Page 1355 - Entertainment Culture
Content more important than the medium: Sumeet Vyas
Sumeet Vyas, who stars in "High Jack", says he joined the film for its "hilarious, wacky" story. Sumeet has acted in popular web series "Permanent Roommates", appeared in TV shows like "Rehna Hai Teri Palkon Ki Chhaon Mein", "Chandragupta Maurya" and also played supporting roles in films like "Parched", "Guddu Ki Gun", "Ribbon" and will be seen alongside Kareena Kapoor Khan in "Veere Di Wedding". "More than the platform the content gives me more satisfaction. More than the medium, the story has to be attractive. This film has fantastic ensemble. This is a hilarious, wacky story," Sumeet told reporters here last evening at the trailer launch of "High Jack" The film also stars Sonnalli Seygall, Mantra in the lead. It is directed by Akarsh Khurana and produced by Madhu Mantena. The team unveiled the trailer last evening here. Mantra, who is a stand-up comedian, joked that he was not given any punch lines this time. "Comedians are never taken seriously but there are few comedians who ...
Aamir Khan has not signed any other project, says spokesperson
Superstar Aamir Khan is currently focusing on his upcoming period drama "Thugs of Hindostan" and has not signed any other project, the actor's spokesperson today said. There were reports doing the rounds that Aamir has come on board for "Mogul" and "Osho". "There are many speculations about Aamir Khan doing numerous projects, but currently he is doing only 'Thugs Of Hindostan'. He has not signed any other project. If and when he does he will make official announcement. Right now his focus is only on Thugs Of Hindostan," his spokesperson said in a statement. The 53-year-old star has recently completed a shooting schedule of the Vijay Krishna Acharya-directed movie in Rajasthan. The film also features megastar Amitabh Bachchan, Katrina Kaif, Fatima Sana Sheikh.
'Soorma' physically demanding film: Diljit
Actor Diljit Dosanjh pushed himself to extremes to achieve the physique of an athlete for "Soorma", an upcoming biopic on hockey player Sandeep Singh. "Soorma" tells the story of Singh, a professional hockey player and former captain of the Indian national team. Singh was seriously injured after hit by an accidental gunshot in a train in 2006 but he did not give up and continued playing. Diljit, who essays Singh in the film, not only got trained by the former captain but also underwent a physical transformation to look like him. In an interview with PTI, the actor said, "The role was extremely draining with so much intense training. Physically, it was very tough. I had a lot of problems post shooting the film. When I was shooting, I had stopped consuming sugar, I used to eat salt very less". The "Udta Punjab" actor says once the shoot was over, his body started reacting a bit negatively. "Because we wanted the physique of an athlete in a very short time, I pushed my body a lot to ...
Veteran lyricist Sreekumaran Thampi selected for Daniel award
Veteran lyricist and film director Sreekumaran Thampi was today selected for the prestigious J C Daniel award, Kerala's highest award for contributions to Malayalam cinema. The award, carrying a prize of Rs 5 lakh, citation and statuette, will be presented to Thampi during the Kerala State film awards function at Kollam, State Culture minister A K Balan said today. The award committee, comprising veteran actor Madhu and director Sathyan Anthikkad, Chalachitra Academy chairman, Kamal and Cultural secretary, Rani George, selected Thampi for the honour. Thampi was introduced to the Malayalam film industry in 1966 by P Subramaniam as a lyricist in 'Kaattumallika'. He has produced 25 films, directed 29, and written scripts for 85 films in Malayalam besides writing thousands of songs.
Reaction to 'Hichki' truly humbling: Maneesh Sharma
Rani Mukerji-starrer "Hichki" is enjoying a good run at the box office having collected over Rs 20 crore in just five days. According to the producers, the project had recovered its cost even before the release, through "non-theatrical revenue aperture". Maneesh Sharma, the producer of the film, is delighted with the overwhelming audience response. "Such reaction is truly humbling. We backed a film that was raising important social message and could affect genuine social change... The Rs 20 crore budget inclusive of all costs was recovered before the film released at the theatres through non-theatrical revenue aperture," he said in a statement. "The success of 'Hichki' gives us a lot of confidence to produce such universally appealing subjects that can touch the hearts of audiences worldwide," he added. In the film, Rani plays the character of Naina Mathur who has a nervous system disorder, Tourette Syndrome, that forces an individual to make involuntary repetitive movements or ...
Shekhar Kapur to head the jury for 65th National Film Awards
Veteran director Shekhar Kapur has been appointed chairman of the central panel of the 65th National Film Awards, sources in the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting said today. The central panel comprises a chairperson and 10 other members, including five regional chairpersons who head the respective regional panels. Film writer Imtiaz Hussain, known for his works in films like "Astitva" (2000) and "Parinda" (1989) will be the regional chairperson of South I panel. Mehboob, who penned the lyrics for the Hindi (dubbed) version of 1995 Tamil romantic drama "Bombay", was appointed as the regional chairperson of South II panel, the sources said. Actress Gautami Tadimalla, who is known for her work in Tamil films, is the regional chairman of the North panel, while director Rahul Rawail known for films like "Love Story" (1981), "Betaab" (1983), "Arjun" (1985) and "Jo Bole So Nihaal" (2005), was chosen as the regional chairperson of the Western panel, they said. Director P Sheshadri, a
Annu Kapoor learnt French for 'Missing' (Movie Snippets)
Actor Annu Kapoor picked up some French lines for his role in the upcoming psychological thriller "Missing".
There is pressure so I am trying to climb ladders much faster: Tiger Shroff
Tiger Shroff says in his four-year-old career he has realised that rather than succumbing to pressures of the industry, moving forward is the only way. The actor, who is the son of veteran star Jackie Shroff, says he is in a hurry to create his own identity. "Because of the pressure, I am trying to climb ladders much faster... I'm blessed to be in the position that I am today -- to have that acceptance and (to be able to) say that I am my own man, I am not just Jackie Shroff's son. It's what I have set out to do, to create my own identity," Shroff told PTI in an interview here. The 28-year-old star is aware of his pluses and his connection with the youth is one such that he wants to cultivate further by inspiring them. "I want to inspire the uninspired. I want to move people and stir some emotion. I want to create a revolution. I have sort of initiated a spark in people. Most of my fans are children. "That's a huge booster for me as they are the most honest members in the audience. ...
Envisioning bright future for celluloid in India, courtesy Christopher Nolan
As Christopher Nolan sets out on an India trip to draw attention to the importance of celluloid in the digital age, Indian filmmaker and archivist Shivendra Singh Dungarpur hopes the globally acclaimed and commercially successful filmmaker encourages shooting and projection of films in the good old format.
'Swan Lake' ballet reaches Delhi as part of multi-city tour
The iconic classic ballet, 'Swan Lake', is all set to be staged here this weekend as part of a multi-city tour across the country. Following a resounding success in Mumbai, where the tour started earlier this month, the show will open to the public at JLN Stadium on March 30. The co-production by Royal Russian Ballet and Navrasa Duende, mounted with 45 artistes, choreographed by Vladimir Troschenko and directed by Anatoly Kazatsky, was attended by over 15000 people in Mumbai, the organisers said. "The Mumbai experience has been overwhelming in terms of audience, critic response as well as ease and smoothness of organising such events at NCPA, Mumbai. It was simply a delight to see the kids, young generation and even people 90+ taking such a keen interest in classical arts. "With the tremendous response that the first phase of the tour in Mumbai has received, we are optimistic that the ballet will delight the discerning connoisseurs of performing arts across other cities as well," ...
Vidyut Jammwal to star in Mahesh Manjrekar's next
Vidyut Jammwal has been roped in to play the lead role in actor-filmmaker Mahesh Manjrekar's upcoming directorial venture to be produced by Vijay Galani. The action drama will be on the lines of Manjrekar's 1999 film"Vaastav", which featured Sanjay Dutt in the lead role. "I'm very happy to team up with national award winning director Mahesh Manjrekar. The film is full on action which is Mahesh's forte. It is on the lines of 'Vaastav' and Vidyut who is known for his action is now the lead of our film," Galani said in a statement. The makers are yet to decide on the rest of the cast of the untitled project.
Current generation more equipped to handle spotlight: Twinkle Khanna
Actress-turned-author Twinkle Khanna, who is married to actor Akshay Kumar and is a mother of two children, says that the current generation of Bollywood is more equipped to handle the glare of the spotlight thanks to social media.
Bachchan, Kapoor gave nod for '102 Not Out' in 10 mins: Shukla
Veteran actors Amitabh Bachchan and Rishi Kapoor agreed to do "102 Not Out" soon after the narration of the script, says director Umesh Shukla. Billed as the most unusual father-son story, "102 Not Out" is based on playwright Saumya Joshi's popular Gujarati play of the same name. "When we narrated the idea to both of them, they said okay to the script within 10 minutes. Once they knew the essence is so good, beautiful and playful, also with lot of depth and emotions, they liked it all," Shukla told PTI. The upcoming comedy-drama reunites the powerhouse performers on screen after 27 years. The two actors have earlier appeared together in films such as "Kabhie Kabhie", "Amar Akbar Anthony", "Naseeb", "Coolie" and "Ajooba". "Their chemistry was great. They both were very comfortable with each other," Shukla says. In the trailer, Bachchan is seen as a fun-loving friendly father, while Kapoor appears as an boring son. "In personal life, Chintuji (Kapoor) is quite reserved and Bachchan sir .
Can't shoot just regular scenes with Tiger Shroff: Ahmed Khan
Choreographer-director Ahmed Khan says multi-talented actor Tiger Shroff's screen presence is so strong that projecting him as an ordinary man does not seem feasible.
Lincoln Assassination aftermath movie 'Madman' in works
Permut Presentations is working on "Madman," a historical horror script set during the aftermath of the Lincoln assassination with David Permut attached as producer. The script is written by Alexa Garster based on Caleb Jenner Stephens' book "Worst Seat in the House", reported Variety. The story follows Henry Rathbone, a close friend of Lincoln's who was with the president at Ford's Theatre on the night of his murder in 1865. Rathbone was the only person to confront John Wilkes Booth that night and was haunted by horrific hallucinations of the assassin that tore his life apart while his beloved wife, Clara, desperately tried to bring him back to reality. "I'm excited about this script because it lives in two worlds. It's very much a genre horror piece, but it's also historically accurate and tells a story not many people know. It's unlike anything else on my slate. I think this will attract a director who has a unique cinematic style that will leave their imprint on the film," Permut .
'Ready Player One' was my great escape movie: Steven Spielberg
Veteran filmmaker Steven Spielberg said his upcoming sci-fi film "Ready Player One" transported him to a fantasy world and that he got to live in the space for three years was cherry on cake. The 71-year-old director said he started working on the escapist movie while working on social reality films such as "Bridge of Spies" and "The Post". "This was my great escape movie. For me, it was a film that fulfilled all of my fantasies of the places I go in my imagination when I get out of town. I got to live this for three years. I got to actually escape into the imagination of Ernest Cline and Zak Penn (writers); it was amazing. "But I came back to Earth a couple of times. I made a few films. I made 'Bridge of Spies' and 'The Post' while I was making Ready Player One, so I got that whiplash effect of going from social reality to total escapist entertainment. And I'm feeling it. It's a great feeling, but it also makes my wife and kids kind of crazy because they don't know who dad's going
Steven Spielberg doesn't approve of Carl's Jr 'Spielburgers' plan
Steven Spielberg may be a fan of Carl's Jr, but the veteran filmmaker does not want the fast food chain to name their burger after him. Carl's Jr announced on Twitter that it had planned to rename their Charbroiled Sliders to "Spielburgers" as a tribute to the director and his virtual reality-infused movie "Ready Player One" set to hit theaters March 29. "Steven Spielberg hasn't signed off yet, but we're pretty sure he'll be down with it," the chain restaurant added. However, Spielberg crushed their plan with a video message posted on the Twitter account of Amblin Entertainment, his production company. "Hey there. It's recently come to my attention that Carl's Jr wants to rename their Charbroiled Sliders 'Spielburgers'. They're pretty good, but I'm passing. Cease and desist. You can't do it. Sorry guys," the director said. The fast food chain chose to focus on Spielberg saying the burgers taste "pretty good" and said they are "fine" with the Oscar-winning director's decision. The ...
'102 Not Out' trailer: Big B-Rishi Kapoor are a treat to watch
The trailer of '102 Not Out', starring legendary actors Amitabh Bachchan and Rishi Kapoor, has once again proved that 'old is gold'.The Bollywood legends, who are back on screen after 27 years, share a unique bond in this unusual father-son story.Film critic Taran Adarsh took to Twitter to share the trailer. He wrote alongside, "New poster + Trailer of #102NotOut... Stars Amitabh Bachchan and Rishi Kapoor... Umesh Shukla directs... 4 May 2018 release... Trailer link: https://youtu.be/qrks9Zu0f1w"In the film, the 'Pink' star plays a 102-year-old man, father to a 75-year-old Rishi Kapoor.While Big B's character bursts with optimism, the 'Kapoor and Sons' star plays the role of a son who lives a dull life, without much to look forward to.'102 Not Out' is based on writer-director Saumya Joshi's successful Gujarati play by the same name.Directed by Umesh Shukla, the film is set for release on May 4.
Don't try to pollute film industry with communal bias: Javed Akhtar
Veteran screenwriter Javed Akhtar today warned "bigots" to be wary of communalising the Indian film industry, which he termed as "the citadel of secularism". The 73-year-old lyricist-writer's comments come after India-based French journalist Francois Gautier had responded to reports of a planned on-screen adaptation of Mahabharat, in which Aamir Khan could possibly play Krishna, highlighting the Bollywood star's religion. Without naming Gautier, Akhtar, who has spent 53-years in films, asked people to stop spreading hatred in the name of faith in the field of cinema. "I had joined film industry in 1965 on a salary of 50 rupees per month. In these 53 years not for a second I have experienced or even seen any communal bias in our industry. "This film industry is the citadel of secularism. Bigots, don't try to pollute it," he tweeted today. Gautier had tweeted, "Why should @AamirKhan, a Muslim, play in most ancient & sacred of Hindu epics, the Mahabharata? Is @BJP4India Govt of ...
Tata Sky launches world screen a carefully curated bouquet of Ad Free Global Content for just Rs. 75 per Month
Tata Sky, India's leading integrated content distribution platform across DTH and OTT, has launched its newest offering, a carefully handpicked bouquet of international entertainment content."With the launch of Tata Sky World Screen, we are offering cinema and television aficionados over 650 curated hours of great stories, not just from Hollywood, but from around the world, ad-free. Our analysis indicates that consumption patterns are evolving, and there is an audience looking for exciting and diverse content, unconstrained by language. Our handpicked list includes some of the most popular and critically acclaimed movies and TV shows across the world, a lot of which has never been seen on TV before in India", said Arun Unni, Chief Content Officer - Tata Sky.As yet another pioneering initiative by Tata Sky, this would be the first time a DTH platform will provide an ad-free service where subscribers can view select series and movies from across the world, running 24 x 7, where most of .