Taking part in a reality show takes guts: Farah Khan

Reality shows require guts, perseverance and a thick skin, says director Farah Khan, the judge of several reality TV programmes who admits she would participate in one only if it were a cooking contest.

"Taking part in a reality show takes a lot of guts. It's so hard to be judged on a daily basis. You can't take it. Hats off to those people (who do it), " Farah, currently seen as judge on season four of "India's Got Talent" on Colors channel, told in an exclusive interview.

"You have to have perseverance and be thick skinned with a single-minded determination to do this again and again. But probably if there was a cooking show, I would take part in that, " Farah said.

The 47-year-old is a regular face on TV, seen as a judge on reality shows like "Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa" and "Entertainment Ke Liye Kuch Bhi Karega".

What next for the choreographer-director?

After directing three films, of which two were super hits, Farah has teamed up with her favourite actor Shah Rukh Khan for her next directorial project "Happy New Year".

To be produced by SRK, who also features in it, the film is in pre-production stage.

Farah said: "We will start shooting next year. We are doing pre-production at the moment. We are not ready to announce the cast as of now. We will announce it when Shah Rukh decides to announce."

Direction, she says, is what she enjoys most. It was a dream since she was 20, 21 years old and finally fulfilled it in 2004 with "Main Hoon Na", which turned out to be a super hit.

"I enjoy direction. It encompasses all of it. I choreograph the songs. Then I know how the actors will act and what they will say. Then there is costume designing and set designing. So I am part of every field.

"Though it's not my specialty, I am telling the concerned people what I want and how it should be. So that is the most satisfying part, " she said.

She recently made acting debut with "Shirin Farhad Ki Toh Nikal Padi" with Boman Irani, but facing the camera is not on the cards anymore.

"I know everyone loved the film and that will be it for me, " she said.

Being an actress wasn't easy.

"It was very difficult for me. A lot of time is wasted. When you are an actor, you are just sitting and doing nothing for hours. Whereas when you are a director, you are using that time for creative purposes. So that was tough for me.

"But of course the aftermath of it was very exciting. Clearly actors are getting all the credit. Also, when you are an actor, you realise how much credit is given to you, " she said.

She lost weight after seeing herself on screen.

"I was looking so fat in the movie... Now I am on a weight loss spree. I go to the gym like thrice a week. And then I am on a diet plan where I cheat once in a while. You have to live also, you know!" she said.

After juggling responsibilities of juggling work, family, children, and TV shows, does she find time for herself?

"I am with the kids the whole day. Everyday they have birthday parties... (I) take them to the mall, swimming classes. I only get one hour in the morning when I do my crossword and scan the papers."

read more...

I'm not eager to push my son into films: Irrfan

Actor Irrfan Khan's seven-year-old son Ayan has taken his first step into the spotlight, making a cameo appearance in the Hollywood film 'Life Of Pi', but his father insists he is not eager to push him into films

The actor, who stars alsongside Tabu in the Ang Lee-directed 3D film, says this is not the age for his son to act. "He is just doing a friendly appearance as Ang Lee and the casting director wanted it. It was a friendly request so he did it. I thought it will be a different experience for him... just that. I am not eager to push him into films," Irrfan told in an interview.

He felt that given Ayan's tender age, this is not the right time for him to often face camera and start acting, instead he must explore his interest across various fields.

"I don't think he should get this kind of exposure at his age. It is not an age to face the hardships you encounter in cinema, you do things in a way you are asked to do it. Like doing a shot at 3 in the morning... they are too young."

"It is time for exploration and not to decide what they should do. They should explore all fields which interest them," the 45-year-old award winning actor said. As a father, Irrfan said he still does not know if his son has the potential for acting. "I don't know if there is any potential or not in him for acting. He has not shown interest in films."

Based upon the best-selling novel by Yann Martel, 'Life Of Pi' is a story of a young man and his travails at sea. The story revolves around a teenage boy, who is forced to survive on a lifeboat with a Bengal tiger after the ship he was travelling in sinks. Considering its content and the story line, Irrfan feels the film will entertain a six-year-old child and a 60-year-old person alike.

"My son is playing my elder brother in the childhood version of the film. So when he grows up he will be amused to see that," Irrfan said. The actor said 'Life of Pi' was a challenging film, but audiences from all age groups will connect to it.

"A six-year-old child and a 60-year-old person will relate to it in the same manner. It was a challenging thing for the filmmaker. It is like a marriage of money and creativity. The challenge is to tell the story with many interpretations so that everybody can connect."

In 'Life Of Pi', Irrfan plays the role of the adult Piscine Molitor Patel known as Pi, while his adolescent version is played by Delhi-based 19-year-old Suraj Sharma, who is making his film debut.

"The character that I play did not provide me any scope for improvisation because the lines are literary and not spoken language. But I had to make it appear as a spoken language.

Ang Lee has a particular design in his mind because I am setting up the audience in this particular journey and concluding it," Irrfan said.

read more...

Ang Lee is clear, particular about scenes: Tabu

Actress Tabu, who will be seen in Ang Lee's "Life Of Pi" says the Oscar winning director is very clear about what he wants and is extremely particular about every scene.

"He is a great person. He is very particular about his scenes and he does not let you go till a shot comes across. He is very clear that if a character is going through some emotion, he wants it to be portrayed in exactly the same way. Whatever you do, but bring it out. Until and unless he doesn't get it, he will keep pushing you," Tabu told.

"Life Of Pi", releasing Nov 21, is a 3D adventure film based on the novel of the same name by Canadian writer Yann Martel. Delhi-based Indian boy Suraj Sharma plays young Pi in it.

Tabu plays mother to Pi. Lee insisted the actors undergo family rehearsals before shooting.

"As a family, we had rehearsals in Taiwan months before we started shooting. We were there for a week because Ang wanted the family to meet and that helped a lot. The set was already put up so we had a bit of familiarity and knew these scenes will be done there," she said.

For Tabu, "Life Of Pi" was her first brush with 3D, and says she had a wonderful journey.

"It was not significantly different. There were three big cameras on the sets and the crew was very big. There were around 25 monitors and there was technically lot of detailing that was done," said the 40-year-old.

"I was observing the entire journey. I was enjoying the process of animation and 3D. It was a wonderful journey," she added.

The movie also features Irrfan.

read more...

Tapasya back in Uttaran?

Mean and manipulative Tapasya, who made Ichcha's life hell in TV show "Uttaran", is ready to make a come back in the popular show that will complete 1,000 episodes Wednesday.

The show that went on air December 2008 on Colors has taken two generation-leaps. It started as a story of two girls - slum kid Ichcha and Tapasya, who's born with a silver spoon. It traced the ups and downs their friendship goes through while they grow up together.

The storyline took a 10-year leap forward in 2009 and actors Tina Dutta and Rashmi Desai were introduced as Ichcha and Tapasya, respectively.

After the next generation-leap of 18 years, Tapasya went missing from the show but now the latest promos are hinting at her comeback in the show.

It would be interesting to see the "mean lady" re-entering the show. According to sources, Rashmi is likely to play Tapasya.

read more...

Ajay's special step to entertain son now part of SOS

If Ajay Devgn entertains fans with his action and comedy sequences, he also indulges in amusing antics to make his two-year-old son Yug smile. Interestingly, a chest-pumping dance step that he did to make the toddler laugh has been incorporated in his forthcoming film "Son Of Sardaar" (SOS).

One day when Yug visited Ajay on the sets of SOS, he did the same step for him. The filmmakers noticed it and instantly decided to incorporate it in the movie, said a source close to the team.

SOS, also starring Sonakshi Sinha and Sanjay Dutt, is set for release Nov 13.

It is co-presented by Viacom18 Motion Pictures and Eros International, and co-produced by Ajay Devgn Ffilms and YRV Infra & Media (P) Ltd Production.

read more...

Films rarely considered art in India: Talaash director Reema Kagti

"Talaash" director Reema Kagti feels that Indian films are rarely considered art and they are there to just provide entertainment.

"In India, films are rarely considered art, they are considered entertainment. Through film festivals we are breaking this reductionist view of filmmaking... and I am glad, " she told in an exclusive interview.

She says after making "Honeymoon Travels Pvt Ltd" in 2007, she never made a conscious effort to direct a commercial or an art film.

"I don't decide if I am going to be making this kind of film or that kind of film. For me, it's about falling in love with the story and then writing a screenplay for that story. And the treatment I give to that story.

"I don't consciously try to make a commercial or a festival film. I just go with the story and wherever that leads me to, " she said.

If her debut movie focused on shades of romance through six couples from different age groups, her next "Talaash" is a suspense thriller. Starring Aamir Khan in the lead role, it is coming out Nov 30.

Why did it take you five years to come out with your second film?

"It was a forced sabbatical. It takes time to get things off the ground, " she replied.

After "Talaash", the filmmaker will try her hand at a drama laced with comedy.

"It's hard to describe what I am trying to do next. It's more drama, but with comedy in it. This one ('Talaash') is more suspense, so the next one will be different. I am waiting to release 'Talaash' and then see, " she said.

read more...