If there is anything, comedy king of Bollywood Satish Kaushik regrets not having done, it is that he failed to pursue his dream of opening his retail stores at petrol pumps as he had once thought. “I had thought having shops named Kaushik’s at the petrol pumps long back but I never gave it any serious afterthought and I think that is where I lost it,” he says.
On a high with his recently opened food joint in the capital, Khana Unlimited, he is looking to achieve great success in the food line. “Indians, including me are not used to having just one thing on the platter. There has to be a liitle bit of sabji and dal and also achar, so even I love dabbling into various things.” Food for thought, that.
He has as high hopes from Khana Unlimited as with Milenge Milenge his next directorial venture starring Kareena Kapoor and Shahid Kapur, one that he promises will be a dreamy romantic story.
“I am a very spontaneous person,” says Kaushik, “I have named most of my films while discussing the story informally with my friends and colleagues.” Khana Unlimited is one such name that has proved to be a hit. “I have known Manoj (Manoj Mittal, his partner in the restaurant) from the time he invited to perform in Kirori Mal College with Amitabh Bachchan. Of all the people I have met, I related to him very well. And right now, I am at an age when I am leaving youth far behind so here was a young, talented man whom I could relate with. The partnership was instant.”
Kaushik has come a long way from being a the local guy from Karol Bagh who loved to hang around expensive food joints, but the city still holds a special place in his life. “I have thought of branching out Khana Unlimited to other parts of the country but it was obvious for me that I would inaugurate it here,” he says. “I have spent some the best days of my life here, doing theatre at the NSD.
The loss of veteran actor Amrish Puri is more a personal loss for him. “He used to pat me a lot,” he says. “I had run into financial trouble during the filming of Badhai Ho Badhai of which he was a part, when I told him of my disposition he immediately agreed to a discounted payment for the film, that was far too generous of him,” he recalls.
Coming up next from his side are the films Bewafa and Milenge Milenge. Ask him about the hottest couple in Bollywood, “Shahid and Kareena, who else?”
Published in Hindustan Times Next on February 8, 2005
"I don't suffer fools gladly"
“I don’t suffer fools gladly,” remarks Nagesh Kukunoor at the promotion of his film, Dor in Delhi on Wednesday. “When I work on the sets, I expect every single person to come prepared to the day otherwise I get irritated.” This very meticulous attitude for details has given the director years of success in the industry. “Film acting is not about giving one perfect shot and going home, it is about making each shot a perfect shot all the time.”
“I was just another normal kid in Hyderabad,” he says of his childhood days. “I went to school with the kids of the neighbourhood for sometime before my parents decided to send me to boarding school. So, I went on to Montfort School in Yercaud, that’s where I have based my film Rockford on.”
On completion of school, Kukunoor moved when to study engineering at the Georgia Tech University in the United States after winning a full scholarship to fund his education. “I used to write quite a lot even as a kid. My mom shows me all the stories that she had saved and I have a good laugh reading them,” he says. Ask him what they were about and he laughs, “Oh! It’s a whole lot of sci-fi and monster stories”.
Dor is one of his own stories and besides that he says he has eight other finished scripts. “Two of the lot are action stories,” says the lover of Jurrasic Park and Star Wars. “I grew up watching Bollywood movies and I was always keen on seeing the director’s perspective, even as a child.”
The director also lives his dream of being an actor through his cinema. In fact, Iqbal is the only film by Kukunoor in which he does not play a cameo role. “Yes, I have a role in Dor as well, but I would rather have people go to the theatre and see me than talk about it here.”
Ask him for advice for aspiring directors and he is quick to retort, “I don’t do that stuff. It’s like telling someone you don’t know this and since I know, do it the way I tell you.”
“As it is, today’s Indian filmmakers don’t stop talking when they are given a chance,” he says after a pause. “The basic quality you need to be a good director is having an original mind for great ideas,” he says signing off.
Published in Hindustan Times Next on September 21, 2006
“I was just another normal kid in Hyderabad,” he says of his childhood days. “I went to school with the kids of the neighbourhood for sometime before my parents decided to send me to boarding school. So, I went on to Montfort School in Yercaud, that’s where I have based my film Rockford on.”
On completion of school, Kukunoor moved when to study engineering at the Georgia Tech University in the United States after winning a full scholarship to fund his education. “I used to write quite a lot even as a kid. My mom shows me all the stories that she had saved and I have a good laugh reading them,” he says. Ask him what they were about and he laughs, “Oh! It’s a whole lot of sci-fi and monster stories”.
Dor is one of his own stories and besides that he says he has eight other finished scripts. “Two of the lot are action stories,” says the lover of Jurrasic Park and Star Wars. “I grew up watching Bollywood movies and I was always keen on seeing the director’s perspective, even as a child.”
The director also lives his dream of being an actor through his cinema. In fact, Iqbal is the only film by Kukunoor in which he does not play a cameo role. “Yes, I have a role in Dor as well, but I would rather have people go to the theatre and see me than talk about it here.”
Ask him for advice for aspiring directors and he is quick to retort, “I don’t do that stuff. It’s like telling someone you don’t know this and since I know, do it the way I tell you.”
“As it is, today’s Indian filmmakers don’t stop talking when they are given a chance,” he says after a pause. “The basic quality you need to be a good director is having an original mind for great ideas,” he says signing off.
Published in Hindustan Times Next on September 21, 2006
Rewriting history
Unlike most other protégés of Ram Gopal Varma, Mohit Ahlawat hates being called the ‘blue-eyed boy’. “I am not dependant on him, though I do look up to him as my mentor. I have a couple of films lined up that will be out of the Factory’s production,” he states.
As of now, he is glad to be part of a Ram Gopal Varma’s Shiva and Sholay. “In James, there wasn’t much scope for emtions and there was no real motive for the guy to fight back, but in Shiva, my character is more streamlined for action.”
“I worked for three years on James, it was like a workshop and I learnt a lot from it,” he said. As far as it failure at the box-office goes, Ahlwawat says he doesn’t look into the past.
One of the most striking features in him is his great body. “I am glad it is noticed. I have worked very hard on it. Before I joined the industry my weight was around 125 kilogrammes. When I realised that I wantd to be a hero, I started crash-dieting and in some months I lost almost all my weight.”
Instead of being happy, Ahlawat says it was more painful than anything else. “I took very ill. I was dizzy all the time and had severe blackouts for the next six months. I finally headed abroad for a proper training in fitness, that’s how I got into my current shape.”
More than Shiva, Ahlawat is more exited about being a part of the remake of Sholay. “It is like a dream project. It is like trying to rewrite history,” he says. Going by the hype, his performance in the film might just catapult him to his superstar status.
Published in Hindustan Times Next on September 16, 2006
As of now, he is glad to be part of a Ram Gopal Varma’s Shiva and Sholay. “In James, there wasn’t much scope for emtions and there was no real motive for the guy to fight back, but in Shiva, my character is more streamlined for action.”
“I worked for three years on James, it was like a workshop and I learnt a lot from it,” he said. As far as it failure at the box-office goes, Ahlwawat says he doesn’t look into the past.
One of the most striking features in him is his great body. “I am glad it is noticed. I have worked very hard on it. Before I joined the industry my weight was around 125 kilogrammes. When I realised that I wantd to be a hero, I started crash-dieting and in some months I lost almost all my weight.”
Instead of being happy, Ahlawat says it was more painful than anything else. “I took very ill. I was dizzy all the time and had severe blackouts for the next six months. I finally headed abroad for a proper training in fitness, that’s how I got into my current shape.”
More than Shiva, Ahlawat is more exited about being a part of the remake of Sholay. “It is like a dream project. It is like trying to rewrite history,” he says. Going by the hype, his performance in the film might just catapult him to his superstar status.
Published in Hindustan Times Next on September 16, 2006
Milind makes way for magic
Born to a typical middle class Maharashtrian family, Milind Soman had surprised his parents by his decision to be a model, but this decision turned out to be one of the best of his life.
Hailed as the icon for male models in the entire Indian sub-continent, Soman says his childhood was hardly anything adventurous. It is only with time that he dishes out little treasured nuggets from memory lane for HT Next.
“I did everything that a kid does normally,” he starts. “I was very good in studies and also took part actively in extra-curricular activities which made me the teacher’s favourite,” says the ex-student of St Antonio D'Silva Boys High School, Dadar.
Ask him about his naughty side as a kid and he says, “I remember cheating while in school.” “Sometime in examinations and sometimes in class, but then I don’t remember any student from school who did not cheat.”
Most of his time was also taken up by swimming. “I took to competitive swimming while at school and that demanded a lot of my time, so I ended up with pretty less time for pranks,” he says. “ In fact, I gave up competitive swimming because I got tired of competing with myself after setting the national records in swimming from 1984 to 1988.”
He was never a naughty child at home either, “I had a lot of pets at home. From cats and dogs to lizards, they were my playmates at home and ensured that I stayed out of trouble.”
Having been to an all-boys school, one could expect him to be looking forward to finding more female friends in college. “There was just one girl in college and she came from a conservative Muslim family. She preferred to stick to her books than with the guys in college. In fact, she was very pretty and I also remember her name, Ruhee,” he adds with a laugh.
His latest television venture, Ghost Bana Dost, is set to air on Star One soon. “I have always been a big fan of fantasy and magic,” he says. “I have loved the Harry Potter films.” And we do see a little of that in Daboo, the protagonist of the serial Ghost Bana Dost. We hope the magic comes through as well with this venture.
Published in Hindustan Times Next on December 7, 2006
Hailed as the icon for male models in the entire Indian sub-continent, Soman says his childhood was hardly anything adventurous. It is only with time that he dishes out little treasured nuggets from memory lane for HT Next.
“I did everything that a kid does normally,” he starts. “I was very good in studies and also took part actively in extra-curricular activities which made me the teacher’s favourite,” says the ex-student of St Antonio D'Silva Boys High School, Dadar.
Ask him about his naughty side as a kid and he says, “I remember cheating while in school.” “Sometime in examinations and sometimes in class, but then I don’t remember any student from school who did not cheat.”
Most of his time was also taken up by swimming. “I took to competitive swimming while at school and that demanded a lot of my time, so I ended up with pretty less time for pranks,” he says. “ In fact, I gave up competitive swimming because I got tired of competing with myself after setting the national records in swimming from 1984 to 1988.”
He was never a naughty child at home either, “I had a lot of pets at home. From cats and dogs to lizards, they were my playmates at home and ensured that I stayed out of trouble.”
Having been to an all-boys school, one could expect him to be looking forward to finding more female friends in college. “There was just one girl in college and she came from a conservative Muslim family. She preferred to stick to her books than with the guys in college. In fact, she was very pretty and I also remember her name, Ruhee,” he adds with a laugh.
His latest television venture, Ghost Bana Dost, is set to air on Star One soon. “I have always been a big fan of fantasy and magic,” he says. “I have loved the Harry Potter films.” And we do see a little of that in Daboo, the protagonist of the serial Ghost Bana Dost. We hope the magic comes through as well with this venture.
Published in Hindustan Times Next on December 7, 2006
Manish's signature to sensuality
There’s no room for complacency in any field today and Manish Malhotra’s latest move added up just to that effect.
The famed ‘make-over man’ who breathed new life into the careers of Karishma Kapoor, Kajol and numerous other filmstars just by changing their looks, has made a move from being a part of the Lakme Fashion Week to giving the headlining act for their rival, Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week (WIFW). And he doesn’t camouflage his vested interest in doing so. “I already have a dedicated base in Mumbai and I wish to expand my label in Delhi, so this is a great platform for me.”
“I am not at all unhappy with my performance at the Lakme Fashion Week in Mumbai. I got selected for the South African Fashion Week and now this offer has come to me. I feel very fulfilled.”
Despite being in the industry for ages, he admits that he still feels pangs of anxiety. “I am stressed out before any show,” he said at the press conference to announce his tie-up with the Wills Lifestyle for the grand finale. “I have an upset stomach right now,” he laughs.
Talking about his collection, Manish says, “It is a diffusion line called sensuality. It’s about the amalgamation of all the senses. You will see a lot of colours like cherry red and oranges blended with dull gold.”
Though he was not a part of the previous WIFW, he made his presence felt at the event by his day-to-day commentary on a national news channel. This time around he hopes to make the news than break it. “I have been approached by a number of channels but I have not decided anything yet.”
Ask him which celebrity he would love to design for and he says, “Sridevi in India and internationally, Madonna.”
Published in hindustan Times Next on August 10, 2006
The famed ‘make-over man’ who breathed new life into the careers of Karishma Kapoor, Kajol and numerous other filmstars just by changing their looks, has made a move from being a part of the Lakme Fashion Week to giving the headlining act for their rival, Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week (WIFW). And he doesn’t camouflage his vested interest in doing so. “I already have a dedicated base in Mumbai and I wish to expand my label in Delhi, so this is a great platform for me.”
“I am not at all unhappy with my performance at the Lakme Fashion Week in Mumbai. I got selected for the South African Fashion Week and now this offer has come to me. I feel very fulfilled.”
Despite being in the industry for ages, he admits that he still feels pangs of anxiety. “I am stressed out before any show,” he said at the press conference to announce his tie-up with the Wills Lifestyle for the grand finale. “I have an upset stomach right now,” he laughs.
Talking about his collection, Manish says, “It is a diffusion line called sensuality. It’s about the amalgamation of all the senses. You will see a lot of colours like cherry red and oranges blended with dull gold.”
Though he was not a part of the previous WIFW, he made his presence felt at the event by his day-to-day commentary on a national news channel. This time around he hopes to make the news than break it. “I have been approached by a number of channels but I have not decided anything yet.”
Ask him which celebrity he would love to design for and he says, “Sridevi in India and internationally, Madonna.”
Published in hindustan Times Next on August 10, 2006
Make way for some meetha
Old habits die hard. Ask Mahima Chaudhary. No matter how many times the industry shuns her, she darts right back to take the centre stage with yet another ‘different’ film. She is doing it again with film journalist-turned-director Samar Khan’s debut Kuch Meetha Ho Jae that releases nationwide on April 15.
“Samar and I have been old friends and it was great that he approached me with the role. I was very happy when I heard the script because I have been dying to do a film that will have the audience in splits, but when we started working I found that Arshad had all the funny lines. I approached Samar about this and he said, ‘You have funny face, make do with it’,” she laughs and so do I.
“I play a muslim girl, Gulab, who enters the airport wearing a burqha escorted by her in-laws. Gulab is a very sad because all her expectations to live a happily married life are lost to an insensitive husband who keeps comparing her to a tootache that he has to live with.” (I laugh again). “As the flight is delayed, her in-laws have to leave and she is alone in the airport, then off goes the burqha to reveal that she is wearing a skimpy skirt and a short top under the burqha that makes heads turn towards her.”
Though she has quite a long list of films in which she will be seen this year, she is most excited about Hope And A Little Sugar by Tanuja Chandra based on the 9/11 tragedies. As for now, Mahima has hopes for a meetha start for the year.
Published in Hindustan Times Next on April 12, 2005
“Samar and I have been old friends and it was great that he approached me with the role. I was very happy when I heard the script because I have been dying to do a film that will have the audience in splits, but when we started working I found that Arshad had all the funny lines. I approached Samar about this and he said, ‘You have funny face, make do with it’,” she laughs and so do I.
“I play a muslim girl, Gulab, who enters the airport wearing a burqha escorted by her in-laws. Gulab is a very sad because all her expectations to live a happily married life are lost to an insensitive husband who keeps comparing her to a tootache that he has to live with.” (I laugh again). “As the flight is delayed, her in-laws have to leave and she is alone in the airport, then off goes the burqha to reveal that she is wearing a skimpy skirt and a short top under the burqha that makes heads turn towards her.”
Though she has quite a long list of films in which she will be seen this year, she is most excited about Hope And A Little Sugar by Tanuja Chandra based on the 9/11 tragedies. As for now, Mahima has hopes for a meetha start for the year.
Published in Hindustan Times Next on April 12, 2005
"I resent the word, illegitimate"
“I have a strong resentment to the word ‘illegitimate’,” said Mahesh Bhatt at the press conference announcing the launch of his yet another nephew, Mohit Suri’s, debut directorial venture, Zeher.
“My mother was a shia muslim woman and my father a Brahmin. My mother brought me up singly. She was a woman who dared to defy the conventional rules. She is definitely a strong influence on my life,” said Bhatt.
“I have always been very attracted to women ho dare to defy the rules of the man’s world. I potrayed her in Arth, in Tamanna, in Murder and you will see her again in Zeher.”
Of late most of his films are seen to have more of sexually explicit components in them. “No matter what I do this question always hounds me. I have always been asked why I do things I do?”
“In the 80’s I made films for the intellectuals. Films like Arth and Saraansh that might not always have done well at the box office but got critical acclaims. In the 90’s, the emphasis moved to the youngsters and I made the likes of Ashiqui, Hum Hain Rahi Pyaar Ke and Sir. But, I also made Zakhm, it got a national award but sank at the box office. Then with the introduction of MTV and Channel V, the means of entertainment changed. If I was to get the people out of their houses, I had to give something exceptional.”
So why sell sex? “Because sex sells,” he shouts back. “I have survived the industry these three decades only because I have reinvented myself over time. And I will have to do the same if I want to survive for the years to come.”
When pointed out to his steamy scenes in all the films he has done so far, nephew Emraan Hashmi emphasizes, “I do not want the respect of the industry. I do not mind doing porn or semi-porn films as long as it gets me what I have come out to achieve.”
Says Bhatt, “ I am constantly accused of making ‘sleaze’ films which does not keep in mind the middle-class mentalities. But when these films are released, it is these very middle-class people who throng the halls to watch the films.”
And for those who thought he was happy launching two of his nephews into the industry here’s more. Yet another nephew, Kunal, will be launched this year in Bhatt’s own The Blue Film. Besides that, he is also looking forward to the release of his Showbusiness that he summarises as “a film that says that everything comes with a price tag.”
Published in Hindustan Times Next on March 21, 2005
“My mother was a shia muslim woman and my father a Brahmin. My mother brought me up singly. She was a woman who dared to defy the conventional rules. She is definitely a strong influence on my life,” said Bhatt.
“I have always been very attracted to women ho dare to defy the rules of the man’s world. I potrayed her in Arth, in Tamanna, in Murder and you will see her again in Zeher.”
Of late most of his films are seen to have more of sexually explicit components in them. “No matter what I do this question always hounds me. I have always been asked why I do things I do?”
“In the 80’s I made films for the intellectuals. Films like Arth and Saraansh that might not always have done well at the box office but got critical acclaims. In the 90’s, the emphasis moved to the youngsters and I made the likes of Ashiqui, Hum Hain Rahi Pyaar Ke and Sir. But, I also made Zakhm, it got a national award but sank at the box office. Then with the introduction of MTV and Channel V, the means of entertainment changed. If I was to get the people out of their houses, I had to give something exceptional.”
So why sell sex? “Because sex sells,” he shouts back. “I have survived the industry these three decades only because I have reinvented myself over time. And I will have to do the same if I want to survive for the years to come.”
When pointed out to his steamy scenes in all the films he has done so far, nephew Emraan Hashmi emphasizes, “I do not want the respect of the industry. I do not mind doing porn or semi-porn films as long as it gets me what I have come out to achieve.”
Says Bhatt, “ I am constantly accused of making ‘sleaze’ films which does not keep in mind the middle-class mentalities. But when these films are released, it is these very middle-class people who throng the halls to watch the films.”
And for those who thought he was happy launching two of his nephews into the industry here’s more. Yet another nephew, Kunal, will be launched this year in Bhatt’s own The Blue Film. Besides that, he is also looking forward to the release of his Showbusiness that he summarises as “a film that says that everything comes with a price tag.”
Published in Hindustan Times Next on March 21, 2005
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