Tanu-Manu sequel also set in UP

The hugely successful " Tanu Weds Manu", starring Kangna Ranaut and R Madhavan is all set to return to UP - Kanpur in the story, Lucknow, on location - for its sequel. 

According to the film director, Aanand L Rai, there were initially no plans of a sequel to the movie. "But while working on another project, I hit upon an interesting story idea - one that required the same characters and the same space if it had to be told. And so, it made sense to come up with a sequel," he says. About shooting in the same locations in UP as he had the last time, he adds, "The story, the people, the atmosphere is bringing us back." 

The writer of "TWM", Lucknowite Himanshu Sharma is also working on the sequel. "Aanand and I had been contemplating a sequel to "TWM" and only three days back we decided to go ahead with it," he says, adding, "So now we are working out the final script."

Telling us a bit more about "TWM 2", Himanshu says, "This time the story will be more crazy than the previous one. We're going all out for a mad rom-com. The audience will love it."

The makers are keen on roping in Kangna and Madhavan for the sequel as well. While things are still in the nascent stage, Rai says that that's the plan. "Since we have just hit upon the idea we are trying to work things out," adds Himanshu.

‘Tanu Weds Manu’ gave me new image: Deepak Dhobriyal

Mumbai, March 6 – He played ‘pappi’ in the film ‘Tanu Weds Manu’ and walked with accolades for his flawless comic timing. Actor Deepak Dhobriyal is now happy with his new image which is a far cry from his earlier serious roles.

‘The films I did so far like ‘Gulaal’, ‘Delhi 6′ and ‘Omkara’ cast a different image of me in the audience’s mind. People started taking me as a very serious person. That’s because they are not aware how fun-loving a person I am. I am happy that I could entertain people,’ Deepak told IANS.

Actor Madhavan and Kangana Ranaut played the lead roles in this romantic comedy.

‘This is my first film where after listening to the narration of my character from Himanshu (writer Himanshu Sharma) and Anand (director Anand Rai), I didn’t have to take a look at the script because their words got saved in my mind,’ said Deepak.

For him each script is a different world altogether.

‘Every film is a different world created by the writer and the director. I just try to be a part of it and the role takes its own flight. I only concentrate on what my lines are and what the character wants to portray. I don’t see whether the role is comedy or a serious one,’ said Deepak.

After ‘Tanu Weds Manu’ he is doing comic roles in ‘Mumbai Cutting’ and ‘Teen They Bhai’.

‘But given a choice I would always prefer doing a serious role,’ he said.

‘In a serious film, audience respects the content. There is always a thought; there is a socio-political subject. So, while doing a serious film, you shed your personal complexities and deal with something bigger than that,’ said Deepak.

‘Mumbai Cutting’ comprises 11 short films by 11 directors on the city.

‘I am doing Kundan’s (director Kundan Shah) film in ‘Mumbai Cutting’. It’s a silent film. It’s about an aspiring actor who has just arrived in Mumbai and his encounter with local trains. He comes to be the king of the film industry but misses eight trains; he is unable to board any of them. It’s a very funny film,’ said Deepak.

Giving a sneak preview of his other project, Deepak says, ‘In ‘Teen Thay Bhai’ I play the younger brother of Om Puri and Shreyash Talpade. The three brothers don’t see eye to eye. 

Then they have to spend two days together in a single room. It’s full comedy.’

Deepak believes small-budget serious films fail due to lack of proper publicity.

‘There is so much of stress in society that people prefer to see comedy. Serious films require strong content and right publicity. I have observed that there is always some lacuna in publicity of a serious film except a few like ‘Rang De Basanti’ or ‘3 idiots’ even ‘Laagan’,’ said Deepak.

Tanu Weds Manu get a respectable start at Box Office

After getting rave reviews the film Tanu Weds Manu had a satisfactory opening in North India on Friday morning. Though Friday was a working day, Tanu Weds Manu saw 40% to 50% of audience during the morning and the afternoon at several screens.

The response else where apart from North ranged to below average (20 % to 25%). It was predicted earlier that very much like family based films like Hum Saath Saath Hai, Hum Aapke Hain Kaun, the film will also not have a thunderous start.

With the fantastic promotions for Tanu Weds Manu the film has the potential to grow with passing days. Both audiences feed backs and critics reviews are positive and will help the film to do a bigger and better business.

Madhavan's UP, Bihar steps at Jhalak Dikhala Jaa 4

Jhalak Dikhla Jaa 4 recent episode turned out to be a desi one, in the presence of the Tanu Weds Manu star Madhavan. Television actress Mahi Vij who is also a contestant on Jhalak Dikhla Jaa did not miss the chance of dancing with the very handsome R Madhavan.

Madhavan was present on the show to promote his recent film Tanu Weds Manu, which also stars Kangana Ranaut opposite him. Mahi does not miss chances of dancing with her favourite stars. Earlier it was Akshay Kumar who was dragged onto the floor by Mahi and now it was the very shy Madhavan who rocked the dance floor with Mahi Vij.

Both of them danced on a full-on desi number, 'Main Aayi Hoon UP Bihar Loot Ne.' The song however totally suits the theme of the film which is totally desi and is set on the North India.

Don't forget to catch Madhavan on Jhalak Dikhla Jaa 4 this week.

'Tanu Weds Manu' is an honest film: Anand

Director Anand L. Rai says that his " Tanu Weds Manu" is an honest film and portrays the world from the place he belongs - New Delhi.

"It's an honest film. You will feel you are one of them -- part of that love story and part of that humour. What I am very positive about the film is its honesty - and it will stay on," Rai told us.

"It's definitely from the world from where I come, the place where I belong, the roots where I started growing. Being a Delhiite I know the north Indian culture very well. When you are telling a story it should be portrayed in a right way, then it reaches everywhere. It's a fiction but it still remains a slice of life for me," he added.

The film released Friday.

The director didn't have any intention to build up a new on-screen pair but he was sure his lead cast Kangana and Madhavan would fit best for the characters Tanu and Manu.

"It was from the word go. I had to slog for it. It's a love story. It's a very Indian romantic comedy that I had to make and I have to see to it that I should make it the way, it gets delivered in the right way. First thing for that was a fearless right casting.

"I was very sure that the Manu character should be played by Madhavan and for Tanu, I was looking for someone who was hungry for this kind of character and has the potential to perform. Kangana had all the guts (to) take on all the challenges. She just broke her image, moved into this world and did it," said Rai.

He didn't write the script keeping them in mind though, said Rai.

"I was very honest to my characters. I was getting it right there, then I started thinking for it," said Rai.

Rai made his directorial debut with "Strangers" and then he made "Thodi Life Thoda Magic" (2008), which were duds and the director regrets that though his first film was appreciated by reviewers, it bombed because he didn't bother to connect his film with the audience.

"When I made 'Strangers' I got nice feedback for myself in terms of reviews but I was very selfish while making the film. I realized that I missed on to the major thing -- the connection with the audience, which was not there. When I made 'Tanu Weds Manu' it was just the audience I thought about," said Rai.

Rai hinted that his next movie would also be a love story.

"After 'Tanu Weds Manu' there is still a bigger chunk of this emotion lying in me. I would get rid of it in the coming one and then move on.

"I will spend little more time with 'Tanu Weds Manu'. I know the script of my next film, I know the region where it belongs, but I am in no rush," said Rai.

Tanu, Manu is about today's youth

The makers of " Tanu Weds Manu" certainly have a lot of courage to release their film at the time of the cricket World Cup.

It is the content that is giving them courage to release their film this Friday. The film that has timed its release this shaadi and Valentine's season, have characters Tanu and Manu that are realistic representations of today's youth, who even though influenced by the western world are Indian at heart. Set in North India the film is shot on location in cities like Kanpur, Kapurthala and Delhi and has a realistic, innocent feel about it.

The earthy touch to the romance brings alive the concept of 'ishqbazzi'. Mischievous yet sweet, the crackling chemistry between the lead pair of Kangna and Madhavan hits you like a breath of fresh air. The very identifiable characters of their friends like Pappi (Deepak Dobriyal) and Jassi (Ejaz Khan) make the film even more endearing. "Tanu Weds Manu" has created a lot of buzz among the audiences.

What’s Madhavan’s idea of perfect romance?

For actor R. Madhavan, the idea of a perfect romance is getting locked inside a room with wife Sarita with lots of DVDs and food.

The actor, who is busy promoting his upcoming romantic comedy ‘Tanu Weds Manu’, is planning to jet off with Sarita to a cold place for four days and stay locked up in a comfortable room and watch movies without being disturbed by the outside world.

Madhavan, who married Sarita in 1999, admits that he cannot advise married couples as he is still learning the ropes himself.

‘Hand over your money to your wife as she can definitely look after it better than you. When you have an argument, don’t try to prove a point just because you are the man of the house. Look at the final outcome, and you’ll see that women always manage to wrestle a victory,’ he said.

I am very fond of Kangana: Madhavan

Mumbai, Feb 20 – Actor R. Madhavan really enjoyed working with National Award winning actress Kangana Ranaut in ‘Tanu Weds Manu’, so much so that the multi-lingual star admits he has become fond of her and would like to do more films with the pretty actress.

‘I am very fond of Kangana and attracted to her. I feel she is an extremely competent actor, very professional and she has actively contributed to the role for the first time,’ Madhavan told IANS.

‘As an actor, I have never worked with a heroine who does that. They (other heroines) are happy doing what the script demands from them but Kangana is the one who was pushing the envelope. I hope I can do another film with Kangana, I really enjoyed working with her,’ he said.

Madhavan rubbished a media report that said he was angry with Kangana as she was hogging the limelight in the film’s promotion.

‘Unfortunately, it’s wrong news,’ he said. ‘Kangana is shooting in Bangkok, so she did her character’s (Tanu) promotion earlier,’ he said.

‘There is absolutely no reason to be upset with her and I am really missing her.’

Directed by Anand Rai, ‘Tanu Weds Manu’ is set to hit theatres Feb 25. It is a romantic comedy, which shows how two seemingly opposite natured people fall in love.

‘I don’t know why this romantic tag stuck with me for so long.

They (directors) want it, so I give them that. I am not going to fight it. This is a different kind of romantic story. It’s not a cliche ‘hold my hand and get into a fight’ later on kind of story. 

It’s very real and I don’t remember if I have seen such a romantic film ever,’ said Madhavan, who plays the role of Manu in the film.

About the film, Madhavan said: ‘Manu is brought up in a small town in a middle class family, very happy with whatever his parents have in mind for him, no rebellious quality unnecessarily. He goes to London, spends eight to nine years and comes back with his tradition intact, like most Indian guys, who go from a small town, do.

‘What happens is you forget that in the span of time of your staying abroad, your town has changed-McDonalds, MTV, all have come in and people are having flings for the sake of it and suddenly there is a complete mismatch in the opposite direction.

‘You are an Indian, she is westernized, you are a conformist, she is rebellious and there is a mismatch. But love has its own course.’

The character is semantic to most of the foreign-returned small town guys, said Madhavan. ‘It rarely happens that one who goes abroad, returns with a foreigner wife or girlfriend, smoking and speaking with an accent. Ninety percent

come back being more Indian than they were.’

The reigning star of the south is eager to offer varied shades of characters to his Hindi audience.

‘In the south, I have done some really dynamic characters, really brutal and masculine ones. Unfortunately, the Hindi guys haven’t seen that angry guy in me as yet. So if a script like that comes along, I would really love to do (the role of) an angry young man now,’ said Madhavan.

‘I think I am competent in comedy. Even ‘Tanu Weds Manu’ is comical but it has no comedy, it’s humorous. But I would love to do a comedy film. I just did a hard-core comedy film in Tamil, which did very well,’ said Madhavan.

The actor revealed that he has signed two more Hindi films but refrained from giving any details.

IANS

Kangna, Madhavan kiss

Actor Madhavan has engaged in a liplock with co-actor Kangna Ranaut for the film 'Tanu weds Manu'.

However, Madhavan is insistent that he hasn't kissed on-screen, while director Anand L Rai says it's one sweet instance in the movie when Madhavan and Kangna kiss.

Madhavan plays Manu in the movie, and goes to Tanu's (Kangna's) house. Tanu comes home drunk because she doesn't want to get married, but Manu falls in love with her anyway, and plants a kiss straight on the lips of a drunk Tanu.

Madhavan had also locked lips with Vidya Balan for 'Guru'. Post that, he said he wouldn't kiss on screen again. But in the world of showbiz, it's important never to say 'never'. Simply because you never know...

Kangana's the new 'Jugni'!

Leave aside Sheila, Munni and Chammak Challo, Kangana's doing Jugni!

The actress who is not really known for her dancing ability, left everyone speechless as she finished a Punjabi number in 5 hours straight, which was to otherwise take 3 days for completion!

Our source who was present on the sets of Kangana's forthcoming film 'Tannu weds Mannu' revealed, "Recently famous singer Mika Singh was asked to shoot a video of his upcoming song 'Jugni' with Kangana Ranaut. The song is from the film Tannu Weds Mannu. Being a hard core Punjabi number everyone expected the song to get over in three days. To top it all, the shoot started late as well and the complete unit was sure that the stipulated 3 days will become 4 days at least.

The unit was in for a surprise, though. Once the music started, Mika and Kangana got into the groove. The shoot that was to take 3 days eventually got wrapped in 5 short hours! Choreographer Saroj Khan was shocked herself and so was Mika Singh.

Mika reacted, " Kangana matched freestyle Punjabi steps with me so well and reminded me of the typical girls from Chandigarh who can match upto anyone at dancing from across the globe. Kangana was a dynamo on sets and it was so much fun shooting Jugni with her".

Kangana refuses to lip-lock Mika

Bollywood actress Kangana Ranaut has shot a music video for promotional purpose for her upcoming film, ‘Tanu Weds Manu’ starring Madhavan in the lead role where she was asked to lip-lock singer Mika who has lend his voice for the song but Kangana straightway refused saying that she is not Rakhi Sawant.

A source reveals, "Since the song has a crazy, wild and energetic vibe, the director Aanand L Rai decided to shoot it in wacky style too.

He came up with an idea for  Kangna to dance with Mika in the Baraat with the video culminating with him kissing her in his infamous Rakhi Sawant style."

Kangana shot the music video with full zeal but did not give to the director’s demand. She said in disgust, "I am not Rakhi Sawant to do some thing like this".

Kangna simply says, "I was not comfortable kissing for a music video."

Mika, Kangna set the dance floor on fire

It's not everyday that a song has so much energy that the actors get swept off their feet, but that seems to have happened during the shoot of a video with Kangna Ranaut and Mika Singh.

Call it chemistry or call it love for dance, but the video shoot for a song Jugni by Mika, which was to take three days to shoot, got shot in five hours flat. When the shoot started late the cast and crew were expecting further delays and a long drawn process of cuts and retakes, however, once Mika and Kangna matched steps there was no stopping them and much to choreographer Saroj Khan's delight, the song got done in a fraction of the time allotted to them. "We managed to can about 15 scenes of the video within a few hours. I must say that Kangna can dance as good as any Punjabi kudi I have ever met," gushes Mika, after his shoot with Kangna for Tanu Weds Manu.

Kangna's turns paying guest

Kangna Ranaut never went to college. But recently, she got a chance to experience campus life while shooting for Tanu Weds Manu.

A source close to Kangna says, "In the film, she plays a girl from Delhi University. So, it was important for Kangna to get acquainted with the lifestyle of Delhi University.

Since Kangna has never experienced campus life in real life as she started working at the age of 16, she decided to get the taste of it before shooting the film.

Many female students at the university live in the women's' hostel as paying guests. Kangna lived in one of those for almost a fortnight to get a feel of their lifestyle. The production team of the film arranged for her to live in one and took required measures to protect her identity."

Kangna who stars with R Madhavan in the film says, "The character of Tanu is rooted in Delhi University. I stayed there and it helped me in my performance.

Till date I am thankful to the girl who hosted me and was my roommate. We ended up becoming friends."