Thursday, April 15, 2010
Shahid and Ayesha Takia at Pathshala film screening at Yash Raj
Paathshala is Mohabbatein meets 3 Idiots No ways Shahid Kapoor
Paathshala is Mohabbatein meets 3 Idiots? No ways Shahid Kapoor
By Joginder Tuteja, April 15, 2010 - 11:37 IST
He is one of the few top actors in the actors in the industry today who is enjoying as many as three releases to his name in the first half of 2010 - Chance Pe Dance,Paathshaala and Badmaash Company. Also, if Milenge Milenge eventually releases soon then this number may well become four. Still, the actor chooses to call himself as 'unemployed' for the duration that he is not facing the camera. Through with the shooting of all aforementioned films, he has started preparing himself for his next film that goes on floors - Mausam (tentatively titled). Till then, he is happy to be getting his look in place (noticed the bearded look?) and promoting his last lot of films which are ready to arrive one after another. Joginder Tuteja catches up with the young man who has come a long way in the last 7-8 years and is confidently paving his way to find a place in the elite list of top superstars as he marches towards completion of a decade in the industry.
You have so much work in hand, right from seeing the release of your films, their promotion and preparation for your next biggie. Still, you call yourself unemployed. Isn't that paradoxical?
Arrey yaar ek actor ki life badi ajeeb hoti hai. When you have too much work then you want to relax. At that time you feel ki chalo bahaut ho gaya, ab bujhe picture nahi karni kuch waqt tak. But then when you begin to take a break, you feel very uncomfortable. You start feeling a lot unemployed even though you know that there is something going to happen soon. Since I am not used to 'not working' for a good period of time, it becomes a very uncomfortable situation for me.
But then you asked for it
True man, but it all becomes very ironic because the fact is that I am not used to it. It is almost like going down from the fifth gear to the first gear. The whole pace of your life changes because when you are doing filming or promotion, at least you are surrounded by people. Otherwise you become all alone.
Coming to Paathshaala, there have been so many speculations around your presence in the film. Since the film is about children, there were rumours about you making only an 'extended guest appearance'.
Let me put it this way that Paathshala may be small in comparison to some other films that I am doing and I may not be a quintessential hero here. However, it isn't as if I have a guest appearance in the film, as has been speculated by some. I have a substantial role that lasts for around 50 minutes in the film and that too from start to finish. I guess that's a good enough presence, isn't it?
 I have a substantial role that lasts for around 50 minutes in the film and that too from start to finish  |
See, Ahmed is like a dear family member to me, and his wife Shaira, who is producing the film, is also very close to me. When opportunity came my way, I wanted to extend my support to the fullest. Having said that, after hearing the subject I realised that they were making something really relevant. I believe the message in it and I want that to reach out to the people. If you look at the education system, there are so many different kind of issues that kids are facing today. We should think about this because children are our future. I was moved by the very fact that that someone was making a commercial film about this rather than a documentary.
You sound emotionally charged about the whole experience. Exactly. I told Ahmed and Shaira to use me as much as they want for the film's publicity. If using my face gets even 10 more people to see the film then I would feel that I have been a part of something really relevant. It is a noble effort and I feel fortunate to be a part of it. I have seen the film and I am happy to have done it.
Well, since you are so excited about the film, can you also confirm if the film is akin to Mohabbatein meeting 3 Idiots? After all the promos give that impression.
(Comes up with a hearty laugh) Now that's the most original reference that I have heard. Maine Taare Zameen Par ka reference point toh suna tha but yeh first hai! Come on, there is no similarity here. We had shot Paathshaala well before the release of 3 Idiots. On the other hand, Mohabbatein was a love story about three students. Haan yaar theek hai, yahan bhi ek school hai but then that's about it. When people watch Paathshaala, they would realise that there are no similarities with anything that have seen earlier. May be as a journo, you want to come up with an angle but sorry, I don't see any broad generalisation here.
In the film, you have Ayesha Takia as your co-star. Do we see any revival of Dil Maange More romance here?
No, not at all. In the film, we are playing just colleagues. There is no romance angle in the film at all. Scope hi nahi hai!
When Shahid Kapoor went back to school
When Shahid Kapoor went back to school New Delhi, April 14 (IANS) It was a holiday on account of Ambedkar birth anniversary Wednesday, but students of the Gyan Bharti School here were eager to attend school. Their reason - "Not every day Shahid Kapoor comes to school". The young Bollywood heartthrob came visiting the Gyan Bharti, the school he attended when he was living in the capital. Students of all ages were eagerly waiting to catch a glimpse of their favourite actor.
"Today is my holiday but I wanted to see Shahid Bhaiya. He is my favourite actor and it's not every day that Shahid comes to our school," a thrilled 11-year-old Anush Verma said.
Geetika Chauhan, 10, told IANS: "I would have slept till late but I was told that Shahid was coming. I love him so much."
It was a plain hysteria when the casually-dressed 29-year-old actor, wearing blue jeans and white T-shirt with a black jacket entered the school premises, looking very much like a school boy himself.
He went around the school to relive old memories and then entered the area where the students and teachers were waiting for him.
Thunderous applause and shouting greeted him to the school where he studied till Class 4.
"I'm proud to be a part of this school. My journey started here and the response I've got is simply overwhelming. I feel so nostalgic and it's a very special feeling to be back here," Shahid said.
"I still remember the time when I used to come to this school holding my grandfather's hand, asking the guard to let me enter because I was usually five minutes late," he added.
The actor was at the school to promote his forthcoming film "Paathshaala" which focuses on the issues related to the education system. It is slated to release Friday and also stars Nana Patekar and Ayesha Takia.
Shahid plays the role of an English teacher in the film.
"The film talks about very important issues regarding children, education and schools. Initially, I was just supposed to do a cameo but then I realised that if I do a bigger role, I will be able to speak about it better, take it to more people and create more awareness about the topics it speaks about," he said.
Shahid was also quizzed about his childhood crushes, to which he replied: "I was in this school only till Class 4 and at that age you are usually going through a phase when girls don't matter to you and you are only happy with your gang of boys."
"So I wasn't after anyone that time and similarly no girl was after me either," the actor, who is currently sporting a bearded look for his film "Mausam", quipped.
Music Review Badmaash Company music an all male affair
Badmaash Company' music an all-male affair (IANS Music Review) Film: "Badmaash Company"; Music Director: Pritam Chakraborty; Lyricist: Anvita Dutt; Singers: KK, Mohit Chauhan, Krishna, Rahat Fateh Ali Khan and Dayal; Rating:**1/2 What stands out in the soundtrack of Shahid Kapoor-starrer "Badmaash Company" is the absence of female singers. But apart from this anomaly, composer Pritam Chakraborty has stuck to his trademark style of energetic, fast-paced music.
By Ruchika Kher
The album contains four originals and two remixes.
The soundtrack starts off with a song called "Ayaashi" sung by KK. It is a catchy song with a heavy use of percussion. The upbeat track has all the qualities of becoming a hit with the youngsters.
It also has a remix version, which has nothing new to offer.
Next is a slightly off-the-road song "Jingle jingle", which has been crooned by Mohit Chauhan in his youthful voice. It begins with the strumming of the guitar and also has elements of rap in parts. The thematic lyrics make the song interesting.
Then there is "Chaska" sung by Krishna. It has a slight rustic flavour but fails to generate interest. It ends up as a very ordinary song.
"Chaska" also has a remix version, which is just a little faster-paced than the original.
With "Fakeera", the album takes a Sufi turn but with a rock base. Sung by Rahat Fateh Ali Khan, it is an amalgamation of Indian vocals and westernised music. It is quite an appealing track.
The last number is the film's title track by Benny Dayal. The song has influences of music from James Bond films and is also musically similar to the first track "Ayaashi". The track is sure to become a regular at DJ consoles.
On the whole, the music of the film is average. Pritam has not experimented much and mostly sticks to his tried and tested style. The songs, however, could become hits on the dance floor.
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