Showing posts with label Yogi Adityanath. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Yogi Adityanath. Show all posts
It’s tough to make any film, aisa lag raha hai mujhe toh abhi-Paresh Rawal
8:31 AM
Rishabh Suri (HINDUSTAN TIMES; September 16, 2025)
After being embroiled in controversy, Paresh Rawal’s upcoming biopic on Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath will finally see the light of day. The Bombay High Court recently gave the green light to Ajey: The Untold Story of A Yogi, despite the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) initially denying it a certificate.
Considering the knee-jerk reactions films with sensitive subjects attract, is it difficult to make a ‘political’ film in India now? “It’s tough to make any film, aisa lag raha hai mujhe toh abhi,” the actor replies, adding, “Social media kisi ke bhi upar haawi ho jaata hai. But if your neeyat and neeti are good, and the film has been made with honesty, then you should not think about people’s opinions. I’d never be able to understand what each person [in the audience] wants, I can only make something that I like.”
Speaking about the CBFC’s objections, Paresh says, “Yogi ji jaisa character hai toh maamla critical ho jata hai, CBFC saavdhan rehti hai. During the proceedings the court asked their lawyer, ‘Have you watched the film or read the book it’s based on?’ He had not.”
There’s a common perception that biopic makers tend to whitewash their subject; bring it up with Paresh, whose film Sanju (2018) faced similar criticism and he shares, “[Sanjay Dutt] is still alive and working. And this film’s story goes up to when Yogi ji reached politics. Jo public mein hai usko aap untold nahin bol sakte. There’s nothing to whitewash here.”
On Hera Pheri 3
Paresh’s next outing will see him reprise his role as Baburao Ganpatrao Apte in the third Hera Pheri instalment. The film has long dominated headlines, especially since the actor initially exited the project before coming back on board. Probe if there have been any developments in the film’s production and he tells us, “It’s a work in progress; the shoot was always scheduled to begin in February or March of 2026.”
CBFC rejected Ajey without even seeing it-Ravindra Gautam
10:49 PM
After the Bombay HC cleared Ajey for release, director Ravindra Gautam opened up, recalling how the CBFC originally asked the biopic’s makers for 29 cuts and an NOC from Yogi Adityanath
Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; September 2, 2025)
On August 25, the Bombay High Court directed the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) to clear Ajey - The Untold Story Of A Yogi for release without any cuts, thus ending the makers’ month-long battle with the board that originally demanded 29 cuts. The ordeal, however, has left director Ravindra Gautam reconsidering a theatrical release of Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath’s biopic. Instead, the director has initiated conversations with streamers for an OTT release.
When we get on a call with Gautam, he admits that the tussle -- which first saw the Examining Committee rejecting the film has taken a toll on him. “They rejected the film without even seeing it. The committee gave 30 cuts. Thirty cuts which were irrelevant. It is such a beautiful film that we have made. As a filmmaker, I feel it is my responsibility to make a neutral film. A film that does not spark any violence, caste violence, or anything like that. It is a very personal film, the journey of one person. That’s what I liked about it — the fact that only in India can a person born in a remote village, with no political background, no religious backing in the family, rise to become the Chief Minister of one of India’s most populous states. That’s a 360-degree turn that no one had dared to show."
Starring Anant V Joshi in the titular role, Ajey is said to be an adaptation of Shantanu Gupta’s book, The Monk Who Became Chief Minister, and charts Adityanath’s turn to spirituality and his eventual rise in politics. Probe Gautam on the 29 cuts that were handed out, and the director reveals that one of the scenes was set in the protagonist’s college.
“In the men’s restroom, obscene things about women were scribbled on the walls. Ajey goes inside to wipe off the writing. The board objected to this, saying that it would hurt women’s sentiments. But in storytelling, you need to show what is wrong in order to rectify it,” reasons the director.
Aside from the cuts, the CBFC had also asked the makers to obtain a No Objection certificate from Adityanath, an instruction that Gautam found unreasonable.
He says, “We had the book — The Monk Who Became Chief Minister. The producers had all the necessary legal clearances to make the film. Every legal aspect was taken care of. So I don’t know why or how they took this position. Their perspective was simply: 'The film is rejected because of these cuts'. They didn’t even say, 'Bring it back after the cuts'. They just said, 'Rejected'. It is evident from the High Court’s order. In the end, the judges themselves watched the film and ordered the CBFC to release it without any cuts."
Usually, one might cast a star, but the team clearly went for an actor when they brought Joshi on board to headline the film. "As a maker, I believe you should not cast a very well-known face. A star comes with an identity of his own, with baggage that overshadows the character. The producers also believed in this. They put money behind a newer face, someone without that strong pre-set identity. Of course, he has done a lot of work — ads, modelling and so on — but he doesn’t come with the baggage of being a film star or a television star. If it’s a TV star, the audience remembers the roles they’ve played. If it’s a film star, the audience sees the star’s persona. Here, we wanted a fresh face who could embody the role without baggage. Anant connected with the story. He is a very open-hearted, hardworking, and respectful person. I am so happy with him. In recent times, I haven’t seen this kind of passion. Even when we were about to shoot and he had just come out of a tough phase, he internalized the character deeply. You might not always see him on the surface working hard, but he puts in the work quietly, sincerely."
It’s very interesting to make a film on Yogi’s life. But it’s also challenging, because there’s so much public sentiment around him as a figure. How does the film navigate that? "I always feel I should be true to the story and the subject. Yes, there are a lot of sentiments involved, so we have to take care not to hurt them. I believe that if someone has risen to such heights, there must be something extraordinary in him — maybe character, maybe resilience. Hiding that would be wrong. Instead, we should highlight those qualities and make the film inspirational. At 22, when other boys were chasing girls, this man became a sanyasi. What happened in his life that led to that choice? That’s what interests me. My approach is emotional storytelling. Everything else about him is already on YouTube. What isn’t there — that’s what I want to bring to the audience."
A story like Ajey can glorify a figure who is polarising. While many in Uttar Pradesh view Adityanath as an inspirational leader, some minority communities don’t share the view. How does one walk that tightrope? "The view you’re expressing is largely a Bombay view. On the ground in UP, the minority community sees it differently. We researched this thoroughly while making the film. We visited many places and spoke to people from different communities, including minorities — and by minority I mean common people, not political voices. While shooting in Lucknow, Rishikesh and other places, we spoke to them, and surprisingly, the common man is happy with him. You might not believe it, but that’s what we found. The common man isn’t interested in political mudslinging or circuses; he’s interested in daily life. And in their day-to-day lives, across communities, they are happy with him. I’m not saying this just because I’ve made a film on him — we researched it. Any young woman — from any community — is happy because she can now walk alone at nine at night and return home safely. That matters. Even my driver, who belongs to a minority community, told me this. He said, 'We also call him Baba'. Back in 2008–09, when I went to shoot in UP, it was a nightmare. If we were on the road with a unit, shooting on live locations, you would not imagine the kind of filthy comments we were getting. But we had to shoot because the film demanded it. Cut to 2018, when I shot in Gorakhpur. All I needed was one permission from the District Magistrate, and we could shoot anywhere we wanted. Not a single person, not a single local gunda, not a single comment. Before going to UP, I had even told my unit — especially the girls — that they would have to be mindful of how they dressed, how they carried themselves. But while shooting in 2018, I was so relieved. We cannot become so volatile. That was a purely entertaining film, yet the goons still came and harassed them badly. It is very scary."
Flattered, as I’m an outsider, says Anant V Joshi on playing UP CM Yogi Adityanath
9:20 AM
Deep Saxena (HINDUSTAN TIMES; April 30, 2025)
While he admits that biopics are demanding, actor Anant V Joshi is thrilled to play the lead role in the upcoming biopic on Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. Anant, who has been noticed for his roles in Yeh Kaali Kaali Ankhein (2022), 12th Fail (2023), and Maamla Legal Hai (2024), says, “I am eager to do different roles. I feel flattered to get this opportunity, especially since I am not an industry kid or a social media influencer. At a time when we talk about nepotism, outsiders like me getting such an opportunity makes me hopeful.”
The movie, titled Ajey: The Untold Story of a Yogi, is based on author-political analyst Shantanu Gupta’s book The Monk Who Became Chief Minister. It is directed by Ravindra Gautam, who is known for helming Maharani Season 2 (2022) and Ekkees Toppon Ki Salaami (2024). The film has been extensively shot in Rishikesh (Uttarakhand) and Lucknow.
Ask Anant about biopics connecting with the audience, and he says, “Any biopic made with honesty and integrity will work. It’s tough to make a film about a person in a powerful position who is loved by many. As an actor, it is a tightrope walk to work in a biopic; it can look like a caricature if you try to imitate someone.”
12th Fail actor Anant Joshi to play UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath in biopic
8:47 AM
Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; January 20, 2025)
From Vivek Oberoi’s PM Narendra Modi (2019) to Kangana Ranaut’s latest release Emergency, politicians and their journeys have often found a place in Hindi cinema. Now, another biopic is in the works. Mid-day has learnt that a biopic on Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath is being helmed by Ravindra Gautam, who previously directed the second season of Maharani.
Anant Joshi, seen in 12th Fail (2023) and Kathal: A Jackfruit Mystery (2023), will portray the younger version of Adityanath in the yet-untitled film that will trace how a boy, born as Ajay Singh Bisht in Uttarakhand, became among the most influential figures of the Bharatiya Janata Party.
A source close to the production revealed, “The movie delves deep into Yogi Adityanath’s early years, his spiritual awakening at the Gorakhnath Math, and his eventual rise in politics. Anant’s portrayal captures the inner conflict and drive of a young man seeking purpose.”
In the 1990s, Adityanath left his home and became a disciple of Mahant Avaidyanath, the then-chief of the Gorakhnath Math. He was made the head seer after Avaidyanath’s demise in 2014.
In the movie, Paresh Rawal has been cast as Avaidyanath, Adityanath’s spiritual mentor, whose teachings profoundly influenced his life. The biopic, which rolled last November, has been shot extensively across Uttar Pradesh, including Gorakhpur, the seat of Adityanath’s spiritual and political journey. Currently, the team is filming in Sanjay Gandhi National Park in Mumbai.
Another insider adds, “The team also shot at the Guru Nanak Khalsa college last week. Before that, they conducted a 45-day schedule in north India, filming in Rishikesh and other iconic locations connected to Adityanath’s life. After the Mumbai schedule, it will be a wrap on the project.”
We reached out to Gautam, who did not respond till press time.
I must have done something right that I got a chance to witness Ram Temple inauguration-Kailash Kher
8:21 AM
Sugandha Rawal (HINDUSTAN TIMES; January 24, 2024)
Singer Kailash Kher was filled with a strong sense of devotion after he attended the pran pratishtha ceremony at Ayodhya’s Shri Ram Temple and delivered a soulful performance on Monday. Now, the event has become one of the most cherished moments of his life.
“Aisa laga ke humne bhagwan Ram ke real mein darshan kare hain,” he tells us, adding, “It was a deeply spiritual moment. I must have done something right that I got a chance to witness it”.
The 50-year-old reveals that he performed his track Ram Dhun after the unveiling of Ram Lalla’s idol. “I feel so honoured and blessed that I got an opportunity to sing. It was a very special feeling,” he shares, recalling an incident where he felt divine intervention. “I, along with Sonu ji (singer Sonu Nigam), came out of the temple without doing the darshan. As we were walking out, we met Yogi Adityanath (UP CM) and he assured to help us. We went in and did the darshan. I think that was Shri Ram’s way of not letting us go without meeting him,” he ends.
Film City revamp takes off after Yogi Adityanath's efforts to lure film units to Uttar Pradesh
8:50 AM
The dream city will be a tourist attraction on the lines of Dubai Miracle Garden; UP CM Yogi’s invite to Bollywood has Maha govt taking the stalled project a step forward
Chaitanya Marpakwar, Chittaranjan Tembhekar & Bella Jaisinghani (MUMBAI MIRROR; January 22, 2023)
The fear of being outshone was the only prod that could get this stalled stallion to trot again. The Maharashtra government’s long-pending plan to revamp Mumbai’s Film City in Goregaon may finally see the light of day after Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath made a proactive bid to lure film units from Mumbai to his state.
Cultural affairs minister Sudhir Mungantiwar has announced that within a year, Maharashtra will float a global tender seeking the participation of American and European architects and studios to prepare a very futuristic design to revamp the existing Dadasaheb Phalke Film City. The state plans to undertake a Rs 4,500-crore project to convert Film City into a global tourist attraction by combining it with the Sanjay Gandhi National Park (SGNP), he said.
The proposed revamp became a talking point after the recent visit of Yogi Adityanath to Mumbai to attract domestic investors ahead of his Global Investor Summit 2023 in Lucknow from February 10-12.
Adityanath met eminent members of the film fraternity and announced that UP's film policy will soon be amended to offer a 50% subsidy for web series, in line with the subsidy offered to films. It will provide for 25% subsidy for OTT films and another 25% from the state government for setting up studios and labs. Around 67 of 521 acres of UP's aspirational Film City have already been distributed for film-related activities.
Within days, the Maharashtra government announced that Goregaon Film City will be modernized. Mungantiwar promised to construct state-of-the-art studios and tourist attractions similar to Universal Studios of Hollywood. The new Film City and SGNP will combine into a three-day package tour for international tourists to carve the zone into a long-term revenue model along the lines of Miracle Garden in Dubai or the Eiffel Tower in Paris. "Within two-and-a-half to three years the project will break even," he said.
Amit Behl, honorary national secretary of CINTAA, said, "This Film City revamp has been in the offing for the past decade. In fact, in 2015, we had a meeting with Mr Vinod Tawde, who was the minister of culture, and tenders were to be floated at the time. But now it is very nice that Mr Mungantiwar has decided and the plan is finally taking off. Film City has many advantages, it is close to Western Express Highway, and its incredible topography and landscape include various contours, like mountains, lakes, forests, and jungles. Much of the land has already been cleared for studios."
Behl said this revamp will primarily help bring back all those TV production units that have seven-day telecasts and have moved elsewhere to shoot, like far-off Naigaon and Vasai if they are offered concessional rates.
“Even feature film units, and web series that have moved outside Film City – indeed outside Maharashtra – will come back if they are offered proper infrastructure. Most importantly, Maharashtra as a state should start first offering subsidies and support to the Hindi, Marathi, Gujarati, Rajasthani, and Bhojpuri industries that basically function from Mumbai. They may shoot anywhere,” said Behl.
Behl said the Maharashtra government should follow the module of other states like Uttarakhand, Madhya Pradesh, UP, and Jharkhand which are offering subsidies and discounts, and Delhi and Punjab which provide single window clearance.
Behl said, "It must function like a semi-private body. The red tape should be removed from Film City, and provide single window clearance. Film City authorities should involve maximum participation from film actors, producers, directors, and technicians from the entertainment industry and the Media Entertainment Skill Council, in its functioning, to enable Mumbai and Maharashtra to regain their lost glory and revenue. Then regional and foreign film units will come and stay with us. Also if hotel facilities like lodges and two-star hotels, five-star hotels, like Ramoji Rao Film City has, can be provided, then those actors and technicians that have moved out during the pandemic will come back. It will be a value add. But two things, single window clearance for shooting and losing the red tape, are very important," he said.
Talking to Mumbai Mirror, Mungantiwar said once the concept is prepared another tender will be floated but only after consent of the cabinet led by CM Eknath Shinde and deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis. "The CM and Dy CM will decide how to go about the contract. We are considering all three models of construction, EPC (engineering, procurement and construction), PPP (public-private partnership), and BOT (build, operate, and transfer),” he said.
Before awarding contracts, however, the encroachments on site will have to be removed, he admitted. An ambitious Mungantiwar is looking at roping in reputed international film studios such as Universal, Fox, Sony, and Disney in the project.
Birendra Nath Tiwari, president of FWICE (Federation of Western India Cine Employees), said, "We knew for long that a revamp of Film City was the need of the hour. It is in such bad shape, you cannot take a good photo from anywhere. It is not picture-perfect at all. It looks like the setting for a horror movie, no beautiful film can be made here. We had given a few suggestions to the state government earlier. But we welcome Mr Mungantiwar's decision to implement the plan. Film City's management is zero. Politics and corruption is rife, people are appointed to serve vested interests and MDs are transferred on a whim. The state's idea of bringing in foreign architects is good, but we also have brilliant architects and professionals who build grand sets, they should also be involved in the revamp. Other states like UP, MP, Uttarakhand, and Haryana are all either building or planning a Film City, but Mumbai in Maharashtra, which is the capital of the entertainment industry, is lagging."
Tiwari said, "I welcome this revamp on behalf of lakhs of industry workers. I look forward to the new morning when we can visit our Film City and actually feel that we can complete our film here."
In 2018, the state invited global tenders for Film City, but there was no response. However this time, tenders will be more "bidder-friendly" and a competitive response is expected, said officials.
Meanwhile, reacting to Yogi’s meeting with the film industry, Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut said that the UP CM would be naive to assume that the industry will shift from Mumbai. "Dadasaheb Phalke started the film industry which then spread to the entire country. It belongs to everyone. If he (Yogi) wants to make a Film City in UP, then he should. But no one can take the industry out of Mumbai," Raut said.
Yogi’s visit shook not just the state but indeed Film City authorities from their slumber. Soon after, following a request from Film City, the state's urban development department wrote to BMC commissioner Iqbal Singh Chahal, asking for 15 km of roads within the area to be concretized. And the political quagmire deepened.
As there is no clarity on who will pay for road repair, opposition parties alleged that the government is trying to milk the cash-rich BMC. Samajwadi Party MLA Rais Shaikh said the letter itself mentions that all this is being done for shows like 'Big Boss'. "Why should public money be spent for their convenience? Today, the average cost of concretizing per km of road is Rs 15 crore. This means the authorities will spend Rs 225 crore to concretize these roads which is not going to benefit the public,” he said.
"If the BMC starts constructing roads in areas that are not in its jurisdiction, when will it focus on works it is obligated to do? This is nothing but an attempt by the state government to save face as Yogi Adityanath has tried to woo Bollywood and the UP Film City plans have been announced in a big way. The BJP must not politicize Bollywood or any arts,” said former Congress corporator and opposition party leader Ravi Raja.
Suniel Shetty asks Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath to help end #BoycottBollywood
3:29 PM
BOMBAY TIMES (January 7, 2023)
Suniel Shetty on Thursday urged Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath to help get rid of the ‘Boycott Bollywood’ trend on social media. The UP CM, who was on a two-day Mumbai visit, rounded off his trip by meeting film personalities such as Shetty, Subhash Ghai, Jackie Shroff, Rajkumar Santoshi, Manmohan Shetty and Boney Kapoor. Though the agenda of the meeting was to discuss shooting and investment prospects in Noida Film City, Shetty took the opportunity to put forward the grievances of the film industry.
‘NOT COST OR SUBSIDY, OUR PROBLEM TODAY IS BRINGING AUDIENCE BACK TO CINEMAS’
“Today if we are facing a problem then it is not about cost or subsidy, but it is to do with the audience. We have to bring the audience back to theatres. It is very important,” Shetty was quoted as saying during the session.
He added, “The hashtag that’s going on Boycott Bollywood yeh ruk bhi sakta hai aapke kehne se. It is important to spread the word that we are doing good work. One rotten apple is everywhere, but just because of that you can’t call the whole industry rotten. Today, people think that Bollywood is not a good place, but we have made such good films here. I was a part of one such film too, when I did Border. I have been a part of many good films. We have to come together and work towards how we can get rid of the Boycott Bollywood hashtag. We have to figure out how we can stop this trend.”
‘FEEL VERY STRONGLY ABOUT STIGMA AGAINST BOLLYWOOD’
“It is of great importance that this stigma that is on us is gone. It’s a very strong emotion for me. Dukh hota hai bolne me ke humaare pe yeh stigma hai because 99% of us are not like that. Hum din bhar drugs nahi lete, hum galat kaam nahi karte. Hum achhe kaam se jude hai. Bharat ko agar bahar ke desho se kisi ne joda hai toh woh hai humaara music, and our stories. So, Yogi ji, if you take the lead and talk to our beloved Prime Minister about still continues it, it will make a huge difference,” said Shetty.
Subsequently, we spoke to Suniel Shetty who told us why he chose to raise the impassioned request at the event. Excerpts:
There were a lot of people attending the event, someone asked for an entertainment park (in UP), someone asked for more theatres etc. All I asked for was some help for our film industry because we are probably at the worst stage that we have ever been in. I asked for help to revive the industry and get our respect back.
Mera ek hi kehna hai ki if I do something wrong, if I project myself wrongly, then hang and ban me, but don’t ban my industry because there are thousands of workers. After all, the film industry is not only about actors. It is about people at various levels and various stages, right from spot boys, carpenters, dancers etc. and all of them are a part of the film industry. I keep praying and wishing that our golden days come back. We have connected the world through music. At birthdays or naming ceremonies, it is our music that is played, and that is what people enjoy.
I didn’t ask for a piece of land, I didn’t say I needed subsidy for one of my movies, I just said help the industry stand on its feet. Yogi ji is someone who wanted to meet the industry and listen to us. We are on the back foot right now and someone needs to come forward. I know I will get a lot of gaali from people who want to boycott Bollywood. They will abuse me and say, ‘Yeh toh flop actor hai, etc. ’ Par woh sab mujhe chalega.
Yogi ji gave a very positive reaction (to my point) and I am happy about that. The new beginning can happen beautifully from a state like UP, because UP and Bihar are the heartland of India when it comes to Hindi movies. Bolte hain ki UP, Bihar mein film chal jaati hai toh all-India mein ripple effect hoke film chal jaati hai. UP has always been a state where we have shot our films and enjoyed them. I became an action hero thanks to UP, Bihar. That love still continues.
— Onkar Kulkarni and agencies
Ravi Kishan to star in and helm the biopic on Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath
8:25 AM
Bhojpuri star-MP Ravi Kishan to star in and helm Hindi biopic on UP CM Adityanath; film to trace his rise from Gorakhnath Math
Upala KBR (MID-DAY; August 5, 2022)
In 2019, Vivek Oberoi headlined PM Narendra Modi, a biopic on the Indian Prime Minister, thus splashing on screen what many knew all along — that politics and Hindi movies had become strange bedfellows in the past few years. Three years on, a biopic on another political figure is in the works. Actor-politician Ravi Kishan will star in and produce a movie on Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. Kishan, who is currently a Member of Parliament from the Gorakhpur constituency, campaigned for Adityanath in the Assembly elections held earlier this year.
For Kishan, who joined the Bharatiya Janata Party in 2017, Adityanath’s rise in politics has been inspiring. “I will [also] direct the movie. It is about the rise of Yogi ji, the monk, his success story and his political reign as chief minister. It will cover other political parties, too. My writers recently travelled to Gorakhpur, where he started [his journey] from, to begin their research. The movie will be a mix of fiction and reality,” says the actor-producer.
Adityanath, who has become a political force as part of the current dispensation, was born Ajay Singh Bisht in Uttar Pradesh. Around the 1990s, he left his home to join the Ayodhya Ram temple movement. A disciple of Mahant Avaidyanath, the chief of the Gorakhnath Math, in his initial years, he was made the head seer after Avaidyanath’s demise in 2014.
Kishan says that the movie will begin from Adityanath’s time at the Gorakhnath Math, subsequently tracing how he — at 26 — became the youngest member of the 12th Lok Sabha. “The scripting is on. I have spoken to Yogi ji about the movie, and he has given his approval,” he adds.
While the biopic was scheduled to begin later this year, Kishan says it will roll after his other projects are complete. The team is utilizing the time to intensely research the subject. “I recently completed a schedule of Capsule Gill in London. Before that, I was shooting for 1922 Pratikaar Chauri Chaura.”
Now, things are available, thanks to our health minister, Dr Harsh Vardhan-Hema Malini
8:07 AM
Hema Malini says she’s been finding support from those in power as she takes on several initiatives to support the fight against the pandemic
Upala KBR (MID-DAY; May 21, 2021)
Joining he likes of Bollywood celebrities who are putting their might behind Coronavirus relief work is Hema Malini, who has been providing oxygen enhancers to those in need, in Mathura. “During the second wave, I learnt that the water purifier brand that I endorse also makes oxygen enhancers. I requested them to sell them to me. I have [donated] seven enhancers, and ordered another five. I have given them to the Mathura government hospital, and Vrindavan hospital, and have instructed the rest to be delivered to other facilities to help villagers,” the veteran tells mid-day in an exclusive chat. While its use is apparently not ascertained in the treatment of the disease, enhancers claim to increase the oxygen supply in a room by separating the gas from atmospheric air.
Despite the aid that she has been providing, she laments that not all those who seek it can receive it. “I tried my best to provide all that I can, and all politicians were forthcoming when I asked for help. People were fighting for oxygen. I asked UP CM Yogi ji [Adityanath] for help, and within a few days, everything was under control. Oxygen was immediately made available to the people of Mathura. Now, things are available, thanks to our health minister, Dr Harsh Vardhan. I talk to him often.”
In her own capacity, Malini has also been helping overseas medical students return to the country to get inducted into Covid duty. “They would send me letters stating that they wanted the opportunity to work in the centres, but weren’t being allowed because they had not completed their exams. The students can be of great help to the hospitals as they have the medical knowledge, like the right way to use an oxygen cylinders. I have also requested all my Mathura constituents to get vaccinated. Those residing in villages [are apprehensive], so I keep sending video messages to encourage them. Vaccines are the only way to control this disease.”
In the lockdown, the actor has been training her focus on music. “I don’t actively dance, but practice it a bit. I take to exercise classes every second day, and music classes as well. I keep myself busy with my grandchildren too.”
Akshay Kumar gets the go-ahead to shoot Ram Setu in Ayodhya
8:12 AM
Actor discussed his film with UP CM during latter’s visit to the city; Rahul Mittra, Umesh Shukla also want to film in the state
Himesh Mankad (MUMBAI MIRROR; December 4, 2020)
“Set in today’s India, it’s the journey of the protagonist to discover if the Ram Setu is a myth or reality. Since Akshay and his director, Abhishek Sharma, want to present an accurate depiction, they want to shoot in real locations in the state, including Ayodhya, the birth place of Lord Ram. They want to kick off the film by mid-2021 in UP,” informed a source close to the development.
A day later, the CM had a meeting with several Bollywood filmmakers and actors at a city five-star hotel coordinated by producer Rahul Mittra. Among those present were Arjun Rampal, Umesh Shukla, Satish Kaushik, Honey Trehan, Pahlaj Nihalani, Boney Kapoor, Ravi Kishan, Anand Pandit, Tigmanshu Dhulia, Anil Sharma, Ravi Kishan, Vikram Khakkar and Jayantilal Gada.
OMG Oh My God director, Umesh Shukla lauded the CM’s ambitious plan to build a world class Film City, the biggest in India, on a 1000-acre plot on the Yamuna Expressway Industrial Development Authority (YEIDA), conveniently located within six kilometers of the Jewar International Airport at Greater Noida, and in close proximity to the metro and railway stations and the Bombay-Delhi expressway to facilitate things. “They have invited proposals from the film industry and within a year, the blueprint will be ready and construction will begin,” he informed, saying he would set one of his upcoming productions in the state.
Uddhav Thackeray targets Yogi Adityanath’s ‘Mission Bollywood’
8:15 AM
Actor Akshay Kumar calls on UP CM Yogi Adityanath in Mumbai on Tuesday
As UP CM Set To Meet Film Industry Biggies Today, Thackeray Says No One Can Take Industries Away
Bhavika Jain & Neha Lalchandani | TNN (THE TIMES OF INDIA; December 2, 2020)
Mumbai/Lucknow: CM Uddhav Thackeray took a veiled dig at his Uttar Pradesh counterpart Yogi Adityanath on Tuesday, saying “no one can come to Maharashtra and take away industries from here.” Thackeray was speaking at an event organised by the IMC Chamber of Commerce.
The remarks came ahead of Yogi Adityanath’s scheduled meeting with representatives of Mumbai’s film industry on Wednesday. The UP CM flew down to Mumbai on Tuesday to attend the listing ceremony of the Lucknow Municipal Corporation bond at the Bombay Stock Exchange on Wednesday. He will also meet several industry representatives to discuss investment opportunities in UP.
To finalise the process for setting up UP’s Film City, a UP government spokesperson said, Yogi Adityanath will meet Rahul Mittra, Subhash Ghai, Boney Kapoor, Bhushan Kumar of T-Series, Jatin Sethi of Zee Studio, Anand Pandit, Baba Azmi, Neeraj Pathak, Randeep Hooda, Tigmanshu Dhulia, Jimmy Shergill, Taran Adarsh, Komal Nahta and Raj Kumar Santoshi. “He will discuss with them what facilities are required at the Film City and how could they contribute to the development,” the spokesperson said.
Thackeray said, “Maharashtra is not afraid of competition, but no one can forcibly take businesses away from the state, that will not be allowed. We are not jealous about anyone’s progress, but it has to happen through fair competition.”
Thackeray said the key words ‘Magnetic Maharashtra’ used by the state to draw investors were powerful. “Maharashtra’s culture and institutions are its strength. Some people are coming today, they will also meet you all and ask you to come to them. But the ‘magnetic’ strength of Maharashtra is so powerful that it will stop things from going from here, but it can also happen that somebody from there comes here,” Thackeray said.
Yogi Adityanath had in September announced a proposal for setting up a Film City, for which a 1,000-acre plot in Sector 21 of the Yamuna Expressway Industrial Development Authority has been chosen. The site is 6 km away from the proposed Jewar International Airport and an hour’s drive from Delhi. As per the preliminary plan, the area will be divided into five zones that will consist of entrance and office, shooting area and residential, theme park and outdoor location, university and studio rooms, and airport. Along with facility for shooting, it will also provide infrastructure for post-production work and have production studios.
Maharashtra BJP chief Chandrakant Patil said on Tuesday that no one can shift any industry that generates employment in the state, including the film industry. “Yogi ji may be coming here to study the Film City and facilities being provided to the industry, but nobody can take the Film City and its glamour away from Mumbai,” Patil told reporters. He said every state has the right to develop or provide some facilities to the film industry.
Thackeray said even if the pandemic is not over yet, the wheels of economy have been set in motion again in the state. He said Rs 60,000 crore of investment MoUs have been finalized this year, and work on 70% of them is underway in terms of land allotment and permissions.
(With inputs from PTI)
Selfie time for Bollywood again? UP CM Yogi Adityanath to meet Bollywood producers
8:16 AM
UP CM Yogi Adityanath to meet producers, including Vishal Bhardwaj, Boney Kapoor tomorrow, to seek suggestions for proposed film city in state
Uma Ramasubramanian (MID-DAY; December 1, 2020)
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has been going full-throttle on his ambitious plan to build the country's "biggest film city" in Gautam Buddh Nagar since its announcement in September. The leader, who is expected to arrive in Mumbai tomorrow, has set up a meeting with members of the Hindi film industry to discuss the way forward. Where Prime Minister Narendra Modi has had some of the biggest names of Bollywood enthusiastically huddling around him for a selfie, Adityanath may have to contend with a little less sparkle. Among those invited for the meeting are filmmakers Subhash Ghai, Vishal Bhardwaj, Boney Kapoor, Bhushan Kumar, Manmohan Shetty, Rajkumar Santoshi, Ramesh Sippy, Tigmanshu Dhulia, Madhur Bhandarkar and Umesh Shukla.
Navneet Sehgal, additional chief secretary (information), Uttar Pradesh, who arranged the interaction, says it is one of the first steps to encourage film-related activities in the state. "[Through this meeting], we want to convey that [filmmakers] are welcome to shoot in UP. We want their suggestions on the facilities they want in the proposed film city. The project is in the planning and designing stage, so we need to know their requirements," explains Sehgal.
Producer Rahul Mittra, who had shot Bullett Raja (2013) in UP, is looking forward to attending the interaction. "They thought it will be worthwhile to engage with a few producers, and discuss the film city project and subsidies. I appreciate that [Adityanath] is taking the time out and holding one-on-one interactions. Their focus is on producers who want to shoot in the state."
After Narendra Modi, film on Yogi Adityanath to hit the screen soon
7:43 AM
Nakkash director says Kumud Mishra's role 'heavily inspired' by UP chief minister, Yogi Adityanath
Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; May 3, 2019)
Even as projects centred on Prime Minister Narendra Modi have been barred from screening amidst the ongoing election, Bollywood remains undeterred in telling stories about political figures.
In the latest development, actor Kumud Mishra — who has previously featured in Airlift (2016) and Rockstar (2011) — will be seen playing a character inspired by Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath in Nakkash. The film, set in Banaras, apparently revolves around the idol makers of the holy city.
Unwilling to divulge too many details about the role, director Zaigham Imam describes Mishra's character as a "local leader of Banaras." "The character is heavily inspired by him [Yogi Adityanath] and he is presented in a positive light. It is such designed that the audience will enjoy his presence," he says.
The drama, he reveals, has got the go-ahead from the censor board ahead of its release next month. Ask him if he is worried about the film courting controversy, and he says, "It is one of the main characters in the narrative and will move the audience. Let the film do the talking upon its release."
Aarav keeps replaying a clip from Jaan, where I am kissing around a man's nipple-Twinkle Khanna
9:49 PM
In an exclusive chat held at the mid-day office, writer and social-media sensation Mrs Funnybones Twinkle Khanna shines a light on fame and films, as she turns producer with the Akshay Kumar starrer 'Pad Man'
Mayank Shekhar (MID-DAY; February 4, 2018)
You mentioned you haven't given an interview as a producer before. To ease you in therefore, how about we start with what I'm sure you've been asked all your life: Twinkle, are you really named after the nursery rhyme?
The apocryphal tales from my childhood would suggest that I was named (Twinkle) because it rhymed with sprinkle and sparkle. Luckily, I wasn't named Wrinkle.
What's wrong with Wrinkle?
Well, Wrinkle would just be slightly worse than Twinkle. At least, here you're shining, there you're sagging. Having said that, for very long, I didn't like my name. I fought against it. But as with everything else, my perspective (on this) was influenced as much by literature as life. I read Jhumpa Lahiri's Interpreter Of Maladies, which has a short-story about a girl with a fancy Bengali name, who insists on introducing herself to everyone as Twinkle - her 'pet name'. everyone is baffled by this, including her husband. And she's a popular, cool girl, who still insists on going by Twinkle. So I thought - if she's okay with it, I can pull it off as well!
Was there a connection between Twinkle (in that short story), and you? Did you ever meet or ask Jhumpa Lahiri?
Well I think there was a paragraph in there about an actress from Bombay, by the name of Dimple (Twinkle's mother). I guess she did kinda...
Oh, so there was a reference.
I don't know if it was completely directed at me. But it certainly did change my perspective!
The other name you're equally well-known by is Mrs Funnybones.
I seem to have a penchant for really funny names.
That would obviously be because you have a
funny bone. Also, I hear, the name comes from you being accident-prone,
you've managed to break a lot of bones.
I've broken both my legs, arms, collarbone. I've limped for most of my life, which strangely enough I stopped after 40, so some things do get better with age. Mrs Funnybones was a handle I had essentially made to anonymously troll people on Twitter. But the day I decided to (officially) join (Twitter), Twinkle Khanna was already taken. And I didn't want to be 'TheOneAndOnlyTwinkleKhanna' (God that sounds really bad), or 'TheReal...' Since I already had MrsFunnyBones, I went with it. When I did join, one of the politicians had been slapped. My first tweet was, "What a slap Sirji." My family immediately said that I should get off this platform. This is not for me!
I've broken both my legs, arms, collarbone. I've limped for most of my life, which strangely enough I stopped after 40, so some things do get better with age. Mrs Funnybones was a handle I had essentially made to anonymously troll people on Twitter. But the day I decided to (officially) join (Twitter), Twinkle Khanna was already taken. And I didn't want to be 'TheOneAndOnlyTwinkleKhanna' (God that sounds really bad), or 'TheReal...' Since I already had MrsFunnyBones, I went with it. When I did join, one of the politicians had been slapped. My first tweet was, "What a slap Sirji." My family immediately said that I should get off this platform. This is not for me!
Now when you call yourself Mrs Funnybones, and write columns that are inherently funny, is there too much pressure to be funny at all times?
Now the good thing about hiding behind the persona of Mrs Funnybones - I mean that's not really me, it's a projection - is that I'm not supposed to be amiable, I'm just supposed to be myself. And cracking lame jokes comes easier to me than minding my P's and Q's, so I'm alright there. I used to feel the pressure in the beginning, but then realised that I just have to be myself, and really, how wrong can you go with that?
You've said before that since you were fat while growing up, humour became your natural defense mechanism. Is that cliche about fat people being funny really true?
It's not about fat people - it's about odd people being funny, while finding a way to fit in, making fun of others, before others can attack you. I mean, how non-conventional could I be? I was in a position where people would be nice to me, because of who my parents were. And they were also mean to me for the same reason. I had an odd name. I was the fattest girl, which is great, because I could sit on everyone in class, and beat them up. And I feel lucky to have been an oddball, forced to develop other skills. Because if I was really the prom queen, what would I be doing right now? Staring at my position - in my 40s, with the thing I banked on (beauty) depleting?
Going back to pressures of humour, I know stand-up comedians in particular, who are headaches to hang out with - they just keep thinking of repartees, comebacks, puns, during conversations. It's impossible to talk to them in a social setting!
Well, unfortunately, that describes me as well. And I do try really hard not to (fall into the trap), so I do my yoga to tell myself, "It's alright. I don't have to have the last, punch line!"
The other thing about humour is its decline that one senses in general. Would you agree?
You're telling me about it? (laughs). I definitely think so. But I'm divided on this (issue). There are certain things (we were used to) that I feel weren't politically correct -culturally, discriminatory, racist. And we're not okay with that anymore. But our funniest jokes used to be about other people. The other side of me feels sad, because we're losing that too. Or I'm losing opportunities!
There's also the element of an exponentially growing number of holy cows that you simply can't make fun of anymore. Or is that just a social-media thing?
My (Twitter) bio says that nothing is sacred, except laughter. And why do Hindu boys worship their mothers? Because their religion tells them to worship the cow! Clearly I'm the wrong person to talk to about holy cows.
Did you get trolled for it?
No!
Since you write opinion, that's the other thing happening, where every perspective is presently being boxed, while individuals are being conveniently reduced/diminished to labels: Bhakts, Libtards, and so on. Do you notice that?
I also see that if you write something 'Left-Liberal', as you'd call it, you get trolled majorly. I have a formula. Once I was writing a column about building a nation of tyranny on corpses of soldiers, and I began with saying that ornithologists can see a distinction between birds. I didn't get trolled, because most people didn't understand what ornithologist means, and they left it alone (laughs).
Politically, socially, your husband (Akshay Kumar) holds a totally separate world-view from yours. Is that fair to say?
I'd say our social, political ideologies, sense of humour, are very different. What's interesting is that after the first few years, we gave up trying to change each other. What we did instead was start to learn from each other. Luckily all his strengths are my weaknesses, and vice versa. What would I learn if we were more like each other anyway? I really believe two peas in a pod died of inertia. And we are not like that. So we continue to grow. Marriages essentially fail, when you try to clone the other person to become like you, it's not possible.
But he's protective of your public opinions, censoring your columns, we hear, cautioning you against going too far?
We're two different brains. Mine is a washing machine, whirling, chaotic. His thoughts are neatly folded in the closet of his mind. I need his stability to hem me in. He needs me to push him out of his comfort zone.
Why does it feel like we're reading a perfectly-worded column of yours?
What can I say, I'm smart, you don't get to meet too many of those (laughs). So in a certain situation, he's only trying to protect me from the fact that there'd be people throwing stones at our house. And I appreciate that. Because I could, sometimes, get into a lot of trouble on my own.
Well you do represent 'soft power' - having grown up in the limelight - which inevitably make for soft-targets. What's the worst sort of targeting you've faced for your opinions? Have they percolated offline?
Well I had an elderly lady accost me at a hospital once, while I was waiting for my mother-in-law's test reports, and she kept asking me what I had against Yogi Adityanath. And she was a really old lady, and I kept telling her this was not the right time, and she just went on regardless.
Given excessively famous parents (Rajesh Khanna, Dimple), I'm sure you've been used to this sort of intrusion all your life, no?
I had no choice over where I was born. But being married to a movie-star was my choice. Still it (intrusion) is not something I'm comfortable with. I prefer sitting behind my desk - that's my life. When I'm pushed out there, of course, I have, with time, developed the abilities to deal with it too.
One of the challenges of your life, you've said before, was to be normal. What did you mean by that?
I've had a turbulent life, first of all. I went from living in (my father's) mansion, going to school in a convertible, to shifting into my grandmother's house, where my sister and I would sleep on mattresses on the floor. I would go everywhere in rickshaws that I absolutely loved. My friends had nicknamed me 'Rickshaw Rani' for some reason. (This carried on) until I got the signing amount for my first movie, and I put a down-payment for my car - a white esteem, which was a big thing. I could have borrowed my mother's car. But we were raised in a certain way, seeing my mom working - raising not just me, but my sibling, and my grandparents. I realised early on that I needed to be financially independent. So I don't know if I've had that semblance of a normal life, if you know what I mean.
I read a lovely column of yours (it also had Akshay's story in it) about taking suburban trains, and was quite surprised that you did take the locals growing up.
How else would I commute? As I said, I had a convertible until I was 10, and then it vanished. But more than that, it was about a work ethic, and a mindset. I went to boarding school, the most defining time of my life, where I turned from a complacent child, who came last in a class of 37, to always being in the top three. Which is true for children in general - it's the circumstances that propel them to go either way, not just their abilities. So the misfortunes, that I thought were devastating, turned out to be assets.
Looking at the post 3 Idiots phase, where so much premium is put on 'passion', there must be kids who probably want to become engineers or doctors, but their parents will probably force them to become poets! That's a joke. But this actually happened to you; you'd scored 97 in math...
Yeah, I wanted to be a chartered accountant. But my mom didn't even pay attention (to that). The thought was just thrown out of the window. I had applied for my (CA) entrance exam, during my second year in commerce. And I used to keep getting these (film) offers. There was Time Machine, which Shekhar Kapur was making, that I said no to, and many others that kept coming.
So it was clear to your mom that you would be in the movies?
She told me that this is the time (that I can pursue movies). I can always do other things later. And it worked out. And like I said, I really wanted to get financially independent quickly, and this was a good way.
Here's something that you do in all your interviews: you totally downplay your acting career, as if it never happened, or say that you sucked at it. You've had 17 lead-actor credits against your name, that's a lot!
Were you writing reviews at that time?
No.
Otherwise, I would've asked if you've ever written a good review about me!
Well your last film, Love Ke Liye Kuch Bhi Karega (2001), was good. Shah Rukh Khan, for instance, is known as Baadshah (1999) for the film where you were the heroine...
What's the point of all these things? I don't even like my children watching my movies. And my son is such an a**. He keeps replaying a clip from the film Jaan (1996), where I am kissing around a man's nipple. He made a collage out of this for one of my birthdays. It's sick [laughs]. I don't think my family has been supportive of what you think has been a great career!
But you were pretty much in the thick of things back in that decade.
All I wanted to do was get back home. On sets, I would read books. There were times when I'd be sitting, and knitting, and my spot-boy would tell me, 'Aap mat aisa kariye. Sab log Auntyji bolenge.' So you had to live up to an image, and I wasn't that person.
If you felt like the 'outsider', you'd actually have the best observations to make. So much of writing is reminiscence, isn't it? Still, you've never written about showbiz/movies.
I couldn't really see people as clearly as I can now. Though, of course, you couldn't miss some people who were in a kaleidoscope of colours. I had a (male) co-actor who cancelled shoot, and he called me the next day to say that he was really sick, because he had a problem with his uterus [laughs]. I didn't really feel like saying anything after that.
What's the craziest story that you remember from a set?
This uterus story was really funny. And he (the same actor) always had strange medical issues. Once we were shooting in Switzerland, and after pack-up he said that his ear was numb, and the doctor was pleased that he got himself checked up in time - otherwise his brain would have dislocated! And I was like, this really can't be happening. So I have all these weird stories but somewhere, somehow, I don't enjoy writing about them.
Have things changed a lot in the movies since?
Well, I haven't produced any films, except Pad Man.
Are you going to disown Tees Maar Khan? You're credited as a producer there too, among a couple of other films.
My husband just put my name, because I was lucky for him [laughs]. I haven't done anything in Tees Maar Khan. Pad Man is the only movie I have produced. Well, the movie business has completely changed so far as women, and women's roles, are concerned. even the way women are treated has changed drastically.
Were women in the movies treated as dim-witted back then?
Yes, most of us were. Which is why you are surprised that I come up with these quotes!
Which brings me to a point about intelligence, and acting. How intrinsically linked do you think the two are? Do you really need to be an intelligent person to be a good actor?
It depends on how you define intelligence. If you are looking at somebody who is emotionally intelligent, then yes, they would be good at acting. But someone who is well-read might not be a good actor. I don't think intelligence has anything to do with your abilities. The ability of an actor is to feel emotions, and enact them. I didn't have that.
I've met actors who seem totally clueless and blank about the world they live in, and yet they shine on screen when they have to portray complex characters. Do you think it just comes naturally?
I think being able to act, as a quality, is as inbuilt as being able to write, sing or dance. You can't cultivate it. You are born with it. As for (some) actors you meet who seem blank-even now when I do a few commercials for brands, on the sets, there's just a whole bunch of people only talking about the current styles, all day. So you can't blame people for not being vocal (on stuff about the world), because their entire day is either spent in performing, or investing in the way they look. Where is the time to invest in their brains?
What did you do to not be in that bubble?
I was never in the bubble, that's the whole point. By the end of it, I started doing my own hair and make-up, because I got bored, just sitting, and looking myself in the mirror. I never felt that I would fit in.
Clearly you fit in quite well now as a bestselling author; and a first-time producer.
Yes (laughs). We keep telling kids that they have to be good at sports, or look a certain way. But it's your flaws, which make you unique, and that pay off in the end. By the time you're 10, your personality and attributes get completely defined. And if you play on those attributes, and strengths, those are things that really hold you as an adult, and (drive you towards) success.
Audience questions:
I'm told you literally had to chase Arunachalam Muruganantham around to get rights for the story of Pad Man? [Mohar Basu]
Yes, for some reason he couldn't just pick up the phone. When we finally met, he told me a lot of people were chasing him too. He mentioned Abhay Deol, Akshaye Khanna, who wasn't Akshaye Khanna, it was actually me. But I knew I really wanted to write the story and that it needed to get out there to every household. So I just chased him relentlessly for, I think, seven to eight months. I could have had another baby in that time [laughs].
Do you see television and web streaming platforms as the future of cinema? [Amit Karn]
For me, it (the future) is in immersive, virtual reality, where we're completely immersed in an environment, within a scenario. That's where we are heading. There is pollution, traffic. We're not going to be able to leave our houses very soon. So where are we going to be? Living in cubicles, pretending (through headsets/glasses) that we are living in a much wider world.
Sufi singer Vimal Bawra to sue Kailash Kher for allegedly copying his tune
7:39 AM
MID-DAY (January 12, 2018)
The lyricist of a song dedicated to a sect that Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath belongs to, has threatened to sue Bollywood singer Kailash Kher for defamation.
Vimal Bawra said the tune of his Nath Yogi, the theme song for the Gorakhpur Mahotsav, which opened on Wednesday, is based on a Bhojpuri folk ditty that he had heard a beggar woman sing more than 30 years ago.
Kher has accused Bawra of copying the tune and lyrics of the song, which the playback singer said he had performed at a Mahashivratri programme attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Coimbatore last year. The six-minute-long Nath Yogi song will be played during the three- day festival at Gorakhpur.
A Sufi singer from Gazipur, Bawra, whose son has sung the theme song, in turn accused Kher of copying Bhojpuri numbers. “I am consulting my legal advisor for a case of defamation against false allegations. If anyone has to say anything against Nath Yogi, he should go to court and I will answer him there,” Bawra said.
He claimed the song was an original composition and not a copy. The similarity between the two songs is the word Yogi, which is associated with the Nath cult and no one can write a Nath cult song without using the word ‘yogi’ or ‘jogi’,” he said.
The tune of the song was based on a Bhojpuri folk song, he added. “I got inspired by a beggar woman’s song. In 1987, when I was travelling in a train, she was singing ‘Solah saal ki kanya kumara re bani’,” he said. “If my song resembles any other song, it is only the beggar’s song,” Bawra asserted.
Maintaining that he had not copied any tune, he said the raga of the two songs was the same. “A raga is not subject to copyright,” he added. “I don’t want to take anybody's s name, but this kind of attitude against my 19-year-old son is surprising. Moreover, the song is for a great event — the Gorakhpur Mahotsav — and not for any commercial purpose,” he said.
Kher had alleged that the tune and some of the words of the mahotsav theme song were similar to his song.
If those threatening the actors are guilty, Sanjay Leela Bhansali is no less guilty-Yogi Adityanath
8:10 AM
Arjumand Bano (THE TIMES OF INDIA; November 22, 2017)
Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath said on Tuesday said that ‘Padmavati’ director Sanjay Leela Bhansali is no less guilty than those issuing threats to the actors in the film. He also accused Bhansali of being ‘habitual in playing with public sentiments’. “I feel if those threatening (the actors) are guilty, Bhansali is no less guilty,” Yogi told reporters here, adding “if there is any action, it will be against both the sides. No one has the right to take the law into own hands, whether it’s Sanjay Leela Bhansali or anyone else”.
The UP government has declared that it would not allow the movie’s release till certain “controversial portions” are removed. Yogi further said, “We have already sent objections and suggestions about the release of the film to the information and broadcasting ministry. The 22 crore people of the state are aware of our feelings, and no one should get the freedom of taking liberty with the feelings of the people.”
The CM also criticised the Congress over the proposed elevation of Rahul Gandhi as party president. “One shouldn’t expect much from the Congress which believes in dynastic politics. It was certain that Rahul Gandhi will head the party after Sonia and there was no need to blow the trumpet... now our work of making India Congress-free will be easier. Our PM had in 2014 mentioned about an India free of Congress and now it will be a reality,” he said.
On Mulayam Singh’s comment that “Lord Ram is revered only in north India while Lord Krishna is worshipped across the country”, Yogi said: “Had Mulayam Singh really understood Dr Ram Manohar Lohia instead of using his name in his agenda, he would not have said this.”
Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath said on Tuesday said that ‘Padmavati’ director Sanjay Leela Bhansali is no less guilty than those issuing threats to the actors in the film. He also accused Bhansali of being ‘habitual in playing with public sentiments’. “I feel if those threatening (the actors) are guilty, Bhansali is no less guilty,” Yogi told reporters here, adding “if there is any action, it will be against both the sides. No one has the right to take the law into own hands, whether it’s Sanjay Leela Bhansali or anyone else”.The UP government has declared that it would not allow the movie’s release till certain “controversial portions” are removed. Yogi further said, “We have already sent objections and suggestions about the release of the film to the information and broadcasting ministry. The 22 crore people of the state are aware of our feelings, and no one should get the freedom of taking liberty with the feelings of the people.”
The CM also criticised the Congress over the proposed elevation of Rahul Gandhi as party president. “One shouldn’t expect much from the Congress which believes in dynastic politics. It was certain that Rahul Gandhi will head the party after Sonia and there was no need to blow the trumpet... now our work of making India Congress-free will be easier. Our PM had in 2014 mentioned about an India free of Congress and now it will be a reality,” he said.
On Mulayam Singh’s comment that “Lord Ram is revered only in north India while Lord Krishna is worshipped across the country”, Yogi said: “Had Mulayam Singh really understood Dr Ram Manohar Lohia instead of using his name in his agenda, he would not have said this.”
Randeep Hooda urges Uttar Pradesh Police to help Highway co-star's family Raebareli
7:41 AM
The actor wrote about his Highway co-star Saharsh Shukla’s family’s assault in Raebareli on his social media page, tagging the state police machinery
Abhishek Shukla (BOMBAY TIMES; November 13, 2017)
Randeep Hooda has come to the rescue of the family members of his Highway
co-actor Saharsh Kumar Shukla, who belongs to Raebareli, Uttar
Pradesh. The family was allegedly assaulted by goons in their village,
Lalaganj, on Wednesday evening. Saharsh’s father, Murli Manohar Shukla, a
retired government servant, was abused by his neighbours, who were
allegedly drunk. After a verbal spat, three men beat him up, barged into
his house and beat up the other family members including women.
Saharsh’s father suffered multiple fractures in his leg.“They did not even spare my mother, sister and my grandfather, who is 86-years-old,” says Saharsh, adding, “The family of these men, who assaulted my family, has a criminal background. Most of them have been to jail for various reasons. It’s not only about my family. They have been harassing everyone in the village and no one dares to take any action against them. I shared the local news clippings with Randeep (Hooda) and also sent him a video of the assault requesting him to help. He’s been a mentor to me since my FTII (Film and Television Institute of India, Pune) days. Randeep then told me how to deal with the matter.”
Eventually, Randeep also wrote about the incident on his social media page, tagging Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, Smriti Irani (Union Minister) and the UP Police. After the message was put out, the cops sprang into action and replied to him on his page that the matter will be investigated and assured him that action will be initiated against those accused.
Elaborating on the case, Randeep says, “Saharsh told me about this incident. He messaged me and I spoke to him. I also deliberated about what action we could take against this. I thought that even if I go and meet the police personally, which would not be different from what these other guys would do, it won’t help much. So then I thought that the best way to approach such a problem is by putting it out publicly. Instead of taking a personal favour through someone, which would be the same as these guys seeking a favour at the Lalganj kotwali, I felt it was better to address it on a public platform. I decided to write about it on my social media page. Saharsh has worked with me in Highway and he’s a nice, soft-spoken guy. I felt if I’m in a position to help him, I should not shy away. We should do whatever we can.”
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