No More Entry
Immediately after the success of No Entry, there was buzz of a sequel. No Entry released in 2005 and, a decade later, the director Anees Bazmee is ready with the script of the sequel. But now we hear all is not well between the director and the producer despite securing dates from leading actors Salman Khan, Anil Kapoor and Fardeen Khan. Initially, the film was held up because Salman couldn't commit dates but it's been more than two years since then. Just in case the sequel doesn't work out, Bazmee is ready to move on. Also a writer, Bazmee has started fleshing out new concept films, among which are a few comedies.
Kangana Ranaut's Next
After the massive success of Tanu Weds Manu Returns, Kangana Ranaut took a while to sign her next films. She has signed Vishal Bhardwaj's Rangoon and will also be working in Hansal Mehta's Simran. The actress will start shooting for Ragoon mid-October after she takes another editing course and is done with promoting her next release Katti Batti. Rangoon is a Casablanca-like love triangle set against the backdrop of the Second World War. The film features Saif Ali Khan and Shahid Kapoor as the leading men. The actress will also shoot for Simran, a women-oriented film, in London, in December.
Umesh Shukla's Exit
Umesh Shukla's All Is Well is about to release and we hear that the director, who also plans to turn producer with his next film102 Not Out, has decided to co-produce a film titled Exit. The film features Kunaal Roy Kapur and is said to be a thriller with shades of erotica - not the typical kind we see in Hindi cinema. The film will mark the debut of director Dhwanil Mehta.
Kunal Deshmukh's Next
After the debacle of Raja Natwarlal, Kunal Deshmukh backed out of Azhar, another film based on cricket. After the director took his own sweet time, he has decided to do a totally a new concept film. Deshmukh, who was to start a Tips film, has put that on hold as the script didn't turn out the way he wanted it to. Now he has been signed by Dinesh Vijan of Maddock Films for whom he has locked a final script. The film starts rolling at the year end. We also hear they are planning to launch newcomers.
Going Slow
Vishesh Films had set a formula and the formula was successful for quite a long time. But times have changed and not everything they are making is working at the box office, in spite of keeping their budgets tight. We hear the production house has therefore decided to keep their scripts high on content. Vishesh Bhatt was to start rolling his next film Tu Hi Mera, a musical, by this year-end. But now the film will start rolling by next year as the script is being reworked. The makers are also looking out to launch new faces through this film.
Guess Who?
This actor suddenly shot into the spotlight because of his performance-oriented roles and, from supporting roles, is now being offered solo leads. Today, he is working with almost every big production house and with every big director. So one of the big production houses approached him with a film, which he agreed to do. Then they offered him another big film, which he turned down. That didn't go down well with the production house, which has launched many actors and everyone wants to work with the studio at least once. We hear that the production house has since dropped the actor from the previous film and is telling everyone that the director wanted a new actor to play that role. Hmm.
Guess Who?
Sometimes, trying to go out of your way to lend a helping hand can lead to being asked to, well, literally lend', as this industry veteran worthy of many years of experience and stature found out.
The matter at hand is a financial dispute between the producer and financier of this yet-to-be-released film. Claiming that he is owed a substantial sum of money, the financier has vowed to ensure that the film is not released till all his dues are paid. In an effort to end this impasse, one of the senior-most team members involved in the project tried to play mediator and requested that nothing should hamper the release of the film as that wouldn't achieve anything. So the financier made a counter offer: how about the peace-maker stand as personal guarantor for the sum owed?!
Needless to say, the well-meaning veteran decided that sometimes it's best to step back and let things sort themselves out rather than try and proactively resolve them!
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