Staying still with her eyes shut and not doing anything on-screen was the hardest challenge for British Indian actress Banita Sandhu while shooting OCTOBER.

Banita, who plays a comatose girl in Shoojit Sircar's highly-lauded film, says a whole lot of homework went into playing Shiuli, the girl who plunges from a high rise to a near-death experience.

She says the most irksome part of doing this role was to cease all activity.

"I am not going to lie. It was quite annoying being still for so long especially when my eyes were shut. We shot the film chronologically, so I had my eyes closed for about a week.

"And then when I finally got it open, you can't imagine how how relieved and excited I was able to act conscious, even if it was only through my eyes.

"So I really tried to grab to take advantage of any moment I had to do something and by the time it came to a physically demanding scene, I was actually able to do it easily because I was so frustrated acting still for so long while everyone around me was up and about."

Banita could feel her comatose character's frustrations.

"We were both sailing in the same boat. Rather, not ‘sailing' at all. When I finally got to move, it came out so well on-screen because there was that frustration within me as an actor of being immobile.

"It was like the character and me were kind of going through the same thing at the same time and I guess that's why it comes across so real on-screen. I bet Shoojit sir planned it that way because he knew that that it whould come out the way it did."

Born and brought up in Britain, the Hindi was a problem for Banita.

"Language was definitely tough but as you must have seen in the film, my dialogues are very limited, so we kind of got around that very well. Both Shoojit sir and I were very stubborn that this character will have my voice because there's so much more to the performance than my dialogue.

"A lot of people commented on what I did with my eyes, the frustration and all the emotions. So the language was tough, but I think honestly the hardest part was not doing anything on the screen for 10 to 12 hours a day. I used to get frustrated as everyone around me was acting. I used to get jealous."

The film features Varun Dhawan.

Banita found him sweet, humble and kind-hearted.

"I honestly couldn't have asked for a better first co-star. For Varun, OCTOBER was also like a first film together also. So it was kind of like going through this journey together.

"We watched each other's back. The film, its mood and shooting were not only difficult for me but it was challenging for him too to go through all that emotion. I'm so lucky that I had a great support system in Varun, Shoojit and the entire team."

[By Subhash K Jha]
 

Actor Shahid Kapoor, who bagged the Dadasaheb Phalke Excellence Award (Best Actor) for his performance in PADMAAVAT, has dedicated the award to wife Mira Rajput.

Talking about the award he won on Saturday, Shahid said: “This is my first award for PADMAAVAT this year, so I am really very happy and I would like to dedicate this award to my wife, Mira because she tolerated me for a year during this period and without her I wouldn’t have been able to do this film. So I am very thankful to her.”

Shahid is married to Mira Rajput and the couple is blessed with a beautiful daughter, Misha. Recently, the couple announced they are waiting for the arrival of their second child.

Talking about becoming a father for the second time, Shahid said: “I am very happy and we just felt like sharing it with everyone. Mira wanted to put it out on Instagram and I thought that the photograph was really cute, it was a spontaneous decision and it just happened. It was a great weekend for the family.”

Shahid is also happy for his brother Ishaan Khattar winning accolades for his debut movie BEYOND THE CLOUDS helmed by Majid Majidi.

“Ishaan has given a spectacular performance. He is getting a lot of love. He is very deserving of all the applause and appreciation; he is a very talented boy,” he said.

“Of course he just started but he has lots to learn and a long way to go. He has to put his head down, with humility and work hard. He is getting good opportunities to work with people like Majid Majidi and now Shashank Khaitan, I think he should consider himself fortunate,” the UDTA PUNJAB actor said.

Next, Shahid Kapoor will be seen in BATTI GUL METER CHALU which also stars Shraddha Kapoor and Yami Gautam in Shree Narayan Singh directorial.

Talking about the film’s progress, Shahid said: “Seventy per cent of the film is complete and some 30 per cent is left. Next week we start shooting again and I believe by May the shooting will be complete.”

The Dadasaheb Phalke Excellence Award 2018 was graced by several Bollywood personalities including Karan Johar, Simi Garewal, Shilpa Shetty, Kartik Aryan, Aditi Rao Hydari, Kriti Sanon, Rajkummar Rao, and many more.

Actor Shahid Kapoor, who bagged the Dadasaheb Phalke Excellence Award (Best Actor) for his performance in PADMAAVAT, has dedicated the award to wife Mira Rajput.

Talking about the award he won on Saturday, Shahid said: “This is my first award for PADMAAVAT this year, so I am really very happy and I would like to dedicate this award to my wife, Mira because she tolerated me for a year during this period and without her I wouldn’t have been able to do this film. So I am very thankful to her.”

Shahid is married to Mira Rajput and the couple is blessed with a beautiful daughter, Misha. Recently, the couple announced they are waiting for the arrival of their second child.

Talking about becoming a father for the second time, Shahid said: “I am very happy and we just felt like sharing it with everyone. Mira wanted to put it out on Instagram and I thought that the photograph was really cute, it was a spontaneous decision and it just happened. It was a great weekend for the family.”

Shahid is also happy for his brother Ishaan Khattar winning accolades for his debut movie BEYOND THE CLOUDS helmed by Majid Majidi.

“Ishaan has given a spectacular performance. He is getting a lot of love. He is very deserving of all the applause and appreciation; he is a very talented boy,” he said.

“Of course he just started but he has lots to learn and a long way to go. He has to put his head down, with humility and work hard. He is getting good opportunities to work with people like Majid Majidi and now Shashank Khaitan, I think he should consider himself fortunate,” the UDTA PUNJAB actor said.

Next, Shahid Kapoor will be seen in BATTI GUL METER CHALU which also stars Shraddha Kapoor and Yami Gautam in Shree Narayan Singh directorial.

Talking about the film’s progress, Shahid said: “Seventy per cent of the film is complete and some 30 per cent is left. Next week we start shooting again and I believe by May the shooting will be complete.”

The Dadasaheb Phalke Excellence Award 2018 was graced by several Bollywood personalities including Karan Johar, Simi Garewal, Shilpa Shetty, Kartik Aryan, Aditi Rao Hydari, Kriti Sanon, Rajkummar Rao, and many more.

The prestigious Dadasaheb Phalke Excellence Awards 2018 was an evening of glitz and glamour with a galaxy of stars from Bollywood Indian television and music fraternity walking down the red carpet. Organized at St. Andrew’s in Bandra, Dadasaheb Phalke Excellence Awards 2018 recognized some of the best performances and talents of 2017.

The awards night was anchored by RJ Anurag Pandey, the evening witnessed live performances by Shayan Italia who played a rendition of National Anthem on the piano followed brilliant dance performance by ABM dance music and soulful singing by Raja Hasan, Avijeet Roy, Rani Hazarika amongst others.

There was a special 3 minute performance by Smile Foundation kids. Organized by Harsh Mehta of HR Entertainment along with actress and producer Poonam Jhawer, Dadasaheb Phalke Excellence Awards

2018 has associated with Smile Foundation the National level development organization as the charity partner to support their initiative of – SHE CAN FLY. The Award also focused on bringing attention to the pay gaps that affect women in the industry. Dadasaheb Phalke Excellence Awards has been powered by Emars Events and VEGO, with Dream catcher being the event partner.

The glittering evening kick-started with the lamp lightening ceremony which was followed by the announcement of winners in different categories.

Since long we are hearing news of many B-town actors being awarded with the prestigious Dadasaheb Phalke award.

Actress Kriti Sanon received the award for outstanding performance in leading role in BAREILY KI BARFI, Actor Ranveer Singh won the Best Actor Peoples choice award for his stellar performance in PADMAVAT.

Actress Simi Garewal was her effervescent self when she walked the stage to receive the Lifetime Achievement Award.

Versatile actor Sanjay Dutt was honored  with the award of Pride of Indian Cinema.

Check out the complete list of awardees.

Shahid Kapoor: Best Actor (Male) – PADMAAVAT

Ranveer Singh: Best actor people's choice for PADMAAVAT

Anushka Sharma & Karnesh Sharma: Path breaking producer of the year

Kartik Aryan: Entertainer of the year

Rani Mukerji: Socially Conscious performance of the year – Mr. Sidhaarth Malhotra the director of HICHKI

Rajkummar Rao: Outstanding performance (Male)- NEWTON

Tamannaah Bhatia: Outstanding performance (Female) – BAAHUBALI

Rana Daggubati: Outstanding performance (Male) – BAAHUBALI

Kriti Sanon: Outstanding performance in leading role (Female) – BAREILLY KI BARFI

Ashwiny Iyer Tiwari: Best director for BAREILLY KI BARFI

Aahana Kumra: Promising face of the year for LIPSTICK UNDER MY BURKHA

Tusshar Kapoor: Best comic role – GOLMAAL RETURNS

Aditi Rao Haidri: Best Actress – Critics (BHOOMI)

Divya Khosla Kumar: Best performance in a Short film BULBUL

Vaibhav Tatwawaadi: Best Actor (Male) – Marathi

Pooja Sawant: Best Actor (Female) – Marathi

Sanjukta Dutta: Best Fashion Designer of the year

Hina Khan: Entertaining performance in reality show Bigg Boss (Female)

Karan Patel: Best Actor – Television (Male)

Shilpa Shetty: Best reality show judge

Karan Johar: Best talk show host – Koffee with Karan

Manoj Muntashir: Best Lyricist

Hans Raj Hans: Iconic contribution towards music

Sumona Chakraborty: Best comedy – comedy night with Kapil Sharma

Rani Hazarika: Versatile singer

Simi Garewal: Lifetime Achievement Award

Sanjay Dutt: Pride of Indian Cinema

Jaya Misra: Social & Business entrepreneur of the year

The prestigious Dadasaheb Phalke Excellence Awards 2018 was an evening of glitz and glamour with a galaxy of stars from Bollywood Indian television and music fraternity walking down the red carpet. Organized at St. Andrew’s in Bandra, Dadasaheb Phalke Excellence Awards 2018 recognized some of the best performances and talents of 2017.

The awards night was anchored by RJ Anurag Pandey, the evening witnessed live performances by Shayan Italia who played a rendition of National Anthem on the piano followed brilliant dance performance by ABM dance music and soulful singing by Raja Hasan, Avijeet Roy, Rani Hazarika amongst others.

There was a special 3 minute performance by Smile Foundation kids. Organized by Harsh Mehta of HR Entertainment along with actress and producer Poonam Jhawer, Dadasaheb Phalke Excellence Awards

2018 has associated with Smile Foundation the National level development organization as the charity partner to support their initiative of – SHE CAN FLY. The Award also focused on bringing attention to the pay gaps that affect women in the industry. Dadasaheb Phalke Excellence Awards has been powered by Emars Events and VEGO, with Dream catcher being the event partner.

The glittering evening kick-started with the lamp lightening ceremony which was followed by the announcement of winners in different categories.

Since long we are hearing news of many B-town actors being awarded with the prestigious Dadasaheb Phalke award.

Actress Kriti Sanon received the award for outstanding performance in leading role in BAREILY KI BARFI, Actor Ranveer Singh won the Best Actor Peoples choice award for his stellar performance in PADMAVAT.

Actress Simi Garewal was her effervescent self when she walked the stage to receive the Lifetime Achievement Award.

Versatile actor Sanjay Dutt was honored  with the award of Pride of Indian Cinema.

Check out the complete list of awardees.

Shahid Kapoor: Best Actor (Male) – PADMAAVAT

Ranveer Singh: Best actor people's choice for PADMAAVAT

Anushka Sharma & Karnesh Sharma: Path breaking producer of the year

Kartik Aryan: Entertainer of the year

Rani Mukerji: Socially Conscious performance of the year – Mr. Sidhaarth Malhotra the director of HICHKI

Rajkummar Rao: Outstanding performance (Male)- NEWTON

Tamannaah Bhatia: Outstanding performance (Female) – BAAHUBALI

Rana Daggubati: Outstanding performance (Male) – BAAHUBALI

Kriti Sanon: Outstanding performance in leading role (Female) – BAREILLY KI BARFI

Ashwiny Iyer Tiwari: Best director for BAREILLY KI BARFI

Aahana Kumra: Promising face of the year for LIPSTICK UNDER MY BURKHA

Tusshar Kapoor: Best comic role – GOLMAAL RETURNS

Aditi Rao Haidri: Best Actress – Critics (BHOOMI)

Divya Khosla Kumar: Best performance in a Short film BULBUL

Vaibhav Tatwawaadi: Best Actor (Male) – Marathi

Pooja Sawant: Best Actor (Female) – Marathi

Sanjukta Dutta: Best Fashion Designer of the year

Hina Khan: Entertaining performance in reality show Bigg Boss (Female)

Karan Patel: Best Actor – Television (Male)

Shilpa Shetty: Best reality show judge

Karan Johar: Best talk show host – Koffee with Karan

Manoj Muntashir: Best Lyricist

Hans Raj Hans: Iconic contribution towards music

Sumona Chakraborty: Best comedy – comedy night with Kapil Sharma

Rani Hazarika: Versatile singer

Simi Garewal: Lifetime Achievement Award

Sanjay Dutt: Pride of Indian Cinema

Jaya Misra: Social & Business entrepreneur of the year

The two new releases of the week, Faraz Haider’s NANU KI JAANU and renowned Iranian filmmaker Majid Majidi’s BEYOND THE CLOUDS, failed to excite the audience much.

The front runner was obviously the Abhay-Patralekha starrer NANU KI JAANU (10 percent), while Ishaan Khatter’s BEYOND THE CLOUDS lagged behind (5 percent). Though the weekend can still change things, the front runner turned out to be the week old OCTOBER.

While on OCTOBER, the Shoojit Sircar directed Varun Dhawan starrer held quite well, closing the opening week at around 29 crore. The film also managed a reasonably good show on the second Friday and should come with a decent show and outcome, given the 35 crore digital and satellite rights, already in!

Acclaimed filmmaker Rajkumar Hirani, who is busy with the post-production of his upcoming film SANJU, featuring actor Ranbir Kapoor, has confirmed that the film's teaser will be released on Tuesday morning.

Refuting news of its release during an IPL match on April 24, Hirani said: "It is not a correct news that it is going to be released during the Indian Premier League (IPL) match. As far as I understand, we are launching the teaser before that.

"It will be in the morning of April 24. In the evening, it will be shown during the IPL match."

Hirani said this while interacting with the media on Friday, along with Subhash Ghai at the 5th Veda Session organised by Whistling Woods International Film Institute.

There were reports earlier that Hirani would release the first look of the biopic on Sanjay Dutt before the April 24 IPL clash and a teaser would be shown in the presence of Ranbir and Sanjay on the Cricket Live show on Star Sports.

When asked whether SANJU would help to re-establish Ranbir again, the 3 IDIOTS and PK director said: "He was always a Superstar. He never went away.

"He is fantastic actor and I really enjoyed working with him and in future, I would love to work with him again on a film."

Talking about the need of more film institutes in India, on the lines of Whistling Woods Institute, Hirani said: "I think we need more number of film institute's as we have very less.

"There are channels, we are making so many films in a year. We are the largest producer of films in the world. There are television shows and now there is the digital platform as well, so, for all that, we need good technicians.

"I feel Subhash Ghai is doing a commendable work through his Whistling Woods Institute by imparting knowledge to film students. My son also studies here so it is inspiring to see the kind of work happening here."

SANJU is a biographical drama, written and directed by Rajkumar Hirani and produced by Vidhu Vinod Chopra. The film is based on the life of actor Sanjay Dutt, with Ranbir Kapoor portraying the role.

SANJU is set to be released on June 29.

Acclaimed filmmaker Rajkumar Hirani, who is busy with the post-production of his upcoming film SANJU, featuring actor Ranbir Kapoor, has confirmed that the film's teaser will be released on Tuesday morning.

Refuting news of its release during an IPL match on April 24, Hirani said: "It is not a correct news that it is going to be released during the Indian Premier League (IPL) match. As far as I understand, we are launching the teaser before that.

"It will be in the morning of April 24. In the evening, it will be shown during the IPL match."

Hirani said this while interacting with the media on Friday, along with Subhash Ghai at the 5th Veda Session organised by Whistling Woods International Film Institute.

There were reports earlier that Hirani would release the first look of the biopic on Sanjay Dutt before the April 24 IPL clash and a teaser would be shown in the presence of Ranbir and Sanjay on the Cricket Live show on Star Sports.

When asked whether SANJU would help to re-establish Ranbir again, the 3 IDIOTS and PK director said: "He was always a Superstar. He never went away.

"He is fantastic actor and I really enjoyed working with him and in future, I would love to work with him again on a film."

Talking about the need of more film institutes in India, on the lines of Whistling Woods Institute, Hirani said: "I think we need more number of film institute's as we have very less.

"There are channels, we are making so many films in a year. We are the largest producer of films in the world. There are television shows and now there is the digital platform as well, so, for all that, we need good technicians.

"I feel Subhash Ghai is doing a commendable work through his Whistling Woods Institute by imparting knowledge to film students. My son also studies here so it is inspiring to see the kind of work happening here."

SANJU is a biographical drama, written and directed by Rajkumar Hirani and produced by Vidhu Vinod Chopra. The film is based on the life of actor Sanjay Dutt, with Ranbir Kapoor portraying the role.

SANJU is set to be released on June 29.

ASCHARYA F#*K IT — as the name suggests, is a bold film. But its director Samit Kakkad has "immense faith" in Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC), which has often locked horns with filmmakers over cuts and beeps. He is sure that the censor board will see the film, which is inspired from the works of controversial writer Saadat Hasan Manto, for what it is and hopefully value artistic expression.

The film, backed by Yoodlee films, Saregama India's movie production venture, is a concoction of suspense, action and erotica.

"It is (a bold film). But then does that mean in the fear of censorship, filmmakers should restrict stories that they want to tell? The reality is that Manto was a controversial writer, so while making a film based on his characters or style, I have to remain true to it as a filmmaker," Kakkad told IANS in an email interview.

"MANTO wrote about characters on the fringes of society and captured their world and their voice. I have immense faith in the CBFC system and I am sure they will see the film for what it is and hopefully value artistic expression."

The team shot in a brothel and had a sex worker on set to help the cast with the language, diction and mannerism for the movie that revolves around the lives of a prostitute, her pimp who loves her, a Bollywood superstar and his driver.

"Many of my characters' elements are inspired from bits and bobs of real life. The idea for me to choose the characters I did, was to show the intertwining nexus that exists and the stark differences of the lives. The glamour contrasted with the life of a sex worker contrasted with the life of a chauffeur," said Kakkad.

It has a Bollywood superstar as a character but the cast does not have an actual Bollywood superstar. It stars actors Priyanka Bose, Vaibhav Raj Gupta, Ankit Raaj, Anangsha Biswas and Santosh Juvekar.

Otherwise also, there are hardly any Bollywood erotic films that have big names. Aren't they bold enough to do erotic films?

"I think it is unfair to say that major actors shy away from such roles. There have been actors who have taken up the challenge and delivered. In my case, I never took the film to a major actor for the male part because I wanted a sense of realism with my characters and with a star, sometimes the persona ends up being bigger than the character," said the "Half Ticket" director.

Quite a few films are inspired by books or literary work. Is Bollywood running out of original stories?

"Hardly. I think the role of cinema is to dish out content that initiates some sort of an emotion, whatever it may be. Sometimes literary works provide just that and it's a challenge and equally exciting to try and do justice to the written word," he said.

As a filmmaker, he wants to continue to "push myself and continue making films that are exciting for me at first and then everyone else around me".

ASCHARYA F#*K IT — as the name suggests, is a bold film. But its director Samit Kakkad has "immense faith" in Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC), which has often locked horns with filmmakers over cuts and beeps. He is sure that the censor board will see the film, which is inspired from the works of controversial writer Saadat Hasan Manto, for what it is and hopefully value artistic expression.

The film, backed by Yoodlee films, Saregama India's movie production venture, is a concoction of suspense, action and erotica.

"It is (a bold film). But then does that mean in the fear of censorship, filmmakers should restrict stories that they want to tell? The reality is that Manto was a controversial writer, so while making a film based on his characters or style, I have to remain true to it as a filmmaker," Kakkad told IANS in an email interview.

"MANTO wrote about characters on the fringes of society and captured their world and their voice. I have immense faith in the CBFC system and I am sure they will see the film for what it is and hopefully value artistic expression."

The team shot in a brothel and had a sex worker on set to help the cast with the language, diction and mannerism for the movie that revolves around the lives of a prostitute, her pimp who loves her, a Bollywood superstar and his driver.

"Many of my characters' elements are inspired from bits and bobs of real life. The idea for me to choose the characters I did, was to show the intertwining nexus that exists and the stark differences of the lives. The glamour contrasted with the life of a sex worker contrasted with the life of a chauffeur," said Kakkad.

It has a Bollywood superstar as a character but the cast does not have an actual Bollywood superstar. It stars actors Priyanka Bose, Vaibhav Raj Gupta, Ankit Raaj, Anangsha Biswas and Santosh Juvekar.

Otherwise also, there are hardly any Bollywood erotic films that have big names. Aren't they bold enough to do erotic films?

"I think it is unfair to say that major actors shy away from such roles. There have been actors who have taken up the challenge and delivered. In my case, I never took the film to a major actor for the male part because I wanted a sense of realism with my characters and with a star, sometimes the persona ends up being bigger than the character," said the "Half Ticket" director.

Quite a few films are inspired by books or literary work. Is Bollywood running out of original stories?

"Hardly. I think the role of cinema is to dish out content that initiates some sort of an emotion, whatever it may be. Sometimes literary works provide just that and it's a challenge and equally exciting to try and do justice to the written word," he said.

As a filmmaker, he wants to continue to "push myself and continue making films that are exciting for me at first and then everyone else around me".