It appears that the fallout of the July 29 clash between the three biggies, AAP KAA SURROOR, APNE and AWARAPAN, has made the industry wiser. Two big movies, Rajkumar Santoshi's Ajay Devgan, Vidya Balan starrer, HALLA BOL and Yash Raj's Shah Rukh Khan starrer, CHAKDE! INDIA, were slated to release against each other on August 10. But that will not happen now.
As per our distribution sources, the makers of HALLA BOL have decided to move ahead and will now release their movie, sometimes in September.
While no official reason has been given, we feel that it is the correct decision because the two awaited movies would have cut into each others earnings.
From Ram Gopal Varma Ki Sholay to Ram Gopal Varma Ki Aag or so the rumours go.
Is this then the journey of a filmmaker trying to pay tribute to India's favourite film but then again till the court confirms it who's to say which name the marquee will boast.
And despite the modest choices Ramu fans are certainly gearing up for his version where Basanti is Ghungroo, where Dhano is a rickshaw there's excitement aplenty yes but be warned he swears its not a remake.
"Its not a copy but it is my ode to Sholayesque films," said Ram Gopal Verma, filmmaker.
Right, But as a devoted fan of the film we had to ask how well does he know his subject.
Whether it measures up to comparisons or no curiosity should guarantee at least a strong opening.
There have been romantic comedies or action thrillers. Now for probably the first time ever, there is a comic thriller arriving at the screens. The film is CASH!
'Cash' is a high octane heist thriller set in Cape Town, South Africa and features top stars like Ajay Devgan, Suneil Shetty, Esha Deol, Dia Mirza, Zayed Khan, Shamita Shetty and Riteish Deshmukh in pivotal roles.
The film revolves around an ace con artist, played by Ajay Devgan who hires a set of top notch robbers (Esha Deol, Zayed Khan, Dia Mirza and Riteish Deshmukh) to steal a set of priceless diamonds in South Africa.
The group also faces a threat from underworld don Suniel Shetty, who is after the same diamonds and also the Head of Security Shamita Shetty. How these three groups manage to thwart each other forms the rest of the story and makes it a non stop adventure caper.
'Cash ' is one of the first films to be shot exclusively in the breathtaking locales of Cape Town in South Africa. Audiences can expect never seen before action-packed sequences like sky diving, kite surfing, skate boarding and fight scenes in the film, Cash is the first ever comic thriller of a film.
Directed by Anubhav Sinha, the film already has a superhit song 'Mindblowing Mahiya' making waves all over the telly and FM stations. Soon to arrive would be other intoxicating tracks like 'Naa Poocho' and 'Naughty Naughty' which promise to be quite a rage.
Ram Gopal Varma to have two back to back releases - July 14, 2007
If all goes according to plan, then Ram Gopal Varma will be having two back to back releases. Slated for releases on August 31, is his much awaited, much changed Ram Gopal Varma Ke Sholay (or is it Ram Gopal Varma Ke Aag?). The following week will see the release of his other film Darling again produced by him along with Bhushan Kumar.
Knowing the status of his version of Sholay, it is likely that the release of the film might get delayed. Until then, two of his own products will battle it out at the box-office.
Finally the cash crunch seems to be easing. The tussle between original producer Sohail Maklai and director Anubhav Sinha with his partners Infinity Films still continues in the courts. But a major hurdle seems to have been overcome vis-a-vis the film’s release. According to a source, Ajay Devgan has finally relented to dub for the movie. He finished half of it on Wednesday afternoon. He’ll complete the remaining part on Thursday. Reportedly, Devgan was very upset with the film’s promos which did not have the name of Sohail Maklai. Devgan had agreed to act in the film only for Maklai, who’s a close friend. Consequently, he refused to be connected with Cash until Maklai was given his due credit. When Sinha filmed some patchwork shots and songs for Cash, Devgan is believed to have declined from participating in the shoot. It’s also alleged that Sinha used a body double for the actor. When Devgan learnt about this, he wrote to the Cine and Television Artistes Association to register his complaint against the director. The source informed that a couple of days ago, Sinha had gone along with Sunil Saglia of Infinity to meet Devgan to sort out the differences. The source continues, “That was very essential as he still had to dub his portions. After a lot of requesting and reasoning and assurances that everything would be sorted out as soon as possible, Ajay agreed to dub.” Director Sinha said, “I never had any problems with Ajay. We got along well during the making of the film.” However, about his recent meeting with the actor, he said, “Ajay’s an actor and I’m a director. So obviously, I met him. He has dubbed up to the interval. He’ll complete the rest of the dubbing in a day.” Cash is scheduled to release on July 27. So everyone associated with the movie is hoping that all issues will be sorted out by then.
Divya Dutta is working on some great projects including Madhuri centric Aaja Nachle, Rakeysh Mehra’s Delhi 6 and You, Me and Hum with Ajay Kajol. “I am also doing Summer of 2007, which is a very exciting film for me,” informs an elated Dutta. “It is being made by Suhail Tatari, and also stars Sikander Kher.” Looks like the palette is full of colours for a very colourful Divya.
Bollywood director Ram Gopal Varma is ready to release his ambitious remake of yesteryear’s superhit Sholay under a new title ‘Ram Gopal Varma Ki Aag’. Earlier the film was titled as ‘Ram Gopal Varma Ke Sholay’. The Delhi High Court released orders for the release of the much hyped film after Varma filed an affidavit giving an undertaking that he would not use the title “Sholay” and the name of the popular characters like “Gabbar Singh” and “Basanti”. The roadblocks for the release of the film in which superstar Amitabh Bachchan has assumed the role of “Gabbar Singh” had come on a lawsuit filed by grandson of G P Sippy, who had produced Sholay.
The High court today (July 16) accepted Ram Gopal Verma's request to rename his movie from 'Sholay' to 'Ram Gopal Ki Aag'.
It is to be noted that Ram Gopal Verma had agreed to rename the film following copyright suit filed against him by the original title holders of the film, the Sippy's.
Ram Gopal Verma is remaking the 1975 classic 'Sholay' which broke various records at the box office. The movie has been in the news ever since Ram Gopal Verma made announcement of the film. Interestingly, Amitabh Bachchan who played the lead role in the original Sholay will be seen again in the remake version but in a new avatar.
Verma who has his expertise in making underworld movies is now looking forward to cash on the popularity of Sholay. It remains to be seen if the director will succeed in this bold endeavour of his.
New Delhi, July 16: The Delhi High Court allowed Bollywood director Ram Gopal Varma to release the remake of yesteryear`s blockbuster "Sholay" by changing the title of the film from "Ram Gopal Varma ki Sholay" to "Ram Gopal Varma ki Aag".
The Court gave green signal for the release of the much publicized film after Varma filed an affidavit giving an undertaking that he would not use the title "Sholay" and the name of the popular characters like "Gabbar Singh" and "Basanti".
The roadblocks for the release of the film in which superstar Amitabh Bachchan has assumed the role of "Gabbar Singh" had come on a lawsuit filed by grandson of G P Sippy, who had produced Sholay.
Taking on record the affidavit in which Varma claimed that the story line, character, music etc., did not match with Sippy`s Sholay, justice Gita said the director could release his film under the title "Ram Gopal Varma ki Aag".
The popular characters `Gabbar Singh` and `Basanti` has been renamed as `Babban Singh` and `Ghungroo`.
The Court also gave liberty to Sippy Films Pvt Ltd and Sholay Media and Entertainment Pvt Ltd, owned by Sascha Sippy and Shan Uttam Singh, "to push for its remaining claims, if any, after watching the film`s remake".
Sascha and Singh had filed the lawsuit to permanently restrain Varma from releasing the film `Ram Gopal Varma ki Sholay` maintaining the use of the name Sholay by any other entity amounts to infringement of trade mark and copyright.
The court in an interim order in October last had stayed the release of Varma`s much hyped remake of the 1970s` blockbuster "Sholay".
Sippy had contended that they also have copyright on the use of character "Gabbar Singh" which was played by late Amjad Khan in Sholay.
Sascha Sippy, director of the Sippy films, claimed that the late G P Sippy`s son Ajit Sippy who reportedly sold the copyrights to Varma, had no such rights himself to transfer the same to others.
Maverick filmmaker Ram Gopal Varma is going through a severe identity crisis these days. He's is in a major dilemma regarding the name of his much hyped film based on Sholay. Initially the film was called Ram Gopal Varma's Sholay , but after his dispute with the original makers, the Sippy's, court has put a stay order. And Ramu is back to square one and is hunting for a suitable name for the film. Contrary to media reports his film is not titled Ram Gopal Varma Ke Aag or anything of the sort. “We are still in the process of deciding the film. And till now I can't release any publicity material of the film," says his publicist Ravi Prakash. So the hunt for the elusive name continues...
Filmmaker Ram Gopal Verma, who has remade the old classic hit Sholay, has now decided not to name his film Sholay. He has been fighting a case in the high court for this. But at a routine hearing on Monday his lawyer informed the court that the director has decided to rename his film. It will now be called Ram Gopal Verma ki Aag. The court has approved the.
The embers of the Ram Gopal Varma Ke Sholay controversy have died out. Propelled by his eagerness to get an August release for his film, maverick director RGV, who was dragged to court by the Sippys for allegedly attempting to cash in on the popularity of the 1975 classic Sholay , has changed his film's title to Ram Gopal Varma Ki Aag . Both Varma and Sascha Sippy, grandson of G P Sippy, the producer of Sholay, claim to have come out trumps in the Sholay -versus- Sholay battle. The Sippys had challenged Varma's version of the film, claiming he had violated the trademark and copyright of the original movie by using Sholay in his film's title, apart from using the names of popular characters such as the baddie, Gabbar Singh. Last October, the Sippys got an ex parte order from the Delhi High Court, restraining Varma from using the words Sholay and 'Gabbar' in his film. As the court battle dragged on, Varma completed his film. The issue of copyright on film titles was thrashed out by both sides. Varma's lawyers, Ravi Kadam and Amit Naik, argued that a title had no copyright or trademark, and that any trademark registration of 'Sholay' did not come in Varma's way. "There is no trademark on characters, only on goods," they said, adding that the only thing that mattered in this case was registering the film title with the Indian Motion Picture Association, which Varma had done. And, they added, the Sippys had not raised any objection at the time this was done.
'Sholay' remake clears legal hurdles with new name - July 17, 2007
New Delhi, Ace Bollywood director Ram Gopal Varma's much-talked about remake of superhit "Sholay" is set for release with the Delhi High Court Monday giving it a green signal under the title "Ram Gopal Varma Ki Aag". Sasha Sippy, the grandson of G.P. Sippy who produced the 1970s hit, had approached the court to restrain Varma from releasing his film with word 'Sholay' in its title, as it would be an infringement of trademark and copyright. However, after Varma's counsel Rajiv Nayar submitted that the name of the film had been changed and the movie was ready for release, Justice Gita Mittal dismissed the petition and allowed the producer and director to release the Amitabh Bachchan starrer. Varma has also changed the names of two popular characters, Gabbar Singh and Basanti, to Babban Singh and Ghungroo respectively, the court was told.
Ram Gopal Varma Ki Aag is to hit the theatres on 31st August. And within that very week another Varma film too will be ready for release-the Esha Deol-Fardeen Khan starrer horror flick Darling. Says an insider, "Knowing Varma, I think he may delay the release of his version of Sholay. He does not want two of films of his banner competing with each other at the box-office. But then Ram Gopal Varma may release both his films too just for the kick of it. He would want to know which the audience has preferred."
Anubhav Sinha played pranks on an unsuspecting cast and crew while shooting for Cash in Cape Town
When it comes to the pranks department two actors, Ajay Devgan and Zayed Khan, are considered to be pranksters par excellence. But on the sets of Cash in Cape Town (South Africa) director Anubhav Sinha surpassed them. To his advantage he discovered a pranks shop in Cape Town and managed to lay his hands on something that looked like a brick. Before using it as a prop he decided to make good use of it and having some fun at the cost of the cast and crew. And what better than using props for making people run helter-skelter. Confirms Sinha, "I discovered a brick in a studio that was made of foam but looked as good as a real brick. I would throw the brick on unsuspecting people, who would scream and run away in fear! It was a lot of fun on the sets." Anubhav's first victim was Ayesha Takia. He flung the brick at her and she ran away screaming until she realized that it was only a sponge in the shape of brick. Soon the brick-bug bit Ayesha too and she too had fun hurling it at co-actors. Relates an amused Anubhav, "The only person who was missing was Ajay Devgan as he was not shooting that day. So I took the brick back to the hotel. The next morning my victim had to be Ajay. When I threw the brick at him he simply freaked out." So with all the play happening, did he actually find the time to complete the shoot? "We completed a big action film like Cash with seven actors in 51 days on an outdoor shoot, and that's quite an achievement, considering how playful the entire cast was, throughout."