Once Mr. Bachchan called me Mahanayak: Ravi Kishan - Star Interview

After getting into the shoes of actor and producer, the badshah of Bhojhpuri films, Ravi Kishan will soon be seen hosting a reality show Ek Se Badhkar Ek. Let’s try to get close to his real self and know about his struggling days and a bit about the show.

Q. Ek Se Bhadkar Ek is a celebrity based reality show. How are you prepared for it?
A. There is no such preparation, I mean nothing is readymade. Firstly, I am hosting for the first time, so I am quite excited with it. We have tried to use less written scripts and I will go more spontaneous there.

Everything will be shot ad lib. Whatever I will see will be talked on. So it will be more like watch, think instantly and talk.

Q. What made you accept the show?
A. The concept. I liked the concept of the show very much. Combining singing and dancing together is a very nice idea. Ek Se Bhadkar Ek is a show where the singers and dancers will be grouped in bunches of twos.

Both singing and dancing will be performed simultaneously and their approach should be to make up each other’s deficiencies. I mean if a singer does not score well then his/her dancing partner will try to make up for that.

It will be coming at a prime time, 7:30 in the evening, on every Saturday and Sunday. If we are able to stop the cars on the street at this hour for watching the show then I would say that it is a definite hit.

Q. Is it true that you used to cry during your struggling days?
A. Struggling days were very tough time for me. I did not have any God father so I really had a tough time. I am from Johanpur and my father is a pandit. He was in Mumbai for very long time and I, too, grew up in Mumbai.

But most of the time I stayed in my village Johanpur. I passed out from Banaras Hindu University with Commerce as my subject. My dad at first opposed me from acting but my mom supported me.

As I had no god father figure in Bollywood, it took me 19 years to reach up to here. I used to cry with the make-up stick in my hand at that time thinking that when would I put that brush on my face and do acting.

Q. How has been your journey from Bhojhpuri to Hindi Industry?
A. No, it has never been from Bhojpuri to Hindi films, rather it was the opposite. I started my career with Hindi film but nobody recognized me properly that time. It was after Big Boss that I got recognition.

After that show producers from Hindi films started calling me and again I am here. It's also true that it’s because of that show that you are here asking me these questions.

Q. What is keeping you busy these days other than this show?
A. I have my own home production titled Mahadev, where I will try to provide chance to all the strugglers as much as possible. I have seen and gone through all the pains of struggling in my life, so I want to give a platform to everyone through my production house.

Q. Will you produce only Bhojpuri films?
A. No, I will be producing Bhojpuri films along with Hindi films. Films like Bihari Mafia, Chak De Bihar and Cocaine are being produced under my banner. Apart from that I am also producing Shyam Benegal's film Mahadev.

Q. How was it working with Shyam Benegal?
A. It was wonderful working with him. The film is a passionate love story and working with Shyam Benegal is like acting to get a certificate.

Q. Any interesting incident that happened on the sets?
A. Nothing of that sort, but it was nice experience working with Shyamji. He used to take re-takes until he got satisfied and I gave lots of re-takes of a shot where I had to ride a cycle and that, too, up to 2 km.

Q. Your ambition at present…
A. I am planning to open a theatre in my village, where I will teach people acting. It will be like Shaolin Temple for acting. It will give everyone a good platform to start their career. I am also planning to build a temple of Shivji in my village.

Q. How did your family react to your success?
A. They just cried. Ours is a very emotional family. You can imagine how a pujari's family would be, very simple and down to earth. I started my career when I was at my 15½, so it's been a long time now.

Q. What is the best compliment you have got till date?
A. Once Mr. Bachchan told me that I am a good actor and called me Mahanayak and once Dilip Kumar saab told me, "Mein duniy ko rulata hoon par tumne mujhe rula diya". I think nothing can be better than that.

Q. Other projects you are working in…
A. Apart from Shyam Benegal's Mahadev I am doing Money Hai to Honey Hai and Loot with Govinda. Another film, Luck, will be shot in South Africa.

I have no problem wearing hot costumes & no clothes : Yuvika Chaudhary (Om Shanti Om Actress) Star Interview

Yuvika Chaudhary is going great guns after a short role in Shah Rukh Khan's Om Shanti Om. This cutie from Uttar Pradesh is all set to unleash her acting skills in a youth based film titled Summer 2007. This much delayed film also stars Sikander Kher and Gul Panag. A little tête-à-tête with the charming Uvika…

Why was the film delayed?
I have no idea, may be the shooting just got over now.

What is your character in Summer 2007?
I play a middle class girl called Priyanka who is trying to live up like the ones among her rich carefree college friends. But despite trying to be like them she still has not forgotten her values.

What is the USP of the film?
It's a very today’s film. All youngsters will be able to identify with the issues Summer 2007 throws up.

How was it working with co-star Sikandar Kher?
It was superb. He has no air around him. He was as hard working as any other new comer.

Do you have a glamorous image in this film?
No, I don't have any sexy image; rather I have a very realistic look in the film. My dressing style is just like any small town college girl.

How does it feel to move from playing a small role in OSO to a lead role?
It feels really good. My career is moving in the right direction.

Any pre-release jitters?
I am eagerly awaiting the release on coming Friday like any other actor. We all have worked hard and made a very good film, now it's up to the audience to give their approval. Newcomers in the industry like us deserve all the help and love we can get from the audience.

How was the experience of shooting?
We had lot of fun pulling pranks on each other. The positive atmosphere was such that we hardly knew when the days passed by.

But there are so many newcomers around these day?
See, this is a phase. Remember at one time even Shahrukh Khan was a struggler, but by sheer hard work, see where he has reached today.

Given that OSO had Shahrukh Khan and Deepika Padukone, do you think people even would have noticed you?
In spite of the fact that I was hardly there, people still call me by the character named Dolly. What more can I ask for?

You were absent during the promotion of OSO?
I wanted to be there but unfortunately the shooting of Summer 2007 was going on in full stream at that time. Farah Khan had asked me to join the unit, but I had to politely decline.

Any other films?
No, at present I am only looking forward to Summer 2007. Once it's released, I will look at other projects.

Will you agree to wear short clothes in future films?
I have no problem wearing hot costumes provided they do not look vulgar.

You had done some TV shows before, will you return to the small screen?
As of now, I only want to look at films. It's always good to do one thing at a time.

Which male star would you want to work with?
Obviously I can’t I work with the same star again and again. So I would want to share screen space with all Bollywood biggies starting from Salman Khan to Akshay Kumar etc.

What is your personal fashion style?
I am basically a jeans and T-shirt person as that way I am free to jump around and do my own things.

I never tried to please any Pakistani: Sunny Deol - Star Interview

Sunny Deol is the forgotten hero of the Indian film industry. He has not been seen for quite a long. But having an exclusive tête-à-tête with him we felt like he still has the same fire in him.

In addition to his own film career and a come-back show in the field of Direction he also had a lot to share about his personal point of view regarding changing shades in his life…

Q. I have heard that by playing a Pakistani character in Kaafila you wanted to please Pakistani people?
A. I never tried to please anyone. My total career graph can describe it better. I’m an actor and it’s my job to portray every kind of character.

Q. There were two Pakistanis as well as a Bulgarian actor in the film. How was your experience working with them?
A. I enjoyed working with them as I do with Indian actors. I would like to say about them that all of them were new actors. That’s why they had liveliness, enthusiasm and at the same time an intention to learn new things.

Q.: You are doing very few films these days?
A. Yeah, I have reduced working hours because of my health. But I have played small roles in several films in last two or three years. I had gone through three operations because of my back pain and in that situation my first priority should always be my health.

Q. I came to know that you are going to direct films?
A. Yeah, we are going to shoot four films in the coming year. Names for two among them have been finalised. First is going to be “Man”. There I have Neeraj Pathak assisting me in that project.

I’m playing the leading role in it but the leading lady is still not decided. The second film is “Chamku” which is also the name of the character. Boby is playing in it. Kabir Sadanand, the director of “Sahar”, will assist me in that film.

Q. Will the three of you be seen on screen again after “Apne”?
A. Yeah, of course. It’ll be in the film “Masters” that you will enjoy us together after “Apne”. Anil Sharma, like the last one, will direct it. People actually complained me that “you have made us crying in Apne”.

So, keeping that in mind, we are going to make them laugh this time. It’s going to be an “out-and-out” comedy.

Q. Your father, Dharmendra, was supposed to publish his shayaree. Please tell me about that.
A. It’s true that he has depicted his own experience, both on and off screen, in his shayaree. He has penned a number of them. He’s going to publish it very soon.

Q. Do you, too, enjoy writing?
A. It’s difficult to give my experiences a written form. Reaching his (Dharmendra) age I also may start writing like him but it’s tough to comment on it right now.

Q. What would you like to do besides acting?
A. I want to be an outstanding director. I have a dream project that I want to accomplish. But it’s better to keep numb as it’s too early to speak on that subject.

Casting couch? No way, people are afraid of me : Rimii Sen - Star Interview

After been appreciated for her remarkable performance in Johnny Gaddaar, Shubhomitra Sen aka Rimii Sen would now be seen playing her career’s first double role in Rakesh Sarang’s Horn Ok Please.

Rimii talks about her experience doing a double role and also shares why she hasn’t yet been involved in casting couch.

Q. What is your character in your film “Horn OK Please”?
A. I am playing double role in the film. In one of them I am paired against Nana Patekar while another one against Muzammil. Both the characters are quit similar.

Q. This is your first film in a double role, how difficult was it to portray both the characters?
A. The only difference I found was in the body language of both the characters. Otherwise the two characters were almost alike.

Q. What was it that made you accept this film?
A. I really found the story to be quiet interesting and different. That’s the reason, I couldn’t say no to Rakeshji after hearing the script.

Q. How did you accept your roles in the initial stage of your career?
A. Earlier I did not give much importance to roles. I only used to see the banner, who is the hero and the director.

Because at that time I thought I won't get recognized if I do experimental films. So I looked for big banners with good star cast.

Q. So, what kind of film’s you like to do now?
A. I would like to work in thriller kind of films. But unfortunately, as of yet no such film have come to me.

Q. Are you doing any Bengali film?
A. As of now I am not doing any Bengali film. But in future if something good comes up then I will definitely do it.

Q. Have you ever faced the situation of casting couch?
A. No I have never fallen into such situations ever because I am very straight forward person and say anything on one’s face. People are afraid of me due to my nature.
Q. How many times do you make your producers run after you to say 'ok' for a film?
A. I don't make any one run; rather I look for signing films because I like working and keep myself busy.

If I like the script, I will sign the film immediately and if I don't understand the character or something, then, I generally take two to three days to sign a film.

Q. Any plans on commercial ads?
A. I am waiting for some nice offer. If nice offer, good product combined with a good amount comes up, then I will definitely be doing ads.

Q. What about “Dhoom” the film? Why did you opt out of the next series of Dhoom?
A. I opted out of Dhoom because I am tired of doing guest appearances. I don’t want to be seen as furniture in films.

Q. Your other projects…
A. I am doing Santosh Gidvani’s Shagird. I don't have much role in the film but I liked the idea of the film, so wanted to be a part of the film. I am playing a journalist in it.