RE: November 2007 - News - 2

Ajay-Vidya starrer to entertain in Halla Bol

Raj Kumar Santoshi’s next release Halla Bol featuring Ajay Devgan and Vidya Balan has been in the news from quite some time.

About the film, director Santoshi says, “It’s my take on an actor’s conscience and its awakening.

But it isn’t preachy or solemn.I’ve tried to keep the message as entertaining as possible.”

Quelle: http://www.radiosargam.com/films/archive...-halla-bol.html

Kajol’s idea of a perfect home

According to actress Kajol, a perfect home is one that has loads of harmony.

Kajol describes, “A perfect home is one which has 60-70 percent of harmony. You can never have 100 percent of it, as small tiffs are inevitable.

Moreover, if the kitchen is great what else can you ask for.”

Quelle: http://www.radiosargam.com/films/archive...rfect-home.html

Dress stress

The photo shoot of Ajay Devgan starrer Sunday was held up because of some problem with the actor’s costume


kapde kahaan? Ajay Devgan

Yesterday, the photo shoot for the publicity posters of Rohit Shetty’s film Sunday had a hiccup. Reason? The mess-up of one of the star’s outfits during the shoot. The film, produced by Kumar Mangat, stars Ajay Devgan, Ayesha Takia, Irrfan Khan and Arshad Warsi.

Anxious moments
It is learnt that all the stars were present for the shoot of the film’s stills at Mehboob Studios, Bandra. But just when everything was being set up, they realised there was a problem with one of Devgan’s outfits.

Says an onlooker, “The problem was with one particular outfit of Devgan which was to be worn by him during the shoot. We were told by his designer, Anna Singh that the outfit would reach only the next day. So there were some anxious moments at the shoot.”

Costume gayab?
The outspoken Anna laughs at the allegation, “There was no question of any of Ajay’s outfits being sent the next day! The film’s publicity posters have the stars in the same outfits that they wear in the film. As the shooting is complete, all of Ajay’s outfits including the accessories are with them.

My assistant was present early at the shoot. All that he had to do was to ensure that everything was ironed and kept ready for Ajay.”
The designer further adds that she even dropped in at the studios for a while. “It was during the third change of outfits and I just went to say hi to Ajay.”

Blame game
Adds Anna, “I cannot be blamed as all the outfits are with them. Sometimes we do get frantic calls during photo shoots about accessories like belts, but even this is all with the production house. Guess there must’ve been something from their side. Sometimes, during shoots, some of the outfits get spoiled during a fight sequence. I guess it had something to do with Ajay’s cop costume.”

Director Rohit Shetty says, “There was no photo shoot done with Ajay in a cop’s uniform. Everything went off well and Ajay left at 2.30 pm after the shoot was completed. There was no problem with any costume; everything went off well.”

Quelle: http://www.mid-day.com/hitlist/2007/november/166815.htm

Ajay Devgan, Aamir, Akshay clash at the marquee - November 13

The Jessica Lal murder case has caught the attention of director Raj Kumar Santoshi, who has made films like The Legend of Bhagat Singh and Khakee. His latest film, Halla Bol, starring Ajay Devgan and Vidya Balan, is about this incident.

Santoshi highlights this case which rocked the nation for seven years. Jessica was murdered in 1999 while serving at a bar in New Delhi by Manu Sharma, son of an influential political leader.

Jessica's family never got justice and they ran from from pillar to post. Seven years later, the media and social activists intervened and the case was reopened.

The court finally convicted Manu and sent him to prison for life, thus bringing justice to the family.

Halla Bol has been in the making for quite a long time and did not find any takers until Chennai-based company, Pyaramid Saimira group, intervened and acquired the film recently.

Halla Bol releases on December 21, along with Aamir Khan's Taare Zameen Par and Anees Bazmee's Welcome.

Quelle: http://in.rediff.com/movies/2007/nov/13halla.htm

Pyramid Saimira charts out Bollywood plans

Following the IPO announcement of Pyramid Saimira Productions, the Chennai based company has now made its foray into Bollywood. The first step towards this has been made by acquiring the worldwide distribution rights of Rajkumar Santoshi's Halla Bol from The Indian Film Company.

The film stars Ajay Devgan, Vidya Balan, Pankaj Kapur and Darshan Jariwala and is set for release on 21 December along with Taare Zameen Par and Welcome.

Pyramid Saimira is also in talks to acquire Mumbai based cinema advertising company Dimple Cine Advertising. The company was founded by Nari Karam-Chandani in 1992 and is in the exhibition of ad films and slides in-cinemas and multiplexes across the country. The company also plans to start a state of art animation studio and a post production facility.

While recently Pyramid Saimira distributed Om Shanti Om in Tamil Nadu and Kerela across 35 theatres; it will distribute Halla Bol in South India and also in the Bombay territory. "The rights for remaining territories may be sold out," says Pyramid Saimira COO Mukesh Mehta.

Mehta also informed that Om Shanti Om grossed Rs 80 lakh in three days in the Tamil Nadu and Kerela territories.

Pyramid Saimira has so far focused on southern states and overseas expansion. After consolidating its presence in South India, it has now turned its attention on Mumbai. The money being raised through the IPO will be utilized for the production of 60 films in Bollywood and south Indian languages.

"A total of 12 Bollywood films, either by way of production or acquisition of distribution rights will be worked upon by us. We may also acquire English films for distribution," informs Mehta.

Pyramid has also taken over six theatres in Mumbai, which are being renovated and will be up and running within six months. The theatres include Liberty (Churchgate), Central Plaza (Charni Road), Sahkar Plaza (Chembur), Palace (Byculla), Super (Lamington Road), Uday (Ghatkopar). These theatres will be renamed as Liberty Pyramid, Central Plaza Pyramid and so on. "Uday will be renovated into a three screen multiplex. We will also put digital installations at theatres, which do not have them already. Since we manage food and beverage, all these theatres will have our canteens and Liberty will have a restaurant on the ground floor," says Mehta.

Apart from Mumbai city, plans are afoot for expansion in the entire Mumbai territory. "We plan to have 100 screens in Mumbai territory by March 2008. We are also in talks with existing multiplexes for acquisition. Either the theatre or the location has to be good for us to acquire it," says Mehta.

Quelle: http://www.businessofcinema.com/boc/?file=story&id=5797

Ajay and Vidya at a filmi do

What’s the best form of entertainment for Mumbaiites? Films — and everything related to films — for in aamchi Mumbai, everyone raises a toast to Bollywood.

Celebrating the magic of movies and also his upcoming venture at the Grand Sangam Ballroom at the J W Marriott on Monday evening was filmmaker Rakjumar Santoshi.

Of course, when Santoshi hosts a do, you can expect Bollywood’s biggies to attend. And this was no different.

The otherwise reclusive Ajay Devgan was all smiles here, as he willingly obliged the cameras along with Vidya Balan. Other directors present included Sunil Darshan and Anant Mahadevan.

Darshan ‘Gandhi’ Jariwala looked different in a suit, while Mukesh Tiwari was also seen enjoying the filmi evening.

Quelle: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Mumba...how/2537879.cms

Ajay tries to break his bad spell at the BO with Halla Bol - November 13

Filmmaker Rajkumar Santoshi’s Halla Bol, which has been in production for quite sometime, is finally going to see the light of the day.

Contrary to numerous media reports that say Halla Bol is based on the real life incident of Jassica Lall murder case, Santoshi says that his film has nothing to do with the late model’s life.

“Yes, there is a character like Jessica Lall in my film but it is not entirely inspired from the case,” Santoshi said.

Along with his favourite actor Ajay Devgan, this time Santoshi has casted Vidya Balan and Pankaj Kapoor in the main roles.

“In Halla Bol my character evolves from playing a reel life hero to a real life hero. It’s about how an ordinary man’s life changes,” Devgan said.

While Vidya said that the film sends a message “that one should always say halla bol when something wrong happens.”

After a brief spell the Santoshi-Devgan combo will once again be seen on the big screen. But will Halla Bol give Devgan what Ram Gopal Verma Kii Aag and Cash didn’t?

We will have the answer to that question when the film hits the screen on December 21.

Quelle: http://www.ibnlive.com/news/ajay-tries-t...ol/52200-8.html

Video dazu: http://www.ibnlive.com/videos/52200/ajay...-halla-bol.html

Await big clash in Christmas

The clash of the titans this Diwali -- OM SHANTI OM and SAAWARIYA -- is still being written about and discussed by one and all. But await another clash this Christmas, for as many as three biggies -- Firoz A. Nadiadwala/Anees Bazmee’s WELCOME, Rajkumar Santoshi’s HALLA BOL and Aamir Khan’s TAARE ZAMEEN PAR -- are confirmed for release on 21st December.

In the past, Christmas wasn’t eyed by producers as vigorously, but 2007 is an exception. Reason: The producers are not only looking at the opening Friday-Sunday weekend, but Monday and Tuesday holidays as well, which makes it a 5-day weekend.

What makes this clash all the more significant is the fact that it’s for the first time that three corporate entities are pitted against one another. While Studio 18 is distributing WELCOME and PVR is involved in TAARE ZAMEEN PAR, Pyramid Saimira has acquired the worldwide rights of HALLA BOL.

Quelle: http://indiafm.com/news/2007/11/13/10406/index.html

Ten on ten to Ajay – the cook

Kajol cannot stop raving about her talented husband Ajay Devgan who is a perfectionist even in the kitchen.

According to Kajol, her husband Ajay Devgan manages to cook delicious Mughlai and Chinese cuisine.

Says Kajol, “I am a bad cook! My husband cooks really well and makes mouth-watering food varying from Mughlai to Chinese. He is a multitalented person.”

Quelle: http://www.radiosargam.com/films/archive...3-the-cook.html

When Ajay shocked Vidya!

Vidya Balan narrated to us the prank that her Halla Bol co-star Ajay Devgan played on her on sets that left her shocked!

"We were shooting for Halla Bol and in between two shots I was discussing my scene with Raj-ji (maker of the film, Rajkumar Santoshi). Ajay came to us and started talking to Raj-ji discussing about a new song he recently recorded for Halla Bol. They both were praising it to skies," Vidya reveals.

Quelle: http://news.indya.com/newsDetails.aspx?x...ws_20071113_100

Ashoka The Different

Rajkumar Santoshi's next is based on the life of King Ashoka. The director claims that his film, starring Ajay Devgan and Bipasha Basu, will be completely different from other versions

Yet another period film is coming up from director Rajkumar Santoshi. Before commencing work on Ramayana, Santoshi will start work on his next which is based on the life of Ashoka, The Great.

Like in Santoshi's other films, Ajay Devgan has been signed to play the protagonist in Ashoka, too. Bipasha Basu will play the female lead. Slated to go on the floors in early January, the film will be shot in various parts of Thailand, Malaysia, Bangkok and on sets in Mumbai. Santoshi confirms, “Yes, it is true that I am making a film on the life of King Ashoka and we have tentatively titled it Ashoka, The Great. It is a fascinating subject. We have already signed Ajay Devgan to play the lead role of Ashoka. As for the female lead, Bipasha has agreed.” Ajay Devgan and Santoshi have worked in many films including Lajja, The Legend of Bhagat Singh and Khakee, etc.

In 2001, Santosh Sivan cast Shah Rukh Khan in his Asoka, too, but it failed to make an impact on audiences. How different will Santoshi's Ashoka be from the SRK starrer? Santoshi says, “It will be completely different. Our film starts from the Kalinga war while Sivan's ended there. The war marked a crucial turning point in the king's life and my film deals with the king's life after the war.”

The film will go on the floors in early January. “We will shoot the film in the forest areas of Malaysia, Bangkok and Thailand. We are done with the script and the research work and we are putting together the rest of the cast,” says Santoshi.

As for his other film, Ramayana, he says, “Ajay Devgan and Kajol have been signed for the title roles of Ram and Sita in Ramayana. We will unveil our Hanuman in December. Ramayana will go on the floors after I finish filming Ashoka.”

Quelle: http://www.mumbaimirror.com/net/mmpaper....25351140c2a66a0

Epic Stories

Does Halla Bol convey a social message like most of your other films?
Yes, it is the story of a film star and his awakening as a socially responsible human being. The title implies the voice of one’s conscience to fight against injustice. I believe in raising pertinent issues through my films — sometimes I’ve been successful, sometimes not.

You consider this your duty as a filmmaker.
Not really. I am just a socially aware citizen and cinema is my medium of communication. The main purpose of films is to entertain and I have made movies like Andaaz Apna Apna, which is a wholesome comedy, and out-and-out action films like Ghayal.

Hindi cinema is changing. Have your sensibilities as a director too changed?
Throughout my career, I have attempted different subjects and themes. A film like Andaaz... was something very new in the early 1990s. I experimented with the style of narration in Lajja. I hope the audience is now open to more unconventional subjects.

Halla Bol is coming up almost two years after your last film, Family.
After Family, I intended to make Samna, which was withheld. It dealt with a controversial issue related to religion and I felt the time was not right for such a film. However, I plan to revive the project sometime soon.

Is Ashoka your next film?
Yes. We are supposed to start shoot in January. The film has Ajay Devgan and Bipasha Basu.

The last film on the emperor was a failure. Didn’t that bother you?
The fact that I have taken up the subject, despite the failure of Asoka, speaks about my conviction. The story is fascinating and promises extraordinary drama and intrigue. Besides, Asoka ended with the battle of Kalinga, while mine will begin after it.

You’re also making Ramayana with Ajay Devgan and Kajol.
We plan to start next Diwali. It will be one of the biggest films made in India with top international technicians and locations in the virgin forests of Africa. The Ramayana still has a universal appeal and is immensely dramatic.

Quelle: http://www.expressindia.com/latest-news/...ories/239158/1/