Multiple hues
Director Subhash Kapoor is facing charges of assault from an actress but recently Fox Star Studios announced their next film with the director. Earlier Kapoor was supposed to direct Vidhu Vinod Chopra’s Munnabhai Chale Amreeka but the project was shelved when Sanjay Dutt was sent behind bars. Fox has once again put together the award winning team of Jolly LLB — Subhash Kapoor and Arshad Warsi — for the comedy drama Guddu Rangeela.
Arshad is playing Rangeela, and Amit Saadh will be Guddu and they will be joined by Aditi Rao Hydari as Baby. Going on the sets from this month producer Sangeeta Ahir promises it to be a dramatic rollercoaster ride riddled with twists and turns. Kapoor says, “Set in North India, it is a story that will bring a smile on everyone’s face and I promise you will fall in love with the two characters. We are planning to shoot in Shimla, Ludhiana and Chandigarh.”
New current
After being reduced to playing second fiddle to leading actresses in even television commercials, the talented Purab Kohli is back in the reckoning with Jal, a film on the environment by Girish Malik. He is playing the lead role with Tannishtha Chatterjee. Set in the Rann of Kutch, it is about an overconfident water diviner named Bakka, who tries to solve the drought problems in his village, but faces unforeseen circumstances when he tries to help a female ornithologist save flamingos. “It is my first solo hero film in the real sense of the term,” says Purab adding it talks of the importance of water in the Kutch region but it has no arty pretensions. “It has all the ingredients but the tone is satirical.”
Releasing later this month the film has received praise at various film festivals including the “New Currents” section of the Busan International Film Festival 2013 and the “Indian Panorama” section of the International Film Festival of India. Meanwhile, he continues to be a sidekick in mainstream films as seen this week in Shaadi Ke Side Effects where he causes ripples in the relationship of the lead players. Purab says, “My character is that of a cool techie person, different from the kind of roles I have done previously. It is a guest appearance, also an opportunity to work with Farhan again after Rock On! When there is comedy involved he’s just superb.”
Outshone by the stars?
Sportspersons’ entry into the cinematic ring is announced with much fanfare but when it comes to real action the punch is usually limp. Remember Ajay Jadeja’s Khel and Vinod Kambli Annarth?
Now, though, boxer Vijender Singh’s much awaited Bollywood debut Fugly is not being promoted by his presence but by the guest appearance of Akshay Kumar and Salman Khan in a special song sung by Honey Singh. Directed by Kabir Sadanand it is the story of four carefree friends who, at the threshold of their lives, get caught in an incident which sucks them slowly into the big bad world of corruption, politics in the Capital. The film also marks the debut of Mohit Marwah, Anil Kapoor’s nephew, and Kiara Advani, grandniece of Saeed Jaffery. Then there is Jimmy Shergill to complete the ensemble
Out to engage
Aamir Khan is returning with the second season of Satyamev Jayate from this Sunday on Star Plus. The season, as the marketing campaign declares, is for all those who care for their country “Jinhe Desh Ki Fikr Hai”.
It will educate, engage and empower audiences to participate in an action-oriented change, and will be seen running through the year with an innovative programming approach that includes episodes in tranches. The first tranche in March will see five episodes being aired, giving viewers the time to soak in and help create a larger emphasis for the cause.
Actor Mohanlal has come on board as a brand ambassador for the show in the South.
Aamir says, “The show is extremely close to my heart. It was a journey of learning and revelation, a tough one for me to tread on but am extremely happy with what we have managed to do this season, in bringing forward relevant and key social issues that matter to the people of this country.”
