Showing posts with label Varun Tej. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Varun Tej. Show all posts
We did not know about Fighter or Tejas; by then, we were making Operation Valentine-Varun Tej
8:58 AM
Unfazed about Balakot air strike being depicted on screen by Fighter, Operation Valentine actor Varun on how his action thriller was greenlit by MoD
Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; February 29, 2024)
When a guy, who almost became a fighter pilot, offers you a film on the Indian Air Force (IAF), you don’t say no. That’s what Telugu actor Varun Tej believes. It is this belief that has birthed Operation Valentine, directed by Shakti Pratap Singh.
“Shakti had applied [to the IAF], but didn’t get through because of his [compromised] eyesight. He has done a lot of research for this film. He’d constantly say one thing—that he wanted Operation Valentine to be technical. We knew we had to tone down the film for the masses, but it’s not a dumb film,” states the actor.
The action thriller, also starring Manushi Chhillar, traces the Balakot air strike conducted by the IAF in 2019. He isn’t worried about the subject being over-exploited, the latest example being Hrithik Roshan’s Fighter.
“Our script was submitted to the Ministry of Defence [MoD] for approval. We were told that nine to 12 scripts, based on the same events, were awaiting clearance. We did not know about Fighter or Tejas [2023] until their [promos] came out, and by then, we were making our film. The MoD made changes to the script because they technically don’t function the way we had written the story. Initially, it was planned as a Telugu film. But I wanted it to resonate with everyone, so [we made it in Hindi as well]. [Making such films] is about inspiring a generation of men and women to be heroic. There is so much happening at the border; it’s important to bring that to the big screen.”
A jawan’s duty is to protect his country, not to hate his adversary. Are today’s movies truly reflecting the spirit of the armed forces, without adopting a jingoistic tone? Tej explains, “We are mindful of the jingoism, but there is always a threat from another country. China, Bangladesh and Pakistan are threats that we must keep in check. That’s the only extent to which we take this film, keeping it close to the incident it is based on. Our idea was to show how a pilot sitting in the cockpit makes the decision to go 2,000 kilometres into a neighbouring country.”
That Fighter didn’t fare well at the box office could be a worrisome precursor. The actor says, “There are people who have passionately spent on this project, and I want them to make a buck. [It can] pave the way for more passionate projects.”
Nora Fatehi returns to Tollywood with Matka opposite Varun Tej
8:28 AM
Paul Nicodemus (BOMBAY TIMES; August 1, 2023)
After her special appearance in Nagarjuna’s Oopiri seven years ago, Nora Fatehi is all set to make a grand comeback in Tollywood. The Canadian actress of Moroccan descent has been roped in to star alongside Varun Tej in the upcoming film Matka directed by Karuna Kumar, known for his work in Palasa 1978.
Nora, who featured in chartbusters like Ittage Rechhipodam (Temper), Manohari (Baahubali) and Door Number (Oopiri), will get to showcase her acting chops in the movie says director Karuna Kumar. “Nora will essay a crucial role in the film. It will be a surprise for Telugu audiences who’ve seen her only as a glamorous diva. She will also shake a leg with Varun in a peppy dance number,” he says.
Talking about the film, Karuna adds, “It is a crime drama inspired by true events. The story will begin in 1958 and end in 1982. Meenakshii Chaudhary will play the female lead in the movie which will transport audiences back in time.”
Now, a Hindi remake for Venkatesh and Tamannaah's Telugu comedy F2 - Fun And Frustration
8:39 AM
Anees Bazmee will direct the Boney Kapoor production, which will have three leading men and two heroines
Natasha Coutinho (MUMBAI MIRROR; March 29, 2019)
The Telugu comedy, F2 - Fun And Frustration, featuring Venkatesh, Varun Tej, Tamannaah Bhatia and Mehreen Pirzada in the lead roles opened in January to raves. Now, the film is gearing up for a Hindi remake. Mirror has learnt that Anees Bazmee, who is currently shooting his John Abraham, Ileana D’cruz, Anil Kapoor, Arshad Warsi, Kriti Kharbanda, Pulkit Samrat and Urvashi Rautela-starrer Pagalpanti in the UK, will direct the film. The project is jointly produced by Dil Raju who had backed the original and Boney Kapoor.
Boney confirmed the news, saying, “It’s a fun film and a family entertainer. I thoroughly enjoyed watching it and I believe it’s a subject that will resonate with the Hindi audience as well. Dil Raju suggested that we make the Hindi version together. He is one of the most established producers down South and also a distributor and exhibitor. It’s the coming together of two passionate filmmakers.”
Boney added that the film will have three leading men and two heroines for which casting will begin soon. On his choice of director, he said, “Anees has always excelled at such fun subjects as a writer and director and we have a good rapport, so he was the obvious choice. From No Entry, to Ready, Welcome and Mubarakaan, all his films have been entertainers.”
F2-Fun and Frustration was the story of Venky (played by Venkatesh) and Varun (Varun Tej) getting caught by police and their subsequent interrogation.
Natasha Coutinho (MUMBAI MIRROR; March 29, 2019)
The Telugu comedy, F2 - Fun And Frustration, featuring Venkatesh, Varun Tej, Tamannaah Bhatia and Mehreen Pirzada in the lead roles opened in January to raves. Now, the film is gearing up for a Hindi remake. Mirror has learnt that Anees Bazmee, who is currently shooting his John Abraham, Ileana D’cruz, Anil Kapoor, Arshad Warsi, Kriti Kharbanda, Pulkit Samrat and Urvashi Rautela-starrer Pagalpanti in the UK, will direct the film. The project is jointly produced by Dil Raju who had backed the original and Boney Kapoor.Boney confirmed the news, saying, “It’s a fun film and a family entertainer. I thoroughly enjoyed watching it and I believe it’s a subject that will resonate with the Hindi audience as well. Dil Raju suggested that we make the Hindi version together. He is one of the most established producers down South and also a distributor and exhibitor. It’s the coming together of two passionate filmmakers.”
Boney added that the film will have three leading men and two heroines for which casting will begin soon. On his choice of director, he said, “Anees has always excelled at such fun subjects as a writer and director and we have a good rapport, so he was the obvious choice. From No Entry, to Ready, Welcome and Mubarakaan, all his films have been entertainers.”
F2-Fun and Frustration was the story of Venky (played by Venkatesh) and Varun (Varun Tej) getting caught by police and their subsequent interrogation.
Aditi Rao Hydari undergoes intensive anti-gravity training for her role of an astronaut in Tamil film
7:55 AM
Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; July 17, 2018)
"My introduction to space studies was when Rakesh Sharma had come to our school to deliver a talk. It was thrilling for me to revisit the stories I had heard as a kid, while I was shooting,” beams Aditi Rao Hydari, who plays an astronaut in director Sankalp Reddy’s yet-untitled space thriller.
Having already shot the first schedule of the Tamil film that sees her opposite South star Varun Tej, the actor says the character came with its set of challenges. “Since I play an astronaut, I had to undergo intensive anti-gravity training. We had a stunt team from Bulgaria that trained Varun and me for a few weeks before we started filming. The first 10 days were rigorous — I would train early in the morning, then fly out to another city for another film’s shoot and return the same night to resume training the next day.”
Considering this is her first sci-fi project, Hydari says she not only had to get into the skin of her character graph but also understand the basics of astronomy. “Sankalp did a lot of research for his script. By the time he narrated it to me, he was ready with the answers to all my questions. I constantly asked him questions during the shoot as it helped me understand what my character is going through.”
"My introduction to space studies was when Rakesh Sharma had come to our school to deliver a talk. It was thrilling for me to revisit the stories I had heard as a kid, while I was shooting,” beams Aditi Rao Hydari, who plays an astronaut in director Sankalp Reddy’s yet-untitled space thriller.
Having already shot the first schedule of the Tamil film that sees her opposite South star Varun Tej, the actor says the character came with its set of challenges. “Since I play an astronaut, I had to undergo intensive anti-gravity training. We had a stunt team from Bulgaria that trained Varun and me for a few weeks before we started filming. The first 10 days were rigorous — I would train early in the morning, then fly out to another city for another film’s shoot and return the same night to resume training the next day.”
Considering this is her first sci-fi project, Hydari says she not only had to get into the skin of her character graph but also understand the basics of astronomy. “Sankalp did a lot of research for his script. By the time he narrated it to me, he was ready with the answers to all my questions. I constantly asked him questions during the shoot as it helped me understand what my character is going through.”
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