Call it the Indian Premier League (IPL) effect or anything else, movie buffs will be deprived of watching a good film this week. Considering the three small banner movies with no major star cast – Ishkq in Paris, Hum Hai Raahi Car Ke and Ziindagi 50-50 – releasing this Friday, we see a lull in business for Bollywood. The finale week of IPL 6 is considered to be one of the major reasons for filmmakers to be unwilling to release their films at this time, especially when cricket fever is on its high and has crème de la creme matches scheduled this week.

“I feel the pick of the lot this week will be Fast & Furious 6,” says leading exhibitor-distributor Akshaye Rathi. “Fast & Furious 6 belongs to a franchise that has always been popular in India and has grown from strength to strength with every edition. With DAR giving it a solid release, it’s bound to not only bring back its good old loyal audience to the cinemas, but also draw the youth (since its summer vacation) in large numbers!”

About the three Hindi films Rathi says, “Ishkq in Paris is releasing after a bit of a delay since it was made, but fortunately it still looks fresh. A big chunk of the movie-going youth has grown up watching Preity Zinta on the silver screen and had their teenage (onscreen) crushes on her. The limited release of the film (through PVR Pictures) may not allow it to reach the length and breadth of the country, but a chunk of the 90s / the present generation kids in urban centres may just find themselves at cinemas enjoying the latest offering from their teenage heartthrob!”

“Hum Hai Raahi… is another film that’s been delayed and is finally hitting screens across India. The film features Sanjay Dutt and Juhi Chawla with a fresh lead pair. Despite the lukewarm publicity, the film could just get a bit of an audience. It’s a clean, happy family film that is coming to cinemas after quite a while and it may appeal to families in the centres where it is releasing,” points out Akshaye. Talking about the BO prospect of the third release, Ziindagi 50 50 he says, “The only element that can give a film like Ziindagi… a bit of a draw is sex and the film seems to have enough and more of it. While Veena Malik has become a household name (for all the wrong reasons), her popularity among the front-benchers is undeniable. This might just work in the stalls of single screen cinemas in B and C class centres.”

Rajesh Thadani (Distributor, Multimedia Combines) feels, “Fast & Furious 6 is the only major release this week which has the potential to beat three relatively small banner films. If the content is good, the films might pick up by word of mouth. But as of now, I can see nothing but only Fast & Furious 6!”

We feel that the three Bollywood films have got a smaller chance to survive and do well. Though Preity has tried to promote Ishkq in Paris single-handedly as far as possible, unfortunately there’s been no buzz about the film. Similarly, Hum Hai Raahi Car Ke is Sanjay Dutt’s first release after he was arrested, but even that may not help the makers get a decent number of footfalls. And Ziindagi 50 50 may perform in the single screens, but that’s not too likely!

What do you think, Bollywoodlifers? Which film do you plan to watch this weekend?

Loosely based on Uttar-Pradesh based Sampat Pal’s ‘Gulabi Gang’, which works for the women’s betterment, Gulaab Gang features Madhuri in the main lead, and Juhi in a negative role.

“I enjoyed working in Gulaab Gang because I was working with Madhuri in the film. First time we shot the scenes with each other,” said Juhi during  the wrap-up party of the film. “I think she (Madhuri Dixit) has been one of my best co-stars,” Juhi added.

Juhi made her acting debut in 1986 with Sultanat, while Madhuri started acting with 1984 film Abodh. But both the actors had their first commercial hits in 1988 – Juhi made it big with Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak, while Madhuri rocked the nation with her Ek do teen number in Tezaab.

Post that, both gave many hits – If Juhi’s Oeuvre boasts of films like Darr, Yes Boss, Deewana Mastana, Hum Hain Rahi Pyar Ke, Bol Radha Bol and Ishq, Madhuri gave blockbusters like Dil, Saajan, Beta, Ram Lakhan, Dil To Pagal Hai and Devdas. Recalling the time of their rivalry, Juhi said: “There was a time when we were arch rivals and that rivalry remained for many years. We used to talk little bit. Whenever we met at any function or on the set of the film…just said ‘hello’ and moved ahead,” said the 46-year-old.

But now, putting all the rivalry aside, Juhi is really looking forward to Gulaab Gang. “After so many years, we both have got an opportunity to work together in a film. Besides, when I accepted that the script is very strong and she (Madhuri) is the hero and I am the villain in the film, it became very easy to work in the film,” Juhi said.

Co-produced by Anubhav Sinha and Abhinay Deo, Gulaab Gang has been directed by debutante Soumik Sen. Crediting Soumik for breaking the ice between her and Madhuri, Juhi said: “Soumik did one of the best things. He called the whole gang (team) of the film and read out the script. Before the shooting of the film, he called me and Madhuri in his office and said, ‘You people talk about anything, whatever you want to’. So, that was an ‘ice breaker’ (between me and Madhuri) before going on the set,” Juhi recalled.

At the special screening of his debut vehicle Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak (QSQT) to mark its 25 years, Aamir Khan shared that his children Junaid and Iran saw the film for the first time. “My children have not seen the film. Junaid and Ira have also come and they are seeing it for the first time,” he said.Aamir added that he was missing the team members who are not alive anymore.

“A very happy moment for all of us. We are all meeting after a long time. We are also missing those who were part of the film but are not there with us today. Nasir saab (producer Nasir Hussain), Majrooh saab (lyricist Majrooh Sultanpuri), Suresh Bhatt, who was the choreographer – they all are not with us today,” the 48-year-old said.

Meanwhile, Imran Khan, who cried after watching the climax of his uncle Aamir’s film in which he starred as a child artiste, says it should not be remade.”The film is still fresh and very enjoyable. To tell you the truth, I cried during the climax of the film. Yes, I was seeing it on the big screen for the first time and it was a lot of fun,” the 30-year-old told reporters post screening.

Juhi Chawla and Aami- starrer Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak completed 25 years on Monday and a special screening was organised to celebrate it. It was Mansoor Khan’s first directorial venture’s silver jubilee year.

Imran believes the film is too special to be remade. “This film should not be remade.

I believe this is a very special film and in my opinion I don’t think anyone can remake it,” Imran said.

Nagesh Kukunoor describes filmmaking as a test of certainty and conviction of a person because he feels making movies is a long solo journey, and one has to stay sane during the incubation period. Be it the story of a deaf and mute boy in Iqbal or the fate of two different women crossing the same path in Dor, Kukunoor has touched the hearts of the audience with his high-on-emotion stories.

“Whenever any filmmaker embarks on the journey of making a film, it’s a very long, solo fight. You have to believe very strongly in the subject matter that you are dealing with,” Kukunoor told in an interview. “By the time it reaches the audience, it takes almost a year-and-a-half. So you have to keep your head sane during that period,” added the director, who entered Bollywood with the 1998 movie Hyderabad Blues.

The 46-year-old quit chemical engineering to pursue celluloid dreams, and over the years, his passion for cinema hasn’t diminished.

“When I pick my stories, I am extremely passionate about them. I hope the story would do greater good than bad… You can worry about all that people would say, but you cannot go about controlling the opinion of others,” he said.

Even though Kukunoor has a credible number of films to his credit, he has still not tried his hands at a full-on masala movie. Although the genre fascinates him, the filmmaker believes he may not handle the topic as skillfully as other mainstream filmmakers. “I want to dabble in every genre. I consider masala movie a genre as well. I still cannot make what other filmmakers have because my sensibilities are my sensibilities.

“It is very similar to how you would perceive a dish or wear clothes. It completely has to work with your personality. I would still be different from anybody who takes the same material and make a film and there is nothing wrong with it,” he said.

Interestingly, Kukunoor makes hatke films, but he has worked with Bollywood’s mainstream actors like John Abraham, Juhi Chawla and Akshay Kumar and managed to fuse two different worlds of parallel and mainstream actors.

Asked if bringing commercially successful actors in parallel cinema helps in getting more eyeballs, he said: “An actor will first have to take a chance… The second thing is that you hope that the audience accepts the actor in that role. “Let’s say that I do convince the actor and get him on board… Yes, you will get more eyeballs, but the material still has to appeal to the audience, who predominantly looks for a timepass.”

Kukunoor was recently associated with CineArt ‘Aqua’ campaign organised by PVR Nest that had short stories made by children on importance of saving water. “I have not faced any water shortage, but I am extremely conservative about water and that is personally all that I can do. At a filmmaker level, I can draw attention to issues like that with my work,” he said. “My film Ye Honsla deals with extremely similar issue. It deals with water shortage in a village in Rajasthan and power of camera that empowers people to tell the story,” he added.

His next movie Laxmi is based on child prostitution and is in its post production stage. Kukunoor will also be seen in the role of a pimp in it.

Juhi Chawla, the leading lady of Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak (QSQT) that completed 25 years this April, says she and Aamir Khan “will do it again” if the film is remade. 

“We don’t have any plans of doing a remake. It was released on the 29th (of April) and the whole cast and crew has been invited for a screening on that day. I am very excited and looking forward to it. It is a foundation stone of my career so I am very emotionally attached to it. If it is made again, then Aamir and I will do it again,” Juhi said in Kolkata Friday on the sidelines of inauguration of the fertility clinic Genome.

Directed by Mansoor Khan and written by his father and producer Nasir Hussain, QSQT saw the debut of Hussain’s nephew Aamir and actor-model Juhi, who went on to become stars.

The entire cast is gearing up for a reunion April 29 in Mumbai where the landmark film will be screened again. ”Not only were we nobodies at the time… I know while we were making it… because it was so different from the films that were happening at the time, the crew would snigger and say what are they making. Nobody really knew it…it was magic which just happened,” Chawla added.

Released April 29, 1988, the love story drama broke through the norm of formula films that essayed violence.

QSQT‘s music also stood out from the 1980s’ predilection towards disco tracks.

“He (Mansoor Khan) is the one who called us all for the party. I am so thrilled because everybody kind of fell out of touch and we will be coming together after a long time,” said Juhi.

QSQT made the debutant pair a hit with with the masses, following which Aamir and Juhi were paired in “Love Love Love”, “Tum Mere Ho”, “Daulat Ki Jung”, “Hum Hain Rahi Pyar Ke and Ishq.

Medleys have always attracted filmmakers. From Farah Khan’s Om shanti om number to Sajid Khan’s Heyy Babyy track, many a director has tried to include as many celebrity faces as possible in one frame. So it’s only logical that the title track of Bombay Talkies features as many superstars as can be crammed into it, considering the fact that it celebrates 100 years of Indian cinema – a landmark moment in the history of movies!

Choreographed by Vaibhavi Merchant, the track Apna bombay talkies features the three Khans sharing screen space…well, kind of…for the first time. The track opens with Aamir Khan surprising a young man by breaking into a little gig for him, while Papa kehte hai (from Qayamat se Qayamat Tak) plays in the background. He is followed by Madhuri Dixit, Saif Ali Khan, Shahrukh Khan, Kareena Kapoor, Vidya Balan, Rani Mukerji, Farhan Akhtar, Shahid Kapoor, Priyanka Chopra, Anil Kapoor, Sridevi, Akshay Kumar, Karisma Kapoor and Juhi Chawla. The young Turks in the song include Ranveer Singh, Ranbir Kapoor, Imran Khan, Sonam Kapoor and Deepika Padukone. Each of these celebs does a dance step to a background tune of their most recognisable song!

In the video, the celebs are all clad like a dream – the women in gold and the men in black formals. Check out this amazing medley that could be the most star-studded clip you’ve ever seen! One thing – we missed the seniors, though. It would have been lovely to see the Sholay pair of Amitabh Bachchan and Dharmendra as a part of the song, for instance. What say, BollywoodLifers?

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On April 23, 1988, famous filmmaker Nasir Hussain’s production Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak (QSQT) released in a rather low-key manner. It launched his now-famous nephew, Aamir Khan into the world of cinema. The film’s leading lady, Miss India Juhi Chawla had debuted in another film, but QSQT served more like her first film in terms of appreciation and box office returns. The movie also marked the directorial first for Hussain’s son Mansoor Khan.

QSQT was a very Bollywoodesque and innocent take on William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet. It came in as a whiff of fresh air when action films with angry, angstish heroes like Amitabh Bachchan were still trending, and youngsters had no option but to watch Mithun Chakraborty, Govinda and Sanjay Dutt on the big screen. Rishi Kapoor was almost passé as a lover boy by then. The concept of undying love made a welcome comeback with the enchanting Aamir-Juhi pair.

Many of us were in school when the film released, and it left an indelible impression on our young minds. Here are 10 things which we loved about Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak that left the heartbreaking romance fresh in our minds even today.

1. Aamir Khan’s chocolate boy charm as Raj

2. Juhi Chawla’s youthful innocence (she’s just 18 in the film) as Rashmi

3. Aamir Khan with a guitar in the iconic college farewell song Papa kehte hain

4. Juhi’s use of the word ‘hum’ instead of ‘main’ – this became quite a trend

5. Aamir and Juhi’s multiple little smooches – simultaneously ‘Cho chweet’ and ‘OMG! They kissed!’

6. The heroine can’t cook and burns her rotis – and her lover totally loves it!

7. The hero is a vulnerable boy next door with no muscles and gets beaten up – but he is not weak

8. The runaway couple – most people want to run away from home for love at least once in their lifetime, and this film romanticised the thought

9. The songs – from Papa kehte hai (both versions) to Gazab ka hai din, Akele hain, Aye mere humsafar and Kaahe sataye – each melody of Anand-Milind had its own charm and the numbers are on the fave list of listeners even today.

10. The tragic ending (some thought of Romeo and Juliet, others Ek Duje Ke Liye). Apparently, the film had two endings, and the sad one was chosen by Mansoor in spite of opposition. This end ensured QSQT’s entry into the classic romance club.

So BollywoodLifers, are you fans of Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak too? Tell us in the comments below what you liked about the memorable film!

Looks like Madhuri Dixit-Nene is all geared up to try new things. So while we are a huge fan of her graceful dancing, now we will also get to hear her crooning for her new film, Gulaab Gang in which she will step into the shoes of a fierce activist.And the best part is that she will get to do that with her mum. Director Soumik Sen was the one who asked Mrs Snehlata Dixit if she would be interested in lending her voice since she has a singing background.

Madhuri too isn’t trying her hand at singing for the first time. She had sung with Karan Johar on the classic Kabhie Kabhie number for Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa 5. Now will it be a delight to hear MD sing? Well, we will decide that after listening to her track!

It’s that time of the year when you see Bollywood celebs having loads of fun on the runway. Actors, designers, event honchos – they all gather under one roof to create a style riot on the catwalk. Day 4 was one such dhamakedaar episode in this year’s LFW. A galaxy of B-town stars encouraging all kinds of designers – from the ones who believe in working for a cause to those to who need that much needed impetus to reach great heights in the fashion world…they were all were seen at the event. While some impressed us with their charm, celebs like Prachi Desai and Farah Khan stood out in the stylish crowd by wearing some uber novel creations. Let’s see who wore what…

Pics: Yogen Shah

Lakme Fashion Week 2013 has probably never seen more stars walking the ramp, and never have the stars looked so proud – all thanks to Vikram Phadnis and his unique idea of partnering with an NGO and including villagers to be a part of his glamorous fashion show.

On day 4 of the fashion week, Vikram Phadnis partnered with The Swades Foundation, and had its members walk the ramp along with B-town celebrities. The outfits were heavily inspired by rural India and Phadnis had the hall decorated with lanterns, as the celebs walked the ramp to the theme song from the movie Swades.

Filmmakers, choreographers, television actors as well as movie stars were a part of the show and they walked hand-in-hand with their compatriots from rural India. Those who were a part of this glitzy yet grounded fashion show were Ayushmann Khurrana, the Kai Po Che gang including Sushant Singh Rajput, Amit Sadh and Raj Kumar Yadav, lleana D’Cruz, Dia Mirza, Neha Dhupia, Ekta Kapoor and dad Jeetendra, Malaika Arora Khan and husband Arbaaz Khan along with their son, Rahul Bose, Kiran Rao, Chetan Bhagat, Ram Kapoor, Sakshi Tanwar, Juhi Chawla and producer Ronnie Screwvala.