p 10 - The Echo Of India

PAGE-10
The Echo of India Kolkata Wednesday August 17, 2016
Arbaaz Khan has no
plans to quit acting
MUMBAI, AUG 16 /--/Arbaaz Khan says he took a break
from acting due to his commitments as a filmmaker but now
he has many releases coming up and he will continue to be
in front of the camera."I have completed four films in the
recent past. It's just that they will be releasing now. I had
taken a bit of a sabbatical because I was producing and directing films. But acting has always been my passion and
it is something that I will continue to do," Arbaaz told PTI.
Arbaaz, who made his debut in 1996 release "Daraar" in a
villainous role, went on to do many multi-starrer hits such
as "Pyaar Kiya To Darna Kya", "Garv: Pride and Honour",
"Hello Brother", and comedies like "Hulchul", "Malamaal
Weekly", "Bhagam Bhag" among others.
"I want to focus on my filmmaking career. But acting is
something I want to do for passion," he said. The 49-year-old
star ventured into film production with "Dabangg" (2010)
starring brother Salman Khan, which went on to become
one of the highest-grossing Bollywood films of all time. He
then made his directorial debut with 2012 with "Dabangg 2".
On the acting front, Arbaaz will be next seen in brother
Sohail Khan's directorial venture, "Freaky Ali" alongside
Nawazuddin Siddiqui. He is also gearing up for the third
installment of hit "Dabangg" franchise. (PTI)
Anand L Rai plans to
make action drama
MUMBAI AUG 16/--/ Having delivered hits in comedy
and romance genres, director Anand L Rai says he would
now like to make an action drama film. "I would like to
make an action-drama film. I would want to try it. I have an
idea. But it is going to be a tough one. It will not be like Hollywood style. It (action) will be backed by emotions and
drama," Rai told PTI. When asked if his idea is on the lines
of films like "Dabangg" and "Rowdy Rathore", he said, "My
film will be different. It will have right dose of action coupled with emotions."
Rai has made a place for himself in the industry with
hits like comedy "Tanu Weds Manu" franchise and romantic drama, "Raanjhanaa". Meanwhile, the 45-year-old director is excited about his next film as co-producer, "Happy
Bhag Jayegi", which stars Abhay Deol, Diana Penty, Jimmy
Shergil in the lead roles. As a producer, he also has
Ayushmann Khurr ana and Bhumi Pednekar star rer
"Manmarziyan" under his banner, while his next directorial
is with superstar Shah Rukh Khan. (PTI)
Kevin Hart marries Eniko
LOS ANGELES, AUG 16 /--/ Actor Kevin Hart has tied
the knot with girlfriend Eniko Parrish in a romantic wedding ceremony in Santa Barbara, California. The couple,
who first met in 2009, exchanged their 'I do's' in front of 200
of their closest friends and family members, in the ceremony that took place yesterday, reported Us magazine.
Hart's eight-year-old son, Hendrix, served as the best man.
The "Ride Along" star posted a photo on Instagram on Saturday night with his new wife, and his two children from a
previous marriage, captioning the picture, "#Harts what's
understood doesn't need to be said!!!! #LiveLoveLove." The
37-year-old announced in August 2014 that he popped the
question to his model girlfriend, now 31, on her 30th birthday. The "Get Hard" actor was previously married to Torrei
Hart from 2003 to 2011. The exes share two children, daughter Heaven, 11, and Hendrix. (PTI)
Kerala bids farewell to
well known script writer
KONDOTTY, AUG 16 /--/
Kerala on Tuesday bid
farewell to well known
Malayalam
film
scriptwriter T A Razzaq,
who passed away at a private hospital in Kochi.
The 58-year-old writer
died last night while undergoing treatment for
some ailment, hospital
sources said. Razaaq's
body was buried with full
state honours at a
mosque here with hundreds paying tributes
when the mortal remains
was brought. The body
was first taken to
Kozhikode, where actors
Mammootty, Mohanlal,
Salman wraps
up Ladakh
schedule of
''Tubelight''
MUMBAI, AUG 16/--/ Superstar Salman Khan and director Kabir Khan have
wrapped up the Ladakh leg
of their upcoming film
"Tubelight", a day before its
schedule. Salman and Kabir,
who are re-teaming after
their hugely successful collaborations "Ek Tha Tiger"
and "Bajrangi Bhaijaan", had
been shooting in Leh,
Ladakh from past one
month. "We wrapped a day
before schedule. So today all
of us went biking and had
lunch next to a river
#Tubelight," the director
tweeted alongside a photo of
himself and Salman. The
Ladakh shoot has been special for the 50-year-old actor
for more than one reason, as
he was joined by rumoured
girlfriend Iulia Vantour and
together they met Tibetan
spiritual leader The Dalai
Lama. "Tubelight", which is
set for release on Eid 2017,
will mark the Bollywood debut of Chinese actress Zhu
Zhu. (PTI)
Manoj K Jayan and film
directors Kamal and Sibi
Malayil, among others,
paid their last respects
and then brought to his
home town Kondotty in
Malappuram district.
Razzaq, who started
his
career
with
"Vishnulokam" in 1991
in which Mohanlal and
Uravashi had essayed
memorable roles, went
on to work for around 30
films, in the area of
scripts, story and dialogue. A recipient of the
Kerala state film award
for best story for the
much acclaimed Kamal
m
o
v
i
e
"Perumazhakkalam" in
2004, he had won the
state award for best story
for "Aayirathil Oruvan",
directed by Sibi Malayil in
2002. He also received the
state award for the best
story and screenplay for
'Kanakinnavu' in 1996.
"Vishnulokam",
" N a a d o d o " ,
"Bhoomigeetham" and
"Gazal" were among the
films for which he wrote
the screenplays, which
struck a chord among the
movie
buff s.
"Sukamayeeirukattae",
released this year, was
the last film for which he
penned the script. (PTI)
Milind Soman discusses
Pinakathon with Sonowal
GUWAHATI, AUG 16 /--/ Model-turned-fitness guru
Milind Soman met Assam Chief Minister
Sarbananda Sonowal and discussed with him
Pinkathon, the country's biggest women's run, to be
held in Guwahati on September 18. Milind Soman
told Sonowal last evening that Pinkathon was more
of a community project to spread awareness among
women to adopt a fitter lifestyle for themselves and
their families. Acknowledging the importance of the
project, Sonowal said a healthy family, a healthy nation and a healthy world began with empowered
women. Saying that a healthy woman is a stepping
stone to a healthy family, he committed to provide
gover nment's help for successfully organising the
proposed Pinkathon. (PTI)
CREATIVE WORLD
Musician Ricky
Kej launches
online campaign
to save jumbos
BENGALURU, AUG 16 /-/ Grammy-Winning Musician Ricky Kej today released a music video highlighting the plight of elephants while kicking off a
'Save India's Ele phants'
online campaign on the
World Ele phant Day. The
campaign seeks legal protection to elephant corridors. Drawing inspiration
from the song "Kudrat" from
his music album Shanti
Samsara, which features
lyrics celebrating man's relationship with nature from
many of the world's spiritual traditions, Kej said he
has collaborated with
multi-award-winning wildlife photographer and filmmaker Amo ghavarsha to
document and make the
video on the excruciating
experience of capturing, relocation and domestication
of elephants.
Amoghavarsha said the
video documents the capture and relocation of a herd
of wild elephants with
heart-wrenching music
score by Kej and beautiful
rendition
of
singer
Hariharan. "A capture may
sound like a logical solution,
but the ultimate impact on
the animal is gruesome. At
what cost is this a solution?"
asked Amoghavarsha. In his
online petition, Kej has appealed to the government to
improve forest cover in the
elephant corridor, prevent
and evict encroachments.
The government should
also discourage elephants
being used in temples, he
added. Noting that elephants have played an important
cultural
role
throughout India's history,
Kej, a wildlife conservationist said, protection of the
species is of paramount importance for the Indian government, as human and elephant conflicts are on the
rise.
‘Gandhi’ was a huge opportunity: Rohini Hattangadi
NEW DELHI, AUG 16/--/ "Gandhi"
may have pushed Rohini Hattangadi
into the roles of the perennial
Bollywood mother but the actress
says she has no regrets as Richard
Attenborough's film was a huge milestone in her career. Rohini is still remembered for her memorable performance as Kasturba Gandhi opposite British actor Ben Kingsley in the
film. She was only 27 when she played
Kasturba. "I take things as they come.
I was 27, which is slightly late for the
so-called heroine.
I was trained in theatre so the seriousness was there. I never went in
for the glamour. "And 'Gandhi' was
such an important opportunity right
in the beginning of my career. I had
just done three films. I knew that I
wanted to be in parallel cinema and
do meaningful films," Rohini told PTI.
The veteran actress, who went on to
play Amitabh Bachchan's mother in
"Shahenshah" and "Agneepath", says
nobody remembers the young
Kasturba, people only remember the
older version.
"Most of the roles that I got after
'Gandhi' were of a mother. Nobody remembers young Kasturba... Once I
called Basu Bhattacharya and told
him 'I am only getting roles of a
mother'. He told me, 'There are only
two people who can play young and
old with equal ease, you and Sanjeev
Kumar. So, don't f eel bad about it'."
Recalling how she got the opportunity
to star in "Gandhi", the 65-year-old actress says it was Dolly Thakur, who
approached her for the audition as she
knew her from her Marathi cinema
days. "I was working in Marathi cinema after finishing my course in National School of Drama (NSD). I got to
know that Sir Richard was looking for
actresses to play Kasturba. Dolly got
in touch with me. I met him and he
called me for a screen test in England.
It was the first time, I travelled out of
the country." Rohini says before leaving for her screen test she got a Khadi
saree, a long blouse, mangalsutra and
bindi. "Once in London, we were
given our scenes to do. I did the scene
with Ben Kingsley, who had come for
the audition. We did the scene from
South Africa where Kasturba refuses
to clean the toilet. A month later, they
told me I was on for the part. I was told
to lose about five kgs."
"Gandhi" will be screened tomorrow as part of Zee Classic's India's
Finest Films and Rohini is happy that
the film continues to have a connect
with the audience even after so many
years.. Naseeruddin Shah and Smita
Patil, two of the biggest names in parallel cinema, also auditioned for the
role of Gandhi and Kasturba in the
1982 biopic, which went on to win
eight trophies at the Oscars. "Actually,
three pairs auditioned for the parts,
me and Ben, Bhakti Barve and John
Hurt, Smita and Naseeruddin. We all
were in London.
Later, Roshan Seth was there to do
the screen test for Nehru's role." The
actress says she does not feel that she
was typecast as that's the nature of
the industry where people are wary
of taking risks. "Initially after 'Gandhi', I thought when people will know
that I am young, they will give me
suitable roles but that was naive of
me. You get typecast, nobody escapes
it, be it Amrish Puri, Amjad Khan or
Amitabh Bachchan. People don't want
to take risk when money is involved."
Rohini, however, is happy that she got
to play a negative role in "Chalbaaz"
and "Hero Hiralal", besides doing
landmark films like "Gandhi" and
"Saaransh".
She also continues to be involved
with theatre and has acted in critically
acclaimed
plays
like
"Aparajita". "Theatre gives me a lot of
happiness. I have been busy with a
Gujarati play though I am Marathi. As
actors we should not give importance
to languages. I have worked in many
South Indian films and I feel, it enriches you as a person." When asked
what is on her wish-list, Rohini says
she would love to work in films by
Ashutosh Gowariker and Sanjay
Leela Bhansali. (PTI)
‘Tanu Weds Manu 3’ won't
happen for sake of it: Jimmy
MUMBAI, AUG 16 /--/ Actor Jimmy Shergill says the
makers will not go for third installment of blockbuster
"Tanu Weds Manu" franchise just for the sake of it and feels
there is more spotlight on content, particularly in regional
films. Directed by Aanand L Rai, the first part of the romantic-comedy-drama was released in 2011 starring Kangana
R anaut, R Madhavan along with Shergill. The sequel,
"Tanu Weds Manu Returns", released last year and garned
both critical acclaim and box office success. When asked
about third part in the franchise, Jimmy told PTI, "I think
when something becomes a brand, it becomes important for
it to come from time-to-time. I understand that. But talking
about Aanand and Himanshu (Sharma), they are the kind
of directors and writers who will just not make it for the
sake of making it."
"They will crack a story, then go ahead and say 'We are
ready. So let's go'. Unless that happens, they both will never
make that film, or anything for that matter," he said. The 45year-old actor also feels that today there is a huge focus on
content-oriented films, especially in regional cinema
which is changing rapidly. "Content has undergone a huge
change. Earlier, mostly masala films were made, with very
few films being made on sensitive topics. Otherwise there
were only run-of-the-mill films. Today, films are being
made on new concepts starring newcomers and are doing
well too," he opined.
"South industry makes films which are high on content,
with their masala elements intact too. Recentl y, even
Punabji and Marathi cinema have changed. So, if that kind
of change is happening big time in regional cinema, in that
pace, it will happen in Bollywood too," he expressed.
The "Madaari" star will be next seen in "Happy Bhag
Jayegi" also starring Abhay Deol, Diana Penty, Ali Fazal
among others. The film has been helmed by Mudassar Aziz,
who last directed the Sushmita Sen-starrer "Dulha Mil
Gaya" in 2010. Jimmy says the big and only requirement
for him to prepare for a role is to go out and completely "enjoy" it. "Aanand (L Rai) had mentioned it to me a couple of
times that he is producing the film. I met Mudassar and I
found it very interesting. This is the kind of character that
I haven't really played in a long time," he said. "The role
was such that it demanded me to just have fun and do it.
There was no need to ponder over it or overthink about it.
The basic requirement for me was to just enjoy and do it,
nothing else," he added. "Happy Bhag Jayegi" is set to release on August 19. (PTI)
More intimidated by Kajol than
Ajay: 'Shivaay' actress Erika
MUMBAI, AUG 16 /--/ She
may be making her
Bollywood debut opposite
Ajay Devgn in "Shivaay" but
Polish actress Erika Kaar
was more intimated and starstruck by his wife, Kajol.
Erika says she was apprehensive to talk to Kajol because
the Bollywood actress has a
huge fan following in Poland.
"Actually, I was a lot more
intimidated by Kajol than
Ajay.
With Ajay I was like
'Hello man!' With Kajol it was
like 'Hello ma'am.' I was trying to be very respectful. I
did not talk much with her,"
Erika told PTI in an interview.
"We know Kajol because she
is huge worldwide. In Poland,
when you hear Kajol, people
start screaming. They are
such huge fans. We also
knew 'Kabhi Khushi Kabhie
Gham'. It is huge there."
According to Erika, her
friends even have night outs
where they dance to the popular track "Bole Chudiyan"
from the Karan Johar directed romantic-drama.
"When we have ladies night,
my friends are such huge fans
that they watch 'Bole
Chudiyan' and dance. They
don't know the lyrics, nothing, but they love it. "So
when they learnt that the person I'll be working with is
Kajol's husband, they forced
me to show him the video of
how they are dancing. They
love her. But I did not show
the video to him. I am not
crazy!" When asked if she
showed the video to Kajol,
Erika quipped, "I was scared
to tell her. I did not."
"Shivaay"
is
an
upcoming action thriller, produced and directed by
Devgan. Erika says she met
Kajol while shooting for the
film but they did not interact
much. "We met in Bulgaria
and then in Mussoorie. But
since I knew Ajay was working so hard on the project,
once his family came, we all
tried to give them their quality time." The film is Devgn's
second directorial venture
after the 2008 romanticdrama "U Me Aur Hum".