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227 Responses to “Welcome 2 Karachi, Tanu Weds Manu Returns (ongoing), the rest of the box office”
New Releases Poor – TWMR To Challenge Big Films In Week Two
Friday 29 May 2015 12.00 IST
Box Office India Trade Network
There were five new releases this week Welcome To Karachi, Ishqedarriyan, P Se PM Tak, Chor Bazaari and Chaar cutting and all opened to poor collections. Welcome to Karachi was easily the best of the lot though collections were around 10%. Ishqedarriyan was next with around 3-5% while the others had practically no audience.
Welcome To Karachi opened on Thursday at multiplexes but the collections were weak. Tanu Weds Manu Returns will dominate by a distance as the opening on its second Friday was similar to its first day at places.
The film will have a very strong hold and the second week collections will be challenging some of the star cast big budget films. The film could have second week which is amongst the top ten biggest second weeks.
To let you guys know.. “P Se PM Tak” is a film directed by Kundan Shah (Jaane bhi do yaaro, Kabhi Haan Kabhi Naa) and at once upon a time was supposed to be made with Madhuri Dixit. With 0% audience, end for his career.
Tanu Weds Manu Returns Has Biggest First Week Of 2015
Friday 29 May 2015 11.00 IST
Box Office India Trade Network
Tanu Weds Manu Returns had a very strong first week grossing around 68.75 crore nett. It is the highest first week collection of 2015. The film added around 31 crore nett on the weekdays which is huge giving it a 45% ration on the weekdays when the norm is 30-35%.
The film is a blockbuster and just remains to be seen where the final business settles. It is assured to finish amongst the top twenty grossers ever and may even make it into the top fifteen. The film will be the highest grosser ever for a film costing less than 50 crore. The best at the moment are 2 States, Ek Villain and Grand Masti.
The key for the film has been business in mass circuits. Rajasthan has clocked 4 crore nett and Ci is at 2.50 crore nett. These figures are the difference between this and a film like 2 States which caters more to urban audience. It will mass centres where the extra business will come from, Mumbai city, Bangalore may well end up less than 2 States but the difference in smaller cities will be huge in the favour of Tanu Weds Manu returns.
taran adarsh @taran_adarsh 3h3 hours ago
The unthinkable has happened! #TanuWedsManuReturns crosses ₹ 70 cr [India biz] in Week 1. Should cross ₹ 100 cr in Week 2… contd.
Piku Has Highest Third Week Of 2015
Friday 29 May 2015 11.00 IST
Box Office India Trade Network
Piku held up well in its third week with 10 crore nett approx taking its three week total to around 72.50 crore nett. The third week is the highest of the year beating the figures of Baby which grossed 6.75 crore nett approx in week three.
The film should make it to the 80 crore nett mark. The performance is mainly on the strength of high end multiplexes which have seen good appreciation. The PVR and Inox chains are at 50% of its all India business which is a big amount for a film grossing over 70 crore nett.
The performance in mass centres is poor with its lifetime business will be less than the first week business of Tanu Weds Manu Returns in Rajasthan, CP Berar, CI and Bihar. Infact its the same story in Delhi/UP and East Punjab where the film can’t reach the first week figures of Tanu Weds Manu Returns. This is a despite a very good performance in the PVR chain who have a huge presence in Delhi/UP and East Punjab.
Satyam: Not sure you know but the biggest project from Irrfan is the new Dan Brown’s Da Vinci Code Part 3 film, Inferno. He plays the main antagonist against Tom Hanks. Irrfan plays the character of ‘The Provost’ (Harry Sims) which is the next important character in the whole novel. That is going to be remarkable achievement for his career.
Yes, she does not need Khans. Oh, wait… her 3 upcoming movies are with Imran KHAN(Katti Batti), Irrfan KHAN(Divine Lovers) and Saif Ali KHAN(Rangoon) 🙂
Mumbai Mirror film critic Rahul Desai quits after ‘Tanu Weds Manu Returns’ rating furore
“Our reviewer Rahul Desai had given this week’s main fare Tanu Weds Manu Returns two and a half stars. Following reader feedback and research which differed significantly from him, this newspaper is upgrading the rating of the film to three and a half stars.”
Speaking at a Clean India workshop at Sahyadri Guest House last evening, Fadnavis responded, “Why should opposition object… he is a popular actor with social awareness and a good communicator who will ensure the message reaches the last person… Sant Gadge Baba remains an icon of the state.” He added that a Swachh Maharashtra fund would be set up as well.
Dwayne Johnson’s disaster drama “San Andreas” is anything but a disaster, dominating moviegoing at the U.S. box office with early projections showing a $40 million-plus opening weekend.
Early estimates of TWMR for second Friday seems close to 7 crores. 50 crores second week is a possibility with that number. And 150 crores will not be out of reach even without any help from DDD..Lets see whats the final second Friday number…
Tanu Weds Manu Returns is heading for a 25 crore nett second weekend as it grossed around 6.25 crore nett on its second Friday. The drop from day one is just 25-30% and the drop from Thursday is less than 10%.
There have been only six films that have had a 25 crore nett or more weekend and if Tanu Weds Manu gets there it will be the seventh. The film is in the big league now competing with films like Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani and Krrish 3 with its second weekend figures.
The film was holding strong on the weekdays but no major competition this week has give the film an extra lift, it will be different next week but still a 125 crore plus total is looking on the cards. It could even hit 130 crore nett.
As usual great interview and perfectly gentleman behavior by Amitabh even though he’s too careful now but its understandable fearing the controversies. Overall must watch for people with wide open eyes and ears!
OK full disclosure, at first I was totally going to lambast Big B for not being forthcoming and even being sort of a coward/contradictory in some of his answers…but then I do get his fear of being in a controversy and certainly he isn’t the only one who is this way in interviews.
Today’s time, everyone is a bit too sensitive and it seems someone or some group gets offended by a person in an interview and then that becomes a huge deal. That’s one of the reasons why these celebrity interviews have become so damn boring and unwatchable (including this one). And I am talking about everywhere, here in the US its the same thing, where most answers are cliched or dodged. Look at what happened to Mel Gibson in the famous Diane Sawyer interview; he gives an honest answer and then pretty much gets blackballed from Hollywood (I am not saying I agreed with what he said).
The only part that was kind of worth watching was after the 50 mins mark…after 50 mins it finally got somewhat interesting. At least he was honest in this portion.
Bravura! A complete ‘jaha pana tussi great ho tofu kabool karo’ kind of interview performance by Bachchan here. The word ‘dignity’ found a new meaning in him !!.
I was particularly pleased with his response to Arnab on being lectured to be more vocal on issues like his Hollywood counterpart, say a Clooney. He simple reply – our society is not matured enough to have that kind of dialogue and our circumstances are different and we are not evolved as them in spirit. On an aside , I find this jumping to comparisons to US / West very irksome and so many get carried away with all contrasting talks and developing at such & such growth rate, when the fact of the matter is a very vast population ( more than 50% ) does not even have access to basics like clean water , electricity and roads. Somehow for that 15-20% populace which undoubtedly is a huge number considering our immeasurable population, there is a bubble that we are among top and compared with the best of the world. However for the other 60-70%, fact remains basic living conditions are inhuman and worst than even East European countries which btw were communist all along until late 80s. And now with this extreme uncontrolled and unregulated urbanization God only knows the adverse effects.
Coming back to the interview and the Salman question, though answered very well, I wish he were a bit more vocal and countered Arnab for his eagerness to do a media mob justice here. What changes the law of the land between a May 06th and May 08th ? Why should the code suddenly be chucked out? Why should he not be allowed access for a due legal process and exhaust his options?
Paying such huge amount of yearly taxes at least give him that right. Even Sanjay Dutt was finally convicted in 2013 for a 1993 case. And then we have recently watched Jayalalitha walking out free and anointed the CM of her state (India Today is currently running a cartoon of her getting out of jail and PM Modi on a pact to clear all contentious parliament bills) and then there is the bail for Raju and 9 of his gang from Satyam. So we all know how legal process operates in India. Why moral policing just for him and Sanjay Dutt? We saw what came out of a moral upright Sunil Dutt in an Indian setting. If they were such big crooks the way you are portraying them, they would have gotten cleared on day one and not gone through the entire grind and faced the legal process. In Salman’s case what if personal grudges are being settled and who will punish corrupt lawyers, judges, police, and entire justice system involved in this case. That D W Deshpande verdict which is out in the public domain leaves so many doubts and at so many places he goes on to state – that evidence was not available for this and this but to me that other part is sufficient…….blah blah…. So if you were so sure why did a HC judge find so many loopholes in the verdict and suspend the sentence? The legal system of not only India but the entire world operates on a simple premise – ‘Beyond reasonable doubt’ Was that followed to the core?
Hell! we recently saw in U.S, Pedro Hernandez in the Etan Patz case of kidnapping and murdering inspite of admitting to his crime to police, and circumstantial evidence against him, was found not guilty by jury and mistrial ordered. We had the high profile Oscar Pistorius who was cleared of the serious charge of 1st degree murder and that British Indian Dewani in honeymoon murder case in S.africa where Shrien Dewani was acquitted. Judge ruled that the prosecution evidence was “far below the threshold” of what a reasonable court could convict on, and the evidence of the prosecution’s main witness was “riddled with contradictions”
At most Arnab should have grouse with the Indian legal system and if he is the so called ultimate media watchdog then have a proper debate on our legal system since its inception which is outdated instead of getting personal and blaming Salman and bollywood only.
If Arnab seems hell-bent on getting answers, I wish he poses the same questions to someone more verbal with a confrontational streak. Among stars supporting Salman , I feel Aamir is too studied and rehearsed for him but he will find a perfect match in a Shahrukh type who is not only sharp and street smart but connected to realities of Indian set up and would give him a adequate counter and put him on the defensive.
I rarely watch video clips posted here or any blogs but watched this over an hour long interview with rapt attention and without interruption. One may have problem with some of his answers ( though it becomes abundantly clear why he is evasive on some issues), this was real treat.
I learned a lot about Amitabh here and more importantly, it became clear in my mind why he is so much more than any other star past or present and why no one can be like him.
Intelligent, erudite, composed, dignified, accomplished, respectful but yet so vulnerable. I doubt if there is a major star who can feel so vulnerable and so openly admit to the insecurities and vulnerabilities without feeling sorry for oneself.
No Aamir or Salman or Shahrukh can dream of being like him.
Sometimes I feel irked with younger generation or even the not so young generation make disrespectful or dismissive comments about him.
Charges like- he overacts, is greedy, haven’t liked any of his recent film bar KHakhee or about his associations with likes of Amar Singh or Modi or charges leveled against him re Bofors or 1984 riots etc.
Yes, he could be and could afford to be more forthcoming about some issues but he makes it clear why he isn’t.
Arnav has done a spectacular job here but he was owned here ( though Arnab respectfully allowed some of it to happen).
This wasn’t the belligerent, bombastic Arnab even though he was persistent and tough.
But, more than the interview it highlights why and how Amitabh even at this stage stands head and shoulders above the others and can’t be matched.
Feel sorry for those who choose to diss, disrespect or trivialize him as it says more about them than Amitabh who doesn’t need their vindication.
great comment Rajen.. haven’t see it yet but will check it out tonight. On Arnab yes this is his weekend show. And here he’s much better and certainly very professional. the regular show is a circus even if it’s a guilty pleasure for me!
Man, when you are scrolling down this page, this still image up the eye-brows really looks like an ass-crack. Hope I am not hauled up for seeing pornography in the office.
Perhaps she has not been selected for such parts as she does not fit the conventional ‘object of desire’ look. If so, then good for her! No doubt, the prevailing divas, the Katrinas and Deepikas, are more ‘gorgeous’ in a vacuous sort of way. (No offence to Deepika, as I absolutely loved Piku, laughed my way through it, and came away with a mid-life crush on Irrfan Khan). But it was the script that was outstanding and Deepika always looks very nice but in my non-specialist book, she can never match the acting abilities of a Rani Mukherjee or even Kareena Kapoor (that’s when the latter is not doing item numbers). So, while Deepika was adequate in a terrific film like Piku, Kangana was good in the very average Tanu/Manu II.
“But to hold Tanu-Manu up as part of the filmography that reveals the spirit of women’s liberation in small-town India is frankly ridiculous. ” Whoever did? Except perhaps the author in her own imagination?
The film is remarkably regressive in many ways.-
Anyway, garbage film one doesnt need to waste bandwidth on except a reminder
That is Indians have a remarkable ability ton
Lap up trash.
According to a DNA report, it has been revealed that Salman Khan’s upcoming film, Bajrangi Bhaijaan is not about ‘love jihad’ at all. While the film has been embroiled in controversies over its title, the report claims that the film doesn’t veer towards the topic of ‘love jihad’ at all. It has been revealed that Bajrangi Bhaijaan is about a little Pakistani girl who loses her way at the Indo-Pak border and finds herself in India. A source has been quoted in the report as saying that Salman plays the man who finds the little girl on this side of the border and takes it on himself to re-unite her with her parents and family in Pakistan.The report further states that Kareena Kapoor Khan will be seen only at the beginning and towards the end of the film, with a total screen time of not more that 30 minutes. The source also adds that Salman’s character, who is known as Bajrangi Bhaijaan, becomes as attached to the little girl as Salman himself.
Salman’s love for kids is no secret. The superstar loves bonding with kids and is often seen doting over his nephews. However, this is not the only thing that makes him as popular with his fans. Let’s take a look at other reasons as to why the Dabangg Khan has such a huge fan following…
“I’m the biggest star today. Koi shak?” Aamir Khan said at a press meet recently. Lest he be accused of immodesty, it wasn’t the box office records his film PK is currently shattering in China that the actor was referring to but his increased girth in aid of new film Dangal.
Welcome To Karachi Day Two TWMR Day Nine
Sunday 31 May 2015 13.30 IST
Box Office India Trade Network
Welcome To Karachi had hardly any growth on Saturday with collections in the same range as day one. The business of Welcome To Karachi till Saturday is as follows.
Tanu Weds Manu Returns continued with strong business with a big jump on second Saturday. It will easily cross the 25 crore nett mark in second weekend.The first two days of Tanu Weds Manu Returns in second week is as follows.
taran adarsh @taran_adarsh 2h2 hours ago
#TanuWedsManuReturns is speeding towards ₹ 100 cr in India [Week 2] Fri 6.65 cr, Sat 9.40 cr. Grand total: ₹ 85.07 cr. BLOCKBUSTER.
taran adarsh @taran_adarsh 1h1 hour ago
#PK China crosses #PK North America and is at $ 10.87 mn. Overseas total: $ 37.6 mn [₹ 239.69 cr]. ALL TIME BLOCKBUSTER.
This is phenomenal.
China has become such a huge market.
Just for comparusion HNY released on over 2000 screens in China and collected a royal sum of $276000 over the entire first weekend
Rajeev Masand’s latest blind for Open magazine involves a female actor and her senior co-actor who’ve fallen out. At the recent success party of her film, he was conspicuous by his absence. Not just the veteran, but no one from his family attended the party either (despite the actor’s son being credited as one of the producers of the film!).
An insider source explains that neither the veteran actor, nor his family were invited to the success party. Further, the veteran’s son, also an actor in the industry, has confirmed this to some of his inquiring friends from the industry.
It looks like the senior actor and the actress have had a falling out. Most of the promotional activities for the movie involved the lead actress , while the senior-actor participated in a few alone. The falling out reportedly is over ego issues.
This one looks like an easy guess, huh?
Theres no doubt that Vishal Bhardwaj is one of the best film makers in india currently (if not the best!)
The film is also deserving of all the accolades it got for various aspects of film making be it dialgoue, screenplay, cinematography, music, direction et al
The performances are first rate overall (though not exceptional by vishal movies’ standards)–this includes Shahid Kapoor, Kaykay, irrfan who all were v good but not mind blowing!
The crown goes to Tabu in a bewitching & eminently nuanced perfromance as Ghazala
ps-btw its a strange thing to say but somehow tabu never looked better (even in her ‘heyday’)
Ye chup chup ke nach gana
pehle bhi hota tha
ya abhi shru hua hai
i found the film appealing from the ‘creative’ point of view but found it wanting from the pov of its political leaings & ramifications.
its just NOT enough to create a so-called serious product somewhat lopsided in its discourse as to distort the picture totally. Its ok to tweak things to insert shakespeare into the ‘adaptations’ but doing it on a politically charged topical subject is irresponsible.
and its NOT enough to insert a micro-font (unreadable) disclaimer in the start and finish to lazily ‘balance’ it out.
And now those usual suspects who stand up in ‘support’ of these endeavours—this ‘support’ is not wrong in principle or in isolation.
But to understand these responses, its imp to scratch the surface and reveal the pattern and timing of these responses.
The same voices feel obliged to speak up for certain ‘rights’ but remain suspiciously quiet at some more overt abuses (even when prompted). When specifically asked, they suddenly remind that they retain their right not to have to explain their positions every time and not having to ‘justify’ things. But the pattern of selective ‘speaking up’ and selective silence continues unabated.
There are many such examples here and elsewhere. Theres a person who stands up for right for freedom of expression and all sorts of ‘liberties’ but suddenly goes mum insoite of being prompted about the killing of bloggers in the very area he/she comes from. He then suddenly absolves himself of all ‘responsibility’ & claims to love films (and not bothering about other stuff).
There are other such FAKES. One jumps up everytime theres a protest against a film screening (even unsuccessful and minor protests irk him so much that he writes long essays!). BUT bigger abuses, infact debaucheries fail to elicit even a token response forget condemnation.
however its not illegal to be a FAKE and hence these elements constantly flourish unabated. but no amount of spin or fakery can mask this pseudo-ness that stands stripped !!
Tanu Weds Manu Returns Has Sixth Highest Second Weekend Of All Time
Monday 01 June 2015 12.00 IST
Box Office India Trade Network
Tanu Weds Manu had an outstanding second weekend grossing around 28.50 crore nett. The drop for the first weekend is just 25% which is phenomenal. The film grossed 6.25 crore nett on Friday, 9.25 crore nett on Saturday and Sunday will come in at the 13 crore nett range.
The second weekend is the sixth biggest of all time after PK, Dhoom 3, 3 Idiots, Kick and Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani. It has beaten films like Chennai Express, Krrish 3 and Happy New Year.
The film has also become the highest grossing film of 2015 after its second weekend with business of around 97.50 crore nett. The 100 crore nett mark will hit on Monday. The film is on a phenomenal run on North India while other parts are excellent. The only dissapointment is the Gujarat / Saurashtra belt which is not performing as well as it should be.
taran adarsh @taran_adarsh 3h3 hours ago
#TanuWedsManuReturns to cross ₹ 100 cr mark in India today [Monday; Day 11]. The film is UNSTOPPABLE. Next target: ₹ 125 cr.
Ha!
Well the second week is very good. Should breeze past 125 crore. Definitely the WOM is super strong…did not lose out to audience exhaustion or the dreaded second week syndrome where most big films collapse as everyone has seen it or lose out due to loss of screens etc. Basically defied the odds and scored a second week ahead of every SRK/Hrithik starrer ever! And no holidays either! So what excuses do we have for this one doing well in week 2, but others failing?
Meanwhile, P.K destroys China records too – on its way past $15mm – out of nowhere China is now the biggest market for Hindi films (Hindi = either Aamir or Hirani)
The same folks who pretend it’s all about films doing everything in week 1 and how the market had changed and what not suddenly turn around and celebrate great second and third weeks. Just no shame! Much as people who used to scoff at competition and trending also discover these terms overnight when their favorite stars are involved.
Meanwhile Tanu is celebrated (rightly) for putting up such big numbers. But hey 40 crores more or something HNY is pretty ok too! Because they sold the latter for an extra Rs 10 and made it very profitable. The audience loves a film like Tanu and it’s a blockbuster but ETT though not liked by the audience is one too. It got to a certain mark after all and once again prices were low. The logic is clear. The bigger your film is the lower your prices are all round because of course you know the audience won’t like your film and hence you make it and sell it cheaply and it comes to the same thing. Now people get offended when one brings up this stuff but as long as I’ve been online discussing this stuff I’ve not had clear and convincing answers to how this stuff happens!
Gujjus obviously have better taste than Bhaiyajis.😄 silly one liners are not enough to make them even snigger, let alone get them guffawing and rolling up in aisles or lining up at the BO.
Class bhi akhir kuchh cheez hoti hai.
“Now people get offended when one brings up this stuff but as long as I’ve been online discussing this stuff I’ve not had clear and convincing answers to how this stuff happens!” Not really. The answer is clear. Tanu Weds Manu has been liked tremendously and is a blockbuster. ETT is not like all that much and IS a blockbuster. The blockbuster status is not decided by whether you make your money in 4 weeks or two. The operating number is how much money has been earned , both as a multiple of its investment and as an absolute number. I dont think you can fault the trade commentators too much on this. Not one of hem will deny that TWMR has been liked more than ETT. But they also will tell you that ETT made a lot of money, just as TWMR did.
The red herring is : ETT is a blockbuster at 185 crore and TWMR is a blockbuster at 140 crore.
Now consider what ETT is vs. TWMR and reconcile how both can be blockbuster as a multiple of any investment. Sure DS is higher in week 1. Maybe ETT has more from smaller screens etc. But when you compare a Salman Khan/Katrina Kaif starrer, which is a wide release with all that starpower and it makes 185 crore against a Madhavan/Kangana starrer that is a medium sized film and one makes 180crore and the other 140crore and the result is the same “tag” wise…something is very fishy! The latter 2 stars have cumulative hits in their career that could possibly be added on one-hand! The former were in 2012 possibly at their peaks!
You cannot fault traders…but you can certainly fault those who fall for it!
Haven’t written anything on him. Any of his films is worth watching though I haven’t seen all of them. Having said that I am personally not a great fan of his work. I’ve probably liked Dooratwa the most.
and yes still trying to find time for the Piku piece!
BIg stars movies need first 3 days because wom usually tends to be negative. One big star fans try to cut another big star’s fortunes. They succeeded tremendously with BV.
Britain’s Leicester plans to erect statue of Amitabh Bachchan in city square
Kounteya Sinha,TNN | Jun 1, 2015, 10.30 PM IST
Amitabh Bachchan strives for ‘better shape’Amitabh Bachchan shares throwback father-son momentPadma Vibhushan conferred on Amitabh BachchanAmitabh Bachchan showers praises on Pawan TiwariAmitabh Bachchan admires Southern film stars
LONDON: Kolkata has a temple after him where they worship the shoes he wore in a film, kept on a chair he sat on during the shooting of another.
Fan frenzy is nothing new for Bollywood shahenshah Amitabh Bachchan.
Now, in what is the first such attempt in UK to immortalise him in stone, Bachchan’s British fans in Leicester – the city with the largest number of Indian origin people outside India, is planning to have a life size statue of Big B in one of its most prominent squares.
In an exclusive interview to TOI, the member of parliament from Leicester and the longest serving Asian MP in the British parliament Keith Vaz said “my constituents are keen we have a statue of Amitabh – one of the world’s greatest actors here in Leicester. Personally I feel we must immortalise the icons of India from all walks of life”.
Vaz added “Amitabh is already in Madame Tussauds and so why not in the city with the largest number of Indian origin people outside India”.
Bachchan has been to Leicester a couple of times. The last time he was there, he received an honorary doctorate of arts from the local De Montfort University and also visited the famous Walkers Stadium; home of the Leicester City Football Club.
Soon after the visit, Vaz had moved an early day motion in the House of Commons which said “That this House congratulates Amitabh Bachchan on being awarded an honorary degree from De Montfort University, Leicester; notes his towering contribution to Indian cinema having received 10 Filmfare awards and being named BBC Star of the Millennium”.
Vaz had brought Big B’s son Abhishek Bachchan to campagn for him in Leicester in April this year, just days before the general elections on May 7.
Bachchan was welcomed at Leicester East by screaming female fans and the sound of loud dhols as he accompanied by Vaz for a road trip. The roads came to a standstill as thousands of Bachchan fans pulled down their shutters to line up the road and catch a glimpse of the junior Bachchan.
Leicester is known to have the largest Indian community in Europe and also has the biggest diwali celebration outside India.
Amitabh Bachchan is also the patron of charity that Vaz set up for diabetes.
Vaz told TOI on Monday “I can assure you that elections in the UK are never bland for the candidates. Abhishek Bachchan is a friend, and he came only to support me as an individual, not a political party. It was a great honour and privilege for him to have come to Leicester, as Amitabh Bachchan, his father, has done in the past. The people of Leicester adored him, and the visit was an incredible day for the city. I would always maintain that there is nothing wrong with a bit of fun, and a bit of spice, in an election”.
Sanjay Dutt in Umesh Shukla’s next
Bollywood|HT Syndication|Jun 01, 2015 15:53 PM0 comments
Friends and family of Sanjay Dutt are waiting for the end of his incarceration soon. Several filmmakers are also awaiting the release of Sanjay from the jail, so that they can sign him up for their films. Umesh Shukla – the director of Oh My God – has confirmed signing Munna Bhai for his next project.
Umesh said, “I’ve had an initial meeting with Sanju. It’s a very nice, sensible subject with a human angle and he liked it”. He added, “I will discuss the first draft with him once he is out of jail. He really suits the role well, I can’t think of anyone else for the part”. Currently, Umesh is busy with a project – titled All Is Well – starring Abhishek Bachchan, Asin and Rishi Kapoor.
Apart from the male lead, the remaining cast of the flick is yet to be finalized. The movie will be produced by Umesh in collaboration with Sanjay and another production house. Sanjay Dutt was convicted for illegal possession of weapons in the 1993 Mumbai Blasts case and currently serving sentence in Yerwada Central Jail, Pune.
There are rumors that Amitabh might replace Anil Kapoor now but I feel, Anil Kapoor is the best choice if its a father’s role as he just played dad to Ranveer singh in DDD and Amitabh is good if its a grand father’s role 🙂
I feel Anil Kapoor is going to have a long career in supporting roles and fatherly roles till 70+ age. Among his contemporaries like Jackie, Sanjay Dutt, Sunny Deol only he has potential to play such characters. The way Rishi Kapoor has successfully proven his career record playing older characters in last few years, Anil can do the same. But even in playing older characters and making a career out of it, the inspiration and motivation yet again is Amitabh Bachchan!
the inspiration and motivation yet again is Amitabh Bachchan!
yet again more actors are compared with Big B,no offence but amitabh is one actor will carry on until he is 90 but doubt it if anil kapoor or srk can sustain at that rate,I do not rate anil kapoor in that category at all.neither he is a superstar or super-actor.
dilip kumar and ashok kumar tried it but only at certain level,its takes it toll.
Just posting this news which is in all sites now… I know no one would believe this on this blog and its probably a huge rumor and never possible unless its special appearances or episodic film.
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Salman, Shah Rukh, Aamir together in a film: Yes, for real
If you too are astonished by that headline, so are we. But seems like Bollywood’s biggest coup d’etat of all time will finally be reality. All three Khans of Bollywood – Shah Rukh, Salman and Aamir – are apparently coming together for a film.
According to a reports, producer Sajid Nadiadwala is planning to rope in Shah Rukh, Salman and Aamir for an Amar Akbar Anthony type of film. A source was quoted by the newspaper as saying, “Sajid has decided to produce a film which will star the three Khan superstars. He may even direct the film himself, though that would depend entirely on the nature of the subject. The film will go on the floors in January 2017 and release in December 2017.”
Can this ever happen? Sure. But will it happen with Sajid Nadiawala as the director? Hell no. I don’t think Aamir/SRK are fans of Sajid. If the 3 were to come together for a film I think it would probably be directed by Aditya Chopra (who has recently worked with all 3) or Karan Johar (he’s just dying to sign Salman and there were rumors earlier that him and Aamir were teaming up for something) or of course Raju Hirani.
yeah I agree with you that Adi Chopra has the best chance to talk them into starring in a film together because all three of them have worked under his banner.
The fascination of this happening is still interesting on paper but for me personally it’s a decade too late. These guys are all 50 now and I can’t even think of a decent story for them that would be interesting…Three men and a baby? lol. Even with something like The Departed, one of them would have to take a lesser role which I do not see happening. I’d just like to see at least two come in a film at this moment…at least Aamir and SRK in a ‘Heat’-like film.
SRK is quick to kill this 3 Khan rumor today on twittter!
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Sakina: @iamsrk On a scale of 1 to 10, how fake are the rumors of the 3 Khan movie? #AskSrk
Shahrukh Khan: @sakinayay somewhere between Moon is made of Cheese and the Lochness Monster…
PK Strong In China – Heads For 700 Crore Worldwide
Monday 01 June 2015 11.00 IST
Box Office India Trade Network
PK is on a huge run in China and has grossed more in China than in any other Overseas market and is still very strong. More important than going above any other market is that it is on the verge of becoming the highest grossing non local ope English film.
The highest ever is a Russian film Stalingrad which has around $12 million and PK is sure to beat that by the end of business on Monday.The film is also set to cross the 700 crore Worldwide gross mark as it sits on 675 crore after nine days in China.
The daily business over the first nine days for PK in China is as follows. The film opened on 4600 screens.
Day One – $974,000
Day Two – $2,460,000
Day Three – $1,894,000
FIRST WEEKEND – $5,328,000
Day Four – $1,046,000
Day Five – $654,000
Day Six – $845,000
Day Seven – $539,000
FIRST WEEK – $8,412,000
Day Eight – $927,000
Day Nine – $1,530,000
NINE DAY TOTAL – $10,869,000
The drop from the first weekend is likely to be around 35% and a $15 million total in China is certain which will take it over $40 million in Overseas and 700 crore Worldwide The business in China also has chances of going close to $20 million.
This is truly extraordinary. Highest grossing non Chinese/English film is ridiculous considering the negligible Desi Population in China. The domestic BO of PK is amazing but the Overseas is way more impressive, with 2 markets going over $10 million. That too in a non-universal themed film (as opposed to say a D3 or 3 Idiots). Still get the feeling though from friends/family that 3 Idiots BO was more extraordinary and that 3 Idiots was more loved. Maybe this is because the public in general has gotten more bitter and negative but idk.
Actually I feel, PK theme is more universal than 3I or D3 and especially for country like China, it resonates very well. I don’t think there is anything in D3 for Chinese folks apart from Bollywood glamour and emotional grandeur.
Very strong second week in China too. Looks like it will drop between 30-40% and has a shot at $20mm overall. $15mm is almost guaranteed by third weekend.
P.K seems a much more universal theme but I would absolutely agree that 3 Idiots found greater appreciation overall. This is a massive number in China – consider this is 5months after the film’s release. If a big film arrives and actually releases in China at the same time as India, it would go even bigger in China. China is rapidly becoming the #1 market in the world for certain films…FF7 clocked the bigger opening their than in America.
The P.K gross in China was not expected for sure. No one would have bet on that. This will just drive much more focus from Indian Distributers in that market. I doubt P.K has even tapped into the true potential of the Chinese market either.
The day our films start to flood and affect their films, our films may face negative vibes. Or Chinese may want unlimited access to Made in China goods as a bargain.
China has a strict policy regarding foreign movies so I doubt we will ever flood their market. Also, not every joe shmoe movie will be able to release over there any way.
ThouShaltNot says: ( in Rangan’s blog)
June 2, 2015 at 08:26
Another thing this movie has going for it is the catchy dialogues (think Utkal already pointed out, but can’t be overstated). Mix of quirky one-liners and some witty, pointed and in-your-face retorts. Occasionally earnest (the Datto ones). Here is a small sample (some paraphrased perhaps). When it comes to dialogues, this movie has a problem of plenty.
Raja Awasthi: Dr. Saheb Kaise hai?
Tanu: Pathi Kaise hothe hai?
Raja Awasthi. Pathaa naheen. Agale saal Pathaa chalegaa..
Raja Awasthi: Bhai saab, aap kaun hai ?
Chintu: Hum hai KANDHA! Ham tab aate hai, jab bhi koi kanya udaas hoti hai, rishthe naathaon se pareshaan ho jaati hai…
Raja Awasthi: Beta, Kaayde mein raho, varna patak ke maare jaaoge!
Raja Awasthi: Yahaan ek baar ghodi chadna naseeb nahi hua, yeh saale toh ghodi pe hi ghum rahein hain tab se
Raja Awasthi: Saaley ko original bhi yahi rakhey, duplicate bhi yahi rakhey
Pappi: Tum kya Salman Khan ho jo tumhe commitment issues hai?
Girl in the boat: Pedal toh maaro
Pappi: Kaise mare, tumne tod diya na dono pedal humare..
Datto: Dr. Saheb, accent to nahi aariya
Manu: Haryanvi?
Datto: Nahi, amreekan!
Datto: Sharma Ji, kuch kehna chaahte hai?….Yeh aakhiri pheras hai, iske baad shaadi confirm ho jaayegi!
Manu: Nahi ho paa raha..
Tanu: Haath mat lagaa…
Chintu: To Kya tumhaare liye ham sirf Hero Honda aur ek litre petrol the jo chod chod ke aathe the raja awasthi ke paas..
Tanu to kid: Laal Kalam se lik do unko, bahuth sammaan hua.. Teri maa ki.
Chintuji, aaj aap vakil ban gaye, kaam bi mil gaya.. Nikaalo bike, chalo dikaathe hai, batman ki saare legends..
And the winner for me is……
Tanu: Hahaha….. Bloody, they all work for IT companies?!
Translator:Yeh sab saaley computer ki dukan pe kaam kartey hain.
(IMO, this scene was the most hilarious. Chintu is in utter disbelief at Tanu’s chutzpah, Tanu’s parents are embarrassed and the IT guy is crapping his pants wishing he had taken sanyaas instead of seeking a bride. Over the top? Yes and wrapped in a towel 🙂 The audience of course were in splits)
TWMR had a fantastic 2nd Monday at the Domestic Box Office. The film collected 5 crores on its 11th Day, taking its nett India total to 104.37 crores. After a whopping 28 crores+ business in its 2nd weekend, the film maintained a steady pace even in the weekdays
Tanu Weds Manu Returns had a super strong second Monday and has now grossed 102 crore nett in eleven days. The second week business of Tanu Weds Manu is as follows.
Friday – 6,25,00,000
Saturday 9,25,00,000
Sunday – 12,50,00,000
Monday 5,00,00,000 apprx
TOTAL – 33,00,00,000
The second week will finish around the 45 crore nett mark which would be better than the first week collections of all films released this year apart from the two Akshay Kumar starrers Gabbar Is Back and Baby.
Tanu Weds Manu Returns is doing unimaginable business with the film looking at the 225 crore mark Worldwide. The film is extraordinary in most of India and Overseas it is a similar story with the film looking to go to go to the $8 million mark. In India the trend it is showing means it should continue to do well even with the release of Dil Dhadakne Do.
The Worldwide gross pf the film will be amongst the top fifteen of all time. It will do more Worldwide business than films like Jab Tak Hai Jaan and Singham Returns
Till date the higest grosser Worldwide for a film costing less tha 50 crore is 2 States at 173 crore and Tanu Weds Manu Returns is on course to beat that by leaps and bounds. Most probably by a margin of 50 crore.
Unusual pairing and good move by YRF and Shimit Amit to take Nimrat Kaur.
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In a season of fresh pairing, the newest on-screen couple on the block is Arjun Kapoor and Nimrat Kaur! The two will be seen in Shimit Amin’s next with YRF.
A report published in Hindustan Times had a source quoted, “The director has met Nimrat a couple of times, and has narrated the script to her. She is likely to be paired opposite Arjun Kapoor in the film. The legal formalities are yet to be worked out.” The film will be produced under Aditya Chopra’s banner.
Christ, luck TRULY is all that matters I guess. First Balki, then Shimit Amin!!! From Nana Patekar to SRK to Arjun Kapoor for Shimit Amin!! If being a talentless hack gets you so far, this hack has really arrived! Abhishek Bachchan should be cursing himself. If only he had been born a decade later, he would have realized all he had to do was be a poor man’s Arjun Kapoor!! Just have a lugubrious hang-dog expression throughout in the name of acting and you are a winner!
Though he might not have done those films.. remember what he did.. he has some prestige projects with important directors that all failed at the same time. RDB worked, D6 didn’t, then BMD did. Similarly Guru worked, then Raavan didn’t. The reverse could have also happened. When things were going well for him everything for working. When they started going wrong though he kept doubling down on the films he really wanted to do, most of which were risky. People thought he was taking it easy and being foolish or something but these things suddenly happen. Take Ranbir. He suddenly has one absolute disaster and one historic disaster (even ignoring Roy). Suddenly Jagga jasoos is being delayed. Ranbir still has what should be considered safe films. Or at the very least he has films with directors who are multiplex favorites and all of which have top female stars from Deepika to Katrina to Aishwarya. So it’s not likely that all of these will not work. But the point is that Abhishek didn’t do this. For instance beyond a point he could have stuck to the Dostana kind of obvious multiplex project but he kept mixing it up. Even today he would have done similar things. perhaps he would have had a greater safety net in the sense that there a lot of director trying out stuff that does well in multiplex terms. But still no guarantees. And I very much doubt he would have done most of it for the simple reason that when he was really in the driver’s seat he wasn’t doing too many obvious choices even at the time. Beyond the prestige stuff. And even today notice that he didn’t go for multiplex genres even with multistarrers and what not. And similarly with the solo after a long time he’s again selected Umesh Shukla. People think that’s the only one he got but that’s foolish. Saif has done nothing but solos as a principle irrespective of how many flops he has. But again this too is a paradoxical truth about the industry. You can become successful doing obvious stuff but you cannot be truly important doing this. You have to somehow take certain risks and hope they work. How far you push in a certain direction is of course dependent on you. I actually don’t think the Abhishek chapter is anywhere close to complete. As for what most people think or whatever they’re cows (Hitchcock’s sense not mine!), they’ll follow the hits wherever they’re led! If anything it’s precisely this sort of Hollywoodized system where all kinds of things get to 100 crores or whatever that the case is never really closed. what is however true is that the more time that goes by the more the bar for success goes higher. You then need lots of hits where no credit is shared or something defining that resets everything. You can’t just coast by. Or you can in some ways but then your meaning gets greatly reduced. At the moment I think All is well looks promising. The question is how far it can go and then beyond this what kinds of films he takes up after this. But yeah the HP or Houseful kind of stuff has already been three too many!
I can’t fathom the reason for do both Hera Pheri 3 and Housefull 3 for both Nadiadwalas at the same time. Its going to serve no purpose, certainly not more than what Bol Bachchan, D3 or HNY did.
agree.. BB was the only one that truly helped him because he had the name in the title, all the symbolism and so on. D3 was pointless. HNY helped him in that he’s the only guy who got something out of it. On the other hand it’s too late in the day for him to get these sorts of ‘victories’. On the HP3 and Houseful at the most the former was more than enough. Alright you repeat the Dostana team in this genre, it’s still probably far more sensible than Houseful (which is the lowest of the low). There was simply no need for the latter. It’s especially problematic to do sequels when you’ve not been associated with the franchise from the beginning.
‘I’ll never forgive myself for it’ – Deepika on Big B’s absence from ‘Piku’ bash
When Amitabh Bachchan revealed in an interview to a leading daily that his co actor Deepika Padukone didn’t invite him for the ‘Piku’ success party, reports of a fall out began to do the rounds. Whispers also suggested that Abhishek Bachchan was equally miffed with Dippy for this omission.
However, while speaking to DNA, Deepika explained that the invite to her party didn’t reach Big B on time due to a major ‘technical error’ (ahem). She said, “It was a major technical error on my part and by the time it came to my notice it was too late and I’ll never forgive myself for it.”
She also revealed that she doesn’t have the courage to explain herself to the star over the phone. She added, “I am so embarrassed that I have not even had the courage to call him after that. I did eventually text him, couple of days ago but I have still not had the courage to pick up the phone and even explain myself to him. But I will. It was a major technical thing.”
Looks like big cover up by Deepika now. What is technical glitch? She needs to pick up the phone and call personally to Amitabh not rely on some technicalities and later blame them invite not reaching. BS.
There’s a war going on for the credit of Piku’s success and no wonder Amitabh started this huge interview sessions ‘after’ the movie released as he was not involved majorly before the movie’s release. I think Deepika is trying to get the credit as its her name movie technically and skipping out Bachchans from her success party.
Yeah it’s a bit bizarre. She’s been on good terms with Bachchan. They’ve done more than one film together. So not inviting him was strange. But the reason is even less plausible! Will say though that to an extent before release but certainly post-release it’s been a Bachchan show all the way. His character and performance has really dominated the news cycles. Not saying she did it because she suddenly got jealous or something, don’t get the sense she’s that sort of person but in any case the whole episode is strange.
I think Deepika would have asked the film to be titled on her character as I feel the film isn’t really about ‘Piku’ character but should have been something symbolic or metaphor involving all the 3 major characters. Something like ‘Finding Fanny’
I agree.. the title is in a sense misplaced because all three characters are very important and to the extent the central relationship is between her and the father it again points in another direction. I don’t think she should still have a problem with what actually happened specially when it’s Bachchan at the other end but this whole episode is strange.
“What is technical glitch? ”
They are not going to share the complete, absolute and whole truth with you, are they? Maybe she invited him and he didn’t show up and told everyone that he wasn’t invited and maybe she is playing along! Who/how would you know the inner politics of it all.
I think she wanted to have a silly party with silly people, let hair down and enjoy. And Big B is like father figure in front of whom they cant be too free. I think she wont invite her own parents to such parties.
DP might be a case of over rated when it comes to acting but at least she comes across as sporty and an honest, so she deserve some benefit of doubt in this case.
Amitabh Bachchan reacts to Deepika’s ‘technical error’
When asked Mr. Bachchan about the incident, he immediately retorted saying, “Arre madam… Jaane dijiye. Jo beet gayi so baat gayi. Isi baat pe main aapko babuji ki kavita sunata hun. (Madam, let the bygones be bygones. On this note, let me recite my father’s poem). And he recited his father, Harivansh Rai Bachchan’s poem ‘Jo Beet Gayi So Baat Gayi’.
Of course I realise that my grieving will go on for the rest of my life, but where she’s concerned, my solace is that she lived a very meaningful, purposeful, mindful life. She did more than most people would do in this short lifespan. And she’s in a safe place now.
My strategy was, “OK, don’t think about it now, think about it tomorrow.” Shall I tell you where that came from? When I was about 17 I read Gone With The Wind, and in that, when everything is devastated, the way Scarlett O’Hara dealt with it was – I’ll think about it tomorrow.
For B-Town, ‘Dil Dhadakne Do’ gets its beats right
Zoya Akhtar’s multi-starrer Dil Dhadakne Do tugged at the heart strings of celebrities like Amitabh Bachchan, Rishi Kapoor, Karan Johar, Arjun Kapoor and Riteish Deshmukh who not only praised the performance of the star cast but also urged the talented filmmaker to come out with more such cinematic gems.
The film revolves around relationships. It narrates a story of a dysfunctional Punjabi family and how they discover love and friendship during a cruise across the Mediterranean.
Featuring Anil Kapoor, Shefali Shah, Farhan Akhtar, Ranveer Singh, Priyanka Chopra and Anushka Sharma in key roles, Dil Dhadakne Do explores the nuances of relationships and tries to find the bond which often fades away due to professional calls. The film will hit the screens on June 5. Here’s what the stars tweeted after catching a screening of the film here:
Rishi Kapoor: Zoya am so proud! Such a difficult film handled so deftly. A team effort — actors, dp, sound, set, production, Pluto loved it.
Karan Johar: My mother just called to say that # DilDhadakneDo is the best film she has seen in years! You go ZOYA! Can’t wait to see it!
Amitabh Bachchan: Silences in a film allow the audience to enter the mind of the actor… rare… DDD does that in abundance! Well done Zoya!
Riteish Deshmukh: # DilDhadakneDo is filled with good actors and they outperform themselves. @RanveerOfficial how good are you. @priyankachopra simply WOW.
Shabana Azmi: Phone hasn’t stopped buzzing with overwhelming responses since previews of # DilDhadkneDo started. Excited and nervous. Standard reaction!
Pulkit Samrat: # DilDhadakneDo makes u cry laugh feel n think!
Genelia Deshmukh: Loved # DilDhadakneDo… What a film, what performances… Hats off to Zoya Akhtar @ritesh_sid n @FarOutAkhtar for making such a beautiful film.
Gaurav Kapur: It goes deep while being breezy on the surface. Makes you think while making you laugh. That’s why # DilDhadakneDo is so good.
Arjun Kapoor: I feel on top of the world after watchin # DilDhadakneDo @ritesh_sid pls convince Zoya to make more films more often!
Kunal Kohli: @ritesh_sid @FarOutAkhtar Zoya this is one of your best films. Makes one introspect about one’s relationships. Filmmaking at its finest
Riteish Deshmukh: The brilliance of @FarOutAkhtar @AnushkaSharma & Shefali’s performances makes # DilDhadakneDo special, an evening well spent, thank u guys
Neha Dhupia: So much praise for the film, way before it’s Friday. Can’t wait to watch this gem! Congrats team # DilDhadakneDo @FarOutAkhtar @priyankachopra.
Abhishek Bachchan: Dil Dhadakne Do is such charming film. Great fun. Well done Zoya. So happy for you. Big love.
Bollywood these days has a habit of going crazy over every other film on twitter. And it’s one thing to do this but the language they often use one would make one think a great Raj Kapoor film had just been produced! And this really is the greater problem. The constant exaggeration about any and every thing. Alright you liked a film, you enjoyed it. let’s take this at face value. But you don’t have to make it one for the ages!
meant to put this up the other day but this was my response on Bachchan’s blog after I saw his 75 min appearance on Arnab Goswami’s show:
I finally saw your Arnab appearance. All 75 min of it. It made for arresting TV. A unique interview in many ways. First off I must give some credit to the anchor. He certainly pinned you down more than anyone else ever has in the media. Of course he has great practice at this. As I said yesterday he has a talent but I’m afraid he’s greatly abused it. It is not enough to have the gumption to ask tough questions or to ask them of everyone. For more than one reason. With this kind of position one must also exhibit extraordinary integrity, one cannot be partial to one side or the other, one argument or the other but this also includes not selling out for ratings. In other words everything he says on his show can easily be tracked as representing the dominant views of ‘New India’. Socially liberal, hawkish on national security, so on and so forth. So yes he attacks all sides (though not necessarily all equally) but he always remains on the right side of his viewers. Sure, it’s a ratings battle but again one can become a demagogue in the process of generating those numbers and Goswami very often does this. Beyond this though it must also be said that it’s not enough to insult politicians on your show or ask tough questions of someone like yourself. There are certain ‘supreme’ issues if you will which everyone brushes under the carpet and pretends not to notice. There is a great deal for investigative journalism to pursue but how often is it really pursued? Once again we all obsess and with corruption and other such bourgeois obsessions. This is of course fine and I wouldn’t have it any other way. But on the moral scale that everyone pretends to be sincere about there are even greater issues. I don’t need to say more (these days I cannot say more or the censors here get me!). But this in any case will have been a rather long preface.
Allow me one more general point on all of this — journalists and the media have a habit of questioning any and everyone else except themselves. They always have a very clear conscience about everything. Not just in India.
But getting to the actual interview I found it in a strange way a bit upsetting. I think you didn’t quite enjoy being pinned down that way. I can’t blame you. But it was more than this. There was the constant sense of someone being asked questions he could not answer because he had taken a vow of silence many years ago. All of this is obvious. But it is the other bit that no one ever focusses on. Yes the constantly evasive responses might seem frustrating or whatever but there is something very crucial that is missed — the vow of silence bears heaviest on the one who takes it. It is not amusing in life to forever keep oneself in check in this fashion. It is a kind of mental prison, especially for a public figure. The emotional toll of living with this for years and years is I’m quite certain unimaginable.
At the same time isn’t precisely your example a very sad reflection on the state of the nation? It is completely disingenuous for Arnab or anyone else to pretend that this is like the US or any other Western countries where public figures can say any and everything without consequences. At least in matters of politics. There might be two democracies that are nonetheless separated by a chasm because the institutional structures are very different. It’s not just yourself. No actor in Hindi cinema ever expresses an opinion in these matters. They refuse to even say they’ve been following the news. They claim to be ignorant about the news. On and on. They will do anything not to answer such questions. Why? Everyone cannot be ‘weak’ in the same way. It is clearly the case that the system extracts a certain cost from those who do. This threat is always there. even the greatest stars cannot ensure that they will always be in that position. One day they will be vulnerable and those who are invested in institutions have long memories. And precisely because those institutions don’t guarantee things in the ways they do in the West that a lot of people can be attacked in a lot of ways without there being any fingerprints as it were on the crime scene. But again because one feeds this self-complacent image of New Indians whose reality is quite often that of a Karan Johar film (literally or aspirationally) that one finds it impossible to come to terms with the darker realities of the same nation even though these same make the news every single day. At the most one pretends these are vestiges of a regressive past and one moves on. To then ask questions of the sort that were put forth in your case and to expect that one can suddenly be ‘frank’ about them is a fairly dishonest proposition.
I will also however never waver from this sense. That there is nothing that is ever easy in these matters. In other words logically everything that you say is irrefutable. Yes there are consequences. And after a lifetime of scarring one has a right not to wish to invite fresh problems through the front door. But this question also does not simply admit of a logical response. It also demands something more. You might not be that person, the rest of us here who have not endured a hundredth as much as you have are certainly not that either (or at least we haven’t been tested to have any such pretensions)… but anything that is important anywhere in life always requires some individuals to assume a level of risk, to be willing to face those consequences, or to survive even those consequences that one might not have adequately prepared for or even contemplated. It seems to me that this value must forever be advanced as the ultimate one. We cannot just keep admiring others who do this. It is too easy to admit cowardice or weakness on one’s part. This might seem like a frank admission but it has enormous payoffs. Because it immediately absolves one of the responsibility to do anything. And whether you’re too weak to do this or everyone here is as well or whatever that does not lessen that responsibility on all of us. It doesn’t disappear because we admit to certain personal failings. And certain consequences while ugly can still be borne, they are still within the realm of what can be endured. But there are also those consequences that no human being could ‘survive’ in the same sense. Some still take these latter risks. Those others are far less in degree. We still get off easily if we accept just this responsibility. All of this is of course not to judge anyone. I would certainly not dare to judge you. I have if anything been more sympathetic to your side in this interview. Even if I might have many similar questions I am not convinced about the sincerity or honesty of the framing when it comes to journalists. even the truth can be made to lie when the overall framing is suspect. It is like a good scene in a very bad film. It just doesn’t work. So even as I am sympathetic, even as I don’t judge I cannot also admit of simply a logical response to all of this let alone the skillful diplomatic maneuvering. One certainly has a right to it but nothing ever changes in the world when we refuse to think beyond ourselves and our families. Why do we expect others to bear this cost? We might say we don’t but don’t we already enjoy the benefits of others’ sacrifices? We cannot simply walk away from this responsibility even with enormous acts of personal charity. And let’s be honest, we don’t just take a certain safe path because we do not wish to become victims. We also do so because we strive to be extremely successful. We are not just busy surviving. We are doing much better than this! Not just you.. the rest of us as well. If there’s one more thing I’m always consistent about it is about not letting the audience off the hook! Which includes myself.
As a final and minor cavil I’d add that I’m never comfortable about the ways in which you frame yourself relative to younger stars. What you say is quite true of course but it’s not the whole story. There is assuredly something that a younger star has that you cannot aspire to but equally there is also something much more you have (let alone what you have had) that those very same younger stars, no matter how successful, can ever dream of aspiring to. I don’t expect you to be immodest about this but your reading of all this could be a bit less one-sided than it is.
I’ll get back to something I said earlier. I found it most upsetting, if that is the right word, because I was treated to this figure who had taken a vow of silence and who despite all his best efforts betrayed something of what had been accumulated over time because of this decision. I am reminded once more of that Kaala Pathar moment where Ravi says that whenever he looks at Vijay he is reminded of a coal mine where deep down something has been burning for aeons. Perhaps this image is a bit too dramatic or hyperbolic in this content but I don’t think it’s a totally inappropriate one. Except that where Vijay was an inferno his author all these decades later simply had eyes laced with sadness… a self-control that seemed apparent in its exercise… and where in the final analysis confronting those ghosts was simply too exhausting to be attempted..
A great comment,Satyam. My take is slightly different. I felt AB has made peace with whatever the story is. There is a reason he would commit to an interview like this. He wants to make it clear he is not going to talk about these issues and I think after this interview, I think he is less likely to face this questions again.
His humility is a defense mechanism but is also real. Irbid very hard for successful people however intelligent they might be to accept and adjust to their decreased reach and popularity with newer generations and newer stars, let alone publicly acknowledge it. He is able to do both and that is one reason why is still flourishing other than the fact that he still has more talent than all the youngsters put together and the will and the discipline.
All I can say is that Bigb wasn’t born ystdy and unhone dhoop mai bal nahi sukhye hai. So he also is quite an artist. He can lean to the people in power (modi or gandhi-nehru), sometimes out of need (BalaShaheb or sahara pariwar), sometimes out of friendship-real or pretend (Amersingh, Ambani, Modi). One can be smart, cunning but act like a lamb in front of journos/media. It is all an act. A very solid act, I must say!!!
but it is true – now since a very long time – Big B is giving his impressions about the films as if they were all master pieces! he said the same about RGV ke sholay too 😉 he needs to stop this BS 🙂
Superb comment, the Kala Pathar reference is so true and apt . Only you could have dug that one up.
I would however disagree that his eyes were sad,. maybe disappointed yes, but I think his eyes conveyed that -” I have not done anything wrong or wronged my friends, as far as I am concerned they are all still my friends.”
“-” I have not done anything wrong or wronged my friends, as far as I am concerned they are all still my friends.”
Yep. And what a class act it was!! You can act on reel and also on real life-TV camera too! You can act like a mouse when you are sher from inside. Aap ko lallu banaya gaya hai. lolz
Amer Singh got Sahara honcho to drop Amitabh from the board and got Boney Kapoor on instead. And bigb dropped his friendship with Amersingh from that day onwards! And AmarS said that it was good thing in the hind sight because bigb could have been sitting in jail along with sahara honcho. But the deed was done and friendship ruined. It was Amar Singh who helped out bigb and introduced him to Ambanis and stood with him during his abcl trying times.
He looked rather upset when he was pressed on various things in the initial portion. Not upset with Arnab but upset in general. You sensed that he wished he could say more. And equally he’s been scarred because of these experiences. He’s talked about Bofors many times on his blog, about how despite winning the case in england and despite the Swedes admitting 25 years later that his name was planted that this episode still remained linked to his name. Now I disagree with this in the sense that these things fade over time, already I don’t think this issue evokes much passion in the present generation. But again those scars remain with him. And similarly he’s vowed not to say many things but to keep holding this within oneself can be a painful exercise. Precisely because he thinks he’s been wronged that it upsetting (for him) to face some of these questions.
Ram Gopal Varma’s The Secret to unveil on 8th June
By Bollywood Hungama News Network, June 02, 2015 – 15:27 hrs IST
If you thought that the maverick film maker Ram Gopal Varma aka RGV was on a long vacation, then here’s the latest news update about the director. He has been really busy shooting in the snow-capped Poland. He has been filming a song with shock value in the European country for his upcoming, psychological romance, The Secret (which was earlier titled as The Affair)
Speaking about the film, Sachiin Joshi said, “The Secret is about an incurable attraction and how social media and technology can doom a relationship.” When asked about why he chose Ram Gopal Varma to helm the film, he said, “Like everybody else, I had my reservations too till Ramu pointed out that he’s the same man who made Shiva, Satya, Rangeela and Company. He is always mistaken because he looks at things differently. He has a unique take on everything in life and has always gone ahead with his choices. Once he is fixated on something, you can’t budge him”. On the other hand, Ram Gopal Varma said, “I’ll be back in Mumbai on June 8 with a shout out to all Ramu fans and face the media with a big bang”
The Secret is a film that revolves around an architect (played by Sachiin Joshi), his wife (played by Kainaat Arora) and his co-worker (played by Meera Chopra) with whom he has an affair. Things go haywire when the architect’s boss (played by Makarand Deshpande), catches him red-handed after which a lawyer (played by Tisca Chopra) walks in.
While the release date of the film is yet to be decided, the first promo of The Secret will release on June 8 this year.
The success of Tanu weds Manu reveals one thing and that is Kangana is much bigger actress/ star than Deepika. If Deepika can take Piku to around 70 cr mark, Kangana can take Tanu weds Manu to 140cr.
wonder what the final BO gross would be? I think TWMR will go past 150 cr and there is an outside chance it may even threaten the BO collections of HNY and Krisshh
Rajen i think either u r Amitabh or his alter ego becasue even Abhishek Bachchan won’t say that don’t question my dad. Boss we live in a country where some people question Lord Rama and Krishna and MK Gandhi. So if some can question them so do they can Amitabh. He is like any normal people with Maya, Moh, Krodh, Lobh, Ahankaar. He has some shortcomings..Some Stregnths. I can give many example but i am not going into it. My stand is nobody is above questioning.
Yes,
If it runs at the same pace, it can cross K3 and HNY. Kangana has shown to the world that there are not only male stars who can touch this 100,200 and 300 cr club. She has opened the market for female stars as well. One more thing i like about her is that she is down to earth and she didn’t allow success to rise to her head. On the other some old male actors after getting a moderate success have started crying from the roof tops.
the point is not that he or anyone else is above questioning but such questioning must come about with some sanity attached to it! Any foolish thing that is said is not ‘questioning’.
“Political lore has it that Amar Singh’s break-up with the Bachchans was over a Rajya Sabha seat for Jaya Bachchan. But Amar Singh says the breaking point came over a dinner when Amitabh accused him of manipulating the situation to make the Bachchan family resign from the Sahara board.”
“Big B’s two letters were my two medals”
Amitabh Bachchan has sent two letters and two bouquets to Kangana – one for Tanu and the other for Datto. In an interview with Bombay Times, Kangana has said that Big B had sent her a letter for Queen too but that was written in high-end English that he himself speaks. She adds that this time, he has written a poem in Hindi, so she could read it out as is to her parents as they understand only Hindi. She adds that she felt like his two letters were her two medals and that she is going to frame these and keep them for life as her memory. She further reasoned that since her parents, who are not artistes, don’t understand performance, this is their proof that she has performed. Divulging the content of the letter, Kangana has been quoted in the report as saying that Mr Bachchan has written about the minutest of details of her performance which makes it very fulfilling for an artiste, coming from a legend like him. Big B’s letter reads, “It happens very rarely that our eyes fill up watching a performance. You made me cry.” He wrote for Datto, “For the girl who is Tanu’s lookalike called Datto, I don’t know her but please extend my warm wishes to her.” Kangana further adds that What broke her down reading his letters was when he wrote, “Main apne aap ko bhagyashali samajhta hoon, ki main uss udyog se juda hoon, jisme Kangana basti hai!” (I feel fortunate to be a part of an industry of which Kangana is also a part). She explains that being an outsider, she was ridiculed for the longest time with people openly making fun of her. But she asserts that the flowers Mr Bachchan sent have not just filled up her room, but also left her overwhelmed.
LOL, at some of the responses! On PK ‘nothing to see here’! Well even if other films don’t get this sort of release in China or don’t do as well doesn’t that say something about Aamir and/or this film? Had this been Salman they would have said his position is unique! Meanwhile on Bajrangi so it only has to beat Kick’s opening day. Nothing else, no other records or anything are needed! Meanwhile they also sound defensive here saying ‘it’s only a teaser’, it depends on the music. Really? never knew Salman depended so much on music! Finally on the female stars question well the more hits you have the more you can be in position to choose the right content. And you certainly contribute to the gross. Plus it’s not as if male stars bring them in irrespective of content. Sure it’s still a male playing field in so many ways (as it is just about everywhere else too) but this doesn’t mean that it makes no difference if you’re in Deepika’s position or something.
BoI’s replies to all the questions are dumb and Satyam has shown quite well why. Actually PK earning more than 15 million USD, equal to waht many big films earn in INDIA, is monumentally significant if you can read the message. It shows there is a market for Indian films in the South and South East Asia if we read the signals correctly and learn what kind of universal emotions and humour are working with the audiences here. I think if Hirani and AAmir do another humanistic comedy, it will do equally well in these parts.
As about heroine power, even the heroes are dependent on the package for getting a good opening. True, the male actors are ina better position to choose the right projects and there are more stories with male protagonists. But girls like Deepika and Kangana, and Priyanka and anushak, if they choose right, they can have fair share of successes on their own steam. Already Priyanka has Fashion and Mary Kom. And Kangana has TWM, Queen and TWM2, Deepika has Ramleela and Piku. That’s s a better average than that of some male stars like Saif, Sahid and Ajay.
Sometimes I think readers have not sent in these questions to BOI and it is BOI who are asking the questions and answering them in the way they want to! They are phenomenally dumb. I mean not just dumb. But pretty phenomenal at being dumb.
The utter disbelief of some of his own teammates says it all. Should be pretty much a given that he will win Ballon D’Or again this year. Barring a remarkable dip in form or something spectacular from Ronaldo he will win it a fifth time, 2 ahead of anyone else in the field and he would only be 28.
Not sure what the point is? Are you arguing that Delhi air is not polluted, or that even if it is it didn’t cause his kids’ asthma or that even if it’s polluted, Western urban areas are as bad?
I read this piece as the anguish of a father wondering if his career move has damaged his kids’ health and not as a scientific dissertation. This piece is very relatable to parents who’ve dealt with kids and their unpredictable respiratory issues.
This is a classic response CG.. rather than address the issue people start attacking the ‘West’ for bringing up this stuff. Delhi has long been one of the very polluted cities of its kind, this even after a clean-up several years ago. But as opposed to being worried that even if 20% of the article’s claims are right that’s serious enough what does one do? Attack the credibility of the piece! Maybe Delhi’s air will be like Geneva’s if one can disprove the piece!
Pollution is there.. but the most often question I’ve been asked is.. is the rape issue really that bad in Delhi, India’s capital? Can a girl go around safely all by herself?
I do think sexual violence against women is more of an issue in Delhi than in Bombay. Just taking an example. I haven’t seen the stats here, I could be wrong but I think here are certain sociological factors in play in Delhi. But ultimately it isn’t even about Delhi. I think there’s a national epidemic of rape and all kinds of sexual violence against women in India. The tragedy of the Nirbhaya case is that it isn’t even unique. There are tons of such stories. Admittedly some of the details here were particularly gruesome but I can give examples of stories just within the past year or so that could at least compete with this. Barring war-torn countries I doubt there are too many in the world that can compete with India on this score. Incidentally a lot of the sexual violence is socially sanctioned as well. All of this would lead to a long discussion and this forum isn’t the best place for it but what happens on a more or less daily basis is pretty awful. But again we are often upset when these things are reported in the US or wherever. Not saying I agree with all the reporting or the way things are portrayed. But how the ‘West’ represents India in these matters is I would think the least of the problems. But as always we tend to be obsessed with ‘image’ much more than with the actual issue.
“If you have lived in India, you know what is the situation. So she is googling for rapes and other seem conevenient way of emphasizing your point .
Secondly if you know how to google; US has more reported rapes than any other country (I concede definition of rape is much stricter in US). What about other issues like guns, racial discrimination if you are not on coast. So IMO it is a naive article without nuances. Her reasons seems disingenuous to stay back. She could have just said I like USA and there are less hassles in life to deal with than India.”
“I just pointed her opinion is not well put for consumption. I know the issues in India ; I don’t turn around one day start suggesting India is even “more” bad place than I thought. The goods and bads of any place are relative. If I am in some African country, India would be a better country. Similarly some Scandinavian country will claim that they are better than US in social indexes. “
” US has more reported rapes than any other country ”
don’t think India is anywhere close to reporting these things, even leaving aside the definitions.
“Similarly some Scandinavian country will claim that they are better than US in social indexes”
But I agree with this. I don’t think they just ‘seem’ better. They are better because of those indices. Now this doesn’t mean one necessarily prefers leaving in Sweden. there are sometimes reasons for which one might be willing to put with ‘worse’ social indices and so on.
Your gun point is on the money. Compared to most other parts of the Western world (or the world in general) the American obsession with guns is utterly appalling.
My sense is that irrespective of how one sided or anecdotal a story might be there are still hard facts that we can’t ignore. I’m also not sure that ‘natives’ always know these things because part of the problem sometimes is that one takes a lot of things to be ‘business as usual’ or part of the terrain.
On the Delhi case my problem always was that the entire coverage made it sound exceptional when it wasn’t. Even in the Indian coverage the question of this happening in Delhi and conjuring up images of a liberated woman being attacked this way was part of the deal. otherwise there are news stories all the time from UP or other states and people feel these are the badlands where such things happen one way or the other.
I was stressing more on the sociological factor though.. many of these rapes involve a level of violence and sadism that isn’t just about breaking the law.
by the way my point is never that any other country is ‘better’ in some deeper sense. All I mean is that at ‘x’ point in time one society might be better than another for whatever reasons of historical evolution. This doesn’t mean that they are better people in some more core sense.
The whole study was sponsored by air purifier company from Europe and the sales of its air purifiers have gone up in Delhi. Pehle paranoid karo, phir product becho. Good marketing ploy!
When Rajesh Khanna insulted Amitabh Bachchan and made Jaya Bhaduri angry
In the early 70s, Khanna didn’t have it in him to even acknowledge Bachchan’s presence, leave alone hailing him the next superstar.
and here I thought that rajesh khanna was a saint…after reading this article it is no wonder why khanna collapsed and new superstar emerged…Always punctual and down to earth the bachan was …I understand he also harrased amitabh during shooting of namak haram
We consume vegetables, fruits laced with pesticide. We consume unhygienic roadside food. No one bans them Suddenly there is so much furore about maggi noodles!
As you said it is easiest to attack celebrities as if they added lead or whatever. They are soft targets.
Kamal Hassan and Saif Ali Khan in Kamal Hassan’s new Hindi directorial venture titled Amar Hain.
Kamal Haasan is gearing up for a big Bollywood comeback with a film titled Amar Hain which he will not just act in but also direct. Buzz is, Saif Ali Khan has been approached to play the parallel lead.
Confirming this, Haasan told Mirror that he has been working on this project for almost six years and some of his friends in Mumbai, like Sriram Raghavan, were aware of the script. “I put it aside because of prior commitments and strangely, even when I wrote it around six years ago, I was only thinking of Saif Ali Khan,” he asserts.
The actor-filmmaker points out that in an ensemble cast film, it isn’t about who is playing the hero or who has the bigger part. “It’s the might of many actors which makes a film work. Saif has an important and equal role. His character is the good man so he is the hero of the film,” says Haasan.
He admits that he has several other actors in mind too but refuses to divulge names. He simply says that the producers have given him a free hand.
Has he received a go-ahead from Saif? “We are working on it. The producers have spoken to him. I am yet to speak with him, but he is aware of this project,” avers the 61-year-old icon.
The story moves from Mumbai to North India and then the rest of the world. The film will be shot in Mumbai, Delhi, London, Dubai, Jordan and parts of the US. Haasan is quick to add that it is not a period drama but today’s story, touching on politics, finance and the underworld. “It’s definitely not a comedy, it’s more of an action film with lots of emotion, an ensemble piece like The Untouchables,” he informs.
Speaking about his character he says that it’s an interesting dark role. “I won’t be singing duets but there is love and hate. You can’t call him an antagonist because he simply expresses another point of view,” Haasan reasons.
There are also two important female roles for which he is considering actresses from Mumbai. “I will spend three months prepping for it after I wrap up my current project, Thoongavanam, in August,” he says.
Vishwaroopam had stirred a huge controversy delaying its release. Will Amar Hain which touches on rajneeti again draw unwanted attention from political parties? “No, it’s above all that. And while it is close to the truth, it doesn’t point to any personalities or parties. It’s all hypothetical, an entertainer with lots of drama and action,” he signs off.
he said this some days ago… not sure if Abhishek agreed or not… probably didn’t..
We haven’t seen you in Hindi films for a while — the last one you were in was Mumbai Express (2005). Are you working on any Hindi film?
Nothing has come up that interests me. We are in talks with Abhishek Bachchan. It is a project with an ensemble star cast. I would like to do Hindi cinema on my own terms. I am at a stage where I want to tell stories that need to be told. I like doing Hindi films because it gets me a larger audience. Actually doing Telugu cinema helped me get into Hindi cinema, because Ek Duje ke Liye (1981) was a remake of a Telugu film.
He said that samples of noodles, spaghetti, pasta and macaroni made by other companies too will be sent for testing. “We understand that a toxic substance is used by many of these companies to ensure that the noodles and similar products so that they don’t stick together after cooking.”
The kids who are hooked to pastas and noodles should go back to idlis and rotis.
Celebrities deserve some rap as they indiscriminately endorse each and everything. Hope they will learn their lessons. Leave the endorsements to lesser known people. Let them earn some money.
Nowadays, filmstars endorsing soft drinks have almost disappeared.
And TV celebrities (some of them) endorse products in the name of magical cures and gods.
In 2012 they passed a new food safety law but most of it is still being implemented.. and of course they are so many ways to make these laws less effective.. and then the companies take advantage of this. What they wouldn’t dare do in the West they do here. But then we (or other such countries) are to blame. If you let people exploit you they will. Now having said that this isn’t just a foreign company issue. The whole system is lax and any kind of food manufacturer/processor can get away with a lot.
SATYAMSHOT 
May 29, 2015 at 6:34 AM
New Releases Poor – TWMR To Challenge Big Films In Week Two
Friday 29 May 2015 12.00 IST
Box Office India Trade Network
There were five new releases this week Welcome To Karachi, Ishqedarriyan, P Se PM Tak, Chor Bazaari and Chaar cutting and all opened to poor collections. Welcome to Karachi was easily the best of the lot though collections were around 10%. Ishqedarriyan was next with around 3-5% while the others had practically no audience.
Welcome To Karachi opened on Thursday at multiplexes but the collections were weak. Tanu Weds Manu Returns will dominate by a distance as the opening on its second Friday was similar to its first day at places.
The film will have a very strong hold and the second week collections will be challenging some of the star cast big budget films. The film could have second week which is amongst the top ten biggest second weeks.
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May 29, 2015 at 11:49 AM
To let you guys know.. “P Se PM Tak” is a film directed by Kundan Shah (Jaane bhi do yaaro, Kabhi Haan Kabhi Naa) and at once upon a time was supposed to be made with Madhuri Dixit. With 0% audience, end for his career.
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May 29, 2015 at 6:35 AM
Tanu Weds Manu Returns Has Biggest First Week Of 2015
Friday 29 May 2015 11.00 IST
Box Office India Trade Network
Tanu Weds Manu Returns had a very strong first week grossing around 68.75 crore nett. It is the highest first week collection of 2015. The film added around 31 crore nett on the weekdays which is huge giving it a 45% ration on the weekdays when the norm is 30-35%.
The film is a blockbuster and just remains to be seen where the final business settles. It is assured to finish amongst the top twenty grossers ever and may even make it into the top fifteen. The film will be the highest grosser ever for a film costing less than 50 crore. The best at the moment are 2 States, Ek Villain and Grand Masti.
The key for the film has been business in mass circuits. Rajasthan has clocked 4 crore nett and Ci is at 2.50 crore nett. These figures are the difference between this and a film like 2 States which caters more to urban audience. It will mass centres where the extra business will come from, Mumbai city, Bangalore may well end up less than 2 States but the difference in smaller cities will be huge in the favour of Tanu Weds Manu returns.
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May 29, 2015 at 6:36 AM
taran adarsh @taran_adarsh 3h3 hours ago
The unthinkable has happened! #TanuWedsManuReturns crosses ₹ 70 cr [India biz] in Week 1. Should cross ₹ 100 cr in Week 2… contd.
taran adarsh @taran_adarsh 3h3 hours ago
#TanuWedsManuReturns Fri 8.85 cr, Sat 13.20 cr, Sun 16.10 cr, Mon 8.90 cr, Tue 8.20 cr, Wed 7.70 cr, Thu 7.07 cr. Total: ₹ 70.02 cr.
taran adarsh @taran_adarsh 43m43 minutes ago
#TanuWedsManuReturns Overseas Week 1 closes at ₹ 25 cr. Total worldwide for Week 1 ₹ 95 cr [70.02 cr India & 25 cr Overseas]. FABULOUS!
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May 29, 2015 at 6:35 AM
Piku Has Highest Third Week Of 2015
Friday 29 May 2015 11.00 IST
Box Office India Trade Network
Piku held up well in its third week with 10 crore nett approx taking its three week total to around 72.50 crore nett. The third week is the highest of the year beating the figures of Baby which grossed 6.75 crore nett approx in week three.
The film should make it to the 80 crore nett mark. The performance is mainly on the strength of high end multiplexes which have seen good appreciation. The PVR and Inox chains are at 50% of its all India business which is a big amount for a film grossing over 70 crore nett.
The performance in mass centres is poor with its lifetime business will be less than the first week business of Tanu Weds Manu Returns in Rajasthan, CP Berar, CI and Bihar. Infact its the same story in Delhi/UP and East Punjab where the film can’t reach the first week figures of Tanu Weds Manu Returns. This is a despite a very good performance in the PVR chain who have a huge presence in Delhi/UP and East Punjab.
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May 29, 2015 at 6:36 AM
taran adarsh @taran_adarsh 2h2 hours ago
#Piku [Week 3] Fri 1.35 cr, Sat 2.40 cr, Sun 2.75 cr, Mon 92 lacs, Tue 85 lacs, Wed 84 lacs, Thu 75 lacs. Grand total: ₹ 75.08 cr. SUPER HIT
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May 29, 2015 at 11:34 AM
Ajay Devgn books Diwali 2016 and 2017
Ajay Devgn @ajaydevgn
Sorry yaar, duniya bekar bina Son of Sardaar! Get ready for the sequel releasing Diwali 2017.
Ajay Devgn @ajaydevgn
Another Diwali Dhamaka for you, #Shivaay now releasing Diwali 2016
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May 29, 2015 at 1:12 PM
Catch Pics: Aamir Khan Learns ‘Dhobi Pachad’ For Dangal
http://www.koimoi.com/bollywood-popular/catch-pics-aamir-khan-learns-dhobi-pachad-for-dangal/
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May 29, 2015 at 1:14 PM
First Look: Irrfan Khan As Mr. Masrani In Jurassic World
http://www.koimoi.com/videos/first-look-irrfan-khan-as-mr-masrani-in-jurassic-world/
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May 29, 2015 at 1:36 PM
had no idea he was in the movie.
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May 29, 2015 at 1:50 PM
I posted on Jurrasic post few days ago.
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May 29, 2015 at 2:36 PM
When the promo came, that was my beef with the trailer. Posted his first look as well way back in April.
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May 29, 2015 at 2:45 PM
Satyam: Not sure you know but the biggest project from Irrfan is the new Dan Brown’s Da Vinci Code Part 3 film, Inferno. He plays the main antagonist against Tom Hanks. Irrfan plays the character of ‘The Provost’ (Harry Sims) which is the next important character in the whole novel. That is going to be remarkable achievement for his career.
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May 29, 2015 at 3:20 PM
I thought Zobrist was the main antogonist. The Provost has an important role but I doubt Irfan will get many scenes here.
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May 29, 2015 at 4:24 PM
probably though the earlier films put me to sleep.. didn’t even do well.
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May 29, 2015 at 2:50 PM
commentary and review:
http://www.thehindu.com/features/friday-review/kangana-ranaut-does-not-need-to-star-with-the-khans-of-bollywood/article7255654.ece
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May 29, 2015 at 2:55 PM
Yes, she does not need Khans. Oh, wait… her 3 upcoming movies are with Imran KHAN(Katti Batti), Irrfan KHAN(Divine Lovers) and Saif Ali KHAN(Rangoon) 🙂
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May 29, 2015 at 4:01 PM
lol, those are the other Khans who need to work with her to salvage their careers
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May 29, 2015 at 7:44 PM
And some other Khans dont need her.
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May 30, 2015 at 6:38 PM
..or more like they would rather not run the risk of getting overshadowed by her
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May 30, 2015 at 8:17 PM
Unless she gets a proper role to overshadow them. There cant be two Kings.
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May 30, 2015 at 8:32 PM
You cannot give her a Sonkshi type of role and expect wonders!
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May 29, 2015 at 8:33 PM
This is interesting….
Mumbai Mirror film critic Rahul Desai quits after ‘Tanu Weds Manu Returns’ rating furore
“Our reviewer Rahul Desai had given this week’s main fare Tanu Weds Manu Returns two and a half stars. Following reader feedback and research which differed significantly from him, this newspaper is upgrading the rating of the film to three and a half stars.”
http://www.firstpost.com/bollywood/mumbai-mirror-film-critic-rahul-desai-quits-tanu-weds-manu-returns-rating-furore-2268894.html
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May 30, 2015 at 3:51 AM
that chap never seemed like a film critic – he looked more interested in going round and round with his English vocabulary….
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May 29, 2015 at 11:19 PM
Speaking at a Clean India workshop at Sahyadri Guest House last evening, Fadnavis responded, “Why should opposition object… he is a popular actor with social awareness and a good communicator who will ensure the message reaches the last person… Sant Gadge Baba remains an icon of the state.” He added that a Swachh Maharashtra fund would be set up as well.
Also speaking at the event, Khan said, “We must not lose the opportunity to make Maharashtra waste-free; a model state in the entire country… my job is to create awareness abou
– See more at: http://www.mid-day.com/articles/cm-devendra-fadnavis-seems-to-have-aamir-khan-in-splits/16250187#sthash.4zJz8siU.dpuf
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May 29, 2015 at 11:31 PM
Dwayne Johnson’s disaster drama “San Andreas” is anything but a disaster, dominating moviegoing at the U.S. box office with early projections showing a $40 million-plus opening weekend.
http://variety.com/2015/film/news/san-andreas-heads-for-40-million-plus-weekend-aloha-eyes-12-million-1201508264/
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May 30, 2015 at 12:27 AM
Early estimates of TWMR for second Friday seems close to 7 crores. 50 crores second week is a possibility with that number. And 150 crores will not be out of reach even without any help from DDD..Lets see whats the final second Friday number…
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May 30, 2015 at 2:11 AM
Tanu Weds Manu Returns Now 3rd Highest Grosser Of 2015 | 2nd Friday Collections
http://www.koimoi.com/box-office/tanu-weds-manu-returns-now-3rd-highest-grosser-of-2015-2nd-friday-collections/
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May 30, 2015 at 2:14 AM
Tanu Weds Manu Returns is heading for a 25 crore nett second weekend as it grossed around 6.25 crore nett on its second Friday. The drop from day one is just 25-30% and the drop from Thursday is less than 10%.
There have been only six films that have had a 25 crore nett or more weekend and if Tanu Weds Manu gets there it will be the seventh. The film is in the big league now competing with films like Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani and Krrish 3 with its second weekend figures.
The film was holding strong on the weekdays but no major competition this week has give the film an extra lift, it will be different next week but still a 125 crore plus total is looking on the cards. It could even hit 130 crore nett.
http://www.boxofficeindia.com/Details/art_detail/tanuwedsmanureturnsheadsfor25croresecondweekend#.VWlU4lKCwqE
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May 30, 2015 at 8:40 AM
Bachchan on Arnab Goswami’s Frankly Speaking:
http://www.timesnow.tv/Frankly-Speaking-with-Amitabh-Bachchan/videoshow/4476788.cms
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May 30, 2015 at 10:47 AM
really enjoyed that, thanks.
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May 30, 2015 at 1:59 PM
As usual great interview and perfectly gentleman behavior by Amitabh even though he’s too careful now but its understandable fearing the controversies. Overall must watch for people with wide open eyes and ears!
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May 30, 2015 at 11:36 AM
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May 30, 2015 at 8:34 PM
OK full disclosure, at first I was totally going to lambast Big B for not being forthcoming and even being sort of a coward/contradictory in some of his answers…but then I do get his fear of being in a controversy and certainly he isn’t the only one who is this way in interviews.
Today’s time, everyone is a bit too sensitive and it seems someone or some group gets offended by a person in an interview and then that becomes a huge deal. That’s one of the reasons why these celebrity interviews have become so damn boring and unwatchable (including this one). And I am talking about everywhere, here in the US its the same thing, where most answers are cliched or dodged. Look at what happened to Mel Gibson in the famous Diane Sawyer interview; he gives an honest answer and then pretty much gets blackballed from Hollywood (I am not saying I agreed with what he said).
The only part that was kind of worth watching was after the 50 mins mark…after 50 mins it finally got somewhat interesting. At least he was honest in this portion.
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May 30, 2015 at 8:38 PM
He should interview Jaya Bachchan. And Mamata . The bengali tigresses.
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May 30, 2015 at 8:45 PM
Jaya would be a great interview…also was thinking Rishi Kapoor.
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May 31, 2015 at 12:58 PM
Bravura! A complete ‘jaha pana tussi great ho tofu kabool karo’ kind of interview performance by Bachchan here. The word ‘dignity’ found a new meaning in him !!.
I was particularly pleased with his response to Arnab on being lectured to be more vocal on issues like his Hollywood counterpart, say a Clooney. He simple reply – our society is not matured enough to have that kind of dialogue and our circumstances are different and we are not evolved as them in spirit. On an aside , I find this jumping to comparisons to US / West very irksome and so many get carried away with all contrasting talks and developing at such & such growth rate, when the fact of the matter is a very vast population ( more than 50% ) does not even have access to basics like clean water , electricity and roads. Somehow for that 15-20% populace which undoubtedly is a huge number considering our immeasurable population, there is a bubble that we are among top and compared with the best of the world. However for the other 60-70%, fact remains basic living conditions are inhuman and worst than even East European countries which btw were communist all along until late 80s. And now with this extreme uncontrolled and unregulated urbanization God only knows the adverse effects.
Coming back to the interview and the Salman question, though answered very well, I wish he were a bit more vocal and countered Arnab for his eagerness to do a media mob justice here. What changes the law of the land between a May 06th and May 08th ? Why should the code suddenly be chucked out? Why should he not be allowed access for a due legal process and exhaust his options?
Paying such huge amount of yearly taxes at least give him that right. Even Sanjay Dutt was finally convicted in 2013 for a 1993 case. And then we have recently watched Jayalalitha walking out free and anointed the CM of her state (India Today is currently running a cartoon of her getting out of jail and PM Modi on a pact to clear all contentious parliament bills) and then there is the bail for Raju and 9 of his gang from Satyam. So we all know how legal process operates in India. Why moral policing just for him and Sanjay Dutt? We saw what came out of a moral upright Sunil Dutt in an Indian setting. If they were such big crooks the way you are portraying them, they would have gotten cleared on day one and not gone through the entire grind and faced the legal process. In Salman’s case what if personal grudges are being settled and who will punish corrupt lawyers, judges, police, and entire justice system involved in this case. That D W Deshpande verdict which is out in the public domain leaves so many doubts and at so many places he goes on to state – that evidence was not available for this and this but to me that other part is sufficient…….blah blah…. So if you were so sure why did a HC judge find so many loopholes in the verdict and suspend the sentence? The legal system of not only India but the entire world operates on a simple premise – ‘Beyond reasonable doubt’ Was that followed to the core?
Hell! we recently saw in U.S, Pedro Hernandez in the Etan Patz case of kidnapping and murdering inspite of admitting to his crime to police, and circumstantial evidence against him, was found not guilty by jury and mistrial ordered. We had the high profile Oscar Pistorius who was cleared of the serious charge of 1st degree murder and that British Indian Dewani in honeymoon murder case in S.africa where Shrien Dewani was acquitted. Judge ruled that the prosecution evidence was “far below the threshold” of what a reasonable court could convict on, and the evidence of the prosecution’s main witness was “riddled with contradictions”
At most Arnab should have grouse with the Indian legal system and if he is the so called ultimate media watchdog then have a proper debate on our legal system since its inception which is outdated instead of getting personal and blaming Salman and bollywood only.
If Arnab seems hell-bent on getting answers, I wish he poses the same questions to someone more verbal with a confrontational streak. Among stars supporting Salman , I feel Aamir is too studied and rehearsed for him but he will find a perfect match in a Shahrukh type who is not only sharp and street smart but connected to realities of Indian set up and would give him a adequate counter and put him on the defensive.
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May 30, 2015 at 11:40 AM
I rarely watch video clips posted here or any blogs but watched this over an hour long interview with rapt attention and without interruption. One may have problem with some of his answers ( though it becomes abundantly clear why he is evasive on some issues), this was real treat.
I learned a lot about Amitabh here and more importantly, it became clear in my mind why he is so much more than any other star past or present and why no one can be like him.
Intelligent, erudite, composed, dignified, accomplished, respectful but yet so vulnerable. I doubt if there is a major star who can feel so vulnerable and so openly admit to the insecurities and vulnerabilities without feeling sorry for oneself.
No Aamir or Salman or Shahrukh can dream of being like him.
Sometimes I feel irked with younger generation or even the not so young generation make disrespectful or dismissive comments about him.
Charges like- he overacts, is greedy, haven’t liked any of his recent film bar KHakhee or about his associations with likes of Amar Singh or Modi or charges leveled against him re Bofors or 1984 riots etc.
Yes, he could be and could afford to be more forthcoming about some issues but he makes it clear why he isn’t.
Arnav has done a spectacular job here but he was owned here ( though Arnab respectfully allowed some of it to happen).
This wasn’t the belligerent, bombastic Arnab even though he was persistent and tough.
But, more than the interview it highlights why and how Amitabh even at this stage stands head and shoulders above the others and can’t be matched.
Feel sorry for those who choose to diss, disrespect or trivialize him as it says more about them than Amitabh who doesn’t need their vindication.
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May 30, 2015 at 11:53 AM
great comment Rajen.. haven’t see it yet but will check it out tonight. On Arnab yes this is his weekend show. And here he’s much better and certainly very professional. the regular show is a circus even if it’s a guilty pleasure for me!
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May 30, 2015 at 1:51 PM
Can’t wait for this.
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May 30, 2015 at 2:45 PM
This will be epic. SS Rajamouli and Shankar are the only 2 directors in India that know how to make a Big Budget Film imo
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June 2, 2015 at 7:34 PM
Man, when you are scrolling down this page, this still image up the eye-brows really looks like an ass-crack. Hope I am not hauled up for seeing pornography in the office.
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May 30, 2015 at 10:28 PM
Perhaps she has not been selected for such parts as she does not fit the conventional ‘object of desire’ look. If so, then good for her! No doubt, the prevailing divas, the Katrinas and Deepikas, are more ‘gorgeous’ in a vacuous sort of way. (No offence to Deepika, as I absolutely loved Piku, laughed my way through it, and came away with a mid-life crush on Irrfan Khan). But it was the script that was outstanding and Deepika always looks very nice but in my non-specialist book, she can never match the acting abilities of a Rani Mukherjee or even Kareena Kapoor (that’s when the latter is not doing item numbers). So, while Deepika was adequate in a terrific film like Piku, Kangana was good in the very average Tanu/Manu II.
http://www.outlookindia.com/article/queen-of-an-empty-vessel/294441
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May 30, 2015 at 11:10 PM
“But to hold Tanu-Manu up as part of the filmography that reveals the spirit of women’s liberation in small-town India is frankly ridiculous. ” Whoever did? Except perhaps the author in her own imagination?
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May 31, 2015 at 8:23 AM
The film is remarkably regressive in many ways.-
Anyway, garbage film one doesnt need to waste bandwidth on except a reminder
That is Indians have a remarkable ability ton
Lap up trash.
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May 31, 2015 at 12:27 AM
http://sports.ndtv.com/cricket/news/242899-when-sachin-tendulkar-s-driving-became-a-cause-of-headache-for-anjali?pfrom=home-cricket
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May 31, 2015 at 12:44 AM
According to a DNA report, it has been revealed that Salman Khan’s upcoming film, Bajrangi Bhaijaan is not about ‘love jihad’ at all. While the film has been embroiled in controversies over its title, the report claims that the film doesn’t veer towards the topic of ‘love jihad’ at all. It has been revealed that Bajrangi Bhaijaan is about a little Pakistani girl who loses her way at the Indo-Pak border and finds herself in India. A source has been quoted in the report as saying that Salman plays the man who finds the little girl on this side of the border and takes it on himself to re-unite her with her parents and family in Pakistan.The report further states that Kareena Kapoor Khan will be seen only at the beginning and towards the end of the film, with a total screen time of not more that 30 minutes. The source also adds that Salman’s character, who is known as Bajrangi Bhaijaan, becomes as attached to the little girl as Salman himself.
Salman’s love for kids is no secret. The superstar loves bonding with kids and is often seen doting over his nephews. However, this is not the only thing that makes him as popular with his fans. Let’s take a look at other reasons as to why the Dabangg Khan has such a huge fan following…
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/Bajrangi-Bhaijaan-Beyond-love-jihad/photostory/46120234.cms
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May 31, 2015 at 12:52 AM
“I’m the biggest star today. Koi shak?” Aamir Khan said at a press meet recently. Lest he be accused of immodesty, it wasn’t the box office records his film PK is currently shattering in China that the actor was referring to but his increased girth in aid of new film Dangal.
http://movies.ndtv.com/bollywood/aamir-khan-im-the-biggest-star-today-koi-shak-767008
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May 31, 2015 at 5:41 AM
Author Gyan Prakash explains why ‘Bombay Velvet’ did not receive a favourable response
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/news/Author-Gyan-Prakash-explains-why-Bombay-Velvet-did-not-receive-a-favourable-response/articleshow/47479158.cms
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May 31, 2015 at 5:45 AM
http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/karan-johar-bombay-velvet-ranbir-kapoor-koel-purie-rinchet-couching-with-koel-bollywood/1/441183.html
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May 31, 2015 at 6:06 AM
Welcome To Karachi Day Two TWMR Day Nine
Sunday 31 May 2015 13.30 IST
Box Office India Trade Network
Welcome To Karachi had hardly any growth on Saturday with collections in the same range as day one. The business of Welcome To Karachi till Saturday is as follows.
Paid Previews – 50,00,000
Friday – 1,45,00,000
Saturday 1,55,00,000
TOTAL – 3,40,00,000
Tanu Weds Manu Returns continued with strong business with a big jump on second Saturday. It will easily cross the 25 crore nett mark in second weekend.The first two days of Tanu Weds Manu Returns in second week is as follows.
Friday – 6,25,00,000
Saturday – 9,25,00,000
TOTAL – 15,50,00,000
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May 31, 2015 at 6:07 AM
taran adarsh @taran_adarsh 2h2 hours ago
#TanuWedsManuReturns is speeding towards ₹ 100 cr in India [Week 2] Fri 6.65 cr, Sat 9.40 cr. Grand total: ₹ 85.07 cr. BLOCKBUSTER.
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May 31, 2015 at 5:16 PM
TWMR is a huge success and deservedly so, a very well made movie and very entertaining one as well. Kangana totally killed it
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May 31, 2015 at 6:07 AM
taran adarsh @taran_adarsh 1h1 hour ago
#PK China crosses #PK North America and is at $ 10.87 mn. Overseas total: $ 37.6 mn [₹ 239.69 cr]. ALL TIME BLOCKBUSTER.
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May 31, 2015 at 8:33 AM
This is phenomenal.
China has become such a huge market.
Just for comparusion HNY released on over 2000 screens in China and collected a royal sum of $276000 over the entire first weekend
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May 31, 2015 at 9:33 AM
Bombay velvet may find some luck there with all the jazz music.
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May 31, 2015 at 7:15 AM
Even at 60 Mani Ratnam continues to influence and inspire filmmakers
http://www.ibnlive.com/news/movies/even-at-60-mani-ratnam-continues-to-influence-and-inspire-filmmakers-999404.html
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May 31, 2015 at 10:22 AM
Warning of the decade…closely following the ‘developments’
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May 31, 2015 at 11:07 AM
I thought they were tanu and tanu. The liberated females.
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May 31, 2015 at 2:39 PM
Deepika snubs and humiliates Amitabh !!
Rajeev Masand’s latest blind for Open magazine involves a female actor and her senior co-actor who’ve fallen out. At the recent success party of her film, he was conspicuous by his absence. Not just the veteran, but no one from his family attended the party either (despite the actor’s son being credited as one of the producers of the film!).
An insider source explains that neither the veteran actor, nor his family were invited to the success party. Further, the veteran’s son, also an actor in the industry, has confirmed this to some of his inquiring friends from the industry.
It looks like the senior actor and the actress have had a falling out. Most of the promotional activities for the movie involved the lead actress , while the senior-actor participated in a few alone. The falling out reportedly is over ego issues.
This one looks like an easy guess, huh?
http://www.pinkvilla.com/entertainment/discussion/popular-female-actor-and-her-senior-co-star-have-had-falling-out
some of the comments below are interesting and some unfairly blame amitabh and the non-happening career of abhishrek for this!
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May 31, 2015 at 2:48 PM
HAIDAR
Theres no doubt that Vishal Bhardwaj is one of the best film makers in india currently (if not the best!)
The film is also deserving of all the accolades it got for various aspects of film making be it dialgoue, screenplay, cinematography, music, direction et al
The performances are first rate overall (though not exceptional by vishal movies’ standards)–this includes Shahid Kapoor, Kaykay, irrfan who all were v good but not mind blowing!
The crown goes to Tabu in a bewitching & eminently nuanced perfromance as Ghazala
ps-btw its a strange thing to say but somehow tabu never looked better (even in her ‘heyday’)
Ye chup chup ke nach gana
pehle bhi hota tha
ya abhi shru hua hai
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May 31, 2015 at 3:07 PM
HAIDAR-contd1
i found the film appealing from the ‘creative’ point of view but found it wanting from the pov of its political leaings & ramifications.
its just NOT enough to create a so-called serious product somewhat lopsided in its discourse as to distort the picture totally. Its ok to tweak things to insert shakespeare into the ‘adaptations’ but doing it on a politically charged topical subject is irresponsible.
and its NOT enough to insert a micro-font (unreadable) disclaimer in the start and finish to lazily ‘balance’ it out.
And now those usual suspects who stand up in ‘support’ of these endeavours—this ‘support’ is not wrong in principle or in isolation.
But to understand these responses, its imp to scratch the surface and reveal the pattern and timing of these responses.
The same voices feel obliged to speak up for certain ‘rights’ but remain suspiciously quiet at some more overt abuses (even when prompted). When specifically asked, they suddenly remind that they retain their right not to have to explain their positions every time and not having to ‘justify’ things. But the pattern of selective ‘speaking up’ and selective silence continues unabated.
There are many such examples here and elsewhere. Theres a person who stands up for right for freedom of expression and all sorts of ‘liberties’ but suddenly goes mum insoite of being prompted about the killing of bloggers in the very area he/she comes from. He then suddenly absolves himself of all ‘responsibility’ & claims to love films (and not bothering about other stuff).
There are other such FAKES. One jumps up everytime theres a protest against a film screening (even unsuccessful and minor protests irk him so much that he writes long essays!). BUT bigger abuses, infact debaucheries fail to elicit even a token response forget condemnation.
however its not illegal to be a FAKE and hence these elements constantly flourish unabated. but no amount of spin or fakery can mask this pseudo-ness that stands stripped !!
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May 31, 2015 at 3:26 PM
Haider was a dissapointment according to British shakespeare dramatists.
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June 1, 2015 at 2:27 AM
Pandiraj’s next- Hope this is as good as Pasanga-
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June 1, 2015 at 2:58 AM
I liked Pasanga, but this one seems, from this first trailer, to be a bit too sweet (as in sickly) for my taste 🙂
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June 1, 2015 at 2:41 AM
Tanu Weds Manu Returns Has Sixth Highest Second Weekend Of All Time
Monday 01 June 2015 12.00 IST
Box Office India Trade Network
Tanu Weds Manu had an outstanding second weekend grossing around 28.50 crore nett. The drop for the first weekend is just 25% which is phenomenal. The film grossed 6.25 crore nett on Friday, 9.25 crore nett on Saturday and Sunday will come in at the 13 crore nett range.
The second weekend is the sixth biggest of all time after PK, Dhoom 3, 3 Idiots, Kick and Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani. It has beaten films like Chennai Express, Krrish 3 and Happy New Year.
The film has also become the highest grossing film of 2015 after its second weekend with business of around 97.50 crore nett. The 100 crore nett mark will hit on Monday. The film is on a phenomenal run on North India while other parts are excellent. The only dissapointment is the Gujarat / Saurashtra belt which is not performing as well as it should be.
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June 1, 2015 at 2:56 AM
Chennai Express trended for 4 weeks, I think.
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June 1, 2015 at 6:20 AM
taran adarsh @taran_adarsh 2h2 hours ago
#Piku [Week 4] Fri 45 lacs, Sat 75 lacs, Sun 1.05 cr. Grand total: ₹ 77.33 cr. India biz. SUPER HIT!
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June 1, 2015 at 6:21 AM
taran adarsh @taran_adarsh 3h3 hours ago
#TanuWedsManuReturns to cross ₹ 100 cr mark in India today [Monday; Day 11]. The film is UNSTOPPABLE. Next target: ₹ 125 cr.
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June 1, 2015 at 11:31 AM
“The only dissapointment is the Gujarat / Saurashtra belt which is not performing as well as it should be.”
Rajen is doing his bit 🙂
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June 1, 2015 at 11:40 AM
Ha! There’s some hope yet in the country..!
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June 1, 2015 at 11:46 AM
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June 1, 2015 at 11:51 AM
yes saw this over the weekend.. terrifying piece..
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June 1, 2015 at 11:51 AM
Ha!
Well the second week is very good. Should breeze past 125 crore. Definitely the WOM is super strong…did not lose out to audience exhaustion or the dreaded second week syndrome where most big films collapse as everyone has seen it or lose out due to loss of screens etc. Basically defied the odds and scored a second week ahead of every SRK/Hrithik starrer ever! And no holidays either! So what excuses do we have for this one doing well in week 2, but others failing?
Meanwhile, P.K destroys China records too – on its way past $15mm – out of nowhere China is now the biggest market for Hindi films (Hindi = either Aamir or Hirani)
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June 1, 2015 at 12:00 PM
The same folks who pretend it’s all about films doing everything in week 1 and how the market had changed and what not suddenly turn around and celebrate great second and third weeks. Just no shame! Much as people who used to scoff at competition and trending also discover these terms overnight when their favorite stars are involved.
Meanwhile Tanu is celebrated (rightly) for putting up such big numbers. But hey 40 crores more or something HNY is pretty ok too! Because they sold the latter for an extra Rs 10 and made it very profitable. The audience loves a film like Tanu and it’s a blockbuster but ETT though not liked by the audience is one too. It got to a certain mark after all and once again prices were low. The logic is clear. The bigger your film is the lower your prices are all round because of course you know the audience won’t like your film and hence you make it and sell it cheaply and it comes to the same thing. Now people get offended when one brings up this stuff but as long as I’ve been online discussing this stuff I’ve not had clear and convincing answers to how this stuff happens!
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June 1, 2015 at 5:04 PM
Gujjus obviously have better taste than Bhaiyajis.😄 silly one liners are not enough to make them even snigger, let alone get them guffawing and rolling up in aisles or lining up at the BO.
Class bhi akhir kuchh cheez hoti hai.
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June 1, 2015 at 3:48 AM
‘Brothers’ trailer to release on June 10
http://www.india-forums.com/bollywood/hot-n-happening/52936-brothers-trailer-to-release-on-june-10.htm
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June 1, 2015 at 1:22 PM
Really looking forward to it though at the moment can’t think of any movie other than rewarding TWMR and Baahubali
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June 1, 2015 at 6:19 AM
Bollywood going crazy over every other film has also become a stale feature by this point:
http://www.pinkvilla.com/entertainmenttags/neha-dhupia/b-town-dil-dhadakne-do-gets-its-beats-right
Not that I otherwise have doubts about the film’s success.
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June 1, 2015 at 6:33 AM
‘Bajrangi Bhaijaan’ first song to release with ‘Dil Dhadakne Do’
http://www.ibnlive.com/news/movies/bajrangi-bhaijaan-first-song-to-release-with-dil-dhadakne-do-999458.html
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June 1, 2015 at 6:39 AM
This will draw Salman Khan’s fans.
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June 1, 2015 at 12:15 PM
“Now people get offended when one brings up this stuff but as long as I’ve been online discussing this stuff I’ve not had clear and convincing answers to how this stuff happens!” Not really. The answer is clear. Tanu Weds Manu has been liked tremendously and is a blockbuster. ETT is not like all that much and IS a blockbuster. The blockbuster status is not decided by whether you make your money in 4 weeks or two. The operating number is how much money has been earned , both as a multiple of its investment and as an absolute number. I dont think you can fault the trade commentators too much on this. Not one of hem will deny that TWMR has been liked more than ETT. But they also will tell you that ETT made a lot of money, just as TWMR did.
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June 1, 2015 at 12:27 PM
The red herring is : ETT is a blockbuster at 185 crore and TWMR is a blockbuster at 140 crore.
Now consider what ETT is vs. TWMR and reconcile how both can be blockbuster as a multiple of any investment. Sure DS is higher in week 1. Maybe ETT has more from smaller screens etc. But when you compare a Salman Khan/Katrina Kaif starrer, which is a wide release with all that starpower and it makes 185 crore against a Madhavan/Kangana starrer that is a medium sized film and one makes 180crore and the other 140crore and the result is the same “tag” wise…something is very fishy! The latter 2 stars have cumulative hits in their career that could possibly be added on one-hand! The former were in 2012 possibly at their peaks!
You cannot fault traders…but you can certainly fault those who fall for it!
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June 1, 2015 at 12:20 PM
Satyam: What do you think of the films of Buddhadeb Dasgupta? Have you written anything on them? Thanks.
Also I hope you are still writing that Piku piece 🙂 .
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June 1, 2015 at 1:24 PM
Haven’t written anything on him. Any of his films is worth watching though I haven’t seen all of them. Having said that I am personally not a great fan of his work. I’ve probably liked Dooratwa the most.
and yes still trying to find time for the Piku piece!
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June 1, 2015 at 12:31 PM
Both Piku and Tanu trending is very good.
BIg stars movies need first 3 days because wom usually tends to be negative. One big star fans try to cut another big star’s fortunes. They succeeded tremendously with BV.
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June 1, 2015 at 1:30 PM
Worth watching it again and again : Messi defies everything
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June 1, 2015 at 1:32 PM
yup amazing indeed…
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June 1, 2015 at 1:34 PM
In a cup final too. Awesome moment of genius.
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June 1, 2015 at 1:40 PM
Britain’s Leicester plans to erect statue of Amitabh Bachchan in city square
Kounteya Sinha,TNN | Jun 1, 2015, 10.30 PM IST
Amitabh Bachchan strives for ‘better shape’Amitabh Bachchan shares throwback father-son momentPadma Vibhushan conferred on Amitabh BachchanAmitabh Bachchan showers praises on Pawan TiwariAmitabh Bachchan admires Southern film stars
LONDON: Kolkata has a temple after him where they worship the shoes he wore in a film, kept on a chair he sat on during the shooting of another.
Fan frenzy is nothing new for Bollywood shahenshah Amitabh Bachchan.
Now, in what is the first such attempt in UK to immortalise him in stone, Bachchan’s British fans in Leicester – the city with the largest number of Indian origin people outside India, is planning to have a life size statue of Big B in one of its most prominent squares.
In an exclusive interview to TOI, the member of parliament from Leicester and the longest serving Asian MP in the British parliament Keith Vaz said “my constituents are keen we have a statue of Amitabh – one of the world’s greatest actors here in Leicester. Personally I feel we must immortalise the icons of India from all walks of life”.
Vaz added “Amitabh is already in Madame Tussauds and so why not in the city with the largest number of Indian origin people outside India”.
Bachchan has been to Leicester a couple of times. The last time he was there, he received an honorary doctorate of arts from the local De Montfort University and also visited the famous Walkers Stadium; home of the Leicester City Football Club.
Soon after the visit, Vaz had moved an early day motion in the House of Commons which said “That this House congratulates Amitabh Bachchan on being awarded an honorary degree from De Montfort University, Leicester; notes his towering contribution to Indian cinema having received 10 Filmfare awards and being named BBC Star of the Millennium”.
Vaz had brought Big B’s son Abhishek Bachchan to campagn for him in Leicester in April this year, just days before the general elections on May 7.
Bachchan was welcomed at Leicester East by screaming female fans and the sound of loud dhols as he accompanied by Vaz for a road trip. The roads came to a standstill as thousands of Bachchan fans pulled down their shutters to line up the road and catch a glimpse of the junior Bachchan.
Leicester is known to have the largest Indian community in Europe and also has the biggest diwali celebration outside India.
Amitabh Bachchan is also the patron of charity that Vaz set up for diabetes.
Vaz told TOI on Monday “I can assure you that elections in the UK are never bland for the candidates. Abhishek Bachchan is a friend, and he came only to support me as an individual, not a political party. It was a great honour and privilege for him to have come to Leicester, as Amitabh Bachchan, his father, has done in the past. The people of Leicester adored him, and the visit was an incredible day for the city. I would always maintain that there is nothing wrong with a bit of fun, and a bit of spice, in an election”.
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June 1, 2015 at 1:42 PM
Govinda has apparently walked out of Jagga Jasoos. This is a film that had already been delayed with reshooting rumors.
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June 1, 2015 at 1:46 PM
http://focusnews.com/entertainment/govinda-bids-adieu-to-ranbir-katrina-starrer-jagga-jasoos/46411/
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June 1, 2015 at 1:43 PM
Sanjay Dutt in Umesh Shukla’s next
Bollywood|HT Syndication|Jun 01, 2015 15:53 PM0 comments
Friends and family of Sanjay Dutt are waiting for the end of his incarceration soon. Several filmmakers are also awaiting the release of Sanjay from the jail, so that they can sign him up for their films. Umesh Shukla – the director of Oh My God – has confirmed signing Munna Bhai for his next project.
Umesh said, “I’ve had an initial meeting with Sanju. It’s a very nice, sensible subject with a human angle and he liked it”. He added, “I will discuss the first draft with him once he is out of jail. He really suits the role well, I can’t think of anyone else for the part”. Currently, Umesh is busy with a project – titled All Is Well – starring Abhishek Bachchan, Asin and Rishi Kapoor.
Apart from the male lead, the remaining cast of the flick is yet to be finalized. The movie will be produced by Umesh in collaboration with Sanjay and another production house. Sanjay Dutt was convicted for illegal possession of weapons in the 1993 Mumbai Blasts case and currently serving sentence in Yerwada Central Jail, Pune.
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June 1, 2015 at 1:47 PM
“Govinda has apparently walked out of Jagga Jasoos. ” Which is all for the good, because now Anil Kapoor is going to play that role, apparently.
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June 1, 2015 at 1:51 PM
the thing is all is not right with this one:
http://www.msn.com/en-in/entertainment/movies/ranbir-and-katrinas-jagga-jasoos-delayed-again/ar-AAad7Ki
though this preceded the BV release after it Ranbir obviously has to be extra-careful.
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June 1, 2015 at 1:57 PM
Yes seems like his films are troubled a fair bit recently.
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June 1, 2015 at 4:59 PM
Utkalda,
You always been an Anil Kapoor fan?
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June 1, 2015 at 2:04 PM
Yes. Jagga Jaasoos is a high-risk, high-concept film. But the film is better off with Anil than Govinda.
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June 1, 2015 at 2:33 PM
There are rumors that Amitabh might replace Anil Kapoor now but I feel, Anil Kapoor is the best choice if its a father’s role as he just played dad to Ranveer singh in DDD and Amitabh is good if its a grand father’s role 🙂
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June 1, 2015 at 2:41 PM
I’d agree there.
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June 1, 2015 at 2:58 PM
I feel Anil Kapoor is going to have a long career in supporting roles and fatherly roles till 70+ age. Among his contemporaries like Jackie, Sanjay Dutt, Sunny Deol only he has potential to play such characters. The way Rishi Kapoor has successfully proven his career record playing older characters in last few years, Anil can do the same. But even in playing older characters and making a career out of it, the inspiration and motivation yet again is Amitabh Bachchan!
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June 1, 2015 at 6:25 PM
the inspiration and motivation yet again is Amitabh Bachchan!
yet again more actors are compared with Big B,no offence but amitabh is one actor will carry on until he is 90 but doubt it if anil kapoor or srk can sustain at that rate,I do not rate anil kapoor in that category at all.neither he is a superstar or super-actor.
dilip kumar and ashok kumar tried it but only at certain level,its takes it toll.
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June 1, 2015 at 2:31 PM
Just posting this news which is in all sites now… I know no one would believe this on this blog and its probably a huge rumor and never possible unless its special appearances or episodic film.
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Salman, Shah Rukh, Aamir together in a film: Yes, for real
If you too are astonished by that headline, so are we. But seems like Bollywood’s biggest coup d’etat of all time will finally be reality. All three Khans of Bollywood – Shah Rukh, Salman and Aamir – are apparently coming together for a film.
According to a reports, producer Sajid Nadiadwala is planning to rope in Shah Rukh, Salman and Aamir for an Amar Akbar Anthony type of film. A source was quoted by the newspaper as saying, “Sajid has decided to produce a film which will star the three Khan superstars. He may even direct the film himself, though that would depend entirely on the nature of the subject. The film will go on the floors in January 2017 and release in December 2017.”
http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/salman-khan-shahrukh-khan-aamir-khan-together-film-bollywood-bajrangi-bhaijaan/1/441517.html
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June 1, 2015 at 2:40 PM
wake me up when it happens..
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June 1, 2015 at 3:31 PM
Can this ever happen? Sure. But will it happen with Sajid Nadiawala as the director? Hell no. I don’t think Aamir/SRK are fans of Sajid. If the 3 were to come together for a film I think it would probably be directed by Aditya Chopra (who has recently worked with all 3) or Karan Johar (he’s just dying to sign Salman and there were rumors earlier that him and Aamir were teaming up for something) or of course Raju Hirani.
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June 1, 2015 at 3:45 PM
yeah I agree with you that Adi Chopra has the best chance to talk them into starring in a film together because all three of them have worked under his banner.
The fascination of this happening is still interesting on paper but for me personally it’s a decade too late. These guys are all 50 now and I can’t even think of a decent story for them that would be interesting…Three men and a baby? lol. Even with something like The Departed, one of them would have to take a lesser role which I do not see happening. I’d just like to see at least two come in a film at this moment…at least Aamir and SRK in a ‘Heat’-like film.
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June 1, 2015 at 3:42 PM
KHANgarh ke sholay.
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June 2, 2015 at 4:14 PM
SRK is quick to kill this 3 Khan rumor today on twittter!
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Sakina: @iamsrk On a scale of 1 to 10, how fake are the rumors of the 3 Khan movie? #AskSrk
Shahrukh Khan: @sakinayay somewhere between Moon is made of Cheese and the Lochness Monster…
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June 2, 2015 at 4:15 PM
LOL! good one!
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June 1, 2015 at 4:26 PM
PK Strong In China – Heads For 700 Crore Worldwide
Monday 01 June 2015 11.00 IST
Box Office India Trade Network
PK is on a huge run in China and has grossed more in China than in any other Overseas market and is still very strong. More important than going above any other market is that it is on the verge of becoming the highest grossing non local ope English film.
The highest ever is a Russian film Stalingrad which has around $12 million and PK is sure to beat that by the end of business on Monday.The film is also set to cross the 700 crore Worldwide gross mark as it sits on 675 crore after nine days in China.
The daily business over the first nine days for PK in China is as follows. The film opened on 4600 screens.
Day One – $974,000
Day Two – $2,460,000
Day Three – $1,894,000
FIRST WEEKEND – $5,328,000
Day Four – $1,046,000
Day Five – $654,000
Day Six – $845,000
Day Seven – $539,000
FIRST WEEK – $8,412,000
Day Eight – $927,000
Day Nine – $1,530,000
NINE DAY TOTAL – $10,869,000
The drop from the first weekend is likely to be around 35% and a $15 million total in China is certain which will take it over $40 million in Overseas and 700 crore Worldwide The business in China also has chances of going close to $20 million.
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June 1, 2015 at 4:29 PM
This is truly extraordinary. Highest grossing non Chinese/English film is ridiculous considering the negligible Desi Population in China. The domestic BO of PK is amazing but the Overseas is way more impressive, with 2 markets going over $10 million. That too in a non-universal themed film (as opposed to say a D3 or 3 Idiots). Still get the feeling though from friends/family that 3 Idiots BO was more extraordinary and that 3 Idiots was more loved. Maybe this is because the public in general has gotten more bitter and negative but idk.
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June 1, 2015 at 4:34 PM
Actually I feel, PK theme is more universal than 3I or D3 and especially for country like China, it resonates very well. I don’t think there is anything in D3 for Chinese folks apart from Bollywood glamour and emotional grandeur.
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June 2, 2015 at 5:40 AM
Very strong second week in China too. Looks like it will drop between 30-40% and has a shot at $20mm overall. $15mm is almost guaranteed by third weekend.
P.K seems a much more universal theme but I would absolutely agree that 3 Idiots found greater appreciation overall. This is a massive number in China – consider this is 5months after the film’s release. If a big film arrives and actually releases in China at the same time as India, it would go even bigger in China. China is rapidly becoming the #1 market in the world for certain films…FF7 clocked the bigger opening their than in America.
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June 2, 2015 at 6:44 AM
yes it’s true.. China might become unexpectedly the biggest market in this sense. Perhaps another sign of the shifting of global balance! ha!
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June 2, 2015 at 7:09 AM
The P.K gross in China was not expected for sure. No one would have bet on that. This will just drive much more focus from Indian Distributers in that market. I doubt P.K has even tapped into the true potential of the Chinese market either.
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June 2, 2015 at 7:21 AM
The day our films start to flood and affect their films, our films may face negative vibes. Or Chinese may want unlimited access to Made in China goods as a bargain.
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June 2, 2015 at 8:52 AM
China has a strict policy regarding foreign movies so I doubt we will ever flood their market. Also, not every joe shmoe movie will be able to release over there any way.
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June 1, 2015 at 4:54 PM
This is a remarkable achievement.
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June 2, 2015 at 3:07 AM
It will end up doing 100 crores in China alone…That is stunning..
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June 1, 2015 at 8:31 PM
Actor Matt Dillon puts rare celebrity spotlight on Rohingya Muslims
http://www.hindustantimes.com/world-news/actor-matt-dillon-puts-rare-celebrity-spotlight-on-rohingya/article1-1353782.aspx
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June 2, 2015 at 1:33 AM
ThouShaltNot says: ( in Rangan’s blog)
June 2, 2015 at 08:26
Another thing this movie has going for it is the catchy dialogues (think Utkal already pointed out, but can’t be overstated). Mix of quirky one-liners and some witty, pointed and in-your-face retorts. Occasionally earnest (the Datto ones). Here is a small sample (some paraphrased perhaps). When it comes to dialogues, this movie has a problem of plenty.
Raja Awasthi: Dr. Saheb Kaise hai?
Tanu: Pathi Kaise hothe hai?
Raja Awasthi. Pathaa naheen. Agale saal Pathaa chalegaa..
Raja Awasthi: Bhai saab, aap kaun hai ?
Chintu: Hum hai KANDHA! Ham tab aate hai, jab bhi koi kanya udaas hoti hai, rishthe naathaon se pareshaan ho jaati hai…
Raja Awasthi: Beta, Kaayde mein raho, varna patak ke maare jaaoge!
Raja Awasthi: Yahaan ek baar ghodi chadna naseeb nahi hua, yeh saale toh ghodi pe hi ghum rahein hain tab se
Raja Awasthi: Saaley ko original bhi yahi rakhey, duplicate bhi yahi rakhey
Pappi: Tum kya Salman Khan ho jo tumhe commitment issues hai?
Girl in the boat: Pedal toh maaro
Pappi: Kaise mare, tumne tod diya na dono pedal humare..
Datto: Dr. Saheb, accent to nahi aariya
Manu: Haryanvi?
Datto: Nahi, amreekan!
Datto: Sharma Ji, kuch kehna chaahte hai?….Yeh aakhiri pheras hai, iske baad shaadi confirm ho jaayegi!
Manu: Nahi ho paa raha..
Tanu: Haath mat lagaa…
Chintu: To Kya tumhaare liye ham sirf Hero Honda aur ek litre petrol the jo chod chod ke aathe the raja awasthi ke paas..
Tanu to kid: Laal Kalam se lik do unko, bahuth sammaan hua.. Teri maa ki.
Chintuji, aaj aap vakil ban gaye, kaam bi mil gaya.. Nikaalo bike, chalo dikaathe hai, batman ki saare legends..
And the winner for me is……
Tanu: Hahaha….. Bloody, they all work for IT companies?!
Translator:Yeh sab saaley computer ki dukan pe kaam kartey hain.
(IMO, this scene was the most hilarious. Chintu is in utter disbelief at Tanu’s chutzpah, Tanu’s parents are embarrassed and the IT guy is crapping his pants wishing he had taken sanyaas instead of seeking a bride. Over the top? Yes and wrapped in a towel 🙂 The audience of course were in splits)
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June 2, 2015 at 2:41 AM
TWMR had a fantastic 2nd Monday at the Domestic Box Office. The film collected 5 crores on its 11th Day, taking its nett India total to 104.37 crores. After a whopping 28 crores+ business in its 2nd weekend, the film maintained a steady pace even in the weekdays
http://www.koimoi.com/box-office/tanu-weds-manu-returns-2nd-monday-box-office-collections/
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June 2, 2015 at 2:43 AM
Tanu Weds Manu Returns had a super strong second Monday and has now grossed 102 crore nett in eleven days. The second week business of Tanu Weds Manu is as follows.
Friday – 6,25,00,000
Saturday 9,25,00,000
Sunday – 12,50,00,000
Monday 5,00,00,000 apprx
TOTAL – 33,00,00,000
The second week will finish around the 45 crore nett mark which would be better than the first week collections of all films released this year apart from the two Akshay Kumar starrers Gabbar Is Back and Baby.
http://www.boxofficeindia.com/Details/art_detail/tanuwedsmanusecondmondaybusiness#.VW1QaLWCwqE
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June 2, 2015 at 2:45 AM
Tanu Weds Manu Returns is doing unimaginable business with the film looking at the 225 crore mark Worldwide. The film is extraordinary in most of India and Overseas it is a similar story with the film looking to go to go to the $8 million mark. In India the trend it is showing means it should continue to do well even with the release of Dil Dhadakne Do.
The Worldwide gross pf the film will be amongst the top fifteen of all time. It will do more Worldwide business than films like Jab Tak Hai Jaan and Singham Returns
Till date the higest grosser Worldwide for a film costing less tha 50 crore is 2 States at 173 crore and Tanu Weds Manu Returns is on course to beat that by leaps and bounds. Most probably by a margin of 50 crore.
http://www.boxofficeindia.com/Details/art_detail/tanuwedsmanureturnsheadsfor225crworldwide#.VW1Q0rWCwqE
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June 2, 2015 at 3:05 AM
In India it will comfortably touch 150 crores…
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June 2, 2015 at 9:52 AM
http://www.rediff.com/movies/interview/moushumi-chatterjee-sanjeev-kumar-used-to-treat-me-like-a-child/20150602.htm
Moushumi Chatterjee: Sanjeev Kumar used to treat me like a child
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June 2, 2015 at 10:35 AM
Unusual pairing and good move by YRF and Shimit Amit to take Nimrat Kaur.
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In a season of fresh pairing, the newest on-screen couple on the block is Arjun Kapoor and Nimrat Kaur! The two will be seen in Shimit Amin’s next with YRF.
A report published in Hindustan Times had a source quoted, “The director has met Nimrat a couple of times, and has narrated the script to her. She is likely to be paired opposite Arjun Kapoor in the film. The legal formalities are yet to be worked out.” The film will be produced under Aditya Chopra’s banner.
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June 2, 2015 at 2:53 PM
Christ, luck TRULY is all that matters I guess. First Balki, then Shimit Amin!!! From Nana Patekar to SRK to Arjun Kapoor for Shimit Amin!! If being a talentless hack gets you so far, this hack has really arrived! Abhishek Bachchan should be cursing himself. If only he had been born a decade later, he would have realized all he had to do was be a poor man’s Arjun Kapoor!! Just have a lugubrious hang-dog expression throughout in the name of acting and you are a winner!
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June 2, 2015 at 3:08 PM
Though he might not have done those films.. remember what he did.. he has some prestige projects with important directors that all failed at the same time. RDB worked, D6 didn’t, then BMD did. Similarly Guru worked, then Raavan didn’t. The reverse could have also happened. When things were going well for him everything for working. When they started going wrong though he kept doubling down on the films he really wanted to do, most of which were risky. People thought he was taking it easy and being foolish or something but these things suddenly happen. Take Ranbir. He suddenly has one absolute disaster and one historic disaster (even ignoring Roy). Suddenly Jagga jasoos is being delayed. Ranbir still has what should be considered safe films. Or at the very least he has films with directors who are multiplex favorites and all of which have top female stars from Deepika to Katrina to Aishwarya. So it’s not likely that all of these will not work. But the point is that Abhishek didn’t do this. For instance beyond a point he could have stuck to the Dostana kind of obvious multiplex project but he kept mixing it up. Even today he would have done similar things. perhaps he would have had a greater safety net in the sense that there a lot of director trying out stuff that does well in multiplex terms. But still no guarantees. And I very much doubt he would have done most of it for the simple reason that when he was really in the driver’s seat he wasn’t doing too many obvious choices even at the time. Beyond the prestige stuff. And even today notice that he didn’t go for multiplex genres even with multistarrers and what not. And similarly with the solo after a long time he’s again selected Umesh Shukla. People think that’s the only one he got but that’s foolish. Saif has done nothing but solos as a principle irrespective of how many flops he has. But again this too is a paradoxical truth about the industry. You can become successful doing obvious stuff but you cannot be truly important doing this. You have to somehow take certain risks and hope they work. How far you push in a certain direction is of course dependent on you. I actually don’t think the Abhishek chapter is anywhere close to complete. As for what most people think or whatever they’re cows (Hitchcock’s sense not mine!), they’ll follow the hits wherever they’re led! If anything it’s precisely this sort of Hollywoodized system where all kinds of things get to 100 crores or whatever that the case is never really closed. what is however true is that the more time that goes by the more the bar for success goes higher. You then need lots of hits where no credit is shared or something defining that resets everything. You can’t just coast by. Or you can in some ways but then your meaning gets greatly reduced. At the moment I think All is well looks promising. The question is how far it can go and then beyond this what kinds of films he takes up after this. But yeah the HP or Houseful kind of stuff has already been three too many!
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June 2, 2015 at 3:23 PM
I can’t fathom the reason for do both Hera Pheri 3 and Housefull 3 for both Nadiadwalas at the same time. Its going to serve no purpose, certainly not more than what Bol Bachchan, D3 or HNY did.
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June 2, 2015 at 4:12 PM
agree.. BB was the only one that truly helped him because he had the name in the title, all the symbolism and so on. D3 was pointless. HNY helped him in that he’s the only guy who got something out of it. On the other hand it’s too late in the day for him to get these sorts of ‘victories’. On the HP3 and Houseful at the most the former was more than enough. Alright you repeat the Dostana team in this genre, it’s still probably far more sensible than Houseful (which is the lowest of the low). There was simply no need for the latter. It’s especially problematic to do sequels when you’ve not been associated with the franchise from the beginning.
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June 2, 2015 at 10:51 AM
‘I’ll never forgive myself for it’ – Deepika on Big B’s absence from ‘Piku’ bash
When Amitabh Bachchan revealed in an interview to a leading daily that his co actor Deepika Padukone didn’t invite him for the ‘Piku’ success party, reports of a fall out began to do the rounds. Whispers also suggested that Abhishek Bachchan was equally miffed with Dippy for this omission.
However, while speaking to DNA, Deepika explained that the invite to her party didn’t reach Big B on time due to a major ‘technical error’ (ahem). She said, “It was a major technical error on my part and by the time it came to my notice it was too late and I’ll never forgive myself for it.”
She also revealed that she doesn’t have the courage to explain herself to the star over the phone. She added, “I am so embarrassed that I have not even had the courage to call him after that. I did eventually text him, couple of days ago but I have still not had the courage to pick up the phone and even explain myself to him. But I will. It was a major technical thing.”
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June 2, 2015 at 10:56 AM
Looks like big cover up by Deepika now. What is technical glitch? She needs to pick up the phone and call personally to Amitabh not rely on some technicalities and later blame them invite not reaching. BS.
There’s a war going on for the credit of Piku’s success and no wonder Amitabh started this huge interview sessions ‘after’ the movie released as he was not involved majorly before the movie’s release. I think Deepika is trying to get the credit as its her name movie technically and skipping out Bachchans from her success party.
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June 2, 2015 at 2:31 PM
Yeah it’s a bit bizarre. She’s been on good terms with Bachchan. They’ve done more than one film together. So not inviting him was strange. But the reason is even less plausible! Will say though that to an extent before release but certainly post-release it’s been a Bachchan show all the way. His character and performance has really dominated the news cycles. Not saying she did it because she suddenly got jealous or something, don’t get the sense she’s that sort of person but in any case the whole episode is strange.
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June 2, 2015 at 3:27 PM
I think Deepika would have asked the film to be titled on her character as I feel the film isn’t really about ‘Piku’ character but should have been something symbolic or metaphor involving all the 3 major characters. Something like ‘Finding Fanny’
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June 2, 2015 at 4:14 PM
I agree.. the title is in a sense misplaced because all three characters are very important and to the extent the central relationship is between her and the father it again points in another direction. I don’t think she should still have a problem with what actually happened specially when it’s Bachchan at the other end but this whole episode is strange.
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June 2, 2015 at 5:56 PM
I guess working with SRK, she has learned some bad habits. Pretty classless act.
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June 2, 2015 at 7:06 PM
“What is technical glitch? ”
They are not going to share the complete, absolute and whole truth with you, are they? Maybe she invited him and he didn’t show up and told everyone that he wasn’t invited and maybe she is playing along! Who/how would you know the inner politics of it all.
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June 2, 2015 at 10:59 AM
Pretty classless. It’s quite possible one can forget. But to not have the guts to pick up the phone and man up a bit is pretty low.
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June 2, 2015 at 1:15 PM
I think she wanted to have a silly party with silly people, let hair down and enjoy. And Big B is like father figure in front of whom they cant be too free. I think she wont invite her own parents to such parties.
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June 2, 2015 at 2:02 PM
But that is her assumption; May be Amitabh is more fun in such parties. In these circumstances you let other person decide to come or not.
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June 2, 2015 at 2:32 PM
and especially when you’re doing a party related to a film’s performance you can hardly leave out your major co-stars.
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June 2, 2015 at 2:51 PM
Dono ko time out. Bachchan and Deepu. The real movie credit goes to Irrfan 😉 🙂
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June 2, 2015 at 5:21 PM
DP might be a case of over rated when it comes to acting but at least she comes across as sporty and an honest, so she deserve some benefit of doubt in this case.
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June 3, 2015 at 2:15 PM
Amitabh Bachchan reacts to Deepika’s ‘technical error’
When asked Mr. Bachchan about the incident, he immediately retorted saying, “Arre madam… Jaane dijiye. Jo beet gayi so baat gayi. Isi baat pe main aapko babuji ki kavita sunata hun. (Madam, let the bygones be bygones. On this note, let me recite my father’s poem). And he recited his father, Harivansh Rai Bachchan’s poem ‘Jo Beet Gayi So Baat Gayi’.
Well, we hope the two have buried the hatchet
http://www.pinkvilla.com/entertainmenttags/deepika-padukone/amitabh-bachchan-reacts-deepika-s-technical-error
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June 2, 2015 at 11:56 AM
http://www.rawstory.com/2015/06/man-brutally-bashed-82-year-old-sikh-with-a-pipe-for-looking-like-one-of-those-people/
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June 3, 2015 at 12:44 PM
http://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-32839660
Of course I realise that my grieving will go on for the rest of my life, but where she’s concerned, my solace is that she lived a very meaningful, purposeful, mindful life. She did more than most people would do in this short lifespan. And she’s in a safe place now.
My strategy was, “OK, don’t think about it now, think about it tomorrow.” Shall I tell you where that came from? When I was about 17 I read Gone With The Wind, and in that, when everything is devastated, the way Scarlett O’Hara dealt with it was – I’ll think about it tomorrow.
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June 2, 2015 at 6:02 PM
Bollywood goes gaga over Zoya
For B-Town, ‘Dil Dhadakne Do’ gets its beats right
Zoya Akhtar’s multi-starrer Dil Dhadakne Do tugged at the heart strings of celebrities like Amitabh Bachchan, Rishi Kapoor, Karan Johar, Arjun Kapoor and Riteish Deshmukh who not only praised the performance of the star cast but also urged the talented filmmaker to come out with more such cinematic gems.
The film revolves around relationships. It narrates a story of a dysfunctional Punjabi family and how they discover love and friendship during a cruise across the Mediterranean.
Featuring Anil Kapoor, Shefali Shah, Farhan Akhtar, Ranveer Singh, Priyanka Chopra and Anushka Sharma in key roles, Dil Dhadakne Do explores the nuances of relationships and tries to find the bond which often fades away due to professional calls. The film will hit the screens on June 5. Here’s what the stars tweeted after catching a screening of the film here:
Rishi Kapoor: Zoya am so proud! Such a difficult film handled so deftly. A team effort — actors, dp, sound, set, production, Pluto loved it.
Karan Johar: My mother just called to say that # DilDhadakneDo is the best film she has seen in years! You go ZOYA! Can’t wait to see it!
Amitabh Bachchan: Silences in a film allow the audience to enter the mind of the actor… rare… DDD does that in abundance! Well done Zoya!
Riteish Deshmukh: # DilDhadakneDo is filled with good actors and they outperform themselves. @RanveerOfficial how good are you. @priyankachopra simply WOW.
Shabana Azmi: Phone hasn’t stopped buzzing with overwhelming responses since previews of # DilDhadkneDo started. Excited and nervous. Standard reaction!
Pulkit Samrat: # DilDhadakneDo makes u cry laugh feel n think!
Genelia Deshmukh: Loved # DilDhadakneDo… What a film, what performances… Hats off to Zoya Akhtar @ritesh_sid n @FarOutAkhtar for making such a beautiful film.
Gaurav Kapur: It goes deep while being breezy on the surface. Makes you think while making you laugh. That’s why # DilDhadakneDo is so good.
Arjun Kapoor: I feel on top of the world after watchin # DilDhadakneDo @ritesh_sid pls convince Zoya to make more films more often!
Kunal Kohli: @ritesh_sid @FarOutAkhtar Zoya this is one of your best films. Makes one introspect about one’s relationships. Filmmaking at its finest
Riteish Deshmukh: The brilliance of @FarOutAkhtar @AnushkaSharma & Shefali’s performances makes # DilDhadakneDo special, an evening well spent, thank u guys
Neha Dhupia: So much praise for the film, way before it’s Friday. Can’t wait to watch this gem! Congrats team # DilDhadakneDo @FarOutAkhtar @priyankachopra.
Abhishek Bachchan: Dil Dhadakne Do is such charming film. Great fun. Well done Zoya. So happy for you. Big love.
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June 2, 2015 at 6:09 PM
Bollywood these days has a habit of going crazy over every other film on twitter. And it’s one thing to do this but the language they often use one would make one think a great Raj Kapoor film had just been produced! And this really is the greater problem. The constant exaggeration about any and every thing. Alright you liked a film, you enjoyed it. let’s take this at face value. But you don’t have to make it one for the ages!
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June 2, 2015 at 6:05 PM
meant to put this up the other day but this was my response on Bachchan’s blog after I saw his 75 min appearance on Arnab Goswami’s show:
I finally saw your Arnab appearance. All 75 min of it. It made for arresting TV. A unique interview in many ways. First off I must give some credit to the anchor. He certainly pinned you down more than anyone else ever has in the media. Of course he has great practice at this. As I said yesterday he has a talent but I’m afraid he’s greatly abused it. It is not enough to have the gumption to ask tough questions or to ask them of everyone. For more than one reason. With this kind of position one must also exhibit extraordinary integrity, one cannot be partial to one side or the other, one argument or the other but this also includes not selling out for ratings. In other words everything he says on his show can easily be tracked as representing the dominant views of ‘New India’. Socially liberal, hawkish on national security, so on and so forth. So yes he attacks all sides (though not necessarily all equally) but he always remains on the right side of his viewers. Sure, it’s a ratings battle but again one can become a demagogue in the process of generating those numbers and Goswami very often does this. Beyond this though it must also be said that it’s not enough to insult politicians on your show or ask tough questions of someone like yourself. There are certain ‘supreme’ issues if you will which everyone brushes under the carpet and pretends not to notice. There is a great deal for investigative journalism to pursue but how often is it really pursued? Once again we all obsess and with corruption and other such bourgeois obsessions. This is of course fine and I wouldn’t have it any other way. But on the moral scale that everyone pretends to be sincere about there are even greater issues. I don’t need to say more (these days I cannot say more or the censors here get me!). But this in any case will have been a rather long preface.
Allow me one more general point on all of this — journalists and the media have a habit of questioning any and everyone else except themselves. They always have a very clear conscience about everything. Not just in India.
But getting to the actual interview I found it in a strange way a bit upsetting. I think you didn’t quite enjoy being pinned down that way. I can’t blame you. But it was more than this. There was the constant sense of someone being asked questions he could not answer because he had taken a vow of silence many years ago. All of this is obvious. But it is the other bit that no one ever focusses on. Yes the constantly evasive responses might seem frustrating or whatever but there is something very crucial that is missed — the vow of silence bears heaviest on the one who takes it. It is not amusing in life to forever keep oneself in check in this fashion. It is a kind of mental prison, especially for a public figure. The emotional toll of living with this for years and years is I’m quite certain unimaginable.
At the same time isn’t precisely your example a very sad reflection on the state of the nation? It is completely disingenuous for Arnab or anyone else to pretend that this is like the US or any other Western countries where public figures can say any and everything without consequences. At least in matters of politics. There might be two democracies that are nonetheless separated by a chasm because the institutional structures are very different. It’s not just yourself. No actor in Hindi cinema ever expresses an opinion in these matters. They refuse to even say they’ve been following the news. They claim to be ignorant about the news. On and on. They will do anything not to answer such questions. Why? Everyone cannot be ‘weak’ in the same way. It is clearly the case that the system extracts a certain cost from those who do. This threat is always there. even the greatest stars cannot ensure that they will always be in that position. One day they will be vulnerable and those who are invested in institutions have long memories. And precisely because those institutions don’t guarantee things in the ways they do in the West that a lot of people can be attacked in a lot of ways without there being any fingerprints as it were on the crime scene. But again because one feeds this self-complacent image of New Indians whose reality is quite often that of a Karan Johar film (literally or aspirationally) that one finds it impossible to come to terms with the darker realities of the same nation even though these same make the news every single day. At the most one pretends these are vestiges of a regressive past and one moves on. To then ask questions of the sort that were put forth in your case and to expect that one can suddenly be ‘frank’ about them is a fairly dishonest proposition.
I will also however never waver from this sense. That there is nothing that is ever easy in these matters. In other words logically everything that you say is irrefutable. Yes there are consequences. And after a lifetime of scarring one has a right not to wish to invite fresh problems through the front door. But this question also does not simply admit of a logical response. It also demands something more. You might not be that person, the rest of us here who have not endured a hundredth as much as you have are certainly not that either (or at least we haven’t been tested to have any such pretensions)… but anything that is important anywhere in life always requires some individuals to assume a level of risk, to be willing to face those consequences, or to survive even those consequences that one might not have adequately prepared for or even contemplated. It seems to me that this value must forever be advanced as the ultimate one. We cannot just keep admiring others who do this. It is too easy to admit cowardice or weakness on one’s part. This might seem like a frank admission but it has enormous payoffs. Because it immediately absolves one of the responsibility to do anything. And whether you’re too weak to do this or everyone here is as well or whatever that does not lessen that responsibility on all of us. It doesn’t disappear because we admit to certain personal failings. And certain consequences while ugly can still be borne, they are still within the realm of what can be endured. But there are also those consequences that no human being could ‘survive’ in the same sense. Some still take these latter risks. Those others are far less in degree. We still get off easily if we accept just this responsibility. All of this is of course not to judge anyone. I would certainly not dare to judge you. I have if anything been more sympathetic to your side in this interview. Even if I might have many similar questions I am not convinced about the sincerity or honesty of the framing when it comes to journalists. even the truth can be made to lie when the overall framing is suspect. It is like a good scene in a very bad film. It just doesn’t work. So even as I am sympathetic, even as I don’t judge I cannot also admit of simply a logical response to all of this let alone the skillful diplomatic maneuvering. One certainly has a right to it but nothing ever changes in the world when we refuse to think beyond ourselves and our families. Why do we expect others to bear this cost? We might say we don’t but don’t we already enjoy the benefits of others’ sacrifices? We cannot simply walk away from this responsibility even with enormous acts of personal charity. And let’s be honest, we don’t just take a certain safe path because we do not wish to become victims. We also do so because we strive to be extremely successful. We are not just busy surviving. We are doing much better than this! Not just you.. the rest of us as well. If there’s one more thing I’m always consistent about it is about not letting the audience off the hook! Which includes myself.
As a final and minor cavil I’d add that I’m never comfortable about the ways in which you frame yourself relative to younger stars. What you say is quite true of course but it’s not the whole story. There is assuredly something that a younger star has that you cannot aspire to but equally there is also something much more you have (let alone what you have had) that those very same younger stars, no matter how successful, can ever dream of aspiring to. I don’t expect you to be immodest about this but your reading of all this could be a bit less one-sided than it is.
I’ll get back to something I said earlier. I found it most upsetting, if that is the right word, because I was treated to this figure who had taken a vow of silence and who despite all his best efforts betrayed something of what had been accumulated over time because of this decision. I am reminded once more of that Kaala Pathar moment where Ravi says that whenever he looks at Vijay he is reminded of a coal mine where deep down something has been burning for aeons. Perhaps this image is a bit too dramatic or hyperbolic in this content but I don’t think it’s a totally inappropriate one. Except that where Vijay was an inferno his author all these decades later simply had eyes laced with sadness… a self-control that seemed apparent in its exercise… and where in the final analysis confronting those ghosts was simply too exhausting to be attempted..
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June 2, 2015 at 6:34 PM
A great comment,Satyam. My take is slightly different. I felt AB has made peace with whatever the story is. There is a reason he would commit to an interview like this. He wants to make it clear he is not going to talk about these issues and I think after this interview, I think he is less likely to face this questions again.
His humility is a defense mechanism but is also real. Irbid very hard for successful people however intelligent they might be to accept and adjust to their decreased reach and popularity with newer generations and newer stars, let alone publicly acknowledge it. He is able to do both and that is one reason why is still flourishing other than the fact that he still has more talent than all the youngsters put together and the will and the discipline.
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June 2, 2015 at 6:37 PM
This is a completely persuasive comment in all respects.. find it hard to disagree with anything..
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June 2, 2015 at 7:10 PM
All I can say is that Bigb wasn’t born ystdy and unhone dhoop mai bal nahi sukhye hai. So he also is quite an artist. He can lean to the people in power (modi or gandhi-nehru), sometimes out of need (BalaShaheb or sahara pariwar), sometimes out of friendship-real or pretend (Amersingh, Ambani, Modi). One can be smart, cunning but act like a lamb in front of journos/media. It is all an act. A very solid act, I must say!!!
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June 2, 2015 at 7:32 PM
Feel sorry for you,Bong.
As I said those who try to diss or disrespect him, it is more revealing about them than A B.
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June 2, 2015 at 9:45 PM
it is not disrespect. It is actually lot of respect to his intelligence, otherwise he would be very dumb if he lets everyone #$%^ with him!!
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June 3, 2015 at 1:16 PM
but it is true – now since a very long time – Big B is giving his impressions about the films as if they were all master pieces! he said the same about RGV ke sholay too 😉 he needs to stop this BS 🙂
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June 2, 2015 at 7:14 PM
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June 2, 2015 at 7:06 PM
Superb comment, the Kala Pathar reference is so true and apt . Only you could have dug that one up.
I would however disagree that his eyes were sad,. maybe disappointed yes, but I think his eyes conveyed that -” I have not done anything wrong or wronged my friends, as far as I am concerned they are all still my friends.”
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June 2, 2015 at 7:13 PM
“-” I have not done anything wrong or wronged my friends, as far as I am concerned they are all still my friends.”
Yep. And what a class act it was!! You can act on reel and also on real life-TV camera too! You can act like a mouse when you are sher from inside. Aap ko lallu banaya gaya hai. lolz
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June 2, 2015 at 7:17 PM
whatever rocks your boat dude..
meri toh dihaadee poori ho gayee, mein toh chala ghar !!!
another day, another dollar !!
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June 2, 2015 at 8:48 PM
Yeah I thought that after the first nonsensical comment Bong didn’t need to add another four to prove the obvious!
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June 2, 2015 at 9:46 PM
Of course his friendships have suffered. But why should he confess that to media!!
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June 2, 2015 at 7:16 PM
Amer Singh got Sahara honcho to drop Amitabh from the board and got Boney Kapoor on instead. And bigb dropped his friendship with Amersingh from that day onwards! And AmarS said that it was good thing in the hind sight because bigb could have been sitting in jail along with sahara honcho. But the deed was done and friendship ruined. It was Amar Singh who helped out bigb and introduced him to Ambanis and stood with him during his abcl trying times.
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June 2, 2015 at 8:46 PM
He looked rather upset when he was pressed on various things in the initial portion. Not upset with Arnab but upset in general. You sensed that he wished he could say more. And equally he’s been scarred because of these experiences. He’s talked about Bofors many times on his blog, about how despite winning the case in england and despite the Swedes admitting 25 years later that his name was planted that this episode still remained linked to his name. Now I disagree with this in the sense that these things fade over time, already I don’t think this issue evokes much passion in the present generation. But again those scars remain with him. And similarly he’s vowed not to say many things but to keep holding this within oneself can be a painful exercise. Precisely because he thinks he’s been wronged that it upsetting (for him) to face some of these questions.
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June 2, 2015 at 9:57 PM
Excellent comment, Satyam. Profound and very honest.
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June 3, 2015 at 5:41 AM
thanks Sanjana..
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June 2, 2015 at 7:31 PM
Ram Gopal Varma’s The Secret to unveil on 8th June
By Bollywood Hungama News Network, June 02, 2015 – 15:27 hrs IST
If you thought that the maverick film maker Ram Gopal Varma aka RGV was on a long vacation, then here’s the latest news update about the director. He has been really busy shooting in the snow-capped Poland. He has been filming a song with shock value in the European country for his upcoming, psychological romance, The Secret (which was earlier titled as The Affair)
Speaking about the film, Sachiin Joshi said, “The Secret is about an incurable attraction and how social media and technology can doom a relationship.” When asked about why he chose Ram Gopal Varma to helm the film, he said, “Like everybody else, I had my reservations too till Ramu pointed out that he’s the same man who made Shiva, Satya, Rangeela and Company. He is always mistaken because he looks at things differently. He has a unique take on everything in life and has always gone ahead with his choices. Once he is fixated on something, you can’t budge him”. On the other hand, Ram Gopal Varma said, “I’ll be back in Mumbai on June 8 with a shout out to all Ramu fans and face the media with a big bang”
The Secret is a film that revolves around an architect (played by Sachiin Joshi), his wife (played by Kainaat Arora) and his co-worker (played by Meera Chopra) with whom he has an affair. Things go haywire when the architect’s boss (played by Makarand Deshpande), catches him red-handed after which a lawyer (played by Tisca Chopra) walks in.
While the release date of the film is yet to be decided, the first promo of The Secret will release on June 8 this year.
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June 2, 2015 at 11:00 PM
Critical year for Pixar…first they have “Inside Out” releasing in a couple weeks…and then this in November…
Really looking forward to Inside Out…too early to tell on this one.
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June 3, 2015 at 1:52 AM
It is very cute and highly watchable.
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June 3, 2015 at 1:53 AM
Inside Out.
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June 2, 2015 at 11:27 PM
The success of Tanu weds Manu reveals one thing and that is Kangana is much bigger actress/ star than Deepika. If Deepika can take Piku to around 70 cr mark, Kangana can take Tanu weds Manu to 140cr.
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June 2, 2015 at 11:45 PM
wonder what the final BO gross would be? I think TWMR will go past 150 cr and there is an outside chance it may even threaten the BO collections of HNY and Krisshh
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June 3, 2015 at 12:35 AM
Rajen i think either u r Amitabh or his alter ego becasue even Abhishek Bachchan won’t say that don’t question my dad. Boss we live in a country where some people question Lord Rama and Krishna and MK Gandhi. So if some can question them so do they can Amitabh. He is like any normal people with Maya, Moh, Krodh, Lobh, Ahankaar. He has some shortcomings..Some Stregnths. I can give many example but i am not going into it. My stand is nobody is above questioning.
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June 3, 2015 at 2:03 AM
Yes,
If it runs at the same pace, it can cross K3 and HNY. Kangana has shown to the world that there are not only male stars who can touch this 100,200 and 300 cr club. She has opened the market for female stars as well. One more thing i like about her is that she is down to earth and she didn’t allow success to rise to her head. On the other some old male actors after getting a moderate success have started crying from the roof tops.
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June 3, 2015 at 5:41 AM
the point is not that he or anyone else is above questioning but such questioning must come about with some sanity attached to it! Any foolish thing that is said is not ‘questioning’.
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June 3, 2015 at 8:54 AM
“Political lore has it that Amar Singh’s break-up with the Bachchans was over a Rajya Sabha seat for Jaya Bachchan. But Amar Singh says the breaking point came over a dinner when Amitabh accused him of manipulating the situation to make the Bachchan family resign from the Sahara board.”
http://www.telegraphindia.com/1150521/jsp/frontpage/story_21268.jsp#.VW70l89Vikq
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June 3, 2015 at 1:43 AM
“Big B’s two letters were my two medals”
Amitabh Bachchan has sent two letters and two bouquets to Kangana – one for Tanu and the other for Datto. In an interview with Bombay Times, Kangana has said that Big B had sent her a letter for Queen too but that was written in high-end English that he himself speaks. She adds that this time, he has written a poem in Hindi, so she could read it out as is to her parents as they understand only Hindi. She adds that she felt like his two letters were her two medals and that she is going to frame these and keep them for life as her memory. She further reasoned that since her parents, who are not artistes, don’t understand performance, this is their proof that she has performed. Divulging the content of the letter, Kangana has been quoted in the report as saying that Mr Bachchan has written about the minutest of details of her performance which makes it very fulfilling for an artiste, coming from a legend like him. Big B’s letter reads, “It happens very rarely that our eyes fill up watching a performance. You made me cry.” He wrote for Datto, “For the girl who is Tanu’s lookalike called Datto, I don’t know her but please extend my warm wishes to her.” Kangana further adds that What broke her down reading his letters was when he wrote, “Main apne aap ko bhagyashali samajhta hoon, ki main uss udyog se juda hoon, jisme Kangana basti hai!” (I feel fortunate to be a part of an industry of which Kangana is also a part). She explains that being an outsider, she was ridiculed for the longest time with people openly making fun of her. But she asserts that the flowers Mr Bachchan sent have not just filled up her room, but also left her overwhelmed.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/Kangana-Ranauts-interesting-statements/photostory/47438322.cms
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June 3, 2015 at 5:52 AM
One of many many reasons why he is who he is..
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June 3, 2015 at 2:26 AM
http://www.boxofficeindia.com/Details/art_detail/howistheresponseofbajrangibhaijantrailerandcanitbeattheopeningrecords#.VW6c-LWCwqE
Q. How is the response of Bajrangi Bhaijan trailer and can it beat the opening records
Q. PK will gross over $15 million in China so does this change the dynamics of Hindi films in Overseas
Q. Would it be correct to say that Kangana Ranuat and Deepika Padukone are the biggest female stars today after Tanu Weds Manu returns and Piku?
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June 3, 2015 at 5:50 AM
LOL, at some of the responses! On PK ‘nothing to see here’! Well even if other films don’t get this sort of release in China or don’t do as well doesn’t that say something about Aamir and/or this film? Had this been Salman they would have said his position is unique! Meanwhile on Bajrangi so it only has to beat Kick’s opening day. Nothing else, no other records or anything are needed! Meanwhile they also sound defensive here saying ‘it’s only a teaser’, it depends on the music. Really? never knew Salman depended so much on music! Finally on the female stars question well the more hits you have the more you can be in position to choose the right content. And you certainly contribute to the gross. Plus it’s not as if male stars bring them in irrespective of content. Sure it’s still a male playing field in so many ways (as it is just about everywhere else too) but this doesn’t mean that it makes no difference if you’re in Deepika’s position or something.
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June 3, 2015 at 6:17 AM
Unfortunately for Salman, the promos of BB actually suggest a story and some content!
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June 3, 2015 at 6:21 AM
LOL, true! This has puzzled the viewers!
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June 3, 2015 at 6:20 AM
Satyam – it’s the Big Wall of China, the other stars are finding it hard to climb over it
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June 3, 2015 at 6:20 AM
Ha, well said!
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June 3, 2015 at 2:41 AM
SRK, Priyanka Chopra are King-Queen of social media
http://www.india-forums.com/bollywood/hot-n-happening/53022-srk-priyanka-chopra-are-king-queen-of-social-media.htm
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June 3, 2015 at 6:24 AM
BoI’s replies to all the questions are dumb and Satyam has shown quite well why. Actually PK earning more than 15 million USD, equal to waht many big films earn in INDIA, is monumentally significant if you can read the message. It shows there is a market for Indian films in the South and South East Asia if we read the signals correctly and learn what kind of universal emotions and humour are working with the audiences here. I think if Hirani and AAmir do another humanistic comedy, it will do equally well in these parts.
As about heroine power, even the heroes are dependent on the package for getting a good opening. True, the male actors are ina better position to choose the right projects and there are more stories with male protagonists. But girls like Deepika and Kangana, and Priyanka and anushak, if they choose right, they can have fair share of successes on their own steam. Already Priyanka has Fashion and Mary Kom. And Kangana has TWM, Queen and TWM2, Deepika has Ramleela and Piku. That’s s a better average than that of some male stars like Saif, Sahid and Ajay.
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June 3, 2015 at 6:27 AM
Sometimes I think readers have not sent in these questions to BOI and it is BOI who are asking the questions and answering them in the way they want to! They are phenomenally dumb. I mean not just dumb. But pretty phenomenal at being dumb.
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June 3, 2015 at 7:02 AM
I agree the people asking those questions sound like utter idiots most of the time. It would be surprising if they actually existed!
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June 3, 2015 at 6:53 AM
10 insane goals by Messi, only Maradona can match it
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June 3, 2015 at 7:06 AM
The utter disbelief of some of his own teammates says it all. Should be pretty much a given that he will win Ballon D’Or again this year. Barring a remarkable dip in form or something spectacular from Ronaldo he will win it a fifth time, 2 ahead of anyone else in the field and he would only be 28.
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June 3, 2015 at 7:08 AM
True !!!
Utter disbelief of his team mates says it all. Words fail
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June 3, 2015 at 9:36 AM
what a video this is.. one could see each one of those goals again and again..
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June 3, 2015 at 9:41 AM
he might well be the greatest ever..
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June 3, 2015 at 7:11 AM
Someone posted here NYT piece and few lapped it up saying awesome .. Now this
“Personal anecdotes do not make a story watertight.” @ARangarajan1972 on @GardinerHarris’s NYT piece on Delhi air:
http://www.newslaundry.com/2015/06/03/hold-your-breath-and-cut-the-hyperbole-mr-new-york-times-reporter/
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June 3, 2015 at 12:16 PM
Not sure what the point is? Are you arguing that Delhi air is not polluted, or that even if it is it didn’t cause his kids’ asthma or that even if it’s polluted, Western urban areas are as bad?
I read this piece as the anguish of a father wondering if his career move has damaged his kids’ health and not as a scientific dissertation. This piece is very relatable to parents who’ve dealt with kids and their unpredictable respiratory issues.
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June 3, 2015 at 1:46 PM
This is a classic response CG.. rather than address the issue people start attacking the ‘West’ for bringing up this stuff. Delhi has long been one of the very polluted cities of its kind, this even after a clean-up several years ago. But as opposed to being worried that even if 20% of the article’s claims are right that’s serious enough what does one do? Attack the credibility of the piece! Maybe Delhi’s air will be like Geneva’s if one can disprove the piece!
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June 3, 2015 at 1:54 PM
Pollution is there.. but the most often question I’ve been asked is.. is the rape issue really that bad in Delhi, India’s capital? Can a girl go around safely all by herself?
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June 3, 2015 at 2:23 PM
I do think sexual violence against women is more of an issue in Delhi than in Bombay. Just taking an example. I haven’t seen the stats here, I could be wrong but I think here are certain sociological factors in play in Delhi. But ultimately it isn’t even about Delhi. I think there’s a national epidemic of rape and all kinds of sexual violence against women in India. The tragedy of the Nirbhaya case is that it isn’t even unique. There are tons of such stories. Admittedly some of the details here were particularly gruesome but I can give examples of stories just within the past year or so that could at least compete with this. Barring war-torn countries I doubt there are too many in the world that can compete with India on this score. Incidentally a lot of the sexual violence is socially sanctioned as well. All of this would lead to a long discussion and this forum isn’t the best place for it but what happens on a more or less daily basis is pretty awful. But again we are often upset when these things are reported in the US or wherever. Not saying I agree with all the reporting or the way things are portrayed. But how the ‘West’ represents India in these matters is I would think the least of the problems. But as always we tend to be obsessed with ‘image’ much more than with the actual issue.
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June 3, 2015 at 4:20 PM
I commented against :
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/tanushree-ghosh/i-always-thought-id-return-home-to-india_b_7472776.html?ncid=txtlnkusaolp00000592
“If you have lived in India, you know what is the situation. So she is googling for rapes and other seem conevenient way of emphasizing your point .
Secondly if you know how to google; US has more reported rapes than any other country (I concede definition of rape is much stricter in US). What about other issues like guns, racial discrimination if you are not on coast. So IMO it is a naive article without nuances. Her reasons seems disingenuous to stay back. She could have just said I like USA and there are less hassles in life to deal with than India.”
“I just pointed her opinion is not well put for consumption. I know the issues in India ; I don’t turn around one day start suggesting India is even “more” bad place than I thought. The goods and bads of any place are relative. If I am in some African country, India would be a better country. Similarly some Scandinavian country will claim that they are better than US in social indexes. “
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June 3, 2015 at 4:33 PM
” US has more reported rapes than any other country ”
don’t think India is anywhere close to reporting these things, even leaving aside the definitions.
“Similarly some Scandinavian country will claim that they are better than US in social indexes”
But I agree with this. I don’t think they just ‘seem’ better. They are better because of those indices. Now this doesn’t mean one necessarily prefers leaving in Sweden. there are sometimes reasons for which one might be willing to put with ‘worse’ social indices and so on.
Your gun point is on the money. Compared to most other parts of the Western world (or the world in general) the American obsession with guns is utterly appalling.
My sense is that irrespective of how one sided or anecdotal a story might be there are still hard facts that we can’t ignore. I’m also not sure that ‘natives’ always know these things because part of the problem sometimes is that one takes a lot of things to be ‘business as usual’ or part of the terrain.
On the Delhi case my problem always was that the entire coverage made it sound exceptional when it wasn’t. Even in the Indian coverage the question of this happening in Delhi and conjuring up images of a liberated woman being attacked this way was part of the deal. otherwise there are news stories all the time from UP or other states and people feel these are the badlands where such things happen one way or the other.
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June 3, 2015 at 5:12 PM
My point against the main reason given by author; Even with good law and order there is sexual violence against women in USA.
http://www.wonderslist.com/10-countries-highest-rape-crime/
and low conviction (in UK)
http://www.theguardian.com/news/datablog/2013/jan/11/male-female-rape-statistics-graphic
We have issues in India and it will require time and effort to get things straight.
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June 3, 2015 at 5:47 PM
I was stressing more on the sociological factor though.. many of these rapes involve a level of violence and sadism that isn’t just about breaking the law.
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June 3, 2015 at 6:00 PM
by the way my point is never that any other country is ‘better’ in some deeper sense. All I mean is that at ‘x’ point in time one society might be better than another for whatever reasons of historical evolution. This doesn’t mean that they are better people in some more core sense.
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June 3, 2015 at 6:06 PM
BTW, I figured your gravatar only yesterday as I hovered in dashboard 🙂
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June 3, 2015 at 6:11 PM
one of my favorite films..! and directors..
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June 3, 2015 at 6:14 PM
on twitter I use this:
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June 3, 2015 at 1:13 PM
Great piece Bliss, thanks for posting. Anand Ranganathan really comes up with well researched articles.
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June 3, 2015 at 1:18 PM
Aap kay liye Ek aur if you have not read it already 🙂
http://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/the-citizens-real-questions/
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June 3, 2015 at 1:25 PM
Thanks , another good read.
Aside- Smriti Irani toh kamal kar rahee hai !!!
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June 3, 2015 at 7:06 PM
The whole study was sponsored by air purifier company from Europe and the sales of its air purifiers have gone up in Delhi. Pehle paranoid karo, phir product becho. Good marketing ploy!
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June 3, 2015 at 11:20 AM
Vijay:
When Rajesh Khanna insulted Amitabh Bachchan and made Jaya Bhaduri angry
In the early 70s, Khanna didn’t have it in him to even acknowledge Bachchan’s presence, leave alone hailing him the next superstar.
http://www.dailyo.in/arts/when-rajesh-khanna-insulted-amitabh-bachchan-and-made-jaya-bhaduri-angry/story/1/862.html
and here I thought that rajesh khanna was a saint…after reading this article it is no wonder why khanna collapsed and new superstar emerged…Always punctual and down to earth the bachan was …I understand he also harrased amitabh during shooting of namak haram
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June 3, 2015 at 1:07 PM
Kangana 🙂
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June 3, 2015 at 1:40 PM
This is the new ‘trend’ to show you are different. This whole issue about fairness cream is so exhausting and pointless IMO.
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June 3, 2015 at 1:43 PM
http://www.pinkvilla.com/entertainmenttags/kangana-ranaut/kangana-ranaut-spotted-bandrawith-bad-lip-job
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June 3, 2015 at 2:25 PM
Maggi noodles is in news for all the wrong reasons! For so many years, were they sleeping? Or is it something else? Business rivalry?
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June 3, 2015 at 2:27 PM
my thoughts on this here:
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June 3, 2015 at 2:36 PM
Madhuri dixit has given an apt answer.
We consume vegetables, fruits laced with pesticide. We consume unhygienic roadside food. No one bans them Suddenly there is so much furore about maggi noodles!
As you said it is easiest to attack celebrities as if they added lead or whatever. They are soft targets.
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June 3, 2015 at 3:29 PM
Kamal Hassan and Saif Ali Khan in Kamal Hassan’s new Hindi directorial venture titled Amar Hain.
Kamal Haasan is gearing up for a big Bollywood comeback with a film titled Amar Hain which he will not just act in but also direct. Buzz is, Saif Ali Khan has been approached to play the parallel lead.
Confirming this, Haasan told Mirror that he has been working on this project for almost six years and some of his friends in Mumbai, like Sriram Raghavan, were aware of the script. “I put it aside because of prior commitments and strangely, even when I wrote it around six years ago, I was only thinking of Saif Ali Khan,” he asserts.
The actor-filmmaker points out that in an ensemble cast film, it isn’t about who is playing the hero or who has the bigger part. “It’s the might of many actors which makes a film work. Saif has an important and equal role. His character is the good man so he is the hero of the film,” says Haasan.
He admits that he has several other actors in mind too but refuses to divulge names. He simply says that the producers have given him a free hand.
Has he received a go-ahead from Saif? “We are working on it. The producers have spoken to him. I am yet to speak with him, but he is aware of this project,” avers the 61-year-old icon.
The story moves from Mumbai to North India and then the rest of the world. The film will be shot in Mumbai, Delhi, London, Dubai, Jordan and parts of the US. Haasan is quick to add that it is not a period drama but today’s story, touching on politics, finance and the underworld. “It’s definitely not a comedy, it’s more of an action film with lots of emotion, an ensemble piece like The Untouchables,” he informs.
Speaking about his character he says that it’s an interesting dark role. “I won’t be singing duets but there is love and hate. You can’t call him an antagonist because he simply expresses another point of view,” Haasan reasons.
There are also two important female roles for which he is considering actresses from Mumbai. “I will spend three months prepping for it after I wrap up my current project, Thoongavanam, in August,” he says.
Vishwaroopam had stirred a huge controversy delaying its release. Will Amar Hain which touches on rajneeti again draw unwanted attention from political parties? “No, it’s above all that. And while it is close to the truth, it doesn’t point to any personalities or parties. It’s all hypothetical, an entertainer with lots of drama and action,” he signs off.
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June 3, 2015 at 3:39 PM
he said this some days ago… not sure if Abhishek agreed or not… probably didn’t..
We haven’t seen you in Hindi films for a while — the last one you were in was Mumbai Express (2005). Are you working on any Hindi film?
Nothing has come up that interests me. We are in talks with Abhishek Bachchan. It is a project with an ensemble star cast. I would like to do Hindi cinema on my own terms. I am at a stage where I want to tell stories that need to be told. I like doing Hindi films because it gets me a larger audience. Actually doing Telugu cinema helped me get into Hindi cinema, because Ek Duje ke Liye (1981) was a remake of a Telugu film.
http://www.ourhindustan.com/i-would-do-hindi-cinema-my-own-terms-says-kamal-haasan
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June 3, 2015 at 4:50 PM
little off-topic: Satyam can u pl create a separate post for this and lets c how many questions everyone can answer here? 🙂 I could not get a single answer right 🙂 http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/tech/slideshow/23-tough-interview-questions-heard-at-facebook/itslideshow/47526281.cms
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June 3, 2015 at 10:05 PM
http://fortune.com/2015/04/19/celebrity-endorsements-gone-wrong/
6 celebrity endorsements that enraged consumers
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June 3, 2015 at 10:14 PM
He said that samples of noodles, spaghetti, pasta and macaroni made by other companies too will be sent for testing. “We understand that a toxic substance is used by many of these companies to ensure that the noodles and similar products so that they don’t stick together after cooking.”
http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/maggi-noodles-in-soup-everything-you-need-to-know-about-the-controversy/article1-1354268.aspx
The kids who are hooked to pastas and noodles should go back to idlis and rotis.
Celebrities deserve some rap as they indiscriminately endorse each and everything. Hope they will learn their lessons. Leave the endorsements to lesser known people. Let them earn some money.
Nowadays, filmstars endorsing soft drinks have almost disappeared.
And TV celebrities (some of them) endorse products in the name of magical cures and gods.
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June 4, 2015 at 2:21 PM
http://www.telegraphindia.com/1150604/jsp/frontpage/story_23881.jsp#.VXCWyLHn9aR
I am pretty sure there are standards; It is just that regulators are not doing their jobs.
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June 4, 2015 at 3:43 PM
In 2012 they passed a new food safety law but most of it is still being implemented.. and of course they are so many ways to make these laws less effective.. and then the companies take advantage of this. What they wouldn’t dare do in the West they do here. But then we (or other such countries) are to blame. If you let people exploit you they will. Now having said that this isn’t just a foreign company issue. The whole system is lax and any kind of food manufacturer/processor can get away with a lot.
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June 3, 2015 at 10:34 PM
http://www.koimoi.com/videos/drishyam-teaser-released-ajay-devgn-narrates-his-common-life/
Drishyam teaser release.
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June 3, 2015 at 10:39 PM
Farhan Akhtar Picks Up The Gun For The First Time In Wazir
http://www.koimoi.com/bollywood-popular/farhan-akhtar-picks-up-the-gun-for-the-first-time-in-wazir/
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June 4, 2015 at 6:00 AM
Govinda’s daughter making her debut! – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8l6PzxWt-B8
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