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I Will Get A New Identity After BRIJWA  - GUNJAN PANT

Where there are starlets who want fame and name from films at any cost there are also those who want to sign films heartily. Gunjan Pant from Uttaranchal has no thought for any of these. Brought up in Nainital she went to Bhopal when past her teens to study. What had to be happened, happened! The artiste in her wanted to do something. Her ability to dance was one more sign that she had it in her to be an actress. These days, Gunjan is a Bhojpurifilm heroine. Excerpts of her interview;

Gunjan is discussed widely. When this happened, what it feels?

Feels good. This happened because of our producer Jitesh Dube. He thought of me in the right image. I was instantly signed for a challenging role in BRIJWA. The film will usher in a new revolution in Bhojpuri cinema, I feel. BRIJWA will familiarize me among cine goers.

What would you reveal of your role in BRIJWA ?

There are three friends Raghu, Veer and Yadav. f am in the role of sister of Raghu. BR JIWA is a 'error in our rural. Women fear for their chastity. My brother's friends Raghu and Veer arrive on a black day Brujwa's attention is brought to our house. AN at once he murders our grandfather, wounds mother and mercilessly rapes me. Then the facts unfold.

What do you think of producer, director of BRIJWA ?

I revealed you my opinion of Jitesh Dube. Had he not assigned me this role I would not be in so much publicity. Manjul Thakur who directs BRIJWA is a disciplined man. My rape scene was hard to do. f mean after murder of grandfather, attack on mother and then rape! It was a challenge to act all of it in one scene. From the way Manjul revealed the scene and insisted I can do it became easy.

What you are up to these days?

After this I am to shoot for Jagdish Sharma directed MAR DEB GOLIKEHU NA BOLI. My costars are Ravi Kishan and Deepak Dube. It is an entertainer. 

Is it fact that a film like BRIJWA is still not produced in Bhojpuri?

This is a fact. No Bhojpuri film like BRIJWA is released till date. On behalf of our team I want to thank producer Jitesh Dube that he has produced a film like BRIJWA.

Producer Jitesh Dube has signed you to act in his Shree Krishna Creations next film MAR DEB GOLI KEHU NA BOLI. Do you not feel Shree Krishna Creations is No. 1 producer?

This banner produces films quickly. They are thoroughly publicized before their release. This is a ritual all producers should go for. 

What do you do apart from this?

These days I am shooting for producer Laxman R. Pandey's Chunmun Pandit directed film KISNA KAILAS KAMAAL. In it Vinay Anand happens to be my male costar. This apart I signed Ajit Shrivastav directed NATHUNIYA PE GOLI MARE that stars Pankaj Keshari and Sudeep Pandey. I also celebrated success of Abhay Sinha film PARIVAR. L am in wait for release of BRIJWA.

I have high hopes from ROKKK - Shaad Randhava

Shaad Randhava ma appear a new name, but for those who have seen Wo Lamhe and Awaapan this is a known name becuase Shaad Randhava had attracted viewers attention in these films. Son of world famous wrestler Randhava and nephew of Dara Singh have now earned a name for himself. Acting is in his bloods due to his father and uncle. Famous actress Mumtaz is his Mausi, mother's sister. At present Shaad is the playing the lead role in Rokkk and has Udita Goswami and Tanushree Dutta as glamourous actresses in the film. Rokkk is being presented by Ikkon Films and produced by the trio of Krishna Chaudhary-Sumit Sehgal-Vipin Jain. Director of the film is Rajesh Ransinghe. Recently we met Shaad on the sets of the film where we had a long chat. Presented below are the excerpts from that chat:

Do you wanted to do act in the films since your childhood?

Yes, this is true. I had a family of film personalities and was doing stage shows since I was in class four of Arya Vidya Mandir, Mumbai. Then I did the same during my college days in M.M.K. College where I did my B.Com. I was known for performing all kinds of roles and viewers used to appreciate my acting and dialogues. It was then that I decided to join films as an actor.

How did you get the entry?

Due to my Uncle Dara Singh and Mausi Mumtaz I had no difficulty in getting entry into the films. But you get the chance only once and thereafter you get everything based on your own performance. Your have to fight for every inch of territory here. I got a role in Wo Lamhe in 2006. This was a Bhatt camp film which was directed by Mohit Suri. The story was based on the life of Parveen Bobby. I got a chance to work with Shainy Ahuja and Kangana Ranavat in this film. I was awarded the Best New-comer for the film by Stardust. Being awarded in my very first film encouraged me. Thereafter did many important roles in Awarapan and Dhum Dhadaka etc.

How were you selected in ROKKK?

Producer Krishna Chaudhary was looking for a young actor and Imran Hashmi and secretary of Udita Goswami introduced my name. I was called and got selected after I met krishna Chaudhary and Rajesh Ransinghe at the office of Ikkon Films.

What was the special which made you accept the offer?

Krishna Chaudhary had once made a Sunny Deol starrer movie Right Yaa Wrong presented by Subhash Ghai. He has also made Jacky Shroff starrer Bhoot Uncle. So he is a producer who has a history of successfully completing and releasing films in time. Right or wrong is due for release this month. Then I had a chance to work with Udita Goswami, Tanushree Dutta, and Sachin Khedekar. Third is my role in the film and its story and finally is the fact that director Raajesh Ransinghe is known as master of horror films.

Now please tell something about your role and the film Rokk?

I am doing the character of Ranbir who is a CBI officer. Udita Goswami and Tanushree Dutta are sisters in the film. This is a horror movie. Some unnatural happenings start in the house of Tanu. Her sister Udita thinks that some one is doing all this mischief and so I am entrusted to look for the culprit. Udita is a courageous girl and joins me in this mission. We then develop intimacy. I am getting good support from the producer Krishna Chaudhary and director Rajesh Ransinghe, so I have high hopes from this film Rokkk

Do you believe in ghosts and this type of incidents?

No, I don’t believe in such stories, but after doing the film I have started feeling that there are some invisible powers too. Some times when rituals are performed for exhorting it seems that some unnatural power is trying to create obstacle for the film. Just see now, the shooting has stopped due to rains and it is raining in only half a kilometer radius around the shooting area. Is not it surprising?

Whar kinds of films are you going to do in future?

I would like to do this type of character as I have in Rokkk. Then I would like to insure that the character matches my personality. I am going to act in Bunty Walia's Gangs of London and a special project of Vishesh Films after Rokkk.

There is something new to do in ROKKK : Sachin Khedekar

Sachin Khedekar, who played the role of Home Minister Shivshanakar in the recently released film Shadow, is popular on small as well as silver screen for the last 25 years. Rang Rasiya, Jaan Ki Baaji, Jor Laga ke Haiyya, Ek - Power of One are some such films which shows the busyness of Sachin.

Sachin started his career with Imtihaan serial and then graduated on to silver screen with Astitva where he made his mark doing a negative role in his very first film. Though he is equally busy in theatre as well as films, Sachin loves doing theatres. Acting has become his second nature as he has been acting since his childhood in Marathi and Hindi theatres and hardly any retakes are needed while he shoots for his films.

Born at VilleParle in Mumbai Sachin joined the theatre group of famous actor-director VInay Apte. This evergreen actor is now busy shooting for ROKKK being produced under the banner of Ikon Films by Krishna Chaudhary, Sumit Sahgal, and,Vipin Jain. The flm ROKKK is being shot at Future Studio of Mumbai. I had a small chat with him on the sets where he was shooting with much talked about actress Tanushri Dutta. Presented here are the excerpts from that interview:

Let us start with your role in the film ROKK.

I am doing the role of Ravi Malhotra, a simple straight forward youth. Anushka(Tanushri) is my wife and Nishi(Preeti Sharma) is my sister. Udita Goswami is playing the role of my sister-in-law (saali) and Shaad Randhawa is playing her boyfriend.

And something about today's shoots?

It is my marriage anniversary celebrated in a Bungalow I am presenting to my wife on this anniversary. Party is due tonight and the preparation is going on.

What is special in this film?

I can't give you the details. You will have to ask Rajesh Ransinghe. As this is a horror and suspense thriller nothing should be divulged ahead of the release. But coming to my role, my wife feels that something strange are happening with her since she came here. We have got many rituals performed by exorcists before we are shifting here. My wife is scared and so am I. It appears that some magical power wants to disturb us. So we are moving around in the house scared inside. 

Have you ever felt such incidents in your real life?

No, I don’ believe in these superstitions. But even today we had a strange experience here on the sets. Everything was arranged, Rangoli and all, for today's shooting annd director and producer left yesterday after everything was properly locked. But when we arrived today everything was dispersed. What to say about this? Some say that it is due to the scene shot yesterday to exorcize the ghost. Only God knows more.

Director Rajesh Ransinghe belongs to small screen. Were you in tune with him from there?

We are known to each other for years but have-not got chance to work together. This film has given that chance to work together. It is also first opportunity to work with Krishna Chaudhary, Sumeet Sehgal, and Vipin Jain of Ikkon Films. Sumeet Sehgal is an established artist so he knows the job; Krishna Chaudhary is also a known personality. He has made Bhoot Uncle and Right yaaa Wrong earlier.

What is your attitude towards acting?

I don’t think acting is by birth or by training. Acting improves with practice. Much you work, much you learn. I am a Marathi and I learnt Hindi by hard way and am still learning. I read Hindi newspapers loudly so that I can deliver my dialogues effectively.

You are on both the screens, small as well as silver. Which one is more important?

I started with small screen and earned my recognition from there. Now I am working more for the silver screen. The difference I felt is that one looks smaller on TV while big on cinema screen. People forget you once the serial becomes old in memory while they remember cinema personalities longer.

How do you bring variations in your roles?

I always want to do roles with a difference. When they become similar I move to theatre where a new Sachin grows with a new energy. For example my upcoming film is Ek Thi Raani, which is based on the life of Vijaya Raje Scindhia and I am doing the role of Sardar Angre. Another film Ravan by Maniratnam has me in a govt. Officer role. 

I am competing with myself – Meghna Malik

Meghna Malik who is prevalently known as the ardent and rude Ammaji of Naa Aana Iss Des Laado is quite happy with the success of her show. On being asked to express her views on being part of a show which is based on a social issue, she says “I am extremely blessed that I am part of a social drive. I am happy that I am able to spread across a message through my character and that it is been accepted by people out there.”

How does she feel about her character’s rigidness? She states “Ammaji has gone through a lot and that’s the reason why she has turned being so rude and rigid. All this will be revealed in the serial later.

When asked about the fact that these issues are actually present in the society, she cuts in to say “I am extremely aware that in today’s age also educated butchers are prevalent in the society, who wants a male child. I pity such people and I just hope we all will be able to help them in improving their thinking

And lastly when asked about her character being compared with that of Dadisa (played by Surekha Sikri), she enunciates “I consider that my competition is with my self. I can’t be compared with any other character as everybody has their own skills. And if I am able to do justice to the script then I am successful.”

Yeah, we hope that you succeed in bringing about a revolutionary change in the mindset of people.

Billo Rani was a challanging role : Nirahua

Dinesh Lal Yadav Nirahua, Silver Jubilee  Super Star of Bhojpuri Cinema, is a dedicated actor of Bhojpuri and wants to establish Bhojpuri Cinema at par with global cinema. He does not believe in numbers of his films but wants to do only quality films. These virtues make him a respected name amongst the Bhojpuri Stars.

Recently his home production film Prem Ke Rog Bhayeel was released in Bihar  and proved to be a super duper hit film. As per Bihar Distributor Film is giving Record Breaking collection  about 60 Lacs  in First Week in  Bihar . Now the film is going to be released in Mumbai and rest of India soon. Almost the whole Bhojpuri Film Industry was present at the premier show of the film Prem Ke Rog Bhayeel held at Mumbai recently and every one praised the film. Specially the role of Billo Rani played by Nirahua. They said only Nirahua was capable of this feat and will be remembered long for this role.

Presented below are the excerpts of an interview of Nirahua done at the occasion of the premier show:

Your home prpduction film ‘Prem Ke Rog Bhayeel ‘ is doing a roaring business in Bihar. How do you feel about it?

I gave the film my best honestly, and when you give something the best of yours, you are bound to succeed. That is why almost all of my films are hit at the box-offices. I was confidant of Prem Ke Rog Bhayeel being a success. Naturally, I felt good when I was told that it has done wonders in Bihar where it was released simultaneously in 32 cinema halls and is giving more than hundred percent result! Our director Farooq Siddiqui has discharged his duties with responsibility.

Don’t you feel that the role of Billo Rani is influenced by ‘Chachi 420 ‘or ‘Aunty No.1 ‘, because all these films showed the hero romancing with his love in the guise of a girl?

No, I don’t totally agree with you. You can say that the film somewhat repeats those films but it is totally different from those films in many aspects. The film gives a healthy and good entertainment. Honestly speaking the role of Billo Rani was a challenge for me and I accepted the challenge to the best of my capability. And the results are in front of you!

What message does the film convey?

If you want do resolve something with force you are bound to fail. But if you try it with love and compassion you are certain of succeeding. My girlfriend in the film is the daughter of a powerlord. He is against our marriage and deploys all kinds of force against me, But finally I win him over with my love as a girl. 

What was that special something which made you agree to do the film?

At the outset I was influenced when Farooq Siddiquir narrated the story to me. I felt it to be a total story mirroring life. I have done these before but this time it was a different story and the cinegoers will find a new Nirahua and will come to see the film again and again.

Did you encounter some problems doing this role?

No. Nothing. My co-artists Pakhi Hegde, Awadhesh Mishra, and Manoj Tiger helped me a lot and they reviewed my every shot. I would also like to thank Farooq Ahmad Siddiqui who got the best out of me and a very good film was produced.

Are you now in the position to choose your roles?

Yes, of course! I am only doing selected films now and want that Bhojpuri films get international recognition. I started my own film production house keeping this aim of making good films in Bhojpuri. Prem Ke Rog Bhayeel is the example of that devotion. Nest film of my production house is Nirahua Tangewala which will be the biggest Bhojpuri Film till date. In reality I want to change the taste of Bhojpuri Cinegoers so that they choose to see only class films in Bhojpuri. Now I want to produce Bhojpuri Films for the international market.

What is more going on these days?

My films are regularly making waves. Pratigya has done Silver Jubilee, Deewana has completed 50 days in Bihar, so has Chalani Ke Chalal Dulha in Bihar and UP starring my youger brother Pravesh Lal in the lead role. I have just completed the shootings of Parivaar and many are in the pipeline. I am all booked for the next two years. 

“ I want to do every type of roles”-  Prabhat Bhattacharya

Prabhat Bhattacharya is a hit and popular artist. Especially, his roles in Balaji’s serials are still remembered. Ajay Agrawal in ‘Kahani Ghar – Ghar ki’,Ajay in ‘Kasturi’, Dev in ‘Kabhi Aye Na Judaai’, Rahul in  ‘Kumkum’ and ‘Koi Apna Sa’, Inrajeet in ‘Doli Saja Ke’ are engraved on viewers’ mind.  His negative role of a ruffian  Ajit  in Balaji’s serial for Zee TV’s ‘Pavitra Rishta’ has earned him even more fans. He is also doing tittle role in film based on football “Kaanu- the Footballer”. He is a socially aware person. And that is what got him to support and canvass for an independent candidate Madhu Koda in Jharkhand in 2009 Lok Shabha election. His candidate won with a margin of more than one lakh votes.

Excerpts :

What is your role in ‘Pavitra Rishta’?

It is a negative character of a Maharastrian ruffian boy. Role is very powerful and I am enjoying it.

Why negative role, when your image is so contrary?

I am an actor. I love acting. When you do similar roles for long, the acting spirit in you takes a nosedive.  So, in order to let your actor in you alive and kicking, it is very important to do different roles, to look into the roles what is beyond your image. For me, only one thing is important and that is role. If role is powerful, nothing matters whether it is negative or positive.  In Pavitra Rishta I found role very powerful and what I had not done earlier.

You are also doing a film ‘Kaanu- the Footballer’. What is this film all about?

As name suggests, you can easily figure out what is the all about. I have been a football fan since my childhood. So, this film fulfills my childhood desire of being a footballer. I am training very hard to look like a real football player in the film. Everything is in the process; it will be premature to give out details of this film at this moment.

You canvassed for an independent Candidate Madhu Koda in election 2009. Love for Politics or the Politician?

 Both.  As an aware citizen of the country you have to be part of its politics. Either as a voter, or as a politician or as a supporter. You should not get rid of this responsibility. Madhu Koda is very good friend of mine. Apart from that, I value him as a politician also. We transformed a truck into stage and named Madhu Koda Express. We did shows on it all over the city. We conveyed the message across to the masses that Madhu is a young and dynamic leader who really wants to do something for the people. I think people understood us and gave their mandates in our favour.  During this period we even founded there a football club “Football club of Kolhaan’ where one can learn football.

You are mostly seen in Balaji’s serials. Any special reason for that?

I have got everything what I, as an actor and as a person, wanted from Balaji Prductions. They gave me opportunities to show my talent. They gave love and respect. What else an actor needs? Having worked in Balaji’s so many serials, it has become second home.

What is your future plan?

To prove my self as a versatile actor. An actor who is loved, appreciated and remembered for his work.

The middle age songs were really horrible – Neha Marda

Gorgeous actress Neha Marda from Sphere Origins’s Balika Vadhu speaks on music.

Q. Which songs are you enjoying most these days?

A. Very soothing songs because right now I am in Goa so the Thai and the Chicago music really soothes ones ears.

Q. Which film songs from the recent releases have appealed most to you?

A. I think Soniyo from raaz and songs from Delhi 6.

Q. What do you like most – original or remix?

A. Originals.

Q. Which are your five all time favorite songs?

A. Pal pal dil ke paas, You say the most when you say nothing at all, Aaoge jab tum, Maula from Chak De and Soniyo from Raaz.

Q. Which is your favourite romantic song?

A. Soniyo from Raaz and You say the most when you say nothing at all are the most romantic songs for me.

Q.: Which opinion is most close to your heart – Today’s songs are better than oldies, Today’s songs are as good as oldies had been or Today’s songs are worse than oldies.

A. It is very subjective right now. The middle age songs were really horrible songs I believe but now we have Aatif Aslam and Kailash Kher, people who have given some amazingly good songs. The whole tone has made a lot of difference, the kind of music has changed; the lyrics have improved a lot too.

Q. How do you look at the concept – Old is Gold?

A. I respect this concept, but with the context with somebody who is experienced enough, somebody like grandparents, I believe they are old and gold.

Kiran Chopra's painting story and exhibition  

‘Current world crisis forced me to choose B&W’ 

She specializes in abstract and figurative paintings and has made her mark in being the solo female artist in our country who paints only in black. Though born and brought up in Gwalior, this Mumbai-based artist has carved a niche in her paintings. She also owns a studio at Malad, where she currently resides. Today, Kiran Chopra, disturbed by the on-going world crisis like terrorism, recession and global warming, has put up a unique show in the name of God for peace and harmony. And that’s not all… she is also a Hindi poetess and does illustrations for many leading magazines and newspapers. In a candid interview, Kiran Chopra reveals her creative talent. 

What is your background like...

I was born and brought up in Gwalior. The seeds of my creative talent were sown by my parents. They strongly believed in women empowerment who knew a woman had much greater role to play beyond the four walls by creating an identity of their own. From the very beginning my mother had deep interest in art and culture. I was highly inspired by my mother’s value and interest, so I chose fine arts as my subject and did bachelors in masters degree. I started full-fledged career 14 years back. During that period I met senior landscape masters like S A M Kazi and Baburao Sadvekar. They were overwhelmed by my work and guided me to follow the right path. 

In your paintings, why have you chosen mythological love sagas?

At present, the world is going through difficult problems like terrorism, inflation, unemployment, etc. In short, I can see unhappiness, depression, hatred amongst people. I am trying to release people's tension and depression by conveying the message of love. I have specially chosen mythological love sagas because the expression of love between the mythological characters and according to me they were so pure and materialistic. There was sacrifice and tolerance which lacks in today’s world. God's name is so magnetic that I want to create that magnetism in my paintings as well by conveying love sagas of Indian mythological characters.  

How do you carve your paintings?      

I can work in all mediums but generally I work with oil on canvas and paper. I don’t draw figures but simply work on free hand, after thinking over the subject and visualising it. I then colour my figures and give them dimensions by scratching them.         

When did you conceive and execute this idea? 

The mythological concept immediately striked me during the bad phase our world was going through. I thought I will execute this idea in my very next show.    

Tell us more about your work? 

‘Love’ through our mythological characters is my main message that I want to convey. I am conveying love sagas of our Gods because their form of love is diminishing between the people in the world. The sacrificial love between Sita and Lord Rama, the magnetic love between Radha and Lord Krishna, the true love between Shakuntala and Dushant, Damyanti and Nal… These love sagas are so beautiful that anybody can’t be untouched by knowing them. I have tried my best to depict these sagas on my canvas that will touch the hearts of my art spectators and lovers. 

You seem to have evolved more and more as a painter with the current works. Tell us about the growth. 

Yes definitely, according to me an artist should evolve with better and better work in every show. I also believe an artist should maintain their identity and not keep changing their work drastically in each show.

Hence, I always try to keep my own technique in every show and experiment the technique in various styles every time. I had 28 solo shows and participated in various reputed other shows. Initially I worked on landscape, figurative and abstract too. Then I worked on monochrome of different colours.

Then I chose black as my colour and invented a unique distinctive technique which gave me identity in the world of arts. Black and white paintings with numerous faces at the background fetched me many awards and appreciation from art lovers.

Now I am evolving show by show experimenting with different colours but kept my own technique every time. My last show ‘Tribute to Masters’ had lots of colours without black on canvas. This time I have blended colours with black, the colour which depicts my identity. 

Are the colour juxtaposed to your Black and White?

Well my black and white was very unique and well-placed with my identity in the world of art. But as part of evolution, I experiment my technique with colours as well so that I can give variety to my art spectators and lovers. 

How did you get distinctive identity in Black & White for the first time? 

In the initial five years of my journey I used different colours and different mediums in my work which was highly appreciated by renowned artists. But I was not satisfied and decided to do something unique to make my own name in the world of arts. For my big exhibition in the Nehru Art Gallery I decided to play with monochromatic colour scheme. I got overwhelming response especially on black monochrome paintings and for the first time it was “all sold out”. With this my fantasy to make an identity in the world of arts turned to out to be reality. I made distinct identity by painting in black colour with a unique theme every time. Like I used wooden and stone effect in my art of black and gave new dimension to the black and white colour.

Satish Gujral told me that my Black & White work was incredibly superb and according to him the individual style which I had achieved in seven years is something which most artists manage to accomplish after 20 years of hard work. 

How do you feel as an artist?

Art is like worship to me. I love to paint and spend most of my time in my studio. I am very satisfied with my work and feel my life full and meaningful as an artist. Sometimes, while painting I feel I have become part of my characters in my canvas. My art spectators and lovers appreciate my work, what else an artist would wish?       

What subject you generally depict in your paintings?

I specialise in abstract, landscape and figurative paintings and for the last eight years I have opted for the mystery, magic and magnificence of black & white and sometimes in colour. My figurative paintings are most of the time women-oriented. I depict women’s role and her importance in our life.  

You are also a poet, are we seeing mythological love poems as well?

Poems are inseparable part of my paintings. I write poems often as it is yet another creative medium where I can express myself. I might incorporate poems with my paintings in this show as well.     

How do you see today’s art in comparison to the past?

Earlier art was not considered as a commercial market. But now with the growing economy and increasing art awareness, many individuals and corporate are venturing in this field professionally. Also with the world shrinking by the day, Indian art scene is going global. 

Kiran Chopra’s exhibition Black & White will be on from June 1, 2009 at Kala Ghoda, between 10 am and 6 pm.

 

 

 

  

 

 

      

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