Showing posts with label Special 26. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Special 26. Show all posts
Main simple insaan hun…Mujhe itna hi samajh aata hai ki kaam kar, kamaayi kar aur karm kar-Akshay Kumar
8:24 AM
Akshay Kumar says he will continue to do multiple films, events and endorsements to make more money and help causes
Monika Rawal Kukreja (HINDUSTAN TIMES; March 27, 2022)
Akshay Kumar’s most recent film, Bachchhan Paandey, may not have been a box-office success, but that won’t stop him from signing new projects and returning to the big screen. The actor has no reservations about taking on more acting and endorsement work, despite being accused of constantly working for money. Not only that, but the 54-year-old prefers to take things in stride and go on, even if memes tease him by implying that he will be in every biopic made. Excerpts from a freewheeling chat:
There’s this constant allegation that whether it’s doing all kinds of films or endorsements, you won’t stop making money. Are there any boundaries you have set for yourself?
Mujhe apni saari zindagi mein teen basic words samajh aaye — kaam, kamaayi aur karm. Main jee jaan laga ke kaam karta hoon. Zyada se zyada kaam karta hun taaki zyada se zyada kamaayi kar sakun. I don’t say no to any work that comes my way — kaisa bhi role ho, kaisa bhi function ho, kisi bhi cheez ki ad karni ho. Kyunki kaam se aati hai kamaayi aur uss se main koshish karta hun achhe se achha karm karne ki. For the past many years, I have paid the maximum tax each year, and I have contributed 10% of the remaining income to some noble cause. If today, I start thinking about doing less work, fewer films, fewer ads, then all these causes will be also be impacted in a way. Main simple insaan hun…Mujhe itna hi samajh aata hai — kaam kar, kamaayi kar aur karm kar.
When someone goes viral on the internet, whether it’s 19-year-old midnight runner Pradeep Mehra or 126-year-old Swami Sivananda receiving the Padma Shri, it’s assumed, especially by trolls, that you’re already working on their biopic or have acquired the rights to make a film about their lives. Do you come across these memes on a regular basis? What is your reaction?
If the meme is funny, I laugh. It’s normal to laugh if you find a joke funny, isn’t it? And who doesn’t like a good laugh? As for being at the centre of these memes, I couldn’t be happier because I’m glad that over the years I’ve managed to carve out a space for myself where I can fit into such varied roles. This is what has helped me stay relevant and in the memory of audience.
Audience is witnessing a flurry of South Indian film remakes, and you seem to be grabbing all of them, which always raises the questions about lack of original scripts. Do you plan to go slow on that front?
That’s not entirely true; I also do original scripts. Prithviraj, Ram Setu, Raksha Bandhan, OMG2, Gorkha, etc. are all original scripts. Yes, there are some remakes, too, but that’s because these are films I’ve watched and loved. I’m excited to bring this to our audience as I feel the market for the same hasn’t been tapped. And it’s not a one-way deal; even South Indian films borrow scripts from our industry. My films, such as Special 26 (2013), OMG – Oh My God! (2012) etc. have been remade in the south. Likewise, there are films featuring other Bollywood actors that have been remade as well. If something has worked and is successful, everyone wants a piece of the pie.
Your fans have been waiting for your OTT debut for a long time now. When do you think we’ll finally see you in a web show? You recently mentioned that the team wasn’t satisfied with the screenplay of The End. Is there anything else that you might sign soon?
Writing OTT content is very different from writing a feature film. There’s so much more that goes into web shows — multiple characters, back-to-back episodes — that you’ve got to keep in mind a multi-season arc while writing to have the germ of the following seasons ready. But especially with The End, we are attempting to do something, which has never been done in our Indian space. The story, the technology, the characters... we are trying to make the kind of content that pushes the boundaries as we know it. The good news, though, is that I will start filming for it in the first half of 2023.
Bachchhan Paandey got mixed reviews and the success of The Kashmir Files seems to have impacted the box-office collections. What’s your take?
Firstly, let me tell you that I am elated with the success that The Kashmir Files has seen. It shows you the power of cinema and that there is no formula for starting budgets and films in a certain way that guarantees success. It proves that the audiences are who we make our films for, and when they lap up something, it just flies. Yes, I would have liked Bachchhan Paandey to do better than what it is doing, but not once do I blame The Kashmir Files for it. That film is a storm, and we came in the eye of it.
There were insecurities, as I was returning so many people’s signing amounts-Jimmy Sheirgill
8:30 AM
Rishabh Suri (HINDUSTAN TIMES; February 27, 2022)
Social media has memefied actor Jimmy Sheirgill as the guy who never gets his lady love, thanks to his characters in Mere Yaar Ki Shaadi Hai (2002), Tanu Weds Manu and Saheb Biwi Aur Gangster (both 2011). Ask him if he’s aware of it, and he laughs and answers with a yes.
But then, doesn’t this mean that he got stuck in a stereotype? To this, the 51-year-old shares, “After Mohabbatein (2000), everything written about me was ‘chocolate boy’. It got me thinking: was this lover boy image going to get me any far? I felt I should better start doing roles like Haasil (2003), which I was shooting then, something interesting.”
However, with the resolve came self-doubt. “There were insecurities, as I was returning so many people’s signing amounts. People said, ‘You are having a great time right now, doing lead roles. Why are you venturing into Munna Bhai MBBS (2003), etc?’ My decision gave me sleepless nights,” admits the Your Honor actor.
Then, he took up projects that helped shatter his earlier image. “I did films like Yahaan (2005), A Wednesday (2008), Special 26 (2013). I was always trying to do things which didn’t end up typecasting me again,” he ends.
Manoj Bajpayee traces his jounrey with Neeraj Pandey
7:59 AM
Roshmila Bhattacharya (MUMBAI MIRROR; January 6, 2018)
AIYAARY (January 26, 2018)
While shooting for a long sequence of Naam Shabana with Taapsee at night, Neeraj and I got chatting while the shot was being set up. “Panditji, mazaa aa raha hai?” he quizzed, and I had to admit that of late work hadn’t been a lot of fun. He acknowledged that even he was beginning to feel that way and requested me to keep March and April of 2017 free for him.
“There’s a subject but I haven’t had time to develop it, so far,” he told me. I had learnt early not to prod him for details, knowing he would reach out when he was ready.
Soon after he sent me the first half of the script and I was blown away, eager to know what happened next. It took its time coming because even though Neeraj took off to different parts of the globe with the intention of stitching up the half complete script, he was finding it difficult to wrap it up.
Then, one day, out of the blue, he called and asked me where I was. When I told him I was in Delhi, Neeraj, who was also in the Capital, set up a meeting that evening at his suite in Hotel Shangri-La. I reached to find his production partner, Shital Bhatia also there. He handed us some pages which I soon discovered was the second half of the story I had begun to read, and took off to visit his family. Shital and I finished reading it and looked at each other silently, knowing we had something fantastic here. When Neeraj returned, we discussed the script for an hour or two. I was gratified to be offered a character that I know could’ve easily gone to another actor but I have learnt not to question Neeraj’s choices. He can be really curt and short. So, I just thanked my lucky stars I had one more chance to work with Neeraj Pandey.
NAAM SHABANA (2017)
Neeraj sent me this script saying it was a prequel to Baby which he wanted to make with Taapsee (Pannu). After I had read it, he asked me if I could see myself in any role. I picked the one of an intelligence guy on the phone who you never see, have no idea where he comes from, his family background or qualifications. But from the robotic way he speaks and assists with Shabana’s training, I imagined him to be ruthlessly cold professional. What excited me about this particular character was that while all this time my craft has drawn out many emotions from me on screen, this one demanded that my voice remain completely expressionless. When I told Neeraj my choice he gave this guy a face and Ranvir Singh remains one of the most interesting and challenging roles I have played.
OUCH (2016)
We were at a cosy get-together, waiting for dinner to be served, when I told Neeraj that he should direct a short film. He admitted that the thought had crossed his mind. One day he surprised me with this script that made me fall over laughing. The similarity between Neeraj and Anurag Kashyap is that they are both fantastic writers who might take their time getting into the right frame of mind, but when they sit down, they have the talent to finish a script overnight and floor you with it.
What happens between this man and woman in a hotel room over just 15 minutes of runtime was a laugh riot, but it was black humour, nasty and scary in its own way, because this man who’s so macho and self-assured on the surface is at his most vulnerable, having walked out of his marriage, only for the other woman to have second thoughts. It was truly Ouch, for him.
MISSING (Still to release)
This suspense thriller redolent with romance and scares, thrills and chills, is produced by Neeraj and directed by Mukul Abhyankar. Set in a resort, it features Tabu and me in the first half, with Annu Kapoorji joining us post interval. Missing took a long time to complete but now we are hoping to take it to theatres in a few months. It is a rollercoaster ride which leaves you guessing with every twist. I can’t wait for the audience to see it.
SAAT UCHAKKEY (2016)
I had never played a character like Pappi before. He’s a good-for-nothing loafer who is suddenly in a situation where if he doesn’t make some money overnight he is in danger of losing his fianceé to the thana in charge. So he rounds up a group of wastrels to rob a haveli that will make him rich overnight. What I liked about him was that this badmash is a lover though not the mushy kind and at his most vulnerable when nothing seemed to be working right. It was a comedy without trying to be comic and that’s what set the story apart.
Neeraj, who produced the film, gave the director, Sanjiv Sharma, the liberty to shoot it the way he wished in Delhi. It was a very satisfying experience because I got to film with Kay Kay Menon, a man I admire for his integrity and histrionics. But then, unfortunately, it ran into censor problems and was delayed by over two years. When it finally released, it did not get the right promotion and distribution and without that it’s hard to make an impression in today’s market. But I would recommend digging out this little gem and watching it. I promise you won’t be disappointed.
SPECIAL 26 (2013)
Some years ago, I was suddenly struck by an ailment that left my shoulders and arms immobile, my eyes watering. I took up whatever work that came my way. Between jobs, I spent a lot of time in my native village or Delhi when I’d watch films by young directors and if they impressed me, I’d call them up to express my appreciation and tell them I was available if they had something for me. It was at this time that I saw A Wednesday and the script with all its mainstream ingredients managed to wow me completely. I hunted out Neeraj’s number and gave him a call. We spoke for a long time on the film and then he invited me to drop by his office at Oshiwara. When I did, I was overwhelmed by the respect he accorded me as an actor at a time when the film industry and the media were writing me off. It boosted my sagging morale and failing strength.
We continued to meet and after a year-and-a-half he sent me a script and asked if I’d be interested in playing this CBI officer. After reading the script I wondered why he would come to me with this role when he could have got any other actor to play Waseem Khan. But being desperate for good work I did not dare to voice my thoughts to him. Through the making and promotion of Special 26, I discovered in Neeraj not only a director who could bring out the best in me as an actor but also a straightforward, non-nonsense man of few words whose “good” meant “fantastic”. It took us a while to open up to each other through conversations about cinema and more but eventually we realised how much in-sync we were.
Today, I know more people from the armed forces than the film industry-Neeraj Pandey
8:10 AM
Madhureeta Mukherjee (BOMBAY TIMES; March 30, 2017)
He brings realism to the
reel world, weaving stories around it that create ripples in our
fantasy land. Sparking debate, dialogue and thought provoking
argumen tation. Yet, with the EQ (emotional and entertainment quotient)
always high. Director, producer, writer, Neeraj Pandey, says he can't
“customise“ stories; instead, he'd rather cull out stories that are
untold on celluloid. As his next production Naam Shabana, directed by
Shivam Nair, releases tomorrow, he talks to us about his unusual casting
choices, writing his own rules and living by them. Excerpts....
From directing a film like A Wednesday nine years ago, to producing a multi-starrer like Naam Shabana, your journey has been interesting and quite a revelation...
My journey hasn't been a planned one, but it's been fabulous so far. A lot of things happened by default and fell into place. Now, as a filmmaker, I've tremendous sense of relief as well as responsibility. The former is because I get to do my own thing in the manner that I like to, and the latter because there is a space that I have been able to create as a filmmaker. I feel accountable towards the audience.
Your films are high on content, sometimes a far stretch from the Bollywood mould. The risk is always higher when you take this route, isn't it?
Frankly, this is easier for me. When you say that directing takes a lot of strength, let me tell you that actually, it doesn't. It is the most natural thing. In all humility, it comes easily to me. If I had to customise everything according to the industry, then it would get really difficult for me.
You always pull off a brilliant ensemble cast in all your films. Your first outing A Wednesday had two stalwarts - Naseeruddin Shah and Anupam Kher. Then, you cast Akshay Kumar, who surprised us with a film like Special 26...
On A Wednesday, calls were taken by me and my partner Shital (Bhatia). Now, we have a casting director who comes up with suggestions. I have been lucky so far because I have always got the talent that I wanted. Also, I believe that anti-casting works big time. I like casting actors who have a body of work which is very different from the role I have in my mind for them. I get excited to see how actors can reveal their other side in my movies.
Rightly said! In a way, Akshay Kumar almost transformed on-screen with the characters he played in Special 26, Baby...
I keep saying that Special 26 was just a catalyst for Akshay. Honestly, he helped himself. He had a body of work that was different, so for him to try something so unusual was a brave choice. As much as people say that I might have helped Akshay, you have to give that man some credit. I wanted to cast him in Special 26 for a simple reason - he had not done such a film before. Imagine an action thriller without the action hero doing any action! Manoj (Bajpayee) performed the biggest action sequences in that film. It is great working with Akshay because he is simple and easy. He gets motivation to the sets rather than looking for it once he is there. We have readings and discussions and then he just goes out and executes it. With him, there is no trying to figure out the process and such details once the camera is rolling.
The concept of prequels is rare in Bollywood; in fact, it has not been attempted here. Naam Shabana is one such, which is being produced by you...
Yes, it has never been done here, though it's a practice in the West. I remember that when we were doing the post-production of Baby, we figured that though Taapsee Pannu doesn't have as much screen time, she will become the talking point of the film. So, the idea for Naam Shabana was born right there. We obviously had to wait and see if Baby worked, and after that, we discussed the idea with Taapsee. We brought in the entire cast of Baby and everyone was super excited about it.
Your films are always fictional stories with an underlying thread of realism. Whether it is about the task forces, Mumbai terror attacks or heists. I believe that you personally research your subjects...
As a storyteller, if I am not affected or if I don't believe in something, then I can't narrate the story with conviction. For that, I should actually understand the world my story is coming from. I research my stories a lot, and I believe that there is no other way to do it. I strongly feel that such stories need to be told and it is my duty towards the audience. Yes, balancing realism with entertainment is tough, but my job as a storyteller is to tell you a story, and it is up to you to take whatever you want to from it. My agenda is not to force you to believe in something.
You have spent a lot of time with men from the armed forces, and you know a lot about their lives. Has it changed your perspective?
My admiration for them just grows by the day. The amount of selflessness that is attached to their job is highly respectable. It is interesting to see how their mind works in high-pressure situations. It is just amazing. You sometimes hear stories from the task forces that are so so dramatic, I think apni filmein kuch nahi hai (laughs). Their stories are what I call real stories, real drama. Ever since I started interacting with them for Baby, my circle has just grown. Today, I know more people from the armed forces than the film industry and I consider myself fortunate. When I go to Delhi and meet them and they acknowledge me, it feels great. I go to their camps or offices and interact with them like I belong to their world. I guess they also feel connected with me because of the movies that I make.
You have been in the industry for about nine years now, but you come across as someone very unlike most filmmakers. You keep a low-profile and you are hardly seen at filmi parties...
Filmmaking is my profession; I don't think it is my life. I love my job, but at the end of the day, it is a job for me. I stay away from filmi parties, socialising and all that. I think people who meet me quickly understand that I am not a party person, so they don't invite me to their parties at all (laughs). It is not my thing and it doesn't come naturally to me.
From directing a film like A Wednesday nine years ago, to producing a multi-starrer like Naam Shabana, your journey has been interesting and quite a revelation...
My journey hasn't been a planned one, but it's been fabulous so far. A lot of things happened by default and fell into place. Now, as a filmmaker, I've tremendous sense of relief as well as responsibility. The former is because I get to do my own thing in the manner that I like to, and the latter because there is a space that I have been able to create as a filmmaker. I feel accountable towards the audience.
Your films are high on content, sometimes a far stretch from the Bollywood mould. The risk is always higher when you take this route, isn't it?
Frankly, this is easier for me. When you say that directing takes a lot of strength, let me tell you that actually, it doesn't. It is the most natural thing. In all humility, it comes easily to me. If I had to customise everything according to the industry, then it would get really difficult for me.
You always pull off a brilliant ensemble cast in all your films. Your first outing A Wednesday had two stalwarts - Naseeruddin Shah and Anupam Kher. Then, you cast Akshay Kumar, who surprised us with a film like Special 26...
On A Wednesday, calls were taken by me and my partner Shital (Bhatia). Now, we have a casting director who comes up with suggestions. I have been lucky so far because I have always got the talent that I wanted. Also, I believe that anti-casting works big time. I like casting actors who have a body of work which is very different from the role I have in my mind for them. I get excited to see how actors can reveal their other side in my movies.
Rightly said! In a way, Akshay Kumar almost transformed on-screen with the characters he played in Special 26, Baby...
I keep saying that Special 26 was just a catalyst for Akshay. Honestly, he helped himself. He had a body of work that was different, so for him to try something so unusual was a brave choice. As much as people say that I might have helped Akshay, you have to give that man some credit. I wanted to cast him in Special 26 for a simple reason - he had not done such a film before. Imagine an action thriller without the action hero doing any action! Manoj (Bajpayee) performed the biggest action sequences in that film. It is great working with Akshay because he is simple and easy. He gets motivation to the sets rather than looking for it once he is there. We have readings and discussions and then he just goes out and executes it. With him, there is no trying to figure out the process and such details once the camera is rolling.
The concept of prequels is rare in Bollywood; in fact, it has not been attempted here. Naam Shabana is one such, which is being produced by you...
Yes, it has never been done here, though it's a practice in the West. I remember that when we were doing the post-production of Baby, we figured that though Taapsee Pannu doesn't have as much screen time, she will become the talking point of the film. So, the idea for Naam Shabana was born right there. We obviously had to wait and see if Baby worked, and after that, we discussed the idea with Taapsee. We brought in the entire cast of Baby and everyone was super excited about it.
Your films are always fictional stories with an underlying thread of realism. Whether it is about the task forces, Mumbai terror attacks or heists. I believe that you personally research your subjects...
As a storyteller, if I am not affected or if I don't believe in something, then I can't narrate the story with conviction. For that, I should actually understand the world my story is coming from. I research my stories a lot, and I believe that there is no other way to do it. I strongly feel that such stories need to be told and it is my duty towards the audience. Yes, balancing realism with entertainment is tough, but my job as a storyteller is to tell you a story, and it is up to you to take whatever you want to from it. My agenda is not to force you to believe in something.
You have spent a lot of time with men from the armed forces, and you know a lot about their lives. Has it changed your perspective?
My admiration for them just grows by the day. The amount of selflessness that is attached to their job is highly respectable. It is interesting to see how their mind works in high-pressure situations. It is just amazing. You sometimes hear stories from the task forces that are so so dramatic, I think apni filmein kuch nahi hai (laughs). Their stories are what I call real stories, real drama. Ever since I started interacting with them for Baby, my circle has just grown. Today, I know more people from the armed forces than the film industry and I consider myself fortunate. When I go to Delhi and meet them and they acknowledge me, it feels great. I go to their camps or offices and interact with them like I belong to their world. I guess they also feel connected with me because of the movies that I make.
You have been in the industry for about nine years now, but you come across as someone very unlike most filmmakers. You keep a low-profile and you are hardly seen at filmi parties...
Filmmaking is my profession; I don't think it is my life. I love my job, but at the end of the day, it is a job for me. I stay away from filmi parties, socialising and all that. I think people who meet me quickly understand that I am not a party person, so they don't invite me to their parties at all (laughs). It is not my thing and it doesn't come naturally to me.
Akshay Kumar on a biopic picking spree; experts analyse why this works for him
8:27 AM
Prachita Pandey (DNA; March 29, 2017)
Akshay Kumar has announced his latest film, Mogul, based on the life of a late music baron. The biopic sees him reuniting with his Jolly LLB 2 helmer Subhash Kapoor. With the latest film, Akki has signed three biopics this year, the other two being Pad Man (based on the life of social entrepreneur Arunachalam Muruganantham) and Gold (a sports biopic on former hockey captain Balbir Singh).
Going by his recent filmography, the actor has made a habit of picking films based on real-life incidents/people. Be it Special 26 (inspired by a real-life jewellery heist conducted by a conman posing as a Central Bureau of Investigation official), Airlift (the biggest human evacuation from war-torn Kuwait) or Rustom (which revived memories of the controversial Nanavati murder case). In Special 26, he played the brains behind the heist, in Airlift, his character was inspired by Mathunny Mathews, who played a significant role in the Kuwait evacuation and in Rustom, he played the Parsi naval officer accused of killing his wife’s lover. All three turned out to be box-office grossers with Airlift and Rustom entering the coveted Rs 100 crore club.
Trade analyst Taran Adarsh explains, “When you have four releases a year you can’t be doing the same stuff again and again. Akshay balances his roles — he did a Housefull 3 with Airlift and Rustom at the same time. If you have a real character and you present it in a commercial format, it’s great. Akshay’s movies based on real incidents or characters have worked for him in the past because the common man could relate to the story as well as the format. They were presented in a commercial packaging.”
Agrees Amul Vikas Mohan, Editor, Super Cinema, “He always likes to do films that are different and he probably made a conscious decision before Special 26 to take on films which can show him in a different light and most of them have paid off really well for him. And with the kind of response he’s getting, I think it gives him more confidence to attempt more such films in a similar genre.”
While one may assume that by doing such movies Akshay has probably hit the bullseye, noted film critic Anupama Chopra opines, “I don’t think there’s any formula that if you do movies based on real-life people, it will work or that Akshay is especially good in movies based on real people. I just think that he’s selecting good stories and he’s delivering very strong performances. That’s what is making them work. As far as his upcoming reality-based films are concerned, from the little I know about the characters that he’s playing, these are obviously fascinating men and I would love to get to know them better.”
Akshay has already started shooting for Padman about a man credited for inventing low-cost sanitary napkins for women in the rural parts of the country. Next up, would be Gold, which will chronicle the story of ex-hockey captain Balbir Singh, who was also a member of three Olympic gold-winning teams from 1948-1956 and holds an unbeaten record for the maximum number of goals scored by an individual in an Olympics men’s hockey finals.
What’s interesting is that these movies are about people from different strata. While one is about a social entrepreneur, another has him playing sportsman, and the latest one is steeped in music. The actor now has as many as six movies of the genre to his credit. What remains to be seen is, if he will take a break from biopics now or find another real-life personality to bring on the celluloid.
I believe in anti casting-Neeraj Pandey
8:03 AM
Neeraj Pandey on why he chose to cast Akshay Kumar and Sushant Singh Rajput against type, reveals he has bought the rights to a Hussain Zaidi bestseller for a web series
Roshmila Bhattacharya (MUMBAI MIRROR; August 9, 2016)
Neeraj Pandey candidly admits that he had trouble finding backers for his debut film, A Wednesday. That's the reason Friday Filmworks, the banner he set up with Shital Bhatia, came about. "We were not equipped to set up a production company, it was born out of default so we could make the film we wanted," he acknowledges.
Eight years on, after talks to ensure
that they were on the same page, the duo joined hands with Reliance
Entertainment for an equal partnership joint venture, Plan C Studios,
whose first co-production, Rustom, opens this Friday. "The collaboration
gives us more freedom to express ourselves without thinking about
market constraints and other trappings," Neeraj smiles.Rustom is loosely inspired by the KM Nanavati case. The Parsi naval commander shot dead his wife Sylvia's lover, Prem Ahuja. The jury of the Greater Bombay Sessions Court pronounced him "not guilty" under Section 302 with an 8-1 verdict but Judge Ratilal Bhaichand Mehta referred the case to the High Court which agreed with the prosecution's argument that the murder was premeditated, and sentenced Nanavati to life imprisonment for culpable homicide amounting to murder.
On November 24, 1961, the Supreme Court upheld the conviction. But after three years in jail, Ahuja's sister, Mamie, was persuaded to forgive him and Vijaya Lakshmi Pandit, then Governor of Maharashtra, pardoned Nanavati who migrated to Toronto with his family.
In 1963, RK Nayyar's Sunil Dutt-Leela Naidu-starrer, Yeh Raaste Hain Pyaar Ke, despite a disclaimer that all people and incidents were fictitious and altering the case's outcome, had a similar storyline even though the screenplay was said to be have been written before the case made headlines. More recently, Soni Razdan's on-the-floors Love Affair draws from the same source. With facts only a Google away, wasn't it a gamble going ahead with the Tinu Desai directed Rustom?
"Vipul Rawal's story is only loosely inspired by Nanavati's and has integrated another fictional element. I don't know much about the contemporary film, but Yeh Raaste Hai Pyaar Ke released decades ago. For us, it was an interesting story to tell today as it was a landmark and the jury system has since been abolished," reasons Neeraj.
He has established himself as a filmmaker who steers clear of formulae, bringing stories with a semblance of truth. He is also responsible for Khiladi Kumar's transformation through films like Special 26, Baby and Rustom. Neeraj refuses to take credit for the makeover. "Akshay was hungry for different roles and ready for risks. His appetite got Special 26 going. He followed it up with Baby, Rustom and Airlift which wasn't our film. I believe in anti-casting, I offered him Special 26 to explore a different side to him as an actor. He believed in me and vice versa, this trust has kept us going," he says.
Signing Sushant Singh Rajput to play MS Dhoni in the upcoming biopic, M S Dhoni - The Untold Story, was another casting decision that went against type and was met with scepticism. Today, Neeraj reveals that even the actor admits to being surprised by what he has done while dubbing: "But I'm not surprised, I was expecting it," he asserts. "I could see that he was training himself, both as a player and actor, during the readings, getting there. Sushant has an unquestionable amount of discipline, is hungry and yet wasn't doing much work. It worked in his favour."
Point out that all the secrecy around M S Dhoni - The Untold Story, along with the change in release date has lead to speculations, including reports that the real Dhoni was unhappy with the film. "Work started when we were shooting for Baby, it's been two-and-a- half years since but because it's a biopic you can't stop rumours. They can't impact a project like this which has a life of its own and can't be hurried," he argues, adding that the stories about Dhoni being unhappy are baseless. "But we choose not to give justifications or clarifications, the film will be out soon."
Meanwhile, he's in talks for the rights of several books, including S Hussain Zaidi's Mafia Queens Of Mumbai which is being developed into a web series. "Barring the stories Hussain has already sold to other makers, we have bought the rights to the rest for a digital series, including some he was planning to use in a sequel to the book. We are also in talks for another novel and developing my own, Ghalib Danger. As makers we are constantly looking for material," he says.
Meanwhile, while a follow-up to A Wednesday is out of question "because that story is done", sequels to Special 26 and Baby are in the works, and a new production which should roll in a couple of months could also spin a franchise. "There's no rush... No deadlines or finishing lines on projects. We don't have a target of making five-10 films, we will grow as we go along," he signs off.
Akshay Kumar's leading ladies Ileana DCruz and Esha Gupta bowled over
6:21 PM
Lakshmi V (BOMBAY TIMES; August 8, 2016)
One of the nicest things
about Bollywood's khiladi Akshay Kumar is that he doesn't try too hard
to charm any of his heroines. And yet, they can't help gushing about him.
The actor is warm, friendly and maintains a good work equation with his
leading ladies. He is also someone who respects women and doesn't
encroach on their space while shooting.
In his upcoming venture Rustom, directed by Tinu Suresh Desai, Akki has two girls sharing screen space with him. One is Ileana D'Cruz, who plays his wife Cynthia, and the other is Esha Gupta, who is on the warpath with him. However both actresses have pleasant things to say about the actor.
Apparently, Ileana was supposed to team up with Akshay in Special 26. However, she couldn't take up that offer. Now, she is happy that Rustom happened. “It was amazing working with Akshay,'' says Ileana, adding, “I think this is the best chemistry I've ever shared with an actor on screen. The London schedule, where we shot a song near the docks, was memorable. It was a picturesque place. One of my favourite memories was when Akshay enacted a sequence from a song shoot that we did together with costume assistant Payal. She was very nervous, but he totally made her day.“
As we mentioned earlier, Esha's character is pitted against Akshay but she says she was very excited to be a part of a film that features him. “On the first day, I was so thrilled that I was sharing the frame with him. I kept telling everyone, 'Yay, I'm shooting with Akshay Kumar.' It was such a fan-girl moment for me. He is a nice and warm person and is super-active throughout the day. Whenever we shot together, he would insist that the entire team eat together. So, irrespective of the time of our meal, we would all huddle together and share our food and thoughts. I would love to do another film with him, where he romances me and we get to sing and dance together.''
Rustom, directed by Tinu Suresh Desai, produced by Zee Studios and Kriarj Entertainment, in association with Cape Of Good Films and Plan C, releases on August 12.
In his upcoming venture Rustom, directed by Tinu Suresh Desai, Akki has two girls sharing screen space with him. One is Ileana D'Cruz, who plays his wife Cynthia, and the other is Esha Gupta, who is on the warpath with him. However both actresses have pleasant things to say about the actor.
Apparently, Ileana was supposed to team up with Akshay in Special 26. However, she couldn't take up that offer. Now, she is happy that Rustom happened. “It was amazing working with Akshay,'' says Ileana, adding, “I think this is the best chemistry I've ever shared with an actor on screen. The London schedule, where we shot a song near the docks, was memorable. It was a picturesque place. One of my favourite memories was when Akshay enacted a sequence from a song shoot that we did together with costume assistant Payal. She was very nervous, but he totally made her day.“
As we mentioned earlier, Esha's character is pitted against Akshay but she says she was very excited to be a part of a film that features him. “On the first day, I was so thrilled that I was sharing the frame with him. I kept telling everyone, 'Yay, I'm shooting with Akshay Kumar.' It was such a fan-girl moment for me. He is a nice and warm person and is super-active throughout the day. Whenever we shot together, he would insist that the entire team eat together. So, irrespective of the time of our meal, we would all huddle together and share our food and thoughts. I would love to do another film with him, where he romances me and we get to sing and dance together.''
Rustom, directed by Tinu Suresh Desai, produced by Zee Studios and Kriarj Entertainment, in association with Cape Of Good Films and Plan C, releases on August 12.
I'd like to strike a balance between Bollywood and the South-Kajal Aggarwal
7:25 AM
Why does Kajal Aggarwal disappear down South for a couple of years after a Hindi film? Over to the actress
Roshmila Bhattacharya (MUMBAI MIRROR; December 23, 2015)
No one remembers her from
Samir Karnik's 2004 romance Kyun! ho Gaya Na... in which she played
Aishwarya Rai's sister, Riya. For many, Kajal Aggarwal made her
Bollywood debut opposite Ajay Devgn in the Rohit Shetty-directed cop
drama, Singham, seven years later. And despite the film's super success,
she disappeared down South, only to reappear as Akshay Kumar's leading
lady in the heist thriller, Special 26 in 2013, followed by another
two-year hibernation. Why this game of hide-and-seek?
Speaking to Mirror from Ooty, where she's filming the Tamil Telugu bilingual, Brahmotsavam, with Mahesh Babu, the 30-year-old actress points out that even down South, she's always opted for quality over quantity. “In this industry it's easy to get typecast and I've been careful even with my Tamil and Telugu films. Special 26 was not a substantial role in terms of screen time but I fell in love with the script immediately,“ says Kajal, who is gearing up for another comeback with Deepak Tijori's intense love story, Do Lafzon Ki Kahani, next year. “I play a blind girl or rather because of a disorder, she suffers from poor sight. So while Randeep (Hooda) trained in martial arts, I went to a Blind School and studied Braille.“
So, will the disappearing acts continue? “I hope not,“ she laughs, huffing and puffing on the treadmill. “I'd like to strike a balance between Bollywood and the South. After all, Hindi is my language and I am a South Mumbai girl.“
Talvar: Getting the real picture
8:33 AM
Meghna Gulzar's much-awaited Talvar is the latest inna the rising genre of films inspired by true stories
THE TIMES OF INDIA (September 27, 2015)
For millions of Indians,
movies are an escape from reality. In the dark of the auditorium, the
day's drudgery dissipates as tales of romance, action and drama unfold
on the screen.
That's why films based on real-life stories are exceptions rather than the rule in Bollywood. Yet, with the maturing of the audience there's been a steady rise of such films in recent years. Director Meghna Gulzar's Talvar, based on the baffling double murders of Aarushi and Hemraj in 2008, is the latest in this line-up.Feted by critics and audiences at the Toronto international film festival, Talvar is one of the most eagerly awaited movies of the year.
Real-life stories on celluloid grabbed headlines when No One Killed Jessica became one of the most talked-about films of 2011. The movie, which took its title from a TOI headline, depicted the killing of model Jessica Lal who was shot by Manu Sharma, son of a prominent Congress politician at a crowded Delhi farmhouse party in 1999. The film, released 12 years after the murder, brought out the bewildering twists and turns of the case. Lauded by critics and audiences, the film fetched a Filmfare award for Rani Mukerji in the role of a bold and brash journalist investigating the case.
More recently, the life and death of activist-lawyer Shahid Azmi was the subject of another topical feature film, Shahid (2013). Azmi, who had defended several Muslims charged under Pota and won several acquittals on their behalf, was killed by unidentified gunmen in Mumbai. Frank and forthright, director Hansal Mehta's film earned both critical acclaim and box-office rewards.
No One Killed Jessica and Shahid brought out the flaws in the police investigations and the justice system. Talvar, too, raises a host of disconcerting questions about the manner in which the case was pursued by the cops and the way conclusions were arrived at.
The history of Hindi films based on real incidents actually dates back to the pre-Independence era, if we include biopics such as V Shantaram's Dr Kotnis Ki Amar Kahani (1946). The film told the stirring life story of Dr Dwarkanath Kotnis who offered medical help to thousands of patients in China during World War II. Then again, in 1959, upscale Bombay was riveted by the infamous Nanavati case. Kawas Manekshaw Nanavati, a commander in the Navy, shot dead Prem Ahuja, the lover of his wife Sylvia. The crime gripped the public imagination. The 1963 film, Yeh Rastey Hain Pyar Ke, claimed to be a work of fiction but the plot bore distinct resemblance to the Nanavati case. However, the movie failed to strike a chord with critics or audience.
Ram Gopal Varma, too, is known to borrow slices of real life for his screenplays. Not A Love Story (2011) was based on the gruesome Neeraj Grover murder. Actress Maria Susairaj and her boyfriend Lt M L Jerome Mathew were sentenced to jail in the case. Another Varma film, The Attacks of 26/11, sought to recreate the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks.
In recent times, biopics on sportspersons have clicked. Bhaag Milkha Bhaag, Paan Singh Tomar and Mary Kom are three commendable examples. The Dirty Picture, based on the tempestuous life of actor Silk Smitha, did wonders to the career of Vidya Balan.
Two other interesting films based on real incidents are Anurag Kashyap's Black Friday and director Neeraj Pandey's Special 26, which recreated a 1987 heist in which a group of conmen skimmed a well-known jeweller of Mumbai. Black Friday had a docu-drama feel and was a compelling take on the 1993 Mumbai blasts.
That's why films based on real-life stories are exceptions rather than the rule in Bollywood. Yet, with the maturing of the audience there's been a steady rise of such films in recent years. Director Meghna Gulzar's Talvar, based on the baffling double murders of Aarushi and Hemraj in 2008, is the latest in this line-up.Feted by critics and audiences at the Toronto international film festival, Talvar is one of the most eagerly awaited movies of the year.
Real-life stories on celluloid grabbed headlines when No One Killed Jessica became one of the most talked-about films of 2011. The movie, which took its title from a TOI headline, depicted the killing of model Jessica Lal who was shot by Manu Sharma, son of a prominent Congress politician at a crowded Delhi farmhouse party in 1999. The film, released 12 years after the murder, brought out the bewildering twists and turns of the case. Lauded by critics and audiences, the film fetched a Filmfare award for Rani Mukerji in the role of a bold and brash journalist investigating the case.
More recently, the life and death of activist-lawyer Shahid Azmi was the subject of another topical feature film, Shahid (2013). Azmi, who had defended several Muslims charged under Pota and won several acquittals on their behalf, was killed by unidentified gunmen in Mumbai. Frank and forthright, director Hansal Mehta's film earned both critical acclaim and box-office rewards.
No One Killed Jessica and Shahid brought out the flaws in the police investigations and the justice system. Talvar, too, raises a host of disconcerting questions about the manner in which the case was pursued by the cops and the way conclusions were arrived at.
The history of Hindi films based on real incidents actually dates back to the pre-Independence era, if we include biopics such as V Shantaram's Dr Kotnis Ki Amar Kahani (1946). The film told the stirring life story of Dr Dwarkanath Kotnis who offered medical help to thousands of patients in China during World War II. Then again, in 1959, upscale Bombay was riveted by the infamous Nanavati case. Kawas Manekshaw Nanavati, a commander in the Navy, shot dead Prem Ahuja, the lover of his wife Sylvia. The crime gripped the public imagination. The 1963 film, Yeh Rastey Hain Pyar Ke, claimed to be a work of fiction but the plot bore distinct resemblance to the Nanavati case. However, the movie failed to strike a chord with critics or audience.
Ram Gopal Varma, too, is known to borrow slices of real life for his screenplays. Not A Love Story (2011) was based on the gruesome Neeraj Grover murder. Actress Maria Susairaj and her boyfriend Lt M L Jerome Mathew were sentenced to jail in the case. Another Varma film, The Attacks of 26/11, sought to recreate the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks.
In recent times, biopics on sportspersons have clicked. Bhaag Milkha Bhaag, Paan Singh Tomar and Mary Kom are three commendable examples. The Dirty Picture, based on the tempestuous life of actor Silk Smitha, did wonders to the career of Vidya Balan.
Two other interesting films based on real incidents are Anurag Kashyap's Black Friday and director Neeraj Pandey's Special 26, which recreated a 1987 heist in which a group of conmen skimmed a well-known jeweller of Mumbai. Black Friday had a docu-drama feel and was a compelling take on the 1993 Mumbai blasts.
There is no Pakistan bashing in Baby-Neeraj Pandey
8:10 AM
Neeraj Pandey on the cross-border villain of his upcoming film, the Special 26 sequel and MS Dhoni's biopic
Roshmilla Bhattacharya (MUMBAI MIRROR; December 13, 2014)
Your directorial debut, A
Wednesday, was partly inspired by the July 11, 2006 Mumbai train
bombings. Special 26 borrowed from the March 19, 1987 heist carried out
by a group posing as CBI officers. Does your upcoming film, Baby, have
any real-life references?
It's drawn from a collage of operations involving a Black Op covert unit. I hope once they see the film, the audience will be able to figure out my source.
Akshay Kumar surprised everyone with a different look and an understated performance in Special 26.Will Baby spring another surprise?
This time too, his character is rooted in reality but Baby's Ajay is very different from Special 26's Ajay Singh. That was a heist drama while this is an action thriller. Why would I want to repeat myself or make him repeat a role?
Your bad man is a Maulana issuing threats like 'Jab tak Kashmir se India wapas nahin jaata, Mohammed Rehman aapki giraft mein nahin aa sakta' and 'Hum India ko jaante hain, yeh kuch nahin kar sakega, yeh sirf baatein kar sakta hai'. Kay Kay Menon's character makes a reference to Kasab and his air-conditioned cell. Aren't you afraid of repercussions?
These things do exist and by not talking about them we can't wish them away or solve the problem. My film is rooted in reality but the idea is not to create a controversy. There is no Pakistan bashing.
With the present government taking a tough stance on border issues, is a resolution in sight?
I am a reasonably optimistic person. So, I had hopes from the previous government and this one too. There is a solution to every problem and everyone has an opinion on it. My opinion doesn't have to be the national consensus.
Maulana Rehman is being played by a Pakistani actor, Rashid Naz, who is set to visit Mumbai. Do you anticipate any problem during his stay here given that relations between the two countries are fraught with tension?
If the government of India gives him a visa and allows him in, it is their responsibility to ensure his safety.
What if certain political factions block the film's release, both here and in Pakistan?
I do not anticipate any such problem.Why should I? My job is to make a film and I have done that.
Even before the film rolled, you had announced January 23, 2015 as the release date. Why did you zero in on the Republic Day weekend?
Since a lot of money is involved, everyone looks for a good release date. This is a good weekend. However, the idea wasn't to cash in on patriotic sentiments.
Buzz is, you had creative differences with the producers of the MS Dhoni biopic and have subsequently dropped out of the project..
I have signed a non-disclosure agreement with the producers of the biopic. I can't talk about it.
Speculations continue about the A Wednesday sequel...
(Cutting in) That's never going to happen. That story has been told. I'm not going to turn it into a cash cow. But maybe we can take Special Chabbis forward through a sequel with a good story.
You've written many stories and a novel too, Ghalib Danger, which you're adapting into a film with Ajay Devgn and Emraan Hashmi...
The casting is pure speculation. But yes, I will be making Ghalib Danger as a film. After I finished writing the book, I realised it could be adapted into a screen play and that's what I'm doing.
It's drawn from a collage of operations involving a Black Op covert unit. I hope once they see the film, the audience will be able to figure out my source.
Akshay Kumar surprised everyone with a different look and an understated performance in Special 26.Will Baby spring another surprise?
This time too, his character is rooted in reality but Baby's Ajay is very different from Special 26's Ajay Singh. That was a heist drama while this is an action thriller. Why would I want to repeat myself or make him repeat a role?
Your bad man is a Maulana issuing threats like 'Jab tak Kashmir se India wapas nahin jaata, Mohammed Rehman aapki giraft mein nahin aa sakta' and 'Hum India ko jaante hain, yeh kuch nahin kar sakega, yeh sirf baatein kar sakta hai'. Kay Kay Menon's character makes a reference to Kasab and his air-conditioned cell. Aren't you afraid of repercussions?
These things do exist and by not talking about them we can't wish them away or solve the problem. My film is rooted in reality but the idea is not to create a controversy. There is no Pakistan bashing.
With the present government taking a tough stance on border issues, is a resolution in sight?
I am a reasonably optimistic person. So, I had hopes from the previous government and this one too. There is a solution to every problem and everyone has an opinion on it. My opinion doesn't have to be the national consensus.
Maulana Rehman is being played by a Pakistani actor, Rashid Naz, who is set to visit Mumbai. Do you anticipate any problem during his stay here given that relations between the two countries are fraught with tension?
If the government of India gives him a visa and allows him in, it is their responsibility to ensure his safety.
What if certain political factions block the film's release, both here and in Pakistan?
I do not anticipate any such problem.Why should I? My job is to make a film and I have done that.
Even before the film rolled, you had announced January 23, 2015 as the release date. Why did you zero in on the Republic Day weekend?
Since a lot of money is involved, everyone looks for a good release date. This is a good weekend. However, the idea wasn't to cash in on patriotic sentiments.
Buzz is, you had creative differences with the producers of the MS Dhoni biopic and have subsequently dropped out of the project..
I have signed a non-disclosure agreement with the producers of the biopic. I can't talk about it.
Speculations continue about the A Wednesday sequel...
(Cutting in) That's never going to happen. That story has been told. I'm not going to turn it into a cash cow. But maybe we can take Special Chabbis forward through a sequel with a good story.
You've written many stories and a novel too, Ghalib Danger, which you're adapting into a film with Ajay Devgn and Emraan Hashmi...
The casting is pure speculation. But yes, I will be making Ghalib Danger as a film. After I finished writing the book, I realised it could be adapted into a screen play and that's what I'm doing.
Neeraj Pandey is the most honest black and white man in this industry-Akshay Kumar
4:47 PM
Akshay Kumar (BOMBAY TIMES; December 3, 2014)
On this very 'Wednesday'
going to tell you I'm about a 'Special' Director and why his films are
his ultimate 'Babys'!!! Neeraj Pandey is one of the most complex
directors I've ever had the pleasure of working with. Way back when I
first shot with this extraordinary quiet man, the intimidation I felt
towards his uniqueness was through the roof, yet he had absolutely no
idea the excitement and nerves I was feeling on my first day working
with him for Special 26. I was silently worried after day one we were
never going to be able to be in sync with each other on a professional
level, but I bit my lip and no joke, it may have taken some time and a
gentle arm-twist, but by the second leg of our schedule, all barriers
were
down and we actually had a laugh at the monitor, which turned everyone's
head in sheer shock. The serious, poker-faced Neeraj Pandey CAN laugh
and we've been enjoying each other's hard work ever since. Though, he
definitely is the most honest black and white man in this industry,
he says what he means, he means what he says, but his heart is pure and
his opinions are even more placid than my own, this is when I learnt I
am actually being directed by a man that thinks and speaks as little as I
do. He is not here to gossip or give opinions in areas he doesn't feel
comfortable in expressing his views, he's not here to talk about anyone
else's film apart from his own and even then, he speaks not a word of
his success or greatness, he's even more humble than that. When asked
what he thought of Special 26 after
editing it, his words were, 'Nice, you tell me when you see it, then
we'll talk!' Again, I asked him what he felt about Baby during the edit,
again he replies, 'Good, you see it, then you tell me!' His job is
complete, he's done his best, only time will tell now, but he's
definitely not a man that is going to butter up his own film for
anyone's benefit and I commend him for that. Opinions are pointless
without results, but even then he speaks nothing but his passion for his
next script, that's when we talk the most, when there is a script
involved and an adventure to plot.
The solidarity that we share now, I never knew would ever exist between such a life-gripping director and myself. (But I will admit I have kept my pranks down to a minimum on his films). What I love most about this man, apart from his direct honest opinion and crystal clear vision, is how this man doesn't shoot to impress, he's not here to extravagantly blow your mind, he shoots to tell you a story, his only interest is to suck you into the trail he wants you to follow. I could follow this man till the end of the earth, just listening to his take on life and the way he sees things, his visions, his honesty to shoot original sequences as he refuses to copy anything already made. For example, he had a torture scene mapped out in front of me over a year ago, then recently a Hollywood film duplicated his vision. Needless to say he scrapped it, even though he had dreamt about this scene for more than a year. He said, 'No, I'll shoot another version, this one has already been made.' So, he deleted this scene from his head and made a new one, that is how honest a director he is. Nothing but genuine from start to finish. There are no shortcuts in his world. He's so passionate and politely cocksure about what he does and how he wants to portray his script, like he's lived it before, dreamt it and made it 10 times before he's even walked on set. It's that genuine faith alone that gives an actor that immediate confidence. Every story is for a reason, either to educate, open minds or to just experience the thrills of real life incidents that our city lives through on a daily basis. The term 'pointless' doesn't exist in Neeraj Sir's vocabulary. Everything is for a reason.
I could talk about what a wondrous man he is all day .There are very few people on the planet that I can openly talk about with such admiration, but this 'Special Director' is definitely one of them. To the Baby of all Babys, I wish this team the absolute best, it's been a tough schedule, but like Neeraj Sir always says, 'Work hard or the door's that way.' What can I say. I respect this man from all angles. He is a Million Dollar Baby through and through!!!
The solidarity that we share now, I never knew would ever exist between such a life-gripping director and myself. (But I will admit I have kept my pranks down to a minimum on his films). What I love most about this man, apart from his direct honest opinion and crystal clear vision, is how this man doesn't shoot to impress, he's not here to extravagantly blow your mind, he shoots to tell you a story, his only interest is to suck you into the trail he wants you to follow. I could follow this man till the end of the earth, just listening to his take on life and the way he sees things, his visions, his honesty to shoot original sequences as he refuses to copy anything already made. For example, he had a torture scene mapped out in front of me over a year ago, then recently a Hollywood film duplicated his vision. Needless to say he scrapped it, even though he had dreamt about this scene for more than a year. He said, 'No, I'll shoot another version, this one has already been made.' So, he deleted this scene from his head and made a new one, that is how honest a director he is. Nothing but genuine from start to finish. There are no shortcuts in his world. He's so passionate and politely cocksure about what he does and how he wants to portray his script, like he's lived it before, dreamt it and made it 10 times before he's even walked on set. It's that genuine faith alone that gives an actor that immediate confidence. Every story is for a reason, either to educate, open minds or to just experience the thrills of real life incidents that our city lives through on a daily basis. The term 'pointless' doesn't exist in Neeraj Sir's vocabulary. Everything is for a reason.
I could talk about what a wondrous man he is all day .There are very few people on the planet that I can openly talk about with such admiration, but this 'Special Director' is definitely one of them. To the Baby of all Babys, I wish this team the absolute best, it's been a tough schedule, but like Neeraj Sir always says, 'Work hard or the door's that way.' What can I say. I respect this man from all angles. He is a Million Dollar Baby through and through!!!
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