Salman is real No 1, SRK extremely charming: Aamir

December 14, 2013

AamirMumbai, Dec 14: Superstar Aamir Khan, who has been ruling Bollywood along with Salman Khan and Shah Rukh Khan for over 20 years, says there is no secret formula behind their long and successful innings in the industry.

Aamir, who often draws comparison from the two Khans in terms of ranking and popularity, frankly acknowledged that Salman was the real number 1 star and more popular than him.

The 48-year-old actor, who became an overnight star with 1988 blockbuster 'Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak', agreed that the audience in India is star-obsessed but insisted same is not the case with the industry.

"I don't think the industry is star obsessed. It is the audience who is star obsessed and it is not a bad thing at all. As an audience, I am also star obsessed. I am a big fan of Amitabh Bachchan, Dilip Kumar, Waheeda Rehman, Shammi Kapoor. I have been star struck myself," Aamir said in an interview here.

"I think an entertainer has a great role to play in the society and he is often underestimated. I don't think any of us - Salman, Shah Rukh and me - know the secret to our longevity. I wish we knew it."

The 'Raja Hindustani' actor considers Shah Rukh Khan as a seasoned actor, who always brings a smile on viewers' faces.

"I think Shah Rukh is very well loved and fine actor. He is extremely charming and I love to see him on screen. It always brings a smile on your face when you see him," Aamir said.

"I have liked him in films such as 'Dilwale Dhulaniya Le Jayenge', 'Kuch Kuch Hota Hai'. I have heard good things about his work in 'Chak De' but I haven't seen it. It is one of the films that I want to watch. There are several other films of Shah Rukh that I have liked," he added.

Aamir is known to be close to Salman and the two are often seen praising each other in public.

"There is always love and warmth in my heart for Salman. I am fond of him, I love him. I personally feel he is a bigger star than me. Because he has the ability to take a film on his shoulders... I don't think I have that capability. I don't have any hesitation in saying that.

"I think Salman manages everything, and according to me, (he) is the real number one," he said

Aamir and Salman have teamed up only once on screen - for 'Andaz Apna Apna' in 1994 - but have always expressed their desire to work again.

The 'Lagaan' star also praised Sanjay Dutt and Ranbir Kapoor, who is the Hindi film industry's latest heartthrob.

"Sanjay Dutt was fantastic, entertaining in 'Munnabhai' series. I liked Ranbir Kapoor in 'Barfi'. I and Kiran (Aamir's wife) were watching the film together and I asked her "what is it that he is doing and I am not. What I need to learn from him".

Aamir, who is known for his meticulous planning, execution of roles and film production, said he feels happy when movies of his contemporaries do well at the box office.

He appreciates good work of others. "Good work gives me joy. And it does not matter that it is not mine. I don't have that kind of competitive spirit in me."

The 'Taare Zameen Par' director said stars have a limited influence on the box office outcome, but beyond a point it is the film and its content that matters.

"Stars have the potential to influence the first three days of the number of people coming in theatres... beyond that we don't have any influence.

"A lot of people attribute the success of '3 Idiots' to me... (But) it is not my film it is (director) Raju Hirani's film. No film runs on the strength of the star alone.

"I think if a film is not good enough I won't be able to make a mark for myself. When a film is good, it does good business," Aamir added.

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News Network
January 2,2020

Jan 2: A young filmmaker was allegedly assaulted by an acquaintance during an argument over CAA-NRC in neighbouring Salt Lake City, police said on Wednesday.

The police have arrested the accused following a complaint by the filmmaker.

According to a senior police officer, the argument over the contentious Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and the proposed National Register of Citizens (NRC) began following a social media post by the filmmaker.

The accused allegedly went to the house of the filmmaker on Monday night and picked up an argument, which led to a scuffle.

"During the scuffle, the accused attacked the filmmaker with a knife," the senior police officer said, adding that the accused has been booked under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code.

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News Network
February 10,2020

Feb 10: Bong Joon-ho’s film “Parasite” starts in a dingy, half-basement apartment with a family of four barely able to scratch out a life. There must be no place to go but up, right? Yes and no. There’s nothing predictable when the South Korean director is on his game.

This dark, socially conscious film about the intertwining of two families is an intricately plotted, adult thriller. We can go up, for sure, but Bong can also take us deeper down. There’s always an extra floor somewhere in this masterpiece.

It tells the story of the impoverished four-person Kim family who, one by one, and with careful and devious planning, all get employed by the four-person affluent Park family — as a tutor, an art teacher, a driver and a housekeeper. They are imposters stunned by the way wealth can make things easier: “Money is an iron. It smooths out all the creases,” says the Park patriarch with wonder.

Bong, who directed and wrote the story for “Parasite,” has picked his title carefully, of course. Naturally, he’s alluding to the sycophantic relationship by a clan of scammers to the clueless rich who have unwittingly opened the doors of their home on a hill. But it’s not that simple. The rich family seem incapable of doing anything — from dishes to sex — without help. Who’s scamming who?

Bong’s previous films play with film genres and never hide their social commentary — think of the environmentalist pig-caper “Okja” and the dystopian sci-fi global warming scream “Snowpiercer.” But this time, Bong’s canvas is a thousand times smaller and his focus light-years more intense. There are no CGI train chases on mountains or car chases through cities. (There is also, thankfully, 100% less Tilda Swinton, a frequent, over-the-top Bong collaborator.

The two Korean families first make contact when a friend of the Kim’s son asks him to take over English lessons for the Park daughter. Soon the son (a dreamy Choi Woo-sik) convinces them to hire his sister (the excellent Park So-dam) as an art teacher, but doesn’t reveal it’s his sis. She forges her diploma and spews arty nonsense she learned on the internet, impressing the polite but firm Park matriarch (a superb Jo Yeo-jeong.)

The Park’s regular chauffer is soon let go and replaced by the Kim patriarch (a steely Lee Sun-kyun). Ditto the housemaid, who is dumped in favor of the Kims’ mother (a feisty Jang Hye-jin.) All eight people seem happy with the new arrangement until Bong reveals a twist: There are more parasites than you imagined. The clean, impeccably furnished Park home will have some blood splashing about.

Bong’s trademark slapstick is still here but the rough edges of his often too-loud lessons are shaved down nicely and his actors step forward. “Keep it focused,” the Kim’s son counsels his father at one point. Bong has followed that advice.

There are typically dazzling Bong touches throughout. Just look for all the insect references — stink bugs at the beginning to flies at the end, and a preoccupation with odor across the frames. And there’s a scene in which the rich matriarch skillfully winds noodles in a bowl while, in another room, duct tape is being wrapped around a victim and classical music plays.

Bong could have been more strident in his social critique but hasn’t. There are no villains in “Parasite” — and also no heroes. Both families are forever broken after chafing against each other, a bleak message about the classes ever really co-existing (Take that, “Downton Abbey”).

“Parasite” is a worthy winner of the Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival, the first South Korean movie to win the prestigious top prize. The director has called it an “unstoppably fierce tragicomedy.” We just call it brilliant.

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News Network
June 16,2020

Mumbai, Jun 16: In the wake of Sushant Singh Rajput's death, veteran actor Deepti Naval has opened up about her struggle with depression and suicidal thoughts in the early 90s.

Naval shared a poem that she wrote during her struggle with depression on her Facebook page after paying tributes to Rajput, who was found hanging in his Bandra apartment on Sunday at the age of 34.

According to a police official, Mumbai Police found out during the probe that the actor was under medication for depression

"Dark days these... So much has been happening - mind has come to a point of stillness... Or rather numbness. Today I feel like sharing a poem I wrote back in the years when I was fighting depression, anxiety, suicidal thoughts - Yes, fighting... and like how," Naval wrote.

The 68-year-old actor made her debut with Shyam Benegal's 1978 "Junoon" and went on to feature in films like "Chashme Buddoor", "Ankahee", "Mirch Masala", Saath Saath among others in the 80s.

Naval's poem, titled "Black Wind", begins by describing how anxiety engulfs a person.

"Anxiety grips me with both hands, spiked claws dig deep into my soul I gasp for breath and stagger around sharp corners of my single bed.."

In the poem, Naval talks about fighting suicidal thoughts and depression, describing it as a "ghoulish lust" she won't succumb to.

"The telephone rings... no, it stops...God damn! Why don't anyone speak? A voice, Just a human voice In this shameless, pitiless Abyss of the night - gloom deepens into darkness, turns purple I feel dark inside."

The actor ends by writing that she will survive the night, its "deathly design" and fight.

"The world's a snake pit, so let it be! I dare the devil to get the better of me! Deepti Naval, Night of July 28, 1991."

In an interview with PTI last year, Naval had mentioned how acting assignments started to thin in the late 90s and as a "serious actor" it was "devastating" to be ignored.

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