Before kicking off the shoot of Salman Khan-starrer Antim, director Mahesh Manjrekar provided the final touches to his pending film, The Power. It will finally see the light of day on ZEE5 in 2021.

The gangster drama, featuring Vidyut Jammwal and Shruti Haasan, went on floors in April 2018. It also marks Manjrekar's return as a Bollywood director after a decade. His last Hindi film directorial was City of Gold (2010), post which he went on to helm Marathi movies.

"In these uncertain times, OTT is the best option available. Although the action thriller is more suited for a theatrical release, we don't know how long it will be before things normalise, so we have decided to not wait," says producer Vijay Galani.

He maintains that post production of the film delayed the release. "It took a while due to the high-octane action sequences. With about 18 villains, we were looking to release the film in the first half of 2020, but the pandemic broke out."

Jammwal plays a gangster, while Haasan plays his love interest. However, circumstances teach her to wield guns too.

Following Centre’s move to remove J&K’s special status, over 50 filmmakers have thronged film bodies to register titles such as ‘Article 370’, ‘Article 35A’
Himesh Mankad (MUMBAI MIRROR; August 7, 2019)

Soon after Indian Air Force’s strike in Balakot on February 26 in response to Pakistan’s attack on CRPF personnel in Srinagar, Bollywood producers thronged the offices of Indian Motion Pictures Producers Association (IMPPA), Producers Guild of India and Indian Film TV Producers Council (IFTPC) to register film titles—post the success of Uri: The Surgical Strike barely a month ago, the event was identified, among other things, as premise for another potential blockbuster. Names like Pulwama: The Deadly Attack, Surgical Strike 2.0, Balakot and Pulwama Attacks, among others were blocked within no time. One particularly visionary filmmaker claimed a title referring to IAF pilot Abhinandan Varthaman, who had received a hero’s welcome after being held captive across the border for 60 hours.

Now, the Central Government’s decision to revoke Article 370, which granted Jammu and Kashmir special status, has elicited a similar reaction. Between Monday and Tuesday, over 50 titles pertaining to the historic move are said to have been registered at various Hindi film bodies. “Taking a cue from the success of (Anubhav Sinha’s recently released Ayushmann Khurrana-starrer) Article 15, the titles ‘Article 370’ and ‘Article 35A’ are the first choice of most filmmakers. The associations have received at least 25-30 applications for them,” reveals a source close to the development, adding that the more theatrically-inclined ones have opted for titles like ‘Kashmir Mein Tiranga’, ‘Kashmir Hamara Hai’, ‘Dhara 370’ and ‘Dhara 35A’.

The source goes on to reveal that top production houses are also entering the fray. “Some of them are keen to seek permission at the earliest to make a film on the event so that they can proceed with the research, cast and get other logistics in place.”

Trade analyst Atul Mohan points out, “Filmmakers had rushed to register titles around the Uri attacks, Pulwama attacks and demonetization as well. Films on such subjects pique the audience’s curiosity.”

Anand Pandit, producer of the PM Narendra Modi biopic featuring Vivek Oberoi, downplays the timing of the phenomenon by saying that he had registered the titles ‘Article 370’ and ‘Article 35A’ a month ago. “I wanted to explore why one state was granted such privileges. But after the historic redrawing of our map by our Prime Minister Narendra Modi, I have just found the perfect ending for my film. From a film based on history, it is now going to be a historic film,” he says.

Filmmaker Vijay Galani also insists us that he has been working on a script set in Kashmir for a while now, and given the current political scenario, ‘Article 370’ makes for a perfect title. “Following the decision on Monday, someone suggested that I get two titles— ‘Article 370’ and ‘Article 35A’—registered. You will hear more about my film soon,” he promises.

Hiren Kotwani (MUMBAI MIRROR; July 31, 2019)

Last week, Karan Johar announced that he has acquired the remake rights of the Telugu film, Dear Comrade, featuring Arjun Reddy breakout star Vijay Deverakonda, even before it opened in cinemas on July 26. The actor had responded to the social media post, saying he was looking forward to working with the maker, sparking speculation that the remake could be Vijay’s Bollywood launch.

The film was a hotcake for B-Town producers after Bhushan Kumar and Murad Khetani’s last production, Kabir Singh, the Hindi version of Arjun Reddy, became the year’s big grosser. Buzz is, Bhushan and Murad, along with Sajid Nadiadwala and Vijay Galani, were also keen on a remake but KJo outbid the competition, acquiring the Hindi rights for a reported Rs 6 crore, presumably in anticipation that it will replicate the success of Arjun Reddy.

After watching the Telugu film, KJo had tweeted, “Stunning and powerful love story! With top notch performances and exceptional music... Announcing that @DharmaMovies to remake this beautiful film.” Deverakonda responded, “So proud to have this man, watch, love and be the one to remake our baby #DearComrade in Hindi... @karanjohar biggest hugs, love and respect for you. Can’t wait to do something mad with you...”

However, Sreedhar Pillai, a Chennai-based trade analyst, told Mirror, “The film opened well at the box-office, but hasn’t lived up to the expectations.” This has raised questions about the prospects of the Hindi remake. While Karan remained unavailable for comment, a source close to his production house maintained that the team is going ahead with the project. “Dear Comrade has fared as per the estimation of Karan’s company. They will surely be making the Hindi adaptation as planned,” the source informed.

Hiren Kotwani (DNA; May 4, 2019)

After Junglee, where he was seen protecting elephants and the environment, Vidyut Jammwal will next be seen in the action-drama, Power. The movie is helmed by actor-filmmaker Mahesh Manjrekar, who earlier won accolades for his gangster flick, Vaastav (1999), starring Sanjay Dutt.

Veteran film producer, Vijay Galani who is the moneybags behind this mafiosi flick, says, “When Mahesh narrated this subject, which he had worked on for seven-eight years, I was hooked. He has made a number of movies in the gangster zone, like Vaastav and Kurukshetra (2000), and each one had a different take. This genre is his forte. So, we decided to collaborate on it.”

What makes the movie interesting is that Shruti Haasan, who plays Vidyut’s love interest, also has a strong character. Midway through the film, she turns an antagonist who wants to destroy her lover. “That’s the twist in our tale,” says the producer, adding, “There are 40 characters and 10 villains in this underworld saga. Given that Vidyut is an established action star who believes in trying something different in each film, the stunts in Power are raw and massy.” The film also features Sonal Chauhan and Prateik Babbar in pivotal roles. We last heard that Power is being readied for release this July.

Love story gone awry has Shruti Haasan take on action avatar in Mahesh Manjrekar's next, Power
Shaheen Parkar (MID-DAY; April 25, 2019)

Mahesh Manjrekar's untitled directorial venture starring Shruti Haasan and Vidyut Jammwal has been titled Power. The gangster drama marks the return of the artiste, whose last Bollywood film as director was City Of Gold (2010), in the genre he is best known for.

There was speculation about the fate of the film, which rolled a year ago. Producer Vijay Galani informs, "The film is in post-production. After we announced the project last April, we preferred to wrap up the film and then talk about it. Shooting concluded in December. We had not titled the film as we were keen on a name that would make an impact. There is nothing better than Power." He adds that the unit is eyeing a July release.

Jammwal plays a gangster in the action drama, while Haasan plays his love interest. "But things go wrong in their life. Haasan begins to wield guns as well. While Vidyut is known for his high-octane action scenes, this time, Shruti will be seen in a new avatar and in gangster mode," he adds.

The action scenes have been choreographed by stunt director Ravi Varma, who is known for his work in the South Indian film industry. "We shot with him for almost a month."

The film is touted to be on the lines of Manjrekar's earlier venture, the Sanjay Dutt starrer Vaastav (1999).

Actor’s next is set against the backdrop of the Mumbai underworld and is directed by Mahesh Manjrekar
Himesh Mankad (MUMBAI MIRROR; April 17, 2019)

Mirror had earlier reported (December 24, 2018) that Mahesh Manjrekar’s next directorial is set against the backdrop of the Mumbai underworld and is an ode to the Hollywood classic The Godfather. Titled Power, with Vidyut Jammwal and Shruti Haasan in the lead, the film kicked off in May last year and wrapped up in December.

“It is a massy action film, the journey of one man, Devi Das Thakur, played by Vidyut, who goes on to become a powerful don, taking over the mantle from his father,” informs producer Vijay Galani.

Mahesh plays Vidyut’s father in the gangster-drama. He also has a brother. The film also rides on a strong ensemble cast, many of the actors drawn from the Marathi film industry.

Quiz him on the similarities with The Godfather and Galani points to the initial reels but is quick to add that it doesn’t take long for the story to move into the action zone. “We have eight baddies and around eight hardcore action scenes,” he shares. The action, designed by Ravi Verma, a stunt choreographer from the south who has worked in films like R... Rajkumar, Jai Ho, Raees and more recently, Satyameva Jayate, is a blend of hand-to-hand combats, kicks, chases and several gun fights.

Power is Mahesh’s dream project. He has worked on the script for almost a decade and it marks his return to the Vaastav space. “The 1999 Sanjay Dutt don-drama has become a cult film. But that was more like a drama while this is an action film with elements of drama,” argues Galani.

While interacting with Mirror earlier (January 31), Vidyut had described the film, which is slated for a July release this year, as a “combination of larger-than-life action and my brand of action”.

The actor is currently on a break, as he tours the North-East. 

Vidyut Jammwal plays a stylish gangster in Vaastav director’s Hindi comeback
Avinash Lohana (MUMBAI MIRROR; April 23, 2018)

After wrapping up work on Junglee Pictures’ upcoming film, the Chuck Russell-directed Junglee, Vidyut Jammwal started shooting for Mahesh Manjrekar’s comeback Hindi directorial in Mumbai last Friday, alongside co-star Shruti Haasan. “I am a huge Mahesh Manjrekar fan. I love the fact that he is an action-drama genre guy. Also, no one can showcase certain characters like him. Mahesh and I had been discussing this project for a while and when I heard the script, I fell in love with it,” Vidyut told Mirror.

The actor will be playing a modern- day gangster in the film but he is quick to add that both Mahesh and producer Vijay Galani were clear that they didn’t want to portray him like a regular gangster. "So, I am very stylishly dressed in the film and having a blast shooting for it as the genre is right up my ally. It will be unlike anything else people have seen earlier in films like Vaastav and Satya. In fact, Mahesh even says that after Sanjay Dutt, he sees the screen alpha male in me which I think is a big compliment,” he asserted.

Vidyut is also excited about reuniting with his Yaara co-star Shruti. “We share a great equation and she's a good friend,” he smiled.

The duo kicked off the shoot with a dramatic sequence involving their onscreen family. “Mahesh is an extremely organised guy and when the director has prepped so well, you don’t have to do much. We'll be shooting till June-end across Maharashtra and if all goes well, the film will wrap up in one schedule,” Vidyut informed.

By his own admission, working on Junglee, which is set in Orissa and revolves around the friendship between a man and an elephant, was an education that he hopes to use in all future projects. “The most important thing you can learn from any animal is selflessness,” the animal lover signs off.

Actor to play an NRI returning to his hometown in a project that also features Naseeruddin Shah
Sanyukta Iyer (MUMBAI MIRROR; March 28, 2018)

Mirror was the first to report (March 21) that National Award-winning filmmaker Mahesh Manjrekar is ready to roll with his yet-untitled gritty family drama this summer. The film reunites Bhumika and Khamosh co-stars, Naseeruddin Shah and Amol Palekar, 13 years after they collaborated on Paheli, with the former lending voice to a puppet.

Now, we have learnt that Manjrekar has signed action hero Vidyut Jammwal as the leading man. “We have had several narrations with Vidyut over the last four months and he loved the script. He plays a well-educated and suave NRI, who, after returning to his hometown of Mumbai, gets caught in a tricky situation. His look completely changes in the film as he gets kicking and punching,” producer Vijay Galani told Mirror, adding that the Vaastav filmmaker has been re-working the dialogue once Vidyut signed on the dotted line.

After his 2005 fantasy-drama, Vaah! Life Ho Toh Aisi, featuring Shahid Kapoor, Sanjay Dutt and Amrita Rao, Manjrekar went on to direct acclaimed Marathi films Kaksparsh, Natasamrath and the most recent FU: Friendship Unlimited, for which Salman Khan sang a single. “Now, he is returning to Bollywood with a powerful script that he has been working on for a couple of years,” Galani added. “We will be exploring locations in and around Mumbai that have never been seen on screen before. The film will have an intense Vaastav-like feel to it since it is an equally edgy and action-packed drama,” he revealed.

It features an ensemble cast of over 10 actors, including Prateik Babbar and Jishu Sengupta. “The leading lady plays a crucial role in the transformation that Vidyut’s character goes through once he returns to India. We have been in talks with a popular actress and will be locking her dates soon,” Galani informed.

Meanwhile, Vidyut, who was last seen as an army officer in Milan Luthria’s Baadshaho alongside Ajay Devgn, will next be seen in Hollywood filmmaker Chuck Russell’s international project, Junglee, an action-adventure set around a widespread poaching racket. The Junglee Pictures production, which explores the relationship between man and animal, has been shot extensively in Thailand’s Chiang Mai elephant reservation and national park.

Hitika is producer Vijay Galani’s daughter and a Kareena fan
Sanyukta Iter (MUMBAI MIRROR; January 17, 2018)

Sajid Nadiadwala who re-launched the career of Jacqueline Fernandez with the 2010 comedyfranchise Housefull and gave Bollywood two debutants in 2014 — Tiger Shroff and Kriti Sanon — with the Sabbir Khan-directed Heropanti, plans to launch two newcomers this year. While it has already been announced that Suniel Shetty’s son, Ahaan, will play the leading man in one of his upcoming projects, Sajid will also be launching producer Vijay Galani’s daughter, Hitika.

“I’ve know Sajid bhai since I was a kid. I practically grew up watching his films being made as my father and he are best friends and he has always treated me like his own daughter. Around five years ago, he joked that I’d become an actress and since then he’s ensured I was prepping up for the big launch, always asking me if I was going for dance and acting lessons regularly,” informs Hitika who graduated in Economics from a city college four months ago.

The 20-year-old has been grooming herself for the last year-and-half and confirms that the “vague conversations about her launch” have now translated into a more professional conversation now. Hitika is quick to add that it’s not the fourth instalment of the Housefull franchise. “This is another film,” she says shortly.

She’s trained in Kathak, learnt freestyle and hip-hop dance forms, and has also undergone several acting workshops alongside studies. “Sajid bhai is already treating me like a professional actor,” she beams, admitting that initially her producer-father who has made the Govinda-starrer Achanak, Akshay Kumar and Bobby Deol-starrer Ajnabee and Salman Khan’s Veer, was hesitant about her decision since he knows the industry too well. “But eventually he gave in knowing it was inevitable and has been really supportive.”

Hitika is a die-hard Kareena Kapoor fan and has the 37-year-old actress in mind while grooming herself for a debut. “Growing up, I binged on all Kareena movies and even while I’ve been training I tried to think like she would because her journey has always had the biggest impact on my life,” Hitika signs off.

Films will be submitted digitally with the promise that they will be certified in three days, without hassles
Sanyukta Iyer (MUMBAI MIRROR; August 30, 2016)


Over the last two weeks, four Bollywood films — A Flying Jatt, Pink, Baar Baar Dekho and Freaky Ali — have been submitted to the Censor Board of Film Certification (CBFC) via the Digital Cinema Package (DCP) — a foolproof mechanism to safeguard censor copies submitted for clearance from online leaks and piracy before release.

Mirror (August 11) had reported that digital submission of a film had been devised and approved by the Information & Broadcasting (I&B) Ministry and makers could soon rely on digital-cinema-encoding to produce and quality control check a film before its release.

Now, CBFC Chairperson, Pahlaj Nihalani, has repaired a few more leaks in the certification process by presenting three primary changes that were approved by the I&B ministry last Thursday. Explaining them, Vijay Galani, filmmaker and Member of the Governing Council of the Indian Film and Television Producers Association (IFTPC), says, "First a demand draft of Rs 20,000 which was a mandatory CESS paid by all producers to the Cine Workers Welfare Fund has been waived off. Second, the cost of submitting a film which ranged between Rs 30,000 to Rs 50,000 has been scrapped and the censor fee has been reduced to the bare minimum. Finally, the fee charged by three theatres — Sunny Super Sound, NFDC and Famous Studios — which screen upto three films for the censor board every week has been fixed at Rs 8000 maximum. That's a big relief for independent filmmakers, smaller and first-time producers."

IFTPC President Sajid Nadiadwala, Vice Presidents Ramesh Taurani and Ratan Jain and association members Harry Baweja and JD Majethia have welcomed this move.

After censor copies of Sairat, Udta Punjab and Great Grand Masti unceremoniously turned up online for free downloads, the CBFC is streamlining the process whereby censor certificates will be handed out within three days. "The process includes digital submission on day one, censor viewing on day two and certification issued on day three. We've successfully carried this out with Sohail Khan's Freaky Ali already," explains Galani.

Filmmaker N R Pachisia, General Secretary of the Governing Committee of the IFTPC, points out that piracy kills and how! "It's not just the producers losing money but also the government which loses crores in entertainment tax. Finally, we've fixed the leaks," he exults.

The Censor Board chief has devised a foolproof mechanism to safeguard the censor copies of films submitted for clearance from piracy; IFTPC welcomes the move
Sanyukta Iyer (MUMBAI MIRROR; August 11, 2016)

BOMBAY TIMES (January 6, 2016)

BOMBAY TIMES (October 16, 2015)

Salman Khan on why he won't forgive easily, what he's most fearful of, his love-hate relationship with addictions, wanting to promote 'Bajrangi Bhaijaan' in Pakistan among other things in a candid chat
Shubha Shetty Saha (MID-DAY; July 12, 2015)

Salman Khan has a knack for attracting crowd that peep from rooftops and mill around his car to get a glimpse of the star. This time, when we meet him at a suburban studio, it is no different.

Unfazed by constant attention, Khan munches on a protein bar. Ask him if he wants to be invisible, to escape the fans-breathing-down-his-neck feeling, and he laughs, “Why would I want to be invisible? These people are invisible to me. I get my time alone. If I don’t like the place I am in, I imagine being in Miami or at my Panvel farm, fishing. If you try and struggle to get out of a situation, you get stressed. When you accept it, and let your mind wander, things become much easier. And I am not fond of fancy things. If I have something — like this phone that has been with me for over a year — why change it? Before this, I had that Bold phone (Blackberry Bold) for hazaar years. My house is small, but it is okay. I don’t believe in change; I believe in growth. If you know what your goal is, you are set. Change is for the fickle.”

Screen persona
Well, most of his fans think he can tide over all his problems. They love him because he is an invincible, powerful persona on screen. But Khan admits that he has fears too.

“My biggest fear is the uncertainity of what life has to offer. You have no control over most things and you are helpless. You think you are leading a good enough life and then for no fault of yours, your life is messed up, thanks to someone else. Say, someone has worked hard to buy a home, and then one day, the whole building comes crashing down because of a corrupt, incompetent builder. What do you do? My other fear is dying an ungraceful death. You could be riding a bicycle and you go downhill, crash and die. It is so trivial. If you are going to die, die for a cause or something that it has to create such a big difference. Death should be larger than life. It should be glorious.”

As if to shake himself out of the serious mood, he asks his boy for coffee. Didn’t he quit coffee some time ago? The trademark naughty smile is back. “I started again after quitting it for six years. I have renounced every second best thing in my life. Between coffee and cigarettes, I quit coffee. Between cigarettes and alcohol, I quit cigarettes. Between alcohol and women, I have quit alcohol.” Laughing loudly, he adds, “The women are there, until I get a better option. I haven’t thought of men as yet.”

On and off addictions
On a serious note, he says he regrets his addiction to cigarettes. “I am looking for that guy who gave me my first cigarette. I quit for 14 years and then reached out to it, I quit again for three years and got back to it, and then quit for eight years… yeh chhodne pakadne me zindagi nikal gayi.”

Ask him about the general perception that Salman Khan holds on to grudges and can’t forgive easily, and he agrees. “Yes, I don’t forgive easily. There was a time when people would come and hit me and I wouldn’t say a thing. But now, I have learnt that I need to react, so that they don’t do it again. At least, they should know that they cannot mess with me one more time. In fact, if you don’t forgive them easily, it makes them better people. I don’t like fake people. I have enough close friends and family with me. I don’t need to add to that number. I don’t want people who sit on my shoulder and p**s in my ear. If I realise that someone’s trying to con me, they’ve had it. Like that friend of mine, Vijay Gilani. He owes me Rs 15 crore and he goes and files a defamation case against me. He has been a friend for more than 15 years. I didn’t like the way he handled funds during 'Veer'. I will acquire that money from him.”

Khan says he’s never had too many friends anyway. “In fact, over the years, my friends circle has widened and I am meeting like-minded people who are not necessarily from the industry, thanks to Being Human.”

Parental influence
Khan says the one thing that his parents taught him, which has stayed with him over the years, is to try and be as honest as he can. “They told me don’t lie and if you are messed up, own up to it and say sorry. Lie only if you are going to protect someone or someone’s honour. I see some people lie for the heck of it. They will tell you they are in Poland, but actually they will be in Pune. I don’t understand, that man. My parents also taught us to be one family unit, no matter what. Each one of us will have our individual issues and problems, but we need to be honest with each other. My mum comes from a totally different background than my dad. In fact, my father tells me that when he had gone to meet my nana the first time, my dad told him, “We will have 100 things to fight about but religion will never be one of them.”

Talking about religion, there was news that he might be going to Pakistan as part of the promotional tour for his 'Bajrangi Bhaijaan'. “I want to go. I want to start this (exchange). If we can go to Dubai, why can’t we go to Pakistan? Ek din ke liye round maarke toh aa hi sakte hain. I know there are a few issues, but our industry has never considered religion,” he smiles. “When you see an actor getting into politics, people choose him, because perhaps he looks like a better option than the politician.”

Gaurav Dubey (MID-DAY; June 22, 2015)

Producer Vijay Galani, who has produced films such as Veer and Ajnabee, filed a case against Punjabi director-writer, Sukhwant Dadda for violating the contract signed between Dadda and him. According to a source, “Galani signed Dadda for a bilingual film (Hindi and Punjabi), bought the script from him and got it registered with his company. Galani also hired a few technicians and began working on the project. But, without his knowledge Dadda began making the film with different producers. He even renamed the film earlier titled Sant Sipahi to Sant Te Sipahi.”

“Apparently, Dadda had expressed his desire for producing the film and asked Galani for a clearance letter.
Galani, in response, asked him to repay the money he (Galani) had invested in the project,” adds the source.

When contacted Vijay Galani says, “Yes, I had hired Sukhwant Dadda for my film and we started working on the project. I spent around Rs 30-32 lakh and suddenly one day I get a call from Dadda saying that he wanted to produce the film. He also asked me for a clearance letter which I agreed to give if he returned the money. However, till now he hasn’t cleared the money. Running out of options, I had to approach the federation and the High Court as he plans to release the film soon. The hearing is scheduled next week and hopefully the decision will be made in my favour.”

Sukhwant Dadda remained unavailable for comment.