Shahid Kapoor to receive Rajiv Gandhi Award
By: IANS Date: 2009-07-18

New Delhi:
After eminent personalities like Sachin Tendulkar, Mukesh Ambani, Sunita Williams and Amitabh Bachchan, Bollywood actor Shahid Kapoor becomes the latest recipient of the prestigious Rajiv Gandhi Award.

The 28-year-old is going to be presented with the 12th Rajiv Gandhi Award in the best actor category. The award function will be held in the second week of August.

"I was pleasantly surprised to get the news about my being chosen for the prestigious award. I am only 28 years old and it's really early in my career. I feel humbled and honoured to be chosen by the jury," said Shahid.

This year, Shahid will be seen in three films -- Vishal Bharadwaj's "Kaminey" opposite Priyanka Chopra, Aditya Chopra's "Dil Bole Hadippa" opposite Rani Mukherjee and a Ken Ghosh movie opposite Genelia D'Souza.

источник www.mid-day.com

By Kunal M Shah
Posted On Thursday, July 30, 2009 at 03:02:58 AM

Kaminey

The certificate awarded to a film by the censor board impacts its collection. Vishal Bharadwaj’s Kaminey has run into trouble with the censors and even after the revising committee saw the film, they refused to give it the U/A certificate that he was hoping for. The options available to Vishal are that he can to go to the tribunal or seek legal help for his film. Apparently, the film has been given an A certificate due to its heavy dose of violence.

Our source said, “The examining committee saw the film on Tuesday afternoon and thought that the film had too much violence. They suggested major cuts. However, Vishal is not keen on brutally chopping the film and neither does he want an A certificate.

So, the film was sent to the revising committee where Sharmila Tagore, the Chairperson, watched it with a panel of members in Delhi yesterday afternoon. However, after watching the film, it has been decided that the film will indeed have an A certificate. Vishal’s request for a U/A certificate has fallen on deaf ears. Vishal now has to decide if he wants to go ahead and challenge the censor board’s decision, or be happy with the A certificate.”

The objections arose mainly due to the dark theme of the film. Another source from the production house, UTV, said, “There are some cuts in the film. The abusive language is nothing to be worried about as it is marginal. Even the cuts have been made to be politically correct in certain places. However, the darkness of the film and the inherent violence, even though not onscreen, is felt powerfully due to the theme. The film is based on the underworld and the very nature of violence in the film is what the censors objected to.”

By Indu Mirani
Posted On Thursday, August 13, 2009 at 03:12:58 AM


2009, one of the worst years for Bollywood in recent times, just got battered some more. Tuesday’s call for closure of all multiplexes for the next three days (see report in city section) means that one of the year’s most-awaited films, the UTV-produced Kaminey, takes a hit. Here’s why: Mumbai is the most lucrative film territory in the country. Seventy per cent of a film’s gross earnings in the first week comes from collections in the opening weekend and Mumbai accounts for 40 per cent of that.

In Kaminey’s case, for instance, the paid previews, a relatively new concept that allows one to see a film before official release at a premium, were all sold out. “We had paid previews at 12 locations in Mumbai and we will suffer a loss of around Rs 50 lakh per day on an average on account of cancellation,” says Devang Sampat, senior vice president, Cinemax. “However we are covered by insurance.”

The Shahid Kapoor-Priyanka Chopra caper directed by Vishal Bharadwaj was to be one of UTV’s big films of the year and is slated to be released across the world with 1,200 prints. The bigger the film, the more number of prints to saturate the market, which producers hope to encash in the first week itself on the strength of the hype built around it.

Both Mumbai and Pune are big markets for such films. Once the film has been seen elsewhere there is the danger of it getting stale and an even bigger risk is of piracy.

“The prints are out and people will be looking at getting pirated copies to Mumbai to satiate the curiosity, it can spell doom for a film,” says a trade analyst not wanting to be quoted. Something similar happened to another UTV film, Oye Lucky, Lucky Oye, which was released in the weekend of the November 26 terror attack when fear psychosis of another kind kept people indoors and away from cinema theatres. By the time Mumbaikars woke up to the idea of entering a cinema hall, the damage had been done and a perfectly good film paid the price for it.

Rumy Jaffrey, the director of Life Partner, the other film to be released along with Kaminey this Friday, said, “This is just a financial loss. The important thing is to safeguard everyone’s health. However, I would like to say that since the government has taken such a decision, it should also look into the piracy problem. I hope they try and stop pirated CDs and DVDs coming in to Mumbai.”

However, UTV Motion Pictures CEO Siddharth Roy Kapoor still remains upbeat, pointing out that in the absence of any major release till September 18, Kaminey still stands a good chance. Vishal Bhardwaj, the film’s director, refers to the closure as an unpleasant surprise, but also points to the, “terrific buzz about the film all over India and the fact is that Mumbai and Pune are not all that India is about. Yes, I can’t deny that they are important, but I also can’t deny swine flu,” he said.

Sandeep Bhargava of Indian films which is releasing Life Partner also said that they were going ahead with the film’s release as it was too late to withdraw and push the release. “All our prints have been sent across India,” he said.

With just one mega hit so far - Love Aaj Kal - and the film industry still to recover from the two-month multiplex ban earlier this year, Bollywood’s run of bad luck continues.

Shahid Kapoor's latest release Kaminey has run into trouble with a religious group filing an FIR against the makers of the film for allegedly denigrating Lord Jagannath in the film.

Jagannath Sena Sangathan has filed an FIR against production house UTV Motion Pictures Ltd and director Vishal Bhardwaj at a police station in Puri for showing Lord Jagannath in a poor light in their latest film Kaminey starring Shahid Kapoor and Priyanka Chopra.

The Sangathan staged a protest in Puri and submitted a memorandum before the state governor through the district collector. The police said that a case has been lodged against the makers of Kaminey following the allegation that some scenes in the film have hurt the sentiments of Jagannath devotees. It added that investigation on the matter is on.

The devotees of Lord Jagannath are not happy with a scene in the film where it has been written Apna Hath Jagannath in the toilet with a semi-clad model under the writing. They alleged that it has hurt their sentiments. Meanwhile, the objectionable scene has been deleted from the prints released in the state.

Kaminey is a good success, critically as well as commercially, and now all of a sudden Shahid Kapoor finds himself in the super big league. While the Khans (Shahrukh, Aamir, Salman) have been dominating from the top along with Akshay Kumar and Hrithik Roshan, the success of Kaminey means that both Shahid Kapoor, as well as Saif Ali Khan are both making the Top-5 actors uncomfortable.

As this Vishal Bhardwaj film continues to fetch audiences and reactions for itself in it's second week, Shahid Kapoor looks forward to the release of two more films before the end of year. These are Dil Bole Hadippa opposite Rani Mukherjee and Chance Pe Dance opposite Genelia D'Souza. Isn't it too much happening all on one go?

"Yes, it is actually quite a lot", agrees Shahid who is currently also shooting for Yash Raj Films' next which has Parmeet Sethi as the director and Anushka Sharma as his co-star, "Usually I have had one release a year. Last year I had just Kismat Konnection. However, 2009 has been a busy year."

He understands though that over exposure is a twin edged sword.

"Yeah, I know that three releases in succession could work out both ways", he smiles, "Kaminey has started the year well for me and I would want the momentum to work to continue. I am happy though that thankfully each of my three films, whether Kaminey, Dil Bole Hadippa or Chance Pe Dance, are extremely different movies. If at all they were similar films then it would have been a disaster for me."

He is also enjoying working with variety of co-stars in each of his films. While Kaminey had one of the top female actors of today, Priyanka Chopra, Dil Bole Hadippa sees Rani Mukherjee making a comeback of sorts. And then in Chance Pe Dance, he has upcoming Genelia D'Souza who incidentally replaced Jiah Khan in this Ken Ghosh directed film.

"Due to fresh casting, it only makes these projects further interesting", says Shahid, "I have not worked with any of my female co-stars before, so for me too it was a new experience shooting with them for these films."

He laments the fact that producers’ strike did play a major role in a sudden rush of releases.

"Everyone in the industry faced the heat due to this. Kaminey was supposed to arrive at least a couple of months back, but due to the strike, we had to move ahead. At the end of the day I am an actor, and the producers and distributors decide which film of mine releases in what order and frequency. Dil Bole Hadippa and then Chance Pe Dance are now coming in succession though from year 2010 on, I guess it would be a sane state for me with at maximum a couple of releases a year", concludes Shahid hopefully.

The opinions on Kaminey are divided - either people have liked the film or hated it. But not many are aware that Vishal Bhardwaj, its creator, was well aware that the 40 + age-group wouldn't take to the film, much before its release.

"We had test screenings in several cities, before the release. The reactions were pretty uniform, with the youth (18 to 30) loving the film and the middle-age segment (40 +) hating it. That's when I realized that the opinions would be in extremes," Vishal admits.

A lot of people feel that they failed to decipher the initial 20 minutes of the film. "That's true! I got the same feedback. The next time I would ensure that I simplify things," he states. Not many are aware that the start of the film was altered after the test screenings. The film began with a war in Africa and shifted to Shahid Kapoor running on the tracks. But the response to the war sequences was outright negative, so the editor suggested that Vishal change the start to Shahid running on the tracks.

Meanwhile, Vishal is all set to start work on his next film, this time with Hrithik Roshan in the principal lead. "This is the first time I am confirming the news. Yes, Hrithik and I are working together. The project will roll once Hrithik is through with Sanjay Leela Bhansali's Guzaarish. In the meantime, I am wondering if I should make another film in the intervening period," Vishal divulges.

What about Ishqiya? When is it releasing? "Oh, I've got tremendous feedback for the first promo of the film. In fact, people tell me ki Ishqiya ka trailer aapki picture (Kaminey ) se behtar hain (chuckles)... Well, looking at the number of releases in the coming weeks, I haven't decided on a release date yet. We've already completed the film and are in the post-production stages right now," Vishal reveals.

Shahid Kapoor shocked everyone at a function a few days ago. The actor, who has been voted the Sexiest Vegetarian by a PETA poll, asked for chicken sandwiches and everyone from the manager to the host was stunned.

When the sandwiches did arrive, Shahid was seen finishing a vegetarian meal. He asked for the plate to be kept on the table; where in after a while Kaminey director Vishal Bharadwaj joined him along with actress Priyanka Chopra, who gobbled up the sandwiches within seconds.

The actor is known to have influenced ex-girlfriend, Kareena Kapoor into veggies. Is he going to do the same to Priyanka Chopra? Only time will tell!

The recently released film Kaminey starring Shahid Kapoor and Priyanka Chopra is in for more trouble. Puri Shankaracharya Nishchalanand Saraswati has demanded a ban on the film for denigrating Lord Jagannath.

The seer is not happy with a particular scene in the film where the phrase Apna Hath Jagannath has been written on the wall of a public toilet beneath which a scantily clad girl stands. He said that the scene has shown Lord Jagannath in poor light and that the people all over the country should protest it.

Meanwhile, the administration of the Lord Jagannath temple at Puri has decided to write to the producer of the film to remove the objectionable scene. The police had earlier filed a case against the producer of the film under Section 295A (hurting religious sentiments) of the Indian Penal Code following complaint filed by a religious outfit.

Protest against this film directed by Vishal Bhardwaj has spread to various parts of the country.

Shahid Kapoor, Vishal Bhardwaj and Sriram Raghavan were present a week ago when Amole Gupte and the children of his school Aseema for impermanent slum children screened their first film at the M.E.T College in Bandra (Mumbai).

It was a moving moment for Shahid who empathizes deeply with issues related to children and has in fact done a film on children’s education Paathshala for his childhood friend Ahmed Khan, and has also done a film Wah Life Ho To Aisi with child actors at the helm.

Shahid was so moved by the filmmaking effort of the children at Aseema that he has now offered them all support and help. Says Amole, “Shahid, Vishal and Sriram were deeply moved. They feel only the truly innocent can make a film as devoid of cunning as Aansoon Bane Moti. Even the title was chosen by the kids themselves.”

And now the kids from Aseema will be making one film every month. “The first film was exactly ten minutes twenty seconds long. Now they’re going on to their second. M.E.T College has kindly consented to lend all their editing equipment for the kids. So now the kids at Aseema are the only regular pre-teen and adolescent filmmakers from any part of the world.”

Amole, deeply affiliated to children’s causes had to cringe before shouting at a child actor in Kaminey. “But that was my character. Not me. I convinced myself into doing all kinds of political and domestic things that I’ve no patience for, or affinity with.”

Amole Gupte has cut his hair… something he had been waiting to do from the time he began playing Bhope, the parochial Marathi goon in Kaminey.

“It came with the territory. And now it’s gone. I think ‘The Look’ for my character Bhope determined to a large extent my selection for the part. Vishal Bhardwaj liked the way my hair flowed. It went well with the way he imagined my character. Then of course there was my 27 years as a cinema student. That also must have influenced their decision.”

However the long hair began to bug Amole. “Somewhere my hair becomes too much a part of the character. I was waiting for the film to be over so I could get rid of it.”

Amole is hoping he won’t be flooded with villainous roles after Kaminey. “More than that I hope my character Bhope doesn’t obstruct in the work that I most enjoy doing with my children.”

Trash talk Queen Miss Rakhi Sawant is mulling over Shahid Kapoor in her upcoming flick Dil Bole Hadippa. The reason behind all the hulla-gulla is that Shahid had saved her life during the shoot of a song sequence Discowale Kishko…

In an interview Rakhi stated, “Today I’m alive, and that is just because of Shahid. I was about to meet with a fatal accident when he came to my rescue.”

Elaborating on the incident she chirps, “I was standing near a light stand after the shoot of a dance sequence, when suddenly Shahid sipping his coffee came up to me. He just asked me to move aside and secured the light stand; I never noticed, but the stand was rickety and that light was almost dropping down on me, but thank god Shahid came in at the right time for my rescue.”

“He is a really nice guy and it was fun to work with him. I also enjoyed working with a big star like Rani Mukherjee , and also told her that I am a big fan of hers,” she concludes.

Well we wonder with Rakhi so charmed by her new prince charming, what happens to the ‘chosen one’ Elesh?

Here is a good news. Salman Khan and Shahid Kapoor, who have been sharing cold rapport for a few years now, have finally decided to patch up. The duo hugged each other at the show 10 Ka Dum hosted by Salman.

Yes, Shahid and Rani Mukherjee participated in the game show 10 Ka Dum to promote their much-hyped film Dil Bole Hidippa. It is said that Salman and Shahid got along very well and hugged each other when they met.

It may be recalled that Shahid and Salman turned enemies after Shahid gave a piece of advice to his senior actor at Rockstars concert a few years ago. A furious Salman even tried to push Shahid out of the show. However, the duo seem to have mended their differences.

Well, other actors can learn a lesson or two from Salman and Shahid!

So much of Shahid's fame now-a-days is based on his beefcake physique - that rippling 6-pack, that not so big stubbly head - but the menace that bubbles up in him on screen just isn't present in real life. Not, at least, from the front. He seems, if anything, a bit lost. Lost because he still hasn't had his time of 'that's great' day out to enjoy the super success of his hit film Kaminey. Half his time, he says, is spent 'trying to run from pillar to post for film shoots and photo shoots.'

From this angle, Kapoor is quite something. You feel an instant sympathy with the 38,000 plus members of the Facebook group 'Shahid Kapoor fans'. We mean, we're here with him in his sparkling silver Mercedes-Benz, his biceps are stretching his pale yellow jersey, his deltoids flexing like a pair of dolphins trying to nibble his ears. We meet the gun-toting geezer who is now carrying a cricket bat. It's time to play with Shahid Kapoor.

Are we meeting a different Shahid Kapoor today?
No man! I don't think so. I am as stressed out as I was because I have another release coming up in the next two weeks. I was supposed to take this three day Kaminey break (laughs). I haven't got any time to absorb the fact that the film has done well and that it's a success. I am trying to respond to all the messages that I've been receiving since Kaminey released and busy finishing up all my duties. Somewhere deep down, I'm really happy. I needed the audiences support and I've got it.

Now that Dil Bole releases, do you think the ones who are going to watch the film will be the ones who were impressed by Shahid Kapoor in Kaminey?
I'm hoping that all the positivity of Kaminey spills over on Dil Bole Hadippa. Secondly, I think people have always liked me in the commercial space of love stories and films that have a lot of dance, music and entertainment. They haven't seen me in my usual best since a year. Dil Bole Hadippa will put me back in that space. Thirdly, all those people who missed out on Kaminey, because it was an 'A' certificate, will probably be able to see Dil Bole.

Do you empathise with those who were below 18 and didn't get to watch Kaminey?
Of course yes. My younger brother is thirteen. All his friends were upset for not seeing Kaminey. I'm really happy for them that they'll go and watch Dil Bole Hadippa now. This is my first film with Rani and Yash Raj too. There is a lot to it which is so different from Kaminey.

Do you think Yash Raj Films as a production house is far more superior in their work ethics than the others you've worked in?
That will put all the other production houses I've worked with down, isn't it? But I would definitely say that as a hero you feel burdened by the load of a film because if a film works well, the first person to benefit is the actor and if vice versa, then too the actor. Working with Yash Raj is like working with a brand which itself has a certain credibility. Audiences want to see a Yash Raj film. It is also headed by a creative man who isn't merely a business man. They understand the content within a film and it is also from their creative point of view. With Aditya Chopra around, things are too organised.

The public opinion has it thatRani Mukherjeeis the first actress that has perfectly matched up to Shahid Kapoor's steps while dancing
(Laughs). Rani is a great dancer and people have forgotten that it's been a while that she has done an out and out dance number. The last time I saw Rani match up with any actor was with Govinda. There have been times when I have calmed myself down a little to balance it out with my co-actor but Dil Bole Hadippa was the first time when I thought that I had to pull my socks up as Rani was going for the kill.

When was the last time you played cricket?
I am a great cricket buff dude. I first played cricket when I was a three year old. I've played for my school. I used to play seven hours of cricket everyday in my building. Unfortunately, I didn't get to pursue it at all. I went through that whole phase of thinking that I would be a professional cricketer when I grow up. As I grew up, there were others things that took over my interest. Dancing was one of them.

Any fond memories you had while filming for Dil Bole Hadippa?
Of course yes. We were shooting in D.Y. Patil ground and we had a whole day to shoot there. I refused to give my shot for half an hour because you could see the lush green grass, brown pitch, all hard with the wickets in tact. I was standing and murmuring, 'Somebody please bowl to me' because I wasn't going to get this moment again. Finally, the cast and the crew did manage to play a short match.

Is there any underlying message to the film?
Yes there is. There is something which the film says very subtly because preachy films can be really boring. Dil Bole Hadippa is very entertaining and in the end, it just leaves you with a thought.

You seem to be taking on all the hotties in tinsel town at the moment.
(Laughs) Am I? Finally the day has come. It's good to be working with new people. There isRani Mukherjeewho is my senior, there is Priyanka Chopra who has done as much work as me, there is a Genelia D'Souza who is newer and then there is Anushka Sharma who is just one film old. Working with people who challenge you, push you or you feel are competition at some level always helps you do better work, and I haven't done that for quite some time.

You played cricket with Rani?
Yes I did. I had a really busy one and a half year. Jab We Met, Kaminey and then Dil Bole Hadippa. But I can recall days when I used to get call from Rani at half past nine in the night saying, 'Shahid, where are you? I am in a cricket ground near Juhu. Please come.' I would reply, 'Sorry Rani but I have an appointment at ten.' Rani would go, 'Just come for ten minutes but come.' I would reach there and she would be seen standing all padded up saying, 'See how I am playing cricket. Now you show me how you play.' I would then show her some of my shots and the reply would come, 'You know how to play, so you can leave now.'(Laughs). I loved the way she was so involved with the film.

You've worked with a lot of first time directors too.
Yes I have. And it's time for a change. This is a great time for anybody who is new. As an actor, I've felt that new directors bring in a fresh perspective to cinema and help us bring a fresh new talent to the film we are working for. I feel very comfortable with those who write and direct films. Imtiaz Ali and Parmeet Sethi are some of them.

You favourite Rani Mukherjee film
Black. As a performance, that was brilliant.

Your favourite cricketer and any match of his which you can recall.
Sachin Tendulkar. I remember the match in Sharjah when the sand storm happened followed by the Sachin storm. He went totally ballistic on the Australians. Then of course his match in the World Cup when Sehwag and Sachin murdered Shoaib Akhtar's bowling in the first fifteen overs.

What about the new Indian cricket team?
As a team, India is doing really well because their approach is new. It's all about the team. Greats will always be greats. I am a huge Sachin fan but I can't see him playing for the next ten years now. New players are finding a place for themselves. I like the rotation strategy that Indian Cricket team follows. Players who are sitting out in couple of matches get a chance to play in the third. That's great.

Even as Shahid Kapoor is excited about his much-talked-about film Dil Bole Hadippareleasing next Friday, September 18, another film of his has run into trouble.

The grapevine is abuzz with the news that Yash Raj Films next project starring Shahid Kapoor and Anushka Sharma is in trouble due to disagreement between the producer and the director regarding the title ofthe film

It is said that director Parmeet Sethi suggested Right Hand Man and Friends and Companyfor the title ofthe filmbut Aditya Chopra didn't want them. Parmeet said that there is no fight though there might be differences in opinion. He added that he and Aditya have decided to think about the title only after the shooting ofthe film

So, how do they refer to the film ? YRF’s Production No 36!

Even as people are wondering if Kaminey pair Shahid Kapoor and Priyanka Chopra are seeing each other, Shahid's parents have gone all out to expressed their fondness for Priyanka. They are trying to make their son romance her in their films.

Yes, it was reported that Shahid's mom Neelima Azmi wanted to cast Priyanka with her son in her film. Now, his dad Pankaj Kapoor has chosen Priyanka for his film. Guess who will be the hero? It's non other than Shahid.

Shahid revealed that his dad's film is a love story. He added that he would make a great film, as he has amazing sensibilities. The cast and crew of the film have been finalised and the official announcement is expected very soon.