Out of the fictional web!
Kritika Kamra, one of the most attractive faces in daily soaps, will now host the second season of Webbed on MTV. “I have taken a break from fictional shows and in the meanwhile got an offer to host Webbed. It is a kind of show that I relate to, and wanted to narrate stories to an audience of my age group and likes and dislikes,” says Kritika, who became a household name with Kitni Mohabbat Hai and Kuch Toh Log Kahenge. She says the series will address issues like stalking, fake identity and theft of personal information. “It has become a weapon for some criminals. I have myself faced issues when somebody hacked my Facebook account. Many times my Facebook photos have been used without my permission. At the end of each episode, we will provide tips on cyber security.” She adds that there is no need to panic. “Internet has become a part of our lives and it is only going to grow. So we should make peace with the medium and strike a balance.”
Dark destination
Bollywood often portrays criminals as one-dimensional characters. This week, we have an independent film from debutant Saad Khan that looks into the mind of three assassins waiting for a group of people to complete a deal at a railway station in the middle of the night. The thriller has Sameer Kevin Roy, Siddhanth Sundar, Kanika Batra, Hardik Shah, Rahul Dev Shetty and Vivek Shah playing the lead roles. The crew also comprises first-timers. “It is not that I am a normal person by day and an assassin by night, but I was curious about what goes on in the mind of a killer. Does he go and shoot or sit down and discuss the way he wants to shoot with his target? It makes the process creepier,” says Saad, who has in the past assisted Ashutosh Gowariker. “I learnt the importance of respecting each and every member of the crew from him. It reflects in the work.” Saad says he was always interested in playing with dark characters operating in silhouettes. “The film is technically strong with special emphasis on editing, but it is to augment the content. It is not a kind of thriller which shifts to foreign shores. It unravels in a waiting room with three people. So there is no way you can compromise on content,” says Saad.
‘Daddy’ shifts stage
Buoyed by the success of Arth’s theatrical adaptation, Mahesh Bhatt has now zeroed in on his next play, based on his classic film, Daddy. And Imran Zahid has been roped in to reprise the role of the father, played on screen by Anupam Kher. The hunt is on for an actress to take up the role of the daughter, originally played by Pooja Bhatt.
Elaborating on the choice, Mahesh Bhatt says, “After the success of Arth’s theatrical version, I thought that Daddy, too, was a kind of movie that could be adapted for the stage. It has the same raw human emotions and naked truths about life, and hence, can have a similar kind of impact.”
Upbeat about his choice for the lead role, Bhatt said Imran was the right choice. “I think he has the discipline and the consistency required to take up projects and deliver quality stuff. Not everyone has the tenacity to take an idea from inception to its finishing point,” he adds.
Pooja, who made her big-screen debut with the movie, is excited that it is coming alive on stage and that a fresh face would be portraying her role. “I’m glad to do it as Daddy was my debut film as well. I had a few offers for commercial movies at that time, and I remember that Bhatt sahib had asked me if I’d like to be known as an actor or a star, as he wanted to offer me a film that would be mentioned in my obituary. I’m glad that Daddy touched the lives of many people. The issue is still relevant and I hope this adaption is going to be a success,” says Pooja.
The scene is shifting
After filling the small screen with fresh faces, Star Plus is returning to the tried and tested this April with Cinevistaas’ new series Ek Hasina Thi. Starring Sanjeeda Sheikh and Vatsal Seth, the series marks the return of Ayub Khan and Simone Singh in important roles. It is being said that the series is loosely based on Rakesh Roshan’s Rekha-starrer Khoon Bhari Maang. Recently, Sunidhi Chauhan recorded a song for the series to lend intrigue to the thriller theme. After Ishq Kills, it is the second offering from Star Plus that is veering off the saas-bahu formula.
