Screening of ''Havai Dada'' cheers up disabled kids

Mumbai, Sep 17 (IANS) A special screening of 'Havai Dada', a film starring Anupam Kher and Tanuja, here Saturday cheered up disabled children from non-profit organisation ADAPT, formerly called the Spastic Society of India. 

The film that has been produced by Karol Bagh Film and Entertainment Pvt. Ltd. and directed by Ajay Karthik, will witness its world premiere on UTV Movies Sep 25. 

'It was a wonderful experience to watch the film with the kids of ADAPT. Their reactions to the film were overwhelming and we had a truly enjoyable time together,' Anupam told reporters here. 

Set in a small village of India, 'Havai Dada' revolves around the loving relationship between a man and his granddaughter. He has never travelled in an aeroplane and it's his granddaughter who tries to fulfil his childhood dream. 

''Havai Dada' is a movie that revolves around a little girl and her struggles to fulfil a dream and we wanted to share this experience with the kids of ADAPT. It's a story that encourages the kids to emerge stronger from their struggles and is sure to motivate them,' said Sameer Ganapathy, business head, UTV Movies.

B'wood reacts on Anna Hazare's arrest

Bollywood has once again in support of Anna Hazare and criticized the government for arresting him.

Bipasha Basu vents her anger on social networking site, she tweets, "Anna Hazare needs to be supported to kill the 'Demon' called 'Corruption' that is eating up our Country

Anupam Kher is sad on Anna's arrest, he tweets, " Anna Hazare, Kiran Bedi and Arvind Kejriwal arrested even before they reach JP park. Saddest day for Indian Democracy."

Shabana Azmi tweets,``We condemn the arrest of Anna Hazare and his team and the ban on the proposed fast. Right to protest peacefully is a democratic right.''

Photographer Atul Kasbekar too tweets, ``You may not agree with Anna ideology or his methods. That's fine. But you cannot take away his right to peaceful protest.''

Farhan Akhtar who always been vocal about his political views tweets,``The Indian citizen has the right to protest peacefully. Anna's arrest is unconstitutional and shows symptoms of an authoritarian mindset.''

The government apparently has arrested Anna Hazare fearing violence. But director Shekhar Kapur says,``There was no threat of violence, there was none last time. People are thronging to Delhi to support agitation against corruption.''

Vishal Dadlani tweets, "They've arrested Anna Hazare. Bad move, Government. BIG mistake! You've made yourselves look dictatorial, and Anna, even more of a martyr! Presenting Anna's draft to parliament is the right course forward, and his arrest is very wrong. Joining the protest at Azad Maidan today."

Javed Akhtar tweets, "I have had certain reservations about Anna's method but his arrest can not be condoned. It is undemocratic ,unacceptable."

Minissha Lamba writes, " Happy I-Day India! Gr8 goin by ARRESTING #AnnaHazare.. Show d world how ready we r 2be a superpower! India NOT Shining "

Star ethics: No actor ever returns any money

Approaches CINTAA as he has no intention of returning the signing amount to 'Gandhi To Hitler' producers, thus starting a debate on 'star ethics'

The dispute between Anupam Kher and the makers of Gandhi To Hitler has now gotten murkier.

To counter the legal course taken by the film's producers to recover the signing amount paid to him after he backed out of the project, the actor has approached the CINTAA (Cinema & Television Artistes' Association) for a resolution, apparently claiming the makers (Anil Kumar Sharma and Anil Singh) are using him for publicity.

Raza Murad, chairperson of the joint dispute settlement committee, CINTAA, comes out openly in favour of Anupam: "In my 25 years with CINTAA, we've never received any complaint against Anupam Kher.

He is one of our most professional actors. Why didn't the makers of this film (Gandhi To Hitler) approach us earlier? Why didn't they complain when Anupam backed out?"

With regard to the issue of the signing amount, Murad says, "There's generally a mutual understanding between the actor and producer on this matter.

In this case, too, maybe there was an understanding that the signing amount would be adjusted for whatever preparation Anupam had undertaken for the role.

How else can you explain why the producers didn't ask him to return the money when he backed out?"

He makes it clear that using artistes' names negatively to promote a film would not be tolerated. "It's a small industry; there are no permanent friends or enemies here.

We don't approve of this kind of character assassination of an artiste just for publicity. We're here to protect our artistes, but if they are in the wrong we won't hesitate pulling them up, " he says.

Question of ethics

Should actors return or keep the signing amount given to them in good faith by filmmakers once they opt of their movies for whatever reason? The industry seems divided on the issue.

Unlike Murad, who seems to be backing Kher's decision not to return the signing amount, some in the industry think such acts by stars is unfair.

Maybe it's time for some strict guidelines on this issue given that it has been coming up time and again, creating rifts within the industry.

'No actor ever returns any money'

Should actors return the signing amount if they walk out of a project? Film makers react

Rakesh Roshan: Yes. But if the actor has blocked dates and the project is dropped a month before schedule as a result of which the actor's dates go to waste, then the producer and actor would have to settle the matter according to the terms of the agreement.

Subhash Ghai: Ethically, yes. If he/she has not spent a reasonable amount of time on the project development, he should not swallow up the money that rightfully belongs to the producer.

Vikram Bhatt: Most definitely. The entertainment industry has followed a simple rule: If an actor or a technician has been hired by a producer for a project which for some reason is called off, then the actor or technician has the excuse of being morally within his right not to return the signing amount.

But if an actor or technician walks out of a project, then he/she must return the money immediately.

Sanjay Gupta: Most certainly! A signing amount is a token payment made in good faith where both parties agree to work together. If it doesn't materialise, then the artiste is liable to return the advance money.

Sheetal Talwar: Yes. The monies are legally under a work-for-pay contract. If the workdays are not utilised, the payment should be returned. And I think most responsible actors do so.

Pritish Nandy: If a project doesn't happen, the actor must most definitely return the signing amount. No question about it.

Madhu Mantena: It's basically a questions of ethics involving two people, the producer and the actor. I wouldn't want to spoil my relations with any actor by asking back for a token amount of money.

But yes, technically if a project doesn't take off the signing amount should be returned.

Vipul Shah: No actor ever returns any money.

Raveena praises Anupam Kher's sense of humour

Raveena Tondon and Anupam Kher will be seen sharing screen space after 13 years in Alert and the actress is all praise for the actor's sense of humour. 

"Loved working with Anupam Kher again after years, still retains amazing ability of keeping everyone in splits with his wicked sense of humour," Raveena wrote on her Twitter page. 

"Still remember Parampara, it was very difficult to keep from laughing out loud even in serious scenes, with Anupam around... Zamana Deewana too," she added. 

Both of them also worked in Ladla and they were last seen in 1998 film Bade Miyan Chote Miyan. 

Anupam wrote on his Twitter page: "Worked with Sanjay Dutt and Raveena Tandon after a long time. It felt good. Their warmth was heart warming."

Debutant directors have passion for work: Anupam Kher

Mumbai, Feb 15 – He’s done more than 400 films but still yearns to act with first-time directors. Anupam Kher says debutant filmmakers keep him alive as an actor and he would love to don the director’s hat again himself.

‘In the last five years I have launched only new directors, whether it was Dibakar Banerjee, Neeraj Pandey or Ayan Mukerjee. I love working with first-time directors,’ Kher told IANS in an interview.

‘Their passion for work is unbelievable. They know their mind. It’s not that they want to make a film because they have nothing else to do. You will see me working with lots of first-time directors. I get to learn a lot of things from them and that keeps me alive as an actor,’ he said.

Kher directed a film nine years ago, but it flopped. He is now once again ready with two scripts and looking for a financier.

‘I would love to direct a film. I am ready with two scripts. I am looking for a financier,’ said Kher, whose 2002 directorial debut ‘Om Jai Jagdish’ failed to impress critics and audiences.

The 55-year-old actor believes this is the best phase of Indian cinema and says he would continue exploring different kinds of cinema for another 25 years.

‘This is the best phase of Indian cinema. Audience is ready to see a film that doesn’t fit into a formula and I’m happy that I am still working and I will be working for another 25 years and I will still be exploring possibilities of different kinds of cinema.’

‘So this phase for a person like me, who is a trained actor from the National School of Drama, who runs an acting school…it’s a very, very exciting period,’ he said.

The Padma Shri awardee entered the world of Hindi films with a powerful performance in ‘Saaransh’ in 1984. Since then he has played the funnyman, villain and serious roles with equal elan in his nearly three-decade-long career.

But after doing diverse characters in more than 400 films, does he still believe that there are fresh roles he would like to essay?

‘If you ask me after 40 years of my career, I will still say there are hundreds of roles that I am still looking forward to do. It’s too early to answer that.’

Kher, who has played a father in umpteen films like ‘Tezaab’(1988), ‘Daddy’ (1989), ‘Dil’ (1990) and ‘Dil Hai Ki Manta Nahin’ (1991), is donning daddy’s role yet again. But he promises a unique father-daughter relationship in debutant director Yogesh Mittal’s ‘Yeh Faasley’.

‘The story of this film is fantastic. I have done lots of film on father-daughter relationships like ‘Daddy’ and ‘Dil Hai Ki Manta Nehi’, but the aspects of the father-daughter relationship that ‘Ye Faasley’ has touched upon, I have never done before…,’ he claimed.

‘I don’t think the relationship between a father and daughter has been exposed like this till now. It’s very intriguing.

‘In over 400 films of my career I may have played father in almost 300 films, but this role is completely different. He is arrogant, ambitious, yet a loving person. The thing that attracted me was the script and the interpretation of the father’s role,’ Kher explained.

Debutant actor Tena Desae plays his daughter in the film releasing March 4. 

IANS

I want to make my absence felt: Anupam Kher

New Delhi, Feb 9 – Having done 400 films in a span of nearly 30 years, veteran actor Anupam Kher is staying away from the big screen. He says it is sometimes important to stay away from the cameras and lights to make one’s presence felt.
 

‘People ask me these days why I am not so prominently visible on screen. But I feel in life, a time comes when you don’t feel like running after work. After doing 400 films, I feel contented. Sometimes it becomes important to make your presence felt with your absence; that is what I am doing now,’ Anupam told IANS in an interview.

The Padma Shri awardee arrived in Bollywood with his powerful performance in ‘Saaransh’. From villain to funny guy to character roles, he has a variety of performances under his belt in his nearly three-decade-long career.

If he scared people as a ruthless villain in ‘Karma’ (1986) and ‘Hum’, he made them emotional with ‘Daddy’ (1989), ‘Maine Gandhi Ko Nahin Mara’ and ‘Khosla Ka Ghosla’ (2007). He even entertained fans by playing lighthearted characters in ‘Lamhe’ (1991), ‘Shola Aur Shabnam’ (1992), ‘Darr’ (1993) and ‘Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge’ (1995).

But nowadays the 55-year-old is not doing too many films. ‘Experience teaches a lot. After a long journey one becomes selective by default. In the urge to try and do different roles, one becomes an expert at sorting between the good and the okay roles.’w

But what keeps him busy?

‘I keep myself busy with a lot of projects – films, family, my acting school and programmes like ‘Lead India’ and now ‘Discover India with Anupam Kher’. It is important to lay the foundation and understand that at this age what is it that you want to do and achieve,’ said the actor.

Right now it’s television that excites him more as it allows him to be himself. After hosting shows like ‘Say Na Something To Anupam Uncle’, ‘Sawaal Dus Crore Ka’ and ‘Lead India’, he will return to the small screen as the host of quiz show ‘Discover India’, which will go on air Sunday on Star Plus.

‘On shows I get to be myself. I get the opportunity to showcase my real self. In movies we play characters and people identify us with them. But on shows on small screen I have the liberty to show the real me,’ he said.

Though he is looking forward to his quiz show on television, the actor rues there is a dearth of educational shows on the small screen.

‘I agree that quiz shows are not there on television now. What we see is only reality shows and the politics participants plot against each other. The market wants more masala now as we have become market driven. These shows have shown a rise in demand but that doesn’t mean one should stop attempting to make educational shows,’ he said.

The versatile actor, who also did crossover films like ‘Bend It Like Beckham’ (2002), ‘Bride and Prejudice’ (2004) and ‘The Mistress of Spices’ (2006), will be see in another such project called ‘Break Away’, which is Bollywood star Akshay Kumar’s first international venture.

‘Based in Canada, ‘Break Away’ is an emotional father-son story. It is based on Ice hockey. The film brings across the cultural differences abroad. If I have to put it directly, it is the ‘Bend It Like Beckham’ of ice-hockey. The film is directed by Robert Lieberman and stars Russell Peters, Gurpreet Ghuggi and Camilla Belle,’ said Anupam, who was last seen in the recently released ‘Yamla Pagla Deewana’.

But that doesn’t mean Anupam is completely averse to Hindi films.

‘One of my upcoming Hindi films is ‘Yeh Faasle’. It will release on March 3; then I am doing ‘Game’, starring Abhishek Bachchan and Boman Irani. I am also doing a film with Disney which is called ‘Zokkomon’ and lastly ‘Hawai Dada’. These are the projects that I am working on currently,’ he said.

(Manpreet Kaur can be contacted at manpreet.k@ians.in)

IANS

Anupam Kher welcomes Raja’s arrest

Kolkata, Feb 2 – Renowned actor Anupam Kher Wednesday welcomed the arrest of former telecom minister A. Raja and said the current attitude of people to accept corruption with a ’smiling face’ is not good for the society. 

‘It’s a good step that finally Raja has been arrested. It is a good beginning, I welcome this step. In our country, there are allegations against many politicians and those cases go on for several years,’ Kher told reporters at the sidelines of a book launch here.

‘But it should not be like he comes out after six months and this step becomes symbolic in order to calm down the anger of the common people,’ Kher said.

Raja was arrested Wednesday for his suspected role in the allocation of airwaves for second generation (2G) phone services, billed as the country’s biggest corruption scandal to date.

‘I am optimist and hope this arrest will bring certain amount of halt to corruption charges against people, individual and government. I am a politically conscious person and never ever in my entire life I have seen or heard of so many scams in the country,’ Kher said.

The Central Bureau of Investigation held Raja, a senior leader of the DMK, a component of United Progressive Alliance government, and two of his aides on primarily two counts — misuse of office in allocation of spectrum, a finite national resource, and amassing wealth much higher than the known and legal sources of their income.

Renowned lyricist and screenwriter Prasoon Joshi denied to comment on Raja’s arrest but felt that care-free attitude towards corruption was dangerous for the society.

‘I do not want to be judgmental about it. But I would like to say one thing that the issue of corruption has become a very easy-going issue among the common people. People crack jokes about it. We do not feel angry about the issue of corruption, we do not feel concerned about it,’ Joshi, who was also present at the function, said. 

‘This is not good for a country which has such a large young population. What will they learn? We should be more firm on the issue of corruption,’ Joshi added. 

IANS