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Prashant Raj Sachdev appears to be nonchalant even as his debut film Ram Gopal Varma Ki Aag is nearing release.

For this first runner-up of Grasim Mr India, Jai’s role (Amitabh Bachchan’s in Sholay was unexpected.
He was gearing up to leave for Los Angeles when the role fell into his lap. Aag, as he puts it, was a stroke of luck while he was busy making other plans.
Now after bagging one of the most coveted roles of the cult film Sholay, Prashant is thrilled to bits.
Swati R Chaudhary profiles the latest model-turned-actor. Excerpts:
Give us a brief overview of your background.
Though I was born in Mumbai, I’ve lived in Delhi for many years. I graduated in English honours and did a course in marketing. Ever since I was a kid, I was very passionate about modelling and wanted to give it a shot. I was very keen on trying out some of the lucrative modeling pageants so I participated in various inter-college festivals and did a lot of shows in college.
I was the first runner-up for Grasim Mr India and won the title of Mr Model of the Universe in Quito, Ecuador. I was the first Indian to win that pageant.Then I decided to come back home. I have also participated in the reality show — The amazing Race Asia (AXN) with my friend Sahil Shroff.
So acting was a natural progression?
Not really! Ram Gopal Varma Ki Aag just happened to me. I attribute it to luck and destiny. I had left my portfolio at Mr Varma’s (director, Ram Gopal Varma) office and as soon as I left, about an hour later, I got a frantic call asking me to come back, and the next thing I know is I’m sitting face to face with Mr Varma.
I was all set to leave for Los Angeles to pursue a career in events and international modelling. I had got my US business visa and was supposed to fly in a few months time when this happened. I was least expecting that call and the sudden series of events has just changed my life. Believe me I had no idea why I was called!
And Jai’s role must have been a bigger shocker?
I was blown over when I was offered Jai’s role.
Mr Varma asked me for an impromptu audition but I wasn’t nervous at all. He asked me for my views on acting, what I thought of this profession etc and the next minute I was offered this role. Obviously I was over the moon. Before I knew it, I was all over the newspapers and life just changed.
He gave me a ’scene paper’. He said he wanted me ‘in character’ the next time we met. So I came home, pulled out my father’s old shirt, bell bottoms and just immersed myself into Raj’s (Jai) character.
It’s an overwhelming feeling. I strongly believe in destiny. I think we all make plans for ourselves but there is someone up there who has a different agenda for us. I was least expecting Aag to happen.
Immortalising Amitabh Bachchan’s role must have been intimidating, more so because you are a newcomer?
I was told from day one that Aag is a modern day Sholay. I was very sure of the inevitable comparisons to Mr Bachchan and the original film of course, but at no time did I try to mimic Mr Bachchan. We all have consciously tried to bring in a new flavour to this film.
I admire Mr Varma’s decision of doing the impossible, of doing the unthinkable. It takes a lot to remake a cult film, something that was made 32 years ago, that too for a new generation.
I personally feel it’s wrong to compare the two films because at no point is Mr Varma trying to make a better film. He is just presenting a modern day version to the audience.
It’s quite a futile effort to compare the two because even if they have the similar sequence of events, the entire plot is different. Moreover if people hold the previous one too close to their hearts they won’t enjoy this one.
Sushmita Sen’s presence must have been daunting as well?
I was intimidated by Sushmita Sen until I met her. Sushmita Sen today is a brand by itself. She is a larger than life personality. I was supposed to shoot an important scene with her that kept getting delayed. It was like a countdown and the pressure was building up. I was a bit nervous when I met her for the first time but she has an innate quality where she just put me at ease in a second. She introduced herself and gave me a huge hug. We hit it off like old friends.
How was it hobnobbing with Ajay Devgan?
Most of my scenes involved Ajay Devgan. The chemistry that we share on screen is pretty much the same off screen. He took me under his wing. I will always cherish the time we spent together and his invaluable advices. Not once did he make me feel like I didn’t belonged. He was very encouraging and supportive to say the least.
How many times have you seen Ramesh Sippy’s Sholay?
I saw Sholay in totality when I signed Ram Gopal Varma Ki Aag. As a kid I only remember Gabbar Singh and watching the film with my friends in bits and pieces but I never got a chance to see the film at one go.
After watching the film I realized why it was such a huge hit. Even today all the characters are firmly ensconced in audiences’ minds, whether it’s Gabbar Singh, Thakur or mausiji. Each character was larger than life. Sholay has definitely redefined Indian cinema. I realized it was so impactful because it had every ingredient that catered to all sensibilities. It provided wholesome entertainment.
Can you recall your toughest scene with Mr Bachchan?
Each scene had its own level of difficulty but at no point did I feel like I was acting with Mr Amitabh Bachchan. He looks into your eyes and speaks to you. The very first question I remember asking him was how he felt about a complete novice like me essaying the role immortalised by him years ago. He reassured me saying I shouldn’t worry about anything and that I should just go up there and do my best. So that boosted my confidence and everything else took a backseat.
Babban Singh is probably the greatest villain of all times and I can’t see anyone other than Mr Bachchan pulling it off.
Any kind words for Ram Gopal Varma?
I consider myself blessed to work with a director who I was so fond of, way before Aag happened. I like the way he portrays his characters in all his films like Satya , Bhoot, Sarkar etc. They are so real and hard-hitting.
Mr Varma is an intense person and a hard taskmaster, understandably, because a film of this stature required him to be like that. He is an excellent mentor. I am grateful to him for giving me this once-in-a- lifetime-opportuni haven’t done too well for themselves?
Maybe their sensibilities somewhere kind of collided with Mr Varma’s. But I respect him and share an excellent rapport with him. I hope to maintain it. Besides, I don’t lose sleep mulling over the future. This is the biggest moment of mty and I am proud to be a part of Aag.
Most of RGV’s blue eyed boys (Mohit Ahlawat, Randeep Hooda, Manoj Bajpai y life and I want to live it to the fullest. I believe in taking life as it comes.
Mohit Alhawat was the original choice for Jai’s role…
I got to know about it after I signed Aag. I had no clue about the fact that he was supposed to do the film. I just feel that if it wasn’t me, it would’ve been someone else. So there is no guilt feeling attached to it.
What else is happening on the professional front?
There is Ramesh Katkar’s Toss starring Aarti Chabbria, Rajpal Yadav and Ashmit Patel .Then I may be doing one more film with Mr Varma that I am really excited about.
I am getting a lot of offers from different people and banners so I don’t want to be choosy at this stage. I want to experience varied characters and am open to meeting more directors for the same. I don’t want to be slotted in a particular image so I am not fixing a genre for myself.
Are you feeling the newbie jitters?
I am bound to feel jittery but it’s also a lot of excitement coupled with nervousness and pressure. But I am prepared for it so I am going to just be. There is no point stressing out because what will happen will happen. So I might as well enjoy it.

We quiz Hrithik Roshan’s sister, Sunaina on how well she knows her lil’ brother. She gets 4 out of 7 questions right

SANDIPAN DALAL
Like every year, the Roshan family is celebrating Raksha Bandhan at home, followed by a lunch at a swish suburban restaurant. Hrithik is known to shower gifts on sister Sunaina. Ask her and she says, “Last year he had gifted
me a watch. I’m not expecting anything this year. He can surprise me with whatever he wants to.”
What’s Hrithik’s height? Sunaina: 5 ft 10′
Mumbai Mirror: 6 ft
(Sunaina certainly looks down on Hrithik!)
What’s his favourite cuisine? Sunaina: Italian
MM: Indian and Chinese
(Obviously, there’s food for thought here)
His poison Sunaina: A glass of beer
MM: Beer
(Cheers!)
Who was Hrithik’s first crush? Sunaina: Sussanne
MM: Wife Sussanne Roshan
(Good going, Sunaina!)
One controversy Hrithik got mired in… Sunaina: The Nepal issue
MM: He was accused of making disparaging remarks against the people of Nepal. There was unrest and protests in Nepal that lead to the death of four people.
(Evidently, this is the family sore point)
Name the actor who had asked Hrithik to take up acting seriously. Sunaina: I don’t think anyone told him. He always aspired to be an actor ever since his childhood days. Maybe, dad had asked him to pursue acting.
MM: Salman Khan had asked Hrithik to pursue acting on the sets of Karan Arjun. (Sunaina obviously doesn’t talk business with little bro)
Name one film in which Hrithik starred as a child artiste. Sunaina: Bhagwan Dada (1980)
MM: Aasha (1980), Aapke Deewane (1980) and Bhagwan Dada (1986) (Sunaina’s reel-ing with information on bhaiyya)

SUNAINA’S SCORE: 4/7
Source- Times of India

Just yesterday we were talking about Sajid Khan’s latest offing and how badly it sucked. Raja Sen wrote it off by calling it ‘annoying’. Now, Taran Adarsh comes around saying it’s a great entertainer and would rock the box office big time. Who do we stick with now? Are you gonna watch it?

Here is the review by Taran giving it a four star.

Link

Don’t forget to vote on our poll.

Here is Raja’s review

Sajid Khan was a groundbreaking anchor.

His television show Ikke Pe Ikka waxed sarcastic about Bollywood’s blues, ripping films apart ruthlessly as Sajid, a mimic as funny as any, lapsed into inspired absurdity as toupee-twirling jokester Kishan Jhuthani, who called jokes ‘chatoklas.’

Viewers of the show would also remember Sajid looking back at overacted scenes, setting up meters to gauge the level of hamming in a particular performance, the exact number of times a wounded Manoj Kumar said ‘nahiiin’ with heightened melodrama.

Today, Sajid’s first film is out. And as can be expected, he reins in his actors well, Akshay Kumar and the gang not overdoing their lines or killing the farce. Great. Unfortunately, Sajid, too busy keeping an eye on his actors, falls into the trap himself:

The director hams.

And so it is that we’re taken through a contrived, pained plot about three bachelors and an infant. The question is obvious: Is this a remake of Three Men And A Baby?

Nope, but — and this is indeed a rare statement — I wish it were.

A still from Heyy BabyyI sincerely wish Khan had shamelessly lifted the story and scenes from the 1987 film, replacing Ted Danson with Akshay. Even the casting works. And for all the talk of plagiarism, we’d have had some decent, albeit 20-year-old, laughs.

Unfortunately, the director opts here for originality, and forces us to sit through an unending film (there are at least five distinct full-length plots thrown into the mix) with nothing but poor slapstick, marred further by major doses of melodrama. Ouch.

Which is why we have scenes of three men doing their best Tony Montana impressions with baby powder instead of cocaine, and just a few shots away we have Fardeen Khan driven to a desperate namaaz at a hospital — right next to a Christmas tree, mind you. Holy schmaltzy Kuch Kuch Hota Hai’s ghost.

The actors do okay, but are trapped by the script and Khan’s surprisingly, disappointingly, heavy-handed handling of emotion. Akshay Kumar inevitably manages to salvage some laughs, channelling his Garam Masala and Jaan-E-Mann characters. Fardeen’s not too bad, clearly at ease playing the brat in male-bonding comedies. Riteish Deshmukh is reliably credible, but it’s the kind of role he needs to stear clear of now. Vidya Balan looks pretty, but all she does in the film is get lied to — perhaps an indication of how she signed on after reading this script.

A still from Heyy BabyySure there are a few laughs. Khan comes up with a great idea to introduce the Shah Rukh Khan cameo, something all audiences will lap up. Akshay creates some fantastic moments, as does the impeccable Boman Irani. But the problem is that Sajid doesn’t seem to know when to end the joke, stretching the tired slapstick to unbearable proportions.

Sajid, dude, make a Borat-style film with Kishan Jhuthani. Or try horror shorts like in Darna Zaroori Hai . This moronic film is less than you’re capable of. Far less.

Source : Rediff

Bollywood actor Salman Khan will go to jail, as a court in Jodhpur rejected his appeal against his conviction in the Chinkara poaching case.

Salman had appealed against a five-year jail term given to him by a lower court last year for poaching a Chinkara, an endangered species under the Wildlife Act near Jodhpur, in 1998.

The actor was not present in court on Friday. Instead his sister Alvira Khan appeared on his behalf and petitioned the court to defer the hearing.

However, the court rejected both the plea for deferring the hearing as well as Salman’s original appeal against his conviction, with the courts closed over the weekend.

The actor will now have to surrender on Monday. However, the Bollywood star can appeal against conviction in a higher court in Rajasthan.

Salman’s joint family has stood behind him through his legal battles. On Thursday, his sister was at the Ajmer Sharif asking for divine intervention for her brother.

There was support from his stepmother Helen, who said families had to stick together at such moments.

But the big question is, where is he?

On Thursday, he was shooting in Hyderabad for Pokhiri, a remake of a Tamil hit but on Friday he has not been seen.

If Salman has to appeal against Friday’s order in the Rajasthan High Court, he has to surrender first.

If he surrenders on Friday, he can move a bail application immediately, but he will have to spend Saturday and Sunday in jail as they are holidays.

Salman’s lawyers have said they will file an appeal in the HC on Monday asking the court to give him three or four days to surrender.

So on Monday, they will file an appeal asking that he be given time to surrender, then after four, five days, will file an appeal against the conviction. This is to enable him to stay out of jail for as long as possible.

But there are holidays coming up on August 28 and 31, which means there could be more delays.

On Friday morning, Salman’s lawyers probably foresaw such a verdict. His sister Alvira and his lawyers therefore tried to seek a deferment but failed.

If Salman doesn’t surrender within a reasonable time period then non-bailable warrants will be put out against him.

Khan was convicted on April 10 last year for poaching of two blackbucks at Ujiyala Bhakhar near Ghoda Farm on September 28, 1998 during the shooting of Sooraj Barjatiya’s film Hum Saath Saath Hain.

Salman Khan’s lawyer has confirmed that he is in Mumbai and that there is no warrant for his arrest yet.

Meanwhile, fellow actor Aditya Pancholi also said that the actor is in his Bandra home.

He was sentenced to five years of rigorous imprisonment and slapped with a fine of Rs 25,000.

After his conviction by a lower court last year, Salman had to stay in the Jodhpur jail for four days.

Other cases

In another poaching case in Bhawad in Rajasthan, Salman has been sentenced to a one-year prison term. He has filed an appeal against that decision too.

Salman is also accused the hit-and-run case of September 2002. He allegedly rammed his vehicle into a bakery on September 28, 2002 at Pali Hill road, Bandra killing one person and injuring four others.

The trial is on at the Metropolitan Magistrate’s Court in Mumbai.

Salman’s co-actor in Partner, Govinda, told NDTV that Salman was being targetted and that his conviction was not a good sign for the country.

”Nothing fails like success. Controversies are often created around young stars,” he said. ”I am praying for Salman,” he added.

Meanwhile, Mahipal Vishnoi, who led the campaign against Salman Khan, expressed joy at the verdict.

There was also jubilation in the Bishnoi community in Rajasthan for whom the Chinkara is sacred. (With PTI inputs)

Source : NDTV

PARAG MANIAR
also marks Mukta Arts’s foray into regional language film distribution for the first time. Shreyas Talpade said it was director Subhash Ghai who encouraged him to turn a producer and the opportunity had come knocking through this film. “I was waiting for the right script to come my way and when I read the script of Kaande Pohe, I said to myself, “This is it!” And with Subhash Ghai’s support, I decided to produce this film,” he says.
Shreyas said that he should not have a tough time balancing his act as an actor and a producer. He says, “I know that the job of a producer involves immense responsibility but thankfully, I have a very efficient team in Rajiv Patil, the director and scriptwriter, Sanjay Pawar, the screenplay writer, Avdhut Gupte, the music director and of course, my cast members who have been my friends for a long time now.”
He adds, “Kaande Pohe will provide wholesome entertainment. And unlike usual Marathi films that release only in very few theatres, this film will release not only in single screen theatres but also multiplexes so that it reaches a wider spectrum of audience.”

Courtesy:timesofindia.com

BHARATI DUBEY
Even before Drona nears completion; a series on the film is already in the pipeline. Abhishek Bachchan has been in discussion with the producers and director of the film on how the first part of the series will end, giving enough scope for the director to plan a sequel. According to an industry source, “Abhishek Bachchan is involved with the film not only as an actor but he is also giving creative inputs on the story of the film. He has already made plans on making a series on Drona, just like Krrish.”
Abhishek Bachchan will be devoting the next three months (September to November) shooting for the film. Said the source, “He has put everything else on hold and will only be concentrating on Drona. The shooting of Drona was stalled due to untimely rains in Rajasthan and the Gujjar riots which resulted in cancellation of trains through the state. Besides, Abhishek Bachchan took a break from the shootings a few weeks before and after his marriage. They might have to reshoot some portions of the film.”
Drona is a very special film for the Bachchans. Amitabh Bachchan too has been taking keen interest on the making of the film. “They have seen the portion that has been shot, which was not very impressive. They want the best creative people to be involved in the film’s special effects. They want it to look even bigger and better than Krrish and Dhoom 2,” our source said.
Hollywood’s best special effects man, Charles Darby, has been called on board to help Drona look even better than Krrish and Dhoom 2 . Informs a company source, “Eros International has signed Charles Darby, the man who has done the special effects of all top Hollywood films including the Harry Potter series.
Darby has an expertise of also being the production controller on several Hollywood films, so they have the best with them now.” Charles Darby, known for his matte painting in digital format, has provided special effects for Titanic, Fifth Element, Minority Report and Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon.
Drona will not only be competing with Dhoom 2 and Krrish in terms of special effects, but also is likely to beat them with a budget of not less than Rs 55 crore.

Courtesy:timesofindia.com