Vidya plays ‘not so classic detective’ in classic murder mystery ‘Neeyat’
Mumbai– Bollywood actress Vidya Balan, who is gearing up for her theatrical release ‘Neeyat’, has shed light on her character in the film, saying that she is unlike any other detective, in fact not a classic detective.
In the film, which stars an ensemble starcast, Vidya plays the role of Mira Rao, a CBI officer, who investigates the suicide of billionaire Ashish Kapoor (played by Ram Kapoor) and breaks the news to his family, assembled for a gala, saying it’s rather a murder and not a suicide.
Talking about her part in the film, Vidya told the media, “Mira Rao is not a classic detective in a classic murder mystery. She has her own quirks and a very different perspective to things”.
Ram, her co-actor, even compared her character to ‘Sherlock Holmes’. The actress also shared that the ensemble cast had the time of their lives shooting for the film and the energy was truly insane on the sets so much so that the film’s director Anu Menon had to regularly intervene to keep them quiet like a “class monitor” and focus on the narrative.
“We had a great time on the sets owing to such an amazing cast. Anu had to literally scream ‘QUIET!’ while we were shooting”, the actress added.
‘Neeyat’ lands in theatres on July 7.
Ektaa Kapoor on 10 years of ‘Lootera’: It has become a timeless masterpiece
Mumbai– As the film ‘Lootera’ clocks 10 years of release in Hindi cinema, producer Ektaa R Kapoor says it surpassed all expectations and that it has become a timeless masterpiece even though the movie wasn’t considered as “quintessential entertainment”.
‘Lootera’ starring Ranveer Singh and Sonankshi Sinha is a period romance film directed by Vikramaditya Motwane and the second half is based on author O. Henry’s 1907 short story ‘The Last Leaf’.
The film is based in the era of 1950s against the backdrop of the Zamindari Abolition Act by the newly independent India. It revolves around a young con man posing as an archaeologist and the daughter of a Bengali zamindar.
Speaking about ‘Lootera’, Ektaa said: “Ten years ago, when I made ‘Lootera,’ at that time, it wasn’t seen as quintessential entertainment. But I had a vision- a vision of a film that would steal everyone’s heart. Today, on its 10-year anniversary, I am proud to say that ‘Lootera’ surpassed all expectations.
“It has become a timeless masterpiece, reminding us all that good movies stay in public consciousness. This film holds a special place in my heart, and I am grateful for the opportunity to have brought it to life.”
Kajol, Kriti Sanon join hands for Netflix mystery thriller ‘Do Patti’
Mumbai– Bollywood stars Kajol and Kriti Sanon will be seen playing the lead in streaming giant Netflix India’s mystery thriller original film ‘Do Patti’.
Kajol said: “The opportunity to be on streaming has been truly exciting as it allows us to venture into unexplored territories and present captivating stories to audiences across the globe.”
Kajol said that ‘Do Patti’ has a standout script that promises a unique blend of adventure and mystery.
She added: “It is a story that is not only rooted in India, but also promises the thrill that can be enjoyed by entertainment enthusiasts across borders.”
It also marks the producing debuts of Kriti and writer Kanika Dhillon, reports Variety.
Kriti says ‘Do Patti’ holds a very special place in her heart as it marks her debut as a producer with her production house Blue Butterfly Films.
She added: “I love every single aspect of film making and have always wanted to be more creatively involved in stories that touch my heart. And I felt in my gut that I was ready to shift the gear and do more. I’m excited to collaborate with the extremely talented Kanika Dhillon as a producer and we couldn’t have asked for a better partner than Netflix for this magical journey.”
Dhillon said that being a part of ‘Do Patti’ as a writer- producer has been an incredibly fulfilling experience for her and is happy to finally share this project with the world.
Dhillon said: “Stepping into the role of a producer has allowed me to explore a new facet of storytelling and bring my creative vision to life. Collaborating with the phenomenal Kajol and Kriti has been an absolute delight.”
Touted as a “thrilling suspense-filled ride,” the film is set in the hills of northern India. The director has not been revealed yet, reports ‘Variety’. Monika Shergill, VP of content for Netflix India, said: “Both actors are passionate about storytelling and always deliver unforgettable performances. In addition, it brings us great joy to support Kanika Dhillon and Kriti as they embark on their first creative journey as producers.”
Zeenat Aman recollects her film which popularised the iconic ‘Nahiiiinn’ in Bollywood
Mumbai– Veteran actress Zeenat Aman, who is rightly dubbed as the ‘queen of Instagram’, took to the social media platform on Wednesday to share another of her anecdotal posts from one of her films.
She also shared that the film was the one which popularised the use of “Nahi” (no) with an extended follow-up in Hindi cinema.
Taking to her Instagram, she shared a picture of her look from her film ‘Chhailla Babu’ and penned a long note in the caption. She wrote: “‘Nahiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiin!’, ‘Chhailla Babu’ was a suspense thriller that rocked the box office in 1977. It was produced by the lovely and easy going Shomu Mukherjee, directed by Joy Mukherjee and starred Rajesh Khanna. Romance, action, music, drama – it had everything in spades. Including a long drawn out “nahiiiiiiiin” by yours truly, which I think we can agree is pretty much the hallmark of Bollywood masala.”
She continued: “This snapshot was captured in between takes of the climactic action sequence that we shot at sea in Goa. And yes, I got to throw some punches too. My outfits in the film were awesomely flamboyant. So what am I wearing here? A black and pink (fake) leather bustier, a matching skirt, a scarf, and knee-high boots. And the entire ensemble was embellished with metallic studs! How’s that for an ‘outfit of the day’?”
She also spoke to her younger followers and admitted the sequence about “red Indian” in the film was a bit over the line. “As an aside, I will admit that so many of the films that we made back then haven’t aged too well. In fact, my younger followers would be appalled by the ‘red Indian’ sequence in this film. Quite frankly, it makes me cringe too. Such caricatures were entirely the norm back then, and I am glad that I know better now,” she added. (IANS)
