SOTY was not Sidharth Malhotra’s first film

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A student that’s grown to be a finest actor and handsome man who girls drool over to say Baar Baar Dekho. South Delhi boy, sports enthusiastic but not so inclined towards textbooks, Sidharth Malhotra had all the qualities to make it big in Bollywood. However, as perceived as the blue-eyed boy of Karan Johar, it was not an easy journey for this young lad. It was not that Sidharth landed in Mumbai with just dreams, he had an offer in hand which made him shift his base to the city. Anubhav Sinha, the director of the successful film – ‘Tum Bin’ was making another film with newcomers and Sidharth Malhotra being one of the leads was confirmed. That not only elated him but also made him push his parents to allow him to shift to Mumbai and take up acting as a profession. But things didn’t go as it looked like and Sidharth Malhotra tasted failure even before success could show his face to him. Destiny turned villain and Anubhav Sinha shelved the film that he promised the young actor to go ahead and make RA. One with Superstar – Shahrukh Khan. Depressed with the major halt in his career but angrier on the fact that the Director didn’t even inform them about his decision to withdraw the venture. Gathering his courage, Sidharth tried to pull out his contacts in the industry whoever he met during his course of modelling or preparation for Anubhav Sinha Film. Karan Johar being one of the Director he met during his short stint, Sidharth landed at Dharma Productions, not for an audition but to ask for an opportunity to be on the set of a film to learn the nuances of film making.  His first step on a film set was for the song Desi Girl from Dostana as Farah Khan wanted more assistant director’s as she was the Dance Director for the chartbuster. Post which Sidharth Malhotra worked as an assistant director on ‘My Name is Khan’ along with his other student counterpart Varun Dhawan. Though carrying the image of calm, composed, reserved and obedient person, Sidharth Malhotra did bunk shoot days to attend one day modelling photoshoot assignments that could easily earn him money enough to pay almost 3 month’s rent in Mumbai. However, his efforts didn’t go in vain as he became one the actors that Karan Johar launched in his directorial venture. While Alia Bhatt and Varun Dhawan came from film families, Sidharth Malhotra – a non-industry person made a mark on his own and made everyone notice him to say – Kukkad Kamaal Da !!!

Source: Look Who's Talking with Niranjan Iyengar - Sidharth Malhotra

Race of Actors that clearly defines - Jo Jeeta Wahi Sikander !!!

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A film that is hard to skip whenever its screened-on TV, a film that refreshes your memory attached to all walks of your life, a film that cuts across all generation – Jo Jeeta Wahi Sikander has impeccably scored in all sectors of film business.  Sports, friendship, love, brotherhood, parenthood and college rivalry all weaved perfectly which is not only rare but a big achievement for everyone associated with it.  Jo Jeeta wahi Sikander changed lives of many who were part of the crew onscreen and off screen. However, it was destiny which played a big role in bringing the cast together. The turns of events started happening post Mansoor Khan – the Director of the film along with his cast & crew finished the first 60 days’ schedule of the film in Kodaikanal and returned to Mumbai. It was a tough schedule that the team had gone through in terms of weather conditions, long hours of waiting for the right light for the desired shots and tougher conditions for cycling. Aamir Khan went on to shoot other films in the meanwhile post the first schedule till the next schedule commences. One day when Aamir was in Ooty, he got a call from Mansoor saying that there is a problem with whatever they have shot in Kodaikanal. Surprised by this sudden news Aamir couldn’t understand Director’s plight. Mansoor had a problem with the girl who was playing Devika (Pooja Bedi’s role), however it was no fault of the girl playing Devika, Mansoor graciously accepted that it was him who probably choose the wrong face and now it didn’t fit the whole scheme of drama they meant to showcase. And hence he wished to reshoot the scenes. Which meant to reshoot 50 percent of what they had shot. With heavy heart, they decided to go with Director’s conviction and start preparing to reshoot. 2 Months later, it was again a shocking moment for Mansoor Khan and Aamir Khan when the girl playing Anjali (Ayesha Jhulka’s role), who was originally from Germany had to go back to her country due to unforeseen circumstances. That left them to reshoot another 30 percent of the film. They were now left with only 20 percent of the film that they had shot and can make it to the final reel. That 20 percent had Milind Soman as Shekhar Malhotra (Deepak Tijori’s role ). But apparently, the team had faced real tough time shooting with Milind Soman. Hence, Aamir Khan took a call to reshoot the entire Kodaikanal portion with replacing Milind Soman as well to avoid hindrances in future schedule. Though guilty of spending Producer - Nasir Khan’s money, the team set out to shoot the film again. However, apart from Aamir Khan, the characters that finally came out of screen most of them made it to the celluloid post non-selection or circumstances that led the other actor not making it to the final reel. Nagma was apparently selected for the role of Devika, but her mother didn’t like her character in the film to be termed as a Gold digger and hence she opted out. Deepak Tijori who had earlier screen tested for the role, was rejected and selected back post the exit of Milind Soman. It’s also a surprise that another actor who was rejected for Deepak Tijor’s role was the Khiladi of Bollywood – Akshay Kumar. His rejection too made way for Deepak Tijori to be part of the final cast of the film. It was surely a task for the film maker to get perfect casting but when it did, it burned the screen with their presence and acting abilities. Each character of the film added a bit extra to make this wholesome entertaining film go a notch higher which is now termed as a cult film. With all the reshuffling of actors the team had to go through and for the ones that finally joined the cast, it perfectly suits to say – Jo Jeeta Wahi Sikander!!!

Source: Rewind with Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikandar at Jio MAMI Movie Mela with Star 2016

Priyanka Chopra abused Director Anurag Basu

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More than the chemistry of lead actors on screen, the chemistry between the actor and director is of prime importance to create the necessary magic on celluloid. The need of strong communication bond between an actor and director translates into phenomenal performance on screen. One such remarkable role that will always find its place in the list of acting abilities is that of Jhilmil from Barfi. Priyanka Chopra surely had a hard task at hand. While Ranbir Kapoor was all set to be the Murphy's favourite child, Priyanka couldn't imagine herself in the role of an autistic girl.  It was a challenge for Director, Anurag Basu to boost the confidence of the leading lady of the film. Considering it was the first project of Priyanka & Anurag and their first interaction, it was of utmost importance for them to gel well. Their informal interaction kick started with script reading and workshop session. Anurag Basu, Priyanka Chopra and the assistant directors got into a room for their first reading of the script. All of a sudden, lovingly known as Dada in the industry, Mr. Basu asked everyone except Priyanka to leave the room. This put the international star in a slight thinking mode. However, without much of a reaction, she witnessed the rest of the crew obliging the director's order. Once the room had only two members Dada and Priyanka, he asked her to come close. With the sense of unbelievability, Priyanka thought she heard something wrong. No action from Priyanka, Dada asked her again to come close to her. Little taken aback with the extra Dostana, she tried not to overthink and sat beside the director. However, Dada next asked her to come close and hold his shirt collars. The awkwardness creeped her more with this sudden and weird demand.    Priyanka politely refused expressing her Aitraaz very clearly. But Dada again insisted her to hold his collar tight. But this time he added that he wanted her to hold his collar and abuse him using Hindi swear words. Amused by this request of the director, Priyanka couldn’t understand the reason for the same. Dada managed to convince this city girl to hurl Hindi foul language on him taking him by the collar. Being a director's actor, Priyanka pulled up her acting socks and started abusing Anurag Basu in loud voices. Shocked by the screaming inside the room, the crew rushed to help the situation. It came as a big surprise for everyone and specially Priyanka that this was Anurag Basu's fashion of breaking ice with the actress he was getting into the process of making the film high on emotional quotient. This clearly helped to develop a non-awkward and warm relation between the actress and the director, the results of which was out there for the world to see in form of Priyanka nailing the character of Jhilmil. This was surely an innovative way of Anurag Basu to form a bond that is as sweet as Barfi.

Source: ETC Bollywood with Komal Nahta - Team of Barfi

Casting coup of Kuch Kuch Hota Hai

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Known for being the ‘COOL’-est film ever, dialogues that we still remember, actors that we still talk the chemistry about, teaching us 'Pyaar Dosti Hai', Kuch Kuch Hota Hai cuts across all generations and one of Karan Johar’s best work. Love, friendship and relationships all weaved perfectly that makes Kuch Kuch Hota Hai a cult film. However, the emotions wouldn’t have come out flawlessly without the actors putting their heart and soul into their characters. The film is one hell of a casting coup. While assisting Aditya Chopra on Dilwale Dulhania Le Jaayenge, Karan Johar developed a special bond with Shahrukh Khan and Kajol. Shahrukh once told Karan that he would work for his first movie and when Kajol joined the conversation she also expressed her desire to be part of the fun team of Karan and Shahrukh whenever Karan decides to take the plunge into direction. Considering it as a random conversation, Karan never gave it a serious thought until Shahrukh called him from Jaipur where he was shooting for the film Chaahat to come to Jaipur and narrate the story in mind. Karan took a while to get back with the final construct of the script. He narrated his written piece of work to Shahrukh and Kajol, sobbing himself and tears flowing out of Kajol’s eyes too, Shahrukh who usually doesn’t show much emotion in a narration, told Gauri Khan after the narration that Karan has written the film better than he expected. While Rahul and Anjali were sorted, another important character of Tina which was written for Twinkle Khanna - Karan Johar's childhood crush, turned down the role. Many of the lead actresses refused to be undermined in front of Kajol and Shahrukh’s iconic Jodi, it was SRK and Aditya Chopra who without the knowledge of one another co -incidentally recommended Rani Mukherjee at the same time to Karan post seeing her little but impactful portion from her debut film – Raja Ki Aayegi Baraat. Skeptical about Rani playing the Hot, modern college girl due to her height, Karan secretly wished Rani to turn down the offer but when she agreed to do it, Karan developed faith in her and rest is history. Another masterstroke in the casting department was the role of Salman Khan which was earlier meant for Saif Ali Khan and various other actors who Karan had approached. Saif who wanted to move away from being projected a NRI, refused to be part of the film. Surprisingly Chandrachur Singh was also a contender for the role but even after two meetings, he too refused to join the casting list of Karan’s debut film. Depressed with the rejections, Karan decided to let his hair down at the party in Chunky Pandey’s house the same night. Luck, destiny or Karma played its trick, Salman who was also present at the party walked up to Karan and told him that he has heard about the role that this debutante director has offered to almost half the industry and said that he knows that no one will do it except him. Surprised with such Dabang statement coming from the Prem of the industry, Karan went to narrate the film to him. Post hearing the first half, Salman gave his nod to the film. However, Karan said it’s just the first half and Salman’s entry is in second half. But Salman said that the role or the story of the film doesn’t matter, he liked his father – renowned Mr. Yash Johar and he will do the film for him. It’s not every time that we see actors like these coming together in one film and make history. The film not only has such beautiful faces but also portrayal of perfect emotions that makes our heart skip a beat, while we can just say – Kuch Kuch Hota hai, tum nahi samjoge !

Source: Yaaron ki Baraat – Farah Khan & Karan Johar and 10 years of Kuch Kuch Hota Hai – IBN Live