SALMAN KHAN: BHARAT

Continuing the tradition of releasing his films on the festive occasion of Eid, Bollywood superstar Salman Khan has booked the auspicious date for his 2019 release titled Bharat

The film is an official adaptation of 2014 South Korean film Ode to My Father, which depicted modern Korean history from the 1950s to the present day through the life of an ordinary man.

It showcased events such as the Hungnam Evacuation during the 1950 Korean War, the government’s decision to dispatch nurses and miners to West Germany in the 1960s and the Vietnam War.

The film was identified as potential content for the Indian audience following its screening at the Berlin Film Festival, which was attended by filmmaker Atul Agnihotri who will be backing Bharat as a producer, read a statement.

It traces the journey of a man that starts in 1947 and ends in 2002.

Agnihotri, who is also Salman’s brother-in-law, said, “It’s the journey of a country and also a person, both of whom go by the name of Bharat.”

“That film is just the starting point for us, but since it was an inspiration, we wanted in all fairness to officially own it and acquired the remake rights before going ahead with Bharat,” he added.

Bharat will be helmed by director Ali Abbas Zafar and will feature Salman as the protagonist. The project goes on the floors in April next year and will be filmed in Abu Dhabi and Spain, besides Punjab and Delhi in India.

Good Diwali At Indian Box Office

The Indian box office witnessed a “tremendous” response during the special Diwali weekend with the release of Bollywood films Golmaal Again, Secret Superstar and Tamil film Mersal All the three movies started on a positive note, say trade gurus.

Made on a budget of Rs 15 crore including the cost of production and prints and publicity, Aamir Khan and Zaira Wasim-starrer Secret Superstar, which released on Diwali on 19 October, has minted Rs 31.31 crore in four days.

Rohit Shetty’s Golmaal Again - the fourth film in the Golmaal franchise starring Ajay Devgn, Tabu, Parineeti Chopra and Arshad Warsi among others - collected Rs 87.60 crore in three days since its release on 20 October.

“Diwali weekend has brought abundant cheer and spread sunshine,” trade analyst Taran Adarsh tweeted.

As for Mersal, Tamil actor Vijay’s Diwali release, it is also receiving a positive response in India and across the world.

The film was already much-awaited given the triple role that Vijay essays in the project, and it grabbed more headlines after the Tamil Nadu unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) demanded the removal of specific dialogues from the movie which take a dig at the Goods and Services Tax (GST) and digital India.

Mersal chased a massive total in the international markets, despite stiff opposition posed by the two Hindi releases.

IT’S A DREAM RESPONSE: DEBUTANT DIRECTOR

A new director, a 17-year-old lead and a cameo by Aamir in a quirky avatar.

A new film has been drawing in the audiences this month.

Advait Chandan, who has made his directorial debut with Secret Superstar - a simple tale about a teenaged girl chasing her dreams - says the response to the movie is like a “dream”.

“I went to a theatre full of people and they clapped and laughed and were moved by the film. It gave me goosebumps... I keep pinching myself to check if it’s real,” Chandan said in a statement.

The film, backed by superstar Aamir Khan, features Dangal girl Zaira Wasim as Insiya, who sets out to follow her dream of being a singing superstar under the confinement of anonymity.

Chandan acknowledges that Aamir’s presence has helped the film pull the crowds in. He said, “No production house was ready to support the film. The way Aamir Khan Productions has supported the film with all resources and mounted the project, is great. Only AK can do that.”

Chandan is a former manager of

Aamir, who plays Shakti Kumaarr in the movie.

“I wrote the part of Shakti Kumaarr and convinced him to play it, so I take full credit of his casting. In the beginning, he was hesitant, but then he also started enjoying the character.”

According to the makers, the Diwali release was made at a budget of Rs 15 crore, including cost of production and print and publicity.

It made a total of Rs 31.31 crore in the first four days of its release at the Indian box office, the makers said in a statement.

IT’S TIME TO EXPOSE BOLLYWOOD’S WEINSTEINS: PAHLAJ NIHALANI

Former censor board chief Pahlaj Nihalani says people like Harvey Weinstein exist in Bollywood too, and need to be exposed.

Weinstein, a popular Hollywood producer has been accused of sexual harassment or abuse by more than three dozen women, including several top actresses including Ashley Judd, Rose McGowan, Gwyneth Paltrow, Cara Delevingne, Lupita Nyong’o and Angelina Jolie.

In a recent interview, actress Priyanka Chopra spoke up about the Weinstein element being prevalent everywhere, including Bollywood. Nihalani concurs. “Priyanka is right. There are Harvey Weinsteins in Bollywood too. They continue to exploit hapless strugglers because they are not held liable for their dirty deeds. This is the time to expose them.”

“I am talking about aspiring actors and actresses being forced to offer sexual favours in exchange for job opportunities. Bollywood has a very clear list of offenders who misuse their position,” added Nihalani.

The Weinstein episode seems perfectly timed for Nihalani’s new film Julie 2, which he is presenting and distributing: it is about the casting couch menace in Bollywood.

Appalled that actresses have not come forward to name these offenders, Nihalani now intends to shout out their names at a press conference.

“But for that we need victims to come forward. We are in the process of getting together voices of the victims to speak up publicly. The time to nail the Harvey Weinsteins of Bollywood is now.”

Pooja Bhatt To Pen All About Battle With Bottle

Just after Diwali this year, actressfilmmaker Pooja Bhatt announced a new project. No, it’s not a film, but a book. One that too, that tells her own story. Yes, about her battle with alcohol.

In March this year that Pooja spoke to journalist Roshmila Bhattacharya on her battle with the bottle, saying, “If I didn’t quit now, I’d have drank myself to the grave.”

It’s been ten months since she quit alcohol.

“It hasn’t been easy but it hasn’t been too difficult either,” Pooja said recently. “We announced the book on Bhai Dooj, when traditionally Indians have just ushered in a new year. As the Diwali lights continue to sparkle around us, please support me on this journey the way you always have through all my films,” added the daughter of veteran filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt.

“I would like to emphasise that it is not an autobiography. At 45, I am too young to write my memoirs. As they say in filmi terms, ‘Picture abhi baaki hai, dost’. But I can help others like me deal with their problem by talking about my journey,” Pooja said.