SRK praised Salman: Abhinav

Abhinav Kashyap a.k.a. Dabangg director and brother of Anurag Kashyap, only recently visited Shah Rukh Khan at his residence and all hell broke loose. There were talks that Abhinav had left the Salman camp for Shah Rukh's. However, Abhinav Kashyap denied all of this when we put him in the hot seat.

He told us, "Yes, I did go to Shah Rukh's house. He saw Dabangg, thought it to be a good movie, and share the appreciation with me. He's an actor, I'm a director, we are a part of the same industry, there was no reason why I shouldn't have met him. I didn't meet him in hinding, I told Arbaaz that Shah Rukh had called me home and that I intended to meet him," he said.

Abhinav further added, "SRK spoke a great deal about Dabangg. He praised Salman's performance in it. He applauded Arbaaz' production efforts. He congratulated me on a job well done as well. That was really all that happened when I visited Shah Rukh."

About Abhinav's next project, it's going to be backed by Viacom 18. Nothing else has been decided yet. A film with SRK? "Well, if fate has it that we work together, we will. Nothing has been talked about so far."

Viacom18, Movie Temple Productions to produce Kashyap’s next

New Delhi, March 11 – Viacom18 Motion Pictures have teamed up with Movie Temple Productions to produce ‘Dabangg’ director Abhinav Kashyap’s second directorial venture, which is tentatively titled ‘Project 18′. 

The film is being written by Kashyap and is slated to go on floors in the last quarter of the year.

‘I am impressed with their (Viacom18 Motion Pictures and Movie Temple Productions) approach to focus on high-quality content which connects with the audience and their ability to execute and market films innovatively. Together, we should be able to deliver a film that is high in appeal for the audience,’ he said.

Movie Temple Productions Pvt Ltd is co-promoted by Sanjeev Gupta, a Saharanpur-based textiles businessman, and Himanshu Mehra, chief assistant director to Kashyap for ‘Dabangg’.

‘We have been able to identify a lot of young and enthusiastic talent to support us in our endeavour and we hope to live up to everyone’s expectations,’ said Mehra.

Vikram Malhotra, COO Viacom18 Motion Pictures, said: ‘We are proud to have Abhinav join the Viacom18 Motion Pictures family. Abhinav is not just a rare writing and directing talent but also possesses an uncanny and stylish approach to filmmaking that puts him in the top league of young directors today. We also plan to further build on our relationship with Mr. Sanjeev Gupta and Mr. Himanshu Mehra’s company Movie Temple Productions.’ 

IANS

Acting with Kamal is difficult: Sonakshi

Sonakshi Sinha does not believe her 33-year age difference with Kamal Haasan will deter her from playing his wife in Tamil and Telugu director Selvaraghavan's film

I will be respectful but an equal on the sets with Kamal Haasan," says Sonakshi Sinha, who is gearing up to star as Haasan's wife, in the Tamil-Telugu director Selvaraghavan's film.

When asked if the 33-year age difference between Haasan and her will be an obstacle, Sinha tells us, "Why should that be a problem? Once you are on the sets in front of the camera, your age should not matter.

I never felt like a child while working with Salman in Dabangg (2010) and now with Akshay in Joker. In real life, age makes no difference in a marriage.

On screen too, your biological age is of no consequence. Salman and Akshay are a lot older than me so it's not as if I am suddenly going from teenybopper co-stars to a co-star of another generation."

Apart from the co-stars age difference, the movie has also reportedly garnered attention for being a remake of Hollywood director Ridley Scott's Hannibal (2001).

However, the actress quickly squashes all the rumours saying, "I don't know where these speculations started from. No this film is a complete original. When I heard the script, I was blown away."

Currently, Sinha is busy making all the efforts to get into character. She plans to watch Haasan's film, Hey Ram(2000), where the actor is married to Vasundhara Das, who is at least 25 years his junior, so as to see how they enacted a convincing on-screen chemistry.

In order to effectively portray Haasan's on-screen wife, Sinha wants to establish an off-screen rapport with him first, as she tells us, "I need to establish a comfort level with him. I certainly feel an initial nervousness, since Kamalji is legendary.

Acting with him is difficult enough. Playing his wife will require me to have a lot more guts."

To eliminate the language barrier, Sinha is taking cues from her father, Shatrughan, to learn how to read Tamil and Telugu, without making it obvious.

She adds, "It is impossible for me to get a grip on Tamil and Telugu in such a short time.

My father couldn't speak either language when he did Rakht Charitra (2010). He read out the lines from cue cards but no one could make it out and so now he is teaching me this trick of the trade."

Abhinav to direct an action thriller

Finally all the rumours and speculations over what Abhinav Kashyap will do after opting out of Dabangg 2 can come to a rest.

Kashyap, who directed the biggest hit in Dabangg last year has now turned a producer and will be making a hard-core action thriller for Viacom 18.

The production company will co-produce the film, along with Kashyap, and if rumours are to be believed then talks are on with none other than King Khan SRK.

A couple of days back, Kashyap has said that he had not signed the film with Viacom 18. This development has reportedly happened in the last 48 hours. Our source said, "It was Kashyap's friend Sunil Bohra who intervened and made things possible for Kashyap.

Bohra has been a close associated with the Studio 18 and has been involved in a couple of films with them. After Kashyap left Dabangg 2, he immediately a film with Viacom 18. He has already met SRK and expressed his desire to work with him.

SRK too told him that he would love to work with him on an action thriller that he has in mind. Kashyap has channelled all his energies into getting the script right and it will be ready by May.

Meanwhile Kashyap will be a partner on the film and will not be charging anything as director's fees. He will instead share the profits as well as the negative rights along with the production house."

In spite of repeated calls, Abhinav Kashyap and Vikram Malhotra of Viacom 18 remained unavailable for comments.

Arbaaz to direct Dabangg 2

Abhinav Kashyap is not directing Dabangg 2 and it will be Arbaaz Khan who will be helming it. This will be Arbaaz's debut as a director.

Abhinav, it turns out walked out around 10 days ago after differences with producer Arbaaz Khan turned into an all-out spat. At 9.30 one evening, Arbaaz received an SMS from Kashyap saying that he was not going to direct the sequel.

Following this, Arbaaz, who has been eyeing the director's cap for some time now, grabbed the opportunity and took over. He even flew to Bangkok to convince brother Sallu of the musical chairs that had ensued in his absence. Dabangg was Abhinav's debut film as a director.

Our source said, "It is strange considering that Dabangg was the biggest hit of 2010. Abhinav walked out of the film and Arbaaz decided to step in, not a surprise considering he's been harbouring directorial ambitions for some time now. So Abhinav walking out is a blessing in disguise. He is now confident that he will give Dabangg 2 a special zing.

Arbaaz was also unhappy that Abhinav sent him a message so abruptly at 9.30 pm one evening saying that he doesn't wish to direct the film. He didn't even come and tell him. Arbaaz felt that certain professionalism or decorum should have been maintained."

When contacted Arbaaz Khan said, "Yes, there have been issues and Abhinav is no longer directing the film. I don't want to get in to details of what happened between us, but this has happened over the last two weeks.

He didn't want to direct it, and, fair enough, it is his choice. We have to move on. I don't know his reasons but I am happy that he is no longer doing the film after what transpired. It was strange how he shot me an SMS and didn't even bother to meet me personally. I wish him all the very best. I just hope that whatever decision he has made is the right decision."

So who will be directing it? Will he take the plunge? Arbaaz said, "Yes, I am directing it and the process has begun. I was involved in every aspect of Dabangg as producer. We have started work on the script and in the next 2-3 months I will have the first draft ready as well. But I don't want to say anything more about the film and it subject."

When finally asked if he went to Bangkok to inform Salman about this blockbuster development, Arbaaz said, "No, that's not true. I had gone to Bangkok to do a cameo in the film." Let's hope it's not a cameo in the director's role too. Abhinav Kashyap, for his part, remained unavailable for comment.