Mumbai, Sep 26 Actor Ranveer Singh says he had a fan moment meeting Indian star shuttler P.V. Sindhu and added that he loves her spirit.

Ranveer met Sindhu on Tuesday at the Forbes India Tycoon Of Tomorrow event, where he was feted with the Youth Icon Award.

Sindhu shared a photograph of herself with the actor and captioned it: “Finally we meet! It was such a pleasure meeting you and an absolute fan moment.I congratulate you for all the success and I wish you all the very best for your future endeavours. I would rather call you ‘rockstar’ than Ranveer Singh.”

To which, Ranveer replied: “Yes, finally! it was a pleasure indeed! and likewise, a fan moment for me too… You make us so proud, champ! Love your spirit. May you continue to shine bright.”

On the acting front, Ranveer is currently busy shooting for filmmaker Rohit Shetty’s “Simmba”, which also features actor Saif Ali Khan’s daughter Sara.

(IANS)

What will happen to the RK Studios, which has just wrapped up what may be its last Ganpati celebrations? Nobody knows, but it’s worth debating whether suggestions that the government must buy it and turn it into a film school for posterity, are viable.

In August, when Rishi Kapoor revealed the family’s collective decision to sell the 70-year-old studio, which was gutted in a fire last year, the news sent several Indian cinephiles on a nostalgia trip. But then came another question — is heritage all about a building?

“For movie lovers, RK Studios was a temple of cinema and one never imagines that the temple will go away from the map. But it is happening… It is saddening. It’s a place that captured an important time of Indian cinema, documented the changing times through storytelling on celluloid… It’s a place that came from the vision of a man like Raj Kapoor, and it will not be there for the future cinema lovers. This is a big loss of heritage,” Shivendra Singh Dungarpur, Director, Film Heritage Foundation, told IANS.

On the contrary, film industry veteran Amit Khanna says, “Raj Kapoor’s heritage is his cinema, his talented family, his music and creativity, and not merely a building.”

The studio, with its red logo flanking the white gates, sprawls across two acres. The headquarters of the film production company R.K. Films, was founded and named after the “Great Showman”, Raj Kapoor, in 1948.

Its inaugural banner film “Aag” that year crashed at the box office. But its production “Barsaat” (1949) was a super hit, following which the studio rolled out a string of successful black-and-white releases like “Awaara” (1951), “Boot Polish” (1954), “Shri 420” (1955) and “Jaagte Raho” (1956).

Later, several other big ticket films like “Jis Desh Me Ganga Behti Hain”, “Mera Naam Joker”, “Bobby”, “Satyam Shivam Sundaram”, “Prem Rog” and “Ram Teri Ganga Maili”, which was the founder-actor’s last film before his death in June 1988, were shot at RK Studios.

Popular filmmaker Anees Bazmee, who assisted Raj Kapoor on “Prem Rog”, has fond memories of spending four years of his life in and out of RK Studios.

“I am sure the sale of the property is a well-thought and painful decision for the family. But it will be great if what is known by the name of RK, continues to have the RK stamp in some way or another,” Bazmee told IANS.

For film historian S.M.M. Ausaja, however, the decision was “heartbreaking”.

“The studio has been an iconic landmark of the film industry. So many classics were shot there besides R.K. Films’ own ventures and it represented the labour of love associated with Raj Saab, inherited from his talented father Prithviraj Kapoor,” he told IANS.

The family’s legacy in the Hindi film industry can’t be ignored. Prithviraj’s sons Raj, Shammi and Shashi had flourishing careers in showbiz. Raj’s sons Randhir and Rishi became well-known actors, while his third son Rajiv couldn’t make it as big. Shashi’s daughter Sanjana contributed to the theatre scene.

Randhir’s daughters with actress Babita — Karisma and Kareena — both achieved success as actresses, and Rishi and actress Neetu Singh’s son Ranbir Kapoor is one of Bollywood’s most popular stars today.

Rishi, on behalf of the family, had in August said they initially wanted to renovate the studio with state-of-the-art technology, but the investment in rebuilding the studio would just not have yielded sufficient revenue to keep it going. Its condition worsened after the fire incident, which caused a huge loss in terms of costumes and memorabilia.

Dungarpur, who recently visited the studio, said “almost nothing was left”.

“Economically, it is really tough to rebuild it… It was not in the right condition and many historical documents of the films that the studio has given to Indian cinema, are gone,” he said, adding that it is wrong to expect the government to protect the studio as cinema heritage because it it was private property and a commercial institution.

Ausaja has a different view.

“Such monuments are vanishing because there’s no respect for cinema heritage in the eyes of the ruling regime and the corporates. They won’t bat an eyelid in erecting giant multi-million dollar statues complementing their political ideology, but even if you propose something on the dwindling cinema heritage, the file would gather dust in the corridor cupboards,” he said.

“Upkeep of such cinema heritage structures is the responsibility of the government and corporates as well to some extent. The R.K. family would be positive if any such proposal reaches them,” he said.

Filmmaker Rahul Dholakia said: “Wouldn’t it be a great idea for the government to buy R.K. Studio and convert it into a film school? After all, it was home to one of India’s best storytellers — and then imagine the young talents exploring cinema on Raj Kapoor’s playground… better than a high rise.”

In a letter to Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Mumbai Congress President Sanjay Nirupam too urged the government to acquire the studio at the prevailing market rates and convert it into a full-fledged museum.

IANS

3rd Lpnavala International Film Festival Of India (LIFFI) Held

The 3rd edition of Lonavala International Film Festival India 2018 (LIFFI) enthralled film lovers from 7th Sept, 2018 to 9th Sept, 2018 at Triose Plaza, Lonavala, providing them with a platform to explore & experience different genres of films under 1 roof. The festival kick started with Bimal Roy’s epic Sujata & Sridhar Rangayan’s Evening Shadows followed by 18 Films, 3 Master Classes & Interactive seminars were conducted to impart learning & an enriching experience for film students & enthusiasts. As a tribute to ace director Bimal Roy’s unparalleled contribution to Indian Cinema, 6 of his widely acclaimed films were showcased, besides a short documentary on him curated by his daughter Rinki Roy Bhattacharya. Bimal Roy’s classics films like Devdas, Bandini, Madhumati et al. Marathi films like Nude, Kachcha Limboo, Dr. Rakhmabai were also screened. Producer Viveck Vaswani conducted a thought provoking workshop with media students. Films like Iqbal, Kashmakash, The Genius – Ramanujan & 1st ever Ukrainian English Animation film The Stolen Princess were also screened. Madhav Todi is the Festival Director. Viveck Vaswani is the Festival curator. The Chief Patron for the festival is Sushil Kumar Agrawal, Managing Director, Ultra Media & Entertainment Pvt Ltd.”

Cox & Kings Appoints Anushka Sharma As Brand Ambassador

Celebrating 260 years, Cox & Kings Ltd has roped in youth icon & avid traveller Anushka Sharma as the company’s 1st ever brand ambassador. The actress will be seen promoting the company’s unique travel offerings in a new TV campaign to be released soon. Karan Anand, Head, Relationships, Cox & Kings averred, “Anushka Sharma is known for her versatility, experimentation & unusual personality. She perfectly represents a generation that is energetic, unapologetic & fun loving which makes her the right fit to showcase Cox & Kings’ innovative holiday offerings.” Anushka Sharma averred, “I am glad to be associated with the world’s oldest travel company Cox & Kings. I love to travel & personally think that travelling opens us up to new incredible experiences & changes the way we look at the world. Whether you are travelling solo, with your partner or friends, Cox & Kings has a holiday experience for every type of traveller.” This is the 1st ever association of Cox & Kings with a Bollywood actress. With a legacy that dates back to 1758, Cox & Kings has established itself as a premium brand in all travel related services globally and has been at the forefront of thought leadership & industry innovation.

Kansai Nerolac Paints Signs Ranveer Singh As Brand Ambassador

Kansai Nerolac Paints Ltd. (KNPL), one of the leading paint companies in India & pioneers of “Healthy Home Paints” has roped in Ranveer Singh as its brand ambassador. Introducing Ranveer Singh as an exciting face of the brand, the company aims to develop & foster its promise to celebrate the joy of beautifying one’s home & life. Anuj Jain, Executive Director – Kansai Nerolac Paints Ltd. averred, “Through our product offerings, we have always strived towards bringing about a positive transformation, of our surroundings, the environment & also the lives that we touch. Nerolac finds the perfect brand ambassador in Ranveer Singh as we believe that his versatility as an actor, coupled with his bold personality & effervescent energy, resonates well with our brand. Not only is he the embodiment of positivity & joy, he has an energetic & vivid personality, a trusted actor, who is a rare combination of youthful exuberance & intelligence.” Ranveer Singh averred, “It feels good to be associated with Kansai Nerolac, a brand that strongly believes in the journey of transformation by bringing colours into our lives. I have grown up watching this brand & I feel the connect is very natural. The iconic jingle is well embedded in my mind and still brings a smile to my face.”

India’s Biggest Youtuber Bhuvan Bam & Divya Dutta Make Their Debut In A Unique Short Film – Plus Minus!

After her stupendous success with the short drama titled Chutney starring Tisca Chopra & Rasika Dugal which till date has 122 million views on YouTube, director Jyoti Kapur Das is back this time with another promising project. Titled, Plus Minus, the film is a relationship drama starring Divya Dutta & India’s biggest content creator Bhuvan Bam. After having captured the digital mediums with his incredible content, Bhuvan Bam who runs a highly successful YouTube channel titled BB Ki Vines will make his acting debut with this short film. Over the years, Bhuvan Bam has earned himself the top spot today on YouTube with almost 10 million subscribers to his name & a fan base which is extremely vast & loyal. The story of Plus Minus revolves around 2 strangers who meet each other on a train journey & 1 conversation between them changes their lives. The title Plus Minus reflects the central idea that humanity has to do plus & minus in relationships to make it work. The film is set to release on 14th of September and has been produced by Guneet Monga, Achin Jain & Rohit Raj. The film will be released on YouTube channel of BB Ki Vines & marks the 1st ever such collaboration for the channel since its inception.

New Delhi’s Own International Film Festival Diorama To Be Held In Dec 2018

Ever since the shifting of the International Film Festival of India to Goa, New Delhi had been bereft of a genuine international film festival. Now, an old hand at the International Film Festival of India, Goa, Manoj Srivastava, the former Chief of IFFI Goa for Goa Government launches the 1st ever of Diorama International Film Festival in New Delhi, this winter. Several film festivals tried to take shape in Delhi but really none of them could bring that winter magic back. The glory returns to the capital this Dec with Diorama International Film Festival, says Manoj Srivastava who headed IFFI Goa & also established Jagran Film Festival in 16 cities of the country. Supported by the Film Federation of India, Society of Motion Picture & Television Engineers & Indian Film Institute, the Festival will have several international film competitions including the one for short & documentary films. The Festival, a very 1st ever of its kind is getting a huge response from Hollywood, the world & Indian film industry too. Diorama, being developed as Delhi’s answer to the world will also have a Film Market called the Diorama Film Bazaar. The noted Indian Film Director, Rahul Rawail averred,”The Diorama International Film Festival is an exemplary initiative taken by Manoj Srivastava. “Internationally renowned & several times National Award-winning film maker Shaji Karun averred, “The visual media resembling cinemas, TVs, social platforms are increasing like torrential streams and to guide the intellect of that drive, we need minds ahead of time.” The Festival opens in New Delhi on 17th Dec, 2018 & closes on 23rd Dec, 2018.

Ishaqbaaz Fame Vrushika Mehta Part Of Sajid Shahid’s Calendar Shoot

Vrushika Mehta who is known for shows like Dil Dostii Dance, Ishaqbazz will be seen in yet another exciting project. The actress had bagged a spot in Sajid Shahid’s calendar which will be launched in Dec, 201`8. When contacted Vrushika happily confirmed, “I can’t wait to get dolled up & shoot for the calendar. I am super excited for this one, the time Sajid told me about it. It’s the 1st time where all the TV celebs are going to be featured in a calendar and I am very happy to be part of it. I will soon be coming to Delhi to shoot for the same. I am really looking forward to for an amazing shoot.” For those, who have come in late, Sajid Shahid is a Delhi based celebrity photographer who will be launching the 1st ever Calendar with all your favorite TV personalities. Namkaran fame, Zain Iman is the first one who has finished shooting for the calendar. Abhishek Kapur & Abhilash Kumar are other male celebrities who will be gracing the calendar. We are sure, you can’t wait to see some drooling pictures of your favorite stars!

Arjun Aka Prabhat – The No-Nonsense IB Officer

Here comes the much awaited look of Arjun Kapoor from the most talked about India’s Most Wanted, an espionage thriller which is inspired from true events. India’s most wanted will bring alive the mission of capturing the most wanted terrorist, without firing a single bullet. Arjun Kapoor will be seen playing the role of an intelligence officer for the 1st time ever on celluloid. “Arjun Kapoor plays a no-nonsense IB officer in the film who is also an ordinary guy at heart like the rest of us. Since the film is inspired by a true-life story, we wanted to keep the look as real as possible. We discussed it for a month as the emphasis is more on the character’s state of mind rather than his physical attributes,” said Raj Kumar Gupta, adding that he has spoken to the people connected with the event to understand their physical & emotional journey as the story is more about this unsung hero’s resilience & intelligence. India’s Most Wanted is produced by Fox Star Studios and Rajkumar Gupta. The film releases in theatres on 24th May, 2019.

‘Satellite Shankar’ Starring Sooraj Pancholi Starts Shoot!

Satellite Shankar starring Sooraj Pancholi started shooting recently. Produced by Bhushan Kumar, Krishan Kumar, T-Series & Cine 1 Studios, Murad Khetani & Ashwin Varde & Directed by Irfan Kamal, the movie is based on the adventures of a soldier, where he discovers India & India discovers him. The film is going to be shot across 10 states of India.

Navneet Kaur Dhillon Met Her Dream Director In Her Wish List

In a brief rendezvous with the Bollywood genius Rajkumar Hirani, actress Navneet Kaur Dhillon former Miss India expressed her desire to work with the Sanju director.”Working with Rajkumar Hirani will be like going to a gurukul” says Navneet Kaur Dhillon whose tryst with cinema began with her films like Loveshhuda, Ambarsariya opposite Diljit Dosanjh, Nee Tu Jatt Di Pasand opposite Gippy Grewal & many more, the actress has never shied away from expressing her desire to work with Rajkumar Hirani. In a recent event in the city, the 2 caught up & spoke at length about cinema & their future projects. Navneet Kaur better known as a perfectionist impressed the film maker with her vision & understanding of cinema. “I have always been a fan of his work. He is a beacon of hope in an ocean of posers. Working with him will be an absolute honor” says Navneet Kaur Dhillon. Navneet will be seen in Amavas alongside Nargis Fakhri & Sachin Joshi & a punjabi film.

Ajay & Sonakshi Recreate “Mungda” For ‘Total Dhamaal’

Sonakshi Sinha is all set to recreate Helen’s iconic track “Mungda” for Indra Kumar‘ upcoming film, Total Dhamaal. The actress will be seen shaking a leg for this special number. After the song was finalized the makers wanted a fantastic dancer who could match Helen’s moves. Indra Kumar shared, “Helenji, is a legend, but I thought Sonakshi is the right girl for it,” Sonakshi Sinha who is very excited about doing the song shares, “Indraji was sure that he wanted only me for it. When I heard it for the 1st time ever, my instant response was, “I want to do this!” It has the potential of becoming a chartbuster again. They are shooting it on a lavish scale, making everything larger than life, and I would love to be a part of that vision. We start shooting early next week, I’m super excited!” Sharing details of the shoot, Indra Kumar reveals that the film will wrap up with the song. The director further adds, “We had saved this song for the end of the shoot. We began filming on 26th Aug, 2018 and it went go on for 4 days. We have roped in a new music director duo, Gaurav-Roshan, to recreate the song which will be choreographed by Adil Shaikh. The old song was a big hit so it’s a huge responsibility on Sonakshi’s shoulders and mine too. We have picked up an iconic song now we have to deliver.” The actress has already begun rehearsals and Ajay enters midway through, so the song is a duet towards the end. The duo will start shooting for the song soon enough. Sonakshi is happy to reunite with Ajay with whom she was paired in Son of Sardaar but rues that she will miss working with Anil Kapoor & Madhuri Dixit. She says she enjoys featuring in special appearance songs as they give her an opportunity to groove to these peppy tracks which she enjoys as a performer. Total Dhamaal features Ajay Devgn, Anil Kapoor, Madhuri Dixit, Riteish Deshmukh, Javed Jaffery, Arshad Warsi, Boman Irani, Pitobash Tripthy & Sanjay Mishra & is produced by Ajay Devgn, Fox Star Studios & Ashok Thakeria.

Sanjay Kapoor Bags An Award For Lust Stories In Norway

Sanjay Kapoor is winning hearts with his performance in Lust stories. Recently the actor flew to Oslo to attend Bollywood Festival Norway. He received an award for his Netflix Anthology Lust Stories. Sanjay Kapoor from Oslo shared his happiness saying “It has been a huge high to get my 1st ever award for Lust Stories in Oslo, and a complete honour to receive it from the mayor of Oslo Ragnhild Bergheim, a 30 minute short film on Netflix has done more for me than my films I’ve done for the past 23 years. I want to thank Dibakar Banerjee for casting me and taking the best out of me, also want to thank my producers Ashi Dua & Ronnie Screwvala & also my costar’s Manisha Koirala & Jaideep Alhawat.

Shahid Kapoor To Play Boxing Hero Dingko Singh On Screen

Shahid Kapoor who is soaring high with the success of his last film Padmaavat, is all set to portray former boxing champ & Asian Games gold medallist Dingko Singh on celluloid silver screen. The film will be directed by Raja Krishna Menon who has earlier directed Airlift & Chef. It is expected to go on the floors sometime around April 2019. Ngangom Dingko Singh, known as Dingko Singh (from Manipur) was the 1st ever & only Asian gold medalist boxer from India in Bantam weight category. In the year 2013, he was awarded Padma Shri. Dingko Singh has been an inspiration to many boxers who came into the ring after him, and he is so passionate about the sport, that he went on to become a coach for young boxers. Shahid avers, “The thing that I loved about this story is that he is one of those superstars who we don’t know much about. If a film like Dangal (2016) wasn’t made, we wouldn’t know as much about the Phogat sisters. Dingko is a cancer survivor, and he went through 13 rounds of chemotherapy. He has even gone on to say that his biggest win was surviving cancer & not the gold medal he won at the age of 19 at the 1998 Asian Games in Bangkok. In the year 2017, Gautam Gambhir became aware of his situation & sent money for his treatment. Soon, people found out who he was & 13 doctors came forward to help him. He is a sports star who survived cancer. At some point in his past, he had almost become a Naxalite. His life story is unbelievably crazy; it is very human & extremely inspiring. Such amazing stories of heroes need to be told.”

Rajkummar Rao & Nushrat Bharucha To Star ‘Turram Khan’!

Rajkummar Rao & Nushrat Bharucha will star opposite each other in director Hansal Mehta’s next venture namely Turram Khan. A social comedy set in a small town of Uttar Pradesh, Turram Khan is being produced by Ajay Devgn, Luv Ranjan & Ankur Garg. Hansal Mehta avers, “It is a new chapter in my filmography with Raj whose success I see as a vindication of my belief in him. It is also wonderful to be working with Nushrat whose work I’ve followed & liked immensely in the past. This is my 1st ever out & out comedy and it is like making my debut all over again!” Rajkummar, who is still riding high on the success of his recent film Stree adds, “Turram Khan is a comedy that the audience will take back home. Hansal sir plays a very instrumental role in my acting career. He has created some interesting & memorable characters for me. I trust him blindly. I have known Nushrat since our days of auditioning & screen tests.” Turram Khan will be 5th collaboration between Rajkummar Rao & Hansal Mehta. Nushrat Bharucha who was last seen in this year’s super hit movie Sonu Ke Titu Ki Sweety will be reuniting with Rajkummar Rao after Love Sex Aur Dhoka. Nushrat Bharucha avers, “I absolutely love Hansal sir’s cinema & I’m looking forward to play this earthy character rooted in UP as the audiences will see me in a completely different light. Over the years, Rajkumarr Rao’s journey as an actor has been an inspiring one. He & Hansal sir have a formidable camaraderie and I am super excited to work with them,” concludes Nushrat Bharucha.

Aditya Mohite – Young Director On A Different Track

Nowadays many new & young directors have entered the film world, bringing with them new ideas & new styles. Amongst these new breed of directors, walking a new path, is Aditya Mohite. Working for last 3 years in Hollywood as a director & an art director, Aditya has an umbilical connection with Maharashtra. Aditya, who is an architect, was a resident of Pune. From a young age Aditya was fond of arts. He realised that he could express his stories through the medium of a camera. He went to USA & enrolled in a film making course in Los Angeles. During his stay in Hollywood, he produced many TV shows, plays, promotional & short films. In the year 2016 he directed the short film Ashes of Gold. Now he has directed Knead For Love based on the relationship of 2 brothers in French culture. Knead For Love has been honoured at varied international film festivals. It was well received at the recent Cannes Film Festival, 2018. What is unique about both the short films is that they were premiered at the renowned Warner Brothers Studios. Aditya has shown that it is possible to produce films based on family ties & common life which can be very captivating. Travelling teaches us many things. On my frequent travels I have met the characters of my films, I have also got my stories. As a director it is important to give good films. The arithmetic of profit & loss comes later. He said from a director’s point of view it is important to make good films. With the experience of art direction & production designing gained in Hollywood, Aditya wants to take the viewers on a journey in a different world. Through his art he has made a successful effort and hopes to sustain it in his forthcoming films. Having shown his talent in Hollywood, Aditya wants to direct films in Marathi in the future.

Jacqueline Wants Sonam To Be Her Tinder Swiping Buddy!

The newest celeb talk show on the block, Feet Up With The Stars presented by Voot Originals & hosted by celebrity stylist Anaita Shroff Adajania, features a host of B-Town stars getting candid about their love lives, giving us dating do’s & don’ts and sharing some (select) secrets. 2 recent episodes featured Jacqueline Fernandez & Sonam K Ahuja & their IRL strong friendship came through in their candid answers on the show. Jacqueline said she’d like Sonam to be her Tinder swiping buddy (so they can swap stories) & Sonam nominated Jacqueline as somebody who should be on Tinder! Both stars also shared dating & relationship tips! Well, almost. Sonam shared this piece of advice for all her single Veere’s: “Be yourself, be comfortable in your skin. If you want to dress up, dress up for yourself not for the other person.” As for Jacqueline, she said we’re better of not listening to her dating tips! But, if she was on Tinder, she’d swipe right on guys who had creative & effortless pictures, and that gym & portfolio shots were a no no. While we still don’t know Jacqueline’s relationship status, she did deliver a 30 second monologue on why investing in cats is more sensible than investing in relationships.

Trailer Launch Of ‘1978 – A Teen Night Out’ A Supernatural Thriller

Crescendo Music & Films has joined hands with KSM Film Productions to produce India’s 1st ever Teen Thriller. The event saw the presence of Vinash Tiwari & Tripti Dimri (Laila Majnu Lead Cast), Meet Bros, Flora Saini Of (Stree Fame), Sonyaa Pink Of (Nazar Fame), Dj Shiezwood, Prashant Virender Sharma, Shradha Arya, Mukul Dev, Krishna Abhishek, Shawar Ali, Ashmith Kunder, Ejaz Khan, Madhuri Pandey, Asif Merchant ,Asif Shaikh, Mukesh Rishi, Shibani Kasyap, Bidita Baig, Vikas Verma etc “1978” is a racy, supernatural, terrifying, suspense story that promises to keep the hearts of its viewers thumping, right from the beginning till the last scene.1978 has been directed by Aziz Zee and it features Yash Rajpara, Apurva Godbole, Gaurav Sharma, Vaishnavi Kadam, Rishabh Raj, Muskaan Tomar, Sunny Yadav, Rohit Mugallu, Maliha Malla, besides TV actress Sonyaa & singer Abuzar Akhtar. By sheer coincidence, during auditions, Suresh Thomas of Crescendo films discovered that some of the actors are brilliant singers. He then decided to create the entire music score using the voices of the actors themselves. Aziz Zee says, “With films like Stree, Pari & Ghoul being widely appreciated , we can be sure that “1978” is bound to draw crowds to theatres.”

Toronto Premiere Of Filmmaker Rima Das’ ‘Bulbul Can Sing’

National Award -winning filmmaker Rima Das’ next feature, Bulbul Can Sing
premiered at Toronto International Film Festival 2018 to a packed house of audience. Rima Das’ 3rd independent feature in Assamese
language made its World Premiere at Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) 2018 in the competition segment, “Contemporary World Cinema” Bulbul is an exuberant young woman, most happy when she’s hanging out in the fields with her friends Bonny & Sumu. As these 3 teenagers, 2 girls & a boy, begin to define their own identities, they find themselves increasingly clashing in with the age-old rules set down by the village. Das recounts her story in the pure language of cinema. The camera finds moments, in a music class, by a lake, or on the landscape of Bulbul’s face, that suddenly illuminate this girl’s coming to womanhood & self-awareness. A villager’s stray remark compresses centuries of tradition & offers guidance to Bulbul, but also a constraint. And as she learns to walk with both love & death in her life, countless variations of natural light give her whole world an immersive glow.” The writer–director-producer made the film independently, in the same way as her earlier film, Village Rockstars. Bulbul Can Sing is a visceral coming–of-age drama about a teenage girl, Bulbul, living in a village in Assam, fighting her way through love & loss as she figures out who she really is. Rima Das debut film as a writer–director-producer, Man with Binoculars (Antardrishti) premiered at Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival 2016. Village Rockstars, her 2nd
feature, premiered at Toronto International Film Festival 2017 under Discovery Section.

Siddharth Roy Kapur To Bring The Amazing Journey Of India’s ‘Ballet Boys’ To The Screen!

The incredible & inspiring journey of 2 boys from the slums of Mumbai to the world of international ballet, will be written & directed by Sooni Taraporevala. Siddharth Roy Kapur’s Roy Kapur Films (RKF) has signed on acclaimed filmmaker Sooni Taraporevala to bring to the screen the inspiring & the hopeful journey of the 2 Mumbai boys, Amiruddin Shah & Manish Chauhan, their Israeli-American mentor Yehuda Maor and their families, who triumphed over their circumstances and achieved a feat no Indian ever has before – by making their way to prestigious global ballet institutes like London’s Royal Ballet Academy & the Oregon Ballet Theatre. Sooni, known for her award -winning writing on Salaam Bombay, Mississippi Masala & The Namesake, has previously directed a VR documentary on the same subject titled Yeh Ballet, for Anand Gandhi’s Memesys Lab. When Siddharth read about the boys & saw this documentary, he was so moved by their story that he reached out to Sooni immediately & ask her to join him in telling it on the big screen. Siddharth said, “I have always admired Sooni’s writing, and she has outdone herself with the superb script she has written on the “Ballet Boys”. What makes this film even more special is that we will explore an unfamiliar western dance form like ballet and its impact on these boys, while staying firmly rooted in our own culture and our more familiar dance aesthetic. ”Siddharth & Sooni both share a passion for the performing arts & are excited about commencing their shoot for this unique & vibrant film that will encompass varied dance forms like free-style, desi hip-hop & ballet. With dialogues by Mayur Puri (writer of ABCD/ABCD2), music by the hit duo Sachin-Jigar, choreography by phenomenal Shiamak Davar & ballet sequences by Yehuda Maor & Cindy Jourdain, this is set to be a musical & visual treat for audiences.

Vidyut Jammwal Welcomes Director Aditya Datt To ‘Commando 3’

Aditya Datt, known for helming Table No. 21 & Karenjit Kaur: The Untold Story Of Sunny Leone, will also helm Vidyut Jammwal’s upcoming film Commando 3 & Vidyut welcomed Aitya to the film team with a gift. Datt revealed that Vidyut gifted him Army-style dog tags as a gesture of welcome to the Commando 3 team. An elated Aditya shared the pic of the dog tags on Instagram and said, “Sometimes a small gesture makes things big for life… a souvenir at the start of a new journey from the man himself, appreciate it.” Aditya is currently prepping for Commando 3, which also stars Adah Sharma, Angira Dhar & Gulshan Devaiah, in London. The 2nd season of Datt’s Karenjit Kaur: The Untold Story Of Sunny Leone, is slated to premiere on 18th Sept, 2018.

Rahat Kazmi’s ‘Million Dollar Nomad’ To Be Distributed By Top American Distribution Company

Critically acclaimed filmmaker Rahat Kazmi, known for craft like Mantostaan, Identity Card & Lihaaf, now brings to you, Million Dollar Nomad, an international feature film in English, being backed by one of the top – notch American Distribution & Sales Companies, House of Film, known for 9 Academy Award winning films. The story of a Kashmiri shepherd who suddenly finds himself being popular in a foreign land; Million Dollar Nomad takes you on the journey through 4 countries. With an ensemble cast, the film stars Shoib Nikash Shah as lead opposite actresses Meritxell Ortega & Canelle Hope from Spain & France respectively; supported by Tariq Khan, Jitesh Kumar & Mujeeb Ul Hassan from India, Patrick Fremiot from France, with a cameo by Australian actor Gavin. The film is all set to travel to festivals & film markets across the globe. “Our aim,” says Rahat Kazmi, “is to target a global audience. We are trying our hands at experimental cinema, the kind of films that not only entertain the audience but also bring cultures together, at the same time, throwing light on varied issues that need to addressed.” Million Dollar Nomad is produced by Rahat Kazmi Films, Tariq Khan Productions, Zeba Sajid Films, Benchmark Pictures & Indian Film Studio & co-produced by Mediamatk International Corporation Ltd.

‘Pakhi’ Will Now Release On 21st Sept 2018

Director Producer Sachin Gupta’s film Pakhi on child trafficking has been granted an “A” certificate by the Revising Committee of Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC). Now the movie is all set to release on 21st Sep 2018. Under the banner of Chilsag pictures the social crime drama Pakhi unfolding the miseries of the web of child trafficking got stuck for censor certificate. Pakhi is written by writer – director Sachin Gupta. Sumeet Kaul, Anamika Shukla, Pihu, Shikandar Khan & Anmol Goswami are in the leads. The music is embraced by Shivang Mathur & lyrics by Shayra Apoorva. Navin Kumar is the cinematographer & Ajay Shivan is the editor & choreographer of the film. The background score is given by Nikkhil Koparde.

‘Marry Me, Stranger’ Brings Anuja Joshi As Author Novoneel Chakraborty’s Rivanah

Applause Entertainment has been in the news for premium, contemporary digital series. Amongst its premier line – up is the upcoming adaptation of The Stranger Trilogy by popular fiction writer, Novoneel Chakraborty from Penguin Random House. Helmed by renowned producer Goldie Behl, this adaptation has a talented cast of actors. Building upon the very popular novella of the Stranger Series by Novoneel Chakraborty, Anuja Joshi plays the protagonist, Rivanah. Gaurav Chopra, Mrinal Dutt & Priya Banerjee portray key characters in Marry Me, Stranger. Actor & director Faruk Kabir, who made the film Allah Ke Bandey with Naseeruddin Shah, has directed this series for the web, seamlessly adapting Chakraborty’s successful books for the screen. Marry Me, Stranger, keeping with the book’s title, features Anuja Joshi as the protagonist, Rivanah, a young girl struggling to find her footing in maximum city, Mumbai. Anuja originally from US, has studied acting & direction at NYU, and has professional theatre experience in New York with directors such as Julie Taymor & Mira Nair. She will appear in the upcoming Hollywood film My Cousin’s Sister’s Wedding. TV star Gaurav Chopra will be seen in a mysterious cameo. Well known writer & digital content creator Anand Sivakumaran has adapted this series for the web. Having produced popular films & TV for some time, Goldie Behl, Director Rose Audiovisuals brings depth & experience to this production. Anuja Joshi said, “I am thrilled to have the opportunity to portray Rivanah. This young character’s discovery of her self – worth, especially in a big city like Mumbai, is something I know many people will relate to”.

Prosenjit Chatterjee Bonds With Abhishek Bachchan!

Bengali superstar Prosenjit Chatterjee, recently met Abhishek Bachchan albeit over the digital space as the 2 interacted during a Facebook live chat to promote their respective films Kishore Kumar Junior & Manmarziyaan. Talking about films and their love for Kolkatta, Prosenjit not only invited the Bachchan family to his city but also requested a screening of Manmarziyaan for his friends from Bengal film industry. Well aware of Abhishek’s sweet tooth, Prosenjit also sent across Rosgollas from Kolkatta and while discussing his upcoming film Kishore Kumar Junior, Bachchan sung a few lines from his favorite Kishore Da song, “Jahan Teri Ye Nazar Hai”. This was a special interaction, as ironically, Chatterjee will soon be seen as the host of Ke Hobe Banglar Kotipoti, the Bengali version of the popular game show Kaun Banega Crorepati, made famous by Abhishek’s father, the legendary Amitabh Bachchan.
Dia Mirza To Speak At Social Good Summit 2018 In New York

Actress, producer & champion of nature Dia Mirza, has become a global name owing to her work in the field of environment protection, has been invited to be one of the speakers at Social Good Summit 2018 at New York on 23rd Sept, 2018 this year. For those who do not know this, the Summit is held annually during the United Nations General Assembly week & brings together a lively community of global citizens & progressive thought leaders around a common theme#2030NOW. A dynamic exploration of how the world should be by 2030, the Social Good Summit focuses on how one can unlock technology’s potential to make the world a better place. UN Environment Goodwill Ambassador Dia Mirza is one of the leading global voices on nature’s conversation; one of the most impactful influencers for UNEP’s “Beat Plastic Pollution” campaign. Apart from Dia, international entertainer & activist Lilly Singh has also been invited to speak at the Summit.

Saqib Saleem Packs A Punch With Kickboxing!

Looks like Saqib Saleem is in the mood to kick butt! Riding high on the success of his biggest release this year, Race 3, the talented actor has recently taken up kickboxing. Saqib has started training in kickboxing since a month and has been following it up rigorously. It’s learnt that the actor wants to sport a brawny & muscular look for his next & his obsession for kickboxing is a result of the same. Saqib was hugely appreciated for his amazing body transformation for his character in Race 3 and flaunting the cool 6 pack abs in the multi-starrer. Post Race 3, the actor has also been approached for several films in the action genre. And his learning kickboxing certainly hints about his prep for his next, an action film, details of which have not been revealed yet.

New Delhi”Furious 7″ and “Victoria & Abdul” gave Ali Fazal a thrust into the world of international cinema. The actor, who had first starred in American TV series “Bollywood Hero” in 2009, says he wants to be a part of the diversity wave that is now taking Hollywood by storm.

“Furious 7” saw him in a bit role, but the British drama “Victoria & Abdul” saw him play the lead one with veteran actor Judi Dench. What next?

“I can’t talk about what is exactly next, but there are two projects that I am on board for. One is a biopic, a true story again,” Ali told IANS, adding that “Victoria & Abdul” has not just opened up doors for him internationally, but in India too.

“It’s weird how that works, but we have always looked up to Hollywood, so one person goes and suddenly they… Anyway,” the actor, stopping abruptly only to add: “I am very hopeful. I am very happy with the decisions I have made.”

“I have given up some big network TV shows very recently because even if it is Hollywood, it has to be the right stuff. As an Indian going there, you’re always scared of getting stereotyped. I have seen that happen before,” he said during a recent chat in Melbourne during a film festival.

He believes the castings are opening up now.

“The diversity is happening in Hollywood and I want to be a part of it. It’s a really exciting time for everybody, not just actors,” added Ali, who is optimistic about the kind of content the web series space has brought along.

He will himself be seen in Amazon Prime Video’s original series, the gritty drama “Mirzapur”.

“It’s not Amazon’s answer to (Netflix’s) ‘Sacred Games’… It has to be the answer…The people will decide,” Ali said of the show, which he feels will stand out due to its outstanding cast and gripping story.

There’s Pankaj Tripathi, Shweta Tripathi, Vikrant Massey, Kulbhushan Kharbanda and Rasika Dugal among others.

“It’s a plethora of great actors and at the same time it’s good writing. It was such layered writing, and to give some Hollywood films as references to give an idea, it’s a mix of ‘Narcos’ and ‘Godfather’ in the Indian context,” said Ali, whose most recent screen appearances were in “Fukrey Returns” and “Happy Phirr Bhag Jayegi”.

His upcoming slate of Bollywood films include the Hindi remake of the Telugu “Prasthaanam” and Tigmanshu Dhulia’s “Milan Talkies” — both set in Uttar Pradesh.

In the former, a father-son story set against a political backdrop, Ali plays son to Sanjay Dutt. In the latter, he will be seen as an ambitious filmmaker.

Filmmaking is also something that is on Ali’s mind.

He is penning a short film, which he calls an ode to his inspiration — the multifaceted Guru Dutt — and will direct it too.

As an actor today, Ali says one needs to be diverse in talent.

“I am not just acting, I am also writing, I am also going the direction way… If nothing, then I am able to put my own stuff out there because I can… I don’t have to depend on others.

What about going the production way?

“Why not? That’s the end game. Earlier, actors used to be on this pedestal that ‘bas wohi hain (that they are just actors)… I love acting and I will never leave that, but I want that rush to create something, and be a director.”

(IANS)

Robert Boyd Holbrook an American actor & fashion model, has appeared in films such as Milk, Out The Furnace,, Run All Night, A Walk Among The Tombstones & Gone Girl. He also starred as DEA Agent Steve Murphy in Netflix series
Narcos. Besides Hatfifields & McCoys as “Cap” Hatfield, and in the year 2017, he had portrayed a villain’s role named Donald Pierce in Logan. Incidentally speaking Boyd Holbrook was discovered while he was working as a part – time carpentar for Jenny Wiley Theatre in Kentucky. Later on he signed with Elite Models, whereas he has also worked for other agencies such as Wilhelmina Models. Boyd Holbrook has been a model for such designers & labels as Gucci, Jean Paul Gaultier, Hugo Boss, Bill Blass, Calvien Klien, Moschino, Marc Jacobs, DSquared et al. Boyd Holbrook has been steadily building an impressive career, working in drama & action on screens big & small. In his latest released movie The Predator, he enacts the role of a troubled military man, Quinn McKenna, looking to protect his family from an otherworldly threat.

*To set the ball rolling in your court, tell us what role are you enacting in your just released movie The Predator?

*In my latest released movie The Predator I am enacting the role of a character named Quinn McKenna, he is an ex – Special Force. He’s basically doing contract work. Probably not a lot really to live for in the sense that he is very detached from his son. He is also estranged from his wife. He is kind of a rogue. He is living from paycheck to paycheck; if you got a job in South America and you need somebody, he is your guy. We find him in Mexico and he has got these objects on him after a mercenary job has gone wrong. He has found all this Predator gear, these gauntlets & this de – cloaking things. He needs to get them back home because no one is going to believe him. He sends them to his son, but then he gets arrested & sent to a military psych ward for some evaluation, partly because the Government is trying to keep the Predators under wraps. He is aware of them, but there’s a cover – up. He has to team up with these guys who in some ways have been kind of rejected and are all suffering from some form of PTSD. They call themselves “the Loonies” and they’re a throwback to the team from the 1987 movie.

*And how does another character namely Jacob Tremblay’s Rory becomes a part of the story of The Predator?

*Rory happens to be Quinn McKenna’s son and they don’t have a close relationship, mainly because Quinn Mckenna doesn’t know how to connect with him or relate to him. I think that audiences will relate to the challenges they deal with as it speaks to some very human issues.

*Now tell us how did you land the role of Quinn McKenna in the movie The Predator?

*Initially I had met director Shane Black & we sat down for a lengthy discussion. I read out the script and I talked to him a little bit about it. And then we just kept a long conversation going on. So that’s basically how it worked out.

*So how was it working with director Shane Black as a director?

*I found him to be pretty brilliant. He has a ways to hinge a scene that, whatever the subject matter, he finds these comedic beats. You have to be on your toes with him, really on your toes.

*Was he also collaborative with the entire cast of The Predator? Besides did you all of you get to pitch ideas?

*Oh, absolutely… the 1st ever day on the sets, we rehearsed a scene before lunch. Everyone was spit – balling ideas, coming up with lines, you know. We broke for lunch, and afterwards, Shane Black just asked us to sit with him. He had turned our spit – balling ideas into a 2 page scripted scenes to shoot right then & there.

*By the way did the entire cast of The Predator bond well?

*Yeah. I think in general, actors are pretty playful & empathetic people, so no one was a diva by any means on this one. You couldn’t have cast the film better because of the way it was shot. Augusto Aguilera plays Nettles, & he’s brilliant. Alfie (Allen) did something great with his character. Keegan’s (Michael Key) had all this experience with sketch comedy & knows what works & what doesn’t. And then you have Thomas Jane, who’s doing one of the most incredible character.

*In amongst all the CG movies, there are a lot of practical sets & locales. Did that help you as an actor?

*Yeah, it really did. We were actually working in a real space. It’s so much better than reacting to something that is an X on a wall or something like that.

*By any chance did you watch the original Predator?

*I think the 1st ever Predator had came out when I was just 6 years old, and I probably watched it when I was just about 10 years old or may be 12 years old. I thought it was terrifying. Yeah, it’s pretty terrifying. I think it was also just one of the great thrillers like Bloodsport, Rambo & all those sorts of macho films of that time.

*Lastly tell us what exactly was the vision of director Shane Black for The Predator and did he succeed in putting across on the celluloid silver screen?

*I think The Predator sees writer / director Shane Black returning to a world he may have 1st experienced way back in the year 1987 as an actor. In this new film, The Predator I think he has expanded & explored the story of the alien hunters & the human beings that must face the threat. With the Government attempting to cover up the extent of Predator incursions on Earth, a rag – tag group of military veterans must figure out what is going on and how to save the world, or at least themselves, as the battle spreads from the depths of the outer space to the once – safe suburbia. That’s all I can say as of now.

New Delhi Superstar Dharmendra, who has often shared screen space with his children and actors Sunny and Bobby, says that “poor” star sons often face a lot of criticism from people.

The octogenarian Bollywood veteran has backed his sons’ films like “Betaab”, “Ghayal” and “Barsaat” as a producer. He has even acted with them in movies such as “Apne”, “Yamla Pagla Deewana” and most recently “Yamla Pagla Deewana Phir Se”, which released last month.

Asked about the pros and cons of working with his children, Dharmendra told IANS here: “If the subject is good, then everything is good. You can make out the chemistry between us. They are good and loving kids. They listen to me. I also listen to them. There is no complex. It’s so easy to work with each other.

“Otherwise, we can’t tell other artistes to do ‘this’ or they can’t tell me to do ‘this’. It’s a very delicate matter. We discuss and work together.”

He can’t point out the negative things about joining forces with his family, but he feels that star sons are often compared to their famous parents.

“It’s negative for them. People make it little difficult while comparing star sons. People often compare and say so and so is star son. They face some problems for sure because of that. People say ‘he is not like his father’. They have to face so much of criticism… poor star sons,” said the “Chupke Chupke” actor.

Like him, Sunny is set to launch his son Karan Deol in the upcoming film “Pal Pal Dil Ke Paas”. Will Dharmendra also act in it?

“No, I am not there. Sunny did it himself. They should come up themselves. If we get a good story, then we will work together also,” he said.

In the ’70s and ’80s, the veteran actor starred opposite his wife Hema Malini in various films including “Sholay”, “Seeta aur Geeta”, “The Burning Train” and “Razia Sultan”. They even teamed up for their daughter Esha Deol’s film “Tell Me O Kkhuda” in 2011.

Asked about working with them again, he said: “To be frank, we are not getting good scripts. If you don’t get a good script and one or two films don’t work, then it becomes boring. We had made ‘Tell Me O Kkhuda’. The script wasn’t good, so maza nai aya (didn’t have fun).”

Be it with his family members or others, he will continue acting as long as he can.

“I don’t want to retire. I love the camera. She is my beloved. It’s (acting) not my profession. She is my beloved. Sometimes, she leaves me and I catch her and vice-versa. I never left her. Time is the witness,” said Dharmendra.

The Padma Bhushan recipient has also been honoured with lifetime achievement awards at Filmfare, Sansui Viewers’ Choice Movie Awards, Zee Cine Awards, International Indian Film Academy Awards and Mumbai Academy of the Moving Image (MAMI) International Film Festival for his contribution to Hindi cinema.

But even lifetime achievement awards can’t put an end to his over five-decade long career.

“There are so many people who love me. They are awards only,” said the actor, who is fondly known as He-Man or Garam Dharam.

(IANS)

Actor Ronit Roy will be seen featuring in the upcoming film “Thugs Of Hindostan”. He says he is honoured to be a small part of the film.

“Wow! I am so honoured to be a small part of this magnum opus,” Ronit tweeted on Monday morning.

The film stars Amitabh Bachchan, Aamir Khan, Katrina Kaif and Fatima Sana Shaikh. It is slated to hit the screens on November 8.

This will be the second time Ronit will be seen working with Amitabh. The two have previously worked in the film “Sarkar 3”.

Directed by Vijay Krishna Acharya, who directed Katrina and Aamir in “Dhoom: 3”. “Thugs Of Hindostan” is an adaptation of the 1839 novel “Confessions of a Thug”.

(IANS)

Shahid Kapoor’s Gift To Tehri

Shahid Kapoor recently shot for his next film Batti Gul Meter Chalu directed by Shree Narayan Singh in Tehri, Uttarakhand. While shooting they stayed at a hotel with bare necessities & no luxuries, instead of a 5 star hotel. Shahid Kapoor being a fitness freak had set up his gym at the hotel they stayed. As this small hotel had no fitness facilities, he set up his own gym on the premises. His instructor had taken a lot of expensive equipment from Mumbai and set them up in a room. A day before they packed up, the hotel guys requested Shahid Kapoor to leave his gym equipment behind for them and other guests & he agreed instantly knowing his gift would help the establishment.” Batti Gul Meter Chalu also stars Shraddha Kapoor, Yami Gautam & Divyendu Sharma. The film produced by T-Series & Kriti Pictures is slated to release on 21st Sept, 2018.

Jacqueline Fernandez Signed Opposite Kartik Aaryan For The Hindi Remake Of Kannada Movie ‘Kirik Party’

Producer Ajay Kapoor of Kyta Productions recently joined hands with Gen-X sensation Kartik Aaryan, for the Hindi remake of Kannada blockbuster Kirik Party. All eyes were on the coming of age, romantic film, especially since the original went on to become one of the highest grossing Kannada films of all time, running in cinemas for an impressive 150 days. Directed by National Award winner Abhishek Jain of Wrong Side Raju & Bey Yaar fame, the makers have now cast Jacqueline Fernandez as the female lead opposite Kartik Aaryan. Confirming the news producer Ajay Kapoor says, “We are excited to have Jacqueline Fernandez on board. She is someone the youth relates to & has amazing screen presence. This is the 1st time ever Jacqueline Fernandez & Kartik Aryan have been cast together and we are confident audiences will enjoy watching this fresh pairing”. Says Jacqueline Fernandez, “I’m excited to work with Ajay Kapoor and be part of this film. It’s a great script with blockbuster music & I look forward to working with Kartik Aaryan & Abhishek Jain for the 1st time ever. This role is really special”. The untitled film will be produced by Dheeraj Wadhawan, Ajay Kapoor of Kyta Productions & Vrithika Laykar and goes on the floors this Oct.

Shahid Kapoor & Shraddha Kapoor Take Garhwali Lessons For ‘Batti Gul Meter Chalu’

The Shahid Kapoor-Shraddha Kapoor starrer, Batti Gul Meter Chalu, directed by Shree Narayan Singh, who has earlier helmed Toilet — Ek Prem Katha, is a social drama that talks about the issue of electricity overbilling & corrupt power corporations. With the film being inspired by real events, Shree Narayan Singh & writers Garima & Siddharth did extensive research to do justice to the story. Since it is set in Uttarakhand, the dialogues are laced with Garhwali, one of the dialects of the state. In a bid to retain authenticity, not only was the film shot in Tehri, but every actor was made to take lessons in the language. Apart from Shahid Kapoor & Shraddha Kapoor, the movie also stars Yami Gautam & Divyendu Sharma in pivotal roles. The director says, “Maintaining the commercial aspect without compromising on authenticity was one of our biggest challenges. Be it the actors, producers, writers… everyone had the right mindset.” Producer Bhushan Kumar adds, “As people who are in the business of telling stories, it is important for filmmakers to be true to the world in which they place their characters. While the film is essentially in Hindi, key colloquial phrases & words have been used to give it an authentic touch. I am sure it will be appreciated.” Batti Gul Meter Chalu releases on 21st Sept, 2018.

Sandeep Singh & Tamil Director Elan To Remake Tamil Hit ‘Pyaar Prema Kaadhal’ In Hindi

Producer Sandeep Singh & South director Elan have joined hands to bring the runaway Tamil hit Pyaar Prema Kaadhal to Bollywood as part of their recent collaboration. Producer Sandeep Singh says, “At the age of 27, Elan is a creative genius. We are also making another film, which will be a Tamil-Hindi romcom-fantasy. The Tamil title for the film is ‘Punnagai Arasan’ (King of Smiles). We are here to produce a lot of films together and will also be launching newcomers in terms of directors & actors. “The romcom bilingual directorial is scheduled to be shot over a timeframe of 60 days in Leh-Ladakh & Himachal Pradesh. Our crew will be drawn from both Tamil & Hindi film industries. The male lead will be drawn from Tamil cinema and will be paired with a Bollywood actress. It will have 6 romantic songs for which we have the music director Yuvan Shankar Raja. The remake of the Tamil hit Pyaar Prema Kaadhal is scheduled to go on the floors next year. Says Director Elan, “When I showed the film to Sandeep, he loved it and that’s when we decided to collaborate. Since we both are young, It’s a long way for us to go. Both the films will roll one after the other.”

Director Imtiaz Ali To Make A Film On The Eternal Love Story Of Radha Krishna

On the auspicious occasion of the festival of Janmashtami, Anil D. Ambani owned Reliance Entertainment & director Imtiaz Ali’s Window Seat Films, LLP, announced that they will be producing a film on the eternal love story of Radha & Krishna; an epic that has travelled down generations & folklore transcending the boundaries of culture, geography & tradition. To be written & directed by Imtiaz Ali, this film is one of his long cherished projects; a love story very close to his heart that he has always wanted to explore on the big screen. The research on the film is currently underway. Imtiaz Ali has received wide appreciation & acclaim from audiences & critics alike, in addition to blockbuster success at box office turnstiles. Imtiaz Ali said, “I have always been fascinated by the eternal love story of Radha & Krishna. In all of Indian folklore I know of no other story, which is so intensely personal and yet has such an epic scale.” While this epic will be one of Imtiaz Ali’s upcoming directorial ventures, it is not the one that he will be directing next due to the extensive research & pre-production that is required for a project of this scale.”

Love Sonia Actresses Worked Closely With Victims Of Human Trafficking

Director Tabrez Noorani’s Love Sonia which explores the world of human trafficking is next to perfect in its description! Tabrez Noorani conducted workshops for his actors to help them get into the skin of their characters authentically. He even made sure that Mrunal Thakur & Riya Sisodiya meet a few victims of sex trafficking. Says Mrunal Thakur, “It was extremely sad to hear stories about how these girls ended up in the flesh trade. They were initially shy but eventually opened up & shared incidents that shook me and were difficult to get out of my head.” Mrunal Thakur & Riya Sisodia shot many of their scenes in the presence of the victims. Tabrez Noorani gave them only situations to act out without dialogues so they could improvise with the girls. Tabrez Noorani said, “From day one, I wanted this film to be authentic. Whenever I could have them meet people we were portraying in the film, I did that. The more research the better, and the actors all embraced this process.” The film stars Freida Pinto, Manoj Bajpayee, Rajkummar Rao, Richa Chadha, Anupam Kher, Adil Hussain, Sai Tamhankar, Sunny Parwar, Demi Moore, Mark Duplass, Tabrez Noorani is introducing Mrunal Thakur as well as Riya Sisodiya. Love Sonia produced by Tamasha Talkies, David Womark & Tabrez Noorani is slated to release on 14th Sept, 2018.

‘Manto’ To Open The 2nd Edition Of Singapore South Asian International Film Fest 2018

The 2nd edition of Singapore South Asian International Film Fest 2018 (Sg.SAIFF) will open with actor-director Nandita Das’ Manto which stars Nawazuddin Siddiqui in the titular role as Sadat Hassan Manto and follows the most tumultuous years & times in the life of the famed writer & of the 2 countries he inhabits – India & Pakistan. The fest held from 5th Oct, 2018 to 14th Oct, 2018 in Singapore will commence with an opening ceremony on 5th Oct, 2018 at Carnival Cinema & close on 13th Oct, 2018 at Resorts World Sentosa will also include the awards ceremony. The film stars Rasika Duggal, Rajshri Deshpande, Rishi Kapoor & Paresh Rawal. The screening at SGSAIFF 2018 marks the film’s South East Asian premiere & will be attended by Nandita Das, whose film Manto will open the 2nd edition of Singapore South Asian Film Fest said, “Manto was very much a South Asian writer. Last year, SGSAIFF screened a film I acted in, Albert Pinto Ko Gussa Kyun Aata Hai as the opening film, which is yet to be released.” The SGSAIFF 2018 lineup represents a diverse mix of feature films, short films & docu drama, which include films from India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka,
Pakistan, Nepal & Afghanistan.

Prerna Arora Launches Studio 5 Elements!

Producers Arjun N Kapoor, Om Prakash Bhatt, Kashish Khan & Virendra Arora, represented by daughter Prernaa Arora, have launched “Studio 5 Elements”. After producing successful & socially relevant films like Rustom, Toilet: Ek Prem Katha, Padman & Pari, producers Arjun N Kapoor & Prernaa Arora of KriArj Entertainment join hands with Om Prakash Bhatt of Purple Bull Entertainment & Mumbai based producer & investor Kashish Khan for “Studio 5 Elements”. The studio will be involved in production, acquisitions, distribution & also cater to digital platform. Says Arjun N Kapoor, “Studio 5 Elements is collaboration between likeminded people.” Says Prernaa Arora, “Arjun & I are happy to collaborate with Prakash Bhatt & Kashish Khan, both of whom are 1st generation entrepreneurs who have a deep understanding of cinema & who believe in strong content & resource management at the core. ”Apart from unveiling the logo, the studio announced their interesting line-up of films starting with the Big B & SJ Surya starrer The Tall Man directed by T Tamilvaanan, 3 films with Ahmed Khan & Shaira Khan’s production house Paperdoll Entertainment, Ganit & Radha Kyun Gori Main Kyu Kaala with director Prem Soni & official remake of the 1964 classic Woh Kaun Thi with director Kanishk Varma.

Crime Patrol’s Annup Sonii Completes 2 Decades In Bollywood

His sensational crime-based show Crime Patrol made actor Annup Sonii a household name. The versatile actor also proved his mettle as an actor on the big screen by portraying several memorable characters in popular films. Having completed 2 decades of glorious years in the industry, Annup Soni recollects, “It has been a wonderful journey. God has been kind & I’m grateful to my fans for showering upon their love & support. The learning is that one should just focus on work, give your 100% & be patient. And, I sincerely believe that if you choose to learn from each experience, then you will have nothing to regret. For someone who was a complete outsider, it has been pretty good. But as they say, the day you get satisfied, you stop growing. So, I am still looking for more milestones,” Annup Soni adds. Annup Soni who is also actively involved in theatre, informs, “My friends from National School of Drama (New Delhi) are an important part of my life. Mumbai, too, has given me great friends. God has been kind, whether it’s work, friends or family.”

Reverberation Films Pvt. Ltd. Announces A Film School

Reverberation Films Pvt. Ltd is grateful to announce their film school in the heart of India, New Delhi. The name of the school is also inspired by the production house’s name “Revmovies Acting Studio”. Muskurahtein & 10 Nahi 40 are produced under the banner of Reverberation Films Pvt. Ltd. The founder of Reverberation Films Pvt. Ltd is J. S. Randhawa, who is a radiologist & a filmmaker. After being in the medical industry for more than 2 decades, J S Randhawa ventured into films & in the year 2015, he launched his production company, Reverberation Films Pvt. Ltd. The school will provide courses in acting & direction. This will be the 1st ever acting school in New Delhi by a Bollywood film production house. The school is equipped with skilled faculty members of Bollywood like Birbalji, Sham Mashalkar, Manmauji & Dr. J S Randhawa. On the announcement of the film school Dr Randhawa feels that teaching is an art & innovations in teaching can make a huge difference to the outcome & produce great artists in a much shorter time period.

Savita Bhabhi Aka Tandoori Bhabhi Characters To Don A Hijab For Pakistan, Bangladesh & UAE Versions

The popular internet cartoon series Savita Bhabhi is all set to live again as a web series & will not be restricted to viewers in US & UK markets only & will be available to viewers in all Islamic countries including Pakistan, UAE, et al. Maneesh Singh announced that Savita Bhabhi who has been re-christened Tandoori Bhabhi will live again in the form of a web series. To comply with local broadcasting laws there will be different versions or individual edits for US, UK, UAE as well as for India, Pakistan, Bangladesh & Sri Lanka markets so that the show does not invite censorship from individual countries. For example, in Pakistan, Savita Bhabhi could be seen wearing a hijab or even a burkha to customize the costumes to local semi-urban & rural audiences, a toned down version when compared to the western markets. The geographical locales will determine which version or edit, the user gets to see, Maneesh Singh said, “Neha Shah will now play the red hot Tandoori Bhabhi. There will be a sprinkling of some “inspirational scenes” from the internationally famous comic character Savita Bhabhi as well. Maneesh Singh revealed that this time the character draws more inspiration from Gulfam Kali, rather than Angoori Bhabhi.

T-Series Joins Hands With BR Studios

They worked together to deliver the 2014 hit Bhoothnath Returns, a political satire directed by Nitesh Tiwari. Bhushan Kumar of T-Series has once again come together to work with The Chopra Family on more movies in the coming days. BR Studios, helmed by Renu Chopra & her sons Juno & Abhay enjoyed critical & commercial success last year with their films Bareilly Ki Barfi & Ittefaq. With the vigor to create great content BR Studios has developed 2 films that they will collaborate with T-Series on. Mudassar Aziz of Happy Phirr Bhag Jayegi fame will direct a film under this renewed collaboration. There is another film that T-Series & BR Studios are committed to working on together, the script of which is being currently developed which is a family entertainer on the lines of Bareilly Ki Barfi. Also on the cards is the 3rd installment of the successful Bhootnath franchise. Bhushan Kumar of T-Series says, “We had a great synergy with BR Studios when we worked on Bhoothnath Returns a few years ago. Creatively, it was a very satisfying collaboration to work in this film starring Amitji.”

Poster Of ‘Namaste England’ Released

The makers of Namaste England have released a poster of the film, the trailer of which was released on 6th Sept, 2018. The film stars Arjun Kapoor & Parineeti Chopra in lead roles. Produced & directed by Vipul Amrutlal Shah, the film is presented by Pen Movies & Reliance Entertainment, in association with Blockbuster Movie Entertainers. Namaste England will hit the theatres on 19th Oct, 2019.

Alia Bhatt Launches The Poster Of ‘Yours Truly’

Hindi language romance drama Yours Truly directed by National Award winner Sanjoy Nag to have its World Premiere at the upcoming Busan International Film Fest from 4th Oct, 2018 to 13th Oct, 2018, Asia’s biggest film fest. The film is selected in A window on Asian Cinema category. The film stars Soni Razdan, Pankaj Tripathi, Aahana Kumra & Mahesh Bhatt in a special appearance. The film is produced by Shiladitya Bora (Platoon One Films)

Sharman Joshi’s Next Film Is ‘Kaashi In Search Of Ganga’

Dhiraj Kumar’s debut Bollywood venture movie Kaashi In Search Of Ganga starring Sharman Joshi & Aishwarya Devan in the lead is all set to release on 26th Oct, this year. The film is produced by Insite India, Directed by Dhiraj Kumar & written by Manish Kishore.

Priyadarshni Academy Global Award 2018 To Anushka Sharma

Priyadarshni Academy’s 34th Anniversary Global Awards, a prestigious function, will take place on 19th Sept, 2018 in Mumbai. The awards will be presented to varied achievers from different genres for their services to the upliftment of mankind in multifarious ways. Awardees will be felicitated by leading political personalities. Priyadarshni Academy is a premier non-profit, socio-cultural & educational organization. Real Estate tycoon, Niranjan Hiranandani, is the Chairman. Priyadarshni Academy is the brain child of Businessman & Humanitarian Nanik Rupani. Priyadarshni Academy has a top notch list of awardees, a total of 8 awards will be presented this year. They will be felicitated by big wigs such as Shri Nitin Gadkari, Minister of Shipping; Road Transport &Highways; Water Resources; River Development & Ganga Rejuvenation; Shri Suresh Prabhu, Minister of Commerce & Industry & Civil Aviation & Shri Piyush Goyal, Minister of Railways & Coal. Amongst the few Awardees of 2018 are Anushka Sharma – Smita Patil Memorial Award for “Best Actress”, Ronnie Screwvala (Founder Director, Swades Foundation) – Priyadarshni Academy Global Award for outstanding contribution to Innovative Entertainment & Community Development & Amitabh Kant (CEO, NITI Aayog, New Delhi; NITI is a government institution for catalyzing economic development) -Priyadarshni Academy Global Award for outstanding contribution to Transforming India

Saie Tamhankar Reveals Her Digital Debut With ZEE5

Popular actress Saie Tamhankar has been up to something special. In a never seen before avatar, Saie Tamhankar has collaborated with ZEE5 for an upcoming special show for her fans, this time on an OTT platform – ZEE5! She will be seen featuring in a web show for the 1st time ever, it’s her digital debut. Saie Tamhankar shared, “ZEE5 & I have something extremely exciting coming up. This will be the 1st time ever I will be shooting for a digital platform. This will be very different from what my fans have seen me do in the past and the team that I am working with is fantastic. All I can say is that this show will give you a chance to know me better.” ZEE5 has recently launched a super hit Marathi web series called Liftman with Bhau Kadam & now with Saie, they are looking at strengthening their bucket of Marathi content. Saie has started shooting for ZEE5 web show.
‘Little Things’ To Premiere On 5th Oct, 2018 Worldwide On Netflix

If you love “love” & need your regular fix of Netflix romance, there is more in store for you with a brand new season of Little Things all set to premiere worldwide on 5th Oct, 2018. Little Things is a realistic, relatable & heartwarming story of a young, modern day relationship that promises to give you all the feels! Join Kavya (Mithila Palkar) & Dhruv (Dhruv Sehgal), a young unmarried couple, as they navigate the complicated world of relationships, careers & aspirations in the fast-paced city of Mumbai, while always cherishing the little things that make life worth living. The series celebrates the sweet & sour moments of life & their new-age relationship. Created & written by Dhruv Sehgal, Little Things is directed by Ruchir Arun.

Sumeet Vyas To Play Himself In Kunaal Roy Kapur’s Web Series ‘Side Hero’!

Sumeet Vyas, who became a household name after the success of his latest release, Veere Di Wedding, is all set to spring a huge surprise on the audience & his fans with his next offering. The talented actor who is currently busy scripting Season 2 of ‘The Viral Fever’s popular series Tripling & also doing recee of the same will be seen playing an interesting role in his forthcoming web series, Side Hero. As interesting as the title, the web show will see Sumeet Vyas sharing screen space with Kunaal Roy Kapur for the 1st time ever. Interestingly, Sumeet Vyas is quite excited about the show as he will be seen playing himself, much to the surprise of the audiences & his fans. Also, it is something he has never attempted before in the web series space. The talented actor is currently busy scripting Season 2 of The Viral Fever’s popular series Tripling & also doing recee of the same. He will be traveling to 5 cities shooting for the show. Sumeet Vyas says, “The script is quite amazing and something not attempted in the web series space. Also, the good thing is that I do not have to prep for my character since I play myself in the series. I’m sure the audiences will definitely like it.”

Prem R Soni Reveals The Teaser Poster Of His Next Movie ‘Radha Kyun Gori Main Kyun Kaala’

Prem R Soni, known for helming Main Aurr Mrs. Khanna starring Salman Khan, Kareena Kapoor & Sohail Khan, revealed the teaser poster of his next film Radha Kyun Gori Main Kyun Kaala on the auspicious occasion of Krishna Janmashtami recently. The teaser poster of the film, which revolves around a Krishna Bhakta who comes to the country where guests are treated as gods & women are treated as goddesses to seek answers & raise questions, features the silhouettes of a man & a woman against the backdrop of an ancient temple with the “Geeta Saar” printed on it. The poster of the film is quite intriguing and has made everyone curious about the cast of the film, which will be revealed in the official poster on a later date. Prem R Soni revealed, “Radha Kyun Gori Main Kyun Kala is the story of Julia Bien, a Polish girl who is a Krishna Bhakta from childhood. Though Julia has a tough childhood, she finds solace in the teachings of The Bhagvad Geeta & wishes to visit Mathura to see the ISKCON temple there. Julia finds friends & also meets Babul Chaubey, the man she loves. In India, Julia adopts a daughter & decides to make a life here. However, things do not go as smoothly as planned & Julia & Babul end up starting a nationwide movement with the help of the teachings of The Bhagvad Geeta & shine the light of Krishna Consciousness upon the darkness of human nature.” Radha Kyun Gori Main Kyun Kaala’ is slated to release in May, 2019.

Toronto Veteran Bollywood actor Anupam Kher wonders why great films on India are being made only by foreigners.

In Toronto for the premiere of Australian director Anthony Maras’ debut feature film “Hotel Mumbai” based on the September 2008 terror attacks, Kher said: “This is fascinating that the film ‘Gandhi’ was also made by a foreigner. Now this (‘Hotel Mumbai’) film has also been made by a foreigner. Thank you, Anthony, for making this movie. This film is a tribute to everybody who has lost a dear one anywhere in the world.”

Without naming the person, Kher said: “Somebody had made a film on it (Mumbai terror attacks), but it was atrocious. That person wanted to cash in on the tragedy.”

But Anthony’s “Hotel Mumbai” “humanises'” the tragedy that Mumbai went through 10 years ago, the actor added.

“The Taj Palace Hotel is not just another hotel. It is an icon and its owner — the Tatas — are a respectable name not just in India but also around the world,” he said.

At the press conference, Kher revealed that “Hotel Mumbai” is the 501st film of his career.

As he was congratulated by the cast, the veteran actor said even his mother asked him for the first time as to how he did so many films.

“‘Hotel Mumbai’ is my 501st film. My mother, who is 85, asked me ‘How did I do it?'” said Kher.

The movie premiered at the on-going Toronto International Film Festival on September 7.

(IANS)

Mumbai  Veteran filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt, who is gearing up for the release of his forthcoming film “The Dark Side of Life: Mumbai City” said that we are lacking in generating awareness about mental illness in our country.

Mahesh Bhatt was interacting with media at the trailer launch of “The Dark Side of Life: Mumbai City” along with his co-actors Nikhil Ratnaparakhi, Allisha Khan, director Tariq Khan and producer Rajesh Pardasani on Monday in Mumbai.

The film addresses many sensitive issues like loneliness, communal harmony and mental health that exist in our society.

Talking about growing cases of suicides in the society, Bhatt said, “It’s a form of mental illness and it can be treated. When you suffer with diabetes then, you have to take insulin shots.

“Similarly, when you are prone towards depression then you need to consult a doctor who can treat you through medication but, I think in our country, we are lacking in generating awareness about mental illness. Almost in every household people are suffering from depression.”

Citing the example of his own daughter Shaheen Bhatt, Mahesh Bhatt said, “My daughter Shaheen, Alia’s elder sister, she, at the age of 16 discovered finally that she is suffering from clinical depression. In October, she is launching her own memoir in which she has talked about the kind of struggle she has gone through in that phase.

“She also came to a point of attempting a suicide at the age of 12-13 so, this is the truth of my own house. Jiah Khan once came to us asking for work but that time somehow, we were not able to work with her, but later when she committed suicide and we visited her house it felt really bad.”

Talking about immense pressure of surviving in the film industry, Bhatt said, “It’s a high stress business that’s why not many can do it and that’s why you have people who are prone to substance abuse, mood swings and you have tendency to gravitate towards depression because you are dependent continuously on audience reaction.

“When we release the trailer of a film, we fear that whether audience will clap or not for the trailer and for that, you need to have guts to sustain in this industry and that’s why there are very few people who have survived in this industry for long time.”

[IANS]