Archives for December 2016

Director Nikhil Advani’s claim to fame has been Dharma Productions Kal Ho Na Ho in the year 2003. But his directorial skills had received a jolting setback with the failure of damp squib’s like the Imran Khan – Kangana starrer Katti Batti and Suraj Pancholi – Athiya Shetty starrer, Salman Khan Productions Hero. But of late he was back in the saddle, this time as a producer with the thumping success of the Akhshay Kumar – Nimrat Kaur starrer Airlift which was directed by his good friend Raja Krishna Menon. These days he is neck deep in directing a patriotic saga for the small screen namely Star Plus’ show P.O.W Bandi Yudh Ke. Caught up with Nikhil Advani at the launch of the show in JW Marriot.

At present you are busy directing a small screen show for Star Plus Channel. So give us more insight about it.

I am bringing to the small screen, an untold story of the war. It will be about the repercussions of war but more of its aftermath reactions on the family. It will question the society at large, “Who are the real prisoners of war?”. The show is called P.O.W. Bandi Yudh Ke. It is a Pan Indian adaptation of the acclaimed Israeli Television series named Hatufim directed by Gidan Raff. It has a refreshingly ensemble cast comprising of Sandhya Mridul as Nazneen Khan, Amrita Puri as Harleen Kaur, Satyadeep Mishra as Squadron leader Imaan Khan, Manish Chaudhari as Retired Major Vikram Singh and above all Purab Kohli as Nayab Subedar Sartaj Singh.

Please narrate the gist of the plot!

I have Indianised the plot and based it on the aftermath repercussions of the Kargil War in which 527 Soldiers were killed and 1363 Soldiers were wounded and from thereon it is all about the 4 lives interrupted and 2 familes shattered. The Soldiers return after 17 long years after being held as Prisoners of War. It is an emotionally intense, gripping, fresh and edge of the seat story. The return of the Soldiers to their interrupted lives after 17 long years will keep the viewers at a razor’s edge as their whole story unfolds in the most unexpected manner. Now this is what makes the entire storyline of P.O.W. Bandi Yudh Ke a unique combination of family drama in a thrilling way. It is all set to be telecast on Star Plus Channel in this festive season.

Kindly elaborate about the actor’s respective roles!

Nazneen Khan (Sandhya Mridul) hails from Delhi who is the wife of Sqaudron leader Imaan Khan (Satyadeep Mishra) who believes that heroism is not just demonstrated on the battlefield. It brings us closer to the extraordinary heroism of the wives of the war heroes, everyday of the war and even after the war is over. Her life is stuck between the past and the present thereby leaving her like a pendulum unable to make her own choice in the wait of her husband’s return. She braves the emotion everyday as her husband still remains missing in action. No doubt she has moved on to seek companionship and support in the absence of her husband. On the other hand
Harleen Kaur (Amrita Puri) hailing from Punjab has grown from being a 17 year old girl with dreams in her eyes of a newly wed to a woman who has not lost her hope of being able to see her husband Sartaj Singh (Purab Kohli) who had left for his call of duty at Kargil War on their wedding night itself. But 17 years since war, she has turned into a strong, resilient and independent woman and she is now the pillar of Sartaj’s family still in waiting for her husband’s return.

Please go on!

While Retired Major Vikram Singh (Manish Chaudhari) has undergone 17 years of torture in captivity by Pakistan. He starts wondering whether the war heroes have been converted into terrorists? He strongly believes that 17 years is a long time and can change anybody, even an Indian Soldier for that matter. On the other hand Squadron leader Imaan Khan (Satyadeep Mishra) is a captive Indian Soldier in Pakistan for 17 long years. While imprisoned, he lived each day with just one hope that is to reunite with his family. But his patriotism was tested in Pakistan everyday and now his loyalties are being questioned everyday after his return to his own nation and then there is Sartaj Singh (Purab Kohli) who also undergoes the trauma of a prisoner of war and his story is also emotionally heart wrenching as the damage done by now is beyond measure and his scars remain for a lifetime.

By the way to what would you attribute the failures of your last two films in the recent past namely Katti Batti and Hero?

I have no misgivings at all of the failures of Katti Batti and Hero. I take the sole responsibility of the failures of both the films. Nobody else is to be blamed for the debacle of these two films. Actually speaking whatever directorial praise I had earned for the other hit films like Kal Ho Na Ho and D-Day to name just two, I lost it all with these two above mentioned films. I think Katti Batti literally failed to live up to cine goer’s expectations. Perhaps they could not identify with the film. I still believe Katti Batti was a beautiful film. My heart and soul was in it. I would still say that Imran’s performance in Katti Batti was his best till date and I don’t regret taking Imran in the film. I would still want to work with him. None of us could fathom why the film did not work because we all loved the film so much.
Whereas I think Hero was not a film made only for the purpose of earning rave reviews. It was obviously made to launch Aditya Pancholi’s son Suraj Pancholi and Sunil Shetty’s daughter Athiya Shetty. Hero was an orthodox story and had a conventional treatment, which had worked in the ’80s. It had great music. In retrospect, I should have treated it the way I wanted to. I also agree that while Sooraj Pancholi won notice, Athiya Shetty received mixed reactions. We were aware that Athiya is not a conventional looking girl. She is statuesque and has model like features. We did not know whether she would be accepted by Indian sensibilities. But we were sure she would confidently pull off the role, which she did. I don’t think both Suraj and Athiya could have got a better launch than this Salman Khan vehicle. Now in their second film, they both will have to prove their mettle even more.

Ok what are the future projects that you have lined up for yourself?

I am indeed working side by side on two directorial projects at the moment. One is Bazaar, a story based in Mumbai about the stock market. The film is about the abuse of power and the intoxication of wealth. It’s a rags – to – riches and a riches – to – rags story. The other one is based on the Hollywood film namely The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo, which is currently being written. But I won’t make these two films simultaneously like Katti Batti and Hero. I do not at all wish to repeat my mistakes.

Two power house personalities namely actor -director Sajid Khan and actor-producer Riteish Deshmukh have joined hands together recently to host a celebrity talk show named Yaaron Ki Baraat on Zee TV Channel. The show premiered on 8th Oct, 2016 and it will be telecast in the prime time slotting of 9 pm every Saturday and Sunday. Yaaron Ki Baraat will span 10 weeks of rollercoaster joyride. This unique albeit first of its kind talk show will focus on Bollywood star pairs who are friends. It borders on their friendship over the years. It will be layered with wit and humor including anecdotes from their personal as well as their professional life. Caught up with Ritiesh Deshmukh, to get more info about the show in the Press Conference held at Studio 8 in Filmcity.

How did the idea about the celebrity talk show Yaaron Ki Baarat germinate?

The show Yaaron Ki Baraat has been conceptualized by Esselvision and Sajid (Khan) was roped in before me and it was Sajid who had asked them to contact me and ask me if I was interested in hosting the show along with him and most important if I would be able to spare time for the show amidst all my over busy schedule. But the moment I met them, including Sajid, and heard the concept of the show I was like game for it and gave my instant nod of approval.

Whose idea was it to have Amitabh Bachchan & Shatrughan Sinha as the first long lost Bollywood friends to appear on the show?

Once Sajid and me were up for the show. We had a sort of many joint meetings with Esselvision guys to discuss further about the game plan of the show. It was in one such meetings that both Sajid and me sounded off the idea to have both Amitji and Shatruji on the show and the moment we made this suggestion everyone in the meeting had this zapped up expression on their face and even we both were shit scared and nervous on how are we were going to achieve this impossible feat.

And then?

Then we just cooled down and we both decided to meet Amitji and Shatruji and convince them to be the first ever guests on the show. So I met Amitji and Sajid met Shatruji and narrated the concept of the show to them and once again we were shocked and surprised when they agreed to be the first guest on the show. Later on even Shatruji’s better half Poonam Sinha and his daughter Sonakshi Sinha informed us that Shatruji was too excited to be on the show with Amitji, as it was almost three and a half decades that both of them were appearing together on one platform. Yet we both could not believe that it was possible till their car reached Filmcity Studio, till they settled down in their Vanity Van and till they donned their make up. Finally we heaved a sigh of relief when we actually started shooting with them. Of course we were both nervous thinking that anything could have gone wrong and the shoot may have to be cancelled at the last moment. But thankfully everything went right, just as we had planned it. After the shoot there was appreciation galore even with a snide remarks that perhaps Amitji – Shatruji episode should have been a curtain’s down grand finale episode. But we promise to bring more excitement in the grand finale episode. In fact having both Amitji and Shatruji in the curtain raiser of Yaaron Ki Baraat was our trump card.

Maybe Sajid and you can bring together the jodi of Salman Khan – Shah Rukh Khan for the grande finale episode!

We both can’t promise the viewers on that score but we give our full assurance that we will try our level best to bring them together on the show at least in one of the episodes if not for the grand finale episode.

What exactly is the concept of the show?

We all have a Best Friend in our lives and we celebrities are no exception. Despite constant comparisons, constant cut throat competition, hectic schedules and frequent travels some of the Bollywood star friends have still managed to hold on to their friendship over the years. So for the first time ever on Indian Television, Zee TV Channel brings to the viewers this fun filled chat show Yaaron Ki Baraat.

Please Continue!!!

First of all this show will put celebrity friendships to test through a series of fun challenges and tasks. The guests will also share sepia toned memories including heartwarming anecdotes from their friendship over the years. They will also recreate the magic of their professional as well as personal lives and sometimes even spill the beans on each other. They will sportingly take on dares, parodying the most iconic scenes from their cult films and also reminiscing the good old times with pictures and videos. We will also put their compatibility to test over fun games. In fact they will let their hair down and have a good time. Our idea is to let spontaneity take over and reveal their fun sides to the viewers who will also participate with their rare Q&A sessions.

By the way who christened the show as Yaaron Ki Baraat and why only this name?

The show earlier had another working title but it was not jelling well with the real concept of the show. So on an impulse I suggested the name Yaaron Ki Baraat and it had an instant Bollywood connect with the superhit Bollywood film Yaadon Ki Baraat and the show is also about Bollywood star friends going down the memory lane and also getting nostalgic about it.

What are the exciting line – up of star friends for the show and will you both bring together even female star friends?

We will bring 20 pairs of star friends on the show in the alloted 10 weeks and if the show goes well then we may also have a second season as for now we are having a line – up of Karan Johar – Farah Khan, Sania Mirza – Pariniti Chopra, Harbhajan Singh – Yuvraaj Singh etc etc etc. Maybe we will try to bring even the current Bollywood actors like Ranveer Singh – Arjun Kapoor. We will try to bring other good friends from Business as well as Political arena and of course even other female star friends like we brought together Sania and Pariniti.

Will you also have Bollywood stars who were thick friends earlier and cannot see eye to eye now?

Sorry to say but this is not a reconciliation show. It is very difficult to make them friends again, at least not on the show. But on second thoughts you have sounded off a very good idea. Maybe we can work on it in the second season that is, if there is a second season and if we will still be hosting it. You see there are sometimes a lot of slip between the cup and the lip.

How was your experience of hosting the show?

While I have already hosted award ceremonies, Yaaron Ki Baraat will be my first time as the host of a chat show on a Hindi GEC. So to host a show celebrating friendships with a very close friend like Sajid feels apt. He has a great sense of humor, an impeccable sense of timing and together we hope to create the light hearted kind of atmosphere for the celebrities to open up and share things they have never ever spoken of. We look forward to entertaining audiences and letting them experience the friendships of their favorite stars. As for my personal experience of hosting Yaaron Ki Baraat I would say that both Sajid and me are like two old buddies who just got together for this show and had a lot of fun. In fact to be very frank we both had a real BLAST!!!