Showing posts with label Thalaivi. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Thalaivi. Show all posts
Right now, it is not about the collections; it is about getting the audience back to theatres, says Bellbottom director Ranjit M Tewari
8:15 AM
Akshay Kumar paves the way as Bollywood’s first theatrical release since second lockdown Bellbottom earns Rs 9 cr in three days; trade hopes more movies follow suit
Mohar Basu, Uma Ramasubramanian (MID-DAY; August 23, 2021)
Someone had to make a start after the slump that cinemas have been in since the second lockdown in April. In this case, Akshay Kumar did. Last week, Bellbottom became the first Bollywood film since April to pursue a theatrical release. All eyes have since been on the thriller to gauge if more movies can take the big-screen route.
With Mumbai and certain parts of Maharashtra yet to reopen their movie halls, Bell Bottom’s first weekend collections are understandably underwhelming. But trade analyst Taran Adarsh points out that in the current scenario, business is not the top priority, changing behaviour patterns is. “Hats off to Akshay and Vashu [Bhagnani, producer] for showing the confidence to release the film amid the pandemic! It will now need a continuous [supply of] fresh content, like Sooryavanshi, '83 and Thalaivi. The next big film is Amitabh Bachchan’s Chehre. It will take time for people to return to theatres because it’s no longer a habit,” says Adarsh.
He adds that the Ranjit M Tewari directorial venture has collected approximately nine crore in the first three days — a respectable figure, given the constraints. “We lost 30 per cent of the revenue from Maharashtra. Plus, there are restrictions in terms of show limitations. In a normal scenario, Akshay’s films earn around Rs 13 to 14 crore per day. But right now, it is not about the collections; it is about getting the audience back to theatres."
Trade analyst Ramesh Bala doesn’t share Adarsh’s optimistic view. “The film has performed below expectations. People aren’t going back to movie halls, or have assumed it will drop on an OTT platform soon,” he says, noting that the lack of urgency to watch a film is a sign of the changed viewing pattern. “The lack of results shouldn’t deter other directors. With KGF: Chapter 2 postponed to April 2022, filmmakers are waiting for the market to recover so that they can make the most of their projects.”
The destiny of a film is not in our hands, but a good film deserves to be watched by everyone-Madhoo
8:07 AM
Actress Madhoo shares how it was a good decision to postpone the release of Thalaiviand tells us about her last film,College Kumar,which fared badly due to the pandemic
Tanvi Trivedi (BOMBAY TIMES; July 12, 2021)
In 2020, actress Madhoo featured in a Tamil-Telugu film College Kumar in a leading role after almost 20 years, but unfortunately, it was a washout at the BO, as the film hit the theatres at the start of the Coronavirus pandemic. This year again, the Jayalalithaa biopic Thalaivi, where she will be seen playing the role of V N Janki Ramachandran, was earlier slated to hit theatres on April 23, but was pushed ahead due to the second wave of the pandemic. But this time, the actress who is reuniting with her Roja co-star Arvind Swamy in Thalaivi after almost two decades, was relieved by the makers’ decision.
Talking about her film College Kumar getting affected badly last year, she said, “I was playing the lead role opposite Prabhu Ganesan. It was a full-fledged, subject-oriented role. I have been my own biggest critic, so when I saw the film, I was pleased with my work and all my hopes were pinned on it. When the film was ready for release in February 2020, initial talks of how COVID-19 had started infecting people and how cine-goers were not frequenting cinema halls, had started. The entire seriousness of Coronavirus came much later, but people had stopped going to cinema halls. In the midst of the pandemic, the film was released, and it was a huge flop from Day 1. I felt so disheartened. I was personally waiting for the release of the film, it had great performances, a good script and we had given it our best. I remember asking the producer if he was contemplating on re-releasing the film at a better time. But then we all realised that once a film releases, it loses its charm and we all saw the producer’s point.”
Madhoo is now looking forward to her next, Thailavi. She said, “It has shaped out so well and we were super excited about its release. Unfortunately, again in March, the second wave of the Coronavirus hit us, and we all felt the film shouldn’t be released. Thankfully, the makers postponed it. I feel that a film which has been shot so well, deserves a full chance for viewing. The destiny of a film is not in our hands, but a good film deserves to be watched by everyone.”
Bollywood's release calendar goes for a toss, yet again
8:11 AM
With theatres shut in Maharashtra till April 30, the film industry is staring at a bleak future
Rishabh Suri (HINDUSTAN TIMES; April 7, 2021)
The year 2021 was looking like the year of Bollywood’s resurgence. Announcements for new films were being made one after the other, shoots started and were wrapped up. But the pandemic refuses to slow down, and hence in Maharashtra theatres have been shut till April 30. This in turn has led to filmmakers rethinking about their releases.
Rohit Shetty has postponed the already delayed Sooryavanshi again. What happens to the rest of the biggies — Thalaivi in April, Radhe: Your Most Wanted Bhai and Satayameva Jayate 2 in May, and so on? Does the entire year seem set for a reshuffle?
Experts and makers believe so. Anand Pandit, who had delayed the theatrical release of his Amitabh Bachchan starrer Chehre, says, “We have only 52 Fridays a year, and there are usually 300-400 films. Entire April and May will go, films will start releasing only after June.”
Rajender Singh Jyala, Chief Programming Officer, INOX Leisure, says while south releases are on track so far, Hindi films will change their dates. “We don’t know when the theatres will reopen. Once that clarity comes, then the re scheduling will happen,” he says.
Release sans Maharashtra?
Jyala adds that these are tough times for theatres. “There is no income. The government has expedited the vaccination drive. It’s unlikely that makers will choose to release big film in other states barring Maharashtra. Smaller films, yes, maybe. Maharashtra contributes 30-35% of all India box-office. Films will release, but not those on a bigger scale. For that, Maharashtra theatres have to reopen,” he explains.
Exhibitor Akshaye Rathi says, “Films releasing in April or early May will reconsider their plans. Given the fact that Maharahtra is shutting down, it’s possibly the biggest market in terms of box-office revenue. With that out of the equation, no producer would want to release in other belts. The impact of Maharashtra is on the other parts of the country as well and is damaging.”
OTT ROUTE INSTEAD?
Will filmmakers who can’t wait anymore for theatres to reopen, opt for OTT releases instead? The mounting costs for delaying a release might compel some. But Pandit, whose film The Big Bull will premiere on a streaming platform, reasons, “I don’t think any OTT player will be able to match the numbers for big films like Sooryavanshi. There was no economic reason behind me releasing TBT on OTT. We are a zero debt company. Chehre would be a beautiful experience, that is why we are holding on to it for a theatrical.”
Trade expert Atul Mohan says, “It’s not assured that cinemas will reopen on May 1. There is no clarity about extension. Hindi films won’t release elsewhere. They can’t afford to lose such a big market.”
New Covid-19 wave spells bad days for Bollywood again?
8:14 AM
Hindi cinema braces for its darkest hour just as things had begun to look up
Rishabh Suri (HINDUSTAN TIMES; April 6, 2021)
A host of actors diagnosed with Coronavirus, stalled shoots and postponed releases — is 2021 looking like 2020? On Sunday, the Maharashtra government announced it is again shutting down theatres and multiplexes, to stem the spread of the virus.
Industry people certainly do feel history is repeating itself. Just when the momentum was building up, with 25 films announced since January, the latest spike in Covid cases including Akshay Kumar (who was shooting for Ram Setu), R Madhavan, Kartik Aaryan (shooting for Bhool Bhulaiya 2) and Alia Bhatt, sort of shook everyone up.
As trade analyst Taran Adarsh puts it, “Producers had started announcing release dates, now there’s this spike especially in Mumbai. The first quarter has not been great for the Hindi film industry. Akshay had so many projects, now Ram Setu has stopped. For that matter, any actor coming down with it, has repercussions.”
In 2020, Bollywood did a business of almost ₹600 crore in the first three months until Covid struck. Hollywood films too were doing exceedingly well, with business estimated at ₹750 crore in 2017, ₹950 crore in 2018, and ₹1,240 crore in 2019. However, in 2021, all Bollywood could manage with limited releases in the first quarter was ₹50 crore, says trade expert Atul Mohan.
Fate of releases
April itself had two big releases set for release, Akshay’s Sooryavanshi and Kangana Ranaut’s Thalaivi. Mohan says they’ll be postponed again because Maharashtra is a big market. “Maharashtra contributes around 40% of net collections. The closure of cinema halls has come again. OTT releases are always on the cards, but every maker wants the big screen,” he says. May has Salman Khan’s Radhe: Your Most Wanted Bhai and Satyameva Jayate 2 lined up for release. Milap Zaveri, director of SJ2, couldn’t be reached till the time of going to press.
Kartik Aaryan’s film Bhool Bhulaiya 2’s shoot stopped after he tested Covid positive, he is negative now.
What happens when a shoot stops?
Makers of films whose actors have fallen prey to the virus say technicians get affected too. Anees Bazmee had begun shooting after a year, for Bhool Bhulaiya 2, but Aaryan was diagnosed with the virus. “We were shooting with a lot of precautions, and got a lot of people vaccinated as well. But apart from actors, even directors have got Covid. If things move like this, there will be a time when shoots might stop altogether,” he rues.
WORKing AROUND it?
Ashoke Pandit, chief advisor, Federation of Western India Cine Employees, says makers have their workarounds for such scenarios. “If an actor falls sick, makers can shoot the portions without them until they get fine,” he reasons.
However, according to Akshaye Rathi, exhibitor, this can’t apply to every film. “Most of these actors have the lion’s share of screen space in a film. If any of them falls sick, they are out of action for 15-20 days. It won’t result in complete closure, but there would be a loss of money on the shoot,” he says.
Fenil's Bollywood Talk # 667
10:16 AM
APRIL SUDDENLY TURNS DRY; 2 FILMS TO STILL TRY ITS LUCK TOMORROW
Last week, we mentioned that the rising cases of Coronavirus led to the indefinite postponement of the Hindi version of Haathi Mere Saathi. It was scheduled to release on March 26. In the last 8 days, a lot of other films got pushed. Bunty Aur Babli 2, scheduled for April 23 release, has been delayed indefinitely. 2 days back, the makers of Chehre too made it clear that they’d release when the situation would be better. This also became crucial after Maharashtra declared a night curfew, starting as early as 8:00 pm. As a result, the last show in a theatre needs to be held at 5:15 or 5:30 pm.
Interestingly, the last week also saw the release of Godzilla vs. Kong and it did phenomenally well. Our projection went completely wrong – we had predicted a weekend of around Rs. 10 crore. But the film surprisingly opened at a huge Rs. 6.25 crore when it released on Wednesday March 24. It ended up collecting Rs. 32.25 crore in 6 days, including healthy collections on Monday, the day of Holi. These are the best collections for a Hindi and English film since the beginning of a pandemic and ideally, it should have cheered up the trade and industry. However, when one sees the collections minutely, one realizes that a major chunk of the earnings came from the South. The cases in the South are not that high and the cinema business there is more or less normal. An average Hindi film meanwhile does limited business in the South. It relies majorly on West and North to score and these areas were doing poorly since the cases began to increase significantly. The not-so-great performance of Mumbai Saga and Saina also indicated that releasing a Hindi film in this scenario would not be able to fully perform as per its potential.
As of now, now only two major films, Thalaivi on April 23 and Sooryavanshi on April 30, are scheduled for release. However, it is being said that Sooryavanshi is definitely getting postponed as it’s a big film and in such conditions, it’ll prove to be a commercial flop in cinemas.
However, two Hindi films, both small budget ones, will be releasing tomorrow despite the challenges. The first one is Flight. It stars Mohit Chadda, Pavan Malhotra, Zakir Hussain, Viveck Vaswani, Shibani Bedi, Pritam Singh and is directed by Suraj Joshi. The film has an unknown star cast and yet, it has grabbed some eyeballs. This is because it’s trailer is very thrilling. It tells the story of a man trapped in a mid-air flight! Despite the fact that the trailer impressed people, the excitement is obviously minimal. The rising cases will also prove detrimental to an extent. But on the positive side, if it’s a good film, it can grow through positive word of mouth. And it’ll have a long run in cinemas now that hardly any film is releasing.
The other film releasing tomorrow is Koi Jaane Na. It stars Kunal Kapoor and Amyra Dastur and is a suspense saga. It is directed by actor Amin Hajee, of Lagaan fame. The film was shot around 2 years back and is finally seeing the light of the day. This movie features Aamir Khan along with Elli AvrRam in the song ‘Har Funn Maula’. This song has been noticed but many have not been able to realize that it’s a part of the film. Hence, while the song is known, the film is still unknown for most people. Just like Flight, it’ll open to poor houses but might have a chance if public reports are encouraging.
The minute we see the cases dipping, we will take a call on Chehre's release date-Anand Pandit
8:13 AM
Amid talk of theatre shutdown, the release of Big B’s Chehre deferred; makers of Thalaivi, Sooryavanshi on wait-and-watch mode
Mohar Basu, Uma Ramasubramanian (MID-DAY; March 31, 2021)
Amitabh Bachchan and Emraan Hashmi-led Chehre was slated to hit the marquee on April 9. However, with Maharashtra reporting 31,000-plus fresh Coronavirus cases on Monday and chief minister Uddhav Thackeray indicating a second lockdown by the weekend, producer Anand Pandit has deferred the mystery thriller’s release. The producer says the decision felt right given that theatres are likely to be shut in the second round of lockdown.
“I have always lived by the maxim of ‘safety first’. Given the rising number of cases, it is only right that we delay the release of Chehre. The minute we see the cases dipping, we will take a call on the release date,” says Pandit.
Considering the Rumy Jafry-directed venture has already been delayed by a year, is he contemplating a digital premiere in light of the recent developments? “At this point, we are not looking at an OTT [premiere]. Amit ji and Emraan applauded my decision to postpone the release. We are on the same page when it comes to audience safety. Amit ji said that viewers must enjoy the film without any fear.”
April has two big-ticket offerings in Kangana Ranaut-led biopic on J Jayalalithaa, Thalaivi, and Akshay Kumar’s cop drama Sooryavanshi. If the imminent lockdown in Maharashtra runs till April-end, it will directly impact the fate of the two films. A trade source reveals, “The makers of Thalaivi will stick to the April 23 date because the cases are under control in Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh, which are big markets for the trilingual. The team of Sooryavanshi is waiting it out and will take a call only by mid-April.”
Thalaivi producer Shaailesh R Singh declined to comment. Shibasish Sarkar of Reliance Entertainment, which is backing Sooryavanshi, remained unavailable.
Exclusive photo: Thalaivi trailer to be launched in two cities, Chennai and Mumbai
7:54 AM
To mark Kangana Ranaut’s birthday on March 23, makers of Jayalalithaa biopic Thalaivi plan trailer launch in Mumbai and Chennai
Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; March 20, 2021)
Thalaivi, the biopic on the late Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa, has the potential to go down in Kangana Ranaut’s filmography as one of her most powerful roles. As the perfect gift to the actor, the makers of the trilingual — Hindi, Tamil and Telugu — have decided to launch the trailer on her 34th birthday on March 23. Director A L Vijay and the producers have planned a two-city launch in Mumbai and Chennai, which will be conducted in adherence with safety guidelines.
“The team has lined up a trailer launch and press conference in the Tamil Nadu capital, which will be attended by Kangana, Arvind Swamy, producers Vishnu Induri and Shailesh R Singh. It will be followed by a similar event in Mumbai. However, Arvind, who plays the late MG Ramachandran in the movie, will skip the Mumbai do,” reveals a source.
Pointing out that actor-turned-politician Jayalalithaa’s charisma and power made her a national figure, the director says they had to plan a grand event to stay true to their subject and the scale of the ambitious project. “Thalaivi reflects the life of an inspirational icon. Jayalalithaa was not just an idol for the people of Tamil Nadu, but a renowned personality across the nation. So, we decided to launch the trailer in Chennai and Mumbai,” says Vijay, before heaping praise on his leading lady. “Kangana is a remarkable actor and has adopted the mannerisms of Jayalalithaa for the film.”
Fenil's Bollywood Talk # 663
10:26 AM
MOVIE SEASON TO BEGIN WITH A BANG FROM NEXT WEEK!
The cinemas have been allowed to resume from mid-October in most parts of India and in the crucial market of Mumbai from November 5. Yet, we hardly have had a handful of Hindi films that have been released in cinemas. And the collections have been poor for all films. Suraj Pe Mangal Bhari is the biggest grosser post lockdown but even that, it managed to collect mere Rs. 4.06 crore. Meanwhile, the collections down South have been great as some big films got released there and even emerged as a success. It gave a clear indication that if big and mid-sized films release in theatres, then the viewers are bound to turn up. However, filmmakers here didn’t believe so. They felt that there’s still fear of the Coronavirus among viewers. Also, the government had allowed only 50% occupancy in cinemas. The ones with the big films in their kitty believed that this restriction will prevent them from collecting enough. The trade countered that even Master earned more than Rs. 100 crore with these restrictions but their plea fell on deaf ears.
However, on January 30, the union government allowed 100% occupancy in theatres. This was done after the Coronavirus cases began to fall gradually. This led to a wave of cheer in the industry and trade. And in the next 3 weeks, the filmmakers took the risk and announced the release dates of their films. What’s heartening is that unlike the October-January period, where one small film would release every 2 or 3 or even 4 weeks, this time, a line-up was announced. As per the schedule, there’s an interesting film releasing now almost every week.
The first film that’ll make it to cinemas is Roohi. It belongs to the same universe as Stree and stars Rajkummar Rao, Janhvi Kapoor and Varun Sharma. It releases on Thursday, March 11, to take advantage of the Mahashivratri holiday. March 19 will see the release of John Abraham-Emraan Hashmi starrer, Mumbai Saga. This massy fare is directed by Sanjay Gupta. The same day, Sandeep Aur Pinky Faraar, starring Arjun Kapoor and Parineeti Chopra, will also arrive in cinemas.
April 2 will see the release of the much awaited film Sooryavanshi, starring Akshay Kumar and Katrina Kaif. Directed by Rohit Shetty, the official announcement is yet to be made, however. Then there’ll be a clash on April 23 between Bunty Aur Babli 2, starring Saif Ali Khan, Rani Mukerji, Siddhant Chaturvedi and Sharvari Wagh and Kangana Ranaut-starrer Thalaivi. Amitabh Bachchan-Emraan Hashmi’s Chehre will make it to cinemas on April 30.
Eid 2021 falls on May 12 or 13 and this time there’ll be a clash, between Salman Khan’s Radhe and John Abraham’s Satyameva Jayate 2. 2 weeks later, Akshay Kumar will present his action thriller, Bellbottom, on May 28. A week later, June 4, will see the release of the highly awaited sports biopic, ’83, starring Ranveer Singh and Deepika Padukone. While June 18 will see the release of Amitabh Bachchan-starrer Jhund, June 25 will see Shamshera, starring Ranbir Kapoor and Sanjay Dutt, arriving in cinemas. Similarly, the release schedule for the rest of the months of 2021 is also more or less finalized.
However, there’s a small catch. Since mid-February, the cases of Coronavirus in the country have started rising. This is mainly happening in the state of Maharashtra, where the crucial markets of Mumbai and Pune, are located. This state along with Uttar Pradesh (barring Lucknow and Noida), Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan, Jharkhand, Odisha and Kerala haven’t allowed 100% occupancy yet. Punjab had allowed but went back to 50% after cases there spiked. Industry insiders feel that the important centres like Mumbai, Delhi, Pune, Hyderabad, Bengaluru, Kolkata etc should allow full occupancy and only then, it’ll make sense to release big films. When the central government had allowed 100% occupancy on January 31, the belief was that all states would follow suit by March-end. This would pave the way for Sooryavanshi to release with full occupancy on April 2. But now with the cases rising, it’s difficult to say if the 50% rule would go away or will it be retained for a few more months. This is one of the biggest reasons that Sooryavanshi’s release date isn’t announced.
As per the trade, the makers of Sooryavanshi will have to take a call by March 9 or 10 at the maximum. This will give the film a 3-week window for promotion which is bare minimum. Murmurs have already begun that the film might be postponed. But the makers can only delay its release by a week, on April 9. It can’t be pushed further as the holy month of Ramzan will begin somewhere from April 12. A chunk of audiences would then stay away from cinemas for a month. And there’s no way that Sooryavanshi can further postpone and come only after Eid. It’ll disrupt the whole schedule of the year.
Hence, it remains to be seen what happens next. But thankfully, the increase in cases isn’t alarming. Death rate is quite down and even hospital occupancy isn’t too much. Here’s hoping the situation improves in the next fortnight so that these exciting films can release as per schedule!
Each artiste wants a vanity van for himself, but suppliers struggle to meet demand
7:59 AM
Apprehensive about sharing vanity vans amid reports of a more-transmissible COVID-19 strain, actors demand private vehicles; suppliers struggle to meet demand
Mohar Basu, Uma Ramasubramanian (MID-DAY; December 26, 2020)
Mumbadevi Vehicles' owner Ketan Rawal usually provides three vanity vans to the crew of Soni Razdan and Rajat Kapoor-starrer Call My Agent, which went on floors in October. Over the past few weeks, that number has been upped to five, a demand that he is struggling to meet, given that similar requests have been made by several city production houses.
"I also got a call from Balaji [Production house], which has 17 projects currently on floors. They need 30 to 40 vans each day. I am unable to meet their demand because my vans are [also] being used by the crew of [Sanjay Leela Bhansali's] Gangubai Kathiawadi, and Rohit Shetty's Cirkus," says Rawal.
In the wake of the Coronavirus pandemic, and especially amid reports of the presence of a more transmissible viral strain, actors have become apprehensive about sharing vans, he says. "Earlier, character-actors would share vans. But, in the last three months, artistes have been uncomfortable. Each day, we get SOS-calls from production houses that need vanity vans, and we often run short of them."
Echoing Rawal's opinion, van-provider Mehboob Ansari cites that the biggest challenges are being posed by production houses employing ensemble casts. "While many actors would share vans in the past, now, even junior artistes are unwilling to do so. Several web series are being shot nowadays, and many actors are part of each. It is tough to meet the demand. Even though we have double-door vans, which can accommodate two artistes, now, even for a single-day shoot, each artiste wants a van for himself," says Ansari, adding that though production houses are struggling, business for van-owners has flourished. "Our work is on in full swing," he says with a sense of relief.
As though meeting the demand for additional vans was not troublesome enough, Ansari says several production houses request for vans with adjoining make-up rooms to meet the needs of the actors.
"Earlier, if a van did not have a make-up room, actors would [use a common facility]. But, now they insist on being provided with vans that have such rooms."
With the uncertainty of the situation encouraging filmmakers to wrap up their films in start-to-finish legs, Rawal says several vans are being occupied for extended outstation schedules.
"My vans have been stationed in Hyderabad for Thalaivi since October. As for Rashmi Rocket, few vehicles were used for the Ranchi leg. Several outstation schedules are being held in Lucknow, Bhopal, and Gwalior, which is causing a shortage in Mumbai," says Rawal, who has ordered seven new vans to combat the situation.
Today, leading actresses like Deepika Padukone or Anushka Sharma do not have to choose between marriage & career-Madhoo
8:04 AM
Tanvi Trivedi (BOMBAY TIMES; November 25, 2020)
Popular as the Roja (1992) girl, after a great run in the movie industry (Bollywood and south films) for nearly a decade, actress Madhoo quit films for marriage in the 1990s. However, after two daughters and a happy married life, in retrospect, she feels it was a mistake to have left behind a full-fledged acting career. In an exclusive interview, the actress opens up about reuniting with her Roja co-actor, Arvind Swamy, the changes in the film industry and why ‘nepotism’ is not a bad word. Excerpts...
You have reunited with your Roja co-actor Arvind Swamy for the Jayalalithaa biopic Thalaivi after nearly 30 years. Did that make you nostalgic?
Arvind Swamy is playing MGR and I am playing his first wife, Janaki Amma’s role in Thalaivi. I joked with him about how he was a newcomer when Mani Ratnam cast him in Roja. He was not keen to do films then, but Mani Ratnam, who was his friend, convinced him. And we all know how the film fared at the box office; it’s history.
Now, he is a professional actor, who has done more than 20-30 films. He suits the role of MGR’s character so well. I may have done 60 films in the past, but I still get the jitters when I am on a film set. I was at ease when I came to know that I was working with Arvind. People will hopefully like our chemistry as much as they did in Roja.
You have done several films in the South film industry and in Bollywood before and after Roja, but people still remember you as the Roja girl...
Before Roja, I did many films in the South with stars like Mammootty, Mohanlal, Ravi Chandran and Hindi films with stars like Akshay Kumar, Ajay Devgn, Mithun Chakraborty, Govinda and Suniel Shetty, but Roja put me in the big league and brought me fame and adulation. However, every time I started promoting a new film, people would tell me how they loved me in Roja. I’d get slightly irritated when my other films got ignored. On the other hand, I am happy that people remember me for Roja. There were so many good actresses who did good work around that time, but no one remembers them today. Moreover, I can’t complain much because I worked for 10 years and gave it up all to get married. I was adamant to just settle down and not pursue films further, even though my family and husband were supportive. Now, when I look at it in retrospect, I feel it was a mistake because I missed doing films.
Actors like your first Bollywood hero Ajay Devgn, are doing interesting roles today. Even actresses, across age groups, have a variety of roles to choose from. Do you feel that today you have so many more opportunities presented in front of you?
There were many restrictions for actresses in the past. Now with so many alternative platforms and even films being made for different audiences, an actress does not have to hide her age. She is also under no pressure to look a certain way. Even if she puts on a bit of weight, you will find her doing interesting roles. Today, top leading actresses like Deepika Padukone or Anushka Sharma do not have to choose between marriage and career. Actors are finding themselves in a good, liberating space. Look at my co-actor Ajay Devgn, he is doing such content-rich films. He is doing roles that suit his age in films like De De Pyaar De. I am also a mother of two daughters, so I am okay playing one in a film.
Your daughters have expressed a desire to be in films…
Yes, both my daughters had expressed their wish to be part of the film business, but currently they are busy with their exams. They returned from London during the lockdown. I will surely support them if they want to become actors.
‘Nepotism’ and ‘favouritism’ have been the two buzzwords in the past few months in Bollywood. What do you have to say about them?
People talk from their experience and my experience is different. I got cast in my films on merit. I remember being told by my secretary to show my face at certain filmmakers’ parties for five minutes as that would get me a chance to be in their films. And I refused to be part of parties, because I believed that filmmakers would cast me if they liked my work. However, I don’t see a problem when a person likes you and wants to work with you. The film does well, and you begin an association, I don’t see that as camp politics. Nepotism is not a bad word; sabotage is! Tomorrow, even if my best friend’s daughter or son wants to join films, I will help them out. What is wrong in that? What is not right is when you try to take away someone else’s work or ruin their career.
Kangana Ranaut resumes shooting for the last schedule of Thalaivi
8:14 AM
Kangana Ranaut has undergone physical transformation to do justice to the role of J Jayalalithaa, the late chief minister of Tamil Nadu, in the upcoming biopic
Uma Ramasubramanian (MID-DAY; November 19, 2020)
Hoping to wrap up the last schedule of A L Vijay's Thalaivi, Kangana Ranaut is set to resume shooting in Hyderabad today. "We will be shooting the climax sequence along with the other portions of the film," confirms producer Shailesh R Singh (right; above), who further explains that the crew will be filming a crowd sequence with Kangana Ranaut in attendance. "Kangana will start shooting from today until December 10. Since things are more relaxed now, we can pull off this crucial scene."
Ranaut has undergone physical transformation to do justice to the role of J Jayalalithaa, the late chief minister of Tamil Nadu, in the upcoming biopic. "She has lived with this role for around one-and-a-half years and easily slips into the character even when we shoot after long intervals," says Singh of the Queen actor who had wrapped up crucial scenes at the Ramakrishna Cine Studios in Hyderabad in October.
Hoping to release the film in theatres by 2021, Singh asserts that they are looking for a date before March 31. "We want to release the film by the first quarter of 2021. Theatres have opened and the cases have dropped in Mumbai. So, by December, we will have a date," says Singh.
Kangana Ranaut's Thalaivi makers will have a tough task shooting the climax
12:33 PM
As Kangana Ranaut shoots Thalaivi in South, makers evaluate ways to film final leg that requires 300-plus extras, at odds with guidelines
Uma Ramasubramanian (MID-DAY; October 10, 2020)
Last week, Kangana Ranaut returned to the set of Thalaivi, which she described as the "most soothing and comforting place". The actor, who will essay the role of former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa in the biopic, ended her seven-month break as she shot crucial indoor scenes at the Ramakrishna Cine Studios in Hyderabad.
"Kangana has also filmed an elaborate song at the studio. Even though A L Vijay [director] is working with only 30 per cent of the unit strength in compliance with the shooting guidelines, the actor-director duo is single-mindedly working towards completing the schedule by October 10," reveals a source.
For the final stint that is slated to roll in mid-November in Hyderabad, the makers will have a tough task on their hands. On the cards is the shoot of the climax that sees Ranaut's Jayalalithaa step out of the legislative assembly as a crowd awaits her. "The makers wished to film the sequence on a large scale with about 350 people. Since the guidelines suggested that only 33 per cent of the original crew strength can be present on a set, the director had held off the filming of this sequence until it was safe to shoot with a crowd. But now, with the biopic almost complete, the team is currently trying to figure out a way to shoot the climax," adds the source.
Confirming the development, producer Shailesh R Singh says, "We have barely 15 days of shoot left in the final schedule. We are evaluating how we will shoot the crowd sequence; we are hoping the situation will improve by November."
It’s great to get back to doing more work now-Bhagyashree
8:48 AM
Bhagyashree will be seen next in Prabhas-Pooja Hegde’s love story & Kangana Ranaut’s Jayalalithaa biopic
Himesh Mankad (MUMBAI MIRROR; July 23, 2020)
Last year, on December 29, Bhagyashree completed 30 years in the Hindi film industry. And even though she hasn’t done too many films, she’s still remembered as the girl who stole Salman Khan’s heart in Sooraj Barjatya’s directorial debut, Maine Pyar Kiya. “I feel like a newcomer even today,” she admits, adding, “It’s great to get back to doing more work now.”She confirms that she will be sharing the screen space with Prabhas and Pooja Hegde in director Radha Krishna Kumar’s love story, Radhe Shyam. It’s a pan-India film, looking at a 2021 release. “I have already shot for it in Georgia and Hyderabad. We will resume shooting once things get back to normal,” she informs. Prod her for details and she states that she’s contractually bound not to divulge any details about her character.
She is, however, happy to speak about Prabhas, who kept the set ambience lively. “After watching Baahubali, I had a certain image about him. But he turned out to be a soft-spoken gentleman rather than a flamboyant personality. He’s a team player and likes to bond with everyone,” Bhagyashree raves, insisting Baahubali took Indian cinema to the global platform with its director, S S Rajamouli doing an amazing job in translating his vision to celluloid that was appreciated the world over.
Interestingly, she’s done films in Kannada and Telugu earlier too, including Ammavra Ganda, Omkaram, Rana, Seetharama Kalyana and 2 States. She reasons that the South Indian film industry offers more diverse roles, something that Bollywood is moving towards in recent times. “Our audience has now evolved and is open to all kinds of content, which is inspiring the writers,” she avers.
Apart from Radhe Shyam, Bhagyashree has also been shooting for the Kangana Ranaut-fronted Jayalalithaa biopic, Thalaivi. “I have finished 60 per cent of my portion and I look forward to resuming work,” she says.
Meanwhile, the Coronavirus lockdown has given her time to bond with the family, in particular actor-son Abhimanyu Dassani. “We discussed a lot of things, played games and cooked together,” she says, going on to talk about a game called Code Name, which has become a family favourite and is all about cracking codes. “We play this every alternate day, apart from the card games and Sequence.”
While Abhimanyu has chosen to follow in her footsteps, she wants him to carve his own path. “I didn’t aspire to be an actress, Maine Pyar Kiya happened by chance. But Abhimanyu knows what he wants and has worked hard to reach where he is, so, understands the value of his space. I just stand in the wings and clap,” she laughs, recalling how, on her first day on a film set, she had to shoot the now famous song, “Dil Deewana Bin Sajna Ke Maane Na” with Salman at a temple in Film City. “I felt blessed starting something new.”
Now, open to any well-sketched character, Maine Pyar Kiya’s gharelu Suman is finally ready to explore the show world and will not be tied by anything. “I have really liked two scripts, which I read during the lockdown. One good film can change an actor’s journey, Neena ji (Gupta) got a new lease of life with Badhaai Ho. I, too, want the characters I do to stay with the audience,” she signs off.
Kangana Ranaut-starrer Thalaivi unable to resume shoot as climax requires over 300 extras
8:23 AM
Sources say makers of Kangana Ranaut starrer unable to resume shoot as climax requires over 300 extras, at odds with government's guidelines
Uma Ramasubramanian (MID-DAY; June 6, 2020)
After a long wait of over two months, Bollywood will gradually resume shoots from June 15, following the guidelines that have been laid down by the state government. Even as stars and filmmakers have begun charting out their schedules, Kangana Ranaut will have to wait a while before reporting to the set of her ambitious multi-lingual Thalaivi. Reason — the climax of the J Jayalalithaa biopic requires her to shoot with a crowd of over 300 people, which is at odds with the current guidelines owing to Coronavirus.
With only 25 days of shoot remaining, director A L Vijay was keen to kickstart the shoot at the Ramakrishna Cine Studios in Hyderabad. "In the climax, Kangana will be seen stepping out of the legislative assembly as a crowd awaits her. The makers wish to film the sequence on a large scale with 350 people. However, the current guidelines suggest that only 33 per cent of the original crew strength can be present. Since the makers intend to shoot the remaining portions in a start-to-finish schedule, they have decided to hold off the entire schedule until it is safe to shoot with a crowd," reveals a source.
mid-day reached out to producer Vishnu Vardhan Induri, who did not respond until the time of going to press.
I have many scenes with Kangana Ranaut in Thalaivi and the team loved our chemistry-Bhagyashree
8:35 AM
The actress talks about being a part of the biopic on J Jayalalithaa, her equation with co-star Kangana Ranaut and how she is looking forward to coming back on the screen after five years
Debarati Sen (BOMBAY TIMES; May 15, 2020)
With shoots coming to a halt owing to the Coronavirus pandemic, the schedules of several films have gone haywire. The list includes director A L Vijay’s Thalaivi, a biopic on former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, late J Jayalalithaa. The movie, which features Kangana Ranaut in the titular role, will also see Bhagyashree in a pivotal part.The Maine Pyar Kiya actress, who was last seen in Laut Aao Trisha five years ago, is looking forward to coming back on the screen with this movie. She tells us, “I had begun shooting for Thalaivi in September 2019, in Mysore, Chennai and Hyderabad. The fact that I am a part of the film was kept under wraps, with the makers wanting to announce it in April, but then, the Coronavirus lockdown happened. Ab toh pata nahi kitna samay lockdown rahega. Now, my director has given me the go-ahead to talk about it.”
Talking about her role, she elaborates, “I play a key role in the film and my character brings about a turning point in Thalaivi’s life. Kangana and I have a lot of scenes together, and the entire team loved our on-screen chemistry. It was fun working with her because she is a fantastic artiste, who puts a lot into her performances. It was great to get back to the set after a very long time.”
Bhagyashree is also excited about her look in the film. “The interesting part is that my look in the film is completely different from what people have seen me in,” she shares. Ask her about her equation with Kangana, and she replies, “I had first met Kangana in 2006, when she had just started her career. Even on the set of Thalaivi, she was extremely respectful, and would greet me as soon as she reached the set.”
I told myself, I am like [a] post pregnant Kareena Kapoor-Kangana Ranaut
8:19 AM
En-route to losing the 20 kilos she had gained for her next film, Kangana on withdrawal symptoms, and missing her heels
Sonia Lulla (MID-DAY; April 29, 2020)
We don’t expect the usual Kangana Ranaut candour in an interview largely about how many squats she packs into her regimen. But the actor isn’t one to offer the ordinary.
Unbowed by the heft of her battle against the bulge, Ranaut is playfully self-deprecating when chronicling her 20-kilo weight-loss attempt.
“I didn’t expect to gain 20 kilos,” she says of her endeavour to emulate J Jayalalithaa in the actor- politician’s upcoming biopic, Thalaivi.
“When Kareena [Kapoor Khan] was pregnant, she gained 16 kilos. I told myself, I am like [a] post-pregnant Kareena Kapoor!” she exclaims at one point, before breaking into a laugh. “I never remember feeling so unfit. At one point, I needed to support myself with my palms to stand up off the floor,” she says at another, before the ever-so-slight quiver in her voice reveals the moments that triggered her badly.
“I was unable to carry my weight in heels, and that almost left me in tears. One thinks they’ll eventually adjust, but, I couldn’t walk in my own shoes! Usually, I can run in them, but now my feet would swell. I didn’t know how to handle it.”
Train, but gain
The diligence with which she had kept tabs on the weighing scale as it climbed by 10, 12 and 15 kilos was rendered redundant after a few weeks of lull. “[The makers] told me to start losing weight so that we could shoot [Jayalalitha’s] younger portions, and that’s when I noticed that I had gained 20 kilos. I wondered if I had gone too far, and questioned if the decision to take the hormone injections was appropriate.”
It was towards the close of 2019 that Ranaut had first admitted to leaning on hormone supplements to add bulk to her hips and thighs, to emulate her muse. Unlike the misshapen built acquired by Bollywood’s top brass of actors gaining weight for cinema, Ranaut’s avatar, though voluptuous, had to resemble the shapely and nimble-footed bharatnatyam dancer that Jayalalitha was. “I had to do bharatnatyam for two hours, yoga for one, and still gain weight in a desirable manner. The mild hormone dosage helped [me] gain weight around the hips. Bharatnatyam involves a lot of leg work, so the dancers tend to [gain weight in this region]. Also, I needed to put on so much weight because I am tall. At 5’ 8", I had to ensure that the [bulk] was visible on my frame.”
Winning the race, slowly, steadily
Currently nestled in picturesque Manali, Ranaut decided to make the most of the lockdown by taking along her trainer of several years. Under the guidance of Siddhartha Singh, founder of iSweat, she has shaved off seven kilos, and continues to crawl, jump and jog off the rest. “We are focusing on workouts that encourage movement for a long duration of time, instead of those involving shorter intervals. The idea is to keep movements sustainable by not rendering her breathless, so that more calories can be burnt. The evening functional training sessions last 45 to 75 minutes, and are coupled with a 20-minute morning walk in her 100-metre driveway,” says Singh, attributing her body’s positive response to the regimen to her consistent yoga practice.
Her high metabolic rate may afford her many luxuries, but Ranaut won’t abuse what she has been blessed with. For as long as Singh can recall, she isn’t swayed by food that has little nutritional value, and prefers “home-cooked meals”. “Kangana is attuned to her body’s [nutritional] needs. If she craves something, she’ll have it in limited portion, or cook a [healthier] version of it at home.”
That her body had become complacent with the additional weight also began to work against her, making the weight-loss process more demanding than both she and Singh had anticipated. “It was difficult. I had to undergo detox. I was affected by the sugar withdrawal, and felt like I was in rehab. For over six months, I was perpetually hungry, and had mood [swings]. The weight wouldn’t budge. Also, at 33, things are not as easy [as they were when I was younger].”
Asked if she will do it all over again if a film demands it, her response is prompt, but not very assertive: “No, yaar!” she says. “It’s not worth it. My cholesterol level was quite high this time. In my 30s, I don’t enjoy doing this.”
Singh on principles he uses to train Ranaut
- We’re targeting the anterior and posterior muscles at once. We use the driveway to do short jogging sets, shuttle lunges, back crawls, and jumping jacks.
- Usually, I avoided exhausting her because actors have to work for the rest of the day, and can’t be dealing with aches and pains. I had to be mindful of not targeting the muscles that she would be using for her action films, like Manikarnika.
For instance, horse-riding employs a lot of leg work, and hence, when she was learning it, I’d only do weight-less leg workouts with her. Similarly, when she was training in sword- fighting, and using her upper-body muscles, I’d have to shift focus away from her shoulders and arms [in the gym].
- With physical activity currently limited, she is consuming only two to three meals a day. The morning jogs that she takes help in activating her metabolism.
Kangana Ranaut's Thalaivi makers fear their unused sets may be destroyed in the rains
8:06 AM
Incurring losses as sets built in Hyderabad and Chennai stand unused, makers of Jayalalithaa biopic featuring Kangana Ranaut hope to resume shoot before monsoons destroy outdoor set-up
Uma Ramasubramanian (MID-DAY; April 27, 2020)
The makers of Kangana Ranaut's Thalaivi are resigned to the fact that the film, like many other Bollywood offerings, will be delayed. However, they have a more pressing problem on their hands — two elaborate sets that were built in Hyderabad and Chennai have been standing unused over the past six weeks, leading to losses. If the lockdown extends to June, the makers fear the sets may be destroyed in the rains.
"We need to wrap up the film before the rains hit. Since they are outdoor set-up, they will be ruined in the monsoon. Reconstructing the set will be an expensive affair," laments producer Shaailesh R Singh.
The shoot of the biopic on J Jayalalithaa, the late chief minister of Tamil Nadu, was running like clockwork until March. With a 45-day shooting stint slated to kick off on March 10, the A L Vijay-led team had constructed a set of the Parliament House at the Ramakrishna Cine Studios in Hyderabad. After the shoot would be wrapped up by the third week of April, their next pit-stop was Chennai.
"We have recreated Mount Road at the AVM Studio in Chennai, and had planned a patchwork shoot there. Almost 40 per cent of the movie is left to be filmed," says producer Vishnu Vardhan Induri, adding that they pre-emptively cancelled the Hyderabad shoot in the wake of the Coronavirus pandemic.
Sources say that the makers, who are bearing the maintenance cost of the sets and the studio rent, have incurred losses of Rs 5 crore so far due to the lockdown. While Singh is unwilling to put a number to the damages, he adds, "Our team's safety is our priority. We had paid [the studio] for March, but were unable to shoot for a single day in Hyderabad. It's uncertain when the lockdown will be lifted. Even if we get a 10-day window, we will finish shooting the outdoor portions."
Coronavirus scare: Jayalalithaa biopic on track, Vidya Balan and Bhumi Pednekar hold fort in MP
8:20 AM
Akash Bhatnagar (MUMBAI MIRROR; March 14, 2020)
Kangana Ranaut had returned to Mumbai earlier this month after wrapping up the second schedule of her Jayalalithaa biopic, Thalaivi. She is heading to Chennai in the next few days for the third spell. Producer Shaailesh R Singh informs, “The 45-day schedule is on track and will start next week. We’ll be shooting in Chennai and Hyderabad.”
He adds, “Things are changing every day. The government or industry associations might come out with some new instructions tomorrow, and we will have to adhere to them. So, we can’t predict anything. Other than that, we are going ahead with the work, while keeping safety measures in mind.”
------------------------------
Vidya Balan joined the shoot of Amit Masurkar’s Sherni in Bhoot Palasi, Madhya Pradesh, on March 4. Meanwhile, Bhumi Pednekar, who plays an IAS officer in Durgavati, Ashok G’s Hindi adaptation of his Telugu film, Bhaagamathie, has been shooting in the state for more than a month.
A spokesperson for Vikram Malhotra, producer of both films, confirmed that work is on track. “The health and safety of our crew is paramount. We’ve set detailed precautionary and safety protocols on the sets of our productions, including Durgavati and Sherni, that are currently being filmed in MP. Masks, hand sanitisers, gloves, hand-washes, immunity-boosting foods… We’ve arranged for all necessary support for the teams. Doctors and medical care are available on set. Our teams’ well-being matters more than the films,” the statement said.
Madhoo to play Janaki in Jayalalithaa biopic, Thalaivi
8:09 AM
Sharanya C R (BOMBAY TIMES; February 26, 2020)
While there were reports that South actress Priyamani would essay the role of Sasikala in the film, now, another South actress Shamna Kasim has been roped in for the part. A L Vijay says, “We had some date issues with Priyamani. Our immediate choice was Shamna. I have seen her work and she’s a phenomenal performer. We did a make-up test and she was perfect for the role. Both, Shamna and Madhoo, have begun shooting. Casting is crucial for any film, and even more so when it’s a biopic. I am happy to have such good performers on board.” The team is presently shooting in Chennai. “It will be a long schedule and will go on until March,” says Vijay.
Kangana Ranaut to play Air Force pilot in Tejas
2:19 PM
Actress to fly with a Ronnie Screwvala production in July; is delighted to be getting into uniform
Hiren Kotwani (MUMBAI MIRROR; January 24, 2020)
Kangana Ranaut, who has never shied away from backing feminist causes and is always open to heroine-centric subjects, has now signed up to play an Air Force Pilot in Tejas. It is being produced by Ronnie Screwvala with Sarvesh Mewara as the director.Kangana confirmed the news, saying, “I’ve always wanted to play a soldier and have been fascinated with the Armed Forces since childhood. I’ve never held back my emotions for our jawans and spoken openly about how strongly I feel about their heroism. They keep our country secure and our people safe. So, I’m very happy to be doing this film.”
Before she begins filming in July, the actress will require extensive prep. “I will undergo intense training before the shoot starts. My director has decided to get professional trainers on board,” says Kangana, who signed the film just two weeks ago. “Right now, I’m too deep into Thalaivi (the biopic of former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa). After that, we’ll get to Tejas, which we will start this year itself,” she added.
Having been a part of a period battle in her last Republic Day release, Manikarnika - The Queen Of Jhansi, the actress is keen to get on to a battlefield in contemporary times. Describing herself as a “born fighter at heart”, Kangana, when prodded on her inspiration for the part, replied, “Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman. I followed his story closely—from the time we got the news of his capture to his release and return home. He’s a true hero in the way he handled the situation.”
For someone who has always stood for women’s empowerment, as reflected in her screen avatars, Kangana asserted that it is high time people acknowledge the significant contribution of women in the armed forces. “I’m thankful to Ronnie sir and Sarvesh who have come to me with this extraordinary script that celebrates the heroism of our soldiers,” said the actress, admitting that she “was dying to get in a uniform”. “Being in uniform will be one of the biggest highlights of my life,” Kangana says.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)