Did Amitabh Bachchan Just Apply to Work With Deepika, Katrina?
Guess who just posted a formal application seeking to work with Deepika Padukone and Katrina Kaif? Well, it’s none other than the living legend Amitabh Bachchan himself. The veteran actor, who is very active on social media - posted a rather hilarious message on Twitter last night.
Amitabh Bachchan, whose staff keeps a record of reports on the industry that appears across the media, had an interesting news report that seems to have caught the actor’s eye. “Deepika, Kat Too Tall for Shahid, Aamir” - read the newspaper clipping, which was a report on how Shahid Kapoor and Aamir Khan had to be made look taller to match their lead heroines Deepika Padukone in Padmaavat and Katrina Kaif in Thugs of Hindostan respectively.
Senior Bachchan had this interesting application for a job with the leading ladies put up immediately:
(Read the complete story on The Quint)
Raj Kumar Gupta Is Back to Raid Bollywood With Ajay Devgn
Filmmaker Raj Kumar Gupta won hearts and mind space with his first two films - Aamir (2008) and No One Killed Jessica (2011), his third outing, Ghanchakkar (2013), received a mixed response. Now Gupta is back with a crackling trailer of his upcoming Ajay Devgn-starrer Raid, here’s the director talking about his new project and mulling over the past.
(Read the complete interview with Raj Kumar Gupta here.)
Ram Gopal Varma Questioned For His Film With Porn Star Mia Malkova
Hyderabad police on Saturday questioned filmmaker Ram Gopal Varma in connection with a case of obscenity booked against him for his movie God, Sex and Truth, and also for allegedly insulting the modesty of a woman.
The filmmaker, whose controversial movie with American porn star Mia Malkova was released on internet last month, was quizzed for nearly three-and-half hours by the officials of the Central Crime Station (CCS).
The police officials questioned him about the allegations made against him by women activists. The officials seized Varma's laptop and served another notice under Section 41 of Criminal Procedure Code, asking him to appear before them once again next week.
The filmmaker told police that he did not direct or produce the movie and it was only the concept which he had given. He claimed that the movie was shot in Poland and the United Kingdom.
With regard to some objectionable pictures in which he is seen with the actress, he told police that the pictures were taken when she was shooting for another movie. CCS Additional DCP Raghuveer told reporters that they collected his passport details. Varma sought time to answer some questions from the investigating officers.
On January 25, a day before the release of the movie, Varma was booked by the CCS. A case under Section 67 of the Information Technology Act, 2000 was booked against him for publishing or transmitting obscene material in electronic form.
The filmmaker was also booked under sections 506 and 509 of the Indian Penal Code for allegedly making personal comments against women activists during the debate on the movie on some television channels. When activists accused him of promoting obscenity, Varma allegedly offered to make similar movies with them. He has been charged with insulting the modesty of a woman.
(Read the complete story on The Quint)
Kamal Calls on Rajini in Chennai, Says It Was a Friendly Meet
Ahead of his political tour, actor Kamal Haasan met superstar Rajinikanth at his Poes Garden residence in Chennai on Sunday, 18 February. The meeting comes amidst fervent speculation by the media over whether the two actor-turned-politicians will tie-up.
Rajinikanth and Kamal's relationship goes back decades, as the duo have acted in several films together in the 1970s. The two actors, towering figures of Tamil cinema, have maintained a good friendship over the years.
“It is a courtesy call and not a political meet. I met him and told him about my decision. I am meeting people I like before I begin my journey. Meeting him is part of our friendship, and not about politics,” Kamal told reporters after his meeting.
The actor said that Rajinikanth wished him well.
Kamal also said, “Only time will tell about us joining hands. The opportunity might come to meet national leaders in the future.”
(Read the complete story on The Quint)
“I Will Do My Own Thing,” Karan Johar On Online Haters In Berlin
Filmmaker Karan Johar is bursting with pride as he is representing Indian cinema at the prestigious Berlin International Film Festival. He feels that to achieve a global impact and for Indian cinema to progress, fellow filmmakers need to go beyond themselves and focus on the industry.
The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting in partnership with Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) is participating at the European Film Market from February 16-18 in Berlin. The Indian delegation, which also consists of filmmakers like Jahnu Barua and Shaji Karun, is being led by Karan.
"I am having a great time. This is a fantastic coming together of people and exploring possibilities of what we can do with Europe. This is like the beginning of a new era in cinema. I am glad that the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting is supporting the cause with CII to make sure that we have this kind of global interaction," Karan told IANS over phone from Berlin.
While he is excited about his presence there, some of the netizens are not. They thought that Padmaavat director Sanjay Leela Bhansali would have been a better fit.
Asked about the haters on social media, the Kuch Kuch Hota Hai director said: “I would be happy if Sanjay Leela Bhansali was here as well or anybody else. I have always quietly done my own thing whether it is speaking at colleges or attending World Economic Forum Annual Meeting in Davos or film festivals in places like Toronto.”
"I will do my own thing, no matter what people say. There will always be haters on social media but I am one of those few filmmakers who has spoken about Indian cinema on a global platform. I never talk about myself there. I talk about what I represent."
In fact, Karan says he would be happy if Indian filmmakers like Rajkumar Hirani or Bhansali travelled to different places and spoke about Indian cinema.
But at a time of digital boom, how important is it to have an Indian presence at international film festivals?
"It is very critical. Many filmmakers travel but we need more of mainstream voices. There is no way that we can achieve that global impact, if we just think about ourselves.
"You have to look at the industry as a holistic force, and not as an individual's work. We tend to do only that. We have to get over ourselves and go beyond ourselves if we need our cinema to progress the way it has to," he said.
Karan shared that he moderated a panel at the ongoing Berlin International Film Festival.
“We discussed that we are open for business and we also spoke about how Indian cinema has come of age... the new age content. Indian filmmakers are pushing the envelope. There are misconceptions around Indian cinema that has time and again been proven wrong in the last decade and beyond... that we are not just a song and dance filmmaking nation.
"Someone asked me 'Are you still running around trees'? I am like these misconceptions are almost annoying now because many films have broken new ground and are continuing to leave an impact in Europe," said the owner of the popular banner Dharma Productions.
(Read the complete story on The Quint)
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