Playing villain extremely challenging: Gulshan Grover
Mumbai, May 5 : Actor Gulshan Grover, who earned the 'Bad Man' tag thanks to his portrayal of numerous villainous characters on the screen, will continue the trend with "Leader". He says someone has to be a fantastic actor to play a villain.
The actor is thankful to baddie roles that helped him attain name and fame in filmdom.
"I'm very happy and grateful to the filmmakers and the audience - for so many years, I have been playing villain on the screen (and they accepted me)," he said.
"I have also played good characters like in 'I am Kalam' for which I won numerous awards. But having played villain has brought me name, fame and stardom and I love it," the actor said here Sunday at the first look launch of the film "Leader".
In his over three decades long career, the 58-year-old has wowed with his villianous performances in films like "Ram Lakhan", "Lajja", "Hera Pheri", "16 December" and most recently "Bullett Raja".
Talking further about his love for playing baddie on screen, Gulshan said: "An actor loves to play characters that are challenging. I think playing a villain is extremly challenging, it requires someone to be a fantastic actor to play a villain."
In the upcoming political drama, "Leader", the actor will be seen as a corrupt politician.
The film has been produced by megastar Amitabh Bachchan's personal make-up artist Deepak Sawant, while it has been written and directed by Abhishek Chadha.
It features Big B and his wife Jaya Bachchan in key roles.
"I'm very happy and grateful to the filmmakers and the audience - for so many years, I have been playing villain on the screen (and they accepted me)," he said.
"I have also played good characters like in 'I am Kalam' for which I won numerous awards. But having played villain has brought me name, fame and stardom and I love it," the actor said here Sunday at the first look launch of the film "Leader".
In his over three decades long career, the 58-year-old has wowed with his villianous performances in films like "Ram Lakhan", "Lajja", "Hera Pheri", "16 December" and most recently "Bullett Raja".
Talking further about his love for playing baddie on screen, Gulshan said: "An actor loves to play characters that are challenging. I think playing a villain is extremly challenging, it requires someone to be a fantastic actor to play a villain."
In the upcoming political drama, "Leader", the actor will be seen as a corrupt politician.
The film has been produced by megastar Amitabh Bachchan's personal make-up artist Deepak Sawant, while it has been written and directed by Abhishek Chadha.
It features Big B and his wife Jaya Bachchan in key roles.
Rana Daggubati to take a break
Mumbai, May 5 : Actor Rana Daggubati, who has completed a schedule of S.S. Rajamouli's "Baahubali", will take a break for "a couple of months".
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"And end of the schedule for 'Baahubali'. Off for a couple of months before I join the project again. Starting another film mid-June, details shortly," he tweeted.
"Baahubali" is a Telugu period drama.
"Baahubali" is a Telugu period drama.
'Citylights' not a festival film: Mahesh Bhatt
Mumbai, May 5: Filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt, who is backing "Citylights", a remake of "Metro Manila", says Hansal Mehta's directorial venture should not be described as festival movie because it has all the elements of a commercial cinema.
" 'Citylights' is not a festival film. It's an Indian film, it has an Indian story, it has fragrance of our own people and it has songs in it. We have got amazing feedback so far. It's a very brave idea to make the film," Bhatt told reporters Monday at the unveiling of 26 minutes' footage of "Citylights". Though it's a remake, Mehta said he has yet to see the British movie. Mehta said: "It's an adaptation of 'Metro Manila', but myself, Rajkummar Rao, Patraalekha have not seen the film yet. Rishab Shah, the writer of the film, has seen it and he came up with the idea. This is a kind of a film that we have stopped making."
Mehta, who has roped in Rajkummar Rao, post "Shahid", said: "Rajkummar is my muse and he is my favourite actor. We have roped in new girl, Patraleka,, and we call her the wonder girl." Rajkummar describes "Citylights" as one of his most special films. "It was a very challenging role and I got completely drained out working in the film," he added. The film is slated for a May 30 release
Sports films provide all elements of gripping screenplay: 'Khwaabb' director
By Haricharan Pudipeddi, Chennai, May 5 : First-time director Zaid Ali Khan, currently awaiting the release of his sports-drama "Khwaabb", says though making a sports-based film is challenging, it can provide all the elements required to make a screenplay gripping.
"Khwaabb", a Hindi movie which releases Friday worldwide, explores the sporting scenario in the country. It has been produced by Zaid's father and Arjuna awardee ace shooter Moraad Ali Khan.
"Sports films are immensely challenging to pull off but it provides everything a gripping screenplay needs. From action, drama, thrill, emotion and excitement, you can find all this in a sports film," Zaid
He said sports have been one of the most underrated genres in Indian cinema because "a lot of the content produced is bound by the conventional ideas of what is likely to succeed commercially".
"Producers are calculative and careful, and a lot of money is at stake hence pushing the boundaries beyond the regular song, dance, and star-driven films is difficult. But with the success of 'Bhaag Milkha Bhaag', 'Chak De! India' and future prospects of the Mary Kom biopic, audiences have evolved and they are open for new content-based films," he added.
For the director, the struggle faced by Indian sportsmen was the biggest inspiration.
"I mean a nation of a billion can produce only a handful of medals... this film explores the reasons. It's an honest depiction of the sports scenario in our country," he said.
Why the focus only on less popular sports such as swimming and athletics?
"It was a screenplay device to take two different sports and develop character skills. Also a film based on swimming has never been attempted before in India. These sports worked well for the script and plot. Also, they were visually good for the film and hence the decision was taken," said Zaid.
"Having said that, I feel the presentation is such that people inclined towards other sports would also be able to relate to the story... the sports may be unique but the struggle of the athletes is universal," he added.
Quizzed about the impact "Khwaabb" will have on the audience, Zaid said: "The sad truth about sports in India is that we only know about a sportsperson when he or she comes in the limelight, but the encouragement has to begin as soon as their sporting journey starts. 'Khwaabb' is a step in that direction".
"It is for all the youngsters in schools, colleges who dream of sports, of success and sometimes find too many hurdles in their path," he said.
The film, which features newcomers Simar Motiani and Navdip Singh in lead roles, has been granted tax exemption prior release for its social message and inspirational quality.
While Navdip plays an athlete, Simar will be seen as the swimmer in the film and Zaid is all praise for his actors who worked extremely hard to get under the skin of their characters.
"Both actors worked incredibly hard, they trained with the top coaches and were working out with the best instructors. Playing an athlete requires a lot of physical work. Navdip really took on the challenge, he got into incredible shape. I think he reduced some eight inches on his waistline to be Sanjay, the runner," he said
"Simar trained with coaches, worked on her swimming. She swam in the rivers, pools and did everything to bring 'Kiran' the swimmer to life on screen," Zaid added.
Shooting underwater for hours and filming sports action across several international locales were some of the challenges debutant director Zaid faced in this journey.
"It had a lot of difficult sequences... it's not easy to shoot underwater for hours. For all the sports action, we had to travel across different locations from Delhi till Dubai. Filming sports action can be difficult because a regular film can be shot on nice comfortable sets, but we had to shoot in real locations," he said.
Despite the challenges, Zaid describes his first stint with celluloid as "excruciating, exciting and enriching experience of my life".
"Sports films are immensely challenging to pull off but it provides everything a gripping screenplay needs. From action, drama, thrill, emotion and excitement, you can find all this in a sports film," Zaid
He said sports have been one of the most underrated genres in Indian cinema because "a lot of the content produced is bound by the conventional ideas of what is likely to succeed commercially".
"Producers are calculative and careful, and a lot of money is at stake hence pushing the boundaries beyond the regular song, dance, and star-driven films is difficult. But with the success of 'Bhaag Milkha Bhaag', 'Chak De! India' and future prospects of the Mary Kom biopic, audiences have evolved and they are open for new content-based films," he added.
For the director, the struggle faced by Indian sportsmen was the biggest inspiration.
"I mean a nation of a billion can produce only a handful of medals... this film explores the reasons. It's an honest depiction of the sports scenario in our country," he said.
Why the focus only on less popular sports such as swimming and athletics?
"It was a screenplay device to take two different sports and develop character skills. Also a film based on swimming has never been attempted before in India. These sports worked well for the script and plot. Also, they were visually good for the film and hence the decision was taken," said Zaid.
"Having said that, I feel the presentation is such that people inclined towards other sports would also be able to relate to the story... the sports may be unique but the struggle of the athletes is universal," he added.
Quizzed about the impact "Khwaabb" will have on the audience, Zaid said: "The sad truth about sports in India is that we only know about a sportsperson when he or she comes in the limelight, but the encouragement has to begin as soon as their sporting journey starts. 'Khwaabb' is a step in that direction".
"It is for all the youngsters in schools, colleges who dream of sports, of success and sometimes find too many hurdles in their path," he said.
The film, which features newcomers Simar Motiani and Navdip Singh in lead roles, has been granted tax exemption prior release for its social message and inspirational quality.
While Navdip plays an athlete, Simar will be seen as the swimmer in the film and Zaid is all praise for his actors who worked extremely hard to get under the skin of their characters.
"Both actors worked incredibly hard, they trained with the top coaches and were working out with the best instructors. Playing an athlete requires a lot of physical work. Navdip really took on the challenge, he got into incredible shape. I think he reduced some eight inches on his waistline to be Sanjay, the runner," he said
"Simar trained with coaches, worked on her swimming. She swam in the rivers, pools and did everything to bring 'Kiran' the swimmer to life on screen," Zaid added.
Shooting underwater for hours and filming sports action across several international locales were some of the challenges debutant director Zaid faced in this journey.
"It had a lot of difficult sequences... it's not easy to shoot underwater for hours. For all the sports action, we had to travel across different locations from Delhi till Dubai. Filming sports action can be difficult because a regular film can be shot on nice comfortable sets, but we had to shoot in real locations," he said.
Despite the challenges, Zaid describes his first stint with celluloid as "excruciating, exciting and enriching experience of my life".
Arjun Kapoor supports Shiksha initiative, says education vital
Mumb May 5 : Actor Arjun Kapoor joins hands with P&G Shiksha to support education for underprivileged children and to celebrate the 10 years of the brand's existence. The "2 States" star feels that education provides a "foundation".
Arjun is the latest to join the list of celebrities - Soha Ali Khan, Vivek Oberoi, Kalki Koechlin, Chitrangada Singh, Shruti Hassan, Vaani Kapoor, Pankaj Advani, Priyanka Upendra and Neha Dhupia - who supported the campaign to make key infrastructure interventions.
Sharing his views on joining hands with the initiative, the actor said: "Education is very important and the more we educate a child, the more it will reflect better in our country for future.
"I think regardless of what profession you choose, you need a foundation from where you get your mind from. The basic upbringing and thought process can imbibe in you by studying.
"As an actor I defintely feel my education, my upbringing and my life in those days define my existence today. So it's not only about studies, it's just about my wholesome experience of going to school, meeting new people, getting an understanding of life is what is needed,"
To commemorate its 10th year, P&G Shiksha announces its vision to build and support 1,000 schools in the next five years.
P&G Shiksha has over the years received generous support from many thought leaders and Indian celebrities such as Anupam Kher, Kiran Bedi, Anil Kumble, Rani Mukherji, John Abraham, Abhay Deol, Farah Khan and many more.
Sharing his views on joining hands with the initiative, the actor said: "Education is very important and the more we educate a child, the more it will reflect better in our country for future.
"I think regardless of what profession you choose, you need a foundation from where you get your mind from. The basic upbringing and thought process can imbibe in you by studying.
"As an actor I defintely feel my education, my upbringing and my life in those days define my existence today. So it's not only about studies, it's just about my wholesome experience of going to school, meeting new people, getting an understanding of life is what is needed,"
To commemorate its 10th year, P&G Shiksha announces its vision to build and support 1,000 schools in the next five years.
P&G Shiksha has over the years received generous support from many thought leaders and Indian celebrities such as Anupam Kher, Kiran Bedi, Anil Kumble, Rani Mukherji, John Abraham, Abhay Deol, Farah Khan and many more.
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