Live Chat: Riteish Deshmukh on March 31 at 1300 hrs IST
March 31, 2010
He has made a niche for himself in Bollywood as someone who can easily tickle your funny bone. Whether it is with his contorted face or the way he delivers those comic lines with a poker face, Riteish Deshmukh has found his calling as the next comic hero of Bollywood. And he has proved that with a line of films ranging from Kya Kool Hai Hum, Masti, Bluffmaster and Heyy Babyy.
His next release however, is a romantic comedy Jaane Kahan Se Aayi Hai. In this Milap Zaveri film, Riteish would be seen alongside the beautiful Jacqueline Fernandez, who plays an alien girl from Venus. If you’re wondering if this one too would have it’s share of magic then Riteish is the best person to ask and Bollywood Babes will make this wish a reality for you as we have the Deshmukh boy with us on our Celebrity Video Chat tomorrow, March 31, at 1300 hrs IST. So be there and make sure it’s a housefull!
Live Chat: Jacqueline Fernandez on March 31 at 1400 hrs IST
March 31, 2010
‘If there is heaven on earth, it is here, it is here, it is here’ goes the famous adage. If one has to describe Jacqueline Fernandez, it will be surely read as ‘If there is someone heavenly on earth, it is her, it is her, it is her.’
She is someone who, for a change is not a yet another Miss India making her entry in Bollywood. Instead, she is Miss Sri Lanka, who is all of Beauty personified! Having made her debut in the magical Aladin, this beauty is on a heart-capturing spree and is all set to surprise you, this time as a girl from Venus in the romantic comedy Jaane Kahan Se Aayi Hai.
Bollywood Babes gives you a chance to get up, close and personal with this beautiful girl from Venus exclusively on Celebrity Video Chat, tomorrow, March 31, at 1400 hrs IST. Be there!
Sridevi to endorse Vanish washing powder
March 31, 2010
For all those who thought that if Anil Kapoor vanished in reel life in Mr. India, Sridevi did the same vanishing trick in real life, here’s a piece of news that will really sound music to your ears!
After having ruled and reigned over everyone’s hearts alike with her performances in the silver screen as well as giving a zillion FMCG products an image makeover ( read ‘endorsing’) the Queen Bee is back yet again…not to vanish this time round, but to endorse Vanish washing powder. Sources close to Bollywood Babes confirmed the news saying, “It took slightly larger-than-usual time for the ad director to convince Sridevi to sign on the dotted line. But, once she was convinced then there was not looking back! She went all out to shoot for the ad and extended her full co-operation, something that she has always been known for”.
Repeated attempts to contact Sridevi proved futile.
Abhay Deol says ‘Stop cruelty against Bears’
March 31, 2010
The very utterance of Abhay Deol brings to your minds synonyms like ‘Mr. Cool’ ‘Dude’, ‘Suave’ etc… to name a few. Well, there is one more ‘tag’ that’s attached now to his name, and that is ‘Mr. Caring’. And vouching for this will be none other than the bears all over.
Even though the bears are synonymous and famous for their hugs and their hair (for medicinal purposes), the flip side of the coin is the tremendous pressures that these hapless animals are subjected to. That’s exactly the point that Abhay wants to make. As a part ‘Wildlife S.O.S’, an NGO that works towards the animals’ welfare, Abhay strongly wants the bears that are subjected to dance on the streets for the sake of earning money to be called off, since it involves lots of cruelty. As a part of his ‘duty’ as the brand ambassador for the same, Abhay has taken the cause to the national level and wants to request everyone to pay that extra attention towards these innocent creatures.
Point taken, Mr. Deol!
Priyadarshan’s Garam Hawa now re-titled as Aakrosh
March 31, 2010
The prolific Priyadarshan has had more than his share of title problems with his new Ajay Devgn-Akshaye Khanna-Bipasha Basu starrer. A hard-hitting film about love across caste barriers and honour killing set in Bihar, Priyan wanted to call it Ishqana. But Ishqiya came along and Priyan chose Garam Hawa.
But now that title too had to be hastily abandoned and Priyan has called his film Aakrosh.
Explains the exhausted director, “We wanted to call it Garam Hawa as homage to M.S. Sathyu’s classic film of that name. But then Mr. Sathyu got very upset. We received a letter from him questioning our right to use his title. We immediately abandoned Garam Hawa. In order to use Aakrosh as the title, we got the original Aakrosh’s director Govind Nihalani’s permission. He was very generous about it.”
Of late, Priyan has been working over-time. “I need a break. I’ve four films this year. Aakrosh and Khatta Meetha are almost complete. Then I’m going into a film about the loves and lusts of the youth for which I want to cast newcomers along with Prateik Babbar. I’m starting this film in July. Finally, I want to make my realistic no-frills film on AIDS at the end of this year with Aamir Khan in the lead. I’ll go to him only when my script is ready.”
Priyan says he needs a star like Aamir to have a large receptive audience for the AIDS film. “I’m more successfully known for my comedies in the North. However, even if Aamir declines, I’ll still go ahead with the AIDS film.”
Asin to star opposite Salman Khan in Ready
March 31, 2010
It’s confirmed. Asin it is, as Salman Khan’s leading lady in Anees Bazmee’s remake of the Telugu hit Ready.
And it was never Deepika Padukone, as reported in a section of the press. “Asin plays the lead. I wonder where Deepika’s name came from!,” says director Bazmee currently preparing for a month-long shooting of his new film Thank You in Canada.
Anees also denies the story that Salman asked him to sign Asin. “The role requires a ‘chulbuli’, vivacious, talkative and agile girl. Asin was the natural choice.”
Asin had played a similar role in Ghajini. That’s the role that convinced Anees that Asin was the right choice for Ready.
In fact Genelia D’Souza, the first choice for all ‘chulbuli’ vivacious-girl parts, was working with Anees Bazmee in yet another remake Its My Life (original Telugu film Bommarillu). Genelia was Anees natural choice.
Having failed to play something different in London Dreams, Asin is back to doing the Ghajini act again viva la vivacious!
"Yes, I do lose my temper" – Nana Patekar
March 31, 2010
Nana Patekar is well aware that people are scared of him. His reputation – an angry man, off screen – precedes him. “Yes, I am aware that people feel Nana jhagda karta hain, chillata hain, but I won’t say it’s untrue. I do fight, I do have arguments, but it’s for the betterment of the film. I have nothing against any individual,” Nana tells me.
In fact, when Nana congratulated Naseeruddin Shah for his performance in A WEDNESDAY, Naseer caught him by surprise by divulging that he [Naseer] had, in fact, recommended Nana’s name for the role that Naseer eventually enacted in the film, but the makers were scared of Nana’s reputation, which resulted in Anupam Kher being cast instead.
Nana has some interesting movies lined up this year and also looks forward to start his next film as a director. “It’s set in the 1940s and is a love story,” Nana says. Reportedly, the actor had approached Deepika Padukone to enact a pivotal role in the film, but she declined the offer. Reportedly, Nana is upset with Deepika for refusing his film. “Please don’t buy this story. Haven’t I refused so many films? So why should I get upset if Deepika declines my project? I don’t hold grudges against anyone,” Nana sets the record straight.
Nana breaks into a big smile as we discuss his son, Malhar, who will assist him in his project and who also plans to direct a film independently. “He’s an obedient boy. He wants to do things on his own, without taking the easy route or using my name. I am really proud of him,” the glow on Nana’s face says it all.
Riteish awaits response to his second romantic film after ‘T.M.K.’
March 31, 2010
Writer Milap Zaveri is ready to test waters with his first directorial venture JAANE KAHAN SE AAYI HAI. The film, starring Riteish Deshmukh as a loser and Jacqueline Fernandez as an alien, has had the film fraternity [those who watched the screening of the film] praising it for its simple and interesting narration.
Not many are aware that it was Riteish who prodded Milap to try his hand at direction, while shooting for HEYY BABYY in Australia [Milap had penned the screenplay of the film]. So when Milap returned to Mumbai, he decided to give direction a serious thought.
Milap approached Riteish to head the cast of the film and by the time the story narration concluded, both Riteish and Milap knew that Riteish wouldn’t do the film. Two days later, Milap approached him with a different script – JAANE KAHAN SE AAYI HAI – and also insisted on giving a narration in the veranda of Riteish’s house. “The room we sat for the first narration, I joked, was jinxed,” Milap reminisces.
Riteish and Milap share a good camaraderie and that’s evident when they talk about each other. “I hadn’t done a romantic film after TUJHE MERI KASAM and was waiting for that right script to come my way. In between, I got stuck with comedies and like it happens, you get typecast easily if your movie works. That’s what happened to me as well,” Riteish tells me.
So when Milap narrated the story of JAANE KAHAN SE AAYI HAI, Riteish knew his search for the right romantic film had ended. “The reason for accepting the film was simple. Its story worked for me. And now when I look back, I am genuinely happy that Milap decided to make a love story and offered me the role,” Riteish adds.
Milap adds at this juncture, “The last two years – right from the time JAANE KAHAN SE AAYI HAI was born, to the time it hits the screens [April 9] – have been the best phase of my life. I’ve enjoyed every moment making this film and I hope the audience enjoys it as well, when they watch it.”
"If people forget me, I’ll remind them again of me" – Nana Patekar
March 30, 2010
His personality can daunt anybody, but one smile and you know that he is probably the most approachable man around. He might be famous for his intense acting and aggressive screen persona but he is also someone who can move you to tears in five seconds with a performance so realistic, you feel it’s an out of skin experience. Yet again the undeniable Nana Patekar talks about a film that he believes in, that gives him an opportunity to play a character that surely moved him, in conversation with Chandni Dev of Bollywood Babes, the man with a unrelenting aura, talks about his latest film Tum Milo Toh Sahi, over a cup of coffee.
Movies are like commodities, actors and producers have been promoting their work over the years, but nowadays actors promote themselves too as a brand, talking about their life, and activities, but never you, why not?
I am a performer and in that capacity I should be visible. See everyone has a private life, some like to talk about it and some don’t. It’s true that I am as wrong in life as you are why people are interested in reading about that is something beyond me. I am happy like this. We are sitting together today because of this film, tomorrow we’ll meet because of another film (he smiles) and that’s fair I think.
But actors do this to be in news and to be remembered as a brand; don’t you feel the need to be in public memory?
If people forget me then I probably deserve it. I must have the kind of stature in this industry that even if I go away for maybe even five years, I can be rest assured that people would still love to see me the same way they used too. I don’t have that insecurity. If people forget me, I’ll remind them again of me.
If people forget me, I’ll remind them again of me
So what made you choose this film?
I loved the script. Even though the script does not revolve around me, I am just one character out of the six in this film but I still liked it a lot.
This film is essentially a love story….
Uhhh….no! Not really! At every juncture of our life we have problems of various kinds and these problems we tackle differently at various ages in our life. This concept has been adapted in this film by interlinking different ages. So I won’t say that it’s a Deewaar, but it’s a film you will surely identify with.
Nana what did you find unique about your character in this film?
It wasn’t so much about the character for me, because you can’t see that character in isolation. I tried to understand what the film was trying to say. When I like what’s being told then I focus on my role. I try to see what I can give to that role. I saw a lot of potential in it and felt I could do something with it. It’s not like Kranti where you say one dialogue. It’s more situational.
In fact lots have been said about relationships in big cities, the complication, the isolation. Do you think with so many new ideas being explored in Bollywood, such a simple film would really stand out?
Whether it does or does not, I don’t really care. I leave it to the one above. The point is whether I like it or not and I like it. Exactly why I am sitting and giving this interview. I am a selfish guy. (At this point a young teenager walks up to Nana Patekar and asks him to help him become an actor. Nana assures him and gives him confidence. He pats his back and tells him not to be scared and live his dream. ‘All big actors made it this way’ he tells the boy. Then he continues) I had no idea whether Krantiveer would work or not, Agni Saakshi would work or not. The only thing I knew was that I must do my work, be present 100% and mould myself into the role. Now whether people will like it or not, then if I would judge I would say yes. Something must be there that made me like it and made me do it right?
I had no idea whether Krantiveer would work or not, Agnisakshi would work or not. The only thing I knew was that I must do my work
So the story that is based on you and Dimple Kapadia, is about a relationship based on love. Can you explain it?
It’s not the typical love, it’s different. That age, the one I play, has a different need in life. Like when one goes home tired, you wish there is someone who gets a glass of water and gives it to you in your hand, it’s not about water. I can take my water myself also. But it’s the concern that says ‘Are you tired? Should I make tea for you?’ Or maybe makes tea without even asking you, sits next to you, it gives you that security, that assurance that there is someone for you in this world, that you too hold meaning for somebody. That’s the relationship Dimple’s and my character has in this film
(At this point a young-ish boy gets coffee for Nana and he asks the boy’s name. When he replies, Nana asks him why is he doing this job and encourages him to study further and get out of this business of serving tea and coffee to everyone. The boy smiles and assures Nana that he would take his advice for sure)
Working with many youngsters in this film, did you ever find them getting intimidated or idolising you at any point?
It’s really just up to you how you make someone comfortable with you or become comfortable with them. It’s not necessary that they would get scared of you, sometimes even we get scared of them yaar, you don’t get how they work at all.
Do you think actors these days are better prepared? Taking acting classes has sort of become the norm.
You can’t learn much from these acting schools. Acting is something you learn from your experiences through life. To understand how you would react to situations. Those kind of nuances only life can teach you, what an acting school can give you is the know how of the technical aspects of filmmaking.
Having been part of Bollywood since so many years and having done numerous film and roles, is there one that you still wish to do, which can be classified as your dream role?
That can’t happen. At least now it can’t happen with my age. When I first came in the industry it was my dream to do a Bhagat Singh. If it would’ve been offered back then I would be the luckiest and happiest chap, but in today’s time and age it doesn’t hold true.
When I first came in the industry it was my dream to do a Bhagat Singh
But there are some roles that only you would be able to do thanks to age and experience, something that a fresher can never do. Is there anything that your heart would love to do? For example Amitabhji has roles written keeping him in mind.
Now see, Sachin Tendulkar stays in the team is not a coincidence, it’s his performance that keeps him there. Similarly Amitabh Bachchan has proved his mettle so it’s only justified that roles are written for him. It’s not something a newcomer can obviously demand. As for me wishing for a specific role, not really. Any and every role that comes my way is a first of its kind and the last. I will work hard on it. I won’t ask people but introspect and judge where am I standing today and how far have I come. Do I have what it takes, am I a worthy performer. I don’t have a thing to prove to anybody but myself. Even though the performance is for the people but unless I am happy I am incapable of keeping my audiences happy. When I am happy and people are happy I know I’ve done my job.
People have always looked at you as an extremely intense actor who is easily triggered. Someone full of aggression. Have you ever consciously tried to get that stereotype off you.
See, I’ll explain this one to you. Khamoshi was one unique sort of role, Prahaar was extremely different, Agni Saakshi was different, a more romanticised role was in Parinda. That streak of aggression is in everyone, in you and in me. What triggers me is the question that why is it happening, the suffocation and the anger of it that has been suppressed inside of me comes out in my performance.
When you were offered this role in Tum Milo Toh Sahi, of a south Indian middle aged guy, did you ever consciously feel like doing something different with this one?
This one is interesting; you can figure that out from the get up itself. He is a meek guy, a complete loner. According to me, he has his share of eccentricities, and he is extremely whimsical. This is an outcome of the fact that he is all by himself. When his loneliness passes him by, he is a different person. Like some people forget to laugh, it’s not like they don’t know how to or they have never laughed in their life, but they get used to not laughing, especially such events are happening in their life that they never find the opportunity to do so. He is like that.
You say that you give a performance based on you experiences, so when you played this character, did you have an image in your head that you were trying to project?
When you give a performance you don’t just have ‘an’ image, you take a collection of experiences and pick out of those that make sense and that’s the blend that you see on screen. All the things you can’t pick up from one character in your life. There was this similar kind of guy who used to live around my place. He was always like ‘Why is this like this? Why is the staircase so wet?’ He and his wife used to live together. And he would always complain even if I tried explaining that we wash the staircase once a week and he would still say “why is it wet now, why wasn’t it wet in the morning? Why in the afternoon? Someone would fall and break their leg this way…” So that man would always fight. And I would always ask him to leave it and forget about it and he would talk in this particular way “Arey! What is this? See naa these people I have told them several times and they are failing to understand. See this. You! Come here come here, tell Mr. Patekar what I asked you?” But I would never get irritated; I would in fact build a conversation with him. Because I used to find him extremely entertaining, I guess there is a part of him in the character I’ve played in this film.
You and Dimple have come together after a long time. Did the years between matter?
Those twenty-thirty years just fly away when you meet your fellow actors again. You don’t have to take efforts to act together again, it just fortunately happens on its own. It just comes from within.
We all know Dimple is one of a kind but as a fellow actor how did you mark her performance in the film?
Oh! She is really good and Dost hai mera woh! She’s my really good buddy.
So are there any hidden expectations?
No! I am not expecting anything. You did your work, the dubbing is done, and your work is done. Now whether the film fares well or not is not in my hand. What I do expect is that people come and watch this film. There are so many films that you think are rubbish and they do really well and you wonder why? I won’t name them.
You’ve been in this industry for long. And a lot has changed in Mumbai city since then. This film too is based on the complexities of a big city. Did you realise in the making that too much has changed?
Oh! A lot has changed. In fact ninety percent has changed. I can’t even relate to it. Even the character I play does not understand the relationship at all. He is absolutely innocent about it. He doesn’t know what it is exactly. Can you imagine at the age of sixty you are getting the feelings of someone at the age of 18 or 19? You know that kind of a feeling? It’s a weird kind of a feeling. It’s not physical, it’s like those butterflies in your stomach, it’s weird and this man doesn’t even know what relationships are. The whole life has gone by taking care of your parents and now he is alone and that loneliness is killing him. Earlier when the mother was there, he would come back and dedicate himself to his mom and now that his mom is gone, he has no life. There is a swing at home but how much will you swing?
Can you imagine at the age of sixty you are getting the feelings of someone at the age of 18 or 19?
What would you always remember this movie for? Any special moment?
The whole film actually. The day my work was done I felt really bad thinking I’m not going to be part of this unit now. I did feel bad and that happens very rarely. Sometimes you secretly wish that the film would get over so you can go away. Whereas here when it was going to end there was a feeling of sadness. It’s a good feeling in a way to feel bad about it (he smiles)
What about your rapport with Kabir? There is quite an age and experience difference between you two.
It was fantastic. I didn’t hit him even once (he says jokingly and smiles). And as for experience and age, clarity in a director is very important and luckily he had that.
Check Out: Shahid and Anushka’s sporty, funky look in Badmaash Company
March 30, 2010
The promo of Yash Raj Films’ next release Badmaash Company starring Shahid Kapoor and Anushka Sharma in lead roles was unveiled last week and going by the looks of it, the film promises to be a complete entertainer. Directed by Parmeet Sethi, the film tells the story of four friends (Shahid, Anushka, Chang and Vir Das) who want to make it big in life.
For both Shahid and Anushka, this is the second film with the coveted Yash Raj banner. While Shahid starred in the fairly ordinary Dil Bole Hadippa alongside Rani Mukherjee, Anushka made a super debut opposite none other than SRK in Aditya Chopra’s Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi.
In Badmaash Company however, both Shahid and Anushka would be seen in a young, fresh and altogether new look. Anushka, who in her first film, was mostly seen sporting Indian wear has gone glamorous for this role wearing cool and funky tops and hot pants. Shahid on the other hand too seems to be sporting a new cropped spiked look compared to his long hair look in Dil Bole Hadippa.
Apparently, both Shahid and Anushka had a great time shooting for the film. There were a few sequences in the movie where the cast needed to shoot some water sports and games. Shahid and Anushka took this sportsmanship very seriously and carried on playing games like badminton and beach volleyball even after pack up. To everyone’s surprise, Anushka turned out to be the better player and beat Shahid everyday.
At the end of the day as long as the movie turns out to be victorious at the B.O., Shahid couldn’t care less. What say?
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