RE: September 2007 - News - 3

No one disliked me in Aag

Though Ram Gopal Varma's Sholay, aka Aag, has been given the savage treatment by reviewers and viewers alike, debutant Prashaant Raj who plays Jai, and who not only gets to encore Amitabh Bachchan's role but also silently romance the simmering Sushmita Sen, is far from daunted by the adverse press.

"So far no one has disliked me or my performance," he says a day after the film's release when the dampening verdict is out. "In fact I did a lot of press in London. And I must say the girls there think of highly of me. Back home I admit the reactions have been pretty tame. I'll be honest.

I held a show of Aag for my family friends and staff before release. The staffers were honest honest enough to tell me they didn't like the film. Maybe somewhere audiences have failed to connect with this homage to Sholay. But I'm proud of what we've done."

Interestingly Prashaant made his debut alongside another model and non-industry newcomer Muzamil Ibrahim.

"Yes I know Muzamil well. In fact a couple of days before his film Dokha and my Aag released simultaneously I rang him up to wish him all the best."

Any sense of rivalry with Muzamil and all the other newcomers who've come in this year?

"None at all. I believe there's room for plenty of more new talent in the industry. In some ways I identify with Muzamil. We're both from outside the industry. We don't have a father in the industry. But yes, I do have a godfather Ram Gopal Varma and so does Muzamil (Mahesh Bhatt)."

Prashaant has just completed a film outside Varma's terrain. "It's a thriller about a bunch of warward youngsters called Toss directed by Ramesh Katkar. But let me tell you, I'm also doing Ramuji's production to be directed by my namesake Prashant.It will be within the genre that RG productions specializes in."

So here's one RGV protégée who unlike Manoj Bajpai, Randeep Hooda and Mohit Ahlawat doesn't intend to fly the coop.

At least not yet.

Quelle: http://www.santabanta.com/cinema.asp?pid=16769

I should get flak

Ramu on how Sholay turned into Aag over the years

Ever since he revealed his plans to revisit Sholay, he has been under scrutiny. He called his film Ram Gopal Varma ki Sholay and finally has to contend with Ram Gopal Varma ki Aag when the Sippy’s objected to him using the word Sholay. Basanti’s (Hema Malini) tonga has been replaced by Ghungroo’s (Nisha Kothari)’s taxi. The setting is Mumbai but a lot has changed since the time of Ramesh Sippy’s Sholay in 1975. Ajay Devgan steps in as Veeru, newcomer Prashant as Jai, Sushmita Sen breathes fire as Durga and there’s Amitabh Bachchan as Babban Singh. Varma states, R 20;I’ve made this film with sincerity, honesty and due respects to the original.”

Epitome of formulae films: Sholay was an epitome of formulae films of the 70s – heroes, heroines, larger-than-life villains, a mandatory item number and so on. It’s like sampling a thali. We’ve stop ped making films like that for the last 20 years. Aag is throwback to that era and genre. I see Sholay a drama just like China Gate or Seven Samurai. Aag, in spirit, is closer to Sholay.

Shaping up Babban: Amitabh Bachchan laughed when I first asked him to act as Babban Singh. When I talked to him at length about how I wanted to interpret Sholay, he was convinced. On paper, both Gabbar and Babban are ruthless and mouth one-liners. But that’s where their similarity ends. Spiderman, Superman and Batman do the same job but in their own way. Likewise, Babban and Gabbar are different. Babban doesn’t look or talk like Gabbar.

The onus is on me: We first wanted Babban to look like any other normal guy on the street. As the character evolved, he turned out to be exotic. The idea of this film and all its characters are mine. So I should get the flak too.

Veeru and Ghungroo: If the romance between Ajay Devgan and Nisha Kothari seems in-you-face, it’s because you are comparing them with Dharmendra and Hema Malini. I’ve just stayed true to what a formula film stands for – ; a teasing song, a romance number and an item song

Reverse treatment: Jaya Bhadhuri’s character was intended to draw sympathy. The character of Sushmita Sen, as Durga, gets a reverse treatment. There’s a certain bitterness and resignation to life after her family gets kille d. But life has made her stronger. She would not have been different if she was a man. I don’t differentiate between men and women in emotions. In some scenes, Jai gets intimidated by Durga.

Not Godfather: After Aag, Sarkar Raj is a big project. This film is a natural progression from the original. It’s not Godfather 2.

Quelle: http://www.thehindu.com/mp/2007/09/01/st...90150780200.htm

Have body, will flaunt!

Nur mal das Wichtigste als Auszug! - sagt übrigens SRK

...
And even powerhouse performer Ajay Devgan does the half monty in Ram Gopal Varma Ki Aag
...

Quelle: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/India...how/2347842.cms

Ram Gopal Varma Ki Aag

After all the hype, speculations, rumours and controversy, Ram Gopal Varma's remake of Sholay' was finally released.

Like many, I'm a huge fan of Sholay' and a huge fan of Ram Gopal Varma's films.

Of all the current Bollywood directors, I felt RGV was the only director who could pull off this cinematic coup and the prospect had me slavering with anticipation for several months.

Was it worth the wait? In a word: NO! Not just NO, but an emphatic NO!

This film is a complete mess. Not an ordinary mess, but a mess on a colossal scale.

Every creative decision that RGV makes is the wrong decision, not wrong on a minor scale, but wrong writ very large and in so many myriad ways - a whole book could be written on the sheer stupidity of this film, not to mention the out-of- control ego of its director.

What else can you say when the director's name occupies more space than the title of the film?

If they have the equivalent of the Golden Raspberry Awards for Worst Films in India, then this is one walking, talking turkey that's going to scoop all the gongs, in all categories, hands down.

The film's only redeeming feature is the presence of Amitabh Bachchan, playing an out-and-out villain, who comes up with a wonderfully psychotic performance as Babban Singh (aka Ghabbar Singh). Ajay Devgan also has his moments, but the rest of the cast never convince.

The sheer awfulness of Aag' just goes to show what a monumental film Sholay' was, a film where everything came together in a perfect symmetry: great acting, wonderful script, unforgettable dialogue, unparalleled action scenes, fluent directing, superb cinematography, tight editing and a cast to die for.

Films will come and go but Sholay' will always be Sholay' - in a class of its own!

Quelle: http://www.asianimage.co.uk/mostpopular....arma_ki_aag.php

During Goal's shooting things were tense

Nur mal das Wichtigste als Auszug! - sagt übrigens Arshad Warsi

Why is it that Arshad Warsi is always seen amongst an ensemble cast?

It’s because I am petrified of a solo film. I am still making my mark as an actor and I don’t think I am a big enough star for someone to say “Oh! Let’s go and watch that new Arshad Warsi film.” I need stars like Sanjay Dutt, Ajay Devgan and Saif Ali Khan in my films for people to take notice of my work.

Quelle: http://www.newindpress.com/NewsItems.asp...festyle&Topic=0

Ajay-Kajol's IQ wins them a crore on KBC

Bollywood stars don't want to be left behind, be it any acting, cricket or any other field. It is now time for them to prove their intelligence.

After, the duo of Saif-Preity, it's Ajay-Kajol's chance to sit on the hot seat. Earlier, only Devgan was slated to appear on the show. But Bachchan convinced Kajol to appear along with Devgan. And who can say no to the Big B? They must be glad that they came on the show because they won a crore! However, another Bollywood couple, John-Bipasha wasn't as lucky. They just about made it to the 25 lakh mark. They probably shouldn't fret over it. There is always a next time!

The Ajay-Kajol episode will be aired on September 18, whereas the John-Bipasha episode is scheduled for a much later date, in October.

Quelle: http://www.expressindia.com/fullstory.ph...54046#compstory

PVR ramps up effort in film production

Indian largest theatre chain PVR’s Cinemas, which entered the motion picture business through its association with Aamir Khan Productions, is now ramping up its efforts on the production front.

PVR is close to signing a two-film co-production deal with filmmaker Raj Kumar Santoshi for over Rs 60 crore.

Of the two films, one will feature actor Ajay Devgan in a periodic film, based on the life of emperor Ashoka. The second film will be a comedy flick starring Shahid Kapoor.

While one movie will hit the the floor by the end of 2007 the other is slated for the coming year. When contacted, Raj Kumar Santoshi confirmed the development.

“We are in talks. However, I cannot divulge any details,” said Santoshi to Business Standard. Sources added that the deal is likely to be finalised on Tuesday.

Earlier, actor Shah Rukh Khan had made a film on Ashoka through his production house Dreamz Unlimited with Juhi Chawla. ‘Asoka’, was released in 2001 and starred Kareena Kapoor and Shah Rukh Khan. However, the big budget film failed to deliver at the box office.

This co-production will help PVR stay focused on its plan to release four to five films by the end of FY09. Industry sources said that PVR is in talks with various directors for the same.

PVR had announced its foray into film production by collaborating with Aamir Khan Productions for two movies starring actor Aamir Khan. While the film first ‘Taare Zameen Par’ is slated for release in December, the second film ‘Jane Tu Ya Jaane Na’ will release in the summer of 2008.

The company plans to strengthen its operations in the movie distribution space with big banner movies such as Taare Zameen Par and has made an initial investment of Rs 80 crore for the expansion of its distribution business.

Quelle: http://www.business-standard.com/common/...bLeft=0&chkFlg=

Cash ki hoti aish

Bollywood multi-starrer, Cash, is a bigger dud than it should have been, because the film's makers did not follow that all-important code of ethics, believes Life@work. Here's why following your company's code is crucial to your job.

Cash is a perfect example of what goes wrong when a company doesn’t lay down a code of ethics. Problems began, when the stars weren’t paid half their fees, because the film ironically went over-budget.

Next, shooting was delayed. Animation was not part of the original script, but was hastily added to the climax to complete the film. Director Anubhav added three extra songs without informing leading man, Ajay Devgan, who refused to shoot for a track. They shot Hey Chhori without him.

Meanwhile, Zayed Khan accused Sinha of favouring Riteish over him in the promos. Co-producer Sohail Maklai’s name was dropped from the credits. When Devgan who is Maklai’s close friend, heard this, he refused to complete the dubbing.

Work-life balance boosts ethics

Employees in the US say they are more likely to steal petty cash and commit other unethical acts when they are dissatisfied and see their own superiors behaving badly, according to the Ethics and Workplace survey conducted for Deloitte & Touche. A good work-life balance and high levels of job satisfaction, on the other hand, were thought to promote ethical behaviour among employees, said the poll that involved than 1,000 US professionals.

What’s unethical?

*Stealing petty cash

*Cheating on expense reports

*Taking credit for someone else’s accomplishment

*Lying on time sheets

*Coming to work hung over

*Telling a demeaning joke

*Taking office supplies for personal use

Quelle: http://www.mid-day.com/life-at-work/2007...mber/163649.htm

Friend’s Envy

Nur mal das Wichtigste als Auszug!

Coming back to Dhamaal, it is a film that has no heroine in it. The all-boy gang must not have liked it.

On the contrary, it was so much better with only Ajay Devgan, Sanju Sir, Arshad Warsi, Javed Jaffri, Riteish and me along with the entire male crew. We were so much into the film without any distraction - you know what I mean (laughs). When there are girls around, they are all the time talking about clothes, hair, make-up and other frivolous things while guys concentrate only on the script. Of course, there was one woman; an old lady who plays the landlady.

Ajay Devgan in Dhamaal?????????????????????????

Quelle: http://www.screenindia.com/fullstory.php?content_id=17000

Eros adds four to line-up

Indian movie group Eros Int'l, which recently announced that it has a $100 million credit line for acquisitions, has added four pics to its line-up.

London stock market-listed company bought rights outside India to the Ram Gopal Verma-helmed "Darling." Romantic thriller stars Fardeen Khan, Esha Deol and Isha Koppikar and will be released Friday.

Eros also snapped up int'l rights to Salman Khan's next major release "God Tussi Great H"’ which also stars Priyanka Chopra, Amitabh Bachchan and Sohail Khan and to "Mehbooba," helmed by Afzal Khan and starring Sanjay Dutt, Ajay Devgan and Manisha Koirala. Both films will be released by December.

Quelle: http://www.varietyasiaonline.com/content/view/2035/1/

Ajay Devgan gives co-stars a taste of his prank - September 12

Actor Ajay Devgan decided to add a bit of fun with work while shooting his directorial debut movie U Me Aur Hum.

He may give the impression of a serious actor, but Ajay Devgan is a man who loves to pull pranks. During the shoot of his first film as a director, he gave his actors a taste of his comic side, literally.

Besides Ajay and Kajol , the movie (previously titled Main Tum Aur Hum ) stars a host of actors including Isha Sharvani , Karan Khanna , Divya Dutta and newcomer Sumeet Raghavan.

During a shooting schedule a few week’s back, when the day’s work was over and everyone was feeling a bit tired, Ajay called on his actors (Isha, Karan, Divya and Sumeet) for one more shot.

The shot required them to sit on a table and sip tequila as the camera rolled.

What the actors did not know was that their glasses actually contained real tequila instead of water.

So they got a taste of Devgan’s prank after just a few sips. The quartet got tipsy. Divya began to giggle endlessly and Isha became restive. Karan looked dazed and Sumeet was completely silent.

Sources say that not just Devgan but the whole shooting crew had lots of fun at the expense of the four, who, in turn, took the prank in good spirit (pun intended).

Quelle: http://www.apunkachoice.com/scoop/bollywood/20070912-4.html

I wasn't trying to outdo 'Sholay': Ram Gopal Varma - September 11

"Ram Gopal Varma Ki Aag" has been panned by critics and audiences, but the maverick filmmaker insists that his aim was to pay homage to Ramesh Sippy's classic "Sholay" and not to outdo it.

"I was not trying to outdo 'Sholay'. I was doing a homage to 'Sholay'. And it would be foolish of me to think I can better the original," he told IANS in an interview.

Varma said he wasn't extremely disappointed that the film's title and names of characters had to be changed because he "never intended to remake 'Sholay' exactly the way it was".

He added that he would have avoided calling it "Sholay" right in the beginning if he had known it would lead to so many legal hassles. Varma also said that Ramesh Sippy was his inspiration to become a filmmaker in the first place.

"I owe my bread and butter and whatever I am today to Mr Ramesh Sippy. If he didn't make 'Sholay' I'd have never become interested in filmmaking. I'd have remained a civil engineer."

Excerpts from the interview:

A sense of disappointment that the film's title and the characters were changed?

The point is I never intended to remake "Sholay" exactly the way it was. "Sholay" had created a benchmark for technical excellence, background score, sound design ... If "Sholay" catapulted Hindi cinema into the new age it wasn't because of its plot which had been done earlier in films like "Mera Gaon Mera Desh" and later in "Karma" and "China Gate". I can think of 25 films with the same theme.

It was the genius of Ramesh Sippy and the finesse with which he put together the plot that created an enduring impact. The story of a man taking revenge by hiring mercenaries is a genre done earlier in the Japanese "The Seven Samurai" and as a spaghetti western in "The Magnificent 7".

"Sholay" is a full-on formula film ...The cumulative impact (of the performances) was stunning on the whole country, most of all me. I've never met anyone who has interpreted "Sholay" better than me. I'm the biggest aficionado of "Sholay". But I did not set out to make "Sholay".

You didn't?

No. Like I said the theme has been done umpteen times. It's not the story that gets dated, it's the packaging. "Aag" took in view the new times, new technology and new tastes and proceeded from there. I was not trying to outdo "Sholay". I was doing a homage to "Sholay". And it would be foolish of me to think I can better the original.

So why did you name it "Sholay" earlier?

I wanted to draw attention to my intention of paying a homage. But because of the legal hassles I decided to call it "Ram Gopal Varma Ka Sholay", just as "Devdas" was Sanjay Leela Bhansali's interpretation of the original. But then the legal procedure would have taken time. So I decided on "Aag", but we couldn't get that title either.

I think a film by that title with Govinda in the lead was released seven-eight years back. So we had to go by "Ram Gopal Varma Ki Aag".

The title gives the project that formulistic feeling which I wanted. The whole film from the background score to the dialogues and characterisation has a very retro-feeling.

Please explain.

"Aag" is the kind of cinema I grew up on. So I've applied new-age technology to age-old formulas of filmmaking. The reason why those earlier films were called 'formula' films was because they had something for everybody. I believe "Aag" has it too. I wanted to recapture that old lost feeling of enjoying a full-on formula flick.

If you knew problems would have cropped up, would you have avoided calling it "Sholay"?

Yeah I would have avoided it. I never expected so many problems. My intentions weren't underhand. I owe my bread and butter and whatever I am today to Mr Ramesh Sippy. If he didn't make "Sholay" I'd have never become interested in filmmaking. I'd have remained a civil engineer ... When I saw "Sholay" in 1975 at the Ram-Krishna theatre in Hyderabad and saw Ramesh Sippy's name on the posters I decided then and there that this is what I wanted to do.

Pooja Bhatt apparently thinks those who care about what's happening around us should see her "Dhokha" rather than your "Aag".

I'm sorry I don't buy that. We can't decide what the audiences want to see. They aren't animals in a zoo, caged, labelled and ready to be transported at the zookeepers' command. Today the audience is so open to every kind of cinema. I don't see why they'd want to choose one over the other.

Quelle: http://nowrunning.com/news/news.asp?it=11956

I want to do Draupadi: Bips

The Hindu epics never had it so good. Some of our most powerful filmmakers are reinterpreting the classics.

Though Mani Ratnam's plans to the Mahabharat with producer Bobby Bedi are for now postponed, Raj Kumar Santoshi is going right with his Ramayan featuring Ajay Devgan, Kajol and Southern maverick Prakash Raj as Ram, Sita and Ravan.

Salman Khan has been keen to play Rama for years in a home prodution Far away, across the seven seas enterprising producer Uru Patel is doing his own modern take on Hanuman.

And now comes the most interesting twist in the tale of the mythologicals. Aparna Sen has a dream project lined for impending realization. "I want to do my own version of the Ramayan as told from the point of view of Sita.

I want to do it is the true international film in English. It needs international funding and whole lot of detailed production planning. But it's my one most cherished project."

Interestingly while she is all set to film the Ramayan as seen through the eyes of Sita Aparna Sen's favourite protégé Rituparno Ghosh is all set to do an international version of the Mahabharat from Draupadi's point of view.

Ritu has already decided to cast Bipasha Basu as Draupadi. But he's willing to back off for Aparna's sake. "If she at any time feels my Draupadi would impinge on her Sita I'd happily put off my film. Reena-di (Aparna) has a superb script and she has been toying with the project for seven years."

Adds Bipasha, " I want to do Draupadi with him. I've grown up hearing the tales from the Mahabharat. Draupadi is a favourite character. People say I'm too westernized to play Draupadi. But I know myself. I can carry it off.This is one thing that Ritu and I are definitely doing together."

Quelle: http://www.santabanta.com/cinema.asp?pid=16854

Rituparno's Mahabharat versus Aparna's Ramayan -September 13

The Hindu epics never had it so good. Some of our most powerful filmmakers are reinterpreting the classics. Though Mani Ratnam's plans to the Mahabharat with producer Bobby Bedi are for now postponed, Raj Kumar Santoshi is going right with his Ramayan featuring Ajay Devgan, Kajol and Southern maverick Prakash Raj as Ram, Sita and Ravan. Salman Khan has been keen to play Rama for years in a home production. Far away, across the seven seas, enterprising producer Uru Patel is doing his own modern take on Hanuman.

And now comes the most interesting twist in the tale of the mythologicals. Aparna Sen has a dream project lined for impending realization. "I want to do my own version of the Ramayan as told from the point of view of Sita. I want to do it as a true international film in English. It needs international funding and whole lot of detailed production planning. But it's my one most cherished project."

Interestingly, while she is all set to film the Ramayan as seen through the eyes of Sita, Aparna Sen's favourite protégé Rituparno Ghosh is all set to do an international version of the Mahabharat from Draupadi's point of view.

Ritu has already decided to cast Bipasha Basu as Draupadi. But he's willing to back off for Aparna's sake. "If she at any time feels my Draupadi would impinge on her Sita I'd happily put off my film. Reena-di (Aparna) has a superb script and she has been toying with the project for seven years."

Adds Bipasha, “I want to do Draupadi with him. I've grown up hearing the tales from the Mahabharat. Draupadi is a favourite character. People say I’m too westernized to play Draupadi. But I know myself. I can carry it off. This is one thing that Ritu and I are definitely doing together."

Quelle: http://www.indiafm.com/news/2007/09/13/10103/index.html