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'Lucknow Central': Music behind bars AsianVoiceNews
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Asian Voice | 9th September 2017
Mitul Paniker
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ife of an aspiring singer in the small town of Moradabad, Uttar Pradesh, is turned upside down when he is falsely accused of a murder and sent to Lucknow Central Jail. Let down by the stark cruelties and realities of life behind bars, he forms a risky plan to escape after a band competition is announced in jail. With the help of an NGO activist, he forms a band. Ace actor and singer, Farhan Akhtar is back on the silver screen with yet another unconventional movie, with a distinctive cast. Makers of upcoming film 'Lucknow Central' have left no stone unturned in promoting the movie on the internet. A brilliant use of social media to create intrigue and promote the film, makers of the film began an innovative and viral campaign #KishenNirdoshHai, that garnered attention from various active users. The makers even visited Yerawada Jail and celebrated Independence Day with over 4000 inmates. Akhtar, who plays lead Kishen Girhotra, launched a new song and crooned to his favourite track from the film 'Meer-e-Karwaan' and music composers Rochak Kohli, Deepak Dobriyal, and Inaam-ul-Haq were greeted with a loud cheer.
The ensemble cast of Farhan Akhtar, Diana Penty, Gippy Grewal, Ronit Roy, Deepak Dobriyal, Rajesh Sharma, and Inaamul-Haq has piqued interest of the audience. Director Ranjit Tiwari claims that the film is based on true events. He said, “Around three years ago, I read an article about an annual day programme and music competition started by the state government for jail inmates as an initiative for their reformation. Six to seven central jails in Uttar Pradesh participated in the contest. The idea blew my mind and I discussed it with director Nikkhil Advani, who I was assisting at that time. Eventually, he and Farhan joined hands for the project.”
When Meena Kumari Became a Victim of Triple Talaq
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esteryear actress Meena Kumari, famous as Bollywood's Tragedy Queen, lived a life full of series of upheavals including the humiliation and pain of a triple talaq. After falling in love with filmmaker Kamal Amrohi, the actress married him in 1952. However, the marriage soon hit the rocks, and once, in a fit of anger, Amrohi pronounced the triple talaq. As the incident broke the Meena, the couple later decided to remarry, which is when she had to undergo the draconian practice of the nikah halala. As per the ritual, a divorced woman has to marry another man first, consummate the marriage, and secure a divorce by mutual consent before being allowed to reunite with the first husband. Meena married actress Zeenat Aman's father Amaan Ullah Khan, divorcing him after a month to remarry Amrohi.
Viacom18 Motion Pictures joined hands with Nikkhil Advani’s Emmay Entertainment to produce the much awaited film and from what we can see, 'Lucknow Central' looks like a winner. “Gayatri is a strong woman” Diana, who plays female lead in the film, Gayatri Kashyap talks about her movie characters, and what makes them different. You have maintained a visible difference in the kind of roles you play. Meera (Cocktail), Happy (Happy Bhaag Jayegi), or now Gayatri- who does Diana identify the most with? There has been a conscious decision on my part to play different characters.
total opposite, she had her heart on her sleeves, was kind of impulsive. I did not relate to her at all, and it took me a while to get into her skin. Gayatri, is balanced. She is a measured person, is real and relatable- quite likely to be somebody you would
Meera was this shy, demure girl who for a time I could relate to because to an extent I myself am an introvert and was quite reserved in the past. Now, I feel like I have opened up now and am more confident than I was before. Happy was the
have bumped into at some point in your life. At this point in my life, I think I would relate to Gayatri the most because she is a strong woman, strongminded, stubborn. She has a strong sense of right and wrong, and she not a
pushover- and is used to getting her way. She is not a loud character but she has a silent strength to her and I think I can relate to that in a lot of ways. Considering your love to act in true stories, given a choice, who would you make a biopic on? This is a really tough question. I can't figure out just one person I would want to play, there are so many accomplished people in so many different fields. Having said this, I would love to do a biopic and I guess all will come down on the story and if I read a script with a really gripping story, yes, I would probably love to do that. A biopic sounds very challenging and it appears to be very difficult to pull off, and that is something I would definitely want to do... some day... Your acting has fared considerably well, and you found acclaim- both from critics and the audience, in your past projects. Why don't we see more of you on the big screen? I have two films releasing this year. One is 'Lucknow Central' on September 15, and 'Parmanu' on December 8. So I think I have well made up for my absence in a while. I am reading several scripts and hopefully something will come up soon and hopefully 2018 is as productive as this year.
No repetitive roles, says Ajay Devgn
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excites me but as far as genres are concerned, I would like to rotate genres. I do not like to be repetitive as it gets very boring,” Devgn said. “Doing similar kinds of roles do not excite me as it makes me feel boring and, then, one stops enjoying his work. As an actor, I like doing all
here is no doubt Ajay Devgn is an actor par excellence. His 25year career, the actor has tried his hands in all genres, be it comedy, action, or romance. Speaking in a recent interview, the 'Shivaay' actor said he likes to rotate all genres and is not interested in repetitive roles. “The roles that I have taken up earlier and roles that I am doing
I tried my best to look like Haseena Parker: Shraddha
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ctress Shraddha Kapoor who plays underworld don Dawood Ibrahim's sister Haseen Parkar in her biopic, said she went through several look tests. Speaking about director Apoorva Lakhia, she said, “He has done lot of research on the film and it's unbelievable. Its' a process and every single day we used to discuss how Haseena Parkar should come alive on the screen.” Shraddha added, “He said to get into the skin of the character, it is important I look
like her and so we tried out many things. I hope everyone enjoys when they see the film.” “He (Apoorva) asked me to get into the skin of the character, it is important I look like her and so we tried out many things. I hope everyone enjoys when they see the film.” Speaking at the unveiling of a romantic track from the movie, Lakhia said, “By the trailer one might feel that it is a violent film but that's not the case. Haseena was married to her elder brother's
best friend, Ibrahim, who used to run a restaurant and in his free time used to do stunt in films. She got married at a young age and they had four children.” He said the godmother had a tragic life that hardened her. “The gang war between Arun Gawli and Dawood Ibrahim and Arun's men shot Haseena's husband. She carried him on her shoulder. It's a tragic life. In some areas she is a godmother and in some areas she is a gangster, and that is for people to decide.”
genre films. Now, I have done 'Baadshaho', earlier I did 'Golmaal' both are of different genre films. So, I keep exploring all genres and that kept me going,” the 48 year old actor said. Ajay's latest, 'Baadshaho' sees him playing a gangster 'Bhawani' in the Milan Luthria directorial. The film is based on the emergency period, and also stars Vidyut Jammwal and Esha Gupta.