RE: February 2008 - News - 6

February 19

Auszug:

Ram Gopal Varma finally breaks his silence.

He is a changed person. No longer willing to make films at the drop of a hit.

No more the dial-a-quote wizard, this maverick moviemaker is mellowed, though not melted down. In a no-holds-barred interview with Subhash K Jha, Ramu finally speaks up after months of silence.
...
People believed you had gone into hiding after Aag?
Why would I hide? I've made flops before. Yes,I agree Aag was a special flop. The reason I didn't speak is because there was nothing to say. I went into a phase of introspection.
I now feel I was making films lately with a certain frivolous even callous attitude. I was also making press statements for effect, for shock value. I decided to keep quiet for a while. High time I stopped talking stupidly.

Why do you think your utterances were stupid?
I want to make films that excite me which hopefully will excite the audience. Once you start getting addicted to media interviews you tend to forget you are a filmmaker, and not meant to entertain people through your interviews.
I made Aag out of arrogance. I think I just wanted to be cocky by remaking a film I loved and respected. But when I decided to remake Shiva I wonder what I was thinking!
Earlier it took me three minutes to decide to do a film. Today I'd think a million times before re-doing Shiva. Why would I want to do something so juvenile after having done Satya, Sarkar and Company?

Has Aag changed you?
Yes. But I don't blame anyone else for going wrong in Aag. Mr Amitabh Bachchan trusted me completely in Aag.
He trusted my vision and intention. But I feel my intention was wrong.

You admit that?
When people around you keep saying it's turning out well you tend to get carried away.
Aag was a special flop for me. Just as Sholay was benchmark. Aag was a landmark for me. It was not even a wake up call. It was a slap. If Aag wasn't attached to Sholay it'd have been just another flop.
But because of the Sholay factor my blunder was magnified manifold. It was time for me to take time off to think deeply.

You sound different!
Eventually you are what you are. My intention and objectives are now different. People can say what they want. I know exactly why I worked with the cast that I did in Aag.
When I came to Mumbai to make films I was like a kid in the candy store. I wanted it all. I guess I didn't have the infrastructure or enough time to do justice to all my projects. By the time I realized where I was going wrong it was too late. I was stuck with these projects.
I continued to make callous cocky statements. But somewhere I felt I was going wrong. I'd never again jump into a project because it sounded good on the idea level.
I 'll only do films with scripts and with full objectivity and make sure that it has the potential to get an audience. Nobody realizes mistakes until he gets a solid slap.Aag was that slap.
Making a success isn't in my hands. But making sure that I make films with objectivity is something I can do, and I will.
...
Okay, lastly what is the one lesson that you learnt from the Aag fiasco?
That I need to get it right. Ramesh Sippy was right. I was foolish to attempt Sholay the way I did. At some point of time when I'm ready I want to do it again. This time I won't make the same mistakes.

Quelle: http://www.santabanta.com/cinema.asp?pid=19010

We all know that Ajay Devgan is a fabulous actor. We also know that he’s a trained fighter. And yes, it’s also no secret that he’s a doting husband and father. What you probably don’t know is that Ajay is also a fantabulous cook! Believe it or not, but Ajay can cook any sort’ve cuisine, from Chinese to Mughlai dishes. When he has the time he even spends time in the kitchen making Hyderabadi biryani from scratch. Ajay says that he picked up his culinary skills from his Dad, who is also a brilliant cook. Well, now you know why Kajol has a treadmill at home…it’s to get fit again after pigging on her hubby’s home-cooked meals! Here’s the couple in U Me Aur Hum!

Quelle: http://www.b4utv.com/b4umovies/programmes/page11.shtml

Tuesday, February 19 2008

Ajay Devgan and Kajol are one of the most respected pairs in Bollywood and the two stay away from limelight as much as possible. The couple, known for their low profile appearance before the media, is leaving no stone unturned as they promote their latest flick, U, Me Aur Hum.

The set of L'il Champs was in for great fun as Anamika and Kajol took to 'Bengalism' with phrases like 'Khub bhalo' coming out!!While 'Punjab Da Putter' Rohanpreet mesmerized Kajol with 'Ladki badhi anjaani hai', Ajay Devgan took to the stage as a singer to give his maiden stage performance. Where did this idea come from? Well, the credit goes to the little girl Anamika, who came up with this song request. Ajay set the stage on fire with 'Chingari koi bhadke', the number which he had tried in the film 'Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam', and also walked away with the special gift offered by Mother Dairy kids for the Best Performer.

The episode on Saturday had the essence and flavour of 'Love' as this cozy couple shower their love all over. To top it all, Rohanpreet had a gift to offer to the couple on the occasion of their Wedding Anniversary, next week.

Quelle: http://entertainment.oneindia.in/televis...mps-190208.html

February 19

People keep asking me how I decided that this was the right time to direct my own film. To be honest, I don't really know if this is the right time or not, but I know that this is a story I wanted to tell. A story I believed in. And felt strongly about. As they say, one from the heart.

Why this particular story? I can list many reasons, but the most important, and the primary reason for me to want to make this film, is its positivity. I've noticed that people these days have become more cynical and less optimistic than before. They tend to naturally have a negative outlook about things. Especially with regards to love, relationships, feelings, marriage, the works.

In today's scientific world, everyone seems to be looking for tangible justifications for things they do. Even with regards to love, people spend hours theorizing about chemical reactions in the body, the impact of hormones and other such clinical things. My question is - where has all our romance gone? Why this obsession with rationale? Why do we hesitate to accept that it is possible, that deep within, one soul makes a connection with another - instinctively, impulsively, immediately?

Love at first sight. Happy marriages. Soul mates. These are concepts I believe in. I know that they exist. And as a result, they are important elements of my film.

A lot of people question the institution of marriage, or blame it when problems arise. I feel that in a marriage, or any relationship for that matter, problems are inevitable, and 'giving up' should be one's last option. However, an increasing number of people just prefer to give up at the first sign of trouble. Relationships, especially marriages, deserve better.

The fact of the matter is that any relationship needs work. A huge amount of effort is needed to keep a relationship going strong. And if love is the basis of the relationship, making this effort comes naturally, and is enjoyable. When this effort to maintain the magic in one's relationship is inadequate, cracks begin to appear. But the concept of marriage is not to blame for this. The people in it are. Because solutions always exist, but people just tend to concentrate on the problems alone.

Now I sound like I'm preaching! This film is not made with the intention of being a sermon about relationships. Nor is it made to prove my talent as a director. And it is definitely not my intention to change the way people think or live their lives. A film is meant to entertain you. To give you your money's worth. To give you a good time, at least as long as it lasts. And that is what I have set out to do. I hope I succeed.

And in addition to entertaining you, if it makes you just spare a thought about the state of your relationship, or encourage you to make an improvement in it, then my success will be so much greater.

Quelle: http://www.bharatstudent.com/cafebharat/...?id=18953&cat=1

20th Feb 2008 16.30 IST; By ApunKaChoice

When Ajay Devgan first heard the unplugged version of the title track of his film U Me Aur Hum , the actor’s eyes welled up.

Ajay Devgan has given his labour, his time, his passion, his money and his heart to his upcoming film ‘U Me Aur Hum’, which the actor describes as a story he genuinely wanted to tell.

The movie, which marks Devgan’s debut as a director, has songs composed by his good friend Vishal Bhardwaj .

Vishal, who is one of the outstanding music directors in Bollywood, normally doesn’t take music assignments anymore, but he made an exception for Devgan.

And the film’s mellifluous title track turned out to Devgan’s satisfaction. The number is sung by Shreya Ghosal.

Apart from this, Bhardwaj privately recorded an unplugged version of the same song in his own voice. And one day, when he played the track to Devgan, the actor got so emotional listening to it that he had tears in his eyes.

In an instant, Devgan told Bhardwaj that he wanted to use the unplugged version in the film and in the music album.

Vishal says he took Devgan’s emotional response to the song as a compliment. It meant that the track was impactful.

‘U Me Aur Hum’ is a story about relationships. The film stars Kajol opposite Devgan. It is set to hit the theatres in April.

Quelle: http://www.apunkachoice.com/scoop/bollywood/20080220-2.html

IndiaGlitz [Wednesday, February 20, 2008]

Roles getting swapped happen in the blink of an eye in tinsel town, and Bollywood is no exception. The hero-heroine pair becomes father and daughter, mother and son, or siblings, as the script demands.

The latest in this category is ‘Golmaal Returns’ that will see Tusshar and Kareena as siblings. Tusshar, it seems, will once again appear in a mute and hearing impaired role.

But is Tusshar not worried that once he plays Kareena’s brother the industry might type cast him for similar roles in future too?

He need not fear because we have seen many such films with lead actors as siblings in one film and as lovers in their next, and both becoming smash hits. Reports suggest that Tusshar had suggested some examples too like the film ‘Josh’ where SRK and Aish were shown as siblings and their next film together was ‘Mohabbatein’ which essayed them as sweethearts, and both were hits.

It seems Tusshar has said that he would love to play an intense romance story with Kareena as his pair in future.

We too would love to see you both as a romantic couple on screen yet again, Tusshar!

Quelle: http://www.indiaglitz.com/channels/hindi/article/36702.html

By Businessofcinema.com Team; 21 February 2008, 12:55 AM

Auszug:

Eros International and Big Screen Entertainment's One Two Three music was released at the hands of Ajay Devgan and Jeetendra on Wednesday night.
...

Quelle: http://www.businessofcinema.com/boc/?file=story&id=7109

Da werde ich doch mal auf die Suche nach Bildern dazu gehen!

February 21, 2008 9:25:45 PM IST
Joginder Tuteja, Bollywood Trade News Network

Auszug:

2008 is hardly different from 2007 when it comes to fresh talent trying to make its presence felt in the industry. While 2007 had a record 35 odd debutant directors coming up with a project apiece, 2008 is also fast catching up on the number.

In the month of April itself, there would be at least three film makers arriving with their first ever project. Incidentally each of these projects is an A-grade project and hence leaves little room for complacency.
...
On the same day, Ajay Devgan would also see his name in the credits for director. After being in the business for more than a decade and a half, Ajay Devgan has only taken a next logical step into directing U ME AUR HUM. This is a debut which would be observed keenly, especially in wake of another actor, Aamir Khan, making giant leaps as a film maker with the blockbuster success of TAARZE ZAMEEN PAR.
...
With Jaideep Sen, Ajay Devgan and Vijay Krishna Acharya creating a hat trick of sorts at the box office this April, this is certainly going to be one fun-filled month!

Quelle: http://www.glamsham.com/movies/scoops/08...pril-020812.asp

February 21, 2008 9:04:05 PM IST
Joginder Tuteja, Bollywood Trade News Network

Not much has been happening at the music stands in the current times.

Except for sustained sales of JAB WE MET and some competition at the top with new entrants RACE and JODHAA AKBAR, music stores have been left wanting for chartbuster soundtracks. Due to February / March time frame being relatively 'thanda', even music companies have shied away from releasing any new Bollywood scores.

In such a scenario, U ME AUR HUM comes as a welcome relief. Composed by Vishal Bhardwaj and written by Munna Dhiman, the songs in the film boast of some good music which provides quite an earful for those looking for sheer melody. The songs are rendered by Adnan Sami, Shreya Ghoshal and Sunidhi Chauhan and make quite an impression due to their originality.

All of this has ensured that U ME AUR HUM at the stands not just promises to end the drought, but also bring on smiles on the faces of Bollywood music followers who had been waiting for a quality score to arrive for long.

Quelle: http://www.glamsham.com/movies/scoops/08...ught-020809.asp

Ajay Devgan and Kajol

Not content twiddling his thumbs till a filmmaker cast them together, Devgan takes the directorial plunge this year with U Me Aur Hum, a film that -- from its promos -- seems almost like a love-letter for Kajol. Aww.

Don't expect the now-ubiquitous Shah Rukh Khan cameo, but if the music is anything to go by, Devgan might surprise us very pleasantly indeed.

Quelle: http://specials.rediff.com/movies/2008/feb/21slide5.htm

Posted On Friday, February 22, 2008

Rakesh Roshan requests Ajay Devgan to delay the release of U, Me Aur Hum fearing clash with his next production Krazzy

Rakesh Roshan may not be too happy to release his next production Krazzy 4, featuring Arshad Warsi, Irrfan Khan, Rajpal Yadav, Suresh Menon, Dia Mirza and Juhi Chawla on April 11. The film is pitted against Ajay Devgan's directorial debut U, Me Aur Hum, which releases on the same day, and understandably Roshan Sr fears stiff competition.

Roshan Sr has already made customary calls to Ajay Devgan requesting him to delay his film by a week or so. However, Devgan wasn't in a mood to budge and decided against making any changes to the release date. A source close to the actor-turned-director informs, "Yes, Rakesh Roshan had requested Ajay to delay the release of his film by a few weeks. However, Ajay didn't want to compromise and clearly told the filmmaker that he wasn't in a position to make any changes."

Apparently, Devgan had already made marketing and distribution strategies ahead of the release of the film and any changes in the release date would have led to other problems, indicate sources. The story goes that there is immense expectation from U, Me Aur Hum as Devgan and wife Kajol are coming together in a film after almost eight years. An industry insider says, "Ajay and Kajol were last seen in Raju Chacha, which released in 2000. Obviously, most of their fans are eagerly waiting for this film. Krazzy 4 has to face competition in the coming days." By refusing Roshan to delay, it would be fair to say that Devgan ne Krazzy kiya re!

Quelle: http://www.mumbaimirror.com/net/mmpaper....213882347c40d65