Deepali Singh (DNA; June 1, 2019)

It was Mrunal Thakur’s first time in Vienna but the actress who made her debut with the critically-acclaimed Love Sonia last year, wasn’t in the Austrian city for tourism purposes. On Monday, the Tabrez Noorani directorial about the gritty reality of the sex trafficking business was screened at Stadtkino Wien, one of Austria’s oldest cinemas. This screening was organised by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR), an independent institution of the OSCE based in Warsaw, Poland. ODIHR has been active in preventing and combating trafficking in human beings in the OSCE region since 1999. Later, the film will also be screened in Washington DC on June 9 and in Racine, Chicago on June 13 respectively.

For the one-film-old actress, it was a privilege to meet and interact with representatives of delegations of OSCE participating states, OSCE and UN officials, international experts on trafficking in human beings and law enforcement, representatives of international and civil society organisations working on the topic, survivor leaders and members of the media. “It was wonderful to discuss the issue and talk about ways to combat sex trafficking. We also discussed the filmmaking process with them,” she stated.

As for the response to the screening, Mrunal says it was absolutely wonderful. “One of the comments we got — which I personally loved — was that the film ends on a positive note. I’m glad that people see hope and are ready to fight against sex trafficking,” she said, post the screening in Vienna. The actress, who will be seen next in Super 30 and Batla House, is now looking forward to the next two screenings. “I will be travelling to Washington DC and Racine for the first time. It’s very important for me that the film reaches the audience everywhere because this story deserves to be told. What is even more important is that people are made aware of this issue happening around them, to realise it when they see it happening and to know who to approach,” she added.

MUMBAI MIRROR (February 9, 2019)
On Wednesday (February 6), Mirror had reported that the 'only' 35-mm print of filmmaker-archivist Shivendra Dungarpur’s 2013 documentary, Celluloid Man, was lost in transit. The docu-film on the life and works of legendary Indian archivist P K Nair has bagged two National Awards for Best Biographical Film and Best Editing and was on its way back from the Austrian Film Museum in Vienna, when after waiting three weeks for it, Shivendra believed that it had been misplaced by FedEx. After repeated calls, the courier company informed Mirror at the time of going to press that the “shipment had been located”.

Celluloid Man was returned to the filmmaker on Thursday evening. Confirming the news, an elated Shivendra said, “I am relived. Thanks to the efforts of Mumbai Mirror which took the initiative to follow on this important film on preservation, we finally got back this film.”

For his filmmaker brother Shamas’s music video, Nawazuddin Siddiqui serenades his screen love with symphonic flair in Vienna
Avinash Lohana (MUMBAI MIRROR; October 20, 2017)

Nawazuddin Siddiqui will now be seen in brother Shamas Siddiqui’s music video. The song, “Simple Things”, was shot earlier this year with Austrian model Cosima Eibensteiner in Vienna, when the 43-year-old actor was researching for a German film that will be shot in May-June next year.

“I came up with the idea while we were in Austria and pitched it to an Austrian production company who agreed to partner with us. Vienna is a very romantic place and popular by the name of Mozart City. Incidentally, Nawaz bhai is a huge Mozart fan so we decided to incorporate this little detail in the story— an Indian guy visits the Mozart house to witness a live recital. He meets a girl there and they fall for each other,” informs Shamas.

Nawaz, who celebrated his 43rd birthday on May 19 with a live recital at Mozart’s house in Vienna, acknowledges his fondness for the legend, saying, “I have loved Mozart’s symphonies since my NSD (National School of Drama) days, “Eine Kleine Nachtmusik, K 525 Allegro” is my favourite. When we were in Vienna this summer, I fell in love with the city. Every lane is filled with music. The best part about this music video was Shamas getting the composers to create a song with my favourite piece of Mozart in it.”

Shamas adds that he’d wanted to use a Hindi song by Arijit Singh but chose to go ahead with an English one sung by an American. “Nawaz bhai was a little shy to start with. When I would tell him to hold the actress’s hand, he would get even more nervous. So I gave them two days off to get comfortable with each other. I can’t wait for everyone to see it,” he says.

Roshmila Bhattacharya (MUMBAI MIRROR; September 5, 2016)

Austria is one of the richest countries in the world and lying in the Alps in Central Europe is picture perfect in its setting. It borders The Czech Republic and Germany to the North, Hungary and Slovakia to the East, Slovenia and Italy to the South and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the West. The terrain is mostly mountainous, with the highest point being at 12, 461 feet. Rajkummar Rao scaled these peaks to return home culturally rich...

Train ride to Vienna

I was in Budapest to shoot a commercial last September and took the Euro-rail into Vienna. The Railjet high-speed train gets you from Hungary to Austria in under three hours. We Indians are used to taking a flight when crossing countries, but when in Europe, I would suggest you hire a car or better still, take the train so you can drink in the beauty.

On my way to Vienna I met a young couple on the train and got chatting with them. I'm still in touch with George and Rochelle who were from Germany. They got really excited when they learnt that I'm from India. They hadn't seen any of my films, but they had heard about Bollywood and wanted to know if I sang and danced too. I told them I acted!

Coffee, torte and me

Austria's capital city, Vienna, is on the Danube River. You can take one of the river cruises down it or get on to the Hop On Hop Off bus. I prefer walking, for me that's the best way to explore a new city.

I was in Vienna for three nights and I went to the really small nooks and corners, marvelling at the Renaissance architecture. I'd sit in the little cafes, lingering over an expresso and savouring a Sachertorte. The coffee house isn't just a hangout, it's an institution and drinking the strong beverage or biting into a pastry, according to UNESCO, is officially a Viennese cultural pastime.

I'm not much of a tourist, but I was left awe-struck by the towering St. Stephen's Cathedral whose tiled roof is one of the city's most recognisable symbols. I also visited the Vienna Opera House during the day but couldn't manage to catch an actual performance.

Mozart and music

From Vienna I hopped over to Salzburg for a day. I strolled through the 'Old Town' with its baroque architecture. It's a World Heritage Site. The Hohensalzburg Castle is one of the largest medieval castles in Europe. I walked to the top of it for a view of the city.

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was born in Austria's fourth largest city in what is known as the 'Hagenauer House' at No. 9 Getreidegasse on January 27, 1756. He lived on the third floor for 26 years and today, one can see his violin and other musical instruments, original documents, family portraits and other keepsakes in the house in this Mozart museum. There is a grocery store below where you can buy chocolate-coated marzipan 'Mozartkugel' bonbons and beer from the Augustiner monastery brewery as take-home gifts.

Salzburg is all about Mozart and The Sound of Music, the 1965 film which had Julie Andrews playing the novice Maria who goes to live with the von Trapp family before she takes her vows. Governess Maria and the children skipped through the Mirabel Gardens and around the Pegasus Fountain. The von Trapps lived in the Leopoldskron Palace, the nuns at the Nonnberg Convent and the Captain and Maria married at Mondsee Church. If you take the Salzburg Sound of Music bus tour you get to visit all these places and more, driving down to tunes of "Do, Re, Me", smelling the "Edelweiss", sharing a "Few Of My Favoirite Things' till it's time to say "So Long Farewell..."

On top of the Alps

From Salzburg it was on to Zell am See, a four-hour train ride from Vienna. It was strongly recommended to me by my friend Sonam. People say Switzerland is beautiful, but this quaint, little town high up in the Alps just takes your breath away. My chalet hotel over-looked the Lake Zell. I had only to open the window to see the blue water and be treated to a panoramic view of the snowcapped mountains.

There was a nip in the air but winter had not yet set. I walked through the whole town in just one evening, marvelling at the St Hippolyte's Church with its elevated walkway, tower and Boroque sculptures. After that I'd sit at a cafe, digging into cheesecake and just enjoying the peace and the quiet. As you can see I took pictures everywhere, using my phone, but since I'm not much of a selfie person, these are mainly snapshots of nature to remember these places by.

The town has very few inhabitants, all of whom are warm and friendly. I met a few Pakistanis settled there who recognised and invited me home to dine on yummy biriyani. Being a vegetarian is a problem especially in Europe where you are left with few options. But since I eat eggs, I manage not to starve and binge on desserts since my diet goes for a six on holidays.

While in Zell am See I was pushed to take the trolley to the top of the Kitzsteinhorn Mountain. This is one of the most popular winter skiing spots in Austria. A ski pass covers the Schmittenhohe Mountain and the pistes of Kitzsteinhorn and Kaprun Maiskogel open and covered with snow through the year. I don't ski but it was fun to get away from the madding crowds and feel on top of the world. Holidays like this not only rejuvenate me but also help me evolve as an actor.

DNA (October 17, 2015)

Now this is one film that won’t have the lead actors feeling insecure about their roles and filmmaker Karan Johar should be thankful for that. Fawad Khan joined Ranbir Kapoor, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and Anushka Sharma who are already shooting in Vienna for Ae Dil Hai Mushkil. While Ranbir and Anushka have shot earlier in London and Paris, Ash and Fawad joined them in Vienna this week. Fawad is doing a special role in the film. We already see some bromance happening here between RK and FK.

Ankur Pathak (MUMBAI MIRROR; April 21, 2014)

Actress Celina Jaitly, who has been out of the radar for a while now, is all set to turn singer. The actress, who is the United Nations’ goodwill ambassador for Human Rights Free and Equal Campaign, will croon a Bollywood track to help promote the cause in the country.

Mirror has learnt that the song which will mark her debut as a recording artiste, is the Lata Mangeshkar-hit, Uthe Sabke Kadam from the Amol Palekar-Tina Munim starrer Baaton Baaton Mein. Singer-composer Neeraj Shridhar will be reworking the Rajesh Roshan composition. A music video is also in the pipeline.

Celina, who is in Vienna, confirmed the news saying, “I think support for the LGBT cause can be best mobilised through a Bollywood song as everybody can relate to it. It’s daunting to debut with a Lata classic but exciting too.” International stars like Ricky Martin and the American band Sun are also part of the UN campaign, Free and Equal. “We need to open an engaging dialogue for the community and stop stereotyping them,” she asserts. Meanwhile, Celina will return to B-town early next year in the No Entry sequel. “It’s funny that the original ended with me delivering twins which is what happened in real life,” she laughed. “So, I guess I don’t have to prepare much for the sequel.”