‘Maaya’ is not soft porn: Vikram Bhatt
Mumbai– Filmmaker Vikram Bhatt, who has roped in actress Shama Sikander for his debut web series “Maaya” — an adult love story involving BDSM — says he did not set out to make soft porn.
Bhatt’s film is said to be about two people who come together using aliases and experiment with BDSM — bondage, discipline, dominance, submission, sadism, masochism.
Asked if Shama was sceptical about doing the web series, Bhatt told IANS: “Shama did have a couple of anxiety attacks, but I told her I am not making some soft porn. My point is it to show it aesthetically.”
“I am not here to compete with the porn industry on the internet. It is an aesthetically made story.”
“Maaya” will go live on his own web channel, VB on the web, in October.
Will “Maaya” be on the lines of “Fifty Shades of Grey”?
Bhatt said: “I just say ‘Fifty Shades of Grey’ because that’s how people understand BDSM. This is the kind of story that I would have endlessly fought with the censors, but nothing would have happened.”
“It’s an adult romance. It is a web series it is a 10-part series. We are half-way through.”
Mohenjo Daro’ role was challenge to myself: Narendra Jha
Mumbai–Actor Narendra Jha, who credits Vishal Bhardwaj’s “Haider” for bringing respectability and film offers to him, says his role in “Mohenjo Daro” was very challenging.
“The character in the film is such that it is kind of a challenge to myself. When I accepted the role, I didn’t realise it. When you see my character in ‘Mohenjo Daro’, you realise how much I must have worked hard on my costume and other things,” Narendra said at the music launch of his other film “My Father Iqbal”.
“It is definitely an interesting film for me,” Narendra added.
The actor feels the Ashutosh Gowariker directorial will be “like another feather in the cap” for him after “Haider”.
“Working with a director like Ashutosh Gowariker and with actors like Hrithik, is definitely a pleasure. But as far as the turning point is concerned, the turning point has already happened (‘Haider’).”
“My career’s high point was ‘Haider’. It brought respectability in my career and some good offers too. ‘Haider’, in a way, established me as an interesting and, like they say, a commendable actor,” he added.
Narendra had played Shahid Kapoor’s father in the critically acclaimed film “Haider”. Later, he was seen in films like “Shorgul” and “Ghayal Once Again”.
He will also be seen in “Kaabil”, which again stars Hrithik, and in Shah Rukh Khan’s “Raees”.
I’m blown away by Alia Bhatt’s work: Saiyami Kher
Mumbai– Actress Saiyami Kher, who is making her Bollywood debut with Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra’s “Mirzya”, says she finds it “mind-blowing” to see Alia Bhatt’s range as an actor.
“There is so much to learn from any generation (of actors). Currently, I am completely blown away by Alia’s work. She is completely on another level altogether,” Saiyami told IANS.
“The kind of films she does is mind-blowing. I watched ‘Udta Punjab’ and she is phenomenal,” she added.
In her debut film “Mirzya”, Saiyami is paired with newcomer Harshvardhan Kapoor.
Asked if she hopes to make inroads into international cinema someday, Saiyami said: “I would love to, becasue I don’t see language as a barrier in acting. If something comes along, it would be wonderful. I would love to do a Japanese film some day.”
Kriti gets 6 million views on YouTube
Mumbai–Filmmaker Farah Khan is delighted as her husband Shirish Kunder’s short movie “Kriti” has been viewed over six million times on YouTube.
Farah took to Twitter to share the news and posted: “It always gets harder before it gets better. Today just got better! ‘Kriti’ touches six million views and going strong.”
This comes after Shirish had got caught in a legal battle with a Nepali filmmaker who claimed that the Bollywood filmmaker’s “Kriti” is a copy of his film “BOB”.
But the copyright claims over “Kriti”, produced by Muvizz.com, were finally put to rest on July 15. The movie stars Manoj Bajpayee, Neha Sharma, and Radhika Apte. The short film released online on June 22.
TV shows have helped dance become career option: Shilpa
Actress Shilpa Shetty, who has taken on a judge’s role for “Super Dancer”, says TV reality shows have helped dance get established as a career option.
“When I joined the (entertainment) industry, people would think twice before joining it. There were not many dance options to become a dancer or train yourself to become a choreographer. But they were not seen as career options.
“Today if you are on TV, then you become famous and get shows. This way it becomes your career option as there is a flow of money that starts coming in. Dance reality shows have given a lot of people careers,” Shilpa said here.
The actress has been part of several popular dance numbers like “UP Bihar lootne” and “Shut up and bounce”.
Manoj ready for erratic schedules
Actor Manoj Bajpayee, whose film “Budhia Singh – Born To Run” released on Friday, says that for an actor, erratic shooting schedules are a part and parcel of life.
Manoj is currently juggling his time between shooting for an upcoming project and promoting his new film, in which he plays a real life character.
According to a source, the actor was shooting in the national capital city for an upcoming Indo-American film, which required him to work 10 nights non-stop and at the same time the National Award winner was also promoting “Budhia Singh – Born To Run”.
Talking about juggling things, he said in statement: “Being an actor, we are always ready for such kind of erratic schedules which work towards our film’s benefit.”
“It is a tough job but then the results what we get is all worth it. I have received great response from everyone for ‘Budhia Singh – Born To Run’ and hoping the film creates its impact.”
