BOLLYWOOD: Guftugu | SILICONEER

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BOLLYWOOD | Guftugu | JULY 2013

Shah Rukh Khan: Brings in An Item Girl
Ranveer and Sonakshi: Lootera Survives Period Challenge
Arjun Kapoor: Biggies Lined Up
Richa Chadda: "Despite Success, I Can't Sit Home and Relax”
Salman Khan: In Tune with Sajid-Wajid for Mental
Hrithik Roshan: The Philanthropic Money Maker

Shah Rukh Khan: Brings in an Item Girl

(Above): Shah Rukh Khan seen here with Priyamani in “Chennai Express.”

While Priyamani is the chosen one, as an item girl for Shah Rukh Khan's Chennai Express, it is indeed an exception of the highest order. The reason being that it is after 12 years that a film featuring Shah Rukh Khan in the lead has warranted the presence of an item girl.

“Otherwise in a Shah Rukh-starrer, you don’t really require an item number to pep up the affairs. If at all this has happened, it is with the leading lady herself stepping in as one, case in point being Kareena Kapoor for Chammak Challo (Ra. One),” quips a source.

A few years back Shah Rukh did rope in Priyanka Chopra, Deepika Padukone and Kareena Kapoor for a song apiece in his production Billu.

“But then it was an Irrfan Khan-starrer,” the source argues, “Even Shah Rukh was akin to an item boy there. All this glamor was required to bring spice in Billu.”

The last film of Shah Rukh that indeed featured a true item number was Asoka, released 12 years back.

“Yes, now that was truly the case where an item number was the need of the situation,” says a close associate, “The song in question was Aa Taiyaar Ho Ja. Ironically, this was the first and the last time when 'then hot-n-happening model' Rajlaxmi R. Roy made a big screen appearance.”

Of course his biggest item song stays on to be Ishq Kameena (Shakti - The Power) where he and Aishwarya Rai matched steps in quite an aggressive manner. However, this film had Shah Rukh in just a special appearance.

“Shah Rukh has bent the rule for Chennai Express though,” the source adds, “Incidentally this is also 10 years after Amrita Arora's sizzling number Dilli Ki Sardi (Zameen), that director Rohit Shetty has roped in an item girl for a film of his. The song in question, One Two Three Four isn't frivolous though and is as per the need of the situation that Shah Rukh gets trapped in while on his visit to South India.”

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Ranveer and Sonakshi: Lootera Survives Period Challenge

(Above): Sonakshi Sinha and Ranveer Singh in “Lootera.”

Vikramaditya Motwane saw huge critical acclaim for Udaan, which has managed to earn a cult status for itself over the years. However from a small unassuming film that came out of nowhere and yet created a mark (particularly at Cannes), he moved on to the big league with Lootera.

Moreover, what makes the film special is the fact that from a realistic set up in Udaan, where he shot the film in live locations at Jamshedpur, he had to recreate a different era for Lootera, a period affair set in the 50s.

“Of course it was a challenge of its kind,” says Vikram, as he is fondly called.

“Something like that is fun as well. Why stick to something that you have already done before? Lootera had to be made in a certain budget. While there were sets erected to get the right feel of the period and the milieu, there were many outdoor shoots as well on real locations where we had to carefully hide things that were modern,” he adds.

The most memorable shoot though was the one that took place in a Zamindar's haveli in West Bengal.

“It was almost two hours outside of Kolkata. We had to repaint the whole structure and also bring in a lot of restoration. It was in the middle of a village and there was hardly any connectivity. It was not easy at all,” remembers Vikram. He adds, “Then we also had another schedule in Dalhousie which was tough as well. We had to abandon our schedule a couple of times because of the excessive snowfall. Later when Ranveer hurt his back, there were added roadblocks to be taken care of.”
Vikram denies being frustrated with the delay though.

“It's the director's job to keep his chin up. You can’t let your crew down,” smiles Vikram. “Moreover, every trouble that we faced during the shooting came up so suddenly and quickly that we hardly had time to ponder and had to move on to solutions. There was no time for us to cry. So if our entire set collapsed because of the snowfall, we went straight to Kolkata and completed the rest of the schedule. The whole approach was to make things work instead of cribbing. In fact we’ve captured our travails in a video called Lootera-Labor of Love. Check it out!"

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Arjun Kapoor: Biggies Lined Up

(Above): Arjun Kapoor

Only a few months have gone by since the release of Aurangzeb and Arjun Kapoor has moved on. From being seen in a double role avatar in the Yash Raj production, he would now be enjoying a double bill of sorts with two major films next year.While first to arrive would be Yash Raj Films' Gunday, the release after that would be 2 States which has Sajid Nadiadwala and Karan Johar coming together.

“These two films are as distinct as they get,” says Arjun, “If I had to summarize Gunday in a few words, it is a celebration of life and cinema. If you look at the flavor and narrative of this film, you would realize that we have grown up on such blockbuster affairs. After two relatively heavy duty affairs like Ishaqzaade and Aurangzeb, I would be seen in a lighter avatar now.”

The film expected to allow him entry into the ‘boy-next-door’ territory is 2 States, adapted from a book by Chetan Bhagat.

“I am playing a geeky nerdy guy in the film and that is quite a contrast to what I have played in my first two films. I am happy to be experimenting and the idea is to never consolidate my image in a certain way. Like Ishaqzaade was a romantic film at heart whereas Aurangzeb was a family drama with cops and underworld. That was a different zone for me. Now Gunday and 2 States have an entirely different world. I know that I have it in me to break my image,” says a confident Arjun.

It was this confidence that has allowed some of the top producers in Bollywood to rope him in. Yash Raj, Dharma Productions and Nadiadwala Grandson are all putting money on him. Meanwhile with Saif Ali Khan and Dinesh Vijan's Illuminati Films is also signing him for an English film with Deepika Padukone.

Looking forward to further surprises that he may have in store.

With talks of a couple of other premium productions houses setting their eyes on him as well, Arjun does have good reasons to believe that he has an eventful year ahead.

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Richa Chadda: Won’t Sleep on Success

(Above): Richa Chadda in “Fukrey.”

A Delhi girl who showed good promise in Oye Lucky Lucky Oye and then went on to find her place under the sun with Gangs of Wasseypur series, Richa Chadda has scored again with Fukrey. From playing a wife and mother of a gangster to playing herself, it has been quite a journey for Richa who would soon be seen in an ultra glamorous outing as well.

In a film that was about a gang of boys who were Fukrey no less, one wonders what really made Richa say yes to it? Didn't she feel like being the odd one out?

“I would say that there were two factors that went into my decision-making. One was the very character itself and the second reason was Excel as producers. They really make their movies with a lot of conviction. If it was some other ‘aloo-tamatar’ production house, I wouldn’t have done the film but here I knew that as a package, everything was working out well,” she says.

Meanwhile she has made some good name for herself post Gangs of Wasseypur. How does she feel about her place in the industry?

“I just feel that it is still a start. This is the reason why I am always conscious about the fact with every film that whether I would be able to deliver. Anurag (Kashyap) told me this one very important thing that if a star-kid is good, he gets recognition after the very first film. However for outsiders like me, one has to prove themselves five times over. You can’t sit home and relax. You have to work harder each time around to finally being able to consolidate your place,” she says before signing off.

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Salman Khan: In Tune with Sajid-Wajid

(Above): Salman Khan

When Salman Khan likes someone, he stands by them. The composer duo Sajid-Wajid would be more aware about that, now that they are the chosen ones for yet another Salman film, Mental.

“Bhai doesn't have a dearth of options when it comes to picking and choosing composers for his films. However, it is Sajid-Wajid whom he trusted to deliver for Mental. His last release Dabangg 2 had music by them as well and even for Ek Tha Tiger, he had his way when they were the chosen ones for a special song and dance number (Mashallah), despite an official composer (Sohail Sen) on board,” says a source.

For Mental though there won’t be any need for a last minute arrangement since Sajid-Wajid have been roped in from day one. Buzz is that the composer brothers have already played a few tunes for Salman that he liked immensely.

Meanwhile, it was a win-win situation for all involved as Sohail Khan, director of Mental, was more than happy to have the winning team reuniting.

“It is Sohail who is responsible for bringing Sajid-Wajid into the industry,” says a close associate, “This was 15 years back when they composed a qawalli titled Teri Jawaani for his Pyaar Kiya Toh Darna Kya. A bond was formed post which Salman roped the brothers in for many more films.”

Though Sohail did experiment with another composer (Daboo Malik) for his last directorial flick Maine Dil Tujhko Diya (which didn't star Salman), it was given that with Salman calling the shots, Mental would see a reunion with Sajid-Wajid.

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Hrithik Roshan: The Philanthropic Money Maker

(Above): Hrithik Roshan

If he isn’t raising the profile of Ground Zero, J Hampstead, Rado and Mountain Dew, Bollywood superstar Hrithik Roshan is reaping the benefits of his iconic international status by receiving the highest bid at a fund raising event to help special children in Dubai.

The music and acting maestro’s jacket has beaten model Deepika Padukone’s red cocktail dress, a Salwar Kameez designed by Manish Malhotra and worn by Kareena Kapoor, a blue shirt and pair of trousers worn by Salman Khan, a leather jacket worn by Ranbir Kapoor in Rockstar among other Bollywood A-listers memorabilia for the highest bid at a prestigious charity auction.

It was a black leather jacket from Hrithik Roshan’s personal collection that fetched a significant Dh 11,000 which was the highest bid of the Bollywood lot showcasing just how adoring Hrithik Roshan’s fans are.

Hrithik Roshan is currently filming for the Indian film re-make of Knight And Day with Katrina Kaif titled Bang Bang, and will be resuming his superhero character in Krrish 3, out this Diwali 2013.

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Joginder Tuteja is a Bollywood writer based in Mumbai, India.