Tag Archives: Cineworld

Deepika Padukone, News, Ranveer Singh, Ranveer Singh, Shahid Kapoor

‘Padmaavat’ protests continue in India, UK release unaffected

24th January 2018 Sunny Malik Leave a comment

Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Bollywood epic Padmaavat, set to release in UK cinemas by Paramount Pictures UK on 25th Jan, is still facing protests in India.

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After death treats were issued to lead actress Deepika Padukone and Bhansali, followed by multiple Indian states banning the film and the local Certification Board in India refusing to classify the film, Padmaavat was postponed.

After five cuts and a name change from ‘Padmavati’ to ‘Padmaavat’ the film will finally get a general release this week.

Based on 16^th century Sufi poet Malik Muhammad Jayasi’s epic poem Padmavat, the movie faced resistance from its early stages due to rumour-mongering.

The film that showcases the valor of Rani Padmavati, Maharawal Ratan Singh and the famed Rajput ethos of honour, bravery and sacrifice, has from early last year sparked a furor in India inciting violence against the makers and cinemas showing the film.

The Supreme Court in India earlier this week ruled that all states must show the film. The protestors disagree saying that Padukone’s portrayal in the film ‘disrespects’ Rani Padmavati. Multiple cinema chains have already been vandalised.

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Karni Sena, a Rajput caste extremist group, last year threatened UK citizens and encouraged their followers to burn down UK cinemas screening the film. By doing so, they incited violence and committed hate crime, an offense in Britain. Rajput groups in the UK also decided to protest the film, albeit without violence.

Also starring Shahid Kapoor and Ranveer Singh, the film has been classified by the British Board of Film Classification twice, the original and edited version, both with a 12A rating.

The Mayor of London’s office informed BollyNewsUK that the Mayor‘s Office of Policing and Crime has been alerted following the threats.

The Home Office stated “The UK Government will not tolerate any groups who spread hate or deliberately raise community fears and tensions by bringing disorder and violence to our towns and cities and the police have comprehensive powers to deal with such activities.”

Cineworld Cinemas PLC, the second largest cinema operator in Europe, who also control the 60 percent of the UK Bollywood market stated, “At Cineworld we show a diverse range of films to cater to all tastes and preferences, so we look forward to releasing an edited version of Padmaavat on 25 January at our cinemas.

They added, “As always, we take security very seriously and have rigorous procedures in place to protect our customers.”

Paramount Pictures UK will release Padmaavat (Hindi) in UK cinemas from 25th January 2017 in 2D, 3D and at selected sites in IMAX 3D.

News

Indian cinema champions the Action Thriller Genre in Wazir

8th January 2016 Sunny Malik Leave a comment

Indian cinema makes a grand gesture to welcome in the New Year as the superbly crafted, action thriller flick, Wazir, opened in UK cinemas today on 8th January 2016, produced by Vinod Chopra Films and distributed worldwide by Reliance Entertainment. Doing away with the post holiday season blues, Wazir promises to deliver an adrenaline-fuelled, cinematic punch.

An intelligent and thoughtful piece of filmmaking that continues to put Indian cinema on the international map, Wazir will appeal to cineastes and film connoisseurs globally. Presenting a slick and sharp narrative that will compel viewers from the opening sequence to the end credits, acclaimed filmmaker, Bejoy Nambiar, directs a heavyweight cast of the industry’s finest in Wazir. Screen legend, Amitabh Bachchan, joins a seasoned ensemble including Farhan Akhtar, John Abraham, Neil Nitin Mukesh and the understated Aditi Rao Hydari, respectively delivering polished performances.

Wazir features inherent drama, suspense and thrills, which Nambiar lets arise naturally, based on a story penned by one of Indian cinema’s most accomplished creatives, Vidhu Vinod Chopra. Complementing the film’s richly dark ambience is a textured soundtrack by Shantanu Moitra, Ankit Tiwari, Advaita (band) and Prashant Pillai. The first song from the film, sublime ode to love, Tere Bin, garnered unanimous plaudit and has been championing the airwaves since its release.

Synopsis:

Wazir tells the tale of two unlikely friends – a wheelchair-bound chess grandmaster (Amitabh Bachchan) and an ATS officer (Farhan Akhtar). Both are brought together by grief and a strange twist of fate as part of wider conspiracy that has cast a dark shadow over their lives. Wazir is a pulsating thriller, a moving character study and a gripping revenge story.

Wazir released in cinemas worldwide on 8th January 2016, produced by Vinod Chopra Films and distributed by Reliance Entertainment.

Dilwale, London, Shah Rukh Khan, Varun Dhawan

Meet & Greet Shah Rukh Khan & team Dilwale in London on 1st December 2015

29th November 2015 Sunny Malik Leave a comment

Red Chillies Entertainment is bringing the stars of Dilwale to London and fans will have an opportunity to meet and greet Shah Rukh Khan, Kajol, Varun Dhawan and Kriti Sanon on 1st December 2015.

Fans and audiences can expect to see the cast of Dilwale set the stage on fire at the famous west-London multiplex from 19:30. Get there early to secure a good spot.

Where:Cineworld Feltham, Leisure West, Air Park Way, Feltham TW13 7LX

Dilwale is a family entertainer with a perfect blend of action, romance and comedy. Dilwale stars Kajol, Shah Rukh Khan, Kriti Sanon, Varun Dhawan, Varun Sharma, Vinod Khanna, Kabir Bedi, Johnny Lever, Boman Irani and Sanjay Mishra.

The film is produced by Red Chillies Entertainments Pvt. Ltd. in association with Rohit Shetty Productions and marketed and distributed by UTV Motion Pictures in the United Kingdom.

It will release in UK cinemas 18th December 2015.

Watch Manma Emotion Jaage from the film here:

Abhishek Bachchan, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, News, Spotted

New Trailer, Music launch of Shamitabh

21st January 2015 Sunny Malik Leave a comment

Eros International launched the music of their upcoming release, Shamitabh, at a grand event in Mumbai on Monday, 20th January 2015.

The event was attended by industry stalwarts like ‪Rajinikanth‬, Kamal Haasan, Jaya Bachchan, Gulzar, ‪Sridevi‬, ‪Ilaiyaraaja, Abhishek Bachchan,‬ Aishwarya Rai Bachchan along with the Shamitabh cast Amitabh Bachchan, Dhanush and Akshara Hassan.

The NYSE listed Bollywood studio also released a second trailer of Shamitabh on the same day. Watch the trailer here:

The leading actors of the much-awaited film along with director R Balki will also take part in several promotional activities in the English capital next week.

Shamitabh is produced by Sunil Lulla, Rakesh Jhunjhunwala, R K Damani, Gauri Shinde and Abhishek Bachchan and is set to release in UK cinemas on 6th February 2015.

Check out photos from the launch here:

2 States, Alia Bhatt, News, Spotted

Photos: Alia and Arjun at Cineworld, Feltham

11th April 2014 Sunny Malik Leave a comment

Bollywood’s rising stars Alia Bhatt and Arjun Kapoor together with award-winning author Chetan Bhagat wowed the media and their fans on Friday, 4th April when they flew into London for a set of exclusive events. They visited the capital city to promote their forthcoming film 2 States, which releases on 18th April 2014 through UTV Motion Pictures.

The celebrity trio attended a specially convened press junket at London’s five-star The Courthouse Hotel, where they met media and conducted a series of in-depth interviews. After a full day of press interactions, Alia Bhatt, Arjun Kapoor and Chetan Bhagat headed to the popular Cineworld multiplex in Feltham, south-west London, for a unique meet and greet with several thrilled fans. It was an extra special treat for a few fans in particular, as these lucky competition winners got up close and personal with their idols, when they met Alia and Arjun in person!

2 States is a stirring romantic comedy film about a young couple from different states in India (Punjab and Tamil Nadu), who meet at the Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad (India) and fall in love. However, their relationship is riddled with obstacles as they try to convince their traditional families to accept their relationship. The film stars Alia Bhatt and Arjun Kapoor in lead roles. It is directed by Abhishek Varman and produced by Nadiadwala Grandson Entertainment and Dharma Productions.

The film brings together some of Indian cinema’s most accomplished and talented actors from North and South. The lead stars are Arjun Kapoor, who plays the intelligent, dreamy, duty-bound Krish Malhotra, and Alia Bhatt, who plays the feisty and beautiful Ananya Swaminathan. Both are supported onscreen by a stellar cast, including, Amrita Singh (Aaina, Betaab), who plays the prejudiced, battleaxe Punjabi mother Kavita Malhotra and Ronit Roy (Midnight’s Children), who turns in an impressive performance as the alcoholic, down-trodden father Vikram Malhotra. There are also worthy performances by Revathy (Molly Aunty Rocks) and ShivKumar Subramaniam as the devoted but long-suffering Tamil-Brahmin parents.

2 States is the compelling, humourous and emotive story of young, contemporary love across the chasm of the community divide in India. Will Krish and Ananya overcome the odds and win their families’ approval for their relationship? Will their respective families attend their wedding? Watch 2 States to find out.

2 States releases worldwide through UTV Motion Pictures on 18th April 2014

News

Gulaab Gang unites Madhuri and Juhi for the first time on screen

2nd March 2014 Sunny Malik Leave a comment

One of the most impactful and socially relevant films to emerge from India in recent times, cinematic tour de force, Gulaab Gang, releases in UK cinemas on 7th March 2014 to mark Women’s Day (on 8th March), produced by Anubhav Sinha, presented and co-produced by Sahara Movie Studios and Bharat Shah, distributed internationally by B4U.

A powerful, female-centric film that conveys a hard-hitting social message, Gulaab Gang sees debut director, Soumik Sen, bring together on-screen for the very first time two of Indian cinema’s most lauded actresses. The iconic Madhuri Dixit and inimitable Juhi Chawla ignite the silver screen in powerhouse performances that will resonate with audiences and cinemagoers both traditional and new, as Gulaab Gang presents Indian filmmaking at its finest on the platform of world cinema.

Gulaab Gang heralds a new dawn in Hindi cinema for multiple reasons, among them that two of the industry’s most accomplished and acclaimed female artists take centre stage in a strong, social message film about female empowerment, with women at the heart and soul of the film; the adulated and beloved Juhi Chawla delivers a career magnum opus in her first negative screen role; and the beguiling Madhuri Dixit lends her vocals to Soumik Sen’s emotive and heart-stirring soundtrack that harmoniously complements a film that will pack a punch with audiences and critics alike for years to come.

Synopsis: Somewhere in the Hindi heartland, an ashram of sorts has been set up by ‘Rajjo’ (Madhuri Dixit), where women armed with axes and sickles and dressed in pink nine yards mete out evil and seek out justice for one and all, while making hand-ground spices, hand-woven baskets and sarees. But when the party she was campaigning for reveals its true colours, Rajjo knows she has a whole new battle ahead of her, dual-headed by a corrupt force of evil in the guise of ‘Sumitra Devi’ (Juhi Chawla).

Sumitra Devi is an institution whose money, bullet and connection-driven juggernaut of politics is a threat Rajjo hasn’t encountered before. Realising the devil incarnate is soon enough going to swamp, sabotage, silence and encompass the work she has been striving for all these years and draw her into a deadlier web of buyout, Rajjo is forced into battle with this new, unseen evil… at the ballot box. With something she has lived to learn all these years – the strength of soul, song and stick – this season the color of justice will be pink.

Proving the power in pink in Indian cinema’s most compelling, female-centric film to date, Gulaab Gang releases on 7th March 2014, produced by Anubhav Sinha, presented and co-produced by Sahara Movie Studios and Bharat Shah, distributed internationally by B4U.

Hasee Toh Phasee, Interviews, Sidharth Malhotra

Interview: Sidharth Malhotra talks about ‘Hasee Toh Phasee’

5th February 2014 Sunny Malik Leave a comment

Bollywood actor Sidharth Malhotra speaks to BollyNewsUK about his second Bollywood film, Hasee Toh Phasee.

Produced by Dharma Productions and Phantom Films, Hasee Toh Phasee, is set to release in UK cinemas on 7th February 2014. The film also stars Parineeti Chopra and Adah Sharma in pivotal roles.

Your second film is co-produced by Karan Johar who directed your first film. Did he offer you Hasee Toh Phasee?
The offer actually came from Phantom Films (Anurag Kashyap, Vikas Bahl and Vikramaditya Motwane). It all started when Phantom Films wanted to co-produce a movie with Dharma Productions and they had enquired about me. From that enquiry, Karan gave me the script of the film and told me to read it and if I like it, he said that we will go further. I read it and being just one film old, I guess you can’t really figure out everything just by reading a script or your instincts aren’t great yet. I have now started meeting the directors when I read scripts which began with Hasee Toh Phasee. The film has a lot of quirky stuff like the heroine eating toothpaste, getting stuck on the love seat up in the air and a lot of other quirky things that audiences will see when they watch the movie. I met the director (Vinil Mathew) and I was sold after meeting him as he is very quirky himself in real life. Vinil has a lot work under his belt as an ad director. I think, just meeting him was the one thing why I did the film.

One can guess from the trailer that it’s a love story where the boy meets the girl and they fall in love. What else is the film all about?
That is correct. You know, films of the rom-com genre are the toughest to promote and market. Of course, every rom-com is different but everyone already knows the ending which is similar for our film (laughs). Hasee Toh Phasee is different in a way because our characters are not how people would imagine them to be. We don’t play the typical hero and heroine. Every family has the not so successful kind of boy and that is my character in the film. He is a very confused boy who doesn’t know what to do in life. He runs an unsuccessful event management company and is pressured by his family to earn a lot of money. Actually, he has to earn a certain amount of money in the film. He thinks he is cool, but he is not. He is one of those confident kind of guys but still very emotional and correct. My friends from Delhi are like that as they get a lot of pressure about their work. Then my character meets Parineeti, who is also not very popular in her family. She comes to Mumbai and meets my character and that is what the film is all about. It’s a story of how they meet for seven days and how they interact as it’s not love at first sight. It becomes very intriguing as they spend more time together and find out weird things about each other. It is a rom-com but our characters are not what audiences would usually expect from this kind of a film.

Your first co-star Alia Bhatt just said that she is not confident about the fate of her second film at the box office. Are you worried about box office success?
Well, of course, there is that aspect. But what I am more concerned about is pulling off a solo film. I am also hoping for a little appreciation in terms of acting abilities and hope that people feel that I can play variations and characters as it’s very different from Student Of The Year. The money aspect comes in much later. I think, initially you need to focus on making a good quality product. It’s Vinil Mathew’s first feature film who has to prove his directing abilities and my first solo hero film and I have to prove my mettle as an actor. It will hopefully make money but I don’t think we need to stress about it. It’s not the kind of film where we spent an extravagant amount of money and need to worry about recovering the costs. My concern is that audiences like my character, the performances and feel that we have done something different and new, yet at the same time convincing.

You sound more confident and less shy from your Student Of The Year days…
Yes, for some odd reason I have been getting this feedback from a lot of people. Maybe I was taking my character too seriously or maybe because of Karan Johar as no one else speaks in front of him and in front of Varun Dhawan (laughs). Hopefully, people will also feel a difference when they see me in Hasee Toh Phasee.

You also look much younger in some scenes…
Yes, I had to become leaner for the film and I may look younger because of the hairstyle. This is actually a film where I am playing a character that is my age, someone in his twenties, unlike Student Of The Year. I guess being leaner and not going to the gym for the film also made me look younger.

Hasee Toh Phasee is quite a fun title…
It’s an apt title because the film is only about the couple. In all honesty, the title isn’t really connected to the film though in terms of the storyline (laughs). It sounds very commercial but the film isn’t really an all-out commercial film and far more muted and subtle in performances. We actually had another title when we started the film and Hasee Toh Phasee was suggested by one of the producers, Vikas Bahl.

The music album is being liked but people are really talking about your dance song ‘Shake it like Shammi’ .
Yes, we have three dance tracks and three romantic songs in the film. There is always pressure when performing for dance songs. Shake it like Shammi is almost like a solo song for me. I would also like to clarify that Shake it like Shammi is not a tribute to Shammi Kapoor. People keep writing about it as a tribute because of the ‘Shammi’ in the song. It’s just a lyrical use of the name. The character that I am playing is not that cool that he could shake it like Shammi. It’s his attempt to shake it like Shammi to impress a girl. It’s not like Badtameez Dil where the guy is cool and can do a full-on item song performance. I think it’s come out in a fun and interesting way. I hope everyone likes it.

During Student Of The Year, Karan Johar said that dancing is something you need to focus on. Did you spend a lot of time rehearsing for Shake it Like Shammi?
Remo D’Souza choreographed the song and was aware of that. We did a lot of rehearsals. Usually we don’t have a lot of time to rehearse. I was filming for something else but was rehearsing over night for five days for the song. It always helps to have more rehearsals as you will be more comfortable with the steps. I was quite conscious of it myself as I personally didn’t like the way I performed on the songs in Student Of The Year. I think, it also comes from the fact that I was never trained in dancing. My training began on the job. I learnt and picked up dancing as I was doing the film. It was tough for Shake It Like Shammi and Remo did make me rehearse a lot. We have some interesting steps and shots and hopefully the song will work with audiences.

What is your definition of love?
It’s odd to sum up love in a few words or sentences. But for me, love is spending time with someone, being understanding of what the other person needs and being secure. I hate somebody being insecure and not giving me space, but then again, I think that is all men (laughs). There should be no pretense to it and can’t have any hidden agendas. To be in love with someone, it has to be an honest relationship and a lot of friendship. If you can have all these things and still enjoy the time you spend with someone, that is love. It also tells you a lot about a person if you go and spend some time alone with somebody. If you can manage to take break while you are dating and go away somewhere where you only have that person to talk to, that tells you a lot about how good your chemistry is.

HASEE TOH PHASEE opens in UK cinemas on 7th February 2014.

Alia Bhatt, Highway, London, News

Meet Alia Bhatt and Imtiaz Ali in London

3rd February 2014 Sunny Malik 2 Comments

Disney UTV is giving fans a chance to meet actress Alia Bhatt and filmmaker Imtiaz Ali in London on 14th February 2014.

The actress and the director of Disney UTV’s Highway, will make an appearance at Cineworld Feltham, west-London to promote the film, releasing in UK cinemas on 21st February.

Fans will have an opportunity to meet and greet the star and director of Highway at UK’s biggest Bollywood hot spot, Cineworld Feltham from 19:00 on Friday, 14th February.

Highway is produced by Sajid Nadiawala and also stars Randeep Hooda.

Watch the trailer of Highway here:

Hasee Toh Phasee, News, Parineeti Chopra, Sidharth Malhotra

Watch: ‘Hasee Toh Phasee’ Trailer

16th December 2013 Sunny Malik Leave a comment

Dharma Productions and Phantom Films’ have released the first trailer of their upcoming movie Hasee Toh Phasee.

The film is directed by Vinil Mathew and stars Sidharth Malhotra as Nikhil and Parineeti Chopra as Meeta.

Hasee Toh Phasee is set to release in UK cinemas on 7th Feb, 2014 through Reliance Entertainment.

Akshay Kumar, Boss, News

‘BOSS’ claims the title of the No 1 film in Cineworld Cinemas on its preview day

16th October 2013 Sunny Malik Leave a comment

Superstar Akshay Kumar has once again retained his crown as the king of action and comedy with the portrayal of a Haryanvi character named BOSS in Anthony D’Souza’s Boss, which is expected to be the original action hero’s biggest opener yet.

The film opened at the Indian and international box offices on the 16th of October 2013, with previews from the 15th October, to a phenomenal response. It also notched another impressive accolade to become the number one film across all Cineworld cinemas in the UK on its preview day beating the likes of Hollywood films The Fifth Estate and Baggage Claim, which released in cinemas on 11th October.

Akshay returns to the silver screen with a bang and packs a punch in the adrenaline-soaked BOSS, which is somewhat of a departure from his previous somber portrayals in films Oh My God – OMG and Special 26. BOSS proves to be a feast of unadulterated, pure ‘Bollywood Masala’ entertainment which will knock the socks off recent action films.

Embellished with a melodic soundtrack, eye-catching visuals and cinematography and glazed with an accomplished star cast, Boss is an amalgamation of death-defying stunts with a sprinkling of romance and comedy, making the perfect treat this Eid.

In BOSS, Akshay Kumar dons the role of Boss and veteran actor Mithun Chakraborty plays his weary father. Debutant star Shiv Pandit portrays Boss’s younger brother and the scintillating Aditi Rao Hydari plays Shiv’s love interest. The film also sees yesteryear actor Danny Denzongpa perform the role of Boss‘s mentor while Ronit Roy plays a ruthless police officer who is pitted against Boss.

Comedic hero Johnny Lever adds to the entertainment quotient in the film along with actor Parikshit Sahni. What’s more, Boss pairs up with Dance supremo Prabhu Deva where he makes a special appearance in the track ‘Hum Na Tode Phode’ with zeal as well as starlett Sonakshi Sinha for the chart-busters ‘Party All Night’ and ‘Har Kisi Ko’.

Boss released today, 16th October through Krian Media internationally and Tip Top Entertainment in the UK. Boss is produced by Viacom18 Motion Pictures in association with Cape of Good Films and Ashwin Varde Productions.

Hrithik Roshan, Krrish 3, London, Priyanka Chopra

Meet Hrithik Roshan and Priyanka Chopra in London

10th October 2013 Sunny Malik 1 Comment

Actor Hrithik Roshan and international recording artist and actress Priyanka Chopra are coming to London to promote their forthcoming release, Krrish 3.

The actors will be greeting fans at the well-known Cineworld multiplex in Feltham, west-London on Monday, 14th October 2013.

The superstars are also scheduled to attend an exclusive Q&A session at one of the cinema screens. Fans can come to see the stars in the foyer from 19:00.

Eros International will release Krrish 3 in UK cinemas on 4th November 2013.

News

‘Madras Cafe’ banned in UK cinemas

23rd August 2013 Sunny Malik 13 Comments

Madras Café will not release in Cineworld, Odeon and Vue Cinemas across the United Kingdom anymore. The film produced by John Abraham and Viacom 18 Motion Pictures was supposed to release today here.

The UK release has been stopped after protests from Tamils outside Cineworld Headquarters this morning.

Protests Madras Cafe UK — Tamil Youth Organisation UK/ Facebook

A separate petition has also been created on change.org urging the UK cinema chains not to release the film. The petition has been signed by over 1800 people.

A Cineworld spokesperson confirmed that the chain won’t be releasing Madras Café, “”Our policy is to show a wide range of films for different audiences. However, following customer feedback and working with the film distributors, we have decided to not show Madras Café. We apologise for any inconvenience and any customers that have already made a booking can call our customer service team on 0844 815 7747 for a refund.”

Odeon and Vue websites are also not displaying showtimes and not taking online bookings.

Madras Café is a political action thriller set against the backdrop of the tumultuous and controversial Sri Lankan civil war of the 1980s. The film stars John Abraham as an Indian Army Intelligence Agent sent to Sri Lanka to break a resolute rebel group. Once there, he meets a charismatic female journalist, played by Nargis Fakhri who is determined to uncover the truth about the civil war. Together the pair uncovers a deeper, sinister conspiracy by a faceless enemy.

Madras Café released in India today.

News

‘Ramaiya Vastavaiya’ to release on 19th July in UK cinemas

14th July 2013 Sunny Malik Leave a comment

After enthralling international audiences with adrealine driven films such as the blockbuster Race series, superhit producers Tips Films are ready to take audiences on a romantic trip down memory lane with the new Millennium‟s answer to the epic romantic hit, Maine Pyaar Kiya, Ramaiya Vastavaiya, releasing on Friday 19th July in UK cinemas through Reliance Entertainment.

Giving the film added star appeal is South and North Indian renowned director, choreographer, dancer and actor extraordinaire Prabhu Deva, behind the 100 crore club hits Wanted, Rowdy Rathore, who hangs up his action boots to direct this Summer‟s freshest rom-com. The film sees producer Kumar Taurani’s son Girish Kumar make his much anticipated debut. He is joined by Bollywood rising star Shruti Haasan for the remake of Prabhu Deva’s directorial Telugu blockbuster debut “Nuvvostanante Nenoddantana” which was inspired by the 1980s cult Hindi film “Maine Pyaar Kiya”.

Prabhu Deva has enjoyed a highly successful career spanning 15 years and is widely regarded as one of India‟s most influential and avant-garde dancer-choreographers. He is referred to as „India‟s Michael Jackson‟.

Among his cache of award wins, he has two National Film Awards for Best Choreography for Minsaara Kanayu (1997) and Lakshya (2004) as well as a Filmfare Best Choreography Award and Star Screen Award for Lakshya (2004).

Ramaiya Vastavaiya unfolds the sweet yet tumultuous love story between two youngsters Ram (Girish Kumar) and Sona (Shruti Haasan) set against the backdrop of a rural Punjab farm.

Ram always introduces himself as spoilt, naughty and badly behaved. Being the only child of Australia-based billionaire couple Siddharth (Randhir Kapoor) and Ashvini (Poonam Dhillon), he‟s not that far off the mark. Sona is a simple and poor girl from a small Indian village, who has been lovingly raised by her brother Raghu (Sonu Sood), who has worked night and day to make sure Sona gets a good life.

Ram and his snobbish mother Ashvini come to India to attend his cousin Riya‟s wedding. Here he meets Sona, who is Riya‟s childhood friend. Their first meeting is literally a clash between Venus and Mars. Ram, the habitual flirt, gets drawn to this lovely but simple girl from the village.

Young love blossoms but Sona‟s brother Raghu hates the wealthy, and Ram‟s mother has nothing but disdain for the not-so-wealthy. Ram will have to face impossible challenges and Sona will have to witness his hardship and humiliation. How will Ram and Sona face these impossible odds? How can their love have a happy ending?

This colourful and extravagant entertainer replete with music, drama and action will showcase all that Indian cinema does best. Ramaiya Vastavaiya releases on 19th July 2013 in UK cinemas through Reliance Entertainment.

Deepika Padukone, Interviews, Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani

Interview: “The UK is like home to me” – Deepika Padukone

29th May 2013 Sunny Malik 2 Comments

Deepika Padukone is on a high after the success of Race 2 and has her hands full with projects opposite the likes of Ranbir Kapoor, Shah Rukh Khan, Ranveer Singh and Arjun Kapoor.

Her latest release is Karan Johar’s Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani also starring her ex-beau Ranbir Kapoor. After playing the sultry Aleena in Race 2, Padukone will now be seen as Naina Talwar in Ayan Mukherji’s second directorial venture, out in UK cinemas this Friday.

Naina Talwar is a simple, good-natured and extremely focused girl. Frustrated by the restrictions she needs to put on herself to achieve her dreams of being a doctor; she impulsively decides to go on a trekking trip to Manali to give herself a break.

Through the film, Naina transforms from the restricted claustrophobic person she thought she was to a free-spirited woman with a newfound love for herself and comfort within her choices. She is strong and dependable and stands firmly for rooted family values.

In a chat with Bollywood Reporter Sunny Malik, the actress talks about Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani and much more…

There was a lot of speculation as to why you cancelled your London trip to promote Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani. Would you like to clarify?
Ok. So what happened is that I was filming (for Chennai Express) in Munnar. It’s a hill station in the south of India near Kerala. I was supposed to finish that schedule and come back to Mumbai on the same night and then leave for London. But it rained and we had three days of non-stop rain where we were shooting. Our schedule was delayed by three days and I could’t leave a unit of two hundred fifty people waiting there. I had to sacrifice the London bit of the promotions to finish my commitment.

Do you feel it has been really difficult for you to manage everything because you are working on several projects simultaneously?
Honestly, now that that phase is over, I can definitely say that it was very, very difficult. But more importantly, more than physically, it was more mentally and emotionally draining for me. I am glad that the particular phase is over now, more or less as Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani is up for release and I have also wrapped up Chennai Express (also starring Shah Rukh Khan) which will release on 8th August. The only thing I am focusing on right now is Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Ram Leela.

You have always said that you wanted to work in a Dharma Productions film. What was your reaction when Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani, produced by Karan Johar, was offered to you?
I was absolutely over the moon. I remember it started when Ayan Mukherji, the director, called me one night and said that he wants to take me out for dinner. We went out for dinner, just the two of us. I had been hearing from people that he was considering casting me but unless you actually hear from your director, you can never really believe these things. We discussed this project over dinner. He said that he was writing this film and was writing it with me in mind. He said that his ideal cast would be Ranbir and I and I was more than happy. I was sold. I told him that I will do this film for you. That’s the amount of faith I have in him as a director. I have known him from the time he was doing Wake Up Sid, actually even before that, when he was narrating the film to Ranbir. I have known him very closely throughout that entire process. I had decided back then itself that I would like to work with him if he ever offered me a movie. The script came to me much later. Of course, he gave me a one line of what Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani will be about. There was no bound script at that time.

Ranbir said that he wasn’t aware that the character was written keeping you in mind. There was also a lot of speculation that other actresses were being considered for the film. Was that amusing?
Of course it is amusing. But you know where you stand for a particular project. You know whether you have been approached or not. You know the other names that are floating around. So of course, one finds it amusing but at the end of the day, you have to have faith in yourself and in your director. I mean, it makes for good speculation in the news but at the end, the film belongs to the person who eventually does it.

Do you agree with Ranbir’s statement that it’s easy to hide behind characters and difficult to portray a more real person in films?
I know that he has been saying this in his interviews. For me that was a surprise because I prefer doing roles that I identify with. I feel that it’s a very, very interesting observation but even though he says that he finds it difficult, I really enjoy doing these roles. For me, Naina Talwar is me. I was the reference point. I did not have to research. I did not have to observe anyone else. I just had to be me.

Is it not scary that people may find out more about the real Deepika Padukone through such a role?
I don’t know if it’s a scary thing or not. In that sense, you have to trust your director. You have to believe that he will present you in the best manner possible. But no, not at all as I am very comfortable with the person I am. Of course, I have my flaws and insecurities but I was more than happy to use myself as a reference point for this character.

The film is also shown from your side of the story. I think the story is narrated through a diary your character wrote. Can you tell us more about that?
I don’t really want to get into how the story plays out and reveal more about the screenplay but the film is not just about the love story between me and Ranbir. It is about these four friends, how they meet, separate and meet again. It’s also about your relationship with your parents.

The film also looks very commercial and razzmatazz which is very different from what Ayan Mukherji has done before. Were you concerned or surprised?
I wasn’t concerned at all. As far as the film goes, even though it looks very commercial it is very real and the scenes are pretty much in the same space how Ayan had directed Wake Up Sid. The only thing that took me by surprise were the songs. I couldn’t believe that Ayan wanted to use such commercial songs in his movie. I had expected the songs to be slightly different a little bit like Wake Up Sid’s music. The trailer has been cut in a certain way where the film may seem very commercial and glittery with a lot of dance and music. But the film as a whole is very different from that.

Eros International is also releasing the film in new territories like Russia and Israel. Your film, Cocktail, restarted the trend of Hindi movies in Russia. How does that feel?

It feels really special. I never thought that my movie would restart the trend of Hindi movies in Russia. When I think about Hindi films in Russia, I think about Rajnikanth or Raj Kapoor movies. It feels great that Cocktail started the trend again and now Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani will release there too. I hope they show the film the same love.

As the film is being released in new territories, do you feel that Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani is a film that will be appreciated by non-Hindi speaking audiences in the west and has the possibility of “crossing over”?
See, I don’t like terming films as commercial, art films or films that can cross over. I feel that if a film is well made, it will be appreciated. I also feel that Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani is a universal film. I don’t feel that Hindi movies are just for a Hindi speaking audience. Our films are today reaching a wider audience because they are relatable and are being liked by people not understanding the language we speak in our films.

What are your expectations from the UK audience for Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani as your films have done better here than Ranbir Kapoor’s films?
(Laughs) I’m grateful that my films have done well in the UK. The UK is like home to me and I miss being there. I started my journey right in Leicester Square, London at the premiere of Om Shanti Om. Then I have shot for films like Love Aaj Kal, Housefull, Desi Boyz and Cocktail in London and in the UK. It’s a special place for me and it will always remain so. I hope the audience in the UK enjoys the movie and show the same love to the film as they have to some of my other films.

Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani is released in UK cinemas on 31st May 2013.

Interviews, London, Race 2, Saif Ali Khan

Interview: Saif Ali Khan talks about ‘Race 2’

24th January 2013 Sunny Malik Leave a comment

Saif Ali Khan spoke to BollyNewsUK in London last week about his upcoming action packed thriller Race 2 – a film by Abbas-Mustan.

Khan will be seen reprising the role of Ranveer Singh in the sequel to UK hit Race (2008). The plot in the sequel moves at a reckless speed as friends turn foes at the drop of a hat, from one locale to another with unexpected twists and turns taking forward the legacy of Race.

In this candid quick chat, the 42-year-old actor talks about the year ahead, the ladies in Race 2 and much more…

How was your honeymoon with Kareena Kapoor Khan? You were in Gstaad (Switzerland) and then came to London.
It was very good. We were in Switzerland in Gstaad. It is a lovely place, like a fairy tale village. Kareena is very fond of it and I love it too. The air there is so clean and nice. We were waking up, exercising and then we went into an outdoor pool surrounded by the Alps, which looks absolutely stunning. Afterwards, we would go for a walk in town, take lots of DVD’s and watch some nice TV shows in the afternoon and get ready for the evening. They have really quaint and beautiful restaurants with some amazing and healthy food. We did this for about two weeks, which was great. Then, we came to London where the drinking and eating has gotten a little bit out of hands (laughs). It’s time to get back on the wagon. We have fallen back a bit in London.

What are you expecting from the year ahead?
I have a good film (Race 2) releasing in the beginning of the year. I am starting work and shooting for Bullet Raja, which I am feeling very happy about. I am feeling quite confident professionally. I am working in films that I enjoy and I am in an environment that I enjoy. I love my job and love the fact that you have to behave, be spartan in your diet and look after yourself. I am also very much looking forward to doing up our new apartment in Mumbai. It will be a real labour of love for me to set up that house. I would also like to renovate our family home in Pataudi this year.

Tell me about working with the actresses in Race 2.

Ameesha..
Ameesha and I did not really have much to do. She has played a cute kind of role in the film. It is a bit of a difficult role because you have to be ditzy and charming but at the same time quite sexy. She has to wear high heels, short skirts like a classic blonde except that she is not blonde (laughs). She is brilliant though and it was great fun.

Jacqueline Fernandez..
Jacqueline, I think, is playing a star making role. I hope I am right in thinking so. Like what happened to Katrina Kaif after Race. I don’t know if it will happen to her. Kaif’s song (Zara Zara Touch Me) was something else and she knew it. I remember she bought this dress and said I just want to kill it. Jacqueline has also been given the same platform. She has killed it as well. Let’s see what happens.

Deepika Padukone..
It is not the first time that I am working with Deepika Padukone. It was fun. She looked a little shell-shocked sometimes because Abbas-Mustan have a unique way of communicating and speak very slowly and softly. They don’t say too much. I have seen her with Homi and Imtiaz, who are more like friends and will talk a lot and hold your hand and teach you how it should be done. Whereas, Abbas-Mustan will say ‘Thoda Aur Sexy Karo’ (Do it sexier [while directing a scene]) (laughs). I would laugh and would say go for it. But again, she approached it right and added some complexity and depth to her character, which is why I say that she will go very far. It is almost a negative role but she has given it sympathy. I was happy to have shared this with her as well.

There were reports that you ignored Deepika after she had left Race 2 due to date issues.
No! What rubbish! It is none of my business. You know, there are some things that irritate me that won’t irritate other people, but this is not one of them. I would never get irritated if a co-star had their own reasons for doing whatever want to do. It is nothing personal. It has to do with the director and the production. I am happy she did it. If she had not done it, someone else would have done Race 2 but maybe not someone as good as her.

A lot of people did not really like your dance moves in ‘Lat Lag Gayee’. Were you a bit apprehensive while doing them?
I was very much so. I did not really think that it was part of the character. I think they should just cut me out of it because Jacqueline looks great. But YouTube and these guys, they bitch out almost anything. I think most of them have no lives apart from sitting there and commenting. It’s a bit too much sometimes. But it is always great to get feedback and I have a healthy relationship with the internet. I don’t take it too seriously but at the same time I do think maybe I should sharpen up my steps.

Produced by Tips Films, an Abbas-Mustan directorial, Race 2, starring Saif Ali Khan, Deepika Padukone, John Abraham, Jacqueline Fernandez, Anil Kapoor and Ameesha Patel releases in UK cinemas on 25th January 2013.

Events, London, News, Race 2, Saif Ali Khan

Meet Saif Ali Khan in London

9th January 2013 Sunny Malik 1 Comment

Actor Saif Ali Khan, who has filmed his productions Love Aaj Kal and Cocktail in the British capital, will be visiting London on 14th January 2013 to promote his upcoming release Race 2.

The 42-year-old actor will be visiting the famous west-London Cineworld cinema in Feltham. Saif will meet and greet his fans at the venue from 19:00 onwards.

Race 2, directed by Abbas-Mustan, will be released by UTV Motion Pictures on 25th January 2013 in UK cinemas.

Alia Bhatt, Karan Johar, London, News, Sidharth Malhotra, Spotted, Student of The Year, Varun Dhawan

‘Student Of The Year’ at Cineworld, Feltham (London)

3rd October 2012 Sunny Malik Leave a comment

Indian film director and producer Karan Johar introduced the leading actors of Student Of The Year to British fans at Cineworld, Feltham on Tuesday, 2nd October 2012.

The My Name Is Khan director attended a well-organised meet and greet with debutants Sidharth Malhotra, Varun Dhawan and Alia Bhatt at the cinema in west-London.

Johar and the cast were greeted by hundreds of fans, who were eager to catch a glimpse of them. Earlier on, we caught up with the cast and director who asked for some tips and about what they should do during their promotional visit to Feltham.

We told them to take as many photographs and give as many autographs as they can and drive the crowd crazy and they exactly just did that.

Varun Dhawan, Sidharth Malhotra and Alia Bhatt were mobbed by screaming fans who wanted photographs with them and the actors happily posed away.

Addressing the crowd at the cinema, director Karan Johar said: “Thank you all for coming out to see us tonight and for all your love and I only have more love to give back to you. Make sure you come and give our movie love on 19th of October. If you are young, you will love it and if you are not young, it will make you feel young.”

Varun, who has spent most of his childhood in London and has studied at Nottingham University, said that it feels special to be in London and thanked fans for their love and support.

Not many people know but Alia Bhatt is a British citizen and said that London is special to her just like her first feature film as a leading actress, Student Of The Year.

Sidharth, Varun and Alia also performed on The Disco Song from the film with fans singing along and cheering the newcomers.

A lucky fan girl from London also had the chance to dance with Sidharth and Varun on Ishq Wala Love while Alia grooved to Radha with a fan from Bradford.

Johar also gave out exclusive merchandise to fans and participated along with the cast of the film in a Q&A session.

Eros International will release Dharma Productions’ Student Of The Year in UK cinemas on 19th October 2012.

Watch the video from the event here: