Bollywood Goes Down Under To Be On Top
Europe's over-exposed and overly expensive, Mauritius and Seychelles are passe, so what does Bollywood do to get its jaded song-and-dance numbers all dolled up? Go Down Under, what else! And not even the carrot of complimentary first-class air tickets dangled to footloose producers by the two Indian Ocean nations has been able to stem tinselville's desperate search for 'virgin locations' in antipodean Australia.
As Sydney Olympics 2000 draws to a close this month-end, Aamir Khan, Preity Zinta, Saif Ali and Akshaye Khanna will fly in to film Farhan (son of Javed) Akhtar's maiden film, Dil Chahta Hai. They'll be followed in December by Karan (Kuch Kuch Hota Hai) Johar, who'll be shooting two song sequences for Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Gam.
Bollywood's most preferred location is Cockle Bay Wharf, Sydney's popular eating-out destination, which offers a grandstand view of the Sydney Harbour Bridge (now emblazoned with illuminated Olympic rings) and the Opera House and it comes for all of A$2,250 a day (an Australian dollar is worth Rs 27 approximately). It was here that the song numbers of Hadh Kar Di Aapne (starring Govinda and Rani Mukherjee) and Soldier (with Bobby Deol and Twinkle Khanna) were filmed.
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Raja Ko Rani Se Pyar ho Gaya
The film begins in a village somewhere in North India. The 'Thakur' of the village still lives in his past glory. Now he has nothing. The govt. has taken away his land. He has two sons Rohit & Mohit.
Rohit is living in Bombay with his wife and 3 children. He is not allowed to come to the village because he married a christian girl in Bombay. Mohit (Arvindswamy) has never left the village at all. Mohit is very childish. He spent his entire childhood listening to stories from his grandmother. So he lives in a fairy tale world of his own. Even though he has grown up now, he still plays with children and listens to his grand mother's stories. He always imagines himself in the role of the prince in her stories. He always argues with her, modifies the stories and makes sure the prince never fails! Mohit spends most of his time by the riverside fooling little children. He proves to the children that he can stay underwater till they count upto 500! There is a small carved wooden elephant in the thakur's house. It is a family symbol and has been passed on through generations. Grandmother feels that one day their elephant god will arise, all their wealth and glory will come back to them.
The grand village fair is on. Manisha and her friends have come from Bombay to see the fair. Manisha sits on a horse. Suddenly the horse goes wild and runs. Manisha is screaming and no one is able to stop the horse. The horse stops at the edge of the river and she falls into the river. Mohit is underwater and the kids are on the riverbank counting out loud. Mohit sees Manisha underwater. He is sure that this is a mermaid from grandmother's story. He carries her out of the water. She is unconscious. Her friends come and take her away. Mohit cannot stop thinking about her.
This is the first time he has touched a girl. When he reaches back home, he finds out that the girls have left for Bombay. Now, he decides he has to see her again. He decides to go to Bombay! The Thakur will never allow him to do so.
The next day the whole Thakur house is worried. Someone has stolen their family symbol, the wooden elephant. Mohit convinces his father that the girls from Bombay must have taken the elephant. And he promises Thakur that he will not sleep unless their family prestige symbol is bought back. He has to go to Bombay now. That night Mohit feels guilty. He slowly discloses to grandmother that the elephant is not stolen. He has it with him. He did this so that he could go to Bombay. Grandmother knows it already! She tells Mohit that it is not the elephant that the girl took away. She took away Mohit's heart! And like the prince in her story, Mohit has to get his princess! Grandmother asks him to keep the elephant with him as it is a good luck charm….
Mohit comes to his brother's house in Bombay. The 3 children are delighted to see their uncle for the first time! He is still in his village attire and the kids find it real funny. Mohit soon mixes well with the kids. He tells them all grandmother’s stories. Then he slowly discloses that he has come in search of his princess. The smart city kids say that it is no problem. Just give them the address and they will find her in one day. But Mohit has no address, no photograph and he doesn’t even know her name! Mohit then describes her. The children cut out pictures from magazines and make a photo collage. Then they start searching for her!!
Finally they find her. But uncle Mohit is too shy too express his love. The children decide to get Manisha home and leave her alone with uncle Mohit. They train Mohit to say ‘I love you’. Then they warn him that this is his last chance or he has to go back to the village. They get Manisha to the house and leave her with Mohit. Mohit is stuck! Manisha walks around the living room and sees the carved wooden elephant. She lifts it to see it closely. Suddenly the elephant slips out from her hand and hits the floor…. The elephant statue is now in pieces. Mohit suddenly starts yelling and crying saying that he can’t go back to the village now. This is their prestige and glory. Manisha is shocked and she runs out….
The next day Mohit receives a courier delivery. The courier people ask him to come downstairs and collect it. He goes down and finds a live baby elephant!! He doesn’t know what to do with it. Finally he pushes it up to the lift and takes it to the house on the 4th floor. He wonders who has sent him an elephant?? Slowly the kids come in and Mohit discloses the fact that they have an extra resident in the house. The children are thrilled. Slowly all the children know about the elephant.
Imagine the fun - children and a baby elephant inside a flat in Bombay!! The Thakur in the village is slowly coming out of his debts. He gets some land back from the govt. Appu is like grandmother’s elephant god, who had come back now. They discover that Manisha has sent Mohit this gift. Manisha comes to visit them. The elephant has already become a member of their family! He lifts phones, opens doors, cleans the house, dances around!! Mohit trains Appu, the elephant to write ‘I Love You’. He conveys his love thru Appu!!
In all the fun and enjoyment, suddenly one day Manisha disappears. She can’t be traced at all. Mohit, the children and the elephant and all sad. Mohit decides that now there is nothing left for him here. He plans to return to his village. He calls up grandmother to tell her that he is coming back without his princess. Grandmother then tells him that now it is time for him to modify her fairy tale. He is the prince and he should not fail in getting his princess….
Mohit then finds out that Manisha has gone back to her mother. Her mother is the queen of a princely state in the north. They have no son and she is supposed to be crowned as the next princess! Her uncle wants her to get married to his son, so that they can get all her wealth. So she had decided to come and live in Bombay for some time, far away from all her relatives. She was then warned that if she did not return, they would kill Mohit. So for Mohit’s safety and happiness, she decided to leave. Now she is back in her palace, where she belongs. Her marriage has been fixed with the boy. She is to be crowned as the next queen. Appu was their royal elephant in the palace. Like the prince in grandmother’s story, Mohit decides to go to the palace to get her princess. He heads to the palace with Appu….
Does Mohit, like the prince in grandmother’s story, fail to get his princess ??
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Ketan Parekh to help revive ABCL - UNI
Amitabh Bachchan's success in Kaun Banega Crorepati has prompted a leading stockbroker to pump fresh funds into the ailing Amitabh Bachchan Corporation Limited for its revival.
Stockbroker and investor Ketan Parekh has started infusing fresh funds in ABCL in tranches since April. The company is launching three movie productions including Aks, which is due for release by December. The company also intends to acquire the Bombay distribution rights of two forthcoming films starring Abhishek Bachchan -- Dhai Akshar Prem Ke and Bas Itna Sa Khwab Hai.
ABCL, now known as AB Corp, will use the investor's funds to pay off creditors so as to achieve debt-free status and start new ventures. ABCL was listed by the Bureau for Industrial and Financial Reconstruction as a sick unit following its default in various financial obligations.
Parekh said the AB Corp board would be reconstituted by inducting the investor's representatives besides Amitabh Bachchan and Amar Singh, the Samajwadi Party MP. AB Corp has mandated Parekh's firm Triumph International Finance India for advice on capital restructuring plans for the company.
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Some tid-bits: (From r.a.m.l.i.)
Urmila Matondkar is turning producer, joining the bandwagon of
stars-producers Anil Kapoor, Jackie Shroff, Pooja Bhatt, Juhi
Chawla and Shah Rukh Khan. Incidentally, the company is joint
venture with Ram Gopal Verma.
Latest news on Sanjay Leela Bhansalli's "Aaj Ka Devdas" is that
Aishwariya Rai has been assigned the role of the spritely
courtesan Chandramukhi. Saif Ali Khan has also joined the cast
as Devdas' male companion.
Yash Raj film has greenlighted a new venture called "Khaaish" to
be produced by Pamela Chopra. It will star Hrithik Roshan and
Karishma Kapoor. Directorial duties are to be handled by Deepak
Sareen.
Yash Chopra's next venture will feature (who else?) Shah Rukh
Khan and Aishwariya Rai. It will be directed by Yash himself.
Aishwariya Rai and Kajol have been teamed in Devgan Arts' next
feature opposite Hrithik Roshan and Fardeen Khan.
Tanuja Chandra's Apne Dil Se Puchcho will feature Juhi Chawla in
the anti-heroine mould. Here she plays an uncompromising bitch
virtuoso, reportedly inspired by Sridevi's character in Laadla.
Manoj Bajpai is paired opposite Juhi as the voice of reason and
temper.
Kareena Kapoor calls "Yaadein" just another typical love story.
She proclaims it will be special because of the Subhash Ghai
"touch". Jackie Shroff and Rekha will be playing her parents.
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Indian director Buddhadeb Dasgupta wins Director award at theVenice film Festival
Noted Indian film director, Mr Buddhadeb Dasgupta won the Special
Director's Award for his film "Uttara" at the Venice film festival.
Dasgupta's film is a lyrical portrayal of the devastating impact of
violence on a small town in rural India. "Uttara" is the best Indian
film of the year'', according to Alberto Berbera, director of the
festival. Mr Dasgupta has already been named best director for this
film in the national film awards to be presented on September 18. The
film is also being screened at the London film festival this week,
according to Mr Dasgupta. Set in rural Bengal in an area so poor and
remote that one character asks another what it is to receive a letter,
the story revolves around two railway workers who pass their time
indulging in their passion for wrestling. Nearby, a priest tends his
small flock of local Christians and tribal villagers (who turn up
mainly for the free meals offered by him. This idyllic existence is
shattered by a group of Hindu fundamentalists, who set fire in the
church and scatter the village's inhabitants. What emerges is a
portrait of often violent modern-day India tampered by homage to the
simple decency of rural values.
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Zeenat, Jeetu lifetime achievers!
Jeetendra and Zeenat Aman were recently presented with lifetime achievement awards for their contribution to the Hindi film industry. They were honoured by Mumbai's Sahyog Foundation in Mumbai. Among the other film personalities felicitated on the occasion were lyricist Javed Akhtar, Farida Jalal and Amrish Puri. They received the 'Kala Shiromani' award.
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Dilip Kumar dragged to court over pollution charges
In 1983 the Uttar Pradesh Pollution Control Board had filed a case against actor Dilip Kumar. He was on the board of directors of Mohan Meankin Breweries Ltd. which was hauled up on charges of pollution under the Pollution Act. The case came up for hearing recently and the thespian had to present himself before the Lucknow City Court. Special judicial magistrate, Vidushi Singh, granted him bail after the star furnished a personal bond of Rs 300 along with two sureties for the same amount.
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Naseeruddin Shah back to his ‘first love’
For those who believe in serious acting theatre is the most fulfilling medium. Naseeruddin Shah belongs to this breed. Every now and then, Naseer takes a sabbatical from his humdrum career in Bollywood to keep in touch with what he calls his ‘first love’ – theatre.
His theatre company, christened Motley crew, has regularly done productions of Shakespeare’s ‘Julius Caesar’, Beckett’s ‘Waiting for Godot’ and Neil Simon’s ‘The Odd Couple’ among others.
Of late, Naseer was occupied with Naushil Mehta-scripted Hindi play ‘Khel’ which the cognoscenti lauded as “a riveting comic thriller” and “a humdinger of a play.” Naseer played the finely etched character of JJ, a fifty-plus asthmatic writer who hates his wife and unleashes his petulance over trivialities. “The play,” opines Naseer, “was a combination of great script, two good actors (him and Paresh Rawal), and good timing.”
The buzz now is that, in the coming days, Naseer will be heading to Paris to attend a 5-month workshop along with Peter Brooks to study Shakespeare and give shape to their next production ‘Hamlet’. He is also slated to do another play to be directed by Waman Kendre.
It is quite laudable the way Naseer has balanced his career. While on one hand he has kept himself gainfully employed in mainstream cinema, on the other he has made repeated forays into theatre to gratify the actor in him.
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HRITHIK ROSHAN: Yes, I'm doing a Hollywood film and papa's next, Crorepati
Catching up with the heartthrob of the nation on the eve of the release of his next film.Excerpts from the not-to-be-missed interview:
You are playing a militant in Fiza which is totally in contrast to the double role you played in your first film, Kaho Naa...Pyar Hai. Do you think your fans are ready to accept you in such a daringly different role?
I think if you look the role that does it. (Smiles) There are many who think I don't look like a militant or a terrorist (that is what I am in Mission Kashmir). Well, it is my job to convince them that I can play such roles too. Hey, even Raj Kapoor played everything from a romantic hero and a joker to a country bumpkin in his long career and despite his fair skin and light eyes he was accepted in every role. That's what I'm aspiring for too.
Is it really true that Fiza is Karisma's film and yours is just a 20-minute appearance?
It is absurd to define my role as a 20-minute appearance. I have as much footage as my co-stars and am there from the first frame to the last. I guess because Karisma is playing the title role and I'm her brother in the film the general impression is that Fiza is her film.
Don't you think that it is suicidal to do off- beat films at such an early stage in your career?
I signed Fiza much before my dad even decided on Kaho Naa...Pyar Hai. Fiza is a very different film like Mission Kashmir and I hope people treat these films differently. Those who are looking for a commercial film will have to wait for films like Yaadein to be released.
In your first film you had a tailor-made role and a director who had his eyes trained on you all the time. After this how was it like working with directors like Khalid Mohammed and Arjun Sablok who were as much concerned about costars as you?
I can work with any producer, director or actor. I am confident of my capabilities as an actor and assisting my father all those years with films like Khel, King Uncle, Karan Arjun and Koyla has helped me understand the craft better. Though actors are not usually involved in the technicalities it helps when you have knowledge about such behind-the-camera details. Today I know exactly what the director wants.
Is it true that you're doing a Hollywood film in which you are playing Sylvester Stallone's brother?
I am doing a Hollywood film but till things are finalized I can't talk about it.
Tell us something about films like Na Tum Jano Na Hum and Yaadein which have been kept strictly under wraps?
In Yaadein I am opposite Kareena Kapoor and in Na Tum Jano Na Hum my co-star is Esha Deol. (Laughs) That's all I can tell you at the moment. It's too early to talk about them. I am also doing Aap Mujhe Achche Lagne Lage with my Kaho Naa Pyar Hai co-star, Ameesha Patel.
What about a film with your father?
I'm doing papa's next film, Crorepati with Preity Zinta. It'll roll next February by which time I should be through with most of my present assignments.
How is it like working with Kareena Kapoor? You must have been pretty upset when she walked out of Kaho Naa...Pyar Hai over a trivial issue?
I am comfortable with all my heroines. Kareena and I are doing three films together and there are no hard feelings. Going by her performances I'm sure she has a bright future.
Talking about your heroines, do you ever get carried away while doing a romantic scene?
No, I don't think something like this can happen with me. I treat films like a 9 a.m.-to-9 p.m. job. This is my profession. I act to earn money. Romancing is a part of my personal life. If I mix both I will be in trouble.
What is it like to wake up every morning and know that you are a superstar?
This superstar thing is crap. I don't listen to such things. There are some people outside the industry who get carried away by such hype but I don't fall in this bracket. I have seen actors coming from nowhere and letting success go to their heads. But my stint as an assistant to my father has taught me a lot. I used to travel with the unit people and stay with them in tents. When I first accompanied my dad to a film set as a teenager, I was shocked to find where all the luxuries that I enjoyed all my life had been coming for. After that I never took the good life for granted. I guess I have my papa to thank for my down-to-earth attitude. I remember once the floor had to be cleaned and papa just picked up a broom and started sweeping. I was initially embarrassed at the sight but soon realized that this was what made papa human. Today thanks to all that I have seen and gone through I know better than to be treated like a star.
You worked a lot on your physique during Kaho Naa… Pyar Hai. Are you continuing with your workouts?
I was very thin before Kaho Naa.. Pyar Hai. I still am. So I called up Salman and asked him how I could put on some weight. He called me over to his house, made me work out in his gym, charted out a diet for me and put me on a regular training programme. I am really grateful to him because today if I have a good physique it is only thanks to him. Yes, I am still going to the gym and being careful about what I eat. It's become a habit.
How do you handle the female adulation?
(Smiling) Well, at times it is scary knowing people love you so much.
How does your fiancée Suzanne react to this mass hysteria?
She is Sanjay Khan's daughter and from the industry too. So she understands the profession and treats this kind of a thing as a compliment. Incidentally, on raksha-bandhan day I received about 3,500 raakhis. So see, girls don't look on me only as their lover, they see me as a brother too.
When do you plan to tie the knot?
I have to earn some money and make a career before I settle down. Moreover, I'm a firm believer in God and destiny. I have always believed that there is something greater than us who rules our lives...a supreme power. I'm convinced marriages are made in heaven. So far uperwala has been very kind to me so I have no reason to feel insecure about my personal or professional life.
Where would you like to go for your honeymoon?
I would like to go some place surrounded by water. I could take a cruise or loll on an island. If we take a cruise it will be a really long one, perhaps across the Pacific and definitely headed towards the Caribbean.
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The ‘Hero’ turns villain in his second innings
Jaggu Dada of Walkeshwar is back to being a Dada once again – on the silver screen, that is. You’ve guessed it right. We are talking about macho man Jackie Shroff.
The ‘Hero’ is playing the baddie in four of his forthcoming films Farj, Lajja, Bas Itna Sa Khwab Hai and Mission Kashmir. In Yaadein, produced and directed by Subash Ghai, Jackie is playing Topal’s character in Fiddler On The Roof.
‘Villainy’, however, is not alien land for Jaggu Dada. All along he has played the villain with panache. It may be recalled that he started his career as a villain in Dev Anand’s Swami Dada.
It was Subash Ghai’s blockbuster Hero which made Jackie a star overnight. In the movie he was cast opposite Meenakshi Sheshadri in a negative role almost till the end. In N.Chandra’s high voltage Parinda he played a contract killer.
Right now he has ten films in his hand.Grahan his home production, which has been through a lot of financial troubles, will finally be releasing around September-October. Jackie Shroff’s upcoming venture is Jis Desh Mein Ganga Rahta Hai produced by his wife Ayesha Shroff and directed by Vaastav fame Mahesh Manjrekar. The star cast has Govinda and Sonali Bendre in the main roles. The film is due for release in mid September.
Jackie’s much stalled One Two Ka Four directed by K. Shashilal Nair is almost ready for release. So wait for the second innings of Jackie Dada.
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