Karan Johar said ‘Baahubali’ looks like Avatar: Rana Daggubati

"When we met, there was nothing much to show him. So, I put some slides together and Karan Johar said 'It looks like Avatar'," says Rana Daggubati.

Well remembered for his Bollywood debut in ‘Dum Maaro Dum’ and recently seen onscreen in Neeraj Pandey’s ‘Baby’, actor and producer Rana Daggubati talks about his intense preparation for SS Rajamouli’s ‘Baahubali’, where plays the negative role of Bhallala Deva. 

“I’m very excited about its release. We shot for almost two-and-half to three years and you feel like this is never going to get over, so it’s good feeling that it’s finally there.” Even though the muscled actor has invested a good part of his time in this mega period film, Rana says he will have no regrets if the film does not turn out as expected. “For a film like this, everyday I went on to the set, I went with pride and excitement that this kind of film has never been done before. 

And the skill sets I have picked up during the film be it the action or horse riding, will stay with me for a long time, so I have no regrets.” However, Rana did admit to it being extremely physically strenuous shooting for the epic project, “It was very draining. When I was signed on to this film three years ago, he wanted me to physically big. There were two body builders who came on board for us to gain size and we also had a fight master to train us in different forms of martial arts.” Talking about the preparation that went into the physical aspects of the film, he said, “There are quite a few Hollywood films and Asian war films, we did not want the action to look like anything from there. 

So, we ourselves designed weapons and figured out ways to use them. All that took about six months including learning to ride a horse and a chariot.” In an industry like Bollywood, some of our classic villains have stood out more than the protagonists themselves. Rana, on his part, believes that his character of Bhallala Deva will go home with the audience. “Every time you read an epic story like ‘Ramayan’, ‘Raavan’ is so powerful even though it’s a negative character. Similarly, ‘Baahubali’ is also an epic tale of two cousins fighting for their right to the kingdom. So, every actor gets a chance to be a villain once and gets it right. I did not see anything bigger than ‘Baahubali’.” 

Rana also spoke about Bollywood director Karan Johar presenting ‘Baahubali’. “We set out to make a world class project but at the same time you need the right positioning and the right people to put in its place and Karan Johar was our first audience. It’s always nice to have another filmmaker to reassure that you are making a good quality film. When we met, there was nothing much to show him. 

So, I put some slides together and he said ‘It looks like Avatar’. That’s when I knew he was sold. Today we talk about it being one of the largest motion picture in this country and those are actually the first words Karan had told me. He said, ‘This is bigger than anything that I have seen in India.’ And he came on board right then.

 I chose Karan because I know him very well and I knew that if they believed in the project, they would go all out.” Rana further added, “To me this film is very special because as a child I grew up on stories from Amar Chitra Katha and I was always a movie lover. Every time I watched a big Hollywood war film, I would think that we have so many stories to tell and why aren’t we telling them. 

And there’s nothing more exciting than this.” Having had a successful pairing with Bipasha Basu in ‘Dum Maaro Dum’, there were reports that Rana was to reunite with the actress for designer Vikram Phadnis’ directorial debut, ‘Nia’. However, Rana said there has been a change in plan. “I am not doing the film anymore.

 They wanted sometime earlier this year, but I was still shooting for ‘Baahubali’. I am assuming the film is done.” Rana Daggubati will be seen in the second part of ‘Baahubali’ as well, which will go on floors in August. 

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'Dilwale' Star Shah Rukh Khan to do a Karan Johar Film Soon?

Shah Rukh Khan and Karan Johar's infamous fallout is now a thing of the past. Word has it that while Bollywood's best were busy bagging trophies at the recently concluded IIFA Awards 2015, the two took out time to iron out their differences at a house party.

And now, according to a Bollywood Life report, Karan and SRK may come together for a film, the script for which is being written. However, there has been no official confirmation on the matter yet.

If this were to come true, it would mean they would be working together after five long years. They have made a handful of memorable films in the past -- "Kuch Kuch Hota Hai", "Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham", "Kabhi Alvida Na Kehna", and "My Name is Khan" -- all of which were blockbusters.

However, the cold war got worse when the filmmaker decided to invite the superstar's then-frenemy Salman Khan to kickstart "Koffee with Karan Season 4". Although there were rumours that it was "Happy New Year" schedule that stopped him from attending the show, word has it, Salman was the reason why he gave it a miss.

In other news, SRK has wrapped up Maneesh Sharma's "Fan" and completed the first schedule of Rahul Dholakia's "Raees". The actor is now filming for "Dilwale" in Bulgaria with Kajol and Rohit Shetty. Meanwhile, the Dharma Productions honcho is on foreign land attending a plush wedding with friends Gauri Khan, Manish Malhotra, Shweta Bachchan Nanda, and Natasha Poonawala.

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Director’s cut: What do Karan Johar, Mahesh Bhatt and others add as actors?

In Bollywood, there’s plenty of scope for multi-tasking. So while actors are turning producers, and producers are turning directors, an increasing number of directors are trying their hand at acting. And it isn’t just about cameos anymore — many of them have bagged meaty roles in upcoming films. 

Karan Johar stars in Anurag Kashyap’s next, even as Anurag gears up to act in a film with Sonakshi Sinha. 

Kunal Kohli is making his acting debut in a romantic movie, and Farah Khan has already played the lead role in Shirin Farhad Ki Toh Nikal Padi (2012). 

Directors Amole Gupte and Tigmanshu Dhulia have also dabbled in acting. The foremost example is of Farhan Akhtar, who entered the industry as a director, but is better known as an actor these days.  

But does casting directors actually help a film’s prospects at the box office? "When known directors decide to act, they bring a lot more to the table. Being directors themselves, they understand the needs of their directors better. Hence, in many cases, they are able to perform better," says trade expert Atul Mohan. 

However, Farah feels that in such a scenario, chances of creative differences are high. "When you decide to act, you have to leave the director’s shoes outside the door and enter as an actor. If you think something can be done differently, then you can share your inputs, but you should behave like an actor and follow the director’s instructions," she says, adding, "I’ve got many directors to do cameos in my films, and they’ve been great to work with. For SFKTNP, I was obedient and docile — the way I prefer my actors to behave with me." 

Anurag is of the opinion that those who have been behind the camera make for better actors. "A director actually is a very good actor, and only a director can understand why that is so. I thoroughly enjoyed working with Karan, and I am sure he will surprise everyone in my film." 

Meanwhile, for Karan, understanding his director’s vision is paramount. "For me, being an actor was both surreal and exciting. And I had no problem being directed by Anurag. Our cinematic sensibilities are completely contrasting, so opposites attracted in the best way possible. I feel he has taught me a lot; it was like being in film school. I enjoyed being on the other side of the camera," he says.

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I can make careers, says Karan Johar

Mumbai: Filmmaker Karan Johar on Tuesday said he can make anybody's career in Bollywood.

"I can make cake...I can also make careers," Karan said at a press conference here when asked what he cooks best. Karan has made careers of several budding directors and actors like Karan Malhotra, Punit Malhotra, Shakun Batra, Alia Bhatt, Siddharth Malhotra, Varun Dhawan and others.

"I can make cake...I can also make careers," Karan said at a press conference when asked what he cooks best.

The filmmaker and Alia will now be seen as co-curators of Viacom18's English entertainment channel 'Colors Infinity'. Both of them have curated shows for the channel, which span across genres like drama, superheroes, comedy, fantasy, crime and thrillers.

There will be reality shows as well with some of the world's largest shows across dancing, cooking, magic, singing and others.

Moving towards a new horizon in English Entertainment on Indian Television, the soon to be launched Colors Infinity is all set to break new ground by ushering in the growing
international trend of watching three continuous episodes of globally applauded narratives back-to-back.

Both Karan and Alia are big fans of English shows and they quickly jumped at the idea of being curators for the channel. "The channel has amazing content. We both are excited
to be part of it," Alia said. "I have always enjoyed watching television. I enjoy being
on TV," Karan said. So will he do daily soaps, Karan jokingly says, "I am not going to daily soaps....that might be pushing a lot. I know I am known to do everything. But you never know I might end up doing ‘Balika Vadhu’ (a popular show on Colors channel)."

The network has entered into major multi-year deals with Warner Bros. International Television Distribution, NBC Universal, Sony Pictures Television, BBC and Endemol Shine among others.

There will be first-time India premiere of new shows, including the critically-acclaimed and multi award winning series like "Fargo", "Orange is the new Black", "The Flash", "Better call Saul" and others.

Colors Infinity will have first run programming seven days a week. Spanning genres like drama, superheroes, comedy, fantasy, crime and thrillers from major studios like Warner
Brothers, Sony Pictures Television, BBC and Endemol Shine and others.

There will be reality shows as well with some of the world's largest shows across dancing, cooking, magic, singing and others. The channel will also host global live events and award shows.

Meanwhile when asked about actor Shahid Kapoor's marriage, Karan says, "We both congratulate him."

Alia, who would be seen with Shahid in ‘Shandaar’ and ‘Udta Punjab’ says her co-star had a "shandaar shaadi".

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Dil Dhadakne Do: Move over Karan Johar, Zoya Akhtar is new queen of Richie Rich blues

The man - hair gelled stiff, chest scrubbed clean of fuzz - usually comes wrapped in tee-shirts that seem indifferent to the shape of an average Indian male abdomen. The women strut around in designer clothes that will spawn a million clones in Delhi's Sarojini Nagar and Mumbai's Linking Road for the rest of the whole year. Then there's a Punjabi song which will make Indians seem like mutants whose superpower is bhangra. All this bundled into a film about dreadfully cool-type people who you typically roll your eyes in public but secretly hope to run into in bars or on Facebook.

Now, guess whose films we are talking about?

Were you going to scream Karan Johar aka KJo? Close, but not quite. And that's because we have a new queen in town - and it's ZoAk. She is Kjo, just updated.  And the proof is in the glitzy pudding.

Money, money everywhere

Images courtesy: Facebook

Like Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Gham (K3G), like Dil Dhadakne Do (DDD). K3G had Amitabh Bachchan wriggling into blazers and jackets like he was in an endless James Bond themed costume party. Anil Kapoor is found in DDD in expensive-looking suits and tees, wafting in and out of boardrooms, bedrooms with just too many pillows and parties with way too many bottles of scotch around.

There's money screaming 'look at me bi*****' from every frame of Dil Dhadakne Do. Just as it was in Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara (ZNMD). And Kuch Kuch Hota Hai, or Kabhi Khushi Gham or Kabhi Alvida Na Kehna. In fact, like there could be no KJo film about a un-Louis Vuitton world. While hearts broke under glittering chandeliers in gymkhana sized living rooms in KJo's world, in Zoya's post-KJo reality, they break in Buicks speeding across European countrysides and luxury cruises cutting through the Arabian Sea.

Anupama Chopra sums up the ZoAk-KJo world aptly when she says, "Because Zoya is a master of, what I call, Posh People Angst. This is a sub-genre of Hindi cinema in which beautiful people, wearing beautiful clothes, suffer in beautiful locations."

In Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara, affluence was essentially the backdrop of the film, just scenery just as it has been in all the earlier KJo films. In Dil Dhadakne Do, Zoya at least tries to engage with the behind-the-scenes of the Page 3-perfect world she invites her audience to watch. For example, a scene that the DDD team thought was a cracker one and even put in the trailer, is one showing Anil Kapoor raising a toast to his wife during a super-posh dinner. You don't have to look too far to find its twin - a similar dinner scene in ZNMD where Abhay Deol mistakenly gets engaged to Kalki Koechlin.

Only, the DDD scene has slightly more nuance than the ZNMD one.

But then she loses interest in that bit of her plot and instead waddles back to familiar Bollywood territory - of love, miscommunication and resultant heartbreaks. So it goes back it being the 'not-rich person's guide to dealing with getting dumped the rich people way'.

Same characters, different names

Rahul was in Karan Johar's world what the T-Rex is in the Jurassic Park films - lucky charm, star attraction, money-maker, all rolled into one. No wonder then Johar didn't even change Shah Rukh Khan's name in K3G after Kuch Kuch Hota Hai. Much as his name, Rahul was essentially the same person movie after movie. The guy whose hairstyle is as persistently bad as his sense of humour. He goes from being college stud to boardroom ninja with exactly the same lines, hairstyles and just a slightly different wardrobe. Maggi is the only other great Indian success that has resisted change the way KJo's Rahul did. Though it hasn't turned quite as well for your 3 am bowl of hot, piping goodness.

In a heartwarming tribute to Karan Johar, Akhtar turns Farhan Akhtar into her version of Rahul. Farhan in Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara is the nightmare boyfriend type, a commitment-phobe whose middle-name is 'charming'.The writer-type with great abs and enough moolah to travel across the world in the fanciest of vehicles.  Just like Imraan the copywriter in Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara, and Sunny, the journalist in Dil Dhadakne Do. 

And then there's the slightly impish, extremely rich Mama's boy kind, who makes boring look goodlooking. That's Abhay Deol, the builder's son in ZNMD and that's Ranveer Singh, the rich, clueless industrialist's son in DDD. While they don't have the same kind of sway over female hormones, it's the vast difference in the quality of their eight-pack which is responsible for that disparity, not the characters they play.

And scuba driver Katrina Kaif in ZNMD is exactly like dancer Anushka Sharma in DDD - people from London with, umm, professions Indian mommies won't approve of.

The chartbuster 

If you were to ask, how many people lost interest in ZNMD after the Senorita song was dones, you'll get a howl of 'ayes' loud enough to compete with a Modi rally. Now, why was Senorita extra cool, apart from Hrithik Roshan's feline dance moves? Because it was sung by Roshan, Abhay Deol and Farhan Akhtar themselves. So yay, what's better than guys who wax, dance, cook and mouth cocky lines? Obviously, guys who wax, dance, cook, mouth cocky lines and also sing? With that song, Zoya Akhtar made the dating prospects of average Indian men very bleak, but no one was complaining.

Cut to Dil Dhadakne Do. We have another song that's a chartbuster  sung by Priyanka Chopra and Farhan Akhtar in now what has become a ZoAk film tradition.

This formula too owes its origins to KJo. He's the mastermind behind shaadi anthems called Bole Chudiyan (Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Gham) and Mahi Ve (Kal Ho Na Ho, Nikhil Advani's KJo-ridden debut film). However, from KJo to ZoAk's time, the chartbuster has evolved the way pizza toppings have in our country. Just like jerk-spiced chicken replaced tandoori chicken as best post-beer pizza topping, ZoAk has dispensed with shiny lehengas in favour of sexy skirts. The sentiment, however, remains the same - giving the country that one song where all the stars of the film descend on the set, back up dancers pop up like unintended burps and a drunken uncle/aunty character shakes his/her booty, all of them perfectly choreographed.

Wait, wait , what about Luck By Chance, you might ask? Honestly, after watching Dil Dhadakne Do, it will be a miracle if any one remember's that movie... including ZoAk herself.

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Karan Johar and I share the same passion for films: Baahubali director SS Rajamouli

SS Rajamouli is known as the showman of south cinema. The Telugu director has an awesome track record at the box-office, and all top south Indian heroes have expressed a desire to work in his films. The lucky one, Karan Johar has been singing praises of Rajamouli and will be presenting his magnum opus Baahubali in Hindi

Rajamouli is a mass commercial director and in south, he is considered to be on par with Tamil director Shankar for his big budget extravaganzas. The Hyderabad-based director nine hits in a row to his credit, and his last release Eega,which was dubbed in Hindi as Makkhi, garnered record TRPs when it was shown on television.

Now, Rajamouli is all set for the release of his period dram Baahubali, in two parts, and it is said to be the most expensive film in India made on a budget of Rs 250 Crore. Baahubali stars popular Telugu star Prabhas, Rana Daggubati, Tamannah and Anushka Shetty in the lead roles besides Ramya Krishnan, Sathyaraj, Nassar, Adivi Sesh, Tanikella Bharani and Sudeep.

Rana Daggubati in Baahubali. Image from Facebook.

It has two national award winning technicians, music director Keeravani and production designer Sabu Cyril. 2000 junior artists, 600 technicians, horses, elephants participated in the shoot which took nearly 450 days to complete. 17 visual effects studios across the world are involved in the making of this film which has been under production for the last three years. Phew.

Baahubali –The Beginning, part 1 releases this Friday ( July 10) worldwide, and part 2 is scheduled for release early next year. The film will release in 4,000 screens worldwide in Telugu, Tamil, Hindi and Malayalam. Baahubali has been compared with Hollywood period films such as Ben-Hur,Gladiator, 300 and Troy.

In an interview with First Post, SS Rajamouli spoke about his aspirational porject. “One of the biggest inspirations behind Baahubali is Mahabharata. The epic war drama between the Pandavas and Kauravas has always fascinated me, along with Amar Chitra Katha comics. My father, a writer himself, introduced me to these comics at a young age. I love fantasy and mythology, and that is always an undercurrent in all my films.”

Some of SS Rajamouli's Telugu films have been remade in Hindi such as Son of Sardaar (Maryada Ramanna) andRowdy Rathore (Vikramarkudu), and these films went on to become blockbusters. Films like Magadheera and Makkhi, which were dubbed in Hindi, achieved impressive TRPs for television. Rajamouli has always wanted to go national, to get that reach and penetration into Hindi speaking audiences as well, to be known as India’s biggest showman.

Tamil director Shankar's Rajinikanth film Robot (Endhiran in Tamil)  is said to have garnered a distributor’s share of Rs 26 crore -- the highest for a south Indian film from North India. Now the big question being asked in the trade is whether Baahubali in Hindi can beat the record set by Robot ?

Rajamouli's friend and partner-producer Shobu Yarlagadda (from Arka Media) has been able to sell Baahubali much before release. The market buzz is that they have pre-sold the film for its respective Telugu, Tamil and Malayalam versions. They have also managed to rope in Karan Johar to market the Hindi version, through his Dharma Productions and also in partnership with leading distributor Anil Thadani. Johar is releasing it like a big budget Bollywood film with aggressive promotions and extensive television interviews.

Karan Johar, in a media interaction at the promotions of Hindi Baahubali, said: “It was Rana Dagubatti who mentioned the name of Rajamouli, and I immediately said yes to present the film as I had great trust in Rajamouli, given his nationwide fan following and track record. I've been a huge fan of his work and have seen all his films.”

Rajamouli himself acknowledged it and said: “Half-way through the film we knew to take it to the all India level we needed a big brand and presenter. And Rana talked to Karan Johar who agreed to market it in every nook and corner of North India. Of course, Karan Johar's sensibilities are entirely different from mine but I think we share the same passion for films in general, even though we make different kinds of films."

Down south there is definitely a craze building for Baahubali, with unprecedented advance booking in Hyderabad, Bangalore and Chennai. Tickets are getting sold out for the opening weekend like hot cakes. There was a one kilometre queue outside Prasad multiplex in Hyderabad when booking started for the sale of tickets and we've learnt that their server crashed one hour after online booking started!

Now the entire film industry in India is looking at whether a south Indian film like Baahubali, with only Rana Dagubatti and Tamannah Bhatia known to North Indian audiences will penetrate the Hindi heartland. The highly respected Hollywood trade magazine Variety wrote - “All movie industry eyes in India this weekend will be turned not to Bollywood, but to Hyderabad and the release of Telugu-language epic action Baahubali. The picture is not only the biggest budget Indian film of all time, weighing in at some $40 million for two-parts, it is also shaping up to be one of the biggest movie events the country has seen in years.”

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