The GR that caps the age of actors on sets under 65 has rendered many out of commission; those affected by the move question the new norms of shooting
Kunal Guha (MUMBAI MIRROR; July 10, 2020)

When Kanwaljit Singh was informed that he was being replaced in a forthcoming show, he was disheartened. The decision was taken following the Government Resolution (GR) that prohibits actors above the age of 65 from shooting for films, TV shows and commercials as the industry returns to work after the Coronavirus-triggered lockdown. The 69-year-old actor who had been rehearsing along with co-star Supriya Pilgaonkar, says, “On humanitarian grounds, I won’t hold them up. How can I force them to shoot with me? That’s not the right thing to do.” Singh is among several senior actors who are being excluded from projects on account of the norms suggested by the government to curb the spread of Covid-19.

The workers’ bodies, including the Federation of Western India Cine Employees (FWICE) and Cine and TV Artistes’ Association (CINTAA), have been striving to seek relief from the suggested guideline, which potentially affects hundreds of actors. Manoj Joshi, actor and CINTAA senior vice president, met Maharashtra Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari last week to discuss the matter, while actress Hema Malini has written to the home ministry, seeking an amendment. “The GR needs to change as many livelihoods are at stake. We are getting calls daily from actors who are being replaced or their tracks slashed from shows. They are sending us their blood pressure reports saying they’re fit but we’re helpless as there has been no movement to reverse this ruling,” says Amit Behl, chief secretary, CINTAA.

Veteran TV actor Prithvi Zutshi (left) was recently informed by the makers of TV show Pyar Ki Luka Chupi that his character’s track is going to be terminated, as the makers plan to resume shooting and can’t wait for an amendment to come through. “My first reaction was, why was this ruling being implemented only on artistes? There are shopkeepers who interact daily with customers, politicians who conduct rallies and visit hospitals. Many of them fall in this age group, but are allowed to get on with their lives,” argues Zutshi, who has featured in over 80 films and 100 TV shows in a career spanning 27 years.

Farida Dadi, 67, who is to commence shooting for the third season of the series Dil Hi Toh Hai, is concerned about the ruling even though her show’s shoot dates are yet to be confirmed. “They called and told me that three-four days shoot is pending but this rule has been implemented. So, I told them that they can do what they deem best,” says Dadi, who started her career in 1959 as a child actor and has since featured in a dozen films (including 3 Idiots) and TV shows such as Uttaran and Haq Se.

While many makers are admittedly replacing talent on account of the guidelines, such discrimination wouldn’t always be as transparent. “No one will tell us and do it, it will happen in the background,” points out veteran actor Virendra Saxena, who has a few days of shoot remaining for the Salman Khan-starrer Radhe and a series among his forthcoming projects. “Those who have partially shot can’t be replaced as reshoots would incur huge costs. And how can you decide that someone is incapable of functioning after a certain age or is medically unfit without examining them?” asks the NSD alumnus whose fitness regimen includes daily fourkm walks and yoga.

Ironically, Zutshi recently received an offer from the makers of a daily soap keen on casting him as a replacement for another senior actor. told them, ‘if you’re taking me on as a replacement on the grounds of age, then even I don’t qualify’,” says the actor, who believes several artistes will be affected in the coming months if the suggested norms aren’t amended or reversed.

Creative fixes
Replacing a character or ending their journey in an ongoing series could be creatively and financially cumbersome. “If a maasi, bua or chachi has been established on a show, suddenly replacing or knocking her off would mean derailing the creative process,” reasons Behl. And even if makers manage to find a suitable replacement or a logical fix in the storyline, it may go against the grain. “In films and TV, actors get chosen based on their capabilities, charisma and the image they carry. If I can’t cast Amitabh Bachchan because he’s over 65, should I cast Abhishek Bachchan instead just because he resembles him and has a similar name?” asks the 69-year-old actress Suhasini Mulay who was filming for a series when the lockdown was announced and hasn’t been intimated yet about when her shoot would resume.

Actor Raza Murad, 69, argues that getting younger actors to replace the older ones would be unconvincing and counter-productive. “You can’t get Master Raju or Jugal Hansraj to play dadaji. You cannot plant wrinkles on a young actor and expect him to pass off as someone older.” But Gufi Paintal, who was part of two ongoing TV shows and a film prelockdown, avers that producers are like puppets and will make do with whatever is available. “Nowadays, they make a 25-year-old play a grandfather and hope that the audience takes it with a pinch of salt. In Mahabharat, not a single actor seems out of place because we paid a lot of attention to casting,” says the actor, who was the production designer, associate director and casting director for the iconic TV show in which he essayed the part of the wily Shakuni Mama.

Losing livelihoods
For senior actors, particularly in TV where post-dated payment contracts ensure most get paid months after a job is completed, savings could run out sooner than later. “We are character actors and are not paid as handsomely as A-listers. If we’re forced to stop working, it may soon be difficult to make ends meet,” says Murad, who was last seen in a thriller series which has been approved for a second season.

Saxena who moved to Mumbai from Delhi in 1985 and is credited for over a 100 films and TV shows, points out that he doesn’t have children he can depend on. He offers a workaround that could protect the interests of all parties concerned. “There could be an amendment that ensures those above 65 are assigned eight-hour shifts instead of 12 and be required to provide medical certificates,” he says.

Singh adds that senior actors also need to keep working because they love what they do. “This is all we’ve learnt. I can’t even think of hanging up my boots,” says the actor, who completed a series and a film prior to the lockdown.

TV associations urge producers to clear dues of cast and crew in the wake of Manmeet Grewal’s suicide
Tanvi Trivedi (BOMBAY TIMES; May 18, 2020)

On Friday, TV actor Manmeet Grewal committed suicide due to acute financial crisis in the wake of the Coronavirus lockdown. While the incident has left the industry shocked, it has also triggered a conversation on when shoots can be resumed, of course, with all the precautionary measures in place. The fact that Manmeet ended his life as he did not have work or money to repay his loans, has become a cause of concern for film and TV associations, especially since many members are struggling to make ends meet because of unpaid dues.

Expressing the general sentiment among artistes, senior actor Raza Murad said, “The saddest part is that the TV industry follows a system of being paid after 90 days. Many workers, including actors, are currently facing a financial crisis because of this. If this situation continues, we fear that there may be more Manmeet Grewals.”

Meanwhile, Cine & TV Artists Association (CINTAA) has requested producers to clear their actors’ dues. Amit Behl, Senior Joint Secretary and Chairperson of Outreach Committee, CINTAA, shared, “We urge television producers to clear the dues of their cast. Actors need money to survive, so producers should not insist on the 90-day payment system in the face of such a crisis. If people are paid their dues, we can avert such tragedies.”

There are some cases in the industry, where shows have ended, but actors have not been paid even after a year. An actor said on the condition of anonymity, “It’s frustrating not to be paid for your hard work. In these times of lockdown, it’s making our situation worse. We don’t know whom to approach, as everyone is battling a financial crisis.”

J D Majethia, Chairman of the TV wing of Indian Film and Television Producers Council (IFTPC), said, “It is important that we take care of our fellow workers in such a crisis. I had previously sent a mail in this regard to all the producers and yesterday, I again penned a note urging them to clear dues. In addition, they should make an advance payment to those who are in need.”

‘THE SHOW MUST GO ON’
Meanwhile, several people feel that resuming shoots is the only way forward. Raza Murad said, “I would like to appeal to the government to give us permission to start work with minimum workers, with all the precautions in place.”

However, Amit Behl feels that it’s easier said than done. He explained, “Working at minimum capacity and resuming shoots is a creative call, in which we have no say. Even the smallest TV unit requires a certain number of technicians. So, it is not easy for TV shows to resume shoots even after taking the necessary precautions, because it will pose a health hazard.”

While that may be so, Majethia feels that shoots can’t be stalled any further. “We have a plan and would like to discuss it with the Maharashtra government. We would like to resume shoots with a smaller workforce. It is important that the show goes on,” he signed off.

MUMBAI MIRROR (September 19, 2019)

Shyam Ramsay who, along with his brothers Tulsi, Kumar, Kiran, Gangu, Arjun and Keshu (collectively known as the Ramsay Brothers), pioneered the horror genre in Hindi cinema, succumbed to pneumonia on Wednesday morning. A few days ago, the 67-year-old filmmaker had been admitted to a suburban hospital.

The filmmakers made their debut with the 1971 film Nakuli Shaan, which tanked at the box-office. According to industry lore, the Ramsays were surprised to see the audience flocked to the theatres to watch a film for a scene in which Prithviraj Kapoor’s character enters a museum in a mask and a scary outfit, and left immediately afterwards. Realising that the average movie-goer was enjoying being spooked, the Brothers followed up their debut with Do Gaz Zameen Ke Neeche in 1972.

Shyam and Tulsi led the family banner, jointly directing horror films, while the other departments were delegated to the rest of the siblings. Kumar wrote the scripts, Kiran handled sound, Gangu manned the camera, Keshu assisted on cinematography and assumed production responsibilities, while Arjun oversaw postproduction and editing.

Banking on a potent mix of horror and erotica, the Ramsay Brothers became synonymous with the genre with films comprising corpses, zombies, among other tropes, delivering films like Darwaza, Guest House, Dahshat, Purana Mandir, Tahkhana and among several others, including Saamri in 3D. With the advent of private satellite channels, they also ventured into horror TV shows.

Tulsi, Shyam’s elder brother and codirector, had passed away on December 14, 2018
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MID-DAY (September 19, 2019)

Shyam Ramsay (1952- 2019)

Shyam Ramsay, one of the seven Ramsay Brothers known for cult horror films such as Purani Haveli (1989) and Tahkhana (1986), succumbed to pneumonia at a hospital yesterday, his family said. “He was hospitalised two to three days ago as he was not feeling well. He passed away at around 5 am today,” a relative said.

Veteran actors Raza Murad, Puneet Issar and Pankaj Dheer were among those who paid tribute to the filmmaker, remembering him as a “humble” and “polite” man. Murad, who worked with the Ramsay Brothers in the 2006 film, Family: Ties Of Blood, said that despite infusing horror in the hearts of the audience, the entire kin was soft- spoken. “Shyam was respectful, the entire family was. The kind of films they made were amazing. The brothers were sweet; we would joke that we’d get diabetes if we talked to them for five minutes. They were the joint family filmmakers in every department of filmmaking, and were extremely committed,” the actor said.

Murad recounted how Shyam convinced him for Family after he had initially rejected the role. “It sounded like I was just among the men from the underworld. I thought I would be one of the actors who may not get importance, so I turned down the role. Shyam called and narrated the role in detail. He said, I’m sorry I couldn’t narrate it to you. You have an important role and we would never waste you’,” he added.

Issar, who starred in their cult classic Purana Mandir (1984), remembered Ramsay as a “capable technician”. “Shyam ji knew the craft very well. He was a man of few words. He and Tulsi [brother] used to direct together. They had great clarity. It’s such a big loss,” he said.

Director Vikram Bhatt said, “Shyam Ramsay carried the torch of horror films right through the ’70s and ’80s. Even amongst the Ramsay Brothers, he was considered the leader. He was innovative and regaled his audiences with fabulous spooky cinema from time to time. His passing is indeed sad, and his contribution to the dark films will always be held in high esteem,” said Bhatt.

The Ramsay brothers also consisted of Tulsi, Kumar, Keshu, Arjun, Gangu and Karan. Shyam is survived by daughters Sasha and Namrata.

BOMBAY TIMES (January 19, 2018)

After anxiously waiting to announce the release date of Padmaavat, the film’s makers earlier this week officially announced that the movie will hit the theatres on February 25. But their troubles were far from over as its release was banned by the governments of four states — Rajasthan, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Haryana. However, yesterday, the makers heaved a sigh of relief when the Supreme Court stayed the ban imposed on the Deepika Padukone-Ranveer Singh-Shahid Kapoor-starrer, directed by Sanjay Leela Bhansali. The court’s order said, “We direct that there shall be a stay of operation on the notification and orders issued and we also restrain other states from issuing such notifications or orders in this matter.”

A bench of Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra and Justices AM Khanwilkar and DY Chandrachud observed that the film has been cleared by the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) with a U/A certificate for an all-Indian screening, after considering the provisions of the Cinematograph Act, which prohibits scenes that denigrate women. Bhansali’s legal counsel Harish Salve cited the 2011 judgment of the SC that allowed the screening of Prakash Jha’s controversial film Aarakshan as an example.

BT spoke to filmmakers whose labour of love has faced opposition from fringe elements, which indirectly posed pressure on the respective state governments, leading to an unofficial ban on several movies. And they were unanimous in saying that every ban — whether official or unofficial — ultimately affects their film, months of hard work and their freedom of expression.

– Team BT
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FILMMAKER RAHUL DHOLAKIA (HIS NATIONAL AWARD-WINNING FILM PARZANIA FACED AN UNOFFICIAL BAN IN GUJARAT)
I just feel that we keep wasting the Supreme Court’s time. The Chief Ministers of various states should know better than to ban films at their own whim and fancy. It’s about time someone told them that they are not above the law and that we should be left alone.

SHOOJIT SIRCAR (HIS FILM MADRAS CAFÉ FACED OPPOSITION IN TAMIL NADU FROM TAMIL OUTFITS)
The SC has taken the right decision as it’s perfectly democratic. No one has the right to take law and order in their hands and resort to violence. If you have a problem, take your grievances to court. Today, it’s about a film. Tomorrow, it will be about someone’s personal life. A state should give complete security to the film-goers and the film, which didn’t happen in the case of my film, Madras Café. People were scared to go to theatres at the thought of them being vandalised. Ironically, it was Tamil Nadu that saw the maximum sale of the film’s DVDs. If I have made a film and say it goes beyond the validity of society, you have a body like the CBFC, which will decide that. As filmmakers, we can’t go door-to-door and show our film when we have an authority like the CBFC, which is a democratic and government body. When every film or character that is even remotely close to real life faces trouble, the realism that a filmmaker wants to bring to cinema, suffers. If you feel that a filmmaker has gone overboard, you have a right to oppose, but not in this fashion. Responsible filmmakers won’t take creative liberties and create stories that are not in the history books. That’s our social responsibility as filmmakers. We need to make sure our work is rooted in reality.

ANURAG KASHYAP (HIS FILM BLACK FRIDAY FACED A BAN)
Until and unless the government doesn’t make a statement on this and make this into a non-practice, we will have to keep going to the courts. I hope the time comes when we don’t have to do that. I wish the makers (of Padmaavat) had done this earlier. I have been wasting my time and resources for a long time. In a country that easily takes offense and people taking offense scares the votebank politicos, this is and this will be a normal practice. So, either one takes the road of the law till the very end or give into what is expected of us. Either way, there is no point complaining. You fight or you give in…call it unfair but your rights won’t be given to you. You have to fight for them and stand up for them.

SHABANA AZMI (HER FILM KISSA KURSI KA WAS BANNED BY THE GOVERNMENT DURING THE EMERGENCY OF 1975; FIRE (1996) FACED PROTESTS IN MANY PARTS OF THE COUNTRY)
The film has been cleared by the CBFC. Of what value is it if the State cannot defend its own certificate? The filmmaker has been crying hoarse that there is nothing objectionable in the film that the CBFC has cleared. I’m sure it will become a huge success and I wish it all the best. The law of the land must apply with immediate effect so that a strong message is conveyed that the government has zero tolerance for violence or a call to violence against any citizen of this country.

MADHUR BHANDARKAR (HE WAS DRAGGED TO COURT OVER HIS FILM, INDU SARKAR)
The Supreme Court decided in my favour a day before Indu Sarkar released. And this, when I was fighting three different battles: one political, one with the CBFC and one with a girl who claimed she was Sanjay Gandhi’s daughter. Imposing or demanding bans have been happening for years to filmmakers. The courts have cleared films that were also banned by the CBFC on numerous occasions. People are diverse, their thoughts and opinions differ and they all want their opinions to be given prominence.

We have to be mentally prepared to face these challenges as filmmakers. I understand that and today, I welcome the decision of the SC. The state governments will now have to look into the law and order situation and ensure that the film gets a smooth release.
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As first reported in mid-day, Padmaavat makers cite Prakash Jha’s Aarakshan as precedent to overturn state governments’ ban
Sonil Dedhia (MID-DAY; January 19, 2018)

It was a victory of freedom of expression as the Supreme Court yesterday cleared Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Padmaavat for release, by staying the ban imposed by the governments of several states including Haryana, Rajasthan, Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh.

Comprising Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra and Justices A M Khanwilkar and D Y Chandrachud, the bench said it is the duty of states to maintain law and order and that the creative content is an inseparable aspect of Article19 (1), freedom of speech and expression.

As told to mid-day (January 18 edition), the producers’ counsel cited the example of Prakash Jha’s caste-reservation drama Aarakshan (2011), which was banned in certain states until the SC overturned the decision. Using that as precedent, the legal team argued that once the Censor Board has certified a movie, no state can ban it. It also argued that the makers had complied with the changes recommended by the Censor Board.

For an industry that largely shied away from commenting on the Bhansali’s months-long battle, it welcomed the SC decision with open arms. Shabana Azmi, one of the few actors to initiate a petition asking PM Narendra Modi to offer protection to Deepika Padukone, said, “I welcome the decision. But there remains the unresolved matter of no action being taken against those who placed a bounty on Deepika's head. Immediate action needs to be taken against these criminal elements so as to send out a clear signal to the country that the dignity of women is supreme and neither abusive language nor violent threats will go unpunished.”

Director Hansal Mehta reiterated how the banning of a film that has been cleared by the CBFC in the first place, is unconstitutional. “It’s a good sign that the Supreme Court has upheld the decision. The entire team of Padmaavat can heave a sigh of relief.”

Raza Murad, who plays Jalaluddin Khilji in the magnum opus, described it as a “victory of democracy.” “I think true change can be brought about when the government deals with people who create nuisance with an iron hand.”

Rachana Dubey (MUMBAI MIRROR; June 28, 2014)

'The Phenomenon' will return to cinemas one last time. Riyasat, the last film Rajesh Khanna shot for before his demise on July 18, 2012, will finally release on his second death anniversary. For the last two years, producer Vijay Sirohi and director Ashok Tyagi, have been desperately scouting for buyers for their film.

Raza Murad, one of Khanna's co-stars, confirmed the news saying, "It's sad that the industry showed no interest in Rajesh Khanna's last film. Ashok and Vijay are not Mumbai-based filmmakers and didn't know which distributors and exhibitors to approach. But now we can finally release the film."

He went on to recall shooting with the ailing star: "Rajesh couldn't walk up the stairs yet he never cancelled a schedule. He was visibly ill yet he continued to report for work till the film wrapped up."

After a six-month discussion with Manoj Nandwala from Jai Viratra Entertainment, Sirohi and Tyagi zeroed in on a release date coinciding with Khanna's death anniversary last month.

Tyagi reveals that Khanna had left a letter in a sealed envelope for his producer and him which he wanted them to open only on the day the film releases.

"That's another reason I'm eagerly waiting for July 18," says the director, adding, "After receiving the censor certificate last year, we put out an open letter in a trade magazine, asking support from the industry. No one came forward." 

Bharati Dubey (MID-DAY; May 26, 2014)

Salman Khan, who is known to mentor newcomers will soon be launching not one but three actors, all of whom incidentally hail from film families.

According to industry sources, he will be launching Raza Murad’s son Ali, Danny Denzongpa’s son, Rinzing, and the late Vijay Anand’s son, Vaibhav Anand.

The film starring these newcomers is likely to be remake of the Telugu film, Happy Days. It is being said that it will be directed by South Indian filmmaker, Sekhar Kammula. When contacted, Raza Murad said, “I know that Salman personally wants Ali be in this film. My son has done a look test but we are not yet aware of the final result.’’ About his son Rinzing being a part of the film, Danny Denzongpa says that he has no idea about it. "I have no clue about any of this. I don’t think anything has been finalised so far; all I know is that Rinzing training hard for a proper launch.’’ Vijay Anand’s son Vaibhav was not available for comment.