http://specials.rediff.com/movies/2007/nov/14sli1.htm
Meet the new directors on the block
Working behind the scenes as assistant director or writer seems to be the ideal ground for learning the great art of film direction.
Take Karan Johar for example. He assisted Aditya Chopra in the 1995 blockbuster Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge. Karan went on to become a reputed director, with a brilliant debut in Kuch Kuch Hota Hai. Two of Johar's earlier assistant directors -- Soham Shah and Nikhil Advani -- have their own movies, Kaal and Salaam-e-Ishq, under their belts. And this trend shows no sign of stopping, leading to a new crop of directors with diverse backgrounds. We take a look at some promising debutant directors, coming up with their new films.
Director: Anil Mehta
Film: Aaja Nachle
Cast: Madhuri Dixit, Kunal Kapoor, Konkona Sen Sharma About the director: Anil Mehta started his Bollywood career as a cinematographer with Sanjay Leela Bhansali's Khamoshi (1996). He tasted success with Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam (1999), for which he won a National Award as well. His credits also include Lagaan, Veer-Zaara and Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna. Trivia: Yash Raj's Aaja Nachle marks Madhuri Dixit Nene's comeback after nearly six years of marital bliss. She was last seen in Sanjay Leela Bhansali's Devdas(2002).
Director: Rumi Jaffrey
Film: God Tussi Great Ho
Cast: Salman Khan, Priyanka Chopra, Amitabh Bachchan, Sohail Khan, Anupam Kher
About the director: Rumi Jaffrey is a seasoned writer who started his career with Rang (1993) and Waqt Hamara Hain (1993). He has worked with director David Dhawan and has known great success as a dialogue writer, screenplay and story writer. "I've been writing for nearly a decade. It was time to try something new. I've had great support from the film industry. My friends Salman Khan, Amitabhji and Aishwariya, have been pushing me for so long to direct one of my own stories," he says. Along with his Bhopal native Anu Kapoor, Rumi Jaffrey had dabbled in the Mumbai theatre scene in the early 1980s. As a matter of fact, God Tussi Great Ho is based on a short play he'd written. Trivia: Rumi Jaffrey sticks with his winning formula of comedy with a sprinkle of romance for his directorial debut. Amitabh Bachchan is said to play God in the film.
Director: Vijay Krishna Acharya aka Victor
Film: Tashan
Cast: Akshay Kumar, Saif Ali Khan, Kareena Kapoor, and Anil Kapoor
About the director: Early in his career, Victor assisted Kundan Shah in Kabhi Haan Kabhi Naa (1993). After that he worked on several popular television series like Son Pari, Just Mohabbat and Sony's mega hit, Jassi Jaisi Koi Nahi. He made a comeback to the film scene as screenplay and dialogue writer for hits like Dhoom (2004), Dhoom 2 and Guru. Trivia: Tashan is set to be a fast paced action thriller. Anil Kapoor, who is starring in a Yash Raj production after 15 years (last seen in the 1992 hit Lamhe) plays an out and out bad guy in this film.
Director: Abbas Tyrewala
Film: Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na
Cast: Imraan Khan, Genelia D'souza, Naseruddin Shah, Arbaaz Khan, Sohail Khan, Arshad Warsi and Paresh Rawal (in a special appearances)
About the director: Abbas Tyrewala has done some commendable work as a screenwriter with credits like Asoka, which was the official entry for the Academy awards for 2001. Jaddu Ki Chappi, ring a bell? Abbas wrote the unforgettable dialogues for Munnabhai MBBS (2003) as well as for other hits like Salaam Namaste (2005), Main Hoon Na (2004) and Darna Mana Hai (2003). In Maqbool (2003), Abbas added acting to his credits as well (he had a small role of Sadik Chikna). Trivia: Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na is produced by Aamir Khan Productions and PVR Cinema, and introduces the actor's nephew, Imran Khan in the lead.
Director: Ashwini Dheer
Film: One Two Three
Cast: Suniel Shetty, Paresh Rawal, Tusshar Kapoor, Upen Patel, Esha Deol and Tanisha
About the director: Ashwini Dheer, whose forte is comedy is one of the most sought after writers for the small screen with classic sitcoms like Office Office (Star One) Ji Behanji and FIR (SAB) to his credit. His other credits include Hum Saath Aath Hai, Shararat, Gharwali Uparwali, Shree Sifarishilal, Public Hai Ye Sab Janti and Ramkhilavan CM. Trivia: Big Screen Entertainment's One Two Three is a comedy about how the main protagonists chase their dreams. Tanisha, (Kajol's younger sister), plays an innocent girl who works in a car showroom. Esha Deol's character wants to be a famous fashion designer while Tusshar Kapoor plays a wannabe gangster. Paresh Rawal's role is of a lingerie salesman and Shetty is a corporate executive. Apparently, all three male characters share the same name, Laxmi Narayan.
Director: Suhail Tatari
Film: Summer of 2007
Cast: Sikander Kher, Gul Panag, Ashutosh Rana, Sachin Khedekar, Divya Dutta
About the director: Suhail Tatari is a known personality of small screen arena. He has directed features for Surabhi (Doordarshan), and also worked for many television soaps including Reporter (DD), Kanyadaan (Sony TV), Kashmeer (Star TV) and Don (Star One). Suhail didn't want to be a part of the whole Saas-bahu serials so after a small break he decided to direct a Hindi film. Trivia: Summer of 2007 is about India's youth. The movie looks at the two sides of India through the eyes of youth -- the progressive metro and the rural poor. This film marks the debut of Sikander Kher, son of Kirron and Anupam Kher.
Director: Bela Segal
Film: Untitled
Cast: Rumoured to be Rani Mukherji and Salman Khan
About the director: Sanjay Leela Bhansali's sister, Bela graduated in film editing from FTII. She has assisted the likes of Vinod Chopra (Parinda) and Vijaya Mehta (Pestonji). She has also edited Khamoshi, Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam, Devdas and Black for which she won a Filmfare award. She further directed six music videos for Adnan Sami's album Tera Chehra which featured Rani Mukerji and Mahima Chaudhary. "After the Adnan Sami's videos started airing on the music channels, the offers for directing started pouring in," says Bela. "I wanted to express myself and best way to do that is through celluloid. I've always wanted to do direct. I've always known that I had the ability in me." Trivia: The yet-untitled film is produced by T-Series and Sanjay Leela Bhansali. Bela has edited every film of her brother's except Saawariya. "I couldn't be a part of the film because I spent the whole year working on my script," she says.
Director: Tarun Mansukhani
Film: Untitled
Cast: Abhishek Bachchan, John Abraham and Priyanka Chopra
About the director: At the age of 20, Mansukhani managed get an acting job in the first episode of the classic sitcom Dekh Bhai Dekh. "But I knew immediately I preferred working behind the scenes," says Mansukhani. He assisted Anand Mehandra (Dekh Bhai Dekh), around the same time that Karan Johar starting working on Kuch Kuch Hota Hain. "My sister Tanushka and Karan were in the same school. He'd heard about me and through my sister asked me if I'd like to assist him on Kuch Kuch. I was just out of college and hadn't decided what I was going to do. I was thinking about FTII but when Kuch Kuch came to me, the answer was easy." Mansukhani assisted Karan Johar in all his films including Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham (2001), Kal Ho Naa Ho (2003) and Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna (2006). He has also assisted Aditya Chopra in Mohabbatein (2000). "Directing is my calling. Everything was leading up to it. This is what I want to do for the rest of my life," he says. Trivia: Produced by Dharma Production, Tarun's directing career starts with a romantic film. "This film will showcase all the charms of the previous Dharma movies -- there's romance, different emotions and great music," he says. Music is composed by Vishal-Shekhar.
Director: Sooni Taraporevala
Film: Jigri Dost Production's Little Zizzou.
Cast: John Abraham, Sohrab Ardeshir, Iyanah Battivala, Jahan Battivala, Cyrus Broacha and Boman Irani
About the director: Sooni Taraporevala has worked extensively as a writer with internationally acclaimed director, Mira Nair on films like The Namesake(2006), Mississippi Masala (1991) and Salaam Bombay! (1988). She has also worked in Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar (2000) and Such A Long Journey (1998). Trivia: The film, which will be in English, is about modern day Mumbai seen through the eyes of a young Parsi boy.
Director: Saroj Khan
Film Sati... a burning desire to love
Cast: Priyanka Chopra
About the director: Though Saroj Khan has already tried her hand at directing a Bhojpuri film called Dil Diwana Tohar Gayil, Sati will be her first Hindi film. Saroj Khan has been in the film industry since the early 1950s and has worked in over 200 films, choreographing most of the biggest Bollywood stars. Her most appreciated work has been with Madhuri Dixit in unforgettable dance sequences like Ek Do Teen, Dhakh Dhakh Karne Laga, Hum Ko Aaj Kal Hain and Choli Ke Peeche. Trivia: Madhuri Dixit was expected to star in this film but there were rumours that Saroj was upset when she was not approached by Yash Raj to choreograph Madhuri's numbers in her comeback film, Aaja Nachle. So Saroj opted for Priyanka.
Director: Zoya Akhtar
Film: Luck By Chance
Cast: Farhan Akhtar
About the director: Daughter of poet-lyricist, Javed Akhtar and screenplay writer Honey Irani, Zoya assisted her brother Farhan Akhtar in Dil Chahta Hai (2001) and Lakshya (2004). She has also worked as a producer in Honeymoon Travels Pvt Ltd this year. Trivia: The film is said to be a contemporary take on the film industry.
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
Udne Ki Aasha
Members Lounge
1