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THROWBACK: When Kareena Kapoor Khan was skeptical about romantic scenes with ‘brother-like’ Abhishek Bachchan in Refugee

Aug 6, 2024 · 1:24 AM Blog

Kareena Kapoor Khan and Abhishek Bachchan made their debut together with the romantic drama Refugee. Directed by J.P. Dutta, the movie was the fifth highest-grossing film of 2000 and changed the career trajectory of both actors. However, many don’t know that Kareena didn’t want to do romantic scenes with Abhishek. Read on to know more!

While appearing on Simi Grewal’s talk show once, Kareena was shown a video message Abhishek sent for her. While the Jr Bachchan praised Bebo for most of it, he also revealed one thing for which he will never forgive her. He said, “I will never forgive you for ruining me in that scene because I remember the first thing you ever said to me was that AB, this is our first romantic scene together, and how can I fall in love with you? You’re like my brother.”

Abhishek Bachchan was referring to the sequence that took place at the Dargah, where Kareena’s character asks Abhishek’s character to stay back right when he is about to leave. Bebo, however, detailed the incident and re-admitted that she considered him a brother. The actress even went on to tell director Dutta, “JP uncle, how can I do those scenes when I consider him to be my brother?”

ALSO READ: Kareena Kapoor Khan holds Taimur close, Saif Ali Khan lifts Jeh in joy as Pataudi family returns from their vacations; WATCH

The duo were quite cordial for the longest time until Bebo’s sister Karisma Kapoor and Abhishek Bachchan parted ways after several years of relationship.

While speaking with former journalist Rajeev Masand, Kareena admitted, “I have always maintained that Abhishek is the first actor with whom I gave my first shot. To me, he holds a very special place in my heart that no actor and no person can ever take. When I look at him, I look at him with pride, joy, and with happiness. It’s sad things went sour.”

Kareena Kapoor Khan has clarified that if Abhishek doesn’t want to do a film with her now, she will also keep it that way as she understands that the comfort level between them will not be the same. “I think people should respect that,” Kapoor said. Besides Refugee, Kareena and Abhishek worked in just one more film titled Main Prem Ki Diwani Hoon (2003).

ALSO READ: THROWBACK: When Kareena Kapoor revealed what she tolerates about Aamir Khan and it had an Akshay Kumar connection

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OPINION: Movies like Aattam and Maharaja prove great films don’t always need big marketing

Aug 6, 2024 · 1:24 AM Blog

The trends in cinema have always changed quite often, depending on the audience it caters to. Sometimes, films and plots that worked 10 years ago might not hit the same in today’s age.

The same reasoning is likely to be cyclic and repeat in the future. However, considering the trend we have today, is the general populace of the audience more inclined towards watching content-rich movies?

Films like Maharaja in Tamil and Aattam in Malayalam are much-loved despite not depending on promotions and star power. Does the inclination of the audience towards such films indicate a shift in the film market as opposed to earlier times?

Are audiences more interested in the substance of films than style?

Talking in general about recent cinema hits in India, many movies accepted and celebrated by the audience made it big without much promotion. The recent blockbuster Maharaja, starring Vijay Sethupathi, is a prominent example.

The film, which had one of the best screenplays in Tamil cinema, took us on a cinematic ride packed with action and emotion. Despite the film not having a humongous promotional campaign, it went on to grab everyone’s attention with the content it presented.

Check out Maharaja trailer:

Similarly, the Malayalam movie Aattam, a suspense drama that was also a chamber flick loosely based on the style of 12 Angry Men, also captured the attention of many. The film’s content was packed with emotion and took us to the top brink of suspense despite not having any big names attached to its cast.

The biggest boon for both these films was undoubtedly the screenplay and the execution they had. The conviction of the actors surrendering to the flick and being a part of it emphasized their creative nature and gave a space for organic content to be generated.

The creative freedom given to the creators of the film allowed them to experiment with the genre of movies, which also gave actors center stage for performing well. In all respects, the authenticity of the content they had is reflectable as audiences watched and praised these movies.

Check out the trailer for Aattam:

In this sense, it is quite safe to assume that people are more in love with the creativity offered via cinema rather than being a formulaic potboiler. Rather than taking the story template of any generic movie and slapping it with a new name with a new cast, these movies preferred to understand the grammar of films and their making.

The consistency of these kinds of films being a hit not only in theaters but also through streaming platforms also depicts some positive reception towards the acceptance of such movies. Not just Aattam and Maharaja but movies like Kill, Bramayugam, and more are also worthy examples of people loving content-driven films.

Even in Maharaja and Bramayugam, the movies are led by cinema stars who can easily stick to their established persona and generate revenue with formulaic films. However, both of them embraced the scripts and were subjected completely to the characters. Even taking in a movie like Malaikottai Vaaliban, which wasn’t well-received by the audience, Mohanlal submitted himself to immerse in the character.

The change of tide in actors’ acceptance of scripts also seems to indicate how movies and the audience are changing towards appreciating and welcoming movies with rich content.

What does it mean for future movies?

Even when movies like these are welcomed by audiences, various people still live for the fanfare and celebrations of a film. The duality of the same could be taken by identifying how Mammootty himself did Turbo, a commercial potboiler, and made it a success.

The dual nature of the audience to accept movies from the far end of each spectrum also personifies that movies need to be executed properly rather than relying on superstars. For consideration, a film like Indian 2, which had Kamal Haasan as his iconic character, made the audience come to the theaters because of how the first part made an impact and the extensive promotions.

However, the film dealt with a generally negative approach from the viewers for the lack of conviction, creativity, misrepresentation of characters, and wariness towards the trend in writing. Rather than trying to understand the demographics of people and catering films to their preferences, the commercial film faltered by spoon-feeding what was already distasteful.

This seems to stand as a ground for makers to identify how to make their content speak concerning the genre and how to be more creative in their crafts. When style and substance go hand-in-hand as a balance, it would surely be appreciated by audiences who prefer one over the other.

ALSO READ: Meet actor who is trained dancer, has singing talent, debuted as child artist, holds family legacy, battled depression and is now one of country’s highest-paid actors

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“She Didn’t Want To Leave, We Insisted”: Sheikh Hasina’s Son To NDTV

Aug 6, 2024 · 1:24 AM Blog

Sheikh Hasina, who resigned as Bangladesh’s prime minister and fled the country on Monday following weeks of protests, did not want to leave at all but did so on the family’s insistence, his US-based son and former Chief Advisor Sajeeb Wajed Joy told NDTV.

“She wanted to stay, she did not want to leave the country at all. But we kept insisting that it wasn’t safe for her. We were concerned for her physical safety first; so we persuaded her to leave,” her son Joy told NDTV’s Marya Shakil in a telephonic interview.

“I spoke to her this morning. The situation in Bangladesh, as you can see, is anarchy. She is in good spirits but she is very disappointed. It’s very disheartening for her because it was her dream to turn Bangladesh into a developed country and she worked so hard for it over the last 15 years, keeping it safe from militants and as well as from terrorism and in spite of all of that this vocal minority, the opposition, the militants have now seized power,” he said.

Her flight came less than seven months after she celebrated a fourth straight term in power – and fifth overall – by sweeping national elections in January.

The 76-year-old was flown in a military helicopter on Monday with her sister to take refuge in India. She is expected to leave for London later, sources told NDTV, where she may seek political asylum.

Her son, however, said he did not discuss with her where she is headed now.

Her last 15 years in power were marked by arrests of opposition leaders, crackdowns on free speech and suppression of dissent, and she resigned in the face of deadly student-led protests that have killed hundreds.

Protests began in June after student groups’ demands for the scrapping of a controversial quota system in government jobs escalated into a movement seeking the end of her rule.

“We hope that there will be elections in Bangladesh but at this time with our party leaders being targeted I don’t see how free and fair elections would be possible. In a way, it is no longer the family’s responsibility. We have shown what we can do. We have shown How much we can develop Bangladesh and if the people of Bangladesh aren’t willing to stand up and they are willing to let this violent minority seize power then people get the leadership they deserve,” said his son.

Pressed to answer if his mother did the best for the country, he said, “Absolutely. Awami League still remains the most popular party in the country. BNP has the chance to come back to power and we have seen what they were like the last time. They ran the country to the ground. The militants had a free hand; they attacked the minorities with impunity.”

Bangladeshi President Mohammed Shahabuddin ordered the release of jailed former prime minister and key opposition leader Khaleda Zia, hours after her arch-rival Sheikh Hasina was ousted and the military took power.

Bangladesh’s army chief General Waker-Uz-Zaman said in a broadcast to the nation on state television that Hasina had resigned and the military would form a caretaker government.

“The country has suffered a lot, the economy has been hit, many people have been killed — it is time to stop the violence,” said Waker, shortly after jubilant crowds stormed and looted Hasina’s official residence.

Bangladesh’s Channel 24 broadcast images of crowds running into the prime minister’s compound, grinning and waving to the camera, looting furniture and books, or relaxing on beds.

The military said it would lift a curfew imposed to quash protests at dawn Tuesday.

“I doubt army will be able to normalise things that fast. Because right now what is happening is that the opposition and the militants, they are not only vandalising, they are also hunting out our leaders, former ministers and even what I am hearing minorties. I don’t think the violence has ended,” said Mr Joy.

Mobs raided and ransacked the homes of Hasina’s Awami League party allies as well as police stations, witnesses told news agency AFP.

Crowds smashed statues of her father Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the country’s independence hero, and set fire to a museum dedicated to him.

“The emotion is one of disappointment, anger, that my grandfather liberated the country and they killed him and my entire family. And now the same powers, these are the minorities that opposed the independence of Bangladesh are using this opportunity to basically deny and destroy our hard-fought struggle for freedom. And it’s very disheartening to see that the majority of Bangladesh is staying silent,” said Mr Joy.

The south Asian nation has a long history of coups.

The military declared an emergency in January 2007 after widespread political unrest and installed a military-backed caretaker government for two years.

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