Showing posts with label Samrat Prithviraj. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Samrat Prithviraj. Show all posts
I am happy to see more representation from India at Cannes-Manushi Chhillar
8:22 AM
Rishabh Suri (HINDUSTAN TIMES; May 15, 2023)
She was crowned Miss World in 2017. Now, actor Manushi Chhillar is all set to represent India once again on a global stage — at this year’s Cannes Film Festival.
“I didn’t realise the representing bit!” she tells us, adding, “If you talk about the film industry, there was a time when you would only have a few Indian actors go for these festivals (like Cannes). It is good that the numbers have been growing and there is more interest in this part of the world. I’m happy to see more representation from India.”
Chhillar made her big screen debut last year with Akshay Kumar-starrer Samrat Prithviraj, but it did not perform too well at the box office. However, the film helped her bag work. She will be seen alongside actor John Abraham in Tehran and may team up with Kumar for Bade Miyan Chote Miyan. But, no official announcement has been made yet.
“After Prithviraj, things have started rolling. There was a big pause because of the pandemic; we couldn’t shoot. So, I made my acting debut after a long wait. I’ve been fortunate to have got fame even before the film released, because of Miss World. My work generally was slow because of the (Coronavirus pandemic) situation, like everyone else’s. There’s so much you learn after your first film releases,” she says.
“Your first film chooses you, but you choose your second film. That’s really tough,” adds Chhillar, who turned 26 yesterday. “I have taken a small break to spend time with my family. I am a private person, but big on birthdays,” she laughs.
A list of top twenty five original Hind film grossers of 2022
8:54 AM
Box Office India Trade Network
THE KASHMIR FILES remained the biggest grosser of the year as far as outright Hindi films go though if the film did not get sponsored screenings, the business would have been less than the likes of DRISHYAM 2, BRAHMASTRA and BHOOL BHULAIYAA 2. It is impossible to tell what is the actual organic collection of the film but the facts say it is the highest grosser of the year. However, if all things were equal it would had been DRISHYAM 2 as the top outright Hindi film of the year.
The total collections of the top 25 films amounted to 1859 crore and there will probably be another 5 crore nett to come from the films still running. So lets say a total of 1865 crore nett from the top 25 films. The same in 2019 was 3500 crore with the top ten films alone easily covering the 1865 crore of 2022. This 47% down from 2019; its a huge drop and the figures show the dire situation. Its a horrible scene outside the top five grossers.
Basically business has gone back ten years as in 2012 the top twenty five films picked up around 1950 crore while in 2011 it was 1500 crore. The overall picture is not too bad as there was KGF - CHAPTER 2 (Hindi) and RRR (Hindi) but this will not happen every year. If same time next year, we are up 50% it would be a good result and anything more will be a bonus. Obviously you want to see the major 25 films put up 3000 or 3500 crore like in 2019 but it may take longer to get there.
The top twenty five grossers of 2022 are as follows.
1. The Kashmir Files - 2,46,91,00,000
2. Drishyam 2 - 2,32,00,00,000 (52 days; Still Running)
3. Brahmastra - 2,30,23,00,000
4. Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2 - 1,81,65,00,000
5. Gangubai Kathiawadi - 1,26,32,00,000
6. Vikram Vedha - 79,53,00,000
7. JugJugg Jeeyo - 78,53,00,000
8. Ram Setu - 72,72,00,000
9. Samrat Prithviraj - 68,06,00,000
10. Bhediya - 60,25,00,000 (45 Days; Still Running)
11. Laal Singh Chaddha - 59,58,50,000
12. Bachchhan Paandey - 49,00,00,000
13. Raksha Bandhan - 45,23,00,000
14. Shamshera - 41,05,00,000
15. Ek Villain Returns - 39,74,25,000
16. Cirkus - 35,75,00,000 (18 days; Still Running)
17. Runway 34 - 33,51,50,000
18. Thank God - 32,98,50,000
19. Uunchai - 28,65,00,000 (59 Days; Still Running)
20. Heropanti 2 - 24,91,00,000
21. Doctor G - 24,33,50,000
22. Jersey - 20,46,50,000
23. Badhaai Ho - 18,97,00,000
24. Jayeshbhai Jordaar - 16,59,25,000
25. Jhund - 14,30,50,000
Trade dubs 2022 as worst year for Hindi film industry with losses running up to Rs. 2000 crores
8:25 AM
Trade dubs 2022 as worst year for Hindi film industry with losses running up to Rs. 2,000 cr; blames stars’ high fees, lack of novel content
Upala KBR (MID-DAY; December 29, 2022)
When 2022 came knocking, the Hindi film industry thought that the worst was over. After two years of the pandemic and consequent shutdown of theatres, Bollywood was ready to bounce back in action in 2022. But 12 months on, the picture is grim. Trade analysts have dubbed it as the worst year of Hindi cinema, when only four movies — Drishyam 2, Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2, Gangubai Kathiawadi and The Kashmir Files — became hits, while mega-budget project 'BrahmÄstra: Part One — Shiva' managed to break even. What about the other biggies?
From Aamir Khan’s Laal Singh Chaddha, to Akshay Kumar’s Samrat Prithviraj and Raksha Bandhan, from Ayushmann Khurrana’s Anek and Doctor G, to Rajkummar Rao’s Badhaai Do and HIT: The First Case, from the well-intentioned to the masala potboilers — films crashed and burned at the box office.
Distributor and trade expert Raj Bansal pegs the loss at Rs. 2,000 crore. “This was the worst year for the Hindi film industry where almost every actor gave the biggest flop of their career. We expected fresh content to make up for the lost two years. Instead, it has been a nightmare where we lost over Rs. 2,000 crore worth of business. On the other hand, south films did well. Kartik Aaryan was the only successful actor in the younger lot, while Tabu [was the only] actress with two theatrical blockbusters,” he says.
So, what went wrong? Trade analyst Atul Mohan attributes it to two factors: the stars’ sky-high fees that raise a film’s budget, and dated content. “The audiences’ taste has changed in the past two years as they have been exposed to OTT content. Their standards have risen, while most filmmakers are stuck to the same [formulaic] content,” elaborates Mohan.
He adds that actors should reconsider their fees in the current scenario. “Stars should charge on a profit-sharing basis. In the south, producers don’t encourage high fees, or star entourage. The high prices of tickets have also impacted the box-office. The financial situation of the common man has suffered after the pandemic, and they will think twice before spending money on a movie.”
Next year looks optimistic as superstars Shah Rukh Khan and Salman Khan will line up their offerings. But if 2022 has taught us something, it’s that content trumps star value. Film business expert Girish Johar hopes that the industry will learn from its mistakes.
“Going forward, we need to understand projects, and mediocrity can no longer be part of it. The key is to focus on storytelling and scripts. The entire system needs an overhaul — from star pricing to budgets, from ticket rates, to digital and satellite rights.”
Last quarter, no show
The last three months of the year weren’t any different. Be it October offerings Goodbye and Doctor G, or Diwali releases Thank God and Ram Setu — nothing could set the cash registers ringing. It was only in mid-November that Ajay Devgn’s Drishyam 2 turned the tide around, crossing the Rs. 100-crore mark in its first week. Varun Dhawan’s Bhediya won much praise, but couldn’t quite translate it into box-office figures. Ranveer Singh and Rohit Shetty’s Cirkus was expected to end 2022 with a bang. But it turned out to be anti-climactic, as the comedy made only Rs. 26 crores till Tuesday.
- Hiren Kotwani
Veteran actor Arun Bali passes away at 79
8:36 AM
THE TIMES OF INDIA (October 8, 2022)
Mumbai: Veteran actor Arun Bali, whose stature as an artiste matched his towering 6.4ft height, died at his Jogeshwari residence on Friday.
He was 79. His son Ankush said his father was suffering from myasthenia gravis, an autoimmune disease, for which he was admitted to hospital early this year.
Bali’s latest film, ironically titled Goodbye, released on Friday, hours after he passed away at 4:30am. The benign actor is well remembered for his role in 3 Idiots, Lage Raho Munna Bhai, Saugandh, Raju Ban Gaya Gentleman, Khalnayak, Satya, Hey Ram, 3 Idiots, Ready, Barfi, Manmarziyaan, Kedarnath, Samrat Prithviraj and recently Laal Singh Chaddha.
Bali made his acting debut with filmmaker Lekh Tandon’s TV show Doosra Keval as Shah Rukh Khan’s uncle and went on to work in Chanakya, Swabhimaan, Des Mein Nikla Hoga Chand, Kumkum: Ek Pyara Sa Bandhan and POW: Bandi Yuddh Ke.
He is survived by four sons and four daughters. The last rites will be performed at Jogeshwari on Saturday.
Ankush said his father passed away at his residence around 4:30am. “He had mood swings for two-three days. He told the caretaker he wanted to go to the washroom, and after coming out, he told him he wanted to sit down. He never got up,” he said.
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PTI with inputs from Onkar Kulkarni (BOMBAY TIMES; October 8, 2022)
Actor Arun Bali, best known for his work on the TV show Swabhimaan and blockbuster hit 3 Idiots, passed away on Friday morning at his residence in Mumbai. He was 79. The veteran actor’s son Ankush said his father was suffering from Myasthenia gravis, an autoimmune disease caused by communication failure between nerves and muscles, for which he was admitted to a hospital early this year.
Ankush said his father was responding well to the treatment but passed away at around 4:30 am. “My father was suffering from Myasthenia gravis. He had mood swings for two-three days. He told the caretaker he wanted to go to the washroom and after coming out he told him he wanted to sit down and he never got up then (sic),” Ankush said.
Bali made his acting debut with noted filmmaker Lekh Tandon’s TV show Doosra Keval as Shah Rukh Khan’s uncle and went on to work in TV shows such as the period drama Chanakya, Swabhimaan, Des Mein Niklla Hoga Chand, Kumkum – Ek Pyara Sa Bandhan and P. O. W. — Bandi Yuddh Ke.
Some of his popular films include Saugandh, Raju Ban Gaya Gentleman, Khalnayak, Satya, Hey Ram, Lage Raho Munna Bhai, 3 Idiots, Ready, Barfi, Manmarziyaan, Kedarnath, Samrat Prithviraj and Laal Singh Chaddha. Bali is survived by a son and three daughters.
Remembering the actor, filmmaker Ashutosh Gowariker said, “Arun Bali ji was a giant of an actor. It was a memorable experience of working with him in Panipat, where he portrayed Maharaja Baba Ala Singh, the King of Patiala. I was worried that Arun ji might say no to the role because of the brief screen appearance, but he consented immediately. Even at his age, Arun ji was most punctual and disciplined. He made sure he knew all his lines before he came in front of the camera, and he would get it right in the first take itself. I will cherish the to the family.”
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It’s a tall order to fill the shoes of the man who is all heart. Longtime friends and fraternity members remember the actor who made an impact even in the smallest of roles
Hiren Kotwani (MID-DAY; October 8, 2022)
Being remembered even in a cameo — that is the impact Arun Bikramjit Bali had with his performances. The senior actor, 79, who often played the doting grandfather on screen, passed away Friday morning. He was hospitalised earlier this year, after being diagnosed for Myasthenia Gravis — a rare muscular disease that causes a communication failure between the nerves and the muscles.
Friends since 1989, director Dr Chandraprakash Dwivedi remembers meeting Bali for the first time when he made his directorial debut with the historical TV series, Chanakya, where the senior actor played the role of King Porus. “I was sitting by the window in my office when I saw Bali saab coming up to meet me. I told my assistant, ‘Here comes my Porus’. He had a majestic persona.”
After beginning his innings in acting with director Lekh Tandon’s Doosra Kewal (1989), Bali went on to do shows, including Dekh Bhai Dekh (1993), The Great Maratha (1994), Shaktimaan (1997), Swabhimaan (1995) and POW (Bandi Yudh Ke).
His “jovial nature and hospitality” moved Dwivedi who was new to Delhi then. “His family loved hosting people at their home,” says the director, who often rode pillion while exploring the nooks and corners of the capital. Bali was also part of Dwivedi’s Samrat Prithviraj.
“During the shoot of the film, I could sense that he was slowing down. I was aware that it was not the age, but the illness catching up with him. One of the best aspects about Bali saab was that in one meeting, anyone could become a part of his family. He was my elder brother and I will miss him deeply,” says the filmmaker.
Laal Singh Chaddha director Advait Chandan remembers Bali as a ball of “energy and enthusiasm”, especially during a scene when he has to refuse golgappas offered by Aamir Khan’s character. “He had the energy of a young boy on the set, and would constantly come up with suggestions and improvisations. Arun ji told me, in reality, he would never ignore a sweet person offering golgappas to him on a train.”
For Umesh Shukla, Bali was the balance between depicting right and wrong for his film OMG Oh My God (2012). “We wanted to show that while there are fake godmen, the world also has good-hearted sadhus. Bali ji played that role with a lot of conviction. To play a positive part against negative characters essayed by actors like Mithun Chakraborty and still being remembered for his strong performance is [a huge deal],” reminisced Shukla.
Bali was also seen in movies like Raju Ban Gaya Gentleman (1992), Khalnayak (1993), Satya (1996), 3 Idiots (2009), PK (2014), Manmarziyaan (2018), Kedarnath (2018), and Panipat (2019).
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Rishabh Suri (HINDUSTAN TIMES; October 8, 2022)
Actor Arun Bali, a popular name in the film and television world, died at the age of 79 on Friday in Mumbai. He was known for his roles in shows such as Swabhimaan, Kumkum — Ek Pyara Sa Bandhan and Chanakya, and he featured in most of filmmaker Rajkumar Hirani’s movies, such as Lage Raho Munna Bhai (2006), 3 Idiots (2009), PK (2014) and the upcoming Shah Rukh Khan-starrer Dunki.
He had been diagnosed with myasthenia gravis, an autoimmune condition marked by a breakdown in nerve-muscle communication, earlier this year. His son, Ankush Bali, said that his dad was benefiting from the medication, but passed away at around 4.30am. “He told the caretaker he wanted to go to the washroom, and after coming out, he told him he wanted to sit down, and he never got up then,” he told PTI.
For director Chandraprakash Dwivedi and actor Hussain Kuwajerwala, the two things they associate with the late actor Arun Bali, who died at 79, are his jovial nature and big heart. Dwivedi says his association with him was not just limited to the 1991 show, Chanakya. He remembers the time when Bali insisted that he should not stay in a hotel in Delhi but in his own house.
“I was searching for actors then for the show, and would go to the National School of Drama (NSD). I had a brief meeting with him then, and when he got to know that I was staying in a hotel in Janpath, he got his scooter and said, ‘Chalo mere saath, tum mere ghar rahoge’. He lived with his wife, Prakash ji. She was like a mother to me,” he shares.
Dwivedi continues, “I couldn’t stand the winters, hum ek hi razaai mein baithte the. His house was like a second home for me and for a lot of actors from Mumbai.”
On his scooter, Bali would take the director to meet actors who were in Delhi. “I met Shah Rukh Khan for the first time through him, when he was shooting for his TV show. A young man was walking towards us and Arun ji said, ‘Yeh ladka Shah Rukh Khan hai’,” Dwivedi recalls.
Kuwajerwala worked with him in the popular show Kumkum — Ek Pyara Sa Bandhan. The actor says everyone from the show would call him dada ji off-screen too. “We were in touch with him, but not on a regular basis. We will definitely miss that Apart from all the guidance he has given us through the working years of our life. We will miss him,” he gets emotional.
Some kids from Telangana shaved their heads, as they were inspired by my Samrat Prithviraj character-Sonu Sood
8:47 AM
Rishabh Suri (HINDUSTAN TIMES; August 20, 2022)
Sonu Sood admits that he can now deal with setbacks and box-office failures in a much better way, compared to the initial days of his career. The actor, who has spent over two decades in the film industry, was seen as Chand Bardai in Samrat Prithviraj recently and the period drama’s dismal box-office performance did hurt him. “I wish the film had done better. As an actor, you have to give your best and leave the rest to the Almighty. You have to keep doing good work,” says Sood, who is looking forward to his upcoming action-thriller, Fateh.
So, how differently does he deal with setbacks now? “I have grown stronger on that front. Initially, I would feel bad that a film didn’t work despite so much hard work. I still feel bad, but with time and experience, you become wiser and learn to deal with failures,” the 49-year-old shares.
Talking about Samrat Prithviraj that didn’t do well in theatres, Sood says it was satisfying when people lauded it after it released on OTT. “I got a lot of compliments. I met some kids from Telangana, who shaved their heads, as they were inspired by my character. I feel proud to have been a part of the film,” the actor ends.
KGF - Chapter 2, Gangubai Kathiawadi, RRR are the top 3 super-hit films overseas in the first half of 2022
10:02 AM
Box Office India Trade Network
The overseas market has seen decent results over the six month with six films doing well though no BLOCKBUSTER film. The two big South films KGF - CHAPTER 2 and RRR were split by GANGUBAI KATHIAWADI and were comfortably the top three films and SUPERHIT films
THE KASHMIR FILES was a BLOCKBUSTER in the US as it raked up a huge $4 million plus in US/Canada with most of it coming from the US and this has to be the performance of the year in any overseas market. The overseas total for THE KASHMIR FILES was $5.7 million. So a huge chunk of collections came from USA.
BHOOL BHULAIYAA 2 was the other SUPER HIT film in overseas of 2022 with almost $6 million while JUGJUGG JEEYO proved to be a HIT in overseas and should hit the $4.5 million mark by the end of its run. RUNWAY 34 did better in overseas than in India which is rare for an Ajay Devgn film but it was mainly due to Eid. The Gulf managed to put up half decent decent numbers on account of the festival.
It remains to be seen if 2022 can see a $10 million plus grosser and LAAL SINGH CHADDHA and BRAHMASTRS will be be hoping to break this barrier at the very worst.
The top ten Hindi grossers overseas in 2022 in are as follows. The numbers in brackets are INR.
1. KGF - Chapter 2 - $9,140,000 (69,46,40,000)
2. Gangubai Kathiawadi - $7,470,000 (55,27,80,000)
3. RRR - $7,250,000 (54,37,50,000)
4. Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2 - $5,880,000 (44,98,20,000)
5. The Kashmir Files - $5,710,000 (42,25,40,000)
6. JugJugg Jeeyo - $4,300,000 (33,75,50,000) (20 days)
7. Runway 34 - $1,900,000 (14,63,00,000)
8. Bachchhan Paandey - $1,850,000 (13,69,00,000)
9. Samrat Prithviraj - $1,200,000 (9,36,00,000)
10. Jayeshbhai Jordaar - $1,000,000 (7,60,00,000)
Big surprises, bigger shocks: Report card of the first half of 2022 for Indian cinema
8:18 AM
We speak to industry experts about the box-office performance of films in the first six months — what stood out, the good and the bad
Rishabh Suri (HINDUSTAN TIMES; July 1, 2022)
We are halfway through 2022, and it’s time to analyse how the film industry has fared in the first six months, after braving two years of the pandemic. The year’s hits began with Alia Bhatt-starrer Gangubai Kathiawadi, as the Sanjay Leela Bhansali film set the cash registers ringing. Then came the surprise blockbuster, The Kashmir Files, by filmmaker Vivek Agnihotri. Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2, RRR and KGF - Chapter 2 further brought back happy days for the industry. The heavily promoted family drama, JugJugg Jeeyo also connected with multiplex audience.
Agnihotri says the first half has been extraordinary. “Theatres have been revived. When every big filmmaker started saying that OTT is the way forward, I never agreed. We had great offers to sell the film (The Kashmir Files) directly to OTT, but we declined. This year proves that theatre is the future, not OTT,” he shares.
Meanwhile, Vishal Sawhney, director and CEO, Carnival Cinemas, feels that the box-office collection was majorly driven by regional content in the first half. “Hindi dubbed versions of south films are increasingly taking a substantial share of the box-office collection. Around 60-70% of the total business in terms of ticket sales was led by regional content. This proves script and content are the kings of cinemas,” he tells us.
Trade analyst Taran Adarsh calls the year a bag of surprises. “Gangubai was not a surprise, but BB2 was. It exceeded expectations with its business. KGF 2, dubbed in Hindi, was there, too,” he says.
THE MISSES
The first half of 2022 wasn’t all rosy though. Some much-anticipated films failed to live up to their hype, such as Prabhas-starrer Radhe Shyam and Akshay Kumar’s Samrat Prithviraj. Trade expert Atul Mohan points out other shockers — John Abraham’s Attack, Shahid Kapoor’s Jersey and Ranveer Singh’s Jayeshbhai Jordaar. Exhibitor Akshaye Rathi says these six months have come with learnings about “unusual behavioural patterns of the audience”.
He might have delivered a big hit (BB2), but filmmaker Anees Bazmee says the under-performance of any film is saddening. He also asserts that, today, a film is either a big hit or a flop — there’s no in-between. “Earlier, there would be superhits, semi-hits, average, and flop. The middle category is finished now. Ya toh log bahut pyaar denge, ya bilkul nahin denge,” he concludes.
BOX-OFFICE REPORT CARD: THE TOPPERS
KGF 2: 434.70cr
RRR: 274.31cr
THE KASHMIR FILES: 252.90cr
BHOOL BHULAIYAA 2: 184.32cr
My faith in Akshay Kumar remains unshakeable-Chandraprakash Dwivedi
9:01 AM
The director of Samrat Prithviraj says Akshay Kumar was not the reason for the film not working
Rishabh Suri (HINDUSTAN TIMES; June 25, 2022)
It’s not the first time that an actor has worn a fake moustache on screen; There was a disclaimer right in the beginning of the film; A group wanted to target actor Akshay Kumar — Director Chandraprakash Dwivedi makes all this clear as he opens up to us on every criticism directed towards his recent film, Samrat Prithviraj.
Commenting on how some reports have projected his recent remarks that the audience boycotted the film due to things Kumar did in the past, Dwivedi tells us, “Two days after the release of the film, I spoke to a lot of people. And I maintained that my faith in Akshay Kumar remains unshakeable. I have done two more upcoming films with him, Ram Setu and OMG Oh My God 2. I feel that my words are being twisted.” He further adds that he has no complaints with the film’s producer, Aditya Chopra either.
Dwivedi claims a section of people wanted to target Kumar, and hence the film didn’t do well at the box office. Admitting he is disappointed at the reception the film got, he says, “There’s a section of people who thinks they have to correct everything! Unhe iss baat se takleef hai ki film mein log tilak kyun laga rahe hain, auratein bindi kyun nahin laga rahi hain. But the visual ornaments which we see women wearing in pictures, that’s a European tradition! These people got annoyed when I tried to set the record straight.”
For people who commented on the language used in the film, Dwivedi says, “Jis bhaasha ko log ‘Urduwood’ ki bhaasha keh rahe hain, voh bhaasha issi desh mein janmi hai. We have translated Prithviraj Raso (a Braj language epic poem about the life of Prithviraj Chauhan), and the author himself writes in that. I wasn’t doing anything different. I was surprised that such a debate arose even.”
He says he always maintained that the film was based on Prithviraj Raso, of which different versions exist. “I said it right in the beginning that it’s based on Raso. Whether Prithviraj Raso is a historical document or not is a debate. A section of historians believe it is, while some say it is not.”
And on the stories that claim Chopra is pinning the performance of Samrat Prithviraj on Kumar’s lack of dedication, like not caring to grow an actual moustache, Dwivedi says, “Aditya (Chopra) has never said this. Is it happening for the first time that an actor has worn a fake moustache? On June 2, I, Aditya and Akshay were together, and Aditya categorically told me that he is happy with the film. He will never say that I failed in my duty. Same is true for Akshay.”
Chandraprakash Dwivedi opens up on audience response to Samrat Prithviraj
8:16 AM
HINDUSTAN TIMES (June 23, 2022)
Filmmaker Chandraprakash Dwivedi has finally reacted to audiences’ response towards his recent film Samrat Prithviraj. He told Film Companion, “When Akshay (Kumar, who played the lead role) sir had asked his son about Prithviraj Chauhan, he replied that he had no knowledge about who that was. That was Akshay’s trigger point, where he started inquiring why we never teach what we may call ‘Hindu history’. Now this is what he thinks; it isn’t my opinion nor is it the opinion of my producers. He expressed this opinion on a show, and so people started to think Samrat Prithviraj was a historical film. But he never said this was a historical film. People got his message mixed up.”
Dwivedi went on to add, “It’s not like you don’t have the right to reject an actor, but he’s been working for 30 years, so you know his capabilities. Akshay Kumar has done the role to the best of his potential. He is not the first actor whose performance the audience hasn’t liked, but to boycott him for his acting as Prithviraj makes no sense. Boycotting his film due to things he has done in the past, such as promoting paan masala or saying that one shouldn’t give Lord Shiva milk, makes no sense because these matters have nothing to do with the movie at all.”
(Crisp) Movie Review: SAMRAT PRITHVIRAJ by FENIL SETA
10:05 PM
Samrat Prithviraj starts on a rocking note. It slips in between only to pick up beautifully during the interval. The film drops yet again in the second half. The last 20 minutes are excellent and gives viewers their money's worth. The impact diminishes due to the not-so-powerful dialogues and also because the film comes too late in the day. After watching films like Bajirao Mastani, Padmaavat and Panipat, Samrat Prithviraj gives a been-there-done-that kind of a feeling. Speaking of performances, Akshay Kumar is decent though it would had been great if he had put in more effort. He's great in the ending though. Manushi Chhillar makes a confident debut and has an arresting screen presence. Sonu Sood is terrific and I really wish his character had more depth and screen time. Sanjay Dutt is strictly okay. Manav Vij is effective as the villain. Ashutosh Rana and Manoj Joshi are decent. Music is poor though 'Hari Har' stands out. All in all, Samrat Prithviraj makes for a fine experience on the big screen. Worth watching once.
My rating - *** out of 5!
Sanjay Dutt saw funny videos before a serious scene-Chandraprakash Dwivedi
7:44 AM
Stating that Dutt’s “unique personality” made him an apt choice to play Kaka Kanha, Samrat Prithviraj director on how the actor approached the intense role
Upala KBR (MID-DAY; June 3, 2022)
When doing the groundwork for Samrat Prithviraj, it was the casting of Kaka Kanha that puzzled director Chandraprakash Dwivedi. The filmmaker’s extensive research had indicated that Kaka Kanha was a great warrior like nephew Prithviraj Chauhan, but not without his share of idiosyncrasies. The actor, playing the warrior, would also have to hold his own in front of Akshay Kumar who was chosen for the titular role.
Dwivedi believed Sanjay Dutt fulfilled the two conditions. “The role demanded a unique personality with a sense of humour. Sanjay Dutt has both the qualities,” says the director.
Dutt’s character is seen wearing a blindfold in the film. Legend has it that following an incident, Kaka Kanha vowed to behead anyone who sported a moustache, after which Prithviraj’s father Someshwar Chauhan convinced him to always wear a blindfold. “Kaka Kanha was deeply attached to Samrat Prithviraj. Their bond is an important part of the film,” says Dwivedi.
For Dutt, the period drama — also starring Manushi Chhillar and Sonu Sood — was a change of pace after the heavy-duty actioner, KGF - Chapter 2. The director remembers how the actor was thrilled to breathe life into the character.
“He was enthusiastic about sporting the distinct look, wearing the outfit and the armour. In fact, he had anticipated the armour to be heavier. But when he actually put it on, Sanjay was happy to notice that it was much lighter. Since he had previously trained in horse-riding and sword-fighting, he was comfortable. He has done many action films, so it came naturally to him.”
One would imagine that Dutt had his own method to get into the headspace of the warrior. But Dwivedi surprises us when he says, “Right before a challenging scene, Sanjay used to ensure that the mood was light. He used to call two people from the stunt team, who would show him some funny videos. He used to have a hearty laugh, so that he was in a good mood before [enacting] a serious scene.”
Fenil's Bollywood Talk # 728
9:12 AM
WILL SAMRAT PRITHVIRAJ BE ABLE TO BREAK THE DAY 1 RECORD OF BHOOL BHULAIYAA 2?
One of the biggest films of the year, Samrat Prithviraj, is all set to be released tomorrow, June 3. Starring Akshay Kumar in the lead role, this period flick also features Sanjay Dutt and Sonu Sood and marks the debut of Manushi Chhillar. The film is directed by Chandraprakash Dwivedi, a well known name thanks to his works like Chanakya, Pinjar etc.
Samrat Prithviraj is produced by Aditya Chopra’s Yash Raj Films. It is known for quality products and in this regard, the film looks grand, technically and visually. The budget of the film is skyhigh and it shows. As a result, it looks like a movie which can be best enjoyed on the big screen. Moreover, it is based on the life of Prithviraj Chauhan, a brave king who is fondly remembered even today.
Sadly, the film’s buzz is limited. Though the action and grandeur are topnotch, audiences have got a been-there-done-that feeling from the promos as the film looks similar to Padmaavat, Bajirao Mastani, Jodhaa Akbar etc. Akshay Kumar’s performance has also come under the scanner. He doesn’t seem to have put in the required hard work. The promotions have also been low-key. In the last one week, however, the promotional activities picked up big time. Akshay Kumar, Manushi Chhillar and Chandraprakesh Dwivedi travelled to Somnath and Varanasi and even showed the film to Home Minister Amit Shah. Today, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath will watch Samrat Prithviraj at a special screening in Lucknow.
Yet, the buzz remains low. As a result, it’s difficult to say whether it’ll have an opening of Rs. 10 crore plus. Even if it does, its target is to break the day 1 record of the recent hit, Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2. The Kartik Aaryan starrer had collected Rs. 13.50 crore on day one and it remains to be seen if Samrat Prithviraj can cross the number.
Samrat Prithviraj is not a solo release. Major, starring Adivi Sesh, is a bi-lingual and based on the life of 26/11 hero Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan. This film, too, has limited hype but the makers have adopted a smart marketing strategy. Since last week, they have held pre-release screenings in different cities. The response to these screenings has been very positive and it has aroused curiosity. Hence, it’ll start low but can pick up through a good word of mouth.
The third release is the Tamil film Vikram, which will be dubbed in Hindi. It has an enviable star cast, comprising Kamal Haasan, Vijay Sethupathi and Fahadh Faasil. The trailer is quite creative and massy. Yet, the excitement is just not there among the Hindi audiences. As a result, it’ll have a disastrous opening.
The pandemic resulted in the VFX team getting about two years to work on Samrat Prithviraj's footage-Akshay Kumar
8:29 AM
Akshay discusses how the VFX team dedicated two years to lend larger-than-life air to 12th century period drama, Samrat Prithviraj
Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; May 31, 2022)
Retelling the story of a warrior king on celluloid involves mounting it on a grand scale. Producer Aditya Chopra knew it as he greenlit the ambitious Samrat Prithviraj, led by Akshay Kumar. Where director Chandraprakash Dwivedi recreated portions of 12th century Delhi, Ajmer and Kannauj by building elaborate sets for the period drama, the responsibility of recreating the cities in entirety fell on YRF’s special effects wing, yFX. The VFX team also lent a larger-than-life air to the climax of the Kumar-starrer that showcases the epic battle between Prithviraj Chauhan and Muhammad of Ghor.
The film’s leading man is impressed by the final product. “We knew we could scale up the film if the brilliant team at yFX would have adequate time to work on the footage,” says Kumar. The pandemic-induced lockdowns were utilised to enhance the project. “The pandemic resulted in them getting about two years to work on the footage. So, you can only imagine the scale that has been achieved through VFX,” states the actor.
Kumar believes that Dwivedi’s storytelling, coupled with the special effects, has enabled them to pay “the grandest tribute” to the ruler of the Chahamana dynasty. “From the word go, we were sure that we would tell Samrat Prithviraj Chauhan’s story in its full glory. Elaborate war sequences were designed, expansive sets were created, and we shot in majestic locations to add as much visual appeal as possible,” adds the actor.
The June 3 offering also stars Sanjay Dutt, Sonu Sood and former Miss World Manushi Chhillar.
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