Interview with Shahrukh Khan

January 31st, 2009

You are back on television once again but this time as producer.
Yeah...I started my acting career with serials like CIRCUS and FAUJI. I got to learn a lot of things. I got into films because of having worked in serials.

After CIRCUS, you are once again working with Aziz Mirza on the television front.
Yes. Nothing would have been possible without Aziz Mirza's expertise, advice, and guidance. I would have been nowhere without him.

What made you venture into TV when low TRPs have become the order of the day?
You need support and friends who think alike. We have been discussing this since last two-three years. There is risk for sure but NDTV Imagine was confident that we were competitive enough. I want the young people in my film production house Red Chillies to diversify into different arena.

What kind of programmes will your production house churn out?
There is nothing specific that we are planning for television. I have been a film producer for the last eight to nine years and have an acting experience of 20 years. I can bring a difference to television in terms of presentation of content. I will try to bring cinematic value to television.

Why did you choose title GHAR KI BAAT HAI for this sitcom?
It's a good title. It has lyricism in it. We had another title called DEVDAS KI MAUT which was not so happening. The serial is about a family, their neighbours and different situations that they face in life thus its GHAR KI BAAT. If you ask me why comedy, personally I like comedy more than anything else.

Do you think this serial has your Ghar Ki Baat?
Well television industry doesn't have that much money to have a set like my home. Jokes apart, it will have everybody's ghar ki baat with lots of spice. Its first episode has Sumit Raghavan forgetting his anniversary. Interestingly, I haven't forgotten my marriage anniversary yet. Even otherwise there are stories like these happening in my home too.

Will you be making a special appearance in the serial?
Yeah, I will be making A special appearance as and when required. We will try to rope in more special stars if required.

Aamir’s waiting for Christmas yet again!

January 31st, 2009

Christmas seems to be truly merry for Aamir Khan. His earlier films Taare Zameen Par was released on December 21, 2007 and Ghajini on December 25, last year. Now, Vidhu Vinod Chopra, producer of the Aamir starrer 3 idiots plans to release the film on Christmas day itself.

The film’s first schedule was shot in Ladakh and Simla last year in September. Meanwhile, the second schedule of 33 days is currently being shot at IIM Bangalore. They will return in February to complete the last schedule in Mumbai. The film will be nearly 80 per cent complete after the Bangalore schedule.

Our source says, “Vidhu Vinod Chopra and Raju Hirani have realised that Aamir has been extremely lucky with his films released during the Christmas season.”

Chopra confirmed the news, “3 Idiots is a happy film. Christmas is the perfect time to release such a life affirming work. It would add to the spirit of happiness and good cheer of Christmas.”

Shahrukh Khan on Twitter?

January 31st, 2009

Twitter.com is a popular messaging service where millions of people send messages through web, SMS and other desktop based applications. Twitter is popular in USA and is gaining popularity in India as well. Recently, 3 bollywood stars Shahrukh Khan, Farhan Akhtar and Sanjay Dutt allegedly created accounts on the social messaging service and started messaging.

Farhan Akhtar and Sanjay Dutt's accounts seem to send automated messages, when a news about each of them is published on the Internet. The alleged Shahrukh Khan's account messages (also known as tweets) are not automated and sent by person. However, all the messages are nothing much but already known information on the web. Unlike Big B's blog, there are no personal and exclusive pictures or information. Some of the tweets are:

Done with the first round of shooting for Name is Khan. Los Angeles (and GG Awards, congrats to Slumdog!) has been a life affirming blast.

Shelved Duhla Mil Gaya & MNIK not kind to the shoulder. Surgery imminent. Still: good to be home. I shall be ready for Billu press junket.

Shouts to everybody who wished 'Ghar Ki Baat Hai' best wishes. NDTV Imagine and Red Chillies proudly filling a void.

Moreover, the background used is a wallpaper from the movie Billu Barber, which is again available publicly. Though "Shahrukh Khan" ackwnoledges that the background is from Billu Barber in another tweet, "@shahpar_selim Absolutely! You may find the background at BilluBarber.com". Ths picture used by that account as the profile picture, is the 6th picture on Google Image Search for "shahrukh khan," which is again available publicly to anyone without much effort. The profile picture is cropped from the picture available on Google Image Search.

We don't think it is the real Shahrukh Khan, but it seems like it could be either a fan or perhaps even an employee at Red Chillies. We are waiting on for a comment on this from Red Chillies as well as Farhan Akhtar. Bollywood fans are hoping to see more of their favorite stars using technology to get connected with their fans. Some well-known people who are using Twitter to their advantage are Barrack Obama, Britney Spears and even Sanjay Leela Bhansali for promoting Saawariya.

Onir’s next, Kill Chabbra

January 31st, 2009

After directing films like My Brother Nikhil, Bas Ek Pal and Sorry Bhai Onir’s all set to make a thriller film. Titled as Kill Chabbra the film will not be directed by Onir. It will be directed by his writer Ashwini Mallik, who wrote My Brother Nikhil and Sorry Bhai.

Kill Chabbra will be a join production of Onir and Sanjay Suri. He reveals “It’s very real and completely relevant story. It’s a story of six youths and one of them gets killed by Kill Chabbra the main antagonist and because of being witness to a crime. While the other five friends, who are not criminals but plan to avenge the death of their friend by killing Chabbra.”

Onir and Sanjay are good friends and have always worked together. However, he will be part of this film too. It is star Sanjay Suri, and Manav Kaul, Ranvijay and a new girl Ketki in lead role. Kill Chabbra will commence in July.

Mani Ratnam shoots a big budget song for Ravan

January 31st, 2009

Filmmaker Mani Ratnam’s forthcoming film Ravan is in buzz since the time he announced it. First it created news when Ratnam shot in jungles of Kerala where all shot between wild animals. Now once it is buzz for having a big budget song in it.

A unit hand informed that Ratnam realized that his modern-day mythological epic needs to have commercial value too. He recently shot a song with 500 dancers in Jhansi, Madhya Pradesh. The song has leading actors like Aishwarya Rai and Abhishek Bachchan, as well as Ravi Kissen.

Interestingly the song Kata Kata Mara Mara has been composed by Oscar nominee A. R. Rahman. “A huge set was created in Jhansi to shoot this song which took four days to wrap up and has been choreographed by Ganesh Acharya.” say a Unit hand.

Vikram Bhatt celebrates birthday with his family

January 31st, 2009

Vikram Bhatt rang in his 40th birthday (Jan 27) with his daughter Krishna. A source close to the director said, “It was Krishna’s surprise treat for her father. She had organized it out of her pocket money. The two had a private dinner at Sun N Sand.” Krishna had lovingly arranged for Vikram’s favorite dishes. “Krishna had especially called for the Kaali dal that is Vikram’s favorite,” said the source.

On his birthday, the gifts that Vikram has been flooded with are Ganpati idols and the Bhagvad Gita. “I am on spiritual journey and all my friends have gifted me with an idol of Ganesh and the Bhagvad Gita. They want me to take sanyas,” he laughs.

The Stoneman Murders Preview

January 29th, 2009

The Stoneman Murders – The film asks some straight questions and exposes the rot in the system that allowed for the cover up of a crime of such magnitude that let the killer go Scot free.

Bobby Bedi, the famed producer of the internationally acclaimed Bandit Queen is back with yet another hard hitting film that makes us sit up and take notice.

“When I first saw this script, I was completely taken aback by the mystery of so many murders that took place in Bombay, with not definitive arrest! Our writer had done extensive research on these serial killings. We found that there had been detailed investigations by the agencies but the killer was apparently never found. Without giving away the plot of the film I will say with conviction, that there was an enormous cover up on part of the investigating agencies. And this coverup is exactly what our film exposes” say the producer Bobby Bedi.

“Stoneman or pattharmaar, as he was known, is the only serial-killer case in India that was never solved. The identity of this killer, 25 years after he killed his last victim, remains a mystery to the world even now. The reason was that his identity and motives were probably covered up. How and why is what the movie The Stoneman Murders is all about.” – Manish Gupta, Director of The Stoneman Murders.

Preview
After the serial killer aptly dubbed ‘Stoneman’ by the media has just claimed his fifth victim, the case is still of little interest to the Bombay Police force. But to suspended sub-inspector Sanjay Shelar (Kay Kay Menon), this killer poses an opportunity. Sanjay hopes to track this killer down and thus, possibly find an entry back into the police force. With the secret aid of his patronizing superior AIG Satam (Vikram Gokhale), Sanjay takes up the arduous process of tracking this killer down. But the official police investigator of the case Inspector Kedar Phadke (Arbaaz Khan) clashes incessantly with Sanjay as both of them, separately, delve deeper into the case. Even as the police jostle for leads and clues, the Stoneman stalks the streets unabated, claiming victim after victim.

Cast:

Sub-inspector Sanjay Shelar (Kay Kay Menon)
Sanjay is a violent cop – reckless and ruthless and therefore now suspended from the Police force. Under the patronage of his superior AIG Satam, Sanjay is carrying out a secret unofficial investigation of the Stoneman case. This case may be Sanjay’s last chance to redeem himself and win his job back.

Sub-inspector Kedar Phadke (Arbaaz Khan)
Kedar is Sanjay’s professional rival. He is a regular Bombay cop – laidback and unconcerned. His rivalry against Sanjay often motivates him more than his sense of duty. He is the official investigator of the Stoneman case and he is unaware that Sanjay has been assigned by AIG Satam to unofficially investigate the case.

AIG Satam (Vikram Gokhale)
Crime branch veteran Satam is the superior officer-in-charge to both Sanjay and Kedar. Knowing Sanjay’s abilities, he has allowed Sanjay to carry out an unofficial investigation of the Stoneman case. On the other hand, he has appointed Kedar as the official investigator of the same case. Since he cannot let Kedar learn about Sanjay’s secret investigation, Satam often finds himself torn between the two rivals Sanjay and Kedar.

Manali (Rukhsar)
Sanjay’s wife Manali, a simple housewife, finds her relation with her husband strained due to his obsession with a mysterious case that she knows nothing about.

DIRECTOR’S NOTE
September 1983, Bombay shivered in dread and people were afraid to venture out of their homes, as a serial killer stalked the streets between Sion and Matunga. This killer preyed on poor homeless pavement dwellers, killing them while they slept. The killer invariably left behind his mark – a heavy stone placed near the head of each victim, sometimes the same stone had been used to crush the head of the victim. The media aptly dubbed this killer The Stoneman, who continued his spate of killings in an unabated manner, even as the police groped around in the dark. However, the killings stopped just as mysteriously as they had begun. Apparently, the killer was never caught and the police found no evidence. This led me to wonder – Was there more to the killings than met the eye?