“Selling sex in Bollywood is dead” says Vikram Bhatt, director of 1921

Earlier when horror films would be made in Bollywood, it was assumed that the movie would have sex scenes attached to it. However, over the years, the movie going audience has evolved and since there is a lot of pornographic and adult content available online, they are just looking for meaty content in films, a film that will leave them entertained till the end. If a filmmaker today makes a horror flick, he knows that he will not be able to fool the audience by making a erotic film.  Filmmaker Vikram Bhatt who is all set to give the audience his next horror flick 1921 says, “Selling sex in Bollywood is dead. The genre ‘horrex’ does not exist anymore. Sex  is out of horrex, its only horror now.” And hence, director Vikram made sure that he gives the audience what they actually want to see.He further adds,“In fact, data providers have killed the sex market because porn is more accessible now, hence 1921 is high on content and not sex. Hence, when the audience goes to watch this film, they will be in for pure entertainment and nothing else.” 1921, which is all set to hit the theaters on 12th January 2018, starring Zareen Khan and Karan Kundrra in lead roles, promises to curb our horror cravings with its horror content and gripping story line.The film Is an out and out, edge of the seat horror, like what we have seen and loved in any Vikram Bhatt film.

Why is cosmetic treatment a taboo in our country, explains celebrity Dr. Monica Kapoor

Ours is the country where aesthetic appearance is the parameter for acceptance. This is the reason why showbiz industry is going gaga over the new cool i.e Cosmetic treatment. What’s ironical is that despite the wide popularity, people (actors specifically) resort to denial and prefer to stay tight-lipped. 

But why is it treated as a taboo in India? 

Well, Dr. Monica Kapoor does not agree with the stated fact and feels that refraining from talking about cosmetic treatment and surgeries have become a fashion. Monica, a renowned name of the cosmetic and aesthetic industry said, “Cosmetic surgeries are not a taboo in our country rather it has become a fashion in Bollywood and glamour industry to refrain from talking about it. Celebrities are in the industry because of their beautiful looks and good physique to a certain extent, and if they get something corrected in their body- which they are not happy about- they hide it from media and other people. The reason is they don't want people to hype it and make fun of it.” 

Speaking further, she said, “Also, most of them probably want to show to the world that beauty they have is all God gifted, all natural. Very few people are so courageous that they come in open and discuss the surgeries and treatment they have undergone.” 

Saluting the people who gather courage to speak of their flaws and correction treatment they underwent, Monica adds a piece of advice saying, “ I would like to give sincere advice to them that if you get something corrected with the help of medical treatments, do not hesitate in talking about it. In fact, you should boast as much as possible.” 

Owing to the technological advancements, we have so many medical and surgical treatments handy which are boon to this glamour world. In reference to the same, she further asks the people to “promote it as much as possible. Talking about this cosmetic treatments and surgeries would help the people get aware of it so that they can also take advantages of this gift. After all, no one is born perfect,” she stated.

"I AM A B-GRADE FEAR SELLER AND PROUD OF IT!

I am a fear seller. In a world where money is made out of selling love, friendship, laughter, hope and even tears, I sell fear. I do this unapologetically and at the cost of being called not aesthetic, crass and B-grade. Hang on, correction; I am a B-grade fear seller. Phew! What a relief it is not to court the hall of fame and jostle for a name in the list of the great artistes of the time. What a relief it is to not be great, or even attempt to be great for that matter! 

For those who want to be remembered after they are gone, for those that want to be immortal through their work and for those that think forever is a tangible concept, good luck to them. I have learned that at the end of it all, you’re just a picture on the wall. The seduction of posterity has scant effect on me now. I cannot live in misery to be remembered after I am gone. I rather live well and not bother who shall remember me after I am gone. Many a great have walked this ground for whom we say, “Who that?” 

My fight with the sands of time is done. I have always believed that a birth is but a day in the life of a soul and if I have just one day to live there is not much time for a pointless chase. 

I am busy looking for my next meal, like a scavenger. I am looking through the dustbin of time for stories and I shall iron them out and put them out to dry on my roadside stall and cry myself hoarse, “Come be afraid!” 

I am also tired of the duplicity and I find it pointless trying to fight it. There are some who will cheer the priest reading out of the Bible and using the power of Jesus to exorcise the spirit in an English picture but an Indian Priest using the Vishnu Sahasranaam is regressive cinema. Then regressive it should be! 

I can only be what I believe in and I believe in the Hanuman Chalisa and the Vishnu Sahasranaam and the Gajendra Moksh Stotram. I believe in the Mantra and I believe that the power of God will vanquish evil. If that is regressive, if that is funny, if that is illogical, then I am all that but I would rather be something than nothing! I refuse to be ashamed of my beliefs or my God. 

I believe there is the Devil and I believe there are souls that are evil and I believe that the Demon will try to seduce you. I believe in all this because I believe in God and if there is God then there has to be the anti-God. How can there be light but not the dark? How can there be the day but not the night? How can there be a two without one? 

There are those that will believe the one who says that he has seen God and will bring God to you but you will not believe one that says I have seen evil and there is evil. 

There are those that will believe in that Messenger of God who will turn out to be a sex addict and a murderer because he has promised you God and Salvation. You will believe in the Baapu who has to still get bail on rape charges because he said he could introduce you to God. You will believe the one who says that there is an ‘Art of living” and take money from you to teach that art? Really? Dogs live, cats live, monkeys live, there is no Art to living! Life is life! But there are those that will pay to learn the art. They pay because they believe in a template that has been laid out! 

Yessir! We live by a template, size zero good other sizes not so good, fair good and dark not good, mountains good and plains not so good, beaches good and cities not so good, sunsets good and sunrise good but noon sun not good. And in that template horror not so good, God seller credible but fear seller, B grade? 

And yet I don’t want your praise. I am happy with your money! My spook shop is doing well, you are welcome any time!"

Special Screening of “Kashmir Daily”

The movie of the valley “Kashmir Daily –Story of the Journalist” is based on the drugs abuses and unemployment had its special screening at suburban multiplex. This is the first ever movie to be releasing outside J&K, which  has all the cast and crew of Kashmir and the film is shot and edited in Kashmir itself. The screening was attended by directed, producer, writer Hussein Khan, Actor Mir Sarwar, Veteran Theatre actor K K Raina, Late Om Puri’s wife Nandita Puri with her son Ishan Puri, Lateef Binny, Director Aijaz Khan, Shameem Ahmed, Mohomed Ali Shah  and director Rahat Kazami.The film high-lightens the social issue of Kashmir. Kashmir Daily is starring Mir Sarwar, Neelam Singh, Sanam Ziya, Rajinder Tickoo, Hussein Khan and Zameer Ashai. Mir Sarwar said “ whole crew is very excited with the release of the movie as it’s the first ever independent movie of Kashmir releasing outside J & K. He said mostly the people in Kashmir depends on Doordarshan, and very few shows their interest in the filmmaking due to the aslack and non functioning of cinema hall. But he believed that they have the potential to make good and inspiring movies and they should come forward. . He wants to pave paths for the coming filmmakers of Kashmir to flourish the Kashmir Film Industry.”

I get under the skin of my character, broken glasses, hurt co-actor on set: Sanjay Gagnani on role in Kundali Bhagya

Actor Sanjay Gagnani, who is part of the show Kundali Bhagya, says his role is very special. The actor is playing a negative character and adds that he is lucky to have bagged the part. “I feel blessed and special to be the chosen one to play the negative lead of the top show on Indian television produced by the top production house of the country,” he says.Talking about his character, he says, “I play the role of Prithvi, one of the most complex, dark character that I’ve ever seen and played. He’s unpredictable and has just one motive which is to destroy the Luthra family. Though negative, he’s fashionable, smart, intelligent, has his own individuality. Anyone who becomes an obstacle for him becomes his enemy. The beauty of playing Prithvi is, there are no limitations and no boundaries that have to be kept in mind. Prithvi is a free bird and so as an actor, I’m free to shape him the way I want to,” he says.He adds, “Because Prithvi is very violent when he’s angry, I’ve broken glasses and bottles on the set while enacting a scene. I’ve hurt a co-actor while holding her neck and I’ve hurt a crew member. That’s because I get into the skin of the character and don’t realise reality sometimes.”In fact, the actor sports a special look for the role as well. “I've grown my beard specially for this character. This is the first time I’m seen with a beard onscreen. Also, I wear a black stud on of my ear and I do my own hair and I select my own combinations of jackets and T-shirts to make Prithvi look stylish. I believe a villain should look as stylish as a hero,” he says.Meanwhile Sanjay is looking forward to doing some great work this year. “The best is yet to come. 2018 I believe is going to be the highlight year of my career journey as I have a couple of films lined up for release,” he says.Ask him if he is satisfied with the way his career has shaped up, and he says, “Yes, I feel blessed and lucky. 2017 has been magical and I feel I’m starting to get my due now.” Sanjay also believes that the industry has grown a lot over the years. “There have been a lot of positive changes. Things have been improving on the creative as well as the production side,” he says. Although there are so many actors in the TV industry, Sanjay is not someone who gets bogged down by competition. “I’ve always considered myself as my biggest competition. I compete with no one but myself. Whenever I’m out of work, I work harder and polish myself to get a role instead of thinking about others,” he says.