Know how Riteish Deshmukh got his first break in Bollywood

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Young man coming from the family background of Politics, pursued Architecture and now an established actor in the film industry, it’s an interesting story how Riteish Deshmukh landed his first acting break in ‘Tujhe Meri Kasam’.  Working on a thesis project on materials used in TV industry as part of his architecture curriculum, got a helping hand from none other than the showman himself – Mr. Subhash Ghai as he was setting up his media school. Post which he was all set to go to New York for further studies, Mr. Ghai offered him to spend some time in London where he was shooting Yaadien starring Hrithik Roshan and Kareena Kapoor Khan. Kicked with the idea of being around film stars, Riteish decided to stop at London before he heads to US. After his short interface with the glamour world, he moved on to US, Riteish finished his architecture followed by internship. Some 1 & half years later, he got a call saying that Kabir Lal, who was the DOP (Director of Photography) of Yaadein and was now working on ‘Tujhe Meri Kasam’ wanted to meet him. Sitting at Chief Minister’s residence having no clue what DOP means ran in front of Mirror to see if there is anything worth in him to be casted as a lead actor. Riteish thought of just going for a meeting so at least he can have a good story to tell his grandchildren that once he was considered for a lead actor. Entered in a room at Sun & Sand Hotel in Juhu, 5 men in whites sitting on one bed about to start narration of the film. Though Riteish liked the script, he asked for 15 days just so that he can speak to his father. After gathering courage for 10 days, he finally could ask his dad the much awaited question and at the same time worried about the reputation of one of most celebrated chief minister of Maharashtra - Mr.Vilasrao Deshmukh. However, his dad replied saying that he has far more issues to deal with and Riteish should deal with his own issue. Clearly choosing the latter, he jumped into the well of Bollywood. ‘ Tujhe Meri Kasam’ did not just gave him his first break into the film industry but also made him meet his soulmate and now wife – Genelia D’Souza Deshmukh

Source: The Actors Roundtable 2014 with Rajeev Masand 

PK is Anushka Sharma’s third film with Rajkumar Hirani

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The connection between Anushka Sharma & Rajkumar Hirani goes a long way back and reaches its finale with Anushka being part of PK. With almost three hit and miss cases, Anushka finally got casted opposite Aamir Khan in PK. It was during the trail screening of another amazing film – ‘Rockstar’, that Anushka met Rajkumar Hirani while walking out post the screening. Overwhelmed with the film that hit her for some good reasons, was totally zoned out while talking to Mr. Hirani. She believed they were having small talks like the way film fraternity usually have post the screening of films. While Mr. Hirani who had loved the versatile actress in ‘Band, Bajaa, Baraat’ kept talking about PK to her, Anushka couldn’t stop herself from praising ‘Rockstar’. This made Mr. Hirani think that Anushka doesn’t want to work with him and that’s the reason she is dodging the topic of conversation, post which both left to their respective houses. Next day morning, while recollecting the events of the previous night, Anushka remembered few words from her chat with Rajkumar Hirani. The words were – Next Film, Casting, Call you, End of scripting stage. Joining the dots and not believing that she was just offered a film by ace director – Rajkumar Hirani, she called up Mr. Hirani and tried to confirm if she has understood it right and if otherwise then asked to ignore the call. On Mr. Hirani confirming that yes he was talking to her about casting her in his next film – PK, Anushka heaved a sigh of relief and overjoyed with the offer, agreed to meet whenever he was ready to. Though Anushka did make it to be the lead actress of PK, this was not the first time. She had also auditioned for 3 Idiots which Rajkumar Hirani doesn’t remember at all. ( Link of Audition below). After giving a splendid performance for a shot in PK, Mr.Hirani turned back to one his assistant to express that he is glad that Anushka is part of the film. This is when the assistant told him that she had even auditioned for ‘3 Idiots’ but never got shortlisted for it and even showed the audition tape to Mr. Hirani who was in complete denial about Anushka’s audition. ‘3 Idiots’ and ‘PK’ are not the only two films of Rajkumar Hirani that Anushka was part of in one or the other way. In fact, the connection started with the much acclaimed franchise film – ‘Lage raho Munnabhai’. Anushka was into modelling at that time and had shot for one of the technology brands integrated in the film through the process of in-film branding. In one of the shot when Sanjay Dutt in waiting for Vidya Balan outside her radio station, there are huge posters of the brand placed alongside where Anushka is clearly seen in close ups. Noticed by her friends, she went for the film in theaters not once but twice just to see herself in Rajkumar Hirani film even though in the smallest way not knowing that destiny already had a full fledged role written for her in PK which she completely did justice to.

Audtion of Anushka Sharma for 3 Idiots:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Ak-uG39vL0

Source:  Rajkumar Hirani and Anushka Sharma Exclusive Interview with Zoom

Rishi Kapoor's first interpretation of 'Amar Akbar Anthony'

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Amar Akbar Anthony, the iconic film of Manmohan Desai had almost missed Rishi Kapoor playing the role of adorable Akbar in the film, courtesy -  technology in the form of trunk calls. Rishi Kapoor who was shooting for ‘Laila Majnu’ in Bikaner, was playing snooker with the cast & crew after the day’s shoot when he got a lightning call from Mumbai. Lightning call being the sign of an emergency as people hardly called each other unless needed, it left Rishi Kapoor and the unit wondering the reason behind the call. When he picked up the call from the reception of the hotel, Rishi Kapoor’s assistant from Mumbai had Manmohan Desai with him who wished to talked to Mr. Kapoor. Manmohan Desai who made ‘Dharam Veer’ had an impression in Rishi Kapoor’s mind of being a director who can literally make ‘anything’. When he told Rishi Kapoor on the phone about his wish to cast him as ‘Akbar’ in Amar Akbar Anthony, Rishi Kapoor who only got the word ‘Akbar’ due to poor network connections, imagined it to be a period drama and Akbar being the Mughal Emperor - Akbar. Astonished with the fact, Rishi Kapoor expressed his concern of playing the role which his grandfather Prithviraj Kapoor has already played in the cult movie - Mughal - e - Azam. He assumed Anthony in the scenario of Cleopatra, Amar being a person who would play a flute and him being asked to play the emperor thus rejecting the role. With both the sides not being able hear clearly, they decided to talk when Rishi Kapoor gets back to Mumbai. It was when he landed in Mumbai and met the director, he understood that it was Amar Akbar Anthony, which Manmohan Desai desired to make. Rishi Kapoor eventually agreed to be a part of it, which is now a well acclaimed film and of course we can’t imagine Akbar being played by anyone else other than the charming Rishi Kapoor. 

Source: Comedy Nights with Kapil

Story of unreleased 'Munnabhai Chale America'

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If you have relished on Munnabhai MBBS and Lage Raho Munnabhai, I bet you would have gone through the wave of disappointment with the news of 'Munnabhai Chale America' being shelved. Another masterpiece which was about to come out from Rajkumar Hirani and Abhijat Joshi’s brilliant writing, couldn’t see the light of the day as the writer duo couldn’t crack the second half that would beat their earlier iconic films and also that the film bore slight resemblance to 'My Name is Khan' which already got released before the scripting of the 'Munnabhai Chale America' could finish. However, the story of the 3^rd film in the Munnabhai Franchise was nothing sort of another gem. The teaser ( Link below ) itself gives a glimpse of the offering. This time around, it was Circuit ( Arshad Warsi ) who falls in love with a woman. On the day of the marriage, Circuit’s biological parents who were not in the picture till now, shows up on the wedding day. And to everyone’s amazement, they happen to be Muslim which in - turn makes Circuit a Muslim Boy. Not ready to get their daughter get married into a Muslim family, the bride’s parents decide to call off the wedding. Unable to understand the change in situation just because of the Religion factor, Munna ( Sanjay Dutt) questions the problem. To which the Bride’s family says the most cliché and untrue thought that ‘ Muslims are terrorist’. On asking the source of the information, the girl’s family says that it’s a general understanding and even ‘ George Bush’ says the same. Innocent and ignorant that Munna is promises that George Bush will come and say sorry & take back his words. Girl’s family very well aware of the impossibility of the situation, agrees to the condition. Munna’s shock leaves no boundaries when he comes to know that George Bush is no local Mumbai guy or even an Indian, he is the President of America. However, being Munnabhai who has earlier achieved the impossible from being a Doctor to an RJ, decides to stay true to his words and embark on the journey to America with Circuit which would ultimately culminate into a funny ride of both of them exploring America and their ways to reach George Bush to make him change his perception. Though the film would have been different in terms of treatment from 'My Name is Khan' with the former being a serious take while 'Munnabhai Chale America' was on lighter note, it was that the makers couldn’t give justice to the second half of the film and ultimately decided it to let it remain only on paper. While I am sure, we would love to watch the film even if it releases today, but as of now we can only wait to watch the biopic of our dear Munnabhai i.e Sanjay Dutt scheduled to release next year starring the super talented Ranbir Kapoor.

Source: ETC Bollywood Business: Interview of Rajkumar Hirani & Abhijat Joshi by Komal Nahta

Teaser of the film: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GxQfFHs0rNU

When audience actually saved a scene in Dilwale Dulhania Le Jaayenge

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Dilwale Dulhania Le Jaayenge – one of the iconic films of Bollywood and my personal favourite too has many stories hidden in the making of the film which I shall bring in front of you time and again. I am sure most of us wouldn’t mind watching the movie even today after 20 years of its release. Surprisingly the makers of the film took time to realize the value of their own creation. It was after some 7-8 days post the release of the film that Shahrukh Khan who was shooting for the film ‘Chahat’ in Jaipur snuck into one of the oldest and celebrated cinema halls of the city – Rajmandir with Pooja Bhatt, Mahesh Bhatt and Anupam Kher to catch the show of the film with the masses. Though the film had released, Aditya Chopra was in a dilemma regarding the ending of the film assuming it to be too long to hold the audience. The scene in question was the climax where Amrish Puri finds the photograph of Shahrukh & Kajol and confronts Shahrukh. Shahrukh Khan delivers a superlative performance coupled with emotional dialogues along with Kajol where he tells her that ‘ Bauji thik kehte hai’ repetitively. Aditya Chopra had already shared his concern with Shahrukh. And with that thought in his mind, being an audience at Raj Mandir, Shahrukh witnessed whispers and audience chatting while the mentioned scene was going on. Perceiving that Aditya Chopra was right, Shahrukh was itching to go back to the Hotel and call him to tell that perhaps they should consider editing that scene again for the coming week as the audience was getting distracted due to its length. It took time for Shahrukh to take note when Pooja Bhatt and Mahesh Bhatt pointed out that the audience has not shifted focus from the film and talking among themselves, in fact the sounds of chatter is actually them mouthing the dialogue along with Raj ( Shahrukh’s Character in the film ). That was the impact the film had made. Not only did the film hold the audience but also got them involved in their story. Astonished by the reaction of the audience to thefilm, Shahrukh rushed back to the hotel to call Aditya Chopra and shared his experience which eventually made him pull back his idea of re-editing one of the most captivating scenes of the film.

Source: Shahrukh Khan and Kajol's Media Interaction to celebrate 1000 weeks of Dilwale Dulhania Le Jaayenge