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Anil Kapoor turns autistic

admin — Sat, 15 Nov 2008 08:30:53 +0000

Being autistic is almost like the crest of being artistic. Hrithik Roshan did the autistic act with National award winning elan in Koi Mil Gaya. And just as we heard of Shahrukh Khan turning autistic for his role as the isolated Muslim in New York in Karan Johar’s My Name Is Khan, comes the news that Anil Kapoor will be seen playing an autistic character in Subhash Ghai’s Yuvvraaj. Says a source, “Anil plays elder brother to Salman Khan and Zayed Khan. Subhash Ghai had been meaning to incorporate a physically-psychologically challenged character into his script for a long time. It was Anil who told Subhashji the story idea for Yuvvraaj.”Apparently, Raj Kapoor at one time wanted to make a similar film written for him by his long-term collaborator Jainendra Jain.Interestingly, this isn’t the first time that Anil Kapoor is playing an autistic character. In K Vishwanath’s Eeshwar twenty years ago, Anil was cast as a ’slow’ saintly man (this was the closest we came to describing autism in those days) who wins over the village widow.

Anil has self admittedly copied Raj Kapoor in Eeshwar. If sources are to be believed, Anil’s reference point in Yuvvraaj is Tom Hanks in Forrest Gump.Other screen heroes to suffer psychological disorders include Sanjeev Kumar in Anhonee and Khilona, Jeetendra in Jyoti and Amol Palekar in Solva Sawan.

Anil Kapoor signs Sanjay Dutt

admin — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 09:23:08 +0000

After making a critically acclaimed film Gandhi My Father actor turned producer Anil Kapoor has decided to concentrate on box office success too. After GMF his next release will be Shortcut which is directed by Neeraj Vora, and it is still under production. And now Anil Kapoor has signed Anees Bazme to direct his next film which will be by his home production. Anil Kapoor who shares a good rapport with Bazme has already worked with him in No Entry and Welcome . Bazme’s recent release Singh Is Kinng has made excellent business at the box office. Anees Bazme confirmed that he has been signed by Anil Kapoor Productions. According to him the film which is yet to be titled is going to be a multi starrer film. It will star three actors and six actresses in the lead. Anil Kapoor personally went to Phuket where Sanjay Dutt was shooting for his forthcoming film Blue to sign him. Dutt has liked the story and has agreed to do this film.

This untitled film also stars Akshaye Khanna in one of the lead roles. Akshaye played an integral role in Gandhi My Father . He is also part of Shortcut. This untitled film will commence next year.

Amitji eternal and forever: Anil Kapoor

admin — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 09:22:51 +0000

Yesterday’s Hitlist story ‘AB tera kya hoga, Basu?’ has created a stir in B-Town. Director Anurag Basu in a Stardust interview maintained that it was time Amitabh Bachchan retire gracefully. This has led to the big debate whether the Big B should quit or not.Though most film folk maintain that making such a statement is outrageous, there are also whispers that he should. Though no one wants to be named, a director on condition of annoymity says, “Amitabh Bachchan has now become an internet blogger.He only has energy and time left for the blog he has started now. I feel that he should let acting be now.”But for the rest, Big B should never retire. Read on what filmfolk say….
Anil Kapoor
The stench of this arrogant statement is unbearable. The man has stooped to unimaginable low levels to display what, he alone knows. Amitji is Amitji eternal and forever.

Hema Malini
He can never retire. Every film of his is a learning experience for all generations of actors. I want Mr Bachchan around for many years for a selfish reason he’s the only leading man who suits me ha, ha!

Ram Gopal Varma
Anurag Basu has directed two to three films. For him to comment on Mr Bachchan just makes me feel sorry for Mr Basu. He didn’t like him in Aag, I myself didn’t like Mr Bachchan in some films. If he failed in Aag or any other film it’s the director’s failure to use him properly. I can’t understand what prompted this tirade. More than him I am angry with Mr Bachchan for reacting to Mr Basu. Please don’t undermine your status by reacting to small fries like me and Mr Basu. As the old saying goes, when an elephant walks dogs bark!

Balki
Who is Anurag Basu? Just because you rip off DVDs and make films you don’t get the right to decide when he should retire. It’s become a cheap publicity gimmick.

Madhur Bhandarkar
I can’t understand what made Anurag Basu speak like this. It’s a bizarre statement to make. As a responsible filmmaker he should be careful in expressing his opinion.

Anupam Kher
I can’t understand what must’ve got into Anurag Basu to say something so outrageous. I know him as a non-controversial person. Why should he take it on himself to decide a retirement plan for Mr Bachchan? And if Clint Eastwood can go on as Dirty Harry at 80, why can’t Mr Bachchan?

Shekhar Suman
Mr Bachchan is a legend and it’s his life to choose whatever he wishes to. I don’t think any actor retires. In fact, actors die with their boots on. If Anurag thinks that his magic has gone, no one is asking him to work with him.

Sajid Khan
Who is Anurag Basu to say anything? I know we stay in a democratic country but why say anything about the one person who is not only a legend but in a way Indian cinema over all.
— Compiled by Subhash K Jha

Shatrughan Sinha
I have worked with Amitabh Bachchan in Dostana and Kaala Paththar and I was very comfortable with him. Maybe you could ask him how comfortable he felt working with me! We would have our friendly tiffs but Amitabh has got a great sense of humour. I hold Amitabh in high esteem and even if I am not very proud of him, I am certainly fond of him. I humbly appeal to Mr Basu that if he has got tired of watching Amitabh Bachchan on screen then I hope he considers casting me in his films. I assure you Mr Basu that I have not changed at all. I don’t know whether I will be a better substitute to Amitabh or not but as far as acting is concerned, I assure you I will not be any less. Amitabh should only retire when he feels tired but why should he when he has competition at home?

Rakesh Roshan
Anurag was shocked to read the story. His wife woke him up to ask him what had he said and why. Anurag told me he had never said it. He said he was one of Amitabh Bachchan’s biggest fans and was misquoted. Anurag is a shy person and that’s why he couldn’t clarify the situation. He told me nobody would believe him in any case. Anurag says he’s just a newcomer a small man who’s starting out.

Anil Kapoor replacing Big B in films?

admin — Sat, 29 Mar 2008 12:43:47 +0000

Anil Kapoor, who was one of the most bankable stars of the ‘80s, is having a successful second run at the box-office. So much so that he is giving stiff competition to Amitabh Bachchan. There have been several instances in the recent past when producers decided to settle for Kapoor rather than Bachchan. Kapoor says, “I got back to the grind thinking that occasional films will keep me busy. Fortunately, I bagged the right scripts, best directors and everything fell into place. Trust me I have never enjoyed doing films as much as I do today.”The story goes that Aditya Chopra also discouraged Tashan director Vijay Krishna Acharya from signing Bachchan to play a crucial negative character in the film. The role eventually went to Kapoor. Apparently, Bachchan’s portrayal of the modern-day Gabbar in Ram Gopal Varma Ki Aag was one of the reasons why he wasn’t offered the role in Tashan. A source from the production house reveals, “Adi (Aditya Chopra) felt that Anil will portray the sexual streak in the character more effectively than Mr Bachchan. Also, unlike Mr Bachchan, Anil isn’t overexposed.”Similarly, Percept Picture Company was insistent on making Johnny Walker with Kapoor. But director Shoojit Sircar took the same script to UTV Motion Pictures as he was rooting for Bachchan in the lead role. It’s a different story that Kapoor begged out of Percept’s Johnny Walker as Bachchan has already shot for Sircar’s film, which is now titled Shoe-bite.Kapoor explains, “I clearly told Shailendra Singh, Joint Managing Director of Percept Holdings, that there is no point in making a film with the same content. It would have only resulted in negativity and that’s why I stepped down.”Trainspotting director Danny Boyle also cast Kapoor as the Kaun Banega Crorepati host in his film, Slumdog Millionaire, which releases in October.Kapoor’s young looks, ability to convincingly play flamboyant characters, and his conscious decision to stay away from brand endorsements have only worked to the actor’s advantage. “Like Dilip Kumar, Dev Anand and Raj Kapoor, I have never believed in brand endorsements. Although my children think that I’m a fool, I will never endorse any brand. Naturally, I’m not overexposed and it has definitely given me an edge over the rest,” adds a rather frank Kapoor.A trade analyst, on condition of anonymity, says, “Anil Kapoor has suddenly become a very, very interesting option for filmmakers.

The second coming
He is a good and versatile actor and he has been choosing his roles very cleverly. Welcome, Black and White, Race, Tashan and Main Yuvraj is a great and varied line-up. Also, he is playing a prominent role in all these films. Kapoor’s biggest asset is that he still looks young and fresh and he can confidentially carry off roles alongside Saif Ali Khan and Akshay Khanna. His market value has certainly gone up recently.”After having essayed the role of the Kaun Banega Crorepati host in Slumdog Millionaire, Kapoor will be soon seen on television as a chatty host. Without giving out too many details, Kapoor says, “I have been offered two television shows, and I’m looking forward to hosting them.”

Soham Shah’s next stars Anil, Sanju, Imran and Tusshar

admin — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 11:10:00 +0000

Soham Shah has been trying to make his follow-up movie to Kaal for a long time. The one time faithful assistant to Karan Johar left his clan to make movies outside of Dharma Productions. He will soon be ready with his next film. It stars Anil Kapoor, Sanjay Dutt, Tusshar Kapoor and Imran Khan (Aamir Khan’s nephew). An industry source reveals, “After leaving Dharma Productions, Soham was to start a film with Kumar Mangat and then with Sanjay Gupta. But neither film materialised. It was his dream to work with Sanjay Dutt and now three years after Kaal, he will finally start working on his new film. It is being produced by Shree Ashtavinayak Cine Vision (SACV). The script is already complete and the shooting will begin later this year.” Exclusive
Sanjay Dutt is under an exclusive contract with the production company and that’s the reason he is on board this project. Anil and Tusshar have had a script narration and have said okay in principle.“The movie is said to be an adventure film and has a big budget. Three top actresses are going to be finalised for the film,” the source concludes. Soham remained unavailable for a comment, but SACV spokesperson Parag Desai admits, “We have indeed signed Soham for our next. The cast is being finalised. Once that happens, we will make a formal announcement.”

Anil Kapoor come back

admin — Sat, 01 Mar 2008 11:00:22 +0000

The 40-plus Anil Kapoor seems to have rediscovered himself. Parked behind the desk in his freezing office, he’s beaming like an actor who’s just in his prime. This year, he completes 25 years in the movies and anyone who’s had as many highs as lows in over two decades as he has, has earned the right to feel a little giddy about it. On a roll with his scene-stealing act in Welcome, Anil now prepares for his new film Black and White, which releases next Friday. In a no-holds-barred encounter, Anil talks about his big ‘comeback’, beti Sonam and everything else that matters like never before. Black and White looks like an arty film. Is it?
Subhash Ghai cannot make an arty film. But yes, it’s very different from what he has done before but still, it is a Subhash Ghai film it has a story to it. Drama, emotions and songs. It’s a kind of a first for both of us. For the kind of films we have done together in the past. Meri Jung, Karma, Ram Lakhan, Trimurti and finally Taal have all been typical mainstream films.
Let’s talk about your role.
I play a professor who teaches Urdu. It wasn’t a conscious decision to do this film now. But my relationship with Subhash is such that I can never say no to him. He’s the only filmmaker for who I can start shooting even without reading the script. He told me that the whole cast is new. So I asked him, ‘then why do you want me? And he said ‘No one understands me like you and so I want you.’
Maybe for the star value?
(Uncomfortably) I don’t know what was in his mind. So I said, ‘Ok, I will do it.’
The Welcome tapori image works for you, So won’t B&W hamper that?
I always have had totally different kinds of films releasing one after the other but it has never affected my career adversely. Years ago, I had a Ram Lakhan followed by an Eshwar. I remember Subhash Ghai and Shekhar Kapur told me that it was a big blunder. Now two weeks after Black and White, I have Race that is again a hardcore commercial flick.

Anil Kapoor says No to being in Delhi 6 with Sonam

admin — Mon, 14 Jan 2008 09:34:35 +0000

With many children of filmi families entering Bollywood, it would seem logical that they would be in films with their famous parents. However, this is not the case, in fact it is just the opposite; Bollywood parents are being very careful that they not be in films together with their children. Anil Kapoor, is one of those Bollywood stars that is also a parent of a new actress and he has declined offers to be in a film with his daughter Sonam.

Anil said that he has decided that for now he and Sonam will not be seen together on the big screen, “In fact, there have been 8-10 offers, but nothing that would tempt me into sharing space with her right away. Unless something really exceptional comes up, I wouldn’t like to work with my daughter at the moment. In fact, she is opposed to it much more than I am. She feels even more strongly about it. So I’d rather wait.”

Sonam agrees and said, “I’ve shot twice with my father and have done an AIDS feature. He was more worried about me than himself throughout the shoot. So, I don’t think it’s fair to him to have me as a co-star. Right now, I am too raw to remove my father from the character he’d play with me.

“Besides, I wouldn’t want to play all and sundry characters with him. It has to be something special for both of us. But if he produces a film that has a role for both of us, I’d definitely want to do it because he produces only quality-conscious products.”

Anil even turned down a chance to work with Sonam on her new film Delhi 6, “It’s true Rakeysh Mehra offered me a role in Delhi 6, but I declined it.”

Anil is very proud of his beti and her performance in Saawariya, “Sonam has been appreciated unanimously. People like Amitabh Bachchan and Dilip Kumar have praised her. Sonam couldn’t have hoped for a better debut. I’m very proud of my daughter. She has a long way to go. I think her second film is as exciting, if not more.”

Adding, “Who wouldn’t want to work with Rakeysh after Rang De Basanti? Sonam is lucky to be working with him in her second film after (working with) Sanjay Leela Bhansali.”

We will look forward to when the perfect project comes along and we can see these two fine actors share the screen!