Is Yash Chopra serious?

“The Indian audience today is too intelligent to be fooled by just glitzy packaging. I strongly feel that films are made by stories and not by stars, technicians, directors or producers. And that is why this blind spot in Indian cinema needs to be overcome soon”

Guess who said that last weekend? I bet you didn't answer Yash Chopra! But, surprise suprise, it was the old doyen himself while accepting the 'Officer de la Legion d'Honneur'-- the highest French civilian award last week .

Is Yash Chopra serious? If he does think that films are made by stories and not by stars, technicians, directors or producer, then how does he explain Jhoom Barabar Jhoom, Aaja Nachle,Ta Ra Rum Pum , Laaga Chuneri Mein Daag, Tashan, and now Thoda Pyaar Thoda Magic?

I find it hard to believe that the man who made Waqt, Deewar, Trishul, Kaala Pathar, Kabhi Kabhi, Chandini, Silsila, Dil To Pagal Hai could churn out these recent duds.

I can think of only three reasons why he would do so. One, he thought that the YRF current duds were actually good scripts. Two, he thought they were bad but was overruled by Aditya Chopra. Three, Chopra was joking at the award ceremony.

The last seems most likely. Here is Chopra again at the French ceremony.

''There is intellectual bankruptcy in Indian films.... I get a bad story, I make a bad film,'' he said, laughingly.

Should we laugh too?

Stupid promos

Am I stupid or what? Can anyone please explain why do the first couple of promos of most of the new releases feature a dance or a song?

I can understand if the film is a musical. Or if its a montage of scenes which a song nicely highlights. But a dance? I mean would I go to watch Govinda because of that inane dance number in Money Hai to Honey Hai or because the film is funny? Mission Istanbul is an action thriller about international terrorism and what do I see? A love song or a rap number with Zayed Khan and Viveik Oberoi jiving, with some random explosions throw in between!

I can understand the rationale of the Kabhi Kabhi Aditi song promo of Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na-- it gave me a glimpse of a relationship between a bunch of collegians. I was glued to the promo because most of the cast was newcomers (yes, it is a lovely A R Rahman song too). But I wouldnt have cared for it if the promo featured SRK, Rani Mukherji and a whole bunch of NRIs.

This why the Bachna Ae Haseeno promo does not work for me. To me it looks like a long commercial of a deo. Else, why the hell does everyone in the film stretch their arms and sing? Just because SRK did it in DDLJ, you think its going to be lucky for Yash Raj Films again?

How a hero is made!

This apocryphal story, courtesy a well-known filmmaker, is a wonderful example of how bruised egos and coincidences make a Bollywood hero.

Almost two years ago, Adlabs owner Manmohan Shetty went to meet Shahruh Khan at Mannat. Shetty's car was stopped outside the gate and not let in 'cos just a day ago SRK's pup had been run over by a guest's vehicle while driving up the portico. SRK had lambasted the security chaps. Next day thanks to the overenthuasistic guards, Shetty, flush with funds from the Reliance investment, had to wait for almost twenty minutes outside the gates of Mannat. He was fuming would be an understatement.

When Shetty returned to the Adlabs office, Harry Baweja was waiting to meet him--to see if Adlabs would finance Love Story 2050, Baweja's launch vehicle for son Harman. Shetty said yes and okayed a budget of 30 crores--unheard in Bollywood for launching a newcomer.

Shetty's backing of Love Story 2050 had a ripple effect. Another producer stepped forward and announced a 25 crore project with Harman in the lead. Others followed, each upping their project cost. Financially Shetty's gamble had paid off 'cos everybody other producer thought, and they still do, that its okay to do a 30 crore Harman film.

Love Story 2050 has bombed.

And Bollywood has a new star.

The good and the bad

The good thing about the coming Friday is that it will usher in two young heroes. While audiences have something more to choose from, it is producers and directors who stand to gain the most. Until a year ago, Bollywood was starved of fresh faces. If you had to cast a young male as hero, there was hardly anyone you could approach except Shahid Kapoor. Then Ranbir Kapoor and Neil Nitin Mukesh made their appearances. A fortnight ago Rajeev Khandelwal proved his mettle. And now there is Imran Khan and Harman Baweja. But as Shekar Kapur remarked about Ranbir's Saawariya debut, Imran and Harman are already stars-- they have been signed up for multi films even before they have made their debut.

The bad thing about this Friday is that it once again underlines how nepotism rules in Bollywood. Save for Rajeev Khandelwal's debut, the message for struggling actors trying to get an entry into Bollywood remains the same: If you don't have a relative or a Godfather to back you, there's very little hope for a newcomer to make a debut as a hero in an A grade production.

Aamir's rare appearance

Do you remember the last time you saw a film that had Aamir Khan doing a special appearance cameo? Well he has done it for Farhan Akhtar. Last week, Aamir dropped in for a quick shoot at Cinevista Studios in Mumbai's suburbs. He is doing a cameo in Zoya Akhtar's Luck by Chance and, if my sources are right, plays himself on screen too.

Farhan is trying to rope in as many stars as he can for cameos. Incidentally, Hrithik Roshan has also done a cameo in Luck By Chance. Don't be surprised if Shah Rukh Khan and Amitabh Bachchan also do one, apart from other Bollywood stars. Do we see Zoya becoming the next Farha Khan?

Luck by Chance is a story of a struggling actor who comes to Mumbai from New Delhi. Farhan plays the lead, supported by Konkana Sen, Rishi Kapoor, Dimple Kapadia and Juhi Chawla.

Post Dil Chahta Hai and Lakshya, Farhan has been trying to rope in Aamir, Hrithik and Saif for his films. But he has no luck so far. Aamir had refused the Don remake. Hrithik and Saif have both refused both Luck By Chance and Voice From The Sky.

Jackie Chan in Sholay?

Jackie Chan's Indian connection is not limited to just a disappointing myth (remember the film?) Came across two titbits about the international actor that almost knocked me off my chair...

Firstly, the producer of Kamal Hasan's Dasavathaaram Aaskar Ravichandran , who has been distributing Chan's films in India, hopes to rope in the star for an ambitious project. Aaskar (a friend tells me he used to write his name Oscar earlier but changed it since there is no letter O in Tamil!) is planning an action comedy. Chan it seems has okayed the script. The estimated project cost --$ 150 million or approx Rs 650 crores! How the hell does one arrive at figures like that? And how do you recoup that investment? I guess Aaskar will make it in Mandarin, English, Hindi and Tamil..

The second bit about Jackie is more hilarious than any of his flicks. Ram Gopal Varma in his blog mentions how he was called some years ago by Sasha Sippy (grandson of Sholay producer GP Sippy). Sasha wanted a Sholay sequel wherein the son of Gabbar and Helen (duh, flashback cut to a romp after the Mehbooba song?) comes back to kill Veeru and Basanti's sons. Seems Sasha wanted Jackie Chan to be in the film too. Ramu says he came out of the meeting laughing. After RGV remade Sholay as Ram Gopal Varma Ki Aag, Sasha couldn't stop laughing.

Maybe Aaskar Ravichandran and Sasha Sippy should have a drink together. I can clearly picturise Jackie Chan laughing!

"When you have Hritik, why do you want me?"

Rajeev Khandelwal's success story with Aamir is now a beacon for scores of television actors in Mumbai that they too can make it in Bollywood. One struggling actor with whom I had coffee recently had some interesting nuggets about Rajeev.

Almost eight years ago, Rajeev's parents were very upset about their son's decision to take up acting. His father, an army officer, in true filmy style told his son to choose between home or acting. Rajeev left home and stayed with friends. He then started making corporate films and came to Mumbai with the proverbial single suitcase. He shared accomadation with drivers and workmen. And then got his break first with some commercials and then with Ekta Kapoor.

The interesting thing is that a couple of years ago Rajeev a successful TV star, bought a Honda CRV, drove to to Jaipur and showed it off to his father. Last heard the son-parent relationship was healing well.

The other interesting nugget is that Rajeev was also called by Farhan Akhtar when Lakshya was being cast. He asked Farhan, " When you have Hritik Roshan, why do you want me?"

Lastly, even though Rajeev had earned a reputation as the romantic Sujal from his TV serial, he has several times confessed to his close friends, "I will commit to a relationship only when I have achieved my ambition of making it big in films."

Good to see someone having so much self-confidence despite the early insecurities in life and profession.

Shilpa's Angels

If Bollywood Whisper were a TV channel we should have been screaming Breaking News. Anyway here it is. Shilpa Shetty's home production is all set to roll with their debut film. The untitled venture will feature Shilpa Shetty, Bipasha Basu and Shamita Shetty and is said to be fun-filled girlie action flick, a la Charlie's Angels. There are whispers that Shilpa is thinking of asking her one time good buddy Akshay Kumar to put in a guest appearance.The film will be directed by Manish Jha and is likely to be co-produced by UTV.

For Jha this is going to be a completely different cup of tea. He had earlier made the critically acclaimed A Very Very Silent Film, and then Mathrubhoomi. His last film Anwar didn't do well. Jha also directed Shilpa recent yoga video. Hope he has learnt how to hold his breath when making a masala film.

Bipasha has three releases coming up. There’s the experimental Sudipto Chattopadhyay's Pankh (produced by Sanjay Gupta), Sidharth Anand’s Bachna Ae Haseeno (Yash Raj Films) and Freeze with Neil Nitin Mukhesh.

Shamita's last film was Anubhav Sinha's Cash which sadly bounced. Much like Uday Chopra her career hasn't taken off yet. That is one of the reason why Shilpa is playing the angel and launching a production company.

De taali for Abbas?

After being knocked out by viral fever, I was getting ready to get back to work when my doctor, a pucca film buff, bowled a googly. "Is it the same Abbas Tyrewala, the writer-director of Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na, who has also written De Taali releasing this week?"

Did some home work and discovered my doc is right. But then why isn't Abbas or any of the people associated with De Taali talking about it during their publicity interviews? Strangely even the official website (www. detaalithemovie.com) doesn't credit Abbas as the writer.

Abbas has written some marvelous screenplays (Maqbool) and dialogue (Munnabhai MBBS, Main Hoon Na, Welcome). He also contributed to films such as Asoka, Chupke Se, Salaam Namaste and Shikar.

I hope De Taali turns out to be a fun film. And not a film Abbas wrote to earn a livelihood just like Anurag Kashyap did with Shakalaka Boom Boom.

Enter Sarkar Rani

After Sarkar Raj what? Well, just like the Godfather series , Ram Gopal Varma and the Bachchans are going to have a trilogy on the Sarkar theme. A little bird that visited Pyramid (RGV's apartment in Versova) tells me that the film maker and even the B family is very kicked about the idea.

While a proper screenplay has yet to be worked upon RGV has got the key players excited about two central concepts. One that Aishwariya Rai will be the protagonist of this film--Sarkar's bahu runs the Raj! And two that Jaya Bachchan will also make a dramatic entry in the finale.

And don't be surprised if the company that produces this film also makes news-- BCL or the Bachchans Corporation Ltd.

Struggler's shot: "Whom should i assist?"

Rachna_08 says: "Hi, came across your blog last week. Nice to see you are not talking about who is seeing whom! Have finished my Mass Comm and am passionate about Hindi films. Would like to learn direction 'cos i want to eventually direct a film. Which director do you suggest I start my career with assisting? Can you help with their contacts pls? And if I am not asking too much, how much do ADs get paid? Thanx."

Hi, Rachna, nice to know you like Bollywood Whisper. If you are passionate about films, then you must also have a fair idea of what kind of films you like and who your favourite directors are? I suggest you approach them to start with-- check out their office location and try meeting the Chief AD, First AD or Exec Producer if you can't meet the Director. If a director has 5 ADs it is likely that a newcomer stands a chance to be the 5th AD.

My suggestion is for your first film assist a lesser known or a debutant director-- its the best way to learn and the experience will come in handy when you approach your favourite director. Women ADs--and I am not endorsing this-- usually start off as those looking at prop continuity or costume assistants.

As for contacts, sorry don't want this blog to be a telephone directory. There are trade publications like Screen World which have the contact details; you can pick up them up from any bookshop. A fresh AD gets paid anywhere between 3000 to 7000 per month depending on whom you work for. Of course there are still creeps who don't pay anything. All the best.

Highest paid writer?

It's not just actors and directors who are raking in the moolah in Bollywood. Writers (hallelujah finally!) are licking cream too. Remember Shibani Bhatija, the one who wrote the commercial blockbusters but critically panned Fanaa and Kabhi Alvida Na Kehna? Well, she has become the first writer to crack a multi crore deal. Shibani has been signed up by Indian Film Co (aka Studio 18) for a three film deal for an amount Rs 2.25 crores! The movies will be written over a two year period.

Bhatija is often seen grinning ear to ear these days, flying business class to LA (where she is penning friend Karan Johar's Khan). Her next release is Sanjay Gadhvi's Kidnap.

When a blockbuster director-producer heard the amount Shibani has been signed he almost choked over his coffee. He then called up another corporate and found out that the reason writers like Shibani are being offered such high amount is because it boosts valuation of a project. Instead of paying a writer 30 lakh to make a 25 crore project, it is better to pay 90 lakh and transform it into a 60 cr project!

Lets hope the bubble doesn't burst soon!

Copy quick, release quicker

These days if you make a film, you better release it fast. That's the lesson director Navneet Baj Saini (Mickey) and his producer Irfan Kamal have realised. The duo had almost finished their venture Teesri Manzil (later, ironically, changed to Bank of Blues) starring Irrfan Khan, Deepal Shaw, Ranvir Sheorey and Lucky Ali. But the film was stuck 'cos Irrfan Khan had become a star and refused to allocate dates for dubbing-- an issue over which the producer was threatening to drag the actor to the industry associations. Irffan was pissed that he had not been told that the film was a copy of a South Korean film...

Now the producer and director are all the more upset. It seems Woodstock Villa directed by Hansal Mehta and produced by Sanjay Gupta which releases this week has a similar storyline!(never knew Korean films could be so inspiring!) If Sikhander Kher's launch pad works at the theatres, then its bad news for Messrs Mickey, Khan & Khan. If it doesn't.... oh well, then we can all check out the Korean film!

Struggler's Shot: "How do I sell my spec script?"

Karthik P asks:

Hi David, since you have your ear to the studio floor, need some insider gyan :-) Am a wordsmith with an ad agency. Have written a spec script. How do I sell it? Or if that sounds too greedy how do I see that it gets made into a film? Which studios are spec friendly? Or should I try waiting outside vanity vans trying to catch a star's attention? Mucho gracias.


Karthik, your spec script stands as much a chance being made into a film as wannabe director's dvd showreels that are stacked up in advertising agencies! Jokes aside, everybody in Bollywood wants a good script. Trouble is no one knows for sure what is a good script. I don't know any studio which even knows how to cope with a query letter.

YRF usually asks writers to drop scripts at the gates. Considering the films they are making I am sure they haven't read any of the scripts dropped! UTV claims to be sitting on a huge backlog-- which in plain speak means if a well known director or actor comes in with the script they will love it. Subhash Ghai's Mukta made a one crore offer for a script but then how much would you really pay for the script of Black And White? Studio 18, PNC, Percept, Eros, Big Motion Pictures... when was the last time you saw a film actually produced by them and not bought for distribution?

Of course if you know a studio hotshot you stand a better chance for the creative team to go thru your script. As for their usual reactions, it deserves another long blog post.

The best shot for your script? Identify a director who makes a film similar to the genre of your spec script. Don't go with a love story to RGV or a thriller to Rakesh Roshan. Try out the newer bunch of directors like Sriram Raghavan, Dibakar Banerjee, Anurag Basu, Balki., Madhur Bhandarkar.. you may get lucky.

You are blessed if you know a star actor.

PS: Many a times even if you have a bound copy you will have to narrate your script. This is often because most actors and directors cannot read. And some of the smarter ones don't want to-- they are in a "safe zone" if they have just heard you out than actually receiving a hard copy!All the best.

Producer with balls

Jhamu Sughand who passed away today was a producer with balls. Unlike most producers he was not a "proposal" film-maker-- one who would look at the box office returns of the cast or the director and then greenlight a project. Most of the films Jhamu financed, he did so on the basis of the passion of the director and his gut feeling for the story.

When Ram Gopal Varma was struggling to make his entry into Bollywood it was Jhamu who stepped in and financed Rangeela. Being a shy man Jhamu valued working relationships. That is why he often bailed out RGV, even though he was never officially credited for it. During Rangeela, Jhamu also got to know Aamir Khan. Which is why even though RGV and Aamir fell apart, Jhamu chipped in when Aamir told him about the film Earth which Deepa Mehta was making. And yes, Lagaan would not have happened if Jhamu had not put in his money and trust in Aamir. How many current day corporates would fund a period film in which characters mostly spoke in Awadhi and where a motley group of villagers beat an English team in cricket? Not to forget directed by a man who had given three flops

Jhamu operated like a true blood venture capitalist. The profit sharing model he worked out with an intense broooding filmmaker in 1998 is a fine example of what studios and corporates have to follow today. Jhamu gave the film maker a measly fee of Rs 15 lakhs and assured him that if the film made a profit he would share a sizeable portion of it. The movie recovered its cost in the theatres but earned crores in proft because of its re-run on television. The film? Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam. Director Sanjay Leela Bhansali became a crorepati thanks to Jhamu's profit sharing model.

As a financier sometimes Jhamu's investment were bang on-- Kamal Hasan's Chaachi 420. Sometimes the film didn't yield box office returns but instead introduced fine talent-- Rakyesh Mehra (Aks) and Meghna Gulzar (Filhaal).

Sadly, it was Jhamu's unofficial finance lending to the film industry that backfired on him. Facing a crunch, he started projects, including a clutch of Bengali films, but was not able to complete them-- Sriram Raghavan's Johnny Gadaar and Abbas Tyrewala's Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na.

But there is a saying in Bollywood which has been proved often true. Jhamu jiske upar haath rakha, uski to life ban gayi!

Sanjay Dutt's blues

Shree Astavinayak's Blue was being touted as one of the costliest films to go on floor. Going by the problems it is facing it might actually be, thanks to US consul officials. A little bird from Breach Candy, where the Consul office is, tells me that Sanjay Dutt's application for visa has been rejected. Sanjay was to go to Bahamas for the shoot and then later visit the States to introduce wife Manyata to daughter Trishala. Last month the Supreme Court had given him permission to travel abroad.

Blue being directed by debutant Tony has a huge cast of Sanjay, Akshay Kumar, Lara Dutta, Katrina Kaif, Zayed Khan, and Suneil Shetty and is budgeted at approx 70 crores. The film is an action thriller with a large portion of it to be shot in Bahamas. Over the past three months, all the main cast have already been trained in deep sea diving. Sanjay had also hired the services of Lawrence, a physical trainer from Los Angeles, for developing an 8 pack (abs muscles, not cigarettes). If the producers can't shoot in Bahamas they may have to shift the action to Thailand. But with IIFA being held there, rooms are tough to find till June 2nd week. And yes, juggling Akshay Kumar's dates is making the producers go blue and red.

One concept, three films!

Despite the blatant DVD rip offs in Bollywood sometimes you have to accept that not every film is a copy and that different people can think of the same idea.

For example, the concept of a moneylender (or a recovery agent) who has change of heart.

A friend tells me that in Kerala two films are releasing on July 18 with the same concept featuring the two warring stars Mohanlal and Mamooty. In Madambi, Mohanlal plays a kind hearted money lender in a village who knows how to get his interest and principal amount back using the right pressure technique. In Parinthu, Mamooty is a ruthless moneylender for whom money is ultimate thing in life. He uses all dirty and crude tricks to get his interest and principal back from his creditors.

In the same month Bollywood is lining up EMI for release. Its storyline? Sanjay Dutt plays a ruthless recovery agent for a loan company who has a change of heart when he sees how the middle class is struggling to realise their dreams.

Imagine the mudslinging if two films featuring any of the Khans or the Bachchans with the same concept were releasing on the same day!

Strugglers Shot: "I am worried about Saif"

Hi folks, apologies for disappearing last week. Thank you for your wonderful response to the Strugglers Shot feature. Let me start it with a query from Viv.

"I have enjoyed reading your blog. Thanks again. You are very neutral compared to some of the so-called journalists or insiders. Some of them are so biased and vindictive.

I am a huge fan of Saif Ali Khan. I am very concerned about him and his career right now. Personally I think Tashan and Kareena Kapoor are two huge mistakes in his life. Just wondering if you have any insider information about him ? Now that he is out of Voices from the Sky, is he going to be working on another movie after Imtiaz Ali's movie ? Also if there is a way to get in touch with him. I have a forum on Saif and all the true Saif fans are very worried.

Thanks for the insider info on Agent Vinod a while back. I hope it will still go ahead because I think Saif and Sriram will be brilliant. Please let me know if there is any update. There was a rumour that Sriram would be kicked out and the movie may be shelved." Viv

Thanks, Viv. Saif starts on Imtiaz Ali's film, which he is also producing, in the first week of June. His costar is Deepika Padukone. In the midst of it he comes back and promotes Kunal Kohli-YRF's Thoda Pyar Thoda Magic. In October he starts on Rensil D'Silva film for Dharma Productions alongwith Kareena and Viveik. That is expected to go on till Feb.

Sriram and Saif''s eagerly awaited Agent Vinod (produced by Saif) is very much on but will start only post March 2009. That is because Sriram hopes to start his film Dreamgirl starring Ashwariya Rai and John Abraham in Oct.

Saif is also waiting for the script of another home production, Homi Adjani's Thugi, to be ready. He also plans to shoot for and produce Anurag Kashyap's once derailed Alwyn Kallicharan. The buzz is that Saif wants to act only in films that he can produce, except of course its a film with YRF, or Vidhu Vinod Chopra, or Abbas Mastan or... you get the drift?

As for his contact nos and email ID sorry can't disclose those. But, yes, the office of Illumati Films (which he owns with partner Dinesh Vijen) is just around the corner of the popular Bandra bite with the same name :-)

Vijay Tendulkar: He said, he wrote

Vijay Tendulkar, who passed away, is the original angry young man. The man who wrote Aakrosh and Ardh Satya and one of the finest Indian playwrights had this to say in an interview with The Outlook.

“It's good that I don't have weapons and no one gives me any but yes, if I had a gun, I would still put it to Narendra Modi's head. He's a butcher. But everyone has conveniently forgotten that; he has become the poster boy and is considered the future president of his party. Same goes for Bal Thackeray. People give them respect, national importance, touch their feet. It makes my blood boil. Are we totally without a conscience?”

Can you name one current Bollywood screenplay writer of substance who can afford to make a statement like this?

When Dev Anand dined with Anil Ambani

These days when you hear of Reliance Big Entertainment Ltd's mammoth plans you can't but chuckle at Dev Anand's attitude. Some moons ago, the Anil Ambani company had its set its eye on Anand studios-- the once booming recording and dubbing owned by Dev Anand set in the prestigious Union Park area in Bandra. But they realised that the evergreen actor director was not biting. So one night Anil Ambani invited Dev Anand for dinner. Just before dinner as they were chatting, Ambani in his grand style gave a cheque to Devsaab. "Whats this?" the actor asked puzzled. "Its a blank cheque for your studio. Put a figure you wish for it," replied the tycoon.

Dev Anand pondered for a moment and quipped in his inimitable style " Anil, if you want to invest put money in the films I produce. Anand studio is not, and will never be, for sale!"

As Ambani looked on perplexed, Dev Anand swaggered out of Ambani's residence without eating dinner.