Showing posts with label Roy. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Roy. Show all posts
‘Big boys’ in Bollywood removed me from 60 films-Amaal Mallik
4:30 PM
HINDUSTAN TIMES (May 21, 2026)
Singer-composer Amaal Mallik has once again spoken openly about his struggles in the entertainment industry, claiming that internal politics and powerful industry figures have significantly impacted his career.
On Tuesday night, Amaal shared a lengthy note on Instagram Stories (see above), claiming that he has lost out on 60 projects since 2019, having been removed by “big boys in powerful positions”. He added, “20 films toh maine khud hi mana kar diye as it was beneath me to work in those setups.”
The 35-year-old also hinted that he may eventually reveal names, while criticising what he described as years of behind-the-scenes politics.
“I will not name them today, but their time will come someday... All of them are playing award-worthy politics and that’s why you hear less of my music in films. I can’t be part of a clout, a power setup, or be part of petty groupism.”
Amaal, son of composer Daboo Malik and nephew of composer Anu Malik, added that even his family connections didn’t help him: “Even the nepotism isn’t working. So mujhe maaf karo, mera indie music suno.”
This isn’t the first time that Amaal has been so vocal about the industry. In February, he called out labels for pay disparity, saying, “Sooraj Dooba Hai from Roy (2015) earned Rs. 60-Rs. 70 crore for the label, and I got nothing except for the publishing rights, which are negligible, not even close to Rs. 1 crore.”
I was going through a divorce in 2012. I needed a job. The only thing I was half good at was singing-Kanika Kapoor
7:40 AM
Titas Chowdhury (HINDUSTAN TIMES; November 19, 2021)
It was about ten years ago that Kanika Kapoor recorded Jugni Ji, her first song. Two years later, she released the single, and it was the first of many chartbusters for the singer. Looking back, Kapoor says, “I recorded it sitting at home and got it programmed. It was a housewife’s passion project.”
Unlike most artistes, who begin their career at a young age, Kapoor kick-started her journey after she became a mum of two. “I was going through a divorce in 2012. I really needed a job. The only thing I thought I was half good at was singing. My dad told me that I should take it up professionally. I didn’t know how that would happen,” she says.
Kapoor believes that it was spirituality that helped her stay connected to her roots: “I’m not a person who works to become powerful, richer, or more famous. I also want to be a better singer and a homemaker.”
Despite belting out hit tracks such as Baby Doll (Ragini MMS 2; 2014) and Chittiyaan Kalaiyaan (Roy; 2015), she rues the lack of a music industry in India: “It’s dependent on the film industry. That gives little chance to talented artistes from small towns.”
I’d hear these hurtful rumours that I had a ‘sugar daddy’-Kanika Kapoor
8:13 AM
The homemaker, who’s been a hit-maker since her very first song, is all set to cash in on her celebrity with the launch of a designer-wear boutique.
Anjana Vaswani (MUMBAI MIRROR; September 23, 2018)
Limoge vases, Hermes hand-painted trays, elaborately framed distressed mirrors and Parchinkari showpieces: Kanika Kapoor’s Khar apartment does not lack in plushness. Most readers would remember Kapoor as the woman, who in 2014 crooned the uber hit Baby Doll in Ragini MMS 2. But in case you didn’t know, over the past four years, Kapoor, who divides her time between London and Mumbai, has built a multifaceted career.
Besides being a singer and performer, she is also an ambassador for a number of top brands and a designer as well. Her birthday party in August was a star-studded affair and she is now a regular face at every grand society do. Earlier this month, she even announced the launch of her ‘House of Chikankari’ boutique that is expected to open in either Kala Ghoda or Bandra at an exclusive trunk show that saw folks such as Anaita Shroff Adajania, Madhoo Shah and Kaykasshan Patel in attendance. Kapoor is also rumoured to be dating a well-connected businessman. But behind the glitz of the parties she hosts and attends, and the shimmer of the clothes in her boutiques, is a story very few people are aware of.
In 2015, when the emerald-eyed singer moved from London, where she was based, to Mumbai, her life was a whirlwind of emotions. On the one hand she was blanketed by public adoration, and on the other, Kapoor was dealing with the emotional turmoil of a tough divorce, and facing an uncertain future after 15 years of being a hands-on mom to three kids, then aged 11, nine and seven.
“I lived in a tiny apartment in Bandra, and I’d come home after a long day’s work, and eat dinner while I ‘face-timed’ my kids [who were in London, and being cared for by her parents]. I went from being surrounded by people one moment to coming home to nobody,” she says.
For Kapoor, who grew up in a joint family, with four generations under one roof in Lucknow’s Mahanagar locality, the silence was deafening. And, like the roads of the city she had moved to, the career path she was on was riddled with bumps and craters.
“Though I had two hit songs, I did not know how to sing on stage, how to be an entertainer,” she recalls. She would have to learn quickly, and on the fly.
Her very first performance — at a 2014 IPL ceremony in Abu Dhabi — meant opening for Shah Rukh Khan and Deepika Padukone. “As if that wasn’t unnerving enough, I’d heardthese hurtful rumours that I had a ‘sugar daddy’,” says Kapoor who feels she found social acceptance only when her next numbers, Kamlee [in Farah Khan’s Happy New Year], and Chittiyan Kalaiyan Ve, performed by Jacqueline Fernandez in the 2015 film Roy, both, topped the charts.
“After that, many people who would look right through me before — especially the London and Delhi crowd — came back into my life,” says Kapoor. Just three years ago, while she toured Canada and America with the star cast of HNY, none of this would have seemed possible to her, she says. “I was so nervous, I remember when we were in Houston, I took the mike and said, ‘Hello Washington!’” she says, with a laugh.
Now, Kapoor, who released Cheater Mohan, her new single, on YouTube, just days ago, flies down to London once a month, and dedicates one day a week to designing her fashion line — “deciding which of thousands of traditional stitches like ‘bijli kangan jhal’, ‘banjkali’ and ‘murri ka kaam’ to use on what garment”. Her line includes everything from saris and lehengas to contemporary garments like capes, all priced under Rs 1 lakh and embroidered by female artisans, many of whom have worked at her mother Poonam’s Lucknow initiative Kalakriti for decades. “My mother had started it as a social enterprise 27 years ago, and, at age 10, I remember helping her fold and hang up the clothes at her Breach Candy exhibitions,” Kapoor tells us.
“I was drawn to Mumbai right then,” she recalls, “I felt it was such a cool place for a girl.” Little does she know that with a career trajectory that proves that this unforgiving city really is the land of dreams, the enterprising single mum may well have made it just a little cooler.
#FeministBollySongs slams Bollywood chartbusters
8:06 AM
Mohar Basu (BOMBAY TIMES; January 24, 2016)
The hashtag 'Feminist Songs'
in which Bolly people are rephrasing original lyrics, with words that
are friendlier towards women has created a frenzy on the
internet. Lyricists across the country might take offence to this new
wave of feminism, but it is nothing short of a celebration for Indian
women who have been grudging the sexist tinge in romantic Bollywood
songs and item numbers. The trend, which started on a microblogging site
last month, picks on songs with misogyny-laden words.
Over the last few weeks, feminists on social media have kept the tempo
of this movement alive by posting tweets that range from powerful to
hilarious. Sample this - Chikni Chameli chhupke akeli pauwa chadha ke
aayi, because she's independent enough to do whatever the f*** she wants
to...#FeministBollySongs. For the conventional Indian mindset, these
tweets maybe blasphemous but some of them sound just so right.
SONGS ARE CROWD-PLEASERS
The Hindi film industry has often come under scrutiny for its objectification of women. Item numbers especially have been blamed for making derogatory remarks and getting away with it because they are, after all, popular. For instance, there were mixed reactions to Munni badnaam hui...which remains a hot favourite on the list of most memorable item numbers.A lyricist, on condition of anonymity, explains, “Item songs are crowd pleasers. Lyrics are written keeping the audience in mind and such things work. What is being viewed as art by feminists is purely commercial for producers. They want the music to work because it gives the film a big impetus and the money that is made from the songs is humongous.“
BLAME THE MALE-DOMINATED PSYCHE
The quintessential chedkhani (teasing) between the hero and the heroine and all the 'uski naa mein hi haan chupi hai' (her consent lies in her refusal) doesn't make sense to the more liberal section of the youth. There is a fast growing emphasis on 'consent', which is sacrosanct, now more than ever before. Women won't take a stalker for a lover anymore. With the shift in power dynamics between genders, power no longer lies with the man. Dev Anand's iconic song Chod do aanchal zamana kya kahega has been tweaked keeping feminist sensibilities in mind and now reads - Chod do aanchal because it is not about zamana but sexual harassment.
Besides item numbers that are immediate targets, even iconic romantic songs have come under attack. Amitabh Bachchan's ever-romantic song Kabhi kabhi mere dil mein khayal aata hai found a bitter reply from feminists. A certain tweet goes, “Kabhi kabhi mere dil mein khayal aata hai ki jaise tujhko banaya gaya hai, FOR YOU. Not for me or any other man.“
Another popular romantic song from the Shah Rukh Khan and Juhi Chawla-starrer Darr, 'Tu haan kar, ya naa kar, tu hai meri Kiran' has found a sharp comeback in 'Tu haan kar, ya naa kar, teri marzi Kiran'. A lot of feminists think some classic romantic lyrics also reflect the society's male-dominated psyche.
ALL ABOUT PERSPECTIVE
The song that received maximum flak for its lyrics was Chittiyaan Kalaiyaan from the film Roy. The song which goes like this...Shopping kara de, picture dikha de, Chittiyan Kalaiyaan ve. Gulabi chunni diva de,chudi diva de Chittiyan kalaiyaan ve...has been countered with a lot of criticism on social media. A post on Twitter said, “My immediate reply to the guy who says this will be 'Main apni salary se shopping kar sakti hoon and picture bhi dekh sakti hoon. I don't like pink. I don't have white wrists, so get lost!“ When we spoke to lyricist Kumaar, who has penned the original track, he says, “People never talk to me about my songs Tujhe bhula diya (Anjaana Anjaani) or Mere nishaan (OMG Oh My God!). If a film is made on an adult subject, how am I expected to write literature. Everyone has a right to their opinion in this country. I have no grouse against those who feel my songs put women down. But that has never been my intention. When I wrote Chittiyaan Kalaiyaan, I wanted to bring out the fact that a woman feels flattered when she is complimented. She wants her life to be full of love. I feel it is cute. Lyrics are also penned in keeping with the demand of the meter.Songs are a reflection of the society we live in. My words are always based on what I observe. Gandagi nazariye mein hai, meri soch mein nahin, (the vulgarity lies in the perception, not the thought)“ he says.
In this kudiyon ka zamana, this hashtag is making the right noise.
SONGS ARE CROWD-PLEASERS
The Hindi film industry has often come under scrutiny for its objectification of women. Item numbers especially have been blamed for making derogatory remarks and getting away with it because they are, after all, popular. For instance, there were mixed reactions to Munni badnaam hui...which remains a hot favourite on the list of most memorable item numbers.A lyricist, on condition of anonymity, explains, “Item songs are crowd pleasers. Lyrics are written keeping the audience in mind and such things work. What is being viewed as art by feminists is purely commercial for producers. They want the music to work because it gives the film a big impetus and the money that is made from the songs is humongous.“
BLAME THE MALE-DOMINATED PSYCHE
The quintessential chedkhani (teasing) between the hero and the heroine and all the 'uski naa mein hi haan chupi hai' (her consent lies in her refusal) doesn't make sense to the more liberal section of the youth. There is a fast growing emphasis on 'consent', which is sacrosanct, now more than ever before. Women won't take a stalker for a lover anymore. With the shift in power dynamics between genders, power no longer lies with the man. Dev Anand's iconic song Chod do aanchal zamana kya kahega has been tweaked keeping feminist sensibilities in mind and now reads - Chod do aanchal because it is not about zamana but sexual harassment.
Besides item numbers that are immediate targets, even iconic romantic songs have come under attack. Amitabh Bachchan's ever-romantic song Kabhi kabhi mere dil mein khayal aata hai found a bitter reply from feminists. A certain tweet goes, “Kabhi kabhi mere dil mein khayal aata hai ki jaise tujhko banaya gaya hai, FOR YOU. Not for me or any other man.“
Another popular romantic song from the Shah Rukh Khan and Juhi Chawla-starrer Darr, 'Tu haan kar, ya naa kar, tu hai meri Kiran' has found a sharp comeback in 'Tu haan kar, ya naa kar, teri marzi Kiran'. A lot of feminists think some classic romantic lyrics also reflect the society's male-dominated psyche.
ALL ABOUT PERSPECTIVE
The song that received maximum flak for its lyrics was Chittiyaan Kalaiyaan from the film Roy. The song which goes like this...Shopping kara de, picture dikha de, Chittiyan Kalaiyaan ve. Gulabi chunni diva de,chudi diva de Chittiyan kalaiyaan ve...has been countered with a lot of criticism on social media. A post on Twitter said, “My immediate reply to the guy who says this will be 'Main apni salary se shopping kar sakti hoon and picture bhi dekh sakti hoon. I don't like pink. I don't have white wrists, so get lost!“ When we spoke to lyricist Kumaar, who has penned the original track, he says, “People never talk to me about my songs Tujhe bhula diya (Anjaana Anjaani) or Mere nishaan (OMG Oh My God!). If a film is made on an adult subject, how am I expected to write literature. Everyone has a right to their opinion in this country. I have no grouse against those who feel my songs put women down. But that has never been my intention. When I wrote Chittiyaan Kalaiyaan, I wanted to bring out the fact that a woman feels flattered when she is complimented. She wants her life to be full of love. I feel it is cute. Lyrics are also penned in keeping with the demand of the meter.Songs are a reflection of the society we live in. My words are always based on what I observe. Gandagi nazariye mein hai, meri soch mein nahin, (the vulgarity lies in the perception, not the thought)“ he says.
In this kudiyon ka zamana, this hashtag is making the right noise.
A look at the toppers in 2015
12:08 PM
Box Office India Trade Network
2015 was a mediocre year with only a few films finding real acceptance. The hits were few and appreciation of films by the audiences even less as many films rode to success on initials and hardly any content film barring PYAAR KA PUNCHNAMA 2 really went outside its boundaries.
The tops of the year were pretty straghtforward with the main categories being practically one horse races barring director and music. The director category had two candidates Kabir Khan and Anand L Rai and the latter wins out as TANU WEDS MANU RETURNS did not have the resourses of a BAJRANGI BHAIJAAN nor a superstar like Salman Khan whose film is bound to find huge appreciation universally when it is good.
In terms of music there was no super hit like KICK or EK VILLAIN last year. The music of BAJRANGI BHAIJAAN worked after the mega success of the film, The title song of PREM RATAN DHAN PAYO was a rage as was Gerua from DILWALE but musically the biggest hit was probably ROY. The toppers of 2015.
Film
Bajrangi Bhaijaan
Actor
Salman Khan (Bajrangi Bhaijaan)
Actress
Kangana Ranuat (Tanu Weds Manu Returns)
Director
Aanand L. Rai (Tanu Weds Manu Returns)
Studio
Eros International (Bajrangi Bhaijaan, Tanu Weds Manu Returns, Bajirao Mastani, Welcome Back)
Music
Roy
Emerging Star
Varun Dhawan - The initial of ABCD 2 (even North managed good collections initially though dance films never really work there) means he is on par with Ranbir Kapoor as far as young stars are concerned. With careers going in opposite curves, Varun Dhawan may have momentum to be biggest star in the younger age slot soon. Even a BADLAPUR which was a weak film became a hit due to the initial and a song or two. The collections came down fast after the opening.
Whatever we say is misconstrued-Ranbir Kapoor & Deepika Padukone
8:17 AM
MID-DAY (November 20, 2015)
Ranbir Kapoor and Deepika Padukone, who are on a publicity blitzkrieg for their upcoming film Tamasha, dropped into the mid- day office yesterday for a candid chat. RK, as usual, was honest and forthright, and had Dippy jumping to his defence every time questions about his last few duds were posed. At one point, an overwhelmed Ranbir told her that he would burst into tears if she continued indulging him.
The former flames, who have no qualms about pairing up professionally and lighting up the big screen with their sizzling chemistry, touched upon a lot of topics in an hourlong chat with hitlist. Excerpts from the banter:
From exes to friends
RANBIR: A lot of people are linking what we are doing at promotional events to our personal history. Whatever we say is misconstrued. I am talking about Deepika because she is my co-star. Had I been promoting Besharam (2013), I would be talking about Pallavi Sharda who was my co-star in that film, but everyone only wants to talk about the chemistry I share with Deepika.
DEEPIKA: We have come to a stage in our lives where we have a lot of clarity about where we stand in each other’s lives. Whatever we say will be turned into a headline. It has been this way ever since we got to know each other. But I have learnt to take things with a pinch of salt.
RANBIR: I don’t know if there is any formula to exes being friends. But there is no negativity between us; we came to the sets without any baggage. A lot of credit for what you see between us on-screen goes to the director. In Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani (2013), it was because of Ayan (Mukerji, director). Since he knows us personally, he knew how to build our characters and extract the emotions required for a particular scene. The same happened in case of Tamasha because Imtiaz (Ali) also knows us well. Both of us have worked with him earlier. He has a mature energy and comes from an honest place, so we cannot fake anything with him.
Journey in B-Town
RANBIR: Time has flown so fast. It has been a wonderful eight years of highs and lows; I still feel like a newcomer.
DEEPIKA: For me, it has been an amazing journey. Coming from a sports family and having no idea of the industry, it was just my passion that has brought me here. I am willing to work hard. Every film has taught me something; so has every success and failure.
Hope to bounce back
RANBIR: I did not expect Bombay Velvet to be such a disaster, but then every film has a fate of its own. There is a lot of expectations from Tamasha. I cannot put parameters for failure and success, but right now I am almost back to square one — I had a string of hits and then three films back-to-back that didn’t work. But I am grateful that people still repose trust in me. I am not doing films for the intelligent audience, but for everyone. But failure does impact your confidence. When someone pricks you, you bleed. If people out there have given their love to you, then you have to be ready to face their brickbats too. I don’t regret having done any film. My debut film, Saawariya (2007), was such a big disaster. I consider Rockstar (2011) as a milestone, but it was Wake Up Sid (2009) that really got me going. My only regret is Roy — not for myself, but for my friend (director Vikramjit Singh). I just had a special appearance and needed to shoot for 10 days. And I think I took it for granted. I really wish that I had worked on my character and discussed it at length with the director.
DEEPIKA: Every actor goes through a phase when his/her films don’t do well, but in Ranbir’s case, it has been amplified. As if it were solely his responsibility. The questions have been asked for years. I have never come across any actor who has had to answer about his films not doing well for such a long time. To Ranbir’s credit, he has been dignified. But it is time we moved on. Ranbir was born to be an actor. He does not choose films to be a superhero; he wants to do films that tell an exciting story.
Cold war with Big B
DEEPIKA: I have not commented on it earlier and won’t now either. If I chose to celebrate Diwali with Amitji’s family instead of heading home that evening, that explains everything.
RANBIR: When the Amitabh Bachchan episode came up, Deepika was affected. They shared a great working relation during Piku, but a misunderstanding was created. I do not know how she revived her equation with him, but we were all together at his house to celebrate Diwali.
Fenil's Bollywood Talk # 352
2:15 PM
AN ANALYSIS OF THE FIRST QUARTER OF 2015
The first quarter of the year is about to get over and have been pretty okay. The first quarter of 2014 had delivered hits in the form of Queen and Ragini MMS 2 and also a 100-crore grosser – Jai Ho. However, 2015’s first quarter has been poor. Films that were expected to fetch good numbers like Alone, I, Dolly Ki Doli, Shamitabh, Khamoshiyan, Roy etc turned out to be huge flops. What surprised many was how some of the films were made on an insanely huge budget. Hawaizaada and Shamitabh turned out to be disasters thanks to the costs involved. Both these films hardly attracted viewers and got entry into the list of ‘biggest disasters of recent times’. Roy opened well and might have recovered going by the opening weekend numbers. Sadly, the content was outright disappointing. It started dropping from Day 4 heavily, that left many shocked.
Thankfully, few films made a mark commercially. Baby opened on an average note but held up very, very well. Badlapur attracted people despite the violent theme. Same goes for NH10. Dum Laga Ke Haisha had a very poor opening. But it was a fabulous film and hence sustained beautifully, even during weekdays.
However, a big commercial hit is missing in the first quarter. The industry has suffered many such setbacks previously but sadly, lessons are never learnt. And everyone has to make an effort. The makers on their part should make films on reasonable costs (which is very much possible). This also includes not overspending on publicity. For instance, NH10 was made in 3-4 crores and almost 8-9 crores were spent on publicity. It is said that the film would have opened with similar numbers if the makers had spent even half the amount on publicity. Hence, correct and impactful marketing is the key. Just by going all out is not a guarantee that people will throng to see the film. And more important than the cost is the fact that makers should invest in good scripts. The success of NH10 and Dum Laga Ke Haisha has proved how people are ready to see different subjects. The multiplex wallahs on their post should bring costs down on an immediate basis. It’s shocking to see tickets priced at 300-400 bucks during weekends, for all kinds of films! Theatre owners should realize that they are bound to lose a chunk of audience by having such inflated ticket rates. Thirdly, the audience should be smart as well. There are times when genuine efforts go unnoticed just because those films weren’t ‘typical entertainers’. Audiences should realize that they should invest their hard-earned films on good films, whether or not it’s entertaining in the conventional manner.
However, there’s a lot to cheer. The next quarter promises some fabulous films like Detective Byomkesh Bakshy, Dharam Sankat Mein, Mr X, Gabbar Is Back, Piku, Mastizaade, Welcome Back, Bombay Velvet, Dil Dhadakne Do, Hamari Adhuri Kahani etc. Hope good times are here and they are here to stay!
No hit from Bollywood in the first quarter of 2015?
8:11 AM
Sneha Mahadevan (DNA; March 19, 2015)
The Hindi film industry is going through a slump. None
of the big budget bonanzas are making money at the box-office. Maybe it
is time to rethink budgeting. Akshay Kumar’s Baby, Sonam Kapoor’s Dolly
Ki Doli and Ranbir Kapoor-Jacqueline Fernandez’s Roy have barely
managed to cover expenses.
Films that have fared well are small ones, where actors have taken big salary cuts to keep the budget in check. Varun Dhawan starrer Badlapur that released on February 20, became the first film to fare well at the box-office in 2015. The revenge crime drama directed by Sriram Raghavan was made at a modest Rs 25 crore and at the end of fourth week collections, it collected Rs 50.17 cr. Dum Laga Ke Haisha starring Ayushmann Khurrana and newcomer Bhumi Pednekar garnered critical acclaim, but business-wise, collections at the end of third week stand at Rs 23.85 cr. Anushka Sharma’s maiden production NH10 earned Rs 13.30 cr on the first weekend. Figures are expected to rise in coming weeks.
World Cup fever, followed by the burden of a big budget and poor content are the top three reasons for the dry spell in the first quarter of 2015.
Last year, the industry was better off in the first quarter of the year where the first box-office success was Gunday, which released in February 14, followed by the critically acclaimed Highway on February 21. Queen, that released on March 7, however, managed to shatter all previous records to become the biggest hit in the first quarter followed by Ragini MMS that hit the screens on March 21. Experts give us their take on this.
Trade talk
Taran Adarsh: Businesswise, there has definitely been a decline and the monies are much lesser compared to the first quarter of 2014. PK released in December and dominated the first two weeks in January but besides that no film has managed to do as well. Content-wise too, Queen that released last year did phenomenally well along with other succcesses like Gunday, Highway and Ragini MMS. Besides Badlapur and now Dum Laga Ke Haisha, content wise too, there has been a decline. NH10 is doing pretty well but then it will be a wait-and-watch situation for the film as it is still in the first week. I think we need to be more consistent with hits because right now the ratio is 10 flops to two hits. Also, the ongoing World Cup where India is doing well along with exams is taking a toll on the revenues. Hopefully, the summers will bring better revenues in the next quarter.
Komal Nahta: Obviously, the one big release hasn’t been there because of the World Cup. Also, there were no hits because no film deserved to do well. They were all such bad films. People have just taken the audience for granted and this time, more than ever it has been proven that content is king. Films that have done well this year are films that haven’t has any great star value. Dum Laga Ke Haisha had Ayushmann Khurrana who came back after a spate of flops and NH10 too just had Anushka Sharma. The first quarter of 2015 should be a wake-up call for writers and directors. Approximately of the Rs 500 crores invested, we would have lost about 100 crore which is a very bad ratio. Even after this, the situation will only improve May onwards when big films will hit the screens.
Atul Mohan: Unlike first quarter of 2014, the first quarter of 2015 has been bad so far for the film industry. It’s not that the films haven’t managed to score decent to good collections but what is ailing the industry is the pricing or the landing cost of the films. Except for Badlapur and Dum Laga Ke Haisha, we don’t have any certified hits in the first quarter. Baby, Dolly Ki Doli and Roy were break-even films with profits coming from other avenues. The list of bad performing films or disasters includes many films. Bad content, bad economics, World Cup, bad slotting, exams (we have them every year), expensive cine-going experience compared to the quality of films served, are some of the major reasons the films have under-performed so far this year. Hoping for better times soon.
Ranbir Kapoor is a Candy Crush junkie, confirms Jacqueline Fernandez
8:01 AM
Nayandeep Rakshit (DNA; March 17, 2015)
Ranbir Kapoor has a very unique addiction. He is addicted to his phone! Confirms Jacqueline, who co-starred with Ranbir in Roy, “Ranbir is always on the phone. During the shoot, he comes and gives his shot perfectly. After that, he is busy with his phone. It’s as if he has disconnected himself from the world.” Jackie initially thought it was a little weird. “I felt maybe he is serious and does not like talking much. But one day, when he was on the phone, guess what I saw! Ranbir was busy playing Candy Crush. He’s such a Candy Crush junkie that everytime he’s free, he’s busy crushing candies on his phone.” Now that’s something we did not know about Ranbir!
Roy crashes; collects 31.75 cr in 6 days
8:06 AM
Box Office India Trade Network
ROY crashed further on Wednesday as collections went a huge 30% lower than Tuesday. The film had crashed on Monday, Tuesday was okay and Wednesday saw another huge crash. The first six day business of ROY is as follows.
Friday - 9,25,00,000
Saturday - 10,00,00,000
Sunday - 5,50,00,000
Monday - 2,75,00,000
Tuesday - 2,50,00,000
Wednesday - 1,75,00,000
TOTAL - 31,75,00,000
Hoping Chittiyaan Kalaiyaan does for Jacqueline what Baby Doll did for Sunny-Meet Bros Anjjan
7:44 AM
Composer trio Meet Bros Anjjan on the success of Chittiyaan Kalaiyaan (Roy) and Beparwah (Baby)
Debarati Sen (BOMBAY TIMES; February 20, 2015)
Tell us about Chittiyaan Kalaiyaan from the film Roy.
We are overwhelmed. Kanika Kapoor sang Baby Doll from Ragini MMS 2 for us. She's like our younger sister and has been through a lot in life. Although it marked her debut in Bollywood, we'd been friends with her much longer. Her voice was apt for Chittiyaan Kalaiyaan and we work well together, so she was the obvious choice to sing the song. Lyricist Kumaar is our other longtime lucky collaborator. He did a good job of making a Punjabi party song that is also being played at weddings. Just like Sunny Leone became synonymous after appearing in the video for Baby Doll, Jacqueline Fernandez is getting a new image after she was seen in a refreshing new light in Chittiyaan Kalaiyaan so we're hoping it does for Jacky what Baby Doll did for Sunny. The video has also been shot like a Hollywood musical. Jacky is daydreaming as the song begins and then she joins the dancers for a jig on the street. We make an appearance later on. We have even introduced a bit of trap music in the intro. The rapping portions sung by us are signature Meet Bros Anjjan - light-hearted and merging seamlessly with the rest of the song.
How did Beparwah happen?
The makers had initially planned to make Baby a songless thriller but then producer Bhushan Kumar called us in because he wanted a song that reflects the theme of the film. He has a great ear for music and knows exactly what will click with the audience. We came up with Beparwah as an ode to the attitude of the film's characters. It is quite a departure from the happy-go-lucky numbers we usually compose, although we'd like to believe every song we come up with is different. We gave the song an operatic feel. Newcomer Apeksha Dandekar has sung the song like a diva. She is one singer to watch out for, after Kanika. Her voice has the right amount of sensuality to represent Esha Gupta who has upgraded the song with her appearance in the video. Lyricist Manoj Muntashir managed to convey the various on-goings in our country that the attitude of the film and, like the makers of the film have stated, history is made by those who give a damn.
What have you guys been up to in the past year?
We started off composing jingles at an FM radio station. We have dabbled in everything from singing, rapping, performing live to composing songs in a variety of genres. Over the past year since Baby Doll, we've come out with Hangover (Kick), Pink Lips (Hate Story 2) and Party Toh Banti Hai (Bhootnath Returns).
What was it like working with Salman Khan?
We'd like to think we showed fans a new side of Salman when he sang Hangover from Kick for us. He is so hardworking that he recorded the song three times. It's always great to work with Salman. We'd love to compose for him again in the future.We also enjoyed working with vocalist Mohit Chauhan and Punjabi actress Khusboo Grewal recently.
You have an MBA Swag version on every soundtrack?
Tell us more about it. MBA Swag stands for the Meet Bros Anjjan version of a song we've composed. It is our own unique take on a track. While the main track is composed according to the brief of the makers, this version lets us play with different styles, infuse electronic beats, add some rapping, change the feel and also make it a dance number that people will enjoy. We try to do all this while retaining the melody and words of the original.
What's next?
We've been busier - and happier - than ever this year. In 2015, we plan to release 40 new film compositions, most of them in the first half of the year. Up next are songs from Mastizaade and Ek Paheli Leela. Our non-film album will be out in August. Right now, we are focussing on live shows. We enjoy performing in front of the audience. It gives us immediate feedback. We prefer composing singles rather than the entire original soundtrack of a film since we can focus on our own music and shows. Singles allow us to add our touch to an album.
We are overwhelmed. Kanika Kapoor sang Baby Doll from Ragini MMS 2 for us. She's like our younger sister and has been through a lot in life. Although it marked her debut in Bollywood, we'd been friends with her much longer. Her voice was apt for Chittiyaan Kalaiyaan and we work well together, so she was the obvious choice to sing the song. Lyricist Kumaar is our other longtime lucky collaborator. He did a good job of making a Punjabi party song that is also being played at weddings. Just like Sunny Leone became synonymous after appearing in the video for Baby Doll, Jacqueline Fernandez is getting a new image after she was seen in a refreshing new light in Chittiyaan Kalaiyaan so we're hoping it does for Jacky what Baby Doll did for Sunny. The video has also been shot like a Hollywood musical. Jacky is daydreaming as the song begins and then she joins the dancers for a jig on the street. We make an appearance later on. We have even introduced a bit of trap music in the intro. The rapping portions sung by us are signature Meet Bros Anjjan - light-hearted and merging seamlessly with the rest of the song.
How did Beparwah happen?
The makers had initially planned to make Baby a songless thriller but then producer Bhushan Kumar called us in because he wanted a song that reflects the theme of the film. He has a great ear for music and knows exactly what will click with the audience. We came up with Beparwah as an ode to the attitude of the film's characters. It is quite a departure from the happy-go-lucky numbers we usually compose, although we'd like to believe every song we come up with is different. We gave the song an operatic feel. Newcomer Apeksha Dandekar has sung the song like a diva. She is one singer to watch out for, after Kanika. Her voice has the right amount of sensuality to represent Esha Gupta who has upgraded the song with her appearance in the video. Lyricist Manoj Muntashir managed to convey the various on-goings in our country that the attitude of the film and, like the makers of the film have stated, history is made by those who give a damn.
What have you guys been up to in the past year?
We started off composing jingles at an FM radio station. We have dabbled in everything from singing, rapping, performing live to composing songs in a variety of genres. Over the past year since Baby Doll, we've come out with Hangover (Kick), Pink Lips (Hate Story 2) and Party Toh Banti Hai (Bhootnath Returns).
What was it like working with Salman Khan?
We'd like to think we showed fans a new side of Salman when he sang Hangover from Kick for us. He is so hardworking that he recorded the song three times. It's always great to work with Salman. We'd love to compose for him again in the future.We also enjoyed working with vocalist Mohit Chauhan and Punjabi actress Khusboo Grewal recently.
You have an MBA Swag version on every soundtrack?
Tell us more about it. MBA Swag stands for the Meet Bros Anjjan version of a song we've composed. It is our own unique take on a track. While the main track is composed according to the brief of the makers, this version lets us play with different styles, infuse electronic beats, add some rapping, change the feel and also make it a dance number that people will enjoy. We try to do all this while retaining the melody and words of the original.
What's next?
We've been busier - and happier - than ever this year. In 2015, we plan to release 40 new film compositions, most of them in the first half of the year. Up next are songs from Mastizaade and Ek Paheli Leela. Our non-film album will be out in August. Right now, we are focussing on live shows. We enjoy performing in front of the audience. It gives us immediate feedback. We prefer composing singles rather than the entire original soundtrack of a film since we can focus on our own music and shows. Singles allow us to add our touch to an album.
Movie Review: ROY by FENIL SETA
9:53 AM
It is no secret that writers often base their works as per their interpretation of life and things around them. Roy is primarily based on this idea and deals with a filmmaker in dilemma. The entire premise of real affecting reel and maybe vice versa is something not routinely dealt with in our films and can make for a great flick. But Roy, sadly, is a disappointment. It is dull, boring and after a point, one just wishes that it gets over soon!
The story of the movie: After the successful films Guns and Guns Part II, Casanova filmmaker Kabir Grewal (Arjun Rampal) is all set to make Guns Part III. However, he has no script in place and yet, begins the shoot in Malaysia. Here, he comes across another filmmaker, Ayesha Aamir (Jacqueline Fernandez) and both start falling for each other. And moreover, thanks to Ayesha, Kabir gets the much-needed inspiration to pen the story of Guns Part III. As per the premise, Roy (Ranbir Kapoor) is a very successful their who is all set to rob an expensive painting in the possession of a rich woman, Tia (Jacqueline Fernandez). Things go fine in the lives of Kabir and Roy until one day, the circumstances compel them to introspect.
Roy is very unconvincing and this is something that happens from the first scene itself. The manner in which Kabir puts Guns Part III on floors without a script and he even gets money from a financier (Kaizaad Kotwal) is very hard to digest. Nevertheless, one can’t deny that the first half does manage to engage viewers. Roy’s entry is fabulous and the first meeting of Kabir and Ayesha is impressive. Songs are incorporated for the heck of it but since these tracks are great compositions and nicely shot, one doesn’t mind. The film moves at a slow pace but still, one gets involved in the film and hopes that things would get better or remain the same in the second half. Sadly, post-intermission, the film goes downhill. It becomes dull and even more unconvincing. And the worst part is, one doesn’t empathize at all with the characters. This goes especially for Tia – her character is just not exciting and appealing. Also, even Ayesha’s anger towards Kabir doesn’t exactly seem justified. The film that is already progressing so slowly almost halts during the song Tu Hai Ki Nahi, which further tests the audience’s patience! And the fight just before the song is laughable.
As for the performances, Arjun Rampal and Ranbir Kapoor impress. Arjun Rampal looks quite cool as always and tries his best to perform as per the script and character’s demand. His look is nicely designed and it’s fun to see him wearing his hat, smoking, drinking and working on his script on his typewriter. Ranbir Kapoor has around 45-50 minutes role and even he has a brilliant look. He plays the role of the mysterious Roy with élan. The manner in he which thinks and stares into nothingness before answering is quite sexy! Jacqueline Fernandez disappoints as Tia but is decent as Ayesha. As always, it’s great to see her bubbly side, in the song ‘Chittiyaan Kalaiyaan’. Shernaz Patel (Meera) makes her presence felt. Kaizaad Kotwal is okay. Barun Chanda is decent and same goes for Asif Basra. Rajit Kapur (Detective Wadia) is unintentionally funny. The actresses playing Ayesha’s friend and Kabir’s 22nd girlfriend are quite cute.
Music is one of the strong points of the film. ‘Sooraj Dooba Hain’, ‘Tu Hai Ki Nahin’ and 'Chittiyaan Kalaiyaan' are well composed and shot. Sanjoy Chowdhury’s background score is intriguing, especially in the scenes of Roy. Himman Dhamija’s cinematography is lovely. The film is shot in some beautiful locales of Malaysia. Vikramjit Singh’s story had promise but script is lackluster. And this affects the direction as well. Hats off to him for bringing together Ranbir Kapoor and the team of T-Series for such a shoddy screenplay!
On the whole, Roy is boring and lackluster. The first half has its moments, songs are foot tapping and Arjun Rampal and Ranbir Kapoor deliver decent performances. However, after a point, the film just goes on and on. One fails to empathize with any character as their struggles and conflicts are unjustified and totally unconvincing. In fact, one just wonders why the film is made in the first place. Stay away from this one!
My rating - ** out of 5!
Roy collects 9.25 cr on Day 1; biggest opening of 2015
9:52 AM
Box Office India Trade Network
ROY had a good opening on day one with collections of 9.25 crore
nett. The film fared well in the main circuits with business in Delhi/UP
close to 2 crore nett and East Punjab crossing 1 crore nett being best.
Mumbai also did well collecting around 3 crore nett.
The mass circuits were not as good but still places like Rajasthan, CP Berar, CI and even Bihar put up the best numbers of the year. The opening day collections are the best of 2015 comfortably beating the figures of BABY and if the film was to have just a normal trend from here it will do well.
But a normal trend looks difficult as the good opening is not for the film but for Ranbir Kapoor who has a release after a long time albeit not a full fledged role. And these sort of things hardly ever work out in the long run.The mass circuits were not as good but still places like Rajasthan, CP Berar, CI and even Bihar put up the best numbers of the year. The opening day collections are the best of 2015 comfortably beating the figures of BABY and if the film was to have just a normal trend from here it will do well.
----------------------------
The top opening days of 2015 are as follows..
1. Roy - 9.25 cr apprx
2. Baby - 7.84 crore
3. Tevar - 6.82 crore
4. Shamitabh - 3.50 apprx
5. Alone - 3.38 crore
Acting has given Ranbir Kapoor a mask that he can hide behind-Vikramjit Singh
8:03 AM
Priya Gupta (BOMBAY TIMES; February 13, 2015)
Vikramjit Singh, 35, is a
man who trusts easily is all heart and visibly
affectionate. He is a rebel, has, high
self-respect and has a high aptitude to take risk. He is easily
distracted and may be careless when it comes to financial contracts
and planning for his future, but takes himself as an artist quite
seriously. He fears mediocrity and may have dreamt of making movies all
his life, but hopes to write a novel at the end of his life. Ahead of
his upcoming romantic thriller Roy, he talks to Bombay Times about his
childhood friend Ranbir Kapoor, his love for his father and what makes
Adi Chopra his inspiration. Excerpts:
Let's talk about your background?
My father Gurdeep Singh (nicknamed Gawa in the film industry) came from a humble background in Delhi, but he was from IIT Delhi and worked for Berger Paints till Yash Chopra got him to Mumbai to handle his business and be his executive producer. He became one of the most powerful men at Yash Raj and Yash Chopra's right hand man. Pamela Chopra is my real bua. Dad worked with Yash Chopra for 14 years, right upto Lamhe in 1991, after which they parted ways. It took him several years to put his film together after struggling for it, but the films he made did not do well. I was a part of the movie business since I was a child and always wanted to make movies, but dad was adamant, as any father would be, that I needed to first finish my studies. I studied in Bombay Scottish and was good, both in sports and studies, and was amongst the two international students chosen by Wharton. I am really good at Mathematics and can add and multiply like nobody's business. In US, I had bagged one of the two most toughest and highest paying investor banking jobs that year and yet, I chucked it all to come back to make movies. My dad was heart-broken. I joined Farhan Akhtar as an AD on Lakshya, but quit even that in just three months as I found it very mechanical. I started my own talent agency with a friend of mine to pay my bills, but soon sold my stake in that too to Abhishek Bachchan, John Abraham and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan for a film called Raaste, but had to give it up as Abhishek's dates were given to another film. I again wanted to make a film with Ranbir Kapoor in 2008 that didn't work out. I finally wrote Roy in 2010 and got Ranbir and Arjun Rampal's consent to be a part of it.
Ranbir said that he has shared his professional and personal life with you. Talk about your relationship?
Our families knew each other very well due to the Yash Chopra connection. Rishi Kapoor and dad were always friends, so I spent a lot of time with Ranbir. We went to the same school and would often spend our weekends playing together. Even though he was three years younger to me, we were in New York at the same time. I always wanted to make movies. I would write stories and narrate it to him.
What is Ranbir like?
He is a very good human being and will not harm a thing. He is quiet, someone who internalises all his processes, not a guy to come and announce to the world how he is feeling, whether he is happy or sad. He cares deeply, says very little, backs his feelings with action more than words. A man of huge integrity, a man not fearful of making hard calls. He is a brave kid. Since his childhood, he was a kid who always wanted to win. I think acting has given him a mask that he can hide behind. Despite who he has become today, no one really knows who he is. And it's beautiful as all that angst and energy in him is hidden behind that mask and at least he knows a way of addressing the world and coming face to face with it. Deep down, he is a very different man. He takes his legacy very seriously. He is this boy of Bollywood, the grandson of Raj Kapoor, son of Rishi Kapoor. He may not agree to the pressure, but it's a pressure he lives with and has learnt to mask. In Saawariya, he relied less on instinct and more on preparation. He knew that the world would be there to grab him, pull him down if they have to, so he came polished. Sanjay Leela Bhansali moulded him very well for his first movie and said, 'Just go and express yourself.' And that's what he did. Today, he has no sense of fear inside of himself.
He is never brash or arrogant, but can that fear really run away from his life? No it can't, but he has found his way of blocking it and that is the persona and the star that he has become that has given him a definition that he desperately needed. What I don't like about him is that sometimes, he says too little. He never blows his own trumpet. And that kind of stability and humility is a function of the life he has led. He finds himself very secure in that fortress that he has built around himself and that's the only change over time in him. I have seen the man without the fortress. Inside, he is the same human being with a beautiful heart, just beautifully masked. He works very hard and loves people who work hard. He emulates them and wants to succeed.
It has taken you 12 years to make your first film. How tough was that?
The period from 2010 to 2012 was my worst. I didn't really know whether my film would start. I am a positive guy, but given that my professional life was in such a jumble, you can't expect my life to be easy last 12 years. On an average of three months a year, I would get myself alone into a room, write and read, clutter my brain with more knowledge, hardly saw my parents, even though I was living in their house, but I would find reasons to be out all the time. If I had no work for the day, I would take my car and go, move around in Mumbai city. And if dad called asking where I was, I would say, 'Dad, I am in a meeting.' I have a car in which over four years I did one lakh kilometres, driving around without a purpose. Ranbir and I would meet in the car and drive around, but I would hide even from him as much as I could.
Who do you love the most in the world?
My dad. I felt that his career at some point was cut short unceremoniously to the extent that he could never get the momentum back again. We are family with the Chopras and have a very cordial relationship even today. My dad's a very emotional being and for him, it's his sister over the entire universe. It bothered me a lot in my initial days when I was starting my career, but today it doesn't matter as I am happy with the experience and everything else that went down with it. I am very close to Adi Chopra. I would tag along with him to watch a film every Friday and he is my inspiration. We would have arguments all the time, but then there was one movie we both agreed was the best movie of our life and that was Maine Pyar Kiya. He loves the movies and is born to make them. He is a very passionate man, loves his food and loved his father immensely. He has a massive problem of stammering, so he has found his mask to stay inside a room. My father is a good, honest man who has always been very positive and happy. Even when he shared a few details with me about his separation with Yash Chopra, he said one thing and that is that the women in the family will not know this. It is something that the men will deal with. My dad is a really proud man, and he has always told me, 'Head high always. If you have not done anything wrong, there is no need to put your head down.' I have not seen a man who is so proud of his son as he is. I had a very successful childhood, I was the school head captain, got into Wharton and made him proud, then when I said I want to come back, he was heart-broken. I then got a movie and he was proud again, then I lost the movie and the fears took over again. I got another movie, he thought my son is a fighter, I am proud of him, but I lost it again, and he again felt bad. And now, it is finally time for Roy to release and he is ecstatic. His last message to me a few days back said, 'Fight, my son. You deserve all the success, I am proud of you.' If I do succeed, it will be his redemption.
Let's talk about your background?
My father Gurdeep Singh (nicknamed Gawa in the film industry) came from a humble background in Delhi, but he was from IIT Delhi and worked for Berger Paints till Yash Chopra got him to Mumbai to handle his business and be his executive producer. He became one of the most powerful men at Yash Raj and Yash Chopra's right hand man. Pamela Chopra is my real bua. Dad worked with Yash Chopra for 14 years, right upto Lamhe in 1991, after which they parted ways. It took him several years to put his film together after struggling for it, but the films he made did not do well. I was a part of the movie business since I was a child and always wanted to make movies, but dad was adamant, as any father would be, that I needed to first finish my studies. I studied in Bombay Scottish and was good, both in sports and studies, and was amongst the two international students chosen by Wharton. I am really good at Mathematics and can add and multiply like nobody's business. In US, I had bagged one of the two most toughest and highest paying investor banking jobs that year and yet, I chucked it all to come back to make movies. My dad was heart-broken. I joined Farhan Akhtar as an AD on Lakshya, but quit even that in just three months as I found it very mechanical. I started my own talent agency with a friend of mine to pay my bills, but soon sold my stake in that too to Abhishek Bachchan, John Abraham and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan for a film called Raaste, but had to give it up as Abhishek's dates were given to another film. I again wanted to make a film with Ranbir Kapoor in 2008 that didn't work out. I finally wrote Roy in 2010 and got Ranbir and Arjun Rampal's consent to be a part of it.
Ranbir said that he has shared his professional and personal life with you. Talk about your relationship?
Our families knew each other very well due to the Yash Chopra connection. Rishi Kapoor and dad were always friends, so I spent a lot of time with Ranbir. We went to the same school and would often spend our weekends playing together. Even though he was three years younger to me, we were in New York at the same time. I always wanted to make movies. I would write stories and narrate it to him.
What is Ranbir like?
He is a very good human being and will not harm a thing. He is quiet, someone who internalises all his processes, not a guy to come and announce to the world how he is feeling, whether he is happy or sad. He cares deeply, says very little, backs his feelings with action more than words. A man of huge integrity, a man not fearful of making hard calls. He is a brave kid. Since his childhood, he was a kid who always wanted to win. I think acting has given him a mask that he can hide behind. Despite who he has become today, no one really knows who he is. And it's beautiful as all that angst and energy in him is hidden behind that mask and at least he knows a way of addressing the world and coming face to face with it. Deep down, he is a very different man. He takes his legacy very seriously. He is this boy of Bollywood, the grandson of Raj Kapoor, son of Rishi Kapoor. He may not agree to the pressure, but it's a pressure he lives with and has learnt to mask. In Saawariya, he relied less on instinct and more on preparation. He knew that the world would be there to grab him, pull him down if they have to, so he came polished. Sanjay Leela Bhansali moulded him very well for his first movie and said, 'Just go and express yourself.' And that's what he did. Today, he has no sense of fear inside of himself.
He is never brash or arrogant, but can that fear really run away from his life? No it can't, but he has found his way of blocking it and that is the persona and the star that he has become that has given him a definition that he desperately needed. What I don't like about him is that sometimes, he says too little. He never blows his own trumpet. And that kind of stability and humility is a function of the life he has led. He finds himself very secure in that fortress that he has built around himself and that's the only change over time in him. I have seen the man without the fortress. Inside, he is the same human being with a beautiful heart, just beautifully masked. He works very hard and loves people who work hard. He emulates them and wants to succeed.
It has taken you 12 years to make your first film. How tough was that?
The period from 2010 to 2012 was my worst. I didn't really know whether my film would start. I am a positive guy, but given that my professional life was in such a jumble, you can't expect my life to be easy last 12 years. On an average of three months a year, I would get myself alone into a room, write and read, clutter my brain with more knowledge, hardly saw my parents, even though I was living in their house, but I would find reasons to be out all the time. If I had no work for the day, I would take my car and go, move around in Mumbai city. And if dad called asking where I was, I would say, 'Dad, I am in a meeting.' I have a car in which over four years I did one lakh kilometres, driving around without a purpose. Ranbir and I would meet in the car and drive around, but I would hide even from him as much as I could.
Who do you love the most in the world?
My dad. I felt that his career at some point was cut short unceremoniously to the extent that he could never get the momentum back again. We are family with the Chopras and have a very cordial relationship even today. My dad's a very emotional being and for him, it's his sister over the entire universe. It bothered me a lot in my initial days when I was starting my career, but today it doesn't matter as I am happy with the experience and everything else that went down with it. I am very close to Adi Chopra. I would tag along with him to watch a film every Friday and he is my inspiration. We would have arguments all the time, but then there was one movie we both agreed was the best movie of our life and that was Maine Pyar Kiya. He loves the movies and is born to make them. He is a very passionate man, loves his food and loved his father immensely. He has a massive problem of stammering, so he has found his mask to stay inside a room. My father is a good, honest man who has always been very positive and happy. Even when he shared a few details with me about his separation with Yash Chopra, he said one thing and that is that the women in the family will not know this. It is something that the men will deal with. My dad is a really proud man, and he has always told me, 'Head high always. If you have not done anything wrong, there is no need to put your head down.' I have not seen a man who is so proud of his son as he is. I had a very successful childhood, I was the school head captain, got into Wharton and made him proud, then when I said I want to come back, he was heart-broken. I then got a movie and he was proud again, then I lost the movie and the fears took over again. I got another movie, he thought my son is a fighter, I am proud of him, but I lost it again, and he again felt bad. And now, it is finally time for Roy to release and he is ecstatic. His last message to me a few days back said, 'Fight, my son. You deserve all the success, I am proud of you.' If I do succeed, it will be his redemption.
Fenil's Bollywood Talk # 346
10:59 AM
ARJUN-JACQUELINE-ARJUN TO CLASH WITH GURMEET RAM RAHIM SINGH INSAN TOMORROW!
It’s going to be an interesting clash tomorrow as diametrically opposite films are going to try their luck at the box office tomorrow. My analysis:
ROY: It was launched almost 2 years back and was to initially release on June 20, 2014. It stars Arjun Rampal and Jacqueline Fernandez in leading roles and Ranbir Kapoor has a supporting role, reportedly. Due to various delays, the film is finally seeing the light of the day tomorrow. No wonder that rumours started pouring in that the makers or the actors were unhappy with the film and hence the delay. The theatrical trailer, in my opinion, is strictly okay but one can’t deny that the film has all the ingredients of an intelligent, musical drama-cum-thriller. It is directed by debutant Vikramjit Singh and produced by Bhushan Kumar of T-Series. Hence it’s obvious that songs would work with audiences and that’s what has happened. Sooraj Dooba Hai, Tu Hai Ki Nahin and Chittiyaan Kalaiyaan have become chartbusters and can help the film in getting a good opening. However, the film has quite a few challenges to face. Ranbir is the biggest selling point of the film but since he has a small role, it might affect the film’s prospects. Also, the hype isn’t tremendous and if response is bad, it can fall big time, as it happened with last week’s release Shamitabh.
MSG – THE MESSENGER: This marks the debut of Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh Insan, head of Dera Sacha Sauda and boasting of almost 5 crore followers. The trailer was unveiled in mid-December. While his fans went crazy, the others were surprised and stunned with Gurmeet Ram Rahim’s antics. For them, he became a laughing stock and MSG – The Messenger was immediately categorized in the league of cult trashy films like Deshdrohi, Gunda, etc. The film was embroiled in a controversy after the Censor Board refused to certify it on the grounds that it promotes superstition. Residents of Punjab have their grouse against the guru and the state has banned the film. This is the first time a saint is featuring in a film and hence one can’t be sure about its box office prospects. He has crores of followers who might ensure that the film becomes a success.
MSG – The Messenger is almost 195 minutes long and some theatres have hiked prices extremely, as if this is a festival release. Even then, it seems that massive block bookings are done since many shows in certain theatres are already sold out. Let’s see if the film turns out to be the first hit of the year!
WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE ROY OR MSG – THE MESSENGER AND WHY? DO LET ME KNOW!
13 facts that you didn't know about Roy
7:55 AM
BOMBAY TIMES (February 11, 2015)
Roy, featuring Arjun Rampal,
Ranbir Kapoor and Jacqueline Fernandez, is a thriller revolving
around four pivotal characters. Ranbir, in the title role, will
be seen as a thief who has
captured the imagination of many with his smooth heists. While Arjun
plays Kabir, a filmmaker, Jacqueline will be seen in a double role - as
Tia, an art enthusiast and Ayesha, a director. The T-Series production
marks the directorial debut of Vikramjit Singh.
BEHIND THE SCENES
- For a particular sequence, Ranbir had to drive a 1960's model of a luxury car. However, when the actor drove the car inside a tunnel, it caught fire. Fortunately, Ranbir escaped without a scratch. However, the shoot was halted for four hours until the mechanic came and fixed the car.
- Vikramjit had to shoot a scene in the middle of the night in China Town, which is one of the busiest streets of Kuala Lumpur. Besides, the place is said to be dominated by the mafia and drug peddlers. The director decided to adopt guerrilla style of filmmaking, so as to not attract attention towards them. The scene had Arjun walking out of the busy street.
- In an impromptu move, Vikramjit also included the street urchins who were playing guitars, to give it a realistic feel.
- Vikramjit suffers from sea sickness. Obviously , that did not bode well for the unit as they had to shoot a yacht sequence, in the middle of the sea in Malaysia. Initially, the director joined the cast on the yacht, hoping to film the sequence. However, he soon felt uneasy and returned to the port. The scene was finally shot with the help of assistant directors, who would keep taking instructions from him and execute them.
- Apparently, a number of people would show up on the set to get a glimpse of Jacqueline. The director says, “She would sweetly meet all of them in between shots and post wrap-up.“
- The actress turned designer for the thriller. Not only did she wear clothes from her personal wardrobe for Chittiyaan Kalaiyaan, but also designed the jeggings that she sports in Sooraj Dooba Hai.
- For Sooraj Dooba Hai, Vicky wanted the location to be reminiscent of a music festival. When he expressed his desire to producer Bhushan Kumar, he recreated a similar set in Mumbai's Film City in two days.
- Jacqueline's dance number Chittiyaan Kalaiyaan has Kanika Kapoor reuniting with Meet Bros Anjjan after Baby Doll. Choreographer Ahmed Khan wanted to shoot the song in Penang, but that couldn't be worked out. So the team recreated a set that resembled a Malaysian street, in Mumbai.
- Arjun has sported glasses and hats from his personal collection to give a personal touch to his character Kabir.
- Since Jacqueline loves horse riding, she was ecstatic to know that she has horse-riding sequences in the film. The unit was surprised to see her handling horses with ease.
- Vikramjit wore the same white kurta throughout the shoot, believing that it was lucky for him. Of course, everyone on set used to tease him about it.
- Composer Amaal Mallik approached many producers with the tune of Sooraj Dooba Hai, but was turned down by all of them. When Amaal made Bhushan hear the tune, he immediately decided to incorporate it in the album. Sung by Arijit Singh and Aditi Singh Sharma, the song has been written by Kumaar.
- Ankit Tiwari, who last worked with the producer in Aashiqui 2, has composed three songs in the film -Yaara Re, Tu Hai Ki Nahi and Boond Boond.
PRODUCER'S NOTE - BHUSHAN KUMAR
“The film's music is doing really well. When Vicky came to me with the script, I was in two minds initially, but his confidence and conviction encouraged me to come on board. Finally, when I saw the rushes of the film, I was happy with my decision. Arjun and Jacqueline have done a very good job, and Ranbir will be a surprise package in his intense role.“
DIRECTOR'S TAKE - VIKRAMJIT SINGH
“Making Roy has been an incredible journey -r ight from its inception, the script, the filming to the post-production and marketing. Filmmaking is not a one-man job, it's all about collaboration. It's a vision that the 200-odd-member crew worked tirelessly to achieve. Now that the movie is ready, I feel deep gratitude and a sense of responsibility towards each person who has worked so hard on creating it.“
Roy, produced by Bhushan Kumar, Divya Khosla Kumar and Krishan Kumar, releases February 13.
BEHIND THE SCENES
- For a particular sequence, Ranbir had to drive a 1960's model of a luxury car. However, when the actor drove the car inside a tunnel, it caught fire. Fortunately, Ranbir escaped without a scratch. However, the shoot was halted for four hours until the mechanic came and fixed the car.
- Vikramjit had to shoot a scene in the middle of the night in China Town, which is one of the busiest streets of Kuala Lumpur. Besides, the place is said to be dominated by the mafia and drug peddlers. The director decided to adopt guerrilla style of filmmaking, so as to not attract attention towards them. The scene had Arjun walking out of the busy street.
- In an impromptu move, Vikramjit also included the street urchins who were playing guitars, to give it a realistic feel.
- Vikramjit suffers from sea sickness. Obviously , that did not bode well for the unit as they had to shoot a yacht sequence, in the middle of the sea in Malaysia. Initially, the director joined the cast on the yacht, hoping to film the sequence. However, he soon felt uneasy and returned to the port. The scene was finally shot with the help of assistant directors, who would keep taking instructions from him and execute them.
- Apparently, a number of people would show up on the set to get a glimpse of Jacqueline. The director says, “She would sweetly meet all of them in between shots and post wrap-up.“
- The actress turned designer for the thriller. Not only did she wear clothes from her personal wardrobe for Chittiyaan Kalaiyaan, but also designed the jeggings that she sports in Sooraj Dooba Hai.
- For Sooraj Dooba Hai, Vicky wanted the location to be reminiscent of a music festival. When he expressed his desire to producer Bhushan Kumar, he recreated a similar set in Mumbai's Film City in two days.
- Jacqueline's dance number Chittiyaan Kalaiyaan has Kanika Kapoor reuniting with Meet Bros Anjjan after Baby Doll. Choreographer Ahmed Khan wanted to shoot the song in Penang, but that couldn't be worked out. So the team recreated a set that resembled a Malaysian street, in Mumbai.
- Arjun has sported glasses and hats from his personal collection to give a personal touch to his character Kabir.
- Since Jacqueline loves horse riding, she was ecstatic to know that she has horse-riding sequences in the film. The unit was surprised to see her handling horses with ease.
- Vikramjit wore the same white kurta throughout the shoot, believing that it was lucky for him. Of course, everyone on set used to tease him about it.
- Composer Amaal Mallik approached many producers with the tune of Sooraj Dooba Hai, but was turned down by all of them. When Amaal made Bhushan hear the tune, he immediately decided to incorporate it in the album. Sung by Arijit Singh and Aditi Singh Sharma, the song has been written by Kumaar.
- Ankit Tiwari, who last worked with the producer in Aashiqui 2, has composed three songs in the film -Yaara Re, Tu Hai Ki Nahi and Boond Boond.
PRODUCER'S NOTE - BHUSHAN KUMAR“The film's music is doing really well. When Vicky came to me with the script, I was in two minds initially, but his confidence and conviction encouraged me to come on board. Finally, when I saw the rushes of the film, I was happy with my decision. Arjun and Jacqueline have done a very good job, and Ranbir will be a surprise package in his intense role.“
DIRECTOR'S TAKE - VIKRAMJIT SINGH “Making Roy has been an incredible journey -r ight from its inception, the script, the filming to the post-production and marketing. Filmmaking is not a one-man job, it's all about collaboration. It's a vision that the 200-odd-member crew worked tirelessly to achieve. Now that the movie is ready, I feel deep gratitude and a sense of responsibility towards each person who has worked so hard on creating it.“
Roy, produced by Bhushan Kumar, Divya Khosla Kumar and Krishan Kumar, releases February 13.
Salman is the most handsome man in the industry; Arjun Rampal comes second-Jacqueline Fernandez
8:01 AM
Pallavi Shahi and Swasti Chatterjee (BOMBAY TIMES; February 10, 2015)
Pretty much like her
character in Roy, Jacqueline Fernandez confessed that she is a
free-spirited and happy person, yet at the same time enjoys her alone
time. We caught up with the chirpy actress who opened
up about who she thinks is the hottest actor in
Bollywood and the challenges she faced with her upcoming film Roy.
This is the first time that we will be seeing you play a double role. Which among the two was more difficult to portray and why?
One of the characters that I play is Ayesha, who is a filmmaker. She is very similar to my personality - free-spirited, always trying to be positive, loves her job and is very passionate about it. She is a genuine person, who tries to live her life honestly and is also a hopeless romantic. So honestly, I was not worried about Ayesha's character because I just had to be myself. It was the other character Tia, which I had to work on as she is different from me. She is an introvert, very mysterious and someone who is mostly alone and enjoys her loneliness. There are things about Tia that I can relate to. Like staying all by myself, I too am alone but not lonely. So this bit I drew from my own experience. But Tia was also someone who speaks more with her eyes instead of hand gestures and words; that was what I had to work on.
With this double role, do you think Bollywood is giving more screen space to women?
I think it has always been there, but now it is very prominent. Times are changing and actresses are taking a stand. Look at Anushka Sharma who is producing her own film or Sonam Kapoor, who is creating such an amazing niche for herself. Kangana Ranaut in Queen turned out to be a huge success. These are great examples of actresses moving ahead. It is great that actresses feel strong now and have enough confidence to take on such roles and movies.
Tell us about your chemistry with Ranbir Kapoor and Arjun Rampal.
It was an amazing experience. I never really knew them before I started working on Roy. Arjun is a genuine, lovely honest and hardworking person. He is so involved in everything and very helpful towards his co-stars, his director and even his DoP (Director of Photography). It is a beautiful thing to see that quality in an actor and that enabled me to improve my performance. Ranbir, on the other hand, is someone who takes a little time to open up, even though he is extremely kind, sweet and nice. But once he does that, he's got an amazing sense of humour and has got the right attitude towards his work. He is someone who genuinely loves his job of being an actor.
Your last film Kick was with Salman Khan and Roy is with Ranbir Kapoor. Are there any similarities between the two?
Both are extremely genuine. The common trait between the two actors is that they both love what they do - they both love being actors. I see that in them and I see that hunger and passion.
How different are they?
Salman has got more muscles; he is more bulky than Ranbir. They have very different body types.
You play a filmmaker in Roy. Do you ever plan to go behind the camera in real life?
No, I don't. Because I feel that it is a very fine art to be able to direct someone. You have to create a certain atmosphere and energy for them. But I feel that I can be better directed. I would probably do a good job with cinematography. Since school, I have been able to draw nicely and put colours together well. I can see beauty in small things. I can take really good pictures. I know that cinematography goes much deeper into it, but I think you have to have an eye for it.
In a recent interview, Arjun said that Jacqueline is very high on energy. Every morning she gets up, she is jumping and 'screeching'. So are you high on energy?
I am high on energy. I was his morning alarm. Because he needed to wake up early since we had morning shoots. But Arjun actually is extremely punctual. And he has got a great attitude towards work. If he is the one who feels that I have energy, then I have to say that I was so impressed with the way I saw him work. The kind of energy that this guy brings on set pumps everyone up.
Do you know a better good looking guy other than Arjun Rampal?
Honestly, Salman is the most handsome man in the industry; Arjun Rampal comes second.
Roy is a film about love and it is being released during the Valentine's Day weekend. Do you really feel that there should be a day dedicated to love?
I think it is entertaining. Obviously, it is a form of entertainment, just to see what people can come up with and do for each other. But I don't really believe in it, because it is like getting dressed up for Halloween, wherein sometimes you are in the mood for it, sometimes you are not. But I think it is sweet and pure entertainment and should be not taken too seriously.
Are you single this Valentine's?
I am pretty single (laughs). Trust me. And I am also very bored. Being single, I thought would be fun, but it is terribly boring. And I am a romantic but only when I am in love. I can't force it otherwise. When I am in love, I am ridiculously and hopelessly romantic.
How much did you have to work on your Hindi diction in Roy?
My character in the movie is quite intelligent and I had to work on my dialogues. The scariest thing about Roy was that it was sync sound. So, I had to worry about my diction all the more along with my emotions, acting and my dialogues. That was very challenging because it pushed me to work on my Hindi, and in a good way.
Most portions of Roy have been shot in Malaysia. How did it feel shooting in a place where you have spent a lot of time earlier?
I have spent quite some time in Malaysia as my mother is from there. And shooting there was a great experience. I went to two new places that I have never been to - Langkawi and Penang. It was very nice.
This is the first time that we will be seeing you play a double role. Which among the two was more difficult to portray and why?
One of the characters that I play is Ayesha, who is a filmmaker. She is very similar to my personality - free-spirited, always trying to be positive, loves her job and is very passionate about it. She is a genuine person, who tries to live her life honestly and is also a hopeless romantic. So honestly, I was not worried about Ayesha's character because I just had to be myself. It was the other character Tia, which I had to work on as she is different from me. She is an introvert, very mysterious and someone who is mostly alone and enjoys her loneliness. There are things about Tia that I can relate to. Like staying all by myself, I too am alone but not lonely. So this bit I drew from my own experience. But Tia was also someone who speaks more with her eyes instead of hand gestures and words; that was what I had to work on.
With this double role, do you think Bollywood is giving more screen space to women?
I think it has always been there, but now it is very prominent. Times are changing and actresses are taking a stand. Look at Anushka Sharma who is producing her own film or Sonam Kapoor, who is creating such an amazing niche for herself. Kangana Ranaut in Queen turned out to be a huge success. These are great examples of actresses moving ahead. It is great that actresses feel strong now and have enough confidence to take on such roles and movies.
Tell us about your chemistry with Ranbir Kapoor and Arjun Rampal.
It was an amazing experience. I never really knew them before I started working on Roy. Arjun is a genuine, lovely honest and hardworking person. He is so involved in everything and very helpful towards his co-stars, his director and even his DoP (Director of Photography). It is a beautiful thing to see that quality in an actor and that enabled me to improve my performance. Ranbir, on the other hand, is someone who takes a little time to open up, even though he is extremely kind, sweet and nice. But once he does that, he's got an amazing sense of humour and has got the right attitude towards his work. He is someone who genuinely loves his job of being an actor.
Your last film Kick was with Salman Khan and Roy is with Ranbir Kapoor. Are there any similarities between the two?
Both are extremely genuine. The common trait between the two actors is that they both love what they do - they both love being actors. I see that in them and I see that hunger and passion.
How different are they?
Salman has got more muscles; he is more bulky than Ranbir. They have very different body types.
You play a filmmaker in Roy. Do you ever plan to go behind the camera in real life?
No, I don't. Because I feel that it is a very fine art to be able to direct someone. You have to create a certain atmosphere and energy for them. But I feel that I can be better directed. I would probably do a good job with cinematography. Since school, I have been able to draw nicely and put colours together well. I can see beauty in small things. I can take really good pictures. I know that cinematography goes much deeper into it, but I think you have to have an eye for it.
In a recent interview, Arjun said that Jacqueline is very high on energy. Every morning she gets up, she is jumping and 'screeching'. So are you high on energy?
I am high on energy. I was his morning alarm. Because he needed to wake up early since we had morning shoots. But Arjun actually is extremely punctual. And he has got a great attitude towards work. If he is the one who feels that I have energy, then I have to say that I was so impressed with the way I saw him work. The kind of energy that this guy brings on set pumps everyone up.
Do you know a better good looking guy other than Arjun Rampal?
Honestly, Salman is the most handsome man in the industry; Arjun Rampal comes second.
Roy is a film about love and it is being released during the Valentine's Day weekend. Do you really feel that there should be a day dedicated to love?
I think it is entertaining. Obviously, it is a form of entertainment, just to see what people can come up with and do for each other. But I don't really believe in it, because it is like getting dressed up for Halloween, wherein sometimes you are in the mood for it, sometimes you are not. But I think it is sweet and pure entertainment and should be not taken too seriously.
Are you single this Valentine's?
I am pretty single (laughs). Trust me. And I am also very bored. Being single, I thought would be fun, but it is terribly boring. And I am a romantic but only when I am in love. I can't force it otherwise. When I am in love, I am ridiculously and hopelessly romantic.
How much did you have to work on your Hindi diction in Roy?
My character in the movie is quite intelligent and I had to work on my dialogues. The scariest thing about Roy was that it was sync sound. So, I had to worry about my diction all the more along with my emotions, acting and my dialogues. That was very challenging because it pushed me to work on my Hindi, and in a good way.
Most portions of Roy have been shot in Malaysia. How did it feel shooting in a place where you have spent a lot of time earlier?
I have spent quite some time in Malaysia as my mother is from there. And shooting there was a great experience. I went to two new places that I have never been to - Langkawi and Penang. It was very nice.
Ranbir Kapoor is a very intense guy, if you get to know him-Arjun Rampal
8:59 AM
Seema Sinha & Renuka Vyavahare (BOMBAY TIMES; February 9, 2015)
Unhurried and frank, the
dashing Arjun Rampal doesn't mince his words as he spills the beans on
Roy, his severe but 'non-sexual' onscreen relationship with Ranbir
Kapoor, Jacqueline's split personality on set and much more.
What made you give your nod to Roy?
Vicky (Vikramjit Singh) came to me with a unique subject which was both, good as well as commercial. It has scope for great music, it has drama and has the thrill element going on. It keeps you guessing till the last minute. I found that exciting. After approaching me, Vicky spent three-and-a-half years working on the script. I like his level of dedication and his grasp on filmmaking and storytelling.
Your equation with Ranbir Kapoor in the film seems quite intriguing.
Ranbir is a fantastic actor. Hats off to him for playing the character of Roy as it's a tough role. The amount of dignity, respect and coolness he has brought to the character is phenomenal. Only a good actor could do that. There are so many layers to Roy. Similarly, there are several layers to my character, Kabir. You have to experience the relationship they share with each other as it's quite severe. It is not sexual though (laughs). For the first time, I have seen Ranbir look like a man man. He is not looking boyish. Vicky has brought out his intense and brooding side.
Considering you are known for your macho image, did you share any tips with him?
Ranbir is actually a very intense guy, if you get to know him. He does have a brooding quality to him. Vicky has known him for many years and has seen that. So he brought that out on celluloid the way nobody else has. Everyone has shown him as young and flirty, and he pulls it off well. However, to see him in this new light is great.
How was it working with him after Raajneeti?
During Raajneeti, Ranbir and I got along really well. That's one of the most memorable shoots I have had with a co-actor. When we met on the set of Roy, we took off from where we left. He has changed quite a bit. He has grown up a lot more from Raajneeti days, he has got more layers to him now. It's nice to spend time with him. I think people will like our chemistry.
With two good-looking men, why not?
Good-looking...talented men (smiles)
There is a lot of confusion over Ranbir's 'extended cameo' in the film...
I don't understand what an 'extended cameo' is. I don't know where it's come from. He is playing the title role in this film. The story is about four characters - Roy, Kabir, Tia and Ayesha. All are extremely important for the film to move in a particular way. Ranbir does solo films, plays main leads, but this is a part which only brave and confident actors can do. You should see and decide. It's not about the length but the quality of the role. A cameo is when you come in for two or three scenes. What do you call 18 or 20 scenes? You can't define it. I might have 20 scenes and he, 18.
Many are wondering why Ranbir isn't seen at the promotional events...
Roy will be exposed towards the last leg of the promotions. First Ayesha and Kabir, then Roy and finally, we all three come together.
Did Jacqueline Fernandez feel left out with you two men on the set?
Jacqueline has the longest part, more than both of us (smiles). She was a full-on split personality. She was totally into the character on set.
You teamed up with her again after doing the dance number Dhanno from Housefull. How was it working with her this time around?
Jacqueline has been a complete revelation to me. I was a little apprehensive initially when Vicky chose her because it is such a verbose film. Besides, I'd not seen much of Jacqueline's work. Even though Hindi is not her mother tongue, she has blown everybody away. She has a double role and she has actually created two distinct characters. She looks great and has worked really hard on her Hindi. She is full of energy. She was my morning alarm, as she was next to my villa. I would wake up in the morning to somebody laughing and screeching. That would be Jacqueline.
You seem to have worked on your look - be it growing a beard or wearing a hat...
It is a very well-defined character. Vicky and I hung out a lot, discussing the look and feel of the film. We both love vintage cars, vintage stuff and we started bringing that into the film. We discarded computer and started using typewriter. When I went to New York, I picked up a hat, a pair of glasses and kept that for two years before we started shooting.
The music has become quite a rage. Which is your favourite song?
I like Sooraj Dooba because all four characters are involved in the song and the way it is shot is amazing. It has been shot across eight locations over 10 days. Matlabi...goes so well with the situation and mood. It keeps your mind ticking. What was that look, what was he thinking, why did Ranbir look at that girl - a lot of interplay happens in that song.
Lastly, you are having a release after a long time. Have you become more choosy now?
There is no point in doing a movie for which you yourself won't buy a ticket. Secondly, it is the uniqueness of the subject and then, your character. It should not just be on a superficial level, there should be a lot more to offer.
What made you give your nod to Roy?
Vicky (Vikramjit Singh) came to me with a unique subject which was both, good as well as commercial. It has scope for great music, it has drama and has the thrill element going on. It keeps you guessing till the last minute. I found that exciting. After approaching me, Vicky spent three-and-a-half years working on the script. I like his level of dedication and his grasp on filmmaking and storytelling.
Your equation with Ranbir Kapoor in the film seems quite intriguing.
Ranbir is a fantastic actor. Hats off to him for playing the character of Roy as it's a tough role. The amount of dignity, respect and coolness he has brought to the character is phenomenal. Only a good actor could do that. There are so many layers to Roy. Similarly, there are several layers to my character, Kabir. You have to experience the relationship they share with each other as it's quite severe. It is not sexual though (laughs). For the first time, I have seen Ranbir look like a man man. He is not looking boyish. Vicky has brought out his intense and brooding side.
Considering you are known for your macho image, did you share any tips with him?
Ranbir is actually a very intense guy, if you get to know him. He does have a brooding quality to him. Vicky has known him for many years and has seen that. So he brought that out on celluloid the way nobody else has. Everyone has shown him as young and flirty, and he pulls it off well. However, to see him in this new light is great.
How was it working with him after Raajneeti?
During Raajneeti, Ranbir and I got along really well. That's one of the most memorable shoots I have had with a co-actor. When we met on the set of Roy, we took off from where we left. He has changed quite a bit. He has grown up a lot more from Raajneeti days, he has got more layers to him now. It's nice to spend time with him. I think people will like our chemistry.
With two good-looking men, why not?
Good-looking...talented men (smiles)
There is a lot of confusion over Ranbir's 'extended cameo' in the film...
I don't understand what an 'extended cameo' is. I don't know where it's come from. He is playing the title role in this film. The story is about four characters - Roy, Kabir, Tia and Ayesha. All are extremely important for the film to move in a particular way. Ranbir does solo films, plays main leads, but this is a part which only brave and confident actors can do. You should see and decide. It's not about the length but the quality of the role. A cameo is when you come in for two or three scenes. What do you call 18 or 20 scenes? You can't define it. I might have 20 scenes and he, 18.
Many are wondering why Ranbir isn't seen at the promotional events...
Roy will be exposed towards the last leg of the promotions. First Ayesha and Kabir, then Roy and finally, we all three come together.
Did Jacqueline Fernandez feel left out with you two men on the set?
Jacqueline has the longest part, more than both of us (smiles). She was a full-on split personality. She was totally into the character on set.
You teamed up with her again after doing the dance number Dhanno from Housefull. How was it working with her this time around?
Jacqueline has been a complete revelation to me. I was a little apprehensive initially when Vicky chose her because it is such a verbose film. Besides, I'd not seen much of Jacqueline's work. Even though Hindi is not her mother tongue, she has blown everybody away. She has a double role and she has actually created two distinct characters. She looks great and has worked really hard on her Hindi. She is full of energy. She was my morning alarm, as she was next to my villa. I would wake up in the morning to somebody laughing and screeching. That would be Jacqueline.
You seem to have worked on your look - be it growing a beard or wearing a hat...
It is a very well-defined character. Vicky and I hung out a lot, discussing the look and feel of the film. We both love vintage cars, vintage stuff and we started bringing that into the film. We discarded computer and started using typewriter. When I went to New York, I picked up a hat, a pair of glasses and kept that for two years before we started shooting.
The music has become quite a rage. Which is your favourite song?
I like Sooraj Dooba because all four characters are involved in the song and the way it is shot is amazing. It has been shot across eight locations over 10 days. Matlabi...goes so well with the situation and mood. It keeps your mind ticking. What was that look, what was he thinking, why did Ranbir look at that girl - a lot of interplay happens in that song.
Lastly, you are having a release after a long time. Have you become more choosy now?
There is no point in doing a movie for which you yourself won't buy a ticket. Secondly, it is the uniqueness of the subject and then, your character. It should not just be on a superficial level, there should be a lot more to offer.
I would feel most disappointed if Ayan Mukerji makes a film with any other actor-Ranbir Kapoor
8:08 AM
Priya Gupta (BOMBAY TIMES; February 6, 2015)
Ranbir Kapoor is so charming
and adorable that my fondness for him just keeps growing
every time I meet him. His charm comes not just from his good looks and
excellence in acting, but also from him being so affectionate and
grounded. He has chosen to stay away from social media and guards his
private life fiercely, so his only connect with his millions of fans is
through his films.They may have missed seeing him in 2014 due to no
release, but his upcoming films in 2015 will more than make up for that,
be his lead roles in Bombay Velvet, Tamasha and Jagga Jasoos or his
supporting role in Roy. While Ranbir considers himself lucky for the
opportunity to be able to work with the best of directors, be it Imtiaz
Ali, Anurag Basu, Karan Johar or Ayan Mukerji or actresses like Katrina
Kaif, Anushka Sharma, Deepika Padukone, or now Alia Bhatt, the fact is
that every director and actress in India wants to work with him. He is
true-blue RK.Over a meal of haleem, roti and chocolates, he talks to
Bombay Times about all his films over the next two years. Excerpts:
Let's first talk about your role in Roy?
Vicky (Vikramjit Singh, the director of Roy) has been a childhood friend of mine, somebody I have shared all my personal, my professional life with. He is someone who struggled to get his movie on the floor. So finally, when he wrote Roy, he came to me to do a special appearance and got Bhushan Kumarji as a producer. I thought it was a good film and had good intentions, so slowly slowly, the role extended and it became a good supporting part to the main leading characters of the film that are played by Arjun Rampal and Jacqueline Fernandez. So, I am very excited for Vicky. I feel he worked really hard and deserves a release. Bhushanji has immense knowledge about music and therefore, has made an immense contribution to the film with the kind of music he has given to it, so it seems like an exciting film right now. But I don't want to cheat my audience. Yes, I am a part of this movie, but this is not my film. It's an Arjun Rampal, Jacqueline Fernandez-starrer with me playing a supporting role in it.
There were stories claiming that you were responsible for the delay in the release of Bombay Velvet, which is now releasing May 15, 2015. What was the real reason?
I read stories claiming that my father had seen my film, not liked it and hence it was postponed. My father never sees my movies before the release. He never comes for any trial prior to release, as he doesn't want to give a very strong opinion. He sees my films only post release. Then, some people said it is over budget. We actually shot the entire film with all its songs, action and ensemble cast, in 80 days in Sri Lanka. Then, somebody said it's four hours long. The cut is actually 2 hours 19 minutes. I saw the film a few days back and I absolutely loved it. It's a new film for me and I am excited. I hope with the trailer, our promotion and our marketing, that perception changes and it entices people to see the film. I feel it is very brave of the Phantom people to have postponed the film on their own terms. Being a producer, you always want to release your film, but they wanted to better the film. They wanted to make sure that the film is to their optimum and that takes a lot of guts. I really admire Phantom and Anurag Kashyap to have taken that call. I was not involved in that call at all.
Was it postponed for editing?
It was postponed for editing. And, it was postponed for special effects to make the film better. Also, Fox, who were releasing the film, wanted to give it a good platform for release and for that, your film has to be ready, you have to travel with it and show it to different markets, so we are trying to do that. We all have belief in the content of the film. It has a very engaging story that people will connect with. It's about a man, Johnny Balraj's ambition and how he gets caught in his own desires and greed. I was really happy to work with Anushka Sharma, as she is such a phenomenal actor. When she speaks her lines, you feel she has written it. A lot of people were surprised when Karan Johar was cast as the villain, given the personality he has. But he is so amazing in the film.
Is this your best work so far?
As an actor, you never consider any film to be your best film. It's only the audience who can feel like that, post seeing it. But yes, you get excited by a certain film and the character and it stays with you. My character in Bombay Velvet, Johnny Balraj, was new to me. It was not like my personality. He is arrogant, brash and had grown up in the slums on Falkland Road in Bombay in the 1950s. I could identify with my characters in a Wake Up Sid or a Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani, but playing Johnny Balraj took me time to find my rhythm, but it was very exciting.
Talk about Imtiaz Ali's Tamasha?
This is my second film with Imtiaz Ali. It's about a man who breaks out from the regular race of life and starts living his dream again. That's what Imtiaz is trying to say. We all have our dos and don'ts in life and all get stuck and become this machinery in life, where we forget what we all dreamt of as a child. What he is trying to say is very important in our day-to-day life. Of course, at the heart of it, it is a love story.
What about Anurag Basu's Jagga Jasoos?
It's a very hard and exciting film. I play a detective in high school, who stammers. Every thing is done in a musical format, so even when he sings, he stammers. At the heart of Jagga Jasoos, it's about a young boy who wants to find his stepfather, who has gone missing. And he has to use his brain, his intelligence, the power of his mind, to find out where his father is. It's in the format of an Indiana Jones, a Tintin. But it's such a new film with no precedent or reference. Every dialogue or scene leads to a song. Pritam and dada (Anurag Basu) are working really hard to get that synergy and make it seamless. Dada and me used to discuss that India does not have a good film for children which they can call their own and with Jagga, we want to make a good franchise film.
Talk about Ayan Mukerji's film?
Ayan is trying to write some thing that is beyond his years. It's a mythological contemporary world. It's on the premise that people who don't believe in magic, don't see it at all. He wants to spend the next ten years of his life on this trilogy that he wants to make. So he has to write the entire story before we start the film. It's about a boy who has a certain magical superpower. And how he discovers that and how he battles with his own personality and emotions.
So you and Ayan are tied up for his next three films?
Yes. I think Ayan and me are married for life. I would feel most disappointed if Ayan makes a film with any other actor. Because apart from being the good friends that we are, I really believe that that boy has a lot of things to say and he says it in a very engaging way.
Alia is also there in the film. So, will she too be a part of the trilogy?
Yes.
Talk about Karan Johar's Ae Dil Hai Mushkil?
Karan and I were discussing another film which he was to make and he felt that he must offer that to another actor, but suddenly, he returned from New York and called me to say, 'I have a new story. I have written it in a week's time and am extremely excited about it.' Even after being Karan Johar, he is still childlike about the stories he wants to say. He narrated the story to me in his house, it was beautiful and I was doing it. So I will do Karan's film before Ayan's film. Karan has a stellar cast. I am so excited to work with Aishwarya Rai Bachchan for the first time and again with Anushka.
What does it mean for you to work with Aishwarya Rai Bachchan?
I knew Aishwarya since I was a child, as I was an assistant in my father's film Aa Ab Laut Chalen. I was only 15 then and in Class X, but Aishwarya and me struck a friendship. We would chat about her and her life and she would treat me her age. She would treat me like a friend and not like a child and was good to me. Even now, she is exactly the way she was then. There is nothing that has changed about her. Apart from her beauty and her achievements that the world already knows, to me, she will always be the girl who hung out with me on my father's set.
Let's first talk about your role in Roy?
Vicky (Vikramjit Singh, the director of Roy) has been a childhood friend of mine, somebody I have shared all my personal, my professional life with. He is someone who struggled to get his movie on the floor. So finally, when he wrote Roy, he came to me to do a special appearance and got Bhushan Kumarji as a producer. I thought it was a good film and had good intentions, so slowly slowly, the role extended and it became a good supporting part to the main leading characters of the film that are played by Arjun Rampal and Jacqueline Fernandez. So, I am very excited for Vicky. I feel he worked really hard and deserves a release. Bhushanji has immense knowledge about music and therefore, has made an immense contribution to the film with the kind of music he has given to it, so it seems like an exciting film right now. But I don't want to cheat my audience. Yes, I am a part of this movie, but this is not my film. It's an Arjun Rampal, Jacqueline Fernandez-starrer with me playing a supporting role in it.
There were stories claiming that you were responsible for the delay in the release of Bombay Velvet, which is now releasing May 15, 2015. What was the real reason?
I read stories claiming that my father had seen my film, not liked it and hence it was postponed. My father never sees my movies before the release. He never comes for any trial prior to release, as he doesn't want to give a very strong opinion. He sees my films only post release. Then, some people said it is over budget. We actually shot the entire film with all its songs, action and ensemble cast, in 80 days in Sri Lanka. Then, somebody said it's four hours long. The cut is actually 2 hours 19 minutes. I saw the film a few days back and I absolutely loved it. It's a new film for me and I am excited. I hope with the trailer, our promotion and our marketing, that perception changes and it entices people to see the film. I feel it is very brave of the Phantom people to have postponed the film on their own terms. Being a producer, you always want to release your film, but they wanted to better the film. They wanted to make sure that the film is to their optimum and that takes a lot of guts. I really admire Phantom and Anurag Kashyap to have taken that call. I was not involved in that call at all.
Was it postponed for editing?
It was postponed for editing. And, it was postponed for special effects to make the film better. Also, Fox, who were releasing the film, wanted to give it a good platform for release and for that, your film has to be ready, you have to travel with it and show it to different markets, so we are trying to do that. We all have belief in the content of the film. It has a very engaging story that people will connect with. It's about a man, Johnny Balraj's ambition and how he gets caught in his own desires and greed. I was really happy to work with Anushka Sharma, as she is such a phenomenal actor. When she speaks her lines, you feel she has written it. A lot of people were surprised when Karan Johar was cast as the villain, given the personality he has. But he is so amazing in the film.
Is this your best work so far?
As an actor, you never consider any film to be your best film. It's only the audience who can feel like that, post seeing it. But yes, you get excited by a certain film and the character and it stays with you. My character in Bombay Velvet, Johnny Balraj, was new to me. It was not like my personality. He is arrogant, brash and had grown up in the slums on Falkland Road in Bombay in the 1950s. I could identify with my characters in a Wake Up Sid or a Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani, but playing Johnny Balraj took me time to find my rhythm, but it was very exciting.
Talk about Imtiaz Ali's Tamasha?
This is my second film with Imtiaz Ali. It's about a man who breaks out from the regular race of life and starts living his dream again. That's what Imtiaz is trying to say. We all have our dos and don'ts in life and all get stuck and become this machinery in life, where we forget what we all dreamt of as a child. What he is trying to say is very important in our day-to-day life. Of course, at the heart of it, it is a love story.
What about Anurag Basu's Jagga Jasoos?
It's a very hard and exciting film. I play a detective in high school, who stammers. Every thing is done in a musical format, so even when he sings, he stammers. At the heart of Jagga Jasoos, it's about a young boy who wants to find his stepfather, who has gone missing. And he has to use his brain, his intelligence, the power of his mind, to find out where his father is. It's in the format of an Indiana Jones, a Tintin. But it's such a new film with no precedent or reference. Every dialogue or scene leads to a song. Pritam and dada (Anurag Basu) are working really hard to get that synergy and make it seamless. Dada and me used to discuss that India does not have a good film for children which they can call their own and with Jagga, we want to make a good franchise film.
Talk about Ayan Mukerji's film?
Ayan is trying to write some thing that is beyond his years. It's a mythological contemporary world. It's on the premise that people who don't believe in magic, don't see it at all. He wants to spend the next ten years of his life on this trilogy that he wants to make. So he has to write the entire story before we start the film. It's about a boy who has a certain magical superpower. And how he discovers that and how he battles with his own personality and emotions.
So you and Ayan are tied up for his next three films?
Yes. I think Ayan and me are married for life. I would feel most disappointed if Ayan makes a film with any other actor. Because apart from being the good friends that we are, I really believe that that boy has a lot of things to say and he says it in a very engaging way.
Alia is also there in the film. So, will she too be a part of the trilogy?
Yes.
Talk about Karan Johar's Ae Dil Hai Mushkil?
Karan and I were discussing another film which he was to make and he felt that he must offer that to another actor, but suddenly, he returned from New York and called me to say, 'I have a new story. I have written it in a week's time and am extremely excited about it.' Even after being Karan Johar, he is still childlike about the stories he wants to say. He narrated the story to me in his house, it was beautiful and I was doing it. So I will do Karan's film before Ayan's film. Karan has a stellar cast. I am so excited to work with Aishwarya Rai Bachchan for the first time and again with Anushka.
What does it mean for you to work with Aishwarya Rai Bachchan?
I knew Aishwarya since I was a child, as I was an assistant in my father's film Aa Ab Laut Chalen. I was only 15 then and in Class X, but Aishwarya and me struck a friendship. We would chat about her and her life and she would treat me her age. She would treat me like a friend and not like a child and was good to me. Even now, she is exactly the way she was then. There is nothing that has changed about her. Apart from her beauty and her achievements that the world already knows, to me, she will always be the girl who hung out with me on my father's set.
Sooraj Dooba Hain: How a rejected tune turned into a chart topper
7:44 AM
Roshmilla Bhattacharya (MUMBAI MIRROR; February 5, 2015)
Three years ago, Amaal
Mallik composed a tune with “okayish“ lyrics and pitched it to several
producers and got the thumbs down. So, he put the melody on the
backburner and only brought it out as an afterthought during a meeting
with Bhushan Kumar after he'd played half-a-dozen love songs to him.
“Bhushanji was in a hurry so I played it for him the next day and his
instant reaction was, 'Superb!' Get Kumaar to work on the lyrics with
you,“ recalls Amaal.Working with the Baby Doll, he cracked the antara in 15 minutes... Matlabi ho ja zara matlabi, duniya ki sunta hai kyun, khud ki bhi sun le kabhi.
“We hadn't got a narration of the film's story at that point because Bhushanji didn't want a situational song which worked within the context of the film. He wanted it to go beyond and connect with everyone, particularly twenty-somethings like me,“ explains Amaal, adding that they didn't even know it was for Roy. But when they sat down with director, Vikramjit Singh, he pointed out that the song was in sync with the film because Ranbir's (Kapoor) character, a carefree soul, tells Jacqueline's Tia to let loose and live life for herself.
The lines, Chale nahi ude aasmaan pe, pata na ho hai jaana kahaan pe, ki be-manzilein ho sab raaste, duniya se hon zara faasle, Kuch khud se bhi ho dooriyan, bring out RK's character eloquently.
The words flowed but the hook line was elusive. “Since it was a club number, we were thinking of sundown parties as the madness begins at night. That's how Sooraj dooba hai yaaron, do ghut nashe ke maaro, raste bhula do saare ghar baar ke came along,“ reminisces Amaal, who programmed and even sang the song himself.
But in retrospect he realised he needed more seasoned voices. Aditi Singh, the Dhoom and Raftaar singer, was the choice for the female vocals. For the male playback he turned to Arijit Singh, surprising even the singer who's not known for his dance tracks. “But the melody has a soft romantic feel, enhanced by his voice,“ he explains.
Amaal himself was surprised when Bhushan opened the promotions with Sooraj Dooba. The song was an instant hit, taking him out of the shadow of his illustrious grandfather Sardar Malik, uncle Anu Malik and dad Daboo Malik.
“This is new-age music, different sound and style, and has given me my identity,“ says Amaal who debuted with Jai Ho last year. “This is the kind of song Pritamda is known for. I'm told Bhushanji was thinking of approaching him when he heard Sooraj dooba, an oft-rejected, lyric-less song and turned it into a chartbuster.“
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