Farhan's Thoughts : Farhan's blog!

For all these years I have resisted blogging, mainly because I have always found it easier to express my feelings, share my experiences and channelise my opinions when I am prompted by a question that stimulates that response. I have never been one to keep a diary either and a blog is just that -- a non-personal, electronic diary. But this has changed after Oye! It's Friday!

Hosting this show and being a part of such a unique comic space on Indian television has now prompted me to write a regular blog where I won't just be sharing my experiences, but also hope to connect with viewers and readers on the fantastic and universal platform of humour. I would describe Oye! It's Friday! as a new kind of self-effacing, non-glorifying comedy show which will spare no one. Everyone from the host (yes, even me), guests, the audience, even the producers, channel and unsuspecting public is a potential target. (In fact, don't you have more important things to do right now than reading this blog?)

If you have managed to avoid reading the papers in the last month, and for those who have not already been bombarded with interviews and reports on why I am doing this show, well it's for reasons mentioned above. And I am super kicked that the show has totally lived up to what it promised to be. I can confidently say there has been nothing like this on Indian TV before.

I would like to share one personal experience here. We shot the first episode on Wednesday November 26, on a grand set at Yash Raj Studios, Andheri, Mumbai. While we were still in the studio, the shocking and violent attacks began around the city. We wrapped up our shoot around 9.30 pm and as soon as we came out we began getting reports of the scale and nature of the incident. My inbox was filled with SMS asking "where are you?" It was a day when all of us experienced such varied emotions. From laughter and delight at how well the show had gone, congratulating ourselves at the success of the first episode, to coming out into the streets to the reality and realisation that things around you are constantly changing. It is frightening how things around us can suddenly shift from one extreme to another.

The incident is now over. It's now a process of retribution, peace-building and getting life back in order. We want change and that change will happen gradually. From sorrow, anger, and feelings of what could have been avoided, people have to find a reason to start enjoying life again. And laughter is a very important part of that. I hope Oye! It's Friday! is a small and valuable part of that process of enjoying life again. Personally, the show has helped me do that and I hope it will evoke the lighter side in each one of us. Not just our show, but all the others shows on TV are just as important for bringing smiles back onto our faces.

We were scheduled to shoot the second episode on November 28 but obviously no one was in the frame of mind to get back to work yet and to go on to a set and shoot gags. That shoot was cancelled and NDTV Imagine left it up to me to decide when we would get back on set. On Saturday, November 29 when news came that the siege was over, I felt it was time to begin rebuilding, to make our small contribution to the healing process through laughter and humour. Today I am excited and thrilled about Oye! It's Friday! launching this week (on December 12). But if I could get away with being a singer, I think I might just get away with being a comedy show host too. I look forward to your comments (be kind, please) and suggestions, and please do send in any contributions in terms of SMS jokes or quirky situations that might just make Fridays even funnier.

Oye!

Farhan

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You can run , but you cant hide from Friday

11.December.2008

People have been asking me ' what's so special about Fridays? Well, for anyone from the film industry, the biggest thing about Fridays is the movie release of the week. It's the day fortunes can be made or broken. It's also the end of the working week. But now, if the film you want to see is house full, or if you would much rather your weekly dose of entertainment come to you, instead of you going to it, you have an equally good alternative ' Oye! It's Friday!

As host of Oye! It's Friday!, a comedy show which spares no one, I am so happy that Hrithik Roshan is the guest on the premier show. Hrithik and I have worked together (Lakshya and Luck By Chance) and been friends for a long time. If you have seen him on any shows before, you would have noticed that he is usually very proper and doesn't let his hair down. But it was different on Oye! It's Friday! It was so nice to see him have a good time and be such a sport even when the joke was on him. He was extremely open to new ideas and having a laugh. Rarely do you see stars enjoying irreverence about their own achievements. It also helps future guests to relax once they have seen Hrithik enjoying himself. Actually the guests seem to be having such a good time on the show that I am seriously thinking of renegotiating my contract with NDTV Imagine! (That wasn't me' someone hacked my blog!!!!!!!)

One of the things I noticed ' and perhaps viewers will notice as well ' is the predominance of women in our live audience. My fans, of course -- or so I thought and tried to convince myself, until Hrithik came on stage and the women went mad. I felt good for five minutes during my monologue till reality bit. I have been a fan of Hard Kaur's music and energy for a long time. She looks happy even at 2 am at the airport when everyone else looks exhausted. And then we have a great performance by Neha Dhupia too.

Both Hrithik and I were blown away by the live change act. I don't know how they do it, and I even offered them a bribe to find out, but 5 bucks just didn't seem to cut it! I am trying to get to the bottom of it, but no one is talking ' yet.

Then there's child prodigy, drummer Siddharth. At age 2 he had already performed in a live concert. At that age my greatest achievement was tripping over a carpet and falling on a table. In fact it was the highlight of my life till I was 26 years old ' when I wrote Dil Chahta Hai. Yes, it took me a long time to find my feet.

Like Siddharth, we have other seriously talented and amazing musicians-in-the-making appearing on our show. The premiere show is everything we wanted it to be. There are no rules, no boundaries; it's just exciting, unconventional entertainment.

After all this light, frivolous blogging, it's time to make a serious point. It will only be said once, ever, on this blog. Remember this about Fridays ' no matter what you do, where you are, how hard you try, where you go, what you think; no matter who you ask and who argues with you; no matter what anyone says, how much time elapses, how many governments come and go, Friday will always come after Thursday and before Saturday.

Oye!
Farhan

As 2008 ends, I must say I am really looking forward to a holiday! This has been a hectic year. It started with the shoot of 'Rock On' on January 7, 2008. Within a month of that film finishing shooting, I began prep on my sister Zoya's film 'Luck By Chance'. That schedule ran through May, June and July and then came the promotion and publicity for 'Rock On'. There was the music launch in July followed by the film's release in August. I then had to go back to shoot 'Luck By Chance'. The Rock On for Humanity concert happened and then I went straight into 'Oye ! Its Friday'

Interestingly, this week on the show I interview two people I don't know ' model-turned actress Mugdha Godse (from 'Fashion') and Olympian boxer Vijender Singh. This is a nice break from interviewing people I know well, though even in this episode I balance it with Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy who I know better than I know even myself. If they are doing the music of any of our films, I can rest assured it will be good.

It is the time of year when the children have holidays and there are plans to be made with the family. I guess at some level I always wondered what it would be like to be as busy as all those people who were too busy to meet me when I was making my first film. But it's not working for me! I wonder what made me do this ' was I worried I was being left behind? I have now decided that I miss the quiet life and I am taking time off to spend a low key New Year with my family and friends before I get swept into the publicity and promotion for Zoya's film, which releases on January 30, 2009. I also know when my next break is going to be. I will get about 15 days off mid-February before I start preparations for my next film as an actor which we start shooting in April.

I have heard people are wondering what has happened to Farhan the director ' well, he can't get an appointment! It's sad, but true. But seriously, I hope to get back to directing by the end of 2009. I am really looking forward to that.

Looking back at 2008, the year was a blur. It went by so quickly. But there were three highlights of the year:

I think 2009 is going to be a very important year, especially after the recent events in Mumbai. I think it will be a defining year, during which we will hopefully see people take action. We must stay focused, involved and emotionally constant until that change occurs. And that's my wish for us for the coming year.

Here's wishing everyone a very Happy and Peaceful New Year.

Oye!
Farhan

Hello and Welcome to 2009! I am just back from a much-needed break and looking forward to starting the year with my dear friend Priyanka Chopra joining me on the first episode of the year on – believe it or not -- Oye! It's Friday! If you look at the numbers 2009 they add up to 11 which then adds up to the number 2 which, by numerology standards, means nothing whatsoever to me. But for those who believe in it – congratulations!

Coming back to my guest Priyanka Chopra, I must be one of the few people in the world has no nickname for her and calls her Priyanka. She is a great sport and though she came for our shoot directly from another one, she did not show any signs of being tired or being done for the day. I first met Priyanka socially, through some friends, but got to know her only during the making of Don, especially during our extended outdoor shoot in Malaysia where we used to hang out after pack up. Among the things I really like about Priyanka is her wicked sense of humour.

The last year was quite significant for Priyanka with six movie releases in 2008. I remember it was after Drona, her fourth film in a row not to do well, when I got a call from a journalist. The newspaper was prematurely running Priyanka's professional obituary and the journalist asked me if this bad run at the box office signaled the end for Priyanka and whether I would still work with her. My response was that Priyanka is extremely talented, sincere and thorough so there was no reason why she shouldn't do well. We all have our professional ups and downs. And then she did wind up the year with two big hits. To re-quote a popular phrase: 'form is temporary, class is permanent'.

This week on the show we also have 'Ma da ladla' singer Saleem and an intriguing international balancing act, Lord and Lady Vlado from Ukraine. Don't miss the sweet and very talented drummer Adar Jain, grandson of Raj Kapoor.

I'd like to take this opportunity to thank everyone for their New Year wishes and for taking time out to give me feedback on the show and my blog. I think I am slowly getting the hang of this blogging thing. When the show went on air, I was most cautious about reactions from my friends but I am pleased that they seem to be enjoying the show too and tell me that I am being pretty much myself. I am glad people recognise my humour and enjoy it.

Looking ahead into the New Year, there are two events within the first quarter that hold special significance:
1. The elections are a big thing. I hope a lot of people go out to vote and send a clear signal to the political candidates that we, the citizens of this country, are concerned.
2. Then there is our company's next production and my sister Zoya's first film as director, Luck By Chance.
So here's a toast to 2009! Hope it rocks!

Hello again and thank you for all your posts and comments. We are into the throws of recording fresh episodes of the show and this week my guest is a fellow Capricorn and an actress I have not yet worked with. Interviewing Deepika Padukone was both tricky and interesting. She is one of the most promising newcomers in our industry right now and from her first movie Om Shanti Om to her forthcoming release Chandi Chowk To China she has created a truly commendable position for herself in a very short time. She is extremely focused and determined when it comes to her career which are qualities I genuinely appreciate.

farhan is really cool