Money Never Drove Me to Work, I Do Films That I Like, Says Kajol

Agencies
August 21, 2018

Mumbai, Aug 21: Kajol believes despite being a part of major commercial films, she successfully managed to avoid getting trapped into a particular image and it has held her in good stead with the audiences.

Coming from a film background, there were expectations from her but Kajol said she was adamant about doing films on her own terms.

"When I first entered the film industry, there were expectations of me, of who I was and related to. Like Tanuja's daughter, Nutan's niece and Shobana Samarth's grand daughter. I had to live up to that lineage but I never took it seriously. Whether I succeeded or not, I did it on my own.

"I can do whatever I want. Nobody will stand up and say that we did not expect this from her as I do lot of stuff that is unexpected," she told PTI in an interview.

The actor said even at the height of her career, she did not follow the number game or ran after money.

"I never thought it (being number one) was a slot worth fighting for. What am I going to do with that? In the long run, I wanted to feel good with what I was doing.

"I never believed in just being better than somebody. Money never drove me to work. I do films that I like. I am still wanted and respected which itself is a good feeling," Kajol said.

At 44, the actor, who will next be seen playing a single mother in Helicopter Eela, believes she has evolved both as an actor and as a person.

"I have grown immensely. We have to realise that things have changed today. Audiences have seen better cinema and we have to be on par with what works today. So maybe what worked as a formula earlier is not workable anymore. You have to change and adapt," she said.

Kajol believes her choice of films -- be it Toonpur Ka Superhero, We are Family, My Name is Khan to her forthcoming release, Helicopter Eela -- reflect that change in her.

"As an actor I am in an awesome place right now. In the last five-six years, I have done a whole gamut of films. I am really happy where I am today as an actor and where I am as a personality."

"Star children go through a lot of scrutiny these days and Kajol said whatever her children Nysa and Yug know choose to do in life, they know that they have to do it on their own.

"My kids know that they will have to do things on their own. If they choose to be in film industry there will be lot more focus, if not, there will still be a level of expectations from them. Ajay and me have prepared them for the fact that there will be peer pressure."

Helicopter Eela, which also stars National award-winner Riddhi Sen, releases on September 7.

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News Network
April 7,2020

New Delhi, Apr 7: Actor Disha Patani on Tuesday extended her warm wishes to legendary martial artist and actor Jackie Chan on his birthday.

The 'Baaghi 2' took to Instagram to share a throwback picture of herself with the Hong Kong-based actor and reminisced the times when she got the opportunity to work with him.

"Happiest b'day taguuu this was the first time I met you, I remember being so nervous but It turned out to be the best day of my life, getting an opportunity to work with my "superhero" is the best thing that has ever happened to me," she wrote in the caption.

"You teach people to be giving, loving and hardworking, thank you for blessing the world with your unreal performances and the most unforgettable life risking action sequences. Nobody can ever be "jackie chan" love you the most @jackiechan," she added.

Disha Patani and Jackie Chan worked together in a Chinese adventure comic film 'Kung Fu Yoga'.

The film was released worldwide in 2017 and it later became the highest-grossing film of Jackie Chan in China.

Besides Disha, the film also had two other Bollywood actors - Sonu Sood and Amyra Dastur.

Jackie Chan turned 66 today. He was many laurels to his name including the prestigious Oscar Award which was handed over to him in 2016 for his extraordinary achievements in the cinema industry.

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News Network
March 5,2020

Bihar, Mar 5: A complaint has been filed before a court in Bihar against lyricist Javed Akhtar over his remarks on the FIRs being registered against expelled AAP councillor Tahir Hussain in the wake of Delhi riots.

The complaint was lodged on Wednesday by Amit Kumar, a local advocate, before the court of Chief Judicial Magistrate Thakur Aman Kumar.

On the basis of a newspaper report, the complainant has alleged that Akhtar's remarks were seditious and promoted religious hatred.

The media report was based on Akhtar's tweet of February 27 that "So many killed, so many injured, so many houses burned, so many shops looted so many people turned destitute but police has sealed only one house and looking for his owner. Incidentally, his name is Tahir. Hats off to the consistency of the Delhi police."

The violence in northeast Delhi claimed at least 42 lives and left over 200 injured. The former Rajya Sabha member was heavily trolled for the tweet.

In a subsequent tweet, Akhtar who asserted that he is a non-believer and a rationalist, had clarified that he was not asking "why Tahir but why ONLY Tahir and not even an FIR against those who have openly threatened violence in the presence of the police".

The matter is likely to come up for hearing on March 25.

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News Network
June 9,2020

New Delhi, Jun 9: Multiplex operator PVR on Monday said it has cut salary across various levels, laid off employees and deferred increments during the lockdown to mitigate adverse impact of COVID-19 on the business.

The company said at present it is not generating any revenue from exhibition business and related activities as cinemas across the country are shut following the directions from the regulatory authorities.

According to the company, closure of screens during the lockdown will have a significant negative impact on profitability and liquidity.

PVR has taken measures to reduce its personnel cost, including salary cuts across various levels in the organisation during the lockdown along with "reduction in headcount by way of layoffs/retrenchment" to mitigate the adverse impact of COVID-19 on the business.

Moreover, the board of the company, in its meeting held on Monday has also approved plan to raise Rs 300 crore through rights issue.

"Since Cinema Exhibition is the only business segment, company is currently not generating any revenue from admissions, food and beverage sales or other revenue and cash flow from operations," said PVR in an update.

Beginning from March 11, PVR started closing its screens in accordance with the order passed by various regulatory authorities and within a few days most of our cinemas across the country were shut down, it added.

The company will continue to incur committed cash outflows, including employee salary pay-outs, other overheads as well as payments for older working capital.

"This has and will have a significant negative impact on profitability and liquidity during lockdown and even thereafter till business comes to normalcy," it added.

Further, once the cinemas are re-opened, we may not be able to run our cinemas at normal capacity utilisation levels on account of social distancing measures that cinemas may be required to follow as well as health concerns that the patrons may have, the multiplex operator said.

"On account of this, our revenue and cash flow generation may be impeded even once we are allowed to restart operations," it added.

The company has also deferred decision on on increments to reduce its cost, it added.

PVR has also written to developers for waiving rental and CAM (Common Area Maintenance) charges for the lockdown period.

It is in discussion with developers for reducing rentals post re-opening and has invoked force majeure clause in its agreements with them.

Besides, the company has raised additional borrowings from existing bankers to shore up liquidity.

"As of March 31, 2020 the company had cash and bank balance of Rs 316 crore. As on June 7, 2020 cash and bank balance is Rs 227 crore (including undrawn bank lines)," it added.

Over reopening of theatres, PVR said that the government has come out with a phase-wise schedule.

In these guidelines cinema halls have been kept in the third phase of re-opening, where dates will be decided based on assessment of the situation.

"We are in continuous engagement with all regulatory authorities and hope to receive the necessary permissions for restarting opening in the near future," it added.

Currently PVR operates 845 screens in 176 properties in 71 cities.

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