http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/bollywood/news-interviews/SRK-is-very-dramatic-in-real-life-Bhansali/articleshow/5610479.cms
And yet you work with privileged actors, superstars ...
Why? Nana Patekar is a very edgy character, Seema Biswas is very edgy. Salman for me is a very edgy person, he is not just a simple chocolate love story hero. He has got far more than that. Shah Rukh is very very dramatic in real life, very witty, wicked, sharp. They are not simple people in that sense. They are very charming, strange, temperamental stars. They are not easy people to work with at all. Amitabh Bachchan is an extremely powerful, power packed, edgy person.
Showing posts with label The Others. Show all posts
Showing posts with label The Others. Show all posts
Thursday, February 25, 2010
interview with Farkhan Akhtar
I take advice from SRK: Farhan
Farhan Akhtar More Pics
There are all these rumours linking you to your Karthik calling Karthik co-star Deepika Padukone which the two of you protest at every opportunity. Are you not overdoing it?
Honestly speaking, I can only speak for myself. Initially I didn’t protest, I thought it would blow over naturally. But then it began to get awkward and in very bad taste and that is when I started protesting. Then one thing led to another and now again I am tired of protesting. I also feel that now that we are pretty much coming to the end of the promotion of Karthik Calling Karthik and you will see us spending a lot of time with other people as opposed to each other, it will blow over.
Do such rumours affect you a lot?
It’s important for me because it affects my family. It’s weird for me to answer to my nine-year-old daughter who sees something on TV or reads a headline in a newspaper. Children tend to stress about these things a lot more than we understand. When I wasn’t addressing the issue she couldn’t understand why I was denying something to her but not telling the rest of the world. So to me it was important to come out and talk about it.
My daughter couldn’t understand why I was denying something to her but not telling the rest of the world
What’s with this schizophrenic behaviour you display? You are usually a party boy but when you work, either when acting or directing, you become all reclusive and incommunicado?
The thing is, and most of the people I know also say this, I am an extremist. When I am working I don’t want to know about anything else. When I want to party, I don’t want to work. So when I go on a holiday, more often than not, I won’t answer my phone. I really have to be pushed to deal with work when I am on a holiday. Similarly when I am working on the script of a film, I really don’t want to go out, I don’t want to do things which are going to takeaway my energy from what I really should be focusing on.
What influences you and your work?
Having kids has made me more aware of life beyond myself. I am aware that my choices will affect them even when I am not around. That also affects my work because my sensibilities and aesthetics have changed. I have grown up with women predominantly and that has led to me having a very healthy respect for them in terms of the treatment of them. I have an allergy to women being shown in a crude light, to be shown in almost a sexist way. I have had these allergies in any case; it has got a little more underlined now with kids. When they see my films, I don’t want them to think that dad is doing anything cheap.
Do you think your dad’s (Javed Akhtar with Salim Khan) films reflected the same concern?
Salim uncle and my father had a healthy respect for women. But because while they were writing, there was a lot more formula cinema, it was a requirement of the story that they had to write in a vamp, which you don’t necessarily need to do anymore. If there was a villain, he had to have a vamp. Similarly when I write Don, I go back to that kind of writing, Don had Isha in his life. How we treat the character can be different from how molls and vamps were treated at that time. But when you go back to that kind of writing, it’s a different world and it’s a different sensibility of filmmaking but within that you still want to treat them with a certain dignity. You can’t caricature them and make them one dimensional.
For Don you had a blueprint of sorts to follow. How does Don 2 take the character forward?
For me, Don’s character hinges on his cunning and smartness and the fact that he is playing all the characters in the film and at the same time, he also plays the audience. So, to me, the challenge is to do that again. Of course, you can do great action sequences, you can have great songs, a wonderful looking and talented cast who everybody wants to watch. But this time round, there is now no format to follow. To me that was exciting and what I am focusing again on is how to take Don to almost level two. This film is more of a caper to me than an emotional journey.
And how many ‘mulk ki police’ will be looking for him in Don 2?
Now I think it’s the whole world. Only Antarctica aur Arctic ki police uske peeche nahi padi hai.(laughs)
Could you ever do a mush film? A romcom?
Very honestly I must say that the romcom is one of my least favourite genres, even to watch. There are some of course, which I do thoroughly enjoy but they are very few and far between. Personally, I prefer drama, action and thrillers. If it’s a romance I would much prefer a classic romance like a Romeo and Juliet which has drama in it.
You work with actors as a director and compete with them as an actor. How do you differentiate between the two?
The people that I have worked with are the ones that I am good friends with and I do spend a lot of time with. One is obviously Hrithik and the other is Shah Rukh. Hrithik and I have known each other for really really long. We have been friends from way before I decided I wanted to be in films (he kind of always knew he wanted to be in films). So my friendship with him is beyond actor-director, whatever.
With Shah Rukh, I really started hanging out with him post Dil Chahta Hai. I feel a certain kinship with him. We have similar joys in terms of technology, we jam on many things. And many a times he has been someone I have turned to for advice. He is someone I have almost started feeling over time, again without sounding cheesy, like an elder brother. I know for a fact, not that he has told me so, that he is someone I can really count on, if the need arises. Even if we choose in the future to not work together, we will still hang out, we will still be friends.
For me, Don’s character hinges on his cunning and smartness and the fact that he is playing all the characters in the film and at the same time, he also plays the audience
Today’s actors pay a lot of attention to body and hair, the externals basically. Yesteryear actors looked almost the same in every film but it didn’t affect the strength of their performance. Comment.
I completely agree and I think it should go back to being how it was. Because I think, we are slowly but surely working towards this perfect world that everybody should exist in, which is not true. If there is someone on screen who is even relatively chubbier, immediately reviewers say he needs to lose a couple of pounds. Why? Doesn’t someone who is chubbier have a right to fall in love with someone? I find it disturbing that we are trying to make a Utopian world where great looking people and great bodies fall in love and nobody else has a right to.
Anyone who is skinny or bald or has a stammer or is fat is relegated to being a comedian, a character who needs help. I find this really disturbing. Did anyone stop to question why people fell in love with Sanjeev Kumar? It’s a dangerous obsession because it’s going to start limiting talent that’s coming in.
OFF THE CUFF
Rate Shah Rukh Khan, Aamir Khan, Hrithik Roshan and yourself on a scale of one to ten on the following parameters
Communication skills
SRK - 15
Aamir - 10
Hrithik - 8 or 9
Myself - 5
Life of a party
It is difficult to rate this in numbers. SRK and Hrithik are very funny. Both of them love dancing so once the party kicks off, they are always dancing. Aamir is a lot more reserved. In all honesty, I haven’t partied with Aamir since Dil Chahta Hai
SRK - 10
Aamir - 5
Hrithik - 10
Myself - 8 or 9
Easy to direct
Honestly, they were all very easy to direct.
ALL - 10
Willing to admit to mistakes
Again, I think, I would give all of them 10 and that’s what makes them good at what they do. I know for a fact that I can be stubborn about certain things.
Emotionally giving
I spend a lot more time with Hrithik and Shah Rukh than I do with Aamir. So it will be really difficult for me to say anything about Aamir on this front.
Extempore speakers
SRK- 10
Aamir - 5
Hrithik - 8
Myself - 5
Aware of the world
All of us are pretty aware of what’s happening in the world around us, so I would probably rate them just up there. Even if we want to detach ourselves from what’s happening around us you media people don’t let it happen. There is no escape. So 10 on 10 for everyone
Be a 3am friend
My friendship is more with Hrithik and Shah Rukh than it is with Aamir. My relationship with Aamir is a lot more professional than personal so to put him into this equation feels very weird as it’s unfair to him.
SRK-10
Hrithik-10
Myself - 0
I switch off my phone when I sleep, I love my sleep. I think I don’t qualify for this.
Politically correct
SRK-3 or 4, mostly he says what he feels
Hrithik- 10
Myself- 7 or 8, I have the knack of saying wrong things as well
Spontaneous
SRK- 10
Hrithik- 8, He has changed a lot from what he was to what he is now
Animal Charm
SRK-10
Hrithik -10
Both of them are very attractive people.
Myself - I don’t know about myself (laughs) how do I rate myself on animal charm?
interview with KJo
HOUR QUESTION
Chaya Unnikrishnan Posted: Feb 26, 2010 at 1759 hrs IST
Karan Johar for the first time speaks out on the MNIK controversy, the challenge of realistic cinema and going global Filmmaker Karan Johar, fresh from the success of My Name Is Khan visited the Screen office for a candid chat and bowled everyone with his charm and inimitable style.
Dressed casually in a black and grey T-shirt paired with a blue jeans, a Louis Vuitton bag, sneakers and a Blackberry, the ace director looked ready to take on the world, literally, what with MNIK opening new markets worldwide. MNIK, said Johar, has been the most creatively satisfying film for him. “It has challenged me and made me think out-of-the-box.”
From the pre-release controversies surrounding MNIK, his vulnerability during the release of Wake Up Sid to Kurbaan’s failure at the box-office, he patiently put to rest all queries we had. What’s more, he delighted us with info on his forthcoming film I Hate Luv Stories, which has Imran Khan playing an assistant director, Sonam Kapoor as a production designer and Sammir Dattani playing Karan Johar. Then there’s his popular chat show Koffee With Karan coming back with a third season on STAR World. And the juiciest bit of all, he conceded that with some persuasion from the Twitterati, he is ‘thinking’ of casting Shahid Kapoor and Deepika Padukone in a Dharma Production film, adding that the pair has a huge fan base on the social networking site, which calls it ‘Shahika’.
A lot of ground was covered and an hour and a half went by in a jiffy courtesy his ready wit and loads of self-depreciating humour. For a snapshot of the fun and informative session, read on.
New age cinema
Karan Johar opens up on his changing perception of movies
“Everyone thought I had lost it when I said I wanted to make My Name Is Khan,” says Karan Johar as he begins the conversation. “I am all for bubblegum and candy floss. I have moved on. I shall be 40 soon and for me to do bubblegum and mush is a bit too much. I just feel that I can’t be bored while making my own film.”
Johar, in fact, wishes his audience to cry a bucket with the remake of Stepmom, which he admits, “is a chick flick.” “I do not have an understanding of horror or sci-fi so I won’t make those films. I am open to doing films about people in the real world be it edgy, alternate or anything else,” he offers by way of explaining the kind of cinema Dharma Productions aspires to make.
MNIK which is a step in that direction. But he defends his definition of boredom by saying that a little bit of ‘Karan Johar feel’ will always be there in all his films. “I can’t change my core self even if I try because it’s me. My influence will come up in the film. An SRK-Kajol mush moment will come only from me because that is what I am. But the chemistry between them is unusual. He is a man with a disorder and she is a divorcee with a six-year old kid. A lot of their chemistry has been taken from a real life couple who dealt with autism. We also borrowed an instance about two real life women who were the best of friends all thier lives and the repercussions of 9/11 on their lives. This film was everything I didn’t know and I had to be accurate with my research. Of course within that realm I will show off as a film maker.”
Going back to MNIK, which Johar claims is his “most creatively satisfying film”, he says people didn’t believe him when he said he wanted to make a film dealing with an issue like this. “Assistants used to come to work with me thinking there would be huge chandeliers, beautiful sets and picturesque locations. When I narrated the script of MNIK to them, I could see the disappointment in their faces. I remember Manish Malhotra’s disappointed face. He is so used to shopping for beautiful clothes for a month before the film starts that he was heartbroken there were just 22 changes. When Sharmishta Roy, my production designer and I were doing a recce in a lane at Kandivali we both burst out laughing when she said, ‘Karan, I don’t believe I am standing here with you.’”
Johar also believes that Aditya Chopra and he have been the only people (directors) who have witnessed the transition of the industry. Back in 2001 when his film Kabhie Khushi, Kabhie Gham was up for release, he wasn’t prepared to compete with Farhan Akhtar’s Dil Chahta Hai and Ashutosh Gowariker’s Lagaan, two films that altered the meaning of cinema in the coming years. “When I was making K3G, I felt bad for Gowariker and Farhan because I thought who would want to see Aamir Khan in a dhoti playing cricket and a film about three friends, which apparently had no story. It was only when I came out of the theatre after watching Lagaan did I realise I was doomed. I was royally assaulted by both commerce and art. After that Anil Sharma’s Gadar came which again went on to become a huge success. That year was great in terms of different kinds of cinema. It gave more freedom to film-makers to portray whatever they wanted to on screen and get away with it.”
Sneha Mahadevan
Our conviction gave us courage
Just as MNIK was to hit screens worldwide on February 12, it got embroiled in a controversy. Karan Johar shares his views on the incident …
For Johar, “it was the toughest 10 days of our life.” Having worked on the film for three years, he says, “When the film lives with you for three years it literally becomes a member of your family. It consumes and absorbs you completely. And at the brink of the release of the labour of your love; when you see a roadblock of this magnitude, it was obviously very disheartening and sad. For us, it was emotionally tough.” Since Johar has only directed MNIK, he says monetary losses may not be his priority but he always looks at a project from the producer or a filmmaker’s point of view. Always one to go for the best irrespective of the cost, for Johar, it is all about creating that best moment “that is what leaves a legacy behind and so yes it was really tough for Shah Rukh Khan and me.” He however believes that there has to be some pay back for what the universe gives you, for trying to do something noble and human. “Today I am just happy that is over,” said the young filmmaker. His jovial mood reiterated this.
Johar applauded Shah Rukh for sticking to his stand. “It was very brave of him, for a lead protagonist of such a mainstream endeavour to play this character. It was a big film on a big scale, shot on a big budget with the lead character that has a disorder. And then everything was working against us. Eventually it was our conviction that gave us courage.
At a time when nothing was going right for the film, Johar says the support that they got from unexpected quarters was phenomenal. He even got encouraging phone calls and smses. This incident has brought the film fraternity closer, he reiterates. “However, there is a section that comes together and some that remains silent so we have to take it in the spirit.”
The young filmmaker recalls how, during the moment of crisis, both he and Shah Rukh stood by each other. “I was standing there holding his hand throughout. That was support enough. Now enough has been spoken about the issue, if we get into it further, it will be misrepresented. I don’t think we expected anything to get to this monumental level and we are happy it is over.”
Reflecting on how business affected the film during the release week, Johar stated that there was a definite loss of business in Mumbai and Maharashta. Looking at the scenario in Mumbai, many did not go to the theatres fearing political ramifications. “We lost the weekend. We lost out on a tremendous amount. People even did not venture to catch the paid-previews.”
Talking about the Wake Up Sid controversy, Johar said that after leading a sheltered life, he was suddenly exposed to the atrocities of the outside world. “When it happened to me the first time, I took an immediate call about the situation without thinking about the circumstances. The maker is more vulnerable and weak on a Friday. He just listens and follows what people around him tell him.” The filmmaker is of the opinion that he may have reacted differently today if faced with the same situation. It was the first time his film was embroiled in a controversy and he did not think objectively as ‘in the moment of crisis, one reacts impulsively. He however didn’t want to comment on whether what he did then was right or wrong or may be that the repercussions of that was the second event (MNIK controversy) happened. He however stated that, “They are two different circumstances. Two bad experiences and within a short span seem to have taught him a lot. “I am a different person today. It can be said that I am an older and wiser person post My Name Is Khan. I understood so much about the machinery, the industry and the people. I felt like I grew up 10 years in those 10 days. Now I have become more aware. My father was a crisis man. In such circumstances, he would know what to do and how to speak to people. I lost him when I was 32 and at that time I didn’t even know who my chartered accountant was. If my father was alive, it would have been a great emotional support for both Shah Rukh and me. We would have turned to him for everything and would have been more protected.”
Namita Nivas
MNIK, opening news markets
Apart from box office history, director Karan Johar’s latest directorial venture has also broken all geographical boundaries
The release is phased, each territory having a different release date, allowing the publicity storm to gather pace before releasing in a new area. MNIK, which premiered at the Berlin film festival “is the first global film to open up new markets across the globe,” according to Johar.
MNIK is reportedly being distributed in over 70 countries, presenting new distribution, and commercial opportunities for further releases.
MNIK met with astounding audience response in Germany. Germany has the third highest population of international migrants worldwide. Johar believes that “NRI people are far more Indian, far more traditional and far more conservative than any of us living here. It does not mean they are evolved and take anything that is modern”.
For Johar, “The diaspora audience is different in USA, UK and UAE and they react differently. You never know how things will work where. It has been fantastic. I see a lot of non Asian people venturing into cinema hall and it has been great.”
MNIK had its world premiere in Abu Dhabi, a decision taken by Fox. “When you have a big studio with you, you go with the flow,” said Johar. In the East, Bahrain has six prints, Qatar four, Kuwait four, and Egypt eight, although reports abound that 30 more prints have been ordered for Egypt, marking significant breakthroughs for Hindi cinema.
If replicated globally, this could secure Bollywood cinema in ‘non traditional’ reception areas. The film opened in Oman, on February 18. Previously, Bollywood films were released midweek before a weekend opening in India. It is to release in nine theatres in Jordan, Syria, and Lebanon, from March. MNIK will be dubbed into German and Turkish, and released with subtitles on 50 screens in Poland, ten times the amount for a Bollywood release previously. Johar previously called his work ‘a handshake’ between east and west and with the backing of Fox Star Studio. “It is opening many doors and windows. This has been possible because of Fox who has offices all across the world” said Johar. He said that the real impact of the film’s success will only be known by the end of 2010 after it releases theatrically across countries like Poland, Oman, Germany and Russia.
MNIK is the first Bollywood film to be carried by a major Hollywood studio for global distribution.
MNIK is cited by Johar, as an example of new age Indian cinema. MNIK is potentially a shift away from what those in the west tend to perceive as being a format of singing and dancing ‘escapism’, and is accompanied by an industry shift in distribution. MNIK was bought by Fox Star Studios for a reported Rs. 90.2 crore. “We wanted to put Indian cinema on the map and which is why we teamed up with Fox. I wanted people of all cultures and communities to understand that the film resonated the new age Indian cinema”, says Johar, “we are not the frivolous singing and dancing nation of movie makers. We are somebody who can project cinema soulfully, emotionally and relevantly”.
Ed Vollans
Music with a difference
Song and dance sequences, especially the hero-heroine lip-syncing to songs, are a quintessential part of Hindi films. Karan Johar on the changing role of music in today’s cinema
However, the concept is gradually changing and instead of lip-syncing, songs are now increasingly being played in the background. Even My Name Is Khan, that comes from Dharma Productions has few numbers in the film and that too in the background. Song and dance sequences, especially the hero-heroine lip-syncing to songs, are a quintessential part of Hindi films. Says Johar, “A man with autism can’t sing a song. You and I do not sing to each other. When we are talking about a film that is highlighting such a rampant, relevant problem we can’t break into songs. The first sequence of a film sets the tone. My film has the hero walking into an airport followed by his interrogation. When you have set this tone, you can do everything you want within that. I cannot have 100 dancers during Sajda dancing to choreographed steps. I cannot show a grand wedding and perfectly dressed people. Yes, the films of Guru Dutt and Hrishikesh Mukherjee in the past were also about real people and there would be lip-synched songs, but in that era it was a given thing that the lead artistes would sing. But now cinema has travelled beyond.
In fact, Rang De Basantiwas the best film that used music so well without a single lip-synced song. I think that this is the new way music will be used in Hindi cinema and though it is unfortunate, I definitely think that it is better in the long run.
“Frankly I do not see myself shooting a party song like in Kabhi Alvida... or a song in the mountains between the lead pair. Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy, the music directors of the movie, were definitely surprised and disappointed when I told them that neither Sajda nor Tere naina will be filmed with lip-sync. But even Kajol singing to Shah Rukh would have made people laugh.”
Rajiv Vijayakar
Dressed casually in a black and grey T-shirt paired with a blue jeans, a Louis Vuitton bag, sneakers and a Blackberry, the ace director looked ready to take on the world, literally, what with MNIK opening new markets worldwide. MNIK, said Johar, has been the most creatively satisfying film for him. “It has challenged me and made me think out-of-the-box.”
From the pre-release controversies surrounding MNIK, his vulnerability during the release of Wake Up Sid to Kurbaan’s failure at the box-office, he patiently put to rest all queries we had. What’s more, he delighted us with info on his forthcoming film I Hate Luv Stories, which has Imran Khan playing an assistant director, Sonam Kapoor as a production designer and Sammir Dattani playing Karan Johar. Then there’s his popular chat show Koffee With Karan coming back with a third season on STAR World. And the juiciest bit of all, he conceded that with some persuasion from the Twitterati, he is ‘thinking’ of casting Shahid Kapoor and Deepika Padukone in a Dharma Production film, adding that the pair has a huge fan base on the social networking site, which calls it ‘Shahika’.
A lot of ground was covered and an hour and a half went by in a jiffy courtesy his ready wit and loads of self-depreciating humour. For a snapshot of the fun and informative session, read on.
New age cinema
Karan Johar opens up on his changing perception of movies
“Everyone thought I had lost it when I said I wanted to make My Name Is Khan,” says Karan Johar as he begins the conversation. “I am all for bubblegum and candy floss. I have moved on. I shall be 40 soon and for me to do bubblegum and mush is a bit too much. I just feel that I can’t be bored while making my own film.”
Johar, in fact, wishes his audience to cry a bucket with the remake of Stepmom, which he admits, “is a chick flick.” “I do not have an understanding of horror or sci-fi so I won’t make those films. I am open to doing films about people in the real world be it edgy, alternate or anything else,” he offers by way of explaining the kind of cinema Dharma Productions aspires to make.
MNIK which is a step in that direction. But he defends his definition of boredom by saying that a little bit of ‘Karan Johar feel’ will always be there in all his films. “I can’t change my core self even if I try because it’s me. My influence will come up in the film. An SRK-Kajol mush moment will come only from me because that is what I am. But the chemistry between them is unusual. He is a man with a disorder and she is a divorcee with a six-year old kid. A lot of their chemistry has been taken from a real life couple who dealt with autism. We also borrowed an instance about two real life women who were the best of friends all thier lives and the repercussions of 9/11 on their lives. This film was everything I didn’t know and I had to be accurate with my research. Of course within that realm I will show off as a film maker.”
Going back to MNIK, which Johar claims is his “most creatively satisfying film”, he says people didn’t believe him when he said he wanted to make a film dealing with an issue like this. “Assistants used to come to work with me thinking there would be huge chandeliers, beautiful sets and picturesque locations. When I narrated the script of MNIK to them, I could see the disappointment in their faces. I remember Manish Malhotra’s disappointed face. He is so used to shopping for beautiful clothes for a month before the film starts that he was heartbroken there were just 22 changes. When Sharmishta Roy, my production designer and I were doing a recce in a lane at Kandivali we both burst out laughing when she said, ‘Karan, I don’t believe I am standing here with you.’”
Johar also believes that Aditya Chopra and he have been the only people (directors) who have witnessed the transition of the industry. Back in 2001 when his film Kabhie Khushi, Kabhie Gham was up for release, he wasn’t prepared to compete with Farhan Akhtar’s Dil Chahta Hai and Ashutosh Gowariker’s Lagaan, two films that altered the meaning of cinema in the coming years. “When I was making K3G, I felt bad for Gowariker and Farhan because I thought who would want to see Aamir Khan in a dhoti playing cricket and a film about three friends, which apparently had no story. It was only when I came out of the theatre after watching Lagaan did I realise I was doomed. I was royally assaulted by both commerce and art. After that Anil Sharma’s Gadar came which again went on to become a huge success. That year was great in terms of different kinds of cinema. It gave more freedom to film-makers to portray whatever they wanted to on screen and get away with it.”
Sneha Mahadevan
Our conviction gave us courage
Just as MNIK was to hit screens worldwide on February 12, it got embroiled in a controversy. Karan Johar shares his views on the incident …
For Johar, “it was the toughest 10 days of our life.” Having worked on the film for three years, he says, “When the film lives with you for three years it literally becomes a member of your family. It consumes and absorbs you completely. And at the brink of the release of the labour of your love; when you see a roadblock of this magnitude, it was obviously very disheartening and sad. For us, it was emotionally tough.” Since Johar has only directed MNIK, he says monetary losses may not be his priority but he always looks at a project from the producer or a filmmaker’s point of view. Always one to go for the best irrespective of the cost, for Johar, it is all about creating that best moment “that is what leaves a legacy behind and so yes it was really tough for Shah Rukh Khan and me.” He however believes that there has to be some pay back for what the universe gives you, for trying to do something noble and human. “Today I am just happy that is over,” said the young filmmaker. His jovial mood reiterated this.
Johar applauded Shah Rukh for sticking to his stand. “It was very brave of him, for a lead protagonist of such a mainstream endeavour to play this character. It was a big film on a big scale, shot on a big budget with the lead character that has a disorder. And then everything was working against us. Eventually it was our conviction that gave us courage.
At a time when nothing was going right for the film, Johar says the support that they got from unexpected quarters was phenomenal. He even got encouraging phone calls and smses. This incident has brought the film fraternity closer, he reiterates. “However, there is a section that comes together and some that remains silent so we have to take it in the spirit.”
The young filmmaker recalls how, during the moment of crisis, both he and Shah Rukh stood by each other. “I was standing there holding his hand throughout. That was support enough. Now enough has been spoken about the issue, if we get into it further, it will be misrepresented. I don’t think we expected anything to get to this monumental level and we are happy it is over.”
Reflecting on how business affected the film during the release week, Johar stated that there was a definite loss of business in Mumbai and Maharashta. Looking at the scenario in Mumbai, many did not go to the theatres fearing political ramifications. “We lost the weekend. We lost out on a tremendous amount. People even did not venture to catch the paid-previews.”
Talking about the Wake Up Sid controversy, Johar said that after leading a sheltered life, he was suddenly exposed to the atrocities of the outside world. “When it happened to me the first time, I took an immediate call about the situation without thinking about the circumstances. The maker is more vulnerable and weak on a Friday. He just listens and follows what people around him tell him.” The filmmaker is of the opinion that he may have reacted differently today if faced with the same situation. It was the first time his film was embroiled in a controversy and he did not think objectively as ‘in the moment of crisis, one reacts impulsively. He however didn’t want to comment on whether what he did then was right or wrong or may be that the repercussions of that was the second event (MNIK controversy) happened. He however stated that, “They are two different circumstances. Two bad experiences and within a short span seem to have taught him a lot. “I am a different person today. It can be said that I am an older and wiser person post My Name Is Khan. I understood so much about the machinery, the industry and the people. I felt like I grew up 10 years in those 10 days. Now I have become more aware. My father was a crisis man. In such circumstances, he would know what to do and how to speak to people. I lost him when I was 32 and at that time I didn’t even know who my chartered accountant was. If my father was alive, it would have been a great emotional support for both Shah Rukh and me. We would have turned to him for everything and would have been more protected.”
Namita Nivas
MNIK, opening news markets
Apart from box office history, director Karan Johar’s latest directorial venture has also broken all geographical boundaries
The release is phased, each territory having a different release date, allowing the publicity storm to gather pace before releasing in a new area. MNIK, which premiered at the Berlin film festival “is the first global film to open up new markets across the globe,” according to Johar.
MNIK is reportedly being distributed in over 70 countries, presenting new distribution, and commercial opportunities for further releases.
MNIK met with astounding audience response in Germany. Germany has the third highest population of international migrants worldwide. Johar believes that “NRI people are far more Indian, far more traditional and far more conservative than any of us living here. It does not mean they are evolved and take anything that is modern”.
For Johar, “The diaspora audience is different in USA, UK and UAE and they react differently. You never know how things will work where. It has been fantastic. I see a lot of non Asian people venturing into cinema hall and it has been great.”
MNIK had its world premiere in Abu Dhabi, a decision taken by Fox. “When you have a big studio with you, you go with the flow,” said Johar. In the East, Bahrain has six prints, Qatar four, Kuwait four, and Egypt eight, although reports abound that 30 more prints have been ordered for Egypt, marking significant breakthroughs for Hindi cinema.
If replicated globally, this could secure Bollywood cinema in ‘non traditional’ reception areas. The film opened in Oman, on February 18. Previously, Bollywood films were released midweek before a weekend opening in India. It is to release in nine theatres in Jordan, Syria, and Lebanon, from March. MNIK will be dubbed into German and Turkish, and released with subtitles on 50 screens in Poland, ten times the amount for a Bollywood release previously. Johar previously called his work ‘a handshake’ between east and west and with the backing of Fox Star Studio. “It is opening many doors and windows. This has been possible because of Fox who has offices all across the world” said Johar. He said that the real impact of the film’s success will only be known by the end of 2010 after it releases theatrically across countries like Poland, Oman, Germany and Russia.
MNIK is the first Bollywood film to be carried by a major Hollywood studio for global distribution.
MNIK is cited by Johar, as an example of new age Indian cinema. MNIK is potentially a shift away from what those in the west tend to perceive as being a format of singing and dancing ‘escapism’, and is accompanied by an industry shift in distribution. MNIK was bought by Fox Star Studios for a reported Rs. 90.2 crore. “We wanted to put Indian cinema on the map and which is why we teamed up with Fox. I wanted people of all cultures and communities to understand that the film resonated the new age Indian cinema”, says Johar, “we are not the frivolous singing and dancing nation of movie makers. We are somebody who can project cinema soulfully, emotionally and relevantly”.
Ed Vollans
Music with a difference
Song and dance sequences, especially the hero-heroine lip-syncing to songs, are a quintessential part of Hindi films. Karan Johar on the changing role of music in today’s cinema
However, the concept is gradually changing and instead of lip-syncing, songs are now increasingly being played in the background. Even My Name Is Khan, that comes from Dharma Productions has few numbers in the film and that too in the background. Song and dance sequences, especially the hero-heroine lip-syncing to songs, are a quintessential part of Hindi films. Says Johar, “A man with autism can’t sing a song. You and I do not sing to each other. When we are talking about a film that is highlighting such a rampant, relevant problem we can’t break into songs. The first sequence of a film sets the tone. My film has the hero walking into an airport followed by his interrogation. When you have set this tone, you can do everything you want within that. I cannot have 100 dancers during Sajda dancing to choreographed steps. I cannot show a grand wedding and perfectly dressed people. Yes, the films of Guru Dutt and Hrishikesh Mukherjee in the past were also about real people and there would be lip-synched songs, but in that era it was a given thing that the lead artistes would sing. But now cinema has travelled beyond.
In fact, Rang De Basantiwas the best film that used music so well without a single lip-synced song. I think that this is the new way music will be used in Hindi cinema and though it is unfortunate, I definitely think that it is better in the long run.
“Frankly I do not see myself shooting a party song like in Kabhi Alvida... or a song in the mountains between the lead pair. Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy, the music directors of the movie, were definitely surprised and disappointed when I told them that neither Sajda nor Tere naina will be filmed with lip-sync. But even Kajol singing to Shah Rukh would have made people laugh.”
Rajiv Vijayakar
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
Kajol - On SRK in MNIK
Extract from source
Shah Rukh Khan has said that having Kajol as a co-star has no parallels. She inspires him by the interest she takes in his work. Even when Johar has okayed a shot, she whispers into his ear that Shah Rukh could do better.
"She wishes greater success for Karan and me," Shah Rukh had said. "She is more concerned for us than for her own self. You don't find many human beings like Kajol."
She, in turn, says that working with fine artists, stars and character artists, enhances her own performance. She is always awed by the pains Shah Rukh takes to make his role realistic. He hasn't received the fullest credit he deserves for doing so, she adds.
"After I have read the script, I am wired to the film," she continues. "I imagine how someone like me would behave in a particular situation. I depend a lot on the director to put me in the right place. But Shah Rukh does thorough research about his role."
Having worked with SRK in several films, she feels he is one of the few actors in the Hindi film industry who understands well what his role is -- and what the roles of his co-artists are.
"Working with him means I am not thinking of something else, and inadvertently confuse myself. We never felt while working together that we are working on two different films. We are always on the same page in any film, especially with this one."
Kajol also says she discovered a new SRK in My Name Is Khan. "On the first day of the shoot itself, it was obvious we were seeing a totally different actor," she says. Though he is a versatile actor, some of his mannerisms stand out, she pointed out. "But in this film he had become Rizwan Khan from the very first day. I had never expected how real Shah Rukh would be in this role. I was stunned seeing the transformation. Rizwan Khan is his biggest triumph as an actor."
Friday, February 5, 2010
I'm breaking my own unspoken rule and publishing KJo's interview here..
...coz I love KJo, some days more than I love Shah Rukh (don't kill me. He's too cute, I simply can't resist him), and coz it has stuff on movies they've made together, which is like all of the movies he directed..duh.
Saturday, January 30, 2010
KJo revealing secrets about Shahrukh & Kajol - MNIK - CNN-IBN (full interview yet to be on air)
Whatever else you think about any of these trio.. they're a highly entertaining bunch when grouped together *ish in stitches from laughing too much*
Update:
It's already out!
Update:
It's already out!
Sunday, January 24, 2010
Quote of the day...
Source
"You can't help liking Shah Rukh Khan. He is so unaffected by stardom. He has this certain detachment from his success that's so astonishing."
"You can't help liking Shah Rukh Khan. He is so unaffected by stardom. He has this certain detachment from his success that's so astonishing."
Thursday, January 7, 2010
If you're allergic to Salman Khan, avoid this video. He's in too many frames~
..anyway, I always like to observe Shah Rukh everytime he's on stage or on-screen with another hero(es). Don't you think he always goes quieter? Even his body language slows down to a minimum when the other heroes are talking/doing their stuff..except when he's expected to perform. It's fascinating to watch.
I really don't get it when people say he's arrogant. He's the most respectful person in an entertainment industry I have ever encountered. All his crass jokes were confined to his Filmfare hosting stints with Saif, and even then he's usually told the nominees who're gonna be mentioned. He's talked about 'destroying' Aamir Khan from the time he starred in his earliest movies, so his competitive nature is nothing new. I have no idea why the media makes such a big deal out of it even now.. it's all talk with him. When he's with the stars he's 'in competition with', he's always the politest, most appreciative person in the lot.
I love it that he knows what he's got, he knows what he wants, and he knows where he's going (or appears to know, anyway). And I love it that he appreciates his fans so much, coz I'm one of them..even though we've never come face-to-face and perhaps never will. But even across such a far away distance, we can feel his love and appreciation. It's a lot of fun being his fan. I'm always entertained, and I think that's what he always tries so hard to do anywhere he goes and in anything he does/says.. to entertain, and to see people smile for him and with him.
..eeep, I'm getting mushy on a Friday morning. Maybe coz it's raining so heavily outside and I'm kinda sleepy. Don't want to go to work~~~
I really don't get it when people say he's arrogant. He's the most respectful person in an entertainment industry I have ever encountered. All his crass jokes were confined to his Filmfare hosting stints with Saif, and even then he's usually told the nominees who're gonna be mentioned. He's talked about 'destroying' Aamir Khan from the time he starred in his earliest movies, so his competitive nature is nothing new. I have no idea why the media makes such a big deal out of it even now.. it's all talk with him. When he's with the stars he's 'in competition with', he's always the politest, most appreciative person in the lot.
I love it that he knows what he's got, he knows what he wants, and he knows where he's going (or appears to know, anyway). And I love it that he appreciates his fans so much, coz I'm one of them..even though we've never come face-to-face and perhaps never will. But even across such a far away distance, we can feel his love and appreciation. It's a lot of fun being his fan. I'm always entertained, and I think that's what he always tries so hard to do anywhere he goes and in anything he does/says.. to entertain, and to see people smile for him and with him.
..eeep, I'm getting mushy on a Friday morning. Maybe coz it's raining so heavily outside and I'm kinda sleepy. Don't want to go to work~~~
Monday, December 21, 2009
Friday, November 13, 2009
What others say about Shah Rukh Khan: Madhuri Dixit & Mushtaq Shiekh
Madhuri Dixit (October 28, 2008):
"They're different in many ways," she muses, "Aamir is more studied. He just does one film and he will put his all into that film. I remember I was sitting with Shah Rukh once and he said, 'Madhuri, you know kids who have producers as fathers are very lucky because in a way they are financially secure, they can pick and choose. We don't have any kind of anchor like that so we have to make a place for ourselves and work really hard. Not that they don't work hard, but there's that comfort… But I want to be a producer one day and produce good cinema."
"The way Aamir wants to do things is different from the way Shah Rukh does them. Shah Rukh is very lively, like a livewire. I don't think he ever sleeps! He is someone you can talk to on any topic in the world as he has a lot to say and he knows about a lot of stuff. His is a totally different personality from Aamir's but they both have a common thread which is a passion for their work. Shah Rukh was brilliant in Chak De; it's one of his finest performances." About Salman, she says one couldn't make out whether he was taking in the director's instructions or not while the briefing was on, but in front of the camera, he'd be brilliant and floor everyone.
Well, he did go on and become a producer.. the rest is Bollywood history. Think it's easy to create history? Watch Mushtaq Shiekh as he tells us what happened when Shah Rukh first started out with Dreamz Unlimited.
"They're different in many ways," she muses, "Aamir is more studied. He just does one film and he will put his all into that film. I remember I was sitting with Shah Rukh once and he said, 'Madhuri, you know kids who have producers as fathers are very lucky because in a way they are financially secure, they can pick and choose. We don't have any kind of anchor like that so we have to make a place for ourselves and work really hard. Not that they don't work hard, but there's that comfort… But I want to be a producer one day and produce good cinema."
"The way Aamir wants to do things is different from the way Shah Rukh does them. Shah Rukh is very lively, like a livewire. I don't think he ever sleeps! He is someone you can talk to on any topic in the world as he has a lot to say and he knows about a lot of stuff. His is a totally different personality from Aamir's but they both have a common thread which is a passion for their work. Shah Rukh was brilliant in Chak De; it's one of his finest performances." About Salman, she says one couldn't make out whether he was taking in the director's instructions or not while the briefing was on, but in front of the camera, he'd be brilliant and floor everyone.
Well, he did go on and become a producer.. the rest is Bollywood history. Think it's easy to create history? Watch Mushtaq Shiekh as he tells us what happened when Shah Rukh first started out with Dreamz Unlimited.
Sunday, November 8, 2009
What others say about Shah Rukh Khan
This one talks more on Salman Khan & Aamir Khan (interesting stuff too, since the writer claims to live near their neighbourhood), but I only paste what he writes about Shah Rukh coz I think it's a rather cute quote.. :P
From: What a real hero should look like
Shah Rukh Khan is popular with India's middle class and Indians abroad because he looks like a young banker or corporate executive. He's modern and yet traditional, and we love that.
From: What a real hero should look like
Shah Rukh Khan is popular with India's middle class and Indians abroad because he looks like a young banker or corporate executive. He's modern and yet traditional, and we love that.
Friday, October 2, 2009
Huh..
Know what? I'm beginning to get really really pissed off with this guy. I know it's such a waste of time since he's thousands of miles away from me and a movie star and I don't know him personally so he shouldn't affect me in any negative or positive way. Plus, I'm so not a fan even though I did like his acting in a couple of his movies so why should I care, right? And I've promised myself not to rant about anyone else in my SRK blog, but seriously.. I have to get this ugly feeling off my chest.
Who am I talking about? It's that actor famous for his short term amnesia in media when it comes to Shah Rukh, of course.. who else but Salman Khan. I wish he'd stay away from Shah Rukh, in real and reel life. I mean... what is this??? It's like a love-hate, obsessive relationship he's having with SRK.
He was the only A-list actor who repeatedly agreed to act in two-hero films with Shah Rukh. He pursued the leading lady of Devdas where SRK is the lead and SRK's own production film, Chalte Chalte, until it effectively got her kicked out of the movie (not that I'm complaining about this since I like Rani as an actress much better) and soured SRK's relationship with her for years becoz SRK turned his back on her in support of him. I mean.. she acted in other movies too, with other leading men.. why made such a public fuss ONLY while she was in SRK's movies?
At least Aamir Khan, when he makes tasteless jokes about SRK, they sometimes amuse me as they're clearly designed to garner publicity for his upcoming films (there're also all those reports of them being amiable to each other off the set).. but when Salman makes bad jokes about Shah Rukh, he actually means them to the point of trying to get into fisticuffs over them while in a drunken state at a party in front of family members, his and SRK's.
Salman has this very very annoying ability to completely believe in everything he says ..at the time, anyway. He's been giving so many negative quotes on SRK after that near-fight that it made me want to print out an A0-size poster of him with a big red cross slapped on his mouth and a sign.. 'WANTED - silenced forever' ..on it. Then he made an abrupt turn and started praising SRK.. even saying SRK has beautiful eyes.. what?? Being a bad-tempered person, I naturally want WANTED to flop at the BO after all this ruckus! But unlike many of Salman's juvenile fans whose brainless comments I found littering Shah Rukh's clips on youtube and articles in entertainment news, I can't be bothered to worry about the fate of a movie by someone who I don't fan. Meh.. he's had, what?.. 12 flops back-to-back already. Maybe he's due for a break.
Anyway, back to Shah Rukh's beautiful eyes. The exact quote is: "SRK has such beautiful eyes, it can make anyone go crazy," and I went.. oh? Including you, Salman? And before this.. I remember an interview where he said SRK is a matlabi person coz why? He didn't keep in touch! Awwww.. poor Salman, ignored by Shah Rukh. Seriously, if you don't like a guy, why do you want him to keep in touch with you? This is purely from a girl's POV though.. I'm not sure how male relationship works. Do guys like to have other guys they dislike to keep in constant touch with them? This is a mystery to me..
And now, he's gonna buy an IPL team.. LOL. Doggedly pursuing SRK from films to TV stints to the pitch, I see. Salman, even though people say Shah Rukh is gay coz he's surrounded by allegedly gay friends (this rumour still circulates despite him being happily married for nearly 20 yrs to a strong-minded, gorgeous lady and having two of the cutest kids in India), I doubt he's so gay that he's enjoying you hounding him wherever he goes (although, Shah Rukh being a masochist.. he probably does enjoy the 'attention' this guy has been giving him, if not so much.. at least a bit).
I'd like to say this.. Salman, you're a nuisance to us in the SRK fandom. What a drama queen. You should read our collective comments on you in the SRK forums, but the archive is massive and reading is probably not your strong suit. Lay off the chase, man.. it makes you look pathetic. I'd like to wish people who make tremendous effort to pursue the luff of their lives to gain them in the end, you know.. happiesss endingsss. But this is one couple I want to keep separated. Anyone who is even thinking of attempting to put them together in the same screen (again??), be it Farah Khan or whoever, is gonna get a virtual whack from me.. although I doubt that'll be stopping any of them from trying.. bleh.
Hmm, I started out being pissed off at Salman and ended up feeling amused at this whole Salman vs. SRK thing. It's probably just a spurned lover's attempt to get attention after all.. ha! Really, someone should try to write a fanfic about these two, with Salman as the uke of course. It works out more brilliantly that way, trust me. They give us plenty enough materials for several book volumes.
Who am I talking about? It's that actor famous for his short term amnesia in media when it comes to Shah Rukh, of course.. who else but Salman Khan. I wish he'd stay away from Shah Rukh, in real and reel life. I mean... what is this??? It's like a love-hate, obsessive relationship he's having with SRK.
He was the only A-list actor who repeatedly agreed to act in two-hero films with Shah Rukh. He pursued the leading lady of Devdas where SRK is the lead and SRK's own production film, Chalte Chalte, until it effectively got her kicked out of the movie (not that I'm complaining about this since I like Rani as an actress much better) and soured SRK's relationship with her for years becoz SRK turned his back on her in support of him. I mean.. she acted in other movies too, with other leading men.. why made such a public fuss ONLY while she was in SRK's movies?
At least Aamir Khan, when he makes tasteless jokes about SRK, they sometimes amuse me as they're clearly designed to garner publicity for his upcoming films (there're also all those reports of them being amiable to each other off the set).. but when Salman makes bad jokes about Shah Rukh, he actually means them to the point of trying to get into fisticuffs over them while in a drunken state at a party in front of family members, his and SRK's.
Salman has this very very annoying ability to completely believe in everything he says ..at the time, anyway. He's been giving so many negative quotes on SRK after that near-fight that it made me want to print out an A0-size poster of him with a big red cross slapped on his mouth and a sign.. 'WANTED - silenced forever' ..on it. Then he made an abrupt turn and started praising SRK.. even saying SRK has beautiful eyes.. what?? Being a bad-tempered person, I naturally want WANTED to flop at the BO after all this ruckus! But unlike many of Salman's juvenile fans whose brainless comments I found littering Shah Rukh's clips on youtube and articles in entertainment news, I can't be bothered to worry about the fate of a movie by someone who I don't fan. Meh.. he's had, what?.. 12 flops back-to-back already. Maybe he's due for a break.
Anyway, back to Shah Rukh's beautiful eyes. The exact quote is: "SRK has such beautiful eyes, it can make anyone go crazy," and I went.. oh? Including you, Salman? And before this.. I remember an interview where he said SRK is a matlabi person coz why? He didn't keep in touch! Awwww.. poor Salman, ignored by Shah Rukh. Seriously, if you don't like a guy, why do you want him to keep in touch with you? This is purely from a girl's POV though.. I'm not sure how male relationship works. Do guys like to have other guys they dislike to keep in constant touch with them? This is a mystery to me..
And now, he's gonna buy an IPL team.. LOL. Doggedly pursuing SRK from films to TV stints to the pitch, I see. Salman, even though people say Shah Rukh is gay coz he's surrounded by allegedly gay friends (this rumour still circulates despite him being happily married for nearly 20 yrs to a strong-minded, gorgeous lady and having two of the cutest kids in India), I doubt he's so gay that he's enjoying you hounding him wherever he goes (although, Shah Rukh being a masochist.. he probably does enjoy the 'attention' this guy has been giving him, if not so much.. at least a bit).
I'd like to say this.. Salman, you're a nuisance to us in the SRK fandom. What a drama queen. You should read our collective comments on you in the SRK forums, but the archive is massive and reading is probably not your strong suit. Lay off the chase, man.. it makes you look pathetic. I'd like to wish people who make tremendous effort to pursue the luff of their lives to gain them in the end, you know.. happiesss endingsss. But this is one couple I want to keep separated. Anyone who is even thinking of attempting to put them together in the same screen (again??), be it Farah Khan or whoever, is gonna get a virtual whack from me.. although I doubt that'll be stopping any of them from trying.. bleh.
Hmm, I started out being pissed off at Salman and ended up feeling amused at this whole Salman vs. SRK thing. It's probably just a spurned lover's attempt to get attention after all.. ha! Really, someone should try to write a fanfic about these two, with Salman as the uke of course. It works out more brilliantly that way, trust me. They give us plenty enough materials for several book volumes.
Friday, August 7, 2009
MNIK PROMO IS STARTING!!
...and that too even before the filming schedule is completed. Karan Johar and Shah Rukh are trying to accomplish something unusual with this film and I think whatever that is, they're on their way to succeeding. I'm both mega excited and extremely nervous about the film. I want so much to like it that I worry about what if it turns out to be a film I can't obsess over, or what if Shah Rukh's new avatar/character turns out to be someone I can't adore.
But Surinder Sahni, and even the Raj Kapoor character, make me continue to hope for Rizwan Khan to be someone I can be wide-eyed with awe about. After RNBDJ, I think (I hope!) Shah Rukh is going to do unusual roles from now on. Even if all his movies will be love stories, I hope we'll have no more of those 'running around trees while singing and dancing' sequences from him. Give those stuff to someone else, please. I want to see Shah Rukh does character roles from now on. In commercially viable, potential blockbuster movies of course. None of them artsy fartsy stuff. Is that a tall order? I love giving tall orders, taking them is another matter altogether :P
You can watch all the press conference videos of MNIK here at SRK the DON blog. The blogmaster's lined it up pretty nicely, so enjoy~
P/S: I have updated this link with recent posts. Go here to view them.
But Surinder Sahni, and even the Raj Kapoor character, make me continue to hope for Rizwan Khan to be someone I can be wide-eyed with awe about. After RNBDJ, I think (I hope!) Shah Rukh is going to do unusual roles from now on. Even if all his movies will be love stories, I hope we'll have no more of those 'running around trees while singing and dancing' sequences from him. Give those stuff to someone else, please. I want to see Shah Rukh does character roles from now on. In commercially viable, potential blockbuster movies of course. None of them artsy fartsy stuff. Is that a tall order? I love giving tall orders, taking them is another matter altogether :P
You can watch all the press conference videos of MNIK here at SRK the DON blog. The blogmaster's lined it up pretty nicely, so enjoy~
P/S: I have updated this link with recent posts. Go here to view them.
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
Karan Johar - MNIK interview
Full article: Source
Was it a painful experience to shoot in LA?
In all my 11 years as a filmmaker I've never felt the experience to be so different. Content- wise My Name Is Khan is diametrically opposite to whatever I've done in the past. You know, on the very first day of shooting my cameraman Ravi Chandran looked at me and said, 'I don't think you've ever shot something like this.' This is the first time I'm directing a screenplay I haven't written myself. This gives me a level of detachment from the proceedings and yet a lot of attachment. It has released a whole plethora of unexplored emotions in my head. This time I'm being creative in a different way. And Shah Rukh plays a completely different human being I've never directed that person before. It took a few days for all of us to get into the groove. How this exploration of a new territory will turn out, no one knows.
How was it directing Shah Rukh and Kajol again?
I am blessed to have them in my film. I don't know what it's about them. It's just magic. They build an inexplicable energy on screen. They instinctively understand each other's acting. When I direct a scene with Shah Rukh and Kajol I know I'm doing my best work. These two characters in My Name Is Khan HAD to be SRK and Kajol.
Was Kajol weighed down on location by her motherly duties?
Not at all. I've worked with Kajol in various stages of her life. I'm working her again eight years later. When we worked the last time she didn't have a daughter. So of course she's a different person. Today I find her calmer, more focused on her work than ever before. Of course she has a really cute daughter to look after. But Kajol manages to be fantastic wife-mother and actress. I find Shah Rukh and Kajol alike in their attitude to work and family. They're both so much into their spouses and kids. When the shot is over they rush to their respective family. On location in LA between shots they spoke to each other about their respective families.
How was Shah Rukh?
Time and again I'm blown away by Shah Rukh. How can he think of so many things about his character when he has so much on his plate? He has done monumental research on his autistic character. I was zapped by how much he knew on the subject. And he brought all the knowledge on the sets without any strain. He had written reams of notes on how he wanted to interpret his character. And to him it was no big deal for him. He's ready to direct a film any time. He will be outstanding at it. His understanding of human nature and emotions can never be matched by me.
Was it a painful experience to shoot in LA?
In all my 11 years as a filmmaker I've never felt the experience to be so different. Content- wise My Name Is Khan is diametrically opposite to whatever I've done in the past. You know, on the very first day of shooting my cameraman Ravi Chandran looked at me and said, 'I don't think you've ever shot something like this.' This is the first time I'm directing a screenplay I haven't written myself. This gives me a level of detachment from the proceedings and yet a lot of attachment. It has released a whole plethora of unexplored emotions in my head. This time I'm being creative in a different way. And Shah Rukh plays a completely different human being I've never directed that person before. It took a few days for all of us to get into the groove. How this exploration of a new territory will turn out, no one knows.
How was it directing Shah Rukh and Kajol again?
I am blessed to have them in my film. I don't know what it's about them. It's just magic. They build an inexplicable energy on screen. They instinctively understand each other's acting. When I direct a scene with Shah Rukh and Kajol I know I'm doing my best work. These two characters in My Name Is Khan HAD to be SRK and Kajol.
Was Kajol weighed down on location by her motherly duties?
Not at all. I've worked with Kajol in various stages of her life. I'm working her again eight years later. When we worked the last time she didn't have a daughter. So of course she's a different person. Today I find her calmer, more focused on her work than ever before. Of course she has a really cute daughter to look after. But Kajol manages to be fantastic wife-mother and actress. I find Shah Rukh and Kajol alike in their attitude to work and family. They're both so much into their spouses and kids. When the shot is over they rush to their respective family. On location in LA between shots they spoke to each other about their respective families.
How was Shah Rukh?
Time and again I'm blown away by Shah Rukh. How can he think of so many things about his character when he has so much on his plate? He has done monumental research on his autistic character. I was zapped by how much he knew on the subject. And he brought all the knowledge on the sets without any strain. He had written reams of notes on how he wanted to interpret his character. And to him it was no big deal for him. He's ready to direct a film any time. He will be outstanding at it. His understanding of human nature and emotions can never be matched by me.
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
Somebody has to record this...
Full article:
It was Shah Rukh Khan who started the trend of interacting personally with the fourth estate. There are stories that SRK also maintains a database of various journalists from across the globe, though this is denied by his public relations manager. But the woman concedes SRK has an elephant's memory; once he has been introduced to a mediaperson, he usually remembers the name and character traits. And occasionally, if reminded by a close friend-like Karan Johar- or his staff, he also remembers to call journalists and share a few thoughts with them.
It's just one more point in the list of many trends Shah Rukh has started in the industry.
It was Shah Rukh Khan who started the trend of interacting personally with the fourth estate. There are stories that SRK also maintains a database of various journalists from across the globe, though this is denied by his public relations manager. But the woman concedes SRK has an elephant's memory; once he has been introduced to a mediaperson, he usually remembers the name and character traits. And occasionally, if reminded by a close friend-like Karan Johar- or his staff, he also remembers to call journalists and share a few thoughts with them.
It's just one more point in the list of many trends Shah Rukh has started in the industry.
Monday, June 29, 2009
Quotes of the day
Farah Khan:
SD: When it began, did you believe that it was going to be such a huge success?
FK: Of course. When I wrote the script, I knew it well that it had to be a commercial success. Otherwise, it’s a 30 crore movie; it was a big film, its got Shah Rukh and everything. It wasn’t designed to be a niche film. When we read the script and throughout the shooting, I think this is the first time I heard Shah Rukh say, ‘this is a big one’. And Shah Rukh never praises his own movies.
SD: When you realized that ‘Saawariya’ and OSO’ were releasing the same time, was there a feeling of nervousness?
FK: No, I was never nervous. In fact, Shah Rukh and I discussed this; everyone would want their film to be a solo release. It’s not like we have a big ego or something. I wouldn’t want a Bhojpuri film to have joint release. I knew that ‘Saawariya’ and ‘OSO’ were two different kinds of film.
SD: Did you understand Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s grouse in the end?
FK: Yes, I can understand it. It’s human nature. Its defense mechanism in the end. Because after so much success, it made it difficult to handle even the slightest criticism and this one got real slander. It was brutal. See, I’ve seen my dad go through it. I’ve seen failures. I’ve seen Shah Rukh go through ups and downs. When ‘Phir Bhi Dil Hai Hindustani’ released, he was getting kicked, people were saying he’s over. I think, how you handle your failure is a little more important than how you handle your success.
SD: So Farah Khan’s involvement as a director is going to be restricted to Red Chillies after delivering two hits with them?
FK: I’m quite happy with Red Chillies right now. ‘Coz Shah Rukh and I share a great rapport and they’re offering me whatever or perhaps better than what anyone else’s offering. So there’s no reason to work with another production house. It’s a comfort factor. I have worked as a choreographer with so many producers. But this is comfortable, its like my company, contrary to what’s written, I’m the one who’s controlling the budgets and Shah Rukh says, ‘Spend, spend, spend’. He’s like you’re not spending enough. And anyways I’m out of action for a year now.
SD: There was something in the press about a fallout between Shirish and Shah Rukh over his next directorial venture in which he wanted SRK to act.
FK: I can’t answer that because the two of them are handling it. But there was no fall out between them. They are fine. We go for dinners to Shah Rukh’s house and he comes over many a times. There was no fallout so there was no awkwardness between them. And this was all when I was working on the last leg of ‘OSO’. Shah Rukh and I also had like zero problem.
SD: And was Viveik the only other actor you approached?
FK: Yeah. I narrated the script to Viveik because I’d to start shooting. Shah Rukh actually asked me to meet Viveik, it was his suggestion. We basically wanted a hero to play the villain’s part, not some character artist. Then finally we dragged Arjun on new year’s night into the bathroom, people were banging the door on the outside, they were wondering what the three of us were doing inside. And we bullied Arjun saying, ‘Just shut up and do it. Just trust us.’ After that Arjun was alright and eventually played the part. Half an hour, the three of us were inside the bathroom talking. I’m sure people thought some weird casting couch is going on inside.
SD: Earlier it seemed like Yash Raj and Shah Rukh Khan were in a symbiotic relationship. Today, with SRK’s stakes raising high, Yash Raj needs Shah Rukh more than SRK needs Yash Raj.
FK: I don’t think Shah Rukh ever needed anyone. He brings his own USP to the table, for whoever he does a movie. Whether it’s a ‘Don’ or it’s a ‘Chak De’ or something. He is Shah Rukh Khan, so I don’t think he needs them more or vice versa. As long as it’s a good film and sometimes even if it’s not a good film, he kind of swings it with his charisma, and his star power. At least he gets that opening. With ‘OSO’ becoming a success, for Shah Rukh it’s a good thing, because Red Chillies is now one of the top five production houses in the country. ‘OSO’ is one of the highest grossing films of the last ten years.
SD: So tell me about your own production now?
FK: Just that I’m waiting for them to come out yaar (pointing at her baby bump)So one does gonna be choreographer, one film editor and the other director?By twenty years they’ll be tycoons yaar. They’ll do whatever they want. But they’d surely be doing something connected to films. With my husband and I in films, with my brother Saajid in films and Shah Rukh around there’ll be a complete filmi atmosphere, which I think is great. I’ll take them on the sets and leave them there.
Arjun Rampal:
SD: Your character was the villain of ‘Om Shanti Om’ (OSO). Was it a tough decision to make considering that you’ve played hero so far? Or was it simply the mounting of this magnum opus that made you give the nod of approval?
AR: I think it was a tough decision because it is the toughest role I have played. Initially I was a bit skeptical and then I spoke to Farah and Shah Rukh about my fears and Shah Rukh said to me as an actor when one takes on a film it is about the different expressions one can get out of it. Six or seven years ago the films were much more hero centric. I think all actors nowadays are just playing characters and hero is the film itself. Actors are changing their looks for films. Yet this was a very negative character and therein was the challenge.
SD: Were you insecure when you were not promoted in the initial promotions of ‘OSO’? It seemed to be only SRK and Deepika and even Shreyas Talpade had made it to the high ranks but not you.
AR: Sure. What you are saying is right. But if I had a song in the film then that would be promoted. It’s the way we promote our films. As for the teaser, I know for a fact that they wanted to promote me as the surprise package of the film. There was no point for them to open all their cards. Being a superstar and having a huge draw at the box-office Shah Rukh still works so hard to create awareness about his film, so when Shah Rukh has a plan you follow it.
SD: When SRK sports a six pack, does it take the limelight away from Arjun’s Adonis physique?
AR: No, I don’t think so. I think Shah Rukh’s six pack is an achievement. He has not done it over six months like people think. He has been working out for three and a half years on his body and he has been very aware of it. It all started when his son Aryan showed him a six pack and said. ‘dad you don’t have this’, and it has taken him this much time because of his neck injury and knee injury. He is not even a gym going person. Having the addictive personality that he has, he has achieved this and any person who is fit and inspires others is a role model. He has a lean, nice body, not a steroid infested or pumped up unusual one. He looks athletic, it suits him. I know my fitness levels and I don’t get into comparisons unnecessarily. It didn’t require me to remove my shirt so I didn’t. Maybe in the next film we do together we will both come bare bodied.
Viveik Oberoi:
SD: Weren’t you worried about the fallouts of saying no to a biggie like ‘OSO’ especially since the producer and Bollywood power center Shah Rukh Khan is not known to take rejection very kindly?
VO: Both SRK and Farah were so absolutely nice and encouraging through this whole process that even I was taken aback. I know them and did not expect them to be vicious. But I didn’t think they would be so graceful, this just strengthened our relationship. I will always respect and thank them for that. But at that point in time I did not want to do that role because personally that was not the direction I wanted my career to go. They respected that and we are still great friends and we do spend a lot of time and have a lot of fun together and Farah still maintains that I was the first guy who told her that the film would be the biggest hit of the year and of her career. She sent me an sms saying that when the film was released and declared a mega hit.The second thing is that for me to say no to ‘OSO’ should have been the scariest moment of my life but it turned out to be the most secure and fearless moment. Because if the project was so big and I could say no there because of the firm conviction I had in my head, then I had a lot of clarity. It was a great role for someone who wanted to do it but not for me.
SD: Today when you make an appearance for a Kolkata Knight Riders’ match and cheer the team in full gear, is it your way of saying to SRK that I might have said no for the film but I am ready to bend backwards for you?
VO: No, it is an honest way of saying thank you for being so wonderful and not allowing a professional decision to come in the way of personal friendship. Tomorrow if I became a senior star and subsequently a producer, I would take a page from SRK’s book. Whatever your decisions might be professionally, he does not treat you personally on the basis of that. If he does not like you, he will not invite you. Let us be honest, at the stature he is at today, someone like me will not even matter.
SD: When it began, did you believe that it was going to be such a huge success?
FK: Of course. When I wrote the script, I knew it well that it had to be a commercial success. Otherwise, it’s a 30 crore movie; it was a big film, its got Shah Rukh and everything. It wasn’t designed to be a niche film. When we read the script and throughout the shooting, I think this is the first time I heard Shah Rukh say, ‘this is a big one’. And Shah Rukh never praises his own movies.
SD: When you realized that ‘Saawariya’ and OSO’ were releasing the same time, was there a feeling of nervousness?
FK: No, I was never nervous. In fact, Shah Rukh and I discussed this; everyone would want their film to be a solo release. It’s not like we have a big ego or something. I wouldn’t want a Bhojpuri film to have joint release. I knew that ‘Saawariya’ and ‘OSO’ were two different kinds of film.
SD: Did you understand Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s grouse in the end?
FK: Yes, I can understand it. It’s human nature. Its defense mechanism in the end. Because after so much success, it made it difficult to handle even the slightest criticism and this one got real slander. It was brutal. See, I’ve seen my dad go through it. I’ve seen failures. I’ve seen Shah Rukh go through ups and downs. When ‘Phir Bhi Dil Hai Hindustani’ released, he was getting kicked, people were saying he’s over. I think, how you handle your failure is a little more important than how you handle your success.
SD: So Farah Khan’s involvement as a director is going to be restricted to Red Chillies after delivering two hits with them?
FK: I’m quite happy with Red Chillies right now. ‘Coz Shah Rukh and I share a great rapport and they’re offering me whatever or perhaps better than what anyone else’s offering. So there’s no reason to work with another production house. It’s a comfort factor. I have worked as a choreographer with so many producers. But this is comfortable, its like my company, contrary to what’s written, I’m the one who’s controlling the budgets and Shah Rukh says, ‘Spend, spend, spend’. He’s like you’re not spending enough. And anyways I’m out of action for a year now.
SD: There was something in the press about a fallout between Shirish and Shah Rukh over his next directorial venture in which he wanted SRK to act.
FK: I can’t answer that because the two of them are handling it. But there was no fall out between them. They are fine. We go for dinners to Shah Rukh’s house and he comes over many a times. There was no fallout so there was no awkwardness between them. And this was all when I was working on the last leg of ‘OSO’. Shah Rukh and I also had like zero problem.
SD: And was Viveik the only other actor you approached?
FK: Yeah. I narrated the script to Viveik because I’d to start shooting. Shah Rukh actually asked me to meet Viveik, it was his suggestion. We basically wanted a hero to play the villain’s part, not some character artist. Then finally we dragged Arjun on new year’s night into the bathroom, people were banging the door on the outside, they were wondering what the three of us were doing inside. And we bullied Arjun saying, ‘Just shut up and do it. Just trust us.’ After that Arjun was alright and eventually played the part. Half an hour, the three of us were inside the bathroom talking. I’m sure people thought some weird casting couch is going on inside.
SD: Earlier it seemed like Yash Raj and Shah Rukh Khan were in a symbiotic relationship. Today, with SRK’s stakes raising high, Yash Raj needs Shah Rukh more than SRK needs Yash Raj.
FK: I don’t think Shah Rukh ever needed anyone. He brings his own USP to the table, for whoever he does a movie. Whether it’s a ‘Don’ or it’s a ‘Chak De’ or something. He is Shah Rukh Khan, so I don’t think he needs them more or vice versa. As long as it’s a good film and sometimes even if it’s not a good film, he kind of swings it with his charisma, and his star power. At least he gets that opening. With ‘OSO’ becoming a success, for Shah Rukh it’s a good thing, because Red Chillies is now one of the top five production houses in the country. ‘OSO’ is one of the highest grossing films of the last ten years.
SD: So tell me about your own production now?
FK: Just that I’m waiting for them to come out yaar (pointing at her baby bump)So one does gonna be choreographer, one film editor and the other director?By twenty years they’ll be tycoons yaar. They’ll do whatever they want. But they’d surely be doing something connected to films. With my husband and I in films, with my brother Saajid in films and Shah Rukh around there’ll be a complete filmi atmosphere, which I think is great. I’ll take them on the sets and leave them there.
Arjun Rampal:
SD: Your character was the villain of ‘Om Shanti Om’ (OSO). Was it a tough decision to make considering that you’ve played hero so far? Or was it simply the mounting of this magnum opus that made you give the nod of approval?
AR: I think it was a tough decision because it is the toughest role I have played. Initially I was a bit skeptical and then I spoke to Farah and Shah Rukh about my fears and Shah Rukh said to me as an actor when one takes on a film it is about the different expressions one can get out of it. Six or seven years ago the films were much more hero centric. I think all actors nowadays are just playing characters and hero is the film itself. Actors are changing their looks for films. Yet this was a very negative character and therein was the challenge.
SD: Were you insecure when you were not promoted in the initial promotions of ‘OSO’? It seemed to be only SRK and Deepika and even Shreyas Talpade had made it to the high ranks but not you.
AR: Sure. What you are saying is right. But if I had a song in the film then that would be promoted. It’s the way we promote our films. As for the teaser, I know for a fact that they wanted to promote me as the surprise package of the film. There was no point for them to open all their cards. Being a superstar and having a huge draw at the box-office Shah Rukh still works so hard to create awareness about his film, so when Shah Rukh has a plan you follow it.
SD: When SRK sports a six pack, does it take the limelight away from Arjun’s Adonis physique?
AR: No, I don’t think so. I think Shah Rukh’s six pack is an achievement. He has not done it over six months like people think. He has been working out for three and a half years on his body and he has been very aware of it. It all started when his son Aryan showed him a six pack and said. ‘dad you don’t have this’, and it has taken him this much time because of his neck injury and knee injury. He is not even a gym going person. Having the addictive personality that he has, he has achieved this and any person who is fit and inspires others is a role model. He has a lean, nice body, not a steroid infested or pumped up unusual one. He looks athletic, it suits him. I know my fitness levels and I don’t get into comparisons unnecessarily. It didn’t require me to remove my shirt so I didn’t. Maybe in the next film we do together we will both come bare bodied.
Viveik Oberoi:
SD: Weren’t you worried about the fallouts of saying no to a biggie like ‘OSO’ especially since the producer and Bollywood power center Shah Rukh Khan is not known to take rejection very kindly?
VO: Both SRK and Farah were so absolutely nice and encouraging through this whole process that even I was taken aback. I know them and did not expect them to be vicious. But I didn’t think they would be so graceful, this just strengthened our relationship. I will always respect and thank them for that. But at that point in time I did not want to do that role because personally that was not the direction I wanted my career to go. They respected that and we are still great friends and we do spend a lot of time and have a lot of fun together and Farah still maintains that I was the first guy who told her that the film would be the biggest hit of the year and of her career. She sent me an sms saying that when the film was released and declared a mega hit.The second thing is that for me to say no to ‘OSO’ should have been the scariest moment of my life but it turned out to be the most secure and fearless moment. Because if the project was so big and I could say no there because of the firm conviction I had in my head, then I had a lot of clarity. It was a great role for someone who wanted to do it but not for me.
SD: Today when you make an appearance for a Kolkata Knight Riders’ match and cheer the team in full gear, is it your way of saying to SRK that I might have said no for the film but I am ready to bend backwards for you?
VO: No, it is an honest way of saying thank you for being so wonderful and not allowing a professional decision to come in the way of personal friendship. Tomorrow if I became a senior star and subsequently a producer, I would take a page from SRK’s book. Whatever your decisions might be professionally, he does not treat you personally on the basis of that. If he does not like you, he will not invite you. Let us be honest, at the stature he is at today, someone like me will not even matter.
Sunday, June 28, 2009
I would like to have a SRK steak, please?
An interview with Farah Khan that's absolutely peppered with references to Shah Rukh:
Monday, June 8, 2009
SRK-Kajol-KJo-Farah team is back again
Full article: Source
The song will herald the comeback of Karan, SRK, Kajol and Farah quartet after Farah's choreography for Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham's Suraj Hua Madham track.
Farah adds that Karan was sweet enough to even adjust his dates for her. "Initially I was to go for eight days to San Francisco but then he reduced it to four. It's always fun to work with Shahrukh, Kajol and Karan. Though I am very excited to be shooting with the gang again I can't stay without my babies for four days. I don't know what I am going to do."
But hasn't Karan always maintained that MNIK is a songless film? "It's a montage song with the song and music playing in the background. Shahrukh and Kajol won't have much movement or steps to do," she explains.
The song will herald the comeback of Karan, SRK, Kajol and Farah quartet after Farah's choreography for Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham's Suraj Hua Madham track.
Farah adds that Karan was sweet enough to even adjust his dates for her. "Initially I was to go for eight days to San Francisco but then he reduced it to four. It's always fun to work with Shahrukh, Kajol and Karan. Though I am very excited to be shooting with the gang again I can't stay without my babies for four days. I don't know what I am going to do."
But hasn't Karan always maintained that MNIK is a songless film? "It's a montage song with the song and music playing in the background. Shahrukh and Kajol won't have much movement or steps to do," she explains.
Sunday, June 7, 2009
What a loaded interview this is...
Note: There's a brief summary of it here.
This is not by Shah Rukh, but since it's an interview on the conclusion of the strike and I'm following the issue.. so, I'm pasting it here. I'm especially curious as to whom was he aiming the sentence I bolded right at the end. I know that Aamir was the one who was so gung-ho about this due to his own tussle with the multiplex owners and he roped in Shah Rukh to help out (coz having Shah Rukh at any event always guarantees maximum eyeballs). Hmm, hmm...
And wow, putting both of them as your front faces at the beginning... then turning around and saying that they're "...not part of the core community during the just-concluded crisis," sounds very grown-up and mature, Mr. Khanna. Keep up the good work~
Aamir, Shah Rukh not in core group:Khanna
“ We arrived at a settlement late on Thursday night”
So is the strike finally over?
Yes, it’s finally over. We arrived at a settlement late on Thursday night. The problem was the way films were distributed in the last 15 years was very different from what it used to be 50 years before that. With more releases, emergence of multiplex theatres and corporate houses planning releases in a more organized and lavish scale, the market had changed dramatically. But no ground rules about marketing and distribution emerged. Sometimes stronger producers would muscle their way and extract something extra from the multiplexes. Or the larger chain would bully the smaller producer into saying, Okay if you want me to release your film in Kolkata you give it to me for Asansol also.’ In a way, a long-due framework of how the downstream business will operate, has finally been worked out.
Everyone went home happy after the meeting on Thursday night?
Yes. Before I got involved with the strike the producers and exhibitors had taken very hard positions. It took a lot of effort to thaw the ice between the two parties. It was a long-drawn process. We started the meeting at 2 pm on Thursday and ended at 2 am on Friday morning.
What are the financial equations between multiplex owners and producers that have been worked out?
We’ve tried to be as fair to both sides as possible. The right to the marketing strategy of a film will now rest with the producer. The producer will decide how and where to release his film. As a counterbalance to this, the showcasing rights as they are called, that is, how many shows for every film, will rest with the exhibitor. The theatre owners will have the right to decide how many shows each film gets. In this way, no one gets exploited.
What about the revenue-sharing?
It would be 50 percent for the first week, 42 ½ for the second week, 37 ½ for the third week and 30 percent for the fourth week. However there’s a provision provided now by which if a threshold of profits is reached by a film in a certain number of screens then that film will be entitled to a bonus of 2 ½ percent for the first two weeks. That means a successful film like Ghajini gets a little more. Similarly, as a counterpoint to this, by another provision, films that perform exceptionally poorly, like for instance our own Reliace release Love Story 2050, the exhibitor gets a 2 ½ percent rebate.
Besides you, who else were the architects of the resolution?
Mukesh Bhatt and Yash Chopra from the producers’ side. From the mutiplex sides we had Ajay Bijli as the main representative.
Was the time chosen for the strike a deliberate attempt to coincide with the IPL matches?
No, I don’t think so. The differences were brewing for a long time. A couple of meetings ended in an impasse. But finally reason prevailed.
Would you say this is one of the worst years for the film industry?
I’d say this is a year of change. And change is always painful. The entertainment industry is going through a metamorphosis.
In-between Reliance Big Pictures had decided to exempt themselves from the strike?
That was only a rumour.
But Vashu Bhagnani said so.
He can say anything. But I was always confident that before this eventuality could be considered, the strike would be resolved. In any case since Big Pictures has its own chain of theatres, I never had an issue releasing my own pictures in my own theatres.
How much are the losses for the film industry because of the strike?
We’re hit very badly. We’ve lost between 200 and 300 crore rupees. But it was finally for the good. Now we’ve to bring in more efficiency for the system to make up for the losses. Last night Aamir Khan called me. We discussed the problems that the film industry has to face. Everyone is now willing to work together.
What about Aamir and Shah Rukh Khan as the glamour faces of the strike?
There was big crisis in the film industry in 1986. And all the stars were involved. Earlier people like Guru Dutt, Raj Kapoor, Dev Anand and Manoj Kumar were actively involved in all industry crises. But Aamir and Shah Rukh were not part of the core community during the just-concluded crisis. I think this industry is growing up. I’m sure that after the strike everyone now realizes that your personal interests have to be separated from the industry’s interests.
This is not by Shah Rukh, but since it's an interview on the conclusion of the strike and I'm following the issue.. so, I'm pasting it here. I'm especially curious as to whom was he aiming the sentence I bolded right at the end. I know that Aamir was the one who was so gung-ho about this due to his own tussle with the multiplex owners and he roped in Shah Rukh to help out (coz having Shah Rukh at any event always guarantees maximum eyeballs). Hmm, hmm...
And wow, putting both of them as your front faces at the beginning... then turning around and saying that they're "...not part of the core community during the just-concluded crisis," sounds very grown-up and mature, Mr. Khanna. Keep up the good work~
Aamir, Shah Rukh not in core group:Khanna
“ We arrived at a settlement late on Thursday night”
So is the strike finally over?
Yes, it’s finally over. We arrived at a settlement late on Thursday night. The problem was the way films were distributed in the last 15 years was very different from what it used to be 50 years before that. With more releases, emergence of multiplex theatres and corporate houses planning releases in a more organized and lavish scale, the market had changed dramatically. But no ground rules about marketing and distribution emerged. Sometimes stronger producers would muscle their way and extract something extra from the multiplexes. Or the larger chain would bully the smaller producer into saying, Okay if you want me to release your film in Kolkata you give it to me for Asansol also.’ In a way, a long-due framework of how the downstream business will operate, has finally been worked out.
Everyone went home happy after the meeting on Thursday night?
Yes. Before I got involved with the strike the producers and exhibitors had taken very hard positions. It took a lot of effort to thaw the ice between the two parties. It was a long-drawn process. We started the meeting at 2 pm on Thursday and ended at 2 am on Friday morning.
What are the financial equations between multiplex owners and producers that have been worked out?
We’ve tried to be as fair to both sides as possible. The right to the marketing strategy of a film will now rest with the producer. The producer will decide how and where to release his film. As a counterbalance to this, the showcasing rights as they are called, that is, how many shows for every film, will rest with the exhibitor. The theatre owners will have the right to decide how many shows each film gets. In this way, no one gets exploited.
What about the revenue-sharing?
It would be 50 percent for the first week, 42 ½ for the second week, 37 ½ for the third week and 30 percent for the fourth week. However there’s a provision provided now by which if a threshold of profits is reached by a film in a certain number of screens then that film will be entitled to a bonus of 2 ½ percent for the first two weeks. That means a successful film like Ghajini gets a little more. Similarly, as a counterpoint to this, by another provision, films that perform exceptionally poorly, like for instance our own Reliace release Love Story 2050, the exhibitor gets a 2 ½ percent rebate.
Besides you, who else were the architects of the resolution?
Mukesh Bhatt and Yash Chopra from the producers’ side. From the mutiplex sides we had Ajay Bijli as the main representative.
Was the time chosen for the strike a deliberate attempt to coincide with the IPL matches?
No, I don’t think so. The differences were brewing for a long time. A couple of meetings ended in an impasse. But finally reason prevailed.
Would you say this is one of the worst years for the film industry?
I’d say this is a year of change. And change is always painful. The entertainment industry is going through a metamorphosis.
In-between Reliance Big Pictures had decided to exempt themselves from the strike?
That was only a rumour.
But Vashu Bhagnani said so.
He can say anything. But I was always confident that before this eventuality could be considered, the strike would be resolved. In any case since Big Pictures has its own chain of theatres, I never had an issue releasing my own pictures in my own theatres.
How much are the losses for the film industry because of the strike?
We’re hit very badly. We’ve lost between 200 and 300 crore rupees. But it was finally for the good. Now we’ve to bring in more efficiency for the system to make up for the losses. Last night Aamir Khan called me. We discussed the problems that the film industry has to face. Everyone is now willing to work together.
What about Aamir and Shah Rukh Khan as the glamour faces of the strike?
There was big crisis in the film industry in 1986. And all the stars were involved. Earlier people like Guru Dutt, Raj Kapoor, Dev Anand and Manoj Kumar were actively involved in all industry crises. But Aamir and Shah Rukh were not part of the core community during the just-concluded crisis. I think this industry is growing up. I’m sure that after the strike everyone now realizes that your personal interests have to be separated from the industry’s interests.
Of cameos and camellias...
As I recall, most of his major injuries were aggravated during the shooting of cameos or item numbers... the back injury, the shoulder injury (remember his fear of losing his arms? The surgery for both injuries could have rendered his left arm useless... which is tantamount to it being cut off, IMO).
The only major one I know he obtained from his own movie was the knee injury from Koyla when he quite hyperly smashed his caps in a dance sequence. Watch the making of to see how it happened. He actually repeated that exact jump during Main Hoon Na in the Chori Chori song (this probably means he's already dabbled as a stunt director during Koyla), but they softened the blow with a pile of matresses.
Well, this article proves what a softie he is when it comes to his friends, or anybody really. Maybe he could become so busy that the solution to the problem (of whether or not he should accept future requests for special appearances) would take care of itself. But then, Shah Rukh can be the busiest man who seems to have all the time in the world... so I doubt he can fulfill that promise he's made to himself to stop doing cameos any time soon.
Source
Shah Rukh Khan has readily made cameo appearances for friends as a goodwill gesture in the past.
However, he had decided to stop doing cameos after he felt that producer Viveck Vaswani tried to take advantage of his goodwill while shooting Dulha Mil Gaya. His decision worried Makrand Deshpande as he had planned a cameo for SRK in his film, Shah Rukh Bola Khoobsurat Hai Tu.
However, Makrand is at peace now as his superstar friend has finished shooting for the film. As a bonus, Shah Rukh also allowed them to shoot in his home and in his car. Shah Rukh had refused to make cameo appearances after Viveck Vaswani's Dulha Mil Gaya, for which he was asked to shoot for about four days. But when he read the script, he realised that it would take at least 18 days to complete his portion. Thereafter, SRK made the decision about not doing cameos, but we guess there are a few exceptions for friends.
Makrand Deshpande confirmed the news, "I'd mentioned my film to him while shooting for Swades and he agreed to do it. After that, I got my script together and roped in producer Amarjeet Singh. In fact, we took the film on the floors on November 2, which is also Shah Rukh's birthday. I messaged to wish him and informed him about the status of the film. This was in 2007. After that, I started coordinating his dates and I was regularly in touch with him and his secretary Karuna. He said that he will shoot with me before leaving for the outdoor schedule of My Name Is Khan. So, a couple of days ago, he just called me over to his house with the unit and asked me what he has to do. I also made a request that I will need his car and he was extremely sweet. He said we could use whatever we wanted. We shot the sequence where he tells a flower girl, ‘Khoobsurat hai tu’ as she had had a bad day. SRK leaves and that's when she realises that it was Shah Rukh Khan and she collapses with joy. After that, her life changes."
Talking about the sequence, Makrand added, "This sequence was an integral part of my film. After the shoot, he met my whole team and Preetika (who plays the flower girl) and we had a long chat."
The only major one I know he obtained from his own movie was the knee injury from Koyla when he quite hyperly smashed his caps in a dance sequence. Watch the making of to see how it happened. He actually repeated that exact jump during Main Hoon Na in the Chori Chori song (this probably means he's already dabbled as a stunt director during Koyla), but they softened the blow with a pile of matresses.
Well, this article proves what a softie he is when it comes to his friends, or anybody really. Maybe he could become so busy that the solution to the problem (of whether or not he should accept future requests for special appearances) would take care of itself. But then, Shah Rukh can be the busiest man who seems to have all the time in the world... so I doubt he can fulfill that promise he's made to himself to stop doing cameos any time soon.
Source
Shah Rukh Khan has readily made cameo appearances for friends as a goodwill gesture in the past.
However, he had decided to stop doing cameos after he felt that producer Viveck Vaswani tried to take advantage of his goodwill while shooting Dulha Mil Gaya. His decision worried Makrand Deshpande as he had planned a cameo for SRK in his film, Shah Rukh Bola Khoobsurat Hai Tu.
However, Makrand is at peace now as his superstar friend has finished shooting for the film. As a bonus, Shah Rukh also allowed them to shoot in his home and in his car. Shah Rukh had refused to make cameo appearances after Viveck Vaswani's Dulha Mil Gaya, for which he was asked to shoot for about four days. But when he read the script, he realised that it would take at least 18 days to complete his portion. Thereafter, SRK made the decision about not doing cameos, but we guess there are a few exceptions for friends.
Makrand Deshpande confirmed the news, "I'd mentioned my film to him while shooting for Swades and he agreed to do it. After that, I got my script together and roped in producer Amarjeet Singh. In fact, we took the film on the floors on November 2, which is also Shah Rukh's birthday. I messaged to wish him and informed him about the status of the film. This was in 2007. After that, I started coordinating his dates and I was regularly in touch with him and his secretary Karuna. He said that he will shoot with me before leaving for the outdoor schedule of My Name Is Khan. So, a couple of days ago, he just called me over to his house with the unit and asked me what he has to do. I also made a request that I will need his car and he was extremely sweet. He said we could use whatever we wanted. We shot the sequence where he tells a flower girl, ‘Khoobsurat hai tu’ as she had had a bad day. SRK leaves and that's when she realises that it was Shah Rukh Khan and she collapses with joy. After that, her life changes."
Talking about the sequence, Makrand added, "This sequence was an integral part of my film. After the shoot, he met my whole team and Preetika (who plays the flower girl) and we had a long chat."
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