Showing posts with label Bombay. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Bombay. Show all posts

Thursday, April 16, 2009

Abhishek was Mani's second choice

For all those who believe Abhishek Bachchan was the first and foremost choice for Mani Ratnam’s ‘Ravan’, it would come as a surprising revelation that Mani wanted to cast Shah Rukh Khan with Aishwarya as the lead pair of his multilingual project.

abi

When Mani Ratnam called SRK regarding ‘Ravan’, the Khan superstar was enthusiastic and said he would certainly meet for the narration. However, according to a source, “Not many know that Shah Rukh was the first choice. Mani had written the script keeping him in mind. Also, when Mani approached Ash, she suggested that he should approach SRK for the role opposite her.”

A long delay in communication between the actor and Mani made SRK commit to director Aditya Chopra for ‘Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi’.

Actually there were two reasons for things not materializing in SRK's favour. Firstly, he had given up on ‘3 Idiots’ and secondly ‘Robots’ had fallen through with Shankar. So, both films were not happening and Shahrukh had time.

Talks with Mani had begun only when he came to Bombay, unfortunately, by the time they sat on it, Adi had already approached SRK for ‘Rab Ne…’, and he had committed to it.

abi

When enquired about the curious buzz that shooting in jungles was the major cause of his rejection, Shah Rukh clarified, “That I just joke with everyone. I told Ashutosh agli baar jab ‘Jodhaa Akbar’ banayega (Shah Rukh was supposed to do Jodhaa Akbar!), toh yahan banana. I travel everywhere, I just joke with people. But if a film requires, then I will shoot anywhere. Like, for Karan Johar`s ‘My Name Is Khan’ I am shooting from Borivili to Boston. I have no issues, but I only like to time it so that when my kids have holidays, I can be with them.”

No worries...Abhi has all the ingredients required...do we doubt!!!

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Thursday, February 26, 2009

Abhishek as "Lallan" in Yuva was outstanding

Abhishek

Yuva (English: Youth), originally titled Howrah Bridge was a feature film directed by Indian director Mani Ratnam and released in 2004. Simultaneously made in Hindi (as Yuva) and Tamil (as Ayutha Ezhuthu), the prime objective of the movie was to motivate educated Indian youths to enter politics.

The film tells the stories of three young men from completely different strata of society and one fateful incident on Kolkata's Hooghly Bridge which changes their lives forever. The film is set in the city of Chennai in the Tamil version.Originally Hrithik Roshan and Simran Bagga were offered the roles played by Abhishek Bachchan and Esha Deol.


Story:

Lallan Singh (Abhishek Bachchan) is a criminal goon, originally from Uttar Pradesh but settled in Calcutta. He loves, marries, and abuses his wife, Sashi Biswas (Rani Mukerji).Micheal Mukherjee (Ajay Devgan) is a student leader, who wants politicians like Prosonjeet Bhattacharya (Om Puri), to keep away from college elections; He loves Radhika (Esha Deol).And then there is Arjun (Vivek Oberoi), carefree and spoiled, in love with Mira (Kareena Kapoor), who he just met, and who at one time wanted to relocate to the U.S., but then after meeting Michael,changes his mind and wants to be a politician.

The paths of these three young men cross each others', resulting in drastic changes in their lives.In the end of the movie it picturises that Lallan is in prison and shall be facing capital punishment and Michael and Arjun are elected in the elections and they get a seat. Sashi leaves town to another city,unaware of what has happened to her husband, but suspecting he has ditched her.Abhishek was full of enthusiasm for the film where for the first time he worked with "genius" Mani Ratnam . He recalls it as a very special film and his character in it - Lallan Singh the most "special character he has ever played".

Abhishek's solo hero act in film titled Run in the same year brought him no credit and was a verve at the box-office. But so-called another league film Yuva brought him hell lot of critical applaud.The movie had flaws unlike Mani's other flicks Roja and Bombay, but indeed had a soul.


Awards:

In 2004 Filmfare Awards, film won awards in these categories.

* Best Supporting Actor - Abhishek Bachchan
* Best Supporting Actress - Rani Mukerji
* Critics Award Best Movie - Mani Ratnam
* Best Screenplay - Mani Ratnam
* Best Art Direction - Sabu Cyril