July 22nd, 2009 - 10:33 am ICT by sampurn By Joginder Tuteja
Recently it was reported that for her latest film production ‘Once Upon A Time In Mumbai’, Ekta Kapoor hiked the art direction budget from Rs 8 crores to Rs 15 crores. Apparently, she had seen the rushes of this Milan Luthria directed film and was left so much impressed that she didn’t hesitate in upping the film’s budget even as numerous film makers are busy with cut downs. So what was it in the rushes that made Ekta Kapoor go gaga? Well, a little birdie informs that it was the presence of a certain Emraan Hashmi that did the trick. Says the source, “The film’s first schedule is through and around 25 percent of the principal shoot is over. Emraan Hashmi has a tailor made role in the film and what he has done so far is simply fabulous. It was his bravura act that made her jump with excitement.” “For a film with a subject like this (70s underworld), it was always necessary to have a lavish budget for the film. Ekta wanted to first see what has been made so far and then make a decision. Emraan’s performance is what convinced her further and she was totally on board to spend those extra crores”, she adds. In the film’s first schedule, Emraan and Prachi Desai had participated in the shoot. Ajay Devgan is yet to shoot for the film and would be joining from the second schedule onwards.
It is going to be a battle worth a watch as three biggies are all set to clash on the Republic Day weekend. Amitabh Bachchan’s Rann, Aamir Khan’s 3 Idiots and Ranbir Kapoor’s Rajneeti are slated now to release on January 22nd 2010.
Ramu’s Rann was earlier planned for October 2nd release date but following the censorship issues about his Jana Gana song he seems to have decided to push the release ahead. Rajkumar Hirani’s 3 Idiots starring Aamir, Kareena Kapoor, Madhavan and Sharman Joshi was slated for a December 25th 2009 release date but again with the dates shuffling post the two months strike, it won’t be possible for Aamir to make a Christmas Day hat-trick. Rajneeti on the other hand was always slated for a January 22nd release date. This Prakash Jha film is carrying excellent reports and also stars Katrina Kaif, Ajay Devgan, Nana Patekar and Arjun Rampal in it.
A trade insider tells us, “It will be battle royale no doubt about it even if one of these films chicken out. Each film has its strong points and worthy contenders.”
Another trade analyst says, “Though they may clash into each other, with the extended weekend they would get with the Republic Day holiday each one will manage to get their required space. But what a feast it would be for the audience!”
übersetzt von soulsurfer: Also: RAJNITI trifft am 22. Januar 2010 jetzt auf 3 IDIOTS mit Aamir und RANN mit Amitabh ... RAJNITI war ursprünglich allein auf diesem Termin (Republic Day Wochenende). Dem Film werden aber mit seiner hochklassigen Besetzung trotzdem gute Chancen eingeräumt.
The couple met on the sets of their first movie together HULCHUL, and love just happened as Ajay puts it, between the introvert and the vivacious actress. With ten years of marital bliss, for Ajay it is still about U, ME AND HUM with Kajol and daughter Nysa. ...
Ajay Devgan is determined not to copy Haji Mastan when he plays the smuggler-turned-film producer in Milan Luthria's 'Once Upon A Time' in Mumbai. Devgan admits that Haji Mastan inspires the character though he'll stay away from copying the don. Devgan cites cinematic liberties for example when he played Mahesh Bhatt in 'Zakhm'. Haji Mastan forayed into Bollywood with 'Mere Garib Nawaz' (1973) and was also a successful distributor. Known for his friendship with the legendary actor Dilip Kumar, Mastan took to politics later. He died in 1994. Amitabh Bachchan's character in the 1975 super hit film 'Deewaar' was modeled on Haji Mastan and now it's Ajay's turn to bring him alive on screen once again.
Ajay has consulted lots of material on the notorious smuggler and taken cues from Big B. From playing Bhagat Singh to now Haji Mastan is a long journey for Ajay though both are quite starkly different. 'Once Upon A Time' in Mumbai will also focus on an aspect of Mastan's life that 'Deewaar' didn't touch on - the smuggler's liaison with starlet Sona, who apparently bore a close resemblance to the legendary 'Madhubala'.
übersetzt von soulsurfer: Devgan schlüpft in die Rolle des Don Ajay Devgan hat die feste Absicht, keine platte Kopie von Haji Mastan in seiner Interpretation des zum Produzenten mutierten Schmugglerkönigs in Milan Luthrias OUATIM zu liefern. Er gesteht zwar zu, dass Haji Mastan Inspirationen für die Filmfigur geliefert hat, will aber seinen Don nicht zur Kopie verkommen lassen. Diese künstlerische Freiheit hat er sich bereits genommen, als er in Mahesh Bhatts ZAKHM spielte. Haji Mastan machte mit 'Mere Garib Nawaz' (1973) einen Ausflug ins Bollywoodbusiness und betätigte sich erfolgreich als Distributor. Mit dem legendären Schauspieler Dilip Kumar war er befreundet, später ging er dann sogar in die Politik. Haji Mastan starb 1994. Bereits Amitabh Bachchans Darstellung in DEEWAAR (1975) war an die Figur des Haji Mastan angelehnt, und jetzt in Ajay an der Reihe, ihm auf der Leinwand Leben einzuhauchen. Ajay hat Unmengen von Material über den bekannten Schmuggler gesichtet und sich Anregungen von Big B. geholt. Von Bhagat Singh zu Haji Mastan ist es ein weiter Weg für Ajay. Die Charaktere sind ziemlich kontrovers. OUATIM wird sich außerdem auf einen Aspekt von Mastans Leben konzentrieren, den DEEWAAR außen vor gelassen hat - seine Liason mit dem Starlet Sona, die der legendären Madhubala ziemlich ähnlich gesehen haben soll.
Arjun Rampal in a candid talk about Meher, Rajneeti and Housefull
22.07.09
Zitat ... Ajay Devgan and Manoj Bajpai:
Ajay Devgan is a complete natural actor. He is a treat for any director. A classic actor. Manoj Bajpai is very theatrical in nature of his acting. He is a genuine gift for any producer director. They both are Indian Film Industry's best we will ever have. Both have given their best ever shot at Rajneeti. You can only be as good as what you are and they both have proved that every time they've faced the camera...
Zitat... Shah has quietly finished the script for his next film starring Akshay while shooting "London Dreams", an India-Britain co-production which went on floors last month.
Shah has signed Ajay Devgan and Salman Khan to play lead roles in "London Dreams" but clarifies that Akshay will remain a common feature in most of his films.
"You see, Akshay remains a constant. But like I said I am working with Ajay and Salman for the first time. And I felt equally at home. So I'll be working with them again for sure," he said. ...
Bipasha Basu will team up with Ajay Devgan and Akshaye Khanna in Kumar Mangat’s new film on honour killings based on a 2001 Times of India report.
Bipasha, who’ll work with Priyadarshan for the first time, is excited about the film. “I enjoy Priyan Sir’s films a lot,’’ says the Bong beauty. “This film has a nice story and it has got amazing actors.’’ News also has it that Bips and Ajay get along famously. Reports say that Ajay recently presented his heroine a high-end mobile phone. Priyadarshan is also happy that Bipasha has been chosen to play the solo-female lead in the film. “Without giving away much, I’d like to say the heroine’s character has many shades. All actresses talk of wanting to do different work, but few rise to the challenge. Most want to tread the traditional path. I’m glad Bipasha has picked up the gauntlet,’’ says Priyadarshan.
übersetzt von soulsurfer: Hmm, hier taucht er wieder auf, der mysteriöse nächste Film von Priyadarshan, produziert von Kumar Mangat. Ajay, Akshaye und Bips in den Hauptrollen. Eine Geschichte um Ehrenmorde aus dem Jahre 2001, also nicht die übliche Priyadarshan-Komödie. Titel? Fehlanzeige ...
28 Jul, 2009 07:23 pm ISTlURVASHI ASHAR/INDIATIMES MOVIES
Ajay Devgan, Bipasha Basu, Akshaye Khanna in Priyadarshan’s next
Just as filmmaker Priyadarshan seemed obsessed with mindless comedy, he decided to get serious after all. He is all set to embark upon a project that quite falls in the genre of his Sazaa-e-Kaala Paani, Gardish... Priyan will direct a movie based on caste-wars set in India. When we got in touch with the director, he told us, “In Northern India there are many cases of inter-caste marriages, and sometimes children are even killed for daring to opt for inter-caste marriages. There have been many articles from the Times of India that gives a base to our story and script. In fact, the movie, a thriller, is based on an enquiry commission.”
This film will see Akshay Khanna play a CBI officer, Ajay Devgan as a Major deputed for the case and Bipasha Basu plays Akshaye Khanna’s ex-girlfriend. However Priyadarshan says that the icing on the cake is Paresh Rawal who will play the villain this time round. “Paresh always complaints that I make him the laughing stock, so he is all geared up to resurrect his career of playing a serious, horrible villain in this film,” says Priyan.
The yet-to-be-titled movie will be shot in two schedules - September and January and will release sometime in 2010.
übersetzt von soulsurfer: Nachdem Filmemacher Priyadarshan bisher eher für hirnlose Komödien bekannt war, hat er sich jetzt zu einem Ausflug ins Ernsthafte entschieden. Er wird einen Streifen über Kastenauseinandersetzungen drehen. Auf Anfrage erzählte uns der Regisseur: "In Nordindien gibt es viele Heiraten zwischen Mitgliedern unterschiedlicher Kasten, trotzdem werden deswegen manchmal sogar junge Leute umgebracht. Es gab viele Artikel darüber in der TOI, die unserem Drehbuch als Grundlage für die Geschichte dienten. Der Film, ein Thriller, beschäftigt sich mit den Vorgängen rund um eine Untersuchungskommission." Akshay Khanna spielt einen CBI Offizier, Ajay Devgan einen Major, der für den Fall abkommandiert wurde, und Bipasha Basu Khannas Exfreundin. Trotzdem wird Paresh Rawal die Überraschungsrolle haben, wie Priyadarshan sagt, denn er wird den Schurken spielen: "Paresh beklagt sich immer, dass ich einen Idioten aus ihm mache, sodass er ganz wild darauf ist, den ersthaften Bösewicht zu geben." Der noch namenlose Streifen wird in zwei Abschnitten im September 2009 und Januar 2010 gedreht und irgendwann 2010 veröffentlicht werden.
VICKEY LALWANI , MUMBAI MIRROR 28 July 2009, 08:58am IST
Model-turned-actress Mugdha Godse had hoped to celebrate her birthday on Sunday (July 26) in grand style with her friends from the modelling and film world. But she was disappointed on her big day as the cast and crew of her forthcoming film, All The Best, didn’t turn up, despite being invited.
On July 17, we had written that all was not well between Mugdha and Bipasha Basu on the sets of All The Best. Though both denied that there were any problems between them, Bipasha not turning up at Mugdha’s do confirms the issue. Probably, Bipasha is no mood to patch up. But why did Ajay Devgan, Fardeen Khan and director Rohit Shetty not attend the bash despite being invited?
Our source said, “There was no reason why nobody else (apart from Bipasha) from All The Best did not attend Mugdha’s bash. She was constantly looking at the entrance hoping that her colleagues from the film would drop by.”
Although her boyfriend Mithun Purandhare, was constantly by her side and tried to lift her spirits, Mugdha was disappointed by the no show of the All The Best cast and crew.
Mugdha remained unavailable for comment. However her spokesperson said, “Mugdha had hosted a quiet dinner. Rohit Shetty had a social engagement to attend. As for Ajay Devgan, I know he was shooting till late night for Once Upon a Time in Mumbai and had to report for the same early next morning.”
However, in attendance were her friends from the fashion world, models and designers and so were Madhur Bhandarkar, her Fashion director, and co-stars Priyanka Chopra (Fashion) and Neil Nitin Mukesh (Jail).
übersetzt von soulsurfer: Sieht fast so aus ... oder aber es handelt sich um einen aufgebauschten Fall von Zickenkrieg. Zum Inhalt: Mugda war enttäuscht, dass kein einziger von ihren ATB-Kollegen auf ihre Geburtstagsfeier kam - trotz ausdrücklicher Einladung. Vorher sei nur etwas von Missstimmungen zwischen Bips und Mugda bekannt gewesen ...
Emraan Hashmi may have his set of fan following, but when it comes to hero worshipping, Emran admits that if there is anyone in Bolywood he truly admires it’s Bollywood’s brooding star Ajay Devgan.
The star who’s lip locked with his all his heroines these days is jumping with joy because his dream to work with his childhood idol was recently fulfilled when he signed Once upon a time in Mumba with Ajay i.“I was in the 9th grade when his first film released. Little did I know that after 15 years, he would hire goons to bash me up on a ship deck,”laughs Emraan.
What more could Emran ask for now? Sources say he’s playing the role of Dawood Ibrahim while Ajay will be seen in Haji Mastaan’s role. “I was quite skeptical to do this film earlier but I am enjoying now. And is an extremely chilled out person, and a great actor to work with, but I am a bigger prankster than him”, announces Emmi with pride.
übersetzt von soulsurfer: Emraan Hashmi mag seine eigenen Fans haben, aber es um wahre Heldenverehrung geht, geht Emraan, dass es überhaupt nur einen wirklich bewundert - Bollywoods grüblerischen Star Ajay Devgan. Der Schauspieler, der all seine Heroinen küsst, ist außer sich vor Freude, weil sein Kindheitstraum sich endlich erfüllt und er mit seinem Idol in OUATIM zusammenarbeiten darf. "Ich war in der neunten Klasse, als sein erster Film herauskam. Wer hätte damals gedacht, dass er 15 Jahre später ein paar Ganoven damit beauftragen würde, mich auf einem Schiffsdeck zu vermöbeln", lacht Emraan. Es heißt, dass er die Rolle von Dawood Ibrahim als Gegenpart zu Ajays Haji Mastaan übernimmt. "Ich war vorher ziemlich skeptisch, ob ich die Rolle annehmen sollte, aber jetzt genieße ich es. Ajay ist ein cooler Typ und ein großartiger Schauspieler. Aber ich bin der größere Scherzkeks", verkündet Emraan mit Stolz.
July 31, 2009 12:27:26 PM IST Abid, Bollywood Trade News Network
Our headlines may come as a shocker to many Salman Khan fans but this is not something that we are reporting out of the blue. We have information from very reliable trade sources that Salman Khan is convinced (after finishing most parts of the shooting) that he is playing a supporting role to Ajay Devgan in Vipul Shah's lavishly mounted musical extravaganza, LONDON DREAMS.
This revelation was made by Salman himself, who while participating in the shooting of an important scene realized that Ajay was the main hero of the film. But that did not irritate the temperamental Khan, who was more than happy to do so because as per Salman, if he were the main hero he would have definitely ruined the drama. Whatever that is supposed to mean!!
In their last film together, HUM DIL DE CHUKE SANAM, we had Ajay Devgan playing the supporting role while Salman was the lead actor; however it appears that the tables have turned this time around. But whatever, this film would indeed be worth a watch whenever it releases!
übersetzt von soulsurfer: (...)Salman ist überzeugt davon, dass Ajay Devgan in LD die Hauptrolle spielt. So zumindest sagte er, als er bekanntgab, dass er während des Drehs einer wichtigen Szene erkannt hätte, dass Ajay der eigentlich Held des Films sei. Aber das hat den temperamentvollen Khan nicht weiter gestört, weil er meinte, er als Held des Films hätte das Drama definitiv ruiniert! Was immer das heißen soll! (...)
Mumbai: The great comedian and versatile actor of Bollywood Paresh Rawal started his career as a villain.
In Priyadarshan's blockbuster hit comedy "Hera Pheri", Rawal played an important role of "Baburao Ganpatrao Apte". He has become most evergreen comedy actor in any Priyadarshan movie.
However Priyadarshan says that this time again Paresh Rawal will play as a villain in his forthcoming movie.
Paresh always complaints that I make him the laughing character in his movies, so he is all geared up to reconstruct him in playing serious roles, horrible villains says Priyadarshan.
In this movie, Akshay Khanna is playing the role of CBI officer, Ajay Devgan as a Major deputed for the case and Bipasha Basu plays Akshay Khanna's ex-girlfriend in the lead role and this movie is based on Northern India's many cases of inter-caste marriages, and sometimes children are even killed for daring to opt for inter-caste marriages.
The movie is still untitled and shooting will be started in the month of September and January. It will release sometime in 2010.
Mumbai: The ravishing billo rani of Bollywood Bipasha Basu will be seen in a thriller movie with the macho man of Bollywood actor Sanjay Dutt under the big banner of duo brother directors Abbas and Mustan in the forthcoming movie "Mr. Fraud".
The duo directors have already boomed some of great blockbusters of the Bollywood under their names like Race and Humraaz with melodious hit music.
The other performers like Ajay Devgan, Tanushree Dutta, Anuj Sawhney and comedian Satish Shah will join Bips in the movie under this banner.
The music of this movie will be directed by the music director Himesh Reshmiya, who has changed his skills of voice after a surgery of his vocal chords.
übersetzt von soulsurfer: Wiederbelebung eines totgesagten Films???
Bipasha Basu spielt in einem Thriller namens MR FRAUD zusammen mit Bollywood-Macho Sanjay Dutt unter der Flagge des Regisseurs-Duos Abbas-Mustan. Die Regisseure haben bereits ein paar große Blockbuster wie RACE und HUMRAAZ mit melodiösen Musikhits unter ihrem Namen herausgebracht. Andere Darsteller wie Ajay Devgan, Tanushree Dutta, Anuj Sawhney und Satish Shah werden mit Bips zusammenspielen. Die Musik für den Streifen wird von Himesh Reshmiya kommen, der sich nach einer Operation an den Stimmbändern auf seine anderen Fähigkeiten konzentriert.