Wednesday, 30 July 2014

We are now salespersoans/dc/lipika varma/31.7.2014

We are now salespersons: Kareena Kapoor DC | Lipika Varma | July 31, 2014, 09.07 am IST

We are now salespersons: Kareena Kapoor

DC | Lipika Varma | July 31, 2014, 09.07 am IST
Kareena Kapoor. (photo: Varinder Chawla)
Kareena Kapoor. (photo: Varinder Chawla)
Bollywood: Kareena Kapoor seems rather tired of back-to-back film promotions on the television and in comments that could set off several frowns from either camps, the star has compared her profession to that of routine marketeers and has added that promos on TV reality shows are “useless”.   
 
“I prefer those ‘meet and greet’ events at shopping malls because we get to know our fans and they get to see us, But I do not like to visit reality shows. I feel people love to watch Kapil (In Comedy Nights with Kapil) more than us. My mum loves to watch him too and she watches Jhalak too… keenly, for the performances. The performers on these reality shows are just  great. And she says that we are just a distraction when we are on the sets of these show,” the actress said.
 
She explained further. “I like talking to people. I really like sitting in a group and talking about an upcoming film and answering questions from the media and beyond all this, it doesn’t feel very great. I also believe if people love well-done promos, they will watch the film. For example, so many films have been promoted right, left and centre, but have not received great 
openings at all.”

Sunday, 27 July 2014

When too many twists spoil the tale DC | Lipika Varma | July 26, 2014, 23.07 pm IS

When too many twists spoil the tale

DC | Lipika Varma | July 26, 2014, 23.07 pm IST
Still from the show Beintehaa
Still from the show Beintehaa
Instead of ending the show on a high and starting a new one, our TV heads prefer to introduce re-births, twins, look-alikes or new faces to stretch the show for a few more years. For example, Saraswatichandra, which was introduced as Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s magnum opus (Bhansali sold the show to another production house after a few months) on the small screen, is currently going through a new twist with it being rumoured that Gautam Rode, who plays Saraswatichandra, the hero, will be killed and actor Mishal Raheja will be brought in as the new lead to take the show forward.
In Tumhari Paakhi, lead actor Iqbal Khan who used to play business tycoon Anshuman Rathore, now plays Anshuman’s twin, Aryaman, who pretends to be the business tycoon after Anshuman dies in a car accident.
Similarly in Saath Nibhana Saathiya, Rucha Hasabnis’ character, Rashi, will be killed as the actor wants to quit the show.
The examples are so many that this has now become the norm rather than an anomaly. Guess this is the reason behind why the makers of the hit serial Rangrasiya are considering the option of killing off their female lead Paro, played by Sanaya Irani. Barely did poor Paro start enjoying a happy marriage that she will now be shot. But Sanaya need not worry, as she will be brought back as an NRI who looks just like Paro!
The think tank behind the soap Beintehaa was also toying with the option of killing their hero Zain, so that the show could move forward with a new storyline!
Another reason, insiders say, for killing and re-introducing the same faces in new avatars is because actors don’t like ageing on screen.
Gautam Rode of Saraswatichandra says, “I am not aware of my character being killed in Saraswatichandra. I don’t know of any such changes. I don’t have any plans of quitting the show and neither have I got any intimation from the channel. However, it is up to the creative team as well as the channel authorities to take a call. It is the call of the writers to change the lead or the story to take it to another level.”
Tumhari Paakhi’s Iqbal Khan, meanwhile, has definite views on the subject. “It would have been sheer stupidity if the show would have been shut down after a short run after so much of hard work and money being put in. As actors it is our job to give it our best shot, the rest depends on the writers and the creative team. If at all they want the lead female/male to be killed owing to a better story then why not? We as actors need to be open to any changes as the show is more important than any character. Unless we get good viewership our aim is defeated. After all we make shows to entertain the audiences. To keep them glued the writers choose better stories, this is the need of the hour. I have been killed only once…however I would love my show to complete 100 episodes.
Gautam Hegde, the director of Saath Nibhana Saathiya, adds, “If the story demands that we kill someone then we need to do so. But in the case of Rashi, her character is being killed because she wants to quit and settle down in life. She is a young girl and if she plans to settle down then why not? We can definitely incorporated changes. Also, when there are no other options, the writers and channel guys try to begin another tale.”
Director Arvind Babal, who also conceptualised Saraswatichandra, says, “I would not know why the lead in Saraswatichandra is being killed or replaced. However, this usually happens owing to the need of the story. We cannot show anything irrelevant though. Every storyline needs to be ended intriguingly. Even if new faces are introduced one needs to keep all the strings in check so that we do not go haywire… nothing should be done abruptly.”

I am now a changed man: Emraan Hashmi DC | Lipika Varma | July 27, 2014, 01.07 am IST

I am now a changed man: Emraan Hashmi


DC | Lipika Varma | July 27, 2014, 01.07 am IST
Emraan Hashmi with wife and son
Emraan Hashmi with wife and son
The past few years had been hell for Emraan Hashmi. His son Ayaan was diagnosed with cancer and his world had fallen apart. Thankfully things are looking up now with Ayaan being better and going back to school.
“We had never thought that this could happen to us – my son being diagnosed with cancer. When we heard the news, it felt as if the world would come tumbling down. But we had to behave normally in front of Ayaan,” says Emraan, adding, “We kept telling him stories to keep his mind off the pain. Since he was four, he did not understand the enormity of his illness, so for him, it was nothing major. He is back in school after six months and some of his friends feel that he was away on a holiday. All my friends, family and people in the film fraternity supported us a lot.”
He says that he is a changed man now. “I lost my grand aunt and grandmother the year before last… and then with Ayaan’s illness I guess I have become more than normal. ‘Hope’, I guess has given me the strength. Everyone fears losing people close to them, but when we have hope, we have a feeling that we can pull away from our agonies and turn bad times into good.
“My outlook towards life has changed,” says the actor, adding, “Kids are resilient and do not understand what they are going through. But yes, when Ayaan grows up, knowing what he faced at this tender age will surely make him a stronger human being.”
Talking about whether he would want his son to become an actor, Emraan says, “Times have changed a lot. I remember when I kissed for the first time (on screen), it was a big thing. On hearing about my on screen smooch, my father had merely ‘blushed’. If my son becomes an actor I might have problems with what he does. Generations keep changing… he may go ahead and do something more shocking. I feel when my son watches my films after growing up, I’ll be like a saint to him.”

When too many twists spoil the tale/Asianage/Sunday 29.7.2014/Delhi/Mumbai/lipika varma

Friday, 25 July 2014

I have no love life: Kalki Koechlin DC | Lipika Varma | July 24, 2014, 00.07 am IST

I have no love life: Kalki Koechlin

DC | Lipika Varma | July 24, 2014, 00.07 am IST
Kalki Koechlin
Kalki Koechlin
Kalki Koechlin is resorting to loud, theatrical performances these days. It’s in keeping with the character she plays on stage. “Acting on stage isn’t very difficult. Merely, because the acting is slightly loud.” The actor also talks about her Bollywood journey, B-Town friends and more...
 
About her role As Ophelia
“I am enacting Ophelia, in the satire Hamlet — the Clown Prince, an adaptation of Hamlet, the tragedy. My clown name is Fifi. It’s about a troupe of clowns, who are bored with their routine performance, and one day, decide to perform Hamlet. Playing a white clown, I also have to perform magic tricks. As the concept of the play lies between the lines of emotion and tragedy, while telling the story, by the end of the play Fifi turns mad, on a breathtaking emotional note.”
 
Getting the right emotions
“I simply get into the situation. It is very easy for me to switch on and switch off  various emotions. I come across so many people every day and try to imbibe their thought process and their mannerisms. Some of them could be serious people, while others could be lighter at heart. I am passionate about my profession and thus every minute I am in the learning process.”
 
Theatre vs movies
“We do not have many dialogues in the play. We are just miming our characters. There is no need for us to be loud. Undeniably, our expressions need to be slightly on the louder side. Getting louder could be dangerous; also on stage we need more confidence. On screen, we have to underplay our characters. The minutest of our eyebrow actions too can be presented in a much heavier manner as the camera catches double the magnitude of what we may have enacted. I have been associated with plays ever since my school days. And now acting on stage is just refreshing my memories.”
 
Friends in Bollywood
“Not very famous stars. Friendship for me is about true and strong connections. Nimrit Kaur is my friend here and Atul Kumar, Manav Kaul and Rajat Kapoor, few others from our theatre group. Also, few friends from the musical domain gel with me. Friends need to be friends and not those who pretend to be!! If you’re talking about my love life, I have no love life at the moment.”

Language no barrier
“I am open to performing any character provided the character and the story appeal to me. It is not like I am crazy to join the Bollywood bandwagon. If I have something different to offer in terms of my character, then I will surely do any film. Language is no barrier for a performer.”

Future projects
In Happy Endings, I play an obsessive girlfriend, while in Margarita with a Straw, I will be performing sitting on a wheel-chair. To prepare for this character, I had to go to a school for the physically challenged continuously for six months to get their nuances right. This is a very difficult character for me to perform. I’ve another project, Jiya O Jiya, with Richa Chaddha.