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When Arjun Rampal Shared His Reasons For Exiting Rang De Basanti ( Photo Credit – Instagram )

Arjun Rampal is an Indian actor and model who works in the Hindi film industry. He is popular due to his versatility, good looks, and strong performances in Bollywood. He has played many characters on the screen, including one of the iconic villains in Bollywood Om, Shanti Om. He was also an antagonist in Ra One. The actor was slated to share the screen with Aamir Khan in Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra’s Rang de Basanti. However, things did not work out eventually, and he stepped out of the film. Rampal once shared the reasons in an episode of Karan Johar’s talk show, Koffee with Karan. Keep scrolling for the deets.

For the unversed, Arjun started as a top model in the late 90s before transitioning to films. His great looks and towering personality made him a heartthrob.

Starring Abhishek Bachchan, the incredible Delhi-6 directed by Rakesh Omprakash Mehra, released on On February 20th, 2009 also featured Waheeda Rehman, Sonam Kapoor, Aditi Rao Hydari, Rishi Kapoor, Supriya Pathak, Atul Kulkarni, Pavan Malhotra, Deepak Dobriyal, Divya Dutta, Vijay Raaz and Om Puri. Talking with Subhash K Jha, Abhishek shares some memories from the shoot, including how the cast and crew felt like a big family.

What do you remember of Delhi-6?

We were truly like one big family. Though it was a set, we felt it was home. None of us had his or her own makeup room. We all got ready together in the same room and got the hair, makeup, and wardrobe done together. And there was one makeup person. We also had one common dining room where we all had to sit together to eat. So, it was about building a bond beyond the screen. None of...

In this This Day That Year feature Subhash K Jha looks back at Chingari, starring Sushmita Se, which ompletes 17 Years On February 17th.

Kalpana Lajmi’s Chingari about oppression and justice boasted of an interesting central performance by Sushmita Sen. Reformist cinema seemed to be the order of the day. First, Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra’s chic spin Rang De Basanti on the cult of political radicalism. Far away from home, Deepa Mehta has styled a lucid, lyrical drama on female rehabilitation called Water. Kalpana Lajmi styled a clarion call for socio-religious reform in the nexus between religion and sexual oppression in Chingari.

Based on a short story by composer-lyricist Bhupen Hazarika, Chingari brings Lajmi back to form in the ferociously flaming colours of black blue and dread. Set in a village, the film’s excellent though uneven cinematography (by Vishal Sinha) revolves around a group of prostitutes. Though the camaraderie...

To celebrate Valentine’s Day, Subhash K Jha asked Filmistan what their favorite prem kahaani films are and the answers were amazing!

Amitabh Bachchan:

“Guru Dutt’s Kagaz Ke Phool: poignant and incredible theme, most lingering visuals, music, performances, and the ethereal Waheedaji, she’s my favourite; Anupama … “I just love the softness and simplicity of the film, its unexaggerated performances. It had a lyrical quality about it. This was a film by one of my favourite directors, Hrishikesh Mukherjee.” Bimal Roy’s Devdas: “I have always idolized Dilip Saab; his portrayal of doomed love in Devdas remains unparalleled.”

Sanjay Leela Bhansali:

“Bimal Roy’s Devdas, Vijay Anand’s Guide, Kamal Amrohi’s Pakeezah, K Asif’s Mughal-e-Azam, Satyajit Ray’s Charulata.”

Raakhee Gulzar:

“Satyajit Ray’s Charulata, Vijay Anand’s Guide, Raj Kapoor’s Sangam, Raj Kapoor’s Bobby, Yash Chopra’s Kabhi Kabhie.”

Asha Parekh:

“Bimal Roy’s Devdas,...

In this fascinating feature, Subhash K Jha looks back at the incredible career of writer, director and actor, the brilliant Lekh Tandon.

Recently Anil Kapoor spoke about how the 1980 film Ek Baar Kaho changed the course of his career. The long post made mention of everyone, from the film’s luminous leading lady, Shabana Azmi, to the producers, Rajshri Productions. But Anil forgot to mention Lekh Tandon, who directed Ek Baar Kaho!

This was the story of Lekh Tandon’s life: his films got recognition. He didn’t. Lekh Tandon was one of our most prolific and underrated directors. His range stretched from the playful Professor to the magical Dulhan Wohi Jo Piya Man Bhaye to the illogical Jahan Pyar Mile. His most celebrated film was the historical Amrapali (1966), which recreated the legendary romance between Amrapali, the courtesan, played by Vyjayanthimala, and Ajayshatru, the emperor of Magadh, played by Sunil Dutt.

Did Hrithik Roshan Turn Down A Role In Aamir Khan’s Rang De Basanti? (Photo Credit – Instagram)

Rang De Basanti is one of the most celebrated films of Indian cinema. It defined a generation and was praised for its portrayal of patriotism, youth, and the power of rebellion. The movie was written by Prasoon Joshi and directed by Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra. It was released in 2006. The film featured an ensemble cast including Aamir Khan, Siddharth, Sharman Joshi, Kunal Kapoor, Soha Ali Khan, and R. Madhavan.

While the movie featured a complete roster of talented actors, a few big names were previously considered for these roles. One such story is when Aamir Khan tried convincing Hrithik Roshan to be part of the film. At a time when Hrithik was already a megastar in Bollywood, Aamir believed that he would be the perfect fit for one of the film’s roles and...

Mumbai, Nov 20 – Several prominent Bollywood celebrities, including Shah Rukh Khan, Salman Khan, Akshay Kumar, and Ranbir Kapoor, cast their votes on Wednesday during the Maharashtra assembly elections, as polling for the 288-member assembly took place from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Among the early voters in Mumbai were actors Akshay Kumar, Rajkumar Rao, Farhan Akhtar, his sister Zoya Akhtar, veteran actress Shubha Khote, and her daughter Bhavana Balsavar.

After voting, Akshay Kumar praised the arrangements at the polling booths, especially for senior citizens. “The best thing is that the arrangements are good, especially for senior citizens, there’s cleanliness. Everyone should come and vote because that’s the most important thing,” he told reporters.

Rao also urged the public to exercise their right to vote, emphasizing the importance of participation in democracy. “It is our right in democracy to vote, so it’s important we step out and vote in Maharashtra.

Karna Struggles With Financial Issues, Jeopardizing Its ₹600 Crore Budget (Photo Credit – Instagram)

South Indian films pour money into mammoth budget projects like Pushpa 2, Kanguva, Kalki, and many more. Meanwhile, Bollywood needs help to finance ambitious ventures. After Vicky Kaushal and Aditya Dhar’s Ashwatthama and Shahid Kapoor’s film on the same subject were officially shelved, another mythological project now faces abandonment.

Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra’s Karna, starring Tamil superstar Suriya in the titular role, has been on the back burner for now. The Rang De Basanti and Bhaag Milkha Bhaag director has temporarily halted work on this two-part epic as he struggles to secure the ₹600 crore budget required to produce the film. Mehra still intends to make the film, having spent years researching and developing the screenplay to present the legendary tale of Karna with historical accuracy and grandeur.

Reports from the trade circle indicate that Farhan Akhtar and...

Which Bollywood Movie Did Daniel Craig Audition For?

(Photo Credit – Instagram)

You read that right—Daniel Craig, now a household name as James Bond, once auditioned for a role in Rang De Basanti that you wouldn’t expect him to touch. In a twist that even the most hardcore Bond fans might not know, Craig tried out for the part of James McKinley, the British jailor who walks the freedom fighters Bhagat Singh, Rajguru, and Sukhdev to their execution in Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra’s iconic film.

But things didn’t pan out—because he was also being considered to take on the role of the next 007 at the time. In his autobiography, The Stranger in the Mirror, Mehra recounts how he wanted to create a piece of world cinema, aiming for perfection behind the scenes with a team that included David Reid and Adam Bowling. These two had worked on classics like Lock,...

Applause Entertainment’s series on the life and times of Mahatma Gandhi directed by Hansal Mehta, seems to get bigger by the month.

The big announcement on Gandhi Jayanti is that A R Rahman would be scoring the music for this purported epic series.

Rahman is no stranger to historical epics: he has earlier scored music for Ketan Mehta’s Mangal Pandey: The Rising, Raj Kumar Santoshi’s The Legend Of Bhagat Singh and Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra’s Rang De Basanti.

On Rahman’s coming up n board Applause Entertainment’s Gandhi, director Hansal Mehta comments, “Gandhi is a deeply human retelling of M K Gandhi’s life story, a story that continues to inspire generations. Having A.R. Rahman join us on this journey is truly a dream come true. His music has the unique ability to elevate storytelling and for a project of this scale and significance, we couldn...

Celebrating Independence Day with a movie marathon is a great way to immerse yourself in the spirit of patriotism. Here are five Bollywood films that capture the essence of India’s struggle for freedom, heroism, and national pride, making them perfect for Independence Day 2024:

Lagaan (2001)

Directed by Ashutosh Gowariker, Lagaan is an epic sports drama set in British-ruled India. The film tells the story of a group of villagers who challenge their British oppressors to a high-stakes cricket match, with their future at stake. It’s a tale of unity, courage, and defiance against colonial rule, making it an inspiring watch for Independence Day.

Rang De Basanti (2006)

Directed by Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra, Rang De Basanti is a film that resonates with the younger generation. It portrays the journey of a group of friends who, while acting in a film about Indian freedom fighters, begin to awaken to their own sense of patriotism.

Actress Saiyami Kher is set to headline director Neeraj Pandey’s upcoming film. The project is an author-backed role exploring a woman-oriented subject, is poised to captivate audiences and is scheduled to be a Netflix Original. Neeraj Pandey handpicked Saiyami for the pivotal role following her outstanding performance in ‘Ghoomer’. Their successful partnership in the hit series ‘Special Ops’ has paved the way for their reunion in the upcoming season.

According to sources: “The film will begin shooting from February 15, the production team gears up for a 30-day shooting schedule, ensuring the film’s timely completion and delivery of a high-quality cinematic masterpiece.”

“They are planning to shoot the entire film in one go. There will be no break. It will be a Netflix original.”

Saiyami made her 2015 in debut with Telugu film Rey and appeared in Rakesh Omprakash Mehra’s Punjabi folklore Mirza Sahiban based Hindi film ‘Mirzya’.

In...

A screening of Isabel Herguera’s San Sebastian winner “Sultana’s Dream” will kickstart the inaugural edition of AniMela, India’s first-ever international festival for animation, VFX, Xr, gaming and comics, in Mumbai.

The screening will be followed by a Q&a with Herguera, alongside her Spanish and Indian crew, including Indian animation expert Upamanyu Bhattacharyya. AniMela’s film program includes features “The Peasants,” “Slide,” “Josep,” “Calamity,” “Unicorn Wars,” “Hokkyoku Hyakkaten No – Concierge San,” “Blind Willow, Sleeping Woman” and shorts under the thematic headings “India Collection,” “Queer Collection” and “Diversity & Identity: Dutch Shorts.”

AniMela’s Knowledge Center hosts workshops, panel discussions and masterclasses with Indian and international stalwarts from the animation, VFX and gaming industries including Annecy Festival director Mickaël Marin, Annecy Film Market director Veronique Encrenaz, VFX Supervisor Srinivas Mohan and filmmaker and educator Nina Sabnani. Highlights include a behind the scenes look at Milind D. Shinde’s “Bandits...

Music composer A R Rahman, hailed as the ‘Mozart of Madras’, is celebrating his 57th birthday, even as the world toasts his musical prowess that has transcended cultural boundaries, earning him accolades and admiration worldwide.

The winner of six National Film Awards, two Oscars, two Grammys, a BAFTA Award, a Golden Globe, and the third-highest civilian award Padma Bhushan, Rahman has been creating music that is a testament to the universality of emotions. His compositions evoke a range of feelings that resonate with audiences from diverse backgrounds.

Born in Chennai on January 6, 1967, Rahman is known for the transformative impact he has had on the film industry, playing a pivotal role in redefining the role of music in Indian cinema, emphasising its importance in storytelling.

In his three-decade-long career, he has composed and produced original scores and songs for more than 145 films in Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, English, Persian and Mandarin.

The founder of PVR Cinemas Ajay Bijli, who has turned into a singer with the rendition of “Ik Onkar” has opened up on his passion for singing, and shared how he was always fond of the music since his childhood.

“Ik Onkar” is sung by Ajay Bijli, and the music is composed by Sheykhar Ravjiani. The music video is directed by filmmaker Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra.

Ajay shares a common trait with many entrepreneurs who have passions or hobbies beyond their primary focus on running their businesses. In his case, music and singing have always held a special place in his heart.

Talking to Ians, Bijli shared about his college band, his fondness for music, challenges he faced during the shoot of the track, and more.

“I have been singing and fond of music ever since I was a kid… I made a band in college called ‘Modus Operandi’. This was...

Director Sarvesh Mewara, who is all geared up for the release of upcoming action drama ‘Tejas’ starring Kangana Ranaut in the lead, has spilled the beans on the inspiration behind the dialogue ‘When in Doubt, Think About The Nation’. Well-studded with nail-biting action sequences, a grand canvas, and an immensely thought-provoking story of national pride, the trailer of ‘Tejas’ has indeed arrived as a treat for the audiences. Apart from all these intriguing elements, what especially stayed with people was the heavy dialogues that profoundly triggered the spirit of national pride.

The dialogue ‘When in Doubt, Think About The Nation’ comes along with the story from Sarvesh, as it has been inspired by producer Ronnie Screwvala’s creation ‘Rang De Basanti’.

The 2006 movie ‘Rang De Basanti’ was written, and directed by Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra. It stars Aamir Khan, Siddharth, R Madhavan, Sharman Joshi, Atul Kulkarni, Soha Ali Khan, Kunal Kapoor and British actress Alice Patten.

Director Sarvesh Mewara, who is all geared up for the release of upcoming action drama ‘Tejas’ starring Kangana Ranaut in the lead, has spilled the beans on the inspiration behind the dialogue ‘When in Doubt, Think About The Nation’. Well-studded with nail-biting action sequences, a grand canvas, and an immensely thought-provoking story of national pride, the trailer of ‘Tejas’ has indeed arrived as a treat for the audiences. Apart from all these intriguing elements, what especially stayed with people was the heavy dialogues that profoundly triggered the spirit of national pride.

The dialogue ‘When in Doubt, Think About The Nation’ comes along with the story from Sarvesh, as it has been inspired by producer Ronnie Screwvala’s creation ‘Rang De Basanti’.

The 2006 movie ‘Rang De Basanti’ was written, and directed by Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra. It stars Aamir Khan, Siddharth, R Madhavan, Sharman Joshi, Atul Kulkarni, Soha Ali Khan, Kunal Kapoor and British actress Alice Patten.

Revered Indian actor Waheeda Rehman has been accorded the Dadasaheb Phalke award, India’s highest film honor.

The award is given for lifetime contribution to Indian cinema and is named after Phalke, director of “Raja Harischandra” (1913), India’s first full-length feature, who is considered the father of Indian cinema.

Rehman, the 85-year-old grande dame of Indian cinema has worked with most of the legendary filmmakers of her country during her career and the roles she chose were in films that are considered classics in the annals of Indian cinema. She worked with Guru Dutt in “Pyaasa” (1957) and “Kaagaz Ke Phool” (1959), Satyajit Ray in “Abhijaan” (1962), Basu Bhattacharya in “Teesri Kasam” (1966) and Yash Chopra in “Kabhie Kabhie” (1976), among many other memorable roles.

But it is her role as Rosie in Vijay Anand’s “Guide” (1965) that Rehman remembers with the greatest fondness. “When I signed ‘Guide’ more than 50 years ago, my friends told...

Suriya, the versatile actor who has delivered some of the most memorable performances in Tamil cinema, is all set to make his Bollywood debut with a grand project. According to reliable sources, Suriya will be playing the lead role of Karna, the legendary warrior from the epic Mahabharata, in a film to be directed by none other than Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra, the acclaimed filmmaker who has given us gems like Rang De Basanti, Bhaag Milkha Bhaag and Toofan.

Rang De Basanti Trailer

The film, titled Karna, is said to be a dream project of Mehra, who has been working on the script for a long time. The film will explore the life and journey of Karna, who was the son of Surya (the Sun God) and Kunti (the mother of the Pandavas), but was raised by a charioteer and his wife. Karna was known for his generosity, loyalty, courage and archery skills,...

Fans of Suriya are in for a treat as the actor has confirmed his collaboration with acclaimed filmmaker Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra for a Hindi film based on the Mahabharata character Karna.

The film, titled Karna, will be a big budget period drama that will explore the life and times of the legendary warrior who was born to the sun god Surya and princess Kunti. Karna was abandoned by his mother and raised by a charioteer family. He became a loyal friend of Duryodhana and fought against the Pandavas in the Kurukshetra war. He is considered as one of the most tragic and complex heroes in the Hindu epic.

According to sources, the film will be made in two parts and will have a pan-India appeal. The shooting will begin in 2024 and will be shot in various locations across India. The film will also feature a stellar cast of actors from different industries,...

Actor Abhimanyu Singh, who is seen in films such as ‘Sooryavanshi’, ‘Khakee: The Bihar Chapter’, ‘Selfiee’ and ‘Mom’ among many other, will next be seen in superstar Pawan Kalyan’s upcoming movie ‘Og’.

This is the second time both the talented actors are collaborating together for a film. The last time when they worked together was ‘Gabbar Singh’ that was released way back in 2012.

In this movie, he plays the role of a cop who has gray shades. He has worked with leading South superstars like Rajinikanth, Pawan Kalyan, and Vijay.

Regarding the same, Abhimanyu said:”I am really excited to collaborate with Pawan Kalyan once again after so many years. I am looking forward to a great association for this one and hopefully, many more to come in future as well.”

Pawan’s new Telugu film ‘Og’ marks his maiden collaboration with director Sujeeth. Touted as a high-octane action-thriller,...

Mumbai, July 26 (Ians) Filmmaker Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra, whose classic ‘Bhaag Milkha Bhaag’ recently clocked 10 years of its release, has shared the key to such a brilliant earworm of a soundtrack of his film.

The filmmaker shared with Ians that music was a catalyst to crafting the soundtrack of the sports drama which starred Farhan Akhtar in the titular role of Indian track and field athlete Milkha Singh.

Walking down the memory lane, the director told Ians, “We only spoke about food and I used to cook food in the morning or the night before our sitting. Shankar Mahadevan (of Shankar–Ehsaan–Loy) used to do the same. When we met for music sessions we would only talk about, ‘Aaj khane mein kya hai?’. Or what to do about the food. Khaane khaate khaate aur baatein karte karte sangeet kab poora ho gaya film ka pata hi nahi chala (We never...

Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra’s directorial ‘Bhaag Milkha Bhaag’, which has completed 10 years this month, will be re-released in a special way, significantly for hearing and speech-impaired people, with the special sign language, in 30 cities across India.

Released in 2013, the Farhan Akhtar starrer traced the inspiring journey of the Indian Sprint legend late Milkha Singh, and how he overcame many agonizing obstacles in order to become a world champion, Olympian, and one of India’s most iconic athletes.

The makers will pay tribute to late Milkha Singh by re-releasing the inspirational biographical sports drama on August 6, in selected theaters. The film will be screened for the hearing and speech-impaired people, in the PVR theaters, and will be showcased with the special sign language.

Moreover, the special screening scheduled for July 26 in Mumbai, for hearing and speech-impaired, will witness the cast paying homage to the “Flying Sikh”.

The flick was produced by...

Mumbai, July 24 (Ians) The Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra directorial ‘Bhaag Milkha Bhaag’, which starred Farhan Akhtar in the role of Indian track and field sprinter, Milkha Singh, recently clocked ten years of its release.

The makers of the film have now decided to hold a special screening for the film in the honour of the late Milkha Singh.

The film, which released in 2013, captured the inspiring journey of the late Milkha Singh and showed how he overcame many agonising moments in his life from being orphaned at a young age during the Partition of India in order to battling his inner conflicts, rise above the other and carving a place for himself in the world of track and field sprinting.

He became a world champion, Olympian, and one of India’s most iconic athletes during the course of his journey and earned the title of ‘The Flying Sikh’.

A spokesperson from Romp Pictures,...

Exclusive: With the Writers Guild of America (WGA) strike underway, and guilds around the world expressing solidarity, issues surrounding writers and the way they’re compensated have become front and center of a global conversation.

But Datta Dave, co-founder of Mumbai and Los Angeles-based agency Tulsea, whose clients include Sudip Sharma, Puneet Krishna and Shonali Bose, points out that while the WGA is dealing with important issues, they’re also “mature market issues” – or to be less polite, first world problems – as conditions for writers in developing markets are way behind even the basic rights that the WGA and other guilds have secured in the West.

“Over here we’re still at the stage where we’re asking for writers to get a credit on a billboard,” Dave says. “And while Hollywood might say writers don’t always get a credit on a billboard, the pendulum has swung so far...

As Aamir Khan enters another chapter of his life with him turning 58 years old on March 14, 2023, it’s only fitting to pay tribute to the versatile actor who has left an indelible mark in Hindi and even Indian cinema. Fondly known as Mr. Perfectionist, Aamir Khan has been one of those stars who made some kind of difference to the industry by taking risks in the mainstream sphere and delivering some of the most iconic performances in Indian cinema. Aamir has been around for over three decades and played varied types of roles, from the lovable goofball to portraying complex characters with ease. Aamir has constantly reinvented himself and set new benchmarks in the industry. Here are the top 10 performances of Aamir Khan (ranked):

10. Andaz Apna Apna (1994)

This comedy film contains one of the most memorable performances of Aamir Khan, which, even though it did not get the success...

National Museum of Indian Cinema hosted Filmmakers Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra and Subhash Ghai along with Actors Jackie Shroff, Divya Dutta for a flag hoisting ceremony on India’s 75th Independence Day celebration. Also present at the occasion were producer Shabbir Boxwala and screenwriter Sandeep Shrivastava.

A free for all, screening of the popular patriotic films Karma, Bhag Milkha Bhag and Shershaah was also organised for the public. This year the celebration marks 75th year of India’s independence with the country celebrating Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav, called upon by Hon’ble Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, with Har Ghar Tiranga campaign.

National Museum of Indian Cinema (Nmic) is the first film museum in the country that chronicles 100 years of Indian cinema in the country, from its very first motion picture ‘Raja Harishchandra’ to the cinema in today’s era, that is technically much advanced. It made the perfect venue to...

MarriageFarhan was dressed in a black tuxedo, while Shibani stuck to a traditional red-and-cream wedding outfit.IANSTwitter /Ani One of Bollywood's foremost talents, Farhan Akhtar, got married to his long-time girlfriend, reality show host Shibani Dandekar, on Saturday, February 19 at Javed Akhtar's Sukun farmhouse in Khandala on the outskirts of Mumbai.  Javed Akhtar, Farhan's father, read out a poem that he had especially composed for this occasion. Farhan was dressed in a black tuxedo, while Shibani stuck to a traditional red-and-cream wedding outfit. They read out vows they had written themselves. The guest list at this close-knit celebration included his Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara co-star Hrithik Roshan, musical trio Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy, director-choreographer Farah Khan (who's also Farhan's first cousin), directors Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra and Ashutosh Gowariker, and the couple's close friend, Rhea Chakraborty, who came along with her brother, Shouwik. On the night before the wedding, Shibani's sister, VJ Anusha Dandekar,...

Indian filmmaker, singer and actor Farhan Akhtar is returning to direction after a decade with feature film “Jee Le Zaraa,” starring Bollywood A-listers Priyanka Chopra Jonas, Katrina Kaif and Alia Bhatt.

The film is due to start shooting in Sept. 2022. “It’s a road film, a slice-of-life film, with three women on the road,” Akhtar tells Variety. The film is written by Farhan Akhtar, Zoya Akhtar and Reema Kagti and co-produced by Tiger Baby Productions.

Akhtar and his business partner Ritesh Sidhwani run Excel Entertainment, one of India’s most successful production houses, which turns 20 on Tuesday.

Excel is currently celebrating the success of Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra’s boxing drama “Toofaan,” starring Akhtar, streaming on Amazon Prime Video, and has a robust slate lined up. Besides “Jee Le Zaraa,” the feature film slate includes action crime thriller “Yudhra,” directed by Ravi Udyawar (“Mom”), starring Siddhant Chaturvedi (“Gully Boy”) and Malavika Mohanan...

Toofaan, Rakeysh OmPrakash Mehra’s newest epic boxing drama starring Farhan Akhtar, Paresh Rawal, and Mrunal Thakur is currently streaming on Amazon Prime Video. Toofaan tells about the journey of a young thug and street fighter Ajju Bhai, who through the encouragement of his love Aanaya and his coach becomes the boxing champion Aziz Ali. It is a story of resilience, passion, perseverance, the drive to succeed, and love.

Rakeysh OmPrakash Mehra is known for incredible movie albums… think Rang De Basanti and Delhi 6 by A.R. Rahman and Shankar Mahadevan, Ehsaan Noorani, and Loy Mendonsa aka S-e-l’s tracks for Mirzya and Bhaag Milkha Bhaag. These soundtracks are known to include some of the best songs in Hindi film music ever.

For the music of Toofaan, Mr. Mehra once again worked with the fab trio of S-e-l to create the essence of the sound and the main core of the soundtrack.

OpinionWhile the relationship between the guru Rangan Vaathiyaar (Pasupathi) and Kabilan (Arya) is very orthodox, where it breaks the Brahminical mould is how Ranjith retells the story.Balakrishna GaneshanTwo sports drama films – based on almost the same premise and the same sport of boxing – were released on Ott platform Amazon Prime Video recently, thus making this comparison inevitable. While one is the Hindi film Toofan, directed by Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra, the other one is the Tamil film Sarpatta Parambarai, made by Pa Ranjith. The simple storyline of both the stories is how the protagonist, a boxer, loses form and dramatically achieves success through perseverance and sheer struggle. But the key and obvious difference is the perspectives they are told from. While Toofan is told from a Brahminicial viewpoint, re-perpetuating the casteist orthodox ideas of the guru-shishya relationship that Dronacharya from the mythological story of Mahabharata espoused, the other one seemingly...

The inspirational sports drama Toofaan is currently streaming on Amazon Prime. The critically acclaimed film directed by the great Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra features an all-star cast, led by Farhan Akhtar along with Mrunal Thakur, Paresh Rawal, Supriya Pathak Kapur, Hussain Dalal, Dr. Mohan Agashe, Darshan Kumaar, and Vijay Raaz.

Toofaan brings alive the exhilarating nature of boxing as a sport and tells a riveting tale that follows the journey of a street fighter to a competitive boxer as he navigates through the ups and downs of life to achieve his dreams. An orphan boy born from the streets of Dongri grows up to be a local goon Ajju Bhai (Farhan Akhtar). His life changes when he meets a bright and compassionate young doctor named Ananya (Mrunal Thakur) whose belief in him motivates him to find his passion as he embarks on his journey to becoming Aziz Ali, a boxing champion.

After Bhaag Milkha Bhaag, Farhan Akhtar teams up with director Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra again for new sports drama, Toofaan. During an 18 to 19 month filming period, the actor trained his body to gain weight and later rebuild muscle to do justice to his fictional character Aziz Ali’s journey back into professional boxing.

Watch this exclusive video on IMDb for an inside peek at his routine here.

Below are excerpts from actor Farhan Akhtar, director Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra, and trainer Drew Neal detailing Akhtar’s physical transformation in the film.

“It is not easy to plan a film where your hero has different looks, and it is not just a haircut or a beard trim, it’s the whole physicality. There is a method to this madness which I don’t understand”, says Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra.

Farhan Akhtar mentioned, “The big challenge in this one was getting out of shape! Not...

Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra’s film has high ambition but dodges complexity in favour of overheated melodrama

Partly set in the Mumbai underworld, Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra’s boxing drama aims at Raging Bull grit but has an unfortunately irresistible drift towards late-Rocky melodrama. Farhan Akhtar – in his second sporting collaboration with Mehra after the 2013 biopic of sprinter Milkha Singh – plays Aziz Ali, orphan and now burly debt collector from the hard-knock port of Dongri. After patching him up a few too many times, winsome but no-nonsense doctor Ananya (Mrunal Thakur) approves when he starts unleashing the beast down at the boxing gym run by fearsome coach Nana Prabhu (Paresh Rawal). A couple of training montages later, and Aziz is a light-heavyweight contender, with his very own snappy moniker: Toofaan (“storm” in Hindi).

With his mop of curly hair and slugger’s arms, Akhtar has a dry, easy charm, like an Indian Tom Jones,...

Starting July 16, 2021, the exciting Boxing sports drama Toofaan will be premiering simultaneously in Hindi and English on Amazon Prime.

Toofaan features an all-star cast, led by Farhan Akhtar in the lead role along with Mrunal Thakur, Paresh Rawal, Supriya Pathak Kapur, Hussain Dalal, Dr. Mohan Agashe, Darshan Kumaar, and Vijay Raaz.

Directed by Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra, the inspiring Toofaan is a tale of hope, faith, and inner strength.

Under forced circumstances, an orphan boy born from the streets of Dongri grows up to be a local goon. His life changes when he meets a bright and compassionate young doctor named Ananya whose belief in him motivates him to find his passion as he embarks on his journey to becoming Aziz Ali, a boxing champion.

Toofaan brings alive the exhilarating nature of boxing as a sport while telling a riveting tale that follows the journey of a common man as he...

The first track from the highly anticipated Toofan titled ‘Todun Taak’ dropped today.

Bringing the ultimate slogan for every warrior, the first song Todun Taak will incite the fighter in you. Known to mirror real-life through his songs, it is sung and written by the brilliant hip-hop artist D’Evil, and the music composed by Dub Sharma.

The with a high-octane anthem pays a fitting tribute to the endearing spirit of self-starters who conquer the world despite the odds and in turn nudges the listeners to embrace a winner’s mindset. Bringing an edgy vibe to the presentation, D’Evil lends his midas touch to this upbeat number with rousing lyrics that engulf a never-say-die attitude.

Talking about ‘Todun Taak’ D’Evil shared, “When I got a message from Farhan Akhtar asking if I would be keen on creating a rap song for him, I jumped with joy. I’ve...

Amazon Prime Video held a very special and very cool press conference to showcase the epic Toofan Trailer. The event was attended by Farhan Akhtar, Mrunal Thakur, Paresh Rawal over video, director Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra, producer Excel producer Ritesh Sidwhani and Vijay Subramaniam director and head of content of Amazon Prime Video.

Of course, first up was the presentation of the trailer

Icymi

Synopsis: Under forced circumstances, an orphan boy born from the streets of Dongri, grows up to be a local goon. His life changes when he meets a bright and a compassionate young woman named Ananya who guides him to take the right path. With love and guidance, he finds his calling in sports and takes up the journey into becoming a world-class Boxer. This is an inspiring story. Even the poor and marginalized, beaten by life circumstances, can become the heroes of the nation by giving up...

Farhan Akhtar and Rakeysh OmPrakash Mehra have had lightning strike twice in the magic of brilliant movies if the trailer of Toofaan is anything to go by! The film features an all-star cast, led by Farhan Akhtar in the lead role along with Mrunal Thakur (amazing), and the always incredible Paresh Rawal. They are joined by Paresh Rawal, Supriya Pathak Kapur, Hussain Dalal, Dr. Mohan Agashe, Darshan Kumaar and Vijay Raaz.

The power-packed Toofaan trailer, that hits hard was unveiled today! Toofaan will premiere simultaneously in Hindi and English starting July 16, 2021, across 240 countries and territories on Amazon Prime Video.

Toofaan is an inspiring sports drama and the film takes us through the journey of a local goon, Ajju Bhai becoming a professional boxer, Aziz Ali. Under forced circumstances, an orphan boy born from the streets of Dongri, grows up to be a local goon. His life changes when he meets...

On social media Rakeysh OmPrakash Mehra, the director, posted about Toofaan, “There is a fire in the heart again, the blood in the body and the eyes are looking for it’s own way, the storm that has stopped you will still go on.”

Toofaan starring Farhan Akhtar tells the tale of a reformed goon who seeks to make a name for himself in the sport of boxing. The drama takes audiences on a journey of his fall and triumphant comeback from the streets of Mumbai slums against all odds.

Director Mehra adds to the story saying, “Toofaan is a story of an underdog and most importantly, it’s a story about spreading love rather than creating differences.”

Also featuring Paresh Rawal and Mrunal Thakur, the drama hits Amazon Prime on July 16th.

The trailer drops tomorrow [30th of June] at 12pm Ist and fans can’t wait! To hold you over we...

Directed by Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra, the highly anticipated Toofaan, stars Farhan Akhtar is getting ready for it’s digital debut.

Produced by Ritesh Sidhwani, Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra, Farhan Akhtar and presented by Amazon Prime Video, the film also stars Paresh Rawal and Mrunal Thakur in lead roles.

Toofaan, the inspiring sports drama is said to be the biggest sports drama of the year. Fans in India and across 240+ countries and territories worldwide can enjoy this exciting film starting 16th July only on Amazon Prime Video.

After the successful collaboration of Farhan Akhtar and Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra in Bhaag Milkha Bhaag, the dynamic duo return to pack a punch with Toofaan. This motivational story revolves around the life of Ajju an orphan boy born in Mumbai’s Dongri who grows up to be a local goon. His life changes when he meets a bright and a compassionate young woman Ananya, whose...

Director Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra, Romp Pictures and Excel Entertainment have announced the delay of the release of Toofaan due to the crisis of the second wave of Covid-19 in India.

In his announcement, he wrote, “In light of the severity of the situation, our focus is completely on the pandemic and on supporting our employees, their families and in helping the wider community. Therefore, we have taken the decision to postpone the release of our film Toofan until the situation improves.”

Adding, “We will issue an update regarding the new release in due course of time.”

See the full statement here

Toofaan stars Farhan Akhtar, Mrunal Thakur, and Sir Paresh Rawal among others.

Stay tuned for the new release date and stay safe!

Paresh Rawal (Padma Shri and National Award winner

From YouTube Toofan Trailer

), is all set to wow us with another impactful performance in Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra’s Toofaan presented by Amazon in association with Excel Entertainment and Romp Pictures.

We have learned that the powerhouse actor was the first and only choice to play the role of Farhan Akhtar aka Toofaan’s boxing coach. It is their relationship that establishes both the emotional conflict and bonding in the sports drama’s narrative.

Toofan tells the story of Farhan Akhtar as a reformed goon who seeks to make a name for himself in the sport of boxing. The drama takes audiences on a journey of his fall and triumphant comeback against all odds.

With Toofaan, both Rawal and the director share mutual admiration and respect for each other and hope to entertain audiences with a universally inspiring story.

The director says,...

Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra’s Toofaan presented by Amazon in association with Excel Entertainment and Romp Pictures and set to release on May 21st is among the most anticipated films in the country today. The film, starring Farhan Akhtar, Mrunal Thakur, Paresh Rawal and a talented ensemble star cast, tells the story of a reformed goon from the streets of Mumbai slums who seeks to make a name for himself in the sport of boxing. The drama takes audiences on a journey of his fall to his triumphant comeback.

The director and the Toofan team believe that the sports drama will appeal to a global audience, thanks to its subject and the underlying message.

Talking about the film, director Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra says, “Toofaan is a story of an underdog and most importantly, it’s a story about spreading love rather than creating differences. Every country, whether rich or poor, is...

Veteran actor Paresh Rawal has tested positive for Covid-19. The 65-year-old actor tweeted to inform about his health and asked those who have come in contact with him in the past few days to get themselves tested.

"Unfortunately, I have tested positive for Covid-19. All those that have come in contact with me in the last 10 days are requested to please get themselves tested," Paresh Rawal tweeted.

Unfortunately, I have tested positive for Covid-19. All those that have come in contact with me in the last 10 days are requested to please get themselves tested.

— Paresh Rawal (@SirPareshRawal) March 26, 2021

Reacting to his tweet, friends, industry colleagues and fans expressed concern and wished him a speedy recovery.

"Get well soon my friend @SirPareshRawal. Love and prayers always!" tweeted Anupam Kher.

"Get well soon Paresh Bhai ... God's Speed," commented Rahul Dev.

"Wish you a speedy recovery, Sir!" shared Ranvir Shorey.

Rawal will next...

Farhan Akhtar post a throwback boxing video of himself. The clip is from his training days for his upcoming film 'Toofan'.

In the video, Akhtar could be seen packing a punch in the boxing ring. He captioned the video: "Let's start at the very beginning .. Throwback to March 2019 and still early days of training in the ring with @drewnealpt who pointed out that I'm still not relaxed in the shoulders and still not moving my feet to good effect.. I'm actually just trying to not sit down between sets (didn't tell Drew that though) .. Work in progress with progress being the work."

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Farhan Akhtar (@faroutakhtar)

Directed by Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra and produced by Ritesh Sidhwani, Farhan and Mehra, the film also features Mrunal Thakur and Paresh Rawal.

This is the second time that Farhan is being directed by Mehra.

A smashing teaser of 'Toofaan' starring Farhan Akhtar, Mrunal Thakur and Paresh Rawal was recently unveiled on social media by the makers. Directed by Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra this storm of a film was extensively shot in real locations to achieve an authentic look and feel.

Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra shares, "The script demanded some very real and raw locations and it was most definitely not an easy job. We got into it knowing the challenges, but those that were definitely worth exploring. We shot in Dongri and Nagpada for about a month. The residents in the area were extremely accommodating and lovely to work with. Overall it was a demanding yet pleasant experience for us to work on this very very special film."

Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra further added, “Shooting in real locations with a loved star like Farhan Akhtar, was a challenge. In areas like Dongri, controlling the crowd...

Mumbai, March 19 (Ians) Filmmaker Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra, who has directed films such as "Rang De Basanti", "Delhi 6" and "Bhaag Milkha Bhaag", attended a cultural festival on Friday, where he reflected on the evolution of the art of storytelling.

Talking at Arth: The Cultural Fest, the filmmaker whose last directorial was "Mere Pyaare Prime Minister", said: "Storytelling is not new and has been here for thousands of years. Travellers in the olden days used to entertain each other with stories about their countries and travels. Even when we look at the etching on the ancient caves, there were storytellers there as well. From there, it moved on and got the expression of folk, songs, writing, photography and then it progressed to moving pictures."

Narrowing down to Indian cinema, the filmmaker is of the opinion that Indian filmmaking has always adapted to the country's emotional state of mind.

He said: "Indian cinema...

Producer Ajay Devgn today released Abhishek Bachchan starrer The Big Bull trailer. No sooner that the trailer went public, the netizens started reacting and comparing it to Hansal Mehta’s web series Scam 1992.

However what caught the attention of the author is the way Abhishek’s name was mentioned. There is an additional ‘A’ between Abhishek & Bachchan to read as ‘Abhishek A. Bachchan’. It appears that Abhishek A. Bachchan is trying a numerological amendment to the name. Though this is a subject that numerologists would know better, there have been a few Bollywood names that instantly come to mind who have (probably) followed this and continue to do so.

A very recent observation being Mahesh Manjrekar, who now seems to be written as ‘Mahesh V Manjrekar’ (1962: The War In The Hills). My initial observation was with filmmaker ‘Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra’ and ‘Vipul Amrutlal Shah’. In the beginning they used...

Recently, a teaser of Farhan Akhtar's 'Toofaan' had been unveiled, which opened to a lot of love and appreciation from not only the audience, but various tinsel town celebs as well.

Even Global boxing champion, Vijender Singh showered the teaser with all his love and appreciation. The Olympic Bronze medalist recently, took to his social media handles and thanked the makers for putting boxing on the map.

He wrote, "The teaser looks awesome! Thanks for putting boxing on the map. All the best @FarOutAkhtar @ROMPPictures @FarOutAkhtar @ritesh_sid @excelmovies @RakeyshOmMehra"

The teaser looks awesome! Thanks for putting boxing on the map. All the best @FarOutAkhtar @ROMPPictures @FarOutAkhtar @ritesh_sid @excelmovies @RakeyshOmMehrahttps://t.co/wSuunqpmnq

— Vijender Singh (@boxervijender) March 18, 2021

Expressing gratitude for his love, Farhan replies, "Thank you @boxervijender Map par toh aapne aur aap jaise desh ko represent karnewale har ek boxer ne daala hai. Aap hain toh Toofaan hai.

Akshay Kumar is starring the action adventure, which Amazon said would receive a theatrical release.

Amazon Prime Video is making its first foray into film production in India, by co-producing Hindi-language action adventure Ram Setu, starring Akshay Kumar.

Directed by Abhishek Sharma, the film is produced by Amazon with India’s Cape of Good Films, Abundantia Entertainment and Lyca Productions. Jacqueline Fernandes and Nushrratt Bharuccha are also starring in the mythological epic, which has Dr. Chandraprakash Dwivedi on board as creative producer.

Amazon said in a statement that it would stream the film in India and in more than 240 countries,...