Important! This is a very OLD article. It's from when Khakhee was being shot. I came across it and thought it was really interesting and I've never heard of this news.š
t was a normal shift on the sets of Raj Kumar Santoshi's Khakee at Pahina village in Trimbakeshwar near Nashik. The unit had been shooting at various locations on the Trimbakeshwar-Nashik road since March 28 and everyone was grateful that despite the burning climate, the shooting had progressed without any hitches. The director was confident that he would be able to can the shots involving combined dates of the stars within the next two days shooting. Tusshar Kapoor, Akshay Kumar and Aishwarya Rai were already in Nashik and Amitabh Bachchan had flown in that morning - April 2, Friday. So had Vrinda Rai, Aishwarya's mother to spend a few days with her daughter. Hari Singh, Aishwarya's secretary had flown in the previous evening accompanying an international agency representing the studio making Bond movies. The team was scheduled to meet the actress on the sets post-lunch, when they arrived around 4 p.m., Aishwarya was in her van giving an interview. She asked Hari Singh to entertain them until she joined them.
About an hour later, when she emerged from the van, she decided to check out her scenes on the monitor before preparing for her next shot. Seated beside Tusshar Kapoor she waved out to Hari Singh indicating that she was joining him. That's the time a spot boy even came and suggested to the duo if he should carry their chairs on the other side of the road where the rest of the unit was seated but Tusshar and Aishwarya did not respond, pre-occupied with the monitor. As she was watching the rehearsal, Aishwarya casually glanced over at the Maruti Gypsy to be utilised in taking test rounds and wondered if the vehicle was adequately repaired for the shooting. As she was expressing this aloud to her co-star, the vehicle skidded and knocked her down in a thorny bush.
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| I asked him if my face was bruised. I asked him to check my toes if they were bleeding. But Akshay refused to reveal anything, repeating that we should not discuss anything till we reached the hospital | |
For a moment, nobody registered what had happened. The driver who had apparently lost control over the vehicle and skidded over the mud, continued to sit at the steering wheel, frozen into inaction. For a few seconds probably, Aishwarya lost consciousness. When she opened her eyes, all she remembered were two moving tyres at a fraction of a distance of her. She wasn't sure if she was mobile. And she wasn't sure if her limbs were intact, but from where she was she could see Akshay Kumar's legs and called out to him. The unit until then hanging in suspense were relieved to hear her voice. Akshay jumped into action and rushed to save her. In her dazed state, Aishwarya cautioned the driver not to move a centimetre, "Let him take the vehicle in reverse," she instructed Akshay. Akshay not wanting to take any risk ordered the unit to jointly pull the vehicle from the rear.
In the meanwhile, Akshay very gently gathered Aishwarya from the bush taking care not to hurt her waist down. "I was fortunate that I was wearing a denim shirt and jeans. In a way, that protected me. Had I been wearing a flimsy dress or even a saree, it would have caused me further damage," revealed Aishwarya later at the hospital. Akshay carried her in the van, the passersby who had collected in huge crowds swarmed them, unwilling to let them pass. That is the time a normally courteous Bachchan raised his voice to reprimand the crowd. He ordered everyone to clear the way and depict some respect to a person in pain.
Immediately, the mob cleared the way. Aishwarya, accompanied by Vrinda Rai and Akshay Kumar travelled to Kakatkar Hospital in Nashik.
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| Chased by the filmmakers and wowed by the heroes Aishwarya Rai continues to be No.1 despite all the upheavals in her personal life. The film fraternity analyses why DAVID DHAWAN : The problem with most filmmakers is that they want Aishwarya for her beauty. I signed her in Hum Kisise Kum Nahin for her enigmatic presence, and for the fact that it is believable that a brother and a boyfriend can become so possessive about her. MADHUR BHANDARKAR : She is every director's dream. It is difficult to say what attracts a filmmaker to the actress. But in Aishwarya's case it is primarily her beauty and also that she is a director's actress, and therefore a happy challenge. JAVED AKHTAR : I have a favourite phrase in praise of her beauty which is, "Are you for real?" YASH CHOPRA : She combines the East and the West with elan. Unfortunately, we had her in very limited presence in Adi's Mohabbatein and I'm keen that she do a full-fledged role for Yash Raj banner, and hopefully this will happen soon. M.F. HUSSAIN : (painter-filmmaker): Well what can I say? She is the beauty queen so obviously everyone will want to cast her in their films. After beauty comes the merit, i.e. acting. But in the Mumbai film industry the actresses really don't need the acting, looks matter more. As for me, I don't make films where the heroines run around trees, so I don't need to cast her. AAMIR KHAN : When I did the Pepsi ad with her, she hadn't made it this big. But one could see that she had the spark. ARJUN RAMPAL : Her humility and her consideration is very touching. We've known each other since modelling days and believe me she hasn't changed. She is where she is because she is so professional. SANJAY LEELA BHANSALI : When you watch her from the lens, you feel inspired to can more footage on the actress. For someone as beautiful, she does not take her beauty for granted and more important, works passionately on her performance. RAMESH TAURANI : For someone as beautiful and as successful as her, you expect her to be self-assured all the time. It's only when you work with her, you realise how vulnerable she is and can have as many weak moments as you and me. That's quite touching. MADHURI DIXIT : I've worked with many actress and either they turned very defensive, or falsely reverential when shooting with me. Aishwarya, however was consistent in her behaviour, both on and off the sets. It was truly a pleasure dancing with her in 'Dola re dola re...' for Devdas. REKHA : Such grace and such awareness of colours and costumes. I couldn't take my eyes off her in either Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam or Devdas. SUBHASH GHAI : She is very strong and at the same time very emotional. She is a big star and at the same time very accessible. She is committed to a point of obsession. JACKIE SHROFF : We did two films Albela and Devdas. Ash a woman of inner strength and despite all the controversy surrounding her, she remains focused in her work. She exudes a lot of dignity. Even if she is upset she would never let it affect her work. A thorough professional when we worked together, the entire unit used to be awestruck by her. TUSSHAR KAPOOR: Inspite being such a big star she is so accommodating, I'm truly privileged to have her as co-star. There were many times on the sets when we discussed scenes before rehearsals and she is so supportive. GOVNIDA: I admire her. She is not only a beautiful woman but also a beautiful person. As performers we can always tell a fake from a genuine person. She is warm and thoughtful. AKSHAYE KHANNA: We have worked together in Aa Ab Laut Chalen. The entire unit used to be in awe of her but she stayed focussed on her work. Her commitment is to be admired and oh what a dancer! RAJ KUMAR SANTOSHI: I have known Aishwarya and her family for a long time, since the time she became Miss World. One expected her to change after the title and was relieved to discover that she hadn't. She is still the same person despite the halo around her and so is her family. Strong, independent and intelligent, Ash knows her mind. Her strength is her precision. She is very clear about what she wants and if she delays decisions, it's because she hasn't made up her mind. Her problem is that everyone wants her in their films. She cannot do all the films and those she refuses, bad mouth her. In a male-dominated industry, they are not used to strong actresses and want to see her crumble under pressure. As an actress, she is spontaneous. Initially, I had my reservations about her as a performer but after watching her on my sets, I have changed my mind. She could have refused Khakee because the film doesn't revolve around her but she agreed, said it's not the length but the quality of the role that mattered. Despite what happen to her in her private life, she does not carry any emotional baggage. Once in front of the camera, she is poised, punctual and gives hundred per cent.
Upala KBR | |
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It was a long and a bumpy ride from Bhilmal to the city, full of speed-brakers and everytime the car bumped, Aishwarya moaned in agony. Akshay sat at her feet holding her legs to prevent further injury. In between he sensed that she was passing out, so he engaged her in a conversation and gave her water. "I asked him if my face was bruised. I asked him to check my toes if they were bleeding," said Aishwarya later, "But Akshay refused to reveal anything. He kept repeating that we should not discuss anything till we reached the hospital."
At Kakatkar Hospital all arrangements were organised by Amitabh Bachchan over the phone. When getting out of the van, Aishwarya preferred to be carried on a wheel chair than a stretcher. "I thought it would be less dramatic, but still it was the longest journey to my destination. The public was pushing my chair from all sides and it was only when Akshay physically lifted the front wheels of the chair and walked backwards that the commotion was in control."
It was approximately 6 pm when the X-ray reports diagnosed it as a hairline fracture in her left ankle and minor abrasions on her right elbow and back. The Rai family was keen that she be treated in Mumbai, so after preliminary examination, orthopaedic surgeon Dr VR Kakatkar attached a fibre-glass bandage to ensure faster healing of the injury and discharged her. By this time, Bachchan who can always be depended upon in a crisis, had sought special permission at the Flying Club and made arrangements for a helicopter to fly down Aishwarya to Mumbai.
It was past 10 pm when they landed at the old Mumbai airport and approximately 11 pm when the ambulance drove into PD Hinduja National Hospital, Mahim. Co-star and friend Vivek Oberoi accompanied by brother Aditya escorted the two ladies into the hospital, but despite strict security and cordoning off of the main entrance it was impossible to control the papparazi. As the actress was being wheeled on a stretcher, journalists were pushing microphones on to her face, asking all kinds of questions. Cameramen perched on top of the ambulance and other cars to capture a better view. No heed was paid to any pleas for privacy from either the patient's family or the hospital staff. After what seemed like a nightmare, Aishwarya was somehow shifted to the 15th floor. Says Anupam Verma, deputy director, Administration, "How can people be so insensitive to someone they know is in severe pain? How can the media invade a person's privacy to such extent even if she happens to be a celebrity?" Dr Sanjay Agarwal, chief of surgery, head, Orthopaedic is more pragmatic. "She has been an exemplary patient and it is credible how she retains courage in the wake of such rampage. The mob needs to understand that such kind of pressure can affect a patient adversely." It's called the celebrity syndrome.
What's sad but true is that even the medical staff attending to the actress appears overawed. Most of them disguise their curiosity as concern or call of duty, but the number of times the nurses and junior staff checking her diet and other details look for an opportunity to knock on her door is not graceful. The senior staff though is taking all precaution. "She is a brave girl and it's because she is so determined that she has managed to walk a couple of minutes everyday that we are confident of a speedy recovery," said the main doctor.
The Rais don't want to take any risks. They are keen that Aishwarya takes complete rest before returning to the studios and none of her filmmakers are complaining. Keshu Ramsay, producer of Khakhee says his film is to be released in November and there is plenty of time. Sameer Karnik who was to shoot Kyon, Ho Gaya Na? with the actress from April 7 says that this is no time to calculate financial losses. His film is slated for a December release and if Aishwarya recuperates her health, there will be ample opportunities to make up for the loss of time. Gurinder Chadha (Pride And Prejudice), Roland Joffe (Invaders), Ketan Mehta (Mangal Pandey) had not pencilled any dates so are prepared to wait sometime longer. So is Rohan Sippy working on the release of Kuch Na Kaho and Rituparno Ghosh on the release of Chokerbali. Obviously, the Bond film will have to wait unless the agency is prepared to clear the contract in India instead of Los Angeles, which is the regular practice. And finally, Rahul Gupta working on Hum Panchi Ek Dal Ke and Anees Bazmi working on Radhey Shyam Sita Ram, it goes without saying will have to postpone their project for next year.
The Khakee unit has in the meantime packed up shooting and returned to Mumbai. The police is questioning the film's crew members who had witnessed the accident. Investigations conducted by the Wadivare police, Nashik reveal that the jeep driver, Raju Gaund was speeding the vehicle and if found guilty of negligence, a case might be registered against him and he would be arrested. "So far however we have received no complaint from Aishwarya Rai or her family," revealed SM Munde, assistant inspector of Wadivare police station.
I hope you guys like it.š
Edited by svh2010 - 18 years ago
Arjun
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