outside, was the most exciting offer he had got. It was entirely his decision to do Mirziya and we are there with him all the way," said Anil.
Even before Harsh's film rolls, comparisons are being drawn with the Anil of Ram-Lakhan which understandably does not please dad. "Times have changed and so has the mindset of the younger generation. Dynastic rule in politics and cinema is over. Just because the father is successful doesn't mean the son will be too. Everyone has to prove his worth," insisted Anil, adding that such comparisons are regressive.
Talking further to Mirror on the subject, he pointed out that he had been approached for a book on his life. The proposal didn't appeal to him, because he believes the past is passe. "People are not interested in what you have done but only in your last few films," he reasoned. "It's the present that matters and what you are doing next, not just for my son but for me too."
Anil Kapoor making a film for son Harshvardhan?
9:06 AM
Asira Tarannum (MID-DAY; October 24, 2014)
He worked with both his daughters in the recently released Khoobsurat — Sonam Kapoor as the lead actress and Rhea as the co-producer. Now, Anil Kapoor is believed to be interested in making a film for his son, Harshvardhan. It will be co-produced by Rhea.
Sources say the film was to go on the floors before Khoobsurat but was pushed ahead due to certain issues.
“At that time, Harshvardhan was also busy prepping for Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra’s Mirziya, which will mark his debut in the industry. It will be extensively shot in Udaipur,” a source says.
However, now, things have been carefully planned and the unit will leave for the US next week. “Yes, Harshvardhan is doing the film. A week-long shoot was planned in Mumbai but it was called off. So, they will finish the shoot in US and then go ahead with the Mumbai schedule,” another source says.
The film’s music will be scored by AR Rahman.
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