Nadia’s Journey: A Film Screening & Discussion on the Complex Realities of Forced Marriages, Thursday, 6th March, 6pm-8pm @ Alliance Francaise de Bombay, Theosophy Hall, Marine Lines

FILM "EK THA ARVIND" IS NOT BASED ON LIFE OF ARVIND KEJRIVAL : DIRECTOR NAVIN BATRA

 

The Ace director Navin Batra has been in Industry since 18 years and directed more than 100 video albums & more than 200 Tv commercials for reputed Brands, also directed a film 'Super Model'. Now he is coming up with his new film "EK THA ARVIND", on the very brave Arvind Mathur who comes from a middle class background who strives to change the system with his noble gestures.  Arvind Mathur is a common man who wants his answers on the corruption spreading like wild fire. This journey is from an MBA to a political leader. The reasons why he entered politics and became the most deserving leader our country has ever witnessed. The hurdles he faced in order to achieve the quest.

                     Producers Lokesh dutt sharma & Gurmeet Sodhi said, the plot of the movie revolves around the much anticipated and the person who garnered appreciation for his noble gestures. Film is launched in Asian Business School, Noida. Film is Produced By Lokesh Dutt Sharma and Gurmeet Sodhi. “EK THA ARVIND” is being made under the banner of Ritika films International and Shoot Essentials, Associate director is Suniel Parashar Film will be shot in New Delhi, U.P. and some portion in Mumbai also.

Leading Publication House Westland Ltd Signs The Versatile Bollywood Director And Screenplay Writer Rensil D’silva For His Debut Novel Kohinoor Express

 

Leading publication house Westland Ltd. has added another name to their enviable list of authors which includes the likes of Amish Tripathi (Shiva Trilogy), Ashok Banker (Mahabharata Series), Ashwin Sanghi (Krishna Key), Rashmi Bansal (Follow Every Rainbow), etc.This is none other than the Indian film director of Kurbaan, the screenplay of which was written by D'Silva himself and was nominated for several Indian awards and the screenplay writer of the nationally acclaimed Bollywood film Rang De Basanti, Rensil D’Silva. Rensil is now on the cusp of releasing his debut novel Kohinoor Express, to be published by Westland Ltd. 

Kohinoor Express is a historical thriller set in the 1800’s. It follows the trail of the Kohinoor after it was taken from Ranjit Singh by the British (after the last Sikh War), and handed over to Queen Victoria. The novel charts the story of that epic journey. It is also a story of a band of unlikely heroes who were determined at all costs, to stop the world’s greatest diamond from falling into the hands of the British and leaving India’s shores forever.

Rensil, who has directed films such as Kurbaan says of his new venture, “The novel was born out of my fascination for the Kohinoor and my decade long research into the history of the diamond. I have repeatedly visited the Tower Of London, just to gaze at it. And have spent many hours delving into its past. While I have in the last ten years written and directed many stories for the movies, advertising and television, few stories have excited me as much as this has”

RensilD’Silva has worked with some of the biggest Bollywood stars such as AmitabhBachchan, Aamir Khan, Anil Kapoor, KanganaRanaut to name a few. He has also worked extensively with directors as diverse as Karan Johar, Mani Ratnam, ShoojitSircar and David Dhawan.His next release Ungli is produced by Karan Johar for Dharma Productions and stars a plethora of stars including EmraanHashmi, Sanjay Dutt, KangnaRanaut and RandeepHooda.  Additionally, he has also forayed into television with the popular fiction show 24 starring Anil Kapoor, of which he has written and directed 6 episodes.  His book Kohinoor Express is up for a 2015 release.

About Westland Limited:

WESTLAND LIMITED is a subsidiary of Trent Limited, the retail arm of the Tata group, the largest diversified industrial group in India. The group includes EastWest Books and Tranquebar Press.

They publish literary as well as commercial fiction and non-fiction, and are engaged in both the publishing and distribution of books. After more than 50 years of experience in import and distribution of major academic and English language trade publications from all over the world, Westland’s focus has shifted to publishing in the last few years. Today, Westland is the fifth-largest English-language trade publisher in India and has published a host of bestsellers, including Amish Tripathi’s Immortals of Meluha and The Secret of the Nagas, Ashwin Sanghi’s The Rozabal Line and Chanakya’s Chant.

Hollywood actor, Kevin Spacey to headline IIFA Masterclass in Tampa

-          Indian actor, Vidya Balan to participate on behalf of Bollywood at the Workshop

-          Spacey to present Masterclass focusing on the trends in Hollywood and the Indian Film Industry

The International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) today announced that renowned actor, Kevin Spacey will be leading an acting workshop during the 15^th Videocon D2H IIFA Weekend in Tampa Bay, Florida. The IIFA Acting Workshop is one of the myriad sub-events that takes place during the main Weekend where keen participants attempt to delve into the minds of masters from world’s most flourishing and prolific entertainment industries; Hollywood and Indian Film Industry. 

In addition to his Academy Award® winning performances in “The Usual Suspects” and “American Beauty,” as well as memorable performances in “Seven,” “Beyond The Sea” and his most recent role as Francis Underwood in “House of Cards”, Kevin Spacey has a rich history in the theater world and has been the Artistic Director of the Old Vic Theater Company in London for the last decade.  Spacey was made a CBE (Commander of the British Empire) by Her Majesty the Queen for his services to theatre and won the Evening Standard and Olivier Awards for Best Actor for his stage role in “The Iceman Cometh,” as well as a Tony Award® for Best Supporting Actor in Neil Simon’s “Lost in Yonkers.” He has also starred in the Broadway and West End productions of “Long Day’s Journey into Night,” opposite his mentor Jack Lemmon as well as the title role in the Sam Mendes production of “Richard III,” which toured to 12 cities around the world as part of the 3 year Bridge Project and was documented for the upcoming film NOW: In the Wings on a World Stage which he is self releasing in the Spring through his newly launched website www.kevinspacey.com.

For the workshop, he will join other dignitaries from both film fraternities who will share their profound insights and valuable opinions on a variety of subjects relating to cinema.

Andre Timmins, Director – Wizcraft International & IIFA said, “IIFA has always been viewed as a platform to bridge the gap between the Indian film industry and the international audience.  It has been our dream to be able to do this with the participation of Hollywood artists being featured within our events and this year as we debut in America we are proud to have achieved this with a masterclass that celebrates accomplished actors Kevin Spacey & Vidya Balan from the respective industries.  This masterclass will be an enthralling event that will create a great platform for knowledge exchange in the world of film and media.”

The booming film industries with their stark differences and flamboyant features, stand  irrepressible, each commanding respect and appreciation for their colossal contribution to the world of cinema. In an intriguing debate, the master class with take the form of a panel discussion and explore thought provoking and interesting elements related to cinema from both worlds. Tracing the history and art of film making, the discussion will also tap into the recent surge of digital media as a platform for television & film, while also throwing light on the unique experience of shifting roles in the industry hierarchy. Interestingly even next generation cinema comes under the scanner, as panelists look to deliberate over the future of the respective film industries.

Over the years, IIFA has been established as the most prestigious and exalted platforms of appreciating talent and performances in the Indian Film Industry. Year on year, Indian cinema’s prominent names congregate at the annual IIFA Weekend and Awards to celebrate the finest contribution made to the world of films.

The 15^th Videocon D2H IIFA Weekend and the Tata Motors IIFA Awards will be held from the 23^rd – 26^th of April in Tampa Bay, Florida. This will be IIFA’s debut in the US.

Vikas Bahl: I tweaked Lisa Haydon’s character in QUEEN to suit her real-life persona

Vikas Bahl, director of Queen, is pleased as punch, as his flick centred around Kangana Ranaut has whipped up ample curiosity on the social media circuit.

Although the movie illumines Kangana in the role of the protagonist Rani, there is another actress who acts as a catalyst in the transformation of the screen character.

Lisa Haydon, model and actress who green-lighted her career with Aisha, enacts Vijaylakshmi in Queen.

Says Vikas Bahl, “The character of Vijaylakshmi in Queen is that of a very free-spirited girl. I met Lisa and I found her to be such an interesting person, that I re-worked the character of Vijaylakshmi.  I tweaked the character to suit Lisa.”

Adds he significantly, “I thought that Lisa was way more free-spirited than what I could conceive as a person. So I was willing to re-look at that character and do it in such a manner that Lisa would do an even better job of it, than what I had conceived.”

Queen details the life and times of a small-town Indian girl, who decides to go on her honeymoon alone…owing to a twist of Destiny! Queen premiered at the Busan Film Festival in October 2013 and won rave reviews too.

Presented by Viacom 18 Motion Pictures, Queen is a Phantom Production. The Kangana Ranaut-starrer is directed by Vikas Bahl and produced by Viacom18 Motion Pictures, Vikramaditya Motwane & Anurag Kashyap. Queen, which also stars Rajkummar Rao and Lisa Haydon, is slated to hit the screens, come March 7, 2014.