Never worried about the long gap between my films: Vaani Kapoor

December 6, 2016

Mumbai, Dec 6: It was in 2013 when she got noticed for her debut performance in Shuddh Desi Romance but it took Vaani Kapoor nearly three years to bag another Hindi film, something which did not bother her much. Post her debut with the Yash Raj-backed romantic-comedy, Vaani featured in the Telugu remake of Band Baaja Baarat, titled Aaha Kalyanam in 2014.

vanikapoorThe 28-year-old actress will now be seen in filmmaker Aditya Chopra’s Befikre, her second Hindi film in three years. “I never went into a state of overthinking that what will happen, what if I keep waiting at home. That’s because after ‘Shuddh Desi…’ Adi used to have conversations with me and reassure me that he has something in mind and wants me to wait for the right project,” Vaani said.

Not that there were not offers, as the actress says, some projects did come her way but nothing appealed to her. “I didn’t want to be a part of movies which were offered to me. They didn’t fully satisfy me as an actor, I felt it wasn’t too great or exciting. For me Adi’s words hold a lot of importance. If my mentor is asking me to wait, there must be something good about it.”

So, Vaani began waiting for the right project to land, and in the meanwhile started doing workshops with casting director Shanoo Sharma on a very brief sketch given by Chopra, without “any proper script.” After “months and months” of auditions, Vaani got a pleasant surprise from Chopra.

“Then one fine day, he said I am directing the movie. I was like ‘really?’ he said, ‘also, you are in it.’ It didn’t hit me then. It took me a lot of time to sink in that I am actually in an Aditya Chopra film.” Befikre aims to celebrates love in a carefree, fun filled and impulsive spirit. The teasers and promos are in compete contrast to the kind of cinema Chopra is known to make- “Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge”, “Mohabbatein” and “Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi”.

Vaani was not surprised to see Chopra’s transformation from someone who made love stories rooted in tradition to someone who made a completely modern film. “I did realise that it is different and new in terms of the romance he is projecting on screen. But because I had spoken to him (Chopra) at length, he told me this is something that he always wanted to make.

“During DDLJ he used to have these concepts and this kind of storyline always existed in him but never came out in his movies.” The actress insists, the film still has the soul and feel of a Chopra film, despite being overtly modern. “The way he has treated the film, it shows his soul and essence. When you come out of the theatre you will realise this is an Aditya Chopra movie. The treatment might be new, it still has his soul intact.”

In the film, scheduled to release on December 9, Vaani co-stars with Ranveer Singhfor the first time and says the actor had no starry tantrums. “He never acted like a star. I have a lot of respect for Ranveer. I think he is supremely talented. He was very humble and supportive as an actor so there was nothing like ‘I am 8-movie old and you are 2-movie old’.”

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Agencies
August 4,2020

New York, Aug 4: National Award-winning documentary "Son Rise" and Geetu Mohandas-directed "Moothon" were among the films that took home the big honours at the 20th New York Indian Film Festival (NYIFF), which switched to a virtual edition this year amid the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.

Over 45 feature-length narratives, shorts and documentaries from the Indian subcontinent were showcased at the festival’s virtual edition that ran for 10 days beginning July 24.

The films programmed were in various languages including Assamese, Bengali, Haryanvi, Hindi, English, Ladakhi, Maithili, Malayalam, Marathi, Nepali and Tamil.

The award ceremony for the festival was held virtually Sunday, with the filmmakers, cast, award winners and festival officials joining from across India and the US.

The award for the Best Documentary (Short) went to Saurav Vishnu-directed "Tailing Pond", which highlights the "horrifying effects of uranium extraction on the health of the indigenous population" of Jadugoda, Jharkhand.

"Son Rise" by Vibha Bakshi won the award for Best Documentary (Feature).

The documentary had won the National Award for the Best non-feature film in 2019 and was among the two centrepieces hosted by the festival this year. NYIFF called "Son Rise" “a powerful documentary about patriarchy in Haryana and efforts by a few good men to bring meaningful change in the society.”

The award for Best Short (Narrative) went to Sanat Ganu's "Arabian Nights". The narrative focuses on a child, his imaginary friend and a family that attends a conference where the attendees believe the earth is flat.

Director and scriptwriter Sudhanshu Saria accepted the award for Best Screenplay for "Knock Knock Knock". Saria’s screenplay “explores the lonely life of a man, an unlikely friendship that may or may not be real.”

Sanjana Dipu won the award for Best Child Actor for "Moothon" for her performance of a teenager in search of a brother.

Garggi Ananthan won the Best Actress award for her role as Kalyani in the film "Run Kalyani" and the Best Actor award went to Malayalam star Nivin Pauly for "Moothon". The award for the Best Director went to 23-year old Achal Mishra for "Gamak Ghar".

"Moothon" won the award for Best Film and its director Mohandas accepted the award for the film, which is "about love and loss that travels from the quiet, lush beaches of Lakshadweep to the mad hustle-bustle of the streets of Mumbai."

Produced by award-winning Indian film director and writer Anurag Kashyap, "Moothon" had premiered at last year’s Toronto International Film Festival.

NYIFF festival director Aseem Chhabra said that the process of searching for films for the festival began last fall and they were ready to showcase them to audiences in New York in April but had to change plans for the festival due to the pandemic.

"I know the best way to enjoy films is in a theatre with the audience and have live interactions, conversations. But the virtual festival is the next best option and in the process, we have been able to reach out to a much larger audience in the US, North America as well in several other countries.”

NYIFF said that a virtual edition expanded the reach of the festival and audiences from 95 countries were able to access and view the films.

Dr Nirmal Mattoo, Chairman of the Indo-American Arts Council, co-founder and owner of Atlantic Dialysis Management services, the largest private dialysis provider in New York State, said NYIFF works with an independent jury - filmmakers, film professors, writers and critics.

Indo-American Arts Council (IAAC), the leading cultural organisation, presents the festival.

"The Covid-19 pandemic has forced the closure of theatres but we believe that in such trying times arts, including films are even more important for the community’s well-being. So, this year we have decided to bring the films directly into your living rooms.” IAAC Vice-Chairman Rakesh Kaul had said.

The New York Indian Film Festival is the oldest Indian film event in North America. Over the years, the festival has held New York premieres of a wide range of films, many of them critically acclaimed, including "Monsoon Wedding", "The Namesake", "Slumdog Millionaire", "Shahid", "Dum Laga Ke Haisha" and "Gangs of Wasseypur". 

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Agencies
March 3,2020

Chennai, Mar 3: Makkal Needhi Maiyam president and actor Kamal Hassan on Tuesday appeared before Chennai Police on Tuesday in connection the deaths last month of three people on the set of the movie, 'Indian 2'.

Hassan appeared before Chennai Police Commissioner in Egmore to record his statement.

Three people died while around 10 suffered injuries when a crane collapsed while shooting of the film was underway in Chennai at EVP Studios on February 19.

Madhu, personal assistant to director Shankar, Krishna, assistant director, and a staffer Chandran, lost their lives in the incident.

In an open letter, "Indian 2" Director S Shankar announced Rs 1 crore as financial assistance to the kin of the deceased.

'Indian 2' stars Kamal Haasan, Kajal Agarwal, Rakul Preet, Siddharth, Priya Bhavani Shankar, Delhi Ganesh and Nedumudi Venu in prominent roles.

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News Network
March 23,2020

Washington, Mar 23: Disgraced Hollywood mogul Harvey Weinstein has tested positive for the novel coronavirus, US media reported Sunday.

Harvey Weinstein, 68, is in prison in northern New York state after being sentenced to 23 years in jail for rape and sexual assault.

The fallen film producer's diagnosis was first reported Sunday evening by local paper the Niagara Gazette.

Harvey Weinstein's spokespeople have declined to comment to US media on the subject.

The New York state Department of Corrections did not respond when contacted by AFP for confirmation of the reports.

Harvey Weinstein was transferred Wednesday to a prison near Buffalo, 350 miles (560 kilometers) northwest of New York City.

Prior to his transfer, he stayed at Rikers Island prison and a Manhattan hospital, where he was treated for chest pains.

Crowded US prisons have the potential to become hotbeds for coronavirus infections. Last week, guards at Rikers and New York's Sing Sing prison tested positive for the virus, local media reported.

As of Sunday, the virus has killed 417 people in the US out of more than 33,000 cases, according to a tracker managed by Johns Hopkins University.

Harvey Weinstein was convicted in February of a criminal sexual act in the first degree and rape in the third degree, while being cleared of predatory sexual assault charges.

He was convicted of raping ex-actress Jessica Mann in 2013 and of forcibly performing oral sex on former production assistant Mimi Haleyi in 2006.

Nearly 90 women, including Angelina Jolie and Salma Hayek, have leveled sexual misconduct allegations against Harvey Weinstein, the Oscar-winning producer of "Shakespeare in Love" and numerous other critical and box office hits.

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