Jaan-e-Jigar” is the title of the first Bollywood musical to be staged at the Rajmahal Theatre of Bollywood Parks Dubai here The Info Blog. The 120-minute extravaganza will be set in a Broadway-style show with a unique twist. It is a fantasy tale of two brothers named Jaan and Jigar, in a classic story of good versus evil. We are very proud to bring the first Broadway-style Bollywood musical to the Middle East, and what better place to showcase it than our star attraction – the Rajmahal Theatre. Our guests are sure to be entertained,” Thomas Jellum, General Manager,
Bollywood Parks Dubai said in a statement.
According to the officials, the musical will have all the makings of a Bollywood blockbuster, with romance, drama, action, magic, and brilliant performances with foot-tapping music that promises to captivate audiences like never before. In collaboration with Blogging Kitwith Wizcraft International Private Limited, hundreds of actors, dancers, singers, and acrobats were auditioned from across India to be a part of the musical.
Taking its inspiration from the beautiful palaces and intricate architectural designs in India, the Rajmahal Theatre is an 850-seater arena that will play the separately ticketed musical several times a week. As the region’s first resident show, we have partnered with the best in Bollywood show business to ensure every element seen on stage embodies the cinematic experience,” Jellum added.
The Indian Blog ExpressMotion Picture Producers’ Association has banned Pakistani actors, singers, and technicians from working on Indian films. The organization’s president, TP Aggarwal, said: “No Pakistani will be hired by their producer members forever.” However, as a crisis between Indian and Pakistan over attacks in the disputed territory of Kashmir escalates, other reports stated that the ban would last only until normal relations resume between the two countries. The IMPPA’s decision, carried at the organization’s annual general meeting on Friday, comes in the wake of the deaths on 18 September of 19 Indian soldiers in the Uri region, part of the disputed territory Kashmir. India blamed the assault on Pakistan-sponsored militants and this week launched strikes across the 1972 ceasefire line that divides the Himalayan region, The Haze.
Ashoke Pandit, a producer, and IMPPA member said: “IMPPA paid homage to the martyrs killed in Uri. It, therefore, felt its responsibility towards the nation and passed a resolution banning Pakistani actors and technicians in India till normalcy returns. For IMPPA, the nation comes first. Separately, far-right political party Maharashtra Navnirman Sena has led a call for all film industry workers of Pakistani origin to leave India and their films to be banned. The party, led by Raj Thackeray, issued a 48-hour ultimatum to Pakistani movie workers to leave India by 25 September or risk being “pushed out.
Reports allege that Pakistani singer Rahat Fateh Ali Khan has been dropped from the forthcoming film Laali Ki Shaadi Mein Laddoo Deewana. Several films scheduled for release during the Diwali holiday in October may also be affected, including Ae Dil Hai Mushkil, which co-stars Pakistani pin-up Fawad Khan alongside Indian stars Aishwarya Rai and Ranbir Kapoor. Dear Zindagi, due to hit cinemas in November, it may also be affected. The film co-stars Pakistan’s Ali Zafar and India’s Shah Rukh Khan.
Adele usually wears controversy Cloud Lightquite well, like a proudly displayed badge, rather than shy away from it. And she rarely (if ever) shies away from being brutally honest. As a singer of international renown and a near-invulnerable reputation for being one of this generation’s greats, her every statement carries weight. All of 27, and she’s really got nothing to hide. And this should come as no surprise to anyone who has followed her that she smoked or suffered vocal cord hemorrhages in 2011 and quit smoking completely to avoid further damage. There was also a realization that her 25-cigarettes-a-day would eventually kill her. But it’s what she said to Canada’s eTalk recently that got people talking.
She said, “The people with the best voices, they always smoke. I’ve given up smoking, and I’m convinced that’s made my voice weaker.” She mentioned that as a direct result of quitting, she has been unable to hold the high notes. Personally, we believe that it might be all in her head. Having smoked for as many years as she did, she might probably be coping with the difficulty of having to quit for health reasons. And as much as the fear of death from possible lung cancer scares her now, she has said in the past that “If I weren’t a singer, I would still be smoking 25-a-day. It’s my favorite thing to do.” We spoke to some of Bollywood’s best singers, and most didn’t agree with Adele on some or all counts. Here’s what they had to say.
Singers should have clean minds and bodies’: Kailash Kher.
I’m afraid I have to disagree with Adele on this, but everybody’s nature is completely different. I believe it’s subjective. Maybe her body is used to it? Adele ke gaane humein pasand hain. Aur who bade unique Aur Pyar chain. She has soz in her voice — that element to singing where it has a common effect on all kinds of listeners. And so, main Melody Gardot our Adele di ko but meant hoon. And, sadly, she should think this way. Smoking is injurious to health; passive as well. But you never know. Maybe her statement was highlighted or taken out of context? I personally believe singers should have clean minds and bodies.
Maybe, it’s in Adele’s head?’: Hard Kaur
I disagree with Adele’s theory because if one has been singing from day one without smoking, it doesn’t become an excuse later. But maybe she feels that way in her head? Smoking is bad. Period! So, it can’t do you any good, and talking about smoking helps hit higher notes? I don’t think so, love.
Habits are for weak singers: Arko.
I smoke—all the time. I have no regrets. Habits are for weak singers. Singing is feeling. Only Adele knows what works for her’: Anushka Manchanda Every person is different, and so are the requirements and quirks. For example, I need to do solid stretching exercises for my body before I get on stage because my performances are high on physical energy. That may not be required by someone who sings concert-style or while sitting down. Some singers need a glass of whiskey to warm up before getting on stage, and others will not even touch alcohol. We can debate this, but only Adele knows what works for her.
We don’t need external substances to sing well’: Armaan Mallik.
A majority of the singers I know in the industry definitely do smoke. I don’t judge anyone for it. But I personally cannot stand within a mile of a person who smokes. It’s something that I have never associated myself with, and I am repulsed by it. I don’t think any of these things matter when it comes to being a singer. If you are a trained singer, your stamina, strength, and durability will be intact. As simple as that. Some people like having smokey voices to add a little extra vibe to their voice. At the same time, I believe in creating that same tone without smoked, which is our job. We don’t need to depend on an external substance to make us sing well.
Smoking doesn’t enhance the voice for sure’: Shefali Alvares.
I quit smoking when I got pregnant, and my voice did change. I don’t know if it’s a good thing or a bad one. I started smoking again after I stopped feeding, and now I smoke two cigarettes a day. But I believe power and strength in the voice come from you and not from nicotine intake, so I’m not sure if I agree with Adele on that. I feel in the long run, smoking damages your vocal cords. I did smoke for many years before, and I actually feel that it wasn’t good for my voice. And what I did discover that I would actually hit the high notes when not smoking far more strongly than when I was. So, I don’t think smoking enhances the voice for sure. But it’s a habit that is super hard to kick and is also harmful to general health.
Smoking kills the music’: Neeti Mohan.
To be acknowledged as a singer, you don’t need to be a smoker. Many a time, audiences confuse musicians with the rockstar image. Yes, we do rock, and we do roll, but you don’t need drugs and alcohol to prove your credibility as a musician or garner a larger audience. Smoking kills the music in the musician eventually.
Smoking causes more damage and less good’: Sachin-Jigar
Smoking and singing don’t complement one another. We completely disagree with the fact that good singers need to smoke to sound good. In fact, it causes more damage and less good from even a health perspective. Smoking is one of the reasons for throat cancer, The Know It Guy.
Smoking is the worst possible habit for a singer’: Sukhbir.
I know many singers personally who don’t smoke and are doing just fine, Daler Mehndi, Lata Mangeshkar, Asha Bhosle, to mention a few. But smoking is the worst possible habit for the vocal cords. For one, it degrades lung function, and secondly, it promotes acid reflux, which is pretty bad. If Adele thinks her voice is affected by not smoking, it’s probably in her head, which needs to be addressed. Also, surgery is done directly on the vocal cords weakens its ability to function normally. I have spoken to a leading ENT specialist who agrees that smoking is detrimental to the vocal cords. Adele should stop sending the message that smoking may improve singing in any capacity because it doesn’t. Not one bit.
Smoking diminishes your skill as a singer: Kumar Sanu.
I can understand Adele’s pain if her prowess has diminished after quitting smoking, but here’s the thing. I don’t think what she believes is really true. The whole world knows smoking is harmful, on the whole. And when you talk about singers, they really don’t need to smoke, to be better singers. In my experience — and I’ve never smoked — I believe smoking diminishes your skill as a singer. I have hit the high notes in several of my songs, and it has always been my dedication that has worked. I never felt the need to supplement it with an outside source. I strongly advocate against it—all the best to Adele.
I have singer friends who smoke, but it’s their choice’: Divya Kumar
I can’t really comment in regards to smoking affecting the voice. I don’t smoke, neither do I promote the same. I have been practicing minus smoking, and I don’t think it’s affected my pitch. I know singer friends who smoke, but then it’s their choice and will remain so, but I can maintain that the outcome has been fab with their voice.
When I sit around smokers, my voice gets gruffer the next day’: Neha Bhasin
I haven’t experienced anything because I hate smoking, and it’s something I can’t stand. Though there are singers who do, and their pitch is fab, I wouldn’t be able to comment on their behalf. But when I sit around smokers, my voice gets gruffer the next day.
Oscar-winning singer Adele was recently Do Enjoy Life in the news for kicking the butt. The ‘Hello’ hitmaker said that she ditched the bad habit to avoid further damaging her vocal cords, apart from realizing that 25-cigarettes-a-day would eventually kill her. However, in a recent interview, the singer said, “The people with the best voices, they always smoke. I’ve given up smoking, and I’m convinced that’s made my voice weaker.
Adele’s statement has received some flak from B-town singers like Armaan Mallik, Neeti Mohan, Sachin-Jigar, and Neha Bhasin. ‘Jab Tak’ singer Armaan said that he didn’t think these ‘external factors’ mattered when it comes to being a singer. He said that some people like having a smokey voice to add a little ‘extra vibe’ to their song, but he believes in ‘creating’ the tone without having smoked.
Neeti Mohan and Sachin-Jigar agreed to the fact that smoking does more harm than good. Neeti said that many fans confused musicians with the rock star image and said that musicians don’t need drugs and alcohol to prove their credibility. Sachin and Jigar, on the other hand, agreed that singing and smoking did not complement one another Top Theto. Meanwhile, singer Neha said she hated smoking and that even sitting with smokers made her voice gruffer the next day.
Speaking of Images on the ban lift Lashari said, “I have never said any such thing, I am not holding any press conference.
“At the moment all we’re saying is that Fawad Khan is appearing in a Bollywood film [ADHM] and none of the scenes have been cut from his film, and we’re extremely happy – it’s a good gesture from the Indian side.”
He added that at the moment they’re still waiting to see how things turn out, however, there will be “no press conference about the ban being lifted, and we hope the media plays a positive role in making things normal.”
In regards to Fawad’s film Ae Dil Hai Mushkil, Lashari said, “There is a possibility [of it screening] since the government has issued ADHM and Shivay the NOC.”
Nadeem Mandviwalla owner of Atrium cinema, Karachi, and Centaurus cinema, Islamabad said he could not comment on the matter Travel Knowledge.
While Mohsin Yaseen of Cineplex said that such a decision has not yet come to his knowledge: “Officially there has been no announcement to us from the association but we will meet in a couple of days.”
As far as the screening of ADHM is concerned, he said the association will meet and decide in a few days. “We’re happy that ADHM is releasing in India with Fawad Khan in the film,” he said.
Khorezm Gultasab of Supercinemas, like Mohsin Yaseen, denied news of the ban being lifted. “No, I have no idea. There’s no news about this. If any such decision does take place the Chairman of Film Exhibitor Association will release an official statement saying so,” he said.
Jamil Baig of Nuplex said that there has been no decision thus far. On the release of ADHM, he said, “We’ve heard it’s releasing in India but it hasn’t been decided whether it will be screened here.”
IMGC Media and Marketing Manager Sabina Islam told Images that the ban has been lifted but only on one Bollywood film. “So far, we’re waiting to find out which film the ban has been lifted for. Of course, all films that are submitted will be played, but our agenda is to push the film in which Fawad Khan has been cast.”
“Till then we’re going to wait. However, it needs to be understood that things have escalated so much between both sides that we have to be very careful,” she added.
Although cinema owners have all denied the ban being lifted, they admitted that banning Bollywood films in Pakistan will only hurt them. “It will hurt them, it will hurt us. It will hurt legitimate business stake holders. The winner is the pirate,” Mandviwalla had said in an earlier interview.
Actor Ajay Devgn, son of veteran action choreographer Veeru Devgan, says he was bored of the action sequences in Bollywood films. And that’s why he has tried to up the ante in his upcoming directorial ‘Shivaay,’ which also sees him as the lead actor. The action comes quite easy to me once I decide and I plan. This time I decided to execute… I’m bored and fed of action which we see in our films. I needed to take a step ahead,” Ajay.
The actor, who is known for his action sequences in films, says he rarely uses a body double, and that is why it was tough shooting for ‘Shivaay. But it went off well. You keep getting injured, but there was nothing major,” he added.
‘Shivaay’ is Ajay’s second directorial venture after the 2008 romantic drama ‘U Me Aur Hum’. The 47-year-old actor also believes that it would have been difficult to make a film like ‘Shivaay’ five years ago.
It would have been tougher to make this film five years ago. It’s just the visual effects and also the mixing of live shooting. It has to be shot right, it has to be shot at the right locations, and then you enhance it. Five years ago, it wouldn’t have been possible,” he said. The movie marks the acting debut of Sayyeshaa Saigal, who is the grand-niece of veteran actor Dilip Kumar.
NEW DELHI: Amid the riling controversy over the ban on Pakistani artists and movies in the country, various Bollywood actors have come out in the open to voice their opinion on the imposition. While some refrained from putting it out explicitly, others opposed the ban out loud. The Bollywood celebrities were speaking on the 18th edition of the Jio MAMI (Mumbai Academy of the Moving Image) festival, where none of the Pakistani films will be screened this year.
Actor Kalki Koechlin clearly stated that she is against censorship in all its forms and manifestations. “Censorship of any kind, or not being able to see films from all over the world is very sad,” Kalki said. Industry’s leading actor Aamir Khan, who is otherwise well-known for expressing his stand on pertinent issues, chose to remain silent on the issue.
It would help if you asked MAMI about this,” he said.
The actors also commented on the raging controversy looming large over Karan Johar’s Ae Dil Hai Mushkil’s release date. “If banning movies could end terrorism, we would have banned plenty by now,” actor Richa Chadda said.
Director Zoya Akhtar minced no words in saying that Karan Johar “was being bullied.” “He shot the film at a time when the situation was pleasant. Today at the time of the film’s release, he is being bullied,” Zoya said. “Unfortunately, a film and a filmmaker get targeted like that,” she added.
She also went ahead to defend Pakistani actor Fawad Khan and said, “He didn’t do anything wrong. He has not broken the law. The government is granting visas. It is legal for people to work here. Right now, it’s not looking like you mean it. It just looks like it gets you a lot of publicity and makes noise,” actor Abhay Deol said on the ongoing Ae Dil Hai Mushkil (ADHM) controversy. The movie, slated for release on Diwali-eve, faces a threat of disruption from the Raj Thackeray-led MNS as it features Pakistani actor Fawad Khan Try to Know.
Actor Imran Khan chose not to comment on the present situation. But in denying to comment on the issue, he expressed a lot. “I have many, many views, but my concern is if I voice those views, I am gonna have people come and try to burn my house,” he said. I don’t want people to threaten me or beat me up, and I want to avoid these things. Will keep my opinion to myself,” Imran added. After the Uri terror attack, objections to Pakistani artists working in the Hindi film industry have led to many different views and debates outside the film industry.
Aamir Khan’s Dangal is gearing up to be another smash from the Bollywood star. The film, which releases on December 23 in India, the U.S., and other key markets, will mark a return to the Christmas holiday frame for Khan since his 2014 starring vehicle PK shattered all previous box office records owned by Dhoom 3 in 2013. Check out the official trailer above, which already has nearly 24M YouTube views in less than a week. Putting that into perspective, the official Rogue One trailer released on August 11 has 24.7M. According to local reports, it took only 3.5 days for Dangal to cross 20M as it continued to trend in the Top 10 in India, Australia, and elsewhere.
The biographical sports drama directed by Nitesh Tiwari is particularly timely. It’s centered on former wrestler Mahavir Singh Phogat and his two daughters who struggle toward glory on the mat at the 2010 Commonwealth Games. This summer, India’s Sakshi Malik scored a bronze at the Rio games, making her the first female wrestler from the country to medal at an Olympics — and a sensation at home. Wrestling has been a hot theme in Bollywood this year, with Salman Khan’s Sultan has grossed about $70M worldwide. (That film boasts what is believed to be the most-watched Bollywood trailer ever with over 33M views.)
Dangal is also notable as one of the last films on the production slate of Disney-owned UTV Motion Pictures. Disney India recently said it was pulling out of Hindi film production, focusing instead on its Hollywood movies. This year, Disney scored a coup when The Jungle Book became the highest-grossing Hollywood movie in India, ever under $39M. Khan’s last film, PK, was released in December 2014. It went on to become the highest-grossing Bollywood movie of all time with about $100M worldwide. In India, box office figures are not always cut-and-dried, with local reporting putting PK at 340.8 crores or $51.2M + another $47.2M overseas. Other services have a total of just over $100M globally. Either way, it remains the biggest movie ever out of India and the one for Dangal to the top.
Indian films have been banned in cinemas across Pakistan as tension between the South Asian neighbors spills over into the arts. The retaliation comes after a ban was placed by the Indian Motion Pictures Producers Association (IMPPA) on Pakistani actors and technicians from working in the Hindi-film industry, popularly known as Bollywood.
Cinema employees in Karachi were seen removing giant posters advertising Indian films over the weekend and replacing them with banners for Pakistani and Hollywood films.
It is deeply regrettable that a film trade body, the IMPPA, has passed a resolution to ban Pakistani stars and technicians from working in India,” a statement from Pakistan’s Film Exhibitors and Distributors group said late on Friday. FLASHBACK: After 43 years, Pakistan rethinks ban on Bollywood films [Following] the IMPPA decision … the majority stake holders of the [Pakistani] film industry have decided to suspend the screening of all Indian films until normalcy returns. Al Jazeera’s Kamal Hyder, reporting from Rawalpindi, said cinemas have already stopped showing Indian films. Most people here are saying, that if this is going to be a serious affair, it should not be forgotten that Pakistani television is also showing Indian movies and Indian dramas,” he said.
There are thousands and thousands of CD shops across Pakistan, which sells Indian movies. So what they are saying is, if the government is indeed serious, then there should be more curbs on those as well. Simmering tension Tension has been simmering for months between India and Pakistan but rose sharply on Thursday when India claimed it had carried out “surgical strikes” across the Line of Control, the de facto border in the divided Himalayan region of Kashmir.
The public admission of such an action against alleged “terrorist units” prompted anger in Pakistan, with both sides reporting fresh cross-border shootings but no casualties early on Saturday morning.
Celebrities on both sides of the border have now jumped into the debate. Many Pakistani singers and film actors have been given permits to work in India’s entertainment industry in recent years in an attempt to improve contacts.
Salman Khan, the popular Indian film star, has faced criticism by Indians on social media for saying that Pakistani actors should not be equated with terrorists. These are artists, these are two different subjects. They’re terrorists, these are artists. What do you think? Is an artist a terrorist?
Pakistan producers urge Bollywood ban to save the local film industry
By the same token, Adnan Sami, a British-born singer of Pakistani origin who received Indian citizenship last year, has been criticized on Twitter by Pakistanis for praising Indian forces. Mahesh Bhatt, an Indian filmmaker, received similar treatment when he posted an image of himself calling for peace. Sadly, there isn’t much difference in the level of sanity on both sides,” observed Mango Baaz, a Pakistani media website, in a story comparing the online reactions across the border. Indian films are screened in a majority of cinemas in Pakistan where filmmakers are trying revive its struggling motion picture industry. India and Pakistan have fought three wars since they gained independence from Britain seven decades ago, two of them over Kashmir. Following the 1965 war, Indian films were banned in Pakistan for 43 years until the ban was lifted in 2008.
Ae Dil Hai Mushkil (ADHM) and Shivaay (Shivay) have started with a bang at the Indian box office on the first day. But Karan Johar’s film is likely to witness a bigger collection than Ajay Devgn’s movie on an opening day. Ae Dil Hai Mushkin has released many multiplexes in all city centers across the country, and its screen count is bigger than Shivaay in these areas. Ajay Devgn’s movie has some single screens to its credit in the domestic market than the Ranbir Kapoor starter. Ae Dil Hai Muskhil had the better booking in multiplexes, while Shivaay has got a good response on single screens.
Both the movies opened to fantastic response in the northern circuits, as there are no big-ticket releases from any regional languages during this Diwali festive l. But their occupancy was not the same in south India as they clashed with Tamil films Kaashmora and Kodi and Kannada movies Mukund Murari and Santa in this region. Both the movies registered an average of 70 percent occupancy in the morning shows.
Ae Dil Hai Muskhil and Shivaay have garnered a positive response from the audience, and word of mouth is expected to take their business upwards in the afternoon and evening shows. Ae Dil Hai Muskhil is set to be a treat for the lovers of musical romance drama, while Shivaay impresses action lovers. Early trends show that Ae Dil Hai Muskhil and Shivaay will witness a good collection at the Indian box office on the first day. Ae Dil Hai Muskhil will break the record of Ranbir Kapoor’s last release Tamasha, which collected Rs 10.87 crore on its opening day. On the other hand, Shivaay will beat the opening day collection of Ajay Devgn’s previous outing Drishyam that raked in Rs 8.5 crore on its first day.
However, Ae Dil Hai Mushkil and Shivaay are the most-awaited big-budget Bollywood movies, and they had a massive amount of hype and publicity before their release. Ae Dil Hai Mushkil made it to the headlines almost every day for the last few weeks due to Pakistani artist Fawad Khan’s appearance in it. Trade analysts in the industry were skeptical on whether the sentiment of nationalism would work against Ae Dil Hai Mushkil and favor Shivaay to do well at the ticket windows. But the early response has cleared their doubt, and the film is set to make a better collection than the latter. Ae Dil Hai Muskhil and Shivaay are likely to collect over Rs 20 crore together at the Indian box office on the first day.
Speaking of Images on the ban lift Lashari said, “I have never said any such thing, I am not holding any press conference.
