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Tiger Shroff: Another Action StarA few years ago, filmmakers were shying away from signing him but it was Sajid Nadiadwala who had…
Another Actor Turns ProducerIt’s a trend that’s turning into a tidal wave. We’re talking about actors turning producer.…
More On PK DealBox Office India was the first to tell you that Disney UTV had paid an astronomical price for Aamir…
Raj-DK To Launch Mahesh BabuThere was talk a few years ago that Telugu superstar Mahesh Babu would venture into Hindi filmdom…
“Today, I have to push much less to be appreciated”Guest Editor Deepika Padukone speaks to Box Office India about her upcoming release Yeh Jawaani Hai…
Awesome TwosomesAre hit actor-director pairings a commercial success or do they simply make for great…
Guns & PosesThere’s nothing funny about shooting in the scorching Rajasthan desert. But War Chhod Na Yaar…
The Reluctant FundamentalistWe’ve seen many films woven around the 9/11 terror attack in the US and the change in perception…
Columns
Thank God It’s Friday
Approach every film as if it’s your first. And never fear failure because there’s always another Friday
This industry is all about Friday. As they say, Friday can either make or break you. I am not the only director who works on one film at a time. ...
Posted in Columns
Tagged David Dhawan, Golmaal, Govinda, Raju Hirani, Rohit Shetty, Victoria No. 203
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Sound And Sensibility
Sound plays a pivotal role in any film but it is still only a ‘supporting actor’ in Indian cinema
Sound design in India is not taken as seriously as in the West. That’s why probably our films sound the way they do. It’s because we don’t invest time, energy ...
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Get Set Go!
A dream debut with a coveted banner paves the way for many more successes
There is no denying that it is extremely difficult, considering what the odds are, it seems virtually impossible for someone from outside to break into the industry. However, I believe where there is a will ...
Baby Steps
The corporate studio is where its all happening
Once upon a time, in the beachy town of Penang in Malaysia, a five-year-old boy used to gorge on Hindi movies shown at the local club. This was no Cinema Paradiso, but it still was a heady start.
I took ...
Then And Now
There’s but one barometer to judge good cinema – it’s emotional quotient
I celebrated my silver jubilee as a film director recently. Over the years, I’ve had so many ups and downs, not just in my career but also in the way our industry has evolved. But although I celebrated ...
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South India Syndrome
It’s a bug that’s invaded Bollywood today – everyone is remaking the super-hit South formula!
When I started making films in Hindi (which were mostly remakes of South films!), my detractors said, ‘What is he doing?’ Today, almost every week, there’s a remake of a South Indian runaway hit that ...
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Listen Up!
Why radio and films share a symbiotic relationship
Films are the mainstay of Indian entertainment. Music is the mainstay of films. And radio is the mainstay of music! We usually say that radio and music are two sides of the same coin. But this can easily be extended to ...
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Small Is Big
Mimicking the explosion that once transformed the country’s metros, smaller cities and towns are now poised for phenomenal growth in the entertainment sector
As the Indian economy experiences a boom in all sectors, triggered by its economic and investment policies, the metros or the Tier I and II cities ...
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We Are Family
Wouldn’t it be great if we could create a common platform, where the film fraternity could converse?
When we make speeches, or write columns, the film fraternity is always referred to as one large family. But the reality is quite different. Think about it, how often do we meet people ...
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Dream Come True
Early recognition, awards and a dream role. Could a debutante ask for more?
This is a saying that goes, well begun is half done. And I am fortunate to have that apply to me. You see, I began my career with the best in the industry – Yash Raj Films’ ...
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Loud And Clear
After cinema found a voice, there was no looking back. A peek into the fascinating journey of sound in Indian cinema
In 1913, Dadasaheb Phalke made a movie about a king who never lied – and the Indian cinema industry was born. Cinema then was more experimental than it ...
Posted in Columns
Tagged Dillagi, Dolby Laboratories India, Dum Maaro Dum, Rangeela, Sterling
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I Did It My Way
Stepping out on one’s own teaches one to be strong and, most importantly, gives wing to one’s passion as a filmmaker
Not a day goes by when I don’t think of Dharma Productions, with whom I worked. And there’s no point wondering what it would have been like had ...
Posted in Columns
Tagged Anurag Kayshap, Delhi Safari, Dharma Productions, Karan Johar, Nikhil Advani
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The VFX Scenario in India
While Indian filmmakers are looking westwards for VFX technicians, why are more and more Hollywood filmmakers wanting to work with Prime Focus?
The unparalleled success of Prime Focus in its home territory of India, built on a history of pioneering new processes, techniques and technology in the Indian post ...
Posted in Columns
Tagged Avatar, GI Joe Retaliation, Namit Malhotra, Prime Focus World
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The Era, The Music
Music plays an integral role in Indian cinema. And its rhythm has ebbed and flowed over the decades
Music In The ’60s:
The period after the ’60s was the post-Independence era. We were in our teens and that era saw the emergence of Shankar-Jaikishan, who composed fantastic music ...
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Playing Catch-Up
The resurgence in Bengali cinema can catapult the industry to the forefront in the regional space
The Bengali film industry has been experiencing resurgence during the last five to seven years. The audience is coming back to the cinemas, and with the opening of multiplexes, films have found newer ...
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Woman Power
Some stories can be told only from a woman’s perspective and it’s time they were told
People keep asking me why most of my films are female-oriented. Women are the lifeline of our society and I feel some stories can be told only from a woman’s perspective. Her power, ...
Oh, Brother!
Taurani brothers are all set to change strategy to take movie-making to a new level
It’s a new beginning at Tips Films, where my brother Ramesh (Taurani) and I have decided on a new strategy for our production studio. So, instead of working together, each of us will ...
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First Flush
Lifting the curtain on what it was like to make an all-time classic
Making Agneepath was a huge responsibility. First, it was a big decision to remake a classic film like Agneepath. The original featured Amitabh Bachchan and Danny Denzongpa. My first decision was to retain the ’90s backdrop ...
Payback Time
Sometimes, life comes a full circle, and, after an illustrious career that has delivered many hit films, it’s time to leverage new talent to give back to the industry
My career has been an interesting journey. I made my first film when I was fresh out of college. I ...
Leading The Way
When you stand apart, you stand alone. But taking risks is all about being a trend-setter
Time and again, my friends advise me to shout about my achievements and contribution to Indian cinema. I’m sure I have contributed and have brought a freshness to this industry in a very ...
Watch out, Bollywood!
Tracing the growth of Punjabi cinema
It all started with Manmohan Singhji. He was the cameraman for Maachis and I shared a great rapport with him. I enjoyed working with him on Mohabbatein too and have healthy respect for him as a technician.
A few years later, Singhji ...
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South-Side Story
A South star who’s making her Hindi debut walks the line between the twin industries
I am often asked to compare the South Indian film industry with the Hindi film industry but I am not sure I am the right person to comment on the subject. I have done many ...
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To Good Effect
The VFX industry and the use of technology on various platforms is growing
James Cameron’s epic movie Avatar collected over USD $ 2.78 billion worldwide. It was nominated for nine Oscars, of which it won three. Who didn’t want to see the lush world of Pandora, set in another ...
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Mother Of All Roles
Multi-tasking can make you a choreographer, director, producer and an actress but when it comes to the crunch, it’s always personal
Even as I write this, thousand thoughts flood my mind. I am going crazy with the publicity of Shirin Farhad Ki Toh Nikal Padi, which marks my debut ...
Number Game
Tracking collections is a reliable guide to an actor’s career– it’s the only real truth in this trade
There are actors who tell the media that they don’t track box office numbers. How is that possible in an industry where collections matter most? How can one not keep track ...
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We’re All In It Together
Directors and producers tend to believe that creativity is a product of extravagance, and that, to be creative, vast sums need to be spent on lavish productions. In the television industry, I have learnt to work with constrained budgets and when we’ve had bigger budgets, we’ve ended up spending more ...
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Multiplex March
The transition from single-screen to multiplex is much talked- about. Here’s looking at the revolution within the multiplex space
Indian cinema has come a long way since 1912, when the first motion picture hit the silver screen. Being a medium of mass reach, business houses found it a lucrative opportunity ...
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Dreams Must Wait
Fools rush in whereas a wise filmwallah waits for the right time. After all, turning producer is no mean feat
I am often asked why I didn’t do it earlier. Venturing into production, that is. Time and again, friends, colleagues, even the media have thrown this poser at me. They ...
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Shooting In The Dark
Is Market Research relevant for films made in India?
Marketing Research (MR) has evolved in this country during the last fifty years primarily because of a partnership between research companies and marketers. FMCG majors, particularly the likes of Levers and Colgate, invested a lot of money in developing the ...
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The Next Step
After a successful musical journey, T-Series climbs the ladder of filmmaking
It just seems like yesterday that I took over the control of T-Series. As a 19-year-old-boy, I stepped into the very large shoes left by my father. My immediate concern at that time was to hold the company ...
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Pehla Nasha?
A tongue-in-cheek comparison of two of the nation’...
A tongue-in-cheek comparison of two of the nation’...
Media Ga-Ga
People often say I am underrated as a star. But my...
People often say I am underrated as a star. But my...
Go Go Global
Doors have opened up for Hindi cinemas in the new ...
Doors have opened up for Hindi cinemas in the new ...
The Power of Two
The co-production model provides the scale and sco...
The co-production model provides the scale and sco...
Bipasha, Jodi Breakers and Me
Ashwini Chaudhury on Jodi Breakers
Ashwini Chaudhury on Jodi Breakers
Multiplex March
The transition from single-screen to multiplex is ...
The transition from single-screen to multiplex is ...
Payback Time
Sometimes, life comes a full circle, and, after an...
Sometimes, life comes a full circle, and, after an...
Loud And Clear
Dadasaheb Phalke made a movie about a king who nev...
Dadasaheb Phalke made a movie about a king who nev...
Listen Up!
Why radio and films share a symbiotic relationship...
Why radio and films share a symbiotic relationship...
Get Set Go!
A dream debut with a coveted banner paves the way ...
A dream debut with a coveted banner paves the way ...
Same Difference?
Films are the most popular source of entertainment...
Films are the most popular source of entertainment...
Tell Me A Story
Every filmmaker has a so-called ‘vision’ but how m...
Every filmmaker has a so-called ‘vision’ but how m...
